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rin-solo · 2 months

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To anyone in the TUC fandom who has looked at AHS and skipped it because they heard the ending is happy...

... and then assumed that it's just a wish fulfillment "ideal reality" kind of outcome of the TUC story that cuts all of the depth, pain, and realism ... Go back and read it right now.

Because that is not what AHS is. Not even close.

AHS is not "my version" of TUC where I just change whatever I dislike without regard for themes or characters in the original. Far from it. One of the main goals I had was actually to give more of the Underland. More characterization (that aligns with canon, although some characters develop in a different direction because of shifts in circumstances), more worldbuilding (that coincides with canon, adding onto it), ... just more, period.

The best way I can describe what it actually is is honestly saying that AHS is to TUC like Marvel's "What if ...?" is to the MCU. It is quite literally a "What if Henry had survived his fall at the end of "Gregor the Overlander"?" And I kid you not, 95% of the changes in the story, compared to TUC, are simply a result of exactly this change.

But the entire plot of the final book is different, right? Well, I didn't say that the consequences of that one change weren't substantial. They are. Without spoiling too much I can only say that Henry happens to be an optimist, and it also happens that an optimist was exactly what the TUC story needed to achieve a happier outcome.

Anyone who has actually read my version of the CoC plot will tell you that it is far from ideal, perfect, or pain-free. A lot more happens in the actual plot, but most of those new events are there to serve the dark, violent nature of war. There's so much talk about loss, and sacrifice, exploration of (also the dark side of) heroism, and whether "for the greater good" is worth it. There's corruption and death, injustice, and grappling with unkind fates and alienation/rejection.

Now, I will admit that I did put less emphasis on the societal pressure aspect of CoC, but mainly because that theme is a huge part of AHS 2 already, and it did not really fit this part of the story anymore. Instead, "Gregor against society" becomes "Questers against society" (quite literally, since they are — small spoiler — banding together to actually overthrow Solovet and bring about change.)

BUT ... if there is corruption, death, and the violence of war, how is it happier then? How can it have a happy ending?

Very simply because it is not only corruption but also redemption. Not only death and suffering but also growth and gain. Not only violence and breaking of relationships but also companionship, hope, and mending of relationships.

... The main change that happens to be so powerful it can give this series a happy ending without disrespecting or abandoning its original gritty violent core is ... a shift in mindset toward the positive. For Gregor, but also for everyone else. One of the main themes I added is the exploration of the double-edged nature of things: Everything has good and bad consequences. What we take away from it is what we choose to focus on.

Now you might see better what I meant by "All this series needed was an optimist" earlier. If there were someone to remind people of the bright side, to remind Gregor that his rager power does not make him evil and that he is never alone or choiceless, to embody this hopeful outlook and bring it out in everything ... I promise to you that this is all it would have taken.

And this is what I'm giving you.

#gregor the overlander #the underland chronicles #suzanne collins #tuc #underland chronicles #a henry story #ahs #ahs is actually so far from happy go lucky or lighthearted #like so incredibly far #it has made so many people cry #hope and optimism do NOT mean lighthearted and fun #yes it gives belonging and family #but at what cost #hope means clinging to hope in your darkest hours #when everything seems lost and everyone is against you #when everything wants you to give up #choosing heroism when you have every right to just become a villain is also a huge thing #what it means to have power over your own fate and make your own choices too #tight knit found family against society #fighting and sacrificing your own happiness and yourself to bring about needed changes #to create a better future #you guys literally do not understand how much #gregor and the code of claw #one of my main gripes with coc is its lack of nuance in how it looks at pain and loss #everything has a price #but everything also has a gain #it just depends on learning to look at it the right way

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it-happened-one-fic · 2 years

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Hours in the Moonlight: Fairest Midnight - Vampires Don't Eat Potatoes - Vil

Author's Notes: This is the Vil Halloween fic I mentioned in my previous Jade fic. This one is actually from an AU type thingie that may or may not get more stuff added to it. It'll depend on if I stay interested in it and if you guys like it. Thus far the AU is unnamed to.... Anyway, reader is gender-neutral as per usual and Vil is a vampire.

Type: Gender-neutral reader/ Fluff / Vampire AU/ romantic

Trigger Warning: Vampire

Word Count: 1500

EDIT: So, this fic is officially the first part of "Fairest Midnight" which is first section of my new vampires series: "Hours in the Moonlight." I hope everyone enjoys this new work that I'm very excited to be sharing!

Hours in the Moonlight Master-List

Knit, purl, purl. Knit, purl, purl. Knit, purl, purl. The almost rhythmic clicking of my needles paired with the classical music from the only station my radio was currently picking up did make for an odd soundtrack. But then my life had become quite odd ever since last Halloween….

The sounds of stringed instruments playing in harmony filled my room as I continued to knit, idly thinking about how strange my life had gotten for absolutely no good reason. But then… Beggars can’t be choosers.

As if the world sensed my thoughts, my night took a turn from a peaceful, if dull, evening to vaguely chaotic.

The window I was sitting next to burst open, causing me to all but fall out of my chair in surprise as cold wind poured into my previously warm apartment. The curtains that usually hung most of the way to the floor were whipped into a frenzy as the wind stirred them.

Amid the fluttering fabric, I could see something that caused my whole body to tense and my pulse to quicken. There, slightly obstructed from my view by the fabric, stood a tall caped figure that loomed over me.

My body reacted faster than my mind as my hand clamped down on my single loose knitting needle and plunged it forward. I stood, pushing myself upwards towards the man that leaned over me as I shoved the needle towards his unprotected chest.

It entered his body in utter silence with little resistance. I panted, adrenaline still coursing through my veins as I watched the man stumble, silently, backwards. He curled forward and around the make-shift weapon that now stuck out of his chest. Time seemed to slow as I watched the man’s form and slowly backed away.

The wind died down and my curtains fell back to a resting position, revealing the intruder and I felt my eyes widen. I knew that ombre hair.

“Ow.” Vil’s voice was deadpan when he spoke and his irritation was obvious. Not that I could entirely blame him. He met my wide-eyed gaze with flashing amethyst eyes, “That hurt.”

I let out a huff, covering my earlier panic with feigned annoyance as my adrenaline died down and my hands began to tremble from excess energy, “Oh please. It didn’t hurt that bad. You aren’t even crying.”

He snorted, unimpressed.

“Tears or not,” His slender, gloved fingers wrapped around my knitting utensil and, with his eyes never leaving mine, yanked it out of his chest without even a grunt of discomfort, “It still hurts.”

He glanced down at the needle in his hand, a frown still on his face, “It's not even wood…. And you didn’t hit where my heart is.”

His eyes met mine once more as he let the notably metal needle roll out of his hand and clatter sadly to the floor, “If it hadn’t been me then you would be in big trouble. If you weren’t already dead. What were you thinking?”

I crossed my arms and frowned at both him and his scolding tone. As if he had the right to chastise me when he was the one breaking and entering, “I could say the same to you. Of course I’m going to panic if you come through my 2nd story window like some sort of gravity-immune creep.”

To be fair he wasn’t gravity-immune or a creep. He was just unnaturally strong due to being a vampire of unknown age since he refused to date himself. He also might be able to fly or jump really far, but I wasn’t entirely sure about either of those things and now didn’t seem like the time to ask.

Vil rolled his eyes, “Potato….”

I cut him off and continued, talking had now become a way to get rid of this excess energy in hopes of keeping the imminent adrenaline crash at bay, “You know I'm on high alert this time of year. I could have really hurt you.” Despite my annoyance, concern leaked into my tone and he stilled.

After the briefest of moments Vil crossed his arms and gave me a pointed look and I knew I’d treaded on unsafe ground, “Not on high-enough alert if you’re sitting by your window in plain sight at this time of night.”

I sighed but remained silent because, unfortunately, he was right. As the resident hot commodity for vampires I should’ve known better.

And yet, I still felt the need to defend myself and my actions, “I wouldn’t have allowed any other vampire entrance. The only reason you got in is because you have a standing invitation.”

He quirked an eyebrow, eyeing me with a slight frown, “Because you have no sense of danger. Letting a vampire into your home….”

Again, he wasn’t entirely wrong. A little over a year ago I would’ve completely agreed with him.

Last Halloween, when vampires had first taken a shine to me for reasons unknown, my room was always locked up tight and I was nowhere near any windows or openings they might be able to see me through.

It was nothing short of a miracle that I’d even met Vil. When he’d come in that evening as ‘someone my friend wanted me to meet’ and I’d seen his lack of reflection I’d gone into full panic mode. Now that I was thinking about it, it was also nothing short of a miracle that my friend was Rook and that he hadn’t reacted because he thought I’d been excited about how pretty Vil was.

Nonetheless, why I’d spoken to Vil remained one of the many mysteries in my life. The fact I’d befriended him was even stranger.

The only reason he got a free pass was he’d proven, numerous times, that he wasn’t going to hunt or hurt me in any way. Well, except for maybe scaring me into falling out of my chair and busting my butt.

“I suppose you’re planning on going out on Halloween night?” I grinned slightly at his question and he shook his head with sigh.

At his frown I leapt into action. This, I had been prepared for, “Oh come on, Vil! It’s one of the few times we can hang out in public with no one questioning your fangs and that cape you refuse to lose.”

He cast a glance my way. His frown deepening when I brought up his cape, but he said nothing. Instead opting to stare at me silently with his arms crossed.

When he didn’t respond I stepped over to him and pulled his cape to either side of him, revealing its full expanse as I grinned up at him, “Besides, this thing is big enough that I can hide under it even if some vampire shows up to bother me.”

Vil’s patience with my antics had its limit and, as I abruptly realized when I was tugged forward, I'd reached its end with my teasing.

Vil looked down at me, a single arm wrapped around my shoulders that trapped me between him and his cape. A smile tugged at his lips, a sign of his amusement, “That will just trap you with another vampire.”

My surprise disappeared and I felt a new grin slip onto my face as I looked up at him, “As if I would be afraid of you. Weren’t you the one who said: ‘Vampires don’t eat potatoes’?”

He smiled openly, fangs glinting slightly in the light as I reminded him of his words from a year ago, back before I’d trusted him, “They don't. At least not self-respecting ones.”

“Good thing you have loads of that then,” He snorted at my light-hearted jab, but was evidently enough prepared with a comeback.

“Unfortunately, not all vampires are as discerning as I though. You,” He lifted one eyebrow to emphasize his words, “Need to be more careful.”

I leaned back, fully trusting him to support me as I grinned up at him, “Why bother when I’ve got you to watch out for me? Didn’t you say that you had stated that this area was your territory or whatever?”

He all but scowled at my teasing, “That’s no excuse. I can think of a great many vampires who would invade even my territory for that chance of catching a tater-tot like you.”

“Is that a compliment?”

His left eyeball twitched, “It’s a warning.”

I snickered at his annoyed tone, but at last conceded. Patting him affectionately on the side of his face, “Alright, alright. I’ll be more careful.”

He stared at me pointedly and I sighed, “I promise.”

He let out a slight huff and I eyed him carefully, gauging his reaction before a small hopeful smile appeared on my face, “So can we go out on Halloween or….?”

He sighed at my tone, eyeing me with a thoughtful look, “I suppose I can hide you if any scary ghosts come by….”

I wrinkled my nose at his teasing and he grinned outright at me, “Very well, we’ll go out then.”

If you would like to read more:

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