title: vespula main characters: diana kettering, ophelia copperfield genre: southern gothic romance themes: identity, queer politics, inheritance & race, classism, hauntings

content warnings: queerphobia, racism (esp antiblack racism in the south), paternal death, guns & violence, misogyny, bug death (specifically wasps are killed)

plot: twenty-five years ago, peter kettering was believed to have died in a car crash. he left behind a grieving widow and a young daughter - diana kettering. in 1997, diana recieves a letter from ophelia copperfield revealing that her father died last week of a heart attack instead and her entire world is shifted. a house and a sizeable amount of money are being contested, and ophelia begs diana to visit it at least once. now diana has found herself embroiled in a bitter estate battle with her father's mistress and her grandmother while trying to untangle the one mystery that really brought her here: who the hell was her father?

You wanna know what's crazy? Now knowing that Laura and Marisha didn't plan to be romantic this campaign at all, it is INSANE that everything went so perfectly, thematically, exactly the way it did.

The series of events from the rock breaking, Dusk showing up RIGHT as it was happening, to them making up just so Otohan could show up and kill Laudna not a DAY later literally because she wanted to get on Imogen's nerves ("Is she your favorite?"). And then Imogen obliterating Delilah with her own fucking hands for Laudna. Getting the circlet. Laudna holding Imogen on the ship they were about to crash having that Tether Talk^tm just before they were separated ONCE AGAIN.

Just the entire escalation that led to them meeting in Jrusar that day and Imogen blurting out "Can I kiss you?" in the mfing BREAD ISLE because she couldn't hold back her feelings is BONKERS.

Even down to Imogen saying she "thought dates were supposed to have sparks" after their date with pretty and telling Laudna she "has the biggest spark she's ever seen" a long ass time later in Bassuras.

The evolution of their feelings for each other, the tension that was building on that table every time they talked to each other. The fact that it all happened serendipitously with absolutely no previous plan and it went just the way it did? Immaculate. Showstopping. Absolutely astounding. If Marisha, Matt and Laura had sat down and planned this whole thing from the beginning it still couldn't have gone more perfectly.

I know this is old hat to just about everyone, but I'm more and more enjoying Imogen and Laudna as not just a mirror of the Briarwoods but also, and perhaps even more so, as a foil.

Laudna may be the death magic goth with a necromancer in her head, but out of the two of them, Imogen is the stronger mirror of Delilah. She’s the one with the undead lover, the one prepared to break the world by risking Delilah's return as long as it got her Laudna back, the one with the drive and the thirst for power and knowledge. Laudna meanwhile, while also tempted by power, is mostly just along for the ride, deeply devoted to Imogen over anything or anyone, alive only because Imogen found a way to resurrect her. They have looked each other in the eye, recognised the same seeds of darkness and the possibility of giving in, and said 'Together either way'.

But they are also in many ways a direct subversion of the Briarwoods. Delilah and Sylas both seemed perfectly happy to have made a pact with Vecna and revelled in the power he granted them, even knowing the disaster he would bring and the horrific acts he asked of them. Imogen and Laudna meanwhile, while tempted by power and openly voicing said temptation to each other, actively fight against it. Imogen was prepared to risk Delilah's return for the sake of Laudna's resurrection, but she would've fought her every step of the way. She's tempted by the power and knowledge of Ruidus, but also prepared to give all of it up if it means saving the world, because unlike Delilah she chooses to care about people other than herself and her lover. Laudna may be prepared to follow Imogen into hell itself, but she may also be what would lead her back out, because unlike Sylas she doesn’t just recognise darkness in her lover, she wants to fight it alongside her.

This is what I mean when I say these two hold the potential for great darkness. They wouldn’t function as a mirror and a foil of the most romantically iconic critical role villain duo if they didn't. But holding the potential for darkness and corruption also means holding the potential to resist and fight said darkness at every turn. It gives them the potential to choose kindness and struggle while still keeping a little bit of that darkness in their hearts, because without it, they never would have found each other.

𐬿 ✥ 𐬾

“People who cease to believe in God or goodness altogether still believe in the devil... Evil is always possible. And goodness is eternally difficult.”

– Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice (1976)

yes, it’s been three weeks, and yes, I’m still screaming about the fact that Imogen was at her lowest when she met laudna (was thinking of ending it all), and laudna had been roaming aimlessly for thirty years, utterly alone. No purpose, no reason for living, until she met the purple-haired sorcerer that saved her life no questions asked as soon as they first met, then chose to stick together forever, hold on to each other, sleep on the same bed for the next two years and help each other find answers to their miserable existence- and now, NOW that they finally got it together, got some stupid answers, and actually gained some power over the forces that had subdued them for years, KISSED, immediately- literally nine days into their relationship- the shitty world that they live in decided to make it clear and remind them that their days are numbered (significantly smaller numbers than they had accounted for) and that they won’t get to live their quiet life on a field, raise horses and just be. I AM OK ABOUT THAT. TOTALLY FINE.

– Lee Mandelo, Summer Sons

take me, sentence me to be your lover for life

title: vespula main characters: diana kettering, ophelia copperfield genre: southern gothic romance themes: identity, queer politics, inheritance & race, classism, hauntings

content warnings: queerphobia, racism (esp antiblack racism in the south), paternal death, guns & violence, misogyny, bug death (specifically wasps are killed)

plot: twenty-five years ago, peter kettering was believed to have died in a car crash. he left behind a grieving widow and a young daughter - diana kettering. in 1997, diana recieves a letter from ophelia copperfield revealing that her father died last week of a heart attack instead and her entire world is shifted. a house and a sizeable amount of money are being contested, and ophelia begs diana to visit it at least once. now diana has found herself embroiled in a bitter estate battle with her father’s mistress and her grandmother while trying to untangle the one mystery that really brought her here: who the hell was her father?

author's note: this was written for @ockissweek day two. this is considered noncanon & thus isn't a spoiler for anything in the story. this is just a fluffy little exploration piece for diana & ophelia's relationship.

It'd been raining for the past three days. It splattered against the tin roof and windows, making it difficult for Diana to sleep. She wasn't sure she wanted to sleep regardless. The fact that there was a long list of family who wanted her dead and out of the way made it difficult. Even with Jane out of the house and the locks changed, Diana was having plenty of uneasy nights thinking about how she wasn't safe. The gun was in the drawer next to her, ready to be fired if she needed. It still didn't help her feel any safer. She was about to fall asleep when the phone rang, jolting her up out of any sleep she'd have. Diana reached to the phone, answering with a soft, "Hello?"

"I see you got the phone set up in the house," Ophelia said on the other end, and Diana could see the smirk on her face. "I... was wondering if I could come over. I've been at the office all day and... have some stuff to go over with you."

Diana's pulse quickened as she considered all the possiblities if Ophelia came over. She'd been doing her best to pretend that there was nothing there, but every now and then... she thought maybe... she put that thought away. It would be dangerous if she got too far ahead with the belief that Ophelia might possibly play for the other team. Sometimes she considered asking her what she thought of The Color Purple... or perhaps if she was a "friend of Dorothy". She ruminated over the best possible approach. "Uh, yeah," she found herself saying before she went over all the pros and cons - something she wouldn't normally do. "Just... hurry over, okay? I..."

"You don't need to say it," Ophelia said, cutting Diana off. "See you in a few minutes."

The line went dead, and a clap of thunder made Diana jump. She glanced outside the window again, breathing in and out slowly. She'd never liked thunderstorms. Ma would scream in panic the entire time, and nothing could soothe her. In turn, Diana would shake under her sheets when she was younger. Even now, she could still hear the blood curldling shrieks from when she was a small child. She got out of bed, padding towards the closet. If Ophelia was going to be here soon, then she needed to get dressed. What does one wear when their crush is coming over at... she glanced at the clock, and did a double take. It was two in the morning.

Was it normal for other girls to go over to someone's house at two in the morning? She knew that when she was a closeted teenager, she was invited over for sleepovers. Was that what this was comporable to? In that case, any flannel pajama would be acceptable, surely. She was overthinking this. Normal girls didn't overthink what they wore for a silly sleepover. It was just her dad's lawyer, who was helping her to keep the house. There was no reason to worry about dressing up. And yet Diana decided to pull back on her jeans and a crop top, as if she was expecting something more.

The knock at the door felt like it came too soon, and she made her way downstairs. She could feel the stares from her father's side of the family's portraits staring her down as she made her way to the foyer - as if they knew they'd hate her for merely existing. She was the wrong kind of descedent living in this giant mansion: half black, a woman, and a homosexual. She shook that thought off. Diana didn't need to think about any of that when she had arguably a scarier problem at hand: finding out if a girl liked girls. If she got it wrong, she risked so much: losing her job, losing the house, and worst of all, losing Ophelia's friendship. She took a steadying breath before opening the door with a half smirk. "So, what is this stuff you have to go over with me? Don't tell me Jane's filed another injunction or whatever."

"She's attempting to claim your father was incomptent at the time of filing the will," Ophelia replied, shivering. She was soaked to the bone; she seemed to have forgotten to grab her rain coat. Her pale blue shirt clung to her skin, outlining every inch of her body. Her roots were starting to show; how long had it been since Ophelia went in to see a stylist properly? She'd been so busy as of late that she seemed to forgetting more and more about the basics of taking care of herself. "I have enough proof to get that thrown out. Your grandmother, meanwhile, is trying to imply your father was given bad advice for giving you anything - arguing he had no way of knowing you even existed. That's... a little harder, but not impossible for me to fight."

"So I'm going to get to keep my home?" Diana stepped to the side, shaking her head. "You should get inside - you're absolutely soaked. Uh, I think there's a closet full of old clothes. Dunno if it's in your size but..."

"But you want me to try it on and see if it does?" Ophelia had stepped inside, and immediately started shivering. "It's... not a bad idea. Show me where you found it." There was once a point where Ophelia had known this house better than Diana. A beat was skipped, and then Ophelia gasped. "You called this your home! So you've officially decided to stay?"

"Yes."

The simple word stretched out between them; all the possible implications it could possibly have running between them. Neither of them moved at first. Diana was supposed to be leading Ophelia to the room she'd found, and yet neither of them moved. It felt like the thunder outside had moved inside, cackling around them and bringing them closer. If pressed, both of them would say the other moved first when their lips finally connected - like something tying them together. Diana savored the taste of Ophelia's lips, hungerily devouring them. It was like a dream come true; and then she woke up.

"I'm sorry," Diana gasped first, shaking her head. "I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable... if you want to leave -"

Ophelia cut her off, and this time there was a slower build to the kiss; sweet, tender, gentle. "No it's okay. I feel the same way."

photo is mine

Would you let me put my jaws around your throat? I won't bite down, I just want to taste your heartbeat. I promise.

The romance of Levi Hooper and Lucy Cooper was an unlikely union; absolutely, an attraction of opposites. They met while living across the street from one another in Jackson, Mississippi. Lucy was a hell-raising rebel and Levi was a church-going, salt-of-the-earth young man. Lucy was attracted to Levi mainly because he was nothing like the people she’d been involved with up to then, and Lucy had grown tired of her life and was ripe for a change. Levi was attracted to Lucy because, well, for one thing, she was a very sexy lady, but more importantly he intuitively felt that she wanted more out of life than her drinking, drugging and wild partying. Theirs was a true love which they both felt strongly, but a love that was destined to be cut off far too early, its potential left unfulfilled. © 2017 Frank David Leone, Jr./Highway 80 Music (ASCAP). The songs and stories on the Highway 80 Stories website are works of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.lyrics.

Listen/purchase: Levi and Lucy by Highway 80 Stories

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slowburn imodna dragon tamers au. yay or nay