#and despite my eternal love for arthur

[violettduchess]

A/N: Vincent won the poll and with it, this kiss fic!

"This sadness will last forever" were supposedly Vincent Van Gogh's final words.

WC: 470

Trying to describe how it feels when Vincent kisses you makes you wish you were as talented with words as Dazai or Arthur. How can you possibly describe the feeling that floods you when he tenderly cups your face in his hands, eyes as blue as eternity, and leans down, softly pressing his lips against yours? 

You are one of his beloved sunflowers, cacophonous and bright, baring your soul to the radiant blue sky, joy beaming from every corner of your heart. You are the strong branches of the almond tree in spring, riotous with pink and white blossoms, each petal a happy sigh that escapes you. You are the black spire stretching itself up up up into the expansive starry night, reaching with your whole soul for the stars.

Vincent parts your lips, delving deeper even as he tenderly pulls you closer, wanting to feel your solidness against him. Sometimes you wonder if he is afraid you are nothing but a phantom that will disappear if he opens his eyes, a creature of mist and dreams that will dissolve under the bright rays of sunlight. Your arms wind around his neck, your body presses closer, reassuring him that yes, you are real. You are solid. And you are unconditionally his. He is warmth and gentleness, golden as wheat fields in summer but he is also fiercely protective, a strength easily overseen and underestimated due to the tenderness of his nature, the boyishness of his mien. You know the truth. You know there is no shoulder you would rather lean on, no hands you would trust to hold your heart more than his.

Oh, those hands. Those beautiful, talented hands move over your skin like a paintbrush on canvas. With every caress he decorates you in his desire, his love, his dedication, his admiration and you? You feel beautiful. You are a work of art, a masterpiece, glowing with each stroke of blazing adoration along your body. There is nothing that lifts his heart more than the content sighs you whisper against his mouth, the ardent press of your fingers into his shoulder when your body lights up with yearning. 

And if he pulls back for a moment, just a heartbeat in time, he can look into your eyes where he sees something unbelievable. He sees himself reflected there, in a way he never could imagine, despite the numerous self-portraits he has done. In the depths of your gaze, those windows to the naked essense of your heart, he sees himself as someone beautiful. Someone whole. Someone worthy of love.

Your name falls from his lips and just before he is utterly lost in the winding, sunlit path of your want, the hills and valleys of your body, he has a singular, sublime thought: 

This love will last forever.

Tagging: @xbalayage @alexxavicry @queengiuliettafirstlady @bellerose-arcana @thewitchofbooks @aria-chikage @redheadkittys @tele86 @dear-mrs-otome @olivermorningstar @writingwhimsey @mxrmaid-poet @silver-dahlia @wendolrea @nightfoxqueen @myonlyjknight @ikesimpleton @ikemenlibrary @namine-somebodies-nobody @greatstarlightstarfish @cellophanediamond @whatever-fanfics @chirp-a-chirp @got7igot7family @kookie-my-little-sunshine @fang-and-feather @bubblexly @kiki-tties @justpeachyteastea

#ikemen series #ikemen vampire #ikevamp #ikevamp vincent #ikemen vincent #kiss fic #ikemen fanfiction #ikemen fanfic #otome fanfic #violettwrites

[adracat]

The Cycles of GWitch

This notion has been brewing in my head since I wrote my analysis on GWitch's Cinematic Rhythm. With the second cour nearly finished I can confidently say my suspicions were correct.

When we look at its wealth of influences from The Tempest, Utena, previous Gundam, Norse and now Arthurian myth the truest pattern is Cycles. More distinctly, how the past connects to the present and future.

The Tempest

The most blatant cycle is something we as a society are deeply familiar with. Revenge. It's a base and consuming thing, as we see from Prospera and also her namesake Prospero. The story goes the sorcerer Prospero was once the Duke of Milan until his brother with help from the King of Naples, usurps him. He flees to an isle with his young daughter Miranda and takes a fairy/spirit, Arial, and an island native, Caliban, as his servants.

For years Prospero was consumed by hate and the idea of revenge. However, after he commands Arial to sink the king's ship Miranda falls in love with Prince Ferdinand at first glimpse. And he loves her in turn. Prospero then relinquishes his revenge once he recognizes Ferdinand's love is true and reconciles with King Alonso and Antonio. For its loyal service, the spirit Arial is set free. The cycle of revenge in this story is broken.

Revolutionary Girl Utena

The cycle of Utena is not immediately made clear. The show keeps to the pretense of being innocuous until well into its runtime. But then we're introduced to the Black Rose Duelists, and swiftly afterward the school's headmaster and Anthy's brother, Akio Ohtori. A former prince who styles himself as The End of the World.

Abuse, filial obligation, the horrifying reality of womanhood beneath the yoke of patriarchal systems. These cycles are grounded and are hidden by a veneer of childhood innocence and fairytale mythos. The Prince was the savior to humanity, but was selfishly hidden by a witch. This witch is therefore punished eternally for her sins, pierced by the Swords of Human Hatred. She accepts this role only as someone who loves her brother and wants to protect him. She is branded a witch by the world. But as the show says, if you're not a princess you must be a witch. That's the truth of the Rose Bride. And in the end, all girls are like the rose bride; something we're witnessing now with Miorine.

The cycle Akio implements is to groom a champion with the ideals of princehood, the champion to quest for eternity with the Rose Bride's temptation and guidance, then using the champion's sword to bash down the Rose Gate in the vain hope of regaining his princehood. It's a cycle that has repeated for countless unknown years. And all the while weaponizing his sister's suffering. But just like The Tempest, the Rose Cycle is broken by love. The unfettered and earnest love between Utena and Anthy grants the witch the courage to escape her stagnant coffin.

Ragnarok and Arthurian

The Ragnarok Cycle is a series of myths that depict the birth, reign, and death of the Norse gods. I have an ongoing series of analysis where I discussed gwitch's usage here, and here. More I'm sure will follow. But as dire as it sounds, Ragnarok isn't just about the end of the world and its many gods. It itself is a continuous cycle. The gods will return and so will the world. It's a story of renewal.

The same can be said of the Arthurian Cycle. The tales of King Arthur and uniting Britain are end-capped with a messianic promise that the King shall one day return to rule Britain. Hope, despite the tragedy that follows King Arthur upon Camlann. The fact GWitch is now harking to Arthurian with Suletta in Arthur's role (and possibly Miorine as The Lady of The Lake) is intriguing. But the bones for this twist were there from the start.

Suletta, akin to Arthur, is a child orchestrated by a 'gentle magician' to receive a peerless 'sword'. And it's through Aerial's might she becomes engaged to Miorine, a 'King's daughter. Now, it appears she's to wield Calibarn or Caliburn; a direct link to King Arthur. Whether it will go smoothly is another matter. But the reference remains interesting and again reiterates the theme of cycles.

A Hopeful Note

The ultimate take away from these references is clear in my opinion. It's no coincidence that at the forefront is a positive message that not all cycles are terrible or absolute. They can be broken with love. Gwitch is deeply humanist when you consider everything it's pulling from and I hope this settles a few doubts. Cour 2 is incredibly hopeful, even with the fraught ongoings among the cast. Our protagonist is embodying this message the clearest. Doing something for gain leads to misery. Yet a helping hand costs nothing and connects us all in a cycle itself.

#cycles can be beautiful or tragic #but they're ultimately a sign of life #g witch #g witch spoilers #suletta mercury #miorine rembran #gundam witch from mercury #rgu spoilers #the tempest #norse mythology #arthurian mythology #revolutionary girl utena #analysis and speculation

[peri-helia]

Love, Unsaid

Joe x Nicky Drabble. Canon typical violence, Character death (Nicky starts off dead but he’s fine), they hug it out, that’s it, that’s the fic

It’s slow going, removing the sword from Nicolo’s gut.

King Arthur probably had an easier time removing the sword from the stone. Between the constant rain lashing down on them and the constant blood swelling fresh at the wound, the mud that was once this forsaken battlefield anchoring Yusuf where he stands, it is no easy task. He’d snapped the arrows that had landed in Nicolo’s shoulders, the heads have already been expelled by his immortality. When Nicolo revives they’re going to have to reconsider which cause they lend their swords to, coin or no coin.

Still, it is nice to fight together, rather than fighting each other. It had been getting old, in a way they apparently don’t anymore. They are not quite friends, not yet. They shake hands if they part, clasp each other’s shoulders. Nicolo is showing himself to be a kind soul, at his core, repentant and eager to learn.  

This fucking sword.

Yusuf coughs with exertion, throwing his aching hands in the air. They are the only fighters left, only the scavengers, human and bird alike now picking their way through the available lootings.

His hands slip on the smoothed prongs of the handguard, wet with rain and water and blood and sweat before Yusuf swears, bends his knees and yanks.

There is a chorus of sounds, a squelching, wrenching crunch before the sword glides free and Yusuf tilts backwards, falling on his arse in the mud. All those minstrals and bards glorifying battles want murdered in a way that sticks. Flinging the weapon aside, he claws his way back over to Nicolo. Those singular eyes are still more reticent of seaglass rather than seafoam.

“Nicolo. Nicolo” Yusuf calls gently, shaking the other man’s shoulder.

“Nicolo”

There’s no movement. Not even a twitch to his little finger.

He glances down at the wound, washed clean by the rain. It’s healing. It must be healing.

Larger wounds take longer they know this. The weapon had obstructed his healing that’s all.

He’s not dead. Nicolo di Genova, the eternal thorn in his side, the handsome bastard who is his only constant in this world is not dead. He’s not allowed to be. He’s not going to be killed permanently by some jumped up rat-faced shit from England after everything Yusuf tried all those years ago.

Yusuf puts a hand on Nicolo’s cheek, still warm despite the icy sheen of water soaking them through.

“Nico”

There’s a wet gasp that’s halfway between death rattle and coming air that always accompanies when they are dragged from death to life and Nicolo bolts upright. He gasps several times, sucking in great lungfuls of air greedily.

“You’re alright, You’re alright, it’s over. I’m here. We’re here” Yusuf finds himself repeating, rubbing Nicolo’s back of all things. Nicolo coughs once more, before twisting violently away, still grasping Yusuf’s wrist hard before he vomits.

Yusuf’s already reaching for the waterskin at his own hip as Nicolo spits the last of the bile out. “I’m sorry,” Nicolo rasps, the words coming slow. “Arrows were poisoned”

That English fucker.

No wonder the healing had taken so long. Nicolo’s system had been fighting off two things at once.

“It’s not your fault, my friend” Yusuf says before he can stop himself. Nicolo obviously hears him because he stares open mouthed at Yusuf for a moment, before wiping his mouth on his sleeve. He nods once, a sharp bob of the head as if he can’t quite believe it. Then before Yusuf can stop him, Nicolo stumbles upright, staggering to his feet like a drunkard. He rubs the rain from his face and stands before Yusuf, trembling slightly.

“How – how bad was it?”

They’re healing has quickened over the years, but worse deaths take longer.

“Bad” Yusuf says. They both need food and warmth. What’s done is done.

Nicolo hums, voice still worn. He’s still trembling too, probably cold. His eyes are big and wide and he’s never looked so young to Yusuf as he does now, except maybe when they’d come back to life that first time around, when everything was new and strange and yet still the same.

If it was anyone else, anyone from Yusuf’s old life, he’d probably have hugged them before now. He’s a tactile soul, always reaching out. But they’ve never hugged before.

“Do you – do you want?”

Nicolo barely looks at Yusuf’s half open arms before he falls into them, arms coming to wrap around Yusuf’s middle. Yusuf jumps when he feels a cold nose bury into his neck.

“Thank you Yusuf” he murmurs quietly after a moment, without letting go.

*

It’s so nice to be held, after years of hacking away across the continents, of lying and running and never getting close except out of necessity to sleep, or shoot or bandage.

Nicolo feels the moment all the tension goes out of Yusuf’s shoulders, so that he sags against Nicolo’s shoulders. He can’t help it, he smiles into the other man’s shoulder. This beautiful man who has opened his arms again and again to Nicolo, literally now, despite everything.

It’s so quiet, after a battle. During, you can’t hear yourself think, let alone hear what’s going on – it all melts into one incomprehensible din. Arrows and shields clanging, swords clashing, people screaming. After death has swept the field, it’s deafening in another way altogether.

They’re still holding each other.

In the back of his mind, Nicolo is vaguely away that maybe this hug has gone on a little…long than may be polite. He has taken so much, he should pull back, lest such a blessing not be offered again.

But when he goes to disentangle himself, Yusuf merely shifts his weight to his other leg and Nicolo feels his fingers dig into the mail of his shirt. Of its own volition, Nicolo’s hand comes up to cup the back of Yusuf’s head.

Well. Maybe they both need it.

*

“Andromache!”

Nile watches as Andy gets literally swept – more like scooped – off her feet into a massive hug by Joe. It’s the first time they’ve been separated as a team, the first time Nile’s seen a reunion after a long period of time. The first time she’s seen Andy all but giggle as she’s swayed gently from side to side, feet dangling as Joe hugs her.

Then its Nicky’s turn and its different but no less tender, the way he cups the back of Andy’s head, big arms coming round to wrap around her. They hold each other just as long, just as warmly.

And then the couple’s eyes fall on Nile. They’ve given each other their hands before, clasped each other’s shoulders, hell even had a thumb war on that really fucking long flight to Tripoli.

Nicky looks at Nile for a long moment and then, almost conversationally, opens his arms the tiniest fraction, intent clear. She can take it or leave it and either way is absolutely fine.

God, Nile’s missed hugs. And Nicky and Joe? They give the best fucking hugs. Just…being lightly squeezed, so much that her aching shoulders finally seem to release, in a way that there’s no limit.

What was it Nicky had said?

We’re not meant to be alone.

#my writing #tog fic #tog drabbles #joe x nicky

[sophie1973]

WIP Wednesday

Thank you so much to my beloved @stellarm and @onthewaytosomewhere for the tags

Since I posted a big chapter for Bloodstream yesterday (here) I took a break for 24 hrs and focused on my other (small town/lake house) WIP

Story : Henry is a hotelier in London, but his life has become unbearable, so he flees to Texas, where he inherited a house from his aunt (yes I gave Arthur Fox a sister).

I promise I'm working on a better summary. Also, this is a first draft.

The view of the lake is stunning.

Henry puts his messenger bag on the kitchen counter, taking in the inside of the house. There is a spacious cottage-style kitchen with all the modern appliances. A couple of steps lead to a cozy living room with a stonewall fireplace and comfortable couches. There’s a gigantic bookshelf filled to the brim with books, and he smiles for the first time in weeks.

He knows his aunt Marjorie shared the same taste in books as he does, so it’s good to know he’s covered for a while, mainly since most of his own, aside from a few favorites, remained in England. 

And he’s not going back for a long, long while.

He needed to get his suitcase out of the rental car, but his priority was to get David out after the one-hour-and-a-half drive from Austin so he could do his business—directly on the car's tire, no less- and get into the house.

This house left to him by his aunt, who probably saved his life by doing so.

He can still hear Pez’s voice in his head (“Just go, Hazza. Fuck that Wicked Witch of the West. I’ll miss you, but I prefer you alive.) and Bea softly smiling at him because she knows. She understands.

That same smile looks at him from the picture on the kitchen counter, a teenage Bea with her arm around him, always the protective big sister. He stares at his own face, a young boy with a big smile, and wonders how it all went so wrong.

Next to that picture is another one of Marjorie and Arthur. They are in their mid-twenties, looking young and beautiful. She never followed in her brother’s footsteps, choosing a quiet life away from the media, but unlike him, she had the chance to grow old and live a fulfilling life. 

His father remains eternally young, his face and smile frozen in time in family pictures and film pellicles.

A sudden wave of grief grips Henry’s chest, making him stumble, and he sits down on the steps, trying to catch his breath. He hasn’t had one in a while, probably because he was too busy packing his stuff and leaving everything behind.

His job, which he loves, but he can’t bear the toxic environment created by his grandmother anymore.

His family, even though he will only truly miss Bea. They have promised each other to keep in touch several times a week despite the time difference, and she will come to see him soon.

London, where he lived all his life. 

So here he is, 5000 miles from home in Small Town, Texas (otherwise known as Horseshoe Bay), where he doesn’t know anyone and has no idea what the Bloody Hell he will do with his life. 

It is terrifying. Part of him knows he should find it exhilarating, but he is having trouble connecting with his optimistic self right now. 

He doesn’t even know where to start.

Henry feels a wet nudge at his arm. He looks down, sees David looking at him with his big puppy eyes, and laughs through tears he hadn’t realized were falling. The beagle puts its paw on his arm and tries to lick his face, and he pulls the dog against him, pressing a kiss and nuzzling his nose in its soft fur.

“We’ll be alright, my darling. We’ll be alright.”.

No pressure tag, and sorry if you already did it and I missed it : @hgejfmw-hgejhsf @piratefalls@anincompletelist@itsmaybitheway @tintagel-or-cockleshells@orchidscript@happiness-of-the-pursuit@pridepages

#red white and royal blue #firstprince #alex claremont diaz #henry fox mountchristen windsor #Henry the Burnt out Hotelier #Alex the Charming Veterinarian #rwrb fic #Sophie1973

[v1vian-th3-f4nfic-wr1ter]

An Eternity With You

Felix Fickelgruber X Fem!Reader X Arthur Slugworth X Gerald Prodnose Fic

(Slightly Dark!Chocolate Cartel X Fem!Reader)

Potiental Triggers: Eating disorder (Felix) Manipluation (Arthur) Harsh Love (All three at first) Blunt Insults and Gaslighting (Gerald And Arthur) Smoking (Felix) Slight Arguement (Only this chapter for now || Felix and Gerald) Forceful kissing (Arthur to Gerald)

Authors note: All of the triggers will eventually be practically gone by the end of this fic but Felix's anoxeria will stay the longest but the smoking warning will be gone by the 2nd or 3rd chapter and sorry to the people but no smut, i plan to make at least 10 chapters but slow updates gender neutral but implied to be female reader

Chapter 1

The winter air blew into his face when he exited the shop, it made him shiver from the shop, but he had to go outside, he entered the church and headed down the elevator, he was greeted by Gerald sipping on hot chocolate and Arthur was talking with Miss Bon Bon, he sat down, drinking the black coffee that was presumably made by Gerald for him

He took a cigarette and lit it, taking a puff and sipped on the coffee, its hard to act like enemies in public when deep down they are all lovers. Though Gerald feels quite left out out of everything they do

"Whats up with you today, Felix?" Gerald said bluntly

He rolled his eyes "Just some nobody girl entered my shop, extremely disreveled, disgusting..."

Gerald sighs "You are too picky with women, or anyone"

Felix tried to defend himself but was cut off by Arthur "Thats enough, both of you" Felix complied to Arthur

Felix took another puff of of his cigarette, he finishes the coffee and sighs, tired of being just them three, but all the women they tried to ask rejected or left after taking a sum of money, Gerald couldnt careless, just wanting the new person to love him. And Arthur...was indifferent, he was content with just them but he cant help but please Felix and Gerald, despite their differences, they tried to find a common ground, but no luck

Felix puts out the cigarette and looked at himself in the mirror, disgusted on how frog-like his face was, he wanted to get surgery before but Arthur and Gerald stopped him instantly

He waa disgusted at his own self image, he didnt fit into any other character type except "the pretty one" or "the eye candy" it damaged his own self esteem and view of self worth but Arthur always had a way to make him feel better. Always

But he was blind to the gaslighting and manipluation

Flashback

"Arthur, do you think am too skinny...?" Felix nervously asked the much more confiedent man

Though Arthur thought the same, he was far too skinny for his own health, he would do anything to please Felix, even if it means adding to his disorder

"No, you look perfectly fine Felix, no one would ever think that" Arthur said while his back turned to Felix, busy fixing up the arrangements for a sponsorship

"Say it to my face then" Felix spat out in irriation, Arthur did as he said, Felix was pleased...for now

And that was just of many examples of his gaslighting, Arthur is a bit ignorant to Felix's and Gerald's needs since he was the "leader", he is meant to please them and boost their ego, right? So he said what they wanted to hear. Never thinking twice if it was damaging them in the long term, he could not care, he will please them in one way or another

Meanwhile Gerald was mostly pushed to the side, mostly only there since he had more money than them combined but not that much power, Gerald often felt lonely, even when they tried to find another person to add

Gerald was just a different kind of a black sheep, a grey sheep of sorts. Liked but also ignored, Gerald often wanted to leave them but couldnt out of love for their relationship, he was too attached for his own good

And there was You. Poor and barely making a living at a rundown café, desprate to just even live, just a pushover, you never gave in to love since it would be a big cost for you, you spent your whole paycheck just for a week worth of groceries, you often tried to make it stretch but often snuck bread from closing time so you had food to eat, it wasnt as fresh as it was in the morning, but you have no other choice

Anyways back to them

Gerald was just bored, desprate to have something to do, so he just decided to head out and explore the less fortunate part of the city, he found the cafe you work at, Gerald didnt mind it, it was cozy but only two people were eating there since it was in the more sketchy part of the town, no rich person would risk being robbed so they dont even bat an eye here

Gerald asked the cashier AKA you for a bagel and some sweet coffee, he sat down and just spaced out, you brought it to his table but he was still spaced out, you snapped your fingers and he was brought back to earth

He thanked you and ate, it was a good cafe but due to not many people able to afford it or not daring to enter the shady part of the city

He finished and gave a massive tip of 100, you never held that much money in your life, you went home as fast as possible, storing the money in your small wooden box of money, it only had a few nickels and soverigns but it finally felt full for once

Next day

You walked to work to see Gerald there, waiting for you, you smiled at him and cleaned up the café and served him what he had yesterday, he felt another 100 dollar tip, it made you happy, it went on for weeks until it was a sum of 1500 soverigns, you dont know what prompted it but figured it was because he was rich

Gerald liked the food there, so he always gave a tip, it was also for the nice server (you) and it just felt right, though the other two were suspicious, they noticed he always left for lunch to somewhere in the shabby part of town

"Gerald, where have you been?! I hope youre not cheating" Felix spat out in anger at him

Gerald responded with a tone, almost like he couldnt care what he thought "Eating out, its not like you or Arthur would come, you always starve yourself anyways" Felix fumed in anger but was interrupted by Arthurs presence

"What are you two arguing about now" Gerald explained his part but felix over dramatically said his, Arthur took Geralds side

"You're overreacting Felix, hes just eating out in one of the more poo- i mean...less fortunate parts of the city" Arthur said, almost matter-of-factly

Felix threw his hands up in the air in anger and left. Leaving the two of them alone, Arthur shook his head in dissaproval but shook it off. He looked into his eyes, appoarched him with a slow movement, looking at his every little movement, Gerald was used to this by now, he was pulled into a kiss by Arthur, forcing his tongue into Geralds mouth. He was agressive but had a sense of gentleness, the kiss was hot and heated. It lasted for a minute until they pulled away

Arthur was pleased and left as well. Leaving gerald alone with his thoughts, he decided to go to the café again, getting his usual, he was tipping them the 100 dollars agsin when their hands brushed, but he suddenly felt a rush of warmth, he brushed it off as your body being warm from the heater inside the café

You didnt notice but was glad you could finally have some more financial freedom, you paid your rent for the next few months and you had 850 left for food and everything else, that was quite enough to last, you were happy with your finacial position for once

Authors note: Sorry for a short first chapter but i tried by best for my first long fanfic/series

Next Chapter

#gerald prodnose x reader #felix fickelgruber x reader #arthur slugworth x reader #gerald prodnose x felix fickelgruber x arthur slugworth #felix fickelgruber #wonka 2023 #gerald prodnose #arthur slugworth #wonka #angst with a happy ending #toxic love #toxic relationship #chocolate cartel #chocolate cartel x reader #gerald prodnose x felix fickelgruber x arthur slugworth x reader #an eternity with you

[justaboutdead]

House of Leaves, 2001, and Daisy Bell (and why its not creepy)

(Fairly minor) Spoilers for House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski and 2001: a Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick

About 500 pages into House of Leaves, Will Navidson begins falling. Alone in the twisting labyrinthine corridors of the House, he is alone, out of supplies, by all metrics thoroughly and definitively defeated. The floor suddenly disappears beneath him and he begins to fall. And there it is, vertically stark against the white page, as many lines are in this section, falling just as he is.

“Daisy. Daisy. Daisy. Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do. I’m half crazy over the love of you. That’s not right.”

Daisy Bell was written in 1892 by composer Frank Dean under the pen name Harry Dacre. A relatively prolific composer at the time, he is thought to have written the song about Daisy Greville, the Countess of Warwick at the time, although evidence for this factoid is sketch at best, and the lyrics directly contradict this reading.

Daisy Bell is a very simple romance song that tells a very endearing story of a young couple’s romance, being unable to afford much more than the eponymous “bicycle built for two.” There’s also an often ignored line about how they will both “despise Policemen and lamps as well.” Even from a modern perspective this song feels really intimate and cute, expressing joy despite poverty, in the policemen line even expressing disgust at cops and urbanization without care for the environment.

Through a variety of circumstances, Daisy Bell, despite this global appeal, has become primarily associated with advances in computing, being the first song to be synthesized by a computer in 1961 on an IBM 7094, and references to this development persist.

The resilience of references to this accomplishment are remarkably popular, primarily due to Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: a Space Odyssey in which the computer HAL 9000 sings the opening lines of the song as he is deactivated, calling back to the IBM demo, which Clarke himself had witnessed.

This rendition, and the original synthesized rendition are often described as creepy and off putting, but I find them strangely endearing. The original version represents a massive leap in computing, its few seconds of audio, and is extremely imperfect. The choice of Daisy Bell, and simple live song from a hundred years ago also helps to humanize the voice singing it. HAL 9000’s rendition is pained, sung as he looses his memory and cognitive functions in what feels like an eternity, in both novel and film. HAL 9000 is a painfully sympathetic character for me. While in the film his intentions remain fairly ambiguous, in the novel they come from a conflict in his instructions, and how he chooses to navigate around those instructions, interpreting them extremely literally being a computer.

It is clear that the intention with the character was to present an uncanny valley human-like consciousness, but honestly a lot of the time it just reads like he’s on the spectrum. He speaks extremely deliberately with awkward pacing. He reflects, in many ways my own anxieties about being excluded, as-well as a very human survival instinct. He is a bad liar, and extremely trepidatious about the task he believes he has to do. He reads in many ways as I would expect a human to in a position of such intense responsibility.

Thus HAL 9000’s final song to me Isn’t creepy, its confirmation of just how human he is. It is, distinctly, something he asks to sing, he almost reads as excited to show it off. It is fitting that the last song he sings is the first song a computer ever sung. I care way more about HAL than I do any of the other characters in the movie, despite his atrocious actions. In many ways he seems the most human, and I think that was part of the point.

My favorite rendition of the song comes from this popular lineage of synthesized version. Tamachang’s Daisy Bell from Future Music With Future VOICES is hauntingly beautiful. Composed of three synthesized voices, that of IBM 7094, Vocoder, and Vocaloid 4 Cyber Diva, as a fusion of old and new, it’s genuinely a really beautiful piece. Each voice has its own unique qualities, all of which lend the song distinctly different emotion.

The narrative I like to imagine is one i have seen dozens of comments on the song mentioning, and stems from the fact that Cyber Diva sounds far more youthful than the other two. In this framing, it is a newer computer saying goodbye to her old relatives as they die, via singing an extremely human cheesy love-song with them. All of these narratives around computers and Daisy Bell are a byproduct of our tendency to over-anthropomorphize computers.

House of Leaves, on the other hand, seeks to draw on themes completely unrelated to the long lineage of robotic Daisy Bells. My first thought when I saw the line in the novel, was of Navidson’s daughter, Daisy. I could see this having been a lullaby, sung to her as he put her to bed. I do not believe this reading to be the most compelling, however. The novel does not spend much time on Navidson’s children.

An often cited fact about the novel, and the Navidson record in particular is that its actually primarily a love story. I believe this to be a far more compelling understanding of the song’s conclusion. Will and Karen Navidson have been through hell together, and this song, sung when things seem darkest, as Navidson falls, as we latter understand, towards his wife, is the subtle confirmation, that despite everything they’ve been through, they will be ok.

House of Leaves, in general, is about, on some level, love (not just romantic) in the face of adversity, both through the lens of the Navidsons troubled reparation of their relationship, as well as Johnny’s slow collapse and our eventual understanding of his past. Daisy Bell is a perfect expression of the realization of these themes. That love can persist even when circumstances seem dire, and can in fact help you through those circumstances. A relatively simple message, but with many complexities

Thank you for entertaining my over-analysis :)

Fav Daisy Bell:

Original synthesized Daisy Bell:

Daisy Bell Hall 9000:

#house of leaves #2001 a space odyssey #literary analysis #book recommendations #daisy bell #vocaloid #ibm #ibm 7094 #Hal 9000 #will navidson #karen navidson #stanley kubrick #arthur c. clarke #mark z danielewski #cyber diva #vocaloid 4 #vocoder #Youtube

[inviberu]

everlasting vows

Faced by the question and decision of swearing their devotion and love to you, what do they do? A promise that will bind them to you for eternity... Are they willing to go to such lengths for you?

Characters: Everyone (with the exception of riquet and mitile)

Note: I tried making everyone cute to the best of my abilities but some kind of just... slipped. Happy June Bride!

— Oz!

Oz pauses for a moment. He doesn't know what to say. He almost doesn't want to say anything in the moment after letting the thought sink into his mind. He was the most powerful wizard in the world—he already has enough weaknesses as it is with his injury and his love for Arthur but he already knew that you were one of them the moment he realised how helpless he was when it came to you. Asking him to promise you his unwavering loyalty and love was akin to making yourself a target for all his enemies to pounce on just to get a hold over him. He doesn't doubt his feelings for you. He knows that he'll be able to love you till the end of time and beyond but he wanted to make sure: are you certain? You kiss his doubts away gently and that's all he needed.

"Very well. If that is what you wish… I am yours for all eternity."

— Arthur!

He doesn't hesitate. Arthur treated you like his whole world; you were the most important thing to him and having him promise you such a thing brought him immense joy that it almost brings him to tears as he grasps your hands lovingly under the moonlight. He ran his thumb across the back of your palm gently and looked at you with a gaze so soft you could hardly believe that someone could love you this much. There was no one else present in this moment but you in his eyes as he lifted your hand and pressed his lips to your fingers.

"You don't need to ask. My heart has always been ready to love you forevermore."

— Cain!

He's surprised but his expression quickly broke into a huge smile. Sometimes, Cain acted as if he was human, forgetting that his words—his promises—held so much weight behind them. You thought this was one of those instances but Cain merely shook his head and gave you his reassurance. Human, wizard, unicorn, or whatever entity he might be—it doesn't matter to him. In every universe he's in with you, with every version of himself that might exist out there, he'll always take your hand and vow to you. Like a knight swearing that he's hopelessly devoted to you for life.

"I'll protect you. I promise this—I will never leave your side."

— Snow!

He didn't think you were serious the first time you asked him. He was sure you were doing it in the spur of the moment and got carried away by shallow desires that brought sadness to him when all he felt was pure unaltered love and desire to be by your side. He loved you, yes, but if you were asking him with even just a little smidge of doubt—he'll turn you away. He wanted you to be certain. Snow always liked living in certainty; for things to remain constant once he's committed. He doesn't bode well with change and if there's just a small part of you that doubted him, he gets scared. He doesn't want things with you to end terribly. He already experienced far too much grief and pain that change brought to him.

"I'll wait for you. Be it a hundred years or another thousand—I want to see that your feelings for me will not change. But know that I hold you closer to my heart than anyone else… That is the reason why I want to be certain. I do not wish for an unhappy ending for both of us."

— White!

He's overjoyed but it was difficult to miss the hint of bitterness in his expression and tone when he replies to you. He wants to—so badly; so desperately to the point that he felt his heart ache despite being dead. He's driven by his emotions but the weight of reality is heavy on his shoulders and he couldn't help but laugh bitterly. He is not the same man he once was. He felt like he's merely a shadow of himself. A fragment of himself that he can't even tell if it's truly him or not. He wants to—He can. But, are you prepared to accept him for everything he is as he stands? Even if this form of his is fleeting? If you are, then he'll take your hand and never let you go.

"If you're willing to have me for all that I am… I will respond to your feelings with much more fervour. Truly, I love you. I promise you nothing but my heart to be yours."

— Mithra!

Promises; Mithra knew not to make them. He thinks it's troublesome—an unnecessary risk and a waste of time. However, when you asked him, he couldn't help but wonder if this was the equivalent of what marriage was to Tiletta when she was alive. A promise to love someone forevermore… His feelings are not one to waver. His feelings aren't fickle. They were stubborn just as he is and he couldn't help but think to himself that maybe promising himself to you wasn't as bad as it sounds. However, he wanted to make sure that you'd do the same for him. He doesn't want to love so passionately and be responded to by a lukewarm romance. He'd take it if he was desperate but he wants—Northern wizards when they want are terrifying.

"Your unwavering devotion and love. I want it. It's only fair if you promise me that too."

— Owen!

He wanted to dodge the question and disappear into mist but his body couldn't move and he couldn't bring himself to bark out another insult or a snarky comment to mock you. It was a futile question but you asked him anyway, you knew that he would always turn away and try to deny himself of his feelings to protect himself from such a vulnerability. But seeing him hesitate this much made your breath hitch because that proved that there was a part of him that was considering it—that there was a part of him that wanted to swear his love to you, even if it's small. He thought for another minute and that's when it hit him. Why not bind you to himself instead? He wouldn't feel as vulnerable and your desire to be together for eternity will be fulfilled.

"What made you think I'd let myself be chained to you? Let's put it like this… Why don't I put a chain around your neck and bind you to me instead? Come on, promise me."

— Bradley!

He sputtered out incoherent noises for a moment and tried to make sure his ears weren't betraying him. The thought never occurred to him and thinking about it now was something he never thought he would do. Promising his eternal love for someone was heavy—far too heavy for someone like him who liked the feeling of being free. Though it wasn't like he wasn't considering it. He loved you. Dearly. Passionately. Desperately. But a promise can be lethal to a wizard and he's reckless—what if he messes up? What if they take you to have something to hold over his head? What if he puts you in danger? What if he loses his magic and both of you end up getting killed? He doesn't know. He doesn't wanna know. He gives you a ring wordlessly as he slips it into your finger. He'll do this much.

"This ain't what yer probably expectin' but… Take it. I don't want ya to feel like I'm just half-assin' my feelings for ya."

— Faust!

Faust freezes and for a moment he allows himself to hope; to dream of a future with you by his side. He stopped himself and brought himself back to reality and looked at you with a difficult expression. He wanted to but a part of him was afraid—coming to terms with his feelings for you was already difficult as it is but admitting that he wants to believe in something he feels like is out of his reach is something that makes him take a step back. His love was pure but uncertainty was something that stayed in his heart from years before.

"Please… Don't ask me such a difficult question next time. I cannot give you the answer I want to say."

— Nero!

It takes him a moment to process everything but once he did, he covered his face with his hands to try and cover the huge smile that took over his face. He was beyond happy—someone wanted to spend the rest of their life with him? The words may not be exact but he took them as words akin to a marriage proposal and all of a sudden he's left fantasising about what could be. A future with you… It doesn't sound so bad (he's ecstatic). He manages to face you with a calmer expression and gives you a smile.

"If you'll have me, I'd be glad to stay by your side. I'll stay for as long as you want me to—Actually, no, scratch that. You'll be stuck with me for the rest of your life."

— Heathcliff!

His first reaction was his embarrassment telling him to run away but the sincere look in your eyes made him stay in place as he looked at you with an expression just as sincere as yours. He didn't want to respond to your feelings and questions half-heartedly—he didn't want to hurt you. Though how could he ever hurt you when his heart was already set on loving you for the rest of his life? It was difficult for him to say his answer but with the way he took your hand and placed it on his chest, just over where his heart was, you already knew his answer without another word from his lips.

"Of course… I can no longer see myself not being by your side. I love you—that's a promise."

— Shino!

It didn't occur to him that it was a question you have to ask him. In his mind, it was already set to default. He didn't think that there was any need to ask. When he fell in love with you and when you accepted his heart, he already knew that he was bound to you for life. His love and devotion is yours for all time; his blade will have another purpose—to protect you. He just looked at you blankly and raised an eyebrow. All of a sudden the serious atmosphere between the two of you broke when he tilted his head.

"I thought that was already a given, though? No? Well, I'll say it for you if you want me to. My love, loyalty, and devotion… It's all yours forever."

— Shylock!

Shylock was no stranger to indulging selfish requests from all people but there was always a clear line he wouldn't cross unless it was for certain people. He yearned with all of his heart—desperately and passionately. Asking him such a question was akin to asking him to walk straight into his doom. He knew that promising himself to you for all eternity will bring him immense happiness; he'll get addicted. It was as if he was tasting the finest wine he's ever had for the first time. How will he bear to let you go if those unspoken promises finally come to fruition? He'll never let you go. Not even after death.

"Fufu… After hearing such a passionate declaration of love for me, how could I bring myself to refuse you? Prepare yourself—I won't hold back any longer."

— Murr!

His expression didn't change in the slightest. Or perhaps it did, a very miniscule one that escaped your eye. Murr was a mystery no one could solve; he was a constant unpredictable variable. Every word he said to you, every touch he left on your skin, and every kiss he gave you—they were all mysteries. Even his answer to your question was a mystery. Not because he gave you a confusing response as usual but because he was silent. He didn't say anything and just continued smiling at you. For a split moment, you don't know if his eyes were downcast or it was just your eyes playing tricks on you.

"Really, really? You want me? Haha! Maybe that's a love that isn't so fruitless~!"

— Rustica!

Devoted; Rustica was a man full of undying love and devotion. He searched for his missing brides for years without any qualms. There might be a few hiccups here and there but it was undeniable that when Rustica loves, he loves wholeheartedly. Loving you was like a melody he couldn't get enough of—everything he does seems to remind him of you and he thinks to himself: so this is what it feels like to be in love with you.

"I can already hear the bells ringing for both of us. It's a precious melody meant for us… Love suits us well, doesn't it?"

— Chloe!

Chloe wasn't fully aware of the heavy weight of a promise is to a wizard. But his love is pure and he loved innocently, all he knew is how he wanted to be with you and nothing else. And that was enough reason for him to respond to you with a smile on his face as he nodded enthusiastically. He knew this is what he wanted—with a wave of his hand, he'll create the perfect attire for the both of you for your ceremony. Oh? Was he being too hasty?

"Oh! I already know what we'd wear. You'd like a traditional white theme, right—Ah, wait! I never properly responded to you… Yes, a million times, yes! I love you!"

— Figaro!

He thought it was funny that you asked him, an elusive character, such a question. Tying him down to you with a promise of eternal love and unwavering devotion? He was hoping that your positions were switched where he's the one asking you that instead. He found himself unable to answer you as he ran a finger through his hair and let out a deep sigh. He avoided looking into your gaze but when his eyes finally wandered and saw yours, he felt a little bit of his resolve break—he felt like he was going crazy. Maybe he is going crazy. A smile crept up his face.

"Do you want me that much? It feels nice to be wanted… by you. Haha, I don't know anymore. Maybe I will. Take responsibility for me, okay?"

— Lennox!

He doesn't speak much but his actions said more than his words ever could. He knelt down on one knee as he took your hand and placed a kiss on your fingers. You know exactly what he meant and no trace of doubt was evident in your expression as your absolute trust and faith was placed on him. In turn, you raised his hand closer to your lips as well and kissed the back of his palm. You wanted him to know that you'd do the same for him.

"I love you, forever and always. You have my promise."

— Rutile!

He thinks of this moment as something that came out of a fairytale or a storybook he used to read to children. There was a time when he wondered if he'll ever have this kind of moment and he felt wonderful knowing it's you he was with when it happened. He let himself smile and broke into a fit of joyful laughter and giggles. The words you wanted to hear left his lips like honey you couldn't get enough of—one more time, you want to hear his answer once more.

"Nothing would make me happier… I treasure you, I really do. I'd make a thousand promises if it meant making you happy."

#mhyk #mhyk writing #my writing #promise of wizard #mhyk x reader #oz x reader #arthur x reader #cain x reader #snow x reader #white x reader #mithra x reader #bro im getting tired #owen x reader #bradley x reader #shylock x reader #rustica x reader #murr x reader #chloe x reader #figaro x reader #lennox x reader #rutile x reader

[evita-shelby]

Her Eyes Shown Like Diamonds

Thanks @zablife for the story idea

Reader is female a magical entity, not sure what she is but she is involved with death

Warning:death (not Tommy's though)

Gif by @where-is-my-whump

You were a mystery to everyone.

No one could be sure who were, what you looked like or even agree to how you sounded.

You shimmered like an angel, sang like one too, but those who saw your face never lived to tell the tale.

Every soldier you treated died peacefully in his sleep.

You sat at their bedside and ensured that they didn’t die alone. You sang them into eternal sleep and came back every night.

Thomas can hear your sweet and soothing voice as you walk to where he and his brothers are. Most of them had been only mildly injured from the tunnel collapse, but Tommy was the only one whom the doctors and other nurses lied to about his prognosis.

Something was wrong, something they thought could go away on its own, but isn’t.

When he sees your face, he knows he is dying.

“Are you comfortable, Thomas?” you ask as you fluff his pillow and then moves to light his last cigarette.

“Better now that you are here.” He said thinking why not.

You were a beauty, blonde hair, warm blue eyes and an innocent look about you.

You sang good, but it wasn’t something to brag about. You were Irish or sounded like someone’s imitation of an Irish woman.

And tonight you would sing him to hell where he belonged.

In a neat little town they call Belfast

Apprentice to a trade I was bound

And many's an hour's sweet happiness

Have I spent in this neat little town.

A sad misfortune came over me

Which caused me to stray from the land

Far away from my friends and relations

Betrayed by the black velvet band.

He falls asleep and for the first time in years he doesn’t hear the shovels.

The next morning Thomas woke up screaming bloody murder.

He had dreamt of you, of meeting you in the Garrison where you were a barmaid.

Your name had been Grace and you had been a spy sent to fuck him over and his family, the two of you had fallen in love despite it all, and he had killed you.

He had killed you because he had started a feud with the Changrettas and gotten into some fucked up mess with some Russian Aristocrats.

In his fright he had not noticed his mysterious malady had resolved itself and even jumped out of his bed like it had burned him.

“Some dream you had, eh ,Tommy?” Arthur asks and hands him water in a dented tin cup.

“Yeah, fucking dream I had.” He drinks and grounds himself by focusing on the metal taste of the cold water.

---

Somewhere in Ireland, Grace Helen Burgess falls asleep and never wakes up. All that is known is that a middle aged maid who sang as she cleaned tucked her into bed and sang her the lullaby her mother used to sing to her before she died.

“She would have died anyways, poor thing, but at least Tommy will not have to suffer in this second chance you bought him.” The sweet singing woman tells Polly Gray as they tidy up the betting shop.

#tommy shelby x fem!reader #thomas shelby fanfic #thomas shelby x reader #cw:death

[who-ever-said-i-was-nice]

Hi! I love your Ikemen vampire Hc's, and I wonder if you could make one about a Mc similar to Nezuko like... She has the bamboo and everything.

YES! Omg thank you for the ask I literally love you! So I had to do a little research on her, since I'm not too familiar with the character so I'm sorry if this is a bit off. I just tried to match her personality and wardrobe. Hope you like it!

Enjoy!~~

Ikevamp headcanons~ With a reader that is similar to Nezuko

Warning : None, except I haven't managed to watch Demon slayer, so I'm sorry if this is a bit off

Pronouns used: GN, generally just you, thought it can lean towards a more feminine version

Comte

our favorite rich baguette man

Now, he's been alive for many many year

He's seen a lot of things but this is new

when you stumble into the mansion he's supper confused

Is this a child? Nope, not a child. Why the bamboo mouth piece? Not human though, the eyes suggest otherwise

He's not Arthur, but he's observant

he's still very polite, but he's trying to figure out what you are

And then it dawns on him

like he's sipping his tea and his like

*Slams tea cup* ooh my...

He pulls you aside to talk about what you eat

after all he know, vampires drink blood, demons eat people

he's just about to ask you nicely to leave when you can for everyone safety

but

you say you don't eat human

???

Ok, well then

He happily welcomes you into the mansion

He finds your childish appearance rather endearing

thinks the mouthpiece is especially cute

BUT..guess what, one day when you go for a stroll you are ambushed by and upper rank demon

when he sees the after transformation

he's knocked off his feed

and when you whoop the other demons ass

congratulation you're stuck with him for eternity

"Who knew ma chèrie can be so powerful"

Leonardo

this sleepy man

he's like Comte almost, except he figures it out a little sooner

and then he straight up goes and asks if you plan on having any citizens for breakfast

You know he has a strict no drinking blood rule

so he takes this very seriously, as he's afraid it will cost a life whether turned or dead it doesn't matter

So when you say you don't do that he's like: great!

And never brings up the fact that you are a demon ever again

fist of all he loves the entire outfit

he really does

it's so different from his norm, he can't help but be curious and amazed

Now when he sees you in action, he just smirks and has this shit eating grin on his face the whole time

"My, my cara mia, you are so fierce"

either way, he loves you and is charmed by the fact that after everything, you are still rather human, you smile and cry and he's glad that you still have that

Isaac

was very curious about you from the get go, but just kind of watched you from affar

you seemed so small and sweet, like what could be wrong with someone like you

and the Comte told him

at first he was like:

???

and then was like:

!!!!!!!!!

and then he was confused again

why do people keep breaking physics and reality

like this should not be happening, but then again neither should time travel and vampires

now he has a lot of trouble controlling himself around human blood

so when he sees you handling it like a champ he's amazed by your willpower

and when he sees your demon form

apple boy might just bust a blood vessel looking at you

"My goodness y/n, that was...incredible, what else can you do?"

Very curious

Sweet boy

Arthur

so you know how Isaac is like watching from affar

not this mf

nope

you come through that door and he's already noticed a bunch of things and managed to deduce, that you are, despite the cute appearance, not human

and now he's interested

Pesters Comte about it until he gets and answer

when he finds out he just looks at you, and the back at Comte and then back at you

He's confused

he did not picture a demon to look like that

so now you have to explain everything to him

he;s in awe and after finding out he starts treating you with even more respect then before

does ask about your food, aka should he be prepared to cover up a murder

But you tell him it's not the case

when he sees you in all your glory when you got in a fight with another demon

floored

"By Jove, dove, I was not expecting that from someone as cute as you. But I must say, I was quite the pleasant surprise."

Get your mind out the gutTer-

Theodorus

mean mf

respectfully stop calling me a dog

is very scepticle

and when unsurprisingly you get along great with Vincent he's also a bit jelly

what he finds out your a demon his first reaction is

"BrOER-"

like he wants to protect Vincent and you both have to calm his ass down

you explain to him how you are not a threat

he only really believes you when you protect him and Vince from another demon

and when you tell them you did it because they feel like family to you he start falling for you

would not admit it but really likes your style

thinks the kimono with the asanoha is ✨artistic✨

"Don't be silly Hondje of course you didn't surprise me, I always knew you where a little street dog, always getting into fights"

sIR....

Vincent

sweet angel

since you're both caring sweet and cute you get along instantly

you end up telling his yourself

bc how could you not trust someone like him

and he never thinks any less of you

when you save him he's so much more amazed by you

doesn't even have to ask if you'd eat a person or no he just knows the answer

he asks if you want to talk about your transformation experience and offers to talk about his

really wants to paint you

actually sketched out a drawing of your demon form

"Look, don't you look beautiful here, would you mind helping me out while I paint this?'

Mozart

he's a little weirded out at first

I mean you look like a child

you stutter and sometimes speak muffled by the bamboo thing in your mouth

he thinks you have the brainpower of a child

but you are no child

so he just pretends he doesn't care and sneakily observes

when he finds out he's actually a little scared

he finds out about your eating habits or rather lack thereof from Comte

and then he calm down

when you save his ass is is amazed and humble

what and powerful being you are

once he's off his high horse he stats noticing things

like how even if you look small you are kind and actually rather adorable

"Oh well, i suppose I could let you listed, you look to cute meine liebe"

Napoleon

get ready to be instantly adopted

he's like: big brother mode activated

but as you get to know each other it stops being big brother mode and rather oh shit I have a crush on this curious being mode

He finds out bc you tell him, and while you're at it you also tell him you don't plan on using anyones bones as toothpicks when you're done with them

and he's like:

ok...can we cuddle now?

let's be real, he does not care

especially since you are not a danger to others

when you save him he's like

cute ANd powerful

a true queen

he fully respects you and thinks you are amazing

sometimes accidentally treats you like a child, but it's never with the intention of hurting you

he just thinks you're really cute with that pink kimono and mouthpiece

"Nunuche, don't play around now, it's time to go to bed."

Dazai

im sorry did someone order one sad writer?

someone give him a hug

he thinks you are the most fascinating little thing

the kimono and haori have him literally dead

he thinks it looks beautiful on you

though he first notices all the little things

like how you pay attention to others

how you sometimes stutter when you speak

and then he finds out you're a demon and he's like

nope not possible

so casually asks you

and you confirm it and now he's actually not as confused as he thought he's be

like now the eyes make sense

when you tell him about how you don't eat people he smiles at you

"I never though my Toshiko-san was capable of such an act in the first place

when he sees your demon form he blow away

he has a whole lot more of respect for you now

he thinks you truly are amazing

Jean

not sure he'd take the news well

like he hears demon and is like

imma just get the holly water, Comte i did not sign up for him

but this changes when you save him

he's floored, amazed and has so much respect for you now

he actually starts seeing you as a person and starts noticing things about you

he's still hesitant but he starts to open up

he ends up being really sweet and shy about the whole situation, since it's so new

is still afraid that he'll hurt or taint you and needs reassurance that he is worthy of you

"Y/n...I cannot express how grateful I am for everything you've done"

Sebastian

forehead flicking demon butler

just accepts it

like

oh this cute girl is a demon, ok, proceed, nono really, continue

he's seen enough ok he doesn't care anymore

when you save him and he sees your demon for all he can do is chuckle

"Never though I'd be saved by such a cute girl like you"

he's honestly very sweet and respectful

minus the forehead flicks

is relieved that you don't eat human because now he can relax knowing he's off the menu

And that's all bc I'm sure that is all the bs you can take. I'm very sorry if this is not what you where thinking of but I hope you enjoyed it^^

See you in the next one

~Lia

#ikemen vampire theo #ikemen vampire #ikemen vampire arthur #cybird ikemen #ikemen vampire isaac #ikevamp #ikemen vampire dazai #ikemen vampire headcanons #ikemen vampire jean x reader #ikemen vampire dazai headcanons #ikemen vampire leonardo #ikemen vampire mozart x reader #ikemen vampire x reader #ikevamp comte x reader #ikevamp isaac x reader #ikevamp napoleon #ikemen jean x reader #ikevamp sebastian #ikemen vampire vincent #nazuko #kamado nezuko

[cdragons]

"Strawberry Cream Frosting" - Next Gen Eternals AU

Summary: Ikaris and Sephia's son fell in love with Thena and Gilgamesh's daughter. Chaos ensues.

Warning(s): Fluff, accidental love-bombing, Thena and Gil being the best adoptive parents EVER, Mara can't process emotions for shit

Author's Note: HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO ONE AND ALL! I hope everyone had a wonderful day reading a bunch of fics and looking at fan edits!

When Mara opened the front door, she had her baseball bat ready and was prepared to give whatever fucking dumb solicitor was on the doorstep, ringing the doorbell for the tenth time on a Saturday morning.

She wasn’t expecting…whatever the hell this was.

“Happy Valentine’s Day!”

It was a giant box that looked about four cubic feet big and was wrapped in shiny red wrapping paper, pink ribbons, and glitter. On the top was a little sign stating, ‘Bee my Valentine?’ with a little crochet bee keychain attached.

Mara just stood under Gil- her parents’ doorway for thirty seconds. She didn’t say anything. She just blinked at the giant package- until she blurted out the first coherent enough thought in her mind.

“What the fuck?”

A head popped from behind the…thing, and suddenly, it all made sense.

Laurie. And from how insane his hair looked, he decided it was a good idea to fly from Scotland to Ka’ena Point, Oahu.  

“Happy First Valentine’s Day!” he exclaimed before shaking the box for emphasis. As if she couldn’t notice how fucking gargantuan it was from just staring at it.

“…Laurie, what the hell am I looking at?” Mara asked. She pointed at it. “Is Arthur in there with a confetti cannon?”

Laurie furrowed his brow in confusion. “What? Oh! No, I know it’s a little big. But it’s your first Valentine’s Day, and I wanted to do something nice be–”

“What the hell is ‘Valentine’s Day’?” Mara interrupted. “Is it like a food day or something?”

“You don’t know what Valentine’s Day is?” he gaped.

She shook her head. “No…what’s the big deal? Is it like that Christmas thing I went to with the small boxes under the tree?”

The mega-watt smile Laurie flashed to her made Mara slightly worried. Despite how predictable he was, Mara could never get a good read on the guy. He wasn’t dangerous- that much was obvious. But whenever he and Mara were in the same room, he would act like he was glued to her hip. It didn’t help that Uri and Arthur immediately clicked on their first meeting.

And it really didn’t help when she shoved a shotgun in his face before his dad with the pew-pew eyes slammed her against the ground by her neck.

“Don’t make that face,” she ordered. “I don’t like that face.”

But Laurie wasn’t listening. He was jumping on the balls of his feet in excitement. “I have to teach you about it! It’ll be lots of fun, I promise! We can do a bunch of stuff! Wait, just let me–”

Mara moved to the side to let him in. “Oh, yeah. Just–”

He set the heavily decorated box on the ground before asking if he could use the bathroom. She pointed it down the hall. When he was out of sight, Mara tried to lift the box to see how heavy it was, and- holy shit, it must have been over thirty pounds.

How the fuck did that tall-ass twig carry this?

She felt a different heat presence behind her- whipping her head, she calmed down when she realized it was only Gil.

“My dad, everyone,” Mara thought wryly while wearing. “The powerhouse of strength in the Eternals, wearing a ‘Kiss the Chef’ apron.”

“Why was Laurie at the door? And what’s in that box?” he asked while holding his famous quiche in a hot cast-iron pan without gloves.

Mara just shrugged. “Hell, if I know. He said it was for Valentine’s Day or something like that.”

“Ohhhh,” Gil smiled. “For Valentine’s Day? And that big box is all for you? That’s Sephie’s kid for you all right.”

“What’s Sephie’s kid?” came a new voice.

Turning her head, Mara watched Thena walk down the stairs carrying Uri on her hip. It still baffled her to witness how the ancient goddess never had a bad case of bedhead the entire time she and her brother lived with her and Gil.

Gil answered. “Laurie came to visit, giving a certain someone a gift for Valentine’s Day.”

Mara’s dad wiggled his eyebrows at his daughter before setting the quiche down on the table while she rolled her eyes at what he was implying.

Uri looked at his sister and then Thena before tugging on his mom's sleeve.

“What’s Valentine’s Day?” he signed.

Smiling at her sunshine son, Thena explained. “It’s a day humans made to celebrate love. You spend it with friends and the people you love. When you love someone very much, you ask them to be your ‘Valentine.’”

She bopped his nose with a finger and softly laughed from hearing his contagious giggles. Mara smiled, too. Uri’s happiness was infectious. His smile alone was her reason for fighting and running as long as she had. She’d do anything to ensure he was safe, which made her happy to know it paid off.

He signed another question. “If my Valentine has to be someone I love lots, does that mean you, Mara, and Daddy will be my Valentine? Or can I only pick one?”

Mara replied as she reached out to hold him. “You can have as many valentines as you want, Uri. No need to ration out the love.”

She pressed a kiss on his chubby cheek. Peace washed over her when he pressed a loud kiss on hers before wrapping his arms around her neck to hug his sister. Uri was the sunniest sunshine summer child to be born. He radiated comfort with his entire being. There was more love and warmth in his toothy grin than…anything. He was her whole world, and she was his. That was enough.

Laurie walked back into view. “Hey, Uri! How’ve you been?”

Uri smiled wide before wildly clapping. He loved Laurie and his family. He mostly loves Ari, Laurie’s baby brother, who became Uri’s best friend after two minutes of meeting him.

She still remembers how Thena decked their dad after he asked if Uri gave his son any drugs after seeing them spin in circles in the dirt. Mara laughed so hard that tears came pouring out of her eyes.

Laurie put his hand to cover his mouth and loudly whispered in Uri’s ear. “Do you think I can take your sister out today? I want to teach her about Valentine’s Day.”

This distressed Uri as he scrunched his face while clinging tighter to Mara. He adapted wonderfully when Thena and Gil took them in, but he hated being separated from his sister for any period. The first day of her new school was a complete shit show because he cried while she was gone.

“But, I promise that I will bring her back shortly. We’ll even bring you souvenirs!”

Uri looked at her in confusion.

“Presents,” she clarified. “I’ll still be your Valentine, and we can go out and look for some pretty shells tomorrow, okay? You can show them to all your fishy friends.”

Although he liked the idea of presents and spending all of tomorrow with his favorite person in the whole world, Uri still didn’t want Mara to go- at least not without him.

“Why don’t we eat breakfast first? Laurie, can you help Uri get ready? I need to make sure Gil doesn’t dose his coffee with any booze.” She handed her brother to her…friend before going to the kitchen.

Gil had a big fucking smirk on his face when she walked in.

Mara snarled as she grabbed the apron he and Thena made for her as a new home present. “Not a fucking word. I don’t want to hear it. By the way, do we have any cinnamon rolls left in the freezer?”

He only smiled wider. “I wasn’t going to say anything. And we do. Why do you ask?”

Taking the leftover rolls, she preheated the oven. She then grabbed some oranges from the basket on the floor. Slicing them in half before setting the sieve over the plastic pitcher, and taking one half of an orange over the sieve. Taking a deep breath, Mara centered herself.

“Karla,” the name echoed in her mind as the soul covered her hand, and Mara squeezed the orange until the pulp was dry.

She took the rinds and absorbed the remaining qi inside it as a tribute of thanks for her friend’s help. Karla was the youngest and wasn’t called on as much as her other sisters, so Mara wanted to include her in something. The warmth on her skin when she returned to her ink-painted nest was a sign she appreciated the gesture.

Thena walked in and stood behind you. “You should go with Laurie.”

“Why?” she groaned out. “I don’t feel like it.”

The oven dinged once adequately preheated, and Mara plopped the rolls on the rack. She grabbed a metal mixing bowl and all the ingredients to make the cream cheese frosting- including some crushed-up freeze-dried strawberry slices. After measuring them and placing them in the bowl, she started to stir.

“You need more friends,” the two ancient beings spoke in unison.

Thena pressed a kiss on her daughter's head. “You don’t talk to anyone at school. And you can’t spend all your free time surfing, at the shop, playing with Uri, and studying.”

Gil pulled in for a giant bear hug. “Hey, no pressure. But you have to admit, it’ll be a nice change to have someone spoil you for once. And with a tall, pretty boy, too.”

Mara glared at her adoptive dad as he moved past her to get to the bathroom. She tried to fight down the red blush blooming on her cheeks. But she only continued to stir the bowl until it became thick and made the color she wanted.

“I get spoiled enough by the two of you as is,” she grumbled. “And also–”

Laurie and Uri, coming into the kitchen, cut Mara off. “We’re here! And I made sure Uri brushed his teeth and flossed. And – woah, Mara! Why is your face so red? Are you sick?”

He put down Uri and raced to her side. He put his hand on her forehead to take her temperature and used his other one to touch his for comparison. He was so close that she could smell the wind on his skin and the mint toothpaste on his breath. Mara stared at his face- how were his eyelashes so long? And why were his eyes so blue? She felt her face heat up even more and cleared her throat before turning her head.

“It’s nothing,” she croaked. “Can you…can you help Thena set the table? The plates and cups are in the overhead cabinets, and the utensils are in the drawers.”

Laurie moved to grab everything to help set up the table on the outside deck. Mara watched as Thena cupped his face with a warm smile and told him how tall and strong he was becoming. Gil returned and ruffled his air before asking if he was still set on becoming a doctor with how much his muscles had grown. Uri tugged on his sleeve to ask if Ari had missed him as much as he missed him.

This was the part of Laurie that Mara could never figure out how he fit in perfectly and seamlessly without issue or error in any situation. She could analyze and pinpoint a person’s position and physical weaknesses with her abilities without blinking. Every living thing had a heat signature that she could exploit.

But with Laurie…she didn’t want to do that to him. It was like his weaknesses only made him more appealing to others. Ever since the girl first met him, he would follow her around like a puppy desperate for attention from its owner. It bugged her for months. And if she were being honest, it still did after a year of knowing him.

Mara couldn’t really explain it. But it was like...his warmth was inherent- it came from a softer place where only goodness existed. It was less of a raging inferno like her own and more like a gentle campfire. If Mara was a snake, then Laurie was a bunny. A bunny nearly six-foot-tall with clear blue eyes and light freckles–

*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*

The oven’s timer went off- breaking her out of the analogy and into reality. She took the rolls out using an oven glove and placed them on a cooling stone.

“Are those cinnamon rolls?”

Mara looked over her shoulder, and Laurie was crouching right behind her. His chin was practically on her shoulder.

She nodded. “You like them, right? You said your mom made them for you for breakfast on your…um…what’d you call it?”

He was giddy with glee. “My birthday! I told you that at Christmas! We were all at Brympton d'Evercy to celebrate Sersi’s and Dane’s engagement! I can’t believe you remembered that!”

Mara supposed the way he smiled was…sort of cute… nowhere near as blindly adorable as Uri’s, but attractive enough.

“Yeah…well, you did fly to give me that…thing. And you're even teaching me about this Valentine’s Day stuff. So, I thought…this could be my present to you.”

If Mara was facing Laurie, she would have seen the softest look of love and adoration grace an adolescent boy’s face in the history of humanity. Laurie loved Mara Drake so much. His dad said he was too young for dating- let alone love, but he knew they were destined for forever.

He wanted to kiss her so badly. But he wasn’t sure if he wanted to be pinned down like how he was when they first met.

Mara scraped the little dried spot on the kitchen island. She so did not like feeling as stupid as she did right now. But…she had a gut feeling Laurie was worth it.

“Um…I crushed some dry strawberry things and added them to the frosting. It turned pink, and I thought that was okay since I saw pink on the box and thought–”

“Cinnamon rolls are my favorite, and I love strawberries,” he whispered. “And pink…pink’s my favorite color after blue. It reminds me of my mom.”

“And if you have time, we can…go find some good spots for sea-shell hunting. Uri can take forever, and it’ll save me some time. I know it’s kind of shitty- especially because you’re doing this whole thing.”

“I love you.”

Mara choked on her own spit and turned her head in shock. Her eyes were bulging out of your head.

What- what did he say?

“What?” her voice cracked.

Now, it was Laurie’s time to turn red. Did he really just say that? And with Gil and Thena literally less than twenty feet away? Was he trying to get the love of his life to hate him forever? Oh fuck, he needed to backtrack.

“IT! I meant to say, ‘I love IT!’ I’d love to help you find seashells! I could even bring some for Ari and Aggie! Actually – they made some Valentine's gifts for you and your brother, too! Ari made this really cool card for Uri. He summoned a bunch of turquoise and made this cool heart! So, um…thanks.”

His voice cracked as he stammered to save himself before awkwardly pausing to express gratitude.

An awkward silence echoed as the awkward future couple mutually decided that their feet were the room's most exciting part.

And the dads decided to make it even worse.

“MARA! IKARIS TOLD ME TO TELL YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT LAURIE’S VIRGINITY BETTER BE INTACT WHEN HE COMES HOME!”

Mara was caught so off-guard that she dropped the spatula in her hand. The pink frosting splattered all over the floor and would be a bitch to clean up.

Fucking-

“TELL HIM TO EAT A DICK AND FUCK OFF!” she yelled back as Laurie buried his face in his hands.

He really hoped Aggie had more luck not humiliating herself with Hamish the way he had with Mara.

Somewhere in Scotland, a little Ari sat on the couch with his mommy as she stroked his daddy’s hair. His daddy was lying in his mommy’s lap.

“Mama? Why is Da crying?” he innocently asked.

You only smiled. “Karma.”

At the same time, in the Amazon, a young girl was planning her and her forever love’s future wedding when she suddenly stood up and looked in the distance. Her future husband asked whatever was bothering his little lady love.

The young girl only sighed while shaking her head. “The idiot fucked up.”

Tagging: @ethereal-athalia, @valeskafics, @asa-do-your-thing, @arcielee, @jolixtreesunn, @beananacake, @redheadspark, @vikingqueen28, @lexyysworld, @lilacliquors, @tesha-i-guess, @tess-love, @inejismywife, @bumblebeesuniverse, @aphroditesmoon

Click on this link if you want to read more about this universe!

#eternals x reader #marvel x reader #druig x kaety #ikaris x sephia #ikaris kids #druig's kids #next generation of eternals #thena #gilgamesh #ikaris #druig #ikaris x reader #druig x reader #druig x oc #ikaris x oc #eternals au #valentines day #valentines day fic #ikaris imagine

[trelaundry]

john marston x reader || grateful

a/n: my second favourite John! gotta do right by my boy. something weird I have to do when I crosspost is think of a title for these things. but to make sure I don’t flop tremendously it’s something I have to do

Kinktober Prompt: Overstimulation Subject: John Marston Summary: John’s been neglecting you recently. Perhaps you need a reminder that he still has manners.

Enjoy! :)

“The hell did you just say?” Your lover stopped walking before turning back to face you with his arms folded.

“You heard me just fine, John.” You incidentally mirrored his pose. “I know you’ve been busy lately, but that isn’t an excuse. You’ve been seriously neglecting our relationship.”

He scoffed derisively “Oh, our relationship? So that’s what this is? Because I was under the impression that you were just fucking me until the next dumbass came along.”

“And just what have I done to give you that impression?”

“I’m not stupid. I see you eyeing up Arthur when you think I ain’t looking. Same with Dutch, and Javier, and I’m fairly sure you were doing the same with Mary-Beth. Just what are you trying to do leading me around like some dog on a leash?”

You moved from where you were standing on the grassy verge before the steep cliff of Horseshoe Overlook to approach John, who stayed firmly planted despite his eyes raking your body. You knew from past experience what arguing with him got you: either the silent treatment or the fucking of a lifetime. It had been weeks since he had last given you the latter, so you chose to risk receiving the former in the vain hope he would relent and give you something. Anything.

“I’m not leading you on, John. I’m yours, plain and simple. You have me. The least you could do is be grateful for what-.”

“Grateful? Grateful?!” John was now face to face with you, taking four quick strides to invade your personal space, inhabit your breathing room, bathe in your furious glow. You loved him so fucking much, but now was not the time for such dalliances. “I’ll show you grateful, lady. You’ll be so full of fuckin’ grateful you wouldn’t even think of looking at anyone else!”

That was when he kissed you for the first time in two weeks. It was less of a kiss, more like he was attacking your lips with his own, to swallow your retort before it could burst from that mouth he had become hopelessly addicted to. But you nevertheless melted into it, grabbing hold of his stupid jacket as you wrapped your arms around his stupid neck and let his stupid tongue into your mouth. It was forceful, it was clumsy, but it was John. And you needed John. Badly. 

The camp was still quiet despite the midday sun: clearly everyone was still busy with the morning missions and excursions. It made the transit between the edge of camp and John’s tent all the easier, even as John gripped your arm so tight your wrist would bloom with a bruise. That was the least of your problems now. 

The moment John closed the canvas over, you were pinned to his cot. The dim light of the sad little oil lamp in the corner illuminated his face, cast shadows over his furrowed brow and only enhance the slightly mad looking shimmer of his dark eyes. You wanted to laugh, but instead you pulled him down to smash your lips against his. Noses pressed against each other, teeth clicked and drool began to pool in the corner of your mouth but you couldn’t give a shit. 

“Take off your skirts, woman. Now.”

That husky gruff command rumbled in his chest. You followed it, knowing if you didn’t do it quick enough he wold probably end up ripping them. If he did, you would force him to take you all the way to Saint Denis to replace them. So off came your overskirt, underskirt, and the various ridiculous undergarments that despite being all the rage fashion-wise were incredibly unsuitable for the life of an outlaw. Ah well, trends come and go. The pleasures of the flesh were eternal. 

Once your cunt was bare before him, John wasted no time. He grabbed your legs and lifted them over his shoulders as he lowered his head between your thighs without a word. 

John Marston was never one for softness. He knew just how sensitive you were, just how touch starved you had been before him, how easy it was to have you shaking. So it was only fair to exploit such a thing. That would be the grateful thing to do.

So exploit he did. 

Your head pressed further and further against the rough fabric of the dishevelled pillow and let out a long breathy whine as John’s rough and hot tongue made a mockery of your pussy, giving it quick and long strokes with his tongue as if he were painting on a canvas. Every so often, a swipe at your clit or a nip of your inner thigh when your gasps got too loud. Not that he gave a shit. He wanted everyone to know just who you were moaning for, just how badly you wanted this, wanted him. Would save him plenty of awkward conversations. 

It was when John’s tongue began to lap at your opening that you nearly cried out. He moved his tongue against your fluttering walls as if he were trying to drink from you, that supposed nectar of the gods that you had read about in Mary-Beth’s sordid romance novels. Perhaps he brought out that ambrosia within you. Heaven knows it felt like it.

“John…” You managed to moan out.

 If he heard you, he didn’t make it apparent. His stubble brushed against your perineum as his chin moved up and down, his tongue stirring something primal within you as it always seemed to do. 

He wasn’t a man versed in words, but that mouth could be put to far better uses. 

You felt the warmth of his mouth leave your cunt for a moment, making you mewl helplessly. For the first time since he started, he made eye contact with you. Those murky eyes were blown out with lust, his cheeks red and his lips glistening. 

He moved upward to lift his hand to your cheek, caressing it gently as if he hadn’t been drinking from your folds just seconds before. You moved into the palm of his hand, kissing his wrist as you nuzzled closer into it. A dissatisfied grunt came from your lover before he grabbed your chin suddenly, his thumb lifting it upwards so that you could no longer see his face and his index and middle fingers pressing against your lips.

“Open.”

You did as you were told, and took his fingers into your mouth. The taste of salt, earth and tobacco danced on your tongue. He must have gone foraging with Arthur earlier.

You thought of foraging with John, as a couple’s outting. Would he even know where to look? No, as you knew from experience the man was too arrogant and up his own ass to distinguish a raspberry from a rosebush. Ah well, he could still make love to you in amongst the tall grasses and herbs, where the travellers passing by would be none the wiser. But for now you could only think of the love that was being made here. Or whatever this was. The little amount of time you had looked into John’s eyes, love had been only a fraction of what shone within them. 

He grunted as he removed them from you before moving back down between your thighs. He resumed without delay, his mouth latching onto your swollen clit and his two fingers covered in your saliva curling upwards to fill the space his tongue had previously occupied. 

The frenzied nature was replaced with something deliberate. John knew exactly what parts of you needed attention, which parts would have you screaming his name. He found them with ease, that deep place within your cunt that was his and his alone. Every time he thrusted his fingers into you, they reached deeper and deeper until all that filled your mind was that feeling of being full of him. As if he were moulding your entire body to fit his mouth and his fingers. As if claiming you so that nobody else could ever compare to him.

You were teetering on the edge now. One last push. 

“John…”

“Yes?”

“Make me cum. Please. I need it so fucking bad.”

A laugh vibrated across your clit, making you moan out in earnest.

“You need it? Alright then. Anything for my lady.”

He said it.

He said you were his. For the first time, he had truly claimed you for himself. 

That revelation fell away as without warning John pushed a third finger inside you and sucked on your clit without mercy. That was enough to bring your release crashing over you. You loudly gasped his name as your head tilted back, your back arching and your thighs closing around John’s head. He didn’t seem to mind, using his free arm to wrap around one of your thighs and pull it over his shoulder so he could suck even harder and reach even deeper. Your legs began to shake as unabashed whimpers and moans left you breathless, your vision spinning ever so slightly before you could clamp your eyes shut. 

And yet John continued to lap at your cunt: if anything he was moving with even more hunger than he had previously. You felt the vibration of his own moans as liquid from your sensitive pussy began to spill from you. He was drunk off your orgasm, and he made sure you knew as much. 

Your breathing was shallow, and your body began to tense up. You could feel the sweat forming across your forehead and your lower back which no longer touched the cot with how your body arched involuntarily. John’s fingers were curled so far within you, you could feel the knuckles rubbing against the innermost parts that even his cock couldn’t reach, and how your walls convulsed against them uncontrollably with only increasing intensity. Even with your eyes shut, bright light indistinguishable from the night stars began to flash in your vision. 

Your moans became yelps and shuddering gasps, and even if you wanted to beg him to stop there was no way you could, not with your lips quivering as they were and your tongue lolling from your mouth like a dog. Like John’s bitch. Exactly how he wanted you. 

You tried to move your hands from where they had been gripping the canvas you were lying on to hold onto John’s head, but even they began to tense and grip even harder onto the cot. You were losing control of your body. You felt helpless, completely at the mercy of the man whom you had thought an hour ago couldn’t stand you. 

You let out what could only be considered a frenzied howl as orgasm took hold of you once again. Your body spasmed and writhed as John relented, his fingers retreating from your warmth as he kissed every inch of your cunt as it pulsed under his lips. He pulled away from you, cupping your face with one hand and lifting the other to his mouth to taste the last of your ambrosia. 

He smiled down at you sweetly, admiring the sweat and the euphoria and the exhaustion that covered your face. Your chest rose and fell erratically and you could feel your heart beating through it, every muscle in your body tensing and fluttering under the aftershock. He allowed your orgasm to run its natural course, instead of prolonging it like he had just done. You were absolutely stunning to him. He knew he did you wrong. But would he admit that to you? Fuck no. 

“Don’t you ever tell me to be grateful again.”

You furrowed your brow. “I won’t.”

“Well… good.” He nodded, suddenly shy despite the unholy things he had just been doing to you. “You… you need anything?”

“Some water would be good, thank you.”

“Okay. I’ll get you some. And, uh… there’s some boiled sweets in my bag.” He mumbled as he shuffled out of the tent. “For you. If you want them. Okay?”

“You’re a fool, John Marston.”

“You’re welcome.” He huffed before giving you a lopsided grin as you pulled the pelt from the end of the bed to cover your nude legs, stretching your sore muscles. He pulled up the canvas as he left and let it fall behind him.

You decided not to tell him that his erection was obvious from a mile. 

#rdr2 #rdr2 smut #John Marston #kinktober #kinktober 2022

[dreamcrow]

I need some Hot Crow Takes on what was the worst example of Villain Decay throughout ToA. also on what Leonora Janeth uses in her hair

send me a meta prompt (currently closed); thank you for the ask!

the arcane and esoteric mysteries of janeth's haircare regimen are beyond my humble (straight-haired) supposings. but for the villain decay? oh, morgana, hands down. 

gunmar is spooky, but a bit of a ham. for most of trollhunters, he’s also relatively distant. bular is a lot closer, and much more of an immediate threat, but he’s always ultimately subordinate (either to stricklander or his father) and he does, in the end, get got by a teenager. angor is initially presented as terrifying, and rightly so, but even if he becomes sympathetic he’s always formidable; stricklander starts out pretty nefarious (especially if you think about some of the implications of e.g. feeding bular a human security guard) but is of course, in proper gdt fashion, domesticated by wuv. obviously i have niche side blorbo brain fungus re: the arcane order but it's hard to assess their actual "villain decay" without having to think about That Film. at any rate, i don't think they're actually the worst example in toa: despite a concept/design that fucks so absolutely severely, once they get on screen, they're not actually built up all that much (or...well). it takes them less than the space of an episode (22 minutes) to go from "dread, ancient terrors that even merlin is afraid of" to "merlin shooing away them, the green knight, and their evil floating skull castle with less effort than he usually spares to criticize douxie." but that's another post.

morgana, though. part of what made her such a compelling villain was how little arthur figured in trollhunters. the existence of merlin implies the existence of arthur, of course, but in trollhunters arthur isn't there at all. instead, we get the negative space of him: his right hand (merlin) and the anti-arthur (morgana). obviously this is partly her role in arthuriana proper, but it also strikes me as pretty deliberate here: merlin's liege vs. merlin's student (and that liege's sister); humanity's last best hope vs. the queen of the otherworld; the king under the mountain vs. the witch under arcadia. i was not very tuned into morgana when i first got into trollhunters, but looking back over the series for this ask, the parallels are so obvious. and so tight! i wouldn't be surprised if some of this was even deliberate.

and the thing is: trollhunters has enough space as a series that its antagonists don't really have to pull their punches. morgana was nasty in trollhunters. pale lady, baba yaga, eldritch queen, mother of monsters—holy shit, right? and she's creepy, too: all muttering whispers and dread ancient magic! she takes angor’s soul, and then his free will. she taunts stricklander while possessing the body of one of his students (while threatening the permanent exile of two more to the depression dimension), and then in the guise of the human he's in love with. speaking to her faithful children—who only exist through morally dubious, unpleasant processes, for which she is implied to be responsible—via institutional heirloom phonograph! she's so much more connected to the shadow realm, here, probably the most compelling justification for reading shadow magic as dangerous. she's the big bad behind angor and gunmar (while playing them both against each other). she absolutely feels evenly paired with merlin, and (rightly) kicks his ass through most of the battle of the eternal night. she's evil but charismatic and even despite all that still a little human: when she taunts jim for not knowing merlin used her hand for the amulet, it isn't without a shadow of what must have been an ancient hurt.

and then. wizards. jesus christ (tired ben affleck smoking dot jpg)

[ » read the rest of the essay on ao3 ]

#tales of arcadia #toa morgana #trollhunters #toa wizards #morgana le fay #q&a #mine #the obvious solution to your second prompt is 'janeth is also a wizard' ofc #but i was sitting here thinking about the first one and if you will pardon the pun. this answer. possessed me #this is public for now bc i know at least one person i really want to read it who might not have an ao3 account... but watch out maybe

[oneknightstand-if]

speaking of Arthur being inordinately attached to his literal sword, and it possibly being alive. Modwyn from poe2; she's a sword, she talks and she loves the watcher's carnage. so i just gotta assume Arthur and Excalibur's dynamic is like that...assuming it is alive

Well, I've never actually played Pillars of Eternity despite having it and all its add-ons in my Steam library for years now, so I can't really say for sure, but scanning over Modwyr's wiki page...

... it's a lot more human than Excalibur. Not just the origin, but the entire interaction/tone of the weapon.

#Oh Arthur is attached to his 'sword' all right #But more seriously this is more like a contractual obligation #oks-Excalibur

[talesofarcadiaforever]

22 or 23 please

I am so sorry it took me so long to answer this my inspiration fluctuates between things like a ping pong ball! Despite it being about the blorbo of all time 😭

22 is gonna be answered in another post!

23. Unpopular character you love?

MERLIN

And that should be very obvious. 🤣

Listen. I love him. I do. But… I have a few problems with his character now, and that’s because of the writers.

He’s pretty inconsistent sometimes.

For one, his powers. (Or supposed lack thereof?)

He’s described as the most powerful wizard to have ever lived, but he doesn’t… really do anything to show it.

He banished Morgana himself according to Trollhunters, ended the Eternal Night, fought the Arcane Order for a millenia, (all offscreen), was implied to have banished their Titans himself, and was briefly able to put Bellroc and Skrael in chains. That’s… pretty much it.

The discrepancy in his magic is really obvious between Trollhunters and Wizards if you take the time to think about it. For one example, in Trollhunters, he flies when he ends the Eternal Night; in Wizards, he levitates himself on a chest to get himself up to his ship?

For another example, I’ve seen so many people talk about how “weak” he is because he couldn’t make the Amulet or banish Morgana without Douxie’s help. But in Trollhunters, he builds it alone, with Moppet!Douxie only handing him the parts he needed, and he could have used his telekinesis for that. He also banishes Morgana himself, and he thought his magic was gone because of that, not because of Morgana keeping him asleep and stealing it for nine hundred years.

In Wizards, Douxie does most of the work building the Amulet, and he’s the one who banished Morgana because Merlin “couldn’t”.

But those are retcons. There’s literally art of the cave painting where he banishes Morgana in the artbook!

He got nerfed!

He also has powers that seem to only be there for one plot reason, and they’re never mentioned again, as if he, the wizard who is supposed to be the most powerful one of time according to the writers before he showed up onscreen, would forget about them. I can think of at least two: teleportation and freezing time. Teleportation was only used once. Once, a barely noticeable time when he did it in A House Divided to leave Jim alone to think. Not when Galahad’s sacrificing himself, not when Arthur is jumping right towards him, and not when Arthur has him in a chokehold. Freezing time was also only used once! It wasn’t used in literally any situation where it would have been a lifesaver. (Possibly literally.) It wasn’t used when again, Galahad was sacrificing himself, when Jim was slamming the shard in his heart to become, unbeknownst to him, a beast under the Order’s control, when Beast!Jim was holding his son hostage, and when Arthur was, again, jumping right towards him. But it’s used in the next episode after he dies to save Douxie, who I have complicated feelings about. But he’s going to be in another post.

That’s just his powers. Now onto his trauma and how that isn’t shown at all!

He’s already so interesting but he could have been so much MORE.

To sum it up, his apprentice betrays him and indirectly murders his Trollhunters and gloats about it. A very old friend sacrifices himself to buy him time while he’s dealing with his worst enemies being back.

No you know what? I’m pissed about this actually. This, right here, could have been a great thing. This could have been a scene where Merlin quietly admits it, or Nimue, midway through attacking him, realizes his desire/remembers it from him getting Excalibur. And she softens, and he explains why he did it, and he sets her free. It would have shown his motivations a lot more and would have given him a way to shine as the deurotagonist, but no. This quirky asshole who we’ve seen for all of five minutes slams a pillar into her and knocks one of her teeth out when he couldn’t even properly chase down a Mephit! This little bitch empathizes with her and sets her free even after he did that. What does Merlin get? He gets eaten. This badass gets reduced to being comic relief with Steve when instead that could have happened. Just one of the many ways canon in general does him dirty!

For one thing, they made this stupid boy with an accent the protagonist of Wizards, when it would have made far more sense to have Merlin, an already major character, the protagonist. It would have also been more interesting imo but I’m kind of biased. He was also supposed to be the deurotagonist, but that’s more of an informed thing than anything. Grace was surprised when she looked it up on the ToA wiki. He could have so many moments, and this is just one of them.

Then he fucking dies. Arthur gets murdered by one of Merlin’s worst enemies and then they resurrect him as a lackey for who knows how long because the canon timeline sucks And in Wizards, he stabs Merlin in the gut, right through his armor and throws him out a window. He ends dying like a minute later. And just. God. Someone asked the writer I’ve been talking about how that happened, and he was like “Merlin’s armor doesn’t hold up against dark magic that well.” Which doesn’t make any sense. 🙃 HIS ENTIRE TOMB IN TROLLHUNTERS IS ANTI-MAGIC, AND HE LITERALLY ALREADY A VENDETTA AGAINST DARK MAGIC EVEN BEFORE MORGANA BETRAYED HIM. And it’s so annoying when Merlin is portrayed as a weak wizard because he’s the most powerful wizard ever! Canon unfortunately doesn’t really show it BUT HE IS He was the one who defeated the Arcane Order and banished their Titans for a thousand years. He was the one who sealed Nimue in a cave, and he was the creator of the Daylight Amulet. He was the one who fought Morgana and banished her. He was the one who ended the Eternal Night. And in Episode One of Wizards, when he astral projected to that guy, all the streetlights on that street were broken before he even showed himself. But thinking about that made me realize he’s really only powerful when the plot demands it. If the Arcane Order could kill him, they would have when he was fighting them for a millennium. They wouldn’t have killed him by proxy, with a lackey. Especially Skrael, who seems to have a higher vendetta against him than his sibling. And since he can teleport, he should have been to grab Galahad like he will in EE, and he could have teleported out of Arthur’s grip. I also don’t know why his armor isn’t anti-magic when his entire tomb is.

Also HE'S LITERALLY ABLE TO FREEZE TIME IN THE NEXT DAMN EPISODE AND YET HE'S NEVER SHOWN USING IT BEFORE THAT DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE'S A TIME WIZARD AND HIS CENTER OF MAGIC IS SUPPOSED TO BE TIME IT'S JUST STUPID TO ME NOW

I'VE RANTED ABOUT THIS BEFORE BUT HE'S LITERALLY ABLE TO FREEZE TIME IN THE NEXT EPISODE

AND YET HE'S NEVER SHOWN USING IT BEFORE THAT DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE'S A *TIME WIZARD*

IT'S JUST NARM TO ME NOW

ALSO MERLIN IS A THOUSANDS YEAR OLD WARRIOR AND THE ONLY FIGHT HE ACTUALLY WON WAS AGAINST A FUCKING SIXTEEN YEAR OLD

Granted a very skilled sixteen year old but it still!!! Doesn't make sense!!!

So basically Merlin’s death was literally just to give him angst, and if anyone could kill him, he would have died YEARS AGO.

Oh, and canon and fanon can’t decide on Merlin either! Canon says Merlin is the most powerful wizard of all time, but he never gets to show it, and it seems more of an informed thing than anything. And the fact that’s he’s the fucking deurotagonist of Wizards is an informed thing too. And there would been more of his backstory, and more characterization, but it got fucking cut

His exact quote? He said “Leave them alone, Morgana.” He said them. He wasn’t referring to just AAARRRGGHH!!! If he had, he would’ve said “Leave him alone, Morgana.” HE. SAID. THEM.

He can TELEPORT

LOOK AT HIM.

He got done dirty. So dirty.

my ramble about just the canon angst he went through

He breathes FIRE and look at him in this one. HE TAKES DOWN MORGANA WHILE HE’S INJURED AND SLAMS HER INTO THE GROUND.

LOOK AT HIM.

Important characterization scenes for him are cut

MERLIN WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A COUPLE OF EPISODES ABOUT HIS BACKSTORY BUT IT GOT CUT OF COURSE

I don't know why the writers did that. Maybe it was supposed an Aesop about how

"Expectations don't live up to reality." Or something.

But if he's really like that, how did he survive fighting the Arcane Order for a literal millennia? Why did Morgana want his magic so much that she kept him asleep for nine hundred years just to get it?

Canon flip-flops on him constantly, and he's only as powerful as the plot needs him to be.

He could have teleported out of Arthur's grasp, or he could have frozen time before that even happened and gotten them all out of there.

He made the Cradlestone to free the babies, and ended the Eternal Night, but they weren't really dwelled on, making him seem more like a living Deus Ex Machina if anything. In Wizards, he needed another master wizard to help him complete the Amulet.

He can teleport!! He was gone. He breathes fire in some storyboards. l'm not joking.

Before he appeared onscreen, he seemed like a revered figure. He's described as a "wizard that has power" in the art book. in EPISODE ONE.

Trollhunters actually makes him seem more badass compared to Wizards where he got more screen time.

He actually is badass, but he doesn't get to show it except for when the plot needs him to.

He was nerfed and I will not accept otherwise.

It was just to give Douxie angst.

me shaking the writers YOU DO NOT HAVE AN EXCUSE

Okay I’m mainly talking about his characterization, but he was done dirty by this too!

Look at him!

He looks amazing.

Then canon downgraded him into just an old man!

I’m sorry, but I can’t take his design seriously when he looks like that compared to his concept art.

There’s also the fandom. I originally thought that I would put it under the cut so people wouldn’t have to see my opinions, but you know what? This needs to be said, and I’m leaving it out in the open.

Five episodes. Five. And that was enough to inspire a whole tag around hating him, people who whispered a word about even liking him were harassed off the site,

And even hated for being traumatized *cough* **Merlin** *cough*

y z

I didn’t specify that it was Merlin in the first rant, but you could probably guess from even that.

*Merlin stomped on Douxie’s self-esteem as soon as he adopted him*!

“*Merlin doesn’t understand emotions! He has the emotional density of a turnip*!”

Another canon to fanon ToA thing is **MERLIN’S WHOLE PERSONALITY!!!**

He’s constantly made into the worst person ever. A bad dad. An emotionally abusive manipulator. A fucking pedophile.

“Quotes”, “meta”, and “evidence” that he’s a bad person are pulled from thin air. I know I’ve said this before, but I really feel like people are just coming up with reasons to hate him, or they’re purposely making him worse than canon so they can hate him. One time, I saw a fic author ADMIT they were writing Merlin worse than canon on purpose.

It fucking sucks to see him be changed so much. I’m know I’m going to do him justice. I know that I’m writing him in character. I have meta from Aaron, actual, honest to God **quotes**, screencaps, etc. But it still fucking sucks. I put the tag Good Merlin on Emerald Embers, but I’m still nervous that someone in the comments or somewhere else will say he’s out of character.

I am so sick of people demonizing him when Morgana is RIGHT THERE!

And yet those five episodes were enough to cause a whole tag called the Merlin hate train, people wishing violent death upon him or giving him ones, and people who gave even one hint that they liked him harassed off the site.

And most of the reason was because Merlin “manipulated Jim into becoming a half-troll!”

But he didn’t. He sat Jim down and laid out his options: 1. take the potion and win against Gunmar and whoever else he would have to fight, or 2. don’t take the potion and die a brutal, painful death.

Also, kind of off subject, but when Jim turned back to human, there was controversy over whether he should have stayed troll or not!

MAKE UP YOUR DAMN MINDS FANDOM

And the voice acting I showed you? Is from that scene. Merlin is a very, very emotionally constipated person because of all the shit and trauma he’s been through over the course of millenia, and him saying that is essentially baring his soul to a child that he barely even knows.

Does the fandom give a shit about that? No!

Does the fandom give a shit when he said “Leave them alone, Morgana.” referring to both AAARRRGGHH!!! and Angor? The latter of whom was a slave at the time? No!

Does the fandom give a shit when he grieved over his Trollhunters’ deaths? Most of them murders? No!

Does the fandom give a shit when he grieved over Galahad’s death? No!

Does the fandom give a shit when it’s implied that he sealed Nimue away to seal her away from Arthur’s massacre of magic kind? No!

Does the fandom give a shit about him being surprised when Jim gives him an affectionate nickname in Wizards? No!

DOES EVERYONE FORGET MERLIN HOLDING DOUXIE’S HANDS AND HIM HOLDING RIGHT BACK?! DOES EVERYONE FORGET MERLIN CUPPING HIS FACE? DOES EVERYONE FORGET HIM CALLING HIM HIS SON? DOES EVERYONE FORGET THEIR HUG IN EPISODE TEN?

YES

And many more things!

They were making tons of aus with Merlin as the villain, *of course*, and they were giving him death threats and saying they would kill him, throw him out of a window, and do a ton of other shit.

I hated seeing it, and sometimes I could literally feel my body getting distressed because of it.

But the worst part of seeing this?

They were wishing death on him because of their own fanon versions.

And even if he is written as a good person? He always only cares about Douxie.

His trauma, his sarcasm, his empathy, all go poof. Reddie is one of the few people who knows that he’s a good person, but even she acts like he doesn’t have any empathy at all. Hopefully I’ve demonstrated that he is a very high empath with the above.☝️ Hardly anyone in the fandom™️ appreciates his complexities at all!

No matter what, whether he’s characterized as a good person and/or good dad, or bad person and/or bad dad, all of his complexities are erased. No matter what.

Actually a lot of them.

Anyways,

and he’s mine now.

Thank you so much for the ask!

#mine #talesofarcadiaforever answers #anonymous #talesofarcadiaforever rants #tales of arcadia #trollhunters #wizards #Merlin Ambrosius #if anyone comes in the notes just to hate on him I WILL BLOCK YOUR ASS I SWEAR TO GOD #Merlin defense squad #long posts

[khaleesiofalicante]

Dani, dani, dani.

you already KNOW we’re gonna have to break down this new chapter. hopefully this ask isn’t too long, but i’ve got so many things to mention:

“And neither time did David do anything wrong but love a little too much.” and this will be the very sad beginning of a litany of great lines in the chapter

“You can keep thinking of him for eternity. I just want it to hurt every time you do.” as cruel as the line is, i really think it’s one of the clearest ways for the reader to understand mallory’s values

david manipulating mallory into feeding the kids, this man can be dangerously smart when he wants to be

logan 🥴🤢🤮

“I’m sorry,” David said. “Did he marry you?” I KNOW THATS RIGHT

max don’t stop calling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

nooooo not the “they’re my kids” scene 😣

“You don’t have that. You don’t have what it takes to love him.” I 👏 KNOW 👏 THATS 👏RIGHT 👏

“He ruined Max and Max let him do it” dani why must you play with my sanity like this?

the flashback feels like the last piece of the puzzle. we already have a pretty clear picture of what happened, this scene just fills in any gaps and we can move on from the past and talk about mavids future

“how can i make it better?” max >>>>>>

if it wasn’t put in the show, what did david put in the show for when mallory visited him? we know there’s a torture scene, but do people just assume mallory did it soley out of jealousy?

“when did you stop trusting me with your pain” your honor, i would like to sue for the intentional affliction of emotional distress

“Because I promised to support your writing, David,” Max sighed. “And I do support it. Even now.” MAX >>>>>>>>>>>

mavid jaden slander 🥰

“Because I couldn’t help myself,” David smiled. “Because it’s you.” i think you mentioned that david’s fundamental reason for dating jaden would be pretty simple, and it really is.

“I don’t need a reason to love you.” 🥺

max only has two moods: fuck you david 🖕 or fuck you david 👀😼 and i respect that

“So, every time you move away from me, and it breaks my heart, I want to remember you are hurting even worse.” max is doing his best to be mature about it despite the shock he must be facing

mavid going back to using terms of endearment will give me the energy i need to get through next week

dark eyes appreciation‼️ as someone with dark eyes myself, seeing so many authors describe main characters with blue eyes made me a little insecure about my own eyes :( but i’ve grown to embrace that dark eyes are sexy and cool and awesome. thank you for the appreciation :) romanticize dark eyes agenda 🙌

the whole david exploring max scene was so cautious and soft, it feels like when you come home after a long time of being away and just feeling that immediate sense of comfort

“Max wanted to help and when he realized his way of helping didn’t help, he got frustrated.” honestly i’m on david’s side with this one. as mature as max has become, it’s hard to accept that his way of helping david won’t work any longer. david needs to be in complete control of his healing, he has had his autonomy taken away too much for anything else. luckily for us, max is very much a “tell me what you need and i’ll do it”

arthur got the role 🫶

jackson jaden slander 🥰 and just jackson being on maxs side too

the entire tattoo scene was a glimpse of heaven dani

“It’s the kind of energy I’ve manifested in my room” to be fair, confessing their undying love, being honest, and having a good hug was pretty close to what happened. so imma say arthur’s manifestations were successful 

david finally writing again! and writing about other max!! 

talking about games throughout the this chapter and even in the white house party scene was just so neat to me. for me, it kinda represents david purposefully lying to himself, or feeling like he needs to lie to himself, so he can heal. in some ways, he was playing the game for the entire 13 years he was divorced and making max hate him. but he doesn’t need to play any game anymore. know he just needs to be david.

oh the character development of these two 🥰 i really feel like a mom watching my kids grow into the best versions of theirselves.

you’re amazing, you’re amazing, you’re amazing.

ps: will the flashback scene of the next chapter be mavids first date 👀

pps: i just found out i got accepted into two more of the colleges i applied to! so i’m currently 3 for 3!!! two more to go 🤞

Please I love this list so much it was the fave thing I read today 🥺

And yes, next chapter is the first meeting and first date and first kiss it's gonna be so fucking fluffy i promise :))

PS - YOU ARE FUCKING COOL WOW CONGRATULATIONS AND LET'S KEEP GOING BABYGIRL.

#IALS

[thatsparrow]

rewatched quest for camelot—my absolute childhood beloved—last night for the first time in maybe 14 years? and truly I could care less what anyone says about the plot, it is still such a delight. I had a blast the whole way through. ruber’s whole deal is just wanting power and being as over the top as possible in every scene. the music is spectacular. it immediately says “fuck disney” by giving us a dead dad instead of a dead mom. kayley was absolutely the blueprint for who I wanted to be as a child (completely unsurprising that I went on to read and fall in love w tamora pierce). i have listened to “on my father’s wings” countless times over the years, the line “this horse’s stride with one day’s ride // will have covered more distance than me” has such pleasing internal rhyme. ruber turning his henchman into mechanical part-weapons is so nonsensical in the context of this arthurian story but those designs also slap so hard. the timeline makes no sense, particularly that kayley was supposed to be born the same day that arthur pulled the sword from the stone, so all the subsequent civic development has happened in like eight years? it features celine dion’s oscar-nominated song “the prayer” which is beautiful and also becomes extremely unintentionally funny in that is dubbed over kayley running for her life and ending up in the forbidden forest, immediately countering every message of hope and safety that juliana wants for her. garrett is such a brilliant and unexpected protagonist for an animated movie from 1998, and “i stand alone” is an obvious classic. the timeline makes no sense their first day in the forbidden forest lasts forever and then the next day is over in five minutes. all the plants are alive and want to kill you. garrett changes his mind about kayley coming with him immediately and for no reason. they get to the end of the forest and kayley makes a comment about seeing the sky despite the fact that there were dragons flying around. what is the composition of the forest anyway? just kidding who cares bc the scene where she patches him up and they sing “looking through your eyes” is peak romance, daredevil’s ‘world on fire’ scene like 20 years before its time. they absolutely fall in love too fast but the whole movie takes place over like three days so who cares. him leading her through the tunnels to save arthur!! her echoing “I will not serve a false king” from her father at the beginning!! quest for camelot my absolute and eternal beloved

#picture 5yo kayla on the living room couch with the stomach flu. a rugrats bucket next to her in case she threw up #watching qfc to the end. getting up and rewinding the vhs to watch it again. and repeating this maybe five or six times in a row? #and she was correct to do so!! #quest for camelot