#I've been working on this since Nov. 23
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Kodama in the forest, with the Great Forest Spirit walking quietly behind them. Growing, private things, with no mind to keep the scars of war.
On Etsy
#I've been working on this since Nov. 23#i used a particular technique to color this image so that everything uses flat color#but the image is still soft and glowing#princess mononoke#studio ghibli#digital illustration#fanart#kodama#hayao miyazaki
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How old is everyone in your au? Or like approximately if u don’t have the ages specifically set yk
as of 2023 and it coming to a close...
Kate: 28, 1995 June 25
Tim: 34, 1989 June 19
Brian: 34, 1989 April 17
Toby: 25, 1997 April 28
Natalie: 26, 1996 Nov. 6
Nina: 25, 1997 Feb. 13
Jeff: 24, 1998 June 2
Liu: 28, 1995 June 20
Jane: 31, 1992 Jan. 7
Jack: 29, 1994 Dec. 1
Ben: 14(would be 34), 1989 Dec.
Sally: 9(would be 71), 1952 May 9
Lulu: 23, 2000 March 14
Ann: 28, 1995 Oct. 28
This is KINDA subject to change only because im still working on the timeline and there was a ton of stuff i've been moving around even while finishing it. but in general its pretty accurate
lulu and ann are also undead beings, but since theyre not ghosts, im not sure if they would continue aging... we'll see we'll see.... not even sure if jack would continue aging.... hmmm....
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Update 27 Nov 23
Ko-Fi thing
You can call me Nyarla, I guess.
Or "Yo She-Bitch." Either's cool.
Soooo I figured I might need to make one of those MASTERLIST things because I cannot stop writing (which is the most amazing feeling ever when I've been in a writer's block for months).
It's just One Piece Live Action right now, but as my confidence increases I might post some of my other fandom work.
I'm Open for Requests for OPLA fics and headcanon. Primarily Character X FemaleReader, but I'm flexible.
I do reserve the right to not write every single request that is asked, since I am human and my abilities do have limitations, but I swear I will try.
I'm not squeamish about much of anything, so don't refrain. I'll always post any necessary ⚠️Trigger Warnings⚠️ right here with the links.
I'm always open to requests for Shanks, Mihawk, Zoro, and Sanji. Possibly also Buggy, Luffy, Usopp, Koby, and Helmeppo, but I haven't written them much, so please bear with me if it takes me a bit to respond.
Honestly please bear with me if it takes me a while to respond to Asks/Requests in general because I get really nervous about getting them perfect.
Some things about the weirdo that's writing this shit can be found here
Masterlist
The Lovely Alphabet (NSFW)
Sanji
Zoro
Shanks
Mihawk
Dialog I Presently Have No Use For
(But might eventually) (basically mini dialogue-centric fics that may make there way into something else later or might not)
01 Get Out
02 Can We Keep Her?
03 What Happens in Loguetown
04 Coffins and Coping Mechanisms
05 Kitty
06 Send Help
07 Pep Talk
08 Death Wish
09 Oh No Not Again
10 Shanty Time!
11 No Sleep
12 The Throngler™
The Best Boys
First Kiss
Material Boys (NSFW)
I Don't Even Know Music Or Something?
Ooooh...Kinky ;D (NSFW)
In the Kitchen
HAMMERED
Because I Got High
Whoops
Short Stuff
Hobbies
ABCs of Kink (NSFW)
D is for Dominance (First Kiss sequal)
P is for Public Blacksmith's Daughter Part 1 . . . Part 2 . . . Part 3
Mihawk
Your Scars Are Mine (NSFW)
(Trigger Warnings for Self-Harm, Blood, Implied PTSD)
Ch. 1 . . . Ch. 2 . . . Ch. 3
Ten Years (unofficial sequel to YSAM) (NSFW)
Mood Swings (mostly SFW headcanons)
Hearing Problems (NSFW eventually)
Guess this is important
All OC Face Claims and Character Sheet Links
Ch.1 . . . Ch. 2 . . . Ch. 3 . . . Ch. 4 . . . Ch. 5 . . . Ch. 6 . . . Ch. 7
Sanji
Late Night Chats
X plus-sizeReader Headcanons (NSFW)
Tongue Ring headcanons
Zoro
Strawhat Stowaway Ch. 1 . . . Ch. 2
Shanks
Redhead suppremacy (sfw headcanons)
!!COMIMG SOON!!
(...I hope)
(Some titles subject to change)
Tongue Ring (F is for Food Play)
Blacksmith's Daughter part 2 (P is for Public, ABC's of Kink)
O is for O Denial
B is for Brat Tamer
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Update: new info about David Tennant's elusive 1996 short film Quality Control!
I've got a few new updates to add to this post I did a while back about a short film David Tennant did in 1996 called Quality Control. If you haven't yet read my first post about this short film, you can read it at the link I posted above. And then come on back!
Firstly, Quality Control was broadcast many more times than I thought it was! I thought it was only broadcast four times between 1996 and 1998, so imagine my surprise when I did some digging and found it had actually broadcast eleven times between 1996 and 1999. Oops!
But by far the biggest update I have on this short is that recently I've discovered why it was made...and by whom!
But first, the updated broadcast list:
BROADCAST DATES:
1996:
4 Jan 1996 - 1:55pm - Channel 4
10 Jun 1996 - 1:55pm - Channel 4
9 Dec 1996 - 2pm - Channel 4
10 Dec 1996 - 1:30pm - Regional S4C
1997:
18 Jun 1997 - 10:45am - Regional S4C
25 Jun 1997 - 10:45am - Channel 4 & Regional S4C
1998:
8 Feb 1998 - 3:30pm - Channel 4
26 Oct 1998 - 1:30pm - Channel 4
6 Nov 1998 - 1:30pm - Regional S4C
1999:
18 Jun 1999 - 1:30pm - Channel 4
29 Jun 1999 - 1:30p - Regional S4C
Of course now that I've found these, I'm aware there may be other broadcast dates I have yet missed. If so, I didn't find any past 2000. But I reserve the right to be mistaken, ha!
Now here's the bigger update: the why, and the who!
Published 23 June 1995 in The Scotsman, here's the article that broke it wide open for me, and its relevant quote:
"Simplicity and technical finesse marked this year's graduation films at the Edinburgh College of Art degree show. While Hannah Lewis's Quality Control makes excellent use of a superior comic performance by David Tennant as a youth trainee on his first day in a Leith sweatshop…"
WOW, right?
But this new information leads to all sorts of other questions. If this short was initially part of a degree course, how did it make the leap to broadcast? Was it in one of the short film UK production schemes happening at the time which were helping new film creatives launch their ideas: i.e., First Reels, Tartan Shorts, New Found Land?
I'm not sure. At first blush, Quality Control doesn't seem to have been included in a larger broadcast of shorts like Bite and Spaces had been (Bite was shown on the program Don't Look Down on STV, and Spaces was shown on STV as a part of First Reels.) In its broadcast listings, Quality Control is always listed on its own.
The description the article gives on the short is also very interesting. The article says David played a youth trainee on his first day in a Leith sweatshop. But reviews and blurbs of the short's plot in newspapers say he was a job trainee who becomes a quality controller/inspector at a skateboard factory. It seems to me that a sweatshop and a skateboard factory are two very different places, but are they? Was that changed somehow between its showing at the College of Art degree show, or was it just the article writer's bad description?
Blurbs about Quality Control from various newspapers
And just who is Hannah Lewis, its creator? Well my money's on producer Hannah Lewis, who's worked with Morag McKinnon and Colin McLaren. They all met at the Edinburgh College of Art, and had made three shorts together by 1999 (one of which, 'Home', won a BAFTA!) But if she is the right Hannah Lewis, Quality Control isn't listed anywhere on her IMDb. So while I can't be sure she's the short's creator, the time is right, and the place is right. A lot of the dots sure do line up!
Now we know why it was done - and who did it - can we find it? Is it archived somewhere? I haven't found it so far if it is - at least it's not archived at the Moving Image Archive in Glasgow, or at the British Film Institute. But I've yet to check to see if the Edinburgh College of Art may have it.
As far as all the other questions this raises - like how did David get involved with the project (since he was living in London at the time) and if he knew someone who knew someone who...ya know? Pfffft. Your guess is as good as mine! It's one more "I dunno" to add to the pile.
In conclusion, we may be as close as we've ever been to finding out more about David's elusive 1996 short, Quality Control.
I'll keep on searching!
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Part 1: Harry’s Heart tattoo
This post is in three parts:
When Harry got the Heart tattoo
70 Heart Kisses (1D years), and
70 Heart Kisses continued. (Solo career)
The amazing @womanexile and @this-daydream-is-dangerous-13 started this off with finding a good chunk of these. Thank you @cntfightmydemonsthyknowhowtoswim for your amazing timeline help. This is by no means complete, which I think is impossible.
It’s also important to note that only Harry knows what this tattoo is about, why he kisses it or if that is for one person and who that may be. Below is a list of times he has kissed it with other events at that time. To me, many kisses appear to be about personal milestones.
youtube
22 June 2012 - Arm kiss - Harry kissed this part of his arm during ‘More than this’ at radio Disney (3:13). Some fans edit this footage, I think watching it in context seems quite different to some edits.
Many edits of this and other kisses also often cut the song out completely, Harry seems to express something he’s thinking so the song matters. When Harry introduced ‘More than This’ in the Listening Party for Up All Night he said it was his favorite song on the album and ‘a deep one’. The song is about a shy guy being sad his love interest is with someone who loves her less - wondering if it is because he is shy and he gets the courage to ask her.
Harry and Taylor had been together since 20 May 2012. 15 May Taylor wrote Run with Ed Sheeran with the lyric “there’s a heart on your sleeve, I take it when you leave and hold it for you”
10 June - Taylor wrote in her Journal: "God I've been having such a beautiful life lately. I can't believe it. It's like there's magic in the air".
15 June - Harry got the Won’t stop till we surrender tattoo, close to here on the underside of his arm, on the anniversary of Taylor having the same song as arm lyrics.
16 June - Ed had said that Harry ‘was taken’ (21 mins).
18-21 June - 1D had a week off and Harry and Taylor were in LA and then unseen. Liam and Niall did several twitcams, Louis with Eleanor everyday in LA, Zayn left LA.
21 June - their first day back at work was the blank arm kiss, both were still in LA.
23 June - the band left LA and said Harry was the best wing man with the worst luck with girls for himself. Liam called him a lonely old man and Harry looked sad. In the same interview Harry said his favorite 1D song was I Want (about a girl that wants material things) and Kings of Leon’s Use Somebody (about being lonely while touring) as his favorite of other artists.
26 June - Harry was seen crying outside what is said to be a radio station.
1 July - (a week after Harry and Taylor were last together) Taylor was first seen with Connor Kennedy. Harry then started being pictured on random dates.
So the arm kiss during a song about a shy guy’s love being with the wrong guy followed the band saying he had had some terrible luck with ladies then Taylor started publicly dating Connor.
Heart Tattoo
Taylor was last seen with Connor 19 August, Harry got Never Gonna Dance Tattoo 2 days later. By 4 September 1D and Taylor were both in LA for VMA rehearsals, the public saw the first photo of them together.
24 September - Harry tells Nick Grimshaw they are filming tour screens for 3 days. Neither love banner nor heart tattoo in the tour screens.
25 September- Harry gets the Love Banner Tattoo (covered by the left sparrow in Nov). It is assumed the Heart Tattoo also, because it’s not in the tour screens.
26 September - Niall told Nick Grimshaw they had a press day. Harry's heart tattoo can be seen on Chart Show TV, seems to be not filled or still healing. The band do a lot of interviews that day, at some point Harry gets moved so his arm is away from the camera and in some his arm is cut off the frame. The videos are used by many outlets throughout October and November.
27 September - Entertainment on demand is first to run where the Tattoo is visible.
30 September - Harry MIA and Taylor in Paris to film Begin Again
1- 15 October - in London together, 1D and Taylor both perform Teen Choice Awards
17 October - Harry posted pink and blue heart tattoo photo. Taylor also shared a lover journal entry for October 17, 2012, LA where she wrote this Love lyrics.
See 2012 Timeline
Tattoo meaning
We don’t know the meaning. To me, having kissed his bare arm in this place hints that it was planned, I think the timing may have been purposeful, as several tattoos seem to be. Perhaps he achieved the goal in “more than this” (Overcome shyness to be with his partner). Harry also seems to have meaning in when he kisses the right arm. I wonder if some of those are about a different partner or because he was not dating Taylor. Harry also kissed ‘Things I can’ after some break ups. The kisses on the anatomical heart seem to have a similar meaning to the first heart, but maybe a more mature love. He had also kissed the anchor.
Songs
The next 2 posts are a timeline of 70 times Harry has kissed his arm (actually 77 for a 10% margin of other tattoos/arm and coughs). Harry has kissed his heart in more than 30 songs. In this list, You and I, Sweet Creature and Two Ghosts/Falling have the most kisses. Followed by LOML, Night Changes, and Last First Kiss. The most heart kisses are actually in 2022, followed by 2014, in tie for third is 2015 and 2021.
The marker heart
A well trodden but poorly referenced story is that on the X-factor Tour (February - April 2011) Harry once had a heart drawn in marker on his arm.
The earliest I can find this photo posted is here in a group of photos on 7 July 2011. It is taken in a dressing room, you can see Lou Teasdale in the background, her name is on his chest and Lou has the same tattoo. Lou’s then boyfriend Tom Aitken also has this tattoo.
Tom tattooed Harry’s “Never Gonna Dance” the month before Harry got the heart and said that Lou’s Heart was first and that ‘Harry’s is kind of diff. It’s quite a popular one’. They also drew it on their baby in marker.
Other members of 1D have heart tattoos in a different place or design, this post is about why matching tattoos ….match.
I’ve read “when Harry turned 18 he got it tattooed”. Harry got the Star when he turned 18, this was 8 months and 17 tattoos later. He got the tattoo at a time that was meaningful to him.
In the 2011 timeline there’s fair indication Harry and Taylor knew each other then anyway.
Taylor also had a marker heart on her foot on the Debut CD. In this interview she talked about getting it tattooed if Debut went double platinum, (now x7, but she didn’t.) However I don’t think either marker heart has special meaning other than Harry planned this tattoo.
Run, a song Taylor and Ed wrote in May 2012 about Harry refers to a Heart on your sleeve also:
Continue to 70 Heart Kisses (1D years)
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20 questions for fic writers
alright i've been tagged on this a few times so guess it's time to do it....i mean i do luv tag games :)
thanks for the tags @taste-thewaste @agostobuwan @tailsbeth-writes
How many works do you have on ao3?
13- one of which is 25 fics i posted as chapters for a holiday/seasonal themed december thing - most my early work is elsewhere and i didn't do any writing for a good chunk of years lolz
What's your total ao3 word count?
76,771 (most of this was written since nov '23)
What fandoms do you write for?
RWRB currently may dip my toes into 911 at some point (my only non-rwrb fic on ao3 is marvel lol)
Top five fics by kudos:
Ring on His Finger, Putty in HIs Hands (firstprince)
Third Times a Charm? (Darcy Lewis/Clint Barton)
i've got you acting like you want more (firstprince)
- like the way you work it - (firstprince)
gotta sign 'em all (firstprince)
Do you respond to comments?
yes
What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?
the only thing i can think of that would be angsty towards the end would be Santa Tell Me from my Holiday Bits and Bobs - it was pretty much 1800 words of angst
What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?
probably the second hand unwinds - it was one of my hey sweetheart fics and is pretty much just shy of 3700 words of alex being a sap (and the boys being cute girl!dads)
Do you get hate on fics?
um not hate - but recently a weird 'that couldn't have happened cuz of yada yada' kind of comment
Do you write smut?
LOLZ - that's like most of what i write *gigglesnorts*
Craziest crossover:
don't have any of these
Have you ever had a fic stolen?
i don't think so
Have you ever had a fic translated?
nope
Have you ever co-written a fic before?
not yet! but i'm super excited to work on the one with @agostobuwan💚
All time favorite ship?
omg - i don't know that's too hard - i can tell you current fave is firstprince but my all time fave might actually be HP/CharlieW - maybe? or if we're going off amount i've read for it hp/dm or kirk/mccoy oh or bagginshield
What's a wip you want to finish but doubt you ever will?
i had always planned go back and do more for my darcy/clint fic and make it into a series, but those ideas that got written down lamented away in a doc and are gone now lol
What are your writing strengths?
um....i don't know do i have these - i can write smut fairly well
What are your writing weaknesses?
i usually hafta go back and make sure i didn't just get uber prose-y and included enough dialogue - unless i'm doing it on purpose
Thoughts on dialogue in another language?
cool if it works for the character - i really like when there's a translation somewhere - unless it's obvious what it means
First fandom you wrote in?
wrote in and posted somewhere - HP - followed closely by Idol RPF - i dabbled in other things that never got posted tho b4 that (the usuals for any 'lil geeky girl - star wars, star trek, angel, buffy
Favorite fic you've written?
idk - maybe something in your mouth cuz it just came togther so quickly and was fun to write (even if i intially thought it was gonna be smuttier lolz) or maybe my silly lil fairytale baby just say yes that topped out over 20k it's my first RWRB actual AU posted that wasn't just a small ficlet
alright so few quick tags to: @typicalopposite @adreamareads @inexplicablymine @stellarm
@sophie1973 @suseagull04 @hgejfmw-hgejhsf @itsmaybitheway
#tag game#writer tag game#omg some parts of this were so hard#and sat open on my laptop for a bit as i forgot about it#ooops#oh well
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WASSERMAN’S HOLLY ROWLAND ON THE RISE OF LOUIS TOMLINSON
"When I say I've booked a 39-date arena tour for Louis, people can't believe it and they can't believe his ticket sales," says Tomlinson's agent
By IQ on 23 Nov 2022
Wasserman Music agent Holly Rowland has spoken to IQ about Louis Tomlinson’s 2023 European arena tour.
The former One Direction star is to embark on a 39-date outing across 28 countries next year, having recently completed a pandemic-delayed tour that spanned 57 dates in Europe, South America, Asia and Australia.
“Louis wanted to go everywhere,” says Rowland, who represents Tomlinson with Wassmerman’s Alex Hardee.
“One Direction never really toured Europe extensively – they did the major cities and the stadiums – but they never went to Eastern Europe for example. During their solo careers, Harry Styles has never done it and Niall Horan has never done it.”
Rowland believes that unlike Styles and Horan, who have also carved out solo careers since the best-selling boyband disbanded in 2016, Tomlinson’s worth is often underestimated.
“When I say I’ve booked a 39-date arena tour for Louis, people can’t believe it,” Rowland tells IQ. “They don’t believe his sales or the fact he has his own festival.”
If Tomlinson was overlooked before, it all looks set to change now. Last Friday (18 November), the star beat Bruce Springsteen to score his first solo UK No. 1 album with ‘Faith In The Future’ via BMG. At the same time, ticket sales for his forthcoming tour are “really strong” despite going on sale a year in advance.
“It will sell out,” says Rowland. “London’s The O2 [cap. 21,000], for example, is on 90% and even markets which are typically late sellers, like Greece, are nearly sold out even though the concerts are still a year away.”
Rowland says it’s thanks to a symbiotic album-tour campaign that Tomlinson’s sales are strong on both the recorded and the live side.
“You wouldn’t typically go on sale with a tour so early but we needed to go out before the album so we could get the pre-orders,” she explains. “Synchronicity with recorded and live has sometimes been missed before but now, more than ever, it’s so important. An artist does well because their whole team is across everything and is communicating with each other.”
Rowland and Tomlinson’s team are particularly proud of the ticket prices for the tour, which start at £27.50 regionally.
“He’s a man of the people,” she says. “For example, he won’t do any golden circles or platinum or flexible ticketing or increased isle seating or paid meet-and-greets. That’s his philosophy.
“The issue nowadays is costs are going up so you have to cover your base but also keep it fair for the customer. The promoters crunched the numbers on their side and there was a lot of back and forth on the ticket price but obviously, the tour is spread across multiple dates so that helps. Plus it’s something Louis really wants to do.”
Promoters working on Tomlinson’s forthcoming tour include Live Nation (Slovenia, Hungary, Bulgaria), 8 Days a Week (Baltics), Pop Farm (Greece), Follow The Step (Poland), Charmenko (Romania), Fource Entertainment (Czech Republic) and SJM (UK).
The Faith In The Future 2023 outing is the follow-up to Tomlinson’s first world tour, which concluded in September, having been pushed back due to the pandemic.
Highlights from the tour include South America – “one of Louis’s biggest markets” – which saw the star sell 30,000 tickets in Brazil, 30,000 in Buenos Aires and 21,000 in Mexico.
Rowland also notes an open-air show in Milan, Italy, at the beginning of September, which saw 34,000 tickets fly off the shelf in 48 hours.
2022 also saw the evolution of Tomlinson’s own festival, Away From Home, which launched last year in Crystal Palace Park, London, and was free to attend.
This year the event moved to Malaga in Spain and featured The Vaccines, Sun Room, Stone and Hinds, all of whom performed alongside Tomlinson. This time around the event was ticked and Rowland says it sold 15,500 tickets in two days.
“I programmed it [alongside Louis] so it was quite fun to be on the other side of things, being the promoter and offering out supports to agents,” says Rowland.
Launching a festival was the natural progression for Tomlinson, who is known to hand-pick his own tour supports – many of whom go on to see great success, according to Rowland and Hardee.
“His fanbase is so loyal and they hang on every word he says,” says Rowland. “He’ll go onstage after the support acts and say ‘How amazing were they, go out and follow them,’ and that’s what his fans do because they really believe in him and trust him.”
Rowland notes that Tomlinson’s fanbase is surprisingly young – between 14–18 years old – which translates into strong merchandise sales, thanks to the parent pound.
“What’s crazy is that his fanbase is so young, they weren’t even around when One Direction were having their heyday. They must’ve found the band through siblings or something…” she notes.
When asked if it has been difficult to extricate Tomlinson from his previous work in One Direction, Rowland says: “He can’t hide from his past – One Direction were one of the biggest boybands of all time – but we need to respect his path and see him for the artist he wants to be and not who he was.
And as for comparisons to his former bandmates’ solo careers, she adds: “Harry is pop, Niall is more singer-songwriter and Louis is indie. That’s the music he loves and you can see that through the acts he requests to support him. It’s time now to shine the light on who he is.”
IQ MAGAZINE Nov 2023: more on FITFWT planning
#wasserman#iq magazine#holly rowland#louis tomlinson#faith in the future world tour#23 november 2022
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We… We have a lotta fun here xD
Channel Update!!!
Hello Everyone!!! Despite the, uh…rather silly presentation, I really have been working super hard on some fanworks in the background, and now I’m proud to finally present to you the “We Can’t All Be Winners” Fall Season Schedule! Plus I've got some previews for you to boot!!!
Let’s take a look!
"We Can’t All Be Winners" Fall Season Schedule plus FAQ and Previews!!!
(this post is already kinda long, (and is about to get a lot longer) so I put the rest underneath a tag xD)
October
Oct. 7th - Tiger Robe (fanfiction, renruki & Ichigo, hurt/comfort)
Oct. 14th - Three Times I Dreamed of You (fanfiction, renruki, some angsty longing but also fluff)
Oct. 21st - Who is Ichigo? (Karakura Gang Comic!)
Oct. 28th - Night Scare, Morning Care (fanfiction, renruki, hurt/comfort)
November
Nov. 4th - Double Feature! Bleach Book Club - Letters From The Other Side (light novel overview) + Roommates Assemble (Rukia & Ichigo + Karakura Gang drabble + fanart)
Nov. 11th - Bubble Tea (fanfiction, renruki + Yoruichi, slice of life, fluff)
Nov. 18th - Peaceful Day, Peaceful Night (fanfiction, renruki, fluff)
Nov. 25th - Commercial Break - Pocket Renji (Comic/fake ad)
December
Dec. 2nd - Bloodlines - Learning to Breathe (L2B) Prologue & Ch. 1 (multi-chapter fic, renruki, hurt/comfort, some angst, some humor)
Dec. 9th - L2B Ch. 2
Dec. 16th - L2B Ch. 3
Dec. 23 - L2B Ch. 4
Dec. 30 - L2B Ch. 5 & Epilogue
And that’s it! Yeah, Ichigo wasn’t kidding, it really is mostly just RenRuki fanfiction, haha!😅 Now I'm sure you all have some questions like: Wait…What is this?! Why is this?! How is this?! When is this?! And Where is this?! And I'll do my best to answer them in the FAQ below!
FAQ
Wait…What is this?!?
“We Can’t All Be Winners” or “WCABW” started out as an anthology series of RenRuki one-shots I started back in January. It contains a handful of stories featuring Renji, Rukia and occasionally others, and puts them in different scenarios, some of them canon-compliant and some of them in alternate universes. Originally, I planned to write and post one story a month, but I quickly fell behind. So I took a break and reassessed and decided to try posting in “seasons” instead. So now it’s a season of weekly uploaded fanworks to be posted from October to December, and will feature a variety of Bleach related content such as fanfiction, fanart, fan comics, bleach light novel overview, and, when I’m able to write one, a multi-chapter fic. All the fanfiction will be available on both Tumblr and AO3, but the rest will only be available on Tumblr (sorry!). Once this season is completed, I will mark the AO3 work as “completed”, and if I can do this again next year, I will start a new one!
Why is this?
Like most people, I originally planned to create and post fanworks whenever I finished them. However, I eventually found keeping up with a social media account stressful. Something about it makes you feel like you need to post all the time, even when no one else is pushing you. So I thought, hey, why not have a season! That way I have a predetermined end goal AND I don't feel like I gotta post outside of it! Plus if I feel like I need to just step away for a break (which I will most likely be doing once the queue starts running), it won't affect it since everything is already queued! So yeah, that's the idea behind it.
How do you plan to post this on AO3? It doesn’t have a queue system!
Yeah, that is a problem. My current plan is to have a tab open for each story/chapter I need to post, and then will just press the button to post it on the day it’s due to come out (or within 24 hrs). This will probably mean that the Tumblr post will link back to the table of contents of WCABW on AO3 rather than the chapter itself, so I would like to apologize for that in advance. I’ll try to fix it whenever I am able, or at the latest, when I become socially active on Tumblr again.
When is this?
Every Saturday from October 7 to December 30th at 11 am EST here on Tumblr, and within 24 hrs (either before or after) on AO3 (I'll try to make it before, but life happens sometimes). Now obviously this is no real substitute for the Bleach anime, not even close! But Saturdays were already a convenient day to post, so I thought, "Hey, why not?!" And just pushed the joke all the way!!!
Where is this?
Right here on Tumblr and on AO3 (links provided). On AO3, the one-shots will be posted under the We Can’t All Be Winners anthology series of one-shots that's already on there (if you haven't seen it yet, why not check it out? It already has some of my other one-shots on there!) The multi-chapter fic will have its own posting.
I have some questions/comments/concerns!
No problem! My ask box is always open! Now to be honest, I will be on break starting in early October, but I'll answer any I don’t see before then when I am able/get back! Also, if you are a part of the RenRuki discord, I may be checking in there from time to time even while on break.
And that’s it! Thank you all so much for reading this needlessly long and very silly announcement for Bleach fanworks of all things! To thank you for making it to the end, I added some previews for some of the upcoming works!! I hope you all enjoy!!! xD
PREVIEWS!!!
(Note: works are subject to minor changes)
Three Times I Dreamed of You
Chapter Summary: Nightmares are always terrible. But they are made even worse when you aren’t even able to talk to the person that they are about. (RenRuki, some angsty longing but also fluff)
"Rukia!"
Renji awoke with a start, sweat dripping down his brow. He whipped his head around wildly, as he mopped off his forehead with his sleeve. He was alone, utterly alone. Quickly he reached out with his spiritual pressure to feel hers, his heart pounding loudly in his ears. Finally, he found her, a tiny cold gust on a frigid winter night. It felt so impossibly far away, but… it was enough. Renji left the Eleventh Division barrack's dorm and climbed on top of the roof to feel it better.
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Tiger Robe
Chapter Summary: While shopping with Ichigo in the World of the Living, Rukia finds a tiger print robe that reminds her of someone from her past. (renruki & Ichigo, hurt/comfort, Starts out in the Soul Society Arc, but then jumps around a couple of times)
“Okay, we're here,” Kurosaki Ichigo began as they entered the clothing store, “The women’s section is in the back. If you need clothes, I don’t mind buying you a set or two, so can you just please stop stealing Yuzu’s?!? She’s starting to get suspicious…” But Rukia wasn't listening to him. Instead, she was looking around the store, completely enthralled.
“Woah! This is incredible!” Rukia replied with wonder, as her wide eyes flitted from one brightly colored clothing display to the next, “And you can afford such garments on your allowance alone?” Ichigo raised an eyebrow at her in response.
“Yeah…? It’s just a cheap department store, Rukia.”
“Incredible…” she muttered to herself again as she continued to look around the huge, lively store with a mixture of awe and nervousness. Several people passed them by, chatting as they filed in or out of the entrance, and loud music played on the speakers overhead.
This is nothing like the open markets that sold only rags in Inuzuri, she thought, And once I got adopted by the Kuchiki Clan, the tailors came to me. I don’t think I’ve been to anything even resembling a regular clothing store since the Academy. There is too much choice! What should I…?
Rukia could feel Ichigo’s concerned eyes on the back of her neck. Quickly, she stood up straighter, and turned towards him.
“You said, I could get whatever I wanted, right?!” she asked with a devilish grin. Ichigo sighed heavily as if he was immediately regretting both this decision and his entire existence. He scratched the back of his head.
“Within reason! I’m not rich, you know," he scowled, "You can get one everyday outfit and one sleepwear, that’s it!” With that, he set off across the store.
“Ah! You're so stingy, Ichigo!” Rukia teased as she followed after him.
“Keep talking smack, and I’ll make you shop in the children’s section!”
“I might anyway,” Rukia mused, as they passed by a pair of child’s pajamas with bunnies on them, “children’s clothes have nicer prints.”
“Whatever,” Ichigo replied, “Wear what you want when you sleep, but when you are out and about, try to wear typical 'teen clothes'. Otherwise people might get the wrong idea when we are walking together.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Rukia dismissed with a wave of her hand. As they continued walking along on their way to the back of the store, passing from the children's section into the men's, Rukia’s eyes were caught by a brightly colored robe. Turning towards it, she felt taken aback when she beheld the largest, tackiest tiger print bathrobe she had ever seen. Suddenly, she felt like she was thrown back over forty years…
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Bubble Tea
Chapter Summary: Relaxing is difficult when you are so used to fighting. Now that the Winter War is over, Rukia and Renji shoot the breeze and talk about the future. (renruki + Yoruichi, slice of life, fluff, During the Fullbringer Arc timeskip)
“Hmmm… Getting to know you without the fangs of death constantly nipping at our heels feels…weird,” Rukia commented suddenly, and a little too casually, one day as she sipped her bubble tea. Renji coughed in surprise. That or he got another tapioca pearl stuck in his throat, Rukia wasn't too sure.
“H-Huh?!" he spluttered, after he had finally begun to recover.
"Well, think about it," Rukia continued, as she settled her cup down beside her upon the park bench. She began to list things off on her fingers, “First it was surviving in Rukongai, then Aizen's betrayal, and then the Winter War. Whenever we were together it felt like our lives were in constant mortal danger. That it was us against the world. But now…now there’s no real threat.”
"Oh yeah…" Renji agreed, looking up to the sky in thought, "I guess, you're right…huh."
“Yeah," Rukia went on as she picked up her cup again, "The only other time it was seemingly this peaceful was when we were separated."
At that, Renji was silent for a moment, before asking quietly, "Kind of makes you wonder whether or not we're cursed, huh?" Rukia turned to look up at him, but Renji continued to stare up at the sky.
"If we are cursed," she began slowly, "then whoever made it, absolutely sucks at making curses," Renji quirked an eyebrow at her as she turned back towards her tea, "Curses are meant to make you the most miserable, but despite the dangers, I'm always more miserable when we're apart." Renji stared at her wide-eyed as she went back to sipping her tea.
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Learning to Breathe
Story Summary: Turns out purple eyes and short stature aren’t the only things that run in Hisana’s family, illness does as well. As Rukia and Renji try to help each other navigate through this new storm in their lives, will they remember to take time to breathe? (multi-chapter fic, renruki, hurt/comfort, some angst, some humor, Post TYBW, Rukia gets the same disease that killed Hisana. (Bloodlines AU))
Here’s a scene from chapter 1:
I faced an execution. I faced an espada's blade. I even faced a man who could literally murder me with fear. And yet, tiny medical needles are too much for me? You are utterly ridiculous, Kuchiki Rukia… Rukia thought glumly to herself, as she laid in bed one chilly morning before yet another doctor’s appointment. She began chuckling wryly, I've heard the pen is mightier than the sword, but I think the medical needle might be mightier still.
Rukia stared up at her bedroom ceiling, the sound of the room's clock ticking loudly in her ears. She'd been laying there for hours as sleep frustratingly eluded her. Sighing, she tried rolling over and closing her eyes again, but she couldn't shut out the anxious thoughts that plagued her mind.
I really hope today’s tests don’t have them. If I can’t get through these appointments without stressing out everytime I see one, then I’ll never convince him that he can rest, because I’ll be okay. That it will all be okay in the end. Hopefully…
Suddenly, Rukia’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the alarm on her soul pager going off. Again. Rukia’s hand shot out, flipped the infernal device open, and managed to press the snooze button for the third time that morning without even looking at it. She went back to staring up at the ceiling.
Guess I better get up now, huh? Can't keep putting it off, after all… My friends, my brother, and…Renji… they’re all so worried about me, so I can’t… I can’t be weak… I must be strong for them.
Rukia sighed, her stomach already all up in knots. Taking a deep breath to center herself, she forced herself to sit up. As she looked out her bedroom window towards the sky, she saw that it was pitch-black, that even the stars were blocked out by clouds.
Hmmm… Looks like a storm is rolling in too… Figures…
Rukia slowly pushed off her blankets and got up to search for her clothes. She thought about just wearing her black shinigami uniform, but she already knew neither her third seat nor her escort were going to let her go back to work this afternoon. Speaking of her escort…
Rukia left her room, a neatly folded dark blue kimono tucked underneath her arm, and approached the door of the guest room next to hers. She lifted her hand to knock, but paused.
I could just leave without waking him… she thought briefly, Let him sleep in. Gods know he needs it. That way, when I make it through the appointment on my own, he’ll see he has nothing to worry about! But she quickly shook herself. No! No, I don’t do that anymore! I don’t just run away... I talk about it. We talk about it. And even if we can’t figure it out, we still do even that together. Rukia took a deep breath, glared resolutely at the door, and knocked.
“Oi, Renji, you awake in there?” She heard what sounded like a groan to the affirmative. “Okay, just so you know, we’ve got to leave in an hour.”
“Mhmm… Yup. I got you,” he responded groggily. This was soon followed by the sound of very fast shuffling, a very loud bang, an almost as loud curse, and then more shuffling. Rukia raised an amused eyebrow at that.
“You good in there? All your limbs still present and accounted for?”
“Ha ha. Very funny. And yes, I’m fine. Thanks so much for your concern.”
“Of course!” Rukia smirked. However, the heavy feeling inside her soon dragged the corners of her lips back down. She took another deep breath. Here we go… "Oi, Renji…" she began quietly, "If you are too tired, it's okay, y'know? It's like I said before, it’s basically just a long doctor's appointment. I'll…I’ll be okay going by myself."
At that, Rukia heard the stomping sound of footsteps coming rapidly towards her, followed by the shoji door immediately sliding open with a sharp bang. Renji looked rather frazzled, with his sleeping robe half hanging off of his shoulder and his hair loosely pulled into a messy braid. He also looked rather cute…at least until he started shouting.
“WHAT? NO! OF COURSE I'M COMING WITH YOU, IDIOT!”
“QUIET, RENJI! ARE YOU TRYING TO WAKE UP THE ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD WITH YOUR RACKET?!?”
"You are way louder than me!" Renji replied in his terrible attempt at a whisper, "In any case, don't try to change the subject like that. You are downplaying it again, I know it. They are running medical tests today too, and I know those tend to make you nervous.” He managed to actually say that last part quietly. Then he smiled at her, “We're in this together, ya?" His lips might have been smiling, but Rukia saw his eyes. He was exhausted. She felt her heart lurch into her throat.
"Ya, well…don't go overdoing it, okay?" Rukia told him firmly as she fixed his robe for him, but her fingers lingered on his shoulder. Renji placed his hand over hers.
"Hmph… As if I could ever do too much for you… I'm fine, Rukia, really. Go get changed."
"Okay…" she murmured quietly, looking down. However, her face must have betrayed her troubled thoughts, because when she tried to remove her hand from his shoulder, Renji held it firm. She looked back up at him and he tilted his head down closer to hers.
"I love you~" he whispered to her in a cheeky sing-song voice with that toothy grin of his. He was clearly trying to lighten the mood, to make her smile or push him off and call him a dork, but instead Rukia felt her heart, already firmly lodged in her throat, leap even higher into her mouth.
“I know…” she barely got out, “I know Renji, but…”
“Uh uh. No ‘buts’, Ru. Go ahead and take your bath. I’ll see you in an hour, alright?” He winked and let go of her hand as he cheerfully went back into the guest room, closing the door behind him.
Rukia, on the other hand, just stood there, staring at the floor.
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And that's it for the previews! If you somehow made it all the way to the end, thanks so much for reading! The "We Can't All Be Winners" Fall Season starts next week! Hope to see you there!
#renruki#renruki fanworks incoming!!!#and some other characters too sometimes xD#hold on tight y'all#you're about to go on a bumpy and very fanfic-y ride!#Sorry to subject you all to this#but I gotta post my madness somewhere!!!
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Week of 6 November ‘23
Tbh I feel a bit embarrassed that I keep getting crushes on people who end not liking me back or just not seeing it going anywhere romantically or just wanting to be friends. They always go on about how I’m a “really great guy”, and Max told me I was a “catch” to make me feel better. But I don’t feel like much of a catch. I just feel like a failure. Why can’t I seem to spark with someone? I really do like Ellis. Why can’t that just be enough ? I guess I can’t make people like me the way I want them to. That hurts.
I thought things were going quite well honestly and I hoped we could take things further. I thought the problem with Jack was I went too fast physically and we just couldn’t work. With Ellis, I wanted him to make a move, and I didn’t want to be too forward and make a move myself. I didn’t want to come off as too eager. I’m thinking of the song “so what now” by Renee Rapp. A lot of it encapsulates how I feel at the moment. He says for now it’s best if we stayed friends. I don’t want to be delusional and think oh it could amount to something more. I mean it could, and I can hope that it does but I don’t know really. The balls in his court.
Monday Morning (6/11/2023)
I feel physically ill from this emotional torment. I’m so tired and my eyes hurt, and I’m shivering and fidgeting sometimes. Very much a disproportionate reaction to something to small I guess. He just said he wants to stay friends for now, and while I guess I feared things would go that way (I think I even mentioned it in an earlier post ) I still hoped it wouldn’t. Speaking of mentioning it earlier, my writing always ages so badly. Why can’t I help but foreshadow the least satisfactory outcome.
I’m just a little scared that this won’t go anywhere. The thought leaves me desolate. However, we have our funny moments like me falling off the wooden holds to see you taking photos of me or criticising the lack of “dynamicness” of archery. You listening to my show means a lot to me. Even though we haven’t known each other that long you mean a lot to me.
- Hänsel und Gretel (14/10/2023)
I’ve been loving the album "I get into trouble" by maple glider as a result.
9 Nov 2023
Ellis hasn't replied to my texts in quite a while now - so the last text I've gotten from him was from Monday (with him replying to my reply). I've sent a few texts since then with no response since, but he still watches my stories, so maybe he's not ghosting me (but also maybe he is). It just hurts tbh. I may be jumping to conclusions but I'd really hate for things to end this way. It's one thing for things to not go the way I wanted them to, and it's another to be ignored (and maybe have a friendship end - I really hope not). I haven't cried in a few days, but I feel one coming on right now. Haleemah thinks I should move on, and that's true. They said it'd be weird if I kept texting them, and I agree. So I have to end communication from my side at least, at least for a few months (or until he texts back. Whichever bloody comes first). I can't just stop thinking about him, that's impossible, but as time goes things may remind me less and less of him. It's a bit hard though, the film camera I own was partially influenced by him; me starting hockey too (honestly the irony of me crying over the initial message right before I head to the hockey game will never not be lost on me. It's like it was written in a romance film. Love/hate my life). I so want to see and talk to him again, but that might not be the best for now and I don't want to seem pestering. If he doesn't want to talk to me then maybe I should reach out. I hate this whole notion, but I gotta put me first. And it's not like I can't heal with him there (I did it with Jack), but this is probably different. I've liked Ellis for way longer...
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Stuff I'm Looking Forward to in November
How is it now November? In addition to All Saints Day (Nov. 1), Day of the Dead (Nov. 1-2), All Souls Day (Nov. 2), Daylight Savings Time Ending (Nov. 5), Election Day (Nov. 7) Veterans Day (observed on Nov. 10, officially on Nov. 11), Diwali (Nov. 12), Thanksgiving (Nov. 23) and Native American Heritage Day (Nov. 24) here is what's on my radar this month!
Movies:
Priscilla
After last year's Elvis biopic, The King's Queen Priscilla Presley gets the biopic treatment courtesy of Sofia Coppola. Opens 11/3.
Sly
Director Thom Zimney has done a ton of great docs on Bruce Springsteen including Letter to You as well as Elvis: The Searcher. Now he is turning his eye to Sylvester Stallone. Premieres 11/3 on Netflix.
The Killer
A David Fincher film is always an event. But when he reunites with Seven screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker, it's an even bigger event. After a limited release on 10/27, it premieres 11/10 on Netflix.
Thanksgiving
In 2007's Grindhouse, one of the highlights of the fake movie trailers they had between Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino's features was Eli Roth's trailer for Thanksgiving about a Thanksgiving-themed slasher film. It took a while, but now Eli Roth's actual feature film is finally dropping on 11/17 (just before Thanksgiving)!
Next Goal Wins
Taika Waititi is one of the most interesting directors working today. In addition to what he has brought to MCU with the last few Thor movies, his Jojo Rabbit deservedly won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Now he's back with a sports dramedy. Opens 11/17.
May December
This drama had me at "Todd Hayne directs Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman". Opening 11/17.
Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain
The comedy writing team of Please Don't Destroy have stolen many an SNL show in recent years. Now they are starring / writing their own film produced by Judd Apatow. Premiering 11/17 on Peacock.
Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte gets the biopic treatment from Ridley Scott. Opens 11/22.
Maestro
After his directorial debut with A Star is Born, Bradley Cooper's next directorial effort is a Leonard Bernstein biopic. Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg are producers on this as well! Opening 11/22 before a Netflix premiere on 12/20.
Music:
Snail Mail Valentine (Demos)
I was a huge fan of Snail Mail's excellent 2021 album Valentine. Now she is releasing an EP of demos and outtakes. EP drops 11/3.
The Beatles' Final Song and Reissues
Possibly the biggest deal for Beatle fanatics since The Beatles Anthology in the 90s is happening this month. Their final single "Now and Then" containing John Lennon's 1979 recording combined with George Harrison's 1994 recordings (when they attempted to record it for Anthology) with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr's modern day recording. While AI was used for the production, contrary to some interpretations this is NOT a Beatles song created by AI. Single is dropping 11/2. As if this weren't exciting enough, the remastered re-release of 1973's The Beatles 1962-1966 (AKA The Red Album) and The Beatles 1967-1970 (AKA The Blue Album) are being re-released on 11/10. (Review coming soon).
Scream DC Special
D.C. punk legends Scream (the band that Dave Grohl joined as a teen and was in pre-Nirvana) have not released an album in 30 years (Fumble, which featured Grohl re-joining for that album). Now the group is releasing a new album (featuring tons of special guests including Grohl) on 11/10.
Conventions:
NorthEast Comic Con
Over the last few years I've been lucky enough to cover the NorthEast Comic Con, a fun MA-based celebration of comics, collectibles and pop culture. Guests for the Winter edition include Heather Matarazzo, Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald and more. Con takes place at Boxborough Regency (Boxborough, MA) from 11/24-26.
Fake Holidays:
In addition to actual holidays this month, there are also fake or unofficial holidays like Black Friday (11/24), Record Store Day Black Friday Edition (11/24), Cyber Monday (11/27) and Giving Tuesday (11/28).
#stuff i'm looking forward to this month#priscilla#sofia coppola#sly#thom zimney#the killer#david fincher#thanksgiving#eli roth#next goal wins#taika waititi#may december#todd haynes#please don't destroy: the treasure of foggy mountain#napoleon#ridley scott#maestro#bradley cooper#snail mail#the beatles#scream#northeast comic con#film geek#music nerd#convention
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Unholy Creatures by FormerLoserWeeb
Anime » Kuroshitsuji Rated: T, English, Romance, Sebastian M., OC, Words: 10k+, Favs: 114, Follows: 128, Published: Nov 5, 2012 Updated: Oct 24
73Chapter 1: One
2022 Wilma: Hello! So, I've been writing this fanfiction (originally titled His Butler, In Love) since I was 13 years old. I'm 23 now with a shiny new English degree and still trucking on this story. I want to continue writing this one, but the first chapters are *jean ralphio voice* Garbaaaaaage because I was 13 and barely knew how to write.
OG readers, do not panic. Yes, the name is different. Yes, the old chapters are gone. NO, they will not stay gone! NO, it is not a different story. I'm just going through and editing everything (yes, EVERYTHING) from the last 10 years and reuploading. This means the story will be massively improved. Fear not, the story will be back and better than it was before (with bonus content)!
The sound of the doorbell ringing through the large house was incessant.
Ciel groaned. He had been about to call upon Sebastian to begin readying for bed, but it appeared there would be a delay. Who was at the manor so late? "Answer the door, Sebastian."
"Yes, master."
Ciel yawned loudly and stretched in his seat at the large desk in the study. His days seemed long as of late, the work never-ending as autumn began and signaled the start of Funtom's preparations for the holiday season.
Ciel rose and strode to the front of the manor at a leisurely pace. "What's the meaning of this?" He asked as he walked up behind Sebastian.
"It appears the reapers have a stray for us," Sebastian said.
The reapers? Ciel thought, peeking around Sebastian to see the reaper William with a young girl next to him, her dress filthy and brown hair disheveled. Who is that?
The girl looked far away, confused, and frightened. What happened to her?
"Good evening," William greeted the Earl. "I'm sorry to come so late, but you and your entourage seem to be the safest place for her. Her name is Angeline."
"Why did you bring her here?" Ciel asked.
"It seems we have not rid ourselves of those pesky angels just yet," William said. "And Ash has taken a liking to Angeline."
Ciel's eyes narrowed. Ash.
"Her family perished in an earthquake and she was abducted by Ash," William continued. "I was able to retrieve her, but she needs somewhere safe to stay until the reapers can dispose of him."
Ciel sighed, reluctantly resigning himself to the wishes of the reaper.
"Take her to a guest bedroom, Sebastian. Any one will do." Ciel instructed to his butler. I will have to notify the Queen of this. Reapers or not, she will want her own task force to handle Ash.
"Yes, master." Sebastian replied. He obediently rushed to the Reaper, who was supporting Angeline at the entrance of the manor. Sebastian swept Angeline into his arms and carried the tired, unresponsive girl to a guest bedroom.
In a house full of the supernatural, the melody in Angeline's head grew louder.
London Bridge is falling down… Build it up with iron and steel… iron and steel will bend and bow… My fair lady.
Ciel now sat at the foot of his bed, no longer tired. He procured newspapers recounting the events of the earthquake that had been the demise of Angeline's family, desperate for anything that would help in finally defeating Ash. "Angeline Juliet Redthorne," Ciel murmured. "Her parents and older sister died in an earthquake and she was nowhere to be found," Ciel said aloud to Sebastian.
"Young Master," Sebastian began, "Go back to bed or I'll unleash your fiancé on you in the morning, and you know how she can dote."
Ciel cursed and got back into bed, knowing it was more reasonable to get his rest and think about this in the morning. He drifted off into an uneasy sleep.
The ground underneath Ciel's feet shook. He was in front of a house in a rural area he had never been to before, facing a large house on acres of green land. A mysterious unknown voice sang from somewhere above Ciel.
"London bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down," It sounded like a man's voice, and vaguely familiar.
"Mother! Father! Sister!" A shrill scream sounded from the crumbling building.
"London Bridge is falling down, my fair lady."
In response, a woman's voice sang from inside the house. "Build it up with wood and clay, wood and clay, wood and clay. Build it up with wood and clay."
"Wood and clay will wash away, wash away, wash away. Wood and clay will wash away, my fair lady."
The woman's voice sounded again. "Build it up with iron and steel, iron and steel, iron and steel. Build it up with iron and steel," A girl appeared in the doorway in a hypnotic trance, green eyes glinting through the smoke.
"Angeline?" Ciel asked. No one appeared to have heard him.
"Iron and steel will bend and bow, bend and bow, bend and bow. Iron and steel will bend and bow, my fair lady," The voice sounded from above.
Angeline continued singing as a winged man came down from the heavens. Ash. Ciel thought bitterly.
Ash sang to Angeline, landing in front of her and taking her hands. "Silver and gold will be stolen away, my fair lady."
"Is there no solution to the broken bridge?" Angeline asked, looking back at the rubble that used to be her home. "Or my broken heart?"
"I'm afraid not, my lady." Ash responded.
"Why did you take my family away?"
"This world is slowly being cleansed, my dear. I'm sorry, Angeline, but it's all part of the process. Angeline, that's such a lovely name. Fit for an angel like me." Ash said, releasing her hands and wrapping one arm around her waist.
"What is the meaning of this, angel?" Angeline asked. She had always been told that angels help people, she read it in her bible and listened to the preachers at church. Surely this angel couldn't be one of them?
"Please, call me Ash," The angel said. "Angeline, shouldn't you have a form worthy of your name? Surely, being human isn't enough for you."
"Actually, it is, thank you very much." Angeline replied. "Besides, why me?"
"Because, I chose you, my dear. Don't you want to be spared? Don't you want to join me in my cleansing?" Ash asked.
Angeline looked once again at her crumbled home. "My mother, my father, my older sister, they're all in there and they won't ever come out again," Angeline looked at Ash with absolute hatred. "If killing innocent people is your idea of a cleansing, I want nothing to do with it. The only thing that needs to be 'cleansed' is demons like you."
Ash frowned. "Well, I should have to try to change your mind," He said. Angeline's eyes widened as his grip tightened on her. "And I am an angel, not a demon."
"Your actions beg to differ." Angeline replied bravely.
"Angeline, get out of there!" Ciel shouted, unheard.
Ash opened his gigantic wings and carried Angeline up, up, and up, higher and higher. Angeline struggled to break free, screaming as loud as she could, but Ash's tight grip on her waist never loosened.
"Angeline!" Ciel shouted again.
Ciel woke with a start. What a strange dream. He thought. Ciel got out of bed and dressed himself, finding Sebastian dusting a stair railing.
"Young Master!" He said, "You're up early."
"I will be eating in my study this morning; I have an important letter to send to her majesty."
"Yes, master," Sebastian said, watching the young Earl retreat to his study.
"Has the Redthorne girl had anything to eat?" Ciel asked, stopping and turning to the Butler.
"She is still asleep, master," Sebastian informed.
"Bring something up to her room for when she wakes up. We don't want her starving while she's here."
"Of course, right away master."
2: Two
2012 Wilma: I've been really busy with school and stuff so I haven't had time to update. Also, the computer was in the family room and i didn't really want anyone looking over my shoulder. My family already thinks I'm a complete nerd XD.
2022 Wilma: Wow, you talk a lot. You really were just writing fanfiction about anime bois in front of your whole family, weren't you?
2012 Wilma: ANYWAYS, my dad gave me a computer for my room (Thanks dad!) so I'll update much more frequently, hopefully on a weekly basis or once every two weeks. We'll see.
2022 Wilma: Dad is such a G, the computer was for school but I bet he noticed how much we were writing and wanted to support it. Anyway, we will now be updating with the improved chapters in order of when the story takes place, so 2-3 times a month.
Sebastian approached the door to Angeline's room, knocking softly on the wood. "Miss Redthorne?"
Angeline didn't answer.
The door opened and she heard something being placed on the bedside table. "I know you're awake, and you really should eat something Miss Redthorne."
Angeline didn't move, she only let out a sigh. "I'm not hungry." She stated simply.
Sebastian frowned. "In that case, the young master wishes to see you in his study. Do you need assistance dressing?" Sebastian asked.
Angeline shot up. "No!"
Sebastian chuckled with an amused smirk plastered on his face and left, closing the door behind him.
Angeline reluctantly got out of bed and opened the wardrobe. The wide array of dresses nauseated Angeline, who hated making decisions. Eventually she chose a dark blue one, not bothering with a corset, and found her way to Ciel's study. Standing at the front of the door, she knocked softly.
"Enter," Ciel mumbled from inside.
Angeline opened the door, stepping inside the large study.
Ciel looked up from his paperwork. "Well, don't you look lovely. please, sit." he said. "Sebastian, tell Mey-Rin to run a bath for Miss Redthorne. She's been missing for three weeks, I'm sure she could use it."
Angeline couldn't even be bothered to take offense. He was right, she certainly smelled like she'd been missing for three weeks.
"Yes, master." Sebastian said before exiting the study.
Ciel put down his pen. "Well, Miss Redthorne," he began.
"Please, call me Angeline," She interrupted.
"Very well, but I didn't bring you in here to chat. I'll be blunt, where were you in the three weeks you were missing? You disappeared immediately after the earthquake that destroyed your home and killed your parents and sister."
There was a long pause as Angeline considered her next words. If she told the truth, Ciel could send her to a pauper's madhouse and she had no one to come looking for her. "You won't believe me if I tell you."
"I assure you, Angeline, I have seen many strange things in my short life. You need not worry about how I perceive you."
Angeline's gaze flicked the the floor. "You'll send me to Bethlam."
Ciel sighed with frustration. Her fears were not unwarranted, she knew not of the supernatural that walked among the citizens of London as Ciel did, but this would certainly be easier if she was willing to be candid.
"I had a disturbing dream last night," Ciel said.
Angeline's brows knitted together, her confusion toward the change in subject clear. Ciel went on, describing the events of his dream to Angeline in as much detail as he could remember. When he was done, he threw a pointed look at Angeline. "Surely what you've been through isn't more unlikely than that."
Angeline was looking at Ciel inquisitively. "That is exactly what happened," She admitted.
"What happened after he carried you off? Before William retrieved you?" Ciel asked.
"Who's William?" Angeline asked.
She doesn't remember last night, Ciel realized. "Before you arrived here," He clarified.
There was a long pause as Angeline thought. "I don't remember."
Of course, nothing could go without some mystery. "That's alright," Ciel said. "What's important is that you're here now and we know of Ash's plans and whereabouts."
A knock sounded. "Enter," Ciel said.
Sebastian opened the door. "Angeline, your bath is ready," He said.
"Thank you, Sebastian," Angeline said.
The sound of his name in her gentle voice was refreshing and Sebastian gave her a smile. "You'll find it at the third room to your right."
Angeline nodded and excused herself from the study. It was true, Sebastian thought, Angeline was dirty enough to say say the least, but she looked lovely in Lizzie's old dress. He watched her leave the study, then turned to Ciel for further instruction.
"Take this and send it to the queen." Ciel instructed, holding the letter out to Sebastian.
"Yes, master." Sebastian replied, taking the letter. "May I?"
"You may as well."
Sebastian walked down the corridor, scanning the letter.
Your Majesty,
I must inform you that I have found Angeline Juliet Redthorne. While she was missing, she was not in hiding as would be expected. She had been kidnapped. I hate to alarm you so soon after your recovery, but the kidnapper was your angelic butler, Ash. he has returned to cleanse the earth once again. I need to know what you would like me to do with Miss Redthorne, she has yet to tell me how she escaped Ash's clutches.
Yours Truly,
Ciel Phantomhive.
"Ash has returned and he is after miss Redthorne," Sebastian mused to himself as he stuffed the letter into an envelope and sent it. "Well, that will not do. I won't stand for it, he should not soil her."
Meanwhile, Mey-Rin, who had been peaking around the corner at Sebastian, turned and walked away in a fit of jealousy. What's so special about her? I know you, Sebastian. I've worked with you for years and she's won you over in a matter of days, yes she has! It's not fair, no it's not!
Lizzie, who was expected at one-thirty, arrived at the estate fifteen minutes early.
"Ciel!" She shrieked, throwing herself at her fiancé.
Ciel grunted as Lizzie ran into him. "Hello, Lizzie," he said, his face reddening in the cheeks. "It's good to see you."
"Oh, I missed you so much!" She exclaimed, squeezing his cheeks. "You're always working, I never get to see you!"
Ciel sighed. "Yes, I am afraid there is much to do today," He said.
"That's not fair!" Lizzie exclaimed. "I came all the way here to see you!"
"I have a guest, Angeline," Ciel began. "She is surely very bored here. Would you and Paula mind terribly taking her shopping? I promise I will be done in time for dinner and dancing."
"Dancing?" Lizzie's voice went up an octave, excited.
Ciel despised dancing, but if it would make Lizzie happy he would endure it.
"You won't mind if I leave you here?" Lizzie asked.
"Not at all, I will see you tonight," Ciel confirmed.
"Alright," Lizzie agreed.
Sebastian knocked on the door, opening it at Ciel's command. "Angeline is here."
"Send her in," Ciel replied.
Angeline stepped into the room. "You look much better," Ciel commented. "Lizzie will spend the afternoon with you, if you don't mind."
"Not at all," Angeline said.
"It will be fun, Angeline!" Lizzie said. "I'm Elizabeth, by the way, it's nice to meet you! You can call me Lizzie."
Angeline smiled at the young girl who could not have been older than thirteen. At twenty-two, Angeline guessed she had to be more than five years older than Lizzie, a similar age difference she'd had with her older sister. A pang ripped through her chest, but she swallowed it down as she followed Lizzie to her carriage, Sebastian in tow at Ciel's request.
"Oh, that dress is just lovely!" Lizzie exclaimed, looking into the window of a shop. "I have so many already, but it would look amazing on you, Angeline!"
"It is certainly eye-catching," Angeline agreed.
"You must buy it! I'm sure you need new clothes at the manor," Lizzie said.
Angeline did not take her eyes off the dress. She had nothing but the clothes she arrived to the manor in and no funds for anything, especially new clothes. Used to decent wealth, Angeline was too embarrassed to admit how dismal her life had become.
"Oh, you think you forgot your money!" Lizzie said. "Sebastian remembered and brought it with us, don't worry! I'm sure it's enough for a few dresses."
My money? Angeline wondered. She had no money, but sure enough, Sebastian was holding a small satchel full of coin toward Angeline.
"Oh," Angeline said. "I would lose my own head if it weren't attached to my neck. Thank you, Sebastian."
Though this saved her from the embarrassment of her abysmal funds, she would have to inquire later about how Sebastian expected her to pay him back.
"Thank you for keeping my company, I get so bored when Ciel is busy!" Lizzie said when they returned from town, Lizzie and Angeline both holding bags of new clothes and Sebastian following behind with stacks of boxes.
"Of course, it was such a fun time!" Angeline replied. Lizzie bid Angeline goodbye before walking in the direction of her fiancé's study while Sebastian took Angeline's things to her room.
With nothing else to do, Angeline wandered through the halls of the exquisite mansion, taking in the craftsmanship of it. Eventually she stumbled upon the kitchen where Sebastian was preparing dinner.
"You didn't pay for my things with your own funds, did you?" Angeline asked.
"The Earl pays me a handsome salary along with the room and board, but I have no need for so much coin. The excess is useful in situations like this," Sebastian replied easily as he chopped vegetables on a wooden board.
"Situations like this?" Angeline asked. "How many kidnapped girls do you house here?" She joked.
Sebastian cracked a subtle smile. "You would be the first."
"I'll pay you back somehow," Angeline assured him.
"No need," he insisted. "Like I said, I have no use for the excess wages. You have been through enough, the least I can do is make life easier for you where I can."
"At the very least, can I help you in here?" Angeline asked.
"Angeline, you are our guest," Sebastian sighed.
"I'd like to help, please."
It took a moment, but Sebastian reluctantly agreed. He set up Angeline at a station to peel potatoes and she happily worked in silence alongside the butler, though she was unsure if she was completing her task correctly. She had never tried to cook before. She was about halfway through the job when one of the potatoes slipped out of her hands and the peeling knife nicked her palm. "Ouch," She murmured.
Sebastian, who had been across the kitchen, was beside Angeline before she could blink. He caught the dropped potato before it hit the ground and put it on the chopping board, then took her hand so he could inspect the damage.
"How did you move so fast?" Angeline asked while Sebastian tended to her cut.
His gaze flicked to her face for only a moment before he continued dressing her wound. "I am simply one Hell of a butler," he said.
Helpful, Angeline thought sarcastically. Sebastian sent her off to ready herself to eat with Ciel and Lizzie.
As she left, Angeline looked back at Sebastian as he worked. Something's odd about that butler...
3: Three
2022 Wilma: Whew! This one was a MONSTER to edit, not gonna lie. I'm not fully satisfied with a few sections tbh, but it's wayyy better than before so at least there's that.
Angeline woke up the next morning feeling groggy. She had never been one to feel well rested upon waking up and it had become worse since the earthquake on account of her anxiety, nightmares, and grief.
Suffice it to say, she was not a morning person. She stumbled out of bed, scavenging a dark orange dress from the wardrobe. In the corner sat a large grandfather clock, alerting her it was 10:15 in the morning. She hadn't realized she slept so late.
As she made her way downstairs she saw Sebastian, who appeared as though he was about to leave. "Where are you off to?" She asked in curiosity.
"Out to run a few errands for the young master," He replied.
"Would you mind if I come?" Angeline asked. "I could use the fresh air."
"I don't see a problem with you accompanying me," Sebastian said. "I'm sure it will be better than babysitting Lizzie."
It was true. Angeline liked Lizzie well enough, but it was hard to form a genuine friendship with the girl, especially when Angeline was five years her senior. Angeline swallowed the lump that formed in her throat when she thought about the inexplicable loneliness she'd been feeling since her family was ripped away from her, especially because she no longer had her sister to keep her company.
Angeline followed Sebastian out the front door and to the carriage. There was an uncomfortable silence for the first part of the ride, the easy silence they had formed in the kitchen nowhere to be found. Angeline looked out the window and Sebastian was staring so intently at her, she would've thought he was trying to see into her soul.
"Sebastian, please stop staring at me like that," she whispered.
Sebastian blinked, then sat back a little further. "My apologies, Angeline." He said sincerely. "That was rude of me; as a Phantomhive butler I should know better."
Angeline merely shook her head. Something was... off about the Phantomhive butler.
"Well," Sebastian started as the carriage stopped, "We've arrived at our first destination. After you, Angeline."
Angeline breathed in the warm air as she walked behind Sebastian. It was a pleasantly warm day and Angeline knew the air would soon have the bite of cold as autumn swept in to make way for winter.
Sebastian led Angeline to a simple market. "You must promise me you'll never tell Bocchan, he'd have a fit if he found out this is where I get our produce," he said with an amused smile.
"I won't tell him, but why? Can't you just get them from where he'd want you to?" Angeline countered.
"To him, labels are everything, but I've found this to be much more reliable and fresh in the produce department than the market he insists he prefers," Sebastian explained, examining the eggplants.
"How can you be sure about that?"
Sebastian shifted his gaze toward her, eyes glinting, a mysterious smile etched onto his face. "You see, I am simply one hell of a butler."
It was the second time he said that and though Angeline had no idea what it meant, something in the way he said it shut her up. She silently followed the butler around the market, observing him as he moved about the stands. That meant something, but what?
Angeline followed Sebastian to five different vendors. She asked him to teach her how to pick the best options out of the selections and he was happy to oblige. "Why do you want to know? If I may ask," Sebastian inquired as he taught her how to spot the best piece of fish.
"My family always hired servants for this sort of errand," Angeline began. "Seeing as I no longer have a family or their wealth, I should learn to take care of myself. going to the market is a small thing, but it's a start."
Sebastian nodded thoughtfully. He knew she was in pain, grieving for her family and processing the trauma she'd been through, but she was handling the situation exceptionally. He did not know many humans who would be as proactive as Angeline was being in her situation.
After they were done shopping for food to stock the manor with, Sebastian began leading her back to the carriage. As they walked, a black cat crossed their path. Bad luck, Angeline thought. Her luck decidedly could not get worse after the events that had taken place in her life lately, so the usual fear instilled in her by her religious and superstitious family was nowhere to be found within her. Sebastian stopped before the cat, hesitating a moment before bending to scratch at its neck. The cat purred, wrapping itself around Sebastian's leg and an easy smile graced the butler's face.
"You like cats?" Angeline inquired.
"I adore them," Sebastian answered, giving the cat one last scratch between the ears before straightening. The cat meowed happily and went on its way. Sebastian watched it disappear into the throng of shoppers before he began leading Angeline to the carriage again.
"Is there a cat of yours at the estate?" Angeline asked as the carriage moved back toward the estate. "The grounds are so big I could have missed it."
Sebastian shook his head. "The master would allow it, but I know he is not fond of animals and I haven't the need."
Angeline hummed thoughtfully, then gazed out the window as the carriage rode into the grounds of the estate.
"Thank you for accompanying me," Sebastian said as they made their way back to the estate. "I must admit, the errands are not as soul-sucking with company."
"Thank you for letting me," Angeline replied, her heart springing upon hearing that Sebastian enjoyed her presence so much. She practically floated up to her room, she was in such a good mood. The fresh air had always done wonders for her.
She stopped short in the corridor when a melody invaded her mind. London bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down...
She vigorously shook her head, willing it away and clearing it out.
It was nothing, only coincidence. Ash put that song in your head for weeks, of course you'd think about it sometimes. Don't worry about him. She told herself.
Still frightened, she slowly made her way to her room, looking out every window to make sure the accursed angel wasn't there. It was nothing. It was was nothing.
"Let me out, Ash! Let me out! Please!" Angeline cried. She couldn't see anything, but she could hear the angel.
"Not until you join me," Ash bargained, his voice calm.
"Ash, please," She sobbed, her voice breaking. "I won't tell anyone, just please let me out."
Ash sighed. The girl didn't understand. "Secrecy isn't what I want. I want you to work beside me. We would make a very good team."
"You know I won't," Angeline spat, some fighting spirit finding its way out of her despite her exhaustion and helplessness. "Let me go."
"This is getting rather tiresome, my dear, and you talk too much. You sound sleepy, shall I sing you a lullaby?"
"No!"
Ash disregarded Angeline's plea and began to sing, the first refrain of "London Bridge" echoing through the room.
"You monster," Angeline said, voice faltering.
"London bridge is falling down, my fair lady."
There was no sound from Angeline.
"Rest well, darling." Ash said. "Hopefully when you wake, you'll learn to see things my way and love me like I love you."
Ash left, certain his dear Angeline wasn't going anywhere. Soon, however, the reaper William entered the room. It was to his advantage that Ash was unaware that as a neutral party between life and death, reapers could occupy any space in not just the human world, but the realms of angels and demons alike. "Found you," William said.
The reaper freed the sleeping Angeline from her prison, softly singing "London Bridge," and her eyes opened. She was awake, but still clearly exhausted.
Then, Angeline woke up. She had fallen asleep on a chaise. The song controls my sleep! I remember! She thought, scrambling off the chaise as quickly as she could so she could tell Ciel, who she knew was speaking with the Queen about Ash's whereabouts. She supposed she shouldn't be surprised that the Royal family was involved with this, but she never considered the reality of the supernatural and how it might affect politics.
A knock sounded at the door to Ciel's study. "Bocchan, you've received a letter from her majesty," Sebastian informed Ciel, holding out a silver tray with a letter on it.
Ciel took the letter and ripped it open.
Ciel,
Thank you so much for informing me about Miss Redthorne and Ash.
I would like you to let her stay at the Phantomhive manor for the time being. She will be safe there and she could be valuable in the new effort to defeat Ash. Make sure she is safe from him. He will come after her, I know him well enough to know that.
Regards,
Victoria.
Angeline joined Ciel for dinner. Afterward, she requested a book from Finny and lounged on a sofa to read.
Several chapters into her book, Sebastian entered the room to check on her. She thanked him and declined his offer of tea or a sweet, saying she'd rather have tea before bed.
"Do you know how to play chess?" Angeline asked.
Sebastian looked at her, expressions quizzical. "Yes."
"Will you teach me?"
There was a pause and Angeline's face heated when she realized Sebastian was likely busy with his duties as a butler. "I'm so sorry!" She said. "You must have so much to do, entertaining a bored girl should be the least of your worries!"
"The Earl has gone to bed," Sebastian said. "We can play chess."
Sebastian procured a chess board and lead Angeline into a lounge. They sat at opposite ends of a small table and Sebastian set up the white side of the board. He had Angeline mirror it on the black side so she could learn how to set it up. "You can play white," He said.
"What does that mean?"
His crimson eyes glanced up at her before moving back to the board to finish setting up the white pawns. "White goes first."
"Is that advantageous?" She asked.
"Of course."
"Then why forfeit the advantage?"
Sebastian spun the board around so the white side faced Angeline. "I prefer playing black," He said. "It's my lucky color, I suppose. Besides," He continued, looking up from the board and flashing a playful, wicked smile at her. "I have every confidence I'll win."
Angeline's face cracked into a grin. "Of course you will," she said. "I've never played before."
Indeed, Sebastian won, but he assured her that her playing would improve the more they kept at it. "The nights get boring when the Earl goes to sleep," The butler said, tucking the chess set under his arm. The pair stood and walked side by side out of the lounge. "Chess instead of duties will be a welcome rest. If you'd like to play regularly, of course."
"You could sleep," Angeline pointed out. Sebastian glanced down at her from the corner of his eye as they walked.
"Of course, but the Earl is young and retires early. It leaves far too much time for me to know what to do with."
Angeline looked ahead so he couldn't see her eyes narrow with suspicion. Liar, she thought. Did the butler sleep? Was he of supernatural existence as Ash was?
She supposed she would find out before long. "I suppose I can entertain you with endless wins in chess," She teased. "But I need to rest."
"Of course. Goodnight, Angeline."
"Goodnight, Sebastian."
As Angeline readied herself for bed, putting on a nightgown and brushing her hair out of it's braid, she couldn't shake the feeling something was watching her.
"London bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down."
Angeline gasped, the brush slipping out of her grip and clattering to the floor. Before she could react or call for help, sleep started to take her.
"London bridge is falling down, my fair lady."
Outside, Ash waited. He was calling her, and she was sure to come.
2012 Wilma: You clipped out Grell's introduction!?
2022 Wilma: Yes! The transphobia was coming from inside the house. Don't worry, Grell will still find their way into the narrative.
4: Four
2013 Wilma: How did I miss the fact that Madame Red's name is Angelina!? It's way too similar to Angeline! God I need to pay more attention!
2022 Wilma: We've never been the most observant.
Ciel woke in a cold sweat. Something is happening, he thought. He quietly climbed out of bed, making his way out of the bedroom and into the corridor. His blasted estate was huge, even walking to the lookout over the entry took far too long. As he scanned the front door for signs of intrusion, Angeline passed next to him, descending the stairs.
"Angeline? What are you doing?" Ciel questioned.
She ignored him, her step steady. Did she hear me?
Suddenly, Angeline started singing. Her soprano voice pierced through the silent manor. "Build it up with iron and steel, my dear angel."
As she sang, the front door swung open with unnatural force, especially because it appeared to open on its own. Wind howled into the foyer, whipping Angeline's hair as it flew around her face. Ash stood outside the door, wings spread, arms wide, waiting for Angeline to come to him.
Ciel's heart dropped, dread pooling into his gut. "Sebastian!" He yelled. "Get Angeline before Ash does!"
Only a moment passed before Ciel's orders were met. Sebastian appeared, grabbing Angeline by the waist and pulling her away. Her gaze stared at nothing, void of expression. Sebastian set her down on a step before flying toward Ash. His eyes gleamed with fury, his distaste for the angel morphing into raw hatred.
He couldn't claim to know Angeline- a few errands and a chess game hardly counted as quality time- but he did know that she didn't deserve what Ash was doing to her. She deserved the simple, charmed life that used to wait for her, not the hysteria that her life had become because of him.
Armed with cutlery, Sebastian took the first swing at Ash. Angeline stood from her seat and wandered back to the angel.
"Build it up with iron and steel," She sang softly.
"Sebastian, the song!" Ciel exclaimed, his voice fearful. He watched as her trance swept her toward the angel as if her fear of him had never existed. "It's as if she's possessed!"
Sebastian's gaze flicked toward Angeline. He knew what was wrong with her and began to sing. "Iron and steel will bend and-"
"No!" Ash roared, interrupting Sebastian's singing. "She will not be taken from me again!"
Sebastian flung an assortment of knives and forks at the angel. They buried into his wings, pinning him to the wall and Ash struggled to free himself to no avail. With each movement, more blood poured out of his wings and onto the floor.
"Ash," Angeline whispered, walking toward the enraged angel. "Build it up with-"
Sebastian swooped by, grabbing Angeline effortlessly, cutting off her singing. He gathered her into his arms and ushered her away from Ash. As he looked at the vulnerable limp girl, he started to sing again. "Iron and steel will bend and bow, bend and bow, bend and bow. Iron and steel will bend and bow, my fair lady."
His voice echoed through the manor and he watched as Angeline's eyes cleared. She blinked and her gaze focused on him. "Sebastian?" She asked.
"Welcome back," He said.
Angeline knew something bad had happened, but she didn't want to worry about it right now. She felt safe with him and she wanted to bask in the calm she felt knowing he had protected her. She sighed, her eyes closing, her fingers clutching the lapel of his tailcoat.
Sebastian's eyes rested intently on Angeline's face. Were her eyes open, the intensity of his gaze would have surely frightened her. When he was sure she wouldn't faint, he looked toward the angel. He wanted to see Ash suffer in watching his own defeat, wanted him to see Sebastian and Angeline in the middle of the floor with her cradled in his arms. The feeling was strange, unlike anything he'd felt before, even in Greece.
Angeline's eyes opened again to look at Sebastian. "What happened?" She asked.
"An angel called you." Came Sebastian's simple reply. Angeline glanced in Ash's direction.
"You!" She exclaimed, outraged. "You put me to sleep, didn't you? You called to me!"
"Angeline, you were meant for me!" Ash insisted in lieu of an answer.
Angeline's eyes closed as she tried to settle her frustration and let out a shaky breath. "Sebastian, put me down," She demanded.
"My lady, I'm not sure that's a good-"
"Put me down, now!"
Sebastian sighed in defeat and set Angeline down. She walked closer to Ash, her gaze full of hatred and anger. "Why won't you leave me alone?" She spat, her voice dripping with venom. Ash appeared to be stuck to the wall, and his wings were bleeding. She stepped closer for a better look. Are those butter knives? And forks?
Ash reached out for Angeline, but Sebastian pulled her back. "Careful now," he said. "Don't get too close." The Phantomhive butler swept Angeline behind him with an arm before he pulled the cutlery from the angel's wings one by one. Ash hurled himself into the air, struggling with his injured wings.
Bang!
Angeline's body recoiled at the loud sound, her eyes scanning to see where it had come from to find that Ash held a pistol on his hands. Where did that come from? She wondered, the thought frantic.
"Angeline!" Ciel shouted. No, I have orders from Victoria to keep her safe!
"Dead or alive," Ash said, crazed and breathless, "She will be mine!"
Angeline flinched further into herself with each shot the angel fired, her heart pounding against her chest as she waited for one of the bullets to pierce her. Ash stopped shooting when he ran out of bullets, his frenzied eyes scanning the room to see if he hit anyone.
Sebastian sighed and set six bullets down onto a nearby table. He launched himself up to Ash's height and grabbed his collar, pulling him down. He brought Ash's face close to his, a mock smile plastered on his face, and Ash's eyes narrowed with distaste. "Ash, you should know to be gentle with a human. They're such fragile creatures."
"You've won this time, but I'll be back for her," Ash muttered darkly, taking his leave.
The manor lapsed into silence, the only sound heard that of Ciel and Angeline's panicked breathing. Angeline looked at the young Earl, who's face had lost its color. "Are you alright?" She asked. He's only a child, she thought.
Ciel gulped, his breath still coming heavy. He looked toward Angeline, surprise glinting behind the fear in his eyes. "Yes, I'm fine," He answered.
Angeline looked toward Sebastian, his voice running through her head. Humans are such fragile creatures. She knew Sebastian was strange, and though she had suspected it before she knew now he wasn't human. Only a being of the supernatural could catch six bullets from the air and take down someone as powerful as Ash with the household silver.
What has my life become? She thought.
In the aftermath of the chaos, Angeline began to feel sick. Ash was gone for the time being, likely to show himself another day, and in the silence Angeline's thoughts turned to what she could have done for God to deal her this hand.
She closed her eyes against the sickness turning in her stomach, her focus turning toward a new effort not to heave. She would never recover from the embarrassment if she soiled the floor of the estate with her sickness.
Her breaths became quick and she struggled to keep them under control, her head beginning to spin as her stomach turned again. She groaned, unable to hide her discomfort, and blinked rapidly to attempt to clear the fog.
Sebastian swore as Angeline's eyes rolled back and her legs buckled underneath her. He was at her side in an instant, catching her and holding her to him before she went down to the floor. He eased her down to the floor, kneeling on one knee so he could support her. Her back rested on his propped thigh and he held her limp head up with his hand. He glanced at her chest to make sure she was breathing and when he saw the steady rise and fall of her lungs he focused on her open eyes, waiting for them come into focus.
"What happened?" Ciel demanded.
"She fainted," Sebastian said. "It was only a matter of time, I suppose, until this happened. I'm sure she's been in a perpetual state of shock since the earthquake and it must be catching up to her."
A small sound escaped Angeline and her eyes blinked rapidly as she woke, her vision clearing and the black fading slowly from the center of her vision to the edges. "Sebastian," her soft voice sounded as she took in the sight of him, her thoughts still catching up to her.
Ciel sighed, resting his forearms on the banister and hanging his head. Several moments passed before he spoke again. "Take care of her," he instructed. "I'm going back to bed."
"Yes, master."
Sebastian watched as Ciel disappeared toward his bedroom then looked back to Angeline. She lifted herself to sit on her own and braced hand on the floor to stand.
Sebastian's hand moved to her shoulder and pushed down, preventing her from moving further. "You shouldn't stand," he said, stopping her and hoisting Angeline into his arms. She began to protest, but found herself without energy for anything as he carried her to her room. She fisted and flexed her fingers, her hands and feet tingling after her spell.
Sebastian set her on her bed, murmuring "forgive me," as he unlaced her dress and stripped her to her chemise. She couldn't bring herself to protest, too exhausted to feel uncomfortable. She shifted to settle into bed, her eyes closing as Sebastian settled the quilt over her.
"Thank you," she mumbled as her thoughts began to fade again, sleep overtaking her.
Sebastian blinked in surprise, shocked she was still able to express her thanks considering how tired she must be. He settled into a chair near her bed, ears tuned to listen to his surroundings should Ash reappear while she was so vulnerable. His eyes focused on the nearest place that could be used to enter the manor- the window.
Well into the night Sebastian was still keeping watch as Angeline slept, never losing focus on the surroundings.
Suddenly, he heard Angeline let out a fearful cry and his eyes snapped toward her. The bedding rustled as she tossed and turned and he leapt from his seat, swiftly crossing the room. He leaned over her bed, reaching out to shake her awake just as her eyes flew open and she shot upward in bed, her hand settling over her heart. Sebastian's head jerked back several inches to avoid their faces colliding as his eyes widened, surprised. Angeline's panicked gaze flicked to meet his eyes, her breathing heavy. He's so close, she mused, looking into the dull crimson eyes several inches from hers.
"Are you alright?" Sebastian asked.
Angeline looked down to where his hand had stilled on its way to wake her. "Bad dream," She muttered. Her eyes watered and she tried to blink them away, but her body no longer allowed her to ignore her misery. Tears slipped down her face and she slumped back, her head tilted upward as it rested against the headboard.
Sebastian's thumb wiped at her cheek, leaving it burning in its wake. Angeline shook her head softly. Her thoughts an feelings were so muddled, her heart heavy at the same time it pounded from his touch.
"It's been a... long night," Sebastian began. "You should rest."
Angeline couldn't have agreed more, but her body was alive with panic and something else she couldn't place. "I can't," She said. "Ash might come back for me."
Sebastian gently wrapped his hand around Angeline's bicep, the touch soothing her as he looked at her sincerely. "I can assure you you're safe here, Angeline. You'd be with Ash right now if you were in danger of him."
She shook her head. "Sebastian, I can't," she said again, her voice breaking.
"I'll stay here, if you wish."
Angeline hesitated, a light pink dusting her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. "I... suppose that would help me sleep better..."
"Very well," Sebastian replied, returning to his abandoned seat. He listened to her breathing for half an hour, knowing she was asleep when it steadied and slowed to a consistent pace. When the sky began to turn grey with the first light of morning, he quietly stood from his seat and started for the door, passing by Angeline before he left to start his duties for the day. He brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, revealing her peaceful expression.
An overwhelming protective feeling washed over him as he realized she should look like that when she was awake, not just in her sleep. Because of Ash's sick wishes he had an innocent girl living in constant fear. He shook his head. She's only a simple human, he insisted, trying to convince himself he was acting on Ciel's orders.
2013 Wilma: ...Fluff already? ...Fuck. I like fluff too much.
2022 Wilma: ...Where? Do you even know what fluff is? Trust me, we read WAY more romance novels now and this is nothing. And I even added a little more between Angeline and Sebastian to spice it up.
5: Five
Narrator: It was at this moment she realized her main character is void of any personality.
2022 Wilma: Yeah, it makes editing a story you've been working on for 10 years pretty disheartening.
2014 Wilma: Angeline has personality!
2022 Wilma: Being soft and likeable and liking books aren't personality traits.
While Angeline enjoyed the fashion of her time, she often found it extremely difficult to dress. It was made more difficult by the lack of staff at the Phantomhive manor- Finny and Bard couldn't tighten a corset if their lives depended on it, and for some reason Angeline couldn't fathom, Mey-Rin seemed unwilling to help her.
She was struggling to lace her corset by herself when there was a knock at the door. "Just a moment," She said, her neck craned in an attempt to see the task she was trying to complete.
Sebastian's voice penetrated the door. "Is everything alright? It's quite late in the morning," He said.
"Fine," Angeline answered, biting her bottom lip as she continued trying to tie the strings together. "Just tired. It seems you've forgotten the exciting night we all had."
"Is there anything I can assist you with?" He asked from the other side of the door.
Angeline huffed with frustration. Her family had servants who were women to help her and her sister with their clothing, but it appeared that Angeline would have to ask Sebastian to help her and get used to being around a man in her state of undress. "Do you know how to tighten a corset?"
"Of course," He said, as if it were obvious, as if the idea that there was something he couldn't do was ridiculous. Sebastian let himself into the room and Angeline's skin went hot from head to foot. She thought it was impossible to feel more vulnerable in her life than she had since the earthquake, but she hadn't considered the notion of a man seeing her before she was fully dressed.
"Are you alright?" Sebastian asked for the second time. "You look flushed."
"Fine," She said again, but her face heated further as she did so and she had no doubt he noticed. He looked at her, contemplative, then shrugged.
Eager to be done with the situation, Angeline turned away from him. She could hear his footsteps approaching her and the room was quiet as he assessed the ties on her corset. "You only have it laced halfway, how long did that take you on your own?"
"Too long," Angeline admitted. "I'm sure there are plenty of women who are capable of lacing their own clothes, but I wasn't taught much about taking care of myself, if you remember."
"I remember," Sebastian said. She could feel the fabric shift as he adjusted the ties, fixing her sloppy work. "The first step of your independent life was picking out eggplants, the second is learning to tie your own corsets."
Angeline cracked a smile. "Perhaps you can teach me that, too. Sebastian, master teacher of eggplants, corsets, and chess," The last word of Angeline's sentence came out breathy as Sebastian finished lacing the corset and tugged slightly.
"One more big pull," Sebastian said and Angeline braced herself as the clothing tightened around her.
"One moment," Angeline said when he let go as she went to the armorium, pulling out one of the dresses she bought with Lizzie. "This one has ribbon in the back, if I can ask your help with one more thing."
"You can ask me for help with whatever your heart desires," He joked, "And I will make it happen. I am, after all, one Hell of a butler."
The lighthearted air between them dampened as he said this and Angeline remembered that the Phantomhive butler was most certainly not human. She forced a smile onto her face, saying "Be careful what you say, Sebastian, I have lost many important things. I won't go against God's will through Ash's cleanse, but there are some people I'd go against His will to bring back."
Once she had the dress on, she turned away from him once again and he helped her lace the ribbon. "I can do most anything," He corrected himself, "But not that."
Angeline's face flushed as Sebastian's deft fingers swiftly tied the ribbon and he rested his touch on the back of her neck for only a moment before he stepped back, indicating that he was finished. "Thank you." She said, moving her hair to cover her back once more, ignoring the way her body came to life where he had touched her neck, the shiver running through her whole body.
"Of course." Sebastian replied, bending at the waist.
"You don't have to bow for me, Sebastian. You work for Ciel," Angeline said.
Sebastian blinked at her, surprised. It wasn't often that guests at the manor treated him as more than the help. "If you insist," He said. "Ciel wants to see you in his study."
"Perfect," She said. "My favorite part of this new living situation is getting told what to do by a boy."
"He is a young boy with adult responsibilities, unfortunately," Sebastian agreed. "But if it makes a difference, he is acting on orders from the Queen."
"I suppose it does help to think of it that way," Angeline mused. "Thank you, Sebastian. I'm sure you were busy with much more important things, I'll let you get back to it."
Sebastian caught himself from bowing, choosing instead to give her a nod before exiting the room.
Angeline went to Ciel's study, knocking on the door. His voice sounded from inside, indicating her to enter, and she opened the door and slipped inside, closing it behind her.
"Good morning, Ciel," Angeline said, beginning to make her way further into the large room.
Ciel looked up at her from the documents on his desk. "I think it would be best for you to stay inside," He said, forgoing a greeting.
Angeline stopped in her tracks. "What?"
"I don't want Ash abducting while you're out, so I think you should stay in the manor where Sebastian and I can look after you," Ciel insisted.
"I'm not a child," Angeline argued indignantly.
"Of course not," Ciel said. "And of course I have no authority to tell you what to do. You may leave any time you please, though the Queen would be very unhappy with me. I only suggest this because it is likely the most effective way to keep you safe."
Angeline's first instinct was to argue, but she knew he was right. She was helpless on her own. If she left, where would she go?
"Fine," She huffed.
"Then it's settled. You'll remain on the estate. If there is ever a time you must leave, take Sebastian with you as an escort."
Despite knowing the precaution was necessary, she rolled her eyes. "Alright."
Angeline found that the Phantomhive manor housed a library and busied herself by reading for hours.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Angeline closed her book and started down the hall to prepare for bed. She looked out a window and saw Ash hovering a few feet away from the glass, a dangerous glint in his eyes. Her heart crashed through her insides, dread filling her body from head to toe.
Before she could think, she screamed for Sebastian, his name escaping her lips before the panic bubbling in her stomach could make its way into her throat and prevent her from calling for help.
"Angeline," Ash mumbled. "It's time to go."
Angeline couldn't move. She was too scared.
Her eyes flew open as she shot upward, her breathing erratic and heavy, and a dull "thunk" sounded beside her. Her head whipped around, taking in her surroundings. Indeed, she was in the library, but Ash was nowhere to be found. She looked at the floor where the book she'd been reading fell from her lap upon waking.
Her gaze focused on Sebastian, who was crouched next to her where she had fallen asleep on a chaise, his hand on her shoulder where it had shaken her awake. His brows were knitted in concern as he looked at her. "You called for help, are you alright?"
She gulped as she tried to steady her breathing, her hand clutching the fabric of her dress near her wildly beating heart. "Bad dream," She choked out.
She rubbed at her temple with her free hand as she tried to put her panicked thoughts in order. Her throat burned and closed up as tears welled in her eyes. She felt like she was always crying lately.
"It's alright," Sebastian said, his thumb sweeping across her shoulder comfortingly.
A small sob broke out of her, the tears breaking free and running down her face. Sleep gave her no solace from the loss of her family or the fear that Ash would come back and her days were never ending, fear lingering inside her even in the safety of the manor. How was it that even when she awoke, she was still in a nightmare?
After Angeline calmed herself, she insisted that Sebastian be on his way. "I know you must have other priorities," She insisted.
She always does this, Sebastian thought. This would not be the first time Angeline sent him away because she felt she was keeping him from his duties.
"Are you sure you're alright?" He asked. Angeline nodded firmly and watched as Sebastian contemplated a moment before nodding and exiting the room.
Angeline watched him leave and took a few minutes to gather herself. She was grateful to have so much time alone in the manor so that her thoughts might roam free without the burden of keeping up with socializing.
When she decided her thoughts were orderly enough, she stood and picked up her book where it had fallen, putting it on a table to continue tomorrow.
She leisurely made her way down the corridor that passed Ciel's study and branched to her sleeping quarters, stifling a yawn. As she passed the study, she heard Ciel and Sebastian's hushed voices. She would have continued on her way and left them to their conversation had she not heard Ciel say her name.
She stopped short. She could hear her mother's voice in her head discouraging her from eavesdropping and gossip, but she couldn't help her curiosity. She leaned into the door, which was left ajar, so she could hear better.
"I've been losing sleep," Ciel admitted. "Waking at every sound worried it might be Ash. If I lose the girl, the Queen will have my head."
"I don't believe she would go to those lengths," Sebastian mused.
"Figuratively, Sebastian," Ciel sighed. He paused, then continued with an order. "I have decided to make Angeline your priority. Watching after her comes first, she's not to leave your sight. Take care of the rest of your duties where you can. The others will fill in the gaps, which I'm sure will cause a chaotic household, but we'll manage."
"Yes, master."
Angeline's heart jumped into her throat. While Sebastian was always there for her to call, she didn't see much of him because his duties kept him so busy. The only time she knew she would see him was for their chess games after Ciel retired, when she would seek Sebastian out (or call him when he was particularly hard to find in the expansive mansion) and ask if he wanted to play. He always said yes. Why was her heart racing so quickly at the thought of being escorted everywhere with him?
"Maybe I'll finally get a full night's rest," Ciel mused. "Knowing your demon abilities, I'm sure you're better suited to keep her safe than anyone else in this house."
Angeline stifled a gasp, her eyes widening and shoulders leaden as she heard the new information. She knew Sebastian wasn't human, but... a demon?
Angeline grew up in the church as most people did. She grew up believing angels were on the side of God and demons were to be feared, but Ash tormented her. Sebastian helped her, protected her. Sebastian was kind to her.
Her thoughts had never been so muddled. Ciel and Sebastian's conversation grew warbled in her ears as they began roaring. She enjoyed the little time she had with Sebastian- was that a sin? It was, she was certain. When she passed, would she be sent to Hell for rejecting an angel and keeping a demon as a companion? Surely it wasn't God's will for Angeline to support the murders that Ash desired to commit, but it was certainly against his will to involve herself with Sebastian instead.
Then, there was the matter of the way she felt when she was around Sebastian. She felt safe with him, comforted. She didn't see how she could be at fault, surely anyone would feel that way when they had been protected as Sebastian protected her. But she couldn't deny how her body reacted to his touch when he woke her from her nightmares- or this morning, when his fingertips on her neck made her body sing.
You can't be thinking like this, Angeline scolded herself. You must repent for these thoughts, the sins you've committed.
Yes, she decided. She did not knowingly commit her sins- surely God could forgive her.
As quietly as she could, she shuffled down the corridor. There was no helping the sound the heavy front door made when she opened it, but she could stay in this house no longer, even if it meant going against Ciel's wishes for her to stay inside.
Angeline shivered at the chill of the October evening as she stepped outside, wrapping her arms around herself as she left he estate.
The wind howled, strands of her hair loosening from her braided hairstyle and whipping around her face. The sun had gone down, leaving London in a dusky glow. Leaves fell around Angeline as she hastened down the roads and through the streets.
It felt as though she had walked for hours when she came upon the church. Angeline quickly ascended the front steps and opened the heavy door, slipping inside.
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First Day Solo
My buddy & his son left this morning. It was great having the help for the initial cleanup, and, I was ready to settle in here and spend some time alone.
Part of the reason I wanted this place was to be on my own. I haven't been on my own since my early 20s, and that was a short period of time. I moved out at 18 and had roommates. I went to college. I got a shared apartment. I moved in with a boyfriend. I finally did get my own 2 bedroom apartment at 23, then my brother moved in. Then I became a foster mom, then I met my husband-to-be, he moved in, we bought a house, we bought another house, I got divorced. I rented out my condo, I moved in with a friend, then a boyfriend.
I was worried that there was no Home Depot or Lowes in the area but I found a local supply shop that hasn't let me down yet. The same faces are there each time I walk in, and they know their stuff! It feels better spending my money at a smaller place. Everyone here is so interconnected. I'm sure that can be tough sometimes but it's a plus for me. It's a huge contrast to what I experienced on Long Island.
The more I get done, the more I see what I have to do. The list grows longer and more $$ every day. I've already made some friends here and can't believe how helpful they've been. They treat me like we've been friends for decades. My neighbors are friendly and helpful, and even a neighboring dog & rooster rolled through to say hey.
I quickly realized I needed to cover the ceiling in the office room. One, it would never hold heat with just the wimpy foam + a hole in the corner, and the spiders and wasps from the roof space were just too much. I got some thin plywood and after much cursing and some sore arms, installed it all and reattached the light. A good sweep and some rugs put down, and I was able to set up a temporary desk while I wait for my UBox stuff to get back. Now I can work on my big monitor and not have to keep moving it around my van every night.
It's clear that I need to figure out a plan to build up my "driveway". the water has washed it out over time. I need to put in a culvert and figure a way to build over it. I don't know if I'll get that done before the winter but that, along with getting the water lines run, needs to be at the top of my list.
I'm so thrilled that I'm here. I do have a few anxieties in the back of my mind, of course. Will it get too cold here before the end of Nov? (I do have a nice wood stove) Will I befriend someone that turns out to be sketchy? Will I get all the needed tasks finished before winter? What happens if something goes wrong with my (rapidly aging) beloved dog? The locals all have 3+ dogs each and they seem to exist outside. Is in-home pet care even available here?
I will admit, Islay Mae is excellent company and I would be less content without her here.
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y'all i am losing my entire fucking mind
so if you know me like, at all, you know that i am absolutely obsessed with theatre, especially musical theatre, and lately, I've been trying to study foreign musical theatre, especially Asian musical theatre (which is entirely due to the Korean Hamlet rock opera, which i discovered like three years ago and listened to on repeat even though i had no idea what anyone was saying lmao). ANYWAY i've found as of late that Korea has numerous musicals based on Western classic literature, which fucks because 1) musical theatre 2) most of those stories would be made better by being musicals but western musical theatre either won't do them or fucks them up (like there's a Dorian Gray musical??? i've been waiting for one of those for fucking ages???? help)
so today i am going to talk about the Korean musical Frankenstein (프랑켄슈타인 ), which will be opening Nov. 12, 2021, and running through February of 2022 at the Bluesquare Shincard Hall (if you have a chance and can go see it for me, please do) and how fucking GALAXY BRAINED IT IS. NOTE: I am not a Korean speaker, nor do I have any connections to the culture, so if I make an error or say anything offensive, please let me know (My credentials are that I have a degree in theatre and have read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein an unfortunate amount of like four times). Also these are my personal opinions and interpretations of the text, so don't take them as fact, and feel free to discuss your own interpretations!!
The show was first written and directed by Wang Yongbum, with musical composition and direction by Lee Seongjun, in 2016, where it sold out its 23-show run and was given a 3-week performance extension because of how popular it was. It's since been performed 3 times, coming back to the stage in 2021 for a fourth.
As far as my knowledge goes, Korea has a fairly limited musical theatre canon, at least for original Korean musicals. Typically, when they perform musical theatre, they outsource to other countries for shows, or adapt shows from other languages for Korean audiences, which is absolutely fine, but that makes Frankenstein very exciting, because it is an original Korean show, and made by a team that is known for their original shows. They're also known for not casting kidols in productions in order to draw ticket sales, so the fact that this show did as well as it did with odds stacked against it is incredible (also the amount of tech work in this production is??? incredible).
Anyway the songs all slap and the production value is ICONIC and they double-cast every single part, which brings me to my main topic of conversation: the absolutely galaxy brained decision to make this incredibly gay and also good.
so in the original version of frankenstein, victor is a terrible disaster bastard man and i hate him. If i saw him in real life i would punch him in the face. He is gay and homophobic. a terrible person and a terrible scientist. actually the only character i like in this book is Henry, who deserves the world actually.
WHICH IS WHY THIS MUSICAL GOT ME SO HYPE!!! because they MADE HENRY A MAIN CHARACTER!!! and not only that, but they changed the script so that Victor is like, a military general, I think? idk he's tasked with creating like superhuman soldiers for the military, and since his parents died when he was young, he's got some sort of weird notion that he's cursed, so he decides to go PLUS ULTRA and just. make people. and to do this he grabs field surgeon henry dupre and is like "bitch let's make some people" and henry's like "fuck ok"
now, in the novel, victor is obviously. very into men. given the fact that he creates the most perfect man imaginable with the best proportions and all of his kinks as his creature, but then becomes disgusted with him due to his repression. BUT IN THE MUSICAL henry gets accused of murder and sentenced to death, but before he dies, he sings a whole love song to victor and they hold hands through the jail cell bars and he asks victor to use his body for science, to complete their shared goal, which UM. BITCH. THAT'S????? FUCKING ROMANTIC AS SHIT anyway here's the love song bc it's making me go insane i literally started sobbing when i watched it for the first time. not only is it gorgeous, it's also so full of love and lost dreams and the desire to stay with someone even after death? catch me crying in the club. please do yourself a favor and listen to it, it's gorgeous
Edit: I watched a version with dialogue at the beginning and basically Henry takes the fall for a murder Victor did and when victors like “why did you do that when you’ll die?” Henry says, “because you’ll live” 😭😭😭😭
BUT THEN. THEN. VICTOR HONORS HENRY'S WISHES AND USES HIS BODY TO CREATE THE CREATURE, BRINGING HIM BACK TO LIFE. WHICH. FUCK. makes SO much more sense than him just being like "oh fuk big scary monster lol" and freaking out. if he freaks out because that's his lover, the person he cares most for, and he's just sentenced him to a lifetime of being almost-human-not-quite? I'd freak out too. (Also the lab set when he’s making the monster FUCKS HARD)
(anyway then he like??? sells him to a fighting arena?? idk there's this whole dance number with them throwing henry all over the stage and chains and he gets punched a lot. very very fun you know).
i won't spoil the ending but just know that it's WAY better than the book, with like, an actually satisfying ending for both the creature and victor (satisfying plot-wise), and I'm obsessed with the changes they made, and also just how this musical is tonally and everything overall? i'm gonna start learning korean just so i can go watch theatre.
uhhhh this really wasn't that much of a post just??? i needed to scream about this??? also the love song is once again gorgeous, please go watch it if just to see how beautiful the actor playing henry in this version is
if you're interested in watching more of this show, they have a whole performance of the first act songs here. The cast album (with at least half of the songs) is on Spotify.
The writer said that in the future he hopes it could come to Broadway or West End and I fucking hope so too!!! pls cry with me about this show i'm absolutely not okay
#like seriously i don't think y'all understand#i straight sobbed after henry started the final verse of in your dreams#and like??? all of the lyrics in that song go hard#the vocals are gorgeous#the costumes slap#and the visuals are incredible#this is a SHOW#and the movement is also amazing#just#please watch some of this bc it will change your life#esp if you're like me and you think that#victor frankenstein is a disaster bastard man and i will kill him in recompense for his sins#bc i hate him#but maybe not as much in this version#bc henry loves him#and i love henry#kmusicals#korean musicals#musicals#theatre#frankenstein kmusical#frankenstein#프랑켄슈타인
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Man About Town website (Nov 9): Wonder can be many things. It can be a feeling of amazement caused by something beautiful or unfamiliar; it can be a desire to acquire knowledge or show curiosity towards something; or it can be the name of one of the best selling albums of 2020, of one of the most streamed songs of 2021 and the most anticipated global tour of 2022 – all rolled into one.
If it isn’t abundantly clear, Shawn Mendes is a man of many talents and even more wonders. At the age of 23, the Canadian wordsmith, singer and lover of Camila Cabello already has four multi-platinum, multi-award winning albums to his name, which charted at number one all around the world from the US and the UK to Australia, Spain, Mexico, Denmark, Taiwan and The Netherlands.
Wonder is his most recent body of work to send fans into full Mendes mania meltdown mode and the barometer is about to go up a few notches as he prepares to do what he loves doing best – playing in front of hundreds of thousands of people at sold out stadiums, arenas or whatever can hold a gig big enough.
After nearly three years since his last tour, Mendes will play 66 shows across 20 countries between March 14 and Oct 26 next year. Already deep in rehearsals, we found some time to catch up with the man widely regarded as one of the most genuine in the music industry. From the obligatory inner learnings gained from lockdown to his forever love and gratitude for Toronto and giving back to the world as best he can, here’s what he has to say about the status quo in his life at the moment. And yes, we do talk about a certain CC, too.
How’s your 2021 been? Given the pandemic, has it exceeded your expectations?
My 2021 has been amazing. It's been so nice to be reminded of how incredible my life is and how special the things I get to do are. I really used to just take playing shows for granted, and I played my first show back a couple of weeks ago and it was just really incredible. And so, yeah, it's been an amazing year. I've been really, really so happy with everything. I would say that it's been a super interesting and tough time for everybody. I don't really know a single person who hasn't gone inward over the last couple of years and learned more about themselves...
To read the full Shawn Mendes cover, order the issue now.
Shawn wears Ermenegildo Zegna on the cover of AW21 issue.
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Wake Forest: 2021 Gator Bowl Champions
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Sam Hartman's big day capped Wake Forest's best season in 15 years.
Hartman tossed three touchdown passes, two of them to tight end Brandon Chapman, and the No. 17 Demon Deacons beat Rutgers 38-10 in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Friday to reach 11 wins for the second time in program history.
Hartman completed 23 of 39 passes for 304 yards. He added 21 more yards rushing and pushed his touchdown total to 50 this season -- 39 passing and 11 rushing. He was named the winning team's most valuable player.
"It's everything," Hartman said. "I'm just enjoying the moment."
The Demon Deacons (11-3) controlled the game from the start, scoring on their first three drives and opening a double-digit lead just before halftime. It played out about as expected given Rutgers (5-8) was a late replacement for No. 25 Texas A&M.
The Aggies pulled out because of a lack of available players due to injuries, opt-outs, transfers and COVID-19 issues. The NCAA gave Rutgers the first shot at filling the void because it had the highest Academic Progress Rate score of all the eligible 5-7 teams.
Rutgers coach Greg Schiano hastily gathered his players from Christmas break and held two practices in a heated bubble before heading south. They got in two more in nearby Ponte Vedra Beach this week before taking the field.
They were ready, willing and probably overmatched against the one of the nation's best offenses. When it was over, Schiano raised his fist and saluted the Rutgers faithful who made the long trip to much warmer weather.
"What we did has never been done before," Schiano said. "This is the hardest week of work that I've ever done as a coach, and I've done it for 34 years. I'll remember everything it took and all the people who made it possible. ... But that was a little bit unhealthy."
The Demon Deacons finished with 452 yards, converted 8 of 15 third downs and their lone fourth-down try. The offensive show carried them to 11 wins for the first time since 2006, which was their only Atlantic Coast Conference championship.
"This was a historical season," Wake coach Dave Clawson said. "We're hopefully part of a debate of what the greatest team is. The 2006 team was an incredible team, but the 2021 was a really good team as well."
THE TAKEAWAY
Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons should be among the preseason favorites in the Atlantic Coast Conference next season. They could lose as few as six of 22 starters.
Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights turned the ball over twice, which was twice too many for an offensively challenged team with a small margin for error. Rutgers was 5-0 this season when playing turning-free football.
TURNING POINT
The key play came in the second quarter, when Wake Forest cornerback Gavin Holmes stepped in front of Noah Vedral's pass to Joshua Youngblood at the goal line and intercepted it. Wake led 17-10 at the time and ended up driving for a field goal and a 10-point lead at the break.
Vedral was one of five players who threw passes for Rutgers. He completed 8 of 13 passes for 87 yards and the interception.
DO IT ALL
Rutgers quarterback Johnny Langan was all over the field. He lined up at quarterback, running back, tight end and receiver. He completed both passes for 21 yards. He ran six times for 20 yards. And he caught six balls for 57 yards.
"I've been playing football my whole life and it just comes naturally," Langan said.
EJECTED AGAIN
Wake Forest linebacker Ryan Smenda, a junior who grew up in nearby Orange Park, was ejected for the third time this season for targeting. Smenda barely made contact, if at all, this time. He was penalized for intent because he led with his helmet while chasing Rutgers quarterback Gavin Wimsatt. Wimsatt slid late, and Smenda flew over the top of him.
Smenda also was ejected in regular-season games against Army (Oct. 23) and North Carolina State (Nov. 13). He will have to sit out the first half of Wake's 2022 season opener against Virginia Military Institute on Sept. 1.
KEY INJURIES
Wake Forest punter Ivan Mora was carted off the field in the fourth quarter with an air cast on his right ankle/foot. Mora got caught at the bottom of a pileup after kicking off.
UP NEXT
Wake Forest expects to get Hartman back for a fifth year. He's started 33 games over four seasons and accounted for 87 touchdowns, including 71 passing.
Rutgers says goodbye to nine sixth-year seniors, including seven defenders. The most notable departures are cornerback Tre Avery and defensive tackle Julius Turner.
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November 🍁
Nov 1st, I broke up with Allon and now I'm gonna get chickfila with Adam and play apex with Julian
Nov 2nd, I got my braces done again. I got purple. Apparently I found out that I might be getting them off in like 2 visits which is really exciting.
Nov 3rd. Allon got extremely drunk yesterday and said this
I feel so fucking bad. I broke up with him cause I realized I need to be happy with myself before I can be happy with anyone else. It breaks my heart hearing that hes heartbroken about this. After him sending that Austin facetimed me and asked what was going on with us. I told him and he praised me for doing it. He said :the fact that you're taking time out of being in a relationship and dating Allon to better yourself and be happy is completely okay and I'm so proud of you for it." That made me start crying hearing that. Austin was drunk too but he could tell by the tone of my response that I was crying. He wasnt as drunk as Allon. He also told be that i should just ignore him for the night since he was drunk. It hurt but I did it. I really regret breaking up but it had to be done.
I actually forgot about this all month so I'm just gonna do a long ass rant lol. So yeah, I broke up with Allon cause I wasnt happy with him and that kinda turned into a whole ass mess cause his bestfriend Austin thought I was a bitch for a day but everything is good now. Then on November 16 Adam and I officially started dating even though weve been basically dating since the 7th. Adam makes me so incredibly happy. I dont think I've even been this happy in a long ass fucking time. I'm scared I'm gonna fuck up but he keeps reassuring me that even if I did, we will work through it and not break up. I'm hoping to be with him for a long time. On November 23 we went to the Renaissance festival together which I was extremely nervous about cause I had to meet his parents and I've never done like an event with a boyfriend before but everything went great! I met the parents, we had a great time, got stuck in 1 hour traffic on the way home, hung out then he dropped me off home. It was honestly so fun and I'm glad I spent the whole day with him. A couple days later he met my mom and that turned out great too. She likes him and thinks hes funny and cute. Also I officially dropped Gage this month, I'm tired of his bullshit and I realized that we were never gonna end up together even if we were both single. Our relationship was too toxic for my mental health and I needed to let go. Once I dropped him, I felt this giant weight lift off my chest. It felt good. Also November 5th I got caught drunk at school from my teacher Mrs.Langley.This was before the happiness shit so I was still going through alot. Mr.Sheilds took me to the nurse 8th period and alchohol tested me and it came back positive. Then he took me to his office where him and Mrs.Reeves searched me to see if I had anything on me. Luckily that morning I drank the rest that was in my backpack and Kelly and I wash out the bottle and took off the tag so no one could trace us. Since i didnt have anything on me it didnt go on my permanent record but all my teachers still knew. I sat in his office for the rest of school and he called my dad which really fucked me up. He genuinely terrifies me. So once I got on the bus to go home, I turned my location off and went to the last bus stop and walked to the park. I didnt get off my bus stop which was the first one. My parents and family kept trying to call me for hour and hours. My dad even threatened to break my phone and call the police. I cried alot that day. While I was there Adam and Kaylie helped me and i appreciated it. Adam even called me in the middle of his tutorials for 10 minutes to make sure I was okay and tries to help me.
These are some memories I dont wanna forget. The first one is a hate video someone made about my tiktok. Btw that tiktok has 300k+ views and 50k+ likes which I'm excited about. I've gotten alot of nice comments and people supporting me
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