dark-noctis

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the girls are fighting!

#i legit thought this is how it went in canon when i first saw this post #like is this not what happened #hannigram

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Hannibal (2013-2015)

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i love love love this!! here's a little snippet inspired by the concept

“So what you're saying is-”

“Yes.”

“You want to- to get married?”

“Yes.”

Hero couldn't believe what they were hearing, their cheeks tinted by a soft blush. Despite the very logical explanation Villain provided about marriage being a legal obstacle to testifying against each other in court and many other situations that could easily become their doom, Hero still can't manage to wrap their head around the concept. Being married. To Villain. Who they've had an embarrassing crush on since the moment Villain pinned them against a wall in an alley with a dagger against their throat.

“Are you sure?” Hero asks, trying not to sound too mortified, a final attempt to get themself out of this situation that will surely turn out to be a huge mess.

“For the millionth time, darling, yes. Should I say it in another language? Write it in blood on the walls for a more extreme approach?”

“No!” Hero protests at the last question a little too loudly, which earns them a smirk from Villain.

“I thought you wouldn't need any convincing,” Villain says teasingly, that damn smirk still on their lips, “given the way you react to my touches.”

Hero blushes deeper, reminded of the way Villain's touch feels on their skin. A hand on the small of their back as Villain leads them to god knows what monstrosity; cold fingers lifting their chin up after a sparring session which seems to always end with Hero on their knees, yielding; a teasing caress on their cheek when Villain has them trapped.

“It's only out of disgust that I react,” they say finally. Lie. A big, unconvincing lie.

“I'm sure, sweetheart. So, what do you say?”

“Yes,” Hero answers, finally giving in.

Damned. They are utterly, completely damned.

a concept-

Hero(s) and Villain(s) who, to avoid ever having to testify against each other in court, get married. For strictly legal purposes, of course...

#hero villain snippet #hero x villain #villain x hero #hero x villain prompt

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This prompt immediately inspired me, so thank you!!! Here's my attempt at doing this prompt justice —feeling a bit angsty today ;)

“Can you... Can you not?”

The first words that come out of Hero's mouth in what felt like hours are that of a silent plea, spoken softly despite the emotions burning against their rib cage.

“That's asking a little too much of me, darling,” Villain answers, just as softly. Hero's heart still sinks into their stomach at the word of endearment, a warm feeling of adoration settling into their entire body, and Hero hates themself all the more for it.

“The Villain I once knew would never say that to me,” Hero says bitterly, and it's true. Mere months ago, Villain would never abide by SuperVillain's orders to burn down an entire city, along with Hero's entire organization and family. They would've outright refused to do so or pretended to fail at it, but they would've never accepted it without hesitation. The Villain Hero once knew would never hurt them in such heart-shattering, world breaking ways; would never want Hero to lose everything, including themself.

“Be glad I convinced SuperVillain to spare you.”

At this, Hero can only stare at Villain's eyes defiantly, holding back the tears that are horrendous reminders of how much they still care about Villain, how bloody much they still want to believe in them. Please, Hero wants to beg shamelessly, kneel in front of Villain if need be and say Please, I loved you, I love you still, come back to me.

“You damn well might have not done so,” is what Hero manages to get out instead, barely stopping their voice from quivering, “At least I wouldn't be alive for all of it.”

“You know I could never bear to see you dead, Hero.”

“Shut up,” Hero hisses, their pain slowly settling into an unbridled rage, voice shaking with an entirely different emotion now, “I don't want any more of your lies.”

“It's not a lie. You know it. You know I love y—”

“Don't you dare finish that sentence.” Hero cuts them off sharply. Those three words used to be sacred. They used to be each other's temple, they used to worship one another's love as their god; soft lips speaking prayers into skin, gentle touches spelling out their devotion. Now, the memory towers over them both, threatening to swallow them whole.

“I don't know what else to do. I wish to explain but you will not listen. Then I wish to tell you how I feel and you will not hear it. What do you want?”

“I already told you want I want, and you said I asked too much of you. Although, I now have a simpler wish.”

“What?”

“I want you to leave. Right now. And don't you ever show your face to me again.” Hero says, surprised at the coldness of their voice as they walk away from Villain so that they're facing the opposite direction.

This is what they've come to. This is why Hero has never allowed themselves to love before. The ruination of love always engulfs the formation. It's inevitable.

When Hero finally turns around, they find the room empty, and Villain—already gone.

Writing Prompt 729

"Can you... Can you not?"

"That's asking a little too much of me, darling."

#hero x villain #angst

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Writing Prompt #16

(not sure if i hate or love this, but it'll have to make do until i can gather myself and write properly again lol)

“You haven't been around much, Hero. Did I scare you away?” Villain states, trying to seem indifferent. They knew that something was probably wrong, of course they guessed as such when Hero was nowhere to be seen for the better part of a month, but seeing Hero's eyes swiftly avoiding theirs after the question proves Villain right.

“You know me,” Hero answers, a small smile gracing their lips, not ingenuine but not quite real. “Always off doing things, disappearing when need be.”

“No, seriously,” Villain says, taking a step towards Hero so that they stand face to face, “Where have you been?”

Hero laughs, as if Villain said something amusing, their gaze finally making its way to Villain's eyes. “Stop pretending you care.”

Villain wants to say, I'm not pretending, wants to grab Hero by the arms and shake the answer out of them because they're worried, damn it; but they settle for another lie instead. “You forget I'm supposed to be after you. It's hardly inappropriate for me to be curious. But if you don't want to tell me, then simply say so. I have my own ways of finding out.”

“Fine,” Hero bites out, “I was on a mission... for SuperHero.”

“None of SuperVillain's agents reported any signs of an attack against villains, nor an attempt at an act of heroism in over a month. No trades or exchanges were made, no one from SuperHero's Organization was spotted trying to cross the border. So, I'm going to ask again, where have you been?”

“I was being tortured, you asshole,” Hero shouts, their face inches away from Villain's, eyes burning with fury and something else Villain can't quite decipher, “Happy?”

Villain wouldn't define it as happy. Enraged, is more like it. Furious. Upset. Worried. They feel like breaking something, or screaming, but they can't scare off Hero after their admission, so Villain asks “Who?”

“It's... another hero. You wouldn't know them, they aren't in your district.”

“Oh, trust me, they will know me. I want a name.”

There's a quick, futile moment where Villain catches a glimpse of hesitation in Hero's eyes, but the moment breaks when Hero shakes their head in disagreement. “That's already a lot of information. I think we're done here,” Hero says, turning away to leave.

Villain knows they should leave it alone, knows that no attempt at insulting Hero could explain their interest in the matter, but they reach for Hero's wrist anyway. Hero hisses in pain, despite Villain's touch being inexplicably gentle, a proof of their treacherous heart. Villain curses silently before slowly pulling back the sleeve of Hero's tunic to reveal scars that aren't even properly healed, their once smooth skin now covered in shades of red that don't belong there. Villain's breath hitches at the sight. They know that they've done worse, covering the skin of their enemies with so many scars that they couldn't tell where the pain stopped and the healing began, but not to Hero. Never to Hero.

“I don't understand,” Villain manages to say, their voice suddenly sounding so small and defeated, guilty eyes avoiding Hero's gaze as they talk, “Why would a hero torture you? What possible reason could they have to justify—”

“Information,” Hero interrupts as they free their sleeve from Villain's grasp and cover the scar again carefully, “Information I had that no other hero did. It was bound to happen eventually. I'm just glad it wasn't SuperHero who decided to finally extract it because my punishment would've been much, much harsher then.”

“Damn it, why didn't you just give it to them?” Villain protests. They can only guess the state of the rest of Hero's body, considering how long they had been missing, and how fresh even the most superficial wounds looked. “Why didn't you just tell them?”

Hero answers so, so quietly that Villain thinks they've imagined it when they say, “Couldn't betray you.”

And Villain doesn't know what to do with that, doesn't know how to breathe with this information that sits heavily on their chest, over their heart that beats loudly, angry but yearning all at once. It's another moment of suffocating silence before Villain whispers “Why?” into the small space between the two of them.

“Because,” Hero stars, red-rimmed eyes finally meeting Villain's, “You tell me all these things about yourself and what you do, despite who I am, and you don't even hurt me enough to be anything of importance even when I deserved it and you're— God, you're so confusing, sometimes, with all the words of endearment you use. How you manage to make them sound insulting I'll never know, but damn it, Villain, when it came down to losing this” they say, pointing at the two of them, “or giving in, I realized I'd prefer enduring whatever they decided to do to me over betraying your trust.”

“Hero...”

“Just... be safe, okay?” Hero interrupts, looking away from Villain, “I don't want this to be all in vain. Not that I wouldn't have done it again, because I would, but just be careful.”

Villain nods, unshed tears blurring their vision, even though Hero won't be able to see it. And this time, when Hero decides to walk away, Villain lets them, forcing themself to watch as a single tear leaves a perfect trail on their face, the door shutting close behind them.

Such a fucking coward, their mind betrays them too, as treacherous as their heart which remains aching in their ribcage. A lonely, undeserving coward.

#hero villain whump #hero x villain prompt #hero x villain #villain x hero #hero villain prompt #hero villain snippet #writing prompts #writing prompt #my writing #villain prompt #villains and heroes

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I carry my loneliness so close to me

that sometimes I cannot even breathe

Yet a bitter taste of yearning is always on my lips,

a thread of longing running through my ribs

It seems that I can never reach for another,

like one would do for their lover

So I must remain aching and reminisce—

how it once felt to be wrapped in an embrace

I used to wear my heart inside out

Whenever she was around

Today, death has taken a lover;

he has chosen mine to make me suffer

(You ask why your love makes me escape,

isn't it already written across my face?)

#dark academia #dark academia aesthetic #academia aesthetic #light academia aesthetic #art #quotes #aesthetic #poetry #writers on tumblr #writeblr #poets on tumblr #my writing

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i'm back after like. 10 months. i don't know if this account is alive, but i will most likely start posting regularly again. please send requests for writing prompts or other content (if anyone is even seeing this post lol) xx

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The way every time Arthur first saw Merlin or one of his alter egos, the first words he spoke were always something in the lines of Do I know you? You look familiar.

kesha “past lives” // 1x01 the dragon’s call // orestes by euripedes // 3x10 the queen of hearts // the song of achilles by madeline miller // 5x09 with all my heart // the chaos of the stars by kiersten white // [insp]

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Favorite tropes/AUs list part 2 because it got a lot of notes

Thank you all for the attention on that post, here's part 2. Tag me if you ever write something that includes these, I'd love to read them.

Romance

- One character dying in the other's arms. I don't care how big of a cliche it is, I love it. Bonus point if the other kisses their forehead after they lose consciousness completely.

- The usually very composed, calm and strategic Character X losing their literal shit when Character Y gets hurt. I eat this up every damn time.

- This one is oddly specific. Character X is very good with a sword and everyone knows it. Cut to Character X teasing Character Y being useless with a sword. It's usual for them, but they take it too far this time so Y says pick up a sword. And X is like what? Y: I said pick up a sword. So they start combating, and Y is absolutely amazing at it. Everyone is shocked, including X, and by the end of it Y has X on their knees with a sword pointed to X's neck. The tension!! I love swords in fiction. (I actually wrote a fanfic similar to this, it's sitting in my drafts waiting to be edited.)

- VERY specific. A story set in an historical period. Character X kisses Character Y's hand. But here's the tricky part: as a gesture, the person offering their hand (having their hand kissed) was expected to be of the same social status or higher. Except Character X is in a position of wealth/nobility/power where Character Y is the complete opposite of that. And Y only learns how heavy of a meaning the gesture holds when someone else mentions it, does it etc. I already have a thing for hand kisses but this one in particular just. Gets me.

- Touch starved Character X and very tactile Character Y who doesn't even realize they're touching X in a way no one ever did like half the time. This is a really interesting dynamic to write for me, mostly because I love the concept of being touch starved actually having an impact on our physical well being as well and the direct connection of human interaction and the human psyche. I don't know. This trope probably serves hurt/comfort and angst better than most.

Character arcs & plot

- Inner conflict. Like, I want to see the character struggle with decisions, try to bury their feelings deep within themselves and failing, dealing with their guilt, their thought processes in the face of an ultimatum.

- A character learning how to wield their powers. Perhaps through a mentor/mentee bond, perhaps being taught by a peer or love interest, or even by themselves if the situation only allows them to do so alone. This is most likely for fantasy, like a character with magic or the gift of prophecies, but I love seeing how much a character has improved by the end of the plot. Bonus if they serve BAMF moments too.

- Betrayal. I'm not talking cheating on your partner or outing someone on purpose, at least not that kind of betrayal. This can be a hero betraying their own people because they're compromised and it's their only option, a person in an intimate relationship (romantic, platonic, QPR, you name it) revealing a secret that eventually brings out years worth of lies, or an antagonist betraying their cause and turning fully dark and set on personal revenge. This serves great angst and plot twists.

- A character questioning the things they had been taught religiously all through their lives. They can either be unlearning their hate, getting out of the boundaries created for them by others, or wondering if the cause they dedicated themselves to is actually where their morals point to anymore. I find the concept liberating and if it's a change for the worse, very tragic.

Some general things I like

- This is an unpopular one... Descriptive writing and symbolism. But it needs to be written extremely well. I'm not talking about lining up adjectives like red thick woolen cloak; I'm talking about colors being associated with emotions, the weather mirroring the main character's/the particular chapter's mood, feelings being wrapped up in metaphors and described as vivid things. Obviously this shouldn't be overdone, for example you can't read a 150K novel written fully like this. But when it is done to convey a certain tone/message it impresses me so much.

- The chapter/book titles being directly drawn from a key quote/event in the book. I seem to find that these kind of associations make the book really stick to my memory.

Favorite AUs for my fanfic writers

- I love the 5 + 1 things so much! You can alter the number according to what you're planning, but for me 5 or 4 is the way to go.

- Fake dating. This could also apply to the romance part, but I think it works better in fanfiction no matter how romantic/platonic the duo's dynamic may be. This serves such good humor and banter, but also angst too— imagine mutually pining idiots who thinks their love is unrequited, and are in pain during the whole deal. See how you can use it however you want? Yeah.

#writing prompts #my writing #writing #writeblr #writers on tumblr #writer #hero x villain #enemies to lovers #fanfiction #dialogue ideas #dialogue inspo

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Fuck the BBC Merlin writers: a rant about Guinevere Pendragon

Fuck them for ruining Gwen's character in the seasons after s1 and s2 (heavily season 5) by making her core characteristics gradually disappear and ignore her meaningful relationships with anyone other than Arthur. She was such a complex character but they chose to put her through SO much (most of them going without us seeing deal with her trauma or explained to others, like the resurrected shade!Lancelot event) and simplify her down to just a love interest like that wasn't enough.

Merlin and Gwen's friendship where? Gone, Gwen only sees Arthur now. Gwen being helpful to other new servants like she helped Merlin? No, no why would she bother with them after she got together with Arthur. Gwen reflecting on her heavy trauma, one way or the other, just talking about it or even just the audience seeing her struggle? No, we will downplay what she went through from now on to give other characters more screen time. The depth of her character? No, she's either this wise queen who can do no wrong or the bubbly sunshine uwu trope; we will never show her being strong yet empathetic, funny yet solemn when need be, brave yet troubled with fear in dangerous situations due to her wise nature. Gwen's bond with Elyan? No need for that. Gwen being troubled by Morgana? No, she just realized she wasn't on their side at some point and stopped thinking back to their days of friendship when she became a villain/antagonist.

Her character had so much potential. I wish we had seen her more as a person and less of a love interest to further improve Arthur's character arc.

#gwen #guinevere #guinevere pendragon #guinevere character study i guess?? #merlin #bbc merlin #merlin bbc #arthur pendragon #fuck the bbc #gwen was meant to be more than just a love interest damn it #rant

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Favorite tropes/AUs list to inspire writers

I personally find these posts very helpful when I'm experiencing writer's block, which I currently am, so I thought why not do something like this in the hopes of getting inspired myself along the way. If your writing has any of these tropes, tag me. I want to see them so badly

Romance:

- Angry love confession but make it a bit more angsty: Character X risks their life to save character Y and they barely make it out alive. Cut to X waking up only to be greeted with an absolutely furious Y. They ask something in the context of why are you so mad at me, dumbfounded, but Y just yells because I love you

- Hurt/comfort is top notch for friends to lovers slow burn, to be honest. BUT it's before the relationship is established, and they're touching each other way too much, the line between friendship and something more intimate utterly blurred. The hug extends longer than it should, the one who's comforting the other strokes the other's hair in a way that can't be platonic, that type of shit. The pining and inner panic. Bonus if it's queer.

- Rivals/enemies to lovers and forced proximity. Either they're united under the same goal, locked away, or any other plot device you use to improve this. The slow burn and banter this trope serves is probably unmatched.

-Character X is bilingual. Before a particularly dangerous mission or the aftermath of a catastrophic event, Character X calls Character Y a word of endearment in their native tongue (could be love, darling or anything you wish really) and Y only understands what the word meant when they hear it with context days/weeks later. (Preferably enemies to lovers again)

- Okay this one is a personal favorite. Character X confesses their feelings for Character Y, truly believing that their love is unrequited. The dialogue goes something like Say that again / Don't mock me, please / You misunderstand. I am not mocking you, [name], I am asking the person I love to tell me they love me again.

- Characters X and Y had a really bad fight that ended in X saying they never want to see Y again. A few weeks/months/years later, Y goes to X, about to die, says that they wanted to see X one more time before dying then loses consciousness. Ultimately up to you if they die or not, but I love the angst either way.

-One MC being completely oblivious to the other one's jealousy. So fun to both write and read.

Character arcs & plot:

- Fantasy/sci-fi MC going BAMF. I don't care if there's romance for this or not, I just love it. Sheer show of power. Awestruck enemies. Aftermath that leaves the MC questioning their morality. God-tier.

- Already low-key morally grey protagonist slowly turning evil. Bonus points if it's in fantasy and their actions are grander than they could ever be in contemporary. Because let's face it, the sunshine friend becoming a cheater doesn't really do much, but a hero turning against the people who they would have sacrificed everything for mere months ago? Phenomenal.

- One MC being extremely hurt, bloody and bruised, knocking on the other MC's door, saying I didn't know where else to go and collapsing before the MC can even make sense of what's happening. Except that they're the most unlikely person —either a protagonist/antagonist, hero/villain or similar dynamic— they would ever go to, but MC has no other choice but to help. Not necessarily romantic, but that also works just as well. (Again, probably works best in fantasy. Apologies to my contemporary writers, I swear I'll do you good.)

- Usually emotionally distant character being really honest and vulnerable and loving when drunk. This isn't necessarily meant for romance, it can be a friendship, mentor/mentee bond, found family, or QPR. Anyway, the MC is vulnerable for the first time in front of the other(s) and they find it endearing, their bond naturally strengthening after whatever progresses.

- The private school friend group trope will never get old for me. Especially if they're overtly pretentious and elitist, and the whole book is just a mockery of that whilst still developing the plot & character arcs efficiently.

Some other things I love:

- Literary references. This usually appears in works with Dark Academia themes like The Secret History, but your work desn't necessarily have to be like that. Quotes in other languages, references to classics, quoting poetry.

- Mythology retellings. Bonus if it's something other than the Trojan War, there are rather a lot of books on it. (And I eat it up every time, what about it?) Doesn't have to be Greek Mythology, I love seeing more unique ones, especially Egyptian and Norse.

-Poetic language. This is more about the writer's style and the scene being written, but I love flowery language at times if it flows well and doesn't outshine the plot & characters.

AUs:

(This part is for my fanfiction writers. I adore you all. Anyway, getting to the point.)

- Modern Royalty AUs for historical dramas or period pieces. When I tell you that this AU is so good if you want to write forbidden romance and angst I mean it.

- It may be the biggest cliche ever, but I'm weak for coffee shop AUs. Sue me, but they're comforting. Amazing opportunity to write fluff, if you will.

-Can't go wrong with the aftermath of torture + hurt/comfort combination.

-Reincarnation AUs. Pretty self explanatory, I think. Bonus points if it's matched with a soulmate AU if you're writing romance and they fall in love in each life time.

#writing prompts #my writing #writing prompt #writeblr #writers on tumblr #writing #tropes #dialogue ideas #ship dynamics #enemies to lovers #fantasy #villain x hero #hero x villain

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do me a solid and just reblog this saying what time it is where you are and what you’re thinking about in the tags.

#8.12 pm #the quote -what is grief if not love preserving?-

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Thanks I don't need my heart anyway

Arthur’s love for Merlin is overwhelming and familiar. It’s been there since “do I know you?”, since “there’s something about you, Merlin”, “you’ll be back”, “I’m glad you’re here, Merlin”, “Are you ever going to change?”, “If I need a servant in the next life”, “Your eyes, we’ve met somewhere before”, “Thank you, old friend”, “I want you to always be you” and every moment Arthur had felt before Merlin set his foot in Camelot, where he had been waiting for something.

Merlin’s love for Arthur grows and grows and grows. It grows with “I’m happy to be your servant till the day I die”, with “we haven’t done all the things we’re meant to do”, “I’m going to be by your side as I always am”, “I swear I will protect you or die at your side”, “There will never be another like you, Arthur”, “stay with me” and every moment after that when he waits for Arthur to set his foot back into the world of the living. Into Merlin’s world.

Arthur is I have loved you for a thousand years.

Merlin is I’ll love you for a thousand more.

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“I want to be a body for you. I want to chase you, find you, I want to be eluded and teased and adored; I want to be defeated and victorious—I want you to cut me, sharpen me. I want to drink tea beside you in ten years or a thousand.”

Quotes: This Is How You Lose the Time War / Photo credits: Pinterest, if you own pictures contact me x

#dark academia #dark academia aesthetic #this is how you lose the time war #quotes

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I couldn’t bear to lose you.

Merlin x The Song of Achilles

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i’m rewatching merlin and i forgot how every single episode’s plot is just merlin and arthur fighting over who gets to die for the other

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