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imaginethebeautifulworld · 3 months

Note

So I was reading Phantom of the Opera and some of Erik's descriptions made me think so much of Gil! I remembered how amazing your Hades and Persephone fic was, and I was hoping you could do something with the Phantom too? Thanks so much!!!!

Hello, Anon! I absolutely adored Erik in the book, and now that I read your ask, I can easily see the similarities, too~ I grew up on a weird blend of the book, musical, and both the 2004 and Lon Chaney films; I tried to honor that blend in this a bit, but a majority was pulled from memories of the book. I hope you enjoy, and thank you for your patience~

The theatre was filled to bursting, the audience awed, riveted, mesmerized, your voice weaving an enchantment over hundreds of unsuspecting admirers.

He was proud of you.

Your voice reached him even in the highest and most of isolated rafters, a platform forgotten- abandoned- by the stagehands stationed several stories below. Your voice was full, carrying all of the strength and conviction and passion as the character you were playing.

Gone was the timid spirit he had stumbled upon all those years ago, broken and shattered from loss, left with only the protections of a then-aloof guardian and a firm, dispassionate teacher.

He was drawn to you from that first day, a twist of compassion, of understanding; in spite of your upbringing and (even then) impressive talent, you were still an outsider, your peers and the other students keeping their distance, leery of your background, and some envious even then.

Yes, the companionship and camaraderie would come in time, but in those first few months, he saw the same loneliness and sadness in you he'd once carried so heavily himself, and his heart ached to comfort you.

The first time he spoke to you was purely accidental, a slip of a whisper he prayed you would dismiss as a ghost, or mere imagination. He had grown too comfortable in answering you when you were alone, his voice always near silent as you spoke to your mother, your father, and sometimes the angels themselves.

It was the latter with which you had caught him, crying out with a broken heart after discovering another student had sabotaged your satin slippers, intent on seeing your failure, your embarrassment, and (as likely was the case with that particular little shrew) your dismissal from the school.

But you persevered, successfully completed your performance, never once showing your distress until you were away from the others. It was only then, hidden away in a forgotten practice room that you showed your anger, your sadness, your hopelessness. The mask had fallen, and he was once again struck by the beauty of the fractured soul he admired so deeply.

"Please," you whispered, and it broke his heart to hear it, "I feel so alone."

It ached, being unable to comfort you, seeing your progress and healing of the past few months tested so needlessly. He ached for you; he was angry for you.

"You are not alone."

It was a fleeting, foolish slip, his temper and his longing both getting the better of him. Your sudden silence choked his own breath, his entire body freezing in terror.

For a moment, for an eternity, there was naught but silence.

He didn't dare move, fearful of how even the slightest shift of fabric could give him away, could startle you, could-

"I was half-afraid I had gone mad, speaking with shadows and expecting them to finally reply."

You were... teasing him, only a little, though at the time he was still petrified that you would demand he reveal himself. You had moved closer to the false panel, studying it closely, seeking out any faults that might give away its secrets. For a moment, your eyes were perfectly level with his own, and he feared you could hear his heart racing in his chest.

But soon enough you had drawn away, crestfallen. "Perhaps I have gone mad," you murmured, sighing in defeat. "Perhaps the rumors are true, and you are nothing but a ghost."

Memories of his time spent serving in the court of a distant empire flickered to memory, a rueful sound resembling laughter slipped past his defenses. "Of the many things they may wish and claim me to be, dead is not yet among them."

Your focus once more returned to the panel, and he instinctively took a step back. "Please-" he began, quickly cutting himself off.

Where others would have pressed forward, you paused, then took several steps away from the wall, granting him his distance, a warm sense of appreciation, and another he couldn't name at the time, sparkling to the surface at the warm breath of relieved laughter you released soon after. "You- You're really there."

That moment, one he could still so clearly remember as the peripeteia, the decided, unexpected change to a familiar script, one which would set the trajectory of both of your lives for the next ten years. It would lead to many late nights spent in practice, in conversation, in debates about the literary characters you loved so dearly. "I am always here."

Your aria had drawn to a close, the spell broken by the deafening roar of the audience's applause, and Gilbert was pulled from his memories, unable to conceal his smile.

Brava, Schatz. Bravissima.

He stood to his full height and began to make his way towards the nearby ladder.

For your role, another scene yet remained- a joyful reunion between your character and the valiant hero following the defeat of the jealous villain, a happy end to a romance so riddled with tragedy.

Gilbert needn't see the ending; it was a tale as old as time.

His footsteps were silent and certain, following a path he could traverse in his sleep; he had already paced it many times in his dreams.

Of all the false doors he had constructed in his opera house, there was one he had yet to pass through, one which now loomed before him. The room beyond was bathed in the ethereal golden glow of candlelight, a world outside of the darkness, fueling even more of the torment already plaguing his mind.

He was haunted by his doubts, by his need to... His need to properly introduce himself.

You had risen so high, could fly even higher, could rise above anything the fools in this theatre could ever hope to imagine. With your voice, your grace, your elegance, and your perspicacity, he had no doubts you could soar to a realm where only angels once dare tread. Perhaps it was wrong to want to burden you, to-

Movement on the other side of the glass brought his thoughts once more to a standstill. You were laughing, carefree, glowing with happiness and a brilliant light which followed everyone through the corridors after a triumphant performance. His heart fluttered to see you so beautifully framed, a living portrait he yearned to touch.

He frowned at the thought.

These feelings...

He had cared for you when you first arrived, a deep friendship slowly growing, even as he never allowed you to glance upon him. Slowly, then almost in an erupting whirlwind, those feelings had adapted, deepened, solidified. He was left hoping, wishing...

You were an Angel, in the most benevolent, compassionate of ways, but even an Angel would surely shun a Devil's Child.

For that was what his eyes and his appearance had always been: that of a devil. And surely-

Another figure was entering the room, and you were quick to abandon the comfort of your velvet settee, rushing to embrace-

No.

You were laughing, falling into conversation with an ease that only came-

You were familiar with this... this boy.

Perhaps even intimate, his traitorous thoughts interfered, the herald to the invasive darkness which followed.

It was a cold, bitter thing, rising from the depths, twisting and corrupting his every breath.

He had been careless, allowing you your freedom, allowing you to slip away to the gilded sanctuary of your guardian's maison de ville.

This boy dared to presume he could even look upon you, let alone embrace you, speak with you so candidly, even addressing you by your given name-

Gilbert felt his rage, his envy, grow stronger, even as that bedamned Raoul finally departed for the evening, leaving your bright smile in his wake.

You often called Gilbert your "Angel of Music," a bringer of light to your once dreary and dark days. You used it affectionately, a term of endearment for one you saw as a companion, a compatriot in curiosity.

But much like his namesake, Gilbert was Fallen, cursed, a creature of shadows and Night.

It took so little to pull him back into the Darkness, and now, with the sting of envy plaguing his every thought, Avarice and Doubt whispering in his ear, his ambitions had changed.

You were his.

He would ensure no one else could dare claim you, would have the slightest chance at your heart.

With skill honed from years of practice, Gilbert silently slid open the trap door, his voice carrying over to you in a tone he himself barely recognized. "Insolent boy. The impertinence of him, sharing in our triumph."

You startled at his voice, turning to him instinctively, your eyes widening in disbelief, before you graced him with your brightest smile yet.

Your joy glittered with more radiance than any star in the heavens, but its glimmer eclipsed your awareness, obscuring the darkness in the figure stealing ever closer.

"Hello, Engel."

Thanks for reading!

Special shout-out to @the-scribe-and-her-scribbles for unwittingly inspiring me today to finally sit down and write. She's an amazing writer, and if you haven't checked it out already, I highly recommend her ongoing series It Will Come Back.

#accidentally posted this on my main account whoops @@#LOOK AT HIM!!!!#aph prussia #long post #prussia x reader #fanart #friends art #!!!

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imaginethebeautifulworld · 3 months

Note

Oh my goodness I would be honored if you did! Thank you, luv! 🥺💕

The theatre was filled to bursting, the audience awed, riveted, mesmerized, your voice weaving an enchantment over hundreds of unsuspecting admirers.

He was proud of you.

Gone was the timid spirit he had stumbled upon all those years ago, broken and shattered from loss, left with only the protections of a then-aloof guardian and a firm, dispassionate teacher.

"Please," you whispered, and it broke his heart to hear it, "I feel so alone."

It ached, being unable to comfort you, seeing your progress and healing of the past few months tested so needlessly. He ached for you; he was angry for you.

"You are not alone."

It was a fleeting, foolish slip, his temper and his longing both getting the better of him. Your sudden silence choked his own breath, his entire body freezing in terror.

For a moment, for an eternity, there was naught but silence.

He didn't dare move, fearful of how even the slightest shift of fabric could give him away, could startle you, could-

"I was half-afraid I had gone mad, speaking with shadows and expecting them to finally reply."

But soon enough you had drawn away, crestfallen. "Perhaps I have gone mad," you murmured, sighing in defeat. "Perhaps the rumors are true, and you are nothing but a ghost."

Your focus once more returned to the panel, and he instinctively took a step back. "Please-" he began, quickly cutting himself off.

Your aria had drawn to a close, the spell broken by the deafening roar of the audience's applause, and Gilbert was pulled from his memories, unable to conceal his smile.

Brava, Schatz. Bravissima.

He stood to his full height and began to make his way towards the nearby ladder.

For your role, another scene yet remained- a joyful reunion between your character and the valiant hero following the defeat of the jealous villain, a happy end to a romance so riddled with tragedy.

Gilbert needn't see the ending; it was a tale as old as time.

His footsteps were silent and certain, following a path he could traverse in his sleep; he had already paced it many times in his dreams.

He was haunted by his doubts, by his need to... His need to properly introduce himself.

He frowned at the thought.

These feelings...

You were an Angel, in the most benevolent, compassionate of ways, but even an Angel would surely shun a Devil's Child.

For that was what his eyes and his appearance had always been: that of a devil. And surely-

Another figure was entering the room, and you were quick to abandon the comfort of your velvet settee, rushing to embrace-

No.

You were laughing, falling into conversation with an ease that only came-

You were familiar with this... this boy.

Perhaps even intimate, his traitorous thoughts interfered, the herald to the invasive darkness which followed.

It was a cold, bitter thing, rising from the depths, twisting and corrupting his every breath.

He had been careless, allowing you your freedom, allowing you to slip away to the gilded sanctuary of your guardian's maison de ville.

This boy dared to presume he could even look upon you, let alone embrace you, speak with you so candidly, even addressing you by your given name-

Gilbert felt his rage, his envy, grow stronger, even as that bedamned Raoul finally departed for the evening, leaving your bright smile in his wake.

But much like his namesake, Gilbert was Fallen, cursed, a creature of shadows and Night.

It took so little to pull him back into the Darkness, and now, with the sting of envy plaguing his every thought, Avarice and Doubt whispering in his ear, his ambitions had changed.

You were his.

He would ensure no one else could dare claim you, would have the slightest chance at your heart.

You startled at his voice, turning to him instinctively, your eyes widening in disbelief, before you graced him with your brightest smile yet.

Your joy glittered with more radiance than any star in the heavens, but its glimmer eclipsed your awareness, obscuring the darkness in the figure stealing ever closer.

"Hello, Engel."

Thanks for reading!

#;_;#bestieeeee #are you kidding i would die if you did ahskdhwkshw #thank you dear!#feedback #🧡💛🤍💙

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imaginethebeautifulworld · 3 months

Note

hello!

so i had a thought/request thing: prussia x reader sound of music au?

Oh I absolutely LOVE that thought!

I took a little creative license in this fic (which I will elaborate on in the after-notes), but ultimately I directly referenced some of my favorite scenes from the film.

Thank you for sending me the ask, and I hope you enjoy!

The children were finally asleep.

A spring storm had rolled in- a welcome relief to the dry heat which had plagued the city for several long days- but the thunder had troubled them.

You were hardly surprised when first a timid Ludvig came to your room, followed only moments later by Monika. It took a few more claps of thunder and flickering lights for Friedrich to appear, claiming with false bravado that he had come to make sure that you were safe.

You had distracted them from their fears, though some- such as the loud protests which continued with each passing day, the strange men seen lurking outside the house, and the current absence of their guardian- Some fears couldn't be assuaged.

But children were easy enough to sway from their dark thoughts, and you always had a gift for embellishing the truth.

This time, you chose not to rely on the ditty you had taught them several weeks prior (though you could hear Ludvig repeating 'whiskers on kittens' to himself), but instead crafted a tale of heroism about their big brother, one that soon worked its magic, all three falling asleep by the time the storm had settled into gentle rainfall, curled together atop your blankets.

Unfortunately, their restless energy had passed onto you, and after several moments of staring at the ceiling, you carefully, quietly, slipped out from beneath the covers, tugging on a nearby robe, and sliding on a pair of slippers before making your way to the library.

Time passed without your knowledge; you had found an old disc of American singers to play on the gramophone, and quickly tucked yourself into a novella that had caught your interest several days prior. It was a pleasant distraction, almost successful in keeping your frazzled thoughts from running wild.

Had his work run late? Had there been an accident? Had one of those radicals done something that was meant to look like an accident? Had-

The distant, sudden sound of the front door closing had you glancing towards the grandfather clock, that flicker of worry sparking to life once more as you noted the lateness of the hour.

His work often brought with it long hours, but this, even by his standards, was alarming.

You were relieved to hear his footsteps, and knew you must content yourself with the knowledge that he had at least made it home safely. He had, after all, made it perfectly clear some time ago that his welfare was none of your concern.

In vain, you tried to return to your book, but to your chagrin the combination of the gramophone's crackling, the tapping of raindrops on the windowpanes, and the nearing, shuffling footsteps kept you from falling back into the story. You feigned interest however as a familiar figure entered the doorway.

For a moment, he said nothing, silently studying you. You were hyper-aware of his gaze, were certain he could hear the panicked rush of your heartbeat, could see the heat dancing on your cheeks.

Finally, he spoke, your given name tumbling out almost as a sigh, and to your embarrassment it caused you to jump, startled by its presence in your already frenzied state.

You turned to face him directly, seeing his hand hanging uselessly in the air, looking for everything like a guilty schoolboy. In another circumstance, you could have laughed, seeing the normally rigid Captain so timid and unsure of himself. "Sorry! Sorry, I..." His words trailed off, the hand falling back to his side, all emotion gone from his features once more. "May I join you?"

No, you wanted to say, I'm not sure I could trust myself if you stay.

But your voice was welcoming him in, and you straightened your posture as he took the chair opposite you.

You tried once more to feign interest in your book, but your eyes kept straying from the page, unable to stop yourself from studying his features in the warm light, taken in by the vulnerability, small as it was, he was granting you, clearly beyond weary.

Your curiosity could no longer be helped. "Are you well, Herr Beilschmidt?"

A small smile flickered to life, half-formed and fragile, those peculiar scarlet eyes finding yours, your name once more slipping past his lips. "I thought we agreed you would call me Gilbert when we were alone?"

For a moment, he was no longer a Captain, not Herr Beilschmidt, but any other man, a man who could even become-

But that could not be, and you wouldn't allow your fantasies to jeopardize your work, couldn't bear the thought of being parted from the children. "I agreed to no such thing, Herr Beilschmidt."

He released a pained sort of sound, reminiscent of a scoff, and it prompted just enough of your ire for you to press onward with your curiosity. "You were out late this evening."

You couldn't fully conceal your concern, and it was clear that he had detected it, those eyes somber once more, studious and strategic.

Fearful of what he may find, you spoke once more, hiding the inconvenient truth with another, sweeter one. "The children missed you at dinner."

His study lingered, lips parting as if he were going to speak, before he dismissed it, a sadness surrounded him in its absence. "How were they today?"

This was neutral territory, familiar ground, and you breathed a silent sigh of relief. You began a retelling of the day's adventures, embellishing your words with a whimsy that had often earned you others' disdain. But G- Herr Beilschmidt- was amused, laughing at your failed attempt to mimic Friedrich's angered voice at Monika for daring to stick a frog in his pocket.

"And Luddy?"

Your smile softened at thoughts of the youngest Beilschmidt. "A dear as always. He insisted upon baking a cake with me earlier." The words triggered another memory, a more urgent one, and you rose with a suddenness that caused him to jump. "Pardon me; I forgot that we saved a slice for you! Excuse me for a moment?"

You didn't wait for his reply, already sweeping towards the open doorway, forgetting in your rush to grab a candle, the electric having gone down several hours ago.

The corridor loomed before you, quiet and filled with the darkness of the midnight hour. In the face of that alien light, your footsteps faltered, suddenly uncertain of a path you had tread dozens of times.

A warm presence appeared at your side, a gentle hand pressing to your lower back, as he fell into step beside you, carrying one of the candles. "Allow me?"

Your skin burned beneath the weight of his hand, memories of the party several nights before now dancing to the surface at his nearness.

How you wished you could turn him away now, but fear of the ghosts still haunting these ancients halls and nameless monsters lurking in the shadows far overpowered your fears of revealing your heart.

Slowly, quietly, you charted the course to the kitchen, and you were grateful to finally be able to step away, allowing yourself a moment to breathe, reign in your traitorous thoughts.

The ghost of his touch still remained however, and you busied yourself with pulling the cake from the ice box, pleasantly surprised to discover some remaining cream as well.

He had taken a seat at the small table often used by the house staff, several more candles lit in front of him. You were surprised to see he had pulled out two forks, standing and gesturing to the empty chair beside him. "Please; join me."

You should have taken your leave.

You should have made your excuses and retired for the evening.

But there was something so hopeful in his expression, and you couldn't resist the sway he held over you.

For a time, there were no words shared between you, the only sound the symphony of the falling rain, the distant notes of the gramophone, and the irregularity of silver tines clinking against porcelain.

"We should discuss what happened at the party."

His voice was unexpected, words hanging in the air with a tension you were loathe to acknowledge.

There was nothing to discuss, not to your mind.

He was betrothed to another, and he was your employer.

It could never be anything more, even if you should so desperately wish for it.

Still, you would always have those memories, safely locked away into your heart: Monika sighing, fondly watching the sparkling couples gliding across the ballroom floor, Ludvig pestering you with questions about the musicians, and Friedrich earnestly trying to master the Allemande with you, before Gilbert was unexpectedly cutting in, offering the children a brief history lesson even as he fell perfectly into step, words soon falling away, sparkling burgundy eyes locking with your own.

With each step, you felt your fragile defenses weakening, was certain he was drawing you nearer with every turn. Each clasp of hands sent a spark through your pulse, every point of contact buzzing with restless energy. As you took your final turn in a dance meant for four, you were met with a warm smile which stole the little breath you had left, and you were drowning in a wine-dark sea.

The spell was broken with Julchen's applause, surprise to see her home from university enough to distract the others, though Gilbert was slow to release your hand, lingering, before he finally drifted over to join his younger siblings.

You couldn't fathom why he should wish to discuss the ordeal now of all times, though to say it hadn't been on your mind, replaying in your thoughts for the past several weeks, would be a lie.

"You hired me to watch over your brothers and sisters, and I care for them dearly."

Your focus remained on the chocolate crumbs remaining on the plate, dark flecks against the otherwise pristine, pastel pink petals.

Even as he spoke your name once more, you did not turn to him, unable to face him. "Only the children?"

"No," you admitted, before you recognized your slip and quickly tried to rectify it. "Yes!" Trying to redirect his thoughts, you interrupted him before he could speak. "Isn't it right that I should care for them?"

You finally turned to him, praying your mask would hold, even as you once again found yourself the subject of his scrutiny. He was bewildered, clearly not expecting this turn.

"Of course it's right."

You saw another opening, one that could perhaps save you from his suspicions. "You invited me into your home, and I am grateful to you. I'll miss them very much when you and the Baroness-"

Oh, you couldn't even speak it, for goodness sake!

But this excuse was convenient, a simple shroud, disguising your feelings behind the implication that your true worries were being parted from the children, that you only dreaded his betrothed becoming his wife because-

You could face him no longer, your attention once more drawn back to the scene in front of you, candlelight dancing in refractions on the cutlery.

He let out a stray sound of bemusement, your given name yet again slipping from his lips in a fond murmur. "There isn't going to be a baroness."

Your attention flickered back to him almost immediately, disbelieving and concerned. "There isn't?"

"No," he hummed. There was a slant to his brow, a twist to his features which puzzled you.

"I don't understand."

His focus shifted away from you, a small smile once more flickering to life, not fading away this time but lingering, its lightness echoing in his voice. "We've called off our engagement-"

"Oh, I'm sorry," you whispered sincerely, not meaning to interrupt, but he was stunned nonetheless.

"You are?"

You nodded, unwilling to trust your voice in this moment.

His smile softened to something unreadable then, something which made your heart melt. "We both agreed that, well..." He suddenly was looking away from you, bashful in a way you didn't recognize, taking a steadying breath before he seemingly found the courage to face you once more, though his words were barely a whisper. "You can't marry someone when you're in love with someone else."

At first, you were unable to comprehend his words, desperate for confirmation. "Surely you don't mean-?"

His hand found yours, gentle and insistent. "I do. I've come to love you in a way... quite unexpected. And I," he paused, his eyes seeking your own with a tremulous yearning, one which carried in his words. "Is it foolish for me to hope that you love me, too?"

You thought back to the journey which had led you here: the arguments, the compromises, the love growing ever stronger with each passing day. This house had been a cold tomb when you had first arrived, specters haunting every square meter.

But now it was your home.

The children were your home.

Gilbert was your home.

He was still waiting for your answer, both despondent and eager, and you finally allowed your mask to fall away, smiling as you raised your free hand to gently cup his cheek, your vision hazing through tears.

It was uncertain who moved first, but the kiss was all you could hope it to be: gentle, loving, with an added sweetness from the lingering tastes of cake and cream.

He sighed as you slowly drew away, the candlelight dancing in his eyes, a bright smile creasing his features.

You had made many mistakes in this life, taken many missteps, but to be blessed with this life, to find such love and a place to call home?

Somewhere along the way, you must have done something good.

One of the most notable changes was directly adjusting Gil's role compared to Captain von Trapp's. The Sound of Music carries an inherent antifascist message, which allowed me to explore more of my belief that Gilbert was a Prussian Social Democrat, a member of one of the most influential political parties directly challenging the rising fascist ideals of the growing Nazi Party. Several assassination attempts were made on members of the Social Democrats, before, ultimately, tragically, their work against the Nazi Party was overruled by vote.

I opted to keep Gil as a big brother instead of a father; I cherish the relationship they have already, and the thought of them not only losing a parent, but watching their beloved, bright brother fade away into someone they barely know- It was too good.

I spent quite sometime trying to finding a traditional German couple's dance, and even the Allemande, from the Baroque period, was intended for a group of four.

I wish this could have been longer, but at over 2000 words already. I am content.

Thank you again for the ask, and thank you so much to everyone for reading!

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imaginethebeautifulworld · 3 months

Note

The theatre was filled to bursting, the audience awed, riveted, mesmerized, your voice weaving an enchantment over hundreds of unsuspecting admirers.

He was proud of you.

Gone was the timid spirit he had stumbled upon all those years ago, broken and shattered from loss, left with only the protections of a then-aloof guardian and a firm, dispassionate teacher.

"Please," you whispered, and it broke his heart to hear it, "I feel so alone."

It ached, being unable to comfort you, seeing your progress and healing of the past few months tested so needlessly. He ached for you; he was angry for you.

"You are not alone."

It was a fleeting, foolish slip, his temper and his longing both getting the better of him. Your sudden silence choked his own breath, his entire body freezing in terror.

For a moment, for an eternity, there was naught but silence.

He didn't dare move, fearful of how even the slightest shift of fabric could give him away, could startle you, could-

"I was half-afraid I had gone mad, speaking with shadows and expecting them to finally reply."

But soon enough you had drawn away, crestfallen. "Perhaps I have gone mad," you murmured, sighing in defeat. "Perhaps the rumors are true, and you are nothing but a ghost."

Your focus once more returned to the panel, and he instinctively took a step back. "Please-" he began, quickly cutting himself off.

Your aria had drawn to a close, the spell broken by the deafening roar of the audience's applause, and Gilbert was pulled from his memories, unable to conceal his smile.

Brava, Schatz. Bravissima.

He stood to his full height and began to make his way towards the nearby ladder.

For your role, another scene yet remained- a joyful reunion between your character and the valiant hero following the defeat of the jealous villain, a happy end to a romance so riddled with tragedy.

Gilbert needn't see the ending; it was a tale as old as time.

His footsteps were silent and certain, following a path he could traverse in his sleep; he had already paced it many times in his dreams.

He was haunted by his doubts, by his need to... His need to properly introduce himself.

He frowned at the thought.

These feelings...

You were an Angel, in the most benevolent, compassionate of ways, but even an Angel would surely shun a Devil's Child.

For that was what his eyes and his appearance had always been: that of a devil. And surely-

Another figure was entering the room, and you were quick to abandon the comfort of your velvet settee, rushing to embrace-

No.

You were laughing, falling into conversation with an ease that only came-

You were familiar with this... this boy.

Perhaps even intimate, his traitorous thoughts interfered, the herald to the invasive darkness which followed.

It was a cold, bitter thing, rising from the depths, twisting and corrupting his every breath.

He had been careless, allowing you your freedom, allowing you to slip away to the gilded sanctuary of your guardian's maison de ville.

This boy dared to presume he could even look upon you, let alone embrace you, speak with you so candidly, even addressing you by your given name-

Gilbert felt his rage, his envy, grow stronger, even as that bedamned Raoul finally departed for the evening, leaving your bright smile in his wake.

But much like his namesake, Gilbert was Fallen, cursed, a creature of shadows and Night.

It took so little to pull him back into the Darkness, and now, with the sting of envy plaguing his every thought, Avarice and Doubt whispering in his ear, his ambitions had changed.

You were his.

He would ensure no one else could dare claim you, would have the slightest chance at your heart.

You startled at his voice, turning to him instinctively, your eyes widening in disbelief, before you graced him with your brightest smile yet.

Your joy glittered with more radiance than any star in the heavens, but its glimmer eclipsed your awareness, obscuring the darkness in the figure stealing ever closer.

"Hello, Engel."

Thanks for reading!

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imaginethebeautifulworld · 5 months

Text

*sidles out of the shadows*

*opens jacket, hands you PDFs of every Loeb classical library text in the public domain*

*also hands you links to Gutenberg.org for searchable EPUB books, LibriVox for free audiobooks, the Internet Archive library and the Perseus Digital Library*

*also, if you're under 22 and in the US, you can get a free eCard for the Brooklyn Public Library, and access their entire digital catalogue*

*slides back into shadows*

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imaginethebeautifulworld · 5 months

Text

Warm-Ups for Writers

I discovered a little while ago, trying to launch back into my writing, that the words just wouldn’t flow. It had been a while since I’d written in this project, and even though I had read the previous chapter to catch up and reviewed my outline, something was missing.

A warm-up is extremely important for writers because it gets the words flowing again before they have to mean anything.

Here is a quick list of warm-ups for writers to use!

Write a short scene (3-4 paragraphs) using only visual description. No sounds, no smells, no touches, only what you see is happening.

Write a short scene like the exercise above using any of the other senses. (Also a great way to practice writing imagery!)

Put your favorite playlist on shuffle and write a bit of flash fiction based on the first three songs that pop up. (Use the duration of these songs as well, so you don’t get too caught up.)

Introduce a new character from the PoV of three different characters.

Write a one-page letter from one character to another, from yourself to a character, etc.

Set a timer for 10 minutes and write a story from a single sentence prompt. (Here’s a website of 99 to start you off.)

Write a monologue from any antagonist describing their plans, motivations, etc.

Create the most ridiculous character you can think of.

Write an interview of your characters reacting to what just happened in your story.

Write a quick AU about how different the story would be if one decision was different.

Create a character from a song.

Imagine your favorite character from your story acting in your favorite movie or TV show.

Write a short scene in three different emotions of your choice.

Imagine three of your characters living in the real world and build a little bit of life within this universe. Think of jobs, favorite food, favorite music genre, dream vacation, etc.

Re-write a short scene (that already exists) but now, it takes place within and follows a specific decade aesthetic.

These are some of the ones that I’ve done before that have worked for me! I have two big pieces of advice when it comes to warm-ups:

Try not to let yourself get caught up in the warm-up. Anything longer than 15 minutes is likely a little superfluous.

Once a warm-up is done, let it be. Don’t edit it or try to build off of it for another warm-up; you want these ideas and words to be new ones every time.

And that’s it! Happy writing!

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imaginethebeautifulworld · 5 months

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hey could y'all do me a favour?

Reblog if you're okay with "weird" compliments on your stuff!

things like "biting this" and such

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imaginethebeautifulworld · 5 months

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i used to dream simply of worlds beyond the stars of adventures ahead of stories which had yet to be read my dreams are much more complicated now i dream of clean rain i dream of unpoisoned skies i dream of a world where everyone can happily, peacefully live their lives i dream of quietly sitting in the sun of watching the stars come out one-by-one i dream of a world where i still have hope i dream of a life better than what i was sold

free write, 14 nov. 2023

#poem #poetry #my poem #my poetry #idk i had a random spark #climate crisis #hope #my writing #my poems #hello lovelies!

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imaginethebeautifulworld · 5 months

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Is England dominant? Personality-wise? Would he gell well with someone who is partially dominant as well?

Arthur strikes me as someone who is accustomed to being in a position of authority, and rarely has that authority questioned. Mind, he's more-or-less acclimated himself to less rigidity, but in professional settings he is a man who gives respect, and will only withdraw that respect if he's not given the same acknowledgement. In his personal life, I believe he is much more open to compromises. He admires someone who can challenge him, who treats him as an equal, who can charter whatever the ebb and flow between them. I think, in truth, that's why he and Francis are so close; their bickering is petty and ridiculous most days, but it is founded on love and respect. And while Arthur may not be in search of another partner who could fight with him till the cows come home, I do believe he's seeking out someone who isn't afraid to stand up for their values when needed, someone who is capable and loving, but most of all someone who can help carry him should the floodgates give way.

#anon asks #arthur kirkland #hello lovelies!#aph england #england x reader #sorta?#aph france #mention #aph hetalia #hws england #hetalia england #trying to work on some of the older requests; i swear whatever creative energy i possessed was siphoned away from me #i can barely summon up daydreams anymore :(

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imaginethebeautifulworld · 5 months

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i dont hate you guys i swear i just have really shitty memory

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imaginethebeautifulworld · 6 months

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imaginethebeautifulworld · 6 months

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hi! :) do you still write for prussia? are we allowed to send requests or asks about him?

Hello!

I confess Anon that I've not been very active on this blog as of late. My creativity kind of disappeared somewhere between my third battle with Covid and the daily stresses of my job, but I can't tell you how much I miss writing for Gil.

If you have a prompt or a request, please feel free to hit me up! I can't promise I'll get it written right away, but I have been and continue to try hacking away at what's been sent before.

Thank you for checking!

#anon asks #hello friend!#wow it's been a hot minute since i checked this inbox #please please please send me asks; i need something to inspire me #i know i have words within me but finding an outlet for them or ideas to exercise them has been nigh on impossible #the more detailed a request the better!#or like- even just obscure words would help at this point #i am beggin #hello my lovelies i hope you are all well!#aph prussia

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imaginethebeautifulworld · 6 months

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Sources for Research on English Linguistics, Literature, and Culture

-> links to databases, archives, corpora, encyclopedias, and more

The following sites are for English studies, linguistics, and anglistics.

I could also do another list like this one for other related studies, such as classic philology, German studies, Scandinavian studies, Romance studies, and Slavic studies, in case that’s something you guys are interested in.

All of these sites should allow free access for everyone. Most of them are from Great Britain, Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia/New Zealand, and Germany.

(Please let me know, if any of the links don’t work)

Collections / Databases / Archives / Anthologies:

About the USA (information about the US, including holidays, history, society, art and entertainment, media, government, politics, travel, sports, economy, and science)

African American Women Writers of the 19th Century (database of 50 works by African American women of the 19th century)

American Memory (digitalised material from the Americana collection of the Library of Congress)

American Song Sheets (collection of 1,800 song sheets from the 19th century)

American Verse Project (archive with American poetry until 1920)

Archive of Early American Images (7,000 images about North and South America from primary sources between 1492 and 1895)

Arthurian Fiction in Medieval Europe (information about the Arthurian tale and the scripts which spread it around Europe)

Atlas of Surveillance (records surveillance technologies used by US law enforcement agencies, including drones, body cameras, face recognition, etc.)

Australian Poetry Library (over 42,000 poems by over 170 Australian authors)

Bartleby.com (texts of (English-speaking) world literature with reference material; over 370,000 sites)

Bibliography of the International Arthurian Society (literature about the Arthurian tale)

Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads (over 30,000 ballads from the 16th to the 20th century)

Bodleian Library Pre-1920 allegro Catalogue (printed matter in European languages and writings published before 1920 or purchased before 1989 by the Bodleian Library)

BookPage: Issue Archive (monthly information about new books and book reviews)

British Cartoon Archive (over 200,000 cartoons from comic books, newspapers, magazines, and books about British history)

British Fiction 1800-1829 (2,272 texts by about 900 authors of the early 19th century)

British Library Online Gallery: Virtual Books (virtual access to rare / old books of the British Library)

British National Bibliography (bibliography of books and periodicals of the British Library)

Cambridge Edition of the Works of Ben Jonson Online (database about the life and works of Ben Jonson, a well-known Renaissance writer)

Cambridge History of English and American Literature (online version of the books)

Canadian Literature Archive (texts by Canadian authors)

Canadiana Online (over 200,000 texts of historical publications)

Casgliad y Werin Cymru = Peoples Collection Wales (document collection by 9 Welsh museums and libraries)

Collect Britain (over 90,000 images, photos, maps, and audio material from the British Library)

Contemporary Writers in the UK (biographical information about the most important contemporary authors of Britain and the Commonwealth)

Digital Collections / Harry Ransom Center (access to over 7,000 objects from literature, photography, film, and art, including manuscripts, letters, posters, photos, and drawings since the 16th century)

Digital Comic Museum (access to Public Domain Comics from the ‘Golden Age of Comicbooks’)

Documenting the American South (14 collections of primary sources about history and culture of the Southern States)

DraCor (collection of dramas in several languages published between 472 BC and 1947)

Early Americas Digital Archive (historical texts in regard to America, published between 1492 and the 19th century)

Early Modern Festival Books Database (over 3,000 texts about festival culture, published between 1200 and 1800 in 12 languages)

Electronic World Atlas of Varieties of English (interactive database about the morphosyntactic variation in spoken English)

English Broadside Ballad Archive (English ballads of early modern times with transcriptions of the texts and sometimes recordings of the music)

English Poetry Anthologies (English poems from 1250 to 1943)

English-Corpora.org (collection of English corpora)

Environmental History of the Americas Database (2,000 international texts about the environmental history of North and South America)

European Views of the Americas (32,000 European printed texts about America until 1750)

Familiar Quotations (online edition, includes 11,000 quotes of English literary history)

Fontes Anglo-Saxonici (all sources in English or Latin texts from Anglo-Saxon England (until 1066) or Anglo-Saxon authors)

Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS, 1861-1993) (official documentation of foreign-policy decisions of the USA)

Gender Inn (database with more than 8,400 texts about feminist theory and gender studies)

Grand Comics Database (database of all comics about North America published world-wide)

Hamnet : Folger Library Catalogue (online catalogue of the Folger Shakespeare Library)

HANSARD 1803-2005 (British parliamentary sessions from 1803 to 2005)

Hartlib Papers (database with all the letters of Samuel Hartlib)

Heroic in Victorian Periodicals (analyses the motive of heroism in Victorian Great Britain)

Historical Thesaurus of English (800,000 words from Old to Modern English with meanings, synonyms, etc.)

IN Harmony: Sheet Music from Indiana (sheet music from the Indiana University Lilly Library, the Indiana State Library, the Indiana State Museum, and the Indiana Historical Society)

Index to Science Fiction Anthologies and Collections (index of 3,900 anthologies from before 1984)

Internet Shakespeare Editions (database about the life and works of Shakespeare)

Internet Speculative Fiction Database (database of Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Horror Literature)

IntraText Digital Library (texts about religion, philosophy, literature, and history in 39 languages)

ipl2: Information You Can Trust (catalogue of examined, evaluated, and commentated links to American websites)

Japan Science and Technology Information Aggregator (2,000 peer reviewed journals about Japanese research in science, technology, and medicine)

John Johnson Collection (one of the largest collections of printed documents from British history)

Johnsons Dictionary Online (web version of Samuel Johnson’s ‘A Dictionary of the English Language’ (1755))

Joyce Papers 2002 (digitalised collection of the National Library of Ireland in Dublin)

Language in Australia and New Zealand (bibliography of 6,200 titles about Australian and New Zealand languages and language families)

Lecturing Women in Victorian Periodicals Database (Feminist lectures in Victorian England (14 periodicals))

Library of Anglo-American Culture & History

Location Register of English Literary Manuscripts and Letters (locations of English literature from the 18th century to today in Great Britain and Ireland)

Luminarium (English literature and history from the Middle Ages to the 18th century)

Making of America (primary sources of American history from 1859 to 1877 and secondary literature from 1840 to 1900)

Melville Electronic Library (online editions of the works of Hermann Melville)

Middle English Collection (database of 60 works and collections of works of Middle English literature)

MIT Global Shakespeares Video & Performance Archive (online access to Shakespeare performances from around the world)

MLA Language Map (map of the linguistic characteristics of different regions of the USA)

Modernist Journals Project (database of texts about modernism from 1890 to 1922)

New Face of Fiction (modern fiction of Canadian authors from Random House Canada)

OLC Anglistik - Online Contents (articles about anglistics / English studies)

Oxford Journals (by the Oxford University Press; collection of journals)

Oxford Languages (collection of language dictionaries)

Papakilo Database (database about history and culture of Hawaii)

Papers of Abraham Lincoln (database with handwritten papers and documents by Abraham Lincoln)

Pascal / Francis (database of journals and conference proceedings)

PEN America Digital Archive (archive of audio and video materials since 1966)

Perseus Digital Library / Renaissance Materials (collection of 80 texts of English Renaissance literature)

Piers Plowman Electronic Archive (corpus of all manuscripts of the poem ‘Piers Plowman’)

Polish Diaspora in the UK and Ireland (databank on how Polish immigrants influenced British literature and culture)

Popular History in Victorian Magazines Database (database of how popular history was presented in Victorian magazines)

Project Gutenberg (53,000 free ebooks and other texts)

Questia (5,000 free books)

REED Online (database of early English dramas from the Middle Ages to 1642)

Shapell Collection (collection of media about the history of the US in the 19th and 20th century)

SSSL Bibliography: A Checklist of Scholarship on Southern Literature (secondary literature of more than 1,000 authors from the US south)

Swedish American Newspapers / Svensk-Amerikanska Tidningar (database of 300,000 newspaper pages from 28 different daily newspapers published in the US from 1859 to 2007)

TEAMS Middle English texts (online editions of Middle English texts with annotations and bibliographies)

Trove / National Library of Australia (search engine for media relating to Australia)

Vetusta Monumenta : Ancient Monuments, a Digital Edition (digital edition of ‘Vetusta Monumenta’ from 1718 to 1796 with scans of copperplate engravings and scientific commentary)

Victorian Dictionary (sources about life in Victorian London)

Vision of Britain Through Time (historic-geographic information about Great Britain)

Walt Whitman Manuscripts (archive of the manuscripts of Walt Whitman)

Welsh Journals Online (archive of 50 Welsh journals/magazines)

Wright American Fiction (digital library of American novels of the 19th century (1851 und 1875))

Language Corpora:

British National Corpus (100 million word collection of samples of written and spoken language from a wide range of sources, designed to represent a wide cross-section of British English from the later part of the 20th century)

corpora.unito (linguistic corpora for Italian, French, Spanish, English, and German)

Corpus of Early English Correspondence

Corpus of Electronic Texts (database with texts of Irish literature and literary history in Irish, English, Hiberno-Norman, and Latin)

Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse

Middle English Grammar Corpus (corpus of Middle English texts)

Dictionaries / Encyclopedias:

Cambridge Dictionaries Online

Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia

Dictionary of Irish Biography (contains about 11,000 articles)

Dictionary of the Scots Language

EDD Online 3.0 (based on Joseph Wright’s ‘English Dialect Dictionary’, 1898-1905)

Encyclopaedia Britannica (general encyclopedia with over 90,000 editorally reviewed articles by 4,300 authors)

Encyclopedia of American Studies (800 texts about US history, politics, culture, society, and economy from precolonial times until now)

Encyclopedia of Romantic Nationalism in Europe (records the cultural movements and their influence on cultural communities in Europe in the wake of the Romantic period)

Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (16,350 entries about Science Fiction authors, artists, and filmmakers, as well as entries about films, radio and TV productions, periodicals, and other publications)

Glottopedia (free editable encyclopedia by linguists for linguists)

Green’s Dictionary of Slang (dictionary by Jonathon Green)

Irish Dictionary Online (English - Irish dictionary)

Linguee (translation database by DeepL for word contexts)

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online (monolingual English dictionary)

Macmillan Dictionary (monolingual English dictionary)

Merriam-Webster (dictionary and thesaurus)

Oxford Learners Dictionary

Thesaurus of Old English (Old English (Anglo-Saxon) dictionary)

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