#i feel like this passage gets so overlooked

[warrioreowynofrohan]

Silmarillion Daily - Of Menegroth

Today’s Silmarillion Daily contains two events - one is the building/carving of Menegroth and the other, happening around the same time in Valinor, is the births of Turgon and Finrod.

Here’s the part on Menegroth:

Now Melian had much foresight, after the manner of the Maiar; and when the second age of the captivity of Melkor had passed, she counselled Thingol that the Peace of Arda would not last forever. He took thought therefore how he should make for himself a kingly dwelling, and a place that should be strong, if evil were to awake again in Middle-earth; and he sought aid and counsel of the Dwarves of Belegost. They gave it willingly, for they were unwearied in those days and eager for new works; and though the Dwarves ever demanded a price for all that the did, whether with delight or with toil, at this time they held themselves paid. For Melian taught them much that they were eager to learn, and Thingol rewarded them with many fair pearls. These Círdan gave to him, for they were got in great number in the shallow waters about the Isle of Balar; but the Naugrim had not before seen their like, and they held them dear. One there was as great as a dove’s egg, and its sheen was as starlight on the foam of the sea; Nimphelos it is named, and the chieftain of the Dwarves of Belegost prized it above a mountain of wealth.

Therefore the Naugrim laboured long and gladly for Thingol, and devised for him mansions after the fashion of their people, delved deep in the earth. Where the Esgalduin flowed down, and parted Neldoreth from Region, there rose in the midst of the forest a rocky hill, and the river ran at its feet, There they made the gates of the hall of Thingol, and they built a bridge of stone over the river, by which alone the gates could be entered. Beyond the gates wide passages ran down to high halls and chambers far below that were hewn in the living stone, so many and so great that that dwelling was named Menegroth, the Thousand Caves.

But the Elves also had part in that labour, and Elves and Dwarves together, each with their own skill, there wrought out the visions of Melian, images of the wonder and beauty of Valinor beyond the Sea. The pillars of Menegroth were hewn in the lines of the beeches of Oromë, stock, bough, and leaf, and they were lit with lanterns of gold. The nightingales sang there as in the gardens of Lórien; and there were fountains of silver, and basins of marble, and floors of many-coloured stones. Carven figures of beasts and birds there ran upon the walls, or climbed upon the pillars, or peered among the branches entwined with many flowers. And as the years passed Melian and her maidens filled the halls with woven hangings wherein could be read the deeds of the Valar, and many things that had befallen in Arda since its beginning, and shadows of things that were yet to be. That was the fairest dwelling of any king that has ever been east of the Sea.

And when the building of Menegroth was achieved, and there was peace in the realm of Thingol and Melian, the Naugrim yet came ever and anon over the mountains and went in traffic about the lands; but they went seldom to the Falas, for they hated the sound of the sea and feared to look upon it. To Beleriand there came no other rumour or tidings of the world without.

There’s another tidbit about Menegroth in History of Middle-earth (The Peoples of Middle-earth, “The problem of Ros”):

…the great Hall of the Throne of Elwë in the midst of his stronghold of Menegroth…was called the Menelrond [heaven-dome], because by the arts and aid of Melian its high arched roof had been adorned with silver and gems set in the order and figures of the stars in the great Dome of Valmar in Aman, whence Melian came.

The section further states that Elwing named Elrond in memory of this place, and that this was held to be prophetic, as it foreshadowed Elrond choosing the kindred of the Eldar and “carrying on the lineage of King Elwë [Footnote: Also also that of Turgon; though he oreferred that of Elwë, who was not under the ban that was laid on the Exiles.]”, while Elros, named for water, crossed the seas and became King of Númenor.

I feel like Menegroth in the passage above comes about as close as anything else we see to Eru’s ideal for the Ainur and the Eruhíni: dwarves and elves and a Maia all working together in Middle-earth to make something beautiful with their different skills and knowledge. The decision to do it in incited by the awareness of danger, but that leads not to hostility but to cooperation and beauty. It’s not in Valinor, but it recalls much of Valinor and of the Valar: the carvings of trees and woodland creatures recall the forests of Oromë, the nightingales the gardens of Lórien, the tapestries of history (and visions of the future) the halls of Vairë and Mandos. Different peoples get a glimpse of things they don’t fully understand, but are drawn to: the dwarves can’t stand the sea, but they nonetheless love Círdan’s pearls.

This is what makes the way Menegroth ends such an absolute tragedy, and it is what makes Legolas and Gimli in The Lord of the Rings the redress of that tragedy: their visits to Aglarond and Fangorn, each understanding what the other loves, is a kind of echo of the unity of these caverns carved with trees and forest-creatures. They’re putting things right. (As, in a different way, Galadriel is putting Fëanor’s story right, and Elrond is putting Thingol’s specifically right.) Not putting things back exactly as they were, but healing them.

#i feel like this passage gets so overlooked #because “of the sindar” is a big flashback dropped in the middle of the return of the noldor #i like being able to see these sections in their chronological place #silmarillion daily #the silmarillion #tolkien #the lord of the rings #thingol #melian #dwarves #legolas #gimli #doriath

[gaywarcriminals]

Remember that time Xiao Jiu wanted to beat a kid with a brick?

The scene where Shen Jiu threatens Shi Wu is possibly my favorite scene in the whole novel because it tells us so much about qijiu's dynamic, both past and future, and namely, that they're both little freaks (affectionate) who show love in weird ways. I think it particularly exemplifies several of Yue Qingyuan's traits that often go overlooked!

I am just going in order. All excerpts are from the Seven Seas official translation, Volume 4, Chapter 24: Yue Qingyuan and Shen Qingqiu.

Shen Jiu fights for resources

“Shen Jiu, don’t think you can just throw your weight around. You don’t own this street. What gives you the right to tell us we can’t stay?!” This main street was wide and even, and many people came and went upon it. If one wanted to beg, it was the best and prime location. Some of the passersby watched this group of children fight, but even more hurried on their way. And this new brat had the gall to challenge him. Shen Jiu looked down and around, preparing to find a brick with which to teach him a lesson, when a tall youth happened to walk over. He saw Shen Jiu rolling up his sleeves, head lowered, and hastily went to stop him. “Xiao-Jiu, let’s go somewhere else.” [...] With Yue Qi standing in front of him, Shiwu grew bold. He leaned forward and yelled, “Every time we go to a new place,you always hog the best spot!

From this we know that Shen Jiu, without fail, tries to claim or fight for the best begging spots in every city. This isn't fully textually supported, but add to that the later section that mentions how Shen Jiu was far better at begging than Yue Qi and I think that, on some level, SJ feels responsible for both his and Yue Qi's wellbeing. Chasing off the other children is not just a selfish act, but also a protective one.

According to the orders given to them, Yue Qi should have wailed and wept, but no matter what, he never could manage to cry. Therefore, this task had instead fallen to Shen Jiu, even though he was faking an illness that supposedly left him too feeble to weep. But he was small and his face wasn’t too unsightly to look at, so whenever he sobbed and bawled, the passersby found him pitiful and generously opened their wallets. It would have been no exaggeration to call him a money tree.

Xiao Jiu fancies himself the breadwinner lol.

How Yue Qi reacts to accusations against Shen Jiu

That first youth took the opportunity to tattle. “Qi-ge, he’s bullying me.” “That wasn’t bullying, Shiwu,” said Yue Qi. “Xiao-Jiu was just joking around.” “Who’s joking?” said Shen Jiu. “I’m telling him to get lost. This is my territory. I’ll kill anyone who tries to steal it.”

I've anyways found this passage so telling of their eventual adult relationship! First of all, Yue Qi implicitly takes Shen Jiu's side, and immediately defends him. This seems to be taken for granted by all characters, so we can assume this is their standard dyanmic. Yue Qi, notably, does not deny that Shen Jiu was threatening Shiwu. In this situation where SJ is actively gearing up for a fight, it would be a very poor defense, and that's probably true of most messes Xiao Jiu got himself into! 

Most of Yue Qi's actions in the scene are attempts to de-escalate. This is just my theory, but I think in Yue Qi's mind, who's at fault is much less important than making sure no one gets in trouble with a higher authority. Even if he knows SJ could win the fight, it would only gain SJ more animosity, and possibly the attention of someone who would be a real danger.

I think it's evident how Yue Qi's ethos of keeping their heads down and not causing trouble or drawing too much attention would feed into how he handled Shen Qingqiu's less commendable behavior as an adult and complaints against Shen Qingqiu.

In the brothel scene later in the extras, we can see that he's conscious of their image. 

Yue Qingyuan yanked Shen Qingqiu off the bed. He was in a rare fit of anger. “Why are you like this?” “Why am I like what?” asked Shen Qingqiu. “Two of Cang Qiong Mountain’s head disciples getting into a huge brawl inside a brothel—does that sound good to you?”

Imo, now entrenched in the politics of the cultivation world, YQY sees protecting SQQ's image/reputation as an important part of protecting SQQ. Yue Qi spent his childhood managing Xiao Jiu, and as an adult, he's not able to so easily break the habit, not matter how SQQ scorns him

Shen Jiu does not get upset by attacks on his character, only from Shiwu calling Yue Qi "Qi-ge"

With Yue Qi standing in front of him, Shiwu grew bold. He leaned forward and yelled, “Every time we go to a new place,you always hog the best spot! Everyone’s been sick of you for ages! You think you’re all that? That everyone’s afraid of you?” “Shiwu,” Yue Qi scolded. Amidst the struggle, Shen Jiu kicked Yue Qi in the shin. “If you want a fight, I’ll give you one. Only losers would blame their spot for their incompetence. You bastard—who’s your Qi-ge? I dare you to say that again!”

Now granted these aren't the most cutting insults, but it's SO interesting to me that Shen Jiu doesn't react to the insults directly. To me, this is a little bit of evidence that, even at this age, Shen Jiu had already decided he was a bad guy, and stopped caring about what others thought of him. The glaring exception to that was, ofc, Yue Qi. I think part of the reason that SJ reactions to the "Qi-ge" specifically, is that Shiwu just said that no one likes Shen Jiu, and then tried to align himself with Yue Qi. I think to SJ, he sees a real threat in the idea of someone else stealing Yue Qi, the one person who likes SJ. SJ is so possessive of Yue Qi not just because he's Qi-ge, but also because, without him, Shen Jiu would have nothing and no one.

Yue Qi tries to deescalate by coaxing/appeasing Shen Jiu

“You’re the bastard! I bet you’ll get sold off soon and end up a pimp!” Yue Qi didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. “Where did you learn that kind of nonsense language?!” Then he dragged Shen Jiu off to the side of the road while coaxing him. “All right, you’re the most competent one here. Even if you didn’t pick and choose your spot, you’d be the best. So let’s change streets.” Shen Jiu stepped on his foot. “Get off me! Like I’m scared! Come on, fight me! Wanna gang up on me? Go ahead!” Of course Yue Qi knew he wasn’t scared. If he really let Shen Jiu brawl with the other kids, he would fight dirty. He’d gouge at their eyes and kick them in the belly or crotch or shin. He was terribly vicious, and the other party would be the one to end up suffering and bawling in terror. Yue Qi forced down a smile. “Are you done stepping on my foot yet? If you are, stop it. Qi-ge will take you somewhere fun.” “What shitty ‘fun’?” Shen Jiu asked savagely. “The most fun I’ll have is if they’re all dead.” Yue Qi looked at him helplessly and shook his head.

Yue Qi only barely scolds Shen Jiu, even when Shen Jiu in the wrong (tried to steal Shiwu's spot and then almost beat up Shiwu). Instead, his reaction is to distract, coax, bribe, and praise him until SJ looses interest in whatever trouble he was going to cause. Yue Qi is so biased, and he spoils him 😂. Even when Yue Qi has so little he can give, he managed to spoil Shen Jiu by giving him so much favor, attention, and affection. 

I think this is something that comes naturally to Yue Qi to the point that he can't help himself from doing the same thing as an adult, even when SJ scorns him. It's just the correct response to seeing a Xiao Jiu! He's the "why do we have hands" meme fr 

Yue Qi smiles imagining Shen Jiu beating up the other kids

Of course Yue Qi knew he wasn’t scared. If he really let Shen Jiu brawl with the other kids, he would fight dirty. He’d gouge at their eyes and kick them in the belly or crotch or shin. He was terribly vicious, and the other party would be the one to end up suffering and bawling in terror. Yue Qi forced down a smile. “Are you done stepping on my foot yet? If you are, stop it. Qi-ge will take you somewhere fun.”

I don't have much to say about this, I just want to remind everyone Yue Qi finds SJ's violent, feral tendencies adorable. This man has no desire to train his cat, and he will insist it's friendly even as it gnaws on his arm.

In Conclusion?

This single scene shows us the trajectory of qijiu's relationship going forward, the strengths of their relationships that became pitfalls. It allows to imagine what they could have become if not torn apart by a world set to doom them.

#svsss #shen jiu #yue qingyuan #qijiu #svsss meta #fish meta

[inmyfxith]

SFW Alphabet - Neteyam

A/N -> This template isn't mine, I don't remember where I found it so if it's yours don't hesitate to tell me so I can credit you.

A = Admiration (what do they absolutely adore about you?)

Neteyam admires his partner's intelligence and strategic thinking, as well as their unwavering loyalty and commitment to their loved ones.

B = Body (what is their favorite part of your body?)

Neteyam's favorite part of his partner's body is their strong and agile hands, which are capable of both delicate and precise movements as well as fierce protection.

C = Cuddling (how do they like to cuddle?)

Neteyam loves to cuddle with his partner in a way that allows them to feel fully supported and comforted, often holding them close and rubbing their back in a soothing manner.

Neteyam and you are sitting together on a grassy hill overlooking Pandora's beautiful landscape. As the sun sets, you snuggle up close, with Neteyam wrapping his arms around you and rubbing your back in a soothing and affectionate manner.

"Your touch is always so calming," you say, nuzzling against his chest.

Neteyam smiles and kisses the top of your head. "I just want to take care of you," he says. "You mean everything to me."

The two of you continue to cuddle and relax together, enjoying the peace and serenity of Pandora's natural world. It's moments like these that make Neteyam feel grateful and content, knowing that he has found his perfect match in you.

D = Dates (what does their ideal date with you look like?)

Neteyam's ideal date with his partner would involve a day of adventure and exploration, such as visiting a new area of Pandora or trying out a new activity together.

E = Emotions (how do they express emotion around you?)

Around his partner, Neteyam is very expressive with his emotions and is not afraid to show his love and affection through both words and physical gestures.

F = Family (do they want one? If they do, when?)

Neteyam is open to the idea of starting a family with his partner in the future, and sees himself as a dedicated and supportive partner who will always put his loved ones first.

G = Gifts (how do they feel about gift giving? What are their habits when it comes to this?)

Neteyam enjoys giving gifts to his partner that are both meaningful and practical, often choosing items that will enhance their daily lives or help them achieve their goals. It could be a beautifully crafted piece of jewelry made from natural materials found on Pandora, such as a necklace made of carved wood or a bracelet made of vines. A set of tools or weapons for hunting or self-defense, such as a bow and arrows or a spear. A plant or seedling from a sacred or medicinal plant on Pandora, as a symbol of life and growth. He could even organize a special ceremony or ritual that celebrates an important milestone or event in their relationship, such as a bonding ceremony or a rite of passage.

H = Holding Hands (when/how do they like to hold hands?)

Neteyam likes to hold hands with his partner whenever they are out in public or during moments of intimacy, as it helps him feel connected to them and reaffirm their bond.

I = Injury (how would they act if you got hurt?)

If his partner were to get hurt, Neteyam would be extremely protective and caring, doing everything in his power to help them recover and feel better.

J = Jokes (do they like to joke around with or prank you? how?)

Neteyam enjoys making his partner laugh and will often playfully tease or joke around with them in a way that is lighthearted and affectionate.

Neteyam and you are out for a walk through the forest, enjoying the sights and sounds of Pandora's natural world. As you walk, Neteyam starts to playfully tease you, pretending to be a predator stalking you.

"Oh no, it's the fearsome Neteyam!" you say, pretending to be scared.

Neteyam grins and chases after you playfully, pretending to be a fierce beast. "I'm going to get you!" he says.

You laugh and run away, trying to evade him. You dart through the trees and over the streams, always just out of Neteyam's reach.

Finally, you stop to catch your breath, giggling and panting. "You're so silly," you add, giving him a playful shove.

Neteyam grins and wraps his arms around you. "I just can't help it," he says. "I love making you laugh."

K = Kisses (how do they like to kiss you?)

Neteyam is a tender and loving kisser, often taking his time to savor each moment of intimacy with his partner and show them how much he cares.

L = Love (how do they show you they love you?)

Neteyam shows his love for his partner through small acts of kindness, such as preparing a special meal using ingredients from Pandora's natural world or creating a beautiful piece of art as a gift. He also communicates his feelings through heartfelt words and gestures of affection, such as singing a love song in the Na'vi language or performing a traditional dance to express his love and devotion. Neteyam is deeply connected to Pandora and its natural world, and he often finds creative ways to incorporate these elements into his expressions of love and affection for his partner.

M = Memory (favorite memory together?)

Neteyam's favorite memory with his partner is the first time they bonded with their own banshees together, which was a powerful and emotional experience that brought them closer together.

N = Nightmare (what is their worst fear?)

Neteyam's worst fear is losing his partner, and he often worries about their safety and well-being.

O = Oddity (what is one quirk they have?)

One quirk that Neteyam has is that he is very attuned to the natural world and can often sense changes in the environment or the presence of animals.

P = Pet Names (what do they like to call you?)

Neteyam's favorite pet name for his partner is "my mate," which he uses often and affectionately.

Q = Quality Time (how do they like to spend time with you?)

Neteyam likes to spend quality time with his partner by doing activities that they both enjoy, such as exploring Pandora's natural beauty or sharing a quiet moment together.

R = Rhythm (what song reminds you of them?)

The song that reminds Neteyam of his partner is "I Choose You" by Sara Bareilles.

S = Secrets (how open are they with you?)

Neteyam is very open and honest with his partner, and he values their trust and confidence in him. He is willing to share his deepest secrets and vulnerabilities with them.

T = Time (how long did it take you to get together?)

It took Neteyam and his partner some time to get together, as they were both busy with their own responsibilities and commitments. However, they were patient and understanding with each other, and eventually found the right time to pursue their relationship.

U = Upset (how do they act when you’re upset?)

When his partner is upset, Neteyam is very supportive and comforting, often holding them close and offering words of encouragement and understanding.

V = Vaunt (what are they proud of? Do they like to show you off?)

He is proud of his partner and their many achievements and accomplishments, and he likes to show them off to others whenever he can.

Neteyam and you are attending a gathering of the Na'vi clans, where members of different clans come together to share news and celebrate their cultural traditions. You have just finished performing a traditional dance, and you are receiving praise and congratulations from the other clans.

Neteyam stands by proudly, beaming with pride at your talent and accomplishment. "Aren't they amazing?" he says to the other clan leaders, gesturing to you. "She's the best dancer in all of Pandora, in my opinion."

The other leaders nod in agreement, praising your skills and grace. "They are truly gifted," one of them says.

Neteyam grins and takes your hand, squeezing it affectionately. "I'm so proud of you," he says. "You're the most talented and beautiful Na'vi I've ever met."

You smile and blush, clearly touched by Neteyam's words. The two of you continue to celebrate and enjoy the gathering together, reveling in your shared pride and joy.

W = Warrior (how do they feel about you fighting? Would they fight for you, beside you, etc?)

Neteyam is a skilled warrior and takes his role as a protector seriously. He would fight for his partner and defend them with everything he has.

X = X-Ray (how well are they able to read you?)

He is able to read his partner very well and has a deep understanding of their emotions and thoughts.

Y = Yes (how would they propose to you?)

If Neteyam were to propose to his partner, he would do so in a way that is meaningful and personal to them, taking into account their shared culture and values as Na'vi from Pandora. He might take them on a special trip to a sacred site on Pandora, where they can connect with the natural world and the spirit of their ancestors. He could then ask for their hand in marriage in a heartfelt and sincere way. No matter how he chooses to propose, Neteyam is likely to make it a memorable and meaningful moment that reflects his love and devotion to his partner.

Z = Zen (what makes them feel calm?)

What makes Neteyam feel calm is spending time with his partner and being in nature. He finds solace in the beauty and serenity of Pandora's natural world, and feels at peace when he is with his loved ones.

#avatar #avatar the way of water #avatar imagine #avatar imagines #neteyam #jake sully #avatar alphabet #avatar headcanons #neteyam x reader

[lilyginnyblackv2]

I don't think I've ever seen anyone talk about this Utada Hikaru quote in regards to both Hikari and Passion before:

In an interview, Utada said, "It's like... as if 'Hikari' was the dawn, and 'Passion' has a concluding or 'dusk' feeling to it. The lyrics of 'Passion' show how phases of the past, present and future of the character in my song relate to each other."

This came from the KH Fandom Wiki, which I'll link below in the comments. I've seen the Nomura quote mentioned all the time about how Passion is about Sora and Riku's reunion, but I think a part of Nomura's quote that often gets overlooked is when he states:

I wrote stuff like "An image of a reunion, a happy moment in a way" and "Like a Hikari 2" in there.

Italicized part by me for emphasis and the main thing I want to talk about here. The quote from Nomura can be found over at Kingdom Hearts Insider (which I will also link below in the comments).

We have Utada mentioning how Hikari is like the dawn and Passion is like the concluding dusk, thus connecting the two songs to each other in a sequel like way, just like Nomura mentions in his interview when he states that Passion is "Like a Hikari 2." So, in my mind, since Nomura states that "Passion is about Sora and Riku's reunion" and Utada uses the phrasing of dawn, as well as how the song highlights how past, present, and future relate to each other for the character in the song...I think it's pretty safe to say that Hikari is about Sora and Riku as well.

That seems to be what both Nomura and Utada are implying with their answers here. Now, I know that some people really like to say that Simple & Clean and Sanctuary are their own songs, which they are. The lyrics are different. But the thematic elements are still the same and there are still similar through lines (like the backward lyrics being the same in both Passion and Sanctuary for instance).

The lyrics of Hikari really fit Riku's views on Sora and the bond they have/had - the desire for it to remain unchanged. The person they are singing about being their light (Sora being Riku's light, something we know Riku views Sora as via things like the DDD Novel Side Riku). Simple & Clean's lyrics definitely fit Sora as a character and his voice more.

With Passion and Sanctuary it almost seems like this is reversed though. The English version, Sanctuary, has more lyrics that fit Riku and his perspective on Sora and their reunion. Meanwhile, Passion's lyrics fit Sora a lot more. The line: "I heard my old crush is having a baby in the wintertime" is quite interesting in various ways. The whole last set of lyrics in Passion aren't really directly related to KH, but more to general ideas of things that denote changes and passages of time (people having children, getting New Years cards, etc.).

It's also so interesting that Hikari is mentioned as being the Dawn (the time of day associated with Riku) and Passion the Dusk (the time of day that is often associated with Kairi). In KH2 is when we start to see a shift in Sora's feelings and interactions with Kairi (distance, drifting apart, change) and a reconnection happen with Sora and Riku (reunion, airing out feelings, better communication, reinforcing their friendship and bonds to each other, etc.).

We get games that focus more on Sora and Riku's bonds (Re-coded, BBB when they are little kids, and DDD) and Kairi is sadly neglected by the narrative and both Sora and Riku in a way. Something that we see her taking note of in KH3, more obviously through the novelization.

I don't know. To me these quotes just make me think it is very obvious that both Hikari/Simple & Clean and Passion/Sanctuary are all songs about Sora and Riku and their bond with each other. Of course, since KH3 is meant to be a conclusion to the Dark Seeker Saga, of which KH1 and KH2 are both a part of, it would make sense that Oath and Don't Think Twice are about them too.

Sadly, we don't really have anything remotely official to really solidify that interpretation though, not that official recognition of things like this are necessary - they aren't - but they do add more validity to interpretations and theories. Maybe some day we'll get a comment about Oath / Don't Think Twice from either Nomura or Utada. But until then...I'm still going to think that those songs are about Sora and Riku.

Anyway, these are just rambling thoughts on a topic I've talked about before (the KH themes like Oath / Don't Think Twice and their connection to Sora and Riku). But I was thinking about this all again with the new Hikari re-recording by Utada that came out recently. It's a beautiful re-recording that I definitely suggest every KH fan check out. I'll link that in the comments as well, lol. Also, feel free to add this via reblogs or in the comments! I might not respond right away, but I'll read everything that gets commented, added, etc.

#Soriku #KH #Kingdom Hearts #Sora x Riku #Nomura #Utada Hikaru #Hikari #Simple and Clean #Passion #Sanctuary #Don't Think Twice #Oath #long post #thought post

[puppy-steve]

january fic rec

so i figured that instead of waiting until december to make a big long post of all the fics i read throughout the year, i'd break it down into monthly recs instead. i barely read anything at all last year, and it makes me feel awful every time i think about it, so hopefully this method keeps me on track so i can make some headway on the hoard of fics i have saved.

this also helps to boost fics that might've been missed or overlooked in the chaos and carnage brought by the passage of time.

these will include tumblr fics as well as ao3 fics!

general warning: smut will be included in these so please read at your own discretion and heed any warnings and tags!

▸ january fic rec - b sides

break the ice (i can't take anymore) - T, 2.2k, complete @matchingbatbites

tags: hockey au, established relationship, shower sex, secret relationship

“I’m surprised you’re still here,” Steve says as he leans into Eddie’s creeping touch, the little bit of contact more of a tease than anything. “Thought you’d be back at the hotel by now.” Eddie grins up at Steve and tugs him closer. “And miss the chance to congratulate you properly? To show you how proud I am of you?” Steve full on shudders at that, his mouth drops in a soft gasp and his hands push up into Eddie’s hair. “Eddie…” “I am, Stevie. So proud of you, my baby.” He leans in and presses a kiss to Steve’s jersey-covered sternum. “Tell me what you want, princess. Anything, and it’s yours.”

what's mine is yours (to leave or take) - M, 8.2k, complete @thefreakandthehair | througheden

tags: modern au, baker eddie, nurse steve, waitress-inspired, getting together

Eddie's an amateur baker who desperately needs a healthy dose of hope. He finds it in the bottom of a pie dish and the hands of Steve Harrington.

Tax Time - T, 922, complete @simplebtromance

tags: modern au, established relationship, domestic fluff, competence kink, appalachian eddie

Eddie throwing his hair back into a hair clip he stole from Chrissy, face determined as he opened up his laptop on their coffee table, that used to be his Memaw's, and got the binder of bills and receipts out to do his and Steve's taxes. (He still feels gooey and not very metal when he sees Steve Munson on any paperwork or mail, they've been married for over 3 years now and he doesn't think it's gonna stop any time soon)

group hangout - E, 3.3k, complete plutorose

tags: modern au, college au, dom/sub, first time

When Steve and Eddie start seeing each other, Robin meets Eddie's roommate for the first time.

A Little Show - E, 4.1k, complete ItCanBePalped

tags: exhibitionism, pre-threesome, dom/sub

Chrissy and Robin can't wait to get their hands on each other. Unfortunately, the room they find is already occupied. Or maybe that's "fortunately".

BABY SAID - E, 3.8k, complete dartlekey

tags: t4t steddie, transmasc eddie, transmasc steve, college au, bathtub sex, scissoring

Drenched by a sudden downpour and locked out of the youth hostel they were supposed to be staying at, university students Steve Harrington and Eddie Munson find themselves unwittingly and very much against their will trapped in night-time Rome together, and sharing a cramped hotel room. And a bathtub. Things kind of escalate from there.

Love from the other side - M, 6.2k, complete @sidekick-hero

tags: modern au, nurse steve, vampire eddie

In his mind Steve goes over the things he knows. Eddie is a vampire. A vampire who killed another vampire to save Steve’s life. To save Chrissy’s life. Eddie is dying. He may already be dead, but it looks like vampires can die again. Permanently. Eddie wants his blood.

the devil's water, it ain't so sweet - E, WIP hesjustlikemefr

tags: modern au, sugar daddy eddie, sugar baby steve, transmasc steve, slowburn, age difference

After Steve's parents cut him off financially, Robin comes up with a brilliant plan for Steve to be able to pay his bills. SweetShoppe, the most professional sugaring app on the market. Steve is skeptical, until he comes across the profile of Eddie Munson, a music producer and the hottest guy Steve has ever seen. Maybe this wasn't the worst idea after all…

like rabbits - E, WIP crybaby

tags: alpha eddie, omega steve, daddy kink, dom/sub, established relationship, pussy drunk eddie

Steve shaves his pussy and dresses up as a Playboy Bunny. Eddie handles it well.

usa hockey is do or die - E, 4k, complete @steddieas-shegoes

tags: hockey au, dom/sub, established relationship

“Everyone expects a lot from Team USA captain Steve Harrington and his first alternate, Tommy Hagan, but everyone’s a bit shocked at the choice for second alternate. What do you have to say about Eddie Munson being the pick, Jack?” Steve already felt anger bubbling under his skin, the annoyance of the last few weeks finally reaching a boiling point. “Well, we all know he’s one of the best goalies out there, but it’s rare to see a goalie with an A or C. I’ll be honest, I was surprised he was chosen over Gareth Emerson, who showed us three shutouts in the last month at Boston University. Eddie’s been proving himself in the AHL, but I don’t think he’s got what it takes to get the boys to gold. I hope I’m proven wrong, but his careless attitude makes me think he isn’t leading these boys to a victory they want.” The tv in the hotel room snapped off and Steve stood up, pacing the carpeted floors with his fists clenched at his sides and a scowl.

driver roll up the partition please - E, 4.5k, complete @steddieas-shegoes

tags: modern au, rockstar eddie, bartender steve, semi-public sex, light dom/sub

The bow tie around Steve’s neck was choking him. It had to be made for children, but when he’d asked one of the waiters before they went on the floor, he shrugged and said they all were like that. But the lack of oxygen to his brain didn’t excuse the way he nearly dropped a glass of a half-shaken, half-stirred -yes, really- martini when the hottest man he’d ever seen walked up to the bar. He was chatting with a few people, smiling at them like he was truly happy to see them even though he was dressed like someone who was crashing the party. Steve had done a few events like this before and was never disappointed with the eye candy, but this guy was something else. His curls were perfectly maintained, falling just right along his shoulders. Did they say the hair was the curtain to the soul or was he just that enamored?

steve tells eddie about his fight with billy - T, 4.6k, complete @solarmorrigan

tags: post-s2, canon racism and violence, mentions of drug use

“Motherfucker,” he hisses, shaking his hand out, because it had hurt, and then he winds up to do it again, to make it hurt more, because at least he’s in control of that much, at least it’s anything but what he’s feeling right now. “That’s a good way to break your hand, y’know,” a voice comes from the doorway, startling Steve into pivoting and aiming his fist at whoever is coming after him now.

doesn't have to be anything, but i could be everything - E, 4.1k, complete | part 2 @steddieas-shegoes

tags: camboy steve, rockstar eddie, modern au, daddy kink, dom/sub

Steve being a content creator ( cosplay, streamer, YouTuber, onlyfans, webcam boy, illustrator anything in that ballpark) that keeps on getting these messages and blocks them only to be accosted at a convention by this person and Eddie being a low key fan or what ever randomly stepping up to help out

first kiss - T, complete @mcdynamite

tags: first kiss, pet names, getting together, fluff

Kissing has never done all that much for Steve, if he’s honest. It’s just not really something he’s ever given much thought to before - the way someone kisses - despite the fact that he’s locked lips with plenty of people. For him, kissing has always been something nice, but not particularly special. It’s never been earth-shattering. Never taken his breath away, the way people talk about in movies and books. It’s just a way to be closer to someone, and it’s nice, but it’s never anything more than that. Then, Steve kisses Eddie for the first time, and suddenly he gets it.

Good Morning, Daddy - E, 906, complete unholy_forest

tags: dom/sub, morning sex, daddy kink

A short and sweet oneshot of loving, sleepy morning sex between Steve and Eddie.

girls of your dreams (you know what i mean) - E, 2/2, complete @maxineholtzmann

tags: figure skating au, hockey au, threesome, established ronance

The two of them continued, kissing quietly. Chrissy wondered how far she could let this go before they realized she was awake. She ached to touch herself, listening to the panting and low moans now coming from the other bed. Fuck it. Chrissy rolled onto her back and Robin and Nancy froze. She looked over at them, Robin on top of Nancy, pinning her hands above her head. The kissing sounds Chrissy had heard were clearly actually Robin working on Nancy’s nipples with her mouth–both of the cups of the negligee had been pulled down leaving breasts exposed. Chrissy sighed. Slowly moving her hand down her body between her legs she said, “You don’t have to stop as long as I don’t have to stop.” Chrissy started circling her clit with her fingers, arching her back. “Are you sure?” Nancy asked, still panting. “Does it look like I’m not sure?” Chrissy said, using her other hand to fling the blankets back, spreading her legs and making sure Robin and Nancy could see where her hand had traveled.

Your Love Calls Me Home - T, 1.8k, complete @simplebtromance

tags: modern au, long distance relationship, online dating

Steve and Eddie have been in a long distance relationship for three years, and they're finally meeting.

Buckingham revenge program™ - E, series, WIP thequeermoon

tags: oral sex, strap-on sex, dirty talk, semi-public sex

It was all murmurs and unsteady breaths between them, and they barely touched. Outside the door the group laughed suddenly, startling the both of them. Just then they realized how close they were. Just a little step and their bodies would've touched. "Right, okay… " Robin coughed a bit, going slightly backwards. " …do you want to-" She didn’t get to finish that sentence. Chrissy, in full panic of losing the only chance she might have, threw herself at her lips, kissing her. It lasted so little that Robin had no chance to answer it, but it felt like eons. Chrissy opened her eyes, watching at her. Her cold hands on her face, her lips red, slightly parted to show these little teeth Robin thought were so endearing.

Swift Wings and a Brave Heart - T, WIP @paperbackribs

tags: werewolf steve, bat eddie, shapeshifting, found family

The beast stops, gaze narrowing at the pulse pounding in Eddie’s neck, and he quickly slaps a hand over it, trying to limit the temptation of the tasty-blood slash fresh-meat vibe he must be giving off. Robin scowls at Eddie, stepping forward to bury her hand comfortingly into the plush of its furry neck. “Don’t listen to him, Steve. He’s just being a big baby." Eddie has never been a normal type of guy, but he's owned it: he's a gay metalhead in the heart of small-town America and nothing's going to phase him. Nothing except being told that his recent demo-bat injuries might turn him into a shapeshifter like Steve Harrington.

safe and warm - E, 958, complete @steddieas-shegoes

tags: dom/sub, cock warming, pet names, coming untouched

Steve on his knees was a sight he would never get tired of. Something about the way his eyes closed, a rare sign of relaxation spreading over him, made Eddie wish he could be like this all the time, that they could always be like this.

new year's kiss - G, complete @steddieas-shegoes

tags: new year's eve kiss, getting together, pining

He hides in the bathroom, looks at his reflection in the mirror and tries to smile. He used to be so confident, used to be able to tell himself to make a move and make it successfully. But it used to not matter, not like this does. No one has ever mattered the way Eddie does.

first choice - G, complete @steddiealltheway

tags: nye, getting together, pining

Steve runs a hand through his hair and turns back to his abandoned stack of tapes only to turn back around as soon as the bell above the door rings. He turns around with a heavy sigh as soon as he realizes who it is. "Great to see you too," Eddie says with a humorless laugh. Robin cuts in before Steve can. "Don't take it personally. He's just unsuccessful in his mission to woo a lady and get a New Year's kiss." "Really?" Eddie asks, leaning across the counter. "I think I'm coming across as desperate." "Because you are," Robin adds unhelpfully.

holes on the house - M, 404, complete @cranberrymoons

tags: modern au, meet cute, food truck owner steve

There it is: a bright pink truck with an open side, glittering under the streetlight with a loose line of people waiting to order, The Hole printed on the side in white stylized script.

alpha/omega true mates - G, complete @stevieschrodinger

tags: omegaverse, alpha eddie, omega steve, true mates, canon divergence

Eddie, fucking excited as all hell to meet his Omega finally, opens his envelope to find Steve Harrington's name starring back at him and Eddie just. He just can't. Steve's one of the biggest bitches at Hawkins high. And even if Eddie can, sort of, get past that, Steve's a snob. He lives in a fucking mansion and has a nice car and preppy clothes and yeah...Eddie is going to get rejected stone cold and that would be fair because he doesn't have a single thing to offer and Omega like Harrington. Eddie burns the envelope.

henderfam - G, complete @loveinhawkins

tags: canon divergence, eddie lives, steve and dustin behaving like brothers, pre-steddie

God, I love you, Eddie thinks. Maybe some would say that’s too big a declaration to have even in his own head for a mundane, sleep deprived afternoon in hospital. He doesn’t care.

play nice - M, 387, complete @wormdebut

tags: daddy kink, dom/sub, possessive eddie

Eddie has died and gone to Heaven. (If that Heaven is covered in leather and latex…that’s his business.) This is the only explanation, he thinks, as he stares at his boyfriend. His very hot, very muscular, very unclothed boyfriend. Decked out in only a strappy harness and the sluttiest little leather shorts Eddie has ever seen.

need - E, 404, complete @wormdebut

tags: dom/sub, anal fingering, hot boys whimpering

His eyes flick all over Steve’s perfect fucking body, stopping to admire that beautiful cock. “Christ—I’m gonna tear you apart.” His eyes snap up to look into Steve’s perfect blown out ones. He’s perfect, Eddie’s boy.

bake off - G, complete @hairmetal666

tags: gbbo au, baker steve, rockstar eddie, tv host eddie

Steve who goes on a Bake Off type show after Robin, Dustin, and Max set him up as a contestant. He doesn't want to, doesn't think baking or cooking should be stressful, but he's been wallowing since his knee surgery took him out of work and basketball, since his divorce. His first day on set, he's totally gobsmacked by the sexy host with all the tattoos and long, curly hair. Just, cannot take his eyes off the guy, blushing and stammering whenever he comes around to do interviews, obviously can't stop starring.

talk it through - G, complete @strangersteddierthings

tags: established relationship, insecurities, future fic

“I think we should break up,” is what Eddie blurts the moment Steve opens the front door to reveal him. Steve’s first reaction is anger -how dare he?- but he doesn’t do anything with that anger. Instead, he takes a deep breath through his nose, crosses his arms, and looks Eddie over. He’s breathing heavily yet his van is parked along the curb. He didn’t run here. His hair, while never tame, looks rougher. He is fidgeting but in a nervous way, not his usual too much energy way. His eyes are wide and scared. It’s the last bit there that drains Steve’s anger. Something’s happened. He drops his arms and says, “well, you’re not dumping me on my porch. Get in here.”

frat steve - G, complete @strangersatellites

tags: college au, established relationship, frat steve

when he gets there he’s met with two guys, freshman surely. letters emblazoned across their cutoff muscle tees and hats turned backwards and perched, very stupidly if eddie shares his piece, atop their heads. they stop him with a hand up and friendly smiles and mock bravado “three actives,” bro number one states. eddie barely holds back an incredulous laugh. “you cannot be serious.”

flirting - T, complete @jewishrat420

tags: pining, pet names, flirting, "first of all my name is baby so jot that down"

"Don't call me that." He chances a look over at Eddie, at the risk of appearing as vulnerable as he feels, and to his distress, he can't get a read on the man. His dark eyebrows furrow, brown eyes squinting slightly, and his lips part like he wants to speak. He licks them. Steve's eyes follow the motion unintentionally. "Call you what?" Eddie says on an exhale. "A brat?" Steve shakes his head. "Harrington. Don't like it when you call me that."

kink discovery - M, complete @eddywoww

tags: hair pulling, dom/sub, getting together

He touches him the second time. When they’re all hanging out and the lights are low and Steve does it again and Robin only halfway gives him a weird look. It doesn’t stop Steve form blinking tired eyes up at Eddie, watching the way he gulps and hovers a hand over Steve’s face. “I like when people pet my hair,” He says unhelpfully, so high he can barely concentrate. Eddie makes a soft noise and blinks down at him. “You should- you should do that.”

cherry - M, complete @eddywoww

tags: omegaverse, tattoo artist eddie, alpha eddie, omega steve, age difference

And then he gets into Eddie’s studio and like- okay, Steve has always had a type. Older men, men who wore suits, men who worked with his father. Unattainable, already mated. Steve sort of assumes this guy is mated too. He looks like it, has a bite that’s weirdly faded on his neck. But Steve can’t smell an Omega on him. Or a Beta or an Alpha. No one. So sue him if he gets a little flirty. It fuels his self esteem, knowing they can look but he won’t let them touch.

eddie lives - T, complete @bonitabreezy

tags: canon divergence, steve carries eddie out of the upside down, eddie lives (but not without consequence)

Any part of him that had leaned into the idea that it was over and that they were safe was immediately washed away at the sound. His blood started to zing with adrenaline once more and he became hyper aware of everything around them, scanning the trees for danger. “Was that--” Nancy started, her shoulders a hard line, her hands no longer shaking. “Dustin,” Steve said, and he took off running.

4+1 - G, complete @steddieas-shegoes

tags: 5+1, steve carries eddie, eddie carries steve, eddie recovering from the bites

four times eddie gets carried and one time he does the carrying

▸ more fic recs ▸ more ficlets

#cj talks #fic rec #steddie #buckingham

[topshelf2112-blog]

Fellow enjoyers of suggestive desserts, I decided to translate this part of the episode “Distant Voices.” The actors are at fault for this, bless them. Translations are in bold.

BASHIR: Can I interest you in some more Yigrish cream pie?

May I entice you into eating a suggestive dessert as a prelude to other suggestive things?


GARAK: No, thank you, Doctor. I'm quite full.

You’re a touch obvious, you know that? As well as obscene. We are in public.

BASHIR: But you've hardly touched your food.

I pay very close attention to you, but only in totally appropriate ways.

GARAK: The truth is, I'm trying to lose a little weight. Hemming women's dresses may provide me with a modest income, but it offers very little in the way of exercise.

Tell me I’m pretty. Also thin.

BASHIR: Well if you like, I can help you set up an exercise programme in one of the holosuites here.

I am using exercise as a euphemism, here, darling. Hint hint.

GARAK: I might just take you up on that. And speaking of holosuites 
(Garak takes out an isolinear rod with a ribbon around it and hands it to Bashir.) 
GARAK: Happy birthday. I know it's a few days off, but I wanted to give you your present early. It's a Cardassian holosuite programme. An adaptation of one of Shoggoth's enigma tales.

Still in public, silly creature. No, you never told me your birthdate, but you think the spy thing is hot so I figured it out. Also, I refuse to share you with this entire station, so I’m celebrating you today. Speaking of getting up to things in the holosuite…

BASHIR: Is it? I see.

I told you I wanted you to design yourself some lingerie. You’re such a prude.

GARAK: You sound disappointed. I thought you enjoyed mystery novels.

Praise me for my thoughtfulness.

BASHIR: I do. Human mystery novels. The problem with Cardassian enigma tales is that they all end the same way. All the suspects are always guilty.

Lingerie, Garak. You won’t wear it in the holosuite so quit trying to distract me.

GARAK: Yes, but the challenge is determining exactly who is guilty of what. Is Lieutenant Dax throwing one of her surprise parties for you this year?

Jealousy.

BASHIR: Oh, so I'm told.

Come to the party and make out with me, you twit.

GARAK: You don't sound enthusiastic about that either.

Not happening.

BASHIR: It's not that I don't appreciate all the trouble she goes to and everything. It's just that this year is a little different.

Fine. If we aren’t going to discuss lingerie, existential angst it is.

GARAK: How so?

I can win much more easily at this.

BASHIR: This will be my thirtieth birthday.

Isn’t it obvious?

GARAK: And?

I’m older than you. Do be careful, hmm?

BASHIR: Well, in many human cultures, the thirtieth birthday is considered a sort of landmark. It marks the end of youth and the beginning of the slow march into middle age.

Plays: “Will you still love me when I’m no longer young and beautiful?”

GARAK: And that's considered bad?

Augmented does not mean that you exist outside of time, Julian. Honestly.

BASHIR: No. It's just that when you hit thirty, it becomes harder and harder to ignore the passage of time.

Tell me I’m pretty.

GARAK: I wasn't aware that humans saw growing old as a negative experience. On Cardassia, advanced age is seen as a sign of power and dignity.

Hint, hint. I’m hardly advanced, but you’ve secured yourself quite the catch, my dear.

BASHIR: Well I am aware that aging is part of the natural process of life. It's just that I don't want to be reminded of it, that's all. Look, Garak, in two days I turn thirty. If I choose to be grumpy about it, that's my prerogative

(Oblivious) Yes, I am a doctor but I would like to overlook all that biology rubbish.

GARAK: By all means, Doctor, be as grumpy as you like.

I’m feeling a touch cross myself, given that you are missing what’s right in front of you. This is what one gets for dating another species…

BASHIR: Thank you for the support.

What are you cranky about? I’m the one who is fast becoming ancient and undesirable.

QUARK: I hope you'll forgive the interruption.

Fierce and dangerous boyfriend of the idiot, I apologize for butting in.

GARAK: Of course.

At least someone sees my amazing qualities.

QUARK: You know, we just introduced a new lunch menu at the bar.

Can I sell you something? Anything? You’re looking much too thin!

BASHIR: Goodbye, Quark.

GARAK: Don’t take it personally. He’s turning thirty.

Apologies for my young, stupid boyfriend. He gets by on his looks, you know.

#star trek ds9 #julian bashir #elim garak #garak x bashir #garashir #humor

[mostly-mundane-atla]

Real talk: i have been pretty absent from this blog (i wouldn't say slacking necessarily because it is first and foremost a hobby, a means of communication second, and i do not consider it a job to any degree). Do not worry, nothing bad has happened, and a big part of it is rediscovering my love of literature. Got my hands on a copy of Thomas Kinsella's The Táin, read The Handmaid's Tale, and recently finished Ivanhoe through audiobook.

I've already been singing the praises of the Táin Bó Cúailnge so i'll spare you having to read through that gushing. Ivanhoe is incredible and shockingly sensitive on the topic of antisemitism for something written by an early 19th century Christian author intended for a majority Christian audience. The scenes with Robin Hood also filled me with a childish glee and i think it was suppose to be a surprise that this guy is Robin Hood but he introduces himself as Locksley and wins an archery contest and leads a gang of outlaws in the woods, including a hermit who refers to Alan-a-Dale quite a bit so it's very obvious to a modern reader. Handmaid's Tale was also as good as i've heard it was, but there's a specific detail i want to discuss that feels relevant to how i think of this blog and how others use it.

I've read the reviews and the plot synopses amd analyses, i knew about the epilogue that frames the story as a historical document a century or so in the future. This did not surprise me. What did catch me by surprise, and something i feel is entirely overlooked, is that this story of an oppressive theocratic regime that uses Biblical precedence to excuse extreme atrocities of human rights violations and turned out to not even last very long, is contextualized as the topic of a discussion hosted by First Nations academics who study white people cultures. You can be pedantic and say "oh but technically they're only First Nations coded because it's presented as a transcript with no physical descriptions" and to a degree you would be right; but when you see names like Maryann Crescent Moon and Johnny Running Dog used for professors of a University of Denay (an anglo-phonetic spelling of Diné/Dene) in Nunavit, there isn't much room for speculating what ethnicity they're supposed to be.

There are so many little details in the book referencing Indigenous genocide. Details suggesting forms of genocide Atwood would be familiar with as a Canadian citizen. To only bring up religious fanaticism and patriarchal regressive politics in Middle Eastern nations like Iran and Afghanistan as well as the United States as inspirations for a surface level five minute summary is one thing, but to ignore all the anti-Indigenous policies that are also obvious inspirations (literally just read the passages about how the Narrator/Offred's daughter was taken from her, renamed, and given to a "proper home" to get what i mean, it's that blatant) when the iconic epilogue makes it as explicit as it can be without writing "THESE ARE NATIVE ISSUES" in big red letters? I won't lie to you, it feels like a slap to the face. Especially when the take away message of such a conclusion seems to be that Native peoples will outlive these regimes.

#other interests #the handmaid's tale #ivanhoe #the táin #thus concludes Mostly Mundane's Angry Native Literary Analysis Corner

[intermundia]

Sorry to bother you but I'm curious to know your thoughts on this.

I know it's not technically canon but the novelization does at point depict anakin wanting to leave the order to raise his kids and padme encouraging him to stay. I know he's his own person and all but having his wife pushing him to keep up the lies and secrets is kind a factor in his decisions I would say. Having someone you care for so deeply tell you to keep living a lie is definitely something that would mess with your brain and influence your perspective on things.

Idk. Just something that I feel is overlooked sometimes in the discussion of Anakin’s decision in not leaving. I would really love to know your thoughts on this.

“Anakin, not here. It’s too risky.” “No, here! Exactly here.” He drew her against him again, effortlessly overpowering her halfhearted resistance. “I’m tired of the deception. Of the sneaking and the lying. We have nothing to be ashamed of! We love each other, and we are married. Just like trillions of beings across the galaxy. This is something we should shout, not whisper—” “No, Anakin. Not like all those others. They are not Jedi. We can’t let our love force you out of the Order—” “Force me out of the Order?” He smiled down at her fondly. “Was that a pun?” “Anakin—” He could still make her angry without even trying. “Listen to me. We have a duty to the Republic. Both of us—but yours is now so much more important. You are the face of the Jedi, Anakin. Even after these years of war, many people still love the Jedi, and it’s mostly because they love you, do you understand that? They love the story of you. You’re like something out of a bedtime tale, the secret prince, hidden among the peasants, growing up without ever a clue of his special destiny—except for you it’s all true. Sometimes I think that the only reason the people of the Republic still believe we can win the war is because you’re fighting it for them—” “And it always comes back to politics for you,” Anakin said. His smile had gone now. “I’m barely even home, and you’re already trying to talk me into going back to the war—”

yeah so i think that padmé's encouragement to live the lie is deeply unhelpful. if i recall correctly, there are two key times anakin thinks about leaving the order, both of which are in her presence, and yet she is the one who offers pressure back toward staying. the above passage is taken from right after they are reunited, and it is so telling to me. padmé loves him as her husband, yes, but she also sees him as larger than life, and says things that absolutely feed his ego. she encourages him to think the rules don't apply to him, because he is so important and special.

she doesn't take his commitment to the order seriously with respect to what it means to be a jedi, but she wants him to stay there anyway. i think that this kind of encouragement is rather similar to palpatine's manipulations, though she definitely has less sinister motives, the result is the same. her permission to break rules exacerbates the potential weaknesses in his character that lead to his fall. it compounds with sidious's maneuvering. her pressure makes him feel like not only a tool of the jedi but also the democratic opposition, unable to have what he wants because of politics and duty that he doesn't personally care about. all he cares about is getting what he wants.

i honestly don't know if he was ever genuinely serious about leaving the order. he clearly does not take his commitment seriously, but he also craves the power that having high status in the order brings, both in terms of access to force training and the glory of being the youngest council member. he thinks of leaving only when he's directly looking at padmé, not otherwise. so basically it's unclear to me whether or not he actually meant to leave, but what is not unclear is that padmé absolutely pressured him and flattered him, manipulating him and trying to use him (not with bad intentions! with the best of intentions!), and it encourages him to the edge of darkness. his perspective is absolutely shaped by her words.

i just believe that they make each other worse. that is the tragedy of their relationship imho. they love each other, and it harms them both.

#anakin skywalker #anti anidala #i think #which is just kind of canonical to me as anidala is bad for both of them in the text #but anyway #yeah i think it is important to keep in mind #sw #sw meta

[larkawolfgirl]

Crossroads (Clerifa)

Rating: General Audiences

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/F, F/M, Multi

Fandoms: Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VII (Video Game 1997)

Relationships: Aerith Gainsborough/Tifa Lockhart/Cloud Strife, Tifa Lockhart/Cloud Strife, Aerith Gainsborough/Tifa Lockhart, Aerith Gainsborough/Cloud Strife

Characters: Aerith Gainsborough, Tifa Lockhart, Cloud Strife, Barret Wallace, Red XIII | Nanaki (Compilation of FFVII), Yuffie Kisaragi

Additional Tags: Getting Together, Polyamory, Flirting, Dates

Summary: Aerith hatches a plan that involves a handful of dates, numerous honest conversations, and a galore of stolen touches.

Read on ao3 (recommended since I change POV often and I don't have the patience to add scene breaks here)

Cloud's boots crunched against the gravel as he and Aerith meandered through tranquil streets. Kalm, full of relaxed townspeople, felt like a world away from the turbulent life they led. Like its namesake, it was a brief respite, a stolen moment of calm before the storm that inevitably followed them.

"Hey! Wanna climb the clocktower together?” Aerith suggested with excitement as she tugged at his arm. “ I hear it’s the best view in Kalm.”

She led him to a stone overlook that loomed over the small, quaint houses below. Their footsteps echoed against the stone as they ascended to the top. The view stretched past the town, showcasing the edge of Midgar, the earthen outcroppings surrounding it, and the wild plains with its green landscape that lay beyond. After Midgar’s drab dirt and metallic infrastructure, the sight was as relieving to his eyes as the release he had felt in his lungs from the fresh air.

"Never had much time to appreciate views like this," Cloud admitted, his voice softer than he intended.

"Then let's enjoy it while we can," Aerith said, leaning against the railing. “Funny, isn’t it? How small it looks.” Her voice was reminiscent, clearly missing the city she knew and loved.

He didn’t know if he could ever come to love Midgar, but he could relate to missing your hometown. “It is far away,” he said.

It was unclear if the statement made her feel any better since she turned toward him and changed the subject. “Did anything happen between you and Tifa?” She smiled as if wanting him to admit something.

His dismay must have shown because she continued, “Don’t look so shocked. We’re roommates, you know.”

Cloud turned back toward the view. “She say something?”

He could see Aerith shaking her head from his peripheral. “Not about you two, no. Still, I can tell.” She set her gaze back on Midgar. “I would’ve given anything to have a friend when I was growing up.” She turned back toward him. “Don’t take her for granted.”

They stood in silence for a moment, the only sound the whistling wind which was causing Aerith’s chestnut hair to flutter. The Ancient shifted closer until their arms were touching. Cloud tensed but didn’t pull away.

“We should head back soon, he said, eyes scanning the town below in search of their party members. “The others will wonder where we are.”

“But we just got up here!” she pouted. “Don’t you like spending time with me?”

Heat rose in his cheeks. “That’s not—”

Cloud cut himself off when a thrumming sound instantly alerted his SOLDIER reflexes to approaching danger. Not a second later, airships suddenly littered the sky. Shouts erupted from the streets below as Shinra troopers stormed the town.

“They’re looking for us, aren’t they?” Aerith asked.

“Gotta be.”

His enhanced senses picked up on the sound of doors being kicked in. If they stayed here they would be surrounded.

The flower girl clutched his arm. “What should we—”

“We need to get down, now!” Cloud barked. Aerith nodded, her usual cheer replaced by a steely determination.

After retreating from the clocktower, by a strike of luck, they encountered the innkeeper who showed them to a hidden passage that led out of town. Aerith climbed down first, with Cloud taking up the rear. At the bottom, they found a small earthy passageway where Tifa, Barret, and Red XIII were waiting.

Tifa’s beautiful face lifted at the sight of them. “You made it! All in one piece?”

Barret turned around, his deep voice echoing throughout the small space. “For the love of…Where the hell have you two been?”

Aerith took hold of Cloud’s arm. “On a date,” she explained, her voice chipper even though Shinra was still nearby.

Barret's mouth hung open, his usual gruff composure momentarily shaken. Even Red XIII’s eye widened in surprise.

But Tifa’s reaction was the one Aerith cared about. The woman took a step back, her dark eyes fixed on Aerith in disbelief. “Were you really?” There was a tremor in her voice. Was it from confusion or fear of having lost her chance? Aerith hoped Tifa was interested but she didn’t want to upset her.

Cloud’s reaction was more expressive but still difficult to pin down. Was he surprised by Tifa’s reaction, or upset that Aerith was giving her the wrong impression?

Time for damage control. “Yeah, kinda,” she said in an attempt to assure her that both she and Cloud were still on the market.

The other woman’s shoulders subtly relaxed. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but then closed it again.

“Well, that was the last one!” Barret bellowed. “Least till things calm down. Got that?”

The three of them all nodded in unison. Aerith had to hold back a giggle when Red XIII gave his own delayed nod.

The party set out into the expansive Grasslands, with lush greenery, wild herbs, and colorful flowers. Aerith missed home, but she loved the sight of life surrounding them. It was proof that the Planet still had a chance.

Barret led the way, his heavy boots thudding against the ground, a reassuring rhythm amidst the rustle of grass and the distant calls of wildlife. Red XIII paced gracefully beside him, his fiery tail flicking this way and that, while Cloud walked ahead of Tifa, his gaze fixed forward.

Aerith quickened her pace until she was walking beside Tifa at the back of the group. She nudged Tifa's elbow gently, her smile widening as she caught the other woman's attention. "Beautiful day for a walk, isn't it?"

“Yeah,” the other woman replied in a neutral tone.

"No hard feelings, right?" the flower girl asked gently.

Tifa glanced at her briefly before looking away. "Of course not," she said, but her words lacked conviction.

“It was just a little date. Nothing serious.”

Her friend shrugged, eyes fixed ahead. "It's fine, Aerith. You and Cloud are both free to do as you please."

Aerith shook her head. "That's not what this is about." She touched Tifa's arm. "Won’t you talk to me?"

The martial artist finally met her gaze. Aerith saw the hurt lingering there, but she also saw trust.

Tifa's expression softened. "I overreacted," she admitted. "It just...took me by surprise."

Aerith nodded, relief washing over her. "I'm sorry I sprung it on you like that. Friends?"

Tifa smiled. "Friends."

Aerith leaned in. She nudged her playfully, her voice a whisper meant only for her ears. "You could always ask Cloud on a date too, you know?" The words floated between them like dandelion seeds caught in a gentle breeze.

Tifa's stride faltered for the briefest of moments, her gaze darting sideways to meet Aerith's expectant eyes. A flush crept up her neck, painting her cheeks with a soft rose hue that rivaled the bloom of the wildflowers dotting the plains. "I-I don't think so," she stammered, the quiver in her voice betraying the calm demeanor she tried to maintain. "That's not... I'm not interested in Cloud like that."

But even as she said it, Aerith could tell Tifa's denial rang hollow. She clearly had feelings for Cloud that she was unwilling to confront. The Ancient linked her arm through her friend’s. "If you say so," she said, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

The plains sprawled endlessly under the wide sky containing countless paths they could follow. Aerith's boots crunched softly on the dry earth as she kept pace with Tifa.

"Or maybe," Aerith mused aloud, her voice laced with a teasing lilt, "you'd rather go on a date with me?" Her hand found its way to Tifa's arm, fingers looping around it in a playful, almost affectionate grip.

Tifa's footsteps stuttered, caught off guard by the unexpected twist in their conversation. With a nervous chuckle, she glanced at Aerith. "What? No!" Her words came out in a flustered rush, the corner of her lips pulling despite her best efforts to remain composed. "I already told you I’m not interested in dating right now,” she insisted.

Aerith just smiled, undeterred by her denial in the face of her telling reaction. “I’m only joking. No reason to get so worked up.”

Tifa sighed, rubbing her temples. “I think you enjoy putting me on the spot more than anything else."

"Guilty as charged," Aerith sing-songed, releasing the bartender’s arm to twirl ahead of her, the hem of her pink dress catching the light. "But you can't blame me for trying."

"Trying to do what, exactly?" Tifa asked.

"Trying to see you smile, of course!" she proclaimed, spinning back to face her. "You're far too serious sometimes."

A gentle breeze swept across the field fluttering their long hair. They both laughed as Tifa’s, unconfined as it was, obscured her face as it twisted itself to the mercy of the wind. Aerith reached out, using her fingers to work out the small knots that had formed.

"And what about you, Miss Gainsborough?” she asked with fond exasperation. “Are you interested in dating anyone?"

"Me?" Aerith blinked, feigning innocence before breaking into a wide grin. “Maaybe. I’m just trying to enjoy our journey with everyone."

"That’s a convenient answer." Tifa’s earlier embarrassment faded as she fell into step beside her again.

"Life is full of conveniences and inconveniences," Aerith quipped. "We just have to make the best of what we’ve got."

"Speaking of that, we've got bigger things to worry about right now than dating."

"Fair enough," Aerith conceded, her expression softening. "But don’t rule it out, okay? You can’t just sit around for the right time."

Tifa’s eyes softened with the understanding of her meaning. “Okay.”

The days passed in a blur of travel and combat as they made their way to Junon. Aerith’s suggestion about her going on a date with Cloud still lingered in Tifa’s mind. The way Aerith could so effortlessly bring joy to the group was a special kind of magic. The banter between Aerith and her helped lighten the mood. Their playful exchanges and inside jokes worked to continuously deepen their friendship, despite their contrasting personalities, allowing them to work together better during combat. Perhaps, becoming closer with Cloud was not as much of a distraction from their mission as it originally seemed.

One evening, as they set up camp for the night, Tifa watched Cloud hammer stakes into the ground with concentration. Her heart thrummed an uncertain rhythm, Aerith's words echoing in her mind like a playful ghost. Going on a date seemed absurd given their situation, yet...Tifa couldn’t deny she was intrigued. She glanced over at Cloud who had moved on to sharpening his sword. The firelight danced across his focused face, highlighting his attractive features, causing her heart to give a nervous flutter.

Before she could talk herself out of it, Tifa approached him.

"Cloud," she began, her voice barely more than a whisper.

He looked up, the blue of his eyes piercing even in the fading light. "Yeah, Tifa?"

She hesitated, fidgeting with her gloves. "Can I... talk to you for a second?" she asked, her hands involuntarily clenching and unclenching at her sides.

"Sure." Cloud wiped his brow with the back of his hand before standing up, concern straining the details of his face. "Is everything alright?"

"Everything's fine," she assured him quickly, perhaps too quickly. "I just...” The unsaid words tangled in her throat even as Aerith's encouragement wrapped around her courage giving it a gentle nudge. Just say it, she told herself.

"Take your time," Cloud said softly, and there was an understanding in his gaze that made her heart skip. He waited, the calm in his stance offering her the silence she needed to gather her thoughts.

Tifa took a steadying breath, her resolution solidifying with every pulse of her heartbeat. "I was thinking…maybe we could go out. Just the two of us. Like on a date."

The words hung between them, and for a moment, the only sound was the soft rustle of leaves. Cloud paused, his hands stilling as he turned to face her with a flicker of surprise.

"A date?" His voice held a mix of confusion and curiosity. He straightened, looking at her with an intensity that made her heart race. "What's gotten into you two?"

She forced an awkward laugh and avoided his gaze. “I just thought it might be nice.”

Tifa felt like crawling under a rock, but Cloud's eyes were still on her, waiting for an explanation. She forced another laugh. "Aerith was just teasing me the other day about the two of us going on a date." She gestured vaguely between them. "Got me thinking, that's all."

Cloud raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it.

"I mean, we've been friends for so long but we haven’t spent that much time together," Tifa continued, grasping for words. "Might be nice to spend some time just the two of us."

She chanced a glance at him. To her surprise, his expression had softened.

"Yeah, maybe you're right.”

Now it was Tifa's turn to look shocked. "Really?"

Cloud rubbed the back of his neck. "We haven't had a proper chance to catch up."

A smile tugged at Tifa's lips. "No, we haven't."

"Alright, we’ll have a date."

"Great!" she exclaimed, her enthusiasm only slightly undercut by the tremble in her voice. "Before we leave Junon?”

“Sounds good.”

Tifa's heart fluttered again, but this time with excitement. She was finally going to get her chance with Cloud. And she had Aerith to thank for giving her that little push.

The group decided to hunker down in Under Junon for a while to take on some side work, so it was easy for the old friends to slip away. Cloud walked alongside Tifa, his hands shoved into his pockets, his mind racing with questions about the sudden shift in their dynamics.

Tifa fidgeted with her hair. "So, where should we go?"

Cloud thought for a moment. “Somewhere quiet.” It made sense if they aimed to catch up by themselves.

“How about the stream?”

He nodded and she began leading them out of town and into a calm grove of trees. Their silence was comfortable yet filled with words neither of them seemed ready to voice. Cloud stole glances at her, noticing the tentativeness of her normally steady stride and the way she kept tugging on her gloves.

They approached a gentle stream reflecting the morning sun. "Nice spot," he said, the first thing that came to mind.

"Thought you'd like it," Tifa replied with a soft tone. They came to a stop at the water's edge, the sounds of the flowing stream mingling with the distant chirps of birds. "Thanks for agreeing to this," she added after a moment, her gaze fixed on the glistening water. "It means a lot."

Cloud nodded, though he remained silent, unsure how to navigate through the unfamiliar territory they were treading. His heart hammered in his chest, and he wondered if she could hear it.

"Is everything okay?" Tifa asked suddenly, turning to look at him with concern.

"Yeah," Cloud said, though the quick response felt automatic. "Just... wasn't expecting this."

"Me neither," she admitted, her shoulders slumping as if releasing a weight she'd been carrying. "But here we are."

"Here we are."

Silence fell between them other than the trickling of the water. They stood side by side, close enough to touch each other, but neither of them moved to bridge the gap.  Cloud’s skin tingled knowing she was so close. The unspoken tension weighed down on them, demanding acknowledgment.

“Look.” Her voice was barely above a whisper as she pointed at a bluebird perked on a low-hanging branch. “Isn’t it cute?”

The tone of her voice instantly reminded him of her saying similar things about stray cats they would find around town. If she had had her way, she would have adopted all of them.

“Fluffy would eat him for breakfast,” he said.

Tifa turned toward him with exaggerated outrage, with wide eyes and hands on her hips. “No, she wouldn’t!”

Bringing his hand to his mouth, he gave a soft chuckle. “Sure.”

Her body relaxed. “I miss her. What pet did you want as a kid?” she asked, tone tinged with nostalgia.

Cloud lowered his head. “Cat.” He said it low enough that if she wasn’t paying attention she wouldn’t have heard.

She turned fully toward him again. “Huh? Then why didn’t you ever take one in?”

“Mom wouldn’t let me.” He never told her that he had begged his mom to let him bring in some of the first batch of stray kittens they had found. He had used Tifa’s gentle heart as an excuse, but he had just wanted to feel like they had something in common.

Tifa smiled and bumped her hip into his. “We probably shouldn’t tell Red that we’re both team cat.”

He looked up and rolled his eyes. “For one, he doesn’t want to be viewed as a dog. And two, I don’t even think he is a dog.”

She didn’t say anything, but the silence was natural this time. Then, “Oh! There’s another one.”

He craned his neck to see where she was pointing, and his shoulder brushed hers in the process. His whole body stilled waiting for a response. There was an intake of air and a slight tremble in her arm.

"So...” There was an extended pause, but she didn’t move her arm away. “How have you been?”

Cloud rubbed his neck. "I've been alright. Just trying to figure things out, I guess."

"Anything you want to talk about?" she asked gently.

"My memory is still pretty confusing and hazy in places. But having you and the others around...it helps."

Tifa smiled. "I'll always be here if you need someone to listen."

Cloud met her eyes. "Thanks, Tifa."

His hand brushed hers as they walked back toward the inn, their fingers flirting with the idea of interlocking but never quite committing to the gesture. Time had escaped them as they talked about the paramount and the mundane, from their shared past in Nibelheim to the uncertain future that lay ahead.

As they approached the inn, Tifa slowed her pace. "This was really nice, Cloud. We should...do it again sometime."

He gave a small smile. "Yeah, I'd like that.”

She beamed and gave his arm an affectionate squeeze before letting go.

They paused outside the door, neither ready to end the night nor sure how to continue it. The air around them was charged with words left unsaid and feelings only hinted at.

"Bye, Cloud," she whispered, stepping forward briefly as if she might bridge the gap between them, before thinking better of it. "We should probably head inside before the others start to worry."

The ex-SOLDIER nodded and held the door open for her. Tifa's cheeks flushed as she stepped inside before him.

Finding her room, she took a deep breath before entering. It was a cherished private room, where she should be able to ruminate on her feelings from the day in solitude, but Tifa knew with full certainty that Aerith would be waiting inside to ambush her with questions. The other woman had a way of wrangling private information from her, and while she hadn’t told Aerith today was the day of their date, the other woman had a keen sense of intuition.

As expected, as soon as she opened the door, she was met with green eyes alight with curious intensity. Aerith bounded over to her and clasped her hands in hers.

“Soooo, how was your date?” It was clear that she was proud of herself for knowing that information without having to be told. Her otherworldly ability to pick up on information she shouldn’t know used to scare Tifa a little, but now it felt as commonplace as the lifestream flowing throughout the planet.

A smile formed on Tifa’s face. “It was nice.”

Aerith’s grin widened and her eyes danced. “Just nice?”

“Uh…It was…” She wasn’t sure how to capture the nuances of their day. “Nostalgic. Relieving? We talked a lot.”

“Uh-huh.” Aerith nodded with her hand on her chin as if she was deducing some grand mystery. “What else?”

Tifa took a step back toward the wall. “What else?”

The flower girl stepped forward closing the space she had created and successfully cornering Tifa both physically and metaphorically. “Yeah, you know, hand-holding,” she squeezed Tifa’s hand as if demonstrating, “kissing?”

Her heart hammered in her chest as Aerith began leaning forward as if she was actually going to kiss her. Right before she made contact, Tifa turned her head away.

Aerith giggled at her reaction. “I’m not going to kiss you, silly.” She twirled a lock of her hair. “Unless you want me to.”

Tifa could feel blood in her cheeks burning through her skin. She quickly changed the topic back to her date. “No! We, uh, just brushed skin a little.”

The flower girl leaned in again with a huge smirk. “Oooh? Brushing skin, huh?”

Tifa nearly died at the realization of what she was implying. “Of course not!” Her voice lowered to a near whisper. “We just brushed arms and hands a bit.”

The Ancient’s enthusiasm calmed by about half. “That’s disappointing.”

For some reason, it got under her skin that Aerith expected more from them. “It was really nice, okay?” she said defensively.

“I’m sure it was. But didn’t you want to do something more? To make it like a real date rather than just spending time with your friend?”

Of course, she wanted that. But she wasn’t sure yet if that was what he wanted. Besides, she didn’t know what was going on between him and Aerith. “What about your date, huh? What juicy details do you have to share?”

She regretted the question immediately. What if she did have juicy details to share? Tifa didn’t know if she was emotionally ready to know that they had been intimate.

“Weell…” Aerith trailed off, turning around so that her braid hovered in the air for a brief moment. “It wasn’t as spectacular as I would have liked either, being cut short by Shinra and all. Buut, I did manage to hold his arm before it was over.”

Tifa didn’t realize she was breathing out in relief until Aerith pointed it out.

“You really like him, don’t you?” Her eyes and voice were soft now, full of that nurturing aura that sometimes made Tifa want to fall against her and let all of her pent-up pain out.

The bartender ducked her head. “Is it that obvious?”

Aerith giggled. “To everyone but the man in question. I don’t know how he can be so oblivious. Sometimes I don’t even think he knows I’m flirting.” Then her expression turned serious. “It won’t hurt to be more straightforward. Push him a little. Just be careful with him. There’s a lot of hurt buried there.”

Tifa swallowed the lump forming in her throat. “I know. But I’ll be there for him, no matter what.”

Aerith’s smile was heartfelt as she pulled her in for a quick hug. “Good. I’m happy for you both.” She stepped back, eyes shining again. “So? When’s the next date?”

Tifa chuckled, shoving at her shoulder playfully. “I don’t know. I figured I’d let him process this one first.”

The flower girl nodded. “Wise choice. Can’t scare him off too quickly.” She winked and Tifa shook her head in amusement.

It was always so easy with Aerith. Much easier than with Cloud who acted so much like a bristling cat ready to run away at the slightest movement. But Tifa didn’t understand why it felt this way. She should be jealous of her, shouldn’t she? Wasn’t she? Unlike her, Aerith was open with her affections and didn’t shy away from pushing Cloud past his comfort zone to make her point across. It scared her because it felt like any day she would lose the man she had been reaching for since childhood. He always felt two steps away, just out of arm’s reach, while Aerith was always there within her personal space. Not just there, and not just accepting that they both liked him, but actively supporting Tifa’s feelings.

It shouldn’t make sense.

Tifa's gaze fell to her wrist where she tugged at the elastic of her glove. “Aren’t you jealous?”

“Of course not. There’s no need for that,” Aerith answered in a tone too light to be forced. “I want you two to be happy.”

“But you like him,” she pushed.

Aerith nodded. “I do. But that doesn’t give me any right to deny your feelings, especially when you’re so right for each other.”

Tifa supposed there was logic to that. What good was there in fighting with each other? They should leave it up to Cloud to decide how things ended. “You’re right. We’re friends, after all.”

The other woman grinned and hugged her arm. “Best friends!” Blood rushed to Tifa’s neck when Aerith pushed her head up against it.  “And as best friends, I think we deserve a date, too.”

It took a moment for the other woman’s words to register. It wasn’t unusual for friends to spend time together, but in Tifa’s experience, it was the first time a friend outing had been called a date. Was that something unique to growing up in Midgar, or did Aerith have some ulterior motive here? “You…want to go on a date with me?” she asked with uncertainty.

Aerith let go of her and tilted her head to the side. “Why not? It’ll be fun!”

“I don’t know…” she said slowly.

“Come on, live a little!” She gave her arm a playful shake. “It doesn’t have to be anything serious. Just two gals being pals.”

What harm was there, if it wasn’t a serious date? Besides, Tifa had to admit that the idea of spending more time alone with the bubbly woman did sound appealing.

“Alright,” she answered with a playful roll of her eyes. “I’ll treat you to a date.”

Aerith’s grin widened and she began bobbing up and down on the balls of her feet. “Yes! And what a treat it will be!” Suddenly, she moved in and stole a kiss on Tifa’s cheek. “Get ready for the best date ever!”

Tifa brought a hand up to her cheek, still warm from her touch, as she watched Aerith practically skip out of her room.

What did she get herself into?

Tifa got up early the next morning and knocked softly on Aerith’s door. “Aerith? Are you awake?”

“Coming!” came her chipper reply.

When the wooden door opened, Tifa was met with an unexpected sight. The Ancient was in a baby blue nightgown that draped over her gentle curves like a cascade of stardust, shimmering in the light with an otherworldly allure. It whispered secrets unspoken, tempting yet untouchable. Her smooth arms were on full display and her chestnut hair was down and still mussed from sleep. Even her smile was mellower than usual.

“Come in.” She stepped aside so that Tifa could enter the room and shut the door behind her. “Want to help me pick?”

Spread out over the bed were two different dresses. One was a darker shade of blue than the nightgown she was currently wearing and the other was rose pink. If she had to describe Aerith by color, she’d choose pink. However, now that she saw her in the blue nightgown, she wondered if that color brought out more of her natural beauty. The pink one was pattered with flowers while the blue was solid.

Unconsciously, Tifa licked her bottom lip as she imagined her in each of them. The pink would give a fresh appearance, soft and breathable, while the blue would make her look mature and sophisticated.

“Pink,” she blurted before she could say the opposite. The blue was distracting…dangerous somehow.

“Good choice.” Aerith’s voice was rich like honey. She picked the dress up and reached around her neck as if ready to change right there in front of her.

“What are you doing?”

Unperturbed, the Ancient kept smiling. “Changing, silly.”

“Shouldn’t you go in the bathroom, or have me leave, or something?” Tifa hated how hot her cheeks felt. She was sure Aerith was loving getting a rise out of her.

The other woman moved in close. The hem of her nightgown brushed against the bare skin of Tifa’s thigh sending shivers through her. “Why? We’re both girls, aren’t we?” Her face was so close they could have touched.

Yeah, but…Tifa’s mind couldn’t come up with a good reason to explain why she shouldn’t watch Aerith get changed.

Taking her silence as an answer, Aerith stepped back and began lifting her nightgown off. At the last second, Tifa’s brain pulled itself out of her daze and she spun around before seeing anything indecent.

She could hear giggling behind her and forced her mind away from the picture it was trying to fill in on its own.

“How did you get these?”

“Cloud and I made a bit of extra money back in Wall Market. I wanted something nice for special occasions.”

“Special occasions?”

There was a rustling of fabric. “Days like today.”

“What about the dress you wore back then?”

“That was a rental, same as yours.”

Then Aerith was in front of her holding out her trademark pink ribbon. Her head was in a cute tilt. “Do it for me?”

They sat down on the edge of the bed. Tifa worked her fingers through her silken hair. It felt relaxing and intimate. It brought back memories of practicing different hairstyles on her mother before she passed. She had loved doing hair so much, that she used to beg the neighbor girls, and sometimes Cloud, to let her play beautician. After leaving Nibelheim, she hadn’t had many opportunities until meeting Barret and Marlene. The little girl was more than willing, but there was only so much that could be done with her short cut. Aerith’s long, thick hair held endless possibilities.

Tifa played with the ends before folding them over her fingers to begin braiding. “You’re normal braid, right?”

The other woman shook her head. “Your choice.” She could hear her smile in her voice.

What would suit her? Anything probably. Tifa had an idea. Her fingers began folding her hair again. “Hopefully, I still remember how to do this.”

Aerith touched her hand briefly. “I trust you.”

Tifa’s heart sped up at the praise. Carefully, she worked her hair into a double half-French braid. It came in on both sides before working down the back while the remainder of her hair flowed naturally.

“Do you like it?” she asked, feeling nervous.

The flower girl touched the tight braids and smiled. “I love it. I’d never be able to do it this well.”

Tifa scratched her cheek. “I can teach you if you’d like.”

Aerith latched onto her side. “Definitely. That can be our next date!”

Tifa gave a nervous laugh. “Okay.”

Downstairs they met the rest of the group gathered in the inn lobby. So much for slipping away undetected.

Barret glared with a sour expression. “Looks like I was right.”

Great, another lecture. “Right about what?” Tifa asked.

“You and SOLDIER boy were gone half the day yesterday. Now you come down here dressed for a soiree.”

Tifa looked at Cloud. His face was tense, his arms crossed, and his eyes stared into hers with a burning intensity. Was he mad?

“You said not to relax until we were safer,” Tifa said.

Barret grunted. “Yeah, well we ain’t exactly safe yet.”

“Oh, come on!” Aerith said. “Lighten up! We’re just having a bit of manageable fun. Maybe you should have some too.”

He rolled her neck. “Any suggestions? Not like I have a pretty date to take out. Unlike the rest of you, apparently.”

Aerith smirked and took Tifa’s hand in hers. “Sorry, the lady’s taken for the day. But I’m sure you can find something else fun to do.”

“By the Lifestream, it really is a date.” He looked over at Cloud before looking at the two of them again. “I don’t know what’s goin’ on with you three, and maybe I don’t want to know. Just be smart and be safe, got that?”

“Yes, sir!” the flower girl saluted with chipper enthusiasm.

“Of course. Thank you for worrying about us,” Tifa said with genuine appreciation.

Barret’s muscles eased and he waved his hand dismissively. “Now, get on with it. The sooner you leave the sooner you’ll be back.”

Red XIII padded up to them, tail swishing inquisitively. “How fascinating. I was not aware human courtship rituals extended to same-sex pairings.”

Tifa could feel her face growing warm. “That’s not exactly…”

“Why not?” Aerith asked. “Does it seem strange?”

“Hmm.” Red thought about it for a moment. “Not particularly. I was just unaware.”

Aerith leaned down and scratched behind his ears. He must have been in a good mood because he didn’t protest and even swished his tail in response. “I’m sure you’ll find someone too, one day,” she whispered.

Tifa’s heart clenched, remembering that he was supposedly the last of his kind. It put things in perspective that she should be grateful to have a complicated love life rather than a non-existent one.

Red nuzzled his nose against her hand. “Thank you. Be safe.”

“We will,” Tifa promised.

Everyone was watching them, but the glow of Cloud’s eyes was the last thing she saw on their way out.

Cloud waited a moment before heading toward the inn’s entrance.

Barret let out a heavy sigh. “Don’t tell me you’re gonna tail ‘em?”

Cloud only barely turned to face him, hand poised on the door handle. “So, what if I am?”

The gunman grunted. “How’d I get caught up in this drama?”

Cloud didn’t bother to answer that. He wouldn’t call it drama anyway. It wasn’t as if any of them were fighting. If anything, it was the opposite. He was…confused to say the least. “I’ll make sure nothing happens.”

“Sure you will.”

He’d lost time from the conversation, but it didn’t take long to spot Aerith’s flower dress among the crowd. Keeping a safe distance away, he watched the two women stroll through town. Laughter floated in the air, light and carefree.

Tifa looked more relaxed now that she thought no one was watching. He could see excitement reflecting in her red eyes as she took in the wares of the market. She looked more at ease than she had yesterday, when she had seemed concerned she might do something she regretted. Yet, Cloud could tell there was still some hesitance each time she moved too close to the other woman.

Aerith, on the other hand, was as eager and affectionate as ever. It seemed that she was taking every opportunity to reach out and touch her, locking a stray hair behind Tifa’s ear, brushing their fingers together as she handed her something, or even locking arms so she could lead her in another direction.

Each time, her touch lingered longer than necessary, and Tifa would offer a polite smile and tinted cheeks.

It was puzzling.

He observed them enter a small café, the bell above the door chiming. Lingering across the street, he watched Aerith lead Tifa to a table with a hand on her back. He looked down at his own hand, imagining what it might feel like to do the same. The thought was terrifying.

When their drinks arrived, the Ancient whispered something into Tifa’s ear, causing her to let out a startled giggle.

Maybe this was just how girls were together. He wouldn’t know having spent most of his life as a loner. But no matter how he thought about it, everything going on was Aerith’s ploy. But for what? Did she just enjoy flirting and seeing their reactions? Yet, Tifa seemed to be enjoying herself too much for it to be so simple on her end. Did she actually like her back?

His hand clenched unconsciously at his side. It was fine. That was her choice.

But then Aerith’s thumb wiped a crumb from Tifa’s lips and something hot curled in his gut. It took every ounce of self-control to remain where he was.

Her lips are mine.

The thought came before he knew it, leaving him immobile with the realization.

Feeling simultaneously cold and hot, his eyes zeroed in on Aerith’s hand as it found Tifa’s beneath the table. The bartender’s eyes widened for a second in surprise before she settled into the peaceful comfort.

Cloud tried not to think too much about his feelings. He feared if he did they might consume him from the inside out. Besides, they already had so many problems to worry about. But now, he didn’t have much of a choice.

He loved Tifa.

He’d liked her ever since they were kids, but he hadn’t realized how much until this moment. It wasn’t just their shared past and trauma, he liked Tifa. Her heart, her determination, her resolve, and the way that she gave him the time and space he needed.

He didn’t want to lose her.

The two women exited the café. He still had not moved, so Aerith’s eyes easily found him. She smirked, but it wasn’t intimidating or boastful as if she had won a competition. He couldn’t be certain what she was telling him, but he had the feeling she was happy he had seen.

The longer their date went on, the more flustered Tifa felt. Why did Aerith have such a strong effect on her? She was gorgeous, like sunshine, and confident in a way she greatly admired. But this wasn’t simple admiration. She could have excused it as self-consciousness if not for the way her skin heated and tingled every time the spellcaster touched her. The only explanation was that she liked her.

So, she liked girls now. She could handle that. What was harder to handle was what exactly was going on between the three of them. Aerith liked Cloud—she said so herself—and yet everything she was doing screamed that she liked Tifa.

Had she lied to get her to let her guard down? She didn’t want to believe that. The martial artist had never known her to lie.

Eventually, her stomach started to growl so they stopped for a snack from a food truck. Tifa fingered the edge of her pastry, building up her nerve. “Aerith, can I ask you something?”

“Of course!” Aerith said through a mouthful of caramel apple.

“It’s just…you’ve been extremely touchy today.”

Aerith tilted her head, looking thoughtful as she finished chewing. “Does it bother you?”

“No, No!” Tifa said quickly. “It’s nice, just…unexpected.”

She grinned. “We are on a date, after all.”

Tifa swallowed. “About that…do you like me?”

Once again, Aerith took her hand as if it was the simplest thing in the world. “Yes.” There was no doubt in Tifa’s mind that she was being sincere.

“I thought you liked Cloud…”

“I do like Cloud,” she said simply. “But I also like you.”

She couldn’t like both of them, could she? And yet….wasn’t that what Tifa just realized? It wasn’t like her feelings were synonymous, though. She liked Aerith as a person and couldn’t help feeling attracted to her charm and beauty. But Cloud was different. Cloud was someone she had been reaching toward for so long. He was…a lifeline in the unsteady waters of her life. So, no matter what she was feeling for Aerith, she wasn’t about to throw her feelings for Cloud away for that. Not unless he specifically turned her down.

“Thank you,” she said after a long pause. “I still want to give things with Cloud a chance, though.”

“I thought so. That’s why…” she trailed off to hum to herself, “next time, we should go on a date the three of us.”

Tifa blinked. “All three of us?”

“The more the merrier, right?”

Aerith was giddy with excitement over their upcoming group date. It was her idea and Tifa still seemed on the fence, so it was up to her to get Cloud on board. She was still trying to think of the best way to suggest the idea to him without scaring him off when they reached Barret’s hometown. The atmosphere was somber, and it would have been in poor taste to go on a date there given what Barret was going through.

Opportunity struck when they reached the Gold Saucer. The neon lights flickered over an equally colorful carnival. The happy buzz of patrons was infectious, and Aerith couldn’t contain herself any longer, slipping an arm through Cloud’s and Tifa’s.

“Come on! Let’s have some fun!”

Tifa hesitated a moment, looking at Barret’s new permanent grim expression.

Aerith lowered the tone of her voice. “We can’t do anything for him right now. Let’s just try to enjoy ourselves.”

Tifa took a breath. “You’re right.”

"Let's test Cloud’s riding skills!" the flower girl exclaimed with a twinkle in her eye, leading the way with a bounce in her step. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and despite their initial hesitation, Cloud and Tifa found themselves swept up in the excitement.

The game consisted of a stationary G-bike and a virtual headset. Cloud climbed onto the G-bike, feeling over the familiar controls.

"You can do it!" Tifa encouraged, her voice rising above the din.

"Get ‘em!" Aerith whooped.

Throughout the simulation, Aerith's laughter danced around them. She would lean close to Cloud, whispering tips into his ear, half of which ended up distracting him more than anything. Each time he missed because of a started reaction, a beautiful bubble of laughter came from Tifa’s lips.

When the simulation came to an end, and Cloud climbed off the G-bike to claim his victory, Aerith threw her arms around both of them in an impromptu group hug. The warmth of their bodies mingled, and she could see the way he tensed at the double proximity.

"See? I told you you’d win!" Aerith said, releasing them but keeping her hands on their shoulders.

"Yeah, thanks to your good luck," he said.

"Or maybe it's just because we make a great team," Tifa said, a smile softening her features.

For a moment, there was a pause as if all of them were contemplating the definition of their team. Aerith didn’t want things to turn too serious, though. Today was for having fun!

"Time to claim your prize!" she declared, tugging at their sleeves as she darted toward the prize booth.

Cloud’s gaze alternated between the giant green Cactuar plush and the two women beside him.

“Which lovely lady am I giving this to, sir?” asked the friendly attendant.

The decision felt surprisingly weighty under their expectant eyes.

Before he could even signal to the attendant, Aerith’s hand darted out, claiming the stuffed Cactuar with a victorious laugh. “Oh, Cloud! It’s perfect!” she exclaimed, hugging the plush to her chest. Her emerald eyes sparkled, and her lips curled in a wide, genuine smile that was impossible not to return.

Tifa's reaction was more reserved—a warm, supportive smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. He noticed the subtle dip in her enthusiasm, the slight downturn of her lips that vanished almost as quickly as it appeared. It wasn't like Tifa to seek prizes or attention, but there was something in that fleeting look that tugged at his conscience, compelling him to rectify the imbalance.

"Wait here," Cloud muttered, already turning on his heel back toward the arcade games.

"Cloud?" Tifa's voice held a note of confusion, but he was already lost in determination.

The next game was another simulation. This time he had to fly a spaceship while shooting as many enemies as he could. Cloud lined up his shots with the focus of a battle-hardened SOLDIER, blasting target after target. His mind was clear, his aim true; each successful hit fueled by the desire to see Tifa’s smile brighten, to feel that he had made things right between them.

With an explosion, the boss fell, and the clerk behind the counter gave a low whistle. “Impressive shooting,” he said, eyes wide with respect. “Pick your prize, champ.”

Cloud didn't need to look—he pointed straight at the large, plush Tonberry, its lantern held aloft as if guiding him toward clarity.

"Nice choice." The clerk handed over the soft creature to his waiting hands.

He returned to where Aerith and Tifa were standing, the former still joyously squeezing her Cactuar. Tifa looked up as he approached.

"For you," he said, a little gruffly, thrusting the Tonberry at Tifa with all the grace of a stumbling newborn Chocobo.

"Cloud..." Tifa's eyes lit up, her smile now reaching all the way to her gorgeous red eyes. She accepted the plush with a tenderness that contrasted sharply with Aerith's exuberant display. "Thank you," she said, her voice imbued with a warmth that settled comfortably in the space around his heart.

Cloud watched as Tifa pulled the Tonberry close. Whatever battles lay ahead, he would fight just as fiercely, to protect those smiles—their happiness—no matter what it took.

"Looks like Cloud’s the only one without a souvenir now," Aerith chimed in, her eyes sparkling. "Why don't you show Cloud what you can do, Tifa?"

The challenge hung in the air, and for a moment, Tifa's competitive spirit flared. She handed the stuffed Tonberry to Aerith with care before turning toward the battle simulator.

"Alright, let's see if I've still got it," she declared, flexing her fingers as she approached the gamepad.

Tifa's movements were graceful and deliberate, every punch and kick executed with precision as digital adversaries fell one by one on the screen.

"Go, Tifa!" Aerith cheered and Cloud watched on, mesmerized by her skills.

With a final, triumphant strike, Tifa's virtual opponent shattered into pixels, and the victory fanfare echoed through the Gold Saucer.

The male attendant stared at her with an awestruck expression. “I’ve never seen anyone manage that! The pick of the prize is yours.”

Tifa scanned her choices before settling on a stuffed Chocobo with bright yellow feathers and grumpy-looking eyes. “That one!” she announced.

The attendant frowned. “You sure? This one over here’s cuter, isn’t it?”

She shook her head. “I want that one.”

He shrugged, handing the plush over. “Suit yourself.”

"Here you go, Cloud," Tifa said, offering the plush to him with a playful glint in her eye. "It looks just like you."

"The Chocobo?" Cloud asked with raised brows.

"Your hair," she replied with a teasing grin, "It's practically the same color. And that grumpy expression."

A giggle burst from Aerith and Tifa couldn’t help but join her. Cloud looked down at the Chocobo and then back at Tifa, his lips twitching into a rare, unguarded smile that made her heart soar.

"Thanks, Tifa," he said. "It's perfect."

Aerith's green eyes lit up when she leaned in close, nudging them both playfully in the direction of the towering skywheel that pierced the skyline. "Come on!" she urged, her voice excited. "We can’t leave until we’ve ridden that!"

The trio approached the line for the skywheel, where a uniformed usher stood guard like a sentinel over the couples waiting their turn. "Sorry," the usher said, glancing between the three of them, "this ride is for couples only."

Undeterred, Aerith stepped forward, a smile on her face. She reached out, grabbing Cloud's hand and then Tifa's, linking them together as if they were parts of a chain. "We are a couple," she declared boldly, her gaze challenging. "Doesn't this look like a date to you?"

The usher’s eyes widened slightly, taken aback by the force of Aerith's conviction. Cloud could feel the warmth of Aerith’s hand in his own, her touch both reassuring and unsettling as she blurred the lines of their relationship with her infectious enthusiasm.

Tifa's hand felt delicate yet strong in his, her calloused fingers a testament to the battles they had faced together. Both women looked at him now with shared determination.

And there, amidst the flashing lights and cacophony of the amusement park, Cloud found himself silently agreeing with Aerith. This strange, wonderful moment did seem like a date, or perhaps a silent promise.

The usher's mumbled response was barely audible over the sounds of the bustling Gold Saucer. "Well, the rulebook doesn't explicitly state anything about a three-person... arrangement." She scratched her head, clearly out of her depth with the Ancient’s relentless charm and insistence.

"See?" Aerith said, her voice a playful sing-song as she leaned in, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "We're just expanding the traditional definition of a 'couple.' It's innovative!"

Cloud could feel a blush creeping up his neck, not entirely sure if it was from embarrassment or the thrill of the unconventional dynamic that Aerith so confidently presented to the world. Tifa, equally flustered but managing a small smile, remained silent, her gaze flickering between her two companions.

"Alright, alright. I suppose I can overlook the policy this time," the usher conceded with a resigned sigh, waving them towards the entrance of the skywheel. "But don't go telling everyone we make a habit of this."

"Thank you!" Aerith beamed as they made their way past him, pulling a flustered Cloud and Tifa onto the gondola.

The usher shut the door as soon as they were inside the compartment. The enclosed space suddenly felt smaller, as their reality narrowed down to the three of them.

Immediately, Cloud took a seat so that the other two had room to move.

Tifa gracefully sat down on the opposite bench, her hands clasping in her lap. Her profile was etched against the colorful blur of lights as they began their slow ascent, giving her an ethereal glow.

Aerith stood for a moment, her head tilting as she regarded her partners. This was a vital choice, one that could make or break her strategy.

She glanced first at Cloud, his broad shoulders stiff with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. Then her gaze shifted to Tifa, whose quiet strength was as evident as ever. The air was thick with unspoken questions, their earlier interactions hanging between them like threads waiting to be woven into something new.

"Choices, choices," she mused, breaking the silence.

Aerith smirked at her impishness as she settled herself snugly against Cloud's side. The ex-SOLDIER's response was immediate—a subtle but hasty shuffle away, creating an irritating gap.

"Cloud," she chided gently, her voice carrying the playful rebuke of a mother to her wayward child, "where do you think you're going?" With deliberate ease, she scooted yet again in his direction. Her movement was purposeful, silently expressing her intention.

His blue gaze darted to her, the corners of his mouth twitching in a sheepish half-smile that suggested both embarrassment and an amused resignation to her whims.

Riding the high of her success, Aerith set her Cactuar plush on the floor with care before patting the limited space beside her. "Come on, Tifa," she beckoned, her tone light and welcoming like the summer sun.

The woman hovered at the edge of her decision, her gaze flickering to the empty space. “Wouldn’t that be dangerous?”

"Live a little!" The flower girl laughed. "If it starts to tip, I'll move over."

Trusting in Aerith's words, Tifa set her own plush down and took her place beside her, the balance holding firm as if welcoming the change. They were now squished together on the seat, arms and legs touching.

A faint blush painted Tifa’s cheeks. Her dark eyes held a mix of emotions—uncertainty mingled with excitement.

"There, isn't this cozy?" Aerith said cheerfully.

The martial artist forced a smile, trying to hide her discomfort. "It's a little tight..."

"Nonsense, we fit together perfectly!" Aerith declared. She rested her head on Tifa's shoulder affectionately.

Tifa tensed up again.

On Aerith's other side, Cloud sat rigidly, staring straight ahead out the window. She gave his arm a playful nudge.

"Oh, lighten up you two! We're supposed to be having fun together."

She tilted her head up towards Tifa, gazing at her fondly. The woman met her eyes briefly before looking away, cheeks flushed.

The skywheel continued its lazy rotation as the three sat pressed together in awkward silence. Aerith hummed softly to herself, perfectly content nestled between Tifa and Cloud. She reached out, her hands seeking theirs, her touch light but firm, an anchor in the sea of uncertainty that often surrounded them.

"I'm so lucky to have both of you here with me.” She interlocked their hands in her lap with a happy sigh. “This is nice. It makes me really happy.”

Tifa glanced down at their joined hands resting atop Aerith's thighs. “It is nice,” she agreed, offering Aerith a small smile.

Aerith beamed back at her. Then she turned her bright eyes on Cloud expectantly.

He shifted slightly but didn't pull his hand back. After a prolonged silence, she gave his arm a little nudge. “What do you think, Cloud?”

He pressed his lips together. “It’s…fine,” he murmured without looking at either of them.

Aerith grinned and settled against the seat, satisfied enough with his response.

In the quiet that followed, the only sounds were the distant murmurs of Gold Saucer's patrons and the occasional creak from the skywheel. It was as if the very air recognized the sanctity of the connection they shared. It was a moment of peace amidst chaos, a respite granted by fate or perhaps by the sheer will of the flower girl who sought to sow seeds of happiness wherever she tred.

Cool air brushed against their faces as the skywheel continued its gentle ascent into the night sky, a stark contrast to the warmth of Aerith's hands clasping theirs. Cloud gazed out of the window to the glittering spectacle below, his gaze distant, contemplative.

He took a deep breath, the air cool and thin at their lofty height. It was as if the altitude had cleared a path through the fog of his thoughts. Shifting in his seat, he glanced between Aerith and Tifa with a conflicted expression. The silence stretched on, only the faint music and voices from the ground in the background.

Finally, Cloud spoke up cutting through the quiet with the sharpness of a blade. "What exactly is this? I can’t get a read on you.”

Aerith turned to him, her head tilting inquisitively, a strand of her chestnut hair drifting across her cheek with the motion. "What do you mean?"

He could feel the weight of the question hanging over them, as tangible as the hand she still held. His blue eyes searched hers, seeking answers in the depths of her unwavering gaze.

His brows furrowed as he struggled to articulate the confusion that knotted his chest. The gondola creaked subtly overhead.

"Every time I think I understand," Cloud started, his voice steadier than he felt, "you change the game." He gestured vaguely with his free hand, the movement encompassing the strange, shifting dynamic of their trio. "One minute you are pushing Tifa and me together, then the next you're holding my hand."

Aerith's lips curled into a knowing smile, eyes alight with an unwavering confidence. She glanced down at their joined hands, her grip gentle yet firm as if anchoring him amid his swirling doubts. "Holding both of your hands," she corrected softly, her voice laced with significance as she emphasized the word both.

The simplicity of her statement, paired with the warmth of her touch, left Cloud momentarily speechless. It was an acknowledgment of the unspoken truth she had been hinting at all along. He hesitated, caught between the familiarity of Tifa's presence and the enigmatic allure of Aerith's.

In the quiet that followed, he realized that perhaps the answer wasn't meant to be found in words, but rather in the silent understanding that passed between three souls bound by a common goal.

Tifa's voice was hesitant, tinged with vulnerability. "So, you actually want to…"

Aerith turned to face her. "Darn. I thought I was being pretty clear with all the flirting. Yes, I want to be with both of you," she answered sincerely

Cloud's pulse quickened, the revelation sparking through him like an electric current. The confines of the gondola seemed to shrink, drawing them into a closeness that went beyond mere physical space. He searched Aerith's face for any sign of jest but found only open honesty in her emerald gaze. Cloud's eyes stay fixed on their joined hands, his thumb absently brushing against Aerith's knuckles.

Tifa, meanwhile, appeared frozen, her eyes wide as the words hung between them. Her lips parted slightly, a breath of surprise escaping as her hands started fidgeting. In that moment, Cloud realized the true gravity of what the Ancient had confessed, and the weight pressed upon him as heavily as the sword he bore.

The slow creak of the skywheel sounded above them, a reminder of the world continuing on its axis, indifferent to the delicate balance of hearts. But for Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith, time seemed to pause, waiting patiently for them to navigate the complex web of affection they had woven together.

"Even if you like two people you have to choose," Cloud said finally, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Aerith tilted her head, studying him with those eyes that always seemed to see right through him. She reached out, her touch light on his shoulder, a gentle nudge that somehow managed to stir the air around them. "Says who?" she asked, an impish twinkle returning to her gaze. "Sounds like you're in the same boat."

Cloud caught the faint scent of flowers as she leaned closer, the familiar aroma wrapping around him like a comforting embrace. He could feel the warmth radiating from her skin, the subtle invitation in her proximity—both soothing and disarming. Yet, it was her words that truly unsettled him, because deep down, he feared she might be right.

He felt the slow churn of the gondola as it reached its zenith, the world sprawling beneath them like a vast, intricate tapestry. His gaze lingered on the horizon, where the last embers of daylight clung to the sky. But it wasn't the view that had his heart racing—it was the question hanging in the air, an unsolvable riddle posed by Aerith's playful yet piercing stare.

"No, I'm not," he said, the words feeling thick and clumsy in his mouth. It was a denial, but even as he spoke, doubt threaded through his resolve like poison through veins.

Aerith's eyebrows arched, and her lips curled into a knowing smile—a silent challenge that seemed to echo around the enclosed space. "Oh? Then tell me right now, who do you like more, me or Tifa?" Her voice demanded an answer Cloud wasn't sure he could give.

He looked between the two women - Tifa, his childhood friend with her kind smile and unwavering loyalty—and Aerith, the flower girl who breezed into his life and saw through his aloof facade in an instant.

The answer undoubtedly should be Tifa. And yet, when he tried to bring her name to his tongue, doubt held him ensnarled in its grip. Cloud's pulse hammered in his ears, a relentless drumbeat that matched the rhythm of the gondola's creaks as they swayed gently in the sky.

The compartment dipped slightly, a soft groan of metal yielding to the evening breeze. His eyes flicked away from Aerith's expectant gaze, his hand tightening on the railing as if he could find some anchor in the cold steel.

"I...I don't—" His words broke under the weight of his uncertainty.

Tifa's hand brushed against his, a silent gesture that pulled him back from the precipice of his thoughts. "It's okay, Cloud," she said, her tone carrying reassurance. "Be honest."

Cloud turned towards her, her gentle expression offering a haven from the storm of his emotions. In the dimming light, her eyes reflected a quiet understanding that spoke volumes more than any words could.

"No, I...Tifa..." His voice faltered.

"It's always been you, Cloud." Her confession was soft, yet it cut through the cacophony of the amusement park, reaching straight to his core. "Even when we were kids. All I ever wanted was to be closer to you."

The confession lingered between them, a thread of truth that pulled at the fabric of his carefully built walls. Cloud's chest swelled with a mixture of emotions he couldn't quite name—a cocktail of relief, longing, and something far more vulnerable. Her words echoed in the secret chambers of his own heart, spaces he'd locked away behind stoic silence.

As the skywheel began its descent, the world tilting back into motion, Cloud realized that with Tifa, he didn't need to choose—because the choice had already been woven into the very fabric of who he was, inseparable from the bonds they shared.

The gondola's slow turn afforded them a view of the glittering lights below, but within the confines of their shared space, it was as though nothing else existed.

“I liked you too.”

Cloud's shy admission hung in the air, almost tangible in its weight. Tifa's eyes widened, her pulse quickened, and for a moment she wondered if she'd heard him correctly. The stoic warrior, always so guarded with his emotions, had just laid bare a piece of his past she had never seen.

"You did?" she asked, her voice a mixture of hope and disbelief. A frown creased her brow as confusion set in. "But you never wanted to play with me and the others."

His gaze faltered, drifting away from hers and out toward the horizon where the endless sky met the distant mountains. In the fading light of the dusk, his features were softened, stripping away the harsh lines of battle and revealing the boy she once knew. The one who watched from afar, the one whose silence she had often mistaken for indifference.

He looked back at her, a vulnerability in his deep blue eyes that she had only glimpsed in rare, unguarded moments. "It wasn't that I didn't want to," he said, the words slow and deliberate as if he were choosing each one carefully. "It was just... hard to step into the circle. To be one of you."

Her heart clenched at the confession, understanding dawning on her. She remembered those days, the laughter and the games, and how there was always one who lingered just beyond the edge of the group, his presence like a silent shadow.

"Cloud..." She reached out tentatively, her hand brushing against his arm, offering comfort without words. He needed to know that the boy who watched from a distance had always been a part of their circle, even if he hadn't realized it himself.

Cloud's hand hovered in the space between them, an inch from Tifa's own. "I was too shy," he admitted, finally letting his fingers brush against her skin. It was as if a barrier had crumbled at the touch, one that had stood between them for far too long.

Tifa's lips curved into a gentle smile, and it was like the dawn breaking after a long, uncertain night. "Then I'm glad you aren't still too shy to talk to me."

"Me too," he said, his voice soft but steady.

Aerith's grin was a beacon of warmth in the dimness as she extended her arms, drawing Cloud and Tifa into an embrace that spoke louder than any words they had shared. "Sometimes you don't need to talk," Aerith said, her voice a soothing murmur that resonated with the sentiment of her hug.

Cloud’s arms wrapped around both women with more tenderness than she expected from a SOLDIER.

Tifa's arms immediately encircled him, but when it came to Aerith, she hesitated, the briefest flash of uncertainty settling in. Then, making a conscious decision, Tifa let go of her reservations, reaching out to complete the circle. Her hand settled gently on the woman’s back, completing the trinity of companionship.

The skywheel cabin gently swayed as Aerith's laughter, light and airy, filled the small space. The city lights below painted their faces in a palette of distant stars and neon dreams. Cloud, his usual stoic self, sat with his back straightened, the corners of his mouth twitching into the faintest of smiles.

"See, you both like me too," Aerith said, playfulness dancing in her eyes as she regarded them both.

Cloud shifted uncomfortably, his gaze briefly meeting Aerith's before casting downward, where the city seemed to sprawl endlessly beneath them. "I didn't say that," he muttered, his voice almost lost to the hum of the skywheel's machinery.

The flower girl’s smile didn't falter, her emerald eyes reflecting unspoken knowledge as she leaned back against the seat. “You didn’t have to.”

Cloud's fingers, still intertwined with Aerith's, twitched ever so slightly as if they sought escape or perhaps a deeper connection.

Tifa's chuckle broke the silence. "She has a point.”

"You know what else you don't need to talk for? Kissing," Aerith suggested, the word slipping from her lips effortlessly. She looked at Tifa with a playful tilt of her head, her eyes glinting. The atmosphere, thick with anticipation, seemed to pulse with each beat of Tifa's heart.

Before Tifa could process the full weight of Aerith's suggestion, she found herself gently nudged forward. Her friend’s slender hand on her back was both a force and a comfort.

Tifa's breath caught as the distance between her and Cloud narrowed to mere inches. Cloud's gaze held a question, his own uncertainty mirroring hers, yet there was something else there—a silent longing that spoke volumes.

Time seemed to warp, bending around them, granting them a bubble where nothing else mattered.

"Cloud," she whispered, a name that felt like a key unlocking something deep within her.

He leaned forward ever so slightly, his blue eyes reflecting the fading light, searching her face for permission. The space between them vibrated with the potential of what could be, and at that moment, words were indeed unneeded.

Tifa's pulse hammered in her ears, and she wondered if he could hear it too. The closeness was intoxicating, the warmth of his breath mingling with hers, an unspoken invitation hanging precariously in the air.

A gentle prod at Cloud's back broke the stillness. That was enough; it tipped the balance. With a resolve that seemed to surge from his very core, Cloud closed the gap, his lips meeting hers in a kiss that felt like the mending of two fragmented stars.

The world outside their embrace fell away, leaving only the softness of his lips against hers, the tender pressure that spoke volumes more than any words could convey. Years of hidden glances and quiet yearnings culminated in this single, perfect moment.

Tifa grasped his shirt, steadying herself in this inexplicable reality, as she kissed him back with the urgency of years of pent-up emotions. In contrast, Cloud’s hand cupped her cheek almost reverently, as if he was afraid she was an illusion that might disappear under too much pressure.

As they slowly parted, breathing each other's air, the world seeped back in—the hum of the skywheel, the distant laughter from below, the presence of their companion. Aerith's eyes danced with unrestrained joy, her voice lilting with triumph. "Finally! You look great together by the way."

Tifa’s cheeks flared, but a radiant smile broke over her face. At long last, she and Cloud had bridged the distance looming between them. Whatever paths lay ahead, she knew they would walk them side by side.

"So," Aerith asked, eyes darting eagerly between them, "would one of you like to kiss me next?"

Cloud’s hand tensed ever so slightly around hers as he processed the question.

Though posed lightly, Tifa knew there was vulnerability in the question. Her smile wavered for only a fraction of a second, before she replied, “Sure, why not.” She gripped Cloud’s hand, an unspoken assurance.

Aerith's lips curved into a triumphant smile. With assertive determination, she leaned in, closing the distance between them. Tifa's eyes widened when she made contact, but then, slowly, she melted into the kiss, feeling time slow around her.

It felt entirely different from her kiss with Cloud. While they had fit together like pieces separated for too long, she and Aerith were like coffee and milk, swirling together to make something rich and flavorful.

As they parted, a soft sigh escaped Aerith, and Tifa's cheeks grew warm at the dawning realization of the new, uncharted territories their relationship might explore.

Cloud's gaze lingered on the two women as they separated, an expression of wonder etched across his face. His heart thumped loudly in his chest at how much the sight affected him. They were both so beautiful and together they were enough to risk sanity. His mind was still struggling to process the relationship they were forming, but he knew that he didn’t regret it.

Aerith licked her lips. It was a small, subconscious gesture, but he envied her ability for such fearlessness. "Your turn, Cloud. That is if you want it.” Her words resonated deep within him.

The air between them crackled with an electric charge, a current fueled by the unknown. his hands clenched and unclenched in nervous anticipation as he worked up his courage. He took a breath, his resolve solidifying.

All it took was a nod, and Aerith was inching forward, the deliberate slowness of her approach a stark contrast to the swift, bold kiss she'd shared with Tifa moments ago. It gave Cloud time to back away if he chose. In that suspended moment, he observed the yearning that seemed to beckon his spirit to drop its guard.

Their lips touched, and it was a slow bloom rather than a spark—a question asked and answered at once, affirming the pull of their connection. Cloud's heart, often shrouded in the fog of past regrets, beat with a clarity that resonated in the gentle press of their kiss.

After a blissful moment, Aerith drew back, catching her breath. The world rushed back in a dizzying rush of color and sound. Her eyes shimmered with stars, and her breath escaped in a contented exhalation that seemed to carry every unspoken dream she held dear. "Thank you, Gold Saucer!" she exclaimed.

Tifa pressed against the cool glass of the skywheel compartment, tracing the outline of distant lights that twinkle like gems strewn across the dark velvet landscape. "Oh yeah," she murmured, her voice tinged with wonder as she gestured toward the sprawling vista beyond their suspended cocoon. "We've been missing all of the sights."

Together, they set their sights on the shrinking skyline, a painting in motion, the vibrant colors and flashing lights of the attractions painting a picture of life lived without regrets.

Aerith laughed. “We’ve been too focused on each other.” Her hands remained warmly enveloped around Cloud and Tifa's, an anchor in the vastness of the night sky. The world below them—a canvas of glittering lights and distant laughter—seemed both infinite and intimate from this height.

"Look there," Tifa whispered, leaning closer to the glass. Her breath fogged a small circle on the pane as she pointed out a particular flare of light that danced along the horizon. "Isn't it beautiful?"

Aerith's eyes followed the trajectory of the bartender’s finger, a soft smile playing on her lips as she shared in the delight of the sight.

"This view's better," Cloud murmured, his voice barely audible.

Both women turned to him, and the smiles that graced their lips were reflections of one another—warm, genuine, and filled with an affection that was as bright as any light shining below. In that moment, the dazzling displays of the Gold Saucer faded into insignificance beside their simple joy.

The lively chatter outside grew louder as they approached the ground.

"We can always come again," Aerith said, motioning toward the window where the world outside beckoned for more adventures. "But it's your turn to pick our next date."

Cloud shifted in his seat, the weight of her suggestion settling upon him like the buster sword he so often carried—a burden and a responsibility, yet something he wouldn't part with for the world. He met her gaze, then Tifa's, feeling the pull of their shared journey drawing him closer to both.

"Our next date, huh?" he echoed, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. There was a hint of color on his cheeks, perhaps from the thrill of the rides or the warmth of the moment, and for once, it seemed as though the ever-stoic soldier was allowing himself a thread of anticipation for what lay ahead.

The skywheel's door swung open with a creak, and the trio stepped out into the carnival. The cacophony of game stalls and joyous screams from distant rides enveloped them once again.

Tifa's gaze lingered on him, a smile breaking across her face promising future escapades. "I know just the place," Tifa said.

Before Cloud could respond, a sudden force yanked at his arm, spinning him towards a whirlwind of energy. Yuffie, ever the embodiment of uncontained spirit, had appeared seemingly out of nowhere, her hand latching onto him as if he would disappear like a ninja in mist. Her eyes were alight with the kind of zeal that typically preceded some wild scheme.

"Cloud!" she whined, her voice a pitch that could rival the high notes of the roller coaster screams. "You've gotta help me! Scouted the whole area and there's only one materia. Only problem is it's worth a buttload of GP. Tell me you've got 'em."

Cloud felt the weight of his empty pockets metaphorically, if not literally. He met her expectant gaze, where hope danced in her eyes like the flickering lights of the arcade games around them.

"Sorry. I used them all up," he said, his words flat and final.

“You did?” Yuffie's shoulders slumped, her grip loosening in defeat, though her spirit, Cloud knew, would not be dampened for long.

Her eyes darted to find their prize, landing with disbelief on the colorful plushies in the women’s arms. "Toys? Seriously?" Her voice pitched high, tinged with the kind of mock outrage only Yuffie could master.

Aerith, always the peacemaker, stepped forward with a grace that seemed to calm the immediate vicinity. Her hands cradled the green Cactuar plushie. With a gentle thrust, she presented it mere inches from the ninja’s face, her eyes radiating with delight. "They're just adorable, aren't they?" Her smile was infectious, radiating warmth that beckoned even the most hardened warrior to recall innocence long forgotten.

The Cactuar's round eyes and stitched smile bordered on comical, its simplicity a stark reminder of life's simpler pleasures amidst their convoluted quest.

Yuffie's eyes lingered on the plush Cactuar, her initial anger giving way to a brief, whimsical respite before snapping back to her usual energetic fervor. She shook her head, dispelling the enchantment of soft fabrics and cute designs with a singular, determined jerk.

"Wait! That's not the point!" She jabbed an accusatory finger towards Cloud, her voice rising with passion for the true treasure they all sought in their travels. "Materia is a way better prize than those." Her stance was set, defiant, and unyielding, a warrior unwilling to concede the battle for magical trinkets that held the power of gods. "That settles it." Her gaze locked onto his, filled with the fiery challenge that always seemed to simmer beneath her youthful exterior. "You're gonna earn more points and win it for me."

Cloud stood, arms crossed over his chest, a contemplative frown etched upon his features as he regarded her. With a steadfast resolve that had carried him through countless fights, he met her stare, unwavering.

"Not happening," he said, his voice flat and final.

Yuffie's shoulders slumped ever so slightly, the fire in her eyes dimming but not extinguished. She knew when a battle was lost, yet in the depths of her ninja heart, the war for precious Materia was never truly over.

The ninja’s brows furrowed in a mix of indignation and disbelief, her arms falling to her sides like deflated balloons. "But you won them prizes," she accused, her voice pitching high as she gestured toward the oversized stuffed toys clasped in the women’s hands.

Cloud shifted his weight, the faintest hint of a sigh escaping him, his gaze lingering momentarily on the plush Cactuar Aerith clutched with possessive delight. The corners of his mouth twitched, betraying the stoic facade he so often wore. "That's different," he replied, the depth of his voice contrastingly calm against Yuffie's crescendo of frustration.

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the trio, creating a silent audience of their elongated forms stretched over the Gold Saucer's vibrant walkway. Despite the jovial atmosphere surrounding them, a tension palpable only to those bound by battle and shared purpose hung in the air. Yuffie's eyes darted between the prizes and Cloud, searching for an understanding that seemed just out of reach.

Yuffie's eyes narrowed, her lips pursed in confusion as she prodded for a clearer explanation. "How so?" she complained, her voice laced with a mixture of curiosity and exasperation.

Aerith's gaze subtly shifted towards Tifa, her emerald eyes reading the unspoken dialogue written across her friend's face—a blend of amusement and anticipation. With the grace of a blooming flower, she stepped closer to Cloud and wrapped her arm around his, her fingers gently squeezing the fabric of his sleeve. "Because we're his girlfriends," she declared with a playful tilt of her head, her words floating on the air like a melody.

Cloud's stance stiffened at Aerith's touch, an internal struggle briefly flashing across his features before settling into a quiet acceptance. The setting sun bathed them in its golden hue, casting an almost ethereal glow on the scene that unfolded, while the sounds of the bustling Gold Saucer faded into a distant murmur.

"Whaat?!" The word burst from Yuffie like a shuriken, swift and sharp, as she ping-ponged her gaze between the three of them. Her hands fluttered at her sides, mirroring the chaos of her thoughts—a whirlwind of disbelief and astonishment that seemed to echo in the cacophony of Gold Saucer’s arcade symphony.

Tifa's lips quirked up just the slightest bit, a silent chuckle at their friend’s theatrics. She met Yuffie’s wide-eyed stare with the calm warmth that always seemed to radiate from her when she was confident in her footing. "It's true," she affirmed, her voice steady yet gentle, like the undercurrent of a stream that carried depth beyond its surface serenity.

Cloud shifted uncomfortably, his gaze briefly finding the colorful patterns on the cobblestones beneath their feet, before he managed to lift it back to the trio. His hand, still enclosed by Tifa's, gave an almost imperceptible squeeze—a quiet acknowledgment of the reality they had woven together.

“Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!” Yuffie's exclamation was so fast it sounded like one giant word as she bounced on the balls of her feet. Her eyes were wide with a hunger for details, the kind of insatiable curiosity that had always been her hallmark. “How the heck did this happen?”

Tifa's response was laced with a hint of amusement, and she offered an easy shrug. "I guess one thing just led to another," she said, her voice tinged with the laughter she kept at bay. Her gaze drifted to Cloud, sharing a private look that held volumes of unsaid words—a shared history that had suddenly taken an unexpected turn.

The ex-SOLDIER’s attention, meanwhile, remained divided, his expression a complex tapestry of confusion, surprise, and something else—perhaps a dawning realization. His eyes flicked from Tifa's soft smile to Aerith's playful grin, and he couldn't quite suppress the way the corner of his mouth twitched upwards in response.

The Ancient watched the exchange, her green eyes dancing with delight. She wrapped an arm around Tifa's waist and leaned in, her head resting lightly against Tifa's shoulder in a display of affection that seemed to embolden the ninja’s incredulity.

"Come on, you can't leave it at that!" Yuffie pressed, her hands now clasped together as if in prayer for more juicy details. "There's gotta be more to it, spill!"

But Tifa simply shook her head with a upturned lips. "Some stories are better left untold," she suggested, squeezing Cloud's hand once more as they stood together, united in their shared secret and the adventure that lay ahead.

Yuffie's eyes narrowed in mock defeat, her arms flopping to her sides as she kicked at a stray pebble. It skittered across the cobblestone path of Gold Saucer, mirroring the sharp twist of her lips. "Damn, I'm definitely not getting that materia now," she muttered under her breath, loud enough for the others to hear.

Cloud turned to regard her with a raised brow, his spiky blonde hair catching the gleam of the neon lights above. "Why's that?" he asked, the echo of curiosity threading through the gravelly tone of his voice.

The ninja folded her arms across her chest, tilting her head back to meet his gaze. Her eyes, usually so quick and vigilant, held a glint of playful accusation as she shook her head with a dramatic sigh.

His gaze lingered on her, waiting for an answer. There was a certain stillness to the group, a collective pause as the Gold Saucer buzzed and hummed around them, its lights dancing off the faces of passersby who were lost in their own adventures.

Yuffie shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her eyes darting to the women before settling back on him. "Cause I bet 500 GP you were going to get with Aerith," she said, her voice carrying a note of defeat wrapped in reluctant admittance.

A crease formed between Cloud's brows, his hands unconsciously tightening into fists at his sides. The notion that someone would wager on the outcomes of his tangled relationships seemed absurd.

"You had a bet?" he asked, the words slipping out more like an accusation than a question. His blue eyes, sharp with a mix of surprise and annoyance, pierced through the facade of Yuffie's usual carefree demeanor, seeking something deeper, something true behind the playful banter.

The ninja girl met his stare head-on, the corners of her mouth twitching upward in a half-hearted attempt at her typical cheeky grin. But there was no mistaking the underlying hint of sincerity; this was more than just a game to her.

Yuffie's nod came with a certain resignation, her ponytail bouncing slightly as she acknowledged the truth. "Yep. Barret bet you were gonna get with Tiffa. And Red thought Aerith and Tifa were gonna 'cause of that date,” she explained, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her oversized shuriken holster, a telltale sign of her discomfort.

Tifa crossed her arms over her chest, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips. The warmth in her eyes couldn't be mistaken for anything but fond amusement as she took in her confession. She turned her gaze toward Cloud, who remained silent, his spiked blond hair catching the glint of the artificial lights of the Gold Saucer. His expression was an unreadable mask, yet there was a softness there, a hint of vulnerability that wasn't often permitted to surface.

"Then none of you lost," Tifa said, her voice steady and sure, a contrast to the chaotic energy that always seemed to swirl around Yuffie.

Her statement hung in the air for a moment, a simple declaration that seemed to settle some unspoken tension among them. It was an acknowledgment of the complicated web of relationships they had woven together, an acceptance of whatever form their connections might take.

Yuffie's eyes widened, an exaggerated pout forming on her lips as she processed Tifa's words. She tossed her head back, a playful huff escaping her as she conceded to the complexity of their intertwined affections. "I guess you're right," she said, the corners of her mouth twitching in a reluctant smile. "Or we all lost. Either way, you three won the jackpot."

“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” Aerith said beaming.

“Well, alright, your three have fun.” Yuffie shuffled away, grumbling to herself about GP.

The night air of the Gold Saucer was filled with the sounds of distant laughter and the mechanical symphony of arcade machines, yet, at that moment, the gentle giggles of Aerith and Tifa seemed to rise above it all. They stood close, shoulders brushing, the glow from the amusement park lights casting soft shadows on their faces.

Aerith's lips curved with delight and a hint of victory. "I couldn't have said it better myself,” she agreed.

Tifa's giggle melded harmoniously with Aerith's, a sound as comforting as a warm blanket at the end of a long day. Cloud’s cheeks warmed with genuine happiness.

They had a long road ahead of them, but he wouldn’t have wanted to face it with anyone else.

#ffvii #final fantasy vii #clerifa #ffvii rebirth #cloud x tifa x aerith #ff #final fantasy #my writing #cloud strife #tifa lockhart #aerith gainsborough #cloti #clerith #aerti #cloud x tifa #cloud x aerith #aerith x tifa

[sterlingarcher23]

An "eye-opener"

This quite literally opened her eyes... Oh, foreshadowing. Nachtigall ick hör dir trappsen.

"Let me see" (If "I hear you" while listening to the radio forshadows blind Max, the "Let me see" forshadows the opposite.)

Why? Because both Lucas & Erica are connected to the 8.

You know... Kali. The dice could have shown any other number in slow motion but it's the 8 before it's a 20 (the ElMax & Lumax patterns both equate separately to a specific number once the final verse happened: 20)

Lucas speaks directly to her inability to see and feel and he says "We're gonna get you some help". Not for the resurrection, he speaks to her condition, her loss of sight and unable to feel/been paralyzed (the dying/resurrection is addressed after this) - Some don't see her paralyzed forever but blind definitely? That is inconsequential. (Seriously, you can't just flat out say one part is probably not the case but the other is. - It's both or nothing. That's why it's in this scene.)

A supernatural genre show and you truly believe everything is going to be normal?

Blind girl...

...um, psych.

Blind girl connected to her friend - when she grabs Els hand, she pulls off her glasses.

"Rhymes that keep their secrets will unfold behind the clouds", Neverending Story

So behind Max's clouded eyes "rhymes that keep their secrets will unfold". We still have to see this, don't we? S4 didn't gave us this.

Angel by Madonna, in its final line, says "Clouds just disappear". One shouldn't overlook this line of the song when everything else IS in the show.

And how? You know how. Brenner explained it even to us. We just misunderstood who was actually meant.

You know "taking abilities & memories".

Well she IS alive, ergo she will see another day even though it won't be her "eyes" that she'll use. It doesn't get more obvious than in this line - not only for this episode but in whole since this scene is a forshadowing of both her death and resurrection (I think there's the clock sound at the 20 minute mark?):

IF Max lives (Yes & Yes), she will SEE another day (Yes and logically Yes again! + "In your hand/s the birth of a new day"). And Lucas & Erica will get her some help as Max demanded "Let me see" via the 8. (which is btw the shape of the binoculars too)

El will be Max's eyes. Yes, I agree. Literally. This scene here is meant literal. You remember Phineas Gage? No? Go watch the scene. 😉

I'll talk about Gage in another post but there's a case of a woman that was blind after an accident. She was diagnosed with brain damage ; you know the thing Max doesn't believe is a thing...and she's right in her case. That woman wasn't blind, it was a misdiagnosis as it turned out many years later. The woman had something else... similar to Gage's symptoms but the correct diagnosis wasn't brain damage.

Max is blind...but she isn't at all. Because she'll consume. The silver cat feeds. Abilities. Memories.

The Talisman which Lucas reads from passage refers directly to Speedy. Speedy Parker whose alternate version, Parkus is a gunslinger, a knight. There's a third character with the name of Snowball (Seriously!) a blind musician who, although never directly confirmed, the protagonist of The Talisman, Jack, identifies as Speedy Parker. Snowball is extremely good in identifying other people himself even though he "can't see" - but if he is indeed Speedy, how can he be blind and be able to see at the same time? The Talisman - a healing object like the Grail - doesn't answer this oddity, it can be interpreted as a case of multiple identities/versions. However it is obvious why the Duffers chose this reference: Max is "Speedy" and therefore Snowball. That's why the "Snowball" happened. Blind yet not blind at all.

Plus: El literally removes blindness where he blinds the kids.

Oh, and about that brain thing...wait for a space walk that's been foreshadowed too when Max is introduced to the class.

#elmax #max mayfield #stranger things #el hopper #elmax is endgame #stranger things analysis

[seagull-energy]

BUCKLE UP, FOLKS, IT'S TIME FOR SOME BIG THOUGHTS ABOUT SEPTEMBER 29THS NEWSLETTER ENTRY! (this took so long omg, I got very busy) VERY long post incoming.

First of all, the entire barrow scene is INCREDIBLY creepy, but I want to highlight this bit in particular:

'What in the name of wonder?' began Merry, feeling the golden circlet that had slipped over one eye. Then he stopped, and a shadow came over his face, and he closed his eyes. 'Of course, I remember!' he said. 'The men of Carn Dûm came on us at night, and we were worsted. Ah! the spear in my heart!' He clutched at his breast. 'No! No!' he said, opening his eyes. 'What am I saying? I have been dreaming. Where did you get to, Frodo?'

Hey, what's happening here??? Is Merry being possessed by the unhoused spirit of a man of Arnor?? This is another one of those things that is just dropped in, never explained, and then moved past and it's REALLY SCARY.

-

Then, does this line remind anyone else of Macbeth? Specifically the scene where he sees the line of Banquo's descendants. Like, compare these two texts:

The hobbits did not understand his words, but as he spoke they had a vision as it were of a great expanse of years behind them, like a vast shadowy plain over which there strode shapes of Men, tall and grim with bright swords, and last came one with a star on his brow.

A show of eight kings, the eighth king with a glass in his hand, and Banquo last. MACBETH  Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo. Down! Thy crown does sear mine eyeballs. And thy hair, Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first. A third is like the former. [...] A fourth? Start, eyes! What, will the line stretch out to th’ crack of doom? Another yet? A seventh? I’ll see no more. And yet the eighth appears who bears a glass Which shows me many more, and some I see That twofold balls and treble scepters carry.

Obviously it's not a one-to-one comparison, but the Vibes are similar. (The use of the phrase 'crack of doom' in the Macbeth passage is also interesting, although I think that's probably a coincidence rather than anything else) LotR obviously has other well-known Macbeth connections, but this is one I only just noticed. (I really hope this comes off as similar to someone else and I'm not just coming up with nonsense)

-

As soon as his back was turned, a dark figure climbed quickly in over the gate and melted into the shadows of the village street.

I LOVE THIS MOMENT because reading it for the first time, anyone's first assumption is that this is going to be a Black Rider, but (spoilers) IT'S NOT! What a brilliant little subversion!

-

Frodo, Pippin, and Sam decided to join the company. Merry said it would be too stuffy. 'I shall sit here quietly by the fire for a bit, and perhaps go out later for a sniff of the air. Mind your Ps and Qs, and don't forget that you are supposed to be escaping in secret, and are still on the high-road and not very far from the Shire!'

If only they'd listened to Merry... I feel like Merry's practicality and good sense gets overlooked a lot. In these early chapters his status as 'most well traveled of the group' really comes across

-

Suddenly Frodo noticed that a strange-looking weather-beaten man, sitting in the shadows near the wall, was also listening intently to the hobbit-talk. He had a tall tankard in front of him, and was smoking a long-stemmed pipe curiously carved. His legs were stretched out before him, showing high boots of supple leather that fitted him well, but had seen much wear and were now caked with mud. A travel-stained cloak of heavy dark-green cloth was drawn close about him, and in spite of the heat of the room he wore a hood that overshadowed his face; but the gleam of his eyes could be seen as he watched the hobbits.

Words cannot express how much I love this description (and Strider's introduction as a whole)

-

There is an inn, a merry old inn beneath an old grey hill, And there they brew a beer so brown That the Man in the Moon himself came down one night to drink his fill. [...]

*The Cat and the Moon from the LotR musical starts blasting in my head*

-

And now... the Aragorn list... (my thoughts are in list format because otherwise I will just be pasting large chunks of the entry here, and I've already done enough of that)

what was he doing behind the hedge on the Road???

"I slipped over the gate just behind them." and there's the payoff to that spooky moment earlier!!! It goes from 'oooh a Black Rider might have followed them' to 'nope, it was actually just this dude who wants to help them' to 'OH SHIT THE BLACK RIDERS WERE ALREADY HERE' a little later. Good stuff :D

"a secret that concerned me and my friends" I'm curious which friends he means here. Probably the Dunedain, maybe the sons of Elrond as well? Anyway, it's a fun little note

Okay now I need to break the list format because WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT ARAGORN'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE RIDERS

'[...] They will come on you in the wild, in some dark place where there is no help. Do you wish them to find you? They are terrible!' The hobbits looked at him, and saw with surprise that his face was drawn as if with pain, and his hands clenched the arms of his chair. The room was very quiet and still, and the light seemed to have grown dim. For a while he sat with unseeing eyes as if walking in distant memory or listening to sounds in the Night far away.

So uh, Aragorn doesn't just know OF the Riders, he knows the Riders. He's obviously speaking from experience here, and iirc this is never expanded upon. What happened between them? And when did it happen?

'[...]I am afraid my only answer to you, Sam Gamgee, is this. If I had killed the real Strider, I could kill you. And I should have killed you already without so much talk. If I was after the Ring, I could have it – NOW!'   He stood up, and seemed suddenly to grow taller. In his eyes gleamed a light, keen and commanding. Throwing back his cloak, he laid his hand on the hilt of a sword that had hung concealed by his side. They did not dare to move. Sam sat wide-mouthed staring at him dumbly.   'But I am the real Strider, fortunately,' he said, looking down at them with his face softened by a sudden smile. 'I am Aragorn son of Arathorn; and if by life or death I can save you, I will.'

Chills. I love him. So much. Also, SURPRISE! It's art time!!

[ID: A digital drawing of Aragorn from Lord of the Rings. He has pale skin and shoulder length dark brown hair. He is wearing a brown quilted vest, brown trousers, a cream shirt with puffy sleeves, and a dark green cloak. He is looking slightly down and to his left (image right). His left hand is resting on his chest and his right hand is resting on a sword belted at his waist. The drawing has dark, blue-gray lighting and the background is a rough blue-gray rectangle. /end id]

Andddd now for one more thought: there is no mention of him having a second sword, which implies that his ONLY WEAPON in these DANGEROUS TIMES is just the shards of Narsil. Unhinged behavior, I love that for him

Moving on from Aragorn now! (although I will have many more things to say about him later)

-

'[the Black Rider] seemed to make off up the Road, eastward,' continued Merry. 'I tried to follow. Of course, it vanished almost at once; but I went round the corner and on as far as the last house on the Road.'

MERRY. WTF. Okay so this is 1) extremely brave and 2) not actually a terrible idea in theory. Trying to find out where the Rider was going and what it was doing would be smart, IF IT WASN'T ONE OF THE ENEMY'S MOST DANGEROUS SERVANTS THAT SHOULD BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS

-

[Merry said] "I could hardly help myself. I seemed to be drawn somehow."

FORESHADOWING????? Actually looking at both this and the thing with the wights that I talked about at the beginning of this ramble, merry actually has a pretty strong link with the wraiths from the beginning, which is INTERESTING!

-

Okay I think that's everything I wanted to say. I'm so sad this took me so long to write because now there's been a whole WEEK of entries that I haven't talked about or done art for :((( Weathertop at least will probably get some love at some point, but rn my art brain is telling me to draw the entire cast of the musical so we'll see how I balance things :)

#lotr #lotr newsletter #seagull.thoughts #seagull.art

[bearsinpotatosacks]

Will the Blood Be There in the Morning? - Whumptober2023

But for days like today, he didn’t need a date to remember. He didn’t need to read a board or for someone to inform him, he knew that today was the day he died.

He could tell in the rising sickness, rippling through his stomach and leaving that thick, sharply sweet feeling of nausea in his throat. It was the screaming sensation in his bones telling him something was wrong, different in his reanimated corpse tonight. The scar across his back didn’t hurt exactly, not tingly or weeping, yet at least, but he could certainly say that he was more aware of it right now than he usually was.

----

Ahkmenrah experiences his death again.

For day 13 of @whumptober . Also on AO3, inspired by a post here on tumblr that I can't find but spoke about the exhibits experiencing their deaths. If anyone can find it for me then I'd greatly appreciate it.

Words: 4066

Ahkmenrah stood overlooking his sarcophygus with a sick feeling in his stomach. Rising bile despite the fact that his gall bladder had been removed with his liver, held by Ismeti and part of the many artifacts of his that were stored, but he couldn’t have. He often wondered if they too were restored to how they’d been when he was alive each night, or stayed dead considering they’d been removed from his body. Or they could just magically return to his body, they hadn’t been removed when he’d been alive so if he was truly how he was then, in body at least, not spirit, then surely they’d be there. He’d never ventured to the records department to find out. 

Sometimes the passage of time, and the different calenders used in the modern day, made it hard to remember exact dates from his previous life. His birthday, when his parents had died, when he was crowned Pharaoh, when he died. If it wasn’t for the historians finding old records and translating them into the modern day, he wouldn’t be able to trust himself to remember much at all. 

He was the only actual human exhibit in the entire museum, he wondered if that meant his memories were more or less vibrant than the likes of say, Teddy, who could recount tales all night long, but openly admitted to the fact that they didn’t feel like his. Ahkmenrah couldn’t really get his head around that idea. His memories were his after all, so the idea of remembering something, but knowing it was all fake, made him feel even more sick to his stomach.

But for days like today, he didn’t need a date to remember. He didn’t need to read a board or for someone to inform him, he knew that today was the day he died. 

He could tell in the rising sickness, rippling through his stomach and leaving that thick, sharply sweet feeling of nausea in his throat. It was the screaming sensation in his bones telling him something was wrong, different in his reanimated corpse tonight. The scar across his back didn’t hurt exactly, not tingly or weeping, yet at least, but he could certainly say that he was more aware of it right now than he usually was.

This night was one of the few nights that he’d appreciated being locked away for fifty years in his saarcophygus. Seeing people, when you were literally dying, was a little hard to muster. Especially with how gruesome his death would get, he should know, he experienced it every year. Also, people didn’t get concerned over his screams like they would do now, his screams were normal after all. And they left him alone, something he wanted tonight but didn’t exactly get. If he ever isolated himself too much, someone would always try to find him, not a desired outcome when you’re trying not to vomit on your own blood. Not good.

“Ahk, you alright?” That was Larry, he had absolutely no idea about what was happening right now. He didn’t want him to find out. It was far too much for even the other exhibits, much less a mortal man who hadn’t yet experienced death. 

He swallowed the rising bile, the main event wouldn’t start for a few hours, he could handle things for a few hours. “I will be,” He said, turning to him with a half-smile.

“Great, come on, there’s a red moon tonight.”

A blood moon, how ironic.

~~~~

The exhibits were loitering outside the front door of the museum when he and Ahkmenrah joined them. Teddy seemed the most interest, gazing through a pair of binoculars Larry had brought in after reading the news when he woke up. Some of the others were braving the cold, others were watching from windows inside, such as Sacagawea. He’d expected her to be out here but she’d claimed that she felt under the weather, something he didn’t think museum exhibits could do but every day was a school day, he guessed. 

He turned to Ahk, and saw the goosebumps on his arms. He supposed ornate robes made for the egyptian desert weren’t the most suitable for New York in December. He stepped over to him, still unsure about where they were when it came to what they were, and rubbed his arms. That small smile he gave him shot butterflies through him.

“The egyptian had a lunar calendar, right?” Larry asked. 

“In the beginning, yes, but by the time I was Pharoah, we had a solar one.”

His gaze was solely on the sky. Did he miss it, during all those years locked away in his sarcophygus? Did he blame himself or did he hate the old guards who did it to him? He wanted to ask him about it but was far too worried it was a sensitive subject to try. 

“How did that work?” He opted for instead.

“We had four seasons each 120 days, with three months of thirty days in them, and five holy days at the end.” 

He said it like it was simple, like he was asking him what grass was. Larry couldn’t help but feel jealous that he, all the exhibits in fact, understood an entirely different time than he did, remembered as their own. Was it like remembering their childhood? Distant and fuzzy? Or was it vibrant, held in place by the knowledge that you could never return there and it be the same again.

“Makes sense, more than ours does in comparison,” he said.

“You can image my confusion when I first learnt the new one,”

New one. It wasn’t new to Larry. Nor to many of the other exhibits in the museum. They weren’t four-thousand years old, though. 

“It’s strange how the moon doesn’t change, isn’t it?” Larry said. 

The red light radiated from the celestial figure but couldn’t break through the shield of artificial lighting made by the City that Never Sleeps. He wondered how it looked over the sand dunes and monuments of Ancient Egypt, or the forests when Sacagawea was forced to lead Lewis and Clarke, or after a battle when the red covering your weapon shimmered under the dark reflection. It was daunting and comforting to know that these things were ancient. He had something in common with all his friends, but it also reminded him that they were never meant to be here.

Ahkmenrah didn’t respond. When he turned to him, he saw his eyes closed and jaw tense. His usually tanned skin seemed dull, as if the sun had gone in on a sunny day. His hands clenched his robes with a grip so tight it almost drained the blood from his hands. It made Larry wonder how close to life Ahkmenrah was, if the blood was reall draining from his face or if he was just feeling the effects. Whatever it was, he couldn’t help but feel like it was his fault. 

“Sorry, what is something I said?”

He moved closer and wrapped his arms around him as he began to fail. His feel stumbled, moving through the snow covered stairs and slipping on the layer of ice underneath. His body was strangely light as he lent into his arms. 

“You alright?” He said. “Is something going around? Sac was acting the same way earlier?”

Teddy turned around at the mention of her name. A wave of seriousness came across his face. It spread to the others as they looked between him and where Ahkmenrah was faint in his arms.

“It’s not something spreading, Lawrence.” He spoke with experience, as if this was something prepared or expected, like he was supposed to know. 

He walked closer and removed his fake leather gloves. Placing the back of his hand on Ahkmenrah’s forehead, he began to explain without looking at Larry. 

“Every year we’ve come to life we have to experience our deaths again, like a price to pay for our strange sort of eternal life that’s brought about from the tablet.”

Larry went from keeping his eyes locked on Ahkmenrah to darting to Teddy. Ahk gulped and stood up, not looking any better but taking deep, shaky breaths as he tried to ground himself. 

“That’s why Sacagawea is indisposed at the moment, I did offer to accompany her but she prefers to be alone on this day,” Teddy looked at the ground.

Ahkmenrah gulped again, hands clenched at his sides. “It’s a hard day, Larry, to be reminded of everything you had and will never have again, despite being reminded of it every day.”

Larry had no idea what to expect. He’d researched most of them when he’d first started, their deaths being at the end of whatever article or book he read. He’d never given it a second thought, their deaths. To him, they were maniquins, mostly, exhibits in a museum given a weird chance at immortality. After realising how Teddy felt about being a fake Theodore Roosevelt, he learnt not to prod any of them too much as the details about their life, and how it affected their not-death. 

“So this is how you’ll be all night? Weak and waiting for-” He didn’t say death, because it wasn’t, not really, not if it was an annual thing. 

“A death that will never be real?” He finished. 

Larry nodded. 

“Yes, except this isn’t it, at least for me.”

The others turned to him. His usual ingrained confidence had disappeared. All his energy seemed to be going into keeping himself standing and coherent.

“My death had two parts, each by my brother Kahmunrah,” He said.

Those who’d been sent to the Smithsonian reacted accordingly. It was strange to think how they could be related, Larry had done subsequent research and seen the theories that he could’ve been a bastard son, born of Ahkmenrah’s father and a concubine. He hadn’t asked what Ahkenrah thought or knew of that theory, he didn’t think that conversation would go very well.

“I should’ve suspected that he was trying to kill me for a while. I wasn’t king for awfully long, not the decades like my father, and he was always at my side, advising and pretending. I should’ve known that he was actually trying to get close enough to kill me.”

He closed his eyes and bit his lips. For a moment, he shook in the wind, weak as a feather. Larry placed a hand on his back again. 

“He tried to poison my breakfast, but must have not put enough in, because while I fell ill, yes, I didn’t drop down dead immediately. So I lay down, and a little while later, he came up to ‘check on me’. He didn’t make his presence known so could catch me off guard and-”

He didn’t finish the sentence butturned and lifted the extravagant cape out of the way. None of them had looked at his back before, why would they, but they could tell now that there was a reason that Ahkmenrah wore his over-the-top clothes that was more than just ‘it was what he was buried in’. A raised, angry scar took up most of his otherwise smooth back. It wasn’t just a stab wound, which would be bad enough, Kahmunrah had lost control and not just stabbed his brother, but carved an Ankh symbol into his body. A wave of nausea came over Larry, he pushed it down.

“He plunged his blade into my back, all the air left my body, I couldn’t fight him off, he was always taller than me. I knew I was going to die then, I knew why I’d felt ill that morning. And it only got worse, he spoke of him being the rightful heir, of me being the favourite and him helping me along even more and making sure I stayed dead by carving the Ankh symbol into my back. The key of life, rather ironic I know, but used by us Egyptian on-”

“Tombs.” Larry finished. 

Ahkmenrah dropped the cape and nodded. He didn’t turn around however. His body stumbling again, faltering, probably regaining composure, he was always polite and formal. Larry approached him, hands going on his shoulders then down his his sides. As he pondered if it was appropriate to touch him back, Ahk let out a raw gasp. It crackled and croaked, pain in just a sound as he fell forward, only not faceplanting because Larry forgot all etiquette and grabbed him around the waist to stop him. 

Larry settled his arms under his arms, feeling all his body pressing into him as he lost more and more of that spark in his eyes, his tan skin not glowing but dull. 

“Come on, Ahk, let’s get you somewhere comfortable,” He had no idea where but he would find somewhere. 

“Sarcophygus.”

“But that can’t be comfortable-”

“Sarcophygus, please.” 

They met eyes, Larry nodded and shifted Ahk so he wasn’t fully weighing down one shoulder. As he adjusted his arm, his hand brushed his back again. Red coated his fingertips as he saw a glimpse of his hand. Blood. 

Ahkmenrah had noticed this too and his sickly face froze, startled. “It’s already started.”

Enough explaining. Teddy opened the door as Larry and Ahkmenrah hobbled toward the elevator. His breathing was getting heavier as he tried not to pant. Every few steps his feet would falter, slipping on the varnished floor. Larry kept gripping his side tighter and tighter, his shoulder aching as he took more of his weight on. 

The elevator jolted as it travelled upwards. Luckily his exhibit was near by, and private. Even though the museum had known for a few years now that Ahkmenrah wasn’t the crazed Pharaoh that they were led to believe, he guessed some habits died hard, bad choice of words considering the situation, and most people still didn’t linger too much in the corridor. Either that or the intimidating Anubis statues guarding the entrance that still gave everyone at least a harsh look when they walked past. 

By the time the elevator arrived at their floor, Ahkmenrah was stumbling with every step. Larry could see red splotches on his cape as they raced toward privacy. He didn’t mention this, Ahkmenrah probably didn’t need him to do this. With every step, that scar on his back was opening up, his face becoming sullen, eyes unfocused as he tried to concentrate on moving and not collapsing in the empty hallway. Did he feel the blade too or just the agony of his flesh being ripped apart?

The Anubis guards rose their weapons to separate Larry from Ahkmenrah, immortally protective of their Pharaoh. Ahkmenrah managed to wave a hand and they turned their weapons from them to the entrance, not exactly pointing them at anyone who could walk past but making it evident that here was not somewhere you were going to linger tonight. 

“Here, Larry, please.” 

How could he remain so polite even when he was literally dying?

They both collapsed gently onto the harsh stone floor. Ahk slipped from Larry’s shoulder to rest on his torso, giving up on controlling his breathing as he panted. Larry took his hand in his as clenched his eyes closed. There would be blood on his uniform, something he’d have to explain to Dr McPhee in the morning if he saw. Although, would it even be there in the morning, considering Ahkmenrah would go back to being a 4000 year old mummified corpse by then?

Larry didn’t say anything. There was too much going on already, too much in the air for him to add to. He could feel Ahkmenrah’s pain in the air as he opened his eyes again, his breathing not pants but slow and shallow. His body sunk more and more onto him, Larry became more and more aware of how solid the floor was, felt its cold leaching through his clothes and into his skin. The only thing he felt sure of was how tight Ahk held onto his hand, as if it was his only lifeline in a tumultuous ocean.

“Just focus on that, okay?” He said in a whisper.

All Ahkmenrah could do was nod. He’d deteriorated so fast, what was he expecting from that severe of a wound? Yet he didn’t have any experience when it came to wounds, or blood, or dying. Larry was seriously underqualified for this. Just another skill he’d have to learn for this job, it was strange how he both didn’t mind that, if it meant comforting someone he cared about, and wanted to run in the opposite direction. 

“Do you want me to say anything?”

Ahkmenrah nodded, again. He closed his eyes again, the skin around them crinkling as he tensed. Larry saw crimson sinking into his uniform, mixing with the grey to create a sticky burgundy. It stuck to his fingers, his palms flashing bright against his pale skin.

“Nick’s enjoying high school-” 

That was all he could think about, Nick had wanted to come tonight, but he had a lot of homework to do over the Christmas break that was more important than hanging out here on a Monday night. Larry was glad he and Erica had both put their foot down, this was too much for anyone, let alone a kid. 

He turned back to Ahk to finish his sentence when he jolted up. His next breath came out wet as blood spurted from his mouth, dribbling up and bubbling as he tried to get in any air through the pain. They met eyes, there was a pleading look in them as Larry went to wipe it away or say something, he carried on with his sentence. 

“He’s-he’s um still got some of his friends from middle school so there wasn’t too much of a jump,” He didn’t want to ignore the fact that he was holding someone currently bleeding to death, but Ahkmenrah trying not to choke on his own blood was an image permemantly seared into his brain. “He’s joined a computer club, I think it’s for games or coding them or something, I’ve never been good with computers, really.”

Ahk’s hand weakened in his. His eyes glazed over occasionally as he tried to focus on him and his words, he didn’t care if he wasn’t taking any of this in. 

“Not that I don’t like video games, I went to the arcade when I was a kid.” He said. “But the ones Nicky plays are just far too confusing for a guy who’s used to Space Invaders and Pacman.”

He realised, through the confusion and fear, that Ahkmenrah didn’t know what he was on about “I’ll have to show you sometime, there’s a place in Brooklyn that has a bunch of old arcade games, I took Nick there one day on my day off and it was satisfying when I was better than him, don’t tell him that.”

Ahk’s head slipped from his torso and rested on the stone below them. The blood was trickling from his chin, down his neck and marking his expensive outfit with fresh red. He could see the wound through his clothes now, wet to the touch and even heavier than before. 

Larry tried to turn him around, his body getting harder and harder to lift as he got weaker and weaker. The whites were rimmed red as tears fell down his face and mixed with the blood stuck to his face, watering it down and causing more to fall down his neck. If this is what he like now, how had he managed this every year he’d been locked away? Had he screamed more than usual? Would it have even been worth it?

He wiped one away as he let out a mix between a sob and a cry. More blood spurted out. His hands were cold now, as Larry gripped them both in his and secured him on his shoulder, running his thumb through his short hair. His eyes kept drifting shut, not clenched from pain as they had earlier. This was it, wasn’t it? 

He knew better than to admit that his shoulder was starting to ache from where Ahk was slumped on him. It was all of his weight now. His body relaxing as he gave into whatever happened when an already dead Pharaoh died again. 

There was blood everywhere, in places he didn’t think it could reach. Covering both hands, most of his uniform and his pants. It pooled in the grout between the stone slabs on the floor, dyed Ahk’s robes scarlet and wiped his skin like paint. 

His breathing got croakier, ripping and scratching as the blood stopped bubbling from his lips and dried on them as they cracked. He looked down at how much of his blood was oozing out of him, not flowing like before, and whined, how did he deserve such a gruesome death? 

Larry tilted his head with one hand and made sure that he couldn’t miss his gaze. If he was dying, reliving his last moments, he’d rather he not look at the evidence of his own pain. 

“La-larry-” Ahk croaked out, a whisper and a plead all at once.

“I know, just focus on me,” He wished this was over, and felt guilt ripple through when he did. “Not much longer okay, then you’ll wake up tomorrow night and this will all be a dream, okay?”

He nodded. His brown eyes flicked as he took in all his facial features. A distant haze creeping in from both sides as any parts of his body that still had some strength in them gave in. 

“And this won’t happen for another year. The eclipse will be there tomorrow and you can tell me all about whatever you can remember about Ancient Egyptian astrology like it’s common knowledge, because you’re smart and sarcastic and passionate and don’t, didn’t, deserve this pain.”

He couldn’t even nod anymore as he stopped looking in his eyes and sank onto his shoulder. Like he was turning into a liquid, he melted down his body. A few more shallow breaths came out of his mouth before the final death rattle, something he’d never actually heard before because he was lucky enough that his parents were still both alive. His eyes were bland and still. Hands flopped lifelessly across his lap as he moved him back into his sarcophygus, something a lot harder than usual as all his body seemed three times more heavy. 

This wasn’t how he should’ve been remembered. He realised that he hadn’t even had the graces of a comforting face in his last moments, probably just his brother towering over him as he waited for the crown to become his. The blood covering him, scarring and painting him not as elegant as he prided himself in being. Skin not soft and dazzling like it seemed to be all the time. He closed his eyes for him.

He couldn’t look for too long, however, it still was the dead body of the person he loved. Museum exhibit or not, that was hard for anyone to bear. Moving everything back into place, he nodded at the Anubis guards and waited for them to move back to their places before leaving to give the others the news. 

There was a trail of blood as he trudged back to the others. He didn’t think he could take that elevator again for a few days, not with everything fresh and new in his mind. Although he wished not to feel this, he also didn’t want to get used to seeing Ahkmenrah like that, considering that was going to happen every year the tablet was here. 

Other exhibits moved past and around him. Sun sparkled through the window as dawn broke. How long had he been in there? It hadn’t felt like long but had evidently been all night. 

He looked over the balcony and saw most of the others waiting by the desk. All he could so was nod as he moved on autopilot to do his end of shift tasks. Did they feel guilt knowing what Ahk had to go through every year he was locked up there, alone? 

The answer didn’t truly matter, though, the question dwarfed by another as he heard it ringing and echoing like bells in the distant. Would the blood disappear when the sun fully came up?

This is my kind of whump. Blood, death, all that good stuff. Like I said, this idea wasn't mine, I just expanded on my interpretation of it. Thanks for reading! @whumptober-archive

#whumptober2023 #no. 13 #i don't feel so good #fic #natm #night at the museum #blood tw #death tw #stab wound tw #ahkmenrah #larry daley #teddy roosevelt #sacagawea #post natm 2 #kahmunrah #ahkmenrah natm #sacagawea natm #bear writes #tablet guardians

[uriekukistan]

Kaneki for the uni thing :)

ooh wait okay this is so interesting to think about because we already have a canon uni kaneki, but i guess how does he fit in at my university is the question

so kaneki's major is canonically japanese literature, so i would say the parallel equivalent at my school would be english literature. i think he would end up really interested in the british medieval/renaissance literature classes because he of all the fairytale-esque tales of heroism and tragedy. bros a bit of a nerd (affectionate) and will definitely be reading passages in class in a full old english accent. the english department also brings in a lot of authors for writing workshop and he attends all of them.

in tg we see him reading in anteiku and at a picnic table outside, so while we never see him studying, we can guess maybe those would be places he would probably enjoy studying? i don't think he would study at our campus cafe (will get to that thought), and it is extremely cold here however, my campus is on top of a pretty tall hill, and at the top, there's this thing we call the skybridge, which is basically a place that overlooks the entire valley and the walls are entirely windows. the view is so nice, and i think kaneki would feel really at peace there, so it would be his favorite study spot (mine too)

we know kaneki is not very into campus life, and i don't think he would be at my uni either...unfortunately, a lot of our social culture is based on superficial things like wealth and hooking up and who can drink the most alcohol before they have to go to the hospital...not a place i think kaneki would fit in easily (felt!). i think he'd end up pretty much the same in canon with one friend who lures him out to get a cup of coffee once in a while. safe to say he doesn't go to parties either.

i think he would also be a barista if he went to my university, but i don't think he would like it that much. it's very loud and chaotic and not at all the chill kind of haven that anteiku was for him. hence why i don't think he would study there. he also refuses to eat there (we're assuming he can eat human food). he hates working there tbh, but university tuition in the us costs a kidney and your first born child, so he does what he has to

his favorite place to eat would be the "late night" (it closes at midnight) "pub style" (its american fast food-ish) spot because they have the best hamburger

#tokyo ghoul #tokyo ghoul :re #tgre #kaneki ken #hcs

[asongofstarkandtargaryen]

JON SNOW DAY 5: MYSTICAL BONDS ✨🐺

The Northerns worship the Old Gods, and Jon - a true son of the North- also follows this religion.

Jon himself believes that the Old Gods are the only Gods who have powers beyond the Wall.

The Seven have no power beyond the Wall, Jon thought, but my Gods will be waiting

ACOK, JON I

So far, it seems that his belief is correct because the magic we have witness beyond the Wall (children of the forest, Bloodraven)is linked to that religion.

What I find it interesting is how Ghost, who isn't just Jon's direwolf but also shares a strong warging bond with him, is linked to the Old Gods. More than once, Ghost appearance has been associated with the weirwood trees Something that makes sense as their primary colors are white and red- like Ghost's!

White fur and red eyes, Jon realized, disquieted. Like the trees...

AGOT, JON VI

Red eyes, Jon realized, but not like Melisandre's. He had a weirwood's  eyes. Red eyes, red mouth, white fur. Blood and bone, like a heart's tree. He belongs to the old gods, this one. And he alone of all the direwolves was white. Six pups they'd found in the later summer snow, him and Robb, five that were gray and black and brown, for five Starks and one white, as white as Snow.

He had his answer then.

ASOS, JON XII

The above passage is very important because it shows Jon finally deciding what to do with Stannis' offer of Winterfell. Most readers only  focus on Jon declining because he feels he doesn't belong (he's a Snow, not a Stark).

However I believe they tend to overlook the link between Ghost and the Old Gods. If Jon had accepted the offer of Winterfell, he would have to also let Melisandre to burn the heart tree in the godswood of Winterfell. But as Jon says, Ghost isn't like Melisandre but rather he's like the Old Gods. Therefore, Jon can't let Stannis and Melisandre destroy his religion for their sake of their own. If he has to betray the Old Gods in order to get Winterfell, he rather not have it at all. This is a crucial aspect of Jon considering that previously he has admitted how much he wants to gain Winterfell.

I believe that the Old Gods and the magical elements linked to them will help Jon in his quest to defend the Others.

#jonsnowfortnightevent2023 #asoiafcanonjonsnow #canonjonsnow #jon snow #valyrianscrolls #a post of ice and fire #asoiaf meta #jon snow meta #mymeta

[headingalaxys-spicy]

Love your writing! Can we have a yandere Spain, Italy and Romano (separately) with a tourist love interest that loves their country (it's been their dream to visit one day and they finally do) and is visiting with a tour group for a week?

Me finally getting out of the pit of my mind to write yay! And I apologize that this ask is late as hell. I hope you like it anon. Have an epic Saturday!

Italy

He’d just awoken from his mid-afternoon siesta. While slightly groggy from his slumber, he’d been eager for food. As he trailed along the medieval streets, he passed by a small group of adventurous tourists that spanned beyond the standard touristy sites like Rome and wanted to dive deeper into the hidden gems that were commonly missed when people came to visit Italy. One particular person stood out to Feliciano from the group of only 7 people. The twinkle that shinned in your eyes as you were engrossed in the tour guide's speech about the History of the Colleoni Chapel. He had to stand in amusement as you did have a notebook taking down some notes so you could admire the memory much more fondly later. Feliciano thought that that was charming, and it sent a few cupid arrows to his heart, all of which made a direct hit. He trailed behind your group for a while with stealth as he snagged a Trapizzano from one of the street vendors; he was enthralled by your excitement to learn more about his country.

As your small group was allowed to disperse for a few hours before they headed to another small town in North Italy decided that it was the right time for him to approach you. “Ciao, carino(a)~ Would you like to join me so that I can show you some of the best cities of this city? Even better than that of your tour guides? I can promise I’ll get you back before your group leaves.”

He’s going to be shocked that you could speak some Italian with some fluency. You struggled with the grammar and pronunciation but he adored you even more for even trying to learn the language even before your visit. He was enamored with you even more.

He’s going to take you on an extravagant adventure that was Disneyequse and entirely magical.

The two of you all giggly and high on the moment of excitement and on the buds of young love that engulfed your senses. The two of you were fully present in the moment. He took you to the Bergamo city gate, that was overgrown with the wildflowers of Northern Italy. The pastel and muted hues of yellows, pinks, and blues. It felt like you were alive in a Renaissance painting. The two of you at this point were now holding hands as he guided you through it’s rich history. He knew about intimate details that made him sound like a distinguished professor who’s been alive for hundreds of years. Even though he looked to only be in his mid-20s, you admired this charming Italian’s dedication to share in the culture of his nation. You allowed yourself to let your eyes roam the ancient pebbles of the ground that paved your way. It was nothing like you experienced from (nation).

“Come Carino(a) I have another fantastic sight to show!” His warm smile tingled your heart like Tinkerbells fairy dust and made it flutter.

‘So this is what falling in love feels like?’ You silently question yourself as you want to take a snapshot of the moment and keep it hidden in your diary so that you can come back to the moment whenever you felt sadness.

“Alright.”

Feliciano picked up his pace, and you were on a stone-carved staircase covered in beautiful florals.

He brought you down through some of the secret passages within the Venetian walls. The ancient stone reminded you of what you’d seen in countless history books, maps, encyclopedias, etc. But none could capture the mystique of the buildings and all of the intricate details of actually being there. As you reached an opening to a rooftop, it overlooked all of the city; the view was majestic. You could see the terra cotta and white colors that defined the city’s landscape.

“Wow, it’s lovely up here, Feliciano. I’m glad I met you today; you made this adventure much more fun.” You couldn’t hold back the smile that had made its way to your face.

“I’m glad Y/N.” He pulls out a lily and places it gently in your hair. As the sun set, you felt him kiss you on the forehead. “Addio mio(a) amore.”

And with that the next thing you knew, you were back in the van with the other tourists that were happily chatting about what they were able to do in Bergamo. Your mind was still at a loss to figure out if what you experienced was real but when you reach into your hair the lily was still there pure white and glowing.

Romano

You were enjoying your tour of the Amalfi coastline you weren’t aware of the dangerous group of inidivudals that were eyeing you to harass and steal some of your belongings. They had recognized that you spoke in broken Italain. Plus since you were somewhat shy and not overly confident showon in your body language it was easy for them to see that you were a forginer attached to a small group of far more adventurous tourists that had a deeper interest in Italian culture than the common tourist sites. You were the perfect target for their attack. You were in the middle of trying to figure out which of the seashell necklaces your best friend would like back at home as a souvenir. You were interrupted when this group had descended upon you and the other adventurer from your tour group. You tensed up and tried to understand the rapid Italian that they were whispering to one another discreetly. You were able to understand the words ‘idiota’ and ‘sciocco’ and immediately knew their attention was not on the vendor that you were currently at. You looked over your shoulder to see if the other person from your group was with you but see that they had already wandered away. With tension in the air and your nerves on high alert you decided that picking whatever necklace and paying for it would be your best bet of escape. As you tried to deiscretly grab only the amount of money that you needed from your pocket, someone had made a deliberate dive for your backpack yaking it off you. You were jerked backwards and everything was like a massive blur. For a few moments you’d wondered if you’d gone blind. You heard some other shouting and curses in Italian. It took you a few moments to recognize that you hadn’t hit the ground but someone had managed to catch you and break your fall.

It was a dark brown-haired Italian man that looked to be in his mi-20’s with a curious curl sticking out of the side of his head.

“Mi dispiace donna/ uomo. Some of my people do misbehave. And your backpack has unfortunately been ripped in half but don’t worry there are always more bags. He gives you a charming smile that you can’t help but giggle at. He was cute you had to admit.

“My name is Romano, what is yours?”

“Y/N” You reply promptly with a blush on your face. “Thanks for helping me out. I’m here on an extended toru of sorts and my Italian isn’t all that great.”

“Well, I can always help you practice and I can show you the hidden gems, after all I’m pure Italian.” He jokes. His accent sounded like harmony in your ears.

The two of you will send the afternoon on the white sandy beaches. The two of you wander around barefoot and free letting the sand sink you further into the wondrous day dream you found yourself in. He tells you about his legendary Grandpa that he affectionately calls Rome. You thought of it as adorable. He’s a gentleman to you for the entire day. He takes you to the Museo della Carta, where the history of paper-making began in one of the earlier centuries. He talks about how he loved to come here and collect paper so that he could keep journals about his life living with his “mentor”. His family history sounded complicated and you wanted to ask but felt like it may have been a bit to personal on the first day of knowing the mysterious but charming man.

As the two of you made your way to the pier that streched over the clear curulean waters that were pristine. It looked as if you were inside one of your fairytale books.

“So Bello(a) there is one more place that I’d like you to see before you’re off to the next city. I promise you’re going to love this place.” He hooks his arm around yours and the two of you head off for the mountains that are somewhat steep, but they have flora and fauna of the Italian coastline. You see a few cuckoos, swifts, and European doves fly by the two of you. The first bird of which was to tell of your future fate with the Italian once you returned back someday for good.

He brought you to Villa Rufolo the masses of pink and white flowers shone the brightest amidst all of the other plants.

“Wow, this place is beautiful!” You took a few moments to take in the enchanting sight. Romano seizes the chance to take your hand in once more and bring you to one of his favorite plants that he’d grown quite fond of the Viburnum tinus flower.

“It was one of my grandfathers' favorites and I’ve grown quite fond of it just like you.”

Spain

You’d been roaming around all day in Calella de Palafrugell a small fishing town that was in the Northern part of Spain situated by the waters. You and a few of your friends decided to camp in one of the picturesque sites called Camping La Siesta. You booked a cabin that had bare beds and a basic bathroom. It was simple accommodations. Not like you needed much since you wouldn’t be inside for much of the time anyways.

“Time to hit the pool guys! Time is a wasting!” You were eager to show off your new swimsuit and do some cannon balls to annoy your best friends. They lagged behind you since jetlag had essentially sapped the majority of the energy they had for the day.

In your rush to get to the pool, you bumped into a Spainaird and a Portuguese man.

“Oh uh, Lo Siento.” Thanking god that some of your Spanish were still useful after being out of school for a little while.

When the man that you’d bumped into turned around the first thing that mesmerized you about him was his verdant green eyes that sparkled brightly in the sunlight. You had to think twice if you were looking at gems or eyes.

“Esta bien. Ningún daño hecho” (No problem. No harm done.) His wide grin made your stomach fill with a flurry of butterflies. Antonio reached out to help you up.

“Are you okay chica(o)?”

“Yeah I’m fine just excited to finally take a swim! It’s been a long flight and it’s been forever since I’ve actually had time for a long vacation!” Excited at the prospect of not having to work for the next couple of weeks.

“Oh well, I guess I’ll be seeing you there! I and my friend are headed there was well!”

“Want to just go together?” (You got that rizz reader.)

“Ah of course!” Glad that you asked because he found you to be quite alluring yourself.

The two of you will spend the entire day together getting to know each other. It will be fun. It feels like that forgotten summer vacation where you’d found your childhood best friend / future lover but never got to see them again because fate can sometimes be cruel that way.

The two of you will be bored of the pool pretty bored so Anotnio will suggest that the two of you spice things up by finding all of the better views and seeing all the secret beautiful sites of his country that most normal tourists will miss. (Yes, the two of you ditch Portugal. Not that it matters because the dude is like on his mid-morning siesta.)

Your heart fills with endless excitement of the prospect of getting to take epic pictures and being led by a handsome stranger.

“Alright Y/N you better text us and take this taser with you if he gets creepy!” One of your friends states concerned for you but feels at ease about you being able to have a once-in-a-lifetime whirlwind adventure with a possible handsome lover. Antiono’s looks did have a disarming effect to them. The three of you were chatting where’d you’d wanted to meet for dinner that night.

“Don’t worry ya’ll I can protect myself.” You send them off with a wink, dressed in your finest summer attire. Once you made your way outside you saw Antino decked out in tan shorts, hiking boots, and a slightly unbuttoned button-up short sleeve, you believed that man could look good in anything.

“Come let's head to the beach!” He grabbed your hand eagerly and you two took the forest trail that was about a mile long to get to the beach. You allowed your mind to be related by his smooth Spanish accent that flowed like fresh red wine. Listening to him talk about the history of his land was intoxicating. Why couldn’t all history lessons be taught by attractive men with culturally accurate accents? You thought to yourself.

Antonio picked up his pace when he began to see the outline of the water at the beach.

“Whoa!” You were almost tripped up by some of the larger rocks that were on the defined dirty pathway.

“Oh lo siento, Y/N! I get excited when I’m able to show off my nation to a beautiful person. Hahaha.” His smile beamed brightly but so did the blush and pink flowers that appeared out of thin air.

Pleasantly shocked you decide to take the lead.

“Well you can kiss me on the lips if you can beat me to the beach!” You quickly peck him on the cheek and make a mad dash off to the la playa where he will tackle you to the sand and win.

#hetalia #hetalia fandom #hetalia imagines #hetalia x reader #hetalia fluff #hws italy #hws romano #hws itabros #hws #axis powers ヘタリア #ヘタリア #hws spain

[astrangergivingthestrangewelcome]

I miss Jonathan Harker and who knows when he'll come back from the war so I've compiled a list of his funniest, most iconic lines

May 3rd- "I had for dinner, or rather supper, a chicken done up some way with red pepper, which was very good but thirsty. (Mem., get recipe for Mina.) I asked the waiter, and he said it was called "paprika hendl,""

"I did not sleep well, though my bed was comfortable enough, for I had all sorts of queer dreams. There was a dog howling all night under my window, which may have had something to do with it; or it may have been the paprika, for I had to drink up all the water in my carafe, and was still thirsty."

May 5th- "so I quietly got my polyglot dictionary from my bag and looked them out. I must say they were not cheering to me, for amongst them were "Ordog"—Satan, "pokol"—hell, "stregoica"—witch, "vrolok" and "vlkoslak"—both of which mean the same thing, one being Slovak and the other Servian for something that is either were-wolf or vampire. (Mem., I must ask the Count about these superstitions)" Okay look I think the overlooked thing in this passage is that he had a polyglot dictionary to begin with and was just quietly flipping through it in the background.

Was this a customary incident in the life of a solicitor's clerk sent out to explain the purchase of a London estate to a foreigner? Solicitor's clerk! Mina would not like that. Solicitor—for just before leaving London I got word that my examination was successful; and I am now a full-blown solicitor! This is in my opinion the best and funniest thing Jonathan has ever said not only the first sentence which is in itself perfection but the fact that when recounting this freaky fucking wolf infested carriage ride to Dracula's haunted castle he does a full stop to ponder his new promotion and Mina's opinions on it.

May 8th- It is very annoying, for I do not see how I am to shave, unless in my watch-case or the bottom of the shaving-pot, which is fortunately of metal.

It was by this time close on morning, and we went to bed. (Mem., this diary seems horribly like the beginning of the "Arabian Nights," for everything has to break off at cockcrow—or like the ghost of Hamlet's father. So true bestie, you really do forget how poetical and rambling he used to be before the trauma set in

May 12th- I saw the fingers and toes grasp the corners of the stones, worn clear of the mortar by the stress of years, and by thus using every projection and inequality move downwards with considerable speed, just as a lizard moves along a wall. What manner of man is this, or what manner of creature is it in the semblance of man? I feel the dread of this horrible place overpowering me; I am in fear—in awful fear —and there is no escape for me; I am encompassed about with terrors that I dare not think of... ->May 15th- Once more have I seen the Count go out in his lizard fashion. -> June 29th- As he went down the wall, lizard fashion, I wished I had a gun or some lethal weapon, that I might destroy him

May 15th- Here I am, sitting at a little oak table where in old times possibly some fair lady sat to pen, with much thought and many blushes, her ill-spelt love-letter, and writing in my diary in shorthand all that has happened since I closed it last. It is nineteenth century up-to-date with a vengeance. And yet, unless my senses deceive me, the old centuries had, and have, powers of their own which mere "modernity" cannot kill. Bestie you are literally a prisoner in Dracula's castle and you think you're gonna die here

May 16th- "Up to now I never quite knew what Shakespeare meant when he made Hamlet say:—"My tablets! quick, my tablets 'Tis meet that I put it down," etc.," This is why he's my boy I too would immediately quote Hamlet in a major crisis

May 19- "I am surely in the toils."

June 24th- What shall I do? what can I do? How can I escape from this dreadful thing of night and gloom and fear? We would all like to know

June 25th- No man knows till he has suffered from the night how sweet and how dear to his heart and eye the morning can be." Not funny but I feel strongly about highlighting the resilience of Jonathan Harker at all times

#dracula daily #jonathan harker #literally he is the most fun to get stuck at dracula's trauma castle with