#heroine engaged to other man

[sweetsavageflame]

Category Romance: Elusive as the Unicorn by Carole Mortimer

The most exciting aspects of Adam and Eve—the main characters in Carole Mortimer’s Elusive as the Unicorn—sadly start and end with their names. MILD SPOILERS 😉 The Book Elusive as the Unicorn by Carole Mortimer is another mediocre romance that Harlequin publishers bafflingly honored with their so-called Award of Excellence. Why they chose this ho-hum Carole Mortimer entry when she’s written…

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#2.5-star rating #Award of Excellence #book blog #hero american #hero in pursuit #heroine artist #heroine engaged to other man #old school romance #retro romance #review #romance blog #romance books

[artsekey]

Disney's Wish

Look, Disney's Wish has been universally panned across the internet, and for good reason.

It’s just…kind of okay.

 When we sit down to watch a Disney film—you know, from the company that dominated the animation industry from 1989 to (arguably) the mid 2010’s and defined the medium of animation for decades—we expect something magnificent. Now, I could sit here and tell you everything that I thought was wrong with Wish, but if you’re reading this review, then I imagine that you’ve already heard the most popular gripes from other users across the web. So, let me focus in:

The biggest problem with Wish—in fact, the only problem with Wish—is Magnifico.

Whoa, that’s crazy! There’re so many things about Wish that could’ve been better! The original concept was stronger! The music was bad--

I hear you, I do. But stay with me here, okay? Take my hand. I studied under artists from the Disney renaissance. I teach an adapted model of Disney’s story pipeline at a University level. I spent a ridiculous amount of time getting degrees in this, and I am about to dissect this character and the narrative to a stupid degree.

First, we need to understand that a good story doesn’t start and end with what we see on the screen. Characters aren’t just fictional people; when used well, characters are tools the author uses (or in this case, the director) to convey their message to the audience. Each character’s struggle should in some way engage with the story’s message, and consequently, the story’s theme. Similarly, when we look at our protagonist and our antagonist, we should see their characters and their journeys reflected in one-another.

So, what went wrong between Asha & Magnifico in terms of narrative structure?

Act I

In Wish, we’re introduced to our hero not long into the runtime—Asha. She’s ambitious, caring, and community-oriented; in fact, Asha is truly introduced to the audience through her love of Rosas (in “Welcome to Rosas”).  She’s surrounded by a colorful cast of friends who act as servants in the palace, furthering her connection with the idea of community but also telling us that she’s not of status, and then she makes her way to meet Magnifico for her chance to become his next apprentice.

Quick aside: I'm not going to harp on Asha as a character in the context of Disney's overall canon. Almost every review I've seen covers her as a new addition to Disney's ever-growing repertoire of "Cute Quirky Heroines", and I think to be fair to Asha as an actor in the narrative, it serves her best to be weighed within the context of the story she's part of.

As Asha heads upstairs for her interview, we're introduced to the man of the hour: Magnifico. He lives in a tower high above the population of Rosas, immediately showing us how he differs from Asha; he’s disconnected from his community. He lives above them. He has status. While the broader context of the narrative wants us to believe that this also represents a sense of superiority, I would argue that isn’t what Magnifico’s introduction conveys; he's isolated.

Despite this distance, he does connect with Asha in “At All Costs”. For a moment, their goals and values align. In fact, they align so well that Magnifico sees Asha as someone who cares as much about Rosas as he does, and almost offers her the position.

… Until she asks him to grant Saba’s wish.

This is framed by the narrative as a misstep. The resonance between their ideals snaps immediately, and Magnifico says something along the line of “Wow. Most people wait at least a year before asking for something.”

This disappointment isn't played as coming from a place of power or superiority. He was excited by the idea of working with someone who had the same values as he did, who viewed Rosas in the same way he does, and then learns that Asha’s motivations at least partially stem from a place of personal gain.

Well, wait, is that really Asha's goal?

While it's not wholistically her goal, it's very explicitly stated & implied that getting Saba's wish granted is at least a part of it. The audience learns (through Asha's conversation with her friends before the interview) that every apprentice Magnifico has ever had gets not only their wish granted, but the wishes of their family, too!  Asha doesn’t deny that this is a perk that she’s interested in, and I don't think this is a bad thing.

So, Is Asha’s commitment to Saba selfless, or selfish? I’m sure the director wanted it to seem selfless, wherein she believes her family member has waited long enough and deserves his wish granted, but we can’t ignore the broader context of Asha essentially trying to… skip the line.

Then, we get our first point of tension. Magnifico reveals his “true colors” in snapping at Asha, telling her that he “decides what people deserve”. This is supposed to be the great motivator, it’s meant to incite anger in the audience—after all, no one gets to decide what you deserve, right? But unfortunately for the integrity of the film and the audience's suspension of disbelief, at least part of Magnifico’s argument is a little too sound to ignore:

Some wishes are too vague and dangerous to grant. Now, there’s visual irony here; he says this after looking at a 100 old man playing the lute. The idea that something so innocuous could be dangerous is absurd, and the audience is meant to agree.

... But we’ve also seen plenty of other wishes that might be chaotic—flying on a rocket to space, anyone? The use of the word vague is important, too—this implies wording matters, and that a wish can be misinterpreted or evolve into something that is dangerous even if the original intent was innocuous. His reasoning for people forgetting their wish (protecting them from the sadness of being unable to attain their dreams) is much weaker, but still justifiable (in the way an antagonist’s flawed views can be justified). The film even introduces a facet of Magnifico’s backstory that implies he has personal experience with the grief of losing a dream (in the destruction of his home), but that thread is never touched on again.

              What is the audience supposed to take from this encounter? If we’re looking at the director’s intent, I’d argue that we’ve been introduced to a well-meaning young girl and a king who’s locked away everyone’s greatest aspiration because he believes he deserves to have the power to decide who gets to be happy.

              But what are we shown? Our heroine, backed by her friends, strives to be Magnifico’s apprentice because she loves the city but also would really like to see her family's wishes granted. When this request is denied and she loses the opportunity to be his apprentice, she deems Magnifico’s judgement unfair & thus begins her journey to free the dreams of Rosas’ people.

              In fairness, Magnifico doesn’t exhibit sound judgement or kindness through this act of the film. He’s shown to be fickle, and once his composure cracks, he can be vindictive and sharp. He's not a good guy, but I'd argue he's not outright evil. He's just got the makings of a good villain, and those spikes of volatility do give us a foundation to work off of as he spirals, but as we’ll discuss in a bit, the foreshadowing established here isn’t used to the ends it implies.

              While I was watching this film, I was sure Magnifico was going to be a redeemable villain. He can’t connect with people because he's sure they value what he provides more than they value him (as seen in “At All Costs” and the aftermath), and Asha’s asking for more was going to be framed as a mistake. His flaw was keeping his people too safe and never giving them the chance to sink or swim, and he's too far removed from his citizens to see that he is appreciated. Asha does identify this, and the culmination of her journey is giving people the right to choose their path, but the way Magnifico becomes the “true” villain and his motivations for doing so are strangely divorced from what we’re shown in Act I.  

Act II:

His song, “This is the Thanks I Get!?” furthers the idea that Magnifico’s ire—and tipping point—is the fact that he thinks the people he’s built a kingdom for still want more. Over the course of this 3:14 song, we suddenly learn that Magnifico sends other people to help his community and doesn’t personally get involved (we never see this outside of this song), and that he’s incredibly vain/narcissistic (he's definitely a narcissist). I think feeling under-appreciated is actually a very strong motivation for Magnifico as a character-turning-villain, and it works very well. It’s justified based on what we’ve seen on screen so far: he feels under-appreciated (even though he’s decidedly not—the town adores him), he snaps and acts irrationally under stress (as seen with his outburst with Asha), and he’s frustrated that people seem to want more from him (again, as seen with his conversation with Asha in Act I).

              But then… he opens the book.

Ah, the book. As an object on screen, we know that it's filled with ancient and evil magic, well-known to be cursed by every relevant character in the film, and kept well-secured under lock and key. But what does it stand for in the context of the narrative's structure? A quick path to power? We're never told that it has any redeeming qualities; Magnifico himself doesn't seem to know what he's looking for when he opens it. It feels... convenient.

I think it's also worth noting that he only turns to the book when he's alone; once again, the idea of connection and community rears it's ugly head! Earlier in the film, Amaya-- his wife-- is present and turns him away from taking that path. In her absence, he makes the wrong choice.

This decision could make sense; it contains powerful magic, and if it were framed in such a way that the people of Rosas were losing faith in Magnifico’s magic, as if what he can do might not be enough anymore after what they felt from Star, going for the book that we know contains spells that go above and beyond what he can already do would be logical. Along the lines of, “If they’re not happy with what I do for them, fine. I, ever the “martyr”, will do the unthinkable for you, because you want more.”

            It would keeps with the idea that Magnifico believes he's still trying to help people, but his motivation has taken his self-imposed pity party and turned it into resentment and spite.

 But, that’s not the case. Instead he talks about reversing that “light”, which has had no real negative or tangible consequences on Rosas. Everyone had a warm feeling for a few seconds. Again, it’s meant to paint him as a vain control freak, but… he hasn’t lost any power. The citizens of Rosas even assume the great showing of magic was Magnifico.

Act III

              Then, we get to the consequences of opening the book (and perhaps my biggest qualm with this film). The book is established as being cursed. Magnifico knows it, Asha knows it, and Amaya—who is introduced as loyal-- knows it. The characters understand his behavior is a direct result of the book, and search for a way to save him. This is only the focus of the film for a few seconds, but if you think about it, the fact that his own wife cannot find a way to free him of the curse he’s been put under is unbelievably tragic. Worse still, upon discovering there is no way to reverse the curse, Magnifico—the king who built the city & “protected it” in his own flawed way for what seems to be centuries—is thrown out by his wife. You know, the wife who's stood loyal at his side for years?

              It’s played for laughs, but there’s something unsettling about a character who’s clearly and explicitly under the influence of a malevolent entity being left… unsaved. If you follow the idea of Magnifico being disconnected from community being a driving force behind his arc, the end of the film sees him in a worse situation he was in at the start: truly, fully alone.

              They bring in so many opportunities for Magnifico to be sympathetic and act as a foil for Asha; he’s jaded, she’s not. He’s overly cautious (even paranoid), she’s a risk-taker. He turns to power/magic at his lowest point, Asha turns to her friends at her lowest point. Because this dichotomy isn’t present, and Magnifico—who should be redeemable—isn’t, the film is so much weaker than it could’ve been. The lack of a strong core dynamic between the protagonist and antagonist echoes through every facet of the film from the music to the characterization to the pacing, and I believe if Magnifico had been more consistent, the film would’ve greatly improved across the board.

I mean, come on! Imagine if at the end of the film, Asha—who, if you remember, did resonate with Magnifico’s values at the start of the film—recognizes that he's twisted his original ideals and urges him to see the value in the people he’s helped, in their ingenuity, in their gratitude, & that what he was able to do before was enough. Going further, asking what his wish is or was—likely something he’s never been asked— and showing empathy! We’d come full circle to the start of the film where Asha asks him to grant her wish.

Pushing that further, if Magnifico’s wish is to see Rosas flourish or to be a good/beloved king, he'd have the the opportunity to see the value in failing and how pursuing the dream is its own complex and valuable journey, and how not even he is perfect.

 The curse and the book (which, for the purposes of this adjustment, would need to be established as representing the idea of stepping on others to further your own goals/the fast way to success), then serve as the final antagonist, that same curse taking root in the people of Rosas who’ve had their dreams destroyed, and Asha works with the community to quell it. Asha’s learned her lesson, so has Magnifico, and the true source of evil in the film—the book—is handled independently. Magnifico steps back from his role as King, Amaya still ends up as Queen, and Asha takes her place as the new wish-granter.

This route could even give us the true “Disney villain” everyone’s craving; giving the book sentience and having it lure Magnifico in during “This is the Thanks I Get!?” leaves it as its own chaotic evil entity.

All in all, Magnifico's introduction paved a road to redemption that the rest of the film aggressively refused to deliver on, instead doubling down on weaker motivations that seem to appear out of thin air. Once the audience thinks, hey, that bad guy might have a point, the protagonist has to do a little more heavy lifting to convince us they're wrong.

Look at the big-bad-greats from Disney's library. There isn't a point in the Lion King where we pause and think, "Wait a second, maybe Scar should be the guy who rules the Pridelands." Ursula from the Little Mermaid, though motivated by her banishment from King Triton's Seas, never seems to be the right gal for the throne. Maybe Maleficent doesn't get invited to the princess's birthday party, but we don't watch her curse a baby and think, Yeah, go curse that baby, that's a reasonable response to getting left out.

What do they all have in common? Their motivation is simple, their goal is clear, and they don't care who they hurt in pursuit of what they want.

Magnifico simply doesn't fall into that category. He's motivated by the idea of losing power, which is never a clear or impactful threat. His goal at the start seems to be to protect Rosas, then it turns into protecting his own power, and then-- once he's corrupted-- he wants to capture Star. The problem is, there's no objective to put this power toward. Power for power's sake is useless. Scar craves power because he feels robbed of status. Ursula believes the throne is rightfully hers. Maleficent wanted to make a statement. Magnifico... well, I'm not really sure.

#wish #disney #review #magnifico

[luveline]

What about Steve with a cry baby reader? Like she cries at everything and May be Steve is telling her about something hard but also not that deep like a fight with his parents or they r discussing exes and she starts crying bc Steve didn’t deserve heartbreak

thank you for your request! —steve tells you about his relationship with his parents and gets the comfort he deserves a few years late. fem!reader. hurt/comfort ♡ 1.7k CW mentioned child neglect

Steve indulges you every now and then with old movies. You're obsessed with those musical movies from the fifties, soft colours, cool cat leading men and blunt heroines. Your very favourite are the ones with love triangles, though Steve hasn't ever thought you'd like to be entangled in one yourself. 

Entangled in him, absolutely. "That is ridiculous," you say softly, sitting entirely in his lap, an arm around his neck and another his waist. "She loves him." 

"She does." When the heroine of Young At Heart realised one of her love interests didn't have a present for the birthday party they were going to attend together, she bought one for him so he wouldn't feel embarrassed —yet she's planning on marrying the other man. "Poor Frank. He looks shocked." 

"I'd be shocked. Lucky me, you've never sprung a sudden engagement on me," you say, your fingers rubbing mindlessly into his side. Your affection is often thoughtless. You care for him like another must-do, in time and rhythm with your breathing. 

"To another girl, you mean?" he asks warmly. 

You fluster and rub your cheek against the collar of his shirt, rolled and worn from an endless day on the couch together. He should go up and shower soon before bed, only you feel right in his lap, in no way light but a weight he's happy to bear.

You're skewed sideways, your legs laying across the rest of the couch, his legs kicked up on the coffee table. He keeps trying to force himself up for a shower and you keep leaning into his front or scratching your nails from his ribs to his hip, convincing him otherwise.

"If we ever… got engaged," you begin unsurely, eyes on the television to avoid his gaze, he's sure, "would we have a nice party like that?"

"When we get engaged we'll do whatever you want. We can have a party, send out ivory invitations with eleven point four Times New Roman font. All the trimmings." 

"Eleven point four." Your eyes soften with your smile. "What do you know about invitations?" 

"My mom had tons of stupid parties. She didn't always send out invitations, but when she did, she'd have them done right. I got to lick the envelopes." 

"Lucky Stevie." 

You shift backwards so your weight is on the couch rather than Steve, your back to the armrest and your thighs over his legs rather than on top of him. He can see your face better in this new position, and it's fitting: the love interest on TV starts spouting about how beautiful the heroine is, how her face is a tribute to the heavens if there ever were one. Smiling as you are, Steve has to agree. 

"What were they like, the parties?" 

Steve bites the tip of his tongue. "Fine," he says eventually. "They were fine. They'd set up buffet tables covered in hors d'oeuvres and everyone would walk around in their cocktail dresses and tailored suits drinking champagne and whiskey." His tone lightens toward the end, a put upon theatric for you to make it sound less snotty. 

"Did you wear a suit?" you ask. 

"Button down, usually."

"Nice! I bet you looked adorable. Do you have any photos?" 

"Honestly, baby?" Steve squeezes your leg. "I was miserable, then. You don't wanna see any photographs. I was never smiling."

"What?" 

"I hated my life. All my mom cared about was making us look like a perfect family, and all my dad cared about was work. I was happier when they started taking months-long business trips to Missouri."

"What do you mean?" you ask, putting your hand against his face. It's smaller than his but still big, still encompassing as you stroke his cheek and scratchy stubble. "You… what?"

He tells you because he knows you love him. It makes a hard thing easier, being loved. "Nothing, just, things were bad. My parents didn't even really like me, you know? They bounced me between little league and swim team and basketball when I was old enough. Track, cross country running, everything. Killer sun tan every summer." 

Any trace of a smile is gone from your face. "They didn't like you? What are you talking about?" 

"I was an annoying kid," he says. "You know how I was when we first met? Imagine that and worse." 

"There was nothing wrong with you when we first met." Your lip trembles. 

"Baby," he says quickly, on an exhale, the word half love and half apology, "don't be upset. I'm sorry, it wasn't as bad as it sounds. I'm making it sound worse than it was." 

Your eyes turn glassy. It's awful, being so close he can see the tears well, collecting in the corners of your eyes. You stroke his cheek tentatively and ignore them. 

"It was fine, sweetheart, really, I had everything. They'd leave me a fucking credit card when they went away, I never had to ask for anything. They gave me a car for my fifteenth birthday… I think they thought it was my sweet sixteen." 

Your face crumples like a wet paper towel. You try to fight it but you're a heavy crier and you always have been. It shocked Steve when you first met, how quickly you can fall into tears, but it doesn't necessarily mean you're extremely upset. He can maybe fix it before you give yourself a headache if he tries. 

"I'm sorry," he says again, dotting a kiss on the meat of your thumb. "I didn't tell you so you'd feel sorry for me." 

"I do feel sorry. I feel so sorry," you say quietly. 

"Don't cry…" Steve shifts into a better sitting position as the first tear trips over your waterline. Your hand falls to his collar. Your fingertips rub his collarbone. "I was lucky, I had everything I needed." 

"You just told me your parents didn't like you, Stevie, I wouldn't call you lucky. That they went away for months– How old were you?" 

He winces. "Fifteen?" 

"You were still a kid." 

"I was old before my time." 

"No, you weren't." You sniffle. "I didn't know about that, Stevie. I didn't know about any of this, I'm so sorry."

"Why are you sorry? I never told you." 

You bring both hands up now, placed gently against his chest, talking to him with a tenderness that makes his body ache, "If you think that it didn't matter, I'm really sorry. Imagining you that young, sitting there thinking they didn't like you? That breaks my heart." You're not overly dramatic despite the tears, but you say it with conviction. "You're not supposed to feel that way." 

Steve laughs quietly. "I know that, dummy. Why're you this upset about this? It was years ago." 

"Because it happened to you," you say, pouting at him sympathetically. "I don't know. I guess I figure how heavy that must be carrying around this whole time, thinking they didn't like you and that it was your fault." 

Steve tries to say something, his mouth dry as sand, but he supposes he had said that, in a way. It is what he thought, what he thinks. If he were better, if he were more interesting, more attractive, more talented, they'd stick around. He pushed himself in every sport they'd let him play hoping he'd see his dad standing in the bleachers one day. 

"You're not annoying," you say, wiping your tears. You square your expression into a steadier set. "You're amazing. If they couldn't see it then and if they refuse to see it now, that isn't something you did, Stevie. Maybe they gave you a car and an Amex card, but what you deserved most was–" Your determination to calm down wanes as your voice turns airy and scratchy, like you're trying not to sob. "You deserved to feel cared about. 'N' I'm sorry you didn't, because I love you more than anything."

Steve pulls you in for a hug. Mostly because you need one, but it doesn't hurt to hide his face from you know. His eyes burn, his heart pounding in his throat and between his ears as his arms climb up the length of your back. He focuses on that, the feeling of his hands and his bare forearms against your soft shirt. His chin goes over your shoulder and he presses the side of his head to yours with more force than he intends. 

"Don't wind yourself up over it," he murmurs. "I know it sucks, I promise I get it, and I love that you're sorry, I love you, but it's not worth crying over. They're not worth it." 

You tuck your arms behind his shoulder. Steve indulges in your smell, the warmth of your closeness. Talking about his parents is like poking at a purple scar. It's healed for the most part, but it's far from invisible. He usually ignores it all. 

"Is it weird that I'm kind of vindicated by your, uh, reaction?" he asks under his breath, as though someone might hear him and call him out for it. "I don't want you to cry, but…" 

"I'm in your corner." You pull him impossibly closer. "I'll always be upset for you. Even if you don't think it matters anymore, that's the kind of stuff that stays with you, you know?" You kiss his hair. Twice. A third time. "Sorry, I know I always make stuff about me, crying 'n' all." 

"That's not true," he murmurs, rubbing your back. 

He hates that you're crying, but he's glad, too. Glad all that pain isn't made up. Your reaction is proof he didn't just imagine how much it hurt to always want something he couldn't quite grasp. 

"You didn't deserve that," you say. 

"I know." 

"I love you." 

He knows that too. "I love you. You gotta stop crying, okay? You need your tears for the end of the movie when he crashes his car. How are you gonna bawl your eyes out for Sinatra if you've wasted them all on me?" 

You laugh wetly. "I think I've made a wet patch in your hair." 

Steve relaxes, reassured at the sound of your laugh, precious as spun silver even doused in waterworks. "That's cool. I needed a shower anyway." 

—

thank you for reading!

#steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x you #steve harrington x y/n #steve harrington #steve harrington fic #steve harrington blurb #steve harrington drabble #stranger things x reader #stranger things fic #steve harrington imagine #steve harrington fanfic #steve harrington fanfiction #stranger things #stranger things 4

[carlos-in-glasses]

Where All This Love Comes From

I'm so excited to share what has been known as Flashback Fic! 107k words, with all 14 chapters here on Ao3, rated E.

Six months after Gabriel Reyes’ death, TK grows concerned about Carlos’ drinking and brings him to a meeting at the Y. Afterwards, over omelets at the diner, the husbands open up to each other. TK reflects on meeting Carlos after years of addiction and self-destruction, while Carlos has continued to seek closure by uncovering two unknowns: The identity of his father’s killer, and how his father truly felt about Carlos as his son.

************************************************

Carlos puts his arms around him from behind and holds him still, kissing his neck. TK tries to twist in Carlos’ grip, but he won’t let him. He starts walking him towards the bedroom. “I’m desperate for you,” TK says, his blood hot, cheeks red, eyes pricking with tears. “I know.” “Make me forget everything.” “I will.” “I only want to think about you.” “You will.” Carlos stops for a breath. He smells TK – his clean hair, his evanesced cologne, his natural man scent, his salty tears that have imbued his skin, the sweat of stress. Sad, but still beautiful to Carlos. TK, delicious. “I never thought I’d have you. I never thought–” he can’t speak anymore.

***********************************************

Chapter 1: A Trail to Follow

In 2023, TK discovers something that triggers memories of heroin withdrawal seven years before – and Carlos makes amends with Gutiérrez after accusing him of his father’s murder.

Chapter 2: A Very Nice Sweater for the 'Y'

TK takes Carlos to the N.A. meeting – but when things don’t go as hoped, he instigates another method to get Carlos talking.  

Chapter 3: Snowballing

A messy situation in 2010 causes TK as a high school junior to lash out. In 2023, Carlos realizes it's time to tell TK about one more secret. 

Chapter 4: Original Sin

In 2013, Carlos accidentally destroys Gabriel’s oldest friendship. Nine years later, he attempts to make peace after he and TK get engaged.

Chapter 5: Between Two Bridges

In 2022, a grieving and struggling TK is compelled to talk to Owen about his 2020 overdose, which leads him to remember when his addiction nearly killed him years before. In 2023, TK asks Carlos about his history with alcohol. (Note: Chapter features TK using and gets fairly graphic)

Chapter 6: One Tequila, Two Tequila, Three Tequila, Floor

TK and Carlos compare notes on when they first came out – with Carlos spiraling in 2011 after an unexpected outburst, while TK in 2008 is embraced (and embarrassed) by his parents. In 2021, both handle the raw days of their breakup differently too.

Chapter 7: A Boy's Best Friend

In 2009, Gabriel attempts to connect with his increasingly distant and unhappy teenage son. In 2013, the fallout of Carlos leaving Iris has begun, and he knows his relationship with his parents will never be the same. In 2023, TK tries to talk to Gabriel about the bombshell revelation that Carlos doesn’t want kids.

Chapter 8: Your Heart, As If It Was My Very Own

In 2011, TK is left bewildered after he loses his virginity. Years later, with Carlos, TK's mind (among other things) is blown in a whole new way. In 2022, TK has an important conversation with a certain visitor when he wakes from his coma.

Chapter 9: Coffee with Gutiérrez

In September 2023, Carlos seeks an important but painful truth from Gutiérrez, and finds an unexpected ally within the 126. Two months later in Blue Moon Diner, TK gets ready to tell Carlos more about his past in New York.

Chapter 10: The Day Begins Like Any Other

In 2016, after TK experiences an assault and sees an old friend again under devastating circumstances, he makes a life-altering decision when his dealer suggests he try something new. In 2009, TK is attacked at school. (Note: Please heed the tags and the chapter note. Reader discretion advised. Look after your hearts).

Chapter 11: Lonely as a Sparrow in the Rain

When Carlos confesses to TK about where he went with Judd back in September – and why – TK has to tell Carlos something he won't want to hear. In 2014, a rift develops when Carlos shows off his new Camaro to his parents.

Chapter 12: Happy For You, Son

Before moving to Austin, TK falls out with his parents over his relationship with Alex. In December 2020, it's a different story as Carlos hosts Owen and Gwyn for TK's birthday meal. In 2012, Carlos has some unexpected news for his own parents, but Michelle tries to intervene. When TK and Carlos get engaged a decade later, Gabriel has something to say about it.

Chapter 13: The Risk of Love

In May 2023, Owen and TK save a spiraling Carlos from making the biggest mistake of his life when he thinks he’s found his father’s killer. In 2020, TK and Carlos become boyfriends beneath a sky full of aurora borealis.

Chapter 14: A Night Worth Celebrating

On a rainy night in 2020, TK and Carlos meet for the first time. In 2023, weeks after their big talk at Blue Moon, TK celebrates his thirtieth birthday with his husband, their family and their friends by his side – and Carlos is a little bit better at sharing his secrets.

Read on A03

#Where All This Love Comes From #Flashback Fic #cig fic #my fic #Tarlos #tarlos fanfic #tk strand x carlos reyes #I've been working on this since March so I'm beyond delighted and relieved to share it #Thank you so much for reading if you do - I cannot explain how much I appreciate it

[coralinnii]

Hello, may I please ask for part 2 for Malleus in that isekaid villainess au? Heacanons please

"If you are a villain, then let me be your accomplice" 

feat: Malleus

genre: hurt/comfort?, romance

note: sequel to “being reincarnated into a new world as the bad guy”, roughly 1.5k word count

I hear you simps. I had an idea for an interaction with the heroine but the post got kinda long so I stopped here.

The past few weeks felt like a roller-coaster. You were pushed, pulled, and blindsided by the amount of things that were happening simultaneously. 

Firstly, you had to deal with the sudden proposal your family received for you, literally on the day you just had your previous engagement annulled. 

Secondly, your family had to deal with the accusations of treason from multiple families, which suspiciously included the families of the capture targets. 

Thirdly but probably the most concerning, your precious pen-pal and the man who sent the proposal was the Dragon King and hidden capture target of the game you were reincarnated into, Malleus Draconia. And he keeps appearing by your house to receive the answer you refuse to give yet. 

“Are you upset that I am the Dragon King, dear human? Do you hate me?” 

Screw him and his sulking figure right now. How does a Dragon King be so good at pouting?

After everything that has happened, you wanted nothing to do with the main protagonist and her harem and with Malleus being a capture target, he was just as liable to betray you like everyone else did. Your heart couldn’t bear any more. 

You were scared, which was why you attempted to distance yourself from him with logical reasoning. You tried to convince him that marrying you was too socially damaging. 

“So long as my family is suspected of treason, I cannot in good conscious marry you, Belle- King Malleus”

“Oh, is that all?” And with that, Malleus left leaving you confused. What did that mean?

Apparently that meant that Malleus had a mission to destroy what stood in the way of his beloved. Within a week, he and his aids searched for foul play regarding the accusations and soon found what he was looking for. The offenders responsible were arrested and sent to the imperial family in secret. He found something interesting but thought it would be better to hold onto this trump card for a bit. 

Thus, the accusations were dropped and your family was joyous over the news. And so was Malleus, albeit for different reasons. 

“What say you now, dear human?” 

“P-Please distance yourself, King Malleus!” 

Malleus was persistent and determined to woo you the human way if he must. With the advice he received from Lilia (poor choice, really), he attempts to win your hand in marriage. 

“My young Malleus, before humans marry, they tend to court each other first” 

And so he did. He would bring you expensive gifts and take you to “dates” (walks around his extravagant gardens count, right?) 

“King Malleus, please-“ 

“Call me by my pet name, dear. I believe humans call their lovers by terms of endearment” 

“That's beside the point! P-Please step back!” 

“But Lilia reported that humans are fond of physical contact and close embraces? In addition, you were fond of holding my hand when we first met”

“!!”  

Still, despite all of your fears, Malleus found his way into your heart and you chose to trust him despite his position as a capture target, against your better judgement. 

Which was why you chose him to come with you to meet them again. 

“They truly have no shame” your father seethed as your house received an invitation with the imperial seal on it, an invitation to a ball celebrating the new engagement of the prince. Your mother held you in a comforting embrace but she wore a look of great distress and rightfully so. Because it was sent as a royal invitation, to refuse is to insult the imperial house and your family was already in hot waters. 

“Sweetie” your mother spoke to you worriedly to which you tried to smile to ease her worries. You weren’t happy but you knew what you had to do. 

Luckily, Lilia heard of your predicament and offered a solution. 

“Dear, a human’s greatest arsenal could be those they have bonds with” the wise viscount hinted. “I’m sure my King would be more than happy to accompany you” 

Which brought you to where you were now, with Malleus offering a hand to you as you walked towards the castle you used to be so acquainted with. 

You were quite a sight to those attending the ball, the jilted former princess candidate being escorted by one of the most powerful beings in the land. Being unable to bear their piercing stares, you started to put focus on keeping pace with your partner, tightening your hold on his arm which you realized were rather built and firm. You knew Malleus to be lean based on his game design but the feel of his arms had your mind wandering slightly if he’s more muscular than you thought. Was he this firm everywhere else? 

“Dear human, are you alright? You seem deep in thought” 

Your body flushed with embarrassment as you got caught drifting too deeply in your thoughts. You released your hold on Malleus and stepped away a little to cool down before the draconian man realized. Luckily, he seems none the wiser. 

“So you chose to come afterall” 

You flinched at the voice. You dreaded your instincts to be true but it turned out to be so. It was the prince, accompanied by his closest companions and the star of the ball, the heroine. 

Swallowing your nerves, you bowed as expected towards the royal family. “As a loyal servant of the royal family, it is my duty to respond to the invitation” 

However, the prince scoffed at your figure. “Even when you and your family's disgraced themselves, you call yourself loyal?” 

You held back your tears but it was difficult when you could feel the heavy weight of disgust the prince held for you. Once upon a time, he was your dearest childhood friend and you thought the years the two of you spent together meant something to him. Sadly, it must have been one-sided on your part. 

However, as heavy as that disgust, it was getting overwhelmed by the aura of something else. The growing anger coming from next to you. 

“Young prince” your partner spoke in a warning tone, narrowing his striking green eyes. “I recall the misunderstanding was resolved and the true perpetrators were apprehended by the imperial knights” 

The prince was quick to silence himself and avoided your eyes which hinted he was already aware of the arrest. 

"Your anger towards my partner seems to be misguided, despite the knowledge of the true situation. Quite unbecoming for a future ruler, I must say"

Malleus continued to stare down at the shaking royal heir and let out a disappointed sigh. 

“I cannot blame you, however” Malleus said which surprised both the prince and you. 

The powerful fae, with gentleness contradictory to his reputation, held your hand in his. He brought your hand closer to his lips, bringing your attention, and the attention of others, to the tall man. You felt your heart jump as he smiled at you before speaking once again.

“I’ve come to understand the feeling of anger for the sake of others and the desire to protect those dear to you” 

Your nerves returned tenfold as your heart was beating to the point you were nervous to think if all of the surrounding attendants was able to hear it. 

Although his green eyes were soft when holding your gaze, it was quick to harden when he turned to stare down at the prince and his associates. 

“But I suggest you tread carefully, young prince,” Malleus daringly warned the capture targets. “In my investigation regarding the accusations against my dear’s family, I came across something curious” 

With that, the intimidating king took a step closer and leaned slightly forward, closer to the nervous prince but still situated in a way that seemed to look down at the prince. 

“The families that reported the treason were in one way or another connected to that woman of yours, which begs the question if these false accusations were done for her benefit” 

The prince froze and glanced at his new lover, who looked as worried as he did. No matter the power the heroine and the prince may hold, that kind of conspiracy would damage the heroine’s reputation as well as the prince and his associates who were quick to condemn your family due to these accusations. If it turned out that underhanded methods may have been used to dirty your name then…high society and the kingdom would be in an uproar. 

And Malleus was counting on that. 

“So…” Malleus' deep voice broke through the prince’s mental spiral. “I do hope you choose wisely before ever trying to interact with my precious one again”

#twisted wonderland #twst #twst imagines #twisted wonderland x reader #twst x reader #malleus draconia #malleus x reader #villainess au

[dwellordream]

rules of engagement for discussing female characters in historical fiction or pseudo historical fantasy:

is she a ‘not like other girls’ character meant to demean femininity?

or does she simply:

not enjoy cosmetics or feminine fashion

have stereotypical ‘masculine’ interests

prefer pants or loose fitting, baggy clothes in muted colors

have short hair

work in a male-dominated profession

not enjoy childcare/being around children

keep a messy house/dislike cooking or cleaning

have a blunt/abrasive personality

is she a feminist heroine who resists the patriarchy?

or does she simply:

mock other female characters for being ‘weak victims’/make victim blaming statements

resist an arranged/forced marriage but marry a man who has groomed/abused her

value stereotypically feminine sexualized clothing over stereotypically feminine ‘modest’ clothing

insist that a ‘real woman’ could have kept him from cheating on his wife

despise her mother/sisters for enforcing patriarchal control but absolve her father/brothers of any responsibility

declare that men make more trustworthy and loyal friends than other women

insist that her personal autonomy as an upper class woman will automatically benefit working class and impoverished women as well

#literature #general fandom warning #writing #gender

[ystrike1]

When I Faked Amnesia to Break off My Engagement, My Fiancé Casually Told Me a Ridiculous Lie - "You Were in Love With Me Before You Lost Your Memory" - By Kotoko (8/10)

Conniving, quiet yanderes are a rare breed. This is a gentle story about a pair of liars. Both of them are shy and bad at expressing themselves. After a terrible accident both of them take drastic measures. Our heroine wants to run away, but her fiance foils her plan at every turn.

Viola is a beautiful, rich and sweet girl with one problem. Her fiance. He is cold, quiet, and busy. He is also too popular. She wants a man who will be affectionate with her.

She thinks being with him will ruin her life. She cannot handle all of the envy, or the responsibilities that come with being a Duchess.

Philip is the ideal husband on the outside, but Viole experiences alot of bullying. She doesn't go to balls anymore, because every other lady is that envious.

She wants a social life. She's not very competitive either.

Philip just isn't a good fit for her.

After an accident she decides to play dumb. Philip needs a bride that can do Duchess work. If she pretends to forget everything he learned surely he will annul their engagement.

Right?????

She pretends to be flirty and desperate to stay by his side...to disgust him. Philip is altogether mean to his female fans. Which is another reason why Viola is wary of him.

Philip is distressed when he realizes his fiance is basically dead. Viola tricked the doctor. Everybody thinks she will never remember the past.

Philip drops a bomb. He claims she has always been madly in love with him, and he says she can continue to act the same way.

This is a total lie, and it's really messed up for him to take advantage of a woman with no memories.

He goes hard. He literally says he wants her to be clingy and possessive. He wants her to rely on him. He wants her to scorn other men....he thinks she doesn't need friends too. She just needs to be his bride.

Red. Flag.

He also says he would die for her, and he cannot wait to have an affectionate marriage with her. Philip was always too nervous to act on his true feelings. Thanks to the fake amnesia he can have the fantasy life he has always wanted with his first love.

Viole said she hated him when they were children, and he still didn't break the engagement. She was always unhappy trapped under the Duchess title.

Now she doesn't remember that, and he wants a sweet liar life with her.

The problem is Viola is playing dumb, so Philips overflowing affection is a little scary.

#yandere #male yandere #yandere male #yandere boy #recommendations #recs #rec #recommended #otome #When I Faked Amnesia to Break off My Engagement #My Fiancé Casually Told Me a Ridiculous Lie - “You Were in Love With Me Before You Lost

[wingsdippedingold]

Calanmai is a sacred holiday for spring and sjm just decided that nah everyone fucks, its literally just her dream orgy istg she cannot stop inserting her kinks into everything JUST LET SOMETHTHING NOT BE SEXUALIZED IM PULLING MY HAIR OUT

The whole "high lords will find some chick to cum in because somehow that helps the crops prosper" as if they don't regularly do that, is like the most blatant kink writing ever

Also the Lucien Ianthe thing was so unnecessary "oh she wrote that to show how women can also be sexual abusers". yes they can be, but she didn't write it that way, she just thinks sexual trauma is a cutesy plot device to give her main characters some moral high ground (As we've seen multiple times). She also villainizes every women that's not her heroines by making them overtly sexual (ie. Iantha, Amarantha, and Maeve)

Sjm doesn't give a fuck about spreading awareness of how women can be abusers too, she just likes the idea of men being sexually traumatized so they need a pure girl to "fix" them, and she can't be bothered to write compelling villains outside of "power hungry person who physically and sexually abuses people with no real motive other than to just show that they're bad" (the whole keir treatment of Mor lowkey solidified this for me, because no intelligent man who's in such a position of power would do what he did)

idk if she touches on this in cc tho because I never bothered to engage with it

#my weekly sjm hate post #anti acotar #anti rhysand #anti inner circle #sjm critical #anti tog #anti sjm #anti sarah j maas #anti feysand #anti nessian

[milkb0nny]

Hello request for Ivar here ❤️ could you maybe write something about him and his best ( female) friend, who is a really good shield maiden?

Maybe they train together? Maybe they drink together after a good fight?

Thanks ❤️

You and Beer

Ivar the Boneless x fem!reader (platonic)

Summary: Your shared bond with Ivar left you invincible, allowing you to grow into a skilled shield maiden. Unfortunately, disrespectful men still strain your mind a little. In these times you seek comfort in your best friend Ivar. Today's evening you come with a little beer and teases, trying to cheer Ivar and you up.

Note: This request was a lovely change in writing! I rarely get platonic requests which is kinda sad. Thank you very much, I hope you like it! 🤎

Warnings: uncomfortable encounter with men, consumption of alcohol

word count: 1.423

The day gradually transitioned into evening, painting the sky with warm orange hues as a gentle chill swept through the bustling streets of Kattegat. Your daily routine had just drawn to a close – a rhythm filled with tasks that ranged from finishing chores to assisting your family and engaging in training.

°°°

You were the daughter of a skilled warrior, a man held in high regard among the ranks of the Viking soldiers. Your father had always treated you with the utmost respect, love and care, and had embraced your unique aspiration to become the most celebrated shield maiden.

As you grew up you idolized the women who where wielding their iron swords. Your admiration extended to the most legendary of these heroines, including the formidable Lagertha. Thankfully, your brothers had often taken you along on their hunting expeditions, providing you with invaluable knowledge in the arts of stealth and combat. These experiences had been essential in shaping you into the warrior you aspired to become. You were more than grateful for your family’s support, as it wasn’t expected and there were girls who could only become wives who bore children. Your father, who held a deep love for you, had first harbored concerns about your confronting the brutal realities of war.

After all, the realm of warfare included not just the skill of swordsmanship, but also the grim elements of bloodshed, hatred, suffering, and the aftermath of the fallen. The sight of lifeless bodies left a mark on your soul, at times causing you to contemplate the worthiness of your path. While you were inherently honest, witnessing the gruesome aftermath of battle often left you with a heavy heart. Time by time you managed to handle these emotions and you had proven to be mentally strong enough to your father.

Shortly after he had acknowledged your willpower, he had given you your first shield and sword. During these trying times, your childhood friend, Ivar, had been your steadfast companion. At first your relationship started with Hvitserk, who had invited you to their training due to your father’s request. Then you began to overpower even some of the brothers since you were quick witted, fast and flexible. Surely, your sword wasn’t as big and heavy but the lightweight of your weapon allowed you to be even deadlier.

Your prowess with a blade served as a wellspring of inspiration for Ivar, urging him to exceed your accomplishments. The two of you constantly challenged each other, engaging in fierce battles, hurling axes through the air, and occasionally resorting to spirited, even raucous, confrontations. Nevertheless your rivalry had developed into a memorable friendship you adored and cherished.

He was your drinking buddy, your best advisor and the only one you truly trusted. Ivar wasn’t afraid to spill the honest truth whenever you needed a second opinion, and he never talked behind your back. Besides his usual anger issues you loved him dearly, as he was your best friend. You knew his every move, you even understood how his mind worked, giving you a major advantage compared to others.

°°°

However, on this particular day, Ivar was absent from your training sessions. Your focus had been on honing your strength, leading you to practice with your father. These moments were especially precious to you, as your father often found himself engrossed in the demands of his responsibilities. The training session left you thoroughly exhausted, but you continued your routine, proceeding to attend to your household duties and gather the vegetables your mother had requested. Thus far, your day had unfolded in a relatively relaxing way.

That was until you entered the big residence where the villagers gathered to spill their heads full with alcohol. This was a place you had often enjoyed spending your time, particularly under the influence of alcohol, engaged in spirited discussions with your dear friend, Ivar. Yet, tonight, a different aura hung in the air, brought about by the presence of unfamiliar faces who had apparently discovered your hidden beauty.

One of these strangers took it upon himself to initiate contact, offering you a flattery that was poorly masked by the reek of alcohol and sweat that clung to him. The audacity of their approach unsettled you, as the combination of unfamiliar faces and unpleasant odors did not sit well with you.

“Hello, beautiful. I didn’t expect such a rare gem to reside in this town,” one of them greeted you, his words laced with false charm.

You raised your eyebrow, answering coldly, “Not beautiful and not a rare gem. Get over yourselves.”

Unfortunately, these men were not quick to accept your rejection. In the fashion typical of their kind, they inched closer, attempting to persuade you to follow them. However, your head remained held high, and there was not a trace of fear on your face, only a resolute anger that etched your delicate features.

“You don’t want to ruin our evening, do you?” the other one tried to pressure you, resorting to guilt-tripping, though your lack of fear remained.

Without hesitation, you swiftly turned and walked away, leaving the two men behind. You chose not to engage further with them, for you were uncertain of their status, whether they were mere guests or held some importance in the community. Well, important or not - they should’ve learned some respect for women.

As you continued your evening, watching the sun set behind the horizon, you couldn't help but reflect on the discomfort that often accompanied interactions with such men. It left you with a lingering sense of unease, as if you were tainted by their crude remarks and behavior. Their filth just crossed your lines, staining your mind with the smell and comments. Although these two back in the hall were one of the friendlier ones, you still remained irritated.

Strolling through the familiar streets, your thoughts focused on the events of the evening, and your frustration hung heavy in the air. It was then that you happened upon Ivar, who sat alone on the shore, his gaze fixed on the dark waters. In your downed mood, you decided to gift him some company. You grabbed a couple of beers before heading over to where he sat.

“You want some?” you offered, your voice lightening as you approached him.

Ivar turned to you, a quick smile spreading across his lips. "You better expect me to," he replied, his tone filled with anticipation.

With a nod, you settled down beside him, handing him one of the beverages. You leaned back, letting out a sigh of frustration.

“What’s up? You look like a dead one,” Ivar remarked, his perceptive gaze studying your expression closely.

“Hmm, nothing. Just disgusting men, as the usual,” you replied, sipping your beer and allowing the warmth of the alcohol to wash over you. “And what about you? You’re sitting here all alone like an old man.”

Ivar averted his gaze, focusing on the sea, basking in the beauty of the night. He had always cherished the serenity of the night, where the moon's gentle light caressed the contours of the landscape, and the water mirrored its cool radiance, shimmering against the shore.

“The same old story for me as well," he admitted. "My brothers find great amusement in mocking me and provoking me."

You couldn't help but chuckle softly, taking another sip from your beer.

“You really should work on those anger issues, Ivar,” you suggested in a jokingly way, putting your hand on his broad shoulder.

He took it with humor and laughed as well, “Says you, who can't deal with some reeking scoundrels," he teased, silently appreciating your company.

“You're not much better," you retorted, finishing your beer and gazing up at the night sky.

Ivar followed, emptying his own drink. "Care to fetch some more, y/n? I feel like going all out tonight," he proposed, turning his attention back to you.

You readily agreed, rising to your feet. "Just don't make me carry you home again, you're a heavy burden," you commented, before the two of you headed to the next tavern, where you would while away the rest of the night in each other's company.

Ivar and you found solace in the company of each other, the world's burdens momentarily lifted by the bond you shared. Those moments that made the challenges of your days bearable. The night belonged to you and Ivar, and the burdens of the day faded into obscurity as you lost yourselves in laughter, gossip, and the simple pleasure of each other's trust.

#ivar x reader #ivar lothbrok #vikings ivar #ivar ragnarsson #ivar the boneless #ivar the boneless x reader #vikings x reader #vikings x you #vikings

[aa-400]

malevolent and the queer-coded villain trope

*disclaimer please respect the #masked tag. while i'm putting these thoughts out into the ether they're not really meant for harlan to see as i don't want to be put on blast for criticising the show. this is not me attempting to malign this podcast or its creator or to go "it's bad and problematic actually so don't listen to it" because that's a frankly horrible and unhelpful way of engaging with media and the world at large. i'm certainly not going to stop enjoying malevolent wholeheartedly or supporting harlan in his creative endeavours. this is not an accusation, it's an observation.

i've been thinking about the queer-coded villain trope in a separate context recently, but something clicked for me with part 34. horror (and other genre fiction but let's focus on the relevant genre here) has a tradition of placing queer elements within the subtext. it's a means of Othering and used to separate the protagonist from whatever evil entity they're up against in the story, be it man or creature, and where the the tropes of the monstrous queer and the queer-coded villain are born from.

a brief second disclaimer. i'm a queer villain and queer horror enjoyer and here to reclaim every single queer-coded villain and monster ever created but acting like the trope doesn't have a problematic, negative history is a sucky way of engaging with and examining a piece of media so let's not do that.

aaanyway, to the actual meat of this post: i believe malevolent reiterates the monstrous queer / queer-coded villain tropes however unintentionally and they go unexamined in the text.

first, we have kayne. flamboyant, exaggerated kayne who calls arthur—and to an extent john—pet names. i don't really think i have to go into detail for people to know what i'm getting at.

then we have larson. yeah, larson. in particular, i'm referring to the scene where arthur wakes up in the larson estate and his clothes have been removed. larson approaches arthur while he's in bed, vulnerable, and while there's not anything untoward happening in the text, it's still very ... master of the house and the gothic heroine, for lack of a better comparison. actually, think of count dracula and jonathan harker in castle dracula — the dynamic is very reminiscent of that, and dracula is a famously queer coded monster in part for that whole thing.

and finally, there's the butcher. a predator—a serial killer—obsessed with chasing arthur down. and boy did part 34 lay it down thick. i mean, he hears peggy gordon in his head when he hunts arthur and sings it to him when he's come to get him. it's a song about a man's unrequited love and it's pretty obvious the butcher's meant to be the man while arthur is peggy, who slighted him when he escaped from the butcher back in the train. and then as if that wasn't obvious enough he has a line about falling in love with his victims. "it's dedication, devotion, a bond. (laugh) sounds a bit like falling in love, doesn't it? maybe i suppose you could say i've fallen in love with each and every one of them. with each and every animal." which is then followed by more arthur-specific obsessing.

harlan has explicitly stated that arthur isn't queer rep, so unintentionally what's happening in the text is that the heterosexual protagonist is pitted against these queer-coded malevolent entities in a way that's pretty text book.

none of these characters i used as examples are written to be explicitly queer, but the coding is certainly there. again, i'm not saying harlan is a secret queerphobe who is putting this subtext in malevolent intentionally—i can with confidence say that we can safely assume that isn't the case! but, like i said when i was prefacing this post, queer subtext in the monstrous and villainous have a recorded history within horror. it's really easy to reiterate tropes like that if you create within a genre without actively examining your work and its wider context, and i think that's what happening here.

so what was the point of this post? there isn't much of one, really, i just made an observation and wanted to share because i believe in and enjoy examining the things you love critically. and i do love malevolent, with its queer-coded villains and all. i'm not calling for anything to change in the story, or accusing harlan or anyone else of anything; i'm just having thoughts about the wider scope of horror media and where malevolent fits within it and i'm using a cda and queer theory oriented brain to do it.

#masked #malevolent #malevolent podcast #tl;dr mlvlnts villains have queer coded vibes this is a neutral statement #i havent read this post since i wrote it a couple of weeks ago idk how well though out it is #malevolent spoilers #ggjfigj oops sorry about that forgot to tag the spoilers

[sad-outsider]

The mystery of names (and their correct spelling). Part 1. Alina Starkov

So, I finally decided to make a post dedicated to the correct spelling of the Russian language in the Grisha Trilogy. I decided to start with names, and so that you don’t get bored, I decided to add a point about the meaning of names. So, let's start with the main character. And the correct spelling of her name in Russian is Alina Starkova, not Starkov. Why? Because Starkov is a masculine surname. For example, my surname is Kosareva, and my father’s surname is Kosarev. So, we've discussed the correct spelling, now let's move on to the meaning.

Alina (is abbreviated as Lina, Linka, Linochka, Linushka, Alinochka, Alinushka, Alya)

The name Alina has several meanings. Latin: The name may come from the Latin name Alina, meaning "small" or "gentle", or from the Germanic name Adelina, meaning "noble". Polish Meaning: In Polish, the name Alina means "bright", "brilliant" or "beautiful". Russian meaning: In Russian, the name Alina can also be interpreted as “bright” or “brilliant”, “beautiful and charming”, as well as “true”, “faithful” or “protector”.

Starkova

Our heroine’s surname is no less interesting, as it is one of the oldest Russian surnames. There are several versions of the origin of the surname: 1)Derivation from the name of the star The first version says that the Starkov surname comes from the name of a star or other celestial objects. In ancient times, the stars played an important role in people's lives, and some researchers argue that some families may have received the Starkov surname in honor of stellar phenomena or specific celestial events. 2) Origin from a profession or occupation Another version connects the Starkov surname with a person's profession or occupation. Since the Russian word for "starik" (old man) has been used throughout history to describe an elderly person, this may indicate that some ancestors of those with the Starkov surname may have been sages, elders, or engaged in other occupations that required wisdom and experience. 3) Origin from a geographical place There is also a version according to which the Starkov surname has geographical roots. It may be associated with the name of a specific place, for example, the name of a settlement or village. Over the course of time, the name of a place may have passed on as a surname to the population living in the area. 4) Origin from the name Some researchers propose a version according to which the Starkov surname arose from a short name associated with a patronymic. The Russian word "starik" (old man) could be a nickname or a short form of the name Stary, Starov, and so on. Gradually it could turn into a surname for subsequent generations. Regardless of the version of origin, the Starkov surname is usually associated with concepts of wisdom, experience and age. It can indicate a family's rich history, whether related to a star, profession, or geographic location. In the next part we will look at the Morozovs, don’t miss it😘

#grishaverse #shadow and bone #alina starkov

[sweetsavageflame]

Historical Romance Review: Midnight Fires by Carol Finch

Historical Romance Review: Midnight Fires by Carol Finch

SPOILER ALERT ⚠ The Book This review is of Midnight Fires by Carol Finch. The Plot Part One of Midnight Fires Midnight Fires begins in a tavern in Bristol, England, circa 1812. Among the citizens, there is Glenna Lombard. Glenna is the sister of Norina Shaw, wife of Lord Edwin Shaw, whom Glenna wanted to marry. As a result, Glenna feels a deep hatred for her sister, who is far more well-off…

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#big misunderstanding #hero almost dies #hero ship captain #heroine engaged to other man #heroine nurses hero back to health #loveboat #older man younger woman #pirates #retro romance #revenge #review #war of 1812

[jakeforsakeher]

The Weight

Inspired by the song “The Weight” by Amber Run

Jake x Reader // Word Count: ~3k

CONTENT WARNINGS: 18+ readers only.  Soft, sweet morning sex with Jake.  Unprotected sex (please be safe when engaging in all sexual activities), mild discomfort due to penetrative sex.

A light wash of gray moonlight splashed in through the parted curtains and cast a hue of white silver on the soft curves of her body.  The state of rest and vulnerability about her was for no one to see other than God himself - an angel fallen from heaven nestled tenderly in the arms of a man forgone of any divine status.  She stirred only a little when Jake cracked his eyes open, breaking the seal of sleep about him.

The soft patter of rain falling from the trusses onto the window panes would be enough to lull him back into his slumber if he were alone, but the tender presence of her kept him awake.  He moved only to allow the blood to flow back into his right arm, his left wrapped safely around her waist; hand pressed to the soft bare skin of her stomach.  A quiet sigh passed her parted lips and she wriggled herself deeper into the crook of his hold.  He felt the warmth from her body radiate into the palm of his hand and - for a fleeting moment - he was convinced he was holding the sun. 

A lifetime of bliss flashed through Jake’s mind.  If he could choose to be willfully enraptured by the woman in his arms for all eternity he would give up every one of life’s most tempting pleasures. 

And I wake up early

To watch you as you wake

He wanted to stop the universe in its motion forward in time and suspend it in thin air in their shared bedroom.  He wanted to commit the image of her in this way to memory for the rest of his Earth side existence.  The way the dust particles danced carefully around the glowing edges of her slightest points.  The way her hair laid gently at her shoulders.  The way the pulse of her heart beat in perfect rhythm with his own, his chest flush against her back.

It all felt primal - the urge to protect her and cherish her, hazing his mind with a mist of instinctual desire and lust.  He mindlessly traced his fingers up her abdomen, outlining her ribs, the swell of her breast, the soft expanse of her sternum, the junction between her neck and her collarbone.  She was as delicate as silk - as addicting as heroin.

Jake dipped his head down, pressing his lips to the shell of her ear, even breath fanning hot over her.  She responded languidly to him, rolling gently along the waves of sleep.  He knew she would awake very soon, her eyelids fluttering and her eyebrows knit together creasing her otherwise perfect complexion.

“My love.”

The words were spoken as a coaxing command - a guiding light to bring her to consciousness.

And open your eyes

To the sound of the rain

“Jake?”

The musical timbre of her voice sent a flurry of goosebumps across his sun baked skin, the little hairs standing up on end.  She rolled over carefully, reaching up to wipe the fog away with the back of her hand.

“Good morning, angel,” he rasped, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear.  Although it was hardly morning, the clock on the nightstand read a quarter after five.  But there was nowhere to be besides there and, even if there was a pressing commitment, Jake selfishly craved the hour before dawn to be with her.

She hummed in contentment, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.  Jake noticed the faintest pink blush dance across her cheeks - watercolor in hue and strawberry sweet.

“You’re so beautiful, Y/N.”

Her heart burst into a million little butterflies that flushed through her veins at his praise.

A swelled rumble of thunder sounded off in the distance.  Instinctually, she moved her head into the curtained space between his hair and his neck, her arms grasping timidly at the broadness of his shoulders.  She wasn’t scared of anything when she was with Jake.  Everything about him felt like home, no matter what corner of the world they found themselves in.  

He smelled like home - charcoaled wood from the fireplace, honey amber body wash she bought him years ago that he never stopped repurchasing, mist that settled around the pine trees next to the house.  He sounded like home - a Jerry Lee Lewis record playing in the study, bare feet shuffling across the floor, his twangy old acoustic guitar his Dad gave him when he was five.  He felt like home - his grandmother’s old quilt that was slightly scratchy against the skin, but warm and safe wrapped around her, the wooden porch swing rocking with her smoothly that he built just for her the summer they moved in so she could read in the sunlight, his worn denim jacket that he swore he would never get rid of no matter how many holes were in it.

Jake pulled away just enough to resume kissing along her forehead, then on the highest point of her cheek before detouring to pop a surprise peck on the tip of her nose which elicited a giggle a little too shrill for the calmness of the atmosphere.  He didn’t truly care though.  Her laugh was his favorite sound in the world above any music that was ever borne from himself.

“Shh, let me love on you now.”

He hushed her with no real conviction though she quieted herself regardless. 

‘Cause I don’t want money

And I don’t want God

I just wanna live under

The weight of your love

“You always love on me, Jake,” she quipped, her voice nearly a whisper, as she allowed him to overtake her, falling back into the warm pillows.

Jake hummed in agreement and continued his swaddled descent along her body, the sheets moving fluidly against their skin.  He felt high off of the way she reacted to him.

“You are my muse,” he rasped against the delicate ridge of her hip bone.  “You are like heaven on Earth but it feels sinful to have you all to myself, right here.”

A moan escaped her at his praise and worship.  She could feel him everywhere - his large hands holding her to the Earth, his scruff scratching red against her, his arousal pressing firm against her thigh.  Jake nipped playfully at her right breast, teeth pressing into the soft expanse of her skin.  She sighed in pleasured content, allowing him to take what he needed and give what she deserved.

“Gonna go slow, baby.  Wanna feel you everywhere.”  He spoke it like a sacred promise against the hollow of her throat.  Buzzing with electricity, her mind and body matched the frequency of his as he moved between her parting legs.

She whined his name, high on the velvet feel of his hands preparing her for entry.  Jake pulled his bottom lip between his teeth and furrowed his brow as he gently worked her apart, fingers running deftly through her folds.  Out of the hundreds of times he learned her body, there were always small facets of knowledge to be gained.  The way her thigh twitched against his hip, the fluidity of her arousal coating his palm, the sweet chiming innocence in her whimpers under his guidance.

Jake led her on a journey with no true destination in sight.  It was meant to be felt, not finished.  It was meant to be savored, not devoured.

She simply lay beneath him, the weight of his love spreading quickly through her.  She was not concerned with pleasantries or showboating but simply rolled with the tide of pleasure he pulled her along.  Her hands fluttered loosely around her ribcage, fingertips tracing swirls much like the swirls Jake drew across her aching clit.  Through hooded eyes, she gazed down at him only to find his searing gaze burning back into her.  He felt her contract around nothing.

“Hold me while I cum,” she whispered to him.  Jake knew exactly what she meant.  It wasn’t out of a demanding sort of neediness, it was strictly borne from the innate, natural need to feel grounded and secure under his control.  She trusted him to lead her even when she wasn’t fully about herself.

Jake splayed out an up facing palm against the flesh protecting her womb for her to slot her desperate hand into.  His heart thrummed wildly in his chest as she writhed against the sheets, her body tumbling quickly over its peak.  He mimicked the circular shape of her lips as she came, her eyes rolling back in her head at the sight of him unraveling her.  A groan shamelessly climbed its way out of his throat as he witnessed her chest heave, labored breaths causing her breasts to bounce, her nipples hardening pointedly.  Jake leaned over her body to attach his mouth to her left, suckling the puckered pearl until his dick pounded in painful arousal.

And I’d rather go blind

And let my body go numb

Then to lose you

Or the weight of your love

“Y/N…”  Jake beckoned gently.  As she fought away the haze in her mind, he carefully removed his fingers from her sensitive center, allowing her time to rest.  He nuzzled his cheek into the crook of her shoulder, pressing hungry kisses anywhere his mouth touched.  She breathed a small sigh at the weight of him pressing against her front.  The contact alone began to rapidly reignite the fire in her belly.

“Jacob, I need you.”

Jake halted his assault on her collarbone, propping himself on his forearms to study her features.  At first, he was confused.  She had him, what more was there to desire?  What more was there to need from him?  What left did he possess that he could give her, fully, unabashedly?

“You have me, all of me.  I’m here.”

In the depths of his mind he knew.  It was what he sought most, yet would only give to her upon full certainty that she was willing to receive.  They were only made complete when wholly a part of each other.

She struggled with the inkling of doubt in her mind that she had asked for too much.  That she was taking without abandon.  A shame laden whine fell from her timidly as she willed with her eyes the intensity of her need.  Jake had her right where he wanted her.

“Shh, I need it too,”  he cooed reassuringly.  “I crave you deeply,”  he soothed her frantic thoughts.  “I- fuck…”

Jake was beginning to falter.  The build up blinding.  The pressure boiling to the surface threatening to burst at any moment.

He drew in a hissing breath as he made contact with her slick core.  The heaviness of him there reminded her of what was to follow.  Rolling her hips, she readied herself for him, grasping onto his broad shoulders for some semblance of tangible purchase.

Jake kept to his promise that it would be slow.  He pressed in tortuously languid, the size of him stretching her in the most familiar way.  As tears formed at the corners of her eyes upon burying himself to the hilt, he stilled, allowing the ecstatic pleasure its cue to take over.  Her lungs burned from the air she breathed, her muscles tightly wound and cocked to spring.

“Easy baby love, relax now,”  Jake encouraged her to vanquish her tension but a small part of him longed to follow his own advice.  Seeing her underneath him in such a way fed hungrily into the innate need to act on animalistic instinct. But he refrained for the time being as her moans bordered cries of pain.  “Are you hurting?”

She fought away the urge to be dishonest.  “A little, just be still, please Jake?”  Her voice pitched up two octaves cut into his ears like blades.  The last thing he wanted was their intimacy to garner pain.  The notion of it being caused by his own doing was unimaginable.  Jake cradled her head in his hand, pulling it gently aside to shower her cheekbone with feather light kisses.  He wanted her to know there was no hurry.  There was no rush to an end.  This was the feeling.

Eventually the sharp sting subsided into a dull radiating ache.  “Jacob…” she moaned, his full name beseeching her trembling lips once again.  Jake felt her pulling him in even deeper, his body shuddering forward.

“Y/N, I won’t hold on long in this way,”  he scrunched his eyes closed, sweat beading down the bridge of his nose.  She moved her hands to his abdomen feeling him flex out of restraint.  The silver chains around his neck dangled hypnotically in front of her, glistening in the moonlight.

“It’s okay, Jake,”  she encouraged him to begin his rhythmic pace, one that was sinfully delicious to taste.  “Take me there.”

Every movement, every sound, every push and pull, ebb and flow wrote the script of their own unique kind of love.  Nothing truly did exist outside of that bedroom.  The thunder and rain, the darkness before dawn, the moon hanging in her rightful place amongst the stars.  None of it was real.  To lose that feeling would be worse than death itself.  To chase it was a privilege that only life could offer.

The scent of his skin reeked of leftover cologne and sex.  A scent she committed to memory as his hair billowed around her face, encompassing her fully in him.  She was lost on the high of his drug, dazed and drunken off the way he fucked.

She felt the throb before his heeded warning.

“Gonna cum.”

He punctuated his declaration with a particularly rough motion, lips searing against hers in a gnashing kiss, his hand wrapped tightly around the base of her throat.  She didn’t expect to reach a second peak, thus, it crashed into her like a runaway train.  Jake rode out his own high through the vibration of hers all but stopping to feel the intensity at which she held him there.  The warmth of his release spilled out, running down her thigh, and onto the linens below.  She arched her back, the feeling of his hips sticky sweet to hers overwhelmingly apparent. 

“God damn…”  Jake cursed, letting himself fall tiredly onto her.  She welcomed him happily, tracing her fingers along the expanse of his back as he gradually softened inside.  Upon catching his breath, Jake moved to unsheathe himself though she hooked her leg around his back quickly to keep him in place.  Both of them groaned in unison at the oversensitivity but he complied, lying his cheek to her chest.

Flick hair from your shoulder

And sleep marks your face

Retreat to the covers

From the sound of the rain

Lightning illuminated the room, silhouetting their shadows onto the wall adjacent the bed.  She swept strands of his hair away from his neck to allow his body to cool, his cheeks flushed, his chest a cherry red.  In that moment she felt incredibly vulnerable.  Strung open and raw watching the man she cherished deeply hold her like his lifeline.  She was the buoy out in a raging sea that he clung desperately to, so as not to float away into uncertain oblivion.

He stirred, shifting to hover above her once more, a dopey grin stretched across his face.  Jake hummed in contentment at the love she held for him etched carefully into her features.  She hadn’t noticed the fresh tear that streaked its way down her cheek until he swiped it away with the calloused pad of his thumb.  Her breath caught sharply in her throat as she allowed herself to giggle.

“I am so lucky to have you, Jake,”  she confessed, crossing her arms over her bare chest in an attempt at modesty.  For what reason, she was befallen.  In light of the events proceeding, she felt the energy shift.  Jake was looking at her with all his attention, not driven by a state of lust.  Though, he frowned and gently coaxed her arms down to her sides.

“And I am the luckiest man in the world that I get to share this life with you, angel.”

As they parted, she whined at the loss of fullness between her.  Jake ventured off to retrieve a cloth and upon his return she watched the way his body effortlessly moved.  The way his arms fell comfortably at his sides, biceps containing a gentle strength that was markedly his, the way his hair laid perfectly atop his shoulders, the way the chains around his neck contrasted beautifully with his tanned chest.  He cleaned her carefully, touching her as if she were now made of porcelain glass.  It was a quietly intimate gesture to care for her in this way.  He took in the beauty of her body for what it was.  Not what it had been and not what it could be.  She was a woman of the Earth.  A divine being perfectly crafted for the world of her, not about her.

Tossing the discard aside, Jake pulled them under the covers, his arm wrapped securely back around her hips and his palm placed right under her navel against her stomach.  The warmth and glow about her still radiated into his hand burning a little hotter than it had previously.  His lips turned up into a smile as her body molded to his.

The storm outside continued to rage as he held her close.  She fell asleep long before him, her face shifting into a deep state of rest at the feeling of his chest rising and falling between her shoulder blades.  Though the sun wouldn’t likely show for the entirety of the day that lied ahead, Jake knew he could find it honey yellow and radiating from her.  He had everything he ever could desire, for there was no other place he’d rather be, than entangled safely in the intricacy of her love.

Flick hair from your shoulder

And sleep marks your face

Retreat to the covers

From the sound of the rain...

#jake kiszka #jake kiszka x reader #jake kiszka smut #greta van fleet #greta van fleet fanfiction #greta van fleet fanfic #jake kiszka fanfic #jake kiszka fanfiction

[see-arcane]

I think you came close to real issue. Adaptations do not center on Jonathan and always somehow misrepresent him is because majority of male directors-screenwriters, adapting Dracula, associate themselves more not with Jonathan but with Dracula or Van Helsing. And it didn't begin with Coppola. It began with Murnau where his Hutter doesn't kill vampire and can't save his wife but instead it's his wife Ellen who dies to kill vampire. Then it's Browning who made Van Helsing into cool main hero who kills Dracula, while Jonathan is again useless in the movie. It's Fisher who kills Jonathan off at the start of the movie and again makes Van Helsing into cool main hero, who kills Dracula. So by the time 1970s rolled out and romantic versions of Dracula began to heavily pop up, Jonathan as character on screen was already heavily downgraded.

This honestly hits on something that unhappily fascinates me about the whole pattern. Unlike other stories that see adaptation, however classic or modern, I think the Dracula issue is the only one I can think of where a male main character--one of the two married protagonists! the guy who actually opens and closes the entire story! including beheading Dracula himself!--gets so thoroughly watered down, warped, or often just thrown out of the story entirely. Mina's treatment is unfortunately very much expected.

She is LAST GIRL STANDING. She is NOT ICKY SLUT-LUCY WHO LEADS THREE MEN ON EWWW. She is SO INTO HUNKY HE-MAN DARK PRINCE COUNT FUCKULA and doesn't mind the castle harem or the best friend assault or terrorized/deadified husband whatever who cares.

Mina's character-butchering hell is sadly a running theme in a lot of Classics! Now with (Off-Brand Hollywoodified) Feminism (tm)*!

*She is now simultaneously Mom to a bunch of rowdy dumb-boys and the hot anti-villain wants to do the sex with her so bad and it's sooo tempting because hot anti-villain is sooo much more forward-thinking than these icky Victorian guys ha ha

But Jonathan's situation is unique.

Because Jonathan is broken down for parts.

His sweet ingenue gothic heroine time in Castle Dracula is routinely handed over either to a stand-in (Renfield ala the original Dracula movie) or Random Damsel seen on every book and movie and comic book cover. Because you can't have a man in that situation. And if you do, shovel him out of the story immediately once the hetero-sexy part is over with, ala the Brides closing in. Maybe make him an unfaithful piece of shit who is SO down to ditch boring old Mina for the undead harem.

His stamp as a rightful nemesis-turned-badass vampire hunter is stolen and given to Van Helsing, including his kukri, including the defeat and beheading of Dracula.

His devotion and love for Mina to the point of blasphemy and inhumanity is ripped away and given to Dracula to romanticize and sexify him, which in turn defangs the Count himself. 'Ohhh I just did all this evil because I was depressed and looking for my Love~ :'c' rather than him being one of the most insidiously engaging and chilling villains in classic storytelling.

And all of that implies that writers and directors do like the character of Jonathan Harker...so long as he's split into pieces with the husk that once contained all those facets quickly discarded.

Because if they have to portray Jonathan Harker in his totality, with all his kindness, his femininely coded introduction, his trauma after assault, his adoration of Mina beyond human measure, and his ultimate conquering of Dracula the Monster/Abuser (their idolized macho surrogate) then that does something unthinkable.

That portrays men like Jonathan Harker in a heroic light. In a positive light, period. This milksop! This sweet, loving, bookish, preyed-upon, afraid-then-fierce, walking talking knife-swinging wall-crawling middle finger to the whole idea of the fantasy people project onto Dracula (read: Megabadass Immortal Vampire Man who gets Allll the Ladies Who Totally Wanted It/Had that Victorian Slave Leia routine coming~)! We can't put that on screen!

So what happens, happens.

And Jonathan Harker continues to be harvested for parts without ever, ever getting to be all of himself in a retelling. If he shows up at all.

#sad about Jonathan Harker hours #sigh #jonathan harker #mina harker #dracula #adaptation #bastardization

[schafpudel]

Swan Maidens, Swan Princes

So Duck is the ugly duckling and Tutu is Odette but in her entirety she's the little mermaid. A water-creature falls in love with a prince and would do anything to be with him as a human girl (but also there's the implication that her reasons are deeper than infatuation - the mermaid looks sadly at her fish's tail and is interested in humanity long before meeting the prince; the duck complains about her looks and voice, and you can imagine a human cradling a throat the wrong shape) and makes a faustian deal with a witch or sorcerer. Her fate is said to be to dissolve into sea-foam/turn into a speck of light and vanish, leaving neither soul nor body behind.

(Hans Christian Andersen was in love with a man. "I languish for you as for a pretty Calabrian wench… my sentiments for you are those of a woman. The femininity of my nature and our friendship must remain a mystery." He mailed a copy of The Little Mermaid to the man. The man was engaged to a woman. The love was doomed.)

Tutu is also a swan maiden. The typical narrative for the swan maiden is this: there is a woman who is also a swan. Naked, she is human, but when she puts on her cloak or shirt of feathers, she is a swan, and she prefers to live as a swan, taking off the garment mainly to bathe. A man finds her human form beautiful, steals her skin, and coerces her into a heterosexual marriage and a human life. She may even be forced to bear his children. Eventually, though, she finds her swan skin stashed away, and makes her escape, never to be seen again.

(I imagine many people can sympathise with the swan.)

But there are exceptions to this narrative, that lend themselves to different subtext. One intriguing one is found in the Dolopathos. In this version, the swan-woman's naked form is that of a swan, and she turns into a human by the means of a golden chain-necklace. Her marriage to the human man is consensual. Their children, explicitly, inherit the swan-maiden nature: they are born as human babies, but with gold chain-necklaces like their mother. The schemes of a wicked stepmother lead to the boy children immediately having their gold chains revoked, forcing them into their swan forms. The sister (whose chain was never stolen, and thus grew up human while still being able to join her brothers on the lake), later, manages to steal back her brothers' gold chains, and they take human form for the first time since birth.

Except one swan-boy continues to be denied his human form, for his gold chain is damages. He goes on to be the animal companion of Lohengrin, the Knight of the Swan, pulling the knight's boat-chariot through water with his golden chain.

In both the typical "human into swan via clothing" narrative and Dolpathos' "swan into human via a necklace" narrative, the naked form is not the shapeshifters preferred form. Being denied that which allows their transformation, whether into swan or man, is an act of coercion and violence, a denial of identity and bodily autonomy.

The heart shard necklace is what lets the duck become a girl and a swan-maiden ballerina. When returned to the prince, Mythos gains magical powers - and some of these, such as the summoning of flurries of pink petals, are exactly the same as Tutu's.

And yet duck is able to invoke Tutu's form and power, if only briefly, without the pendant. Duck is also written a lot less animalistically than other animal characters, and the obvious Doylist reason is that the show frames animalistic behavior as weird/creepy and Duck is supposed to be relatable to the human audience by contrast, but. She was literally conceptualized as human girl before Itoh developed the idea to make her a duck, and she is no more strange or inhuman than any other clumsy, ditzy, goodhearted mahou-shoujo heroine. She's just a quacking girl.

Yet the show says, "you were born in a duck's body. Back to a duck you must go."

Mytho is returned to his full princehood, but is still bound into a marriage by obligation. Intriguingly, for such an amatonormative show, Princess Tutu suggest to the audience that Mytho's obsession with Tutu was something other than (romantic) "love" all along; rather, the "feeling that burned in my breast when i thought of tutu" was Hope. It was simply construed as romantic by everyone around him.

(There's a brief shot of a younger Siegfried, presumably pre-heart-shattering, being told about Princess Tutu by an old man, within the pages of The Prince and The Raven. Siegfried expresses the desire to marry the fairy-creature. I wonder if that could be read as a displaced, misunderstood emotion as well, articulated as heterosexual love because a fairy tale character has no other way to understand a boy being mesmerized by a girl.)

Anyways it's literally not in the text but if you pointed at Mytho and told me he's actually the same kind of being as Princess Tutu - some sort of swan maiden fairy being - but was just raised as a human boy I'd like, buy it. It's a headcanon I can accept. If some birds want to be girls then some boys can long to be birds? hashtag gender envy

Also Fakir can't understand Duck's gender b/c hes the only tutu character who unambigiously isnt a bird in any way. Itoh and Sato put princess tutu in the public domain so the transgender furries can poop and twist it up. what was that. goodnight

#princess tutu

[coralinnii]

I'm absolutely losing it over at that Vil Sequel for Reincarnated. So I gotta ask for a sequel for Azul.

Where maybe in true manwha drama fashion the reader announces the annulment of her marriage to stick it to her fiance. And surprise, surprise Azul asks to marry them. All in front of the crowd. Double the embarrassment for the fiance.

Gotta stick it to the cheating fiance and his lovers family.

"If you are a villain, then let me be your accomplice"

feat: Azul

genre: sweet revenge

note: sequel to “being reincarnated into a new world as the bad guy”, roughly 1.3k word count, original characters were used

series masterlist

this became more of revenge fic featuring Azul and the twins because yay comeuppances!

You’ve come to realize that you are not a patient person. You were also not one to enjoy the nervous and tense looks the attendees are sending your way as you are being berated at the impromptu ball that your betrothed is hosting. 

“You are an insult to nobility!” your fiance screamed as he held the baron’s daughter close to him. “To bully an innocent woman, have you no shame?” 

Your eyebrow twitched at his wording. Innocent? How is a woman who chases an engaged man even considered that? And as if either of them know shame. 

Thankfully the years of etiquette training drilled into this reincarnated body of yours knew how to fake a smile as the host continues to list these supposed cases of bullying. 

“How could you push this sweet woman down and attack her like some brute?”

Ah, the opening you were waiting for. “Hmm? And when did I do that?” 

“You still pretend to be innocent?” the male lead was seething which honestly amuses you. “Lady Neavah told me about your crimes!” 

“I didn’t want to upset you, but yes” the baron’s daughter spoke through her glistening tears “On the day of Countess Charlotte’s tea party, s-she poured tea on me and pushed me down”

You glanced towards the trio you grew fond of and saw that they were not happy with the situation. While calm on the outside, you could faintly see the strained hold Jade had on his brother’s shoulder as Floyd looked ready to wring your fiance’s neck (not that you disapprove). Azul was harder to read as his hat cast a shadow over his eyes but his clenched fists hinted at his contempt. You let yourself smile at their form of concern for you but you suppose you let the two air-headed protagonists set themselves well enough for humiliation.

The heroine made a big show as she cried in your betrothed’s arms. The crowd was getting restless and whispers filled the room. That scene was meant to happen if you were to follow the original story and you would be stuttering and crying right now as well. 

That is if you were to follow the original story.

“I wasn’t there, though” 

“Y-Yes, you were” Neavah tried to maintain her story “You were invited as was I” 

“True, I was invited. But I didn’t go” you cleared up the misinformation. “I chose to visit the Archduchess with our other acquaintances to present a gift for her future child” 

The whispers grew louder at the news. To be so friendly with the Archduke family is a privilege very few could do. 

“If you like, you could call upon the Archduchess to verify my attendance” you smirked when the two accusers flinched. The Archduchess is terrifying and is not one to get involved in petty scandals such as this. To call upon her is to embarrass oneself in front of the most powerful family second only to the kingdom’s ruler. 

“Since you mention the topic of shame, shall I ask if you two have any” 

“W-What do you mean?” 

“Regardless of status or power, having an affair is considered quite distasteful, is it not?” you eyed your fiance’s arm around the baron’s daughter with a look of exhaustive annoyance. “Your relationship with Lady Neavah is quite disrespectful to me as your fiance” 

“W-We’ve done nothing wrong” your fiance yelled in defense which is starting to irk you. “The lady and I are simply colleagues” 

“Colleagues do not go off to eat together late at night nor do they secretly meet each other in private rooms” you snapped your fingers which called for the servants whom you ordered to hold onto the documents you brought. At your command, they handed out to the attendees of the ball “the logs of your frequent visits and patronage at these locations were recorded with a guest and typically at night when I’m at home” 

Gasps and scoffs echoed throughout the ballroom as the attendees read through the logs and records of their rendezvous. You revel at the control you have on the room as your most hated characters flounder over their dirty little secret being released. 

As a last ditch effort, the heroine reached out to you which you pulled back with disgust. 

“Please understand,” she cried in an attempt to look sympathetic. “We are in love. We couldn’t stop from loving who we want” 

You sneered at the pathetic excuse. “That “love” is not an excuse for infidelity or betrayal. You two chose to be selfish and ignore those that you hurt because it felt good to you.” 

Though you held no feelings for the male lead, the previous owner of your body did. Even if you couldn’t relate to her, no one should be betrayed like this. 

“Still, I’ll give you what you want. I'm annulling my engagement” you spoke with anticipated glee. With a bow for etiquette purposes only, you gave your last words to the couple “I will take my leave now” 

With that, you turned to make your way to the entrance of the house. The audience parted the way for you as you confidently took each step towards your freedom. 

Just then, a gloved hand came into your vision. You looked to see Azul with a satisfied grin on his lips. The gossiping crowd spoke in hushed whispers as they couldn’t believe the richest count in the kingdom was offering his hand to you.

“First, the Archduchess and now, even the Golden Count?” 

“May you grant me the honor of escorting you?” 

Your smile matched your business partner as you gently placed your hand on his “I accept, dear count.” 

Jade and Floyd followed suit with grins on their face. Floyd had his fun snickering at the disgraced couple as the crowd looked at them with disgust in their eyes while Jade held his tongue but was happy to see that the patron logs you requested him to find were useful to you as now you owe him a favour. Ah, he meant he was happy he could help. 

Before you stepped out, you recognized two familiar faces in the crowd. You saw your parents who were slack-jawed and flabbergasted at all that transpired. When they locked eyes with you, you could see the anger in their eyes. But the anger was directed towards you and not your cheating fiance. 

You let out a disappointed sigh. What did you expect? 

Before they could reach for you, Floyd came to your aid as he stood between you and your parents. The teal-haired man was intimidating as he stared down at your family, causing them to flinch and step back. 

“Mother. Father” you called out to them. “I won’t be returning home. Don’t worry. I know my place” 

After all, they were the ones that repeatedly told you that they would disown you should your engagement be broken. To the point, they wrote it in a contract as they didn’t want to deal with their useless child. 

The contract which you just pulled out and waved it in their faces as you smiled one last time at them before continuing your walk to Azul’s carriage.

“What do you intend to do now?” Azul questioned with an even tone but you saw the way he fingers shook as he held nervousness over your answer.

You told Azul about your speculations on your impending annulment which was the reason you reached out to him. Now, you were quite well-off with the sum of your earnings and you have a number of supportive friends in the high social circle that you were well protected. There was no reason he could think of that you entice you to continue your companionship with him other than business relations. He has grown too fond of you to go back to how things were.

Fortunately, you ease his worries as you tightened your hold on the fair-haired man’s hand which won you a flinch and a slight flush in his cheeks, putting a genuine smile on your lips.

“I supposed I’ll just do whatever I please”

You lay your head onto the bespectacled man’s shoulder which deepen the red hue of his cheeks. You smiled as Jade and Floyd proceed to tease their old friend over his reddened complexion, thinking to yourself about the choices you made and the path you chose.

You certainly prefer this ending for yourself. And you plan of staying on this happy ending route with Azul by your side.

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