#anyone remember hansel and gretel fairytale

[athenswrites]

Knight of Dawn, Chapter 8 [Not Your Typical Fairytale]

TW: Transphobia

The meeting lasted much longer than expected. It was 6:30 pm, before anyone could escape. Piers’ shirt was soaked through with sweat. As they stepped into the hallway, they took off their jacket and slung it over their shoulder. The cool air was more than welcome after the stuffy environment of the conference room.

They stood at the door and shook hands with everyone else left. At last, Grady came walking out, alone.

“Why’d you wait?” She asked them, and they matched pace with her, walking towards the main part of the Palace.

“I don’t want to walk alone.” 

“Well you’re going to have to. I got a meeting tonight with Benj, Sei, Gavin, and the miraculously appearing Lopez tonight for dinner. We’re going over everything you said. I’m so excited.” She drawled, rolling her eyes, “Please save me. Dad’s gonna ask me so many questions about that meeting and in all honesty I wasn’t paying attention for the majority of it.”

“Good luck then. I’ll see you tonight.”

With a mock salute, the duo split up, heading towards what they needed to do. As soon as Piers was on their floor, alone, they tugged off their sweaty clothes, tossing them in the hamper. Their dinner outfit was practically the exact same, but they traded their white shirt for a black one, so they wouldn’t stain it by accidentally spilling soup. They changed in record time, making sure they looked presentable and even putting in the effort to gel their hair back a little. They wiped the sweat from where their mask had been, and found a new gray one which wouldn’t get in the way while they ate, even if it did expose a little bit of the scarring on their face.

Then, Piers got distracted and finished the chess game with Constance they’d left halfway done. (They won, even with the AI setting cranked to the maximum difficulty.)

When Piers finally arrived downstairs for dinner, without their better half at their side, they found themself fashionably late, as always…but not too late. Pausing in the doorway, they scanned the crowded parlor room, taking notes on everyone who’d shown up for dinner.

President Kritzer from South Carolina. New Orleans Parish Commissioner Broussard and Baton Rouge Parish Commissioner Afar, but not their Queen, who hadn’t even come, as predicted. One notable face was missing from the room, which disappointed them; President Dubois was nowhere to be seen. 

Across the room, Piers spotted the man with ginger hair, the one who Grady had been sitting with. He was the only secretary or bodyguard or whatever he was present. Stepping further into the room, they pulled their jacket closer around them, as bodies pressed against them. They tried to blend in and not disturb anyone as they worked their way through the crowd, to where the man stood in the far corner.

“Hello! I don’t recognize you from the table earlier today.” 

He looked up from the floor at Piers, the slightly shocked look on his face morphing to more obvious discomfort.

“Your Majesty.” He gave a tight lipped smile, “I’m Sec. Darcey Olson. Dubois has a horrible migraine at the moment, so I’m filling in for him. He said you’d probably be looking for him, and he’s still willing to speak after dinner.” Piers offered him a hand to shake, and he did so, but not without a little hesitation. They already knew exactly who he was but, they just had to check- 

“Your last name, Olson.. any relation to Marcie?”

“She’s my older sister. We haven’t spoken in a while. I don’t know how we have the same parents.” 

“Marcie can be a bit…bossy.”

He eased, uncrossing his arms a little bit, “She’s been like that since before I can remember. We have a decent age gap between us, so we didn’t grow close as kids. Marcie seems to have forcibly made Hansel and Gretel do sibling bonding.”

“Hey! I see you’ve met Piers.” Councilor Johnson came up behind Piers, knocking playfully into their shoulder, before greeting Darcey with a joking military salute.

Darcey laughed, “Yeah. It’s strange.” 

What the hell do you mean strange?

Johnson and Darcey began to chat, and Piers zoned out, listening to a conversation behind them between Councilors Mason and Miles. They angled themself just a little bit so they could see the edge of Mason’s face as she spoke.

“...a threat. We all saw the video, with the effigy. With Adele gone, they think the monarchy and by extension the government is weak. We’re all doomed if Jillian Piers can’t stop being so fucking wishy-washy and take an actual stance and do something. We’ll be better off throwing her to the wolves and letting the monarchy end.” Mason whispered, but she was definitely being a little loud on purpose.

Miles scoffed a little, keeping their voice low, “Fantasia, please. That kid is our only chance. If Piers dies, we’re all doomed. We gain more from keeping them around. Adele abdicated. Piers is Monarch. It’s a new era, and I honestly think they’re gonna do better than most of us give them credit for. I’m gonna make the best of it, and retire comfortably in a few years…

Damn. they’d never heard Miles say anything good about them. Ever.

“For fucks sake Shanna, Adele’s dead. You don’t have to suck the ‘queen’s’ dick anymore-”

Piers whipped around, but Miles was already down Mason’s throat, raising her voice. “I may let you slide misgendering me, but the moment you imply Adele was not a woman, I will say something. She may have been a bitch, and I may not have liked her, but at least I respected her.”

The surrounding people, including Piers, were shocked into silence. Councilor Mason rolled her eyes with a huff, and stormed off into the crowd. The paused conversations resumed.

“I didn’t think you’d do that.” was the first thing Piers could think to say to Miles. 

She stiffened a little, as if she was going to make a rude comment, before letting out a long sigh. “It’s…You understand. I’ll stand up for others before I stand up for myself. I’ve only ever presented as female while serving in government positions, and Mason still makes purposefully transphobic comments.” 

Piers nodded, “I appreciate it. And if Mason ever gives you issues, please let me know.”

“Thank you.” Miles actually smiled at them, before changing the topic, “I guess it’s time to let everyone in. Marcie’s daughter told me it should be ready at 8:15 and it’s 8:20 now.”

“I’ll help you with the doors then.” 

Piers and Miles squeezed through the crowd, to the doors leading to the formal dining room. In sync, they opened the doors, and a gust of cool air blew into the parlor. Like cattle, the crowd followed the herd through the doors, flooding into the dining room. They took their places at the long table, their spots assigned with tiny nametags. Piers gestured for Miles to head to the table, and she thanked them, before letting the heavy door fall shut behind her.

The room’s loud chatter died down as Piers approached the table, standing behind their seat like everyone else. Once again, they sat at the head. Every set of eyes were latched upon them, waiting.

“My esteemed guests, I’d like to thank you for joining me these few days in celebration. Yesterday marked the beginning of a new era for this state. You’ve heard me talk enough earlier today, so with no further adieu, let’s eat.”

Piers took their seat between Councilor Johnson and Councilor Sidney. Chairs scraped and voices rang as everyone took their own seats, ordering food and chatting with old friends and new enemies. Waiters came and went, taking orders, pouring drinks, delivering plates, and clearing the table. Guests ordered whatever they wanted off the digital menu, as many servings as they wanted. The table stayed full of plates and drinks.

Councilor Sidney ordered four large bowls of the vegan corn chowder right off the bat. Gretel was the one to deliver their food, and she put a hand on their back, whispering something in their ear. Sidney flushed red. 

Prime Minister Cohen got a platter of roast beef dropped in her lap, and she profusely apologized to the poor waitress, instead of the other way around.

Councilor Miles went through three glasses of sweet tea, before one of the waiters just brought her a whole pitcher, which she finished off in record time.

Darcey played with his food and separated it into piles, but he seemed too nervous to eat anything. He excused himself from the table after a few moments, his face green.

Councilor Mason stirred the pot, towards the end of the table, starting arguments for no reason other than to start them.

Gretel tapped Piers’ shoulder as she sat a steak in front of them, accompanied by roasted asparagus.  

“Watch your food.” She warned, and they thanked her. Piers nudged the asparagus to the side with their fork, then cut up the steak. It was so raw it still bled (perfect), and they grabbed a roll from one of the baskets, soaking up the juice.

Piers didn’t want to look like a heathen, but they were starving. They could eat anything and everything put in front of them. 

Well, unless it was green beans. 

They hated green beans. 

And they didn’t eat shellfish either, because that would send them to the emergency room.

As dinner dragged on, and the alcohol started to flow for real, tongues finally began to loosen.  People tended to talk a little bit more, and spill their secrets. King Chastain had a new mistress. Tennessee’s lieutenant governor had been found killed, a shotgun blast to the head. Louisiana was beginning preparations to remove Queen Consort Gauthier from power, due to her excessive absence. President Dubois supposedly got married.

“President Dubois got married?” Piers whispered to Councilor Johnson, who shrugged, before speaking down the table a little bit.

“Hey Darcey, did Dubois get married? That news didn’t make it up here?” He sounded shocked. 

Darcey choked a little on whatever he was eating, and took a long sip of his wine, before he finally spoke. “Uhhh…yeah, after his last election. He and his partner are both pretty quiet about it, to protect the both of them…plus his partner is just as shy as he is.”

“Is he really shy, or does he have something to hide? That guy ain’t normal. I met him years back and he’s fucking weird.” Councilor Miles drawled as she leaned back in her chair, saying almost exactly what was on Piers’ mind.

Collective sounds of agreement sounded from around the table; it seemed like Piers wasn’t alone in their curiosity. Darcey’s hands shook so bad, he almost dropped his glass.

“H-He’s just…he has issues, with people…”

“That’s why he’s not here? Does he actually go to anything? Or did he make you come to dinner because he’s too good to eat with the other leaders? He’s been invading half our borders.” Councilor Miles continued, going a little past teasing as she leaned on the table. Darcey sunk into his chair, face bright red. Piers wasn’t sure how much more they’d be able to stand themself, from the second-hand embarrassment.

“Shanna, that's enough.” Councilor Johnson intervened, thumping his fist on the wooden table to get her attention. She slid back down into her seat, muttering curses at him, and the room awkwardly went back to talking. Darcey excused himself from the table for the fourth time that night, but this time, he didn’t come back.

Once most had finished dessert, and a few more people had started to leave, Gretel slipped a piece of foil-wrapped cake into their hands. “My uncle wants you to take this to Dubois. Apparently, the cake is Dubois’ favorite and he’s already waiting in the Rooftop for you. I’ve got this from here.”

Piers thanked her, again, before standing and addressing the group one last time, telling them to enjoy themselves and that they were retiring for the night. A chorus of faint goodbyes wished them farewell as they left, slipping out of the dining room and into the Palace. Moonlight streamed through the large windows to their right, which overlooked ATLZoS. It was dark, but the city was visibly alive. Spitting in the face of an apocalypse of the undead, it was alive. 

The halls were eerily quiet as they approached the center of the Palace, heading towards the main elevators. This dark didn’t scare them, like the Lab. This was home. These were the halls they’d slid down in socks since they were young, and the same halls they’d probably die in.

Seconds after they pressed the button for the elevator, the doors opened. Piers stepped in, hesitating for a second, before bumping their wrist against the scanner and selecting the top floor. The Rooftop was a common room, just for the Royal Family and their most favored guests. It was a strange choice, in Piers’ opinion. They paced back and forth as the digital numbers ticked up.

When it stopped, they readied themself once more, shoulders back, head tilted up, feet firm on the ground.

Nothing was going to go wrong. Piers was going to make sure of it.

TAGLIST (dm to be +/-) @author-a-holmes @soul-write @flowerprose @ceph-the-ghost-writer @theglitchywriterboi @when-wax-wings-melt @thechaoticflowergarden @lyralit @penspiration-writing @samatedeansbroccoli @charlesjosephwrites @italiangothicwriteblr @thetruearchmagos @pineapple-lover-boy @unilightwrites @sanguine-arena @bardic-tales @joshuaorrizonte @blind-the-winds @circa-specturgia @hymnonlips @aloeverawrites @the-stray-storyteller @writeblrsupport @starlit-skys @kyuponstories @guessillcallitart @magic-is-something-we-create @talesofsorrowandofruin @writingonmymind @imslowlydisintegrating @worldsfromhoney

NYTF WIP PAGE

#writing #writeblr #excerpt #wip #athenswrites #nytf #piers hall #grady yensey #shanna miles

[hajimyans]

Scout! Fairytales in a Dream Translation: Chapter 1

Translated by: @myamura

Fun disclaimers: Light English proofreading was done. Not a professional translation. There may be mistakes as this is my first time translating a full story. I haven't read many stories from Ensemble Stars, so I'm not familiar with the unique ways that some of the characters speak. Please read for fun! Please let me know if there are any major mistakes.

Season: Summer

Location: ES Live Stage

Tsukasa: 「… And that was Knights’ performance for the princesses.」

Leo: 「Thank you again for coming to watch… ✰」

Arashi: 「Ufufu. Seeing the smiles on your cute faces, you guys must have fallen for my dancing, right?」

「Now now, answer me, who is the fairest of them all?」

「Exactly, it’s me… ♪ Mhm, thank you!」

Izumi: 「Hey, you’re just answering it yourself. You shouldn’t overdo the self-praise.」

「At best, Naru-kun is second place, since I’m the fairest of them all. Isn’t that right, Kuma-kun?」

Ritsu: 「Huh? I’m not a magic mirror so don’t ask me~?」

(………..?)

(This is weird. Usually, Secchan wouldn’t interrupt Nacchan…)

Arashi: 「Oh my, I hate you. Izumi-chan, did you eat something bad today? I’m obviously the fairest of them all.」

「Isn't it Izumi-chan that's overdoing the self-praise? Perhaps it’s because you’re jealous of my looks? How cheap of you.」

Izumi: 「What? Me being jealous of Naru-kun? Are you kidding me?」

Arashi: 「Either way, no matter what Izumi-chan says, I’m never going to acknowledge anyone that claims to be more beautiful and fair than me!」

Ritsu: (What's going on? Nacchan isn't being like herself, she got mad at Secchan right away.)

(They've whipped up a hostile vibe out of nowhere and even the fans are starting to whisper amongst themselves...)

Tsukasa: ...........

Ritsu: (whispers) Suu-chan, have you picked up on it too? Let’s talk about something else and move on so that the performance can end smoothly.

Tsukasa: 「Hm… Honestly, I’m a bit confused myself but the two senpais are arguing over who is the fairest of them all, right? This is like the famous scene in Snow White.」

「But if we were to look only at the descriptions in the story, I think the person who best matches Snow White’s image in Knights is Ritsu-senpai.」

Ritsu: (Wait wait, did Suu-chan not catch my drift at all? This is totally wrong?!)

Leo: 「Wahaha! I’ve already completely let go of the weight of being King. I just want to be a free bard! That’s why I’m not going to be involved in any of this!」

Ritsu: (So it seems Tsukipi~ has no intention of stopping this argument either… It’s going to be difficult but I guess I’ll have to stop them.)

「—」

(Eh? Nothing’s coming out when I try to speak?)

Izumi: 「Hmph. Since Naru-kun and I can’t come to an agreement, let’s put our knight’s honor on the line and duel!」

Arashi: 「Alright, let's duel! To all the princesses that support me, stand behind me!」

Ritsu: (And so, following Suu-chan’s command, Nacchan and Secchan unsheathed their swords and led their fans to opposing camps. In an instant, the live venue was engulfed in a whirlwind of madness—)

(........ Now I understand. This is a nightmare that doesn’t exist in reality)

(Otherwise, I would be able to speak or move. There would be no reason for me to stand by like a third party and watch them fight…)

(Ahh, this hurts. I feel like I can’t breathe.)

(I don't care who, so please, someone save me. Someone wake me up—)

???: …Oniichan, Ritsu-oniichan!!

Location: Garden

Ritsu: —Euuagh! Haah, ha…!

Hajime: Ritsu-oniichan, are you alright?

I woke you up because you had a pained expression on your face. I thought you could have been having a nightmare…

Ritsu: Ah, so that noise was you, Haakun… Thank god, I thought I wouldn’t be able to wake up.

It was a really terrifying dream. But now, all I remember is that it had something to do with the fairytale, Snow White.

Hajime: Snow White… Is it perhaps because I just read this fairytale to you, Ritsu-oniichan?

Ra*bits read Hansel and Gretel on a radio program and it did well enough to be asked to appear again…

So I wanted to hear your thoughts on my reading again to build more confidence but I ended up causing you to have a nightmare. I’m so sorry…!

Ritsu: No no, you did nothing wrong, Haakun. More like I just fell asleep without even knowing it.

Your voice is just like a lullaby, smooth and nice to listen to. That’s why you get a perfect score again ♪

And I should be the grateful one. Thank you for waking me up from that hopeless dream and bringing me back to warm reality, my prince ♪

Hajime: Prince…?

Ritsu: But since I just woke up, I’m quite thirsty. I want to drink some delicious blood.

Hajime: R-Ritsu-oniichan? Your hand is so cold—

Ritsu: My dear prince, how about you help this king to the end and let me drink your blood? Then I can definitely come to my senses~ ♪

Hajime: Uwaaah, please stop it! Does this mean the person I woke up was a dangerous vampire?!

Ritsu-oniichan, if you’re thirsty, I’ll brew a cup of black tea for you. I guarantee that it’ll taste better than my blood. Ahaha…

By the way, it seems that Eichi-oniichan will be doing a photoshoot for a magazine with the theme of an「OJS」guy soon. Wouldn’t he have a more princely vibe than me in Ouji-sama style clothes?

Ritsu: 「Ojisan Style」 guy? I think that’d suit Ecchan quite well~ ♪

Eichi: Achoo! ………Hm? Seems like someone is talking about me behind my back.

Hajime: Eichi-oniichan! Good work~ Hurry, come sit and rest. I prepared some tea and snacks ♪

Ritsu: Oh? Ecchan came. I thought today’s tea party would be a fun time with just me and Haakun.

Eichi: Haha, this is a place where I can relax, even for just a short while. That’s why I want to make time to have a cup of tea with you both no matter how busy I am.

For example… I just heard Hajime-kun say that Eichi-oniichan is a 「Prince」 in his eyes… Ah, this is healing for the soul ♪

Ritsu:Eeeh? Isn’t that your own delusion? The way I look at it, Ecchan is like an evil villain trying to steal our child.

Now, Haakun. It’d be better to run away with the vampire grandpa. Let’s escape from the grasp of the evil 「Emperor」 ♪

Eichi: Hm, that seems like a fun story. Then I’ll close my eyes, count to ten, and go catch you both.

Fufufufu, try your best to run away…♪

Hajime: Wait, what kind of setting is this?! Are we going to play hide and seek?

Ritsu: Shhh… Be quiet, Haakun.

Since the game has already begun, let’s hurry and find a safe place to go. We can’t get caught by the 「Emperor」... ♪

[sunshinereddie]

cutie and button!

cutie - what’s your favourite fairytale?

ok so growing up i had a super big obsession with rapunzel and also hansel and gretel? i have no idea why djsbsjsb but when i was a kid i had this big collection of fairytale storybooks and i remember reading those two over and over and over again,,,, idk why they stuck with me so much but they did!

button - do you have a type? what is it like?

uhhh honestly…. i don’t know ,, i’ve never dated anyone and it’s been a very very long time since i’ve actually genuinely liked someone so i don’t really know what my type would be if i do have one 🧍

thanks for the ask !! <3 (game here)

#sunshinereddie asks #nickname ask game

[starryasmo]

Cottagecore MC x Demon Brothers

this has a bonus chapter with the undateables in the making!! cross posted on my ao3, which can be found in my bio ( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ ☆☆

——— 

Sometimes, Lucifer wondered truly how innocent you could be.

You were simply the purest. You were like a little woodland fairy, flitting about and bouncing upon mushrooms and through the foliage of the Devildom as you skittered about, doing your tasks diligently and with a warm smile all the while. Your delight at seeing a tree in your room was like that of the warm sun of the human world, the sun that Lucifer remembered as golden rays and a warm embrace. You would hum as you completed your tasks and when you finished, you would beam proudly at your handiwork, and Lucifer would swear on his life that he could see the pale white sparkles surrounding your face as you preened at your hard work, bringing an innocuous light to the usually dark and enigmatic Devildom.

You were as cute as a human could be, with doll lashes framing sweet gentle eyes and fluttering against cherubic cheeks that flushed with pink. Mammon had even tried to market you as a doll to sell at one point, and Leviathan liked to have you standing next to his Ruri-chan life-sized cardboard cutout or figurines to make it feel like his collection was complete. You smelled of tea leaves and spring petals and warm sugar cookies and soft cream puffs, and the scents brought a small dosage of serotonin to Lucifer’s heart whenever you passed by. When you weren’t in your RAD uniform, you liked to dress up in pale peasant blouses, flouncy pinafore dresses, and cozy knits that Satan would gift you. You were like a forest wanderer, skipping along the trails of the Devildom as if it were a leisure stroll through the woods, wicker basket hanging off your arm as you hummed, carefree and bright. Had you been anyone else, Lucifer would have scolded you for your naivety as to walking carelessly in a world of ravenous demons, but one look in your pure, sweet eyes, and the words died on his tongue like melted snow.

You had even managed to attain the favor of the other six brothers, albeit you had no clue that you had six of the seven overlords of Hell vying for your attention and your gentle smile as you invited the Little D’s to have tea with you in your room.

Mammon would accompany you to the human world market on Wednesdays when you went to go shop for groceries and to buy little trinkets. He’d trail after your happy figure, your linen apron fluttering in the early spring breezes as you filled your basket with vegetables and meat, as well as sweet bread, milk, and sugar. At first, he’d been reluctant, trudging after you boredly because it had been his obligation to accompany you to the human world and bring you back. However, after he’d noticed you always tucking the afternoon tea menus into the pockets of your dress and buying hand painted teacups from the shop with the elderly owner more often than not, he’d questioned your motives, and you introduced him to starting collections of things that you found pleasing. Now, whenever Wednesday struck, he was pulling you along excitedly to the human realm, eager to add on to his collections of cute rings, little trinkets such as lockets and charms, and other treasures that caught his eye. You had even bought him a comical-like treasure chest for him to store his newest finds in. Every time he finished a collection, something new would catch his eye, and he’d be rushing to buy it. It was one of the perfect ways to spend leisure time with the second born. He especially loved it when you invited him to bake with you, surprisingly. He passed it off with the excuse that he could sell some of the pastries and make good money, but he found himself eagerly looking forward to you waking him up gently in the wee hours of the morning on the weekends so you two could sneak into the kitchen and bake something. Those hours were usually spent baking batches upon batches of treats, enough to satiate Beelzebub’s ravenous urges and still have enough left over for everyone else. You two would dust powdered sugar on each other’s cheeks, sharing laughs and jokes as you cleaned each other up. The treat that Mammon liked to bake with you the most was your infamous honey tarts. They tasted delicious, and they reminded him of gold, therefore combining his two favorite things — gold, and you. He loved spending time with you that way, and when you’d offered to feed him a honey tart once, he was sure that something in him short circuited.

Leviathan wasn’t as easily convinced as Mammon had been. Being someone who preferred to stay in his room, he was a lot more hesitant to allow you to visit his room, especially considering your fondness with nature and his aversion to it, as cute as you were. However, you had noticed the plants that he’d gotten just to give his limited edition porcelain Ruri-chan flower pots a purpose, and your sweet and gentle smile had twisted into a slight frown, which had caused his heart to shrink and tighten up in slight fear upon seeing your calm and loving demeanor fade, although he would deny it to this day. When you lifted the pots from their shelves, he’d tutted anxiously, warning you with rushed words to be careful. You had sighed and carefully emptied out the pots, filling them with richer soil from the farms of the human world. You had brought some flower seeds with you, and you had pulled Leviathan over from his game to help you. He couldn’t deny that the way that your soft and gentle hands guided his to tend to the flowers was something that pleased him greatly, and when the first blooms had sprouted from the soil, you had smiled before giving each bloom a small kiss on the bud, and while the sight was totally moe, it sparked up that familiar twinge of envy in Leviathan’s heart, which he shoved down quickly in favor of seeing your beautiful smile as you kissed the blossoms. Your hands were gentle in handling both the flower pots and in squeezing his and untangling his fingers from his hair during anxiety attacks or episodes, and they were probably his favorite thing about you. They were incredibly soft, and your fingers were delicate and smelled like the light lemon pies you would bring in during gaming sessions to feed him while he played. You loved baking for him, and he loved it when you baked for him, especially when you would decorate the desserts to make them seem like they were straight out of a fantasy anime. He honestly liked sneaking peeks into the kitchen to see you baking more than he liked the desserts themselves, but he’d be damned if he ever told you that. After all, he needed the perfect dating sim route to go slow and steady, right?

Getting along with Satan was something that had come surprisingly easy to you once you got past his distrusting facade, because nobody, especially not a human, could possibly be this gentle and sweet . When you had earned his trust, however, you two would pass the wee hours after studying by curling up before the ornate fireplace and reading together, cups of enchanted cocoa steaming next to you. You enjoyed reading with him — his presence was comfortable and warm, and more often than not, he would read to you in a silky smooth voice that you absolutely adored. When Diavolo had sent you to the human world to retrieve some of your belongings in order to make you feel more at home, one of the things you had brought back was a thick book full of fairytales and worn pages. That was the thing that had caught his eye the most, and when you’d noticed him reading not-so-subtly over your shoulder, you had shot him a gentle smile and began to read the story of Hansel and Gretel aloud to him. Of course, he didn’t understand the merit of the story, but hearing your voice reading all these fantastical stories of grandiose warriors and heartwarming romances was enough to make his heart melt. Your voice was probably his favorite thing about you — it was soothing and sweet, like a sip of his favorite tea. Earl grey, which you somehow knew already because you were a clever little pixie of a human who could read him like an open book, no pun intended. You even made it the way he liked it. He especially loved hearing you talk to his cats about mindless little things, even if he thought that they couldn’t understand you and you couldn’t understand them. Truth be told, he liked hearing you chatter to any woodland creature; when you two went to the human realm together, he noticed that you would always stop to tell the birds about your day, or strike up a friendly conversation with the bunnies who lived in the rosebushes, or tell the deer that seemed to draw towards you about Satan himself and how kind he was. You always seemed so happy to talk to them, even if they couldn’t understand you. He was becoming unsure of that, however, but he ignored it. Why dwell on that when he could watch you chatter with the frogs and ducks by the pond instead?

Asmodeus was quick to smother you with affection. How could he not? You were as cute as a button and twice as precious, and you smelled like honey and wild berries! You were simply too cute for him to resist. Almost immediately after your transfer to the House of Lamentation, he’d whisked you into his room and sat you down for an impromptu makeup session. You’d been a bit overwhelmed at the fast pace, but eventually just let it happen as you let him do your makeup. He couldn’t stop crooning at how cute you looked, both naturally and with touches of subtle but elegant makeup here and there. He had definitely taken you out to find clothes that you liked at Majolish, and he’d entertained your hobbies of collecting little trinkets by taking you to shops that sold items that you liked. In return, you gifted him little homemade pieces of jewelry you made, such as the gold necklace with flower charms and little baby buds on it that you’d given him for his birthday, or the honey earrings and bee pendant you’d made him as a thank you gift for taking you to a farmer’s market when everyone else had been busy. Picnics in the human realm were also a common occurrence with you two, and they usually ended in you two weaving flowers into each other’s hair and telling each other stories as you snacked on blueberry cheesecake and passionfruit tarts. You would bring two portable cups for the two of you, and the drink would be different every time — some days, it would be raspberry cordial for him and a berry mix for you, and other days he would get a sweet latte while you sipped on honey tea. There was never a dull moment with you two, and you loved running through grassy lavender fields with him, especially when he would catch up with you and lift you by your waist, the breeze filtering through your hair and ruffling the skirt of your dress as you let out giddy giggles that brought a blossom of warmth to his chest, right under his heart. The sun would beam down upon you two and kiss your scalps gently, and you would lean on Asmodeus’ shoulder with a contented smile, never really noticing the faint twinges of pink on his cheeks or the way he subtly pulled you closer to him.

Beelzebub, truth be told, didn’t really like you at first, although he never expressed it. You reminded him too much of Lilith, too much of her breezy laugh and gentle smile and pure demeanor, and even though he knew that you weren’t trying to replace her and that you didn’t know what had happened, it still hurt to look at you and see Lilith’s face flicker behind his eyelids. However, when the events of freeing Belphegor and you dying had occurred, Beelzebub had felt a primal desire to protect you, defend you, save you , rip through his body like a papercut. He wanted to protect you. You , not Lilith. So he embraced that change and tried to be a bit more friendly with you, which he found surprisingly easy. No doubt had you noticed the shift in his demeanor around you, and while it miffed you slightly that it took you dying and freeing his twin brother for it to happen, you were still happy that he didn’t seem to hate you anymore. You weren’t Lilith, he knew. And he didn’t see her when he looked at you anymore. What sealed the deal for him, however, was when you were put on cooking duty. He’d tried Solomon’s cooking before and left his plate untouched for the rest of the night, but when he came downstairs on your first night to see what you had prepared for them, he was met with a pleasant smell that had his mouth filling with drool as he trailed after the scent, right into the kitchen, like a moth drawn to a flame. Luckily, you were plating the food by the time he made it into the kitchen, and his eyes roved over a main course of sweet chickpea potato curry with halloumi and roasted cherry tomatoes, accompanied with mushrooms and sauced lamb chops. Next to the bowl of curry was a plate of strawberry beignets dusted with powdered sugar and drizzled with maple syrup. You had ever so kindly offered him one — one , mind you — and he’d been stunned at how incredible your cooking was. Needless to say, with your constant gifts to Beelzebub in the form of steamy homemade soup with toasted croutons or treacle tarts with dollops of cream, it wasn’t a surprise that he found himself adoring you and showing you more affection than any of the other brothers.

Belphegor, of course, hadn’t met you until a bit later after your transfer. Despite your frankly adorable features and demeanor, he wasn’t below deceiving you and killing you. Although he acted like he adored you and was smitten with your gentle and sweet personality, his hands still gripped your throat until what was supposed to be your final breath. However, unlike all of his other victims, something in him had shriveled up in horror upon seeing your delicate eyes wide with fear and pain. Something in him had eaten at his stomach uncomfortably when he saw the blood from your neck dripping down his nails and staining the pure white of your linen apron. His mind had been flooded with a split second tidal wave of pure shock and horror at what he had done when your fragile body ceased to move. When you came back due to Barbatos’ power, he couldn’t help but throw his arms around you desperately after he got over the tiny spark of anger in his mind. You, being the sweet and forgiving angel that you were (not literally), dismissed it, and although you were weary around him, you soon learned to lighten up and trust him again. You did slip a few times around him due to reflex, like when you’d accidentally burned your hand against the tray of pastry croissants and golden twist rolls that you’d pulled out of the oven when you turned around and he was suddenly there, sitting on the counter, towering over you. However, you found yourself warming up to him in time, and when you’d invited him to come up to your own little leafy treehouse in the mossy forest, he’d felt a bit honored that you had invited him out of all the brothers. There, you two had shared snacks and pressed your hands against the lilypads in the pond. You two had sat at the edge of the lake, looking around at the variety of mushrooms surrounding you two while your feet dipped in the water, talking about everything and nothing at all. It was just the two of you enjoying a quiet moment together, and when you two had climbed the tall tree back to the treehouse, you fell asleep with your legs loosely tangled together, listening to the sound of rain pattering the windows.

With how quickly you charmed his brothers and were able to get them to be at your every beck and call, even without the pact, Lucifer would have thought that you were an angel in disguise, or perhaps a magical being. Perhaps a pixie, or a woodland fairy, or maybe a little doll come to life.

But he was soon to find out that your charm was all natural, no magic.

It had started when you’d knocked gently on the door to his study, carrying a tray in your slightly shaking hands. Perhaps you were intimidated by him — the thought of your sweet and cheerful nature being withered by fear of him was a thought that made his chest swell with pride. Either way, you had let yourself in upon his approval, setting the tray down on the part of his desk that wasn’t swamped in paperwork.

With a small voice, you explained to him that you’d learned a bit of magic due to your time in the woods, and you had charmed the treats that you brought him — soft tea cakes with sweet glaze and your signature ‘lucky tea’; a brew of dried gold clover, lotus petals, and enchanted honey. The tea cakes were supposed to relieve pains in your muscles and bones, and the glaze was steeped in mountain snow, so it was supposed to relieve Lucifer of the burn in his body due to stress. The tea had calming properties, as well as being charmed to grant the consumer good luck for a short amount of time. You said that you hoped it would help Lucifer breeze through the paperwork stacked on his desk. He hadn’t reacted much other than a slow eyebrow raise, a nod of thanks, and a dismissal. You bowed at the waist and scampered off, clutching the hem of your apron anxiously.

Most of your other interactions had been more lighthearted, like when he’d swiped a small dollop of ganache from where you were baking molten lava cakes. He’d used his finger to smudge the chocolate across your nose, and you blinked, snapping out of your baking trance, before giggling slightly and wiping it off with your thumb, sucking the sweet concoction off of your finger. Lucifer had followed the motion with his eyes and briefly wondered what else he could get away with, if only to elicit those soft little reactions from you.

He also noticed that you never reacted the way anyone else would have when Asmodeus made a dirty joke, or when Mammon nudged you into the more scandalous clothing sections of Majolish. When you heard those comments from Asmodeus, you simply blinked and voiced your confusion. When mammon tried to get you to dress in skimpy leather or latex, you frowned slightly and said that the clothing wasn’t really your type before opting to go over to the sections you usually shopped in.

Later, he learned that you had grown up alone, with only the woods and your otherworldly connection with nature keeping you alive. You had only started interacting with others at the ripe age of eight years old — before that, you lived amongst the small creatures of the forest, feeding off of the foods they brought you, as if they were your family. Perhaps they were. You spent most of your life building shelters for yourself, until you were old enough and experienced enough to begin building your own cottage. It was a quaint little stone cottage, nothing fancy, and it was humble and hidden away, and you absolutely loved it. You had spent most of your life in it, baking tarts and pastries with the ingredients you bought from the merchants in your village in exchange for rare mushrooms, seeds, and plants with healing properties that you seemed to have a sixth sense for finding. Most of your life had been spent frolicking in the woods, swimming in the lake and snacking on pastries of your own creation and chatting with the woodland creatures you encountered. You were a creature of the forest, a creature of flower scented skin and a honey voice.

What an innocent being you were, Lucifer mused over a cup of your lucky tea. The teacup, he noticed, was one of your favorites, the porcelain one with the gold rim and the hand painted floral design. Briefly, he wondered how you found the time to collect all of these things, all while pulling together so many gifts for him and his brothers and still miraculously completing each of your tasks with perfect marks.

His eyes flickered to the plate on the same tray — hand carved and painted by you yourself, and he was the only one who got this privilege; honestly, it was going to make his heart combust — that the tea had come on, the circular dish scattered in crumbs and smears of cream and jam from your latest impulse baking session; heart shaped waffles with cream and raspberry puree. Of course, Beelzebub had immediately poked his head into the kitchen at the smell of fresh fruit and waffles, but you had managed to hide some from his hungry eye — just enough to give to the rest of the brothers. Of course, you had taken the liberty of drawing a little panda bear on one of the two waffles you’d given him, using chocolate and cream, because he was special to you, he knew he was, and because he was special, you gave him special treatment. Just the thought of it brought a prideful smile to his face, lips twisted somewhat informally.

Perhaps he’d made the right choice in sneakily slipping your folder away for future reference during the selection process of the exchange students.

But nobody needed to know that but him.

#obey me #swd #obey me swd #obey me lucifer #obey me mammon #obey me leviathan #obey me satan #obey me asmodeus #obey me beelzebub #obey me belphegor #lucifer #mammon #leviathan #satan #asmodeus #beelzebub #belphegor #cottagecore #cute mc #gn mc #gn reader #second person #this is so cute #also this is completely me projecting

[life-rewritten]

Manner of D*eath (MOD); Hansel and Gretel, Victims or Victors?

I don't know if anyone is like that shocked by the ending of episode 10 of MOD, I mean I think we can all tell it was fake, and I think we also are coming to terms with the villains/ the actual suspect of Jane being revealed. I don't think the show is still mysterious or still has so many hidden plot twists left. If there is then, I'll be happier. Anyway, episode 10 was intense and crazy in terms of what was shown on screen however as always I try to show you how the show gives you clues apart from piecing together what's on the surface, about the MOD of the characters, their actions, choices and who the suspect is and what their plans are now? We get a new fairytale, and can I just say I am loving the use of these fairytale meta for the show: this time Hansel and Gretel foreshadows the secrets of episode 10, clues to our villain and more deeper looks into family dynamics and dimensionality of our characters especially Tan. At the end of episode 10, Tan is forced to eliminate the person he loves (calling back to Little Mermaid analysis here that foreshadowed this) and also becomes a victim to a powerful person that has him entrapped with no escape. So I have a lot to say about these two fairy tales again and why MOD is creative when it uses them, how it makes things more fun to analyse and watch see unfold. Let's begin:

Hansel and Gretel: Victims or Victors

So as always you get a small recap of the fairy tale from me. If Little Mermaid was about forbidden love and betrayal and sacrifice, Hansel and Gretel is more about torn families, more betrayals, trickery, trauma and plot twists. Let's recap: Hansel and Gretel are the children of a very push over dad, with a very cruel mother figure, when a famine occurs in the land, the father is forced to let his wife discard their children in an abandoned forest, left to fend for themselves, so there is more food for their neglectful parents. Hansel though is brilliant, so he overhears and discovers the truth and prevents his sister and him from being lost at first using pebbles to find his way back home. However, the mother continues to send them out and abandon them; unfortunately, Hansel tries again to do so, but he uses bread crumbs as a way to track and sadly has bread crumbs eaten by birds, so he loses his way back home. So after they wander in the forest now fully scared of their situation, they get lured in by a candy house, which has the food they want and is sweet, it's owned by this older woman who is seen as sweet to kids, and friendly and protective. 

However, once they enter the house, Hansel is imprisoned and is going to be eaten by this blood thirsty witch(the older woman's true form). So Hansel has to find again a way to trick her into thinking he's not yet ready to be eaten, he uses a bone to make her believe he's still not eating well enough to be plump for cooking. However, the witch grows impatient and decides to eat him just like that. But instead of just Hansel, she also decides she wants both the siblings. Gretel is still able to walk around and also the witch is blind, so she struggles to see, and she's slow to things. She tries to trick Gretel into entering the oven so that she can eat her, but Gretel like her brother is smarter. So she knows what to do, she ends up tricking the witch into thinking she needs help entering the oven and the witch in annoyance bends down to check the issue and ends up being pushed into the fire and burns. Gretel frees Hansel they discover a lot of treasure at this witch's home, and they take it and go back home with the help of a swan (I don't really understand how it found them and led them home, but you know it's a fairytale) and they reunite with their father who apologises for being a pushover, he didn't want to let what happened to them happen, but the woman forced him to do so, now their mother/stepmother,  was eliminated by the famine and so she wasn't there no longer to abuse them and make him do things he didn't want to do. Hansel and Gretel because of the treasure they found, live successfully, wealthy and happily ever after with their father. The end.

First, it's not as romantic as Little Mermaid is it? I feel like Little Mermaid was more dramatic, painful and sad and had many selfless characters. But Hansel and Gretel is interesting. One, as Tan calls out it's not a romantic storyline, it's about siblings, but Bun and Tan (one of our mirrors of Hansel and Gretel) aren't siblings, you know they're lovers, and so that's also interesting. However, I find it really fascinating and interesting that Tan does mention that because it's important later on in again helping unveil who the villain is. I'll explain later on. Let's look at what we should focus on when talking about this fairytale.; 

1. Hansel and Gretel were victims of family dysfunction; they had an abusive family member who was looking for a way to get rid of them no matter what because of selfishness and greed and lack of love. 2. Hansel tries to survive his fate three times, by being smart and creative about how to escape his situations. The third time Gretel is the one who helps him escape. 3. Things that seem sweet and protective are actually not but traps for someone else's gain. The witch was trying to look like someone who was trusting for kids and who had what they need to run away but she actually wanted to get rid of them and keep surviving and being strong. 4. The witch is blindsided by Gretel because of her little weaknesses and her ability to overlook the kids. 5. Hansel and Gretel survive their trauma by trickery, cunningness and thinking ahead. They reunite with their family member and get rid of the witch (the powerful source holding them hostage), they gain money, wealth, and love by the end of the story.

Alright so let's keep those in mind and carry on with analysing the past episodes 7-10.

Family Dysfunctions and Cruel Abandonments

So I found it really interesting, in episode 10 when Tan starts to speak about his plans for his mother in the past, his relationship with Por and his relationship with Pued. We knew the family was going to be a focus because Tan, Pued and Por looked dysfunctional and also had severely different dynamics with each other. First of all, Tan and Pued apparently were loyal to each other by default; they loved each other despite disagreeing and fighting; they'd do anything as long as the other is safe. Pued may be this horrible person that we unveiled him to be, but he did have some kind of heart, and he did care about Tan, Bun and maybe even Jane though I don't want to say that about him. Pued paid attention to Tan despite his other family members abandoning him and leaving him as a puppet with no love and no care.

In fact, once Pued is eliminated and Por has a chance to react, Por immediately closes his mind and abandons Tan because he had no love, loyalty or trust for him. He's been looking for a way to get rid of Tan from the beginning. Who does that sound like? It sounds like the mother in Hansel and Gretel. The thing in the fairytale is that it's not evident if the mother is their blood mother or if she is a stepmother or if she's even the witch they later encounter there to lure them and get rid of them. But I'm seeing her like Por, someone who is forced to deal with Hansel and his sister not because she loves them but because she had to put up with them because of the father. The father is a failing figure like Tan's father; he's put the children under the care of someone who doesn't even care or respect them enough. And that's how Por treated Tan. So Family dysfunction is real in Hansel and Gretel, and Tan like Hansel is also deserted by a family in 7-10 as he struggles to stay safe and fend for himself and his lover. And the thing is it's messed up because Por loves Pued so much despite knowing how cruel Pued can be, (Por knows about Rung and Pued's involvement in the drug ring) but for Tan, he sees him as a nuisance, someone who's taking from him not helping him, same as Hansel's 'mum' saw him and his sister. And it makes you wonder what kind of family can become this way, why are people so cruel and why do they not treat people equally with respect. Just like the mother is the one who put Hansel and Gretel in danger, and she ensured it because remember they tried to come back and she sent them off, even more, deeper into the forest. Por also did the same thing, he chased cruelly after Tan and wanted to get of rid of him for Pued twice after he discovered Tan escaped from jail. Make it make sense. Like that's your family member.

Anyways so that's the first reason Hansel and Gretel were mentioned. But before I continue, I also wanted to bring up that Tan and Bun weren't the only mirrors for this character. That as always being Tan's shadow character also actually held more resemblance to the kids, he's younger, he's also imprisoned, and he had a girl to protect and watch over like a sister;Nam. Nam and That try to escape this episode with That being the one to make up the way for them to run away, but they get caught. I just wanted to show that imagery as well and connect it to Hansel and Gretel because as Tan mentioned, they weren't lovers, they were siblings.

However I think there's two more people not mirroring them but is being foreshadowed by them, that's Rungtiwa and Pued. Hear me out before you get confused. In episode 9 Rungtiwa that witch, she said that Pued, Tan are like brothers to her. And it made me laugh because obviously using little mermaid analysis, Rungtiwa and Pued were having an affair, and she's the one probably who got rid of him. Also when Pued was eliminated Por said only a family member knew about his condition, well Rung knew about it because she was acting one on the surface like a sister figure to him, but also she was his lover probably. But why I think it's interesting, it's because Tan misunderstands if Hansel and Gretel could have been lovers before Bun corrects him, and since Tan and Bun are mirroring them, I also think Tan was also foreshadowing the confusion and connection of Rung and Pued. People think like Hansel and Gretel, she's a sibling figure to him, but actually, she was his lover theoretically. Just like Tan confused the dynamics between the two siblings. Some people who are meant to be seen as 'siblings'/'friends' are probably more. That's just me just picking on things. Let's continue with what the show is showing in episode 10 through this fairy tale.

Futile Escapes and Cunning Mindsets 

In episode 7-10, Tan has to had to escape a situation he was set up in just like with Hansel in the fairy tale trying to protect Gretel. Can I first mention how similar the roles of Hansel and Tan are in the protection role. They have to be one step ahead, to protect the person with them, like Tan has to use the information he knows to protect Bun and escape Por. So like Hansel, Tan has to escape his situation three times before see him fail entirely in episode 10's ending. The first time he gets set up is jail where he is beaten and has to use his strength and will to stay safe until he's bailed out, the second time he escapes is his own house with Bun because Por wants to get rid of him, and the third time he's in danger is at the cottage house (he ran to, to think ahead, also the house Bun calls a trap/candy house this episode) where he again has to escape by hurting Bun and getting eliminated at the end of the episode.

By the end of episode 10, like Hansel also captured in the iron prison with no way of escape, Tan also ends up having no way to escape and is shot and pushed of a cliff on the run. He basically has a reached a point where all his energy and hard work to protect has been for nothing. Like Hansel realising the witch losing her impatience meant he and Gretel were both doomed, he couldn't protect her anymore. Just like Tan with Bun realised, he couldn't save Bun anymore; he couldn't save him self anymore, they were truly imprisoned by a powerful source. Obviously this is what the show is saying on the surface, that Tan and Bun like Hansel and Gretel became victims with no way out. And it's depressing if you let your self follow the storyline, it makes it even more scary and sad when you see both Bun and Tan get shot by people they trust like Inspector M. So Hansel and Tan both find themselves in a place where they can't use anything else anymore to escape and run away from their troubles, they're screwed by the end of the story at first. And things look dark for a while until Gretel shows up. This is why I think Bun like Gretel also has used his own mindset to think of way out, and be one step ahead. But before I explain about that, let' talk about our suspects, our powerful sources and our witch.

Candy Houses and Powerful Sources

These three previous episodes of MOD have been a ride. We unveiled that the Police Commander and Mayor are dangerous and will do whatever happens to ensure their secrets aren't unveiled. Like being happy to frame Tan for something, he didn't do. I just want to keep repeating however that they are not the suspect we are looking for, they're the red herrings, they're baddies but actually not that threatening. They don't like to take a life, apart from maybe Pat but they don't normally use that as a way of power, they're cowards, they do kidnaps, shipping people of, framing etc. but to actually use their hands to take a life is not on their agenda. That's why they're not the suspects of Jane's MoD, or Pued's either. I think they're being shown now because they're meant to represent one of the links to the witch in Hansel and Gretel, Power. But they're not the actual witch.

Let me explain more, you can see they don't get their own hands dirty, they have puppets to do so for them, for example, Tan to get rid of Bun, Inspector M to get rid of Tan, they're not the ones who used their own hands to take Jane's life, they either had a puppet do it (Pued), or they didn't know she was going to be eliminated yet. My theory is yeah, they had Pued do it, but they also had Rungtingwa who they underestimated. So I don't want to spend all the time talking about these two like I said we find out how wealthy and powerful the witch was in the tale and how her demise led to Hansel and the family living happily and successfully. Getting rid of the mayor and police commander will do a lot of good for the people at the end of episode 10, it'd promote Inspector M (if he is on the good side like I'm suspecting), it'd also give freedom to Tan and Bun and raise their reputation in a good way. Those powerful forces won't be able to hold them captive anymore. But LR you say, isn't Tan and Bun gone? Didn't Inspector M go bad and shoot Tan? Yeh, that's what the show is showing on the surface, but as I'm slowly getting to, the plot is shadowed by Hansel and Gretel, tricksters, cunning mindsets, one step ahead, it's foreshadowing; a ploy and M is part of that.  But I'm getting ahead of my self, let's focus on Rungtingwa and her witchy ways.

So in episode 9, Rung starts showing up again. In fact, she's our prominent supporter, she helps bail Tan out of jail, and she believes in him like a brother wholeheartedly, she calls Por out on his behaviour and callousness, and she also shakes her head at the police for their slowness with her sister's case. She's so elegant and pretty and smart and protective. She is the family member Tan needs in his life; she cares about them so much. In episode 10, she's even more of a saint-like at first. Because you got to start soon realising things aren't adding up a bit with her. One she's trusted by the police that they send her girls who are in need of money, home, safety to stay at her spa because they were going to be arrested to investigate their illegal whereabouts, this well off company that protects and keeps them taken care of.

Only all of a sudden for those same women to be transported to the mayor and the police commander to be abused and drugged repeatedly. Getting it? Rung's candy house is her spa. Like with Hansel and Gretel, the witch doesn't first show up as a witch to them, no she lures them in with the idea of one protection (they didn't have anywhere else to go), provision (they were starving and her house was made of cakes, bread etc.) and prevention (of them being alone, of their lives etc.), Rungtiwa shows up and does just the same thing. She offers protection by helping Tan leave the jail, and calling him her brother, a family member that he craves for because of his own dysfunctional relationship with Por.  She offers him provision of information, she offers not just them but the women and the police a space for the women who think they're safe with her in her spa, food, and anything they want. And she offers them prevention because these women weren't meant to be running away or being shipped, don't remember properly what the mayor said, but this was meant to be a safe spot for them, they were wowed by her spa, they felt comfortable and at peace. Like Hansel and Gretel were the first time they entered the candy house.

But looks are deceiving which is Rung's link to the tale. The witch sheds her skin and transforms into someone who's not only blood thirsty, (Rung is our suspect and has probably gotten rid of two people her sister and her ex-lover) and someone who only lures people in for her benefit, for her greed, power, satisfaction, strength. Remember Rung like Pued is doing all of this for power and reputation, and she's hiding the truth so she can be saved and protected by society because she's innocent. And the thing she's cold-hearted, she doesn't care about anyone in episode 9 she stands up for Tan and believes he's not the suspect (well because she knows he's not she is), but then she switches in episode 10, she blames him for taking the life of Pued in front of M and she says it in an anxious and shocking way that the brothers were this awful to each other when she said previously she knows Tan didn't do it. It's how she covers her self, how she hides who she is, as the witch to lure the kids. Hansel and Gretel weren't the first kids taken by this witch, that's what the bone was remnants of another kid eaten and destroyed by her. Rung is like that she leaves trails of people being discarded wherever she goes, she plots, and she plans her own way out. And if Pued wants to talk, then she has to get rid of him. This is why I know she knows who helped her take her sister's life. Sigh. But again I commend her villainy. She's cruel, but it's very very wanted in a villain, she isn't weak, and she doesn't let people get in her way. That's w a villain hatis meant to be. Right now she's winning because no one has suspected it's her, but I think she forgot one thing like the witch; Gretel, but also she was blindsided. Let me explain

Shocking Additions and Sneaky Weaknesses

Rung didn't expect Inspector M to be one of her weak spots. In episode 10, Inspector M discovered some of the truth and started to notice that he was in a corrupted system. Right now, Commander is thinking Inspector M is on his side and has given into corruption because of fear and power however no matter how dumb he is, Inspector M has always been for justice that's his flaw and character, like Bun he's been trying to do the right thing. Now he's slowly piecing together that some people are not to be trusted in this scenario; for example, Rung's spa because she's aiding the commander in hiding those girls. She underestimated him, and that's going to be her downfall.

Also, the commander and mayor are ruined because they've let in someone also in a mask, Inspector M is working with Tan and Bun to hide their plans. So like Hansel, Tan has found a way to think one step ahead. Like Gretel Bun has let himself be the one that is sacrificed as a guise actually to sacrifice the witch, to lure all of them out in their pride and triumph, to expose them. Tan pretended to get rid of Bun this episode 10, to make everyone involved calm and weak and unsuspecting and that's important, that's how Gretel tricks the witch, however, the witch's blindsight is pointing to Rung and the others not knowing Inspector M is involved and is determined to help solve the crime and find the suspect. So Tan, Bun, M have all joined together to find a way to expose the powerful sources and get rid of their captors also to save the other people especially Nam and That. So everyone who is still in shock by episode 10, know this, Hansel and Gretel is about being one step ahead, Tan and Bun are one step ahead of the chase, the only way to win and overcome their captors was to surrender or pretend to surrender (like Gretel and Hansel did) and next week all of them will start to crumble one by one. But if you're still worried about how the show will end, then focus on the ending of Hansel and Gretel

Triumphant Victors and Enhanced Reputations

So let's review the ending to make you all calm down. 

One Hansel and Gretel come out alive, they get rid of the witch. Everyone is safe. That's important to know Tan and Bun, That hopefully as well (not sure about him though) are safe, they're going to be okay. 

Two they get rid of the witch, Inspector M will get his answer and find the culprits. 

Three, they reunite with people, especially family and are seen in a different way, apologised to and taken care of. Tan and Por will reunite, and the truth of Pued will come out, making Por realise the error of his ways. Tan will reunite with his family and get the love he wanted and craved. 

Four they end up all successful, happy and wealthy. I think this one is pretty obvious getting rid of the powerful sources of the town opens up places for change and for more people to be put in authority. Bun's words will be taken seriously and respected. Tan gets a job he's happy with, and M will probably be promoted. In a way, M is also like the father figure that needs to apologise and say he's sorry because he's also been like Por neglectful and troublesome, an obstacle and so he also needs to agree he's wrong and reunite his friendship with Bun. 

So Hansel ends up actually surviving after being helped by others to get to his destination and reunite with his family again. Tan will finally have that happy life he wanted, and he no longer has to be a puppet for others and do things without his will. He also has love differently, he also has Bun, and the two husbands can go back and be domestic and happy solving other issues and crimes whilst mourning Jane and maybe others and letting her go peacefully.

So you see why I love fairy tale meta? It helps you uncover the truth, leads you to knowing why they add some dialogues or hints in the show. It also reveals the facades of people who are not what they seem. Rung is getting away with everything she does, and we the audience picked up on it in the surface, we also probably understood it was a staged event that Tan shot Bun but it's nice to have something else that shows you the show is clever and one step ahead. When I first heard Hansel and Gretel, I panicked because I was like what do you mean Hansel and Gretel like that's sibling bond, I don't know what similarities they could possibly have with the show like Little mermaid made so much sense because I could tell Tan would be forced to get rid of Bun, and that's a theme in the fairytale. Still, Hansel and Gretel, I couldn't put my mind to it. And yet here we are, the show is brilliant, there is meta, there is foreshadowing not just with on the surface clues but also with subtext, there's a reason why the plots in episode 10 went the way they did, there's a reason why we ended up hearing about certain things, and I think that's a good sign of a good show, more in-depth and thoughtful. So I can't wait to see the reveal that our husbands are okay and they are going to win this battle however we still have four episodes so maybe let's not yet get comfortable. I still hold on to my theory. Pued is one of the suspects of Jane, and Rung helped him, but she also is the one who got rid of him. If not, maybe someone else Oat? Haha, but no seriously I would really love another plot twist. But I also like the show having layers and being so thrilling every episode, always making us want more. Well done to the cast and crew for a good BL, unique, smart, and one step ahead. I enjoy it. Thank you.

#manner of death #mod #tanbunn #tanbun #cwg #january #maxtul #thai bl #bl series #bl drama

[megsironthrone]

Meg's Game of Tales: Tale 16

*Familiar Characters are NOT mine! The original story of Hansel and Gretel was written by The Brothers Grimm.*

Warnings: Fairytale AU, Hansel and Gretel AU, violence, angst with a happy ending...sort of.

Characters: Bran Stark, Arya Stark, mage!reader

"We're lost, Bran," Arya stated as the two of them wandered even further into the woods. Bran rolled his eyes. "Don't be stupid. We're not lost. Besides, I thought you were trying to prove Theon's story wasn't true." Arya let out a little scoff. "It isn't," she insisted. Theon had been telling the three youngest Starks a tale about a blind witch that lived deep in the woods that ate children. Rickon had stopped listening half-way through, but Arya and Bran began arguing about whether or not it was true.

"Maybe we should go back," Bran admitted, "We've never been this far into the forest without Father." Arya paused for a moment as she thought. Bran let out a little sigh before he remembered something. "The bread. We could use bread crumbs to find our way back." He took out the loaf of bread and began sprinkling bread crumbs as the two walked deeper into the woods.

After a while longer, Bran began to get discouraged. There was no sign of the cottage Theon had told them about. He hated losing bets to Arya. He turned to her to recommend going back. Arya smirked. "See? I told you it's not…" she trailed off causing Bran to turn back around. "True," Arya finished. Bran's jaw dropped open. Standing there across the creek in a little clearing, was a cottage.

The two broke into a run toward the cottage only to stop again. This cottage was like nothing to two had ever seen before. The smell wafting from the cottage was sweet and the architecture looked different. The two Starks slowly drew closer to the cottage only to realize that it absolutely was no ordinary cottage.

"Gingerbread? It's made of gingerbread," Bran whispered. Arya's eyes widened. Not many people knew, but Arya had a little bit of a sweet tooth when it came to certain things, gingerbread being one of those. Bran also loved sweets, which appeared to cover the rest of the house. "S-Should we try it?" he asked, turning to Arya only to find her already stuffing a bit of gingerbread into her mouth. Her eyes widened and Bran laughed. With his sister's approval, Bran started eating as well.

The two were so engrossed in stuffing themselves with sweets they didn't hear the door of the cottage open. "Who's nibbling at my house?" Bran jumped and looked to see you standing in the doorway. You were turning your head to and fro and it only took a moment for Bran to realize that you couldn't see or at least couldn't see very well at all.

"Sorry! We didn't realize anyone lived here!" You chuckled lightly. "That's quite alright. It's been so long since I've had company. I have something more substantial for your hungry bellies inside as well as some milk to wash it down, if you're still hungry." Bran and Arya exchanged looks before agreeing. They were still hungry and thirsty after walking for so long.

They followed you inside the cottage. The inside also smelled like sweets, but it was warm, homey, and inviting. "Have a seat and help yourselves to whatever you'd like while I get you something to drink," you told them. Bran felt a bit weird, but the growling in his stomach won and he sat down. Arya followed suit and the two began eating.

They ate and ate and ate until they could hardly move. When they tried to get up, they realized how dark it was outside. "Oh dear. I hadn't realized it had gotten so late. I can't let you children walk through the woods at night. It's dangerous. I must insist the two remain here until morning. For your safety." They were too tired to argue and didn't even question the appearance of two small beds as they laid their heads down and fell asleep not knowing that the next morning would change their lives forever.

When Bran awoke, he was no longer on a soft and comfortable bed. He was lying on a bed of straw, as was Arya. In fact the entire cottage was different. No long did it smell sweet and inviting. Rather, the horrid stench of death and decay reached Bran's nostrils, making him gag. Everything around him was dark except for the fire roaring in an oven that appeared to be much too large for the small cottage.

"Bran," Arya whispered, "Look." Bran followed his sisters gaze to where you sat, humming to yourself. Something had changed in your expression. You didn't look as kind or friendly. Something had twisted in you. Without a word, you came over and grabbed Arya's hand. You let out a little scoff before doing the same to Bran. A sick smile came to your face. "You'll do nicely. A little fattening up and you'll be ready."

"Ready for what?" he asked, but you only grinned in response. "I think they mean for that," Arya whispered pointing to the giant pot sitting just next to the oven. "The story…but Theon said it was a witch." You laughed, a hollow sound that sent shivers down Bran's spine. "Witch, Warlock, Mage. All the same. The point is that the two of you will be my next meals. Once I add a little more meat to your bones." Bran watched as you walked back over toward them and cut a little rope on the wall. Before they could say anything, a cage came down over the two Stark siblings.

*time skip*

Day after day passed while you kept feeding the two children only to get more and more irritated. Arya had the brilliant idea of sticking chicken bones through the bars of the gate every time you wanted to feel their hands. As long as they weren't getting fat enough, you wouldn't cook them and they had more time to plan. One day, however, Bran accidentally dropped the bone, causing you to actually be able to tell.

"Finally," you muttered, reaching in and dragging Bran from the cage. You pulled him over to the pot that now held boiling water. Bran fought and fought, but you had magic on your side. Bran just barely managed to avoid being put into the pot by pushing it a bit to the side with his feet. As you dropped him, he made sure to drop the plate he's been holding in his free hand into the pot so you would think he'd fallen in.

As you went back for Arya, Bran knelt down next to the pot, ignoring the heat radiating from it. Arya's screams filled the air as she fought you off and when you were close enough, Bran shouted, "NOW!" You whirled around, letting go of Arya. The Stark girl took that moment to shove you into Bran. Bran used your momentum against you, dumping you face first into the hot pot.

You screamed in agony, but the children didn't stop. There was only one way to stop a magical being. Fire. Together, the two used the cart the pot was on and pushed it into the burning oven. The smell and sound would stay with the Starks for the rest of their lives. Without waiting another moment, they ran from the cottage as quickly as they could. They ran through the creek and back in the direction they had come.

"The birds got the bread crumbs!" Bran cried, but Arya gave him a gently push, urging him to keep going. "We can't stop now." They were both panting with effort, but knew they needed to get away. If their plan had failed, you would come after them. "Keep going!" Arya cried, but both stopped short when they heard the sound of their names being called.

"Isn't that Father?" Arya asked and Bran nodded as other voices called out. "And Robb. And Jon," he added with a smile. Bran and Arya began crying out for their father, brother, and cousin. It didn't take long to see the three men coming toward them. The two young children ran as quickly as their legs would carry them into the arms of their family. As they hugged their father, the two swore they would never let go.

(a/n: I did have to make the reader the villain in at least one fic. This just happened to be the one that it ended up being! We have two left! One will be posted tomorrow!)

#meg's game of tales #game of thrones #fairytale au #hansel and gretel au #bran stark #x reader

[loyally-unfaithful]

—; hey, i don’t need any love or future , (4)

word count: 883

pairing: sky high | keith goodman/gn!reader

genre: angst, hurt-no-comfort

summary: even if it meant that he spent more time away from you, than with  you—for the safety of everyone living in this city, including you, he will keep going. if it were to protect everyone here, if it were to protect you, he will keep going. for your smile, for your laughter, his sun.

if it were for your happiness, he will keep going.  

a/n: idk i guess i wanted to use a fairytale as an elaborate metaphor for reader's relationship,,,, with someone els e dkajfkaf

famished, it had been 3 days since the miserable children wandered the cold, forgotten woods together. it had been 3 days since their parents promised them that they wouldn't be left behind. they flinched at every sound, every crunch, every noise a potential danger. wary of any movement, and standing immobile, on high alert, at the slightest provocation. was it the unsympathetic wind pursuing them or had the ravenous wolves caught their scent? roaring, did the rapids oppose their presence, or had their shuffling awoken the starving bear? did the branches snap under their footsteps or were the shadows stalking them?

hungry, cold, disoriented, scared, worn out. hungry. and they were so hungry… the youngest struggled to keep up with the eldest, stumbling, no longer able to stay on her feet and tread the inhospitable forest for much longer. but she did not say a word, not wanting to burden her brother any further—after all, he could’ve abandoned her long ago. much like their parents had given up on them. and so she allowed herself to be dragged by her brother.

there was no more trail to follow. scattered and confused. there was nothing to go back to.

has it really been for survival? she doubted the verity of their words: were there so little food that it was worth trading their children for? what kind of parents abandoned their children anyway? the young girl cursed. had it been really that easy to leave them? were they really that worthless and unimportant? the question turned around and around in her head, as the pair wandered round and round the forest, losing themselves even more.

one fateful day, the wretched pair stumbled upon a house most peculiar. the clearing, unlike the rest of the sombre forest, was bathed in the sun’s glory. it flowed inside the house through the window panes, which, upon closer inspection, appears to have been made of clear sugar. in fact, the walls of the house were made of gingerbread, and decorated with a random assortment of sweets. the roof itself being made out of shortcake. desperately hungry, her brother ran ahead and began to nibble on the house. soon after, he beckoned his sister, who hesitated, to join him. but before she had the chance to follow him, a voice resonated from within the house.

« nibble, nibble, little mouse. who is nibbling at my house? »

called up the snake.

« oh, you dear children, who brought you here? it purred. just come in and stay with me. no harm will come to you. »

despite how cold and hungry they felt, the two faltered and took a few steps back, not quite trusting the slithering creature’s promise. its silvery tongue and the sweet allure of food, of someplace warm, of a purpose, proved to be too much for the young children and the two, though the youngest with more difficulty than the eldest, eventually joined the viper. it was not like they had anywhere else they could go, anywhere else where they belonged.

at first, it had been idyllic, perfect: the two ate their fill and received the riches they desired, the gold and the lights blinding them. but soon, truth reared its ugly head: the serpent put the brother to work, doing its bidding and dirty work, sweeping and cleaning its hut while it locked the sister away in a bedroom tucked away in the corner of the abode, kept unaware of what truly happened to her brother.

come every evening, the latter would collapse, sometimes even looking as if he had one foot in the grave. despite his state, the girl remained quiet, never prying too much. it was not like her brother was in any state to answer her, nor did he seem like he wanted to. not wanting to intrude, the girl kept her suspicions to herself. she did not like the place they had found themselves in, she did not want to stay any longer, but she did not say a word, afraid that it would make things worse. if she made plans on how to escape this wretched prison, then she kept it herself.

would it have been better had they starved together in the woods? she wondered.

one night, when the sky was particularly dark, when the air had been particularly cold and stale, the boy rushed to his sister and shook her: « i know you have been planning a way out of here. he revealed to her in a hushed voice. tonight is the night. he said hurriedly. get out of here and run, don’t turn back, don’t stop, don’t talk to anyone. »

he promised he will be right behind, that he had something to take care of first. the girl protested, feeling as if her counterpart was not telling her the entire truth. she had been correct in her hunch, but he wasn’t going to reveal to her the evil witch had decided to feast upon him, how the undying snake was about to reveal its hand. without so much as a last word, without so much as a glance, gretel put her plan in action and fled—his advice the last thing she remembers of hansel: « be wary of that which slithers. »

you wondered why you remembered that silly tale.

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#tiger & bunny #sky high tiger & bunny #sky high x reader #keith goodman x reader #tiger and bunny #falselywrites #i feel like hansel and gretel is a fairytale thats used as a metaphor a lot #oh well #ksdljfals #it's convenient #a pair against the world #except this time the witch is a snake ;)

[littlemisssquiggles]

Here's an idea: if Ruby+ Oscar are brought to the Dark Domain, their arc could parallel Dorothy's time as the Wicked Witch of the West's captive. Dorothy couldn't be harmed by anyone from Oz, so WWOW made her into her servant while trying to figure out a way to get the Silver Slippers off her. Salem wants Ruby alive, possibly to learn about the Silver Eyes, and while she hates Ozpin, she wouldn't pass up the chance to torture him now that he's in her clutches. (To be continued)

“So borrowing from your headcannons, Oscar would be held captive but in luxury, watched over by MEH (Since Hazel hates Ozpin and would watch him like a hawk and Em and Merc don’t have emotional ties to him). Meanwhile in an attempt to learn more about the Silver Eyes, Salem inflicts dozens of grimm on Ruby, driving her near the brink of death too many times to count before being healed and forced back into the fray. Oh, and she makes sure Oscar and Ozpin can watch all of this via Seer Grimm…”

Squiggles Answers:

Hey Miki-chan! I actually quite dig thatidea.

I wasn’t aware of the part of the Wizard of Oz story where Dorothy wasmade a servant of the Wicked Witch. I knew about her being kidnapped by theFlying Monkeys along with the Cowardly Lion while the Tin Man and the Scarecrowwere destroyed but I didn’t know about this plot detail until you mentioned it. Now thatI know, I think it’s perfect. It’s an excellent way to blend both of Dark Domain headcanons—Oscar becoming a prisoner of Salem and being forced to becompliant with her demands and Ruby and Oscar being kidnapped together—and do them both, killing two theories with one season which can pay homage to its fairytale counterparts.

Remember in my Oscar’s Grimm BuddyPinehead headcanon, I mentioned Oscar being forced into behave himself while incaptivity since Salem was also holding innocent Atlesians, abducted during theFall of Atlas hostage and would torture them unless Oscar acted obediently? Ican definitely see Salem using Oscar’s bond to Ruby as blackmail him in a similar fashion.

Like pictureSalem promising to torture Ruby or worse kill her unless Oscar behaved himself and did what he was told like a ‘good little boy’. 

It can even be a thing where she manipulatesboth Rosebuds—forcing them each to comply to her wishes as a means of keepingtheir partner safe. So Salem tells Oscar to stay put, locked away within his confines of his lonely tower as ameans of protecting Ruby. Whereas with Ruby, Salem provides the Silver Eyed Warrior no other option but to play her servant and take part in her little experiments with the Grimm battles otherwise Oscar would fall victim to punishment on her behalf. Soon both ends, Ruby and Oscar have no choice but to do what’s necessary to protect eachother from any cruel fate Salem could deal to them while under her imprisonment. I can see Salem playing that type of vicious mind games with both youngbuds.

The only thing I’m not sure about isthe inclusion of Team MEH being around. I always figured that those three wouldor…at least, should’ve been off on their own little adventure— assigned to retrieving the Relic of Destruction in Vacuo during the events of the Atlas Trilogy.

I mean I don’t mind if they stickaround. It could give them a purpose in this potential Dark Domain standalone season.

Do you know what would be interesting?If while watching over Oscar, in their own way, Mercury, Emerald and Hazel go through a moment with Oscar that results in them turning a new leaf andopting to help him and Ruby escape.

Perhaps Hazel will find a means to forgive Ozpin through Oscar and will come to wish to protect the young boy since he reminded him of his sister. Technically, there was a witch in Hansel and Gretel and my memory of the fairytale serves correctly, Hansel and Gretel met a witch who locked them away and attempted to fatten them up in order to eat them. However Hansel and Gretel managed to trick the witch in letting her believe that they were all skin and bones. Then at the end of that story, Hansel and Gretel managed to escape the witch by trapping her inside her own oven—I think that’s how that story ends.

Perhaps Hazel is assigned to be Oscar’s caretaker. But during his time with the young farm boy, Hazel comes to slowly care for Oscar as he sees his beloved sister mirrored in him in spite of his vendetta against Ozpin. And when Hazel learns that Salem plans on killing Oscar, he winds up tricking Salem and helping Oscar escape? Or perhaps he helps Ruby? I dunno. I could see Hazel helping either one of the Rosebuds.

As for Mercury, he’s a tough case. Like you said, he and Em have no ties to Oscar and thus no real reason to care about him. However I do have one idea with Oscar that could appear to Mercury. Remember my theory for Oscar’s semblance being magic? As I’ve said previously, magic seems to be a power of infinite possibilities in RWBY. 

That being said—in V6 C9, Mercury said that his father stole his semblance and never gave it back. Losing his semblance seemed to be pinnacle turning point in Mercury’s past. So…what if...and this is a big if…Oscar could restore Mercury’s semblance using magic?

I’m actually curious how exactly did Mercury’s father ‘steal’ his semblance. Quite frankly I’d like to believe that it’s impossible for one to steal another’s semblance since it’s an extension of their aura—their very soul. 

So my guess is that Mercury’s father never stole Mercury’s semblance but in actuality, used his semblance to repress it. My theory is that Mercury still has his power but since his father made him to believe he had lost it, he created a sort of mental, spiritual block that’s been keeping Merc from tapping in his power for a long time. At least that’s what I think. It’d be interesting to see Mercury’s reaction to learning that his father had lied about stealing his power and used the fib as another means to abuse and keep Mercury down. Papa Black was a living hurdle that Mercury always felt he needed to jump over. Even now, he probably still is. 

This is another reason why I think it would be awesome if Oscar was raised by his father. This could be something he and Merc could potentially bond over. Both being sons raised by fathers. The only difference is that Oscar’s father would be the complete opposite of Mercury’s. Still it could be interesting for Oscar and Merc to interact on this particular topic which could then lead into talk about semblances. Who knows? 

As for Emerald. Perhaps she stumbles upon the Relicof Knowledge and gets to ask the final question from Jinn? And what Emerald learns from the being of the lamp results in her making a choiceto where she wants to go moving forward.

Do you know what would be pretty cool too? What If…Salem sort of coincidentally played a part in moulding all of her pawn’s stories?

Like for example, Hazel’s sister’sdeath? Somehow I have this small theory that Salem had a hand in that. Like tome, I pictured Hazel formerly being a close friend of Oz— someone who knew and trusted him dearly thatSalem wanted to turn to her side. So the wicked witch targeted someone that Hazel loved the most—his beloved little sister and spun it in a way that Oz would end up taking full responsibilityfor the ill fate that befall the poor child which would’ve made it easier for Hazel to come to her side. Orsomething to that end. 

I know that theory feels like a stretch. However, it somethingI wondered out of curiosity. Like a whatif? We’ve known from the get-go that Salem is a master manipulator and israther adept at swaying the hearts of man to do her bidding. Somehow I like theidea of Salem targeting each member of her inner circle and silentlymanipulating their stories, creating the scenarios that turned them into the people we know them now to be, praying on their vulnerability and need for revenge or some other kind of vendetta. Doubt this is the case butit’s worth thinking about.

Perhaps this is the truth Emeralduncovers from Jinn. Perhaps… Emerald becomes like Ruby in this case where she asks Jinn to showher the truth about what Salem is hiding from her Inner Circle.

And similar to how Jinn showed theheroes all the skeletons in Ozpin’s closet, perhaps at some point later in the series’ narrative, she might show the otherside of that coin that portrays what happened to Salem and all the things shedid after killing Ozma and their past family?

I think it would be cool to get aglimpse of what Salem did throughout all those years after she killed Ozma. That could be fascinating to seeunveiled. And similar to how the heroes were instantly conflicted against Ozupon learning the truth, maybe it’ll be a similar ordeal for our main team of villains—the surviving members ofSalem’s Circle.

After all, I’ve always been curious toknow how much has Salem disclosed to her minions. How much do they know about her and herpast? Does WTHEM even know about the God’s Judgement or similar to Ozpin’sgroup, have they too been blindly following their leader, too engrossed by thepromise of achieving their own selfish desires to see the full truepicture. I wonder. I guess we’ll only know in time. 

Back to the Rosebuds—like I said Ireally like this idea you presented Miki. It does present a chance to blendboth Dark Domain headcanons. Imagine Ruby and Oscar both becoming Salem’sprisoners; separated and forced to adhere to her rules as a means of keepingthe other alive. But through her wit, Ruby manages to successfully escapes hercaptivity. She then makes her way to the lonely tower where Oscar is beingheld. Ruby then battles her way through the tower before being reunited with Oscar. 

The two share a heartfelt reunion before escaping the tower as a whole. But in spite of being free, the two aren’t out of the ball park yet as they must now make thetrek across the Dark Lands in order to make it back to their friends. All thewhile this is happening, Salem has sent her pawns and Grimm to recapture ouryoung heroes.

I also like the idea of Salem secretlyplanting something inside both Ruby and Oscar as a means of tracking them. Likemaybe she attached some kind of leech-like Grimm that is connected to the SeerGrimm and that’s how she’s able to know where both children are at, at alltimes.

What could even be cooler is if thesestrange Grimm provide a means for Salem to mentally toy with Ruby and Oscar’sminds? Planting doubt in either of them as a way to pin them against eachother.

Part of Salem’s tactics hasinvolved some form of dividing those who stand against her. With the BrotherGods, she swayed First Remnant’s kingsand queens against their very creators and with Ozma as Ozpin, she turned his ownallies against him which in turn,caused a domino effect that ended with mistrust from the very people who had fate in Oz.

This could be cool. 

Although…if I had to place my bets on which Dark Domain story I could see the CRWBY doing—

A) Oscar getting kidnapped by Salem alone with RWBY forming a search party lead by Ruby to make the perilous trek into the Dark Domain to rescue him (and possibly some abducted Atlesian citizens from the Fall of Atlas).

or 

B) Ruby and Oscar both becoming Salem’s prisoners to be tortured by her individually only for the two to escape together and traverse the Grimm-infested Dark Lands alone to make it back to civilization and their friends.

…Either can work but…I’m gonna have to go with Oscar captured alone. It’s honestly my favourite between the two ideas now and it’s also the only option that doesn’t result in seperating the main four girls again which I heard from the FNDM is something the CRWBY Writers might not try again. 

If the Writers are open to separating Ruby from her team for a second time in a much more dire life and death situation and just have the story revolved around her relationship and development with Oscar as our two youngest huntsmen and smaller more honest souls. If Ruby and Oscar are made to be key driver for one standalone season then YES, I’d be open to seeing something like that done given the uniqueness of the scenario.

We’ve seen Ruby with her team. We’ve seen her seperated from her team but joined with another team of friends with the thought of her reuniting with her original team never being off the table. But never have we seen Ruby completely isolated from the people and the world she once knew. Far far away without knowing whether or not she’d survived to see her loved ones again—granted that they even survived.

This is why I love the theory of Ruby and Oscar being on their own in the Salem’s Domain. I like the idea of it happening during the Fall of Atlas with neither being clear as to whether or not their friends are alive. All they knew for sure is that Atlas fell and maybe their friends are ok. Thus they cling to that hope and we watch of story of two kids on their own in a very dark world clinging desperately to hope. Hope is the only thing that’s driven them with each other being the only person they can turn to. This is why I LOVE the Ruby and Oscar Prisoners of Salem headcanon.

It’s my second favourite of the two but I love it for that potential for compelling character driven story. And what could make it even better is that it’s a condensed story. It doesn’t have to be about the writers juggling focus between more than one characters.

The story is just about seeing how Oscar and Ruby would fare on their own against impossible odds with only hope and their friendship on their side. The story, for the first time, will be just about them and thus the audience gets a chance to see how either of these two kids think and interact with each other when everyone else is out of the way. 

That could be cool to observe. But…alas, like I said, the Writers might not do this because I feel like they’re most likely to come back to what’s comfortable for them—Juggling a story with multiple characters with Team RWBY leading the charge.

Such a shame. A simple standalone story with just Ruby and Oscar with the audience joining them in being left unknowing of the fates of all the other characters so that we can feel the tension and desperation with them as we follow their story—that could’ve been great. 

~LittleMissSquiggles (2019)

#squiggles answers: rwby #oscar pine #ruby rose #rwby theories #rwby volume 7 theories #rwby rosegarden #miki-13 #squiggles answers

[ouahe]

January Episodes: Ep. 7-12

Making our way through season one with yet another episode change! We can’t wait to see what our members do with their characters for the next six episodes.

Again, asks are not the primary way to interact, but they’re greatly appreciated if sent in. Interact in any other format you’d like (i.e. para, gif, text message, etc.)! If you wish to change something about canon for these episodes, please message the mods to confirm prior to writing them out.

Here’s the line-up of our episode list: 

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1x07) - Sheriff Graham starts to remember his alternative life as the Huntsman. The curse weakens when he kisses Emma, who also feels strangely drawn to him, but in the fairy-tale world the Evil Queen has hired him to kill Emma's mother, Snow.

Desperate Souls (1x08) - In Storybrooke, Mr Gold and Mayor Regina play dirty politics on opposite sides when Emma runs for sheriff against Sidney Glass. Meanwhile, in the Enchanted Forest, a timid weaver named Rumplestiltskin is tricked by a malign power as he tries to save his son from being drafted into the ogre war.

True North (1x09) - In Storybrooke, Emma tries to save two homeless children from the evils of foster care. Meanwhile, in the Enchanted Forest of the fairytale world that was, the Evil Queen coerces Hansel and Gretel into stealing a poison apple from the Blind Witch.

7:15 A.M. (1x10) - Mary Margaret and David continue to grapple with their unrequited love, and Snow White tries to ease her breaking heart as Prince Charming's wedding to King Midas' daughter approaches.

Fruit of the Poisonous Tree (1x11) - Discover how a genie in a lamp became trapped in a mirror, and find out what happens when his Storybrooke counterpart, Sidney Glass, swaps allegiances and asks Emma to help him expose Mayor Regina's true nature.

Skin Deep (1x12) - When Mr. Gold's house is robbed, Emma suspects he is planning to have vigilante justice; Ruby, Mary Margaret and Ashley plan a night out on Valentine's Day; Belle makes a deal with Rumplestiltskin.

Our next set of episodes will be on Saturday, February 19th. Anyone who is not yet a member and wishes to join us, you can check out our available characters here and apply here.

We can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with!

- Mod Team

#ouat rp #ouat roleplay #ouat rpg #once upon a time rp #disney rp #rp promo #episode change #announcements

[a-salty-alto]

Tony Stark, Served Well Done

[A/N]: This is my fill for the “Hansel and Gretel” square on my Fairytale Bingo card. It was interesting to write, because I don’t usually write full AUs, much less in first person. I hope you like it!

Tony

I always knew this is how I was going to die.

Now you might be thinking Oh, Tony, you’re being hyperbolic, “eaten by a witch” is a weirdly specific way to go, there’s no way you could have expected it.

Yeah well, I’m not.

Ever since I stepped foot in this school I’ve known something like this was going to happen.

Okay, let me backup.

Hi, my name’s Tony Stark, soon to be dinner.

I’m a junior at Shield Highschool. Now, most people in town who don’t go here think that we’re just a bunch of stuck up genius snobs who get away with whatever we want.

That’s not true.

Well, the genius part is true, obviously, I go here. And so does Bruce, and Sam, and Natasha’s scarily good with computers and of course Jan and Bobbi- and I’m getting off topic.

Anyway we’re all actually a group of barely-functioning hot messes. If it isn’t exams, it’s school clubs, homework, the fact that none of us get enough sleep because we have to get up ass-early in the morning to get here on time, everyone’s got something to worry about here. We don’t have time to be stuck-up.

My current worry is the large boiling vat I’m dangling over.

Right, right, moving on. So, as Principal Coulson will tell you, if you’re in the mood for ten minutes of him waxing poetic about what the school,  Shield High was built on top of a potter’s field, which is a mass grave for unmarked bodies.

So yeah, school’s literally built on top of a pile of dead bodies of spirits that are probably pissed they never got a proper burial.

The first time I heard that little tidbit, my immediate thought was “some idiot is going to bring a Ouija board here and get us all killed.” It was joke, but I still called it.

So, it was after school, and I was hanging out with the D&D club that my friends and I formed with the help of the BEST PHYSICS TEACHER EVER, Mr. Yinsen, when suddenly the lights went out, a draft picked up through the school an an unearthly screech ripped through the building.

It was pitch black, so, naturally, we pulled out our phones to have some sort of light.

Natasha put her phone to her ear.

It couldn’t have rang more than once before she took it away again and shook her head.

“I don’t have any signal.”

At that, everyone else immediately started checking their phones too.

“No wifi,” Jan announced.

“Landline isn’t working either” Mr. Yinsen sighed

“This can only mean good things.” Clint muttered.

“Why don’t we take a look around?” Steve said, because he’s a giant innocent puppy dog who’s probably never actually seen a horror movie.

“Are you crazy?” Sam practically screeched. “No.”

“Rogers, what are you a, dumbass? This whole scenario screams demon attack.” Rhodey added..

“C’mon don’t we at least want to be in a room with actual, you know, windows? It’s only 3:30 in the afternoon, even if it’s cloudy, it’ll be more light than in here.” Brucie Bear suggested. It seemed like a good point. Mr. Yinsen’s room doesn’t have any windows, which makes the room darker. Even if we did walk into a monster movie, a you’d think a better lit room would have to help right?

WRONG! Oh so wrong, because as it turned out the sky had become, as Clint so eloquently put it, “a fucking bloodbath of hatred and death.”

Instead of the soft gray clouds and light snowfall that would be expected this time of year, the clouds were a hard black, and the sky was a deep crimson occasionally split in two by the crack of thunder and a lightning strike.

Like any sane person, we immediately tried to nope the fuck outta there, but the windows weren’t opening up and it took us exactly 5 minutes to realize we were very lost. In the school most of us have been attending for a little over 2 years at this point.

“Well, fuck.” I announced, because really, what else was there to say? I’m not sure if anyone else had noticed it, but the speakers which usually pumped terrible jazz music through the halls instead were playing a heaving breathing sound. I didn’t really feel like pointing it out to anyone at that moment, though.

“So. What do we do?” Clint panted.

Steve immediately took charge. I don’t remember what he said exactly, I may have been too busy staring at him as he got that stubborn look in his eyes and went into full protective mode and his eyebrows scrunched up just so and UuuuuggGgGHHhhhhhh.

Okay, so I might have a slight crush on Steve. You don’t get to make fun of it, I’m about to be boiled.

Anyway so, I wasn’t exactly paying attention but I got paired up with Natasha. I have this habit of aggressively hoarding snacks in my backpack, so I gave some to each of the pairs. In theory we’d each head in a different direction and follow the food trails back to where we started.

As Natasha and I made our way up the stairs and somehow ended up in the basement, we heard moaning. Immediately we shared a look and then ran after the voice. Who did we find but none other than Justin Hammer.

Now, Justin is a prick, but even he didn’t deserve the sorry state we’d found him in. He was pale, clutching his arm, and he had a black eye.

“Stark. Romanoff,” he grunted, as if the words hurt to say.

“Yeah, it’s us.” I helped him up and slung his arm over my shoulder.

“Justin, do you know what’s going on here?” Natasha asked taking his other arm. We shared a silent look and agreed that we should take him back to the meeting point.

“I was playing Ouija.” he said.

A few hours ago neither of us would have believed we were having this conversation, but now, the evidence was kind of hard to refute.

“Aren’t you not supposed to do that alone?” I said. “Or in a place where people are buried?

“Justin, what kind of  spirit did you summon?” Natasha asked at the same time.

Yeah, Nat was probably asking better questions than I was. I decided to leave the interrogation to her.

“A witch,” Justin whispered.

“And what does she want?”

“Him.” Justin said shifting his head in my direction.

“Wait, I’m sorry, what?” I yelped.

“When I summoned her, she wanted to eat my soul, but I knew you’d be here with your nerd club, and she said she wouldn’t eat me if I got you for her.”

“Shit.” Natasha said,  and we dropped Justin like a sack of potatoes.

It was too late though. High cackling laughter erupted from around us. Suddenly, an invisible force knocked me into a wall, and everything went dark.

*

When i came too again, i found myself in my current predicament, tied up and dangling upside-down over a vat.

“More sage.” A voice from the shadows called out, and a very grumpy Natasha was pushed in the direction of the pot.

“Hey! Leave her alone!” i yelled. I like to think I was somewhat intimidating.

The witch just laughed though, and practically glided over to me. I don’t know what she looks like other than she wears a dark robe with the hood covering her face.

“Ah, Iron Man, I’m glad to see you’re awake.”  She said, placing a bony hand to my cheek. “This is such a lovely little universe that buffoon called me to. You Avengers all have the same delicious spirit, but none of the pesky toys or skills.”

“I’m sorry, it might be the blood rushing to my head, but that doesn’t make any sense.” I bit back. Avengers? What was she going on about? “And if you just want to eat my soul, why do you need the pots and spices.”

The witch laughed again. “Oh, I want you to suffer. You’ve all wronged me, but you, Tony Stark sealed me away, so you get to feel being cooked alive. Your friends’ punishment is getting to watch.”

With that, she glided back to her corner, silently watching the two of us.

“So, Nat. Don’t suppose you can convince her I’m not fat enough to eat?

***

Steve

This isn’t good. I’m back at the meeting place, and Rhodey, Jan, Clint, Bruce, Sam and Mr. Yinsen have all made it back, but Tony and Natasha are nowhere to be found. Sometimes I wish I wasn’t an artist, because I can picture very clearly what it might be like to find the two of them ripped apart by whatever was causing this.

The school has seemingly become its own dimension. The hallways send you to completely different floors, the walls randomly become soft like flesh, and strange voices everywhere. Creepy didn’t even begin to describe it.

Not only that, the school was empty aside from the eight D&D club members and Mr. Yinsen. No other teachers, students from other clubs, or any janitors or security guards could be found.

I’m completely out of my depth when it comes to occult stuff like this. I wish Thor wasn’t out of town for family business, he’d know what to do. His brother practically lives and breathes this kind of stuff.

“How long has it been?” I ask absently while pacing the hall.

“30 seconds since you last asked, so about 5 minutes since we our agreed rendezvous time.” Bruce says. Oops. I stop and realize the others are watching me. I’m probably worrying them.

“Ok, let’s just go look for them. They did leave a trail.” Sam points out. “Either we’ll find them at the end or bump into them as they head back.”

Right. That sounds smart, why didn’t I think of that.

“Okay,” I say, “but let’s stick together, I don’t want to lose anyone else.”

With that, everyone in the group nods and we head off after Nat and Tony’s trail. We travel in relative silence, everyone’s concern is palpable.

We eventually make it to the end of the trail in the basement, where our missing friends are nowhere to be found.

“Shit.” Rhodey curses. I feel like punching a wall, but I swallow my frustrations.

“Let’s keep going. See if we can find any sign of them.” I say. It sounds like something the leader would say, which I guess I am.

We scour the basement looking for any signs of our friends, but find nothing. At least until Clint literally trips over Justin Hammer.

The guy’s unconscious, and pale in a way that doesn’t look healthy.

Immediately, Mr. Yinsen kneels down next to him and checks him over.

“He’s breathing, but it’s shallow. He needs medical attention.” The teacher’s gaze is stern. “James, Janet, and I found the Nurse’s office while we were searching. I’ll take him there.”

“I can go with you” Bruce offers, but Mr. Yinsen holds up a hand. “No, I want you all to stay together. Find the others, then meet us back at the rendezvous point in a hour.”

“Right,” Steve nods. As we watch their teacher take off with Justin in his arms, I can’t help feeling worried.

And by that I mean I’m screaming internally.

Right. Stay calm Steve. You’re in charge. You gotta at least hide your worry.

I stick up my head, and move onward.

Eventually, we find ourselves in the boiler room, and we hear voices. I motion to the others to be quiet as we sneak through. The voices stop as we enter a room, and see Nat, with her leg chained to the wall and Tony...

Tony’s being strung upside down over a large pot.

Ok. Weird, but could be worse.

"Ah, it seems the rest have arrived." A chilling  voice says from somewhere in the room. Clint and Sam scream and grab hold of eachother, but I stand my ground

"Who are you,” I definitely don’t stammer, “what are you doing to Tony and Nat?"

I actually manage to not screech when the terrifying lady appears right behind me and puts a bony hand on my shoulder. Yay me, I’m so proud of myself.

"I only wish for you all to suffer, and for his to be especially painful, and delicious." she whispers, and suddenly Tony screams as he starts dropping closer and closer to the pot.

With instincts I didn't even know I have, I grab the circular lid from a nearby garbage can and throw it.

It whizzes past Tony's head, bounces off of the wall, then another, and finally hits the lady in the face, knocking her down, and stopping Tony's descent.

I guess I meant to do that.

"Um right. Okay. She needs to be focused to do her magic. Clint, you and Jan help Nat, everybody else keep the lady busy. I’m going to get Tony down.” The others all nod and get back to work.

Rushing over to the pot, the first thing I do is try to tip it over.

“Steve.” Tony says.

It's really heavy, but Tony’s counting on me.

“Steve.”

I can’t let him down.

“Steve! It’s still on fire doesn’t that hurt?”

I look down and realize that there’s a fire lit under the cauldron and yeah, it is really hot.

But not as hot as it probably should be. Still, I jerk away.

I look at my hands and yeah, they're a little burnt but not something I can’t deal with. They’re already healing in a few places anyway.

“Oh.”

“Yeah, try snuffing out the fire first.” Tony says, misinterpretting my shock. Suddenly the rope drops some more and Tony screams again.  

That weird muscle spasm that let me throw the garbage can lid causes me to jump into the air, do a flip, and catch the rope dropping Tony.

I land balanced on the cauldron, and pull Tony into my arms.

“Impressive Cap, when did you start taking acrobatics?”

“I don’t know and- Cap?” Tony’s never called me that before and Tony looks just as confused as I do.

“Uh, just ignore me. I’m not sure how long I was upside down. Probably just woozy from all the blood rushing to my head. Anyway,” and Tony looks up at me and gives a little smile, “Thanks for the save.”

I can feel my face turning beet red. I try to tug on the rope that’s holding Tony, but it doesn’t budge. Looks like I’ll just have to carry Tony while the others deal with the witch.

It’s fine. This is fine.

I can just feel my face turning beet red.

Damn it massive crush on Tony, I thought we had an agreement where you wouldn’t do this to me anymore.

I try to focus on the others fighting the witch.

Looks like Clint and Jan have gotten Nat out, and they’ve all joined in the fight.

The Avengers are all on the defensive though. We don’t have anything that will actually hurt her, and most of us can’t survive more than one direct lightning blast. I mean none of us can, we’re all humans, what am I talking about?

“Yo, Wicked Witch!” Tony shouts. Oh god Tony please don’t antagonize the angry magic lady when we’re standing over a boiling pot of water.

Still, the witch turns to us and growls.

“You!”

“Yeah, guess you didn’t get me after all. Can’t even beat me when I don’t have my toys?” He mocks.

The witch howls and lunges towards us. Somehow I know the exact moment I need to jump to make sure she smacks face first into her own cauldron.

Her screams as she boils are going to haunt my nightmares for the rest of my life.

She finally stops, and a blinding flash of light envelops all of us. A split second later, Tony’s untied, the cauldron’s gone, and Tony is suddenly really heavy.

I put him down on the ground as the others come over to us, clearly very confused.

“So, what just happened?” Clint asks, “I mean I’ve always been awesome but I don’t think I’m usually able to dodge lightning for that long.”

“It’s almost like we were actually that thing she was talking about? The Avengers?” Tony asks, turning to Nat, who gives a nod.

“Yeah. The reason the witch wanted to eat Tony was because another version of him sealed her away with alternate versions of us. Apparently in another life, we’re superheroes.” She explains.

Superheroes, huh?

“So we accidently absorbed our other selves’ superhero skills? Is that even possible?” Rhodey asks, and Sam just shrugs.

“We just fought a witch, and didn’t die. I think it’s definitely something more than just dumb luck.”

“Cooooooool. We have to try that again some time!” Jan squeals. “I want to design all our outfits.”

Everyone laughs and starts to leave, but Tony hangs back.

“Something wrong, Tony?” I ask.

“Um yeah, I just wanted to give you something better. To thank you properly.”

“What-” And suddenly I’m cut off by Tony giving me a kiss on the cheek and running off after the others.

So today, I got transported to a weird alternate dimension, my friend/crush nearly got boiled alive, I got proxy superpowers, and my crush just kissed me.

Weird day.

Not a bad one though, so I start chasing after Tony.

#capimanniversarybingo #steve rogers #tony stark #stevetony #highschool au #sorta #multiverse shenanignas #original villains #alto writes

[farmedprince]

It’s always been present to me my whole life but I’ve been thinking about it a lot especially in like the last hour about how important storytelling (particularly in film) resiants so much signficance to me. I don’t know why I’m having such a moment right now after this film I watched (I’m probably not going to say what film) but something about it was something I identified with complete. Not the characters per-se but at least a teaching behind it.

I’ve always been obessed with cinema since I can really remember and since my parents can too. They always told me that I ran to watch movies with them. As a toddler, that’s when I really had something to focus on and a world for me to escape into. I think it’s a massive coping mechanism for a lot of my emotions. I didn’t think too much of it back then how much it stuck to me but I do now.

I finished class last July and ever since I’ve felt so lost in what to do with my life because I didn’t want to go into university (at least straight away.) My whole life, like most people are, have been pressured to go into certain career paths by parents or guardians tend to do to make sure you have a good life. My mother particularly always thought I’d go into the scientific field. I said I wanted to be an astroanught but that’s because of all the films certain in space were ones I enjoyed.

In primary school, I was such a quiet guy. I found it really hard to actively make friends or talk to other people. Tbh, it’s still something I kind of struggle with but I’ve gotten better. And part of that really is because of one of my drama teachers. I’ll never forget. I don’t remember everything she said to me but remember being asked to say back after class for a few minutes talk. At that point, I thought I was in trouble that I’d done something wrong but she said she saw talent in me and that if I applied myself, I could really be extrodinary. Until that point, I don’t think I saw myself as particularly talented at anything other than the amount of films I could watch back to back from each other. It clicked with me and from that day on, I’ve just come out of my shell more. I’ve tried harder. Maybe years of watching movies to escape was just a hint at some untamped potential. My friends started to notice a massive change in me. I was more open, my sense of humor started to shine and honestly, people started to take my more serious the more outspoken I got. 

It even seems ridiculous now, but I used to dread English class. I used to despise it for some reason. It wasn’t my teachers fault but I would so easily give up at the fact of one bad grade. I’d constantly compare myself to my fellow peers. I would get the lowest grade in the class. So from then on I really wouldn’t try. As much as I’d love the stories I was reading, I wouldn’t try even the slighest bit because I thought I would never improve. 

I think one thing that really sparked my love for actually writing was task I took in English at college. It’s funny really. I used to talk to my mum about how much I hated the subject so when I took English Literature in college as one of my options willing, she was so baffled and I laughed saying to her “You know i never really hated it? I hated that I never applied myself”. I joined a school where I literally knew one other person. It was totally out of my comfortable zone but my English teacher’s grew to love me. They told my parents how enthuastic I was every single lesson and my parents were like ‘How is this our son who used to tell us how much he hated the subject’. 

There was a creative writing task one day and were inspired to make mordern day intepretations of famous fairytales with a dark twist. Everyone did the go-to’s like Snow White, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland. And I remember being the only person to do Hansel and Gretel and my teacher loved it so he read it to the class. And at the point, I’d never had my writing read to anyone other myself, my sister or rarely my parents. 

I’ve been  roleplaying since I was 13 or 14? Tbh, I don’t even remember how it started since it seems so long ago and I’m literally turning 19 this year. I get to roleplay against so many talented individuals it constantly inspires to me do my best. 

I think the fairytale task I got also is kind of why I write in the OUAT fandom. And because I just so happened to started continuing watch the show again. I just am so greatful for films (well, and books and television) for being my outlet my whole life.

I just think it’s so weird thinking about where it all stems from. Like, it’s shaped my personality in a way. My sense of humor is so wide because of the comedy movies I grew up watching. Which is why I one day, want to act in a show/film/tv series and see something I write be produced into one of these. That’d just be the dream!

I don’t know who is reading this. Or if people even are, but I just want to say a massive MASSIVE THANK YOU to you all for being my sources of inspiration every time I log in. 

This has been a random Ted-Talk (by TJ/Theo. Also Teddy is one of my nicknames)

#i don't know why i posted this #i'm feeling so like blessed and joyous right now? #anyone watch sense 8? i'm lito where he's like: i'm feeling very whitney huston right now and crying #❝ᴍʏ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ sᴏᴀʀs!❞ ━OOC.

[effablemotions]

Ciare (2018)

Her name was Ciare.

            She liked peaches. Especially the ones that were white inside, but she never bothered to remember their name. Some days, she would sit in the rose-covered gazebo in her backyard, watching the clouds, biting into the soft flesh white peach. Her mother always said that Ciare belonged with the clouds. It worried her. How often little Ciare would eat those peaches and stare wistfully at the shape-shifting expanse above her, as if she should suddenly disappear, called into the clouds by the trumpets of a sweeter adventure than this life. She would wring her calloused hands while she cooked supper, glance out the kitchen window and say to herself, “she’s only a dreamer.”

            Ciare’s laugh was music. In general, laughing is like music–the purest form of music, the unbridled joy and delight. But her laugh was music. It was the notes before they were put on bars, before composers blindly imagined sounds, before joy could be confined by lines; her laugh sang those melodies long before they were put on paper. Music was blandly counterfeit once she had laughed.

            She had brown eyes with green flecks soft as snowflakes resting on wet leaves on the first day of winter. People would look into those eyes and call them hazel or caramel or beautiful. Some young boys in the breathless height of pubescence would throw rocks at her window like they saw in the movies, thinking naively that little girls’ hearts could be knocked open with pebbles the size of skipping stones.

            Anne of Green Gables. That’s what her father liked to call her. They would sit on the brown, rugged couch together and watch the witty carrot-headed child overcome and rejoice through all the wonders of life. His salt and pepper, thinning head of hair would shake at the idea that any Gilbert could be worthy of his Anne, and he chuckled to himself when brazenly awkward boys in too-big shoes and slicked hair came asking him for permission.

            Oh, how she dreamed and dreamed and dreamed. She dreamed of bright lights and star lights and grand, wonderful visions of the future, tinted with silly lenses. Pink lenses like the roses of that old gazebo, white streak flares as bright as the clouds, pure as the flesh of her cheeks. But no matter how many futures or possibilities lay in front of her open, her innocent, her beautifully blurry eyes, the present can’t foretell the future as clearly as it can remember the past.

            Ponytails and pigtails flew by her in the rush of springtime blossoms, only to be smothered by scarves and hats in the winter.

            And so the cold, cold winter arrived in her bedroom, knocking on her window with pebbles larger than boulders, louder than hailstorms, harsher than acid rain, stronger than the wolf who huffed and puffed and blew her house down.

And sweet laughter froze in the wintry snow.

            Hansel and Gretel stumbled into a gingerbread house; Jack wandered into a giant’s home; disasters don’t always come with the trumpets of a sickeningly sweet adventure.

            It came in the shape of a car. A white, rusted 1999 Honda Civic. He gave her a single pink rose. He wrapped her in his jackets and blankets, suffocating her with his scent until it penetrated a young girl’s weak walls. It wasn’t exactly the white horse in shining armor dancing among the stars at night that she had told herself love meant. Snow could fall, but warmth was being wrapped in his arms. And so, there were shorter days and longer nights. Such long, long nights.

             She didn’t tell anyone. Ciare was good at secrets. She had to be. Secrets could kiss you and love you and promise you starlights and Milky Ways and golden rings studded with diamonds, but they could also lick your lips with shame and fear and pain. Vise-like pressures behind velvet curtains whispering honey-slicked promises in pillars of magic and beauty. Secrets were nothing like the sweet, brilliant flesh of a white peach, but she grew to like them anyway.

             Some day in the far future, standing in the kitchen window, her mother looked out at the rain and thought about Ciare. Her hair was grey and her hands wrinkled. She thought about how that girl had once belonged to the clouds. The girl had spent days and hours in that little rotting gazebo, dreaming of a future she would never have. Her little Ciare, up and grown, but so far from what she could have known. And here she was, cutting slices of peaches for nobody but herself. Was it really raining outside or was her vision just blurry?

             Maybe it wasn’t a Gilbert Blythe but a big bad wolf with a beat-up car who stole that Anne of Green Gables away. It could have been. It could have been the dreams of clouds and brilliant starlights that drew her too close to the solar flares of gas-lit stars which consumed her.

             She was sixteen. Her name was Ciare. She had laugh-like music. She liked white flesh peaches. She sat in gazebos and stared at clouds. She disappeared into a white 1999 Honda Civic in the wintertime and never came back.

             Or she did.

             But she was no longer that Anne of Green Gables.

             No, Anne of Green Gables died in that murder of young girls’ souls when they are swept into a fleeting romance for naive hearts.

             And so the laughter stopped. The peaches rotted. The snow melted. The roses wilted. And Ciare stared at herself in the mirror and blamed those green flecked eyes. Eyes that lured people in and promised and promised and promised. She should have said no.

             She kept her secrets.

Her hardened balls of anger and hate that fester and rot and poison. Secrets of shame, disgust, guilt force fed self-hate down her pretty, little throat. A throat meant for calls of passion and frustration suffocated on poisonous air, as if once those black fumes entered her lungs, the oxygen ran to hide and left her soul to die. Day after day, she inhaled air she was taught she wasn’t allowed to breathe.

             It was late that night and her parents slept in their unassuming bliss. Her phone chimed in a bursting of excited giggles because some dark horse had come to whisk her away into a red sunset. Her friends told her it would be magical, amazing, breath-taking because what did little sixteen-year-olds know about big bad wolves, other than they are always recognizable in the forest on your way to Granny’s house. They don’t surprise you in the hallways at school with love letters and flowers. But sometimes, the big bad wolf is the warm, musky scent of a leather jacket, whose teeth come out only when the clothes come off. Sometimes, they don’t get cut down by a passing hunter who notices a creaking car. A heart can be so weak and so strong.

And some nights don’t end with the dawn.

            In the early sunrise, she slipped through the front door and sat down in front of her bedroom mirror. Her hair was tousled, not tangled. Her eyes the same brown they had always been. Her skin the same color tan in winter. Her blouse buttoned and straightened. Her jeans fit around her legs and curves in the same manner they had always hugged her. And so she stared at this stranger in front of her. Who was she? There was no dirt on her face, no bruises, no scars, no physical manifestation of what had changed, but her insides were cold. Those hands, those lips had been in dark places she could not think about. Like a bad dream she couldn’t wake up from. Nightmares that overlapped and melded into the moonlight, watching her body be stripped away from her grasp underneath fogging windows, ripping her laughter from her vocal cords until she couldn’t remember its music anymore. She touched the mirror with her right hand and tried to wipe away those shameful tears that came leaking out of her, but she couldn’t tell the difference between her skin and the cold, cold metal.

            If only she had known; known that fairytales are not recipes for happiness, that shame can still swallow you in darkness long after the sun has broken out of its slumber. All the stories and dreams painted blue skies filled with glory, and guise cut deeper behind, with red glitter and lies. Her mouth was open, but that toxic shade had already seeped into her streams of blood, filling her insides with silent refrains. Tears poured out of her flat eyes, mourning a loss she hardly knew she could lose.

            Later, she could know. Later, when she had the courage–or the terror–to tear apart her soul with the claws of her own mind. The body she had trusted, she had loved, she had given up. Hadn’t she been the one to follow the flowers into the forest? To walk into the lion’s den with nothing but stardust in her eyes? Hadn’t she deserved to die? She was good at secrets. Good at those secrets that fester and rot and poison and ruin. Secrets that built the mountains out of bloody corpses and filled the spring valleys with acidic water within her heart because she was caught, not to breathe the air around her.

            And only later could she finally distinguish between the sweet flesh of her skin and the rotting memories in that dark car.

            Later, when she learned to breathe.

            The words will never come as easy as they did before, but then again she will never be the same as before. How can she be the same when her insides have been gouged out, her entrails silently pouring from the invisible holes. People will look in her eyes and see quiet defeat and pity her. Her beauty becomes the bewitched rose in a castle, wasting itself in silence.

But she will learn to breathe. Even when she was taught not to.

The blood in the sink will dry. The streaks of red will close into silver lines.

Her story will be told.

Not as a fairytale. Not as a warning.

But as a eulogy for the irrevocable.

#ciare #writing #story #short #loss #anger #secret #pain #growth

[mbtizone]

Henry Mills (Once Upon a Time): ENFP

Dominant Extroverted Intuition [Ne]: It isn’t necessary for Henry to see to believe. He can see beyond what’s physically in front of him. He knows that everyone in Storybrooke is a fairytale character, cursed to forget who they were, just by reading the book Mary Margaret gave him. To Henry, believing in something makes it true. He has an active imagination and his brain makes connections with ease. If Frankenstein is in Storybrooke, but not in the book, then that means the curse went to other lands, so who knows who else could be in the town? Henry can usually determine which fairytale character a Storybrooke resident is very quickly. Ashley is a maid and she has a stepmother and stepsisters? She’s clearly Cinderella! Archie is Jiminy Cricket because he helps people see right and wrong and acts as a conscience, which would make Marco Geppetto because he’s Archie’s best friend. When Archie asks Henry’s fairytale theory is so important to him, Henry tells him that this can’t be all there is. The alternative is too horrible to even consider. When David wakes up with amnesia, Henry realizes that it’s because the curse hasn’t taken effect on him yet. Regina’s fake life for Prince Charming hasn’t kicked in yet, so he’s a blank slate. He’s quickly able to figure out that Graham is the Huntsman. He was raised by wolves, so that explains why he keeps seeing one! And kissing Emma gave him flashes because they’re connected. If Graham hadn’t spared Snow White, Emma never would’ve been born. Ava and Nicholas are brother and sister who are lost and have no parents… Hansel and Gretel, obviously. He makes these leaps quickly and effortlessly. Henry thinks quickly on his feet and can improvise in the moment – he distracts Mr. Gold by looking for a present for Mary Margaret to allow August to sneak into the shop. Henry likes trying new things. He’s excited to learn how to sword fight and ride a horse.

Auxiliary Introverted Feeling [Fi]: Moral gray areas don’t compute with Henry. You’re good or you’re evil. He insists that good will win, no matter what Regina tries to do. Even though Regina has killed people and cursed the entire town, executing her is wrong. Heroes don’t run! They stay and fight. He is steadfast in his beliefs. When Regina suggests that Henry can make the other children love him, Henry is adamantly against that. He doesn’t want to force anyone to be his friend! He doesn’t want to become Regina. If someone fails to live up to Henry’s expectations of them, he can be very hard on them and reluctant to forgive. He values honesty and expects that from Emma, so learning that she lied to him about his father hurt. When he’s upset or angry with someone, Henry tends to shut them out rather than talk to them. He jumps out the window and sits on the fire escape when he learns the truth about his father. When he overhears Emma’s conversation with Regina, he runs from the room and deals with his emotions privately. He also storms off when Archie tries to tell him that his beliefs are just delusions. Henry is typically only hurt emotionally when someone he respects or admires puts him down. It doesn’t matter if Regina tries to convince him otherwise, but when Archie and Emma imply that he’s crazy, it hurts. Even though the people around him try to get him to live in reality, he refuses to listen. Henry knows that the book is real, so he won’t abandon his mission. He will fight for the truth and show it to everyone. Henry refuses to allow anyone to shatter his faith.

Tertiary Extroverted Thinking [Te]: Henry enjoys making plans and carrying them out. He is able to take action to do what needs to be done – even if he has to steal a credit card, hop on a bus to Boston, track Emma down, and bring her to Storybrooke. When there are no signs of forced entry in Emma and Mary Margaret’s apartment, Henry swipes his mom’s set of keys in order to prove she was able to get inside to plant the evidence to incriminate Mary Margaret. Henry’s book is his Bible and everything in there is fact that cannot be disputed (no matter how hard Emma and Regina may try). He creates blueprints for his plan to turn Mary Margaret and David’s room into an armory to defend themselves against Regina. Henry understands that it’s important to support his claims with concrete evidence and risks his safety in order to get it for Archie and Emma. He doesn’t care what it takes – he’s determined to get her the proof she needs. His conviction is so strong that he forces her to believe in the most logical way he can think of – by eating the poisoned apple turnover that Regina had intended for Emma. Henry can be blunt and direct at times. When Regina tells him she wants to transfer him out of Mary Margaret’s class, he asks her point blank if it’s because Regina framed her for Kathryn’s murder. Henry wants to get “John Doe” to wake up from his coma and remember who he is, and he knows the best way to do that is to get Mary Margaret in there to read to him about their former life together (Ne-Te).

Inferior Introverted Sensing [Si]: Even though Henry is usually open to possibilities, past experience does influence his outlook on certain things. You can’t break a deal with Mr. Gold. Nobody’s ever done it before! After Regina crushes Graham’s heart, Henry briefly decides to put an end to Operation Cobra. Good always loses and continuing on this path can get you killed. Look at what happened to Graham! We need to stop before anyone else suffers the same fate. Nicholas and Ava’s dad has to be in Storybrooke because nobody ever comes or goes. If people leave, bad things happen! August’s presence in Storybrooke is unsettling for Henry because there are no outsiders there. When he is taken to Neverland, he knows that his family will come from him because they always find each other! He knows that Emma gave him up to give him his best chance because that’s why Emma’s parents gave her up. Henry has a sentimental streak and wants to feel connected to his past and where he comes from. When Henry interrogates Emma about his biological father, he asks if she has something of his because Henry wants a memento. In the lie that Emma tells Henry about his father, she mentions pumpkin pie, which Henry remembers, as he brings her a slice of it later on. When Henry’s book goes missing, he has to write down everything he remembers from it before he forgets. Henry uses what he learns in the book to guide his judgments in current situations. In the book, things always seem bleak right before a triumph, so that will apply to us, too! The hero never believes at first, so Henry is willing to wait. All heroes hit rock bottom before rising up and fighting back!

Enneagram: 7w6 9w1 4w5 Sx/So

Quotes:

Henry: They’re not fairy tales. They’re true. Every story in this book actually happened. Emma: Just because you believe something, doesn’t make it true. Henry: That’s exactly what makes it true. You should know more than anyone. Henry: Please don’t take me back there. Emma: I have to. I’m sure your parents are worried sick about you. Henry: I don’t have parents. Just a mom and she’s evil. Emma: Evil? That’s a bit extreme, isn’t it? Henry: She is. She doesn’t love me. She only pretends to. Emma: Kid… I’m sure that’s not true.

Henry: I was hoping that when I brought you back, things would change here. That the final battle would begin. Emma: I’m not fighting any battles, kid. Henry: Yes, you are. Because it’s your destiny. You’re going to bring back the happy endings. Emma: Can you cut it with the book crap. Henry: You don’t have to be hostile. I know you like me – I can tell. You’re just pushing me away because I make you feel guilty. It’s okay. I know why you gave me away. You wanted to give me my best chance. Emma: How do you know that? Henry: Because it’s the same reason Snow White gave you away.

Henry: I don’t want to talk to you. Archie: Miss Swan, if she knew you were here- Emma: To hell with her. Henry, there is one simple reason I stayed here. You. I wanted to get to know you. Henry: You think I’m crazy. Emma: No, I think the curse is crazy. And it is. But, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t true. It is a lot to ask anyone to believe in, but there are a lot of crazy things in this world. So what do I know. Maybe it is true. Henry: But you told my mom. Emma: What she needed to hear. What I do know, is that if the curse is real, the only way to break it is by tricking the Evil Queen into thinking that we are non-believers. Cause that way, she’s not on to us. Isn’t that what Operation Cobra was all about? Throwing her off the trail? Henry: Brilliant!

Henry: I found your father – Prince Charming. Emma: Henry… Henry: He’s in the hospital, in a coma. See the scar? He has one, too. Emma: So? Lots of people have scars. Henry: In the same place? Don’t you see what this means? The curse is keeping them apart with the coma. Now they’re stuck without each other. We have to tell Miss Blanchard we found her Prince Charming. Emma: Okay, kid. Telling someone their soulmate is in a coma is probably not helpful. Not having a happy ending is painful enough, but giving someone unrealistic hope is far worse. Henry: But what if I’m right? We know who they are. Now they have to know. Emma: And how do you intend to make that happen? Henry: By reminding him. We have to get her to read their story to John Doe. Then, maybe, he’ll remember who he is.

Henry: You’re the one who woke him up. You’re the last one he saw. He wants to find you! Mary Margaret: Henry, it’s not about me. I just… I think he’s lost and confused. He’s been in a coma a long time. Henry: But he loves you! You need to stop chasing him, and let him find you.

Henry: Don’t believe them. You’re the one he was looking for. Mary Margaret: Henry… Henry: He was going to the Troll Bridge. It’s like the end of the story. Mary Margaret: Henry, he was going there because it’s the last thing I read to him. Henry: No, it’s because you belong together.

Ruby: Oh, um, she’s got a stepmom and two stepsisters that she doesn’t talk to. Henry: Wait. Stepmom, stepsisters, and she’s a maid?

Henry: You can’t make her double cross Gold. No one’s ever broken a deal with him.

Henry: You weren’t always a cricket. Archie: I weren’t always- Oh, right. Because, um… Because you think I’m Jiminy Cricket. Why… Why do you… Why do you think that, Henry? Henry: It’s just because of who you are. Archie: And what am I? Henry: You’re a conscience. You help people see right from wrong. Archie: so, all the crickets in Storybrooke – they were once people, too? Henry: There aren’t any crickets here. Listen. Archie: Maybe it isn’t light enough. Henry: There’s never been crickets here. You’ve just never noticed. Archie: So, you think that’s proof that there’s a curse? Henry: Yes, but I know it’s not enough. I’m looking for more. Archie: So, Henry, look. I asked you this once before and you said you’d think about it. Why do you think it’s so important that this is real? Henry: It… It just is.

Henry: Are you recruiting Geppetto for Operation Cobra? Archie: You think Marco’s Geppetto? Henry: Sure. He’s Jiminy Cricket’s best friend and Marco’s yours. Archie: Henry… Henry, look. W-We really need to talk about this, okay? Henry: I know you’re not convinced, but I know where I can get proof. (Henry unzips his backpack and shows Archie what’s in it.) Archie: What is this? Flashlight? Candy bars? Oh, wait, Henry. Henry, you do not want to go down there. Henry: Emma’s here and stuff’s happening. I have to look at it. Archie: Henry, Henry. Stop. Stop. There is no proof. Look, all of this – all of this – is a delusion. Do you know what a delusion is? Henry: I… I think so. Archie: It’s something that’s not real. And… And not healthy. And I thought that you’d outgrow this, but Henry, you know… Now it’s turned into a psychosis. Do you know what a psychosis is? Th-that’s when you can longer tell what’s real and if that continues, then… Then I have to lock you away. Henry, look. This has to stop for your own good. You got to wake up. This nonsense must end. [Henry storms out of Archie’s office.]

Henry: I think you can be him. I think you can be a good person. I mean, you’re Jiminy Cricket. Archie: Henry. Henry, Jiminy Cricket was a… He was a cricket, okay? And he was a conscience. And… And I hardly think that’s me. Henry: But before he was that, he was a guy who took a long time to figure out the right thing to do. Archie: That kind of sounds like me. Henry: Now it’s harder for you because of the curse. To hear the voice inside of you. To be who you want to be.

Archie: Hey, can I ask you again? Henry: Ask what? Archie: Why do you think it’s so important that your…your fairy tale theory is true? Henry: I don’t know. Archie: Give it a shot. Henry: Cause this can’t be all there is. Archie: I understand.

Henry: You know why he doesn’t remember? The curse isn’t working on him yet. Emma: Henry, David has amnesia. Henry: Well, it’s preventing the curse from replacing his fairy tale story with fake memories. Emma: Right. Because everyone here has fake stories that prevent them from remembering who they really are. Henry: Right. And now’s our chance to help him. We just have to get him to remember that he’s- Emma: He’s Prince Charming. Henry: We just have to jog his memory by getting him and Miss Blanchard together. Emma: Didn’t we just try that? Henry: And it woke him up.

Henry: When did your flashes begin? Graham: Uh, right after I kissed Emma. Henry: You kissed my mom? What did you see? Graham: A wolf. I saw that I had a knife in my hand and I was with Mary Margaret. Henry: Were you about to hurt her? Graham: Yes! How do you know that? Henry: Because Mary Margaret is Snow White. Which makes you the Huntsman. Graham: So, you really think that I could be another person. Henry: Makes total sense. You were raised by wolves – that’s why you keep seeing one. It’s your friend – your guide. It’s trying to help you. Graham: I’m remembering this because I kissed your mother? H-How is that possible? Henry: Well, you two do have a special connection. She owes you her life. Graham: Why? Henry: Snow White’s her mother and you spared her. If you hadn’t, my mom wouldn’t have been born. Graham: Wh-What happened after I spared Snow White? Henry: The Queen took your heart. She ripped it out. It’s kind of her thing. She never wanted you to be able to feel again.

Henry: Thanks. Emma: Oh, come on! What’s up? You’ve been ducking me for weeks. Henry: I think we should stop Cobra stuff for a while. You don’t play with the curse. Look what happened to Graham. Emma: Henry, I told you they did an autopsy. It was totally natural causes. Henry: Okay, whatever. You don’t believe – good. That should keep you from messing with it. And getting killed. Emma: You’re worried about me? Henry: She killed Graham because he was good – and you’re good. Emma: Henry… Henry: Good loses – good always loses. Because good has to play fair – evil doesn’t. She’s evil. This is probably best. I don’t want to upset her anymore.

Henry: This is what I’ve been trying to tell you – good can’t be evil, because good doesn’t do this kind of thing. My mom plays dirty – that’s why you can’t beat her. Ever. Emma: I have a new ally. Mr. Gold said he’s going to help. Henry: Mr. Gold? He’s even worse than she is. You already owe him one favour. You don’t want to owe him any more. Don’t do this.

Henry: You stood up to Mr. Gold. It’s pretty amazing. Emma: Well, he did something illegal. Henry: That’s what heroes do – expose stuff like that. I shouldn’t have given up on Operation Cobra.

Henry: I know who they are. They’re brother and sister, lost, no parents – Hansel and Gretel. Emma: Anything in there about the dad? Henry: Just that he abandoned them. Emma: Great. Sounds like a familiar story. Whoever this guy is, he could be in Laos by now. Henry: No, he’s here. Emma: Just how do you know that? Henry: Cause no one leaves Storybrooke. No one comes here, no one goes. It’s just the way it is. Emma: I came here. Henry: Because you’re special. You’re the first stranger here – ever.

Henry: Do you have anything of his? Something you can remember him by. Something I could see. Emma: I… I don’t. Henry, I’m sorry. I got to go. I may know how to find this guy.

August: Whatcha working on? Henry: Uh, no time to talk. I got to write it all down before I forget. August: Yeah, I hate it when great ideas slip away from me. Henry: They’re not my ideas. They’re stories from a book that I lost. August: Must be a hell of a book. What’s it about? Henry: Stuff. August: Sounds exciting. Henry: You seem awfully interested in me and my book. August: No, I’m just being neighbourly. Henry: What are you doing in Storybrooke? August: I’m a writer. Henry: You can write anywhere. What are you really doing here? August: Stuff. Good luck with the stories.

August: I don’t think that hot chocolate’s going to drink itself. You’re upset about your teacher, aren’t ya? Henry: She didn’t do it. Why can’t anyone see that? August: Because most people just see what’s right in front of them. And I don’t think you’re going to find the answers you want at the bottom of that mug. Henry: Then where? August: That a book in your bag? You know I’m a writer. So, I’m partial to finding my answers in the literary form. Henry: It’s just a book. August: Is it? Henry: Yeah. August: I think we both know that that’s not the case. Can I get a water, please? Henry: What do you know about it? August: I know it’s a book of stories. Henry: Aren’t all books? August: Stories…that really happened. Henry: You think my book is real? August: As real as I am. Henry: How do you know? August: Well, let’s just say that, uh, I’m a believer. And I want to help others see the light. That, my friend, is why I’m here. Henry: But I already believe. August: Oh, I’m not here for you, buddy. I’m here for Emma. Henry: So, you want to get her to believe? Why don’t you just tell her? August: Well, there are some people – like you and me – we can go on faith. But others – like Emma – they need proof. Henry: Last time I tried to find proof, I got trapped in a sinkhole.

Henry: I have proof. [He holds up the ring of skeleton keys.] This is how my mom got into your apartment. This is how she framed Miss Blanchard. Emma: Did you steal these from her office? Henry: Yeah. The book said they could open any door. Emma: There’s no way they’ll even fit in the lock. Henry: We have to try. [Henry tries to open the door with multiple keys, but is unsuccessful.] Emma: See? What did I tell you? Come on, Henry. I know you want to think the answer to everything is in Operation Cobra- Henry: It is! Emma: But, sometimes the real world needs to come first. Henry: Just try one more. Please. Emma: Okay, one more. But then we’re done. Henry: You do it. This one. Emma: Okay. [Emma takes the keys from Henry and tries the key he picked out. The door unlocks.] Henry: Do you believe now?

Henry: Who else knows that we hide the book at the Sheriff’s station? Emma: No one. Why? Henry: Someone changed it. There’s a new story in it. Emma: Why would someone add a new story? Henry: To tell something we need to know about the curse. Emma: And what would that be? Henry: I don’t know. The story isn’t finished. Emma: Why would someone go to so much trouble to add a new story, and then not bother finishing it? Henry: That’s what’s weird. The story’s about Pinocchio. Everyone knows how that ends. Emma: Well, maybe that’s why it was left out. Henry: Or, maybe, there’s more to it.

Henry: What are you doing here? Regina: You forgot your lunchbox. Henry: Thanks? Regina: Henry, it’s time for a change. I think it’s time to transfer you to a new class with a new teacher. Henry: Why do you want me out of Miss Blanchard’s class? Is it because you framed her? Regina: Henry! Do you really think I’m capable of doing something so horrible? Henry: Of course. You’re the Evil Queen. Regina: Enough. Those fairy tales are not real. Miss Blanchard should never have given you that book. She should be grateful I’m not trying to get her fired. Henry: Go ahead and try. It won’t work. No matter what you do, Snow White will have her happy ending. She and Prince Charming will be together. The curse will end. Good will win. And I’m not transferring classes.

Henry: Is that all your stuff? Emma: All I need. Henry: Wait. You want to go now? We’re leaving now? Emma: Uh-huh. I’m getting you out of here. Away from all this. Away from her. Henry: No, no. Stop the car! You can’t leave Storybrooke. You have to break the curse. Emma: No, I don’t. I have to help you. Henry: But you’re a hero – you can’t run. You have to help everybody. Emma: Henry, I know it’s hard for you to see it, but I’m doing what’s best for you. That’s what you wanted when you brought me to Storybrooke. Henry: But the curse… You’re the only chance to bring back the happy endings. Emma: Henry… [Henry reaches over and grabs the steering wheel.] Emma: Henry! [Henry causes the car to veer off the road and into a ditch.] Emma: Henry! What were you doing? You could’ve gotten us killed! Henry: Please! Please, don’t make me go! We can’t go! Everything’s here… Me, your parents, your family. Please, Emma. They need you. Your family needs you.

Henry: You’re just scared. This happens to all heroes. It’s just the low moment before you fight back.

Henry: You can’t eat that. It’s poison. Emma: What? Henry: Don’t you see? The deal… It was all a trick to get you to eat that, to get rid of the saviour. Emma: Henry, come on. Why would she do that when I just told her I was going to go? Henry: Because as long as you’re alive, you’re a threat to the curse. Emma: Henry, you’ve got to stop thinking like this. Henry: But it’s the truth! And you leaving isn’t going to change that. Emma: I’ll prove it to you. Henry: No! [Henry grabs the turnover from Emma.] Emma: Henry… What are you doing? Henry: I’m sorry it had to come to this. You may not believe in the curse… Or in me. But I believe in you. [He takes a bite of the turnover. Nothing happens.] Emma: See? You want to have some ice cream with that? And then we can go back to talking about… [Henry suddenly collapses.] Emma: Henry? Henry? Henry!

Archie: There you are. Come with me. I need your help. Dr. Whale’s whipped everyone into a frenzy. They’re going to Regina’s house. They’re going to kill her! Leroy: Great, let’s watch. Archie: No. No, we cannot stoop to her level. No matter who she is or what she’s done, killing her is wrong. Henry: He’s right. Please. She’s still my mom.

Henry: You’ll find another way. In the book, things always look worse right before there’s good news.

Henry: You ruined lives. You sent away Mary Margaret and Emma. Regina: That was an accident. Henry: The way you treated me wasn’t an accident. You made it so no one believed me. You made me feel like I was crazy. Regina: But that’s all going to change, now. Henry, you can know all the secrets. You can live in a house with magic. Look what I could do. Henry: No one’s going to want to come over here. They’re scared of you. Regina: You can make them not be scared. You can make them love you. Henry: I don’t want that. I don’t want to be you.

David: You sure you’re okay to do this, kid? Henry: I was born to do this. I’m done reading about heroes. I want to be one. David: Well, sometimes being one is knowing when not to run into the fire. Henry: I’ll be okay. Mr. Gold: Look, whatever he faces in there, will be far less dangerous than what he’ll face if we fail. Henry: I can do this.

David: It’s going to be alright. Henry: How do you know? David: Well… How did you know Emma would save you after you ate the turnover? Henry: I… I believed in her.

Henry: Mom, what are you doing? Regina: We can’t let Cora come through the portal. You have no idea what she would do to us. Henry: Emma and Mary Margaret are going to defeat her. They’re the ones that are going to come through. Mr. Gold: Henry, your mother’s right. It’s going to be Cora. Henry: No. It won’t. Good always defeats evil. You should know that more than anyone.

Henry: You can’t! Stop it! You can’t! You’re going to kill them! Please! No! They’re going to make it through! We have to turn it off! You’re going to kill them! [Henry manages to break free from Regina’s grasp, but she quickly pulls him back.] Regina: Henry! What are you doing? Henry: Emma and Mary Margaret are going to come through. I know it. You said you wanted to change – to be better. This is how. You want me to have faith in you? Have faith in me.

Emma: You plotting your escape from Shawshank, kid? Henry: No, they’re blueprints. I had some ideas for what to do if David and Mary Margaret move out. Look. Emma: You want to make Mary Margaret’s room an armory? Henry: Yeah. You know, for weapons and stuff. To protect us – from Regina. Emma: She’s not going to hurt you. I’m not going to let her. Henry: She hurt Archie. What if she wants to take me back? Emma: That’s not going to happen.

Henry: Frankenstein isn’t in here. It’s not even a fairy tale. That means it comes from another land with different stories. Emma: Eat. I really want to go to bed. Henry: If the curse went to places with other stories, then who knows who else is in this town?

Emma: You good, kid? Henry: You kidding? A trip with you, first plane ride, and we’re going on a quest like in the book. The only thing that could make this day better is more frosting.

Henry: So, that’s him. Emma: Yeah. Henry: Why didn’t you tell me? Emma: Because I never thought I would see him again. I never wanted to. Henry: Why not? Emma: He was a thief, Henry. A liar, a bad guy, and he… He broke my heart. Henry: I could have taken it, you know. The truth. Emma: I know. He was just a part of my life I wanted to forget. That’s why I didn’t tell you. I was thinking of me, not you. Henry: I thought you were different, but you’re just like her. Regina. She always lied to me, too.

Henry: Emma, Neal wanted to show me the museum. Do you think we can go back to the apartment and get my camera? Neal: Yeah, well, I… Kids like culture, right? Emma: Sure. Yeah, that’s fine. You like the New York pizza? Henry: Yeah. It’s delicious, cheesy, and doesn’t lie.

Henry: I’m not getting the pen for Cruella. I’m getting it for me. I just watched my mom become the Dark One. I watched Hook die, and I couldn’t do anything. The Apprentice: You are the Author. As such, you should use the quill only to record the stories, not create them. Henry: I don’t care about the stupid stories anymore. I’m sick of sitting on the sidelines. I want to be a hero. I want to help my mom, even if it means helping Cruella.

Henry: You can give up on yourself, but I’m not gonna give up on you. And I’m not gonna go away just because you told me to! I belong here, and I’m going to come back everyday because this is my house too! And I miss my room!

Henry: Nice try, but you can’t Darth Vader me. I’ll never join you.

Henry: Don’t worry. My family is coming to rescue me, and you could come with us. Boy: You really think you’re the first boy to believe their family’s actually coming for them? Henry: My family’s different. We always find each other.

Henry: See? If you believe, anything is possible.

Mary Margaret: No. It can’t end this way. He was supposed to get a second chance. Neal: What happened? Emma: Someone killed him to stop him from telling us something. He used his last dying breath to warn us. I will not let that be in vain. Henry: Brave… truthful… and unselfish. Brave, truthful, and unselfish. Don’t you see what this means? That’s what Pinocchio was supposed to be. There’s still hope. We need The Blue Fairy.

Henry: Are you going back out? Emma: I got to, yeah. You remember Leroy, right? He’s going fishing with some buddies today. You want to go? Henry: Yeah, I’ll go. Because I love fishing. Not, because I believe you. Emma: What? Henry: You know you’re not fooling me, right? Something’s up. Emma: I’m working a case. You know how I get focused. Henry: No, it’s more than that. It’s this town. All these old friends you’ve never mentioned and people whispering around me all the time. There’s something that you’re not telling me. Emma: It’s a dirty business being a bail bonds person. I don’t want to soil your sweet head. Henry: You’re not getting off that easy. If you can’t tell me the truth, then I wanna to go home. Back to New York.

Henry Mills (Once Upon a Time): ENFP was originally published on MBTI Zone

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Photoshop Tutorial: How to Create Fairytale Images

Here’s a suggestion: Why don’t we take a page from Goldilocks and the Three Bears and learn successful editing by processing our images three times to create the “not too hot, not too cold, but ahh, this is just right” version of our images. For anyone growing up in suburbia, taking Little Red Riding Hood or Hansel & Gretel too literally may not seem relevant; but as an adult, the more images I process, the more the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears rings true.

If Goldilocks used Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, she would process her images at least three times to _ nd the “just-right” version. I can hear her saying, “This image is too _ at, this image is too contrasty, and this image is just right.” Using the Goldilocks image-editing method of processing your images several times will result in more interpretations and discoveries as you explore and wander off the beaten path.

The Goldilocks method

Using the Goldilocks method to create the just-right image requires you to process the image at least twice in Adobe Camera Raw or Lightroom and then create additional interpretations in Photoshop. I call the first version “natural” and use it to render the scene as I remember it with either Camera Raw or as in this example, Lightroom, with white balance, exposure, and optical enhancements, such as input sharpening and chromatic aberration removal.

Because of the late afternoon/early evening winter light, white balancing the image on the white stripes of the created the beautiful blue sky. The long exposures allowed the American to portray the cool evening breeze while framing the Empire State Building. This gave me the inspiration to continue experimenting and exploring with Photoshop to combine variations of the “natural” and the “interpreted” versions to create the image (bottom of the page). This image, in my opinion, is “just right,” as it best portrays the motion, light, and layers of the New York skyline at dusk.

As a teacher, I’m always trying to create relevant and exciting homework assignments that promote learning and experimentation. Using the Goldilocks method encourages students to push themselves and not simply the assignment with what they think the instructor wants to see.

For each assignment, students have to produce multiple interpretations, which in turn persuades them to explore a contemporary aesthetic and develop a look and style they’ll call their own.

The ower image series shows the work of HeaYeon Yoon, who is beginning to explore the technical and aesthetic methodology of her graduate thesis work. The initial image is as the camera captured it. For the second image, HeaYeon used Lightroom to correct the white balance and remove lens vignetting and dust. In the _ nal image, she opened up the shadows of the stems ever so delicately.

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The post Photoshop Tutorial: How to Create Fairytale Images appeared first on Photoshop Online.