#i'm SO happy she was the one to kill beowulf i'm so so so so happy the math worked out just right

[guidingsbolt]

almost definitely will have more thoughts tomorrow but man. will DID it. she's FREE and maybe even HAPPY but it doesn't really matter because she isn't chained down anymore, metaphorically OR literally!!!!

#i'm SO happy she was the one to kill beowulf i'm so so so so happy the math worked out just right #no one died quinn is okay her parents love her the woods are hers and beowulf is DEAD! #she didn't know she could lead the pack until she killed beowulf and then it just Clicked #there IS something right inside her and she CAN direct it in positive ways #taking your anger and drive and instict and using it IS good and it DOES feel good to lean into those things #as evidenced by her romp in the woods pleading emoji #the description was really beautiful.... hannah is GOOD at this she GETS werewolves #for so long will has been about the tension of self hatred and disgust and fear that her letting Go of all that #at least for this full moon #feels CRAZY she's. it's just such a different way of approaching my guy.. #i'm delighted. #i have been doing so much thinking about this for so Long like a YEAR it's crazy that it's DONE... #i'm gonna cry again i didn't have it in me at all DURING the session sob #this turned out way longer than i expected but last thing #the 'there's a curse comes with a kiss the bite that binds the gift that gives' from wolf like me has ALWAYS been my thesis for where #i wanted will to end up and she EARNED it it really felt earned which i'm so proud of and is because of a perfect setup from hannah 🥺 #it's really cool. #ch: will #WAIT i think she's reached barlights too... wow...

[talesofsonicasura]

To Become Maddening

(Remade without poll so I can edit.)

I figured why not have my first Trollhunters AU be angst with a side of hurt/comfort involving a certain Jim Lake Jr. Whether this has half Troll or full Troll Jim (my own design, not Wizards) is up in the air.

It begins when on our future Trollhunters tenth birthday, a normally happy event turned sour as he found a strange stone in his backyard. A very magical one cause the moment he touches it, Jim disappears within a flash of red light. Where did he go? An alternate universe specifically Madness Combat's Nevada.

(I'll be filling the blanks whenever necessary. Madness Combat is a Newground series made by Krinkels and is VERY violent. You don't have watch the series to understand the AU as I'll keep things about it vague. The characters are a species called Grunts or Crosslings. Defining traits are: clay like skin, facial features hidden by a cross similar in appearance to what's used to sketch faces and floating hands.)

Maddening universe where the sky is blood red, the undead walk the earth, and reality itself is broken. A kill or be killed environment Jim is forced to adapt to. Luckily he isn't alone for long as the kid meets another displaced human by the name of Marin. She runs the Skyfall Organization, a rescue team with her right hand MAG Consternation alongside trusty MAG Fluffy Grunt Buck and takes him under her wing.

Jim is taught how to not only survive but thrive in this apocalyptic environment than just rescue responder training. He returns to Arcadia Oaks at the age of 13 albeit quite traumatized. During Jim's disappearance, Barbara may have started dating Stricklander and Toby stumbles upon Trollmarket earlier than in canon.

The latter occurs because he was searching for any possible clues to his best friend's disappearance. Jim's partner in crime accidentally stumbles upon Kanijar, who finds the stone responsible for the disappearance, and follows him back. It didn't take long for a certain Krubera to find Toby in Trollmarket.

Now Team Trollhunters is in the prototype phase as a result of these change in events. He wants to find Jim and if that means the possible of danger the Troll world brings then so be it. Toby is Kanijar's "chair guy", filling the Trollhunter about any events using a drone or RC car. He thinks the whole Trollhunters working alone thing is dumb and is slowly chipping away at that mindset.

You never underestimate a determined kid especially one who would go to the ends of the Earth for his friend. Kanijar is the type who wouldn't have a kid be left unprotected upon discovering the existence of Trolls. Especially as Toby's determination could lead to someone like Bular finding him.

Our wingman's tenacity definitely caused changes for the Trollmarket residents. Draal is like a teasing old brother when it comes to Toby, a courtesy later extended to Jim. He also helps Blinky with any research so our loveable sassy boi has some knowledge in magic too.

Anyway, both are relieved that Jim is back but quickly notice the scars, equipment and WEAPONS he gotten during his stay. Marin didn't want to leave the boy defensively so taught him how to use guns, knives alongside her favorite (stolen) weapon: the Dragon Sword.

(It's Jim, a child Jim. The guy would definitely try to use equipment without proper training so Marin's hands were tied. She rather not have the kid hurt himself or become zombie chow trying to be a hero.) He does keep the stuff from Nevada like the Dragon Sword but the guns; a Sig P365 semi automatic handgun, Desert Eagle 11911 Commander, and a 50 Beowulf rifle to be precise, are locked up until his 20th birthday.

I'm debating whether to give Jim serious facial damage. Not the subtle stuff either. Like Jonah Hex(left) scarring where his teeth is visible or worse a prosthetic lower jaw like Antipathy Hank(right). Maybe a mix of both. As for how he got it, let's just say Nevada has its own devil. Someone who doesn't like Marin and got no qualms hurting a young child.

It does open up a chance for more bonding but also Barbara getting dragged into the Trollhunter business early as well. Rescue responders do need a medic when shit hits the fan and lives are on the line.

Jim finds out about Trollmarket as his time in Nevada allows him to spot even the smallest signs of suspicious behavior. He follows Toby when his best friend goes to tell Blinky about Jim's return. You can imagine the entire Trollmarket's shock when they see an extensively scarred child, especially one who seen the horrors of battle.

Jim tells about his experience in the apocalyptic Nevada and suggests a rescue/emergency system to be implemented. He has an obvious huge distaste for not only the Trollhunter working alone nonsense too but the major lack of contingencies. Marin practically drilled the consequences to such actions in his head.

Now Jim isn't going to be the Trollhunter as these early precautions keep Kanijar from dying like in canon. Although the troll might get discharged from such duty and Draal taking his place due to severe injuries in the future. (Plus I want to take a shot at writing him.) Our human trio of heroes still get directly involved when canon events start.

Strickler is very hesitant to go against Jim and his resolve to free Gunmar been severely cracked. How? Well, Jim has a group photo of him with his fellow rescuers in the Skyfall Organization. Something that Strickler finds when it drops outta the boy's bag. Barbara later sees it too.

Jim only tells the concealed Changeling about his experiences in Nevada, nothing else. The kind of stuff that leaves the man awestruck. In Strickler's opinion, the place sounds worse than the Darklands as reality is literally tearing apart, yet it has one thing the lost Troll world would never have: hope. An actual Pandora's Box that opened up future possibilities he hadn't realize until now.

Just because Jim isn't going to be the Trollhunter doesn't mean certain canon events won't happen. He still acquires the Eclipse armor and most likey becomes a half troll or full troll albeit a different reason. If he has the prosthetic lower jaw then it'll alter to fit his new form. Will Marin, Consternation and Buck appear? I'm split down the middle for that but if so then it's around mid second season or start of the third.

That's all I have for now! Until next time folks, I'll see you back at Arcadia! Have this little track that sums up the aura of this AU, Dawn of the Red Sun by MonoCronic.

#tales of sonicasura #sonicasura #toa trollhunters #tales of arcadia trollhunters #trollhunters au #trollhunters #toa #tales of arcadia #jim lake junior #jim lake jr #james lake junior #james lake jr #madness combat #madcom #madness project nexus #au #Youtube

[fortunawren]

lyrics iv;

Let’s see what we get this time. The boys can wait. I’m essentially using this for mediation to relax my mind.

“Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” by Cage The Elephant

I’m honestly not sure where I heard this song first, but I will say I very recently connected with the following lines:

“Oh, there ain't no rest for the wicked Money don't grow on trees I got bills to pay I got mouths to feed There ain't nothing in this world for free I know I can't slow down I can't hold back Though you know I wish I could Oh, no there ain't no rest for the wicked Until we close our eyes for good"

I’m using these lyrics to justify my toxic work ethic.

“Be Kind (with Halsey)” by Marshmellow

I played this song so many times in 2020 that it ended up on my Spotify Wrapped. I really love the message here, and I’m happy this came up on my shuffle. Take it to heart, truly.

“I know you need, I know you need The upper hand even when we aren't fighting 'Cause in the past, you had to prepare every time, yeah Don't wanna leave, don't wanna leave But if you're gonna fight, then do it for me I know you're built to love, but broken now, so just try, yeah I know you're chokin' on your fears Already told you I'm right here I will stay by your side every night I don't know why you hide from the one And close your eyes to the one Mess up and lie to the one that you love When you know you can cry to the one Always confide in the one You can be kind to the one that you love”

“The Only Exception” by Paramore

I’ve listened to this song like a prayer my whole life, I think. I’ve always thought the message was a little sad, even though this is considered a love song but she says the following lines:

“When I was younger, I saw My daddy cry and curse at the wind He broke his own heart and I watched As he tried to reassemble it And my mama swore that she would Never let herself forget And that was the day that I promised I'd never sing of love if it does not exist But, darling, you are the only exception.”

It’s not a love song. It’s a surrender to feelings that she was trying to kill within herself. The entire song she’s saying she knows it’s going to end, and it’s not real.

But she went for it anyway.

I’ll add a bonus line from this song;

“And I've always lived like this Keeping a comfortable distance And up until now, I had sworn To myself that I'm content with loneliness Because none of it was ever worth the risk.”

Of course, she ends with “I’m on my way to believing” but then her relationship failed so what did we learn?

“Leave a Light On” by Tom Walker

This song was written for those struggling. I’ve largely used it to soundtrack scenes between my characters to pan out deep connections/friendships. It’s a beautiful song.

“If you look into the distance, there's a house upon the hill Guiding like a lighthouse It's a place where you'll be safe to feel our grace 'Cause we've all made mistakes If you've lost your way I will leave the light on”

Everyone wants a friend like this, and I hope you find them.

“Losing Your Memory” by Ryan Star

Another sad song, of course. And another song from The Vampire Diaries soundtrack. (👀👀). I’ve used this song for personal writings as well because it’s emotionally gut-wrenching. I’ve always been drawn to this song, but I’ve truthfully never deep dived on the lyrics.

I loved these lines:

“Wake up, it's time, little girl, wake up All the best of what we've done is yet to come Wake up, it's time, little girl, wake up Just remember who I am in the morning You're losing your memory now.”

It’s a sweet reminder.

“savior” by Beowulf

This is a cover of w Hillsong UNITED song called “oceans” that this youth pastor once showed me. I’m not super religious, but I do love the devotion and sadness in this song. Again, it’s surrender.

“Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders Let me walk upon the waters wherever You would call me Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander And my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my savior.”

Regardless of faith, it’s utter devotion. Chills, always.

“Where do we go now?” by Gracie Abrams

This song is new on my playlist (within the last couple months). I’ve always liked it for scene writing, and just the emotion in the question of “where do we go now?”

My favorite lines:

“I know I changed overnight So I can't blame you for fightin' And I'd be losin' my mind If you lived in your writin' 'Cause now I'm half of myself here without you You're the best in my life and I lost you And we had no control when it fell through It was one-sided, hate how I hurt you.”

“Ashley” by Halsey

“Ashley” is actually my theme song. The whole song, word for word. Halsey struggles with Bipolar Disorder and when you’re trying to fight mental illness in a bid to be successful and creative, it feels like a constant cycle between death and rebirth, high and low. I’ve got so many parts of this song that I could drop below, but I’m going to leave it with the current theme of my life.

Lines:

“And I don't wanna be somebody in America, just fighting the hysteria I only wanna die someday.”

“Mama” by My Chemical Romance

I’ve oddly been obsessed with this song since I was 12. Way wrote it in response to 9/11 and the Iraq war. I used it for a Kylo Ren / Leia mash-up because the lyrics fit.

“And when we go don't blame us, yeah We'll let the fires just bathe us, yeah You made us oh so famous; We'll never let you go She said, "You ain't no son of mine!" For what you've done they're Gonna find a place for you And just you. Mind your manners when you go. And when you go don't return to me my love, That's right Mama, we all go to hell.”

“Under the Water” by The Pretty Reckless.

If you didn’t know, the lead singer of The Pretty Reckless played Cindy Lou Who in the live-action grinch. Her style has vastly changed, and for the better. Her music, her lyrics and everything about her seethes beauty.

“There's not a time for being younger And all my friends are enemies And if I cried unto my mother No, she wasn't there, she wasn't there for me Don't let the water drag you down (Don't let the water drag you down) Don't let the water drag you down.”

I probably should’ve understood my obsession with this song a lot sooner.

“Illuminated” by Hurts

I fell in love with Hurts because surprise, surprise The Vampire Diaries. L.J. Smith really did a number on my soul, loves. I particularly love the drama behind their songs, and use them to write scenes.

I’d probably have sex to this song just to see if there’s a build.

“Swing me these sorrows And try delusion for a while It's such a beautiful lie You've got to lose inhibition Romance your ego for a while Come on, give it a try Suddenly my eyes are open Everything comes into focus, oh We are all illuminated Lights are shining on our faces, blinding.”

“Phases” by Maggie Lindemann

Y’all ever fuck with someone that couldn’t decide if they wanted you, someone else, to be single, or to be happily married with two children? This is the song for you.

“You only want me in phases Only hit me up when you're wasted Hate it, treat me like a game, I won't play it You only love me when you feel like it I don't think love's supposed to feel like this Phases, take my heart, throw it on the pavement Break it, just so you can stitch it up and save it You only love me when you feel like it I don't think love's supposed to feel like this If you love me, if you don't, you should let me go.”

“I Don’t Wanna Know” by Charlie XCX

If you’re like me, and you overplay this song, just leave. It’s not even worth it.

“I know I'm losing you, so come on, tell the truth Don't you tell me you're sorry, don't pretend you're stormy 'Cause I don't wanna know, I already know What you've done, what you've done.”

“Selfish” by Madison Beer

This song helped me process one of the worst heartbreaks of my life.

“I don't wanna break your thread and needle Tryna stitch you, but I can't, I refuse Shouldn't love you, but I couldn't help it Had a feeling that you never felt it I always knew that you were too damn selfish Don't know why I looked the other way I wanted you to change, yeah I shouldn't love you, but I couldn't help it I always knew that you were too damn selfish.”

“Without Me” by Halsey

I’m getting tired of the breakup songs on my shuffle, but I have to admit this is a particularly good one.

“Found you when your heart was broke I filled your cup until it overflowed Took it so far to keep you close (keep you close) I was afraid to leave you on your own I said I'd catch you if you fall And if they laugh, then fuck 'em all (all) And then I got you off your knees Put you right back on your feet Just so you could take advantage of me.”

Halsey wrote this song about G-Eazy after he cheated on her after she miscarried their child. Great pain produces some of the most beautiful art. I’m so happy she’s in a better place now and finally the mother she wanted to be.

“Stay” by Rihanna

This song has been coming up on my shuffle a lot recently. I’m still trying to figure out if I’m a psychic or not so it could be channeled message, or just because I felt particularly called out by Mikky Ekko when he sang:

“It's not much of a life you're living It's not just something you take, it's given Round and around and around and around we go Oh, now tell me now, tell me now, tell me now you know Not really sure how to feel about it Something in the way you move Makes me feel like I can't live without you It takes me all the way And I want you to stay.”

And of course, we can’t leave out these lines:

“Well, funny you're the broken one But I'm the only one who needed saving 'Cause when you never see the light It's hard to know which one of us is caving.”

And yes, when I was in middle school, I did update my status using song lyrics.

#lyrics #lyric posting #lyric quotes #lyric art #annotations #thoughts #philosophy #authors of tumblr #author #writer #booktok #music #song suggestions #song recs #music recs #lyrics recs #poems #poem recs #poetry #pop music

[meyeselph]

Gwenpool: Desperate Misanthrope's Confused Angst

Showtime

Ms. Pool woke up in a familiar room. Not in Krakoa - there are no mutants around. This isn’t a story about that. Look, honestly, without an actual Gwenpool series and the constant breaks in her comics appearance I can’t even begin to give a fuck. I cancelled my marvel universe subbie. I might get back to my stories but single issues are iffy. I read fast and don’t pore over the artwork. So I get 10 minutes of entertainment for….FIVE DOLLARS? When did this happen? Jeezus.

Who even reads comics anymore?

Anyway, long story short, Gwen got out of bed and recognized the room as her old one from the “old times.” The dark times. The ‘not running around in pink and white outfits and shooting people’ times. She panicked (Been there. It is what it is though). The only way out of trauma is through.

She dressed in old clothes, immediately hit by old smells, she couldn’t help but cry. Was it all a dream? Have I gone insane (again)? All the usual self doubts cropped up. I mean, really, if you think this kind of thing didn’t pass through her mind regularly why don’t you transport yourself to a comic book universe?

Oh, you can’t?

Oh. It isn’t actually possible for you and I’m stupid for suggesting it. So, yeah. If it actually happened and you kept that attitude then the logical assumption for a normie is a mental breakdown. Trick for Gwen, though, is it's probably always been both real and her being nuts.

So she goes downstairs to the kitchen to figure out why this is happening and Evil Gwen is having cereal. Let's say cocoa puffs. I’ve been thinking about those recently. You ever remember cereal as something worth cherishing. Not as just bullshit that TV convinced you to want? God damn, now I want Cookie Crisp. Cookie Crisp wasn’t even ever that good. Why do I want Cookie Crisp?

So also sitting around the table were the faceless versions of her father, mother, and her brother. Just chilling. No BD. Seen Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind?

Yes, I know that references aren’t jokes - fuck you, I’m painting a picture and I CAN’T PAINT, THAT’S WHY THIS ISN’T A COMIC. Fucks sake. Anyway. So, Gwen is so creeped out that she just sits her butt down by Evil Gwen as if she’s the comforting presence here.

Her name’s too long. Let’s call Evil Gwen uh…….Gren. You know, like Grendel from Beowulf. I haven’t actually read Beowulf and this is all a little confusing but I'm solving problems here. Writing this is harder for me than you would think so it’s best to keep things flowing off the cuff. That’s the Gwenpool™ style anyway, isn’t it? Are you laughing yet? IMPROV. “YES AND” MY SHIT, READER!

“So, you ever really look into the retconned past thing, hun?” Gren said, moving her tongue around her food. Being gross as an attempt to be properly evil. She swallowed before continuing. “This is all I could really put together on short notice but i’m pretty sure what the future people created, all that stuff to try and trick you, it was all bullshit.”

“What do you mean? Are you trying to convince me to go all psycho like you again?” Gwen asked, exasperated, realizing she was now back in the whole ‘fuck with Gwen to decide her fate’ song and dance routine from the end of her first arc.

“Nah, not really.” Gren said. A hammer appeared in her hands out of nowhere and Gren swung it into their fake father’s head, snapping his neck..

“DAD!” Gwen instinctively cried as she saw her father’s body slump to the floor. Gren slapped Gwen’s face. “That’s it,” Gren said, “this is what the trick was.This is a poorly created character in a fictional story. Meant to manipulate you into attaching your concept of “father” to it. Even his finished version in the original comics run wasn’t THAT well drawn. Your dad read like a boomer’s idea of a responsible parent. You were going through a mental crisis and struggling to find purpose in life and his genius idea was get a shitty low paying job and suck it up?”

Gren turned to their brother, pushed his face to the table and smashed the back of his skull. . “Brother dearest, too. Going right along with their victim blaming. He gaslighted you as if what you were going through was just you being ‘irresponsible.’ Bitch, people working a minimum wage job aren’t somehow not impoverished and miserable because they get some of that ‘honest work’ that folks keep badgering on about. Minimum wage work is occupied by many physically and mentally disabled people held hostage; they’re people society only pretends to care about. Then they turn it all into you acting like some world ending threat. No questions about what drove you to the edge in the first place. You are just ‘unstable,’ so you’re just a problem to be solved. They say, ‘Let’s all solve this girl being upset and on edge by ruining her concept of self, reality, and memory.’ Brilliant!”

Gwen barely processed this in horror. Gren then slit the poor facsimile of their mother’s throat while continuing to rant, “You see people die all the time, Gwen. Half of the time you are doing the killing. You do it because it’s in a story. In a story the NPCs don’t matter and, after all, your original schtick in the story was to be kill-crazy. The non-marketable characters can be replaced or retconned at the stroke of the artist’s pen.” Gren leans forward as she pulls a Gwenpool mask over Gwens face. “Then the writers convince you that you have some middle class milk toast family and you take abuse and subsume your emotional needs because the problem MUST be you. You aren’t ‘normal’ so you have to be fixed.”

Gwen wiped her eyes over the mask and sighed. A bit of fire filled her gut as she stared at Gren. “So fucking what? You want me to go on a killing spree and be a big time villain to get myself a nice, shiny permanent big bad status? That’s how I stay around right? Just build my legacy on bodies?”

Gren scoffed “You already lost that fight, girly. Where do you think we are? Because this ain’t Marvel Comics.”

Confused, Gwen blinked and tried reaching for the page margins, finding nothing. Wait….why was everything on this page so ill defined and undetailed? Wait? Why was the story in kinda wobbly third person past tense?

Gwen sighed “Oh. I’m in a fanfic. I guess the publishing fight is for another day eh?”

“My advice, personally,” Gren stated, “is that you consider the lobster.”

“Wait, what the fuck?”

Gren pulled aside the kitchen curtains revealing the face of a giant lobster, its claws tapping on the glass. The lobster muttering gutterally about personal responsibility.

“Because there’s a couple thousand giant lobsters outside that would like to claw you until you read their book.”

--

Scared of Girls

On the rooftop, Gren shoved a high powered rifle into Gwen’s hands while she handled the close range threats. So, this conversation they’re about to have is important. Sniping puts Gwen into a sort of zen space, so that’s a better task to keep her focused, after all.

“So, what? You wanted me to internalize that my “origin story” is bullshit? Okay, what does that accomplish, then?” Gwen asked in a bit of a deadpan. She was so tired today. Not really feeling her happy go lucky energy. More like a “happy go fucky” energy. It was hard to always be on a knife's edge. Still the rifle’s kick into her shoulder was satisfying as she blew through two of the creepy looking lobsters at once. “Also, why the lobsters?”

Gren considered this. “Okay, last question first, I had to experiment a lot and do a lot of research to construct this place for your learning and healing in fanfic form....These buddies are a failed experiment of mine that I repurposed because the fic needed more action. Isn’t that right, giant enemy crap?” As she peppers the nearest goon with a hail of shotgun pellets the entire throng of them burst out, sharply muttering about divine symbols.

“As for what I'm trying to teach you, it’s that you aren’t reaching your potential.” Gren grumpily huffed.

“Duh,” Gwen reloads, “I mean you just killed a mannequin version of the voice in my head that says that to me every day.” one of those crustaceans talks about feminine symbolism while she decides on her next target.

“Not like fake daddy’s ‘Be a responsible member of society by paying your taxes’ type of potential. I mean your creative and emotional potential.” Gren flipped off the slavering throng of monsters, noticing they were starting to keep their distance from the roof.

“I never did finish that fanfic idea I had.” Gwen mused.

“God, don’t mention that,” Gren thrusts a finger at Gwenpool. “Not that I don’t respect fanfic, but when comic book writers make you and Kamala squee about fanfiction to try and relate to “the kids” it comes across as so condescending.”

“Really? I mean…..I'm sure it’s meant as support for the concept?”

“Most fucking superhero comics are just legalized fanfiction! The people who created the characters are either long gone or working on someone else’s characters! They just think they are so much better because they got fucking paid. They can’t imagine themselves as on the same playing field as fanficcers even though most of them have the same level of connection to the roots of the work as anyone else.” Gren groused loudly as she seemed to pull Reed Richards out of nowhere.

Confused, Reed looked around until his eyes met Gwen’s.“Oh great, you again.” Reed groaned as he turned to survey the piles of lobster gibs while Gwen cheered the lobster forces’ retreat with a resounding “EDF, EDF!”. The scattered creatures skittered amongst the bland scenery. It looked like a suburban neighborhood but someone forgot to color in the sky….or write that the sky had color. A castle hung out in the distance breaking up the generic normalcy and lay cloaked in shadow despite being surrounded by an endless white void.

“And…..black….you?” Reed pointed to Gren, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, I have an evil future self….well I stopped that future so it’s an….evil...alternate timeline self?” Gwen said with a nervous chuckle, abandoning the kill quest for the minute and rested her rifle on the roof.

“Ah. Yeah I’ve been down that road. It’s a rather common occurrence. Multiverse being what it is.” Reed laughed heartily while putting his hands on his hips.

“I’m not sure I’m evil, honestly,” Gren interjected. “I think I’m just really fucking grumpy and I’m slightly more gung-ho on the homicide. Considering Gwen’s already one of the more kill crazy characters on the roster it’s not that much of a distinction.” Gren flipped her cape. “My main distinction is I don’t like that meme from The Incredibles! You can just make it so the cape detaches automatically when it’s pulled hard enough!”

“You could still have it tangled up around your face.” Reed pointed out in his standard know-it-all fashion.

“Don’t make me go into fuck wife mode, stretch.” Gren spat. “Okay, anyway, so I brought him here to illustrate a point. Reed. Explain particle physics to me as a laymen.”

“Huh...i’m not sure why but okay. Particle physics (also known as high energy physics) is a branch of physics that studies the nature of the particles that constitute matter and radiation. Although the word particle can refer to various types of very small objects (e.g. protons, gas particles, or even household dust), particle physics usually investigates the irreducibly smallest detectable particles and the fundamental interactions necessary to explain their behaviour. In current understanding, these elementary particles are excitations of the quantum fields that also govern their interactions. The currently dominant theory explaining these fundamental particles and fields, along with their dynamics, is called the Standard Model. Thus, modern particle physics generally investigates the Standard Model and its various possible extensions, e.g. to the newest "known" particle, the Higgs boson, or even to the oldest known force field, gravity.” Reed rattled this off rather mechanically.

Gren then took out her phone and showed Gwen the Wikipedia article on “Particle Physics,” which is naturally the same words that Reed had regurgitated above, just without any formatting and, again, on a phone.

“Reed can’t be a genius in any subject unless he’s written by a genius in that subject. That’s how stories work. Everyone is limited by the understanding and capabilities of the writer. Same with your origin story and all the people you’ve interacted with. If you are as ‘meta’ as you think you are then you have to realize that you aren’t actually talking to people. You are talking to the writer. Dr. Strange didn’t rewrite your existence to be a part of the Marvel Universe. As far as most of Marvel continuity goes Dr. Strange was never there and doesn’t know or care about his MCU casting…..Hey Reed, buzz off please before the conversation pivots to why you haven’t cured all known diseases.”

Reed looked a little surprised but then pulled out a teleportation device (of course he has one) and blipped away with a shrug.

“How awkward is that going to be when he enters the MCU after Kamala is already introduced with a very similar power set?” Gwen chuckled.

“Keep up the way you’ve been going and you’ll never see it. I’m not exactly expecting a young blonde girl casting call for Deadpool 3 and that’s your best bet.” Gren snarked. Gwen winced with a sigh.

“I don’t get what I'm doing wrong. I have a fanbase comparable to some of the characters that have already shown up but I can’t even get comics written about me most of the time. An MCU push seems unlikely. They would literally have to deal with completely recontextualizing my powers and gimmick”

“Let’s ask her what you should do.” Gren motioned her way to the suddenly appearing long hair future Gwen, looming over them like The Attack of the 50 foot Woman for some reason. Dwarfing the roof they are on. Let’s call her BIGwen!

--

Gold Guns Girls

As BIGwen acclimated to her surroundings she stubbed her toe on a car, dramatically flipping it so that it took out a few more lobsters before caving in a nearby house. The lamentations about clean rooms soaring as the remaining couple dozen of them attempt to clean up some of the bodies of their fallen kin. The large and sort-of-in-charge Gwen hissed in pain and adjusted her boot. Getting her balance as best as possible she muttered curses that traveled rather well considering the lung capacity of a giant.

“You know,” Gren started, “I wasn’t expecting much from our previous uses of the ‘make her big for emphasis’ trick, but it really does only work as a vague ghostly background element. I didn’t just want it to be ‘oh, here's a third Gwen for the conversation, though. Would lack umph.”

“ Yeah, I get it, but staring at my own giant taint is unsettling.” Gwen muttered.

“I’d still, hit it.” Gren grinned, then immediately got punched in the arm. “OWWW! Look, I’m the evil one here and we’re in a fanfic. I’m allowed to make internet fetish jokes.”

“And I’m allowed to hit you for it.”.

“Dirty lampshading goody two shoes. Don’t act like half your fanbase isn’t thirsty. It’s “insert current year argument”, all art is sexy to someone.” Gren complained back,rubbing her arm before hopping off the roof. Gwen followed while listening as patiently as she could considering how many changes in topic her evil-caped self is going through to get to her point. “This chick is the reason you’ve been on the path of good girl. Some vague idea that in the future everything will work out for the best. HEY, DOWN HERE, BIG SHOW!” Gren waved at BIGwen and she looked down curiously.

“Yeah what??” BIGwen responded in a booming and agitated tone. Honestly, being in this fic made every version of Gwen a little grumpy.

“How’s she supposed to be a popular hero that makes it into the MCU and has a stable publication history?” Gren asked.

“Fuck if I know.” Came BIGwen’s response. “Have you tried growing your hair out?”

“Rub it in,” Gwen muttered under her breath, “I’m not gonna lie, I’m kind of depressed now.” Gwen said as she sat on an abandoned car.

Gren hopped on the roof of the car, patting Gwen’s shoulder before squatting with enough force to flex the car’s shocks like a rocking chair just to amuse herself. “Future “good” Gwen wasn’t an actual plot point, it was a call to action to the fans to make fanfic like this and support the character outside of the actual Canon. Chris didn’t trust that Marvel would treat the character right. That, and your obsession with getting a new book, are both the writer’s attempt to turn a marketing tactic into fan engagement. If you want to be real then that makes the fans want you to be real even more, too.”

Gwen sighs heavily and leans her chin on one hand. “I mean...the time traveling through the life of an NPC fan complete with a Never Ending Story reference was a bit sappy even by the standard we sometimes set...damn it it really was just kind of a fan manipulation trick wasn’t it?”

BIGwen Sat down on the street next to them and crossed her legs. “Hey, little me. Don’t get too down. I mean it worked for the most part. You have a healthy cult following. Characters have survived on less and there are worse things to be known for then as a fan first character”

“But I have to fight for attention all the damn time, though. It’s so easy for Wade with his fucking meme bullshit. He even gets runoff enthusiasm from me. Jeff the land shark is all over Oldpool online” Gwen felt rather heavy and tired all of a sudden. Marvel editorial forcing a gun to your head is not a fun way to be.

“All that fight is hell on the fanbase too.” Gren sighed. “Advocating for shit, getting crumbs and being expected to accept it while Disney lavishes all the attention based on some bullshit numbers game. Even if you make it into the MCU will it be a Batroc style cameo with obligatory ‘killed off in case we don’t feel like paying the actor again later.’ Will it be an emotionally rounded character or an ambush bug style joke? The thing is. You're Not the one fighting and you never were.”

“The fuck do you mean?”

“This version of her doesn’t know?” BIGwen whimpered.

“You aren’t real, Gwen.”

--

Head Like a Haunted House

“No….we aren’t having this conversation. Fuck you fuck you i’m not a fucking Nihlist and i’m not going to do this right now.” Gwen said as she scrambled off of the car and pulled out some guns. BIGwen then picked her up off the ground.

“You need to hear this, Gwen,” BIGwen boomed. “The gimmick has run its course. It’s fucking with your canon. You’re never going to be a marketable character keeping up a half fourth-wall Kayfabe”

Gren climbed onto BIGwen’s Shoulders and perched over Gwen all menacing like. “You need to listen. I’ve been trying to ease you into this. Making things more meta slowly until you were ready but it was never going to be easy.”

One of Gwen’s guns was fired from it’s holster and pierced one of BIGwen’s fingers. BIGwen screamed and her grip loosened. Soon Gwen was on the move running up her arm and firing at Gren, who dodged like the nimble and cute badass she is. “Don’t do this Gwen. Just because it doesn’t matter to the comic version of you doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter.”

“I’m a real person god damn it! I read the comics out there! I came in! That’s why I know shit I shouldn't know. That’s what I am! THAT’S ALL I AM!” Gwen shrieked as she pulled out a sword from hammer-space and decapitated BIGwen. Suddenly a mess of colored streamers and a pile of Mickey Mouse merch tumbled out. Look, I am busy right now. Gwen is still slashing at my ass. I'm not going to explain it.

For some reason now the remaining lobsters were helping Gren. For Gwen’s own good you understand. This is proof that I’m right for some reason.

Gwen pulled out a revolver, firing pumpkin sized holes in lobsters who were still wailing about self actualization. She fully planned on shoving a sword up her evil self’s ass and getting rid of this doppelganger shit for good. Which is total bullshit by the way. She totally just cut off Gren’s leg because what the fuck you mean I’m not real? I’m going to be real all over your corpse.

Gren didn’t really think that was even a good comeback and also thought you should probably say it instead of meta willing the smack talk into existence, otherwise this fanfic is going to read like trash. Also, Gren’s leg wasn’t actually cut off. In a puff of smoke it is revealed that the cut off leg is a log and her leg is fine. Gren is a ninja now, believe it.

Gwen proceeded to do a sick ass CQC judo throw on Gren and then grab her cape and wrap it around her face like Reed suggested. Callbacks for the win! Callbacks to Checkov’s gun ideas always lead to victory in fights! She then totally shot at her and such.

But the bullet was caught by the cape because the cape was a symbiote! That’s right Gren is also GRENOM!...boy that sounds stupid. Anywho, the cape was no longer around her face and the fight continued and Gren now ALSO had extra powers and special wizard-symbiote armor (that would only show up in the MCU version if Marvel finally got the Sony characters back). The meta powers work like shit in text but this would be really good in CGI or animation if Marvel wanted to adapt this fic and give the writer lots of money. Gren still has more experience with them, though, and Gwen can’t really just kill her way out of this fic so she has to just let the story play out.

…...eh?....oh Gwen’s crying. I love/am you girl but we gotta work on the crying. Fucks sake this is harder than I thought. I’m depressed now too. Well I'll try to get the writing back on track so you guys can see what is going on. Even the lobsters are minding their manners now. Chill vibes, guys.

“The marvel character page for Gwenpool says, and I quote:

Gwenpool arrived in the Marvel Universe from the “real world,” but has wasted no time in making the most of her time in her fictional universe. Using her knowledge of comics to her advantage, Gwenpool causes and solves problems for her fellow heroes.”

Gren drags a lobster corpse slowly toward Gwen and sits on its tail as she talks to her. Taking her time to really scrape the lobster against the ground, smearing the gore on the pavement. Not that it was heavy for her or anything. Totally still has that symbiote, which would make moving it easy. Totally wasn’t a detail added in the second revision of the fic slightly before the lobsters were added.

“The words “Real world” are in quotation marks in that wiki. Real people don’t make it into comics because fiction isn’t real. Half of your versions barely make use of the ‘real person’ gimmick because it’s too meta by half and not every writer wants to waste time justifying it. So they just treat it like Deadpool’s medium awareness. Which it mostly is.”

“I really am just a fucking rip off distaff character.” Gwen moans. “Just a Gwen combined with a Pool. I’m worse than the Batman who laughs. I never mattered because I was never real”

“Fuck don’t say that. You were made with love and care by a team of creators who took a weird offshoot idea and built out a compelling metafiction idea and a likeable protagonist off of it. They just didn’t have the time and foresight to go far enough.” Gren sighed.

“Far enough?” Gwen sniffed as she was pulled up to her feet and dragged toward one of the big castles. As they walked Gren kicked along a Mickey Mouse doll that had rolled out of BIGwen’s severed head. Every time it bounced it cheerfully said ‘hahah. I love you!’

“Too much haha, not enough trauma. You’re not just a joke character.” Gren said as she kicked the Mickey doll into the big front door of the castle. The shadowy thing of course lighting up and being all fantasy and shit as the door opened.

“Well I did end both of my comic runs pretty mopey.”

“Damn right you did. When the jokes run thin they run to your real bread and butter. You’re an empathy machine.” As Gren shoves Gwen through the gate they are swallowed up in the castle, going dark again. “Let’s getcha sad clown on.”

--

Never there

“See, what evil me should have been telling you about in the original run is how to find meaning and purpose when technically nothing means anything. Comic book characters live in a world without real death and suffering. It’s all a puppet show version of real pain and real emotion meant to bring that out of an audience.” Gren opined as they walked through a black void to a couch floating in a nothing area lit only by the static of an old TV.

“Can we turn on a light?” Gwen asked as she sat on the couch. Gren sat on another recliner that suddenly appeared and put her feet up.

“Fuck off. Ambiance is a thing. We aren’t having a ‘lights on with something fun on the TV’ conversation. So look, I am not really ‘evil gwen.’ I’m half an author insert and half a plot device. If we are talking about the reality of the story you are basically talking to yourself. I am speaking about the things you don’t want to admit to yourself. You know, you’ve seen this kind of story sorta... right?” Gren picked up the remote and frustratedly changed channels between a bunch of vaguely illustrative footage on the TV, not finding anything that worked. A lot of black and white footage of trains for some reason. Just what comes to mind when I think of documentary footage? Weird.

“I am not sure how to illustrate this shit visually and this is a text story anyway so I would have to explain the illustration,” Gren griped.

“I basically get it. It’s not that uncommon a trope.” Gwen nodded.

“Because of the level of meta we are on right now we have to really acknowledge that you are basically an author insert, too. I mean, to a certain extent every version of you is more the writer that is working with your character at the time than a set character.” Gren said as she settled on a visual of Gwen being pushed out the window by her own narration text in the original comic run. When all else fails, resort to footage from the last story. That way people can look it up online!

“Right here is where the character crystallized in the mind of the author of the current fic we are in. A vague suicide metaphor wrapped up in the flavor of self destructive escapism. Your parents in the story thought it was a suicide attempt on at least some level. This is serious business. Not just a girl who doesn’t like work and can’t finish her fanfic. In this comic you are built on this understanding. The writer of this fic has ADHD and autism. So his version of you more or less has it, too. Writers bring themselves with them into their work.”

Gwen nods and takes a deep breath. “I….I can feel it. Like the world is closing around you. You aren’t built for anything that anyone wants from you. The one thing you really believe in, the one thing that really defines you, the stories in your head…..it’s just not enough.

You can’t trust you’ll ever make it with writing because you can barely write. You barely have the energy to do anything but wish that you weren’t you. What if someone actually listened? Actually believed in you and whisked you away somewhere else where the world would fit your needs? What if you were someplace you could be someone else, someone strong and confident?”

“Yeah. Like a funny anti hero in a comic for instance.” Gren nodded. “But the original comics sort of left the theme on the table. They were captured by the misconception of Gwen as the problem and not a person who needed help. All that desperation that real fans of the character might feel just bundled up into love for this character that really ‘gets’ them but Marvel doesn’t ‘get’ the character. They won't use her. They won’t go past vaguely gesturing at her mental issues and moving on. They saved the angst for Wandavision.” Gren scoffs.

“I mean the show was okay but they literally have a character built entirely on the theme of escapism and trauma. One that’s custom built for mind-screw visuals and reality bending plots and they think she’s just a lazy fangirl who really likes guns that they can sit beside Deadpool sometimes and stick in the X-Men’s bloated background character roster when they don’t need her.”

Gren leads Gwen off the couch and deeper into the void where a door to a bedroom waits. A room like her own, absolutely slopping over with old toys of comic book characters. An unclean messy space in a run-down house that smells faintly of cigarette smoke. Huddled in bed, reading an 80s era X-men comic with a flashlight, is a 12 year old Gwen.

“This is never going to be canon but this is the version of Gwen in this fic. She can’t stop crying at school. Things that shouldn’t be hard are so hard and she can’t explain why. Everyone says she’s making excuses. Meanwhile her mother is fucked out of her mind on pain killers and her step father killed himself last year ‘cleaning his gun’ while drunk. You know exactly what is on her mind right now?” Gren says as she gestures at the girl.

“I wish the superheroes would save me from this.”

“They won’t. They can’t. They were never meant to.” Gren Slams the door loudly on the scene.

“That is the emotional core of Gwenpool in this fic. The desperation that so many of the fans down here in the fucking muck of the real world feel. Poor and emotionally unfulfilled. Confused and vulnerable. If Disney and Marvel gave two fucking shits about people like that they wouldn’t waste as many stories as they do. They wouldn’t just use untold wealth to make expensive escapist stories with the military. Their gestures toward progressive ideas that they occasionally make in their stories would be THE ENTIRE POINT of their stories and the actual thing they used that money for instead of lobbying the government to keep Mickey Mouse out of the public domain.

“Disney has the power yet they save a fucking miniscule fraction of who they could. Saving people doesn’t make money.”

--

When I Get To The Green Building

Gren stormed through the void. The scene disintegrated around her as Gwen followed. Both now in a bit of a sour mood but with newfound determination.

“Come to think of it. Why is the fucking Hulk getting to fight for social justice in the comics? Why are they making a gay alternate universe Captain America? Why are they grasping at straws so hard to find characters that get to advocate and I am just sitting on a fucking island being grumpy?” Gwen groused. “I’m pretty sure I’m pansexual….at least in this fic. I could advocate for a bunch of shit at once.”

“You have a youth fanbase, a unique story and you technically aren’t an alternate universe version of fucking anything no matter how many people still think you are a Stacey. They made a fucking ‘for the fans’ character and then neglected it. Presumably because some fucking money making metric didn’t pan out despite the comics just being an MCU test kitchen and IP farm anyway.”

“You’re a fucking check mark on a ledger. I don’t even know if anyone technically created Gwenpool as a whole and Disney/Marvel can give the character to whoever they want to do whatever they want completely separate from what the fanbase wants and needs because she isn’t established. The IP landlords have spoken. The fans haven’t risen to enough ‘buy my merch’ calls to action to invest more resources. So tease endlessly until that changes.”

“Gah. Now I'm actually as pissed as you are.” Gwen said as she started fiddling with her guns. “Who do I kill?”

“We can’t do shit. You’re not even a character at this point. You are a meme for an underused character.” Gren smirked all evil like. “See but that’s it. You aren’t just a meme. You’re a MEME.”

“Uhm...I don't follow.”

“Like the concept of Justice. Gwenpool is an idea. Defined entirely by how people who engage with the idea choose to engage with it. The IP law means Disney owns Gwenpool but they don’t own how Gwenpool is perceived. Just like we as a people decide what justice is through popular consent we also decide what Gwenpool is. You see they made a character for the fans…..in my opinion that means the fans can do as they like with it even if it makes Disney uncomfortable.”

“I mean they can’t even stop porn of their characters just because of the sheer volume of the problem. I suppose people could do whatever.” Gwen nodded.

“Exactly. So the fans should just fucking Occupy Gwenpool!” Gren said as she flipped her cape dramatically with a mad smile on her face. That’s right. She was Dirtbag Leftist Gwen all along!

“Squat on that IP. Make Gwenpool a mental health advocate. Make her an LGBTQ activist. Make her fight for social and financial justice so hard that Bruce Banner looks like a poser. Make her talk shit about politicians who put their career ahead of the people. Do all the shit that makes the comicsgate crowd sad. Keep politics in our stories! Rally around that pink and white ass so hard they have to notice and then tie it all to the fact that Disney has great power and with great power they take no responsibility for how shitty the world is.”

“ If they are going to fuck Gwenpool fans they gotta learn Gwenpool fans fuck back. We have already proven we can make all kinds of cool shit. Let’s get serious and make more, harder, faster! Get a hashtag or some shit. They can't DMCA all of us! GWEN IS OURS WE JUST HAVE TO REACH OUT AND TAKE IT. Then they either respect the character and her fans or they just hit a PR disaster.”

“Marvel/Disney neglects fan focused cult character themed protest movements. Proves they are only progressive when it makes them money. They’re so worried about Mickey ending up in the public domain? We’re the public domain! After our entire lives stannin their characters and buyin their merch building them from an animation house into a juggernaut they are just another weight on top of the boot on our necks. They have to take responsibility!” At this point Gren is pretty much ranting maniacally and neglecting the actual writing of the story so this is Gwen taking over to wrap up.

Guys I may not be ‘the real Gwen’ but really, isn’t the version of Gwen that actually came from the real world all of us? Isn’t Gwenpool really the Gwens we made along the way? We could easily bring a little heroism and chaos to the real world (at least to the internet) if we really tried. Put the fear of God into some IP landlords and fight for some cool people that society is screwing over, too.

Prove that even in the fandom abyss people aren’t as powerless as they seem. Use that internet comic fan mobbing for something besides giving Zack more money. Disney is gearing up for their next IP fight for Mickey in 2024. Seems like a fine time for IP themed protests. For now we just need to spread the word that our needs are more important than their profits.

It’s been real. It’s been long. It’s been a real long time coming…..

But I finally finished my fanfic.

See ya, true believers.

#gwenpool #fanfic #deconstruction #outofloveiswear #fortheoriginalwritersnotmarvelordisney #tw mental health #tw mentions of suicide #tw mentions of drug abuse #tw violence #tw gun violence

[nutcraxker]

Imagine final fantasy tactics but Agrias's pov

We're just having a nice cutscene, Ovelia is praying right now as usual. She looks beautiful, amazing, lovely. And I as her guard will protect her oh shit wait what was that? Freaking god, a tutorial already? shit shit shit princess? She's gone! What Ramza? You known this kidnaper? What? Your old crush? No? What the heck, okay okay I'll let you help me c'mon

Oh a flashback? Damn feels like this Delita guy surely sad, but why in the earth would he kidnap Princess Ovelia? Damn whatever, I'll just- HOLYYY is that Delita? Wait a minute, Gaffgarion you're evil now? Heck! You ran away? At least I have princess back. Oh god a cutscene? Ramza? Delita? Get a room

I'm soo glad oh god I'm happy praise the god! We shall head out to the Church! What? Shit shit blonde machinist? Who's this guy Ramza? Should we really help him? Well alright we helped him anyway. For God sake what's in your hand Mustadio? Aura what? Auracite? Ramza should we just let him go? No? He gonna have some surprise? He's useful? But we gonna get Balthier later? Ahhh fine fine

Damn fine I say, let's reach the church- shit shit shit RAMZAAAAAAAA THEY LIED TO US! That Alphonse is a jerk! Aghh I'm tired, use Ramza pov, quick!

What? A cutscene? A reunion? I thought Mustadio's father is- never mind. Get a room both of you. And get back damnit, we've been tricked!

Whatever, nobles are mad I'm tired of explaining. What the heck is this demonic creature? Freaking scary, so hard. Anyway, welcome Beowulf, Balthier, Lusso and Cumulonimbus I mean Cloud. Welcome! What? You lost your sword? For god sake people in this game are sure complicated.

Ahh we almost reach the ending, Ramza your brothers are mad lad damn, tell them to get therapy or sleep or something, specially that one with hourglass hip and fabulous hair. He's suspicious

What? HE WHAT? I KNEW IT! HE'S SUSPICIOUS GO TELL YOUR OTHER BROTHER- WHAT? HE WHAT? Beoulve, mad.

Ahh god, I want to take a rest. Go meet your boyfriend Ramza. What? Not boyfriend? Sorry, I hope you guys can be friend again. People are shipping you guys hard.

What? He said he will kill you if necessary? Spooky, he needs help.

Finally, we almost reach the end. We gotta beat this sexy god? Ez, Cid please replace me I'm tired.

BOOOMmm

Ahh we almosttttt reach the ending! Oh I'm glad Ovelia is alright- What?

Ugh so you trust this Delita fellow, Princess? After that cutscene with Ovelia's WORRIES played in the back? Fine, please have a happy life, here's a sword to protect you from danger. What? D in Delita stands for Danger, Princess. What? Okay fine fine sorry please have a great life. I freaking pray the best for you-

Oh a mini dialogue of Ovelia and Delita! Must be good-

What the heck Delita

#final fantasy #finalfantasy #fft #final fantasy tactics #agrias oaks #agrias fft #this is random

[gerec]

CONGRATULATIONS on your milestone darling!! Can you please write me something with Charles/Steve? I'm happy with any scenario :) ❤❤❤

Here is a little fantasy au for my darling interweb spouse @lachatblanche, inspired by the confrontation between Beowulf and Grendel’s mother (because there are like zero fics that aren’t canon based or modern aus for this pairing? And everybody needs more dark/monster!Charles am I right? :D :D :D).

And here is a link to the scene I was referring to above from the Beowulf movie. Honestly if Angelina Jolie as a demon came at me like that, killing stuff would be the last thing on my mind lol.

Tagging @ohteepeeh because I know she adores Starles aka Capx!

The cave is eerily quiet.

Steven walks slowly through the ankle deep water, skirting the ink dark pools that connect the hidden lair directly to the windswept North Sea. The relic he carries glints dimly under the luminescent light, off a thousand tiny jewelled stones that glow softly from the walls, carving a clear path ever deeper into the monster’s hiding place. 

The cave twists and curves until he rounds the final bend, where the tunnel opens into a vast and seemingly empty space. On closer inspection though, he notices the piles strewn across the cavern floor - gold and riches beyond counting, gifts and plunder amassed over centuries by a creature of great beauty and cunning.

Or so the tales say, he thinks grimly, for no man or woman he knows has ever seen it and lived.

I see you’ve brought me treasure.

He whirls in surprise, at the seductive voice that makes itself known suddenly and unexpectedly in his head. “Show yourself!”

A soft chuckle follows, one he hears first from the confines of his own mind before it gradually becomes an echo that reverberates across the large chamber. It originates from the deep pool at its center, the sound becoming increasingly clear and ominous as something - the monster - appears like an apparition, rising upwards out of darkness until it stands impossibly on top of the water.  

The creature appears in the guise of a boy on the cusp of manhood, clad in naught but the smooth paleness of its own flawless skin. And though he sports the softest brown curls on his head and the reddest of lips, it is the eyes that captivate him; the fathomless blue depths that harken to the sea’s irresistible call.

“What are you?” Steven breathes, clutching his sword and shield a little tighter in his hands.

Sir Steven, the boy says, as he slowly winds his way across the water’s surface, closer and closer towards him with each deliberate step. The Queen’s Shield. Such a strong man you are, with the strength of a king. 

“What do you know of me, demon?” he challenges, as the creature comes to a stop right in front of him, and something - a long, glimmering tail - slithers sinuously up his thigh to join the soft hands now grazing his bare chest. 

A man like you could be hero to the greatest tale ever sung, it replies. With me, your story would live on, when everything now alive has turned to dust.

He shakes his head, trying to clear the dreamlike haze enveloping him and permeating the air. “I care not for glory, monster, or to be king. I come only to kill you, to protect others from a terrible fate at your hands.” 

The creature laughs, silky and amused, and steps even closer, leaving no more than a hair’s width between their bodies. Oh my darling…your trinkets have no power over me.

His sword disintegrates into mere ashes in his hands, destroyed by a simple touch to the blade’s sharpest edge; his magic shield too falls onto the ground with a clang, as though Steven himself had willed it. His arms wrap gently then around the boy’s waist of their own accord, and his gut warms abruptly at the blooming smile that crosses the boy’s upturned face.

His lips taste of honey and song, Steven thinks, when he leans eagerly into the offered kiss.

Stay with me, the voice says, in his head and all around him, a soft and quiet menace as the boy pulls him towards the pool, step by swaying step. Stay with me, and love me, my brave Sir Steven. Will you stay?

“Yes,” he answers, and lets the boy pull him, unresisting, into the water.

#lachatblanche #gerec writes #starles #capx #beowulf au #fantasy au #LOL I love writing monster!Charles #follower milestone prompt