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cardansriddle · 7 months

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Gilded Serendipity - (tom riddle x oc)

Part 2/10: "I can see you"

Story summary: A summer meant to be spent in the tranquil seaside mansion of Rosier's was not supposed to sway hearts like rustling leaves. Sereia Nova was most definitely not supposed to feel drawn to Tom Riddle. Yet August had a way of weaving chaos and desire together, only to dissolve into the shadows, leaving behind a bittersweet aftermath- an ephemeral illusion of love.

PART 1

chapter warnings: tension, talk of sex? kissing.

A/N: this is over 4K words, soo have fun reading and let me know what you think.

:☆ﾟ:☆ﾟ:☆ﾟ.

Beneath the tender caress of the morning sun, Sereia floated weightlessly in the sea, its gentle warmth a soothing balm against her skin. Occasionally, she would let her hands weave through the water, and watch how the sunlight danced upon the ripples, casting a golden spell upon the waves.

Yet as always, it was not long before her tranquility was disrupted. Booming laughter and loud voices were indications that her time in solitude was now over. She distinctly heard Antoine tell everyone snarkily, "I told you she would already be in the water."

She switched from her floating position so she could stand upright, and shielding her eyes from the sun, she waved at the group. "Took you sleepyheads long enough!"

Antoine huffed, discarding his shirt carelessly and slowly making his way over to her into the sea. "You're one to talk, you narcoleptic freak."

She stuck out her tongue at him in response.

With languid strokes of his toned arms, he swam up to her, occasionally casting a glance over his shoulder at the others who were still acclimating to the sea's temperature. "Just get in, you cowards!" he shouted, his words spurring Abraxas to dive headfirst into the water, with the rest of the group following suit. The blonde surfaced beside them, shaking his head and elegantly running his slender fingers through his platinum locks. Sereia looked around and realised she could not find any sign of the wizard whom she had been anticipating to see. "Where is Riddle?"

It was Abraxas who answered her. "Said he would not be able to join us for a swim. Some matter to take care of."

Walburga groaned. "What matter could possibly occupy him? We are on holiday! It is time to do nothing but sleep, swim, and drown ourselves in the finest wine."

Sereia chuckled. "Careful there, Wal. You're starting to sound like Avery."

In response to her jab, Avery playfully splashed her. "Hey! there is nothing wrong with that."

It seemed Walburga was not letting the matter rest. "Yes, but what is he doing? Why can't he just not do anything for one moment?"

"This is Tom we are talking about, Wal. He would rather befriend a house elf than let himself relax."

Sereia lounged in the warm water with the rest of the Slytherins for a bit more, and as she began to feel the afternoon rays of the sun starting to burn her scalp, she knew it was time to head inside before the heat gave her a stroke.

"I am going inside before I melt to death." She announced, eliciting disappointed grumbles at her departure.

"But we just got here!" Dahlia protested. "Stay a bit more."

"We could always go for a night swim." The girl winked as she slicked her wet hair back, earning a mischievous, approving smile from the girl. She slowly made her way out of the water before producing a towel to wrap around herself. Digging her feet into the sand and letting herself dry under the scathing sunrays for a little bit, she watched with a small smile as Antoine wrapped his arms around Dahlia and dunked them both underwater.

Smooth little fucker.

:☆ﾟ:☆ﾟ:☆ﾟ.

The library was quiet as she clicked the door shut behind her. She padded over to the shelves lined up with books to take her pick for the day, her fingers grazing the spines of the volumes as she contemplated her options. They halted once a certain one caught her attention— Secrets of The Dark Arts.

Sereia's brows furrowed as she tugged the book and her eyes fell on the cover. She never knew the Rosiers possessed restricted books about the Dark Arts. She made a mental note to ask Antoine about it later, but at that moment, her curiosity was gnawing at her, so caving in, she opened the book to scan its contents. That was until a figure emerged from the shadows, materialising like a whisper.

"Discovering the secrets of dark magic?" His low voice sounded behind her, once again, startling her. She spun around to see Tom Riddle, leaning against a desk as he regarded her with an ominous look in his eyes.

Her heart caught in her throat. Not only because he had frightened her, but because she found him sinfully attractive in that position, with the sleeves of his button-down shirt rolled up. The girl cleared her throat and tried to appear nonchalant as she replied. "Well, I believe secrets hold a certain fascination."

Tom's brow quirked. "Fascination or danger?"

"Perhaps they are one and the same."

"And do you enjoy delving into danger?"

Sereia paused for a moment. "I wouldn't know...but perhaps I would not be opposed to finding out."

He cocked his head to the side, appearing intrigued yet strangely pleased with her reply. Sereia got the sense that their seemingly clandestine exchange was laced with an unspoken tension that hung heavy in the air. The world around them faded into obscurity, leaving only the charged atmosphere between them. His eyes traced the droplets sliding down her wet strands of hair onto her chest, and he swallowed when they trailed down the top of her dress.

Sereia's gaze dropped to his hands clutching the edges of the table he was leaning on. Her eyes unconsciously traced the slender fingers adorned with rings, his thumb which was lightly grazing the wood and her cheeks grew hot at the obscene thoughts that most definitely should not have passed through her mind. Ripping her stare away from his very alluring hands, she took in a deep breath.

She was the first to break the tense silence. "You did not come to swim."

He hummed pushing away from the table. Sereia's eyes tracked his movements, watching him approach the shelf and absentmindedly browse the books while standing beside her. "I wished to read instead. It seems a much more fruitful use of my time."

She could not resist the urge to huff. "But it is summer. You can read, yes, but you should also indulge in the warm weather and the sea."

He turned to regard her for a moment, and the girl sucked in a breath as his eyes traced all over her form. His eyelashes fluttered, so dark against the paleness of his high cheekbones as he stared down at her. Then, as if entertained by some idea, he smirked. His smirk was dark and full of amusement and drove her just a bit insane. "Maybe I will."

She flushed under his stare and was about to come up with a witty remark when the door burst open. Alarmed, she jumped back from the sudden intrusion, yet Tom remained the picture of indifference as if he had not been caught off guard. The eye contact between them broke, and Sereia turned to face their intruder.

Walburga Black could not have looked more pleased to see someone in her life.

"Tom! There you ar— oh, Sereia? What are you doing here?" Perplexed eyes flickered between her and Riddle, and Sereia subconsciously widened the distance between them. Walburga's calculating gaze was piercing as she tracked every minuscule movement, and the girl felt uncomfortable to be on the receiving end of her unpleasant confusion.

"I was just getting a book," Sereia replied after a moment of pregnant silence, awkwardly pointing at the shelf lined with books to prove her point. Walburga, perhaps choosing not to bother herself with intricate details of their interaction, smiled tightly, the tension in her shoulders slowly easing away.

"Oh, well, Antoine needs you for...something." She said as her eyes moved to Tom once again, and an appreciative glint flickered in them. Sereia glanced at him too, only to see his impassive expression blanketing his face.

Feeling out of place, she cleared her throat and beelined for the door. "Right, I'll go." She muttered and threw one last look over her shoulder at the wizard, whose gaze was already trained on her form. There was no expression to decipher, no look to read, only a blank canvas that was his face. Sereia shut the door after her. She stood outside the door for a moment, pushing her hands through her hair in frustration.

Something was going on between Walburga and Tom and she had not realised until the girl had literally flaunted it in front of her face. Perhaps she had been blindly foolish to indulge in Riddle's charming nature, to latch onto his attention and bask in it like it was the summer sun.

With a bitter huff, she began making her way downstairs to attend to whatever Antoine needed her for. She was about to turn around a corner when a voice called out to her.

"Ria? Where are you going?"

She glanced behind her shoulder to see the said man standing in the hallway with a towel hanging around his shoulders, droplets of water slipping through the wet strands of hair and onto the marbled floor.

"Wal said you needed me for something. I was going to look for you."

"Huh?" He rubbed his head. "I did not say anything of the sort to her."

A tired sigh escaped her lips at the revelation. "Oh."

"Are you...good?"

"Yea—yeah. I— Actually, can I ask you something?"

When Antoine nodded encouragingly, she motioned for him to come closer. He approached with a raised eyebrow, gently taking her elbow as she began to guide them away from the group. Sereia lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Do you think there's something going on between Riddle and Walburga?"

The wizard came to an abrupt halt, turning his head so swiftly that she wondered how he didn't give himself whiplash. "Whoa, where did that idea come from?"

"Yes or no, Tony."

"Well...in a certain way, yes. But it is—I mean, it's not anything serious. Tom is not that type of person."

The girl's brows furrowed at his vague answer. "What do you mean not serious?"

Antoine's cheeks turned red as he tried to formulate a reply that would be appropriate for her ears. "They are not courting. It is more of a...physical arrangement."

"So they are just having sex?"

"Ria!" Antoine gasped, scandalised. "How do you know what that means?"

"Tony, I am not a child. I know what it is."

"No, you're too young. And you are a lady. You should not know such things."

Crossing her arms across her chest, Sereia took a defensive position. "So it is normal for Wal to have sex but it is not normal for me to know about it?"

"You are too young!" He repeated his earlier statement as if that somehow solidified his point.

"Tony, I'm the same age as you."

"Oh, er, well. Bloody hell. Perhaps I should have done more to shield you from such topics."

They walked in silence for a moment before Antoine came to an abrupt halt, his steps slowing as he furrowed his brow in thought. "Ria, about Tom and Wal, try not to say anything about it, yeah? Tom does not like people to know his business— wait— how did you even figure it out?"

"I was in the library with Tom when Wal barged in and tried to get rid of me by saying you asked for me. I could also see in her eyes that she was ready to jump his bones."

Antoine's curiosity seemed piqued, and he leaned in slightly. "You were in the library with Tom? Alone?"

"Yes?"

"Did he...try anything?"

"No, we just talked."

"Listen, I am saying this as a precaution. Do not get involved with him under any circumstance. Tom has a notorious reputation for taking hearts and bleeding them dry. I do not wish to see you heartbroken. You do not deserve that."

She rolled her eyes at his concern but still smiled appreciatively at him. "Gee, Tony. I appreciate the sentiment but I barely know the guy. I assure you, I have no interest in him."

"Good, good. My duty is to warn."

With a mischievous twinkle in her eye, she added, "Perhaps my duty is to warn you that they are probably contaminating your library with bodily fluids."

Antoine slapped a hand over his face and groaned loudly. "Ria..."

"See you at dinner!" Sereia singsonged, her laughter echoing down the corridor as she pranced away toward her room, leaving Antoine Rosier mortified in the middle of the corridor.

:☆ﾟ:☆ﾟ:☆ﾟ.

Persistent knocking at Sereia's bedroom door abruptly interrupted her peaceful nap. Irritated, she tried to ignore the disturbance and buried her face deeper into her pillow, willing herself back into the realm of dreams. For a moment, it seemed to work as she felt her consciousness slipping back into slumber.

But then, a gentle tap on her shoulder roused her once more. "Go away," she mumbled into her pillow, her voice laden with drowsiness. With a blind, half-hearted effort, she attempted to push away the intruder who dared to disrupt her much-needed rest.

"Nova?"

At the sound of that familiar voice, her eyes snapped open. She shifted in her bed, turning to face the intruder. There, at the foot of her bed, stood Tom Riddle, his typically composed demeanour marred by an uncertain expression. It was as though waking someone from their sleep was an utterly alien concept to him.

"What do you think you're doing in my room?" She snapped, her words laced with an edge she didn't bother to conceal. Her tone came out harsher than she had intended, but remembering the library incident, she decided she did not regret it. He deserved her ire.

If he was surprised by her irritation, he did not show it. "Rosier asked me to wake you. It is dinner time."

"Oh. Right. I'm up." She quickly slipped out of her covers, adjusting her dress and brushing her fingers through her hair to tame it into an appropriate state. Her reflection in the mirror received a quick once-over to ensure everything was in order and as she patted down her curls, she heard Riddle clear his throat awkwardly.

"Your—" He paused, clearing his throat again, "—your laces."

"What?"

"Your laces are untied." He gestured at her corset. Her brows furrowed in momentary confusion before realization dawned. She had loosened her corset so she could nap comfortably and now that he was behind her, he could probably glimpse the skin of her bare back.

"Right. Yeah," she mumbled, feeling a flush creep up her cheeks. She fumbled for the laces behind her, attempting to tie them quickly. However, each time she tried, the slippery fabric seemed to evade her fingers before she could secure a knot.

"Would you like me to—"

"Yeah." She answered, her voice soft, slightly shaky.

He took a step towards her and she swallowed the lump in her throat as she gazed up at his looming form. Breathing out slowly, she turned to bare him on her back and allowed her fingers to drop away from her efforts. Her pulse quickened as she felt the warmth of his proximity. His fingers reached unsurely to grab a hold of the laces, and he rubbed the silky material between his fingers experimentally.

"Tug at them before tying it tightly. Um...if you can...are able to? Could you make a bow?"

As he began to tie the laces, the room seemed to grow smaller, and Sereia found herself acutely aware of the proximity and intimacy of the situation. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her breaths came in shallow, uneven bursts as his fingers worked skillfully at her corset. The air was charged with an unspoken tension, one that seemed to thicken with each passing moment.

In the confined space of her room, Tom felt entirely out of place as he meticulously laced up Sereia's corset. The delicate task demanded a finesse he wasn't accustomed to, and his fingers, usually so confident and precise, seemed to fumble at the unfamiliarity of the situation. Sereia mirrored his discomfort, her feelings a chaotic blend of unease and confusion. The lingering irritation she had felt toward him clashed awkwardly with the unexpected intimacy of the moment, leaving her in a state of disarray.

He pulled lightly at the strings.

She sucked in a sharp breath. "Harder, please," she said, her words catching in her throat as soon as they left her mouth. Wide-eyed, she realized the unintended implication of her words, her cheeks flaming with embarrassment. The girl could only take comfort in the fact that he could not see her face.

She felt his breathing uneven, fanning hotly against her neck. "Right." he managed, his own breathing uneven. His fingertips grazed her skin as he complied with her request, the featherlight touch sending a shiver down her spine.

"I think it's done?" He muttered unsurely.

Sereia reached behind to confirm, and feeling slightly breathless, she took a step away from him to put distance between them. "Yeah. Thank you."

"We should head down," she said, her words an attempt to dispel the tense silence that had settled over them.

He once again nodded mutely and opened the door to leave. She followed suit, patting down her hot cheeks in hopes that they would cool before people would wonder why she was so flustered. She watched as his back muscles shifted underneath his pristine white button-up shirt, and she quickly averted her gaze. She did not need any more alluring images of Tom Riddle stitched to the depth of her mind.

:☆ﾟ:☆ﾟ:☆ﾟ.

The rhythmic sound of waves caressing the shore travelled through the balcony and into the dining room. Giggles and endless chatter were never-ending at the dinner table, with a seemingly bottomless supply of wine that was poured and poured and poured after a single sip, flowing endlessly like a river of indulgence that seemed to have no end— which was to ensure the indulgence never ended, and that the night would stretch into dawn.

Sereia covered her mouth as a loud laugh left her mouth at one of the stories Abraxas Malfoy had just shared with the table, and she watched in amusement Rosier's cheeks flushed crimson, his embarrassment laid bare for all to see.

She was aware she had drank just a tad bit too much— over her usual limit. The world around her took on a surreal quality, the edges blurring as if dipped in a haze of euphoria. Her movements grew languid, each gesture carrying the weight of lazy indulgence. Every joke, no matter how tasteless, elicited uproarious laughter, and she found herself laughing along, her own amusement magnified by the alcohol coursing through her veins. She was only comforted by the fact that she was not the only one inebriated. In fact, she was the most composed out of the rest who were howling with laughter.

Of course, Sereia had also taken notice that Riddle had only drunk one glass and left the refilled one untouched. He was like a lone island of sobriety in the sea of intoxication that surrounded him. She struggled to make sense as to why he did not join in. After all, what was the fun in being frigidly sober when the rest of your company danced on the edge of reality, wild with intoxication?

She had also been aware of how his eyes would rest on her longer than necessary. Longer than what was considered a fleeting glance. It was unsettling, this unwavering observation. His gaze held her like a moth drawn to a flame, analyzing her quirks, her gestures, absorbing every nuance of her being.

What did not help, was the fact that he was right beside her. She could physically feel his presence, the warmth of his body, the little sounds as shifted in his seat, his mindless little hums that were unheard by anyone except her.

Perhaps it was the wine. The alcohol had dulled her senses and made her hyperaware of his presence in a way that was both thrilling and disconcerting.

Or perhaps she had become delirious with want in just one day.

Sereia glanced at him when his name was mentioned in yet another tale that Abraxas was telling animatedly, her eyes roving over the little furrow of his brows, the imperceptible frown of his lips as she traced the shape of them with her gaze. She found herself unable to tear her gaze away from the contours of his face— and then he met her stare.

Shit. She had been caught.

Yet the alcohol buzzing through her veins emboldened her, and instead of turning away in hot embarrassment, she blinked up at him through her lashes, her gaze holding his for a moment longer before she casually redirected her attention back to the ongoing conversation.

As her fingers wrapped around the stem of her wine glass, she felt a sudden, deliberate brush of warmth against her outer thigh. Glancing down, she realized that Tom's leg was gently pressed against hers. Heat surged through her veins, her grip on the glass tightening involuntarily, suddenly hyperaware of their proximity. She shifted in her seat, trying to tamp down the fire that threatened to consume her.

"Tom? Don't you agree?" Abraxas bellowed from the opposite side of the table, glancing at his friend expectantly. Tom leaned on the table, one of his hands coming to rest on the back of Sereia's chair casually, and his other hand on the table, as he glanced at Abraxas.

"Agree with what?"

"See! I told you he was not listening!" Rosier's triumphant tone cut through the room as he slammed his palm on his thigh, emphasizing his point. The wizard next to Sereia rolled his eyes before sinking back into his chair, his hand still lingering possessively at the back of her seat.

"Busy thinking about your earlier library escapade?" Sereia snarked, lowering her tone so no one but Tom would her snide comment. She glanced up at him, realising a moment too late how the positioning of his arm had made them closer, but she did not back away, set on making the wizard uncomfortable. His eyes met hers, and she noticed the way they visibly darkened in intensity.

"Watch your mouth," he hissed, his tone low and warning.

Sereia was not one to back away, so with the edge of her mouth curling into a challenging smirk, she asked— "oh, you do not want your dirty laundry aired? Or is there another issue?"

"You misunderstand, Nova. Do not talk about things you have no knowledge of," he replied, his voice measured, giving nothing away.

"Oh, I assure you, it is not hard to guess what exactly was happening behind those library doors."

"Do you?" He inquired, his gaze holding hers.

"Mhm." The girl turned her head, ending their silent standoff. She raised her glass to her lips, taking a generous sip to ease her nerves.

Tom watched, unable to tear his eyes away, as her plump lips curved around the glass, the delicate arch of her throat as she swallowed the crimson liquid, the tantalizing trace of her tongue that lingered on her lips, collecting the remnants of wine.

He forced himself to look away, his jaw clenched, as he struggled to maintain his composure.

Not being used to not having the last word, he spoke up once again. "You know nothing."

"Oh come on, Riddle, how naive do you think I am?"

"What would a girl of your upbringing know about such things?" He questioned a hint of condescension in his voice.

Sereia bristled and her tone took on a sharp and incisive edge. "Walburga is of the same upbringing as well, and yet you sullied her."

"Enough."

"Just stating the truth, Riddle. It stings, does it not?" Sereia raised a challenging brow, her smirk triumphant. When he found no immediate reply, she excused herself from the table with a satisfied smirk, leaving him behind, lost in his own thoughts.

As she began ascending the spiral stairs, she distantly heard Riddle excuse himself. She briefly registered his footsteps sounding closer and closer, yet she paid no mind to it, set on her destination. What she did not expect, was for her wrist to suddenly be snatched roughly, causing her to stumble back and crash into his chest.

She glared up at him, struggling to pull her hand free from his clutch. "What do you think you're doing?"

She watched as Tom's mouth curled into a sneer, and he pulled her closer by her arm. "You think you can have the last word, little siren? Think you can just put on a show and leave with no consequences?"

Sereia swallowed, her eyes flickering between his as she attempted to form coherent thoughts. "Riddle—"

He brought a finger to her lips to shush her. "No. You don't get to say anything. Attempt to speak again and I will shut you up in a manner that you might not like."

She shuddered in his hold, his low voice, his threatening tone travelling through her body to her lower stomach, igniting a fire in her core.

"Let me go. Who do you think you a—"

True to his word, Tom removed his finger— only to replace it with his lips, effectively cutting her mid-sentence. His kiss was bruising, angry, as if he was attempting to release all his built-up frustration for her through this kiss. The pent-up tension that had crackled in the air between them seemed to snap away like a broken dam. It was an unravelling, a surrender to the magnetic pull that Tom had felt for the girl since seeing her for the first time.

Sereia responded to the kiss with equal fervour, moving her lips against his like the final, cathartic end of a storm. All thoughts of their previous banter faded away, leaving only a heady intoxication in its wake. She felt drunk on his taste— a potent mix of desire and desperation— a flavour she knew she could never possibly get enough of not that she had experienced it.

Loud, raucous laughter and the clatter of silverware from the dining room below suddenly shattered the spell of the moment, and Tom pulled away as if her skin had burnt him. Sereia took a deep breath, feeling the heat creep up her neck as reality came crashing back in an unwelcome intrusion.

Her eyes locked with his in a fleeting moment, and seeing his strained expression, she suddenly had the urge to run. Swallowing a lump down her throat, she turned and fled, her steps quick and unsteady, her heart pounding like a caged bird desperate for escape. She didn't dare look back, didn't dare face the myriad of emotions swirling in her chest.

She knew getting caught up in the web woven by Tom Riddle's mistrustful hands was dangerous. Antoine's warning echoed in her head as she shut the door behind her, and leaned against it to catch her breath.

"Tom has a notorious reputation for taking hearts and bleeding them dry."

Sereia was sure that she was utterly and completely fucked.

:☆ﾟ:☆ﾟ:☆ﾟ.

PART 3

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luminitewrites · 1 year

Text

Nova

Rating: T Word Count: ~5,700 Warnings: Brief memories of/current trauma from being swallowed alive, brief contemplation of death and what lies beyond

So after seeing the absolutely stunning art that @themeeplord posted of Naff's leviathan!Eclipse and fisher!Y/N, there's no way I could pass up writing a small something for it. I might have made Eclipse a tad bigger in this drabble purely for size difference purposes, but Meep's depiction of them is the inspiration for this piece. (I hope you don't mind the tag, Meep! ;w;) This drabble is based off of @naffeclipse's In Deep Dreams Between the Waves (so very highly recommend!!) and set sometime after it, so there will be allusions to spoilers herein.

Enjoy!

~~~

The siren call of the ocean lulls your boat as much as it does you. Out here in the vast expanse of endless water where sea merges with ocean, the gentle stirring of the morning sun has yet to reach full wakefulness, casting the sky in a beautiful watercolor of lush indigos and mellow purples. The breeze caressing your face tells you it will be a hot day, but for now, it’s a welcomed brush against your skin.

You’ve opted for a less-bundled-up attire since you know what and who awaits you shortly. The loose t-shirt flutters at your back, and your light shorts and bare feet bask in the open, salty air. Curling your toes in excitement, you cannot help the enchanted smile that has yet to leave your face. You’ve been looking forward to today as the rough weather in recent weeks has kept you from seeing your friend. Well, it probably wouldn’t have completely kept you at bay were it not for said friend being very insistent about you staying home to wait out the hurricane. Something about being safe and warm and taking care of your health. Complete bogus, if anyone were to ask you.

But, of course, Eclipse always has other ideas about what’s best for you, and after much bartering in your dreams and getting nowhere, you’d caved to his utterly ridiculous demands. The oversized mer has a habit of being just as obstinate as you. You’d once thought you could outmatch his stubbornness, but turns out, it’s hard to say no when his big eyes turn soft and pleading, like you’re breaking his heart by even considering stepping foot outside during a nasty storm. Never mind that it’d been because you’d wanted to see him. He’d been adamant that the visits in your dreams could sate your loneliness in the meantime.

Needless to say, you’ve been chomping at the bit to get out. The hurricane had been circling your little island like a harrowing shadow for over a week, but it finally began tapering off yesterday, and by nightfall, Eclipse gave you his reluctant approval to come out the following day.

He probably didn’t mean that as an excuse for you to sacrifice sleep and slip out before the break of dawn, but he almost certainly knew that without you needing to say anything suggestive of it last night. The memory of his narrowed gaze and disapproving pout still makes you chuckle even now, and you can only imagine that same expression on his face when he sees you out here.

You’ve already dropped anchor and settled at the edge of your boat with your legs dangling over it and your arms propped atop the railing. The breeze ruffles your hair as it pleases, and it tickles your ears while you hum to yourself a gentle tune. It’s a unique one that transcends time and the waves themselves, flowing from within your chest and playing a soothing chord that first tugs softly and then a little firmer.

When your voice starts to rouse and the first few notes whisper past your lips, an answering echo from far, far below sounds beneath your feet and travels across the ocean floor.

Instantaneous is the grin tugging at your cheeks, and you beam at the way the wind suddenly billows in a different direction and sends your trusty flag flapping like a resounding applause. Your Rustbucket II bobs up and down as the water begins to turn choppy, creating a thrill of a ride as you eagerly peer down into the inky blue.

As bubbles form below, you dismiss what most sailors would consider an omen and instead lean over the railing as much as you can while sitting. Your legs swish happily, your skin prickling when a shiver courses through you. To your surprise, however, the bubbles stop after a few suspenseful seconds. A flash of a large shadow is all you catch sight of, but your friend doesn’t surface as you’d expected. Confused, you wait a moment more and then pull your legs under you and stand up so that you can lean over the railing as far as you can without falling in.

“Eclipse?” you call out. Your head tilts to the side while you listen.

Nothing but ocean responds.

A frown replaces your smile, and you wonder if something has temporarily distracted the mer, and he’s swimming off to go chase a giant squid or something similar. Before you can settle back down and wait for him to return, a colossal burst thunders behind you without warning and rocks your boat. Gasping, you have all but a moment to spin on your heel as Eclipse breaches in a swift motion that sends a terrific cascade of water directly down onto your boat and consequently you.

In mere seconds, you are entirely drenched in seawater and sputtering.

Soaked hair draped over and blinding you, you sigh loudly and brush it out of your face. Far, far above, your friend gazes down with a textbook version of glee. As soon as he sees your expression, a harmonious warble not unlike a laugh rumbles from his chest.

“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up,” you say in faux exasperation while wringing the water out of your hair. “Not like you haven’t done this before.”

The mer lowers in the water until his head is level with you, ray-like frills flicking, and your bond tells you exactly what he’s thinking, as if he were saying the words aloud.

And yet, you still fall for it every time.

You roll your eyes, and Eclipse chitters his delight.

“I guess it’s not like I wasn’t going to get wet anyways,” you huff in defeat.

Deciding it’s a lost cause to drain the water from your dripping clothes, you trudge over to him instead, making sure to step carefully through the large puddles. Yellow overlaid by impenetrable black oversees your maneuvering to be certain you reach the other side safely. Once you’re within reach, Eclipse leans in a little more, allowing you to rest your small hand against his large head and press a kiss between his eyes despite the little trick he pulled on you.

You watch the sharp yellow disappear as he basks in your affection and croons an unmistakably happy song. It’s enough to warrant the return of your smile.

“Good morning, big guy,” you say against his wet scales. “Missed you.”

The sentiment is returned tenfold through your bond, staggering in its sincerity, and Eclipse’s love threatens to reduce you to a puddle. The companionship with the leviathan has altered you in ways you could have never dreamed of, making you forever grateful for the day you discovered and helped him when he was but a little fish. You wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world because a life without Eclipse is one you can’t fathom. He means everything to you.

As your thoughts shift, Eclipse hears them just as if you’d spoken, and a low sound purrs from his throat. He nuzzles you with utmost gentleness, and you press as close to him as you can.

Yeah, you missed this. Shared dreams are one thing, but having him here with you in the flesh is incomparable. It’s your lifeblood.

When you pull back, the leviathan peers at you again. His expression is so compassionate that it sets your heart soaring like you are a fish in the sea swimming alongside him. The excursions you’ve had with him in the deep blue aren’t too far from that feeling, and it’s set in the very plans you have for later today. You intend to spend as much time as you can with the mer, and that means taking a hearty swim with his current guiding you along.

However, whatever soft moment you’re sharing now is wholly ruined when Eclipse chooses then to open his mouth and drag his serpentine tongue all the way up your front.

You yelp at the unexpected lick, and very swiftly, you are drenched in more than just water.

“Eclipse!” you cry in dismay.

Orange and red frills flutter in contentment. There is no remorse on the other’s face.

“Now I’m covered in gross saliva!” you further protest to express just how disgruntled you are. You shake your hands, and two wet globs fling off.

Eclipse churrs and clicks unhelpfully. It’s a bit similar to the squeaks of a dolphin, and after a fruitless attempt to wipe your face as best as you can, you glower up at your talkative friend.

He seems to be cycling through a whole host of expressions today because the one staring you down is now unquestionably smug.

You snort at the little—large—devil.

“Just what was that for anyways?”

The mer considers for a moment and then tilts his head to the side a little, eyelids falling low like he’s miming sleep. Then, a massive hand lifts out of the water to gently poke a long claw at you, followed by a throaty grumble that shakes your boat.

Ah. So that’s what this is about, huh. Should’ve known skipping out on sleep would come back to bite, or rather, lick you. You can’t say you didn’t see this coming.

“I promise I got enough sleep all through that nasty hurricane,” you counter adamantly. Eclipse looks far from convinced, so you continue on. “Even still, I have a cabin I can always dip inside for a quick nap if need be. Or you can float on your back and snooze with me on top like we usually do. We have the whole day to ourselves, big guy. And besides, I thought you missed me.”

Eclipse releases another series of noises at that, which are just plain mournful, and the flood of insistent reassurance and concern makes you huff and smile.

“I know, I know. I’m just teasing. I think I’m allowed to since I’m currently covered in…” You sniff and then grimace. “Overwhelming fish breath and questionable fluids.”

More snaps and clicks, but none of them are truly offended. Eclipse matches your fake glare easily, and when you playfully stick out your tongue, his mouth curls with a croon, and he slithers his own tongue back out again.

You hastily retreat, hands lifting.

“Woah, there! Okay, message received. Put that thing back where it came from, or so help me, I’ll turn this boat around.”

Your friend blows out a warm gust of air that just heightens the sticky feeling all over your body, and your arms drop as the mer retracts his appendage with rampant amusement. Clearly, your threat was too transparent to be taken with any modicum of seriousness. Not that you expected Eclipse to believe it for a second anyways. He knows just how much you’ve been aching to see him, and even without the words to verbalize it, he’s showing how much he’s missed you too. You haven’t missed the little display of the fins and frills around his head upon his arrival. They’ve been fluttering since you first spoke, a subtle indicator of your friend’s elated state.

Maybe it’s in a sign of good faith or repentance, but Eclipse gingerly rests a large hand palm-up on your boat right next to you. An offer. You consider the translucent webbing between the smooth surface of his digits like it houses a tremendously difficult question you don’t already know the answer to. A few moments you spend hemming and hawing in exaggeration, and to his credit, Eclipse waits patiently—hopefully—for you to hop on, the ocean churning noticeably from the swishing of his powerful tail.

You give a plaintive sigh.

“I suppose I can acquiesce this one request,” you say, snickering at the uncontrollable, excited thumping against the side of your boat from Eclipse’s fins.

He eagerly curls and uncurls his fingers as you step around the sprawled drape of the scarlet frills that adorn his wrist, planting your hands first on his palm and then crawling across until you’re seated in the middle. You’ve learned from experience that it’s best to remain off your feet when being lifted if you want to retain your balance. Eclipse will never let you fall and would almost certainly help you to remain standing if you wobbled, but sitting down for the little ride grants you a bit more stability.

With the utmost care, the mer hoists you out of your boat and over to him. He nuzzles you once more with a soft coo, and then he lowers into the water until only his head and the hand you rest upon aren’t submerged.

You smile up at him.

“Thanks, big guy, but I’m already wet, so I might as well wash this off.”

Eclipse churrs and sinks a little deeper so that the water just laps over his palm. You pat him in appreciation, and he curiously watches as you begin to cup the ocean in your hands and rinse your face and then scrub at your body.

It doesn’t take long to get to a somewhat reasonably clean state again, though you doubt anything in Eclipse’s saliva would be truly harmful to you. The pungent smell, however, might be downright criminal, and that’s saying something because you’ve been around fish for years. But at the end of the day, it’s worth it because it’s still part of your friend, and you wouldn’t change anything about him.

Once the sticky substance has washed away, you lean back on your hands, and Eclipse’s large fingers press protectively at your back. His contentment is visible in the shine of glowing yellow and the peaceful glaze of his languid movements. He floats in place next to your boat with the waves barely disturbing him. The magnitude of his size strikes you yet again despite how much time you’ve spent at his side all these years. Maybe the separation brought on by the storm afflicted your memory of his stature, but you don’t mind the awe that fills you at the leviathan or how small you suddenly feel in his grasp.

You’ve never been safer in the claws of a mer, and that will never fail to warm your heart.

Eclipse trills at the emotions shared through your bond, and with a melted expression, he draws you closer. You are gently deposited atop his chest, and once you’re sure of your footing, you approach his beaming maw. The mer meets you halfway, and when your arms embrace him as much as they can, he releases a slow breath that chases away any chill from the water.

Together, you stay like that in the quiet stillness of dawn, the first cracks of light just kissing the horizon. The world is waking up once more, and you have been given the best greeting of all. After days of restlessness and anxiety and longing, your mind is finally at ease. It’s a serenity that touches your soul, mirroring the same peace from your friend.

Sometimes, a shadow of a terrible memory graces your consciousness, and phantoms of ghastly yellow and purple snap at you. Those awful, living nightmares have grown less obtrusive as the months have passed, fading ever steadily with the more time you spend on the waves with Eclipse. You know you are safe now. There are some things that take more than reassurance to overcome, however, set off by triggers that you’re still learning to pinpoint, but with time and exposure to the sea that is a second home to you, the initial flinching and brief bursts of fright will diminish.

Eclipse’s presence has been grounding all the while. He’s stuck with you through every crest and trough, understanding your inner turmoil better than any explanation you could try to come up with. He’s felt your fear and pain and determined that it’s now his to bear as well if it means it will bring you comfort and recovery sooner. The memories are no less horrible for him too, and you occasionally catch a glimpse of his remembrance of prying apart serrated jaws and reaching for your frantic form.

It’s a shared burden between the two of you. You will see it through together.

A shiver that can’t be blamed on the breeze travels through your body.

Sensing the direction of your thoughts, Eclipse curls his webbed hand even more so around your comparatively smaller frame, like he’s letting you know that he won’t ever let anything take you away from him again. A quiet purr vibrates from his chest, and he nudges you with his cheek until you look up at him again. His scales are creased with worry, but you pet one of his claws to reassure him.

“I’m alright, big guy. I’ve got you here, don’t I?”

Better words couldn’t have been chosen as your leviathan chitters in agreement. The sound soothes the worries of your mind, chased by the fearsome predator who has become your protector. You enjoy the intimate moment with him and the heart-skipping way he stares at you leaning into his grasp.

But that’s all abruptly broken by a thunderous growl that shakes through your feet.

In an instant, Eclipse looks mightily embarrassed, and you flash a grin.

“Someone’s hungry,” you tease, tapping your foot to indicate the petulant thrum that had come from his stomach further down.

The mer shakes water off his frills like a dog, sniffing the air and frowning before his pupils constrict, and his head snaps downward and off to the side at the water. It would seem he’s already locked on to a potential prey. You wonder if he’s about to tear off in the direction of said prey, but Eclipse tips his head back over at you, frills twitching with anticipation. He then taps the tip of a finger at your stomach in question.

You do your best to keep your smile from twisting.

“Not quite a fan of eating raw fish, thanks. This one’s all you, buddy.”

Eclipse emits a distinct whine at your refusal, rays drooping.

“I’ll eat later, promise. It’s still early for breakfast anyways. But I guess I could always just take a chomp out of you if you want me to eat fish so bad, huh?”

Three rapid clacks of sharp teeth are your answer, Eclipse pretending to snap them at you instead like maybe he’ll take a nibble out of you, and you giggle at the fake threat. He squints at you, supposedly very intimidating, you’re sure. His fins flap against the surface of his water much like his tail, and the loud whoosh of air from his gills sounds like a heavy sigh.

“Adorable,” you remark, and Eclipse puffs, his ray-like frills expanding like an orange peacock. “Yes, yes, you’re very big and scary. Now go catch your breakfast, you oversized guppy.”

An aggrieved grumble from the mer shakes through your body, and Eclipse sinks into the deep, pausing long enough to make sure you’re treading water easily enough on your own once you’re submerged.

You give him a little wave, legs swishing beneath you, and a flash of warmth stirs in your chest in response from him.

The giant mer disappears from sight rather quickly, likely sensing the direction his prey has swam off to. He won’t be gone long. You’re confident in his hunting abilities, and the only times it takes awhile are when he’s feeling playful and turning it into a game.

Without the support of your friend to keep you afloat, you paddle over to your boat to conserve your energy. A quick climb up your ladder, and you’re aboard once more and perusing the still water-logged floor with a shake of your head. Your mild disapproval is countered by a sense of indignation within your core from the mer far below.

Not my fault.

Even when he’s focused on hunting, he’s always got to get his two cents in. You snort and step across the slick surface into your cabin.

While food isn’t exactly on your mind right now, you do find something special in sharing a meal together, so you decide to rummage through your kitchenette for a small snack. There are some granola bars you’ve stashed in a cabinet exactly for this reason, so after snagging one, tearing off the wrapper, and disposing the trash in the bin so you won’t have to worry about it later, you shuffle back outside.

The sun is still in its infancy, but the thin streams of light are already casting a new layer of warmth. The streaks of burnt orange remind you of your beloved mer, rippling across the darkly painted sky. Minutes trickle by with nothing but nature for miles, allowing your thoughts to meander. As you take in its beauty, you’re reminded of its resilience and how it will continue to exist long after you’ve passed. The sun will continue to rise and set; the waves will continue to crash and roll and traverse the world. It makes you wonder, head tipping up to admire the stars, what it will be like one day when your and Eclipse’s time comes to an end. There is assurance in that you will go together, bound so intrinsically as mer and human. Such an occurrence is far down in the future, barely conceivable when you have so much life left to live with Eclipse, but as you stand under the starlight’s ever watchful gaze, you muse quietly.

Will you trade a life on the water for an eternity in the stars? Will the galaxies become your new waves, the constellations your new islands? What will it be like to explore the great expanse that rivals even your tremendous ocean?

Your vision shuts to the ethereal light, and you feel the answer in your soul that returns from the leviathan himself.

Harmony. It will be harmony, entwined with you and him forever singing that sweet song that ties you in scarlet thread.

Smile warmer than the sleepy sun, you’re not at all surprised when you hear a splash and open your eyes to see your close friend next to your boat again, waiting patiently for you to emerge from being lost in thought. His tender love is palpable, resonating from deep within your chest and guiding you over to him. As you near, you notice the edge of a tail fin poking out of his maw, and a snicker escapes you.

“Breakfast was successful, I take it?”

Eclipse hums and then in a perfectly unnecessary act opens his mouth to show you just how big of a catch he got. His rows of teeth have expertly speared the swordfish, and while impressive, you know why he’s showing off.

You hold up a hand dismissively.

“Yeah, still not happening.” You wave your granola bar under Eclipse’s dissatisfied scrutiny when he seals his maw shut in suspicion. “I found something else to munch on instead. Extra nutritious. You want some?”

Eclipse hisses like you personally offended him, and you bite back a laugh as you break off a piece of your snack and toss it in your mouth. Last time you tried to feed him some of your “nasty human food,” he wheezed and spat out the microscopic morsel and then proceeded to drag his claws against his tongue like you’d terrorized his tastebuds. He’s so goofily dramatic when it comes to most of your meals and snacks that don’t involve seafood, and he plays it up extra just for you because you adore his theatrics. You know as much because you’d asked him once why he’d reacted that way, and he’d answered with a photographic memory of your face flushed from laughter and your arms clutching your stomach from a time not too long prior.

Needless to say, your cheeks had immediately turned hot yet again, that time for a different reason, and you’d tried and failed to brush off Eclipse’s endeared cooing at your fluster.

He’s such a rascal. Wily prankster of a mer. You more than cherish him.

Taking another bite of your snack, you lean against the railing while Eclipse begins to chew on his meal. You know that one fish won’t be enough to feed a mer his size, but it’ll at least be enough to stave off his hunger for a little bit. The warmth in your core tells you Eclipse isn’t eager to leave your side for longer than necessary. He’s just as intent on companionship as you are.

Swallowing the mouthful of granola, you say, “I brought my pan flute with me again. Maybe we can give your song another shot later today?”

A tremendous purr rumbles across the waves. At the same time, the contentment behind your sternum spikes, and you sigh happily.

“I think I’ve got the first part down,” you add. “It’s what follows after that I’m struggling with, so it’s a good thing I’ve got such a talented conductor to help me.”

Eclipse’s delight transforms to a small grumble with an undertone of disapproval. His tail whacks the water behind him, and the giant mer gives you a disbelieving, reprimanding look.

Talented yourself.

Not expecting that, you smile sheepishly and chuckle a little.

“Thanks. I don’t mean to make it sound like I’m downplaying my abilities. Although your song isn’t exactly made for human lungs, you know.”

Dark pupils roll.

Siren song, comes the dry rebuttal. Natural. Weak human lungs.

You blow a raspberry.

“I’ll have you know I’ve got rather strong lungs for a human! And I can hold air for a long while too, which is why I’m even able to keep up with those drawn-out notes of yours.”

By this point, Eclipse has finished swallowing the fish he caught, and the bumpy texture of his burgundy tongue flicks dangerously across his teeth. The air charges with his intrigued hum, and you can sense your mistake the second you catch the mischief in his stare. Orange and crimson fins flutter, and a colossal maw nears until it hovers inches in front of you.

You’re already taking a cautious step back when the thought flashes in your head, one that is not your own.

Let’s test it then, the susurrous taunt curls around your mind, snaking like a low voice against the shell of your ear, and the blur of an arm is too fast for you to dodge.

“Eclipse!” you shriek with a laugh as the leviathan gently but gleefully snatches you up from your boat and brings you back into the water.

Your meager granola bar is lost to the waves and fish, but it barely catches your notice as the smug mer yet again deposits you on his chest, sinking onto his back with almost-feline elegance. The frills surrounding his face fan out like a blood-orange sunflower as they float in the water. Eclipse’s lower arms begin to lightly pedal across the waves, circling but not straying you and him too far from your boat. With his other hands, he keeps them cupped around you, preventing you from slipping off or getting away.

You know what he wants, can read his intent in the quiver of anticipation rebounding from your core that sings with the desire to dive. But the large mer is waiting for your approval first, not wanting to take you under without checking in regardless of his former tease. The considerate patience chases away the tepid air and flushes your heart with something even hotter.

Your smile is small and appreciative.

“Of course, I don’t mind taking a swim with you. I’ve gotta prove my little human lungs can outlast yours, right?” You pat against his chest. “Show me what you’ve got, big guy.”

Sharp teeth glisten wetly, Eclipse giving a hearty chortle at your challenge. His translucent fins catch the sunlight just as it skips across the indigo waves and reaches you, creating speckles of white gold atop every crest. Eclipse waits for you to take a few deep breaths in preparation, your lungs filling with air until you give him a nod. With a sweet smile, the mer begins to tip backward, sinking headfirst underwater with his hand cupping you all the while as you take the plunge together.

The water is bitterly cold the moment it touches your skin, and you instinctively squeeze your eyes shut at first as the ocean swallows you whole. But you’ve nothing to worry about in the grasp of your friend who keeps you clutched to a warm chest, the beating of his heart strong under your form even with layers of muscle between you and it. The steady thrum is like a lullaby setting your mind at ease, and soon, the flash of nervousness at diving dissipates like it was never there to begin with.

A soft whisper of your name, wrapped in endless patience, coaxes you with a singular want. You feel a second arm slipping behind you, the first slipping lower, which is followed by a large palm spreading at your back and prickling at the strands of your floating hair, covering your entire frame with its size. In careful slowness, you dare to peek through just a crack despite the salty sting of the ocean. You want to see, just for a moment, and the second you do, you are so delighted you took the risk.

The brightness of the sun does not yet penetrate the surface of the deep, but it casts enough light to turn the ocean into an underwater paradise basked in violet hues.

Upside down, you and Eclipse float in the beautiful display of color that transitions from light to dark, the expanse above your head an incredibly rich sapphire. With every swish of his tail and flap of his frills, Eclipse creates a plume of bubbles that catch the thin light in this flipped world. Your legs curl tightly around his slick frame as much as possible, and a bountiful rumble erupts from your friend. He embraces you until there is no room left to spare, and your arms do their best to wrap around him as much as possible.

Golden eyes shine like pure light in the dim purple glow that is incrementally turning lavender while the sun climbs. Eclipse purrs greatly so that you can hear it even underwater. His heart pounds next to yours, a duet not unlike the song that the mer has sung for you since life was still so new to you and him. Age has not withered the exceptionality of it, but it has made you yearn for it all the more. You doubt you will ever stop longing to be close to Eclipse, and you can feel in your chest that he is much the same for you.

Suspended in place in the arms of your closest friend, you find breathing becomes meaningless. The separation that had kept you trapped on your small island and away from him is no more. Finally, you are together again, reunited under a fading starlit sky and within the pleasant rocking of a calm ocean. Home, at last.

Once your lungs begin to ache, your eyes slip shut, and your smile grows when Eclipse presses his to yours. You happily nuzzle him right back, content to just hold each other like this in the morning quiet where nothing and no one disturbs you. The graze of his frills tickles your cheeks while he keeps you close. You stroke the ones you can reach at the sides of his head, and your movement is mirrored by the light carding of a claw through your hair and along the base of your scalp. The intimacy of it threatens to bring tears behind your eyelids, but any and all drops are carried away by the ocean when your eyelashes flutter with your cautious squint.

Eclipse rubs his scaly cheek against yours for a quick, last nuzzle. Though you’d prefer to remain suspended upside-down like this beneath the waves with him, your friend has your preservation on the front of his mind, and he sweeps his tail in a powerful stroke that rights you and him and brings you back to the suncatcher waves.

A prism of droplets sprays across the surface when you’re brought back up to blessed air that your lungs greedily take back in. After a hasty brush of your hand, you blink away the remnants of saltwater. Your lips twitch.

“I think I definitely outlasted you this time, big guy,” you playfully boast.

Scarlet fins flutter in amusement. Eclipse snorts.

If you say so, sea star.

You hum and tap a finger indecisively, rubbing one of his sharper points against your thumb.

“Well, I might be persuaded otherwise. I guess we won’t know unless we try again, will we?” Your smile flirts on the edge of a grin, but what Eclipse returns with next is enough to stun you.

If that is what you wish. Wherever you want to go, the ghost of an answer dances along your consciousness, I will follow.

His amber gaze is flooded with a softness that makes your heart quicken while you’re choked by nothing related to the air you breathe.

It’s funny, you think, how the universe works. To think that you would find your lifelong partner, someone who fits with you like a puzzle piece, out among the waves. Like you were made for each other, regardless of species or place or form.

Here in the embrace of your soulmate, you’ve found everything you need.

Eclipse warbles in surprise when you lean up and press a kiss to his forehead. There, you linger, shutting your gaze to the caress of his silky frills and the salty tang of his home filling your nose. The arms holding you wrap tighter, a third and fourth finding purchase around any part of you that isn’t covered like he can’t touch enough of you.

Your drenched hair runs rivulets down your cheeks, hiding the evidence of your pure happiness that wells inside you and sneaks past wet eyelashes. A faint sound stirs from the leviathan, dipping into a low tune that makes you bury your face in his precious rays and quietly sing along with him his siren call.

You don’t end up ever really responding to his avowal, but you think Eclipse understands you all too well. Locked together like this, you greet the morning as a reunited pair while the memories of a troubled past float away on the seafoam to break on a distant shore.

#*waves* hi Naff! hi Meep!#eclipse x reader #in deep dreams between the waves au #in deep dreams between the waves fanfic #fnaf sb #writing tag #mermay au #mer!eclipse #so I wrote 90% of this on the day Meep posted that breathtakingly gorgeous art #and then life got absolutely nuts for me for like 3 weeks straight #so I didn't have time to write at all until today asklkgjld #also here's a very random fun fact:#the whole time I was writing this #the Land Before Time II soundtrack kept playing in my head #anyone know that one scene from when the two T. rexes reunite with their baby and press their heads together like a happy family?#that scene and the music that plays during it is all I could think of while writing this because Meep's art just reminded me of it so much #I hadn't even heard it since I was a child but writing this just reawakened a core memory of mine #and that was my favorite movie as a kid so of course I had to write this drabble while listening to the music <3 #sorry for rambling in the tags about something completely unrelated lol #hope everyone is having a good day/night!

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tcwmatchmakingau · 10 months

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Clone Matchmaking AU Masterlist

The post that started it all

One standard year has passed since Chancellor Palpatine's sudden death in a freak accident involving Representative Jar Jar Binks, a crate of Mandalorian Reaper peppers, and one extremely overworked Marshal Commander of the Coruscant Guard.

Six standard months have passed since the Galactic Senate overwhelmingly approved the Clone Rights and Personhood Act, co-sponsored by Senators Amidala and Chuchi and endorsed by Chancellor Organa himself.

The Clone Wars have ended, and with their legal status secured, the clone troopers look to the future, to the things they never thought they would be able to have. Homes. Families. Love.

But without the support systems and social structures available to natborns, many troopers have difficulty finding meaningful connections.

Enter Right to Love Matchmaking Service: a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping clone troopers find the loves of their lives.

Find your match today!

Submit a fic | Submission Guidelines | AO3 Collection | FAQ

Masterlist will be updated as submissions are received. Be sure to check our official AO3 collection for fics that aren't cross-posted to Tumblr!

🍋 denotes mature content

501st Legion

ARC Trooper Fives

"An Awkward Kind of Charm," by @secondaryrealm AKA @deejadabbles

"Old Flames," by @banksys-rat

Captain Rex

"Date Night Pt 1," by @littlemissmanga

"Don't Go Breaking My Heart Part 1" by @sunshinesdaydream

"Don't Go Breaking My Heart Part 2," by @sunshinesdaydream

"Don't Go Breaking My Heart Part 3," by @sunshinesdaydream

"Don't Go Breaking My Heart Part 4," by @sunshinesdaydream

"Third Time's the Charm," by @starrylothcat

Clone Veteran Tai (from Kenobi series)

"For the Heart," by @imarvelatthestars

Clone Trooper Tup

"Seeking Something Simpler," by @arcsimper5

"My Beautiful Rose," by @cloneloverrrrr 🍋

Clone Trooper Hardcase

"The Power of Love," by @sunshinesdaydream

"The Power of Love Part 2," by @sunshinesdaydream

"Blood Moon Rising," by @sunshinesdaydream

"Of Frogs and Clones," by @the-bad-batch-baroness

Clone Trooper Dogma

"Date Night Pt 3," by @littlemissmanga

212th Attack Battalion

Marshal Commander Cody

"Date night Pt. 2," by @littlemissmanga 🍋

Lieutenant Waxer

"The Sixth Language (part 1)," by @dystopicjumpsuit

"The Sixth Language (part 2)," by @dystopicjumpsuit

"The Sixth Language (part 3)," by @dystopicjumpsuit 🍋

"The Sixth Language (part 4)," by @dystopicjumpsuit 🍋

"The Sixth Language (epilogue)," by @dystopicjumpsuit

The Wolfpack/104th Battalion

Commander Wolffe

"the two of us (against the world)," by @wolffegirlsunite

"As Sweet As Sugar," by @wings-and-beskar

"As Sweet As Sugar, Part 2," by @wings-and-beskar

"You're Mine, Mesh'la," by @cloneloverrrrr 🍋

41st Elite Corps

91st Mobile Reconnaissance Corps

Marshal Commander Neyo

"The Blacklist," by @blueink-bluesoul

"Everybody Hates Neyo Round 2: Matchmaking Boogaloo," by @dystopicjumpsuit 🍋

21st Nova Corps

327th Star Corps

The Bad Batch

Echo

"The Beauty In All, Part One," by @secondaryrealm AKA @deejadabbles

"The Beauty In All, Part Two," by @secondaryrealm AKA @deejadabbles

Crosshair

"Don't Say 'I Told You So,'" by @ghostofskywalker

"Take a Chance (Part 1)," by @multi-fan-dom-madness

"Take a Chance (Part 2)," by @multi-fan-dom-madness

Wrecker

"Happy Together," by @sunshinesdaydream

"Happy Together part 2," by @sunshinesdaydream

The Coruscant Guard

Commander Thorn

"The Long Way Home, Part 1," by @blueink-bluesoul

Marshal Commander Fox

"One Call Away - pt. 1," by @blueink-bluesoul

Republic Commandos

Other Clones

"I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends," by @sunshinesdaydream

Commander Mayday

"A Match for Mayday, Chapter 1," art by @nika6q; fic by @dystopicjumpsuit

"A Match for Mayday, Chapter 2," art by @nika6q; fic by @dystopicjumpsuit

"A Match for Mayday, Chapter 3," art by @nika6q; fic by @dystopicjumpsuit 🍋

"A Match for Mayday, Chapter 4," art by @nika6q; fic by @dystopicjumpsuit 🍋

Original Clone Characters

#tcw matchmaking au #clone matchmaking au #masterlist

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wedonthaveawhile · 8 months

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The Serpents Hold // Chapter Six

Summary: When Sebastian turns to dark magic to cure his sister, Nova and Ominis find themselves reluctantly thrust into a partnership to aid him. Amid the disapproval of Ominis' family, Nova wrestles with her growing feelings for him and also with the nagging suspicion that Ominis knows more about Anne's condition than he's letting on.

AO3 // Masterlist

"Gran was showing me around Blackdown Hills, where she used to play with wild beasts as a little girl—"

Nova was partially tuned into Poppy's recounting of her half-term break, her emerald cloak and tie inconspicuously concealed beneath the Hufflepuff table. Her head was propped in her hand as she picked at the pastry on her plate, reducing its flaky layers to fine dust.

"We got the kneazle untangled from the thorns... We named it... Nova, are you listening?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Poppy. I was just, uh..." She gestured towards her demolished breakfast. "Lost in thought, I suppose. You caught a kneazle?"

"Rescued!" Poppy corrected indignantly, "We managed to save the kneazle, and I named her Nova."

"Kneazle-Nova is lucky to have crossed paths with you," Nova smiled warmly, brushing the lingering crumbs from her fingers back onto the plate. "We both are."

Poppy's eyes sparkled as she beamed back at her, "How was your break? Feldcroft must have been lovely. Anne is such a gem, isn't she? We used to share an astronomy class. How's she doing?"

Nova's thoughts were still untangling from their earlier wanderings, making it a challenge to keep up with the rapid-fire questions. "Honestly, it wasn't great," she confessed. "I didn't get much time with Anne before her uncle and Sebastian got into a massive argument. I haven't seen him since everyone returned, and I'm getting worried."

"Have you seen Ominis?" Poppy asked, her words cutting through a large bite of croissant. "They're usually joined at the hip, you could ask him."

Nova's expression twisted into a grimace. "I make a point of avoiding him if possible. He tolerates me at best and doesn't exactly approve of our friendship."

"Because you're such a bad influence?" Poppy snorted, and Nova tried not to take offence. "Ominis is nice, I'm sure he'll help. I saw him heading to the Dark Arts Tower earlier. Do you want me to help you find him?"

"It's fine. I can tell you're eager to say hello to all your beasts."

Following breakfast, Nova dawdled at the threshold of the Undercroft. She had steered clear since Ominis had issued his threats, but it was the only unexplored corner of the castle in her search for Sebastian. Flicking her wand over the gilded symbols, she clung to the hope Ominis wasn't down there with him. That hope shattered the moment she stepped into the dusty abyss, instantly assaulted by the intensity of his deranged voice.

"Anything to do with the dark arts should be avoided, Sebastian. It's too risky."

"At this point, anything to do with Salazar Slytherin is worth the risk," Sebastian countered, his agitated footsteps pacing restlessly between the candlelit pillars.

"Well, I don't see it that way. I won't entertain further discussion on the matter. I'm sorry."

Nova might as well have been a ghost. Ominis strode past her with a silent indifference—an improvement, she had to admit, from their first encounter in the Undercroft.

"What was that about?" she joined Sebastian at a makeshift desk, creatively assembled from a precarious stack of trunks. "Is this where you've been for the past day? Sebastian, I was worried."

"I'm sorry," he attempted to console her with something resembling a hug, but his eyes and palm remained glued on scraps of parchment scattered across the worktop. "That book we stole states that Salazar Slytherin has a scriptorium here in Hogwarts. It turns out Ominis has known about it this whole time."

"A scriptorium?"

"Yes, there has to be a treasure trove of information on dark magic in there. There has to be some insight into curses." His initial enthusiasm gave way to a more solemn expression as he collapsed onto a chair. "Ominis wants no part in it, but only an heir of Slytherin can find the entrance. Whatever's in that room might hold the answers for Anne."

Nova nudged aside the manuscript, settling atop the trunk to face him. "Ominis does have a point, Sebastian. While a cure for Anne is the best-case scenario, have you considered the worst-case?"

"As I said to him, it's worth the risk." Sebastian dismissed her concern with a wave of his hand. "There is far more to dark magic than most people realise, the Gaunt's know this all too well."

Nova's curiosity stirred at his words. Ominis had implied that his comprehension of dark magic revolved solely around Soloman's time as an auror.

"What do you mean by that?"

Sebastian ran a nervous hand through his wild hair. "I shouldn't have told you about Ominis' family history in the library," his words escaped rapidly, as if fighting to restrain himself from divulging more. "He gave me quite a scolding."

Nova's gave him a sheepish smile. "To be fair, I didn't mention anything to do with the whole marriage arrangement. He's just annoyingly perceptive."

"You're not wrong." His eyes darted toward the exit to ensure Ominis had left. "Look, if you promise not to breathe a word..."

"I promise," Nova said, crossing her heart with her fingers, fully aware that her track record for keeping secrets was far from flawless.

"Ominis was schooled in dark magic by his family. Have you heard of the Cruciatus Curse?"

"Is that one of the unforgivables? Ominis told me a little."

"It's the curse that inflicts unbearable pain on its victims," Sebastian explained. "His parents and brother use it on muggles for sport. They forced Ominis to cast it when he was just a child; when he refused, they subjected him to it themselves."

Guilt coiled in the pit of her stomach. No wonder he was so adamant about keeping away from dark magic.

"The rift between him and his family only widened from there until I came along," Sebastian continued. "He trusts me, and more often than not, he listens to what I have to say. I'm sure I can convince him to help."

"I don't think it's fair for Ominis to forbid you from exploring options to save Anne. But it's also unfair to involve him, given his past. Is there anything in that book that doesn't drag him into it?"

"Nothing else that remotely relates to dark curses," he sighed, unbothered by her judgment. "Although, there's a whole section dedicated to secret rooms in Hogwarts." He angled the book to better catch the candlelight. "Take a look at this, the Room of Requirement."

The room features a unique capability to furnish or transform itself into precisely what a witch or wizard unequivocally requires at any given moment.

"Really?" Nova remained unconvinced. "Surely, a room like that would be common knowledge by now?"

"I'm not so sure; look here." Sebastian persisted, gesturing to another section of the passage.

To access the room, it is necessary to cross the vicinity of the door repeatedly, passing it three times while maintaining a focused intention for the desired outcome.

"According to this map, it should be located on the seventh floor of the astronomy tower, right across from the tapestry of Barnabus the Barmy."

"Where the toilets are?"

"What toilets?"

"Just... the toilets," Nova repeated with a shrug. "The ones across from the tapestry."

Sebastian's forehead creased in confusion. "Nova, there are no toilets across from the tapestry."

"Yes, there is," she insisted. "During my first astrology class, Professor Shah wouldn't let me go to the toilet. By the time the class finished, I was desperate, so I ran down that corridor—"

Her sentence came to a screeching halt in realisation, and her eyes locked onto Sebastian's, both their mouths agape in gleeful delirium.

Sunlight poured into the corridor from the adjacent staircase as Nova and Sebastian stood facing the deceptively ordinary wall. Sebastian rapped his knuckles against the stone before pressing his ear to the cold surface, listening intently. After a moment, he took a step back, shaking his head.

"Well, what are you needing?" Nova asked, searching along the dents and contours of the stonework for any hidden seams.

"I need access to a scriptorium that harbours cures for dark and debilitating curses."

"Right... Well, concentrate on... that. And walk past three times," she urged, giving him a gentle push to start pacing along the length of the corridor.

"Why in Merlin's name were you pacing back and forth like a caged lion if you needed a piss?" his voice echoed through the corridor much louder than necessary.

"It was my first week, Sebastian; I didn't know where the fuck I was."

He laughed, though his amusement gradually waned as he continued to pace, realising that no hidden door was materialising.

"Perhaps the room doesn't know how to fix a curse," Nova said as Sebastian came to a miserable halt. "Or maybe it only listens to me," she added, pushing him against the tapestry before darting off to the other end of the corridor. "I need a weeeeeeeee!" she bellowed as she sprinted back and forth.

Sebastian snatched the hood of her cloak and flung her behind him. "I need a scriptorium that holds cures for dark curseeeees!" he hollered with equal enthusiasm as he sprinted to the end of the passage, colliding with the wall and using the impact's momentum to throw himself back down the corridor.

He hurtled toward Nova, who extended her arm in an attempt to slow him down. Their collision sent them both tumbling to the ground in a wild entanglement of limbs, the force of the impact knocking the breath out of them.

"Well, it would have been a bloody miracle if that worked," Sebastian choked out between laughter as they both lay winded on the floor. He gave a thumbs-up to a confused Ravenclaw, who cautiously sidestepped their sprawled bodies. "I should get to class. I'll revisit the scriptorium topic with Ominis later," he groaned as he rose to his feet. Extending a hand as he helped Nova up from the floor. "And if he doesn't agree... well... he's not the only heir."

Nova watched Sebastian vanish around the corner, her elation transforming into a rising tide of panic. Hadn't he just told her about Ominis' family's reputation for torture? They were clearly very dark wizards. Sebastian was putting himself in grave danger.

Nova wriggled through the throng of bodies ambling into the classroom, diving to secure the seat beside Ominis.

There were several factors to the lethargy that hung over their history of magic class, but chiefly among them was Professor Binn's complete lack of direct engagement with his students. The hypnotic drone of his voice kicked into gear, and eyelids began drooping under the weight of the monotonous lecture.

Ominis folded his arms and rested them on his open textbook, snuggling into the bunched fabric from his sleeves. His charmed quill danced frantically across his parchment, diligently scribbling down vital notes while he stole a nap. Beside him, Nova absently scratched at the etchings on their desk, adding to the collection of inscriptions left by countless generations of tired students.

She let slip a quiet sigh, her eyes flitting over to Ominis as she wrestled with the best way to broach the subject of Sebastian. His gentle breaths tousled his typically well-kept hair, strands cascading untidily across his forehead. Nova resisted the temptation to whip out her quill and play connect-the-dots with the splatter of beauty marks on his cheek, instead captivated by how closely they resembled Ursa Major.

His disembodied quill darted across the desk, leaving behind a hastily scrawled note on her parchment.

Stop staring at me.

A deep flush of embarrassment stained her cheeks.

"I need to talk to you," she whispered, edging herself closer to him, her voice dropping to a murmur, "It's about Sebastian."

If this is about the scriptorium, I don't want to hear it.

She had barely finished reading his scribbled message before the quill scratched out every word in an erratic frenzy, leaving no trace of the message behind.

"This is important, Ominis. I'm on your side."

He continued to feign sleep and she released an exasperated groan, unintentionally rousing a pair of slumbering witches suspended in mid-scribble.

Class finally ended, and Nova hurriedly packed up, struggling to keep pace with Ominis while everyone else was still rubbing sleep from their eyes. He stormed to a secluded corner behind a stairwell, then promptly turned around to face her.

"You have one minute."

"Sebastian told me about the scriptorium—"

"It's a cesspit of dark magic. It's staying untouched," he interrupted, "He can't get near it without me, and I won't change my mind."

He began to walk away, but Nova's fingers tightened around the crook of his elbow. "Ominis, listen to me," she snapped. She anticipated resistance and was taken aback when he remained silent. "He didn't go into details, but he said you're not the only descendant. I think he's planning to reach out to your brother."

Ominis' pallid features turned an even more ghostly shade of white; he looked like he was going to be sick. "We can't allow him to do that," his voice strained as he fought to suppress a tremor.

"I know," Nova replied, comforted by his use of the word we. "I've been mulling it over all morning, and from where I stand, there are only two options." She spoke softly as she proposed the first option: "You unlock the scriptorium, and we allow him to go in alone." She knew he wouldn't favour this choice.

"He'll die."

"You can't know that for sure."

"I can," he murmured, his eyes squeezing shut as he dragged his fingertips down his face. "It happened to my aunt, Noctua. She shared my beliefs and disagreed with the family's use of dark magic. She hoped to convince my family there was more to Salazar Slytherin than worshipping pureblood status. She'd heard of this scriptorium and thought its contents might shed some light. She wrote to my father about her efforts to gain access, and then… vanished."

Their classmates passed by, casting concerned glances at the intense exchange under the stairs. Nova gently tugged on Ominis' sleeve, coaxing him closer into the privacy of the corner until their bodies were nearly touching.

"Noctua ventured down this path with good intentions and paid with her life," Ominis said quietly. "I don't want history to repeat itself."

She transitioned to the second option, "Your aunt ventured in alone, but three wands are better than one. We could do this together. Honour your aunt's memory by completing what she started and steer Sebastian away from self-destruction along the way."

He scratched the back of his neck as he mulled over the options. "This isn't your fight. I appreciate the warning, but if you want to walk away now, you can do so."

"I'm not going anywhere," she told him indignantly, offended by another attempt to distance her from Sebastian, but his features softened to something resembling relief rather than resistance.

"Good. I feel more at ease knowing you're on my side."

#ominis #ominis x mc #hogwarts legacy ominis #ominis x reader #ominis gaunt #hogwarts legacy fic #hogwarts legacy #hogwarts oc #hogwarts houses #hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry #the serpents hold #sebastian sallow x mc #sebastian sallow

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musicthrob · 18 days

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In-Focus with LAUNDRY DAY

March 23, 2024

For fans of artist interviews, modern boybands, Kevin Abstract, and BROCKHAMPTON

About two weeks ago, at the Ryan Beatty concert at The Wiltern, I passed by Kevin Abstract twice, once opposite each other on the stairs in the main area and second as he entered the doors of the floor section. I quite literally could not think of anything I could say to him then, but now I know exactly what.

After that day, I eventually discovered that he interviewed LAUNDRY DAY and I ended up loving the topics they discussed and loved lots of aspects of the video in general. If I had watched this before the concert, I would have definitely commended him in person. If you’re reading this Kevin Abstract (and the Video Store team), I love this interview and here’s why.

Right away, the video shows that this interview is set in a random game store, a very uncommon yet fun place to hold an interview, that I think is fitting. This random game store is sort of another character to this interview that brings it to life. Weaved on top of audio of the interview every once in a while, the video strategically cuts to shots of LAUNDRY DAY browsing the store or playing Battleship against the crew and keeps the casual vibes of the video going. The atmosphere really just highlights the good company they were all in.

Specifically, this reminded me of Chicken Shop Date, where they use strategic cuts to b-roll of the chicken shop as awkward yet cute indicators for topic switches.

It is evident that LAUNDRY DAY has such respect for Kevin Abstract and his peers and it is evident that Abstract shows them that same respect through his questions and the conversation he is able to foster. I think it’s the boyband camaraderie. There is also just a magic that exists when artists interview artists and ask all the right questions.

multimdia also produces interviews on creatives where both the discussion and the fun video parts just feel really authentic. I recently watched the Aidan Cullen interview because I was interested in how he got started in the business. If you’re reading this Aidan Cullen (or anyone on the NOVA team), please approve my application I love y’all lol

LAUNDRY DAY talked about everything from selling out to being corny to being excited about green room sandwiches to their album documentary. On the topic of “selling out,” LAUNDRY DAY has been able to use their funny and unserious singing videos on the street to their advantage. Whether people know them from their covers of the “Can I Call You Rose” by Thee Sacred Souls” or “Beautiful Girls” by Sean Kingston, they have gained an audience of people in it for the laughs and the vibes and ultimately an audience that will listen to their music new and old. (They were even able to reach Drake.) In addition, one of the members spoke about how after someone sells out, they have the power to just reset and do whatever they want with their art, regardless if the general public are behind it or not.

On the topic of “being corny” and being excited about green room sandwiches. I think as an artist, it is essential to be corny about your art and always be excited about the little things. If you’re not excited about your own art, then who will be? It was fun to know that LAUNDRY DAY used to promote their stuff in high school as if they were already famous and that they were the ones under the band’s comment sections. Knowing this, makes it even more awesome to see how far they have come.

Also being excited about green room sandwiches was probably the stuff that was shown in their own documentary and that’s why I love them. LAUNDRY DAY produced, edited, and scored their own documentary about the process of making their most recent album. They only screened it in Los Angeles for one night and I wish I was there to witness their album process on the big screen. What can I say. I just love the process. And I love LAUNDRY DAY.

Shoutout to the Twitter mutual who put me on in 2018.

If you’re reading this LAUNDRY DAY, keep rocking and I need Narduwar vs. LAUNDRY DAY to happen soon. Thank you.

Links:

Listen to the LAUNDRY DAY song that Drake loves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83NkgCH6Tdc&pp=ygUeY3Jhenkgc3R1cGlkIGxvdmUgbGF1bmRyeSBkYXkg

Listen to the LAUNDRY DAY song that I love at the moment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SETI_xw47fc&pp=ygUbbXkgc2hpbmluZyBzdGFyIGxhdW5kcnkgZGF5

Watch this LAUNDRY DAY video: https://youtu.be/r72Dx_LluVs?si=zqtPM_NA6XzaWGFh

Watch In-Focus with Quadeca: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvVJh8imS58&pp=ygUNZm9jdXMgcXVhZGVjYQ%3D%3D

Check out multimdia on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@multimdiamultimdia

#artist interview #boy bands #laundry day #kevin abstract #brockhampton

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ask-de-writer · 3 months

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SUBMARINE! 1812 an Alternate History

Return to the Master Story Index

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Chapter 6 : KRAKEN

(Part 5 of 5)

De Writer (Glen Ten-Eyck)

5462 words

This document may not be copied or distributed on or to any medium or placed in any mass storage system except by the express written consent of the author.

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Blog holding members of Tumblr.com may freely reblog this story provided that the title, author and copyright information remain intact, unaltered, and are displayed at the head of the story.

Fan art, stories, music, cosplay and other fan activity is actively encouraged.

~~ ~~ ~~ ~~

“That is a compliment that I will treasure,” I said quietly. “I often wondered if our efforts had actually deceived you, as we crossed swords at a distance. I always wished that our games were unnecessary.”

“You may find it hard to credit,” he replied, “but I too, wished the very same thing, even as I tried to learn your secrets. Now, I fear for my King and country. I am afraid that the game must go on.”

“I know exactly what you mean. We have been fortunate, so far, but I wonder what Britain has in store for us. We both know that this war is necessary. The Continental Congress must be recognized as a nation, and not a mere appendage of King George. We must affirm our right to be free and trade without interference, as any other nation.”

“I must report what I have seen. I will recommend peace in that report. You have both the population and the striking range on us. We have only naval superiority, and this summer, you stripped us of a fourth of that.” He was plainly worried. This was a side of Sir Lional that I had never seen before.

“I know that Uncle Benny would rather have peace. If you could offer a cessation of hostility, combined with our freedom to trade, and the return of all Continental seamen impressed into your navy or in your prisons, I believe that he would accept.”

Sir Lional frowned deeply. “I am sure that you are right. Unfortunately, I cannot do that without approval from the Royal Palace. That will take at least month, and probably more. The mere request could cost me my post. If I do not, it could be the end of England. I will request the terms that you offer.”

A Green Jacket Lt. came up and tugged at my sleeve. “Lt. Tecumsah, you are urgently wanted by the President. Please follow me.” I bowed to Sir Lional and made my way through the crowd, back to the Presidential Mansion.

The throng was now much reduced. As I looked about me, I realized that only the officers of the Maryland, her submariners and a few others were present. Mr. Smollett and some of his most trusted workers, President Arnold and a few important Senators of the War Committee made up the whole balance of the folk in the room. Marines had closed the doors and were keeping out everyone else.

“Gentlemen,” said Mr. Arnold, every inch the President, “We know that England will not stand for what has happened. King George will strike back, hard and soon. I expect that the blow will fall in two places. The islands of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland are both vulnerable and would serve as an invasion base for an attack down the St. Laurence to Lake Champlain or Lake Erie, cutting the nation into unequal halves. The other likely place would be Chesapeake Bay, with the invading army pressing Northwest to link up with the army at the Great Lakes. Such an attack, if successful, would destroy the Nation.” As he gestured over the map, we could see that he was still the general who had out-maneuvered and out-fought the British in the War of Independence.

“I expect the blow to fall just as I have described it, sometime in the early spring, as soon as the weather will allow a determined foe to risk the crossing. They will probably be willing to accept some losses to strike sooner. Our hope lies in the fact that the submarine thrives on rough surface weather. Four and six man picket submarines with new periscopes that can be turned through a wide angle have been made and are yet being made. These are heavily armed boats that can attack swiftly, near to four knots I am told. Mr. Smollet has the details of these craft and those who need the particulars will be informed by him in detail.”

“Do ye want the model now, Sir?” Smollet inquired.

“Indeed I do. Show the gentlemen what you have wrought.”

Smollet gestured and two of his most trusted helpers carried in a half model of the hull of a craft like none that had been seen before. I counted the station lines, as Smollet had taught me so many years ago, in the Academy. This monster was just over 100 feet long! The ragged intakes of breath from around the room told me that others had realized the same thing.

With all of the pride of a new father, Smollet began to point out the features of the new ship. “This is a wholly new idea in warfare. We have christened her the Kraken. As many of you noticed, she is 110 feet long. Her draft, on the surface is 21 feet, 6 inches, when fully laden. As you can see from the model, she is very narrow, with a beam of just 20 feet. The odd looking things on her sides near the bottom are a new design water jet that pushes near half again as hard for the same effort on the walking beam.

“As an aside, all of your old boats are being fitted with the new water jets and the new periscopes, too.

The Kraken can cruise at three and one quarter knots, under water. On the surface, she cruises at just under four knots. She carries three retractable masts, and under sail, with a favorable breeze can do six knots. She can tack only 40 degrees off the wind, with good speed.

She crews eighty men. It is possible to draw air down the center mast while submerged to 30 feet and using the mast as a periscope. Range finding is now done using the fore and aft mast periscopes, giving a triangulation base of 60 feet. A sextant attachment can be fitted to either of the periscopes, allowing navigation while submerged. She carries two attack boats that can launch or dock while the Kraken is fully submerged.

“Newly designed flood-valves can take her from full sail down to periscope depth in under four minutes. Her sails can be managed from inside the hull and can be stowed while under water, if necessary.

“At this time I will not speak of her arms stores, which are considerable. The Kraken’s performance is not speculation. She has just completed her sea trials and is now awaiting the choice of her new captain.” He grinned at the stunned silence that had greeted his laconic announcement. “Are there any questions?”

“I have one,” I stated. “Can the Kraken carry enough stores to reach England while submerged?”

“Yes,” was the terse reply. “With enough left over to return after three weeks in English waters.”

President Arnold said, “The Kraken is even now laying at a secret dock, taking on stores. As soon as her Captain is chosen, she will stand out to sea under secret orders.”

Commodore Marks said with envy, “The command of the Kraken will go to one of you submariners. The choice is being made by representatives of the Senate War Committee. They have all of our logs and records to study. We are awaiting their decision which we will have soon.”

We all looked at each other, dumbfounded.

END OF CHAPTER 6

<==PREVIOUS

Return to the Master Story Index

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#Submarine! 1812 Chap 6 #Part 5 of 5)#Science Fiction #Alternate History #Written by De Writer

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degozarumyu · 4 months

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okiiii ep90 spoilers timeeeeeee (very long very rambly very image-filled post ahead)

ohhhhhhh my fucking goddddddddddddddddd aaahahjahjajhhjhudsghiuydaghuygduysajhgdjsahdha (shaking) (crying) (vibrating at dangerous speeds)

this episode completely changes the context of valvelgear not being yuuhi's disk in the s3 visual and I am!! not ok!!!!!!!!!!!!! they may be 8.88 million faceless npcs but they are my 8.88 million faceless npcs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

grrrrggahrggharhgarhghgargharaghrgaghjeagrahjgadfgdashgfghahgsda ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

HEY GUYS CHECK OUT HOW HARD I CAN CRY like ueueueueueue see kuaidul? you didn't need to become someone else to be loved by the creator bc he already loves you :((( gwahhhhhhh

can i also just appreciate how consistent they made the animation this ep like u can tell that some scenes at the end for example seem to be done by the person in charge of a lot of yuuhi duels e.g. vs tell/vs yuuna by the way they do yuamu's hair and background faces but its a lot more 'on model' than usual lol, I love their style regardless but they rly put in a lot of effort this time!!! <3<3 thank u gr staff i love u and owe u my life 💕💕💕

also. BRUH

yuuga stop disappearing for 2 seconds challenge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wonder if its bc now that kuai is 'dead' the creator is released? and there can only be one of them existing in that 'reality' at a time for some reason?? 🤔 or he just straight up got yoinked in the world switch lol (or with the preview showing the hat parasite aliens attacking maybe the non-kaizo parts of his weird goha president helmet thing had something to do with it haha)

after seeing it mentioned by a jp fan on twitter I've started to wonder if they rly are in some sort of alternate reality/parallel universe to 7s tho given the 'inconsistencies' e.g. questionable kamijou family timeline, luge and zaion being aliens but luke and neil being (presumably) human, aliens/mik/uts seeming to not exist in 7s era....... i'm still not even halfway through 7s so I can't speak on any of this at all lol but I found it interesting! plus they mentioned rovian and london being cousins and romin and roa also being cousins wouldn't make sense if they were descendants/ancestors :thinking:

I love basing theories and speculation purely off of 'wouldn't it be cool if...' B)

ANYWAYS the way kuai made his final perfect monster representing his ideal (merged) self in transamu prime full armour nova and yuudias could Still manage to take it from him :)))))))) can't have shit in kuaidul spacetime

haha. im so normal guys.

its a very simple solution really, love someone but are also jealous of them? simply absorb their soul and become them! gg ez

how to get the approval of your father figure that you absorbed in 1 easy step!

oh yea speaking of full armour nova who else up staring at the card art for 15 hours straight

btw i am also normal about how in this imagined fusion of their soul galaxies while it has aspects of both transamu rainac and prime the actual body is yellow bc kuai wanted to become the milky way to be closer to the creator but not necessarily become yuudias because he wanted to receive that love and acceptance for himself :))))))))

eldest sibling kuai who was made to do the hard work and raise (literally create) his other siblings without appreciation vs. 'perfect' youngest sibling yuudias who was the favourite child given everything the oldest could never have from birth................

hhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

im really so glad they let kuai redeem himself in the end by choosing to let himself die (?) rather than taking advantage of yuudias' kindness and possessing him.... as much as I would have adored keeping him around by letting them share the body lolol

on that note yuudias!!!!! I know boundless generosity and honesty and kindness and most significantly 'virtue' is like. the entire core of his character but bro!!!!!!!!!!!!

pls have more concern for ur own wellbeing,,,, pls,,,,,,,,,, cri

unrelated but it was interesting that the dudi ducasse aliens r actually considered velgearian too! like its something thats pretty obvious now that they've said it since like. they're literally from the velgear star cluster but still lol

the way yuuga always speaks so calmly and like he's detached from everything is so funny lol 'some problems' i mean. yeah

average sibling interaction

btw this was the face where I was like 'ohhhh' abt the lead animator bc this is The Luke Face (i just rly like how they do the lines around the sides of the eyes :3)

average sibling interaction part 2

random thought i wonder if yuuhi will still have darkness jointech tyrant after all this? or is it a card that only existed in the spacetime... did yuuhi even have a corresponding card in kuai's prime deck??? hm

look how pretty :] (too bad they fuckin. killed him LOL) (i am sad)

this is obviously nothing but.... the colours of the galaxy gem thing kinda match lol

this was cute :3 their relationship has changed so much recently that I'm still a little confused if they're meant to be like. friends or not at this point?? or if its like a 'we've been this close for this long that even if we air out our grievances and try to go our separate ways we're still in sync' kinda thing which is cute

and speaking of cute duos luge and zaion stood (i use the word stood very loosely) directly next to each other this time 🔥🔥🔥 zailugers stay winning

#nishawsweep (if velgear acts like a surname for velgearians is dudi actually a name adopted by everyone from the dudi ducasse system rather than a personal name? 🤔)

i know its been 3 eps of this now but aaa im not over how cute it is that everyone's so small compared to yuudias so they kinda look like little fairies :((((( so adorable.......... 💕💕💕

yuuga who tf r u........ who tf is the creator.......... who/what tf r the oudous........ where is everyone's parents actually

ok i have sadly hit the image limit so I will stop my ramble spam now.... grrrahhrahgrhghgarhahhrgghrgrghghgh i really really enjoyed this episode and this duel as a whole and especially kuaidul as a character!!!!!!!!!

but before I leave i just wanna say isn't zwijou's galaxy so pretty?? its like a reverse of the crab nebula... idk i just think orange and teal is one of the most colour combinations of all time :)

#grwatch

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steampunkforever · 7 months

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Beverly Hills Cop is a really fun copaganda flick. Produced by the guy who also produced Top Gun, you know what you're in for, and that means not thinking too hard about some of the things the movie is pushing. It's picking up a dirtbike from some guy on craigslist and ignoring some concerning comments on politics these days in order to make the sale go smoothly. You can raise a couple eyebrows but the #1 goal here is fun.

To that end, this film is very good. There's a reason it shot Eddie Murphy to stardom, and the script--rewritten with heavy input from Murphy after Sylvester Stallone's disastrous edgy primary rewrite--is just as charming as the leading man. This is a movie about an underdog Detroit detective trying to investigate his childhood friend's murder by a corrupt LA art dealer, and Murphy really sells it. Frustrated by class divisions and--take special note--procedural requirements the police are forced to follow, Murphy's detective character is a lovable, fast-talking charmer and you can't help but cheer for him as he drives his dented Chevy Nova next to the shiny Mercedes models of Rodeo drive.

Taking note that all films are inherently about making films, it's easy to draw a direct line between a film starring a relatively small entertainer new to the movies and the story of a scrappy detective from a smaller (and relatively racially dissimilar) town trying to rub elbows with the stuck up establishment guys who do things a certain way. Inasmuch as a movie is about making movies, it's clear that Beverly Hills Cop is telling a story about making it in showbiz as someone who wasn't born into the big club (perhaps a young comedian trying to break into the movies after finding success in standup).

Simultaneously, the finale's "moral" of the story is that things are better when cops violate civil rights to nail the bad guys who they couldn't get otherwise. As a writer I saw a clear opportunity for the LA cop characters to obfuscate the truth and bend the rules to nail the bad guy on probable cause, already a morally dubious ending but still better than what we actually got. Rather than omit some truths in the police report with a wink, the film's great moment of triumph has the Beverly Hills police outright lie about the events culminating into a bloody shootout, with Murphy's character smiling in approval the whole time.

To that end, I found the messaging of the film reminding me of a campus cop who'd prevented a local homeless man from stealing student bicycles. Retelling the story of how angry the man had been at being stopped from cutting bike chains, the cop remarked that he wished he could've punched out the man like a Philadelphia policeman had recently been caught doing. Which is to say, while the emotional appeals to justice there are valid, the rhetoric there leads to more civil rights violations than not.

This is a precise example of what a lot of my posting on propaganda references. Even as some scenes furrowed my brow (*shaking my head and frowning while I laugh so that people know I disagree with the copaganda in Beverly Hills Cop*), the movie is too good not to watch, and rather than studiously eschewing anything with the hint of a harmful idea I'd posit that you should lighten up instead.

I highly suggest Beverly Hills Cop as a staple 80s film, even with the copaganda caveat. In fact, its biggest societal harm was not glorifying police violence but rather the fact that its main theme served as the sample for the Crazy Frog Song that plagued flip phone ringtones and will probably continue to haunt phone calls for decades to come.

#filmposting #eddie murphy #beverly hills cop

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beardedmrbean · 10 months

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Bulgarian President Rumen Radev stated today that he has always - both in Bulgaria and in Brussels - maintained that the country should not interfere by providing arms to Ukraine in the conflict with Russia. He emphasized that he does not support participation in the initiative of the European Union countries to send 1 million projectiles to the attacked country.

"This is not the way to end this conflict. You see that it is escalating, you see that it carries huge risks. It is draining our economy and social systems. While I represented Bulgaria in the Council of the EU, I resisted this situation. It became clear that Bulgaria is not part of the initiative for 1 billion projectiles," said the head of state, according to whom it would be a mistake for Bulgaria to join the program. Recently, Defense Minister Todor Tagarev announced that the country is looking for a way to do this, and Bulgaria has the resources to help Ukraine with armaments. The opposite thesis was defended by the previous minister, Dimitar Stoyanov.

The president accused unnamed journalists of sharing manipulative information and of him being duplicitous on the subject. On March 25, the correspondent of "Nova TV" in Brussels, Antoineta Nikolova, reported that the press secretary of the president, Kiril Atanasov, called the television station to protest. Nikolova pointed out that the president's press office was enraged by the fact that it said on the midday news that the EU had come out with very strong positions regarding Ukraine and that Bulgaria would help with armaments by signing the document, although the president a little before that said that "we will not give anything directly". "Bulgaria does not support and is not part of the general order for the supply of shells to Ukraine. This is our sovereign decision. Bulgaria will support European diplomatic efforts to restore peace." This is how Radev answered on March 21 when asked why the country does not participate in the "joint purchase of ammunition for Ukraine within the EU", the head of state's press office explained at the time.

In fact, the decision on general procurement of EU ammunition for a total of 2 billion euros, called a "historic decision" by Josep Borrell, the head of the EU's foreign relations and security, was approved by Bulgaria at the level of representatives of the member states, and then at EU Council of Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs.

In May, EU countries finalized a deal to send one million 155mm projectiles and rockets to Kyiv by March next year, agreeing to provide ammunition from their own stockpiles immediately and member states to receive a partial remuneration for their efforts. They agreed on €1 billion for this part of the plan and another €1 billion for a joint scheme to ensure supplies to Ukraine and replenish their stocks. The Commission also proposed a €500 million initiative to boost Europe's ability to produce weapons and achieve these goals.

In December 2022, the National Assembly decided exactly what weapons, equipment and ammunition should be sent to the country attacked by Russia. The list of weapons that Bulgaria sent to Ukraine is confidential, but according to Economy Minister Nikola Stoyanov, it included small arms and some ammunition.

In a decision of the Parliament from November it is written:

Insists that Ukraine's defensive actions against aggressive armed attack are its inalienable right and in full compliance with Art. 51 of the UN Charter and should be effectively supported by the provision of adequate armaments and equipment.

Earlier this year, Radev stated that Bulgaria does not have enough weapons to send to Ukraine.

In February, the co-chairman of "Democratic Bulgaria" Atanas Atanasov stated that there is a plan on how to organize the impeachment of the president. According to him, there are public signs that he is violating the Constitution and placing himself above the National Assembly. As an example, he quoted the head of state that the interim government will not provide new military aid to Ukraine. In February, Radev said the caretaker government had implemented the decision of the 48th National Assembly to send military aid to Ukraine. He emphasized that the provision of new military aid must be tailored to the state of the Bulgarian Army.

Yesterday the Secretary General of NATO gave an example that Germany was left with only 20,000 shells for 155 mm howitzers, and in the new situation, it should maintain a stock of 230,000, but nevertheless, the country is helping.

The Prime Minister reminded that the decisions of the National Assembly must be implemented

Later from Pamporovo, Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov recalled the decision of the National Assembly to send military aid to Ukraine.

"I think we should be consistent, implement the decisions that were taken in the National Assembly and help Ukraine, which is attacked by a neighboring country and is trying to restore its territorial integrity. People are dying, families are being displaced, children. Let's remind again about the human tragedy. I don't see how this human tragedy will end until this war stops, in a way that creates sustainable peace," Denkov pointed out.

"It is very easy to say 'let's stop the war and make peace', but let's remember that when an unjust peace is made, another new war follows. This is the example from history as we know it, after the First World War that caused the Second World War", said the Bulgarian Prime Minister.

#nunyas news #last bit ya

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tyiaunia-harris · 2 years

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Aph Tokyo 🇯🇵🐈🎮🍡💴

Name: Tamiko Hijiri Honda Age: 1,622 (physically 16 year's old) Personality: Respectful, soft spoken and loyal. Tamiko is a very kind and loving girl who has a passion for art, video games and music. She's mostly claimer compared to her other siblings and doesn't have a rivalry with her cousins or friends over popularity around the world. Tamiko enjoys drawing and painting as well as playing music on her niko and koto instruments as well as singing song's of love and respect to her friends and family. Her clothing style is more cute yet simple, and she's great at racing sword fighting to protect her family from harm's way. Her favorite food's are Daifuku Mochi and the infamous Manjū dessert. She love's visiting Hawaii and receiving gifts from her, as well as updating Nova Scotia on any new anime's in the work to be released soon. She has an adorable set of "bunny teeth" that only appear if she laughs really hard or smiles while showing her teeth, everyone always gushes over how adorable she is. Although green tea is life to her, she love's sweet tea as well and has the southern state's on speed dial if she runs out. Likes: Her friends and family, music, video games, technology and drawing. Dislikes: Being reminded of ww2. Being made fun of because of her teeth. Qoutes: "Bakayarou/Asshole!" ( while "in the zone" of her new game) "My latest masterpieces, so whatcha think?" (To her cat Mashumaro for approval of her newest painting or drawing) Aph Tokyo 🇯🇵🐈🎮🍡💴

#aesthetic #hetalia #aph hetalia #alternate universe #do not steal #mine #please don't steal #aph Tokyo #Tokyo #Tamiko Hijiri Honda #hetalia: world series #hetalia world series #hetalia axis powers

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zov911 · 3 months

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In the realm of renewable energy, wind turbines have long stood as giants, both metaphorically and physically. Yet, Aurea Technologies Inc. has revolutionized this space with their innovative product – the Shine Turbine. Gaining rapid momentum on platforms like Instagram, the Shine Turbine is not just a beacon of sustainable energy but also a testament to the power of community engagement. From behind-the-scenes glimpses to impactful customer stories, their Instagram journey (@shineturbine) exemplifies how modern businesses can intertwine sustainability with digital storytelling. Dive into this article to discover how Aurea Technologies has harnessed both the wind and the digital wave to drive a greener future. In today's digital age, Instagram stands as a powerhouse platform, offering businesses a visual canvas to tell their stories and engage with their audience. But beneath the captivating images and compelling captions lies a treasure trove of data waiting to be deciphered. Analyzing Instagram data provides a window into understanding user behavior, preferences, and trends. It unveils the patterns of engagement, the effectiveness of hashtags, and the peak times of audience activity. As we dive deep into this analysis, we'll uncover the secrets of successful posts, the magic behind viral videos, and the art of maximizing engagement. Join us as we navigate the intricate landscape of Instagram analytics, turning raw numbers into actionable insights. Decoding Instagram Engagement: A Deep Dive into Aurea Technologies' Top Posts In the vast ocean of Instagram content, certain posts rise to the surface, capturing more attention and engagement than others. By dissecting the anatomy of these top-performing posts, businesses like Aurea Technologies can craft a more refined and effective social media strategy. Here's an analytical exploration of the posts that resonated the most with the audience. The Power of Popularity: Ranking by Likes Likes act as a heartbeat of Instagram, signifying user appreciation and interest. Our analysis spotlighted the top 5 posts that garnered the most likes: "Cheers to a new month of adventures! What outdoor activities are you most excited about this month?" - 834 likes "CONTEST CLOSED G I V E A W A Y In celebration of our recent milestone..." - 591 likes "Double-tap if you think two turbines are better than one!" - 398 likes "Shine is proudly made in Nova Scotia, Canada!" - 378 likes "Shine’s favourite office environment is a windy day at the beach!" - 364 likes Conversations and Comments: The Posts That Sparked Discussions Beyond likes, comments provide a deeper level of engagement, reflecting user involvement and interaction. Notably, posts related to contests or giveaways proved to be conversation starters: "CONTEST CLOSED G I V E A W A Y In celebration..." - 2,882 comments "GIVEAWAY CLOSED!️ We're going LIVE on Facebook this Thursday at 3 PM EST..." - 67 comments "We have some BIG news to share! Our patent for Shine has officially been approved!" - 31 comments "GIVEAWAY CLOSED ️ We're hosting another Facebook LIVE this Thursday at 3 PM EST..." - 29 comments "Shine was featured on NBC news! A BIG thank you to our community..." - 23 comments Visual Captivation: Videos That Held the Audience's Gaze Video content offers a dynamic way to convey a message, and the number of views reflects its effectiveness. Posts that showcased product capabilities or gave behind-the-scenes glimpses stood out: "Cheers to a new month of adventures! What outdoor activities are you most excited about this month?" - 24,165 views "We know it may seem UNBELIEVABLE! But YES, Shine can power your fridge!" - 16,265 views "Sometimes you have to see it to believe it. Every Shine turbine can generate enough power to charge 200+ phones!" - 11,285 views "Your Friday affirmation✨Here’s some BTS from a recent photoshoot with Shine..." - 9,392 views "Shine is proudly made in Nova Scotia, Canada!" - 6,129 views

In conclusion, leveraging data analysis for Instagram offers invaluable insights, enabling businesses to fine-tune their content strategy, amplify engagement, and connect more profoundly with their audience. Unlocking Instagram Success: Timing, Content, and Engagement Metrics In the realm of Instagram marketing, timing is often as crucial as the content itself. Let's unravel the mysteries of post timing and content types to decipher the DNA of successful Instagram engagement. Strategizing with Time: The Best Days to Post Understanding when your audience is most active can significantly amplify a post's impact. To decode the ideal days for posting, we: Transformed the timestamp data to extract days of the week. Comprehensively visualized post distribution throughout the week. Findings: The mid-week magic seems undeniable. Particularly, Wednesday emerges as the peak day for engagement, with Thursday trailing close behind. Surprisingly, weekends, often considered prime time, show a dip in posting frequency. Such insights are pivotal for businesses to align their posting schedules with audience activity, ensuring maximal engagement. Diversifying Content: Which Post Types Reign Supreme? While Instagram offers a buffet of content types, understanding which ones resonate most with your audience can be transformative. Diving deep into the 'type' column, we assessed the popularity of images, videos, and sidecar posts. Findings: The visualization paints a clear picture - Image posts are the reigning champions, making up the bulk of the content. Videos, though fewer in number, offer a dynamic medium that shouldn't be overlooked. Sidecar posts, presenting a mix of images and videos, are rarer but present an opportunity for richer storytelling. For businesses, striking a balance between these content types can be the key to a holistic and engaging Instagram strategy. The Anatomy of Instagram Success: Hashtags, Engagement, and Video Dominance In the ever-evolving landscape of Instagram, understanding the subtle intricacies of hashtags, engagement metrics, and video content can be the difference between fleeting attention and sustained engagement. Let's dive deep into these critical aspects to unlock the secrets of Instagram success. The Power of Hashtags: Trending Topics and Brand Visibility The right hashtag can catapult a post into the trending spotlight. Through an exhaustive analysis of multiple hashtag columns, we've curated the top-performing hashtags that resonate with the audience. Findings: Dominating the hashtag charts are #windturbine, #renewableenergy, and #offgrid, perfectly aligning with the sustainable energy narrative. Leveraging these trending hashtags can exponentially amplify a post's reach, weaving it into the broader conversations on sustainability and green energy. Engagement Insights: The Symbiosis of Likes and Comments Engagement is the lifeblood of Instagram, and understanding its nuances is pivotal. To decode the dynamics between likes and comments, a visual exploration was undertaken. Findings: A pronounced trend emerged, revealing a symbiotic relationship between likes and comments. Posts with higher likes often garnered more comments, cementing their engagement prowess. Interestingly, a few posts, despite having fewer likes, sparked extensive conversations, hinting at their ability to resonate deeply with the audience. The Lure of Videos: Views, Play Counts, and Audience Retention In the age of dwindling attention spans, videos offer a dynamic medium to captivate audiences. Our analysis zoomed into the performance metrics of video posts to uncover patterns of viewer engagement. Findings: The scatter plot analysis reaffirmed the potency of videos. A clear positive correlation between views and play counts emerged, indicating that videos not only attract viewers but also retain their attention. This consistent engagement

underscores the importance of video content in maintaining audience interest, with certain videos proving to be irresistible enough for repeated views. Mastering Instagram: Strategic Recommendations and Content Blueprint for Enhanced Engagement Instagram, a visual powerhouse, is more than just a platform for sharing moments; it's a strategic tool for businesses to connect, engage, and grow. Based on deep analytical insights, here's a tailored roadmap to elevate your Instagram presence. Strategic Posting: Timing is Everything Engagement peaks during the mid-week, with Wednesdays and Thursdays emerging as prime days. Leverage this by scheduling impactful content and major announcements for these days. The potential for increased visibility and interaction is immense. Content Diversity: More than Just Images While static images form the backbone of most posts, there's an untapped potential in videos and sidecars (carousel posts). Diversifying content can keep the audience hooked, so consider amplifying videos or carousel posts for a richer user experience. Boosting Engagement: The Giveaway Magic Nothing spurs interaction quite like contests or giveaways. The surge in comments for such posts is testament to their effectiveness. Regularly hosting events of this nature can supercharge audience participation. Harnessing Hashtags: The SEO of Instagram Hashtags are the lifelines of discoverability on Instagram. Regular usage of trending tags like #windturbine, #renewableenergy, and #offgrid can amplify reach. Additionally, staying updated with renewable energy trends and incorporating relevant hashtags can further boost visibility. Community Building: Engage with Your Audience An active comment section breathes life into posts. Engaging with comments, especially on high-engagement posts, can foster community spirit and encourage further interaction. Video Metrics: Gauge, Analyze, and Adapt For video content, it's crucial to assess the ratio of play counts to views. Videos with high replay value indicate compelling content that resonates with viewers. Delve into the 'why' of these metrics and craft similar captivating content in the future. Content Collections: Crafting a Cohesive Narrative Educational Series: Dive into the science and technology of your products, the merits of renewable energy, and sustainability essentials. Behind-the-Scenes: Humanize your brand by showcasing the team, development phases, and candid office moments. Customer Chronicles: Feature testimonials, use-cases, or heartwarming stories from satisfied customers. Interactive Initiatives: Engage users with polls, quizzes, or Q&A sessions that demand active participation. Trending Narratives: Stay relevant by discussing current events, festive occasions, or hot topics in the renewable energy space. Spotlight Stories: Celebrate the people behind the brand, be it team members, collaborators, or even customers. Their stories can add depth to your brand narrative. By integrating these recommendations and content themes, brands can sculpt a robust Instagram strategy, ensuring sustained engagement and a deepened connection with their audience. The Instagram Odyssey: Beyond Pixels and Hashtags As our journey through the intricate tapestry of Instagram analytics comes to a close, it's evident that this platform is more than just a digital scrapbook. It's a pulsating ecosystem where content, timing, and engagement converge to create a symphony of interactions. But remember, while data provides the compass, it's the authentic stories, genuine interactions, and the passion behind each post that truly resonate. As the boundaries between digital and real blur, let's not just chase metrics but also craft memories, foster communities, and build legacies. In the grand theater of Instagram, every brand has a story to tell. What will yours be? Unlock Your Instagram Potential: Let's Craft Your Success Story

Impressed by the depth of insights Instagram analytics can offer? This is just the tip of the iceberg. Harness the full power of data-driven strategies and elevate your brand's digital presence. Join hands with ZOV Digital Marketing, the leading digital marketing agency that combines data science with creative brilliance. Dive deeper into audience insights, optimize content strategies, and turn followers into loyal brand advocates. Don't just be a part of the digital wave; lead it. ? Get Started with a Free Instagram Analytics Consultation Today!

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