People always say “Thorin could never retire in the Shire because he has to be King” — and I think the funniest way to handle that plotline would be for Bilbo to convince Thorin to eliminate the monarchy.
Bilbo has lived all his life in the Shire, where they elect their main leaders in a democratic system. Thorin is the first king he ever meets. Bilbo would initially think monarchy was very storybook-like and fantastical, like the things he’s read about in tales from distant lands…..but he would quickly find the reality of monarchy underwhelming, baffling, and annoying. Thorin/ Thranduil/Bard would make Bilbo decide that all monarchies are terrible. Being a king makes you self-important, haughty, greedy, and warlike. Kings are too powerful and use that power to fight over utter nonsense. They’ve got no one to keep their stubbornness in check. He would come to decide that the Shire really did have it right by holding elections.
I’m imagining a scene where Thorin dramatically confesses “I suffer under the burden of my duties; heavy is the head that bears a crown” and Bilbo flatly responds “don’t be king, then. >:/Elect someone else. If your people don’t want you then they won’t choose you! Im very tired of this whole affair and I wish I were back in the Shire, where folk are more reasonable >:(“
Thorin is enchanted by the strange foreign Hobbit custom of “elected leaders.” He has never considered this as a possibility. Overwhelmed by the Hobbit’s wisdom after the Battle of the Five Armies, Thorin converts his kingdom into a democratic republic and retires from public life.
This causes a domino effect. Other kingdoms across Middle Earth are inspired by Erebor’s example, and band together to reject their monarchical systems. Revolutions ensue.
Thorin’s consort “Bilbo Baggins,” known only as “the dwarf-king’s advisor who first set off this wave of revolutions,” becomes one of the most controversial and reviled people in all of Middle Earth. Bilbo becomes a figure of mythic proportions, loved by the democratic republicans and despised by the royalists, each of which invents their own wild legends.
To the democratic republicans “The Great Baggins” is glorified as a great warrior sent from Valinor to restore the long-forgotten wisdom borne out of The West— he snaps his fingers and with a poof of smoke he washes away all the old corrupt systems of the world, just as the Valar washed away Numenor.
But to the royalists, “The Mad Baggins” is a scheming shadowy monster who crawled up from the deep places of the world to burn the very foundations of Middle Earth to the ground; he’s a monster more powerful and terrible than a dragon or a balrog, who threatened Thorin into submission and brought the world into chaos. he snaps his fingers and monarchies collapse in a puff of smoke.
Meanwhile elderly Bilbo grumpily putters around the Shire with Thorin, mostly oblivious to all of this.
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Angel // Minghao
"Always and angel. Never a God"
DESCRIPTION: She knew she never fully had him – despite his countless reassurance that she did. She wasn't stupid, she knew that she had big shoes to fill and though his words said one thing, the ghost of his past says otherwise.
GENRE: Angst
There was a ghost of her that haunted every part of your relationship.
He said it wasn't so but you felt it.
She had been long gone for years but you can feel her presence with every time he touched you, with every word he said, with the cologne he chose to wear, and the songs he listened to.
It was all her.
The girl that once occupied his heart before you did.
He never once uttered her name, not even during the worst of your fights. He never once held her over your head.
But he didn't need to.
He kept her around – his favorite jacket he wore during the cold winter months were from her. The chain that dangled above your face during the nights he made you his, she purchased.
He doesn't think you know, but he underestimated a your power to sleuth – finding all information about her down to what high school she graduated.
But it wasn't just him.
His friends kept in contact with her - her name slipping from their lips every now and then when we were in group settings. You knew they didn't intend to utter it, you can see the regret in their eyes as they pause in the middle of their sentences.
And every single time, you pretended not to hear it.
You pretend to not be fazed by the sinking feeling in my stomach; the voice in your head screaming at you.
"You'll never measure up to her."
Everyone had their own demons. Yours just so happened to be your boyfriend's ex-girlfriend.
"Angel," Minghao's voice pulled you out of your thoughts, turning to face him. "You okay? You're out in space over there."
You pulled your lips into a tight smile, giving him a soft nod. "Just– thinking."
"About?"
Her.
"Nothing." You shook your head, scooting into his open arms – allowing him to pull you against his chest.
"Is it about what Jun said?"
What Jun said.
The reason why you allowed your thoughts to consume you.
During dinner, your boyfriend's best friend had accidentally mentioned her as he gushed over the meal in front of them. He spoke of how Kaia was the one that showed them the Italian restaurant – the one that Minghao had claimed to be his favorite when he had first brought you around.
You thought it was the one final place that she didn't haunt.
Boy, were you oh so wrong.
For the remainder of the night, you couldn't help but think of the first time Minghao had ordered for you when he had taken you to the establishment – not bothering to glance at the menu.
He knew the meals by heart.
Was the pasta that you liked so much once hers?
"It's nothing, Hao." You shook your head, not wanting to further dig deep into the large wound.
"He didn't mean it."
"They never do."
"What's that supposed to mean?" His body shifted from under you, causing you to sit up and face him again.
"I– She'll always be around, it's okay." You shook your head. It was far too late in the night to start an argument, and you weren't in the mood to sleep without the warmth of his arms.
"We– you know she and I ended in good terms. I– I can't really tell them to not hang out with her."
He was right and that's what hurt the most.
Minghao did his part, he steered clear from her. Not once did he join his friends when they hung out with her, nor did he stay in contact with her.
Out of respect of you.
But despite all his efforts, and his reassurances – she still remained. Almost as if she had never left.
"I know." You nodded. "I– it's just my head."
"It's you that I chose to be with. It's you that I come home to."
Minghao was right yet again, but why did it still feel like it wasn't so.
Because if he did let go of her, pieces of her wouldn't remain in your shared apartment. He wouldn't smell like the scent she had picked out for him all those years ago.
He wouldn't take you to the places they once claimed to be theirs.
He would have started a brand new slate.
"Angel, I need you to know that I love you." Minghao spoke slowly, taking your hands in his.
You looked down at the cold metal that made contact with your skin – the Chrome Hearts ring she had gifted him their first year together.
Yet another reminder of her as he professed his so called love for you.
You had him, but never all of him. You were his angel, but never his god.
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