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kierongillen · 3 months

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i have to know - as a disco elysium fan who didnt do disco, what would you say is essential disco listening for me?

I'm hugely behind on the asks, but I have to answer this one, because I'm going to answer a connected but completely different question, and then maybe then loop back to you. I'm just looking for an excuse to ramble, and do the writer equivalent of a warm-up sketch (i.e. waste time).

My apologies.

If you wake up and decide that you want to get into a whole genre of music, there's basically two tactics.

(There's also the "Why would anyone care to get into something they don't care about", which is one of the few things I have a "There's two sorts of people..." response to - those who when presented by something unknown either think "why should I know about that?" or "why don't I know about that?" I'm the latter, and it's served me well.)

The first tactic is simple.

Jump on a genre with Best Of in the title and follow your pleasure response. Here's a Spotify one. What interests you? What excited you? What makes you laugh? Probably explore more of that. If not, indulge widely, and see what sticks. At a glance, Disco playlists seem to have the problem of most playlists, in that strictly not everything on it is disco per se. For example, Dancing Queen strictly speaking isn't a disco song - but it's a song about disco, in every way. But if anything has found its way on a playlist, it's found its way on for a reason.

In your case, you're interested in what Disco resonates with Disco Elysium. Which I've bought for C, but not played, but I'm aware of in a "if I was still a games journalist, this is clearly one I would write a lot about." I spent years writing about Planescape Torment, and I know a spiritual successor when I see one.

This makes me think the area you want is basically the classier end - the big bleak emotions, the chilliness, the control, lonely on a dancefloor, lonely everywhere, oh-so-much cocaine, and - to steal Paul Lester's line - glass mountains on fire.

Which leads back to the second way of getting into a genre of music - which is to hit a major artist, and hit them hard.

When asked about "how shall I get into a band" my advice is actually the opposite of what I'm about to give. If you just want to get into a band, get Best Of, see what tracks you like, then go to the albums they're from. But if you're trying to get into a whole genre of music, that's a more serious endeavour, and may reward the opposite approach.

Basically pick a key album from a key band, and get into it, and grow from there. Read about the band - you don't need much, but a little helps. Learn how to listen to what their tracks do. And then you use that band as the single point of knowledge you have to orientate yourself to everything else you listen afterwarads.

There's a huge danger to this - basically, no-one is more ignorant than someone with a little knowledge. You have to be aware that you are the person who knows a bit about Boss Baby, and using that to get into things other than Boss Baby.

The strength is that it's a more holistic, lived in knowledge than just skimming the surface. You understand the music better as an artifact of their times, made by people, responding to their specific situation - which adds different flavours to your appreciation of it. Sure, your own response and how it finds a place in your life is always the thing which over-rules anything else - but the more you can listen for, the more you can hear, the more you can get from a work of art.

Anyway - I'm telling you to go and listen to Risque by Chic.

Chic are basically fucking awesome. If you don't know Disco at all, the opening Good Times chilly ironic take on American late-seventies culture is a great and (I suspect) Disco Elysium relevant intro. You'll know it as a sample, if nothing else, and the eight minutes version that opens Risque is a great way to think about it as both music for dancing (it is endless) and music for listening (it is boundless).

I got Risque as Paul Lester went to bat for it so hard in the Unknown Pleasures book the Maker stuck on the cover in 1995 (it was covering 20 albums that had fell out of the critical conversation, and it absolutely changed the dirction of my listening in the period). Here's Lester writing about Risque more recently for a taste, as the original piece doesn't appear to be online. I just read it in my copy, and it's a burst of love, describing it Disco as music about love - never sex, only love, and mainly love that is denied. That seems solid, at least for the best of chic.

Risque is the Chic album that Lloyd from Phonogram would have been listening to, certainly. I know I did.

(Plus At Last I Am Free from C'est Chic, obv)

There's a lot of Chic to listen to - their own work, especially in the period, and all their productions. Their work with Sister Sledge is of particular import - Lost In Music was one of the working title for Phonogram, and you can see and hear why. They're also the Disco band whose influence is perhaps most obvious in other bands. Everyone liked Chic. No Chic, no Orange Juice, no Orange Juice, no Smiths, etc.

Sister Sledge was the first live band I was at. My mum went to see them when she was eight and a half months pregnant. The temptration to say I'd have heard Lost in Music then and sold is tempting, but ahistorical - it's well before their work with Chic.

Anyway - get into Chic. It'll make your life better - and when your life isn't better, it's a superior context to lose yourself.

However, to go back to your question, as a Disco Elysium fan, I'm not sure it's actually THIS Disco you're looking for.

How about Disco Inferno?

Not Disco at all, but most like itself than anything else, which sounds like what I understand about Disco Elysium. right?

(DI Goes Pop is the starting place)

#Chic #Disco #disco elysium

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uglypastels · 2 years

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Request:)))

Eddie being shocked when he saw reader (cheer captain) with her own tattoo's on her bare back and shoulders at a random store.

AHHHHH OMG please I love you.

i hope you like this!!

warnings: swearing, Eddie being a bit... idk, he stares a lot (but not in a super creepy way)

Never, in a million years, would Eddie have even imagined seeing you here.

Miss Perfectly Tight Ponytail and Pastel Leg Warmers. Lady Cheer of the Highest Order of Hawking High… it could not possibly be you he saw looking through the rock record section in this dingy little music store.

He did not mean to stare, but he also could not get himself to look away.

At first, he thought he was dreaming. You had entered the store, the light from the entrance wrapping you up in sunbeams like a halo. You practically sauntered inside, with your head held high, that damn ponytail swinging from side to side like it always did in the hallway, making your way over determinedly to the back of the store. His eyes were glued to you like to a car crash at the side of the road– although, perhaps, he had been the one that totalled.

He tried his best to get his attention back to whatever he was doing—right, looking for a new amp cable since something had bitten through his old one.

Doubt you ever had to deal with those kinds of problems, he thought. Probably lived in a big, nice house– two stories, picket fences, a double-door garage and probably a tiny dog to yap at anyone who dared near—one of those neighbourhoods where he would be put on a watchlist just for walking by.

His mind should have been on those damn cables, but he couldn't concentrate knowing you were standing behind him. His curiosity was taking over him, wanting to know what you were looking for. Was it a specific song or album? Were you trying to find something you had been looking for already or wanted to explore something new? For yourself or as a gift? Weren't you dating someone? Yeah, that dude Tony from the football team… why was he even thinking about this?

From the corner of his eye, he saw you flip through the records, one by one, barely giving them the time to read the titles. So, no, you knew what you were doing. Hunting for that one specific thing, the image already clear in your mind. Maybe he could help you? He knew the store basically like the back of his hand… better even, since he usually forgot the stuff he would scribble down with pen or marker on it when lost in his ideas.

Done with one row, you searched through the next one, bottom lip between your teeth as you concentrated. Now a gross feeling was coming over him. He should not have been looking for this long. It wasn't right. Shaking his head, he looked away, back at the amp chords. He had already narrowed it between the two–

'Hi, excuse me,' he heard your voice speak up, and his attention flew straight back to that other side of the room. You had walked over to one of the employees of the store, asking for help, 'do you guys have any Mötley Crüe?'

Eddie listened on in shock. He had never been the one to dismiss someone's interest because of their appearance, but… there was no way you would be into that? At this point, it was with fascination and admiration that he watched as the store employee led you to the racks of records you had just been next to. He saw how you patiently waited for the clerk to went through the stock, finding the one item you had somehow glazed over. He noticed that beaming smile that appeared on your features as you thanked the person, the Mötley Crüe record now in hand.

But you weren't done. You kept on searching for something. With a huff, you turned around to the opposite side of the aisle, and that is when Eddie Munson felt his heart get stuck in his throat.

It was nearly visible, at the edge of your shirt hem, a dark line across your lower back, stretching over your skin– that was a tattoo, no doubt about it.

y/n, cheerleader captain y/n, had a secret tattoo. Who would have thought?

Eddie couldn't contain the smirk at that thought. He was seeing a whole new side to you. One that was dark and gritty, apparently. And so many more thoughts started harassing his brain.

What was the tattoo of? How many people knew about it? Certainly, your cheer friends couldn't have– that shit is definitely against school regulations. Hell, the number of times he had gotten sent to the principal's office wearing sleeves short enough to show his bat tattoo… and he had never encountered you there. No, we wouldn't want that kind of scandal on your permanent record.

He occupied himself with the record in front of him– country gospel, whatever that was– as you walked over to the counter and paid for your haul. With the sweetest smile, you thanked the clerk again, and with the purchase in hand, you made your way over to the door.

But you did not take the shortest way to the exit. You walked around, through another aisle. You walked right towards him.

'Hey Eddie,' you said, more cheerfully than anyone had ever said his name before. It made the hairs at the nape of his neck stand up.

'Uhm, hey–' he choked, so you filled in the gap.

'y/n.'

'No, yeah. I know.' He didn't want you to think he didn't know his name. Although, maybe that would humble the queen of Hawkins High a bit, huh? If one of her subjects didn't even know her name. But it was too late for that. He cleared his throat, suddenly unable to look you in the eyes. 'What, uhh, what are you doing here?'

'Just doing some shopping,' you held your new records close to your chest. 'You?'

What was he doing again? He couldn't think straight. The only thing occupying his mind there was that ink over your back. Would you have any other secret tattoos? Of course, they would have been just as well hidden as that one, with how small your cheerleading costume is and all…

'I'm just–' c'mon, for fucks sake, what was it?' 'looking for a new amp chord.' He finally pointed back to the display of things behind him.

'Oh, do you play?' You asked enthusiastically.

'Yeah. Guitar. I'm in a band… actually.' He should just shut up before he made it worse, 'Corroded Coffin.' Too late.

'Ooh, cool.' Those words could have sounded cheap and condescending, but you had actually sounded interested. 'Do you guys play anywhere?'

'Yeah, yeah. At the Hideout. Every Tuesday night.'

'I might have to go and check you out then.' You started walking, passed him right by. When you were standing chest to chest in the narrow aisle, you stopped, however. 'You know, get my fair share in this time.'

'What?' Eddie blinked slowly.

'Nothing.' You flashed your smile and continued walking. Almost at the door, you turned around. 'It's a dragon, by the way.' With your hand on your hip, fingers placed in a way that when you walked out of the door, Eddie could see you pointing at what he now could see was the tail of the mythical creature on your lower back.

When the door behind you closed, Eddie fell to his knees, biting his cheek, cringing at his own stupidity, but also really hoping he would see that upcoming Tuesday.

The End.

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thank you for reading!! please reblog and comment or send an ask with some thoughts <3 i love to hear them

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#eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson fanfiction #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson x cheerleader #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson blurb #eddie munson fic #eddie munson oneshot #imagine #blurb #fanfiction #stranger things fanfiction #request

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ananxiousgenz · 3 months

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okay okay okay wait i have just experienced A Thought

so it's been established that the title of the most recent juno steel eps comes from the coal miner song "sixteen tons", most notably covered by tennessee ernie ford. you can find it on youtube or spotify, but it's about the backbreaking labor and dangerous conditions these miners would go through for very little pay, and because of this, the most obvious reading is that this song title was chosen to be about nureyev working to keep slip alive for years only to discover that the dokana group was screwing him over.

but. what if the song title wasn't just in relation to nureyev but to slip as well?

stick with me for a minute here, because i've got some interesting thoughts about this.

the lyrics of the first verse focus on how the people in power think that the men working beneath them are just soulless lumps of dirt when in reality they are people made of "muscle and blood and skin and bones" who are purposefully under-educated ("a mind that's a-weak") so they can only do manual labor for a living ("and a back that's strong"). slip's intention with his drug formula was to give people an escape from reality. he wanted to help those people who could do nothing but work and wanted to flip off the pharma corps by making it easily affordable and non-addictive. the first verse is basically a summary of the motives that drove him to that game of rangian street poker with the executives that brought him where he is now.

the chorus is even more interesting.

yeah, you really could interpret this in relation to peter's quest for slip's resurrection, but it could also get connected to slip's dedication to creating this drug. peter flat out told us that slip put A LOT of work and testing into it and it wasn't just something that happened overnight. however, what specifically stands out to me here is the last two lines and the reference to st. peter. in sixteen tons part 2, slip basically gives peter permission to let him go (see this post from @smidgen-of-hotboy). if we're reading this from slip's pov, the song is just reiterating that message: peter can let slip go. he knew the risks he was taking by tangling with the executives and stealing from them so his soul is really the one that is owed "to the company store", which is why slip wouldn't want peter to "call him" (resurrect him) because he made the decisions and mistakes so he would want to be the one paying for them. every day that peter leaves him alive is just another day slip is getting older and not better. every day peter leaves slip alive is another day his debt is growing larger. for the sake of his own wellbeing, peter HAS to let slip go.

the rest of the verses are basically a summary of nureyev's story thus far (verse two being his new story being born as he starts working for the dokana group, verse three being his interactions with juno and leaving him at the end of season 4, and verse 4 being the absolute ass-kicking he's about to hand the dokana group) but with the chorus that is just chock-full of slip's voice getting repeated between those verses, it just almost feels like slip is begging to be let go but peter, being peter, won't listen. it's very interesting stuff.

#the penumbra podcast #tpp #tpp spoilers #peter nureyev #slipjackson #junoverse #apologies for the long essay but i got excited about this

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epickiya722 · 3 months

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If you don't mind me asking, can I ask your top favorite fics that you've written (feel free how much that you want to list)? Why they're special to you? Is there a specific inspiration when you wrote them?

Thanks if you want to answer....

I'll tell you, all my fics are special to me and most of the time, I find myself having fun writing them. Writing isn't just a hobby, but a way for me to release pent up feelings I have or express an idea that came to me.

To name a couple...

Beware of the Bunnies - It's the first fic I wrote for "if Miruko was Midoriya's mentor". It was fun writing that fic, especially when it's a fic for my two #1 faves. I honestly didn't expect the amount of attention I got for it!

Not Red, Black - I sometimes like branching out from writing warm-hearted, funny fics and this is one of those times. Another AU idea I had, but if Miruko and Midoriya were eldritch-like creatures and related. Unlike its prequel, this one stepped more in horror imagery and I think the direction the fic took.

Forbid a Woman from Being Great - Yes, another Miruko fic and one I actually wrote out of spite. When it comes to this fandom (as with any), is how double standard they can get. With Miruko, I have seem people hate her for being "too aggressive" or "too mean", but praise other characters for those same traits or even give excuses for their behavior. Or with fanservice, the same people who complain about it also thirst over the male characters getting bloody and shirtless. I don't hate characters like Dabi, Shigaraki or Hawks but I can't stomach how their fans act when it comes to Miruko or any other character really. It was actually a Hawks fan that irritated me enough to write this fic as well as get me out of the writing funk I was in.

An Absolute Menace - This is a fun little fic. It's part of a series of Class A and occasionally B partaking in antics. With this one, writing Koda as this troll was new, but fun.

Let's SK8 Over the Rainbow - This is actually a SK8 series that I wrote and it's still one of my favorites. It started off as a headcanon (Reki allowing Koyomi to paint his nails) and then spiraled into a collection of short stories themed around colors and I love colors so much. One of the fics, You're Lime Green Jell-O, I dove into expanding a character that only appeared once in SK8. Her name is Miki and she has green hair and I remember seeing her and going "You, you're getting some personality, a story, etc." Best decision ever. I just loved writing Miki and I think it was the first time I wrote a whole story for a character that only had two lines in canon.

Tu es le Moment Auquel J'appartiens - Another series I adore. I wanted to write some jealous Vanitas since I don't think I had seen a lot of Vanoé fics where he was the jealous one while Noé was more oblivious. Not at the time, I don't know about now since I haven't read a VNC fic in a long time. The title translates to "You are the moment I belong to" which is a line of lyrics from the anime's first ending song that I love so much.

It's the Pink Hair, Isn't It? - Do not get me wrong! I do love the AUs I see where Sukuna and Yuji are brothers, but the idea of this fic came from what if they were identical strangers and not related in the slightest. Even funnier, in the fic, Kenjaku and Suguru are siblings that look like twins, but Kenjaku is older. My favorite scenes probably have to be Kenjaku and Yuji interacting and Sukuna and Yuji meeting. I've also been cooking up a sequel so I can write more of Kenjaku and Suguru being siblings and Yuji's brothers and I do mean all nine older brothers. (I relate to Choso so much.)

Your Heartbeat Is My Comfort - Ever see a beautiful piece of fanart and you want to write a fic about it? That's what happened here. I saw this FushiIta art post here and it was like BAM! I had to write a fic. It was also another I didn't write something comedic, but more somber, bit of tragedy yet comfort in there.

Maybe Someday We'll Meet Again - I'm all for the Teacher Geto AU! However, this fic came from a what if scenario had Suguru and Yuji had met when they were younger and I always how Kenjaku was even aware of Suguru's technique. So I put both ideas together and thus this fic was born. It isn't dark, but little less comedic than others and I tried my hand at focusing on more of Yuji's strangeness and innocence here along with Suguru's character before he became a curse user.

You Are My Special - Again, another time I went for less comedy and fluff and tried with something else. I actually don't know how to categorize this one in terms of genre. SPECIALZ was stuck in my head for a long time and it got when I really started thinking about the lyrics and decided why not try writing something from Kenjaku's POV about Yuji? It may have took forever to write, but I'm glad I did. I actually wanted to write a companion piece of sorts but from Sukuna's POV about Yuji.

The Pink Sky and Cherry Blossoms - I actually just posted this fic and I'm glad I waited to answer this ask because of it. I was rereading the manga and came to Uro's fight with Ryu and Yuta and instantly fell in love with her character and thought about how would it have been like if Uro met my other favorite, Yuji? They have some similarities going on there and it was eye-opening writing those into this fic, especially with Uro's character. I wasn't around when that arc came out, so I didn't know how the fandom acted towards her, but for me, I just felt there's more to her than the surface. She's the Miruko of JJK to me as Yuji is the Izuku. Just as I would love for Miruko and Izuku to be a duo in a big sis-lil bro/mentor-mentee way, I love the same for Uro and Yuji.

The Craving That Paints Your Lips Red - The last fic I wrote for 2023 and a sequel to another fic, I wanted to try my hand at the horror again. But more tame, but still "Oh my gosh". I'm writing a post about it, but I have thoughts about Yuji and Sukuna's relationship and sometimes I have this feeling that Sukuna wants to corrupt Yuji, kind of like shape him to be the next him almost. Not for certain, but it's an idea that kind of struck me. For this fic, I wanted to explore a more horror fic side of Yuji housing the King of Curses. The best part of this fic for me is how I unintentionally stuck with the idea that Yuji keeps getting back up no matter how many times Sukuna tries to break him.

That list got longer than intended, but again, I have a lot of fics I have enjoyed writing! I'm glad to have talked about them and I thank you for asking! 💜

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the-cult-of-russo · 1 year

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Such a Softer Sin (Part 1)

Pairing: Billy Russo x Reader

Warnings: I’m not specifically tagging this one, if you’ve seen the show, nothing will shock you. Smut will happen eventually so minors DNI, thanks.

A/N: I’m back with a new story, bitches!!!! Loooool This is the story I’ve been working so hard on.

A few words on this one. First off, I’m not an expert in writing for this genre or trope or whatever but I’m also choosing to do whatever the hell I want. I know there can be some rules when it comes to this subject and I’ve gone with the flow and picked and chose what I wanted. If you’re some kind of connoisseur for this kinda literature, don’t come at me telling me I did it wrong. It’s a piece of fiction and I’m just having fun here lmao

Also, this story isn't set in a specific era, it’s more of a different reality kinda thing. So some things seem modern, others more primitive etc and this is on purpose. I wasn’t thinking about like time and era and all that with this one, I created a whole new thing for the story.

With that, I hope you enjoy this one!!!

Title is from the song I Caught Fire by The Used

Seemed to stop my breath

My head on your chest waiting to cave in

From the bottom of my

Hear your voice again

Could we dim the sun and wonder where we've been?

Maybe you and me, so kiss me like you did

My heart stopped beating, such a softer sin

In your eyes, I lost my place

Could stay a while

And I'm melting

In your eyes like my first time

That I caught fire

Just stay with me, lay with me now

—-----

Billy looked off over the balcony to the mountains with a heavy sigh. The weight of the world was a hard burden to bear, but it was his and it would be until he had a child. Every King needs a Queen in order to have an heir, the only problem was that he hadn't yet found his Queen. Billy was the King to the wolves, but he was more than that by blood. He was a Demigod, the only remaining Lycan on earth. He was strong and fierce, he was the one who was placed in charge of every wolf around the globe. He was well respected and revered, but at the same time he was feared. He could be ruthless when he needed to be and he had to make sure no one ever thought about crossing him. At times he appeared cold but he was always just. It wasn’t easy being a King to an entire species like this, he had to keep the fear alive to make sure they all stayed in line. He wasn't the King to the other species, but the humans and witches still viewed him as royalty and respected him. The vampires however were a different story. The war between the wolves and vampires had been over for almost a century now, but he knew it wouldn't last. He could taste the impending war once more on the tip of his tongue. He knew it was only a matter of time. He looked in his 30s but in reality he was older, much older. He couldn't even remember how long he had roamed the earth but it was enough to witness grand changes throughout the ages. But now in the present, he still had no Queen.

Even as a Demigod and Lycan, he was still technically a wolf. He had the same instincts, the same everything but on a grander scale. That meant he couldn't just pick anyone to be his Queen or just anyone to give him the son he desperately needed. He had to wait for his mate, and oh how he waited. He had been patient at first. He had scoured the world countless times in hopes he would find her, yet he still hadn't. He had no idea why his mother was torturing him this way, making him wait for the love he desperately needed. He watched in envy as his Beta and those around him found their mates. He watched with a dull ache in his chest as they found their other half of their soul whilst his was still ripped in two. He’d often think about her. Her face was always blurry, the only thing he knew for certain being the color of her hair. He would think about meeting her, mating her. He’d think about making her his Queen, her giving him a son. An heir. Once his son would be of age he could take a step back from all of this. He wouldn't have the weight of the world on his shoulders anymore as his birthright would be complete. His son would take the reins but he would be there every step of the way to guide him. To ease the burden that he knew was so heavy.

Over the centuries, he’d given up hope for his mate. He knew he had one but he didn't know just when his mother would gift her to him. After they mated she would become immortal like him. Just like his Beta and Gamma and their mates. She would forever be by his side, they would have a happy life and he would spoil her with love. But now he felt hollow and cold. With each passing year, he found himself getting colder and more angry. He couldn't hope anymore, he couldn't dream of the life he craved more than anything. It was easier to think he would never find her because then he wouldn't keep getting his heart broken. It was hard having a Goddess for a mother, she hadn’t even been the one to raise him. He’d been raised by High Priestesses of Selene who had ensured he knew what he was and what his role in all of this was. Ensured he became the rightful ruler of the wolves. He loved his mother despite never meeting her but it was hard. He never knew who his father was and his mother was absent. He felt a deep loneliness gnawing at his soul that he couldn't shake but he knew it would leave once he got his mate. He knew his mother would let him have her when it was time. Despite the great pain her torment was bringing, he trusted his mother blindly.

He kept up his pretense to the outside world. Attending meetings and balls between the wolves, humans and witches. The humans would watch him lustfully, in awe. His presence would make them feel his power although they didn't understand it the same way wolves did. The wolves would bow their heads in reverence to the Demigod King. He was the Alpha of Alphas, The Son of the Moon Goddess. Wolves would come far and wide to plead for his help, for his direct contact to his mother. It made him think of the Pope. Some of these wolves treated him that way and he hated when he couldn't accept their requests. Some things he could grant them, others he couldn’t. He wasn't in the business of tampering with fate and if his mother wanted something so, then it would be done. No matter what it was.

He took a long chug of his brandy, not that it did anything. He couldn't get drunk. It would take a hell of a lot to get him there and even if he did reach that state, it would be gone in minutes with his metabolism. Still, he found it soothing as it burned down his throat. As he watched the view, he couldn't help but think of his mate even though he tried to fight it. He wondered what color her eyes were, if her hair was truly like his mind always showed him. He wondered how tall she would be, what her skin type was. None of it really mattered, he’d love her no matter what, but he wanted to know. He wanted to hold her in his arms, to feel that electricity flow between them as their wolves recognised one another. He wanted to be consumed by her and to drown in her. He wanted to give her everything. He would rip out his beating heart and offer it to her as a sacrifice if that's what she wanted. He just fucking wanted her.

His wolf howled in pain in his mind, a sharp ache ripping into his chest. His wolf needed her badly, he was getting restless. As much as he hated it, he often found solace in another's arms. He never remembered their names or faces. It happened at gatherings when the women fawned all over him, both humans and wolves. His body still had urges and his wolf was getting harder and harder to control with each passing year without his other half, so he sated his carnal urges with women he cared nothing for. He would always be disgusted with himself afterwards. His wolf would snarl and growl at him, sometimes retreating altogether for days. He felt vile, knowing how he had betrayed his mate already and he hadn’t even met her, but when he felt this restless, it wasn’t something he could control. He knew if he didn’t sate himself his wolf would break free. It had been a long while since his wolf had full control. He was deadly to everyone in that form and he usually tried to lock his wolf inside of him unless there was some kind of war and he needed to unleash it. But he hated the feeling the morning after. Dirty. Broken. Guilty. Maybe that’s why his mother had refused him his mate. He was already unfaithful to her, he didn’t deserve her. He didn’t know if she would have slept with someone else and he growled low in his throat at the mere thought. He was a hypocrite. He slept around like a whore yet if his mate had even been touched by another he’d find who it was and rip their head clean off their shoulders. Another chug of the liquid slid down his throat and he focused on the burning sensation. What would she think of him? It wouldn’t be hard for her to know what he had done, he was royalty and people loved to gossip. There was plenty of talk of him and other women. All nameless. Meaningless. Would she reject him when she found out? He knew it would be his own fault if she did, but he also knew just what happened when a mate rejected you and just because he was stronger didn't mean he was exempt from it. If anything it would be tenfold. When a wolf rejects the sacred bond his mother had bestowed on them it would cause them both great pain. So much so that they would either slip into insanity or die.

He leant his forearms on the railing as he inhaled a deep breath. His mind never stopped, he was always busy. Once again, the weight of the world heavy on him. He just needed his mate to make things better. He’d been alone for so fucking long and it was hurting him so much. He heard the sliding doors behind him but didn't bother looking as he drank some more brandy. He knew from the scent who it was already.

“Come on, Bill, you need to rest. You’ll find her when the time’s right,” Frank said softly as he rested his hand on his shoulder. Frank was his Beta and his best friend. He was ruthless when he needed to be and loyal, but to those he cared for, he was a gentle soul. Billy didn't know how he’d cope without him. Frank had found his first mate a long time ago and she had been human. It wasn’t common but not unheard of either and he honestly didn’t know just why his mother had done it. But Frank had gone on to have two kids with his mate, Maria. He’d loved that family like they were his own, felt their loss as his own once they were gone too. He’d tried hard to comfort his friend after what happened as much as he could but they’d still never been able to get the revenge they needed. Luckily for Frank, Karen came along. Billy had brought her in to help, she was a witch. It was obvious to Billy that they started developing feelings for one another and shockingly enough, it turned out they were mates. Second mates rarely happened and never a witch and wolf pairing. But his mother had told him that it was to help, that Frank was important to him and Frank’s pain was his pain. She’d given Frank a second mate as a gift. Billy would admit that a more selfish part of him, the cold and bitter part of him, longed for the days where he wasn’t the only one alone. Deep down he was happy for Frank but it didn’t ease the sting of knowing his best friend had two mates and he had still yet to meet his own. He always tried to push down those treacherous thoughts when they popped up though. He knew it was unfair and Frank deserved to be happy.

He turned around and nodded, knowing it was useless to keep thinking about it. He followed his Beta inside to his large room and Frank left him knowing he wanted peace as he sat on the bed for a moment. It was late now. The sky was deep blue, alight from the many stars and the moon. His wolf was yapping at him so he decided he’d go for a run. The guards would always plead with him not to, or to at least let them tail him. They were concerned for his safety but it was futile. He was far stronger than anything that he may come across. He liked to run at night when people weren't watching his every move, when he could just try and free himself and let his wolf have some comfort. He stood and went over to his closet, picking up his work out clothes that he had specially made for him. Something less restrictive than his usual ensemble. Everyone had their uniform of sorts in the castle and he was no different. His usual clothes consisted of deep maroon or black pants, leather boots, a white tunic and his cream and gold jacket with the royal crest on it. If it was cold he’d also wear his furs. His Beta and Gamma had clothes similar to him, the only difference being that their jackets weren't cream and gold, they were cream and black. His elite warriors wore black and red, the staff around the castle wore white and red and the guards wore all black. He didn't like to go around looking too different to everyone else and he sure as hell didn't have a crown on his head. Anyone who didn’t know him and didn't know how the uniforms worked in the castle wouldn't have any clue just who he was and he liked it that way.

He didn't look like a Demigod or King, he looked almost human to the naked eye. His power contained within him. His dark hair was shorter on the sides and longer on top, slicked back out of the way. He had grown out his facial hair just a little and it left him looking more rugged. He looked after his appearance because he liked to, not just because it was expected of him, but he was a King after all and there were certain expectations he was held to. No one would take seriously a King that looked disheveled. All of the women seemed to go wild over his appearance, not that he cared. He did care what his mate would think of him though. He’d never had a relationship and he wouldn't until he found his other half. He never even went back to the same girl twice no matter how persistent they were. He was attractive, he was made to be so. But he also knew it was his power and status that lured in the she-wolves and human women.

He left his room and jogged down the steps. The guard gave him a look but he growled and they bowed their heads, not bothering to ask him knowing he would tell them no. They may have worried for his safety but he was their superior and they had to obey his orders. As he stepped outside, he let the chill of the air soothe his wolf, breathing in the fresh air and relaxing. It was cold but he didn't need layers since his body was like a furnace. Usually, he would run in the vast land that surrounded his castle. He wasn't the only one to live there, his right-hand men did too with their mates. Billy had the whole top floor to himself while the others had the floor below. Then the dining hall and common rooms were on the second floor and the grand entrance and bar on the first, along with the ballroom that he held parties when he needed to. In his grounds he had a large training and weapons center, there were lots of smaller buildings too that housed the staff and the warriors that his Gamma and Beta trained. Some packs sent him their warriors to be trained by the best. He owned all the land around it which was covered with woodland that his wolf adored. The parameter was secured all the way around with a high fence, it was enough to keep things out but guards still did parameter sweeps every hour. The only way in and out of the place was the towering gates at the front. Those too were manned by at least four of his guards at all times.

He started his run as he always did, he always ran the edge of the fence first, effectively doing his own security check at the same time. He let his wolf come to the surface, letting the run soothe him and his restlessness. He couldn't shift and let him take over. He couldn't risk it, not again. The beast inside of him was not something he could control and he wasn't about to put everyone at risk. He could however let him come to the surface and enjoy the moment together, trying to forget about the empty loneliness that gnawed on him from the inside out. He’d been out there for less than an hour when he felt Frank pushing into his mind.

‘Bill, we got a problem,’ Frank mind-linked him. Billy rolled his eyes as he stopped, catching his breath.

‘What is it?’ he asked back, wiping his sweaty brow with his shirt. He started back to the castle as he waited for a reply.

‘We found a rogue lurkin’ around the fence, the guards brought him in. He's detained in a cell. The thing is… he smells like vamps. Like he's been stayin’ with ‘em,’ Frank's words made Billy stop, his brow furrowing. A fucking rogue with vampires? That was never good. Rogues were a real problem and one Billy never had the patience for. They were a sore spot for him, and as just and merciful as he liked to say he was, when it came to rogues, his ruthlessness and coldness came out full force after what they took from him. The fact there was a rogue that was somehow involved with the vampires he knew they were on the brink of war with, well that spelled trouble. He needed to get information out of the rogue.

‘I’m on my way,’ Billy mind-linked, taking off and running back to the castle.

As he walked inside, Frank and his Gamma Curtis were waiting for him. Curtis was dressed haphazardly, whereas Frank was just in his sleep pants, his short hair stuck up every which way. Billy’s lips twitched up slightly at the sight of them despite the feelings he was having. He knew he needed to calm himself before he went and saw the rogue or he’d never get any information out of him. He’d end up ripping his heart right out of his chest. He couldn't help it though. Frank had mostly gotten over his issues with rogues, knowing in reality, they weren’t the real reason his family was gone. They had simply been a pawn in a much larger game. He’d gotten through his issues by taking out the rogues who had a hand in what happened and it seemed to be enough for him, at least when it came to the rogue part of it all. Billy struggled to get over it though, struggling to see past it all. It would just be a glaring reminder of what he lost, what he failed to protect. They stayed silent as they all made their way down into the dungeons. They didn't need to say anything to know how he was feeling. When the pair had sworn their loyalty to Billy, in order to become his Beta and Gamma and to become immortal like Billy was, they had to do a ritual. A blood bond. They all felt the other’s emotions and with Billy being as strong and old as he was, his emotions were almost amplified compared to theirs. They felt his overwhelming grief and guilt. His blinding pain and anger at the split second he thought of the ones he’d lost. They knew all too well how the pain still haunted the King even if he never spoke about it. Losing his surrogate family all those years ago was something he still couldn't bring himself to talk about but the two men knew it still ate away at him, which is why they were always on hand whenever Billy had to deal with a rogue. They had to make sure Billy didn't lose it and shift. That wasn't good for anyone.

When they walked through, the putrid smell of piss and vomit floated through the air as they passed the cells. As sad as it was, the smell no longer affected Billy, it wasn't his first rodeo being down here. He could hear the sound of chains being tugged on and snarls as he walked over to where two guards were standing in front of a cell. The guards bowed their heads to him and moved away, letting Billy and his two right hand men look through the bars. A man who looked to be in his 30’s was chained up with silver, growling and snarling. Billy tilted his head as he watched him, catching the man's eyes. It only seemed to make the man thrash more and a wicked smirk spread on Billy’s face.

“Stop fighting,” Billy’s voice was eerily calm yet still more dominant than any other Alpha on the planet. And despite the fact this rogue held no loyalty for the King, his wolf forced him to submit as his body went lax and he glared at Billy. It only made Billy’s smirk widen.

“What are you doin’ with the vampires, rogue?” Billy asked carefully through the bars. The rogue just laughed, the sound empty and devoid of any real happiness and it made the hair on the back of Billy’s neck prickle up. He felt his annoyance growing, his wolf snarling and snapping in his mind. Frank’s hand on the back of his neck grounded him, soothing his wolf and bringing him back to a decent state of mind. He knew it was fucked up that Frank was the one comforting him here after it was Frank’s family that got killed but he couldn’t help it. He felt far too deeply and far too much and he loathed it.

Curtis unlocked the cell and Billy stepped inside flanked by both men. It was an unspoken rule but both Frank and Curtis had well capped syringes of tranquilizer laced with wolfsbane in their pockets. It was part of their job to always have one with them as well as the guards. It wasn't for this rogue, it was for Billy. If he started to shift they were on firm orders to sedate him. Neither of them wanted history to repeat itself and it had been hard enough trying to fix the mess the last time Billy had shifted involuntarily almost a hundred years ago. Knowing the boys would have his back like that gave him some peace of mind. He took a few steps towards the rogue and the rogue spat at his feet as a show of disrespect. It didn't phase Billy one bit but he heard Frank growling at him in contempt for disrespecting his King.

“You're gonna to tell me what the vamps are plannin’ and how the rogues are involved,” Billy stated carefully. Not a question but a statement, because he knew the man would.

“I won't tell you shit,” the man growled. Billy smirked to himself, pushing out his Alpha aura so much that even Frank and Curtis bowed their heads in submission. The rogue lowered his head, his whole body tense, clearly not liking having no control over his actions.

“That’s funny. Let's see if you still say that in an hour, pain can be a really useful motivator,” Billy grinned eerily, not missing how the rogue’s body tensed up even more.

Billy wouldn't be the one to extract the information himself. He couldn't trust himself or his wolf not to go too far in those circumstances, no matter how badly he’d love to rip into this insolent little wolf. That was what his men were for. More specifically, Frank and Curtis had a good thing going on when they teamed up, almost like a good cop bad cop routine. Billy took a few steps back, relishing in the fear he could smell from the wolf in chains. He turned to leave the cell and glanced at his Beta and Gamma.

“Do whatever necessary to get him to spill. I don't want him dead until he tells us everythin’ he knows,” he ordered firmly. They both nodded and Curtis stepped out of the cell with him a little.

“Do you want me to send anyone to the Nomad pack? See if they know anything?” he asked quietly with a frown. Billy pursed his lips and heaved a sigh.

“No. The Council has already asked ‘em to come in for a meetin’ and I doubt they know anything,” Billy said as he raked a hand through his hair. He knew what Curtis was getting at though.

The Nomad pack wasn't just a normal pack of wolves, they were a pack of rogues. It was unusual for rogues to band together to make an actual pack, but they weren't the usual types of rogues. Normal rogues were exiled or left due to how hostile they were, their inability to listen to orders. They were vicious and vile creatures and their humanity was almost non-existent. The Nomad pack were a group of wolves who had suffered loss or who were outcast and treated badly. They were labeled rogue at first for the simple fact that they didn't belong to a pack, but then they banded together and took on more misfits, expanding their pack. They had quite a reputation. Not only because they were the first and only rogue pack but because of the things they had done. People feared them for the fact that they used to be rogues and they were clever enough to use that to their advantage. Before long, other Alphas started requesting their help, hiring them as bounty hunters for unruly pack members or helping in wars, because having the Nomad pack as an ally was far better than having them for an enemy. Billy had met the Alpha once and the Council kept tabs on the pack just on the off chance shit went south with them due to them once being rogues. But Billy didn't think they were a threat. He knew the Council for the past year had been paying the Nomad pack as bounty hunters too for more high profile wanted cases with wolves and they’d been doing a good job with them. As far as he saw it, he didn't see them as rogues anymore, and even before then, he wasn't blind by his hatred enough to not see the difference with the kind of rogues they were compared to the one sitting in his cell. People may think he was vicious when it came to those not in packs but it wasn't the case. He knew not all wolves had the luxury of being in a welcoming pack or having a pack to raise them.

Curtis was always overly cautious and he knew that's why he was asking. Their connection to rogues was practically non-existent except from a label they used to wear and Billy just knew they weren’t in on this. The Council had requested their presence in a few days anyway so he could just speak to them then, just to ease his Gamma’s mind and assure him they weren't a part of this. With a nod, Curtis went back inside the cell with Frank and Billy started making his way back out of the dungeon. Before he left, he heard the screaming start and he felt his lips curl up into a satisfied smirk at the sound. He’d place a bet that before the sun rose, the little wolf would have squealed at least one useful bit of information. If he knew what was good for him that was. Whatever shit the rogues were cooking up with the vampires couldn’t be good and it needed to be nipped in the bud as soon as possible, he learned that lesson the hard way last time. He knew the war he’d expected was coming sooner rather than later. It was time to amp up his warrior’s training and to call a meeting between the Alpha’s soon. They needed to be ready for whatever came their way.

Taglist: (if you’ve been asked to be tagged and aren’t here, it wouldn’t let me tag some people.)

@firexfate

@blanchedelioncourt

@on-ya

@sunshinedaisies-anddeath

@snowkestrel

@music-indie-tv

@idaofinfinity

@sweetserendipity65

@ramadiiiisme

@k-marzolf

@celestialams

@woowwwee

@noortsshift

@rainbowgoblinfan

@mysweetlittledesire

#billy russo fanfic #billy russo x reader #billy russo #billy russo imagine

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gildedmuse · 5 months

Note

Give me your top 3 ZoLaw songs please

Quick note: I don't care what gender a song is about, to me gender is so easy to change out. It's easy for me to imagine the characters who fit the song regardless of the gender the singer is or who they're singing about. I think that's true for everyone but then you meet weird people who care. Not me. No fucks. If the title of the song was "She's a Green Haired Three Sword Weilding Slut With A Death Wish And I Love Her" I dare you not to picture ZoLaw.

Call My Name by The Unlikely Canidates

I keep my heart / Under the floorboards / Deep in the dark / Far away from yours / A panic starts, in a little box / When you're at my door / And it's fine, no, I lied, I feel it screaming / It knows what you've come for

The imagery here, with a heart actually being removed and hidden away, is pretty on the nose but f you ignore that the song really captures what I think of as Law's whole "I am cursed, people cannot love me and if they do, they will die" thing. Like did you see Law's reaction to hearing that Corazon saved him not out of selfishness or for some greater purpose but because he LOVED him. That fact shakes Law to his core. And the way he just sent his crew to Zou without telling them he didn't think he was going to come back, that he thought he was going to die. That speaks to someone who does not see himself as being loved.

Even when he returns to them, he is clearly happy to see them but he is also very restrained. It all speaks to someone who is very guarded what the his heart, and I think this song captures that. Specifically, I think it both tells a story of somehow who is protecting their heart, who sees anyone trying to love them almost like an attack, and finally there is an undercurrent that while he is hiding his heart from being hurt he is doing so to protect the other person.

Your pale blue eyes trigger innocence / And blind to euphoria / Then it throbs and I'm lost, I hear it laughing / My heart will destroy us

I just think it really manages to capture how Law would feel about love. First, as an attack he needs to defend himself against and secondly as something he needs to protect the other person against.

And that's why I'd put it as one of my top Law songs.

Heart Of A Dog by The Kills

I get lost / But I always come around / It's a strange fear / Allows me to be found / I'm loyal, oh oh, I'm loyal / I'm loyal, oh oh / I got the heart of a dog

Since the first one was very Law oriented, have a Zoro inspired addition. I mean, do I even have to explain this? Look at those lyrics.

I do admit, this is one that works much better for All Hearts than maybe general ZoLaw, but I would argue that seeing as being loyal is so engrained in Zoro's character, it still works even outside of the context of Zoro being Law's first mate. I think a core element of Zoro that makes him so popular is just how ride or die he is. Once he is on this crew, he is on this ship, he's going along for the ride and the only way you'll get him off is death. That's just who Zoro IS.

That's who he is as a crew mate, and I have to believe that is who he would be as a lover. Even on a more canon reading where he isn't actually on Law's crew or ship, I don't think Zoro has it in him to love someone and NOT give it all himself. That's just not how he works.

Once he's set on Law, he's set on Law, and nothing short of his heart not beating will change that.

It's life or death why I chew through the chain / It don't matter my love's the same

Crazy Possessive by Kaci Battaglia

Touch my man again and Imma f*** you up, and Imma f*** you up

Listen to this song then imagine Law when ever Luffy wraps himself around Zoro.

Listen to it and imagine any modern AU and Doffy setting a SINGLE FINGER on Law.

Tell me these two would not fuck people up for DARING to try and cross the line.

Bonus!

Go Places by The New Pornographers

Yes a heart should always go one step too far / Come the morning and the day winding like dreams / Come the morning every blue shade of green / Come with me, go places

This should just be on every Captain x Anyone ship from OP playlist ever. That's just facts.

Come head-on, full circle / Our arms fill with miracles / Play hearts, kid, they work well Like magic, play aces / Stay with me, go places

—💚—

Also, looking at it now, my ZoLaw playlist is very All Hearts oriented. Like that's the name of my ZoLaw playlist so...

And yes, of course I have a ZoLaw playlist. I have seven different One Piece lists. That's how I roll.

#character playlist #ship playlist #ask and you shall receive #one piece #roronoa zoro #trafalgar d. water law #trafalgar law #zolaw #law x zoro #sorry I suck at music #but I'm good at making dramatic fucking scenes #so thats something #all hearts

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tealcaste · 8 months

Text

hi tumblr time for my daily licorice rambles /hj

anyways so ive been looking at those character playlists recently, and decided to look at licorice ones because how. how bad could they be? (spoiler alert: they were bad. i saw that one "Cause I'm a Liar" aka that one kokichi song on a licorice playlist. A FUCKING LICORICE PLAYLI)

Anyways, ever since i've decided to look for silly little songs that. ACTUALLY relate to licorice (or just songs that remind me of him for some reason), and decided to share it here :33333

(get ready for a massive wall of text)

(also prepare for a lot of grammar + spelling errors fireemoji)

(but then again i wrote most of this at 3am so bear with me plea)

disclaimer if youve never heard of any of these songs just. just listen to them and you'll understand what i mean when i say those songs fit Licorice Cookie plea

i think tbis is the firsr post im actually using capitals yahoo!

alsp ypu xan. feel free to disagree on some songs fireemoji

ok first of all without a doubt, anything from the "People Who Can Eat Are The Luckiest People In The World" album by AJJ can. justifyably fit licorice cookie. SPECIFICALLY Brave as A Noun and Survival Song. I dont know how to explain it but.. the lyrics just.. sorta scream licorice cookie?? Mostly in Survival Song but i added Brave as A Noun since theyre basically just a long song split unto two parts if that makes sense...

BUT HEAR ME OUT ON LICORICE WITH TGE SONG RANDY'S HOUSE. PLEASE. the line "And I hope that our candles flicker and die, so that our hearts don't burn to the ground. Down, down just like Randy's House." jusr fits licorice so muxh i donr know how to explain it... just tge whole aong in general is just so. licorice cookie.

OK next song is "The U & I in Suicide" by That Handsome Devil. Maybe its cuz this song is about death?? But just the whole tone of the song is sorta off putting which imo just.. fits soso much, and this song fits Licorice. The. the lyrics n title r sorta slef explanitory so erm

ok next songs may b a little biased or smth cuz i am a massive Will Wood fan but you cannot deny that. That some willwood songs just.. fit Lico.

I have no idea why but the sonf "BlackBoxWarrior - OKULTRA" by Will Wood just... heavily reminds me of Licorice?? For no apparent reason?? Maybe its just cuz of the energy of the song if that makes sense??

also one of my friends recommended me this (ty E you're a cool pookie) but "Skeleton Appreciation Day in Vestal, NY (Bones)" by Will Wood and The Tapeworms is just. Licorice Cookie i dont think i need to explain this one

There are a bit more Will Wood and The Tapeworms songs but they sorta jjst follow. the sssame reasons as BlackBoxWarrior -- OKULTRA so errmmmmmmm

aNYWAYS I'd. id like to mention that j feel like "Kiss Me, Son of God" by They Might Be Giants sortaa fits him... liek tthinj abt it... id like to imagine tbag lico sometimes wondee what it would be liek if. he had been taken seriously aand so hed sorta imagine just. being above everyone abd i feel like that song sorta.. helps explain that??

I also think "Losers" by The Cardigans would sorta fit him..LIKE THE LINE "You were that you were special ; I'm just like you." JUST.. OH KY GKD??? THATS SO???? I dont know how to explain it but its just so... licorice cookie for me i dont k ow how to epxlain it.... sksnakdmaknd

there are some other somgs but like. they sorta follow the same reasons as the songs I've mentioned soooooo

anywyas as mentioned earlier.. feel free to disagree with any songs!!! and also if you have some songs tbat reming you of lico feel free to share :333

#licorice cookie my beloved #cookie run #licorice cookie #rambling about licorice #idk #seeing “cause im a liar” on a LICORICE PLAYLIST scarred me/j #i am so scared to post this #this post either goes really well #or really bad #but oh well #im just gonna pray for the best #jayce loses his sanity over licorice real not clickbait

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thebloodredraven · 9 months

Note

Made up fic title game! I'll choose an AC/DC song title:

Back in Black

💌 ! Ask Game ! 💌 send me a prompt about your fave and I'll write a little snippet of it 🌟

pairing: itachi uchiha x reader, mentions of sasori x reader genre: angst warnings: none word count: 1.2k

The visit isn't exactly a serendipitous one. The last person you ever expected to see grace your heavily protected cabin in the middle of the dark mountain forests was your childhood friend, Itachi Uchiha.

He stands there in his Akatsuki robes and straw hat that shielded him from the cruel storm beating down on him, an unreadable expression on his face.

At first glance it looks as if he had barely changed in the years that it had been since you last saw him. Upon further inspection, however, you notice the subtle signs of maturity. His face is thinner, more masculine. The sleep lines around his eyes you used to trace under the light of the full moon once upon a time are deeper and he shows obvious signs of fatigue. But the most surprising thing about him is the very faintest hint of hope on his face.

Neither of you spoke a word; you just stood there and took in each other's appearance. He looks you over as well and notice you looked relatively normal, given your circumstances. A bit shorter than last time, perhaps, but still very much yourself.

Eventually the frigid wind prompts you to motion for him to come inside, albeit reluctantly, and after preparing a hot cup of tea for him and putting away the food he brought you, you sit in tense silence while avoiding eye contact.

So many thoughts were going through your head, but the main concern that stood out was the whereabouts of your dear friend. If someone else had been sent to visit you on the days that were specifically reserved for Sasori, then something was wrong. After all, he hated to keep people waiting. Maybe he could have been stuck on a mission that required him to be away for some time or been injured. Back in black, he called it. When he had to hide his beautiful face and donned his puppet disguise to carry out his missions.

A voice in your head laughs and your heart sinks. You already know the answer. Don't you, witch?

As Itachi sits across from you, he takes note of the tension in your body. The paleness of your face. Even if he didn’t know you so well, the unnaturally straight way you sit and the vice grip you have on your mug would have been a dead giveaway of the anxieties you were feeling.

You hadn't heard him call your name the first time, the sound barely above a whisper. Only when he spoke a little louder did you look in his direction.

"You look well."

You only frown at that, giving him a single nod before taking a long sip of your drink with your gaze on the ring that decorates his finger.

He sighs and puts his cup down, the air around you both growing noticeably thicker from the conversation you knew was coming. In his own moment of selfishness, he wanted to talk about what happened between the two of you. That expression of grief and vexation across your face only made him want to come clean, if only to give you the closure you deserved.

"(Y/N)–"

Your gaze is icy despite your eyes' unique fiery amber, and for the first time in a long time he feels uneasy. In those moments under your scrutiny, he feels like the small boy he'd been when you met on the training field, not the notorious killer he'd become.

"Why are you here, Uchiha?"

Right. The task at hand.

"There has been a change of arrangements," he says. At the lift of her brow, he decides to elaborate. "Sasori will not be coming here."

"You say that as if I didn’t already figure that out," you say coolly, taking a sip of your drink and ignoring the hammering of your heart. "I've been able to evade unexpected visitors since the Akatsuki confined me here. I would say I'm doing an excellent job so far, save for you."

The tone in your voice effectively silences him. He expected the venom laced in your words, as he deserves every bit of it. He didn't deserve your warm, sweet whispers of love and affection anymore. He made certain of that and was very thorough about severing all of the bonds that held him to the village, including you.

And yet it didn’t make your hatred any easier.

"I suppose you're right."

The air is strained after the short exchange. There were many unsaid words in between you that were just begging to be brought up, but neither of you knew how to deal with it. Mikoto's words to you. The massacre -- his and yours. Your chakra, corrupted and dark, piercing Itachi's heart that night. Your first unfortunate reunion that resulted in your current predicament.

You wouldn't know where to start.

Your eyes finally meet and the memories from that fateful night in Konoha replay in your head on a constant loop, each one a dagger to your heart. The sight of mangled corpses, the sounds of Sasuke’s screams, the feeling of Itachi’s lips on yours for the last time before the voice in your head screamed -- it was too much.

The silence becomes unbearable after a while. You excuse yourself to go to the kitchen and put your cup in the sink, using the momentary isolation to put your hand over your heart and will it to stop its insanely fast beating in your chest.

As soon as you're out of sight, Itachi sighs quietly. What he did to you left obvious lasting scars, -- more mental than physical -- but he never stuck around long enough to see the result of what he had done. And by the time you came across each other again, there were no words to be said. Only the spilling of blood.

He also knows that you have no memory of the particular night that you lost control – when it was decided by Pein and Madara that you would be bound to this place. Being kept busy with missions from the Akatsuki was enough to take his mind off it, but it was something that always haunted him alongside many other things. It would have been easier if you knew everything, but he was never so lucky. Knowing you were kept away and safe was all that mattered.

"Dammit," you hiss, the emotion you were trying so hard to conceal spilling out of you in the form of tears.

Where is Sasori? Why is he gone? Why is Itachi here instead of Pein to tell her? How did what you did to Itachi not kill him that night? When are you getting out of this prison? There were too many questions, and not a single answer for any of them.

He's dead, you stupid bitch. Dead. Like they all will be. Like they should be. Dead. Dead. Dead. Dead.

You feel the corrupted chakra flowing to your hands and quietly rush to your room without a word to Itachi, the wet cough coming from him ugly and taunting.

Going to your closet and reaching for the box sitting at the top rack, you set the box on your bed and open it to reveal a cloak resembling Itachi’s.

The difference between his and the one in front of you is the tattered and shredded fabric that was stained in dried blood.

#Itachi Uchiha #Itachi x reader #itachi fanfic #itachi x y/n #the akatsuki #naruto #naruto shippuden #side note: I thought the whole chakra disease thing was stupid so uhhhhhh I made my own thing #also this was requested so long ago I'm so sorry hjk;sdhglfjdlsh #not beta read or edited because we die like kings

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skullhaver · 2 months

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and if 3.5 years into a D&D campaign I put together an OC playlist for Athren for the first time and wrote up comically detailed accompanying notes, what then

[Menzoberranzan]

1. Why We Build the Wall // Between the Wars - Billy Bragg

The enemy is poverty And the wall keeps out the enemy And we build the wall to keep us free // For theirs is a land with a wall around it And mine is a faith in my fellow man

These two songs function together, both in Billy Bragg's voice. "Why We Build The Wall" functions here as an overarching, archetypal "oppressive society" song. Here we establish our lawfully-reflavoured homebrew Menzoberranzan, with its assigned-at-birth haves and have-nots. Then we zoom in on this ordinary family doing their jobs between extraordinary times of conflict. Athren grows up and becomes a young adult as Just Some Guy during, "The peace we knew between the wars."

2. Second Child, Restless Child - The Oh Hellos

See, I was born the second child With a spirit running wild, running free And they saw trouble in my eyes They were quick to recognize the devil in me This song is so straightforwardly, heart-wrenchingly Athren, it doesn't need annotation. He wants to do his duty but his main character/PC energy is just too strong.

3. A Sadness Runs Through Him - The Hoosiers

Oh, he could not break surface tension He looked in the wrong place for redemption Athren can tolerate chaffing against the restrictions of his caste, but he can't tolerate the abuses perpetrated on him and his family by his House's nobility. Wonder what he's gonna do about it?

4. Santé - Stromae

Et si on célébrait ceux qui ne célèbrent pas Pour une fois, j'aimerais lever mon verre à ceux qui n'en ont pas [In English] What if we celebrated those who don't celebrate For once, I'd like to raise a glass to those who don't have one [also functions as a pun - "raise a glass to the have-nots"] This song salutes ordinary workers (the title, meaning "health," is a toast), including some specific jobs like house cleaners and nannies, who keep life running while the rich party. Fills the narrative role of growing worker solidarity between House Vandree and House Auvryndar during coup strategizing.

5. Blue Automatic - Thank You Scientist

Toxic feeling, pacing back and forth again The floor, the ceiling, feel it closing in This is the end Without a place, to rest your head You got nowhere to go, your Back's against the wall Your back's against the wall I listened to this album a lot while we were first doing character creation and kicking off the campaign. I came to permanently associate it with Athren. This song in particular has long been the "chaos of the failed coup attempt" song.

6. DEBT COLLECTOR - Jhariah

It's all catching up to you now Hope you can run 'Cause soon your past will come and drag you Down, down Immediate aftermath of the failed coup attempt, of course.

[The Underdark Wilds]

7. Far From Home (The Raven) - Sam Tinnesz

The air is cold The night is long I feel like I might fade into the dawn Fade until I'm gone Oh, I'm so far from home Our harrowing and sorrowful transit to the surface.

8. Brother - The Rural Alberta Advantage

There's a dream I had Where somebody watched out for me and you And in the end of life There was no one there for me and you I had trouble finding a song about brothers that fit what I wanted to convey about Athren and Adinar's relationship. This one has an emotional intensity and clarity that spoke to me. Some lines are easier for me to imagine as from Adinar's point of view ("Brother, my brother / You've got to hold yourself together") but broadly this song to me is about Athren's despair at leaving Adinar behind. It's a kind of dream/fantasy that somehow Athren and his parents could go back. Despite how angry he was about the (perceived) betrayal, of course Athren never stopped loving his brother.

[Waterdeep]

9. Heartbreak Feels So Good - Fallout Boy

No matter what they tell you The future's up for grabs, you know No matter what they sell you Is there a word for "bad miracle?" Athren's on the surface now and he's adjusting to the idea that his life is really his own, with all the terrifying uncertainty and glorious possibility that entails.

10. Immigraniada - Gogol Bordello

But if you give me the invitation To hear the bells of freedom chime To hell with your double standards We're coming rougher every time Props to Athren's parents' gumption to go from being a scribe and scout to running a restaurant. That idea originally came about because I thought it would be a funny parallel with another character's family, but as the game's gone on, the Dahanas being an immigrant family has started to feel genuinely poignant and badass.

11. I Guess This Is My Life Now - Roan Martin

I guess this is my life now Will this be my home? A younger me thought by now we'd be grown I guess this is my life now At least it's now my own And what did young me know? Kicking off the songs set solidly during the Dragon Heist campaign, with Athren's eternal mood of, "Haha what the fuck are we doing. I guess this is normal now. I guess this is what 'making it' feels like apparently!"

12. Mr. Invisible - Thank You Scientist

Sole contender For what I believe to be a mess All I know, we'll never put it to the test [...] When I say that you can count on me, it's true But it seems to me that I can't count on you What are you waiting for? As previously stated, I strongly associate this album with Athren. To me, this jazz prog rock odyssey of a song resonates with our party's efforts to parse Waterdeep's various factions and dig deeper into the Grand Game.

13. Old Scars / Future Hearts - All Time Low

I don't wanna be the one that's left behind Don't blame me, don't hate me I don't wanna be the one that's left behind I won't fade away Be forgotten or just cast away This life is mine to live Like "Second Child, Restless Child' this one feels so vivid and so personal, there's almost nothing to say :') Bonus for another use of "walls" to refer obliquely to Menzoberranzan. ("If you could see beyond the walls that you have built" and "But you won't think outside the lines that hold you in")

14. You're Gonna Go Far Kid - The Offspring

With a thousand lies and a good disguise Hit 'em right between the eyes Hit 'em right between the eyes When you walk away, nothing more to say See the lightning in your eyes See 'em running for their lives By the end of the adventure, we've become Big Damn Heroes of Waterdeep and Athren feels like his life is just getting started!!

[Bonus Track] 5 Finger Discount - Choking Victim

'Cause I want to see, what's on sale what's for free Every time I go to shop I steal from enemies Who steal from me, and from you If only you knew, then you would steal too Yes, this punk/ska song is about shoplifting and hiding a package in your pants next to your dick. It's silly. It's unfortunately perfect for him.

#athren dahana #i truly wrote this only for my own edification and amusement and do not expect it to make much sense to anyone but me #but i put enough work into this that i wanted it to go in his tag for my own reference

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hueynomure · 3 months

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Heart(s) on Her Sleeve, maybe for the ask game?? I love that title omg

Thank you! I'm pretty fond of it myself :3

Heart(s) on Her Sleeve is of course a Loveybug fic, meant to be a companion piece to Poker Face to explore Loveywalker angst. Where Undercover and the Mittens mini-series is the timeline where everything goes right, or at least as well as it can go, these two fics show the strain in their dynamic. Specifically, HoHS follows Marinette as she turns into Loveybug and is at first both terrified and exhilarated let out so much of her mushy, saccharine self, of course. Then Chat Noir vanishes and she keeps committing more and more to the "bit", slowly starting to spiral as her new hero persona leaves her raw after hours of venting her most carefully guarded feelings. Kim and Chloe taught her she can't be vulnerable or she WILL be punished for it, she WILL crash and burn while people laugh at her - and her Lovey suit was meant to put a layer between her and her feelings but how is that ever going to work? Those feelings being part of her is why the suit change works in the first place! Surely Cat Walker is just humoring her because he's too dignified to call her out, she's weirding him out she's just a freak why is she still doing this shit WHERE IS CHAT but feeding Cat Walker under the moonlight feels so good just another patrol just another week just another month it's fine she's fine this is just harmless fun there are no strings attached OMYGOD WHY ARE THERE SO MANY STRINGS ATTACHED

(hearts also reference the playing suite: Poker Face - Cat Walker's side - is meant to have a chapter for every other suite to offset it and imply the imaginary hand he's been dealt is not a real poker, it's good but far from a surefire winning hand like "vanilla" Ladynoir is, not until he accepts her new partner in full... and even then, he'll always be the one to bear most of the weight in the relationship)

I have no snippet to share, as I want to finish Poker Face to have the scenes to then mirror to Loveybug's side, but I can talk a bit about the summary I plan to use for it:

My heart is nuclear Love is all that I fear Ready to be let down And now I’m heading for a meltdown -Marina and the Diamonds, Radioactive

This is such a good Loveybug song! Both the 10s angsty teen feel of it all and some eerie lines ("But baby I'm the one who left you/You're not the one who left me" ma'am are you talking about Chat???) in addition to radioactivity sounding such a good metaphor for thrumming with a burning energy you KNOW it's ruining everything you're close to as you inexorably break down... I just love it ok?

Thank you for the ask! 💜💜💜

#im still in the plotting stage of this one #so im more than happy if people want to scream abt it with me and help me figure out stuff lol #loveybug au #wip ask game

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fabdante · 1 month

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9, 13, 19

Thank you for the ask!! And helping me procrastinate asdfghjk (These are for the WIP Ask Game! Unless they're for the pokemon one if so let me know and I will gladly talk about pokemon more asdfghj)

9. What’s the biggest reason this project is still a WIP?

This answer got very long I apologize asdfghjk

I tend to be a very go with the flow writer. I don't really have a carved out time for writing so I think a big reason a lot of my WIPs are still WIPS is definitely like...the fact that often after a day of doing other things I just manage to clunk out a sentence or two for one project at a time.

But for a lot of them the reason is editing! While it's true I don't often write a lot every day, I have written every day since I was like 16ish asdfghj so once I finally got comfortable with the idea of sharing fic, I've been locating ones I like enough to start the clean up process for and they've been just stuck in a really long editing limbo (I also really enjoy editing so I tend to take my time).

For some of my WIPs though there's far more specific reasons.

Swan Song, my super long Kat/Vergil DmC Reboot prequel fic, abruptly ran into a wall about 250k in. Now, personally, I think Swan Songs current first draft has run it's course. I started the draft due to an event in real life and I just like needed an outlet, something to focus on, and that became Swan Song. I'm a much different writer then I was when I started it like...I don't know how to approach it anymore. It's been a push and pull between 'do I scrap it for parts or do I start over?'. Part of the problem is also given the fact it was such an outlet for me it's become a very sentimental draft so it's hard for me to do anything with it (a large part of why I think my current course of action is just 'start again, this can be the outline' asdfghjk). Also I think Swan Song might have been um...A Tad Ambitious given I had never in my life written something multi chapter before and finished. Let alone a story that would span 5 years in it's plot with so many moving parts.

13. Do you already know your title, summary, and tags for your WIP, or are those things you’ll figure out at the end?

Good question!

Most of this stuff I do at the end! But the sections I use for the summary purposes I tend to start picking out during editing.

Titles are complicated. Sometimes they come very quickly. Swan Song was titled very fast, for example. It actually started as a code name so I had something to call it when talking to friends but the more the project grew it kind of grew into the name.

Others I start working on during editing. Like the Grunge Band AU (which is as of now titled Excerpts from ‘Eye of the Storm: The Story of Devil May Cry’. Subject to change however).

But usually title is last as a sort of celebration of getting the fic done!

19. What is a favorite line of dialogue so far?

'Journals full of notes dissecting each poem and pinning them down like butterflies.' < from V in the Grunge Band AU!

#thank you again for the ask!!#fab talks #fabtalks #ask #i collect wips i am wealthy in them asdfgh i enjoy the process of writing a lot so i have a lot of things going all the time its fun for me #and i never get to talk about writing enough this is fun

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andiwriteordie · 1 year

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why do you call it maroon fic ?

REMI! hi! ok i love this question & i'm gonna be long-winded about it because i'm a nerd. and i love writing. and byler. and taylor swift. so. you get a free maroon/byler analysis for your saturday.

a real fucking legacy, to leave is also called maroon fic whenever i post stuff because the title comes from the song maroon by taylor swift! this is one of my favorites off the midnights album, and i just have a lot of thoughts in general about this song buuuuut

when it comes to byler, i really enjoy thinking about how, when stripped down to a bare skeleton of a story, theirs is a story about love and loss. we meet two childhood friends, first through mike's eyes, and the whole first season is about mike trying to find his lost friend. and in some sense or another mike has been trying to find will (and will trying to find his way back to mike) since s1, because of the kidnapping, the possession, and the tension in their friendship across s3-s4. it's a story about two people who love each other but keep losing each other, especially when we consider it from mike's pov (catch me crying at the "maybe i lost you" line in s4).

anyways, with maroon now! one of my favorite parts of maroon is how the first chorus switches from the line: and i chose you, the one i was dancing with to the line and i lost you, the one i was dancing with. it's a simple change, but it tells the story taylor is sharing with us so incredibly well. it's a story of how this narrator went from choosing this person they love so much to losing them in the end—which i think just really mirrors mike's story very well in stranger things! will went from being such a priority in his life—so much so that he says meeting will is the best thing he's ever done—to then just time and time losing will again, first from the upside down then from his own distance and mistakes.

and here's where i get really nerdy, thanks to @wiseatom who pointed out that the official taylor swift music video for maroon has an incredibly niche detail within it:

that's a real fuckin' legacy, to leave

the comma between the words "legacy" and "to" add another little layer of nuance to the meaning behind this song, which i just looooove. that comma placement shifts the meaning slightly, implying that the legacy itself is leaving. the legacy left behind by the partner taylor is singing about in the song is leaving her.

so then, circling back to byler and from mike's pov, i could go on and on and on about how mike has a need to be needed and wanted and a fear of abandonment that stems from that, but i won't lol. the point i think about here is how the theme of love and loss is intertwined with byler as a whole, but then also specifically in this line, getting to explore the potential of mike's thought that it is, in a way, will who keeps leaving. mike keeps losing will, maybe not always as an intentional action on will's part, but it is always mike who loses will.

allllllll that to come back around and say this: i wanted to write a fic that explored the themes of love and loss in byler's story and then maroon came out and it just fit. the story kinda pieced together as it was about two people in a relationship, hence why i chose to explore established byler, so we could see those themes amplified to a greater extent than we even see in the show. :)

i could've answered that in 2 sentences, but i didn't bc i'm a nerd. so happy saturday 🤣

#byler #st x ts #i think i should get to analyze taylor swift songs and byler at least once a week #for my mental health #andi writes not dies

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screadingchallenge · 2 years

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Behind the Keyboard Volume 24

Behind the Keyboard is a series of interviews with different Schitt’s Creek fanfic authors. The series will last as long as there is interest (from authors) and capacity (from me). If you are an author from the Schitt’s Creek fandom who would like to participate, send a DM to this account.

Each author was given ten questions. The first five questions are the same for every author, the last five will vary.

Let’s meet our next author:

@stereopticons / stereopticons

How many fics have you written?

I’ve published 32 Schitt’s Creek fics! Not counting the numerous WIPs or things I wrote for old fandoms.

When did you publish your first fic on AO3?

October 2021!

Describe your writing process from “Oh, I have an idea” to pushing publish on AO3.

This really depends on the fic! Sometimes I will get an idea and go immediately to pouring words into a doc. If it’s a longer or more complex fic, I will write out some notes or a vague outline (for 5+1s, I usually write out the general theme of each of the 5 things). I tend to write very linearly, so I’ll start at the beginning and work my way through, though sometimes I’ll get ideas for later scenes or lines of dialogue and if I don’t put them down, I will definitely forget! Once I have it written, I will read back through it a couple of times, or make someone else read it for me, and then post.

Tell me about your most recent fic?

What do you love about it? Is there anything you think you could have done better? My most recent fic was the ocean grew hands to hold me which was written after I spent two days sitting by a lake! I really like how it turned out and I definitely poured a lot of my own feelings about water into it, so it’s a really personal fic for me. It was one of those fics that I just started writing and I didn’t spend a lot of time editing or developing the idea, so it probably could have used some more editing! And maybe I would have expanded on the end some more, but I like the way it ended and maybe I’ll delve more into it later

What advice would you give to someone who’s thinking about publishing their fic for the first time?

I have two pieces of (potentially contradictory!) advice: first, write for yourself. You don’t owe anyone this part of yourself. Write what you want! Your stories will be better if you write something YOU want to write. The second piece of advice is to just put it out there! I know putting your work out for everyone to see is scary, especially if it’s something really personal to you, but even if you write for yourself, hearing people’s comments and reactions and kudos definitely help

Do you use a beta? Why or why not? Do you beta for other people?

I do sometimes! For shorter fics, I usually just make one of my friends look over it quickly though if it’s really short, I sometimes don’t even bother with that. For longer things, I definitely try to get someone to read it first. My brain moves faster than my fingers when I type sometimes so even if it’s just to catch the words I forgot, it definitely helps to have someone look at it! I do beta when people ask, and am open to beta-ing for others, feel free to send me a message!

Would you rather find a title or write a summary?

Oh god, neither, lmao. I guess title? I have a running list of potential fic titles on my phone (song lyrics, mostly) but somehow they never seem to fit? Sometimes you just know what the title is going to be and sometimes it’s the hardest thing. Summaries are my enemy. I do not know how to make my fic marketable in a few lines! I am also bad at elevator pitches in general!

In what way are you most like your favorite Schitt’s Creek character?

I am filled to the brim with anxieties, just like David. And I can’t control my face.

Who is another fic writer you admire and why?

Oh, there’s so many! If I name specific people, I’m sure I’ll forget someone. I admire people who can build whole worlds using the characters we know so well. I admire people who know these characters inside and out and you can see it in their writing. I admire the people who write with such elegance that it makes me want to cry. I admire everyone who takes their very specific interest and writes about it. I admire the people who put little pieces of themselves in the things that they write.

What is the favorite scene you’ve ever written?

This is so hard! I can’t pick one (they’re my bebes!) I’m going to go with the first kiss scene from the lie between your teeth, the “I never stopped loving you, either” scene from if i’m not beyond repair and all of yeah i’m afraid (but i’ll follow you anyway)

#behind the keyboard #meet the authors #sc fanfic #schitt's creek #schitts creek

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ficview · 10 months

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View - All The Young Dudes

By MsKingBean89

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/10057010/chapters/22409387

Through my time on AO3 scouring for Harry Potter fics, I have constantly scrolled past this title as it rose through the hit list, eventually claiming the summit with as-of-now nearly 11 million hits. And each time, I have been put off by its length (1300 pages as a pdf) and even more so by the fact that I simply did not find Wolfstar a compelling enough ship to dedicate so many hours of my reading time to.

My accidental foray into Jegulus (which I shall write about in the future), however, stoked in me a love for the age of the Marauders and the beauty of the tragedy of their lives. So, I have now read this monster of a fic, and for the most part, it was fairly good.

Remus Lupin grows up in a Muggle orphanage after turning into a werewolf. Friendship, love, and mischief await him at Hogwarts.

Pros:

-Doesn't diverge too far from canon and fills in a lot of gaps quite convincingly. I think I finally got what made so many people go crazy over the Marauders. Some of those pranks were nothing short of epic!!! ("Lumpy Elephant Dung" - I'm still wheezing 😂)

-I have always found it hard to think of Peter Pettigrew as a true member of the Marauders. And after this fic, I can truly understand where he comes from as a character.

-James and Lily were so well written, I'm squealing. So was the rivalry with Snape.

-I am generally not a huge fan of OC characters, but Grant Chapman owns my heart, my mind, and everything else that matters. What a life! What a person!

-Nice touches of period-specific Muggle culture, from Remus' perspective (so many good song quotes). Would have enjoyed some made-up wizard cultural pieces to go with it as well.

Cons: (these are some pretty glaring ones btw)

-Horribly OOC Remus. And Sirius. I understand that this Remus is true to his background as an orphan in the Muggle world, but still... It's Remus Lupin! And his transition to DADA prof was a bit jarring, to say the least. At no point do we see him interested in studying dark creatures. Where were his years spent traveling? Don't even get me started on Sirius.

-For all the nice moments and build-up the two share, Sirius and Remus share, and I regret to say this, dead-fish romantic chemistry. They were better of as "bosom friends" or something along those lines. Had to satisfy my romance needs with James/Lily.

-The tone of the werewolf scenes was very Teen Wolf and ABO reminiscent. Points for creativity, I guess.

-The entire war portion of the story needed more work. As tragic as their lives actually were, I barely felt any sense of urgency during their missions and even less sorrow for their deaths.

-No offense to the author; I don't know what went through their mind when they chose to write an epic Marauders fic (practically a biography), and ended it right BEFORE Sirius' death, denying me my self-promised bucket of tears 😑

For all my complaints, I still have to acknowledge the impact of ATYD on the Marauders and HP fandom. Depictions of some of the main characters have gone on to become fanon, for better or for worse. Tbh, I've always wondered why there was such an emphasis on Marlene McKinnon, Mary MacDonald, and Dorcas Meadowes in most of the recent Marauders fics; glad to get an explanation at last.

Would I recommend this? Definitely for the first 5 years of Hogwarts, and definitely not after that. Do read the fourth part in the series, a 2-chapter epilogue from Grant's perspective for some degree of closure, if you're gonna finish it.

Or if you wanted a better telling of the Marauders and the First Wizarding War with greater feels and canon compliancy, might I redirect you to Choices? To me, that's canon.

#fanfic #ao3fic #fanfic review #harry potter #hp fanfic #hp fics #harry potter fanfiction #wolfstar #marauders #remus lupin #sirius black #james potter #lily evans #all the young dudes

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magicofthepen · 1 year

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hmm i am intrigued by so many of the titles! but also i want to pick one without time war 2+ spoilers. do any of these fit that description? the drowning deep or our minds at war or well deserved frustration with Romana? also please do tell me about Conspiracy Verse, Emily :D

ask me about one of my wips!

ah Scar regrettably all of the documents named with the Actual (Song Lyric) Fic Titles are in my post-Time War series. so yes there are spoilers.

but the spoiler free teaser is: every chapter in this fic series is based on last year’s Whumpay prompts (not in order, I rearranged the prompts). so I can tell you which prompts I plan to use for each of those fics.

the drowning deep

the prompts I’m using are: 1. Harming Self, 2. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

our minds at war

the prompts I’m using are: 1. It Never Gets Any Easier / Nightmares, 2. Headache of Doom, 2. To the Pain / Delirium.

SHORT: Bonding Over Well-Deserved Frustration With Romana

I keep forgetting this fic exists — it’s one of two fics I have that were fully drafted a while ago, and really just need some light edits.

this one was written in fall 2021 when I was trying to write some shorter pieces—so it was part of the same batch of fics as the war outside our door keeps raging on (Scar don’t look at this one), be the lightning in me, twilight whispers, and overwhelm me (or this one). but I think I got distracted in early 2022 by writing prompt fics and I never got around to posting this one? I should get around to posting it.

it’s a post-Enemy Lines Leela/Narvin fic that is about Narvin working on talking about What’s Really Going On instead of letting his frustrations stew and bubble over…..and specifically, is about the ways in which Romana was a shitty friend in Enemy Lines and how both Narvin and Leela are allowed to feel their feelings and be upset about the things she did that hurt each of them.

conspiracy verse

well, once upon a time, you were like. hey want to hear another au idea. and I was like. tell me more. and thus began rabbit hole #2. 😊

the premise of conspiracy verse is: what if, not long after the end of series 6, when the ot3 are dealing with the consequences of their reboot of the population of Gallifrey, a young Romana and young Sartia from another universe suddenly appear in the catacombs?

slight background: young Mana and Sartia end up in the “prime” universe after their Gallifrey is overrun by Daleks, brought by a Vansell from yet another Gallifrey, one wracked with a version of the War. alt!Vansell is the one with the mysterious universe hopping technology, and after he tries to kill young Mana, and Sartia ends up killing him, the two teenagers take a risk and make a portal to another world. surely it’s better than waiting for the Daleks to find them.

story complications include:

there are actually consequences to the biodata reset. which first meant deciding how far back everyone’s memories were rebooted to. canon is contradictory about this, but we’re ignoring Matthias thinking he was president when Narvin woke him up because logically it has to be earlier than that, if the goal is “before the spread of the virus” and the civil war was canonically a super spreader event. we don’t know exactly when the pig rats the virus originated in got out, but after much discussion, we picked a moment mid-Imperatrix as the point everyone’s biodata is reset to. so no one remembers Romana declaring herself a dictator, or the civil war. but they did wake up to a Citadel in ruins, with hundreds if not thousands of Gallifreyans suddenly dead. meanwhile, anyone who isn’t Gallifreyan—namely any alien students who were on Gallifrey at the time, and the members of the other Temporal Powers in general—remember the civil war and everything after. so needless to say, things are rather politically fraught for Romana right now.

they’re hiding the kids. given how Gallifrey is this close to erupting into more civil unrest, Romana really doesn’t want it getting out that a version of herself from another universe—and a version of a wanted renegade from another universe—have appeared without explanation. so Romana, Leela, and Narvin have pseudo-adopted teenage Mana and Sartia, but their existence is a secret from everyone else on Gallifrey. (and when I say “they” have pseudo-adopted the kids, I really mean that Leela’s the one they’re living with and the one who’s actually taking care of them.)

the kids don’t know about Sartia Prime’s crimes. young Sartia and Mana know Sartia in this universe is a renegade, but that’s it. Narvin and Leela have only just found out from Romana that Sartia (in this universe) tried to kill her, but Romana really does Not want to talk about her Sartia-related trauma…..except for the fact that she inherently distrusts young Sartia and has already very nearly told her the truth about Sartia Prime in a fit of anger over Sartia trying to secretly use the Coronet to find out what the adults are hiding. (and y’know, they are hiding things!)

Pandora is back—kinda. in the catacombs, before hopping universes, Mana was contacted by Pandora, who tricked her into letting Pandora put the Imperatrix Imprimatur into her. a sliver of Pandora from another universe lives in Mana’s head, and no one, including her, knows it. but that fragment of Pandora is restless. she’s been cut off from the rest of herself, and she isn’t staying idle in Mana’s mind. over time, her grip in Mana’s consciousness will only grow—until Romana, Leela, and Narvin will be faced with their old enemy rising again, in the form of Romana as a teenager. and at that point: can Mana be saved? is even trying to save her worth the risk?

Sartia’s mother is still alive—and still scheming. in @presidentromana’s Sartia backstory fic, Sartia ultimately turns her abusive mother (who turned their House into a cult) over to the CIA. in this universe (and in redemption verse) Sartia didn’t have the chance to. that means: if Kinnora find out there’s a young Sartia running around that won’t really be missed—because how could the President admit that she even existed—Kinnora’s vampire-Gallifreyan hybrid schemes are back on, with Sartia as the experimental subject. but Kinnora has refined her plans since the last time they went wrong, and if (ahem, when) she gets her hands on young Sartia, Sartia will actually survive the process—and be a vampire-Gallifreyan hybrid, an abomination in the eyes of Gallifrey. and at that point: will anyone stand by her?

Sartia Prime is still out there—and pissed. her biodata is part of the archive, so she was reset just like everyone else. and now a chunk of her life is missing, Free Time (which she was working with) is scattered, and she’s trying to piece together what happened. basically, Sartia is out there, vaguely in the early chapters of my fic Redacted. and she’ll probably (definitely) become involved in the story at some point.

oh, and it’s a rom-com, too. teenage Sartia and Mana are doing the “slow realization of Feelings for best friend/first crush” story. Romana, Leela, and Narvin are in there “everyone has Feelings but no one has said anything” stage. at this point Sartia is convinced there’s something going on between Romana and Leela, and Mana is convinced there’s something going on between Leela and Narvin. neither is quite sure what that “something” is, but.

this verse truly has it all, I’m so excited to discover where the heck this story ends up taking us.

oh and in this rp verse: I always write (young) Mana, @presidentromana always writes (young) Sartia, I write Leela most of the time, @presidentromana writes (adult) Romana most of the time, and we share Narvin. (those are all the characters who have been involved in the story so far.)

#thanks for letting me talk about our blorbos <33 #presidentromana #gallifrey audios #fic talk #rp things #ramblings #asks #conspiracy verse #sartia #romana

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