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rollup2theparty · 3 months

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—⋆𐙚₊˚⊹ scarlet heart! sung hanbin

❦ when you find yourself in the heart of your favorite graphic novel, you didn't expect to fall for the crown prince knowing the slim chance of a happily ever after. (scarlet heart & extraordinary you inspired)

౨ৎ ONE SHOT (fem!reader x s.hanbin)

⟡ soulmates / star crossed lovers / historical

⚠︎ character death / minor angst / mentions of blood

notes!! im not the most confident in fantasy so this one is rlly short but i hope uu enjoy!! lmk if u have any feedback (not proofread)

all you ever wanted was to escape, escape the horrid reality of your austere 9-5, escape the mundane plethora of emails and meetings, escape the job you drag yourself to daily. its true that your greatest desire would be to flee the repetitive soul-assassination that is this routine life of yours but you sure didn't expect it to turn out like this.

you try to count your fingers, all five. this confirms it, it can't a lucid dream. so how could it be that the scene set in front of you looks identical to the opening panel of the final chapter to your favorite graphic novel? in a blink, you transport to a wooden palanquin dressed in your finest ensemble, hand carried by a parade of men.

your distress translates to shivers, you have no idea where you found yourself yet you know exactly where you are going, the crown prince's quarters for a royal wedding... your royal wedding.

the palace looks identical to the illustrations you were used to seeing, the mass from behind the dignified gates cheer as you proceed with the extravagance of a royal procession. while the stage before your eyes bears close resemblance to the masterful drawings of a human author, they gave the imperial heir to the crown no justice. no artist, painter or mastermind could possibly illustrate the way his eyes gleamed with a sentimental yearning, the way his nose fell perfectly between his cheekbones, the way his cupids bow rested delicately above the perfect balance between a plump smile and a knife-sharp jaw. he was angelic to the extent that it was almost bewitching.

familiar memories of moonlit evenings by the lake where the fish swam side by side with the star-filled sky accompanied by the soft embrace of his touch ran through your head like a prologue slideshow. the jittery feeling as he placed a refined jade pin adorned with golden feathers and a blush-pink rose in your palm materialized in your mind like the experience was truly yours. you watch the glimmer of the illusory night reflected on the water beneath your feet. your heart beat escalates, tickled by the warm paced breath on your neck. his hands gradually moved to your cheek, gracefully pushing back the strands of hair that fell on your face. whisker smile appearing on cue, his left hand right snaked pass the silk fabric of your robe and around your waist, he leaned in and your heart stopped.

"i'll love you in every life." he whispered-

and you snap back to the present as you make your bows, exchange wine and partake in a feast made for kings (literally). your groom excuses himself to change out of his ceremonial robe and you rise up to do the same, knowing that the two of you will reunite, veiled behind the tapestry. the retinue scramble to clear out the remnants of your dinner as the two of you step into the vicinity where you are man and wife. he tugs on your robe and pulls you in as he gently envelopes his fingers around yours, the awe that left your brain fogged failed to remind of you of a rather special ending, one with an agonizing pierce of a double edged sword.

the pain was so intense, so nauseating, it was nothing but all-consuming. the friction of cold metal through your skin and bones left you quivering as you fell to your knees in acute agony. you sink into the arms of your lover as you slowly succumb to the fatal pain, taking slower breaths, gradually reaching the end.

star crossed, ill-fated, and damned, the nature of your relationship was meant to be doomed. teardrops grazed your cheeks as his screams and yells turn into nothing but the sound of your defeated heartbeat and you are tugged back to the real world.

your eyes open to the harsh light of the office bullpen and you doubt the reality you experienced was anything more than a fever dream, until you spot the emerald emblem lodged in the corner of your desk. as you begin the question the line between fantasy and existence, your speculation is forced to a halt as your supervisor clears his throat to introduce a new member to the team. a dashing man in a white button up and tie with the same eyes, cheek dimples and fleshy lips. like you are bound to each other with an invisible thread, the two of you are destined to meet in every life, dimension and universe.

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dropintomanga · 4 months

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Manga I Enjoyed in 2023

It's been another great year for manga. And I don't think we wouldn't have it any other way, right?

I got to read a bunch of manga, old and new, this year. But these titles stood out to me the the most.

Honorable Mention: Kindergarten WARS by You Chiba - This was something I needed, post-Assassination Classroom. A school filled with rich kids protected by assassins who have nowhere to go fighting against assassins trying to kill the kids. Not only that, the main female lead is desperate for a boyfriend and will date anyone who looks hot. But if they have certain peeves, the bodies will hit the floor. This is a really funny series with fun characters and a lot of action. It also has one of the best gags of the year.

Favorite Ongoing Weekly Manga: Akane-banashi by Yuki Suenaga and Takamase Moue - Akane-banashi continues to impress me every week. I absolutely love how every chapter continues to be impactful. Akane is still a refreshing protagonist and I love how it feels that even though she can win rakugo competitions based on sheer determination, Akane knows that she has a lot to learn. This is a stand-out manga that is excellent for teenagers.

Here's my top 5 manga of the year!

5.) A Home Far Away and The Yakuza's Bias by Teki Yatsuda (tie) - Once I got into K-Pop, I had to check out The Yakuza's Bias. I enjoyed a lot of the humor and the gags are well-done. It's a title that really showcases what it means to take a deep dive into fandom when you're new at it in hilarious fashion. But Yatsuda's debut work about 2 boys on the run is one of the best things I've read all year. It's truly a heartbreaking LGBT romance that will touch a lot of emotions. Also, Yatsuda's art is absolutely gorgeous and I can't wait to see their new work being licensed in the future.

4.) ZOM 100: Bucket List of the Dead by Haro Aso and Kotaro Tanaka - The only zombie manga story I read was Kengo Hanazawa's I Am A Hero, but I gave this title a follow because people were telling me about it due to its messaging. ZOM 100 stands out as an upbeat zombie apocalypse story that speaks to the resilience of people in tough times. I think we all forget that we can do great things in times of adversity if we all get support. There's some great moments in this series worth talking about. I never felt bored reading it. I'm glad I gave this manga a chance because I really think depressed people need to be told that while it's okay to feel the way they feel, they can still try and people shouldn't shame them for it.

3.) Kowloon Generic Romance by Jun Mayuzuki - Hong Kong nostalgia at its finest, in my opinion. This is one of the most fascinating stories of 2023 with regards to finding your identity and reconciling your past with your present. I have this high up because I really like how the central love story is slowly tying into a bigger mystery on why the world in the manga seems very off. People struggle so much with their pasts and I feel that this manga resonates with those folks. Especially me as I find myself longing for past moments that I dearly miss despite having not-so-pleasant experiences I would like to forget.

2.) Chainsaw Man Part II by Tatsuki Fujimoto - I absolutely adore this series. Fujimoto pulls no stops in telling the story he wants to tell. I love the new female characters that have all shown up and the return of a very notable one. I like Denji's development as he really doesn't know what he wants despite being granted a frightening power that continues to be a target to those who want to use him. This is the story of a "hero" who doesn't have the resilience to be an actual hero. It's also a story about people having their emotional needs warped into desires in the worst way.

1.) The Summer Hikaru Died by Mokumokuren - I normally don't read horror manga, but this manga is phenomenal. There was so much hype about the manga being released here in the U.S. and it has delivered in all cylinders. The art is great. The usage of sound effects to convey a sense of dread is top-notch. The interpersonal dynamic between the two main characters is frighteningly realistic. This manga, at its core, about dealing with a relationship that should've ended, but didn't. As much as we talk about needing relationships with people to survive, they have to end sometimes. There's a lot of horror and dread over how to talk about a relationship ending and good god, the manga delivers on displaying that. I also love the subtle reminder that bad relationships have serious consequences for everyone else. In real life, we've seen how abuse and interpersonal trauma trickles down from the victim into other parts of life and other people. All of this makes The Summer Hikaru Died my top manga of 2023.

I hope you all enjoyed my top picks. There's been a lot of fun reads that I probably missed out on, so let me know what you guys enjoyed. 2024 is probably going to be another great year for manga and there's already titles I'm looking forward to.

See you all in 2024!

#top manga of 2023 #manga #reading #2023 list #year-end list #mental health #psychology

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s1mpl1fe · 2 years

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god that script is actually so gross i feel gross reading it. especially as someone who hates the idea of pregnancy and motherhood it's vomit inducing to look at duffers trying to make nancy, a character who has been written for THREE seasons to clearly express disdain for these things, into being charmed by her ex saying he wants her to be pregnant six times. this is character assassination at its' finest and honestly makes me hate steve by extension because i start perceiving him as a man who tries to force this lifestyle onto a woman who wants nothing to do with it. let nancy want to be a career woman. let nancy not want to be a mother. let nancy not end up miserable like her parents, a thing she has been shown to be afraid of from the beginning. making a female character striving for independence and growth suddenly change her mind and actively desire to be stuck raising six children in a musty van feels misogynistic

#stranger things #stranger things script #nancy wheeler #ronance #ronance bc i kno people on the tag got me #my safe space

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eponastory · 2 months

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This one.... oh this one is...

It's Aang character assassination at its finest.

It's really good, but it's got a lot of heavy topics.

If you aren't into domestic abuse stories with heavy mentions of SA and some out of character moments... this one is NOT for you.

I read it all the way through, and while it does have those topics, it does have good writing, really good dialog, and some very good moments.

Recommended age group: It's M. It's very adult. Do not read if under 18.

Warnings: Lots of Warnings. Like Heavy warnings (gonna come up with a rating system in a bit) you have been warned

Story's Verdict: If you are an Aang lover (I am, I just don't like pairing him with Katara), and he is your sweet baby boy, do not read.

I give it an 7/10 Turtleducks.

#i need a turtleduck emoji now #you have been warned #please remember to leave kudos for the author if you read it!#fanfiction review #zutara #zuko #katara

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welpjesuisla · 3 months

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Tagged: 10 Fandoms, 10 Characters, 10 Tags

⁄⁠(⁠⁄⁠ ⁠⁄⁠•⁠⁄⁠-⁠⁄⁠•⁠⁄⁠ ⁠⁄⁠)⁠⁄ Thank you for the tag @x-authorship-x 🥰

John Doe (UnOrdinary)

First off, yes, his name really is John Doe LOL. He's not a very popular type of main character - at least in my experience. He's fiercely protective and cunning. And he struggles a lot with figuring himself out. He's the kind of main character that you have to follow around even when you don't agree with his decisions.

Shikamaru Nara (Naruto)

Underrated fr. Like we have so very few braincell holders in Naruto and Shikamaru is a reluctant holder of one. Despite his genius we all are aware of just how human he is. He still is vulnerable to the natural things of life and his own emotions.

Yes i am going to go on living life pretending that the Burrito version of Shikamaru doesn't exist :)

Ochaco Uraraka (Boku No Hero Academia)

The cute girl that could and would fight you and WIN.

She has a special place for me. She could have so easily been left at just the cute best friend girl or the poor girl gag or quirky love interest. But she isn't! And it's refreshing! She takes the path she set out on seriously. She has a kindness about her but she is also determined to do what's right. And she's prepared to take what steps she needs to protect herself and others. If you say her match with Bakugou didn't change your brain chemistry YOU'RE LYING!

Obi (Akagami No Shirayukihime)

The man that he is. Full disclosure, I've read a lot of Shoujo but OBI is truly the first character that I craved more of. Seriously, I want his backstory so bad but I fear we'll never be allowed to have it. He's an assassin turned official knight. He's roguish but just as seamlessly can be a gentleman. He's dangerous but he chooses to be soft and fond. Don't even get me started on the found family dynamics!!

Minhyuk (I Love Yoo)

The best big brother/best friend ever.

Minhyuk is THE BEST. And I accept Nothing Else. He's the pillar needed in crazy situations. Even if he's not physically there. He understands when to push and when to play around. Genuinely the only guy I trust with Shin-ae's literal life (Sorry, Dieter). He has her best interests at heart even when he's not completely in the know about what's going on. Dude is willing to try fighting CEOs to protect her and DID fight her stalkers.

Padme Amidala (Star Wars)

Okay her taste in men is to be taken with a bucket of salt BUT!!

Come on! Queen!! Undercover specialist - posing as her on Lady-in-waiting is such a boss move! Unafraid of active warzones and assassination attempts! Fashion icon!

Loki (Thor MCU)

As you may be seeing: i have a tendency to gravitate to characters that are usually inclined to manipulation and violence complex. I could genuinely go on and on about the beautiful depth of his character but then I'd get sad about what he became in Ragnarok and onwards. But yeah, love Loki - adore him truly!!!

Koushi Sugawara (Haikyuu!!)

Chaotic good at its finest.

THE Morale!! THE Refreshing!! THE Mom!! OUR Vice Captain!! The lovely Suga!! The biggest chaos gremlin of them all! Would literally win in a fight with every single member of the Karasuno team (with merciless cheating lol). I love the diversity in him: he can be the steady senpai, flipping at a switch between happy-go-lucky and excitable aggression, seems like the least threatening member when he loves screwing with the other side mentally. He's great >:)

Diana Prince (Wonder Woman)

Literally my favorite rendition of Wonder Woman. She's sheltered but well-intentioned. She's determined and doesn't let things like social norms get in her way. She brought humanity to a setting we constantly forget the humanity of. She's not afraid of being emotional because there's no shame in it. She showed us what some heroes forget to show us, that things aren't always good and bad guys.

Kim Dokja (Omniscient Reader Viewpoint)

He's such a mastermind, he's great!! A MENACE UNLEASHED!

Okay so admittedly, i don't think I'll even be able to scratch the surface of the genius that is his character. He's literally Upgraded Coping Mechanism on top of Well-used Coping Mechanism. A Reader given the same detachment from reality that protected them but debilitated them but now it makes them the most powerful and prepared. And he uses it with so much tangible smugness

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twistedtummies2 · 11 months

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The Price May Be Right - Number 2

Welcome to “The Price May Be Right!” I’ve been counting down My Top 31 Favorite Vincent Price Performances & Appearances! The countdown will cover movies, TV productions, and many more forms of media. It’s time for our penultimate pick! Today we focus on Number 2: Professor Ratigan, from The Great Mouse Detective.

If you know me very well, this choice and its ranking will not be even a remote surprise. If you don’t me as well…it probably still won’t be a remote surprise. Partially due to the fact it’s a Disney film, and partially due to the time when this film was released (it’s one of the more recent entries on the list), AND partially due to its family film status, this is quite likely the introduction most people my age had to Vincent Price, and it’s very likely how most people younger than me will often be introduced to the long-departed actor’s work in times to come. “The Great Mouse Detective” is also, I would imagine, how many young people end up being introduced to Sherlock Holmes. Because, in essence, that is what this movie is: it’s Sherlock Holmes, but with rodents in the roles. The story focuses on the madcap genius detective, Basil of Baker Street (voiced by Barrie Ingham), on his first case with his future partner, Dr. Dawson. The two have to work together to save a young mouse girl and her father, when they are kidnapped by Basil’s nemesis: the unhinged criminal mastermind, Professor Ratigan, Price’s role in the story. Ratigan plans to use the father’s special skills to help him assassinate the Queen of Mousedom, and then – you guessed it – take over the kingdom. It’s a race against time to stop Ratigan’s evil plan, save the victims, and spare the Queen and the kingdom alike from a hideous fate. This role came fairly late in Vincent’s career, and perhaps that’s what made it so special to him. He said more than once, in his waning years, that Ratigan had become his all-time favorite part…and considering all the incredible movies and characters he played before this slimy, contemptible sewer rat, that’s got to be saying a lot! Price described Ratigan as someone “playing the Great Villain, while also BEING the Great Villain.” There’s a sort of self-awareness to Ratigan and his melodramatic evil that I think makes him so fun to watch: he just so utterly ENJOYS all of his own wicked ways, and seems to self-consciously do things with the intent of making them as nasty and as grand as he possibly can. Intriguingly, there’s a hint of empathy to Ratigan, however: it’s hinted that the reason he’s become so evil is because he’s been prejudiced by society, since rats are seen as scummy, dirty, verminous things. He dresses himself in the finest clothes and puts on foppish manners in an attempt to seem more debonair and sophisticated…but ironically, his twisted nature only furthers the very stereotype he despises. Vincent’s voicework is a huge part of what makes Ratigan so wonderful. You can tell the man was having an absolute ball with every SYLLABLE he utters, and the animation and his voice blend together so seamlessly it’s impossible to imagine him in the booth whenever you watch the character. That’s something that’s difficult for even the very best celebrity voice artists, but the combination of Vincent’s dedicated performance and the artful animation makes it work brilliantly. His Ratigan is the Joker of Disney: a character who can flip on a dime from humorously evil and infectiously gleeful in his villainy…to a genuinely menacing, threatening, and thoroughly despicable character. He’s one of the finest portrayals of the character of Professor Moriarty ever put to the screen; I’m honestly surprised Vincent never played the character in live-action, especially considering both Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee played Holmes himself at different points in their own careers. Maybe somewhere in that big movie studio in the sky, the three of them are putting on the greatest Sherlock Holmes film ever made. Here's hoping a lot of us down here get to see it someday. One last thing: a funny story about Price in this movie. Apparently, when Price found out about the film, he outright called up the management and Disney and asked if he could take part in it. They responded by saying he would have to audition. “If anyone but Disney had asked me to do that,” Vincent said, “I would have been insulted!” Tomorrow, the countdown concludes with my Number One! Who will it be? What will it be? Stay tuned to find out!

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on-the-pechka · 9 months

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5 Manga for When Your Sigma Grindset Comes to a Grinding Halt

When I wrote “5 Anime for When Your Sigma Grindset Comes to a Grinding Halt” two years ago, the whole sigma thing was already well past its peak. Now it has fully exhausted itself and is rarely seen even in post-post-ironic use. Whoever said the grind does not stop was clearly lying. In these unprecedented times, brooding about and throwing spectacular fits of rage in various fast food establishments are our only comforts left, and literature our only remaining way to redemption. The following is a list of five of the finest Chinese picture books I could find to accomplish this.

“We Did It”

87 chapters, 9 volumes - MyAnimeList MangaDex

You may not yet realize catastrophe has struck as the wiimote makes its way back into your hand from behind and shards of glass cover your newly unilluminated head. Before your reason can make sense of what you’ve done, you may wonder just what it is that you’re feeling. Shame, guilt, fear? Certainly, but there is something else looming in the background, something more significant: The very realization that guys being dudes... can have disastrous consequences.

“Boys on the Run”

116 chapters, 10 volumes - MyAnimeList MangaDex

Sure does.

“Freesia”

84 chapters, 12 volumes - MyAnimeList MangaDex

We have all, at one point or another, played way too much “Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood” before bed and ended up going through a phase of running around and climbing on things, sticking butterknives up our sleeves to make “hidden blades”, inadvertently memorizing Tobuscus’s “Honest Trailer” song for “Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood” along the way. It can happen to anyone.

“He doesn’t have any friends”

81 chapters, 16 volumes - MyAnimeList MangaDex

You may be wondering how slice-of-life ended up here, you may already be gathering stones to pelt me with, but I can explain myself. This manga is essentially a character study of one Yugami, who has no friends, and truly does not need them. He is neither bitter nor antisocial; this is introversion done right. This may be the weakest manga on this list in terms of artistic merit, but it is the only one that gives the sigma reader such an outstanding role model. Hustlers must read.

“Masturbation Master Kurosawa”

31 chapters, 4 volumes - MyAnimeList MangaDex

Yes the whole thing looks like that, and yes it is about a guy that loves jerking off. The fact that “Masturbation Master Kurosawa” is universally revered and exceptionally popular despite doing nothing to lure readers in (and everything to repel them) should be reason enough to read this manga. In just 31 chapters of this rough, sketchy style, the deepest and most poignant examination of the pubescent male psyche I have ever seen takes place. I doubt it is possible for a woman to fully grasp this work.

#manga #onani master kurosawa #yugami kun ni wa tomodachi ga inai #freesia #boys on the run #bokutachi ga yarimashita #manga recommendation

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teatitty · 1 year

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SHAKES YOU IF YOU DON'T LOVE SAKAMOTO YOU'RE FUCKING WRONG

#kaientai arc #'he invested in crypto' shut the FUCK UP sorachi that was character assassination at its finest

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furryfaceoff · 1 year

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what's the funniest submission or reason given in a submission you've gotten so far?

I can't remember all of them off the top of my head, but some highlights of ones that made me chuckle:

First off, shout out to the person who took the time to add in all of Hollyhock Manheim-Mannheim-Guerrero-Robinson-Zilberschlag-Hsung-Fonzerelli-McQuack's last names, dedication to the bit at its finest.

"Sabrina (the skunk not the witch)"

the person who gave me an exact time code of where to find the hot tiger on the train in zootopia (you're a real one)

"who doesn't want at least a lil bit to get turned into a wholeass bear and get a baller soundtrack out of it (trauma notwithstanding)"

"The amount of furry original characters (do NOT steal) that this guy inspired can't be dismissed"

"Seriously though, she meets all the requirements for a good furry:

-Bipedal animal

-With human characteristics such as: mental illness"

this:

[image ID: a google form answer. the first question is "whats your characters name?" with the answer "Chicken Little", the second question is "whats your character from? with the answer "Chicken Little", and the third question is "why should this character win?" with the answer "Chicken Little Sweep. end ID"

and finally:

"We need a lesbian who's had an abortion as mayor. Also she survived the Kennedy assassination (she was Kennedy)."

#i love you furries (and non furs participating)#asks #jokes

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elsanna-shenanigans · 6 months

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November/October 2023 Contest Submission #10: The Queen's Voyage

Words: ca. 4,000 Setting: Canon divergent Lemon: no Content: Mentions of seasickness, past character death, anxiety and depression

For the past four years, Elsa had vowed she would never set foot on a boat for as long as she lived. After her parents had died at sea when their ship went down on their way back from a diplomatic trip, she’d been worried that history could repeat itself. But this time, she had to put her kingdom’s needs before her own personal comfort.

Her ex-fiancee was due to stand trial in the Southern Isles for attempting to assassinate her the previous year and the Queens Of The Southern Isles themselves had asked Elsa to come personally to testify before the royal council. Elsa had offered to send one of her ambassadors instead, but the diplomats insisted she come herself.

To that end, Elsa now faced what was probably the most challenging task of her reign in recent months, surviving a four-day sea voyage without allowing herself to become an anxiety-ridden wreck by the time they reached their destination. Suffice it to say, she was not looking forward to it.

Of course, none of the naval officers and her personal servants were aware of her issues, Elsa had become a master of hiding her emotions. All they saw as she strode up the gangplank to board the waiting ship was their proud and dignified monarch, dressed in her finest royal blue gown and cape, letting very little feeling creep onto her face.

As she arrived aboard, she could tell the sailors were staring at her, wondering if she was going to even say much on this trip. She knew she had a reputation as a recluse even before the attempt on her life, her parents’ deaths having forced her into self-imposed isolation. People had thought her engagement, where she’d actually been happy for the first time in years, would finally break her out of her depression. But alas, it was not to be.

As the Queen eyed the crew with her icy blue spheres, familiarising herself with the faces of those who would be accompanying her for the next week or so, the ship’s captain, Captain Yamada, spoke to her. A man in his forties of Eastern descent with short black hair, she’d known him well as a man who would do everything in his power to ensure this voyage went smoothly.

“Your majesty,” he greeted her politely. “A pleasure to have you sailing with us. I wish it were under better circumstances though.”

“Likewise, Captain,” Elsa responded, her voice soft yet never losing its regal firmness. “If there is nothing to discuss, I shall head to my cabin and you can get underway as soon as possible.”

“Before you do so, my queen, allow me to introduce you to Anna,” Yamada said, guesting to a young woman among his crew.

Anna stepped forward and Elsa couldn’t help but feel a slight warmth on her cheeks when she saw her. Anna was a young woman, probably around her age if not a little younger, with strawberry blonde hair worn in the traditional naval style that most women in Arendelle’s armed forces preferred.

She wore the standard, rather dashing naval uniform as all the other sailors, grey with black highlights in colour and with white gloves, though if Elsa was honest, she seemed to be wearing it better than anyone else. Her cheeks were covered in a spread of freckles and her eyes were teal, a slightly lighter shade than Elsa’s own.

Anna bowed in respect, taking hold of the sword at her side. “My Queen, I live to serve thee.”

“I’ve assigned Anna to be your personal aide and bodyguard on this voyage, Your Majesty,” the captain replied. “She’s one of my best officers. If you need anything at all, just ask her. As for the rest of us, we shall respect your privacy should you need it.”

“Is uh… is this necessary, Captain?” Elsa asked, desperately not trying to let anxiety slip into her voice.

“It’s standard procedure for all guests aboard this ship, Ma’am,” Yamada explained.

Elsa nodded. “Very well, I understand.”

“Come this way, Your Majesty,” Anna said, her voice bright and chipper. “I’ll show you to your quarters. Your servants already brought your belongings aboard this morning so they’ll be waiting for you there.”

“Thank you,” Elsa merely replied, following Anna below decks.

Once Elsa had gotten settled into her room, the ship got underway and the long voyage began. The crew did as they had promised, keeping their distance from Elsa besides Anna of course, respecting the Queen’s desire for privacy and if Elsa were honest, she didn’t want anyone to see her during the early parts of the voyage.

For the entire first day, Elsa spent most of the time huddled in her cabin, trying desperately not to be seasick. But it was hard when the ship kept lunching about from side to side heavily in the massive waves. Her thoughts were anxious ones, about how the mighty waves could capsize the ship, just like when her parents’s own ship went down.

Fortunately, by the second day, Elsa had gotten her sea legs and found herself spending a lot of time reading more than anything else. She’d always loved books, having read virtually every single one in the castle library as a child. In her depression, Elsa found herself diving into books again, them being a great escape from the pains of her daily life.

It was on the evening of the third day that Elsa found herself reading in her bed, a romance novel of all things about a young noblewoman charmed by a handsome lady thief who stole her heart. Elsa actually found these books to be some of her favourites, ironic considering the last time she’d opened her heart to love… well, it had been broken.

Just as Elsa was finishing the chapter, there was a knock on her door. It was Anna, her fourth time calling that afternoon alone.

“It’s open, Anna,” Elsa said, greeting her dutifully.

Anna opened the door and walked inside. “I know but it’s considered polite to knock before entering a lady’s cabin.” She sighed. “Is there anything I can do for you, your majesty?”

“No, Anna, there is not,” Elsa said, adjusting her glasses and going back to her book.

The young woman groaned in frustration. “Can I speak freely with you, my queen? If that’s okay.”

“Of course.”

“I’m kinda getting the feeling that I’m kinda pointless on this trip and that I’m annoying you,” Anna admitted. “I thought this would be the best days of my life getting to serve you on this trip… but I guess the rumours about you were right and I got my hopes up for nothing.”

It was then the Queen took off her glasses. “Rumours? What rumours?”

Anna’s face turned as red as her hair. “U-Uh forget I said that! S-Sorry!”

Elsa sighed. Truthfully told, she was regretting that she was making Anna feel this way. Ever since her parents drowned, Elsa had shut her off from most social contact, never really making any friends. And the one time she’d let her guard down… she’d nearly paid the price with her life.

Yet, she could sense that there was something different about Anna. She was being kind and generous to her and trying to do her best as her personal aide on this voyage. And all Elsa had done was brush the young redhead off, preferring to remain in her kingdom of isolation.

And then there was the fact that Anna was so damned pretty too. It had been a long time since Elsa had let anyone catch her eye, man, woman or any other gender. The fact she was a dashing young sailor seemed like this whole thing was right out of the novels she loved so much.

Putting her book down, Elsa sat on the edge of her bed. “No, I suppose I am the one who should be sorry. I’ve probably been a terrible guest. I’m just… not used to dealing with people and this whole voyage… Again, I can only apologise for the way I’ve acted.”

Anna sat down. “This has been hard for you, hasn’t it?”

The Queen nodded, Anna seeing the stern expression on the Queen’s soft face melt away as she was granted a rare sight indeed, Elsa letting her guard down.

“Believe it or not, I used to love the ocean. My favourite story as a child was about a mermaid who fell in love with a prince and wanted to do anything to be with him. Part of me wanted to be some dashing hero, sailing the high seas in search of adventure… and then I lost my parents.”

“I remember the day it happened,” Anna replied. “My boyfriend Kristoff woke me up first thing in the morning when they announced it. I remember the funeral too, how you followed the procession through the streets after the service alone.”

“You were in the crowd that day?”

Anna nodded. “I could tell how broken you were inside, even with that black veil covering your face. I wished I could rush out and hug you but well… you know, you’re the Queen and I was just one of the many peasants.”

“Truthfully told, I would have accepted a hug from anyone back then,” Elsa admitted. “You weren’t always a sailor?”

“Wasn’t always a girl either,” Anna laughed. “But you were always an inspiration to me. Seeing how gorgeous you looked at your coming-of-age ceremony finally made me realise I wanted to be a girl… and seeing you take the throne made me want to serve you and make your kingdom proud. Hence why I joined the Navy.”

“And what about your boyfriend? Are you still together?”

Her companion sighed. “No, I broke up with him after my training was complete. I worried I couldn’t exactly keep up a relationship when I’d be gone for weeks at a time on patrol runs at sea. Don’t worry, we’re still cool though, so it wasn’t like a really bad breakup or anything like that.”

“How fortunate… I wish my relationship had been as easy to end as that.”

“You know, the moment I heard that Hans bastard tried to stab you in your sleep, I wanted to punch him in the face.”

Elsa… had to laugh at that. Probably the first time she’d actually laughed in years. A soft, gentle laugh that quickly grew into a definitely un-queen-like snort. Anna joined in the laughter, itself equally as infectious. As the two young women finally calmed down, Anna was still chuckling.

“Okay, I did not expect your laugh to sound like that.”

The Queen blushed a little in embarrassment. “Neither did I.”

Anna stared at Elsa, at the Queen she’d spent so many years now idolising and fawning over. Though she was not wearing her sparkling crown and her platinum blonde, nearly snow-white-coloured hair was in a more casual French braid and her attire was a simple wine-coloured nightgown, she still looked like a flowing ice sculpture given human form.

She’d thought there was no way she’d ever get this close to Elsa in a million years and yet, here the two were, bonding and laughing and Anna realising that this woman was a lot more like herself than she’d ever thought. Anna felt her cheeks glowing a little as she looked at the Queen a little more.

“Anna, may I ask you to do something for me?”

“O-Oh sure!” Anna stuttered, rather adorably. “What is it?”

“Could you… let your hair down for me?” Elsa wondered.

“Are you sure? I don’t wanna get in trouble for being improperly dressed.”

“Well no one is watching us and I’m quite good at keeping secrets,” Elsa said. “And you don’t have to have it down for long. I’m just… curious to see what it looks like.”

“Alright, but it’s not really anything special,” Anna replied, reaching back and untying her hair. As it fell out of its bun, Elsa could clearly see that Anna had been dead wrong. Anna looked even better with her hair down, her fiery red strawberry blonde locks flowing loosely behind her head like a waterfall at sunset.

Elsa turned even more red, which only made Anna feel more awkward.

“See, I told you, it’s not really much to write home about,” Anna excused. “I used to wear it a lot better right after my transition. Had it in these two cute twin braids.”

“Anna,” Elsa merely responded.

“And I mean those were cute I guess but like, I’m not nearly as gorgeous as you are. I mean, you’re a queen, of course you’re gonna be the prettiest girl to ever walk the face of the earth and I’m just-”

“Oh Anna you are so wrong,” Elsa merely said with a hint of passion in her voice as she grabbed Anna’s cheeks and kissed her hard. Anna blushed bright red and held Elsa back, her eyes widening for a moment before she gave in. Both of them kissed the other softly, Anna feeling like she’d gone to heaven at that moment.

But then, Anna realised she was kissing the Queen of Arendelle and quickly pulled away, shocked and panicked. “Shit, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean for that to happen, I’m so sorry!”

“No, Anna, it’s-” but before Elsa could finish her sentence, the redhead had sprinted out of the Queen’s cabin and slammed the door behind her.

Feeling her heart rend itself into a knot, Elsa curled up back on the bed. She felt so guilty for doing that, for driving away the one person who she’d found some connection with on this damned voyage. She held her hands close to her chest and started to cry, eventually crying herself to sleep.

—-

The next morning, Elsa awoke with a pain in her chest, a feeling she’d never truly felt before. Guilt. As she sat up in bed and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, she hugged her legs, wondering what to do. She wanted to make amends with Anna, to apologise for that sudden act the night before.

She couldn’t allow this guilt to carry on, not while she still had important business to do when they eventually reached the Southern Isles. She just sat there, gazing at the clock on the wall beside her. It was just before nine o'clock, when Anna had greeted her every morning thus far.

And as if on cue, there was a knock on the door. Elsa’s eyes widened. “Come in!” She called out. As the door opened, the Queen suddenly blurted out her feelings. “Anna, I’m so sorry about-… you’re not Anna.”

“No ma’am,” The dark-skinned woman who walked inside said. “I’m Honeymaren. I was asked to be your new personal aide.”

“W-Where’s Anna?”

“Oh she uh… asked the captain to relieve her of her duties to you,” Honeymaren explained. “Is there something wrong?”

“No, I…” Elsa then got out of bed, then quickly put on her shoes. “Can you tell me where the captain’s study is?”

“The deck above us, near the stern,” Honeymaren informed her.

“Thank you, if you’ll excuse me,” Elsa said, before storming past Honeymaren. She marched down the corridor and up the flight of stairs, wanting to get to the bottom of this. Was this a bit of an uncharacteristic move for the Queen of Arendelle? Yes, but Elsa hadn’t felt this strongly about someone in so long.

And she was determined to make this right.

As she arrived at Captain Yamada’s study, Elsa knocked on the door briskly. “Captain, are you in there?”

“Yes?”

Elsa walked inside, seeing the captain right in the middle of some paperwork. He looked at her, surprised.

“Your majesty? You’re up rather early. Is there something wrong?”

“Captain, where’s Anna?”

“On deck, she’s inspecting the sails at the moment I think. We went through a pretty bad gale last night.”

“Why did she ask to be relieved of her duties?”

“Who… who told you about that?”

“Answer me, captain,” Elsa demanded, in a voice the Queen only used for her closest advisors.

Yamada sighed. “She said she felt she couldn’t perform her duties adequately enough and had felt she had failed you. I asked her why she felt that way and she wouldn’t say, just merely asked to be reassigned. I’m sorry about all this, but Honeymaren is a good officer too. She’ll be just as good as Anna was in serving you as your aide for the next two days till we get to our destination.”

“But she won’t be, Anna, I’m sorry,” Elsa expressed.

The captain straightened his collar. “I uh… if you want, I can order Anna to resume her duties serving you, my Queen. I’m her commanding officer after all.”

There was a part of Elsa that nearly wanted to say yes, to make Anna come back to her… before the rational part of the monarch’s brain finally took control and made Elsa come to her senses. “No, no, she said she had her reasons for wanting to be relieved of her duties… I want to respect those.” She then walked to the door. “I’m sorry for troubling you, Captain, I’ll leave you to your work.”

“It’s alright your majesty,” He said. Before Elsa could leave, the captain spoke again. “Oh, and my queen? I hope you and Anna do get a chance to patch things up. She always spoke of how much she was looking forward to her assignment with you. I’d hate for you to leave on bad terms.”

“Thank you, Captain,” Elsa responded. “I… I hope so too.”

And with that, the Queen took her leave.

—-

The next two days felt like an eternity for Elsa. There was a notable hole in her life where Anna had once been and no matter how much Elsa had tried to ignore it, her thoughts would always find themselves fixed on Anna. She’d been so good to her and so kind and Elsa… well, she wanted to be with her more.

But she’d done something so stupid, so idiotic that it had driven Anna away. And no matter how Elsa wanted to try and fix things, she knew it was best if she left Anna be. She’d probably be too busy with the trial in the Southern Isles for the next few days to think about her anyway.

And Honeymaren, as the captain had said, did a marvellous job as her personal aide, almost as good as Anna, in fact. But unlike before with Anna, Elsa did her best to talk with Maren, trying as she might anything that could help her bury the thoughts of Anna that still lingered within her.

But it did her no good. She still missed Anna. It was when Elsa realised that… for that one moment that night, she hadn’t felt any fear inside at all. No anxiety over drowning in the endless sea, no worries about letting anyone get too close again, Anna’s mere presence had helped all that go away.

At the end of her fourth night at sea, Elsa found she couldn’t sleep and couldn’t read either. Her romance novels only reminded her more of Anna and the guilt she was still feeling kept her awake. She was also starting to hate being cooped up in her room all the time, almost feeling claustrophobic at this point.

In the end, the Queen decided some fresh air might do her some good. Putting on one of her favourite blue jackets, she headed out of her room and onto the deck of the ship above her. As the calm sea air filled her nose, she was greeted by a wondrous view before her as the ship sailed across the sea.

The sky was virtually cloudless, pricks of starlight dotting the heavens above. And the moon… Elsa had never seen the moon so big, its white light reflected on the calm waters below. She went to the front of the ship, leaning against the railing and feeling the wind rush through her hair.

At that moment, the ocean didn’t look like anything to be feared. No, it actually looked beautiful, a tranquil calmness that Elsa hadn’t thought about since she loved her adventure stories as a child. It was perfect, almost perfect… only one thing or rather one woman could make this whole scene truly complete.

And to her surprise… Elsa heard a voice calling out to her.

“Your majesty?”

The Queen turned, seeing Anna walking towards her. She looked worried and concerned, despite Elsa feeling the exact opposite upon seeing her.

“Anna?”

“What are you doing out here?”

“Oh I… couldn’t sleep,” Elsa stated. “I thought some fresh air would do me some good.”

“You should get back to your cabin,” Anna insisted. “It’s dark out here and I’d rather you not trip over something and fall overboard.”

“I’ll be alright, but… Thank you for caring,” Elsa admitted, blushing softly.

“Well, it’s my duty to.”

“I thought you had yourself relieved of that,” Elsa smirked before realising that the joke was probably in poor taste. “Sorry… I didn’t mean.”

“Did you just make a joke?”

“Maybe.”

Anna had to chuckle. “You’re something else, your majesty.”

“Please, Anna… you can call me Elsa.” The Queen insisted.

“Okay… Elsa,” Anna replied, joining her by the railing. “I… I’m sorry about the other night.”

“I should be sorry,” Elsa said, lamenting her impulsive behaviour. “I was the one who kissed you. You did nothing wrong and don’t you blame yourself for it. You’ve been the kindest person I’ve met in a long time… and probably the prettiest too if I’m being honest.”

Anna blushed. “You… really think that?”

“Why do you think I kissed you?”

“But I’m not nearly the kind of person you want,” Anna argued. “You need someone more fitting, like some noble or foreign royal or something.”

“I tried that once, I nearly got stabbed to death,” Elsa joked again. “I’d rather have someone who made me feel good and feel like I can be a human being again. Look at me, I’m out here on a boat and I should be utterly terrified and yet… I’m not because I’m here with you.”

“I… really make you feel that way?”

“Yes… but if it still makes you uncomfortable, I won’t push whatever this is. I was too forward the other night and I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“No, I… I want this if you want it, Elsa. I’ve had feelings for you for years, I just… didn’t think you’d feel the same way and that’s why I panicked last night.”

“Are you going to panic now?”

The redhead smiled. “No, I’m not.” She then grabbed Elsa and kissed her again, pulling the Queen flush against her, wrapping her arms around the slightly taller woman. Elsa just melted into the kiss and kissed her back, the two of them bathed in the light of the moon and stars.

When the ship eventually arrived in the Southern Isles, Elsa requested that Anna be transferred to be her bodyguard for the duration of the trip. Officially, Elsa had merely been impressed by Anna’s dedication to her. Unofficially… Elsa didn’t want her new love to be apart from her for a second.

And Anna wouldn’t dare leave her Queen again, knowing that they were better together than separated.

#elsanna #October 2023 contest #prompt: water #submission #cw: anxiety #cw: depression #cw: character death

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