#which then turned into psychological fairytale

[sexysilverstrider]

the teraleak introduced me to psychological horror and im still reeling that the main antagonist/male lead of this is. a typhlosion

[fbfh]

Jacob Black x mate/imprint!reader first rut hcs

wc: 1.9k

genre: smut, tooth rotting fluff, werewolf heat/monsterfucking ig

pairing: Jacob x imprint!reader (afab, no pronouns)

warnings: general werewolfy stuff, awkward heat/rut talks, BIGASS breeding king, Jake can smell when you're ovulating, Jake is posessive and clingy and adorable and hot, knots, oral (reader recieving), face down ass up position, biting and hickeys, scenting, a ton of creampies, cum plugging, growling/primal kink??, aftercare

summary: Jacob is the best boyfriend you've ever had, so when he tells you there's a little problem he's going to need help with soon, you're more than happy to help him out with it

a/n: starting to write my first actual original book today and I am so stoaked!!!!!! wish me luck uwu I think yall are really really gonna like it and I'm super excited ksflkjslkjs

also I'm adding people who asked to be tagged for a/b/o and omegaverse content bc it's in the same ballpark imo

tags @yesv01 @magcon7280 @yelenabel0vaswife @lizziebitch33  @sunshineangel-reads @inthehoneymoonwithconnorrk800 @demirunner @almostjollypizza @fictionalcomfortss @thatawkwardlittlefangirl @urmum-xoxo @raajali3 @Ronnasey @lubsana @demirunner @legramilis  @girlfriendwhoseawitch

As with all nsfw works all characters are aged up to 18+

That being said, let’s get into it 

Bc oh BOY is this one a doozy

You and Jake fell in love at first sight

You met by chance

He helped you when you had car trouble and the chemistry was instant and the rest was history

What actually happened is that Jake could smell you from like a full mile away

He was so drawn to you

Then he could smell you starting to panic, and he knew he had to make sure you were okay

So he appeared out of nowhere in his human form right when you needed him most

You were so relieved that someone was there to help you, especially someone so good with cars

And especially especially someone so hot and friendly and charismatic and attentive

From jump street, Jake obviously liked you a lot

So you couldn’t turn down his offers to get coffee and lunch and show you around town

He was relieved you didn’t turn him down either, because what you saw as Jake flirting with you was actually him imprinting on you

You’re not a wolf

You’re not aware of the supernatural world at all, as far as he knows

So he’s basically just been spending as much time as he possibly can with you

Imprint bonds are strong as fuck 

So for both physiological and psychological AND emotional reasons

He needs to spend as much time with you as possible 

And you want to spend time with him too

Not to the wolf extent

But still

There’s only one problem

You’ve been together for three amazing whirlwind weeks

And you already feel like you’ve known each other for your whole lives

He can tell that even though you’re not a wolf, you can feel the bond between you too

You might not know what it is, but you know that it’s there

Everything is happening so fast, but it doesn’t give you a bad gut feeling

Or any red flags

Like anywhere

You’re starting to wonder if maybe this is the true love fairytale romance you had always hoped for

That maybe soulmates are real

And you found yours

And Jacob feels  the exact same way

He’s given it a lot of thought, and he really believes that even if he hadn’t imprinted he would still like you more than he’s liked anyone before

He could go on for days about how amazing you are, and he’s determined not to let anything come between you

Not to let anything sabotage this beautiful love, this bond between you

But the only problem is that the full moon is getting closer and closer

And it’s the first full moon since he imprinted on you

Not all imprints are romantic in nature, but this one definitely is

Which means now since he has a mate, he’s going to start getting his rut

And he has to spend it with you, which means he has to explain it to you

Which means it’s finally time for the most awkward conversation of his life

He’s not scared to tell you he’s a werewolf

But he is scared to tell you that you’re starting to smell so good he gets hard when you’re not even in the room

That his feral wolf brain is taking over, and all he’s been able to think about for the last 48 hours is filling you up

Stuffing you full of his seed and knotting you nice and tight to keep it all in place while he gets you irrefutably pregnant, all nice and full and round with a big litter of pups

And it’s getting worse 

His thoughts are straying more and he knows he’s running out of time to explain that he’s either going to need to be chained to a tree or inside of you for anywhere from 24 to 96 hours

And since it’s his first rut since finding you, it’s almost definitely going to be longer, closer to four days than not

He’s over at your place like he has been for the last week or so, and he decides to talk to you about it when 

He thinks he can handle this

He totally thinks he can handle this

Then you step out of the shower, and you smell all sweet and fresh and extra you 

He sighs wistfully, realizing how much harder this is going to be 

“C’mere for a sec, I want to talk to you…” 

He trails off, pulling you onto his lap

He can sense that you’re worried, that you want to make sure he’s okay

And it makes him blush

He giggles, burying his face in your neck for a moment

You’re worried about him

Eventually he bites the bullet and confesses everything

You actually take it surprisingly well

He can tell you don’t fully believe him yet, but you don’t seem freaked out

“There is… one other thing…” 

He manages to get through the mates and heats and ruts talk without dying of embarrassment 

But he does start to get distracted part of the way through

Like really distracted

He snaps out of it for a few moments when he trails off after part of an explanation, and you chuckle, resting your hand on his cheek

“Even if you weren’t a werewolf, I would still be down to spend all weekend together.” 

His stomach flips as he realizes what you’re saying

“So-”

“I’d be happy to help you through your heat or rut or whatever it’s called.” 

His stomach flips when you say that

He genuinely didn't think he could get more attracted to you, then you say that

And then, something else happens

“I’m so glad!” he smiles, beginning to ramble again, “and if you want to stop, or if I’m too rough, or if it’s too much, just tell me to, uh…” 

You’re already agreeing, and promise you will as he tries to regain his train of thought

His eyes get kind of distracted, and he leans closer to you, sniffing

He buries his face in your neck and takes a few big, deep breaths

It makes you giggle until he pulls away and looks at you more intensely than he ever has 

His pupils are dilated and he’s laser focused on you

“Are you ovulating?” 

You check your cycle tracking app and yeah

Yeah you’re supposed to be ovulating today

He sniffs you again, shoving his face into your neck

His grip on your waist gets tighter and you can feel him getting hard below you

Your eyes widen when it just keeps growing and growing

He pants against your neck, breathing in your scent and starting to grind against you, moving your hips against his

You lose yourself for a moment before remembering what he asked you a moment ago

“Wait- how did you know that?” 

“Could smell it,” he mutters into your skin, rocking your hips harder against his and growling into your ear

“I… I think it’s starting, I need- I need to… I need to get you out of these clothes.” 

He picks you up and tears your pajamas off in a blur

He carries you into your bedroom, laying you face down on your soft duvet

His breath is heavy he manhandles you into a more comfortable position, and you can hear him tearing his clothes off behind you just as quick

His big hands grab your hips, finally pulling down your panties

They stick to your soaked cunt, and send a fresh wave of your pheromones swirling intoxicatingly through the air around him

You hear him let out a shuddering sigh, then suddenly feel warm breath against your soft folds

You let out a noise as he licks you, nuzzling into your cunt, before pulling back and spitting on it

He pokes and prods you with his tongue, working it further inside you as his fingers come up to play with your clit

Werewolf saliva has healing properties and can increase elasticity during heats and ruts, so it’s a pretty common practice

His hands and mouth feel so good, you’re not complaining

He makes you cum twice on his tongue before deciding you’re stretched out enough to take him

You feel him move behind you and grab your hips, pulling them back to meet his

This energy (it’s the horny wojak thinking about getting railed meme)

His breathing is heavy as he pushes in slowly

“Tell me if it’s too much. Promise you’ll tell me angel, okay?” 

You nod and manage to choke out that you will

Once you do that, it’s game over

The last amounts of self restraint Jacob possessed fade away as he completely loses himself in you

He starts thrusting into you at a brutal pace

He manhandles you, moving your body and positioning you closer to him

The next two or three days are going to be a hazy blur of cum and love bites and feeling the bulge of his knot and cock in your stomach

That’s all you’ll really be able to remember in your fucked out state

When he goes into heat, he’s already gonna be really fucking feral and primal

But when he goes into heat with you for the first time????

Oh my fucking god

It really is a good think werewolf spit can stretch you out, bc there’s no way you’d be able to take his cock, much less his knot otherwise

He grabs onto you so tight and possessive, completely pinning you down with his body weight

You could not wiggle out of his grip if you tried

He makes you cum two or three times in the first few minutes, so you know this is going to be a long, overstimulating night

But GOD everything he does feels so overwhelmingly good

He bites your neck, licking and rubbing against you to scent you even more aggressively

So expect to be covered in hickeys and love bites too

Oh my god the noises this man makes?????? 

Jesus fucking christ

Moaning, panting, growling right in your ear

You can’t get enough

Because you’re extra stretchy from his prep, the stretch of his knot filling you up more than you could imagine feels so incredible

He’s probably going to knot you at least twice before you’re both ready to pass out

Once you’re a quivering fucked out mess that’s literally dripping cum out of you, he’ll pull out very reluctantly 

Then you hear a drawer open, and he grabs something

He pushes a toy inside you to keep as much of his cum in there as possible while he goes to get you guys water and snacks

Once he’s back he’ll absolutely feed you

He’s overwhelmed with instincts to take care of you, so of course he’s going to feed you

One thing about Jacob is he will keep you fed and bred 

And you really can’t complain

He’s so loving and attentive and speaks to you so sweetly, peppering kisses across your face and telling you how good you’re doing

After that he’ll take the toy out and slide himself back in 

Then pull you into his warm chest for the coziest heaviest most sticky restful nap you’ve ever taken in your entire life

Once you’re both up later, expect to do the whole thing over again

And again, and again

Cause that’s pretty much all you’ll be doing for the next three days

And you can promise this is not the last rut you’ll help him out with

[andcorde]

Talking in your sleep

Summary : you woke up during your sleep, thirsty and hear your husband talking in his sleep about a girl.

pairing : young!president Snow x f!First Lady!reader.

warnings : physical and psychological violence (strangling and swearing iykyk), smut (not REALLY explicit), Coriolanus is his own warning, toxic!relationship, dark!reader, possessive!reader (if there’s more lmk please !!)

a/n : first fic posted here, I’ve got the idea from the song « talking in your sleep » by the romantics (you should know them, at least if you’ve seen the FNAF movie :)). It’s a late valentine day post btw.

Hope you’ll enjoy it !

dividers by @saradika-graphics !

Your throat just feels completely dry which wake you up. You sigh in annoyance, having to get up without waking up your husband, which is a tough task, just to take a glass of water. It happens often, but you were really tired of this dangerous mission of not waking up the lightest sleeper in the world.

Coriolanus Snow, the young President of Panem and you, his First Lady, married since a year and a half, are the most important and influential people in this place. Everybody was either jealous of Coryo or you because of how charming and affectionate you are.

You slowly lift the duvet and get out of bed as gently as possible, not waking your husband, only making him sigh before turning around. You walk as quietly as a mouse as you make your way straight to the bathroom you both shared.

Your marriage seemed like a pure fairytale, full of love and happiness, even if none of this was true to you two. You just accepted together, like a contract between individuals seeing the economic benefits and also the popularity of both of your families to get married. None of you were even slightly attracted romantically to each other, but on the sexual side…it was otherwise.

Even if Coryo agreed to not giving you a heir for a couple of years, it doesn’t mean you don’t have fun, straddling his cock time to time, letting him eating out your sweet and soaked pussy just for him.

You reach the bathroom with a smirk at your thoughts, opening it silently and entering in it, closing the door and turning on the soft light. You brought a glass and gently run the water into it, crossing your fingers that the sound alone isn't enough to wake the sleeping platinum blonde. Well it already happens before, so now you’re careful.

You get out of the bathroom as quietly as you get in, sipping your glass of water, not seeming to have woke him. He seems pretty asleep, which is really rare, you thought to yourself. He seems to dream, seeing his facial expressions slightly changed from the calm and relaxed one.

His lips parted slightly, he seems to say something. You never see him like that, so profoundly asleep, you keep looking for a few seconds before stopping you from acting odd and put the water on the nightstand.

« …Lucy Gray…please » He whispers. So low you could have misheard.

But no, you were sure you heard those words coming from his most sleepy and pathetic voice. You feel yourself being totally freeze for a few seconds, as if those simple words as awaken something completely uncontrollable in your body.

Anger. Even more devastating than any other feeling. The possessiveness of Coryo wasn’t a one-side thing, both of you were pretty possessive to the fact that you were his, and he was yours. None of you could denied that, getting pretty dangerous when people approached a bit too much one of you.

You blink a few times, motioning yourself to get back in bed like nothing happened. You let yourself be more loudly, because he seems so asleep and dreaming of things you don’t want to imagine or you might just strangle him in his sleep.

The marathon in your body seems to calm a bit as you find your sleep once again, but you absolutely know what’s waiting for your husband tomorrow morning.

As you wake up, you noticed that Coryo seems to have started breakfast without you, which happens more often when you woke up in the middle of the night. You emerged from your bed rubbing your eyes, as the events of earlier just hit you like a bus. Standing in the middle of the large and richly decorated room, you take a deep breath, calming yourself and also making a good figure to just destabilise even more your husband. You don't change your clothes, which was part of your sordid plan.

You make your way through the dinning room, being greeted by some of your domestics in the way, responding with a polite smile and nodding, wearing a black nightgown, too sexy to go outside of your bedroom. But at this moment, that���s exactly what you wanted to show him. Your body was his as long as it was mutual. And his little whispering was making you thinking it wasn’t completely the case.

You enter in the dining room, greeting the Mute that was passing, in this soft and warm voice that makes Snow’s head lift up to lock his eyes on you. You feel his gaze travelling your body, and you already feel the point of his ego touched by this personal attack for him. You gently make your way to the long marble table, not giving him a look, only a small “good morning”.

Only you knew how to piss him off so easily by doing mostly nothing. His hands clench into fists while clenching his jaw, taking his time to talk as low as he can.

« Can you explain me what the fuck you’re doing dressing like that outside the bedroom ? » his tone was infuriating and his eyes wanted desperately to met yours.

You smile slightly, putting down the tea cup and turning your head to him. Your lashes fluttering innocently.

« Oh dear, you’re really asking those stupid questions that late in the morning ? » you simply answer as you get up.

Teasing him was a bad idea, but your mind couldn’t think of something else than those words. He scoffed with a dry and short laugh.

« Yes, and my wife has to answer me. This provocation will end really bad for you and I don’t think you want to see that. » his voice just seems impatient and you know that he will not be as ‘nice’ in a few moments if you don’t start talking.

You just get up, walking and closing the doors of the dining room, now all alone and without some curious ears passing by. Coryo is still sitting on his comfortable chair, one hand still in a fist while the other one takes the coffee cup to take a few sips of it. His eyes didn’t look away from you. Those icy blue and somewhat terrifying eyes. Back facing him, you take a deep breath, trying to not smirk and not sounding too angry, controlling your voice being much easier than your body, lightly shaking.

« You talked in your sleep this night. » you state while turning to lock your eyes with his, seeing a surprise look passing through them. « And unfortunately for you, I was awake. And I can say that between the two of you, you’re the one who’s fucking provoking the most. »

You walk towards him, your eyes looking down to him, seeing a small change in his attitude. Apprehension ? No. Curiosity with a sweet melt of guilt. You get just in front of him, your husband sit and look up for you, lips parted, and if you weren’t that fucked up, you’ll kiss him and let him making out with you on the marble.

« What did I say ? » his voice seems still a bit infuriate but more low, close to the whisper. He knows he fucked up somehow and seeing his wife reaction, it must be an absolute disaster.

« Guess. » Your eyes just won’t listen to show how the toxicity of your feelings were affecting both you and Coryo. « I’ll give you a hint, think of the birds I hunt every Sunday in the forest nearby. »

And it hits him.

Lucy Gray Baird. His face changed a bit, being white as snow as he blinks twice, getting the information in his brain. Then, Coriolanus shakes his head.

« You must have misheard I was asleep— »

« I can assure you that you said her fucking name in your disgusting pleading voice, with a ‘please’ that just screams how painful your nightmare must have been. » Sarcastically finishing your sentence, you notice you clenched your teeth so hard that they grinded slightly.

He suddenly gets up, his right hand taking your cheeks firmly, bringing you even more closer to him, as his eyes glanced down at you now, angry at your words. For you, he just seemed scared to be caught.

« Shut up. I didn’t say her name…and even if it was the case, you have no right to act like you do. And you better not talk to me this way, ever. » His words are meant to hurt. To scare and threaten you.

In any other cases, you would probably have squeeze your thighs together and nodding like a good girl. But not this time. It was her. You try to talk through his grip, your eyes furiously locking with his.

« Yes I can, Coryo. Because you’re mine. Not hers, not anymore and never ever again. You’ll react the same way as me if it was my case. But guess what ? I never loved anybody in this world, so you can't attacked me about it. » your voice is filled with jealousy, doubting on the only thing you ever agreed of. You are his pretty good wife, and he is your jealous handsome husband.

Coryo cannot stop looking at you, trying to arranged his thoughts. He knows he would have reacted even worse than you if he was hearing you whispering the name of any other men than him. He didn't even remember his dream to be totally honest. But he doubts you'll believe him. So his hands takes gently your cheeks moving you so your back hit the buffet, blocking your way.

You see his eyes looking every inch of your face before sighing loudly. He opens his blue eyes and nod.

« I'm yours, y/n. I can promise you that, and I already did, didn't I ? For me, and for everyone else, Lucy Gray is dead. Nobody cares about her and so do I. You can hate me or not trust me, but it's the only thing you can be sure that will never change. As long as your mine, I'm yours. » his low and profound voice will always do something in your body. As you look at him, you know for sure he's not lying.

What Coriolanus deliberately left out is that even if one day you no longer want him, you will still be his, and you will never be able to escape from his grasp. His firm hands between your cheeks, thumb gently rubbing them, was something new for you. Those kind of interactions were nearly non-existent. Except maybe an aftercare from a tough round. So you can't help but blushing a bit to this unusual contact and feel suspicious too.

You finally nod, letting him getting closer and starting kissing you, softly but desperately needy. You jump on the buffet, your hands behind your back as you let yourself go completely to his touch and his possessiveness from your body. Your breathing accelerate as his hands let go from your cheeks to touch every part of your body, from top to bottom, stopping to your thighs. Squeezing it, he lets a small groan before putting slightly away, whispering.

« You're fucking mine, all of this body and this little shitty personality of yours. » and you just nod while biting your lip, like a pretty good girl. He grins to your sudden submissiveness.

Well, you were now going to know for sure who is his wife.

~

[petrichorblue94]

What really shocks me is that the more tfota books I read (I count the extended universe here), the more I realise that Jude was actually incredibly lucky. The world she lived in was deadly, and not in a haha the main character is actually gonna be left unscathed because they’re the main character way.

I first realised that when I was reading about Wren. My girl was physically and psychologically tortured since she was a child in practically a very Ramsey Snow / Reek kind of way. She was permanently disfigured by her own parents’ torture methods, she was left to believe that she could escape and then captured, like a cat and mouse game. She was made to think her adoptive parents despised her and were horrified of her monstrous nature but they were really just bewitched.

Her biological mother turned out to be the most evil of them all, sacrificing her soul not once but twice.

I’m just reading the Modern fairytales but Kaye is basically every middle class child’s worst nightmare ; or at least mine).

Like Jude’s story is actually the best. Even her twin Taryn lives in a psychological horror, she married a fucked up narcissist who promised her love and respect and adventure and it turned out he just made her do drugs and get involved in orgies and he nearly fucked (and later nearly killed) her sister and Taryn killed Kim the same way her adoptive father killed her birth mother and then she raised his son alone, and then she fell in love again and the guy was turned into a tree.

I mean when you look at it on paper (pardon the book pun) my girl Jude was raised into the gentry, she was Madoc’s favourite daughter and he spent most of his free time training her to be his successor in a world ruled by Oak as king and him as regent. She has her family and they make up despite all the fucked up things do to each other. She married the high king (and it was a rare love match!!) and becomes respected and feared. She has only known the rich world of the gentry in Elfhame, whereas Wren was homeless in the real sense of the word for YEARS, and Kaye was a school drop out who was couch surfing with her singer-wannabe mum and her prospects were living with her gran, working in a gas station and then maybe getting pregnant by her former bully Kenny and living in a trailer in the middle of nowhere like her friend Janet and maybe becoming an alcoholic like her mam and doing drugs (I’m still halfway through Tithe).

Like even when she became queen with Oak by her side as king consort, Wren’s kingdom was nowhere near as rich and golden as Jude’s. There was darkness seeped into it even when the ice was gone.

Since the cruel prince is after Kaye’s books, we know she ends up becoming Roiben’s consort so it’s definitely a better life than being a teen mum living in a trailer and working in a gas station… But she’s still a chess piece in the game of politics (that Jude becomes a master of) since she was nearly killed by the undersea and Jude had to go and avenge her in the Wicked King.

Like yeah, Jude had a shitty origin story but she became golden if that makes sense. She was never truly touched by the grit and the grime of what was happening around her and to her, she just adapted, pivoted and kept winning.

And she was genuinely so in love with the world of Elfhame that you can see everything around her through the tint of her fascination. Whereas with Wren everything looks ugly and sad and with Kaye everything looks messy and confusing.

Which is why I think she’s Holly Black’s most beloved heroine. I just hope she doesn’t get killed off in the new books cause you never know 100% with Holly.

[soloroomies]

lifemate (Chapter 5/ Sakusa x f!reader)

summary: the day you're tying the knot with your very dear friend, Kiyoomi word count. 2.1k cw. marriage pact au a/n. another update! I'm happy that I can update this story quickly. Writing this is really fun for me hehe <3

Masterlist

Not long after you and Sakusa discussed your plans, you both decided to share the exciting news of your upcoming marriage with your families and closest friends. The reactions were nothing short of dramatic. You think it’s a mix of shock at how quickly you both decided to tie the knot and genuine happiness for you. Some of them called you immediately, the most popular question being, “How did this happen so fast?!” So, you shared the love story you and Sakusa have crafted together. Some responded with a knowing “I knew it!” claiming they had a gut feeling you’d end up together. You just laughed at their responses, finding it amusing because there was no way they could have predicted this—both of you were truly just friends before. Your psychology textbook was right about hindsight bias.

Since the wedding is simple and you both hired a wedding organizer to handle most of the planning, there isn’t much left for you to do except look for your wedding dress. You also chose your bridesmaids. At first, you want four people as your bridesmaid, including Tami. Unfortunately, Tami is incredibly busy this month with business trips. Even Tami, who knows all your plans, was surprised. She didn’t expect your wedding to be held in the second month of the year. You explained it’s because you both want to do this before the volleyball season starts. Luckily, she doesn’t have any plans on your wedding day and assured you she would attend. Therefore, the people you chose as your bridesmaids are two of your cousins, Yuuki and Nana, and one of your childhood friends from home, Aya. They’re all thrilled to be part of your special day.

Today is the day you choose your wedding dress, just two weeks away from your wedding day. You actually have a lot of fun looking up wedding dress inspiration. Weddings used to make you kind of emotional when you were a teenager and a hopeless romantic. But then, as an adult with a hectic life, you weren’t really expecting a wedding for yourself. Yet here you are now, somehow able to have one. So, you’ll enjoy this process as a gift to your teenage self.

It’s Saturday, and you’re glad that everyone is available. All of you have a group chat discussing the stores you’ll visit. So, you go through those stores, seeing the dresses they display online, trying some of them on, and deciding which one is the best. After a few stores and trying on more than ten dresses, one dress stands out. It’s a classic and elegant gown with a fitted bodice and a full ball gown skirt. It features a sweetheart neckline and off-the-shoulder sleeves. The skirt is made of layers of tulle and organza, giving it volume and a fairytale-like look. The back of the dress is adorned with covered buttons and a long flowing train, adding dramatic flair.

Your three companions seem to have the same thought as you. Nana even starts to shed tears, making the other two emotional as well. You turn to look at them and can’t help but feel a bit emotional yourself. “Guys, please don’t cry! You’ll make me cry,” you say. You stare at your reflection in the mirror and feel a sense of enchantment and awe. This is the dress, you think.

In the days leading up to your wedding, you frequently communicate with Kiyoomi, juggling to find time between your work and his practice. You handle some legal matters and move many of your belongings from your apartment to his, leaving only the essentials for the remaining days. This often brings you to his apartment, where you arrange your things with him, assisted by people from the furniture moving and rearrangement services you hired. Some furniture is no longer needed, so you sell those pieces.

Two days before the wedding, you arrive home after work and are suddenly overwhelmed by an indescribable feeling. You've already finished some of your project-based side jobs, giving you more spare time than usual. Your apartment, now mostly empty, feels strange, as most of your belongings have already been moved to Kiyoomi’s place.

Your phone vibrates, and you see new texts from Kiyoomi. He sends a picture of a painting you made on a medium-sized canvas that used to hang in your living room. Initially, you wanted to leave it behind, thinking you had already brought too much. But when Kiyoomi visited your apartment, he asked about the painting and suggested it would look great in "our" living room, meaning his apartment where you will soon move in. The picture he sent shows the painting now hanging in the living room. His next text asks, ‘Is this too far to the right?’ You examine the photo and find the painting perfectly centered, so you respond, ‘no! it’s perfect.’

You then realize that you feel a swirl of excitement and nervousness, as the reality of starting a new chapter in your life and leaving behind the familiar truly sinks in.

For this wedding, there were no pre-wedding events like engagement parties or bridal showers. As agreed upon, the entire event was to be simple. There was no honeymoon planned either. When some of your cousins inquired, you explained that you both wanted to wait for a better season and were eager to enjoy your newlywed life in your own home.

The sound of your alarm wakes you up, and you look around the unfamiliar bed, momentarily confused. Then it hits you—you’re not in your apartment but in the hotel of your wedding venue. The bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents, and some family members are also staying here. And, of course, Kiyoomi, too. Shaking off the sleepiness, you decide to take a shower and call room service for breakfast. 

Checking your phone, you see a few messages from family and friends who have arrived in town, expressing their excitement to see you later. You smile, responding to each message with heartfelt gratitude. 

Suddenly, there’s a knock on your hotel room door. Expecting it to be your bridesmaids or parents, you open it and are surprised to see Kiyoomi’s mother standing there. She looks at you and smiles warmly. Bowing slightly, you welcome her into your room, mentioning that you’ve just finished breakfast and inviting her to sit beside you. 

Unexpectedly, she wraps you in a warm and comforting hug. Taken aback for a moment, you quickly return the hug. Then she looks at you, caresses your hair, and holds your hand. Her gaze is soft and carries warmth.

“I want to tell you how grateful I am to have you joining our family,” she says, her voice filled with genuine emotion. You look at her, your mind blank, unable to find the words to respond. She continues, “You remember you used to come to our house, right?” 

You nod, the memories flooding back. You recall the nostalgia of your high school days, when you often visited Kiyoomi’s house with Komori. Kiyoomi’s mom was always more outgoing than Kiyoomi and his father, often inviting you over for dinner. You usually brought your homework along, finishing it with Kiyoomi at their kitchen table.

“I’ve admired you since then,” she says. “I know we haven’t seen each other much since you both graduated high school, but I’ve always known you will leave a lasting impact on Omi's life. I often asked him about you, you know?” She laughs, a light, joyful sound.

You smile at her words, touched by her sincerity. “I’m happy that you’ve always stayed in touch with each other. And I was overjoyed when I heard the news. I’m just... I’m glad it’s you. You complement each other so beautifully, and I couldn't be happier to see my son marry such an incredible person.��

She pauses, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Know that you have my unwavering support, love, and respect. I look forward to many happy moments together as a family.”

Tears well up in your eyes at her genuine words. “Thank you so much for your kind words. They mean a lot to me,” you manage to say, your voice thick with emotion.

You hug her, feeling the warmth and acceptance in her embrace. She holds you tightly, then pulls back slightly to look at you. “Please call me Mom, okay?”

You nod, a tearful smile on your face.

After she leaves your room, you're left with your thoughts. You feel a wave of gratitude for Kiyoomi’s supportive mother, but a tinge of guilt also lingers. You and Kiyoomi had to fabricate your love story, making it seems like you are deeply in love. It feels wrong that she believes you and Kiyoomi are head over heels for each other. However, you genuinely care, adore and respect him as a friend. You promise yourself that you’ll hold onto these feelings throughout your marriage.

As the afternoon sun casts a warm glow over the bustling city, you stand by the window, taking in the view of the skyline. Nana, Yuuki, and Aya bustle around your hotel room, helping with the final touches on your wedding gown. You opted to do your makeup yourself, choosing a natural and fresh look, and now, as you gaze into the mirror, you feel satisfied with the result. Aya hands you your bouquet of white roses and eucalyptus. Your wedding photographer snaps a few photos of you and your bridesmaids before it's time to head downstairs.

You hear the sound of laughter and chatter from the poolside area of the hotel, where everyone’s waiting. Stepping outside, you take in the beautiful wedding venue. At one end of the pool, a stunning gazebo draped in sheer white fabric and entwined with ivy and blooming flowers serves as the altar. The aisle leading to the gazebo is lined with lanterns and rose petals.

You stand at the edge of the aisle and take a deep breath. The late afternoon sun casts a golden glow over the pool, and you see the familiar faces of your family and friends turned toward you. Your father takes your arm, gives it a reassuring squeeze, and smiles at you.

As you approach the altar, your eyes lock with Kiyoomi’s. He looks unbelievably handsome in his tuxedo, the black fabric fitting perfectly on his broad shoulders and slender frame. You've never felt quite like this seeing him before. His black wavy hair is neatly styled, but a few rebellious curls frame his face, adding to his effortlessly charming look.

His eyes scan you and he gives a genuine smile he rarely shows to anyone. When you finally reach him, he gently takes your hand. Then, the officiant begins the ceremony.

After a few words, the officiant says “Please face each other and join hands,”. “Do you, Sakusa Kiyoomi, take ___ to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in joy and sorrow, for as long as you both shall live?”

You look up at Kiyoomi, feeling a flutter of nerves under his intense gaze. “I do,” he says firmly, his eyes never leaving yours.

“Do you, ___ , take Sakusa Kiyoomi to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in joy and sorrow, for as long as you both shall live?”

You take a deep breath, remembering your meeting with Kiyoomi’s mother and the thoughts that followed. “I do,” you reply, smiling at Kiyoomi.

As the officiant pronounces you both husband and wife, your hands tremble slightly. You think Kiyoomi notices because he squeezes your hand, his touch warm and reassuring, melting away your nerves. “You may kiss the bride,” the officiant announces. Kiyoomi cups your face, his touch sending a shiver of electricity through you. As you look up, you see his gaze soften and his lips curve into a tender smile.

When he leans in, you realize this will be your very first kiss with him, and it will happen as husband and wife! You try to calm yourself and place your hands on his chest. Closing your eyes, you focus on the sensation of his lips meeting yours. The kiss is soft and tender.

As you part, his forehead rests gently against yours, and your breaths mingle. You open your eyes to find him looking at you with adoration you’ve never seen before, taking your breath away all over again and stirring emotions you can't quite describe. You notice his hand still lingering on your face before the crowd around you erupts into applause and cheers. He smiles at you, making you smile at him too.

[jessamine-rose]

✿ Artifact Set: Beloved Darlings ✿

Read my I Love You, Darling series first!!

As y’all know, I became rlly fond of writing for the Yandere! Harbingers and their darlings……aaaand that’s how I ended up writing Artifact Sets for them. Each set features four stories, two for the darlings’ backstories + two fic epilogues. I hope you enjoy <3

Characters:: Capitano, Pantalone, Dottore, Pierro + their darlings

Tw:: YANDERE, psychological trauma, blood, violence, death, mention of child abuse

Notes:: Female readers, fic spoilers

Capitano x Damsel:: Herbarium and Fairytale

✿ Discarded Doll

A broken princess doll. After numerous owners and stitches, the toy was left forgotten in the forest behind Mondstadt Orphanage.

Once upon a time, there lived a Damsel who was cursed by the gods.

Raised in an uncaring orphanage, her childhood was one of noise and solitude. In this liminal shelter, all companions were temporary and no belongings were private. And so the child gave up on those things, dreaming of the day she would be given a home to call her own.

Following her adoption, however, the Damsel’s new family revealed themselves to be cruel villains who took away her bright smiles and outspoken words. After days of torment, she was finally returned to her first prison, only to be silenced by her caretakers.

In the end, no hero came to save her. The Damsel waited for the day she became of age and was discarded once more.

✿ Overdue Library Book

A collection of fairytales borrowed from Mondstadt Library. The list of previous readers has been removed, and the front page is vandalized with the words “Property of ______.”

From the beginning, Mondstadt Library was her personal wonderland.

When she was an orphan, it offered a peaceful hobby. When she was a child of the Maiers, it provided a faraway refuge. It was natural for her to remain there as an adult, though it entailed the new task of maintaining the silence and sharing books with her once-fellow patrons.

It was literature which taught her the basic meanings of family, home, and love. When she tired of the false promises of fairytales, she turned to real stories only to be disillusioned with her inferior qualities. Her debilitating misfortune. Her unanswered prayers.

“Oh, I get it now. Love does exist. It’s just that the gods have deemed me unworthy of it.”

And so she escaped to her fairytales once more.

✿ Pressed Sumeru Roses

A preserved bouquet of violet rambler roses. Presently, the flowers are kept on display in the Captain’s bedchambers.

After their happy ending, the Damsel finally found a home in her Snezhnayan prison.

The Captain was protective throughout their honeymoon, but they left Sumeru in good spirits. Upon their return, a few tasks were accomplished before she could resume her normal routine.

Her belongings were unpacked and returned to their bedroom.

Her bookcase was reorganized to accommodate her new books from Sumeru.

Their bedroom was decorated with newly-pressed flowers, and her husband allowed it.

Lastly, she finally joined him in their bed. She’d missed that piece of furniture least of all.

After all, it was Capitano who blessed her slumber with warmth, and they shared the same bed in Sumeru.

“Ah, it’s good to be home.”

✿ Letter from a Devoted Knight

An envelope bearing the official seal of the Fatui. Delivered alongside the letter is a box of fresh flowers native to Natlan.

During the Captain’s latest mission, a Fatuus visited their home.

By then, the Damsel knew what their arrival meant. This time, they gave her both a letter and a wrapped gift.

The flora of Natlan was beautiful. She could only imagine the efforts taken to keep the flowers fresh for her hobby. If only Capitano was here to witness her smile.

As always, the letter was better than any book.

“My beloved flower, every day without you brings me grief. I could only imagine the smile on your face if you were able to view the flora of Natlan with me. My mission is far from over but once the Pyro Archon’s Gnosis is acquired, you shall be the first to hear of my return.”

“My lady, are you all right?” asked her guard.

“It’s nothing, Cyane.” She wiped her tears and continued reading. “Don’t bother me.”

It had only taken a few decades for her to meet her knight in shining armor. In comparison, what was a few more months before their happily ever after?

Pantalone x Kitty:: Housecat and Alea Iacta Est

⬩ Ornamental Comb

A bejeweled comb worn as a hair accessory. A few hairs are caught in the comb’s teeth, bearing a soft texture similar to cat fur.

She was born to a prestigious family, and this was where her luck began and ended.

Neither the firstborn nor the gifted child, she was the disappointment. Unnecessary, unexceptional, and therefore useless.

However, she had the same expectations of a child born into high society. All she had to do was to smile and play along with her family’s ruse, and that would be enough to validate her position. Never mind what she did in her free time, and for that she was satisfied.

In fashion, she found a genuine passion for aesthetics and history. A beautiful outfit was all it took to attract the attention of others.

In dance, she found an opportunity to participate in social events. Regardless, most interactions were on account of her family name.

Beyond the arts, she donned a mask of false serenity. But such details were of little consequence—who would ever come close enough to notice her cracks?

⬩ Smaragdus Jadeite Ring

A simple wedding ring with a square-shaped smaragdus jadeite in the center. The jewelry piece was left behind by its owner.

On her twentieth birthday, her family finally found a purpose for her.

Without her brother and friends in attendance, she easily surrendered to her parents’ commands. For what future lay in wait for a useless child stripped of wealth and prestige?

She didn’t cry when her family reacted to her Vision with anything but delight.

She didn’t cry when she accepted her wedding ring—a plain, impersonal decoration.

She didn’t cry when she realized the hollow nature of her engagement. If anything, she left the hotel and dissolved into bitter laughter.

“Why should I care? That is another marital duty off my back, isn’t it?”

“I feel like shopping. What shall I buy? A dress, necklaces, lots of rings…if he complains about my spending habits, I need only ask about his whereabouts tonight.”

“Yes, this is fine. Love—what a cruel word. In the end, it is just connections, agreements, people using one another. Since love does not exist, I shall simply settle for the next best thing.”

Yet no matter how much finery she indulged in, it was never enough to fill her heart.

⬩ Electro Crystal Collar

The favorite accessory of the Regrator’s wife. The collar matches the personal aesthetic of the Ninth Harbinger.

Her first sacrifice was made in the fashion district of Snezhnaya.

As the Regrator’s wife, she had to complement his image. Scandalous engagement aside, her husband’s reputation would be damaged if she was perceived as a tasteless foreigner.

The Snezhnayan outfits were so pretty. Her husband selected the perfect garments for her—a never-ending closet of dresses, jewelry, heels, perfumes—all in his signature colors.

The collar was her personal favorite. It was an intricate necklace commissioned just for her, the most valuable treasure of the Regrator.

Later on, she would resent that accessory and the pain it brought her.

But with time, she grew to appreciate her collar again. By then, there was no need to worry about her outfits clashing with her Vision.

⬩ Surrendered Pyro Vision

A Pyro Vision separated from its owner. The divine gift is currently in the Regrator’s possession.

Her memories suffered the brunt of the loss of her Vision.

The majority of her life could be remembered in clear detail. But in every instance where her divine gift was used, that was when her memories became hazy.

Fortunately, she had a loving husband who was willing to explain everything to her.

There was their first dance at the Shang family’s gala. Under the glittery stars, they had waltzed to a slow, lively orchestral arrangement.

There were numerous arguments split into blurry fragments. Only later would she realize how foolish she was in refusing to understand her husband’s concerns.

There was the accident which revealed the dangers of her own self. But it was through this catastrophe that she learned the extent of her husband’s kindness.

Love—what a beautiful truth. And now it finally belonged to her.

Dottore x Assistant:: Chemistry and Magnum Opus

♡ Drawing of a Nilotpala Lotus

A crayon drawing of a Nilotpala lotus. The picture is accompanied by a written description.

Since her youth, her only dream was to observe the world.

Her village was the perfect home for a budding researcher, teeming with all sorts of natural wonders and phenomena. The flora, the fauna, the daily sunrise—everything was there, just waiting to be discovered. Nature could not have produced a more ardent admirer.

It was this passion which drove her to enroll in the Sumeru Akademiya. On the day of her departure, she and her family exchanged bittersweet farewells. After all, who knew when they would see each other again?

That was a sacrifice she was willing to make.

The world was so beautiful, and she wanted to learn everything about it.

She had so many questions, and her curiosity could not accept a vague answer.

If only she knew the price for such knowledge.

♡ Scholar’s Journal

An old notebook belonging to a former scholar of the Sumeru Akademiya. The pages are full of written notes and coffee stains.

The Akademiya was where her dreams died out.

In this sea of knowledge, her great mind was put to the test. It was a race against other geniuses to manage the brutal workload and to prove one’s worth in the academe.

After her first month, her time was totally consumed by her studies. Rarely could she spare a few hours for her friends and hobbies.

After her first year, slumber became a scarce privilege. Her physical and mental processes suffered as a result.

After her first promotion, she had lost the passion essential to her research.

“All of my questions have been answered…what now? More lessons and theories to solve, I guess. It will all be worth it once I graduate.”

“Anatomy exam, botany presentation, thesis proposal…when will it end? I will need to postpone my personal research on the Nilotpala lotus again. Maybe coffee will help.”

“The world has become so dull. Perhaps I shouldn’t have searched for answers.”

♡ Syringe of Love and Dreams

A used syringe which serves as an ornament on the Doctor’s desk. The barrel holds the residue of a viscous gold chemical.

Over the centuries, a scholar rose to infamy in the Fatui. This individual was known as the Doctor’s assistant, his loyal supporter who stood by him in every inhumane experiment. One may doubt her allegiance to the Tsaritsa, but never her love for the Second Harbinger.

Many had speculated on the origins of their intimate relationship—and were swiftly punished for it. The price for such knowledge was a merciless death, whereas misinformation begot an increase in the Doctor’s test subjects.

Together, the couple made several discoveries regarding the truth of the Old World. Such advancements could have never been undertaken in the name of the Sumeru Akademiya, of which they had cut ties with.

To the world, they were the heretical Doctor and his fanatical Assistant. But behind closed doors, they were Zandik and ______ who shared their research, dreams, and secrets with one another.

♡ The Doctor’s Mask

A gray-and-white mask retrieved from Haeresys. The garment was used to conceal the wearer’s face, with the exception of cutouts for his eyes and right cheek.

The acquisition of the Electro and Dendro Gnoses was a triumph for the Fatui, but a tragedy for the Doctor’s Assistant.

After all, she was in the presence of his Segments when their lives were traded.

In the wake of their elimination, she rushed to her lover’s office and burst into tears when she found him in stable condition. Zandik was safe, unharmed, responsive to her embrace.

“Hey, Zandik, you’ll never leave me, right?”

“Oh? I believe I’d answered that question a long time ago. And this is no time for sorrow…unless you were more partial to my Segments than you cared to admit.”

“Still, each clone was a special version of you. And to think that the Dendro Archon rebuked their creation! Who knew how close-minded she could be?”

“Indeed, and the loss of my Segments will be strongly felt in the upcoming weeks. We have so much work to do while their positions are vacant.”

“Well, at least that means more time with you. That blasted Traveler…I swear, I won’t let them lay a hand on you, Zandik.”

“I could say the same for you, my dear.”

Pierro x Savior:: Disjecta Membra and Chess Piece

✧ Archon War Trophies

A pair of damaged weapons in the Fatui inventory. The equipment was discovered in an ancient temple, specifically a storage room for hunting traps.

In her long life, she had been called by many names. The God of Mist who provided a safe home for her followers. The All-Knowing One whose powers disabled secrecy and escape. The Starry One who had lost everything. █████, the beloved friend of her fellow gods.

It was during the Archon War that she gained her least favorite title, Death-Mist.

The carnage of the event would remain vivid in her memories. There was a ruined temple. A mangled body which burst into fire without any last words. Two ruthless gods who were slain in turn. Earth and flesh stained with her blood. The fear of several humans, including her own followers.

Perhaps that was the moment they began to lose faith in her.

It didn’t matter. It was her fault, anyway.

Only once revenge had been enacted did the loving god come back to her senses and move onwards.

“Oizys, Pasithea, are you all right? Those gods…they can’t hurt us anymore.”

“I’m sorry for not going with their option, Vesta. May you rest in peace.”

“My precious lambs, let us leave. It is time to find our new home.”

✧ Scattered Fragments

Pottery shards scattered across the floor of an ancient temple. Put together, the pieces form the shape of a dinner plate.

Her first observation of humanity birthed her talent for the culinary arts.

Hunger was such a curious sensation for living beings. It was this need for sustenance which led to many important patterns in daily life.

By hunting and gathering, one preserved the natural cycle of life and death.

In the kitchen, even a humble mortal could partake in creation.

At the dining table, everyone was equal.

“█████, isn’t this too much for two people? …Hey, it’s all right. We can eat the leftovers tomorrow.”

As the number of plates decreased from her table, so did the conversations. One day, the noise and her appetite disappeared entirely.

✧ Bloodstained Thurible

A silver Catalyst stained with blood. The powerful relic rests in the Jester’s private collection, kept under lock and key.

Their first act as a couple was to cook cream stew together.

“Pierro, were you always this slow at kitchen prep?”

“Might I remind you that I am still recovering from my injuries?”

“So am I. Just give me the knife and trade places with me.”

“I already said that you are forbidden from handling sharp objects.”

“Give me a break! Do you even know how to butcher a wild fowl?!”

Despite their quarrels, the couple felt closer than they had been in months. Perhaps it was the nostalgia of the activity or the god’s acceptance of her fate.

The cream stew turned out satisfactory. In the passing centuries, the dish frequently appeared on their dining table in Snezhnaya.

✧ Stellar Embroidery

A variety of garments embroidered with four-pointed stars. The clothes include a white necktie, a translucent veil, a small gown, and a baby’s blanket.

“Mother, we’re home!”

“Oh, Hecate? What time did you and Father arrive?”

“A few minutes ago. Don’t tell him that you know, but we bought a gift for you!”

“Aww, thank you! Did you have fun in the town square?”

“Yup! What are you sewing this time?”

“Just another Khaenri’ahn star. What do you think?”

“Hmm, it’s pretty but I like your other designs more.”

“In that case, do you have any suggestions for my next piece?”

“Can you sew snowflakes on my handkerchiefs? Oh, and Inteyvat flowers for this dress!”

“What a lovely idea. And would you like something to match with the twins?”

“Maybe. Are they—oh, Father, look what Mother made!”

“Welcome home, love.”

♡

After two months, I finally remembered this WIP lol. I just want to say thank you again to everyone who enjoyed my fics. Your support truly means the world to me!! And how could I not give a shoutout to my bestie @diodellet for once again indulging my brainrot and proofreading my nonsense?? (*´∇｀*)

Tag a Harbinger/ Darling enjoyer!! @oofasleep @leftdestiny-posts @nicebonescomrades @thescribeoflostmemories @surveyycorps @gum-iie @yanmaresu @bonknigirlinthehood @melody3cherryblossom @lazyroseart @harmonysanreads @kocherry @moarar @lcveaesop

[wangxianficfinder]

Fic finder

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1. There is a fic that I don’t remember the name of but it was wangxian arranged marriage with heavy angst and unhappy WWX. I remember it had a line going “Being married to me is killing him” so if anyone knows it I will be forever grateful 🥰 @kanrax-blog

FOUND! Concord by Deastar (T, 41k, WangXian, Arranged Marriage, Gūsū Lán Sect Rules, Depression, Canon Divergence, Angst with a Happy Ending)

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2. hello im looking for a fic where lotus pier is home to a bunch of eldritch horrors so our jiang trio have darker vibes. thank you so much for your help

FOUND? Monster in Human Skin Series by Nika_Raven_Celeste (T/M, 20k, WCZ/CSSR/JFM, NiecestXu, QHJ/WWX, WRH/WWX, Dark Jiāngs, dark au, grey morality, Implied/Referenced Cheating, Happy Murder Family, Dehumanization, Dark NHS, Dark NMJ, Non-Consensual Drug Use, Non-human characters, Morally Gray WWX, Gūsū Lán Elders Bashing, Dark Gūsū Lán Sect, Solitary Confinement, Touch-Starved, Gaslighting, Victim Blaming, Mental Health Issues, Emotional Manipulation, Mind Break, Mental Coercion, Dead Dove: Do Not Eat, Age Difference, no WangXian, Literal monster in human skin, Rape/Non-con Elements, Non-Consensual Somnophilia, Imprisonment, Mind Manipulation, Verbal Abuse, Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Incest, Stockholm Syndrome, Power Imbalance, Captivity, spoil of war, Post-Sunshot Campaign, Conditioning, Master/Pet, Fairytale elements, Eldritch) It's about JFM/WCZ/CSSR though

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3. i was hoping you could also help with finding a fic and since i don’t want to flood the inbox, i wanted to put my request here.

i’m looking for a fic/series where wei wuxian and lan wangji are both actors that work on a project together that involves them being intimate. the catch is that wwx thought lwj hated him and so there’s tension there. there’s also a continuation of when they’re happily together where wwx finds a shrine/treasure room dedicated to himself when visiting lwj’s house. it’s one of the first fics i ever read and it’s so deeply buried that I can’t seem to find the bookmark for it and was hoping for help. thank you in advance and i wish you all well.

FOUND! Feel My Love by Leffy (E, 5k, wangxian, modern, Actors, Fluff and Smut, Hand Jobs, Rimming, Anal Sex, inappropriate use of light sticks), of Blooming into the Color of Love series. shout out to asker and their brain cooperating with the details of the fic cause it made it easy to find !

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4. I'd love some help finding a fic! it's a short-ish smut modern au, with gnc lwj who wears skirts and does makeup for football/soccer player wwx, but it's very much canon dynamics! i think wwx has some but not a lot of comphet in it, wwx is very amenable to getting railed by lwj after he learns that this is a thing that could happen. i really enjoyed the characterization

I know I've read 4 but I can't find it/remember what it's called argh. The Twin Jades were child stars and LQR taught them that they had to have other avenues so LXC is a philanthropist (??) And LWJ moonlights in fashion design. He overheard footballer!WWX admitting he would have sex with LWJ and with Mianmian (???)'s help he made it happen. I think the end is a fast forward years later still together/happy.

FOUND! wear me out by plonk (Not Rated, 7k, WangXian, Modern AU, Fashion & Couture, Football | Soccer, Not!Fic)

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5. hi! trying my luck hunting down this fic which i sadly don't remember much of except for one scene. what i rmb is wwx seeing a comb that he wants to get for lwj in caiyi town, and not buying it the first time due to budget issues. when he eventually returns to the stall again, it turns out the seller kept it for him: wwx learns about this from the seller's husband, who is the one at the stall this time, and wwx is surprised to learn about the acceptance of cutsleeve relationships in gusu. thank you very much!!!

FOUND! 🔒 Unstoppable by Netrixie (T, 149k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Eventual Happy Ending, Unreliable Narrator, Slow Burn, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Unresolved Romantic Tension, Wolf-shifter WWX, Resolved Sexual Tension, Resolved Romantic Tension, Fix-It, Werewolf, Shapeshifters)

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6. Hello, I would like some help?? I’m looking for a fic but I completely forgot the name 🥲

it was a MDZS/TGCF crossover: Xie Lian joined the juniors on their nighthunt and Jingyi spends most of the time suspicious of him. At one point they all thought Xie Lian died but Lan Zichen appeared and performed cpr on him and he was fine. At the end WWX recognized him and called him grand uncle and tells the kids Xie Lian’s a god (and when they ask ‘why didn’t you say anything?’, Xie Lian’s only response was ‘you didn’t ask’)

That’s all I remember, I’m loosing my mind trying to look for it please help me 🥺🥺 I’m sorry if it’s a pain @cullen-blue23

FOUND! Lan Jingyi and the Adventure of the Immortal Cultivator by litbynosun (T, 5k, the junior quartet, TGCF/MDZS, Crossover, Just a Fun Little Romp, Minor Injuries, Canon-Typical Violence, Ghosts, postcanon, (for both books), Friendship, A Pack Of Teens Roaming The Countryside With Swords)

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7. Hello! Excuse me but could you please help me with the title of the Wangxian fic that's a Gawain and the Green Knight AU? Where Lan Wangji plays the role of Gawain and enters into a weird sex game with the Yiling Laozu and Wei Wuxian not knowing they're the same person until the duel? Please? @kaitou-cure-prism12

FOUND! rare the man who'll hold to faith by Fahye (M, 13k, wangxian, canon au, Identity Porn, With Apologies To The Chivalric Romantic Tradition)

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8. Fic finder request please! 🙂

Wangxian was in an arranged marriage au and WWX, in trying to get to know LWJ, hangs onto his arm or something and gets pushed into a pond (by accident fromLwJ), but WWX thinks it was on purpose and he decides to be just as rude back. I can’t remember anything else about it, but I think it had a happy ending and that LWJ had to grovel a bit. I swear I’ve read it a few months ago and can’t find it anywhere! 😭😭

FOUND! i won’t say i’m in love by kazzywx (E, 12k, wangxian, rape/non-con, A/B/O, Arranged Marriage, Miscommunication, Angst with a Happy Ending, Omega WWX, Alpha LWJ, skippable NSFW scenes, wwx’s is basically meg from hercules with his “i wont say im in love” shtick, Hurt WWX, Boypussy, WWX Has a Vulva, Intersex WWX, Dubious Consent, Feminization, Mating Bites, Vaginal Sex, Vaginal Fingering, WWX Has a Fear of Dogs, Mpreg, WWX & WQ Friendship, WWX & WN Friendship, Possessive LWJ, WIP)

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9. Hi, nice ppl! I'm looking for a fic (Modern AU). LWJ is a rich lonely businessman who finds erotic model WWX online (he doesn't do it for pleasure but to pay JC's medical treatment) & falls for him. No explicit sex, WWX just shows his body (only HALF of his face to keep anonymity) & sends private set of pix to clients after paying a lot of money. LWJ becomes the best client instantly, getting more pix & phone calls, which seems to be enough 4 him (he's in love). WWX doesn't trust him, he thinks he could be a psycho, so they didn't meet YET (the fic wasn't finished & now I cannot find it). One day, WWX is in a photo session w/erotic lingery in a building room near LWJ's office, who 'feels' smth but, as he gets to the place, it's already empty & the staff + WWX gone. He founds a piece of his costume & keeps it. Sorry I have no more to add, only that WWX really needs the money for JC's health & asks LWJ to make the payments to his own bank acc, not to the agency (perhaps that lil' info helps). LXC notices a positive change in his brother's mood but LWJ doesn't tell anything to him. TYSM!xo @einherjermineord

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10. Hello this is a long shot but my history and bookmarks crashed on AO3 and there was a fanfic I was reading it was about LZ meeting WY as children one of the two save the other from dogs, LZ gave WY his drum rattle, in a Yilin alley, it was cold and the thin clothed WY got a coat from LZ the author described the coat or cape as embroidery and elegant, then when the uncle and brother came to him, he turn and WY left with the drum rattle but not the coat/cape, years later they are married have children WY pulls out drum rattles and then the old one (which he used as design for the other ones) and is there where they realized are them in the childhood encounter ... I know it's a long shot but do you know what fic I am talking about? Oh and I think it has the tones of mpreg hence the children, but I can't remember much, if you could help me please and thank you

PS there is an author that used a similar encounter in "A Matter of Time" but that is not it I am so sorry to bother you about this, this author told me about you so here I am 😁

Sincerely @mysticalyunique

FOUND! As if you were on fire from within by jalpari (E, 30k, WangXian, Dragon LWJ/Fox WWX, Canon Universe, Getting Together, Bottom LWJ/Top WWX, Pregnant LWJ)

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11. Hello!! I'm looking for either one or 2 fics here. I might have read them at the same time and they blurred together, or it is the same fic. Anyway, one of them has mo xuanyu and nie huaisang working together and mxy is a fashion designer that insists on dressing wwx. And then the other has a scene where wwx is at some fancy party and escapes lwj through like a sky light. It's a cat-and-mouse fic where lwj is trying to capture wwx.

Thanks for your help and all the hard work yall do 🖤🖤🖤

FOUND! To lurk, to lie in wait by trippednfell (M, 124k, WangXian, Modern with Magic, Huli Jing, strangers to co-parents to lovers, Strangers to Lovers, Dragons, Kid Fic, teenage juniors, background NieLan, Angst with a Happy Ending, Case Fic, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Hurt/Comfort, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Not Really Character Death, Fox Spirit WWX, Dragon LWJ, Blood and Injury, Additional Warnings In Author's Note)

FOUND!🔒🧡 Rule Number One: Never get attached. by KizuKatana (E, 130k, WangXian, Modern AU, A/B/O, Criminal underworld AU, Fluff and angst, Crime boss LWJ, Rouge criminal genius WWX, Explicit Sex) #11b with the cat and mouse game sounds like kitzukanas "rule #1 don't get attached"

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12. Hello again. First off I'd like to thank you for all your hard work and help. This blog means alot to me.

I need help finding a fic. It's a modern au. WWX is a hacker. I forgot what LWJ does. It's not something he likes. He doesn't like his life/work. Doing it just for family. There was a part in the fic where LQR said/asked? If LWJ was happy and LWJ said no.

If you do find this fic, would you also recommend something in this similar theme? LWJ doing things for family and not being happy and LQR finds out and regrets his actions? @lailan-rosie

FOUND? Tempo Rubato by Spodumene (E, 107k, WangXian, Modern AU, Angst with a Happy Ending, Romance, Persuasion au, Separations, Mutual Pining, Depression, Miscommunication, Emotional Roller Coaster, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, Reconciliation, Eventual Smut, Jane Austen Fusion, Underage Kissing)

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13. Hi, Help me find this fic🙏

Lwj is in a hostage/courtesan/concubine situation and the ones who owns him are either wens or jins. Lxc is free and about, knows lwj's situation yet does nothing/can't do nothing because of sect politics.

WWX meets lwj, a stranger at lwj's institution/lodgings and is appalled at lxc for his inaction. Wwx fights/duels lxc saying hes a bad brother. @imstillthinkingaboutithmm

NOT FOUND! The Last Concubine by deliciousblizzardshark (T, 13k, WangXian, Royalty, Emperor WWX, Concubine LWJ, LWJ Whump, Forced Marriage, Starvation, Non-physical spousal abuse, Fluff and Angst, Doing the Wrong Thing for the Right Reasons, Happy Ending, WWX Takes Care of LWJ)

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14. Hi! I’m looking for a fic where rogue!wwx(?) meets LWJ who came down from the mountain just to collect books and bring knowledge back to the cloud recesses. It’s like a right of passage thing? They travel together a long time and then LWJ gets called home. I think he gives WWX a way to contact him even though he shouldn’t? And WWX ends up bringing the Wen remnants to CR.

FOUND? my rivers tilt towards you by perfectlyrose (T, 26k, WangXian, Canon, Canon Divergence, Slow Burn, Mutual Pining, Fairy Tale Elements, dragonji, mentions of, Madam Yu's A+ Parenting, First Meetings, Romance, Strangers to Friends to Lovers, Hurt/Comfort)

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15. hi ! this is for fic finder, i think i asked before but i don’t believe it was found: wangxian modern au, they reunite after a gap bc lan zhan gets into an accident (he’s fine, but it was going to be on the news because he’s a bit famous (i think it was as a tv baker) so lan xichen comes over to tell him). they get closer again and i think near the end it’s revealed that lan sizhui is lan yuan, a patient wei ying grew attached to that lan zhan adopted a few yrs after wei ying disappeared @willesnelson

FOUND? Lifelong Confidant by saved (E, 42k, WangXian, Modern AU, Fluff and Angst, Past Character Death, Families of Choice, Explicit Sexual Content, Idiots in Love, Misunderstandings, Oblivious WWX, playing fast and loose with basic real life things, references to past alcoholism/substance abuse, Alcohol)

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16. Hello! Hoping to find a fic where Meng Yao I think is the main character. Modern AU, the ensemble are nurses/doctors. Meng Yao is a nurse, but like the head or charge nurse - he points out you can tell bc he's wearing a particular color of scrubs (yellow?). The plot had to do with people actually protecting him for once and his father trying to pin his own mal practice (or possibly Jin Zixun's) on Meng Yao. But Nie Huisang manages to save the day by "stumbling across" records that proved it was Jin Guangshan/Zixun at fault.

Thanks so much for all your hard work mods! @somevariationofgay

FOUND! No Drug Like Me by Justkeeptrekkin (E, 32k, XiYao, Modern AU, Hospital, They're all doctors and nurses, Mutual Pining, Eventual Smut, Fluff)

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17. hii, I hope you're doing well, I'm looking for fic whose description was smth like "yuan watches some man try take away his xian-gege" it isn't accurate, and I think it's a humorous fic from a-yuan's pov where lwj is around wwx and yuan is annoyed. Thank u for ur work!!! @mercurygirlwt28

FOUND! as i stumble homewards by the_pretzel (T, 27k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Canonical Character Death - WWX, Found Family, Food Issues, Trauma, Canon-Typical Violence, sizhui pov, Angst with a Happy Ending, Fluff) lmao I found it myself. thank you sm for ur time!!!!!

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18. Hi I’m looking for a fic where Wei Ying wears Gusu Lan robes and no one recognizes him?

I think (and don’t quote me lol) that it is after the temple scenes and he lives in Gusu land now. @kyuubikuroba

FOUND? Wei Wuxian is Definitely Not Possessed by CursedBlessing (T, 20k, wangxian, JC & WWX, Misunderstandings, Is it exorcism if there's nothing to exorcise?, General Dumbassery, Humor) maybe chapter 3 of this one? Some people recognize wwx but some don't

FOUND? How Odd by bedheadrat (M, 35k, WIP, Case Fic, Fluff and Smut, BAMF WWX, Protective LWJ, Possessive LWJ, Rich LWJ, Genius WWX, Separation, Anxiety, Evil Plans, Touch-Starved, LWJ 's white robes kink, Attempted Kidnapping, Attempted Seduction, Misunderstandings, Not Cheating, Threats, Vandalism, Stealing, Canon Compliant, Post-Canon)

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19. hello! i am looking for a fic, if you don’t mind helping me ☺️

i believe in the fic wwx and lwj used to know each other well (or were together? i cant remember), and wwx came back to lwj’s life with baby sizhui. the baby is also lwj’s i think? but lwj didnt know prior to wwx’s return. the fic is set in modern times, so lwj is a rich boss running a company and wants to provide wwx and baby sizhui everything they need. theres this one scene where lwj gets overwhelmed about the whole situation, so he starts making lists: schools for sizhui, putting wwx on lwj’s uber plan, etc etc.

i’ve been looking for this fic for a very long time but my hands still come up empty. thank you very much!

FOUND? Family Pictures (Or: “Mark Rothko is very, very dead, Wei Ying.”) by belleweather (M, 37k, WangXian, Kid Fic, Post Mpreg, Modern AU, Cindarella Story, Mistaken Identity, Mistaken for Being in a Relationship, art conservator lwj, idiot WWX, (he gets better slowly), shockingly little actual sex omg what happened to me, fake/mistaken cheating, no actual infidelity)

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20. Hey, I'm losing my mind looking for this fic where wy fall in love with 3 different people he meets(like gamer id, chat id, irl id) but they're all lwj.

Any idea which fic this is? @imstillthinkingaboutithmm

#20 it's not duo with you.

Actually I'm currently reading duo with you and that's is when i remembered about the 3 identity fic i can't find.

Duo with you is very nice to read, thanks

NOT FOUND! The Best Gift by Lan_Wangjoe (E, 45k, wangxian, Modern, Mistaken Identity, Miscommunication, Fluff, Family Dynamics, Falling In Love, Idiots in Love, Dorks in Love, Nice LQR, Meet the Family, Nerdiness, Science Boyfriends, Science Experiments, Fake Science, Science Husbands, Geeks, Work Contains Fan(s) or Fandom(s), Fandom Allusions & Cliches & References, Adopted Sibling Relationship, Adopted Children, Marriage of Convenience, Secret Marriage, Didn't Know They Were Dating, Stupidity, Himbo LXC, Lan Himbos, Lán Family Feels, Making fun of the Lan's again, Everyone Is Alive, Everyone Thinks They're Together, Good Parents JFM & YZY, Genius WWX) Wwx is a "true genius" that was obsessed with books written by lqr. He's fav character is hgj, online frenemy is lwj, and irl genius rival is lz

NOT FOUND! Duo With You by Nyatci (T, 48k, wangxian, JFM/YZY, JYL/JZX, modern, College/University, , Gamers WàngXiànCasual Gaming, enemies to lovers (sorta), Secret Identity vibes, they play league of legends, Kinda Crack but treated very seriously, Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Comedy, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Abusive Jiāng Family, Eventual Happy Ending, Ga(y)mers WangXian, now with fanart, WIP)

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[yellowbluemoonshine]

Hi,

I see you finished Monster and are quite versed in Johan. Can you help me understand the depth of his character better? I feel like many people miss the point of it. Also I'd like to know why you like him so much.

Oh, there is so much to say about him but i will try to make it short as possible.

Lets Talk About Johan;

First of all, i heard his character as some 'evil' mastermind so i wasnt really interested in his character until i experience the story by myself. I wondered why this series is popular so i decided to give a chance. I tought Johan was like Afo (from Bnha) but he turn out to be a lot like Shigaraki lol.

What makes a character depth is if they are not one-dimensional, that there is a more than how they seem from surface. And Johan fits well since he is mysterious character who is seen as angel, monster, devil, basically anything but human but they end up failing to understand him because if he was so simple, police would've catch him a long time ago.

At the start of series, he seems like your usual dangerous serial killer which fits the psychological thriller theme of story. And one of the best thing in series is his connection with Tenma. A doctor saves his life and this dangerous killer starts to view him as parent figure. A killer who see no worth in life and the doctor who thinks every life is equal, especially saving Johan is the reason he starts to to be able to live his life as a real doctor. Only to learn the child whom he saved turn out to be serial killer.

Tenma feels responsible for this and goes to journey to kill Johan. During this journey, we aldo discover some hints of what made Johan the way he is. The irony is we get the hints and a lot of characters perspective of him, everyone except Johan.

Is his messages about 'the monster inside of him' serious or not? Tenma assumes Johan is enjoying this at first, then he assumes Johan has multiple personality disorder. And later when he talked with other doctor, he assumes Johan is just playing with him because thats what most serial killers do with police. This is interesting because all of those end up being wrong. Johan doesnt enjoy from killing people. Johan doesnt have DID. Johan didnt write those messages to play with them. We know this because we later learn that he is unconciously imitate the fairytale stories he read as child.

Meanwhile, he has fanclub. A lot of murderers admire Johan because they view him as destruction Buddha. Just like others, he is seen as monster but why though? Its not like he is the only killer in the world. And personally, a lot of characters are more 'evil' than him so the thing about Johan is; he treats human life as nothing. Not just other people but also himself. Thats what makes him so scary to everyone. He doesnt even do it out of joy, money, statue. He looks like the devil in human form. He spreads misery to world. (Thats why he burns library when they said "its humanity's treasure" LoL.)

To people, that is scary. When they look at Johan, his eyes, the see someone who has no identity (nameless world). They see someone who treats life like as a game. Which explains why many people are afraid of him.

Some also want to use him, such as they want him to make second Hitler and he is like 'Nope'.

I think the main reason i love Johan is that he is like a magician. He can create a beautifull illusion. He is someone who can touch people's hearths because how well he understands them. Which is why he is seen as angel when people dont know he kills people.

This is also why he can use other killers for himself. He can see their vulnerabilities. Because even a killer is still human and they might need acceptance, to be understood by someone. Johan can give it to them. And they wish they were like Johan because they think everything would be a lot easier for them to kill others, like some kind of edgy teens. They fail to understand the person they want to be is extremely miserable.

On other hand, Johan can use his skills with curing people. Such as him waking Suk's mother, he made her remember her son again. Though he does things with ulterior motives, same skills can be used for good things. He can make people happy or miserable by little things. With a little magic or just skill.

And even though he is villain, he has very relaxing voice. He is very elegant. He listens other people. This fits perfectly well with his manipulative character.

We also never know when he is sincere or not because when you think he doesnt he actually seem to care, such as when he cried for Karl. Apperantly, tears were real. He is always in his world, its so funny when you think about he is some kind of mastermind.

Also his interaction with kids is so interesting. I think he geniuely enjoys being around them. Otherwise, why would he bother to spend time with them, why would he know so much about child's rights, why would he look for picture book for a friend? This is the same guy who encourage kids to rooftop game (and the scene where he was projecting on Milos) which is messed up. It gives me chills. His nihisilism, him viewing life as game end up resulting him expressing love as twisted.

----

Later, everything changes when Johan finds certain book in library. Basically, Johan's character doesnt necessarely stay same during the series. He changes his motives from unconciously imitating nameless monster stories to find actual monster who ruined his life. Even though he does messed up things, everything about his character makes sense with that scene. Johan geniuely believed that he is nameless monster. Johan geniuely believed that he doesnt exist.

Everything about him makes sense because it explains why he doesnt think death as much of it. Because if someone doesnt exist, they cant be killed. If someone doesnt exist, they cant be responsible for killings. He is detached from reality. Its not that he didnt feel. Its that he doesnt view it as real the way other people does. Because Johan isnt there. This is the tragedy of Johan's story. He doesnt have name. He doesnt have identity. He feels as he doesnt exist.

The famous 'monster' tape everyone after is about a child unable to see the difference between fairytale story and reality. 'My name is Johan. My name is Thomas. My name is Hans. My name is Otto.' He is them but he is neither of them. Johan views Anna as his half, as Anna is the real one and he is fake copy. He killed people as child, not because he is evil but because he geniuely thought that monster is coming after them. He cant even separate his own memories from Anna's. He takes all bad memories both to protect Anna and other reason is to become someone. He wanted to have identity, he wanted to live so bad but he didnt have on his own so he took it from others, just like the nameless monster.

This is also why Johan is also affected by Tenma's saving him. He probably wondered Tenma wouldnt save him, if he knew he was monster. He was kinda right because Tenma regretted his decision but he was wrong because Tenma couldnt shoot him and he saved him the second time. He showed him that he has right to live, he has right to exist, and that he has a name so he is not monster. This is why Johan can open up his worst insecurities. And they really give father-son energy and i think thats cute. I am glad that even after years Tenma visists him at hospital.

And we can guess what happened at the end thanks to Grimmer (one of the characters who deserves better), 'The monster become human at the end'. and Lunge said that if he were not a human being, he would not leave a trace, only humans leave a trace. For the first time we see Johan leave his mark. So Johan is no longer a monster, just a human. Also, his real name doesnt matter, he is Johan to us/all.

I love the messages of story. There is a monster inside all of us, but we can contain/heal it and after all, we are all human, our lives are equally valuable and stealing a person's name is the biggest crime, so having a name is very important. Story still has certain writing issues but generally, it is good story. Johan is well written character because his story is such a journey. We cant even really appreaciate the story without fully understand Johan. Every scene he is in meaningfull. And personally, i think his story is very empathic because of how tragic he is. Also sometimes he looks so funny and weird which makes him entertaining. He is such a good character.

Though you are right, anon. Many people still misinterpret the story, especially his character but anyway, there are still people who makes great analysis about him. Such as this analysis made by @cyanogoth.

Its ironic that most/some main villains have the most interesting and sempathic backstories, even though they are supposed to be 'big evil' or something but in reality, they are not really.

Anyway, he is fun to think about, i love him, lol.

[crownmemes]

Supernatural & Paranormal Sentences, Vol. 6

(Sentences from various sources for muses exploring the unexplained. Adjust phrasing where needed)

"There must be a rational answer for all of this."

"I have no tolerance for the unexplainable."

"Unfortunately, satanic ritual is alive and thriving. The trick is knowing how to recognise its patterns."

"You don't see ghosts. They don't exist. Is that clear?"

"You really believe this, don't you? That you're a vampire?"

"You're not scared of ghosts?"

"A cat! Don't you understand? It's the classic satanic offering! It's what they do - it's what they've always done!"

"I have a bad feeling about this..."

"Hateful things live in this house."

"I haven't seen a lot of horror movies, but this seems like exactly the kind of place they'd suggest to avoid."

"When I was a kid, I could see things. Things humans aren't supposed to see."

"You must allow that each incident in itself is capable of a more natural explanation."

"Hey, are you experiencing an ominous sense of foreboding?"

"I know only that we cannot hide from our ghosts. Whether they are real or not, we must make our peace with them."

"You haven't come all this way just to turn back now, have you?"

"They do tests. Psychological, medical. They look inside your head, and they insert a tracking device inside your brain sometimes. You wouldn't like that."

"I know that this is hard to understand, but you have to believe me that this is real!"

"You don't think that's a little paranoid?"

"For once in your life, admit that you are up against something bigger than you!"

"I'm not weird! It's just that weird things keep happening to me!"

"Nobody ever feels really safe in the dark."

"At the time she was seen, it was impossible that she could be a living person."

"If we identify a UFO, does that just mean it's an FO?"

"Don't worry, people who die in this house always come back."

"I talk to ghosts here all the time."

"You cannot make deals with the dead!"

"Normal? There's nothing normal about this!"

"To a collector of fairytales, this is no doubt fascinating - but you cannot seriously believe that."

"It is quite the feat to kill that which is already dead!"

"Please be aliens, please be aliens, please be aliens..."

"There are things happening here that you don't understand, and right now, you just need to accept that."

[wonderboygenius]

quick blurbs of some of the 10 plus jax teller x ofc fics i have saved; tell me which i should go with to fully flesh out.

Untitled (Jax Teller/OFC; Main female character is Latina, Her oldest brother is Latino, and her other brother is Black)

Our FMC, along with her two older brothers, move into Charming and open a few businesses. What the club doesn't know, is that these three newcomers are Zobelle's children...only they're his soliders. Zobelle had mixed children for their genetics and trained them each in the typical underground jacket of violence.

He uses them as a last resort to take over a place. Zobelle installs his children before moving into town. First few chapters cover moments in Season One involving the new three characters before getting into the arc of Season 2. AU. Deals with the complicated race issue in Charming, and the MC. Juice's secret may come out more earlier. This is the Zobelle plotline extended. Psychological, racial, familial bonds are all questioned and explored.

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2. 2 Fast 2 Untitled (Jax Teller/OFC; Latina)

Our FMC (Sunny) is Luann and Big Otto's adopted child who grew up with our normal players. When Donna is murdered, Sunny comes back into Charming after two years away to help with her godchildren. Tara only remembers Sunny as the little quiet girl, not the confident women who seemed to have a history with Jax, much to Gemma's pleasure. AU. Complex love.

Blurb: Tara waited for Jax to stand behind her as all of the club members who were family did to their Old Ladies. But her face dropped as he walked past her. She was even further shocked when she saw him stop to stand next to Sunny, both facing opposing directions, Sunny facing the funeral, and Jax facing away from everyone. Her stomach churned as she saw Jax place his hand on Sunny’s deeply curved hip. She watched the rest of the scene play out like a bad television show. 

Jax leaned down and kissed Sunny’s temple, walking away without looking back. 

Sunny looked at Opie, an apologetic look on her face.

Opie nodded in the direction Jax walked. 

Gemma squeezed Sunny’s hand that she held. 

Sunny leaned down and kissed Gemma’s head. She turned and walked towards Jax. 

Jax, without looking behind him, held his hand out, knowing she would take it. 

Sunny, like she always did, caught up to Jax, her hand resting in his. 

Tara was fucking confused. She knew she had missed so much, she knew that everyone was keeping so many things from her. But she had no idea what the fuck just happened. She leaned over to look at Gemma, knowing she would have something to say. 

Instead, Gemma just gave her a quick nod and sly smirk.  Tara didn’t like the feeling she got.

----

3. Guess what? Untitled as well. (Jax/OFC, Angel/OFC, Juice/OFC; Our three MFCs are Latina with an Indigenous background, Mexican with an Indigenous background, and Black with a down South, Texan background.) AU. This eventually will see the truce with SOA and the Mayans through the women.

Through the Grim Bastards, SAMCRO hires three women to jump Cherry and Ima; through the three women, the club is now connected to even deeper gun and drug ties causing the rift between Jax and Clay to only worsen. As some of our MCs partner up with members of SAMCRO, Gemma is pissed as she can't manipulate these three. Mixing representation, with culture and spirituality as both SOA and Mayans MC, this is meant to be more dramatic like the show(s).

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4. Untitled Fore! (golf ref haha) (Jax/OFC, Thomas!LivesAU, Tommy/Tara)

An AU where Thomas never died. A little girl became a Cinderella story in Charming. But SOA ain't a fairytale baby. After Jax and Tara break up, Thomas and Tara go to school together, eventually falling in love. Jax and OFC are on and off. A different take of the big events of Season 1; Donna dying, creepy Kohn, sneaky Stahl, and the divide between Jax and Clay. With Tommy and Tara both facing off against Clay and Gemma, it's a race between them both to rope Jax and OFC to either side before the club gets deeper into violence.

----

5. Cinco de Untitled (Jax/OFC; OFC is Juice's sister. This is SOA from day one with my take of Juice's sister involved. David!Lives, Tara/David Hale) AU. Smutty.

Blurb:

Jo blinked. Before she knew it, she had her hand wrapped around Wendy’s throat. 

Wendy clawed at Jo’s hand, surprised at her actions. Jo never was known to her to ever throw a punch. Her windpipe was narrowing with heavy pressure and speed. She gasped for air that couldn’t be reached. 

-

David nodded. “I told you, it’s a long story. Let me get there,” he bumped Tara’s shoulder with his own. 

Tara laughed, moving with the small push. She bumped his shoulder back playfully. She giggled as she saw a small blush come across David’s face. She felt a lick in her stomach; it had been a while since she made a man do that, and it made her feel good. “Sorry, sorry, go on,” she broke the moment between them.

----

6. Still not great at naming things (Jax/OFC) OFC is a newcomer into Charming with her young daughter. AU of SOA from the beginning.

Blurb:

Soleil turned to a shaking Jax. “Jax…”

“Sol, I gotta go. Hairy Dog? They’re–” Jax stopped quickly, shaking his head. Soleil may have suspicions, but she didn’t know exactly what the Sons did. Or that she was even around the mother charter. “I gotta take care of this…I can’t be, I can’t–” his nostrils flared. He shook his head.  Soleil blinked, looking into his eyes. She nodded slowly. “Okay. Okay,” she licked her lips. “Go do what you need to do. Gemma and I will hold off DFCS until you take care of it, but that means,” she reached up and grabbed his chin sharply, making him look at her. “That means you come back. Because you heard what the doctor said. He’s stable. As long as he stays that way, he has a chance. When you come back, I’ll tell you how Selena almost didn’t have a chance when she was born either,” she breathed, watching Jax’s electric blue eyes widen in shock. “And she’s here. You held her. Just like you’re going to hold Abel. Okay?” She squeezed his chin. “You fucking come back,” she hissed at him, tears in her eyes.

----

7. 7th Untitled Hell (Opie/OFC eventual Jax/OFC)

FC dates Opie after Donna dies. Jax is attracted to her, but keeps his distance as she is Tara's one and only friend. When Opie dies, our FC and Jax both spiral down into each other's arms. Sisterhood of the traveling angst baybay.

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8. What's four plus four? Still untitled. (Jax/OFC) Romance/Humor

Jacob Hale's very very young new wife visits Tristan in the hospital after the events in Funtown, bumping into Gemma and Jax, further complicating the already tense political and guardian relationship between the town and SAMCRO.

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9. Lucy in the Sky (in Charming) (Jax/OFC, Happy's baby sister AU)

Happy's baby sister, who is the opposite of him, comes down to Charming for a quick trial run. Can she be the woman to settle Jax down and be the Old Lady he needs to change the club the way he wants now with Happy in his pocket? (I can probably do this as a one shot or a two parter!) Part One & Part Two

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10. Untitled (Jax/OFC, Juice's baby sister AU.)

Juice's sister Julissa moves to Charming after tragic events; only a few months behind Wendy in pregnancy. As Julissa steps up to be Abel's mother as Jax also is the father that stepped up to Julissa's daughter, the club and Tara think they're involved, when in fact they are not. Butttt obviously that doesn't stay the same for too long. Meanwhile the normal bullshit is happening with the club.

---

11. Untitled (Jax/OFC)

The little girl that Gemma had sent away long ago comes back with a tragic story. Feeling guilty, Gemma takes her under her wing. Unbeknownst to Gemma, that once little girl knew exactly the Queen's role in her forceful exit and has a plan to take the Queen down. While its Jax vs Clay, Gemma will have her own battle to deal with FC.

----

12. Untitled (Jax/OFC)

Miguel Galindo's baby sister runs for Mayor of Charming. While appealing to keep Charming, Charming, the town is weary over her cartel connections. (I can probably make this a one shot actually!)

---

Let me know which one you guys want me to do first! I eventually want to do some of the ones on this list, but let me know which I should do first!

[be-gay-find-cryptids]

(Part 1) Film & TV Recommendations for Halloween

1. Over the Garden Wall (Miniseries, 2014)

Over the Garden Wall features two half-brothers, Wirt and Gregory, who have become lost in a mysterious wood called The Unknown and attempt to find their way back home.

...

This beautifully crafted animated miniseries is the best thing to come out of Cartoon Network even after ten years. The unique atmosphere, which blends fairytale charm with Gothic eeriness, perfectly compliments the early 20th-century Americana-styled animation. At just ten episodes, Over the Garden Wall is a short but impactful experience that lingers with you long after it ends. I highly recommend this series.

2. Coraline (Film, 2009)

Wandering her rambling old house in her boring new town, an 11-year-old Coraline discovers a hidden door to a strangely idealized version of her life.

...

This stop-motion animated film is a deeply unsettling and visually stunning experience. Blending a dark fairytale narrative with otherworldly imagery, it presents itself as a psychological horror for young and older audiences alike. Coraline explores the complex ideas about family, identity, and the dangers of wish fulfillment with grace. I strongly recommend this film.

3. ParaNorman (Film, 2012)

Norman Babcock, a young boy who can communicate with ghosts, is given the task of ending a 300-year-old witch's curse on his Massachusetts town.

...

This heartfelt stop-motion animated film blends humor, horror, and themes of ostracization and acceptance. While blending classic horror movie tropes with a coming-of-age story, it manages to portray strong themes of prejudice by using zombies, witches, and ghoulish imagery. If you're looking for a unique spin on classic B-movie horror, I highly recommend this film.

4. Happy Death Day (Film, 2017)

A college student must relive the day of her murder over and over again in a loop that will end only when she discovers her killer's identity.

...

Happy Death Day is an entertaining mashup of slasher horror and Groundhog Day-style time loop storytelling. This film stands out from all the rest of the horror-comedy franchise due to its emotion, mystery, and character growth. While it doesn't push boundaries for horror, it makes up for its uniqueness that balances humor and suspense. If you're looking for a horror-comedy film, I strongly recommend this one.

5. Jennifer's Body (Film, 2009)

A newly-possessed high-school cheerleader turns into a succubus who kills her male classmates and devours their flesh in order to survive.

...

Though it was sorely misunderstood when it originally came out, it has recently garnered rightful attention for its subversive take on the horror-comedy genre. This film blends teen drama and supernatural horror and uses its genre to touch upon the objectification of women in horror and in reality. Its wit, self-awareness, and social commentary have made it a standout in the horror-comedy genre, and for that, I strongly recommend this film.

6. Sinister: Recut (Film, 2012)

Ellison Oswalt is a struggling true-crime writer whose discovery of snuff films depicting gruesome murders and strange supernatural elements in his new house puts his family in danger.

...

Said to be one of the scariest films ever from a research study, Sinister is a deeply unsettling horror movie that perfectly mixes supernatural elements with psychological tension. The haunting score combined with the grainy, nightmarish footage of the murders results in an unnerving experience that sits with you long after you turn the lights out. Instead of watching the original movie, I strongly recommend this fanedit version of the film. It elevates the movie by removing some of the cheesy jumpscares and awkward dialog. If you're looking for a genuinely haunting movie this Halloween, I recommend this one.

7. 1408 (Film, 2007)

Author Michael Enslin, who specializes in debunking paranormal occurrences, checks into the fabled room 1408 in the Dolphin Hotel in New York City.

...

This film excels in building suspense, using minimal special effects, and relying on our main characters' isolation and psychological unraveling to create fear. While this movie isn't as overtly terrifying as other horror films, 1408 offers an eerie, slow-burn experience, blending supernatural elements with personal trauma. The film has two different endings, the theatrical version and the director's cut. I'd suggest watching both to come to the conclusion of your favorite. It's a must-watch for fans of psychological horror, and I strongly recommend this film.

8. Midsommar (Film, 2019)

A couple travels to Northern Europe to visit a rural hometown's fabled Swedish mid-summer festival. What begins as an idyllic retreat quickly devolves into an increasingly violent and bizarre competition at the hands of a pagan cult.

...

This is a visually stunning and disturbing horror film set against the backdrop of a bright, idyllic Swedish village. The movie stands out for its unique approach to horror, unfolding almost entirely in daylight, creating a sense of unease through its striking visuals, unnerving atmosphere, and slow-building dread. Midsommar is a polarizing piece of media, mixing folk horror with psychological drama, and is filled with symbolism and unsettling imagery. I highly recommend this film if you're looking to be disturbed this Halloween.

9. Skinamarink (Film, 2022)

A young brother and sister wake up during the night to discover that their father is missing and that the windows, doors, and other objects in their house have vanished.

...

Skinamarink is an experimental analog horror film that trades traditional narrative for a surreal, nightmarish atmosphere. Shot in grainy, low-light cinematography, the film immerses you in a disorienting and eerie world where fear of the unknown takes center stage. The film’s strength lies in its ability to evoke childhood fears, using abstract visuals and unsettling sound design to create a sense of dread. However, its unconventional approach may alienate some people who expect a clear plot or resolution. The minimal dialogue and deliberate pacing make Skinamarink more of a mood piece than a traditional horror film, relying on atmosphere over jump scares. For those willing to embrace its experimental nature, Skinamarink offers a haunting and disquieting experience that lingers long after it ends, tapping into primal fears of isolation and helplessness. For all these reasons, I highly recommend that you check out this film.

10. Heck (Short Film, 2020)

A child wakes up in the middle of the night to the sound of his mom's television blaring.

...

Heck is a short film that shares a similar atmospheric approach to the creator's feature-length film Skinamarink. Like Skinamarink, it explores the feeling of being trapped in a surreal, dreamlike space. The film's minimalist aesthetic, with grainy visuals and a haunting soundscape, creates a disorienting atmosphere that leaves much to the imagination. It builds tension through its slow pacing, relying on the viewer's discomfort with the unknown rather than traditional horror tropes. For people who thought Skinamarink's runtime was excessive, Heck is a great substitute that captures the same atmosphere of the former. I highly recommend this film to people who have enjoyed Skinamarink's take on horror.

[eri-pl]

Silm reread interlude 2: more Lay of Leithian [canto 4-5]

Canto 4

Again: Beren is sick to upfront pay for the fact of Luthien loving him. Huh. OK.

But we get the beautiful line: "and in his doom was Lúthien snared, the deathless in his dying shared; and Fate them forged a binding chain of living love and mortal pain".

Beren learns new things and gets more elflike, for lack of a better word. Also, they do dance and… if I haven't read LaCE, I might have had some assumptions about what happens here in between the lines. TBH because this is an early text, I'm still not sure how to read it.

Dairon (Daeron) is angry and jealous and curses Doriath with silence. Also, snitches on Lúthien for having a lover (this wors is used in the text, I do not claim that they are lovers in the modern sense, but I don't have a better fitting word for this. "boyfriend" seems too anachronistic and not intense enough.).

Thingol's crown described: it's silver and green. And his people wear armor.

More beautiful lines (similar as in the published Silm): "what I sought not I have found and love it is hath here me bound".

Also, a declaration of how strong the love is, which does our favorite "nor X nor Y" scheme, best known from a certain ill-fated oath: "nor rocks nor steel nor Morgoth's fire nor all the power of Elfinesse shall keep the gem I would posess".

[But Beren doesn't swear to harm anyone, also it's romance not greed so it's not bad. Just sounds cool. TBH I think the nor/nor/nor was a common literary thing in the kind of poetry Tolkien based his writings on. It feels like it.]

Dairon calls Beren "baseborn mortal", which is quite a burn.

The Ring of Barahir is described. Speaking of it, I am really curious what does this design mean and why does this ring look like this, it is really strange tbh.

Melian calls Thingol out on being prideful.

Thingol ignores her and sends Beren on a quest, nicely echoing his words: "A treasure dear I too desire, but rocks and steel and Morgoth's fire from all the powers of Elfinesse do keep the jewel I would posess."

The Sindar laugh at Beren and we get a recap on where the Silmarils came from. Feanor kindled them slow[ly], which is interesting. Oath of [sons of] Feanor mentioned, but by narration, not by characters. Also, it's said to be sworn in mandess.

Beren laughs at the Sindar, bitterly, and agrees to the price and walks away like a boss "he turned, and thrust aside the ring of guards about him, and was gone".

Luthien cries and is afraid. Thingol is certain that Beren will die.

"But Melian smiled, and there was pain as of far knowledge in her eyes; for such is the sorrow of the wise."

Relateable. But, excuse me for correcting the Professof himself, I would kick out the "for", for rhythm and made the last line a new sentence.

Canto 5

Lúthien talks with Melian, we got the most alliterative of lines: "and dare the dread in dungeons dim", I love it!

Dairon snitches at Lúthien again. "Thingol was wroth and yet amazed; in wonder and half fear he gazed on Dairon". I love the description. Again: Thingol is the not best, nor the worst, but definitely the most psychologically realistic, slice-of-life-ish guy in the Silm. And agais: "In angry love and half in fear Thingol took counsuel".

Lúthien is imprisoned in a treehouse: "up she clomb" (it means "climbed"). I love Tolkien's arbitrary past tense forms. She forgives Daeron, because ha makes sad enough songs about it (no, Maglor, a song can work with "sorry I snitched on you", not with "sorry I murdered your family", you need to, idk, stop murdering people is a good start)

Luthien does magic, which has a very fairytale description."'At middle night,' she said, 'in bowl of silver white it must be drawn and brought to me with no word spoken". Also, she gets a spinning-wheel! Daeron doesn't snitch on her anymore, "though his heart feared the dark purpose of her art". Mmm... scary!Lúthien!

She sings magic songs, also we get one of the few Tolkienian examples of one of my favorite things/vibes, which is "darkness but good" (or at least not evil): "another song she sang, of night and darkness without end, and flight and freedom."

Darkness without end, you say? Haven't we, umm, heard this idea somewhere already, Professor? I have thoughts. I do have questions. Sir.

So, on one hand: Feanor with sons goes to chill at the edge of the Void, but after he became, umm, more questionable, "everlasting darkness" is the scariest thing he can think of. Also, here darkness seems to be a good thing. Also, accordint go that one text, early Mannish tales have darkness, or at least "beyond darkness" as clearly positive.

On the other hand (which I do not posess anymore) you have scary darkness-spiders and "Darkness" used as a term for extreme-scary-unknown even in the context of the Valar.

On another hand, you have "darkness" used as symonim for "evil" in narration, I think, even in places where the narrative frame is nonexistent. But let's ignore this a little. :D [Also, "shadow" but it's not the same thing.]

OK, so … I do have thoughts. I should probably pull them into a separate post when/if I figure out what precisely those thoughts are. TLDR something about/around the Gift of Men, but I'm not sure, I can't pinpoint it well yet. Or maybe I can but I'm afraid to. Unclear.

And also also, coming back to the reread, of all the Elves, it is Lúthien who sings of darkness. Hmm.

And for a less interesting, and more lighthearted song, we also get a list of "longest things", including Uinen's hair and my favorite chain, Angainor "that ere Doom for Morgoth shall by Gods be wrought, of steel and tornment". Because of course, as a half-Maia she is allowed to put some foreshadowing in her songs.

BTW what was Tolkien's problem with the 's possesives? I mean, what was the problem of Tolkien with it? :D

We get a really weird poetic choice where two lines end on "dark". Also, Lúthien's hair grows long and pools on the floor (I imagine it roughly like the dress of Morticia Addams)

Short-haired Lúthien! "and cut the hair about her ears, and close she cropped it to her head". And her hair is now darker (less gleaming?) Also, "she wove a web like misty air of moonless night". I absolutely love the mix of "what I am afraid of" (spiders, darkness probably) and "what I am fascinated by" (Edith) that Tolkien does here. But I do have peculiar emotional connections sometimes, I guess it doesn't work well for everyone. But. I love dark!beautiful!spider-ish!Luthien. She needs a fanart.

Also, speaking of fanart, we get a description of her clothing, which is white dress and blue mantle with jewels that look like golden lilies? I think? The language is difficult. OK, sir, we get it, she is as cool as you can write. I am not laugh— no, actually I am laughing a little (yes, yes, the way I described her in the previous paragraph, I know). But ok. And tbh it does make sense with her color palette.

And in the notes we get a suggestion that Thingol couldn't believe that Lúthien actually loved Beren without any weird spells doing that. Which explains a lot of his bahavior tbh, but, Your Highness, maybe you could have asked your Maia wife to have a look at this and tell you if there's some magic going on?

OK, enough for one post.

[overshelter]

REVIEW: Heaven Official's Blessing

WARNING: Contains numerous SPOILERS, so CAUTION!

<< REFERS TO THE UNREVISED VERSION >> This is the author's third work and also her longest. TGCF, unlike SV which seems to focus more on the emotional and MDZS which focuses more on themes such as forgiveness and overcoming, seems to pay more attention to the feelings and relationships between the characters. The fact that the MC, Xie Lian, has lived for just over 800 years is definitely not something that can be easily overcome. Having lived, felt and related to numerous types of people over such a long period of time, it's completely natural that he would end up making extremely difficult decisions or be driven to almost irreparable psychological damage. In fact, I still find it incredible and truly admirable how he managed to overcome and move on even in the midst of many things. Even if there were moments in the current timeline when you can see that some of those wounds were merely treated, but never truly and completely healed. Most of his relationships in the beginning are completely in ruins, and don't seem to have any chance of recovery. But even with all that, he has still managed, not to mend, but to patch up many wounds that have emerged over the years. The other characters were also written and developed in a very human way, which was an unparalleled point of attraction in my opinion. What really stuck with me was that no one in this story can be described as entirely good or evil. Everyone walks a fine line between these two sides, fighting and doing the best they can for themselves, their loved ones and for a hope of happiness. All their decisions, actions and emotions are extremely relatable if you simply put yourself in their shoes without having any kind of prejudice in mind. They show that we can all reach a point of no return if we are pushed to the limit. Moving on, another crucial point in this story is undoubtedly the romance. It was developed in a very sweet way. So sweet that you end up melting with every interaction. HuaLian really is that fairytale couple, who have an enviable and perfect love, with a true sense of eternity. It's completely impossible to look at them and not feel like you're floating or have that warm feeling in your chest. To tell you the truth, I think they're the couple with the cutest vibe out of the three by this author. I'd say they're like that teenage romance or the taste of first love. That love that burns, that warms you, that won't let you forget it. A gentle love that makes you feel complete and totally welcomed. With this person, you feel like the whole world could turn its back on you and everything would still be fine. Because that person, that person alone is enough. That person you know and feel will never, ever abandon you and will always be there for you, supporting you no matter what. That's how HuaLian makes you feel. That's how they are. A simple, sweet and engaging definition of the word love. TGCF is also a very good story in terms of holding your attention. There are lots of things happening all the time, well-developed schemes, backstories to be discovered, new characters and a whole range of extremely attractive contexts that you can't take your eyes off. Everything was very well written and crafted, with nothing that seemed tedious or unnecessary throughout. MXTX, for me, is an author with a real talent for writing. Everything is very captivating and can hit you hard if you choose to give it a chance. Well, I'll stop here, as I feel I have nothing more to say. I hope you give this baby a try!

[a-small-batch-of-dragons]

"Cut!" | "Encore!"

a second part of "Cut" where it's the Others helping Roman figure out what's real and what isn't? Like a look into what continued support for Roman would look like. Maybe some creativitwins moments? – oatmeal-stans-the-trash-rat

Read on Ao3 Part 1

Warnings: self-doubt, not being able to tell what's real

Pairings: none? platonic dlampr? romantic dlampr? literally who knows not me

Word Count: 4839

After finding out that Roman's been having such a rough time, the others rally around him for Act 2.

 

After learning that Roman had, apparently, invented one of the most sophisticated psychological torture methods Remus has ever seen without even consulting him, and using it on himself, Remus decides that no, Roman doesn’t get to pretend he’s okay for a little bit.

And if that means he has to politely bully Roman into taking care of himself, then that’s what he’s gonna do.

“Come on,” he coaxes, throwing Roman’s favorite red rain jacket at him, “let’s go pick some mushrooms.”

“Re, it’s fine, I don’t have to—“

“A-bup-bup!” Remus holds up a finger. “No protesting, or else I’ll sic Ollie on you and tell him you’re worried.”

Which would lead to the Kraken cuddling Roman for the next week or so. All in all, not a bad thing, but judging by how much the thought of it is making Roman cringe, a good enough threat to make him shrug on the jacket and pull on his boots.

Remus pushes the door to the Imagination open to reveal part of their shared forest, a mossy path twisting into the foggy depths of the trees. The door shuts and vanishes with a slight hum as they start to walk, the soft crunch-crunch of their footsteps accompanied by noises that might be echoes of their own movement, might not. Every so often a shadow will pass through the mist, some large and hulking, others too quick to name. Large moss-covered boulders periodically loom out of the shadows, marking their path.

Roman’s red coat dulls and grows more vibrant in equal measure, almost looking like a bloodstain in the midst of the dark green forest. He shifts to walk a little closer to Remus, their shoulders brushing. It makes the grotesque little spark in the base of Remus’s chest burn just a little brighter; Roman’s still that brave boy that needs to know his brother is right next to him after all.

Maybe it makes Remus reach out and take Roman’s hand. Maybe.

As they move deeper and deeper into the mist, a shadow covers their path, almost swallowing them. They turn as a hulking wolf melts from the mist, a soft growl greeting them as two puffs of air leave its nostrils. Roman smiles softly, reaching up with his free hand. The wolf rumbles again, leaning down to touch its nose delicately to his fingertips.

“He missed you,” Remus says quietly, “and all your fairytale shit.”

“I’ve missed him too.”

The wolf huffs, sounding almost like a laugh, as he nudges the both of them onwards. Up ahead, in between the trees, lies a small clearing. As they pass underneath the wooden ceiling, sets of mushrooms greet them with an almost unnaturally blue bioluminescence. These are the ones Remus uses to feed the baby implings, and Roman to make some of the more complicated healing stuff. The wolf sits on his haunches as Roman produces two baskets, handing one to Remus as he starts harvesting some of the larger mushrooms.

“Hey, Ro?”

“Yeah?”

Remus toys with a leaf between his fingernails. “Why’d you start doing that?”

There’s a rustle as Roman pauses, sitting back on his heels. A quick glance over shows that he’s fiddling with a small purple flower. Behind them, the wolf sighs, putting his head on his front paws.

“It was easier,” he says eventually, “than trying to figure out what to do in the moment. I could try it as many times as I wanted to figure out what was right.”

“But that’s not what we would do.”

He scoffs. “Yeah, it kind of was. Not you, necessarily, but the others? I had them down perfectly for a while.”

“…Ro…”

The wolf stretches his neck out to take the very edge of Roman’s hood delicately between his teeth. Roman lets him tug him to standing, then over to his side. Remus gets up too, coming to sit between the wolf’s paws as he scents Roman’s hair.

“You smell sad, apparently.”

Roman pats the wolf’s cheek. “It’s fine, really. I just pushed myself too hard.”

”You were torturing yourself.”

“That’s exaggerating it, Remus—“

“You were subjecting yourself to horrible experiences for no reason,” Remus says bluntly, “aside from being fucking stupid, that’s torturing yourself.”

The wolf snuffles in agreement, all but making Roman sit down in the cradle of its front legs. Roman goes and Remus has the oddly entertaining thought of Little Red Riding Hood where the wolf and the grandmother are one and the same.

”It just worked,” Roman says eventually, still holding the flower, “it worked, okay?”

“Until it didn’t.”

Roman sighs and the flower falls to the ground. “Until it didn’t.”

The wolf noses at Roman’s hair. There’s a quiet rumble as he makes himself comfortable, curling more closely around the two of them. Remus takes the hint and shuffles close enough to pull his brother into his arms.

“Don’t do it anymore,” he mumbles, “come here, or something?”

“…I’ll try.”

The wolf growls at the mists until they part, the grove of mushrooms glowing faintly in the heart of the forest.

***

2.

Patton finds Roman curled up in the living room, nursing a cup of tea.

He’s been thinking a lot about what’s been going on recently, and at how much Roman had been bracing to get hurt every time something went wrong. With this in mind, he goes into the kitchen and takes out Roman’s favorite candy before walking over.

”Roman?”

Roman’s head jerks around. “Patton?”

Patton holds out the candy. Roman’s eyes widen for a moment and he sees his fingers twitch, before he looks back up.

“Is something wrong?”

A pang ripples through Patton’s chest but he forces himself not to wince. “No, kiddo, nothing’s wrong. I just thought you might want some candy.”

“O-oh.” Roman reaches out slowly, as if he’s waiting for the catch. When nothing comes, he takes it and tucks it safely into his lap. “Thanks.”

“Can I sit with you?”

“…sure.”

He half expects Janus to pop up. When he doesn’t, he takes a deep breath and sits on the other edge of the couch, looking at Roman out of the corner of his eye. Roman shifts a few times, clearly aware of his scrutiny, but he doesn’t say anything.

The clock ticks.

“Patton?”

“Yeah?”

“When…when we baked together last, what did we make?”

Patton frowns. “Last time…I believe the last time was chocolate chip cookies. For movie night.”

“Movie night, right.” Roman nods to himself a few times. “Thank you.”

“Would…would that be helpful?” He can’t help but push. “If I told you what else I remembered?”

“Not—maybe not right now, but if I need to ask you?”

“I can do that.”

They lapse into silence again. Patton tries not to stare too obviously at him. After a few long seconds, however, the words well up on the tip of his tongue and he can’t help it.

“Roman?”

“Yeah?”

“Can…I have a question for you.”

Roman shifts, turning to face him, the cup and candy balanced in his lap, almost out of sight. “What is it?”

“You seem…you seem like you’re afraid of me.”

Roman’s eyes widen. His mouth opens, probably to instinctively deny it, but he seems to remember that Janus can and will use that as an excuse to appear and smother him, so he closes it after a moment. Patton’s hands bunch and unbunch in the fabric of his pants. Roman looks away, his jaw working. His hand twitches on his cup again.

“It’s not that I’m scared of you,” he says finally, still not looking at him, “it’s…it’s more like I’m just…bracing.”

“For what?”

He winces again. “I’m—you know.”

“I don’t. Sorry,” he says when Roman flinches again, “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be short with you, I just want to know.”

“You’re always short,” Roman mumbles, sighing a moment later. “It just hurts sometimes when I’m talking to you and I don’t want it to hurt. But I know that’s not your fault and I’m not saying it is, I know that’s something I need to work on, I’m not blaming you—“

“Sweetheart, it’s okay,” Patton interrupts with a hand on his shoulder, “shh, it’s okay.”

Roman hesitates for a long moment before leaning into it. His chest flutters.

“I’m sorry it hurts,” he says instead, “is there…is there anything I can do to make it hurt less?”

”Not really. I just have to unlearn the whole…” He waves his hand in a way that’s probably supposed to indicate the Imagination. “That thing first. The, um, the reality checks are helpful though.”

“I’m glad.”

They go back to silence again, but Roman breaks it first this time. “Can—is that why you came down here?”

“Yeah. I wanted to talk to you.”

“How did you know I was here?”

Oh. Well, that’s an easy one. “It’s sunny outside and you finished your project yesterday. I knew you’d want to be down here to enjoy the warmth.”

Surprise and relief flicker across his face and a small smile forms. “You…really remember all that?”

“Roman, you’re one of my special little kiddos, of course I remember. Aww,” he coos when Roman’s face starts to turn pink, “you don’t have to be embarrassed, it’s okay!”

“Don’t do that, Padre.”

“Don’t do what?”

“No, no, no, that’s a trap, I know a trap when I see one. No, thank you.”

Patton giggles, shifting a little closer on the couch to lean against Roman’s side. The sunlight really does feel nice, not too hot, not too bright. His eyes drift closed, just enjoying the warmth of it.

After a moment, he hears the crinkle of candy wrappers and smiles.

***

3.

Virgil finds Roman in his room, sitting on his bed and looking too sad, and decides nope, it’s cuddle time.

Roman barely puts up a fight, which means it’s really cuddle time if Princey can’t even muster up a half-hearted protest, and soon they’re wrapped up in blankets with just the top of their heads poking out. Virgil hauls him up until he’s tucked under his chin, running his hands up and down his back as Roman stares off into nothingness. Every so often, a tremor will run through him, and he has to soothe it away before that little friendly face comes back.

“Hey,” he mumbles when Roman starts to glare at his desk instead of just looking at it, “hey, hey, Princey. You stay with me, okay? Don’t chase the mean thought rabbits.”

Roman hums something back, rubbing his cheek absent-mindedly against Virgil’s chest.

“You wanna talk about it?”

As soon as it comes out of his mouth, he knows it’s the wrong thing to have said. Roman tenses up and almost pulls away, growing somehow bigger and smaller at the same time. Virgil has to warp his arms tightly around him a squeeze to even get him to relax.

“We don’t have to talk,” he says as quickly as possible, “that’s fine. We can just lie here. I’m not gonna leave, you’re okay, you’re okay, Princey, calm down.”

It takes way, way too long to get Roman back from whatever brink that question pushed him to, to the point where Virgil’s rolling them over so he can squish Roman into the mattress. Only then does he finally lose that wide-eyed thing, sagging into the plush mound of blankets and leaning into Virgil’s touch.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize, Princey, it’s my fault for asking that in the first place.” He leans down to rest their foreheads against each other. “I won’t make you talk about it, I promise.”

“‘S stupid.”

“What’s stupid?”

Roman jerks his head. “That. That whole thing.”

“Why was it stupid?”

“You didn’t even do anything.”

Virgil sighs, shifting to prop himself up so they can talk properly. “As the Mindscape’s resident expert on freaking out about nothing—“

Roman snorts.

“—you’re fine, Princey. You…you’ve been having a bad time recently, so it’s all good.”

”..thanks.”

“Can I—and you can say no, you can tell me to fuck off, you have blanket permission to react however you want to this, not that you need it—can I ask why that question freaked you out?”

He braces himself for Roman to do anything from have a panic attack to hit him in the face—fair, honestly—but Roman just sighs, curling up in the lea of him. It’s…well, it’s kind of devastating.

“That’s the loneliest time.”

He frowns. “What’s the loneliest time?”

”Right before you tell someone what you did wrong.” Roman looks up at him. “Because they’re all concerned you’re upset, and then they hear why you’re upset, and then they don’t want to comfort you anymore.”

Maybe it’s because Princey’s unfairly good at describing things, or maybe it’s because Virgil’s paying attention to his emotional state right now, but he can feel the thing that Roman’s talking about. That cold swoop deep in his gut, the awful anticipation where you just know that they’re going to be mad or disappointed. The switch from having someone speak to you softly, that it’s alright, they’re here to help, it’s okay, to the cold as they pull away, as their voice hardens and their words grow sharper. How they’re going to tell you that you shouldn’t be upset, or that you deserve to feel bad, but you should focus on fixing your mistakes instead of letting you be hurt because you need to be.

Before he loses himself in the spiral of nasty brain feelings, he gives himself a small shake and hugs Roman tighter.

“You don’t need to be lonely right now,” he mumbles, “I’m right here. I’m right here, see? I’m not asking you what’s wrong, I’m not gonna be mad or disappointed, I don’t care. I care that you’re upset and you’re hurting and I want to help.”

Roman’s cold nose presses into the crook of his neck. “Yeah?”

“Yeah, Princey. If you gotta just sit with the hurt, I’ll sit with you.”

It takes a moment of shifting, but eventually Roman’s arms wind their way around Virigl’s waist and back. He squeezes. Virgil squeezes back. Some of the tension finally seems to bleed out of him, his eyes breaking from their stare to flutter closed.

“Oh, Princey,” he mumbles, half to himself, “you’re so tired.”

He makes sure the covers are pulled up around them and tucks Roman’s head against his. They’re probably not gonna be moving for a while.

***

4.

Logan holds out a hand before Roman can pull out his usual notebook. “I thought we could try something a little different today.”

“Okay, what did you have in mind?”

Logan reaches into his binder and pulls out a thin sheaf of paper, annotated with red pen. “I’ve been looking at some of the comments recently, and I realized that I’m out of practice with performing close-readings of texts. So I thought that I could talk about my analysis of one of the works that you’ve done, and you could tell me how I did?”

Roman’s mouth falls open. He drops his pen. “You—you want to what?”

“I’ve fallen out of the habit of that sort of analysis, and I’d like to not lose it entirely, so—“

“Why mine?”

Logan blinks. “Well, aside from the fact that you are one of the only writers with whom I can directly communicate and receive feedback, you are adept at crafting well-written pieces that would serve as excellent examples on which to practice.”

“I—uh—um—“ Roman splutters for another moment. “I-if you want to?”

“Thank you. I’ve picked one of the shorter pieces from the collection you updated recently.”

”Oh. Uh, okay.”

”Would it be helpful for you to have a copy as well?” Roman nods and he passes over another copy. “That does have my notes on it if you’d like to read along.”

There’s a flicker of something in Roman’s expression as he takes in the sheer amount of red ink on the pages, but he steels himself and nods. “Okay. Whenever you’re ready.”

“Excellent. Well, to begin with, I have to commend you on the efficacy of your opening line. It sets up the themes without being overt and it foreshadows the turning point that comes about two-thirds of the way through.” He moves down the page. “And the symbolism you’ve chosen really is masterful—taking the connotations of such well-known motifs and turning them on their heads, really incredible.”

“Uh—“

“I do have to ask: did you intend for the reading to be done multiple times? It’s habit for me; I find I develop greater appreciation for the writer’s craft upon a second read-through, but this one in particular, with the amount of parallels you’ve drawn begin the beginning and the end, it really does seem like—“

“Cut.”

Logan pauses, glancing up. Roman is staring at him, wide-eyed, his knuckles white on the edge of the table. The poor thing looks like he’s about to run away and Logan can’t stop himself from reaching for him.

“Cut,” Roman repeats, leaning away, “cut, cut!”

“Roman,” Logan says gently, “Roman, it’s me. It’s really me, I’m real.”

“But—but you’re being nice.”

Oh, Roman…

“N-not that you aren’t ever nice to me! You are nice,” Roman babbles, “you are, I just—I just meant that we’ve never done something like this before, and—and I just—I didn’t know—“

“Shh, shh,” Logan murmurs, trying to get his attention back, “can you look at me?”

Roman looks. Slowly, telegraphing his movements, he reaches over and takes Roman’s hands in his.

“Squeeze,” he bids lightly, “I’m here.”

Roman squeezes, an embarrassed flush coming to his face. Before he can apologize, Logan squeezes again.

“It’s okay. That was my error; I should have anticipated that you might react poorly to such a deviation from the norm. I didn’t mean to upset you, truly.”

“It’s fine.”

“It’s alright if it’s not.”

Roman swallows heavily. His gaze hasn’t left their hands. As Logan watches, his eyes start to grow damp.

“Oh, little one…”

“It’s fine,” Roman insists, freeing one of his hands to scrub roughly at his face, ”I’m just being dramatic.”

"You're dramatic a lot, I daresay we're used to it." His gentle tone undoes most of the bite in his words, but clearly not enough from the way the hand in his twitches. "You're real, I'm real, we're here at this table, that's all real."

There's a tremble to Roman's lower lip as he tries to take a deep breath and steady himself. Logan opens his hand again, waiting, until Roman slowly places it back in his. After another moment, he looks back up. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize, it's not your fault."

"Isn't it?"

"No," Logan says, firmer this time, "you are upset and rightfully so. You don't have to apologize for something upsetting you when you have no control over what will and will not trigger you."

"…okay."

"Are you alright to keep going? We can always stop if you'd rather do something else. I hear Remus has been working on his side of the castle, we could go walk around there instead."

"Is that okay?"

"Of course," he says, smoothly packing everything away, only for Roman to hold onto his copy of his story.

"Can I…keep this?" he asks, almost shyly. Logan smiles, ruffling his hair.

"Of course, little one. I'll be happy to talk about it whenever you like."

***

5.

Janus opens the door, softening when he sees Roman standing there. "Hello, sweetie, what can I do for you?"

"I'm making a bad choice and I want you to know about it."

He blinks. Right to the point, then. "Do you want to come in?"

Roman nods sharply, stepping inside as Janus shuts the door carefully behind them. He doesn't move any further inside, lingering by the door, until Janus prompts him again. "I'm trying not to…do that thing again."

"That's good, I'm proud of you for that."

A quiet flinch. "In order to do that, I'm…writing it. Instead. Not it directly, but something—a vent thing to help deal with it."

"Alright, I think I understand."

"In order to do that, I have to…sit with it."

Janus frowns. "'It?'"

"The…bad stuff."

Ah. "I see. Are there other alternatives for—"

"I'm not here to help stop it," Roman interrupts, even as he braces for what he thinks will be a consequence for talking over him, "I'm here because—"

He cuts himself.

Something terribly sad strikes Janus then, as he looks at the little prince trying to summon his courage again: when was the last time they saw Roman chase what he wanted? Without fear, with reckless abandon, with the passion that they all came to associate with him?

Had it been before the wedding?

Before the callback?

When had Roman gotten to want?

"I'm writing to get it out of me," comes the mumble and Janus shakes himself out of his musing, "and when…when it's out of me…"

Oh.

Oh.

"Come here when you're finished," Janus promises softly, "I'll look after you. We've been talking about doing makeup for a while now, I've got some stuff we can try."

Roman nods. His mouth twitches. And Janus can't help himself; he walks closer, reaching out to take Roman's hand in his. His gloves brush the familiar calluses, worn smooth from years and years of training, and he fits his fingers to the ones that feel the coldest. Roman's breath catches in his throat as he does, instinctively turning a little more.

"We can watch something too," he continues, still as though he's luring some skittish animal, "or just cuddle, if you want. I've missed one of my space heaters recently, you know Remus is much too squirmy."

Roman chokes out a laugh that's almost a sob. Janus squeezes his hand, daring to pull him closer. He wraps his other arm around Roman's shoulders, a sympathetic noise leaving him at the way Roman screws his eyes shut.

"We could go to the greenhouse too," he offers, and he sees Roman physically hold himself back from reaching out, "just sit there? The flowers are just starting to bloom, the cat that's found its way in there would be happy to have some cuddles."

"Stop," Roman croaks out, "I have to…I have to do it first."

"You don't have to be hurt to deserve comfort, sweetie."

"I think we both know that's not true."

Janus doesn't get a chance to address how devastating that sentence was before Roman's pulling away from his hold, mumbling a thanks, and walking into the hallway like a knight to a doomed battle. Janus watches him go for another second before he turns to the mirror over his dresser. He runs his finger carefully along the edge. Some of the gold flakes off onto his thumb and he turns it this way and that. Few of the bits retain any luster at all, let alone their original sheen.

Not for the first time, he feels a pang of regret for how he handled…everything. Especially with Roman. Remus accused him of using Roman's face as a launchpad to get himself in better standings with Thomas, and he didn't need to be Lord of the Lies to know that Remus was being as honest as they come. How much of Roman's disbelief of things was due to him? How badly did he shatter Roman's perception of reality that he felt the need to worsen it on his own? How could he have done things differently, what could he have done to avoid whatever this tenuous existence is they find themselves in now?

He gives himself a shake, dislodging the golden specks. There's no use dwelling on what's already been done. Roman has come to him to ask for help. That's more than he ever could have hoped for after all the two of them have been through. It's not up to him to determine what he could have done then, he has to focus on what he has to do now.

***

+1.

It's done.

It's done.

It's done and it's out of him and he never has to think about any of it ever again and he closes his laptop and stuffs his phone into his pocket and stumbles out of his room in an oversized t-shirt and sweatpants and he doesn't have to deal with the awful thoughts ricocheting around his head anymore and he's not going to the Imagination, he's not, he's not, he's not—

He almost doesn't realize he's made it to Janus's door until he's staring at it dumbly. He sees a hand lift up to knock on it—oh, that's his hand, he's knocking—and then the door's opening and there's Janus.

"Oh, sweetie," he hears faintly, "are you all done?

He nods and then he's being ushered into the soft dark room and there are gloved hands on his shoulders, guiding him gently over to the big overstuffed chair thing and Janus is tilting his chin up.

"Hey," he murmurs, and Roman blinks, "hi, sweetie. You look like you're in quite desperate need of a cuddle, is that true?"

He nods again, reaching up, only to let out a bewildered noise when Janus fully picks him up and carries him over to a bed of—oh, this must be where Janus keeps his heat lamp because all the pillows and blankets are soft and warm and it's like being put in the dryer in the best way possible. Janus chuckles when he mumbles something to that effect, lying down and wrapping all of his arms around him.

"Is that right, little prince? Are we putting you in the dryer so you can come out all clean?" He wipes a tear with his thumb, giving him a gentle squeeze. "Or are you going to be like Remus and fall asleep in the freshly clean laundry before I put it all away?"

"I heard lies and slander," Remus announces, appearing out of nowhere, only to coo at the sight of Roman reaching out for him. "Oh, hey, Roro, is it cuddle time?"

"Mhm."

"Remus," he hears Janus say, a little firmer, "I seem to recall a conversation about asking before we do things."

"I summoned him," Roman mumbles, "on accident, but he—I—"

"That's alright, then." Janus says, relaxing back into the pillows and scratching his fingers across Roman's scalp, "just wanted to make sure you were alright with it."

"Roro knows I'm the best at squishing people back into their meat sacks." There's a weight that he knows is Remus pressing carefully on his chest and legs, making him mumble sleepily. "You wanna take a nap?"

"…mm."

"You can fall asleep," Janus says softly, moving to lightly scratch his back, "I don't mind. You look like you could use it."

"That's rude, Janny, you saying he looks tired?"

"I'm saying that he's not been able to open his eyes since I picked him up."

Oh. That's true. Janus didn't turn the lights off, his eyes are just closed. But opening them sounds like work and everything is so soft and warm right now…

Wait.

Trying not to alert the others that he's awake, or that he's waking himself up, he rouses just enough to whisper cut.

Nothing happens. They don't fade, it doesn't get cold, nothing—nothing changes.

Then Janus lets out a quiet oh, sweetie, and Remus wraps his arms around his legs.

"We're real," Remus promises, "we're real and we're right here. Snakey has you, you're all good, we're all real."

"I'm right here," Janus murmurs, kissing his forehead—he wouldn't dare imagine that— "you're here with me, we're just having a nap, alright?"

"Will you be here when I wake up?"

"Of course, sweetie."

"Right here, Roro. We're not going anywhere."

There is such a strange feeling, Roman decides, about actually having the thing you dream about. You don't want to touch it, you don't want to ruin it by bringing into the reality you know. What if it decides it doesn't like it? What if it decides it doesn't like you? What do you do with a dream that wants nothing to do with you? Or worse, what if you do finally get your hands on it only to reveal that it was never worth dreaming about in the first place?

A hand gently tugs on his hair.

"You're thinking too much, sweetie." Lips brush his forehead. "Just close your eyes and rest. Let us take care of you."

"This is real," he can't help but mumble as Janus reaches out to turn off the lamp, "right?"

"Yes, sweetie, this is real."

From near the base of his ribs, he feels Remus nuzzle him. "Real as can be, Ro-bro. Now make with the shushy."

Roman dozes off in the warm pile of pillows and all he can think is encore.

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[bibibbon]

Finished chapter 4 for besties and it was easier making it (hahaha let's ignore the grammar) but making Yumi rejecting her lifelong dream of Endy magically became better is powerful. Why? If am is a bad father...what's the point?

I kind feel she would be sort of an am hater and would brew some resement towards heroes, maybe not all. But a good number of them.

(I feel the line "heroes only hurt their families" that stans swear is deep, IS NOT, WORKS much better with Yumi. Hell, could see she looking a bit more on Stain. Yes, he is a serial killer but the idea heroes aren't perfect will finally kick in)

(I felt bad for Yumi...her family is always messed up. She tried so hard but you can't fix this! Which sort paralels with Izumi.)

And god...Izumi is not used to be treated decently...or maybe even the decency is seen as smth outwardly...no one in A1 cares but B1 is noticing. Vlad takes one look at her and can sense smth is off....why? Bc her trauma is visible (her abuser also isn't smart)

My question here is: how else should have a different view on heroes? Yumi is in the list, Izumi is on the list as well...but who else?

Hi @mikeellee 👋

It's great to hear that you already finished chapter 4 I will make sure to beta read it soon!

I like the idea you have of making fuyumi reject and put down her life-long dream of having a perfect family, but why would she do it? For me, it's quite hard to believe that just because she thinks that all might is an abusive and bad father to izumi, she would ditch her dream just like that. I would agree and say that all might turning out to be a bad father could be a catalyst and could contribute to her ditching that life-long dream she had, but I don't think she would just ditch the dream like that.

Fuyumi's desire for a functional and loving family affects her character all around. The reason she has such a dream isn't just because of the human desire to be loved by both parents but also the desire for both normality and conformity. Fuyumi doesn't want to be anything special. She is happy to fit in, to have what every other average character should have. She wants love, she wants care and she wants a family. Yes, she has family members that she very much loves and is close to like natsou, but her desire isn't just for family but for conformity and normality. Her dream is your basic overglorifed nuclear family, and that's exactly what she kept up the outside image as for decades.

Fuyumi (not as much as her other family members) does probably glorify all Might. She, within her wish and desire for normality and conformity, adapts to be likeable and to share the same opinions as the general public. Due to this desire and fake image that she has intraculety crafted for this amazing outside persona, a part of it seeps to her true self. This includes her admiration for all might. She believes that he is what's good with society. To her, there is that devil of a father and an angle of society carrying and promising good for all. Yes, this would have dimmed over the years as she is stripped of her naivety little by little. Little by little hope and optimism in being magically saved by the man who promises comfort for all drizzles down the drain. Yet even now, when she is all fully grown, a part of her subconsciously clings to that fairytale dream all of that until the all might incident/scandal when All Might is revealed to be a bad father.

Like I said, all mights reveal is a catalyst for fuyumi. It sends her spiralling. She knows that people aren't who they seem to be, heck she isn't who she pretends to be, her father is the devil in disguise and as a teacher she has been trained and quickly learnt the quick disguses and images that parents put up to paint themselves as perfect along with their children. She has seen it all, she already knows it all so why is she so disappointed?

She has read various psychology books, and she has a degree in education where she has minored in psychology, yet she is left hollow, numb. The incident sends her digging and digging she does. It seems like she can't escape it every turn she sees an article of the incident or of another hero being outed out for being an abuser a monster in disguise. These are the people that she was taught to trust. People like her father devil's cosplaying angels. First, it's Endeavour, her father. Second, it's all Might. Third, it's another hero and then another and another all until they become numbers on a page, and it drives fuyumi nuts.

It's a ticking slow and painful realisation, but "all heroes do is hurt their family.'

Enji hurt his family

All Might hurt his family

They aren't worthy of being heroes. Digging and digging, she finds a certain someone who shares her views, a vigilante serial killer arrested a while back by enji: Stain, the hero killer.

A part of her agrees with Stain (parallel with dabi) she believes that he has information that he knows which heroes are good and bad, so she looks at his kills and sees if it adds up. She finds varying results some good some bad. Yet she clings to hope (well, until she meets dabi and he breaks the news to her) or when shoto tells her about what Stain did to him and his friends.

All of this build up, fuyumi feels like she is going to explode so she opens up to natsou who reveals to her that he was also involved in the situation and tells her his prespective which for matter could solidify her reasoning or not.

Days pass, and natsou like her is still in disbelief. The abuse comparisons between all Might and enji don't fall on death ears but further reinforce fuyumi's spiralling.

"Heroes only hurt their families." It's true she has seen it. She has lived it, and she has experienced it.

All of this bitter boiling anger leads to her slowly becoming detached from that dream of hers as she would rather live with natosu, shoto, and her mother then have that monster be apart of her family.

Maybe during her spiral fuyumi could think of wanting to kill enji which would parallel with dabi and izumi.

[merlincersei]

Merlin BBC UK TV Show - Opinion Piece Part 09 - The Little Mermaid v/s Merlin

Thank you all for to the wonderful response I received on my post here :

The same friend and I ended up discussing the show in even greater detail.

Whilst my friend was more receptive to the "progressive sub-text" within the show his major issue was what he called a fairy tale treatment of a gritty story.

I retorted that fairy tales have universal appeal and often contain in them morals and lessons which lend to a more complex narrative upon further inspection.

As our talks went on, I could not help but find narrative overlaps between the 2008 Merlin TV Series and Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid fairy tale published during 1830's.

So I felt that it could become a Tumblr post.

PLEASE DONT CONFUSE THIS WITH THE DISNEY ANIMATED AND LIVE ACTION FILMS !!!!

Here is my attempt to outline the similarities between our protagonists and the themes.

Raised by single parents

Merlin was raised by Hunith whereas the Mermaid was raised by

the Sea King.

They both feel alienated

The Mermaid feels alone while living in the ocean forever trying to

connect with the world around her.

Merlin also feels like he didn’t belong in the village he lived in.

They both leave their childhood homes

Merlin leaves Ealdor and goes to Camelot whereas the Mermaid

leaves the underwater sea and goes to the Prince's kingdom

They end up saving the life of their soul-mate upon their initial interaction

Merlin saves Arthur's life in Season 1 Episode 1 whereas the

Mermaid saves the Prince from drowning when his ship catches

fire.

They have longer life span than their soul-mate

Merlin is an immortal whereas Arthur's death has been foretold.

The Mermaid is told by her grandmother that she could live for

300 years whereas humans live for a shorter time.

Their soul-mate is unaware of their true identity

Arthur is unaware of Merlin's magic till the very last episode

similarly the Prince is unaware of the Mermaid's identity.

They give up their identity for their soul-mate

Merlin despite being a powerful sorcerer becomes Arthur's servant

whereas the Mermaid gives up being a princess and becomes

human.

They prioritize their soul-mate ahead of themselves

Merlin convinces Arthur not to legalize magic as he thinks this

will save Arthur's life, even though his own circumstances would

change for the better.

The Mermaid does not kill the prince even though it would save her

own life in the end.

The story ends in death.

Arthur dies in Merlin's arms.

The Mermaid dies heartbroken with her body turning to foam.

Queer themes

I have already outlined magic being a methaphor in my post here:

The Little Mermaid's queer themes can be read in the article here:

Silence as a theme of repression

The Mermaid is literally silenced by the Sea Witch in order to fit into heterosexual human society.

Merlin chooses to remain silent despite seeing the injustice and persecution of queer magical creatures around him. If Merlin had expressed himself he would be arrested or even put to death. 

Sea Witch and Morgana

The Sea Witch is an antagonist in the The Little Mermaid and Morgana is the chief antagonist in the Merlin series.

In popular mythology there was a Sea Witch named Morgana who was a main contributor in luring sailors to their deaths.

I thought this was a remarkable coincidence when researching this topic