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moonschocolate · 5 months

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Headcanons about my current hyperfixation: THEOO!!☆

I keep stalking the 'theodore nott headcanons' tag so I might as well write my own headcanons about him

✮ ⋆ ˚｡𖦹 ⋆｡°✩

this man has social anxiety. prove me wrong.

when he was younger he found comfort in reading fiction books, like pjo

he 100% had an obsession with greek mythology, or mythology in general, and it's still kinda there but not like before

then growing up he got into classics

like one day he was like 'what if I read a Dostoevskij book' and that's where it all started

he prefers reading this kind of books because they teach you more

tallest boy you've ever seen, somewhat taller (only by few centimeteres) than Fred and George

he plays the cello, like kind of, he knows how to play a piece only studying it, i believe this man was never able to play a piece at first sight

surprisingly (to him) he really has a lot of things in common with Luna, when he found out he wanted to spend more time with her

he's really silent, but GOD does he ever stop thinking?? his head is loud af

enjoys being with his friends, they're used to him not shouting in their ears (unlike some other boy *cough cough* Mattheo *cough cough ... cough*)and he enjoys their company and they do too

not the type of boy to run to Spotify or whatever music app whenever he can, but he enjoys some kind of music (mostly smooth piano jazz, dramatic classical music since it's my fav, and he thinks TV girl, Lamp, Ichiko Aoba are cool)

never replies quickly, he's always late replying cuz thinks being on his phone is a complete waste of time, but it's not like he's NEVER on it

chill with Halloween but feral over Christmas (does not show it)

legos. I've said all.

YOU CANNOT TELL ME THIS MAN DOESNT HAVE HIS ROOM FULL OF STAR WARS SETS

despite enjoying english and all that kind of subjects, he is feral, and when I say feral I mean feral over maths. He loves learing new concepts because then it all makes sense and it's just so cool (explained from a person who is also feral over maths, pls tell me you get what i mean)

hyperfixations? oh so many

again, greek mythology

you could tell this man "Hey do you know about the myth of Apolloand Daphne" his eyes would light up and he would tell you the myth, his opinion, and related myths ("there's also this other myht with Apollo where he-")

A S T R O L O G Y

still greek mythology related but

he could stay hours talking about constellations

"hey do you know the myth behind the gemini constellation? No? Can I tell you about it?! Okay so-"

paper stars.

if there's a paper stripe around he'd grab it and make a paper star out of it

looks like the typa guy who'd take a lot of pictures with a canon/sony camera

when he feels anxious he'd do this thing where (get ready for the worst explanation ever) he'd put one of his nails of the right hand in between the skin and the nail of his thumb on his left hand and make the nail go left and right, still in between the skin and the nail (I ALWAYS DO THAT I HOPE IT MAKES SENSE I TRIED TO BE AS SPECIFIC AS I COULD)

He tried to go to a party since Blaise, Draco, Enzo, Theo, Pansy (basically everyone you get it)... begged him to come along

we could sum up his experience in one word

NIGHTMARE

The music was too loud, the people were to close to him, everyone was shouting, there were alcohol and drugs (he still wonders how they got literal drugs into the castle), everyone tried to dance with him and talk to him, that time he got overwhelmed tried to leave, but they were all like 'heyyyy nooo dont leaveeeee stay hereeeeee' but his friends understood it wasn't for him and Blaise went with him to his dorm, waited until he felt better then went back to the party

has never been to a party since then

smart af

like he easily surpasses draco and mione

also theo and mione are really close friends, one time they found eachother in the library reading the same book and chatting they found out they have several things in common

has a collection of stylographs, that stays in his library neatly ordinated

best sense of style (he obv got it from Blaise but he made it better)

he loves movies, he's watched movies like Dead Poets Society, Dorian Gray, but also movies about historical facts like The Darkest Hour, The King's Speech, Hidden Figures, The Pianist (I'm a sucker for this kind of movies honestly)

!! HE HAS DIMPLES !!

He loves professor Lupin, he thinks of him as Keating is dps

secretly listens to Micheal Bublè in Christmas, he loves his Christmas songs

he only buys old books, never new ones, he thinks that already used books, from decades ago, he thinks they hold stories, and it's even better when the books have annotations, maybe he'll erase them, but it's good to hear other's opinions

has a lot of vynils

used to study for his dad, now this became a habit, that's why he's the best in class

his relationship with his mom is not strong, MORE

When his mom died he was 5 so he didn't understand

when he finally knew the truth he cried for weeks, then he would occasionally go out to look at the stars, which he always admired with his mom, and cried thinking about her, thinking that she was watching him from up there

when he was like 10 he didn't cry no more, only if he ever opened up

he shared anything with her

he NEVER let ANYONE call him Teddy, he always though that is what his mom called him, and he didn't want other people to 'interfere' with that, he feels like it's their thing

despises horror movies. gets scared to death watching them, and doesnt find the lore interesting

never walks around with only socks on, has the fear of walking on water accidentally and getting his feet wet and the feeling disgustes him

also, has the whole collection of pjo books (every book. from percy jackson and the olympians to the chalice of the gods)

loves cats so much, he has two cats, but he wishes he had more

he has male brown cat named Monet and a grey cat with some beige spots and green eyes (it's mt bsf's cat, I love her - the cat - and I thought she could be a honourable mention) named Vivienne

defo has an obsession with sharks, but is even more obsessed with jellyfish, he knows a lot of scientific names for their species, for exmample Phylloriza Punctata, or Chrisaora Quinquecirrha, or Aurelia Aurelita, he's obsessed

Fav subject isn't potions, it's astronomy instead

since i live for loser!Theo, im in love with the idea of him stuttering in front of a guy/girl he finds cute or attractive, blushing and being awkward

my man absolutely doesn't know how to talk, he speaks too fast, and when ppl tell him to slow down, then he thinks he's talking too slow

if anyone fatshames any of his friends, or is racist/homophobic towards them, or just insults them, he will try to avoid throwing punches, but lets say he'll exchange a word or two with that person

if he's itchy, he scratches so hard there could be blood (a bit exaggerated but you get it)

could've been a Ravenclaw, but if he did his father would be really mad at him, so he's happy he isn't

another headcanon that I kindly stole rn from @heirofs1ytherin is that he's into poetry. LIKE 100% ✮ ⋆ ˚｡𖦹 ⋆｡°✩ You probably got that I love him HES MY BABY

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johaerys-writes · 1 month

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Hi! I’m pretty new to the world of Achilles and Patroclus (I read The Song Of Achilles last month) and I just saw your post about your love for them. When you said “there's just so much stuff out there about them (tsoa, hades game, the iliad, a bunch of other myths and adaptations, non fiction books, academic papers etc)” I was wondering if you could touch on the other myths and adaptations part maybe? I’m not exactly sure where to begin there but I would appreciate any guidance you could give!

Oh boy I don't know where to start either because there's a LOT. I don't want to overwhelm you so I'll just list a few key myths and adaptations off the top of my head:

Adaptations

So as far as adaptations go, I will include works where both Achilles and Patroclus show up and that are inspired by the Iliad.

Hades Game: I'm pretty sure you're already familiar with this, just mentioning it just in case!

Aristos the musical: it's a musical as the name suggests, and it revolves around Achilles and Patroclus' lives from Pelion all the way to Troy. It's really lovely and has made me emotional on numerous occasions and I love revisiting it every so often! It also has a Tumblr account: @aristosmusical

Troilus and Cressida: this is Shakespeare's take on the Trojan War and it's quite interesting, not really faithful to the Iliad but offers a sort of different perspective on the characters and the events that led to Hector's death.

Achilles (1995) by Barry JC Purves: it's a short stop motion film using clay puppets, it's on Youtube and it's only 11 mins and I think it's worth a watch! I find it very compelling visually and any adaptation where Achilles and Patroclus are lovers is a plus in my book 🫶

Holding Achilles: this is an Australian stage production by the Dead Puppet Society, I really enjoyed it and I found it an interesting blend of TSOA and Iliad Patrochilles, which also featured some cool new elements that I hadn't really seen before. It used to be free to watch for a while but now I think you have to pay to watch it, there's more info on their website.

The Silence of the Girls: a novel by Pat Barker, it's a take on the events of the Iliad mostly through Briseis' eyes, I personally didn't really like the book or the characterisations but hey both Achilles and Patroclus are in it so it might be worth a read.

There are some other novels I've heard of where Achilles and Patroclus appear (A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes, Wrath Goddess Sing by Maya Deane) and also a TV show called Troy: Fall of a City but I haven't read/watched them so I can't really rec them

Myths

Most myths revolve around Achilles, there aren't that many with Patroclus I'm afraid, but here are some of my favourites:

Achilleid by Publius Papinius Statius: this is an epic poem about Achilles' stay on Skyros disguised as a girl and his involvement with Deidameia. It's interesting but I'd personally take the characterisations and events in it with a grain of salt because Romans were notorious for their unsympathetic portrayal of Greek Homeric heroes but it's still a cool thing that's out there and free to read online.

Iphigenia at Aulis: a tragedy by the ancient Greek playwright Euripides, it's basically the dramatised version of the myth of Iphigenia's sacrifice in Aulis which predates the Iliad, there are many obscure versions of this myth but Euripides' sort of updated version is my favourite, I will never shut up about this play!! Lots of a nuance and very interesting portrayals of Achilles, Agamemnon, Menelaus, Clytemnestra, Iphigenia and pretty much everyone in there, well worth a read.

Lost plays: there are several plays in which Achilles appears but that have been lost or survive only in fragments, but two of my favourites are Euripides' Telephus and Aeschylus' Myrmidons. Telephus takes place before the Trojan War, while the Greeks are on their way to Troy. I really like Achilles' characterisation in the fragments that remain and also the fact that he was already renowned for his knowledge of medicine and healing despite how young he was. The fragments that survive from Aeschylus' Myrmidons I think are fewer but the play was extremely popular at the time it was presented to the public and it sparked a lot of controversy re: Achilles and Patroclus' relationship and who tops/bottoms so I think that's kind of funny lol.

There are lots of other obscure little myths about Achilles that I've picked up by reading various books, papers and wiki posts on the matter and that are just too numerous to list here, but what I will mention and that I think concludes the myths section of this post pretty neatly is that the Iliad and the Odyssey are not the only works about the Trojan War that were written, merely the only works that survived. The rest of the books in the Epic Cycle have been preserved either in fragmentary form or in descriptions in other works, and I think the Epic Cycle wiki page is a good place to start if you want to get an idea of what each of those books contained.

I hope this helped! 💙

#patrochilles #achilles #patroclus #the iliad #homer's iliad #if I remember anything else I'll probably add to this post but I think that should be enough for now #there's just! so much stuff!!#happy reading/viewing/listening 😁

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stygianoaths · 1 year

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Luke Castellan and his team of godkillers but they don't kill with weapons stained with ichor, but with the illusive Mist that warps the mind of mortals so easily, it shakes their faith.

In eons past, these mortals revered the Olympians with offerings and prayers daily, told their stories that inspired fear and awe all the same. It was something the pantheon had gotten hooked on, something more addicting than the ambrosia and nectar the texts had waxed poetry over. And the council of twelve did their damn best to keep it around. After all, there was no other high out there that can compare to the feeling of being in control, of being powerful.

But like any high, it wears off, sooner or later.

So that's exactly what happens.

Alabaster C. Torrington, with the help of Dr. Claymore, "discovers" new texts that discuss Greek gods that have never been heard of before; gods who are kinder, wiser, more trustworthy, than the ones everyone has come to know in this era.

It's interesting, how the origins of these gods and their lives seem to have no relevance or connection to the other pantheon and its history. No Titanomachy or Gigantomachy to speak of. There are a few parallels, but they are pleasant, like the love stories of Dionysus and Ariadne or Pygmalion and Galatea. Otherwise, it's like an alternate timeline of its own, where every god present is named a god for a reason.

It's fake.

But the mortals don't need to know that. For what's false, if persisted in, would become true anyways. Furthermore, it isn't like a new pantheon will harm any of them. The lucky ones with clear sight may win the heart of a deity who would actually see them beyond their fleeting mortality, who would care for them.

It takes a while, though, for the mortals to adjust to this suddenly newfound information. They are stubborn creatures, Luke knows, who tend to fear the unknown and new. Yet the youth crave it like bears after a beehive laden with honey. With time, they'll come around, he knows. Maybe he might not be there to see if the plans work out for himself, but someone would, and that's all that matters to him. He just needed to be the one to start the movement.

Luckily for him, he doesn't have to wait too long.

The faith spreads through idealized modernized takes on the mythology, as silly as it sounds. It's very of the era, isn't it? Books are being published on these gods who endure hardships and come out irrevocably changed but for the better. Ethan flips through one by an author under the pen name S.J and devours it in three hours. It reads nicely and he wonders when he'll get a chance to meet the main character of the story, and ask her if the myth holds true. It is, obviously, but it's different hearing it from a god. The fanfictions are even better, but Lou Ellen Blackstone gets drowned out by Alabaster's "lalalalala" before she can start talking about the recent one that was updated a few hours ago. Eh, so what if it's a little spicy?

Nonetheless, the new band of believers grows, and it's like a sucker punch to the gut for the Greek pantheon.

Apollo comes to camp and drops to his knees before his own cabin, surprising the campers. He looks terrible. Dionysus had already looked miserable, but the children attributed that to his sour personality. And, as usual, no one noticed the girl by the hearth who had disappeared weeks ago. But Apollo, golden boy Apollo, well, he has eyes that are sunken and sickly yellow, matted hair, muscles shrunk, and hands that shake as if they are beyond his control.

"They're killing us," he whispers to Lee Fletcher, "all of us."

"What do you want us to do?" Lee asks. Apollo coughs into his fist and looks down to see a smear of gold staining it.

A nosebleed. Gods don't get nosebleeds.

His children, gods bless them, are trying to heal him, but to no avail. It's kind of funny, how on any other occasion, such an act would have been annoying. If the solution was to simply heal, don't you think he would have tried that? But, weak as he was, he felt touched. Loved, even.

But love wasn't always enough to save another. He, of all gods, should know that.

"Can you write?" he asks. Lee scratches his head.

"Write?"

"Stories. Poems. Songs. Anything."

"Um, no, not really. Dyslexia kicks my ass, and you know archery is more my thing. But Will does sometimes. Healing is his forte, but I always see him writing something in a notebook, though that could just be medical notes, now that I think about it-"

Apollo disregards that last part and begs Will Solace to take up the pen and fight back. It's their last hope. If nothing is done, this camp and its children will become all that is left of the Greek Pantheon, for textbooks and website links are not enough to keep the faith going, especially if left to collect dust or rot in an archive.

"Write us new myths. Stories that can happen now, that we can make happen. Redeem us, so that we can live. We'll do it. We'll do any of it," Apollo begs.

"Anything?" Will asks. Apollo nods.

"Anything."

The Fates looked at each other from above. How time has changed. In the past, battles were fought with swords. Now, they had to be fought with words.

#inspired by that concept of 'downsizing' apollo mentions in TTC #where people basically killed helios and selene off by associating apollo and artemis with the sun and moon respectively #like if their existences are based on the faith of the people #then when you shake that foundation #the building comes crashing down #also the mist is something that applies to all pantheons iirc in the riordanverse; it's a layer in the duat for the kane chronicles #so essentially anyone who has control over the mist aka sense of reality is one overpowered motherfucker (looking at you torrington)#anyways #pjo #percy jackson and the olympians #riordanverse #luke castellan #alabaster c torrington #alabaster torrington #ethan nakamura #lou ellen blackstone #lee fletcher #will solace #apollo #dionysus #hestia #moirai #the fates #dr. claymore #i've tagged everyone except for one character #the author S.J #can anyone guess who that is? ;)

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homeandash · 4 months

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Rec list: short books / novellas read in 2023

Autobiography of Red - Anne Carson (160 pages): a coming of age novel about a young man who is secretly a winged red monster. A wonderful, strange book that's also an ancient Greek myth retelling/translation.

She of The Mountains - Vivek Shraya (128 pages): this book feels so much like Autobiography of Red I wondered if it was an inspiration. A lovely, tender, lyrical story of a bisexual boy's first love woven with a retelling of a Hindu myth.

Loaded - Christos Tsiolkas (151 pages): another coming of age story - a young Greek-Australian man's 48-ish hours of nihilistic hedonism. Unrelentingly brutal prose style & a complicated, unlikeable protagonist. A little fucked up, very compelling.

The Yellow Wallpaper - Charlotte Perkins-Gilman (63 page short story): for the women trapped in rooms and/or the women slowly going crazy enjoyers. Iconic piece of early feminist horror and a 5 star read.

The Vegetarian - Han Kang (208 pages): A woman having strange dreams about meat decides to become vegetarian. That's all I can tell you, this book is best read blind. Very fucked up (complimentary).

Giovanni's Room - James Baldwin (159 pages): A claustrophobic story about love, shame, codependency, and the monster self-hatred can make of us.

The Husband Stitch + Especially Heinous - Carmen Maria Machado (short stories): cheating bc I read her entire collection 'Her Body and Other Parties', but these were standouts and they're both available online. The first - feminist horror retelling of the Girl with the Green Ribbon folk tale, the second - weird fiction take on Law and Order SVU, problematizing the use of sexual assault victims' suffering as entertainment.

We Had To Remove This Post - Hannah Bervoets (86 page short story): A social media moderator reflects on the effect constant exposure to violent/depraved/conspiratorial content had on her mental health and relationship with her girlfriend. I wasn't all the way sold until about 2/3rds in, but since it's only 80 pages that hardly matters. Cool use of an unreliable narrator.

Lie With Me - Phillipe Besson (148 pages). A secret first love between two boys in the French countryside of the 80s, and the long years after they part. Sentimental and cinematic. If you love melodrama and tragedy you'll enjoy this.

** check content warnings for. well basically all of these tbh.

Please add to this list with your own recommended short reads 💖

#reading #reading recs #bookblr #book recs

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atlantic-riona · 2 years

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Superhero comics are American mythology. They have their roots in demigods and heroes of the Greek/Roman tradition, and earlier traditions. Batman is a man of cunning, like Odysseus; Superman is super strong and fast, able to bound impossible distances, like Hercules, Gilgamesh, or Cúchulainn. We can even look back to American folk heroes as a precedent.

I'm going to use DC Comics here for examples because 1) I’m not as familiar with Marvel, and 2) I think that DC has the more iconic superheroes, in the tradition of fantasy/myth (but that's another rant for another time).

We have our gods/demigods (Superman, Wonder Woman) and our ordinary mortal heroes (Batman). They each have an origin story, which is similar to stories of heroes that you see across cultures, and a narrative path they follow. Bruce Wayne's parents are killed in an alleyway, so he takes up a crusade against crime, to stop that happening to anybody else. Superman comes from another world (in a sense his divine origin) and gets raised by ordinary parents (similar to the early life stories you see with semi-divine heroes across mythologies). Superman and Batman then protect a certain area (Metropolis, Gotham) from those that would seek to destroy it. Almost like a one-man Knights of the Round Table, protecting Britain from Saxon invaders.

And like the Arthurian tradition, the respective Round Tables see more members join. In the spirit of many older mythologies, it’s a younger generation. Just as the demigod heroes replaced the Olympians, who replaced the Titans, or as Fionn mac Cumhaill replaced the Ulstermen, who replaced the Tuath Dé Danann as the central figures in the culture’s stories, the Batfamily, Teen Titans, Supergirl, Impulse, and more begin to replace the older generation.

However. The commercial nature of superhero comics ultimately limits them from becoming true mythology. Batman can never retire. No Robin will ever be his permanent successor. Wonder Woman never dies. Nobody in the comics universe can age or die, at least not permanently. The characters never can grow and change too far from their original conception, because they won't be marketable anymore. At the same time, people get bored with the originals after awhile and leave. So comics are stuck between making the characters interesting and making sure they never get too far from the original, in order to keep people buying the comics. What they end up doing is endless reboots, retellings of the same stories again and again and again; not because they appeal to people on a deep level, but because they're banking on nostalgia, familiarity, and superficial curiosity.

It would be like if the Greeks endlessly told the story of the Trojan War, for a hundred years, only we're permanently stuck in the Iliad, Hector kills Patroclus and Achilles kills Hector only for all three to resurrect five seconds later with no lasting harm done, the gods occasionally get rotated in and out as interest waxes/wanes, and the quality of the writing gets worse every time. In the short term, it might get the publishers some money, with people buying the new stories because of nostalgia, familiarity, and/or curiosity, but ultimately it'll kill off the entire industry.

When my grandmother was young, she remembers every kid bought comic books and traded them, boys and girls. Today, comics aim themselves at a very specific age range, banking on the nostalgia factor. Or at specific groups, in the hope that a brand new character will draw in new readers—only to turn around and cancel that series, because very little depth was given to the character beyond “target X audience,” and people aren’t interested after the initial few issues. Comic companies might want to write a new female superhero (or revamp a pre-existing one), but if the extent of her character is “she’s a woman and that’s super rad,” most...people aren’t going to be interested. If she has no flaws, no arc to go through, nothing that makes her an interesting character, then she’s not going to draw in new readers and she’ll push away old readers. Every hero has some kind of arc or journey he or she undertakes, all the way back to Gilgamesh. And like I said above, this limits comic companies—they can never allow the mythology to naturally progress and change. It always has to be about what garners the most attention, the most profit—not about what the natural progression of the story might be.

This is why in fandom, where there isn't a need to make money, things progress more naturally. Go back far enough on Archive of Our Own and Fanfiction.net, and most of the stories in the comics category are about the original founders of the Justice League—Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, and so on. Look there today, and most of the stories focus on or significantly include the younger generation. This is a trend that naturally happens with mythologies, and will most likely keep happening in fandom, if not in the actual comics.

tl;dr: American superheroes are America's mythology, but because of their corporate nature, they can't fully progress as most natural mythologies/legends do

#dc #mini-lecture #superheroes #essay

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beachbaeedits · 28 days

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Kylie and the Olypmians a story inspired by the Percy Jackson series

The girl introduced herself as Annabeth Chase, she asked if they had medical supplies, explaining that her friend had been wounded by a special sword. Harry and Kylie exchanged shocked glances, their minds racing with questions about these strangers and the nature of the injury. Kylie's eyes widened in horror as she observed the blood seeping from the boy's wound, Harry looked at the wound,he was mortified.

"He's really been stabbed," Harry realised, his shock visible from his facial expressions.

"Can you help?" Annabeth pressed, her voice croaked with urgency. "Do you have any medical supplies?"

Harry and I exchanged another glance, their minds whirling with the sudden turn of events. Without hesitation, Harry dashed to the hut and opened the medical cabinet, pulling out a first aid kit.

"We have some basic supplies here," Harry said, his voice trembling with concern. "But we need to act fast, bring him over here."

Annabeth nodded gratefully and gently helped her friend to a nearby chair. Harry knelt beside them, his hands shaking slightly as he began to attend to the wound. It was deep and jagged, clearly inflicted by a weapon unlike any from this world.

As Harry started to clean and dress the wound, I hovered anxiously nearby, my mind racing with questions. Who were these mysterious strangers? What kind of sword could cause such a wound? And why had they come here seeking help?

"We need to get him to a hospital," I said, voicing her concerns. "This wound looks serious."

Annabeth shook her head. "We can't risk it," she said firmly. "There are... complications. He needs help, but we can't take him to a regular hospital."

Harry and Kylie exchanged a worried glance, but they could see the determination in Annabeth's eyes. Whatever was going on, it was clear that these strangers were in desperate need of their help.

"We'll do whatever we can," Harry said, his voice steady despite him being scared. "But you need to tell us everything. Who are you? And what's going on?"

Annabeth hesitated for a moment, her expression troubled. But then she squared her shoulders and met Harry's gaze with a steely resolve.

"My name is Annabeth Chase," she said. "And this is Percy Jackson." She indicated the wounded boy beside her. "We're both demigods, children of the Greek gods."

Kylie and Harry stood there shocked.

‘Are they really demi-gods?’ I wondered, ‘I thought they were myths because I only read about them in those really old history books about Ancient Greek’

Harry snapped back to reality and continued tending to the stab.

“Demi-gods?” I blurted out in a sassy tone I felt embarrassed I did not mean for it to come out like that.

Percy groaned with agony

Annabeth explained how the Greek gods sometimes have children with mortals resulting in demigods,she also explained that she was the daughter of Athena goddess of wisdom and military victory, Percy on the other hand was a forbidden child of Poseidon god of the sea,earthquakes and horses and should not have been born…Annabeth realised what she just said, she regretted it instantly.

Percy groaned again but said something this time it sounded like warmer he said it again but pointed to the lake this time.

“The lake!” I shouted

“HURRY!” yelled Harry

Annabeth,Harry and I carried Percy to the lake,

“Throw him in the lake on 3,”said Annabeth

“WHAT!” replied Harry and Kylie at the same time

Annabeth threw Percy into the lake,

“ARE YOU CRAZY!” screamed Harry,

They all stood there as his body sank to the bottom.

I was about to attack Annabeth,her heart filled with rage even though she hadn't known them long,I felt like she knew them for an eternity.

Just as I was going to throw a punch a whirlpool appeared coming out of the centre was Percy, his eyes glowing in a blue-greenish colour, his wound was no more just a hole in his shirt where it used to be,

Mine and Harry’s mouths dropped in amazement but our hearts trembled with fear.

As the whirlpool subsided, Percy emerged, his eyes glowing with an otherworldly hue of blueish-green. Harry and I stood frozen in amazement, our mouths open, almost touching the floor.

Annabeth approached Percy cautiously, her expression a mix of relief and trepidation. "Percy, are you... alright?" she asked tentatively.

Percy nodded, his gaze fixated on something beyond their understanding. "The lake... it healed me," he murmured, his voice carrying an ethereal quality.

My mind raced, trying to comprehend the surreal events unfolding before her. She exchanged a wary glance with Harry, silently acknowledging the magnitude of what they had just witnessed.

"We need to leave," Annabeth declared, her voice urgent. “We need to warn the others."

Harry nodded in agreement, his earlier anger giving way to a sense of unease. "But where do we go?" he asked, his voice trembling with uncertainty.

Annabeth hesitated, her mind furrowed in thought. "There's a safe place, a camp where demigods like us can find refuge," she explained. "It's called Camp Half-Blood where only demi-gods can enter. We'll be safe there."

My heart pounded with curiosity. I knew they were embarking on a journey into the unknown.

“Hang on”

Everyone stopped and turned to face Harry

“Kylie and I are not demi-gods, how will we get in there?”

Annabeth and Percy looked at eachother.

They know something important,mostly likely about us or this camp.

(FAR TOO LAZY TO WRITE ABOUT HOW THEY ARE AND THEY GET CAMP HALF BLOOD AND HOW EVERYTHING WORKS)

"Wait, so you're telling me, you guys embark on quests every single summer, knowing they could be deadly?" Harry blurted out incredulously.

"How are you guys still alive?" he added, his voice filled with disbelief.

Percy looked down, a mixture of sorrow and guilt etched across his features as he struggled to contain his emotions.

"Well... not all of us made it," Annabeth murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What do you mean?" Kylie inquired, though she already had a sinking feeling in her gut.

Percy's eyes welled up with tears as he spoke, his voice strained with grief.

"Bianca Di Angelo," he said solemnly, the name heavy on his tongue. "She was a friend of mine, and I promised her little brother I would do everything in my power to keep her safe."

A heavy silence enveloped the group, the weight of their losses hanging in the air like a shroud. Minutes passed before Kylie broke the silence, her voice trembling with emotion.

"Perhaps 'forever' is meant for memories, not for people," she suggested softly, her words carrying the weight of wisdom beyond her years.

The group fell into a contemplative silence, the weight of Percy's words sinking in. Each of them carried their own burdens, their own losses from the quests they had undertaken. The memory of Bianca Di Angelo hung heavy in the air, a stark reminder of the sacrifices made in their dangerous world.

Percy, still holding back tears, nodded slowly at Kylie's words. "Maybe you're right," he murmured, the weight of his promise to Nico, Bianca's little brother, pressing down on him like a lead weight. "Maybe forever is meant for memories."

Annabeth reached out, placing a comforting hand on Percy's shoulder. "We do what we can to protect each other," she said softly, her voice tinged with sorrow. "But sometimes...sometimes it's not enough."

Harry, who had been listening intently, felt a surge of determination rising within him. "But we keep fighting," he declared, his voice firm. "We keep going, for those we've lost and for those still with us."

Kylie nodded, a sense of resolve settling over her. "Yeah," she agreed. "We keep going."

And with that shared determination, the group rose to their feet, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. For in their world of quests and dangers, they knew one thing for certain: as long as they had each other, they would never be truly alone.

As Percy and Annabeth delved deeper into their discussion, the weight of responsibility settled heavily upon them. They knew that the fate of Olympus, and perhaps even the entire world, hung in the balance.

"We need to gather our allies," Annabeth said, her voice firm with resolve. "We can't face this threat alone."

Percy nodded in agreement. "We'll rally the demigods, the gods themselves if necessary. Everyone needs to understand the gravity of the situation."

Their conversation turned to logistics, planning their next moves with precision. Every detail was crucial, every decision weighed against the looming threat.

"We have to find a way to decipher the prophecy," Percy said, frustration evident in his voice. "We need to know exactly what we're up against."

Annabeth's brow furrowed in concentration. "I'll start researching immediately. There must be clues, patterns we've overlooked."

As they continued to strategize, their determination only grew stronger. Despite the ominous warning of the prophecy, they refused to give in to despair. They were demigods, heroes forged in the fires of adversity, and they would not falter in the face of danger.

"We'll face whatever challenges come our way," Percy declared, his voice filled with conviction. "Together, we'll protect Olympus, no matter the cost."

And with that shared vow, they set out to confront the looming threat, their hearts united in a common purpose: to safeguard the home of the gods and preserve the fragile balance of the world.

As Percy and Annabeth hashed out their plans, Harry and Kylie exchanged hesitant glances, their voices soft but determined.

"So, um, what's the plan?" Harry asked, his tone uncertain but eager.

Percy turned to them, his expression serious. "We need to gather allies, spread the word about the danger facing Olympus."

Kylie nodded, her eyes shining with determination. "Right. We can't do this alone."

Annabeth chimed in, her voice steady and reassuring. "We'll need all the help we can get. This won't be an easy fight."

Harry frowned, a hint of worry creeping into his voice. "What about the prophecy? The part about... two of us perishing?"

Percy's jaw tightened, but he met Harry's gaze with resolve. "We'll face that when the time comes. Right now, our focus is on stopping whatever threatens Olympus."

Kylie reached out, placing a comforting hand on Harry's arm. "We'll stick together. We'll watch each other's backs."

And in that moment, as they stood together, united in purpose, Harry and Kylie felt a surge of courage fill their hearts. They may not have known what lay ahead, but they knew one thing for certain: as long as they had each other, they could face whatever challenges came their way.

In the midst of the brutal war that engulfed Mount Olympus, Harry and Kylie found themselves facing a formidable adversary unlike any they had encountered before. It wasn't just any monster or demigod they faced; it was one of the ancient Titans, unleashed from the depths of Tartarus to wreak havoc upon the world.

(TOO LAZY TEHE NOW THEY ARE FIGHTING WITH SOME TITANS)

As the Titan loomed over them, its massive form casting a shadow over the battlefield, Harry and Kylie exchanged a tense glance, their memories still fragmented and their true identities shrouded in mystery. But in that moment, a flicker of recognition passed between them, a shared understanding of their fate as the twins of war and despair.

With a roar that shook the very earth beneath their feet, the Titan launched its devastating attack, unleashing a torrent of raw power that threatened to consume everything in its path. Harry and Kylie fought valiantly, their every strike fueled by a primal instinct they couldn't fully comprehend.

But as the battle raged on, it became painfully clear that they were outmatched. The Titan's strength was overwhelming, its fury unstoppable. And in a heart-wrenching moment of sacrifice, Harry and Kylie made the ultimate decision to protect their friends and fulfil their destiny.

With a defiant cry, they charged headlong into the path of the Titan's onslaught, knowing that their actions would seal their fate. The impact was brutal, the force of the Titan's attack sending shockwaves rippling through the air.

Percy and Annabeth watched in horror as their friends were struck down before their eyes, a sense of helplessness washing over them. But even in death, Harry and Kylie's sacrifice was not in vain. Their bravery and selflessness inspired those around them, igniting a spark of hope in the darkest hour of despair.

As the dust settled and the echoes of battle faded away, Percy and Annabeth knelt beside the fallen twins, their hearts heavy with grief. But amidst the pain and loss, there was also a profound sense of gratitude for the sacrifice Harry and Kylie had made.

"They were heroes," Percy whispered, his voice choking with emotion.

Annabeth nodded in silent agreement, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "They will be remembered," she vowed, her voice filled with solemn determination.

And as they mourned the loss of their friends, Percy and Annabeth carried on with their quest, their resolve strengthened by the memory of Harry and Kylie's courage. For even in death, their legacy lived on, a testament to the enduring power of sacrifice and the bonds of friendship that transcended time and memory.

(AGAIN TOO LAZY TO WRITE THEIR TRIP BACK TO CAMP HALF-BLOOD AND NOW WE ARE AT THE FUNERAL)

The funeral was a sombre affair, the entire camp gathered to pay their respects to Harry and Kylie, the fallen heroes who had sacrificed everything to protect Olympus. As Percy and Annabeth stood before the funeral pyre, their faces etched with grief, they knew that they had to honour their friends' memory in a way that would echo through the ages.

With solemn reverence, they laid Harry and Kylie's shrouds upon the pyre, the flames flickering to life and casting an ethereal glow upon the gathered mourners. The air was heavy with sorrow, but also with a profound sense of gratitude for the lives that had been lost in service to a greater cause.

As the flames began to consume the shrouds, Percy stepped forward, his voice ringing out clear and strong across the silent crowd. "Sometimes forever is meant for memories and not people," he declared, his words carrying the weight of their shared loss.

The camp listened in hushed reverence, the truth of Percy's words echoing in their hearts. Harry and Kylie may have been taken from them too soon, but their memories would live on forever in the hearts of those who had known and loved them.

As the funeral pyre burned bright against the night sky, casting its warm glow over the camp, Percy and Annabeth stood together, their hands clasped in silent solidarity. In that moment, surrounded by the flickering flames and the gentle embrace of their friends, they found solace in the knowledge that Harry and Kylie's sacrifice would never be forgotten.

And as the last embers faded into the darkness, a sense of peace settled over the camp, a quiet reminder that even in the face of loss, the bonds of friendship and the memories of those we have loved endure forever.

And as the campfire crackled softly under the night sky, Percy and Annabeth knew that although Harry and Kylie's physical presence was gone, their spirits would forever be intertwined with the legacy of bravery and sacrifice that defined their journey—a testament to the enduring power of friendship and the indomitable spirit of heroes.

#percy jackson #idk what im doing #help #lol

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hate-the-am-hate-the-pm · 1 year

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previously: kaitogeijutsu

for myself:

-> #private: thing for myself i wanna remember

-> #personal: anything related to me or anything i want to keep for some reason

-> #stories: self explanatory

-> #e: miscellaneous stuff hfjwhdjd

-> #classic posts: classics lmao

-> #beatdown: when people are just getting absolutely beatdown in arguments its funny or just something/someone getting a beatdown

-> #life: just. yknow. stuff abt being alive and making life as good as you can and enjoying yourseld ans loving yourself and loving others and yknow living

-> #long post: looooong boy posts heh

-> #nsfw: anythin nsfw

-> #heritage posts: heritage posts fjjsjd

law and political stuff:

-> #law: stuff related to law

-> #court: stuff related to court

-> #politics(?): stuff i think??? is sorta related to politics maybe??

books/show/anything else literary:

-> #sherlock holmes: sherlock holmes stuff

-> #writing: stuff that's original work or something

-> #analysis: analysis stuff, jokey or otherwise

-> #poetry and quotes: self explanatory

-> #oda: anythin related to oda that isn't really like really really related to one piece

#op: ONE PIECE STUFF! i love one piece with such a burning passion but yes anything one piece related

#strawhats: the strawhats fjjdkfkqkq or anyone in the strawhats

#heart pirates: anythin heart pirates related

-> #honor among thieves, #dndhat, #hat, #dnd movie: the dnd honor among thieves movie stuff jdnakkdjs

#xenk yendar, #xenk: anything related to this hot ass paladin that i love with my whole entire being my gods

#edgin darvis, #edgin, #ed: edgin my beloved bard??? rogue??????? anyways he's somethin alright

#kira darvis, #kira: the child

#holga kilgore, #holga: gods ifbkadjskjdkfjwkjsjfjwjsj hot mommy

#doric: MY BELOVED TIEFLING DRUID JRJSKDJDKA

#simon aumar, #simon: simon hehe

-> #marvel: marvel stuff

#spiderman: anythin spiderman related

#atsv: across the spiderverse stuff

#hobie brown, #hobie, #spiderpunk: HOBIE BROWN MY BELOVED MY ANARCHIST MY EVERYTHINGJDKSKDD

#miguel o'hara, #miguel, #spiderman2099: the truamatized old latino man that i am absolutely feral for

#miles morales, #miles: miles sweetheart i love him hes so bby

#gwen stacy, #gwen: gwen the drummer my beloved also

#pavitr prabhakar, #pavitr, #pav: pav my bby boy i loooove him heheh

#miles 42, #prowler: MILES 42 HHDKSKDJE I LOVE LOVE LOVE

#peter b. parker, #peter: tired man whos' sexual appeal i get cause he be hot man😩

#mayday parker, #mayday: MAYDAY BBY SHES SO TEENSY SO CUTE MY BBY ARAÑA

#mj watson, #mj: my wife.

#spidernoir: my malewife.

#peni parker, peni: sweetest girl, she deserves the world

-> #cod: anythin call of duty

#price, #john price, #captain price: anythin price relateddd

#soap, #john mactavish, #johnny: johnnyyyyyy my bby

#ghost, #simon riley: ghost my mofo beloved gods id die for him

#gaz, #kyle garrick: the prettiest fuckin man i've done laid eyes on

-> #dc: dc stuff!!!

#batman: the batman stuff or batman comics stuff so also the robins and shit

#robin: robin stuff!

#superman: superman stuff!!

#wonder woman: the queen the absolute boss the best the man the myth the legend wonder womannnnn

-> #tolkien: anythin tolkien related that isn't really lotr or the hobbit (or i cant tell which is which jdkadfkak)

#lotr: lord of the rings

#aragon elessar, #aragorn -> aragorn

#gimli -> gimli

#legolas greenleaf, #legolas -> legolas

#thranduil oropherion, #thranduil -> thranduil

#the hobbit: the hobbit

#bard -> bard omg i love the man hes so fjqbkdndnd

#kili -> kili my sweetheart my beloved

#legolas greenleaf, #legolas -> legolas

#thorin oakenshield, #thorin -> thorin

#thranduil oropherion, #thranduil -> thranduil

-> #lok: legend of korra

#asami -> asami sato

-> #star wars: star wars duh

#anakins -> the anakins

-> #classic lit: literature considered classics ig

#shakespeare -> shakespeare?? obv??

-> #fanfics: fanfic stuff fjandj

-> #mythology: mythology

#greek myths -> greek mythology/stories

#aztec myths -> aztec mythology/stories

#mayan myths -> mayan mythology/stories

#egyptian myths -> egyptian mythology/stories

#norse myths -> norse mythology/stories

-> #movies: any movies, films, short films

-> #drama: anything drama related (think like live stage productions)

-> #musicals: musical related stuff!!

-> #anime: anything anime hfjajdj

-> #comics: anything comic related honestlt

-> #books: books! all kinds any kinds!

anthropology/archaeology/paleontology/other sciences and history:

-> #environment: stuff related to earth, the sun, positionings, nature, etc etc.

#ocean: anything ocean-related or ocean-based

#forest: anything forest-related or forest-based

#air; anything air-related or air-based

#earth: just everything nature in general

-> #animals: animals but like informative and like cool facts and stuff

-> #aminals: animals but like the dump posts not infortmative jdjahd

-> #plants: plants fkhajsja

-> #prehistoric creatures: self explanatory

#dinosaurs: DINOS!!!

-> #humans: self explanatory

-> #paleo: paleontology stuffsssss

-> #anthro: also human stuff but recent

-> #archaeo: human stuff but like looooong ago

-> #bio: biology stuff

-> #astronomy: planets! stars! more stars! galaxies!

-> #invasive species: invasive species!

-> #history: more modern history of science and so like archeo/paleo and others but... like... younger

-> #social issues: just stuff going on around the world and issues that've happened and also anything related to that

-> environmental issues: issues that involve the environment and stuff

-> #languages: languages! and posts that involve the use of languages!

-> #religion: anything about/on religion

-> #science: literally just anything science related jdksjf

arts:

-> #art: just art stuff

#modern art, #contemporary art -> modern art

#classic art -> art from like other periods in time like the renaissance and stuff

#my art -> my art if i ever post it

-> #music: anythin music related

-> #fashion: fashion stuff! includes dresses, suits, etc. but also jewelery!

games:

-> #ttrpg: tabletop rpg stuff!

#dm, #gm: dungeon/game master stuff (tips and tricks)

#campaigns: campaigns! all types!

#dnd: dnd related stuff

#pf: pathfinder related stuff

sports:

-> #sports: sports stuff

#vball: anythin volleyball related

#bball: anythin bball related

resources for stuff:

-> #resources: resources (art, history, etc.)

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ebonetnoir · 4 years

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The Windermere Series A Wonder-Book For Girls and Boys By Nathaniel Hawthorne With Illustrations By Milo Winter ILLUSTRATED WITH COLOR PLATES FIRST EDITION THUS Publisher: The Rand McNally & Company, Chicago/New York Copyright: 1913

$32, BUY ON ETSY

#windermere series #a wonder-book for girls and boys #nathaniel hawthorne #milo winter #first edition #illustrated books #bookish #booklover #greek myth #fairytale #greek mythology #mythology #old books #beautiful books #books and literature #books for children #etsyfinds

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kaghoeyama · 3 years

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three of cups.

featuring: eren jaeger, armin arlert, afab reader.

word count: 5.5k

summary: you, eren and armin have been best friends for ages. there’s always been an underlying tension between the three of you, until that tension finally snaps.

content warning: smut, college au, post-timeskip characters, alcohol consumption (characters are tipsy but not inebriated), threesome, mlm, mutual pining, voyeurism, thigh riding, fingering (f receiving), slight edging, use of good boy/good girl, masturbation, cumplay

a/n: uhh so i was horny and this happened. pls be kind this is like my first fanfic ever (also english is not my first language so if you spot any mistakes feel free to let me know).

update: so apparently tumblr took out a whole ass paragraph after the “keep reading” and then repeated two different paragraphs twice?? i’ve seen people trying to fix this by adding asterisks so i’m doing the same. sorry about that lol.

18+ CONTENT - MINORS DO NOT INTERACT

So loud, you think.

You can almost feel the room vibrate with beat of the music, your steps naturally adapting to the rhythm as you make your way through a crowd of college students in various states of dishevelment. A smile comes to your lips. The whole place smells of alcohol and sweat and the floor is sticky, but you can’t bring yourself to be annoyed at the chaos; the year had been brutal for a lot of you and with finals finally behind you, no one was gonna miss the chance to loosen up and just have fun, yourself included. Which was exactly what brought you to make this little trip across the room, eyes fixed on your objective.

He’s leaning against the wall, his golden hair making it easier for you to spot him in the crowded room. His eyes are trained on his phone as he mindless scrolls down with his thumb, so you’re not too surprised when he doesn’t notice you straight away, even when you’re standing right in front of him.

You take a moment to take in his delicate features, his skin turned to porcelain by the bright light coming from his phone; the alcohol makes you bold enough to trail a hand up his arm and rest on his cheek, successfully shifting his attention to you. His face relaxes in a smile when he sees you, but his eyebrows are still raised in surprise at your sudden closeness; he opens his mouth to greet you but you’re quicker, “Armin, would you please let me kiss you?”, your gaze keeping him pinned against the wall.

“I- what?”

You relish in the way his breath catches in his throat, and you certainly don’t miss the flush that comes to his face or the way his eyes drop to your lips.

“It’s for a dare… please?” your answer comes so innocent to his ears and he tries not to think at how pretty your plea sounded, even prettier than he’d fantasized so many times now.

“I- I mean, yeah, sure” he stammers; you chuckle when close the distance between you, his pretty blue eyes still confused as you press your lips against his.

The kiss comes out of the blue for him, yet you don’t miss the way his hands instinctively grip your waist as he pulls you closer to him. You hum into the kiss, your body suddenly so warm as he moves his lips against yours; he’s so pliant, all you had to do was ask and now he’s all over you, his grip keeping you flush against his body. Your fingers slip between his golden locks and when you lightly tug at them his hold grows tighter, his lips parting with a low moan. You swear you hear him whimper as you slip your tongue past his lips, taking control of the kiss as you explore his mouth, warm and wet and oh his hands are gripping your ass now, and you moan into the kiss as you feel his erection poking at your hip.

“The dare said ‘kiss’ but if you two wanna get a room…” Sasha’s loud voice somehow reaches you from across the room and you pull back from the kiss, a string of spit connecting still connecting your mouths. He’s panting, mouth still parted, and you can’t help but stare at his pink lips, slightly puffed and still shiny from the kiss.

Without thinking you brush a thumb against his lower lip, “so pretty” you murmur.

Armin swallows around nothing, and when your eyes meet his pupils are all blown out, pleading, almost begging you to close the distance once again. Fuck he looks so flustered, heat pooling between your legs as you wonder how he’d look if you took his cock in your mouth, if you could make him so lost in pleasure that his smart little brain couldn’t form any coherent thoughts.

You feel his arm around your shoulders before you see him, his usual scent of soap and lemon shampoo now mixed with a hint of smoke. You rest your head against his shoulder, your body craving physical contact after the kiss you’d shared with the blond. “Hi ’ren” you murmur against his shirt, dazed eyes looking up at him and then shifting to Armin. Your kiss was enough to make his brain fuzzy but now, with Eren’s arm wrapped around him and his body so close, he felt completely overwhelmed.

Eren pressed a kiss over your hair and pulled you and Armin even closer. “You shouldn’t keep all the fun to yourselves, don’t you know that sharing is caring?” he whispered, loud enough for both of you to hear through the music.

You can’t believe that cheesy line sent a shiver through your body. You figure it’s because of Eren.

“Maybe we should make use of that tequila bottle in our dorm room, what do you say Armin?” he adds, the blond choking out a soft affirmation. You doubt your sober self would have done that, but you were tipsy enough not to care when you took both their hands, interlacing your fingers with their own, a teasing smile gracing your lips. “Then what are we waiting for?”

You feel strangely calm as you walk down the hallway. It’s definitely quieter than the party, and your attention is quickly drawn from one dorm room to another, where you catch glimpses of people smoking and drinking to the sound of at least ten different playlists.

Again, you smile. For the third year now you’re witnessing how your otherwise rigorous and law abiding campus turns into a huge frat party in the weekend after finals. You don’t know if it’s the warm weather or the fact most common spaces are surprisingly clean by monday that makes everyone look the other way, either way you’re thankful. You close your eyes for a moment as you walk, slightly overwhelmed by the music and the loud chatter and the drink you had at the party, your brain lost in a pleasant buzz.

A light squeeze to your hand brings you back to earth. Your head turns to your left, eyes slowly opening to meet a pair of blue ones.

“Are you okay?” Armin asks softly, the tiniest hint of concern slipping past his lips. You wait a beat before addressing his question, choosing to look at him instead. You note that his cheeks are almost as pink as his lips, and that his blue t-shirt makes his eyes sparkle; you ignore how your stomach flips when you realize he’d been holding your hand since you’d left the party.

“I’m great,” you say as you shift closer to him “I’m in a good mood actually.”

You catch Eren’s eyes leaving you as he turns his head forward and keeps walking in front of you. You let your gaze travel from his head – you loved that half bun he kept his hair in more than you should – to his broad shoulders, entranced by the way his black t-shirt stretches over his muscular back.

You must have missed the part where he stopped in front of the dorm room, because you end up bumping against that back.

“You’re completely out of it” Eren teases with a grin.

“No, I’m not” you retort, “as I said, I’m in a good mood.”

The look he gives you is playful. “You call it good mood, I call it being drunk.”

“I had literally just one drink, there’s no way anyone could get drunk from that.”

“Depends on how strong the drink is.”

“Will you shut up?”

You’re still bickering as you enter the room, Armin rolling his eyes at the two of you with a fond smile. Once Eren shuts the door though, you all fall quiet.

The only light came from the blue led Armin had put on his side of the room, casting a glow over your faces that was almost ethereal. There’s a weird tension, a nervous feeling gripping your stomach and making you tingle with anticipation. You’d been alone with them in that very room more times than you could count, cramming for tests, watching a movie or simply hanging out, but tonight something was different. You sit next to Armin on his bed, eyebrows knitting together as you quickly try to analyse that feeling.

The three of you had been friends for ages, since you all attended the same elementary school and lived down the same street. You had bonded with Armin first, his quiet and intelligent personality matching well with yours. You remember fondly the warm afternoons in his backyard, grass tickling your skin as he showed you his new ocean life books and you rambled about ancient Egypt, Greek myths or whatever you were fixating on at the moment.

Eren on the other hand – at first you couldn’t stand him. You only knew him as ‘Armin’s other friend’, but he was such a loud and hot headed kid, you’d always found his attitude too off-putting to even start a conversation, and you were pretty sure he didn’t like you either. After some pushing from Armin though, you’d actually tried to get to know each other; much to your surprise, you found out you had a lot of interests in common. Eventually, you’d even come to admire how passionate he got about the things he cared about, how strong his ideals were, and with time his impulsivity left room to a much more calculated approach.

After all these years, the three of you were still as thick as thieves; you’d become so comfortable around each other that people always assumed you were either dating one of them. You’d always brush it off with a laugh, but now you wonder if it’s normal for friends to behave like that around each other. It was the little things at first; lingering touches, wondering eyes, teasing comments. Then Eren’s hands all over you every time you wore a pretty dress, or Armin’s obvious erection that time you and Eren were messing around at the pool; even your friends had noticed how close you were – and never missed a chance to tease you about it.

This is stupid, you conclude. They’re your oldest and closest friends, you won’t allow your attraction to them – at least you’re admitting it’s there – to make things weird.

You move to get the tequila you know they keep hidden in the closet; maybe that will shake the awkwardness away. You take a long sip before handing the bottle to the blond, alcohol still burning in your throat as you lay on your back, head resting on his lap.

You feel him still beneath you; when you look at him, his flustered expression is clear despite the dim lit room – before you can catch yourself, you wonder if he’s still hard from before.

Eren looks at the both of you on Armin’s bed. You’ve closed your eyes and your head is lightly nodding along with some music coming from the hallway, the beat muffled by the closed door. He watches Armin, a fond smile dancing on his lips as he can almost hear the mental pep talk the blond gives himself before raising a hand to play with your hair. You hum at that, eyes slowly opening as you turn your head towards him.

“Eren, come closer” you say, stretching out an arm as if to reach him.

“And why would I do that” he answers with a playful smile on his lips.

You raise your eyebrow, smiling back to him. “If you insist on staying over there, I guess Armin and I are really gonna keep all the fun to ourselves, isn’t that right Armin.” You say lightly, rising from his lap to lay against his side, your body wrapping around his arm; his hand ends up between your closed thighs and somehow you manage not purr in his ear as you rest your head on his shoulder, both of you now facing Eren.

When Armin speaks, you don’t miss how his playful tone hides a hint of malice, eyes fixed on the brunette, “oh I’m sure he wouldn’t mind just watching if we were actually having fun.”

Eren laughs at that, his voice dropping lower.

“True” he admits calmly, as if the thought hadn’t brought him to several orgasms through the years, “but right now I think I’d rather join.”

And he does, sitting close to your other side.

You wish that type of exchange wasn’t as common as it was between the three of you. You also wish it didn’t send a wave of arousal trough your body every single time.

You watch him as he leans toward you to grab the bottle from Armin’s hand, taking a sip of the amber liquor. Your eyes follow a drop of alcohol at the corner of his mouth, unconsciously tightening your hold on the blond as Eren’s tongue comes out to bring the drop past his lips.

In that moment, Armin decides he’s had enough. He’s way too turned on to let all this teasing slide; if the three of you really are as attracted to each other as he thinks, this was the time he was gonna do something about it. So when he speaks, he does with a purpose.

“Is it weird that I’ve kissed both my best friends?” his question sounds so innocent, he even lets out a calculated chuckle to feign embarrassment.

Eren tilts his head toward him, throwing him a curious glance “You still remember that? Must have been one hell of a kiss huh” he smirks.

Armin knows he’s teasing, and that he clearly remembers too, but he can’t help the pink blush that colours his cheeks as his thoughts rush back to that night.

It happened first semester of junior year, after Sasha’s ‘small’ housewarming party had quickly turned into a full blown party. As the music got louder and more and more people filled the tiny flat, Jean, all tipsy and bright eyed, had gathered all of you in Sasha’s room to play spin the bottle – most of you had booed him, but you’d followed him anyway.

After watching you awkwardly peck Connie on the lips and Mikasa blush violently as Sasha took her face between her hands and gave her a loud smooch, it was his turn to play. He gave the bottle a spin and almost choked on his spit when it landed on Eren. He remembers everyone cheering as he tried to stop his face from flushing red, looking everywhere but at Eren; that’s how his eyes landed on you, quiet where your friends were loud, your eyes focused on him in a way that was almost daring.

He followed your gaze as it moved towards Eren, finally making eye contact with the boy. His attempts look composed failed miserably when Eren, a lazy smirk spreading on his lips, beckoned him with his hand to move closer.

“I- uh we don’t have to…” he choked out.

Eren’s smirk grew wider, “It’s just a game Armin, what are you scared of?”

Armin couldn’t tell if his tone was soft or mocking, either way he felt as he had something to prove now.

He stood on his knees and crawled on the floor as Eren mirrored him, ignoring the way his stomach flipped as they met in the middle of the circle, so close he could feel his breath over his lips.

“What’s taking so long?” Jean said from somewhere behind him, “it’s not like you haven’t done this before” he teased.

Armin wanted to turn back and state that no, they had not actually done that before – he’d probably sound way more disappointed than he should – but before he could even open his mouth he felt a hand on his cheek; his eyes flickered back to Eren’s green ones, only to find them trained on his lips as the brunette sealed the gap between them.

Eren’s lips felt so impossibly soft again his, he tasted like vodka and something sweet he couldn’t recognise and Armin couldn’t really thing about anything as he lost himself in the kiss. The hand on his cheek moved through his hair and Eren pulled slightly, just enough to make Armin gasp against his lips, taking the chance to slide his tongue against his lower lip and into his mouth. Armin broke the kiss at that, a whimper leaving his lips because he wanted, needed more, but the feelings building up inside him – and the arousal making his pants tighter – were sending him in a slight panic.

He barely registered his friends’ loud noises as he sat back on his spot, but he didn’t miss the way Eren winked at him and licked his lips, green eyes boring into his blue ones. Armin struggled to act like his normal self rather than some teenager who had just kissed his long time crush. He desperately tried to focus on something, anything but Eren and his stupid lips and stupid grin and stupidly pretty eyes right in front of him, and that’s how his eyes found you again.

You had watched the whole scene with an interest you hoped went unnoticed by your friends. You sure hoped Mikasa, sat right next to you, had missed the way your breath hitched in your throat as you watched the blond gasp under Eren’s grip, heat coursing through your body and pooling between your legs. When Armin’s blue eyes found you, flustered, with half lidded eyes and teeth sunk in your bottom lip, you’d lowered your head in shame.

Eren rests his head again the wall and closes his eyes, as to enhance the memory.

It had been over a year ago, yet he remembered Armin’s sweet lips against his, the small noises he unconsciously let out going straight to his groin.

He remembered your face, eyes glossy with desire as you watched them part, flustered almost as much as Armin, as if you’d been the one kissing him instead, and oh had he wanted to kiss you. Had it been just the three of you in that room, he would have grabbed your face and bruised those pretty lips, forcing Armin’s sweet taste in your mouth.

He’d long given up the guilt that came with fantasising about his closest friends, any uncomfortable feeling quickly replaced by pleasure every time he wrapped his hand around his cock. At first it was just one of you under him, on top of him; soon enough he’d started picturing both of you on your knees, eyes bright and pleading, pink tongue hanging out of your mouths as you wait for him to paint your pretty faces with his cum.

“So who’s the best kisser?” you ask, your warm breath against Armin’s ear making him shiver.

“I can’t- You both… I’m not gonna answer that.” Armin manages to sound flustered when he answers.

Eren looks at him. “I would” he states nonchalantly, “but I don’t have all the materials to make my choice.” His tone drops to a low murmur, green eyes slowly shifting to you.

Armin tries to hold back a smile, both of you reacting exactly as he anticipated.

Your heart is hammering in your chest, it’s beat so loud you’re sure both of the boys can hear it; when you speak, you desperately try to keep your voice steady.

“Then god forbid you make an uniformed decision.”

Eren is straight up grinning at this point; he grabs your wrists and tugs you closer, pulling you on his lap. You balance yourself on his shoulders as his hands graze your bare thighs up and down, your skirt bunching up to your hips and barely covering your panties.

When your eyes meet, you’re shocked at how softly he’s looking at you. “I’ve been waiting a while for this” he murmurs, his voice almost a whisper, and you swear you can feel him stroking your cheek before burying his hands your hair and drawing you closer. He’s so warm all pressed up against you, so sweet when his lips ghost against yours before finally kissing you.

You’re slow to respond at first, too lost in how right it feels to have him so close and all over you, but you’re quick to part your lips for him, his tongue sliding against yours; he tastes of alcohol and you get drunk on it, a small moan leaving your throat and getting lost in the kiss. You whimper as you feel him groping your ass and push you even closer. He’s kissing you like a man starved, devouring you, the intensity making you feel light headed. You break apart from the kiss with a sigh, head falling on his shoulder, barely registering what you’re doing as you lightly grind against his hardening cock.

Eren groans as he tugs your hair so that you can look at him, his dark pupils swallowing up almost any trace of green.

“So needy… how many times have you thought about this?” he asks, a teasing smile on his lips as his fingers play with the hem of your skirt.

You look away from him, cheeks heating up; you don’t want to admit how many times you’ve cummed on your fingers with their names on your lips, but you don’t think you have a choice.

His head dips lower to press an open mouth kiss to the column of your throat, “Answer baby, there’s no need to be shy; we’re all friends here.”

You suck in your breath, voice embarrassingly shaky “so- so many times, w- with both of you” you confess.

Armin groans at your words, a curse slipping past his lips. “We- we could have done this so long ago” he mumbles, eyes fixed on you as he palms himself through his jeans. You feel so hot under his gaze, so wanted, you never want his eyes to leave your body.

Eren steals your attention by sucking a purple mark at the base of your neck; you bite back a moan as he licks at the bruise, heat pooling in your panties. he clicks his tongue in disapproval.

“This won’t do” he says softly against the shell of your ear “how can Armin hear all your pretty noises if you hold them back?”

Before you can choke out an apology, his lips go back on your neck, finding that sweet spot below your ear that makes you whimper. You’re trembling as he sucks another bruise on your skin and this time you don’t hold back, soft moans leaving your lips as your hands grips his hair, tugging it loose and fawning all over his shoulders.

Eren pulls back, admiring his work as you try to steady your breath.

“Good girl” he murmurs, “let us hear you.”

You shudder at his words. You don’t think you’ve ever been so turned on in your life, and he’s barely put his mouth on you. You can feel wet slick gathering in your panties and you shift to straddle one of his thighs, grinding hard to relieve the tension as your head falls back, a loud moan leaving your lips.

Two strings of low curses reach your ears, and you barely register Armin slipping a hand under his pants as Eren pulls you down on him again, the knee you have trapped between his legs pressing against his hard cock.

“Fuck, baby you wanna cum like that? Riding my thigh?” he pants, slightly bouncing his leg up to meet your movements, successfully drawing another moan out of your lips.

He brings a hand your face, almost reverent as his thumb grazes your lower lip, just like you’d done with Armin barely an hour ago. Your tongue darts out and licks the tip of his thumb before wrapping your lips around it, sucking slightly as you nod, eager.

Eren parts his lips, eyes glued to your mouth. He can’t believe he finally has you – both of you – as he wants you, as he’s pictured so many times; he wonders if he’ll come undone in his pants like a teenager, as you add pressure on his throbbing cock with each grind of your hips. He slips his finger from your warm lips, rushing his hands under your skirt to take off your panties.

When you finally readjust yourself on his thick thigh, you almost sob at the feeling of your bare, sensitive cunt against the rough material of his pants. Before you can resume your movements, he lifts up the piece of fabric, dangling it in front of your face.

“Look at this” he murmurs, “completely soaked” his voice trailing off as an idea suddenly forms in his mind.

He turns to Armin, and fuck, he feels his cock twitch at the sight. The blond is laying against the headboard, legs spread apart; he has a hand wrapped tight at the base of his hard, leaking cock, his pretty face all scrunched up in pleasure.

Armin’s cheeks heat up when he notices Eren’s eyes on him, but it doesn’t stop him from slowly stroking his cock, trying to delay his orgasm as much as possible.

“’Min, you think you could use these?” Eren asks, dark eyes dropping between the blond’s legs. Armin’s eyes widen at the request, his brain shutting down for a moment as he looks at the drenched panties in his hand.

“What? I- I-…” he looks at you, dazed, half lidded eyes boring into his blue ones as you rub slowly on eren’s thigh. “Y- yes please” he chokes out, shame reddening the tip of his ears.

“So polite… what a good boy” Eren purrs, his deep voice making Armin twitch in his own hand.

He takes the panties, the beads of your arousal thick on the side your cunt was, and he wraps the fabric around his cock. You watch with wide eyes, struggling to believe that sweet innocent Armin would ever give you such a lewd sight; you’re itching to lean over and kiss, lick, bite every inch of his body, but Eren’s grip on your waist keeps you in place.

Armin moans loudly as your slick smears all over his shaft. He keeps rubbing at himself with your panties trapped between his hand and his cock and how the fuck is this already topping every sexual experience I’ve ever had he manages to think. His eyes trail up and down your body, Eren’s body, and he doesn’t even notice how much his strokes speed up, hips bucking desperately into his own hand.

“Slow down baby or you’ll miss all the fun” Eren’s voice is as soft as the hand he puts on his leg to appease him. “If you behave, y/n will let you cum on her, right?” he says, sneaking a hand between your legs and sliding two fingers between your dripping folds.

“Ah- ye- yes Armin, wherever you want” you squeak, arching your back as Eren slips his fingers inside you. You feel inebriated as he slowly starts pumping, his fingertips massaging your walls, so slowly you want to cry. You wail when his fingers curl over your sweet spot, a hand gripping your waist to stop you from fucking yourself against his hand.

“Please ‘Ren, oh god, please, faster” you sob, high pitched moans slipping past your lips before you even realise it.

Instead of listening to you, Eren pulls his fingers out and slides them up to your clit, collecting your slick; you whimper when he retracts his hand from your cunt, pressing down on his thigh once again to get more friction. When your clit brushes against a wrinkle in his pants your eyes roll inside your head, orgasm so close you can taste it, but apparently Eren has other plans.

“Not yet baby, hold it for a bit longer, will you?” he purrs close to your ear, his mouth peppering wet kisses on your neck.

“Please a-ah Eren I c-can’t-” your words come out as broken sobs but you’ve long stopped caring, your brain filled with nothing but pleasure.

When Eren looks at your face you look absolutely wrecked, sweat shining on your forehead and cheeks red from the strain, chest heaving as quick pants come out of your parted lips. “

Armin, come here.” He says, hungry eyes still locked on yours. The blond obeys and shuffles closer to the two of you, your panties forgotten on the bed.

“You’ve been so good I think you deserve a reward” he says, as he pushes the glistening fingers he’d just pulled out of your cunt straight into Armin’s pretty mouth.

The blond moans at your taste, both hands coming to grab Eren’s wrist and push his fingers further in his mouth, choking slightly when they hit the back of his throat. Eren watches him in a trance, mesmerised by his blown eyes and the drop of spit that dribbles from the corner of his mouth. He wants to fucking ruin him. But not yet.

He takes his hand from the blond’s grasp – the whimper that leaves his mouth almost makes him cum on the spot. Eren lifts you from his lap, ignoring your pout as he places you right beside Armin.

“Sit still for me” he says as he slowly palms his cock before unbuttoning his pants and sliding them down with his boxers. You hear Armin suck in his breath as Eren’s hard cock slaps against his stomach, your own eyes widening at the sight; in length he almost matches the blonde, but the girth is just… fuck. Even dwarfed by his huge hand it’s almost intimidating, a thick vein reaching his pink leaking tip.

Eren takes his time as he pumps himself, eyes fixed on both of you; he drinks in your pretty, desperate faces, hands clutching the bedsheets as you try not to squirm under his gaze.

“Where do you wanna cum ’Min?” Eren’s question snaps him off a stupor, eyes leaving his groin to settle on your face.

You’re surprised Armin can blush more than he already is as he stutters that he wants to cum on you tits. You smirk as you quickly take off your top and unhook your bra, lust clouding you senses as you lay on the bed, head towards Eren as you motion Armin to straddle your waist. His eyes flicker to Eren and you miss the brunette’s nod before Armin comes on top of you, knees straddling your thighs.

Armin can’t believe just how fucking pretty you look under him, naked except for that cute pleated skirt you’re somehow still wearing. His hand trails up your stomach to squeeze your tits, fingers playing with your nipples as he pumps himself faster.

You feel Eren’s hand cradle your face, “touch yourself” he says, and you do just that.

With your skirt bunched up at your waist and your fingers quickly circling your clit, Armin doesn’t stand a chance; he leans forward, a hand planted on the bed as he cums on your tits with loud moan and your name on his lips, warm liquid painting your heaving chest.

You watch the blond leaning back against the headboard, desperately trying to catch his breath; you lock eyes with him, toungue wetting your lips as you bring a hand up to play with the mess he made on you, getting high on the look of pure defeat on his face as you take your cum coated fingers back to your clit.

“Oh fuck” Eren can’t believe how wrecked his own voice sounds “who would have thought you two would be such dirty sluts” he pants, his hand sliding faster and faster against his cock.

You moan at his words “’Ren p-please can- can I-”

“Cum.” He orders, and you obey right away.

The sounds that leave your lips are nothing short of pornographic, your body shaking and twitching in pleasure, mouth agape and head thrown back as white lights explode behind your eyelids, any coherent thought wiped out of your brain. Eren chokes out a curse at the sight, soft, high pitched groans echoing in the room until he finally cums with a broken moan, the liquid coating his hand and making a mess on his clothes.

It takes a while before any of you even attempts to move; silence falls in the room once again, except for your labored pants mixed with the music still playing in the hallway.

Eren is the first to get up and head for the bathroom. By the time you’ve all taken a shower and settled back on Armin’s bed, no one has still said a word. You feel anxiety settle low in your stomach, its grip speeding up your heartbeats.

Did you ruin everything? Is this the end of your friendship?

“So who’s the best kisser?”

Armin’s voice comes out tired and rough, but it puts a halt to the doubts swirling in your mind.

The breathy chuckle leaving Eren’s mouth sends a wave of relief through your body; “I’m sorry ’Min but y/n is definitely winning this one.” You smile as you feel his hand ghosting over your spine.

“Yeah, figured.”

The blond curls up against you and you’re still smiling.

The bed is way too small for the three of you and the night breeze coming from the window does little to cool you down, but you’ve never been better, a warm feeling spreading from where your bodies connect with each other.

As slumber takes you, you hope they’re still gonna be there when you wake up.

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evita-shelby · 2 years

Text

Between the Shadow and the Soul

chapter 2

Gif by @cillianparadise

He calls on her once he’s well enough to do so and isn’t surprised when her grandmother asks him about Greta.

“I’m sorry for your loss, Greta was a good soul.” Eva says after they help themselves to the tea and assorted Mexican pastries Eva had likely made. For a girl born with a silver spoon in her mouth, she adjusted to Small Heath with ease. While the Smiths were well off enough to have a maid, he knew the maid didn’t know how to bake Mexican pastries.

“It’s fine, I know your grandmother is senile.”

Old Mrs. Ethel Smith was stuck in a time before the Great War when her eldest son Harry and her husband Alan were still alive. She calls him Tommy as if he were the boy he was before the War. Sometimes she’ll send some herbs from her garden to his mother and Polly and he doesn’t have the heart to tell her his mother’s been dead for a decade.

“If it makes you feel better, my grandmother thinks my dad is at the Docks with Uncle Jack and I am my mother, Isabel.” she says softly, as if she didn’t want to bring him any pain and hiding hers behind her pretty smiles.

Tommy had only seen Harry Smith once; he had been about Katie's age and been curious as to how Harry’s Mexican wife looked. They had lived there until Harry decided he wanted his children to live in Mexico where its warm. “So, if she comes out with a broom threatening to tell my husband I am alone with a man, don’t hold it against her.”

They both chuckle, hers is shy and his is unsure, and drink the strange cinnamon tea she and her grandmother had been drinking before he got there. She is graceful and the round photograph of her confirms Eva Smith was a dancer. For someone who had spent her girlhood in a war against her own people, she seemed unaffected by it. Tommy didn’t know what to make of it.

“You were right, Kimber shot me, Danny took a bullet for me and I avenged him by shooting Kimber in the head.” He says studying her face for anything else aside from her nod, a nod that reminds him of the ones Polly does when she’s biting her tongue to keep herself from telling them she already knows about something. “I take it you knew already.”

“Jeremiah’s wife told me, I was planning on going to see you, but nanna was unwell and I didn’t want to leave her.” Her eyes quickly looked at the door of her grandmother’s bedroom. No one in Small Heath had a bad thing to say about Eva, she was polite and honest if a bit strange, and always taking good care of her senile grandmother. Jeremiah’s wife liked her as did Polly, Ada and even Esme, which was as good as a character reference he could get for anyone. Tommy should have known Grace was playing him false when Polly couldn’t even stand to be in the same room as her. She used to be a seer like Eva until it was gone like her children.

“Good thing I came by first, neither of us would want for old Mrs. Smith to leave the stove on again.” The last time it had been Danny who had broken down the old woman’s door and prevented a fire, and for a moment he wondered who would have to be the one to rescue Mrs. Smith if she left the stove on again. “I figured out what you meant by saying your name should have been Cassandra of Troy.”

“Did you? I had already forgotten about that.” she lies. He hadn’t and while it had seemed like a strange thing to ask Ada for when she came to visit him, his sister had gotten him a book about Greek myths which he’d read cover to cover after the shovels had woken him up. He and Ada liked books, once he used to steal them for Ada and this time Ada had stolen one for him.

“Cassandra tricked Apollo into giving her the gift of prophecy and out of revenge he cursed her so no one would believe her. I was skeptical about your ability and I apologize for doubting you, Miss Smith.” he apologizes and wonders when will she ask him to call her by her name.

“Call me Eva, Miss Smith makes me feel like I’m someone’s maiden aunt, Mr. Shelby.” There it was, the offer to become more than just casual acquaintances. “Besides, you hardly know me, no one in their right mind would believe a stranger’s words.”

“Your uncles wouldn’t like me calling you by your given name, just as much as they won’t like you calling my Tommy.” he points out, subtly letting her know he can drop the Mr. Shelby.

“What they don’t know won’t hurt them, besides I can be Miss. Smith when they are present, just as you’ll remain Mr. Shelby at negotiations, Tommy.” she gave him a cheeky grin that reminded him she wasn’t the innocent young lady she looked like. “You’d think they’d trust me more after fighting in a war, but men are the same here as they are in Mexico.” she shrugged not hiding her annoyance.

“You’ll find, Eva, that I may be the exception."

---

“I should start charging you for this, Tommy.” she teased him and set her cards down to do the reading. He had brought her a new deck after seeing the state of her favorite deck. They were beautiful, a man at the Patch hand painted tarot cards and seeing the Lovers looking like them made her more resolved not to let herself be anything more than friends and business partners.

Tommy had asked Polly to watch her grandmother while she did her readings at his house with only Finn and John’s eldest boy making sure nothing inappropriate happened. The most inappropriate thing to happen up to date was John’s children asking if she wants to marry their Uncle Tommy and be their aunt.

“I did offer last time, but you refused, saying you had no need for money.” he reminds her, his blue eyes looking intently at her and not the cards, cards he himself could read as well. Polly was a second mother to the Shelbys, it hadn’t surprised her that they had picked up a thing or two regarding divination.

Tommy scared her, but not in the he could kill her type of scare, but the way Antonia Medina scared her. He looked at her like a person who desired her ---like Antonia had before it went to hell--- and romances never ended well for Eva. Antonia ended up marrying Eva’s rich and handsome red-haired cousin, Francisco Riley Lopez, and moved to the Port of Acapulco and last year to San Diego, California.

Tommy was probably still pining over the fucking barmaid while fucking Lizzie the former prostitute. There was no chance in hell that Eva was going to let herself fall for the good-looking gangster.

“Maybe I changed my mind, or refused out of courtesy.” Eva needed to content herself with whatever they had. If things went bad then all this would end too. She didn’t want to risk the strange sense of companionship and understanding as well as the banter, but the thing she liked the most was that he made her feel safe, like nothing could ever hurt her because everything and everyone feared him. Eva admitted she did have a rather specific type.

Her first boyfriend, Diosdado, had been a staunch Villista who used to rob trains before Pancho Villa joined the Revolution, her first love had been Antonia who had left boarding school in America to join the war on the side of Villa and the third, well, there was no third great love yet, but there was no fucking way she would let Tommy Shelby be in that list.

No matter how much she likes that thing he does before he takes the first drag of a cigarette, no matter how tempting his mouth is when he smiles genuinely, and no matter how often her mind turns to him on those nights she relieves her sexual frustrations with her hand. Thomas Shelby was a bad idea.

“Any clothes you want from the Shop in Chinatown are free of cost as a reimbursement for the money you don’t charge anyone for readings.” He says this as if he paid for his suits, and she tells him that and regrets it when it makes him just more attractive when he laughs at her remarks.

Speaking of readings, what did you say that made the Lees so angry, Evie?” He drinks his whiskey and looks at her with amusement in his eyes. Tommy had started calling her that after one month of being friends, that had been the first week of December 1919, they were almost June 1920. Her uncles would be dragging them to the altar if they knew.

“Esme’s sister, or cousin or whatever, didn’t like what the cards showed me.” Eva kept her eyes on the cards and wished the name of the winning horse would appear before this conversation ended with Tommy asking her to see a picture with him again. “She asked if her betrothed loved her and the cards showed me otherwise; turns out he planned on running away with someone else. That someone else being his best friend. Needless to say, I am no longer welcome near the Patch.”

“Hell has no fury like a woman scorned,” he winced, the Lees would likely be killing the fool who played with their sister or cousin’s heart and so close to their wedding date. “What horse will we be betting on for the Derby?”

The Shelbys had gotten in their heads that Eva could make them even richer at this year’s derby. The goose who lays golden eggs, Ada had said when she confided that she didn’t like her family using Eva’s abilities for their personal gain.

No matter how far on the deck, Tommy’s card, the Emperor, always showed her what she was looking for. The new deck had him as the Emperor, as if Tommy Shelby needed another reason to think too highly of himself. Eva hears the announcers say the winner’s name as well as many men shouting in anger.

“Spion Kop. I don’t know much about horse racing, but I know that one has very low odds of winning.” She looks at the card confused. From what Tommy and the others had been talking about in the betting shop, this horse was unlikely to win anything really. “It will win the Derby, but loose every single race after it and die next autumn. Poor thing, I only see agony in its future.”

“What happens to Abot's Trace? He’s supposed to win.” Tommy finishes his drink, he’s planning something, she’s sure if it. On her birthday he’d gotten her a pair of exquisite gloves before trying to ambush her under the mistletoe, on Valentine’s Day he tricked her into a candlelight dinner alone at the Garrison, and only a fool would not see that Tommy Shelby is a man who uses somewhat grand romantic gestures to woo women he wants more than just for a fuck.

“Trips and collides with another horse. No amount of black powder can stop destiny and as usual your success will bring about conflict with a very dangerous rival. I can’t see who it is yet, unfortunately.” Eva felt relieved the reading was nearly over, as much of a burden it was to take care of her Nanna, it was much better than having to deal with the inevitable heartbreak that comes every time she fell in love. They either were not into women, died in a raid gone wrong or married her cousin.

“Is your uncle coming from Poplar next weekend?” Tommy didn’t even have to ask that; he knew when her Uncle Jack and his family came to stay the weekend with her grandmother and give Eva a day or two off.

“Yes, why do you ask?” Eva should know where this line of questioning is going, he keeps trying to ask her on a date on the days he knows she will be free. It’s sweet of him to wait weeks to make sure her schedule matches his, but it’s been months and Tommy hasn’t relented in his mission to woo her. He doesn’t hide it, even if he did, Eva would see through his act quicker than Charles Paddock who would bring home the gold in this year’s Olympics.

“There is no one better to invite to the Derby, Finn and Polly will be there to properly chaperone us before you ask.” He had everything planned, had even managed to get her uncle to agree even before asking her. “You always say you want to go to a Derby and since I am already paying for your new dress, I want to be the lucky bastard you wear it for.”

“Technically, I’d be wearing it for the Derby.” She chuckles, the last card on the deck is the High Priestess, her tarot card, it seems the universe wants her to say yes. “What color is your tie going to be?”

Charles Paddock won gold in the 1920 Summer Olympics in Belgium.

Notes

notes: Spion Kop was the racehorse that won the Epson Derby in 1920. He only won 2 races and one of being the Derby. Abot's Trace collided with another horse during the race and while there was another horse Tetrachama expected to win, I picked Abot's Trace as the horse that the race was supposed to be rigged for.

#between the shadow and the soul #tommy shelby x oc #thomas shelby x oc #thomas shelby fanfic #oc is bi #sorry i may write heterosexual ships but i also like making ocs gay #chapter 2 #oc fanfiction #peaky blinder fanfic #ocappreciation #oc appreciation

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agentofmischief · 3 years

Text

Birthstone Legacy Challenge

Ok, I don’t post a lot on here, but I’m a huge fan of the sims. I’ve been playing it since gen 1 back in 2000. So, I’ve been having fun with challenges, especially the past couple years with 100 Baby, and I’ve found online. And after reading hearing and reading up on Lilsimsie’s Not So Berry Challenge, I had an idea of my own challenge. So, I thought I’d share if anyone else wanted to play along.

Disclaimer: These challenges mean nothing in regards to people born in that month. I simply took symbolism and cultural aspects of each stone to create a challenging and interesting playthroughs you might not think to do.

Lifespan requirements: Normal (not sure if it’s possible on Short, but if you want hard mode, do it).

The idea is to start with your month’s birthstone, then each generation is the next month’s stone for either 10 generations (traditional Legacy), or 12 if you wan to do the full year. You could also start on the month after your birth month with a full year play-through, so your birth month acts as a “finale”. Might be helpful if say your birth month is April, and you know your month’s stone is Diamond and to you it sounds like a finisher, or if your birth month is December, and you’d just prefer to start with January’s stone. It’s up to you.

These will just be listed month by month, so they are easy to find.

Like in the other color challenges, you want to model your sim with the stone’s colors in mind. You should also build their house with their stone’s color in mind.

1. January stone: GARNET

Color: Dark Red

Garnets have a high refractive index, which causes them to look as if they are emitting light. Due to this phenomenon, travelers during the crusades would carry them to ward off evil. The stone represents Faith, Love and Constance.

Traits: Good, Ambitious, Cheerful

Goals:

- Complete the Soulmate aspiration

- Complete the Law career as a judge.

- Must maintain career until death (meaning no retirement, quitting, or being fired).

- Must have at least 2 kids after the soulmate aspiration is fulfilled.

- All children must be raised with all green character values and no lower than Bs in school.

2. February stone: AMETHYST

Color: Purple

The word Amethyst comes from the Greek word, amethystos, meaning “not drunken.” This comes from a myth where Dionysus was so enraged, he vowed his wrath on the next human he saw, which was a young woman, Amethystos. To “save” this woman, Artemis turned her to stone (note to self, don’t ask Artemis to save you ever, because her track record sucks). Dionysus calmed at seeing the stone’s beauty, and poured his wine on it, giving the stone it’s purple color. In more recent centuries, amethysts have been associated with piety and rank in the Catholic Church, as bishops are given amethysts when they are appointed.

Traits: Genius, Bookworm, Snob (If you have Snowy escape, replace one of these with Proper).

Goals:

-Complete the Knowledge - Renaissance Sim aspiration.

-Complete the Education Career as a Professor.

-Can not go to bars or nightclubs

-Max out Logic, Writing, and a musical skill (Violin, Guitar, Piano, or Singing)

-Can never marry or enter into an official dating relationship; HOWEVER must have at least 1 kid at some point to continue the legacy. This can be through adoption, which is more likely if you want to play pure piety or you have an Ace sim in mind, and the adoptee must be a child or teen. The other option is through secret woohoos if you want to play the more historically accurate, seedy way. **If you are playing with Risky Woohoos, you can have max 2 kids living with you. All others children must be removed from the house and into a Townie’s home once they become toddlers.

3. March stone: AQUAMARINE

Color: Light Blue

Due to aquamarine’s sea-like color, they’ve long been associated with traveling and the sea. Sailors used to put them under their pillows to calm themselves. They are said to inspire peace and ward off poisons.

Traits: Loves Outdoors, Glutton, Loner

Goals:

-Complete Angling Ace aspiration.

-Eat out of the trash 5 times without getting sick.

-Have an aquarium with 10 fish.

-Catch a vampire squid. ** Or if you have Island Living, you must become a mermaid.

-Must eat and learn to make Pufferfish Nigiri.

4. April stone: DIAMOND

Color: White/Silver

Diamond is the hardest stone on Earth, and is often associated with wealth and treasures. The word diamond comes from the greek word adamas, meaning unconquerable. They are the most popular of the stones, and so recently have been “Lab Grown.”

Traits: Ambitious, Insider, Perfectionist

Goals:

-Complete the Scientist career.

-Complete Leader of the Pack aspiration.

-Find all the crystals.

-Must clone a diamond.

-Become best friends with Judith Ward and have a framed selfie with her in your house.

-Date/marry someone in the Style-influencer career.

5. May stone: EMERALD

Color: Dark Green

Emeralds are an old stone, first mined in ancient Egypt. Cleopatra was known to wear them frequently. They are said to symbolize fertility, wisdom, and Spring. It’s also said to heal heartbreak.

Traits: Jealous, Romantic, Materialistic

Goals:

-Master Gardening skill.

-Date and 100% romance a politician, then break up with them.

-Have at least 3 kids from multiple partners (each must have reached 100% romance first).

-Breed a frog worth over $100

-Must complete Fabulously Wealthy aspiration

-Does not marry, UNLESS you have Strangerville, and can marry an Officer in the Military Branch. However, when they die, so does your sim.

6. June stone: PEARL

Color: White/Cream

Pearls are created by oysters and are considered the “perfect” gem, as it needs no man-mad alterations. Pearls are often attributed to wisdom through experience, as well as innocence and fertility.

Traits: Childish, Perfectionist, Family-oriented

Goals:

-Must have 5 kids before becoming an adult.

-Must complete the Curator aspiration.

-Must master 10 skills. ** If you are using Tiny House perks, 15 skills.

7. July stone: RUBY

Color: Bright Red

Rubies are well known for their blood-red color, earning their association with health and vitality. They are also symbols of love, passion, and prosperity.

Traits: Self-Assured, Romantic, Self-Absorbed

Goals:

-Complete Serial Romantic aspiration.

-Master Cooking, Athletic, and Charisma skills.

-Complete Doctor Career.

-Must Woohoo at least once in each: Closet, Jacuzzi, Observatory, Bush, Spaceship, Lighthouse, Pile of leaves, Shower, Coffin.

8. August stone: PERIDOT

Color: Light Green

Peridot is the stone of compassion, bringing health and peace to emotions and the mind. It inspires eloquence, creativity, and good cheer.

Traits: Creative, Vegetarian, Goofball

Goals:

-Complete the Painter Career.

-Master Painting, Photography, and Handiness skills.

-Paint 5 Masterpieces.

-Craft a bathtub of excellent quality.

-Complete Painter Extraordinaire aspiration.

9. September stone: SAPPHIRE

Color: Royal Blue

With the most famous sapphires being Princess Diana’s iconic engagement ring and The Heart of the Ocean in Titanic, it’s now wonder Sapphires hue long been associated with nobility and power. The stone symbolizes strength, loyalty, and focus through self-discipline.

Traits: Materialistic, Genius, Insider ** If you have snowy escape, Proper takes place for Materialistic.

Goals:

-Complete the Law Career as a Private Attorney.

-Complete the Mansion Baron aspiration.

-Must start a club with Wealthy requirement ($30,000+). *If you start a fraternity/sorority in University, it counts if wealthy is listed as a requirement.

-Max out Charisma, Logic, and Writing skills.

-Must marry another club leader.

-Must get Gold in Wedding Social Event, and pay full $1750. Minimum of 10 guests.

-Must have a son. (He does not HAVE to be the continuation of the Legacy, but he can if you want. Also, if you have a born daughter, but decide to transition her, that does not count. Since it’s a click of a button without game mechanic influence, it’s kind of cheating. HOWEVER, if you decide your born son should transition, it still counts. This is mostly to take the steps during pregnancy to make a boy (since we’ve all watched others influence for a girl 1000x), That or to keep going until “the odds are in your favor.”)

10. October stone: PINK TOURMALINE

Color: Pink

Pink Tourmaline, also known as October rose, represents humanity, sympathy to others, and humanitarian work. It’s believed to carry the virtue of love that is unconditional, offering comfort to children and lasting friendships.

Traits: Unflirty, Gloomy, Outgoing

Goals:

-Complete the Politician career as a Charity Organizer.

-Complete Friend to the World aspiration.

-Adopt 2 kids (Do not have to be legacy continuation).

-Max out friendship/be best friends with 4 sims before becoming an Adult. The friendship must be maintained throughout life.

-Have a rose garden.

-Write 5 Children’s books.

-Volunteer with family 5 times.

*If you get the pop-up asking to donate to charity, you must if you have the money.

11. November stone: CITRINE

Color: Dark Yellow (almost Gold)

Citrine’s yellow stone radiates happiness, creativity, and wealth. Named for it’s citrus like color, it’s no wonder it’s the stone for a month known for it’s food. Citrine is known also as the Merchant’s stone for it’s golden color.

Traits: Cheerful, Foodie, Creative

Goals:

-Complete Culinary Career.

-Complete Culinary aspiration.

-Master Cooking and baking skills.

-Own a fruit and vegetable garden with every possible fruit and veggie in your game.

-Own a Bakery or Restaurant.

-Cook an Excellent quality Grand Meal.

-Learn 10 Food Stall recipes.

12. December stone: Turquoise

Color: Blue/Green (Teal)

Turquoise is an odd one. In European cultures, it’s the stone of friendship and attracts money and luck, but is also frequently used in Evil Eye talismans. Historically, Montezuma II gifted these gems to Cortez, the Spanish Conquistador. The Apache used turquoise as well, as a charm on their bows for better aim.

Traits: Evil, Outgoing, Kleptomaniac

Goals:

-Max out Mischief and Charisma skills.

-Complete the Criminal Career.

-Complete Public Enemy aspiration.

-Start a Kleptomaniac club.

-Steal an object worth $10,000

-Marry someone with the Good trait, and cheat on them 5 times.

Happy simming!

#thesims #the sims legacy #sims challenge #legacy challenge #birthstone #The Sims 4 #sims 4 challenge #sims 4 legacy #Birth Stone Challenge #birth stone legacy #birth stone #gemstone #gemstone challenge #gem challenge #lets play #color challenge #color legacy challenge #sims 4 color

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gallavictorious · 3 years

Text

Gallavich Week Day 2: Fantasy AU

Summary: Prince Ian is offered up as a sacrifice to appease one of the dragons that haunt his father’s kingdom. Rather than being burned alive or eaten he is inexplicably left to wander the dragon’s lair in peace, as long as he never tries to leave and never enters the mysterious tower chamber. Then he meets fellow prisoner Mikhailo and starts to wonder if maybe this whole sacrificial gig isn’t such a bad deal after all.

Or, Ian Gallagher tells a bedtime story, and Mickey Milkovich is himself.

Fair Warning 1: There’s some Mickey-typical homophobic language in this one.

Fair Warning 2: I wrote all ridiculous 5K of this today (work? what work?) and it’s a little bit of a curious mess. Like, the sort of curious mess you get if you take Lip’s Hall of Shame, @gardenerian’s lovely bedtime stories, the novel “Dealing with Dragons” by Patricia Wrede, the Swedish picture book “Bröllop i Marsipanien” by Lena Karlin, the Greek myth of Andromeda, a bunch of folk tales about shapeshifting lovers, and the questionable old practice of MSTing fics, and then you stuff them all into a Kee and shake her around for a bit and then you pour it out into the shape of a 12 hour long and highly inadvisable speedwriting session.

Read it at your own risk, below or on AO3.

Very Important Note: I make fun of fic writing in this fic. Please note that I’m only making fun of myself and general tropes; any and all allusions to actual fic in the fandom is entirely coincidental.

---

Lest They Say, Here Be Dragons

Hush now, child; settle down. Close your eyes – yes, just like that – and listen:

Once upon a time and elsewhere, there was a kingdom. The people there were no happier than people anywhere else, and poorer than most, but they made do and lived and danced and grieved and died as people have always done.

Jesus, that’s gay.

That is, until the dragons came.

Okay, now you’re talking.

Like a plague they swept the land, winged beasts with fire for breath and ice in their hearts. Every night the fields burned, and the villages burned, and the cattle burned and was eaten. Many a brave people took up arms and went to confront the monsters, and then they burned too.

Heart-broken and terrified, the people went to the king to plead for aid. “Send an emissary to the dragons,” they said. “Reason with them and strike a bargain, or else we are sure to perish.”

What a bunch of pussies. What they should do is, they should use a bunch a cow shit to build a bomb and nuke the hell out of those dragons. Problem fucking solved.

Now, this king was a scoundrel and a drunk and the queen had an unfortunate habit of turning herself into a bird and flying off to more interesting lands whenever the mood took her. They had six children but rarely paid them any mind and fair Princess Fiona, eldest of the six, was left to raise her younger siblings as best she could. False King Francis would have been perfectly content to turn his desperate subjects away if it weren’t for the fact the dragons unchecked rampage threatened the production of the spirits the king so enjoyed. So, donning a mask of compassionate concern, for he was a skilled liar, he promised the people that he would help them. But as soon as they had left, comforted, he turned the task over to his children.

The second oldest child, foxy Prince Philip—

Foxy Prince Philip?

Yeah, you know. Foxy. Like clever.

Why not just say clever then?

‘Cause it’s not alliterative.

Alliter—

Starts with the same sound. Foxy – Philip. Fair – Fiona.

Oh, I get it. Like, Ian – idiot. Ow!

Foxy Prince Philip was known far and wide for being the cleverest in all the land, and by using all his cunning he managed to strike a deal with the leader of the dragons.

“By using all his cunning.” Skimming over the details a bit there, huh?

You really want me to turn this into a Prince Philip story? Hear me go on and on about what a genius he is?

…

Yeah, that’s what I thought.

It was agreed that the dragons would spread out over the kingdom, each one building their own place to live near a village, and that the villagers would bring them food and drink. In turn, the dragons would refrain from casual pyromancy and protect the villagers from harm.

Protection racket, huh. Classic. Starting to like these dragons, man.

In addition, the cruel leader of the dragons demanded that each dragon be offered a child of the land in sacrifice. No matter how Prince Philip bargained he could not change the dragon’s cold heart on this—

Guess he wasn’t so clever after all.

—and so, with heavy hearts and much lamenting, each village drew lots to determine which poor child would be sent as an offering to their new resident dragon. However, in the village nearest to the castle the people grew angry when the beloved blacksmith’s only child, a small girl of just four, was selected, and they went to the king and they said:

“It isn’t fair that some people are asked to give up their only child to appease the dragons while you, who have six children, are exempt from the lottery.”

King Francis, fearing an uprising as much as he feared the dragons (since each was as likely as the other to leave him without a drink), quickly nodded.

“That’s true,” he said. “And fairness must ever be the true monarchs first and most important concern. Though it breaks my heart, I can’t in good conscience watch my people sacrifice their own children without offering up my own. You may take Prince Ian and give him to the dragon.”

At this, the other princes and princesses raised their voices in furious protest, for they loved their brother even if their father did not. But industrious Prince Ian—

Industrious? That really the best you can come up with?

—stepped forward and declared that he’d be happy to give up his life, so that the child of the blacksmith might be spared. And so, as the sunt set, he was taken away to the lair of the dragon that had made its home near the castle.

So let me get this straight… The king is happy to toss Prince Ian to the wolves ‘cause he hates him, and his siblings are all sad and shit but they still let him go off to get fucking eaten by dragons?

Yes.

Uh-huh.

What?

…

Oh, fuck you. It’s just a story.

Totally.

Stepping into the lair, with heart a-hammering but on stubbornly steady legs, Prince Ian set eyes upon the beast that was to be his destiny. He was momentarily relieved to see it was not the terrible leader of the dragons, as he had feared, but a smaller monster he did not recognize. Black was its hide, its eyes a cold sparkling blue—

Gallagher, I swear to god, if you turn me into some lame ass henchman dragon—

Keep interrupting, asshole, and it’ll be a pink fucking unicorn. And hang on, you’ll show up in a little bit.

Setting his jaw, Prince Ian prepared to die a heroic death—

‘Course he did, the stupid motherfucker. Hey, if Prince Philip was so fucking smart, and if he gave a shit about his brother, shouldn’t he have given him, I dunno, a knife or something?

Prince Ian prepared to die a heroic death, because unlike some other people he was not a selfish prick and he actually cared about the people of the kingdom, but much to his surprise the dragon did not burn him. Instead, it just stared at him for a good long while, until suddenly it declared:

“You must never leave the lair, and you must never set foot inside the tower chamber. Abide by these rules and you may live. Break these rules and I’ll rip your heart out and eat it while you watch, and then I’ll burn the castle down with your beloved siblings inside.”

You tell him, dragon.

With that the dragon took flight and disappeared, leaving Prince Ian to stand alone in the great hall of the lair, confused but alive. The young prince remained where he was for a few minutes, thinking that the dragon might come back, but when it did not he set out to explore his new home. It was big, with endless rooms and nooks and crannies, but it was badly kept, with strange bits and pieces cluttering up the hallways and chambers. Prince Ian found some old blankets and he used those to set up a pallet in one of the nicer rooms, one that had a view over a small, overgrown garden. And then, because it was very late and he was not dead, he went to sleep.

The next day he continued his explorations and managed to find the kitchen. It was full with the meat that the villagers brought the dragon once a month, and remembering that the beast had only forbidden him from leaving the lair and going into the tower chamber, Prince Ian helped himself to a piece of pork that he cooked over a small fire.

Hang on, was there a fridge in the kitchen?

No. This was the olden days.

But the villagers came once a month with the meat? How did the dragon keep from rotting?

That’s not really—

Was it dried? Like a Slim Jim?

… sure. It was dried.

As he was eating, Prince Ian heard a sudden scraping noise behind him.

The hell did he cook it over a fire for then, if it was dried?

He looked up and spied another young man standing in the doorway.

I’m just saying, it doesn’t make any fucking sense, man. Wait, is this me?

Prince Ian frowned. “Who are you?” he asked. “Are you a prisoner of the dragon too?”

The boy shrugged. “Uh, yeah. I guess. I mean, I do some work around here. Clean up and shit, in exchange for not getting eaten. Name’s Mikhailo.”

About fucking time. Only, how is it fair that you get to be prince and I’m a fucking cleaner?

Prince Ian tactfully did not mention how the lair was impressively dirty for a place with a fulltime cleaner but invited Mikhailo to share his meal. As they ate, Prince Ian studied his new acquaintance. He was the same age as but shorter than the prince, with skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony.

Hair as black as— The hell was that?

Nothing.

Yeah, okay, then why are you smiling? Eh, fuck you. Prince Ian’s fucking thirsty for Mikhailo, I get it.

Though his manner was somewhat brusque and uncouth, Prince Ian could not help but feel himself drawn to Mikhailo. The boy was funny and easy to talk to, even if he seemed reluctant to say too much about himself or where he came from. Prince Ian tried asking him about the dragon, but despite apparently having lived there ever since the dragon moved in, Mikhailo couldn’t tell him much.

“Hardly ever even see it, man. At dusk and dawn mostly, so I guess it spends the night flying around with the other dragons, terrorizing the peasants or whatever. During the day it holes up in the tower chamber. Guess dragons must sleep too, huh? Don’t fucking go up there,” he added sternly. “It ain’t fucking kidding about killing you if you do.”

Having found a friend, Prince Ian found that life at the dragon’s lair wasn’t all that bad. He missed his siblings and being outdoors and practicing with the soldiers at the castle, and he resented the loss of his freedom, but he enjoyed the peace and quiet, and enjoyed spending time with Mikhailo. However, one thing he soon grew very tired of was eating nothing but meat. The dragon didn’t seem to require anything else, for it was the only thing the villagers ever delivered, and Mikhailo – whose tasks included receiving the monthly tribute – just gave Prince Ian a weird look when Ian suggested he ask the people to bring some vegetables next month.

“That ain’t the deal they’ve got with the dragon,” he told Ian. “Ain’t nobody gonna listen to me if I go trying to change it.”

Yeah, real Prince Charming there, wanting Mikhailo to risk his life so Ian can stuff his face with fucking cucumber.

Undeterred by Mikhailo’s lack of enthusiasm and courage—

Fuck you.

—Prince Ian decided to take it up with the dragon himself. In the weeks since he arrived at the lair, he hadn’t met the creature again, not even once; he’d just heard the powerful swoosh of its wings when it came and went at dusk and dawn. Now he went up the stairs to the tower chamber and there he waited until night had fallen and he noted the scraping of claws against stone inside the room. Then he knocked at the door.

There was a long silence. Then the door slammed open with enough force to nearly undo it from its hinges.

“What are you doing here?!” the dragon roared, terrible in its fury. “I’ve told you to never come here!”

“You’ve told me to never set foot inside the room,” Ian reasoned, fighting to keep his voice calm. “And I’m not. I just wanted to ask if I may have the use of the small garden just outside the lair. I miss being outdoors and I could grow vegetables for Mikhailo and me.”

Jesus Christ, man, again with gardening? Thought you were over it.

“You may never leave the lair,” the dragon, a garden-hating meanie, snarled, and then he closed the door in Prince Ian’s face.

As he fucking should.

“Probably worried one of the villagers will spot you and, I dunno, mount a rescue,” Mikhailo said shortly the next morning when Prince Ian told him of his failed attempt. “Anyway, you’re a fucking idiot for going up there like that. You get it won’t hesitate to kill you, right?”

“Right,” Ian agreed. “But,” he added with a frown, “why hasn’t it yet?”

“You fucking complaining?” Mikhailo snapped, and then he stalked away, and Ian didn’t see him again for three days.

Listen, you get that I get that Mikhailo is the dragon, right? You’re not fooling anyone, Gallagher.

Then, one day, fed up with the dragon being a really annoying prick, Prince Ian grabbed a huge sword he conveniently found lying around in a cupboard, because the lair was a fucking pigsty, suitable for a pig like the dragon, and he went up the stairs and kicked in the door and he cut the dragon’s throat while it slept, and then he went off and found himself a nice prince to marry.

…

That’s not how the story ends.

…

Hey, where are you going? Come back- Jesus, I’m sorry, okay? Gallagher, I’m sorry. Just come back here. Tell me what really happened.

Prince Ian woke with a start on his pallet in the lair. He’d had the most vivid dream about killing the dragon—

A dream? That’s the lamest fucking— Ah, fuck. Sorry.

—but for some reason it hadn’t felt as satisfying as he had thought it would. For all that Prince Ian often fantasized about strangling the beast, it seemed he didn’t actually wish to see it dead. With that disconcerting realization in mind, Prince Ian went to break his fast, resigned to doing so on meat and yet more meat. But in the kitchen he found Mikhailo, and on the table in front of him was a pile of cabbage and carrots and onions.

“Guess the dragon must have talked to the villagers after all,” Mikhailo muttered, refusing to look at the prince. “And, uh, there was this thing I wanted to show you.”

Without waiting for a response, he spun around on his heel and walked out the door. Curious, Prince Ian followed, through doors and up and down stairs he never knew existed. Eventually, he found himself standing in what appeared to be an inner courtyard. It was small and the walls surrounding it very high, but up above the sky was blue. Prince Ian turned his face towards it and for the first time since he came to live at the dragon’s lair he felt sunlight on his face.

“It’s a shithole,” Mikhailo said. For some reason he sounded a little nervous. “But if you wanna go outside, you can come here. And there’s dirt in those bins, so I guess you could grow stuff in them? Just gotta wear this hat. Anyone sees you, they’ll just think it’s me.”

Privately, Prince Ian wondered who’d ever be able to see him behind walls that high, but he wasn’t going to argue. Wearing an ugly had was a small price to pay for being able to go outside, and to have a garden.

He gave Mikhailo a small smile; Mikhailo smiled back.

“Mikhailo smiled back.” Yeah, you bet he was laughing his ass off, ‘cause he thought Prince Ian was a huge fucking dork.

Things were good for a long while after that. Prince Ian spent his days in the garden and in Mikhailo’s company, and though he still resented being locked away from the world it was easy to ignore that when he had something to do and when his plants started to grow and when he was with Mikhailo. The two young men became closer and closer with each passing week, and soon it seemed to Prince Ian as if they had always known each other. He could no longer imagine a life without his friend.

He suspected that Mikhailo felt the same. It was there in the way he laughed at Prince Ian’s jokes; the way he sought him out to do nothing but talk; the way his gaze sometimes lingered on the prince, the look in his eyes unreadable.

Prince Ian suspected that Mikhailo too wondered what it would be like to press their lips together and hold each other tight. Sleep together; map every inch of each other’s bodies.

Hang on a minute, you’re telling me they haven’t fucked yet? The hell they’ve been doing?

I told you. Hanging out. Talking. Laughing.

Jesus Christ, that’s so fucking gay.

Two men not fucking each other is gay? Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. One day we really need to talk about all your internalized homophobia.

My interna-what? Ah, shut the fuck up. Continue with the story. All these interruptions ain’t doing much for the flow, you know.

Really? I hadn’t noticed.

Prince Ian became determined to find out if Mikhailo felt the same way as he did. He realized that he needed to be careful, however, and not push too hard, lest he spook the other boy. Even though he was almost sure he could see longing in Mikhailo’s eyes, there seemed to be some invisible hand holding him back. Every time Prince Ian was convinced they were finally getting somewhere, Mikhailo would suddenly pull back, as if stung.

Or as if remembering something. Himself, maybe.

Bu then came a cold, clear autumn day almost exactly one year after Prince Ian had been taken to the dragon’s lair.

Whoa, wait, now you’re telling me they’ve been hanging out for one fucking year and they still haven’t banged?

What can I say? Mikhailo’s a pussy.

Whatever. This story is unrealistic as fuck.

Prince Ian and Mikhailo had spent the afternoon together in the garden, as they almost always did whenever Mikhailo wasn’t busy with any of his mysterious chores (which he still refused to tell Prince Ian much about, but which sometimes took him away from the lair for days at a time). Once it started getting dark they went inside and dined on chicken and potatoes from Prince Ian’s patch, and as so often happened they started bickering and play fighting.

If that’s something that happens a lot you might have mentioned it earlier. Established it or whatever. Those mysterious chores too. What’s that all about?

Oh, my bad. Maybe I should start over? Once upon and time—

Nah, man, you’re good. Just a suggestion for next time.

Thank you.

You’re welcome.

They were chasing each other around the kitchen when Mikhailo tripped over the muddy shoes he’d lazily left there the night before and fell to the floor.

You know these meaningful little comments ain’t actually clever, right? They don’t actually add anything to the story.

I like them.

Prince Ian, ever chivalrous, grabbed hold of his friend’s arm to break his fall, but ended up going down with him instead, pinning Mikhailo to the floor with his big, strong body.

Fucking finally.

Their eyes met and Prince Ian felt his heart starting to beat faster. He could see a faint blush spreading over Mikhailo’s face. Neither of them spoke; neither of them moved. Then, slowly, slowly, Prince Ian leaned in to brush his lips over Mikhailo’s. Mikhailo lifted his head to meet him in a kiss to end all other kisses, a kiss to inspire a thousand love songs.

Uh-huh, and then…

And then they went to Prince Ian’s room and had sex all night long. But when Prince Ian woke the next morning—

Wait, wait, what? That’s it? “They had sex all night long.” How about some fucking detail, man?

Fine.

After having great sex using lots of good lube all night long, Prince Ian woke up alone in his bed.

I hate you.

He went in search of Mikhailo but couldn’t find his friend anywhere. He looked in the garden and in the kitchen and he went to the sad little cellar chamber Mikhailo called his room even though Prince Ian had never actually seen him sleep there.

Because he’s the dragon and sleeps in the tower chamber. Great hint, Gallagher. Real subtle.

Fuck off.

A week passed and Prince Ian was starting to suspect that Mikhailo was gone for good this time. Perhaps the dragon had found out about their tryst and had sent him away? Or maybe Mikhailo was disgusted with what had happened and wanted nothing more to do with the prince? Prince Ian wondered and worried and feared, and when finally Mikhailo returned, stepping into the kitchen like nothing had happened, Prince Ian was so exhausted with terror and regret that his relief immediately transformed into fury.

He yelled at Mikhailo, called him names and demanded to know where he’d been. He named him a coward and—

…

Hey, what’s the matter? You okay?

Yeah. Yeah, man, I’m fine.

You don’t look— Listen, Prince Ian’s just being an asshole, okay? He saying a bunch of stupid shit ‘cause he’s sick and tired of not knowing if he means as much to Mikhailo as Mickhailo means to him. He doesn’t mean it.

…

Mick?

I mean… He probably means it a little. He’s not wrong.

No, he’s— Fine. He means it a little right then. But he is wrong, okay? He doesn’t really understand what’s going on with Mikhailo, but he’ll get it later. He’ll know he wasn’t being really fair.

… yeah?

Yeah. Okay?

Okay.

Great. Maybe we should speed this bit up a little—

Once Prince Ian had finished shouting, Mikhailo just stared at him for a long moment.

“You have no fucking idea what you’re talking about,” he spat, and then he spun around and disappeared through the door.

Prince Ian was immediately overcome with regret, yet he was still too angry and hurt and stubborn to run after the other. He went about his day in a very foul mood and when he went to bed that night Mikhailo was still gone. Prince Ian slept fitfully and in the middle of the night he woke to a loud crash, soon followed by several more. He realized it must have come form the tower chamber and after a moment of hesitation he grabbed his nightgown and rushed up the stairs.

So, he brought a nightgown with him when he thought the dragon was going to kill him?

Of course not. He found it in one of the rooms.

Yeah, okay, but why are there so many rooms in this fucking lair anyway? What’s with all the old stuff there? Didn’t the dragon build the place to live in like right before Prince Ian was sent there?

Mickey. It’s getting late and I’d really love to wrap this up and go to bed. It doesn’t really matter about the rooms. Can I just continue with the story?

Whatever, man. Just thought you should know there’s a bunch of plot holes in your little fairy tale.

Once he reached the door to the forbidden room, the crashing noises had stopped. Instead, Prince Ian heard whimpers and moaning, as if from someone in great pain. It could only be the dragon – something must be wrong with it.

Yeah, ya think, Sherlock?

Prince Ian knocked on the door. There was no reply, other than more whimpers and moans. Steeling himself, he tried the handle. The door was unlocked.

That’s awfully convenient.

Stepping inside, Prince Ian found the dragon on the floor. It was clearly hurt, for there was dark blood pooling underneath it. As Prince Ian entered, the great beast lifted its head but said nothing and made no move to attack him. It seemed it was too badly hurt to pose any threat.

It occurred to Prince Ian that he could kill the dragon. He could go down to the kitchen and fetch the biggest knife there and then he’d be free and he could go back to the castle and his siblings and—

The dragon made a low, pained sound and let its head fall back to the floor, closing its eyes.

Prince Ian went down the stairs, but he didn’t fetch a knife, he fetched bandages instead. Though part of him cursed himself for a fool, he knew he couldn’t bring himself to kill the dragon, monster or not, and couldn’t bring himself to let it bleed to death either.

That’s a huge fucking mistake. Maybe the dragon never hurt him but it still kept him imprisoned. Prince Ian should be getting the hell out of there when he has the chance.

Hmm, yeah. Choosing to be locked up just to be the person you love does sound like a pretty insane thing to do.

Oh, fuck off. That’s totally different.

Sure, Mick.

By the time Prince Ian returned to the tower the dragon had lost consciousness. The prince set to cleaning and bandaging his wounds, having learned the art of it while training with a medical witch who lived at the castle. It took a great long while; the dragon was large and heavy and the cuts in its side long, if shallow. But Prince Ian was nothing if not determined and eventually he had the beast wrapped up.

As Ian moved to rise, the dragon stirred.

“The hell are you doing?” it muttered, blinking up at Ian. Then it spotted the bandages, and the ice blue eyes widened. “What the— Are you fucking insane? This is a... is a… real bad fucking idea… ”

It sounded… strange, and not just from the pain and blood loss, Prince Ian thought. Sounded not just slurred but softer somehow, in spite of the uncharacteristic cursing; sounded almost familiar; sounded like—

“Mikhailo,” Prince Ian whispered.

Ooooh, big surprise! I’m so shocked right now!

You know there are other uses for plot twists than to shock the reader, right? Or actually, I guess you don’t know, but if you picked up a book once in a while—

Yeah, yeah, whatever. What happened after this great and totally unexpected reveal?

The dragon lost consciousness again so Prince Ian went to bed and slept soundly and when he woke the next day he spotted Mikhailo leaning against the wall of his room, looking tired ad unhappy. He was even paler than usually and there was a stiffness to his posture that suggested quite a bit of pain, but other than that he seemed well enough.

“So,” Prince Ian said, trying for casualness as he sat up on his pallet. “You’re a dragon.”

Mikhailo shrugged. “Seems like it.”

“But only by night.”

“Yeah… We turn when the sun sets, and turn back again when it rises.”

“I didn’t know that about dragons.”

“No one around here fucking does. People realize how helpless we are during the day, they’d kill us in a heartbeat. My dad says— “

“Your dad?”

“The leader of the dragons. The really big, white one? This whole terror and extortion thing was his idea, once he realized that no one in this kingdom has a clue about dragons.”

“Oh.”

“He hates humans. Thinks they’re useless and weak. If he knew I kept you around instead of killing you, he’d have murdered us both.”

Jesus fucking Christ, laying it on a bit thick with the metaphysical shit there, don’t ya think?

You mean metaphorical?

I mean it’s fucking stupid, that’s what I mean.

Might be closer to allegory anyway.

Uh-huh. Nobody fucking cares, Shakespeare.

“So, anyway,” Mikhailo continued, “you should probably try to go as far away from here as possible. Find a ship and go across the sea or something.”

Prince Ian blinked. “What?”

“Yeah, man, you won’t be able to go back to your castle. No way to stay hidden there. I know this guy up in Dikno, he might—”

He fell silent as Prince Ian jumped up from the bed and crossed the space between them in two long strides, and then he gasped loudly as the prince’s lips found his.

It was another one to inspire love songs.

“You idiot,” Prince Ian said fondly when eventually they broke apart. “Of course I’m not going anywhere. Unless,” he added, suddenly shy, “you want me to.”

Mikhailo made a face. “No, you fucking moron, I don’t want you to go,” he finally said. “But my dad—”

“We’ll find a way to deal with him. We’ll figure out how to sort it out and set things right between humans and dragons. We’ll find a way, together. Okay?”

And Mikhailo the dragon looked at his prince for a long moment and then he smiled. “Okay.”

At his prince, huh. Surprised you got room for all those big words in your head when your ego’s taking up so much space. All right, then what happened?

They organized a rebellion against the leader of the dragons, I guess. I don’t really know. That’s another story.

What do you mean, another story? Is this it? You spend all that time setting it up but when you get to the good part with the fighting you just stop?

Yeah, it’s getting really late. Kid’s asleep anyway.

Kid’s been out cold since, like, before the dragons even showed up, man, don’t fucking pretend this story was for her. … you really not gonna continue?

Nah, I’ll continue. But for the next scene I figured we might try a little show, don’t tell…

Oh, really? What’s the next scene?

Make-up sex. Prince Ian fucking Mikhailo’s brains out. And hey, spoiler alert: Mikhailo comes four times.

Four times, huh.

Yeah. So… wanna know how it happens?

Okay.

Okay. It starts like this—

---

So, yeah. There we have it. The things we write for Gallavich Week… XD

I am halfway outraged that this is the longest fic I’ve ever written for Gallavich, but I’m rather pleased I managed to write something for this theme! Guess I’ll go to bed both proud and embarrassed and dead tired tonight. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Where I am, we’re half an hour past midnight, but seeing as it’s still Monday somewhere, I have decided that I’m posting on time. Yay me! @gallavichthings

#gallavich #gallavich week 2021 #gw2021 #fic #what have i done #my stuff

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queerasfact · 3 years

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Queer as Fiction

Queer as Fiction encompasses our podcast episodes talking about the intersection of queer history and media, whether that’s pieces of historical queer media, or modern media dealing with queer history.

All our episodes are gathered here in one place for you to check out!

Queer media from history

Pre-20th century

The Epic of Gilgamesh (c.1800BCE epic poem)

Achilles and Patroclus (figures from Greek myth)

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (14th century English Arthurian poem)

Carmilla (Irish writer J. Sheridan Le Fanu's 1872 lesbian vampire novella)

1920s

The Captive (1926 English adaptation of Édouard Bourdet’s lesbian play La Prisonnière)

1930s

Mädchen in Uniform (1931 German lesbian schoolgirl cult classic film)

1940s

Wonder Woman (1941-1948 American comics)

1950s

The World Well Lost (Theodore Sturgeon’s 1953 sci-fi short story about gay aliens)

Giovanni’s Room (James Baldwin’s 1956 novel about an American expat in Paris)

1960s

Victim (1961 film focussing on Britain’s laws against homosexality)

The Boys in the Band (1968 play, 1970 film, and 2020 film about a group of gay men in New York)

1970s

1980s

The Color Purple (Alice Walker’s 1982 epistolary novel on a queer, black woman in America’s south in the first half of the 20th century)

A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddie’s Revenge (1985 queer-coded slasher film)

Queerness in Videogames (discussion of 1989 queer game Caper in the Castro, 1988 trans Mario character Birdo, and World of Warcraft’s Pride parade begun in 2005)

1990s

Paris is Burning (Jennie Livingstone’s 1990 documentary about the New York drag ball scene)

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994 Australian roadtrip drag comedy)

The Birdcage (American director Mike Nichols' 1996 gay comedy film)

The Matrix (Wachowski sisters’ 1999 cyberpunk trans allegory)

Queer media about history

Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice and Fire (a discussion on the way medieval fantasy interprets historical reality the 2011-2019 TV series and 1996-ongoing book series)

The Handmaiden and Fingersmith (Sarah Waters’ 2002 Victorian lesbian novel Fingersmith and its 2016 film adaptation, Park Chan-wook The Handmaiden set in Japanese-occupied Korea)

Achilles and Patroclus in modern media

Call Me By Your Name (2007 novel and 2017 film depicting a relationship between a teenage boy and an adult man in 1980s Italy)

Pride (2014 film about the 1980s UK activist group Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners)

Tell It to the Bees (2019 film and 2009 book depicting a lesbian romance in 1950s Scotland)

Stonewall in the media (Roland Emmerich's 2015 film and Crissle West's 2016 Drunk History segment on the 1969 riots)

Bohemian Rhapsody, Colette, and Vita & Virginia (three queer films from 2018, covering the lives of Queen’s frontman Freddie Mercury, 19th-century French author Colette, and early 20th-century English writers Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf)

The Old Guard (2020 Netflix film featuring queer immortal mercenaries)

Interview with emily m danforth (interview with author of The Miseducation of Cameron Post about her 2020 book Plain Bad Heroines, described as Picnic at Hanging Rock meets The Blair Witch Project with lesbians)

Ma Rainey (episode on the 20th-century American blues singer Ma Rainey, featuring a discussion of the 2020 film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom)

The Boys in the Band (1968 play, 1970 film, and 2020 film about a group of gay men in New York)

Our Flag Means Death (2022 comedy about pirates Edward “Blackbeard” Teach and Stede Bonnett)

A League of their Own (2023 TV show about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League)

#queer film #queer books #queer history #queer media #queer movies #gay movies #gay books #gay history #lgbt movies #lgbt books #lgbt history #queer #gay #lgbt

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itsthegameilike · 3 years

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Best Books of 2020

Hi all! As always, I read some banger books this year and I like to do my best to get like everyone in the world to read them, because they’re deserving and being an author is hard. So, without further ado, here are the books that made my year! There Will Come a Darkness/As the Shadow Rises--Katy Rose Pool A pretty standard fantasy YA fare, but a step above in character and entertainment. There’s a world-ending prophecy, of course, and a collection of kids trying to save the day, but the world building is excellent and the plot develops from the characters and their relationships, not the other way around. I have characters I would die for and the second book in the series didn’t fall into the typical mid series lag. 8/10. The Lost Future of Pepperharrow--Natasha Pulley This was a follow up to The Watchmaker of Filigree Street, which is another of my personal favorites, and this did not disappoint. I, in fact, like it better than the first. Set in Japan in the late 1800s, it is part ghost story and mystery, as Thaniel’s--the main character--love interest goes missing, his past having caught up to him. Thaniel is so relatable and his devotion and relationship with Mori could carry me through like forty more books exactly like this. I don’t want to give it away, but it’s one of the most satisfying historical fiction queer relationships I’ve ever read. 10/10.

The Vanished Birds--Simon Jimenez A space odyssey story that hits closer to home for me than most do, as I’m not typically a science fiction fan. There are aspects of time and space travel, leaving the main character outside of normal space and time, meaning most of her friends have aged and died past her. Eventually, she meets a boy, lost and alone, and grudgingly takes him in. They form a bond, but he has a secret and it ends up wrecking her ship, her crew, etc. but she does her best to keep him safe anyway. The plot is incredible, lots of twists and turns--the good kind--and I’m more than a slut for found family stories, so here we are. 9/10.

Upstream--Mary Oliver This is an essay collection by Mary Oliver and like everything by her, it changed my life just a little. Before this year, I wasn’t reading her every day and now I am. She offers much needed perspective and the tools for self healing and this short essay collection is such a simple way to get started. I loved it to pieces, just as I love her. 10/10.

The Autobiography of Red--Anne Carson I read a fuckton of Anne Carson this year. I encountered her on this site and decided to read as much as I could and I have no regrets. This was my favorite by her, but they’re all so so so good. This is a modern retelling of a Greek myth starring Herakles and Geryon, centered on their relationship and Geryon’s journey to discovering his own power. There are times when it is incredibly harrowing, but I stopped like every two pages just to process her way with words. This is the most English major offering of the year, as it works heavily in metaphor and allegory--and is also poetry--but it is worth it. 10/10. P.S. If you’re looking for more Anne Carson, I also highly recommend The Beauty of the Husband.

This is How You Lose the Time War--Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone God, I loved this book. Maybe the surprise of the year for me. The writing is absolutely gorgeous and the tropes are some of my favorites. Two women on opposite sides of a war who fall in love with each other through hidden messages and a happy-ish ending. Though it is more vignettes than an actual plot--that being said, the ending comes through--it still affected me intensely. 9/10.

The House in the Cerulean Sea--T.J. Klune Read this book, please. Please, please, please. It is the comfort you need, I promise. It’s about a weary man, stuck in the hell cycle of capitalism, who is sent on a job to an old, rickety house owned by a man who takes care of magical creatures/children than no one else will take care of. They fall in love and the mc finds a family and begins to enjoy his life. The relationship is so healing and cute and I spent half my time screaming and the other half crying. 10/10.

Gideon the Ninth/Harrow the Ninth--Tamsyn Muir I do not even know where to begin talking about these. They’re weird, hilarious, morbid, and absolutely wonderful. I would die for both mc’s, who are definitely halfway through an incredible enemies-friends-lovers plot, and this book surprised me with plot twists more than once. There are necromancers and bones and sacrifices and threesomes with God and queer characters up the wazoo and old, dangerous ruins and space and ugh. I reread these almost the second I finished--both of them--and I know I’ll need to reread before the last book comes out. 10/10.

Tell the Wolves I’m Home--Carol Rifka Brunt I gave this to every member of my family to read, almost directly after I sobbed for like forty-five minutes at the end. It’s from the POV of a young girl whose uncle dies of AIDS and can’t find comfort in her own family, because they didn’t like him nearly as much as she did. She becomes friends with the boyfriend he left behind and they heal each other through their friendship. It wrecked me and put me back together. 10/10.

These Violent Delights--Chloe Gong This book is a retelling of Romeo & Juliet in Shanghai...loosely. But it’s such a good read. Shanghai is so visceral it’s practically it’s own character and the threat of the monster lose in the city is genuinely terrifying. Juliette and Roma were together at one point, then broke up after a betrayal, and when they come back together to save the city, it creates such an interesting character dynamic that never lost my interest. Lots and lots of props too to the relationship between the Benvolio & Mercutio counterparts. I cannot wait for the continuation of that in the next book. Just...so good. 9/10.

Honorable Mentions: A Deadly Education-Naomi Novak, The Only Good Indians-Stephen Graham Jones, The Memory of Babel-Christelle Dabos (only here because it’s the 3rd book in a series, it’s a 10/10), Black Leopard Red Wolf-Marlon James, The Eye of the Heron-Ursula K Le Guin, and Fifty Words for Rain-Asha Lemmie

#book rec #books #tell the wolves i'm home #these violent delights #the locked tomb #the house in the cerulean sea #this is how you lose the time war #the autobiography of red #upstream #the vanished birds #the lost future of pepperharrow #there will come a darkness #best of 2020

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