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Five Moments That Explain Your Friendship With Cheryl Blossom

Summary: You are Cheryl Blossom's best friends. Five moments that show exactly what you mean to one another. Platonic!Cherylxreader, slight Sweet Pea x reader and brief Choni mentions.

Warning: Mentions of homophobic parents, internalized homophobia, emeto-warning, vomit and nausea warning

Five Moments that Explained Your Friendship with Cheryl Blossom

One. You never even considered whether you wanted to be a River Vixen. Cheryl Blossom was the captain and your best friend. Attendance was mandatory. Resistance was futile. You loved your best friend though even you had to admit that she was a bit…self-involved. 

“Obviously I’ll be doing a solo. I’ve got the maddest skills on the squad,” Cheryl explained to Veronica, who questioned her solo choices yet again. Veronica Lodge was a self-claimed reformed mean girl and while she was actually incredibly kind, she was almost a bit…self-involved. “You had a solo last week. Betty has one. A tiny one, of course. Y/N has the biggest solo. Would you like to challenge her to a dance-off?”

Veronica looked in your direction. You shrugged and smiled. Your mother owned Riverdale’s dance studio and you were a company dancer, which required a fifteen-hour-a-week practice minimum. Being the owner's daughter made it closer to twenty-five. Truthfully, you didn’t care much about the solo. Being a River Vixen was fun and significantly less stressful than the dance competition and your goal wasn’t to be the best. If Veronica wanted to challenge you, you wouldn’t take it to heart. You stretched, touching your hands to your toes. When you came back up, you leaped into the arm and did a toe touch, something you had never seen Ronnie do. Okay, maybe you minded a little. Veronica put her hands in the hair, conceding.

“That’s what I thought, Veronica,” Cheryl said with a smirk. Your best friend turned to you. “Now, why don’t we start off by showing the girls what a real dancer can do?”

You smiled and stepped into the center of the room.

Two. Cheryl loved you always, even when you had the occasional spat. Because she loved you, she always worried about you. Your mother wore you ragged with your practice hours, you were a River Vixen (Okay. That one was for her.), and you were in the senior math class. You were chronically stressed. When she handed you a ginger tea that morning, your first sign of impending illness or burnout, she noticed the bags under your eyes. 

“Mon Amie, I believe you need to slow down. A sick day perhaps?” You laughed and Cheryl rolled her eyes. She reached for your forehead but you swatted her hand away. You were momentarily distracted as Sweet Pea walked down the hall. Cheryl was sure her eyes had disappeared based on how far back they rolled into her head. She took the opportunity to touch your forehead. It wasn’t warm but she knew it might be coming. You were known for your stomach aches, usually due to stress or exhaustion. 

“I’m just a little nauseous. Stomach ache, you know.” Cheryl raised her eyebrows and you sighed heavily. “If it’s not better by lunch…”

“Nurses’ Office, obvi.”

 Cheryl loved you enough to only say “I told you so” twice when she had to hold back your hair as you vomited during third period. She didn’t even hesitate to waltz out of the classroom when you charged out, completely ignoring whatever Mrs. Kerwin had to say about it. Riverdale was held together at its very core by Blossom Maple Syrup. There was no way Cheryl would be serving detention for helping her sick best friend. But it was for you, only you and her beloved Toni, whose hair she would ever hold back. 

Three. But Cheryl was only repaying a debt from a few months prior. Reggie Mantle’s parents had gone out of town and he had thrown a party. It was wild, of course, and you planned to spend the night sipping the soda that was used for mixers and no alcohol. Cheryl did no such thing.

You gripped your best friend’s arm and pulled her into the bathroom. Her lipstick was smudged and the strap of her tank top was falling off her shoulder. She was gorgeous, but a mess. “Cheryl, you can’t just flop into Archie Andrew’s lap. He’s dating Valerie. You know that.”

“Not for looong.” Cheryl smiled brightly. She was definitely drunk and even now she was sipping from a red solo cup. Something Sober Cheryl would never do in a room so close to a toilet. “He has red hair and I have red hair. His family though kind of poor is like the one family in Riverdale that mine doesn’t hate. So I have to have him.”

“Like ninety minutes ago you were making out with Moose.” Cheryl shrugged and reached for the doorknob. You grabbed her by her shoulders before she could. “He’s dating Midge. Since like the seventh grade. We like Midge. She’s a River Vixen. She’s our friend, Cher. Why would you do that?”

“I like boys.” Cheryl’s eyes started to water. Her hands reached for the necklace at the base of her neck. It was a cherry blossom but instead of being an expensive gold or a giant diamond, it was modest. It had been a gift from Heather, whom Cheryl was close with in middle school. “I like boys.”

“Oh, Cher,” you said, wrapping your arms around her. She never said a word about Heather but you had always had your suspicions. And you knew Cheryl’s mother. Penelope was Cheryl’s greatest and most unnecessary critic. Cheryl pulled back with a jerk.

“I’m going to vomit,” she said, dropping her drink to the floor. As the drink spilled, so did Cheryl and you could do nothing but hold back her hair.

Four. Her breakup with Toni gutted her. You knew that. Cheryl pretended not to care but each night she called you crying, under the guise of having just watched a sad movie. You’d slept over three times that week just because of those calls.  When you found Toni in the bathroom, she paused.

“I don’t want to fight,” Toni said, giving you the once over. The hours of dancing had given you a lot of muscles but Toni was tough too. 

“I don’t want to fight,” you answered. Toni seemed to lower her guard but only a little. “I just…I know you love her.”

Toni’s eyes shown with tears and she nodded. You smiled and hugged her. When you pulled back, you said “So please work this out. She’s miserable without you.”

As Toni went to leave, you spoke again. “Oh and babe? To be clear, I think you’re great. But I am team Cheryl. All day. Every day. So if you ever actually do something horrid?”

“Hell hath no fury,” Toni finished. You smiled. 

Five. There was never anyone good enough for you but when you chose Sweet Pea, Cheryl had to make a few things clear, even if you’d be furious. Luckily, your new fling was good friends with Cheryl’s love. Best friends dating best friends was a good combination. The double dates would be endless. Still, Cheryl wasn’t going to go easy on him.

“Babe, go easy,” Toni cautioned as the girls sat down across from Sweet Pea. Without a word, Fangs stood from the table and left. 

“Sweet Pea, let’s chat,” Cheryl said to an unenthused and nervous Sweet Pea.

“About?”

“You are dating my best friend. My best friend. I don’t need to remind you that the “river” in Riverdale runs with maple syrup, do I?” Cheryl waited but Sweet Pea didn’t say anything. His expression, angry and defiant, made it clear she got her point across. “Now, I like you. Sort of. Toni likes you and mon amour has impeccable taste, obv. And you do seem to properly adore my bestie. But let me make one thing clear.

“My father murdered my brother - my other half over drugs and maple syrup. My mumsie is a homophobic monster who pushed my Nana down the stairs and once dated Riverdale’s best-known serial killer. I am the sole caretaker of my Nana. Through all of this? There was Y/N. I have very little family left, Serpent. You better believe that I will do everything in my power - my unforgiving power to protect it. Understood?”

Before Sweet Pea could answer, Cheryl’s agenda flipped as though someone hit a switch. “Now, darling Tee-Tee and boyfriend of bestie, shall we plan our first double date? I’m thinking something grande. Perhaps with sparkling dresses, sparkling champagne, and the most sparkling of company?”

#riverdale #riverdale cheryl #Cheryl blossom #riverdale fanfic #riverdale x reader #riverdale imagine #riverdale fic #platonic!Cheryl Blossom x reader #Cheryl Blossom x reader #choni #Cheryl Blossom x toni topaz

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You Sweetie was "Sick" the Other Day

Summary: Wayne hurt his back and Katy can't get him to stop chorin'. You come over and are "sick" so Wayne takes a break to take care of you.

Warning: Swearing (cause it's fucking LetterKenny), and mentions of sickness?

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Wayne didn’t get sick. He didn’t get hurt. At least, not sick or hurt enough to keep him from chorin’. The farm was hard work but it was an honest living and Wayne liked it well enough. He certainly wasn’t going to let a sore back stop him from doing it. So maybe he had pulled or strained or something a muscle in his back moving hay the other day. He wasn’t a doctor and he sure wasn’t going to one for a stiff muscle. Katy had told him to take the day off but he wouldn’t. 

He’d made it through the morning chorin’ well-enough. Darry only asked “You okay, good buddy?” three times and Squirrely Dan only asked twice. So it wasn’t that bad. Katy had been watching him closely and shaking her head but Wayne ignored her. Now he just had to put a few hours into the produce stand and finish the barn later. Then he’d be done for the day. 

When you arrived, Katy ran to greet you and lead you into the house quickly. You complied but not before smiling widely at him and throwing a wink over your shoulder. You’d been his sweetie was three months now and it was going pretty good if you asked him. Hell, you loved dogs, got along with his sister, and were quick-witted. Didn’t hurt that you were a rocket either. 

So he hadn’t been concerned about your quick run to the house until Katy came out without you. Wayne was holding a beer in his left hand instead of his right, to move the sore side of his back as little as possible, not that he’d ever admit it. A good hot shower would fix him right up. The one he had taken that morning had helped some. He was fine. 

“Where’s Y/N?” Darry asked, before Wayne could say anything. Not that he minded. Anytime he talked, Katy could turn it around on him and nag him about his back, which he was trying really hard to forget about. Katy looked Wayne over and he held still, showing no sign of pain. He didn’t hurt when he held perfectly still.

“She’s sick,” Katy answered. Wayne jumped to his feet and then tried to hide the wince at the pain in his back. Katy was stone-faced, which meant that she saw but was choosing not to say anything. “Something ‘bout her stomach. I parked her up in your bed, Wayne. Figured I’d send you on up.”

“You got this, good buddy? I know your backs been -”

“Don’t finish that sentence or I’m gonna have to come over there and talk to you,” Wayne answered without looking in Darry’s direction. Instead he headed towards the house, stopping only to give Gus a pat on the head and open the door with his non-sore side. 

It was strange for you to just admit something was wrong. Usually, you’d tried to bottle it up and keep working. At least, that’s what you did when you were upset. You hadn’t been sick since you’d gotten together. How the hell was he supposed to take care of you?

When he found you lying in his bed, with your arms around your stomach, you looked bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. You weren’t pale or sweaty. He felt your forehead. Cool as a cucumber. No fever whatsoever.

“It’s my stomach,” you explained with a whimper. He felt bad for doubting you. You patted the spot on the bed next to you. “Change out of your barn clothes and come join me.”

You didn’t need to ask him twice. He changed into clean clothes,( he could always change back to chore late) and laid down next to you. You were lying on your stomach now, so he did the same. It was a relief not to add any pressure to his back. 

Suddenly, you crawled on top of him and worked your hands up the back of his shirt, massaging the muscles. He wanted to be mad at you but you were damned good at it. When you pulled out the muscle relaxing balm and began working that into his skin, he felt the pain start to melt away. 

“You were never sick, were you?” You didn’t answer but when he tried to turn to look at you, you leaned down and kissed his nose. It was really hard to be mad at a liar with such good hands. You worked the balm into his back with your palms, applying just the right amount of pressure. When you found the tightest muscle, you began to work with your fingers, rubbing in small circles to loosen the muscle. It was exactly what his back needed. Wayne moaned in pleasure. “Hell, I fucking love you.”

He tensed for a minute which he was certain you could feel sitting on top of him. You hadn’t said that to each other yet and three months in felt a learn early, especially now that he had thrown it out there. But you didn’t tense. You relieved his tension when you said, “I fucking love you too, Wayne.”

Wayne was pretty sure that you were never sick at all. 

#letterkenny #letterkenny fanfiction #letterkenny x reader #letterkenny imagine #Wayne x reader #letterkenny wayne #letterkenny tumblr #letterkenny fandom #pitter patter #fucking letterkenny

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Love Sick in Riverdale

Notes: You go to school despite not feeling well. Reggie seems to be the only one to notice. Warnings: Mentions of sickness

You could never say no to anyone. That was your problem. You said yes when Cheryl begged you to join the River Vixens, despite being an honors student, taking AP math as a sophomore, and working an internship at your mother’s investment firm three days a week. You said yes when Principal Weatherbee asked you to be on the dance committee even though you only slept five hours most nights. And worst of all, you’d said yes when your mother asked you if you were alright that morning.

Your stomach was aching but you had brushed it off as nerves for your presentation first period. Besides, potential investors were supposed to come over for brunch and that wouldn’t be possible with a sick child in the house. Your mother was a perfectionist and a workaholic. “Are you alright?” had really meant “Please be alright. I am too busy for this.” So yes, you were alright and yes, you were going to school. By second period, the presentation nerves had faded away and you felt a bit better. The dissection in third period biology did not help.

By fourth period your throat was feeling a bit scratchy and your stomach remained swirling as you tried to push the image of the frog dissection out of your mind. It was your study hall and you should have been able to relax but your math teacher had asked you to tutor Reggie Mantle. Of course, you said yes.

“You look like you’re gonna hurl,” he said as he slid into the seat next to you in the library. You glared at him because outright denial would be a lie. Instead, you reached across the table and opened his math book to the current chapter. You were not in immediate danger of hurling. At least, not yet. All you had to do was focus. “Seriously. Are you alright? I heard it was dissection day but you look -”

“So are we doing to study or do you want to insult me some more? Because trust me, you need to study.” It wasn’t the nicest thing to say but at the moment, it was the nicest thing you could think of. He pushed his chair back with a loud screech, earning you a stern look from the librarian, and exited. 

It was fine with you. You had work you could be doing. You pulled out your own math homework but found you couldn’t concentrate. Ugh, you actually felt bad that you had implied Reggie was stupid. Tutoring had shown you that he wasn’t stupid, he just wasn’t strong in math. Those were two very different things. He could actually be kind when the other football players weren’t around. When you studied, he did try. You felt sick with guilt. And just sick.

Before you could decide what to do, a bottle of ginger ale and a package of crackers were thrust in front of you. Reggie took his seat again, seemingly unoffended. Food wasn’t allowed in the library but it was a sweet gesture all the same. You felt tears come to your eyes. Your own mother couldn’t make time to take care of you but Reggie? He’d gone out of his way after you’d called him stupid. “Seriously, Y/N. They help. I know it’s like a small thing but -”

“You’re not stupid,” you said, cutting him off again. He gave you a confused look and you felt your cheeks heat up. “What I said earlier. I didn’t mean - I just feel so gross and I didn’t want to talk about it and no one else seemed to care so I just...I was mean.”

Reggie put his hand on your forehead, seemingly unaffected by your ramblings. “Yeah, you’ve got a fever. I had that bug that went around. It was nasty. You should go home.”

You laughed. Going home wasn’t an option. Your mother had to work and...last time you tried that you had waited in the nurse’s office for two hours. When your mother had picked you up, she had been so frazzled leaving work and so concerned about her clients that you were consumed with guilt. No, there was no way you were letting anyone call your mom. “I can’t. Really. My mom’s at work and it’s just not an option. She has clients over for brunch. I’d have to wait and I don't want to fall behind..”

“At least take a break now.” You started to protest but Reggie cut you off. “Hey, I can study on my own this once. Someone told me recently that I wasn’t stupid.”

As you laid your head against your arms, you watched him study. His brow furrowed when he concentrated and he bit his lip when he was trying to figure something out. You began to drift off but you realized that you might just have fallen in love with Reggie Mantle.  

#riverdale #riverdale fanfiction #reggie mantle #reggie mantle x reader #sickfic #sick!reader #reggiexreader #self insert #sick reader #riverdale reggie

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You Went On A Date The Other Day...

You’re staying with Wayne and Katy until you can move into your new apartment. You’re saying yes to new opportunities, which brings you on some strange dates. Eventual Wayne x reader - Part 1 of 4

You were talking about dates with your pals the other day…

“Sos I takes it that yours date didn’t goes well yesterday,” Squirrelly Dan asked. You sighed heavily from your lawn chair in front of the produce stand. Wayne, Katie, Darry, and Squirrelly Dan were all in their usual spots. You had pulled up a chair behind Katie and next to Wayne. The two had been nice enough to lend you their guest room for two weeks while you waited to be able to move into your new apartment. You had planned to spend it on a cruise but that had fallen through at the last minute, leaving you with nowhere to stay and nothing to do.

“Well, I’d say so,” Darry answered, even though the question was directed at you. “She’s sitting here with us and not sleeping off a wild night out. Plus, you know, the guy she went with.”

“Don’t you mean guys?” Wayne was teasing but it stung a little. You had always had a soft spot for Wayne. Hell, it was a super soft spot but you had given up on that long ago. After all, girls like Bonnie McMurray couldn’t get a date with him so how could you expect to?

“It went okay at first, thanks to Katy,” You finally got to answer. The girl grinned at you. The night before had turned into a double date when your date, Jonsey, had shown up with Reilly. Katy was already dressed and ready to tap in, having seen this one coming. She had some experience with Pete and Repeat. “He was nice enough. Opened the door for me, took us to a nice enough restaurant, but then…”

“Then?” Darry asked after you trailed off. You felt Wayne’s eyes on you and your cheeks flushed red. “Did he not drop the hockey talk? Would you like to snuggle, wheel, snipe, or celly?”

“Dirty fucking dangles, my lady.” Dan continued.

“How about a good night kiss ferda boys, yeah?” Wayne finished. Katy laughed and you couldn’t help but join in. They had, in fact, not dropped the hockey talk.

“Now, I can speak Puck Bunny just fine, I’ll have you know. But I might have revealed a small insignificant detail about myself that they just couldn’t let go.”

“I wouldn’t call it insignificant,” Katy scoffed. “You’re Canadian and you’ve never been ice skating. You can’t skate. I thought it was a requirement for citizenship.”

Three heads whipped around in your direction. If possible, your face turned even redder. So you couldn’t ice skate. You could do a lot of other things. They could have offered to teach you to ice skate but no, they spent the rest of the night in shock. You thought you were going to have to drive their jeep home.

“How the fuck did you grow up in Canada and never ice skate?” You shrugged at Wayne’s question. “I mean, they should have let it fucking go but I can see where they’d lose their footing. Not exactly the brightest of fellas there.”

“If they were crayons, they’d be gray.”

“If theys were light bulbs, they’d be burnt out.”

“How many licks to get to the center of that Tootsies Pop? Don’t fucking bother. There’s nothing there,” Wayne finished. A silence fell without the group and Darry started passing beers out from the cooler. “You know, I can teach you how to sometime. Skate, I mean. If you want. So this doesn’t happen again.”

“She’s gotta say yes,” Katy answered before you could stumble out a reply. You knew Wayne was doing you a favor and not asking you out but it sounded close enough to leave you tongue-tied. “Since she’s not saying no this week.”

“To new opportunities. Like I was supposed to on my trip. I’m just stuck doing it here. In Letterkenny. No degens though.” As Katy started to speak, you silenced her with a finger. “He just got out of rehab. So it’s different.”

“Out of rehab?”

“Yous don’t means?” “No fucking way.”

You sighed deeply and shrugged, sneaking a quick glance at Wayne’s face. As usual, you couldn’t see anything.

Maybe it’s best to keep some things to yourself.

#letterkenny #letterkenny imagine #letterkenny image #letterkenny x reader #Wayne x reader #letterkenny fanfiction #reader insert

[blogginthewind]

It Isn’t About Cheryl

You are Cheryl Blossom’s best friend. She thinks you’re mad at her. Turns out you’re not. Sweet Pea x reader / sick!reader

You were Cheryl Blossom’s best friend. You had been since you had taken your very first ballet class as toddlers. Whenever Cheryl was lonely or needed someone, you were there right alongside Jason until… Until. When Jason had died, Cheryl’s whole world shattered. At one point, she even stood on the thin ice at Sweetwater River, hoping to join him. It was the only time she had seen you that angry.

“You are not going to leave me behind, you understand?” You had screamed, while Veronica and Betty tried to get you to be calmer with her. You had brushed them off in angry tears. “No. No! If you go, I go. Do you understand? We are a non-negotiable. You have to know that.”

She loved you dearly and could be a tad bit overprotective when it came to things such as say, dating. Cheryl had wanted you to marry Jason and officially be her sister, something you had thought of as well. Jason’s death had crushed you too, the boy that you loved for years had not only passed away but been engaged to another. You had a brief fling with Reggie Mantle, which Cheryl now wished she hadn’t allowed, then ended up with more tears. Yours. Not his. 

So when she met you at your locker one morning, your vanilla swirl latte in hand, she was surprised to see you scrunch up your nose. But you took the cup anyway. 

“Thanks, Cher. I just have a bit of a stomach ache. Mom made oatmeal for breakfast and made me eat the entire bowl.”Your mother was a notoriously awful cook and oatmeal was a bland, lumpy food already. Plus, you almost always had a bit of a stomach ache. Stress, nerves, too much dairy. It wasn’t that abnormal.

“My condolences. So we’re still on for the new stunts with the Vixens after school, yes? Then we can celebrate. I’m thinking of a movie musical marathon. Sing-a-long required. With cherry phosphates from Pop’s. My beloved can join us if she wish. If not, it will just be us but that has always been good, yes?”

 You nodded. Cheryl smiled. Most people found her to be a bit…much. She worried about over-showering Toni with love, though she deserved every bit of it. You never seemed to get tired of Cheryl though. And you hadn’t hesitated to forgive her when she may have blown you off a few times at the start of her relationship. When she looked over, you were on your phone, smiling at a text message. Ugh. Sweet Pea.

 Cheryl didn’t have a problem with the Southside Serpents, Toni was one, after all. She didn’t even have a problem with Sweet Pea, per se. He was a good friend to the girlfriend she adored and she trusted Toni’s judgment but you had taken quite a shine to the boy so she had to be cautious. After all your heartbreak, she had to be careful. Sweet Pea was known to get into fights and react emotionally. While you claimed you and Reggie were friends now and he hadn’t been able to help his feelings for Veronica, Cheryl had no problem allowing him to house all the blame. She looked at you again. Your cheeks were heating up. You were blushing. Were you pale behind the blush? It was clear that you were enamored with the boy. When Toni had asked you to help tutor her friend, Cheryl hadn’t been concerned but now? Her concern was high.

She shared her concern with Toni later that day, as they waited for you at their lunch table. The other Vixens would join them soon, you along with them. Toni shook her head, adorable but unable to see reason. “Babe, he’s a good guy. I’ve known him forever. Besides, it’s none of our business if they want to see each other.”

The conversation was ended when the others arrived. You picked at your lunch, your favorite salad, which Cheryl had the chef make specifically for you. She was annoyed at Toni’s lack of alarm and that caused her to snap at you in a way she immediately regretted but didn’t acknowledge to save face. “Do you still have a stomach ache? We have a very important Vixen’s practice after school.”

“I’m fine. Thanks for your concern,” you grumbled back sarcastically as you took a huge bite of the salad as though you were suddenly starving. This surprised Cheryl, as you very rarely snapped at the girl. Toni gave her a look but Cheryl felt herself prickle. She had taken the time to get your favorite latte, which you barely drank, and to have your favorite lunch made for you. So, even if she was a little snippy, she had earned some leeway. Usually, you would both brush these things off. Instead, you powered through your salad before loudly and pointedly announcing how much you loved it. Sarcasm. Since when were you so rudely sarcastic with her?

The prickles lasted throughout the day until Vixens’ practice. Cheryl watched you from the corner of her eyes throughout the day. When she caught you grimacing and rubbing your temples, she was going to brush everything off as a headache but then Sweet Pea said something to you and you smiled and laughed. Cheryl was your best friend and it was some temperamental boy you were smiling at? Ridiculous. Unacceptable.

“Let it go, babe,” Toni told her as everyone lined up for practice. The weather was finally nice enough for them to be outside. Kevin, Fangs, and Sweet Pea loitered in the stands. The football team practiced on the other end of the field.  It should have been a good day.  Something was going on with her best friend. Were you actually mad at her? Over a silly comment? You always had a stomach ache. It was a thing. Cheryl didn’t feel bad. Not at all. Really. “She’s been weird all day. Sweet Pea asked me if I knew what was wrong with her. Something about groaning or moaning or whatever.”

Immediately, she was filled with worried. Groaning? Moaning? About what? Her? Cheryl knew she should relax. Let it go. Talk to you. Instead, she stepped away from Toni and clapped her heads, calling the girls together.

“Alright, Ladies! HBIC is speaking. Our new routine is fire. Or it would be if you all would stop fumbling. So we’re running it until we get it right. Start from the beginning and go through until my solo. I. E. The only part of the number that is currently flawless.” The girls began the dance as Cheryl stood by the radio. It was a solid synchronized beginning that broke off. Toni and Lisa took the front while you and Veronica were lifted into the air. You were tossed and gently placed down and then the girls made a path for the soloist, who would be Cheryl, of course.  The first run was shaky, which Cheryl informed the girls better be a warm-up. The second run was better but not good enough. Not perfect. Everything had to be perfect.

What surprised Cheryl was that you were dragging your feet. You never dragged your feet, dancing being your first love. Your mother ran the town's dance studio and you practiced your moves until they were perfect. Almost annoyingly so. Cheryl kept any jealousy she felt about your talent to herself because she loved her best friend. When Cheryl went to your dance competitions, she was filled with pride. She made everyone run it two more times.

“We’re getting better but still not quite there. Ginger, your arms need to be straight for the opening move, don’t flail. Veronica, adequate. Betty, try to look…I don’t know, interesting? And your kicks need to be higher and crisper. Get Veronica to help you if you can’t figure it out. And Y/N, get it together, please. We’re the River Vixens, not a charity team.” A stunned silence followed her words and no one moved. Cheryl never snapped at you, she never had to. Your face burned red and you moved into position to start the routine. The other girls followed you. You had a strange look on your face and Cheryl thought she saw tears in your eyes. Still, she hit play. She wasn’t even watching the girls, instead watching you give your all but still seem….off.  When the girls tossed you into the air, you missed all your marks. When they caught you and placed you down, you froze causing Betty to bump into you. You stayed frozen in place until Cheryl paused the music. “Y/N! What is going on with you?”

Cheryl took a step towards you. Her commanding voice was gone. The tears were back in your eyes and you seemed to be shaking. “Okay, you’re officially freaking me out, Y/N. Is this about lunch? I’m sorry I snapped at you, okay? You’re my -”

“I’m going to be sick.” You announced before darting off the field. There was no sarcasm to your voice. No anger. Only a terrified certainty. You had never been angry with her at all. You were ill.

“Toni, take the girls through the routine again. I’ll be back.” Cheryl took off after her friend, prepared to hold back her hair like you had done for her so many times before. Before she rounded the corner, she stopped. You were standing next to a large trash can, gripping both sides tightly. But you weren’t alone. Sweet Pea was standing next to you, rubbing your back.

“This is mortifying,” You sobbed, tears streaming down your face. Instead of bounding in to take over, her first instinct, Cheryl stayed where she was, peering around the corner.  “You do not have to stay for this. I should - I should - ”

You gagged and leaned over the trash can but didn’t vomit. Sweet Pea brushed a few tears from your eyes as you leaned back. “This is nothing. Fangs’ seventeen birthday? That was gross. Trust me. Like the exorcist.”

You laughed and then groaned again, placing one hand over your stomach. “I should have let you take me to the nurse in fifth period. You were right. I’ve been feeling sick all day. I didn’t even tell Cheryl, I just got snippy about her stupid salad. Ugh. That salad.”

You leaned over the trash can again and this time, everyone came up. Cheryl shuttered but watched as Sweet Pea stood by, brushing your hair out of your face and rubbing your back. It was sweet…in a disgusting sort of way. When you leaned back, he brushed the sweat from your forehead. He didn’t even flinch when you whipped the back of your mouth and spit. Instead, he pulled a water bottle out of his backpack and offered it to you. It was used, Cheryl noted, being half empty but it was a dire circumstance. You rinsed out your mouth and leaned again him, giving him your weight. “I think you have a fever. You feel any better?”

“I feel disgusting and queasy and embarrassed and I never want to show my face to the River Vixens of you ever again,” you confessed. Sweet Pea shook his head.

“Nah. That’s okay. You don’t need to do that. I’d miss your face.” Despite being disgusting and ill, you smiled at him. Cheryl felt her heart swell. It was so awkwardly cute. “I uh - I guess I’m trying to say that I don’t really care about my grades but I’ve been studying with you a lot. Like, I’ve been passing math for weeks and I’m still asking for your help. You know?”

“So you weren’t just in it for your love of learning,” you teased. Then your smile faltered and you brought your hand to your stomach. “I don’t know how I’m going to walk home. Ugh. I’m gonna lose it on the Cooper’s lawn.”

“I’ll drive you. Your mom gonna be home?” You shook your head. Your mother was rarely ever home. Often staying at the studio until 10 PM or later. It allowed you a lot of sleepovers but Cheryl knew you were often lonely, especially when you were sick. And Cheryl had been spending most of her time with Toni lately. “We’ll stop at the drugstore and I’ll grab a few things. I got you, okay?”

Sweet Pea wrapped his arm around your shoulder and guided you away from the foul-smell bin. Cheryl returned to her squad and grabbed her phone from her bag off the bench - she was the only one allowed to have her phone on them at rehearsal. Toni was leading the girls into a much smoother looking routine. “Ladies! I knew you had it in you. You are the Vixens I knew you could be. Take 5 - Nay, take 10. Then we’ll run it from the top and I’ll let you watch my solo.”

Cheryl joined Toni and wrapped her arms around her and kissed the top of her head. Toni hugged her tightly. When she pulled back, she asked “How’s our girl? You two make up?”

“Let’s just say, you’re much more intuitive and smart than the world gives you credit for. Mi amour, you deserve all the credit in the world.”

Cheryl kissed Toni firmly before pulling out her phone and texting you three words.

                                          Seal. Of. Approval.

#riverdale #riverdale fanfiction #riverdale sweet pea #sick!reader #cheryl blossom #sweet pea x reader #sweet pea x oc #sweet pea #fanfiction #riverdale fandom #fanfic #reader insert #x reader

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Cheryl Knows Best

“Can you just admit that you’re in love with her already?” Toni Topaz asked. Sweet Pea glared at the short, pink-haired girl. 

“I’m not in love with her,” he argued. He wasn’t. He kept an eye on her for her father, who was worried about her ever since her mother died. Tall Boy had been estranged from her since he broke up with her mother nearly eight years ago. Yeah, Tall Boy was a deadbeat but he was a Serpent. That meant something to Sweet Pea. “She’s a Serpent by blood, Topaz. Tall Boy ask-”

“Yeah, yeah. Tall Boy asked you to. You say that all the time. Betty Cooper’s a Serpent by blood too, you gonna start eyein’ her up too?” Sweet Pea growled and slammed his glass down on the bar, now empty. He wasn’t twenty-one, but Veronica Lodge had decided to just open a speakeasy despite being seventeen and never having worked a day in her damn life. Rich people could do whatever they wanted. Toni refilled his glass from behind the bar. Hell, it was a messed-up system but he might as well benefit from it.  “Maybe a little liquid courage will help you make your move.”

“Like you’re not all hopped up on her friend, the redhead who talks like the cutesy rom-com bully.” He knew her name, everyone knew Cheryl Blossom, but Sweet Pea wasn’t gonna admit that. Cassie, she insisted on going by her middle name, was best friends with the Blossom girl, her constant shadow. Despite Cass’s mother (and now her aunt) running the dance studio where Cheryl learned her moves and being the hardest working dancer on Riverdale if not the planet, it was Cheryl who lead the River Vixens. Cheryl was always front and center and from what Sweet Pea could tell, Cassie didn’t care. At least not about that. The girls fought all the time, only to seemingly forgive each other when something more interesting happened. At least Fangs would punch Sweet Pea for being a dick, so he could move on. Cheryl and Cassie fought for days only to be whispering and giggling as soon as Archie Andrews was kissing someone new. Sickening. “God, she’s so annoying.”

“Watch it. That’s my girlfriend you’re talking about. Maybe Cassie would be yours if you did something about it. Might be a good time to talk to her, before he steps in.” The only person on the planet more annoying than Cheryl Blossom, who earned points for loving Toni so thoroughly, was Reggie Mantle. He was the captain of the freaking football team, a total slim ball, and...Cassie’s on-and-off boyfriend. Sweet Pea wanted to punch Reggie the second he saw him and that was before he realized that he was the one dating Cassie. Not that she had anything to do with it. Because Toni was wrong. “Seriously, you know Reggie’s gonna go for it if you don’t do something.”

Reggie was already a few drinks in, really everyone who wasn’t a goody-goody was, and that meant he was after one thing...or person. It sickened Sweet Pea. She kept taking him back and then dumping him soon after, leaving Sweet Pea to crawl through her window late at night with vanilla fudge swirl ice cream.

Tonight Cassie was drinking, which was a rarity. Usually, she was a goody-goody who had to be in the studio by 7 AM sharp. But not tonight. And she was not good at holding her liquor. Reggie said something and Cassie laughed, angling her body towards him. Disgusting. Toni sighed loudly.

“I got this,” a voice said, placing his hands on Sweet Pea’s shoulders as he walked past. Only one person would dare do that. Fangs. His best friend. His brother really. They became Serpents together, along with Toni, and had be inseparable ever since. “Yo, Mantle! You and Andrews versus me and Jones in pool. We’re gonna kick your ass.”

That was all it took. Sweet Pea saw Cassie roll her eyes and say something to Cheryl before turning towards the other River Vixens. Cheryl strutted up to the bar next to him, though she made no acknowledgment of him. She saw only Toni as she slide two empty glasses across the bar. “A refill for me and my silly friend, mon amour. And please thank your sharp-toothed friend for me, I cannot deal with another episode of ‘Will Mantle ever change?’ I love my Lee-Lee but she has a serious blind spot.”

So maybe Cheryl Blossom was growing on him. She was the only one allowed to hint at Cassie’s first name, which her father had chosen. Even then, Cheryl was only allowed the last syllable. The redhead continued. “Before I decide if I shall indulge in my third glass of the finest maple whiskey in the building, I must know if I am on hair holding duty or if I knight in shining armor - Nay, a knight in shining leather will be stepping up?”

Sweet Pea straightened his Serpent’s jacket. Both girls were looking at him now. Before he said anything, Toni was filling a glass with root beer and switching it for his beer. He felt his temper flare and Toni raised an eyebrow in a way that only she could. “What? Do you not want to do it? Seriously though, we’ve got it if you don’t want to. She’s our bestie and we love her.”

“I’m not just her backup for when Mantle is busy,” he growled. Toni gave him a sympathetic look as she poured another maple whiskey for Cheryl. Sweet Pea hadn’t meant to admit it. He just hated the idea that he was just there to replace Reggie. Cheryl snorted. 

“Oh please. She adores you. She got over Mantle ages ago they just use each other because she thinks you feel platonically and he’s not over his tryst with the raven-haired owner of the Speakeasy. If I have to hear another story about you that is a thinly veiled confession on undying devotion, I will vom.” After speaking, Cheryl’s eyes widened and she paused the drink away. Toni grinned like a crazy person. “I think, dear Antionette, that I have had enough. I was most certainly not supposed to reveal any of that. Oh. Oh, well.

“Listen up, you background character in Grease the musical, do not make me suffer for my slightly tipsy words.” Sweet Pea had no idea what to do with Cheryl Blossom. “You love her, obvi. She wants you too. So please stop dancing around one another and just kiss already. It took Tee-Tee and I less time and I was literally sent away to stay with homophobic nuns.”

Toni handed another drink to him, a maple whiskey that he knew wasn’t for him and Cheryl spoke. Again. “Take care of her tonight. She’s only had one drink, so she’s still kissable. However, no funny business after drink two. Tomorrow night you can go on your first date and do whatever consensual heterosexual acts you two so desire. Now, you’ve been hogging my girlfriend all night. Go.”

She shooed him and Sweet Pea headed off in Cassie’s direction with her drink and his root beer. He was starting to see what Toni saw in Cheryl Blossom.

#riverdale #sweet pea #sweet pea x oc #riverdale fanfiction #riverdale fandom #cheryl blossom #cheryl x toni #choni #background choni #riverdale sweet pea

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Stardew Valley Mods and Recommendations

Edit 2nd December 2021- A few more options now that the game has updated to 1.5.5. Remember to always check the original post (not the reblogs) for any minor updates.

Alright here we are, a collection of mods I use and alternatives. Unfortunately, some have been removed from Nexus mods since I downloaded them and are unavailable (maybe temporarily), while others are from Naver Cafe. Any naver mods I list do not require an account to download, but I dont have links to all the ones I’ve downloaded.

I’ve probably missed some things so feel free to DM me if you want to know anything more

GAMEPLAY

Stardew Valley Expanded - This one is kind of core to my mod list as many mods will have SVE versions, but it’s not required. Honestly I can’t imagine playing Stardew without this mod anymore. It adds new characters, new areas, new events, expands on existing characters, it’s just fantastic

Ridgeside Village - In the same manner as the above, RSV adds a lot of new content. The village is in an entirely new area though, rather than the characters being integrated into the main town like SVE. Unfortunately, I cant use this one anymore as having it installed caused my game to crash. It is not a fault of this mod, but rather limitations of the game and I had too many mods installed. Edit: With 1.5.5, assuming you aren’t playing on an ancient potato, you should have no issue playing with both SVE and RSV now

Farmer to Florist - I like playing with flowers at the moment. This just adds more of them, and more things to do with them.

FARM MAPS

Unfortunately, my current farm map was one I found on Naver Cafe after some pretty hard digging, and I dont recall the name of the creator. I will update this if I ever find the link again. So here’s some alternatives.

Four Corners of the Forest Farm - Here is the map I use currently. I love the waterfalls in it!

Overgrown Garden Farm - This was the farm I used for Rosewood Farm. DaisyNiko has some lovely maps.

Waterfall Forest Farm - This is what I was going to use, until I found the one I am using on Naver.

White Water Farm Map - This was one of my old favourites, but it doesnt work with the recolour mod I use.

Strawberry Fields Farm - This was my old go to map. It’s fairly simple but well organised.

FARM HOUSE

Seasonal Garden Farmhouse V2 - I use this one

F-SV Flumme Farmhouse - This is an edited version of the above mod

Cherry’s Farmhouse - This one currently doesn’t work, but I’m including it here for future reference. It relies on Farmhouse Redone which is broken, but is supposedly being rebuilt from the ground up.

Oasis Greenhouse - Okay it’s not a farmhouse, but I’ll put it here anyway. This is the Greenhouse reskin I use.

FARMER

Beom Mung’s Female Body -  This is the female farmer sprite I use. Its a bit more cute and feminine than the default, however it will require custom clothing mods. You can find a lot of these by the same creator here (click on downloads to see them all)

KKunma_09 hairstyles - I use various hairpacks I have merged together, many of which are from this creator here (click on stardew valley category to see them all)

sxdcdc hairstyles - another hairpack from naver with lovely styles!

Hairstyles Recolored - Here’s another set of hairstyles I use, though I’ve personally edited some of them to be brighter or have alternate colours and flowers in hair.

Coi’s All Hats Pack - This is my preferred hats reskin

sxdcdc JA Hats - Another hats pack, but for JSONAssets, meaning you can use this and the above mod together.

VILLAGERS

StardewValley Anime Mod - Unfortunately, there arent many portrait mods that are being updated still. This is a nice one that is updated for 1.5, and the creator is adding in SVE portraits.

Baechu Style Portraits for SVE - This mod is no longer being updated, but it’s a nice pack for SVE characters until the above is finished updating

MimiShaneUpdate - I used to mix and match a lot of portraits, but I like them all to match. Mimi had some really nice portraits but it was only for a few characters. My husbando Shane still gets his special one

Who’s High Res Wizard - Okay I’m also quite attached to Wizard. I used to use Romanceable Rasmodius, and I love this portrait and sprite for him

Diverse Stardew Valley - I use the vanilla style sprites only, for the seasonal outfits. You don’t have to change the overall appearance of the characters with this, but I think it’s really nice to have as an option. I personally leave them as is so they match the above portrait mods, since Im not fond of the vanilla style portraits.

Seasonal Outfits - Slightly Cuter Aesthetic for SVE - Like above, this adds some seasonal costumes for SVE characters

Immersive Shane - Adds more lines and edits Shane’s events. There’s some nsfw language but it’s disabled by default

Marnie Deserves Better - Just a small mod that adds a little bit more to Marnie and Lewis’s secret relationship

Sirenstorm’s Toddler Replacements - These are, IMO, the cutest baby retextures. However they’re for a very specific appearance (darker skin and hair) so if that doesnt fit your characters, look at the next mod

Baby Reskin - These babies are cute, and it has a lot of different options for hairstyles and colours, etc.

AESTHETICS

Vintage Interface Multipack

Yellog Flower Dialogue UI - Just adds some fancy flowers around the portraits when talking to npcs

The recolour I use is Stardew Foliage Redone, but unfortunately this has been removed from Nexus. However, there is a foliage only version

Stardew Foliage Redone- Foliage Only - These trees are nicer than the vanilla ones just recoloured, IMO

Simple Foliage - Another Foliage mod. I actually mix and match the this with the trees above

DaisyNiko’s Earthy Recolor - If I were to switch to a new recolor, I would go with this one.

Wildflower Grass Field

Way Back Pelican Town - This changes all the buildings in the town to a more rustic version.

Medieval SV Expanded - This is made to match with the above mod, and affects buildings and maps added by Stardew Valley Expanded

Yri’s Project Yellog- Ridgeside Village - This is another visual overhaul, this time for Ridgeside Village. If you check the creator’s page, they also have overhauls for the vanilla town and SV Expanded now, if you prefer it over the Medieval look.

Medieval Buildings - This is my preferred reskin for farm buildings

Eemie’s Victorian Buildings for CP - An alternative for the farm buildings. I personally like the farmhouse from this set more

Gwen’s Medieval Craftables - Since we’re making everything else more rustic, these work really well

Better Crops, Fishing, Etc - Not one specific mod, but a few here from Cometkins to improve the visuals of various things

Better Critters - Like the above, improves the visuals of different wild critters

Rustic Country Town Interiors - Changes the interior of the town buildings

Rustic Country Walls and Floors - Honestly anything by DustBeauty is amazing

Industrial Kitchen and Interior

Industrial Furniture Set

Mi’s and Magimatica Country Furniture

Seasonal Fences

OR

Cottagecore Fences

Seasonal Paths and Flooring

Animation for Gorgeous Weapons - My favourite weapons mod, there’s a version on nexus somewhere if you dont want the animated version

Pastel Floral Tools

Better Water - Different options for water that just looks better. I personally use the Teal colour option

CROPS AND TREES

Hybrid Mini Rose

Korea Blossom

Aquatic Plant

Magic Tree Roots - More of a fantasy thing, I like them for decorations

ANIMALS

I used to use BFAV to add new types of animals, but I was having issues even with the unofficial updated versions. Now I use Adopt’n’Skin to just add in new looks to existing creatures. You can use any CP sprite sheet really to add to existing creatures. Typically I add new/fantasy creatures to my pigs list lol

Elle’s New Barn Animals - Overall a nice set of barn creatures

(BFAV) Cel’s Sheep - The most adorable sheep. Even though it’s for BFAV, just take the sprite sheets and bring them into Adopt’n’skin

Adopt’n’Skin Sprites (CP) - I use these for the white/brown chickens and ducks

Asian Animal Pack - I use these for the coop creatures

Indian Animal Pack - Another mod I use the coop creatures from

BFAV Fennec Foxes -  I turn my pigs into these

Rurat’s Dinosaurs

Lung Dragons - I used these in the past and turned pigs into them

BFAV Griffins - I turned Ostriches into these

Dog Collection by Lynn0 - I used to use the Chinese Crested dog, but the others are adorable too

Yet Another Dog Mod - Another set of adorable dogs

Ragdoll Cat Bundle - I usually choose the dog, but this is my favourite cat mod. With Adopt’n’skin, you can have more than one pet anyway

More New Fish - I like collecting. This is just what the title tells you

More Goldfish - Like above, but it adds mostly new goldfish types. These are really adorable and look great in fish tanks

Six tailed fox mount - This is what I’m currently using for my horse reskin, because I really like foxes.

Okay that was about 2 hours out of my life compiliing this list and tracking down mods. I hope it helps anyone who is interested! There’s a few random furniture mods I may have missed, and I havent included a lot of the actual gameplay mods that dont affect visuals.

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YA books but make it dark academia

I mean let’s be honest, we don’t always read classics and greek mythology. That’s why I will give you a few examples of YA books, you can read as a break from being this mysterious someone on the train, who reads Homer. 

1. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

2. Truly Devious trilogy by Maureen Johnson

3. Viscous by V.E Shwab 

4. S.T.A.G.S by A.M. Bennett

5. Snow White trilogy by Lumikki Andersson

6. Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen

7. See How They Lie by Sue Wallman

8. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

9. The Selection series by Kiera Cass

10. The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

11. People Like Us by Dana Mele

12. Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls by Lynn Weingarten

13. I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Now you will be a mysterious someone reading murder mysteries (mostly)… Oh well. 

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Hogwarts Mystery characters as Troubled Birds:

Rowan:

Ben:

Penny:

Tonks:

Tulip:

Jae:

Talbott:

Charlie:

Merula:

Ismelda:

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Sophie’s Dark Academia Rec List

In honour of my favourite genre, have a very personal, very subjective recommendations list!

-        The Secret History (Donna Tartt)

The obvious choice, a classic. In my personal opinion, it’s not perfect and there are better dark academia books out there, but it has massively shaped the genre and therefore deserves recognition. Also, the aesthetic is on point! Read if you want to get a feel for the genre or if you’re simply curious.

-        If We Were Villains (M. L. Rio)

Basically a newer, better The Secret History?? Plenty of similarities, minus certain problematic bits that were present in TSH. Amazing prose, incredible characters, absolutely worth the read. A prime example of dark academia! Read if you love Shakespeare and college settings and compelling characters and drama and just beautiful writing!

-        Black Chalk (Christopher J. Yates)

Also a fairly good example of the genre, but tragically underhyped. Darker than, for example, If We Were Villains. Set at Oxford! Will mess with your head. The characters are not necessarily likeable, but interesting. The writing is fairly complex. Read for a dark academia thriller which takes the unreliable narrator to an impressive new extreme (in a good way!)

-        Truly Devious (Maureen Johnson)

A rare YA dark academia book! Read for murder and mystery and a beautiful boarding school setting as well as a really likeable main character! Due to its nature less dark and somewhat less mature than most of the other books on this list, but if you’re looking for more of a quick and fun dark academia read, this is the one for you!

In a similar vain: The Vanishing Stair (Maureen Johnson)

Cannot actually vouch for this as I haven’t read it yet, but it’s the sequel to Truly Devious and I have heard good things.

-        The Secret Place (Tana French)

MASSIVELY underappreciated dark academia with (gasp) supernatural elements?! The most beautiful prose and funniest dialogue you will ever see. Incredible characters. Again, amazing boarding school setting and close group of female friends! (They will break your heart). Also murder. Also half of the story being told from a detective’s PoV. Read if you value good literature. Just. Read it.

-        The Likeness (Tana French)

Actually, maybe I was kidding before, maybe this book is the most underappreciated dark academia book out there? Either way, it’s my favourite. Within dark academia and within ALL OF THE BOOKS. This is it. The perfect novel. Characters that own my hearts to this day. Writing so beautiful that it had me sobbing uncontrollably on several occasions. The university it is set in is Trinity College Dublin. (Cue me being bitter that I don’t go there every single day for the rest of my life.) Very intriguing mystery, too. Hilarious dialogue. All the emotions. All the heartbreak. Just… I love it so much, okay? <3

-        The Lying Game (Ruth Ware)

Good, very good. Set in a boarding school near the ocean, but unfortunately, only the past tense story line is and we don’t get to see too much of it. Very interesting characters. Much heavier on the dark than the academia. Read if you’re looking for more of a classic murder mystery/thriller and are not too focussed on the academia. Also read for an interesting group of female friends.

-        The Basic Eight (Daniel Handler)

Very promising, but wasn’t my cup of tea at all. The setting is an American High School on the West Coast. The murder isn’t that much of a mystery. I’m mentioning it here because I know that other people love this book, even though I really didn’t. I would say don’t read, but see for yourself, I suppose.

-        The Lessons (Naomi Alderman)

Yes, okay, an interesting one. Set at Oxford, which was amazing. Interesting characters with interesting dynamics. I read it quickly and was quite entertained. But there were certain problematic bits (regarding LGBTQ+ representation and mental illness), so you’ve been warned. Not my fave, but I mostly enjoyed it while reading it.

There are a few more dark academia books on my shelves, which I unfortunately cannot include on this list, as I haven’t read them yet. One of them is “The Lake of Dead Languages” by Carol Goodman. Another is “Brideshead Revisited” by Evelyn Waugh. Might edit this post later to add these and more. xx

UPDATE!! (With slightly longer descriptions this time, because people are actually reading this? Reblogging even? Wow!) 

-        The Lake of Dead Languages (Carol Goodman)

THE ALL-FEMALE DARK ACADEMIA NOVEL WE ALL NEED AND DESERVE…?? The setting is A++. An all-female boarding school in the Adirondack Mountains in New York! There is a lake that features so heavily in the story, it basically counts as a main character. Told from the PoV of a teacher who used to go to the school. There are two close groups of female friends, one in the present timeline, one in the past. Both have dark, dark secrets and both fit the dark academia genre so well! Also, heavy focus on Latin rather than Ancient Greek, which I have all the love for. This one is a gem, so give it a chance!

-        Brideshead Revisited (Evelyn Waugh)

An actual classic, as in… first published in 1945. And it reads like it. The beginning came with beautiful vibes! Our young boy Charles starting his time at Oxford, meeting a lot of pretentious people, including one Lord Sebastian Flyte, who Charles is suspiciously fascinated by. Sebastian is the biggest dork to ever dork, carries around with him an actual teddy bear named Aloysius, the absolute madmen?? But it’s all downhill from there, with alcoholism and war and depressing times… And Oxford only really features in the first half or less.

-        People Like Us (Dana Mele)

Another rare YA dark academia!! Features a group of Mean Girls who one day, when out at night to go swimming, find one of their classmates floating dead in the lake. Which is an excellent dark academia set-up, let’s be honest. Also, sapphic girls, incredible sapphic girls with really complex relationships! Bi main character! A fun and quick read, much like “Truly Devious”. More descriptions of the beautiful boarding school buildings would have been welcome, but at least we got a few! Anyway, go forth and enjoy this little beauty.

-        Party Girls Die in Pearls (Plum Sykes)

Umm… I barely even comprehend this book’s existence? Has a prime dark academia set-up with a murdered girl in Oxford, but I still somehow DNF’d it after about 20 pages?! The main character’s name is Ursula Flowerbutton, and if you think that’s quirky and funny… good for you, you might actually enjoy this book. But you’ll also have to endure descriptions of clothes, oh, so many descriptions of clothes! And for anything unique to Oxford that might make the book fun because only those who know will know… you’ll get a footnote. So actually, everyone will know, with zero effort. Definitely not for me, but if you want to read a glossy magazine style dark academia, knock yourself out, friend!

-        The Night Climbers (Ivo Stourton)

Breath-taking! A piece of beauty! Set at Cambridge (and the campus features heavily!), a main character reminiscent of Richard Papen, an intriguing group of new friends that he would do anything to belong with. Including… climbing the buildings of Cambridge at night? Without proper equipment, just with his hands and feet?? Honestly, out of the books on this list, this one is the closest in style and maturity and characterisation to The Secret History! The writing is absolutely gorgeous, the plot fascinating. And it’s dark academia that features a non-violent crime, which works surprisingly well. All in all: A STUNNER THAT FANS OF THE SECRET HISTORY SHOULD CHECK OUT!!

-        As I Descended (Robyn Talley)

A queer, sapphic Macbeth retelling?? Also a rare YA dark academia with strong supernatural elements?! The representation is on point, with two hispanic main characters, wlw, mlm and one of the girls in the main couple being disabled! The boarding school setting is also on point (and uniquely different as the school building is actually a former plantation in Virginia). This book is so different and so spooky! It wasn’t perfect and some say the retelling didn’t work 100% (I, personally, felt that the plot slowed down a bit), but the atmosphere is amazing and the characters are pretty cool, too!

Not to worry, my quest to find and read as many DA books as possible isn’t over. So this list might be updates again some time in the future! :)

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I don’t have a good reason for this other than I felt like it

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