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nofomogirl · 1 year ago

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Good Omen's problem with having two canons

They're fundamentally different. That's the problem. That's my point.

For quite a while I focused almost exclusively on the new season of Good Omens, but now I am slowly delving into analysis that takes the entire show into account, and I've encountered a little obstacle. Namely, things from S1 can be really tricky to interpret.

Fair warning: this post is going to zig-zag between various points but I want you to trust me and take this scenic route with me. It will take us somewhere eventually, I promise.

The Arrangement

It's one of the core elements in the Good Omens universe and at the same time a perfect example of the issue I want to discuss. So let's have a closer look together.

In the book, the Arrangement is presented to us in two passages:

the first one, where it is first - very briefly - mentioned:

and the second one, where it is properly introduced and explained:

The Arrangement was very simple, so simple in fact, that it didn't really deserve the capital letter, which it had got for simply being in existence for so long. It was the sort of sensible arrangement that many isolated agents, working in awkward conditions a long way from their superiors, reach with their opposite number when they realize they have more in common with their immediate opponents than their remote allies. It meant a tacit non-interference in certain of each other's activities. It made certain that while neither really won, also neither really lost, and both were able to demonstrate to their masters the great strides they were making against a cunning and well-informed adversary. (...) And then, of course, it had seemed even natural that they should, as it were, hold the fort for one another whenever common sense dictated. Both were of angel stock, after all. If one was going to Hull for a quick temptation, it made sense to nip across the city and carry out a standard brief moment of divine ecstasy. It'd get done anyway, and being sensible about it gave everyone more free time and cut down on expenses.

In the show, the Arrangement is presented to us in two original scenes in the cold opening of S1E3:

(I am quoting most relevant dialogues only)

537 AD, Wessex:

C: So we're both working very hard in damp places and just canceling each other out? A: Well, you could put it like that. It is a bit damp. C: Be easier if we both stayed home. If we just send messages back to our head offices saying we'd done everything they'd asked for, wouldn't it? A: But that would be lying. C: Eh, possibly, but the end result would be the same. Cancel each other out. A: But my dear fellow... well, they'd check. Michael's a bit of a stickler. You don't want to get Gabriel upset with you. C: Oh, our lot have better things to do than verifying compliance reports from Earth. As long as they get paperwork they seem happy enough. As long as you're being seen doing something every now and again. A: No! Absolutely not! I am shocked that you would even imply such a thing. We're not having that conversation, not another word!

1601 AD, The Globe Theatre:

A: I have to be in Edinburgh at the end of the week. A couple of blessings to do. A minor miracle to perform. (...) C: I'm meant to be heading to Edinburgh too this week. Tempting a clan leader to steal some cattle. A: Doesn't sound like hard work. C: That's why I thought we should... Well, bit of a waste of effort, both of us going all the way to Scotland. A: You cannot actually be suggesting what I infer that you are implying. C: Which is? A: That just one of us goes to Edingburgh, does both. The blessing and the tempting. C: We've done it before. Dozens of times now. The Arrangement- A: Don't say that! C: Our respective offices don't actually care how things get done. They just want to know they can cross it off the list.

S2 doesn't actually reference the Arrangement. But it does reuse the dialogue about free will where the 1020 date is dropped. We will get back to it.

The challenge of adapting Good Omens

Good Omens shares a certain characteristic with all of Terry Pratchett's solo books I've read - it couldn't care less about "showing instead of telling". Which I love, just to be clear. A book is a written medium. It's made with words and one of words' major strengths is that you can use them to just tell things point blanc.

Good Omens does it a lot and it's fantastic.

Look at that second passage from the book I quoted earlier.

From just those few sentences we learn a lot about the relationships between:

Heaven and Hell (opponents and competition)

Aziraphale and Crowley (two individuals in the same position and in direct contact with each other)

Aziraphale/Crowley and Heaven/Hell (field agent and a remote HQ that are not in direct contact)

Aziraphale/Crowley and Earth (two individuals and a space they live in)

Heaven/Hell and Earth (a board where the game is played, only winning or losing matters, what actually happens on a board does not)

It's really an extra condensed worldbuilding gem sprinkled with humor, so it's no surprise it's become one of the most iconic passages from the book.

I mean, just browse through some interviews with David and Michael - especially the ones from 2019 - where they explain what Aziraphale and Crowley are about. You'll be hard-pressed to find any where they don't reference that specific paragraph, consciously or otherwise.

But it's only this neat on the pages of the book, where narration like this takes mere seconds to absorb. It's impossible to convey the same information in a visual medium with anywhere near the same efficiency.

The fact that the majority of Good Omens is like this was, in my opinion, a main challenge the adaptation faced. The book is very narration-heavy. It's full of fun facts about characters, side jokes, hilarious comments, etc. Some of that precious material was salvaged by introducing God as a narrator, but there was only so much of it you could squeeze into a TV show. The rest had to either be fit into dialogues or lost in translation from the written medium to the visual one.

Obviously, in the case of the Arrangement, it was the dialogues.

Book canon and show canon

We all know they're not the same. Neil Gaiman also pointed it out several times. But I think our mistake is that we still tend to think about them as complementary.

Look at the Arrangement again. The show canon seems to merely expand on the book canon. Add extra details and fill in the blanks. The Arrangement works the exact same way, except now we also know more about how it started.

If we compile what we know from the book with what we know from the show, we get a more detailed timeline:

Crowley first proposes the Arrangement in 537 (show).

The Arrangement starts in 1020 (book), ie. Aziraphale finally agrees to it (show - deduction); we don't know for sure if it's a "basic version" (not getting in each other's way), or a "full version" (doing each other's jobs) but we can assume it's the former.

In 1601 "full version" of the Arrangement is in place for some time (they've done it dozens of times) but Aziraphale still objects and needs convincing.

But read that description from a book once more.

Does it really fit into the version of events shown in the TV series?

The Arrangement in the book is something that just happened. A natural, and in a way inevitable result of Aziraphale and Crowley's circumstances. We are never told who came up with it first because it doesn't matter. Because it could have been either of them. Because after five millennia on Earth, they were both ready to do it. They were both of the same mind. For all we know it might have been an unspoken agreement all along!

But for the show, the creators had to come up with a good reason for the Arrangement to be discussed out loud. And what could be a more natural situation for someone to describe and explain an idea than trying to sell that idea to someone else?

For that practical reason - among many others, no doubt - the Arrangement is not only explicitly Crowley's idea, but an idea Aziraphale vehemently rejects at first. He needs to be convinced and even when he finally relents he's never entirely comfortable with it. He keeps objecting and it requires Crowley's constant effort for them to keep cooperating in any way.

The fact that Aziraphale is reluctant gives Crowley a perfect reason to keep convincing him ie. talk about the Arrangement. But the fact that he needs to explain and keep convincing Aziraphale means that Aziraphale is no longer a person who understands the same things and feels the same way.

That is a huge change.

Of course, you may say that what I've written about the Arrangement in the book is just my interpretation. It's true that technically there's nothing there that would contradict the events from the show in any way. The thing is, the events in the show aren't very compatible with the overall characterization of the ineffable duo in the book.

Evolution of Aziraphale and Crowley

You might have read that our leading pair was originally conceived as a single character that Neil and Terry eventually decided to split into two separate individuals.

My reaction when I first learned about it was: "Of course they were! That makes so much sense!" Because honestly, as a person who watched the show first and then read the book, I was surprised at how few differences there were between the two in the original text. If you squint your eyes really tight, you can see how book!Aziraphale and book!Crowley are two versions of the same character. They're far more similar than their show versions.

Most importantly, their attitudes toward Heaven and Hell are pretty much identical. Perfectly mirrored in every regard. What Hell is for Crowley, Heaven is for Aziraphale. What Hell is for Aziraphale, Heaven is for Crowley. In. Every. Possible. Way.

Allow me to present some evidence from the book.

Exhibit #1: the end of the scene where Crowley convinces Aziraphale to interfere with Warlock's upbringing

'You're saying the child isn't evil of itself?' he said slowly. 'Potentially evil. Potentially good too, I suppose. Just this huge powerful potentiality, waiting to be shaped,' said Crowley. He shrugged. 'Anyway, why're we talking about this good and evil? They're just names for sides. We know that.' 'I suppose it's got to be worth a try,' said the angel. Crowley nodded encouragingly. 'Agreed?' said the demon, holding out his hand. The angel shook it, cautiously. 'It'll certainly be more interesting than saints,' he said. 'And it'll be for the child's own good, in the long run,' said Crowley. (...)

When Crowley first points out that good and evil are just names for sides, and then insists it's something they both know, Aziraphale doesn't react in any way. That's because these aren't things that book!Aziraphale disagrees with. He does indeed know it and doesn't deny it.

Also, please note just how cynical the angel is here with his comment that influencing the Antichrist would be a more interesting project than influencing saints!

Both would be rather OOC for show!Aziraphale.

Exhibit #2: the scene just after Warlock Dowling's birthday party, when it becomes evident he is not the Antichrist

'You said it was him!' moaned Aziraphale (...) 'It was him,' said Crowley. (...) 'Then someone else must be interfering.' 'There isn't anyone else! There's just us, right? Good and Evil. One side or the other.' He thumped the steering wheel. 'You'll be amazed at the kind of things they can do to you, down there,' he said. 'I imagine they're very similar to the sort of things they can do to you up there,' said Aziraphale. 'Come off it. Your lot get ineffable mercy,' said Crowley sourly. 'Yes? Did you ever visit Gomorrah?' 'Sure' said the demon. 'There was this great little tavern where you could get these terrific fermented date-palm cocktails with nutmeg and crushed lemongrass-' 'I meant afterwards.' 'Oh.'

Can you imagine this kind of exchange in the TV series? Can you imagine show!Aziraphale being this realistic about Heaven, and show!Crowley so naive about it? There's no way.

Show!Aziraphale genuinely believes that Heaven is good at its core.

Book!Aziraphale knows Heaven isn't any different than Hell and would punish him just as ruthlessly and unfairly as Hell would Crowley.

Show!Crowley understands both Heaven and Hell on a very deep level and is highly aware of their true nature.

Book!Crowley buys a piece of celestial propaganda about ineffable mercy and actually expects Heaven to be forgiving.

Let the magnitude of that difference sink.

Exhibit #3: same scene, a bit further

'So all we've got to do is find it,' said Crowley. 'Go through the hospital records.' The Bentley's engine coughed into life and the car leapt forward, forcing Aziraphale back into the seat. 'And then what?' he said. 'And then we find the child.' 'And then what?' The angel shut his eyes as the car crabbed around the corner. 'Don't know.' 'Good grief.' 'I suppose (...) your people wouldn't consider (...) giving me asylum?' 'I was going to ask you the same thing. (...)'

This is just a cherry on top, really.

Yes, in the book, when things go pear-shaped, both Aziraphale and Crowley consider seeking asylum on the opposite side.

Do you need more proof that book canon and show canon really aren't as compatible as they may seem?

Free will

As promised, let's get back to that dialogue because while it may not be obvious at first glance it really illustrates perfectly the problem arising from balancing between two canons.

Here is the full quote from the book:

Aziraphale had tried to explain [free will] to him once. The whole point, he'd said - this was somewhere around 1020, when they'd first reached their little Arrangement - the whole point was that when a human was good or bad it was because they wanted to be. Whereas people like Crowley and, of course, himself, were set in their ways right from the start. People couldn't become truly holy, he said, unless they also had the opportunity to be definitively wicked. Crowley had thought about it for some time and, around about 1023, had said, Hang on, that only works, right, if you start everyone off equal, OK? You can't start someone off in a muddy shack in the middle of a war zone and expect them to do as well as someone born in a castle. Ah, Aziraphale had said, that's the good bit. The lower you start, the more opportunities you have. Crowley had said, That's lunatic. No, said Aziraphale, it's ineffable.

And here, for comparison, is how it was reused in S2E3:

A: There is a stolen body in that barrel! This is wicked! C: Oh, I'm down with wicked! Anyway, is it wicked? She needed the money. A: That is irrelevant. Look, I am good. You, I'm afraid, are evil. But people get a choice. You know, they cannot be truly holy unless they also get the opportunity to be wicked. She is wicked. C: Yeah, that only works if you start everyone off equal. You can't start someone off like that and expect her to do as well as someone born in a castle. A: Ah, but no, no. That's the good bit. The lower you start, the more opportunities you have. So Elspeth here has all the opportunities because she's so poor. C: That's lunacy. A: No, that's ineffable.

I'll be honest with you - I didn't like that scene in the show. It felt jarring and off. Aziraphale was acting like it was his first day on Earth and it was frustrating to watch.

Then, on one of the rewatches, just as I was rolling my eyes at "that's ineffable", a bulb lit in my brain. That line didn't work there because it wasn't created to be there! In the book and in S1 "it's ineffable" was kind of Aziraphale's catchphrase but in S2 it only appears this once. More importantly, in the book and S1, the fact that the angel would say that was all a build-up to the scene when he threw it in Heaven's face at the Tadfield Airbase. Using that word in S2 was like trying to make a running joke that has already reached its destination run again.

And just like that one line the entire dialogue didn't fit because it wasn't meant to be there. It was created for an entirely different context.

What's the difference?

Firstly, book!husbands' conviction was very shallow and it wasn't uncommon for both of them to spout slogans without meaning them. Therefore, book!Aziraphale's words didn't carry that much weight. The very fact that the conversation took place at the same time they formed the Arrangement tells us something about how serious he was. But show!Aziraphale's relationship with his beliefs is different, so when he says things like that it's a much bigger deal.

Secondly, the book explicitly states that Aziraphale and Crowley only developed free will on Earth, due to extended exposure to mankind. The show never really makes a stand on the matter but based on what we've seen so far I think we can safely assume that angels and demons are capable of making their own choices as much as humans do.

In other words, in its original context, the conversation was just Aziraphale talking about a concept he didn't fully grasp, quoting propaganda he didn't fully subscribe to. He was being ignorant and mildly obnoxious in an endearing way.

But using the same dialogue verbatim in the Resurrectionist carried a completely different meaning. Aziraphale who utters it in the show has no reason to be so ignorant about free will. Aziraphale who utters it in the show genuinely tries to defend Heaven. Most importantly, Aziraphale who utters it in the show, doesn't just idly bicker with his friend about general things but is judging an actual human individual that's right in front of them. That, more than anything else, makes it sound heartless and ignorant.

What is the problem with having two canons, exactly?

It's time to wrap things up.

In the opening paragraphs, I've mentioned that I've noticed the issue while interpreting scenes from S1, and yes, that was the case and I do believe that the existence of two canons is especially problematic for S1. That's because pretty much every scene in S1 is potentially like that dialogue about free will in S2, except subtler and harder to spot.

A grand majority of what we see and hear in S1 comes directly from the book. But while words and actions were kept, in some instances things that gave them their original meaning might no longer be valid in the show universe. Sometimes they easily take new meaning, and we don't even notice. But sometimes there's this dissonance that's not as easy to work around.

S1 deviated from the book and created its own canon. But the difference didn't seem to go very deep and it seemed perfectly reasonable to use some trivia from the book to shed some extra light on the content of the show. I used to do it in my head, even though I was aware of the changes that were made.

But S2 expanded the show canon so far beyond what was in the book that I'm really not sure it makes sense to compile them anymore.

There are a lot of things that were only explicitly stated in the book that I keep clinging to. But perhaps it's time to let go...

Thank you for your patience.

I know all of the above isn't exactly a revolutionary discovery, but I needed to get it off my chest before writing anything else.

#good omens #good omens 2 #crowley #aziraphale #ineffable husbands #good omens the book #differences between book and show #very long post #things I needed to get off my chest

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sigilmint · 2 months ago

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a little list of things i loved about him, and will never forget:

his fangs, we'd call them teensy and then remind ourselves that they must actually be so big to be so visible when he has his mouth closed. but only the little points were visible so they gave off the sweetest little kitty smile

baby forever baby never grew up never learned how too small to know things

dainty little paws, so small compared to max's big lion paws. always did the 'unsure paw' where he'd lift one up before approaching a situation

when he was 'being a secret', ie crawling under the covers to snuggle up next to us, or just going there to nap on his own. discovering him there and saying 'there's a secret in here!'

the little stripes on his tail, so subtly different from the rest of his fur that they were another secret <3

the way he would sit in the window on a warm day and just zone tf out, to the point where he started 'rusting' on one side (fur sunbleaching to a reddish hue)

'the smeesh must be held at all times'

high-pitched kitten meow. our 'voices' for him and max are so different. max's voice is very 'uuuhmb... are you gonna feed me? becuz.... i donno if you know dis but uhmb, i'm atually really hongry soo....' whereas smeesh's voice was always a much higher, slightly scratchy, 'i'm a secrit! don'd tell anyone!' hard to get across with text but i hope you get an idea.

LOUD purrs. 'smeesh, you're gonna wake up the whole neighborhood!' 'you got a little motor in there?' 'he's a factory that turns love into purrs'

little snores

the way he would come over to me at my desk and reach up with one paw to tap me, asking to be picked up

the way he understood when i could silently nod at a spot i wanted him to jump to, and he'd go there

the times he would just crawl into my arms, no matter what i was doing, bc it was Time to Cuddle Now

all the times he helped me make bread in the middle of the night when we were isolated for two years. when it was proving time, i would sit on the couch, nestle the covered bowl with the dough in it next to me, put a blanket over my lap and the bowl, and then smeesh would come sit and be a little heater. best bread i ever made.

king of da string!

our cuddle time spot on the couch, where i'd sit backwards and he would arrange himself between me and the back of the couch for maximum snuggle

we have the same color eyes, green with a little gold, and i would hold him up to a mirror sometimes and show him how similar they were

he was such a cautious cat, nervous around new people, happier hiding away than strutting about (unlike max lol), and i always told him when i held him, if anything ever happened, that he'd be safe in my arms. that if we ever had to run out of here, I'd have him and he'd be okay as long as he stayed in my arms where it was safe. I told him I'd always keep him safe.

bravest boy. had to do so many scary things, like moving across the country, going to the vet sometimes, or hearing a loud noise, even! but he endured it all <3

#max is still looking for him and it's breaking my heart #tw pet death #so many more hundreds of tiny details about him but this is a good list #felt good to write

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bengiyo · 11 months ago

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She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat 2 Eps 17-20 (Finale)

Last week gave me everything I wanted and more. The whole squad went over to Yako's place for a curry party and everyone had a great time. Later, Nagumo got a diagnosis for her condition and got to have personal time with Yako. Kasuga and Nomoto continued to work on their communication and making sure they aren't trampling over each other. They're continuing to work on this move. Seriously, we had a curry party and a s'mores party last week. We planted strawberries together. Let's finish this.

Episode 17

Looking for housing is so stressful. I was wondering if we'd get into housing discrimination in this.

Red beans in Japan are different from what we eat here. Theirs carry a naturally sweet profile that doesn't mesh well with creole cooking.

I feel like those beans needed to boil longer, but that's me thinking in my home cooking terms.

Yes, ladies, tell each other how happy you are to see each other.

@furritsubs thank you for the note about Azuki beans.

I'm really enjoying the way they're handling this situation. The realtor wasn't trying to be homophobic, but the systems he was upholding with the landlord references reinforces the status of same sex households. I also like that they acknowledged how circumstances closet people in ways that hurt them. This is good payoff from the news bit we saw earlier in season with Kasuga.

Getting a tasty treat in before going back into the fray is so valid.

Kasuga being even more affectionate about Nomoto's food now that they're dating is exactly what I wanted.

Episode 18

Oh fuck yeah, let's continue to unpack how structural homophobia makes people scared to share something that should be a joyous occasion.

Amused that Yako is the primary person using Nomoto's given name.

Are we going to have a takoyaki party next??

COME THROUGH, YAKO!!! You gotta help your folks get through this bullshit, but never let them forget that it's bullshit!!

I am relieved that we checked in with Ms. Fujita about divorcing her husband at the same time as we're working through LGBT housing issues. Single divorced women likely also face huge challenges in housing when marriage is the goal we're being pushed into.

Wow, Sayama, you are in contention for the Yihwa Best Girl Award this year. You are an ally. Love the way she examined how what she said might have been hurtful.

Feeling like you somehow failed because you didn't get married in your 20s is so real. I sometimes struggle with this in my 30s.

This show uses its characters to illustrate its political points in a way that feels gentle and accessible, but also carries a sense of urgency. Women are facing extreme reproductive pressure right now, and it's clearly not making those who don't already want husbands and children happier. Hell, it's making them resentful to the point of divorce as they get older.

Hold on. Gotta cry a bit about Nomoto telling Kasuga that being told outright that hiding who they are upset her made her feel better got me.

Episode 19

Takoyaki Party let's goooooo!!!

A party where you cook together like this is always so much fun. We had fun with some friends' kids a few weeks ago teaching them how to make pancakes and letting them add their own toppings before, during, and after cooking.

Nagumo managed to enjoy a bite of food with them. Hold on. Crying again.

We've seen takoyaki a few times lately, and I am very impressed with this cooker.

Yako, tactful as always, is gonna check on Nagumo. I love her.

This is so important. Couple formation does affect the friends around them, and I'm really glad Yako let Nagumo voice that she supports her friends even as she knows she's going to miss the dynamic they've had. Yako is so right to point out that a change doesn't mean it's over, and their friendship will last if we all continue to reach out.

This realtor scene is so good. I like how politely she asked for them to disclose their relationship with the express purpose of securing ideal housing, and we're getting into how the financing of housing can affect people's privacy. She's also owning that landlords can discriminate against couples. I also appreciate that their meeting room was private.

I'm ready for the moving in party!

Episode 20

They got the house!!

A crab cream croquette party!!!

Wait, where's Nagumo? I wanted her to try a croquette too!

We are on the bed together. This is not a drill.

Yes, let's acknowledge that they have liked each other since season 1.

The intimacy question is on the floor!

They are finally hugging!

NOW KISS!!!

That was very sweet, and felt right for them. I'm glad they had that moment in the old place before they moved.

Cried because of Ms. Fujita and Nagumo possibly getting hired.

So glad Yako and Nagumo are still hanging out! That's really how some friends groups will be. Two people will just gel at a party and grow close.

Oh hell yeah we're at casual intimacy now.

I'm so excited to see where the TV goes next season!!

Oh my goodness Kasuga is wearing a lighter sweater!!!!!!

Final Verdict: 10, Go Watch This Immediately and Then Show it to a Friend. Seriously, do not make excuses for yourself. You owe it to yourself to watch this show. Between this, Ossan's Love Returns, and What Did You Eat Yesterday? coming back, we cannot stop supporting our shows about older people getting together and forming their own forms of family. This show built on the foundation of its first season and made every little detail feel so potent and impactful. I did not expect the pen pal to grow into a trusted confidant and core member of this friend group, nor was I expecting the women at the supermarket to help Kasuga as much as they did. This season was excellent, and will be joining WDYEY on my comfort watch rotation.

Big thanks to @furritsubs and friends for making this watch possible.

#Ben watches #tsukuritai onna to tabetai onna #she loves to cook and she loves to eat #japanese gl #gl series

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saltyr3mix · 3 months ago

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Damien headcanons Damien headcanons ! !

I saw the user name and new exactly what you were going to ask lol.

I'm agian under the assumption your looking for the same thing I did with Winnie and Sara? If you guys want like cannon head cannons. Let me know! But for now I like that format of just comparison.

so. Damiens not my favorite guy. I have said some maybe regrettable things about him in fits if anger because I struggle with writing him. But there are a few au's, not many unfortunately, where I don't mind him as much. This list will likely be shorter than the other two.

to learn from the tragedies : he's gonna show up at some point. Haven't decided if it's in book one or two yet. But the vision here right? Oliver has like, imprints of memories. Damien doesn't have any memories of the previous timeline. Lewis and the Twins no everything. Oliver starts gushing about this guy he saw and they immediately know who it is and encourages Oliver to go reach out to him. Mean while Oliver is like, "what the hell all I did was see him in the store I don't even know his name! How am I supposed to contact him!? How do you all know who is!??"

"Not many people have a singular purple eye, dude."

"that was real?..... I thought it was like cosplay or something."

"nope he can see ghosts."

"I'm suddenly a lot less interested-"

"no no no you haveeeee to talk to him! Just....trust us. We'd never lie to you!"<------ has active lied to his face 6 times today about how bad the future actually was too experience.

So yeah! Television is an end game ship for tlfft. Hopefully it will get introduced soon.

Shattered Dreams: I mean he had some cool moments. But wasn't really thought out like at all. I thought giving him a prosthetic arm was cool! I don't know why I did but I did that. This fic was written before season two and so a lot of Damiens character had yet to be explained so I took him in my own very poor direction and had no idea what u was doing with him the entire time.

I will make them create my world: ooooo this ones fun. How do I explain this with out spoilers. He's a very background character in the twins centered chapter. But I've tossed around the idea of making him more prominent as a sort of antagonist? But I'm not sure if it would work. I have so so so many ideas for this chapter and I haven't finalized an ending for it but it could be anywhere from Damien and Oliver getting married happily with nothing wrong and them being completely ok and the horror focusing more on how the world moves on and is completely fine in your absence. Or we could mess everything up and have them die or twisted into toys in the horror of another world taking over and contortioning your loved ones into freaks of nature with out you being able to stop it. Either way Damiens safety is entirely dependent on which brand of eldritch existential horror I feel like giving the twins that day.

This happens in a lot of my fics actually-

Buried masks: ok. This is going to be hard to hear for some people. Damien. Never gets taken my Sara. She actually hates him. She goes out of her way not to interact or associate with him. The only time she acknowledges his existence is if Oliver is talking about him or like hes unavoidably right in front of her. She's crazy buts she's not a jerk. Anyway she hates him because he stepped in and took her job as Oliver's support system. She doesn't like sharing. She has this whole concept with saving people and wanting to be their angel and their light and their support. To the point she will force people into a position to rely on her so she can feel like she's helping them. When her best friend turns to someone else for that help? She is not happy about it. She traits with the same way, but needs him to help keep lewis under her control.

Oliver, as much as she loves him and hates that Damien also cares for him. Still feels confident that he would turn to her first. And thats all she needs. To be his savior.

So she doesn't drag him into it. He and Damien actually get to go out and enjoy the rest of their lives together. As long as Oliver keeps looking to Sara for guidance he won't be affected. She can help him with out all the added psychological torture!

That is unless. In the same vein wiatt is dragged down to control lewis.....she needs his help in calming and swaying over some....other members.

This was supposed to be about Damien. uh oh. Can you tell I like this au a lot?

On a less cryptic lore heavy note. Yeah Damien is our main outside the basement perspective. He's running all the cases trying to find the evidence and he actually does solve something that saves a lot of people!!! He followed all the clues and cracked open a terrible terrible story. But the victims in that story weren't his friends.

Steven universe au: I kind of made a post earlier explaining all of his lore today. But! If your looking for more I'd very happy send you over to Danger/Theater who loves Su!Damien very very much and could probably come up with some more head cannons or content for you.

Superhero au: where to fucking start. He was speficly designed to be the main character of this au. It was supposed to center around him.

And then they're were other opportunities involving human experimentation and angst and twins and like- come on those are my favorite tropes I had to indulge a little bit!..... Although maybe I did just actually completely switch the angle of the spot light-

STILL!!!! if consider him the core of the au. Maybe not the main character at times but everything comes back and ties back to his actions. He sort of has a lot of control over everything and so when he makes a decision the entire plot shifts with that. Even when not in focus when he decides he's going to start bothering Error on patrols that caused a whole chain of reactions that lead to Errors eventual spiral and breakdown and him finding out all the shit that's been happening and it's Ghost that comes back and takes him out of it.

And all that yapping barely actually talks about his character ok- so. I want to see HLTBM!Sara and Superhero! Damien get in a moral debate with one amoy. Cause they stand for a lot of the same things. Character was out through something very very traumatic and that manifested in ways that hurt a lot of people with out them really wanting it to. But of course there's the gray area with Sara knowing full well shocking and kidnapping people isnt very nice. And Ghost being just a straight up serial killer, homicidal, villain for the first half of the fic. Unlike Sara though Damien does get improvement. Although I personally won't call it redemption on my own morals. But he stops killing people pretty quickly once Oliver brings it up.

L to Hayden west who got in Damiens way before Oliver could bring that up.

But yeah superhero au Damien is very special to me. He's the only version of Damien i don't Loath writing, in fact I look forward to it! He's so fun!!!

this was still all very vague but I've said do much- shoot me another ask if you want more about just him because I could write essays on that man.

One shots/you will live until I die: die die die die die die . I'm sure Danger has screen shots some where of the things I've said about this man. Do you know? Do you know how fast I could have gotten any of these types of fics done. If I wrote him out?! Do you know how many times I had to go through and re-write singular lines for him!? Have I beef with this fictional character you can't even comprehend.

Buttttttttt in the end. I guess he turned out....... Ok-ish? i still want to light every scene with him in it on fire but it's not because of how he's written. UTS BECAUSE IF HIW LONG IT TOOK TO WRITE-

deep breaths. I really hope you enjoy them because when I say I dedicated an entire week to a single scene with him in it. I'm not kidding. It killed me.

For the most part I do what I always do with those fics and stick to cannon, which was the mistake, I only like Damien when he's evil and deranged. Cannon Damien does not match my writings level of freak.

maze au: he doesn't get to be cool. Sorry. Your man gets to be a sleep deprived, paid, stalker of Oliver while he's in the maze. Damien works for the maze and helps give reports on his assigned constant, Oliver! Who's actually really endearing and kind of cute .

Thinking about having him a vaguely similar role to ash and me like THE watcher, the clearing has to keep dealing with. Norman is already a Plant but like Starr doesn't actually trust him. So yeah Damien is the wall man. People just see him around on the walls and pretend that they didn't!

Maybe he'll come down and say hello today! Probably not.

The more I think about it I want to make him a half demon to. But not like full half demon. Like he has shaper nails and teeth and is scary good at seeing in the dark and can hear any whisper. But has absolutely no strength or speed or physical traits. He's a loser.

Oc au: umghhhhhfrgcadg so i play Damien. And I do really really bad at it. Cause I try to follow cannon and we've addressed that issue. Currently he's dealing with a ton of survivors guilt because he and Oliver were the only ones to make it out of the facility collapse alive. Both the kids he brought with him died, both to his own advice.

He told Shroud to stay put. And he told hunter to run. Not great for either of them.

There was a point he beat the shit out of Sara! That was fun! Their.....siblings in this au? Or at least very heavily implied that they are. And so they just started scraping.

Poor Vianca though. God if I was better at playing him maybe they could have had a cool sibling dynamic. But alas it just came of as very very awkward because for most of her lore I was playing her, Sara and damien, who all would have been siblings but I did it so bad at yeah- there are some reasons why this au is called the secret au. It's the silly one where I don't think about it like a writer just a Creator and im not supposed to care how pretty the final result is if I had fun. And I did have fun! But when it comes to Damien things just get messy.

THATS IT. IM DONE!!! THIS SHOULD NOT BE THIS LONG!!!! I DID UT BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE SHORTER!!! ITS NOT!!!! BUT I DID IT ANYWAY SO HA! I WIN!!!

#salt answers!#welcome to dreamworld #wtdw #salts stories #damien klein

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xbomboi · 10 months ago

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thoughts about Epic Winter, & reconciling its place in Ever After High’s story as a whole

i wanna talk about epic winter because it—arguably more than any other aspect of the franchise—is definitely ever after high’s ‘ugly duckling’ piece of media, so to speak.

now obviously, a lot of it has to do with being the final big installment in eah’s main story, its premise being a side quest that sidelines the main protagonists in favor of new characters who are comparably far less compelling as the show’s actual leads, leaving the audience without any actual closure to the story which they were following.

in isolation, epic winter isn’t that terrible (though i think most would agree its better parts are the ones centered around already-established characters as opposed to the new ones), but in context it leaves a sour taste.

i entirely understand why anyone rewriting the series would either heavily rework it, only keep more important story beats such as daring’s arc & faybelle’s side plot, or completely remove the outing altogether.

in my case, however, deleting epic winter isn’t an option; my intentions are to continue where ever after high left off, and organically finish what they started. that means epic winter stays in tact, sanity be damned.

with that writing handicap, i can’t edit any pre-existing media in the ever after high animated lineup, which has forced me to brainstorm ways to recontextualize the purpose for epic winter’s place in the story and make the time spent on its story retroactively feel, at the very least, a little more worth it.

and the solution i found comes from viewing all that is introduced in the special through chehkov's gun.

(if you're unfamiliar, chehkov's gun is a narrative rule that everything introduced in a story must be done so with a purpose to serve. i.e. if you give a character a gun, they must shoot it.)

what's done is done; if we have to go on this detour following crystal winter and the top of the world, so be it. but let's pocket it like a tool that can be used later.

so here's my idea: bring crystal and the winter kingdom back into the story later down the line when the events of the story have reached a far more grandiose scale.

basically, i think the best way to use crystal would be when the story reaches a point of confronting and opposing the ruling powers in the fairytale world. having become the new snow queen, naturally, she'd be included in a gathering of the rulers of the kingdoms in the fairytale world.

i want there to be a moment in the story where the ruling powers gather together, and we see familiar faces return (including ones that we'd be introduced to after epic winter but prior to this), such as snow white, king charming, the queen of hearts, and of course, crystal.

with her outlook that would most reasonably be more aligned with the students at ever after high, she could end up being one of-if not the sole person-those present to voice opposition to whatever unfavorable verdict the rest of the rulers have made, as it would serve as direct conflict for the protagonists. she'd find herself outnumbered and ultimately her voice holding little to no power to sway the decision (especially being disregarded for her rather young age). afterwards we'd see her reflect on her frustrations with her colleagues and their rule of the system, thinking about it in terms of what kind of ruler she wants to be, before seeing her find determination towards something, though we aren’t yet shown what she actually decides to do.

the next time we'd see her would then come a little later, the conflict reaching the most dire circumstances. all hope is lost for our heroes; raven, apple, and co. would be down on their luck against odds they're unable to overcome. and that's when crystal would show up to offer her support, providing the numbers of her kingdom as allies to help better the odds. (she wouldn't be the only ally to show up, as this would be a 'getting help from all the friends we made along the way' ordeal. she would simply be one of said friends.)

crystal's help would ultimately play a part in winning the conflict. and because the audience would be familiar with crystal and the winter kingdom to a decent extent way prior to that point, the inclusion of it in the present fight at hand wouldn't feel like an ass-pull or a deus ex machina of sorts; it would make sense and feel earned for the most part.

and i think that's honestly the best thing to be made of epic winter's main adventure. we can't change it or fix it as it is, but we can create a payoff for it all later down the line. think of it like begrudgingly doing chores that lack any enjoyment factor, only to find that afterwards, you're glad you did.

so, yeah, that's my idea for how to give epic winter a genuine purpose. but i'm just spitballing.

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adleryoung · 2 years ago

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Blast it! How was I supposed to make a decision with incomplete information?

"I need a team of the sneakiest Ixies to go into town and find out what's happening," I instructed. "I want to know when the trial is, who the judge will be, if there is a jury, who's in it, anybody of interest in the case. Also find out if the rabbits who started all this have a ringleader or if it really is just a mob. We'd better set up a relay with Ixies stationed in hailing distance of each other from here to town, so I can be notified the moment the situation changes. Find out if Didelphis's hut has been searched yet."

My troops buzzed away on their new mission.

"What if they don't even bother with a trial?" Chloe quacked nervously.

"If that happens, we'll have to try to pull off an immediate rescue. How likely is it that the town would skip a trial and go right to an execution without any due process? I thought you lowfolk considered yourselves to be 'civilized.' I assume that the local magistrate would have a lot to answer for if word of such irregular procedures ever reached a higher office."

"The rabbits are a more immediate threat than any censure from the High Court," Chloe explained. "Such disciplinary action would be late, if it ever came at all."

"They could just hold a kangaroo court," Rebecca suggested. "A show trial would satisfy the technical legal requirements even though the verdict was predetermined."

"Would the townsfolk go for all that jumping and kicking though?" I asked. "I suppose the rabbits might … yes, at this point I wouldn't put anything past them … but this is why I want to know who the judge and jury are. With luck, we'll have enough time to set a plan in motion before the trial. I need to handle this in a way that keeps the situation from getting worse. Which reminds me … IXIES! Those of you who rescued Petunia and Gretchen, go back to where you knocked out those rabbits, and if they are waking up, knock them out again. It is vitally important that they be soaked with liquor to tarnish their reputations and make their word suspect. We can't let them claim with any credibility that they were attacked with magic. It shouldn't be hard to find booze. Lowfolk use it to purify their drinking water. There should be bottles of the stuff in every house. Find some."

A detachment of Ixies flew away on this assignment.

"All right," I continued, turning my attention back to the witches. "I have a few ideas on how to fix this, but I need just a bit more information. Firstly: How many people know that Didelphis was a member and, in fact, the former leader of the coven?"

"Everybody knows," Petuna stated. "Didelphis bragged about it all the time. Like, constantly."

"She threatened to turn Oonagh into a newt multiple times," Chloe added, "once she learned how."

"If that's the case, why has she not been accused of witchcraft before now?" I asked, bewildered.

"Nobody took her seriously," Rebecca explained. "Obviously she never did turn Oonagh into a newt. The people all thought she was just a crazy old lady."

"So … is it common knowledge that Didelphis hates Oonagh?" I asked.

"Oh yes," Gretchen declared as the other witches nodded in agreement. "Yes, it is very common knowledge."

"If it is common knowledge that Didelphis was not only a student of witchcraft, but the actual leader of a coven, AND Oonagh's sworn enemy, why is she not under any sort of suspicion? Surely this looks like an obvious attempt to destroy her most hated rival?"

"Didelphis was the one who was turned into a child," Petunia pointed out. "Being a crone was her whole deal. She wouldn't have done that to herself, ergo it must have been the work of a malefactor. Them being enemies makes Oonagh the prime suspect."

"Really?" I sighed. "A malefactor? Despite the fact that Didelphis is KNOWN to be a dabbler in the dark arts? Is that the prosecutor's reasoning?"

The witches all shrugged.

#furry #elves #story #plot #adventure #tboay #cartoon

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giant-tinynerd · 3 days ago

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Grief Fueled Thoughts

My grandma was hospitalized last week after a stroke. It's been a roller coaster of emotions since then. Her and I were never really close, especially after I had issues with my father/her son. We strayed away from one another and the time I did decide to reach out, she gave my number to him which caused a whole lot of issues. I felt betrayed and I wanted nothing to do with her. I would run into her from time to time and I remember a remark she made of, "Wow, it seems we have to travel hundreds of miles to see one another." I took that a way. It's not all on me to maintain a relationship. She softened a bit but she never understood me. We look alike and we share the same birthday. We have some similar mannerisms and characteristics but we never truly understood one another. Our last true conversation, she pulled me aside to look at some photos in the hallway. She pointed to a black and white one of herself, held my hand, and said, "You look like me." I was 28 and she was 89. Walking away from that conversation I was left with the thought, "She's trying to connect with me" It's only when she doesn't have as close of a relationship with my father that she now wants one with me. I was upset that, this is what it took for us to maybe forge some sort of relationship. I still didn't trust her. A few months later when I went up to her town, I did try to call her and let her know I'd be nearby. She had changed her number. I managed to get her new one but my calls went unanswered, so I left a voicemail. Later that day, my aunt spoke to her and my grandma was surprised I was in town. She never did call me back or reach out. On our birthday, I tried to call her once again. Only to find out she was out of the country and would be for an entire month. "I'll just talk to her later", but later never came. Her first stroke on Wednesday was severe enough that she couldn't speak. She could only move her right arm. She'd have lucid moments where she'd understand what you were saying and would nod yes or no. She'd recognized people. When I was able to go up there on Friday and see her. She looked at me, the way you'd do if you're trying hard to recognize someone. You know them from where but you can't exactly place who or where they're from. The doctor came in to tell us that she'd never be the same again. She'd probably never walk again and we had to think of quality over quantity. If she were to make it to 100, would she be happy? When she would be cleared to leave, would she go to a rehab or home? Many things to consider but we have time. Right? There was a run planned for that Saturday and Sunday. My cousins and I weren't sure we'd be able to make it but my aunt/their mom insisted that we do it. We do this run for grandma. We did.Sometime between Wednesday and Sunday, she suffered another stroke. Monday, grandma was doing great. She was more lucid then ever, she could sit up and she was watching her favorite show. My cousin even showed her pictures/videos of us completing the run that we did in honor of her. She would be released soon. She wouldn't. That was her surge. That night, her health took a turn for the worse. It got really, really bad. It was another major stroke. All three strokes were in different parts of the brain. She was gone in every way but physically. Tuesday, went up to see her again for what I knew would be the last time. At least she looked peaceful now. The doctors would give her morphine to help her ease into the night. She stopped breathing Wednesday night but the Dr. didn't call time of death until Thursday morning. I never realized how much you could miss someone that wasn't around often. I hate the words, "My grandma died." I hate that I will never get another opportunity to talk to her again. I think I'm haunted by the "what ifs" that will never happen. Maybe I always missed her but anger/wariness stood in the way of that. I'm so sad and heartbroken and I can't make sense of my emotions. She will always be a piece of me and I guess I have to celebrate our birthdays for the both of us.

#tw: death #just something I need to get off my chest

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airsoftaction · 1 year ago

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lilith-devi-nyx-elsword-theorist · 1 year ago

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4th job advancement theory + New Character theory

With Monaterra release, I've decided to "try" and make this theory, it's not possible but I'll give it a shot for the "Winter Update" as to claim some Elboi's mentioning of a "rumor about 4th job advancement" without any solid evidence of where he's heard/seen this info within the Discord I'm not giving out his name. But reminder we just recently gotten 4th Jobs for everyone

So in order for this to even WORK in the first place, as I have not been following up on the updates and lore as I'm slowly just reading through the story as I'm far behind so I have NOT reached anywhere past Pruinaum Outskirts.

as we can't make a job advancement anywhere in the middle of Monaterra, as the story is still using the 3rd jobs portraits.

A work around for this is, maybe if you at least unlocked Monaterra

but there's a separate dungeon in the Special's Tab, where you have to do 3 quests. But they have to be done Solo. It's mostly going to be similar to how you did 3rd Job Advancements and Master Road. But you run a trial of Dungeons familiar to old dungeons. But these dungeons are personalized to your class you fight the specter again, but it's a Henir corrupted form of the 4th Job you're going to be.

the first 2 quests are references to the 1st and 2nd Jobs as Trial One.

Trial two, is 3rd Jobs unique dungeon as well, you fight the specter that is the 3rd Job.

the final quest and third trial is fighting the Specter, a 1 v 1. You're putting a fight against the Specter as the Henir Corruption

A "mention is that the Devs were thinking which is a bad idea to do right in the middle is remove El Resonance Points."

So this is where the problem lies, how will we the players progress in the game? It can't be an automatic 500 ERP, because most veteran players that are playing would most likely lost their marbles at the free things the recently playing player is doing rn.

So if it changes like that, we'd have to make it like this, at Elrianode and you unlock 3rd Job, you get 50 ERP, you don't get more from this,

the second requirement of 50 erp, is staying alive during the Rosso Raid so you DO NOT DIE on the first run. that's an easy 100 erp.

the third requirement of getting up to 700 erp is, which is very dumb on paper! And don't ever remind me how dumb it sounds as even I think it's dumb, but you have to at least have 4 masterclass characters even ADDED! to your el search party collection for an easy 50 erp. So say you played all 4 Aisha's and added them to your masterclass and collection you get 50. so you'd at least have around 150 erp with just one character fully completed 100%.

the whole collection you get is 700. it's a lot. but your choice if you want to work for that erp.

the last requirement of an extra 50 is surviving Berthe Raid, BUT not just Berthe Raid, you HAVE to at least do Abyss Raid as well.

You now have 750 ERP. but this might have to mean the removal of the EXP option.

SO a quicker way to get to endgame content real fast because you HAVE Phoru Quest that gives you a free +9 (+15 Reforge) Amethystine Armor. But this still doesn't get you anywhere, as you still have to work your FoJ grind, VoS and/or SoA stages if you get it, etc. So it's a quick way to reach Monaterra, but this doesn't mean much as you still have to work on your characters build, etc.

Now how do I explain what does this all have to do with 4th Job advancement? Well, you got to get to 4th job advancement somehow quickly right? Well this is your almost one way ticket to reach this elusive Job change, you get a permanent advancement cube, this will show you that. You've gone far to reach end game content. It would consist of having +5% Physical / Magical Attack Power with the normal stats from the 3rd Job costume, it's an upgrade. You gain a 4th Force Passive.

A new set of Skills and Class passives where this will go. you get 3 New Class passives these will sit right under Master Class with a line of saying " 4th Class Passives. " , and maybe if we're really grasping at straws here 5 more new mod skills but you are not allowed to use these new mod skills until you achieved 4th class. Which imo, this could be fair game.

Okay now another theory I'd like to touch back upon is a 2023 Winter release of a new character it's been since 2020 of December since Noah's release in Kr.

the theory flying kite around is, most of the times now, is 2-3 years since the last characters release would be a new character.

This is where I come in and say " Oh boy I love to make a theory about this lemme at em!"

So this is unusual. By going by the Kr release dates

Elboi, Aisha and Rena were released in 2007.

Raven and Eve were in 2008

Chung was 2010

Ara 2012

Elesis and Add in 2013

Lu/Ciel in 2014

Rose 2015

Ain 2016

Laby 2018

Noah 2020

So we would "technically" get a new character in Winter 2023 in KR.

or Early 2024 but their region is unknown. How would we get a character, we should have them start off IN the Demon realm, their own area ofc, but you go through the story where Henir's Order starts their mission, meaning yes you play as a Henir Order member. It's really dumb for me to change one of my other theories but let me explain.

They're not fully aware of what they're doing is good, not even bad.

The tutorial boss for them, is maybe a form, it could be Elsword. She doesn't know who Elsword is maybe it could be Genesis but we couldn't know as again this character is just as confused to what's even happening, but the El itself is showing her a Warrior bathed in light. After the El's explosion she's fainted within Henir's region, unable to find the other members of Henir.

She's unaware of how long it's been since she's woken up, she only travels Henir's Time and Space, this is where we can have her learn from GLAIVE himself of the events, thus he literally makes it as confusing to her than he should. Meaning he's more or less showing her the event's of the El Search Party, up to Elrianode.

She's definitely not trusting him, and he's more or less messing with her because she believes Henir's Order must be doing the " right thing?"

once she does for her Master Class, her own Master Road, is fighting Glaive. This mean's he's going to really show you, what he's capable of. This is where Glaive respects her while she may not remember what being a Henir Order member is like, but she's definitely going to find the El Search Party and confront Henir's Order for the destruction they've caused and the innocent lives they've harmed.

Once she reaches Monaterra she's only learning about what is of this world unable to understand Glaive's words, her choice is to "test" the El Search Party maybe fight Elsword in a 1v1.

Though because she'd be referred as an EX-Henir Order member, the El Search Party might keep a distance from her knowing this info.

This theory is going long enough for how dumb it sounds rn, you all are probably dreading this post, but let me remind you THIS HAS BEEN TAKING ME ALMOST 3 WHOLE HOURS TRYING TO MAKE A THEORY over a 4th Job advancement rumor and decided to pile on a New character as a theory THIS IS A LOT OF WORDS to finally stop making sense for once in my life!!!!

This entire theory can be set as boosh by this point.

#elsword #elsword theory #elsword theorist #elsword theories #elsword 4th job idea #elsword 4th job theory #elsword 4th job rumor #elsword new character #elsword new character theory #elsword changes rumor #elsword rumors #elsword rumor #elsword new character rumor

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silver-crowned-riders · 2 years ago

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//(warning this got a little long sorry 😭)

[A video is attatched to the reblog]

Jace: "So you think we'd make you LOOK BAD, HUH? I'm gonna MAKE you look bad AFTER I- mmmph!"

Beau: "I think what Jace meant to say was "Of course, you lovely human being Professor what's-er-name! But if you need the idea to be more presentable, then Beau can give you a tour to show off our dastardly little Pokémon and help your beautiful cause!"

[Beau picks up the phone and walks through what looks like an abandoned building painted over with team colors]

B: "Y'see, Team Riders isn't afraid of any Pokémon. They deserve our love, and the right people can love anything!"

[Xe pans the camera over to a female grunt sitting on the floor with an Impidimp and Salandit]

B: "Yo weird guy! Tell us about Bandit!"

[The grunt springs up and holds up her purring Salandit to the camera]

Grunt: "She breathed smoke in my face and whacked me with her tail when we first met! Now we're best friends and we bite any IDIOT who disses the other! I wanna learn how to breathe fire and poison at people just like her!"

B: "D'AWWWW!!! That's BEAUTIFUL! Keep it up!"

[Beau takes the camera through more of presumably the Team Riders base, where tough looking grunts are hanging out with Purrloins, Litwicks, Zoruas, Sandiles, and a variety of Dark, Ghost, Fairy and Fire types. The whole scene looks a little rough and wild, and pretty suspicious at points (is that grunt offering alcohol to a ghastly in the background?) but both Pokémon and trainer look to be having fun]

B: "See that bond forged through animosity? There's always gonna be folks like us who are up for it!

And if you aren't, then well, sucks to be you! That's your fault!"

[There's a sound of paws landing on metal. Beau pans the camera again to the top of an empty shelf]

[A somewhat gloomy looking Absol with a spiked-up mane trots across]

B: "Some of us have more personal experience with people trying to change Pokémon against their will. Some people get that idea in their heads and do nasty things about it. Putting 'better' Absols out there ain't gonna make punks 'see the good' in the real disagreeable little guys like Windy..."

[She holds her hand out in front of the camera and waves enthusiastically to the Absol]

B: "Hiiiiii Windy~~!"

[The Absol seems unenthused. Someone new peeks up from behind the shelf]

???: "Boys, what are you-"

B: "Eeeah!! Don't worry about what I'm doing!"

[She brings the camera over to a new room before talking again]

B: "Hopefully that will lend some understanding to those people reaching out to Team Calm because they aren't up to the task of caring for a Pokémon otherwise, or those who think a Pokémon's reputation should matter.

Although, miss Professional-fessor Lemony-Lime, I hope you don't mind us saying this here, but... this is much more for the sake of their customers than Team Calm themselves."

B: "They seem really belligerent... I think either way, if we find them around our turf, we're going to handle those folks themselves the way we choose to be fit. "

J: "With no affiliation to Team Violence, I guess."

B: "Yeeeup! Whatever we do, stay out of their biz about it."

J: "Man I wish we'd thought of that name. Team Riders just sounds soft in comparison now."

B: "Makes us sound like Wimipods"

[The two squish together close up to the camera to pose]

Both: TEAM RIDERS OUT!!

(from @silver-crowned-riders )

HEY LADY! We like your spirit with this whole "Team Violence" business!

If it suits your fancy, maybe we could have a bit of a partner-up! I mean, we haven't told the boss about this whole Team Calm business for... reasons, so we can't go full-scale. BUT! If you need examples of the best trainers alive living alongside Mons that'd give your momma a heart attack, or want us to organize a break-in or two in case of us finding them fooling around in Shinria, we can be your guys!

(i mean. fair warning we do commit actual crimes and vandalism like a lot. i know its not everyone's speed that kind of thing but uh. for your consideration)

BUT DON'T MAKE US DO ANY PAPERWORK!!

- J

Hello. I appreciate your enthusiasm, but no crime is necessary! Part of why I started Team Violence is to show that there are better ways of achieving the goals of Team Calm. If they really wanted to spread awareness and understanding of "dangerous" Pokemon, there are ways to do it that do not hurt the Pokemon themself. Crime in the name of Team Violence would undermine that goal!

But if you want to show off your "dangerous" Pokemon in, uh, legal ways, it is always nice to show them as the good Pokemon they are!

#beau posts #jace posts #bossman sightings #drawing posts #long post #professional fessor lemony lime #🧵#🎀

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hermitcraftheadcanons · 3 years ago

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Ive been going through some headcanons and i have a proposal:

Now, if you ask most other servers, they tell you that the people of hermitcraft are something like "old gods". Some say they are some of the original players, or maybe they were part of the creation that is their vast and confusing universe?

The hermits themselves dont really think so - sure some are quite powerful and they have several admins at their disposal.

But they aren't gods.

That doesn't mean that the universe doesnt have an eye on them. Most of them aren't really sure what or who keeps watch. Maybe its a neutral entity, a broken bedrock symbol and some purple wings have been in books before.

Or maybe its the void that stares back, even if thats just their admins eyes. Maybe tbe void has claimed one of their own, pulling the rest of the server along with them.

Maybe its even some of the hermits challenging or even summoning gods. There is a reason after all, why doc tends to change the subject when asked about the loss of his arm.

Some might suspect its the darkness that lies beyond the void. Wether that be an entire different dimension, existing solely for keeping balance or just a hole in the middle of the boatem town.

It could may as well be simple players, merging with servers while being summoned. Or sentient bases that follow their players home no matter what shape it physically takes on.

The Hermits know they are looked and perceived by the universe. No one really knows if they are blessed or cursed though, and quite honestly, most prefer it that way. To most of them the servers were an escape that turned into permanent residence, after all. No matter what they were running from, they were greeted with open arms. (granted, X has a habit of thoroughly making sure they are not here for pain and terror)

The gods favor hermitcraft, wether that be a good thing or not is debatable.

(lmao this is the first time i actually used the ask system on Tumblr ahaha sorry if my formating is weird.)

This is beautiful. I can almost see the intro or outro to a movie when I read it, it's just such a flavourful summary of some of the great ideas that have come through here in the last little while. I love how you tied them all together!

- Mod Shade

#Hermitcraft #mod shade #i was about to say that this makes me want to watch a show that doesn't exist but uh #Hermitcraft. exists #we have now reached the point where we'd have to make a whole new show just to fit fanon into...#anyway this was really fun to read; thank you!

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darthstitch · 2 years ago

Text

the end of the fairy tale

Let's talk about Nada.

So, for those who haven't read the comics, I'm going to say it now, even if the comics were already released 30-odd years ago, okay? SPOILERS. MAJOR SPOILERS. VERY LIKELY THE PLOT OF SANDMAN SEASON 2.

There.

The second thing I am going to say is this: THIS DOES NOT EXCUSE/EXONERATE DREAM OF THE ENDLESS FROM ANY OF HIS SHITTY ACTIONS. BECAUSE THEY WERE REALLY, REALLY HORRIBLE. HEINOUS. CRUEL. HE WAS A FUCKING IDIOT.

Look, I love the fucking idiot, okay? But yeah, the day I read that particular part in the comics was the day I absolutely wished I could reach into that world and shake him into sense. Like, DREAM, YOU MORON, YOU COME BACK HERE AND FIX THIS RIGHT THIS INSTANT GODDAMNIT. YOU FUCKING KNOW BETTER THAN THIS.

Thankfully, Death took care of that for me, in true Pinay Ate fashion.

Buckle up kids, here we go.

In the comics, Queen Nada was the first love interest that we see for Dream of the Endless. At least, the first that we knew of, since Endless Nights wasn't going to be written and published until years later.

It plays out like a classic myth, that tribal people tell each other, as part of a rite of passage for their youth. Queen Nada is the beautiful queen of a great and ancient city somewhere in Africa. She falls in love with a handsome and mysterious man. Despite multiple warnings and obstacles in her way, she goes on a quest to find Mr. Mystery and she eventually does find him.

It's worth noting that Dream here is again shown to be different from the usual pale, white, ghostly dude that we know. We're reminded that the Dream we see as a "default" is based on our perceptions. He appears as an eldritch godlike being, all flame and majesty to the Martian Manhunter.

To Nada, he is a beautiful young man of her own race but alas, when she finds him, she realizes that he's not a mortal. She recognizes him for what he is and is terrified, because to love an Endless is to court disaster. It's forbidden.

I won't recount the whole tale, but suffice it to say, that Dream eagerly pursues her once he's figured out that she's madly in love with him. She tries to run away but eventually she gives into Dream and they have this one incredible night of passion. But because she apparently broke this taboo, her kingdom is completely destroyed.

Dream tries to offer her the Queenship of the Dreaming, but obviously, that's not going to fly with Nada, who's absolutely broken that all of her innocent people had to pay the price for her foolish passions and love. She chooses to kill herself and while Dream still tries to persuade her to spend her afterlife with him, she refuses.

And that's why he sends her to hell. It takes about 10,000 years, but after Desire needles him (as usual) and Death points out (in a gentler fashion) that he'd behaved abominably, Dream decides to do the right thing and get her out of hell. It helps that he's just experienced imprisonment as well (we'd later learn that this has happened twice) and after some shenanigans, he does set her free.

Dream awkwardly attempts to apologize and he ends up getting rightfully smacked in the face, because, Dream, you moron, that's not how you say sorry. OMG.

DASURV.

This is one of the reasons why Tom Sturridge's Morpheus took me a little off guard. His apology to Lucienne and his closure with Calliope are leagues away from this, where he shows a lot more empathy, sensitivity and maturity. I'm looking forward to seeing how the show is going to handle that moment, since they've been doing such a great job of adapting and making changes to the source material while still staying true to the spirit of the entire saga.

But I digress. Dream does really make it right with Nada and she gets to reincarnate and live her new life, finally free of all the bullshit.

For a long time, I had wondered how Dream of the Endless could've been so cruel and petulant and capricious. I did understand that The Sandman wasn't a classic "hero" tale where the lead character would make the "right" choice every time. Dream does change and grow and develop for the better over the course of the series, which is why it's so heartbreaking to lose him in the end, just when it seems he's finally getting his shit together.

And then I read Endless Nights and I finally understood.

Poor Nada was basically Dream's rebound love from the disaster that was Killala of the Glow.

Killala was a trainwreck in the making. From the comics, it seemed like Dream had been the one who did the courting, dazzling and wooing her. She's into it, but she doesn't seem to understand Dream's real nature and it's fairly clear that she's attracted to Dream and very much charmed, but it's Dream who's fallen hard and fast for her.

It's also worth noting that the restriction against loving mortals was not yet in place. It's Killala who causes that restriction to happen. Given that she falls in love with the star of her own solar system, it's significant that the one who doles out punishment for Nada falling in love with Dream and consummating that love is our sun.

I honestly think that Killala and Dream would've still broken up, even without Desire's meddling, but it might have happened gradually, over time and Dream might have learned a far more different, gentler lesson in loving mortals. Instead, he gets faced with Killala openly betraying him and running off with Sto-Oa. Desire laughs in Dream's face about it and admits that they thought it was a fun joke.

And Dream does absolutely nothing, except to storm away.

Killala isn't punished, isn't condemned to hell, doesn't suffer some unspeakable fate. We're told that she was happy with her love, even though she does die, eventually, since she's mortal.

So it's no wonder that Dream had overreacted so badly with Nada. It was Nada who had initially pursued him. It was Nada who had gone through all these trials and tribulations to prove her love for him. She was the one who essentially did the courting and the wooing. To Dream, who was still feeling bruised and battered after getting rejected by Killala, it had to be a heady feeling, to be loved and wanted like that.

Was it any wonder that he absolutely would not let Nada go after this? That he would try to hold on to her, try to keep her by his side, damn the consequences?

It's also significant that the Dream Nada sees, essentially looks like a teenager of her own age - a clear sign that Dream himself isn't emotionally mature enough or had developed that conscientious streak that made him so endearing much later in his life. He was young (in Endless terms), he was hurting over his last love and his sibling's cruelty, and he just wanted, very much, to be loved and have his fairy tale happily ever after.

Again, this doesn't excuse his cruelty. But at least we can better understand where he's coming from and appreciate how much character growth he'd gone through, because he does, in the end, set things right with Nada the best way he possibly could. And while it's not a fairy tale ending, it's a satisfying one.

#the sandman #dream of the endless #dream of the endless | morpheus #nada #meta #dream and his poor lovelife decisions #dream and his disaster of a lovelife

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fallingsolonely · 2 years ago

Text

Affliction • Part 1

Warning

This one-shot contains sexual content as well as mentions of death.

This story is about young lovers reconnecting years later, only to be faced with a heartbreaking truth.

[This one-shot is LONG! The whole thing has a word count of 19k so I will be posting it in parts]

I hope you enjoy! This is my first time posting a story on Tumblr.

Word count - Part 1 - 6.1k

~~~~

[Charlotte's POV]

"You played so beautifully tonight, Charlotte" He whispers, kissing my hand.

The entire night he's been making me melt into a puddle. He's been so sweet and paitent.

I haven't felt like this in a long time, happy.

Genuinely happy.

It scares me so much.

The alcohol in my system fucks with my emotions and I try not to show it.

I hate how much of an empath he is because hiding anything from him is near impossible. Hes always been like that.

"Thank you" I say quietly, watching as he plays with my fingers.

I can hear my mother's voice ringing in my head, almost begging me. Pleading with me to tell him.

"My darling, I know, I know you don't want to hurt anyone" She's holding my face in her hands, making me look at her.

I'm bawling. I can't help it. I don't want this, I don't want him here. I can't do this.

I can't hurt him. Not Harry. Not one of the sweetest souls I have ever known.

"But this, hiding the truth from everyone is hurting you. Charlotte, you're my daughter. I love you more than you will ever understand. You deserve happiness and I very much believe that Harry being here tonight is not a coincidence" She hugs me tightly, letting me cry my eyes out into her chest.

"I don't want you having any regrets" She whispers, rubbing my back.

"I don't know how" I pull back and look at her. She places her hand on my cheek.

"You will, darling" She reassures.

"Charlotte?" I feel his thumb on my cheek, taking me out of my head.

"Sorry" I look away from him, suddenly sober as anxiety begins to fill me again.

I decided the moment I agreed to hang out with him that I was going to tell him.

I'm so scared. I haven't told anyone.

Selfishly, I broke up with my ex just to avoid this.

Hurting my family is enough.

"Why are you sorry?" He grabs my chin and turns my head.

I tear up, realizing we are reaching a point where I have to tell him.

"Honey, if something is bothering you, you know you can tell me, right?" He leans closer to me, his fingers brushing away the tears running down my cheeks.

I've been an emotional wreck all night. Even before Harry showed up.

How could I not be?

I was living a dream, I'm in New York and tonight I performed the show of my life. I've never had this kind of opportunity.

"What made you come?" I ask, needing to know why. Why, of all times to reconnect, did he decide now.

He runs his fingers through my hair and then along my jaw. He's so close to me.

"I almost didn't" He admits to me. He pulls back from me and reaches into his pocket, pulling out a little keychain.

"My mum called me earlier, telling me about your performance tonight. I'm only in New York for a bit and showing up to public events unannounced, usually isn't something I do" He looks at the little token in his hand.

"I went to this store and when I was leaving I saw this" He shows it to me. It's a violin.

I can't help it, anything involving music, especially violin, makes me light up.

I smile and take it from him. Its so cute. I love it.

"It made me think about the days when we'd get my house to ourselves and get drunk. You'd dance around, playing your violin like you were auditioning for Juliard" He smiles at me, looking at the keychain in my hands.

"I'm going to be front row, you know" He says, a playful smile on his face.

We were sitting on his bed, right next to eachother. Both leaning against his head board. I'm sitting more on my side, facing him. My legs curled up and my knees pushing against his thigh.

"What do you mean?" I wonder.

"When you score your first show at Carnegie" He says, the sweetest fucking smile on his face.

"Seeing you up on stage tonight. Fuck, Charlotte. You belong up there and I know I'm not the only one who would die to see you play something of your own"

Hes going to make me fucking bawl my eyes out. Something I desperately don't want to do in front of him.

"You are so talented and so beautiful, darling" He leans in closer to me and gently kisses my forehead.

He stays close, resting his forehead on mine.

I can feel the butterflies in my stomach, the fear.

I'm so scared, I don't know how to tell him.

I just want to be in this moment with him, no where else.

He brushes my cheek with the back of his knuckles. He's so soft.

"I mean it, Charlotte" He's serious.

"I got so lucky to be where I am. But you-" He pokes my chest and he's smiling again.

"You deserve the world and I know your going to change it. Just you and your little violin" He taps my nose with his finger and then smiles so wide.

I can't think of a person who deserves everything more than Harry. He didn't just get lucky, I may not have kept in touch with him but I know he worked his ass off to be in the position he's in now.

I shake my head, finding the courage to place my hand on his cheek.

I run my fingers through his hair and he smiles at me. His hair is longer than mine. It suits him.

"The day I met you I knew the world was going to fall in love with you. How could they not? Your smile alone is enough to brighten a room. You make everyone around you happy. Even when you're not, you always make sure everyone around you is smiling. Harry, there is no one who deserves the world more than you" I whisper to him, closing my eyes for a moment.

Our faces are so close, foreheads pressed together.

When I open my eyes again, I catch it.

I watch as his eyes quickly flutter up to meet my gaze.

Before I know it, it's the only thing I can think about. I fight it, so hard.

But I can't help myself, I glance down for just a second.

I quickly realize what Im doing but it's way too late. The moment I did it, he knew.

In just that little glance I get a picture of his heart shaped lips. Pink, soft looking lips.

I haven't had feelings like this in a long time.

The only thing in my head right now is him. Nothing else.

Not the consequences of these actions. Not the heartbreaking truth of my reality.

Just him.

I close my eyes, moving my hands down to the collar of his shirt and gripping it slightly to steady myself.

My stomach is doing flips, sensing Harry's slow movement closer to me. His hand slides into my hair and rests on the back of my neck.

With just a slight push, our lips connect.

I get nervous, instinctively pushing him back but just barely and not for long.

I wanted it.

I pull him back and we are kissing again.

It's so soft, both of us moving delicately.

It feels so fucking good.

It gets heavier and my heart is pounding. I'm so lightheaded but I don't want to stop.

I want to pull him as close to me as I can and I know he's thinking the same because he places his hands on my hips and brings me into his lap.

I straddle his thighs, my hands tangling in his hair. He's got one hand pulling my face closer to his and the other is on my hip.

He moves his lips, kissing along my jaw. His mouth is warm. It tickles my skin and I want more of it.

He pulls back to look at me for a second and cups my cheek.

"You are so beautiful" He whispers.

"So. Fucking. Beautiful" Between each word he lightly kisses me.

He doesn't pull back after the last one.

But this is when it hits me.

Oh no.

Fuck.

I can feel the anxiety dragging itself through my body, curling around every nerve.

In a panic, I push myself away from him.

I get off of his lap.

I can't believe I let it get that far. Especially before telling him. He deserves to know before anything else happens between us.

"Charlotte, darling, are you okay?" He follows me, but I get off the bed. Still turned away from him.

My mum told me I'd know how to do this.

But I don't. Anxiety is tearing me apart. I don't want to hurt him. I don't want pull him into this but it's too late.

This entire day is a dream. I can't even believe it's real. I never in a million years would have thought I'd reconnect with Harry. In New York City.

"I'm sorry if I'm pushing this too quickly" He says and then I do turn around. This isn't his fault.

God, I'd give anything in the world to lay in this bed with him all night.

"It's not you, Harry" I whisper, letting him reach out to grab my hand. He pulls me towards him.

"All night, something has been bothering you" He takes my other hand in his as well.

"Whatever it is, Charlotte-" He squeezes my hands tightly, pulling me even closer to him.

"Darling, you can tell me"

I know he's serious. He cares about me and it makes it so much harder.

I look at him and see the worry in his eyes.

I tear up and he hugs me. He wraps his arms around my waist and hugs me tightly.

It makes me cry. I hug him tighter, crying into his chest.

I haven't told anyone. I haven't said it out loud. I've cut off almost all of my relationships.

I don't want to hurt anyone.

God, I don't want to hurt Harry. He's the last person I want to hurt.

He pulls back from me, he brings a hand to my cheek and brushes his thumb back and forth.

"Anything, love" He pulls my face closer to his, our noses almost touching.

"You can tell me absolutely anything, Charlotte"

He kisses the edge of my lips and tightens the hold he has around my waist.

My arms are still around his neck.

I bring my hands from his hair to his face. I hold his face in my hands, fighting to keep myself from tearing up again but I can't help it.

This man deserves nothing less than happiness. He isn't going to get that with me.

I hate it, so much.

I can hear my mother's voice in my head, telling me that I don't get to make the decision for him. She's right. I know she is.

It doesn't make anything easier.

"I-I don't want to hurt you" I whisper. I look at him for a moment, his face is warm in my hands.

I stroke his cheek for a moment and then pull away.

I back away from him, but take his hand as I do. I gently guide him back over to the bed and sit on the edge of it.

He joins me, sitting next to me and holding my hand tightly.

I take a few deep breaths, trying to find a way to say it.

But there isn't any way to say it. There's no way to sugar coat the inevitable truth.

I don't look at him, I just pull his hand into my lap and play with his fingers.

"H-Harry-" I squeeze his hand in my both of mine and look at him.

"I-Im sick-"

I can feel it, every fucking stage of grief running through me in an instant.

I'm supposed to be in therapy. Perhaps I should go. Maybe this would have been easier.

*Earlier That Evening*

[Harry's POV]

This isn't what I expected I'd be doing tonight. But curiosity always gets the best of me.

Not just that, but the flood of memories when I heard her name.

About 6 hours ago, I was in a meeting. I can still feel the nerves from it, the adrenaline at the thought of a new adventure.

A movie, I never imagined acting would be something I would pursue.

A lot of it is still quite secretive but I sent in an audition a little while ago.

I got to meet the director today, over a zoom call.

Christopher Nolan.

I smile thinking about it. How fucking excited I am. I fly out to London in a few days to meet him officially.

Before I could call her, my mum called me.

She never fails to call me, it's rare that I miss it.

God, I am so grateful to that woman.

Tonight, she hit me with a blast from the past.

Charlotte Cohen.

I haven't thought about that name in a long time. Her scent is the first thing that came to my head.

Strawberries.

When that memory came, all of it did.

All of the memories of that girl and the hold she had on me back then. I was convinced we'd get married.

So much has happened since then.

Sometimes it's difficult, thinking about the past. How different my life was then compared to now.

It's insane to think about it too much. I try not too.

I don't like to dwell on how things could have been if I hadn't decided to take on the world. Put my name out there.

I am happy. Unbelievably happy with where I am in my life now. I am free to explore any opportunity that comes my way and I have been lucky enough to have many.

After the phone call with my mother, I sat in my car and I let myself do it.

I let myself think about all of those memories I have with Charlotte.

A part of me will always love that girl, she could have tried to stop me from auditioning but she never did.

She supported every dream I had. She was there, the day of my audition.

So much has changed. I haven't seen her in a couple years at least.

My mum informed me that Charlotte had been invited to play at a Classical Music Charity event at The Town Hall right in New York City.

Where I happen to be at the moment. I wasn't meant to be here long. Just visiting a friend for a few days.

After I had gotten myself away from thinking so much about the past, and her I decided against going.

And then, we reach now.

I'm sitting in my car, twirling the little keychain between my fingers.

After talking to my mum on the phone, I met up with some friends. We ended up in this quaint little vintage trinket shop.

Something I probably have too much of, but I always see things that remind me of friends and family.

A way to keep those closest to me, with me all the time.

As we checked out, I noticed this little rack of keychains. Among them was one very in particular.

A violin.

I see her, twirling around my bedroom and playing her heart out.

She was astonishingly talented.

I remember her dream, Juliard.

I smile, thinking about the way I teased her about it. How her dream after school, is more school.

Shes always been smart as whip.

It's something I had adored about her back then.

I wonder if that's why she's in New York, I hope it is. I knew that girl for years, Juliard and then a sold out concert at Carnegie Hall.

That was everything to her and I can remember it so clearly.

She was stubborn, so stubborn. There's not a doubt in my mind that girl would get accepted into Juliard on her first try.

I bought my ticket an hour ago and decided not to tell anyone, I didn't even think about it.

Taking a risk, I don't usually. Especially events, showing up places unannounced doesn't always go well for me.

Depending on the place and the event, most people are respectful. Most people will leave me alone, some will say hi or ask for a picture.

I never imagined I'd be at a point in my life where I have to think carefully about going into public.

From what I gathered online, the event is a musical charity fundraiser.

Charlotte is closing it with a violin solo.

I made sure to buy a ticket closest to the exit. Luckily, I've been to a few shows at The Town Hall and know how to find my way around the place.

_________

I'm lucky enough to make it to my seat, virtually unnoticed. I noticed some second glances but I kept myself composed and went straight to my seat.

With another stroke of luck, I'm seated next to a sweet elderly couple. They both smile at me, I'm unsure if either of them recognize me.

After a few moments of people settling into their seats, the lights dimmed and the stage lit up.

A well put together woman walked onto the stage.

"Thank you to everyone who came out today, it has truly been an honor to be your host. All of our participating charities have come together and organized an amazing show for you tonight. Everyone up here has been impacted by these charities and therefore you, this is just a small way to say thank you. So, sit back and enjoy the show"

______

It truly is quite the show. Every performance is its own, every person bearing their soul in their own way. From slam poetry to choirs.

It was very fun to watch, very emotional.

With every performance that passes I wonder when she will be coming on. I find it hard to focus as I think about her.

The last time we spoke was over 2 years ago when her father passed. I couldn't make it to the funeral but we talked on the phone for over an hour.

I remember it, sitting in my hotel room and dialing her number. I was nervous about it, talking to her.

I shouldn't have been, besides a few awkward minutes at the start, we talked like we had never stopped talking.

As soon as I brought up her violin, she couldn't stop talking. It's been her life for as long as I've known her.

We kept talking for a bit afterwards, but life happened and I haven't heard really anything about her since.

My trance is broken by an eruption of clapping, I quickly join in. I feel bad that my mind is so preoccupied.

I selfishly came to a charity event at the chance to reconnect with someone. I donated to the charity that chose Charlotte to represent them, when I bought the ticket.

But, as much as I have enjoyed the night, she's the only thing I'm thinking about.

The curtains close and the familiar voice of the host, speaks out.

"We'd like to thank you again for joining us tonight, please give a warm welcome to our last performer of the night, Charlotte Cohen"

Suddenly, I'm alert.

It goes quiet and the curtains open, I can see her outline in the darkness. I watch as she prepares herself, shaking away the nerves.

Then, the spotlight appears and she's glowing.

She looks incredible.

She's wearing a beautiful white dress, her lips are painted red and her hair falls in loose curls.

I smile when my eyes reach her shoes, they are pink and from what I can tell, they are decorated with strawberry designs.

A weird little quirk, her obsession with strawberries. It's something not many people guess about her.

We met at a wedding when I was 14. She was the only one at the dessert table and I watched as she carefully picked out almost all of the strawberries and took them back to her table.

It's such a fond memory, meeting her.

Teasing her about taking all of the berries and then from that moment, we were almost inseparable.

I witnessed her perform for the first time and I can still remember exactly what I felt watching her.

I can feel it as I see her up on stage in this moment.

She has my full attention. I can sense her nerves in the way she takes a deep breath and closes her eyes.

And then, she starts to play.

I watch as her demeanor changes into one of focus and confidence.

'I don't play the violin, the violin plays me'

She said it all the time.

The talent she has, you'd almost believe it.

It's incredible to watch, to know she has been passionate about this since she could walk.

She's beautiful and elegant and the music is heavenly.

I'm in awe of her, watching as she plays with both vigor and melancholy.

The composition she's is playing is Tchaikovsky.

I know a scarce amount about him compared to Charlotte. I do know he's not easy to play and his music, being performed by her is something out of this world.

She's so skillful and meticulous in how she plays. She's very focused on what she's doing but everyone can see what it does to her.

The way she gets pulled into the music and pours out every part of herself.

It's emotional. I can see the tears shine on her cheeks and I want to know what she's thinking.

I hope she knows just how captivating she is as a performer. It blows my mind how this

girl doesn't have her name everywhere.

I can't put into words how attractive it is watching someone perform the way she does.

I haven't seen it in a long time, she's fucking stunning.

She has the whole room collectively in her world. Everyone is completely focused on her.

I don't think there's a dry eye in the room when she finishes the peice.

It's a moment of silence when she's complete and then an eruption of cheers.

People are quick to get on their feet and it makes me so happy to see it.

All for her, I've never met anyone who's

deserved recognition more than that girl.

I stand there for a moment and clap along.

She finally opens her eyes, her cheeks are tear stained but she smiles.

She looks around the audience.

For a moment, I feel like our gaze meets.

But I realize, I need to leave.

Quickly, I make my way to the exit before people start to make their way out.

I don't plan on leaving, my goal is to find her.

I know the building somewhat, but it's been a while since I've been here.

I also have no idea where her dressing room, would be.

I make my way towards where I think I have the best shot. I push open a door and bump into someone.

"Oh, I'm sorry" I say, brushing myself off and looking at the man I bumped into.

Instantly, I see the recognition on his face.

"You're Harry Styles" He's both confused and shocked.

I smile at him, I'm always tempted to laugh when someone says it to me. Like I don't know. It's sweet.

"Am I?" I ask, looking around. I laugh to ease the man and after a moment the shock wears off.

"I wasn't aware of any special guests? Especially, you. No offense of course, I'm just shocked" He looks me up and down.

"No, it's alright. I'm not a guest actually, I came to enjoy the show" I wonder if this man can help me find Charlotte.

"Well, I guess that's not the whole truth. I'm looking for one of the performers. Perhaps you can help me, Charlotte Cohen the violinist?" He looks at me, he's confused again.

"You know Charlie?" Now that's a name I haven't heard in a long time.

I never used her nickname, not even since the day we met.

"She's an old friend, do you know where I could find her?" I ask.

"Yeah, she's probably in her dressing room now. Come, I'll take you" He says, turning around and walking down the hallway we were in.

"She's never mentioned knowing Harry Styles" He says, looking at me like he's trying to figure me out.

"It was a long time ago. I heard she was performing tonight and wanted to reconnect"

"Well, she's just down here. Bless the soul on that girl, I've never met someone in my life as extraordinary as her. My daughter adored her before she passed away, she visited her in the hospital every week before that. I shouldn't be surprised that she knows someone like, well, you" He stopped outside of a door.

"I'm sorry to hear about your daughter" I say. He smiles at me.

"Oh I couldn't even imagine her face right now, standing in front of you. She was a big fan. Probably the biggest smile ever, she was the happiest little girl you'd ever meet" He looks at his feet and then back at me.

"Sorry, Charlie is right in here" He motions to the door and then opens it.

"Hey Charlie, you were incredible tonight. As always. I have a friend here to see you"

He steps in before me, but I'm quick to follow him into the room.

Charlotte looks up from the couch she's sitting on, quickly gathering herself and wiping her cheeks. But I can see light streaks of her mascara. She was crying.

"I'm sorry, Charlie, If Im interrupting" I hadn't gotten the name of the man.

"Oh no, it's alright Thomas. It's been an emotional night for everyone"

I look at her, Charlotte's mother. Edith. She sees me and her eyes light up.

"Is that, Harry Styles?" She walks up to me and the first thing she does is grab my cheeks.

"Oh my gosh, you have grown" She has the sweetest smile on her face and I laugh at the way she squishes my cheeks.

"Edith, you look amazing" She hugs me so tight.

"I know you're here for my baby, be easy with her, please. A lot has changed" She whispers in my ear as we hug.

She pulls back from me, her hands on my cheeks again. She smiles at me.

"You've done so well for yourself, Harry. You're a man now" I smile back at her, but her words bring my gaze to Charlotte.

She's already looking at me, now standing on her feet.

"How about, we let the kids talk" Thomas, takes Ediths hand and pulls her out of the room.

I look her over, finally up close. She's matured so much. Both of us have.

"Hi, Charlotte" I say, taking a step towards her.

She doesn't move, she stands where she is.

She's nervous, I can tell as she subtly picks at the paint on her nails.

"Hi, Harry" She whispers, she looks down at her hands. She smooths out her dress and I can see she's shaking a bit.

I think she realizes it because she looks up at me and puts her hands behind her back.

"I'm sorry, If Im intru-" She shakes her head and shuffles towards me.

"No, don't do that. I'm being weird" She takes a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment before looking at me again.

This time, her smile is warm. But I know the nerves are still there. She's very bad at hiding it, she always has been.

"It's just been a very emotionally overwhelming day. And then, you" She takes another little shuffle towards me.

"I think you were the last person I was expecting to see tonight" Her voice is soft, almost fragile.

"It's really good to see you, Harry" She takes one more tiny step towards me and then looks up at me.

"It's really good to see you too" I smile at her.

"I liked your mom's reaction, she hugged me right away" I say playfully, making her smile brighten just slightly.

"Shut up" She whispers sheepishly.

Hesitantly, she reaches up and wraps her arms around my neck. I quickly wrap my arms around her waist and pull her closer to me. Hugging her tightly.

After a moment, she hugs me tighter and buries her face into my shoulder.

It feels amazing, hugging her. She's so warm.

She's so fragile and I wish I knew why.

Her mother's request backs it up. I hope she tells me.

I don't want her to be hurting in any way.

I don't realize how long we hug until we get interrupted, the door opens and she quickly breaks it.

Her cheeks turn pink and she looks away from me. Edith, however has the cutest smile on her face.

"I just wanted to say goodbye, I have to head out" Thomas says.

He walks up to Charlotte and hugs her. He faintly whispers to her but I don't make it out.

"Charlotte, you are the most beautiful soul I know. There is no one I would have rathered choosen to close the show tonight. Thank you" He cups her cheek for a moment and kisses her forehead.

Shes trying so hard to hold back tears and it breaks my heart.

"You changed my life, Thomas. I will forever be grateful to you" She hugs him hard.

Tears falling down her cheeks when she closes her eyes.

"I'll see you when I get to England" He says to her, his voice serious and firm.

"I promise" She says smiling at him.

He turns to me before he leaves.

"It was a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for coming tonight and supporting us" He reaches out his hand and I shake it.

"With a father like you, I'm sure you're daughter is very proud" He smiles and reaches out his other hand, squeezing mine in both of his.

"Thank you"

He leaves the room. Leaving just me, Charlotte and her mum.

I want to take her to dinner. Catch up, hang out. I wonder if she's up for it.

"Edith, would you be alright if I steal her for a little bit?" I look at Charlotte and smile at her.

"Would you like to get dinner with me, darling?" I ask.

"Can I talk to my mum for a second?" She looks up at me, her expression impossible to read.

"Of course, I'll step out" I look between them and smile before leaving the room.

I lean against the wall and wait patiently.

God, she's stunning. She's grown so beautifully both physically and with her talent.

But I can tell that something is up. Well, I don't need to tell about if, I know something is.

I hope whatever is she opens up to me. I want to make her feel better.

After some time, the door opens and they emerge.

"Nothing too crazy" Edith says to me, her tone playful.

"I was just thinking we'd hop on my private jet and go to Italy for the night" I say shrugging.

I glance at Charlotte and smile at her. She starts giggling and it's the cutest sound.

"Nothing too fancy, don't want to over do it" I smile at her more and her giggling turns into laughing and it's so genuine.

It's the first time tonight I see a true smile on her face.

"Would you like me to drive you back to your hotel?" I ask, looking at Edith.

"I don't get an invite to Italy?" Now all of us are laughing.

I watch Charlotte. She glows when she's happy. Always has.

"It's alright sweetie, I'll get myself a taxi. Text me, let me know if you are staying with him for the night" I watch her cheeks turn pink again at the idea of spending the night with me. I definitely don't mind if she does.

"Okay" She whispers, hugging her mother.

Edith turns to me and pats my cheek.

"You know, every time your mother calls me to check in, she always gushes about you. Her sweet baby boy, taking over the world. Everyone at home is so proud of you" I smile and lean in to kiss her cheek.

"Thank you" I say, hugging her as well.

She turns around and walks away.

"Come on, I'm parked around the back" I say, reaching for her hand and pulling her with me.

"Would you like to go out for dinner or get some take out and go back to my place?" I look at her as we walk, her gaze is on our connected hands.

Until she senses me looking at her. She looks at me, her grip on my hand tightening just a bit.

"I-I'm actually not very hungry" She says shyly. I smile and squeeze her hand.

"That's alright, my love. Want to head to my place? We could watch a movie, catch up" She smiles back at me and nods.

"That sounds nice" She agrees.

We walk in silence the rest of the way to my car. Our hands still laced together.

Thank god for private parking.

The last thing I want to happen is for her face to end up all over the place just because she's seen with me.

It's an unfortunate warning I give to anyone I'm seeing.

We reach the car and I open the door for her.

"Do you bring your violin everywhere you go?" I ask, taking the case from her as she climbs in.

"I'm in New York, inspiration can strike at any moment" She says and I smile widely.

I close the door for her and excitedly get into the drivers seat. Music makes me so happy.

"What are you suddenly so excited about? Oh no, are you kidnapping me?" She asks, both of us laughing at the same time.

"No" I shake my head, like a kid.

"Are you composing now?" I ask and I think she realizes what I'm excited about.

She gets shy and looks away from me. I watch as her curls hide her face from me and all I can think about is how fucking cute she is.

"Why are you shy about it?" I ask, I turn in my seat and reach out. I place my hand on her cheek and make her look at me.

Her face is warm and I can feel it getting warmer when her eyes meet mine.

"Asks, Harry Styles" She says her tone is soft as she trys to be playful.

"What do you mean?" I ask, I lightly brush my thumb back and forth.

"Harry, you're the most talented composer I know" I can't help but smile even more at her compliment. My stomach is warm and full of butterflies.

"So?" I pull her just a little bit closer, I run my fingers through a fallen curl and lightly push it back behind her ear. I cup her cheek again.

"Do you think I'm going to judge you, darling?" I ask, brushing her cheek again.

"Because, I can tell you it's quite the opposite, Charlotte" I can see her getting emotional, her eyes becoming glossy.

"You have no idea how much I'd love to pick that beautiful mind of yours. I'd love to hear you play one of your peices" I say, I brush my thumb under her eye. Wiping away the tear that falls from it.

"Are you okay, love?"

She pulls back from me, sitting back against her seat. She quickly wipes her cheeks and stares down into her lap.

She picks at the paint on her nails.

"I'm okay" She whispers. She doesn't look at me. I watch her for a moment, wishing she'd open up to me.

I just want her to be okay. But not this, I know she's not okay. I know she's lying to me.

I look ahead of me, starting the car and shifting the gear into drive. After, I reach next to me until I reach her hand. I lace our hands together.

Shes shaking a bit but she holds onto me tightly.

End of Part 1.

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