#slightly related to Jane Austen
Text
Often online I see something like this, “Will Emma have kids?”
and I reply, “If Emma and Knightley’s equipment works, then yes, they will have children. Probably many.”
and then someone comes back and says, “Well, ACTUALLY, they had such and such birth control method...”
STOP. PLEASE STOP.
Yes, it isn't like old timey people didn't have any birth control methods. But nothing is as effective as modern birth control. Not even close.
Modern birth control is a fucking miracle.
Stop pretending it's not because you've never lived without it.
And women have historically had very little control over whether they got pregnant or not. No such thing as marital rape, methods like pull-out are completely up to the guy, and most methods of abortion could maybe kill you.
Even modern condoms rely on MEN USING THEM and we know how that can go. A woman can take the pill in private. The control is in her hands.
Women being able to have sex, for pleasure, without getting pregnant did not exist until modern birth control. And yet, because life is always a little extra fun for women, poor mothers were blamed for having so many kids.
When the pill entered common use in the 1970s, women did things they had never done before. They signed up for medical, dentistry, and law school IN DROVES. They raised their collective wages by leaps and bounds. They drove the birth rate into the ground. And they had tons of non-reproductive sex which THEY DESERVE AS A TREAT!!!
The pill changed the world. Give credit where credit is due.
#rant#slightly related to Jane Austen#I just can't#yeah I'm sure using crocodile dung was a great time#or a freaking lemon#modern birth control#women used to have a ton of kids#or just stop having sex with their husbands#or if they were lucky something stopped working
65 notes
·
View notes
Text
someone explain to me why a stray tumblr post can make a classic work of literature sound infinitely more appealing than it was in my high school lit classes?
#this is relation to all the jane austen/pride and prejudice posts i've seen floating around#although the principles applies to other fandoms too#but specifically jane austen#we saw it happen collectively with dracula and we know it WORKS#i just think it's so funny because i read pride and prejudice in tenth grade and i thought it was slightly humorous and entertaining#but mostly *okay*#and then two or three of my friends were collectively fangirling over mr darcy and the p&p movie adaptations#and for some reason i was kind of turned off by that? (probably also bc my enneagram four was going crazy trying to feel unique at the time#and it's also because i genuinely didn't care for the 2005 movie adaptation that much?#i thought the pacing was off & the characters seemed shallow & it didn't do the book justice#so all that to say: it is seeing tumblr posts (of all things) that has been giving me a new appreciation for jane austen#but i still refuse to be a stereotypical homeschool girl obsessed with jane austen books#i'm cool like that /jk#classics#jane austen#pride and prejudice#belle speaks
22 notes
·
View notes
Text
Vickie's Friend - Part 2
Genre: Steve Harrington x fem!reader
Summary: You and Steve are both very protective of your friends.
Word count: 3K
Warnings: use of y/n, silly goose!Steve, fluff, trying not to out somebody
Author’s note: Sorry this took so long! I got some of the inspo from an episode of Friends
Main Masterlist
Part 1
Saturday, March 22, 1986
“I mean, it’s hilarious! I could never place what Tammy Thompson sounded like but Robin got it spot on,” Vickie enthused.
“Yeah, it’s a Muppet joke. The muppets are always funny,” you replied, focusing more on the stack of new books you were arranging on the shelf. Vickie twirled around the bookstore you both worked at, following you as you did most of the work.
“My point is that when I compared Tammy to Kermit the Frog she laughed. And not like a fake laugh either, like a real, genuine laugh. It was perfect.”
“But…?” you waved the book in your hand, gesturing for her to continue.
“But I’ve been trying really hard to stop that thing where my mouth moves faster than my brain so there was just that weird awkward silence you get when you want to keep talking with the person but you don't know what to say but I had like a million things I wanted to say but I suppressed the shit out of that so I wouldn’t keep talking and talking and talking and I’m doing it right now, aren’t I?” Vickie gasped slightly, forgetting to breathe during her run on sentence.
Sending your friend a tight lipped smile, you say, “yeah, you are.”
“I’m hopeless,” Vickie exhales and leans against the bookshelf you were organizing.
“Eh,” you turn to lean next to her, “we both are.”
“If only we could like, combine,” Vickie said, intertwining her own fingers together.
“Combine?”
“Just think about it. I know exactly what I want, and I’ve found the girl of my dreams, but I can't get the courage to ask her out. Meanwhile, you go on a million dates and you have no idea what you want. So if we just combined, all our problems would be solved.”
She was right, you had gone on what felt like a million first dates with no plans for a second one in sight. Unfortunately, Vickie is forgetting a crucial flaw in her hypothetical plan.
“Vickie?”
“Yeah?”
“Did you forget about Dan again?”
Your best friend’s face dropped as she blinked rapidly at you. “Right…Dan…”
“It’s alright, Vick. As long as you break up with him before you and Robin do anything, you’re good,” you say with a teasing smile.
“Robin and I aren’t going to do anything!” her fair cheeks flooded with pink.
“Okay sure, whatever you say.”
Vickie rolled her eyes in defense before gasping, “Ooh, I found our next book club book!” Her jewelry started clanking together as she jogged across the store.
You sighed dramatically at her attempt to change the subject, “I still don’t understand why we call it a club if it’s just us-”
Vickie spun around to show off the novel she chose, “‘Sense and Sensibility’ by the one and only, Jane Austen.”
“Ugh, you know I don’t do historical fiction,” you grimace.
“But it’s about doomed love!”
“That’s relatable,” you scoffed
“Precisely,” Vickie said with a smile, already grabbing you your own copy.
_______________________________________________
Friday, April 4th, 1986
Steve did end up asking you out after your volunteer shifts at the High School. You both were awkward and giddy about it but it was comforting to know that he was just as nervous as you were. You found him to be very charming and endearing and you were excited to get to know him better.
Your first date was very sweet and simple. There wasn’t as much to do because of all the businesses that had to close due to the earthquake, so he took you to a diner that had managed to stay afloat.
You were having a great time, the spark of electricity you felt when you flirted with him that first day flooded through your body the second he came to pick you up, and it continued as you sat and ate your food. Your topic of conversation quickly transitioned to Robin and Vickie.
“And then the guy goes, ‘what? There’s no ‘b’ in rose.’ and the other guy goes ‘there was in this one!’” Steve looked at you with anticipation in his eyes and a big grin on his face. You blinked at him, still waiting for the punchline. He sagged slightly, realizing you didn’t get his joke, “it’s funnier when Robin tells it.”
“I’m sure it is,” you teased. “Robin is very funny.”
He rolled his eyes playfully and sent you a lopsided smile that sent butterflies to your stomach.
“Speaking of Robin…her and Vickie have been talking a lot on the phone,” you said, trying to sound nonchalant. You eyed him closely, assessing his reaction.
His eyes jumped around nervously as he took an extra long drink from his milkshake. You could already read him like a book, he was very obviously stalling.
Steve cleared his throat, “yeah, they seem to like each other a lot.”
You leaned forward, trying to invade his space a bit, “Steven Harrington… What do you know?” your voice was low and suggestive. It made Steve’s heart skip a beat, although he wasn’t sure if it was from his attraction to you or from nerves. He has spent so long keeping Robin’s secret, he didn’t want to accidentally out her and make her the ‘town’s pariah’, as she liked to say.
Little did he know, you made the same promise to Vickie.
When Steve kept his mouth closed, you sighed and said “okay, but if you found out on your own, that would be okay, and then we could talk about it, right?”
Steve had an idea as to what you were referring to, but he needed to tread lightly just in case. “Well, then it wouldn’t be a secret. So, yeah that would be okay,” he said carefully.
You eyed him for a moment, seeing if he’d break first.
He squinted his eyes back at you, “do you know something?”
“Do you know something?” you said quickly.
“I might know something.”
“I might know something, too.”
“What’s the thing you know?”
“Oh no, Steve. I can’t tell you until you tell me what you know.”
He shrugged softly, “I can’t tell you what I know.”
“Well then, I can’t tell you what I know.”
“Okay, fine.”
“Fine.”
You both sat there in awkward silence as you contemplated what the other was saying. Or not saying in this case. Anxiously gnawing at the dead skin of your thumb as you looked out the diner window, you could feel Steve staring at you, watching you suspiciously.
_______________________________________________
Saturday, April 5th, 1986
You and Steve were so excited to see each other again that you planned your second date for the very next day. Unfortunately, you had to cancel.
You didn’t want to postpone, especially since you were still eagerly still waiting to kiss him, but you had to. Vickie and Robin were finally going to hang out together and you wanted to spy. Some would probably call it stalking, but you didn’t care.
Being Vickie’s only friend that she trusted enough to share her secret with came with a lot of pros and cons. On the plus side you were honored that she trusted you, but on the other hand Vickie can talk a lot and it can get to be a bit draining. You earned the right to spy a little on their first date.
Also, Robin could be a serial killer. You never know. Stranger things have happened in Hawkins.
Steve actually told you, when you called him to reschedule, that he was about to cancel as well. He had some excuse that you weren’t really paying attention to, you were just excited that he wanted to eventually see you again.
You hung up the phone with a smile still on your face. Immediately, it started ringing again. “Hawkins’ Book Attic, how may I help you?”
“Hey Y/N, is Vickie there?”
Of course it was Robin.
“Hi Robin! Yeah just a second,” you pulled the phone away from your face before shouting, “Vickie! Phone’s for you!”
“Thanks Y/N, I’ll take it from the break room.” Vickie shouted from the back.
You returned the phone to your ear, covering the mouthpiece, so you can hear when Vickie picks it up.
“Hello?” you heard Vickie say.
You were about to hang up when you heard Robin say, “hey baby!”
That’s new, you thought. Against your better judgment, you continued to listen.
“Hey hun, I was just thinking about you.”
Your eyes widened. You looked around, making sure no one was watching you before you realized there was no one else in the store. It’s been closed while you and your co-workers cleaned up the place. The building itself wasn’t destroyed like some of the other businesses in town were, but it definitely left a mess with all the knocked over shelves and books.
“Awh, that’s sweet. I just wanted to check to see if we’re still hanging out after your shift?”
Ah, yes. The date you were planning to spy on.
Vickie giggled sweetly, “of course, Robin! I’ll pick you up after work and we’ll head over to that wildflower field by the quarry.”
You hung up after that, that’s all the intel you needed for your mission.
_______________________________________________
Luckily for you, your shift at the bookstore ended at the same time as Vickie’s. You managed to get to the field before them since Vickie needed to go pick up Robin. You found some street parking in a neighborhood nearby to ensure that your best friend didn’t see your car. You smoothly parallel parked in front of a dark brown BMW to start your stake out.
You focused on the road that was perpendicular to the street you were stationed on. Only when you saw Vickie’s blue hand-me-down Ford Cortina drive by did you grab your bag and exit the car, starting the short trek to the woods surrounding the open field of colorful wildflowers.
Spotting the two girls from a distance was easy with Vickie’s fire-red hair and Robin’s towering height. The tricky part was finding a suitable hiding spot.
Glancing around the wooded area you noticed a tall tree nearby. Before you could assess the strength of the branches you heard the rustling of a giant bush at the perimeter of the field a few feet away from you, followed by whispered curses. Denim clad legs were sticking out of the green shrubbery as a man was trying to wedge himself through it. You’d know those white sneakers (and that fine ass) anywhere.
“Steve?”
You heard a hollow “thunk” as Steve jumped in surprise, his head hitting one of the branches. He slowly emerged as he rubbed the back of his skull with a grimace. He was wearing giant women’s sunglasses and a long blonde wig that now sat lopsided on his head.
“O-oh, hey Y/N,” he said sheepishly.
You let out a surprised snort at his appearance, before realization bloomed in your chest. You smirked, knowingly.
“What are you doing here, Steve?”
Steve shuffled to the side, trying to block your view of Robin and Vickie setting up their picnic.
“Nothing,” he said quickly.
“Okay…what are you wearing?” you said suspiciously, tugging a leaf out of the synthetic fibers of his wig before crossing your arms.
Steve immediately paled. He snatched the jumbo lady glasses off his face, showing you his panicked brown eyes. What excuse could he come up with for wearing this in the middle of the woods instead of going on your second date?
“Uh…it’s just-...you see-”
“Is that Robin and Vickie?” you interrupted, craning your neck to look over Steve’s shoulder, pretending like you had just noticed them.
“What? Uh, n-no I don’t think so.”
He was such a bad liar.
“Yeah it is! Let’s go say hi-”
“NO!” Steve’s voice echoed across the field, making Vickie and Robin glance in their direction. Before they could see, you gripped Steve’s shoulders and pulled him down to crouch behind the shrub he was trying to hide in moments before.
“What are you-”
“Shut up, Harrington. Do you want to blow our cover?” you frantically whispered, peaking around the leaves carefully to see Robin handing Vickie a pink sparkly drink with a glimmering smile on her face.
Steve gasped dramatically. “I knew it! You’ve known this whole time?”
“Oh please, you knew nothing,” you said with a giggle.
“Okay fine, but I had my suspicions,” he grinned at you. Finally, he had someone to talk to about Robin’s love life. You two already had an immediate connection, but this solidified his attraction to you even more.
“Ooh! Wait, I came prepared too.” You swiveled, turning your back to him as you dug through your bag. He watched as you pulled something out that you placed on your face. Then you whipped out a baseball cap that you tucked your hair into before placing it on your head. You spun back around to face him again, “ta-da!”
He let out a surprised snort, similar to the one you gave when you saw him in his disguise. You had stuck a dark black mustache to your upper lip, wiggling your nose like a rabbit to show it off.
You both continued to laugh as quietly as you could at the absurdity of the situation you were in. Somehow, you both separately planned on canceling your second date, dressing up in a disguise, and spying on your friends.
“We need higher ground, I think,” Steve whispered after his laughs had died down.
“Come on,” you gripped his hand, ignoring the tingling sensation it gave you, and dragged him to the tree you were planning on scaling earlier.
You helped hoist each other up, finding two parallel branches that were sturdy enough for you and Steve to sit across from each other on. It was the perfect spot to spy on Robin and Vickie with the opening in the tree leaves, while still staying hidden. Steve rested a foot on your branch as he got comfortable. You were close enough to him that his spare knee was in between yours.
Your legs swung lazily underneath you as you admired him, happy to have someone to share this moment with.
“Look, look, look,” Steve whispered excitingly, leaning towards you more as he pointed towards your friends.
Angling your body to get a look, you didn’t realize how close your faces had gotten, but Steve did. He nearly fell out of the tree when he got a whiff of your sweet perfume. He held his breath as he subtly studied your face, scrunched in concentration before lighting up with excitement. Despite the fake mustache, you were the prettiest person he had ever seen.
“I can’t believe it. Robin is feeding her! And it's a strawberry? That’s like the sexiest food,” you snickered. Turning to see Steve’s reaction, you almost bumped noses with him.
Both of you froze, no one was leaning in, but no one was pulling away either.
After what felt like forever you whispered, “Hey Steve?”
“Yeah?” he replied, equally breathless.
“Have you ever kissed a woman with a mustache before?”
He beamed at you, eyes sparking with humor. “Can’t say that I have,” he glanced at your lips, “have you ever kissed a guy wearing his mom’s old halloween wig?”
Before you could stop it, you snorted right in his face. Luckily, it made him smile even more.
He gently held your cheek as you placed your hand on his leg that was still propped up on the branch you were sitting on. Your heart was practically bruising your ribcage as it pumped in anticipation. Steve’s face heated up even more as you both started to lean in.
Before your lips could touch, his foot shifted and you lost your balance, sending both of you tumbling out of the tree, breaking branches along the way.
Steve landed on his back in the plush grass below, it wouldn’t have hurt if you didn’t land directly on top of him. The breath in his lungs got pushed out as he let out a loud “oof” that quickly dissolved into laughter. Once you realized he was okay, you began to full body laugh alongside him.
Both your disguises got lost in the chaos, he could finally get a good look at you. You were still laying on top of him as his brown eyes stared happily up at you, ignoring the leaves and debris that were still raining from your fall.
It’s like deja-vu, time slows as you stare into each other's eyes, slowly leaning forward yet again.
“a-hem!”
Both your heads whipped to the side to see Robin, now only a few feet away from you, glaring disapprovingly at Steve with her hands on her hips. Vickie had her arms crossed and her furrowing brows were directed towards you.
“Our cover has been blown!” you say to Steve.
“Retreat! Retreat! Abort mission,” Steve said, a grin still plastered on his face as you both hopped up and ran through the woods, hand-in-hand. Robin and Vickie watched you both go, listening as the sounds of maniacal laughter echoed throughout the woods, fading away the further you got.
Both of you made it back to your cars, still laughing through your heavy breathing. Steve didn’t waste time catching his breath before gripping the back of your head and planted his lips to yours.
You were still giddy with laughter as you kissed him back, wrapping your arms around his neck in an attempt to get closer. He snaked his arms around your waist as he walked you backwards, pining you to his car.
You pulled back for air, still nuzzling your nose against his. Both of you were still smiling like a couple of idiots as happiness and adrenaline flowed through your veins.
You continued to pant in each other’s faces before you whispered, “hey Steve?”
Steve pecked your lips again, “yeah?”
“So… you know that Fast Times tape we returned a couple weeks ago?”
_______________________________________________
Thanks for reading!
Tags:
@johnricharddeacycy
@stormwellsstuff
@impossibelle
@kennedy-brooke
@heyyimmisunderstood
#stranger things#steve harrington x reader#robin buckley#mutal pining#steve harrington x y/n#steve x reader#canon divergent#80s#netflix#vickie's friend#robin x vickie#fluff
173 notes
·
View notes
Text
regulus hcs
very active on kpop stan twitter (he is a diehard orbit)
hes only cried in public twice and once was when chuu got kicked out of loona
jane austen lover
he prefers the 2005 adaptation of p&p
his patronis is not a black cat it is an opossum
horrible with celebrity crushes and has a new one every other day (panda sighs every time he opens pinterest)
100% had a p!atd/tøp phase
only watches 3+ hour long video essays on youtube
had an insane sugar crash the first time he was allowed sweets and now is only allowed to eat candy on holidays
fav cereal is life and everyone makes fun of him cause they think its boring
transmasc and says every male character he even slightly relates to is also transmasc
37 notes
·
View notes
Text
Title: Book
Anime/Manga: Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji)
Pairing: O!Ciel x Elizabeth
Word Count: 4.886
Summary: Elizabeth forgot one of her favorite romance books at her fiancé's mansion. After the Phantomhive Earl read it out of curiosity, he realized there are feelings and attitudes in the reading that he cannot comprehend, but does he truly not understand them or has he been avoiding admitting that he does?
It was a typical day in the Phantomhive mansion. Mey-Rin was cleaning the silverware (with shoe polish), Finnian was trimming the greenhouse plants (more than he should have), Bard was trying to cook an old recipe (which ended up burnt), Mr. Tanaka was doing ‘the usual’, and Sebastian… well, he was taking care of the mess caused by the other servants.
Earl Ciel Phantomhive was in his study, reviewing various documents related to his duties as a count, as well as his role as the owner of the Funtom toy company, letters, invitations, and other matters. After two hours of intense concentration, he stretched and let out a long yawn. In the upper corner of his desk was the book "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde, which he had started reading some time ago. Although it was not a novel for someone of his age, the young master had to compete in an adult world, so it was important to stay up to date with literary works, no matter how dark they were. After reading for ten minutes, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," said the young master.
"Excuse me," responded Sebastian, his butler, as he walked towards the desk. "Young master, the activities for the afternoon are as follows," but before he could name them, the tall butler leaned in with curiosity to see what book his master was holding. "Hmm, 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'. It's a somewhat crude reading, but it has been read throughout England. What do you think of it?" asked the butler.
"In my opinion, the ideal of achieving perfect beauty seems absurd," responded the young man sincerely. "However, it accurately reflects what happens in aristocratic society. They only talk nonsense about who ages worse and flatter the youth of the youngest while envying them behind their backs. The fate that awaits the protagonist will be the one he himself gradually built."
"I expected nothing less from you," said Sebastian, pleased with his master's response. He raised his gaze slightly. Another book was on the desk, but this one was not part of the adolescent's collection of books. "Forgive me for asking, but what about this book, young master?" he asked as he took the object in question in his hands.
"Ah, it's a book that Lizzy forgot the other day while we were reading. I remember she told me it had become one of her favorites," the young man closed his current reading, left it on the table and paid attention to the butler.
"Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen," Sebastian said aloud. After bringing his right hand to his chin and trying to remember where he had read that title before, he suddenly did. "Ah, I remember now. This title is indeed very popular among young ladies of the country. It is a romance novel that dates back to 1810. Would you like me to give you a summary?"
"Romance?" asked Ciel, with surprise and a hint of panic in his voice. However, after his reaction, he remembered that his fiancée was no longer ten years old, but fourteen. And with her age, her beauty became more apparent before his eyes. The young master tried not to think about it, but his youthful hormones had already begun to wreak havoc inside him. There were days when even a slight sweet aroma reminded him of her.
His perception of his fiancée had changed over time. When he returned to the mansion as Ciel Phantomhive, he found it difficult to see Elizabeth as anything more than a matter of diplomacy. But over time, his feelings had slowly blossomed. This caused curiosity from Sebastian since the young master never lost his composure, except when he was with her. The few genuine smiles he had seen on the adolescent and the sudden childish blushes were in those situations. Therefore, the butler could not help but curve the corner of his lips into a smile while planning a new way to tease the young master.
"Of course, young master. Lady Elizabeth is fourteen years old, it is natural for her to have an interest in such readings," responded Sebastian, while circling the young man's desk to admire his innocent expressions. "Does it intrigue you, my lord?"
"I-I do not read romance novels, Sebastian. Leave the book in the drawing room for when I see Lizzy again," the young master snapped while looking away, somewhat nervously.
"I understand, but wouldn't Lady Elizabeth be pleased if you read one of her favorite books? Besides, a count should be well-versed in all types of literature," Sebastian placed his index finger to his lips. He could see a slight blush on the young count's cheeks.
"I said no," the young master ordered firmly, turning his chair halfway around.
"Very well, my lord. I will leave it where requested," after clearing his throat, the butler recited the planned activities for the afternoon to the young master.
Night fell and after dinner, a thirteen-year-old boy was tired from his hard work as the Phantomhive mansion's count. Sebastian escorted him to his chambers, assisted him in changing into his nightwear, and departed as soon as the count's breathing grew heavy. After approximately half an hour, the young man opened his eyes, got up and left his room to the first floor. Not even the flutter of a butterfly could be heard. He quietly entered the drawing room, where Sebastian was supposed to have left the book, and approached the table.
It wasn't there.
He felt a presence behind him that made him shiver.
"Looking for this, young master?" asked his butler as he held Miss Elizabeth's book in his hands.
"SEBASTIAN!" shouted the young man, once again underestimating his butler. "Yes, I was looking for it, give it to me." he ordered as he snatched the book from Sebastian's hands. Sebastian couldn't help but laugh.
"D-don't laugh!" exclaimed the angry young man. Embarrassed, with the book in his hands, he headed to his room.
"Ah, humans are truly interesting," Sebastian said out loud while recovering from his laughter.
The next day, the young master yawned during his riding lessons, which made Sebastian stricter with him.
"Did the reading keep you up, young master?" asked Sebastian in a mocking tone, but slightly annoyed. "If it continues like this, I'll have to be even stricter," he said as he slapped the animal's thigh, causing it to run off with the count on its back.
"Sebastian! WAIT! NO! AAaahh…" shouted the count as he tried to control the horse that was galloping at full speed. Sebastian grinned, amused by taking advantage of the young master.
A couple of days later, the Phantomhive earl left his mansion for London to inspect the toy stores branches of his company, accompanied by Sebastian. As he walked down the street, he heard a familiar voice behind him:
"Ciel?" someone called. He turned around and saw that it was Elizabeth.
"Lizzy?" the young lady's face lit up, and she ran to meet him. The count instinctively closed his eyes, waiting for his fiancée's embrace. But it never came. Elizabeth stood in front of him, making a polite bow with her maid, Paula. He snapped out of it and made a bow along with Sebastian, with a strange sensation.
"I'm so glad to see you here. Do you have business nearby?" the young lady asked.
"I was attending to some company affairs, and you?" the count replied.
"I came to pick up a bespoke dress I ordered for tonight's ball, but I stopped by to see the new toys you've put in the stores. Will you go tonight?" the young lady approached the young man with curiosity. Her eyes shone with the hope of an affirmative answer.
"Yes, I will. Moreover, I will come to fetch you before nightfall." The young master hated balls. He was as stiff as a tree branch, but he knew they were necessary for making new connections and, besides, his fiancée would be there. After hearing the count's reply, his fiancée's face lit up.
"Really? I can't believe it, how wonderful," she exclaimed, clapping her hands. "I'll get very pretty for you, Ciel." Inside, the young man wanted to tell her that she was always pretty, but he didn't. Between his bold thoughts and his fiancée's words, a small blush formed on the count's cheeks. Of course, Sebastian noticed it, but said nothing. Before the count could say anything, the young lady exclaimed:
"Oh! Ciel! Did I happen to leave a book at your mansion? I haven't seen it in days, and I remembered that I visited you recently." Lizzy looked up at the sky and took her chin with her right hand in a thoughtful expression. The young lady didn't dare ask if he had read the book, as she didn't think it would be to her fiancé's liking.
"Yes, you left it at the mansion, I was planning to give it to you today at the party," the young man replied.
"Great! Well, we have a lot to do with Paula before tonight's dance. See you, Ciel!" Elizabeth exclaimed effusively, taking Paula by the arm, leaving.
"Well, that was strange," Ciel said, voicing his thoughts aloud.
"Was it because she didn't jump on you as usual?" the butler asked, with a hint of jest. The young master sighed, adjusted his hat, and continued his way, confirming the butler's suspicions.
The evening was falling as the Count Phantomhive headed to the Midford’s mansion in his carriage. He was wearing one of the suits that Nina had tailored for him some time ago. While looking out of the window, Sebastian broke the silence.
"Young master, what did you think of Miss Austen's novel?" he asked, intrigued by the Count's response. The butler held Miss Elizabeth's book in his hands.
"I found it to be foolish," the young man snapped as he crossed his arms. "It's just a fantasy for women who aspire to marry an aristocratic nobleman who doesn't exist, keeping their hopes up. That doesn't happen in real life," he asserted as his right hand drifted through the air.
"And what do you think of Mr. Darcy?" the butler asked in response to such a statement. The Count was a very interesting human being, and Sebastian never missed an opportunity to learn from his behaviour.
"I find it ridiculous that Darcy abandoned his commitment for a commoner," the Count tilted his head to one side, "I mean, he had everything. A good life, studies, education, and he decided to throw it all away. It's stupid," the young man said as he closed his eyes in disgust. Sebastian looked at him with curiosity.
"Do you think feelings are foolish?" Sebastian asked to the air while arching an eyebrow. The Count opened his eyes and looked at his butler.
"Yes, they are. They interfere with the right decisions," he said firmly. Sebastian snorted. He knew that his master was telling the truth, but his actions in his life said otherwise. He had decided to stay with Snake, he had saved people on the brink of death, but above all, he had saved his fiancée more than once. He decided not to press the issue any further.
After some time had passed, they arrived at the Midford mansion. It was appropriate for the young aristocrats to pick up their fiancées to attend the ball. As he descended from the carriage accompanied by Sebastian, Elizabeth was waiting for them.
"Ciiiieeeeeel!" exclaimed the young lady effusively as she approached her fiancé. Just like the last time they had met; Elizabeth performed a small curtsy. "You look quite charming, Ciel." The young man wanted to compliment her on how beautiful she looked in her new dress, but, again, the words didn't come out as he noticed Elizabeth had not styled her hair into two pigtails as usual, but instead into a single bun pulled back. Loose curls fell down her shoulders and back. Sebastian noticed his master's surprise and smiled slightly.
"Miss Elizabeth, it's a pleasure to see you again," interrupted Sebastian before the young master could say anything while performing a bow. "Here is the book you left at the mansion during your last visit," the butler handed the book to the young lady.
"Oh! Thank you very much, Sebastian! Paula, please take it to my chambers," Elizabeth requested, while the maid took the book in her hands and curtsied.
"My dear nephew!" exclaimed the Marquess Midford, approaching and hugging his future son-in-law tightly.
"V-Viscount Midford, it's good to see you," said the young man trying to get out of the embrace.
"Dear!" retorted Frances, the young master's aunt. "Don't be rude," she scolded her husband. Behind her stood Edward, Elizabeth's older brother.
"Elizabeth, Aunt Frances, Edward, it's lovely to see you," the young man performed a bow to the family. Everyone was dressed formally for the party.
"Ciel," greeted Edward, crossing his arms.
"We're on time, but we'll need two carriages," said the aunt, indicating that it was time to depart.
"I'll go with Ciel!" exclaimed Elizabeth.
"A-and I'll go with Ciel too!" replied Edward. "I can't leave my little sister alone with him."
"I'll accompany them, Master Edward. I'll escort you to the party," said Sebastian while performing a bow.
"Very well," said Frances. "You'll come with us, Edward."
"WHAT?" protested the young man incredulously.
"Edward, don't be rude!" Elizabeth responded. The earl quickly exhausted his energy with his fiancée's family. Everyone had a such a unique personality. After the servants bid the family farewell in unison, the family and the couple boarded their respective carriages and departed.
Elizabeth and her fiancé were sitting together in the carriage, conversing about the events of the past few days. Despite his reserved demeanor, the young Earl always added interesting comments to the conversation and was paying close attention to every word his fiancée uttered. After all they had been through together on the Campania, they had learned to be more open and honest with each other.
Time flew by quickly. The Grenville mansion was located on the outskirts of London, so there was no need to stay at his second residence. The bright entrance dazzled guests as they arrived, contrasting with the dark colors that loomed in the sky. Once the Earl, his fiancée, and his family got out of the carriages, the butler approached the young master stealthily and whispered in his ear:
"Young master, please forgive my boldness, but an English gentleman should always praise his fiancée before a dance," the young man looked at him angrily.
"I already know," he snapped.
"The carriage will be waiting outside when you want to leave. I must go and take care of the mansion and ensure that everything is in order." Sebastian made a bow, bidding farewell to the family, got into the carriage, and left.
"Shall we enter, Lizzy?" said the Earl as he offered his arm to his fiancée. Elizabeth smiled.
"Delighted!" And so, they entered the grand mansion.
As expected, the salon was huge. A large chandelier hung from the ceiling, illuminating most of the room. Other lights and candles accompanied the illumination. The women wore striking and beautiful dresses of different designs and colors, while the men wore formal but elegant dark-colored suits. The live orchestra could be heard throughout the ballroom from behind the curtains, playing classic songs from that era, preparing to play the first dance songs. Elizabeth couldn't contain her excitement at such a scene, loving the pretty dresses and heels.
"Ah! It's so beautiful, Ciel," she said with excitement, her eyes shining as she brought her hands to her face in a charming way.
"Of course," the Earl said, although he hated balls. He wouldn't go if it were up to him, and if he had to go, he would like to be a flower in a vase. The real reason he had attended? During the Count Ridley's party in Brighton, which he had attended with Elizabeth, she expressed her desire for him to invite her to these types of events more often since he didn't do it regularly. The young man replied that he would consider it for the future. Nevertheless, he believed that it was a bunch of aristocrats saying useless things. And on the other hand, his coordination was terrible. He had dance lessons with Miss Maryerl every week, but he simply didn't like it. Even so, he had worked hard to improve, not only to dance with his fiancée but also to show that he was a true English gentleman to society and not be the laughingstock.
"To Aunt Ann, these parties were a delight," Elizabeth recalled with nostalgia.
"Yes, she was the center of attention at these parties," her fiancé replied, smiling slightly and nodding his head. "Shall we get something to drink, Elizabeth?" he suggested. As they headed towards the nearest table, the Earl came across a familiar silhouette.
"Lau?" the Earl exclaimed in surprise.
"Oh, Earl Phantomhive!" the manager of the Shanghai branch of the Kong-Rong Trading Company responded joyfully. He was, as always, accompanied by his "little sister," Ran-Mao, who nodded her head in greeting.
"What brings you here?" the Earl asked.
"Well, you know, business here, business there," the Chinese man commented with a melodic intonation.
"I see," the young Earl replied, looking around for familiar faces from the underworld.
"And she is… Ah! Miss Elizabeth! It's a pleasure to see you, you look splendid tonight," Lau said, bowing.
"Lau, Ran-Mao, it's nice to see you again," Elizabeth responded, bowing in return.
"New hairstyle? It looks excellent, I didn't recognize you," Lau noted.
"Y-yes, thank you for noticing," the young woman replied, touching the curls that fell on her shoulder. Ran-Mao approached to touch her curls out of curiosity. While Elizabeth talked with Ran-Mao about her dresses and the evening, Lau approached the Earl and whispered in his ear, "Young Phantomhive, take care of what's yours or it could be taken away. There are many young men in this room willing to dance with your fiancé tonight," Lau said in a teasing tone. The young Earl glared at him.
"Don't meddle in my affairs," he replied.
"Ah! There's that look, as expected of the Earl," Lau said, shrugging his shoulders. "It was a joke, a joke, don't take it so seriously, haha," the merchant laughed.
They were discussing business when the Earl Grenville arrived to welcome them.
"Earl Phantomhive! Mr. Lau! It's a pleasure to see you in my humble home," the host of the soirée said. "I hope you have a wonderful evening; I was waiting for your arrival."
"Thank you very much for the invitation," the Earl replied, bowing.
"Now that you have arrived, shall we begin the dance, don't you think? You are our special guest, could you do us the honor of performing the opening dance?" the young Earl froze like a stone. If he already didn't like to dance, it was worse in front of an audience. He could feel a small smile on Lau's face, but he didn't look at him, he had to remain polite. Besides, the Earl of the Phantomhive family had to live up to these requests. He felt Elizabeth's gaze on him.
"It would be an honor," the Earl replied.
"Marvelous! I'll go give the welcome speech, if you'll excuse me." The host walked away from them until he reached the stairs of the hall, where he greeted the guests and wished them a good evening. At the end of his speech, he announced that the opening dance would be performed by Earl Ciel Phantomhive. All the guests applauded and looked at him, who was near the entrance. The young man approached his fiancé, and as he extended a hand, he asked, "Lady Elizabeth, would you do me the honor of dancing with me?" His fiancé felt her heart racing with excitement.
"Delighted!" she replied enthusiastically.
The two young people made their way to the center of the ballroom to begin the dance. Although the earl tried to hide it, he was nervous. He had to show all the aristocrats there that he was competent enough to perform something as trivial as a dance. Still, in his head, he could hear and feel Sebastian judging him with a small smile, which annoyed him greatly. To get rid of these intrusive thoughts, he took a deep breath and gazed fixedly at his fiancée before bringing her close to his body. With his right hand, he encircled his fiancée's waist, while she placed her arm on his shoulder. His left hand took hers and raised it up. Elizabeth felt her fiancé's determined gaze on her and blushed with tenderness. As the music began, they both started dancing a beautiful waltz while they made their way around the circle of people surrounding them. Elizabeth seemed to float with excitement. She never took her eyes off her fiancé. They were almost the same height, so looking at him wasn't difficult, but she couldn't escape his gaze either. That deep blue eye and the patch that covered the eye that the flames engulfed three years ago. She had never wanted to ask him what had happened that day. She believed it was too painful to remember. She didn't deny that she had tried multiple times, but perhaps deep down, she feared knowing the truth.
The earl's decisive and precise steps made it seem like he had been dancing for years. Elizabeth knew her fiancé didn't like to dance, but she knew he was trying to appear as a man within society, before all the spectators' eyes. After all, she was also doing her part by not wearing heels. In fact, for brief moments, he seemed a bit taller than her.
They performed perfect turns and didn't bump into any guests. As the song changed tone, the guests began to join them in the waltz, with them in the center.
"I wish we could freeze time forever," the young woman thought.
After a final turn, the song ended with a sudden cut. All the guests applauded in amazement. The earl felt Edward's fierce gaze and the approval of his uncles. With one hand, he led his fiancée out of the dance circle.
"Earl Phantomhive, that was truly impressive," Lau said, applauding when the couple reached his side.
"This was nothing," said the earl smiling, but immediately excused himself and went outside to the patio. Elizabeth felt worried at such action, had she upset him again?
When the young man was outside, he touched the marble railing that overlooked the garden and let out a deep sigh.
"Ah… what a spectacle, everyone was gazing at us dancing, and Elizabeth… Elizabeth…" thought the Earl with flushed cheeks as he gasped for breath. He thanked the universe that Sebastian hadn't seen him in those moments of vulnerability.
"Ciel?" he heard Lizzy's voice behind him. "Are you okay?" The Earl quickly turned around.
"Ah! Lizzy! I'm sorry, I needed some fresh air," he said as he tried to control his ragged breath. His fiancée arrived at his side, leaned her lower back against the marble structure, and looked inside the mansion with a sad expression. The two fell silent as they calmed their breathing.
"I'm sorry for bringing you here, Ciel," the young woman commented to the air, smiling nervously, and looking at her hands, "I know it's not your thing, and you always agree to do what I say to make me happy," her bangs slowly covered her eyes. She knew her fiancé didn't like dancing, attending these stupid balls, or talking to aristocrats. She felt guilty. Every time she tried to cheer him up, she ended up putting him in an uncomfortable position. The Earl was confused, where had she gotten such ideas? He separated from the railing to look at her.
"Lizzy, look at me," the Earl ordered as he took one of her hands, "You don't bother me," the Earl responded, softening his features in his face, because he had hurt her with his reluctant attitude. He meant it. Yes, his fiancée's overwhelming energy and emotions could create chaos, and they could sometimes have some arguments, but he really appreciated everything she did for him. She was the light in the darkness in which he was immersed. "If I do something with you, it's because I really want to do it," the young man said sincerely. "Is that why you've been distant today? Because you think you are bothering me?" the young Earl asked.
"I-I—," the words wouldn't come out of the young woman's mouth. She tried to hold back her tears, but she couldn't help the drops that accumulated at the corners of her eyes. She hated herself for it because she knew Ciel didn't like weeping girls. "I always bring you problems, Ciel," she began to say, "I wanted you to see that I have matured, that I'm not a girl anymore. I don't want to keep bothering you, causing you problems, or even embarrassing you," oh, now the Earl understood. They both tried to make the other happy. He let out a sigh and brought his right hand to his fiancée's face. With his thumb, he wiped away the beautiful tears that were flowing from her emerald eyes.
"Lizzy, you don't cause me any problems, let alone embarrass me…" the Earl took the young woman's chin and made her look at him, "so you can keep being who you are, okay?" Elizabeth nodded. The Earl pulled out a handkerchief from his suit and gently wiped away the traces of tears. "Don't cry anymore, you'll ruin how beautiful you look today with that hairstyle," he said. Ah, he had said it. His fiancée always brought out his most vulnerable side.
"D-do you mean it, Ciel? Do you think I look pretty?" Elizabeth asked curiously, leaning closer to the young master's face. At such an action, he blushed.
"Of course, you look pretty, you always look pretty," the young man said without thinking. His own words made him blush even more. Ahh, again, he was grateful that Sebastian wasn't with him at that moment. He would surely laugh in his face. But he didn't want to think about his butler at that moment. He was with his fiancée after all. The person he would protect without hesitation.
"You make me so happy, Ciel," Elizabeth said seconds before hugging him tightly. Instead of staying still, the young man wrapped his arms around her and dropped his head on her shoulders. A feeling of tranquility invaded him.
They returned to the dance. The earl invited his fiancée to dance several times, even though his feet hurt from doing so. Elizabeth was exhausted. She danced and shared the whole evening with her fiancé and the other guests until Elizabeth's parents decided it was time to leave.
The carriages were waiting for them. As his fiancée's family headed to the carriage, the earl gently stopped his fiancée before she continued forward. Elizabeth turned around and looked at him directly.
"Lizzy, I must confess that I did read the book you left at the mansion," he said as he cleared his throat and looked out into the horizon.
"Really? I didn't expect you to read a silly romance book," Elizabeth responded.
"Is it one of your favourite books, am I mistaken?" the young man asked.
"Well, it is," Elizabeth said somewhat excitedly and embarrassed that her fiancé had read something like that. "What did you think of it?" she asked.
"It's nonsense," her fiancé replied.
"Fufu, I knew it, Ciel," she said with a small laugh. "It's not your type of reading at all!"
"No, it's not. However," the earl paused as he looked into her eyes. "I think after dancing with you tonight, I can understand Darcy's feelings for Elizabeth a little more," the young man said, smiling shyly. Usually, he was the one who blushed at his fiancée's displays of affection. But he was not someone who showed his love physically, but rather with actions and words. This was one of them. Elizabeth blushed at her fiancé's words.
"W-what do you mean, Ciel?" Lizzy brought her hands to her cheeks. Her fiancé sighed as he closed his eyes.
"May I escort you to the carriage, milady?" the earl asked politely, offering her his arm.
The Earl helped his fiancée into the carriage and said goodbye to the rest of her family. The carriage started moving and Elizabeth waved goodbye to him from the window. Sebastian was waiting for him with the carriage ready.
"How was your evening, milord?" asked Sebastian, bowing in greeting to his young master.
"Excellent," said the young Earl, smiling as he got into the carriage. Sebastian followed him.
The night was cool. During the ride, the Earl fell into a deep sleep, while a gentle waltz melody filled his mind. Sebastian noticed his young master was tired but had a soft and warm expression that would have produced tenderness if he wasn't a simple one hell of a butler.
*A/N: In one part, I mention Brighton's mansion. Please refer to the game Kuroshitsuji: Phantom & Ghost for further information. In my universe, that game is canon cause there is a lot of material for o!cielizzy XD. That's where I got o!Ciel's thoughts about taking Elizabeth to dance, hehe >w< (he says explicitly that he'll take consideration on Elizabeth's request).
Heyo~, hope you sweeties enjoyed this new chapter.
OMG, I've been struggling for more than a week to finish this. It takes a lot of work to get into the minds of the character's creators (Yana Toboso). Of course, I can create situations in which we have already seen how a character reacts in canon in order to replicate their behavior in a similar way, but what happens when it's situations we haven't seen frequently, like a dance, the thoughts about a book, or deeper displays of affection from another character? (a.k.a. Elizabeth)??
I asked myself all that during this week. That's why I sincerely hope Ciel's attitude makes sense to you and that it didn't turn out as OOC (out-of-character) and, above all, that you liked it!
Please, leave a comment if you are so kindhearted;w;
See you~
Thanks for reading, you can find this work on AO3!
#black butler#kuroshitsuji#ciel phantomhive#ciel x lizzy#cielizzy#elizabeth midford#black butler fanfiction#fanfic#o!ciel#o!cielizzy#smilizzy
37 notes
·
View notes
Note
Tell me a few things you love about Wessa!
Ahhh another ask from my fav Shadowhunter blogger! Wohoo! These are the first two things that comes to my head. But there are MORE ;)
Their dark academia aesthetic
The Dark academia aesthetic of their relationship. Now while this may come across as superficial, its more then just "loving books". It's the chaise and adventure they find in books that they then live by in their real lives. How they challenge each other in a conversation and insider jokes they share tethered in the novels they consume. Let the other rant about their favourite things and celebrate novels that invite the reader into more journeys beyond just their own. And the way they talk about characters, morals and plots as experiences and people they know almost intimately. How their choice of words matters, and they are economical about their feelings. Dark over light academia bc London is a dank dark city ahaha. And they feel well deep rather than feather light.
Their timeless love
Somewhat still related to novels, but I feel like what Cassandra Clare did with Wessa was the melting pot of all our favourite literary tropes/heroines in classical literature. Which gives it a sense of timelessness and makes them feel like they are 'endgame'.
I wrote previously that Tessa is the perfect blend between Jane Eyre and Elizabeth Bennet. She retains Jane Eyre’s contemplativeness, slight shyness, physical features, dry sarcasm and strong sense of self-actualisation. But also Elizabeth’s wildness, snappiness, boldness, passionate love and will for happiness, all without the arrogance that came with Austen’s heroine.
Meanwhile Will's darker side reminds me of Mr. Darcy in how he pushes those he loves away. John Thornton from North and South who is set in his ways slightly stalkerish (i'm a sucker for the stalker trope sorry not sorry) Will retains the mystery of Edward Rochester, where there is more depth to him that meets the eye and heck even Tessa says at one point that his mood swings remind him of the treacherous Heathcliff. Most of all he reminds me of Alexander from The Bronze Horseman (which only came out in the 90's but technically it came out before TID and is already considered a classic). Alexander and Will overlap in how they sacrifice their love and longing for a greater peace (War and to not upset a family) all for the love of their other one. They are deeply flawed and challenge the reader on their tolerance for forgiveness .
“I love you. I’m blind for you, wild for you. Sick with you. I told you that our first night together when I asked you to marry me, I am telling you now. Everything that’s happened to us, everything, is because I crossed the street for you. I worship you. You know that through and through…” (The Bronze Horseman)
“Alexander, you broke my heart. But for carrying me on your back, for pulling my dying sled, for giving me your last bread, for the body you destroyed for me, for the son you have given me, for the twenty-nine days we lived like Red Birds of Paradise, for all our Naples sands and Napa wines, for all the days you have been my first and last breath, for Orbeli- I will forgive you. ” (The Summer Garden).
And you find you can, because their love and longing for their partner is almost holy and like a religion to them. Those we love the most, hurt us the most, but in turn, they are also those who deserve the most grace and Mercy. If not for them, then for who?
"You are not the last dream of my soul. You are the first dream, the only dream I ever was unable to stop myself from dreaming. You are the first dream of my soul, and from that dream I hope will come all other dreams, a lifetime’s worth." (Clockwork Prince).
This, coupled with the stakes of their relationship then as a unite (and also separately) echos a timber that reminds me of the setting we find in 19th century Russian literature (but with an HEA tysm CC my heart can't take it). This tragic longing we see in Anna Karenina where any choice Tessa makes she looses something in the same breath. The high apocalyptic war torn feel of War and Peace alongside the feeling of doom you get right at Chapter 1 in Clockwork Angel like we did in Crime and Punishment, when Raskolnikov kills a man, and it's all downhill from there.
Conclusion
CC wrote these two with the aim that they remain true to the history of their time, but blended it in with fresh modern air for us to be able to relate to and TRULY succeed. Who knew a historical romance about two book lovers could escalate so highly in the ranks? Now while they are so high up in the ranks of GOAT-ed couples in literature, they aren't without their flaws. Mainly not bc of the narrative or the character's choices but more to do with CC's discontinuation of their story linearly past TID. But that's a different ask for another time and tbh, that's where I seek out lovely fanfictions like the ones you create in order to fill in the blind spots CC didn't fill.
Thank you for this ask! I hope this was worth the read ILY @ibrushmyteeth-donttellanyone♡
Artistic Credit: Cassandra Jean
#ask#Wessa#Essay#essay on wessa#TID#The Infernal Devices#Shadowhunters Essay#Cassandra Clare#I WANT MORE WESSA
12 notes
·
View notes
Note
matt and casey:
pre-relationship: 5
love: 1, 9
domestic life: 3, 5
Ship asks meme (feel free to send for anything I ship)
Ooh, so, 4/5 of these I answered last time, but this was a while ago, and as usual I talked way too much! So I'm using this as an opportunity to answer in a succinct (possibly slightly updated) way but with links back to my longer answers too 😊
Pre-relationship 5:
Did either of them try to resist their feelings?
Yes! Both of them!
Although they end up having sex with each other rather early on the ship, there's this moment afterwards when they're joking around together and it's kind of evident there's something more there. Knowing there's potential for something romantic to occur, Casey vetoes them having sex again, in fact making a catch-all "rule" on that. She later tries to go back on it but being the same day she attacked Matt over not wanting to rescue Johnny, he does not react well. (The words "why don't you just fuck Johnny Gat?" may have been thrown around. Those words may have been acted upon.)
They make up and become friends, both repressing thier attraction to each other in favour of how well they get along. But inevitably they both end up developing feelings for each other anyway. Casey resists hers because she has (questionable) reasons for not wanting a relationship. Matt resists his because he knows that about her.
But Matt realises he has feelings for Casey right after GOOH, and that he's in love with her a few months later when Asha calls her out on it. Casey realises hers while Matt is in the past and realises she's in love with him when her past self calls her out on it.
Longer/original answer
Love 1:
Who said “I love you” first?
Matt did, although it was to Casey's past self as he was basically dying and knew she would at least remember it by the time she was the version of herself the confession related to. Her younger self was not in love with him, but she did tell him her name in return.
When they were both synced back up time-wise, Casey was struggling to speak her feelings so Matt suggested she replicate Jane Austen prose as it's something she's more comfortable with. Through this she was able to say she loved him, and he was able to return it again very emphatically.
Longer/original answer
Love 9:
What kind of nicknames do they call each other?
Casey mostly just uses Matty, baby, and sweetie.
Matt uses more of a mix but mostly Cass, babe/baby, darling, my love, and in the bedroom; princess.
Longer/original answer
Domestic life 3:
How many kids do they have, if any? What are they like?
Yes; once they're properly settled down on the new planet they have 3. The oldest is Victory, she's the one Casey's pregnant with at the end of my fanfic and in a few pieces I've drawn, she was (will be?) born in June 2024. She's very calm, intelligent and methodical.
They also have identical twins (cis boy and trans girl) born in April 2026. They're not in my fic (apart from the general implication in one scene that Mass plan to have 3 children) yet their existence is a lot more fanfic cliché- conceived on wedding night (first baby free night in over a year, cut them some slack!), identical twins, a real fucking handful...!
Their names are Apollo and Artemis (goes more by just Emi post-social transition) but the names have never quite sat right for me. Idk if it's because it seems a bit on the nose for twins to have those names, because they don't grab me in the way Vic's name did, or just because I worry because it's Casey one of them would be named after the fucking doughnut shop.
Longer/original answer - more detailed descriptions of their appearances and personalities here.
Domestic life 5:
Who’s the stricter parent?
This is one I've not answered yet and I struggled how to phrase this but I'd say it depends what you mean by strict!
Matt is a far more methodical, researched, overthinking parent, and the better of the two at setting gentle boundaries for expected behaviour, but a little more relaxed with things like schedules and getting ready and so on, as well as more likely to get carried away with playing games with them.
Casey is a more instinctual, emotional parent. She's not quite as good at setting boundaries and more likely to lose her temper from time to time though she mostly talks herself down before she gets to the yelling stage, and learns to apologise if she doesn't manage to. She's stricter with schedules and worries more about the kids academically than Matt does.
So I'd say Casey probably appears the strictest overall, but Matt's the one putting the most work into firm, gentle discipline. Casey's used to leading adults and it takes her a while to adjust.
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
A few weeks ago, @rainintheevening and I were talking about protagonists (or at least POV characters, I guess) that we relate to really strongly - the kind of character you can point to and go, "That's me!"
I've always been a little frustrated, because while there are a lot of protagonists I can relate to in one dimension or another, I've hardly ever come across a protagonist who I could say with any amount of sincerity, "She's just like me!" Maybe they have a brother or a sister they're really close to, maybe they grew up in a place where they didn't feel like they belong, maybe they're an avid bookworm...but the majority of their traits always seem to be things I don't share with them. I think the only times I've identified very strongly with a protagonist were in House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones (where the main character would rather sit at home and eat baked goods and read books instead of doing anything remarkable), and Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (where the main character is so shy she lets people walk all over her and generally is too timid to speak up even when she knows something is wrong - until she does, and then is treated like the ultimate bother for being a spoilsport).
I think a lot of that has to do with me being a rather shy, quiet, passive sort of person who would much rather just sit at home and read rather than get involved with high-stakes, world-saving shenanigans. It makes sense that there aren't too many protagonists like that - who would want to read about that kind of character? We like the protagonists who chase down their dreams, who see evil in the world and want to do something about it, the kind of people that make friends and deal with the problems that come their way with more interesting methods than just running into the bathroom to cry about it :/
This is why I always say I would be a side character - the best friend, the supporting character who is there for the main character when needed, who is valued in her own right, but doesn't take too much of the limelight away from the characters that most of the plot happens to. Generally, I'm satisfied with that. It suits me.
But still...I can't help wishing there were more protagonists like me.
And then I realized how many of the protagonists of my own stories are like me.
The Ambassadors - Shard is shy, quiet, has no friends when the story starts, literate in a time when hardly anybody is, would really have preferred to stay at home and continue scrubbing the floor of the village chapel rather than running away from home, becoming a dragon rider, and ending up saving the whole human kingdom
The Four - Timor is timid, quiet, and would much rather spend the whole rest of his life cooped up in a house than traipsing all across the land with complete strangers to become the king and risk his life a dozen times along the way
clone sister story - the main character is literally me, lol; big sister trying to figure out how to be a big sister, generally a quiet homebody who is closer to her family than any of her peers
superpowered siblings story - Sophie is also literally me; the story idea came to me in a dream about me and my siblings having superpowers, so she's a slightly dramatized version of me
Like...this should not surprise me. Every character you write has a piece of you in them. But it's kind of comforting to me, thinking that maybe there's a girl out there like me, who never sees herself in the protagonists she reads except in fractured fragments because, like me, she's a shy little homebody that never even bothered daydreaming about herself doing exciting or heroic things because she knew someone else would be more interesting. Maybe I can write the kind of protagonists I hardly ever got to read myself.
#just some random writerly thoughts#everybody goes on about representation of one demographic or another#talking about how important it is for people to see themselves in the stories they read#well i'd like to see more of this kind of protagonist
3 notes
·
View notes
Text
Well, more like Jason just got a book delivered hot off the press and snuck off to his secret hideout in the library but he finds Cass hanging out alone with a bunch of books around her. He at first pays it no mind, they nod at each other before Jason curls up in the reading nook he had since he was Robin in the back corner. Other family members can be heard in other rooms or Jason gets a text on the group chat about Batcow being on the loose and to keep an eye out for her, etc. Jason senses Cass approaching so he bookmarks his page and pushes the blanket door to the side to see her holding a book very close to her looking nervous
“You good?” He signs. Cass shrugs. They sit there in silence. “Come in?” Jason signs, tilting his head and scooting over. The reading nook or better put blanket fort is small and Jason already takes up nearly all of it since he’s gotten older, but he manages to make enough room for Cass to wiggle in next to him. She has her knees up to her chin, practically shielding the book with her body. Jason can see the well loved cover and the dozens of post it notes poking out from the pages.
“What book?” He asks verbally this time but softly. He and Cass prefer talking more quietly, it helps them focus on the conversation and feels less overwhelming. Cass slowly relaxes and shows the cover to Jason. It’s a picture book with… a bat on it.
“Stellaluna.” Cassandra reads the title as she hands it to Jason. He flips through it carefully, keeping an eye on Cass as she fidgets beside him. Jason had heard of this book, seen it in passing when he wandered through the kids section at libraries or bookstores. He’d never really bothered to take interest in it, simply laughing internally because bats. But now Jason held the book before him, a copy that was so clearly loved by its reader that he feels put to shame as a bookworm. He rubs a thumb over the cover for a second, chewing on his bottom lip, thinking. Cass rocks beside him, touching her fingertips together as she waits for Jason to say something or hell, just move.
Finally Jason turns to her slowly, and asks Cass “could I read this with you?”
Jason’s dark green eyes glow slightly in the dim light of his blanket fort, a blessing and a curse from the pit he and Cass both suffered in. Cass’ eyes don’t glow and they aren’t green. Steph claims that they have specks of gold and emerald buried in them that erupt and gleam when Cass is happy or angry. Cass doesn’t think of any of that as her dark brown eyes meet Jason’s rich green ones. She senses his body is relaxed, minus tension he seemed to always have in his neck and shoulders and the left side of his jaw. She already knew him as a kind and quiet soul thrown into every one of his worst nightmares who still could laugh loudly at his own jokes, inhale books at concerning speeds, and teach her how to perfectly boil an egg when they made ramen together. Now he sat next to her, holding one of her most beloved emotional attachments to this world in the same hands he used to kill people with and his touch was as gentle as a feather.
“Aloud, I mean.” He clarified. Cass nods.
[they read the book, Cass explains the post it notes and what parts of the stories they were related to (some are little drawings, some are questions, some are opinion statements, some just have numbers and letters on them, something obly Cass knows the context of), it’s sweet, they’re besties]
Jason hands Cassandra her book back and signs to her to step out. They climb out of the fort and Jason walks over to his bookshelf of Jane Austen novels and play scripts. He opens the jaw of a skull of a victim of his that he used to reenact Shakespeare scenes and some of his own writing and presses a button. The shelf splits open and reveals a shelf of childrens books from picture books to chapter books to poetry collections to everything else
I’m getting tired so I might continue this later but Jason n Cass just spend the next seven years just reading
#ok I found the fanfic thing I accidentally wrote on a whim so here it is#fanfic??#Jason Todd#Cassandra Cain#Batfam#unfinished#should I keep writing this?#NOT SHIPPING THEM#THEY ARE SIBLINGS
30 notes
·
View notes
Note
10 , 19, 29
Xx
Thank you for these, my darling @practicecourts!
10. At what point in the process do you come up with titles, and how easy or hard is that for you?
Pretty early on, I would say. Sometimes it can be the starting point and sometimes it takes me a couple of hundred words to come up with one. Because I often listen to music while I write, I often end up with titles related to the songs I listen to as I write them. I can, as you will have noticed, also be inspired by poetry. In general I would say that it's not very hard for me to come up with titles, but there are always exceptions to the rule, of course.
19. What are some books or authors that influenced your style the most?
I find this so difficult to answer. I know that my dash obsession (-) was definitely inspired by Jane Austen, but other than that I think it's something that you would perhaps be able to judge much better. I find it very difficult to describe my own style and feel like people reading my work would be far more adept. Does that make sense?
29. Give us a spoiler for one of your stories.
Hahaha! Obviously, that's what you would ask for. Okay, here's a Crossed in Love snippet. Does that count as a spoiler?
Remus looked up from his toast, took a bite, his eyes narrowing slightly as he surveyed James. “Surely, you did not meet any gentlewoman dressed as you are or with your hair standing on end as it does.”
He reddened, he was certain. “That’s no matter. When it’s true love that crosses your path, those matters are trivial –”
“You are wearing little more than your undergarments –”
“If he met the love of his life,” Sirius interjected, “at least she will know what she is in for. Never buy the cow before you test the milk, I say.”
7 notes
·
View notes
Note
I used an RNG generator for this and got 10. Well:
A character/ship I didn't enjoy/think about as much before you wrote about them
That's an interesting one. I mean, it is true that I did not enjoy/think about the Renji/Rukia dynamic nearly so much before I stumbled across your writing as a part of my return to the fandom. But that seems kind of broad and obvious, so let me instead focus on a specific niche within your writing that I love, and I don't really see elsewhere, at least as much as I'd like:
Seireitei dynastic politics. I don't know if it's the amateur medieval historian in me or what, but I cannot get enough of the positioning and shenanigans among the wider Kuchiki clan, and how it relates to their greater position in Soul Society, and how Renji and Rukia-- two people who did not ever think they'd be here-- are figuring out how to deal with it. It's an undercurrent in a lot of your writing, but it really stands out in Portions for Foxes (RIP Byakuya) and the choices they have to make, and the stress that puts on them...it's wonderful I'm so sorry they have to deal with that.
(Fanfic Asks for the Asker)
I have seen some of this in other fanfics (probably because I read a lot of Byakuya fanfic), but I feel like I come at it from a slightly different angle. I think most people who like writing that kind of stuff are into palace dramas, where there are assassinations and poisonings and marriages being sabotages. I both a) am not good at that stuff and b) do not like it because I do not like when people are mean to each other.
What I do like is period dramas and literature (primarily Jane Austen novels) where everyone's social status puts a very strong color on their motivations and ability to do things. I ended up giving up on Downton Abbey (see: I hate mean people being mean), but the theme of old families with titles who have lost all their money on bad investments suddenly having to tolerate the nouveau rich, somehow really pressed itself into my brain.
In Soul Society, there's wealth, which is somewhat couples to nobility (although there does seem to be a very distinct gulf between, say, Byakuya and Omaeda), but there's also spiritual power, which can be somewhat generated by bloodline, but the Kuchiki family in particular, seem to be running dry of it. We see on-screen Byakuya grow more accepting of Rukia as his sister as the story goes on, but I think it's tremendously interesting that his family gave him all this shit for adopting a street urchin, but then she goes on to become a captain, I mean, that's absolutely wild!
I am also mildly obsessed with this one New Year's comic where Byakuya gives Ichigo a "Sakura-Crested Kuchiki All-Access Pass" which gets him free stuff "from any Kuchiki-managed store", which implies that the Kuchiki family owns a lot of business concerns around town. There are clearly these other Kuchiki...around...doin' stuff, and I just want to know more about them.
When I first started writing Byakuya fanfic, I had to really dig for something I liked about him, and the two things I came up with were 1) he loved his wife and 2) he takes his responsibilities extremely seriously. I know everyone hates the Captain Amagai filler arc, but I actually really liked it because we got to see what other noble clans are like, and it implied that there are better things to do in the Seireitei when you're rich than go to Hueco Mundo and sever your own tendons. I really dig the idea that Byakuya has this huge sense of obligation that his relatives generally lack. This also feeds into why he ends up loving Rukia and Renji so much, is because they feel that duty to the good of Soul Society in the way that he does. In their case, they feel like noble families ought to be doing something will that wealth and power because they have seen things from the other side, but the end effect is the same: they all want to hold the Kuchiki to a high standard and then work hard to that end.
I'm really glad to hear you enjoy my efforts on this front, because it's really hard and I don't always feel like I do a very good job of it. I am not a Japanese history scholar and every time I try to do research, the only thing I come away with is "Soul Society isn't very historically accurate," although it is sort of an interesting mishmash of things. Like, you can very distinctly imagine them being aware of the Meiji Restoration going on the Living World and covering their eyes and saying "I do not see it," and then immediately adopting a bunch of the technological and cultural advances that followed, but only the ones they liked. I do my best, though, and if something I write is occasionally cribbed from the copper auction drama from Poldark, well... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
#fanfic asks for the asker#this is definitely one of those topics that i write about because *i* want to see more of it in fanfic#usually i am just waving my hands and making stuff up and hoping it sounds good#everyone has been so nice to me in this meme and i am just 😭😭😭
16 notes
·
View notes
Note
👁️👃👁️ greetings
I have come threatening you with yet another ask.
Since you're a book nerd, what novels/books do you think the cast of NANA would read or associate them with?
Have fun😈
threatening me with an ask fkdjfkldjsf
please note of course I primarily know and have read English literature and haven't read much Japanese literature. So I'm mostly going to associate them with Western literature, though granted I think NANA's characters are more Western leaning regardless when it comes to their tastes.
but ok let's see...
Of course Hachi has herself a stack of bodice ripper romances, that's just. I just know ok. She doesn't get into reading until she's pregnant, but then she gets into reading biographies of her favorite movie stars as well as the original books that her favorite movies are based on. Of course she reads lots of Jane Austen too, and hmm I'm feeling Persuation would be her favorite.
Also My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante.
Nana of course borrow's Hachi's favorite bodice rippers after Hachi readers them. She uses them to fall asleep to but more often gets sucked up reading them and laughing her ass off. Hm, I'd associate her with The Outsiders by SE Hinton.
Also, totally Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn... lol :3c
This is slightly evil for Nobu, but Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. But also The Outsiders by SE Hinton for him as well.
For Yasu... Maybe Blood Brothers by Willy Russel? Twin brothers separated at birth, live different lives with one wealthy and the other poor and ends up in prison... And they fall in love with the same woman. Seems very suiting for our Yasu. (I also considered East of Eden by John Steinbeck because the idea of seeing himself and Ren in Cain and Able parallel......... hurts)
For Shin something like Mio, My Son by Astrid Lindgren, a Swedish children’s book. Also Notre-Dame-des-Fleurs (Our Lady of Flowers) by Jean Genet because certain people keep bring it up with Shin ;_;
Ren.... Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. something something a boy and his rose............ something something
Gas Light by Patrick Hamilton for Takumi. Or something like Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë or Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier.
For Reira... Hm. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë.
I have no evidence for any of the this, but I really like the think that Miu is a horror fan. And that her dream role is in a Japanese horror movie. So something like The Summer of the Ubume by Natsuhiko Kyogoku is my pick for her.
Asami, obviously, only reads magazines lol. But maybe something like Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue.
For Mai... Valencia by Michelle Tea. But tbh, Mai herself probably doesn’t read anything that isn’t Nana or Blast related.
16 notes
·
View notes
Text
1 note
·
View note
Text
books i’ve read in august
1. a court of thorns and roses by sarah j maas
this book was okay! honestly wasn’t that interesting until the last third of the book when the plot suddenly picked up and with feyre being under the mountain.
3.75 / 5 stars
2. a court of mist and fury by sarah j maas
so much better than the first book!! i loved it, there was a good ratio of plot to romance. it was interesting. not the greatest thing i’ve ever read but i had no issues with it.
4 / 5 stars
3. a court of wings and ruin by sarah j maas
think i may be one of the very few people who prefer thing book to acomaf? absolutely loved the plot with this book, so much more tense due to the war
4.25 / 5 stars
4. a court of frost and starlight by sarah j maas
i did not like this book. it was basically a fanfic of acowar? also it kept switching between first person and third person. which was driving me insane. the only good parts was that there was just a lot of fluffy found family content.
3 / 5 stars
5. a court of silver flames by sarah j maas
the sexual tension in this book >>> nesta and cassian as enemies to lovers was impeccable. my only issue with this book was that there was hardly any plot for the first half and so it got kinda boring
4.25 / 5 stars
6. book lovers by emily henry
least favourite emily henry book but it wasn’t a bad book? i related to nora a lot and it was just a good romance book. nothing too special
4 / 5 stars
7. sorcery of thorns by margaret robertson
it was a good book and the characters were great but i feel like i needed a lil bit more world building because i got slightly confused at times
3.75 / 5 stars
8. malibu rising by taylor jenkins reid
honestly not as good as tshoeh or daisy jones, but it was still amazing. i loved literally every character and got so invested. i love tjr’s writing
4.75 / 5 stars
9. the poppy war by r. f. kuang
this might be my favourite fantasy book. i loved it so much. i love every character - they’re all amazing. and the plot >>> i need to read the other books in this series asap
5 / 5 stars
10. forget my twice by carina taylor
i was given this ARC to review and it was great! just a regular rom-com book, nothing special about it but it was a good easy read
3.5 / 5 stars
11. love on the brain by ali hazelwood
this was a great enemies to lovers rom-com. personally one of my fav romance books - i especially loved the fact that the main character has dysautonomia as i have a chronic illness that causes me to faint a lot and i loved seeing the representation
4 / 5 stars
12. finding audrey by sophie kinsella
not a massive fan of this but i loved the depiction of anxiety, my main issue with it was that it slightly promotes the idea that mental illness can be cured by getting a boyfriend
2.5 / 5 stars
13. pride and prejudice by jane austen
i love this book so much. it will forever be a favourite of mine. mr darcy and elizabeth’s romance will always be the blueprint for enemies to lovers. it’s perfection.
5 / 5 stars
link to my bookstagram post about the books i’ve read in august
#i’ve never read this many books in a month before lmao#my fav book of the month is a tie between the poppy war and pride & prejudice#han’s books#booklr#book recommendations
3 notes
·
View notes
Text
Sensibility & Prejudice
by AvonleaBrigadoon
The story starts when Elizabeth and Maria are staying at the Parsonage at Hunsford. It diverges from canon when Elizabeth receives a package from her father - a copy of the new novel Sense and Sensibility. They start reading it together and this leads to insights into characters and events which had previously been misunderstood. This prevents Darcy making a disastrous proposal in Kent. The pathway is slightly different but they will get their happy ending.
Quotations from Sense and Sensibility are put in italics and page references are from the Wordsworth Classics (1992) edition. Words in bold are quoted from Pride and Prejudice.
Words: 1613, Chapters: 1/30, Language: English
Fandoms: Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms, Pride and Prejudice (TV 1995), Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice (2005)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Categories: F/M
Characters: Elizabeth Bennet, Jane Bennet, Charlotte Lucas, Fitzwilliam Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam (Pride and Prejudice), Anne de Bourgh, Catherine de Bourgh, Georgiana Darcy, Charles Bingley, Lydia Bennet, Mrs. Gardiner (Pride and Prejudice), Lieutenant Denny (Pride and Prejudice)
Relationships: Elizabeth Bennet/Fitzwilliam Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet & Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth Bennet & Jane Bennet, Elizabeth Bennet & Georgiana Darcy, Jane Bennet/Charles Bingley, Anne de Bourgh & Charlotte Collins
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Slow Burn, Eventual Romance, Eventual Happy Ending
from AO3 works tagged 'Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen' https://ift.tt/t7jnEFY
via IFTTT
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
youtube
I came across this slightly bizarre but beautiful guitar performance titled "Good Society - A Jane Austen Role Playing Game" from the Moomba Festival in March of last year. Although my initial reaction was slightly confused as I tried to translate the words and connect them to Jane Austen and the Good Society, I soon began to understand the connection and had an appreciation for the song. The following lyrics specifically stuck out to me: "quiet desperation, seems to be the English way" and "my heart took somewhere else away from who I say I am." These lyrics are representative of Austen, as well as the Good Society and the themes it sets up in gameplay.
The Good Society furthers the typical characters and plot lines that Jane Austen masterfully and strategically incorporates into each of her novels, giving the readers a chance to apply these themes to a customizable and personal setting. Things like the “Monologue Card” serve to deepen the readers connection with these character tropes and storylines and give them more of a real life and personal feel in terms of rendition. This song arguably does the same thing, in the way that it takes the Austinian themes and gameplay themes and turns them into a personal form of expression, which in this case, is music. Although it may not be understood for everyone, it serves to represent the singer’s personal connection with Austen and the way that they relate and digest themes of love, romance, in the lens of Austen. Maybe the point isn’t for everyone to understand or relate, similar to how each game played in the Good Society is representative of the specific group that plays it and would most likely be drastically different for each group dependent on its members and relation to Austen. Instead, these forms of gameplay and expression represent individuality in the context of Austen, and how these literary strategies personally reflect in the readers, or Jane Austen’s audience.
#jane austen#jane austen aesthetic#jane austen characters#jane austen books#jane austen adaptations#jane austen quotes#Youtube
0 notes
Last Seen Blogs
animationbugs
Animationbugs
frasirapperitaliani
Frasi Rap Italiano
autistichermann
fortune favors the brave, dude !
pretty-g1rl
I Read Smut