#claudine on the other hand is sometimes BETTER live | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

shintorikhazumi · 3 years

Text

I Have Two Sisters?! Chapter 2: The Eldest Sister, The Younger Sister, and The Youngest

A/N: This chapter is more on Diana and Claudine’s lives and backgrounds. I feel like most of the initial chap plans I have are. Weiss gets her background turn soon tho. She still has some thoughts from her point of view. Some observations. It’s kinda different for her since she’s actually been around Jacques as opposed to Claudine and Diana who have been away from the dude, practically not knowing him at all. Maybe around chapter 4-ish. Rubes, Akko, and Maya come in the next chapter, so I hope you all can hold out until then, haha.

I personally love this concept so much! Like really! I keep writing out plot lines and paragraphs ahead. This is clearly a self-indulgent fic, I apologize.

Enjoy?

~Shintori Khazumi

I Have Two Sisters?! Chapter 2: The Eldest Sister, The Younger Sister, and The Youngest

For how shitty he was as a father- and a person in general, Jacques Schnee sure had the devil’s luck. It made perfect sense as he was basically a demon at this point with all that he’s probably done, both known and hidden from the light.

How could someone acquire so much fortune? Riches, intelligence and cunning brought about by his insane amounts of greed, looks (Weiss gagged so hard thinking about it, though it was relatively true), charm that deceived women… or deceit masked as charm? Anyway. He had it all.

Plus, he had three gorgeous daughters to boot.

Had he exchanged his soul for this amount of good karma?

Well, it didn’t matter.

If the angel of death wanted nothing to do with him, then it probably wouldn’t mind if three angel-looking ladies took care of the job instead… right?

They were certainly angry enough to kill.

Or at least Weiss was.

Weiss had been brandishing her sword for the better half of the last two hours as she remained seated on the couch next to an equally fuming Claudine, exchanging opinions about their insufferable… sperm donor, or whatever.

Diana lay peacefully unaware, head on the golden-blonde’s lap, still unconscious since fainting at their front door. The other two…sisters- gosh, it was so weird thinking about it- didn’t quite know what to do with her, so they simply moved her over so she could rest more comfortably.

At first, they had planned on moving to the kitchen area to talk things out, and leave their other sibling to the peace of a quiet room, however, as if sensing the lack of presence, Diana had begun to toss and turn restlessly, hands and arms seeking out something. Upon grasping the edge of Claudine’s shirt, it seemed as though she had no plans of letting go, and thus, they ended up in the position they were in now, all squeezing together on their decently-sized couch.

“-And so, he told me I wasn’t old enough to live on my own, and I was wondering what he meant, because I am most certainly over eighteen! And then he implied something about Japan and that-! That was how I found out about being sent here and… we’re here now.” Weiss had just finished telling her side of this ridiculous story, pissed off being an understatement as to how she felt.

She didn’t want to be a criminal, but Jacques Schnee had a neck that just looked so perfect to slice in half.

Claudine would have laughed at how red Weiss’ face had become, but she refrained, breathing in, readying the words to her own tale. They had broached the topic of how they got here while talking about the house and their first meeting, and so they backtracked a bit to their own backgrounds and history prior to their father’s decision of sending them all to this place in Japan.

“I used to study here, actually. It’s only been a little over two years since I left.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. I studied at a music and arts academy and mainly dabbled in theatre.”

“You say, “dabbled”, but I wonder if it’s really just that.” Weiss chuckled, secretly studying her companion’s features. Something in the back of her mind told her that the name, ‘Claudine’ was one she’d heard of before, especially since it had involved music. But maybe she could look into it later. “Sorry, go on.” Weiss encouraged after realizing she had interrupted her sister’s story.

“I was offered a chance at an exchange program in the school that basically “made” my mother’s previous career. It was in Paris and…” Claudine looked like she had loved and regretted at the same time every inch of that experience.

“I get it.” Weiss whispered, not meeting the actress’ gaze. “The biggest opportunity of your life. It could change everything.” Weiss turned back to meet rose-red eyes in understanding. “But that change isn’t always the best.” Claudine nodded. “It’s kind of like that meme, the one that goes ‘but at what cost’.” They shared a light laugh at that, but it seemed as though their chatter was enough to rouse the bundle of British girl on Claudine’s lap.

“Hrrngghnmm… where…?” Rubbing her eyes with the back of her hands, Diana blinked slowly, rising up to sit on the couch properly. She took in her surroundings, the unfamiliar interior, and the two people she could barely remember. She would have panicked and created as much distance between herself and the strangers, thinking she might have been kidnapped, but it was like she didn’t even have enough energy for that.

“Good morning to you as well.” Claudine jested, patting stray tufts of curly hair into place. “I hope you slept well, because we have a lot to talk about.”

Diana was still in the middle of processing everything in her drowsy state, so she could only nod in minimal understanding.

“Great. So Diana,” Weiss stole her attention.

“How did you-“

“Well, as you failed to introduce yourself to us right before fainting,” Diana visibly winced, and Claudine had chided Weiss on being a bit mean. The white-haired heiress rolled her eyes, but apologized anyway before continuing. “-we took the liberty of checking your pockets for any identification. Don’t worry, we didn’t take anything, and we didn’t snoop around important things that weren’t your ID. Rest assured. At least we respect privacy… unlike certain assholes…” She whispered the last part to herself.

A nod.

“Good, so. Now that introductions are out of the way,” Weiss stood up in front of the pair, hands on her hips. “It’s now time for some very important questions.”

“…such as?” Diana required some elaboration.

“Such as… whatever this thing is.” She stated, spinning her finger about in the air, gesturing to the three of them. “Between us.”

“But I thought…” Diana trailed off, instinctively looking to Claudine for support. The latter got the message.

“Aren’t we siblings? Sisters? Well… half-sisters, but,” she scratched the back of her head, feeling a little shy. “Sisters nonetheless.” Diana nodded in agreement, feeling a little warm deep down.

“Fine. So we’re sisters.” Weiss crossed her arms over her chest. “But there are certain things we have to agree on. After all, we don’t even know each other. Like, at all. How do we know who’s in charge in this house? Money concerns, I’m sure we all have individual banks and means. But things like property and document processes, who gives the rules and all that jazz… Or do we all just go on with our lives, each to their own.” She finished, awaiting the pair’s reply.

“I-…” Diana found herself lost for words once more. She couldn’t admit that she actually fancied the idea of having two new sisters, having wanted a family because she never really had one apart from her mother who had already long since passed. After that event, she had always been alone. She had been an only child, after all. She had always wondered what it would have been like had she had siblings, like her twin cousins. Her mother never married again, nor did she have the chance to as fate was so cruel. She was Diana’s only memory of family, along with a few of their servants who were loyal to them to the core.

But really, it was different when it was family that shared the same blood in their veins. Though quite a number would argue that some friends stuck closer than brothers, there were still instances where blood would prove to be thicker than water.

Even if it was diluted by half-built relationships.

Claudine noticed her distress. It was as though she always did. Placing a hand over Diana’s, she squeezed comfortingly before turning to Weiss.

“After speaking with you earlier, I’m sure we all need family of some sort. I don’t mind acting-“ Claudine caught herself, proceeding to shake her head. “-No, being sisters with you both. I think I’d actually like it. I’ve never had siblings as I was an only child. But then I did stay in a dorm in high school, and being around same-aged peers was truly a beneficial experience, living alongside people I grew to know and trust.”

Diana gave her a relieved smile, and the French responded in kind.

“I believe we could be the same if we tried.”

Weiss sighed, but she was smiling deep down. She had an older sister back home, and a younger brother as well, though they weren’t as close as she was with the eldest. Still, she knew they were all just struggling in their father’s grasp, forced to obey his whims. The two older sisters had managed to wriggle out one way or another, but Weiss sometimes regretted not helping Whitley be able to do the same. Maybe one day, she could introduce him to two sisters who looked like they had so much care and experience to share. Maybe they could all be a family together. Even if they all just consisted of siblings.

“I suppose I can be the eldest then.” It was neither proposition nor suggestion. Weiss was attempting to establish it as fact.

“Why you?” Claudine questioned with a brow raised.

Diana didn’t care who was in charge, she was happy enough to feel the inclusion in a family.

“Well, seeing as I’m the legitimate child here-“ It was like everything froze. There was a cut of silence in the air, kind of like those disc scratches you would hear often in videos when someone made a mistake, or a fumble and everyone realized. Yes, Weiss had suddenly realized what she had just said, and immediately regretted it.

And her string of apologies ensued.

“I’m… I’m so sorry. Oh my god, I’m so sorry.” Her eyes were panicked, flickering quickly between Diana and Claudine’s shocked ones, a bit too shaken to come up with a comment or response. “I’m so sorry. I really am. I apologize. I deeply apologize.” Weiss throat ran dry, it was like she was choking. Tears pricked at the edges of her eyes in her state of adrenaline with all the heightened emotions she had endured throughout the day.

She knew she had just crossed a horrible, horrible line. She bowed before them deeply, a perfect ninety degrees, not knowing what to do to salvage this situation. She didn’t know much of Diana’s story, but from what she’d gotten from Claudine’s side, as well as observing Diana through their interactions, she was fairly sure that they had been through so many bad things.

So many.

“I’m so sorry. Di-Diana… Claudine, I’m… I’m sorry.” She coughed out. “I can’t believe it… I’m just like… I’m just like that man.” She felt a tear slip out of her eyes, but before more could, a handkerchief was held out to her by a hand that slightly tremored.

“No. You’re not. You’re not like him.” Claudine was someone who was quite good at comforting others, Diana and Weiss realized. “We all aren’t.” All this time since they met, she had been the one to offer it. They had to be sure to thank her and express their appreciation later. They had all the time to. “We’ll do our best to reject his blood that runs through our veins.” She said with a conviction that the two could only agree to. But there was just something about that last bit,

“Pfft-“ Diana ended up cracking first. “I don’t think that’s possible,” She looked to Claudine, mirth in her gaze, something different from the clouds that had shrouded them this whole time. “but… we can at least deny his existence, if you’d like.”

The two blinked, Diana saying her first complete sentence, smooth sentence catching them unaware. It only took them a second to adjust to it however as they giggled along.

“Oh, I’d definitely like that.”

//-//-//-//-//

They ended up deciding who would be the “eldest” by asking each other’s ages and birthdates, something they should have done earlier, they now realized, sharing another laugh at their silliness.

They were all currently nineteen years of age, and about to enter their first year of university. At this revelation, they wondered why it was that their ages were so close to one another, particularly Diana and Weiss.

While the former was born in April, the latter’s birthday landed on the fifteenth of May. Claudine had the slightest gap from them, being born a few months later in august.

They tried to reason it out, Weiss trying to share bits and pieces of information she had uncovered after snooping around in her father’s office, as well as things she had heard during her mother’s many lamentations.

Over dinner, their talk led them to the deduction that on the particular year when they had been conceived, Jacques Schnee had a world-wide business operation going on, travelling from place to place constantly, checking on his various corporation branches almost monthly, staying for days to weeks on end in some countries.

Through the magical powers of the internet, they were able to dig up hidden articles that spoke of their biological parent’s notoriety for sleeping around in the many places he visited, and by the universe’s cruel plot, got the other two mothers pregnant around the time his wife was. Weiss had probably been conceived when he came back home from his visit to England which might explain why Diana was now the eldest.

“We should have him castrated.” Weiss proposed, and the other two only laughed nervously, knowing she was dead serious.

Despite this infuriating truth, they were somehow thankful that it allowed them to find each other. It was a mutual feeling that they believed they’d get along nicely.

Their dinner ended with them cleaning up the dishes and kitchen together before wishing one another a goodnight, separating into their individual rooms to unpack and get cleaned up to catch their repose from this stressful day.

Diana had finished quickly, now fresh from a warm bath and changed into comfortable sleeping attire. She fell onto the soft mattress that was a little too big for her taste. It was like the one back at home. Simply large and comfortable, but never comforting. Always so cold because Diana could never warm it all up. Or maybe that was just in her heart.

The peaceful rest she had wanted to attain did not come to her. Instead, she was plagued with nightmares of abuse. The abuse she had had to sustain while in the Cavendish manor, while in the branch house, everywhere that had the family’s eyes on her.

Cold blue eyes, freezing, burning. Yells and screams, screeches, insults, the pressured gazes, the false smiles of the peers and fans that surrounded her. The scrutiny and judgment. The rumors.

The emotional pains, the mental torture, the spiritual crushing, the social stress…

The whip that beat down on her legs, on her back, on her arms, and on her face at time.

And then-

Diana screamed.

In agony, in pain. A deep red gash on her hand never ceased in its bleeding. Her nerves stung, her eyes did too. The pain was searing, she couldn’t take it, it hurt so much. Her hands shook, they quivered, her body wretched and writhed, but still that unforgiving hand still raised the bloody tool for one more-

“I BEG YOU, PLEASE STOP-!”

“DIANA!” Claudine and Weiss had barged through the door, having heard the tormented cries of their housemate and had made a mad dash for her room.

“Diana?! Are you okay?” The said girl remained writhing, needily gasping for air. Claudine attempted to shake her awake. “Diana! Wake up!”

Eyelids flew open, revealing pained ceruleans, hazy from the dream and unfocused. Diana continued her sobbing, but now quieter as she slowly ran out of tears. Her sisters waited for her, understood that she was unable to speak, possibly for moments, possibly for the entire night.

They tried to get her back into bed, hoping she could get more rest at the very least. She must have been exhausted with whatever war she had in her dreams.

But Diana didn’t want to go back to sleep, clinging onto Claudine strongly. To her, it felt as though she was walking right back into the lion’s den, returning to torture’s waiting arms; but Claudine’s arms, she much more preferred. It felt of a motherly presence. When she realized this, Diana felt the embarrassment sinking in at the knowledge that Claudine was the youngest sister and she was the eldest.

And yet, here they are.

Still, she didn’t like being in the bed, she didn’t like how unfamiliar it was.

The girls agreed to move to the living room. While Claudine layed out a few extra foams and blankets for them to settle down into, Weiss prepared some warm, tea to help calm Diana down.

She wasn’t as good at Claudine when it came to dealing with people’s anxieties, Weiss admitted. But she wasn’t bad at it. So, offering Diana a cup gently, she tried to reassure her with a smile and a soft tone.

“It’s p-peppermint.” Damn stutters.

They sat in front of one another on a pile of warm blankets, no words, just the sounds of sipping and blowing of tea.

Claudine was fine with backrubs and handholds, and the like. But anything more than that felt like crossing a line, especially with strangers. Even if those strangers happened to be your family. Huh. This is what it was like to have awkward moments of being a family with strangers. She thought it was such a rare thing, usually portrayed only in books and television or in the plays she did.

But now it she was literally living that odd trope.

Huh.

And the silence continued. And continued. And continued… and still would have painfully continued, if Weiss could take the atmosphere still.

She couldn’t.

So what better way to break the ice than to talk about their horrible shared father?

“Ahh… My dad lied to me about a lot of things.” She began, stretching her arms up into the air, hand still holding her empty cup. That caught her siblings’ attention as they were taken into another conversation. “This place too. He said he had gotten me an apartment. I thought he was being pretty considerate to give me a place to live on my own- ah, not that I dislike staying with you both I just… didn’t foresee this development.”

“I doubt any of us did.” Claudine followed-up.

“This house… even if it’s smaller than the mansion where I grew up… It’s kinda big for just three girls, huh.” Weiss murmured, suddenly feeling the urge to apologize at mentioning wealth when she hadn’t a clue of the living situations her “sisters” had had to endure before this point.

They shook their heads, as if they read her thoughts, knowing.

Diana began murmuring coldly. “My mother’s family is very well-known.” Her younger sisters perked up at this, finally having the chance to hear the eldest’s background pre-incident. “We… were kicked out of the main house in England after, well… after me.” She hung her head low, as if she were shaed of her own existence. And she very likely was.

Diana jumped at the two warm touches on each of her hand, Claudine and Weiss taking one each, squeezing encouragingly.

Diana continued. “We lived in a traditional Japanese manor after moving to this country. A branch of our family used to live there, but at that time, it was unoccupied. It was fancy and large. Certainly made for the luxurious life. Though I never felt rich regardless.” The girls nodded in understanding, and Diana ended her piece.

Claudine then explained that while she understood their sentiments, she was rather satisfied with her life. She had everything she needed. Her adoptive father bought them a larger than average house, and they were a happy family together. Then she stopped.

This time, it was her who received the squeezes of comfort, Weiss now taking her free hand as they sat in this odd circle of angsty reminiscing.

“When he died, we sold the house, not solely for monetary need, but because maman couldn’t take the pain of being reminded of him.” Claudine finished. Weiss just had to comment, though.

“Maman…”

“M-mother!”

Everyone chuckled at that.

“Mothers. Fathers. Family, huh…” Diana tested the foreign words on her tongue. “I… I had my mother for a time, but after that…” She trailed off, a forlorn expression taking place on her features once more. “I’ve never had a family.”

“…”

“If you’ve never had a family, then we’ll be you family.” Weiss, ever the breaker of silence, declared.

“We will be your sisters, your mothers, your friends, and your fathers. We will be everything for you.” Claudine added, wanting to share these feelings, just like how her mom had made her feel when it was just the two of them remaining.

Those words were too good to be true. Too kind. Too rewarding a promise. Diana searched their eyes. She searched their body languages, their words, and their souls.

She searched and found their loyalty, sincerity, and truthfulness.

And she cried.

//-//-//-//-//

They woke up late the following morning, opting to have some toast with jam and hot milk. An easy fix from the things they found in their already stacked cupboards. While cleaning up after a filling meal, they heard a phone go off in one of the rooms.

Identifying it as hers, Claudine goes off to retrieve it, her sisters waving her off as they continued cleaning up.

A few quiet minutes passed, and then the actress came bounding down the hall. frantic in her running about. Once she reached her worried companions, she cries a heart-wrenching sob. The two elders asked what was wrong, and when Claudine says that she had received a call from the hospital, the two are willing to accompany her with no questions asked.

They soon learn of what Claudine had been unable to tell them the day before. Her mother who had been admitted in the hospital for a while, and had been the primary reason for the actress to return to Japan, had a critical attack that morning, and upon their arrival at the hospital, she now rested unconscious.

Diana and Weiss did not know how to comfort Claudine the way she did for them. When they met her, she was feisty, determined, willful, independent and strong. Able to stand on her own two feet, so to speak.

But now they realized she was only able to stand because she had someone behind her, supporting her always. Unconditionally.

And that support was now laying motionless on a hospital bed, the beeps of a machine eerily looming around their atmosphere, rousing such scary prospects.

Claudine sobbed hours upon hours straight, and the pair could only helplessly watch her do so.

They could do nothing, not while the girl’s mother was in such a critical state, no one knowing if she’d ever wake up again.

---

She woke up.

It was late in the afternoon, and Claudine had fallen asleep from all the crying, head rested on her arms on her mom’s bedside.

The woman blinked the sleep away, eyes scanning the room and landing on two strangers, two women who awkwardly bowed their introductions, trying to explain why they were in the room of someone they had just met today. “Hello, um.” They bowed slightly. “We are… well… we are S-Saijou-no… Claudine’s sisters.” One with streaks of mint in her blonde locks tried, scared of the older woman’s reaction to this news.

“I know.”

“What?!” Shocked, they listened to the giggling mother explain why.

She began to express her regrets with the man known as Jacques. It was a mistake. Everything involving him was.

It was a corporation party for a show she had performed in. And the man was one of the sponsors. She had been forced to drink, coerced, probably slipped something strange, and when she woke up…

Weiss face was contorted in disgusted anger. “That man should just get arrested already.” She seethed. They knew it would take a little more effort than just reporting it to police, however. Especially since it had been nineteen years ago. But hey, he had so many faults, couldn’t they just… get him for any of those?

And then she remembered why Diana and Claudine were claimed as his children in the first place. He always tried to look for loopholes out of prison. He just had so much undeserved power. Weiss hoped it would bite him in the ass one day.

They swapped stories until the orange sky turned dark blue, and visiting hours were almost coming to a close. Claudine was breathing softly, eyes puffy, body relaxed. Her mother petted through golden mane, leaning down to plant a kiss on the crown of her head. She then turned to her daughter’s sisters, rose-red eyes, making a life-time request, plea to them.

“Please… take care of her.” They saw her fist tighten for a moment, before relaxing again. “She is the love of my life.” If Weiss used to think that that title could only be applied to romantic partners, her perception was given a fresh wash.

Love of your life. To be able to call someone that, such a pure unadulterated love towards another human being... it was something special. And probably something she herself had yet to experience. Her younger sister truly was blessed, as she claimed. It was clear why she grew up, able to be satisfied with her family life. Claudine surely felt the same for her mother.

Maybe someday, they too…

They stayed a few more minutes, simply waiting until Claudine would wake up. She soon did, and they pushed her to spend the remaining time with her mom right until the last minute before visiting hours would officially be over.

They thought they would have to pry Claudine away from her mother as she had spent almost the entire time hugging her, speaking from time to time, but mostly just holding her wordlessly.

But the girl really was a mature, grounded lass. It was amazing, inspiring, and… a bit sad, they’d admit. What else had she been through to grow this resilient?

They walked home a slow pace. No one had said any word.

The nighttime breeze hit them coldly and they shivered. Then, each sister awkwardly took a hand, at the same time, as if they shared some form of telepathy. It made them feel warmer.

And so they continued their walk home together-

There was a collective growl of stomachs, along wlith blushing and chuckling.

And so they continued their walk to the nearest convenience store instead, grabbing a few chicken nuggets and hotdog buns, some juice, and a few chocolates. Then they went on home.

They learned a lot about each other today. However, it appeared as though there was even more to learn. There always was when it came to getting to know other people. And along with becoming familiar with each other, they’d discover many more of each other’s struggles and troubles.

They’d encounter their own as a family together as well.

But it really didn’t matter anymore, did it?

They could conquer anything. They really did believe they could conquer anything.

Together, they could.

A/N: It’s 2:15am and my brain is fried. I have to re-enroll for my second semester classes and make my mom’s modules haha. Anyway, The picture I have for this AU’s Diana is actually still reserved, but the soft kind around her sisters. She’ll be cold around other people tho. Kind of meek, in a sense, but that has to do with how bad she’s had it growing up. And although Claud is the youngest, she acts like the mother. Weiss, I can definitely see as the middle child haha. Weiss’ tsundere aspects and Claudine’s slightly prideful self make for a wonderful dynamic in interactions. I love it. Diana is like the regulator of their passionate bickering. It’s like icecream on a hot cookiebrowny. I think.

Comments, kudos, reblogs, let’s go? Please? I’m desperate for feedback haha.

~Shintori Khazumi

#fanfic #rwby x lwa x starira #rwby #starira #revue starlight #shoujo kageki revue starlight #lwa #Little Witch Academia #diana cavendish #weiss schnee #claudine saijou #saijou claudine #eventual pairings #family dynamics #crossover #au

17 notes · View notes

littlemeangreen · 4 years

Note

Since you like my alt-Marauders (WHICH IM SO HAPPY FOR) how about challenge for headcanons of them interacting with the Smashers, as allies or foes or just a chance encounter? No need to, I just thought it might be something you'd have fun with!

@thecorteztwins k I'm suddenly in a big writing mood so!! FINALLY getting around to this I'm so sorry sksksk

For anyone who doesn't know: Thecorteztwins has an amazing au where she's collected Haven (thicc angel lady who was possessed by a demon disguised as a baby), Claudine (Miss Sinister),Madelyne (clone of Jean Grey), Pyro, Sebastian Shaw, Shinobi Shaw and sometimes Alice (a clone being tested by Claudine)!

I feel like the first few days are really testy. Everyone's got some bone to pick, the usual. But the biggest thing? The name. A brief encounter with paparazzi ends with their name and the reactions go from Pyro and Claudine scoffing at how silly it sounds and what a rip off it is (Pyro being a writer?? U KNOW he wouldn't stand for Alt Marauders) to Shaw sighing about the fact that he's been stuck on a team with a cliche super nickname.

Then there's personal names because once again, Pryo and Shinobi both agree that everyone needs a name to reapply make them unique! Hardly anyone goes for it, ranging from Haven's soft "no thank you" to Shaw punting Pyro into a wall. Madelyne is slightly soft for Pyro's RPG themed alias ideas for her and less than impressed for Shinobi's idea of "Mad Milf".

Alice....I'm definitely thinking she gets nicknamed "White Rabbit" or "Wonderland" because; 1) no one can leave her out of getting a name. 2) Pyro 100% would give a cheesy media related name and 3) I like the very small connections of white rabbit to the white and red queens in Alice in Wonderland (and 4) rabbits always get experimented on :).

Gamma Gals having amazing duos with the ladies of the Marauders? Absolutely!!

Jen and Haven, being an amazing duo and I feel like they'd be the two who would have that issue where they're the only ones who can save the day and end up learning a lot from each other? Haven is probably thanking her stars that she finally gets to meet a hero who believes in her kindness just as much as she does (S H A W).

Just....Haven being able to meet an even bigger woman and trading stories and being GalPals(TM). Its a really interesting concept to me that Haven is someone who was deliberately used to destroy and Jen is someone who's entire identity is formed around smashing and destruction. It's probably rather cathartic to be working with someone who purely doesn't want to resort to violence immediately and who has been used (Haven by her demon and Jen by different people).

But also learning something from each other? Haven being able to see that sometimes you do need to fight for what you love and Haven proves to Jen that even after all this time, it isn't the muscle or power that can save everything, it's her and her drive and will alone. Catch Red and Shaw scoffing about it.

Speaking of, those two could either REALLY clash or really get along, no imbetweens. Have we found another old man for Shaw to wrestle with, Roman style??? (Ngl that would be hot in a sick way)

Skaar and Shinobi? Both long haired, beautiful, sons of big figures, grew up in abusive environments,,,,its a duo. Just put Shinobi into a mini team with Skaar and Daken and we have the "Black haired brood squad"

Rick and Pyro working together to have a joint production??? FIrebomb productions baby!! My podcast ideas? Absolutely would happen when you combine these two and its hell. Aka; Rick and Pyro gossip on their podcast and give advice to starting heroes as immortals and smack talk. But also outside of that I imagine they can get along a lot in the "had a hard time accepting stuff" and "we were heroes who often did a lot for others and got disregarded and hurt for it".

Pyro: Hey if I set you on fire can you become a flaming bowling ball

Rick: well let's fine out!!

Red and Shaw....there's a lot there. Both are old men who have been pressed on in their lives and affected by masculine presences in their lives...both are regarded as awful shitbags but they're both MUCH more complex and driven by a need for power and stability...lots of thoughts here.

Shaw and Red are one team you do NOT wanna mess with because two old men who are perfectly willing to do what's needed? Red can respect a man willing to get his hands dirty with clear means and Shaw can probably like a guy who has the drive to do what he believes is the better good. Also big hulk man who can give you endless power.

But also differences in them because Shaw abused and continues to abuse Shinobi while Red neglected and most likely emotionally abused Betty but it seemingly trying to make a difference in it now that she's come back? I feel like these two probably have a SUPER in depth conversation when forced to or alone and then never speak about it again.

Spending of Betty! Her and Madelyne?? What a DUO they're litreally a great mix because Maddie is a clone of Jean, Betty was assumed to be a clone at first and often has to suffer being the "domintrix" she hulk. Both have serious issues with their mental health and identities as well as dealing with their lives being ruled or devoted to men who ruin them. Both want freedom and have such passion! I just....so much to say about these two and the similarities. They're both red.

But yeah Phoenix and Harpy?? Skksks Maddie voice: I'm FIRE HARPY nOW

Am I still yelling for her hero name to be Griffin because of how mystical they are and being a bird and lion??? Yeah.

Also sad thoughts but,,,gals talking about their lost kids (Maddie with Nate and Betty suffered a miscarriage induced from stress), the stress of their lovers and who they've lost to (Jean, Emma, Caiera, Jarella,,,) and being manipulated by men for their power (Maddie by Sinister into Goblyn queen and Betty by Leader into Red She-hulk, Harpy, both died).

Anyway point is I can fully see them two just CLICKING or fighting a lot at first until someone points out just how similar they are. Then? Maddie and Betty out here being the brand new Thelma and Louise. Red and Black styles, willing to use force but protect the innocent, both take Alice and this cute kid that Betty absolutely mother henned in her run and,,,two moms and their talented daughters pls step out the way sir.

Tbh I don't think I have much for Samuel apart form him having a small crush on Claudine (and like,,,,not in That Sense, but Samuel does have a big history of falling for smart women or just...OP women). And then a series of gags where Haven wants to know him because he's like Shaw but also incredibly different in thinking and everytime she walks into the room,,,,Samuel is doing some horrific experiment and she just NOPES OUT. Shaw wants to make use of this but it goes horribly wrong oh God why did he try.

Lyra! I just....feel like there could be a lot for her and Claudine and Alice. Lyra was genetically engineered to be used in a war and was bullied relentlessly for being "half man" which...is rather transphobic and sexist but that's her storyline and it's too deeply embedded for me to headcanon over it so...sighs.

But yeah!!! Lyra taking Alice and giving her a night of being able to just....be whoever that night, not being pressured to have an identity of the sorts from anyone and just being able to fight people with a giant green woman. Probably has a lot of deep talks later that night with Lyra, sitting over a building and eating ice cream because it was one of the first things Bruce shared with her and a first realisation that Lyra could be more than someone's daughter.

100% would picture this with Carmilla (Lyra's sister and...also messy kinda clone) or Laura Kinney hopping along and!! Clone weapon woman team!! I could GET INTO this!!! Just...pls marvel give me a team of women overcoming abuse and forming identities among each other and cool women,,,,

But also Lyra admittedly would respect Claudine for her skills and her...tenacity? Yeah, that. She has strength and guts and Lyra probably actually tells her that she'd rather get experimented on by Miss Sinister than some pig of a man and Claudine just "thhhanks?"

Hulk,,,,funny enough I don't think I have many ideas for him yet? Probably gets into a fair few fights with Shaw and Haven over different stuff, Maddie has a bome to pick for Betty,,,I am,,,blank.

I feel like a lot of things for him would be Haven trying to break through into him, maybe each of the Marauders dealing with different parts of the system? I can imagine Shinobi and Pyro don't have a high opinion of the oversized dad until Bruce turns super ashen pale and immediately Joe starts yelling for some whisky and GIRLS....and a fella or two for matchstick and ghost baby here.

Maddie thinking that he's another Scott and then finding out that Hulk's thing is more complicated than Scott simply looking for Jean again. Also Maddie demands that she will forcefully adopt Hulk's kids and these two bonding over abusive dads???

But uh,,,that's about it!! Hope you liked it!!! I probably could easily delve into more thoughts if there's anything specific for me to set my mind on.

9 notes · View notes

kaiser-dracon · 4 years

Text

Chapter XLIII: Destiny - sneak peek

“Those who can not abandon anything will accomplish nothing.”

-King Claudius Asgard-

Velvet raised her head. The clouds parted to reveal the moon, streaming down upon them brightly in a silver hue, calm and serene. “It’s no longer red.”

“The scarlet night’s over,” Eizen said, bending down on one knee near Velvet and Avernus. “I feel a shift in the earthpulse. It appears that waking up the Empyreans has averted the rumbling activities of the volcano. The mountain will not erupt. At least not for a few hundred years.”

Eizen slowly pulled Avernus off Velvet’s lap with Rokurou joining him to help with the carry. “I guess whatever Avernus and Lailah did, had worked in our favor. Isn’t that right, Lailah?” Rokurou said as he and Eizen each held each of Avernus’ shoulders, ready to take him back to Van Eltia.

“Yes. The four Empyreans pushed Innominat away from the earthpulses. His domain is no longer affecting the mind of malakhim or humans.” Lailah informed, her eyes followed Avernus’ unconscious face that was heartbreakingly sleeping like an innocent child. Velvet caught an alarming feel of concern in Lailah’s benevolent eyes.

“Lailah.” Velvet called, and the fire malak turned to her. “Thank you. If it hadn’t been for you, I don’t think we could’ve awakened the four Empyreans. We’re in your debt.”

“I did what I had to do.” Lailah nodded. “I’m happy that I could help you and Avernus, Velvet-san.”

Magilou slid closer to Lailah, making herself visible to the lord of calamity. “Aren’t you forgetting someone, Velvet?”

“You’re right. Thank you-”

Magilou quickly interrupted Velvet. “I’m not like Lailah that a mere “thank you” satisfy me. I only accept gifts or gald in tens of thousands.”

Velvet groaned in annoyance. “Forget it. I take it back.”

Laphicet joined them and moved beside Lailah. “What was that illusory arte, Magilou?”

“My personal affair that I had prepared for the old man.” Magilou giggled in pride. “It was to remind him how breaking someone’s heart feels. In other words: Payback.”

“That man was Claudin, am I right?”

“He was. Melchior loved him so much that he made an oath a hundred years ago to accompany him and see his vision through. Claudin’s death hit him hard. Very hard.” Magilou sneered, locking her arms behind her head, staring into the horizon with wicked satisfaction. “That was also his downfall. Hypocrisy at its finest.”

“What about Avernus? I sensed a lot of malakhim souls and consciousnesses rushing to him. Wasn’t that dangerous?” Laphicet wondered.

“Those souls you felt, Laphicet, were the wills of malaks who were suppressed and consumed by Innominat,” Lailah answered. “Wills to live and wills to push on. Avernus gave his body as a vessel to outweigh the Melchior’s magic of suppression.” Her face went pale for a second as she remembered something, a vision of someone, quietly resting under an apple tree in the Avalon. Lailah quickly switched her thoughts back. “Sometimes, little guidance can help lost souls. That’s what shepherds are for, and that’s what Avernus is for…”

“I bet malaks love an evil shepherd who gives them the freedom to express their emotions more than a benevolent one who binds them in prison. Did you know all of that from before?” Magilou asked, bringing her back to the matter.

Lailah quickly glanced at Velvet with a sense of guilt before returning her attention to Magilou. “No, I heard whispers of another malak, guiding me. For the souls, and even for getting back the sword.”

Velvet’s eyes suddenly glimmered in recognition. “Seres.”

Lailah nodded. “Yes. I think that was how she introduced herself.”

Velvet smiled. The reincarnation of her sister would not leave her side. Not till the end. “She is determined to see this through. As would I.”

Eizen glanced over Avernus’ head as he and Rokurou carried him on their shoulders. “Do you know anything about Avalon, Lailah? Was that real?”

Avalon. The mysterious island, hidden among worlds, where orchards of apple trees laden with glowing fruits and the grass was a soft green lawn. Filled with such peace as no men nor malak will never know on earth. That would be Eizen's next destination after they dealt with Artorius and Innominat.

“I-I have no idea, I’m sorry,” Lailah answered. In her honesty, she was telling them the truth, but not the whole truth, and Velvet already knew. “All I know is that it is somehow connected to both our world and the seraphim world.”

“You mean the progenitor malakhim?” Eleanor asked.

“We’re the same race. Those who were determined to follow their prime lords, the Empyreans, are called malakhims, which means “Holy Servants”.”

Laphicet gave Lailah a surprised and innocent look. “W-We are the servants?!”

An irritating hum from Eizen followed Laphicet’s sentence. “We are servants of no one, Laphicet. Especially not the shepherds and not the Empyreans.”

“Eizen is right. No one, not even malaks, has to be chained and used as tools.” Eleanor expressed.

“The first malakhim followed the Empyreans out of their own free will. In the case of Innominat, no one knows. But he has no more control of the minds of most malakhim and humans. His domain is failing.” Lailah answered.

“About Innominat, Phi. You are connected to him. What is he doing right now?” Velvet asked.

Laphicet closed his eyes and took a deep breath, tapping into the earthpulses. “The Empyreans drove him away from the earthpulse. His body has escaped to the sky above the Empyrean’s throne. Artorius is with him too.”

“If that’s the case, what Lailah said is true. Humanity’s amplified resonances will diminish, and a lot of malakhim will regain their free will,” Magilou deducted. “The exorcist will likely lose a good number of their forces.”

“What about you, Eleanor? Have you lost your resonance?” Rokurou asked.

Eleanor cocked her head and shot a glance at everyone as they traversed the snowing road. “Sorry to disappoint, but I can still see you. Evil daemons, malakhims, witches, ladies of the lakes, and rogue shepherds alike.”

Lailah clapped her hands and beamed. “I knew it, Eleanor-san! Avernus told me that you are naturally strong!”

Lailah’s sweet and delicate compliment made Eleanor blushed. “Thank you, you’re so kind, the lady of the lake.”

Lailah hadn’t got used to her title, and soon she joined Eleanor in having rosy cheeks. Laphicet paced to Lailah’s side in excitement. “I like it a lot. It suits you, Lailah!”

“I-It does?”

Magilou stroked her chin. Thoughts of endless possibilities of how she can use the lady of the lake’s power stormed her mind. “So, Lailah, what can you do with those powers?”

“I can only assist the shepherd. Anything more, it has to be decided by Avernus.” Lailah lowered her head in shame. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry, Lailah. When your big brother wakes up, we will-” Before Magilou could finish her sentence, Velvet smacked her head. Her jester hat nearly fell off, and she stumbled forward. “Hey!”

“Leave Lailah out of it.” Velvet frowned at the witch. “It is up to me if I need any more power to deal with Artorius, not you.”

“Ah, you are no fun. Can’t you understand?! You have the power of four gods under your fingertips and claws! You can order your faithful Shadow to snap his finger and erase everything from existence!”

“For now, let us worry about getting back to Van Eltia. Then we’ll decide on what to do with the powers.”

The team hiked their way back from the mountain and back to Hellawes. In the port, Benwick and the rest of the crew were anxiously waiting for them.

“Welcome back! I take it you defeated the legates.”Benwick greeted them, and his eyes instantly fell upon Avernus. “I guess he did something stupid again?”

Velvet waved her hand. “What’s new? But we got the legates. That leaves Artorius and Innominat.”

“Report, Benwick. How do you feel? Is everyone back to normal?” Eizen asked.

Benwick bobbed his head, sticking his chest out in salutation.“Aye, aye! We’re better than ever. It seems whatever tugged at our minds has already disappeared. We’re ready and able for your orders.”

“We need to have a plan before rushing into the final battle. Avernus needs to wake up too.”Velvet suggested. Suddenly, two new colorful Normins grabbed her attention as they were sitting beside Grimoirh on the deck. “Who’re those?”

“They came here looking for the shepherd, talking about paying their tributes before going on their ways and finding their missing friend,” Benwick answered.

Velvet climbed the stairs and marched toward the Normins. “What do you want?”

Grimorih beckoned to the green and red normin behind her, and they joined her. “They are Normin Heerow and Normin Krimson. They’ve come here to meet the Shepherd or precisely, the son of Claudin.”

Velvet scowled, making the small Normins flinch for a moment in fear. “What do you want with Avernus? And what’s your business with him?”

The green one gathered enough courage to bow slightly. “G-greetings lord of calamity. We have previously traveled the world alongside King Claudius and Artorius. We just came here to see Claudin’s son.”

“You’ve traveled with Artorius?” Velvet asked, turning to Grimoirh.

“Might as well let them speak,” Girmoirh suggested.

Velvet crossed her arms. “Fine, but you need to talk before I let you see Avernus.”

Seeing no choice but to go through with the interrogation, the green one began the tale of King Claudin; how he found Artorius as an orphan, raising and training him under his wings to become his most beloved disciple. Then, how things turned to the worst, and Claudin had to sacrifice himself to save Artorius’ life in Lothringen.

Most of this information was nothing new to them. But the story of Artorius sparked her interest. “Another death on his hand.” Velvet blamed Artorius for the death of Claudin too.

The red Normin shook his head. “Artorius didn’t do anything wrong. There was no other way Claudin could have saved the boy, and he had already stretched that oath to its limits.”

Velvet was still not satisfied. Even though Avernus didn’t know his father, Velvet felt that Avernus losing his father was also Artorius’ fault.“Why did he sacrifice his life? Why was Artorius so important?”

“Claudin believed in the purity of Artorius’s spirit. He entrusted his hopes and the future of the world to his disciple!”

“But he had a son back in the far continent.” Velvet said.

Krimson lowered his head in sorrow. “He didn’t know. If he did…” He paused before raising his head again. “But it’s not the only sad thing. After that, Artorius kept blaming and blaming himself for the death of Claudin. He tried to do everything he could to live up to Claudin’s ideals, with no one else to help him. He traveled the world, teaching folks about malakhim and daemons, and how important it is to have a pure heart. But people had lived in peace so long, and they didn’t care for his stories. And in the end, the four Empyreans drifted into slumber.”

“He blamed himself again, I presume?” Magilou joined them, standing beside Velvet.

“Yes. And he left us, journeying to the east, all by his lonesome.”

Magilou looked at Velvet, and they shared the same assumption. “Eastgand… Which means.”

“Aball.” Velvet completed her sentence. “Benwick said you want to join your friend. Did they go to Eastgand?”

“Yes. He took off a few days ago, but we heard the news about Claudin’s son and decided to come and find you.” Krimson answered, waiting for Velvet’s permission.

“We’ll take you to Aball. I have some business there too.” Velvet said, waving her hand afterward as soon as she saw Eizen and Rokurou coming out of the crew quarters. “You can go and see Avernus.” Velvet raised a scolding finger, frowning. “But try anything funny, or be a nuisance around him, and I will throw you out into the sea to be shark bait.”

#sneakpeak #fanfiction #alternative berseria the x #OC #story #talesofberseria

4 notes · View notes

dangerously-human · 4 years

Note

1, 5, 9, 10, 18?

Answered a couple earlier, so the ones I haven’t gotten to yet:

9. Do you prefer to write AUs, canon divergence, or canon-compliant fic?

I think canon-compliant is my favorite, although I tend to go for canon divergence most often (because half of my motivation comes from SPITE when canon doesn’t go my way lol, or ya know, shipping). Straight-out AUs are something I’ve never really tackled, although I’d like to eventually! I have an idea I’m quite fond of for a text-based, modern university AU (Endeavour) that I’d love to get off the ground if the inspiration will cooperate.

10. Do you enjoy writing dialogue, exposition, or plot the most?

Hmm. Definitely not plot, haha, which is all too obvious to anyone who’s read anything I’ve written! Honestly, exposition probably comes the easiest to me, but it’s hard not to just do a complete brain-dump sometimes. Dialogue is probably my favorite, because even though it can be so challenging, it’s the most fun. Especially if it means writing snark!

18. What is a line/scene you’re really proud of? Give us the DVD commentary for that scene.

“Ms Frazil, hello!”

It feels uncomfortable to address her formally, especially after the other woman has used her Christian name - it makes her feel like a child, in fact, as though the only reason they know each other is through Joan’s father. It brings up the old bitterness Joan has been trying to chase away, but it bubbles up only a moment before Ms Frazil responds casually, “Dorothea,” and they’re on equal footing again. Dorothea nods to the eyeshadow in Joan’s hand and compliments the shade; Joan acknowledges with a small smile. She’s been agonizing over the teal or sky blue for at least ten minutes, and maybe it’s silly, but the stamp of approval from a reasonably fashionable woman a few years her senior instills a sense of pride.

Fair warning that this is going to be a LONG-ass answer (including quite a bit of general meta), so I’m going to put it under a read more! (Which naturally only appears to be half working, SIGH.)

This was a REALLY fun scene to write, the whole interaction between Joan and Ms Frazil at the drugstore, interspersed with flashbacks to Joan happening upon Morse in the pub post-breakup with Claudine. I was originally hoping this scene would be the “tipping point” or bridge that got Joan and Morse together, that Joan would talk to Dorothea and realize she does have feelings for Morse that she doesn’t want to ignore. However, I realized it was too early in canon for that to happen and for me to be able to pull in some pieces of S6 that I wanted to reference, and besides, I didn’t feel like Joan had done enough growing for a relationship yet, not with Morse, anyway. She needed to get into a job she’s excited about, living with roommates away from her parents, establishing her own life, before that would work. In S5, she’s starting to get there, but she’s still got this childish “I can do it BY MYSELF” attitude going on to some degree (it drove me nuts on first watch; on second, I think I understood her better) that meant she wasn’t really even open to that kind of connection with someone, I think, not in a way that would have worked with Morse, at least.

What I love here is how Joan is starting to be on equal footing with the “grown-ups” in her life, evidenced primarily by the first-name basis consideration. She doesn’t just know Dorothea through her dad’s work; they’ve interacted through Joan’s work as well - Joan is batting with the big leagues, now. Names are a pretty big deal in a lot of Endeavour fic, and with good reason - they’re a big thing in canon, after all - but it’s especially important in Morse/Joan stories, I think. Because not only do you have the usual tension with Morse’s name, and all the reasons he chooses not to use it and what that indicates about his relationships, but you also have the tension with Joan wanting to be seen as a real, whole, and independent person, not just “Miss Thursday” - an appellation which is meant as a sign of respect, but which ties her perhaps a little too closely to her family/her father, a particular sore point when you’re looking at Morse’s relationship with her father and Joan wondering if she can have anything with Morse that isn’t “tainted” by that as the greater association; and also as a matter of Morse treating her as an individual woman and not just a generic “oh, I have to use Miss because you are a woman” kind of thing. (This is, incidentally, why I’ve kept to Joan mostly still calling him Morse when they’re together, even if it seems a little frosty - because I feel like there’s a motif there with being called what you choose to be called.)

And then you’ve got the bit about bonding over makeup, which was VERY intentional. Joan and Ms Frazil have a somewhat similar sense of style, and I wanted to show Joan admiring and wanting to emulate an older woman as a role model in some sense, even if not entirely conscious. I wanted to show something more traditionally feminine in a positive light for Joan, especially in consideration of her later conversation with Morse (which was one of the first things I wrote for TBS) about beauty being her equivalent to Morse’s music. We know that matters to Joan, and Morse disparaging Joan’s fashion sense is part of their fight in Apollo (only on the surface, of course, but still hurtful). When I first drafted this scene, I had a note here about [ADD IN ACTION TO SET THE SCENE, PROBABLY SOMETHING WITH MAKEUP] because I wanted to test my setting abilities, but also use that to evidence something about Joan’s personality and the interaction overall, you know? Also, I know I’ve said I don’t do a ton of research to keep things period-appropriate, which is true, but this was such a great excuse to research makeup trends through the decades! I’m greatly saddened by the fact that blue eyeshadow is so far out of fashion these days; I love blue and I love bold eyeshadow and I think it would be fun to wear more often.

#jayykesley #personal #endeavour

3 notes · View notes

amemiyashion · 5 years

Text

A Revue of Revenge

Funny story about this fic, it actually wiggled back-and-forth between being posted quite a few times. At first, it was going to be a normal smut fic, but then I gave it my own twist and held onto it instead. Then I wanted to post it as a christmas fic, so I reworked it and tried to post it, but I was a coward again. And THEN the Maya OVA came out and confirmed that she wasn’t too amazing at dealing with intense emotions, so it almost became too good to post. I decided against it again, but I remembered I have this blog, so I’ll post it here first for safe-keeping. Maybe I’ll put it on AO3 one day.

A Revue of Revenge

Words: 3247 (about)

Relationships: Mayakuro

By now, the year had taken a hungering bite into the winter months, leaving nothing behind but the fleeting, tiring days of the winter holidays, and the glittering bauble-esque reward of Christmas, at the end of it all. Saijou Claudine couldn't say she enjoyed those days; the ever-present chill made it difficult to practice, as the act of changing into your leotard became a momentary dip into icy water, and staying in it even worse. Naturally, the only ones who had the guts to bear the cold was her, Junna Hoshimi and of course, Tendou Maya. Junna, however, had made herself sick from spending too much time in the frigid practice hall, and was now spending more than enough time wrapped up in Nana's arms to speed up her recovery.

The latter, though - Tendou Maya, the maze of a Stage Girl who'd been Claudine's girlfriend for more than half a year, now - Usually joined her in practice, but today had been absent. Claudine had paid no mind to it, practicing alone despite the soft panging loneliness in her stomach. It was always healthy to take a break, after all. And so, she was especially looking forward to returning to the dorms at lunchtime to share an hour or so with her before returning.

Claudine hummed along in her head, thinking about what she'd like for lunch. Hopefully something warm - something she could wrap her hands around and relax as the feeling returned to her numbed fingers. Maybe Nana could make a nice soup. But then again, she'd probably end up making banana soup, and Claudine could only fear what that tasted like. Considering they were leaving the honour of making Christmas Dinner to Nana, the nine of them would probably be having banana turkey and banana Christmas pudding by the end of the week, and that was enough banana for a year, in Claudine’s books.

By the time she reached the dorms, she'd spent long enough in her thick woollen coat and gloves to have warmed enough to make lunch herself, and was no longer at the mercy of whatever Nana cooked up. Regardless of what she’d have, Claudine wanted to share it with Maya.

Sharing was one of the tenets they'd built their relationship on: sharing food, sharing secrets, sharing their time together, and every so often, sharing their bodies. They supported each other this way, still always competing, and still occasionally bickering. Maya sometimes complained that they shared a bit too much - particularly Claudine, and food – but every time she did, Claudine just shut her up by sharing even more.

Claudine made it back to the dorms in record time, hurried on by the fuzzy, dreamy romantic nothings spinning about in her half-numbed head. Managing to unlock the door despite dropping the key once or twice, Claudine barrelled inside and took a deep breath of the warm, almost humid, air of the dorms. Her body trembled as it warmed, and Claudine thankfully unbuttoned her jacket and hung it on the hook besides the door, ready for when she left for the school once again. After all, her duty to practice always calls – practice, and lunch.

Claudine dizzied halfway through the living room, on the hunt for Tendou Maya, more in her own mind than the real world. She was pulled out of her musings by a worried cry however, and looked about for the source. Claudine had been convinced she’d been alone in the room – she’d only wear the innocent, lovey-dovey expression she had on if she were – so when she found three people on the couch across from her, she was frankly shocked considering the noise they were making.

"Karen...!" Junna and Hikari were leaning over what seemed to be an incapacitated Aijou Karen. Hikari was slowly fanning Karen, a concerned look on her face, whilst Junna inspected the -- the black mark on Karen’s face. "Oh, god..." Junna's voice wavered as she tried to apply some kind of ointment from a first-aid kit.

Claudine's brow twitched in confusion, and she approached the three hesitantly. "What-- What's going on here?" She was struck as Junna turned to her, almost accusatorily.

"Oh, Claudine." Junna's attention darted between Karen and Claudine, and she could've sworn she heard her murmur 'speak of the devil’ when her back was turned. "Karen has been, umm... struck." Junna shook her head and cleared her throat, figuring the truth was better after an uncomfortable moment. "Tendou hit her."

"What?!" Claudine couldn't believe her ears. Tendou Maya, who was usually so polite and graceful, had apparently lashed out at Karen. Claudine had been planning so spend her lunchtime with the girl, but those plans were feeling less realistic by the second. "Do you know why?" Claudine looked at Karen - still washed out on the sofa - and wondered if they'd managed to get anything out of her.

“Well, I saw it all.” Figuring she’d have to explain, Junna muttered to herself. "Karen was feeling cold - as we all are," She sniffed instinctively, still not over her cold. "So, she hugged Maya, as she does..." Junna hesitated again, stuttering and shifting about on her feet. "And she called her - and I quote - 'soft and cuddly'." With the words out in the open, Junna managed to regain her composure. "I think you can assume what happened next." It certainly wasn’t hard to imagine.

"Oh..." Claudine couldn't even laugh as the picture in her mind came into focus. "Is Karen okay?" Not wanting to have to face whatever Maya was doing right now, Claudine feigned interest in Karen. Her partner had always been a strong girl, and by the looks of it, Karen had been on the receiving end of quite the punch.

"She'll live." Junna rolled her eyes. "We've all seen her in worse." After watching Hikari try to shake Karen awake again, she turned back to Claudine. "I think the person who's really in trouble is you, Claudine." She laughed facetiously. "Maya's been stomping around the dorm for almost an hour now, and I think she might be looking for you."

"How- What makes you think I have anything do to with this?" Claudine stepped back, Junna's accusation hitting home. Claudine’s shock was obviously just lip-service, and the sudden shift in Junna's expression told her she wasn't interested in dancing around the truth.

"We all know, Claudine." Was Junna's stark answer. Watching Claudine splutter her way through another excuse wasn't in her interest, and she promptly turned to pay attention to the comatose Karen, who seemed to be coming back to life. Hikari shook her one last time, and Karen putted to life like a broken engine. "Karen?"

"Hikari...? Junna?" Karen groaned, rubbing her head to find it hurt more than it usually did. Claudine didn't have time to waste with this reunion. Apparently, Tendou Maya was hunting her down, and if Karen's state was anything to go by, she wasn't about to get off easily.

"Futaba! Futaba, open up!" Claudine battered unforgivingly on the door to Kaoruko and Futaba's shared room, her head occasionally darting up and down the corridor to check for any sign of Maya. After a few moments, a bed-headed Futaba creaked the door open.

"Kuroko?" Futaba dithered as she tried to sort out her messy pinkish locks, forcing her eyes to stay open. "Before you say anything, it's a Sunday in the middle of winter. Don't judge me."

Ignoring Futaba's excuses for spending so long in bed, Claudine tried to barge her way into the dormitory. "You owe me a favour, Futaba. Let me in." With that, the door slid open and Claudine almost fell through. She'd expected a snide comment from Kaoruko, but the girl was still asleep, buried under layers of duvets.

Taking a sweet breath of relief as she took a seat on Futaba's bed, Claudine rolled her eyes at her own overreaction. She had really taken to hiding away in her friend's room to weather the storm of her girlfriend's anger.

"I hate to ask, Kuro, but... What are you doing in my room?" Futaba flopped down in her bed next to Claudine, curling the covers over her shoulders as she felt the chill air Claudine had brought in with her. "Something wrong?"

"No, of course not. I just--" Claudine quickly realised just how futile lying would be. "I think I made Maya mad, and I'm hiding." Swallowing her shame tasted like a mouthful of salt, as it also meant accepting the fact that she was most certainly the one in the wrong.

Futaba choked a laugh. "You made Maya mad? Usually it's the other way around." She stopped and looked and Claudine more seriously. "But an angry Maya does sound pretty terrifying, doesn't it? I'd want to hide, too."

"Exactly." Claudine nodded as Futaba was just as understanding as usual. "So, I think we should switch rooms for tonight. I'll stay in here, and--"

"Wow, now. I think that'll just get me killed in my sleep." Futaba shook her head. "Maybe we could just talk to her about it? I'm sure if it's you two it's something stupid." Claudine hadn't expected Futaba to be so level-headed about it, but she was probably just still tired from having woken up.

"Honestly! As if you and Kaoruko's problems aren't stupid, too!" Claudine bit back, sure of herself that Maya's problems were more than some trivial high-schooler tip.

Futaba was about to speak up - and surely agree, considering their last argument had been over the last cookie in the jar - a scream rang out through the halls. Both of the girls leapt, and even Kaoruko woke up. Kaoruko hadn't been the one to scream, however, and once the other two realised, Futaba hopped to her feet.

"You're not coming?" Futaba looked down at Claudine, who was still glued tightly to Futaba's bed. "Come on, Kuroko. It's not like you to mope. What if someone's hurt?"

Claudine looked as if she was about to shake her head, but groaned and jumped up, finding she was incapable of being so petty. Telling herself she wasn't afraid of Tendou Maya, no matter how riled up she was, Claudine followed Futaba out of the room.

Claudine mused on just how similar the scene they found was to the one she'd seen only a few minutes earlier. The ominous feeling in her chest grew as she gradually began to feel like a hunted animal.

"Nana, are you okay?" Junna was kneeling over Nana, cradling her in her arms as if she was actually dying. "Claudine!" This time, however, there was no pity from Junna; as soon as she spied Claudine, she shot a painfully spiteful look in her direction. "If you can't control your girlfriend, I'll have to call faculty."

Claudine shuffled up to Nana, still feeling the daggers coming from Junna. Even more than when she’d attacked the puppy-like Karen, Claudine felt like Maya had committed some reprehensible crime by taking down Nana. Sure, the girl might not be quite as innocent as most would care to know, but her motherly instincts made up for it twice over.

"I--" Nana spoke up. "I just asked her if she wanted something for lunch." Junna's expression became even worse as the motive behind the horrific act became clear. Nana pulled herself closer to Claudine. "This is your fault."

"Nana, we both know whose fault this really is." Claudine bit back. Nana’s maternal habits had gone into overdrive over the winter months. And whilst Claudine might have appreciated having someone wait her on hand-and-foot, Maya surely didn’t.

Nana fainted, if only to escape the conversation.

"Claudine, really. You've got to sort this out." Junna pressed, still clinging to Nana, fully aware she was faking her unconsciousness. "It's only getting worse."

Futaba murmured an agreement from behind Claudine, but before she could think of a retort, yet another pitched yell broke the air. This time, it was Kaoruko's - only she was capable of such a squawking, outraged howl.

The two - and Junna as well, once she'd carefully placed Nana on the sofa to rest - found Kaoruko splayed out on the floor of her room, with a satisfied, if bedraggled, look on her face. Only as satisfied as someone could look, trying to crawl back into bed after being throttled to the floor, though; that much was evident by her ruffled pyjamas and flustered red face.

"Kaoruko, what did you do...?" Futaba knelt down next to Kaoruko, not bothering to help her up.

Kaoruko cackled, as she was prone to do, and finished scraping herself back into bed, snuggling into it like a rodent into a hole. "She came looking for Claudine," she managed to grin despite her condition as she pulled the covers over her shoulders. "And I called her fat when she walked out." Kaoruko returned to her usual snickering self in record time - Claudine was frankly shocked she'd been the only one to completely survive Maya's wrath. "Apparently I'm not worth killing." The exasperation in the room was audible - perhaps it'd have been better if Maya really had finished Kaoruko off.

Junna and Futaba looked at each other suddenly, wordlessly conspiring. "Well, Claudine, I think we all know what needs to happen next." There was a direly ominous tone to Futaba’s voice, and she approached Claudine from behind as she rolled her shoulders.

Before Claudine could even take a guess at what Futaba had meant, both of her arms were sealed. She gawked, suddenly arriving at the conclusion that Futaba and Junna had a moment ago. She struggled, but found no purchase. Claudine had expected Futaba to be strong enough to hold her down, but Junna's sudden burst of strength seemed out of nowhere - no doubt Nana was spiritually lending her her strength. "Wh-What are you two doing?! Unhand me!"

"No can do, Kuroko." Futaba sighed. "I hate to do this, but it'll be one of us next." Junna nodded in agreement, and Claudine could feel her heart sink. "Hey, Maya!" Futaba called out, and the air went dead silent. "Come and get her!"

Claudine laughed dryly. "You're both acting like you're going to sacrifice me to her." She looked over her shoulder at Futaba, but found no mercy, as a violent stomping filled the air. And when she turned back, Maya was already there.

"Thank you, Isurugi, Hoshimi. I'll be taking her, now." Was the last thing Claudine heard before she was grabbed by the collar and dragged back to her room.

Claudine hadn't expected to still be alive, but as Maya practically threw her onto her own bed, she didn't think she'd have to worry about that for much longer. Nothing came, though, and Claudine opened her eyes to find the girl simply looking down at her, rather irritatedly. "You're not going to kill me?" She asked facetiously, but not entirely believing Maya wouldn't.

"Why would I..." Recalling that she'd just left a bloody trail through the dormitory, Maya sighed and collapsed onto the bed. "I'll need to apologise for that."

"I think Kaoruko had it coming." Thinking she could distract Maya with intimacy, Claudine set her hands on Maya's shoulders and edged closer, beginning to play with the collar of her shirt, but she was shocked when her partner rejected her touch. Maya almost shrunk in on herself, her cheeks growing the mildest red.

"She wasn't wrong, though, was she?" Maya's voice was at once accusatory and embarrassed as the source of her anger finally showed itself. Both of the girls' faces went a flushed shade of red as the words tried to come out. "You... You've..." Maya squeaked, unable to even think it, despite it being painfully obvious to the both of them. Claudine had to admit, it was difficult watching Maya unable to say what was on her mind.

"I've made you fat." Claudine was just as afraid of saying it as Maya, but at this point her dignity, and responsibility as her girlfriend, won out. Claudine's stomach lurched at her own bluntness, and she hurried to correct herself. "I mean, not fat-- just, softer." Fearing Maya's wrath, she echoed Karen's words from earlier.

True enough, Maya had become slightly plumper over the months she'd spent as Claudine's beloved - at first, the natural exercise she did at the school made it a neutral game, but once the walls in her and Claudine's relationship had broken down, spurring the blonde onto bigger things, she'd began to gradually put on weight. Claudine had noticed, of course; the amount of time they'd spent naked in each other's presence had given her a front-row seat to Maya's growth. She'd been pussyfooting around the topic for the past few months, as she secretly enjoyed the show. She would never tell Maya that, though - it'd just be an extra burden in their relationship. Realistically, it was only a few pounds, but even that made all the difference to a Stage Girl. And considering it was the Christmas season, that number was probably only going to get worse if Nana had anything to say about it.

"Precisely." Maya had regained her composure quickly, and was now glaring at Claudine with the same intensity she'd had earlier. "I think it would be best for the both of us - myself especially - if you let me go on a diet."

Claudine's head spun a little bit at the implication that she had full control over Maya's eating habits, and that if she said no now, it would mean no. She took a breath and composed herself, reminding herself what happened the last time she let her indulgences take centre stage. "Of course. But--" Claudine cut herself off, realising how selfish even a single 'but' would be, baiting Maya into a trap with the promise of freedom.

"But--?" Maya reacted, and Claudine already regretted it. The air in the room had relaxed after the matter of the hour was settled, but Claudine wasn't feeling it. "I'm sure watching me go on a diet will be absolute torture for you." The malice in Maya's eyes had already been replaced by a kindness - and, perhaps, there was just a sliver of eroticism behind them. As ever, the girl was so quick to forgive. "Perhaps I'll let you have one favour."

Claudine looked for an escape as she found herself trapped between her embarrassment and her more earthly desires. Of course, Maya had already recognised the blush splashing across Claudine's cheeks; she was only like this when she knew she was putting her girlfriend on the spot. "I--" Claudine choked up, unable to even voice her desires, having locked them away safely for both of their sakes.

"Don't be embarrassed, Claudine." Maya's eyes shifted between a kind glow and a teasing edge. "I don't think anything you say could shock me, anymore - you've had your way with me plenty of times before." Claudine could see Maya on the verge of laughter as she squeezed Claudine between her fingers.

"Gah!" Claudine decided she'd had enough of Maya teasing her. "If you're going to insist, then..." Swallowing her embarrassment, Claudine approached Maya again - apparently, she must have had quite the menacing look on her face, seeing as Maya practically backed off as she closed in. "Take off your jumper, and turn around." Claudine demanded, watching as apprehension flashed across Maya's face.

"You have a rather unpleasant look in your eyes, Claudine." Maya tutted and she gingerly turned, stripping off her jumper and shivering slightly against the cold as it bit through her thin undershirt. And as she peeled that away too below, the roll of soft flesh around Maya's middle was revealed - it sat lazily on the hem of her pants, hungrily devouring skin that was once muscular and taut and turning it into smooth, plushy curves. At first, Maya instinctively covered it, wrapping her arms around her hips, but taking care not to touch her soft skin as if she were afraid of her own stomach and the power it could hold over her. "I do hope you aren't planning anything untowards." Even like this, though, Maya was completely irresistible.

"Shut up." Claudine cleared her throat, looming over Maya as she tensed up. As always, Maya was a sensitive mess when it came to intimacy. Watching her squirm was something Claudine would never get tired of, even if it came at the price of having Maya watch her squirm with the same glee. As she pictured how red her partner’s face must be, Claudine began wrapping her arms around her middle, easing Maya's arms out of the way before resting her chin on her shoulder.

"...!" Flinching as Claudine's cold skin brushed against her own body, Maya wished that Claudine would get whatever she was planning over with.

And Claudine happily indulged her request; with a slow breath to calm her heart, she set her hands on Maya's exposed stomach, squeezing deep into the layer of flesh. Feeling Maya twitch as Claudine exploited her insecurity, her fingers dug even deeper, feeling out the very extremity of Maya's fluffiness. Just having her girlfriend's skin bulge between her probing fingers was heavenly enough, but Claudine wasn't done yet. "This is Tendou Maya." She whispered, twisting the Top Star of Seisho's signature line into a teasing torture.

!!!

Claudine awoke a few hours later, groaning as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She took a wild guess at what had happened as she looked about, peering through the half-light of the late afternoon. She'd have laughed at Maya's touchiness if it hadn't been her on the receiving end, this time. Her eyes adjusted, and she spied a figure on her bed; Tendou Maya, her limbs splayed across the mattress, and a smattering of cookie crumbs across her cheek.

"God, she stuffs herself with cookies and falls asleep in the middle of the day. To think Tendou Maya could be such a slob..." After what the two of them privately referred to as 'The Incident', Claudine had sworn herself away from blackmail. She decided, however, as the shutter of her camera went off once, twice, and again, that having a bit of ammunition never hurt.

#Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight #septuvariest writes #hoo boy this is a bit of a kink fic huh #I DESERVE IT SHUT UP

5 notes · View notes

anneesfolleshq · 6 years

Photo

「 THE DIVA 」

35 • ROGUE • MONTMARTRE

DIRECT FROM LE PETIT JOURNAL:

𝙱𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝙳𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚎. 𝚃𝚛𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌. 𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝙰𝚗𝚊𝚒𝚜 𝚅𝚎𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚞𝚡’ 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚊𝚗 𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚝𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚐 𝙲𝚕𝚊𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝙰𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚜, 𝚖𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚠𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚐𝚎. 𝚆𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚜, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚊 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚊 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚠 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚝𝚑, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙼𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚎 𝚅𝚎𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚞𝚡 𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚕𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚠𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚋𝚞𝚝𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝙲𝚕𝚊𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚎. 𝚆𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚒𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚎 𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚐𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚐𝚕𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚌𝚛𝚘𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚐𝚎. 𝙰𝚗𝚊𝚒𝚜 𝚅𝚎𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚞𝚡 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚞𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚎, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚖𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚋𝚓𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚜, 𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚎𝚗𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎. 𝚆𝚎𝚕𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔, 𝙼𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚎, 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔.

ABOUT:

You were destined to be a star, you have always known that. The whole world was yours for the taking since the first time they heard you sing. Your voice and appearance were enough to captivate a theatre full of people when you were younger, but time pays no favors to women like you. The world of opera, always looking for the next big thing, found a star much younger than you and shuffled you off to the side. If you wanted to stay in the spotlight, to keep your reigning stardom, you would have to be as cutthroat as your industry... quite literally. It is a shame what happened to the young opera singer, but you gladly reclaimed your title. Fame and fortune are your destiny, but sometimes fate needs a little push in the right direction.

BIO:

They say a true star is born not made, and anyone who has had the privilege of hearing her voice would assert that a star was certainly born on a cold night in early November 1887. The nursery had been empty for quite some time before Anais’ cries filled the Veilleux home. Gold rattlers, ivory mobiles, the finest materials to warm her plump thighs, and golden head– the youngest child and only daughter was given everything she wanted and more from the moment she entered the world. Her older brothers pampered her, her father spoiled her, and her mother coddled her, reminding Anais from an infant of her beauty and worth.

She remembers it vividly; the lights, the vibrant colors, the costumes, the men and women, larger than life. She remembers how their jaws seemed to come unhinged, mouths agape as the most beautiful sound poured forth reaching every inch of the cavernous theater. Anais sat in her blue satin gown, her legs dangling from her seat as she sat on it’s edge, rapt, wide eyes, and in awe of those who commanded the gilded stage. It was from that moment forward that Anais decided no other life would suit her, no other path was open to possibility, and the young girl, who had fallen hopelessly in love with the stage, opened her mouth to sing. Her parents, long time benefactors of the arts encouraged her every step of the way, hiring pianists to teach their daughter, hosting private ballet sessions. But still, money could only buy so much, and the dedication and persistence came from her heart and the young girl’s need to perform. She excelled, and her parents, proud of their talented young daughter, showcased her to their closest friends at a dinner party. All anyone expected to follow was a round of applause before sending her off to bed but what followed the eight year old’s performance was dead silence as everyone stared at her. Anais, red in the face, and afraid she had disappointed everyone, stared back. Her father was the first to stand, clapping, before the rest of the guests joined in. They all surged forward with praise, enveloping the girl in a circle of questions and invitations. Soon Anais found herself with a number of offers to perform at dinner parties among the circuit of her parents’ peers, and she happily obliged. Her passion had found a place in her tier of society, and school by day gave way to performing by night. A sheltered life in high society Paris might lead one to believe that innocence prevailed in the young eyes of those who sat quietly and watched adult’s socialize, but in fact it was quite the opposite. Anais though she was never a quiet girl, knew when to talk and when to listen, and was introduced the game in which they all were players at a young age. Politics, business, fashion, popularity. It was an intricate web of words, and actions, and her introduction to the nightly galas and gatherings led to an early understanding of the world in which she lived. The symptoms of fortune are unforgiving, and if not treated, can become fatal.

It continued for years, and it didn’t take long for buzz to gather, for the city of Paris to become privy to the young talent entertaining the rich and powerful. She was gaining popularity, and offers to perform on theater stages began to find themselves in her possession. Her mother, who had always considered her daughter’s talent a hobby and an asset in finding a husband, forbade her to continue, to take the stage, but Anais had long ago known she would not marry, would not tie herself to the role of a wife, and mother. She would dazzle, enchant, get lost in the music as she did each and every time before coming to to an appreciative audience. She beat her mother with the help of her father, hiring a voice coach, and taking offers to perform. But her mother put her foot down when Anais turned sixteen, forbidding any further dalliance as a showgirl. Her father could no longer stand behind his daughter, and without believing she would throw her fortunate life away, threatened to cut off her allowance if she continued. To Anais there was never too high a price to pay, and the girl took the punishment with swift acceptance.

Her relationship with her mother deteriorated as quickly as her fame grew, and by the time the young woman reached adulthood, she had wealth of her own volition. She traveled to America, England, Germany, Italy, Austria. She performed with renowned artists as she became one herself, beauty, grace, and talent. And when the war came, she continued to sing to keep morale high. She bought out all seats to host free concerts for wounded soldiers, and sang at the funeral of her brother when his Battalion was lost to the Germans. It was only after the war, when the country began to rebuild itself into a fresh new world that she began to see the world she held so dear slip from her grasp. Youth was like sand between one’s fingers, and her loss of it’s vitality was personified in the wonder of Claudine Arits, the girl who went from rags to riches as she took Paris, and France as a whole by storm.

She had gone over with the intention of intimidating the small, pretty thing, but the letter opener was lying there, shiney and impossibly sharp in the girl’s new, white apartment. Cold and metallic in her grasp, it contrasted wonderfully with the warm blood that rushed onto her pale hands as she slit Claudine’s throat. What a pity. What a waste of talent. But there could only be one, true star, and Anais would be damned if it was anyone but her.

CONNECTIONS:

THE CRITIC: There are few people in the city that do not read their column, and even fewer people that know they can be bought. For a few francs here and there, they will write whatever you want about others’ performances. A small price to pay to remain on top.

THE ZEALOT: Their passion for ridding the world of sin is something you play to your advantage. All it took to wrap them around your finger were a few beautifully sung hymns, and now they are more than willing to manage your dirty work.

THE GRANDE DAME: She knows what it takes to fight for a spot to the top, to work twice as hard as men in your industry. You have found a friend in her, as someone who understands that if you want this to be a woman’s world, you have to make it so. It doesn’t hurt that she keeps you dressed better than any of the competition.

FC SUGGESTIONS:

Annabelle Wallis

The Diva is currently taken.

#skeleton rp #lsrpg #city rp #town rp #period rp #r #the diva #taken #taken r

5 notes · View notes

ha-yeah-nothankyou · 4 years

Text

The Act (A HULU Original) series review

During this self-quarantine, I decided that I was going to (finally) watch The Handmaid’s Tale because now is a better time than any to watch three full seasons of approximately 15 episodes each, with every episode spanning a full hour of moral horror.

Great way to pass the time.

I was half way through the very last available episode, right at the biggest climax the story presented so far, when the ad break started. I watched two different commercial about car companies and what they have to say about the end of the world. Then, the third ad was squeezed in at the end. This one was for a HULU Original called The Act, and when I heard the name Gypsy Blanchard uttered by a kind middle-aged woman I knew that this show was going to take priority over the fate of June Osborne.

You see, I find myself very familiar with the story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard. In an uncomfortable way, even.

In the middle of an episode not made for easy-peasy switching about, I quickly typed in “Act” in the HULU search and immediately started watching. I almost couldn’t care less about Offred/Ofjoseph.

The show opens to a cluttered but otherwise empty house, camera at the end of the hallway pointing straight at the locked front door. Someone is frantically knocking. But the knocking is drowned out by an audio track played over top. It is a 911 call, the real 911 call placed on that very day. Not a reenactment of it.

Dee Dee isn’t answering the door. Her car is still in the drive way, but the neighbors haven’t seen her in a few days. Someone posted a worrisome message on her Facebook page, and she isn’t answering the door.

Now, this was very smart of the writers. They opened to the climax of the story with no explanations, then skipped backward almost 6 years to the day. Each episode featured a piece of information uncovered at the crime scene the night Dee Dee’s body was found and then went back in time to show its true significance.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard lived with her mother, who actually had several alias’ so we’ll just call her Dee Dee, in a simple home built by Habitat For Humanity for the Blanchards after they lost their previous home to Hurricane Katrina. The Blanchards took priority, of course, because poor Gypsy was very very sick. She had epilepsy, leukemia, muscular dystrophy and so much more.

In reality, Gypsy was healthy as could be, minus what was imposed on her by her mother to make her seem sick. But Gypsy didn’t know this. She was raised to believe that she needed a wheelchair and that she was allergic to sugar all to appeal to Dee Dee’s ego.

You see, Claudine (Dee Dee) Blanchard was never officially diagnosed, but it is speculated, as evidence reported, that she had meunchausen syndrome by proxy. Meunchausen syndrome is when an individual feigns or induces injury or illness in order to seek attention. Meunchausen by proxy is when a caregiver feigns or induces injury or illness on the person receiving their ”care” in order to seek the attention, sympathy and pity of spectators.

Now that I’ve established the beginning of the story, stating some facts and explaining some terms, I think it’s time for what I think of The Act.

It is, in fact, a dramatized reenactment based on a true story. There are characters and pieces of information that are new, altered, or all-together missing. For example, we see interactions between Dee Dee and her own mother that happened in secret. Both of them were dead long before the show was written, and therefore no one would know what had happened between them really. All the witnesses are dead.

Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead. But if they are both dead, that secret is even safer.

Watching this show brought up an emotion I haven’t felt in a very long time. I don’t know what to call it or what to even compare it to, but it’s there lurking in the darker corners of my memory.

In order for you to understand how I feel about The Act, you need to know a personal story of mine. I’ll make it short, as it is important and undetailed anyway.

From the age of eleven to approximately fourteen, I was introduced to the internet at the peak of popularity for Creepypasta. If you don’t know what that is, congratulations may you live a healthy life. Also, why are you on here if you don’t? But those of us in the know...

I, personally, got into a questionable crowd, consisting of two people and sometimes three. We were a tight group and stayed in touch for a couple years, I actually still talk to one of them occasionally. But the foundation of our relationship was a bed of knives, shrouded in baggie hoodies. I have no concept of time regarding these years of my life and some of the years following, so I can’t give you a straightforward timeline.

I was obsessed with a friend of mine, I only knew her as Jade. She depicted herself as a mysterious figure with auburn hair, a black hoodie, and a dark blue mask to cover her face with two black gaping holes where her eyes should be. To some of you, this sounds familiar. Yes, she said it was her OC. Yes, the OC’s name started with “Eyeless.” You know the drill.

And to compliment her, I depicted myself as a seductive red-haired teen with a dark secret: that she is actually a serial killer! Dun dun dun!

We role-played as these characters and created fictional situations where we would carve up victims, and occasionally each other, for the sheer pleasure of it. We fantasized about how we would kill people, who we would kill first, and how we would dispose of evidence.

At one point, I planned to kill my parents. I was so deep in this second reality I had built that, today, I don’t have any first hand memories outside of it. I remember our fantasies, but I don’t remember what was happening in my house. I don’t know what show my parents were watching then or what movie we bought as soon as it was available in stores. I don’t have a splinter of memory pertaining to events happening in the world around me.

That emotion I mentioned? It exists there, right there in that jumbled mess of images I wish I’d never seen and stories I wish I’d never made.

This HULU Original? The Act? Somehow, this show managed to drudge up an emotion that doesn’t exist in reality as I perceive it today. This show is so well done; the acting is on point, the casting is uncanny, and the story so well written that seeing it remolded my reality. With the medications I now take, so that I don’t return to the place where that emotion resides, I shouldn’t have been able to feel it. This series is powerful in a way that makes me regret recommending it to my mother before I finished it.

Now, HULU isn’t very specific about its trigger warnings, as I learned from watching The Handmaid’s Tale, so if you are sensitive (like me, oops) you should research the story beforehand. Learn the story-line of the real case and then make your decision.

Here is a very undetailed but informative article on the case of Gypsy Rose Blanchard.

0 notes

ruffoverthinksthings · 7 years

Note

Since you love Elsa so much. How about Hans? How is he on the Isle and everything else you want to add.

Elsawas never a fan of the Isle of the Lost, to say the least. She hatesthe idea, she hates the implementation, she hates the explicitly saidbelief that a large portion of the population are inherentlyincapable of changing for the better, and that the only solution isto geographically and socially isolate them from the rest of theworld, at the very least.

About the only thing she WAS happy about with the Isle was that itoffered a permanent solution to getting rid of Hans. No longer wouldshe have to worry about him using his smarts and guile to try andstage another, much more violent coup, no longer would she have toworry about him sneaking back under a new identity and worming hisway past their defences, no longer would she have to worry abouttrading nor dealing with the Southern Isles in general–after seeingthe way the King ruled and treated his subjects, Beast passed on themalmost as fast as he does coconut-custard cream cakes.

“Probably because he reminded him too much of himself, exceptmuch more blatant and with fewer delusions,” Elsa says dryly.

She never thought she would ever have to worry about him or hisfamily again. Up until the day comes that Ben announces that the VKprogram is expanding yet again, and this time, he’s looking to havethe other kingdoms try to adopt them, as Auradon Prep is gettingchaotic enough as is, and it’s another step in gaining masssympathy for the eventual, total abolition of the Isle.

Elsa is more than happy to sign up for it, putting a welcomebanner over the gates of the castle (of which, true to her famouswords, are rarely closed and never for long), and making all mannerof accommodations for the VKs and solid, actionable plans for them toeventually make better futures for themselves…

… Up until Ben is legally, socially, morally obliged to tell herthat one of the VKs they’re sending her way is Hans’ niece.

Hans hasn’t had a very good time on the Isle, you see. Alreadyhumiliated like all the other villains, but without the grace ofhaving died an impressive death, and with his brothers knowing andlording over the fact that he was relegated to shoveling manure inthe royal stables for his failed coup, he didn’t stand a chance ofever rising to the top, or even carving out a half-way decent lifefor himself.

Women were wary of his advances because of his reputation, muchstronger and cleverer men than he were all too willing to run himover and he could inspire no loyalty from the craven and thedesperate, and like the Southern Isles, his twelve brothers and hisfather are still better than him, and don’t hesitate to bully himand “remind him of his place.”

Really, about the only good thing that came out of this wholeordeal for him was that Maleficent proves far stronger, cleverer, andeven more ruthless than his father and 11 of his brothers, with theadded benefit that she does not need to sleep, eat, nor get sick.

“One by one, they all fell, beheaded, shot, thrown off a cliff,burned to death, eaten by gators, stabbed in the back, stabbed in thefront, stabbed from below, stabbed from above, mauled by wild dogs,and finally, choked on a rotten, stale eclair delivered in a giftbasket, all because they had the gall to try to challenge Maleficent,seat themselves on the our family’s throne, and were deposed justas quickly.”

Eventually, the only ones left of the former royal family of theSouthern Isles was Hans, his mother, his brother Lars, his wife, andtheir daughter, Heidi. His mother was a strong woman–”you had tobe, to have been married to a man like my father and bore allthirteen of his children”–and figuratively and sometimes literallycarved and hacked out a semi-decent living for them, and Lars and hisfamily was willing to show Hans care, aid, and an outstretched handwithout a concealed dagger in the sleeve.

But alas, they were still mortal, and eventually, sickness oraccident (true or engineered) claimed them, until it was just Hansand Heidi. “Take care of her…” were Lars’ last words, and asrepayment for all the kindness he and his wife had shown him, Hansmade good on them…

… Though not in the way they expected, or would have wanted.

For you see, Hans only saw one way out of this hell, similar tothe one Evil Queen saw for her own daughter, except much morerealistic: ingratiate yourself into the favour of those up top,manipulate them to serve your needs, and ideally, overthrow them andtake their position for yourself so you can skip step two.

For all her life, Heidi has been trained, encouraged, and acted asa “throne grabber,” and would have been the most successful oneon the Isle had it not been for the likes of Evie (the prettiest),Claudine Frollo (the most adventurous and shameless), leaving her tobe the perennial choice if both were currently taken, or you weren’tcharming enough to get them, but didn’t want to lower yourstandards, either.

It’s how she got her insulting nickname from Mal: “Hieny.”

Like her uncle and guardian, she has spent her whole life feelinginvisible, nothing more than a spare, the consolation prize; and likehim, she harbours a deep-seated hatred for the one Hans feels ruinedeverything, even more so than King Beast:

Queen Elsa.

When the new round of VKs included her, both Hans and her werethrilled, seeing it as their chance to finally get revenge. Itwouldn’t be as bloody and violent as Hans—they both knew now thatwouldn’t work, especially because Auradon doesn’t take as kindlyto that as they did BGU—but in the end, Heidi would worm her wayinto the good graces of the royal family, slowly subverting andmanipulating its inner workings, then use her influence and power tobring Hans back and plot a more thorough, satisfying revengewith him.

Indeed, Elsa’s rather chilly (figuratively and literally)reception to her, and how badly Anna is trying to be warm andfriendly to Heidi makes her feel like she’s got this in the bagwith a grand master plan forming in her head: pit the Queen and herbeloved sister against each other, make Anna her ally, and use her asa means to influence the much more powerful Elsa.

It gets even better when she learns from Anna that Elsa does infact have an heir, and that the crown princess of Arendelle afterAnna herself would LOVE to be friends with Heidi. She sees this as anopportunity to get information, an unwitting agent in sabotaging andtaking over Arendelle, and another potential piece of leverageagainst the Queen.

Instead, meeting Silsa is where it all falls apart, as doeseverything Heidi knew and believed to be true about herself, theworld, and what she wants out of life.

You see, Silsa isn’t like the other Royal AK kids.

“I haven’t been the captains of anything or a child genius ina certain field, never was a student leader for non-profitorganizations and charities and whatnot, or have even tried tomaster an instrument or an art that’s off the respectable sort, thekind you dress up all fancy for and pay super expensive tickets toget into a theater of the ‘velvet seats, red carpets, and hardwoodpaneling’ kind.”

For one thing, she’s disqualified from a lot of competitionsbecause of her unfair advantages, much like that of Jane and Jordanwho are ineligible for quiz bees because of their infallible,objective memories. For another thing, she only has one arm and onefully-functioning eye because of incidents when she was younger. Andfinally, most of her time, energy, and indeed, what she can doheavily relies on how many “spoons” she has after dealing withthe fact that she literally has ice in her veins–”turns outthat’s not exactly the best thing to have inside the humanbody…”

As Heidi learns, Silsa was “Pinocchio, except things wenthorribly wrong at the end.”

Pestered repeatedly for an heir, unwilling to marry, and notamenable to the idea of being severely limited in her activities fornine months (and that’s not even getting into the potential risks),Elsa took a page out of Gepetto’s book (and several more out of“Wizards of Auradon City” magazines) and built her own, a hybridsnowcreature and robot with as complex of an artificial intelligenceas she could make it.

The court was not impressed, until after Anna messed with Silsa’scode and accidentally gave her sentience through the sheer ineleganceof her writing, and Elsa’s “failsafe” subroutines’ attemptsto fix it. Having passed the Turing Test and shown herself to be morethan capable of being “human,” the Blue Fairy was allowed to takeher wand back and bring her to life.

“And it was at that moment that we learned that modern science,dad (Elsa) and mom’s (Anna) coding, 1st Century AGUalloys and metal composites, winter magic, and Blue Fairy magicREALLY don’t mix too good.”

Aside from the above mentioned issue of her magic chronic illness,Silsa has what she describes as “the ability to process andcompletely understand the fact that ultimately, nothing we doreally matters, and that all oflife is absurd.”

Alongside learning what clinical depression stemming from anexistential crisis in an artificially created human looks like, Heidilearns a lot from Silsa: the other side of the story of Frozenand how life in the Southern Isles really was, howto do “regular teenager things” instead of carrying the wholeweight of her legacy on her shoulders all the time, and a big problemin her life plans that she’s been ignorant of this whole time:

“And after you take-over my parents’ kingdom, then what?”

Heidi blinks. “What do you mean, ‘then what?’”

“’Then, what are you going to do with all your power, your dadback with you, and my dad as your own personal puppet?’” Silsareplies. “Do you start to hold important trade routes ransom tosway the other states? Do you pull out of the Trade Triumvirate andmake Arendelle an isolationist country before you completely secedefrom the Auradon Alliance? Do you try and bring Arendelle back to ourhome realm so you can annex it with the original Southern Isles andrule that?”

Heidi stares at her, her mouth agape, and all is silent for along, long time. “I… I don’t know. I… hadn’t thought aboutthat… but I’ll figure it out!”

Silsa nods. “You really should, you know, ask yourself ‘Whyam I even doing this?’ Maybe you’ll remind yourself of whyyou started and get a big ole motivational boost, or maybe you’llrealize it’s all pointless and all of you have been wasting yourtime and effort—either way, you’ll know the truth.”

“Won’t I have one of those ‘existential crisis’ that madeyou such a big ball of sunshine and rainbows?” Heidi asks warily.

Silsa shrugs. “Maybe, maybe not—that’s kinda the worst thingabout them, you never know what might trigger them, and they’renever subtle about it. Just one moment, you’re having a so-so day,then BOOM! Questioning everything you’ve ever done and ever will.

“But we’re getting beside the point: do you really want tojust keep on going, without ever really knowing, and risk still notknowing when you finally do get it? Like a dog that finally caughtits own tail.

“I see it all the time, you know, people working for somethingwithout really knowing why. That new car, that new house, that newpromotion… they work so hard, they work so much, and they sacrificeso many things, like their health, their families, their sanity…

“… And I just want to ask them, ‘Is it really all worthit?’”

“Of course it is!” Heidi says quickly. “Why do youeven ask that?”

Silsa looks her in the eyes, one turquoise, the other a fadedblue, staring into two green ones. “Because no one’s answer hasyet to make me stop asking the question.”

Heidi looks away. “Or maybe you just refuse to accept the truth,that that’s all there really is.”

Silsa nods. “Maybe, yeah.”

Silence once more.

“… You’re a strange one, Silsa.” Heidi mutters.

Silsa smiles. “I know.”

* Silsa refers to Elsa as “dad” after Anna related the time Elsa complained that she was rarely ever there to be a parent to her because of all her duties.

“I feel like the stereotypical father from all those London sitcoms,” Elsa says as she’s slumped exhausted into a couch. “Works all day and only ever sees his children at night, only ever hanging out with them on the weekends, and even then with projects involving wood and cars and hunting, never just sitting down and talking.”

“Aww, don’t say that, Elsa: you’re a great mother to Silsa,” Anna says.

“You’re more a mother to her than I’ll ever be…” Elsa replies, and the nicknames forever stuck.

Patreon

11 notes · View notes