#bella reads cog
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also for my tmi reread I kinda want to keep track of all the times one of them nearly dies/does die because I feel like they're always nearly dying 💀
#simon in coa alone dies once & nearly dies again on two separate occasions before the book is over 😭 he can't catch a break#bella reads cob#bella reads coa#bella reads cog#bella reads cofa#bella reads cols#bella reads cohf#bella talks#tmi gang is dying (again) tag#all the tracking tags..... help#the mortal instruments
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the twilight series suddenly makes 100% more sense if you read them under a specific premise that, i contend, is heavily supported by the text:
Much like Amy’s diary in Gone Girl, the books in the Twilight Saga are verbatim reproductions of in-universe diary entries carefully and deliberately created and curated by badass unreliable narrator Bella Swan as a means to achieve immortality.
Prerequisite assumptions:
1) Bella actively and persistently wants to become a vampire, both diagetically and (I contend) non-diagetically. The average vampire novel format often fails to capture realistic human behavior in one highly specific area: the protagonists are frequently mortals who grapple with the choice of whether to become a vampire. This is stupid, because being a vampire would obviously be dope as hell; particularly in the Twilight Universe, where vampires are not required to take a human life to survive, and indeed, have the capacity to live full and rewarding lives while integrated* into the human community.
(*integrated-ish; see Assumption 6)
2. There are too many coincidences for Bella to have encountered the Cullens by sheer chance, only to be the ONE person that Edward can’t live without (due largely to the novelty factor of not being able to read her ding-dang thoughts.)
3. Diagetically, the Volturi don’t even know Bella’s psyonic gifts until New Moon, but we also know that the Volturi scour the globe for recruits to enlist into the protection of their governing body.
4. Nobody wants to be a voiceless cog in a bureaucracy.
5. Nobody, and especially nobody in high school, wants to be a high school student forever.
6. Vampires in twilight are, as a group, cartoonishly terrible at disguising their true nature.
7. Forks is a backwater town approximately 3.5 hours away from the biotech hub of Seattle.
7. George W. Bush and Dick Cheney can eat my farts and they deserve to be preserved in this snapshot of an innocent author’s mind slowly unraveling.
Proposed timeline:
In 1993, there is a key system meltdown at a improvised biohacking startup in Seattle, rendering all innovative genetic modification experiments into a puddle of brown sludge that nobody can figure out how to dispose of per Federal regs, since they don’t even know what it is.
The broke founder of the startup, who for the purposes of this timeline I will call Jeff Bezos because that’s who it was, eventually grows tired of all the discussion about what to do, and just pops it in a barrel, drives a few hours out of town, and dumps it in a pond.
Bella Swan, a small child, is hanging out at a park with her family friend Jacob Black (and a ton of his friends) when they all decide to wade in a slightly murky pond. Thereafter, they are transformed.
Bella grows up as a normal, highly powerful mutant with a +20 to deception checks and wisdom saves. She lives in Arizona, but up until 2002, summers in Forks. While in Forks, she picks up on the local lore about a family of vampires who don’t eat people.
Because Forks (population: 17 + Charlie’s mustache) is boring, Bella bones up on the only interesting thing about it, i.e. Vampire Hometown baybeeeee.
In 2000, George W. Bush gets elected president, and his evangelical politics and general bumbling ineptitude informs Bella’s opinions on authoritative governmental entities.
In 2001, the Cullens make their intention to move back to Forks known, but they take a while because they need to pack all their stupid graduation hats and volvos, etc.
Later in 2001, a psychic Volturi scout rolls through Forks to ensure that nobody within living memory recalls the Cullens, and notices an anomaly in the psychic field.
The scout goes to confront Bella about joining the Volturi, and Bella immediately clocks him as a vampire, because vampires in the Twilight Universe fucking suck at looking/acting human. This leaves the scout in a bind: she’s too valuable to kill, but she’s a pre-teen, and therefore too young to be transformed per Volturi authority.
The scout warns her he’ll have to kill her if she discusses the existence of vampires with any human. He then tells her he’ll be back in five years, and begins to sweet talk her on how good life will be when she’s a vampire, beautiful, immortal, powerful, etc. Bella asks if she has to kill, and dude says “nah, actually there’s a bunch of vegetarian vampires who are moving back here soon. Fucking nerds, but otherwise they’re doing well.” Bella is all about becoming a vampire, because Bella is a rational actor.
Bella moves to Arizona, and as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are unjustifiedly initiated, she recognizes that while she DOES want to be a vampire, she does NOT want to be a foot soldier in any war that she can’t support. She needs a plan.
In 2004, Bella is watching her step-dad’s minor league baseball game when it occurs to her. On her own, she’s a target for the Volturi, but if she had some people to watch her back, she might be okay. Of course, nobody fucks with the Volturi on behalf of some rando human. She’ll need to con her way into a coven who’ll have her back and also give her that +10 to constitution via vampiric transformation, which she desperately wants because she’s a rational actor. And where are the non-volturi vampires that might have her back? Fucking Forks.
Bella moves to Forks in 2004, and upon seeing the Cullens, she immediately clocks them as vampires even though they left their “we’re all vampires” booty shorts at home, because, as previously discussed, vampires in the Twilight Universe fucking suck at looking/acting human.
Bella notes that all the vampires but one are paired off in heterosexual bliss, and takes note of the straggler as a potential vehicle to vampyrdom.
Bella figures out that Eddie can read everyone’s mind but hers, because Edward Cullen fucking sucks at looking/acting like a human who can’t read minds. Bella further observes that Eddie has a huge undead boner for her.
She’s found her mark. Now she just needs to convince him that she’s better off as part of the coven than on her own. Problem: Eddie’s a self-pitying insufferably guilt-striken perpetual adolescent who keeps himself busy by feeling sorry for himself because he’s a vampire, angst angst angst etc etc. Also, I think he’s Catholic, so add some more guilt in. She’ll have to win him over by convincing him that they’re destined to be soulmates.
What does a vampire used to having complete insight into everyone’s mind but his crush’s want? A method to know what she really thinks of him. Bella begins writing a “diary” knowing that there’s no way in hell Eddie won’t sneak in and read it. So she Gone Girls it, and begins to lay a trap to lure him in. That first diary? Twilight.
This was just in the movie but a stoner chases her around with a worm on a stick. Nothing to do with this theory, I just like that part of the movie. Where’s my spinoff about that guy?
Eddie won’t give Bella what she wants (eternal life) by the end of book 1, even though she asks him to EXTREMELY POLITELY. Time to hit the diary with some more promises of undying love.
Bella reconnects with her old friend Jacob and the rest of the Mutated By Jeff Bezos Boys. Alas, they cannot turn her into a physically powerful sexy immortal with a bite, so she’s still stuck with plan A) win over a whole family of vampires with big Mormon energy. It’s the long con.
Edward’s angst abruptly takes a swing towards terminal. He’s absolutely your classic sadboy, perhaps because Bella now has one (1) friend that he knows about.
When Eddie begins to drift away on account of Angst, Bella conjurs up a secondary love interest who, coincidentally, is ALSO a sexy supernatural entity, and is much less coincidentally just Jacob.
We should establish here that Edward is like a 107 year old white dude and so even though Diary!Bella pretends not to see it, Metatextual Frame Story!Bella knows that dude is super racist.
Jacob Black is three things: 1. Like Bella, a mutant (although one with shapeshifting abilities), 2.one of Bella’s oldest and most trusted confidants, and 3. down to clown on an elderly teenage vampire who keeps stereotyping him. Sure, says Jacob, I’ll take the form of a werewolf. He seriously thinks we’re all just beastmen, huh? Hey look at me now, I’m Regis Philbin because this is 2005 and Who Wants to be a Millionaire is still sort of relevant. Sick.
Edward does not like that Bella has one (1) other friend. Bella and Jacob plot to use this to their advantage and lure Edward back on the wings of jealousy.
Eddie gets himself into trouble on account of Angst and poor communication, so Bella has to go rescue him from himself/the Volturi.
Aro finally meets her and gets to test her powers, which impress him. Now she’s back on the fucking radar.
I forget everything that happens in Eclipse, so i have chosen to omit that part.
Eventually she extracts a quid pro quo from Eddie; i’ll marry you if you turn me into a dracula.
We don’t really call ourselves that, Wet Blanket Cullen replies, entirely earnestly.
Bella gets married at 18 in 2006, and Eddie starts to backtrack his promise about changing her. This won’t stand.
Well, look, he’s an elderly guilty catholic/mormon teen who probably still uses super racist terms, but she’s stuck on honeymoon island, he has certain angles that work for him, and seriously what are they gonna do but fuck? Bella’s alternative is listening to her “husband” drone on about his interests, which are almost certainly Car, How Do I Post a Minion Picture on Facebook, and Licorice Used To Be a Lot Cheaper in the Good Old Days.
Whoops a fetus.
Bella recognizes that she’s GOT to have this baby: time’s running out, and Bella knows that at least two of the Vamps in her coven will cut ties if she terminates or otherwise fails to carry this baby to term because of the conservative religious subtext. She’s going to have to stick it out for 9 months, even though it’s a risky call.
Bella gets what she wants after giving birth. “My time as a human is over, but I've never felt more alive. I was born to be a vampire.” That’s a direct quote. Except now she’s got a (pretty cute and easy) baby that she desperately wants to protect from Turning Into A Vaguely Religious Cullen Dressed Head To Toe In Cream Colored Wool.
Bella decides to fake her own death and escape with the kid and Jake so they can form i guess a detective agency. Bella will get “killed” by the Volturi, move to Sydney, and open up shop, and Jake will take the kid after her a few months later.
They’re gonna need a reason why Jake gets the kid though, and there’s only one reason to do anything amongst the Cullens: a heterosexual love interest with a super problematic age gap.
Jesus, Jake sighs, is Eddie really going to believe I’m in romantic love with your actual infant? Does he really think that little of me?
Yup.
Bella tries to draw the Volturi’s attention.
Works too well.
The Cullens call up all their vague acquaintances, who are at least kind of fun. Particularly that one dude who keeps getting angry about British conduct during the American Revolution.
Well, fuck, now the Volturi are bringing an army to fight their ragtag army of Vampires Who Are Cool And Interesting Enough That We Can Safely Presume They Are All Definitely Gay. Bella can’t let those guys die, they’re the first actually compelling vampires she’s ever talked to.
Bella saves the day because she’s OP.
All the Cool Vamps start packing up to leave and Bellz almost goes with them, but the Cullens would just keep sending missionaries after her if they knew.
Bella finishes her fourth journal with the vague warning that the Volturi are still out there somewhere and they miiiight just try and get her.
Two days later, she stages a scuffle and gets the fork out of Fucks. Her journals are the only clue.
Sirius Black and baby nessie follow once edward has stopped sobbing into his cream colored sweater and moved on to Extended Power Pouting.
Bella recruits her own army of fledglings.
Bella stages a coup against the Volturi and succeeds.
Bella sits on the iron throne with a hot lady vampire on each knee and they all kiss and stuff.
Nessie I guess forms a post punk band?
Edward dies from aspiration of a brussel sprout that he ate because he just wanted to feel something.
Charlie and Billy get married.
Charlie’s mustache develops a cult instagram following, providing them with a modest retirement income.
Jacob shapeshifts into Bill Murray and is always crashing weddings.
Bella’s stepdad is off in the B plot this whole time winning the world series with the help of a kooky angel.
There. Fixed. My soul is at rest.
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Dirty Little Secret *TEASER*
A/N: Here’s the TEASER for Dirty Little Secret. I’m still writing it and I’m loving it so far! And I’m convinced you all will love it too!
Also, if I tagged you by mistake let me know. And if you’d like to be tagged in this or any upcoming fics, please answer this short quiz to make sure I add you to the proper tag lists!
This is where you’re dating Damiano and YOU wrote my fic Ho Ho Ho (If you haven’t read it, that’s fine. But this fic will make a little more sense if you have.) Damiano found the fanfiction and showed it to Thomas... and they want to fulfill your fantasy.
“Ok, what the fuck is going on?” you asked, eyes darting between the two of them. Thomas grinned and looked at Damiano, waiting for him to explain.
“Amore, come sit with us.” he said, taking your hand and leading you over to the couch. Damiano sat on one side of you and Thomas sat on the other. “We want you, cara mia.”
“You do?” you asked quietly, your eyes going wide at the confession. Hearing that your boyfriend wanted you was nothing, but Thomas? This was new!
“Yeah we do, bella ragazza. I’ve always wanted you.” Thomas answered, placing a hand on your thigh, making your heart race. The words sounded so familiar but you couldn’t quite put your finger on it. Before you could even think to speak, Damiano spoke again.
“If you want both of us, you can have us, amore. But if not, we don’t mind acting like this never happened.” he said, leaning over and pressing a kiss against your temple.
“We don’t want to make you uncomfortable, cucciola. And I wouldn’t wanna lose you as a friend either.” Thomas said, giving your leg a comforting squeeze. Then it clicked. It finally made sense why the words were sounding so familiar. Your heart thumped wildly in your chest and all the color drained from your face making you feel almost sick at the realization that they knew about ‘Ho Ho Ho’. They were full on QUOTING your fanfiction. Oh fuck.
“When did you find it?” you whispered, barely able to get the words out as you fidgeted with your fingers, refusing to look at either of them.
“I saw it about a month ago. I showed Thomas last week.” Dami explained, putting his hand on your back in a comforting notion. You stayed silent. “You left it up on your laptop. I didn’t mean to find it, but I saw my name. And Thomas’. So I read it. Is that what you fantasize about, amore mio?”
“I wrote that before I met you guys! I haven’t written anything like that since! I swear! Just please stop this game you two are playing. It’s not funny” You said, leaning back against the couch cushions and crossing your arms over your chest.
“Cucciola, we aren’t teasing you. This isn’t a game. I saw that fic you wrote and thought it was the hottest thing ever. So I showed Thomas and thankfully he thought the same thing I did. I want the three of us to be together. Even if it’s only for tonight.” Dami assured.
“Really?” you asked, glancing between the two men.
“Yes, tesorina. We wouldn’t lie to you.” Thomas said, giving you a sincere smile. You couldn’t help but let the corners of your mouth twitch upwards into a small smile. The cogs were still turning in your head but you’d finally come to a decision. You looked over at Damiano, locking your eyes on his.
“I want you.” you said. Then you turned to look back at Thomas. “Both of you.”
Both of them smiled, realizing you were quoting your own fanfiction and Thomas couldn’t help but keep it up.
“Then c’mere, dolcezza.” He said sitting back and pulling you to sit on his lap, his arms wrapped around your waist.
“We can stop whenever you want, Y/N. Just say the word.” Damiano reassured you, his eyes glued to you and Thomas. You nodded your head and smiled.
“Can I kiss you?” Thomas whispered in your ear. Your eyes glanced up at Damiano only to see him giving you a smile and nodding his head to encourage you.
You turned your head to look at Thomas and slowly leaned in, your lips brushing gently over his. He quickly closed the space between you, pressing his lips harder against your own. You let your arms come up to wrap around his neck, your fingers tangling in his hair, your lips now moving frantically against his. His kisses were much different from Damiano’s. Dami’s were usually sweet and sensual, but Thomas’ were a little more demanding, still soft, but had more animalistic undertones just begging to break through. You began to pull away, remembering Dami was still there as well. Damiano chuckled, watching Thomas’ lips chase after yours.
“I told you, man, her lips are like a fucking drug. Tastes so fucking good… can never get enough of them.”
“I could kiss you all night long, tesorina.” he whispered, letting his eyes lock on yours. You giggled, still breathing heavily.
“Should we move this to the bedroom?” you asked, looking between the two of them and realizing that you guys were still in the living room.
“Of course, dolcezza.” Dami said while standing up. You went to move off of Thomas’ lap but the next thing you knew you were being picked up. Thomas had stood up and was now holding you like a baby, one arm supporting your back and the other under your knees. For being so lanky, he sure was strong. Your hands gripped his shirt tight as he followed Damiano down the hallway with you in his arms.
“Don’t worry, principessa. I won’t drop you.” He said, giving you a smile as you finally entered your bedroom. Thomas walked over to your bed and gently placed you in the center of it. You smiled as you looked between the two of them who were now staring at you.
“Y/N, amore mio, I think we need to get you out of your clothes.” Damiano said, a smile on his face.
“I agree, tesorina.” Thomas said, smirking at you.
Tags: @wow-ihateithere @filthforfriends @gingerd13 @mayayayayurmom19 @ohdamiano @its-afucking-mess @maneskings @iamawhoreforeveryone @could-be-gayer21 @hiraetheral @bieberhoodforever @bethanysnow @weareoddlydrawn @ilwiwbysmv @simping-over-maneskin @gr8rainbowpunk @annebelxo @hardyimhardy @lollyb04 @omgellenlouise @purrthehouse @mylittlegoldilocks @elvirabelle @immrbrightsideeee
#Maneskin#damiano david#thomas raggi#smut#maneskin smut#imagine#damiano david smut#Thomas Raggi smut#maneskin imagine#dirty little secret#ethan torchio#victoria de angelis#damiano david x reader#thomas raggi x reader#thomas raggi imagine#damiano david imagine#teaser
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Is it true that Alec and Magnus start dating when Alec is 17 (and Magnus is like 400 years old)?
I read someone say that Alec turns 18 in a side story (which I have not read) and he and Magnus are already dating by then :/
I disliked this in Twilight when it was a hetero couple with a shorter age gap (17 and 107)
I dislike it even more, actually I hate it when it's a queer couple. Queer man (especially men of color) are already stereotyped as predatory and only interested in looks and in controlling their partner (hence why they pray on inexperienced young boys)
Teenagers read this shit ffs
Actually, I don't think that Alec being 18 would have made a difference for me. He'd still be a teenager.
It's ridiculous that irl when we see a man in his 30s or 40s date a 19yo, we think it's strange, but we are completely fine with an 18yo being in a relationship with a 400yo.
If Magnus looked his age, book stans would be disgusted. But Magnus' hot and quirky and dresses outrageously (as if that's not another stereotype) so people stan him smh
Immortal beings with incredible power: stay the hell away from teenagers.
Yepp. Alec has turned 18 in the main series by the time of City of Glass, but they have sort of begun dating. There’s a whole drama about it.
In a message I received about this topic few years back, I said:
Alec is seventeen when he meets Magnus, and Magnus flirts with him. Of course, people vary by their maturity even that age, but I have to admit it does come off as yucky to think that hundreds of years old warlock takes interest in an underage boy. I mean, I’m only in my twenties but I’m starting to have those reactions similar to that one Star Trek gif.
So it’s sort of legal by the time of CoG. Sort of.
It’s a fair thing to point out that Edward/Bella thing. Or any relationship having a Salvatore brother being the other half of the pair. But like you said, it’s YA (or fantasy in general), I don’t think our societal rules apply specifically to a relationship where the other one is immortal. After all, Magnus can’t get any younger than he is, and he will always be a certain amount older than Alec. Then aside from biological age, of course, there is the aspect of emotional and mental maturity which varies greatly no matter how old a person actually is.
To elaborate on this: Alec isn’t really mature during The Mortal Instruments. City of Fallen Angels and City of Lost Souls especially can attest to that. And he’s eighteen, he’s a teen boy still. So I’m not as much bothered by the age gap as much as the fact that Alec couldn’t have been, like, an adult?
Everyone certainly has their own feelings and approaches to the subject, but I don’t remember ever finding Magnus and Alec’s relationship uncomfortable because of their age status when I was younger. I don’t think I do even now. But as you mentioned, there is the objectification and over-sexualisation of characters, and I think that is what’s wrong with the whole deal.
I wrote that I wasn’t that bothered really, I read these books when I was a teen. But since this message, I am now four years older and bothered I aaam.
Alec’s inexperience, his hesitancy to come out, his fear of abandonment because of his sexuality—all of these already make him unequal to Magnus who already knows who he is and isn’t afraid to show it. Then there’s the fact that the power imbalance becomes very obvious when Alec is pressured to come out because Magnus is already in love and if Alec isn’t going to do anything to acknowledge their relationship publicly, he’s gonna scram. Like a week or two after they sort of start seeing each other.
Magnus hasn’t really aged mentally either with the years he’s lived. It’s easy to forget that he is actually really old because he behaves like this, and his appearance and persona are youthful.
Like now I think it is fine, like in The Dark Artifices. Alec is strong on his own. He is adult and has become more knowledgeable of the world, more responsible maybe. But reflecting back to The Mortal Instruments, the issues you pointed out about the predatory element and stereotyping do shine through.
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“I should have expected to find you out here, Silver.”
Jem looked up. Belle leaned against the wall above him, haloed in the light streaming through the door she’d left cracked open. Her face was shadowed, making it impossible for Jem to read her expression.
Jem lifted his bottle of tequila in a mock toast. “Like you’re one to give me shit, Bronze,” he shot back.
Belle’s shoulders shook for a moment. “Asshole.” She slid down the wall and held out her hand. Jem relinquished the tequila without a fight.
Belle took a swig, then handed it back. “Pity Ry couldn’t snag Gold,” she said, almost wistfully.
Jem snorted. “Did you forget what Fox told me? There’s no way Gold is retiring unless he’s physically forced to.”
Belle shuddered. “Did you have to remind me?” she whined. “Let me have some hope we’ll be free of that dick sometime soon.”
“If I’m suffering with this knowledge, so are you.” Jem shot her a smirk before taking another drink.
“Hey James.” Belle smiled sweetly, then attempted to snatch the bottle from Jem’s hands. “Fuck you.”
Jem easily evaded the movement, leaning back to stay just out of her reach. As she tried again, he held her away with one hand, fully taking advantage of her shorter arms.
Belle whined and continued making grabby hands for the tequila. Jem took his sweet time taking another swig, letting the burning linger in his mouth and slowly settle in his stomach.
Finally, when he reached the intersection of feeling he’d made his point and Belle steadily trying to look more pathetic, Jem slid the bottle into her hands and let her go.
“Asshole,” Belle grumbled. She tilted the bottle back and made short work of the last few inches of liquid left.
“You’d be bored if I weren’t,” Jem retorted.
Belle snorted, but the sliver of light from the door highlighted the smile on her face.
In hindsight, Jem would never be able to say what exactly had prompted him. But in that moment, something just clicked, and he was speaking before his brain had a chance to catch up to his mouth. “Annabelle.”
Belle raised an eyebrow, looking at Jem out of the corner of her eye. “Hm?“
“Annie.”
The eyebrow raised higher. In one movement, she rolled over onto Jem’s lap and shoved him against the wall. “You looking to pick a fight?” she said lowly.
Jem grinned up at her. “Bella.” He let the last syllable linger and roll off his tongue.
The pressure on his shoulders eased slightly. “What are you playing at James?”
Jem pounced on the opening she’d finally given him. “Jem.”
Belle blinked. Jem could practically see the cogs turning in her head.
Finally, it clicked. Belle let go of his shoulders and brushed his hair back from his face. “Jem?” she asked softly.
Jem nodded.
“Okay.” Belle’s fingers trailed down his neck before coming to rest on his collar, idly tapping out a pattern. It was almost like a heartbeat, though whether hers or his Jem didn’t know. Maybe both, maybe neither. It didn’t really matter, not when she was right here and he could practically taste the tequila on her breath.
“Jem.”
This time, when she said his name, it wasn’t a question. Rather, she let his name linger in her mouth as if tasting it.
Jem tilted his head and smirked. “Yes?”
Bell shook her head with a huff of laughter. “Dork.” She leaned in to brush her lips against Jem’s.
#writing#in which i write#snippets#traitor queen#new tq#jem and belle <3#once again continuing the trend of 'idk how to finish snippets so here we go'
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For the otp ask... Mitchsen, 25.
25. “You can’t ride a bike?” - “Why are we whispering?”
*****
1.9k words, rated g.
*****
Post-Thanksgiving Break.
“Beca… What is that?”
Aubrey’s bemused question is followed by a half confused, half amused chuckle as she holds open the large front door to the Bellas house. That is all of the helpful she is, of course; she simply watches as Beca struggles to lug the large metal bicycle through the threshold, of course proceeding to offer no other real assistance.
“This,” Beca begins through a deep breath of perseverance, “is what normal people call a bike.”
In response, glistening hazel eyes roll fondly, and Beca manages to momentarily hold off the incoming sarcastic response with a chaste kiss to Aubrey’s familiar lips—those same lips she has missed way more than she will ever admit over the course of the past few days.
“I know what a bike is,” Aubrey eventually scoffs, though the greeting kiss has evidently softened her tone, and Beca secretly feels incredibly smug for her minimal effort. She closes out the cold late November air, penciled brow arching as she watches Beca wheel the contraption into the hallway. “But where did it come from?”
Carefully, Beca leans the cushioned handle against the wall, before stepping back slightly to admire the clean purple frame. “I guess my dad has been reminiscing about old holidays and stuff recently. He was talking about how he used to love it when my brother and I would get bikes for Christmas when we were kids and we’d all take bike rides together, so obviously we humored him, and then,” she pauses to motion briefly toward the bike. “Happy Christmas, Beca, I guess.”
As she glances over her shoulder toward her girlfriend, Beca is met with what she perceives as an entirely fond expression, and it is almost as if she can read Aubrey’s mind. She can practically see the visions of a younger Beca riding her way too big bicycle through the light Christmas snow, and if the idea of Aubrey thinking those thoughts wasn’t so damn adorable to her, Beca would likely scoff.
“We’re spending Christmas with my mom this year, so my dad gave us our gifts over Thanksgiving,” Beca explains, arms folding casually across her middle as she leans comfortably into the soft arm wrapping loosely around her waist.
“Well, that was very sweet of him,” Aubrey chuckles softly, lips twisted into an amused grin.
“I mean, it’s kind of lame,” Beca frowns in response, though Aubrey quickly shakes her head in disagreement.
“I don’t think it is. I never got a bike for Christmas,” Aubrey shrugs, “I always wanted one, though.”
It is instantaneous, the way the cogs in Beca’s mind begin to quietly tick.
READ THE REST ON AO3!
#beca mitchell#aubrey posen#mitchsen#mitchsen fic#mitchsen fanfic#mine#mine:writing#25 mitchsen#anonymous#question#won't let you fall down#prompt challenge
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Homeward Bound - Leo x Isabella
Part 2 of this AU. Please read Part 1: Enough before continuing
Leo must say his goodbyes before returning to Cordonia
@drakewalkerfantasy @kimmiedoo5 @rainbowsinthestorm @lorirwritesfanfic
@lorircreates @hopefulmoonobject @liam-rhys @speedyoperarascalparty @rafasgirl23415 @mom2000aggie
Whilst Isabella wasted no time to ensure that the family’s vast fortune was secured, Leo packed the last of his things. Angrily zipping up his suitcase, Leo looked over his shoulder as Javier entered the Monarch’s Suite. He stood, hands behind his back clearing his throat, “Your Majesty... I have been asked to escort you...” Leo pulled his suitcase from the bed roughly as he turned, “Javier... I don’t need babysitting...” attempting to push passed until Javier extended his arm stopping Leo in his tracks, “I would heed caution Your Majesty...” his dark features stared Leo down, “You may be able to fight one on one with me, but there are a row of guards outside with live ammunition. Let’s do this the easy way or would you rather? I am only following orders Sir...” Leo stood firm, his fist that was clenched firmly slowly released. He knew that Javier had only ever worked under Isabella’s instruction “Fine...” he took a deep breath, “...but I want to see the kids before I go. Under no circumstances are the guards to follow me, only you...” Javier nodded as he lowered his arm, “If you keep your word, as shall I...”
Leo’s eyes darted from left to right as the Guards were lined up waiting for their opportunity until Javier lowered his hand, “Stand down...” he spoke calmly with a level of authority in his voice as the guards lowered their weapons, bowing in acknowledgement. “Please arrange for the suitcases to be brought to the car... the King and I will meet you there...” It was a slight deviation to the divide et impera protocol but Javier felt his heart sink as he escorted Leo towards the Princesses playroom. Unlike Jimena; this was not a task that Javier took any pleasure in. He still privately respected his soon to be former King - Leo’s choice didn’t reflect badly on him as a person; whatever choice he made, he would have been the bad guy anyway. According to Isabella and Leo’s prenuptial agreement; if Leo was to walk out on their marriage, he would be stripped of all Laurentian titles immediately without hesitation leaving him extremely vulnerable to the enemies he and Isabella had made over the years. Now stateless, Leo would have no other choice to return to Cordonia. Knocking on the playroom door, Leo opened the door watching as his two daughter’s were pretending to have a tea party with their stuffed animals dressed head to toe in Disney Princess outfits, “Room for one more?”
Leo chuckled as he sat down on the floor between them, “I hope there’s no champagne being served here!” Alessandra smiles coyly as Natalia put her hands into her hips, “No papa, it’s a tea party...” she giggled as her sister placed a long blonde wig on top of his head, “and... you have to be a Princess...” Leo shrugged his shoulders sighing playfully, “Ok...ok... whatever you want babygirl...” but deep down, watching the twins as they played broke his heart. As Javier knocked the door, Leo shook his head, “Lia... Sasha... can you come here a second?” Both of them stood side by side as Leo kneeled in front of them. Removing the blonde wig, he spoke quietly trying to smile through the pain. He took of their hands each into his own, “You know papa loves you with all his heart don’t you?” The girls nodded as Leo bit down on his lip before continuing, “I need to go back and help Uncle Liam with a few things...” Natalia’s hazel eyes narrowed, cogs turning in her head as her sister pouted, stamping her feet, “No... you’re only back!”
Leo lifted their hands that he held, kissing them as he felt a lump forming in his throat, “It won’t be long sweetheart, I promise... but you need to be good for your mama and help her look after Nico when I’m gone ok?” Both Alessandra and Natalia nodded as Leo reluctantly let go of their small hands, taking them into his embrace, “I love you both so much...” he whispered, kissing both of their cheeks. Natalia pulled away as she looked at Leo, her eyes glazed over with tears, “Are you going away because we were bad?” “God no...” Leo slowly shook his head, “No... no... babygirl... never...” Wiping her tears with his thumb, Leo tried to smile through the sadness, “Uncle Liam and Auntie Sienna just need some help that’s all...” placating her with his response. As Javier opened the door slowly, Leo brought them in for a final hug and kiss before rising to his feet, “I’ll see you little monsters soon... and keep me a seat at the tea party!” Quietly the girls returned to their playing and Leo nodded to Javier, “Time to go...” he looked down at his Rolex watch, “...the baby’s sleeping I don’t want to wake him...”
There was an eerie silence as Leo and Javier walked side by side through the Palace’s atrium to the waiting vehicle outside. Each stride felt like a lifetime but Leo had made his choice. If Liam couldn’t protect the Cordonian throne, someone had to. He couldn’t stand back and watch his beloved Cordonia fall to ruins and if Isabella couldn’t understand that, that was her problem. Cordonia was his home; descended from the King’s before him. Leo’s blood boiled at the thought of someone interfering with his family’s affairs. He needed to do something; anything to make sure that the Rys name was still feared and respected amongst the noble houses of Cordonia. They needed to be reminded that the power their houses commanded was a luxury not a necessity - government could easily take their place. Leo extended his hand out towards Javier, “It’s been an honour...” Javier nodded as he grasped Leo’s hand in solidarity, “Likewise Your Majesty... Please take care...” Leo rolled his eyes upward, glancing up at the top window noticing the curtains twitching. Isabella’s petite frame was visible from the window watching helplessly as Leo opened the car door to return to Cordonia. She knew she couldn’t change his mind, no matter how hard she tried.
His travels to Cordonia were less Royal than they were economy catching the last flight out of Cantera de Pizarra to Cordonia’s capital under the protective midnight sky. His tall 6’3” frame struggled with the limited room but with Isabella grounding all Royal transportation, this was the only option. The flight was sparely booked giving Leo some breathing space. He left his credit card with the air steward on the condition that she bring him as much bourbon as legally possible to calm his thoughts and to quell his undeniable guilt. Throwing back the wonderful, soothing dark caramel hued liquid, Leo winced shaking his head as the sensation burned his throat. The bourbon was harsh, not as smooth as he was acquainted to; but the cheap liquid had enough alcoholic content to keep his mind from running away with itself as his sea green eyes were transfixed on the darkened abyss from the cabin window. As Leo felt a small tap on his shoulder, he jumped slightly causing the air steward to smile, “I’m sorry Sir... but your card seems to...” Leo chuckled to himself, removing another card from his wallet handing it to the tall, lean, redhead, “It seems my wife has caught up with me...” switching the cards out he winked at her, “Make this one a double...”
As the Boeing 737 landed, the blacked out Cadillac Escalade was parked outside the airport gate flanked by Cordonian Royal Guard, “Your Royal Highness...” Bastien bowed, “Long time no see...” he began to laugh as he opened the passenger door of the jeep. “Didn’t think you missed me that much...” Leo smiled warmly patting Bastien’s cheek as he chuckled, “Always Bas... I just can’t help myself when it comes to you...” The drive to the Cordonian Palace was stoic, Leo wasn’t his usual cocky self as Bastien drove through the quiet country roads; the only companions they had were the constellations above them. “What the hell are you doing back here?” Bastien turned to Leo as he absently stared out the window looking up at the stars as they twinkled in the dark Cordonian sky. His broad shoulders fell whilst his sea green eyes searched desperately towards the heavens for an answer, “Bella doesn’t need me, she never did...” Leo absentmindedly ran his fingers through his dishevelled sandy blonde hair before dragging his hand down his face tiredly. The former Crown Prince of Cordonia was exhausted, “... she’s one of the strongest, resilient people I know but Liam... he’s my brother and I can’t leave him behind...”
#The Royal Romance#playchoices#choices stories you play#Royal Romance#Prince Leo#King Liam#Queen Isabella#choices: stories you play#playchoices fanfic
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An answer to this ask sent to me by desmondneedshisscalpel.
Okay, so keeping spoilers up to chapter 40 because I don’t want to spoil the whole series for some people. Basically, thematically both Krone and Mama are examples of failed adults in a narrative that is primarily about children growing up in a world where they’re not allowed to grow up on their own terms or even live.
SPOILERS UP TO CHAPTER 40 FOR THOSE WHO JUST WATCHED THE FIRST EPISODE OF THE ANIME.
Before I get into the thematic ramifications of this let’s analyze their names. Mama Isabella and sister Krone! We’re introduced to Mama as the perfect loving mother figure. Somebody who is a mother figure to everybody in the orphanage out of selfless devotion and executes perfect maternal care.
See, the mother, the matron and the crone. (Man almost like Sister Krone’s name is referrring to something specific) is an idea in Jungian psychology. Jung in analyzing common themes of mythology noticed a pattern on how female goddesses tended to present themselves. An archetype, or archaic patterns and images that derive from the collective subconscious. Characters we’re all meant to recgnize that show up in stories agian and again. Right now in the panel above, Mama Isabella is acting as a “Mother FIgure” or a “Mother and Child” motife of interaction that most people will recognize on sight because they’re trained to recognize that archetype.
So we get to the triple goddess archetype, the mother, the matron, and the crone.
n 1949 Jung and Kerényi theorized that groups of three goddesses found in Greece become quaternities only by association with a male god. They give the example of Diana only becoming three (Daughter, Wife, Mother) through her relationship to Zeus, the male deity. They go on to state that different cultures and groups associate different numbers and cosmological bodies with gender. "The threefold division [of the year] is inextricably bound up with the primitive form of the goddess Demeter, who was also Hecate, and Hecate could claim to be mistress of the three realms. In addition, her relations to the moon, the corn, and the realm of the dead are three fundamental traits in her nature. The goddess's sacred number is the special number of the underworld: '3' dominates the chthonic cults of antiquity.
So obviously we see in relationship to the children around them, we have one person presnting themselves as the perfect mother figure, and the other presents herself as the dangerous, suspect woman, the crone in sister Krone. This entirely has to do with the fact that these women are not acting as themselves, they’re playing a role assigned to them by the system they are in. It present even in their naming (Isa Bella) the beautiful mother, and Sister Krone the suspicious crone who is not a mother quite yet and therefore a crone sly and conniving trying to prove herself. It’s literally referred to in cover art, that both of these women were only playing a role assigned to them in a tragedy. Pick a role, be faced with doing something you do not want to do, and then cry.
So now that that is out of the way onto thematic talk. So, the heart of the entire series is Emma, and we’re supposed to believe Emma’s beliefs are the right one and Emma’s primary belief is that no matter what you should fight against the cirucmstance you’re in, and not only that you shouldn’t only fight to save yourself but you should fight to save everyone around you. Realism, survival, that comes seconds to the ideal of saving everyone. If the situation is weihted against you you should fight to overcome it. In the very first chapter, Emma sees that she’s alone in the world, that no adults are going to help them and they’re up against monsters they can’t possibly understand and her first insinct is not to escape for herself, or just herself, norman and ray her two most precious people but instead they all have to survive and they all have to escape on their own and rise to ovecome the system. Of course Emma possesses and extraordinary and naive amount of optimism, but Emma is the heart of the series she’s the one who carries the message we’re supposed to read and the ideals the protaognists are fighting for.
Those ideals are: You can’t give up. You can’t give up on yourself, or others, and even if the entire world is fighting against you you still have to fight back with everything you have not only for your sake but the sake of others around you.
In a truly shonen sense of the word, The Promised Neverland is about not giving up.
The children with little to no help from adults are fighting against an unkind world, that is rigged against them, and encourages at every aspect for not only for them to not be seen as human but for others around them to not be seen as human. Every single character is present in a dehumanizing system.
The adults are those who have given up and simply decided to play as a cog in the system. They’re playing their roles without challenging it, because they’ve given up and only started to care about their own survival. The most important part to remember is that every single adult that is currently a part of the plantation system like Mama and Krone started out as kids in the plantation.
They come from the same background as Emma, they thought they were living happy lives only to find out that they were just cattle being raised and the adults that loved them were actually manipulating them. They all reacted to this revelation and realized that the entire world was going to try to kill them and had already dehumanized them and seen them as cattle.
So every adult is also in a sense, trying to survive the same way Emma is. The difference being that Emma’s ideals are transcendent, she wants to fight back against the system and also provide a better life for the others around her. The adults have stopped thinking about others surviving the system, they’ve given up fighting in any significant way and instead care only for their self survival and therefore they condemn others to the same cruel fate they once went through themselves.
So Isabella and Krone are just performing in roles, they’ve been utterly dehumanized by the system to fit that role but they also had a choice in this thought a weighted choice in that and they only chose to fight back in ways beneficial to their own survival. They were broken by the system and gave up. They’re adults in age and name only, they never truly grew up and tried to trasncend their situation in any way. They’re still cattle in a way, they’re just sheep dogs instead of sheep themselves.
The story argues again and again that while Emma’s ideal is highly idealistic, it’s the ideal people should be striving for.
That they should start by thinking they want everyone to escape and work their way from their, even if it’s insane, even if it’s risky. if the world is rigged against them then they have to change the world.
That’s how the trio has always functioned, it’s Emma’s ideals that drive them, Norman tries to get Emma and Ray’s different ideals to get along and make Ema’s ideals a reality, and Ray is the cyncial one who will sacrifice himself and do the dirty work.
The manga argues that this is the right way to think, the views of every antagonist is challenged against Emma’s view that if the world is wrong they should chane it, and you should start by doing everything in your power to save everyone around you and work from there.
So we see what is revealed in Krone and Isabella’s flashbacks. They were raised in the same system, but they chose instead of trying to escape the system or reform it, to just thrive inside the system by stepping on those around them. Krone and Isabella’s reactions even then are different. Krone sees this as a compettition and that she has to directly destroy Isabella in order to take her place, she doesn’t really even factor in the children she’s taking care of except as pawns.
Even these adults who have given up fight back against the system in their own way, but the adults are self absorbed and really only care about making their own stand. Their own survival becomes their top priority. For Krone, she absorbed the lessons of the system around her to “compete” “Compete” she gave up on the idea of escape and instead chose to fight with Isabella for the more comfy position of Mama. Even though in the end she’d still be a victim of the same system, just a victim with slightly more power over other victims. In the end her way of fighting back only thinks about her own survival, and she’s also given up on the idea of escape a long time ago instead taking the lesson that she could not escape to heart. Krone genuinely viewed the only thing she could do was struggle until death, that it was the only thing she could accomplish with her meager life born into this terrible system.
Then we get the second failed adult Isabella and she’s actually given a lot more depth to her character in the final moments of her arc. First once again the mention that they’re acting and putting on roles, and what Isabella considers the performance she’s given to the children as a separate entity from the real Isabella.
However, the lens that she’s just acting, the lens that this is a tragedy where she has to perform a role that’s all just a narrative that she’s imposed herslef on reality to distance herself form her own actions. The truth is you become the mask, both of those things are the real Isabella. The kind motherly figure that tended to the children, the cold woman who manipulated the children, those are both actions that she took, those are choices she made. You are in the end the summary of all your actions and choices. However, Isabella was so good at becoming a part of this system she was able to compartmentalize herself like that, and assume that all of those different parts of her was just different roles she was assuming.
The thing is Isabella isn’t lying here, and that’s what makes her actions all the more horrifying and also all the more human. What Isabella advocates is the opposite of the themes of the manga, and the opposite of the ideals Emma gives. That they should be complacent and accept their ignorant, happy lives, because that’s the only way they can be happy. They should just try to hoard that small amount of happiness instead of fighting a battle that they would lose.Once again what Isabella advocates for is giving up and only focusing on your own personal happiness for as long as it can last because the world is too tough to fight against.
And Norman advocates the opposite of that. That they have a right to live, that it’s wrong for them to be born to die as cattle.
As we go further on we see more and more of Isabella’s intentions. Her love for the children isn’t a lie, she actually did care for Emma, and she showed that care by wanting Emma to survive in the only way she knew how to survive. She’s advocating they give up like she did, because she genuinely has given up to the point where she doesn’t think there is escape or survival. Her attempts to groom them into cattle are really just her believing that them making the same mistakes she did and giving up as she did is the only way to move forward.
Again and again, the adults encourage the children to stop struggling against their situation, to instead care for their own feelings, their own survival, to stop thinking and let their minds be at ease because there’s nothing to gain from that struggle. But that’s not the truth, that’s just the path the adults chose to take. That’s just them projecting their failures onto the children.
Why does Isabella so perfectly switch between being a caring mother figure and a ruthless manipulator, it’s because she’s given up and stopped thinking about it entirely. She doesn’t feel her emotions, she doesn’t think about what she wants, she just acts as a cog in the system, without hesitaiton, without faltering, because those are what a human does and she’s stopped seeing herself as human a long time ago.
In this manga giving up is the ultimate evil. It’s what leads the victims to become victimizers and we finally see that in Isabella’s reveal.Isabella was Ema, not only that but she had a Norman, she realized the truth of this world early and gave up.
Isabella and Emma are presented with the exact same situation, not only that but they’re a heart very similiar people. They’re geniuses who despite being smart tend to only think about things with their emotino and at their heart are driven by the loe they have for life and the people around them. Isabella genuinely loves the children and thinks this is all that she can do for them, and that’s what makes her all the more monstrous. Because isabella and Emma were both shown the wall, shown escape was impossible and given a choice on how to react, and Isabella chose to give up and Emma didn’t.
And here we see it the ultimate challenge to Isabella’s quiant little ideology, that this was all she could do, that there was nothing to fix this world and nothing she could have done to make the situation better.
If that was so.
If that was so.
Then why did she give birth to Ray?
She’s Ray’s biological momther which means she made him into a victim of this system, and she chose to have him born into the exact same world that she sees no escape from its fundamental evil.
At that moment Isabella’s act falls apart and we see true emotions on her face, the ones she was suppressing all along for the first time in the series. Just like the rest of them no matter how much she dehumanizes herself to play a role in this system was undeniably human as well.
And the answer of course is that as much as Isabella does genuinely love others, in the end she was only thinking about herself and her own survival.
And the resolution of Isabella’s character is that she admits she was wrong, that she lost. Her deepest desire really was to love those children normally, but if she had thought of something other than her own survival then she could have aided in their escape. She could have been a proper adult to those children as we see later on in the series, real adults who do learn that exact lesson and learn to put children and others first before themselves.
Isabella is a victim in the same sense as Emma, but she chose to give up and create more victims rather than fight for others, because in the end she was only concerned about herself. And because of that she admits.
That her love was twisted. That she did nothing for those children in the end. She was denied her most fundamental wish that she could not love them normally because she did not choose to fight for those children but rather herself.
If she had not given up, if she had been convinced not to give up even now, then imagine what a great ally she could have made for their escape. However that’s not the woman we see at the end of this arc.
Just a woman whose thoroughly given up and lamenting the fact that she could not be any better than the system that made her in the end.
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Part 7 of my Thor rewatch thoughts:
Where the story really starts to fall apart:
How does Thor not get shot by all these SHIELD agents carrying handguns while running around in a narrow confined space with zero cover?
I legitimately completely forgot Hawkeye was in this movie.
An hour into this superhero movie and thus far I have not once seen Thor do anything heroic. All he does is kick the shit out of people weaker than him who are just doing their jobs.
Am I supposed to feel bad because he couldn’t lift the hammer? Because I don’t. Because he shouldn’t.
They talk about Norse myths as if they’re really obscure fairy tales and not just slightly less well-known than Greek or Roman mythology. Reading about them in a children’s book is like Bella Swan having to look up vampires on the internet. Also, the entry on Loki just repeats the exact same paragraph three times. It pretty much just says “Loki’s an asshole who lies all the time so nobody trusts him, but at the same time he’s such a smooth-talker that everyone forgives him, even for that time he killed Balder”. So I guess that little incident is canon in the MCU.
An hour into the movie and Loki’s finally doing something truly villainous; lying to Thor about his dad being dead, implying it was Thor’s fault, telling him he’ll never be able to lift Mjolnir again, claiming the truce with Jotenheim is conditional upon his exile and that even Frigga (who didn’t even stop loving Loki after what he pulled in The Avengers) didn’t want him back was pretty damn cold, and not even necessary. Like, unless this is another instance of scenes being shuffled around or deleted Loki had no reason to fear Thor coming back to mess up his plans. So why go to Earth just to kick Thor when he was down? This feels like something that they did just so Sif could tell Thor Loki lied to him so everyone could realize Loki was an asshole since they couldn’t figure out a way for any of them to actually prove Loki let the Frost Giants in.
Ugh. These one-note characters and their discount D&D dialog again. “Do not mistake my appetite for apathy” may be one of the worst lines in a movie ever. Worse than “I don’t like sand”.
I know they suspect Loki of letting the Frost Giants into Asgard, but they say “Loki on the throne” as if it should be self-evident why that’s a bad thing when we’ve been given no indication that he has any inclinations toward tyranny. All he’s done is refuse to rescind Thor’s banishment. As for conspiring with Laufey and lying to Thor to demoralize him, they don’t know about that.
I really want to see a prequel or flashback sequences of young Loki exploring Asgard and finding all these secret tunnels that somehow no one else in Asgard ever found before him, and exploring other realms and making his own version of the Maurader’s map.
Now Loki’s sent the Destroyer with orders to “destroy everything”. But like, why? Why does it need to inflict unnecessary death and property damage to innocent people if its ultimate purpose is just to keep Thor from coming back to Asgard? This feels like another instance of making Loki an asshole when he has no motivation for it. Also, like, he obviously doesn’t expect Heimdall to unfreeze and let everyone back in, otherwise he’d have, you know, done something to prevent it. If he had, he wouldn’t have needed the Destroyer, period. He could’ve just left them all stranded on Earth and they wouldn’t have been able to do jack shit about it.
An hour and 22 minutes in and Thor is finally doing something heroic by evacuating the town.
Honestly, I don’t understand why Sif thought driving a piece of metal through a hollow suit of armor with no internal organs, gears or cogs, wires, computer chips, or anything else of the sort to speak of was supposed to kill it.
“You have to stop Loki!” From what? None of you know what his plan is! You don’t even know he has a plan besides get Thor out of the way so he can remain Asgard’s king.
Loki totally just tried to kill Thor, after he surrendered and offered an apology, despite the attack being completely unprovoked, even though the only thing he did to Loki in this movie is tell him to shut up at one point. And Loki has like, no reaction when he thought he’d succeeded. Even in Avengers when he was full-blown crazy and mind-controlled with his empathy reduced to “an absolute minimum” he couldn’t bring himself to inflict a fatal wound on Thor and shed an involuntary tear after harming him. Why would Loki do this? Were there deleted scenes of Thor being more of a dick to Loki earlier in the film or the warriors putting down Loki’s leadership abilities and whining about wanting Thor back to stoke his resentment or desperation to keep him out of the way or something?
I hate the music in this movie, it’s so generic!
God the CGI ice in this movie looks terrible.
Honestly, what even happens in this movie to make Thor completely reevaluate his life? All that happens is he tries to lift his hammer and then can’t do it. Jane and co aren’t exactly models of humility, compassion, or heroic behavior for him to learn from.The only thing they teach him is that it’s inappropriate to smash cups.
Did Loki make Laufey promise not to hurt Frigga? Because he totally could’ve just killed her instead of shoving her aside.
How the hell does Loki toss Thor out a window onto the Bifrost, yet somehow get to the end of the bridge riding on horseback before Thor can fly there?
How closely was Loki monitoring Thor’s activity on Earth that he even knows about Jane?
How the hell can Loki’s spear deflect a blow from Mjolnir?
Loki’s evil laugh is so corny.
Wait, did Jane actually think Thor meant he’d come back to her IMMEDIATELY? Like, he’s got a life outside of you, the woman he met yesterday lady. Like, wait a couple days to see if he texts you.
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Into the Woods
A note found at bedtime...
The days are long, the nights longer for the Lord and Lady Dra’zar. For every day spent on the battlefields against the Seventh Eye, one must also be spent traversing the many nuances of Thalassian politics. Despite the radiant warmth of eternal spring, a creeping cold spreads across fields and seeps bone-deep in a way that’s far from physical. It lingers like a bad cough.
Phaeith always was the one for big gestures disguised as small, meaningful trinkets. It’s high time the tables are turned; upon returning to Dawn’s Reach after a long day’s work rolling the political dice and requisitioning supplies for the regiment’s upcoming war, the Matriarch would return to the quarters she shares with her husband to find them absent the man himself. Their bed is made— uncharacteristically— and upon her pillow are a note, a single pink rose, and a picture.
The note reads as follows:
“Bella, meet the gondolier upon the dock just west of the gate. He will take you to our little slice of paradise. -Ari”
--
The Dra’zar wife arrives later than normal to the estate, the woman clearly a mess from studying, teaching upcoming Knights for the time that she still can, and the whole scene of returning to politics has slowly began to wear her down. The one thing that keeps this woman afloat seems to be her husband, and that is exactly who she makes her way towards. She swings the door open with a little huff, eyes soft with her voice apologetic. “I am sorry for being so late, dalah’belore. You must be so tired---” she pauses at the realization that she isn’t greeted by the warm arms of her husband. Or by the usual welcome-home forehead kiss they began to make their nightly tradition.
Her attention fades from the ground to the level of the room, brows furrowing as she notices his absent presence. No wonder it felt emptier than usual, her favorite person isn’t there and she felt that deep in her soul. Inevitably her eyes find the note dressed with a pink note on the oddly made bed, a slight smile already crept its way to full lips. She hasn’t even read the note yet, but all she knows is that it has to be from her husband, and that alone brought butterflies to her stomach.
After reading then note with a bountiful of silent questions fluttering through spinning cogs in her mind, she makes for the shower to refresh herself as much as she can. She even goes as far as putting on a cute little nightgown that is all sanguine satin with ebony lace. An acute v-cut is cut into the fabric over her right thigh, a long and fluff-cuffed chiffon robe is tied to her form. Soon after she braids the flower into her hair, an attempt at something cute and lazy. Her finishing touch are her glasses, a staple to the Matriarch herself. When she finishes readying herself and slipping on a comfortable pair of stocking-slippers, she meets the man in charge of getting her where she is needed to go.
“Hey, thank you.” She addresses him with a woven basket padded by ruby cloth; the inside full of warm bread, grapes, cheeses, and meat slices. Being that it is so late, she figured she could be considerate for the poor mans feelings. One of which is taken with a bright smile from the man who nods and carefully helps the pregnant woman into her seat on the gondola.
Phaeith leans back into her velvet cushioned seat, a hand pressed over her stomach as she relaxes for the first time all night. A stinging feeling of burning curiosity and excitement tickles her skin, goosebumps galore! Eversong Woods will always be a beauty, but to see the fireflies at night, the slumbering lynx, the beautiful violet night sky with soft stars to glisten across the sky... Tonight she is thankful and understands the value of being blessed with such a phenomenal man in her life. Tonight, she finally understood what the fairy-tales preached about love.
(( @drimmari - this was so cute and SO much fun to write. I love them, and I love you!<3))
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I got time! Let’s do this!
Futamono:
* HARPSICHORD, MY BELOVED!!!
* HANNIBAL HARPSICHORD??? EVEN BETTER!!!! (Can’t wait for that in Florence! Yes, of course I’ve seen the gifs!)
* Oh now JACK is paying a visit!
* “It just happened.” WILLIAM, YOU LITTLE SHIT!
* Professor Graham, MENTAL INSTITUTION EDITION!
* YES, WILLIAM, GET HIS ASS!!!
* HE ALMOST LET YOUR WIFE DIE!!!
* OMG HEART!!! ALANA & HANNI! & HEART!
* Omg I do the “think of the whole piece the whole time” thing too with writing! FUCK I HAVE TO WRITE MY DRABBLES!
* What’s on the menu today? KIDNEY PIE! Of course!
* Psychedelics??? Or edible flowers? Or both?
* I’m not gonna lie. The inner Poison Ivy bitch in me kind of loves that.
* Wait, was that in a parking lot tho?
* IT WAS A PARKING LOT!!!
* Yuck but cool.
* POISONOUS FLOWERS? Pamela! Lillian! ISLEY! Sorry. Plant baddies always make me think of her.
* JACK, WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING??? STAY AWAY FROM HIM!!!
* Aweee, Hanni & Will are going through a rough patch.
* YESSSS HANNI’S BREAKING UP WITH THE BAU!!! FUCK OFF, LAURENCE FISHBURNE!! (Wow. These two comments are just 1 apart. How fast things change lmao)
* HE’S GOING BACK TO COOKING!!! COOKING MONTAGES ARE BACKKKKKKKKKKK
* Will & Abel, best buddies!
* LMAOOOOO I LOVE FREDICK ON HIS LAPTOP JUST FUCKING CHILLIN’ & SPYING!
* CURIOSITY ALWAYS GETS TO HANNIBAL!
* Fredick has the brightest, most obnoxious phone case. That blue HURTS MY EYES!
* GET HIS ASS, FREDICK!!!!
* AND YOU KNOW TOO, EVEN IF YOU DON’T KNOW, JACK, YOU DO!
* I’m just kind of surprised I disappointed in how quickly Jack has thrown Will under the bus. But I think it falls more along the lines of the return of the Chesapeake ripper. With the added bonus of Jack now needing a murderer soothsayer (is that the right word? Or do soothsayers usually just do Future Things? read waaaaaay too much Shakespeare to get this degree & yet I still don’t know lmao)!
* YES, FREDICK!!!! CONVINCE. JACK!!!! THE COGS ARE TURNINGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!
* HARPSICHORD, MY BELOVED PART 2 BITCHESSSSSS
* Small thing, but I really do love that Hannibal plays two completely different instruments! One in the past, it’s very classical and has a kind of twinkling-ness to it, the harpsichord; and one that is the most futuristic instrument ever, the theremin! I fucking love it! That is duality right there!
* LOVINGGGGG THIS!!!! *Tree Man
* & THE PUPPIESSSSSSSSSS
* Winston staying back with Alana & Jack😭
* NOT THE ANTLERS AGAIN!!!!
* Love this reunion!
* So APPLAUD, bastard!
* “I wonder how many more people are going to get hurt by what you do.” Hannibal, I know that you don’t feel the same because… You’re you. But stop being so obvious!
* HEARTTTTTTTT YUMMYYYYYY!
* Do you see how quickly I change my tune? The second I see some cooking montage, I am HIS BITCH!
* AMAZING STELLAR STUPENDOUS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE!!!
* & his SMILE! His PRIDE!
* Jack, honey, you good?
* Abel & JACK? Has this happened before?
* & just like that, no one bats an eye and Abel dying?? Or just getting TERRIBLY BEAT??
* Yeah, beat!
* DINNER TIME, BABESSSSSSSSSSS
* Alana!!!! Beautiful!!!
* Bestie, I miss Bella.
* EXACTLY, JACK! QUESTION EVERY THING!!!!
* Fredick & Jack. Lovely team!
* DARWINISM?? FREDICK!!!!
* No I LOVE Hanni’s suit! Sucker for velvet!
* HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HANNI, YOU’RE DONE, BUDDY! YOU ARE DONE!
* This to-go box will be his undoing.
* THE WINK!!!!
* PUNK ASS FREDICK!
* I hear waltz & think Florence. My mind is in the GUTTER!
* Alana, GET THE FUCK OUT, BABE! HE IS A SUSPECT!!!
* EACH OTHER?? ALANA HANNI TEAM UP? NO NO NO NOT A KISSSSSS NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
* What the hell are you gonna do now, Hannibal?? DNA SAMPLE??? POR QUE??
* NO BECAUSE I KNOW THOSE VELVET SHEETS ARE HOT AS FUCK! Could NEVER be me!
* Abel, this is when you die. Was GREAT knowing you!
* Let’s see how it’s one, shall we!
* SHOW US THE BO OH MY GOD
* And he STILL HAD TIME TO COME BACK TO BED! He works remarkably fast, that Hannibal.
* Thanks, I hate it.
* JACK CAME FOR BUSINESS, YOU LOVE TO SEE IT!
* Go down to Hanni’s basement. You’ll fine Abel there, pinky promise!
* OKAY COOKING MONTAGEEEEEEEEEEE!
* Thigh!! Whose?
* OH ABEL IS HIS GUEST!!!! Amazing! Oh. His thigh.
* “You expect me to be my own last supper?” STELLAR!
* Eat upppppppp
* HE FAKED THE DINNER???
* Come on, JACK YES! THE WHEEL HAS SPUN! FULL FUCKING SPEEED!!!!
* What the fuck is this?
* WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?
* OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
& now BEDTIME! But not before a word from our sponsors! ME! & whatever the fuck that was with HANNIBAL & ALANA! Odd. You’d think I’d love it. I’m sure a part of me does, but my heart is married to Hannibal & Bedelia. Anyway, an actual live image of my face from that too long a segment!
Would you believe me if I said that the Hanni/Alana hookup is still not the weirdest sexy-times scene in this series? ...in fact, not even in this season? ;)
Though I did like that he tucked her in. He may be a lying, conniving douchecanoe, but he doesn't want her to be cold while she sleeps. He's a considerate lying, conniving douchecanoe.
And yes that last bit was very “0.0″ worthy.
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obsessed with how different editions of city of glass say very contradictory things about whether Jace looks like Stephen or not. which is the truth? i couldn't tell you
#the wiki says he looks like Stephen but like. I'm pretty sure my physical edition is the newer version? idk tho#what's the truth Cassandra? what is it?#bella reads cog#bella talks#jace herondale#stephen herondale#city of glass#cog#the mortal instruments#tmi#tsc#the shadowhunter chronicles
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Where: The Courtyard, After Curfew | Who: Anyone
War. It was a beautiful thing when executed correctly. Even the ancient Greeks knew there was something divine to it, with two warrior Gods sitting in Mount Olympus. Complex. Violent. Bellatrix Black had played many games, but she knew none would come close to war. She’d dipped her fingers into it already, and blood left a welcomed stain on her skin. The end of the year was now in sight, and as time slipped away, carnage crept closer. And, when it all came to fruition, Bellatrix would be ready. Revenge had been boiling in the depths of her mind over the murder of her mother and aunt; hatred towards a certain muggleborn prickled her veins. Her loyal army was proving itself worthy of her leadership, thanks to multiple successful experiments. Diving into ancient curses only expanded her arsenal, making a deadly woman deadlier. In only a few short months, the Dark Lord’s most prized Lieutenant wouldn’t be behind castle walls, but on the front lines... and Merlin help anyone that got in her way.
The Charlotte ordeal had been Bellatrix’s most pressing issue. While she admired the older woman’s drive, such a brash attack with no backup plan was a mistake. Bellatrix could find a small sense of humor in it all: how odd that an experience Auror had made such poor choices, it seemed that training wasn’t what it used to be. Now the woman was at large, no doubt concealed by the Dark Lord in one of their numerous safe houses. To Bellatrix, it had all been a zealous act with no true win in sight. Deaths were permanent, they sent a clear-cut message. A few strung up and injured students barely made a ripple.
The castle lights shone under an inky black sky- night had fallen. While prefects and aurors monitored the halls, Bellatrix had slipped out of the Slytherin dorms undetected. She’d been laying low for some time now, following the regime of a typical student to a tea so as not to stick out. She’d feigned shock and horror at the attacks, she’d mourned her own losses and comforted her family. Blending into the sea of students was simple, brainless even. Under a coy expression, the cogs in her mind turned. There was something coming, something that would change their world as they knew it... Bella had ended up in the courtyard, late February snow still covering the grass. Book in her lap, she was partially concealed by trees in her reading spot. Surely patrols couldn’t fault her for wanting to get fresh air while studying. For a while, the only noise in the space was an occasional nightbird. That was until she heard the unmistakable scuffle of footsteps nearby. Bella raised her eyes at the figure skulking about in the shadows, although no greeting left her lips. It seemed that her solitude was about to be interrupted.
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She waited patiently as she always did, her head covered by the hood of her cloak. Bellatrix surveyed the small clearing, knowing she’d never been here before but feeling that familiar deja vu seep in.
They had been meeting like this for months now. their travels to search for these artifacts the Dark Lord’s obsessed with have kept them all from England. It was a risk even leaving their camp but they refused to stay apart…
It didn’t take very long before she head a distant pop, followed by approaching footsteps. He emerged from the opposite end of the clearing, his face brightening at the sight of her. Bella’s shoulders relaxed, her expression softening as he smiled.
They embraced for what felt like not enough time. “Gods I’ve missed you darling.”
“I’ve missed you more.” she replied, almost like reading from a script she had already memorized.
Her husband’s brow furrowed. “What is it?”
“Nothing” she lied, “It has been such a long time since I’ve seen you...” she didn’t meet his eye while her hands rubbed his shoulders.
“It’s not nothing.” he insisted, “what’s happened in my absence?”
She sighed. The truth was that these clandestine meetings were getting old for Bellatrix. It was getting old watching her spoiled little sister cling to Lucius’s arm like she knows he detests her. It was getting old to find excuses and lies convincing enough for everyone around them. It was getting entirely too old to act like she wasn’t besotted with her Lucius. Bella could admit that it was fun when they were teenagers; but they had a son together now… They were married–well, not that anyone else apart from his parents knew that.
She liked to think her parents would have agreed to it, had they not died before she and Lucius realized their true feelings… but their wishes were already set in motion before anything else could be done.And so here they were. In the middle of a nondescript forest, once again.
“Nothing’s happened my love.” She sighed before answering honestly, “I don’t like meeting like this…”
“Neither do I..” Lucius pulled her closer, kissing the top of her head, “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.” her response came muffled as she’d buried herself in his chest.
“It is--”
“It’s not” she she pulled away to meet his eyes. "I was thinking about it, and I may have an idea... You may not like it though. To be honest I don’t like it much either"
“If you think I’m letting you Polyjuice yourself into Narcissa--”
Bella shook her head, sighing as the slightest chuckle left her lips, much to the relief of Lucius. “No...not Polyjuice.”
He stayed quiet, brushing curls away from her face as he awaited an answer.
“We could, in theory...go to a muggle village where no one knows who we are...and just...”
“Oh...” his brow quirked, Bella could see the cogs in his brain turning. “We’d be just a couple passing by to see the countryside. None of them would think twice..”
“And if there’s anything amiss, we can decimate the village after.” the corner of her lip pulled up to a smirk, the idea growing more concrete with each minute.
Lucius didn’t answer, only pulled her into a deep, desperate kiss. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders as his gripped her waist so hard her feet grazed the ground.
“You’re brilliant.” he murmured as they finally separated.
“Is that a yes to doing this then?” she asked, smiling for the first time in weeks.
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Prompt Me More
Good afternoon. Usually it'd be morning when I'm writing this, but the past few days I've been sluggish and more tired than normal. Depressed tired. That kind that no amount of sleep seems to cure. No particular reason, and no recourse except to keep moving forward. And coffee.
That aside, in the last post I gave you all a peek into a braindump, or the scattered thoughts wandering around my brain as I come up with ideas to write. Thing is, these often surprise me as much as they would anyone who was reading what I wrote for the first time. I don't always know what I want to say until I say it, and I think that's sometimes true for most writers.
Last time was no exception. Oh, granted I knew I had a few mundane, real-life things pounding around in my brain. And I should probably not stare at the silk ivy plant in the corner of my room - I seem to pay far too much attention to it. (which reminds me, I should wash it sometime. The cat is equally fond of the plant and sheds all over it.) But then, as I knew I would, I slowly went from the real world to something a little ... odd.
So let's look at what I came up with briefly, shall we?
Everything had fallen apart. She had no idea how she was going to put it back together again, nor if she should even try.
Who she is, I have no idea. But something has already happened before I've even started to be aware that I've gone from writing a chore list to writing. Interesting.
This wasn't the first time, certainly wouldn't be the last.
And, whatever that something is, it's a somewhat common occurrence. Even more interesting.
The master would say that it needed to be done, that the people in the tower wouldn't survive without it. /she missed the master, it'd been several moons since she'd last seen him and, as she picked up the first cog to gather everything together, she strained to listen to the wind. It was too quiet without the constant tick tick tick and too lonely without his gruff, angry shouts of dismay at the turn of events.
Who is the master? Where is he? Why is he gone? And most importantly, can he be returned? These are some of the questions in my mind as I read this. Also, who are the people in the tower and why would they not survive? I have no idea yet.
Some of the things I do know from this passage are that she's lived alone with this master for some time, perhaps her whole life. He's not an easy man to get along with, sounds like he's a bit gruff and yells a lot when he's angry. But he has treated her with some level of kindness, for she misses him.
She wished she could turn time back. Forward only, he'd told her. We aren't allowed to turn back time, it breaks it. Only forward. But still, she wished.
A clear rule and a clear desire to break the rule. Why does she wish to break the rule? Is it because of the master? Is he dead? Does she think that somehow by breaking the rule and turning back time, she can fix something else? And what would happen? How exactly does time break?
Now she remembered, the boy drowning in the lake, too far for her to reach but not too far for time. If only she could stop it, slow it down.
Ahh. This tells me a couple of things. One, that from their vantage they can overlook the people living in the tower. Two, there was an event - a boy drowning - and she had perhaps attempted to slow time to allow help to arrive before it was too late.
She hadn't meant to turn it back but she must have.
Explains the current mess she finds herself in.
And it broke, juts as he said it would. Broke, she closed her eyes remembering the snap of the spring she'd barely managed to hit the ground before gears and cogs and springs exploded everywhere. even then a few had hit her.
The consequences of her attempt to save the boy. And from this I am guessing that, since this is a somewhat regular occurrence, such moments have happened before. Were they all her doing? Perhaps the master has also had moments where he wanted to pause time but couldn't? Does this tie into the master's disappearance in any way?
her shoulder throbbed and she rubbed the scrape beneath the leather shirt she wore. thick, sturdy. it kept them safe. she hadn't liked them at first but she appreciated it now. was thankful.
I know now a bit about what she looks like - at least what she wears. And that she's not overly fond of the clothes, but is grateful for the protection.
without the machine she couldn't see into the distance and didn't know if what she'd done had helped or made things worse. had the boy survived? she didn't know. she wanted to know. but first she had to work. had to put the clock back together. without it, the people in the tower would die. all for one little boy.
The machine allows them to watch over the people of the tower - interesting. How? And why is the machine there, what role does it play in time? Why were they chosen to keep the machine running? Did the little boy survive? And what lesson has she learned from this error?
So now I have a lot of unanswered questions and the possible beginning of a story.
What next?
Until next time.
Love, Bella
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don't worry Jace, I'm sure you got a good grade in blood tastiness, something that is to normal to want & possible to achieve
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