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#thank you again anon! also ty for some of the trigger warnings I’m generally not too bothered with stuff like that but it’s good to know
opossumblossom · 3 years
Note
locked tomb anon again! the controversy around the author is about a fic that she wrote in the past, she adresses it in this interview here: http://threecrowsmagazine.com/tamsyn-muir-interview-there-is-a-lot-of-blood-on-my-dance-floor/
this way you can decide for yourself! if you do read the books i wish you a lot of fun, there aren't a lot of (if any!) books i enjoyed as much as these. just one final warning: there's like a lot of body stuff (bones, blood, intestines, anything really) being described constantly because of the magic system, so if you're sensitive to those things i'd proceed with caution :)
Ahh I see! Thank you for sending the interview, that definitely cleared a few things up! I have. Both Mixed and Very Strong feelings about her response tbh. I might to some more research into the author before I decide if I want to read it haha
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teddy06writes · 3 years
Text
The Phantom Of The Opera AU
requested by this anon: “Okay so I know you’re a musical kid so you have probably listened to/heard of Phantom of the Opera. Picture this: Dream as the Phamtom x Fem!reader as Christine x Sapnap as Raul”
Dream x Fem!reader and Sapnap x fem!reader (with dream as the phantom and sapnap as Raul)
trigger warnings: death, dream being a low key creeper, maybe some swears, my general lack of knowledge of this musical
premise: Phantom AU, not neccicarily the full story, its mainly what I’ve seen/read/listened to that I think is important, and like eight of the songs. Ummm, I feel like the summary above is enough for you to get the general idea.
(y/l/n)- your last name
“blep” regular talking
“Belp” singing
When things are in counterpoint, regular text will be (y/n), (text in parenthesis is sapnap), and {bracketed text is Dream}
if you, like me are unfamilliar with the story, this is the summary that arrived in my inbox last night (thank you so much to the person who sent that by the way, it really helped)  
“So basically phantom of the opera is a love triangle between 3 people, the Phantom (P) x Christine (C) x Raul (R). C and R were childhood friends until R had to move away. C grew up in the Opera house with her dad (deceased) as a music writer. C grows up getting “private” singing lessons from P ( he is literally talking to her through a vent ((Among Us omg)) or something idk). Fast forward into the future to present day. C is a ballerina at the opera and one day, the phantom makes the set malfunction so that the lead female opera singer (she’s a jerk. Forgot her name) can’t preform and C has to preform as the lead instead. Coincidentally, the night Christine sings as the lead is the day R comes to see her show and R is like “ooWooga she be fine now ig”. R and C catch up after the show and R goes away for a minute and then P is like “aight C imma kidnap you for a sec with no purpose whatsoever to the plot except for a cool song” and then C returns to her normal life ig. P them sends stuff to the people in charge of the Opera saying “ayo C be pretty fine, let her be the lead again” the people in charge of the opera were like “nah fam, let’s have the person who was supposed to be the lead be the lead”. Upset by this, during the show, P broke the chandelier and it fell into the audience. C is like “I love you uwu” R is like”let’s get engaged” C is like “let’s keep it a secret so the crazy P guy doesn’t find out” and little did they know during that conversation P was hiding and overheard everything and is now sad boi hours. A masquerade happens and P shows up like “ayo I heard you trynna steal my boo” and R is like “nah she my boo” and they duel or whatever. Idk how it transitions to this but the Opera runs another show and they make C the lead to not upset P. However, during a love song (Past the point of no return, it literally slaps), C realizes that the person singing isn’t the original actor, it is P! And then P straight up kidnaps C after the song, takes her to his lair and is like “boo you gotta marry me or I destroy the opera house with everyone inside it” C is like “fine ig” P takes off his mask and reveals he is hiding burn marks and he kisses C and C kisses back. P is like” my mom never even kissed me” and P let’s C go, telling her to go marry R... or you can just watch this video lmao https://youtu.be/4a5nahw3zi8″
On that note, here we go:
{that only goes for the final scene where its all three, it varies otherwise}
{Things I have learned while preparing this story, 1. the actual phantoms name is Erik, like what a nerd, 2. he’s also not actually a ghost??? He’s literally just some creeper who lives in an opera house screwing with people; also yes Eret is the strict lady who yells at everyone and talks to the phantom, deal with it}
{pls send me more musical au asks I really liked doing this, even if it took me a while}
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The ravenous applause of the audience seemed to echo in your ears, even after you had left the stage. 
You’re debut as the female lead in Hannibal had been a smashing success, and as the rest of the chorus girls backstage were saying, it was all thanks to the Phantom scaring Hannah off.  
Niki practically ran up to you from the rehearsal room, “(y/n) that was incredible!” 
You grinned, “Oh I feel like I’m floating Niki! Thank you for volunteering me for the role.” 
“Don’t thank me, Thank whoever's giving you those lessons,” She bumped her hip against yours, grinning cheekily, “And if what the girls are saying is true you’ll have to thank him for getting Hannah out of here.” 
You chuckled, but before you could say anything else Madame Eret was approaching, knocking the end of their cane of the ground, “Miss Nihachu, you are a dancer are you not?” 
Niki nodded. 
“Then get back to rehearsal,” he waited until Niki hurried off to turn to you, “He is most pleased with your performance, here.”
You took the note from him, reading over it quietly, “Red scarf..... the attic.... little lotte?” 
She simply shrugged, leaving you to turn and head up your dressing room. 
As you changed out of your costume from the show you couldn’t help but hum the song that had earned the most applause, “Think of me, think of me of me fondly, when we’ve said goodbye.” 
Reaching around you found your dressing gown, pulling it on and tying up the front, “Remember me, once and a while. Please, promise you’ll try...” 
Your words faded off as your sat down at your vanity, beginning to brush out your hair. 
“Where is your red scarf Miss (y/l/n)? I hope you haven’t lost it. Not after all the trouble I went through to retrieve it for you.” 
You turned to see a tall dark hair man standing in the doorway, a grin spreading across your face as he continued, “I was only 14 and soaked to the bone...” 
“Because you ran into the sea to fetch my red scarf!” You exclaimed, jumping up and flinging your arms around him excietedly, “Sapnap! How I’ve missed you!” 
He chuckled, pulling away, and offering you a single red rose, “(y/n)... Little Lotte let her mind wander...” 
“You remember that too?” You asked with a giggle. 
Sapnap smiled and kept singing, “Little Lotte thought: am I fonder of dolls,” 
“Or of goblins or shoes?” You joined in, “Or of riddles of frocks, or chocolates.” 
“Those picnics n the attic...” He reminisced. 
You closed your eyes, remembering those long ago days, “Father playing the violin.” 
“As we read each other those dark stories of the north.” 
“No what I like best, little Lotte said, is when I’m asleep in my bed,” You sang, “And the angel of music sings songs in my head!” 
“The angel of music sings songs in my head.” He repeated softly. 
You smiled at him, an excited fond feeling forming in your stomach as you sank back into your chair,  “Father said, when I am in heaven child I will send the angel of music to you. Well now father is dead, Sapnap. And I have been visited by the angel of music.” 
“Well that is very evident,” He chuckled, taking your hands, “Your performance was wonderful. And now, we shall go to supper.” 
“Oh- sapnap I can’t, the angle of music is very strict.” 
He didn’t seem to understand the urgency in your voice as he laughed again, “Well I shant keep you up late.”
“No- Sapnap, things have changed-”
“You have to change,” He interrupted, “And I have to grab my hat. Two minutes little lotte.” 
As he went out the door you cried after him, “Sapnap! Thing have changed Sapnap!”
But he was out of earshot, and the voice that had become so familiar to you was booming, “Insolate boy! This Slave of fashion basking in your glory! Ignorant fool! This brave young suitor, sharing my triumph!”
“Angel I hear you! Speak, I listen! Stay by my side and gude me!” You begged up to the ceiling, “Angel my soul was weak! Forgive me! Enter at last master!”
“Flattering child, you shall know me, see why in the shadow I hide, look at your face in the mirror, I am their inside!” 
The voice sounded closer now, and you couldn’t help but look around, “Angel of music! Hide no longer!” 
You turned again, finding yourself face to face with what seemed like a mask, floating in your mirror, “Come to me, strange angel!”
“I am your angel! Come to me angel of music!” 
A shadowy figure seemed to appear behind the smiling mask, a hand outstretched to you. In a daze you stood, grabbing his hand and allowing him to lead you away down a dark pathway.
“Who’s voice is that?” Sapnap asked, knocking on the now closed door, “(y/n) who’s in there?” 
“Come with me angel of music!” Dream, the Phantoms voice echoed again. 
“(y/n)!” 
~~
“In sleep he came to me, the voice which calls to me and speaks my name!” You moved quietly through the passages, following Dream, “And Do I dream again? for now I find, the phantom of the opera is there, inside my mind!” 
“Sing once again with me our strange duet! My power over you grows stronger yet! And though you turn from me to look behind, the phantom of the opera is there! Inside your mind!” He sang, turning back to make sure you were following once more.
The walls of the tunnel seemed to widen, and you could almost make out an empty candle lit space. 
You reached out, fingers almost brushing the edge of his cloak, “Those who have seen your face draw back in fear! I am the mask you wear..”
“It’s me they hear...” 
As you emerged into a cross roads of the tunnels, you sang in tandem, “Your (my) spirit and your (my) voice in one combined, the phantom of the opera is there, inside your (my) mind!” 
He helped you into the boat that waited in one tunnel, before casting off, propelling the boat down the slow moving current, “In all your fantasies, you always knew the man and mystery...” 
“Were both in you....” You sang softly as the boat came to dock in a wide chamber.
Slowly you climbed out of the boat after him, looking around the dank space, and at the organ in the corner. 
Dream pulled off his cloak, “And in this labyrinth where the night is blind..”
“The Phantom of the opera is there! Inside my mind......” 
~~
As the people downstairs argued, you tried to think over what had happened. Was it a dream? It didn’t seem like it, but still, a man appearing in her looking glass? Taking her away and singing words of praise, words of love, words that made nearly no sense now that it was day, and a haze covered your memory. 
The one thing that remained clear was the monster she had found beyond the mask.
All too soon it seemed you were being rushed into rehearsals, being told you no longer had a speaking role, as Hannah had returned, and was back to her diva ways. 
Rehearsals that would normally drag on seemed to go quicker now, and soon you and the rest of the girls were getting ready for the performance. 
“This is ridiculous,” Niki muttered as she adjusted her costume, “You should be playing the duchess, not Hannab.” 
“Hannah is the featured soprano. She’s always the lead.” You retorted. 
“But how will Sapnap know to look for you in the chorus?” Niki teased.
You elbowed her, laughing lightly, “Shut up. Besides I doubt the phantom would let him see me again.”
The show had gone well, at least until the fifth scene. 
All the music stopped abruptly as a voice boomed, “Did I not instruct that box five was to be left empty?”
“He’s here: The Phantom Of The Opera!” Niki cried from offstage. 
Your head jerked up to turn and look at the audience, “It’s Dream!” 
“Your part is silent, you toad!” Hannah snapped. 
From somewhere up in the audience Dream frowned, “A toad Madame? Perhaps it is you who is the toad...” 
Hanna opened her mouth to continue on her script, but no sound seemed to come out, save for what was close the a croak. 
The men who had bought the opera house, Wilbur and Tommy were coming rushing down from their box, “Ladies and gentlemen we apologize! The performance will continue in ten minutes time, with Miss (y/l/n) as the duchess!”
Tommy nodded as Wilbur finished, “And for now, we will give you the ballet, from act three of tonight's show!” 
The ballet didn’t last long, as when you returned to the wings dressed for the new role you had been given, someone let out a horrified scream.
“What the-” 
You were cut off as you looked up to see Shlatt, the stagehand in charged of the curtains, hanging from the rigging, a noose fully tightened around his neck. 
“Ladies and gentlemen remain calm! It was just an accident- remain calm!” Someone shouted. 
Through the darkness you could make out Dream’s menacing figure, the smiling mask watching you threateningly as you clamped your hand over your mouth to stop the scream that had ripped at your throat. 
“(y/n)? (y/n) are you alright?” Sapnap had run down onto the stage in all the chaos. 
“We- we have to get out of here,” You choked, grabbing his hand, “We aren’t safe here.” 
He didn’t seem to understand the reason behind your panic, but even so he offer you his arm, “Lets leave then.” 
~~
Twenty minutes later you ended up in an empty park, the panic that filled your chest not yet fading as Sapnap asked, “Why have you brought me here?”
“We can’t go back there!” You exclaimed. 
“But we must return.” He gripped your hands, “Darling their bound to be missing you.” 
You shook your head, “Sapnap- He’ll kill you! His eyes will find us there!” 
“(y/n), don’t say that! It’s okay (y/n), it’s okay!” 
You looked up into the darkened sky, “No it’s not- no it’s not- Those eyes that burn!” 
“Don’t even think it!” He cried desperately. 
You couldn’t tell whether you were trembling from fear, or from the cold, as you sang, “And if he has to kill a thousand men....” 
“Forget this waking nightmare!” Sapnap insisted. 
“....The phantom of the opera will kill.” You sang distractedly. 
He gripped your shoulders, “This phantom is a fable, (y/n), believe me!” 
“And kill again....” You shuddered at the idea of Dream doing anything to Sapnap. 
Both of you sang, “God who is this man, who hunts to kill? (this mask of death?)
“I can’t escape him!” You cried. 
He shook his head, “Whose voice is it you hear...”
“...I never will!” 
“With every breath?” 
His grip on your shoulders tightened, pulling you closer to him as you both sang, “And in this labyrinth where light is blind, the phantom of the opera is there, inside my (your) mind!”
“There is no Phantom of the Opera!” 
“Sapnap- I’ve been there, inside his world of never ending light! To a world where daylight dissolves into darkness, darkness! Sapnap I’ve seen him!” You cried. “Can I ever forget that sight? Can I ever escape that face? So distorted, disformed it was hardly a face!  in the darkness, darkness. But his voice filled my spirit with a strange, sweet sound in that night there was music in my mind And through music my soul began to soar! And I heard as I'd never heard before!” 
“What you had was a dream and nothing more!” 
You could hardly look up at him, “yet in his eyes was all the sadness in the world! Those pleading eyes that both threaten and adore!” 
“(y/n), (y/n)!”  Sapnap exclaimed. 
“.....(y/n)......” A different voice seemed to cry into the night. 
You gasped, pressing yourself against Sapnap, “What was that?” 
He hugged you tightly, before pulling back and singing gently, “No more talk of darkness, forget these wide eyed fears. I’m here, and nothing can harm you, my words will warm and calm you.” 
You relaxed into his grip, listening to his quiet voice, “Let me be your freedom, let daylight dry your tears, I’m here, with you, beside you, to guard you and to guide you.” 
“Say you love me, every waking moment. Turn my head and talk of summer time,” You looked up at him, biting your lip, “Say you need me now and always, promise me that all you say is true, that's all I ask of you.” 
“Let me be your shelter, let me be your light, you are safe, no one will find you. Your fears are far behind you.” He assured you, smiling softly. 
 “All I want is freedom, a world with no more night. And you to always be beside me, to hold me and to hide me.” You admitted. 
Sapnap’s smile grew wider, “Then say you’ll share with me, one love, one life time. Let me lead you from your solitude. Say you need me here, beside you. Anywhere you go let me go too, (y/n), that's all I ask of you.” 
“Say you’ll share with me, one love, one life time,” You repeated, “Say the word, and I’ll follow you.” 
“Share each day with me, each night, each morning.” You sang together as he leaned down to rest his forehead on yours.
“Say you love me?” 
He smiled, whispering, “You know I do.” 
“Love me- that's all I ask of you.” You both sang, before he leaned in to gently press a kiss to your lips, “Any where you go, let me go too. Love me- thats all I ask of you.” 
Sapnap kissed you again, before pulling away, “We could go anywhere- we could be married! You would marry me, yes?” 
“Oh, yes, Sapnap, yes I would. If you’d have me.” You nodded, eagerly. 
He grinned, pressing a kiss to your forehead.
You couldn’t help but giggle, before turning back toward the direction of the opera house, “I must go back, they’ll wonder where I am. Wait for me Sapnap!” 
“(y/n), I love you!” He exclaimed. 
“Wait for me, Sapnap. Order your finest horses and being waiting by the door.” You could go back, and continue working at the opera house, there was nothing left for you to fear while Sapnap was there.
“And soon you’ll be beside me!” He chuckled.
You grinned, “To guard me and too guide me!” 
Sapnap offered you his arm again, and you headed off out of the park, toward the opera house. 
Slowly, Dream slinked from the shadows where he had watched the proposal, “I gave you my music, made your song take wing. And now your repaid me, denied and betrayed me.” 
He groaned running a hand through his hair, “He was bound to love you, when he heard you sing. (y/n)- oh (y/n)-”
He was cut off by the sounds of your voices drifting down the street, Say you’ll share with me, one love, one life time, Say the word, and I’ll follow you. Share each day with me, each night, each morning.”
Dream’s hands flew to his ears, desperate to block out the sounds- he had been so sure that you could’ve loved him, but now Sapnap was stealing you away. 
“You will curse the day you did not do, all that the phantom asked of you!” He bellowed. 
~~
The following weeks at the opera house were a blur of panic masked by busyness, Wilbur and Tommy refusing to let the disaster of the chandelier falling from keeping the company from working on their next performance. 
You kept on working, the ring on the chain Sapnap had given you around your neck helping you to feel safe, even as the chorus girls cited the Phantom for the cause of all the distress. 
Now you were back in your dressing room, getting ready for dinner with Sapnap.
“Wander child, so lost, so helpless,” A soft voice seemed to drift down from no where, “Yearning for my guidance.” 
You looked up at the ceiling, “angel or father? Friend or phantom? Who is it their staring?” 
“Have you forgotten your angel?” The voice murmured, Dream appearing once again in your mirror. 
You turned to him, almost in a trance, “angel, oh, speak, what endless longings, echo in this whisper.” 
Sapnap, having arrived to the opera house appeared in the door, watched as you moved toward the phantom. 
“Too long you’ve wandered the winter...” Dream continued to sing, hand outstretched to you. 
“Once again she is his.” Sapnap sang, as you started to cross the room toward the mirror where the phantom stood. 
“...far from my far reaching eyes.” 
“Wildly my mind beats against you....” You sang, transfixed. 
Behind the mask Dream grinned, “You resist. Yet your soul obeys.” 
“Once again she returns, to the arms of her angel. Angel or demon? Still he calls her, luring her back from the grave. Angel or dark seducer? Who are you strange angel?” Sapnap sang, again, more to himself than you or Dream. 
Dream beckoned you forward again,  “I am your angel of music, come to me angel of music!”
“Angel of darkness, cease this torment!” Sapnap exclaimed, moving into the room properly and drawing attention to himself. 
Dream unbothered, continued to sing, “I am your angle of music! Come to me angel of music!” 
“(y/n), (y/n) listen to me! Whatever you may believe- this thing, this man is not your father!”  Sapnap yelled, “(y/n)! Let her go! For gods sake let her go!” 
Jarred by his sudden yell, you turned, the trance broken, “Sapnap...” 
Dream, unimpressed, began to clap, deadpanning, “Bravo monsieur. Such spirited words.” 
“No more tricks monsieur!” Sapnap yelled, stepping forward to put himself between you and Dream. 
“Oh, but that's not any fun. Why don’t you come closer, sir? Keep coming this way.” 
Sapnap, not liking to be challenged, stepped forward, “You cannot win her love by holding her prisoner!” 
“No- Sapnap don’t!” You grabbed his hand, pulling him back. 
He nodded resolutely, gripping your hand as you both moved toward the door, “Lets go then, no more time will be spent with this monster.” 
“Don’t go!” Dream wailed as you hurried away down the hall, “Now let it be war upon you both!” 
~~
Something was going wrong, of course it was, because when was it not?
Your entrance in Don Juan Triumphant had gone according to plan, but the man who had stepped out as Don Juan was not George, as it should have been.
You steeled yourself, trying to come up with a logical reason.
George must have gotten sick, and a stand in had taken his place, yes that must be it.
“Past the point of no return, no backward glances, the games we played till now, are at an end.” The man sang, “Past all thought of ‘if’ or ‘when’, no use resisting, abandon that thought and let the dream descend.”
Your panic seemed to rise, the double meaning in his words filling you with dread.
“What raging fire shall flood the soul? What rich desire locks the door? What sweet seduction lies before is? Past the point of no return, the final thread hold. What unspoken secrets will we learn? Beyond the point of no return.”
You moved carefully to your next mark, trying to work out who it was in George’s place, “You have brought me, to the moment when words run dry, to the moment when speech disappears into silence, silence.
I have come here, hardly knowing the reason why, in my mind I already imagined, our bodies entwined. Defenseless and silent, now I am here with you, no second thoughts, I’ve decided, decided.”
You just barley stopped from trembling as you realized, it was Dream, “Past the point of no return, no going back now. Our passion play has now, at last, begun. Past all thought of right and wrong. One final question: how long should we two wait, before we’re one?”
“When will the blood being to race? When will the sleeping bud burst into bloom? When will the flames at last consume us?” You finished, taking an only slightly shaky breath.
The phantom grabbed your hand as you both sang, “Past the point of no return, the final threshold. The bridge is crossed so stand and watch it burn, we’ve past the point of no return!”
Everyone in the audience seemed to hold their breath, they too knew that this was not George. The cloak that had hidden Dreams mask fell, and they gasped upon seeing the plaster smiling face.
He grinned behind the mask, and punctuated, “Say you’ll share with me, one love, one lifetimes lead me, save me from my solitude.”
The words stung even before he pulled out a ring, holding it out to you, “come with me, or this whole place will come down upon us.”
Slowly you looked to the audience, Sapnap was standing in the isle, looking worried.
You couldn’t let him get hurt.
You nodded reluctantly, as he continued, “say you want me by your side anywhere you go let me go too, (y/n) that’s all I ask of-“
Slowly, you reached up, pulling the mask off his face, revealing the terribly scared face to the world.
The gasps turned into horrible screams as a curtain was raised, and Georges body tumbled onto the stage.
Almost immediately Dream flung his cloak around you, disappearing.
Sapnap ran up onto the stage, along with the crew, police officers and other patrons.
“Sapnap! Sapnap you’ve got to come with me!” Eret cried, rushing out onto the stage.
“What the hell is going on?”
“Sapnap!” They yelled again, “I know where they are!”
“But can I trust you?” He demanded.
She nodded, “yes, and remember, keep your hand up at eye level.”
“Why?”
“Punjab lasso.” Was all he offered in explication as he led Sapnap away.
~~
Soon enough Sapnap was creeping through the shadows of the phantoms layer, watching as he tried to place a wedding veil on your head, “Too bad pity comes to late, turn around and face your fate, an entirety of this before your eyes!”
You turn to face him, looking up at the mess of scares that cover his face, “this haunted face holds no horror for me now, it is in your soul that the true distortion lies.”
The phantom turned suddenly, to Sapnaps hiding place, “Wait! I think, my dear, we have a guest! Sir, this is indeed an unparalleled delight! I had rather hoped that you would come And now my wish comes true— you have truly made my night!”
“Free her!” Sapnap yelled, stepping into the light, “do what you want to me but let her go!”
“Your lover makes a passionate plea.” Dream laughed at you.
“Sapnap it’s useless!” You cried.
Sapnap shook his head, “I love her! Does that mean anything To you? I love her! Show some compassion!”
“The world showed no compassion to me!” Dream retorted.
He reached out toward you, “(y/n), (y/n), please let me see her!”
Dream grinned maliciously, “be my guest.”
Sapnap rushed forwards, as Dream contiued to taunt, “Monsuier, i bid you welcome, did you think that I would hurt her? Why should I make her pay, for the sins which are yours?” 
As he finished the last words the Punjab lasso came sailing out, and Sapnap barley had time to fling his arm back up as he was dragged back, the only thing keeping him from hanging being the fingers he’d wrangled between the rope and his neck. 
“No!” You cried, struggling to your feet. 
“Order your fine horses now!” Dream yelled, “Nothing now can save you, except maybe... (y/n).” 
You stood, shaking as he turned to you, “Start a new life with me- buy his freedom with your love! Refuse me now and send your lover to his death! This is the choice, this is the point of no return!” 
“(y/n), forgive me, please forgive me, I did it all for you, and all for nothing.” Sapnap sang, looking at you desperately.  
At the same time you turned toward Dream, “Farewell my fallen idol, and my false friend, one by one my delusions shattered.” 
“Too late for turning back, too late for prayers and useless pity!” Dream sang.
“{all hope of cries for help, no point in fighting!} (say you love and my life is over, either way you choose, he has to win!) {for ether way you choose, you cannot win! So do you end your days with me or do you send him to his grave?}”
“Why make her lie to you, to save me?” Sapnap yelled. 
You looked between them desperately, “Angel of music..... {past the point of no return!} (For pity’s sake (y/n) say no! Don’t throw your life away for my sake!) Who deserves this? When will you see reason? {The Final threshold! His life is now the prize you must earn! You’ve passed the point of no return....}”
You looked at Dream, no longer trying to hide the fear that coursed through your veins, “Angel of music, you have deceived me, I gave myself blindly to you.” 
“You try my patience! Make your choice!” Dream yelled. 
Looking back at sapnap for a moment you stepped forward, whatever it would take, you would keep him safe, “Pitiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known? God give me courage to show you, you are not alone.” 
Reaching out, you took the mask from his hand, tossing it to the side as he moved closer to you as well. 
Before you could hardly blink he was kissing you, and with little more than a second thought you kissed back. 
Sapnap watched, in partials horror, until the phantom drew back, shaking as he whispered, “No one has ever kissed me- not even my own mother.” 
You nodded, and then suddenly Dream began to move across the room, grabbing a knife from somewhere as he stalked up to Sapnap.
He paused for a beat, and you could feel the terror in the room- until he slashed at the rope, and Sapnap fell the ground. 
You rushed over to him, kneeling beside him, “Sapnap! oh Sapnap!” 
“Take her,” dream wailed, “Take her and forget me, forget all of this! Leave me alone- forget all you’ve seen....”
Sapnap struggled to his feet, holding you close to him as he backed towards the channel. 
“Take the boat, leave me here, go now, please!” 
The sounds of the mob looking for Georges murderer seemed to grow louder as they grew closer.
“Hurry! Now before its too late!” Dream yelled. 
Sapnap hurriedly started to help you into the boat, but you pulled away, moving back to the Phantom, long enough to hand him the ring. 
Then you were off, turning to Sapnap as the current carried the boat away, “I’m sorry Sapnap- I couldn’t let him hurt you- I couldn’t!” 
“Shhh. It’s alright (y/n), it’s alright. He can’t hurt you anymore.” He murmured, pulling you into his arms.
“Say you’ll share with me, one love one lifetime.” You sang shakily.
Sapnap nodded, “Say the word and I’ll follow you.”
“Share each day with me, each night, each morning...” The sounds of your voices traveled back up the tunnel for Dream to hear. 
He sighed, looking resolutly into the distance, “You alone can make my song take flight- It’s over now, the music of the night!”
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fallenhero-rebirth · 5 years
Text
Important
Okay, let's have a talk about words and their effect on people.
This is mostly tying in to the discord, but since it also has to do with design decisions in general, I am putting it on here.
First of all: I'm old. Well, not really, but compared to most of you. I'm 47, been queer since the eighties, and I've seen some shit. Done some shit too, if I'm being perfectly honest. I'm not perfect. I wouldn't even be bringing this up if it hadn't been brought to my attention from other parties as well (thank you anon from yesterday) and so I thought we might have a talk.
A talk about Chen.
Now, originally, Steel was not intended to be a RO. There was only Ortega and Mortum, but then this fanbase happened, and I started seeing Herald with new eyes, and Argent as well, so I added them. No issues there, the game got longer, but also better for it. People who've been around a while might remember that I was quite hesitant to add Chen, and warned that his romance might be a lot more slow-firing than the others. But, as time passed, and I got around to writing him more, I made the decision to revamp some things, and everything started to slot in place.
Except there was still one big problem.
You see, in my design document I had decided that every RO should be available for romance. This is very close to my heart, I don't want to lock people away from content just because they want to play a particular gender. Hell, this game is all about identity.
But, Chen was also gay.
Now, two things. Yes, this is a fictional character. He is nothing but what I am writing him as. At the time nobody had any idea, I think I had mentioned it in an author AMA, and as everyone knows, everything not in the published game is non-canon. And two, people's sexuality is subject to change. I should know. I've yeeted  myself through most parts of the rainbow spectrum by now it feels like (which is why I use the term Queer for myself). In fact, the way things like that change is very interesting for me, and I've very much liked exploring the various ways Ortega and Herald deals with same sex attraction in what still is a mostly straight world.
So there shouldn't be any issues, should there? I would have no problems writing  Chen discovering his bisexuality, in fact it could be a good way of talking about some things very close to my heart like what happens when your identity changes (went through a similar thing from the other angle, which is why I am no longer a lesbian).
Yeah. No issues. If this was a level playing field and a fair world, which it is not.
Even if I disregard the whole M&M problem with gay representation (if you have a bowl filled with candy and removes one, nobody will notice. If there's only five in the bowl, everyone will) there is still another thing, a bigger thing and this is where words come in.
I was gay online in the late nineties. Anime. Hentai. Yaoi. Fujoshis. I am not going into details here, but there is a VERY real problem with fetishization . I hope everyone is aware of the whole "fucked straight" trope. I am most familiar with it from straight men fetishizing lesbians, the classic "she just need some dick" and way, way worse. This is something I hope everyone agrees on is terrible. But... it's not only men that's guilty of that.
Gay men gets fetishized a lot, and yes, women are guilty of that. Everything from the ' infantilizing uwu cute gays' to the 'men get pegged' to... yeah, the thing we're getting into now.
He just hasn't found the right woman. This is big in real life, and that's a BIG thing in Chen's background. There is a possibility that a F!Sidestep romance route could be read as that, and I am not really okay with it. There is a real and marked difference between two old frenemies realizing they might have feelings for each other and that.
It's like the people modding Dorian's romance route straight in DAI. It's not just about changing a romance trigger to level the playing field (like with Cassandra, or Alistair), it's invalidating his whole background and what his father put him through (trying to use blood magic to make him straight). I am not really comfortable with being seen as catering to those people.
And then there is the last thing. The, for me, even bigger thing.
THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU FUCKING WRITE ONLINE.
Yes, I have written a game that is pretty much angst fodder. You are going to get to kill a lot of people in book three, this is all about bad, dark fantasies but some of them should stay inside your head.
I would very much prefer it if you STOPPED joking about Chen not knowing how to perform oral on women, or just in general treating it as angst fodder. Like oh no, straight panic. Look, I will say it again. It is NOT a level playing field, gay panic Ricardo is not not the same as straight panic Chen. It's just not. All you are doing is making yourself sound like the kind of person I am quite sure you're not.
I don't think this fandom is filled with fujoshi's who gets off at fantasizing about  gay men learning that pussy is not that bad. I really don't. But honestly? Sometimes some of you sound like that. I know you're young. I know you learned most of your language around these things online, but the problem is that sometimes the origin of that language is bad, and the people who have seen that origin cringe every time you use it. I know that the top/bottom thing is used very differently now, but I still have to bite my lip not to rant every single time. I know that 'men gets pegged' is a meme.
I'm old. I've got thick skin by now. Not everyone does.
Just think about what you are saying, and how it might be taken. That's all I ask.  And we’ll see what happens with the Chen romance when I write it.
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