Ahh, fuck. Just saw this post cross my dash and my brain absolutely vomited this fucking thing out in response and I do not have any idea what the FUCK to do with this weird unhinged Dark LotR AU that I just spontaneously generated. Help.
"Not like this."
The words slipped from Gimli's lips as a broken whisper, torn free from the very depths of his soul before his conscious wits could stop them. He swallowed, as though he would call them back to him; but there was no calling them back, any more than there was undoing the dreadful deeds that had led to Gimli standing here, in this place, feeling as though his heart were being ripped from his chest at the sight before him: a fair golden head bowed low, heavy shackles weighing down lithesome elvish limbs.
Gimli swallowed again, and held his tongue. The words still beat themselves against the inside of his skull: Not like this, not like this.
How was it they all now found themselves here? It had not seemed easy, so many months ago in Rivendell, when the Free Peoples of Middle-earth had taken desperate council together in hopes of defying Sauron, no; nothing of what they had set out to do had seemed easy. But still, to have fallen so far that they were here…
Gimli closed his eyes against the sharp and bitter sting of tears, but only for a moment. A moment was all he could allow himself. Any more than that would be seen, would be noted; would be marked down against him, against Erebor, as a weakness that they could not afford.
As treason, treason against the Dark Lord.
The Lonely Mountain could not afford such a thing, not if any dwarf was going to be left breathing beneath its strong stone walls by this time tomorrow.
So Gimli took a deep breath, and opened his eyes, and struggled to wipe the pain and horror from his face. He nodded, doing his best to ignore the hot bite of metal against his hand; doing his best to ignore the way his heart was shattering like untempered steel suddenly flash-frozen at the sight of Legolas kneeling as a captive before him.
"A fine tribute," Gimli said, hating himself for the words; hating himself even more for the dark twist of pleasure that threaded through his mind as he spoke. He clenched his fist tighter around the hard gold he held; it did not help. The row of kneeling elves before him did not move; the sharp blades of the axes hanging over their necks did not soften.
The Ring on his finger did not loose its deadly grip.
"Tell the Men of Dale that they have earned their people four months of triple rations in addition to the gold-price on the heads of these elves," Gimli continued. Such a paltry amount to pay, for elvish lives; yet it would keep the Men of Dale from starving, and would earn them favor in the Dark Lord's eyes. He saw the bedraggled Dalish representative straighten in gratitude and joy and he grimaced into his beard.
Gimli did not care to think how many Men must have died to take four elves alive anymore than he cared to think about how long said elves would endure in hard labor and dark cages under the mountain. He knew that no matter how quickly they let go of their hopes and let themselves Fade, it would be far far longer than it should be. Elves were too strong, and the elves of Mirkwood far too defiant, for their own good. They would last a long time, in the mines and the smithies, before finally giving up their souls to the call of Mandos.
It would not be a mercy, to last so long.
There was no mercy that Gimli could show to these elves, either—no, not even to the one whose face he had spent all these bitter, terrible months longing to see above all other faces. How Gimli had wept, wishing to see Legolas again; now, he yearned only to take all those wishes back and bury them where nothing, least of all the wretched, wonderful Thing on his hand, could hear them. Yes, he had longed to see Legolas; but not like this, never like this.
Not like this.
The Dalish Man bowed low, and murmured praise for Gimli's generosity in a voice made ragged and hoarse by want and misery, and let himself be led away to receive his payment. The elves waited in motionless silence, their heads bowed and their chains heavy. The dwarves watched their lord with tight, shadowed eyes.
Gimli cleared his throat, and spoke again: "Have the elves taken to the cages. Except—" He could not tell if the words that followed were his own, or those of the Ring. "Except for the golden-haired one. Take him to my chambers; I will see to his breaking personally. Oh," he added, almost as though it was an afterthought, making his lips curl in a cruel smile as he said it even as his own heart twisted against him, "and send water for a bath as well; he is all over filthy with blood, and I will not have him defiling my rooms anymore than he can help, noisome creature that he is."
There were chuckles, some weak and some sincere; Gimli did not look to see which was which, because he did not wish to know which of his people had learned to find amusement in the suffering of other creatures and which had merely learned to feign it.
He could not be sure, some days, where his own pretenses ended either.
He smiled anyway, because that was what he had to do. He smiled, and he watched the elves be dragged away into the dark of his mountain, and he kept smiling even as he felt blood trickling down his palm from where the Ring that wrapped cold around his finger had bitten through the skin beneath the tightness of his grip and made him bleed.
It was hardly the worst thing that Durin's Ring had made him do since Gondor's Rise, after all.
NEXT
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*checking the tracking information for my package from under a pile of overpriced teas and vitamins* this next herbal supplement will fix me
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When in trying to fix a big plot-hole, another bigger plot-hole appears...
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Just beat Shadows of Mordor!
That last fight was…super underwhelming IMO. Also it felt shorter than I thought it would be?
Like ok it tells you there’s gonna be three big bads you gotta take care of but then there’s just the two areas and then the Black Hand is just sort of…there. You kill the other two then go straight to the Black Hand who’s fight is just a quick time event.
Not a great way to end the game but honestly everything else leading up to it was A+
Gorgum Giggles and Ashgarn SkinFlayer were my MVPs and I shall remember them fondly as I move on to Shadows of War. Not gonna stick around to play the DLCs just yet as I’m more interested in messing around with the expanded Nemesis system.
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putting myself on a t break so I can actually medicate with it effectively. gonna post about it occasionally here 2 keep myself accountable under the tag 'journey thru mordor' so block if u would like /gen 💕✌️
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Hello I’m here to talk about an opinion that isn’t so much unpopular because people don’t like it, but because it is splitting hairs and basically an argument based in semantics that sane people reasonably do not waste their time caring about it.
I am neither sane nor reasonable and therefore think about this a lot, and get ready to pull out a soapbox and type the Text Wall of China any time I hear people offhandedly contradict this opinion, and so I have come here today to die on this molehill, and write the over-long post of my dreams, because fuck it, it’s my blog.
Drumroll please:
Sauron is not The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is the main antagonist though, so furthermore,
Sauron is not the main antagonist of The Lord of the Rings
I internally go insane every time someone says “Sauron, the eponymous Lord of the Rings” or “The antagonist never actually appears in Lord of the Rings” or uses Lord of the Rings as an penultimate example of having a flat ‘evil for evil’s sake’ villain. This is mostly in YouTube videos so I’m not calling out anyone here.
So who is the Lord of the Rings? Where do I get this shit? Why should anyone care?
I will tell you in far too much detail under this cut, because I told you I was gonna be extra about it and this is already long enough to inflict on my followers without their consent.
First and foremost, Frodo is not the Lord of the Rings either. Let’s get that out of the way. Gandalf explicitly tells us that in Many Meetings (the first chapter in Rivendell in Fellowship), when Pippin greets a newly awakened Frodo with quintessential Fool of a Took™️ swagger.
‘Hurray!’ cried Pippin, springing up. ‘Here is our noble cousin! Make way for Frodo, Lord of the Ring!’
‘Hush!’ Said Gandalf from the shadows at the back of the porch. ‘Evil things do not come into this valley; but all the same we should not name them. The Lord of the Ring is not Frodo, but the master of the Dark Tower of Mordor, whose power is again stretching out over the world! We are sitting in a fortress. Outside it is getting dark.’
So that’s my theory busted right off the bat! Gandalf straight up tells us the Lord of the Ring is Sauron (‘the master of the Dark Tower of Mordor’ which is Sauron).
But I already told you, this is a hair-splitting semantics-based theory! He said Sauron was the Lord of the Ring. Not the Lord of the RingS. Yes, this whole theory revolves around a single letter difference between the title of the series and Gandalf’s statement, WHAT OF IT?
But in all seriousness. Tolkien was a linguist. There was no way this choice was not deliberate, not on something so important to the narrative. And there is a very important difference between what he is referring to when he uses ‘The Ring” singular, and “The Rings” plural. The Ring that Frodo carried to Mordor has it’s singular nature highly emphasized by the language that surrounds it. THE definite article Ring, the ONE Ring. Just the One. Singular Singular Singular.
The Rings (plural) refers to the rings of power which Celebrimbor wrought, with Sauron’s help, but Sauron is objectively not the Lord of those rings. Not the three Elven ones at least, which he never touched and only suspects the location of. Without his One Ring he has no power over the Three, and a big problem with him regaining his Ring is that he would gain power over those rings, the ringbearers, and the safe realms that had been wrought with them, basically crippling those with the power to resist him.
Him NOT having the Ring, and therefore NOT having lordship over all the rings, is a pretty major plot point. Like, it’s not a reach to say Sauron not having the Ring is what drives the entire story. And he is NOT the Lord of the Rings without it.
And he never gains it, so is the whole series named after Sauron’s aspirations, that the main characters are trying to prevent? I mean, from an angle yes. But also no.
Because while Pippin and Gandalf’s exchange is the closest we come in the text to seeing the title, let me show you the only place within the covers that “The Lord of the Rings” is presented, at least in my beat up third hand 70’s edition. It may not be formatted like this in other editions, but I still think it says something about how we are supposed to read the title:
[Image ID: Masking tape can clearly be seen holding together my poor abused copy of Fellowship, open to the title page. THE LORD OF THE RINGS is written across the top of the page in all caps, directly below it is the Ring Poem, as if The Lord of the Rings is a the title not only of the series but of the poem. /.End ID]
The One Ring is the Lord of the Rings, not Sauron, who is the Lord of the Ring.
“What?” Say imaginary naysayers in my head, “How can a Ring be a Lord? And why does this matter, if Sauron is the Lord of the Ring, doesn’t that make him the Lord of the Rings by proxy? Why are you wasting your and my time making an argument about this?”
I’m glad you asked imaginary naysayer, let me speak to your first point. How can a ring be a Lord? Well, like any good first time speechwriter, I’ve turned to Miriam Webster, and asked it to define a word we already know, in this case ‘lord.’
[Image ID: Screenshot of the Miriam Webster definition of ‘lord.’ The ones that are relevant are 1: One having power and authority over others. 1a: A ruler by hereditary right or preeminence to whom service and obedience are due. And 1f: One that has achieved mastery or that exercises leadership or great power in some area /.End ID]
In the poem, it is the Ring that is spoken of as ruling, not Sauron. Sauron is actually listed in the same position as all the others who receive rings, “The Dark Lord on his Dark Throne” occupying the same place in the sentence structure as the “the Elven-kings under the sky” and “the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone” and “Mortal Men doomed to die.” It is the One Ring, not Sauron, who rules them all, fulfilling our first definition “A ruler by hereditary right or preeminence.” In this case it would be by right of preeminence, or superiority. The One Ring outclasses the other rings and thus dominates them, binding them to obedience and service. Gandalf calls it “the Master-Ring” when it is first revealed for what it is in Bag-End with the words appearing from the flame.
The Ring has it’s own will too. It’s repeatedly stated to be in control of Gollum when Gandalf is first telling us about it. I’m literally so spoiled for quotes about this that I was paralyzed with indecisiveness over what to use but let’s keep it simple with this one. It’s from Gandalf explaining why Gollum didn’t have the Ring allowing Bilbo to come upon it in the chapter “Shadows of the Past” from Fellowship:
‘It was not Gollum, Frodo, but the Ring itself that decided things. The Ring left him.’
So if Sauron is the Lord of the Ring, and the Ring is the Lord of the Rings, isn’t he Lord of the Rings by proxy? Yes, when he has the Ring. But also being the ruler of a lord doesn’t make the title of that lord your title, if that makes sense. People don’t call Aragorn the Prince of Ithilien, that’s Faramir’s title, Aragorn is King of the Reunited Kingdoms, he rules Ithilien, sure, but by proxy. Ithilien reports to Faramir who reports to Aragorn (I should be calling him Elessar since I’m talking about him as king, but whatever). If Aragorn lost the ability to contact Faramir or Ithilian, he would still theoretically be king there but he would have no practical control, just like Sauron with the Rings of Power.
Why does this matter? It mostly doesn’t. It does not change anything practically in the story at all.
But it matters to me, because it might help change perspective on the antagonist of LotR. It’s the Ring. Sauron is a force in the world, one the Ring is closely allied with, and from whom many of the obstacles come, but the entity that our protagonist is really fighting on every page is the Ring.
If Gandalf were the main character, or Aragorn, or almost anyone else on Middle Earth, Sauron would be the Primary Antagonist. But they are not. Frodo is the Primary Protagonist, and his struggle is NOT against Sauron, it is against the Ring.
If destroying the Ring had not destroyed Sauron, would Frodo have kept fighting in this war? NO! He had his task, and once it was done he was done, even if the world ended afterwards. Everything is driven by the Ring. The threat to the Shire comes from the presence of the Ring, so Frodo takes the Ring to Rivendell. The danger of the Ring is not neutralized by it being brought to Rivendell, so he continues his journey to destroy it once and for all. He doesn’t fight Sauron, he fights the Ring. He fights with himself to keep going in spite of the despair it levels on him, the poisonous words it whispers in his ear, the physical toll it takes on his body. He fights Boromir and Sam (not to the extent he does in the movie, but still a bit) and Gollum over the Ring. He negotiates with Faramir over the Ring.
And the Ring is SUCH a more interesting and nuanced villain to struggle with than Sauron. Sauron is representative of a force in the world. He controls events but never appears, because he acts as the source of all evil, it’s representation on earth (at least now Melkor is in the Void), but it is far more interesting to watch the effect he has on others than deal directly with a character that is so obviously in the wrong in every way. Making Sauron a physical character in LotR is like making the Devil a present character in basically any piece of media that deals with evil.
Evil at its purest isn’t that interesting, because it contains no conflict. Leaving Sauron as an offscreen player leaves us to see characters that are not pure evil struggle with that conflict.
The fascinating thing about the Ring is that it has no power outside of what you give it. But given enough time even the best people, like Frodo, will end up losing themselves to it, as it whispers in your ear with your own voice.
I want to go ballistic when people point to LotR and say it has a one dimensional villain. EVERYONE’S OWN VIOLENCE, DESPAIR AND THIRST FOR POWER IS THE VILLAIN OF LORD OF THE RINGS! Brought to the fore by a small unassuming golden trinket which just happens to also be the titular Lord of the Rings.
Honestly “The Ring is the Villain of LotR change my mind” should be its own big long post with lots of quotes and shit, the fact that the Ring is The Lord of the Rings just being a small point in it.
But unless you are a specific type of interested in story structure and stuff none of this is at all meaningful and it really, really doesn’t matter, so I’m gonna go.
Thanks for coming with me on this dumb journey.
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(Context below the poll)
If you aren't aware, Taylor Swift is a popular singer and songwriter who has written over five songs. Although Tolkien doesn't go into her background in the Silmarillion, we do have some details about her life from The History of Middle-Pennsylvania, which Christopher Tolkien compiled from his father's notes, and particularly The Lays of Beleriand (Taylor's Version).
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I promise I swear this is my last vanilla extract post
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Any recs where Talia or the hales absolutely hate stiles or disprove of their relationship? I’ve already read the searching ceremonies.
hedwig221b (don't feel awkward! 🩷) also had a fic that matches this ask. So, go read that as well if you're a fan of the angst.
The Happiest of All by Hedwig221b | 32.5K | Explicit
“It’s every wolf’s dream. To find a perfect mate, to procreate. It’s a necessity, it’s healthy. It’s in our blood; akin to the moon in the sky, a wolf belongs to their mate. And humans don’t have the capacity to become a mate.”“But I love him,” Stiles whispered, begged.Talia stayed silent for a couple of minutes.“That’s why you should understand it’s not healthy for him to be with you,” her words were simple and clear, like a piece of glass, but sharp all the same. “He will not find true happiness with you. You’re wasting his time. Preventing him from having a future he deserves.”
Also, compromised-emotionally suggested this one.
Down By Contact by standinginanicedress | 117.4K | Explicit
Lydia looks over her shoulder to look at Derek Hale again, then back to him. “He’s an asshole, you know.”
“You think I don’t know that?” Stiles is confused, furrowing his brow. “I’ve only spent the last ten years of my life fighting with him.”
“Yeah, but, I mean, he’s an asshole,” she draws the word out nice and long, as if it takes on a different meaning depending on exactly how she says it. “No one who has ever dated or hooked up with that guy has ever had anything nice to say about him after the fact.”
“What do I care about that?”
She looks at him. It’s that all-knowing, all-seeing gaze, like the eye of Mordor. Stiles feels tiny under its wrath, so he looks away and stares down at his beer can, traces the design with his thumb. “I know you, Stiles Stilinski.”
“Not really. We only dated for, like, five months.”
With a snort, totally uncharacteristic of her and something she would never do sober, she rolls her eyes. “Gee, I wonder why.”
Hmmm. Not really, but here are a few.
Divided We Stand by KouriArashi | 156.7K
Derek is being pressured by his family to pick a mate, and somehow stumbles into a choice that they didn’t expect and aren’t sure they approve of….
A Pair of Shoes by ReedMeme | 5.7K | Explicit
He was the human boyfriend. A lot of them don't really approve. Of course his boyfriend had to have a huge family. Which makes sense with the whole Werewolf thing, he supposes. But once in a while, Stiles still wishes he knew that before falling abso-fucking-lutely head over heels for Derek Hale.
Hello, Heartbreaker by astoryaboutwar | 18.4K
Stiles and Derek have been fuckbuddies for a while when Derek loses his memories of the past three years - and them - in an accident.
Talk Me Down by SylvieW | 26.3K | Mature
After the Hale family narrowly escapes the fire, Derek moves to New York to escape their lingering resentment. There, he meets Stiles, and feels an instant connection to him, but their relationship, and Derek’s self worth is tested by the hurdles Derek’s pack throws at them
I Would Fake Forever With You by Halevetica | 53.9K
Derek Hale is the black sheep of the family, always has been. That’s why he moved to Seattle. Now he’s got a job he loves, a nice apartment with an incredibly hot and endearing neighbor, Stiles Stilinski. One night when Derek’s overly large and demanding family shows up early for their yearly visit, they run into Stiles, who is accidentally introduced as Derek’s boyfriend.
Taught by Experts by unpossible | 29K
“Let me get this straight,” Stiles says. “You’re going to be publicly dating someone else.”
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LOL OKAY this is just the first thing i thought of so no pressure if you don't like it but. we all know steve is the babysitter. but what about steve x actual babysitter!reader. like she's hired across hawkins for her sweetness/good reputation/skills with kids and maybe steve judges her at first for being a goody two shoes but she's actually cool. IDK HAHA UP TO YOU 💕
Babysitters Club
Pairing: Steve Harrington x Fem!Reader
WC: 2.6k
A/n: Shut the FRONT DOOR this was the perfect prompt!!! Okay okay let's see what y'all think but holy crap thank you so much for this Rodrik <3 This is my first time writing for Steve and I'm surprisingly nervous but I love this boy so much and hope you enjoy :) Story takes place during episode 6 of season 4.
Warnings: Canon level violence, monsters, cursing Steve being the confused but protective mother figure we all know and love.
~~~~~
Steve was pretty sure he was on the verge of a panic attack.
It seemed to always happen when the gang was all together.
Because when the gang was all together, it meant that there was a monster they had to take down.
He kept his hands placed firmly on his hips to prevent them from shaking as Dustin went on his tangent about his compass not working and the magnetic frequencies, saying something about there being yet another gate to the Upside Down.
Hadn’t they already closed all of them? How the hell could there be more?
Sometimes he really hated living in Hawkins. Though he was grateful for the friends he had made over the past few years who had helped him realize he could be more than some popular jock, he sometimes longed for a day when Skull Rock was just a hookup spot and not the rendezvous location to discuss how to take down a monster who was taking out teenagers left and right.
“I think…you’re asking me to go into Mordor,” Eddie said pensively, and Steve’s brows furrowed, anxiety replaced with confusion.
What the hell is a Mordor?
“Dustin!” a voice called out from behind and everyone whipped their heads around, Dustin letting out a small screech in fear. “Dustin? Where the hell are you!”
Wait, Steve knew that voice…
“Holy shit, Y/n?” Dustin exclaimed as you came into view.
You stood atop a fallen tree trunk, hands moving to your hips same as Steve’s, glaring at Dustin.
Steve stared at you, mouth open as if trying to form words. What the hell was the beloved Hawkins babysitter doing-
“What the hell are you doing here?” Dustin asked, taking the question from Steve’s mind.
“Yooo, Y/n!” Eddie shouted with a smile, running over to pull you into a tight bear hug. Wait, miss princess was friends with alleged cult leader Eddie Munson? What the hell was happening. Your hands moved from your hips to hug him back, and though you smiled back, Steve noticed that you were still a bit annoyed. “Man am I glad to see you.”
It was so strange seeing you with such a serious expression on your face. He had only ever seen you with this goodie two-shoes smile whenever you passed him in the hallway, one that made it seem like you couldn’t hurt a fly.
This look? The one you gave Dustin when Eddie pulled away? Steve had to fight the urge to take a step back from the threat that wasn’t even directed towards him.
“Do you have any idea how worried your mom is?” you went on, looking at Lucas, whose eyes went to the ground in shame. “Your mom, too, Sinclair! There’s been three attacks and you all just think it’s okay to be out and about without letting anyone know where you are?”
“How did you even find us?” Lucas asked.
You pulled out a walkie that matched theirs. “I’ve been on your frequency for hours. I finally heard correspondence between you and Eddie to meet you at Skull Rock and headed straight over.”
“Okay, wait a minute,” Steve cut in, hands in the air to dramatically stop all conversation. He looked at Dustin with a hurt expression. “How come she has a walkie and I don’t?”
Dustin just shrugged. “It was part of the agreement.”
You cut in, looking over at Steve. “Unsupervised trick-or-treating, trips to the mall, sneaking into R-rated movies through the back door of the ice cream shop-”
“You knew about that?” Steve asked, wide eyed.
You shrugged, giving him a knowing grin and he found himself totally captivated by the expression.
“I know everything, Steve Harrington. Anyways,” you turned your attention to the device. “They boys and I agreed that as long as they checked in, we could keep their solo trips a little secret. They get to have their fun, and I get paid to do nothing. But y’all broke the pact today and I had to snoop.”
Dustin sagged, shame painted across his features. “Sorry, Y/n.”
You walked over and rested a hand on his shoulder. “It’s fine, Henderson. Just let me take you, Sinclair, and Max home so that your parents can stop harassing me about where you are.”
He shook his head vehemently. “We can’t leave. We have to follow the compass!”
“We’re going to Mordor,” Eddie cut in, and you turned to him, confused.
Okay, good, Steve though. I’m not the only one who doesn’t understand that reference-
“I’m supposed to protect these kids, Ed, and you want me to take them into Mordor?”
…God dammit.
“Listen, Y/n/n,” Robin cut in. “This thing? Killing Hawkins students? It’s big. And it’s bad. The adults have no idea what the hell is going on.”
You smirked. “When do they ever?”
“You could come with us,” Lucas offered. “It's really dangerous, though.”
Your arms crossed in front of you, one brow raised as if you were intrigued.
“So you’re saying that whatever you’re doing might kill you?” The kids shrugged and you shook your head. “Is this something that I can talk you out of?” Their heads bobbed side to side and this time you nodded, uncrossing your arms and jumping off of the trunk onto the ground. “Alright, then. I’m in. Someone’s gotta keep you safe.”
Steve scoffed. “Hold on, hold on, hold on,” you looked over at him, expression slightly amused at his confusion. “You’re just going to let her join the gang? Like that?”
Dustin and Lucas exchanged glances. “She could actually be a huge help.”
You cocked your head to the side with a smug smile at Steve that caused a whole mess of emotions to weave together in his brain.
“Listen, Y/n,” he said, shaking his head, walking up to you. “We appreciate the sentiment and all, but I think this is a bit above babysitter pay grade. Besides, I’m the one around here that keeps the kids safe.”
Your eyes narrowed. “Is that a challenge, Harrington?”
“No,” he said, “It’s a get out of jail card. So that you can go home and not have to worry about this.”
You chuckled. “Listen, buddy, these are my kids, and my responsibility. You think I’m going to ruin my reputation and hourly rate by not making sure I get them home safe and sound? No way. I’m coming.”
“You should listen to her, Steve,” Dustin said as he approached the two of you, patting Steve on the back. “Y/n doesn’t take no for an answer. Besides, we’re wasting time arguing.” He lifted his compass and started moving. “Fill her in as we go!” he yelled to the group.
Steve watched Dustin walk away for a moment before returning his focus on your piercing stare, suddenly lost in the way they sparkled under a ray of sunlight peeking through the trees.
That moment was ruined as soon as your smug expression somehow turned even more smug.
“Let’s get going then, Harrington,” you said before turning on your heel and heading toward Nancy and Robin. Robin wrapped an arm around yours and leaned her head on your shoulder and he heard her sigh out a boy am I glad to see you.
Steve was stuck to his spot for a moment, still trying to understand what the fuck just happened. He turned when he noticed Eddie standing by his side, a look of admiration on his face.
“Who the hell is this girl? Isn’t she just a babysitter?” Steve asked.
Eddie giggled, shaking his head. “No way man. Y/n is the most badass chick to ever exist. You should see her when she plays DnD. Total savage.”
Steve had no concept of reality anymore.
~~~~~
It was nightfall by the time you all reached Lover’s Lake.
Eddie’s face had gone paler than the moon shining above when he explained that this was where Patrick was killed, pointing out to the water.
“We gotta go out there,” you said, moving toward the closest boat. “Right where it happened, I imagine.”
“Okay now hold on,” Steve chided, blocking your path to the water with crossed arms. “Why don’t you stay on shore and take care of the kids? Since you claim you’re so good at it and everything.”
You smirked. “Have you ever considered taking up babysitting, Harrington? You’ve definitely nailed the protective mom vibe.”
He glared at you, biting the inside of his cheek to fight back a smile from breaking through his annoyed facade.
“I may not have any idea what is happening with Vecna or the Upside Down or whatever,” you went on, way too casually considering the circumstances, “But I did work as a camp counselor for three summers in a row, meaning I know how to navigate a water vessel and am CPR-certified, have lifeguard experience, I’m also a karate instructor-”
“Okay, well I was a lifeguard and am CPR-certified, too! And I’ve fought shit like this before!” He was stuck on the karate instructor part, though.
“Great! So maybe having two people who know what they’re doing in the water while we find a gate to Hell is a good thing?”
He couldn’t argue with that. Just simply deflated as he moved to help you push the small boat into the lake. Robin and Nancy hopped on while Eddie stayed with the kids.
You turned and pointed at them once you stepped into the boat. “If things go south, you run, okay? I got my walkie so go find a home base and we’ll catch up with you.”
Four heads nodded and you took a seat, moving to grab the paddles but Steve quickly took them first and started rowing.
You rolled your eyes.
A few minutes later, Nancy told Steve to stop. You all stood as you flashed the light over the compass, which was now spinning in circles.
“We’ve reached our destination,” you murmured, and Steve swore he finally heard a hint of fear in your voice.
He looked over the edge, pulling off his shirt.
“I’ll go check it out and let you know if I find something,” he said, grabbing a light.
“I’ll come with you,” you offered, moving to take off your jacket.
Steve turned to start what felt like his hundredth argument today, but paused as soon as he saw your face. Gone was any trace of annoyance or smugness. All he saw was concern, eyes wide and pleading. Like you didn’t want him to do this alone.
His gaze softened, and he gently touched your arm. “I’ll be okay. Your job is to keep the kids safe, right? You can’t do that while also swimming to the bottom of the lake.”
You bit your bottom lip. “But who’s going to keep you safe?”
Something in his heart bloomed and he gave you a small smile. “Okay, we’ll make a deal like you did with the boys, alright? If I’m not back in sixty seconds, you can come save me.”
You breathed out a small laugh. “Promise?”
He nodded. “Promise.”
With that, you took a step back, holding up your wrist to show him your watch. “Sixty seconds, Harrington.”
His brows jumped up and down as his grin turned cocky. “Better get moving, then.”
~~~~
It was the longest sixty-three seconds of your life.
As soon as your watch hit :50, you started pulling off your jacket, not wanting to waste any time.
When it hit a minute, you stood at the edge of the boat where Steve had just stood, looking over to the shore quickly to check on the kids one last time before you prepared to jump.
At 1:03, he emerged with a gasp, and you quickly crouched down to check if he was okay.
His arms wrapped over the boat, a big smile on his face that immediately calmed all of your anxieties.
“I found it,” he said, looking at you with pride.
You beamed, palm moving to his muscular forearm. “Good work, Harrington. Now can you please get back in here before you get hypothermia?” Your hand moved to extend toward his to help him up.
He chuckled, hand locking into yours as if it fit perfectly. “And you say I’ve nailed the protective mom vib-”
That was all he could get out before his head was ripped below the surface.
Whatever had him was so strong you nearly lost your grip on his hand, but you held on tight as your body collided with the edge of the boat, arm feeling like it was going to be ripped out of its socket.
“STEVE!” you shouted, trying desperately to pull him back up, but it was no use. You turned to Robin and Nancy. “Help me!”
They were by your side in seconds.
“Grab his arm!” you commanded, and when you felt their hands securely around his arm and wrist, you slowly let go. Luckily, it seemed like Steve hadn’t been pulled down further….yet.
“I’m going after him,” you said, scanning the boat for your flashlight. One in your hand, the light flashed over a hatchet in the corner and you grabbed it. “Hold onto him tight.” You didn’t wait to see them nod before jumping into the cold water.
You pointed the light at Steve’s terrified expression, his body trashing. His eyes met yours briefly before he looked down at his leg.
At the thick, alien looking tentacle wrapped around it.
You didn’t stop to think as you swam forward, moving the flashlight between your legs and holding onto Steve’s calf for support.
Then, with every ounce of strength, you swung.
The water lessened the level of impact your hatchet made against the tentacle, but when you pulled the weapon back you saw that you had made a decent cut into whatever monster this was.
Said monster let out a screech that you knew would haunt your nightmares for years to come.
Still, you kept going, bubbles erupting out of your mouth as you screamed with your second swing, pushing with all of your might with the hatchet.
Like an elastic, the tentacle broke apart with a snap and recoiled down to the surface.
Without hesitating, you moved the flashlight and hatchet under your left arm, then used your remaining strength to push Steve up by the feet to the surface. Your head was growing fuzzy from the lack of air, but you kept pushing until he was out of the water.
Seconds later, you were falling into the boat, the two of you sputtering and gasping for air.
You sat up quickly, eyes locking onto his.
“Are you okay?” you asked, wiping the hair out of his eyes.
He coughed a few times before nodding. Robin and Nancy worked on unwrapping the remaining tentacle from his leg and he hissed with pain.
You grabbed his hand and squeezed. “You’re alright, Steve. You’re safe now.”
Your brows furrowed when he started shaking his head, still trying to catch his breath.
Then, he started giggling, and your brows nearly melded together in confusion.
“I cannot believe you just jumped into monster-infested waters and hacked at an alien tentacle as if you’ve done this a million times before.”
Your face relaxed, and suddenly you found yourself laughing along with him at the ridiculousness of it all, hand still in his.
“What can I say, Steve?” you said once your laughter subsided. “I’m a really good babysitter.”
~~~~
Part 2
Thank you for reading!
Main Masterlist
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Finding Details to Go with a Basic Plot
Anonymous asked:
Do you have any posts or new tips on creating the "fill" in stories?
I want to start here, because it's super important that we don't think of anything in stories as "fill" or "filler" because that implies it's "empty calories" there to take up unfilled space, and we never want to do that in stories. In stories, every scene--every event and moment--needs to be in service of the plot, characters, or world.
For example, I get an idea for a novel, like forbidden romance. My problem lies in figuring out other details, specifically in figuring out what would work for the plot (and what doesn't really matter). What would their jobs be? How can they meet? What interests/hobbies do they have? If someone has trauma, what was the traumatic event?
My brain automatically looks for the links between everything, so it's hard to find a point of attack. I feel like everything has to interconnect to make sense - things can't be random or "because I say so."
So when I have more of a plot idea rather than story, what approaches do you recommend?
If you have a general plot idea (like forbidden love) but you don't know how to flesh it out, it's probably because you haven't yet mastered an understanding of how stories generally work.
Stories are either character-driven, plot-driven, or a combination of both. Character-driven stories center around internal conflict, meaning a conflict within the protagonist's heart and mind. Plot-driven stories center around external conflict, meaning a problem in the protagonist's world. Stories that are both character-driven and plot-driven are centered around an external conflict while also exploring the protagonist's internal conflict. (And often that of the other main characters.) Plot Driven vs Character Driven Stories
Your protagonist's goal is always to resolve the conflict. In a character-driven story, that may not always be straightforward. Sometimes characters don't really understand their internal problem and so they sort of fumble their way through potential solutions as they try to fix whatever isn't quite right in them. In a plot-driven story, the resolution of the problem (the goal) is usually straight forward... take the ring to Mordor, survive the Hunger Games, pull off a heist to steal back the stolen art piece. Your character's pursuit of the goal, and the overcoming of obstacles placed in their path by the antagonistic force, is what makes up the action of the story. Then they finally face off against the antagonistic force in the climax, solving the problem once and for all. Understanding Goals and Conflict, How to Move a Story Forward, Basic Story Structure.
Here are some other posts that should help:
Guide: Filling in the Story Between Known Events
Guide: How to Outline a Plot
Beginning a New Story
Finding a Story in Characters and Setting
Finding a Plot to Go with Characters/Setting
Turning a Barrage of Ideas into a Plot
How to Turn Ideas into a Story
I hope that helps you start to pull your story into focus!
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👉👈
PAUSE THE GHOST STORIES. THIS IS THE BEST MEME EVER AND EXACTLY WHAT I WAS FISHING FOR WHEN I SAID CREATIVELY. yes. yes, yes, yes, you absolutely may. <3
“Okay, let’s get this show on the road,” she insists over her shoulder, making a beeline for the trailer’s front door. Willow and Steve disconnect their pinkies and move to join their friend, but she’s too fast, making it to the damn porch and making a scene already, “Mayfield! Open up!”
“Robin,” Willow scolds as she rushes to her side, “Don’t be so fucking lou-”
“Mayfield!” Robin repeats herself and completely ignores Willow’s scolding, “We don’t have all day. Let’s go! Code red!”
Willow whips around to look at the rest of the group wildly, pleading with her eyes for backup now that her best friend has just disregarded her. She’s met with responses that she probably should have seen coming: a shrug from Steve, a tight smile from Nancy, and an unnecessary comment from Dustin.
“Do you also find it kind of ironic that Willow is involved in this code red? Y’know, cause Eddie calls her-”
“Henderson,” she cuts him off, “Can it, or I’m punting you into the sun.”
It was deserved. She was telling the little shit that, especially after he planted the entire Steve being in love with her still dilemma in her mind.
“I’m jus’ sayin’!”
“Then say less!”
“I-”
“Maxine Mayfield!” Robin’s voice booms over the two of them as she pounds on the door a couple times. Still no answer. They’ve certainly notified at least half the trailer park that they’re here, and it’s to no avail.
Wait.
Half the trailer park.
Oh, fuck.
“Robin,” Willow snaps, back turned to the group again as she grabs her friend’s shoulder, realization settling that they are being extremely disruptive right across the street from the one person Willow would like to avoid including in the entire end-of-the-world situation, “Keep your fucking voice down. She would have heard you by now, which means Ed-”
“God, you fuckers are loud.”
Eddie would have heard you by now.
Speak of the Devil.
For the first time in a very long time, Willow dreads turning around and facing her boyfriend. Her boyfriend, the one person she’s convinced she would go to Hell and back to keep out of this crossfire.
She gets that anger and fear that was on Steve’s face. She suddenly gets what Dustin means.
To love, to care, to hold dearly – it is a weapon to be held against you. A knife to press into your skin of your own doing. A barrel of a gun formed by your own hand.
She needs to lie. She’s already decided that before she finally turns around and catches sight of him.
He looks perplexed as ever, hands in his pocket, leather jacket forgone by denim vest still spansing his shoulders. His hair is up in a bun – a goddamn bun that sends a reminding pang into Willow’s chest why she needs to lie to him.
“Eddie,” she breathes out.
She was always a terrible liar.
“Hi, Red,” he says it loud enough for everyone to hear, but for a moment, those words are only hers to hear.
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I will do it. I will take the Ring to Mordor.
And straight into the hands of it's rightful owner and the true ruler of Middle Earth, Tar-Mairon.
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A Not So Common Fairy (Teaser)
Summary: you're a dark fairy from the upside-down and when you see that a gate is open, your curiosity gets the best of you.
- eddie munson x fairy!reader
Nothing remotely interesting ever happened in this dimension. It was always dark with constant storms, which I didn't mind actually. But I always hoped something would change. Maybe a ray of sun, or the budding of a flower? But no, nothing beautiful ever came to this place...
So, when I got wind that Henry Creel was opening gates to another world, I decided it was time for me to leave this place in search of something more. There was nothing tying me here, only the memories of my family...
Without a second thought, I lift my multicolored wings and set off into the air, heading straight to an open gate. The only thing left behind is a small trail of black dust, but it is quickly swept away by the winds of the never-ending storms.
......................
I emerge from the gate, and for the first time ever, I see the color green. Instead of the dark decaying plants from my dimension, this one is full of life! I stare in awe at all the green leaves on the trees, the moss growing on the ground, even the small river flowing along a path. I'm about to fly over to a particular budding flower when I hear voices coming from below me. Not trusting what the noise is from, I try shrinking myself, but for some reason, being in this dimension is limiting my magic. So instead, I perch myself on a branch just high enough to be out of sight but low enough to hear what is going on.
"We need to see If there's a gate around here, It's the only way we'll be able to find Vecna and free Max from his curse." Says one of the younger humans in the group. Vecna? Curse? Are they talking about Henry? How do they know about the gates?
Intrigued, I lean in closer from the branch I'm perched on and continue to listen to the conversation this group of humans are having.
"Dustin, have you even considered how dangerous this plan is? And Eddie is still wanted for murder, we can't just go walking around town looking for a gate!" Murder!? These humans are getting more interesting by the second.
"Steve, it's our only shot, I don't see any other options..." Dustin replies. "And besides, I think Eddie should have a say, since he's the one being chased by the whole town. So what do you say Eddie?"
The one who must be Eddie stands up and addresses the group. I take a moment to look him over, and I can't help but stare a little longer than I intended, there's just something about him that draws me in.
"I say, you're asking me to follow you into Mordor, which, if I'm totally straight with you I think is a really bad idea. But uh the Shire, the Shire is burning. So Mordor it is." I'm amazed at how brave these humans are, knowing how ruthless Henry, or I guess Vecna, can be. But I guess I have a lot to learn about this new dimension, and the humans who live here.
After agreeing on what Eddie said, the group all start to follow Dustin. Eddie trails behind, seemingly lost in thought and I take the time to admire his features. In Vecnas dimension, there really arn't any attractive males, or any human like creatures for that matter, so it's hard not to admire Eddie in this moment.
But I guess I didn't realize how intently I was looking and how much closer I was leaning over the branch to get a closer look, because all of a sudden, the branch I'm perched on cracks, and I fall a few feet before my wings are able to extend. I quickly fly up to another branch, higher up this time, and behind the trunk of the tree. But I'm sure I felt eyes on me for a split second...
"Eddie! What are you still doing back there?" Dustin calls out. The group is already a bit further along the path, but Eddie is stood at the base of the tree I'm hiding in, staring at the cracked branch.
I stay completely still, not sure If he's already seen me.
"I just, I thought I saw-" Eddie starts, but stops and shakes his head, turing back to follow the group. "Nevermind."
🖤🖤🖤
A/N: This is just a random idea that I thought of, not sure if it'll just be turned into a few imagines or if I'll make it into a story, haven't decided yet 😂 But I've been in an Eddie mood lately so there's plenty more where this came from 😁❤️🔥
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I just want to point something out.
There’s a big reason why we should be pretty darn grateful for Gollum, and it’s not the obvious one.
Because think of what would’ve happened if he hadn’t been there at the Cracks of Doom when the Ring finally overpowered Frodo. If Frodo or Sam had killed him, or if he’d somehow been mentally capable of heeding Frodo’s warning and just getting out of there.
Some who mention this cut straight to “Sauron would’ve won.” Which is an easy assumption. The Nazgul could’ve gotten there, killed Sam, and taken the Ring back to Sauron. But what would’ve happened to Frodo?
I think it’s more likely that instead of quickly killing Frodo right then and there alongside Sam, Sauron would’ve ordered the Nazgul to bring Frodo to him. Someone as malicious as the Dark Lord would probably want to inflict harrowing punishment on the person who endangered his Ring.
And you know what? I think Sam knew this might happen. Sam is not dumb or half-witted in the slightest. This hobbit is clever, smart, downright brilliant. During their trek through Mordor, between having experienced the Ring’s power himself while carrying it and watching it weaken Frodo more and more (especially hearing Frodo directly say “I am almost in its power, I could not give it up”), it must have occurred to Sam that the Ring was going to win Frodo’s internal battle.
Sam had already planned so many strategies throughout the quest. Ensuring they had enough to eat and drink, figuring out how to beat Shelob and break into the dark tower… Sam is a great strategist. As any good gardener must be. It’s in his nature. So I feel like he must’ve figured out ahead of time what was likely to happen, and thought about a possible Plan B to complete the Quest.
And I also feel like his consideration of a Plan B would be less about saving Middle-earth itself and more about saving Frodo. Our dear Sam Gamgee would naturally try to think of every possible option that would prevent Sauron from trapping his beloved Frodo in his torture chambers for years and years.
So, when you put it all together, if Gollum hadn’t been there to take back the Ring, Sam would’ve had no other choice but to throw Frodo and himself into the Fire after Frodo put on the Ring. This would’ve destroyed the Ring, saved Frodo from it, and enabled them to die together like they expected (and, I dare say, wanted). I’m certain this was Sam’s plan. Now, would he actually have been able to do so? That’s debatable. Because it would’ve been an act of will with the intent of destroying the Ring, which is quite impossible to act on in the Cracks of Doom. But if Sam had just concentrated on Frodo and not thought about the Ring at all, considered it an act for Frodo and not for the Ring, perhaps he could’ve done it. Feel free to argue either way.
The likelihood of this plan of Sam’s is why I don’t like how in the movie, Sam is yelling at Frodo “Destroy it! Just let it go! Throw it in the Fire! What are you waiting for?” Essentially echoing the audience’s thoughts, of course … but would Tolkien’s Sam actually say this? No. From everything he witnessed, Tolkien’s Sam knew that Frodo wouldn’t be able to let it go and prepared himself to make the ultimate sacrifice to complete the Quest. This is a nuance that the screenwriters clearly didn’t pick up on, or just ignored in favor of making Sam a voice for the audience. But doesn’t it make more sense for Sam to say nothing in that scene, as he does in the book, because he already knew what would happen?
This is why I’m thankful to Gollum. If he hadn’t been there, there’s a chance that Sauron still would’ve lost, but there’s also a guarantee that Frodo and Sam would’ve died in the worst possible way … if not at Sauron’s hands, then Sam would’ve had to kill himself and the great love of his life.
Thank you, Gollum, for ensuring this didn’t happen and saving our favorite hobbits. Even though saving them was no part of your intentions.
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