#why is darcy present for all of those

[beheworthy]

closer and closer

[itspileofgoodthings]

@joons Chelsea this is so funny I’m going to SCREAM

this movie HATES that it has to deal with plot it just wants vibes but it's Austen so everything is connected and it can't get away from plot no matter what it does

[bethanydelleman]

Ranking Jane Austen heroines/women on how good of a mother they’d be?

As with the men, I think they would all be good mothers, though in different ways.

Elizabeth Bennet: Soccer mom, she wasn't given the opportunity to have a structured education herself, it will be different for her kids. She's hiring the best governess she can find (after Darcy does a full background check), she's encouraging her kids to do extracurriculars, they will speak six languages that she doesn't understand or else! Has a minor panic attack if she says anything that sounds even remotely like something either of her parents would say.

Jane Bennet: Gentle mom, she cannot imagine punishing her children, she just has a killer disappointed face (she is unaware of this). Encourages her children to always try to understand both sides of the story. Will eventually fall for a lie one of her children tells and be devastated when she figures out the truth.

Anne Elliot: Perfect mother, there is indeed no one so proper, so capable as Anne. She has also watched her sister do everything wrong and she knows exactly how to do it right.

Emma Woodhouse: Scatterbrained mom, makes a resolution to teach her daughter fancy work but then gets distracted and the sampler is left half finished. Promised to read with her son but they only make it halfway through the novel. Good thing she hired an excellent "Miss Taylor" to pick up the slack! And despite her occasional screw-ups, her kids love her to pieces. They just better be on guard when they hit 18 and she starts trying to marry them off.

Marianne Dashwood: Crunchy mom, or whatever the Regency period equivalent would be. She wants her kids to feel the dead leaves between their toes, she encourages them to write poetry and play moving ballads. Otherwise, a lot like her own mother (they have very similar personalities)

Elinor Dashwood: I-Say-I-Love-You-With-Food Mom, she may not be exactly emotionally available, but she orders her daughter's favourite meal when she's sad and there are tiny hearts in the stiches of her son's clothes. She makes sure her kids are provided for, educated, and healthy. When she asks if they are hungry, they know she's saying, "I love you."

Fanny Price: Nurturing mom, she will be everything for those children that Edmund and William were to her, but nothing like Sir Thomas, Lady Bertram, Mrs. Norris or her own parents. She has a good deal of experience from nursing her own siblings so it's a pretty smooth beginning.

Catherine Morland: Overconfident mom, Catherine has been there and done that, she has six younger brothers and sisters after all, she's READY! This will be easy! All you have to do is make sure the baby is fed, washed, changed, and napped... oh... it's a lot harder to do this when you have only slept for 2.5 hours last night... (I know she would have servants, but still, being a new mother is tough!)

Bonus: Jane Fairfax tries to keep Frank from spoiling the kids, but it is literally impossible. He keeps buying them huge presents and then she would be the bad guy for saying no. Also, she knows that Frank lost their child in Kensington Gardens (twice), that's why she always insists he take a footman now.

Bonus bonus: Harriet Smith has a special box where she keeps all the 'treasures' her kids collect. It is her most precious possession.

[thefisherqueen]

I came across the surname Baskerville in a text completely unrelated to Sherlock Holmes (in a book about wild camping), and it's gives some really interesting insight into the history and present state of UK inherited titles and landownership so thought I would share!

'William the Conqueror invaded England in 1066 and then made himself king. It was like any other invasion of conquest, in any other time or realm. King Harold the Second was dead. Long live the King. Life goes on. But there was a difference. New laws saw all of the land seized by the Crown - a relatively unique development in the history of conquest. Sasxon barons were replaced by the Norman lords and their allies. The Domesday Book - the most definitive land registery document every devised - was produced on William's orders in 1086 to identify the new owners and their land holding and what they might owe, in tax, favour and loyalty, to the king: the sovereign Landlord.

Landownership had worked broadly in the same way ever since our ancestors abandoned the nomadic life, and took up the shovel and plough about 10.000 BC. What the Normans changed in Britain was the communal right of access over the land. That system of non-communal access is still very much in force today amoung the modern-day descendents of the Normans. Which is why William's 1086 census - the Domesday Book (and its modern version, the Land Registry) - remains so important. It serves as a legal document that established ownership by the legal holder of the title.

My research into where I could roll out a sleeping bag today meant looking at landownership. I discovered that very little had changed sinde the Norman invasion. Just 0,6 per cent of the population still owns 50 per cent of the British land, and most of this elite are the descendants of the 11th-century Norman aristocracy.

A report - "Who owns Britain?' - by Country Life magazine in 2010 was said to be the most detailed survey of its kind in over 100 years. The research claimed that just 1200 aristocrats and their families own 20 million of Britain's 60 million acres of land. The top private landowner in Europe was the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, who owned 240.000 acres in England and Scotland. Research by the London School of Economics in 2013 claimed that the Normans who conquered England - with surnames Baskerville, Darcy, Mandeville and Montgomery - still dominate the student rolls for Oxford and Cambridge universities, still make up a large proportion of the elite that holds the prime positions in professions such as medicine, law and politics. They also control a good number of the political agencies, public bodies and charitable organisations that oversee rules regulating land management and access.

But 1066 was about more than Saxon lords losing their holdings. It was how it affected the peasants that mattered most. The common rights over common lands like Sherwood Forest and the Kentish Weald were gone. Those rights included the right to roam over woodlands, marshes, moors and coasts of many common areas; to graze animals, collect wood for fuel, tools and buildings, to eat fruits, to collect water from rivers and streams, to catch fish and generally to do all the things that made it possible to live off the land."

From: Wild camping. Exploring and sleeping in the wilds of the UK and Ireland, by Stephen Neale, page 29

I've been to the UK several times for hiking trips, and I remember being puzzled by the system of access to nature at first. It is quite bewildering to be just walking on a perfecty good path, only to suddenly find it fenced off, with aggressive signs warning walkers to KEEP OUT!!! Why are hikers treated with so much suspicion even in areas famous for its good hiking? And what do you mean by Right of Way? How come there's major roads and motor cross terrains within a national park? (turns out they are largely privately owned). Myself, I've never been shy to climb the occasional wall or fence, and pitch my tent somewhere even on private lands. I consider it my own gentle way of resisting the very idea of private property, which creates so much inequality. I've never yet faced any trouble for it, by the way. Turns out land owners have little desire to actually hike on their lands, especially in rain or cold or darkness, and the people who work for them are usually not payed enough to care about a lonely hiker who is causing no disturbance or damage whatsoever xD

[fiercefauna]

A lot of people draw Plague Doctors but never the kinds of things they might contend with in the worlds they inhabit, for this reason I feel justified calling this content “PlagueCore.” The Rat King is a positively ancient idea that is also a very modern-style urban legend. Some say it leads the rats as a kind of hive Queen you’d see in social insects, to others it is simply a disgusting horror of rats fused together by the indescribable filth of medieval streets. For this particular rat king I’ve written a tale set in my “Afflicted Lands” cannon. Two more of these glimpses into Afflicted Lands exist in my recents. There is no need to look for an “episode one” the tales are not meant to relate directly with each other but may feature reoccurring characters and fictional world references.

Triggers: some basic violence, and general horror themes in the following ghost story. That said, I present you with -

The Listener

We heard the front door open and two sets of footsteps cross the almost imperceptibly creaking floors. Pricking up all of our ears, we listened to the voices.  

“Talk to your parents later if you’d like a pet, for now let’s not be keeping rats around.” “They said you’d be a friend but you’re too much like a grown-up. I mean, we could have kept it for a little while.” “Be glad I just tossed it over the fence. You don’t want to know what those things get up to.” “Yes I do!” “You’ll wet the bed if I told you.”

“I’ve never been scared!” “Your Daddy says you’re scared all the time.” “No I’m not, I, just like to pretend I’m scared.” “Why would you do that?” 

There was a long pause during which the ancient mechanism of the re-stuffed, re-upholstered recliner in the living room groaned under a small form nonetheless choosing to forcefully leap upon it. “I’m - just lonely sometimes.” 

“Lonely means you were scared!” “No! Lonely is different!” “They’re basically the same thing. Look, if you want to know what happened to Darcy, shut up and let me tell the story.” 

We raised our whiskers as though they too, could detect sound. The irregular bumps of the house and more distant, ambient sounds of the neighborhood were soothing but rarely gave way to more meaningful information. 

“Darcy was moving into that old house by the school. He was cleaning it out, fixing it up, went into the crawl space and met a Rat King.” “What’s that?” “It’s a giant rat with like 20 heads, rolls around at night like a tumble weed looking for it’s last and most important head - yours!” “And why does it do that?” 

“People are smart, much smarter than rats on average. With a person’s brain, the King of the rats is wise enough to rule.” “So what happened to Darcy?” “The ball of rats exploded. One of the rats hit his face so hard it got stuck there - reshaped his skull into a rat head for the rest of his life.” “Did he die?” “No one knows where he went. They say he was looking for survivors during the last quarantine and found this woman being attacked by rats. Too scared of rats after what happened, he just left her there, and ran off into woods, screaming like a maniac. When they found the woman later, her head was gone! Never been recovered!” 

“Do you think he was ashamed? Of letting the rats get the woman, I mean?” “I think he was scared, I would be too, especially since they found that headless woman in this very - part of town.” 

We sighed relieved, that child’s insatiable curiosity would have doomed us had it’s guardian been less merciful with it’s tales of terror by the fire. Poor Darcy, we wanted to find him,  apologize. None were truly human during those damned quarantines. We had been blessed to forget, forget everything about the life before while the crow men were cursed with the memory.  And yet we needed them, needed them to help us rebuild ourselves one tale at a time, as we lingered between the walls, listening. 

[fideidefenswhore]

Hey os it true that Henry Percy used ti be the source of the nasty rumours about Anne Boleyn? Which specific rumours are we talking about? Did Anne or her inner circle know about Percy talking shit abt Anne?

A gentleman told me yesterday that the earl of Northumberland told him that he knew for certain that she had determined to poison the Princess. The Earl may know something of it, from his familiarity and credit with Anne. 

This is often only very briefly mentioned in Tudor biographies, if at all...altogether, it's a strange report. Is Chapuys suggesting that Percy knows Anne is a "poisoner", and yet is still devoted to her (note that it says "his familiarity and credit with Anne"-- not much to suggest contact between them once she's Queen-- not his "past" familiarity and credit with her)? Is he a secret ally to Princess Mary, or is it just that one of the men of his retinue is?

Also worth mentioning the source chain...Chapuys <-- an (unnamed) "gentleman" <-- Henry Percy. Thirdhand, at best.

A year later, we have it that Percy is dismissed as a source by one of Chapuys' trusted informants (Lord Darcy):

He also sent to warn me that perhaps the earl of Northumberland was sending to tell me some things, and that I should consider what was possible but not trust him too much, for he was very light and hasty (par trop legier et brefs).

Yet, in the same month, we have:

I have no doubt he will be delighted to hear that the earl of Northumberland is no longer such a friend of this king and of his ministers as he used to be, for the Earl's physician tells me that his master had lately complained to him of certain wrongs and injuries received at the hands of members of this government, and had declared that those who had so behaved towards him would soon have to repent of their ill-doings. The English people (he added) were so indignant at the oppressions and excessive tyranny they suffered, that the least effort on the part of Your Majesty would be the means of working the King's perdition and ruin. The King, said the Earl, had no other hope at present but the Turk's great military power, in which his friends trusted and glorified, but which after all was a most abominable trust. The Earl went on charging the King's mistress with arrogance and wickedness, saying, among other things, that a few days ago she had heaped more injuries on the duke of Norfolk than on a dog, so much so, that the Duke was obliged to quit the Royal chamber, and that, though finding only in the hall a gentleman to whom he no longer bore affection, such was his anger that he forgot entirely whom he was addressing, and began to complain in the bitterest terms of the said Royal mistress, bestowing on her the most opprobrious epithets, and calling her among other things "grande putain."

Yeah, this is an interesting element about this report about Norfolk (the chain of sources) that's not oft-discussed...why would Percy, exactly, be so offended that Anne had insulted Norfolk? Is it not perhaps a little convenient that the source for her being called a 'grande putain' by a close member of her family is the physician of her ex-flame, rather than, you know...a servant or physician of Norfolk himself (not like Norfolk was such a feminist that it's implausible, per say, but something to consider...)? Imo, this report should be scrutinized more often than it generally is.

See: primer of Anne's relationship with Norfolk, and with Percy.

No idea it the Boleyns knew of Percy's (alleged) animosity and hostility towards Anne in particular (or perhaps the men of her family as well, if the "king's ministers" above includes them); it'd be compelling to find interpretaions of that possiblity in fiction, though. Lots of material to use and avenues to take with it, in my estimation.

[thepalerimitation]

No, YOU don’t understand. I am writing a modern Pride and Prejudice fanfic AND IT WILL BE

PERFECTION

I have read the unabridged novel three times in the past two weeks, I have a fully loaded page in my notes app with character descriptions and plot information, I HAVE THE SCRIPT DOWNLOADED ON A PDF TO READ THROUGH.

Here is what you should know:

1. People will be playing tennis. (Yes, I watched Challengers, why do you ask).

2. There will be references to the book, 1995 show, and 2005 movie. All three work in tandem.

3. The location itself is definitely more Mediterranean, this was a creative liberty taken so their outfits were hot.

4. We have no idea what Darcy does for work. His job is just ‘money’

5. The chapters themselves are going to be about 6,000 words long. New chapter every Thursday night.

6. The criticism of class differences and gender inequality will remain. The commentary on seeking marriage for survival and implicit biases will remain. Those problems are still present and will be talked about, just with a modern twist.

7. I’d like to thank Succession, the Night Manager, and Challengers for giving me the aesthetic and vibes to write this absolute insanity.

So…mark your calendars ig, first chapter release of The Postmodern Pride and Prejudice is Thursday, May 23rd.

[glasswinggames]

They arrived!!!!

I love them so much!! 😭💕

Fun fact and some Glasswing lore all in one!

These three were the first ocs I made from Ever After (excluding Oliver who is an odd case!)

So Athy and Cai were the first two, and I'd already created them both, but they really ended up coming to life in an arcana rp server I joined (it's also the server where I met some of the best people and friends I love 💕), and originally they were so different that it's wild to me how they ended up changing. The original Athy was a lot more femme presenting and had long darker pink hair, didn't have much muscle mass despite being strong, and originally didn't have all the scars! (Enjoy some 2019 glasswing art comparison to her new design 😂)

I definitely love how she's changed over the years, and her design reflects a lot more of who she is now though.

The one thing that has always stayed the same is her personality. Fun facts at potentially inappropriate times, and also as a way of introducing herself, quiet unless spoken to, always observing her surroundings, obsessed with books and enjoying simple easy to eat foods, that she will offer to share with others as a way of showing she likes someone. She's always been given a lot of my own autistic traits, often without me even realising, but I think it's why I've always loved her as my first.

Cai on the other hand started with short black hair, which is honestly so strange to me now because I can't imagine them any other way at this point. I brought them into the rp as a friend to Athy who was also trying to use the visit as an excuse to increase their following, which is pretty on brand for them. Like they do now, they flirt for the sake of maintaining their facade, and act like they have no care in the world, except for maintaining flawless skin (there was a full spa scene where they were teaching someone self care 😂), but were secretly plotting behind the scenes. They've had some very dramatic and intense romances over their time rping, despite being my canonically demi character, but one thing that has never changed is how much fun I have writing them.

What I find funniest about Cai is that when I started writing more actively for Ever After I changed their backstory to just be about being a tyrant and wanting to take the throne and doing bad things to get there, and somehow in the end I've come full circle, back to the days of their rp backstory, and though I won't do any spoilers, their ambitions are now far greater than just the crown (as they should be). But I think their rp has really changed them from what I originally planned for them, which was to be this character who could never fall in love, to now being someone who doesn't think they can fall in love... but when they do they fall so hard and so intensely.

Then finally Helios, he was actually created during a completely different modern rp! With a completely different name, it's hard to believe he was once known as Lothaire. He suits Helios so much better! In the modern rp he was a lawyer of a very rich family, who was very morally upright and very much a stickler for the rules... just for him to have a ship with the most chaotic guy there was 😂 which I think has started this string of Helios being attracted to chaotic personalities. Other than his name, and me giving him contacts, he's been one of my most consistent characters, which in itself is in character haha! I always aimed for him to have that Mr Darcy like edge, and I'm doing my best to capture that for him! I think at this point, whenever I think of Helios I just imagine him as just forever exhausted with everyone else's nonsense, the one sensible person in a room of people running around setting fire to everything.

In my head I always group them together, and I think I will always have a soft spot for each of them, even if I know for a fact they'd all hate me for everything I put them through. I think it's one of those things where I can identify the traits or parts of myself I've put into them a lot more easily since I've been stuck with em in my brain for so long. Athy has my autistic traits, Cai was the character who allowed me to figure out my own gender expression, and Helios has my perfectionism even if it's to a fault.

If you've stuck it out with me so far, then I hope you've enjoyed learning a little more of the origins of my original three! And some Glass lore about how I started this vn journey of mine with an arcana rp server! 😂

Thank you for reading and sending all my love to you all this weekend!

[tabbyofwisdom]

Don't ask me why I'm doing this now. Maybe it's because we're hitting the one year anniversaries of the end of the show, but here's a thesis that I've been ruminating on as to why I believed the symbols from the psychic pointed to Ted.

Presented below the break

My thesis, if it can be called anything, is that each of those symbols were meant for each of the three romantic interests in Rebecca's life, that they symbolized that they were one part of what Rebecca wanted and needed but that they were not the right man. I'm going to break down each symbol. Also, I don't remember reading anything like this but if someone has written something like this, I apologize.

The Green Matchbook: This was for Sam. Sam came into Rebecca's life and showed her that she could have fun again. That love can be fun. In season one, Sassy says, "No, the real Rebecca is silly. Strong, yeah, but not cold." She's relearning fun. But Sam is too young. The power dynamics honestly are really cringy. It's one thing to date someone more than half your age, it's another to date someone you pay that's more than half your age. Aside from that all, their life experiences are totally different. His is just beginning. Rebecca is, to use a metaphor, a phoenix. She's starting it all over for the second time, but she's got a lifetime of experience.

Shite in Nining Armor(honestly, this 'sign' was so stupid, imo): This one is obviously John Stamos Wingsnight. Rebecca's relationship with him was all about learning that love is leaving yourself open to being heartbroken. He obviously was not the person that was meant for her to be that open with......but he was age appropriate.

Upside down, drenched, but safe: Ok, this is the big one and the most controversial. This is boatman. She falls into the water but ends up being fished out by him. Their evening is all about Rebecca learning to let go. She's always dressed to the nine's and is always put together. She never lets her hair down, to be colloquial . That evening she lets herself be Rebecca. 100% her. Silly, in command, sweet, hopeful. We get to see the person Sassy knew but with the strength and stripes that she has earned through her marriage. Flashing back to a year ago, I was so happy to see this. I thought, "This is it. This is Rebecca and now that she's let herself be herself, she can be that with Ted." 😒 I have SO many issues but I'm just going to focus on "Sunflowers". As a woman, I was so nervous throughout the episode. If I was in a foreign country, by myself, fished out of a canal by a strange man, and he threw his phone into the canal(thus eliminating any type of communication) and then he made a joke about how my drink was not spiked, I'd be out of there faster than a Ted Lasso spit take. Again, I was so happy to see Rebecca let herself be....herself but I was just uncomfortable the entire time. When he kissed her foot due to 'habit' I was like, NOPE GIRL, GET OUT OF THERE. He's weird at best. I think the writers were going for "meet-cute" of the 90s and 00s romcom persuasion but we've all come to realize that those movies are rife with misogyny and creepy male behavior and while we may still look back with fondness for them, we don't like to see it in our new media. It wasn't cute. Beyond all that, if you're looking at this through a literary lens, you've seen the two signs so far but the wrong men for Rebecca. Logic would dictate that the third is not right either but that we're close to the end of our journey.

I felt like these signs were pointing the way for Rebecca to realize her feelings for Ted(apparently I was deluding myself). I'm reminded of a post that broke down the response of Darcy and Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice after the first proposal. They both individually went out and worked on themselves and then came back together after they had realized their faults and worked on them. But the key is that they didn't do it, Darcy does not do this, in order to try again. To try to get the other one back. It was a realization of things, in this case pride and prejudice, that they individually worked on because it was pointed out to them. I bring this up because I see Rebecca's signs, and Ted's therapy(but I'm not going to get into that right now) as them working on themselves. Through these three men, Rebecca learns, or re-learns, things about herself and about what she wants out of a relationship. She gets back to herself, but with the wounds she gained. She is a better and stronger person. They are sign posts pointing to where she should go and where she should be headed. Follow these signs and you will get your lighting.

Rebecca wants someone to have fun with, to feel safe enough to be open to being hurt, and to be herself, wholly and completely. Who in our little show does that for her? There are so many instances where Ted proves time and again that he is all these things. From the insistence of Ted's that Rebecca join the team for the exorcism to his joy at seeing her join the team on the bus in Amsterdam and his laughter at her singing. The absolute care Ted takes to make sure she always feels safe and always has an option to say no, or to voice her concern and the forgiveness he gives her for her sabotage plans. With Ted, Rebecca was always able to be herself. It's slow to come out but through his use of "Oklahoma" we get pure, honest Rebecca. Through Biscuits with the Boss, Ted takes the time to get to know Rebecca, not Ms. Welton, but Rebecca. Ted gets to see the huge generous heart Rebecca has. By the last season Ted is open enough to ask "Am I a mess?" and Rebecca can respond that of course but she is too and that's why they get along.

The show didn't go the way it seemed to logically be going and many of us were left heartbroken and confused. There are many more signs that can be talked about (the September 13th connection, the way Rebecca can tell when Ted is having a panic attack, etc. etc.). Those are for later posts.

If you're still reading, thanks! And you're as crazy as I am :)

[darlenicy]

Winx Season 5 gives me physical pain part IV

Episode 7 to 10

5x7

Back in season 3 you would have had fairydust against everything. Broken wings? Fairydust! Blind? Fairydust! Omega portal open? Fairydust! But oil in the ocean? WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

valid, Diaspro!

Layla’s challenge is the hardest. Facing her fiancé’s death is nothing against Stella’s “You’ll never be a fashion designer” challenge, come on. They could have made Stella’s challenge about her parents. That would have been deep and season 5 does a lot with Stella’s struggle because of her parent’s divorce. But no. We have to remember that Stella is the silly fashion diva.

It was so much more fun when the trix were overpowered back in the earlier seasons.

5x8

Party at Alfea with the Red Fountain boys and who is not invited again? The cloud tower witches. And you guys really wonder why they are pissed about fairies? Why do they still exclude the witches??

Tecna is totally me when she has zero motivation for the party lmao

Tritacy being cute again

Darcy doesn’t agree

Layla being a fkn bitch to Stella even though she just wanted to cheer her up????

I present: the toxic couple being toxic again:

Why do the underwater portals only have those weak selkies to protect them?

At least they kept baby musa’s and musa’s mom’s designs from season 2

Well, musa, THAT’S your true form lmao

Of course bloom changes her outfit to meet sky. I mean, wouldn’t messy hair bloom bring his memories back more easily?

5x9

Stella being bratty is a new thing that I totally hate about the newer seasons

Bloom not giving a fck about Stella and just thinks of herself and her date 😊 seriously?

Stella as a small kid…. Not really?

But brandon would be a good dad xD

Tec vs. Layla: You know nothing, Layla. I can’t xD

5x10

Are there no seasons in Magix at all? Never winter?

The other alfea fairies are so useless. If the winx would have been like that in their first year too, everyone would have died

[abimee]

can I ask why one of your ocs is called first victim

in the world of YOU (ME) lives a man named Mimi who murdered his girlfriend/fiance Darcie, and in return begged the god of Time, Stopper, to rewind it

however, when it was rewound, he still wounded up killing his wife every time, and after the fifth time Stopper made hiim privy to the fact that he has asked for a second chance multiple times and the outcome is still the same. Mimi, being a scientist, realizes that this is knowledge only known between him and the time god, and becomes obsessed and fascinated with the finality of his fiuture as a horrible person.

Stopper doesn't rewind this time, but she gave Mimi information he should've never been privvy to, and watches as he tries to investigate the world further as to WHY this event --- him killing his wife --- is unavoidable. He stops showing remorse for his actions and instead shows morbid curiosity with his new plan; he wants to bring Darcie back himself.

He, with some manipulation of Stopper, finds out three core concepts in his world's existence; that people are two seperate forms, a soul (Object) and a body (Sprite), any soul (Object) can attach to any body (Sprite) while staying the same person, but by making that soul (Object) attach to a new body (Sprite), they are considered a new existence, and therefore whatever is befalling Darcie down the path of being murdered can be both further avoided AND she can be brought back to life by bringing her soul (Object) into a new body (Sprite).

He calls his research into this ''Beacons''; bodies that can be used to summon forth the souls of the dead. He calls them beacons because he believes all souls in this world drift off into the expansive darkness the gods, like Stopper, live in, and Beacons are bodies that guide them back to the living world, like lighthouse beacons.

Mimi is the older brother of Drew, who is friends with first victim. Mimi is also one of the two teachers at the only school left on the island, and first victim and drew are both in his class. first victim is otherwise a lonely teenager who doesnt have any familty and no support system, making her an easy victim to Mimi's needs; he needs a body that is still alive, to be his first test into being a Beacon, and find out what properties a body needs to house another person's soul in it.

Therefore, first victim is Mimi's first victim --- she was groomed and brought to his lab where he attemped call forth his dead girlfriend's soul into her, but first victim fought back against it and managed to escape, but the attempt left a mark; first victim became physically withdrawn, and stopped talking to drew. She also began wearing an eyepatch over one eye, because the failed summoning left bits and pieces of Darcie supposedly within her, and the two souls trying to ''fit'' into one body has caused one of her eyes to bleed sporadically. First victim disappears one day altogether, and her friends never see her again

when You, the protagonist of this story, meets First Victim and the crew, it is presented as if You had woken up after being attacked and was taken to Lilly's apartment, where Drew suddenly walks in with first victim in tow. You and the crew wind up going on an adventure down underneath to a world called the Comical Kingdom, which lives in the puddle reflections to the fjallo islands. There, first victim is seen acting like her usual self, but with an eyepatch over her eye.

when You returns from this adventure, you (the player) and You find out what really happened; everything You just experienced happened 11 years ago, before they were born, back when first victim was still alive. You was not truly there to experience those events, but rather experienced a memory of those events. This is the only true time the audience ever hears or sees first victim

all of this was to prepare you for the answer btw. First Victim is not Actually named that, but her name was never known to You, and therefore the audience, and all she was remembered as by the system was the First Victim, so when You experiences the memory of her, her name is replaced with the title "First Victim''. So every time Drew, or Lily, or anybody says her true name, all the audience can see/hear is ''First Victim'', but the characters themselves are saying her true name. This is due to manipulation Mimi started to exhibit over the universe when he disappeared off tothe in-between, where he could manipulate the very existence of things, and wanted to wipe First Victim's existence away to hide what he had done'

i will also never reveal First Victim's true name 👍

[sillylovesongsk]

Has anyone ever thought that the reason why we love Heartstopper so much is because it’s so refreshing to see healthy, pure and affirming queer relationships?

This is what I longed for growing up as part of the LGBTQ+ community. I longed to see healthy relationships on TV because all I wanted was a healthy and accepting environment in my life (since books and media were my constant escape and refuge). Growing up with Queer As Folk, The L World, ATWT (Luke/Noah), Hollyoaks, Skins and even Glee made me think that this was what I was bound for in my teenage/adult life… full of toxic relationships and unsafe environments.

It’s so nice to see that this is what the next generation is getting, that they’re getting to see acceptance and patience at its fullest. Even if the heteronormative society we lived in deprived many of us from having this kind of beautiful young queer intimacy and experience (yeah ik, we have nostalgia and we’re mourning), we should still acknowledge the fact that things are getting better for future generations. I’m just so happy for all the queer young people that get to have this positive experience, and how this positive LGBTQ+ representation that’s happening, will change so many lives.

I cry tears of joy because we get to see more of that patient and accepting mentality from Charlie (when it comes to coming out) and none of that “if you love me, you will not hide me” mentality that was so frequently seen in media and so present in many queer relationships.

Also, it’s comforting that Nick really cares about Charlie and wants to protect him, not by being Charlie’s superhero or savior with a fixing mission, but just by being patient and allowing Charlie to open up to him… giving him space to fully let him in on his own time. Not by telling him “you need to stop doing this, you need to stop hurting yourself”, but telling him “can you promise to tell me if it ever gets that bad again?”. Which makes me think he knows that he won’t be able to fully stop it (because that’s how it is with people that have disorders and depression, it doesn’t help for people to force us to just “get better and not hurt ourselves”), but he knows he can be there for him to make the path to recovery or stability easier.

Seeing the slow and patient way in which Tara and Darcy allowed each other to open up, and not leave at the first sign of “trouble” but tackled it through open communication makes me happy.

The way they handled the relationship between Mr. Farouk and Mr. Ayaji was on point, exemplifying perfectly how you can still have nice first-time experiences at any point in your life, regardless of you realizing that you were queer later in life.

It makes me cry (sometimes happy tears and sometimes sad tears) when I see most of the parents being a safe place for their children and allowing them to trust in them because of that safe environment they’ve created.

While writing this I realized that the reason why I’ve read so much fanfiction since I was very young (8 yo, that’s nearly 20 years now) is because we got to create and read these stories where we imagined safe and healthy relationships that we didn’t get to live and see in real life or media most of the time. I think the reason I love Heartstopper so much is because of how similar it is to any of those wholesome fanfics that I took refuge in back when I was younger and living in the closet.

It has everything I wished to have back then and everything I wish to have at one point in life:

Family fully accepting you

Healthy and safe family (non-chosen and chosen family)

Partner being patient and supportive

Protecting those you love

Open communication that I’ve always craved for in all relationships in my life (romantic and platonic)

Giving light and acknowledgment to the struggles each character lives but not making it their whole personality (because we’re more than those struggles… something I’ve come to learn after so many years in therapy. I’ve suffered domestic abuse, bullying, depression, anxiety, EDs, among so many other things my whole life and I’m more than all of that and it isn’t my whole personality).

I just think that these are some of the reasons why we love Heartstopper as much as we do. What do you all think?

[metaphoricalcolours]

oh heartstopper season 3, you're so important... it felt like season 2 was the gang all getting along and being there for each other all the time, essentially your friend squad goals, really raising the bar for friend groups irl, with the only main issues being those between darcy and her mum/darcy and tara as well as isaac figuring things out for himself.

season 3 isn't as rose coloured and brings more things to deal with. it feels more realistic. you see the gang not spending as much time together and even arguing. nick and charlie were always on the same wavelength in season 2 but this season shows a divide between them due to nick having difficulty talking to charlie about his eating disorder but bless his sweet heart, always being concerned and wanting to look after his boyfriend. charlie is struggling and he doesn't want to be a burden even though nick could never consider him as such. tao and elle don't see each other everyday anymore and tao is constantly missing and talking about her, elle wants him to understand that she doesn't love him any less. tara and darcy's relationship seems to be looking up after their issues in the previous season but tara had to tell darcy she needed her own space at the beginning of the season. as for isaac... he feels left out this season and you can see the conflict that creates within him because he's still figuring himself out but he also doesn't want to lose his friends. i wish tori was presented as more than just the big sister that's always worried about charlie, i know she has her own books so that might be why she's not a fully developed character in heartstopper but it's a shame we don't see more of her beyond the sister aspect on the show?

[witchthewriter]

𝑺𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒇𝒐𝒓 @theferalgremlin.

𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐋

𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

𝑰 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒂! … 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑾𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂! You said you were okay with a poly relationship and I've never gotten the chance to ship someone with two people from the same fandom in this way and it's actually really exciting!

Okay so I think you three would be this absolutely incredible trio. The most badass and you would have your own group name that was given to you (Nat did NOT want a name)

Also I have this headcanon that in this world you can tame animals and they listen to you. I won't go into your background because it is very traumatising in this world, but you can tame ANY animal. And that includes ones from different worlds...

For the reason why I ship you with Nat; is because you both have similar personalities, but at the same time I can see you being somewhat similar to Wanda as well? You balance light and darkness inside of you.

𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒔

You said you would be up for a poly relationship if everyone was consenting ... well, turns out all three of you have feelings for each other and are more than consenting to the relationship

Wanda falls into the homemaker role; she loves it. A housewife, even though no one asked her to do it. She loves looking after You and Nat

Nat is away a lot for missions, which makes you and Wanda sad. But she always tries to contact you one way or another

Wanda calls you 'draga' which means darling/dear one. Nat calls you 'Sladkiye shcheki' (sweetcheeks)

Nat always brings back presents/momentos from the places that she's told to go to. She brings you back records from your favourite bands.

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈

Burn Your Village by Kiki Rockwell

𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔

"You wear the pants in this relationship" (You & Wanda say to Nat) x "Oh I wish, I cannot control either of you at all" (Nat)

Makes A Mess (You) x Cleans The Mess (Nat) x Is A Mess (Wanda)

Moon (Nat) x Eclipse (You) x Sun (Wanda)

𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆

People With The Most Traumatising Background Fall In Love

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖

Nat's favourite thing about you is your intensity. She finds it absolutely invigorating. She too has a lot of intense feelings but was never allowed to show them. But with you, she can let everything out. Tell you what she hasn't told anyone before. She can let down her walls.

Wanda's favourite thing about you is that you have a lot of love for things, a lot of passion. She loves how you can delve into your creativity and draw for hours. You actually drew her once and she teared up because she didn't think you were thinking of her that much.

𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅

Your best friend would be Mantis! Oh my god, you would love her so much and show her all these things on earth. Especially those game stores (I cannot believe the word has left my brain) ya know oh! Arcades! And the claw machines; she would be on those for hours upon hours, trying to win a prize.

𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒊��𝒆

A mix of Darcy Lewis, Mantis and Wanda. A softness that is hidden by a hard shell. Deflecting hard situations with humour, kind but if someone crosses you - then that's it, you hold a grudge for life.

𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒕

What comes with your magic is the ability to tame any animal. And that is a big thing. You're one of the most important players in the game. So, that means you need protection. And what better protection than a goddamn wolf? You had your wolf well before you met Nat and Wanda, so when you moved in together, you all decided on getting a place with a big backyard for your wolf (they were weary of him at first but because you can telepathically talk to him, he knows that they're safe and he protects them too).

Also, with a house so large, that means you can connect with the animals that are native. You've befriended ravens, who keep an eye out for danger, and bears who like to eat the left overs from dinner.

𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐘 𝐏𝐎𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑

𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

𝑰 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑫𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒐 𝑴𝒂𝒍𝒇𝒐𝒚! The Slytherin Prince, the Dark Lord's apprentice ... I think you would be a solace for him. A place of safety. Someone who he can open up to and find the real him. Ever since he was born, there was a plan for him, a way of being that made him an awful person. But with you, he can peel back those layers that others have put in place.

𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒔

It was your scent he smelled with the Amortentia. Even though you weren't present in the class, he was deeply embarrassed.

You started a relationship with him because he slipped a note in one of your books, helping you with some questions you were finding difficult in class. He knew because he would watch you in the common room, slumped over the table, rereading the material over and over again

Then he made sure no one bothered you. No one - not from any House. It was because on your first day at Hogwarts, you had sat across from him on he Slytherin table (even though he was a year above you) and smiled at him

Your kindness was like a kick to the gut. He hadn't experienced it from a stranger before. Especially not a Slytherin stranger.

From then on, he had kept an eye on you. Trying to figure you out.

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈

Devil's Resting Place by Laura Marling

𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔

"Being With You Makes Me Better"

Teases Them (Draco) x About To End Them (You)

I Don’t Know What I’m Doing But At Least I’m Alive, Right? (Draco) x You’re Doing Great, Sweetie (You)

𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆

“I care about you!” x “You shouldn’t!”

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖

Draco loves that you can think for yourself; you have your own opinions and don't let others affect what you believe in. He admires your stubbornness and sometimes damns it. But he knows that being firm in your beliefs also means you're very loyal.

𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅

Ginny Weasley, much to the surprise of ... everyone. A Slytherin and Gryffindor friendship was rarely heard of. But like many traditions, you broke them. Ginny was cold to you at first, but once you stuck up for a first year Ravenclaw girl, she had respect for you.

And that grew over the first two years, and then you were partnered together in potions and have been best friends ever since.

𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆

A mix of Ginny, Sirius, Luna ... god ... you just have a lot of sides to you. And J. K. Rowling doesn't have a lot of ... diverse characters? I mean there's a lot of characters but they're not multidimensional like the ones in Marvel or HotD. They don't balance light and darkness - they're either good or bad. So I guess you just a mix of so many because you live in the grey.

𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒕

From one of the pet stores in Diagon Alley, your family wanted you to get an owl. But you desired a cat so much. You wanted a pet who could snuggle up to you. Keep you company when people got too much. And although it took your parents a lot of convincing, they finally said yes. But when you went to the pet store, there were no cats left!

Moping, on your way through the cobbled streets, you saw a stray cat. Orange, covered in dirt and missing an eye, you scooped him up and said he was yours.

𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐃

𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒂 𝒅𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒕 𝑰 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝑻𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒚𝒆𝒏! He definitely has Scorpio placements. So, he understands the deep desire for connection - one that doesn't start off with small talk. It's all in, straight in. Together.

𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒔

, In the same way, you're possessive and overprotective, as is he to you

Likes to brush your hair in the evening, it gives him a moment of peace, to focus on something for someone he loves

Defends you against anyone who wants to hurt you, or insults you. Especially his brother, Aegon, who thinks he can say whatever he wants without consequence.

His mother wasn't very happy with you two being together, since he was arranged to marry a Baratheon princess to further the alliance. But Aemond would rather die than not have you

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈

Burning Desire by Lana Del Rey (oh my god Aemond is so Lana Del Rey coded - he is literally bby)

𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔

 “Shut Up” x “Make Me”

 Snarky Power Couple That Can, And Probably Will, Destroy You

Emotionally Unstable (You) x Also Emotionally Unstable But Tries To Hide It (Aemond)

𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆

Forbidden Love

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖

That you listen to even the smallest detail about someone. What surprised him is that you use it for good - for getting presents and surprising people. Where Aemond would use that for personal gain and to blackmail. You don't. And that surprised him for the better.

𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅

Baela, you like that she challenges you and brings new things into your life. She's very fun and once you had a crush on her - but she didn't have romantic feelings for ... anyone. Man or woman. She was just obsessed with showing up for her family and living her life to the fullest.

𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆

A mix between Rhaena and Baela, the girls are opposites. Soft and hard; sweet and sour. But they're both willful and have the blood of both Targaryen and Velaryon. You remind me of them because you seem both strong-willed but have a reasonable side. I think you value logic but have big emotions.

𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒕

Your family married into the Targaryen bloodline, but it wasn't expected that you would have a dragon (even though you wanted so badly to have one.)

It was actually Baela who showed you where a lot of dragons resided on Dragonstone. And you were dared by a lower lordling to find the grumpy old Vermithor and spend ten seconds in his lair. You accepted and within five seconds, the cavern was lit up in flames by the angry old dragon.

In Valyrian, you told him to calm down. When that didn't work, you started calling him names. 'Oh stop it you cranky fool! I am of the blood of Old Valyria and you will not harm me.' Spoken in the Valyrian tongue, Vermithor ... obeyed.

[tired-truffle]

Yet Broken Still You Breathe

An AlistairxOC fic

Chapter Word Count: 5.1k

Part 39/54

“I won't be in the history books; that's for you. But I loved you first. As long as they get that right, I don't care what they say.” - dropdeaddreams + WhatAreFears

Masterlist

Gwen's slender fingers gingerly traced the intricate embroidery of the tapestry that adorned the walls of their temporary stronghold. Her bandana, a necessary shield against the world's scrutiny, felt particularly suffocating today.

Goosebumps had prickled along her arms as she'd stepped into the Alienage, her heart pounding against her ribs. The air felt thick and heavy, and she swallowed hard, her throat tightening like she was choking on smoke from a long-dead fire. The haunted eyes of mothers searching for lost children, the angry shouts of men demanding justice, hungry children begging for spare change. And above it all, was the cynical satisfaction in the eyes of the Tevinter slavers as they loaded their elvhen cargo onto worn ships. The stench of fear and suffering could be tasted on the tongue, leaving a bitter aftertaste that lingered long after one had left the wretched place.

Loghain. The name turned her stomach even now. How could a man who was supposed to protect his people betray them in such a despicable way, selling them out for his own selfish desires? Anger had simmered beneath her skin, the urge to weep clawing at her throat. She'd clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms, fighting the scream that threatened to escape. But she’d held it all in, letting her emotions fester and boil inside until she felt like she might physically become ill from the bubbling rage within her. Until they’d massacred the slavers, drenching the stone floor in their rotten blood.

It had only been an hour since they’d returned, and already they had another mission to complete; the Landsmeet. The muted afternoon light filtered through the windows of the grand estate, casting a sombre tone over the gathering. Gwen, standing beside Alistair, rubbed at her temples to stem the fatigue, watching Arl Eamon pointedly ignore her presence.

"Alright everyone, listen up," Darcy instructed, capturing the attention of those present. "While we seek justice at the Landsmeet, I need you, Gwen, and Zevran to remain here. Should we require a rescue, you have both already proven yourselves more than capable."

Gwen nodded, the corners of her mouth tugging downward ever so slightly. Part of her was relieved she did not have to be part of the confrontation; it made the weight on her chest feel less suffocating. But a deeper, more honest part of herself knew why he had asked the two of them to stay behind.

No matter how hard she tried to pretend otherwise, she was still a monster hiding behind a mask. The scarred and broken creature who would only tarnish their reputation, who had snarled at countless guards only the night before. Darcy was wise to take the others and leave her here, safely out of sight. Zevran being a former Crow assassin - and also complicit in springing them from prison - fit in line with that reasoning, if anyone were to find out his background… it would not end well.

Yes, far better they remain here in the shadows, while those with purer hearts decide Ferelden's fate.

"Understood," she replied tersely, avoiding his gaze.

Alistair, who had been quiet, following the instructions of his leader, reached his hand out, brushing against hers in a fleeting touch that had the frown melting from her face. She wanted to be there for him, to support him - to ensure that he was not forced into a role he wanted nothing to do with - but it would seem that that wasn’t to be her role.

"Take care, Gwen," Alistair murmured, close enough that only she could hear the genuine worry lacing his voice.

"Likewise." Gwen nodded sharply, her gaze darting to the floor as her fingers twisted the edge of her bandana. For a fleeting moment, she wished to disappear into the shadows, away from the reality she feared would come to pass.

A silent conversation passed between them—one of fear, hope, and unspoken devotion. Alistair's lips quirked upwards in a bittersweet smile before he turned to follow the others, his shoulders set with a determination that belied his hesitance to take on the mantle of leadership. They had said what needed to be said last night, the memory of his gentle caress still lingering on her skin. His warmth had enveloped her, offering a small measure of solace.

As the door closed behind him, leaving Gwen and Zevran alone in the echoing halls, a solemn stillness settled over the estate like a dense fog. Gwen lingered by the door, her fingers nervously brushing the edges of the frame. She took a breath, needing every ounce of strength not to falter.

"Stay safe," she whispered into the emptiness, the words meant for Alistair, though spoken to the Gods, a quiet plea to watch over him. With one last glance at the stout wooden barrier that separated them, Gwen steeled herself for whatever lay ahead.

Hours later, Gwen paced the length of the great hall, her boots clicking softly against the stone floor. The grandeur of the space did little to ease the squeeze of apprehension that constricted her heart. Zevran leaned casually against a pillar, his golden eyes tracking her movement with an unsettling intensity.

"Are you not concerned?" she asked abruptly, halting mid-step to face him. Her voice, usually so carefully modulated, betrayed a hint of the unease coiling within her.

"About what precisely?" His accent rolled the words out like smooth stones.

"About us being left behind," Gwen said, tucking a strand of white hair behind her ear. "We have no idea what is happening, they could be getting ambushed or executed and there’s nothing we can do from here."

Zevran pushed away from the pillar, a predator's grace in his stride as he approached her. "Ah, but you see, I have faith in our companions, don’t you?”

Gwen snorted, a brief flicker of amusement warming her pale eyes. It was fleeting, chased away by the grim realities they faced. "I'm serious, Zevran. They could get hurt, mortally so."

“I have no doubt our brave wardens will have little issue in dispatching any foes that come their way. Besides, who doesn’t love a little bloodshed in politics? It keeps things interesting.” He winked at her then, trying to lift the pall of worry with his characteristic bravado.

"Let's hope it won't come to that," she murmured, her gaze drifting towards the window where sunlight streamed in, painting the hall in golden hues.

"If that is how you must cope. I, on the other hand, shall be raiding the wine cellar, should you care to join I am sure I could share a bottle or two," Zevran replied, leaving her side to explore the recesses of the hall.

Left alone, Gwen began wandering the estate, her mind a tumultuous sea. She wandered through the gardens, the vibrant colours of the flowers stark against the backdrop of her pale skin. With each step, her thoughts drifted to Alistair - his reluctant strength, the gentle warmth of his brown eyes, and the shared laughter that had somehow bridged the gap between their worlds.

Alistair had never desired the crown, much like she never craved the spotlight that came with being a part of their party. Their bond was forged in the searing flames of adversity and struggle, a bond that defied explanation. The thought of him sitting on that throne, surrounded by advisors who would judge their every move, filled her with indescribable sorrow. How could their love survive the scrutiny if she, the 'monster’ by public opinion, would shadow his future? Darcy's words echoed in her mind, a constant reminder of their conversations brimming with worry and fear for Alistair's future. Neither of them wanted this path for him, but destiny was rarely swayed by wants.

But as the day waned and shadows stretched across the marbled floors, Gwen's reflections grew darker, mingling with fears of loss and the inexorable march of time. Perhaps it was a selfish desire, to wish that he never experience the rich splendor of a kingly life. He would never want for anything, food would never be a concern - and they all knew how much he loved to eat. He would experience untold luxury, balls and feasts, and he would have the choice of countless beautiful women. How could she wish a life of hardship as a Warden upon his shoulders?

No, he did not want that life. He had made that abundantly clear. The pressures of being king were not worth the rewards, and he loved her, he wanted her. Why couldn’t she let herself have that?

It didn’t matter now - she told herself - the choice was out of her hands.

Amidst the splendour that surrounded her, Gwen roamed, a spectre wrestling with love and duty, her heart clinging to borrowed moments with a man who might just become a king. She wondered if it would be better that way, if they could have this small piece of time together and then depart for reasons that were beyond them both. She would never have to tell him of her upcoming death, or fear that one day he would wake up and realize he deserved better than her.

She was quick to correct her thinking. Gwen would take every second with him the Gods would allow. Even if it meant it would hurt more later, even if it made her want to lay down and never get back up. He was worth all of that pain and more.

Zevran and Gwen returned to the grand hall as dusk turned to night, silently acknowledging each other. While Zevran’s posturing earlier that day would have most believing he held no fear for his lover, Gwen knew him better than that. It had been a long time - too long. And even his mask was beginning to crack with worry.

However, that worry was soon put to rest. The grand doors of the Arl's estate swung open with a ponderous creak, shattering the silence that had settled over the grand hall like a layer of dust. Breaths unsteady, she braced herself for the arrival of reality, whether it came bearing warmth or cold indifference. The returning party’s footsteps resonated against stone, a staccato drumbeat that heralded news Gwen was not certain she wished to hear. She felt her pulse quicken, each beat a thunderous echo in her ears as she searched the faces of those who entered - each familiar, yet none the one she sought.

"Where's Alistair?" The words slipped from her tongue, her voice taut with dread that stretched and twanged like a bowstring pulled too tight.

Morrigan's golden eyes flickered with an emotion Gwen couldn't quite decipher before they shifted away, a silent aversion that spoke volumes - she had never been one to shy away from bad news before. Leliana's lips parted as if to speak, but no sound emerged, only a sorrowful glance exchanged with Sten, his towering frame rigid and unreadable. Wynne watched her with pity in her eyes, her lips pressed in a taught line.

Darcy stepped forward, his dark waves hanging limply against his neck, the sassy smirk that so often graced his lips now absent. His dark eyes held hers, and in them, Gwen found a resignation that seeped into her veins like a slow-acting poison.

"Anora," Darcy began, his voice steady despite the gravity of his words, "she… she betrayed us."

Gwen felt the world tilt, her hands clenching at her sides as if to hold onto something, anything, in the vortex of unspoken implications swirling around Darcy's declaration.

"She did not follow through as promised, we were going to make her queen, but she… changed her mind, and instead supported her father and his selling of my people into slavery." Darcy's explanation came reluctantly, his gaze never leaving Gwen's. "We had no choice. Loghain is dead, Anora is imprisoned, and Alistair… he remains behind to go over the details of his ascension. I’m so sorry, Gwen.”

Gwen felt her throat constrict, the walls pressing in as the room seemed to shrink. Each breath became a labour, her chest tight with an anguish that threatened to choke her. She understood duty, the rules those in power needed to follow to maintain the peace. Yet this time, it felt different. Her blood could doom Alistair to a life of conflict and division. If people saw her as a liability, one that bore the taint of Darkspawn, it would not only tarnish his reputation and put him in jeopardy. Alistair was alive, she should be thankful for that. And still, her heart broke for him, and selfishly, for herself.

The others watched her, their expressions a mosaic of pity and concern, but Gwen barely registered them. Her gaze lingered on Darcy, seeking something - anything - that might resemble solace in his solemn countenance.

"I understand. Excuse me." she managed to murmur, her words a fragile attempt to preserve composure, to ward off the despair that clawed at her edges.

Feeling the suffocating weight of their sympathetic stares, Gwen turned sharply on her heel, her breath coming in quick succession as she fled deeper into the estate, desperate to escape the weight of their concern.

Gwen's footsteps were a soft whisper against the stone floors as she navigated the twisting corridors that led to her chamber. The grand tapestries that flanked the hallway seemed to mock her with their vibrant depictions of triumph and unity, so at odds with the bleak reality of her own situation.

Alistair was out there, somewhere, possibly thinking of her, while she remained here, unable to save him from the life he wanted nothing to do with. A tight knot formed in Gwen's chest, each beat of her heart echoing the pain she tried to suppress. She gasped softly, willing herself to breathe through the dull ache that threatened to consume her.

Gwen knew that some fates were beyond altering, some sacrifices inevitable. She never deserved him, this was simply the Gods’ way of ensuring she did not reach beyond her means. She only wished it hadn’t hurt Alistair in the process, but that is what she did; hurt the people she cared about over and over again until there was nothing left. And in the quiet aftermath of revelation, she braced herself against the coming heartbreak - even knowing that it would never be enough. She was going to shatter to pieces, never to be picked up again.

As she reached the sanctuary of her room, Gwen closed the door with a quiet click, the sound a finality that seemed to seal her away from the world outside. She sagged against the door, gripping the frame for support as the hurt crashed over her like a powerful wave. As her eyes squeezed shut, she took a shuddering breath, fighting against the swell of despair. It pressed against her chest, a tangible force that made it hard to breathe, harder still to maintain the walls she had so carefully constructed around her heart.

She peeled off her bandana, revealing the sharp contours of her slitted cheeks. There was no need for pretense, no reason to hide her ghastly features from prying eyes. No tears pricked at her vision, her body numb as it trembled.

A knock on the door stirred her from her reverie. "Gwen," came Wynne's voice, tinged with concern. "May I come in?"

"Enter," Gwen called out, her voice devoid of its usual strength, now just a threadbare whisper.

As the door creaked open, Wynne's eyes scanned Gwen's face with a mixture of sadness and understanding. She stepped inside, her footsteps slow and steady as she approached Gwen, who stood frozen with a haunted look in her eyes.

"There’s something you need to understand, Gwen. The truth is more complex than what has been shared," Wynne began, her voice gentle yet firm, like a salve meant to soothe but not deceive. "But there are things left unsaid - things I believe you have the right to know. While Darcy and Alistair may wish to keep this from you to try to mitigate the hurt, it does none of you any favours."

Gwen remained silent, her muscles taut; she wrapped her arms around herself as if seeking comfort from her own body, a shield against the devastation of Wynne’s words. Her heart raced, a relentless drum echoing in her ears - amplified by the ring of the Calling - and she could feel the heat of frustration rising to her cheeks. She took a step back, her back pressing against the cold wall as if seeking refuge from the rising tide of emotion.

"Anora played us all for fools," Wynne continued, her hands clasped before her as if in silent supplication. “She immediately sought to discredit Alistair and Darcy, using both you and Zevran against them in a play for power. She believed that their involvement with you, your… past and current troubles would sway more to her side and secure her bid to the throne. She saw Alistair as a threat, and knowing that Darcy would never allow him to be executed to ensure he never attempted to claim his heritage, she sought to solidify her support.” Wynne paused, gathering herself before continuing. “And when confronted with her father's misdeeds...she chose silence over condemnation."

The revelation hung heavy in the air, like a storm cloud ready to unleash its fury. The walls of the elegant chamber seemed to close in around them, shadows creeping into every corner. Gwen felt as if the very stones were mocking her with their silent witness to her anguish.

"Thank you, Wynne," Gwen said after a long pause, her voice steadier than she felt. "For telling me."

Wynne hesitated, her usual confidence faltering. “You deserve to know the truth, though it pains me to speak it.” Her eyes briefly fell to the ground. “Once, Anora spoke of a united Ferelden. She seemed earnest. Now… now I fear her ambition has twisted her into something unrecognizable.” She met Gwen’s gaze, regret echoing in her voice. “This truth aches deeply for all of us, especially for you, my dear. I know that as those words pass through me, they pierce the very foundation of your heart. Though her ploy did not gain her any favour, it did destroy any possible allyship. What you and Alistair have cannot be broken so easily, and yet I understand the necessity of sacrifices that come with duty. I hope that you find a way to persevere. At one time I may have said the opposite, but to find a love like yours… If you want the advice of an old woman who never allowed herself that happiness; hold onto it, Gwen."

With that Wynne excused herself, leaving Gwen to grapple with the magnitude of Anora's treachery, the room seemed to grow colder, the shadows deeper.

‘Monster’ was a term Gwen had heard whispered about her since before she could remember, an identity thrust upon her by fear and hate. She had never wanted her cursed blood to hurt Alistair. But now her very existence had been twisted and used against him in a political ploy. Gwen knew Alistair didn't see her as a monstrosity, but to the rest of the world, that's all she would ever be. Her twisted features and tainted blood condemned her, even with how fiercely Alistair defended her.

Maybe it would be better if she just disappeared. Alistair would be free to rule without her tainted blood hanging over him like a shadow. He deserved someone who could stand proudly at his side, not lurk in his shadow, menacing all who dared to come near. Gwen stared at the floor, tears stinging her eyes. She loved Alistair with her entire fractured heart. But sometimes love wasn’t enough.

Time slipped away unnoticed - lost in the torment of her thought - until a gentle knock at the door pulled Gwen back from the edge of her introspection. She approached hesitantly, unlatching the lock to reveal Alistair's fallen gaze. His eyes held apologies that his lips had yet to form. Her heart pounded in her throat, she wanted nothing more than to wrap him in her arms and bring him to her bed. Gwen hesitated, her gaze flicking toward Alistair before drifting away, a sense of longing pooling in her gut. Her fingers absently traced the line of the furniture next to her, it was not the time, and perhaps it never would be again.

"May I come in?" he asked, shifting his weight from foot to foot.

Gwen nodded, unable to form words, stepping aside to grant him entry. The small chamber seemed to shrink further as he entered, his broad shoulders nearly brushing the walls. They stood awkwardly for a moment, unsure of how to start. Would he want to stop their relationship immediately? Gwen wasn’t sure if she could take such an abrupt ending, but she’d do it for him, if that was what he wanted.

But instead of sombre finality, Alistair's eyes crinkled with amusement as he glanced around the cramped quarters. "So...cozy quarters you have here," he said, injecting a bit of humour into his voice. "Reminds me of my early templar barracks. Though I think my bunk was a bit wider."

Despite her anguish, Gwen couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. Only Alistair could find levity in such a tense situation.

“I doubt you came here to critique my room.”

Alistair's gaze searched her face, hope mingling with trepidation. "I wanted to see how you were holding up," he said, his shoulders slumping, humour depleted.

"Better than you, I suspect," Gwen answered, a flicker of her dry humour surfacing despite the situation. "It seems we're rather good at finding ourselves in impossible predicaments." She paused, her smile faltering. "But this one feels heavier than any before. I fear what it may cost us."

He managed a weak chuckle, the sound tinged with irony. "Could it really be so bad?"

"Look, Alistair," Gwen began, the words catching in her throat. "We've both seen… too much already. Whatever comes next, I just want you to know—"

“Wait, before you continue, just let me say something.” Alistair interrupted her, wringing his hands in front of his chest. Gwen nodded, she could give him this.

"Being a king was never in my plans. I wanted camaraderie, and adventure - not politics and bureaucratic headaches! All I wish is to build a better life for those I care for - including you, if that life with me is something you would even want for yourself. But here I am, about to be king! If they knew I couldn’t even manage breakfast without burning the toast, they'd laugh me right off the throne!"

"I don't think kings have to worry about toast."

"Maybe not, but the point is I never wanted any of this." His chuckle was strained, his eyes flickering with dread. "And I can't help but think, damn my father for the royal blood that courses through these all-too-ordinary veins."

Gwen watched him carefully. "You are anything but ordinary, Alistair,” she said with a softness that surprised her. “But… I understand.” And she did, the weight of her own father’s actions had haunted her entire life. "It's not the life you chose, but one that chose you."

"You mentioned once, when we first kissed, your father… he was the reason for your tainted blood?" The question hung between them, delicate as spider silk.

She drew a breath, preparing herself for what she was about to unearth. She had said so many things to him that day, every sour piece of her existence had come spewing forth. "My father forced my mother to ingest Darkspawn blood when she was pregnant with me. It’s what made me this way," she admitted, the story unwinding from her lips like the unravelling of a tightly wound spool. "The Darkspawn taint runs through me because of him, because of what he did."

Alistair's face softened. "I'm sorry, Gwen. Truly," he offered, his voice a low cadence of genuine sorrow.

"Your sympathy is more than I deserve," Gwen replied, her voice a whisper of vulnerability she rarely allowed to surface. She shifted slightly, her gaze drifting toward the little bed she had yet to sleep in. Would she be alone tonight? "But it is not about me right now. This is about you. And, I suppose, about us, what will happen now that you are to be king. My existence… it could endanger your claim, your life. The crown demands an heir; I cannot provide one. Ferelden would never accept me, not if they knew what I am."

"Is that what you think? That I care about the line of succession more than—" Alistair cut himself off, grappling with the enormity of their predicament. "We'll find a way. I can’t give up on you. Not now. The crown may try to dictate my choices, but my heart knows what it wants, and it’s you, Gwen. If anyone thinks they can sway me from that, they haven’t met me properly yet. They can take my freedom from me, but please don’t let them take you too," he insisted, his voice desperate and pleading.

Gwen's mind raced as she tried to process Alistair's plea. He didn’t realize what he was saying, she had to ensure that he did. "Alistair, you don't understand," she said, her voice cracking. "I cannot give you an heir because I am not able to bear children."

Alistair's eyes widened, his lips parting. "What do you mean? Were you injured?"

Gwen shook her head, feeling the weight of their situation crashing down on her. "It's not an injury, it's… what I am."

Understanding dawned on his face, and she continued, "I am a danger to you. To your reign. If anyone finds out what I am, they will use it against you. It will undermine your legitimacy as king to have a Darkspawn lover, I will attract enemies who despise me for my blood and that will put you in harm's way.”

“You are not a Darkspawn, though I suppose we are lovers now, officially.” Despite the seriousness of the situation, a grin pulled at the corner of his lips. He took a step towards her and captured her hands in his before she could pull away. Even if she’d had the time, there was nowhere for her to go. "I know what they’ll say about you. They’ll toss ‘monster’ around like a casual insult. But when I look at you, I see bravery. I see a heart that has endured so much. You’re worth every fight I could ever wage, Gwen. All I care about is being with you, whatever the cost. I love you, Gwen. And I don't care what it costs me. The thought of losing you in all of this chaos… it terrifies me more than anything else ever could."

"But what about your duty? Your responsibility to Ferelden?" She asked, desperately fighting back the tears that welled in her eyes, trying to make him see reason.

"My duty is to make sure my people are safe and happy," Alistair replied firmly. "And that includes you."

"Perhaps," Gwen conceded, allowing herself a moment to believe in the possibility of a future where love could outweigh tradition and prejudice. But even as she nodded, she felt the inevitable pull of reality, the understanding that some barriers were built too high to climb.

"We'll work it out, Gwen," Alistair said, his grip tightening around her hands, as if afraid she might slip away. "But I need you to promise me - no matter how terrifying this feels, don’t hide from me. Don’t leave me alone in this. You’re not the monster everyone believes you are. And we will have us, together." A boyish grin split his cheeks. "And while we’re at it, we should absolutely tackle this kingdom like a two-person army. Alistair and Gwen: Elite Duo. I can already see the banners!" He paused, the humour dimming slightly. “But really, I need you with me to face whatever’s ahead.”

Her lips parted, but it was merely a breath that escaped before words finally followed. "Then I will be with you."

Her lips formed the words, but she didn't truly mean them. She could see it now, his loyal heart would lead him to ruin with her. Such a selfless and devoted person, he would risk everything just to be by her side. She couldn't fathom why he was so willing to put himself in harm's way for her, when he had the world at his feet. He was destined to be king, with all the power and riches that came with it. Yet here he was, stubbornly insisting on having her, even though it defied logic and reason.

A fierce instinct flared within her, knowing that he couldn't take care of his own safety. She would have to be strong for both of them. Not yet, not when he had the ability to chase after her. She would wait, and enjoy their time together while she had it. But time was always going to be limited for them, the threat of her upcoming death hanging over her. Maybe she would die before she had to leave him. It would be less painful.

Alistair leaned in close, his forehead resting gently against hers. He closed his eyes, breathing her in, the warmth of him grounding her in a moment where chaos felt far away. She could feel the heat radiating off his skin, a stark contrast to the cold dread pooling inside her. "I love you, you know. Nothing will change that." The warmth of his breath fanned across her skin as he spoke, each word a sweet note plucking at the strings of her guarded heart.

"I love you too," Gwen managed, her voice nearly lost beneath the weight of her unspoken resolve. She knew she would leave him when the crown rested heavy on his head; it was the only way to shield him from the risk her existence could incite. Yet she allowed herself this solace, the gentle pressure of his lips against hers in a kiss that held the promise of all the tomorrows they would not share.

As they parted, Gwen's smile was a wistful ghost upon her face. She retreated inward, where thoughts churned like a storm-tossed sea. Fear clutched at her, the dread of an inevitable end, a farewell laced with heartbreak. But for now, she chose the path of least resistance, to navigate the challenges hand-in-hand with Alistair, seizing the fleeting moments of joy.

She would savour his love, for when she no longer felt the warmth of his touch, it was sure to destroy her, never again to be whole.

Next Chapter

A/N: So, um, don’t worry about it!! The tags remain the same… just may take us a bit to get there 😬

Will Gwen manage to leave or will Alistair convince her to stay? Let me know your predictions!

I feel like with Alistair leaving the Warden if he’s unhardened and made king, part of that stems from the Warden being the one to make him king and him being upset with that. So since Gwen had nothing to do with it I think that he would be more motivated to stay with her and cling to that normalcy, but that’s just my take on it!

[buttercuparry]

Also because I was thinking about it and it has been years ( like actually...it truly has been years), since I have last said it, but Jonsa is just so wholly anti-Arya. Which is why I think it's so easy to pick apart the posts presented by the stark sister crowd because so many of them are Jonsas. They think ( at least those who want to pretend to pick up the "stark sisters woohooo banner") that Jonsa as a relationship isn't narratively an insult to Arya's arc. But that's not true at all. I cannot affect objectivity, I am too involved in the fandom but if I were to be presented with a story where a girl had a history of being bullied and it affected her self confidence, and then the one place she found unconditional acceptance in, turns around, only to go: yes the bully is my ideal woman, especially because she exults in those areas which have become points of insecurity for the other little girl, then that to me is not good writing. If a author is telling me ( and he has said it multiple times), that two people are thick as thieves to the point that one of them considers himself home for the other, but makes him pursue someone who has been detrimental to the one he is so close with...then that's not adding in "complexity", that's sending Castiel to Superhell. That's making Elle Woods lose the case in the final segment of the movie, that's the stepmother successfully concealing Cinderella from the Prince, that's Mr Darcy choosing Caroline over Elizabeth, that's the Other mother successfully trapping Coraline and getting buttons sewed on in her face.

It's nothing but