#s4 corset | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

bsxcrxts · 2 years

Text

out of the woods yet // Steve Harrington x librarian!reader

chapter five

Summary: Steve and reader fool around in the library after he catches reader with a trashy romance novel.

Content Warning: this is explicit!!! DNI if you are not 18+! more specifically this fic contains: thigh-riding, groping, teasing, fingering, a hand job, dirty talk, etc. no spoilers for s4! it takes place between s3 and s4.

Word Count: 3.2k !!!!

A/N: Well shit y’all I didn’t finish it before the premiere, but I’m only three hours late! The romance novel in question that Steve reads passages from is inspired by a real book, though technically that irl novel was written after this fic takes place lol. Also, I have changed the quotes to be cringier but the inspiration is there, so credit where credit is due. *cites smut in MLA format*

BTW: you don’t have to read the other parts first to understand this, but it’d be cool if you did! Here they are:

Series Masterlist

“What’s this?” Steve asks, mischievously grabbing the book that you’d just thrust quickly onto the book cart sitting by the front desk. Something about the way you practically threw the book out of your hands when you caught a glance of him approaching has his interest piqued. Steve knows he’s accidentally startled you a few times since he started coming into Hawkins Public Library after his morning shifts end at Family Video, where he had semi-successfully secured a job working with Robin after some clever conniving on her part, but he’s never seen you react like a kid caught with their hand in a cookie jar before.

Accidentally interrupting you with his presence while you’re off in your own world is nothing new for Steve. Before the two of you started hanging out regularly, and then dating, he’d see you close your sketchbook, journal, magazines and various novels once you spotted him entering the library, often with a bit of absent-minded urgency, as if you’re nervous that if you don’t stop and pay attention to Steve, he’ll disappear. After the two of you got closer, you’d sometimes show Steve what you were reading, writing, or drawing, and he’d sit and listen to your impassioned rambles about whatever was important to you the most at the moment, even when he didn’t quite get it, which was around half the time.

In fact, Steve has learned a lot about you. He’s learned your family moved to Hawkins at the end of May because of your parent’s jobs, one year before your brother was set to graduate from high school, and that you actually went to a university halfway across the country for two semesters before dropping out (you haven’t told him why yet; he doesn’t know if you ever will, and seeing as how college is a sore spot for both of you, he doesn’t press the issue). You played volleyball in middle school, you hate licorice candy, and you prefer The Beach Boys to The Beatles. Your family only has one car and you really hate driving it. In contrast, you seem to really love making out with him in his car when he takes you on dates after your shift. You got the job at the library because you prefer how quiet the environment is, and it’s Steve’s belief that you also were hired because you read faster than should be humanly possible, but he’s not sure if that’s just his opinion because he’s never been a quick study at school work. You’ve been attempting to convince him that reading can just be for fun, but Steve’s not so sure yet.

Or at least, he wasn’t sure before.

When he looks at the novel you’d scrambled to place on the book cart and he looks at the cover, Steve has to resist the urge to laugh. Not because he wants to make fun of you, but because the art on this book has got to be one of the cheesiest things he’s ever seen. There’s no way this thing has any academic merit. A scantily clad, muscular man with long, flowing locks clings onto the legs of a woman who is perched on a bed, her head thrown back in pleasure, her dress slipping off her shoulders, her breasts almost spilling out of her corset. The title is scrawled out in loopy, mock-elegant typeface in a bright, gaudy pink, and the tagline proclaims something about conquest and surrendering to love. He’d recognize one of these anywhere; a trashy romance novel, something grandmothers and aunts everywhere yank away from prying eyes and hide in their bedroom dressers.

Steve looks up, raises his eyebrows and smirks at you. “Scandalous,” he starts, unable to even get another word out before you start fumbling for an excuse.

“Someone just returned it,” you offer, folding your arms in front of you.

“Really?” Steve laughs.

“Mhm,” you affirm.

“Because I’m pretty sure I just saw you reading this.”

“I was not,” you say, mock offended.

“Then you won’t mind if I read some of it,” Steve taunts, “and see what all the fuss is about?” He starts to walk backwards, putting distance between himself and the front desk where you sat. He begins flipping through the novel, looking for any specific passages that might be more likely to make you blush.

You brace yourself and lean forward on the desk, obviously watching his every move. Good, Steve thinks, exactly how he likes it.

“Come back here with that,” you instruct, “I have to catalog it.”

“Is that what they call it these days?” Steve jokes.

“Steve,” you whine.

“Come get it then,” Steve calls, already halfway across the room, “if you want it so bad.” He’s not sure he’s still talking about the book as he runs off deeper into the library. He’s fairly certain there’s no one else in the library anyway, because it’s near minutes to closing time, and the only sounds he’s heard are the banter between you and him; still he chooses to duck into one of the more secluded aisles. Steve waits a beat or two before he starts scanning the book more seriously, not ready to give up the game yet, identifying and turning to a dog-eared page that he hoped wouldn’t lead him astray just as you rounded the corner.

“What took you so long?” he asks playfully.

“I locked the door,” you answer matter-of-factly. Steve’s heartbeat kicks up, knowing that’s as good as your unofficial blessing to continue his shenanigans. “Are you gonna give it back now?” you ask.

“Nope. Good that you locked the door though,” Steve continues. “Wouldn’t want anyone else hearing what you were reading in this naughty little book, I guess.”

“Steve–”

“Let’s see, here’s a good part. ‘He tore off the rest of his clothing, his gaze on his wife all the while–’” Steve starts. You lunge at him and swipe at the book, but Steve dodges and turns his body away, too fast for you. He watches the flush on your face grow even when you laugh as you miss your chance to snatch the book from his hands.

“Or how about this paragraph?” Steve teases, turning the page. “‘He thrust into her over and over, mindless now to everything but finding his peak. The bed rocked with his powerful thrusts.’”

You practically pin Steve to the shelf behind him with your body, pressing against him and grabbing at the wrist of his hand that held the book, though he easily breaks free. Steve’s already worked up at the idea of his girlfriend reading explicit romance novels, but with your body is firmly up against his own, and the way you’ve almost turned the tables on him, he’s halfway to hard as he wonders who’s actually in charge of the situation at hand. You’re still reaching for the romance novel that he’s now holding above his head to avoid letting you grab it. He glances up at the pages and keeps reading.

‘She knew she was falling apart in his embrace. She didn’t care. She called his name as ache after ache of pleasure washed over h–’ ohh” Steve cuts himself off with a moan. You’ve unexpectedly started kissing him, sucking a hickey into the junction of his jawline and neck, gently biting at the skin there. Between the friction of your body against his, and the feeling of your mouth on him, Steve’s brain short circuits, and he practically forgets instantly he’s trying to keep anything away from you at all. You stop kissing him when Steve relaxes, bringing his hands down to run along your arms. Steve is blindsided when you gently grab the book from him and stop your motions.

“There’s more than one way to get what you want,” you smugly murmur against his ear, tapping him on the chest with your newly-won prize.

“That’s not fair,” Steve insists.

“Oh? You want me to stop?” you ask.

“Absolutely not,” Steve mutters against your lips as he pulls you in for a kiss, hands grasping at your ass as you press even further into him, rolling your hips against his hardness, before you begin sliding a hand in between your two bodies, surprising him as you lightly squeeze the hard outline of his cock through his jeans.

“You’re fucking filthy, you know that?” Steve says to mask a whine, doubling down on tormenting you. “Reading a book so dirty at your job.” His jeans are so tight that he’s actually uncomfortably trapped in them, and he feels his cock twitch against your hand.

“I’m filthy?” you laugh, “You’re the one getting off on the thought of me reading those novels. That’s so perverted, baby.”

“Yeah, well, you’re getting off to the thought of me, getting off on you,” Steve says, even though it hardly makes sense, even to him. He’s struggling to maintain conversation with you, and he quickly maneuvers the two of you to sit down at one of the tables next to the shelf so that he can get a second to breathe. You straddle his lap, perched on one of his legs. Once you’re settled, you kiss him passionately and rock on his thigh a little bit. Steve groans, feeling your warmth and wetness even through your clothing and his jeans.

“Condom?” you ask as Steve divulges you of your sweater, running his hands up your shirt and under your bra. He’s so distracted with touching your tits that he barely registers the question. When he does, he kicks himself for not thinking of bringing something like that with him at all times anymore. He blames his stupid dry spell internally, then shakes his head.

“Oh well,” you say, running a hand along his still-clothed erection, “you’re so big, anyways. Don’t know if I could even take it all unless you played with me first.”

It goes straight to his cock. You’re serious even though your tone has a teasing lilt, and Steve moans, partly out of surprise, but also because you’re really, really turning him on. His cock twitches embarrassingly violent in your cupped hand, and you unzip his jeans, rubbing him over his boxers as you grind your pussy into this thigh.

“You liked that, didn’t you? Wanna hear about how I daydream about your cock? So big, Stevie. I can tell.”

Steve’s had enough. He has to take charge of this situation before he creams his pants, and he’s rapidly approaching the reality of that being a possibility.

“You daydream about a lot, apparently,” Steve snarks, batting your hand away from his dick. “I can feel how wet you are, did the book get you like this, princess?” He’s fishing for compliments now and he knows it, a tiny seed of doubt in his mind that maybe you’re not as into him as he thinks if you’re wasting your time on horny novels.

You shake your head. It’s not enough. He wants to hear it.

“Who makes you this wet?” he pushes you to answer as he grabs a hold of your hips and roughly guides you, forcing your clit to rub hard against his thigh.

“You do,” you gasp. The admission makes Steve go crazy. He needs more, more, more, wants to hear every little dirty secret you have and then some. He never thought about the possibility you read cheesy, trashy romance novels, and now he wonders what else he’s never thought of that you’re into.

“So why don’t you sit there and grind on my thigh and prove it?” he smirks, leaning back into the chair and taking you with him. He pushes his boxers down, pulling out his cock with one hand and stroking it slowly, making a show of touching himself in front of you. His other hand wanders back and forth between touching your tits and guiding your hips. You lean forward to touch him, looking positively feral, your eyes blown and mouth open, but as tempting as you are, Steve doesn’t want you to touch him yet. He thinks he’ll spill in seconds if you do.

Your body moves in sinuous rolls as you drag yourself along Steve’s thigh. He can’t see it, but he can feel that his jeans are ruined, you’ve soaked through your panties and are basically dripping on his thigh. He has no clue how he’s going to leave the building like this, but he isn’t thinking about that now.

“Better than your book?”

“Yes, fuck,” you swear. “Steve, please. I-I can’t– ”

Steve takes a moment to tease you. “What’s wrong? Can’t come like this? You need me, princess?”

“Fuck!” you cry out, grinding your cunt against him especially hard. Steve is playing with you, but you’re rapidly approaching the point of no return. “More, please, I need you.”

Steve finds that’s exactly what he needed to hear. He abandons his throbbing cock and uses both of his hands to assist your grinding motions, moaning as he watches your face screw up with pleasure.

Steve’s own heart is pounding in his ears, but he knows you have to be closer than him. Just to see what would happen, he bounces his thigh a little bit, leaning into you and sucking kisses into your skin.

“Jesus,” you choke out.

“You liked that, didn’t you?” Steve echoes your words from earlier.

You’re too far gone to quip back. Instead, you delve into more whimpers and moans as Steve speeds up, bouncing his leg at rate that’s almost causing vibrations through your body. Steve watches as you get increasingly more desperate.

“Don’t stop, don’t you dare fucking stop, oh, oh, oh!” you almost shout, and Steve can feel you clench around nothing as your climax hits you and you finish all over his thigh. It makes his cock leak, and he bites his lip to keep from coming himself. He lets you ride your orgasm out, falling forward into his arms, but then he can’t stop himself before he’s picking you up and laying you down on the tabletop.

Steve leans over, kissing down your neck, before he strips your skirt and panties off completely. You’re still blissed out, clinging to him and sighing at every bit of stimulation he gives you. Steve can’t help but admire you, pushing your shirt and bra up as he runs his hands down your body and gropes at you. He thinks you’re maybe the most gorgeous thing he’s ever seen like this, relaxed, but still needy, as you grab at him to pull him in for a kiss.

The way you lick into his mouth has him groaning.

“You’re beautiful,” Steve says against your mouth when he takes a moment to breathe. He has to tell you. It’s a matter of the utmost urgency. You pull him in for another kiss, this time much sweeter than the last, and Steve knows you’re thanking him for his words.

“Think you can give me one more?” he asks when you pull away, already running a finger through your sopping folds.

“Mph! Yes!” you gasp, the stimulation sending shocks throughout your body.

“God,” Steve almost whimpers, “you’re being so loud. Can you imagine what would happen if someone walked in right now?”

He knows, logically, that can’t happen, since you locked the door. But the idea thrills him, and his cock is throbbing where it rests against your stomach, leaking pre and he’s maybe the hardest he’s ever been. The eroticism of the fact that the two of you have basically made it to third base at your workplace does not escape him as he pushes a finger inside of you and begins slowly thrusting. Your previous orgasm has you open and dripping on his hand, and he adds another finger almost right away.

“You wanna share me?” you ask, tentatively.

No, no Steve does not. He wants you all to himself, but he doesn’t think the idea of others catching a glimpse of you strung out on his fingers is too bad, especially if the point is to prove to everyone how much you’re into him. He shakes his head.

"Just want everyone to know you’re mine,” he growls.

“That’s hot,” you whine.

“Yeah?”

“Definitely.”

He speeds up his thrusts. The sound of your pussy around his fingers is pure debauchery, and you clench around him as his mouth comes down to kiss and suckle at your breasts. Steve is lost to giving you pleasure; he doesn’t know how he’s managed to ignore how painful his dick is becoming as he’s denied himself in favor of chasing your orgasm, but the only thing on his mind is the urge to see you coming around his fingers.

He re-positions his hand to allow himself to rub at your clit and you tense up and bear down on his hand, grinding on him as he gives one, two, three swipes across your sensitive spot. This time he feels you fluttering around his fingers, imagining how you’d feel around his cock. Your nails dig into his shoulders as you finish, and the slight, stinging pain and marks he knows you’ll leave behind push him impossibly closer to the edge.

The moment you recover, he can’t help but begin to beg.

“Touch me, please,” Steve vocalizes his need, “I’m so, I-I need you to touch me.”

Steve nearly goes cross-eyed watching as you spit in your hand (he can hardly imagine you need to, he’s been practically dripping for a half hour, but it’s really fucking hot) and reach down to touch him. He’s leaning over you now as you lay on the table, stroking his hard cock above you and looking up at him adoringly.

“Been so good to me,” you coo, “I really wanna see you come on me, baby.”

That’s all it takes. Steve gasps and lets his eyes roll back, his cock twitching in your hand as he finishes across your stomach and chest, narrowly missing your blouse and bra. He’s not sure he’s ever come this hard as he practically sees stars; you keep touching him until he taps your hand away, signalling he’s had enough. He lets the aftershocks take over his body, almost collapsing on top of you before realizing he should let himself down beside you to avoid getting his own spend all over his shirt. A few moments later he notices you slowly sit up and cast your gaze towards him.

When the two of you make eye contact, he notices you stifling a giggle.

“What’s funny?” he asks, smiling gently.

“I can’t believe we did that,” you laugh.

“Hey, you’re the one who started it by reading the dirty novel,” Steve winks at you.

“Mmm no,” you say playfully as Steve positions himself next to you, “I hadn’t even gotten to the explicit part yet. That is all you.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Of course it is,” you say, leaning in and kissing him softly. Steve throws an arm around you and kisses the top of your head.

“Speaking of,” Steve mutters. “Where did the book even go?”

The two of you glance back at the romance novel, lying not even a foot away on the table, its cover torn, and a suspicious wet spot painting half the pages.

“Shit,” Steve says.

You both burst into laughter.

#Steve Harrington smut #Steve Harrington x reader #out of the woods yet #becca's bs

3K notes · View notes

auroraeternal · 7 months

Text

Written version of @thornowl's baking texture-based items for 4t3 conversion tutorial. (Part 1)

Yes, the original video is very useful and I think it's worth checking out for everyone who plans to do 4t3 conversions, especially in MM style. But, in my opinion, the realization is too messy, it took me a long time to understand what actually to do. So I made written tutorial, because many people prefer this format (and because my amazing mutual @nectar-cellar was interested in it). Hope you will find it useful. I had to split this tutorial into 2 parts because of the picture limit.

What You Will Need:

Knowing the basics of converting process: how to extract ts4 meshes and textures, how to make your own multiplier/mask/specular, how to import stuff to TSRW, etc. (@nightospheresims has a good tutorial for beginners: here or here, also don't forget about @sims3tutorialhub!).

Knowledge of basics blender controls and navigation: how to move and rotate the camera, basic shortcuts, how to change mode, editor type, viewport shading, rendering type, etc. (check Grennie's tutorial here, and "Helpful guides when you're a noob" from there too).

Required programs and resources: - Sims 4 Studio. - TS4 body mesh & texture(s), that you want to convert, I use @atomiclight's mix gloves for this tutorial. Also there will be some tip that I learned from converting Sentate's Audrey Corset Set. - Blender (I use version 2.79). - Photoshop (or any other 2D editor, that supports masks and .dds format). - TS3 Bodies template & UV map templates. - Plain normal & specular map, if you don't want to make your own. - TSRW.

STEP 1: ADDING MESHES AND TEXTURES IN BLENDER, PREPARING MESH FOR BAKING.

I already exported all the gloves presets that I want from S4S. And because they don`t have their own mesh, I exported base game swimsuit (you can also export mesh from any other stuff, that 100% is painted on body) I exported it like this: Open S4S → Create 3D mesh → Find it with filters→ Next → Save the package wherever you're want→ go to Meshes tab and press Export.

Open .blend file with ts4 swimsuit, delete the "rig" (you don't need it) and merge all other groups - Shift + click on them and press Ctrl+J on 3D viewport.

You need to export our gloves texture and remove swimsuit texture, go to Textures tab and in small window select "DiffuseMap": If you don't see DiffuseMap texture, switch type of texture data to "Show material textures" (brown-ish circle).

6. In the same way you need to remove skin texture, because you don't need it, only select BaseTexture instead of Diffuse:

7. Import your Sims 3 body, also I merged the top and bottom, because TS4 mesh is full body too:

Tip: if your stuff have 3D parts, separate them in their own group(s) and hide them from baking (you can bake them separately and/or tweak them in Photoshop):

STEP 2: SHRINKWRAPPING THE TS4 MESH.

In this case it would be really easy to adapt TS4 body mesh to TS3, because they are very similar, for stuff that partially 3D (like dresses) or in case with non-standard bodies (like Venus Curves by Venusprincess) it would be harder, so I don`t cover this in this tutorial.

Select TS4 body, go to Modifiers tab, usually there are already applied modifier "geom_skin", just ignore it and in the "Add Modifier" window select Shrinkwrap modifier.

2. In the Target tab select TS3 body group:

This is how TS4 mesh is supposed to look with this modifier, you may also apply modifier, but it's not necessary:

3. After that you need to hide TS3 Body mesh and now we're going to baking.

STEP 3: ASSIGNING MATERIALS.

First of all, you need 2 windows — with your 3D viewport and with Node Editor, also you need to switch rendering type to Cycles Render. After you set it, select TS4 mesh, open Materials tab and press Use Nodes button:

2. After that two small boxes should appear on the Node editor tab. Then press Shift+A and select Texture → Image texture:

3. Connect node that you already added with Diffuse BSDF node, by connecting yellow dot (socket) named Color of Image texture to the same socket of Diffuse BSDF node. After that click on the image icon and find your texture:

Don't worry about the black spots, we will fix that later.

4. Go to UV/Image editor and create new image for your bake, it must be 1024x1024 size or, if you want HQ texture - 2048x2048 or 4096x4096, but today I use non-HQ. After that, hide TS4 body and unhide TS3 body:

5. Go to Node Editor, create new material and assign our newly created image to ts3 body the same way, that we did with ts4 mesh and original texture:

6. Press Shift + Click on the TS4 body firstly, and TS3 body lastly. It`s an really important step, because without it baking wasn't work right way.

STEP 4: BAKING THE TEXTURE.

7. First of all, go to the Render tab and change default settings to the following:

Sampling Tab:

Bake Tab:

8.After that press Bake button and wait for it.

9. Look at the result, great, doesn't it?:

10. Save this texture as .png... But wait, that's not all! we need to bake alpha, so we can remove that black body texture in Photoshop later.

But that will come in part 2...

#the sims 3 #ts3 #sims 3 #sims 3 tutorial #tutorial #4t3 #4t3 conversion

89 notes · View notes

abzgaming · 5 months

Text

SIMS 4 CC LIST & CC LINKS

1. Babydoll (Saliwa)

https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-clothing-female-teenadultelder-sleepwear/title/romantic-love-babydoll-lingerie/id/1318591/

Pleaser Heels (RUCHELLSIMS)

https://www.patreon.com/posts/59439358

2. Corset & Garter set (Sims House)

https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-clothing-female-teenadultelder-sleepwear/title/stocking-garter-corset/id/1506632/

Boots (ShakeProductions)

https://www.thesimsresource.com/artists/ShakeProductions/downloads/details/category/sims4-shoes-female-teenadultelder/title/high-heel-boots-s052301/id/1655500/

3. Lingerie set (KiaraZurk)

https://www.patreon.com/posts/50137916

Boots (ShakeProductions)

https://www.thesimsresource.com/artists/ShakeProductions/downloads/details/category/sims4-shoes-female-teenadultelder/title/861-high-heel-boots/id/1591812/

4. Red Swimsuit (Margeh-75)

https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims4-clothing-female-teenadultelder-sleepwear/title/s4-bandage-halter-outfit/id/1351560/

Clear stiletto (mermalasimtr)

https://www.thesimsresource.com/members/mermaladesimtr/downloads/details/category/sims4-shoes-female-teenadultelder/title/clear-stiletto-s34/id/1613177/

56 notes · View notes

quitealotofsodapop · 4 months

Note

You know I might jsut make plus si,ex Wukong my norm, whether he's supposed to be pregnant or not. He's so cute!

I love chunky Wukong. Let this monkey be round and fluffy like a persian cat!

The minifig confirms this mf is using a corset to keep his chub in like William Shatner's girdle in Star Trek. The beach ending in S4 also shows he got some chunk on him.

I hc that he's gotten a bit chubby over the centuries (or has been since forever), but doesn't want anyone to know that professionally cus people would be saying he "let himself go" - but he likes his body! He did dream of "getting fat off fruit" with Mac all those centuries ago.

In my TMKATI au he develops a distinct "dad bod" due to the mix of raising kids + loving modern food a little too much.

#sun wukong #dad bod sun wukong #lmk #lego monkie kid #pregnancy tw

29 notes · View notes

novagoth · 2 years

Text

t's everyday lookbook~!

(links + makeup looks under 'keep reading' ☆)

terrance andrews: skin detail / baby hair / tattoo / nose scar / hand scars / eyebrows (n32) / necklace / nails

t's day off ☆ hair / top / bottoms / legwarmers / shoes

late to work ☆ hair / headphones / eyeshadow / eyeliner / lip gloss / blush / top / bottoms / holster / shoes

on the job ☆ hair / eyeshadow / eyelashes / blush / lip gloss / bandage / top (jacket incl.) / bottoms / left holster / right holster / shoes

wired up ☆ hair / eyeshadow / eyelashes / eyeliner / lip gloss / blush / turtleneck / corset / harness / holster / bottoms / shoes

reshade: i made several edits to @okruee's cas reshade in gshade so im not sure im able to post it on s4s!

☆

CREDIT TO ALL OF THE CC CREATORS!: ☆ @sims3melancholic @sheabuttyr @emmibouquet @nell-le @obscurus-sims @the-crypt-o-club @joliebean @sleepingsims @kismet-sims @evellsims @jellymoo @shoestopia @leahlillith @issygoing @nuwmie @chewybutterfly @remussirion @kindlespice @sentate/@arethabee @trillyke @plushymoth @dream-girl @jius-sims @aler-ii @acuar-io @ladysimmer94 @lazerly @its-adrienpastel @serenity-cc @madlensims

#ng: lookbook #sims 4 #sims 4 lookbook #sims 4 simblr #sims 4 clothes #sims 4 cc #ts4 #sims 4 sims #sims 4 mm #sims 4 maxis match #the sims

226 notes · View notes

kunikidas-lost-glasses · 2 years

Text

Random appearance hc's for some BSD characters

Tw: Dazai typical mentions of sewerslide and sh, mentions of sh in general

---------------------------------------------------

Nikolai has a slightly pointed nose. It isn't very noticeable but if one looks closely at his side profile it's definitely visible.

Fyodor has a slightly crooked nose and hates it

Sigma literally looks like some angelic creature. He has soft perfect skin which has some kind of shine/ slight soft shimmering on it, he has beautiful long soft hair, skinny hands with long fingers and usually his eyes look like the eyes of a very kind and trustworthy person. There are a lot people who have been crushing with him

Chuuya has thousands of freckles in his face (mostly on his cheeks), on his neck, his arms, his shoulders, his upper back and his legs. Dazai loves to kiss the ones on his face, back and his neck

Dazai has very messy fluffy curly hair which is like nearly impossible to brush or style in an way. It's always a mess

Chuuya has heavy wavy hair. His hair is basically wild red waves which frame his face beautifully

Fyodor's fingers/ mostly his finger tips are always somewhat reddish even though he is pale like a corpse because of the scarring which is caused by him regularly biting his fingers all bloody.

Fyodor has a small bump on one side of one of his middle fingers from writing so much with his quill and his pen

Fyodor has callouses on the finger tips of his right hand from playing the cello

Atushi has sharp, fang like canines

Poe has millions of small freckles on his cheeks and nose. He hates them but Ranpo adores them and told him once that they look like a galaxy with thousands of starts

The eye which Nikolai usually covers is actually blind and due to this white blue-ish. (I wrote this before the trailer for S4 got released so I thought Nikolai would have one gold eye and the color of the other eye wasn't know yet and I always thought that it looked kind of pale)

Dazai often sits like a shrimp after sitting straight for a while because he has a long term injury on his spine/ thoracic spine from a failed attempt and sitting in a straight position for a long time is uncomfortable for him or painful

Dazai has chapped lips

Poe's lips are often bitten bloody because he starts biting his lip when he's feeling anxious

Kunikida is actually very muscular

Chuuya is very muscular too. He is just not that broad build/looking like Kunikida. He still has a very petite statue but his muscles are there and definitely a bit visible. Especially if he tenses them

Q looks sickish from being locked up so long and from constantly hurting themselves. They are pale and boney and have a fragile statue.

Fyodor's hair actually isn't greasy at all. It's just very straight and also very thin, the latter is because of his anemia, but it isn't greasy

He usually isn't dirty in general and being clean/ hygiene is very important to him

Yosano is definitely ripped af. Look which kind of weapons she lifts

Sigma has a a little bit more defined body figure (hips, waist) and at first he was very insecure about it because he thought that males shouldn't have curves.

Nikolai has naturally a small waist but he also wears a corset which is why it often looks very small

He also has some barley visible stretch marks on his thights

Fyodor often wears a cross necklace in silver

Nikolai often wears black or black reddish lipstick and deep red/wine red nail polish

Fyodor is very skinny/boney. One can literally feel and see a bit of some of his rips, his spine and his pelvic bone

Nikolai is very tall build

Dazai sometimes wears black nail polish which is always kind of damaged and has bobby pins in his hair to keep it out of his face

Mori is the one with greasy hair. Not Fyodor. Fight me.

Dazai's hair gets even messier and fluffier when it's hot and he hates it. Chuuya loves it though

Sigma's hair gets a bit fluffy and sticks up in all directions when he is very stressed or angry

Nikolai's hands are full of scars

Bram had long claw like fingernails when he still had his whole body

Shibusawa has a bit sharper teeth because he is half dragon and all

Shibusawa's hair is very soft and very thick

Nikolai wears colorful socks with random patterns on it like rats or dots or stripes. Idk it just makes sense to me

He sometimes draws a club, a spade, a heart or a diamond (card game symbols) on his cheek under his eye with red or black eyeliner

111 notes · View notes

bnt0 · 1 year

Text

lolll i haven't tested it in game so it may look kinda funky but. the one on the left is the original mesh coming in at a whopping 52K+ POLYS and the one on the right is the corset sloppily decimated to around 17K POLYS.. which may still be a lot idk but like wowww it's ridiculous. not much of a visibile difference and it took me like 5 minutes. there is a weird shadow under the pit but idk if it looks like that in game. these are s4s screenshots

#love SL conversions :3 #this is by off-line btw #dl maybe

20 notes · View notes

0shewrites0 · 2 years

Text

A BITE OF YOUR LOVE

S4 | Youcef x MC | 3.800+ words | @0shewrites0

synopsis | Having a vampire as a boyfriend is nice until it gets serious. Until he declares that he would kill for you because that's how much he loves you. Until you - as a human - have to make a decision: to cling to your human life and let your supernatural true love go, or to plunge head-first into a new adventure and turn into a vampire.

Davina knows she loves Youcef, but does she love him enough to let him turn her into a vampire?

genre | AU - vampire. romance. light angst. angst/comfort. fluff & smut. happy ending (kinda).

pairing | vampire!youcef x human!davina

prompt | monthly prompt competition from r/LITGFanFiction on Reddit

author’s note | Thank you so much to my queenie @luckyqueenreign for beta reading and helping me with this!! ❤️

Important vocabulary:

ma belle = my beautiful / my lovely

Putain, t’es trop sexy = You’re so fucking hot

Bon sang = Damn it

Read here or on ao3

"Hi, so, newsflash - vampires are real. They're not just some mythical creatures, they're here. In our town. I mean, I need to know because one of them is sleeping in my bed." Davina giggled furiously and rolled her eyes at her boyfriend, "Even if I told someone, they would just laugh at me. No one would believe me because why should they?"

Youcef took a step closer and stroked her cheekbone with his thumb, "They don't have to believe you, amour. Doesn't make us any less real."

Smirking, he leaned closer to her and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips, then murmured, "Besides, it's probably better if it's our secret anyway. I wouldn't want any of your friends or - God forbid! - any of your family to freak out unnecessarily, would I?"

Davina giggled again, "Depends. Are you a threat to me? Because if so, I might have to tell them about you."

Youcef raised an eyebrow and clicked his tongue, "And what would be the point? If I wanted you dead, you'd already be dead. But I guess today is your lucky day, isn't it?"

She bit her lip, wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his, "Make it a lucky night and I'm all yours."

He chuckled and murmured against her lips, "Oh, but you've always been mine. Ever since you gave me your blood, ma belle."

She blushed and pulled back, "God, you're such a bad influence, babe. We need to get ready for my high school’s Halloween ball!"

Youcef shrugged nonchalantly and nodded, "I'll pick you up at nine sharp. Make sure you're ready!" He gave her a pointed look that let Davina know he was serious, then turned and strutted away.

Sighing, Davina went to her room and started getting ready for this year's Halloween party.

Of course, Youcef and she had decided to go as vampires. He didn't even have to come up with a proper costume because he was literally a vampire, but Davina had to put in a bit more effort, starting with the fangs and the red contact lenses. She curled her dark brown hair and applied a dark eyeshadow to her eyelids, a delicate stroke of black eyeliner and a few generous coats of mascara. She drenched her lips in a dark red lipstick, deliberately smudging some of it around the edges and expertly dripping fake blood down her chin.

Damn, I look hot as a vampire…

Davina winked at her reflection and then slipped into her costume, which consisted of a tight, black, strapless silk corset dress, leather overknees and long, elbow-length satin gloves. She knew Youcef would go absolutely bonkers as soon as he saw her, and she was looking forward to it.

When he finally picked her up, he almost started drooling. Faster than Davina could blink, he had her pressed against the wall, his face so close to hers that she had trouble breathing. His eyes darkened and turned red, the delicate veins under his eyes began to show, and she could see the light reflecting off his pristine white fangs.

With one hand he pushed her hair over her shoulder and leaned forward, his hot breath caressing her skin and the tip of his fangs grazing her throat as he ran his nose along her neck.

"Putain, t’es trop sexy," he growled in his throat, then grinned devilishly. "And I can hear your heart hammering in your chest. What's wrong? Are you afraid of me?"

Davina's cheeks flushed and she shook her head hesitantly, "Would now be a bad moment to admit that seeing you like this,” she gestured at his face, “fucking turns me on?"

Something flashed in Youcef's eyes and she held her breath in anticipation of feeling his teeth sink into her flesh, but he took a step back and murmured, "Yeah, I'd say that was a pretty bad moment."

She watched him suck in a deep breath and shake his head sharply, but then he nodded and held out his arm to her, "Let's just get through this night. But I want you to know that I can't wait to get back home, amour. You don't get to just say something like that and assume I won't do anything about it."

He winked at her and she blushed even more, but she put her arm through Youcef’s and let him walk her to her high school where the annual Halloween ball would be held.

Every now and then Davina glanced at Youcef and bit her lip as shivers of pleasure ran down her spine and made her abdomen tingle in anticipation of what he would do to her when they were back in her room later that night.

He was wearing tight black trousers, a black shirt that was only half buttoned, showing off his well-toned physique and gloriously pale skin, and a dark red blazer. As always, he wore heavy silver rings on his fingers, bracelets on his wrists and several necklaces around his neck, making him by far the most attractive man she had ever met.

But that wasn't really hard to achieve either, because after all, it was Youcef. What else had she expected?

"Do you like my outfit?" he snapped her out of her thoughts and grinned smugly.

She shrugged and replied, "Yeah, you look hot. But you don't need me to tell you that, do you?"

He laughed. "Yes, I do. You're my girlfriend, your opinion is important to me."

"You're fishing for compliments, love," Davina rolled her eyes, "and I'm not falling for that. You're going to have to manipulate me into stroking that huge ego of yours."

"And that's exactly why I love you, you sassy little minx." He pressed a kiss to her cheek as they entered the school gym, now transformed into a spooky mess.

Huge cobwebs hung from the ceiling, carved pumpkins glowed in the darkness and loud, pulsating music echoed through the hall. Artificial fog billowed on the floor and the red, flickering and stroboscopic light of the spotlights bathed the hall in an eerie ambience.

Davina was quivering with excitement and tugged on Youcef's hand, "Come on! This is going to be so much fun!" She rushed towards the dance floor, pulling her boyfriend along with her, who chuckled softly.

"Dance with me!" she shouted over the loud music, and Youcef's face contorted briefly. He leaned forward, his mouth hovering next to her ear, and growled, "No need to shout like that, I can hear you perfectly."

Without giving her time to say anything back, he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and pressed her against his body, enjoying the way her breath hitched and her eyelids fluttered.

All around them, people in various costumes danced the night away, getting drunk on the free booze. Davina kept an inconspicuous lookout for her friends but couldn't make them out in the mass of teenagers grinding against each other, the smell of sweat engulfing her.

But she didn't mind. She felt so alive at that moment, especially considering the way Youcef's hands were practically burning through the fabric and into her skin.

"You know," she began, careful to keep her voice down, "in the tales they used to say vampires were the kiss of death itself. Cold, bony, their skin unnaturally grey, but you seem perfectly normal. Like a normal living human."

Youcef chuckled and leaned towards her again so she could hear him over the noise, "You shouldn't believe everything in those myths. Most of it is bullshit anyway."

She laughed and wanted to slap him, but he grabbed her wrist before she could even touch him.

"I'm faster, remember?" he hissed and winked at her, to which she shrugged and replied, "Maybe I'm just testing your reactions because I think it's really hot?"

She could hear him inhale sharply, and then he growled, "Someone's feisty tonight, huh? Careful, ma belle, you know I have a hard time controlling myself around you."

Davina bit her lip gently and looked at him, doe-eyed and as innocent as possible. "Maybe I don't want you to control yourself around me tonight?"

No sooner had the words left her mouth than his eyes darkened dangerously again and he asked in a hoarse voice, "You want me to drink from you? Here?"

"I mean, it's not like people are paying attention anyway, right? Might as well take advantage of it," she winked at him and he shook his head.

"Bon sang, Davina," he cursed softly and she felt her heart beat faster as she saw the familiar veins bulging under his eyes.

She slowly removed one of her long gloves, raised her hand to his face and presented her bare wrist, which she knew he had a hard time resisting.

Then she hissed, "Bite me," and the next moment she felt his fangs burying themselves into her skin. She moaned in pleasure, knowing no one would hear her.

Fuck, it was turning her on so bad.

Feeling the pain of his bite surge through her sent her into a kind of ecstasy she couldn't get enough of. Especially because she loved watching him pull back, his tongue running over his lips to taste the last drops of her blood, his features becoming human again and then moaning, "God, you taste heavenly," his voice full of hunger and lust.

Eventually, she put her glove back on, reached up, wrapped her arms around his neck, pulled him down to her and locked his mouth in a deep, passionate kiss.

She knew she had withdrawn from her friends ever since Youcef had come into her life, but it was almost as if he had cast a spell on her. She couldn't get away from him, she was addicted to his touch, his taste, and she felt like she was losing her mind if she couldn't be near him.

Was it toxic? Maybe. But what did you call it when there was a supernatural involved in the equation and not just mere humans?

Youcef wasn't just some college student boyfriend. The attraction she felt for him was supernaturally charged, and that changed a lot of things - at least on her part. And her friends hadn't even come by to check on her. None of them liked Youcef and they all blamed it on his sarcastic, arrogant manner, but Davina could only laugh at that.

If only they knew!

"I'll get us something to drink, okay? Don't move." Her boyfriend reluctantly loosened his grip around her waist and pulled away, then - with a reassuring nod from her - made his way to the bar.

He had barely disappeared when she heard Dylan's voice behind her. "Well, hello, beautiful! Where's your protective boyfriend?"

She turned and shot him a glare. Dylan was dressed as a devil and Davina almost burst out laughing.

Of fucking course he’d choose the devil, oh Lord!

She put on her sweetest smile and replied, "He just left to get us something to drink. But you knew that, didn't you? You would never have approached me if he was here."

He threw his head back and laughed, "You really think I'm afraid of him? Of that pretty boy? That's ridiculous. I'm disappointed you would even think that."

Davina rolled her eyes - Dylan, that arrogant bastard who thought he could have anything and anyone he wanted. Well, he hadn't expected Davina to publicly reject him, damaging his ego. When she had started dating Youcef instead, Dylan hadn't been able to let a day go by without pestering her in some way. Especially when he knew Youcef wasn't around.

He didn't know, of course, that even now, when Youcef was several feet away from her and a crowd of clueless teenagers was between them, he could hear what was going on around her if only he wanted to.

And a wicked grin spread across Davina's face, knowing that he would most definitely overhear their friendly conversation.

She shifted her gaze to Dylan and leered at him, "How many times do you want me to turn you down before you realise that I will never agree to go on a date with you?"

He winced and his eyes narrowed in anger, but he quickly regained his composure, took a step towards her and hissed, "You'll regret getting stuck with that pathetic Frenchman and then, when it's too late, you'll come crawling to me. You'll see."

She chuckled in amusement and raised an eyebrow, "Another empty threat? Oh Dylan, when are you going to learn that you better not mess with me?"

His jaw clenched and he wrapped the fingers of his right hand around her wrist, tightening his grip painfully, and growled, "You better not mess with me, love."

His fingers dug into Davina's skin and she contorted her face in pain and gritted her teeth, "Let go of me and don't ever call me love again, asshole!"

Dylan just laughed and moved his face so close to hers that she felt his breath, reeking of alcohol, on her face and an unpleasant shiver crept over her body.

A sudden movement caught her attention and Davina felt herself relax instantly when she saw Youcef standing behind Dylan. His whole body was rigid, ready to snap Dylan's neck, and his jaw was clenched tight.

"Let her go right now," he growled, but Dylan ignored him.

"Oooh, love, your pretty boy has come to rescue you, hasn't he?"

The next moment Youcef had his hand wrapped around Dylan's neck, squeezing his fingers together, and his eyes darkened, crimson flashing in his normally hazel eyes.

"Do I have to make you let her go?" He growled, and for a moment it seemed as if time had stopped. Youcef's eyes were full of rage and Davina knew he would have no problem actually killing him. Somehow she knew that everything depended on what else would come out of Dylan's big mouth. But as much as she hated Dylan, she couldn't let that happen. Not in a room full of people.

"Youcef, stop it!" She hissed, willing him to look at her, and when he finally did - very reluctantly - she added, "I know what you're thinking, but don't. Please."

Youcef scoffed angrily, then whirled Dylan around and stared him straight in the eye, forcing him to hold his gaze. A moment later he let go of him and Dylan left the hall as if nothing had happened.

Youcef took a step towards Davina and hugged her to him, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and whispering in her ear, "You know that happens when that pretentious moron can't keep his filthy hands to himself."

Davina shuddered and at the same time felt her pulse quicken. She lifted her head and pressed her lips to Youcef's. "I love how protective you are of me, but I never said you should kill for me, babe."

He chuckled darkly, "See, but that's where you're wrong. I would definitely kill for you without so much as blinking an eye if it meant I could protect you."

She thumped his chest in exasperation and rolled her eyes, but he leaned forward and muttered, "You can roll your eyes all you want, but it turns you on and you know it."

At that Davina gasped and her cheeks flushed. "Stop it, Youcef, you're impossible."

Youcef just shrugged and pulled her close again, resting his chin on top of her head. But Davina was more than ready to leave this party and go home instead, so she whispered, "Let's go, shall we? I've had enough of this boring party."

He looked down at her and grinned slyly, "Well, that’s my girl. Can't say no to that, can I?"

He winked at her and then led her out of the hall back outside into the night, where the cool air immediately made Davina shiver and she wrapped her arms around herself. Youcef casually slipped out of his blazer and draped it over her shoulders.

"Better?"

When she nodded her thanks and smiled up at him, he grinned and took her hand. "Let's go then."

They continued to walk in silence, each indulging in their own thoughts, until Davina interrupted it.

"Have you ever thought about what it would be like if you turned me?" she asked softly.

At first he didn't respond and just kept walking beside her, but then he said, "Of course I have. Why do you ask?"

She shrugged her shoulders anxiously. "I dunno. It's just something I've been thinking about a lot lately." She blushed and he noticed but didn't comment.

"How come?"

"I'm just afraid of losing you and I know the day will come when I have to say goodbye to you."

Her voice sounded thin and brittle as she said it, and he squeezed her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers, and murmured, "Is this your way of telling me you love me?"

Davina gasped and narrowed her eyes, "You know I love you."

Youcef laughed, "Yes, but it's always nice when you say it." He looked at her and lowered his voice, then added, "Don't think I haven't noticed you pulling away from me lately. You used to say it back every time I told you I loved you."

She winced and tried to pull her hand out of his grip, but he tightened his hold. "Ah non, you won't. See? That's exactly what I mean... Talk to me, please."

"I already told you."

He clicked his tongue and stopped walking, then turned to her and lifted her chin, "You know I could manipulate you into telling me what you really think. But I don't want to do that. So please talk to me."

Davina knew he would so easily be able to suck it out of her mind, and maybe then she wouldn't have to say it?

But no, she knew she had to say it out loud. She just didn't think this would be the day, but then again, she had started talking about it, so she only had herself to blame.

So she sighed deeply, "I don't want to let you go, but I know I'll have to eventually because you can't stay with me forever. I'll..." she gulped, "I'll get old and people will start asking questions." Her lower lip began to tremble, so she bit down on it and added in a husky voice, "But I don't know if I'm ready to give up my human life yet either."

With his hand still cupping her chin, Youcef pulled her close and kissed her gently, sending a sweet tingle down her spine.

As he pulled away, he murmured, "You have to want it yourself. You can't give up your life for me. Eternity is a hell of a long time, my love."

Tears filled her eyes and she stared up at him, "And what if I choose not to?"

His eyes twitched slightly at the corners, but otherwise they were almost blank, devoid of any of the thoughts running through his head or the emotions coursing through his veins. "It would break my heart. But I would never force you into it."

She shook her head, a single tear rolling down her cheek, and he gently wiped it away, his thumb lingering on her cheekbone.

"I don't want to break your heart."

"Amour, that's a risk I'm willing to take if it means I get to spend my time with you, however long or short it may be." He gave her a crooked smile that elicited a quiet sob, and impulsively she pressed her lips to his to keep from crying.

"I love you," she whispered in the brief pauses to catch her breath before she captured his lips in more long, deep kisses.

Finally, he gently pushed her away from him and sighed, "You can't even begin to imagine how much I love you, ma belle." He took her face in both hands and looked directly into her eyes, "You know that as a vampire all my senses are heightened, all my emotions are intensified. I love you so much that I would sacrifice eternity to be with you and that is..."

She interrupted him softly, "...and that's saying something, knowing how much you love being a vampire. Oh my God, Youcef."

He just nodded and she felt herself melt in his hands as he breathed, "God, I need you so much right now, Davina."

Choking on her own feelings, she whispered, "I need you too. Take me home with you, please."

______________________

As soon as Youcef had closed the door shut behind him, they tore each other's clothes off. His fingertips dancing over her skin with the grace of a pianist, setting her body on fire, his desirous open-mouthed kisses made her head spin and her vision blur because all she smelled, felt and tasted was Youcef and his all-consuming love for her.

Their lips colliding was like throwing a lit match into a petrol can - they exploded in burning flames and desperate desire.

He kissed and sucked and teased at every inch of her skin, devouring her and worshipping her at the same time with respect and adoration engraved in his every touch.

Davina writhed beneath him, demanding that he complete her, that she feel whole as she begged him to claim her again and again. But as soon as he buried himself inside her, the flames faded, and what was left was raw, pure love.

This time it was different. Perhaps because they both knew she would have to make a decision at some point. His thrusts were slow and measured, but no less deep and full of power.

Sometimes he let himself get so carried away, get so lost in the merging of their bodies, that he forgot she was still human. That she would never get used to his power and speed unless he turned her.

And when he sent her over the edge and exploded in ecstasy right there with her and she felt him bottom out inside her and moan her name - in those moments she was so close to blurting it out.

That she wanted him to turn her.

But it was also those moments when she was clearly not thinking with her head. Only with her body. And with her heart. And that told her now that she knew she would give anything to spend eternity with him.

But she wasn't ready to tell him yet. Maybe it was the uncertainty, maybe it was the fear of losing control of her life.

Hell, maybe it was even the fear of death, she didn't know.

All she knew was that she needed him, just like he needed her. And that she would probably need him forever.

Forever in a world where forever actually existed. In a world where forever wasn't just an empty promise.

"I'll love you forever," she whispered, their bodies still entwined, both panting and sweating, his pupils so wide his eyes were all black, the hazel irises disappearing, and she swore she caught his eyes glistening over for a moment before he whispered back, "For all of eternity."

#litg #litg fanfic #litg ff #ao3 fanfic #litg s4 #litg bombshell #litg youcef #litg youcef x mc #youcef!vampire #alternate universe #vampire #vampire x human #litg light angst #litg fluff #litg romance

41 notes · View notes

charmixpower · 2 years

Text

💐 Flo hairstyles explained 💐

You know? Despite the only Winx member to not be or explicitly retconned into a princess, drawing this made me realize that out of all the Winx Flora's style is easily the most classical princess. Which I think it really cool. Elegant is the word I'd use to describe Flora. You've probably noticed that all the hair style collections have a bit of a theme to them, and Flora's is braids! I think braids both match her elegant vibe, while also being practical for digging though the dirt so I had a bunch of fun putting different braids on her

Also the one thing I'll give the later seasons props for is doing more with her bangs. I see you

On to my individual thoughts

Classic Flora: I gave her a braid because she's an elegant lady. Plus it fits her cottage core vibes so well AND it's practical for gardening!!! Perfect hairstyle, everyone else can go home

Alternative: I have nothing much to say aside from this style of top would look great on Flora, and this is a much smaller cuter alternative to a normal braid. For when she wants her hair down but with some cute flair to it

Crown Flora: ok so I've been pretty loudly annoyed at how all the girls have long hair in the later seasons, giving them all the EXACT same silhouette, and it drives me crazy. After Musa grows out her hair I wanted to chop someone's one to two seasons later to fix this problem. Stella would never chop her hair, and neither would Aisha. So that just left Bloom and Flora, and I remembered how gorgeous and regal Tears of the Kingdom Zelda looked with the short hair with the crown braid, so I immediately gave it to Flora and she looks so beautiful ahhhh!!!! I swear she'd just be able to convince people she's a princess just with her vibes. Also s1 casual party Flora outfit supremacy

Date night: This is a pull through braid!!!!! It was the main reason I wanted to draw Flora with a bunch of braids!!!! It's a beautiful thick braid that perfectly captures the cottage core vibe and they look like upsidedown hearts!!!!! It's soooo pretty!!!!! Absolute Flora going on a date night!!! I picked out a pretty sorta corset dress for her, and half circle earrings, to compete the look. I love it so much

Disco Flora: This is absolutely on of my favorite Flora hair styles, maybe even in my top two. It's just so beautiful. It's the one of the very few times a high side ponytail works, and it works so well. It's a giant ass twisty braid!!! It's so beautiful and so thick and I just love the way it looks. Flora my beloved!!! It's the main reason I will say I like the s3 disco outfits despite the crimes. This hairstyle is worth it

Cozy Flora: This also doubles as a gardening look. I really love the way the top bun looks with the short hair. I think it would look a bit silly with long hair? But it looks so beautiful with the short hair and I just love it so much. I gave her fam shaped earrings bc just bc she's chilling doesn't mean she has to go without. This outfit is pretty clearly inspired by the s4 painting bc omg miss Flora in red so beautiful I am in love with you ma'am

Guardian fairy: I really didn't have an event for this one? I just saw a picture of Flora with flowers in her hair and a different one of her in a halter top, and I combined them to make them both better into this and it's just so pretty. Flora is really made for high ponytails. I love the flower in her hair, and this shade of pink is probably one of my favorites of my favorite color so I'm super biased towards this outfit. I love it sm. I imagine she's doing a formal event at Linphea, not as formal as other planets, as the new guardian fariy

School formal: I do not understand how Flora's original hair worked,, so it's gone now. It has sections of lighter color hair giving it a pin cushion look??? I could of just done normal space buns and ignored the pincushion aspect, but I remembered her s4 pajamas hair and I really liked that so I put them here. I also changed her top a little more to look more like a dress. Obviously the leaf earrings for the soul

Gala attendee: Flora goes full elegant!! She gets the full crown braid here, with flowers in it!! She's rocking the flower princess look, especially with the drapey dress I picked out for her all that time ago!!! It looks so good and I love it more bc of my new found Flora in red obessesion her bangs are braided this time, which I think is such a look. I left some hair for her bangs tho... mostly because I can't see Flora without them XD

#winx club #winx flora #winx fanart #winx headcanons #winx redesign #rus doodles #rus chatters

35 notes · View notes

groundbreakingdot872 · 1 year

Text

Midnights - BBC Merlin-coded ✨Part 1

It’s me! hi, I’m the problem it’s me 👋 (equating every TS song to Merlin again 🙃)

Let’s roll! (for @firefly-fez 💖)

-*-

💜✨Lavender Haze 💜✨

Meet me at ✨MIDNIGHT!✨ ;)

-*-

…This is such a GWEN song it’s hard to hold it together

Gwen has had such an incredible development from season 1 to season 5, from painfully shy and reserved, to becoming much franker and more open about her own emotions and the state of the kingdom.

Every rewatch, seeing Gwen come into her own is so satisfying, and honestly, the only character development I could fully support: it's just very positive!

At the end of season 4, we see Gwen ascend the throne, which was a culmination of Morgana's prophesied vision but also the climax of the love story Gwen and Arthur had been building together from season 2...

She's dressed in LAVENDER, which is a color commonly associated with strength, vitality, leadership and peace; all of which are qualities we can associate with her character. I think that golden age post-Camlaan can be termed a lavender haze ✨💜 instead, as that's the color that best represents her.

Also, she just wears purple a lot! 😂

From s2's iconic purple dress with the embroidered corset (in 'Once and Future Queen') to s4's infamously remembered lavender dress ('Lancelot du Lac'), nearly all of Gwen's important moments have been in purple.

Her coronation gown in s4 (in both the vison and in 'The Sword and the Stone') are purple.

Purple is just her color!

In season 5, she wears a darker, more mature purple, which I think comes to represent her experience as carefully navigating her Queenship, as she's way past any 'rookie' mistakes that she might've made in those 5 years from s4 - s5.

However, I think this song could be a great interpretation of those doubts and insecurities of becoming Queen, and how Arthur's reassurance of her capability helped to put to rest any anxieties that plagued her.

To start, the beat of this song is this thrumming, electric rhythm I fell in love with almost immediately. Taylor's quick intro, "Meet me at Midnight" set the tone right away: this song is an elegant retelling of one woman's journey to prominence, with a sexy beat to accompany it!

[Pre-Chorus] I been under scrutiny (Yeah, oh, yeah) You handle it beautifully (Yeah, oh, yeah) All this shit is new to me (Yeah, oh, yeah)

Gwen has always admired Arthur's strength and gentle nature, 'he handles it beautifully', when it comes to ruling Camelot, and his advice and support is something she came to rely on heavily, in those first few years.

He was always quick to counter her doubt with the reassurance that she is just as capable, even if attending council meetings, drafting treatises and speaking with royal allies is all new to her, she can handle it all just fine!

I specifically remember an instance in "The Wicked Day" deleted scenes, where he pulls her away to give him advice in an alcove. They were discussing whether Arthur should be open to using magic to heal Uther, and when Gwen hesitated to guide him, he reassured her that her that 'he values her opinion above all others.' Arthur has always been Gwen's biggest cheerleader to speak up!

All of those years, she'd seen him manage the court and the knights from the sidelines. As a servant she had a unique perspective on his ruling, but never any authority to make changes herself. She did the best she could with what little she had, speaking up against any injustice or wrongdoing in Arthur's presence and absence.

Gwen was also a constant structure of support for her friends and Arthur, someone they could also rely on to give quick and valuable guidance.

All along, she had the traits of a capable Queen! She just needed the opportunity to prove it.

[Chorus] I feel the lavender haze creeping up on me Surreal I'm damned if I do give a damn what people say No deal The 1950s shit they want from me I just wanna stay in that lavender haze

I mean, the 'medieval-era shit-talking' was probably alone the same lines of talking down to Gwen, not only because she was a woman, but also because she was a servant and had no authority.

Of the main four (Merlin, Arthur, Morgana), Gwen had never been in a position of true power; either magic-born or of noble-blood. But the scene where she confronts Agravaine in 'The Darkest Hour Part 1' reminds everyone that her quiet strength and reserve is to be revered and was very much a brilliant tool for her to exercise against the egos of noblemen who thought so little of her.

Marrying Arthur and attaining Queenship was only a steppingstone for her to fully exercise her strategizing qualities and quick wit. By not 'giving a damn' to all the baseless things people had to say, of all the hardline decisions she would make as Queen, she was able to fully cement herself in power.

[Verse 2] All they keep asking me (All they keep asking me) Is if I'm gonna be your bride The only kinda girl they see (Only kinda girl they see) Is a one-night or a wife

I'm sure there was some heavy skepticism of Gwen and Arthur's relationship the entirety of season 4, either from Agravaine, or from other nobles of Camelot who couldn't entirely believe that Arthur had fallen in love with a serving girl...

Even amongst their close circle, there must have been some doubt on the longevity of their relationship (especially post- Lancelot du Lac). Truly, only Gwen and Arthur knew the strength of the love between them.

I think at some point, it was more of an open secret that Gwen and Arthur were together. Arthur wasn't entirely secretive about his affections (I mean a gaurd literally caught him sneaking off to Gwen's house in 'His Father's Son' 😂), and even after 'Queen of Hearts', they may have kept it on the down-low, but anyone who knew them well, could tell they were secretly still courting.

Gwen's fellow servants may have pitied her for pining after the prince, and then King, with no ring to show for it; and may have cautioned her to cut him off, before another 'politically valuable' marriage broke her heart.

Arthur may have, conversely, been mocked for letting Gwen pull his heart on a string and told to follow in his father's footsteps and marry advantageously.

However, the fact they both were able to put aside their doubts and marry for the sake of their enduring love, was more of a nod to their individual characteristics of quiet resolve, than trying to prove this 'status quo' wrong.

[Pre-Chorus] I find it dizzying (Yeah, oh, yeah) They're bringing up my history (Yeah, oh, yeah) But you weren't even listening (Yeah, oh, yeah)

OK, but this is such an 'Arthur' thing 😂

Sometimes he's just hilariously obvious to everything else, his impassioned 'I LOVE her' to Uther in 'Queen of Hearts' comes to mind immediately - the boy has eyes only for Gwen!

After the whole shade-Lancelot debacle, cheating rumors, Gwen's banishment and then sudden ascension to the throne, there were probably enough rumors swimming around to fuel traveling bard songs for years lmao

They're 'bringing up Gwen's history', and maliciously, in an effort to rue her destruction, but to Gwen, the only person who she cares about to hear those rumors, literally does not care about them.

Arthur is incredibly single-minded when it comes to his Guinevere, so it's no surprise that he provides all the reassurance she needs to take on the throne 💖

-*-

♥️Maroon♥️

The beat that starts this song off is a steady thrum, a little sensual!, and slowly builds up to the chorus; giving me a sense of longevity, a years-long relationship, and a dynamic that's been rebuilt and restored over and over again.

- and it's clear from the lyrics that this isn't their first rodeo [the lovers], the two them are very much aware of everything they have to lose, and yet… they still embrace all the possibilities of a new dynamic!, with all the grace of a falling star... 💫

Yes…this song is technically *not* a love song: it's really it's more of a nostalgia-washed remembrance of a love long-lost.

But! I still think it's relevant to Mergwen, considering Merlin's immortality and the events and years that passed between them. It's a love song of that remembrance, of holding onto someone because they're the only one left that matters - it’s a love song to the survivors.

I dubbed this song Merlin x Gwen (post-Camlaan) for so many reasons, but most of all for the color - MAROON - (a deep red which represents maturity, courage, passion and an enduring love!)

They are the two survivors of the original four, the ones left to pick up the pieces of Arthur's destiny; the two best candidates to rebuild the Kingdom back to the shining fortress it once was.

Can a friendship remain static, (an understood dynamic) between two people? Of course. But in this case, I think, because of the lost romanticism between the two of them, a friendship can delve deeper, from gently consoling to suddenly electric, and bleed into some other version of themselves that's entirely unfamiliar and terrifying; yet tempting enough to lose themselves in.

Who else better understood the full spectrum of grief and tragedy that buried the Kingdom than Gwen and Merlin? And who else could play an important part in rebuilding what was lost than the two closest to the late King 💜

[Verse 1] When the morning came We were cleaning incense off your vinyl shelf 'Cause we lost track of time again Laughing with my feet in your lap Like you were my closest friend "How'd we end up on the floor, anyway?" you say "Your roommate's cheap-ass screw-top rosé, that's how" I see you every day now

The imagery is so vibrant here!

Gwen and Merlin, sitting up late after a council session, her feet in his lap, sweet wine in both of their breaths, recounting some forgotten memory that you had to be there for. And then... a spark ✨

Notice how there’s a pause between “Like you were my [mine]… closest friend.” You can hear the longing in the narrator’s voice, something they can’t even admit to themselves, something they try to deny: they want their best friend.

Rebuilding the kingdom brick by brick, reuniting families, strategizing new allyships, and waging small battles to retain peace: these are all tasks that can only be undertaken with the resolve of a hundred brave knights, seemingly insurmountable - or two close friends who know the kingdom better than anyone.

Finding new purpose again after Arthur, and channeling their grief into purpose, is something that would be much easier with someone who truly understands.

They see each other "every day now” and it’s comforting.

[Chorus] And I chose you The one I was dancing with In New York, no shoes Looked up at the sky and it was The burgundy on my t-shirt When you splashed your wine into me And how the blood rushed into my cheeks So scarlet, it was The mark thеy saw on my collarbone The rust that grew between telephones The lips I used to call home So scarlet, it was maroon

I've written about a small ficlet about this line: "The one I was dancing with" and another analysis of "Dancing With Our Hands Tied" for Mergwen because I go insane for metaphors between dancing and friends-to-lovers 🥹

Being able to free yourself around the person who knows you the best in the entire world is so special; it brings to mind the feeling of home.

The One can be real and true, but afterwards, when the curtains close and you’re left alone to wish for more time… a second chance can be found in the most unexpected of places.

Gwen had already chosen The One in Arthur, her perfect match, the King of her Heart, and the man whom she trusted the most.

Then tragedy struck, and those short few years of their marriage and rulership seemed like nothing without him by her side.

It was devastating.

But then there was Merlin.

For both of them, it was a second chance, a new beginning but not a rewrite to their story. Memories can't be replaced or put away; instead, it's very important to cherish the time they had with Arthur, and persevere after him, despite his passing.

Reminds of different lines from a different song by blondie: “There'll be happiness after you/ But there was happiness because of you/ Both of these things can be true”

Their little moments outlined here: "how the blood rushed into my cheeks/ the mark they saw on my collarbone/ the rust that grew between telephones/ the lips I used to call home" give off the sense of a slowly engulfing love; between a Queen and a Court Sorcerer.

For me, the line "the rust that grew between telephones" is especially significant: I'm sure they must have kept up a correspondence somehow, with Merlin traveling all over the five kingdoms to restore peace diplomatically and Gwen giving him directives while reviving a personal connection with her people.

It's a gorgeous image of them sending letters back and forth, filled with funny anecdotes, shared moments and even painful memories; and all the while an unfamiliar sense of longing builds up...

Can this be the new beginning?

Can we begin again?

[Verse 2] When the silence came We were shaking, blind and hazy How the hell did we lose sight of us again? Sobbing with your head in your hands Ain't that the way shit always ends? You were standing hollow-eyed in the hallway Carnations you had thought were roses, that's us I feel you, no matter what The rubies that I gave up

There were fights, there was uncertainty "blind and hazy" that distorted the image of the young people they once were, and the strength they had to build up in the meanwhile.

They were changed definitively now, no longer their younger, bubblier counterparts from more than ten years ago. And as circumstances hollowed out a deep-set melancholia, so did they, sharpening and reforming into more mature, yet more bitter versions of themselves.

Can love ring true ever again?

From someone who knows the hidden reasons for everything you do, and in crystal-clear clarity, it will hurt the most to hear "I'm not ready" from their lips.

The political drama, the gossip, the baseless rumors, all boiling over into lines crossed, harsh words, and a chasm of grief reopened.

Losing him would be like revisiting the past - again.

Losing her would be giving up on everything he once believed in.

I find “Ain’t that the way shit always ends” especially poignant, and references the cycle of tragedy and rebirth that Arthuriana holds dear. More than anyone else in their world, Gwen and Merlin bitterly understand that this is how it always ends, but does that mean, they are never allowed happiness in that 'meanwhile'?

"You were standing hollow-eyed in the hallway" THIS LINE - why is it so BRIGHT, Merlin standing in the hallway outside of the Queen's chambers, relegated as servant again. For Gwen, the past and the present are colliding again, and miserably.

But they overcome it, the scarlet indignity of the past washes over them, and leaves them in a vibrant MAROON.

[Bridge] And I wake with your memory over me That's a real fucking legacy, legacy (It was maroon) And I wake with your memory over me That's a real fucking legacy to leave

“The Mark of Nimueh”

Here, the double meaning of maroon comes to play - the deep red bleed of maroon melts into an actual, physical marooning.

You are Alone.

What better way to describe an immortal man, countless loves gained and lost, than as marooned? Drowning in a sea of his own endless and condemning memory…

Merlin is Marooned.

But the Legacy lives on because of him, the legend of King Arthur, Queen Guinevere and the Knights of the Round Table live on through his constant remembering of the story to a modern audience.

The love lives on too.

The act of remembering for the sake of love, is a powerful theme on the show, and I think a very specific to this song. The narrator remembers better times, gladder times, and although it pains them to do so, revisits those times with the same mindless misery of reopening a wound. It hurts to remember, but it hurts good.

The remembering of Gwen, white in her hair, creases in her eyes, the woman he got to get old and gray with, is immortalized in his memory for his and Arthur’s sake.

He remembers her, and loves her eternally ♥️

-*-

❌Antihero 🏳️

“An Antihero” “A Traitor” “A Savior”

I don’t necessarily believe that Merlin fits the exact mold of an antihero, but the contradictory qualities and actions he sometimes heralds, and all of the decisions that lead to the climax of season 5 gives some weight to the word.

Merlin is cunning, sometimes hasty, compassionate and sometimes cruel; but he leads with the idea that he makes the right decision most of the time, which propels his destiny to dizzying heights and astonishing lows.

As an added metaphor, Merlin's good fight with destiny always reminded me of Jacob wrestling with God for control of his own fate, and eventually coming up as the victor with injuries to prove it

As an audience to Merlin’s struggle with destiny, we expect to see some formula of character development emerge over the 10 years we share with him.

Merlin expresses this endearing naïveté and strong sense of justice from seasons 1-2 which takes a very dramatic turn in season 5, something that isn't exactly easy to understand or rationalize for the viewer.

How did Merlin go from:

“The Mark of Nimueh”

A burning desire to do good to:

“The Dsir”

A bitter resignation to the way things have to be...

[Verse 1] I have this thing where I get older, but just never wiser Midnights become my afternoons When my depression works the graveyard shift, all of the people I've ghosted stand there in the room

Grief

Grief is one plausible explanation for Merlin's downfall and overall resolve to just trudge along by the time the finale swings around.

Merlin, more than anyone, has the full knowledge of all those he's lost, and all he has left to lose; and he unfairly blames himself for all of these losses.

Will, Balinor, Freya, Lancelot, Elyan, Daegal, Aithusa, Morgana, Arthur, and so many others, the list goes beyond a bulleted 'survive/deceased' on a paper.

Merlin has lost so many to his crisis of destiny.

At around 18 he was given the power of a God, or maybe the illusion of one, and chased the fickle call of destiny for the rest of his life because it was the only constant he knew after enduring tragedy after tragedy. The tragedy of Morgana’s evil, Lancelot’s sacrifices, Balinor’s Death; all pivotal moments that further grated on Merlin’s soul for being so powerless, so helpless to completely control his destiny.

How can one man, even if given a shoddy 'blueprint' of Albion, have the capability to follow through?

When his destiny continued to allude him, whether or not this was by the choices he made, Merlin became all the more determined to control the course as much as he could: he would save Arthur from himself, damn it all! Unfortunately, the random draw of fate is not so kind to impassioned gods…

[Pre-Chorus] I should not be left to my own devices They come with prices and vices I end up in crisis (Tale as old as time) I wake up screaming from dreaming One day, I'll watch as you're leaving 'Cause you got tired of my scheming (For the last time)

When Merlin is left to his own devices, he is given the fate of the entire kingdom to juggle himself; this is an alienating responsibility, and every decision he makes comes with a hard price.

As seen in 'The Crystal Cave' knowing one's future, preventing a future, creating a future are all threads of fate that are pretty much impossible to untangle. Who is to really know the exact consequences of every choice? But Merlin burdens himself with the thought that he should always know.

The course of destiny, or at the very least Arthur's, is described as a circle of fate, a never-ending cycle.

It's a 'tale as old as time' now, a legendary sequence of events that drives young people to do better, and to learn from Merlin's and Arthur's mistakes.

But to Merlin these were moments he lived and breathed through, where his capacity for goodwill might've failed him or his courage to keep going might've faltered; the extent of which is unknown to a modern audience.

Merlin's life story, spilled on a page like blood, is a 'tale as old as time' but a continually revived memory for him. That is the price of keeping Arthur the 'Once and Future King' through oral tradition, Merlin must pay the price of remembering him too.

"One day, I'll watch as you're leaving/ 'Cause you got tired of my scheming/ (For the last time)"

The day his friends realized the true extent of authority he had over their lives was one Merlin dreaded; he hated to be revealed as the one who might've pushed the fates of Camelot one way or another with everyone else oblivious. He even revealed his magic to Arthur in literally the very last moment, for fear of being exposed as a sorcerer but also the fear of how people would change how they viewed him.

In season 1, he was much more open to revealing his magic, mostly to Gaius' chagrin, but later he would grow comfortable with the idea of keeping big secrets from his friends, even his best friend. It was just too terrifying, the not knowing.

Although Arthur did his best to pry, Merlin always shielded the worst parts of himself and his past, (Balinor's death, Freya's death, his involvement in Uther's death), in the reckless hope that destiny need not be substantiated with trust.

True, Arthur was on a pedestal, constantly in the public eye, and Merlin knew everything about him as consequence of being his servant and constant companion. But does that necessarily mean he should've kept all of his self hidden? There's no right answer.

[Chorus] It's me, hi I'm the problem, it's me At teatime, everybody agrees I'll stare directly at the sun, but never in the mirror It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero

The 'tag line' of the chorus really hits hard for me as a motif of Merlin's life.

From the very beginning he was denoted as the 'antihero'; not exactly the shining and glorious protagonist Arthur was always meant to be, or the dark phoenix of a villain Morgana became, but something stubbornly in-between. (Of course, veering towards Good).

The very nature of him having to keep his magic a red-tape secret meant that Merlin's actions would always be shrouded in dark, no matter the intention. Curing Gwen's father could lead to Gwen's death sentence, saving the Kingdom meant poisoning Morgana and an attempt to bring back magic to Camelot could mean emotionally manipulating Arthur with Uther's life, and other examples...

I think one of the most divisive decisions he made was denouncing Magic in an attempt to kill Mordred, a choice he blamed for all the trouble the knight rued later on in season 5. Merlin's ulterior motives and troubled choices, usually supported or condemned by Kilgarrah or Gaius, lead to some patchy decision-making, and we rarely see Merlin make decisions from a place of hope rather than fear (saving Aithusa's egg, bringing Morgana to the druids and warning Arthur about Valiant for the first time).

As the series wound down, it was difficult, at times, to root for the 'antihero'.

But I, and the rest of his captive audience, still rooted for him, regardless...

-*-

👁️You’re On Your Own, Kid 👁️

It’s the Greek tragedy of the everyday, losing your hero.

How does it feel to really look someone in the eyes and come to the realization that they aren’t your role model anymore? That the flaws, usually buried under devotion or a powerful affection come up in a sudden rush that almost makes you sick.

And all those things they’ve done, embraced and hurt, are woven into who they are. Flaws that reverberate through your life, long after they’re gone.

That echoing ‘telephone pole’ sound pulsing the background is the embodiment of that emotion, something so hard to describe. A visceral, and distanced running-and-returning feeling that has you calling up your past indefinitely.

And it's no surprise that I equated this song to Arthur...

One of the most powerful themes on the show is the idea of Legacy; whether it is decaying, glorious, corrupted, repeating or born anew, the idea of leaving behind a memory or imprint of the life you led is something that influenced every character on the show, importance to the plot aside.

Morgana and Arthur share a similarity in that they are equal parts intrigued and repulsed by their father's legacy: at one point each Pendragon avows never to lead a life like he did, at another, reverts their promise. It's cliche in the nature of a self-fulfilling prophecy; it's nearly impossible for them to escape the trap of their own heritage as it is for them to remake it.

In the series, Arthur always spoke of destiny in a distanced manner, he had been trained to fulfill the quota since he was born, and he was much less impassioned of a 'golden age' than the day-to-day chivalry he could show his men.

“Arthur’s Bane Part 1”

I'll never stop thinking about this conversation specifically! For me, it encapsulates this whole 'tug-of-war' between loyalty and legend, destiny and reality.

Here, Arthur gently but firmly reiterates to Merlin what he believed his destiny was always meant to be: living and dying by the side of his knights. It's always been Arthur's destiny to die on the battlefield, not for any particular choice Merlin might've made, but because Arthur would rather it be that way.

The moments he put his life out on the limb for them, feeling the rush of adrenaline as he swung his sword of justice in real-time; and the blow of injuries he sometimes felt he deserved for sins his lineage implied; this was the legacy he lived and died for. Something Merlin never really understood, even after 10 years by his side.

Towards the end of the series, he constantly reminded Merlin of how much friendship, loyalty and love for his people meant to him, so much more than the title 'Savior of Albion' ever did. The legacy he built came from his eye-to-eye interactions with his people, fighting by their sides, putting himself into the thick of battle long after he was supposed to retire and just being there.

He came to realize that the legacy he was destined to build meant kneeling down and bowing before Camelot as a servant, a much gentler admiration than the roaring thousands Merlin intended for him to reign over. This was the very antithesis of Uther's legacy.

The soundwave from YOYOK, courtesy of wavevisual./com, clearly shows how much bigger the emotion and instrumentals get towards the end of the song.

It's not all at once, but a very gradual expansion, and I just thought it a neat visual for how the lyrics seemed to expand too

[Verse 1] Summer went away, still, the yearning stays I play it cool with the best of them I wait patiently, he's gonna notice me It's okay, we're the best of friends Anyway I hear it in your voice, you're smoking with your boys I touch my phone as it fits your face I didn't choose this town, I dream of getting out There's just one who could make me stay All my days

Season 1 - I'm Yearning! 😭 Anyway...

Arthurs’ always had the responsibility and expectation of 'playing it cool with the best of them', and if he's unable to keep up, it could very well mean the end of his life on the line in any scenario.

When we were first introduced to him, he's this cocky prince with a big sword and an attitude problem; and an insecurity big enough to match.

He's stumbling, looking for approval in the wrong places, guarding his ill-got reputation in court, and sneers at friendship with a servant. Through Merlin's help, he's able to lessen the sting of disapproval and invest all of the energy of his swagger into something much more substantial: a genuine respect and comradery.

I always likened the line 'I wait patiently, he's gonna notice me' to a younger Arthur constantly looking for approval and sense of belonging from Uther.

Spending hours before sunrise beating the black and blue out of a training dummy, his face glowing bright on the tournament field from the smallest nod of approval.

Burning away any scant reminder of his mother with a feigned indifference; at any moment, his posture, an unconscious gesture, his laugh, could draw Uther back into a bitter remembrance. The silver sigil, her worn wedding ring, rare mementos he tossed into dark corners of his chambers to forget, forget, until one day, years later, he's able to look into the likeness in his mirror without a touch of self-hatred at the memory he sees imprinted there.

Even after Uther passes, Arthur holds onto the hope that he will be noticed and commended for the changes he makes to his father's lineage. Most times he's able to ignore the nagging feeling that he'll never be enough, and with friends enough to populate a round table, Uther's looming shadow can slink off into the dark.

[Pre-Chorus] From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes I waited ages to see you there I search the party of better bodies Just to learn that you never cared

From an awkward youth with a breastplate too big for his boasts, to the Man he grew up into, Arthur has become the King his father could never live up to in comparison.

But he does not truly believe it.

For all of Merlin's resolve in a glorious, endless destiny, he was always a true believer in Arthur's distinction from Uther. He was the better man by far, and the better Legacy, but Arthur still shirked from this fulfilment in the fear that his father's expression would be lost to the ashes of his blazing fire.

His determination to see him again on Beltane was borne out of a desire to be enough, that no one really understood the true depth of. This wasn't the first time Arthur had sacrificed his own integrity, and sometimes the safety of his friends and loved ones, all on the line for something he would never entirely attain.

If Excalibur was the epitome of the Arthurian legend to the modern audience (or the most well-known motif) than Uther was to Arthur, the embodiment of that same visceral Hope.

When Uther said, "I will not let you destroy all that I have built!" Arthur may have finally come to the realization that he must destroy that very center of himself, the child still eagerly awaiting a word from his father, in order to rebuild the Kingdom in his own renewed Legacy. To build he had to destroy. To take up the helm of power, he must cast away.

[Chorus] You're on your own, kid You always have been

How isolating are these legends, these bigger than life imaginings of our heroes from Arthuriana? How endless and universal they must be, in order to hold the faint hopes, wishes and prayers of millions in an eternal safe-keeping?

And Arthur, at the center of all of it.

Two sides of the same coin is all well and good, but truthfully, there's one man standing in the spotlight and the other in the dark; and the white light is a harsher halo of judgement than the darker shadows of self-condemnation…

These lines remind me of that pivotal scene from 'The Moment of Truth', where Arthur gave the villagers a reason to keep battling Kanen’s gang,

"And if you fall, you fall fighting for the noblest of causes: fighting for your very right to survive! And when you're old and grey, you'll look back on this day, and you'll know you earned the right to live every day in between! So you fight! For your family! For your friends! For Ealdor!"

It gives me goosebumps every time I rewatch it: the misshapen original round table, made up of peasants and paltry substitutes for noblemen, but all the braver in Arthur’s eyes because of their steadfast belief in the world he promised them. And later, in the 'Coming of Arthur', he comes to resurrect the ancient tradition of a round table for a renewned success.

But it's very lonely being this 'epic hero', and with Merlin's determination to keep the truth about his magic away from Arthur for as long as possible, the destinies of two is really the destiny of one (at least to the public eye).

I've always wondered to what extent Arthur acknowledges that his life and acts of bravery will 'live long in the minds of men.' Was that just an oft-repeated phrase to him? A comfortable armor of nobility, while he went off to fight in battles, each time thinking it might be his last?

I think we get a partial answer in the very last episode of the series, in the very last words he utters to Merlin.

"Everything you've done. I know now. For me, for Camelot. For the kingdom you helped me build..."

Merlin: "You'd have done it without me."

Arthur: "Maybe..."

The King's lonely passage as Once and Future ruler of Camelot, was never something he believed he'd done on his own. He continuously acknowledged all the work of his subjects, Merlin his closest friend, and Guinevere the love of his life, had done for him, and credits their bravery, loyalty and compassion as the true tenets of the Kingdom that came to be.

He was never really worried about the state of the Kingdom after he passed (after marrying Gwen), knowing that the epitomized Glory of Camelot was not something he had solely come to encompass.

It's bittersweet, it's admirable, and it's a very inevitable cycle of rise and fall for Arthur Pendragon to hold hope for, as predictable as his own waning breaths.

I think it's the most beautiful thing in the world, that he died believing that his Legacy came from the people he surrounded himself with, rather than the high-and-mighty version of the legend he came to represent. It's a very clear deviation from the prideful man he was in season 1.

[Bridge] From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes I gave my blood, sweat, and tears for this I hosted parties and starved my body Like I'd be saved by a perfect kiss The jokes weren't funny, I took the money My friends from home don't know what to say I looked around in a blood-soaked gown And I saw something they can't take away 'Cause there were pages turned with the bridges burned Everything you lose is a step you take So, make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it You've got no reason to be afraid

I think these lines of the bridge are pretty on point in terms of Arthur's stages of life, but oh! :( It hurts me as a viewer to remember all these specific moments of betrayal, growth and everything in between.

As the successor of Uther, he had no obligation to entirely change the status quo. But he poured his ‘blood, sweat and tears’ into this!

He ‘hosted parties’: feasts, on his birthday and celebrated with all of his friends and family; while fighting away the feelings of unhappiness knowing it was also the anniversaries of his parents’ deaths.

He believed that a great romance ♥️ with Guinevere would save him with a ‘perfect kiss’ even when all others urged him to let her go.

He was a great romantic, a genuine friend and a faithful King, who never expected to be be anything more than a good memory in the minds of his people.

He would’ve never! expected all of the magic, hope and wonder modern audiences would come to project onto his legend, but I wish, more than anything, that Arthur might’ve had the chance to see the endless love in how the world has grown to memorialize him, a final and lasting tribute to his character Merlin undertook as a way to say, I understand I understand I understand

When he ‘looked around in a blood-soaked gown’ he saw the the ragged Camelot army heralding him as the King after pulling Excalibur from the stone.

He sees Gwen smiling back at him, as bright as a spring flower, after she was crowned Queen by his side.

In his last moments, he sees Merlin’s face as a beacon of hope and reassurance that his Kingdom will not falter, while those he loves still walk the earth.

And that ‘something they can’t take away’? That legacy?

He sees the Once and Future, without him.

And he knows it will go on.

So yes! ‘Make the friendship bracelets and take the moment and taste it’ because every moment he shared with his friends and family were held as dearly to him as a long-prophesied legend.

Arthur came to understand that those moments were not mere passing seconds, but something so much more ever-lasting and precious, a legacy within themselves and a confirmation that he had done the right thing, he had loved and lost and he was happy with leaving it all behind if he knew it would outlive him.

He prophesied the future of Camelot by doing everything to ensure it’s continuation without him, and therefore, ensured it’s immortality: a comforting thought for the far horizon as a dying man says his last goodbyes.

Gwen’s warm gaze and soft laugh, the creases in Merlin’s eyes as he fires back a quick jab, Morgana’s slow smile and rare words of praise - those memories! were what he held dear in his last moments.

A warring fate and fickle destiny, a creeping evil and and an unfortunate circumstance may have ensured his death, but Arthur’s stubborn hope against it all dares to reassure the audience of something he learned through great trial and tragedy.

[Chorus] You're on your own, kid Yeah, you can face this You're on your own, kid You always have been

Yes, “You’re on your own, kid”

But with the glorified ‘myth and magic’ of the legends, comes the gentle reminder that he was never truly alone, and left behind a great memory that was only ensured through the love he gave and was given in return.

A love that ‘always has been’, and in it’s brilliant simplicity, epitomized the Legend he came to be.

And in turn,

so you, will always be remembered too ✨

-*-

Thank you so so much for reading 💖 I really appreciate it :)

@taylorswift @taylornation you guys wanna join the immortal fandom? Lol

The link to Part 2 (final) will be here! (once I finish it lol)

#this was a lot! @firefly-fez 😭 sorry for the huge word dump but I thought I’d better keep to my word #lmao #Part 2 (final part) coming soon #might do a quick analysis of the 3am tracks too if I find the time #taylor swift #bbc merlin #blondie #midnights #guinevere pendragon #merlin emrys #arthur pendragon #arwen #mergwen

17 notes · View notes