#I did always casually want to play the violin

[hey-scully-itsme]

i want to start learning violin but I know the second I tell my parents they’re gonna know it’s because of jack aubrey and they will laugh at me about it. like that old tumblr post abt someone who wanted to learn violin and their parents asked them what anime boy played violin. i will survive this great trial but at what cost

#not telling them isn’t an option my mom is a band teacher (winds percussion and guitar the only approved instruments in the household) #I did always casually want to play the violin #but now I want to play baroque music #and as much as I love the French horn #I hate how it requires staying in training in order to have sufficient range and stamina for most pieces #it’s like not being able to sing if you haven’t been working out enough or something. ridiculous #i don’t have the time or space to practice often so right now I physically can’t play much of my repertoire without skipping bits #and often those are the fun bits #obviously you have to stay in training for most instruments (and singing) but horns ime are the worst that I’ve played in that regard #ALSO (since I’m venting about horns rn) I can’t roll my rs so I can’t - don’t laugh - flutter tongue which is important in some fun pieces

[freedomfireflies]

hi! can i get a stiles blurb?? maybe injured and angsty? 😭

“Ow…ow…ow…ow, motherfuck—shit.”

You feel your eyes roll as you help the dramatic and rather needy patient settle onto your bed. “Baby, I told you to stay home—”

“Yeah, and I said no fucking way,” Stiles retorts quickly, huffing a stray hair from his eye before flopping onto the mattress. “See? I’m fine.”

You release him and step back, arms crossing as you offer a teasing scowl. “Right. A wrist brace and an angry letter from Coach are a clear indication of you being fine.”

To this, he waves his right arm into the air, the dark bandage wrapped around his hand not as intimidating as he had made it out to be. “It’s just a sprain, okay? Not a big deal.”

“Yeah, okay. Is that why you were crying?”

His expression falls. “I was not crying. I was just disappointed for my team cause they’re gonna miss me.”

“Uh-huh. So, what’s with all the ow-ing?”

He blinks. “I wasn’t ow-ing, I was just…I said wow. You know, like wow, get a load of that ass.”

You so badly want to scoff at him, but you feel the flush in your cheeks as he smirks victoriously, reaching his good hand out to loop around your hip and pull you onto the bed. 

He noses under your jaw, lips ghosting just below your ear as you feel your breath hitch. “Missed you,” he murmurs softly, his mischievous intentions now abundantly clear. “Did you miss me?”

Your lashes fall shut as his mouth travels down the curve of your throat. “Did I miss the constant bad jokes and sarcasm? No. No, can’t quite say that I—”

His teeth find your skin, pulling deviously as you gasp. You feel him grin to himself as his fingers slip beneath the hem of your top and for just a moment, you forget why you were so peeved with him in the first place.

“What was that?” he asks when you whimper at the practiced way his palm sweeps across your hip. “Did you say something?”

“I…you…this isn’t…” You aren’t making any sense and you’re so furious with yourself for letting him distract you like this. “Stiles…Stiles—”

“Yes, Princess?” 

You swallow. He’s a sadistic prick for using the one nickname you can’t help but fold to. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?” His head rolls, tongue traveling up your pulse point as his hand moves up toward your chest. “Isn’t this what you wanted? Isn’t this why you called me over?”

Your fingers scratch down the soft brown hairs at the nape of his neck, knees deep in the mattress to brace yourself as you straddle his waist. “No, I…I called you over so I could…so I could take care of you—”

“You are,” he nearly purrs. “Promise you are. Always take care of me. Make me better. S’making me better right now. To feel you. To hear you—”

“Stiles—”

“What? Don’t you want me to get better?” The rough pad of his thumb brushes over your nipple as you swallow a gasp. “Hm?”

“I…” You exhale a shaky breath despite yourself, working desperately to find a response. “You…I just—”

“Words, Princess.”

But you don’t have any words. You don’t even have any thoughts in your head as you feel his touch travel down your stomach and toward your sweatpants, slipping beneath so casually that you could be fooled into thinking this was always his plan.

Which…to be fair, it probably was.

“Stiles,” you try again, a strained whisper as you bury your face in his neck. “Please…”

You hear him chuckle. Feel it, too. And you’d roll your eyes if it were any other moment, but he knows you. And he knows exactly how to play you like a fucking violin. You’re nothing but his toy and this is proven when he leans back to meet your eye.

“Say it,” he demands, fingers still just below your belly button. So close yet infuriatingly far. “Say it…and I’m all yours.”

You roll your lips into your mouth, your brain fighting your body on what it wants versus what it needs. “You…thought you were meeting Scott—”

“He can wait.”

You swallow a whine at the resolution in his voice. His determination to put you first. “You need to rest. You need to get better—”

“I am.” He leans closer, eyes falling to your mouth as you struggle to remain indifferent. “This is how I get better.” 

“Stiles—”

“What?” He pulls his lip between his teeth to suppress his smirk. “Come on, Princess. Thought you wanted to take care of me. Yeah?”

Your eyes close as you nod faintly, his nose brushing yours as your walls begin to fall. You know the rest of the group is waiting for him. Know the doctor told him to take it easy. Know that he has plenty of other things to do besides you.

And yet knowing does absolutely nothing to stop you from grinding down into his touch.

He murmurs something under his breath you don’t catch. But it sounds desperate and excited and your stomach churns. 

“Say it,” he whispers again. “Say it, baby, come on. Please say it.”

Your chest begins to heave. Your dad will be home in half an hour, and he already forbid you from seeing Stiles once and you don’t imagine you want him to do it again and you really need to get off of him and take him home and tell Scott he’s on his way and tell his dad that he’s okay and make sure Coach isn’t too upset and—

“I need you,” you hear yourself say before you can stop it. “Please…please, Stiles. I just…I need—”

He kisses you. Finally, and fervently, and it’s everything you’ve wanted since the moment he climbed through your window fifteen minutes ago and crashed to the floor. 

And he’s everywhere. You know nothing else but him and his fingers and his touch as he makes your cunt his personal plaything. As he tastes you, as he talks to you, as he lays you down on your stomach so he can ruin you from behind.

And with your face buried into the pillow and his tongue buried in you, you realize maybe he was right.

He makes you better, too.

~ Full Masterlist

~ Other Dylan Blurbs

#dylan #dylan o'brien #dylan obrien #dylan o'brien one shot #dylan o'brien request #dylan o'brien imagine #dylan o'brien blurb #dylan o'brien smut #dylan o'brien fan #stiles stilinski #stiles stilinski smut #teen wolf #stiles stilinksi imagine #stiles stilinksi smut #stiles stilinksi fanfiction #stiles stilinksi x reader #stiles stilinksi #dylan o'brien x you #dylan o'brien x reader

[unreliablesnake]

Dress-up game (Vincent de Gramont x reader)

Summary: Vincent comes home sooner from a business trip, and immediately wants to see you in one of his three-piece suits.

Note: It's the same reader that was in “Proposal.” / If you want to know when I post new stuff, follow @unreliablesnakefics and hit the get notifications button. I don't have a taglist.

Warnings: Mentions of sex. Minors DNI, I guess.

Sometimes when you missed Vincent, you raided his walk-in closet to pick something to wear. He had some casual clothes, although he rarely wore them, so you freely chose a plain green shirt, a white full-zip hoodie, and a pair of boxer briefs that you had never seen on him. He was abroad for work, but he was supposed to be back by tomorrow night.

One more night until you could finally kiss him again. Until you could wrap your arms around his body and feel the warmth radiating from his skin. Until you can tell him how much you love him face to face. Until his hands roam your body like that was the first time he laid his fingers on you.

These last nights alone were always the hardest. The mansion wasn't entirely empty, the staff was there, but it still felt like there was no one around. As long as his side of the bed was empty, you were hopelessly lonely. Sometimes you thought you were in too deep, that this relationship was taking away your independence, but you always convinced yourself that it was worth it.

“You should wear my clothes more often,” you suddenly heard Vincent whisper into your ear as he wrapped his arms around your waist from behind. “I would kill to see you in one of my three-piece suits. Don’t you want to play dress-up?”

With a bright smile on your face, you turned your head just enough to see his face. He got back sooner than expected, and the thought made your heart beat so fast that you expected it to jump out of your ribcage. “Now?”

“Why not?” he asked as he placed a soft kiss on your earlobe, his hand slowly moving past the hem of the boxers you wore.

You let out a sigh as you leaned back against him, your mind already somewhere else from the sensation of him touching you again. Two weeks was a long time, you were utterly touch-starved by now, and even the smallest and most innocent of touches could light your body on fire.

All of a sudden he moved his hands to your hips and turned you around with one confident move. “Come on, just one suit,” he told you quietly. “I want to see you in the one with the red jacket.”

There was something truly mind-blowing about the way he could play your body like a violin, fully aware of how one flick of his wrist can change everything in an instant. Your mouth fell open, chest heaving at a rapid pace while you tried to figure out what to say.

You didn't really feel like changing your clothes, but his green eyes were boring into yours as if he was silently trying to convince you to do it. And damn, he was good at this game. It was impossible to say no to him, so you just nodded and waited for him to tell you what to do.

But instead of ordering you around, he just took a step back and slowly undressed you, a playful smile creeping on his lips as he watched your naked body. He ran a finger down your chest, then went to the walk-in closet to get what he wanted you to wear.

“It will look stupid on me, you know,” you told him when he returned and put the clothes on the bed. He gave you a questioning look while helping you into a dress shirt. “You’re much taller than me,” you said, watching him button up the piece of clothing.

“You couldn’t look stupid even if you wore a clown outfit,” he assured you before kissing the tip of your nose.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” you told him with a short laugh.

Vincent shook his head, but decided to remain silent. Instead he picked up the pants and signaled you to raise a leg. You did as you were told with your eyes fixed on him, wondering why he was so keen to see you dressed like that. He did or said weird things every now and then, but this was new.

“I'm just sure you would look lovely. I might even get one tailored for you,” he said as if he could read your mind. His fingers brushed against your skin as he tucked in the shirt, and he seemed to enjoy the way your breath caught in your throat as a result. “Are my hands cold? Or do you want me to touch you that much?”

Instead of answering, you waited for him to offer the vest, and while you put your arms through its holes to put it on, your eyes were fixed on the hardwood floor. Yes, you were desperate. You were dying to be touched by him, to be fucked by him, but it appeared that he enjoyed this game way too much.

While he did the buttons of the vest, he leaned down to give you a kiss; a sweet, slow kiss that savored this moment of unusual intimacy between the two of you. You couldn’t deny that there was something good about this game, specifically the way he gently dressed you up like a doll. He only ended the kiss when he reached down for the red jacket, flashing a predatory smile at you as he offered it to you.

Letting out a sigh, you put it on and gave him a questioning look. “What do you think?”

“You look absolutely stunning, sweetheart,” he said as he took your hand and twirled you around. “I’m sure I’ll get you one of these,” he whispered before kissing you again. “Now let's get you out of it.”

#vincent de gramont x reader #marquis vincent de gramont x reader #vincent de gramont #marquis vincent de gramont #marquis de gramont x reader #marquis de gramont #john wick 4 #john wick #john wick chapter 4

[featherandferns]

30 with fluff?

30. It's impossible to say no to you.

the horror film mentioned in this is honestly scarring (but really good). it's on netflix, called gerald's game. anyway! hope this is okay!

feel free to request! - prompt list

little mouse - prompt 30

To anyone – and I mean anyone – who asked, JJ would laugh at the idea that he’s scared of horror films.

‘Those things?’ he’d guffaw. ‘They’re a whole load of crap.’

He’d claim to sleep through them. To nap away the aggravating violin music as tension builds and sit rigid like a statue during jump-scares. The Pogues weren’t really huge movie buffs as it was. They preferred to spend their time doing things rather than sitting, even if that ‘doing’ was moving their elbow up and down to funnel beer down their throats. If they ever did flick on a film, it was usually some old action movie flick. James Bond, maybe. A good stoner film goes hard too. Occasionally JJ’d be forced along to the movie theatre with Pope to see a new Marvel or Star Wars installation. They weren’t particularly bad, just not really his scene. JJ and cinema weren’t exactly a common pairing.

So, when JJ met you on the beach one time after surfing, he didn’t peg you to be a big movie goer either. The more he got to know you, the more he imagined you’d perhaps be into indie coming-of-age things. There was an aura of innocence about you. A tangy sweetness to your personality, like a granny smith apple. Bright and bubbly. The best way he could describe you to someone who didn’t know you was to say you were ‘camp counsellor material’. Approachable, friendly and fun. The kind you’d want your mama to meet and the kind your pa would be proud of.

That’s why JJ more than gladly accepted your request to watch a movie together. He’d been harbouring a crush on you since the day he accidentally crashed into you on the waves (something the Pogues teased him for relentlessly) and the opportunity to spend one-on-one time with you was not something he was going to pass up. Like I said, JJ didn’t hate movies. He just didn’t map his time around watching them.

JJ rocks up to your house with a six pack of cider and a bag of strawberry whips. He tries to keep the giddy boyish joy at bay when you casually tell him that your parents were out for the night with your younger sister. He settles onto the spot on the sofa next to you, passing you a can, wondering whether you wanted to watch that indie flick he always has floating around on his tik-tok (Lady Bug, is it? Or Lady Boy?).

“What’re we watching then?” he asks.

You tap away on the remote. “Gerald’s Game.”

“Who?”

“It’s this Stephen King horror I’ve been dying to watch since I read the book,” you say, taking a sip of your drink.

JJ frowns. Horror? You? Nah. No way. “You like horror?”

You raise a brow at him. “You don’t?”

“Don’t you think they’re kinda cheesy?”

“Not when they’re done well. Like actually good horror that doesn’t rely on stupid jump scares and scary masks,” you say. “They’re like my favourite genre.”

JJ swallows his cider down as if he’s taking medicine. Watches as you track down the movie on Netflix and click play. The only thing that has his anxiety easing is when you cuddle into his side, crossing your feet over his, outstretched on the coffee table, as if it’s the most natural thing ever.

You see, when I said that JJ would laugh at anyone who asked if he was scared of horror films, I wasn’t lying. He would. He’d shrug it off. But in reality, JJ Maybank hates horror films. He’s scared shitless of them.

As the movie progresses, JJ feels himself feeling more and more sick with anxiety. This is awful. It’s eerie and creepy and too close to something that could actually happen that it makes him feel queasy. The worst part? You don’t even seem scared! Anyone would think you’re watching a nature documentary. He’s felt you shiver a couple of times during the jump scares, but nothing like how JJ was trying to keep himself from flying out of the seat.

When your hand begins stroking at his thigh, JJ has to keep from flinching, thinking it’s the eerie bloke in the corner of the screen somehow feeling him up. That’s to say, when he realises it’s you, he gladly pulls his attention from the television to find you already looking up at him. Making out with you is a great deal anyway, but even more so when it means JJ doesn’t have to watch the film. Coaxes you into his lap as he sensually licks into your mouth, grinning against your smile as you coil your arms around his neck like a tamed viper. Some childish giddiness lit up inside him as one thought sprints through his head, the moment you rock against him: I’m kissing my crush! I’m kissing my crush!

He couldn’t tell you why he does, but JJ half opens his eyes and, for some reason, glances to the screen of the television. The main character’s driving now, the light around her unnaturally orange and pink, and she seems frantic. Then, the fucking jump scare happens.

“Little mouse.”

JJ breaks apart from you with a far-from masculine screech. You practically fall off him in shock, tumbling back into your spot on the sofa. JJ’s chest is rising and falling like he’s narrowly dodged being ploughed by a car. You stare at him a moment, regard him, then start laughing.

“JJ, are you scared?” you chuckle.

He gapes at you. “How are you not? Have we been watching the same film?”

“It’s just a dumb horror. It isn’t real.”

“It could be.”

“What, are you planning on taking your abusive husband to some random country cottage and handcuffing yourself to the bed, then have him die on top of you from a Viagra overdose?”

JJ blinks at you. Is that what the film is about? Maybe you are watching different movies…

“It’s just a dumb horror,” you repeat with a laugh.

JJ shakes his head. Somewhat shy, he confesses, “I hate horror.”

“What? Why didn’t you say so? We could’ve watched something else,” you say, sitting up, smiling at him.

Shit, you’re so pretty. JJ smiles back.

“Didn’t wanna kill the vibe,” he shrugs.

“Yeah, cause throwing me off your lap isn’t killing the vibe,” you return in a flat tone.

JJ rolls his eyes and grabs at your waist, hauling you back atop of him, making the two of you snigger like wine-drunk teenagers. He kisses at your mouth a couple of times, bumping his forehead and nose against yours.

“You could’ve just said no to the movie. We’d have watched something else. Maybe Madagascar? Or Shrek?”

JJ ignores your teasing. Kisses you again. Grins when he feels you melt into him, sighing against his mouth.

“It’s impossible to say no to you,” he tells you privately. Because it’s true. And it remains true for the rest of the time you two date.

#jj #jj maybank #jj x reader #jj maybank x reader #jj fic #jj drabble #jj maybank drabble #jj x reader drabble #jj maybank x reader drabble #drabbles #prompts #30 #fluff #obx #outer banks #obx drabbles #outer banks drabbles

[sebastianswallows]

Dangerous and Delightful — Chapter 1 — The garden at night

— PAIRING: Sebastian Sallow x F!Reader

— SYNOPSIS: Sebastian is a purveyor of forbidden artefacts, a dark arts researcher, and a curse-breaker for hire. Ominis, desperate to save him from himself, hires Reader in secret to persuade him, by any means necessary, to leave his illegal activities behind.

— WARNINGS: Nothing this chapter but shameless flirtation and Seb being an idiot. Long-term, this fic will have a lot of angst and fluff and smut.

— WORDCOUNT: 4k

— A/N: Here we go, my dears. This first chapter is just setting the stage and introducing the main characters. Seb and reader will go on pretty innocuous adventures at first, but be warned that the story will eventually take a turn for dark. I will also mention that this whole plot was inspired exclusively by this picture of a modded Seb.

Sebastian was late again. The dining room had already lived through the flush of introductions and dinner and chatter and by now had settled into a diffuse murmur while everyone enjoyed their drinks in various parts of the room. The piano and a violin were enchanted to play Elgar’s Salut d'Amour. From a quiet corner of the room, by a plush green sofa, Ominis presided over this small gathering of friends.

He didn't have dinner parties often, as he tried to save what little wealth was left to him after his parents squandered most of it — and when he did, these gatherings always had a purpose. They were an opportunity for him to have his friends all together in one place, even make new ones among the people they invited, and find out through casual conversation what was happening at the Ministry, what businesses were new, what businesses were failing, and what was in demand. And, last but not least, it allowed Ominis to be helpful to those he wished to help. Many collaborations owed their existence to some little dinner thrown by him or some well-timed introduction. The name of Gaunt, he had found out, still carried very far in certain circles.

Excluded from these pleasures was, of course, Sebastian, who stubbornly refused to be helped in any way. Ominis always invited him to these evenings, and his friend only inconsistently showed up. Too busy with his other friends. Even when they were studying at Hogwarts, his best friend could put up a good show of being the most clever, the most chivalrous, the most endearing little wizard — detentions notwithstanding — but Ominis knew better.

After what happened with Solomon and Anne cut all contact with him, Sebastian had kept his interest in the dark arts and, if anything, only fell deeper into it. Being outside of the confines of the school and away from Ominis had taken away the only good influences Sebastian had left, and so he flung himself into the study of those things that are… best left alone. Late nights spent in the company he dared not name, long journeys abroad, trips into Muggle London for seemingly no reason, and a lot, a lot of acquaintances that appeared and disappeared from the social scene the moment they met Sebastian…

Ominis didn’t know the half of it, of this he was certain, but a Gaunt could sniff out dark magic a mile away.

But this time, he had offered a bit of bait to his friend, mentioning there was someone he wanted to ‘introduce’ him to. He still remembered Sebastian’s silence of surprise, then delectation in his voice — no doubt at the idea of making some nefarious little contact for whom he might smuggle some cursed treasure, or whatever it was he did. Not that he would be so bold as to confess it directly to Ominis, but there were only so many ways to interpret an “Oh really? Do go on” from him.

And now, shortly after midnight, when half the guests had already left, Sebastian graced them with his presence.

“Ominis!” he said cheerfully. He was barely through the door, and the other guests quieted their conversations at the sight of him.

“Sebastian,” he smiled, slowly making his way to his friend.

“Great to see you again! Thank you for inv—”

“You're late.”

“I had some business to take care of, you know how it is...”

“No, I don’t,” said Ominis coolly. “How, exactly, is it?”

“Difficult,” said Sebastian with a lopsided grin so smarmy that Ominis could hear it.

He sighed and started walking back toward the far end of the room, Sebastian beside him. He could hear him say his good evenings to various people they passed by, all with the most charming smile, the most innocent voice, and no doubt a twinkle in his eye…

“You were with them, weren't you?”

“I don't know who you mean, Ominis,” said Sebastian while facing away to wave at someone.

All eyes turned toward the host and his guest as they passed through the thin crowd, and everyone nodded politely to Sebastian. None of them knew what he did, aside from the fact that it involved curse-breaking and that it wasn’t for Gringotts. Those who were still wary of goblins after the unpleasant business with Ranrock from fifteen years before were envious that Sebastian had managed to find a path in the treasure-hunting business outside of the control of Gringotts. Rumours said that Sebastian was a supplier for various shops on Diagon Alley, others thought he worked for some secret branch of the Ministry, while others still had ‘reliable’ sources that told them he was working for Beauxbatons. Sebastian did nothing to contradict any of these ideas, and only smiled and grinned charmingly when confronted with them, letting everyone form their own illusions without him having to burden himself any further with lies.

“What was it this time?” Ominis whispered angrily. “Banned spellbooks, illegal potion ingredients, smuggled body parts…?”

“Why? Are you on the market for any?” asked Sebastian serenely.

Ominis rolled his eyes and sighed. The silence between them grew tense. Eventually, Sebastian grit his teeth and relented. He always felt guilty when lying to his best friend, which Ominis used to his advantage.

“It was just a petrified hand from some old tomb, but it could only be traded under the light of a midnight moon.”

“And for that, you abandoned my dinner party?”

“Well, I didn't want to bring it here. Besides, I didn’t abandon your dinner party. I’m here now, aren’t I?”

“And I suppose I should be grateful?” sighed Ominis, but then he thought better of it and smiled. He had other plans for tonight. “Nevermind... Better late than never,” he said with a suspicious turning of the tone to something placating. “Come, there's someone I'd like you to meet who actually hasn’t left yet.”

“Oh?” said Sebastian with a cocking of his brow. “I thought you mentioned something about that… A business partner?”

“Something like that.”

Sebastian summoned a flute of champagne from across the room, catching it mid-float.

“Good evening!” he said when he noticed he was standing next to Lucan Brattleby.

“Sebastian!”

“Sorry I missed the dinner.”

“I’d say the dinner missed you,” laughed Lucan.

Ominis rolled his eyes at Sebastian’s sycophantic school friends, but said nothing. He waited for them to be done with their pleasantries then pulled his friend by the elbow, forward, toward a corner of the room softened with armchairs and a little loveseat. The spot was concealed beneath the hanging leaves of little potted plants, with candles floating low in the air. There, on the green sofa, Sebastian found a young lady sitting alone.

She seemed tired, her eyes a little dark and bleary, but looking sharply ahead of her at the other guests. She held a glass of some amber liquid to her chest and sipped from it slowly. Her dress was a plain cut of silk that tapered in black lace around her neck, elegant in its simple forms, and of a rather sombre dark-grey colour. Her hair was pinned up tightly, showing off her neck. She lit up when she saw Ominis approaching.

“I do hope you’re still awake,” he said with a hint of apology.

“Fresh as a daisy,” said the young lady, propping herself up to a straighter pose as she looked from one man to the other. Her voice was husky at the end of the night, but had the sort of feminine timbre that always appealed to Sebastian.

“This is who I've been meaning for you to meet,” said Ominis.

As he introduced her to him, Sebastian tried to think back to who else he knew that shared her surname, but could recall no one. She can’t have been in their year at Hogwarts, and she certainly didn’t mix in his usual circles.

“And this is Mr Sebastian Sallow.”

“A pleasure to meet you,” she nodded, smiling up at him. “I've... heard so much about you.”

Sebastian stared at her for a moment, smiling in surprise, then looked to Ominis with a raised brow. “Have you indeed? Well, the pleasure’s all mine.” Sebastian bent and kissed her hand, barely tasting her skin through the lace. “I hope it hasn't been all bad.”

The young lady looked up at Sebastian with the most innocent eyes and, without a pause, answered, “Not at all. Ominis speaks about you in glowing terms,” she smiled. “I understand you work as a Curse-Breaker?”

“Yes,” said Sebastian quickly, taking a seat beside her on the sofa, “but not for Gringotts.”

“He's never been very fond of goblins,” said Ominis with a tired sigh.

“I can… understand that,” she said with a tight obliging smile. “I’ve heard you were involved with that business with the goblins all those years ago…”

“Oh yes,” chuckled Sebastian. “But that was last century, at this point.”

“Still, I’m sure your reservations can be justified.”

“A lady of taste,” Sebastian nodded with a grin, making himself comfortable next to her. “I see we already have a lot in common.”

“Why? Are you a lady of taste too, Sebastian?” asked Ominis with a cocked brow.

She hid a smile behind a sip of her drink while Sebastian glared up at his friend. Ominis seemed to instinctively feel the look, but he just smirked through it.

“I shall take my leave,” he said, bowing to the pair. “I believe Lucan will leave soon and I would like to wish him a safe journey home.”

“Sure. Give him my best,” said Sebastian, but Ominis had already walked away.

He sighed and shook his head, gritting his teeth at his friend’s easy departure. Sebastian was determined to not let Ominis’ feelings about the dark arts get in the way of their friendship. But it was rendered all the more difficult when Ominis made it painfully obvious how much he disapproved of him, of how he was spending his life, or as Ominis put it, ‘how he was spending his freedom’. He always liked to hold it over Sebastian’s head how close he came to a life sentence in Azkaban following the untimely death of his uncle. He wondered why, then, Ominis still invited him to these silly little dinner parties…

He turned his head to his new friend to find her looking at him carefully, her eyes clouded with thoughts, the shadow of a smile on her lips.

“So, am I right to assume you have been waiting for me all evening,” asked Sebastian with an arrogant grin.

“Hmm no,” she said at length, smiling pleasantly at him. “I was just told you might appear.”

“Were you?”

“But I was also told to not have high expectations,” she said with a tight smile.

“And,” started Sebastian, moving slightly closer to her. The lady moved her heavy skirt to make room for him. “What else have you heard?”

She only pretended to think, looking to the side while she braced one arm against the sofa to stretch her body toward him. “I’ve heard that you’re the kind of man,” she started, seeming to give it serious consideration, “that I could talk to…”

“Yes?” said Sebastian, leaning closer to her with an easy smile. “You can talk to me about anything.”

“About certain… dangerous topics?”

“I love dangerous topics,” he said, licking his lips as he let his eyes taste her up and down.

For her part, she took in his behaviour with perfect serenity, if a little coquettish affectation. It was as if she had anticipated everything about him, about how he would react to her presence, the sound of her voice, the way she angled her body in that perfect way like a feline stretching toward a caress…

“Perhaps even, unsanctioned topics?” she continued, looking at him with large, vulnerable eyes.

“Madam,” he said closely, bringing one large solemn hand to his heart, “you needn’t say more. Whatever you need, I am your man.”

She bit her lip and clutched her half-drunk glass to her chest as if she could protect herself with it. Her long lashes fanned over her cheeks as she prepared to say something, apparently, quite difficult for her.

“I have heard, Mr Sallow, that you are familiar with chasing forbidden items across the continent.”

“I might be. Why? Do you have a need —”

“My brother, Melancthon, has gone missing while searching for a rare and possibly cursed item, and I was wondering if I could possibly ask for your help to find him and bring him back.”

She looked at him with such a vulnerable gaze, so open and hopeful and — finally he realised — tired, that it broke through every rejection that might have sprung up in his mind. Worst of all was that she reminded him at that moment far too much of Anne. He didn’t stand a chance.

“Miss,” said Sebastian at length, taking her hand in his, “you have my attention, my sympathy and, in fact, every part of myself is at your disposal.”

To continue their discussion away from prying eyes, he invited the young lady for a walk in the garden. Ominis’ mansion was small, for such an illustrious wizarding family as the Gaunts, but the green spaces that shielded his home from the prying eyes of the muggle and the magical alike were broad, wild, and overgrown. The bright moon beneath which Sebastian had earlier sold an item of immense destructive powers could now barely see the pair as they walked, arm in arm, under the blue and black boughs of old trees.

He didn’t often have the opportunity to meet with ladies in his line of work, and he was constantly afraid of making an indiscrete move, saying the wrong thing, stepping on shoes as it were… But she kept him perfectly at ease, walking slowly by his side, supporting him as much as he supported her. All that was left for Sebastian to do was listen.

“And so, you see, after the third week of him gone with no letter, no note, no owl, I have really begun to be afraid, Mr Sallow…”

“I’m sure there’s no need,” he said, covering her hand with his. “He’s probably just… far away without any means of writing back to you.”

“My brother would never stay so long without sending word,” she said, sounding equal parts worried and angry.

Sebastian chuckled sadly — he could hear Anne say something similar, in those days when she was still speaking to him. “Perhaps he has become distracted by the object he is chasing,” he suggested with a raised brow. “Which is what, if I may ask?”

“I’m not certain,” she sighed. “A sort of polished rock, as I recall…”

“Hmm…”

“It appeared somewhere in the Aeolian Islands.”

“Southern Italy?”

“Yes.”

Sebastian tried to think of what manner of cursed objects he had collected in the area. There were few that were worthy of the name, and all of them had already been retrieved — if not by him, then by someone he knew. There was always the chance that this was something new, but, if there was he would probably have heard about it by now. Which made it all the more suspicious, because he had never heard of a Melancthon in the business.

“And your brother is… a veteran in the field?” he tried.

“Not at all,” the girl complained. “It is the first time he goes on such an expedition.

“Ah,” he chuckled.

“Mother and father weren’t too worried at first, but I can tell they’re beginning to be…”

Sebastian gave a loud laugh at that. “Probably what inspired him to leave in the first place,” he said as he brought them to a stone bench beneath the heavy branches of a magnolia. “A change of scenery.”

She looked at him with a hint of resentment as she let go of his arm and took a seat. Sebastian sat beside her, smiling to himself. He could easily see himself in her brother, even if his parents were still alive. It would not have taken Anne’s curse to get him interested in the dark arts, he knew in his heart he would have gravitated toward them eventually. A life spent in little Feldcroft, while pleasant, was hardly enough for him. He liked to think his parents would understand, even when they disapproved.

“I haven’t asked, but… may I inquire as to what you do, Miss?” said Sebastian, turning toward her.

“Oh, I don't work,” she said sheepishly. “Mother and father never thought it proper for me to be employed anywhere in particular, and Melly has been quite happy to care for me, as I care for him… We have our own little cottage in Upper Flagley,” she said with a childish sort of pride, cupping her hands in her lap and smiling wistfully. “I tend to our little garden, and we raise chickens…”

“That sounds like it can be charming, in its own way,” said Sebastian at length.

He was lying, of course. He could hardly imagine a duller life than that, and he could easily see why her dear brother had departed — the promise of cursed treasure must hardly have been necessary, it was just the trigger.

“But I suppose it can get lonely,” he suggested. “No one to talk to? No one to... have... fun with?”

Sebastian was teetering on the edge of innuendo and she gave him a sharp disapproving look at that but made no move to distance herself from him. Instead, she curled her lips into a pleasant smile.

She had known to expect as much from what Ominis had told her about him, she had even counted on it. ‘Shallow Sallow’ he called him on more than one occasion when he regaled her with stories — and complaints. Sebastian's reputation hinged on seeming harmless, friendly, and a little impulsive, Ominis said, whereas the truth was that he was a humourless, calculating, remorseless wizard who stopped at nothing to feed his obsession. It was under the auspices of such despair that Ominis had come to her seeking help — to lure Sebastian back, to show him a different path, to tease him with the possibilities of something more fulfilling... There were other joys to partake of in life, and she had been enlisted to show them to him.

She had unwittingly made a reputation for herself by saving one of his cousins from a similar vice, a young witch named Madinia Gaunt. She attended Hogwarts with her up until eight years prior, and they had fallen in and out of an obsession with hexes together. When Madinia had taken all the necessary steps to curse a rival in love in a way that was most morally compromising to herself, her friend was there to pull her back. She had stalled, delayed, and confused her long enough for the feelings to become muddled in her heart. In the end, it was easy for her to persuade Maddie that it just wasn’t worth it.

And then, Maddie confessed everything to her cousin Ominis.

Unbeknownst to Ominis, the reason for her efficiency at swaying dear, dark, frail Madinia from using those demonic invocations was because she had done the same a year before.

She still felt the splinters in her soul, the shame and the regret, and feared she would live with the weight of what she had done her whole life. It was moments like these, when she thought she could give someone else the help she never received, that made her past experiences seem worth it. The fact that Ominis offered to pay her for the service had not made much of a difference.

And so she indulged Sebastian with a sweet, warm smile, a batting of the lashes, and a longer-held gaze than necessary. He had seemed lively enough inside, but the light of the moon with the deep shadows of the garden revealed him to be tired and drained, the dark circles under his eyes quite prominent, his clothes less properly arranged than their quality dictated, and his hands, laying quietly on his knees, looking hard and rough.

“Yes, quite lonely,” she said at length. “I lie awake at night, worried sick… It’s been torturous.” She held his gaze for a moment, biting her lip in a picture of perfect frustration, before finally daring to reach out and hold Sebastian’s hand. “Mr Sallow, please tell me you understand.”

“I do,” he said, swallowing the knot in his throat.

“So you will help me?”

Sebastian looked down at her hand on top of his and sighed. He knew her feelings all too well. His torment over Anne, his pain at her absence, his feelings of impotence at never being able to save her… After she ceased all contact, there was nothing left in her place but a hollowing, an emptiness which Sebastian had been forced to fill somehow. At the same time, his fixation on the curse that had eaten away her childhood had been turned inside out, following her cure upon Rookwood’s death, and from there it swallowed him whole. The answers Sebastian could not find as a child, he chased now across the country, across the globe if the opportunity arose, and he was left chasing forever for an answer that would never be satisfying, never interesting enough, never dangerous enough. He uncovered secrets sane wizards would never hope to approach. He fought monsters he’d only read about in the oldest tomes of the Restricted Section. He found objects of such obscure magical valence that he could not begin to know what to do with them — but other people did, and what they used them for, he was better off not knowing.

It paid well, this curiosity, but it kept him toeing just this side of sanity. Some days, that was exactly what he wanted. On other days, he wondered whether Anne ever missed him… He was, therefore, poised to be especially sympathetic to this young lady’s plight.

“Even before knowing more about your brother, as I have already said, I lay my service at your feet. In whatever endeavour you need me, I'm yours. However... you may not always like what I have to say about your brother’s situation.”

“I understand,” she nodded, suddenly righting herself in her seat. It was the first time she seemed truly engaged in the conversation, and in Sebastian.

“I shall investigate the item that has caused his absence, but during the course of this, you may have to confront some brutal truths.”

“I love brutal truths,” she said, holding his gaze.

“Good,” said Sebastian with a smile. “So do I.”

He was glad she had not shied away from him and in fact seemed to meet him head-on at every suggestion of danger. It left a delicious taste in his mouth, and suddenly he felt like kissing her hand again. She was far too interesting to be left to waste away secluded in some ‘little cottage’, raising poultry and waiting for her useless brother to come back. Sebastian would help her with that... if only a little.

“It is rather cold for how little you are wearing,” he said, letting his eye roam her figure, “lovely as it is. We should go back inside.”

#Sebastian Sallow #Ominis Gaunt #Hogwarts Legacy #Sebastian Sallow imagine #Sebastian Sallow x reader #Sebastian Sallow x MC #Sebastian Sallow fanfiction #sswallow;made a thing #sswallow;fanfics #fanfic;danger and delight

[pippin-katz]

Like A Love Song

Pairing: M/M | Crossover Ship - Marco Peña/Johnnie Blackwell Media: The Kissing Booth 2 (2020), High Strung (2016) Rating: T (for language) Word Count: 2,098

Marco is having a shitty day and goes to the park with his guitar to relax, but ends up having an interesting interaction with the attractive violinist who plays at the same spot.

A/N: I literally wrote this in a fit of inspiration and need for a romcom short story, but it came out pretty nice, so I thought I'd share here! Enjoy!

As the subway slowed to a stop, Marco lifted his wrist up to read his watch. He read 1:26 and heaved out a heavy sigh as he stepped off the subway car onto the platform. His guitar bounced against his back as he made his way up the stairs. The breeze greeted him by playing with the dark curls resting on his forehead, but the sun was nowhere to be found. It seems that it was aware of Marco’s melancholy mood and opted to spend the day behind the clouds in solidarity.

His day had been unpleasant since he woke up twenty minutes late that morning. In his haste to catch the bus to campus and make it to class on time, he hadn’t been able to brew himself a cup of coffee and forgot to put his laptop back into his bag after studying the night before. He ended up being forced to take notes by hand, leaving it cramping and sore afterwards, as well as giving him a wicked headache. Such pain had been a hindrance to practicing for his thesis performance in the following class.

Music and migraines don’t mix well. After only an hour, his professor had noticed his lack of progress and given him a pitying look. Marco couldn’t remember the last time he felt so embarrassed as they suggested he take the rest of the day off.

He had taken the advice, intending to purchase lunch from his favorite food court restaurant, only to discover that it was closed for some reason. He’d settled for a lackluster protein bar from the vending machine.

That’s what led up to where he was now, begrudgingly exiting the subway station. As silly as it was, all the obstacles and inconveniences caused a lump to form in his throat and heat to prickle behind his eyes. Marco was disappointed, exhausted, and hungry, and all he wanted to do was relax, even if it was only for a few hours.

Despite the lack of sun, it was pleasant outside. The subway station he’d gotten off at was next to a park that he often visited when he needed fresh air. Sometimes he brought his guitar with him and played whatever he wanted, not caring about anything, and letting the music take him wherever it led. If he was lucky, occasionally someone would drop some change or bills into his open guitar case. He didn’t play for tips but being a college student with a major in music, he never turned them down. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience.

There was only one problem: Hot Leather Jacket Violin Guy.

He was exactly what he sounded like. He was tall and pale, with dark hair that swooped down to fall just barely over his eyes. His lips were full and looked absurdly soft. He always wore casual alternative clothing that was typically topped off with the leather jacket his nickname implied. The final piece was, of course, the aforementioned violin. It was a dark brown that looked nearly black, and though Marco was certainly no violin expert, he could tell it was one of high quality; it was definitely not bought from an everyday music store. He was good, really good. The sound that came from it was richer than any other he’d heard. Every note seemed to sing with emotion.

Hot Leather Jacket Violin Guy was stunning, incredibly skilled, and Marco fucking hated him. Well… sort of.

There was no logical reason for it. Despite making eye contact a few times, they’d never spoken to each other. It wasn’t as though Violin Guy had done anything to warrant his hatred. All he did was stand in the same spot every day, look unfairly beautiful, and play the violin. Maybe that was all he needed to do for Marco to dislike him; maybe if he stopped and thought about it for a few minutes, he’d be able to chalk it up to projecting his own insecurities onto the handsome stranger.

However, on this particularly shitty day, he couldn’t care less. Marco was not someone who asked for much. He didn’t find himself asking some divine power for favors regularly, but today all he wanted was for Hot Leather Jacket Violin Guy to not be at the park.

Luck was not on his side, as should have been evident to him from the events of the day leading up into this moment. Marco trudged along the sidewalk to his favorite spot in the park; it was a coincidence that it was the same place Hot Leather Jacket Violin Guy played. There was a small fountain with tables around it. The concrete turned into pretty tiles, making it look like a little plaza. It was by far the best part of the park in his opinion, and he wasn’t going to let some brooding violinist with a pretty face ruin that for him.

That was his thought process as he approached the fountain. The soft sound of running water was accompanied by the telltale notes of the violin, allowing him to hear the other man’s presence before he could see him. Marco rounded the fountain and was greeted with the visual of the violinist; he pointedly refused to acknowledge if his heart sped up.

As usual, Violin Guy was wearing some ripped black jeans, a band t-shirt, and his signature leather jacket. His eyes were closed as he let his bow glide across the strings, and there was a barely noticeable sway in his body as he played.

Marco recognized another musician with true passion for their craft easily, which only made him more annoyed. It was harder to justify his distaste for the guy when he shared a musical soul. He sighed as he shook his head and wandered over to sit under a tree.

Marco’s hands were still a bit sore from class that morning, but it wasn’t unbearable, and he wasn’t planning to play anything difficult. He methodically removed his guitar from his back and set the case down in front of himself. He moved slowly as he unzipped it, retrieving the instrument.

The guitar’s wood was familiar and smooth under his fingertips. Its cool surface was soothing. He plucked a few notes experimentally, adjusting the tightness of the strings to find the perfect pitches. Once everything was properly tuned and prepared, Marco closed his eyes and exhaled.

Stress and anxiety had been clinging to him all day like a soaking wet blanket, weighing him down and sticking to him uncomfortably, but when he focused on the cool breeze on his skin and the sounds of nature around him, it slowly melted away. His fingers moved on their own as he strummed and plucked whatever notes called to him. He let his melancholy mood move his music rather than forced himself to play something more upbeat; fighting negative emotion was a waste of time. The improvised melody reflected his mental state perfectly.

Marco sighed as he paused at the end of a phrase, feeling as blue as the cloudy sky overhead. It really had not been a good day.

That’s when he heard the melody echoing back to him through the voice of the violin a few feet away. Marco looked up from his seat on the grass, eyes landing on the Violin Guy, who was standing a little closer than he had been before.

Instinctively, Marco scowled. What? Did this guy think he was better than him? Was he playing the same tune just to demonstrate how much lovelier it sounded when he played it?

As Violin Guy played, he glanced his way, making deliberate eye contact. Marco felt himself freeze under his gaze, unable to look away as he listened to solemn notes come from the other man’s instrument. He captured the same sadness that Marco had originally played with, but then he added to the tune. When he listened very closely, he could hear an almost questioning tone underlying some of the notes.

The man met his gaze again as he paused, his expression neutral but eyes expectant. Tingles ran up and down his spine; it was a question. Marco looked down at the guitar in his hands. He debated for a moment. For some reason, Violin Guy had noticed his negative mood and chose to approach him, speaking a musical language that only they understood. Marco didn’t know why he was doing this, but he would be lying if he wasn’t curious about the man. This was his opportunity. He poised his fingers to answer.

He licked his lips as he concentrated, plucking out a slightly different melody. His disappointment and exhaustion bled into the music. Marco closed his eyes, furrowing his eyebrows as he felt it all flow through the guitar. When he finished the phrase, he turned his head toward the violinist.

Violin Guy gave him a tiny nod, so small that Marco wasn’t sure if it was a nod at all. Then he raised his bow to the strings once more and spoke back. A series of notes floated through the air. They were soft, maintaining a somewhat melancholy feeling, but there was a twist in them. It was something hopeful and kind that made Marco’s chest expand and his eyes grow hot. Against all odds, his lips quirked up just a little bit as he listened to the sweet sound of the violin.

He met the man’s eyes again, his own widening as he received a small smile in return; he didn’t think he had ever seen Violin Guy smile before. He nodded down to the guitar as he continued to play, the tune becoming more hopeful as he continued. It was an invitation.

Marco felt his throat close up as his cheeks warmed, but despite the nerves, he began to play along. He was hesitant at first, but the two instruments blended beautifully as they performed their impromptu duet. There was so much feeling and personality in each sound, but somehow, they came together in just the right ways to create a masterful melody. Marco’s lips grew into a true smile as the frustrations of the day left his mind. His playing grew livelier, brighter, and by the time they finished their little song, he couldn’t even remember why he was so upset to begin with.  

He beamed at the violinist as he lowered his guitar back into his lap, and the other man looked down bashfully, nervously tapping his thigh with his bow. Then he straightened his posture and stuck his chin out a bit. He made eye contact with Marco and walked directly up to him without pausing.

Marco’s eyes widened as he was offered a hand. Uncertainly, he tried to meet him in a handshake, but the violinist grabbed his wrist instead, making him gasp. He tucked his violin under his arm and fished into the pocket of his leather jacket. Marco found himself unable to speak as he pulled out a pen. He opened it with his teeth and quickly scribbled onto his skin.

When he finished, he released Marco’s hand and cleared his throat. His pale cheeks had grown quite red. He opened his mouth to say something but changed his mind. He closed it, and instead nodded to him before turning to walk away, pretending as though he was unbothered when the opposite was obvious. Marco blinked rapidly, frozen for a moment. His skin still tingled from the other man’s touch. He looked down at the writing, his heart leaping as he recognized a phone number.

There was also a note underneath the digits. His cheeks flushed with heat as he grinned shyly to himself. The man had written: “I hear music when you smile. – Johnnie”

Marco looked up to see the violinist, Johnnie, with his violin packed away and posed to leave. He rubbed the back of his neck, figure tense as he kept glancing between him and the ground. Marco flashed him his most dazzling smile, and the tension in his shoulders disappeared as relief washed over his expression. He raised his hand to give him a small wave as he began to walk away. Marco returned it enthusiastically and watched with his grin still in place as he left.

Once Johnnie was gone, he ghosted his fingertips over the ink on his wrist. He pulled out his phone and created a new contact with the number. Marco inputted his name but tapped to add a note. He couldn’t help but laugh to himself as he typed: Hot Leather Jacket Violin Guy <3

#fanfic #crossover ship #marco peña x johnnie blackwell #the kissing booth 2 #marco peña #taylor zakhar perez #high strung #johnnie blackwell #nicholas galitzine

[secret-smut-sideblog]

Nightcall

Gale x F! Tav (named)

18+ implied trauma, miscommunication, tenderness, loneliness, love triangle dynamics, touch starved, wandering hands, feelings developing

Gale had been spellbound by her, one of the many in that predicament. He was resigned to his one-sided longing until she sought him out after seeing another...

Masterlist

-

"I'll see you at the party, right?" She smiled, settling down next to him. Wiping her armor.

His heart constricted. Staring at her brilliance.

"Yes." He breathed.

She was a vision, truly. Like her whole body had been dipped in golden light. Long waves of yellow hair, tinged with orange. Olive skin, freckles smattering across her nose. The endless gold hues only broken in her eyes, a hauntingly pale blue, nearly grey.

And of course, the tattoo.

It was naturally what people first saw. Curling geometric patterns from the crest of her hairline to the dip of her neck. As if someone had laid gold foil over her in the most lovingly intricate patterns.

It had stunned him to silence when she had pulled him from that stone, eyes getting lost.

She had waited patiently for his mind to restart, arms crossed, standing feet apart.

Catching, he introduced himself as he had intended. Harnessing enough tact to keep his burning curiosity to himself.

Something he became glad for. As they traveled near every person they met had endless questions. Sometimes full-on strangers walking up and pushing invasive inquiries.

Her answers changed like the wind, though she did have a favorite handful of responses.

"An old sacred elf rite of passage."

"Ah, I spent time on a secluded island. Things get wild."

"All wood elves have tattoos, most of them are in places you can't see."

It was honestly impressive how many quips she had on hand. But she probably had ample practice, given the fade of the tattoo.

Only once did she falter.

When they had met Halsin for the first time, he had done the same hypnotized gaze as Gale had at first. And like for him, she had waited.

The druids eyes seemed to light in recognition.

"A morninglord?"

Her body tensed.

"Pardon?" Her tone was casual, smooth. Betraying the tight muscles in her shoulders.

"A child of Lathander, yes? Or am I mistaken?"

"You are."

The silence that held the air was sharp. She offered no more clarification and continued on to ask about Moonrise.

It had been left at that, though their party exchanged glances.

"Well, now I have more questions." Astarion intoned, side eyeing her as they wandered away to search chests.

"I don't know, Fangs. It's clearly a sore subject, I'd say let it drop." Karlach hushed.

"But don't you want to know?" He retorted, exasperated.

"We all want to know. Whether it's any of our business is an entirely different story." Gale sniped, suddenly feeling protective.

"Oh, boo. Why did I get saddled with the goody two shoes..." He scoffed, walking away exuding haughtiness.

As soon as Astarion was out of earshot Karlach turned to him, fervor in her eyes.

"I really really want to know."

Gale smiled. "Of course you do. There must be a good story there."

The tattoo only aided her pull, a silver tongue and a propensity for persuasion. Everything about her had a magnetic pull. A practiced fluid grace in the way she moved, flowing through the world.

He was genuinely shocked when she said she was a bard.

"Really? I would've pegged you for a cleric, maybe a monk. Bards are usually so..."

"Theatrical?" She smiled, leaning her chin on hand.

"That's a word for it."

It wasn't until he heard her play that he understood.

The way that she leaned into her violin, eyes closed. The pull of her bow a deliberate reverent movement.

Though she would often oblige the frequent more upbeat song requests, whenever he found her playing alone it was always the slower songs. The call of her violin a mournful wail, soaring over him.

People naturally leaned towards her, willing to follow her to the ends of the earth.

He was no different, but he did try to be an asset. Filling in gaps with his talents as he could find them. Figured if he could make himself at least slightly indispensable, he wouldn't get left behind.

Now, the revelery of the tiefling party in full swing he caught sight of her. Heading towards Astarion, that beckoning look in his eyes. Gale's heart sank, but he couldn't blame her. He was... well, Astarion. All sensuality and enthralling beauty.

When she turned from him as they finished talking, he trailed his eyes along her, smirking.

She headed over to him then, smiling warmly. He tried to hide the strain in his face.

"Hello, Gale." Her low melodic voice played his name like a harp.

"Ah, hello. Busy tonight, I wager?" He immediately winced, his words coming out far more clipped than he intended.

"Possibly, I'm not certain yet. There is someone I would enjoy spending some time with tonight."

"Well, Astarion is a solid pick. A little bitey for my tastes, but don't let me deter you from having fun."

Her head tilted slightly, peering into him.

Feeling like a bug under a magnifying glass, he cleared his throat.

It was unfair how beautiful she was, all dignified sloping lines. A heart shaped face further accentuated by a sharp jaw. Slanted fox eyes. Pouty flushed lips. Nose slightly hooked.

He could see a statue being made in her likeness.

Honestly it made sense for her to be with Astarion, they were both breathtaking.

Such an arresting creature giving someone like him the time of day was frankly silly.

"I could be persuaded otherwise..." She stepped a little closer to him.

Heat rising to his neck, he laughed. Surely he was reading this wrong.

"Oh I'll be here for less intense activities. The orb, you know. Don't let me spoil your fun. Go on, indulge."

She seemed uncertain for a moment but eventually left. Giving him one last look over her shoulder.

A stab of longing struck through him, impaling through his stomach.

Ah, loneliness. That familiar companion.

A book propped on his knee he tried to bury his head in literature, Weaving a light inside the cave of his tent.

It was late, he should get some rest. But yearning was eating his stomach.

How embarrassing, he was far too old to have a crush.

He sighed and shut the book decisively.

"Are you still awake?"

He jumped at her soft voice.

"Aurum? I thought you'd be... uh, indisposed."

The edge of his tent flap lifted and her glacial eyes asked for entry.

"Please, come in." He tried to smother the eagerness in his throat.

She closed the flap and tied it down.

His mouth got dry at that. Further more when he realized she was just draped in a robe.

"I have a strange request, if you'll indulge me."

She sat gracefully on knees across from him. Her long hair loose over her shoulders, falling curtain in front of her as she lowered. The two puncture marks in her neck making his stomach tighten.

Anything. You can ask for anything.

"If I could be of service, I'm more than willing to help."

She seemed to hesitate for a moment, possibly reconsidering.

Thoughtlessly he leaned forward, taking her hand. Holding it gently between both of his. Hoping his earnestness reached her.

She seemed to relax then, smiling at him in that serene way that made him feel dizzy.

"Can you hold me for the night?"

He blinked. Shock tore through him.

"Yes! I mean, of course."

She smiled wider at him, hand between his turning, rubbing the thin skin of his wrist with her thumb.

Just that small sensation was sending jolts of pleasure across his body.

"Our vampire friend not one for cuddling I assume?"

He felt like he was already pushing it. But she just laughed.

Gods, it strummed a buzzing joy in his chest whenever he could get her to laugh. The sound like wind chimes.

"No. Certainly not. Honestly, I'm not even sure he likes me at all." She pulled close to him on knees, settling onto his bedroll.

He felt like he was holding his breath, not entirely sure this wasn't a dream.

"Well, he's a damned fool if he couldn't see what he had tonight."

She looked up at him then, eyes wide and vulnerable.

His heart was surely pounding loud enough to hear.

She pulled him down with her. Laying him back, she rested her head on his chest, long legs curling up around his. Slender fingers resting over where the orb lay. A contented sigh left her, and he thought he would melt.

Curling his arm around her back, he took the hand over his heart into his, threading their fingers.

"I knew I picked the right person. You're very good at this." He could hear the smile in her voice.

Now she had a front row seat to his thumping heart. But she only nuzzled down further.

"It's a shock to us both. I am not, ahem, practiced in this."

That was a great understatement.

"I have faith that one day you'll let me give you a compliment." Her voice was hushed, drifting.

He chuckled, pulling her hair away from her face. Fingers brushing over her scalp for a moment.

"Mmm, that's nice." She sighed.

He repeated the motion, encouraged. Carding his fingers gently through her silken hair.

Her breath became slow, evening out.

With a heady shot of accomplishment, he realized she was asleep.

Letting his eyes close he submerged himself in this feeling, in this moment.

Truly, he couldn't have imagined the serenity, the puddling he would've felt here. Her body the perfect weight on his, warming him through like the morning sun. Bliss in its entirety.

She pulled further into him, her leg curling up more. The robe falling back, revealing her bare hip.

He almost reached to pull it back over but was hypnotized again.

The line of her plush thighs flowed into hip, leading up in a mesmerizing arch. Creasing along the joint of her curled leg. A teasing dip inside the arch that would perfectly fit his hand. Like it was designed for that exact purpose.

He was absolutely pushing it, but he was nothing if not ambitious.

He slid the hand holding her back downward. Watching her body closely for any discomfort.

When his hand slid over the exposed skin, he had to bite back a moan. Velvet soft. His fingers couldn't help but splay, spreading to get as much contact as he could fit in his reach.

The sight of his wide hand spread over the curves of her sent him reeling.

Just as he had suspected, he slid his hand into that divot perfectly. Utterly entranced by the sight.

That some part of him could fit into her was inconceivable.

She reached across his chest and wrapped around his ribs. Head pushing up to fold into the curve of his neck. Letting out a sweet little whine. Soft breathing washing over his skin like the tide.

The smell of her hair oils wrapped around his head in a slow haze. Lavender and orange blossom.

Head turning into hers, he started to drift. Before he knew it had fallen into a deep sleep.

Bird song lilting through the air, something roused him. Looking bleary-eyed around his tent. Feeling an absence.

Alone.

Another song hung in the air. A clear bell of a voice rising high above.

Like a siren song, it pulled him from his tent.

It was very early, the sun just peeking over the mountains, world still bathed blue. The rest of the camp snoring.

Following the voice, he came upon Aurum sitting in the grass. Knees together, hands resting on her lap. Something near prayer.

Her head was leaned back, calling out only in high haunting tones. A wordless questioning cry.

It stole his breath away. Spellbound.

Her singing would stop in phrases, as if waiting for a response. Starting the wordless hymn over again.

After a third time, she fell quiet. Head falling forward.

The air felt heavy with loss, her hands opening in her lap.

He stepped back quietly, hand to his chest. A hollow sweeping pain pulling through it.

Returning to camp he started a low fire, putting the kettle over it. Finding his best tea that he had stashed away.

Setting up two cups.

He would have to get used to waking up early.

~

Part 2

#gale failing every insight check. a tale old as time #gale x tav #gale smut #bg3 smut #screenshot by @dekariosz #lyrics from: choreomania - florence and the machine

[redrobin-detective]

"come in," she said, "I'll give you shelter from the storm"

Marceline woke to the smell of something amazing cooking.

Her reactions were a little less startled and a little more excited every time she woke up and remembered that Simon was back. She quickly dressed and flew down the stairs and into the kitchen as Simon was finishing whatever it was he was making. His hair was pulled back in one of Marcy's hairbands and was wearing a bright pink sweater gifted from Bonnie over top his usual white collared shirt and black slacks. He looked so different from how she remembered him growing up but he was still her Simon.

"Good morning, or rather good afternoon, sleepyhead," Simon said with a smile as he flipped something in his pan. "Sit down, I'm almost done. I have something I want to talk to you about."

"Is this something the thing you've been talking to my girlfriend in secret about for the past few weeks?" She asked playfully. Simon groaned.

"How could you possibly-"

"I've known Bonnie for hundreds of years, you think I don't know her tells by now," Marcy grinned. "And it barely took me a year to learn all of yours."

"Yes, yes, I shall always be the Watson to your estimable Holmes so here is your reward for another case brilliantly solved," Simon said with a flourish. He placed a completely red grilled cheese sandwich in front of her with a bowl of tomato soup. "Strawberry jam toasted bread with ham, red bell peppers and tomato. The cheese I soaked in the jam too, it's not as red but hopefully it'll taste better than the beet juice cheese I made for you that one time. Bon appétit, mon cher."

"That beet cheese haunts my nightmares," Marcy said, trying to act casual when she wanted to cry with how much love she was feeling. She thought she had lost this forever and having it back, it was a miracle she couldn't put into words. "You don't have to go to this much effort, I can eat anything red. It doesn't even have to be real food."

"I like to cook and I like to cook for you. Sharing a meal together is something you do with your loved ones," he smiled and sat down with his own soup and sandwich. "I have a second chance to enjoy the little things in life and I don’t want to waste it.” He said, biting into his sandwich.

“Yeah,” she smiled back as her fangs sampled the sandwich. Deliciously red and made with love. “What did you want to talk about?”

“Oh uh,” Simon looked flustered and ducked his head closer to the soup. “I hate having serious discussions over a meal. How was your show last night?”

“Fine,” Marcy said with a suspicious frown. Simon was being cagey but she’d get it out of him eventually. “It was just a small gig at Dirt Beer Guy’s new place. It would have been better with my partner there. You can’t spend all your time inside reading those dusty old books, you know.”

“I’m not your partner, Marcy, I’m your-” Simon paused and turned away with embarrassment scratching at the back of his neck. She found herself wishing he’d just say what they both felt but he trailed off as usual. “Music is just a hobby for me, I’m not nearly the professional you are. Besides I’m not really suited to the kind of music you play, trying to keep up with you would just diminish your natural talent.” 

“Dude, you’re like the best pianist I’ve ever heard and you know all those old world songs,” Marcy argued as she slurped up the remaining red in her soup with annoyance. “And you’re no slouch on the guitar or violin or drums or-”

“I don’t play the drums, Ice King did,” Simon interrupted with a flat frown. 

“Yeah, okay whatever,” Marcy grumbled as she floated up and gathered up the now empty plates to clean. “So come on, stop avoiding the issue, what did you want to talk about?”

“I don’t want to have this conversation angry, let’s relax with a little jam session first,” Simon said cheerfully. “It’s been a while since I’ve been on strings, I’ll join you today on guitar. Just like the good old days.” The image of Simon’s large, blue tinged hands on top of hers on the half broken guitar they’d scrounged from the rubble, lightly moving her fingers over the frets. His gentle voice walking her through the notes and the beautiful sounds they’d made to fill the apocalyptic silence. 

Even after a thousand years of insanity, he knew just how to tempt her.

“I’ll grab my guitar while you finish up,” he said before rushing out of the kitchen. She was drying her hands when the sound of a tuning guitar flitted through the house. Marcy had dreamed of a situation like this: her and Simon safe, with no magic or madness or sadness between them, just hanging out. But sometimes a wall could be made of other things too. She grabbed her bass as she floated into the living room where Simon was strumming his acoustic with deep concentration. She sat next to him on the couch and began strumming too, the familiar motions leeching some of her tension. 

They sat in companionable silence for a while, playing their own thing with the separate melodies sometimes coming together and harmonizing. Every now and again she’d recognize something he played, some dim lightbulb of a memory from when she was a child listening to music on the radio. Simon always got a little sad when she reminded him of the world they’d both lost. She’d mourned and moved on but it was harder for him to let go.

"Marcy, I need to move out,” Simon said suddenly, snapping her out of her head. She jerked a discordant chord on her guitar as she dropped it, causing him to wince. “Princess Bubblegum is getting me set up with a little place on the border of the Candy Kingdom," he continued awkwardly.

"Move out?" Marcy yelped, reaching over to grab Simon's hand then quickly releasing when she saw him wince. "Why? You've only been back as yourself for six months! You're- you're not ready yet! You can't live on your own in Ooo, you'll get killed!"

"I got through the apocalypse, remember. I believe you were there," he said with a raised eyebrow.

"Is it the house? Too small? Too dark? We'll move together, somewhere bigger and brighter that has everything you need-"

"The house is fine, Marcy," Simon sighed, "it's not that it's..."

"Is it me?" She asked quietly. Simon set aside his guitar and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her in close. Marcy tried to relax into his touch like she used to but instead dug her hands into his sweater and held on tight.

"No, Sweetie, no, of course not. Believe me, this isn't an easy choice for me either but... Marceline, we always knew this was going to be temporary. You're a beautiful, brilliant, vivacious young woman and you don't need an old dinosaur cramping your lifestyle."

"You're not, I promise. I love having you here. I am so happy I get to see you everyday, to wake up to your cooking and making music together," she said, pulling back to look up at him.

"And I treasure those things too but Marcy, you're not going out with your friends, you're canceling shows and I know you don't feel comfortable bringing your girlfriend around when I'm here. I don't, I guess I'm worried about trapping you."

"You're not, I want you here, I promise. There's always other parties, other gigs and Bonnie, well she's old too, she knows that the most precious things are the ones that-that won't be around forever."

Simon was human again and that meant he was no longer deathless. He'd been in his mid 30s when he first wore the crown, hardly a spring chicken but not old either. That left Marcy about 50 years or so before he was gone and there was no magic on Earth or beyond that could bring him back while she went on and on and on and on and-. She loosened her grip on him before her claws put holes in his sweater, or him.

"Sweet Girl, I know what it's like to cling to something because it’s safe and familiar but we can’t live in the past. I, well, I need to find my own way. You know, learn and adapt like you have and I can't do that living in the backroom in the house of my uh... friend. We’ve had time to reconnect and recover but now it's time for this old bird to fly from the nest."

“You could stay if you wanted,” she said softly, weakly, feeling like the abandoned child she never really stopped being. “You could live here with me the rest of your life and I would love you every minute of every day. If you really want to move out, find your own space, I’ll gladly help. But I want you to know you are always welcome here, in my home and in my life because- because you’re like my dad and nothing will ever change that or how I feel about you.”

They never really spoke the words: dad, daughter, family, even if that's what they were to each other. There was always the risk Hunson would overhear and take it out on Simon. But also 'dad' had come to represent disappointment and anger and fear while 'Simon' fit the meaning much better. Who needed a dad when she had a Simon?

“Oh Marceline,” Simon said softly, resting his cheek against her hair. “I don’t deserve your love after what I put you through.” 

“Like you said, we can’t live in the past,” she mumbled, squeezing him as tight as she dared. Time moved so quickly for her, how many more times would she get to hug him before he was gone? They stayed like for a while before he pulled back and wiped his misty eyes underneath his glasses.

"Princess Bubblegum said the place should be finished soon. It's not very far and, you, likewise, are welcome to visit anytime. I've even asked the Princess to set aside an extra bedroom for you and Finn if ever you need somewhere to stay." Simon said, breaking eye contact to grab his guitar and lightly finger the strings. 

"Do Finn and Jake know about this?" Marcy teased. It's been an endless source of amusement watching Simon latch onto Finn like a mother hen and for it all to fly over the boy's head. Simon cooks for them, teaches Finn when he can pin the boy down between adventures and positively dotes on him and her unofficial little brother still didn't get it.

"Jake thinks it's a great idea," Simon sniffed. "Finn is almost 18 and full of reckless, teenage energy, not to mention a whole load of unaddressed trauma. Jake's getting older, he can use all the help he can get managing Finn."

"Word to that," She laughed. The heavy emotional pall lifting, she picked up her bass again and played the same simple melody as Simon. "Was that all you wanted to talk about? The house?"

"No," Simon looked uncomfortable. "I've put it off too long really but with the house set to be up soon, I do need to collect the rest of my belongings from the uh..."

"Oh yeah, you had that whole secret room in the Ice Kingdom, all those books and artifacts and stuff," Marcy noted.

"The last remnants I have of Betty are there too," Simon said dully. They don't talk about her much, mostly because the grief and guilt reminded both of them too much of Ice King. He still had his bad days spent alone doing glob knows what in his room. "I have a lot of things I need to get that I’ve been putting off because well…”

“It’s got to be weird,” Marcy said with an understanding smile. “You were Ice King then Gunter is now Ice Thing. I think everyone needed space after what went down. Me and PB can go get your stuff if you want.”

“No, no, it needs to be me. I can’t run away from the past forever,” Simon sighed. “I could use your help with moving as well as sorting through what’s important and what’s just sentimental junk. I collected as many pre-war artifacts as I could before I was consumed by the crown so I’m not even sure what’s all there.”

“Of course, I’m sure Finn would like to be involved too if it’s about human stuff,” Marcy said

“I’ll message him and I’m pretty sure Gunter gave me his new number too,” Simon muttered absently. “The Ice Kingdom still doesn’t have any citizens so hopefully Gunter will be able to accommodate us.”

“But that will probably take some time to coordinate,” Marcy said in a lilting tone, “and you still owe me a jam session. Show me that one song you used to play on guitar all the time, you know, the one that goes like-” she hastily strummed out a few chords. Simon laughed.

“A thousand years after the end of the world and Bob Dyland still endures,” he said, making some minor adjustments to his tuning keys. “Ok, my memory isn’t what it used to be so don’t complain if I get the lyrics or melody mixed up. So it’s a simple song that has a repeat rhythm of D, G, C, G. Got it? Ok and a one and two and a three-”

The house was soon filled with music and laughter and lots of love.

#adventure time #simon petrikov #marceline abadeer #finally finished #this is gonna be part 1 of 3 or 4 part series #exploring simons relationship with his kids through music #song title is shelter from the storm by bob dylan #love simon and marcy but look at all the regrets and abandonment issues and avoidance tactics they have stuffed into a trenchcoat #they're both overly clingy and distant at the same time I love it #both clinging to a past that doesn't really exist anymore and trying to cope with this new reality #they make me insane

[wayhavenots]

Gift: I Can Kerry a Tune

A gift exchange fic for @itsren-again !! :) I loved learning about Kerry (thank you so much for answering all my anonymous questions!!!!) and I hope I did him justice!

Just hopped on to hit post but soon I'll gift it on AO3 too! :) I hope you enjoy it!!

(And thanks so much @wayhavenficexchange for organizing this, this was so fun!!!!!!)

Rating: G

Word Count: 832

A light, springy piano tune is dancing across the Warehouse when Kerry returns from work. He follows the sound to a room he hadn't yet discovered, one which houses black cases of different sizes as well as a grand piano. Nate is seated on the piano bench, fingers gliding across the keys with skill; and although he doesn't look up from the instrument, Kerry catches the knowing hint of a smirk on his face as he enters the room. No sneaking up on a vampire, after all.

So he leans against the wall, soaking in the bright melody as it reaches its conclusion. He can feel the joy in the quick trills, in the way Nate moves with the music, in the smile he shoots back over his shoulder when the song is finished. 

Not that he can tell where the music begins and ends when Nate adds, in a deep voice bordering on sultry, “Welcome back, ya rouhi.” 

“And what a warm welcome this is.” Like a reflex, Kerry slides onto the bench beside his talented partner and angles his face ever so slightly upwards to peck him on the lips. "I didn’t know you played piano. You wouldn't be trying to impress me, would you, Agent Sewell?"

"But what better reason to be moved to music, than to be inspired by the love of your life?" says Nate, the proclamation delivered so lightly and casually in complete contrast to the way it nearly knocks Kerry over. That, too, is music. "Do you play?"

"Sure, I dabble a little." He wiggles his fingers dramatically before placing them on the keys. He counts off a slow beat…

…before pressing down lightly with his whole hand, the resulting sound so unpleasant his hands are scrambling off the keys instantly, and Nate gives a slight wince.

Still, still, the sweet vampire breaks out into a kind applause, playing along. "Bravo. I can’t say that I’m familiar with that piece.”

He gives a little bow. "That was a little Kerry Saint original I like to call…I Don't Actually Play Piano."

"Perhaps not the most conventional of compositions, but I admire your creativity."

"Careful, now. I may have to serenade you again." He wiggles his fingers threateningly.

Nate chuckles, catching his hands in his and pressing a kiss to each of his fingers, neutralizing the weapons before they can cause more destruction. "I look forward to it, ya rouhi."

There's something magical about his kisses, about the adoring look that he's shooting his way, that almost makes Kerry think Nate could have heard something beautiful in the dissonance. That almost makes him think he could hear it too if he tried again. "If you're willing to teach me, babe, I'll serenade you as much as you want."

"With an offer such as that, I'd be happy to teach you anything you wish,” says Nate, lowering his hands but not letting go, twining their fingers together. “Piano, violin, harp, guitar, sitar…”

“Oh, is that all?” says Kerry with a shamelessly impressed breath. 

Nate smiles. "I've had the benefit of time to learn." 

(And you could too, if…, he doesn’t say. Kerry hears it all the same, underneath the music that seems to swirl around them.)

“I always thought I’d be a rockstar, if I weren’t a detective,” says Kerry, in part to distract himself from that thought. The prospect of immortality as a vampire, even if it means forever with Nate, still strikes a sour note for him. “I just never got around to learning how to do the actual music part.” He cocks a half-grin, thinking of Nate’s charming spin from earlier. “You know, in a conventional way.”

“Is that a dream you still have?”

“Just one of many.” And not the most important, considering the other dreams he’s been haunted by recently, although he keeps that particular thought to himself. “But, given my current skill level… Maybe you could be the rockstar, and I’ll be your number one fan.”

“Then I must sincerely congratulate you for winning private music lessons with your favorite rockstar,” says Nate with a chuckle. “If you’d still like me to teach you, of course.”

Being able to serenade his sweet vampire boyfriend is sounding like an important skill to have. Without a word, he lets go of his hands and settles them back on the keys, and he can already tell from the smile teasing at the corner of Nate’s lips that he’s done it wrong.

“Go ahead,” says Kerry, nodding.

His heart skips a beat at the warmth of Nate's hands over his, gently correcting his position. For the next twenty minutes, they crawl through a few basics that way, more Nate playing Kerry’s hands than Kerry playing the music. He’s not sure that he could play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star again without Nate’s hands over his, but he’s not sure he would want to, not sure it would sound nearly as sweet as the music they make together.

#nate x detective #gift fic #itsren-again #loved writing for a detective who's so unabashedly in love with nate like...it's what he deserves!!!! #i hope this was okay!!!

[unagidevi]

WHIMSICAL DREAMSWAP FACTS REVISED (whs ds for short) + long post

-Nightmare goes by Nightmare, Man of the Moon, Man IN the moon and Akli. He doesn’t care what you call him as long as it’s something along the stars and moon.

-Nightmare helps people, or well, better should say- monsters like Blue to escape the JR and to have safety.

-Nightmare is based on a crow, despite looking like an elf he has wings that hide under his cloak for the most part so usually he can get away with being in villages if the wanted posters aren’t plastered around.

-Nightmare and Error work together to help others and their emotions to be a little better after the JR attack, like now they are working with Blue.

-Nightmare loves spicy foods, but he also likes savory food. He also tends to test the limits of his cooking and has Cross eat it for him as the test subject.

 (Cross does not mind, and actually enjoys it even if it’s really bad)

-Nightmare can play the ukulele and the violin, he tried to learn bass but he wasn’t very good at it and he didn’t have any space to keep the one he rented for a little while.

-Nightmares' pet raven, Kevin, has many different names that are all joking. Kevin doesn’t mind, besides, at least he’s being called michael myers for stalking them outside the house.

-Sometimes Kevin escapes the house, not like Nightmare minds, but Kevin ALWAYS comes back in the end.

-His cloak is usually draped over his shoulders but sometimes he uses it to catch his balance or mock one of his friends in a joking manner. (He also has a spare cloak that has slits for his wings to be free so he can fly around, which isn’t often.)

-Nightmare is NOT a careful person physically, he is emotionally but he is always getting hurt here, there, everywhere.

-If you asked Nightmares favorite food he’d probably say Salad mostly because of the tomatoes and how much dressing he puts on it.

-Nightmare doesn’t really exercise his wings much because if he’s in the sky he can easily be found by the JR, instead he walks like a normal person.

-Nightmare and Cross are best friends, they helped each other through the littlest stuff and are easy to talk to.

-Nightmare does his best to keep the monsters alive he’s met past and present, he doesn’t wish a horrible fate upon the JR either. He just wishes they could fix what they have done to the creatures.

-The apple incident was more of a, ‘i don’t wanna be friends with you anymore so i’m gonna be petty and turn everyone against you’ type thing. Kinda like elementary playground dramas, but thats like how unhinged i’d put it cuz it’s really childish (lmao)

-Nightmare likes playing chess and card games, the video gamer is Cross. Nightmare has a small limited edition glass chess board that he hides and puts up so it doesn’t break

—-

-not keeping the stupid harpich idea where they were harpies sooo… Dream is now an Horned Barn Owl! I thought it worked better since the old idea was some shitty harpy concept that didn’t go very well.

-Dream is very formal, but there are times when the act breaks and he just talks out-of-character.

-Dream is usually very warm, he doesn’t need many layers but he wears it anyways in the JR. He does have some casual, normal outfits but he just wears the checkered one in the JR.

-Dream has a really poor sense of fashion, so sometimes Ink chooses outfits for him (even if Dream doesn’t like it very much.)

-Dreams Justice Reigns is actually called Valor Affiliation, so it’s VA instead but for this I’ll refer to it as both.

-Dream is aware of Ani here, but Ani is just a traveling trader with a giant turtle friend. (in the works still!)

-Dream still adores kids, monsters or elves, doesn’t matter- he thinks they are all equal.

-Dream doesn’t mean to harm the monsters around him as he is a monster himself, but he does it anyway by accident.

-Dream plays a little bit of the harp, but he did it in the past and isn’t very good at it now.

-Dream does his best to treat VA like human beings instead of co-workers or servants because oh my god the amount of DS Dream ‘i’m a bad guy’ i see is going to make me go feral- excuse me.

-Dream has a ton of trust in Ink even if Ink is a little bit suspicious and mischievous. (ink does not care, he likes the power.)

-Dreams favorite foods vary every other week, so he just decided what he likes that week.

—-

-Cross is an albino raccoon, and genuinely a sweetheart.

-Cross cannot draw for shit, so when asked to draw his feelings out it’s mindless scribbles or things/stories he’s heard from others to put on paper.

-Finders keepers man, fuck off.

-The fridge is always stocked because of him (error buys groceries from monster shops), he’s always getting into food but he always asks permission beforehand.

-His nails can come out sharp, or dull, it’s a personal thing that comes with his species and a sign of protection.

-Cross is always washing the food so Error and him can cook together. They do the best work together, but if one is cooking (cross is not allowed to cook alone because where’s all the ingredients going to go?) It's probably just Error.

-Cross has minor anger issues, sometimes they get in the way of his friendship with the trio but other than that he’s able to manage it!

-Cross (sometimes) digs in the trash if he’s looking for something he lost, mostly because he has a tendency to throw stuff away that shouldn’t be thrown away.

-Cross used to ‘collect’ (he stole it) jewelry and set them on a stand in his bedroom, however Night found out and he had to return most of it. He kept a few cherry picked.

 (he doesn’t even wear jewelry…)

-Cross uses make-up to put the circles in his design on his face, as most of his markings are under his outfit instead of somewhere on his face.

-He plays an alto flute, and usually it attracts raccoons in the area who sit and watch. Sometimes he has leftovers to give to them to share!

-Instead of multiplayer games (he’s really bad at that), he plays singleplayer games. His favorites are something like stardew valley and the sims 3.

—-

-Error is in the insect category with Blue, he’s based on a yellow garden spider.

-Errors very insecure of his fangs, which aren’t poisonous but can do major damage. He has problems with them, and worries people will hate him.

 (Cross and Nightmare always stick around to cheer him up!)

-Spiders are more afraid of you than you are of them.

-Error cannot stand smoke, it makes him cough really bad. He’s extremely sensitive to it and it tends to make it hard to breathe for quite awhile.

-Error still has haphephobia.

-Error likes coffee still, but he’s very particular about it and what it’s in it. (two sugar, one cream)

-Error can hypnotize other people, but he really doesn’t use that power because he doesn’t want to harm anyone or anything.

-Error loves the little spiders that appear in the winter in the Meme Squads base, it makes him feel welcome.

-Error can speak to other spiders through chittering (he doesn’t do this often, he usually just speaks normally to them)

-Error can play a little bit of the ukulele and a little bit of the kazoo, he has more experience with the ukulele though thanks to Nightmare.

-Error has a problem with overthinking, but his friends always reassure him that everything will be okay.

-Error is usually really helpful when it comes to helping monsters attacked by the JR as he was attacked by the JR previously, and saved by Nightmare (not blue).

—--

-Blue is a moth creature, again, insect category. He’s genuinely skittish after what happened with Ink.

-Blue is extremely flexible, the only problem he has is his wings when doing such things because they help him balance.

-Blue still does yoga, instead he does private classes so that he can help them. That and it’s mostly monsters he helps, but sometimes elves come in.

  (He doesn’t want any conflict.)

-Upon first meeting Cross and Error, they were like ‘wtf why’d you bring this person home they don’t seem very injured’ but they soon realized what happened, and where he was damaged at so they welcomed him into their home (they would’ve anyway, but, yknow)

-Blue doesn’t really do weapons, or fighting. After what happened with Ink he kinda gave up fighting and meeting people, kind of shutting himself off from the world. The meme squad is helping him open up though!

-By what happened with Ink is that Ink ‘befriended’ Blue, and when Blue got most comfortable and vulnerable he pulled out a small dagger he carries around and sliced part of his wings and damaged his eye. Now he is unable to fly and his eye is blinded with a nasty scar in the place.

-Blue is a very skittish being, he is very afraid and is always trying to listen in to whats going on around him so he knows what is going on and not to fear.

-Most of Blues trust is in Nightmare, but luckily there is some in Error and Cross

 (Error is a little more than Cross, but that doesn’t really matter.)

-Blue is a very non-picky eater, there's just specific stuff he doesn’t like: doesn’t mean he won’t eat it.

 “He asked for no pickles”

 “It’s okay-”

-As mentioned before, Blue never saved Error: it was Nightmare who had done so: they don’t have any previous bonds before said meeting present-time.

-Sometimes he wears cloaks, but most of the time he just wears his citizen design because he now lives in a monster-only town ran by Nightmare.

—-

-Inks nickname is Swindler, or The Man with a Sharp Tongue

-Inks not a stupid hybrid elf thingy. He’s a Western Rat Snake, I did my best to incorporate that into his design but we’ll see how you guys like it instead.

-His civilian design is usually used outside of the JR that way he isn’t painted as a citizen inside his workplace.

-Ink is not a good guy in Whimsical Dreamswap, he has alternative motives that Dream does. He actually means to harm.

-Ink genuinely does not care what you think of him, just what your actions are.

-Ink likes to nitpick workers every now and again just to irritate them and get on their nerves. Finch is so used to this it isn’t so surprising to him so he jokes around about it.

-Ink likes to do leatherworking and crafting as a hobby, nothing much more than that but he genuinely likes creating things out of work.

 (work kinda bums him out)

-His weapon is usually a tiny dagger that he keeps in a boot or on his belt, used to hurt or collect: either or.

-Ink has little trust in Dream and just wants the power place, he’s power hungry but he doesn’t make it obvious.

-He considers Dream a friend though, so he won’t force his way to the top.

-Inks not very sensitive to hearing, but it is enhanced. Same thing with smell.

-Probably the only OTHER creature besides Dream in the JR.

—-

-Finches name is different in this AU, it’s Lorcan Ruth or just Ruth works (Lori works as well, he doesn’t care.)

-Finch is a forest elf, and is very loyal to his job.

-Finch was previously saved by Ink, but instead Dream took the role of taking care of him as Ink didn’t do a very good job.

-Finch is the same age as Ink, there’s no doubt about that.

-Finch likes the quiet, he does his best work when it’s quiet and no one else is focused on what he’s doing.

-He’s not very close with Dream, but more close with Ink in a playful/teasing manner. Sometimes they throw joking insults at each other, but they do appreciate both of their presences in the same room.

-Captain uniform is different from Officer, Chef and Janitor.

-Finch made the coat, which isn’t part of the VA uniform, with Ink because they needed a bonding lesson and Dream offered to give them an idea.

-Finch is loyal no matter what, even if he knows what the JR is doing is very wrong, he just does his best to do things differently than everyone else would.

-Finch sometimes smokes a pipe, mostly because it’s stressful to do the job he’s doing but Ink knows and sometimes smokes with him so he’s not alone.

 (sometimes other guards join in.)

-Finch is very respectful and respects boundaries, he doesn’t see the monsters as threats.

-He’s very good at communication, sometimes he uses that speciality to get the guards to lay off attacking the Monsters for a little bit. It works most of the time.

—-

-Randy is a female, and a mom in this instead! I will be referring to Randy as Rana, this way it’s easier to understand.

-Rana is a coyote, for the most part she's very helpful and adoring.

-Her oldest designs she was created by a stupid wheel challenge because I didn’t know what to do, now she is fully developed.

-She usually wears rags, that way she can’t be pointed out very easily.

-Rana has a southern accent, sometimes it influences Bobby and Hacker.

-Rana cares more about the people around her than herself, hence the outfits Bobby and Hacker have and then you have hers.

-Rana has two outfits I draw her in! A Dress and one more cloak like.

-Ranas cooking is one of the best, she works as a cook in a monster restaurant in a separate town.

-Rana has very bad paranoia, but she doesn’t let it control her.

-Rana once had a lover, that lover is unknown and long gone. By long gone, I mean dead.

—-

-Hacker is both male, female, and non-binary. She’s all of it.

-Hacker is a night elf, they were taken in by Rana for safety, and because her parents abandoned her in a forest near Ranas old home.

-Hacker has a very close relationship with their mom and is happy to say has a good relationship with Rana.

-Hackers relationship is very healthy with Bobby too, her little brother might be a pain in the ass sometimes but they don’t mind very much.

-Hacker will buy any game for Bobby as long as it’s okay with Rana. Hacker also sometimes plays with Bobby if he’s okay with it.

-Hacker and Cross don’t exactly get along, in fact, they aren’t really friends either when Hacker and Bobby went to a meet up. They have trouble getting along– probably due to Cross's hate for elves.

-Hacker is really good at make-up and prosthetics for make-up. They wish to be a make-up artist but for now they just do it in her freetime.

—-

-Bobbys literally a squirrel in this. I have no other words, he’s a squirrel and that’s final.

-Bobbys natural hair color is Brown instead of Black, give it a different pop.

-Bobbys a streamer and has a pretty good audience doing so, his audience wides from humans, elves and monsters. (humans are in like, another world. They just think it’s a vtuber or something)

-Bobby is on very good terms with Cross, they sometimes stream together that way they grow both of eachothers audiences.

-Sometimes he uses Hacker as a junglegym, and other times he uses trees.

-He loves piggyback rides, no questions asked.

-Bobbys very affectionate, it just depends on the person.

-The type of person to be quiet when you first meet them, then loud and happily talkative the more you know them.

#dreamswap #dreamtale au #undertale au #undertale #whs ds #whimsical dreamswap #dreamswap nightmare #dreamswap dream #dreamswap cross #dreamswap error #dreamswap blue #dreamswap ink #dreamswap au #dreamswap randy #dreamswap bobby #dreamswap finch #dreamswap hacker #utmv #utmv au #undertale aus #undertale fandom

[crimsoncrim]

We're back! And we're here to ask for more ✨️headcannons!✨️ This time about June! We really love them and their design and want to ask a few questions about them! (Prepare,, this is really, REALLY long.)

1. What's their relationship with the other canon characters in Reborn? Do they have any ride-or-dies? Do they have mortal enemies?

2. What's their relationship with other fanmade OCs? Do they know Margo, Ace, etc?

3. When's their birthday? 🎂 When did you conceptualize them, and when is their birthday in-universe?

4. What are their favorite things to do? What are their hobbies?

And last, but not least, 5. What are their favorite games? Do they like board games, video games, or any other style, like sports?

That was sooo long,,, sorry for the alphabet soup!!!

it's okay!! asks are always welcome <3 thanks for the patience too! this month has been a lil busy for me aa ;; june my beloved

answers under the cut ! otherwise this is a lil long

1- they are closest with luna and ace! they're the backup dark leader so that along with being pretty eccentric means they get along rather well. they go out for tea and june'll sometimes visit iolia as well!

ace is probably the closest to a ride-or-die to june. june is a huge flirt and ace gets extremely flustered whenever june does Anything so ace is just perpetually red-faced and smiling like a big dork around them. they have feelings that are kind of half-realized but not acted upon because both of them are gay disasters

sigmund is the only one they really have an actual grudge towards. june spent time in the orphanage as a kid- they ended up picking the locks and stealing keys to escape. corin-rouge also has somewhat of a one-sided rivalry with them- he's constantly trying to one-up them while june just kind of . does their own thing and has no idea what he's doing half the time.

2- well- ace isn't an oc haha, but june is pretty independent of my ocs. i imagine that they would get along well with the others though! sol especially has a playful mischievous side that i think would bounce off of june well. they'd bicker with niko but be secretly besties, and they and regan would be Very close with each other hehe.

3- their bday is April 10! (not in June haha). but they were conceptualized earlier this year! i wanted to make an oc that was more outright chaotic-good :>

4- they're into fashion! they love expressing themself and it's useful for disguises too. they have a few casual hobbies like fencing and parkour, LMAO. they love to ballroom dance as well- they're either extremely elegant and good on their feet or Super clumsy. they're also very good at playing the violin! it's a side hobby they picked up to relax :>

5- they'd dominate at monopoly not because they're particularly good at the game but because they continually steal from the other players without them noticing. also very good at uno and among us. they're really smart so scrabble is probably also something they'd be really good at. they'd probably be good at volleyball though if they did a sport! something that needs agility and speed.

thank you for asking about them <3 i love talking about them!

#thank you for the ask!! :> #i love them so much they're so gay #oc: june #ace featherstone #luna vanhanen #luna hazel #junace #ask crim #hungryeevee

[tea-reads]

Dreams of Love

Pairing: Violinist!Ezra x Pianist F!reader

Summary: Ezra, the favoured violin student who rarely performed solo, happens to hear a familiar song being played in the college's auditorium. He decides to pop in to hear more and to discover it was you, the solo piano student, practicing it.

Word count: 2.4K+

Tags/Warnings: College AU; hurt/comfort; fluff; yearning; pining; self-isolating and lonliness themes; mention of exes and bad friends; self-doubt and lack of confidence; one suggestive thought of Ezra's hands on reader's neck

A/N: Congratulations @pedrostories for 1K followers! Thank you for tagging me about your 1K celebration post recently. It helped give me a little boost to write again, as I've been wanting to for a while, but life gets in the way. Here's my submission. I'm so sorry for being a day over the deadline! I keep trying to write but things keep popping up! I'm real nervous sharing this since it's been a long time and I feel so frazzled. I honestly feel like I could've written this one better. Hope it's okay :')

.

.

.

The auditorium holds no guests except for a pianist who walks on the stage, towards the grand piano. The class’s end of year student showcase was coming up in a few months, and your days were filled with nothing but solitude in practicing, studying and having lunch alone. It's not like you had any company throughout your college years anyways.

Your teacher gave you and your classmates plenty of time to organise yourselves to form your groups and decide on what piece you were to play for the showcase and as your final assessment. You knew what you were going to do, because like how you’ve spent nearly every day of your college life, you opted for solo.

You preferred it this way. It helped you to focus and stay out of any drama that could come up if you were to mix with the wrong crowd. Although, for all the friend groups - big or small - and the couples that had their place on campus, jealousy slowly bubbled within you, and followed closely by longing. Longing for someone to keep you company and because they genuinely liked being around you, and not for what you could offer.

Not after how your ex or your old “friends” treated you…

You shake your head to get rid the emerging pain from the past and brought your attention back to the piano. You start warming up with various scales and exercises before digging into the classical piece you chose for your final performance and assessment.

Whilst playing the heart of Liebestruame No. 3, a creak from the entrance door echoes throughout the room. You immediately stop and turn your head towards whoever it was that dared to enter whilst you were practicing.

Your heart drops when it’s Ezra standing there, holding his violin case casually yet professional, with that crooked smile of his, looking up at you whilst you look down at him from the stage. He softly says your name, a mix of surprise, awe and maybe a bit of happiness to see it was you playing the piano that it makes your heart flutter.

“I couldn’t help but see who it was playing Liszt’s piece. A masterpiece from the romantic era, if you will.”

He was a final year music student, just like you, and everyone else in your cohort seemed to consider him as the best, due to some bias of him being handsome, being so damn well spoken, and just knowing how to present himself. ‘Not sure why the teachers or the other students think he’s a prodigy. Anyone could do what he does…’ you frown at him as you thought of this.

You were grateful he played the violin anyways because if he also played the piano, you would have left on a whim the moment he entered.

Maybe what annoyed you most is how handsome he is. Or that you find that blonde tuff of hair on him cute. You wanted to get close to him, but he was so damn untouchable. Or maybe that he always seemed to he around someone or in a group.

Not only did the spotlight seem to always shine on him - literally and metaphorically - it meant that your eyes were always drawn to him, whether he enters the room or also takes the stage. He never played solo, and it infuriated you how you paid attention to him when he never plays to outshine your classmates. Now that you think of it, you weren’t sure what he was going to do for his final performance. Surely, he was already part of a group or something since most of your classmates excitedly discussed what they could perform with him the day the teacher announced the event.

“Is that the one you will be performing? I hope it is because you will do perfect; you play beautifully.” Ezra adds, praising you like he would with anyone else. You remind yourself that his compliments meant nothing more other than him just complimenting you. But it didn’t stop you from getting flustered though.

“It’s not a big deal…” You mumbled, looking down at the piano keys, but Ezra only laughs softly and gently disregards the thought:

“Actually, it’s a big deal. Mind if I volunteer to be your audience?”

‘No. Go away.’ the thought bubbled whilst your face twisted into a look of horror. Ezra immediately made note that maybe he was invading your privacy and your allocated time for practice.

“Apologies, apologies,” Ezra laughs sincerely, “I best be on my way.” He steps back out of the door, but you called out to him.

“N-no, you can watch… just.. I don’t know - don’t look at me.” You said without thinking.

Ezra pauses, and slowly, the gentle, kind smile of his appears once again.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

You stare at the black and white keys, your hands in position, yet never pressing. Your fingertips start to form thin layer of sweat and starts to tingle into a numbness. It was as though you lost all of your ability to play.

Ezra sits right in the centre. The spotlight is on him again. It made all of your your focus redirected to him. Even if he sits far away, it still feels like he is right beside you, looming over you.

“What’s wrong?” Ezra’s concerned tone fills the auditorium, easing off the pressure you’re putting on yourself.

Sighing, you turn to him.

“Honestly, I’m too nervous.” You muttered, embarrassed of how shy you’ve become. You turn to look at him and oh how you wanted to roll up your music sheets and use it to smack that smug look off his face.

“Because of the eventual performance, or because of my presence?” Ezra asks as if teasing you.

Your face heats up as you frown at him, pursing your lips to stop a quick insult from escaping.

“Because of the performance! I’m nervous of the performance!” You snap, flustered.

“Really?” Ezra asks, knowing it was a lie. He pretended to express curiosity in his eyes. “Just not long ago, I was certain I heard a confident pianist whilst outside in the corridors, as though it was Liszt himself.”

Your face heats up as you try so hard to refrain yourself from falling into the trap of his charm.

“Shut up and just... go away!” You huff, helpless and embarrassed.

Ezra laughs softly then gets up from his seat and makes his way towards the stage with his violin case. A flash of anger spreads across your face. “What are you doing!?” You ask hastily as Ezra sets his violin case on the wooden floor of the stage.

“I too would be nervous if I were to perform a piece that is both romantic and like a love letter.” Ezra said, not answering you question, as he takes out his violin and bow. "It's like you're confessing, isn't it?" He smiles knowingly, but you convince yourself that he's saying that in general. You grow more and more nervous as he comes around to the side of the stage, walking up the stairs to join you. He keeps the same soft smile, one that tells you that he's not going to bite, and he positions himself on the stage.

As soon as he gently places the bow on the strings of the violin, you then look at his hands.

…His hands…

How does a violinist’s hands compare to a pianist's?

You thought about how his hands would also have gone through many hours and years practicing and mastering the violin. How Ezra would have had to learn how to adjust and adapt his fingers whilst thew grew and be able to play the softest of notes and never snapping any strings. How strong and sturdy they would be as well as pressed marks of the strings would be imprinted on the tip of his fingers.

Or how they would slide up and down along the strings of the neck of the violin with a gentle grip.

…

How would they feel on the skin of your neck?

Ezra glances back at you and catches you staring - but he will never catch the unwanted thoughts you were having of him just then. You blink at him and grew flustered once again.

“Shall we?” He asks politely, smirking as he winked.

“Y-you’re just going to play along with me? Duet?” You ask, stammering as you try to mentally rid of the unwanted thoughts and collect yourself.

“Yes. I’ve been practicing this one for a while, and I suppose I am curious to hear how it will sound if I were to play with a pianist.” Ezra says matter-of-factly, offering an encouraging smile. But you only grow more flustered that he wanted to play it with you. It just had to be you. There were other pianists from your cohort. Why you?

“Now… are you ready?” Ezra asks, eagerly. You supress saying another word that will delay in beginning yours and Ezra’s little duet, and position your hands on the keys once more. You take a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

“Yes. I’m ready…”

And you start to play.

The moment Ezra enters the piece hitting his first note, there was an immediate connection shared between the two of you. The sound of the violin accompanying the piano felt as though it opened a door that freed the pain of loneliness you buried yet carried within you.

As you close your eyes and let your fingers flow with the keys of the piano that you have practice thousands of times, the strings of the violin continued to guide you, putting your heart at ease. You felt like you were soaring. You felt that moments like this reminds you why it is worth opening yourself up again to the person who would keep it warm and protected.

Or maybe that was the effect of the song itself. It's supposed to be dream-like.

Ezra glances at you whilst he plays the violin, smiling to himself as he sees how much you are enjoying yourself for once.

Maybe that’s why Ezra is favoured to be part of a duet, trio, quartet or whatever number of instrumentalists are needed to be in an orchestra… He knew how to adjust himself to one’s rhythm and tempo and make it all sounds beautiful… He was the one to bring it all together, as if he was the one orchestrating, but he was the one people sought for and relied on him to lead them. You saw him how amazing he is at improvising too during one class…

Maybe it was all because he was an intuitive soul and knows how to use his head and his heart to create and express what he wants with his hands.

The final note rings throughout the auditorium. You look at Ezra and finally ask, “So why me? There are others in our class who can play the piano, Ezra, and they’re obviously better than I am. You could even perform this one for your assessment with them… you know I only do solo…” The way you murmured the last line sounded as if there was a weight pushing you down, and it was one you no longer want to carry anymore.

Ezra looks at you as kept looking down at the piano and fidget with your fingers.

“It’s rather simple,” Ezra begins, “I walked by and heard someone playing this song. It was the sign I needed to bring forth what I held close to mind.” Ezra’s smile reached his eyes, his enthusiasm beaming at your disbelieving eyes that rolled.

“Besides… I like the music you perform most, and I think I know what I’d like to do for my final performance.” Ezra laughs quietly. “I’ve been wanting to accompany you for a while, and this must be the perfect time.” You weren’t sure if he was subtly confessing to you about his feelings, but you were busy feeling sick by the fact he actually pays attention to you when you share your work during class.

It felt… wrong. Like you don’t deserve it and that it should be someone else.

Ezra picks up the look of doubt and speaks again, using the same kind and gentle tone.

“Whether you like it or not, you have a gift. Anybody who takes a seat in this room -” Ezra gestures towards the empty seats, “or happens to witness or step into your presence, they are going to be blessed by what you bring with your talent.”

Ezra pauses, letting his words sit with you before he continues.

“There’s a reason why you chose to play this one, isn’t there? There’s always been a reason why you pick the songs you play, correct?” Ezra’s question hangs in the air for a few seconds, the kindness and the knowing tone encourages you to answer.

“…Because… it’s what I feel… It’s easy to play music that resonates with me, rather than showing off the technicalities and the intricacies of ‘difficult’ pieces… I’d rather score high in taking the courage to show my heart than just perfectly executing technique from the composer… it’s…” You sigh, holding back the truth that love was all you wanted, and Liszt’s song was best at expressing your desire to be seen after all you have been through.

“I just want to enjoy myself for once and express how I really feel and be seen for it… because anyone could replicate what Liszt wrote on the sheet, but nobody could replicate what he felt when he played...” you trailed off, not wanting to share more of your demise.

Ezra looks at you, pondering at your words for a few minutes.

“Well,” he says softly, “I see you. I hear you.”

Your heart stutters as you look at him, eyes wide in shock. Ezra smiles at you, tilting his head to the side as he looks at you affectionately.

“I see you.” He says once more, hoping it reaches you like how your performances reached him.

“Oh…” is all you could say, causing Ezra to chuckle. He then starts to walk towards the edge of the stage.

“I should also expand that you are the gift as well. Do not sell yourself short. It’s about time people start seeing you for who you are, and that you are valuable always.” Ezra says your eyes follow him as he hops off the stage and packs up his violin and bow.

Before he leaves the auditorium, he glances at his watch and looks back at you, “care for a coffee?”

Normally, you would decline, but maybe just this once it wouldn’t hurt to say yes. It’s not like he’s asking you out on a date.

And so you agree.

“Hopefully we’re not too late to make arrangements to become a duet as well.” Ezra grins.

Indeed, it wasn’t too late.

#pedrostories1k #ezra prospect x reader #ezra prospect x f!reader

[lesbianwriter]

Can you continue, They were Roomates? I kinda wanna see how thing's'll turn out (^ ^). Thankyou!!

No problem!

Part one

Part two

“Villain.” Supervillain said. Casually, formally. He was somehow both, the intoxicating cadence of his voice making it impossible for him not to sound like a perfect and charming gentleman.

The aura of sophistication around him was smothering. His sleek pinstripe suit, a designer watch at his wrist and slicked hair were crisp in juxtaposition to Villain’s bloody hands and ruffled hair.

“Supervillain.” Villain tore the knife from her victim’s body before clumsily dropping to her knees. “About the photos—“

“I received them. Good work. Infiltrating Hero’s residence and covering your tracks, I’m proud.” He stepped forward, hands tucked away in his pockets. Supervillain bent forward. Villain could feel his lips move on her ear. “I’ll tell you a secret: you’ve always been my favorite of the girls I’ve trained. You were the most…malleable. Receptive to the facts, one could say. You’ve bought your sister another week. Keep up the good work and I might consider a month.”

He reached into his pocket and dropped a pouch of money into her bloody hands. “And for your other expenses…and her extra medical ones.”

“Thank you, Supervillain.” Villain murmured, exhaling a breath she’d been holding. She felt as he smiled. Her stomach dropped. A stone landed in her gut.

“You’ll be taking a pause from killing. Instead, you will be spying on Hero, and if I don’t have an adequate amount of information at the end of each week then I’m afraid your sister’s time will be cut short. Ta-ta!” He took a step back.

Villain stared, wide-eyed. All she could do was gape and stare as he spun on his heel and walked away from the grimy alleyway. Perhaps she could’ve lunged and stabbed him in the back—maybe she could have slammed him against the wall and sent him to Hero to he arrested—but both of those options would lead to the death if her sister, and she had no intent on letting her last family member die because of her.

Damn everybody else. Damn Hero.

She’d keep her sister alive.

—

—

“Villain? Are you alright?” Hero asked. She chewed on her inner lip while she awaited a response—if any.

She had the foolish hope that Villain had quit a life of crime. The ‘business matters’ had ceased for an entire week. Not once did Hero catch wind of Villain out during the night, or sneaking out through a window. Actually, she had been coming home late to Villain sound asleep.

It was odd.

“That is none of your business.” Villain chopped the vegetables.

“You’ve been here a lot more lately.” Hero said carefully. Villain’s shoulders tensed and she kept chopping. Loudly. “Are you alright?”

“Shouldn’t you be working on your half of the dinner instead of recreating the Spanish Inquisition?” Villain retorted.

“Drama queen.” Hero rolled her eyes.

There was blissful silence for a few moments.

“I bought a puzzle at the store today.”

“Keep buying those and we’ll run out of space.”

“The point is that I want you to help me with it.” Hero said. She waited for a response. But the cat took a grand leap off the top of the fridge and onto Villain’s shoulder before either could continue.

“Control your cat!” Villain shrieked.

“She likes you.” Hero plucked her pet from Villain’s shoulder, earning a hiss from the cat. “Try playing with her more. Maybe that’ll cool down her antics.”

“You know what else would? A violin factory.” Villain hissed back at the animal.

“Violin strings aren’t actually made of—“ Hero began.

“I know!” Villain snapped.

A few moments of silence. “About the puzzle…”

“Fine.” Villain’s tone dripped with venom. She swiveled back to the cutting board and picked up the knife.

As she resumed her work, she could only pray Hero gossiped a lot. It was selfish. She knew that. The whole ordeal was wicked and wrong. She was well aware. But her end-of-week quota wasn’t filled yet. And sometimes sunflowers needed to wilt.

#villain x hero #hero x villain #sapphic #my writing #hero and villain #pride month #wlw pride #writing community

[to-know-how-it-ends]

Hadestown Thoughts

 - .Hello fellow humans (and intelligent cats) of tumblr! I saw Hadestown on Broadway exactly 12 days ago and I have some thoughts. It was my first Broadway musical in my entire life and it was absolutely the most amazing thing I’ve ever witnessed/heard since... December last year when I saw Wicked on tour. Let’s go song by song to show just how much of a masterpiece this is.

Road to Hell:

 - All of the actors just burst from the entrance door thingies and the wings! wowww. It felt so casual but so awesome

 - T. Oliver Reid was Hermes and he had such a remarkable stage presence, like gosh, that’s good.

 - I was a bit confused about the setup because it kind of looked to me like Hermes was a teacher and the chorus and Eurydice (Eva!!!!) were high school students. Maybe it’s just me. But then it all made sense.

 - Hermes stops at every member of the chorus, doing handshakes, fistbumps, etc., and then he stops at Eurydice and puts his hand on her shoulder, and lingers for a moment, as if he’s regretful for the story having to happen yet again

 - then he faces the audience, does that little lapel thing, unbuttons his suit (really shiny and i want it), puts his hands on his hips, and goes “alright!” to the chorus and then to the audience who repeats it back. Instantly drew us in, the fourth wall has officially been obliterated. I know Andre de Shields did an “aight” as opposed to “alright”, but it still had the same effect

 - T. Oliver Reid’s mustache.

 - the trombone player is a gift to this world

 - It’s a sad song -- in the jumpiest tune ever

  - this is really random but I really liked the yellow dress that the violin player was wearing

 - when Hermes calls Orpheus and he misses his cue because he’s so focused on that red shmata and then he gives that cute little wave

 - when Reeve and Eva pause in front of one another and Orpheus just has plain heart eyes

Any Way the Wind Blows

 - the fates! the harmonies! my god. They were fantastic! Soara-Joye Ross was Atropos, and she had such a beautiful low voice. Jessie Shelton played Laechesis (hope i’m not totally butchering the spelling) and she had such an interesting mixture of joy and haunting. She had this huge taunting smile, and she seemed to love it whenever she could manipulate people. Literally amazing. Kay Trinidad (nothing like the OBC) was Clotho, and I feel like she brought the group together. She was mystical and creepy. And also seemingly very cold. 

 - Eva Noblezada is a blessing unto this earth. I mean it. And her voice! Ahhhh! From the literal heavens. 

 - I don’t know why this part always sticks out to me and some people might not notice it, but there are 3 notes in the word “blows”, and when Eva sings it they all flow together seamlessly, like pouring water into a glass. She could be a disney princess and outshine all of them. She can do amazing belts and also go very low and high. She can do anything. In case you couldn’t tell, I’m just a little bit in love with her. 

 - also if you look really close, on the candle that Eurydice lights there are flower designs -- my inner English teacher says good symbolism and also foreshadowing

 - also, (wow i say that a lot) the acting in this (and the rest of the show) is incredible. I’ve seen a bunch of musicals in person before this (never on Broadway though), and while, granted, the acting is good, they act the relationships well, it’s very clearly acting. I don’t know what makes this so different but here it feels real, not fake. Maybe because Reeve and Eva are actually dating lol.

 - ooooooh.

Come Home With Me

 - Orpheus is a sweetheart. I’m also a little bit in love with him too. You know that a musical is good when you’re in love with both of the leads.

 - I didn’t think I’d like him originally, but (like Eurydice) I fell in love in spite of myself

 - Orpheus is adorable

 - You can sense Hermes’ admiration of him, even if Orpheus is always like this

 - when the chorus starts singing behind Orpheus. Someone said this in another review, and it’s very true: (i’m paraphrasing) It’s cool to see the balance of how awkward Orpheus is alongside how he commands attention with every note he sings

 - also another thing -- in ancient greek epics, it was common for a chorus to sing behind the hero so I liked that symbolism

 - That little scooch across the table Eva does when she’s like “oh, he’s craaazy”

  Wedding Song

   - I love the balance between Eurydice’s teasing and Orpheus’ earnestness and naivete 

 - Have I mentioned how adorable Orpheus is?

 - when Eurydice is like “you wanna take me home?” and pulls down her coat to show her shoulder. tee hee. and orpheus totally misses the innuendo and is like Yes!

 - He’s such a sweetie

- Reeve’s falsetto! I swear everyone in the cast has a voice straight from the heavens.

- La la la la la la la...

- When the chorus moves the tables for Orpheus to walk on in his ethereal state as Eurydice just looks on in awe

- I’ve watched a bunch of slime tutorials by now (only 12 days wow), and I know that the flower comes out of his hand, but I have to admit that when I was watching it I must have not been paying good enough attention because at first there was nothing in his hand, and then I blinked and there was

- that flower is beautiful by the way. I was recently visiting my grandparents and my Zaidy (grandfather) has a beautiful garden. I asked him if next year he could plant carnations but he wrinkled his nose and said that carnations were tacky flowers that don’t have a smell and that if you gave them to somebody it would be like an insult. But my mother likes them so I’ll get them for her. They will always be beautiful to me.

 - And then at the end Eurydice’s face when she looks at him like, “Maybe he is everything he’s all cracked up to be. And even if he’s not, it’s kinda cute.”

Epic I

 - I don’t have a lot of notes on this one except Reeve’s gift-from-god voice

 - and also the sweet Orpheus/Hermes father/son relationship

 - another difference i noticed from the soundtrack and seeing it live is that a lot of the words blend together when he’s singing in falsetto. Like when he says “And he fell in love with a beautiful lady” It sounds kind of like “beautifalady” but I actually prefer that because to me it sounds more raw, like it’s coming entirely out of him and not a songbook

Livin’ It Up On Top

 - Jewelle Blackman as Persephone is a force to be reckoned with. I’m not going to compare versions as to which one is better but I will say that the way Amber Gray and Jewelle play Persephone differ greatly

 - Jewelle used to play Atropos, so you know she has a MUCH deeper voice than Amber’s, but she does the same gritty things with her voice during certain lines like Amber. 

 - Eurydice’s reluctance to dance and then her getting right in the middle of it

  - Persephone instantly clinging to Eurydice and giving her some alcohol from her flask, and then Eurydice’s surprised gasp lol

 - The way Persephone lovingly touches Orpheus every time he passes her

 - The way Eurydice looked at Orpheus when he gave her and Persephone cups, like “Oh, he’s so thoughtful...”

All I’ve Ever Known

 - The mother of all love songs except perhaps As Long As You’re Mine. Actually no. This one is better

 - The way they hold one another! Ahhhh my heart

 - Like they simply can’t stay apart from one another, they live for the other

 - that violin solo and the love ballet

Way Down Hadestown

 - I knew this song was in the musical before I saw it because it’s in all the ads but I had no idea of the context

 - How Orpheus and Eurydice are lying on the ground and holding one another for half the song and then the other half just hugging and making out because they’re totally oblivious to the change

 - Basically singing that everything’s going wrong to the tune of sesame street

 - the umbrella

 - Jewelle’s forced smile when she says “you’re early”

 - When Hades says “I missed ya” in his crazily low voice. It’s even lower now, probably because Patrick Page has aged. hehehe that rhymed

 - When Eurydice says “Kinda makes you wonder how it feels” and then Hades lowers his shades and turns to her, and then Orpheus literally jumps in front of her

skipping a gathering storm because it’s like three seconds long and it’s usually always the same except Eurydice sounds more understanding and trusting in this than she does in the soundtrack and slime tutorials

Epic II

 - when I tell you how much this song broke my heart

 - And Orpheus’ empathy my gosh. How he’s able to empathize with Hades who is so different from him. It sounds like he’s the only one who truly understands how Hades is feeling

 - La la la la la la la

 - la la la la la la la

 - that’s it

Chant

 - by far the best song in the musical

 - highlights every single perspective:

  Persephone -- in shock of how much has changed in the underworld and how unnatural all this manufactured light and heat is so she’s trying to numb herself from it with wine, she cannot believe that this is what has become of the man she once fell in love with “I don’t know you anymore”

Hades -- the fact that he’s doing this all out of love for Persephone, to mimic the sunlight on earth so that she’ll want to stay, but he’s so blinded that he’s allowing himself to go down a very dark and dare I say evil (but somewhat i don’t want to say understandable but like you see why) path and he’s sort of jealous of her devotion to the people on earth

Orpheus -- trying desperately to finish the song, all he wants is to protect Eurydice with it, all he wants is for her to be safe and have everything he promised her because he feels she deserves it so much that he himself has also blinded into oblivion and can’t get the focus off the song. What he doesn’t realize is that they need food and shelter and fire now, but he’s just so swept up. Was that wrong? Yes, but he’s not to blame though he will blame himself. If I hear any hate for Orpheus I have an orange belt in Tai Shin Do -- that’s all I’m saying

Eurydice -- Orpheus showed her the way the world could be and she’s trying in spite of her gut to see that, to trust that Orpheus is going to “shelter us”, but she knows how the world is. She’s more cynical, but also more reasonable, and Orpheus isn’t helping to provide because he’s so stuck on his song which leaves her as the main provider until his song is done. She’s losing everything, and as the wind grows, her hope lessens and she becomes more desperate, and as everyone knows, desperate times call for desperate measures...

Hermes -- trying to get Orpheus out of his head, perhaps I can change the direction of the story, maybe it can go right this time, but I feel like by the time Orpheus has the a-ha moment and says “The gods have forgotten the song of their love”, and Hermes turns away, he knows that Orpheus has lost himself completely and there’s nothing he can do

The Fates -- acting as the doubt in Eurydice’s head and the wind, taking away everything she and Orpheus has, and you feel awful as they pull off Eurydice’s coat

The Workers -- Their chant is so ominous “Keep your head low” and that fact that the reason they are working is because of how much Hades has been changed because of his blindness and jealousy because of his love for Persephone

 - I just love that all the parts blend together. Visually, it’s a masterpiece, with all the turntables being used and the thingy that brings people up and down in the middle

 - eva’s pure desperation

 - the way it seems like orpheus is really trying to get the sound right, he’s repeating himself and scrunching up his face desperately

Hey, Little Songbird

 - Oh man, Patrick Page’s voice is like a massage on your brain

 - But it is so, so creepy

 - as is the song which is kinda the point

 - It makes it look like he’s trying to seduce Eurydice

 - You really get a sense of Eva’s range in this song. In four lines, she basically uses all of it, and I feel like that’s sort of the symbolism for Eurydice giving everything she has if you think about it but that could just be me.

 - Like the low part in “Wasn’t it gonna be the two of us?” and then the high “weren’t” in “Weren’t we birds of a feather”

 - I love all the bird analogies in it, like of course with the songbird thing, but then “I wanna fly down and feed at his hand, I want a nice soft place to land”

 - The pure grief and desperation (i use this word a lot) in her voice

 - “songbird vs. rattlesnake” kinda interesting when you think about it that the reason Eurydice went down to the Underworld in the original myth was because she was bitten by a snake on her wedding day and now she’s being lured down by a metaphorical “snake”, Hades

- “see how the vipers and vultures surround you” - this song is very reminiscent to me of Eicha (איכה) where it basically uses metaphors like this to describe the exile of the Jewish people

 - Hades is also doing this as a kind of petty way to get back at Persephone

 - God, Hades is so creepy

When The Chips Are Down

 - there is so much I love about this song

 - the vocals! Ahhhh! they were perfect! PERFECT and so spicy!

 - the taunting, ooh. You never know whether or not to love or hate the Fates in this, but it still stands that they have the best harmonies in the show

 - When they say “You got a knife in the back”, and then Eurydice acts like she’s literally been stabbed in the back. You can actually see the pain and tears on her face and feel it in your chest. Or, at least I could.

 - “you can have your principles when you’ve got a belly full” -- there was an interview with the cast where reeve was saying something like “The point of the show is not that people say, oh that’s what she would do, that’s what they would do in hadestown, but can you honestly say that you would?” Someone said this somewhere, can’t remember, but if the choice is between x and survival, it’s not really a choice. What they’re really saying in this song and actually throughout the entire show is they’re using the characters as a vessel to challenge you, would you really have been able to do it any differently, honestly? Can you say that you’d be better?

 Gone, I’m Gone

  - not many notes, just the single tear that fell onto the stage. Like gosh. That’s not acting, that’s real

 - Hermes wears glasses

Wait For Me

 - I knew this song from the ads but, like Way Down Hadestown, I didn’t know the context. 

 - Visually a work of art

 - the swinging lanterns! Oh my gosh. 

 - Hermes gets very stern in this. It’s almost like he’s mocking Orpheus a little bit, idrk what to think. Because like after he does that, he’s immediately helping him. 

- i wonder what it tastes like to have your mouth stuffed with cotton

  - orpheus’ desperate “noooo” when hermes is like, “But I guess you weren’t listening”

 - The flower and how lovingly and desperately (there I go again with desperate but it seems like the main word of the musical) orpheus holds it out, like that’s his piece of Eurydice and he needs to be back together with her, he can’t bear to be without her

 - The fates starting to also be a part of Orpheus’ story, acting as his doubt “who are you? where do you think you’re going? who are you to think that you can walk a road that no one’s ever walked before” and he’s like screw you, anything for my love

 - the lights start swelling as Orpheus sings la la la la la la la

 - when the stage opens up... the whole audience collectively gasped

 - the last verse and everything about it -- “I’m coming!”

 - I was a bit confused why this wasn’t the end of act 1 because it was a showstopper, and I still am a little bit confused, but I think the next song is worth it for the last song of act 1 and i will tell you why.

Why We Build The Wall

 - what I think is so funny is that this song was written in 2006

 - and it’s a kind of political musical. How did anais kind of prophesize Trump?

 - that low voice, holy cow

 - the fact that Hades refers to his workers as his children

 - and the fact that the thing they are building to keep out poverty is the same thing they think that poverty wants

 - But. I want to repeat something that Reeve Carney once said in an interview (he says the most meaningful things): “Oftentimes, physical walls are merely manifestations of emotional walls within oneself” 

Carney: “Walls that we build against intimacy, togetherness, unity, all those things. I mean, there's so many walls you can build that prevent you from feeling something. That's where I think it starts. And our show deals those themes. I mean ... love, fear, hope, trust, doubt." and then Patrick Page: "And the world now is so complex and moving so fast and so scary, that it's not surprising to me that people would want to think, 'Oh, well there's a solution. We will simply build this barrier and will keep all of the good people inside and we'll put all of the bad people on the outside and we'll be safe.' That's what Hades is appealing to.”

I don’t think I can add any more, what they said is so perfectly true. 

Wait one more Patrick quote:

"Any time you have someone who's trying to hold onto power, which is what my character is doing, he's trying at that moment to build up his own sense of himself, his own sense of power, because his relationship is threatened. Political things come from personal things, so he's feeling threatened in his personal life. He goes out and holds a rally in which he gets everyone to chant about building a wall."

 - oh and this is why it’s a good ending - we set the scene for act 2 and Persephone gets to say “Anybody want a drink?” before intermission

end act 1

Our Lady of the Underground

 - Jewelle and the vocals! wowww!!!!

 - there’s a CRACK IN THE WAaaALLLllLlL!

 - I wonder if Hades knew anything about this. Like there’s no way he’d allow his wife to run a speakeasy for his workers

Way Down Hadestown (Reprise)

  - we see Eurydice in her worker’s uniform, but she doesn’t have the head-cover-goggly-thing that the other workers do. 

 - Eurydice doesn’t understand why they’re working -- she introduces herself to the workers and is like what are you doing, we’re free?

 - then the Fates reveal what Hadestown really is -- freedom to spend eternity as basically a slave

 - “your eyes will look like that someday” -- and Eurydice is like i have to go back and then the Fates mock her for already losing her memories of the past

 - the fact that they sang this already but they sing it slower and then Eurydice understands -- no hate to Eurydice of course, but it’s kind of like when you say something slower so a younger person can understand. it’s sort of meant to be played as taunting and condescending

Flowers

 - gut-wrenching

 - my god

 - so so so sad

 - and the one thing she remembers is flowers and the fact that she has a lover. the symbolism!!!!!

Come Home With Me (Reprise)

 - Literally two seconds after Eurydice sings her grief ballad and says come and find me, Orpheus runs through the audience and goes up to the stage and comes and finds her. I was in the mezzanine, so I didn’t see him run through but that must have been a treat for the people in orchestra seats

 - I love the repetition, and of course the “It’s you,” “It’s me,” “Orpheus,” “Eurydice!” and then they rush into an embrace, they have longed to hold each other for so long and now they can’t let go.

 - “You heard me?” 

“...no.”

 - Orpheus thinks he can get her out and is so confused why they can’t just leave

Papers

 - The look of complete betrayal and fear and grief when he says it isn’t true and then Eurydice confirms that she belongs to Hades

 - Orpheus still presses on, and immediately asks to take her home

 - Hades’ laugh. An evil laugh if I ever heard one. But I started laughing too. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I don’t know why.

 - Persephone’s trying to defend him but to no avail

 - Everybody beats up poor Orpheus! noooo. Also, during the beatup scene, were they like smearing red makeup on his face that we couldn’t see? Because I am pretty certain he has more cuts and bruises after the fight and he doesn’t leave the stage once during that whole encounter

Nothing Changes

 - the fates and their vocals can never be topped

 - they are always taunting everyone. They’re like the murphy’s law voice in your head -- anything that can go wrong will go wrong, why try to fight it

If It’s True

 - I’m pretty sure this is what you call the 11 ‘o clock number. Like No Good Deed in Wicked. Even if it’s not, it has the same effect. 

 - so incredibly inspiring.

 - sweet little orpheus has seen how the world is but still he clings to the hope that things can change and unintentionally starts a strike

 - a song of hope, resistance, and resilience

 - reeve’s voice, ahhh like powerful magic

How Long

 - This is the song I repeat the most because it’s pretty much the only female song I feel comfortable singing with the voice that I have

 - with jewelle how long is very very very low and it sounds amazing

 - It’s so beautiful

 - The metaphors! 

All of his sorrow won’t fit in his chest - figurative

It just burns like a fire in the pit of his chest - simile

And his heart is a bird on a spit in his chest - metaphor

How long, how long, how long

 - I also love the repetition of chest chest chest, bed bed bed, and sky sky sky

 - and how they duet at the end

 - “The sun must go on rising” and the riff on rising is another brain massage

 - shows how they both feel about their relationship and also as a parallel to orpheus and eurydice’s

Chant (Reprise)

 - is almost as good as the first chant and is still amazing

 - I wish they still kept Persephone’s part in it though so she could add to Eurydice’s parallel

 - the worker’s singing

 - you can’t really detect that much of a tune from Hades’ voice live, probably because Patrick Page aged, but still it sounds awesome

 - “I CONDUCT THE ELECTRIC CITY!!!!”

 - Hades is very scary 

Epic III

 - the best of the epics in my opinion

 - you get the whole finished la la la song with all the parts come together, and with reeve’s voice and the entire company singing backup it is vocal gold.

 - talk about killing them with kindness. 

 - like how a poor, young, beaten up boy in love manages to break down the shell of a mighty king simply by empathizing with him. he really did have a gift to give. 

 - and the parallel “It was like you were holding the world when you held her” to “suddenly I’m holding the world in my arms” and just the two love stories coming together

 - when Hermes says, “and brother, you know what they did” the way t. oliver reid says it, it sounds like an innuendo. the audience cracked up.

 - the cello and violin during Hades and Persephone’s dance and Orpheus accompanying them

 - when the flower appears for Hades

Promises

  - orpheus - “now what do i do?”

 - re-affirming their love for one another

 - Orpheus immediately doubting that Eurydice would want to stay with him after he wasn’t able to keep the promises he made in the Wedding Song and All I’ve Ever Known, asking are you sure you want to come back, I wasn’t able to provide for you -- “take me home”

 - Eurydice immediately reassuring him

 - the fact that it’s to the same tune as “say that you’ll hold me forever” in all I’ve ever known

 - Hades and Persephone hugging and dancing the entire time 

Word To the Wise

 - Hades faces a dilemma here -- if I don’t let them go, i’ll be seen as a heartless man and my workers will view him as a martyr for their cause and will continue to fight, and if i do let them go, I’ll never get my workers in line again and will be considered spineless

 - also, orpheus’ song touched him so much that it rebuilt his relationship with Persephone, so of course he feels pity for him and wants to let them go, but how can he do so without letting a revolution happen?

 - fates vocals are of course top notch

 - It’s kind of funny that word to the wise only has that line in it once and that doesn’t really have anything to do with the song

His Kiss, the Riot

  - Hades makes his decision -- he will let them go but make it a journey that he doesn’t believe a even a god could ever face -- it’s a very difficult challenge, but it can still be beat with the right amount of trust

  - interesting tidbit - the tune to “Who lays all the best laid plans” is the same tune that acts as sort of a theme whenever Hades comes in instrumentally.

Wait For Me (Reprise)

 - I really love the line that Hermes says “the dog you really gotta dread, is the one that howls inside your head, it’s him who’s howling drives men mad, and a mind to its undoing”. He is, of course, referring to doubt, and how one can get stuck inside their head. This is fOrEsHaDoWiNggg....

 - Orpheus and Eurydice holding each other for as long as they can until they have to let go.

 - All the workers following Orpheus

 - Persephone and Hades -- “Wait for me?” “I will.” We see their story end on a hopeful note, which I really like.

 - and then everyone sings WAIT FOR ME and my god the emotion

 -  eva’s belt!

Doubt Comes In

 - originally, when the fates start making him question himself, that’s just how it is but now when orpheus sings them out loud it shows he’s giving voice to these thoughts

 - like what if this is a trick. I can’t see or hear or feel the presence of eurydice and the workers? What if Hades took them all back without me knowing, why would he, the king of the underworld, willingly let them go for a poor boys song. we know from greek mythology that the gods are not above tricking mere mortals, they’ve done it plenty of times for this to be a valid doubt. It could also be, why would eurydice even want to follow me? I wasn’t able to provide for her, why would she want me anymore, he blames himself for her going down to hadestown in the first place

 - eurydice’s calls to him sound so beautiful, clear, and reassuring, and really highlight eva’s voice in all the best ways, but can orpheus actually hear her? i don’t know if that’s actually ever specified. 

 - when orpheus says “is this a trap that’s being played on me,” the vocals are so so good, another brain massage

 - and when he says “I used to see the way the world could be, but now the way it is is all i see” he’s lost all hope, his experience has broken him, he can’t be naive or hopeful anymore, he feels so compelled that he must...

 - he looks back and the audible gasp from the audience as the ground beneath eurydice starts sinking once more, and their final words to each other “it’s you” “it’s me. orpheus!” “eurydice...”

 - gut punch. I’m dead, I’m crying, they’re crying, Eurydice is gone and Orpheus is knelt to the ground where she sank.

Road to Hell (Reprise)

  - It’s a sad song. 

 - It’s a sad tale.

 - It’s a tragedy.

 - But we sing it anyway. (gaaaahhh the tears)

 - Cause here’s the thing.

To know how it ends

And still begin to sing it again

As if it might turn out this time

I learned that from a friend of mine

 - I liked how they started it again - Eurydice comes back in and asks for a match. It feels very full circle - which is the point.

 - He could make you see how the world could be

In spite of the way that it is

Can you see it? (the trombone here, beginning, swelling, signifying hope and new beginnings)

Can you hear it? (more trombone -- everybody bless the trombone guy)

Can you feel it! (the way T. Oliver Reid says this -- kind of like Andre, but also with a lot more vigor)

Like a train... Is it coming?

Is it coming this way?

 - and then we see that orpheus has indeed brought spring back -- just as he promised, and the chorus are back on stage in their normal clothes -- not as workers, as people starting once more

 - and persephone comes back. 

 - It’s a love song

 - orpheus and eurydice have the repeat of their bump into one another at the beginning

 - and everything begins once more

  - and we’re gonna sing it

We’re gonna sing it again.

And that’s just the best thing that’s ever happened to me and I can’t get it out of my system and I don’t want to. If you’ve stuck long enough to read this entire thing, bravo. I worked two days on this, so I appreciate it.

#hadestown #orpheus hadestown #eurydice hadestown #orphydice #hermes hadestown #hades hadestown #persephone hadestown #fates hadestown #reeve carney #eva noblezada #jewelle blackman #t. oliver reid #patrick page #soara-joye ross #jessie shelton #kay trinidad

[eurovision-del]

We've got another busy weekend coming up, with four countries choosing their Eurovision entries on Saturday - but just before that, Germany are holding their selection, Das Deutsche Finale, on Friday! Here's what I make of the songs:

Galant – Katze

Ryk – Oh Boy

Marie Reim – Naiv

Leona – Undream You

Bodine Monet – Tears like Rain

Floryan – Scars

NinetyNine – Love on a Budget

Max Mutzke – Forever Strong

Isaak – Always on the Run

Overall, this isn’t the most exciting selection. I understand wanting to play it safe after they took a big swing last year and it didn’t pay off in terms of results, but personally I loved Lord of the Lost and I’d much rather countries bring something interesting over songs that fade into the background.

That said, there are three songs here that I feel have promise. Firstly, my clear favourite is Katze. The minimalistic opening with its casual vocals leads into a really snappy song. I love the way the beat changes and develops through the song, and I especially like the sound of the tight, metallic plucked strings in the chorus. There’s so much potential for exciting visuals to go with it, they could keep it dark and minimalist or go full psychedelic, both would work.

I also quite like Oh Boy. It’s got a bit of of grandness to it with the inclusion of violins and the cinematic sound in the chorus, but it's not overwhelming, and I like the calmer place it sits in in the verses. I did admittedly overlook this one at first, it took me a couple of listens to get into it. However, I definitely thing it’s a strong song. Finally, the third song I like is Naiv. It really works for me, an upbeat bop with a slight rock edge that gets me into it!

I definitely think Germany should pick one of these three songs on Friday, everything else feels like a non-starter to me. Katze would be another bold choice, but because of that it could be a risk. I think Oh Boy has the most potential for Eurovision, if Ryk can deliver vocally it could be really powerful. And Naiv could also lend itself to a great performance with the energy it has. I’m a bit biased towards the German language songs, it’s been over twenty five years since Germany sent a song fully in German, and while I don’t think it should ever be an expectation I do like it when countries send songs in their own languages, at least once in a while. Whatever they select, I really hope that it’s enough to get them off the bottom of the scoreboard this year!

#eurovision #esc2024 #nf ranking #germany #to be fair their 1999-2001 and 2007 entries were predominately German #but the last one fully in German start to finish was Guildo hat euch lieb back in 1998 #they've included English every single year since the language rule was dropped

[featherchan]

Xiaolin Showdown Headcanon : Kanako

I wanna first thank @champiionic. As I have always stated, they are awesome friend and a mutual. They gave me so much inspiration that I was able to give Kanako's Xiaolin Showdown Verse with more concrete and cemented ideas for her.  IMPORTANT NOTES: Please understand. This is just my personal headcanon for Kanako, including the characters mentioned in her headcanon. I do not claim to own the series, as Xiaolin Showdown characters and the series (excluding muse Kanako and Noburu, and their verse, stories and headcanons) belong to their creator.

So here we go:-

Kanako rarely appears in the Xiaolin's lives, as she decided to carry on her mother's and ancestor's duties as Scarlet. Even though she was told she was the Dragon of the Light, her reasons were that she didn't want any other child or people to suffer the same loss and pain that she did, where their loved ones were robbed by cursed artifacts.

Kanako has a huge and terrible scar on her back, due to an injury inflicted by a demon during her earlier heist. She became a little too cocky and became careless, allowing the demon to slash her back. Despite having artifacts that could heal the painful scar, she decided to keep it as a reminder of her failure and what carelessness can lead to. Now, it sometimes aches whenever she is close to any demonic creature.

Master Fung has persistently encouraged Kanako to join her fellow monks, as he knew being a Scarlet and a thief could sometimes be dispiriting. Experiencing the real world, especially the darker side of it, dealing with crooks, and crooked people, and encountering beings no one should ever meet or come across, can not only be demoralizing, but easily kill her view of humanity and sap up her sanity.

Despite this, Master Fung hoped that, as far-fetched as his hopes might be, that through love, friendship, and family, Scarlet's humanity and hope could be restored, making her a greater Scarlet than her predecessor.

Kanako is a casual smoker at the young age of (16) to cope with the growing pressure, stress, and danger of being a Scarlet. Noburu wouldn't discourage her either and, instead, encouraged her, even joining her for a smoke on occasion. Despite knowing full well that Kanako was underage and shouldn't be smoking, she figured it would be better for her to pick up smoking than to pick up the bottle (alcohol) to cope.

Kanako has a musical talent and can play the violin. She plays her instrument to sort out and digest strong emotions, from anger to frustration. But she does play for fun sometimes, even along with Master Fung (in my own personal headcanon), a man who has many talents. He plays the piano and they bond together as a family by playing duets.

Kanako struggles to digest strong emotions, especially anger, because as a Scarlet, she needs to remain calm at all times and never let her emotions easily sway her. Yet, sometimes emotions can run high and be too difficult to handle. This leads her to be emotionally cold at times, shutting off her emotions to deal with a situation. But when it becomes too much, she unleashes her pent-up emotions through the punching bag or the nearest wall.

Her father is very absent in her life, due to the death of her mother. This destroyed him and he was unable to care for his daughter. Leading Master Fung not only stepped in as her master, but also as a father figure, fulfilling his promise to Kanako's mother (named Aika) to watch over and care for her in her place.

In my personal headcanon, since Kanako and Omi technically grew up in the temple and under Master Fung's care, they look to each other as siblings, referring to each other as such. Since they both understand the pain of loneliness, they're able to be so close to each other. Omi would often call her "sister" while Kanako would refer to him as "little brother" since she's a few years older than him.

She kept in touch with her 'sibling', Omi, by sending him postcards whenever she traveled to a new country around the world, letting him know that she was alright. To keep her friends and family safe and to keep her whereabouts unknown to her enemies, she would send postcards to him under different aliases, including himself.

In the gang, Kanako fulfills the role of being the mother's friend, taking care of and watching over her friends and family with kindness, wisdom, and care. But she easily drops that act and flirts, flustering her lover or crush without mercy.

Kanako is usually the one who catches her teammates whenever they fall. If anyone gets tossed aside, her first instinct is to catch them and prevent them from getting seriously hurt. She not only protects the others from harm, but she also puts herself in harm's way to allow the others to quickly regroup and get away, believing they have a better chance together in the next fight. And as her relationship and bond with her teammates grew stronger, she would go above and beyond to help them, no matter what the cost.

Kanako doesn't believe herself to be the right fit as a Xiaolin Warrior. She doesn't believe in the element of the 'Light' and believes it to just be an element that her master made up. With a goal and reasons to make her believe that she has a place in the temple and on the Xiaolin side. Plus, with a constant lack of practice in her own element, among the team, she is considered the weakest of them all. And what is going for her is only her martial arts and experience in fighting. And as Kanako rode on adventures with the other Dragon, it soon dawned on her how important it was to strengthen her belief in her own element. Especially when she was protecting her friends and family, her protective shield was easily shattered. But through her journey, she learned to believe in herself. And with the encouragement and love of her master, friends, and family, she believed in herself and learned to accept her role as the Dragon of the Light.

Because of her lack of confidence in herself as a Xiaolin Dragon of Light. She was the last member to receive her own Wudai weapon and elemental Shen Gong Wu. After accepting her role as the Dragon of the Light, she soon received her weapon, the Selena Bow, just like any other Xiaolin member from the Blind Swordsman. Her elemental Wu was forged out of love and bond, taking bits of essence from each of the Dragon and Master Fung, where she named her elemental Wu the Moonstone Dragon.

Her family has a wide knowledge of poisons and potions. This includes knowledge of herbs and medicine. And several medicine and ointment stores in the temple were created from her family's recipes. When she has the time, she will often be found in the greenhouse, tending to the plants, while concocting poisons and medicines, both for her own use and the temple's.

Master Fung had a secret and hidden flip phone where both the student (Kanako) and master would leave crypted messages to one another, to keep in touch.

#[ headcanon | theLioness ] #[ verse | xiaolin showdown ] #long post tw #[ do not reblog ] #[ this is a personal headcanon for my blog only ]