#Also as I was drawing Jane I realized she deserves more love | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

marjaystuff · 2 years

Text

Elise Cooper Interviews Rachel Fordham

Where the Road Bends by Rachel Fordham balances lighthearted moments with abuse and mistreatment. Redemption, second chances, betrayal, forgiveness, love, hope, and healing are present throughout the story.

The plot begins in this small Iowa town in the 1880s when Norah King finds a man unconscious and beaten badly. She nurses Quincy Barnes back to health. They form an easy friendship and confide in each other. She tells him her dreams and wonders if they really will come true. After Quincy promises her to make something of his life, he becomes determined to make a new start. Unfortunately, neither knows how Norah’s act of kindness will complicate her life and bring her misfortune.

Finding out that Norah is engaged to a man twenty years her senior, not for love, but because he can pay off her debts and save her ownership of the land, Quincy decides to leave. This is where Norah’s “road starts bending.” After telling her fiancé about Quincy he calls off the engagement and bad mouths her to the town.

Two years later, they have a reversal of fortune. Not able to pay her debts the bank forecloses on her land leaving her destitute. On the other hand, Quincy has made good on his promise and is a successful businessman in a new town, Longfield Iowa. Norah is now the beaten one and needs to be rescued by Quincy just as she rescued him two years earlier. As in the book, Persuasion by Jane Austin, both Norah and Quincy show their selflessness, inner strength, and goodness. In fact, there are references to this book throughout the story.

Another character readers will connect with is the eight-year-old boy Nels. Just as with Quincy’s early life he is penniless and living on the streets with no family. Not only does Norah and Quincy rescue each other, but they also rescue Nels, taking him in, teaching him, and supporting him both financially and emotionally.

Readers will be hooked from the first page. Throughout the book people are rooting that a family will be forged and created from friendship, as well as the characters able to overcome the hardships. This story will tug at everyone’s emotions, but it is also heartwarming to see how the towns people of Longfield came together, having each other’s backs.

Elise Cooper: Idea for the story?

Rachel Fordham: It started with my love of Les Misérables and that scene where someone’s life changes overnight and the consequences that follow. I decided to throw that idea into the 1880s Midwest, where one defining moment changes everybody’s path. It grew from there.

EC: What about the Jane Austen influence?

RF: The jumping point was Les Misérables, but the more I thought about it the more I wanted to have a second chance love story. Jane Austen’s book Persuasion is a wonderful second chance love story. Instead of being influenced by Persuasion I wrote it into the book. The characters were influenced by this novel as they read the story, draw from it, and share it. They start to realize that if the Austen characters, Anne and Elliot deserve a happy ending maybe they do also. Just as with Austen’s characters, mine as well have misunderstandings. My characters, Norah and Quincy, see a lot of parallels as they discuss the novel.

EC: Why the 1880s?

RF: My debut book took place in the late 1880s. I stayed there with future novels because it is a period I fell in love with. It was a time of expansion, new thinking, and changes coming to society and technology.

EC: Did you ever live on a farm?

RF: I have never lived on a working farm but have lived on hobby farms. We have a couple of goats and chickens, so I understand the hard work that comes with animals.

EC: Why did you have Norah take in Quincy, a stranger?

RF: I would have done it also. Everybody needs a safe place. I am always grateful when I can do it for someone else. I always have a heart for people who are trying to find their place. We are foster parents. In the book, there is a child that has no home and is taken in by Quincy.

EC: How would you describe Norah?

RF: She has an optimistic spirit that even when things are going bad, she feels things will get better. There is a Norah before and after. Before she was dependent on Jake to ease her debt and Percy for a job. She needed them to rescue her. But with them she saw the harder part of life, which gave her strength. Just as with me there is a Rachel before and after. Before Norah was hopeful, witty, and kind. After Jake and Percy, she had emotional scars that have haunted and broke her. She became compassionate, strong, and stubborn. She grew so much in this

novel.

EC: How would you describe Quincy?

RF: He was always trying to get by in the beginning. Because of Norah he tries to make himself a better person. He is stubborn, headstrong, strong, athletic, protective, patient, and gentle. He is very soft with a big heart on the inside.

EC: How would you describe the relationship?

RF: Nobody was looking for a connection. Their lives just crossed. They did change each other. It was a gift for both. By the end it blossoms into something strong and deeply rooted. Each were desperate and fearful and needed the other to help them. Overall, they are open with each other, share secrets, and have a bond. The honesty comes from not expecting to be together.

EC: What is the role of baseball in the story?

RF: Quincy’s experience early in life with boxing gave off a negativity to athletics. He is a former boxer who fights for money in back alleys and lives recklessly. Since I love athletics, I wanted to show how sports is not bad and the other side. How it is healthy and fun. During the community event I decided to have them gather for a baseball game. During that time there was baseball fever.

EC: Does the child Nels mirror Quincy?

RF: Yes. Quincy was also someone not rescued until he met Norah. But with Nels the community intervenes with him and helps him earlier. Norah can get to know Quincy better through Nels’ eyes. Some of the similarities between Quincy and Nels are that both are determined, resilient, blunt, and brash. They say what they see.

EC: Is there a comparison between Scarlett O’Hara from Gone with The Wind and Norah?

RF: Scarlett and Norah both went through hard times so they cling to something that feels it will not go away. Land is one of those things that is easy to latch on to and was everything to them. What Norah experiences that Scarlett never does is that she realizes people are her savior, not the land. Norah was vulnerable to allow people to be her safe place. I don’t think Scarlett was ever vulnerable.

EC: Next book?

RF: It will take place in the 1920s in Buffalo New York. There is no title but should be out in the summer of 2023. The plot has two families divided by a deep feud. The children unknowingly have been writing anonymous letters to each other for years.

THANK YOU!!

0 notes

misguidedasgardian · 3 years

Text

My love, his duty // Chapter 4

MASTERLIST

Chapter Summary: The day of the wedding is upon you, and you wonder, wonder about a lot of things

Pairing: King!Bucky Barnes x Princess!Reader (very ambiguously described)

Chapter Warnings: Alcohol consuption, alcohol induced talk, talk about sex, talk about loss of virginity, marriage/religious ceremony

+18 please. (but just for explicit sex scenes)

Word Count (Chapter): 4,2k

Notes: This is a lengthy one, I just wanted to give it to you full, I couldn't find a good point in which I could cut it in half or something, I had to cut the consummation scene since it was lacking some things

The one that finds the Princess diary´s quote receives a virtual hug!

The princess realizes she has two powerful allies

“Did the princess reach the palace safely?” It was already dark when the King had finished the review of the plans for the ceremonies to come, the two most important ceremonies.

His marriage, and the coronation of his Queen

“She did” Steve sat in the other chair in front of his King and friend, in front of the fireplace

“How was she?”

“Upset” Bucky took his gaze away from the flames to look at his friend

“Why?”

“She wanted to talk to you, she was looking for you that night”

“I know that” he frowned

“She saw you” Steve said, “with Sharon”

“I don't believe that”

“Then why did she expel Sharon from the trip? Why did she looked so upset?”” Bucky draw a sharp breath, rubbing his temple with his index and middle fingers

“Well, shit”

“Do you plan on keeping Sharon as your mistress even if you are married to her?”

“I don´t know” he said sincerely “It's been ten years since I´ve been with Sharon, what am I supposed to do? Tell her to fuck off?”

“Why? Do you love her?”

“I don´t”

“Does she mean something to you? Do you consult her? seek comfort in her?”

“I don´t” he repeated quickly

“Then why?” demanded “It was cruel of you to appoint her as one of her ladies”

“Well, she is from a noble house, and she can't just go around calling herself the mistress of the King” he stopped, and he took a long breath, “She… is like a relief” he stopped himself to ponder more upon the matter, “What if love doesn´t come to me and (Y/N) what if I only lay with her to make heirs?”

“Will you at least give it a try?”

“Why do you care so much?”

“Because I think she is good, and kind, and deserving of your respect” he said bluntly

“And what do I do with Sharon?”

“Do something God dammit!” Steve growled, “You are the King!”

“What do you want me to do Steve?” he growled back

“Marry away Sharon” he said, “And give yourself to the princess, if you do, she will give you the entire world”

Your stay in the Queen's tower was going by rather quickly, you had have medical exams to prove your maidenhood, and you had received the visit from the King's personal confessor, and also, her personal chamberlain, for some teachings about household, and what it would consist of now that you'll become Queen. And before you knew it, you were putting the golden and white gown you'll use tomorrow in your wedding day for the last fitting

“You look beautiful” said Wanda, and the ladies agreed

“The King will swoon when he sees you” said Lady Jane

As you looked yourself in the mirror, you were interrupted by a knock on the door, your guard entered and behind him, entered the young page

“Your highness” called Peter, “His majesty send you this” he presented you with a huge jeweled box, a splendid thing in itself, but when he opened it, all air inside seemed to abandon you

Inside there was a diamond tiara, it´s shape resemblance waves of the sea, you found also a matching necklace and pendants, resting in blue velvet at the bottom of the box

“It would please him so you used this tomorrow” he said, excited, “As this are the jewels that her mother used in her wedding” your eyes filled with tears of happiness

“I shall wear them with my full heart, and all my honour” you said, your voice strangled by emotions, “Would you tell him that?”

“Of course My Queen!” As soon as he said it, he blushed scandalously, “Oh, I mean… I´m sorry, y-your highness!” he babled, you just giggled

“Thank you Peter, you are the kindest” he left shortly after, and you were left to enjoy the rest of the day

But at night you gathered with your ladies by a big fireplace. Before he left, Wanda had compelled Peter into stealing a small barrel of wine, so the five of you were under the influence of the dark liquor, and enjoying stories and giggling

“Does it hurt?” you whispered to Lady Sarah, since she was the only one who had been married, and indeed had two children, “On your wedding night?” they all paid attention to her, who giggled loudly

“Well, it might… it depends”

“On what?” asked lady Jane, you were all leaning towards Sarah´s chair, and she felt intimidated

“I'm not sure we should be talking about this…”

“Please Lady Sarah, we are only ladies here, who wish to know” you pleaded, pounting

“I´ll tell you” said Natasha, you all took your attention to her, “Since Lady Sarah may swoon”

“You have done it yourself?” asked Jane, she smiled and nodded

“Indeed, now, you all take a sip of wine!” she asked, and you all did, giggling without stopping. “It depends, if he would touch you first, to entice you, or if he would be soft, and slow for the first time, and also….” she took another sip of wine to gain courage, “On how big he is” you felt your cheeks heated as you drowned your giggle in your cup

“You mean… his manhood?” asked Lady Jane, as she was blushed by wine and shame

“Yes of course” she said, “I cannot lie, the first time will hurt” she said, “But it would last very little, and after…” she giggled again and took a sip of wine

“What happens after?” Wanda asked with her branded mischievous smile

“After he will carry you to heaven” she said looking away, “for it's the greatest pleasure on earth”

“Oh my”

“I wish my mother could see me” you said as the palm of your hands roamed and pleaded the skirt of your dress, you looked at yourself, ready for your wedding, the chariot that would take you to the cathedral could be here any moment, The Late Queen tiara rested over your head.

“I'm sure she is most pleased, and proud, of calling you her daughter” said a voice behind you, you turned quickly to see you brother, smiling at you from the door

“Clark!” you yelled, running to his embrace “my brother, I missed you!”

“I miss you as well my sister” he was two years younger, holding only 18 years, but he stood tall and thick, he took after your father, as you did after your mother. You didn't have the same mother. “You look so beautiful, like a Queen”

“Thank you” you whispered, “Father couldn't make it?” he shook his head

“I´m sorry”

“It's ok, It won´t matter anyways”

“I'll deliver you to your husband today” he said softly

“Thank you brother” you looked down, your stomach twisting at the thought of your wedding, remembering suddenly the scene you witnessed before your departure from the Royal Castle

“You look like I´ll take to the scaffold instead of your wedding ceremony” your body shook entirely

“Well…” you started

“I know you don't know this man, but…”

“I know I´ve been preparing myself all my life for this, but” a strangled sobb came out of your throat, and he struck you in his arms in a tight hug, “I cannot quiet the complaints of my heart” you mumbled

“Have you met him?” he finally released you, and you nodded

“I did, him and his mistress”

“Sweet sister” he mumbled, you wanted to cry but you were fighting not to, “It is..”

“If you are going to say it is normal for kings to have mistresses I'm going to punch you in the neck” he chuckled and you smiled shyly

“Yes you got me”

“He appointed her as one of my ladies in waiting” you said as you looked at him, “Isn't that a little… doesn´t that make him…” you didn't know how to phrase it, “Kind of an asshole?” he laughed loudly

“And they said he was a smart man” he said

“I don't want to be humiliated like that” you said, “I want him to give me at least a chance, but I feel as, I´m walking into a game that I'm already losing”

“I don´t believe for a second he would parade her in front of the court and you” he said

“He did before my arrival” you said, “Everybody at court knows who she is”

“Do you want me to speak to him?” he asked, “Not to say anything concrete, but to warn him about the importance of your dignity, and grace”

“You want to rough up the King of Brook?” you said as he thought he was joking, but when you saw his serious face, you smiled, “You have my permission”

“Very well” he kissed your forehead tenderly and you smiled softly, you had missed him dearly

“I swear brother if you marry, and commit the idiotic decision to take a mistresss, I would go back home, sneak in the night to your chabers and cut off your manhood

“There she is, my sweet sister”

Clark and you took a most incredible chariot that took you from the Queen's tower, to the cathedral, the ride was shorter than you remembered, maybe because of the nervousness that crippled your body. Your ladies had gone before you, leaving you alone with your brother, which you thanked, because you knew your brother was your true friend, loyal only to you.

You reached the cathedral and there was a huge crowd waiting for you, al chating your name

“Long live the princess!” some yelled. You tried to wave to them all, but your hand was so shaky. Your brother grabbed you and took you inside, where all the shouting was reduced by the thick wooden doors.

“They are all inside” the ambassador Oliver Queen bowed to you, as he was waiting for the both of you

“Are we late?” asked Clark

“My lord, I´ve been told a Queen is never late, is everyone else that seems to arrive early” he said chuckling

“Your words soothe me” you said smiling weakly, you felt like you were going to faint at any given moment

“Very Well” Oliver said, looking at you and at your brother, “Are we ready to do this?”

“No” you whispered, as Clark took your hand on his and gave it a squeeze

“Let´s get you married to the King” he whispered

“What if he doesn't love me?” you asked both men, they looked at each other nervously

“He will” consoled your brother

“You are both powerful men, that marry for alliances” you said, looking at both, “Tell me the truth”

“Your highness If I may” said the ambassador, you looked at him wide eyed, “He would be short sighted, and cold hearted, if he didn't find it in his heart to love such a wonderful and beautiful bride such as yourself” you feel your cheeks heated as you let him kiss your hand softly, “And he better love you, or I will steal you from him” you giggled as he winked at you

“I might take you up on that” you whispered

“Shush the both of you” said Clark with closed mouth, “Never said that again or you will lose your head”

“She is still our Princess, it was now or never” he said with a wide smile.

“Yes but from this day forward, she is no longer our princess, but she will belong to him, and to the Kingdom of Brook” it finally sinked into you. It's been years since you thought about that, where you come from, and what it meant

“You highness” you jumped when you heard Steve´s voice behind you. The three of you turned to face him, as he was coming out of the Royal chapel by one of the lateral doors

“Your grace!” you saluted as you bowed your head

“I don't believe that in this entire kingdom has been a bride more beautiful than you” You felt the heavy gaze of the three men on you, and you trembled

“You are most kind your Grace” you said with heated cheeks, “I believe you haven't met my brother yet” you pointed out

“Your Highness” Steve bowed again, as your brother leaned his chin

“Your Grace” Clark responded

“And our ambassador, His Excellency, Oliver Queen”

“We have met before” said Steve, and the man beside you nodded, “His majesty send me” he said, “He wants to make sure you are prepared”

“He wanted you to make sure I didn't run?” they didn´t laughed but rather stared at you, “I am very sorry, my nervousness is talking for me” Steve smiled kindly at you

“You have nothing to be nervous about,” he said, “Now, I will go back and announce the musicians to start playing…” You nodded, “Good luck your Highness”

“That might be the last time somebody calls you that” your bother remarked

“You are right!” you murmured. Steve left you with a smile on his face

“It's my turn to go to my post” said Oliver, he took your hand in between his, “Best of lucks my Sweet Princess” you smiled and nodded, as he left you as well

The musicians started to play, and you felt your belly tightened in several knots

“Brother if I go through with this, this cannot be undone” you murmured, Clark looked at you in panic

“Sister please, our country needs this alliance”

“I know” the gates opened up before, revealing the interior of the Cathedral, the tall painted ceilings, the hallway all decorated by white flowers, and all the people gathered there, they all had his eyes on you, in the End, in front of the golden Altar, stood the King, your future, dresses as you were, in golden colours.

You didn't question, never, you never asked “why? Why do I have to do this?” they had taught you so, even if it was your birthright, you weren't trained as a Queen, only a Queen consort, so you did as you were told, and that was it.

So the worst possible time to start questioning, was when you were in front of your future husband, as he took your hands in his to start the wedding ceremony. Did you really have to? It was too late now, but, were you going to be a good wife? Would you please him? Would you be able to give him children? Would he divorce you if you couldn´t? Would he ask for an annulment? Would he commit adultery? Would he ever love you? It scared you to think he might not, to be trapped in a loveless marriage, but that what was expected

But that didn't work for you. When you look into his eyes your stomach flutters, like it was filled with little butterflies. He was so handsome, those blue eyes, that hair, the manly features of his face, his big body that made you desire to be between his arms all day and all night. He smiled when he saw your face, and you feel your cheeks heated when you realise the way you were looking at him, with adoration and wonder. You felt your heart pumping in your chest so hard, you were certain he could hear it too

“Repeat after me” the bishop whispered to you, and you did, as strongly as you could

“I, (Y/N) take you, James, for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, and for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us apart. I will love and honor you all the days of my life” you concluded, and you gave thanks to the lord your voice haden´t crack

“I, James” his voice sounded like a thunder, “Take you (Y/N), for my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, and for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us apart. I will love and honor you all the days of my life”

He leaned in to kiss your cheek

“My Wife” he whispered in your ear, giving you goosebumps all over your spine. You both turned around to face the crowd, and everyone started cheering.

The King may love you, or he may not, but as from this very moment there was only one thing clear, you were a Queen, this was now your people, this was now your country, and you were going to fulfill your birth given duty, and put all your heart on it.

You longed for a moment alone with your husband, but fate kept you from it. As he grabbed your hand to exit the cathedral, you finally thought it was your time, but alas, it wasn´t. The open chariot you requested was waiting for you both, alongside the screaming crowd

He wanted to eat your face with kisses, he wanted to erase your shyness with his bare hands roaming your body. He hoped you'd never notice the hunger in his eyes, for he feared you´d be even more intimidated by him

Since the first time he saw you walking towards him shyly and nervous, like a little deer, he wanted to devour you. He knew he didn't need to be nervous anymore, not with you, not about you. When he saw you he felt relieved

You were barely a woman, and he wanted to eliminate that remaining innocence himself

He couldn't wait much longer to make you his

And now by the Power of God and himself, as King, you were finally and irrevocably his

Till death do you apart

You wouldn't lose his sight, as he watched you intently as you went from side to side of the great hall, greeting everyone, you were adorable, good with people, as everyone you meet in your path was left smiling and nodding their acceptance at you.

He was right, the tiara of his mother looked great on your divine head

His gaze left your form to search for another, Lady Sharon was nowhere to be seen, neither was she the days before the wedding, actually, he haden´t seen her since the night of Tony´s wedding, two weeks ago.

His eyes stopped on another curious figure he haden´t seen before, a tall muscular man, sipping his goblet of wine, looking around. He was your brother, the successor to your father to take the throne. When he catched the King looking, he felt free to walk towards him

“You majesty” said when he had him in front of him

“Your highness” he responded

“I´m so very sorry we couldn´t meet before the wedding” he started, “but it was so sudden”

“Well, yes, why wait?”

“Well she had been waiting for 5 years” he growled, whispering against his goblet

“Yes indeed” he growled, growing impatient, your brother had unclear intentions, and the King wanted him to express them

“I´m so sorry I have to left the court soon” he continued, “Now that I´ve seen my sister to this new court, I´m weary of leaving her here, alone”

“She is not alone” oh he was starting to hate his political family, “She is with me, her husband”

“Yes and also, I´m leaving her in the care of someone else, that has expressed his love for her”

“Whom do you speak off?” now he had the King's attention

“Well, his excellency, our ambassador” he said like it was obvious

“Oh, and he loves her?” When had he started grinding his teeth?

“He does, as his princess and sovereign”

“But she is not his princess and sovereign now, isn't she?” he asked, defiance in his voice, “She is our Queen now”

“Shouldn't all your subjects and members of court love her?” Clark demanded. Bucky looked at him like he wanted to kill him

“Yes, of course, but only I can truly love her”

“Well as his brother, you must understand my concerns” he said, “She is a loving and beautiful princess, and I, as his brother and next King, I must see that she is treated and met with the dignity and respect she deserves” that's when they turned to see each other

“Are you implying, Sir, that I disrespect her? that I won't maintain her dignity?”

“I´m just making sure you know she is not alone” he growled. Bucky and him stared at each other, the ambience was tense, if they weren't in the middle of the feast they would have drawn up their swords

“I will treat her with the respect and dignity she deserves, as a crown princess of a neighboring Kingdom, and as my wife” he said, grumply

“I'm glad to hear it,” he said, smiling softly. “And I hope, now that I´m here, that I can have an audience with his majesty, tomorrow”

“Let's save it for two days from now” he said, Bucky smiled wickedly, “You must understand that tonight is the wedding night, and I would not like to cut it short, as I plan on expand it all day tomorrow” Clark saw red and if this man wasn't a King, he would have punch him in the face, “Enjoy the rest of the feast” Bucky didn't move, but he expected Clark to do so, as he nodded, and walked away

Bucky then seated again in his throne, his gaze travelling all around the ballroom looking for you, until he finally found you again, but he didn't like what he saw

“Are you enjoying your feast?” Steve asked, seating beside him on the big table

“Yeah, sure” he said dismissively

“Doesn´t your wife look beautiful?” he asked, smiling widely

“Steve I'm starting to think you motivated me to marry her so I´d invite her to court so she´d be close to you” Steve looked back at his King surprised at his implication

“I pushed the subject so much because I had your best interests at heart” he said firmly, and seriously. Steve had never seen his friend jealous, but when he followed his gaze, he understood why, “You have nothing to worry about from me” he insisted

“Yes I know, you are too loyal, and she is too innocent” he growled, his eyes anchored on you “Why is she dancing and talking with the ambassador?” he asked, his teeth shut tight

“That's the thing” Steve whispered in his ear with a mocking smile, “If you don´t dance, she´ll dance with somebody else” Bucky let out a growl, “She is the most devastatingly beautiful woman at court”

“She haden´t met him until the first time she was here, and now she seems rather comfortable with him” Steve found it entertaining how he was getting riled up

“I do believe I heard him say that If you made her unhappy, he was going to steal her from you”

“WHAT?” Bucky stood up so fast Steve found it amusing. And he didn't wait much longer until he directed himself upon you

When your giggles and hushed tones reached his ears he almost saw red

“And remember what I said your majesty, we could always go...”

He trapped your hips with his big hand, startling you

“Where?” he said, smiling fakely as he brought you to him. You were caught by surprise, but smiled softly when you felt the warmth of his body pressed against yours

“Your majesty, it was a wonderful wedding” he said bowing to your husband

“Where do you wish to take my wife?” he asked again

“Well…” you saw his nervousness and feared for it

“His Excellency has seen so much of the world” you said quickly, “Just now he was speaking to me about a green island, with trees tall as castles, and colorful animals like the rainbow” it wasn't a lie though, “He wished we could go with him” that seemed to please him, “Both of us”

“I heard you won't take the following weeks of your marriage to take the traditional wedding tour by your country” he said with a grin

“Well as you may know my wife just got to court and will have her settled here before I can take her to see the rest of my Kingdom” you felt as he was not telling you the truth, but you didn't dare to say so

“Of course I understand, and that was a wise decision” he said, bowing again, sensing he was on thin ice with the King, you didn't understand why though

He wanted to wait. You were so sweet and shy, not at all as you seemed in your painting, so he wanted to play dumb tonight, wait until it was late at night, so you could send everyone to bed, no bedding ceremony, not a public event of it. He knew that could make trouble on his marriage and its validity, but that didn't matter to him. He would consummate the marriage with you later, when you had known eachother better, and you were ready.

But then

Your brother came to him, implying you could leave, or that you “weren't alone” whatever that meant, Steve came after, saying again how much beautiful you were, implying you could also have someone else, and then this idiot ass, the ambassador, if it wasn't a representative of his country, your country, he would have made him disappear.

It was too much

He was the King

You were his wife

And he was going to have you, and prove to all of them, that you were his.

He tightened his grip on your hips and you shook in his hands

“Are you ready for the consummation?” he asked, loud enough so the people near you could hear it, and that was enough for the whole party to go silent.

Taglist! <3 @ boofy1998 , @ scxrletrecsmarvel @ itsthemaree @connie326 @enchantedbarnes @scxrletrecsmarvel @itsthemaree @broco8 @babyjay9898-blog @luckyladycreator2 @capmanranger @gloryekaterina @the-lady-vanora @j2brosforlife-spn @rancidgracey @httyd-marauders

#medievalfanfic #medievalau #bucky barnes x y/n #fanfic #bucky fanfic #bucky x reader #buckybarnes #fanfic buckybarnes x reader #bucky barnes #misguidedmylove #king!buckybarnes #king!bucky #king!bucky x you #dark bucky barnes #smut fanfic marvel buckybarnes x you

222 notes · View notes

letterboxd · 3 years

Photo

Blurring the Line.

As a new Space Jam film beams down to Earth, Kambole Campbell argues that a commitment to silliness and a sincere love for the medium is what it takes to make a great live-action/animation hybrid.

The live-action and animation hybrid movie is something of a dicey prospect. It’s tricky to create believable interaction between what’s real and what’s drawn, puppeteered or rendered—and blending the live and the animated has so far resulted in wild swings in quality. It is a highly specific and technically demanding niche, one with only a select few major hits, though plenty of cult oddities. So what makes a good live-action/animation hybrid?

To borrow words from Hayao Miyazaki, “live action is becoming part of that whole soup called animation”. Characters distinct from the humans they interact with, but rendered as though they were real creatures (or ghosts), are everywhere lately; in Paddington, in Scooby Doo, in David Lowery’s (wonderful) update of Pete’s Dragon.

The original ‘Pete’s Dragon’ (1977) alongside the 2016 remake.

Lowery’s dragon is realized with highly realistic lighting and visual-effects work. By comparison, the cartoon-like characters in the 1977 Pete’s Dragon—along with other films listed in Louise’s handy compendium of Disney’s live-action animation—are far more exaggerated. That said, there’s still the occasional holdout for the classical version of these crossovers: this year’s Tom and Jerry replicating the look of 2D through 3D/CGI animation, specifically harkens back to the shorts of the 1940s and ’50s.

One type of live-action/animation hybrid focuses on seamless immersion, the other is interested in exploring the seams themselves. Elf (2003) uses the aberration of stop-motion animals to represent the eponymous character as a fish out of water. Ninjababy, a Letterboxd favorite from this year’s SXSW Festival, employs an animated doodle as a representation of the protagonist’s state of mind while she processes her unplanned pregnancy.

Meanwhile, every Muppets film ever literally tears at the seams until we’re in stitches, but, for the sake of simplicity, puppets are not invited to this particular party. What we are concerned with here is the overlap between hand-drawn animation and live-action scenes (with honorable mentions of equally valid stop-motion work), and the ways in which these hybrids have moved from whimsical confections to nod-and-wink blockbusters across a century of cinema.

Betty Boop and Koko the clown in a 1938 instalment of the Fleischer brothers’ ‘Out of the Inkwell’ series.

Early crossovers often involve animators playing with their characters, in scenarios such as the inventive Out of the Inkwell series of shorts from Rotoscope inventor Max Fleischer and his director brother Dave. Things get even more interactive mid-century, when Gene Kelly holds hands with Jerry Mouse in Anchors Aweigh.

The 1960s and ’70s deliver ever more delightful family fare involving human actors entering cartoon worlds, notably in the Robert Stevenson-directed Mary Poppins and Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and Chuck Jones’ puntastic The Phantom Tollbooth.

Jerry and Gene dance off their worries in ‘Anchors Aweigh’ (1945).

Mary Poppins is one of the highest-rated live-action/animation hybrids on Letterboxd for good reason. Its sense of control in how it engages with its animated creations makes it—still!—an incredibly engaging watch. It is simply far less evil than the singin’, dancin’ glorification of slavery in Disney’s Song of the South (1946), and far more engaging than Victory Through Air Power (1943), a war-propaganda film about the benefits of long-range bombing in the fight against Hitler. The studio’s The Reluctant Dragon (1941) also serves a propagandistic function, as a behind-the-scenes studio tour made when the studio’s animators were striking.

By comparison, Mary Poppins’ excursions into the painted world—replicated in Rob Marshall’s belated, underrated 2018 sequel, Mary Poppins Returns—are full of magical whimsicality. “Films have added the gimmick of making animation and live characters interact countless times, but paradoxically none as pristine-looking as this creation,” writes Edgar in this review. “This is a visual landmark, a watershed… the effect of making everything float magically, to the detail of when a drawing should appear in front or the back of [Dick] Van Dyke is a creation beyond my comprehension.” (For Van Dyke, who played dual roles as Bert and Mr Dawes Senior, the experience sparked a lifelong love of animation and visual effects.)

Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke and penguins, in ‘Mary Poppins’ (1964).

Generally speaking, and the Mary Poppins sequel aside, more contemporary efforts seek to subvert this feeling of harmony and control, instead embracing the chaos of two worlds colliding, the cartoons there to shock rather than sing. Henry Selick’s frequently nightmarish James and the Giant Peach (1996) leans into this crossover as something uncanny and macabre by combining live action with stop motion, as its young protagonist eats his way into another world, meeting mechanical sharks and man-eating rhinos. Sally Jane Black describes it as “riding the Burton-esque wave of mid-’90s mall goth trends and blending with the differently demonic Dahl story”.

Science-classroom staple Osmosis Jones (2001) finds that within the human body, the internal organs serve as cities full of drawn white-blood-cell cops. The late Stephen Hillenburg’s The Spongebob Squarepants Movie (2004) turns its real-life humans into living cartoons themselves, particularly in a bonkers sequence featuring David Hasselhoff basically turning into a speedboat.

David Hasselhoff picks up speed in ‘The Spongebob Squarepants Movie’ (2004).

The absurdity behind the collision of the drawn and the real is never better embodied than in another of our highest-rated live/animated hybrids. Released in 1988, Robert Zemeckis’ Who Framed Roger Rabbit shows off a deep understanding—narratively and aesthetically—of the material that it’s parodying, seeking out the impeccable craftsmanship of legends such as director of animation Richard Williams (1993’s The Thief and the Cobbler), and his close collaborator Roy Naisbitt. The forced perspectives of Naisbitt’s mind-bending layouts provide much of the rocket fuel driving the film’s madcap cartoon opening.

Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, Roger Rabbit utilizes the Disney stable of characters as well as the Looney Tunes cast to harken back to America’s golden age of animation. It continues a familiar scenario where the ’toons themselves are autonomous actors (as also seen in Friz Freleng’s 1940 short You Ought to Be in Pictures, in which Daffy Duck convinces Porky Pig to try his acting luck in the big studios).

Daffy Duck plots his rise up the acting ranks in ‘You Ought to Be in Pictures’ (1940).

Through this conceit, Zemeckis is able to celebrate the craft of animation, while pastiching both Chinatown, the noir genre, and the mercenary nature of the film industry (“the best part is… they work for peanuts!” a studio exec says of the cast of Fantasia). As Eddie Valiant, Bob Hoskins’ skepticism and disdain towards “toons” is a giant parody of Disney’s more traditional approach to matching humans and drawings.

Adult audiences are catered for with plenty of euphemistic humor and in-jokes about the history of the medium. It’s both hilarious (“they… dropped a piano on him,” one character solemnly notes of his son) and just the beginning of Hollywood toying with feature-length stories in which people co-exist with cartoons, rather than dipping in and out of fantasy sequences. It’s not just about how the cartoons appear on the screen, but how the human world reacts to them, and Zemeckis gets a lot of mileage out of applying ’toon lunacy to our world.

Bob Hoskins in ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit?’ (1988).

The groundbreaking optical effects and compositing are excellent (and Hoskins’ amazing performance should also be credited for holding all of it together), but what makes Roger Rabbit such a hit is that sense of controlled chaos and a clever tonal weaving of violence and noirish seediness (“I’m not bad… I’m just drawn that way”) through the cartoony feel. And it is simply very, very funny.

It could be said that, with Roger Rabbit, Zemeckis unlocked the formula for how to modernize the live-action and animation hybrid, by leaning into a winking parody of what came before. It worked so perfectly well that it helped kickstart the ‘Disney renaissance' era of animation. Roger Rabbit has influenced every well-known live-action/animation hybrid produced since, proving that there is success and fun to be had by completely upending Mary Poppins-esque quirks. Even Disney’s delightful 2007 rom-com Enchanted makes comedy out of the idea of cartoons crossing that boundary.

When a cartoon character meets real-world obstacles.

Even when done well, though, hybrids are not an automatic hit. Sitting at a 2.8-star average, Joe Dante’s stealthily great Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003) is considered by the righteous to be the superior live-action/animated Looney Tunes hybrid, harkening back to the world of Chuck Jones and Frank Tashlin. SilentDawn states that the film deserves the nostalgic reverence reserved for Space Jam: “From gag to gag, set piece to set piece, Back in Action is utterly bonkers in its logic-free plotting and the constant manipulation of busy frames.”

With its Tinseltown parody, Back in Action pulls from the same bag of tricks as Roger Rabbit; here, the Looney Tunes characters are famous, self-entitled actors. Dante cranks the meta comedy up to eleven, opening the film with Matthew Lillard being accosted by Shaggy for his performance in the aforementioned Scooby Doo movie (and early on throwing in backhanded jokes about the practice of films like itself as one character yells, “I was brought in to leverage your synergy!”).

Daffy Duck with more non-stop banter in ‘Looney Tunes: Back in Action’ (2003).

Back in Action is even more technically complex than Roger Rabbit, seamlessly bringing Looney Tunes physics and visual language into the real world. Don’t forget that Dante had been here before, when he had Anthony banish Ethel into a cartoon-populated television show in his segment of Twilight Zone: The Movie. Another key to this seamlessness is star Brendan Fraser, at the height of his powers here as “Brendan Fraser’s stunt double”.

Like Hoskins before him, Fraser brings a wholehearted commitment to playing the fed-up straight man amidst cartoon zaniness. Fraser also brought that dedication to Henry Selick's Monkeybone (2001), a Roger Rabbit-inspired sex comedy that deploys a combo of stop-motion animation and live acting in a premise amusingly close to that of 1992’s Cool World (but more on that cult anomaly shortly). A commercial flop, Back in Action was the last cinematic outing for the Looney Tunes for some time.

Nowadays, when we think of live-action animation, it’s hard not to jump straight to an image of Michael Jordan’s arm stretching to do a half-court dunk to save the Looney Tunes from slavery. There’s not a lot that can be fully rationalized about the 1996 box-office smash, Space Jam. It is a bewildering cartoon advert for Michael Jordan’s baseball career, dreamed up off the back of his basketball retirement, while also mashing together different American icons. Never forget that the soundtrack—one that, according to Benjamin, “makes you have to throw ass”—includes a song with B-Real, Coolio, Method Man and LL Cool J.

Michael Jordan and teammates in ‘Space Jam’ (1996).

Space Jam is a film inherently born to sell something, predicated on the existing success of a Nike commercial rather than any obvious passion for experimentation. But its pure strangeness, a growing nostalgia for the nineties, and meticulous compositing work from visual-effects supervisor Ed Jones and the film’s animation team (a number of whom also worked on both Roger Rabbit and Back in Action), have all kept it in the cultural memory.

The films is backwards, writes Jesse, in that it wants to distance itself from the very cartoons it leverages: “This really almost feels like a follow-up to Looney Tunes: Back in Action, rather than a predecessor, because it feels like someone watched the later movie, decided these Looney Tunes characters were a problem, and asked someone to make sure they were as secondary as possible.” That attempt to place all the agency in Jordan’s hands was a point of contention for Chuck Jones, the legendary Warner Bros cartoonist. He hated the film, stating that Bugs would never ask for help and would have dealt with the aliens in seven minutes.

Space Jam has its moments, however. Guy proclaims “there is nothing that Deadpool as a character will ever have to offer that isn’t done infinitely better by a good Bugs Bunny bit”. For some, its problems are a bit more straightforward, for others it’s a matter of safety in sport. But the overriding sentiments surrounding the film point to a sort of morbid fascination with the brazenness of its concept.

Holli Would (voiced by Kim Basinger) and Frank Harris (Brad Pitt) blur the lines in ‘Cool World’ (1992).

Existing in the same demented… space… as Space Jam, Paramount Pictures bought the idea for Cool World from Ralph Bakshi as it sought to have its own Roger Rabbit. While Brad Pitt described it as “Roger Rabbit on acid” ahead of release, Cool World itself looks like a nightmare version of Toontown. The film was universally panned at the time, caught awkwardly between being far too adult for children but too lacking in any real substance for adults (there’s something of a connective thread between Jessica Rabbit, Lola Bunny and Holli Would).

Ralph Bakshi’s risqué and calamitously horny formal experiment builds on the animator’s fascination with the relationship between the medium and the human body. Of course, he would go from the immensely detailed rotoscoping of Fire and Ice (1983) to clashing hand-drawn characters with real ones, something he had already touched upon in the seventies with Heavy Traffic and Coonskin, whose animated characters were drawn into real locations. But no one besides Bakshi quite knew what to do with the perverse concept of Brad Pitt as a noir detective trying to stop Gabriel Byrne’s cartoonist from having sex with a character that he drew—an animated Kim Basinger.

Jack Deebs (Gabriel Byrne) attempts to cross over to Hollie Would in ‘Cool World’ (1992).

Cool World’s awkwardness can be attributed to stilted interactions between Byrne, Pitt and the animated world, as well as studio meddling. Producer Frank Mancuso Jr (who was on the film due to his father running Paramount) demanded that the film be reworked into something PG-rated, against Bakshi’s wishes (he envisioned an R-rated horror), and the script was rewritten in secret. It went badly, so much so that Bakshi eventually punched Mancuso Jr in the face.

While Cool World averages two stars on Letterboxd, there are some enthusiastic holdouts. There are the people impressed by the insanity of it all, those who just love them a horny toon, and then there is Andrew, a five-star Cool World fan: “On the surface, it’s a Lovecraftian horror with Betty Boop as the villain, featuring a more impressive cityscape than Blade Runner and Dick Tracy combined, and multidimensional effects that make In the Mouth of Madness look like trash. The true star, however, proves to be the condensed surplus of unrelated gags clogging the arteries of the screen—in every corner is some of the silliest cel animation that will likely ever be created.”

There are even those who enjoy its “clear response to Who Framed Roger Rabbit”, with David writing that “the film presents a similar concept through the lens of the darkly comic, perverted world of the underground cartoonists”, though also noting that without Bakshi’s original script, the film is “a series of half steps and never really commits like it could”. Cool World feels both completely deranged and strangely low-energy, caught between different ideas as to how best to mix the two mediums. But it did give us a David Bowie jam.

‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ is in cinemas and on HBO Max now.

Craft is of course important, but generally speaking, maybe nowadays a commitment to silliness and a sincere love for the medium’s history is the thing that makes successful live-action/animation hybrids click. It’s an idea that doesn’t lend itself to being too cool, or even entirely palatable. The trick is to be as fully dotty as Mary Poppins, or steer into the gaucheness of the concept, à la Roger Rabbit and Looney Tunes: Back in Action.

It’s quite a tightrope to walk between good meta-comedy and a parade of references to intellectual property. The winningest strategy is to weave the characters into the tapestry of the plot and let the gags grow from there, rather than hoping their very inclusion is its own reward. Wait, you said what is coming out this week?

Related content

Rootfish Jones’s list of cartoons people are horny for

The 100 Sequences that Shaped Animation: the companion list to the Vulture story

Jose Moreno’s list of every animated film made from 1888 to the present

Follow Kambole on Letterboxd

25 notes · View notes

just-a-creep-babe · 3 years

Text

~Matchup~

Commissioned by @folliaght tysm babe 🥰❤️

Requests are closed!

Masterlist: x

I match you with: Jane the Killer

With how madly in love Jeff was with you, there was no way in hell you would’ve been able to get away without some kind of outside help

Jane, knowing and loathing Jeff after being one of his many (many) victims, knew what it would take to save you

She was able to free you & give you a safe place to lay low for a while, which is actually how your relationship began c:

After spending time with you every day, she started seeing why he was so enamored with you

But, of course, knowing what you’d just been through, she was reluctant to make any moves

Homegirl wanted to give you all the time you needed to heal, after all

So she kept her distance—pretending to ignore the way your smile made her heart flutter & the way your lips always seemed to draw her attention

Without realizing, she ended up overdoing it

She wanted to spare you both from her developing feelings, but in her attempts, she ended up being way too cold & aloof

It’s only when you confronted her about avoiding you all the time that she finally came clean :”)

She made sure you didn’t feel any pressure at all to be with her + made it abundantly clear that she just needed to get this confession off her chest

She‘s, admittedly, surprised and absolutely elated when you tell her you’re ready for a new relationship

She’ll take things at a ~snail’s pace~ from the very beginning to make sure you’re comfortable with everything

She’ll also make sure she knows all about your boundaries so she doesn’t accidentally cross any of them :”)

Highkey drinks her respect women juice every 👏single 👏day 👏so you can bet your tush she’ll give you all the space you need when ya need it

She’s a great listener too—always super attentive + great at empathizing & validating your feelings <3

She’ll do her best to fulfill your needs to make up for all of the bad relationships you’ve had to deal with in the past

*Cough* Jeff *cough*

She just thinks you deserve way better than what you’ve been given & wants to make it up somehow, y’know? 🥰🥰

She fucking adores how soft & sweet you look in the clothes you wear

Loves the mix of delicate and feminine with that classic, natural tone to it ☺️👌

You just have such a cute style—every time she sees you she has to resist smothering your face in lovely little kissies uwu

She admires how, after everything you’ve been through, you’re still not afraid of being yourself & experiencing vulnerability/emotional depth

While she typically listens to rock & heavier types of music, she’ll try to get into classical music for you—and whenever she’s too worked up or stressed & you’re not there to calm her down, she’ll put on a track that reminds her of you & it’ll immediately soothe her

You’re just so lovely, she loves you to bits 🥺✨

Loves lazy days where she’ll prepare some tea or hot chocolate and snuggle up w/ you on the couch under a big warm blanket while you play animal crossing

Because of how attentive she is, one way or another, whether you tell her or she finds out on her own, she’ll learn about your past with your eating disorder

She trusts that you’re much healthier now & can look after yourself, but she’ll still watch out if you start showing signs that you might be re-experiencing some symptoms

And she loves cooking healthy food with/for you so she can make sure you’re nice & full of them good nutrients ^^

She’s a pretty decent cook, but she does mess up sometimes, so she’ll either come to you for help, or y’all will just order takeout while watching some old-timey cartoons :3

It’s actually a Sunday tradition for y’all to wake up & enjoy breakfast while watching cartoons ^^

It’s a super comforting ritual; the stress of the week just melts away & you can both enjoy each other’s presence in peace <3

And after that, she’ll take you downtown to scour second hand shops & y’all will spend the day window-shopping/exploring out & about :>

If anyone dares to make misogynistic comments or try to flirt with you while you’re together, she will end them

Not in your presence though, ofc

No, while in front of you, she’ll just as easily shut them down & humiliate them so bad they’ll immediately regret it

Homegirl’s got some claws and she’s not afraid to show them, especially when your comfort is at stake

She wants you to be as happy & carefree as possible; even if she knows you can handle yourself & are mostly unfazed by what other people think, there’s no way in hell she’s gonna let others try to bring you down

She’s sUPER protective of you tbh

Although she can’t always hang around & watch anime w/ ya sometimes because of how busy she is, she‘ll always make time in her schedule to participate in some of the hobbies you enjoy ^^

She gets way too frustrated trying to sew and it’s actually kind of cute & funny when she tries lmfaoo, but like I mentioned, she enjoys cooking/baking & she also really likes drawing

Seriously, she loves art & is pretty skilled at it too!

She makes for quite the teacher ;)

And even though she’s got a personal vendetta against sewing, she’ll still encourage you by looking up cool patterns & designs for clothing inspiration to try out

Wants 👏to 👏see 👏you 👏flourish 👏

She’s sO damn proud of the progress you’ve made to get to the point where you are now

She knows things haven’t always been easy, which is why she’s always there for you & gives you as much time & attention as you need

She also does everything in her power to keep Jeff from finding you again

And if it ever came down to it, she’d fight tooth & nail to make sure you safely got away from him

Y’all honestly have bonded over similar traumas & bad experiences

She also hasn’t had it easy, so she understands what you’ve been through & can empathize really well to your experiences

Appreciates & admires your strength, bravery, confidence & optimism so damn much, you have no idea :”)

Overall? Best gf 🥺💞💗💖

NSFW

As I’ve mentioned, Jane takes things as s-l-o-w-l-y as need be to make sure you’re feeling alright before going any further

Sex is definitely not at the top of her list of priorities

She values your comfort & safety above all

So it actually takes a decent while until y’all get together in bed, especially if you don’t typically initiate things

And she’s extra careful, extra caring & extra attentive to your needs all throughout

Reassures you ~multiple~ times that you don’t need to go all the way & can stop anytime you want

She takes care of all your needs before even considering her own

Seriously just wants to make it the best experience she can for you <3

When she finds out it’s your first time with a woman, she can’t help but get some devious ideas for the future 😈

Wants to show you how much better than men women are at pleasuring ladies~

Ngl, she can get a little cocky about her skills in the bedroom, but it’s a well-earned attitude 👀

The more y’all sleep together, the less afraid/reluctant she’ll be & the more confident she’ll grow with the way she touches you

And if you wanna experiment with anything? She’ll gladly take suggestions uwu

You might have to do a bit of convincing before trying anything too rough though, because she doesn’t wanna hurt you

But, ya know, she also wants you to be satisfied with your sex life, so she likely won’t flat-out say no to anything

There will be safe words however

Also if you ever wanna do penetration, she’s killer with a strap-on, just sayin 👀💦💦

Highkey leans towards being dominant cause she likes the control

And also,, being too vulnerable isn’t her fave, y’know?

She would totes make an exception for you if ya wanted to be on top, but she knows you’re pretty submissive, so it works out perfectly 😘

She loves how cute you look all panting & flustered beneath her~

She gets a lot of pleasure and satisfaction from making you feel good, so you definitely won’t find her complaining if you’re a bit of a pillow princess 😉

Her aftercare btw? Bomb af ☺️☺️

Like,, because she knows you’ve had bad experiences with past partners, she’ll put sO much effort into assuring your happiness & comfort at the end of everything

So she’ll bring you a glass of water, offer plenty of cuddles & praises—hell, homegirl will give you a back AND foot rub if you ask for it

Just wants her princess to be happy <3

Loves you w all her blackened heart 😘

#creepypasta #creepypasta x reader #creepypasta matchup #Jane the killer #jane the killer x reader

36 notes · View notes

realityhelixcreates · 3 years

Text

Lasabrjotr Chapter 73: Teal

Chapters: 73/?

Fandom: Thor (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe

Rating: R

Relationships: Loki x Reader

Characters: Loki (Marvel),

Additional Tags: Post-Endgame: Best Possible Ending (Canon-Divergent), Mentions of Sexual Activity, NSFW, Starting to Bring Some Threads Together

Summary: Asgard honors the giant as best it can. You continue to dream

The weather turned worse on the way back, until even the well maintained Ring Road was scarcely visible. Eventually, Loki pulled you up into his saddle on Leynarodd's back, seating you flush with his body, and wrapping his back-up cloak around you.

“I will keep you as warm as I may.” He breathed into your ear. “Would it help if I were to whisper lewd and wicked things to you?”

You giggled, but shook your head. “Just cuddle. I want to go to sleep.”

And so, he wrapped his arms around you as well, and let you doze.

Your arrival was heralded with a celebration that woke you with instruments and shouting. You moved back to Acorn as the procession moved through the city, and, still drowsy, participated in a great feast thrown in the giant's honor.

This was a part of Asgardian funerary customs, as taught to you by Saga. The burial honored the dead's body, and the feast honored the dead's spirit. Normally, the revelers told stories of the dead's deeds during life, but no one knew the giant, so instead extolled the accomplishments of all Jotun, across the ages.

You didn't have any such stories, so you listened and ate, as Bogljot described being defeated in a contest of speed by the Forest Giant, Hyrrokkin, as the normally quiet Heimdall sang praises to his many 'mothers', as an older Asgardian you didn't know described the great mountain kingdom of Utgardaloki, for whom Loki was named.

It was dark yet again by the time the feast ended, and Loki led you, stumbling and tipsy on cider, back to his bedroom. He carefully divested you of your armor, stripped every last garment from you, and sat you down on your chair beneath the sunlamp. As the light warmed your skin, Loki also shucked his own clothing, and sat down at your feet. The two of you spent an hour under the warm lamp, Loki reading you various examples of Earth poetry he thought you would like, or resting his head in your lap and letting you toy with his hair.

Finally, when fatigue had clearly caught all the way up with you, Loki turned out the light, and carried you off to bed, where he made love to you until you could no longer keep your eyes open. When you drifted away, it was on a cloud of warm bliss.

******

You found yourself in the glory of open space once more buoyed by sparkling blue light. It came from a gem that you could see now, flying before you like a comet, with yourself gliding along in its glowing tail. You started to reach out for the glittering object once more, but pulled your hand back, vaguely remembering something that put you off of grabbing it. Thoughts echoed within your blood, concepts resolving themselves into impressions in your mind.

You are learning me. Learn me. Learn more.

How? You thought. What are you?

A swirl of something. A blur of light, a different 'texture' than the blue.

Green.

Your right hand itched.

Learn me! Learn me! There is so much of me! Look! See!

Your world jittered, like a heartbeat slightly out of rhythm. With the suddenness of a drop of water in a still pool, the space around you rippled unexpectedly, folded in around you, and instead of nowhere, you were Somewhere.

A world full of green-skinned, red-haired people, thriving, but confused. A woman walked the streets crying out what you assumed to be a girl's name.

Titan, with its orange skies, empty, ruined. A ghost town of a planet.

Earth, running through frigid winds. Other humans ran beside you, dressed for a time long since passed. Frost Giants pursued, driving terror, like dogs, at your heels.

A woman, bald and elegantly androgynous, in flowing robes and surrounded by nothingness. She looked at you with pity, with eyes that pierced right through you.

“You are not ready for what is happening.” She said. “And I am not in a position to help.”

A severed head, the size of a small moon, floating through space. There were lights, cities built upon it, within it. You recoiled in horror, but as you watched, the cities shrank; went dark. The head floated backward, back and back. You blinked, and it was reattached to an impossibly gargantuan body. Another blink and the colossal being orbited a young sun, along with a haphazard belt of asteroids. You watched as they grasped one of the largest of them, and sundered it over their knee.

Wiping the newly exposed surface clean, the being stared out into a space that was dark and sparsely decorated with stars. Then, with fingertips each stained a different color, they grasped the asteroid and began to draw.

******

You awoke, brimming with the feeling that something important had happened while you slept, but couldn't quite pinpoint where that energy was coming from. There was something you felt the need to do, something you couldn't put a name to.

You could barely sit still under your sunlamp, wolfing down your oatmeal and dried fruit. Loki couldn't help but to comment on your increased energy. A wink and a suggestive comment, and you had him back in bed, hands on his chest, riding him for all he was worth.

You sure didn't hear him arguing.

When the two of you were finally presentable, scrubbed and dressed and fed, you took to the halls with your sunlamp in tow. Loki had some meetings to attend today; some job disputes that had come up recently. You had your classes with Saga. A light squeeze of the hand, and you parted ways.

The snow had continued through the night, piling up high against the windows. Reconstruction of your room had been forced to a halt, and all of your things had been moved, either to storage or to Loki's room. The caterpillar in a jar had become a chrysalis in a jar, but the butterfly had not emerged yet. It was possible that the cooler temperatures and lack of light had put it into some kind of stasis: unusual, but not unheard of.

It was still frightening to think that you had caused all that destruction, just because of a dream you couldn't even remember. What if you did that while Loki slept beside you?

There were far more people indoors now that winter had come, doing what Loki had described as their 'real' jobs, weavers and seamstresses, scribes, engineers, jewelers, and so many painters. In every hallway and alcove there was someone with a palette, someone with a pencil, someone carving the plaster into delicate ribbons and knots. Some of them told you they were trying to recreate murals from old Asgard. Others seemed to be trying a new take on their history. Others were focusing on more recent events.

As you walked through the halls, you saw heavily formulaic paintings of what must have been Odin and Frigga, Bor and the terrifying Hela, Heimdall, Thor, and Loki, and many others you didn't recognize. There were battles, and peace treaties, Vanir, Alfar, and Jotnar, There was Njord, Freya, and Freyr, whom you stopped and stared at for a few moments before shaking yourself free.

There were also events and vistas in a different style, some of which must have been pulled directly from the painters own memories. Soaring golden buildings and busy streets, folk dances and blacksmiths forging swords. A riot of berserkers clashing their metal staves, the view of a waterfall ocean.

There were Svartalfari in the great halls, Heimdall destroying a strange vehicle, portals to all of the realms circling each other. There was Frigga, standing tall, holding a sword over her head. There was Frigga, lying in a boat, surrounded by golden light. There was a sparkling red jewel, hanging over the head of a woman you realized must be a stylized Dr. Jane Foster. There were the Avengers again, painted in the heroic style of Asgard, haloed like holy beings. Did the Asgardians see them as the pantheon of Earth?

There was the destruction of Asgard. The great Jotun Surtr, the tiny form of Hela brandishing her thorn-like weapons against him in an almost heroic way. There was the enormous wolf Fenris, grappling with the Hulk. The star-filled expanse of space, with their island spaceship carrying them safely to Earth, a beautiful orb, painted as though seen through a window.

There were the mountains and river outside, rendered in such marvelous detail that you recognized the exact place. There were nightscapes of the Northern Lights.

And there was you.

Your little figure, next to Loki, with your flower crown helm. Among the longhouses of Trolerkaerhalla, wearing the cloak of a Seidkona. It was a very strange feeling, to see yourself immortalized like this. The impostor syndrome flared up, heavy and loud. Logically speaking, you had made history. But why should it have been you? Why should any of this be you?

You hurried through the increasingly colorful halls, seeking out the library. There would always be this battle inside you, between acknowledgment that you were deserving of good things, and belief that there were others so much more deserving.

You rushed into the library, with it's nice new door, and set up your sunlamp. Saga handed you your drum. The Valkyries were here, as well as an ancient, wizened woman who had probably been a Seidkona since the Parthenon had been built. She instructed you strictly, but patiently in the primeval rhythm of Seidkona ritual. There was a chant she was teaching you, a mystical affirmation ritual in a bygone dialect of the Asgardian language, so archaic that the meaning of the words were lost even on your venerable teacher. Saga understood them, but since she was not a Seidkona, she was in essence, forbidden from speaking them.

You got the feeling that it annoyed her a bit.

You were walked through the chant, and the drum beat over and over, committing the sounds to memory, like you had for the past few weeks. The only thing you were missing was the very last syllable of the chant, the knowledge of which would only be imparted on you at the eve of the Buridag festival. Before then, you would not be allowed to speak, or even know it, for fear of completing the spell prematurely.

After your lessons, you spent a little bit of time in one of the library's side rooms, where Asgard's salvaged art treasures were kept. Lofn and her twin Sjofn, who were in charge of preservation, display, and upkeep, were both all too happy to educate you on what they were. Sjofn had just finished cleaning and labeling a collection of Nornheim knives, very similar to your own. You could see the shift in shape and handle style that had occurred over the years of war with Asgard.

They were all made of nornbein, with stone handles, though many of them had been engraved with the names of the Asgardians who had claimed them. Yours had not. In comparison, your knife, with its lance-like blade and cylindrical handle, was clearly from the latter period of Nornheim occupation, while the earlier knives were more leaf shaped, with flattened handles. You wondered how many hundreds of years those changes represented, with rock trolls carefully shaping the blades to their preference, and picking their favorite stones; blue and green, gray, violet, white, banded, and your own pink ruby, to carve into handles. Did the color and type mean anything to them, or had it just been personal preference?

These knives all represented Asgardian lineages which had died out, with no one left to inherit the blades. It was a sad collection to look at, as sad as where the knives had come from in the first place.

Lofn had templates from past Asgardian fashion designers, arranged on an enormous poster board, and carefully glued down flat. As you watched, she affixed strange little clip-like devices at all four corners, and at regular intervals along each side.

“They are useful storage and protective devices.” She explained. “We can make them from Midgardian materials too. You see, when activated, they form a protective field.” She tapped each of them in turn, and they lit up, covering the huge poster board in a very slight, almost imperceptible glow.

“It is protected now.” She announced. In a swift and startling movement, she grabbed one of the newly cataloged knives and stabbed the board with a ferocious growl. You jumped back, even as the blade bounced harmlessly off. She laughed as a glaring Sjofn snatched the knife back. “You see? It cannot be harmed. We protect our precious things in this way.”

“It has another use too.” She grasped the edges of the poster board and squeezed them together. To your amazement, the entire thing-easily as wide as you were tall-shrank to the size of a sheet of paper. “Look, do you see?”

She touched the field and it reacted like an electronic tablet, magnifying and moving across parts of the board, so you could see the details up close.

“You see, don't you? You see?” She asked.

Your gaze shifted, away from the fashion poster, away from the knife collection, to a work of art that had caught your attention earlier in the year. An artwork that wore the same preservation devices.

Ymir's Dreamscape.

“You see.” Lofn said.

#lasabrjotr #loki (marvel)#loki x reader

20 notes · View notes

shreddedparchment · 5 years

Text

Pseudo Princess Pt.12

A Special Delivery

10/26/2019

Pairing: King!Steve x Reader Word Count: 5,520

Warnings: talk of sex, angst, jealousy, violent images, language

A/N: I will come back and add tags after I eat. I’m hungry. And tags take forever. This one will answer a few of the questions I’ve been getting. The next one will answer more. I hope you like it. Let me know what you all think! I read EACH and EVERY comment. There have been a lot lately and I haven’t been able to respond to all of them but be aware that I see them. I read them. I love them. They mean so much. Thank you! If you happen to reblog, thanks for helping me spread my work.

Tags are CLOSED for this story!

Steve watches you lay there, face lacking its usual color, eyes shut to the world, mouth slightly open. His nerves frayed and his mind swirling with all of the possible things that might go wrong.

As Natasha fusses to get your dress open, she turns to him and your rescuer where he hovers also watching you with concern.

“Some privacy, your Majesties, if you please?” She gives Steve a stern look and he nods, eyes moving past her frown to your unconscious face.

“The doctor is on his way, Nat. Can you-?” Steve begins.

“As soon as he’s seen her, I will come find you.” She promises, a little exasperated. “Go, Steve. I’ll take care of her.”

“And her legs, and her…when you undress her, check her all over Nat, make sure she’s doesn’t have a single scratch.” Steve’s voice rises in pitch a little, frantic energy seeping through the calm he’s been trying to maintain.

“Steve,” Nat’s eyes soften as she pauses untying your dress. “I’ve got her. Alright? I’ll be thorough. Go.”

With a nod Steve turns, eyeing the King of Asgard up before he clears his throat to get his attention.

“Your Majesty?” Steve coaxes, voice back to normal, his calm façade a little better in place.

The King of Asgard sighs heavily, turning away from you without meeting Steve’s eyes and heads out into the dark empty hallway.

Steve follows. When he reaches the hallway, he pauses for a moment, just long enough to meet the thunder god’s eyes.

“Can we speak in my office?” Steve asks.

Thor gestures down the hall with one massive hand. “Lead the way, your Majesty.”

As the God smirks, Steve narrows his eyes a bit, trying to understand the sharp edge to his tone.

His office is not far. Just at the other end of the hall, connected to his separate quarters. He hasn’t been sleeping in it since you left him and has elected to sleep by your empty bed, sitting in that chair you like to sit in when you sew.

Of course, only Natasha and Peter have caught him in there. Bucky knows because he knows everything that Steve does, even while he’s been out helping Sam look for you.

The office is not tidy. His papers are scattered across his desk, but he has no idea what is on them or which ones are important. He’s had no time to pay them any mind.

Sure, he tried to get some work done, but every time he did your sobbing face popped back up in his mind and he found himself unable to get any work done.

He waits for Thor to follow him in, then shuts the door behind him. He moves to the fire and grabs a long iron rod to stoke the fire and bring back the warmth, his hands visibly shaking despite the composure he seems to have.

“I think I should thank you.” Steve begins. “Where did you find her? How long has she been with you?”

Thor scoffs.

Steve blinks, considering the reaction to his words then puts the poker back before turning to look at Thor. Brow furrowed, he stares at him, watching as the God’s hands tighten around the back of the chair in front of his desk.

He’s looking down at the seat but not really seeing it. He’s preoccupied, remembering something that’s clearly upset him while shaking his head, a bitter laugh on his lips.

~~~~~~~~~~

“I know that you don’t wish to speak of it, little bird, but I must ask. Did Steve force you?” You’re walking ahead of him, swinging your arms—so carefree, he almost hates to bring this up.

You stop, reaching down to feel the edge of his red cape which he’s ashamed to admit he’s grown fond of seeing you wrapped up in.

Your head tilts down to the ground and you kick a stone that flitters off towards another larger rock where it hits without moving it.

“No.” You sigh. “He didn’t force me but…I don’t know it all felt very—not like what happened the other night.”

He’s not ashamed for touching you…well, maybe a bit. You are his friend’s wife after all, but the idea of you not knowing the bliss that can come from sharing your body with someone. Especially someone you love?

Maybe he’s just a romantic—he misses Jane—but to him, there is nothing more sacred than the shared pleasure, that ethereal connection with someone you care deeply about.

“I’m sorry if I-” He begins, worried that he might have done something you had not wanted.

You hadn’t asked it of him though he could sense your curiosity, the wonder.

And you’re so perfect. So beautiful. How could he resist? His Jane so very far away unsure of her desire to commit. You already so invested in your marriage while Steve pushes you away.

If it had been him, he’d have loved you fiercely after quickly realizing just how wonderful you were. It only took him hours to see it. How can Steve not see it?

“You didn’t.” You assure him, turning to look at him but you don’t smile. You’re ashamed. Sad that you enjoyed yourself though you shouldn’t be. “But I shouldn’t have let you.”

You think for a moment, then smile at him and his heart skips a beat.

“It was only really hard the first two times. The first because it hurt. I’d never been with a man before and his Majesty wanted to get it over with, I think.” Your smile falters. “I’m not his M-”

You don’t seem to be able to say her name.

“I’m not her, so it must have been nauseating for him to be with me in that way. I thought maybe he did like me a little. He was so receptive.

“I was in a lot of pain that first time. That whole week. A part of the second but his Majesty was gentler. Kinder. At least in bed. He never stayed. I slept alone.”

The loneliness in your voice is shattering. It breaks his insides apart, guts him and spills his squiggly red innards.

“I’m grateful.” You tell him to his astonishment.

Your wind whips in the breeze, his red cape drawn more tightly around your body as you snuggle into it, relishing in the warmth it gives. It’s colder in these forests but soon the warmth of Broklin will return.

“When it stopped hurting, I stopped crying. His Majesty was always more bothered when I cried.

“I know that Steve may not be showing you his good qualities at the moment. He’s much more than the man you know. I know you don’t want to hear about her anymore but…Margaret and Steve shared a love like I have never seen.

“They knew each other in and out. My love for Jane can only compare so far. They were born in the same year. They shared the same friends. Same passions. They grew together, shaped each other, they were the closest that I have seen any pair to being one soul split between two bodies. Steve thought he would have her until the day he died.

“He never expected her to go first.” Thor licks his lips, watching as his words crush your heart.

He hates to do it to you, but for the sake of your marriage, you must hear it.

“I know that he loves her very much, Thor.” You nearly sob, looking away from him but he crosses the distance between you and takes your shoulders in hand.

“No, little bird. You don’t. There are many varieties of love and the love that Steve and Margaret shared is the rarest of all. She became a part of him and he of her. If she was troubled, he knew it without needing to ask. If he was injured, she felt it in her bones.” Thor explains. “I saw it for myself.”

You don’t want to hear but picturing them together now feels different. It doesn’t hurt as much. Not in the way it’s been hurting. Not like jealousy.

“Imagine someone ripping out a piece of what makes you the person you are, and you will know what Steve has been suffering. He is not himself little bird. That’s all I mean by this. He will come to his senses and he will bitterly regret the mistakes he’s made with you.

“He will be eager to make amends and right his wrongs. Steven Rogers is not a bad man.” Thor promises. “Only a broken one. I cannot say whether he will ever be whole again, perhaps you will be able to help him-”

“I don’t want to replace her.” You frown. “I’ve never wanted to do that. All I wanted was a chance to know him. I love him…I’ve seen him be himself before. I’ve seen him open up. But never with me. I want it to be with me, Thor.”

Thor squeezes your shoulders. “He will. I guarantee it.”

“He doesn’t even care that I’m gone.” You look down at his chest and he draws you in for a reassuring embrace.

“Trust me, little bird, anyone who has known you would miss you.”

“It’s not his fault, Thor.” You say, not hearing him. “I’m just…not enough. I’m not who I said I am. I’m no one. He deserves more.”

~~~~~~~~~~

“Did I say something amusing?” Steve wonders confused by the King of Asgard’s rudeness.

He’s never done anything but be civil with him and his Kingdom. They’ve forged peace treaties and partnership in trade. Had he forgotten to renew one?

“You think you should thank me? For bringing her back?” Thor looks up at him, seeing through him, back from whatever memory he’d been lost in.

Steve doesn’t like it. He shifts uncomfortably then moves towards his desk.

“Yes. Thank you for keeping her safe.” Steve tells him.

“I did not do it for you.” Thor assures him. “Let me ask you something, Steven—”

For a moment, Steve’s heart feels lighter. Thor hasn’t called him that since they were boys together planning how they would each rule their kingdoms. Dreaming big and ready for the challenge. Steve had been more reluctant, but he’d grown to love the idea with Thor to understand the responsibilities that came with such a job.

“—do you suppose your new wife is happy?” Thor moves to sit down in the seat he’s been standing behind, leaning back with his legs spread open.

It’s an undignified pose but normal for him. Steve takes no offense. In fact, he sits down himself and leans back, relaxing for the first time in weeks.

“I…” Steve thinks fast. Your pretty face, tears streaking across the swell of your cheeks, lip trembling, sobs ripping through your throat all fill his mind again. “No. I don’t suppose she is.”

“She was a virgin when you took her.”

“Yes. I think so.” Steve nods.

“That wasn’t a question. I am telling you because she told me.” Thor lets that sink in.

Steve stares at his old friend, considering the hard set of his eyes, the tick of his jaw. Thor’s angry. This sets Steve on edge. It makes him defensive.

“She told me many things.” Thor continues. “And I gave her comfort. I think I should own up to that now. You see, your wife had no idea that laying with a man might be pleasurable. She assumed that it was always to be painful or unrewarding.

“In all the time I have known you, old friend, I have never suspected you to be as ungenerous as she made you seem.”

“I…” Steve begins, but Thor doesn’t let him finish.

“I will say my piece and then you may respond.” Thor orders and this makes Steve bristle.

Him? Being ordered in his own castle? In his own office?

“Thor-”

“I had her.” He states, a small shrug thrown Steve’s way. “Not completely. Just enough to show her what love might feel like.”

“You what?” Anger like he’s never known sets his blood to boil and Steve must remind himself that Thor is his friend. That laying a hand on him in this moment would bring about war. Seeing past the red haze is difficult.

“I couldn’t believe my ears when she laughed in my face and told me that sex hadn’t and shouldn’t feel good. She said she’d wait until you’re finished and then do as the doctors ordered to ensure she became pregnant. She told me that the pain finally stopped. That finally it didn’t hurt, and she was very happy, because it meant that you could bed her, and she would no longer cry.

“Did her crying upset you?” Steve watches him drag his plump lower lip through his teeth, glaring at the long-haired blonde, wishing he could rid himself of the urge to sink his dagger into his chest. “I’m surprised it took her so long to leave you.”

“Where do you get off-?”

“I said I would say my piece.” Thor says calmly, but his eyes flash bright blue and outside thunder crackles overhead as lightning flashes through the window.

Steve isn’t afraid of the thunder God, his glare seethes.

“She tried to speak up for you. She’s in love with you. I don’t know why. I haven’t seen it for myself, haven’t been here, but I can see the loneliness in her eyes. And for a night at least, I was able to relieve her of it.”

“How dare you touch-!” Steve cuts off his wild guttural threat, the black pit in his stomach seems to be expanding upwards into his chest. It drags him down to the deepest depths of hell and he hates that he made you suffer.

You tear him to shreds with your tears and all the pain he’s given you. He can never make it up to you. He can’t make it right. Now he hears that you’ve been…touched by someone else? A God? By Thor?!

Painful images of you caressing Thor’s cheeks and hair, running your hands over his muscles as he thrusts into you fill Steve’s mind.

Fury! He feels the most potent fury at the sight in his head.

“Does that make you angry? That I’ve tasted your Queen?” Thor asks, keeping his voice even and quiet. “She’s very sweet, Steve. Like peaches dipped in honey. She trembled with ecstasy and cried because she didn’t know it could feel so good.”

Steve is on his feet, fists clenched at his sides as he glares daggers at this traitor. This so-called friend.

The image in his mind changes, Thor's head between your legs as you throw your own back, hands fisting his hair as he grips your thighs.

No!

“I should have you taken to the dungeon and beheaded.” Steve growls, spitting angry, with eyes like the devil when his souls are due.

Thor doesn’t seem to take the threat seriously. He leans forward, elbows on his knees as he gets a good look into Steve’s eyes. He looks a little happy too. Like he’s enjoying Steve’s reaction.

“Why do you treat her so?” He asks, curious. “Is it because of Maggie?”

“Don’t.” Steve growls harder, voice cutting out as a surprised sob slips through. The anger fades from his face, replaced by shocked heartache at the mention of Maggie. “Don’t.”

“It has been nearly three years since you lost her. I know what you lost. I know that no one can replace what the two of you shared but it’s no longer just you. Someone else is living and breathing in this castle and she’s placed all of her hopes on you.” Thor gripes, real concern for his friend turning his voice soft.

“I know.” Steve whispers, fighting the sorrow in his chest as he sits back down.

“Do you?” Thor checks, eyebrows shooting up into his forehead.

Steve looks up at him and seems to have gotten some of his composure back.

“You have been so wrapped up in your grief that you’ve ignored the woman you’ve married. It is not her fault that you loved someone else first. It’s not her fault that you lost Maggie. But you’re punishing her as if it were.”

“I know it’s not…” Steve argues.

“Then why do you only see your own grievances? Why can you only see your own sorrow? Your wife is reaching out to you, to know you, and you will not let her.” Thor seems to get angrier as he speaks. Exasperation making him breathless as he moves to the edge of his seat.

He gestures at the doorway they’d just walked through, to you down the hall in your bedroom.

Steve knows that he means that you’re trying to touch his heart. He’s going to try and let you. He won’t run away from it anymore.

“She was uprooted from her life and brought here. She was given into your care and you’ve done nothing but show her that her life is not only valued at less than the memory of someone long gone, but that you don’t care whether she is happy in her new home. Your subjects can see that.

“Do you not hear the gossip that snakes its way through your kingdom? The Crazy Queen. Poor King Rogers. He had to marry King Stark’s mad daughter. He clearly doesn’t love her. Look at how he shuns her. Why can’t she just stay in her room where none of us must see her?

“Nobody wants her.” Thor finishes, slapping the harsh words without remorse. “Not even the King.”

“I do want her.” Steve argues, angry again, voice gruff. “I do. I just…”

“Do you hate her?”

“No.” Steve glares. “Of course, I don’t hate her. Would I have married her if I hated her?”

Yes. He would have. He hates to admit it. But he doesn’t hate you. You fill his thoughts now.

“Then what will you do if you lose this one too?” Thor asks, punching Steve in the gut with his words.

Steve slams his fist on the desk, hating the ache that strangles his heart. “No!”

Thor simply watches.

“I won’t lose her, Thor. I-I can’t.” Steve gets up and begins to pace, reaching up to wipe his face in frustration. “Where is that damn doctor? Why hasn’t Nat come?”

“You almost did lose her.” Thor nods, ignoring Steve’s sudden panic at his reminder that you’re lying in your bed unconscious. “And I don’t mean her injuries. You pushed her away so harshly that she ran away from you. Imagine what she must have felt to leave you, forgoing all care for her reputation and safety. If I hadn’t found her wandering in the woods, she might very well be dead right now. She wasn’t in the greatest condition when I found her. Sick. Hungry. Parched.”

Steve sits again and buries his face in his hands, gasping hard as the strife of worry finally catches up with him. He’s been holding it in since you went away, refusing to really feel it. To let others see it.

Pierce and Rumlow had come the closest.

“A little bit longer and you would have lost her just as you lost Margaret.” Thor says gently.

“I can’t.” Steve groans, hands sliding up into his hair to pull harshly. “I can’t lose her.”

“Then fix this.” Thor tells him, urging his old friend to do what’s right. “Fix this before she stops loving you. And if you think you can love her, even if it is only a little bit, don’t leave her in any doubt of it. I will not be the last man to show interest.”

Steve’s face contorts into a grimace, upset and angry but it almost seems like it’s directed at himself. He meets Thor’s eyes with that same agonized look on his face.

“Did you really…did you and she…?”

Thor is silent. It’s answer enough but Steve stares, wanting more details. Even though his eyes are pools of anguish because he knows that Thor didn’t lie about having tasted you, he wants to know how and for how long.

“Tell me.” Steve begs, almost afraid of what he might say.

How will he compare to a God? He’s already done such a horrible job at being your husband. He’s left your bed how many nights with you sobbing into your pillow? How many more where you just laid there without complaint?

“I don’t want to be indiscreet.” Thor hesitates.

“I think we’re well past that, Thor. Just…tell me.” Steve sighs. “Did you sleep with her?”

“No.” Thor assures him. “I thought about it.”

Steve glares at him but takes a shaky breath and nods. “Did you-”

“I touched her with my hands until she neared release. I attempted cunnilingus but, she stopped me when she came close. I don’t think it’s me she wanted touching her in such ways.” Thor says.

Steve has that urge to stab his friend again. He pushes through it, reminding himself that if he hadn’t been terrible to you then you would have never run out on him and you would have never met Thor and been placed in such an awkward position.

“Steve…” Thor begins, pulling Steve’s storm blue gaze back up to his.

When Thor is sure that he has his friend’s undivided attention, he speaks.

“I can see that you care about her. It isn’t just that she’s your wife that makes you want to stab me with your dagger.”

“How do you know that I-?” Steve asks, astonished that Thor knows Steve’s violent thoughts.

“Because it is what I would want to do if I learned that someone other than myself had touched the Lady Jane. I felt bad for her pain and I’d be lying if I said that your sweet wife is not tempting. She has a fighter’s spirit but the gentility of a true Queen. She has compassion which is difficult to find in the ruling class. If I did not love Jane as much as I do, and if she were not already your wife, I would take her as my own.” Thor confesses and it scares Steve.

Is Thor right? Will there be other suitors? Other men that will think it’s possible to steal you from him?

“Perhaps I still might?” Thor threatens.

Steve renews his glare, hating him if only because he’s done something that he hasn’t done himself.

He’s tasted you. Seen you happy beneath him. Given you pleasure when Steve has only given you pain.

“As I said before,” Thor insists. “If you love her, even just a small amount, you must tell her and tell her soon. Her patience is wearing thin with you Steve. She cannot wait for you forever. She might be your Queen until the day she dies but she doesn’t have to love you.”

Steve considers the possibility. You by his side until you’re both old and gray and you, with a string of lovers over a lifetime in a loveless marriage. He doesn’t like the idea of someone else touching you. He hates it even more to think that you might not love him. That you won’t want him around you.

“Fix it.” Thor orders, and Steve feels obliged to obey.

“There’s something else.” Thor states, leaning back in his chair again, but he nods at the red leather-bound book that Steve had caught you reading the title of. “Two things actually.”

“What is it?” Steve asks, reaching to place his hand on the book only after glancing towards the doorway full of worry. Has the doctor come yet?

“First, the reason that Y/N is in her current state is because we were attacked. More specifically, she was.” Thor hold out his hand as Steve makes to get up, body tense with fear. “Don’t worry, she wasn’t injured by anyone but a few rocks as she fell.”

“What happened?” Steve demands.

“We were on our way back here. She’d decided to come back home to you, and we were very nearly here when someone came out of the trees and swung their sword at her.” Suddenly, Thor smiles. “She’s very spry, your sweet wife. She ducked as easily as if she were breathing and avoided the blow. Had it not rained the night before I think she might have been able to get back to me, but the rocks were wet, and she slipped.”

“Slipped?” Steve asks with a light gasp, as if he can’t believe it. “She just slipped?”

“She hit her side and her head. It’s why she’s asleep.” Thor explains.

It all feels too familiar and it’s burning Steve up from the inside, charring his nerves into familiar broken numbness.

Just an accident. Maggie’s fall was also just an accident.

“She’ll pull out of this, Steve. Your queen is strong. She wouldn’t let something this simple keep her down. Not when she’s got you here waiting for her.” Thor assures him.

“Who was it?” Steve asks, so very tired all of a sudden as he runs his hands through his hair, pushing it back and away from his face.

“I can’t be sure, but it looked like Hydra.” Thor nods.

“They’re back.” Steve realizes.

“And with a vengeance. For some reason, they want your new queen dead.” Thor shakes his head, and Steve can see that Thor really does care for you. Too much in his opinion.

Steve’s mind is already racing, connecting dots. “I think I know who’s behind it, but I’ll never be able to prove it.”

Thor nods. “We’ll have to be vigilant then, until we can.”

They lapse into silence, both thinking about Hydra until Steve remembers that there was something else Thor wanted to say.

“What was the second thing?” He asks.

“What?” Thor seems confused for a moment.

Steve raises both eyebrows, waiting.

“Oh!” Thor shakes his head, “Right. The other thing.”

Steve waits, heart pounding.

~~~~~~~~~~

You’re groggy.

It feels like you’ve been sleeping for hours and hours. Days. Weeks even.

You struggle to push past the fog and when you manage to open your eyes, you feel the resistance of your own body as you attempt to speak.

Quickly, as your mind wakes up, it reminds you of the last things you saw.

A flash of silver, black mass, the slip of your foot, pain against your side and against your head.

Dread fills you. A slow frenzy begins to build in your chest as your heart picks up pace. Hands trembling you reach to press your hands against the side that you hit yourself on.

Movement to your right draws your eye and you see Nat, dressed in an emerald green dress with dark gray damask embroidery from head to toe, stoking your fire to make your room warm.

You have no time to appreciate the comforts you’re surrounded in—the soft white fabric of your luxurious nightdress, the plush mattress you lay on, the puffy pillows and the much welcome smell of peony, jasmine, and lilac with the residual smell of juniper blossoms that fills your head with the memory of beautiful long and golden hair.

Reaching out, you wheeze as you attempt to speak. You can’t breathe in. Why?

Nat turns, her eyes flare as she spots you awake and she’s by your side in seconds.

“Oh, Y/N! I could kill you.” She picks up your hand and kisses the back of it then presses it to her cheek before she looks at you again. “Oh, no…don’t panic, you’re safe. Shhh.”

Panic? Is that why you can’t breathe.

“Breathe, your Majesty. Breathe.” Nat urges.

She breathes in and then out.

“Like this.” She does it again and this time you follow.

Your eyes spill tears, torrid fat drops that fill your pillow by your ear making it cold and wet.

“There you go. Are you in pain?” She worries, her hands dropping yours so that she can run them up and down your arms and legs.

“Nat!” You nearly shout, reaching for her sleeve to pull her back up. “Please…”

Your left hand is pressed against your stomach carefully, protectively. Nat’s eyes follow it and then she stares at you with shock for all of a second before she’s moving to get on her feet.

“We need the doctor!” She shouts towards the door.

“No.” You almost growl, pulling on her arm and back down onto the edge of the bed.

At the other end of the room, your doors open and Peter and Bucky both come in to stand by the door looking concerned and terrified.

Nat moves in closer as you pull her down.

“Not the doctor.” You swallow hard, pushing past the emotional lump in your throat. You’re still crying those fat heavy tears, but you’re not sobbing. “In my old village…”

Speaking slowly so that you get it out all in one go, Nat watches your lips and then meets your eyes, flitting between the two as you speak to her with what must be vital importance.

“…there is an old woman. In Charmlee Forest, twenty minutes to the East of my village you will find her hut. When she was younger, she used to be a midwife. I need her, Nat. Bring her here. Please. No one else. Just her.”

Nat is on her feet, racing towards the doorway. As she passes Bucky and Peter, Bucky grabs her elbow and stops her.

“Where are you going? What did she say?” Bucky asks.

“I need to send a rider to Malibia, Charmlee Forest. There’s an old woman that she needs. A doctor.” Nat lies, knowing you well enough now to know you don’t want this out there yet.

“I’ll go.” Bucky tells her and without another word he’s gone.

Nat looks to Peter and moves to shut the door to keep the heat in the room, but Peter moves inside before she can close it.

Knowing that help is coming, you relax a little but continue to cry. Your eyes find Peter’s and your sorrow is renewed when you see the red rim around his eyes. They sparkle with unshed tears and you bite your bottom lip.

“Peter, I’m so sorry.” You gasp, reaching out for him.

He takes our hand and gives it a squeeze before kneeling down beside your bed to simply hold your hand.

“I would have taken you anywhere you wanted to go.” He explains, quickly wiping the tears from his eyes.

“I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t think.” You admit, then look at Nat who’s hovering by the bottom right post at the end of your bed. “I was just so…I stopped thinking and my feet led me away from here. I was days gone when I realized the worry that I would put you through. I cannot ask for your forgiveness, but please accept my apology.”

“Life for you hasn’t been easy here, your Majesty.” Peter says, drawing your eyes away from Nat. “We understand that.”

He looks at Nat, then sighs before meeting your eyes again. “We aren’t angry that you ran. Anyone would have left much sooner. I only wish I had known so that I could go with you. To protect you.”

“I know.” You sigh. “I missed you both so much. For a long time you were my only incentive to return and I started the journey several times until I found…”

Quickly your eyes scan the room. “Where’s Thor?”

“He’s with Steve in his office. They’ve been in there for hours.” Nat tells you.

Steve. The prospect of seeing him again is both exciting and painful. Flames of anger lick at your bones and you can’t pretend that you don’t feel it.

“I don’t want to see him.” You suddenly say.

“Thor?” Peter asks, giving your hand a squeeze.

“His Majesty,” You say flatly. “I don’t want to see him.”

Nat moves closer to you, sitting to your right by your knees. “Y/N…”

“I don’t want to see him, Nat. I can’t. Not after what he said.” You’ll never forgive him for wishing he wasn’t married to you. For saying that he shouldn’t have.

You’re his wife. Whether he likes it or not…but maybe you’ll all of this go. All the feelings you never asked for. The love you never wanted.

“Y/N…with the way you fell, Steve will want to see you.” Nat begins again, trying to sound calm as she places her hand on your thigh. “It’s very similar to the way Margaret-”

“I’m done listening about Margaret, Nat. Please don’t say her name to me again.” You’re harsh with her, but you don’t feel bad. “I can’t hear it anymore.”

She sighs. “It’ll be hard to keep him out of here.”

“Lock my door.” You whisper. “Until I see the old woman, I will not see him, Nat.”

Peter squeezes your hand. “I’ll make sure he stays away.”

As you meet his eyes, you see his determination. Thank the Gods for Peter Benjamin Parker.

2K notes · View notes

maprron · 3 years

Text

Crush Culture| Ch. 1

Summary: Lucy is your average teenage girl... but she's not, it's complicated but not in a "OH I'm actually a supernatural being" but in a "OH I have to get married as soon as I turn 18" type of way. Problem #1 she doesn't like anyone and problem #2 she might have to marry her dad's friend's son... yay

Disclaimer: This story was created mainly for my friend and has no romance but they are gay so... also like I barely proofread this so hope it makes sense :\

Lucy doesn’t need an introduction but she is getting one anyway. In all honesty if you went anywhere in this hell of a town, as Lucy calls it, and asked anyone if they had heard of her their answer would most likely be “yes”. She wanted to disappear from this world, start a new one with only herself. She wished that she could have been born another person and not the “heir” to the family business as her father likes to refer to it as. But of course her father is a misogynist so the word “heir” that he throws around so casually is actually referring to her future husband. The cherry on top of Lucy’s hellish life, of course, is that she is expected to be married by 18 and probably have a kid by 19. There is one problem with this “fantasy” world that Jude Heartfilia has in his mind, however; it isn’t how it is completely fucked up but that his daughter has never experienced love and doesn’t expect to for a while. While she would be lying if she said that she hadn’t found guys hot and women beautiful in her life, what bisexual 17 year old doesn’t, she could never say that she wanted to date these people. Long story short the idea he has in his mind of her marrying a decent man by the time she is 18 isn’t going to happen, unless of course he choses one for her which is plausible

“Lu-Chan hurry up” Levy McGarden, she herself would need an introduction anywhere she goes. People call her forgettable behind her back but the fact they joke about her behind her back proves them wrong. She is the cliché “nerd” in any Hollywood movie. She has straight A’s which is the only thing straight about her, she spends most of her time studying and hiding her face in a new romance novel that she seems to be reading everyday, she is most of the teachers’ favorite, she isn’t popular, and she doesn’t go to parties.

Well she didn’t go to parties but some things change, except not that much…?

Said party is being hosted by the one and only Erza Belserion because her scary mother is out of town. If someone needs an introduction to her just ask any guy in town and they will probably tell you she is “terrifying” due to the fact that at one point they have all bet that they could win in a fight against her, they were wrong.

Erza is the definition of “sword lesbian” it is probably illegal to give a 5 year old a sword for her birthday but try explaining that to the lady who got the title of being “Erza’s terrifying mother (who is even scarier)”

“Levy, there is no need to hurry her” Lisanna Strauss, the only reason most people live. That isn’t 100% true but God she does deserve it. A lot of girls at school hate her because she was childhood friends with Natsu Dragneel and for some odd reason they were scared that she was going to ruin their chances with him.

Jokes on them because she is a lesbian and he well… who knows?

Natsu Dragneel… how does anyone explain him? You don’t… so we are moving on

“Don’t worry Lis” Lucy giggled as she walked out of the bathroom in a blue sweater and a long white skirt “you guys ready?” Lucy giggled as she swirled around her skirt like a little kid

~~~

Erza knows a lot of people, probably too many.

At one point Lucy got left in the corner of Erza’s kitchen. She strangely preferred it that way… being alone, not being thought of as only Jude Heartfilia’s daughter, not being thought of as the girl who has to marry a man when she turns 18.

Guys like that fact.

But she is never alone because also standing in the kitchen is the one and only Natsu. She was honestly surprised that the same girls who attacked Lisanna hadn’t attacked her for even looking at him on the first day of school.

She knew him not because she wanted to but because of course his father is a businessman just like her father. Their companies are close and have partnered together on many different occasions.

This is a bad thing.

It is a bad BAD thing because that puts Natsu at the top of the list of people her father would force her into a marriage with and vice versa.

“You know it is rude to stare” he yelled to her over the loud music as he stuffed his hands in his sweatpants.

Lucy hadn’t realized she was staring at him before and now felt quite embarrassed

“What gives? Why aren’t you drinking?” He chuckled as he walked over to her

“I could ask you the same thing”

“I hate the taste, you?”

“Same” she sighed “why do you care?”

“I don’t, I am just surprised Erza haven’t made ya try something”

“…I haven’t seen her” she added, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear

“That’s a lie” he laughed at her

“And why do you say that” she placed a hand on her hip as she shifted her weight to one side of her body

“Because she is obsessed with you, you sure you two aren’t in a secret relation-“

“WE’RE NOT!” Lucy was quick to blurt out, blushing at his words

“Now I really don’t believe ya” he furrowed his eyebrows today, mimicking her pose.

“Just drop it okay” she pushed him a little in hopes to get him to stop mimicking her “she’s like my mom, that’s gross”

“Okay…” he turned around to leave but stopped “you are awkward around me because of the whole marriage thing right?”

“Why would you assume that?”

“I don’t want to marry you either… you need to start working with me instead of against me” he grumbled, stuffing his hands even deeper into his pockets as if his hands were freezing, they weren’t because the weirdo never felt cold but still

“I’ll still have to marry someone” she mumbled, looking down at the ground

“And I couldn’t give a damn who it is, it just isn’t going to me” and with that he left the kitchen and she backed herself back into the corner this time sliding down against the wall, falling slowly against the tile.

~~~~

“I can’t believe he showed up” a group of three girls gossiped in the living room looking at the “kid” with blue hair who was curled up on the couch on their phone away from everyone

“Did you hear the rumors about him?” One girl giggled

“Yeah, do you believe it?” Another giggled back through her words

“I mean look at him” she pointed at said person “no man dresses like that”

“Quit it you three” a deep yet soft voice said suddenly. The voice belonged to Gray Fullbuster

“Oh Gray we… we didn’t mean anything by it we were just uh…” one girl tried to explain

“Get lost you three” he glared at the girls as they froze in fear before they ran off. Where they ran off to Gray couldn’t care less.

The “kid’s” name was Juvia, but no one knew that yet

Gray didn’t say anything to her, he just smiled and walked away. No surprise. He was different from the rest, Juvia thought as she watched him walk away, but what was it?

~~~~

“Damn I know you don’t like parties but you don’t have to curl up in a ball on the kitchen floor like this” Cana laughed as she stumbled into the kitchen with Erza, the two girls quite underdressed for the weather outside as Cana wore a sleeveless crop top and Erza wore a blue bodycon party dress with only see through legging underneath.

“What’s wrong?” Erza ask as she saw Lucy lift her head up from her knees

“Nothing… I guess I am just thinking about things” she smiled weakly at two of her best friends

“Nah I don’t believe that one bit” Cana stumbled back up against the kitchen island with a hick up.

Lucy just looked at Cana’s black Dr. Martens and her baggy blue jeans that had dumb scribbles in the cuffs from years of passing around a pin and telling people to go wild, most of her jeans are like that, one pair even being covered with drawings. She giggled at the words ‘Natsu Sucks’ written on the jeans probably by Gray or someone

“Are you okay?” Erza smiled weakly as she crouched down in front of the girl.

“Yeah, don’t worry about me” Lucy only laughed it off

“Are you sure, love?” A new yet familiar voice entered the kitchen

The voice belonged to Mira Jane

She walked over to the three girls. Lucy watched as her pink dress swayed with her hips and her high heels clicked along the tile. She too was probably underdressed with her dress that only went halfway down her thighs but at least this time she wore sleeves.

Lucy bit her lip, something making it impossible for her to lie to Mira. “I am fine really, I just sat down here after I talked to Natsu”

“Want me to beat him for you?” Cana blurted out as she glanced inside her cup before finishing it.

“No!” Lucy’s eyes widened as she looked up at the girl who was now hoisting herself up onto the counter to “we only talked about… about how we might have to get married because your fathers” she rolled her eyes

“Why Natsu though?” Erza thought out loud “doesn’t Gray Fullbuster’s dad work with your’s”

“He’s not my type but even if he was my dad wouldn’t allow was to marry for some reason ”

“That’s odd” Mira said

“Are you saying that Natsu fucking Dragneel is your type” Cana laughed as she drank straight from a new bottle that seemed to have appeared in her hands

“No” Lucy flipped Cana off while, Cana didn’t notice however through her drunken giggles

“I’m kidding” she finally stopped laughing and smiled down at Lucy. “But Mira is correct, that is…” she zoned out for a moment as she spoke “it is kind of odd.”

“Maybe he just doesn’t like him” Lucy shrugged from her place on the cold tile floor of the kitchen as she leaned back against where the wall and the end counter met.

“But why wouldn’t he though?” Erza questioned “Gray is more mature than Natsu by a longshot and your father of course… well you know” she crossed her arms over her chest as she looked back behind her, noticing Gray himself leaning up against a wall on the other side of the kitchen looking down at his feet with his arms crossed over his chest. He held a box of cigarettes in one of his hands while casually smoking one. Mira coughed a little as the smoke started to drift over to the group, the girl has always been unable to stand the smell

“He just doesn’t like me,” he said finally as he continued to stare intensely at his feet, fiddling with the small box in his hand “a lot of people don’t” he swallowed with a frown now present on his face

“Gray?” Erza whispered with concern in her voice

“Don’t worry, Erza” His frown quickly turned into a smile as he looked up from his feet as he uncrossed his arms. “Now…” he pushed himself off the wall and walked up to Erza, stuffing the box in his jean pockets before he clasped his hands together like her was Mira “I saw that Bisca got here before I walked in here, I figured you would want to see her”

“Of course I do!” she smiled as she walked with Gray out of the kitchen to go find Bisca.

Lucy furrowed her brow together as she watched the two teens walk away together, puzzled on the meaning of his words.

#fairy tail #lucy heartfilia #natsu dragneel #Levy McGarden #gray fullbuster #Juvia Lockser #Cana Alberona #Mirajane Strauss

3 notes · View notes

addictedtoeddie · 4 years

Photo

The full Esquire Spain interview translated from Spanish:

Eddie Redmayne trial: guilty of being the most talented (and stylish) actor of his generation

The Oscar winner talks about what it means to premiere a film with Aaron Sorkin (The Chicago 7th Trial on Netflix) and filming the new part of the most famous saga of all time under the watchful eye of its author, J.K. Rowling.

By Alba Díaz (text) / JUANKR (photos and video) / Álvaro de Juan (styling) 10/23/2020

At the Kettle’s Yard Gallery in Cambridge, stands alone and leaning on a piano Prometheus, a marble head made by Constantin Brâncusi, and the only piece of art that Eddie Redmayne (London, 1982) would save from possible massive destruction. He tells me about it as he leaves the filming set of the third installment of Fantastic Beasts in the early days of an autumn that, we suspect, we will never forget. It begins to get dark as the actor nods seriously: "I promise to do my best in this interview."

Eddie Redmayne made himself in the theater despite some voices warning him that he could not survive in it. "Many people were in charge to tell me that it would never work, that only extraordinary cases make it and that I would not be able to live from this professionally." Even his father came home one day with a list of statistics on unemployed young actors. Redmayne, who is extremely modest, polite and funny, adds: “But I enjoyed theater so much that I got to the point of thinking that if I could only do one play a year for the rest of my life… I would do it. And that would fill me completely.

Spoiler: since then until today he has participated in many more. He set his first foot in the industry when he debuted at the Shakespeare’s Globe Theater and won over critics and audiences. He then landed his first major role in My Week with Marilyn opposite Michelle Williams. And then came one of the roles of his life, the character he wanted to become an actor for, Marius. With him he sang, led a revolution and broke Cosette's heart in Les Miserables. “I found out about the Les Misérables auditions when I was shooting a movie in Illinois. Dressed like a cowboy. I picked up the iPhone and videotaped myself singing the Marius song. I always wanted to be him ”.

Now Redmayne is an Oscar winner - thanks to his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything - and the protagonist of one of the most important sagas in history, Fantastic Beasts. He plays the magizoologist Newt Scamander in it. When I ask him what it means to him to be the protagonist of a magical world that is so important to millions of people, Eddie sighs and takes a few seconds to answer. “I have always loved the Harry Potter universe. Some people like The Lord of the Rings or Star Wars ... But, for me, the idea that there is a magical world that happens right in front of you, that happens without going any further on the streets of London, that. .. That exploded my imagination in another way.

During the quarantine, J. K. Rowling, who has been in charge of the script of the film, sparked a controversy through a series of tweets about transgender women. Redmayne assures that he does not agree with these statements but that it does not approve of the attacks of some people through social networks. The actor was one of the first to position himself against Rowling alongside Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and other protagonists of her films. "Trans women are women, trans men are men, and non-binary identities are valid."

After having spent a while talking, Redmayne confesses to me that he has never been a big dreamer not to maintain certain aspirations that ended up disappointing him. So he has always kept a handful of dreams to himself. One of them was fulfilled just a few weeks ago with the premiere of The Trial of the Chicago 7, a film written and directed by Aaron Sorkin that can already be seen on Netflix and in some - few - cinemas. “I was on vacation with my wife in Morocco and the script arrived. I think I called my agent before I even read it and said yes, I would. She probably thought the obvious, that I'm stupid. After that, of course I read the script, which is about a specific moment in history that I knew very little about. I found it exciting and a very relevant drama in today's times. "

And it is that having a script by Aaron Sorkin in your hands is no small thing. Eddie Redmayne has been a fan of his work ever since he saw The West Wing of the White House. “His scripts have delicious language and dialogue. As an actor, it's fun to play characters that are much smarter than you are in real life. That virtuosity is hard to come by. I really hope that audiences enjoy this movie and feel that there is always hope. " He remembers that since he released The Theory of Everything he has recorded, to a large extent, English period dramas, “and although the new Aaron Sorkin is not strictly contemporary,” says Redmayne, “to be able to wear jeans and shirts and sweaters instead of so much tweed is great ”.

Besides acting, art was the only thing the actor was interested in, so he ended up studying Art History at Cambridge University. “My parents are quite traditional and when I told them I wanted to act they gave me free rein but on the condition that I study a career. And I'm very grateful for that because ... Look, beyond that, when I play a real character I usually go to the National Portrait Gallery in London quite often. There I lock myself up. Now, for Sorkin's film, I went through a lot of photographs and videotapes. Art helps me to be more creative, to get into paper ”. If he were not an actor, he would be, he says decidedly, a historian or perhaps a curator. "Although I think he would be a very bad art curator."

Against all logic, Eddie Redmayne is color blind. But there is a color that you can distinguish anywhere and on any surface: klein blue. He wrote his thesis on the French artist Yves Klein and the only shade of blue he used in his works. He wrote up to 30,000 words talking about that color with which he became obsessed. “It is surprising that a color can be so emotional. One can only hope to achieve that intensity in acting. "

Like his taste for art, which encompasses the refined and compact, Redmayne seems to be in the same balance when it comes to the roles he chooses. When I ask him what aspects a character he wants to play should have, he takes a few seconds again before answering: “I wish I had a more ingenious answer but I will tell you that I know when my belly hurts. It's that feeling that I trust. In my mind I transport him to imagine myself playing that character. When I read a script I have to really enjoy it. You never fully regret those instincts. It's like when you connect with something emotionally. "

So we come to the conclusion that all his characters have some traits in common. "You know what? I never look back, and this is something personal, but I do believe that there is a parallel between Marius in Les Misérables trying to be a revolutionary, someone who is quite prone to being distracted by love but at the same time is willing to die for his cause, and Tom Hayden from The Chicago Trial of the 7 who was a man who had integrity and was passionate and fought for the things he believed in. So I suppose there may also be similarities between a young Stephen Hawking and Newt Scamander. There are traits in common in all of them that I don't really know where they come from ”.

When we talk about the year we are living in, in which it is increasingly difficult to find hope, we both let out a nervous laugh. "There must be," Redmayne says. “There is something very nice that Tom Hayden, the character I play in Sorkin's film, said to his former wife, actress Jane Fonda, just the day before she passed away. He told her that watching people die for their beliefs changed his life forever. In that sense, I also think about what Kennedy Jr. wrote about how democracy is messy, tough and never easy ... As is believing in something to fight for. I look at history and how they were willing to live their lives with that integrity to change the world and I realize that somehow that spirit still remains with us. " We fell silent thinking about it. "There must be hope."

I tell him about my love for Nick Cave's blog, The Red Hand, and one of the posts that I have liked the most in recent weeks. In it, the singer affirms that his response to a crisis has always been to create, an impulse that has saved him many times. For Redmayne there are two activities that can silence noise: drawing and playing the piano. “When you play the piano your concentration is so consumed by trying to hit that note that you can't think of anything else. Similarly, when you draw something, the focus is between the paper and what you are trying to recreate ... There I try to calm my mind.

Before saying goodbye, I drop a question that I thought I knew the answer to, but failed. What work of art would you save from mass destruction? "How difficult! I could name my favorite artists but still couldn't choose a work. Only one piece? Let me think. I am very obsessed with Yves Klein, but I would stick with a work by Brancusi. There is a sculpture of him, a small head called Prometheus, in Cambridge's Kettle’s Yard, on a dark mahogany piano. The truth is that I find it very ... beautiful ”.

Before leaving, he confesses to me - with a childish and slow voice - that he would like to direct something one day. We said goodbye, saying that we will talk about his next project. Next, the first thing I do is open the Google search engine. "P-r-o-m-e-t-h-e-u-s". Although Eddie Redmayne has trouble distinguishing violet from blue, he doesn't have them when choosing a good piece. He's right, that work deserves to be saved.

* This article appears in the November 2020 issue of Esquire magazine

Source: esquire.com/es/actualidad/cine/a34434114/eddie-redmayne-juicio-7-chicago-netflix-entrevista/

#eddie redmayne #esquire2020 #esquirespain2020nov #esquire spain #chicago7promo #chicago7interview #interview2020 #photoshoot2020 #juankr #my translation

29 notes · View notes

uh-drarry · 4 years

Text

Wolfstar Adopting Harry Headcanon Pt 2! This is really long. Also this is supposed to be like a headcanon post but I wasn’t about to go back through and add bullet points after they disappeared. Anyway I hope you enjoy! Sorry for all the errors that are riddled throughout this.

Part 1 here. Masterlist here.

Harry spends time living with Ms. Irvine after he is removed from the Dursleys. He soon learns her name is Jane, he calls her Janey.

It’s actually two months of Harry staying with Jane and seeing Remus and Sirius as well as a therapist daily before anyone considers Remus and Sirius for Harry’s adoption.

Ms. Irvine and a few others interview Remus and Sirius and talk to Harry and visit their home to see if they think they are a good fit for Harry.

Harry’s therapist, Dr. Martin, or Beck to Harry, talks to him about Remus and Sirius, or Moony and Padfoot as Harry calls them. For some reason he doesn’t understand, but Remus and Sirius answer to it, so he doesn’t see a problem.

“Harry do you think you’d like to live with Padfoot and Moony?” He asks the boy playing quietly with a stuffed deer.

“Like I do with Janie?” Harry asks, looking up at the therapist.

“Yes like that. But they would be your new parents.”

Harry sat quietly for a few seconds then asked quietly, “Like Aunt and Uncle?”

“No Harry, they’d be real parents. Your aunt and uncle weren’t parents to you, they are very bad people. If you lived with Padfoot and Moony, Ms. Irvine will come to your new house a lot to make sure you’re okay in your new home. Do you think you’d like that?”

“Janey would take me away if they are bad?” Harry asks

“Yes Harry, Jane would come check on you a lot more than anyone did when you lived with Petunia and Vernon.”

“Then okay. I like Padfoot and Moony. I hope they like me too.” He looked thoughtfully at his deer, then up at Dr. Martin, “Do you think they like me?”

“Harry they wouldn’t try to adopt you and take you home if they didn’t like you. I’m even positive that they love you.”

“Really”

“Yes, Harry.”

“So they’d both maybe be my daddies?”

“Very much so, Harry.”

Harry smiled a little at that and whispered, “I’d like that.”

“Well I’m sure they would be thrilled to hear that.” Dr. Martin smiled at Harry, “Is there anything else you’d like to talk about today?”

When Ms. Irvine told Remus and Sirius that they would be given custody of Harry, they were, predictably, ecstatic. They immediately worked to finish what they had wanted to do in their home for Harry.

They had a cupboard under the stairs and were worried about Harry seeing it so they turned it into a little reading nook with pillows, blankets, books, and three lamps.

They had asked Harry what his favorite color was and now they were just finishing his yellow painted room. Making the bed, and arranging stuffed animals, among other things.

(One of the teddy bears became his second favorite stuffed animal and Harry named him Andrew. Harry also ended up naming his deer only after he’d lived with Remus and Sirius for about a month. He named it Cherry which they didn’t understand until they realized it was because Sirius kept calling Harry ‘ma chérie’ all the time.)

When Harry is shown his room, he is very confused and tells them that he doesn’t need this much space, really. And with broken hearts they tell him that of course he needs this space and he can use it to grow and play and learn and fill with his toys. Harry also notices that there’s no lock on the door and he really likes that.

Harry also would make sure to wake up before Remus and Sirius to make breakfast. Like he did at the Dursleys.

Remus and Sirius always made sure to thank him and tell him it was delicious. But also that they really didn’t want him using the oven or stove because they were very dangerous for kids.

Harry got a bit panicked at the idea of having done something wrong already and apologized profusely as tears gathered in his eyes

Remus and Sirius got him to calm eventually and Remus said, “Harry, you are a very good cook. We just don’t want you using those things because you could get very hurt. If you want to cook some more, we’d be happy to cook with you to make sure nothing happens to you. Would that be okay, Harry?”

They agree that Harry will only cook with one of them there.

Harry was always excited when Janey came to visit them. The two of them would go and play in Harry’s room together and she would ask him questions and chat. She’d always ask what kind of food he was eating and what he did with his guardians. The first time she asked him about what he did with Remus and Sirius, he told her that he didn’t have to do any chores, how was that possible? She was very happy for him.

He talked about being nervous for his new school that he would start soon, and worried if the kids would like him or be mean like at his other school.

She often reassured Harry that he was a good kid and he would make wonderful friends at school, that he deserved the love that Remus and Sirius showed him, and the food he was given and to never ever forget that.

He also told her that Remus had been taking him to work with him at the University during the week.

“Remus gives me games to play and coloring books and crayons, and he even lets me draw on his chalkboard! And his students always come say hi to me when they come into the room and when they say goodbye when they leave. They even ask me questions about the books they talk about. I usually don’t understand, but I talk like Remus and they say I’m really smart.” He smiles and giggles at that.

“Well you are a very smart boy, Harry. I have no doubt about that.”

“Thank you! I like going to work with Moony, can’t I just do that instead of going to my new school? Moony said that University is just a really big school. So I’m already at school anyways!” He gestures as if he’s so exasperated about the whole thing which makes Jane laugh.

“You have to go to your own school, with kids your own age, Harry, so you can make new friends, and learn everything you need to do to go to University one day. University is for kids when they know what job they want to do in the future.”

“Fine.” He huffs out and lets his head fall backwards like he can’t believe the inconvenience of it all, “but I’m going to Moony’s school when I know what job I want to do.”

“I’m sure he would love having you in his class as a student when the time comes.”

Harry pauses, looking down at his drawing for a minute, then says, “Janey?”

“Yes Harry?”

“Are Padfoot and Moony my daddies now?” He looked nervous, suddenly much more like the shy boy she helped months ago.

“Yes Harry, they are your legal guardians, or your parents. I’m sure they’d love it if you called them your daddies, or Daddy and Papa, or Moony and Padfoot, or even something else.”

“Okay.” he says, playing with the crayon in his hands.

“Do you want to talk about it at dinner tonight while I’m there?”

“No.”

“Okay then.”

He looks up at her, “and don’t tell them I asked you, please.”

“It will be our secret.”

A few weeks later, the little family decided to go to the park and enjoy the lovely day. The weather was gorgeous and they had opened all the windows to enjoy it to the fullest. They asked Harry to go change out of his pajamas after breakfast while they cleaned up and he raced up the stairs to his room.

He walked to the closet and stepped into the little room to reach a shirt on a hanger when a sudden burst of wind slammed the door closed behind him causing the room to go very dark.

Harry froze and when he couldn’t see where he was anymore, he started panicking and banging his fists on the door yelling for someone to let him out and apologizing to his uncle. After a few seconds of that he was sitting on the floor sobbing and had the beginnings of a panic attack.

Remus and Sirius ran up to Harry’s room as fast as they could when they realized Harry was yelling in fear. They yanked the closet door open and found harry in a ball on the floor, his arms over his head.

There was really only room for one of them, so Sirius crawled towards Harry, talking in as calm and even a voice he could while feeling so scared and heartbroken. He quickly started rubbing at Harry’s side and said, “Harry, it’s okay, it’s Padfoot. No one here will hurt you, we just want to help you. Can I have your hand, Harry?” He was able to remove Harry’s hand from where it was clenched and put it on his sternum, “You’re not in the cupboard Harry, it’s okay. Can you breathe with me darling? In and Out. Can you feel me breathing? Breathe in, and breathe out just like me, c’mon darling. You’re okay, we love you so much, Harry.” Sirius kept talking while Harry finally started trying to breathe with him.

Remus asked, when Harry was a little calmer, “can you take you out of the closet, Harry?” When he nodded, they brought him over to Harry’s bed and sat him on Remus’ lap, he held on tight to his shirt, one hand holding Sirius’ shirt as well, and buried his head in Remus’ neck while he still sniffled.

“We have a glass of water if you’d like some.” Harry nodded and sat up a bit, drinking a bit of the glass. Sirius continued to rub Harry’s back and they all just sat quietly for a few minutes while Harry finally calmed all the way.

“Do you think you’d like to talk to Beck about this tomorrow, Harry?”

“Yes.” he whispered back, falling asleep on Remus’ chest.

“Okay, darling, we’ll call him.”

They did end up going to the park later in the day after a nap and some hot chocolate.

Remus and Sirius noticed, however, that Harry wouldn’t go near his closet anymore. It was suggested by Dr. Martin that perhaps putting something in front of the door to Harry’s closet to prevent it from closing would help Harry. When that still didn’t work, they decided to remove the door entirely and added a light to the inside. Harry never had another problem with his closet and he would always remember what his dads did for him to help him so much that day.

Time Jump

Harry had nightmares quite often, especially when he first moved in with Remus and Sirius. But he would never go wake the two up when he was scared. They assured him that they would be happy to have him get them if he was afraid or needed a hug. But if they woke up from Harry’s nightmares and tried to comfort him, he would apologize for minutes at a time for waking them up. And Harry would never go wake them up himself if he’d had a nightmare.

But one day, about 6 months after they had brought him home, Remus and Sirius woke up to a Harry buried in the blankets between them. Sirius and Remus could only look at each other with wonder etched on their faces. They just hoped that this meant he finally felt comfortable with them.

They sit quietly and let Harry sleep. They assume he had a nightmare again last night and they don’t want him to be too tired.

About an hour later, they decide to wake him so he will be ready for bed at a normal time that night.

Remus reaches over to smooth Harry’s hair, and Sirius rubs at an arm. Soon, Harry’s little face scrunches up, he rolls over a bit, and grumbles out, “No Daddies, sleepy.”

Remus and Sirius just stare at each other in shock and happiness before big grins cover their faces.

Sirius dives in to attack Harry with tickles which causes screaming and flailing limbs and laughter.

Harry then yells, “Moony, help!” And Remus can’t ignore that.

He dives on top of Sirius tickling all his most vulnerable spots. Enough to make Sirius give up on Harry in order to protect himself. Harry then climbs all over the two of them while also reaching out to tickle Sirius, all of them laughing uncontrollably.

Remus then leans down to kiss Sirius, as soon as Harry notices, he tries to push his way between their chests and yells, “My turn!” with his hands thrown into the air.

Sirius and Remus turn to him and smother his face with kisses until Harry is giggling again.

When they lay there catching their breath a few minutes later, Harry pops up to sit on his knees and plays shyly with his stuffed deer and teddy while looking at Remus and Sirius uncertainly.

“What’s up, Pup?” Sirius asks, running fingers through Harry’s wild hair.

“Are you two my daddies?” he fiddles again with the stuffed animals, and continues before they can get past the shock and answer. “Because Beck said a long time ago that if you wouldn’t have adopted me and brought me home if you didn’t love me and want me. And then Janie said she was sure you loved me and that you’d like it if I called you my daddies, or Daddy and Papa, or something else. And I really do love you Moony and Padfoot and I do want to be your family and I know my mummy and daddy died when I was little but you can take care of me now for them right? Because they said they wanted you to have me if they ever went away like they did? So you can be my daddies and I can be your kid right? Because–”

“Harry, ma chérie, calm down, take a breath, you’re going to get another panic attack darling. Deep breaths with me okay? In and Out. Very good, keep going.” Sirius and Harry breathe together for a couple minutes before Harry seems to really calm down again.

Then Remus says to him, “Harry, pup, we love you so so much and we would absolutely love to be your daddies and you’re already our kid, you were our kid as soon as we got to take you home. We love you and will take care of you forever just like your parents would have wanted to and just like we should’ve been able to since you were 2 years old. You can call us whatever you’d like, darling. Whether that be Daddies, or Daddy and Papa, or Padfoot and Moony, or even Remus and Sirius, or something else entirely. No matter what we will always love you and we will always be your daddies. And even if we are your daddies, your Mummy and Daddy will always be your Mummy and Daddy too.

Harry then starts to cry (happy tears), which causes the other two to tear up, which then turns into a big cuddle puddle and breakfast in bed with Harry’s favorite movie, and then a nap.

Harry thinks about it for a few days and then tells the two of them that he wants to call Sirius Daddy and Remus will be Papa. They give him big hugs and tell him they love the names and him.

Harry and Sirius then get to work on making a chocolate cake “to celebrate our family love, Remus, what else would we do at this time? Why are you arguing over a chocolate cake, chocolate is your favorite, right behind Harry and me!”

“Yeah Papa, you love us and chocolate!” Harry says.

“Yeah Papa!” Sirius then echos much to Harry’s amusement.

Remus just smiles and gives them both a kiss and then says, “You’re right of course. How could I forget that if you two make cake, I get all of my favorite things? But you two forgot your aprons!”

He walks over to a drawer and pulls out two aprons, one says ‘Little Chef’ and the other says ‘Daddy Chef’ on the chest.

Harry and Sirius are very excited for their gifts and put them on immediately so they can pose for Remus who takes many many photos.

#wolfstar adopting harry #wolfstar #wolfstar raise harry #dad wolfstar #wolfstar raise harry potter #Harry Potter #harry potter au #Remus Lupin #remus #sirius #Sirius Black #Sirius Lupin #kid harry potter

479 notes · View notes

ziracona · 4 years

Note

Hi! I just realised I havn't popped in in awhile. Do you have any headcanons u feel like sharing about the newer survivors?? (I love them all, they're so cool but I think imma have to say cheryl is my bby gurl. she's tired. let her rest.) also. i am. going insane. from a toothache :) - Sleepy

Hey! Hope your tooth pain clears up! I’m so sorry—that’s one of the worst. : /

Hmmm, I do, but I’m trying to think of ones I haven’t said in asks before. 😬 Unfortunately my memory of fictional characters is great, and my memory of what I said in asks is shitty. :’-]

I don’t know the newer survivors—except Nancy and Steve—as well as I do the older ones, because I’ve never written them, and I haven’t played Silent Hill. I like Zarina, Yui, and Cheryl a lot though. Poor fkn Cheryl can join Quentin in the “Please God, just one good day?” Existence. Rip to them both. 😭

Poor kid gets out of hell once, and ya throw her back in. :’-]

Let’s see—headcanon I am fairly sure I haven’t already shared. I think Yui and Min would get along really well, and Jane and Zarina would too.

Yui hates the serial killers especially, from her own personal experience, and goes to bat hard against them every time.

Ash flirts with everyone to a point it’s even more than Ace does, and for a while it becomes a competition between them to see who can flirt more and better than the other (not in a shitty way—everybody knows they have the competition going on and it’s more a ‘I can act better than you’ than a ‘I can win more hearts’ one.) Ace is declared the winner in class, Ash the winner in sheer quantity he’s able to churn out, and they agree to call it a semi-draw. It’s actually a really fun week for everyone, because they’re all constantly being complemented and flirted with in a way they know is performative and seeks 0 real actions from them in return, so essentially they are just showererd with ‘drunk girl in a bar bathroom’ levels of praise for seven days.

Felix and Nancy are the only two with significant others waiting back home, and they bond over talking about their wife/boyfriend and sharing stories and having someone around who understands that specific brand of pain and can encourage them that they’ll make it back home.

Tapp is a dad, so he gives Felix a lot of advice on stuff since he was an expecting father. Not so much “do this” advice, since his relationship with his family didn’t go so well, and he feels like he’s in absolutely no position to teach—more like “It’s okay. Women have been giving birth for thousands of years. She’s gonna make it just fine even if you’re not home yet, and you’ll get back to them. And I’m gonna teach you some of the tricks so you’ll be ready when you do. You can even surprise her by already knowing how to change a diaper and warm a formula bottle. I’ll show you how to do it,” and talking him through some of the stuff he would have been able to learn from infant care books. It’s sweet, but Tapp almost dies when Jane says its “Very heartwarming” and teases him, so they cut him some slack. Felix is really appreciative. Laurie has taken care of a ton of kids, and gives him some advice too, and so does Nancy, who had two younger siblings.

Steve is a disaster who suffers from “I like you and you are a girl, so *pigeon meme* Is this falling in love?” syndrome. Gets shot down hard by Laurie, who is ridiculously pissed at him for bringing it up during a trial when their lives are on the line, but after he gets over being super awkward around her, and she reaches out to be like, ‘Look, dumbass, why did you even like me?’ And he’s like ‘...because you’re, uh, really cool? A-and pretty? And...’ and eventually she’s like ‘Buddy, you don’t even really know me. You’re just lonely. You’re not in love with me, you just want to be, because you want to be in love with somebody, and that’s not gonna cut it, for me, or anyone. Be in love with a person—not with the concept of being in love. And for that to happen, you have to know them first.” And since Steve is good af self-improvement, he realizes she’s got a real point, and tries to find his worth outside of needing a girlfriend, and becomes both a lot happier, and one of Laurie’s closer friends. (Side note—this extends probably only to my initial Steve ideas. I had the idea batted around that in that universe, Stranger Things /is/ an existing show, but it’s based on a mix of urban legend and history from the 80s, and Nancy and Steve are the version from the actual 80s, and I think in that pitch Steve is dating Barb, who is still alive, and already worked through this specific issue, because many things happened differently for wild comedic ‘But in the show’ effect, becuase both them repeatedly going “WELL REALITY WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT” when like, monster hunting shit from the show won’t work on the Demogorgan, and *Spit take* “THEY HAD ME HIT ON ROBIN?” “Ewwww” “YEAH ewww! She’s basically my lesbian little sister! We’ve been best friends since grade school! What the fuck :’-]” make for amazing joke potential. )

Cheryl starts having nightmares where she sees things from the Entity’s eyes she was never meant to see, and finding out dangerous amounts of information this way. The Entity decides at some point this is too big a threat, but because it’s proud, it doesn’t want to just kill her, as that would be admitting a human is a threat, so it starts having killers gun for her mercilessly to try to get her to give up, and the poor girl is in agony.

Zarina documents stuff form the realm constantly, and has a careful scrapbook collection of all notes and paraphernalia from past survivors. She also keeps conspiracy pages tacked together trying to figure out who they were becuase they deserve at least the justice of people somehow knowing how they died and what they went through. Laurie is a big help with this, and so is Claudette, who has been keeping stuff for a long time.

Yui is very no-nonsense, and protective. She gives off strong big sister vibes. She especially also loves board games/puzzles/other games like Shogi or Go and such, and Dwight and Adam create game pieces for her to play Go with when she mentions how much she used to like that kind of thing, and Yui is incredibly touched, and makes several other ones for people to play with too, and it becomes a very enjoyed pastime between trials. It’s engaging and competitive, but much more relaxed and low energy than sports or training or going for a run, so it’s a great alternative. Meg gets super into making puzzles, and all the artists do too, and take turns painting pictures on boards, cutting them into puzzle pieces with extreme painstakingly slow care, and then doing puzzles together. Jake is invaluable in the actual cutting pieces out area, but actually enjoys to do it.

Felix knows a lot more than anyone else about the Entity when he’s taken, so he spends a bunch of time with the research team trying to recall whatever he can from his childhood and sharing any information he has, then just stays on it because he wants to. He’s desperate to meet Benedict Baker someday himself, becuase that man seems to get around, and he really wants to know what happend to his father.

Everyone becomes protective as fuck of Cheryl when the Entity starts targeting her, and someone—I think Kate and or Meg—probably both together—as a one-off joke call themselves her knights at some point, becuase they’re running such dedicated protection detail, but it becomes a whole thing, and several more start to do it. They’ll like ‘fist clasped arm across chest at attention, quick bow’ when they see her, and it’s goofy as fuck, but it helps a lot making Cheryl’s reality more bearable. Plus, it’s really sweet. Nea gets in on this and comes back one day with a little daisy chain she made cause she was bored, sees Cheryl, it clicks, runs over and offers it as a ‘favor’. Zarina sees and comes back later that day from a trial and kneels and presents Cheryl with a rescued toolbox with a brand new part. This becomes increasingly common and extravagant, and Cheryl /cannot/ deal, but it’s like, genius, becuase it takes exactly this level of surreal goofy friend bullshit to distract from the hell she is living. She ends up just regularly having someone come back from a trial or trip to the woods, salute with an arm across their chest, bow, and present her with anything from a pinecone or pretty rock, to flowers or a medkit, to a salt statue or key, to a painting or hand made bracelet, to a makeshift weapon or a pillow. Everyone always tries to outdo each other, so the gifts tend to be extravagant. Zarina considers herself Cheryl’s righthand woman/personal knight by chocie, because she wanted a cause to fight for and has found one she truly loves, and she makes Cheryl her favorite gift so far, coming up to her at the end of a long day, after a very bad trial where Cheryl was mercilessly and slowly killed by the Pig, kneeling, and offering a thick shard of stained glass from the chapel, made sturdy and held in place with a few chunks of soldered and wrapped iron along the blade and down the grip, forming a razor sharp and reinforced stained glass knife.

#ask #Sleepy #headcanons #dead by daylight #dbd

17 notes · View notes

whatshername-please · 4 years

Text

Out of the Water - Chapter IV

Synopsis: You were very proud to be a mermaid, thank you very much. You didn't want to be where the people were. Actually, you'd rather avoid it. Defending the merfolk was the biggest goal in your life... well, it was until you meet a certain pirate... it seems that your family really had a thing for humans, after all. Not that you'd ever admit it...

Pairing: Harry x reader

Warnings: none? Possibly grammar mistakes?

Part 4 of ?

Word Count: 2975

A/N: English isn't my first language, so I'll probably mess up some tenses, grammar and stuff. Go easy on me, please. Feedback is always appreciated

_________________________________________

You weren't an expert, but you had already seen that tree twenty minutes ago, and that rock, and that berry bush. Either Dude had no idea where he was leading the group or Ben was moving around really fast. Maybe, you should go after Fairy Godmother's wand instead, it was the most powerful magical object in Auradon, after all. If it had turned a pumpkin into a golden carriage, it would help an angst teenager to overcome her evil phase.

Gil stopped to eat some berries, and he was completelty mesmerized by them. The blonde boy even suggested that you played the icebreaker, praising Jay right after. The compliment took Jafar's son by surprise but he went on with it, and, in a matter of instants, he and Gil started chatting like childhood friends. Someone didn't seem very thrilled with the boys new found connection, though. Harry, whose attitude showed that he couldn't bare being left out, didn't waste time on making a scoff comment about the conversation.

As for you, it was gold to see the Harry's expression when Jay and Gil kept talking like they didn't hear the pirate's bitter words.

"They completely ignored you" you glanced over him just to see his smirk fading away from his face and turning into a scowl. Harry Hook didn't like to be overlooked, you could tell for sure, and you'd take advantage of that to bother him a little.

He deserved it, anyway.

"They are not even paying attention to you, how sad" you added, just to push his buttons a bit further.

It worked, he glared at you in such a way that made you glad that looks couldn't kill, otherwise you would have burst into flames. You took no notice of him, evil faces didn't scare you.

Hary catched a berry with his hook and ate it in a very dramatic way, drawing all attention to him. That guy was all about aesthetic, wasn't he?

"PS, your mutt went that way" he told Carlos and it was only then that everybody noticed that Dude wasn't around anymore. The boys followed to where Harry had motioned, leaving you and Jay, who grabbed a few more berries, behind.

"Look at you, all sociable and making friends" you teased him.

"Weren't you talking to Harry like, a second minute ago?" he threw your little chitchat with the pirate right in your face.

"I only want to get to know Uma's friends" you defended yourself, shrugging your shoulders.

"Why?" he questioned, intrigued by your answer.

Damn, you forgot you weren't supposed to know Uma at all.

"Well... you said it yourself and I quote, 'I have this thing about protecting every mermaid of the world', so if Mal keeps her promise and really let the VKs off the Isle, it means Uma will be staying in Auradon, and she is the daughter of Ursula, therefore, she is part of the merpeople who are under the protection of Atlantica and..."

"Okay, okay! I get it" he put his hand over your mouth, knowing very well that when you started talking about this subject, nothing could stop you.

In other situation that, wouldn't have stopped you to adduce your speech about the Isle and the rules of the sea, but since this was exacttly the reaction you expected to draw from him, you just pushed his hand aside.

You went after Dude, who finally seemed to be on the trail of Ben's whereabouts. Or it was what you thought, because all you could see were trees and more trees, and...

You heard a loud growl and out of nowhere a buffalo monster jumped from behind a tree, pouncing on the little squad. Good thing you all had good reflexes, because with the size of the claws of this over-grown furry ball, he would have ripped your guts out in the blink of an eye.

Now, more than ever, you regretted not going back to Atlantica.

What the hell was this thing?

Oh wait...

The blue and yellow combinantion...

The clothes...

Oh...

That thing was Ben.

Gosh, Audrey didn't take easily their break up, did she? You made a mental note of never ever dating her if this was how she treated her exes.

"Use your magic " Carlos cried out, urging you to do something about your beasty friend.

"My magic won't do any good. He needs true love kiss or something like that, and I am defenitely not a furry" you pratically shouted the last part, getting ready to defend yourself in case Ben decided to attack you again.

It was Gil who noticed something was wrong with the beast's hand.

"He's got a boo-boo that's why he is so cranky... My dad said his dad did not handle pain well, at all" he talked about his father's murder attempt on King Beast as if he was talking about the weather.

How precious was this boy?

Ben snarled at you again, and Carlos stepped in. Carefully, he approached the cursed boy, soothing him. You expected Ben to pluck out Carlos eyes or something, but the VK managed to pull the thorn out of Ben's furry hand with mastery, instead.

Nice...

Now what?

Out of nowhere, a blast of water flew right past your head and splashed all over Ben's beasty body. Slowly, he started to look less like a beast and more like an ordinary human being. You looked over your shoulder and saw Jane, who was holding a water blaster, it became quite clear that the Fairy Godmother's daughter was the one responsible for undoing partially Ben's curse. Who needed a magical wand when you had enchanted lake water, right?

You and Jay rushed to help Ben, holding him up and taking him to sit down on a rock nearby. The poor boy seemed to just have woken up from a nightmare. However, not even the enchanted water was strong enought to lift the spell completely, but it was funny to watch Jane splashing another blast of water on Ben's face in hopes of making his new grown beard and fangs to disappear.

"Don't worry" you reassured him "I'm sure Mal won't mind"

"Do you like it?" Ben grinned cheerfully and ran his hand over his beard, expecting your approval.

You hummed, not sure if he wanted to hear the truth. You looked away from your friend and saw Harry hitting on Jane and a jealous and protective Carlos interceding on her behalf.

You rolled your eyes. Being in Auradon was always like entering into some cheesy soap opera. The drama, the angst, the musical numbers that came out of nowhere...

While Jay and Carlos explained to Jane and a very confused Ben everything that had happened up to that point, you decide to stay away from the conversation to avoid questions that could lead them to realize you had helped Uma. Not that you were afraid of them, but if your grandfather knew about that, he would have a fit and King Triton's rage was feared in all seven seas and beyond. So, there you were again, left to talk to the villain kids who, although you weren't sure why, appeared to be a little apprehensive since Ben joined the group. Then again, it could be just your impression.

"Are you enjoying Auradon so far?" you asked the boys.

Gil went on a rant about what he liked so far, giving examples and detalied descriptions of flowers, grapes, threes, berries and all the things that you had in Auaradon and they didn't have back on the Isle, which was basically everything. He also said something about penguins and going on a jungle cruise with Jay, but you didn't pay attention because Harry leaned over you with that stupid smug grin of his.

"It's not as boring as I thought it would be" did he really have to come this close just to say that? You were pretty sure that his life's mission was to be as annoying as he could.

"Really? Everybody is cursed..." you replied, but it only made his grin to grow wider.

"Exactly"

You shook your head, what a weirdo.

"Hey" Gil called your name, making both you and Harry to turn your heads in his direction at the same time "Do you think Ben will kick us back to the Isle?"

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Harry stiffen up and his confident expression fade away.

Was it possible that they were worried that Ben wouldn't allow the kids to come off the Isle as Mal had promised?

"No!" you set their minds at rest "Ben may seem a bit innocent, but he is compassionate and very smart. The VK Program was idealized by him and even if people didn't agree with it, he put his foot down. I know Ben and I've annoyed him long enough about this matter, so I am sure he won't abandon the Isle. Also, Evie will kill him if he shuts down the program... Thus, I think you're good"

More than that, you would never let him put Uma back on the Isle and if he did that, it would become your personal goal to make him regret every decision he ever made in his life. Actually, if Ben dared to back down, you'd raise hell.

Finally, you arrived at Evie's home and in the right time! You've been walking on land for too long and starting to feel a little dehydrated. All you wanted to do was to come in and have a glass of water. Luckily, the girls were already waiting for you at the door and, as you got closer, they greeted the group, glad that everyone was alive and safe. Uma even teased Mal about Ben's fangs. Funny how a few hours earlier they were at each other's throats and now it was like they had always been friends.

"You okay?" you felt Uma's hand on your shoulder and looked at her, smiling.

"Yes, of course. Just feeling a bit dried. Have I mentioned how much I hate being ashore?"

"I don't know. Maybe a thousand times, just every single day since we met. 'Uma, the human world is a nightmare. Humans are so annoying and stinky, swimming with dolphings is so much better than anything else they have up there' " she made an impression of you, putting her hand on her forehead dramatically.

You groaned.

"Don't mock my pain, and I never said that. You know I much rather swim with rays, they're way more friendly than dolphins. Also, I do not speak like that".

"But the attitude is on point" she winked.

Then, it was decided that Jane, Gil and Doug would go after Fairy Godmother, who surely had become a stone statue like everybody else, otherwise she'd have appeared by now. Or maybe not, after a 16 years old boy was crowned King of Auradon you stopped believing adults had any idea what to do. Therefore, Fairy Godmother could very well be drinking tea while expecting that a bunch of teenagers would solve all the problems.

As soon as you entered Evie's cottage, you went straight to the kitchen. Getting the biggest cup you found, you filled it with water and, to give it an extra punch, you added some salt. It was the closest thing you had to ocean's water, anyway. The glass was almost touching your lips; unfortunately, everything went wrong.

Harry Hook literally came out of nowhere and took the glass from your hands, you tried to warn him against it but it was too late, the next moment he had already drunk all its content. You'd have laughed when his carefree expression changed into one of utter disgust as he swallowed the water, if he hadnt spitted out all of it on your face soon after.

You did what any sane person would have done: you started yelling at him.

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?"

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?" Harry screamed as loud as you "What kind of person drink salt water?" his pained expression showed that the taste still didn't have left his mouth.

"A mermaid, you barbarian!!" you shouted, doing your best to dry your face off.

"Were you trying to poison me?"

You scoffed at the pirate's words. Was he really accusing you? You had to give him kudos for his guts, because he lacked any commom sense.

"YOU STOLE MY FUCKING WATER!!" you shouted at the top of your lungs. If everyone in Auradon wasn't sleeping or a statue, they would have been able to hear all the nasty things you said to Harry, to which he replied accordingly.

It took you both a while to notice a third voice joining the riot, it was Uma's. Upon hearing the shouts and death threats, the girl entered the kitchen to find her best friends acting like angry sharks. It was almost amusing to see how fast Harry went quiet when he saw Uma there, asking if you two had gone mad.

"She tried to poison me, Uma!" he pointed at you accusingly.

"Excuse me!" you look at your friend, who couldn't be any less impressed by your petty explanations "He spit water on my face. MY WATER. I WAS GOING TO DRINK IT"

The sea witch's daughter rolled her eyes so hard that you could swear she saw her own brain.

"You know what, lass?" Harry got dangerously close to you, leaning slightly on the kitchen's table "I'm used to rotten food and sea water, but I have never tasted anything as dreadful as this. If this is what mermaids have to drink, I understand why so many of you want to leave the ocean".

You gasped and he grimmed, thinking he had finally gotten you. That pirate had just crossed the line and he had no idea who he was dealing with. You could put up with him stealing your drink and spitting it all over you, but talking bullshit about your beloved kin was something you weren't able to ignore. Uma would have to settle for having Gil as her first mate because you were about to kill Harry.

"You know what Hook" you said in your sweetest-sounding voice "You have the accent, the jacket, the hook, the smokey eyes... but you're still missing one thing... Better saying, you are not missing it..."

As quick as one could blink, you grabbed a small knife from the counter and stabbed it into the table close to where Harry's hand was lying.

"A FUCKING HAND!".

Okay, you wanted the knife to land close to Harry's hand, but it was a little too close... Actually, you failed to hit it for a couple of inches, had you done it a little bit to the left, Harry Hook would be lacking a finger.

Maybe you were kind of moody, after all.

Harry Hook had big blue eyes that usually sparkled with a boyish malice (and a bit of insanity), but, right now, he was looking at you with bulging eyes, one part of him didn't believe in what you just had done and the other was a little bit impressed by it. Of course all these emotions washed off from his face in seconds.

"DID YOU SEE IT, UMA? SHE IS CRAZY!"

"So, you can walk around spitting on people and threatening to hook them and that's okay? YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO JUDGE ME"

And the yelling started again, but Uma was having none of it and she knew both of you enough to understand that if someone did not step in, you wouldn't stop until one of you were dead.

"Stop both of you, right now!" she didn't even have to shout, just the look on her face was enough to make you shut up "We are on a very dangerous mission and we don't have time to deal with this silliness!"

"She started!"

"He started!"

You both cried out at the same time.

Uma took a deep breath, her patience running thin.

"I don't want to hear it. If you want to act like children, I'll treat you as such. Now, apologize to each other.

Harry and you exchanged looks of pure and sincere disgust.

"I won't do it" you threw your hands up.

"Neither will I" Harry declared, folding his arms.

"Great, so I'll call Evie and Gil and they can talk to you about the importance of friendship. I will personally ask them to sing about it"

Uma's threat was enough to make Harry turn to you and apologize.

Uma had real power over him. A true goddess, indeed.

"Okay, I'm sorry" the words that left his mouth were bitter and you knew he was dying inside for having to say them out loud, and that's why you enjoyed every single second of it.

In this moment, Mal called all of you to hurry up because they were about to go to Fairy Cottage, Uma gave you and Harry a warning look before leaving the kitchen and you went to fetch another glass of water. You were almost finishing to drink it when you notice Harry staring.

You took the last gulp and smiled innocently at him.

"I'm sorry, did you want some?" you asked.

"You didn't apologize" he raised an eyebrow and you put the glass down. Walking closer to him, you looked the pirate right in the eye.

"I just said I'm sorry, didn't I?"

"It doesn't count!"

"Yes, it does"

"No, it doesn't"

You hated to admit, but you were taking quite a liking to teasing him. Fortunately for you, Jay came into the kitchen to fetch you and Harry who were delaying the rest of the group. You couldn't help but notice the despleased look in the pirate's face.

Victory.

#harry hook x reader #harry hook x you #harry hook imagine #harry hook #descendants x reader #descendants imagine #descendants fanfiction #disney descendants #out of the water

144 notes · View notes

starstruckteacup · 4 years

Text

Cottagecore Films (pt. 5)

Whisper of the Heart (1995)

starring Honna Youko, Takahashi Issei, Kobayashi Keiju, Yamashita Yorie

Fourteen year old bookworm Tsukishima Shizuku has a goal of reading 20 books before school starts, but while she’s reading, she realizes that many of her books have the same name written on the library cards: Amasawa Seiji. She begins imagining who he might be, and evolves the idea into her potential prince charming. After school begins, she encounters a cat commuting on the train, and follows him to a quiet antique shop where she meets a kind elderly man, Nishi Shiro. She soon meets Nishi’s grandson, an aspiring violin maker, who she actually had an uncomfortable encounter with at school earlier on. The two of them become friends despite their differences, until Shizuku learns that his name is Amasawa Seiji, shattering her imaginary image of him. Despite her discomfort, they continue to bond and become close friends, even meeting at school, until Seiji has to leave for Italy for school. While he’s away, Shizuku vows to write a story for him to read upon his return, as an effort to become a better person and understand what she wants to do with her life. It’s a race to get her story onto paper before he returns, a race to plan for her future, and a race to understand what her true feelings are for Seiji before it becomes too late.

I have never seen a film capture the pure essence of middle schoolers like this one. It showed the discomfort of discovering love as young teenagers in a way that was realistic but wholesome and honest. Also if Shizuku wasn’t exactly how I was as a child I don’t know what to tell you. She had the unbridled determination and complete tunnel vision of a teenager who’s set her mind to something, and no amount of real-world obligations could deter her from her goal. Her imagination ran wild as she translated it to paper, and although she was proud for finishing it she was still unhappy with the ending, as any writer--especially a first time writer--would be on their first draft. The people she loved were real with her but encouraged her throughout, a fantastic representation of how blood family and found family can help form a young person’s character. 9/10

Matilda (1996)

starring Mara Wilson, Embeth Davidtz, Danny DeVito, Rhea Pearlman, Pam Ferris

Matilda is born to grouchy, rude, and dishonest parents, Harry and Zinnia Wormwood. They consistently neglect her as she grows up, so she learns how to care for herself early on. She develops a love for books and learning, and is thrilled when her parents finally allow her to begin school. However, the school she goes to is nothing like how she expected. Principal Trunchbull, a violent and hateful woman, runs the school through brutality and fear. On the other hand, Matilda’s teacher, the gentle and kind Miss Honey, teaches her children to love learning and supports each of them individually, creating a stark contrast of joy in her classroom to the terrifying rest of the school. Over time, Matilda learns that she has some unique powers, and begins using them to protect the people she loves and punish the people who abuse those around them. She creates her own form of justice for those who have never seen repercussions for their actions, and by the end her actions pave the way for a loving home.

I’ve watched this movie many times over the years, and I’ve loved it every time. It’s witty, sweet, entertaining, and endearing. The characters are very straightforwardly portrayed, and although they don’t necessarily have complexity, they don’t need it in a film like this. The main story is about Matilda growing and learning that she deserves to be happy despite the suffering she endured, and the film delivers on that perfectly. The characters are enjoyable--even the unlikable ones--and you can’t help but love to see Matilda exact retribution when the system can’t deliver it for her. Despite everything, she is still a kind and clever young girl, just as Miss Honey is a kind and empathetic woman, which are clear messages that I definitely needed as a child, and still smile upon as an adult. It’s a fantastic movie for all ages, and will always be worth the rewatch. 10/10

Mansfield Park (1999)

TW: detailed depictions of rape, abuse, and other violence toward people of color through drawings; slavery; racist language

starring Frances O’Connor, Hannah Taylor Gordon, Johnny Lee Miller, Alessandro Nivola, Embeth Davidtz, Harold Pinter, Victoria Hamilton, James Purefoy

Young Fanny Price, at age 10, is sent away from her impoverished family to live with her mother’s family, the Bertram’s, at Mansfield Park. There she meets Edmund, a boy of her own age and similar fascination with storytelling, and the two become best friends over the years. When Fanny reaches adulthood, Sir Thomas Bertrand and his eldest son move to Antigua, where the family maintains a plantation. Upon their departure, a new sibling duo, Henry and Mary Crawford, move into the parsonage nearby. Edmund quickly falls for Mary, and after a short bit of ingracious flirting on Henry’s part to one of Edmund’s sisters, he soon develops feelings for Fanny. When Fanny refuses his advances, however, Sir Thomas sends her back to live with her family, still stricken with poverty. However, Fanny doesn’t remain for long, when a family tragedy strikes Mansfield Park and she’s needed. There, she renews her friendship with Edmund, and several astonishing complications entwine their fates once more.

As with any Jane Austen story, I greatly enjoyed the characters. Fanny is incredibly headstrong and outspoken, but always uses it in the effort of kindness. I find Austen heroines to be excellent role models for young women, and that’s not the last time you’ll hear that from me, but this portrayal of the novel was particularly well acted. O’Connor’s portrayal of her is quick-tongued and cutting when she needs to be, but more importantly her voracity for life and love shines through in her acting. I found myself laughing at her witty comebacks to being slighted, and frustrated when her affections are unknowingly spurned time and again. Austen created a very empathetic and spirited character, but O’Connor expanded her into an even more relatable young woman. All of the acting was done very well, and the settings were both cozy and beautiful, even breathtaking at times.

I do want to make a comment regarding the trigger warnings here, given their graphic nature and how they affect my review. While I do feel that the detail depicted and the length of the scene were egregious, especially because they are never brought up again as a topic of contention, the drawings themselves were very realistic to the times. However, they are burned and disregarded in the film, and the character seen committing the abuses (Sir Thomas) does not face any consequences for them. It is a skippable scene (beginning when Fanny is looking through young Tom’s sketchbook), if such violence causes you discomfort. I personally was very disturbed as a person of color, not so much by the drawings themselves, although they were deeply unsettling, but by how Sir Thomas is never held accountable. He decides to stop being a plantation owner and takes up selling tobacco, implying that he no longer participates in slavery, but he doesn’t face any kind of backlash for it, even from his abolitionist family members. He has a happily ever after that he doesn’t deserve, and I know that is more distressing to many of us. As such, I must advise that you gain nothing in particular by watching these scene, and will lose none of the plot by skipping over it. 8/10

Part One // Part Two // Part Three // Part Four

#cottagecore #farmcore #cozycore #gardencore #grandmacore #period drama #studio ghibli #jane austen #film #film review #movie review #romance movie #movies #activities #mine

83 notes · View notes