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guzhufuren · 29 days

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Japan 🇯🇵 A Guide to Some of the Best Queer Asian Shows

Full list here.

1. Cherry Magic! mind reading; secret crush; office setting

By still being a vіrgin at 30, Adachi gains a magical power – the ability to read other people's minds by touching them. At first, he’s overwhelmed by his new ability, and it’s not proving to be helpful to him. But that all changes when he accidentally touches their office’s most perfect guy Kurosawa, who he learns has romantic feelings for him.

WeTV (Cherry Magic) & no international streaming of Cherry Magic The Movie is available to my knowledge, so watch on bilibili or KissKH

2. Kieta Hatsukoi (My Love Mix-Up!) misunderstanding; high school setting

Aoki has a crush on Hashimoto, the girl in the seat next to him in class. But he despairs when he borrows her eraser and sees she's written the name of another boy — Ida — on it. To make matters more confusing, Ida sees Aoki holding that very eraser and thinks Aoki has a crush on him!

Viki

3. Our Dining Table food; child character

Salaryman Yutaka finds it difficult to share meals with other people. However, his life starts to change when one day, his cooking attracts the attention of a young boy named Tane and his older brother Minoru. The two brothers are impressed by Yutaka's cooking skill and invite him to their house to cook together. Yutaka's dreary life begins to change, and soon he finds himself looking forward to the meals he shares with the Ueda siblings together, as well as developing a taste for romantic feelings.

GagaOOLala

4. She Loves to Cook and She Loves to Eat wlw; neighbours; self-discovery; food

Nomoto loves to cook, but tends to make too much food and has no one to share it with. Luckily for her, turns out her neighbor Kasuga has a big enough appetite for the both of them.

No international streaming available, translated to english by Furritsubs, S1 & S2, watching instructions provided, please support translator on kofi.

5. Takara-kun to Amagi-kun high school setting; relationship exploration

Takara is a good-looking popular guy in class, while Amagi is a simple but bright and pure fellow classmate. The two begin to date in secret after Amagi's blurted out confession.

Viki or GagaOOLala

6. Old Fashion Cupcake! age gap; boss/assistant; self-discovery; office setting; food

At 39, Nozue realizes that by letting himself be carried away by his daily life, he ended up locking himself into his routine. It is Togawa, his 29-year-old subordinate, who shakes up his habits by offering him one day to go snack on pastries in an establishment more popular with girls. From one snack to the next, Nozue feels rejuvenated... But is it really the effect of these delicacies or rather that of emerging feelings?

Viki or GagaOOLala

7. Love is Better the Second Time Around second chances; adult romance

An associate university professor and an editor in their thirties, who promised to elope together back in high school but didn't because of a misunderstanding, find each other again after a magazine column ties them together.

GagaOOLala

8. Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice But to Kiss! lucky guy/unlucky guy; university setting

College student Fukuhara has bad luck that causes problems everywhere he goes. One day, Shinomiya, a student with super good luck, helps him out. Now, in order to divide the luck between them, Fukuhara needs to be with Shinomiya all the time.

Viki or GagaOOLala

9. Perfect Propose childhood friends to lovers; roommates

Hirokuni Watari, a cog in the corporate machine, faints on the street one day and ends up meeting Kai Fukaya, a childhood friend he hasn't seen in 12 years. With Kai having no place to stay, he ends up staying with Hirokuni and making home-cooked meals for him to soothe his exhaustion.

GagaOOLala

10. Two People Who Can't Fall in Love (Koisenu Futari) aromantism; asexuality; self-exploration

Sakuko finds it difficult to live in a society which operates under the assumption that people will fall in love with each other. She meets supermarket employee Takahashi and ends up living with him under one roof because of their similar values towards romance.

No international streaming available, watching instructions provided here.

11. I Cannot Reach You best friends to lovers; secret crush

Long time friends and total opposites, Yamato and Kakeru always stick together. When the reserved Yamato admits his feelings, can everything change?

Netflix

12. I Want to See Only You best friends to lovers; coming of age

In the final summer of high school, childhood best friends Sakura and Yuma must start thinking about college and their futures. That is, until Sakura confesses to Yuma with a kiss.

No international streaming available, translated to english by Furritsubs, watching instructions provided, please support translator on kofi.

13. A Man Who Defies the World of BL breaking the 4th wall; comedy; university setting

It suddenly dawns on Mob that he lives in a BL world! So he must turn down any hot guys who approach him.

Viki or GagaOOLala (S1) & Viki or GagaOOLala (S2)

14. My Personal Weatherman roommates; under-negotiated kink

Yoh is a struggling ero-manga artist living with his Mizuki Segasaki, a popular weather forecaster. Yoh believes their arrangement comes with Segasaki providing for him in exchange for housework and sex. Segasaki always has sex with Yoh before the day when the rain season will be over, which results in Yoh being sexually frustrated whenever Segasaki predicts sunny weather for the next day.

GagaOOLala or Viki or Apple TV

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You can watch some shows for free by setting VPN to Japan. In other cases I recommend paying for subscriptions to show appreciation and support of content in order to get more of it in the future, but if you can’t, watch on KissKH (better quality), Dramacool or get files from MkvDrama. Enjoy! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

#mygifs #mine #japanese ql

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wordywarriorwrites · 2 months

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Life Is But A...

Title: Life Is But A... | AO3 | Rating: T

Pairing: Frankie Morales x F! Reader

Summary: Frankie is ready to tell his daughter about you...

Warnings: Kissing. Mild-spicy thoughts. Mention of death and medical issues (not explicit).

You’re flipping through the pages of a Little Mermaid coloring book – Cranberry Red crayon at the ready – when you feel a strong hand grip your calf.

“Got a minute?” Frankie’s deep voice rumbles through the air.

You glance at his daughter and quirk a brow, “You’ll have to ask Her Royal Highness, Princess Isabella. We are very busy, after all.”

The three-year-old little girl, with beguiling brown eyes just like her father’s, looks up from her own artistic endeavors. She cranes her neck, gaze focused on her dad, and seems to consider his request. A purple and pink bejeweled crown perched precariously on her head, lips pursed, and brow furrowed – she’s clearly thinking hard, but it’s not until Frankie says the magic words, “pretty please,” that she finally acquiesces.

It takes only a few moments to scoot the basket of shared crayons closer to her and relinquish your own, much smaller tiara and white, feather boa. You roll your old bones back into order, elbow bumping up against the plastic cup and saucer from an earlier tea party as you move from lying on your stomach to sitting up.

Frankie’s knees pop when he stands, and as you look up at him, your mind immediately switches from coloring inside the lines of Sebastian, Flounder, and Scuttle, to appreciating the broadest set of shoulders you’ve ever had the pleasure of digging your nails into. He offers you a small, knowing smile and a hand up, and you admire the strength and the flex of his bicep, your heart stuttering a bit at the way his eyes sweep over you in return. Frankie makes a motion for you to follow him, and you do just that, tiptoeing over toys and around laundry baskets. His long strides eat up the length of the hallway to the master bedroom in no time, and you’re right on his heels, stepping over the threshold when he gestures for you to enter first.

The door is left slightly ajar, allowing you both to hear his daughter and the movie playing in the background. Woody has just called Buzz “a child’s plaything” when he reaches for your hand, guiding you forward until you’re seated at the foot of the neatly made bed.

“Wanna talk to you about something,” Frankie starts.

Spine straightening, you clasp your hands in your lap, “Alright. I’m all ears.”

There’s a discernible shift – the air suddenly a little tense, a bit more serious. Lips pressed into a hard line and eyes dark with an as-yet-to-be-revealed purpose; he paces the small space between the dresser and closet like a caged lion, and you consider asking him what’s wrong, but he doesn’t give you the chance.

“I want to tell her about us,” he says, tone low and certain. “If that’s okay with you?”

Your body is engulfed with a combination of relief and excitement, as well as a hefty dose of nervousness.

You’d agreed from the start that neither one of you wanted to confuse Isabella or cause her any pain. And that pact you and Frankie made was exactly why his daughter – who is currently belting her ABCs with all the power her toddler's lungs possess – still believes you’re simply “a friend of Daddy’s from work.”

In the beginning, it had been a casual thing; more about sex (great, mind-blowing sex) and adult conversation than anything else, really. But as with all things tended to with passion and kindness, it grew, gradually morphing into something more – something significant. You knew about Isabella from day one, met her officially at month three, and then, just like that, Frankie and you were no longer simply dating.

A couple became a trio, and you were given a drawer and space in the medicine cabinet. You had a car seat installed in your sedan and your apartment was no longer a “bachelorette pad,” but a kid-friendly spot for the occasional weekend getaway. Purse staples, like lipstick, gum, and perfume, were replaced with a toddler-friendly gamepad, snacks, and sanitizing wipes. There are boxes of goldfish and teddy grahams in your cabinets, and string cheese and apple slices in the fridge.

You’ve been part of the bedtime routine – helping Isabella get into her pajamas and reading her a story before turning on the nightlight. You know she hides her peas in her potatoes and that she’s allergic to penicillin. You’ve noticed she prefers to wash her hands by herself and favors the giraffe toothbrush over the whale one.

You’ve seen Frankie handle her meltdowns and marvel at her milestones. You know about the handmade bracelet beneath the band of his watch, and that his iPod has more specialized playlists and audiobooks for her than it does for him. You’ve seen the preschool brochures and are aware of the college fund her honorary uncles, Ben, Will, and Santi, have started for her.

You also know about Isabella’s mother – have listened with a heavy heart as Frankie told you stories about their complicated past and too short-lived time together. You know the circumstances that took her away from them – the unknown, undiagnosed cardiomyopathy that snatched a mother from a five-month-old baby girl who needed her. You have smiled, lash line brimming – honored to be asked to help decorate a frame for a photograph of the very woman with whom Isabella shares the same chin and nose. It’s buttercup yellow, decorated with assorted beads and shells, and it has held a place of prominence on the nightstand ever since she got her big girl bed, which you and Frankie built together.

Isabella refers to you by your call sign, Hawk, and will “kree” excitedly whenever she runs to greet you. To her, you’re a playmate. A grown-up friend. You fix broken helicopters and sometimes sneak her cookies before dinner. You show up for movies on weekends and occasionally pick her up from daycare if Daddy is running late. The two of you work as a team to beat Frankie at Don’t Break the Ice and Go Fish. Bumper bowling and band-aids. Flus and fairy tales. Pinkie promises and potty training.

“What’re you thinking?” Frankie asks.

There’s a hole in the knee of your jeans, and you tug at a loose thread until it begins to unravel. “Is she ready?” you wonder, winding the string around your finger and pulling hard until it comes free. “Are you? Really?”

Frankie reaches for your hands. Yanks you to your feet. You meet his gaze, finding an unwavering sureness that somehow steadies you and makes the butterflies in your stomach take flight. Eyes narrowed and the corner of his mouth quirked, he switches his hold to your upper arms, giving you a squeeze and little shake for good measure. It’s all silent, affectionate admonishment for what he clearly thinks are very silly questions, but still, he follows up with a tender kiss to your forehead and softly spoken assurances.

“I’ve been working up the courage to ask you since her birthday two months ago,” he admits. “And Isabella is braver than you, me, and her uncles combined.”

It’s an assertion you can’t argue with because it’s so very, very true, so, you don’t. You just smile and nod, which prompts a hug that brings forth tears, and then, Frankie’s kissing you – gentle pecks on your damp cheeks that morph into a lip lock full of relief and love and unrestrained happiness.

The rest of the afternoon is a blur of chores and games and nap time that’s more about reading books and cuddling than actual napping. Frankie oversees the grill, while you and Isabella, sous chef extraordinaire, put a tray of fries and tater tots in the oven and set the table. Halfway through dinner is when he broaches the subject, reaching for your hand and holding it tightly while he tries to explain in toddler-friendly, simple terms that you’re more than a friend.

“You understand what I’m trying to say, querida?” Frankie finally asks.

“Daddy loves Hawk,” she chirps, swiping her index finger through a glob of ketchup and bringing it to her mouth. “Duh.”

You let out a burst of surprised laughter, and that, combined with Frankie’s admonishingly bemused, “Oh, mija!” makes Isabella kick her feet and giggle wildly. She dances in her booster seat, and as she worries a fry between her teeth and pulls the cheese off her bite-sized cuts of burger, you can’t help but smile because you adore her.

A bite of food. A sip of milk. After she’s declared she’s full and can eat no more, it’s bathtime. You do the dishes while Frankie has the fun, undoubtedly overindulging on the bubbles and toys. Row, Row, Row Your Boat echoes off the bathroom walls, but in this version, life isn’t a dream – it’s a bowl of spaghetti. You join back up with them in time to see the exciting saga that is hair combing and teeth brushing before the three of you head into Isabella’s room to get her dressed for bed.

“Daddy read,” she insists as her head pops through the shirt collar of her moon and star-themed pajamas. “Hawk tuck.”

Two books, a potty break, and another book. Then, she’s conked out, with her favorite stuffed moose in her arms and owl-patterned sheets up around her shoulders. Frankie asks you to stay the night, and you say yes, the two of you spending what remains of your evening on the couch, chatting about everything and nothing, silently agreeing that the “what now” conversation can wait for another day. By the time you climb into bed beside him, your heart is full to bursting and your cheeks hurt from smiling.

“Daddy loves Hawk,” he mimics with a snort. “That kid… Already actin’ like she knows everything.”

“Can’t imagine where she gets that from,” you quip.

He grunts, mockingly indignant, and waits for you to stretch out beside him before wrapping an arm around your waist and pulling you close. Nosing your hairline, he takes in a deep breath before exhaling a contented hum into the quiet, comfortable space between the two of you. You adjust your pillow, and when Frankie kisses you, it’s soft and sleepy, his mouth and bristly moustache brushing languidly against your lips and chin.

“I do love you,” Frankie rasps.

“I know,” you sigh. “And I love you.”

“Yeah?”

You nod, “You’re my bowl of spaghetti.”

For a moment, he looks at you – all tired-eyes and quizzical brow – but it comes to him eventually, and when you start lightly humming the song, he groans low in his throat and gives your ass a playful swat.

“You know what?” he challenges.

You jut your chin, “What?”

A pause. A sigh. Another kiss – one that sizzles and lingers until he slowly pulls away.

“You’re my bowl of spaghetti, too.”

#frankie morales fanfiction #frankie morales x reader #francisco morales fanfiction #francisco morales x reader #frankie catfish morales fic #frankie catfish morales x you #frankie catfish morales x reader

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mmmkaybye · 2 months

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Why Zutara Shippers are Wrong (JK, You can ship who you want lol)

(Although, I don't care if you do actually ship Zutara, that's your prerogative, I'm just waiting for better arguments for the relationship and for people to stop negatively viewing Kataang)

First of all, I'm premising this with the fact that I don't think that ATLA should have ended with Katara and Aang kissing. I think it would have been fine to just end with a slightly more intimate-than-friends hug/cuddle. I would have personally preferred that two children who survived being literal child soldiers get the chance to be kids before they delve into a more mature relationship with one another, but they didn't exactly have adults of the modern culture there to guide them a different way, now did they?

BUT! I am a firm believer that Zuko and Katara would never have worked out romantically and that Katara and Aang's relationship 1. makes more sense and 2. is actually healthier in the scope of trauma and trauma responses.

First of all, I don't understand how the creators of ATLA managed to craft literally the MOST traumatic childhood backstory ever with incredible detail and nuance and everyone just fricking glosses over it like WTF??? Not to mention, the creators did an amazing job diversifying trauma responses to similar trauma experiences.

Let's discuss Katara's childhood trauma, which was not healed magically after a little side quest with Zuko. Katara carries immense survivor's guilt over her mother's murder. Katara understands very well how and why her mother was brutally murdered in their family home. She has been deeply aware of this since the day of her mother's murder - and she fully blames herself. Katara understands that a fire nation soldier killed her mother, but he killed her because of Katara - she said so herself. Then, Katara, who was the last person to interact with her mother, discovers her mother's body, and it is insinuated that Katara might have even witnessed her mother's brutal execution-style murder. This forever alters Katara down to her core personality traits. Katara is 'bossy' because of her trauma. I work with kids from pre-k through graduating american high school. It's pretty normal for girls to do what I call 'mothering' to their peers and to kids younger than them. It often is described as being 'bossy' and some girls are in fact bossy, but for the most part, they are roleplaying a caretaker mentality as they are most familiar with. In Katara's deep guilt of being the reason her mother was murdered, her trauma response was burden herself with the role of mother. This is further antagonized when her father leaves with the rest of the adult men to fight against the Fire Nation. He might've well as died too due to lack of communication for many years. Sokka does not allow Katara to mother him for very long, so she doesn't get to have a chance to work through her personal trauma response to her grief because she has no one to safely and consistently direct these mothering tendencies towards. The other children in the village are not orphans, their mothers are most likely very alive and very involved with them, so they would be temporary fillers at best. Sokka has stepped into the role of village man and definitely would reject Katara's mothering, which often led to tension between the siblings. Toph had the very reaction to Katara's mothering tendencies as I expect a young Sokka had to them. He lost his mother, too, he didn't want a replacement, nor did he want to lose his sister to the role of mother.

Zuko, in the same fashion as Sokka, had a mother who he loved, and lost, and was not looking to replace. Zuko's mother was also a topic that is deeply rooted in a lot of Zuko's personal trauma as well. Zuko did not get to spend much time with Katara for her mothering tendencies to be extended over him, but he definitely would have aggressively rejected them as Katara's trauma response would have negatively triggered his own. Their trauma would have deeply and negatively impacted any romantic relationship they could have developed because of how they would react to each other. Their relationship would have crashed and burned very quickly.

On top of that. Katara would have never left the South Pole indefinitely - that is her home, and she consistently returned to it throughout her life. That is an effect of her cultural upbringing. Zuko couldn't leave the Fire Nation, and as we saw in the graphic novels that followed, Zuko's personal welfare suffered greatly because his whole world was upended and now he was responsible for the one nation that didn't get peace at the end of the war. It's incredibly naive and slightly delusional for people to desperately push romantic wishes upon a sixteen-year-old boy who was burdened with the responsibility of healing an entire nation, one that fought him every step of the way in many aspects. He did not have the emotional energy to expend upon a frivolous relationship. That's why Mai and he broke up, not because they didn't love each other, but because Zuko simply could not have personal relationships until his reign and nation had stabilized - that alone would take upwards of 10 years. Plus, Zuko may have helped others work through parts of their trauma, but he had to address his trauma too, which we saw the beginnings of during the graphic novels. Simply put, by the end of ATLA and all of the graphic novels, Zuko was in no place emotionally, mentally, and even physically and politically to seek out a relationship that was meaningful and healthy. And I know that Zuko would have changed the tradition of political marriage, at the very least he deserves to have married for love at the end of everything he suffered through. Zuko is a great opportunity to normalize waiting until you're in your mid-twenties -thirties before seeking out romantic relationships. Logistically speaking, I don't think there would have been much opportunity for romantic feelings to develop between the two of them. I especially don't think Katara would have easily been able to live in the Fire Nation because the Fire Nation was directly responsible for her trauma, and that is also why I don't think she would have every pursued a relationship with a Fire Nation man, Zuko or not.

Now onto Aang. Everyone always jumps onto this idea that Katara and Aang had a very mother-son relationship - which is wrong. Aang comes from a culture that literally does not have mother and fatherhood. There are NO mothers and fathers in the Air Nomad Nation. Sure, kids had birth parents, but parenthood was not part of their culture, nor did Aang ever seek out that kind of relationship. Aang may have been kid-like, but he was the most adultified kid in the group. He was incredibly independent and confident in his ability to travel internationally by himself at 12. Katara had never thought to leave the South Pole to seek out a waterbending master in the North Pole because she didn't have that confidence or training. The Air Nomads thrived on a mentorship-based village raising of children. So, Aang never thought of Katara as his mother. He literally couldn't, because he had no scope of reference for such a relationship, same with fatherhood. He never had a parental relationship with Monk Gyasto. It was more like a fun uncle mentorship. I think that's why everyone thinks Aang was a bad father, but he was an outlier in the Air Nomad nation because there was no Air Nomad nation when he had children. The village that raised the children in his culture was gone. He was actually a fairly decent father and the two older children probably felt bitter because Tenzin was the only other air bender in existence so it obviously Aang is going to spend a lot of one on one time with Tenzin in the scope of mentoring Tenzin in the way of Air Nomad culture. Aang was not an absentee father like how many people assumed from the very one-sided and brief explanation given by the two older, jaded siblings. Was he perfect? No, he literally had no clue how to be a father. Did he and Tenzin leave to get milk and never come back? Also no. That being said, Aang was the only individual who was comfortable with Katara mothering him, he never felt threatened or overburdened by her trauma response, which allowed for Katara to genuinely work through her grief and mature out of the extreme bossy mothering we first saw in book one. If you pay attention, yes Katara does retain that 'bossy' kind of personality, but that was permanent fixture due to her childhood trauma and a little bit of cultural influence as well. I think, if Katara had never been traumatized, she would have always leaned towards a very soothing and nuturing type of personality, which we began to see in the middle of book three. Her bossiness/mothering trauma response gradually lessened the longer she 'mothered' Aang. Once again, neither of the two saw each other as Mother-son. They were simple too close in age and Aang also had the added sense of duty-boundness due to being the Avatar. Katara was always going to be a caretaker archetype personality, trauma or no, and that simply wasn't the type of person that Zuko would lean towards for a romantic relationship due to his own personal upbringing and culture. Aang is a much more gentle and playfully empathetic personality that works with Katara's firm care and sassy disposition.

In the graphic novels, I personally saw a great deal of healing and maturation in Katara in relation to her trauma. She was less mothering towards Aang, too, and I think that had a lot to do with the fact that Aang matured a lot as well and the change in their once platonic relationship to a more romantic-leaning one. Was their relationship perfect? No, they are kids who survived a horrific war and many many trauma-inducing situations. However, once Katara fully leaned away from the mothering habit, we get to see that Aang allows Katara to relax and be more playful. She genuinely was just happy with Aang. He pushed her to be a little more child-like and to have child-like fun even as they grew up into adulthood. Katara helped Aang mature and face a lot of adult burdens that were placed child.

In the end, Katara and Aang always brought out the best in each other. Katara and Zuko didn't have enough time together in ATLA to develop an individual relationship outside of the group. There simply isn't enough time outside of their little side-quest in which Katara and Zuko interact solo- which was definitely NOT Katara's best, and in fact was Katara lashing out aggressively towards people who loved and cared for her and she them. Zuko was also not his 'best' in that time either as he was also being triggered emotionally. In fact, during ATLA, there's way too much negative tension between the two of them that leads to really intense disagreements and emotional outbursts more often than not until Katara begrudgingly accepts Zuko into the group, they don't even positively interact until Ember Island which is what, two weeks? She's not exactly nice when she pretty much demands him to help her hunt down the man that murdered her mother. Zuko is all gung-ho about vengeance too. Of course, they both have a lesson learning moment, but that episode cemented in my brain that Aang is the better partner for Katara than Zuko. Aang, once again the most mature in the Gaang, fight me on this, has a deep, empathetic understanding of the world, he doesn't do a great job trying to explain to Katara, but I think that's because no one in the Gaang understands how Appa is not just an air bison, and Aang never views Appa as an air bison like how everyone else in ATLA do. To everyone else, Appa's an animal, but to Aang and Aang's culture that is deeply offensive, Appa is an individual with emotions and value outside of what he can offer the group in terms of transportation and that's never really explicitly clarified to the audience either (because despite being a kid's cartoon, the creators knew their audience well and did not treat the audience like we are stupid and can in fact infer and read between the lines). If Katara had killed that pathetic worm of a man, it would have absolutely destroyed her as a person. She would not have been able to heal from her trauma and would probably suffer even more trauma and guilt. This side-quest was a plot point to lead up to the big debate of killing Ozai, and not many, in fact I don't know if anyone has talked about that fact. I have no doubt that Zuko has probably killed people, at the very least, he's deeply desensitized to people dying as I think he probably at some point did experience or witness some form of warfare battle before he began chasing Aang down.

Once again, I don't really care if you do ship Katara and Zuko. In fact, I think that's a-okay. But, with the Netflix live action adaptation's take on the Secret Tunnel scene, I've seen a lot of people speculating and even hoping for it to become canon and there have even been some opinions of Kataang that have resurfaced that really rub me the wrong way because it feels like many individuals are just looking at the surface level of ATLA. There's so much nuance to each individual character in terms of culture, societal norms, age and gender, and most importantly, trauma and trauma responses. The creators did an amazing job world building and story telling that a lot of what I put up in my opinion in preference for Kataang over Zutara is information that I inferred from the show and graphic novels due to my personal experience and education in familial relationships and childhood trauma. My thoughts are not the end all be all to this debate, nor do I think they should be, I've seen some really solid opinions in favor of Zutara that I can understand and somewhat agree with. I think a lot of those details and moments that people look to as indicators of romance between Katara and Zuko were remnants of the creators' previous intention, but I think that the change to Aang and Katara as end game was logistically and realistically more accurate. I never thought that Katara and Zuko were meant to be, and I always struggled to put to words as to why until I had pursued my psych studies in college that focused on child development, childhood trauma, and marriage and family counselling. I think that the creators instinctually were seeing the red flags that would have occurred naturally within Zutara and changed course accordingly. There were just a lot of details and nuances that I noticed personally that I wished more people would discuss.

Anyways, thank you for coming to my TedTalk, I'd love to hear some of your opinions about this.

#ATLA #avatar the last airbender #atla netflix #katara #zuko #aang #trauma #childhood trauma #kataang #zutara #katara x zuko #katara x aang #long post #debate

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lucysarah-c · 1 month

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Hi! Happy new years eve ✨🥂 hope you had an awesome 2023 and all my best wishes and blessings for 2024 🫶🏼

Now, I can’t get this idea out of my head. Levi adopting a kitten with his girl. I always thought of Levi like a cat person, idk he just seem to fit on it. And as a cat person myself I would love to read something about it.

I can imagine him thinking is a bad idea but then he cant go anywhere in the house without the kitty 🫶🏼 so adorable I guess

Ahhh happy new year!! Thank you for all your well wishes and sending them back to you! I'm sorry it took me this long to write this for you sweetie! T-T so sorry

It started in the least expected way. Levi and his group of friends had been trying to find new ways to spend time together in their difficult adult lives. They wanted to revisit certain activities they used to enjoy in their glory college days and bond a little. You, of course, didn’t complain. If Levi decided to go camping with his friends or hiking on any weekend, it was also a chance for you to hang out with your friends at home, maybe watch a movie he doesn’t like, and have a “me” afternoon. It was all positive until Levi began to notice something during their hangouts.

Dogs.

All of them, particularly Mike and Erwin, had their own respective big, fluffy, loyal-to-death dogs that they would take with them on hikes, jogs, or even camping trips. You could see from the look in your boyfriend's eyes that he was envious. The only reason you and Levi hadn’t adopted any pets before wasn’t because of you in particular. You grew up with pets, loved them, and felt that the house was missing something without a fluffy companion. And don’t get me wrong, Levi had always had a soft spot for animals. But, in his own words, “As a kid, my family could never afford one… and Kenny hated them so.”

When you two moved in together, he didn’t want any pets due to "too much hair, too much mess, and too much money spent on the vet." But now, you could see in his eyes that he desired one, especially when they took pictures with his friends' dogs, and Levi hardly ever took pictures himself. Sooner or later, you brought up the idea, and he seemed excited. You quickly guessed that he wasn’t going to be the one to suggest it since perhaps his pride stopped him from admitting that now all the previous reasons he had given you to say no weren’t that important.

One lazy Saturday, you were walking past the doors of a shelter. Both of you admitted that if you were going to get a pet, it would be a rescue, giving the chance for an animal to live the American dream (two adults with good salaries, a pretty house, and no kids) after someone had made them believe they were trash. Both of you talked to the receptionist, who said that soon she would walk both of you to the dog’s department to choose. But when the guide came back and you were ready to go in and check out the puppies with your boyfriend, he was nowhere to be found.

Quickly, you followed the sound of people talking, and there he was, talking to a vet at the cat’s side of the shelter. The vet seemed to be deeply engrossed in conversation with him as you reached his side.

“Lev? Love, they are waiting to show us the dogs,” you called to him before smiling softly at the vet, acknowledging their presence.

“Oh, I was just telling him that she never gets close to anyone, not even to us. It was almost magical seeing her trying to reach out to him,” the vet said, and you quickly concluded it was the cat that was rubbing the top of her head against the front of her cage, trying to reach Levi.

“Aww, poor thing,” you said as you bent down slightly to have a better look at her face and perhaps give the cat some love through the small space of the bars. But the cat quickly moved away from your touch and softly hissed.

It hurt you, despite knowing that all cats have their temperament, until the vet spoke again, “Oh, she has always been a little grumpy; she’s not a fan of people.”

Levi also bent down to the cat's level, and he seemed to be the chosen one because the cat was continuously bumping her head against the cage, seeking more love from him. “Well, that makes two of us,” he commented, admitting his antisocial tendencies.

“When we found her, we thought she was feral because of the damage from living on the streets and her attitude, but we found she was chipped. We contacted the owner, but he said that since she couldn’t have more kittens, they left her in the streets,” both of you slightly raised to look at the shelter’s owner with heartbroken faces. “She’s been here for a while, but nobody wants her because she’s old, grumpy, and because of all the pregnancies she had, she has FIV, which is an expensive treatment an-”

“I’m taking her,” Levi interrupted the vet without a second thought, and you were about to comment that the plan was to get a dog, nothing against taking the little cat.

“Are you sure? It’s a lot of responsibility, and she’s rather old,” the vet warned.

“I’m sure. What do I have to do to take her home?” Levi replied with confidence.

That’s how Chai Tea, or just Chai, came into your life. She was a grumpy old lady, but you two loved her to death, especially Levi. She seemed to be a golden brownish Persian, which made sense given her breeding history, but one of her ears was damaged from living on the streets, giving her a permanently angry face. The first sign of her enjoying being a spoiled princess was during her first visit to the vet after her adoption, when the instructions were to reduce her food rations because she was already a bit too chubby.

“Shhh, don’t listen to the vet. You’re perfect,” you heard Levi whispering as he rocked her in his arms in the kitchen. “Here, have some ham.”

She was obsessed with him, and he was obsessed with her. Did Levi complain about the hair? A lot, but at least he took the effort to vacuum and brush her himself. In his own words, “If I can make her life worth it for even a little bit at the end of it, then I’ll do it.”

It was endearing to receive a text message from Levi saying "On my way home," and then witness the little fluffy ball rushing down the hallway with her short legs once you tell her "Chai! Daddy is coming home!"

It was incredibly cute how she would meow all the way to the front door, occasionally looking back at you to make sure both of you were going to greet him.

It’s rather funny how he went to a shelter to get a big dog for his "bro's" adventures and came back with a cat that demanded to be picked up and rocked in his arms while he prepared dinner. Even funnier is how he accepted it. Now your camera phone is full of pictures and videos of Levi humming lullabies, sleeping with a cat on top of him, or holding her up in the air so she can hunt a moth.

A little bit jealous? Perhaps. Sometimes, Levi seems more eager to greet the fluffy cat when he gets home than he is to greet you. But being able to give an elderly cat a second chance was a better experience than anything else.

Tags!: @nube55 @justkon @notgoodforlife @nmlkys @humanitys-strongest-bamf @quillinhand @thoreeo @darkstarlight82 @i-literally-cant-with-this @angelofthorr @aomi04 @levisbrat25 @fxnnyackerman @secretmoneybearvoid @s0meb0dy-0nce-t0ld-me @trashblackrainbow @l3visthighs @hum4n-wr3ckag3 @hannieslovebot @feelingsandemotionsnotexplored @flxrartsstuff @starrylevi @rithty @mariaace @ackrmntea @emilyyyy-08 @levisfavoriteteashop @katestrophes @katharinasdiaryy @ackermanswifee Wanna join my tag list? Here!

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viviennevermillion · 2 months

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Mortals and Fools — First Look #1 (Coming Soon)

Want to read a SFW coming-of-age fantasy novel with evil gods, two adult aspec protagonists and magic? Consider supporting this project!

Author's Note: After a total of 8 years of posting fanfiction on this account, I am excited to announce that I am finally starting my first long-term original work as an author! Goal is to get this series published as an actual novel but until then, I will be uploading chapters online as I write them, hopefully building an audience in the process! Mortals and Fools will be available on Wattpad and potentially other platforms. The first 4 chapters will be uploaded to Tumblr as well. Over the next few weeks I will keep uploading promo posts with new characters and more info! Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me as a writer over the years and welcome to everyone who's new here!

Summary: In the land of Elsthess, brilliant but arrogant Dr. Immanuel Faust is doing his best to follow the teachings of the Goddess of Wisdom, live up to his late grandmother's expectations and hide the fact that he has been seeing strange, mystical apparitions all his life. When his pupil becomes afflicted with an ancient curse and the things he has seen turn out to be more than just hallucinations, Immanuel must forge a contract with Morgan, a being from another realm who's ready to humble him at every turn, and learn his religion's most despised art: magic. As he steps outside of the simple world he has grown up in, he slowly comes to realize that there is much more to learn for him still.

Themes:

The Meaning of Wisdom & Growth

Unlearning harmful narratives and prejudices

Religious Trauma

Healing from Abuse

Rebuilding trust in others

Learning to understand others

Navigating radical changes during adulthood

Elitism and class inequality

The problems with the ideal of meritocracy

Queerplatonic & Alterous Attraction

Addiction

Gender Dysphoria

What this story contains:

A variety of fun magical powers!

Evil Gods & Forces from other Realms!

Queer rep! (demisexual & aroace protagonists, a trans man and a wlw couple)

Mysteries to unravel

The coming-of-age fantasy adventures you're used to from YA novels but with characters in their 20s and struggles of adulthood

Humor

My blood, sweat and tears as an author

The Cast: Introducing 3 Characters

Here's some info on the three characters in the header, from left to right!

#1 — Dr. Immanuel Icarus Faust

❝ It wasn't supposed to be like this... I've failed... as both a doctor and a man of faith. I wanted to follow your teachings, dear Goddess, and guide those who seek wisdom and knowledge, as grandmother did... but I couldn't even save one innocent girl. Have I become godless? ❝

Raised by his grandmother, the High Priestess of Solbrynn's temple, Immanuel was taught from an early age on to aspire to be the best in everything he attempted to do and dedicate his life to wisdom, in order to make the Goddess Adira proud. Having become a renowned physician at the age of 28, Immanuel understands himself as his kingdom's ideal of a self-made man: a scholar who can achieve everything he puts his mind to, no matter the circumstances. As a result, he has put himself on a pedestal, believing that those who achieved less than him had all the chances and merely didn't use them. Fearing nothing more than failure and becoming anything like his absent, alcoholic father; Immanuel is bound for a rude awakening.

#2 — Morgan Miralaith

❝ While you were having your existential crisis in the mad scientist laboratory you call your bedroom, I took the liberty to read your grandmother's diary. The good news is, I finally understand where all the hubris comes from. ❝

Morgan, belonging to a long-lived species from the realm of Calliah, is the second-in-command for the Elsthess Resistance against the Plague Avatars. While the Resistance on Mhorunn regards her as a capable leader and a skilled fighter; using fire magic to blaze her way to victory; it is clear to most that she has many secrets and ulterior motives. She cares about others in her own way, yet hardly lets anyone close to her. With her mischievous demeanor and cynical nature, Morgan has made it her new mission to recruit Immanuel for the Resistance and, while at it, shatter his very distorted self-image and worldview. Upon forging a contract with her, Immanuel believes that he has sold his soul to a demon. It is only upon meeting others of her kind that he realizes that really is just her personality.

#3 — Mortis Grimm

❞ People reject that which is foreign to them. You of all people should know this. Still, my personal aspirations and origins are of no concern to you. Remember that. ❝

While there are several people from the Realm of Calliah in Elsthess, the realm that Mortis Grimm originated from is unknown. He seems to be the only one of his kind and there is something sinister about him. Wielding powerful magic that matches no other in recorded nature, Mortis, despite being the leader of the Resistance, is a big mystery to all of its members. Usually donning a Plague Doctor mask, Morgan is among the few to have seen his face. He is Mhorunn's greatest ally, but hardly a trusted one. Most understand that he could just as well become its greatest enemy one day.

Interested in reading more and receiving updates as they're posted? Comment on this post and tell me if you'd like to be added to the taglist! Reblogs are appreciated to spread the word! 💞

Taglist — @gwaaaaar @silveryloneliness @noxochicoztliv @justletmeon12 @averytirednerd @letsallsleepoverwork @styrofauxm @non-pressurizeddiamond @mangoinacan13 @amateurmasksmith @kenobiblue @soru-dee @pictures-of-the-stars @elf-osamu @animusicnerd @jaytherat-hometothereblog @watcherofeternalflame

#fantasy novel #aroace #ace representation #aroace representation #demisexual #indie author #webnovel #wattpad #author #writing #authorblr #writers of tumblr #writers on tumblr #indie fantasy #novel promo

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lunarfleur · 4 months

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Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You ~ Earth 42! Miles Morales

Summary: On the corner, carolers are singing. There's a touch of magic in the air. From grownup to minor no one could be finer. Times are hard but no one seems to care

Warnings:Cursing

A/N: Happy Holidays, everyone! I know it’s late, but I wanted to get something out for everyone! Enjoy!

Tagging: @juneberrie @sluggmuffin @hiyaitssans @nagi3seastorm @luvjunie @milesmolasses @n1cole-ghost @kombuuuu

This is x fem! reader!

On the corner, carolers are singing

There's a touch of magic in the air

The mixed smell of foods filled the building. Hams, mashed potatoes, green beans, freshly-baked rolls…the whole complex was warm.

The lobby was decorated with a big Christmas tree, ribbons hanging off the walls, and fake presents tucked neatly into separate corners of the room. People marched in and out-happily chatting with one another while they carried plates of food.

From grownup to minor no one could be finer

Times are hard but no one seems to care

Truth be told, Miles never cared for parties much. He knew his mother liked them, she enjoyed talking with the other adults in the building. It made her feel relaxed, as she spent too much time working to make any friends.

But, as per usual, Miles sat in the corner. His plate of food sat in his lap. Miles’s Sony headphones covered his ears, Wu-Tang playing loudly. The corners of his lips stayed down, frowning at the sight of so many people.

But his eyes stayed on her.

Miles couldn’t find a word, in either English nor Spanish, to describe her. Beautiful didn’t come close. Maybe heavenly was the word?

Christmas Eve and all the world is watching

Santa guides his reindeer through the dark

He watched her eyes glance up, lighting up at the sight of him hunched in the corner. She smiled, a bright beam that could melt all the snow in Brooklyn, and hurried through the crowd of people over to him.

“Miles!” She cheered. “You have no idea how glad I am that you’re here.”

“Hey,” he shrugged, smiling lightly.

“The parties in this place never seem to get any easier," she sighed, chuckling. Miles snorted, nodding in agreement.

Miles tossed his plate to the side, pulling his headphones around his and grabbing his jacket in his hand.

“Let’s get outta here,” he said, nodding.

But from rooftop to chimney, from Harlem to Bimini

They will find a way into your heart

New York winters never seem to get any warmer, and [Name]’s clothing choices never seem to get any smarter.

A thin layer of snow covered the roof. The air seemed to bite at the skin of anyone who touched it. A chill ran up her spine as the two teens overlooked the city.

Miles glanced between the girl and his jacket. His hands were tense and numb. Yet, despite the fact, he reached over behind her to place the clothing gently around her. It hung off her shoulders.

“You’re gonna get yourself sick.”

A sheepish chuckle left her lips as she tucked her arms inside the sleeves. It smelled of his mother’s candles and his cologne; sandalwood and cleanliness.

Across from them, they could see the large mural Miles had painted for his father. ‘Captain Jeff Morales,’ it read, ‘Husband, Father, Hero. Rest In Power.’ She knew it well.

[Name] often found herself going up to the roof when she needed inspiration. She’d looked at that mural a million times, at least, and she always found herself going back to Miles. Her sketchbook was filled with him, the same way her heart was.

“Sure as hell am glad we’re on break,” Miles scoffed. He wasn’t the biggest fan of going to Visions. Sure, there was getting to room with Ganke and taking the cool art class, but he was too far away from his mom. He missed her while he was at school, and has come home on school nights many times just to be in his home again.

“Yeah,” [Name] chuckled. She tucked herself further into his jacket. If she could, she’d sew it onto her skin so she could smell it until she died.

“Lemme tell you, I hate Mrs. Sanchez.” Miles shook his head, frowning at the thought of his least favorite teacher though.

“But don’t you have over 100% in her class?”

“That ain’t got nothin to do with it.”

[Name] laughed, nodding her head in understanding.

A tense silence hung over the two. The cold air was numbing their skin, but Miles swore he was on fire. His crewneck didn’t do much for him.

Just outside the window, snow is falling

But here beside the fire we share the glow

“Miles?”

Looking over at her, [Name] was staring down at the busy New York streets. There was a bit of hesitation in her normally smooth voice. It sounded weak.

“Hm?”

“Do you remember when Ms. Brown made us do that free-writing assignment? About something we felt strongly about?”

“Yeah.”

Of course he remembered. Of all things he could have written about, he had to choose her. His English teacher had given him a knowing look, smirking at him. He had gotten an A on that assignment.

“What did you write about?”

“Well, love…I guess.”

“Love?”

Maybe Miles was imagining it, but he wished to every star above that the look she had in her eyes was hope. He prayed for it.

Miles nodding. [Name] did the same.

“Me too.”

Oh.

Love? Was there someone? Was it him?

“Is there…someone?” He couldn’t hide the disappointment in his voice.

“Do you believe in soulmates?”

Of moonlight and brandy, sweet talk and candy

Sentiments that everyone should know

It was a sudden question. It caught Miles off guard.

“Soulmates? Why?”

“Do you think it’s true? That everyone has someone meant for them?”

Miles thought for a minute, rubbing the skin of his hand to make some friction.

“I don’t see why not.”

[Name] brought the sleeve of Miles’s jacket up to her nose. His scent was addicting, almost. It gave her chills in the way it was so relaxing to her.

“Do you think we’re friends in every universe?”

Miles glanced at her. His face heated up at his response, the only one he could come up with.

“In every other universe…is that all we are?”

[Name] turned toward him, eyes big with curiosity. The wind blew, and she watched as Miles’s braids swayed in the wind.

“I don’t understand,” She finally admitted

His body now facing her, [Name] had Miles’s full attention. The lamp lights reflected in his eyes, spots of yellow in brown and green. He stepped forward.

Memories of the year that lays behind us

Wishes for the year that's yet to come

“I’m saying that I wanna be with you.”

“You what?”

His breath fogged in front of his face with every exhale. His hands were hot and sweaty, a big difference to how they felt before. This was happening, unplanned and far too in-the-moment for his own good.

And it stands to reason that good friends in season

Make you feel that life has just begun

“I dunno know how to explain, but there ain’t a single day I don’t think about.”

“Miles?”

“Since the day I met you, [Name]. I…”

“Are you…being for real?”

“Every day up until now, I counted the number of times you’d smile at me. I just about died on days you didn’t.”

Christmas is the time to say "I love you"

“I don’t wanna just say “I like you” and leave it at that. I want you to understand me.”

“Wow, Miles. I never thought you..”

“[Name]? Do you understand me?”

Share the joys of laughter and good cheer

“Yeah, I do.”

“And?”

Christmas is the time to say "I love you"

“Of course I have feelings for you, Miles.”

And a feeling that will last all through the year

“Are you being for real?” Miles echoed.

Miles laughed. [Name] saw the way his nose scrunched. Miles didn’t normally smile so big. It was bright, like a little kid getting a pony on their birthday.

“More for real than ever.”

So when spirits grow lighter

And hopes are shining brighter

Miles leaned against the railing. He played off the way his heart was threatening to explode, the way his body was on fire. She was closer to him now than she was before.

Then you know that Christmas time is here

Love is not proportional to volume. It does not obey the laws of physics. This girl, one simple girl, was pulling Miles toward her with more force than the sun and every planet could give.

She gave him a smile andleaned closer to connect their shoulders. Flowers bloomed under his skim.

847 smiles from the day they met.

#Spotify #christmas #earth 42 miles morales x you #earth 42 miles x you #earth 42 miles fluff #earth 42 miles x reader #earth 42 miles morales #earth 42 miles morales x reader #atsv #across the spiderverse #spiderman #spider man: across the spider verse #billy squier

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tailsgod · 3 months

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💕⁠🌟 New Update is out of A Magical Girl's Guide to Adulting! Molly seeks guidance from within herself🌟 💕⁠

#amg2a #a magical girl’s guide to adulting #magical girl #queer artist #webcomic #adulting #indiecomic #webtooncanvas #webtoon canvas #queer stories #queer comics

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im-probably-crying-rn-ngl · 4 months

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fuck it, book recommendations based on your favourite driver

+ age rating, summary and rambling disguised as explanation as to why

if your favourite driver is Lewis Hamilton...then i would recommend Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

(historical sports fiction, standalone) "Carrie Soto, a fierce and determined retired tennis champion, comes out of retirement at thirty-seven to reclaim her record and face personal challenges, coached by her father partnered with the man she almost opened her heart to, in Taylor Jenkins Reid's novel about the cost of greatness and a legendary athlete's epic comeback."

the connection between this book and lewis is what inspired this whole post in the first place. a comeback story even if you have proven all there is to be proven? trying to beat all the odds against you even time? being an all-time champion AND an underdog? there are so many links that can be made between carrie and lewis not just with their careers and relationships but also what adversities they have had to face. idk but is this like manifesting that lewis is going to be "back" for his 8th wdc?

if your favourite driver is George Russell...then i would recommend A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

(young adult mystery thriller, book 1 of 3) "In 'A Good Girl's Guide to Murder,' Pippa Fitz-Amobi reexamines a closed case, challenging the conviction of Sal Singh for Andie Bell's murder, unearthing hidden secrets that threaten her safety as she seeks the elusive truth."

ah mr wannabe investigator (we all saw him checking out that redbull) but seriously there's something we grussell sprouts must enjoy about someone who seems so straight-laced and uptight be absolutely blatantly unhinged both on and off track. it's just so george to choose literal murder inquiry as a school project, from the ambition bordering on arrogance of believing a high schooler could do what the authorities couldn't to the genuine heartfelt sincerity in wanting the truth and to bring justice for those already deemed outcasts by society. he's OUR good girl that's not-so-secretly "bad".

(main ship are george and alex coded btw like im just saying)

(+ bonus rec bc i am incredibly biased) if your favourite team is Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team (had to google the name for the nth time)...then i would recommend The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee

(adult fantasy, trilogy, best books i have ever read) "The Green Bone Saga is a fantasy trilogy by Fonda Lee, exploring the intricate power struggles and conflicts within and around the Kaul family. Set in the fictional city of Janloon with ability-enhancing jade as it's lifeblood."

my faves with my faves. mercedes aren't a national institution/emotion (ferrari), a team (red bull racing), a villains' lair (ashton martin) or a pop band (mclaren) but a family. a dysfunctional, awkward, barely concealed hot mess of a family, but family nonetheless. chasing victory while trying to survive the horrors of life and each other is the merc way and you will see the same in this trilogy. *toto voice* loyalty!

family is duty. magic is power. honor is everything. <- literally them

if your favourite driver is Oscar Piastri...then i would recommend The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

(young adult fantasy, book 1 of 5) "In 'The Lightning Thief' by Rick Riordan, seemingly troubled teenager Percy Jackson discovers his divine lineage as a demigod, embarks on a perilous quest with his friends to prevent a war among the gods."

wow guys i don't know what to tell you except oscar JACK piastri, SON of nicole and chris piastri, might literally be percy JACKSON (i have connected the dots, you haven't connected shit). your guy might have had a former illustrious career in undertaking dangerous quests and asking greek gods to pay child support, you should check.

if your favourite driver is Lando Norris...then i would recommend Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings

(adult contemporary romance, check tws, book 1 of an ongoing series) "In 'Magnolia Parks' by Jessa Hastings, a tumultuous love story unfolds between the beautiful and self-involved London socialite Magnolia Parks and Britain's notorious bad-boy BJ Ballentine, as they grapple with a dysfunctional relationship marked by heartbreak, secrets, and the enduring pull they feel towards each other."

picked this based on vibes, just pure vibes but immaculate ones. the drama, the glitz, the glam yes but also the family, friendship, and love found within the pages of this series. this is british gossip girl. i am telling you there is a vision here people.

(+ bonus review because this might be the only book on this list that has less (3.84) than 4+ stars on goodreads and i can't do him and y'all dirty like that: i personally didn't love the first book but the series really comes together and you truly get invested in these characters and their happiness, actually pretty excited to read more.

also if nothing else it's fun, just some brain popcorn)

if your favourite driver is Carlos Sainz...then i would recommend The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

(young adult romance fantasy, check tws, book 1 of 2) "In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, Shahrzad vows vengeance for her friend's death and becomes the next bride of the tormented Caliph Khalid, discovering unexpected love as she navigates the perilous palace of secrets and stories, torn between survival and the promise of retribution."

wow like you think he didn't step out of a magical retelling of 1001 nights? mhm but let's leave aside the fact i am still not convinced otherwise. carlos this year has shown his insane mega ultra galaxy brain, so i believe the plot of the wrath & the dawn would be something that would resonate with you. the quick wit and guile of the mc as she tries to carry out a revenge plot while trying to not get executed is only comparable to carlos coming up with his own race strategy mid race and cementing himself as the only non-rbr race winner in 2023. wow.

if your favourite driver is Charles Leclerc...then i would recommend The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

(historical romance fantasy, standalone) "The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is an Iliad retelling, focusing on the deep and complex relationship between Achilles and Patroclus."

he has that sadness in his eyes that you only see in tragic greek myths etc etc. i will have to say, achilles walked so charles leclerc could race. *soft longing sigh* il predestinato and aristos achaion, the predestined and the best of the greeks. beloveds born and bathed in golden light. it just makes sense to me.

if your favourite driver is Alex Albon...then i would recommend Beach Read by Emily Henry

(adult contemporary romance, standalone) "A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters."

i mean alex is a living-breathing romance novel of a man. BUT it hasn't always been sunshine and rainbows (helmut marko if i catch you). so i think any emily henry book but especially beach read captures the ups and downs of alex's journey so well compared to just any ole romcom (...but if i had to give one for the alex enjoyers then it would be Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter, coincidentally also george and alex coded lmao).

but was it his remarkable drive back to f1 or the recent holiday beach pics that was the reason behind this rec? i guess we will never know

if your favourite driver is Logan Sargeant...then i would recommend Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

(young adult fantasy, book 1 of 3)"In 'Howl's Moving Castle' by Diana Wynne Jones, eldest daughter Sophie is cursed to age prematurely, the key to break the spell lies in the enigmatic Wizard Howl's castle. Sophie embarks on a quest to confront the Witch who cursed her all the while unraveling hidden truths about herself and Howl."

"let's bring it in and call it a day - let's look after of you." to "that's my girl" pipeline and vice versa. i know what you are.

but logang (the only one i know frfr) you deserve it okay? a cozy lil fantasy full of whimsy and wonder. tuck in and have some tea and cookies, pookies.

(i wanted to do the full grid but keep the teammates together and i haven't yet come up with something for all of em so there will be a part 2...? hopefully...?)

sources for summaries: thestorygraph and goodreads

#f1 #formula 1 #lewis hamilton #george russell #mercedes amg f1 #oscar piastri #lando norris #carlos sainz #carlos sainz jr #charles leclerc #alex albon #logan sargeant #i had a thought and not much else

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onekonii · 8 months

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𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔰𝔬𝔲𝔫𝔡 𝔬𝔣 𝔞 𝔰𝔦𝔯𝔢𝔫 [2nd part]: Where the melody is lost, another is reborn

Note:

Thank you very much to those who have waited for this ugly thing, my mind is not good at doing these things so sorry if it took me almost 2 years to bring this, but I had SO many personal problems that I honestly don't have time for my Tumblr. Also, as I said, it's a hobby and lately I don't feel like doing anything, I took advantage of the fact that I was inspired.... enjoy I guess :P

Warnings⚠️:

Domestic abuse, mentions of physical violence and— uh... Character deaths (non-protagonist) There may or may not be inconsistencies or misspellings/pronouns, apologies to readers if that happens.

✧----------------➣

Tufts of hair rippled in the soft, cool breeze of the garden. The tiny, slightly bruised hands of the barely four-year-old girl tried to catch an elusive butterfly. Her clothes, simple and a bit worn for someone her age, did not diminish the curiosity that drove her to explore beyond the restrictions imposed by her absent mother. The Duchessess had asked her never to go out without her supervision, but the inquisitive nature of children was stronger than any warning.

To the little girl's eyes, the garden of the mansion, now abandoned and overgrown with vines, seemed like a magical world. A soft scent emanated from the flowers, even though they had withered with time. The tall trees were like silent guardians, their leaves whispering stories of the past in the breeze.

The butterfly, delicate and ephemeral, was the child's guide in an ethereal dance. Each flutter of its wings was a ray of hope in the midst of the melancholy that surrounded the mansion. The sweet little girl could not help but chase after this ray of fleeting beauty, despite her mother's warnings.

While the little girl was clumsily climbing a tree in pursuit of the butterfly that seemed to mock her innocent determination, her mother had come in from her 'homework'. Her eyes, which had been silently watching from a discreet distance, had finally come to rest on her daughter. A smile, both loving and stern, lit up her face, revealing the inner struggle that she, too, was facing.

(Y/N), her small hands gripping the rough bark of the tree, realized that she had been discovered. Words of rebuke were on her mother's lips as she finally decided to climb down from the tree, but before she could speak, her daughter looked up with innocent eyes and a loving heart.

"I'm sorry, Mommy," she murmured (Y/N) in a soft voice. Her confession was filled with an innocence that would melt even the hardest of hearts.

The Duchess sighed inwardly, tired from the hardships she had to face on a daily basis, both inside and outside of the mansion. Her words, however, were filled with love and concern. "You must be careful, darling. You are too young to risk such games. Besides, you are well aware that you are not supposed to be helping me with the cleaning of the palace, and yet you do it because we have no servants. I don't want anything to happen to you."

Understanding her mother's concern, (Y/N) nodded. "Sorry, Mommy. I promise that I will be more careful and I will help you as much as I can."

The girl held onto her mother's hand, and together, mother and daughter, they walked back into the mansion.

✧----------------➣

The Duchess held her daughter in her arms as they walked back to the rooms of the mansion. (Y/N) looked around curiously and asked, with the innocence befitting her age, how her mother's day had been. The Duchess smiled and assured her that there was no need to worry, that she was a child and should not be burdened with adult responsibilities.

But the little girl sulked and began to whine when her mother suggested that she take a bath. "Mommy," she protested, "I don't want to take a bath. "I always get itchy dandruff and my eyes hurt when I go in."

With a hint of melancholy in her eyes, the Duchess sighed. She knew that her daughter's peculiarities were more than just skin-related. They were a reminder to her of a past she would rather forget, of a time when things had been different. But out of love for her daughter, she kept her thoughts to herself. She nodded tenderly.

"I understand, my love." She replied softly as they reached the bathroom. "But it's important that you become clean. Perhaps we can find some way to make it less uncomfortable. "

The Duchess prepared the bath carefully. She made sure the water temperature was perfect and added some fragrant herbs to ease (Y/N)'s discomfort. Her blue eyes watching the reflection of the candles on the surface, the girl cautiously stepped into the water.

As the Duchess gave her daughter a bath, (Y/N) once again asked with a child's curiosity, "Is it normal for me to look like this, Mama? My scales show and my eyes feel strange when I get we."

The Duchess gently stroked her daughter's hair and replied, smiling softly. "You are special, sweetheart. You have been given a gift, an inheritance that makes you unique, your appearance and especially your eyes. You should not be afraid of the opinions of others."

Her mother's words brought a small measure of comfort to (Y/N), who was beginning to feel more at ease in the water. As the last of the day's light filtered through the bathroom window, mother and daughter shared a moment of intimacy and love that reminded her of why she had not yet given up.

As the Duchess gently dried herself with the towel (Y/N), she was suddenly struck by a coughing fit. The cough was as hoarse as it was painful, and as blood spurted from her lips and stained the white towel, (Y/N) looked up at her mother with eyes filled with fear and confusion.

"Moma, are you all right?" the little girl asked with a look of concern shining in her blue eyes as her small hands gripped the towel tightly in her grip.

The weakness in her voice betrayed her inner struggle, but the Duchess tried to smile. "It's just a little cold, my dear." She replied tenderly. "You don't have to worry. Moma is going to be fine."

(Y/N) nodded, accepting her mother's words with the innocence befitting her age, though it didn't make her stop worrying. "It's okay, Moma ... I'm going to take care of you."

But in the depths of her heart, the Duchess knew that all was not well. Worry and pain gripped her being, not only because of her own failing health, but also because of the dark secret she held in her heart. A secret that would affect (Y/N)'s life in ways she couldn't even imagine.

Even so, she pushed her feelings and her worries to the back of her mind. Smiling, she carried her to bed and told her a story.

✧----------------➣

The sun was slowly beginning to set in the sky, casting a golden glow over the garden as it did so. (Y/N) was holding a makeshift broom in her hand as she eagerly swept up the fallen leaves. Autumn was just around the corner, and the little girl was very excited about the arrival of the new season. She jumped up and down, giggling as she chased the leaves to the ground. Her laughter filled the quiet garden with an infectious joy.

The duchess watched her daughter fondly, her smile a reflection of her happiness to see her enjoying her childhood in spite of the adversity she was facing. The Duchess couldn't help but giggle as (Y/N) turned to her with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes and told her she could sweep faster.

"Oh, do you really think you can do it any faster, little tempest?" the Duchess teased as she came closer. "In defiance of your mother, are you?"

The little girl nodded her head with determination, and then, in a playful gesture, the two of them began a friendly competition. Both swept fervently, their laughter filling the air as they exchanged complicit, playful glances.

In the end, they both finished the job exhausted but full of joy. The Duchess scooped up her daughter and began playing, picking up leaves and dropping them on (Y/N), who laughed and rolled in her arms.

The garden, with its dry and broken fountain, was filled with the laughter and the love shared between mother and daughter, a breath of happiness in the midst of the shadows that threatened to darken their world and to extinguish the little light in their lives.

The play between the Duchess and her daughter was pitifully interrupted when the butler of the main house, a man of elegant and serious bearing, approached, looking formal. "My lady," he announced in a respectful voice, "I am sorry to disturb you, but your parents have arrived and wish to see you."

The girl hid behind her mother, obeying her mother's rule of not allowing the man to see her as such.

The Duchess nodded. Her smile was subdued, but her eyes reflected concern. This visit was a routine that her family followed to make sure that the Duke was not completely neglecting her, and to maintain the flow of money that would never make it into her hands. Remembering the harsh reality of her marriage, the smile faded slightly.

(Y/N) looked at her mother and then at the butler, not fully understanding the situation. In youthful innocence, she asked inquisitively, "Can I meet my grandparents, Moma?"

The Duchess bent down to be at her daughter's level and gently stroked her hair. "Not this time, my dear," she replied in a sweet voice. "While I'm away, I want you to stay here and take care of the mansion. I promise I'll return soon."

She looked at her mother with doubtful eyes, watching the Duchess's expression become increasingly sad as she went after the man. She could feel the sadness in the air and was unsure if she should follow her mother or stay behind in the mansion, despite her young age.

The little girl decided to break the rule her mother had given her with a feeling of fear and curiosity. Leaving the broom on the floor, she sneaked around the mansion, dodging the servants, dressed in simple clothes, and walking barefoot, as if she were a common slave, if you looked closely enough. Following her mother from a distance, she came to a hallway where the doors were ajar, excited and curious at the thought of meeting her grandparents (Y/N), she wondered if they would be kind like in fairy tales and if she would finally have a complete family, but unfortunately several voices in the room burned away those hopes and revealed the harsh reality that had been hidden from her childish eyes.

Surrounded by imposing and cruel figures, the Duchess sat in the center of the room. Her grandmother, a high society lady, scolded her daughter in an authoritative voice. She said: "What on earth are you wearing? My God, what indecency, have you lost all sense of decency and propriety? You have a filthy, emaciated appearance."

The grandmother went on to compare the Duchess to other high society ladies. She pointed out the Duchess's shortcomings and harshly criticized her daughter. "Have a look at the other ladies, with their fancy dresses and jewels. Compared to them, you look like a tramp."

The grandfather also sighed, bored, the girl could see from afar that he was a cold and distant man, he just looked on indifferently, before he started to say cruel words to his own daughter as well.

"For God's sake, even after all these years you're still useless, a burden. You're only here because your brother asked for it. And to be honest, he made us waste the family fortune."

Helplessly, the Duchess swallowed her tears and pressed her lips together, reminding herself that it was for his sake. But the fact that her husband was also part of the chorus of criticism was annoying enough, as it was an opportunity for humiliation. "You should learn from other ladies who know how to please their husbands and make them happy," he said.

Even the Duke's mistress threw her own darts in her sweet, venomous voice. "Poor Duchess, you thought you could compete? Your beauty is a thing of the past, and he has found happiness in my arms. We only keep you here for pity, you dirty bitch!"

(Y/N) watched in silence, hidden in the shadows of the hallway, as the sadness and humiliation washed over her mother. The cruel dialogues and the oppressive atmosphere of the room made her feel tormented. Sadness began to fill her young heart, and although she did not fully understand the complexities of the situation, she could sense the injustice and cruelty that hung over her mother.

With a heart full of rage and helplessness, (Y/N) clenched her fists and pushed open the doors to the room and entered with a determination. She began to cry uncontrollably as she glared accusingly at all the gathered adults.

"Liars! You're the bad people who hurt my mommy!" she shouted with courage and a rage that contrasted with her young age. As she tried to defend her mother from the cruel trial she was being subjected to, her voice quivered with emotion.

The adults present were shocked to see the little girl act so bravely and defy social norms with her unexpected behavior, including (Y/N)'s grandparents. The Duchess's mother was outraged by what she saw as disrespect. She said:

"That little girl is acting like a savage! Get her out of here!" she shouted in the tone of a lady of high society who could not understand the insolence of such a thing.

The Duke, looking at (Y/N) with interest and surprise, finally turned to the Duchess, who was trembling with fear to see her daughter in the middle of this confrontation with those who only wanted to hurt her. Frankly, she blamed herself, knowing that her daughter would not always obey her. As the Duke hurled accusations, the adults present surrounded her, demanding answers and explanations about the identity of (Y/N)'s father.

"Who is the father of this child, Duchess? Damn it, I thought you were boring and you turned out to be a whore," he complained and accused her coldly, even though his look was full of malice. "I thought you were barren. And look, you had this brat well hidden from me!"

The Duke, taking the child by the arms, examined her, while the poor mother of the child just stopped in the midst of so many questions and reproaches.

The Duchess, her eyes filled with tears and trembling with fear, knew that she could not reveal the true identity of (Y/N)'s father at that moment. It was her secret that was at stake, and she had to protect her daughter from the consequences of the truth.

Tension in the room rose as the Duchess tried to explain the situation. But her mother, her face flushed with anger and contempt, slapped her hard before she could answer. Everyone in the room was momentarily silenced by the sound of the blow.

"You are unfaithful and ungrateful," the Duchess's mother charged bitterly. "You are a traitor to your family and to your blood."

Then the Duchess's mother began to complain in a bitter tone, blaming her also for the death of her older brother, Crysten, who had asked everyone to help care for his sister before he died fighting in the Northern War. The Duchess listened to the accusing words, tears streaming down her cheeks as she felt crushed by guilt.

"Crysten was the only one who cared for you. And look how you rewarded him. You slept with another man and fathered a bastard." The Duchess's mother sneered.

Finally, in a fit of rage and grief, the heartbroken Duchess burst out. She cried out her truths mixed with bitterness and despair, her words filled with raw emotion.

"I know all this, Mother!" *Her face said it all, she was hysterical and angry. "I know that I'm here at my brother's request before he died, I know that no one wants me here! Yes, I have made mistakes, but how can I face my husband's betrayal when he is wallowing with another woman right in front of me? The world is hypocritical! Yes, I have been running away from my problems, and I am still doing that, but I'm not going to let you insult this little girl. She's my daughter, I'M HER MOTHER! I don't care who her daddy is, she makes me happy and guess what, I'm sick of all of you. Because I care about her, I can't leave! Even if I'm suffering, I'm okay when she's smiling".

After the Duchess's passionate words, silence fell over the room. Everyone in the room, including (Y/N), was taken aback by the revelation that she had a father, and by her mother's emotional defense of her. Raw emotions filled the air and created a tense and charged atmosphere in the room. The shock was so great that the Duke let the little girl go, leaving her bruised and battered.

Erizebette was heartbroken and tears welled up in her eyes. She took her daughter by the hand and led her away from that place of accusations and bitterness. The angry voices of the adults shouted at her to return and settle the matter. But Erizebette could not stand it any longer.

She walked determinedly, holding her child, covering her ears and hiding her in her chest. The girl could not say a word, feeling the sorrow of the atmosphere around her and still afraid of the looks that were directed at her, scornful and humiliating. Her broken dreams, her childish wish for her mother and grandparents to be with her... were gone.

Finally, in the safety of her room, Erizebette put her daughter to bed. The darkness of the night had enveloped the room, and the weight of all that had happened was weighing heavily on her shoulders.

(Y/N), with eyes full of innocence, broke the silence. "Moma, is all that stuff they said true? ..... My grandparents looked at me with disgust. Am I a mistake? I... Do you regret that you had me?" Her voice trembled with a child's fear of not understanding the cruel world around her. "I'm sorry, Mommy. I'm a fool for not realizing how much you were hurting. Forgive me for being greedy and for my desire to live out a family fantasy like the stories you have read to me."

Erizebette looked at her daughter incredulously for a moment, then hugged her, tears flowing freely. "Oh, my girl," she whispered, voice broken. "You should never have to feel like this. You are the light of my life, my love, my strength. You are the light of my life, my reason to go on."

Letting their emotions boil over, they hugged each other tightly. Erizebette's tears mingled with (Y/N)'s. In the darkness of the night and their lonely sobs, they formed an unbreakable bond between mother and daughter.

✧----------------➣

With (Y/N) always by her side, Erizebette continued her daily chores in the old mansion in the days that followed. Together they cleaned the deserted spaces, brushed away the dust of the past and brought some life back into the forgotten place.

The little girl's curiosity was insatiable. She kept asking questions about her father. She wanted to know what he was like, why he wasn't with them, and why she couldn't get to know him. Erizebette would answer these questions in vague terms, protecting her daughter from the painful truth that threatened to tear at her innocence and shatter what little emotional stability Erizebette herself had left.

But in these days, when the nights became dark and silent, Erizebette began to share (Y/N) memories of her past. She would talk about a certain albino, mentioning his attractive features, his curls like snow in winter, his crystal clear eyes like the deep sky in which it was easy to lose oneself, and his indescribable beauty. The Duchess would tell these stories with melancholy, as if the memory of these moments brought her comfort in the midst of her present suffering. But it was also a painful source of pent-up feelings and unfulfilled regrets.

It was on one of these nights, however, that an uncontrollable fit of coughing shook Erizebette's fragile body. (Y/N) panicked. Tears welled up in her eyes as she watched helplessly as her mother suffered. The girl promised her with sobs that she would go for help, but Erizebette stopped her with a trembling hand.

"No, dear," she said faintly, leaning against the wall. "Just take me to lie down."

(Y/N) obeyed and carefully carried her to bed. The Duchess was still coughing. Her strength was waning as she tried to remain calm in the face of her daughter's concern.

Erizebette showed no sign of improvement when she finally lay down. The child cried beside her, clutching her mother desperately. Erizebette knew it was time to reveal the truth as she looked into her daughter's painful eyes.

"You must know, my love," she began, voice shaking. "I am ill and I do not think I can be at your side much longer."

The heavy words hung in the air, leaving (Y/N) heartbroken as she took in the harsh reality and the possibility of her mother's loss. The room, once filled with stories and laughter, was now filled with tears. The little girl's chest felt heavy.

Caressing her daughter's face, Erizebette began to tell her the truth in a weak but loving voice. "Listen to me, my precious light," she said in a low voice. "Mum's got to leave soon, and frankly, you've seen how bad people can be, so .... Don't cry, please. Be strong. Don't let anything get in your way." A cough interrupted her words. But she continued with determination.

"But let me tell you something, my baby..." Erizebette could not finish the phrase as her daughter interrupted her with tears. "Don't say that! You can't die! I know you'll get well. You said you would, Mummy!"

The woman smiled warmly and stroked her daughter's face as she continued to cry. "I'm sorry, my love. I won't be able to keep this promise, but listen," she said softly. "When I leave this world, leave this house without looking back. And take with you the shell necklace that is buried in the biggest tree near the well. Look for Papa, I'm sure he will help you," Erizebette smiled tiredly and whispered her last breath as she coughed.

"(Y/N), I want to tell you that among all the bad and pathetic things in my life, you were my only achievement that I can really be proud of. Please don't ever forget that. Don't let anyone try to diminish how you shine.

With these words, Erizebette closed her eyes and her hand cooled on top of her daughter's. (Y/N) was stunned and refused to come to terms with the loss.

(Y/N)'s tears continued to flow as her mother continued to speak. The little girl desperately tried to wake Erizebette. She cried out:

"MUMA!!! This isn't funny, please don't fall asleep!" She pleaded, breathless. "Mummy, mummy, please, I know you're sleeping, but get up .... Please don't leave me here alone! PLEASE!"

Silence fell over the room. The little girl was caught in a whirlwind of overwhelming emotions. As she mourned the departure of the one person who had been her refuge in this cruel world, sadness, loss and confusion washed over her.

"Mummy... Why? Mum, I was greedy with you and now .... now - wuaaah!!!" She couldn't speak, her throat closed up, and to be honest, she could hardly process anything but the fulfilment of her mother's (Y/N) words, still crying inconsolably, she walked towards the place where she used to play with the Duchess.

Suddenly the weather turns nasty, with dark clouds covering the sky, almost reacting to the little girl's grief, or perhaps to the sound of another person crying in the distance. Between sobbing, the little girl digs out the jewellery box her mother told her about.

She opens it and finds a beautiful crystal shell which makes melodious sounds when caressed by the nascent wind, as the old villa was near the coast. As the water from the recent rain soaks her completely, (Y/N) carefully puts on the necklace. The girl screams and cries, feeling the loss of her mother and the longing for her presence, but she gradually fades away and begins to feel sleepy. She crawls over to the Duchess's corpse, smiles and wishes her goodnight as she sleeps beside her mother's cold body.

Elsewhere, somewhere far away, a figure awakens suddenly with the feeling that his connection with Erizebette has been abruptly severed. The pain in his heart is gone, but all that does is cause him to scream and cry out in despair. The pain is unbearable as he knows his beloved is dead. But something inside him tells him that there is still a faint connection, a small piece of his magic, linked to the necklace he gave her years ago. The necklace the girl now wears. He has a feeling that something has changed, but he can't quite make sense of it, but he hasn't given up hope and vows to find the source of this new connection.

For like a last melody abandoned, another will be reborn...

Nearest, yet far beyond

Warmth in the distance

How would you respond

To this madness, this existence?

Hold me closer

Hold me tighter

I'm mirroring this clear view

Filling up with blindness

Projecting that I need you

To overcome my weakness

Oh, the cold, the void, the light out

This warmth will go, wither out

(Hoo-ooh, ah)

Dearest, I shall not long

Grief in insistance

How to break this bond

When it's timeless, when it's cherished?

Hold me closer

Hold me tighter

Admiring this clеar view

Feeling crushed with brightness

Forgеtting that my time flew

Forgetting I was lifeless

The cold, the void, this light out

Our warmth will go, wither out

(Hoo-ooh, ah)

youtube

Thanks for reading and this time I won't put the thank you box in given my image/video oversaturation. I hope you like it and I still have to finish the third part, let's see if I can think of something. Bye bye! (-.-)Zzz・・・・(*゜▽゜)_□

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nauticalnova · 3 days

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heyy I saw your requests were open! Can i requset the typical crewel father figure stuff? If not that's totally okay! Lots of fluff with a gn!reader or a AFAB reader :3

Note : This did turn into a lil bit of angst, as in it made me cry while writing it. I'm sorry. It will happen again. A little cw for Crewel being judgy about everyone and everything. Enjoy!

☆ He's in full denial

☆ Doesn't want kids, never has, never will.

☆ At the same time though, he's parental towards you

☆ He still claims that he's only doing his part as a teacher (ignore the designer jacket he's draping over your shoulders)

☆ I think it'll take a long long time for him to warm up to being an actual figure for you.

☆ Maybe he'll do the whole push and pull thing, where he'll get really close with you, head pats, telling you he's proud of you, only to be kinda cold the next day. (I can't resist angst I'm sorry ;-;)

☆ He's of course been seen as a father figure by students before, but this is the first time he's seen a student as anything more.

☆ Not to say that he doesn't care for his students; no, he's quite close with a lot of them.

☆ Usually though, that's where the relationship went. He guides them, nurtures them, and wants to see them succeed.

☆ Parenthood is something entirely different. He understands this, he knows that it's an entirely different challenge all together.

☆ Parenting is to put the child before yourself, to care so much that it almost hurts, to have your very being tied to this child, helpless and alone without the proper guidance and knowing you have to be the one to guide them. (I'm getting carried away omg)

☆ Anyway, all that aside he'll start accepting that he sees you as a child probably after Azul's overblot.

☆ Seeing students in danger isn't exactly uncommon in a magic academy, so he's used to wrangling precarious pups to deal with any and all situations. He's learned to be calm and level headed in situations as required.

☆ That 'calm in a crisis' behavior doesn't last when you're involved though.

☆ After seeing you go through way, way too much, yet again, the reality of the situation finally clicks in.

☆ You're a kid, fully alone, no parent to call, no adult to help, nothing in a unfamiliar, terrifying situation.

☆ He decides to do the mature thing (unlike some people crowley) and thinks about how he actually views you instead of running away from his feelings for the 200th time.

☆ And now you have a dad that bitches about your possible love interests.

☆ He's supportive about your decisions, to be fair. He doesn't beat the boys away with sticks and stuff like that.

☆ That doesn't stop him from being judgy.

☆ "Hm...interesting choice"

☆ Literally mean girls you into good decisions

☆ Does have a tendency to be a little mean about fashion

☆ "Are you sure about...that? No no, it looks fine... As long as you like it"

☆ (oh n o I'm turning him into my mom)

☆ Overall, he's a good parent. He understands what needs a child has, and meets them fairly well.

☆ He's fairy loose with his parenting. You're allowed a lot of freedom, because he trusts that you can take care of yourself, and know when to come to him.

☆ This does mean he expects a lot from you. There's a level of maturity he expects, and he'll be disappointed if you don't meet that.

☆ He does learn to let up after a while though. He might know a lot about what parenting entails, but of course, theory and practice are two different things.

☆ Gift giving? Gift giving. Any hobby you have is 100% supplemented by him.

☆ And if that hobby is fashion? Yeah, there are a few days where the two of you don't see the sun.

☆ In the end, both of you are adjusting a lot. It takes a little while for him to figure out what you need, and what he has to do, but in the end, he does his best. And that's what counts, more than anything.

#twst x reader #platonic twst x reader #divus crewel x reader #platonic crewel x reader

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guzhufuren · 29 days

Text

GMMTV Thailand 🇹🇭 A Guide to Some of the Best Queer Asian Shows

Full list here.

1. My School President high school setting; secret crush; school president/rebel musician

Gun is the head of his high school music club. Tinn is a school president and Gun's long-term rival. The Principal wants to disband some of the school’s “useless” after-school clubs, especially the music club. Per school rules, the student council president is the one who has the power to dissolve clubs. Gun is now at Tinn’s mercy, so he attempts to do whatever he can to persuade his rival not to cancel the music club. Little does he know, Tinn actually has a secret crush on him. Could romance brew as Gun makes a desperate attempt to secure the future of his band?

Viki (MSP) & YouTube (Our Skyy special 33-40) & YouTube (special)

2. Moonlight Chicken adult romance; age gap; deaf character

Jim is an ordinary guy running a chicken rice diner. One night, he meets Wen when he stays past closing drunk. Brought together by fate that night, intangible feelings arise. Neither can stop thinking about the other despite Jim's efforts to remain unattached. Jim also takes care of his nephew Li Ming, who is falling in love with Heart, a deaf teenager who is practically kept under house arrest by his affluent parents.

YouTube

3. Not Me revolution; freedom fighters; secret twins

When his twin Black is viciously attacked and subsequently left hospitalised in unconsciousness, White is unable to endure the harm done to his brother in silence. He learns Black was a part of a gang of anti-capitalist freedom fighters, and it was one of them who betrayed him. White disguises himself as Black to discover which one of them betrayed him and put him in a coma.

YouTube

4. 23.5 wlw; high school setting; secret admirer

Ongsa moves to a new school and meets Sun, a cute popular girl who she immediately falls for. However, she decides to approach Sun in instagram dms under the pseudonym Earth, leading Sun to believe she's talking to a guy. But Ongsa does not want to lose the opportunity to talk to Sun, so she decides to keep the fact that she is a girl a secret and continue talking as Earth.

YouTube

5. Bad Buddy (+ Zero Photography) enemies to lovers; forbidden romance; university setting; wlw side couple

Fueled by their parents animosity, Pat and Pran have competed with each other in nearly everything in life. In public, they are rivals, but behind closed doors the pair are open to being friends… maybe more.

YouTube (Bad Buddy) & YouTube (Zero Photography) & YouTube (Our Skyy Special 49-60)

6. Cherry Magic Thailand mind reading; secret crush; office setting

By still being a vіrgin at 30, Achi gains a magical power – the ability to read other people's minds by touching them. At first, he’s overwhelmed by his new ability, and it’s not proving to be helpful to him. But that all changes when he accidentally touches their office’s most perfect guy Karan, who he learns has romantic feelings for him.

No easy international streaming available to my knowledge, watch on KissKH. I also recommend watching original japanese show first, it’s listed in the japanese section.

7. Enchanté childhood friends to lovers; university setting

After living in France, Theo comes back to Thailand and he meets his childhood friend, Akk. Theo finds a book with a message welcoming him and signed as Enchanté, he becomes curious about who this guy is. Will Theo successfully guess who is the Enchanté in the university?

YouTube

8. 3 Will Be Free polyamorous trio; on the run; mafia

After an unexpected event that involves sex work and mafia gangs, three individuals find themselves on-the-run together as they attempt to escape death.

YouTube

9. Theory of Love unrequited love; best friends to lovers

Third year film student Third has been harboring feelings for his friend Khai. After three years of painful unrequited love, Third decides to stop, no matter how difficult it may be. But when Third decides to stop, Khai decides to start.

YouTube

10. He's Coming to Me ghost/human

After his death, Met is a ghost consumed by loneliness. That is until he meets a strange boy that can see him. The two bond in a state of happiness and joy as they develop into friends. But what happens when Met falls for the boy who is alive? YouTube

11. Last Twilight blind character/caretaker

Mhok, who can't seem to get his life back on track after spending six months in prison, applies for a high-paying job as a caregiver to Day, a young man with partial blindness. Day used to be a badminton athlete with a bright future who discovered that his cornea is injured and he will soon become completely blind. Day hires Mhok who—unlike other applicants—seems to take no pity on him. With so much time spent in each others' company, the two develop a deep bond.

YouTube i recommend to stop watching on episode 12 clip 3/4 timestamp 28:04, because after that moment the story goes for the “curing disability” trope and gets ruined, but it will not be ruined for you if you stop.

12. Be My Favorite time travel

Kawi has been in love with Pearmai since university. After receiving an invitation to her wedding with Pisaeng, Kawi spirals into regret. He uses a crystal ball to travel back in time to the age of eighteen to set things right with her. But everything turns upside-down. Instead of fulfilling his hopes and setting things right with Pearmai, Kawi somehow ends up in the arms of Pisaeng, Pearmai's future fiance. Thus begin their cat-and-mouse games with Pisaeng chasing after Kawi. Enraged, Kawi keeps twisting the crystal ball in an attempt to get his desired outcome. But what if Botkawee and Pearmai were never meant to be together? What if he was destined to be with Piseang instead?

YouTube

13. The Eclipse high school setting; self discovery; corrupt school system; school president/rebel

Akk is a head student prefect in country’s leading all-boys school. Rumour has it that there is a curse that will punish students who disobey the school rules, a curse that grows stronger as the solar eclipse nears. Akk has to keep an eye on a mysterious new student Ayan, who regularly challenges the school’s norms.

YouTube & YouTube (Our Skyy Special 17-24)

14. A Tale of Thousand Stars (1000Stars) a second chance in life; village setting

After a volunteer teacher dies in a tragic accident, her heart is transplanted into Tian. He learns about his donor’s life through her diary and decides to follow in her footsteps. Now a new village volunteer teacher himself, Tian meets Phupha and as the two slowly grow closer, Tian notices his new heart beats quickly whenever he's near the man. Much like the heart’s previous owner, Tian cannot help but fall for Phupha.

Viki or YouTube (ATOTS) & YouTube (Our Skyy Special 49-60)

15. Only Friends queer friend group; messy relationships

A group of business students running a hostel together blur the lines between friendship and romance. Mew has been focusing on his studies, setting aside no time for sex and relationships. Upon learning of his friend's innocence, Boston introduces Mew to Top. What Boston intended to be his friend's one-night affair turns into something more and he isn't happy with the turn of events. Economics student Sand wants an exclusive relationship with Ray, but Ray has feelings for Mew. IT shop worker Nick finds nudes in Boston's phone and ends up in a friends-with-benefits relationship with him.

YouTube

16. Never Let Me Go rich boy/bodyguard; high school setting; mafia

Nueng is the son of a mafia leader. One day his father is killed and Nueng is forced to take the reins in his place. His mother appoints Palm, a country boy, to be his bodyguard and protect him from dangers in and out of school. However, one person would like to see Nueng dead: his uncle who aims to become the next mafia leader. Will Palm successfully protect Nueng from the dangers balanced by his uncle, as the two begin to fall in love?

YouTube & YouTube (Our Skyy Special 1-8)

17. A Boss and a Babe office setting; boss/intern

Cher, a vibrant aspiring pro-gamer, has just started his internship at a gaming company led by Gun, the uncompromising CEO. In addition to his gaming, Cher has an ASMR channel and it's those videos that coax Gun to sleep every night. As they continue to grow closer both in and out of the workplace, what will become of their striking connection?

YouTube & YouTube (Our Skyy Special 41-48)

18. 2gether (+ Still 2gether) fake/pretend relationship; university setting

When Tine is chased by Green, who he does not reciprocate feelings for — he ends up begging Sarawat, the campus’ most popular guy, to fake date him in order to chase Green away.

Viki (2gether) & Viki (Still 2gether)

19. Cupid's Last Wish (+ Zero Supporter) farm setting; best friends to lovers; body swap; road trip

Korn and Win are childhood best friends. Conflicts arise when Win's father includes Korn in his will, granting him part of the family's farm's stocks and breaking up their friendship. Win gets into a car accident with his sister Lin, and wakes up to find his soul in her body. To return to his original body, Win sets off on a road trip to collect holy water across the country with Korn as his companion. Can this adventure get their relationship back?

YouTube (CLW) & YouTube (Zero Supporter)

20. Dark Blue Kiss (+ pre-story in Kiss Me Again) established relationship; university setting

(Taking off from the Kiss Me Again series) Pete and Kao have grown closer to each other in their relationship. Kao takes on part-time tutoring for high school students. With one of the students fueling Pete's jealousy, his relationship with Kao gets tested in several occasions. Meanwhile, the love story between Sun and Mork begins.

YouTube (Kiss Me Again) & YouTube (Dark Blue Kiss)

---

You can watch many shows for free on YouTube, and watch others on the streaming websites by setting VPN to Thailand. In other cases I recommend paying for subscriptions to show appreciation and support of content in order to get more of it in the future, but if you can’t, watch on KissKH (better quality), Dramacool or get files from MkvDrama. Enjoy! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

#mygifs #mine #thai ql #gmmtv ql

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battyaboutbooksreviews · 7 months

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💙💜💖 Young Adult Books to Read During Bisexuality Visibility Month

I don't know if you've noticed, bookish bats, but a MEGATON of bi books have come out (hehe) this year! While there's not enough time in the day to read them all, they do deserve to shine all year round. As it's Bisexuality Visibility Month, I wanted to create a series of guides for bi books to spread the love. Here are a few Young Adult books featuring bi characters to add to your ever-growing TBR!

💙 Going Bicoastal by Dahlia Adler 💜 If You Still Recognize Me by Cynthia So 💖 Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar 💙 Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston 💜 Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli 💖 Then Everything Happens at Once by M.E. Girard 💙 Faith: Taking Flight by Julie Murphy 💜 The Girl Next Door by Cecilia Vinesse 💖 Radio Silence by Alice Oseman 💙 Autoboyography by Christina Lauren 💜 This is Kind of an Epic Love Story by Kacen Callender 💖 They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera 💙 Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler 💜 You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson 💖 You Don’t Live Here by Robyn Schneider 💙 Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan 💜 Miss Meteor by Tehlor-Kay Mejia & Anna-Marie McLemore 💖 We Are Totally Normal by Naomi Kanakia 💙 Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann (asexual & biromantic) 💜 The Disasters by M.K. England 💖 If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich 💙 Last Chance Dance by Lakita Wilson 💜 The Kindred by Alechia Dow 💖 Crumbs by Danie Stirling 💙 Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie 💜 Felix Ever After by Kacen Callendar 💖 Perfect on Paper by Sophia Gonzales 💙 When We Were Magic by Sarah Gailey 💜 Flowerheart by Catherine Bakewell 💖 Crownchasers by Rebecca Coffindaffer 💙 Let’s Call it a Doomsday by Katie Henry 💜 Ghost Wood Song by Erica Waters 💖 The Luis Ortega Survival Club by Sonora Reyes 💙 Epically Earnest by Molly Horan 💜 Heartstopper by Alice Oseman 💖 Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli 💙 Running With Lions by Julian Winters 💜 I'll Be the One by Lyla Lee 💖 Verona Comics by Jennifer Dugan 💙 Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee 💜 Flips the Script by Lyla Lee 💖 The Girls I've Been by Tess Sharpe

#bi books #bisexual #bisexuality #queer fiction #queer books #queer community #queer #queer book recs #book recommendation #book recs #books #reading #batty about books #battyaboutbooks

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exitpursuedbyavulcan · 1 year

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The Silver Dragon (23/?)

Pairing: Aemond Targaryen x Original Female Character

Word Count: 2760

Story Summary: Lady Arianwyn Targaryen, the Lady of Runestone, was seeded by her father, the Rogue Prince Daemon Targaryen, in an act of unbridled hatred, and borne of her mother, the late Lady Rhea Royce, as a desperate grasp at revenge.

Ignored by her father, and alone following the death of her mother, she is raised in King’s Landing alongside her cousin, Prince Aemond Targaryen. As they grow, the two find themselves indelibly bonded. But their lives are far from the fairy tales they read, and as tensions in the family rise, they find their paths may diverge.

Will they be pulled apart when the dragons dance?

Chapter Summary: The following morning, Aemond and Arianwyn tell the Queen of what happened. But they soon realize an important figure is missing.

Warnings: Adult content, minors DNI

Series Masterlist

Taglist: @thelittleswanao3 @trap-house-homiecide @50svibes @literishdegree99 @dc-marvel-girl96 @henriettadreaming @multiple-fandoms-girl @gyuxmilk @somemydayy @kittykylax

The Shears

Arianwyn woke before dawn, the sun but a sliver of pink light in the distance. Though every muscle in her body ached, she savored the feeling. Each twinge of pain was soothed by the memory of her husband's kiss on her lips, on her throat, her chest, and her core.

Now the mouth that had kissed her so fervently lay still beside her as Aemond slept. What remained of the moonlight was reflected brilliantly in his ever-open sapphire eye. Tilting her head against their shared pillow, careful not to disturb his arm around her waist, Arianwyn nudged closer to him.

She brushed the hair from his face to better examine the stone, a chance she had not gotten the night before as their desires quickly took hold. If she squinted her eyes just right, she could make out the Runes beautifully engraved on each facet.

As she read each one, she ran a finger across his chest, tracing their shapes. For it was not only the writing of the Runes that gave them power, but the intentions of the writer. Just in case the magic had not carried over to the gem from her embroidered instructions, she drew each shape again on the soft skin above his heart.

Two lines, crossing in parallel. Each end split, reaching for the others, but never quite touching.

"I know that one," Aemond grumbled, his voice deep and gravelly from sleep. He seized her wrist, guiding her hand as she finished the Rune. "Surely, after last night, you don't believe me lacking in endurance?"

Arianwyn could not stifle her giggle, but she could suppress it against his lips. When she pulled back from the kiss, she whispered against his ear, "Of course not. But I want my love branded to your heart, so you will never be without it."

He kissed her again, knotting his hand in her gloriously tangled hair. "Never."

Then, he pushed himself up on his side, gazing adoringly into her silver eyes as he traced the same shape on her breast. "There," he breathed, kissing the skin to seal the magic, "now we are both branded."

It was almost as though Arianwyn could feel the magic taking hold, surrounding her heart and filling her chest with such warmth it practically burned. She smiled so hard that her cheeks strained, and she had to look away from Aemond to keep herself from being overwhelmed by the sight of him.

How many fairy tales had she read that described true love? How many stories of valiant princes rescuing their princesses from evil men and monsters? How many times had she imagined herself in their place?

It all seemed so mundane now. No fairy tale, story, or poem could capture the enormity or intensity of what she felt for Aemond.

"I love you," she whispered, though the words were too small.

"Avy jorrāelan," he replied, pulling her in for another kiss.

Arianwyn yielded to him, wrapping one arm around his neck as she happily let him devour her. With the other, she traced her fingers down his chest, past where she had drawn her Runes, past the taut muscles of his abdomen, until she took hold of his half-hard member.

"Tell me how to make you feel the way I did last night."

Queen Alicent had hardly been able to sleep that night, her mind racing from all that had happened since Rhaenyra's arrival. The cruel accusations she and Daemon accusations made against her. Seeing Arianwyn again after so many years.

The competing emotions of the petition. From the elation of seeing Viserys on the throne again, walking nearly on his own, to the horror of seeing Vaemond Velaryon struck down in front of her. The inescapable heartbreak that came with the realization that her husband would pull himself from the Stranger's embrace to defend Rhaenyra and her bastards, but had never lifted so much as a finger for Alicent or the children they had together.

She had loved Viserys so very dearly. They were delightfully happy in the first years of their marriage, despite Rhaenyra's distance from them. He was ever so kind to her, and gentle. When he took her to his bed, he made sure she felt safe and loved, and tended to her needs as much as his own.

While she was pregnant with Aegon, he showered her with adoration – giving her endless gifts and commissioning paintings and music for her. When their son was finally born, healthy and strong, she thought he would deify her. Every moment of his every day was spent with them, love brimming over in his beautiful violet eyes.

Something changed after Aegon's second nameday. His warmth faded, though he remained cordial. When Helaena was born, he congratulated her warmly, but it was not the same. She did not wake to find him at the end of the bed, the babe in his arms. He did not bring his daughter with him everywhere he went, but left her with Alicent and the nursemaids, seemingly content to see her only when necessary.

He stopped calling Alicent to his bed each night. And when he did, he was distant. He did not kiss her nor help her find her own pleasure. After he had finished, he did not ask her to stay. It was a miracle Aemond and Daeron were ever born.

Alicent was almost grateful that Daeron had been born so weak. Growing up in Oldtown, under the care of her cousins and the Maesters, he did not suffer his father's indifference.

Aegon did, and it drove him to despair and depravity.

Helaena, bless her sweet soul, seemed happy enough in her own distant world.

Of them all, Aemond had felt it most keenly.

With Arianwyn, he had read all the stories of Old Valyria that remained, hoping he could one day discuss them with his father. That Viserys would see himself in his son. That despite his lack of a dragon, would see that Aemond was a true heir to the Targaryen name.

But the King never did.

He did not care to hear Orwyle's reports on the progress of Aemond's studies nor Ser Criston's praise of his martial prowess. He brushed aside each of Aemond's failed attempts to claim a dragon just as easily as he dismissed the cruelty of his eldest son and grandsons. Alicent begged him for years to intervene, but he steadfastly refused.

And then Aemond had lost his eye.

No. Not lost. It was taken from him.

Not only by the steel of the Velaryon bastards' knife, but by Rhaenyra's audacious insistence of her sons' legitimacy and the King's callous apathy.

Alicent had to steady herself against the red stone walls of the corridor, reminding herself that she was going to Aemond's rooms to scold him for his behavior at dinner the night before, not to sympathize with his lifelong plight.

She and Rhaenyra had brokered a peace after he had left, and the Queen had every hope that it would hold – if she could get her own children under control.

"Your Grace, are you well?" Alicent jumped at Orwyle's voice, breaking her from her ever-spiraling thoughts.

"Grand Maester," she greeted. "Whatever are you doing in the Holdfast so early? Is the King well?"

Orwyle's dark eyes flicked toward the end of the hall, a tentative smile on his face. "His Grace is well, my Queen, though he continues to rest after his exertions."

"That is wonderful to hear," Alicent sighed, relieved. "But you have not answered my question."

The Maester was practically sweating. "Yes, My Queen. I suppose it is fallen to me to tell you the happy news."

Arianwyn watched with delighted curiosity as she brought Aemond to his climax with only her hand. His eyes squeezed shut, and his mouth fell open as he gasped for breath, the line of his jaw impossibly sharp. He reached urgently for his wife, hips rutting wildly as he spilled his onto the sheets between them.

"Was that right?" she asked, a smug smile across her lips.

Aemond only moaned as he pulled her on top of him, too exhausted to even kiss her. But he needed to feel her weight on him, to anchor him, lest he float away on a cloud of bliss.

She laughed, the sound reverberating through Aemond's chest. "I'll take that as an enthusiastic 'yes.'”

He moved to pull her to his lips, but there came a knocking at the door.

“Aemond? Aria?”

Alicent.

His eye shot open at the voice. Why was she here? How had she known Arianwyn would be here as well?

Arianwyn was nearly thrown off the bed for how quickly he sat up, catching her with a hand on the small of her back. Her heart was pounding for fear that they had been discovered and the anticipation of embarrassment should the Queen enter while she was still naked. “What do we do?” she asked.

Carrying her off the bed, Aemond set her down by the door to his dressing room, but he froze when he realized the solution would not be so easy. “Gods, I have no dresses.”

At the blank, dumbfounded stare on his face, Arianwyn recalled a story Aegon had once told about a man who ‘had his brains fucked out.’ She had always thought it to be an exaggeration.

Perhaps not.

She moved to the end of her bed to don her shift and dress from last night, though it was still stained with blood.

“No,” Aemond called, taking her hand and leading her away from the ruined, wrinkled silk on the floor. He knew they had no time for him to fumble with the interminable laces of the confounded thing. “I have a dressing gown… somewhere.”

“I will find it,” she answered, slipping into the dark room housing all his clothing. “And for you?”

“…Trousers!” he said after a prolonged silence, wherein he had nearly forgotten the word.

Arianwyn nearly snorted. Her husband was a clever man indeed.

It took her a moment to sort through the dressing room in the dim light of the morning, but she eventually found a pair of trousers and a black silk dressing gown. Even when she tied the robe, she had to hold it closed with her hands. Aemond was so much taller than her that her arms disappeared entirely in the massive sleeves, and the large pockets sat at her mid-thigh.

He smiled when she reentered the room, a new haze of desire coming over his face as he donned the trousers. Then, as though he had not just been pressed against her fully naked form, he licked his lips in hunger at the sliver of exposed skin on her chest.

“Aemond?” Alicent called again.

“A moment, mother!” he shouted back. After securing his eyepatch, he approached Arianwyn, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. “Are you ready?”

She brushed her hand against the leather patch, sad to see the sapphire hidden, but nodded and gave him a hesitant smile. “As I will ever be.”

With a swift kiss to her forehead, he led them out of his – their – bedchamber.

And straight into his mother’s waiting arms.

Alicent was a small woman, yet she somehow managed to wrap her arms around them both and squeezed so tight that they winced.

“Oh, my dears!” she exclaimed, pulling back to look at their blushing faces. “I could hardly believe it when Maester Orwyle told me the news, but here you both are!”

Aemond had thought he would never see his mother smile so brightly again. It was simply infectious. He clasped his hand against her arm. “I am sorry we did not wake you,” he said. “But we were quite hurried.”

“Orwyle mentioned something of the like,” the Queen sighed, releasing the couple and looking back to the Grand Maester, still standing awkwardly by the door to the apartments.

“With your permission,” he said, bowing his head, “I would like to confirm the consummation.”

Arianwyn gripped Aemond’s hand harder, unsure what such confirmation would entail. She had heard tale of what was done to women who had their virginity called into question, and she was not eager to experience the same.

The Maester spied the movement and held up a hand to calm her. “I require nothing of you, Princess Arianwyn. I wager I will find all the proof I need within the bedchamber. If you will excuse me?”

Slightly embarrassed, she nodded, allowing Aemond to lead her to the couch by the hearth while Orwyle passed through to the bedchamber.

The Queen took her seat in a stuffed armchair, picking at the skin around her nails while she inspected the dark bruises and cuts on Arianwyn’s jaw and neck. “Aria, will you tell me what happened?”

Suddenly finding herself shaking, Arianwyn hesitated to speak. But then Aemond pressed his leg against hers and took her trembling hands in his, and she felt nearly as strong as she had when she plunged the shears through Daemon’s hand.

She told the Queen everything. Every detail she knew about his rape of her mother. The threats he had made, both on Dragonstone and here in King’s Landing. How he had wrapped his hand around her throat so tight his nails drew blood and tried to strangle her, only to be stopped by the embroidery shears she had hidden in her skirts.

She could not explain how she got away, not when Daemon was so much faster than her. Nor could she recall precisely how she had ended up in the library, under a table with her tears staining an ancient tome.

But she remembered exactly how Aemond had looked when he appeared, the fear and relief in his eye when he saw she was alive and relatively well. She would never forget a single detail of the wedding ceremony itself, from the reverence in Aemond’s voice to the sight of the moonlight on the Weirwood’s red leaves.

The specifics of what came next, she left vague. That particular knowledge belonged only to her and Aemond. But she assured the Queen that the marriage was consummated, a fact soon confirmed by Maester Orwyle.

“I am relieved to hear it,” Alicent said, “It will leave Daemon with little cause to oppose the union.”

Though she had maintained her calm demeanor throughout Arianwyn’s tale, Aemond was simmering with rage. His wife had revealed details he had not known, things she had left out of her letters. He stared into the smoldering embers of the hearth, focusing only on calming his breathing and the fire in his blood that seared through his scar.

“Do you think he will?” Arianwyn asked, “Oppose our marriage?”

Aemond scoffed, the left side of his face beginning to twitch and burn as his emotions ran higher and higher. “Of course, he will.”

“But he will not succeed,” Alicent countered, her voice firm. “Your father is still abed, exhausted by the events of yesterday. The Hand and I shall sit the throne today, and we shall ensure that he fails.”

While Aemond seemed assured by his mother’s confidence, Arianwyn was not. That had been the plan for the petition yesterday, and the King had miraculously risen to defend Lucerys’ claim.

Besides, it was not only their marriage was not the only thing he would bring before the court.

“I stabbed him,” she murmured. “I stabbed the King’s brother, the consort to the Princess of Dragonstone and Heir to the Iron Throne. That is not something that can be so easily dismissed.”

For that, the Queen had no answer.

Aemond had only praise for his wife's actions, but his admiration would not change the fact that she had broken the law.

Orwyle cleared his throat. “To my knowledge, Prince Daemon has not sought the aid of any Maesters to treat his wound. Should he wish to prosecute the matter, surely he would have sounded an alarm.”

It was sound logic. Daemon was not one to keep the secrets of others. Not when he stood to gain from exposing the truth.

But the truth was not what the Rogue Prince was after, Aemond thought as a starling realization came over him.

Daemon only wanted to hurt his daughter.

“The shears,” he declared.

Alicent’s brow furrowed. “What about them?”

“We never found them. Only the blood.”

Arianwyn was shaking with fear when she rose from the couch and tore open the door to their chambers, startling her guards.

“Where is Brynna?”

Next Chapter

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