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escape-the-real · 1 month

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The Lost Crown: A Tale of Rebellious Royalty. (MHA Fantasy Au x reader)

Drabble, Characters are 18+

Synopsis: Y/n meets two new acquaintances while on the run. Can they trust them?

Word count: 1,766

Includes/mentioned: Shigaraki, Magne, Bakugo, Hana, Kirishima.

Key: (T:) - Translation, (e/c) - eye colour, (s/c) - skin colour, (h/c) - hair colour.

Warning: Angst, and mentions of deceased loved ones.

⚔︎- Chapter Two: The Dark Forest-⚔︎

Y/n stopped running to catch their breath but also turned to look back towards the palace that had been their home for so many years. It was all they knew, but that simple knowledge sent fear coursing through them again. Quickly Y/n turned and ran deeper into the forest.

The village road was a well-traveled route that they were afraid to go on. They endured the brambles, thistles, and thorns that grew quickly in the underbrush instead. The thistles thrashed Y/n's ankles and the thorns tore the makeshift cloak they were wearing. Their heart pounding so loudly that they stopped when they could hear nothing else. However, at that point, Y/n was driven forward by a greater fear of being captured than a fear of the unknown.

They found that the more they moved, the forest around them lay in listening quiet. The noise of Y/n's scrambling canceled out any noise of a follower behind them. So they ran without stopping. When at last Y/n couldn't go any further, they sat down with their back against a huge tree and rested their head on their knees.

"I'm too tired to be afraid," Y/n muttered out to the open air before closing their eyes.

When Y/n's eyes reopened, the gray light of dawn lit the clearing around them. Where the clearing merged into the forest, tangled fronds and broken branches marked the way they had come. Y/n stared in dismay. Prince Shigaraki's trackers would not even be needed to find them. They would be the morning's entertainment for his visitors.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about it." The voice was gentle, hardly disturbing the quiet of the peaceful clearing.

Their heart leaped into their throat. At first glance around the cleaning, they saw nothing. They were ready to believe that they had finally gone mad.

In their peripherals, they saw a long red, and scaly tail. This tail belonged to a… man? He sat resting on a branch above Y/n on the tree they had fallen asleep against. He had bright red hair that spiked towards the heavens, scarlet eyes, sharp pointed teeth that formed a smile, folded wings, and horns that protruded from his red hair. He wore no cloak, just a small grey vest that did nothing to hide his rather muscular build that was littered with scales, a baggy pair of dark grey pants, and a dull orange scarf hung loosely around his neck.

Y/n shuffled forward in alarm when he jumped down from his perch above them. He made a non-threatening gesture by raising his hands in surrender. He walked slowly towards the way that Y/n had come. They watched him, ready to run. He retraced Y/n's steps and with heavy swipes of his tail, he crushed the brambles and undergrowth. Y/n watched in curiosity and astonishment. When at last the man was finished, a wide portion of the underbrush had been flattened. The tacks that they had left had been well hidden. The man made his way back towards them. He stretched his arms above his head yawning, sharp pointed teeth fully on display.

"W-why did you help me?" Questioned Y/n, not used to kindness, especially kindness from a stranger. The man tilted his head at them, pondering their question.

"There's nothing the way you came but Shigaraki's palace," the man replied gently. "Anyone who flees from that wretched place will find that I give my assistance freely."

Y/n's e/c eyes widen in surprise. Slowly they felt their body begin to relax. "You do not call him Prince," they said wearily studying the man.

"Nope," the man said confidently. "I only have one who I shall call Prince, and it's not Shigaraki, brother to our dead Queen.

"Who do you serve then?" Y/n asked.

"I serve the barbarian Prince and his family. I am his mate and sworn protector, it's what my dragon-shifting ancestors have done for centuries before the great war. When we lost so many…" His voice trailed off. He looked back at Y/n, and his eyes lost their fire, becoming gentle.

He shakes his head as if to clear his thoughts before looking back at them with his head tilted and a wide smile. "Come on," he said. "We shouldn't linger around here. It's unwise and dangerous."

Y/n hesitated for a moment. They looked around as if finding the best route of escape.

"Come," the man said gently yet firmly at the same time. "No harm will come to you when you're with me." His eyes pleading her to allow him to help.

When Y/n took the first step towards him, it surprised even them. But once their decision was made, they couldn't turn back. Y/n intended to take another step toward the man but stopped due to her feet being cut up and having extremely sore muscles. The man gave them a once-over before swiftly walking over and picking them up, bridal style. They let out a squeak before clutching their cloak tighter and pulling their hood down to cast a shadow over their eyes, but the man didn't look down at them. Instead, he gave a light rumble that they felt vibrate in his chest. He walked into the sea of overgrown ferns. Y/n could see the path before the ferns hid it again.

Y/n had become used to the swaying motion of being carried when they came across an open meadow. Little huts were clustered along its edges, their little chimneys sending light grey smoke into the sky. Between the huts, Y/n could see animal corrals. People went about their work, stopping now and then to entertain their children.

"Is it a village?" Y/n whispered in awe.

The man gave her a funny look. "Have you never been to the village?"

They shook their head. Their attention was fixed on the huts, and they didn't see the look the man gave them.

They moved through the village. Few individuals turned to look at them with curiosity. Y/n was drawn to one in particular; he had his back to them, but his ash blonde hair was spiky, and he moved with an unusual grace. When he turned, his ruby-red eyes followed the two. Y/n was too tired to remember just how he sparked this recognition and too sore to really care.

The shapeshifter carried them away from the village to a small camp and the man that Y/n saw before was there waiting.

This man had spikey blonde hair, piercing blood-coloured eyes, different tribal jewelry, and tribal tattoos. He had no shirt on his muscular chest, a red cloak adorned with white fur at the collar sat on his shoulders, and baggy black pants hung up by a belt sat dangerously on his narrow waist.

"Tch, the hell is this?" The ash blonde spoke harshly.

"A guest and be nice." The shapeshifter said with a sigh.

"Eijiro." The ash blonde said warningly.

"Eijiro?" Y/n muttered this name out.

The redhead holding them looked down at them in his arms with a smile.

"Yup, that's my name. Eijiro Kirishima! Guess we didn't really introduce ourselves before, did we?" He said with a light chuckle.

The blonde let out a loud sigh. "Whatever, we will talk later about this. I saw a herd of wild boar this morning and intend to get some fucking meat for dinner."

"Could you possibly drive them through the clearing near the twisted tree and a little bit through the plain?" Kirishima asked the blonde while setting Y/n on a freshly made bed roll.

"Why?" The blonde snapped.

Kirishima went closer to the other man before whispering something that made his jaw clench. Y/n could only catch something about The Yami no dōmei (T: Dark Alliance), which made them shudder.

The blonde quirked an eyebrow before saying, "Heh! Shigaraki's group might change one hunt for another". He didn't care how loud he was or if Y/n heard him.

Kirishima kisses the man on the lips with a quick "Be safe Katsuki."

The blonde smirks after the kiss and looks towards Y/n, who looks away embarrassed for being caught staring at their private moment. The blonde laughed heartily, then grabbed a sword and headed to the area where he had last seen the herd of boars earlier.

Y/n watched Katuski walk away before they realized how tired they were and how comfy this bed roll that Ejiro had placed them down upon. They didn't even notice when Ejiro got a bucket of water and sat beside them.

"Mind laying back for me? Just want to clean your scratches, don't want them getting infected, do we?" He says, gently pushing their shoulder to get them to lay back.

Ejiro pulled out a shimmering green vile from his trouser pocket and dumped its contents into the bucket of water. They made no protest as he slid their cloak off from their shoulders. When a cloth dipped in the bucket was gently applied to the scratches created by the thistles, Y/n closed their eyes.

The rhythmic movement abruptly halted. The feeling of comfort vanished in an instant. When Y/n opened their eyes, they noticed that Ejiro's scarlet eyes were sweeping over the birthmark on their shoulder. Almost in a protective manner, their hand shot up to cover it. Ejiro turned away, sensing the uneasiness.

He got up and started tending to things around the small campsite. Y/n waited tensely for him to mention anything about the birthmark. But he said nothing. For some strange reason, the silence from him bothered them even more. It robbed them of their peace and made them slightly angry.

"Here, I made some tea to help you relax enough to sleep. Made with Valerian, you know, the plant." Ejiro said, placing a small cup beside them.

Y/n knew of the plant Valerian. It was in one of the books they had read many times while locked in their room. Valerian is well known for having mildly hypnotic qualities that make it act on the nervous system like a sedative.

"O-oh, thank you," Y/n said, sitting up a little. With his back to them, they pretended to sip the tea before dumping it on the grass next to the bedroll. Then, instead of taking that much-needed rest, Y/n spent the next few hours feigning sleep.

Many thoughts and images ran through their mind. Y/n thought of the palace, Shigaraki raging at Mange for losing them, the boars, and the two new acquaintances they had met. With all those thoughts swirling through their head, they fell into a troubled sleep.

Thanks for reading, hope it was enjoyable!! Make sure to stick around for ⚔︎- Chapter Three: Flames at Noon-⚔︎

#bakugou katsuki #anime #mha #anime fanfic #bnha #bnha x reader #bakugou x reader #kirishima #bnha fanfiction #fantasy #bnha fantasy au #@escape the real #The Lost Crown: A Tale of Rebellious Royalty #dragon kirishima #barbarian bakugou #shigaraki tomura #kiribaku #my hero academia #MHA

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rosella35 · 2 years

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G/T Stories Appreciation

For everyone who’s followed my stories over the years, you may already know that I’m a pretty inconsistent contributor to the G/T community, but this year has been by far the most challenging! As much as I’ve wanted to keep writing Borrowed Courage and post more art (and fanart) on here, I’ve been struggling through the final year of my psychology degree at university, and while it’s almost over, it’s taken up a lot of the time that I used to spend engaging with the amazing creators here on this platform.

So basically, I’m writing this post to give all of my favourite giant-tiny stories (and their authors) a well-deserved shoutout! There have been a few series that I’ve binged while stressed from thesis-writing this year, and a heap more that got me through high school and plenty of other stressful times in life, so without further ado, have some recommendations!

A Tall and Small Collection by @narrans - Definitely one of my staple reads this year! For anyone wanting a wholesome yet angsty story about a borrower family and their resident human, this one is a must! Narrans is an incredibly talented writer, and I can’t wait for the much-anticipated paperback of ATaSC coming out soon!

Watch Your Step by @not-a-space-alien - Hands down one of the most creative takes on the ‘human catches fairy’ trope. Thistle is such a well-developed character, and the interactions he has with his human roommates are so entertaining (and have literally made me laugh out loud at times!). If you’re after a slow burn trust-building story, then I couldn’t recommend this one more!

Nobody’s Fool by @ratcatcher0325 - I binged this whole story the other night after submitting an essay and it was incredible! I usually don’t read too many pet trope works anymore, but this one warmed my heart for a good reason. I loved the journeys each character went on throughout the story; especially Penn’s. It's always so empowering to read about a character overcoming prejudices and using their story to inspire others!

A Fraction of Justice - another one by @ratcatcher0325 which deserves just as much praise as Nobody’s Fool! Alexander is such a strong yet vulnerable character, and I am loving he and Natalie’s story so far. Seriously amazing writing, especially during the emotional scenes!

Online Dating Can Be Hard by @duckit7 - Seriously such a sweet story about two people developing feelings for each other in a mixed-size world. I love the world-building in this one, and how realistic the characters and their struggles are. Definitely worth a read if you like slow burn romance with a sprinkle of angst!

Gulliver’s Children by @rosabea6 - This one’s a webtoon about a teenager with a size-shifting disease. Once again, some crazy world-building, and scarily realistic scenes. Also, the art is absolutely incredible! I’ll flag that this one is for mature audiences since there are some violent scenes, but overall hands down the most amazing G/T themed comic I’ve read!

Perspectives Series by @hiddendreamer67 and @arc852 - I'm not part of the Sanders Sides fandom, but this series was wild! I can’t believe how many different scenes and tropes you guys managed to write over such a short period; it’s beyond impressive. If I had to pick a favourite, it would have to be ‘Switched Perspectives’, since I’m a sucker for size switching shenanigans (and in this case angst)!

Borrowtober Series by @Nicole08196 over on deviantart - This one doesn’t get old! A super cute story about a family of borrowers and their two resident humans, with a really fresh perspective on the lives of borrowers. Nicholas and Darius would have to be my favourite pair; their guitar practicing bonding sessions are so wholesome!

Trust Series by @creatorofuniverses and @neonthewrite over on deviantart - As if I would forget mentioning the trust boys. This one has a special place in my heart, since I basically went through high school following along with the series (and now here I am at 23)! For those who haven’t read it yet, Trust follows the lives of two viri (who pretty much live like borrowers) and their human counterparts, and has four main AUs so far. Definitely worth checking it out!

Spirit of Adventure - also by @creatorofuniverses , with a supernatural twist! Basically a viri who can see ghosts, his ghostly friend and a team of human detectives out fighting crime. What could go wrong?

The Prince and the Faeling - another amazing series by @creatorofuniverses which you can find at @askthefaeling . It’s an angsty story about a spoiled prince and his snarky fae companion.

Brothers Apart by @nightmares06 - This series definitely takes the throne for most prolific! Even if you’ve never watched Supernatural, Brothers Apart and its many AUs explore just about every G/T theme under the sun, and with incredible writing to boot! If I were to pick a favourite, it’d have to be a tie between ‘Brothers Adopted’ and ‘Brothers Lost’, but all of the AUs are amazing in their own right ^_^

I also want to give a special mention to @neonthewrite ’s Bowman of Wellwood, @keydekyie ’s The Moth and the Bear, and @bittykimmy13 ’s Christian and Gloria stories for being my G/T nostalgia bombs, the first two of which are now published! If you haven’t already, go check them out!

I’m sure there are many more writers who I’ve missed, so please add them in if you’d like! Huge thank you to you all for doing what you do! ^_^

#gianttiny #gtcommunity #g/t community #g/t writing #g/t author #author appreciation #the borrowers

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cq-studios · 6 months

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Been going crazy since the ML news (If you can even call it that) dropped and I'm finally off work and able to post about it.

First off two disclaimers.

I haven't looked through my dash yet so I don't know if anyone else made this post if someone has my bad

I will be talking about and referencing the beta opening movie leak

So I want to talk about this emblem because, even though it's been around a while, I personally haven't seen anyone analyze it in depth.

Before I go into my own personal observations, I'd like to point out the obvious stuff I have seen people talk about before. That being the fact that it resembles the Scalaian symbol for the number 7 and the symbol from the cover of the Book of Prophecies...

...and the idea that it is a combination of the two.

I definitely agree with that, but I'd like to raise you that it also resembles a dandelion. Or at least the prongs resemble dandelion leaves.

I'm pretty sure this intentional, considering Scala's history and its founder.

Honestly, it makes me wonder if this is a symbol meant to represent the Dandelions, especially since we see it on what seems to be Player's heart station (judging by the characters in the foreground of it being their best friends)

And at the top there are five prongs, one for each Union Leader (or alternatively one for each Darkness they encountered).

(Fours also come up a couple of times in the gaps, thinking specifically between the top prongs and the little diamonds in the Scalaian 7, which could possibly be representative of the Darknesses Ephemer thinks he let escape)

As we all know 7 in representative of light, so it isn't too out there for it to be in the symbol possibly made to represent the light inside the hearts of the children that supposedly brought the world back from darkness. (It could also represent MoM and his apprentices, but I'm not even sure if the Lost Masters are common knowledge since Eraqus plays dumb about them in the opening of KH III)

But the placement of the emblem, dead centre on the building, in the new images make me second guess the Dandelion connection.

Maybe it is representative of the bluebloods (specifically related to Ephemer) instead? Or maybe that building was made specifically with Brain in mind? I don't know.

But I do know that the symbol actual resembles another type of flower/weed and I'd like to bring it to your attention.

The thistle.

See the thistle no only has very similar leaves to the dandelion but it also has a flower. A flower that looks strikingly like the top bit of this new emblem.

Among Celtic cultures the thistle represents resiliency, strength, resolve, protection, and pride (Source).

Take that as you will.

#Just kind of babbling lol #No clue if any of this will come to anything I just want to talk about it #I mean I've been riding the ML news high all day might as well use this energy for something lol #(What's that? Maybe I should work on the banner post? Yeah... probably... lol)#I'd say expect all sorts of random ML posts over the next few days but I am notoriously unreliable when it comes to projects #that only involve me (and that involve research... *cough* banner post *cough*)#anyways gonna actually go through everything #*now #khml spoilers #sometimes i think about khux

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autumnalwalker · 18 days

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A Dream About An Endgame

I am in a place that resembles a cross between used bookstore and antique shop. The labyrinthine aisle meander and loop around for what must be miles at least. Books and knickknacks cover every shelf, island, and table; so many that some are forced to pile up on the floor. The materials and level of the flooring varies, but at the moment I am standing at the bottom of a small flight of five or six steps in an area with orange-ish clay shards for pavement.

I am helping several of the gathered people realize who they are. This place has grown crowded over the past few hours with confused people that could be reasonably mistaken for cosplayers. Not necessarily what one would normally accurate cosplayers as they capture the spirit of characters more than their “canonical” appearance. They are, in fact, the characters themselves in truth, although it is only slowly dawning on them as the final act approaches.

I finish sorting out this group - especially tricky as there are several versions of the same character from different retellings present - and move on. There is someone I hope to find before everything ends.

Besides the characters, there are a handful of others present, avatars of broad archetypes and natural forces, the child heroes whom everything rests on, and the Sulfurs and Thistles. The Sulfurs and Thistles are something like guardians and caretakers of this place. I am unclear on the distinction between them, but there seems to be an incomplete overlap between them and the archetypes.

And then there is me, an interloping outsider who should not be here. This is not my first visit to this place, but for everyone it is their last. I have come to learn that one of the Thistles is my true mother.

I catch sight of one of the Seasons (Spring, not Autumn as I’d hoped but still a friend), call out to her, and begin walking with her through the winding aisles. She shifts between forms of animal and human fluidly as a dream. I have already done the most important duty entrusted to me and guided the young heroes to the places that they must begin from, so now I have a few short hours left for my personal pursuit. My constant stopping to help the characters realize who they are is honestly unnecessary by this point. They’ve already begun to congregate into groups of heroes and villains. As Spring and I pass by I catch snippets of dialogue as they begin to recite their lines in remixed recreation of iconic-and-now-intersecting scenes. My heart is lifted as I recognize a handful of characters that I know will switch from the side of the villains to the side of the heroes when their moments come. I stop to pet a statue of a cute creature for luck and Spring admonishes me for falling behind and nearly knocking a set of small glass animals off a shelf.

We both know that elsewhere in this place - far from here but not too far - the end has already begun. Floors are flooding and the ceiling and walls are cracking open into a nothingness that consumes all in a terrible wind. What kind of world comes next after everything resets will depend on the young heroes.

Spring and I find a nice quiet place to rest and wait for the young heroes to find us (find her) or not. I begin to ask her about a Graysonthistle. Or maybe a Gaylordthistle. I cannot properly recall the name, only that it it started with a “G” and contained an “ay”. I am cut off by the arrival of a Thistle dressed in the image of an elven forest warrior in green-and-brown leather armor and war paint.

I recognize her although she does not recognize me. The last time I was here (several years ago) I stood out in my beige slacks and navy blue corduroy jacket she found cute for all that she didn’t want me here. Now, in my gold-trimmed dress with my crook of living wood, I easily pass as a Sulfur or Thistle, or even an archetype. Perhaps the Junior Spring or Autumn.

The Thistle asks Spring about a question that’s been bugging her. Not that it really matters this close to the end, but she would like to slake this last bit of curiosity while she still has the time. A Sulfur whom she trusts to be unfailingly accurate issued a notice some time back to apprehend a certain interloping outsider who somehow managed to sneak into this place not once but twice. The part she can’t understand is that the detection report registered the intruder as being male last time but female last time. She hopes that Spring can clear this up for her and maybe even help her find the outsider.

Spring laughs at fated serendipity.

I smile and prepare to introduce myself to my mother.

#microfiction #dream writing #writeblr #writers on tumblr #dreams #my writing #my dreams #dreamposting #This was one of those dreams where I vainly struggled to stay asleep and keep dreaming once I realized I was waking up.#I dearly wished to see how the story ends.#I suspect the Harbour from “Starless Sea” by Erin Morgenstern was a subconscious influence on the place in this dream.

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aceouttatime · 1 year

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5, 9, 18, 19

Four different asks? Hell yeah!

(5. What’s your favorite size trope?) Oh, this is a difficult question--there are so many that I enjoy to bits! Overcoming adversity/fighting for equality and respect is definitely one of my favorites (ex., anything by @ratcatcher0325). I also love gentle giants, tinies that are far too smart for their own good, and good old hurt/comfort. G/t whump is always a good one, as well as the whole 'stranger in a strange land' trope (foaming at the mouth like a rabid dog over giant aliens). Finally, accidental/forced shrinking is so, so good. I live for angst. Apologies that these are in no order whatsoever XD

(9. What’s your favorite piece of sizey media?) For film, I have to go with Epic--I love the artistic detail and worldbuilding in that movie, especially considering it was geared more toward kids! Great pacing and loveable characters. What else could I ask for (other than a sequel *cough cough*)? I also love Arietty--Studio Ghibli movies are such comfort movies for me! As far as writing goes, I have a few different authors on Tumblr that have really lovely work! I’ll answer that in just a moment!

(18. Any favorite g/t content creators? People you wanna hype up?) HELL YEAH! I apologize in advance for the pings, but please, please, please go check out these awesome creators! @not-a-space-alien pretty much got me into the g/t community with Thistle’s story! They have beautiful writing skills! I also really enjoy their whump series’ Magnanimous Moonrise and Savage Sunset! @belethlegwen has two of the sweetest characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading about. Henry and Melanie are two folks from very different backgrounds trying to make the best of a situation neither of them could have ever expected. And their flirting is so adorable--AUGH MY HEART! @ratcatcher0325 has written two different g/t pics that have stolen my heart: A Fraction of Justice and Nobody’s Fool! They are two of my absolute favorite works of all time--AFOJ is still ongoing, and I cannot wait to see how things play out for my fellow Alexander! @ayytaro-gt has some amazing content as well! Ugh, her art style is so soft and <3 It fills the void in my heart that longs for fluffy things. @imvenusasaboy is my partner in crime for all things Sylvan and Ari (g/t fic pending), and his art is so skrunkly in the best way possible. He has amazing music taste that I am gobbling up like coffee jelly, and he helps me with all sorts of world building things! (19. What’s your all-time favorite g/t daydream - the one thing you keep going back to?) Oh, boy, this is about to get a little personal, huh? Well, personally, I daydream a lot about being tiny. Sometimes while I’m falling asleep, I imagine being curled up on a giant’s chest and letting them play with my hair or trail a gentle finger down my back. I think that, above anything else, would make me content. I also think about Sylvan and Ari’s world a lot, personally, both for comfort and to help me get some writing down, so I suppose that counts as g/t daydreaming. But, uh, yeah. I just think being circa 3 inches tall would be nice. WHOOP that was a doozy. Thanks for the asks, whumpsday!

#aceouttatimeasks #g/t #g/t asks #g/t community

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burning-thistles-bt · 1 year

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I posted 233 times in 2022

That's 233 more posts than 2021!

196 posts created (84%)

37 posts reblogged (16%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@leafpool-loves-ashfur

@firealder2005

@meadowfoxglen

@burning-thistles-bt

@brackenfur

I tagged 233 of my posts in 2022

#burning thistles - 161 posts

#firealder memes - 124 posts

#firestar - 102 posts

#burning thistles au - 94 posts

#bt memes - 92 posts

#burning thistles memes - 88 posts

#lightningfur - 79 posts

#copperleaf - 75 posts

#creekflower - 60 posts

#airleap - 60 posts

Longest Tag: 131 characters

#obvs lightning rips robin's ear but the other two are currently unknown and you can maaaayyyybee guess who fire rips the ear off of

My Top Posts in 2022:

8 notes - Posted October 11, 2022

8 notes - Posted November 4, 2022

10 notes - Posted September 21, 2022

Princess aka Creekflower! :)

her personality for me was really based off of “if Princess was born a clancat.” I wanted her to keep the same base personality traits as Princess but obviously her clan upbringing changed things for her. while, obviously, she still had that contentment for a kittypet life, she still loved her clan at heart. Princess was very prideful of her kits, and overprotective. but while Princess didn’t understand clanlife, Creekflower very much does, and she’s much stricter/scared because of it. she doesn’t want to be judged, yet judges herself harshly. she’s a hypocrite at heart, too, in replacement of Princess’s air-headedness and ignorance.

she really loves her family and close friends. but outside of that? she’s not really close to her clanmates and feels a disconnect from them, especially because of the treatment she receives for, A) being exiled warrior turned enemy clan leader Thistlestar’s daughter, B) being “cursed” as the kit of medicine cat Spottedleaf, and C) dating a kittypet, baring his kits, and adopting a kittypet kit. unlike Fireheart, she doesn’t care to “right” her reputation, instead willing to wallow in the misery off it and keep to herself and try and tell herself she doesn’t care what others think (it doesnt work).

that being said, she has a strong sense of right and wrong, and can be quite vocal about it even if it only alienates her more from her clanmates.

11 notes - Posted October 4, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

12 notes - Posted November 11, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review

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hogwartsfirebolt · 3 years

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Hello everyone! I’m back for my (omg time flies) third yearly drarry rec list, in which I share with you my 30 favorite drarry fics I read in the year, divided in three parts. What a year 2020 was. It was challenging, scary and confusing, and it was also an amazing reading year for me, I read so, so much more than I ever had before, and I’m really excited to share these masterpieces with you! The banner art is by @dragontamerdame who is one of my favorite artists and was kind enough to let me use this beautiful piece, which you can (and totally should) reblog right here. Now, with nothing else to add and in no particular order, here’s my

FAVORITE FICS I READ IN 2020 PART ONE

1. Who we are in the shadows - @quicksilvermaid - 100k - E - What happens when you’re forced to become the very thing you despise? Ex-Auror Harry Potter, tossed out of the Ministry for something he had no control over, has been looking for a way back to his former life. When he comes across Draco Malfoy in the criminal underbelly of Wizarding London and in need of protection, Harry figures bringing him in to face the Ministry's justice is his ticket back to everything he's lost. But nothing is exactly as it seems. Not even Harry himself. And as he gets drawn further and further into Malfoy's world of honour and deception he finds himself questioning everything he thought he knew—about his childhood nemesis, the Ministry job he misses so much, and most of all, about himself. What happens when you’re forced to see that you were wrong?

THIS FIC!!! It was the first one I read in 2020, and it immediately became my favorite fic of the entire year, and one of my favorites of all time. I have since read it two more times, the entire 100k of it. There are absolutely no words to describe how amazing it is, how much it floored me to read their characterizations, their jobs and the roads life took them on to end up where they end up, the connection between them in a time when they don’t even know how to relate to anyone, their sorrow and struggles which, despite being so rooted in the magical world, are painfully human, just... wow. It’s a masterpiece. It changed the way I view their characters, forever, and I suspect I will read it many, many more times in the years to come. It’s that kind of story. If for whatever reason you haven’t read it, this is your sign to take that chance and embark on this amazing journey.

2. Every Kingdom - @thistle-verse - 7k - E - Every kingdom needs a prince. Every prince needs a good and useful knight. Draco and Harry play their parts and renegotiate some borders while they’re at it.

So, so lovely. Even though I don’t read them very often, alternate universes fascinate me so much, and I am in awe of the author for being able to pack so, so much story, so neatly into 7k words. This features a princely, lonesome Draco, a charming, golden Harry, and a blossoming love that could change everything. It’s beautiful, and I recommend it deeply.

3. The Bucket List - GallaPlacidia - 32k - Draco will die in six months if he can't get Harry Potter to fall in love with him. Since that's not going to happen, he might as well spend his last days working through his Bucket List. Tap-dancing lessons? Rock climbing? Poetry-writing? Threesomes? Cocaine? Getting to know his adorable cousin, Teddy Lupin? Draco will try them all! Feat. Cheerily pessimistic Draco, devoted bitch queen Pansy Parkinson, and a Harry who can't help but notice that something seems DIFFERENT about Draco, these days.

I’m positive that many, many of us got acquainted with GallaPlacidia’s writing this year, and I, too, fell in love with it. This story aches in the most beautiful of ways, the humor happens to be somehow light in such a difficult circumstance that it ends up hurting when you laugh, it hurts when everything is right because it’s also wrong, it aches when it’s supposed to be a happy moment and feels tender and sweet when it’s not. I can’t even imagine the challenge of writing this kind of story, and they pulled it off beautifully. It’s a lovely story, one you will take with you long after you finish it, and, personally, I think it’s a great introduction to the author’s writing.

4. halcyon days - @the-starryknight - 1.3k - T - Sleepy mornings caught while the sun rises are reserved for silly word games and soft touches and feelings.

Oh my god, the amount of tenderness in such a low wordcount made me weak in the knees. I almost couldn’t take it. Being able to convey such a deep emotional connection in a short story seems like such a daunting task, and the author makes it seem almost effortless. I guarantee that this will make you bring your hands to your chest and sigh with how lovely it is. Reading it will be the best ten minutes of your day.

5. Clouds That Veil the Midnight Moon - @drarrytrash - 37k - E - According to Harry’s personal narrative regarding the incident, he’d hooked up with Draco Malfoy for purely self-destructive reasons, or out of convenience, or by some unlucky accident. Looking at him, sprawled in the moonlight, Harry is devastated to recall that he’d hooked up with Draco Malfoy because he’s hot. Draco is a secret werewolf and Harry is doing his best and they've got criminals to catch, darn it.

Reading this, I found myself laughing out loud, nodding profusely with how freaking spot on the characterizations are. The dialogue is amazing, so hilarious and real and Harry’s inner monologue is so, so him. I love everything about this story. I have a soft spot for werewolf fic, and this one hit everything I love about it, the case is interesting and engaging, the incidental characters, the OCs, Ron and Hermione, everyone and everything is absolutely perfect and I had an absolute blast reading it. You HAVE to read this and see for yourself what I’m talking about.

6. Sex Ed for Aurors - curiouslyfic - 8k - M - Some things, you need to learn on the job.

Oh my god this is so freaking good. The premise is, basically, that Harry is accidentally doused with a lust potion while in the vicinity of Draco, and suddenly wants him more than anything. I loved this take on that trope, we’re in Harry’s head, and it’s absolutely hilarious and endearing to experience the near childish glee he feels whenever Draco looks his way, when he smiles, when he feels he’s made him happy, meanwhile Draco and Ron are horrified and doing whatever they can to correct it. This is so funny and such a good time, I can’t recommend it enough! While you’re at it, you should definitely read megyal’s remix of this, which is also a blast.

7. plasticine porters with looking-glass ties - @bonesliketambourines - 15K - E - Lately, Harry thinks things don’t seem the same between him and Draco. His head is in the clouds when he thinks about what their relationship is now, and where it might be headed—he’s happy with their friendship, but he wants something else. A potions accident over a lunchtime visit to Draco’s lab (what does he get up to in there, anyway?) changes things, though, and accelerates their relationship faster than either of them had ever expected. How are they going to get through this new development together?

Atmospheric, beautifully-written and delicious. Their relationship is tender, just on the edge of something more, when they’re forced to quarantine together and face the effects of a potion that makes them see and feel things differently, which makes for the most intense, visual, gorgeous sex scene I think I’ve ever read. It’s just absolutely phenomenal.

8. i wake up falling - warmfoothills - 9k - M - Draco’s always leaving, one way or another. Harry’s usually 240 thousand miles too late.

In trying to come up with a way to summarize this story, I’m feeling the overwhelming urge to cry again, just like I did when I read it. It’s just so, so, beautiful, every single word of it aches in the best way, the longing feels deeply authentic and just, the setting and the jobs and everything is so unique and gorgeous. Every single work by this author is beyond beautiful, but especially this one is incredibly close to my heart and I think everyone should read it. It’s a gem.

9. In Every Universe - @skeptiquewrites - 27k - M - They sent Professor Harry Potter to search for Unspeakable Draco Malfoy. Draco has stolen a Firebird, an experimental magical device from the Department of Mysteries that lets you enter parallel universes as yourself. As Harry traverses from universe to universe, he begins to think Draco might be the one searching for him. A story about whether knowing what's possible makes it possible.

Stories where the characters find themselves somehow hopping from one reality to another are always so, so fascinating to me, and this one is incredibly creative and well-written, so entertaining all around. The mystery of it kept me on my toes, and every single reality was a joy to read. 10/10

10. Life goes not backward - @shealwaysreads - 8k - T - Harry still isn’t used to gifts, but this one is different. A story of coming home, finding safe ground, and the wild courage of putting down roots. Leaving one life behind isn’t always a sacrifice, and sometimes the greatest good comes from embracing the people you love.

My god, there are not enough words to describe how much this story means to me, how beautiful it is, how every single time I’ve read it, I’ve cried. Bella has undoubtedly become one of my absolute favorite writers in fandom. She has such a way with words, there is not one of her stories that hasn’t touched me, that doesn’t feel like an actual, full-length novel no matter the word count. I read so many of them this year, so many of the masterpieces she’s gifted us, but this one especially is so tender, so dear, that I ended up choosing it as my favorite of hers this year. Harry’s charactertization, the unbelievable warmth of their relationship, absolutely everything about this is gorgeous. Go read it, right now, and then binge all her other works!! You won’t regret it.

---------------------------------

Each of these fics is incredibly close to my heart and I enjoyed them immensely. In the midst of everything changing, I really found comfort and solace in the amazing works of the people of this fandom. I hope they give you the same amount of warmth and comfort they gave me, and I’m ALWAYS here to gush about any of them ❤️ Happy New Year!

#drarry #drarry fic #drarry fanfic #drarry fic rec #2020rec #ficrec #draco malfoy #harry potter #drarry rec list

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carriagelamp · 3 years

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Art of Aardman

I found myself a cheap copy of the Shaun the Sheep movie, so I was rewatching a bunch of Aardman films earlier this month and decided to hunt down some books too. For anyone that doesn’t know, Aardman is a British stop-motion studio that does fantastic work like Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, Chicken Run, Early Man… tons of cool stuff. They’re always quirky and funny and warm-hearted. This was just a very nice art book for anyone that’s a fan of Aardman stop motion and wants to see a bit extra; it shows some cool concept art and blows up the neat details in Aardman work, especially in their intricate stuff like The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!

Asterix and the Picts (Asterix and the Chariot Race, and How Obelix Fell Into The Magic Potion)

I decided to try a couple of the new Asterix comics that were done by the new team, just to see if they stand up to the old ones (that and How Obelix Fell Into The Magic Potion cause I’d never read that one before). They were pretty decent! Asterix and the Picts was my favourite of the two though I wouldn’t say either are going to contest for my favourite Asterix comic... but still! The art looks good and the stories felt like what I would expect, they made for a pleasant couple evenings of reading especially since it’s been so long since I’ve read a new Asterix comic. If you’ve never read Asterix it’s one of the biggest name French comic series in North America, as far as I know and very worth the read. It’s about a single Gaulish village that’s holding out against the invading Romans through sheer force of will, slapstick hijinks, and a magical super-strength potion brewed by their druid. Lots of fantastic visuals and cute wordplay, even in the English translations.

Bear

I found out about this bastion of Canadian literature via tumblr post that was losing its collective mind over the fact that some bizarre bear-based erotica novella somehow won the most prestigious literary prize available in Canada. Since I too found this hilarious and unspeakably bizarre I had to give it a read, obviously. And yes, the flat surface level summary is... a librarian moves out into rural Ontario and falls in love with a literal for-real not-supernatural-not-a-joke bear. And I have to say… it is actually worthy of an award, which I was not expecting given that I was there for a laugh. It has beautiful writing, and the subtextual story is pretty interesting… it kind of makes me think of The Haunting of Hill House actually in terms of themes. (Womanhood, personhood, independence, autonomy partially achieved through escaping the male gaze by claiming non-human lovers... listen if I were still in university I would right a paper comparing the two novels).

I dunno man, it’s fucking weird. Actually a well-written book, but sure is about a woman falling in love with a literal bear. Give it a read if you want something bonkers but like… high-brow bonkers.

Hunger Pangs: True Love Bites

Best book I have read in like… a while. A long while. I am not a fast reader, and I consumed 90% of this book over a weekend. It’s not at all like Terry Pratchett, but at the same time it scratched an itch for me that I haven’t had satisfied since Pratchett’s death. A very clever, hilariously funny poly romance between a disabled werewolf, an anxious vampire lord, and an incredibly powerful woman, with heaps of social satire, political commentary, and sinister undertones. The whole thing reads a bit like fanfiction and I say that in the most flattering way possible -- it is so easy to jump right in and be immediately taken over by the characters and the world and the plot, you never feel like you’re fighting to engage even though the world-building is fascinating and expansive. It welcomes you in right away, it was the book equivalent of a quilt and a hug which is something I sorely needed with all this pandemic bullshit. If you read any of the books on this list, go read that one while I sit here in pain waiting for the sequel.

Kid Paddle

I watched the cartoon of Kid Paddle as a kid and was thinking about it recently, so I decided to hunt down some of the original comics online. They’re fun and weird, with a cute art style and fantastic monsters designs. (My favourites are always about Kid either daydreaming or playing games that involve Midam’s weird warty troll creatures. It’s like a cross between Calvin and Hobbes and Foxtrot with the fun sort of quirks that I love in Belgian comics. Unfortunately, unlike Asterix, I’ve only come across these ones in French, but if you can read French it’s totally worth popping over to The Internet Archive and reading the ones they have available.

The Last Firehawk: The Golden Temple

The lastest Firehawk book. Despite being written for quite young readers, I did enjoy the early books in this series quite a bit. They’re about a young owl and squirrel who found an egg for a magical species that was believed to be extinct. With the newly hatched firehawk, the three of them head off on a mission to find an ancient firehawk magic that could save the entire forest. Very basic adventure story but a good intro to the tropes for children. Unfortunately the quality really feels like it drops with each subsequent book; this will probably be the last one I bother reading.

Lumberjanes: The Moon Is Up

I honestly think I enjoy these Lumberjanes novels even more than the comics just because it really gives time to delve into each story and examine how the camper are really thinking and feeling about everything. (Also I’m always weak for novelizations of anything.) The Moon Is Up is a book that focuses more on Jo, and takes place during the camp’s much anticipated Galaxy Wars, a competition between cabins that goes over several days. While the campers prepare for these challenges though, they also run into a strange little creature with a penchant for cheese and theft. Roanoke cabin needs to keep ahead in Galaxy Wars and somehow deal with the fearsome Moon Pirates that a closing in...

Lumberjanes v4 (Out Of Time)

One of the Lumberjanes comics, a cool, girl-focused, queer comic series. Honestly, this is just a fun series that I never got as into as I should have. My advice is honestly to skip book one because it gets better as it continues, and I’ve really been enjoying the later books now that I’ve given it another go. It follows five campers at Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types (Jo, April, Molly, Mal, and Ripley) as they handle all sorts of challenges, from friendship to crushes, camp activities to supernatural horrors, getting badges to not being brutally killed. Great if you liked the vibe of Gravity Falls but want it to be queer-er.

Mooncakes

Another queer graphic novel, but unfortunately not a very good one. It really looked appealing and I had high hopes, but the book itself really didn’t hold up… I actually couldn’t even finish it, the plot was just too… non-existent. The art is fairly mediocre once you actually look at it, especially backgrounds, and it feels very… placid. Not much conflict or excitement or even a very compelling reason to keep reading. If you just want a soft queer supernatural you may get more mileage out of it than me, but it didn’t really do it for me. There’s better queer graphic novels out there.

New Boy In Town

One of the worst books I have ever read. My girlfriend had ordered a very different book online but through a frankly stupendous error was sent this 1980s pulp romance instead. Absolutely nauseating on levels I couldn’t even begin to enumerate here. Naturally we read the whole thing out loud. Probably took us 10 times longer to finish than it warranted because I had to stop every two sentences to lose my mind. If you like bad decisions, baffling hetero courting rituals, built-in cultural Christianity without actually calling it that, and gold panning then boy howdy is this the book for you.

(seriously, you better have patience for gold-panning if you attempt this one, because I sure learn that I don’t)

Piggies

This was a picture book I enjoyed as a kid and had a reason to reread recently. Honestly it’s just very cute and simple, and the art is completely mesmerizing. Wonderful if you know a young child that would enjoy a simple goofy boardbook.

Shaun the Sheep: Tales From Mossy Bottom

Related to my Aardman fascination earlier this month. I tried reading a varieties of Shaun the Sheep books — most of which are mediocre at best — but the Tales From Mossy Bottom Farm series is genuinely good. Just chapter books, of course, but the illustrations match the series’ concept art and each story feels like it could have jumped directly out of an episode. They’re just cute and feel-good! Kinda like Footrot Flats but more for kids, and from the sheep’s perspective moreso than the dog’s.

#aardman animation #shaun the sheep #lumberjanes #kid paddle #asterix #the last firehawk #hunger pangs: true love bites #marian engel #bear #canadian literature #canlit #queer lit #book review #book reviews #chatter

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meadowlarkx · 2 years

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2021 fic roundup

tagged ages ago by @imakemywings! (I love things like this but I’m terrible at doing them)

Fics written in 2021:

March: your elements reassembled, Stormlight Archive, Kaladin/Dalinar

August: two tunes are playing, Stormlight Archive, Renarin/Rlain (summer gift exchange fic!)

September: Bargain, Silm, Finrod/Sauron

September: Staying, Silm, Finrod/Sauron

October: Distraction, Silm, Finrod/Sauron

Words written in 2021 (on AO3 haha): 20,989 - you know, this is actually more than I thought, and looking at past stuff I think it’s about as many as I did in 2020 (well, posted... a lot of my 2020 stuff was stuff I’d been working on for ages and ages)

New things I tried this year: Both of these were new fandoms for me!! Also, this past year was when I got into writing rp and have generally had a great time messing around with it (and making much more of that by volume than fic...). Another new thing I guess is your elements reassembled is 6.5k and almost all of that is one extended scene, which given that usually each “scene” I write is about 300 words surprised me (and it was very easy the way that happened too which also surprised me!) Also your girl is getting more comfortable writing smut, on track to becoming the terror of the earth as per the plan. And I’ve begun a new series (the Finrod/Sauron au) which is the second one for me since my Jan/Helena/Bohun trio of fics!

Fic I spent the most time on: two tunes are playing! I really wanted to include a bunch of stuff I knew my gift exchange partner would like and some semblance of a satisfying emotional arc in the au I was writing--and while it was about characters I’m invested in, I didn’t feel like I knew them as well as she did and they’re not my absolute fav blorbos, so the writing went more slowly.

Fic I spent the least time on: Staying--I was shook revisiting the dates and realized I posted it 3 days after Bargain (the first one in that series). And it was entirely written in those 3 days which is UNUSUAL for me who usually spends 1000 years writing fic a little at a time

Favorite thing(s) I wrote: I think the Finrod/Sauron fics and especially Staying and Distraction. I have so much fun writing Mairon it should be illegal.

Favorite thing(s) I read:

OKAY....I am absolutely going to miss some things here, because I read a LOT of fic in 2021 (thank god AO3 doesn’t have a wrapped that shows the hours you spent on their website) but I have to recommend these gems that come to mind (going to be mostly Silm here, in no particular order):

What is Wrought Between Us - the Russingon series going through the whole Silm plot that ended my life, resurrected me, and influenced my headcanons forever, and also the kidnap fam here is the best I’ve ever seen it done (the author’s Túrin/Beleg fic is also just the most well-written and beautiful masterpiece)

Casting Out The Serpent - Finrod & Beor (shippy) that is the most wonderfully written Finrod ever I can only aspire to. Their dynamic here is so excellent, too, and the fic just GETS what’s amazing (and flawed) about Finrod and how fascinated they both are in each other and their differences.

Less Than Kind - Russingon at family dinner in Himring, a light touch on the angst that just grips you horribly, & what’s absolutely wonderful is the fucking wretched Fëanorian siblings dynamic + eldest sibling Maedhros suffering

Panti�� - this is like, THE Nirnaeth fic for me, even though its premise is “weird Elf/magic smut” and it never portrays the actual battle and aftermath. It just gets what’s heartbreaking about Maedhros + his hopes at the Nirnaeth + what’s at stake in his psyche and then it breaks your heart with it.

Thistle Whistling on the Wind-Blown Field - fascinating Finrod fic ft. kinslaying guilt, ongoing complications, cultural differences and Morgoth’s impact on ecology, Finrod winning over Sinda Edrahil, the Avari, and... and the author put mangroves in Valinor and won my whole heart by doing so. I’m sure I didn’t get all the references in this masterpiece but it’s gorgeous and the accompanying art (it was produced for TRSB iirc) is incredible.

Lyra - Finrod/Sauron in Valinor before everything is ruined, with the subtlest hints of mixed feelings from Sauron about the way Melkor’s plans are impacting his Elf. Also (if it’s not clear from the fic I’m writing whoops) I’m always SO here for Sauron mistaking outward signs of submission/malleability for the real thing, then finding himself off-guard when Finrod is like “Okay, that was fun, I’ll be leaving for my personal goals now <3″

Transcript of Divorce Proceedings: Mairon v. Melkor by @imakemywings - I just love the format here so much, it’s hilarious, and you totally nailed their dynamic... I’m so about this toxic ship and the ways they try to claw at each other but are still so compelled by each other. such good shit, and Melkor’s assholery (of the more overt kind) really stands out here as funny and terrible - honorary mention to your Finrod & Maedhros fics for making me cry and laugh and giving us a wonderful underexplored dynamic

Shards of Ice - Aredhel/Celegorm fix-it of sorts. Notably I adore it because Celegorm shows up in Maeglin’s life and promptly becomes a bad influence of a parent after dickishly provoking him to get a reaction. Realism, babes. I love this messy ship

Seas and Shadows - Maglor & Elladan & Elrohir - short and SO effective oneshot about Maglor sailing to Valinor ft. the ANGST and wretchedness that deserves, 10/10 heart broken

no other star - Haleth thinking about the 3 Elven rulers she’s met. This has the BEST Thingol I have ever seen in fic, I absolutely love the type of proud understanding he has with Haleth here, another proud leader, and the characterization of everyone is so beautifully done and described.

Diary of an Elven Lord by @ladygavroche - influenced the way I think of Caranthir forever, this is so perfectly on point and hilarious and the parts with Haleth are excellent. The diary style is SO good and fun

Speak, Friend, and Enter, also by ladygavroche - THE Celebrimbor/Narvi fic that the world desperately needed and did not deserve. They’re both so so well-written and characterized in this fic. I have read it so many times for comfort and it heals my heart (and wrenches it with the promise of future things going wrong for this kind, troubled, earnest Celebrimbor)

A Thread Unraveled - Maedhros POV Nirnaeth fix-it, reliving the same events style. I just... I love this so much, and the attentiveness to the details and to each Fëanorian’s respective strengths/issues and making the most of them is just so well-done. I’m here for competent Maedhros reliving the worst experience of his life and struggling to WIN it (edit: Holy fuck I just realized the author finished it!! I have more to read!)

Daeron/Maglor series by SunflowerSupreme - just really good fucked up yet...somehow mutually working dynamic where Daeron cares but is also vengeful and Maglor cares but also wants to be hurt, and the wretchedness of mutually wandering and trying to get by on the fringes of society. My heart literally aches for this Maglor and the words “The newest poetry from Lindon” make me sob uncontrollably. Also Maglor being butcher than Daeron (Daeron is a loremaster/minstrel from before Doriath needed large scale fighting, he does lore and music and that’s It; Maglor knows how to murder people 1000 different ways even if he’d rather not) is canon in my heart now

Pattern’s Guide to Mating by @blue-crow - I cannot express my enthusiasm enough for this funny, loving, & beautiful fic and how very Stormlight universe/vibes it FEELS. And the fact that you gave us the sexy Lightweaver shenanigans we deserve

Through Another’s Eyes - Kaladin/Gaz with the sympathetic Gaz I didn’t know I needed but I did

From Ashes - young Kaladin character study and angst through Tukks’ POV that makes me cry bitter tears </3

Three Meetings - Fluffy Shallan/Jasnah high school au that is just so cute and portrays their dynamic with a light touch that I love

Tagging: whoever wants to do it (and @ me if you want so I can see your fics/recs!)

#my posts #fanfic things #fic recs #silmarillion fic #stormlight fic #if i didn't @ an author it's because i don't know their tumblr handle #tagged in

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everybody-loves-purdy · 3 years

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I finally saw Moonkittis video on Bramblestar and god. I already saw how bad it was in the earlier books and more on in the later ones when I read them, which is why I never liked Bramble and her together. And in SQH too his behavior was so disgusting, but when it's explained in detail like in moons video it's just so gross. Like how do the Erins think that type of shit is okay? So many people in the fandom ship Bramble and Squirrel STILL, and I find it most are children. Children are going to think that the way he treats her is okay when it's not, which is why we have so many bramblestar apologists. Children are impressionable, I've literally seen it myself. I was at B&N once in the warriors section picking out books and a little girl with her mom asked me who my favorite character was, I answered and asked in return and she said Spottedleaf. She also explained how Spottedleaf and THISTLE were "adorable" and I was there like "...". The Erins need to realize that what they write actually can effect people and make them think it's completely okay for half of the shit they put in there.

What bramble is, is abusive period. My heart broke so much for her in Squirrelflight's hope especially. I want better for her but since Kate specifically ships them two o much and loves Bramblestar she's going to excuse it, to which she literally already has and keep squirrel in this repeated toxic pattern. Also can we talk about how when Leafpool was going to heal Sunrise Bramblestar yelled at her, literally cut her off and was squaring up as if he was going to fight her, wtf is wrong with him?

I'm sorry for the long rant LMAO

Don’t worry rant away

That story about that little girl honestly makes me so sad - I really hope when she’s older she learns to see how messed up the relationship actually is.

The Erins really should get second opinions from abuse charities or something when writing about romantic relationships with conflicts or problematic elements - because they clearly aren’t able to do it themselves without completely butchering it and turning things into a different thing than intended, which like you say is so unbelievably harmful when children are reading things like this and being told it’s normal.

Also yeah with the Leafpool and Sunrise thing- like dude what the hell. I find this doesn’t get talked about as much because of how atrociously he treats Squirrelflight- but the dude was fully willing to let a cat die there in order to (at least in my interpretation) be petty and continue to exert control over his wife

#anonymous #abuse tw #Thistleclaw tw #Spottedleaf’s heart tw #pedophillia tw

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ohnomybreadsticks · 3 years

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Bready’s TAD Song Prompt List

Making song prompt lists is way too much fun, so I’m doing them for a few bands in particular now! This one is The Amazing Devil (TAD) focused, and I tried to get a nice mix of their themes and songs in :D

Special thanks to the bog denizens and Socks especially for helping me find some really great lines! Y’all are great 😘

Send me a pairing or a character (Witcher only for this one, any of my existing AUs are fair game) and I’ll drabble up a few paragraphs in the next few days!

Will do: romantic or platonic, spicy upon request (you must be 18+) - just let me know in the ask :)

Won’t do: MCD, hard angst, noncon/dubcon, incest, bestiality, or underage

Also if you’d like to take this prompt list and use it/modify it feel free! Just give me a tag if you do C: Or make your own list! It’s a blast, very much recommend

And this here is not singing I’m just screaming in tune

Hold me, lover like you used to, So tight I’d bruise you

And although you hold my hand and say ‘I love you’, you are wrong.

You stole the best years of my life, I’ll give them back

Your eyes aren't rivers there to weep, but a place for crows to rest their feet

If I'm good will you come back

Into darkness and howling I’ll keep him from drowning, As our boat is untethered from the dock

Cause, darling, I was born to press my head between your shoulder blades at night when light is fading

These hands are growing old and they're running out of things to hold

Run for all you know that’s coming, Run to show that love’s worth running to

Oh sing me awake, With all the things we’ll do today, But instead we’ll build a den, Out of pillows and get drunk again

And I’ll sit by, cocktail gripped in a shaking hand thinking what the hell went wrong, cos we had this planned

I promise you I’m not broken, I promise you there’s more

I've loved you for a hundred years (Certainly fucking feels like it)

You will scream ‘I won’t forget you’, But I’ll cover my cold ears, It cannot be a lie, If no-one hears

Cos you were always strong, When you were young, you would kick things just to see if they would fall

'Cause I'll darn you back together, When you think that you're bereft, And you'll wail, you'll scream, but I'll never stop, 'Cause it's all that I have left

"Be good to me, " I whisper, and you say, "What?", and I said, "Nothing, dear"

Fret not dear heart, let not them hear, the mutterings of all your fears, the fluttering of all your wings

I’m what’s left when children go to war

Every brick you hurled, I’ll use to build this world

And me wearing your clothes, Just to surprise you when you come home all tired

You're the one who asked me if I'm feeling ok, I said I'm fine, It's just a sitting down in the shower day

Walk away, I know that I’ve been through the wars, But that creaking you hear in my bones is not pain, it’s applause

I know the kindest thing, Is to never leave you alone

I cannot find the words to keep you

Welcome to my table bring your hunger

You're not flawed, darling, you just a little under-rehearsed

And like rubbing wine stains into rugs it’s my curse, to try and make it right and by trying make it worse

Fuck you He Said, Fuck You She Said, Fuck You they said

Songs below the cut:

Farewell Wanderlust

Wild Blue Yonder

Elsa’s Song

Marbles

Little Miss Why So

King

Fair

Two Minutes

Love Run (intro)

Not Yet/Love Run (Reprise)

Pruning Shears

The Horror and the Wild

Marbles

Elsa’s Song

Welly Boots

The Rockrose and the Thistle

That Unwanted Animal

The Horror and the Wild

Pray

Wild Blue Yonder

Little Miss Why So

Shower Day

Battle Cries

The Rockrose and the Thistle

New York Torch Song

The Horror and the Wild

Marbles

Farewell Wanderlust

New York Torch Song

#bready blabs #hope you enjoy <3 <3

23 notes · View notes

out-of-jams · 4 years

Text

Spirited Away || Final || pjm

↠ Spirited Away ↞ Part of my Ghibli Yandere Series!

You knew that you shouldn’t have gotten out of the car. Shouldn’t have followed your parents into the seemingly abandoned theme park. Shouldn’t have let them eat the food.

Because now they were being held hostage. And you were trapped. Stuck in a backwards resort for supernatural spirits, with no way out except to work to free both yourself and your parents. Until you met a mysterious Park Jimin.

Though there was something not quite right about him.

But he was your only hope of escape. You could trust him…right?

Warnings/Genre: Supernatural. Horror. Yandere!Jimin. Haku!Jimin. Spirited Away!au. Dark themes. Kidnapping. Obsessive behavior. Death of minor characters. Manipulation. Mature themes. Depiction of unhealthy relationships. Violence. Explicit language.

Word Count: 9.5k

Part 2 of 2.

A/N: Oof. This gets pretty dark towards the end. Lol so be warned. Also, this is kind of unedited. So I'll more than likely go through it and fix things tomorrow.

All of my works are purely fiction. Everything I write is my intellectual property and therefore belongs to me. ©out-of-jams. Do not copy or repost without permission.

| Previous | Masterlist |

You hadn’t seen sunlight for what felt like days. Weeks. Months. But had in fact, only been about twenty-four hours. Well, if time passed normally in that place.

The bathhouse had been quiet as you snuck out. Not a soul in sight. So either they were unable to appear in the daylight, or they just chose not to. Whichever, you weren’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Especially not when you felt the warm breeze brush against your exposed skin. Which was a lot since you’d been given a uniform to wear in order to match with the rest of the bathhouse workers. You weren’t sure what to call it. A yukata?

Whatever it was, walking around without shoes took some getting used to.

As your foot hit the first wooden plank of the bridge crossing over from the bathhouse to the town, you let out a sigh. You’d attempted to stay awake all night, too afraid to fall asleep with the shadow lurking outside your window. But you’d been unsuccessful. Had drifted off to sleep sometime between the moon falling and the sun rising.

And had woken up to a neatly folded note lying next to you on your pillow.

Which had scared the absolute shit out of you. Because it’d been left without disturbing you. Without you even knowing that whoever left it had been there. And when you’d unfolded it with shaking fingers and read the perfectly curved script, you’d all-but bolted out of bed and hurriedly dressed.

Crossing the bridge, you couldn’t help but feel like you were being watched. Like eyes were on you even though there was no one else around. It raised goosebumps onto your flesh and made your legs move that much quicker. Once across the bridge, you couldn’t resist the urge to look back, check over your shoulder to make sure that no one was there.

The path to the bathhouse was empty.

“There you are.”

You whipped around, hair flying into your face and heart leaping into your throat.

Standing directly behind you was a familiar head of honey hued hair. Jimin greeted your startled wide eyes with a grin across his full lips. He was even more stunning to look at in the brightness of the sun. With white, white teeth and eyes turning a light shade of umber. A different pair of silver earrings swung from the lobes of his ears, looking just as delicate as their wearer.

His warm fingers moved to intertwine themselves with yours before you had a chance to respond.

“This way.” And then he was turning to continue down the path, tugging you behind him.

You cleared your throat as you padded along after him. “Are you sure that we’re allowed to do this?”

“As long as you’re with me, you’ll always be safe.” Jimin spared you a glance over his shoulder, but didn’t slow down his fast pace. And at seeing your cautioned look, he winked. “We don’t have much time, don't worry, we won’t get caught. I promise.”

There it was again. Those two words that graced the tip of his tongue in what was starting to be a pattern. And it was a little odd, jarring. To see him spring back into the excitable persona that he’d adopted before you’d met Namjoon so easily. Replacing the intimidating spell that he’d weaved last night in the elevator like it was nothing. Normal.

It made you do a double take at the pretty smile that flashed you a crooked front tooth. Perhaps he had some kind of split personality? Or maybe he was putting up a front? If that were true, however, then which Jimin was the real one?

The path he was taking you down was unfamiliar. Soft grass tickled the bottom of your bare feet as he cut through a garden. There seemed to be a lot of gardens in that place. And flowers with brightly colored petals covered the path, a stark contrast to the monsters that lay in wait just a few meters back. Past the tall hedges, hidden away where you couldn’t see.

“Right through here.” Jimin pulled you close to his side and you followed the finger he pointed into the distance. Between a bending archway made out of one of the hedges. But he didn’t stop, just continued to urge you along until you stood atop a hill overlooking a field.

It stretched on for what seemingly looked like miles. But the thistles of grass weren’t what caught your attention. But the three long, red roofed barns that stood just below the hill. Rows of wheat and slowly sprouting vegetables spread out as far as the eye could see.

With a sharp intake of breath, you came to stand next to Jimin.

“My parents are there?”

He turned those brown eyes on you with a soft smile and a gentle squeeze of your hand. “Yes.”

You hesitated. “You’re sure?”

“I’m sure.” Jimin tugged you along, feet digging into the grass as he led you down the hill. “But you must never come here without me, understand? It’s too dangerous.”

You gave him your affirmation. Because you didn’t plan on being there very long anyway. Just enough to get your parents and break the hell out.

There were no doors leading inside of the barn, just a wide opened archway that you walked through. And got immediately assaulted by the foul stench of manure and dirt. Such a thick cloud of it that you had to throw an arm across your nose to stifle a cough. Though the smell had nothing on the sight.

Packed wall-to-wall past metal bars were pigs. Dozens of them. Some asleep and others wandering around aimlessly. They weren’t loud, but the occasional grunt of one of the animals spurred the rest into responding like some kind of chaotic harmony.

As the dirt stuck to the bottom of your feet, you couldn’t help but stray closer to the bars with eyes wide. “Which ones are they?”

You tried. You really did. To pick out which pair of pigs were your parents. But it was difficult when they all looked the exact same. And maybe if you were paying attention to your surroundings, had more awareness of the things around you, well. Then perhaps you would have caught the fleeting expression that flickered across Jimin’s face.

“You mean you can’t tell?”

Looking over your shoulder, you bit your lip. He was slowly walking along the opposite side as you with his ring covered fingertips lightly grazing across the rusted metal. Jimin wasn’t looking at you. Too busy eyeing the oblivious pigs as he passed them by. There was something about his tone that threw you off. A lilt to the edge of his gentle voice that made you wonder which side of him you were talking to.

“I..,” You hesitated on responding. Sent another glance at the animals a few feet away, voice quiet. “Should I be able to?”

Jimin paused in his steps and looked you over, hand coming to rest on the rail. Tilted his head. “They don’t remember that they’re human. So it’s your job to figure out which ones they are.”

He turned away to look down at a pair of pigs sniffing at his hand. “If you want to get out of here, that is.”

Eyeing the dozens upon dozens of mindless animals, you swallowed. You’d find you parents. You had to.

A pig grunted. And the rest of them followed.

The breeze was cool against the skin of your cheeks. And the ground was soft beneath your body as you sat, gaze pointed up at the clear blue sky. Jimin’s body heat was warm next to you, eyes closed but still wide awake. He hadn’t wanted to take you back to the bathhouse just yet. Instead, he’d brought you back to the garden that sat atop the hill.

And you were grateful for the few moments of peace.

Even though the man at your side felt...off...sometimes, he’d been nothing but helpful and you were grateful for all of his help. He hadn’t hurt you, unlike the others that inhabited the bathhouse. And you trusted him not to. Maybe you shouldn’t have, since you really didn’t know him, but if he wanted to harm you he would have done so already. Wouldn’t have taken you to see your parents. Wouldn’t have offered to help you escape.

Which brought on the problem of being able to. What if you grabbed the wrong pair of pigs on accident, only to escape that place to find out that they were just that--pigs? What would you do then? Maybe getting out of there wouldn’t be as easy as you’d once thought. Hoped.

The realization hit you hard.

“--ng so hard?”

You blinked. Snapped out of your thoughts and back to reality. Turned to send a questioning look to the man beside you. “What?”

Jimin smiled in amusement, eyes crinkling into little half-moons. His hair was less honey colored in the sun and more of a bright blond with the way it caught the light. A giggle escaped him. One that sounded so innocent and melodic that it pulled a smile from you in return. “I said, what’s got you thinking so hard?”

Pausing, you broke eye contact to follow a puffy white cloud as it drifted lazily overhead. “Just wondering if I’ll ever be able to get my parents out of here.”

While your voice was soft in the breeze, you knew that Jimin heard you. Because he leaned closer to you and palmed your cheek to turn your face to look at him. His warm umber eyes locked with yours, pulled you in and refused to let go. Thumb drew circles against your skin and his breath fanned across your face when he spoke. “You’ll find them, Sen.”

Your eyebrows scrunched in as a wave of confusion washed over you. Sen. He’d called you Sen. But your name wasn’t Sen. Right? It was...something else. Right? The answer sat at the back of your throat somewhere that you couldn’t quite reach. And your mouth parted as you struggled to find it. You almost had it, it was right there at the tip of your tongue. “I--”

And you would have got it if Jimin’s nose brushing against your own hadn’t distracted you.

His hand slid from your cheek to entwine his fingers through your hair. Was so close that his scent washed over you like a wall, bringing with it something familiar. Like the ocean. Waves hitting the shore. Salt in the air.

“Jimin.” You’d meant for it to come out as a question, but it sounded more breathy than anything. Got swept up with the wind.

He hummed in the back of his throat. It was a low sound, deep, as he leaned in closer. As you felt his breath fan across your slightly parted lips. You weren’t sure if he was about to kiss you or not. But you weren’t able to find out. Not when a shrill shriek reverberated through the air like some sort of high pitched alarm.

Jimin pulled back slightly at the interruption. Just enough to clench his jaw in annoyance, eyes flashing.

“What the hell was that?” Your voice came out a lot more winded than you’d intended.

The shriek echoed again except more drawn out that time. Which had Jimin’s head craning to stare towards the path that led to the bathhouse. “I gotta go.”

“Go?” You were confused. And a little overwhelmed if you were being honest. Still dazed from how close he’d come to kissing you.

He must have known it too, from the smirk he sent your way. Though his eyes still crinkled in the corners. “Come on, I’ll walk you back.”

The path leading back towards the bridge seemed shorter than it had been earlier. Jimin walked you all the way back to where the red painted wood first started and came to a stop. He leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to your forehead that had your eyes widening in shock. “Try to stay out of trouble.”

You leaned back to stare up into his face. “I will.”

“Good.” The answer seemed to satisfy him as he shot you a wide grin. Gently ran his knuckles down the side of your face before turning to walk back the way you’d came. You didn’t watch him for long, just enough to see his back disappear behind the garden gate.

And as you began your treck back across the bridge you felt it again. Like eyes were on you even though no one was there. You tried to resist looking back, you really did. But the chills that ran down your spine had you throwing a cautious glance over your shoulder. Though what you saw wasn’t some hideous creature chasing after you.

“Oh.” You whispered.

In the sky right above where the garden hid away from prying eyes was a dragon. Glittering black and white scales stood out amongst the light blue backdrop as it spread its wings wide. Twisted through the air like it was partaking in some kind of beautifully choreographed dance. You shouldn’t have been surprised, but you were anyway. Because you were pretty sure that the man you’d just been talking to morphed into a mythical creature.

“So that’s what he is, huh?” Your unanswered question followed you all the way back into the bathhouse.

And the eyes on your back failed to remove themselves.

Four.

Four times you laid eyes on that shadow creature. The one that you’d caught lurking outside of your window last night. If you were being completely honest, you weren’t really sure why you hadn’t told Jimin about it the moment you saw him on the bridge that morning. He had told you to come to him if anything tried to go after you. Then again, that was the thing. Whatever the hell that thing was hadn’t tried anything, just observed you like some kind of zoo animal.

Perhaps it was just curious? Had never seen a human before? You weren’t sure, though you weren’t about to actively go out of your way to find out.

Which led to the second time you came across it.

“I said to fuck off.” The disgruntled bark of the horrific creature manning the task desk in the middle of the worker lobby ran through your ears for the millionth time.

You weren’t sure what, exactly, it was.

The thing had two sets of eyes, each with a different color iris. But none of them were turned in your direction as it flung red painted wooden chips into the awaiting hands of every worker that approached it’s desk. You were pretty sure that it was male since it had a deep voice with a vocal fry that turned all of it’s syllables into half-hearted growls. That, paired with four arms that ended in sharply pointed claws gave it a frightening appearance.

“Look, just give me a bath token and I’ll be out of your hair.” You begged yet again.

You’d been standing there for a ridiculously long period of time trying to get that thing to give you a token so you could finish your job. It was necessary in order to be able to scrub one of the blood encrusted, enormous tubs clean. You’d tried to clean it on your own after being forced down into it by Jin, who’d been assigned to show you the job you’d be assigned. But you were unable to scrape off the stains.

Though ‘show’ was putting it lightly. He’d more or less just shoved you into the messiest, most difficult bath to clean and told you to figure it the hell out. So you’d had to resort to stopping one of the more harmless looking creatures to help you out. Which led you to where you were now, trying to haggle a stupid token from the asshole manning the desk.

“No.” He didn’t even look at you as he dropped another token carelessly into the hands of a half-visible shadow creature.

“But I need one. Come on.” You grabbed onto the side of the desk with both hands. It was tall, so high up that you had to stand on the tips of your toes in order to see over the damned thing.

“Go tell someone who cares.” He rummaged around in the deep bowl set in front of him to pluck out something for another worker. They were all painted red, but each had a different design on them. What that was supposed to mean you hadn’t a clue.

You just needed one.

“But I--”

“Maybe you didn’t hear me with your puny little human ears.” He leaned down until his four eyes were level with your two. They were deep set into his grey skinned face above high cheekbones and heart shaped lips. The sneer on his face brought out a pair of tiny dimples that looked out of place with the rest of him. “Fuck off. Before I make you.”

Spit splattered across your face and you grimaced in disgust before wiping it away with your sleeve. He leaned back to turn his attention to the reptilian-like monster limping up to his podium. You opened your mouth to ask, yet again, for him to just hand over what you needed so you could get out of there.

But the materialization of a shadow behind his shoulder had your jaw clamping closed in surprise. Because there it was again. The same faceless being that you’d seen last night hovering over the thing obliviously handing out tokens. A white mask with holes in it for a pair of eyes and an opened mouth, though all you could see when you looked was darkness. And it was see through, not like the shadow creatures from town, but more like a jellyfish.

At first you just stared at it with wide eyes because you weren’t sure what to do. Weren’t sure what it would do. And no one else seemed to notice it there. Only you. What did it want?

You didn’t have time to ponder the answer to that question because it moved. Subtly, slowly. Outstretched what appeared to be an arm, but lacked a hand. And you watched as something pulled back it’s--skin?--and out emerged a red painted token.

What?

It bounced the token once, twice, three times before tossing it to you. You scrambled to catch it and not let it hit the ground and alert the monster manning the desk. Just as your fingers closed around it and you looked back up to send a questioning look at the faceless mask, you couldn’t.

Because it was gone.

The third time you ran into it was only a few hours later that night.

You were lost. Stuck wandering around in an endless loop in search of a way out. The bathhouse wasn’t easy to navigate, with similar looking halls and dead ends. How anyone was supposed to be able to find their way around it was a mystery.

You’d been assigned to clean yet another stupid bath and now you were attempting to put away the supplies. Because it was getting late into the morning and you didn’t have any other jobs to do. Namjoon hadn’t been lying when he’d told you that the work was rigorous, seemingly never ending. Though you had half a mind to believe that he was the one solely responsible for all of the shit you’d had to do and the monsters you’d had to deal with.

So there you were, mindlessly attempting to find your way out of the abandoned part of the bathhouse you were in when you rounded another corner. And stopped dead in your tracks, the bucked dangling from your fingertips swinging from the momentum.

There it was. Hovering in the middle of the wideset hall like a ghost. White painted mask soundless as it watched you. At least, you thought it was. Since its presence washed over you like a bad omen.

“What do you want?” You held your ground, but prepared yourself to run at any moment. Just because it’d done you a favor earlier didn’t mean that it was harmless. You were in a literal hell of soulless beings, afterall.

It didn’t answer. Didn’t make a sound. And you weren’t all that surprise.

You did, however, feel your muscles tense as it floated closer with its legless body. Hunched over as it towered over you. Adrenaline pumped through your veins and it took all you had to repress the shudder that threatened to overtake your body.

Slowly, slowly, it reached out with a handless arm. Stretched between the small amount of space between you like an offer. Your fingers clenched around the metal bucket in your grasp.

“I don’t understand.” You murmured, eyes trained on the darkness behind the mask's eye holes.

It moved again. Shook it’s appendage in front of your face and caused you to take a step back. Did it...did it want you to touch it? Yeah, no. You’d have to pass on that one. You didn’t want to accidentally offend it and turn it aggressive, but you weren’t about to willingly do whatever it wanted either.

You shook your head. “No thanks.”

It must not have liked that answer because it floated closer, extended it’s shadow arm closer to your face. Like it was going to grab you or touch you. You didn’t know. But you didn’t want to stick around and find out either. Not with the threatening aura that flooded through the air so thick that it made it difficult to breath. To think straight. To step away.

The sound of a door slamming shut somewhere behind you allowed you to snap out of whatever spell that creature had cast on you. And as you came to and saw your hand reaching out of its own volition, you scrambled backwards. Put distance between you and that thing before it could make you do something you didn’t want to do.

And it seemed angry. The air around it crackled with invisible heat. Enough to send you running off in the opposite direction. Down the twisting halls and past barely lit rooms. All while looking over your shoulder every ten seconds in fear of it being right behind you.

The fourth time and final time came when you weren’t prepared for it.

You were beginning to look forward to the daytime. When it was peaceful and all of the inhabitants of the bathhouse were asleep. To the point where you’d force yourself to stay up in order to watch the sunrise above the vast ocean that spread out beyond the building you were trapped in.

Eyes closed against the morning breeze, you let your legs dangle between the wooden bars of the balcony and over the edge of the bathhouse. The sun was almost up, sky in that sweet spot between the moon setting and daybreak. It gave you time to think, to plot a plan to escape from that place. Because you weren’t safe. Would never be safe, despite what Jimin liked to promise you.

Your constant run-ins with the faceless being was proof of that.

Which made you wonder what exactly it was that Jimin did there. Was he just another pawn to Namjoon? Had he also unwillingly gotten himself caught up in the crossfire of servitude? You weren’t sure. He seemed good, unlike some of the truly hideous spirits that you met. Even despite the oddness that surrounded him like a cloud.

Perhaps he was similar to you. Had been trapped there too. The possibility made you--

Your head snapped to the side just in time to see a flash of black and white. To let out a gasp before the giant mouth coming right for you swallowed you whole. And everything went dark.

The scent of freshly mowed grass invaded your senses. Filled your nose as you slowly regained consciousness.

You weren’t sure where you were or if your eyes were even opened. Because everywhere you looked was nothing but black. And you couldn’t breath, couldn’t suck down a breath without liquid filling your lungs. It didn’t hurt, but it did cause panic to well up.

You thrashed, shot your arms through what felt like water but was too thick. Slowed down your movements and halted momentum. Your mouth opened in a silent scream. There was no one around to hear you, to heed your call.

Maybe you were dead.

Finally freed from the place that held you captive.

But you couldn’t be.

Right?

No, you couldn’t be because you still needed to save your parents. To get them out before a fate worse than death befell them. So you tried harder, thrashed harder. Chose one direction and pushed towards it. Kept going until you felt your hand break through.

The warm outside air hit your skin and you kept going. Until your arm was freed, and then your other one, and then your head pushed through.

You didn’t know where you were, could barely see past the sun beaming straight into your eyes. But as you dangled there limply, wherever there was, all you could see was water. Blue, blue water as you passed over it. Moving slowly, yet quickly at the same time.

Where the hell were you?

Whatever energy you’d managed to summon up in your long winded escape left your body. Forced you to hang there dazed. Barely conscious.

Were you just hearing things, or was that the sound of your name being carried over the wind. And was it just you, or did you start to move faster. The ocean below flying past.

And--

There it was again.

Your name. Or at least, what you thought was your name.

You didn’t get the chance to ponder over it. Not before something hit whatever was carrying you and sent the ocean below hurtling straight towards you.

Water washed over you so cold that it sent a shock through your system, brought you closer to alertness. But you still couldn’t move, bogged down by whatever it was that held you within its grasp as you were sent drifting down to the bottom.

Until you weren’t.

You weren’t sure when it’d happened, but your limbs were free. Floating around you. And you opened your eyes in an attempt to figure out what the hell was going on. Your thoughts were murky, brain struggling to focus on what was playing out in front of you. You weren’t sure what to make of the bright flash of blue lighting up the darkness underwater.

Nor the high-pitched screams that hit your ears at such a frequency that you were worried you’d go deaf. When another bright, eye-searing light flare hit your eyes, you slammed them shut. Couldn’t bear to look directly at it.

And you weren’t sure how long you floated there, lungs screaming for air and consciousness wavering in-and-out.

One moment you were submerged, unable to breathe. And the next you were laid out on your side and coughing up water.

“There you go.”

You didn’t have time to process where that voice was coming from before another wave of coughing forced the water from your lungs. Had you bent over the arm hoisting you up as you threw it up. Had a hard time differentiating between where you were and what was going on. You could feel water covering the lower half of your body. It wasn’t deep now, however. Just shallow, but still enough to leave you wet.

“Get it all out.” A hand hit against the spot between your shoulder blades and forced out another round of throwing up. You felt like you were drowning all over again, unable to take a breath as liquid coated the back of your tongue.

You whimpered.

“I got you.” The words were murmured into the shell of your ear reassuringly. And it took an embarrassingly long amount of time for you to connect the dots of who it was.

“Jimin?” Your voice was raspy. Barely there. And scratched your throat raw.

“I’m here.” His hand rubbed at your back.

You had to pause before answering in order to fill your lungs with air.

“What’s going on?” The world blurred around you as Jimin slowly moved to flip you onto your back. You stared up at him, traced a droplet of water as it fell from his soaked hair and down his cheek.

His jaw clenched and brown eyes flashed in anger at your question. Jimin nodded his head towards something in the distance that had you craning your neck to try and see. “It ate you.”

One of his hands had come up to support your neck when you finally saw it. There in the distance. Floating on top of the water.

A white mask.

And a mass of sludge so dark that it coated the water in a layer of blackness spread out beneath it.

You looked down, took in the platform you were spread out on. Train tracks. If you squinted you’d just be able to make out the bathhouse in the distance.

Where the hell were you?

Where had that thing been taking you?

You swallowed hard, voice shaky. “Ate me?”

Jimin turned his gaze back to you and softened his hardened expression at the terror that shone in your eyes. Leaned down to press his forehead to yours. “It’s gone now. No need to be frightened.”

“Did you--” You spared a quick glance back over at the lifeless mask. “Kill it?”

He nodded slowly, breath fanning across your chilled skin.

“Why?”

Jimin pulled back just enough to stare at you in bewilderment. “I told you that I’d protect you, didn’t I?”

When your lips parted in surprise at his words, he smiled. A warm one. One that had you acting before you could fully think it through. Slamming your mouth against his. Maybe it was the adrenaline that was lingering in your system, or perhaps it was something else. You weren’t sure.

What you did know, however, was that Jimin’s lips were soft. Just as much as they looked to be. And you weren’t sure what to do because you’d never kissed anyone before. Had no idea how he’d respond until his other hand came up to caress your cheek. Kissed you back. You weren’t sure if you were doing it correctly, since you had no experience.

And never would you have thought your first kiss would be from an almost-stranger. But he’d just saved your life. And he was beautiful to look at. You’d be lying if you said that you weren’t attracted to him. Hadn’t been overwhelmed by his appearance since you’d first laid eyes on him. Especially not when you felt the tip of his tongue swipe across your bottom lip questioningly. Nor when you parted your mouth slightly and let out a gasp when his tongue met yours.

The sound you made must have ignited something within him, because Jimin’s kiss turned eager, needy almost. He tasted sweet as he snagged your bottom lip between his teeth. Licked the slight sting away as your fingers tangled themselves into the soft hair at the nape of his neck. Kissed him back just as desperately.

Jimin’s mouth caught yours in one last searing kiss before he pulled away. “Let’s get you home, hm?”

“Okay.” You mumbled. Your limbs felt like jelly as he helped you to sit up and you watched as he stood up. Walked a few paces away. “Where are you going?”

Jimin just threw a wink over his shoulder, eyes shining with happiness. “Get on.”

“Get on..?”

Your question went unanswered. Not because he didn’t want to give you a response, but because he changed. Morphed into a dragon right before your very eyes. Maybe if you were more awake you would have been able to take in the finer details. Like how the air around him seemed to simmer with heat. Or how the water beneath him shifted until it was drawing itself towards him. How the droplets of liquid surrounded him like glitter in the rising sun.

A gasp escaped your lips when he turned, now on four legs instead of two. And you met his umber eyes. He wasn’t human anymore, not that he really had been in the first place, but a dragon now. Beautiful. Magical.

You scrambled to your feet, water sloshing beneath you, and made you way over to him. Let your hand run over the black and white scales that felt smooth to the touch. You’d seen him from far away in that form, but not this close up. To the point where you could smell the scent that floated off him in waves.

Jimin exhaled and jerked his head in a silent gesture to get on. You didn’t hesitate to throw your leg over his slim back. Even though he was a dragon, he still held the same slim frame as his human form. And you’d barely adjusted to sitting atop him when he moved. Claws scraping across the train tracks until he’d gained enough momentum for his wings to carry the two of you through the air.

A shriek of excitement tore from your throat as vertigo hit you full force. Without anything to hold onto, you reached up to grab onto the two horns that protruded from his head before you could fall. In order to feel more at ease with flying through the air at such a speed without restraint.

Though you hadn’t been prepared for what would happen when you did. Because the moment your hands wrapped around his horns, you no longer saw the water stretching out before you. You were transported to a scene that was familiar. That resurfaced somewhere deep within your memories.

The beach. No. Not the beach.

The ocean.

Wide and vast, its waves kissed the shore. Enticed your five-year-old self to step closer. To drip your feet into its cold water. To be swept up by a wave taller than you stood. Dragged along, kicking and screaming beneath the surface, until you were so far from the shore that you didn’t know how to get back.

But you weren’t afraid. Not when the water tickled the sides of your cheek or kept you afloat.

Not even when your parent’s panicked voices echoed across the large expanse. Or when they’d swam out to drag you back ashore. Hugged you close and buckled you into the back of the car with promises to never come back.

You weren’t afraid.

So you’d returned. Again and again. Waded through the water like you belonged there. And it’d greeted you each time you came back. Brushed against your skin like it’d missed you.

You were thrown back into the present time so suddenly that you gasped. Squeezed your hands tighter around the ringed horns beneath your palms. The feeling that overcame you was familiar. Intermingled with the scent of the being beneath you. Was that..? Why did you…?

“Jimin.” You breathed, leaning forward to speak into his ear in fear of your voice being lost. “Are you...a spirit of the ocean? Is that what you are?”

You paused and took a deep breath. Met one of his eyes with both of yours. God, you really hoped you didn’t sound as stupid as you thought. “From when I was little?”

He didn’t respond verbally. Not that you thought he could have. Just grumbled deep in his throat in a way that sounded a lot like confirmation. And then he ripped his attention from you to focus on the bathhouse that appeared out of the distance.

You’d be lying if you said that you weren’t still afraid. Weren’t on edge about the fact that you weren’t safe in that bathhouse. Even though Jimin had saved you, that didn’t mean that he’d be around the next time that something went wrong. That you were thrown into danger and your life was at stake.

Even as you lay there in your room, wrapped up in his arms. He’d insisted on following you back and staying with you to keep you safe. And you hadn’t had the will to deny him. Not after what had happened less than an hour ago.

However, ever since you’d kissed him, Jimin started acting differently. More clingy. Like he was afraid that if he let you out of his sight, you’d disappear. So you’d let him accompany you back to your room. And when he insisted on staying, well, you didn’t say no. Had let him tuck your weary body into bed and slide in next to you.

But you couldn’t sleep. Not with the thoughts that whizzed through your head. Because you weren’t safe. And you couldn’t get too comfortable there. Couldn’t leave your parents to suffer through the rest of their days as pigs.

Your fingers dug into Jimin’s back.

“I need to get out of here, Jimin.” You whispered shakily against the warmth of his chest. “You have to get me out of here. Before I die here.”

“You’re safe.” Jimin mumbled sleepily into the top of your head, lips pressed against your forehead. His slender fingers ran through your hair and massaged gently at your scalp. “I won’t let anything take you from me. I promise.”

You stiffened the moment that his words hit the shell of your ear. Tried to hide the expression that flitted across your face from where you pressed into the crevice of his neck. What he said didn’t sit well with you, weighed down your stomach with slowly dawning dread. “What do you mean, you won’t let anything take me from you?”

Jimin hummed and pulled you closer, rested his chin atop your head. “That spirit was trying to take you away from here. Away from me.”

Your heartbeat thudded in your ears. “Take me where, Jimin?”

He must have mistaken the shake in your voice for fear at being kidnapped again because he softened his voice. “Those train tracks? That spirit was taking you to the train. Was trying to take you away from the bathhouse, somewhere beyond my reach. But it’s okay, baby. You don’t need to be afraid, not when you have me.”

Your nails dug deeper into his skin but he didn’t seem to notice. If he was saying what you thought he was saying...then that meant…

“Nothing will take you from me.” Jimin’s statement was punctuated by the soft kiss he placed upon your cheek.

...that the no-face spirit had been trying to help you escape. To get you out of there.

And Jimin killed it.

Suddenly, the protective arms he had around you felt like a vice. Keeping you there. You weren’t safe. Not in that bathhouse. Not with those monsters. Not with Jimin.

How had you been so utterly stupid? To think that you could have trusted him? Had he even wanted to help you escape at all, or had it all been some kind of front, a lie? You didn’t know. But you sure as hell weren’t going to stick around to find out.

So you waited until he fell asleep. Until his breath evened out and his arms around you became slack. You were careful as you slipped away from his warmth and out of bed, bare feet hitting the cold floor silently. The sunlight peeking in through your window was reassuring, helped to settle your nerves just a little at the knowledge that all of the bathhouse inhabitants would be asleep.

You cracked open the door silently and threw a quick glance over your shoulder to make sure that Jimin was still asleep. And then you slipped out into the hall and closed the door behind you.

The lights were off as you crept down the hall, but thankfully the light streaming in through the windows placed periodically throughout the place was enough to see by. Your heart hammered in your chest in fear of being caught. In fear of what would happen if you were.

You maneuvered your way out of the main door and across the bridge without running into a single soul. The second that your bare feet dug into the dirt on the opposite side of the bridge, you too off in a sprint. Through the gated garden and past the hedges that towered over you mockingly.

Luckily, the path was easy to navigate even without your prior knowledge of where you were going. And you took a moment to silently thank Jimin for showing you the way as you hit the top of the hill. Slipped on your way down the steep slope and catapulted your way towards the red roofed barns. You entered the first one you came across, figuring that you’d work your way through that one and then the other two if it proved frivolous.

Only to stop dead in your tracks, feet kicking up dirt as you came to an immediate halt.

It was empty.

The pigs that used to reside behind the rusted, metal enclosed bars were gone. Though the smell of them still lingered in the air. Assaulted your nose and had you throwing a hand over your mouth. Where the hell had they gone?

You turned on your heel, rushing back out of the barn and through the opened doorway of the second one.

Empty.

Without stopping to let the information settle, you whirled around. Ran to the last barn sitting right on the edge. Didn’t stop until you were standing in the middle of it with dirt sticking to your feet and stomach dropping to the floor. Stumbled over to grip onto one of the metal bars in order to hold yourself up.

Because that one was empty too.

All of the pigs were gone. Gonegonegone.

“You’re a little late.”

A scream tore from your throat and you spun around so fast that the world blurred for a moment. Held a hand to your chest in an attempt to slow your rapid heartbeat. It wasn’t Jimin like you’d thought it was. Though you weren’t sure if what stood in front of you was any better. Safer. Less dangerous.

“Dontcha think?” The man--beast--tilted his head to the side, blond hair falling into his dark hooded eyes. He would have been handsome, what with his cupid-bow shaped lips and perfectly symmetrical face. Maybe could have even been a model back in your world. If it weren’t for the fact that he had goat legs instead of regular ones.

Hooves in place of feet.

“Who the hell are you? Do you work here?” You backed up against the metal bars behind you, gripped them until your knuckles turned white.

He simply stared at you. Almost in curiosity, but not quite. “So you’re her, huh?”

You ignored his question just like he ignored yours. “Where are all of the pigs? Who are you?”

A sound left his lips. Deep and dragging. And it took you a moment to realize that he was laughing. “Gone.”

You inhaled shakily. “Gone where?”

He stopped laughing, but still grinned over at you with a box shaped smile. “Didn’t you realize, human?”

“Realize what?” Jaw clenched, you struggled to breathe around the fear that spiked in your throat.

He tilted his head yet again and regarded you with those dark eyes of his. Sparking with something as he took his time answering you. Drew out the dread pooling in your stomach.

“What was served for dinner last night.”

The breath in your lungs froze. Tears sprang to your eyes. Alarm flooded through your veins like white hot wildefire, engulfing everything in its way. He couldn’t...he couldn’t mean.., “No.”

He turned away from you then, broke eye contact to sift through some of the farming tools hanging from the wall behind him. Spoke the words that crushed your world so nonchalantly. “Everyone loves a nice, juicy pig. So delicious.”

No. They...

They couldn’t have...right?

The world stopped. Came crashing to a halt as it dawned on you.

They ate...they ate your parents?

You didn’t even notice the tears falling from your face, nor the sob that tore from your throat. You had to get out of there. You had to get out.

The inside of the barn passed by in a blurred haze and your feet carried you back up the hill without you registering it. You didn’t have time to waste, to stop and grieve. Because you didn’t know how much time you had left before you joined them. Became a feast to the monsters that resided beyond the bridge.

You struggled to breath as you ran, sprinted through the winding town and past the empty shops. The sun beating upon your back spurred you on as you tore through the streets. Kicked up dust behind you. Made it past the food stand where you’d last seen your parents alive and human. Beyond the corner of the last bend in the road.

Ran face first into something so hard that it sent you careening backwards, hitting the dirt so roughly that it swept the air from your lungs. You could do nothing but lay there with your face tilted to the sky and coughs wrenching from your chest, dazed. Attempting to blink the stars out of your vision.

“There you are.”

You squinted as a shadow fell across your face. Stared up at the sweet smile stretched across Jimin’s pink lips. He leaned over you, delicate earrings dangling from his ears and arms folded behind his back. Like he hadn’t just knocked you down into the dirt like you were a bug beneath his feet.

“I was wondering where you’d gone off to.” Umber eyes crinkled in the corners. But he didn’t move to help you up, just watched as you struggled to get to your feet, hands scraping the ground for purchase. “Where were you going?”

“I--” You stammered, heart caught in your throat. You didn’t know how much you could trust him. Didn’t know if he was out to get you too. “I was just…”

Jimin tilted his head to the side in curiosity at your answer. He waited for you to continue with the sentence that struggled to form on your tongue. “You were just…?”

He wasn’t going to let you go without an explanation. You could see it in the way he stood in the middle of the street like a gatekeeper. Could see it in the way that emotion flickered behind his eyes too quickly for you to make out. Could tell from the calm way he didn’t move an inch.

“Jimin.” You could hear the pleading edge to your tone and you swallowed. He’d said he wanted to keep you safe...right? Maybe he’d let you go when he found out what happened. “I have to get out of here. They killed my parents and I’m probably next. I need to leave.”

“Dove.” Jimin cleared the space between you, reached out to palm the sides of your face. Scrunched his brow concern. “I promised that I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”

As your eyes met his, you felt hope well within your chest. Even as you pushed it down, forced the desperate expression from your face. “So you’ll help me get out of here?”

He smiled softly and swiped a thumb across your quivering bottom lip. “You can’t leave. Because then I wouldn’t be able to protect you.”

Any hope you may have had left you at his words. “What? Jimin, they’re going to kill me!”

“Sen, n--”

“That’s not my name.” You knew it wasn’t. Could feel it with every essence of your being. Because that wasn’t your name. It wasn’t. And you didn’t know why he kept calling you that.

With a click of his tongue, Jimin smoothed a finger over the crease between your eyebrows. “No? Then what is it then, hm?”

You blinked. Parted your lips as you attempted to think back. To remember what it was that you’d been called before you entered that place. And where it’d once been so easily accessible, sat just on the tip of your tongue, now hid somewhere that you couldn’t find. Why couldn’t you remember?

“I--It’s.” Your chest was heaving now as panic overrode your senses. Wide eyes met his amused gaze. “Why can’t I…”

Jimin smiled, tutted at you like you were a child. “Remember? Because your name belongs to me.”

What?

“No.” Shaking your head, you reached up in an attempt to pull his hands from your face. But he didn’t budge, just watched on in growing mirth as if you were a particularly entertaining toy. You knew his words weren’t true. They couldn’t be. Because you remembered that part at least. “Namjoon took it. When I signed the contract. Not you.”

Jimin slid one of his hands down to caress the side of your neck despite the half-moons you were digging into his skin with your nails. “And who do you think is in charge of Namjoon, dove?”

No. No. No. He had to be lying. He had to.

He raised his eyebrows. Tilted his head to the side with that eye-crinkling smile. “I can see that you’re starting to understand.”

“I don’t.” You grunted, digging your nails deeper into the flesh at his wrists. But he didn’t even flinch.

“Then let me spell it out for you. You always have been a little slow on the uptake. But that’s okay.” Jimin twirled a loose strand of your hair around his index finger. “I’m in charge of this place. Therefore, when you signed that contract, you didn’t gift your name to Namjoon. You gave it to me. It’s mine, and so are you.”

You clenched your jaw at his words, glared at the hand that brushed the side of your cheek like you were some kind of long lost lover. “Fine then. Keep my name, I don’t need it.”

Jimin sighed, shook his head like he was exasperated with you.

“Do you know why names are so important, Sen?” He didn’t wait for you to answer before he continued. “Because they’re tied with our identities. Without them, you’ll forget who you are, be trapped here. And you already have, haven’t you? Forgotten.”

Alarm overtook you, flooded through you. Weighed down your breath with fear. As you tried to remember who you’d been before you’d entered that place. All you knew was that you’d had to save your parents. To get both them and yourself out of there. But when you thought back, really tried, you couldn’t recollect anything past your first day there.

Where had you come from?

Why were you there in the first place?

You looked up at the man who stole your identity, your memories. Everything. With quivering lips and tear filled eyes. “Why would you do this?”

“Dove.” His thumbs caught the tears that spilled onto your cheeks, sadness morphing his expression. “Because I love you. And I want to be with you forever. That’s why I brought you here.”

Jimin pressed a gentle kiss to your cheek, warm breath fanning across your skin. “And now we can be together forever, just like we’re meant to be.”

He pulled back to smile down at you. So softly that you almost believed the words that came from his mouth. Weaved their way inside your mind like a worm. And it was in that moment that you began to understand Jimin. With his honey hued hair and umber eyes. Brightly colored. Flashy. Much like a poisonous snake before it struck.

“Aren’t you happy, dove?” He rested his forehead against yours and nudged his nose against your own. “I promised I’d keep you safe and I will.”

Your eyes slammed shut. Tears leaked from your water-logged lashes. Because you were stuck. Trapped. With a monster who stole your identity.

How were you supposed to escape when you didn’t even know why you were there in the first place?

“I love you.” He murmured across your lips.

But.

Who were you?

Tagged: @laishaavxo @poohsaidhi @mykingdomismyheaven @yoongs-jeontae @creepysweet @futuristicpinklemur @hopekookiesandwich @pjmlylyn @parkchimchimmie @xxkitsurikaxx @siphite @knjkitten @mochi-rose @ohmygirlloona @mochimochipie @btsarmysvtcarat @martinandmartin @bitchynightmarepost @haruyai @jupiterspoems @mxrvellouspidey @creepysweet

#bts #bts fic #yandere bts #bangtanarmynet #jimin #jimin fic #yandere jimin #jimin smut #namjoon #seokjin #yoongi #taehyung #jungkook #hoseok

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clockworkouroboros · 4 years

Text

I’m in a The Amazing Devil Discord server and have been going wild with crazy insane theories about just about everything, drawing connections that probably don’t actually exist, and generally losing my mind over both Love Run and The Horror and the Wild. That being said, I do have a theory about THatW that, if it’s not true, at least merits me a tinfoil hat, I think. Just be warned, this post will be long, and yes, I will include receipts.

So here’s this theory and Joey, if you read this, just know that I’m impressed either at how much thought was put into this, or the sheer number of coincidences that make this work if it wasn’t planned. It’s turned me into a conspiracy theorist for the past four days or so? And it’s severely affected the amount of sleep I’ve been getting.

My basic theory here is that Joey and Madeleine aren’t singing as themselves throughout this album, they’re playing characters, and those characters are old gods. Joey is the Wild, Madeleine is Time. (Alternatively, she’s Horror, fitting with the album title, but as she’s never explicitly referred to as such, I’m not insisting on that point.)

Now, where am I getting this silly idea from? None other than the title track, of course, in which Joey sings, “witness me, old man, I am the Wild, and Madeleine sings, “And I am Time itself.” And yes, they are both capitalized like that in the lyrics.

So they explicitly refer to themselves as such. But Emily, you might be saying (or not, depending on how much you care), that’s one song! This is hardly an album’s worth of proof! Sure, they might be gods in this song, but what about the other eight? To which I say, hoo boy, I’m just getting started.

Before I continue, I’d like to add something about how their characters are depicted throughout the album: Joey is more cheerful, Madeleine is not. (see: Wild Blue Yonder, Marbles, Battle Cries.) Joey is whimsical, Madeleine is practical. (See Battle Cries especially, but you can also see this in Wild Blue Yonder.) Madeleine is referred to multiple times as being stronger than Joey, and appears to assume a more protective role over Joey’s childlike. This fits in with my theory, by the way, in a roundabout sort of way that involves some squinting. Joey is the Wild, which is...well, wild. Think of little kids: cheerful, whimsical, in need of protection. Madeleine is Time. She knows what has been, what is, and what will be. Of course she’s going to be more mature, practical, and pessimistic.

And why is this important? Well, it’s kind of how I’m tying together a lot of the rest of the album. (Not all of it; Farewell Wanderlust is a notable outlier in many ways, and some of my connections are tenuous at best, but we’re going to ignore that and pretend it’s all rock-solid. Rockrose-solid. I’m sorry, I’m very tired.) I’m ignoring The Rockrose and the Thistle a little bit in this post, not because I dislike it (it’s gorgeous), but because it’s stubbornly eluding my attempts to tie it into anything other than Elsa’s Song, which isn’t even part of this album.

The vast majority of what you need to know about these two characters is in The Horror and the Wild (the song), so I’m gonna copy/paste some lyrics, and go through them. (Actually, the copy/pasting is nonexistent, these lyrics are imprinted on my brain at this point. That being said, if there are errors, lmk and I will edit the post and fix them!)

So we’ve got Madeleine starting, singing about Joey, with “You were raised by wolves and voices, every night I hear them howling deep beneath your bed, they said it all comes down to you.” Aside from the fact that I have no clue why “it all” comes down to Joey, or anything with that last bit, maybe a few more late nights with a tinfoil hat will do the trick. That being said, the first line of the song references childhood specifically in relation to Joey. Notice also how wolves are referenced in Wild Blue Yonder (“we don’t know what’s out there/could be wolves”) and That Unwanted Animal (“‘What’s the time, Mr. Wolf,’ but you, you’re blind, you bleat, you bear your claws”). The whole “howling” thing and “deep beneath your bed” both pop up in That Unwanted Animal, too: “and on the wind it howls,” for one. And for the other, there’s “you [presumably Joey] make the bed up silent on the floor so no one hears us,” later followed later in the song by “and the door below us splinters, and the creature creeps inside.”

Following this, Joey sings about Madeleine: “you’re the daughter of silent watching stones, you watch the stars hurl all their fundaments, in wonderment at you and yours, forever asking more.” First of all, I’m gonna say that this is Joey’s point of view; later on, Madeleine will refute the daughter thing (“I’m not a drunkard, a daughter, a preacher”.) Anyway, “silent watching stones” could reference Wild Blue Yonder: “every stone you threw, I stood on to better see the view.” The view being the stars hurling all their fundaments?

(Incidentally, I knew vaguely what “fundament” meant, but I looked it up to make sure I had it right, and learned that, among its other meanings, “fundament” can mean “butt.” But I don’t think that’s what Joey had in mind with this. I just think y’all should appreciate it.)

Anyway, we’ve also got in Battle Cries, “With you I could summon the gods and the stars, make them dance out the plays that we wrote from the heart, and we’d laugh at the ghosts of our fears,” with Madeleine singing, “Come on, love, please don’t start, sing your notes play your part,” and then the part that gets me every time: M: “we were gods,” J: “we were kids.” Which is a whole other can of worms involving their personalities, which I’ve already briefly outlined. My point is the whole “gods and the stars” bit.

I could (and have, on Discord) done a full, in-depth analysis of this track, and I don’t want to go all over it again, but “I promise you, they’ll sing of every Time you passed your fingers through my hair and called me child, witness me, old man, I am the Wild” has both Time and Wild as proper nouns in the lyrics, plus reinforces Time’s view of the Wild as a child. No clue who the old man is, though.

In verse two, Madeleine sings, “you [Joey] are the son of every dressing-up box, and I am Time itself, I slow and let you play, I steal the hours, and turn the night into day.” Again, this reinforces Joey’s childlike aspects (which will later be hinted at in That Unwanted Animal, with the “god-child,” who’s clearly Joey), but also shows, as in the refrain, the fact that Time has a sense of protectiveness over the Wild, at least sometimes.

That being said, although I’ve obviously referenced other songs, I still have mostly focused on the title track. So. I’m going to go through some of the other songs real quick.

The songs on the album (again, excepting Rockrose, because my attempts to tie it in have been frustrating and not gone anywhere, Mr. Batey please explain) can be grouped into categories: songs outright referencing gods (THatW, Farewell Wanderlust, That Unwanted Animal, Battle Cries), songs about their relationship, (arguably all of them, although Welly Boots is a bit confusing), and songs that refuse to allow me to classify them (Rockrose).

I would argue that this entire album is about the relationship of two old gods, but I’m not quite sure what the chronology is of the album, because it seems like it can’t be straightforward. (Farewell Wanderlust, although its placement makes sense in the setup of the album, doesn’t make sense in the chronology of this theory.) Another important note in some way is that every song on the album, with the exception of Farewell Wanderlust, is about being there for someone, or steadfastness in some capacity, while Farewell Wanderlust is about abandonment. It’s an outlier in a lot of ways. (Though not as many ways as frickin Rockrose.)

I have been talking about this at great length (and almost incessantly) on Discord, so unless you want this post to get even longer, I’m going to run by some lyrics real quick to try and show a little bit my thought process.

- “He watches her get dressed as though she’s hurtling through time” (Fair)

- “And she is stronger than he has ever been, he knows” (Fair) versus “Without you, I’m stronger, I’m no longer filled with wonder. How wrong you were” (Wild Blue Yonder, Welly Boots)

- J: “Place your hand in mine” M: “Hold the hand of the god-child, they said, as he falls from the sky” (That Unwanted Animal)

- “I’m the saint of the paint that was left in the pot, I’m your angel ellipsis, your devil of dots” (Farewell Wanderlust)

- “the fluttering of all your wings” (The Horror and the Wild) versus “when you think about him, my wings start to flap” (Farewell Wanderlust)

- “come, devil, come, she sang, call out my name. Let’s take this outside, ‘cos we’re one and the same. Our gods have abandoned us, left us, instead, take up arms, take my hand, let us waltz for the dead” (Farewell Wanderlust)

There are even more lyrics, and I’m going to be completely honest with you, I’ve gone totally insane with all of this, but this post is way too long already, so just let me know if you want any clarification or something.

Tldr: The Amazing Devil’s album The Horror and the Wild is about two old gods, one being Time, and the other being the Wild, or the god-child. The album is primarily about their relationship and steadfastness they show each other, even in tumultuous circumstances.

Now go excuse me while I attempt to take off this tinfoil hat that appears to be stuck on my head.

#music #the amazing devil #joey batey #madeleine hyland #the horror and the wild #long post #i’m...so sorry #i needed some sort of record #because enough conversation has passed on discord that those posts are now lost to time #anyway here y’all go #man joey if you read this pls don’t judge me too hard

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