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ponyluvesonic09 · 9 months

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all characters in Dangaronpa the Pretty Cure Killing Program

here are all of the characters in my Dangaronpa fan project.Danganronpa: The Pretty Cure Killing Program

before we get started: NO this is NOT an AU, it is a sinply, non canon crossover

Choen Young

the protagonist of the game, a young African-american teenager who lost his eye when he was young, representing KiraKira☆Pretty Cure A La Mode, he becomes Cure Muffin, who s based off Chocolate Muffins and Tigers

"Courage and Strengh,Lets La Mix it Up,Cure Muffin is Complete!"

Jhonny Apollo

a big astronomer who wants to study the stars, representing Star☆Twinkle Pretty Cure as the only representation, he becomes the Pretty Cure of asteroids, Cure Aster

"Bolding Rock Flying Through the Sky,Cure Aster!"

Sophie White

An unpredictable and "aggressively playful" person which makes her hard to love but difficult to hate. She is very fond of Choen, the only representation for Yes Pretty Cure 5 (GoGo!), she becomes Cure Snowflake, the Cure of Nature, and has powers related to ice

"the Beutey of the Soft Snow,Cure Snowflake!"

Autumn Greenhouse

Growing up in a wine Vinyard which was owned by her father, isn't the most sociable, she represents Fresh Pretty Cure! as Cure Tangerine, representing piece through the queen card.

"Orange Heart is the embilem of health,Freshly Chosen,Cure Tangerine!"

Alex Frost

One of the coldest cures, unsociable and is a hard one to make friends with, he represents Heartcatch Pretty Cure!, as Cure Snowdrop,

"The flower that grows in the snowy woods,Cure Snowdrop!"

Skie Strong

Dreamed to be a musician, she taught herself to play trumpet when she was a young kid so she can join the orcastra, she is one of the 2 representations for Suite Pretty Cure♪, as Cure Classical

" Triumph of the Swan,Cure Classical!"

Alie Amin

A young wannabe scientist, she has a dream to produce her own perfume brand, the only representation for Go! Princess Pretty Cure, her alter Ego is Cure Night, the princess of the galaxies

"the Princess of the dark Sky,Cure Night!"

Lindsy Cube

A fun-loving person with a big heart who is prone to hurting herself doing wild stunts, the second representor for KiraKira☆Pretty Cure A La Mode, she becomes Cure Nutmeg, she is based on Nutmeg Cake and Wolves

After eating a magic apple, she now is able to turn into a fairy, who she calls herself Hazelnut

"Loalty and Honesty,Lets La,Mix it Up!,Cure Nutmeg is Complete!"

Jenna Lovi

Very quiet and almost unable to be friends with, she proclaims herself as the best pretty cure the world has seen, the second Fresh Pretty Cure! representation, she becomes Cure Plum, representing strength through the Joker Card.

"Plum Heart is the Symbol of "Strengh", Chosen Fresh, Cure Plum!"

Sara and Soro Mujano

Sara (the white hair girl) is a fun loving girl who loves to read. Soro (the black hair girl) loves her sister and believes in Happy Endings, together the Mujano sisters are the Smile Pretty Cure team who are "Night,N, Day Pretty Cure!"

Sara is Cure Purity and Soro is Cure Onyx

"Pufiying the Dark Heart,Cure Purity!"

"distroyer of the darkest evil,Cure Onyx!"

“Fantasy and Fun, Night N Day, Pretty Cure”

Miku McGee

A big animal activist, loves all animals and believes they have hope, representor for Healin' Good♥Pretty Cure, with the help of her best freind Snowy, she becomes the Pretty Cure of snow, Cure Seabreze

"Twin Snowflakes falling from the Heavenly Clouds,Cure Seabrease!"("Snowy!)

Colton Ahea

As a kid, Colton has always been fond of music, he always wants to teach his fairy tone friend to play the piano and violin, the second representor for Suite Pretty Cure♪, he becomes Cure Harp

"Playing the Wild Harp,Cure Harp!"

Daisy Talyor

a garden enthusiast, she loved to grow all kinds of plants and wishes to start a greenhouse, a Heartcatch Pretty Cure! representative, she becomes Cure Daisy.

"the Flower that grows with happiness,Cure Daisy!"

James Lowe

growing up in a cabin in the forest, James has always been involved in nature, after saving and nursing his fairy freind Leaf back to health, becoming a repersentor for Healin' Good♥Pretty Cure, he becomes the pretty cure of the woods, Cure Forest

"Twin Trees Grow in Hope and Love, Cure Forest!"("Leaf!")

Leo Goodman

Leo a young wrestler with the biggest heart, he wants to start charity for wildlife and flowers, the final representative for Heartcatch Pretty Cure!, he becomes Cyre Cyla

After his fairy partner, Coco died in battle, the only thing that remained from her was her collar, now Leo is able to turn into a fairy.

"the flower that grows with purity,Cure Cyla!"

Sapphire

Skye's fairy tone, and best friend.

Ruby

Colton's fairy tone, and his music student

She is the only female of the fairies, and has a similar personality to Gonta.

Snowy

a snow-lepord like fairy who is Miku's best freind and Fairy Partner

Leaf

Beaver like fairy, they where saved by young James and choose him as Pretty Cure, they became James's fairy partner, it is currently unknown who scared their eye.

Now that you have seen all 16 Pretty Cures, i have a little game for you

The Mastermind is the one responsible for kidnapping all 16 Cures and 4 fairies and forcing them to participate in the Killing Game. out of all of the 16 Pretty Cures you have seen who do you think is the Mastermind(hint: it is not Choen)

Comment bellow who you think is the mastermind

out of the fairies, who is the traitor, comment below

one thing, all the cures will be in the uniform from the series respective games

#danganronpa #pretty cure #crossover #fanganronpa

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writingwithcolor · 3 years

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Black characters with white hair: the “Special Snowflake” Compilation

Is it problematic to give my Black MC white hair?

@roseoholic asked:

Is it problematic to give my black mc white hair? In my story, if someone dies and comes back to life, their hair turns white. Her origin is that she's a reincarnation of an escaped soul, and took the place of the stillborn fetus in her "mothers" womb. I am pretty flexible in her design still, so I am willing to change if it's a bad idea. Thank you if you answer! :)

I think we’re all aware that Black people can have white hair naturally, whether it’s due to

Aging

Hair that turns gray/white early in life

Albinism

Genetics - Black person (mixed race or no) who have very light or white hair.

Obviously, Black people can dye their hair white as well.

Photo above: Black models Diandra forrest and Nyakim Gatwech posing. They both have pale blondish-white hair. Source: Essence.

The question being asked is if it’s okay for Black characters to have white hair by conscious choice of the author.

Answer:

On its face, it’s okay to have Black characters with white hair. This is especially true if how the white hair comes about is a natural occurrence in your story that likely affects other races too. Motive is an important factor.

What is the reason for their hair being white?

That reason could and should be everything but to make them seem special or more likeable. This isn’t aimed at you specifically, OP, but there are creators who feel compelled to give Black characters uncommon, rare or unusual features due to an aversion to feature Black people with more common features (dark and brown hair, skin, eyes etc).

When aversion to Blackness is the motive, it shows.

It’s in the way the narrative exalts this character over other Black people in the narrative, treating them more favorably and giving them more of an arc over other Black characters. This is sometimes known as making them a “Special snowflake” which isn’t a term I particularly love, as it’s sometimes used to devalue real struggles people face. However, It does serve to categorize the trope. (See: TVTropes Special Snowflake)

Signs you’re treating your white-haired Black character better over other Black characters, aka the “Special Snowflake”

Stronger characterization and arc, more importance and “Screen time” than other Black characters (even when they’re not the main character)

Unique features are overemphasized and described at every chance (fetishized)

Better treatment in the story compared to other Black characters. They’re also less likely to face suffering and abusive narratives. Good things happen to them more than other Black people.

Shown to be more deserving of love, affection and romance over other Black characters; may have a love interest while others don’t.

Takeaway:

You can have Black characters with white hair. However, do not use light or unique features to exalt or set your character apart from your Black characters as “better.”

That is, not without an explicit social commentary, since yes these folks tend to be treated better by society and media in real life.

It also helps to have other Black characters with more common features who are treated well and have a fully developed character arc. These other Black people’s lives also should not revolve around just supporting white or the white-haired character, either.

Black Girl, Snow White Retellings

@morganadelacour asked:

Hi there,

I (a white woman) would like to write a re-telling of Snow White and make her a Black girl with white hair. Snow White would be under the impression, that her stepmother (a white woman) is evil, when in fact, she only tried to protect herself and Snow White from Snow White’s father (a white man). The story would be told from both perspectives, probably first from Snow White’s perspective, then from the queen’s. In the end, both women make peace, Snow White understands the queen’s actions and the queen apologizes and tries to make up for her actions that hurt Snow White. Do you see a problem with any aspect of this outline and/or are there certain things I have to keep in mind?

Thank you so much for all the work you do with this blog and for your efforts to educate.

@corbeaudelys asked:

I'm writing a science fiction variant of Snow White with a protagonist that has dark skin with white, 3C hair and brown eyes. I read a post that said magic white hair, dark skin, and European features was a bad trope; would it still be bad even if I made it clear that she has no European features and her hair's not magical?

See “Is it problematic to give my Black MC white hair?” which answers the core of this question. Motive truly is the main factor in if it’s okay or not, and the resulting treatment of that character and other Black characters that may exist in the story. I have a Black Snow White in one of my retellings, too!

The motive is clear here: you’re retelling Snow White with a Black girl and want to keep it relevant by assigning the white feature to hair instead of skin. It’s also a story where Snow White is intentionally meant to stand out as the “fairest of them all” so the exalting does have plot relevance.

As noted before, I would caution against making her beautiful to mean that other Black women are not beautiful or are unworthy.

I would like to make special mention that you can also do retellings where Snow White goes the other direction, and her compelling dark features make her the “fairest of them all”

Black woman dyes hair white, problematic symbolism?

@tlking-heads-moved said:

hi! i have a story with two black women protagonists:

1.) leader, strong and loyal, with very curly dark hair (usually pulled back)

2.) part of the group, elegant and refined, with light pink braids (or other protective styles).

Towards the end of the story, both of their hair changes styles, the second character dyes her hair white.

I am afraid that the character with the styled, pink/white hair will come off as “purer” or “better” than the character with the natural, dark hair, because of their personality + appearance differences. should I change either of their usual hair styles or their personalities?

These seem like stylistic choices. As the girl already had a pink braided style, hair color changes seems like something she likes to do and does not have to be symbolic of anything. Your use of color throughout the story could help avoid implications of white as more pure, if this is something you’d like to avoid:

See more about Color symbolism in our Color Symbolism Guide

Also, going from pink to white, which both have connotations of femininity and softness (according to a Western Lens) doesn’t come across as a stark difference. Without knowing the full details of these personality changes the girls undergo, I’m personally not getting that impression. Again, the full narrative will inform this and you may want to pay mind to your use of color throughout.

Now, do avoid making the dark-haired one a Strong Black Women character. You specifically called her strong, which doesn’t necessarily mean she’s a SBW, but please see our several related posts to ensure she is not one.

I hope this helps!

~Mod Colette

#Black #Black women #Black men #special snowflake #Black stereotypes #tropes #asks #tw stillborn #color symbolism #black vs white #guides #Black hair

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aspoonofsugar · 2 years

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Could you make a top 10 list of favorite semblances?

What are your favorite semblances and why?

Hello anons!

Thank you fo much for these asks! I have been wanting to make a list of my favourite semblances for a while now :)

So, let’s go!

1) Glyphs

The Schnee Family semblance is about reconciling your own unique self with your family legacy. How can you not lose yourself in the snow storm? The answer is to become your own special snowflake.

Klein: Please don’t worry, my snowflake, it had nothing to do with you.

Glyphs illustrate this dychotomy very well! On one hand it is a gift shared by all the family members. On the other hand different people go through different struggles and as a result they are able to summon different avatars. In a sense the Schnees are nothing, but Grimm trainers :’’’) Gotta catch them all!

Moreover, the way each family member uses their semblance says a lot about how they relate to the family situation.

Weiss initially excels at combining her glyphs with Dust, but can’t summon. This is because she is still dependent on her family name and on the SDC influence. Once she gives up her persona as the SDC heiress, she finally succeeds and by facing a world different from hers, she adds more options to her summoning arsenal.

Of course each summon is symbolic of a part of Weiss’s self. Arma Gigas is her becoming a Knight who saves herself and serves the people:

It is also symbolic of her purifying her family from his father’s poisonous influence since the armor (Nicholas’s symbol) was originally possessed by a Geist.

The Queen Lancer conveys instead her being both a queen (a Schnee) and a lancer (a support fighter):

We’ll see what the Nervermore will come to represent:

As for now, I think it will be about Weiss’s familial bonds since the Nevermore was killed by team RWBY in their first fight together and has been teased the first time in an episode centered around the Schnee Family as a whole.

Winter is great at summoning, but is rarely shown combining her glyphs with Dust. This is because she has cut herself off from the family. Once she accepts her feelings and reaches out to Weiss, she is shown using Dust powered Glyphs much more. Now that she has finally become “a real girl” and “the blue fairy” thanks to Penny’s gift, it would be interesting if she used her magic to elementally charge the glyphs. It would be very cool and fitting symbolically. She doesn’t need to use her father’s Dust anymore and can make all kinds of Glyphs independently because she is finally her own person.

We know almost nothing of Willow and her semblance, apart that she can summon. This may suggest that she used to have a strong sense of self. However, her marriage with Jaques and alcohol consumed her and she lost it. Still, the love for her kids has who she really is emerge once again:

Very fittingly, she manages to summon a Boarbatusk to protect Whitley. After all, boars are famous to be aggressively protective mothers :’’)

Finally, Whitley has yet to unlock his semblance:

Weiss: Is that why you hate me? Are you jealous of my abilities? Of Winter's?

Whitley: Hmm... no, not really. Honestly, I find it barbaric. It's beneath people like me. Like Father.

This is because he has tried to conform to his father’s ideals to survive abuse. We’ll see if he will be able to unlock glyphs and how he will use them.

Other than this, I found very cool that in the fight against the Queen Lancer it seems that Weiss can perceive the world through the Knight and that the Knight can use Glyphs to teleport. I would love for these aspects to be explored more.

For example, would it be possible to send a mini Knight to scout around? Or can Glyphs be used to communicate? It would be very cool if now that the family is repairing their relationships, it turned out the Glyphs of the family members can be connected somehow. They could create some kinds of portals summons can travel through, so that they can exchange information (kind of like HP patronus). Anyway, it would be fitting if after seeing how the Glyphs represent family legacy and individuality, they were used also to explore family bonds. I think this may already be happening thanks to Weiss’s new summon.

As a side note, Weiss’s ability to turn savage Grimms into docile allies ties very well with her allusion as Snowhite. Snowhite can enchant the forest animals thanks to her singing. Weiss charms people with her voice and Grimms with her semblance.

1) Hallucinations

Emerald’s semblance is at the very top of my list together with Weiss’s and yet I have not written a Semblance of the Soul meta for her. This is because I am waiting for her arc to reach a more climatic resolution. Right now, it has been put on hold at the end of volume 8.

That said, there are still many things that can be said about Hallucinations.

First of all, I love that Emerald, just like Weiss, is mostly a support fighter. In a sense, their abilities are both about controlling the field, but in completely different ways. Glyphs are exceptional to use the battlefield in a smart and flexible way physically. Yet, Hallucinations is just as great at affecting the way a fighter sees the battle mentally. The first is focused on the outside, while the second on the inside.

At the same time, I think that Weiss and Emerald as characters might have to move in different directions when it comes to their fighting styles.

On one hand Weiss starts as very self-centered and has to grow into a good teammate:

Weiss: "Ruby, I think you have what it takes to be a good leader. Just know that I am going to be the best teammate you’ll ever have!“

On the other hand Emerald is too dependent on others when it comes to both her life and her fighting style:

Tyrian: So devoted to someone so incompetent.

She has decided to dedicate herself to Cinder completely. She depends on Mercury’s fighting ability while facing opponents (just like he depends on her semblance) and she generally lets others take the lead. It is indicative that even when it comes to her own redemption and despite Em’s importance as a character... she is not really the protagonist of the episode she leaves Salem...Hazel is:

Hazel is the one making the choice, figuring himself out and finalizing his arc... Em tags along and is saved by him.

In short, just as Weiss has evolved her fighting style and semblance so that she can be of support to others, Em might have to become able to stand on her own two feet.

Secondly, Hallucinations, at its root, is nothing, but a strong coping mechanism Emerald uses to protect herself from the world. It is born from the idea that the world is a scary place, that Emerald is alone and weak in there hence she needs to hide herself and to trick others to survive.

Still, there is more to it than just that. Em is scared, but she is not motivated by fear. Very strong wishes are her drive:

Cinder: Follow me, and you'll never be hungry again.

She wants love so badly that she does not hesitate to trick herself like she tricks others to keep the illusion of her happy family with Cinder alive.

So, Em’s semblance is about all the lies we tell others and ourselves to navigate our lives. It strikes a nice balance between fears and wishes. Hence it is very potentially rich thematically.

So, her illusions materialize what people fear:

But also what people want:

Thirdly, there may be additional sides to this ability Em is still not using to its full potential:

Emerald: I knew I sensed some weak minds nearby.

It is telling that this is the same episode Ren shows he can find people through empathy. It hints to the fact that there is an empathic component to Em’s power which is hidden behind the fear and the selfishness. All in all, Hallucinations is nothing, but a very flawed way to interact with others. It would be interesting to see how it changes as Em herself grows in a healthier environment.

Finally, it is a semblance I enjoy because so far it has been highly plot relevant on multiple occasions.

It is instrumental to Beacon’s fall which ties thematically with the idea of distrust, fear and manipulation being among the major weapons Cinder and Salem can use to confuse people’s minds and bring destruction.

And yet, once Emerald defects those same weapons are used against both Salem herself and Ironwood aka two individuals that like playing Gods and that feel superiors to others. Still, they are easily tricked by a frail and scared kid, who does not even have to try too hard.

Finally, Hallucinations being used to introduce the protagonists to Salem is interesting. It conveys perfectly how scary Salem is, but at the same time she is nor real. In this way RWBY and JNRO have a glimpse of what they are facing, but have time to prepare themselves for a real encounter. As if the ability to face your fears in a relatively safe way could actually be helpful in overcoming them.

Speaking of which, I actually like how Em uses her semblance here to help Cinder train and hold on mentally:

Sure, here it is used very unhealthily, but think how useful Em’s semblance would be to help a person in a panic attack or with claustrophobia or even to reach the right mental state to use Silver Eyes.

It would also be interesting if the idea Hallucinations is rooted in - the ability to modify the sensory information in a person's head while their brain is processing it - could be used with other senses other than sight and listening. Imagine having a situation where tricking taste could be useful or also imagine messing with one’s tact, etc.

Could you keep pain at bait for a short period of time? If so, it would be interesting for this ability to be used to honor Hazel.

Anyway, even as it is, Hallucinations remains one of the most interesting, powerful and flexible semblances we have seen imo. The basic idea is simple. Its uses are many.

3) Overactive Imagination

Neo’s semblance really shines in Roman Holiday for me to the point that it went from I don’t really care to number 3 on my list!

Thematically, I love it because of this:

In conclusion, Overactive Imagination is an ability that has something surprising to say about what identity truly is. Specifically, it says that identity is nothing, but an illusion and yet, it is something very real.

A person’s identity is not a unit, but is made of different parts. Some visible only to the person. Others experienced only by others. And yet, all these parts are real. Identity is also not static, but changes with time to the point that the person of tomorrow might be completely different from the person of yesterday. Finally, identity can shatter and needs to be rebuilt.

All these attributes are attributes of Neo’s illusions, which are the result of multi-faced fragments coming together, let her transform and shatter like glass.

Tying the idea of identity with the theme of reality and illusions to affirm that one’s self is in a sense an illusion and yet this does not make it less real is great.

A person’s identity changes, shatters, is rebuilt. It is contradictory and can’t never be fully understood. Some parts will remain illusions either because fantasies in the person’s mind or because they are masks the person wears. And yet, they are still parts of the self. This is why thematically Neo’s illusions have substance differently from Em’s.

I really like the creative ways Overactive Imagination is used in the book.

From Neo using it to survive her fall (a pretty improvised landing strategy) to her using it to save Roman. From it making the world more similar to Neo’s mind to it being perfect to navigate society anonymously.

It is the perfect power for a lonely and imaginative child. And it is also the perfect power for a lethal spy.

In the main series, I think Neo’s semblance is interesting because it comments others’ interiority:

This is something illusory powers tend to be perfect for :P. After all, Em does the same:

Interestingly, Em’s illusions in the Mistral arc have mostly been about the protagonists’ enemies. Cinder, Raven and Salem are all opponents our protagonists must fight. This is fitting in an arc centered around overcoming fear.

Neo’s illusions in the Atlas arc have instead been the protagonists’ loved ones. Not only that, but the two characters she has used them against are characters who have been repressing their feelings. Once again, the perfect illusions for an arc centered around accepting one’s emotions.

Other than this, it is not by chance that both Emerald and Neo end up working for Cinder, who uses smoke screens and manipulation to reach her goals. Illusory semblances are perfect for her plans and to comment on her illusory (this time for real) sense of self.

4) Scorching Caress

Speaking of whom, I quite like Cinder’s semblance. It starts out as nothing much. Just the ability to emit heat from the hands:

The perfect ability for an abused child, constantly under pressure and ignored by everyone. Nothing to really worry about, right? Just not very ladylike, at most.

And yet the heat grows:

And grows:

Until it burns the world.

Scorching Caress ties with Cinder’s cruel twist of the original Cinderella. In the fairy-tale, the protagonist is called Cinderella because forced to sleep in the ashes to keep herself warm. It is a visual representation of her abuse. In the story, this metaphorical representation of abuse becomes Cinder’s own semblance, the essence of her soul and her major weapon.

She was burnt, so she burns.

At the same time, she also uses her power to make glass objects. This effect has two opposite meanings.

On one hand there is what Cinder wants to do, i.e. purify the dirt of her past into something beautiful and refined:

On the other hand glass has to do with her abusive environment, which was a hotel full of glass statues called The Glass Unicorn. This is not by chance because ultimately Cinder’s own personhood is made of glass. She was a frail child broken by the world around her. Still, when glass is broken it can cut you deeply.

In general, both major effects of her semblance are linked to the cycle of abuse:

Cinder is instead a person, who has been molded through violence just like the glass statues in the hotel. She is forced to endure until she can’t take it anymore and she explodes.

She herself is the Glass Unicorn, which shatters like Cinder’s innocence when too much pressure is added. Not only that, but Cinder too has started molding others to her will. She has been grooming both Emerald and Mercury for her own ego. This is why the name Scorching Caress fits her so well. It is because behind every act of care it is hidden an act of manipulation. And this happens because Cinder too has been treated utilitaristically and the only kind of love she experienced (Rhodes’s) was a “weak” love Cinder ended up perceiving as fake.

On one hand she was burnt and so she burns her enemies. On the other hand she was molded by her abusers like glass, so the only care she shows to Emerald and Mercury is to shape them after herself. Just like mirrors made of glass.

Finally, I quite like how she uses her magically charged semblance to decompose and reshape her weapons:

No matter how many times she is broken. She always manages to put herself back together in a new way. And at the same time, this constant erosion and burning of the self is not helping her.

This is also conveyed in how she keeps creating and destroying new weapons with her magic. In how she has managed to make even their destruction dangerous to others - for example, she makes them explode, she breaks the glass to free the tornado of fire within them, she turns even their fragments into bombs.

All of this is just Cinder’s coping mechanims at its finest. She keeps hurting others and changing just to avoid true growth and vulnerability.

5) Polarity

Pyrrha’s semblance may come from pyrrhotite, according to the wiki. Pyrrhotite is one of two minerals found naturally magnetized. I quite like the trivia, which conveys the rarity of Pyrrha’s talent and how special she is as a fighter. Still, I am mostly interested in what her semblance has to say about the metals of RWBY.

Many characters have a metal motif in RWBY. Well, some of the most important ones have come into contact with Pyrrha’s semblance in ways that are both plot-driven and thematically resonant.

Jaune’s arc is about going from lead to gold. He starts as unrefined and is molded by Pyrrha who helps him grow both as a fighter and as a person. This is symbolically shown by Pyrrha revealing her semblance to help Jaune find the right stance while fighting. At the same time, her semblance foreshadows the tragedy of their relationship in how she pushes him away because of her distress over the Fall Maiden business.

Penny is a robot because she is symbolically weaponized by her society. Pyrrha accidentally killing her as a result of CEM’s manipulation drives home what will be Penny’s conflict up until the very end. Her society and her enemy seeing her as a puppet when she is a real girl.

Mercury uses his legs, so his trauma as a weapon to hurt others and to bring them down to his level. So, it is fitting that he uses his legs (what his father forced on him) and observational skills to discover Pyrrha’s semblance (what his father stole from him).

Interestingly, the other important metal character introduced in the Vale arc has no interaction with Pyrrha. Still, his destiny and storyline are foreshadowed. Ironwood has his robots hacked by Watts, just like in the very end he himself will be manipulated by his enemies and will become nothing more than a drone, symbolically.

Anyway, other than this, Pyrrha’s semblance is actually tied to the theme of destiny. She can control a battle, just like she is in control of her destiny. When she starts having doubts about it, she loses control of her powers, but in the end she pulls herself together and uses her gift to its utmost potential against Cinder.

Very fittingly, she can’t defeat an enemy whose weapons are not made of metal, so someone that is symbolically an unseen factor in her life. Still, she manages to foreshadows Cinder can’t escape consequences forever because time will catch up with her:

Finally, Pyrrha being able to manipulate all the metals she touches can be seen as her having left a strong impression on her loved ones (the people she “touched”) despite her premature death.

6) Petal Burst

Ruby is an interestint case because the power which is at the centre of her arc is not really her semblance, but her silver eyes.

Still, I quite like Petal Burst! Initially, it clearly symbolizes Ruby’s precosciousness and quick thinking:

Ruby: I'm not slow, see? You don't have to worry about me!

As the story becomes more serious, it comes to represent Ruby’s determination to move forward no matter what and her flexibility in overcoming obstacles. As her intelligence and ability to see things from outside the box grow, so does her semblance!

Not only that, but she becomes able to both inspire others and to lead them hence her power becomes effective on others too:

Penny: Do not worry, Ruby is capable of traveling at an extreme velocity from one point to another by breaking herself down to her molecular components, thus negating her mass and then reassembling them at the destination, theoretically making it possible for her to transport all of us in the same way, as mass no longer matters.

Ruby: I, uh, what?

Penny: You can use your Semblance on all of us.

In general, I have liked how she has become able to use Petal Burst in more inventive ways, like when she frees herself from Harriet thanks to it and how she uses it to trick Neo in the volume 8 finale.

All in all, Ruby’s semblance lets her move faster and more freely than others. It opens new ways, just like she is able to find new solutions to problems.

At the same time, it is a power that also foreshadows Ruby’s issues, like her tendency to spread herself too thin and to scatter:

Maria: You know, you don’t give yourself enough credit.

Ruby: Oh… Thanks.

Maria: That wasn’t a compliment.

7) Aura Amp

Jaune’s semblance is foreshadowed since his introduction, is a call back to his relationship with Pyrrha and is the perfect ability for a leader. It is about caring about others (healing) and having their best traits come out (strengthening their semblances).

Still, I am mostly interested in its limitations and how they will be overcome. In volume 8, we have seen how Jaune can’t heal everything:

Jaune: Ah, sorry. No matter how much I boost you, they won’t go away.

Jaune: Did… I stop the virus?

Penny: No. It’s still there.

And in the volume 8 finale he has to kill Penny. It will be interesting to see how Jaune is challenged by this truth and if his semblance will evolve with him or not.

When is it that a person can’t heal themselves, no matter how muchyou are there to assist them? And what should you do in those circumstances?

8) Tranquillity

I have just written a meta on Ren’s semblance, so I do not have much to add. I just really liked what they did with it. How they made a power that describes emotional management and had it be extremely useful in battle since it can hide from Grimms.

I also really like it aesthetically since they managed to tie it to Ren’s flower motif and to the use of colors. It will be interesting to see Ren using it in different ways as the story goes on! I wonder if maybe with time he will also become able to influence others’ emotions in other ways than just “tranquility”.

9) Kindred Link

A semblance that describes Raven’s contradictory views of bonds perfectly.

On one hand it is a power centered on bonding. On the other hand it highlights how Raven makes her bonds with others unbalanced. She can reach out to them when she wants, but others have no way to contact her.

At the same time, it is ironic how a person whose whole ability is rooted in bonding with others is extremely selective in her relationships and also she has cut off all her loved ones.

10) Photographic Memory

Velvet’s a minor character, but I quite like her semblance.

The photographic motif is very cool and I love how it is used by both her weapon and her special ability. At the same time, it could be very interesting if explored thematically, as it partially is in the books where Velvet’s memories about Vale and her lost friends turn out to be both her major strength, but also a weakness if she does not learn to move forward.

What is more, her power is basically the opposite of that of her partner Yatsuhashi (Memory Wiping). I doubt it will happen, but it would be a very good juxtaposition to explore. The girl that can’t forget anything and the boy that makes others forgets. Their powers would be good to explore how memory is at the root of human identity, but also how it can be used to change into a new person (Velvet copying others’ fighting styles). When is it good to remember? When is it good to forget?

Finally, I quite like Velvet’s fighting style and how her memory complements her intelligence and knack for technology.

Other semblances I quite like are Misfortune, Pocket Dimensions, Numbing Agent and Telepathy. Basically, I really like psychic semblances, teleportation ones and sometimes elemental ones. That said, it really depends because for me what makes a semblance great is not the power itself, but the character and how it is used in the story, both to drive the plot further and to explore coping mechanisms and themes.

Thank you for the ask!

#chain of faves #rwby chain of faves #rwby #asksfullofsugar #anonymous #schnee family #weiss schnee #emerald sustrai #neopolitan #cinder fall #pyrrha nikos #ruby rose #jaune arc #lie ren #raven branwen #velvet scarlatina #rwby meta #semblance of the soul

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lailoken · 3 years

Text

Fraw Holt or Dame Holda, the northern witch-goddess travelling upon her sacred goose through the night.

—

“Frau Holda , Venus Mountain and The Night Travellers

From the 10th Century c.e. onwards Frankish clerics and churchmen such as Regino of Prum fulminated sourly against the devilish ' belief of 'certeine wicked women that in the night times they ride abroad with Diana, the goddess of the pagans, or else with Herodias, with an innumerable multitude upon certeine beasts. This was echoed in the fourteenth century law-code of Lorraine which censured those who rode through the air with Diana. The image of the Wild Ancestral Goddess had a powerful influence upon the mediaeval imagination; the author of ‘The Romance of the Rose' wote that a third of the people have dreams of nocturnal journeys with Dame Habondia.

In Northern Europe, the sect of night travelling witches were held to fly through the sky in the retinue of the goddess Herodias or Holda, who leads the ancestral spirits of the Furious Horde in the winter months around Samhain and Yule. Like the Cymric goddess Cerridwen, Frau Holda is the archaic underworld Earth Mother, mistress of death, initiation and rebirth, who rules over the chthonic realm of Hel or Annwvyn. In Scandinavia she is known as Hela, the daughter of Loki, of whom it is related that half of her is fair and half black with decay. This signifies her bright and dark aspects as Freyja/Holda mistress of life and death. The Veiled Goddess encompasses the cosmic dualities of day and night, growth and dissolution, radiance and shadow. Her association with the Wild Hunt is strong in Germany where the ride of the death powers is sometimes called the Heljagd and in Normandy, Mesnee a Hellequin. The Indo-European original of this Witch Goddess is *KOLYO, 'the Coverer' the funereal Otherworld Queen of the Indo-European peoples from which figures as diverse as the Celtic Cailleach and Greek nymph Kalypso are descended.

The life/death aspects of Dame Hela were referred to by the German wizard, herbalist and crystal scryer Diel Breull of Calbach who confessed in 1630 that he had travelled to the pagan holy mountain, the Venusberg, 'four times a year, during the fast.' He had no idea how he got to the mountain. He then confessed he was a night traveller and 'the Frau Holle (to whom he travels) is a fine woman from the front but from the back she is like a hollow tree with rough bark. It was in Venus mountain that he came to know a number of herbs.'

This description corresponds with the female forest spirit called the Skogfru in Old Norse and the woodwife, birch maiden and wild damsel elsewhere who are beautiful women from the front but hollow behind like a rotten log. The woodwives are associated with the Wild Hunt, sometimes being pursued by Woden . (‘Woodwife’ and ‘woodwose’ both stem from the Saxon root-word ‘Wod’ - ‘wild, furious, enthused’). Like many native European initiation sites, the Hurselberg was regarded as the gateway to the underworld, the domain of Frau Venus, the classicized Freyja/Holda. From the Hurseloch cave on the mountain eldritch voices and wailing could sometimes be heard, for it led down into the magical realm of the goddess.

The mediaeval tale of Tannhauser is based upon this initiatory lore for he was a knight minnesinger (troubadour) who while riding past the cavern of the Hurselberg at twilight encountered the beautiful and entrancing Frau Venus, who took him below into the Otherworld regions to be her consort for seven years. In Scottish tradition a related pattern is exemplified by Thomas the Rymer, the thirteen century seer who met the Queen of Elfame beneath the Eildon Thorn and went with her into the world of Faery for seven years.

She gave Thomas a golden apple to eat which conferred the prophetic gift upon him. This is reminiscent of Woden's descent into the heart of Suttungr's mountain where he sleeps with the giantess Gunnlodd to attain the mead of poetic inspiration.

Such goddess forms are comparable to the shamanic Clan Mother of the nether-world in Siberian mythology. And we may note that the worship of the Northern Earth Mother Jord/Hlodyn was carried out at hills and mounds, symbols of the womb of the earth. The Furious Horde at Samhain is esoterically linked with the rune Haegl whose primal form ‘*’ represents the snowflake. This makes sense as Holda is traditionally held to shake down the snow onto the countryside; in the Channel Isles snow showers occur when Herodias shakes her petticoats. Her holy bird, the goose, is also connected with the Wild Hunt, and snow crystals are said to drift from its feathers as it flies overhead. The nocturnal cries of migrating geese are interpreted as the yelping of ghostly Gabriel hounds in Celtic lore and are symbolised by the Bird-Ogham Ngeigh at Samhain. The mystical Ninth Mother-Rune symbolises the nine nights the post-mortem soul takes to travel the Hel-Way, the prototypical Spirit-Road which runs northwards into the Underworld of Helheim.

Frau Holda is the heathen original of Mother Goose, who is remembered at winter tide, and the goose is the magical steed upon which Arctic shamans travel in visionary flight to the Otherworld. The witch Agnes Gerhardt confessed in 1596 that she and her fellow initiates used a vision-salve in order to fly to the dance like snow geese', and went on to describe how she prepared this hallucinogenie ointment by frying tansy, hellebore and wild ginger in butter mixed with egg. Such flying salves' (or Unguentum Sabbati) feature prominently in the worteunning of the night travelling witches.

In fact Styrian witches were still using them in the 19th Century. Hartliepp, court physician of Bavaria, gives a formula used by 15th century Northern witches which involves procuring seven herbs on the appropriate days of the pagan week - heliotrope on Sunna's day, fern on moon day, verbena on Tiw's day, spurge on Woden's day, houseleek on Thor's day, maidenhair on Freyja's day and nightshade on Saeter/Hela's day. This magical operation would ensure that the salve would be empowered with the energies of the principal heathen deities.

In 1582 the Archbishop of Salzburg's counsellor, the erudite mathematician and astrologer Dr. Martin Pegger, was arrested under the charge that his wife had flown with the night travellers to the goddess Herodias in the Unterberg. Within the mountain she had seen Herodias with her mountain-ladies and mountain-dwarves and the goddess is said to have come to Frau Pegger's house by Salzberg fish market on a later occasion. The mention of the goddess' mountain-dwarves is significant for they are sometimes known as the Huldravolk; the folk of the Elder, Frau Holda's holy tree.

The association of cats and hares with witches and night travellers may indicate that they inherited many of the magical techniques from the cult of Seidr, the shamanism of 'inner fire' sacred to the goddess Freyja which included trance journeys and communication with the elves and other entities. According to Saxon lore, Freyja sometimes appears amidst a company of hares and she is known to roam the meadows of Aargau with a silver-grey hare by her side in the night hours. The hare is famed as a totem form in which shapeshifting witches travel.

Freyja, the Teutonic goddess of love, sexuality and mantic sorcery riding a Siberian tiger.

It is know that a strong subterranean current of Freyja worship survived in mediaeval Germany. Closely related initiatory Mysteries existing in the British Isles usually centred on the Faerie goddess, the Queen of Elphame.

An interesting late case is the astrologer and Hermeticist John Heydon in the 17th century, who having imprudently predicted Cromwell's death was forced to flee from London to Somerset. There he claimed to have encountered a green- robed lady at a faery hill. She took him within the mount into a glass castle where he learnt much wisdom and mantic lore. This experience obviously took place in an altered state of shamanic perception.

Frau Holda is the feminine counterpart of the Master of the Wild Hunt, and she is essential to a balanced appreciation of this area of pagan spirituality. The night- travelling witches of the Northern Lands, far from being demonically deluded as ignorant and vindietive churchmen said, were in reality the preservers of a hoary Wisdom Tradition and magical world view which is now accessible to us again at the dawning of a new heathen aeon.”

—

Call of the Horned Piper

by Nigel Aldcroft Jackson

#call of the horned piper #Nigel aldcroft Jackson #magic #witchcraft #traditional withcraft #grimoire #fraw holt #dame holda

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ginkgomoon · 3 years

Text

Cyril- Character Analysis

This post was based on an ask made a while ago concerning Hypnos’ character. I personally think his appearance enhanced the development of the game for the Winter World chapters, additionally with the depth of MC’s character. Hopefully this post will help clarify some things in relation to who he is and why he is important to the game’s progression. Please enjoy his well-deserved character analysis post. And yes- lots of spoilers! Please don’t read if you don't want to be spoiled on future content from Chapters 19+.

“This is the world you wanted.”

Hypnos first appears in the Epilogue of Chapter 19, when MC escapes her dream (the one with the separate routes of the guys) and begins to enter the Winter World through Black Cabin.

A soft hue appeared amidst this world of frozen white. A handsome, elegant young man walked towards me from the mist. Snow fell upon him, but as if he was protected by some force, none stuck on him. For a moment, I felt that this person looked really familiar, but it was someone I’ve never met. His eyes seemed detached, yet full of pity.

“This world’s pretty interesting, don’t you think?”

I did not sense any direct threat from him, but I was also unable to let my guard down.

“Is this not the world you wanted? You were aware of it long ago. No need to go on deceiving yourself.”

His tone was peaceful, but there was a chill to it that made me shiver.

“In this world, time’s been frozen. Everything you fear hasn't taken place. It was not I who made this world, but you. Everything you have experienced is a product of that which you yearn for the most. If everything could start over, if life could return to normal, if none of this had occurred...”

He saw into my heart effortlessly, tearing down each fragile wall I’d made with each word that he spoke.

The man’s gentle expression turned cold. His smile faded into subdued indifference.

“You think everything you’ve experienced is fake? Everything is real. Everyone in this world had sunken into the same dream. We will forever remain in a dream land.”

The man chuckled gently. Snow and wind blurred his form, blurring my vision. -Chapter 19 (Epilogue)

Some people would probably have the reaction of ??? and others would think he’s a new love interest HAHA.

It’s clear that this section of the chapter does not give much insight into his character, his name or who he is all. But, we can (hopefully) tell from what we are given, that he will play an important role in the future since he has an actual VA, and is (quite confusingly) going on about “the world that she wanted”. Though, this will be all cleared up later. From here, he makes small appearances in the next few chapters, which helps foreshadow and gradually help set the final showdown to conclude the Winter World.

While my mind wandered, I accidentally ran into someone in the corner. Even more unluckily, as I retreated backwards I stepped on a slick patch of ice, almost sending me sprawling.

“Careful.”

A light laughter fell on my ears. Before I could react, I was caught by the person I bumped into.

“Are you okay?”

I looked up and was met with a pair of gentle green eyes. A handsome face filled my vision. For an instant, I felt that he was familiar, and the sight of an ice-covered world seemed to appear before me. He gracefully let go of my wrist in a gentlemanly manner, stepped back to a more appropriate distance. -Chapter 20-17

A man walked out onto a rooftop covered with snow and held out his hand, catching a snowflake falling from the sky. The snowflake in his palm turned into an exquisite, white robin with its eager wings spread as if escaping a prison and flying into the sky.

He looked down from on high, surveying the city blanketed in dazzling white snow, a faint smile on his face.

“Truly something to look forward to- a long cold winter.” -Chapter 21-25

At this point, we still don’t even know who this man is. Or if he even has a name! But finally, the chapter after reveals a little bit more to help us come to somewhat of a conclusion about his character.

Chapter 22-5

The automatic vending machine behind me kept repeating the same sentence. I turned around to find that the machine wasn't on the fritz- there was actually someone continually trying to make a payment. I couldn't help but go over to see if they needed help.

A pair of eyes clear as glass turned on me. Although there was a gentle look in his eyes, there was a subtle feeling of distance.

I suddenly recognised that face! It was that famous piano player- Cyril!

MC: “Excuse me, do you need help?”

A hint of warmth suffused his cold eyes, as he gestured in frustration at the vending machine.

Cyril: “Just want to buy a bottle of water, but I don’t know how to use these machines.”

(*Intense vending machine purchase in process*)

Instead, I decided to just point at the app on my own phone and give him a brief explanation, afraid that I would miss my bus.

MC: “This time, I’ll buy for you. This is the one you want?”

Cyril: “Right, thanks.”

When I accidentally brushed against his long, slender fingertip, there wasn’t even a hint of warmth.

MC: “Your hand is ice cold. How about I buy a warm drink for you?”

He seemed a little hesitant, but he gave a slight nod and accepted my proposal with a smile.

The drink thunked down into the dispenser, and before I could react, he already bent down and retrieved the bottle and mine from the machine.

When he extended the drink to me, I realised that at the bottom, there were two kinds of paper, which appeared to be tickets of some kind.

I lifted them up and carefully looked at them. They were tickets to an upcoming and very sold out piano tour. Moreover, this was for the final VIP performance aboard the HMS (Abbreviated for “Her Majesty’s Ship”) Victoria.

He may not look like it, but he’s actually quite a warm, kind person.

The silver haired man watched as the bus drove away, and the drink in his hand turned solid ice without him noticing.

As snow drifted down around him, a faintly perceptible smile formed on his lips.

“I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.”

We find out that the young man’s name is Cyril, a famous piano player. During this exchange, Cyril is taking his time to observe MC and how she’s responding to the Winter World. He appears to be genuinely surprised about MC’s display of kindness, even though she’s been tossed out by the men most important to her, and into a foreign world wreaked of havoc.

He lets MC purchase the warm milk tea for him, and they both talk about the most mundane things ever. This may seem like just filler conversations, but actually holds importance because it actually influences how he views the world and MC in the future.

Cyril then uses this chance to extend his invitations to his sold out piano performance on the HMS Victoria. MC thinks he’s “quite a warm, kind person”- to which, we will find out if she’s wrong later. We also can confirm that he is an Evolver as we watch him turn his drink into solid ice, as well as the same man who was left unidentified in the previous chapters.

Chapter 23-13

??: “At this point, we’re all certain that the one behind this “Eternal Winter” is one of our former members.”

??: “Another traitor?”

??: “One with the power to traverse time and construct dreamscapes. There's only one that it could be.”

??: “The traitor code-named Hypnos?”

With those words, a deathly stillness fell over the air, as if some indescribable darkness had stolen into the room.

True name: Unknown. Age: Unknown. Evol: Time travel, dream construction.

Pitifully few clues to go on, not even a single photograph.

Was that person who trapped me in that dream and the traitor the same? If it was true that everything before happened on another world’s timeline, then does that mean this person had jumped through into this world timeline?

??: “Just what is he planning to do?”

??: “Whatever it is, since he’s a traitor to the organisation, it’s bound to be contrary to our goals. We must put a stop to him.”

??: “Continue the investigation. We must find the satellite coordinates. We cannot let him interfere with our plan.”

If this mystery mastermind had such powerful abilities, then what chance do I have at stopping him?

The hexagonal crystal symbol wasn't a major part of their discussion, but it stuck a faint chord with a hazy part of my memory. I finally remembered- that ticket to the concert!

They consider this powerful Evolver- Hypnos, a traitor to Black Swan and the individual behind the Eternal Winter incident. But nobody knows what he looks like. However, MC notices that the hexagon design is seen similar to the tickets that Cyril gave to her for his performance on the HMS Victoria. She now knows that Cyril is Hypnos, then realises that the satellite launch isn’t on land, but on sea. She knows how to stop the winter from spreading.

Here we automatically assume that he’s another Black Swan bad-guy-turned-traitor. What is his true goal? And why does it have to be that handsome piano player, out of all people?

Chapter 24-5

Before we could enter the main hall and check out the situation, a sonorous piano melody was belated through the ship’s speakers over that whole patch of sea.

The gentle tune formed an invisible yet unbreakable net in the air. Everyone in proximity to it became the piano music’s prisoner, unable to escape.

I felt a strong feeling of drowsiness. I tried to stop it but it seemed to have already gotten into my veins. Every cell in my body reverberated with it.

Everyone in the hall was swaying like soulless puppets, and on the stage, Cyril held his eyes slightly closed as he played the last requiem for them.

Chapter 24-7

MC travels to confront him on his ship, and watches him entrance people with his piano playing. This is how he got his code-name “Hypnos”. (Similar to how Kiro can charm and control people). Thankfully, Helios appears, his Evol is powerful enough to command MC to escape this.

“Why can’t a lie... be a good thing, too? Is this not the world you wanted?”

An anonymous voice seeped into my consciousness, accompanied by a dim, far away sounding piano.

The false warmth swooped in, and exhausted as I was, I chose to accept it.

My hand was originally grasping at air, but just then I distinctly felt the touch of something solid and warm. I could faintly feel someone grabbing onto me tight.

I forced open my heavy eyes, and a familiar outline filled my blurry vision.

“K- Kiro...?”

For a second, I couldn’t tell if I was in a dream or reality. His face was in shadow, and those usually sea blue eyes now flashed golden, as beautiful as the night stars.

He shouted at me, loud enough to hear over the inescapable piano music-

“I command you to awaken!”

Although without a hint of warmth, his eyes were like the first rays of dawn filtering through the curtains, melting away the fanciful dreamworld clouding my brain.

“I’m not like Ares. I don’t care about any Queen. If you want to influence the outcome, you have to do it your own way.”

Cyril still didn't stop playing, and instead kept moving his fingers across the key in a self-satisfied manner. The audience were completely under the spell of his melody, sunken into the deepest depths of a dream.

A black pistol was pointed straight at him, but the enraptured pianist did not let that stop his performance. Helios wasn’t in a hurry either, waiting quietly for the perfect, culminating core for this piece.

Just as the final note was stuck, Helios resolutely pulled back the tigger. A stream of smoke rose from the gun, but Cyril was somehow unharmed, blocked by an invisible force field.

Helios: “You constructed this dreamscape long before.”

Cyril: “I just don’t want this performance to have any interruptions.”

He rose elegantly from his piano bench and took a deep bow toward the hall absent of applause. Then he sauntered off the stage and looked at me.

Cyril: “You finally came.”

Chapter 24-9

Cyril: “Thank you for teaching me how to use the vending machine.”

I didn't expect him to speak up first, much less did I expect him to bring up that. As if we weren’t staring into the upcoming apocalypse, but just another utterly normal day.

Cyril: “It was you who showed me a different side of life. Although I still think, milk tea tastes better iced.”

MC: “But that doesn’t mean you have to wipe out the people who prefer drinking it hot.”

Cyril: “I think you misunderstood me. Just like you, I love this world. I love the complexity and uncertainty humanity has brought to it. I just think, it just doesn't have to move so fast.”

The smile he had showed- made me believe that from the bottom of his heart, everything he did was to make the world better, and that he should not recover any blame or interference from anyone.

Cyril: “Before one fully understands oneself, power beyond control can only be dangerous. Just like if I were to ask you now, do you truly understand yourself? How would you answer?”

He chuckled at my inability to respond.

The thoughts in his heart were hidden beneath a glacier, and all it showed on the surface was the very tip of it, preventing me from ever getting a clear idea of what he was thinking.

Cyril: “I’ve prepared a little gift for this kind of world.”

A giant steel tower shot upwards and stood tall between the water and sky. The satellite launch tower!

Cyril took hold of my hand and causally moved the key from his own hand. Before I had time to stop him, I saw crystal clear ice form at his fingertips. Pure and unblemished, but also dead. Just like this world before us.

Cyril: “Isn’t this a nice way to end things? This. Is the world you want.”

He then hands MC to press the button for him, then freezes the key to the Black Cabin. Cyril here genuinely believes that what he is doing is good for MC, as he uses the satellite launch platform from the ocean to spread the “Eternal Winter”- the “perfect world”.

Black Swan still pursues evolution of all humanity, but Cyril doesn’t agree with their methods. He knows MC is the Queen and thinks that in this Winter World, this is how she will only grow- without those she loves- if she had not known the boys and everyone she cares about. "If none of those things in the original world had occurred..."

What Hypnos stated reminds me of the Winter World Helios and what he said from when he saved her in Chapter 21.

“The weak should learn to survive on their own. No one will help them. Do everything you can, by fair means or foul. Give up everything in your past… even yourself. If you can’t do that, then go back to the world you came from.”

Which is a little nice touch because Helios appears to save her again with his Evol- but this time, MC is saving the world in her own way. She is not identifying with QUEEN first- but as herself. She had seen and been through so much pain to grow her mental and emotional strength to persevere and save this world with her kindness and love for humanity. MC, herself, has evolved.

Chapter 24-10

Cyril: “Not going to give the button to the launch a push? Perhaps you’ve forgotten, this is only my dream. Any decision you make here won't affect the outside world. Aren't you at least curious? The perfect world I wanted.”

What is the meaning of existence in a world of unrealistic perfection!?

MC: “If I do that, wouldn’t I be like an ostrich, sticking my head into the sand?”

Cyril: “If people found the perfect pile of “sand”, who knows if they’d stick with reality- and choose not to escape? After all, in reality, no one can predict what's going to happen from second to second. But in a perfect dream, everything always unfolds exactly as people desire.”

MC: “I can’t answer that for others. But it shows that the decision for how to answer should be left for each individual person.”

Cyril: “The way I see it, those who have no ability to judge never had the right to choose in the first place.”

Naturally, traitor though he was, he was still like others in Black Swan, holding a disdain for normal people, deep in his bones. When he rebelled against wasn't the thinking of the organisation, but their methods. But no matter which method of theirs it was, they all wanted to force their ideology on the whole world.

Did the world really need their brand of reason? Did humanity really need their idea of progress?

Everything in existence follows its own, original path, with absolutely no need for human intervention. And what I had to do was to maintain this balance.

I abruptly placed the remote back in his hand and told him my final decision.

It’s clear that Cyril doesn’t have that much experience with normalcy or identifies with at least humanity. He believes that it’s better to ignore reality and to live in a dream without the memories of the past or mourn the loss of others. Frozen without emotions, pain, or progress- the “perfect world”.

Chapter 25-4

After MC accepts her QUEEN identity, she finally uses that power to unite all timelines ultimately defeating Cyril, then returns back to the original world. Weirdly, he appears in front of her when she wakes up.

Cyril: “I believed I warned you long ago, no matter what world it is, it doesn't make much of a difference. You assume too much. In this world, I am just like you, a normal person. Think of it… as the price I’ve paid. My choice… was made for you. You were growing too slowly. Maybe that world was best suited for you after all. Too bad, you were too muddled to realise it. This world may soon experience a change, and it’s the kind of change that has nothing to do with you.

Time Subway

Time Subway takes place before Cyril leaves, after MC is hospitalised in Chapter 32. It reveals more about MC’s power and spiritual connection to Loveland City, the rest of the worlds and their timelines.

They meet on the train, though MC can’t remember meeting Cyril before. His piano music continues to play as the train moves backwards. (And that’s the thing about the subway- the train goes in cycles to each station, to the memories and worlds MC has previously lived in.)

Chapter 5

MC: “This train is really strange. It’s going backwards.”

Cyril: “Does the direction really matter? Though, I’ve never been on a subway train. Perhaps, there are a few imperfections.”

MC: “How did you get on the train?”

Cyril: “Same as you, I guess.”

MC: “Do you know where this train is going?”

Cyril: “To a place you want to be. So embrace your imagination. Think of everything you ever wanted. Eventually we will arrive at the perfect ending you’ve longed for.”

Chapter 6

MC: “I feel like I’m forgetting something. My memory has been foggy ever since I boarded this train.”

Cyril: “You do know me. You have to recall those memories on your own. Do you want to remember everything? Or, do you prefer to give up the past and start again right here?”

Cyril seemed to be hinting something, I felt that he’d always use such implicit language, but I couldn't remember when…

Chapter 7

Somehow this train gave me a sense of security. I could feel a familiar resonance between us. As if it was closely linked to me in the first place.

A thought slowly came to my mind, maybe I could decide on its direction at some point in time.

MC: “Why do you want me to go to the past?”

Cyril: “Back to when everything hadn’t taken place, isn’t that what you wanted? I’m only doing this for you. Sorry I didn’t ask for your permission. But you’ll be my best work.”

Chapter 8

Cyril: “This world belongs to you. My power doesn’t work here. I’m nothing more than a normal person in the real world. I’m going to use my power one last time. And this will be my final work. A perfect world is still what I’m after. It was you who broke free from the world I created. You showed me my limit. Indeed, the power triggered by your emotion outshined my skills. That’s why I chose your spiritual world, as the raw material of my final work.”

MC: “So this is just an infinite cycle within my spiritual word, isn’t it?”

Cyril: “I won’t say you are wrong. In this train, you can choose any stop and choose any exit you want. When you step out, this world becomes more complete. Meanwhile, this dream will continue the everlasting cycle, which is also your karma.”

MC: “So do I stay here?”

Cyril: “You can choose to leave… if you have the power to battle yourself. If you leave, this world will continue to exist all independent from all time space.”

MC: “How do I leave?”

Cyril: “You have to discover that for yourself.”

MC: “...Cyril, I need to go. If there’s really a perfect world you want, just take this world as my gift to you.”

Cyril: “I see, thank you... If only you could eventually put an end to this cycle.”

Chapter 32-1

Cyril- “I came to say goodbye.”

MC: “All that stuff that happened to me after losing my Evol has something to do with you. Starting from when “I ran into you” on the train, it was all a part of your plan.”

He smiled slightly, met my hostile gaze without a hint of displeasure. He didn’t deny it, but he didn’t admit it either. There was an undercurrent of tension to the stillness, but also some unusual and subtle peace.

This pianist… I’ve never seen anyone so out of touch with the world.

MC: “The vending machine, the scammer in the square, thorns on a flower, you don’t have much experience with everyday things, do you?”

Cyril: “However, it really has been a long time since anyone’s talked with me about such things.”

I may have been imagining it, but I seemed to detect a hint of nostalgia in his voice.

MC: “Just what are you after, coming here to see me like this?”

As he spoke, he reached out and put his hand at the back of mine. His fingers were ice cold.

But in this brief moment, a flurry of images flashed before my eyes.

Four white walls, an empty room, a triangular piano of translucent crystal placed in the corner. The figure of a man gradually emerged before the piano bench.

His thin graceful fingers danced daintily across the keys as snowflakes fell upon him and settled undisturbed.

That gentle piano melody reverberating in the shadows also came out as a muttered groan from the girl as pain hit her.

Suddenly, the piano playing intensified, the tempo building to a frenzy like a subway train rattling through a tunnel.

I saw a boy get up from the piano, walk to the front of the stage, and take a bow to the thunderous roar of applause.

The scene shifted. The boy was once again standing in the gloomy storm, holding a white rose to his chest, listening in silence to a priest delivering a eulogy.

??: “Keep playing, Little Cyril. Use your power and help Mummy make the perfect world.”

Cyril: “A perfect world… I’ve got it.”

I saw his past, present and future. I saw the boy slowly growing up and playing that final melody in the centre of a frozen plain. He played tirelessly, as if he’s trapped inside in a world of memory.

Cyril: “Can you tell me what you saw?”

In those crystal clear eyes, I saw my own expression, and there was an ineffable expression of sadness to them.

MC: “Is a perfect creation… really that important?”

Cyril’s eyes were flat, like the negative space in an ink wash painting.

Cyril: “The sad fact is that they will never be able to achieve it.”

MC: “But absolute perfection doesn’t exist. Everything has blemishes and faults. But that doesn’t mean that they’re not good enough, and it certainly doesn’t mean that they don’t have a right to exist in this world.”

Cyril: “Perhaps. You’ve certainly proven that point yourself. One final thing before I go, of course, you can choose not to believe it. Perfection has never been an illusion; everything in this world has a singular, perfectly-suited exit. Although, I think you already found it.”

MC: “Where are you going?”

Cyril: “A world that belonged to you, but now belongs to me. Thank you for the world you’ve given me, and the interesting memories. And that bubble tea, I quite like the flavour.”

His words fell softly, as if shrouding me in a tranquil, pure white dream.

Upon seeing his past, present and future, all that MC sees is Cyril playing the piano. It turns out, his true motivation for creating the “perfect world” was for his mother when she passed. With MC’s help, he finally admits that it cannot be achieved. He isn’t directly hostile like the other Black Swan members either, and calmly admits his defeat and accepts MC’s decision.

Behind the Curtain- 6 (Chapter 28)

??: “If you want to see it, go. The door being opened will be closed soon.”

The black box grows bigger, and fills the entire vision in black-

Cyril: “Do you know the origin of the name BLACK SWAN?”

I see an elegant young man standing inside a luxury gift shop. There, piano pieces are playing. He looked down at me. The black box reflects in the cool eyes looking a lot like snow.

MC: “Am I inside the box?”

Cyril: “BLACK SWAN” is a word that means an unexpected event. Humans have no way to predict the impact of the event. When I first heard their name, I immediately saw the appeal. I also wanted to be a part of it. But…the majority of them still live in this illusion. Only a few were aware that humanity is ignorant. They can't help me to complete my work.”

While speaking, he pressed the crystal piano keyboard. The jolting sound echoes—

Cyril’s Mum: “With your power, continue this and please show me the perfect world.”

The woman lies on bed, looking at him with those beautiful eyes that looked a lot like that boy’s. There’s no strength in them.

Cyril’s Mum: “For one last time, I want to experience the beauty of this world with my whole being. That’s also the reason for your existence.”

The boy then grows up in the snowstorm and turns into an innocent boy. His outline became sharp, becoming an elegant young man.

The snowy wind pushes the window open and surrounds his mother. She then transforms into white snow and suddenly disappears.

The man doesn’t notice the occurring snowstorm, but instead concentrates on the graceful piano playing.

A piece of glass shatters and lands on the piano. The young man engrossed in playing keeps an eye on the keys.

MC: “Look out!”

The piece of glass cuts the young man’s long finger. A line of blood flows, on the skin like ice and snow.

The young man finally stops. As if time had been frozen, the lingering sound of the piano remained in the room covered with heavy snow.

He looks up. Like an innocent puzzled child who touched the piano for the first time, those eyes come into mind.

Cyril: “Who…are you?”

MC: “...who am I?”

Cyril had been stuck all this time within his memory of his promise to his mother- in pursuit of the “perfect world”. His world was biased upon thinking that humanity- even Evolvers, were ignorant and unable to help him achieve his goals. This demonstrates the divide and individuation between each Black Swan member of not being able to work together effectively to achieve the collective goal- of the “New World”.

It was nice to see MC being able to overcome her self-doubt and enter Black Cabin by accepting the QUEEN title in a world so foreign to her. Her hope, love and determination had saved the world again. Cyril played a huge part in this chapter of her life, almost like prepping her for the final prophecy of fate.

And “Doomsday” is coming.

#17 pages #patting myself on the back for this one #mlqc Cyril #mlqc #love and producer #mr love queens choice #恋与制作人 #mlqc translation #mlqc analysis #mlqc cn #mlqc en #mlqc Hypnos #mlqc spoilers

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doodle-empress66 · 3 years

Text

Hazbin Hotel: Perma Frost Full Bio

General

“It’s BULLSHIT that I’m down here! Stuck in this ugly ass form! I did the shit I did to SURVIVE! No one has ever watched out for me! So I watched out for myself the best way I knew how!”

- Perma Frost to Charlie

Full/True name: Petra

Nickname(s) or Alias:

Perma Frost, Perma

Perm

The Killer Frost Demon

Kid (By Husk)

Ice Queen (By Angel)

Little Girlie (Niffty)

Young Miss (By Alastor)

Bruja de hielo (By Vaggie)

Gender: Female

Species: Human (formerly), Ice Demon

Age: 14

Birthday: Jan 6th

Sexuality: Autochorisexual-Aegoromantic

Nationality: Icelandic

City or town of birth: Vik, Iceland

Currently lives: The Outskirts of Pentagram City

Native language: Icelandic

Relationship Status: Single

Appearance

Height: 5'5

Figure/build: Slender, somewhat curvy build, with long, dark blue icicle-like fingers. Powder blue skin

Hair color: Light Blue (Normally), Transparent light blue (when angered or frightened)

Hairstyle: Long and unruly

Eye color: A glowing icy blue hue that shifts

Tattoos: A snowflake on her back

Preferred style of clothing: ALWAYS wearing a large hooded jacket/coat that covers the entire top half of her body. Large black snow boats. And navy blue tights

General Past life

Human Name: Petra (She renounced her last name)

Birthday: 6th Jan 2005

Age of Death: 14

Cause of Death: Froze to death/Blood loss

Death day: 23 Aug 2019

Personality

Perma is an intense, cautious, volatile, and resentful teenager. She’ll do whatever it takes just to make it through the day regardless of who she has to harm or fight. She loathes adults and doesn’t trust them or their judgement, and always believes they're going to hurt her. Nor does she like being told what to do. So she often gets into a lot of fights with older demons, Perma will at times rush head first into a fight without thinking things through due to being blinded by her violent nature and past trauma. She has little to no friends or acquaintances because of the sheer brute force of her powers, somewhat lack of control and unwillingness to listen to people. Despite being unapproachable most of the time, deep down Perma wants a kind soul to turn to for love and guidance. But, pushes away this feeling due to the bad hand life and death has handed her.

History

Born in Vik, Iceland in 2005, since she could walk; Petra knew nothing but misery and neglect. Abused and mistreated by her egg and sperm donor, growing up in a strange cult certainly didn't help little Petra. Forced to deal with going hungry and cold from the old shredded clothes she was forced to wear. As well as participating in her mother's questionable practices. Her family often took part in the ancient art of Icelandic witchcraft. Writing questionable symbols everywhere in the blood of animals they caught. Reading from old books with disturbing otherworldly images. Even carving up their own bodies as a sign of devotion to some strange dark entity. Petra didn't understand these events but knew only bad things could come from it.

Life didn’t get much better for the young Icelandic when she was set up to be a sacrifice in one of the cult's shamanic ceremonies, she managed to slip away and ran until she arrived at an old rundown village. Only 9 years old at the time. From there, the next 4 years were awful. Petra had to survive on scraps she found in the trash or steal food and clothing from unsuspecting villagers. Years on the street, being treated like dirt from those around her, a child no one wanted around, caused Petra to grow hateful to world and the vile people who inhabited it. No one had any concern for her. No one cared about her. Her life meant nothing to ANYBODY. So after that, the lives of others didn’t mean a damn thing to her.

At 11, Petra committed her first murder. She was low on scraps and slowly starving. Following a frail elderly woman with a bag full of food, Petra took out an ice pick she had swiped from some workers and drove it into the back of the woman’s head.

Soon after, the dreaded streets Petra wandered were now becoming littered with the bodies of the people she stole from. Little did she realize, these malicious acts were changing in ways that were beyond human understanding. Something malevolent and cold started growing inside her body. Warping her soul.

Two years, this continued...until Petra chose the wrong target. A lanky young man, who looked a few years older than her, was smoking in an alley. Driven by survival, bloodlust and greed to what type of goods the man had on his person, Petra struck with her signature ice pick. Too bad, the man wasn’t unarmed. Nor was he alone. That’s all she remembered from that specific day. And how she wished she just kept walking.

The man was part of a group of sex traffickers looking around for young girls and women to add to their market. And 14 year old Petra was added to that collection.

The following year was a new level of Hell for the young girl. Beaten, abused, used in the most vile of ways by these men and others. Petra resisted at each turn but the suffering increased more and more. Then the vile concoction, meth they called it, they forced her to take each day. Told her that it would make her more “enjoyable company”. Some days and nights blurred into each other. This...drug made her forget the pain, the misery, the horrid existence she was subjected to. But reality came back full throttle to punch her in the face once it wore off. It made Petra feel disgusting and free at the same time. Just like the girls around her, empty shells with blissful smiles on their faces.

She was right at the edge of just ending it, but the stubborn part of her refuse to give her tormentors the satisfaction. One night, while she was getting prepared for a client, Petra managed to break away and shank one of the guards with an icicle she snatched from outside of a window. That kill was easy, but the second guard managed to let out a shout before Petra rammed the spike into his eye.

Petra rushed out into the winter forest, away from the building she was held captive. Wearing nothing but a pair of booty shorts and a flimsy tank top and armed with a bloody icicle. The traffickers hot on her trail with guns and rope. Each day of hiding, running, and avoiding bullets was made worse with trying to fight the freezing cold. One bullet managed to pierce her side. On that night, Petra finally found a small cave to duck into, her feet and hands black and swollen. She was practically a light blue.

Using the last of her strength to make a small, pitiful fire, Petra packed her bullet wound with snow as a sad attempt to stop the bleeding. She leaned against the cave wall and closed her eyes. Thinking back to all the events that transpired that lead her to this. The memories slowly getting darker and darker...

She woke up abruptly from crashing down onto the ground. The teen shot up, disoriented and looked around. Her eyes fell onto a large sign reading, “Welcome to Hell.”

Sins committed to get into hell: Theft, Murder, Assault, Manslaughter, Prostitution (Not her choice)

Any regrets in what they have done: No...depends

Likes:

Doing whatever she wants

Warm food

Parkour

Heavy metal music

Necessary Violence

Beating up adults

Animals

Children

Being left alone

Dislikes:

Adults

Being touched

Limited freedom

Being told what to do

Guns

Silence

Drugs

Anything sex related

Short clothing

Frozen Food

Fears/phobias:

Men touching her/being near her

Being tied up

The sight of her own blood

Dark rooms

Cults

Sexual acts of any kind

Being drugged

Favorite color:

White

Hobbies:

Ice/snow surfing

Brawling/Street Fighting

Reading scary stories

Parkouring

Stealing

Talents/skills:

Great at the drums

Ice skating (lol)

Parkouring

Intimidation

Fighting

Very Observant/ Quick Learner

Favorite food(s):

Skyr (Yougurt)

Harðfiskur (dried fish)

Reykjavik's Hot Dog

Favorite drink(s):

Slushies

Pineapple Soda

Hot Chocolate

Significant/special belongings:

Her icepick

Spiked choker

Combat

Fighting skills/techniques:

Very good street fighter/brawler

Excellent stabbing and hacking skills

Weapon of choice (if any):

Ice Pick

Unique Abilities:

Cold Magic- is able to perform a form of magic that allows them to utilize cold, either magically manipulating it

Cryokinesis- can create, shape, move, control, interact and manipulate ice.

Cold manipulation- can create, shape and manipulate cold by reducing the kinetic energy of atoms and thus making things colder

Atmospheric Freezing- an freeze the air/atmosphere itself regardless of air quality, abundant and trace gases, air temperature, etc., allowing her to either convert that air/atmosphere directly to ice or simply super chill it.

Absolute Freezing- can freeze anything, from tangible targets to intangible energy such as fire, or concepts such as time, even a person's mind.

Cold Embodiment- acts as the personification or manifestation of cold in their reality and has limitless control over coldness and can use coldness in different ways.

Cold Breath- able to generate and manipulate cold energy within her in a way that allows her to shape the exhaling of the effect.

Cold Presence- has the ability to project a field that lowers the temperature around her, creating a constant chill.

Cold Weaponry- create or wield weaponry with power over cold, which grants Perma a wide variety of cold-based abilities, including slowing down molecules, freezing a target solid, and limiting healing.

Cryo-Phasing- combines intangibility and ice powers to freeze the objects she passes through.

Cryogenic Bodily Fluids- possesses freezing cold bodily fluids (blood, sweat, saliva, etc.

Cryokinetic Creature Creation- is able to create beings of ice or shape existing ice into wanted shapes and purposes. She can grant the beings varying levels of independence (controlled, automatons/programmed, semi-independent) and existence (momentary to permanent) and delete the creature once she is done with them.

Cryokinetic Claws- can project and retract razor-sharp claws of ice from her fingertips for offensive purposes.

Cryokinetic Combat- able to utilize ice manipulation with her physical combat, allowing her to both create tools and weapons for attack and manipulate the environment for her advantage

Cryokinetic Cloning- can create clones of herself, others and/or objects by using ice.

Cryokinetic Surfing- controls the ice in a way that increases her ability to move and/or maneuver either by granting her abilities she otherwise lack or allowing them to ignore normally needed equipment.

Cryokinetic Regeneration- can use ice to regenerate her bodies with the amount of ice used defining the speed of healing.

Demonic Ice Manipulation- One of her most powerful attacks. She can generate and manipulate mystical demonic ice, which cannot be melted by mortal means, drawn straight from the darkest fears sentient minds have about winter, ice and arctic areas, including the fears of treacherous ice breaking, burying/devouring, damaging or tripping the victim in malicious awareness.

Demonic Ice Breath - able to generate and manipulate demonic ice within her in a way that allows her to shape the exhaling of the effect. These shapes can include bursts, streams, spheres, even a mist of it from the mouth.

Dark Ice Manipulation - More powerful attack. She can create, shape and manipulate the ice of a darker, detrimental nature; that which damages, destroys, and consumes anything/everything she comes across, representing the hazardous destructive side of ice, which in turn ignores most of the limitations and weaknesses of the normal ice. In essence, this is about solely controlling the negative dark powers of ice.

Frostbite- can freeze up any part of an enemy's body where she can turn the tissues and flesh into solid ice making the victim shatter into pieces due to freeze drying, or cause a swelling making it hard to move for the victim.

Frozen Surface- can cause surfaces (often floor) to emit ice/cold, causing ice/cold-damage on anything in contact with her or the ice.

Hail Generation- can generate and project hail.

Ice Aura- can release and surround herself in/with ice/cold for defensive and/or offensive purposes, possibly becoming almost untouchable and granting her various abilities/attacks.

Ice Vortex Creation - can generate spirals/vortices composed of ice. The vortex can be projected as a long ranged attack or as a tornado of ice for both offensive and/or defensive purposes.

Omnidirectional Ice Waves- can release massive amounts of ice in every direction at once for almost unlimited scales. This power allows Perma to dispatch many foes at once and destroy large areas like cities/villages.

Snow Ball Projection- able to launch spheres of snow at targets with varying degrees of force.

Snow Solidification- can solidify or give solid-like properties to snow-based substances with the level of solidity going from loose jelly to metal-like hardness or beyond. Alternatively, Perma can also harden snow to make it denser and harder to break.

Un-melt able Ice- can generate and project snow/ice that is extremely difficult to or cannot by melted by normal means, such as extreme heat or fire.

Weaknesses in combat:

Intense heat/fire

No control when pushed too far

Turns to solid ice when she goes overboard

Due to her constant chill, she can’t sneak up on people

Strengths in combat:

Wide and short range attacks

Nearly indestructible ice walls

Hidden demon form

Wild unpredictable street fighting style

Can create ice creatures, structures, and weapons

Relationships

Past life Relationships

Parents: Unknown

Siblings: None

Other Important Relatives: None

Children: None

Best Friend: None yet

Other Important Friends: None yet

Acquaintances: None yet

Pets: None but wants one

Enemies:

Anyone who tries to mess with her.

Alastor (Frenemy-ish)

Hazbin Relationships:

Charlie- Put off by her eagerness and determination to redeem sinners. Didn’t trust her at first and kept her distance. Slowly warmed up to Charlie’s kindness and learned to trust her and others.

Vaggie- Disliked her attitude, and authority. Would tick her off with snide comments and constantly freezing her and/or Charlie. Started to bond over their dislike of Alastor and men a bit. Told Vaggie of her life and hardships, now have a big sis/little sis connection.

Angel Dust- Because of his sexual nature, she was terrified of Angel and avoided him. Even freezing him solid a few times out of fear/self-defense. Calm down a little once, she learned that he’s gay. The two became close once Angel shared his own stories of abuse. Also adores Fat Nuggets.

Alastor- Instantly loathes Alastor due to his disregard for personal space and creeper smile. Sees him as a closet pervert and often talks trash about his radio broadcasts and calls him an "a limp dick old man". Perma was unaware of Alastor's reputation, but sees him as a sicko who likes to inflate his own ego and harrass those he sees as beneath him. One of the few demons who doesn't fear Alastor, but that's due to her own ignorance and inexperience. Often tries to start fights with him by crude derogatory comments. Or freezing him.

Husker- Didn't think much of Husk at first, but liked the fact the he's a cat. The two barely interacted until she sang to herself in German and Husk responded back. They slowly began to converse with each other more and more. Husk actually listening to her woes and offering some advice. Vice versa. Due to Husk keeping to himself and respecting boundaries, Perma respects and listens to Husk more than anyone. Calms down whenever he's around. The two soon form a father/daughter like relationship.

Niffty- Was put off by Niffty's persnickety and energetic persona. Also irritated her by the frost she leaves behind. But they grow to tolerate each other over time.

Trivia

Sin - Wrath

Can speak 5 languages: Icelandic, German, Polish, English, and Dutch. This is due to the men she came in contact with during her time on the streets and while trafficked

The spiked choker she wears was a gift from one of the older trafficked girls. It was the first time she was given ANYTHING nice.

Speaks with a thick Icelandic accent

Her lips are dark blue from her cold

Given her sexual abuse, Perma doesn’t just hate sex, she’s TERRIFIED of it.

Perma keeps to herself and talks to no one unless confronted.

She knows nothing about the Overlords or power scale.

She keeps her distance from friendly people. To her, everyone is out to get something.

Perma loves heavy metal, it helps her release the pain and fury she feels

With enough patience and practice, Perma could fight on par with an overlord

She likes animals, they never harm you

She eats warm food, to feel ‘alive’.

One negative act towards her, no matter how small, can set her off

#hazbin oc #hazbin hotel oc #hazbin hotel #vivziepop #perma frost #my oc #bio page

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razorblade180 · 4 years

Text

OC test:Speech!

[everyone shall be put in front of crowd and say something. Think of it like rallying troops, orientation, declaring war, whatever. The crowd is 500 strong.]

All the characters stand on a stage, overlooking the wave of people. Jacquelyn stands behind a podium with a microphone while everyone waits their turn.

Jacquelyn:Ummmm, sup? Not much for speeches so I’ll keep this brief. I don’t know what problems you all have, your background, or where you’re heading. What I do know is I’m down to listen to all of it. A traveler loves a good story, so make it your best.

The crowd of people seem a bit caught off gaurd, yet enlightened. They lightly clap and nod as she bows before letting Sienna take the spotlight.

Jacquelyn:Good luck!

Sienna:(How the hell do I follow that up!?)

Sienna:*clears throat* Yo, my name is Sienna Frost. The lovely lady before me was my mother if anyone was wondering. I might have two sets of ears but I assure you, story time isn’t my favorite thing. You wanna show me who you are, then do it instead. As far as mine goes, don’t worry where I’ve been. Just watch where I’m headed. I just might surprise you.

She held up a peace sign and made her exit, leaving the crowd with nothing to say. It would’ve felt like going against her words. Jael came up next. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. The girl chose to back away then began to float up to draw everyone’s direction.

Jael:Remember, on the ground or in the air, look up to me.

That’s all she said before leaving. All the characters were absolutely stunned. Even Carmine. She was sure she’d be the only one to say something wild. Yujin awkwardly walked up next. People immediately started to smile and seem pleasantly surprised.

Yujin:By the looks of some of you, I take it you see my mother’s face in me? That’s fine, it’ll make this easier. Yujin Xiao Long, the girl that’ll be in future text books. Until then, watch me do my thang!

She gave the crowd a prideful smile and a fist bump into the air to hype them up. The crowd did it back and cheered. Tenzen used that energy and added it to his own charisma, choosing to stand on the podium.

Tenzen:Yeah! That’s what I’m talking about. Those with heart of fire and wild dreams, stick around! We’ll have the time of our lives! Never stop doing what you want!

The crowd got even more hyped as him and Yujin high fived before running off stage into the crowd itself. Everybody was given a high five and watched both leave as they laughed. Nick was next to go up. To get their attention, Nick made a glyph in the sky that made it snow. A quick change in the crowds attitude was immediately noticed as they stared at the dignified young man show his usual charming smile and kind eyes that made the women blush and most of the men jealous.

Nick:Good evening, I’m glad to see everyone so lively. As heir to a company you would think I’d be good a speeches. To be honest, I’m panicking inside right now. I made it snow, who just does that!?

The question got the crowd to laugh a little. Jealous faces unknowingly got a little softer.

Nick:Anyways, I just wanna tell everyone here that no matter the situation, lean on me. If not, then those you care about and have better spending habits. Hehe, I think I’ve said enough. Thanks and I hope you all have a good time listening to everyone else.

Crowd:(He’s so polite...)

Snowflakes crew:(There he goes, charming the masses like usual.)

Summer walked up next. Much like her twin brother, a glyph formed in her hand that quickly mixed with fire dust in her clothing. The warm of brace of embers flew out of it like a flicker camp fire that was drawn toward the snow. The gentle blend of fire and iced danced in air around the crowd, leaving them amazed. Summer was no stranger to a crowd or a stage. This might be her easiest test yet. The girl sung a simple word that enchanted everyone like a siren spell. “Mirror~”

Summer:I hope you all enjoyed that little tease. I typically like to warm my voice before addressing an audience so I though of that on the fly. Anyways-

The crowd interrupted her with applause. She hadn’t even spoken what was on her mind and they were hooked! Summer chose to accept it and made her way off the stage. It was even easier than she thought. She turned to Veronica and stuck her tongue out. The faunus responsed by flipping her off and walking away.

Eliza:You’re not making a speech?

Veronica:No, I hate people and do this sort of thing too much. I’m goons go draw or some shit. (Summer can’t say she had a better speech if I never do one.)

Valerie:Wait, this is optional? Guess I’ll leave too.

Eliza:At least day a sentence you two!

Both girls rolled their eyes and walked up together.

Veronica:Sometimes being the change you want and the change the world needs are two different things entirely; acknowledge way and take the step forward, not backwards.

Valerie:A jack of all trades is an ace to no one. Not that it’s a bad thing. Just find the other playing card.

The girls waved to the crowd and went off. Valerie started thinking, which card was she? Nick clapped for the two of them like he always does. Eliza took the opportunity to step forward. A snap of her fingers negated all the semblances still at play. Eliza took a running start to hop off the stage and land with a mighty thump that started a wave of sprouting flowers. This was beginning to be more of a talent show then a public speaking test. What was once winter had turned into spring!

Eliza:Sorry, but I think being eye level and warm with you all is far more appealing. I doubt many of you have heard of the a Marigolds but that’s fine. All you have to know is I’m the one who will elevate their status. Playing nice with others isn’t my strongest quality but fairness is. If by any miracle fate comes to join us together for a purpose, I promise I’ll stand by to the very end and pull out all the stops. I simply ask to put in all the effort you can as well.

A gust of wind came by and swept petals into the air as Eliza did a curtsy. As far as theatrics go, it was show, but more than that. It was the truth. A fair and honest truth. Like a gentle breeze on a spring day. Sparrow stood up to go next.

Sparrow:I....do not care about outcomes.

Crowd:.....What?

OCs:Yeah, what?

Sparrow:Good, bad, surprising, or boring; those concepts don’t apply whenever I’m sailing across the seas with passengers and crew mates. Everything that happens is apart of epic journey. Now I’m not gonna stand here and act like I’m anything special, because I’m not. All the same I am a captain and a damn good one at that. For those who passing through life with ambition in their hearts and freedom through their veins, sail with me. You might just be surprised. Thank you for your time.

The ex-military man put on his captain’s hat and walked away, never looking back at the crowds faces. All he heard were the footsteps of those who dared to follow him. The allure of his words reached some of the young men and women. 500 became 450. Kovu felt nervous, but a bit more confident as he went up to go next. All the women, children, sons and daughters, he looked at them in a different light because of Sparrow.

Kovu:Before Sparrow went up here I had the idea of talking about my family and how they motivate me to do my best. While that is true, now I can’t help but sing a different tune. This isn’t my first time with a microphone in front of my face and it probably won’t be the last. It’s what happens when you’re a Belladonna and your other mom is a top rate huntress. Still, it doesn’t feel real that I should get a microphone and a podium because of that; I’m just a regular guy. Being down there feels more comfortable to me than being up here ever will. Average strength, intelligence, normal qualities, but I guess that last one is debatable.

Carmine:Yeah, you dork!

The crowd and Kovu chuckled at the call out. Carmine didn’t know people too well, but she knew Kovu well enough to know when he’s being hard on himself. She spoke up more for his benefit than anybody else.

Kovu:The point is I’m stunned that despite me just being some normal person, I’m very thankful for the fact that you all stand before me to listen. That’s what motivates me most. Thanks, I’ll keep doing my best.

The crowd happily applauded for him. No fancy tricks or even something to leave the biggest impression. Just a boy who made a speech. On a stage full of giants in their own right, having Kovu being so relatable was a breath of fresh air in its own way. Carmine gave him a thumbs up and finally stepped forward. She ignored the podium entirely, choosing to project her voice to all who looked. The commanding yet calm presence she gave off was already at play.

Carmine: Once upon a time my mother Ruby Rose saved the world. She did it with strength, intelligence, and kindness above all. Her dream to protect others fueled her keep striving towards a happy ending. That same compassion wasn’t paid forward unfortunately and my mother suffered a loss some time later that nearly broke her. My mother wasn’t a very religious person until that incident from what people tell me, but it helped give her peace of my. Everyday she prayed to her god for the strength to press and breathe new life into her symbolically. Until one day it became literal. She asked her god for strength and he gave her me. I’m hopes and dreams given flesh. Not just hers, but I’m yours too. *points to the crowd* To all of you good people wanting peace and needing a defender of your normal life, pick whatever god you worship and thank him for me. To those who decide to rot the world they live in with hate and malice, choose a god and make your peace when you meet me. My name is Carmine Arc Rose, the greatest huntress, no, the greatest huntsman in general to ever walk Remnant. I’ll move forward first to keep you all safe. See you at the finish line, eventually.

Her body faded away into rose petals that were carried into the wind. She was never there to begin with. Carmine had more important things to do. The crowd once again fell silent as the petals kept scattering. All the other testers were at a loss for words themselves, except Kovu.

Kovu:Oh boy, as blunt as ever. To think she’d declare her standing among them like that? She might’ve just told them out right how far away they are compared to her.

Yujin:That was badass!

Sienna:More like cocky. She said she’s the greatest huntsman ever. What does that make her mom?

Kovu:The greatest hero. There’s a difference between the two in Carmine’s eyes. Try not to bring it up though. It’s a can of worms she won’t answer. Ruby is no doubt a Great huntsman but....Carmine has feelings about that title.

A petal gently fell into his hand before taking flight again. Aero still silently resting in the question tree with Carmine sleeping under it. Her little brother fast asleep in her lap. An exceptional huntsman yes, but an even better big sister.

#rwby #oc test #rwbabies #jacquelyn frost #sienna frost #jael frost #yujin xiao long #lie tenzen #nicholas schnee #eliza marigold #val valkyrie #veronica belladonna #summer schnee #sparrow branwen #carmine arc rose #kovu belladonna

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negrek · 4 years

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4, 17, 18, 20? :D

4. Share a sentence or paragraph from your writing that you’re really proud of (explain why, if you like)

Well, I was going to put something from "accolade" in here because I thought I did a pretty nice job of the atmosphere, with shifting clouds of steam and the flowing river, something clanking and splashing in its midst, obscured and then revealed again by the mist, but actually, no, revisiting it it's even more of a mess than I remembered and I like none of that, lol.

Ice is another thing I enjoyed playing with, though, and there are a couple lines I still like there. One is, "Lunete shook her head and watched Glace wander the courtyard, blowing idle puffs of ice that turned bushes to miniature sculpture." Nice and simple, but I think it does a good job of conjuring up the kind of glittering ice-rimed... things... plants turn into after an ice storm. I think it's an unexpected moment that's fun to visualize. Should definitely be "puffs of *frost*" rather than "puffs of *ice*," though.

I also like, "The glalie's displeasure shed from him in a litter of snowflakes." Again, I think this is just a fun mental image, and a way of making the glalie feel different than a human. When glalie get disgruntled, the temperature around them drops, so you get a little shower of snow... again, a nice little image, and something that people might not ordinarily think of when they think of ice-types. Shoutout to myself for picking this out of the doc and going, "Hey, I like this sentence!" and not realizing until I pasted it in here that it was in the wrong fucking tense.

17. Do you think readers perceive your work - or you - differently to you? What do you think would surprise your readers about your writing or your motivations?

Ahaha, well, I think many people perceive my writing, and probably me in general, as a lot more serious than it actually is? Most of my writing is just me having fun, and what it contains is unabashedly driven by rule of cool/rule of funny a lot of the time. Which, honestly, considering a lot of the nonsense that goes on in the chapterfics especially, shoudn't be too much of a surprise. There are certain themes that show up throughout, but generally speaking they emerge organically as a result of what I find interesting or because plot naturally accretes around certain aspects of the story or characters. But generally speaking my stories aren't really *about* anything except me having a good time.

18. Do any of your stories have alternative versions? (plotlines that you abandoned, AUs of your own work, different characterisations?) Tell us about them.

Salvage has so many of these. So many! Which is kind of weird, because my previous stories haven't, despite Clouded Sky taking nearly as long to produce. It might be that I haven't been working on any big long chapterfics, and not even many one-shots, while writing it as I have with my previous fics, so maybe effort/ideas that would ordinarily go into those stories have ended up spawning all these spinoffs/mutations of the main fic instead.

As far as abandoned plotlines, this story has been pretty extensively and publicly restructured, so yeah, stuff's gotten lost in the shuffle... I used to joke to myself that the story had an unreasonable amount of hanging out on the beach given its overall tone, but thennnnn Mewtwo went and burned down the child's house and it won't be going back to its island again, so in fact the story now contains almost 0% beach from this time on, oops. (There is one scene in Orre that will take place on a beach, assuming it makes it all the way through to publication. It's not a plot-crtical one.) We also missed out on Nate going to prison, the child being Red (although that one could still happen), and one scene that I really liked where Nate got to lament the fact that his pokémon were all gone and it was all his fault. Now you'll just have to imagine it, since we won't be seeing him until he gets them back, if ever.

And AU's, so many AU's. Even way back in 2012 or something I was talking about one I was rather fond of, where the child demands that Nate read it a children's book, and he isn't about to put in the effort to actually do that and makes up something ridiculous solely based on the pictures. Assuming I still have the file around somewhere, that one will end up getting published as an extra at some point near the end of the fic. Other than that, I've got everything from alternate endings to a weird time travel AU that happens in a scene that isn't even in the main fic (because the child isn't there for it). There's also a rather extensive PMD AU that may or may not end up seeing the light of day at some point and which is gently referenced within the fic itself. It's perhaps not technically an AU, since it's not in any way incompatible with the main canon; you could choose to pretend that it happened or not without it changing the story as written at all.

20. Tell us the meta about your writing that you really want to ramble to people about (symbolism you’ve included, character or relationship development that you love, hidden references, callbacks or clues for future scenes?)

Uhhh this one seems hard to do without spoilers. But I hope you've all been paying attention to the stuff about how psychic abilities work and their ability to warp the thinking of people around the psychic, especially over time. I'm quite proud of this worldbuilding thing, but people haven't commented on it much. The concept is central to the plot and drives basically all of the final arcs in Orre, so it's definitely worth thinking about if you haven't! Relatedly, there was a scene in one of the now-deleted Orre chapters (but it will 100% return largely unchanged in the new version) that dropped some info that I thought made it pretty screamingly obvious what's up with Mew and where she might be, buuuut nobody ever commented on that, either, so perhaps it wasn't quite as big of a giveaway as I thought, haha. If you're interested in trying to figure out the plot before the characters, all the psychic bullshit is what you should be paying attention to.

Also, Absol is very precise in her wording, and what I understand as the "twist" of this story (it's not much of a twist, way more important for the characters than anyone reading) relates to something the child's misunderstood for the entire story so far about something she told it.

#meme #writing #fanfic #salvage extras #ask #antialiasis

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captainscanadian · 4 years

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Happy Endings | Steve Rogers x OFC Marilyn Jarvis

My Masterlist

Summary: Marilyn Jarvis was not only Tony Stark’s goddaughter but also the love of Steve Rogers’ life.

Word Count: 4995

Pairing: Steve Rogers x OFC Marilyn Jarvis (and a bunch of others as minor characters!)

Warnings: Endgame References (set 2 years after), Mentions of Death

A/N: I usually don’t write fics with an OFC but since @artisticrogers1972 was having a bad day, I had to write this one! This is my first ever Steve Rogers fic but I hope there’s more where that came from. Also, this is my first non-AU so that’s exciting! I hope you all like it... if you don’t I’m so sorry it’s shit! I don’t own any of the gifs or pics!

Hey Marilyn, did ya have an affair with JFK or not?!

This had been her whole life. Being named after a Hollywood sex symbol was bad enough as it is, but it was the constant teasing that she had had to endure during her teens to her adulthood that she could not bear. It was as though her name came with a certain blueprint that she had to live her life by. Her petite frame was nothing compared to the body type that her namesake had made famous and with all the boys in high school making fun of her for her name and her body, she found herself become rather quiet and reserved over the years. But she could care less about whether she was popular in high school or not. It did not matter to her.

Marilyn Jarvis often wondered if her grandfather had secretly loathed her when he had decided to give her that name. Had Edwin Jarvis even considered the legacy behind her name or that his adoptive son’s only child would eventually go on to live in the twenty-first century? If anything, Mari believed that the man had cursed her by naming her after the actress. But why he did it? She had no idea.

But there was one thing that she was grateful for. While her first name had caused her a hell of a lot of distress, her family name meant a great deal to her. She knew that she was not a Jarvis by blood, as her father had been adopted by Edwin and Ana Jarvis as a young boy. But being a Jarvis meant that her family’s ties with the Starks had been strong enough to withstand any threat in the world.

Her grandfather took extreme pride in his loyalty to Howard Stark and the Starks had always kept him in high regard. When Mari was born, her father had made Tony Stark her godfather. She was an honorary Stark as much as she was a Jarvis, but she was a lot different from the two families who had raised her.

While Tony Stark had certainly fulfilled his duties as a godfather after her parents had tragically passed away, ensuring that Mari had a large amount of money deposited into her college fund by the time she was only in middle school, and had bought her a car for her birthday when she was old enough to drive, she had always been hesitant about accepting the privilege that came with being his goddaughter. She preferred to live a simple life, compared to the lavish life that he had to offer. She had certainly accepted Tony’s gracious offer to pay for her to go to college though. After all, she was a studious kid and she certainly took after her Uncle Tony in that.

She had been at MIT when Tony had left to Afghanistan, just a few months from graduating when she had heard the news that her godfather had been kidnapped. By the time he had built himself that suit and busted out of that cave, Mari had convinced Happy Hogan to fly her home in time to see him. She had cried the whole night before Tony had convinced her to fly back to school to take her final exams.

“I’m alright, Little Jarvis. Go and sit your exams and you can come back home right after you graduate.” He had told her and taking his word for it, she had left for Boston after spending barely a day with him.

Once she had graduated from MIT, Tony had offered Mari a job at Stark Industries. But of course, wanting a simple life and steering as far away from nepotism as she possibly could, she had chosen to find herself a job on her own in New York. She wanted nothing more than a simple life, a life away from war and villainy, a nine-to-five job, maybe a family of her own and a suburban home, white picket fence and all. But nothing about Marilyn Jarvis’ life could ever be that normal. After all, she was Iron Man’s goddaughter.

“Welcome home, Mari.” Happy Hogan greeted the young women as she exited the Stark Industries Private Jet.

“It’s good to see you, Happy.” She gave him a polite smile as she raised her eyebrow slightly at him. “I must say, I really love the blip beard. Giving Tony a run for his money, are you?”

The man chuckled softly as he took her bags and loaded them into the truck. “Something like that.”

“Does this something have to do with a certain young superhero’s aunt?” Mari asked him cheekily, to which he rolled his eyes.

“Tony can’t keep his mouth shut, can he?”

“I’m happy for you.” She told him as she got into the limo. “I think everyone deserves to have their happy endings after everything that they’ve been through.” Except for Marilyn Jarvis, apparently it seemed. The world had changed so much since Thanos had showed up and going back to how things were before him was just not plausible.

Marilyn had suffered just as much as anyone else, having almost lost her godfather for the umpteenth time in her life in that final battle. How Tony had managed to sustain his injuries was a miracle but she was grateful for it. After all, he was the only family that she had left.

When he had woken up in the hospital, having suffered permanent arm damage due to the impact of the Infinity Stones, he had still put on a brave face for her and given her a weak smile, the same way he had done that night when he had come home from Afghanistan. “Hey, Little Jarvis... you’re not gonna believe it. When I went back in time, I saw my dad, your great-uncle Howard. I mean, I don’t think you would remember much of him because you were quite little when he passed away but... I also... happened to... see your granddad Jarvis. I mean, I didn’t get to speak to him because I was running low on time... okay, not the best moment for a joke but... anyways, I saw him... and all I could think of was... God, how proud he would have been... if he got to see his little Marilyn grow up to be this... smart, kind, beautiful young woman. He would have been so proud of you, Mari.”

That was the moment when she had broken down in tears, pulling his weak body into a tight embrace as she cried. “You’re not almost dying on me again, you hear me? I can’t live with the fear of losing you again, Tony. I’ve lost everyone and I can’t lose you too.” And that had been the end of Iron Man.

Two years had passed since that dreadful day. Tony had recovered and moved onto training a newer generation of Avengers. The rest of the heroes had returned to their respective lives. Marilyn had found herself in California with a job promotion and no social life whatsoever. The only instances she ever took time away from work was during the holidays, as Tony had given her a strict order that she must drop whatever she was doing and return to the Avengers’ Base in New York to celebrate Christmas. She could never say no to that.

So, there she was, in the back of a Stark Industries limo that was driving to Upstate New York. It had started to snow as Happy was pulling up through the gates of the compound. As Mari stepped out of the limo, she held out her hand as a fuzzy little snowflake landed on her palm. One thing sunny California could never give her was the joy of being able to play in the snowfalls of New York.

As she entered the base, FRIDAY the AI had informed Tony of her arrival.

“Just in time for Christmas Eve lunch.” The man had beamed as his beloved goddaughter had made her way towards the common kitchen.

With Pepper and May Parker keeping busy with the cooking, Tony and Rhodey were seated at the table, sharing a drink and chatting away. On the other side of the room, Peter Parker and Harley Keener were playing around with Little Morgan Stark. These people were her family now, even though none of them were related to her by blood. It was not blood that ever determined family though. It was the people who choose to be a part of her life. Tony had really made sure Mari had a family after she had lost hers.

Morgan wiggled out of Peter and Harley’s grip as she noticed her arrival and ran over to Marilyn in excitement. “Mari!” She exclaimed as she jumped into her arms.

“Hey, kiddo!” Marilyn let out a hearty laugh as she hugged the young Stark before waving over at the boys. “How’s MIT treating you boys?”

“Don’t even ask.” Peter let out a groan, making Harley roll his eyes.

“We’re handling it, Mar.”

Mari couldn’t help but let out a hearty laugh as she set Morgan down and walked over to give Tony a kiss on the cheek. “I missed you, old man.” She told him with a playful grin before greeting Rhodey as well.

“Missed you too, Little Jarvis.”

“How’s California treating you, Mari?” Rhodey asked as he took a sip of his drink.

Marilyn thought for a moment before responding with a shrug. “Well, it’s a lot warmer... and it’s where my grandparents used to live so, I can’t really complain.”

“But it’s not home, is it?” May asked her as she pulled the roast out of the oven and set it on the counter.

“No.” She replied, shrugging once more. “But the job’s great. At least, I’m getting paid a lot more than I used.”

Pepper turned around to look at her niece with an eye roll. “Honey, you do realize that I’m waiting for the day you would walk into my office and tell me that you’re ready for me to sign over my company. Just say the word and Stark Industries is all yours. You don’t have to worry about living alone in the other side of the country for the sake of making money.”

“And why would I do that when you’re a much better CEO than I could ever be, Pep?” She asked her, chuckling. “Honestly, Cali’s great. I really love it there.”

Marilyn wasn’t sure if she was being honest with herself when she had said that. Sure, California had always held a very special place in her heart. Her grandparents had lived at the Stark residence there for years. It was where her father had been born and adopted. There was a lot of significance to where she lived. But did it make her happy? She could not be so sure about that. After all, she did not know what made her happy anymore.

Long before the events of the Infinity War and Thanos, she had once envisioned a future with a man she had met at one of her uncle’s parties. But there was no way that this future would even be possible. He was a man of every woman’s dreams, a true gentleman at heart. Anyone would have fallen for the charms of Steven Grant Rogers if they had met him. Marily was no exception to that. Their relationship had been a short-lived one, perhaps some sort of a summer fling before all hell had broken loose.

Marilyn knew it was wrong but she could not help it. She had been drunk and he had been a gentleman, trying to drag her to the guest bedroom after a party. A drunken kiss should not have meant anything, right? But her confession of having a crush on him had led to a completely different story. They had gone behind Tony’s back to pursue a relationship, fearing that the knowledge of the two of them together would ever cause a drift between Tony and Steve. But said drift had been caused either way, thanks to the Accords. Even Mari had been put in a place where she had to decide where her allegiance was. As she had chosen her godfather’s side in a heartbeat, the star spangled man had retaliated by ending their relationship just as quickly.

A heartbroken Marilyn had found herself sitting by her great-aunt Peggy’s grave in London before Tony had found her and flew her back to New York. Even then she hadn’t told him about what Steve had done. She had known that it would only make things worse between the two of them.

While Captain America and his allies were on the run, Marilyn had continued to live at the compound with Tony. Not even once did the man whom she had fallen in love with try to contact her during those two years. She hadn’t even seen him again until after the events of the Infinity War, while Tony had been lost in space for three weeks. Not even then did Steve speak to her or try to offer her some comfort in the absence of her godfather. Mari understood why though, after all he had lost his best friends during the snap. But either of them could look at each other. Perhaps things could never get better between the two of them.

After Tony and Pepper moved out of the compound, Mari had found herself a new job in California and made the move as well. The next five years had been rather dull for her, but for once she hadn’t been the only one who was going through it. The entire universe had been left in ruins. At one point, she had been so depressed to the point where she had gotten Tony on the phone and told him the truth.

Of course, her godfather hadn’t been mad about it. After all, she was human and was bound to her emotions and desires. But was he pissed at Captain America for breaking his Little Jarvis’ heart? Most definitely! Yet Tony also felt responsible for the part he had indirectly played in their break up. Perhaps that was why he had ensured that Steve Rogers would also be attending Christmas Eve lunch while Marilyn was also in attendance.

“Lunch is served.” May announced as she turned over to Harley and Peter. “Boys, would you please help set the table?”

As the boys whined and groaned at her words, Marilyn stood up from her seat to help as well.

“FRIDAY, tell Cap, Wilson and Barnes that lunch is served.” Tony announced, knowing very well that his goddaughter could hear him.

The young Jarvis’ eyes grew wide as she realized what her godfather had just said and she gave Tony a look of disbelief, mouthing a ‘what’ as she crossed her arms against her chest.

“Oh did I forget to mention that Cap, Wilson and Barnes are spending Christmas with us at the compound? Oops!”

***

Bucky Barnes would forever be grateful that Tony Stark had forgiven him for what he had done during his days under HYDRA’s control. But what he had not expected from Tony was an invite to spend Christmas at the compound with him and his family. After all, he had just gotten used to living with Steve and Sam in Brooklyn. When Steve and Sam were not going on missions or training the young Avengers at the compound, he had found himself becoming familiar with his hometown. He had become tired of fighting throughout his whole life so it felt nice to be able to sit back and enjoy the holidays. The last time he had been able to do that was long before The Great Depression, and that too was a century ago.

Bucky had learned from Sam about his friend’s brief romance with Stark’s goddaughter and that was why he had been hesitant about spending the holidays at the compound.

“Mari always spends the holidays with Tony and Cap can’t get himself to see her.” He had told him.

He did not think much of it at first, though the two of them had somehow managed to convince Steve to come to the compound with them. But the moment Bucky had witnessed Steve come face to face with the woman whose heart he had broken, he truly understood that things just did not seem right.

Bucky had always wanted for Steve to settle down and have a family of his own, even then and even now. Steve had been alone his whole life after all, and while he would always say that he could get by on his own, it was always Bucky who had to remind him that he did not have to. Bucky was determined to convince Steve and his former girlfriend to get back together, even if it meant that he would have to deal with Tony’s wrath once more. His best friend deserved a happy ending and Bucky was going to get it for him.

He had noticed the way the two of them had looked at each other during lunch, even though neither of them had acknowledged each other’s presence or made the effort to have a conversation. Sam had taken it upon himself to formally introduce Marilyn to Bucky, as there was no way Steve could have even thought of it.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sergeant Barnes.” The woman had told him politely, making him chuckle softly.

“You can call me Bucky.” He had told her. “It’s good to meet you too, Marilyn.”

“And you can call me Mari, actually.” She told him as she laughed softly. “It’s not easy being named after a Hollywood sex symbol.”

Bucky nodded. “I understand. I mean, I was named after a president.”

“Not the one that was linked with my namesake, I- wait, forget that I even said that.”

He gave her a confused look. “What?”

“N-Nothing...” She shrugged her shoulders before she took a sip of her eggnog. Her eyes kept darting towards Steve, who was talking to Rhodey and Tony. But all she could do was steal glances every now and then. She did not have the courage to go up and talk to him.

He shrugged off her words before shaking his head, noticing the woman constantly stealing a glance at his friend. “I’m sorry if you feel like I’m intruding... into your personal life. I know you just met me and you don’t know me much... or from what you know, you might probably resent me. But Sam happened to tell me that you and Steve used to...” He did not know how to start the conversation. But he knew that if he could did not get involved, no one else would.

Marilyn bit down on her bottom lip as he brought up her past with Steve and she let out a sigh. “Well, the past is in the past so...”

“I can’t tell you how to live your life, Mari. But I know Steve and I know how bad he feels about what happened between the two of you. I can see the way you look at him too and you can’t deny that you don’t have any feelings for him either.” He spoke in a hushed tone, hoping that no one could hear him.

“Bucky, I...”

“Tony built a time machine and Steve had access to it.” Bucky reminded her. “He could have gone back to the forties if he wanted to but he didn’t do that... You know, I thought he would have. He stayed, Mari. I often wondered why he had chosen to stay in this timeline when he could have gotten the life that he had always wanted with Peggy. But I know now that he had a reason to stay. It’s you. You’re the reason he stayed.”

Marilyn knew that Bucky was making sense. But her heart still refused to accept it. There was no way Steve could have chosen to stay in the present for her when he did have a chance to go back to the past and make himself a life for himself. How could have Steve chosen her over the woman who had once been the love of his life? How could have Steve chosen her over her Aunt Peggy, the woman whom Marilyn had heard stories of from her grandparents, the woman whom she had always looked up to when she was growing up, the woman who was much more brave, kind and confident than she could ever be. She found that hard to believe.

“If Tony could forgive me for what I did, why shouldn’t the two of you just forgive each other for whatever happened in the past?”

***

Christmas morning at the compound had always consisted of Pepper and Tony handing out presents to the kids. While Marilyn was not a kid anymore and was certainly not as materialistic as the rest of them, that had never stopped Tony for spoiling her with gifts every year. But that particular year, he had chosen not to buy her a present himself. Instead he had managed to find something that he knew that she would value a lot more than any expensive gift he could get her.

“This was actually from your parents. I was supposed to give this to you when you graduated from MIT but you know how crazy things were back then. I forgot and then... things got lost when I was moving around. But I found this a couple months ago and thought that this could be a perfect Christmas present for you. Of course, I had Pepper alter it first so that it could fit you. Make sure you’re alone when you open this, okay?” Tony had told her as he handed her a rectangle shaped box that was wrapped up nicely and tied up with a bow on top. “Merry Christmas, Little Jarvis.”

She gave him a confused look as she took it from him and leaned in to place a kiss on his cheek. “Merry Christmas, Tony.”

After everyone else had opened their present, Peter had left the compound to meet up with his girlfriend MJ and Harley had found himself helping Tony set up for the party that night.

Just as her godfather had instructed, Mari had found herself alone in her bedroom when she decided to open her present. Untying the bow and tearing off the wrapping paper, she opened the box to reveal a bright red dress that had been pressed and folded neatly.

When she picked it up and admired the fabric, she noticed an old photograph that had fallen out of it. She crouched down to pick it up from the tiled floor of the bedroom, only to see that it was a photo of her grandfather Edwin Jarvis with the incomparable founder of SHIELD herself, Peggy Carter. Mari noticed that the dress that she was wearing in the photo was the same one that she was now holding.

Marilyn could not help but remember the stories that she had heard from her father countless times. This dress had once belonged to her grandmother, who had lent it to her great-aunt Peggy for a mission. God, she had to give Tony some props. The man really was a genius for holding onto this present until he had found the right for to give it to her.

***

As the Christmas party was finally in full swing, Steve found himself seated by the bar with Bucky. With a beer in his hand, he watched a drunken Sam drag Natasha onto the dance floor. He’d realized that a beer was not as strong a drink to numb the thoughts that were now clouding his mind. But he was not planning on drinking the night away either. Despite Tony’ s invite, Steve had been hesitant about coming here, just because he knew that he would have to run into her. Perhaps it was his guilt that had been eating him alive right now. But Steve was miserable.

Steve was not an idiot. He knew that he was the reason why Marilyn Jarvis had left her entire family in New York to move across the country and he could not face her. He knew that he had screwed up by letting her go. He should not have given her an ultimatum where she had to choose between him and Tony. Of course, Mari had chosen Tony over him, just as he had chosen Bucky over Tony. Breaking her heart had certainly not been the right way to respond to that situation.

But he could not deny it either. He had fallen in love with her years ago. Steve knew that he loved Mari a lot more than he had loved Peggy. That was why he had chosen to stay in the present when he could have went back in time to make himself a life. He had wanted a future with her; even though he knew that she might not want the same with him.

Bucky’s eyes grew wide as he saw something behind Steve and he nudged his arm before standing up. “If this is what déjà vu feels like, then help me God...”

Steve gave him a confused look before he turned around to see Marilyn walking up to him, wearing a bright red dress was a lot more 1940s than what she was used to wearing. The knee length dress was a little loose around her petite frame and its vintage style was reason enough for Steve to assume that the dress had not belonged to her. Yet for a moment when he took in the sight of her, he could not help but think of Peggy - the same Peggy whom he had once in love with, the same Peggy whom Marilyn had also lost almost a decade ago.

The woman ignored the gaze of the entire party, giving Tony a smile on the way.

“Captain.” The young Jarvis greeted him and Steve had almost forgotten how to speak.

His friend nudged him once more, causing him to snap out of his trance. “Mar-” He paused, biting down on his bottom lip as he looked down at his feet and clearing hi throat. “Ms. Jarvis.”

“M-May I... have this dance?” She asked him as she held out her hand. “Please.”

Steve would have thought that she resented him to his core. But the way she had approached him and asked him to dance had been quite surprising to him. As he took her hand and led her towards the dance floor, there were a thousand things that he wanted to say to her. But instead, he wrapped his arms around her waist and swayed gently along to the music.

“I see that you haven’t forgotten what I’d taught you, Rogers.”

He gave her a nod, followed by a nervous chuckle. “Well, you did teach me how to dance, m’lady.”

Mari couldn’t help but chuckle at that. “The years have been kind to you, Steve.”

“The super-soldier serum does help with the aging...” He reminded her before letting out a sigh. “I like the dress, by the way.”

She blushed slightly at his compliment. “Thank you. It used to belong to my grandmother... and Aunt Peggy.”

“Oh...” Steve looked down once more before looking back up at her.

“Steve, why didn’t you go back to her?” Marilyn asked as she looked up at him. “Tony told me that you saw her when you went back in time for the stones. Why didn’t you... why didn’t you just stay when you went back to return the stones?”

“Because she’d moved on from me, Mar. She lived a long life without me and I couldn’t go back and take that away from her.” He replied as he sighed. “Besides, the life that I wanted was... right here... right now.”

“But you loved her, Steve-”

“I love you more, Mar.” He cut her off. “I know I haven’t been honest with you or myself but I can’t take it anymore. So, here’s the truth. It’s you who I love, it’s always been. I’m sorry I put you in a place where you had to choose between me and Tony. But I think the last nine years without you have taught me how stupid I had been... and how much I love you, Marilyn Jarvis.”

Mari could not help but tear up at that. “But Steve... I’m not... right for you. You said so yourself.”

“And I was wrong, I admit it.”

“Steve... I... I love you too.” She finally confessed what she had been holding onto for years now, her eyes glossing over with tears as they met Steve’s blue ones. “I’ve loved you since the day I first saw you.”

Steve then reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. He unfolded it before turning it over to her, revealing a pencil sketch of her face. “I’ve been wanting to give this to you for a while now, Mar. A portrait of you that you’ve always wanted me to draw.”

“You drew this... for me? Steve, it’s beautiful.”

“And so are you.” He could not help but smile at that and he pulled her into a tight hug. “Marry me. First thing in the morning, right here in front of our family and friends. We’ll find ourselves a home in the suburbs, white picket fence and all. That’s where we’ll raise our children. We’ll grow old together too, because I’m not doing that with anyone else but you.”

“I...” She looked over at Tony for a moment before turning back to him. “I think that would be perfect.” Perhaps Marilyn Jarvis had been wrong about one thing. She deserved to have her own happy ending after all.

#aj writes #happy endings #steve rogers x original female character #steve rogers x oc #steve rogers x ofc #steve rogers fanfiction #steve rogers fanfic #steve rogers fic #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky barnes fanfic #bucky barnes fic #tony stark fanfiction #tony stark fanfic #marvel fanfiction #marvel fanfic

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danceswithseatbelts · 6 years

Text

Handsome Devil

‘Handsome Devil’

Fandom: The Flash

Snowells (Caitlin Snow x Harry Wells)

Rating: mildly mature? Implied shenanigans

Word Count: 3019

Trying to improve public relations for STAR Labs, Team Flash throws a Halloween party. Coerced into attending, Dr. Wells is his usual intractable self and Caitlin is assigned as his keeper. The devil may be in the details but…this devil, as Caitlin discovers, was capable of unraveling her hard-fought peace of mind. There's no better job for a Snow Angel after all…

Set roughly in season 4, pre-wedding - as canon feeling as I could manage. I tried dammit. Ah, the feels Snowells gives me. <3

><><><

Caitlin stifled a sigh and kept her smile in place for Iris, nodding as the other woman read off every item of the Halloween party list they'd both worked on last week. Impressed with the amount finished, but anxious to get back to work, Caitlin had stopped actively listening. She gave an occasional 'hmm' or 'okay' in acknowledgment only to be brought back to earth when Iris became super excited. What the hell had she agreed to?

"I knew you'd be the one to make sure Dr. Wells comes and wears a costume!" Iris clapped her hands and closed her notebook. "I gotta go talk Barry out of us dressing up as Superman and Supergirl."

Despite herself, Caitlin giggled. "His heart is in the right place at least."

Iris rolled her eyes. "We don't need any more reminders we were basically raised as siblings."

"Good luck!" Caitlin waved goodbye to Iris and wished for her own mega-sized portion of luck; getting Harry to attend and wear a costume was going to be an uphill battle. Well, no time like the present to distract and attack. Guilt, would that work on her favourite grumpy scientist? Ah, no matter. If all else failed, she'd go quiet and sad - that ought to bring him 'round to her wishes.

><><><

Knocking softly on Harry's lab door, Caitlin waited almost a full minute before slowly letting herself into his lair. He might be engrossed in an experiment or tweaking a piece of tech, but Cait knew he'd allow her inside. But it was his lair, his lab was his first home - and if he wasn't here, then she'd just hunt him down to his actual set of quarters.

Empty.

No Harry, no machines busy with esoteric tasks, no activity save one Caitlin Snow walking the perimeter, checking for her own interest the last experiment Harry had been enthusing about.

Plan B then, perhaps Harry was already holed up for the night in his set of rooms. Caitlin couldn't stop herself from letting her fingers caress the stack of books to the right of the computer station. The top tome fell and she hurried to pick it off the floor. Always curious, Cait opened it and flipped through. It was one she'd recommended to Harry - not even two days ago. Interesting.

><><><><

This time, surer of finding Harry, Caitlin knocked with confidence, loud and authoritative; as if her alter ego Killer Frost was telling Harry she was there. No meek miss asking for entrance -rather, telling the occupant there was company to be had. The idea had her grinning and as Harry opened the door, it was her grin that Harry reacted to first.

"Good news?"

"Yes?"

"I'm thinking, no." Despite the negative words, Harry's tone wasn't - he was curious about exactly why the woman he'd been thinking about had shown up on his doorstep. Reality gave him a hard slap and Harry sucked air over his teeth. This had to be a trick or something else - something unpleasant. Caitlin was a delight, but the universe wasn't in the habit of giving him presents. "Come in, you're letting the warm air out." He smirked. Of course that was a lie, but it suited his sense of humour.

"Thank you." Ever the polite and attentive guest, Caitlin hurried over the threshold and shut the door. "I hope I haven't interrupted you doing anything important." She let her eyes dance over everything she saw - she'd been wanting to visit his rooms for the longest time, but she'd never had a good excuse. Today though, she had a reason. Caitlin smiled. "I've come to help you!"

Taken aback, Harry almost dropped the book he was holding. Snow couldn't know of his personal plans; the lubricant waiting in his shower, could she? No, of course not, it was just wishful thinking. "With what?"

"As you know, Team Flash agreed to throw a Halloween party for the fine citizens of Central City in the environs of STAR labs." Caitlin could feel her natural enthusiasm rise to the occasion. "It's my pleasure to assist you with deciding on a costume and attending!"

Harry wondered briefly if he'd become senile. Snow was prattling about a Halloween party? "I’m far too old to play dress-up."

"Don't be such a party pooper, mister!"

"It's doctor, Dr. Snow."

Caitlin gave a rueful smile at the snide comment. "Noted." She chewed her lips and tried to jam her hands into non-existent pockets on her skirt. "It would mean a lot to the team if you showed up and joined us."

"I have experiments to plan and more important issues to take care of than helping inspire the plebian public to feel any sort of indebtedness towards even this Earth's STAR labs." Harry winced as Snow blanched. "Not that it isn't a worthy effort…"

"No, I understand." Caitlin looked at her feet and mentally girded her loins. Resolute, she moved further into Harry's room - closer to his rumpled bed. She'd pegged him as a ship-shape type of man. If he wasn't in bed it should have been pristine. Covers smooth and pillows arranged with military precision. What an odd random thought. Back to the matter at hand. "You're afraid."

Incredulous, Harry did drop the book he'd been cradling. "Don't be ridiculous. Me? Afraid? Of what?"

"Having fun, relating to people, not being a grump, and having fun," Caitlin rejoined quickly. "You're especially scared of having fun. You don't have to pay for your mistakes until the end of time - we know you're a solid member of the team. We all want you to be there. You deserve to have fun."

Harry stared at Snow - such a lady, but right now spitting fire and ire as if that would be enough to bow him to her will. "Crowds aren't fun. Costumes and stupid heathenish rites aren't fun. Halloween is a waste of time."

"You're wrong!" Cait actually stomped her foot. "It's a chance to hide your regular self and have fun exploring any avenue of behaviour you want."

"Oh?" The timbre of Harry's voice dropped.

Caitlin felt the hairs on her arms stand to attention; that raspy voice was sinfully sexy. Without considering her words further, Caitlin said, "A costume is both armour against the world and expression of one's deepest self."

"Unless it's one of those sexy, mass-marketed costumes," said Harry drily, "then it's all about making money from a postage sized scrap of fabric. The people who buy those are foolish, deluded souls."

Aghast at Harry's cruel words, Caitlin blinked and stood frozen. A sharp look entered her eyes. "I bet I can prove you wrong." Not letting Harry speak, Caitlin strode over to him and poked him in the chest. "Why don't you wear a sexy costume and I'll wear something that matches you, but innocent. You stay at the party until I give you permission to leave and I'll --"

"Do whatever I demand?"

"Yes!" Caught up in the moment, Caitlin agreed. "Doesn't matter what! Any of your experiments at all! Whatever you want - I will deliver."

"I accept."

"Y-y-you do? I mean, good!"

"Meet me here tomorrow night and we'll discuss your half of our couple's costume." Harry inwardly screamed. Heaven and hell; both god and the devil had to be laughing. Snow was too innocent even with Killer Frost's influence. "Even as excellent an experiment partner as you are, I may not require that as my fee."

Resolute, Caitlin shook her head. "Doesn't matter. I know you won't take advantage, I'm not scared of you."

><><><><

Caitlin nodded dumbly. Harry had just told her his costume and it was indeed sexy. There were few things that revved her engine as much as a man in a fine suit - and to whit, Harry, in an immaculately tailored suit, even garnished with horns, tail and pitch-fork... That was a recipe for a perfect lust storm.

"--You'll be my Snow Angel of course." Taking it for granted, Harry smirked, arms crossed. "Covered from neck to toes, you'll be pure and pristine to match my evil and loathsome attitude."

"Much like beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so must be evil." Caitlin snapped back her rejoinder and stood defiant in front of Harry. "Even angels fall." She flushed but refused to retract any of her words. "Be ready to have fun Friday night dammit!"

Head held high, Caitlin stomped out of Harry's private set of rooms.

><><><

Loud music and a steady stream of guests entering and winding about the decorated rooms of STAR labs had most of Team Flash excited. Cisco's spirits were high and only getting higher while Joe pessimistically lamented the chances of criminal activity only spiking. Iris and Barry held hands and gazes. Wally rolled his eyes. Jesse tugged the neckline of her costume higher - suddenly freezing as the last two members of Team Flash entered the designated main party room of STAR labs.

"Lookin' fine you two!" Iris jumped in excitement. "You do know most people dress opposite to people's expectations?"

Barry snorted and then looked immediately apologetic. "Oh, I bet lots of people who don't know Dr. Wells wouldn't think of him as Satan."

"Yeah," Cisco gave Barry the 'okay' symbol, "only the people who don't know he's a dick might think he's unsuited to be the devil." In response to Caitlin's moue of dismay, Cisco made an overblown bow and took her hand. "You make a lovely angel."

”A snow angel, dolt." Harry took pleasure in being even more blunt than usual. "She's obviously a snow angel. Look at her voluminous and icy white gown, snowflakes on her cape and icicle halo." Tossing his own red satin cape over his shoulder, Harry gazed coolly at his co-workers. "You'll be lucky if tonight doesn't bite you all in the ass."

"Good talk!" shouted Cisco as Harry dragged Caitlin towards one of the refreshment tables. Cisco cupped his hands around his mouth and continued to sass Harry. "Remind me never to use the phrase 'bite me' with you." Cisco exchanged high-fives with the rest of his team. "Stage one, complete."

><><><

"Thank you." Caitlin accepted a cup of mystery punch and tentatively sipped. It was boozy but sweet and therefore pretty good. "This is nice, isn't it?"

Harry scowled. "Has the definition of nice been changed? I hate crowds and I dislike them more when they're drunk and disorderly."

A man wearing a Captain Marvel costume stumbled into Harry and reached out to steady himself on Caitlin's shoulders. "Ooh, an angel!"

Harry gave the man an evil look. "Keep your hands off the snow angel. If you can't handle your drinks, you ought not be drinking." He detached the offending fingers and glared. "Go away."

"Way to keep in character dude!" Drunk Captain America clapped his hands and smiled lopsidedly. "I'd keep my wife safe too - if I had one!" He laughed as if he'd delivered the wittiest joke. "I gotta go find my own Peggy Carter and Bucky." As fast as he'd interrupted, the stranger staggered away, disappearing into the partying crowd.

"My hero."

"Only you, Snow, would ever have the brass tacks to say that like you meant it." Harry looked down and away before draping Caitlin's free hand into the crook of his arm. "I should keep you close. There's a lot more drunk idiots who might accost you."

"I'll allow it." Caitlin looked at Harry from under her lashes. She wanted to say so much more. Something like, 'I'd rather be with you than without.' God have mercy, how strong had the punch been?

"Excellent." Despite himself, Harry's grin was warm; Caitlin had the ability to rev his engines and soothe. "Hungry?"

"Not just yet." Caitlin giggled. "I was thinking about drinking more before dulling any alcoholic haze with food."

"Then let's indulge."

Caitlin shivered. Harry might not have intended to sound like pure carnality - but he had. Indulge? Oh, there were so many things that Caitlin wanted to do and have done to her. Instead of pouring out her dark desires, Caitlin nodded then drained her cup of punch. "Let's get some real drinks."

><><><

Cisco adjusted his turban. "The amazing Carnac votes we go to the karaoke room!"

"Really?" Joe breathed even heavier into his Vader mask. It was hella fun, making his speech into the notable sound of James Earl Jones. "Make it so, number one."

"Wrong!" Iris shook her head. "Dad! You're mixing up Star Wars and Star Trek!"

"Yeah, 'fraid so, Joe!" Barry flipped his Iron Man mask up to look with worry at his foster father - slash - soon-to-be father-in-law. "Can't you keep D.C. and Marvel separate?"

"Tch! Star Trek is Paramount!"

"Then what am I confusing with D.C.?"

Several voices shouted and began arguing with immense fervour.

><><><

Several shots of tequila later, Caitlin smiled at Harry. He'd kept the worst of the drunken revellers from her as well as staying right next to her side. This might be the best day of the year as far as Caitlin was concerned. Nothing else could compare with being escorted by a tall and handsome devil. Caitlin snorted sudden laughter.

"What's got you amused?"

Harry's gravelly tone stoked Caitlin's hormones.

Harry scowled, but his deep blue eyes betrayed his curiosity. "What else do you need?"

"Don't ask something like that if you don't want an honest answer." Caitlin reached up to adjust her icicle halo. "And before you say anything else, I do understand the difference between need and want."

"Of course." Harry masked his sudden confusion by withdrawing the red silk handkerchief from his suit pocket, tucking it back with more care. "I've always been impressed with your intelligence, Snow. You're remarkable."

"Maybe it's the drinks talking, but why don't you call me your Snow Angel?"

Harry wanted to say so much but settled for a quick nod. There were worse things Caitlin could have asked of him. Sidestepping her last question, Harry decided to guide her back to the bar area. "How's about a few more drinks?"

"Such a naughty, handsome devil. Trying to get me drunk and take advantage? I mean, way to get into the festive feel tonight!"

"If only you were my Snow Angel." Harry muttered this louder than he'd intended - making Caitlin clutch his arm and stand still.

"Are you going to give me a Christmas miracle gift on Halloween?"

"We're both a bit drunk. I don't know what you mean." Harry made the mistake of looking into Caitlin's eyes. Warmth rocketed from the pit of his stomach. "What sort of gift were you wanting?"

"Honesty would be a great start."

"Well, I honestly think I've attended this party long enough," Harry smirked. "I know you like to keep a clean slate. You up for your end of our bargain?"

"More than you know." Caitlin raised her chin. "Let's blow this popsicle stand."

><><><

And very much like a Christmas miracle, the crowd had parted for both Harry and Caitlin; the escape to his private set of rooms at Star Labs was quick and uneventful.

Closing the door, Harry dropped his pitchfork and detached the cheap red horns of his costume. "Ahhhh."

"Not to be rude, but I kind of liked the horns." Caitlin removed her halo, holding onto it with twisting hands. "They didn't look wrong."

"Thanks." Harry drew out the 'ess'. "Your halo - I'd imagine a flower crown would be the only thing to suit you more."

Touched by his sincerity, Caitlin blushed. "What's with the compliments?"

"That's actually tied in with our little wager." Harry stalked further inside his rooms, jamming his hands into his pants pockets. "You've agreed to anything I demand - and even dressed as the devil, I can't imagine forcing my true wants."

"Which is why it was so easy to agree to your demands." Caitlin flopped onto Harry's bed in a boneless display. "I know you and you're much kinder and sweeter than you present yourself." She kicked off her shoes and giggled as they made a god-awful racket. "You're not even close to devil-status, Harry."

"I might be afraid to do the thing I want, but it remains the thing I want."

The sincerity in Harry's voice made Caitlin sit still. Her intellect, only slightly slowed and addled by tonight's alcohol made sense of his words. "I freely agreed to your terms."

"That you did." Wonderment glowed in Harry's eyes. "Are you sure?"

"Are you?"

Harry stalked closer, grinning as he pinned Caitlin to the side of his bed. "What I want is your active participation. If you can't join me, then there's no point."

"Didn't I tell you earlier that even angels can fall?" Caitlin licked her lips. "I'm no angel for all that everyone seems to believe that." She kept smiling at Harry. "Why don't you elaborate exactly what you want?"

"Lots of heat, sweat, and passion." Harry swooped in, connecting his lips to Caitlin's - delving his tongue deep, coaxing a moan from his Snow Angel's lips. Harry plunged his fingers into Caitlin's hair, closing his eyes as he deepened his kiss. He slanted his mouth and panted harshly.

Long minutes passed as the couple writhed on the bed. For her part, Caitlin could only react with delight - and Harry poured his considerable ardour into their lip-lock. Harry groaned, lifting his weight from Snow's body. "This is moving rather fast. I, ah, you don't have to stay."

"I know. I want to be here. Now, let's get rid of these clothes." Caitlin slid her hand from Harry's hair onto his chest and deftly popped several buttons of his dress shirt. "They're cramping my style."

"We can't have that."

“Not when we can have the heat, sweat, and passion you mentioned earlier.” Caitlin smiled up at Harry and winked. “Don’t hold back.” She ripped Harry’s shirt open the rest of the way. “This Snow Angel is very inspired by her personal handsome devil.”

#danceswithseatbelts #snowells #fanfic #the flash #Caitlin Snow x Harry Wells #my new fav OTP #snow x wells #one-shot #handsome devil

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butterflies-dragons · 6 years

Text

Master List Post

Hello everyone!

This is a master list post of all my Sansa Stark and Jon x Sansa posts:

My first post

A wolf with big leather wings like a bat

Sansa looked radiant

Children of The Mountain

Sansa’s needlework was exquisite

Sansa & Dragonflies

It looks nothing like a dragon

Dragonflies or dragons?

My fist LONG Jon x Sansa post: WE’RE ALL JUST SONGS IN THE END. IF WE ARE LUCKY: JENNY OF OLDSTONES AND THE PRINCE OF DRAGONFLIES

It’s short version: Jon Snow: The silent, unknown and unthought answer to Sansa’s hopes

It’s shorter version: Jon Snow: The silent, unknown and unthought answer to Sansa’s hopes

A soft woman is simply a wolf caught in meditation

Sometimes butterflies grow into dragons

Sometimes butterflies grow into dragons 2.0

Sansa’s first crush was a Brother of The Night’s Watch

Sansa’s first crush was a Brother of The Night’s Watch 2.0

Sansa associates lover’s kisses with snowflakes

My second LONG Jon x Sansa post: SANSA STARK: A WOLF WITH DRAGON WINGS

Sansa being the betrothed of the dragon’s heir

The hollow knights are turning into dragons, she thought

Ask: The snowflakes always appear as a symbol of love, happiness and home

Ask: Jon and Sansa prevailed

Ask: When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives

Ask: Jon would turn into the most important man in Sansa’s life, after Ned…

The Prince That Was Promised By Ned

Touch my sister, and I’ll kill you myself

A handful of snow

A handful of snow 2.0

Jon Snow: Redhead > Silver hair

Beautiful and Majestic

A woman’s name has me in thrall. A woman’s being afflicts my whole body.

This is part of my third unfinished LONG Jon x Sansa post, written in a rush with a lot of mistakes: As long as Sansa Stark and Jon Snow remain, Winterfell remains

Sansa and Jon remembering Winterfell while bathing in hot water

Sansa and Jon facing frightening situations and found comfort in their direwolves

Someplace no stag ever found … though a dragon might

Jon was jealous af...

A man’s thirst...

Your new boyfriend looks like a girl…

I will never get over it!

Jon’s first impression of Joffrey = Sansa’s first true impression of Joffrey

Our best hope may be the Eyrie

Our best hope may be the Eyrie 2.0

Sansa is Jon’s sun

You are the only Stark in Winterfell. Until I return, the north is yours

Paintings that remind me of Sansa

The Starks Are The Heart

About Sansa’s first crush and her taste in men

Ask: Targaryen imagery in Sansa’s arc

The central part of the story

Queen Sansa

Queens

Sweet Lady

We’re all just songs in the end. If we are lucky

She is a survivor. And that should not be dismissed

Sansa’s Armor

Gods, how are we going to feed them all?

Jenny and Duncan

The warrior of Winterfell

Ghost & Lady

I am stronger within the walls of Winterfell

Sansahood

Foreshadowing in the Books & Foreshadowing in the Show

Michele Clapton: Because Sansa... She is the one I love the most, yes

Ask: How does Jonsa have anything to do with beauty and the beast?

Sansa and Jon fit perfectly in the classic roles of Beauty and the Beast

Ask: Apparently Beauty and the Beast is related to another ship only...

Ask: Apparently I don’t understand art commissions

Did you know that there is a version of Beauty and the Beast where the Beast is a white wolf???

Sansa’s fight for Jon to be released reminds me very much of her pleadings for Ned’s freedom

A man could not always be where he belonged

Another Jon choosing love/family over duty/his King

Ned and Cat 2.0

The moment that Sansa sees Jon again is the first moment of real happiness that Sansa’s probably had on the Show

Courtesy is a lady’s armor

Catch The Wind

Hopscotch

A Song for Lya

Snow Castles & Giants

Louis Vuitton’s l’Armure necklace

Florian & Jonquil / Jaehaerys & Alysanne

All men are fools, and all men are knights, where women are concerned

Sophie’s goodbye to Sansa

Tyrion wore black and rubies for his wedding with Sansa?

Ask: About Jon being "Sansa's hero”

Edd, fetch me a block

The Blood of Winterfell

Ask: That’s pretty & The Little Mermaid

GRRM about Lemon Cakes

Someday she would be a queen

My skin has turned to porcelain, to ivory, to steel

Sansa’s scales dress

North

GRRM about Being a ‘Lady’

Ask: What is your favorite Sansa scene in the book and in the show?

Sansa & Jon parallels is ASOS are too much

Two voices

All the Sansa Stark and Good Queen Alysanne parallels

We all lie

Poetry… is you

Sansa building her snow castle at the Eyrie

GRRM about The Stark Sisters’ Names

Ask: Yes, Sansa is a major character

Ask: Does Tyrion need to die for Sansa to be able to marry Jon, or because it was not consummated it's not valid?

THE WOLF THAT SLEW THE DRAGON

Crying because the first word of the first Sansa’s chapter of the first book is her father’s name

GRRM about the creation of Sansa

Duty

Creating Dark Sansa

Jon’s Targaryen Name?

Sansa’s wits

Anti Jonsa arguments...

I love how GRRM reinforced the concept of THE PACK with Ned and Cat marriage

She cried out when she saw him, ran to him, and embraced him fiercely

Sansa and the Dawn

GRRM about Jonsa

GRRM linking Jon and Sansa with Snow

GRRM is such a Stark fanboy

GRRM and Parris McBride

I think I just found the first Jonsa Warrior

Freedom of the castle

Ask: About the Asoiaf Original Outline

Sansa Stark and The Feather

A cousin is better than a brother, because he can marry you

She’s a messy eater and he’s confused ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Sansa, Jon and Sweetness

***

And here some other stuff I wrote...

This is supposed to be funny: Say something nice about Joffrey

Chemistry

Khaleesi & Tormund

Khaleesi’s logic

Been there, done that (without dragons)

Jon/Ned/Rhaegar

Fuck S7

Somber music plays

35/36 “epic” seconds...

He starts manipulating people — in a very Jon Snow way, in a very kind way

This TEA

Alan Taylor is the new GRRM

✵✵✵ Happy New Year to you all ✵✵✵

#Sansa Stark #Jon Snow #Sansa x Jon #Jon x Sansa #jonsa #Joffrey Baratheon #Joffrey is truly a little shit #There isn't love for Khaleesi here...#Game of Thrones #S7 #Text #mine

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kittypeas · 7 years

Text

The Force Awakens and fairytales, part one: Snow Queen and Snoke

Thank you @ewa-a-nie-chce-spac for your encouragement and @shadowlass for inspiration :) I’ve been thinking about writing this post for a year, but recently few things happened that motivated me to do it:

Finally I had a chance to watch “Beauty and the Beast”. Well, I saw the animated version before but watching the new one only made me realize why I disagree so strongly with the conclusions of this fairytale. I was never a fan of this theory which highlights the parallels between Kylo and the Beast. Of course, there is some similarity in the outer layer and symbolism but the core of the story is totally different: while Beast is a proud and vain man and so his task in the story is to learn how to love another human being, Kylo is full of self-hatred and doubt and his main goal in this trilogy is learn how to love himself.

What is more, there are many fairytales that reflect more accurately the main motives visible in the Force Awakens. The two that, in my opinion, are the most fitting here are “Snow Queen” and “Prince Lindworm”. But let me say this: since I’ve become a part of this fandom I admired all those talented people who were creating amazing stores, drawing beautiful fanarts and those who put their extensive knowledge (from fabulously varied fields!) into use, writing metas. I also wanted to contribute and share those bits and pieces that I’ve collected during my studies. I decided to divide this post into two parts: the first one will be about the Snow Queen and I will discuss the similarities between the fairytale and TFA on the level of the plot and its symbolism. This one will be more like a summary. In the second part I will write about Prince Lindwom and more psychological stuff, like trauma, dissociation and archetypal defenses of personal spirit. However, I will focus on Kylo’s relation with Snoke in both parts, because I feel that there are still some things that need to be said.

I get a feeling that we forget about the fact that everything that exists and works for us somehow, is functional at least in some ways and as such it reinforces achievement of personal goals. This applies also to the dynamics of Kylo/Snoke relationship. In this respect TFA is very shallow, as it only shows the Resistance as good and morally right. But have you ever heard about people who were thinking that they are fighting on the “wrong side” of the war? Fortunately, fanfiction authors make up for this omission and write very interesting, nuanced stories. However, Snoke is usually described as this evil creature which does evil things only because he… likes evil things, I guess? He is corrupt, greedy and seeks power for the sake of power itself, which is psychologically improbable. He uses Kylo Ren as a tool and doesn’t hesitate to torture him on a whim, in which I don’t believe either because this is not how you get to rule the people. You do it by winning their hearts, and, even though there is this part inside Kylo Ren that wants to be humiliated as a punishment for “not being good enough”, I believe that this is just a reenactment of his relationship with his caregivers, and Snoke is just a parental figure whom Kylo willingly chose to perform this role.

But back to the issue at hand. Recently @forcechokehold asked a very interesting question that I think I have an answer for. Let me cite it first:

Do you ever think about how different Kylo Ren’s dynamic with his abuser/surrogate parental figure would have been if they were a female? Do you ever think about how that would have reflective on his relationship to Rey?

They were considering making Snoke a woman/female whatever-he-is and that bit of trivia reminded me of Eros’ relationship with his mother, Aphrodite in ‘Eros and Psyche’. The line “You have compassion for her” would have sounded even more possesive coming from a mother figure.

Actually the “Snow Queen” describes exactly the same scenario. “Snow Queen” tells a story in which Kay (similar to Kylo, isn’t it?) is abducted/seduced by cold and unfeeling Queen of the Icy North after a shred of ice wounds his heart. He forgets his family and lives with the Queen in her snowy castle. But brave Gertha, who used to be his friend, sets off for a journey to find him and even marches through endless winter with bare feet, determined to save Kay who, by that time, became Snow Queen’s servant, squire and, presumably, lover.

Sounds familiar?

Well it should! But first listen to read the story:

Everything started with the big mirror, created by the trolls. The mirror had this one peculiar characteristic that it showed the distorted image of both the world and the people living in it: everyone in it’s reflection seemed repulsive and ugly on the inside. Trolls lifted the mirror up above the ground, they were rising it higher and higher, to reflect the whole world in it, and they laughed so loudly and cruelly that the mirror slipped out of their hands and crashed into thousands of pieces that were swept by the wind. Some of them were used by people to make windows, and from now on they could not see friends through the glass. The smaller fragment were used to make eyeglasses, and everyone wore them saw only bad things. “In the evening, when the little Kay was half naked, he climbed to a chair by the window and peered through the crack in its frame. Several snowflakes fell, and one, the largest of them, lay on the edge of the pot.

The snowflake grew bigger and bigger until it was as big as a young lady, dressed in the most beautiful silk, made of millions of small petals, like the stars. She was so pretty and delicate, but she was made of ice, shining and glittering ice; Her eyes were staring motionless like two stars, but there was no peace in them. She nodded toward the window and summoned Kay with a wave of her hand. The boy was frightened and jumped from his chair...”

This last element is interesting. In some retellings the scene of the first real encounter between the Queen and the boy is changed to portray the abduction of a defenseless child. Just like people sometimes picture Kylo’s relationship with Snoke. Yes, the evil creature targeted this boy from the beginning of his life. Yet, in the fairytale, there was something in Kay that made him wait by the window frame and which allowed him to see the Queen. Similarly, it was something in Kylo that made it possible for him to hear Snoke, and something that made him obedient to his voice.

It is exactly at this moment in the Snow Queen fairytale - not earlier! – that Kay gets wounded by the pieces of mirror:

“It was one of the pieces from the magical mirror, and poor Kay was stabbed in the heart. It was no longer painful, but the splinter was still there, and his heart became hard and cold like ice.

Since then Kay's plays has become different. He made fun of Gertha and pulled out all of her flowers from the pots. The only thing that seemed to interest him was watching snowflakes, "look how funny it is!" He said, "much more interesting than real flowers. Those are as accurate as possible, they would have no flaws if only they did not melt!"

Kay, just like Kylo, believes that he only deserves respect, if he deserves admiration. His judgments are cruel to others and to himself, but the boy no longer tells apart his own thoughts from the Snow Queen's whispers. Finally, one snowy morning, when everyone plays in the city square, Kay sees there a beautiful sleigh. Without thinking he attaches his small sledge to it and is taken away:

“The big sleighs stopped, and the person who was driving them them rose from her place. She was a woman; Her coat and cape were made of snow, she was tall and slim and her face was shining bright. She was the Snow Queen.

"We were traveling fast," she said; "But it is frigidly cold. Come, come under my bear skin. " And she sat the boy in the sleigh next to her, wrapped him in fur, and he felt as if he were falling into a snowdrift.

"Are you still cold? She asked and kissed him on the forehead. Ah! The kiss was colder than ice, penetrated to the bottom of his heart, which was almost frozen like a stone. He thought he was going to die, but after a while it felt quite pleasant and he did not mind the cold around. (...) The Snow Queen kissed Kay again, and then he forgot Gertha, his grandmother, and all those he had left at home.

"There will be no more kisses," she said, "otherwise you would die." Kay looked at her. She was very beautiful; she was much wiser and had more wonderful face than he could have ever imagined. And she did not seem to be made from ice as he saw her before, when he was sitting by the window, and she was calling him to her; in his eyes she was perfect, he was not afraid of her and he told her that he could add and subtract in his head and do fractions and that he could tell how many square miles and inhabitants there were in different countries, She always smiled at him, and he then thought that he surely did not know enough, and he looked up into the wide expanse of heaven, into which they rose higher and higher as she flew with him on a dark cloud, while the storm surged around them, the wind ringing in their ears like well-known old songs.

They flew over woods and lakes, over oceans and islands, the cold wind whistled down below them, the wolves howled, the black crows flew screaming over the sparkling snow, but up above, the moon shone bright and clear—and Kay looked at it all the long, long winter nights; in the day he slept at the Snow Queen's feet”

The Snow Queen seems beautiful, clever and wise (“Supreme leader is wise!”), truly refined, and the most important of her assets is her cool intellect with which Kay wants to compete. While Gertha will ask the stream, the flowers, and the sun about Kay, he, during sleepless nights will stare at the empty face of the moon. And just like Rey is “the ray of sunshine” the junior novelization describes Kylo as follows:

“Ben had the wavy dark hair that Han remembered, now shoulder length. His mother's cheeks, Han's chin. Yet everything about him was narrow and stark, as if he had starved himself of nourishment. And his eyes were not the brown eyes Han remembered. They were dim and dark and terribly sad.”

Yet we must not forget that TFA is not only a story about Kylo but also about first of all about Rey who undergoes a certain transformation, just the way Gertha did:

Meanwhile in the fairytale the girls puts on her red shoes and sets off in search of a friend. On her way she visit the garden where the plants tell her fairy tales, she meets the crows that lead her to the palace of the young royal couple; Everyone is deeply touched by Gertha's story and everyone is helping her fulfill her mission the best as they can. The most important part of her journey is the moment in which is attacked by thieves and becomes the property of a small robber girl, her alter-ego: "You will sleep with me today, with all my animals," said the little thief. They ate and drank and went to the corner where supplies and carpets lay. Beside, there were almost a hundred of pigeons sitting on the perches, all seemingly aslep, but they moved when a little bandit came. "All of them belong to me," she said, and grabbed the legs of one of the pigeons closest to her, and shook him, and he waved his wings. "Kiss him!" She exclaimed and shoved him in Gertha's face. "If they were not tethered they would fly away immediately! And this is my old reindeer, "she said and grabbed the horns of the reindeer, which had a copper ring on its the neck, to which the post was attached. "We must tie him, otherwise he would run away! Every night, I tickle his neck with my sharp knife, he is so scared of it! ", And the girl put a long knife through the crack in the wall and slid it over the reindeer’s neck. Poor animal began to kick, and the girl laughed and pulled Gertha back to bed. “Why do you go to bed with a knife? "Gertha said, looking at the knife with fear. "I always sleep with a knife," said the bandit. "You never know what can happen. Now tell me once more about the little Kay. Why do you travel accross the world alone? " The robber girl is uncouth and ruthless but courageous, with a heart that is capable of kindness. She is not entirely sure whether to help Gertha and many times threatens to kill her, but finally gives her a reindeer and supplies and lets her go to continue her search for Kay. Up to this point, Gertha was crying, waiting or wandering in her search almost aimlessly, just like Rey was hindered in her journey by hesitation and attachment to her past. Only after Gertha confronts the little thief, she can discover the strength to move through the snow to the Queen's castle. On the way she meets a Saami shaman (and Rey meets Maz). In fairytales the wizards are masters of craftsmanship and military arts (see: Yoda) and enchantresses are the ones who show you how to live: ... [the shaman said:] "I can not give her more power than she already has. Can not you see how great she is? You do not see how men and animals are obliged to serve her; How she travels the whole world with bare feet? This power does not come from the magic, it comes from her heart!..."

The girl has bare feet! In TFA, Kylo is a prince, wealthy and powerful, while Rey is only a desert rat from a desolate planet. (“somehow you convinced the droid to show it to you. You. A scavenger.) Yet she is the one who defeats him in the end! Similarly, Gertha does not look like a princess but it is she who succeeds to change Kay’s heart.

In the meantime Kay was thinking only about the task entrusted to him by the Snow Queen: from geometric pieces of ice he was creating new patterns, trying to make the word "eternity" - what could be more perfect than eternity? The queen told him that if he could handle the task and touch this ideal form, then "he would become master of himself", she would give him the whole world as a gift together with and a pair of skates. ..."It is true that Kay is staying at the Queen's palace and everything is to his liking in there. He thinks it is the best place in the world and the reason for this is the glass pieces - one in his eye and one in the heart "...

In this fairytale the traditional roles are reversed - Kay is a passive hostage, and Gertha is his savior. Similarly, in TFA, Rey is the true hero of the story but her destiny is intertwined with Kylo’s fate. Both “Snow Queen” and TFA describe an unhealthy relationship with parental figure.

The Snow Queen is a personification of Kay’s narcissism, just as Kylo’s attachment to Snoke is built on his narcissistic need for perfection and appraisal.

An authentic relationship with another person can bring salvation. At the same time it is the source of hope and the cause of fear. Snow Queen and Snoke perform the role of guardians and persecutors who defend Kay and Kylo from dangerous and fear-inducing, vulnerable feelings in so-called “attacks on linking” (Bion), in other words, a perceived need to sever any attachment . It is visible when Snow Queen orders Kay to forget about his past, friends and family and also when Snoke “tells” Kylo to kill his father… But really no such thing happens, Snoke only warns Kylo that the meeting with Han Solo is unevitable and Kylo makes decision to kill him because, apparently, he thinks that this is the thing that Snoke wants.

Finally, the fairytale tells a story of true love and hope:

“Then it was that little Gertha walked into the Palace, through the great gates, in a biting wind. She said her evening prayer, and the wind dropped as if lulled to sleep, and she walked on into the big empty hall. She saw Kay, and knew him at once; she flung her arms round his neck, held him fast, and cried, "Kay, little Kay, have I found you at last?"

But he sat still, rigid and cold.

Then little Gertha shed hot tears; they fell upon his breast and penetrated to his heart. Here they thawed the lump of ice, and melted the little bit of the mirror which was in it.

Then Kay burst into tears; he cried so much that the grain of glass was washed out of his eye. He knew her, and shouted with joy, "Gertha, dear little Gertha! where have you been for such a long time? And where have I been?" He looked round and said, "How cold it is here; how empty and vast!" He kept tight hold of Gertha, who laughed and cried for joy. Their happiness was so heavenly that even the bits of ice danced for joy around them; and when they settled down, there they lay, just in the very position the Snow Queen had told Kay he must find out, if he was to become his own master and have the whole world and a new pair of skates.

Gertha kissed his cheeks and they grew rose, she kissed his eyes and they shone like hers, she kissed his hands and his feet, and he became well and strong. The Snow Queen might come home whenever she liked, his order of release was written there in shining letters of ice.

They took hold of each other's hands and wandered out of the big place.”

Will the new trilogy end the same way? How do you think? :)

#snoke #supreme leader snoke #kylo ren #Kylo #kylo x rey #kylo ren x rey #star wars #Star Wars The Force Awakens #The Force Awakens #the last jedi #theory #reylo #ben solo #reyben

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grassrootauthor · 7 years

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My friends, you are about to be led into the unique world of Keith Bonnstetter, Master of Snowflakes and Mystic of the stories they tell. And it would not be a “Joyce Godwin Grubbs” blog piece if there wasn’t a personal and revealing story about why I would write about this creative author. First and foremost there is a “miracle” in the story x’s three so just hang on for the ride.

(Shown with permission of the artist.) A donation to Animal Family Veterinary Care Center from Snickers in honor of Cubby. Do you see what I see? doghouse with A F and pawprint, dog, giraffe face, giraffe, snake, rabbit, sheltie and cat and heart, a Macaw, boxer, iguana, rat, German Shepherd, Lab, guinea pig, Cockatiel, pawprint, Lizard, tarantula, Dachshund, nail clipper and brush, cat laying down, cat walking, fox, ferret, kangaroo, chicken foot, V for veterinarian (Permissions from Keith Bonnstetter for the visual and content explanation. )

In the closing days of 2016 I was surprised, almost shocked, to receive a Christmas gift in the mail from a beautiful friend of many years. Her family was a “peer” family to my son’s and thus I watched as their lives changed as they had their family, and I saw their successes and championed their dreams. When I opened the gift, my life was opened to a whole new concept of 21st century possibilities. Of all things it revolved around “Snowflakes.”

When I went to the Facebook site of Keith Bonnstetter, it was a revelation of a skill and talent that took his art work beyond “beautiful, unique, and decorative” to having something that is “essential, personally fulfilling and relatable”. My friend showed me the framed picture she had Keith do of a custom work to memorialize her mother.

A memorial snowflake custom designed for remembering a mother.

This settled an issue for me. For some time my daughters have fussed over what to do “with mother’s ashes” when she’s gone. I actually didn’t even want them saved. Now there is a viable and more meaningful way to remember me, and it is a custom snowflake by Keith. Furthermore, it is perfect as I am “that child” who grew up with very little and on the “Wrong/Strong Side of the Tracks” as one of my novels is titled. One of the favorite childhood memories is when our mother would make us “snow ice cream” and we would play from morning to dark creating snow angels, snow forts, having the proverbial snow ball fights.

We often wondered how God could make all of the snowflakes different as we were told He did. We knew He was good, but wow, never repeating a pattern? It made us feel good because we were told that we were like snowflakes, individually created and loved by God. Actually I’m thinking of turning the tables on my children and having one snowflake done for each of them; making my own memorial is just the kind of thing this old contrary Okie would do.

Made for a Parish Priest

Hands of God Holy Spirit angels holding star angel appearing to Joseph journey to Bethlehem… Flight into Egypt Nativity lilies wood shavings Holy Family Joseph had to believe, trust, listen and most importantly ACT!

This is the book I received as my gift. It should not surprise me, although it did, that the author generously provided in the creation of his book, ways for you to have ongoing patterns at no cost by taking the patterns and recreating them as desired. As an author I still respect and appreciate receiving books with the author’s autograph. It is our stamp of appreciation and also our “thanks” for you buying our books. So thank you again, Keith Bonnstetter.

Sitting in a window so Christmas strollers can watch Keith in action, and even come into the store to see how it is done. There are reasons, or maybe I should say miracles which give him a resume’ which includes being on the Martha Stewart Show, newspapers, and various opportunities for interviews.

One might even get to hear some of his Snowflake Story, or just read it right here. Miracles flow.

Permission for use of excerpt from Keith Bonnstetter

My sister, Police Officer Trula Ann Godwin, would have had to have this one. Throughout her life as an individual, author, or as a police officer she always signed her name with the peace symbol at the end.

One of Keith’s first and his favorite. I believe there are 40 Snowmen on here.

Multiple snowflakes and with his book, you too can begin to “branch out”.

Keith can be found on Facebook and his products on Etsy. His business is: Clear Visions Snowflakes. As a teacher he uses his snowflakes to bond with students, and also with other teachers. That is how I got my book; my friend teaches with Keith and she knew it would be a good fit as I am now “home-bound” and need to be “hands on” with some activities to stay sane. Also I am about always doing/being unique in all that I do.

Whether you are just intrigued, or possibly seeing a “cottage industry” in your future, you cannot go wrong acquainting yourself with all the outstanding items and ideas of Keith Bonnstetter. I could not possibly show you all of his fantastic pieces, so please take time to go to the sites and see for yourself. You know I always pick “winners.”

Permission for excerpt from Keith Bonnstetter

May the beauty of your outreach in snowflakes continue to bless you and your family Keith. And may those touched by your story and your snowflakes see the bigger picture as we rejoice in Miracles and God Winks . It is fitting I believe, that I close this post with my standard author’s signature:

Believe You Can

Author Joyce Godwin Grubbs.

God Wink: A to Z. Birth to Death. Viewing life as a Snowflake, is Best My friends, you are about to be led into the unique world of Keith Bonnstetter, Master of Snowflakes and Mystic of the stories they tell.

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