Latest Posts by dipstickflopdoodle - Page 4
Agneta and the Sea King from the Scandinavian folktale
𝑺𝑪𝑬𝑵𝑨𝑹𝑰𝑶 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑴𝑷𝑻𝑺.
↬ OF FAIRYTALES, FOLKLORE AND FAEKIND.
scenarios inspired by various settings, encounters & magic tucked between pages, fashioned by the author.
+ feel free to change pronouns / roles !
FAIRYTALES.
‘ let me guess, you thought a true love’s kiss would help you. ’
‘ you will always follow the trail in the wood, and it will guide you on the same path, to the same cottage, the same witch. it will always be your undoing. ’
‘ i have never seen a more tragic creature. how might i help you ? ’
‘ you must take this knife and plunge it into his / her / their heart. ’
‘ forget yourself. that is how you break your curse. ’
‘ remove this thorn from my hand, and you will be rewarded. ’
‘ i’m tired of being a prince. i think i would actually enjoy being a frog. ’
‘ tell me of the beast, and i will hunt it for you. ’
‘ mice are never just mice, and pumpkins are rarely just pumpkins. ’
‘ i don’t think breaking a spell should be this simple. ’
‘ i never thought i’d return here, to the site where it all began. ’
‘ are you an orphan ? it’s just that they’re always finding themselves in magical predicaments. ’
‘ the mirror speaks falsely in your ear. it is your true curse. ’
‘ my heart feels uneasy, although i am free. is it supposed to ? ’
‘ i’m sorry, it’s just that i thought this is the part of the quest where the animals ought to start talking to me. ’
‘ of course i plan on going to the ball. why wouldn’t i ? ’
‘ jealousy has made more witches out of women than adam’s rib. ’
‘ where has choosing goodheartedness and having golden hair ever gotten you ? ’
‘ are you a helpful wizard, or the kind that sits in a tower reading moldy books ? ’
‘ i’m dreadfully bored. who knew waiting for a prince was so strenuous ? ’
‘ we all have towers we must leave, and magic that will try to thwart us. ’
‘ i’m afraid for the clock to strike. the hour will ring in the place of my heartbeat when we must be parted. ’
‘ i had no idea carpets could fly. or pigs for that matter. ’
‘ what would happen if the knight did not arrive to the castle, and the dragon made a den of it and a hoard of its people and prize of its princess ? ’
‘ i sometimes think i was switched out at birth, like a lizard in a bird’s nest. i belong somewhere else. ’
‘ in another kingdom exists a throne and a crown that is mine by right. ’
‘ if i did not wake up one day, i would still be waiting on a spinning wheel, dutifully bored. ’
‘ something in me knows you are here for my heart. ’
FOLKLORE.
‘ in all the myths i’ve heard, it’s never been worthwhile to approach strange sights. it’s best to turn around and pretend you never saw them. ’
‘ nothing is folklore until it exists longer than consciousness remembers, and lives in spite of it. ’
‘ i’ve heard your name before, in songs and lengthy ballads. ’
‘ whatever has led you here to me, there is destiny in its making. ’
‘ the beast returns every century or so, and tries to devour us. it will come again before long. ’
‘ a pretty face is not nothing. it earns you a hearth and a kind hand, after all. ’
‘ their lips are red as blood, and their teeth carve ruin into throats. ’
‘ aren’t dragons supposed to breathe fire and make a fuss about having their treasure found ? ’
‘ someday you will become a pilgrim, a saint, or a favored story, while i will be a voice on the wind. ’
‘ the stories say brides don’t live to the light before demons devour them. why should i become one ? ’
‘ there was another girl like you once, in a small town like this one. i can’t remember if she became the monster or died trying to escape it. ’
‘ remember to festoon the hearth with garlic, or rosemary, or one of those mundane herbs that keep evil out. ’
‘ that sounds like nothing but a tall tale, but i’m certain smaller minds would eat it up. ’
‘ to cross this bridge, you’ll have to pay a heavy toll. ’
‘ don’t stray too far from the path set before you, or something interesting might happen. ’
‘ i’ve passed that yard of crops a million times, but the crow never moved from its post until this morning. ’
‘ it is as though ancient fears are still in us like scars or stitches. ’
‘ graveyards aren’t where you find ghosts. look for them in places that feel like memories you shouldn’t have. ’
‘ stories reap princes from peasants as if their skins were crops in the ground. ’
‘ what form does your fear take ? surely not that of a bear or a lion. such things are too assuring. ’
‘ i found myself where everything was too familiar to be real. ’
‘ in safe beds on cold dark nights, we learn to face the monsters in our own minds. ’
FAEKIND.
‘ you’re not to partake in a fairy feast. don’t you know it’s the food that will devour you ? ’
‘ i’m sorry you did not read the eyes of the trees before finding yourself here. ’
‘ i wish to go back. i want to forget everything. ’
‘ you think that believing in us is enough to protect you ? that it will kill us if you forget, and we prey upon your unknowing ? ’
‘ step around the ring three times, like a backwards clock. that’s how you get to fairyland. ’
‘ i’ve never heard such sweet music before. ’
‘ where the trees begin to twist and groan in their roots, remember you must not make a right turn. ’
‘ i didn’t feel like i’d stepped into another world, but like it stepped into me. i knew i was there and forgot i’d left anything behind. ’
‘ how amusing. a human ! ’
‘ would you be my bride if i were to take you into the ground ? ’
‘ i know of tunnels you might take, the burrows of trolls and rabbits. ’
‘ don’t take anything from this realm, none of it is worth the price of keeping. ’
‘ there are courts by many titles in the lands beyond the veil, all of them other. ’
‘ names are not like currency here; they are more precious than diamonds and legacies. ’
‘ did you think all of us looked like goblins ? ’
‘ getting here is easy, but getting home is quite the trick. ’
‘ i shall give you a riddle, and it will puzzle you until you know the answer but forget your own soul. ’
‘ a bloodline is nothing when you’ve outlived civilizations. ’
‘ refusing my hospitality is like human sin, and it will bring worse upon you. ’
‘ everything here is and isn’t, and things are and aren’t. ’
‘ on lonely nights i stare into the trees, and a strange face leers back. ’
‘ the thrones here are made of bones and blood, and built upon decay. ’
‘ a third time is not a charm, but a bargain. it says that you want something enough to wager your sense. ’
‘ it is dangerous to think that magical beings do not have human intensities. ’
Writing Romance: Courting
Prior to the 20th century, most couples engaged in courting politics to find their partners, and there were a lot of rules about how to properly court your intended partner. So I figured I’d put out a guide to proper romancing etiquette for those setting their stories in more antiquated settings. But a lot of these courtship practices don’t work as well for same-sex relationships. So, I’ll go through some of the rules for courtship that apply to any story that wants to use courting romances, then I’ll explore ways this could work for a queer couple.
Gender Dynamics in Queer Courtships
Gender is a HUGE aspect of courtship, as the expectations of men and women were starkly different. This leaves queer couples with two choices: either conform to the gender roles, or make the roles more generalized that both parties are expected to uphold. Whichever route you take, be consistent. Not just with queer couples but heterosexual ones as well. If a lesbian barmaid can chase skirts, why can’t a heterosexual seamstress chase chaps?
If you choose to lean into gender roles and active vs passive roles in courtship, I believe it is best to leave it that the one of higher social status takes on the role of the female, as it would be uncouth for a Duke to be chasing lowly Viscounts. Those looking for a higher status husband should be the one working to win the Duke’s affections. While one could argue that the one of higher status should be the active pursuer, the thought of a queen chasing skirts simply fails to capture the regal dignity of the position when we think on it. It seems more in line with the properness and decorum of the era to have the elite have the suitors come to them.
Even if you do away with the gender roles in favor of gender equality in relationships, social status and rank would still be enough to impact the active vs passive roles. A prince looking for a spouse will always be more passive, while his knights, dukes, and counts vie for his affections. Meanwhile, a lowly Baron will almost always be in pursuit of a match. This follows the Order of Precedence, a real life rule of etiquette that states that those of lower status are the ones introduced to someone of higher status. So before a Baron can speak freely with a Prince, someone must introduce the Baron to the Prince and never the other way around. If the Baron is being introduced to a group, they will be introduced in ascending order of rank. The Baron will first be introduced to the Count, then the Duke, and then the Prince. This is why in many court scenes, someone will introduce a character to the king before they speak to one another.
But what if they’re of equal status? What happens when a prince is seeking another prince to be his husband? While they have equal titles, a prince of a tiny, less powerful kingdom is more likely be the pursuer to the prince of a bigger, wealthier kingdom. It’s also unlikely for a prince who is 1st in line to inherit his throne would marry a prince who is also the heir apparent to his own kingdom, unless they were looking to combine their countries into a new alliance. Otherwise, a first born prince is more likely to be chased by a second born prince who won’t inherit his kingdom. Likewise, in a relationship between two Dukes, the one who is higher in the line of succession to the crown would be the one to be pursued by the one lower down the line of succession. TL;DR: Whoever has the bigger house is the one getting pursued by suitors. However, do keep in mind that admittance to the royal palace is strictly by invitation only, so that does make things tricky. But visiting royalty often do have an open invitation to the royal palace. So while a Duke courting a prince would need an invitation to call on the prince for his hand in marriage, the Prince of Belgium would likely be just down the hall from the Prince of France’s quarters, giving him much easier access to court the Prince du Sang of France.
Presenting at Court
When a young gentleman or lady had come of courting and marrying age, their parents would petition to have them present at court, though people could also be recommended by other nobility. This was an effective way for some to social climb, being recommended by someone of much higher status and impeccable reputation can skyrocket their child into an advantageous position. These events would be held at the palace multiple times per year, and were invite only. The Lord Chamberlain was in charge of going over the guest list with the utmost scrutiny, and nobody would be permitted who did not have a pristine and stainless record.
Men of good social standing would present at court at formal events called Levées. They would present before the King or Prince. In the event that there were two queens or otherwise no living males of the royal family, they might present before the highest ranking male in the line of succession, or otherwise just present before the Queen. In the Victorian Era, men wore buckled shoes and swords to both a Levée and a Presentation. They had to wear either court dress or a uniform. So, if he was a soldier, he might present at court wearing his finest military dress uniform.
Presenting at court for girls were much less imaginative, only being called a Presentation. They were expected to drag long trains behind them, to bow and address the queen flawlessly, and then leave the room without fumbling over her dress or shoes. Like with the Levées for the gentlemen, these events would be held multiple times per year, and multiple girls would present on the same day, meaning that all of the girls would be compared. The better she performs, the more desirable she will be. Some men might be charmed by a little clumsiness, but it was generally seen as extremely important for a girl to make a great first impression on the court as a lady of courting and marrying age. This is also why the presentation itself is rather short. There’s a lot of girls to get through, and the queen’s a busy lady.
Someone who was already of marrying age but marries into higher status would be expected to present at court after the wedding. As a king and queen had the power to bestow titles on people at their leisure, it was not impossible for an older married woman to be made a high enough status to make her formal debut at court, and older women had different expectations when making their debut, such as styling themselves differently, and wearing different colors. Thus if, for example, a lowly washer woman saved a nobleman’s son from drowning, she might be rewarded by being recommended for a title like Lady or Baroness and being allowed to present at court. Regardless of age, the presentation mostly serves as an introduction of a new face at court to the rest of high society.
The Rules for Men
Men were encouraged not to flirt with everyone they found attractive, as being too friendly might earn them a reputation that hurts their social image. Guidelines to courtship from the Victorian Era makes it clear to young men that not every girl will be interested in his pursuit of her, and that he should take a lack of positive response to any advances as his cue to move on, lest he embarrass himself or his family.
Never allow a woman to be uncertain of your feelings and intentions. Women were permitted some leeway with acting coy, but for a man to toy with a woman’s affections was seen as improper. Once a man is aware a woman mistakes his attention for affection, he is to quickly, yet politely, lay bare his true feelings. In a similar vein, a man should never make any declaration in jest, whether expressing love or proposing marriage, any attempt to make such grand declarations as a jest does grave disservice to the woman, and will earn him great dissent and contempt from those of good breeding and high social standing. This second rule also extends to the fairer sex, and is just universally sound advice when navigating romantic entanglements.
A man must put out his cigar in the company of women, which also meant that if a woman approaches him to engage him in conversation, he must discard it, regardless of how expensive it was.
When greeting a woman in public, a man should tip his cap in a polite manner, though if she stops to talk to him, she will extend her hand to him. In this case, he must remove his hat with the hand farthest from her, and take her extended hand with the one closest to her. If they are well acquainted, he might bestow the back of her hand with a quick kiss before letting go of her hand. He would then be expected to walk with her as they converse. If he has somewhere to be or the conversation has reached a natural ending, he should politely excuse himself, and wait for her to say her farewells before he leaves her company. If he simply cannot stop to talk, he should make his urgency clear, and apologize before carrying on, still being sure to tip his hat in a show of politeness.
The Rules for Women
Accepting gifts from a suitor is dangerous. If a suitor brings you a gift and you accept it, it indicates that you are interested in their advances. Being too accepting can also cause a man to continue to shower you with gifts, which could be seen as greedy. If disinterested in the suitor, it is advised to decline his gift. However, it’s best to try and decline his gift in a courteous manner, as a calous decline will earn you a reputation for a foul temperament, which may discourage other suitors.
An unmarried woman should never be outside alone. She should always be in the company of a companion, chaperone, parent, or legal guardian. This is a means of protecting women from being set upon by unscrupulous men.
Even while courting one another, an unmarried woman should never be alone in the company of a man outside of her immediate family. This usually meant that any sort of date the pair might go on will always be supervised from afar by a parent or chaperone, such as a lady-in-waiting or a governess. The young couple would usually be left some leeway to conversate privately, so long as they were within clear eyesight of the woman’s caretakers, and close enough for them to step in should the man act dishonorably toward her.
A man will come to call upon a woman he is interested in pursuing, meaning that he will come to her house in order to pitch woo or charm her. This is to ensure she is in the safety and protection of her family, so as to prevent her from being done ill by the man where her family cannot protect her. As such, a woman would never call upon a man or go to his residence. In a queer relationship, this is simply swapped to the one of lower status coming to the house of the one of higher status. Although, due to the role of status, the suitor will require an invitation (either specific or open) to come a-courting on the object of their affections.
Women would often have a dance card which indicated who she intended to dance with at an upcoming ball. She’d save a dance for the host, and likely also her suitor. Any special guest of the ball would likely also be afforded a dance. If she has multiple suitors, she would be expected to dance with all of them, and not to spend her entire evening doting on only one of them. It was also seen as improper for her to dance too often with the same partner, regardless of whether she was looking for a spouse or not. If she was the guest of honor, it might be expected for her to share more than one dance with the host, possibly sharing the first and/or last dance with him to start or close out the night. Sometimes at dances, the guests would know the music selection and dances ahead of time, and women would have the music or dances on their dance cards. While I don’t know if it was done historically, I don’t think it would be too unorthodox for a man to write a woman ahead of a ball (assuming he’s familiar enough for such audacity) and request that she save a specific kind of dance for him. If his Waltz is shabby, but he does a marvelous Minuet, he’d want to be sure his dance with a possible match would be a dance he’s more proficient with. A lady might fill up her entire dance card ahead of time, but she’d more often than not leave a spot or two open to allow for more spontaneity. As dance cards were only used by women, I don’t know if they’d be used by gay men in courtship or not. Queer people at a ball however might wear something to indicate their preference in dance partner. A visual cue to let the gentlemen know that the Baroness of Arendale doesn’t have much interest in dancing with men.
Courting in Public
Courtship, especially among the upper class, was predominantly undergone during the Social Season, which in the UK ran from March until September, and included a wide variety of events and activities including balls, picnics, dinner parties, and sporting events. During the social season, every personage of noble blood would gather in a central location, usually the capital. These were not the only times during the year when people courted, it was more akin to a feeding frenzy for eligible bachelors, largely due to all of their marital options being assembled for the season, making it much easier to find someone to his liking.
It was wildly scandalous to show public displays of affection. That was to be reserved for private life. As such, suitors would instead exchange gifts, photographs or locks of hair instead of kissing or holding hands. For a queer relationship, it might be allowable for suitors to give one another their clothing, jewelry, weapons, or armor, either in their entirety or a particular piece of it. However the intimacy of sharing garments would likely be reserved for couples that have been courting for some time, and would be ill-advised as a first gift to one’s admirer.
At a ball or other such party, if someone catches your fancy but you’ve never met them before, it is impolite to speak to them until the host or hostess has formally introduced you to one another. Even if you dance with them, it is ill-mannered to speak to them during and after the dance if neither of you have been introduced to one another.
If someone insults your suitor, a gentleman should be ready to act the part of a knight and defend his lover’s honor. If his partner initiated the conflict, it is advised for a gentleman to apologize on their behalf, though not so meekly as to offend their lover or besmirch their honor. If another man is looking to start a quarrel, a gentleman should not return his hostilities, as a foul temper and lack of self-control is an indication of ill manners and poor breeding, bringing you down to the other man’s level.
A gentleman should always carry his lady’s luggage, and on the sidewalk, takes the side closest to the street to keep his lady’s dress from being splashed with mud or water, or to keep her safe should a wayward horse, carriage, or car veer off the street, it is more likely to strike him than her.
A couple talking in public must speak succinctly, poignantly, and softly. Long drawn-out conversations were best for private, whereas in public, it was unwise to spend one’s entire evening conversing with a single person, unless it is well-known the severity of their entanglement. It was considered ill-manner to speak excessively or too loudly as to disturb others.
Matchmaking and Gold-Digging
Due to eldest sons getting the entire inheritance of his father, women seeking to court would seek out eldest sons who would be coming into their family fortune, while sons left out of the inheritance would be more willing to marry below their station in pursuit of rich heiresses whose wealth would keep them in the lifestyle to which they have grown accustomed. Likewise in a queer relationship, wealth and power would likely effect the interests of relationships, and differences in inheritance laws might also change the power dynamics in courtships. If a daughter can inherit the full control of her father’s mercantile empire, she’s going to be fighting off second-born suitors with a stick, regardless of gender.
I mentioned above the Levées and Presentations that young nobles would go through when entering the public sphere of the court. Parents of other noble families would often be in attendance of these parties, and if a presenter impressed them, they may approach the parents and suggest a courtship between their children. This is less of an arranged marriage, and more the parents steering their children to give each other a chance. It’s much closer to playing matchmaker than paying 5 cows and a corn mill for someone’s daughter. The children could still decline the courtship out of lack of interest or an absence of chemistry, so long as they settled things politely.
Watch Bridgerton
While Bridgerton is by no means a perfect replica of historical courtship, as its Diamond of the Fresh Water is largely a creation of the show, things such as the calling of suitors, the responsibility of first-borns compared to second-born and third-born sons, marital entrapment, and elevating one’s status is very well executed. If you want to write period romance, Bridgerton is an excellent resource to take inspiration from. It’s a great way to see these mechanics in action and hopefully watching it will spark something in your own imagination.
While that was a lot of information, I do hope it is something you found helpful. Most of the rules are much harsher on upper class characters, but most people who write historical romances are more interested in the romance between the countess and the duke, rather than the washer woman and the fisherman. I will also admit this is not a flawless breakdown, as I could have easily missed something. Still, as someone who loves period dramas and historical costume, I couldn’t leave such a tantalizing topic untouched.
Ten places to rest for a hundred years
Abandoned Castles, truly a classic, everyone loves castles, if there are none nearby Manors work just as well
Forest floor, another popular choice, especially if there’s moss, would not recommend if your scared of bugs, and you might get stepped on
Seaside Caves, sounds from the ocean, the light reflecting off the water is truly beautiful, but you might run into a problem with The Tide
Hollow tree/Stump, might be difficult to find the right spot but once you do it’s really cozy, again would not recommend if your scared of bugs
Catacombs, a very gothic choice, a good place if you need it to be dark and quiet to sleep, not great if your scared of dead things
Under a Lake / in a bog, obviously it’s not for everyone but it’s beautiful, it’s quiet, and your not disturbed as much as a forest floor
Any caves, it can be easy or difficult to find you, for the most part it’s dark and quiet, you aren’t disturbed, Claustrophobia might stop you
Become a statue, if your able to do it I would recommend you do it at least once, maybe not for your first time though
Trapped inside objects, it could be jewelry, lanterns, Weapons, crystal balls, candelabras, all easy to store and travel with
In the middle of a labyrinth/Maze, your undisturbed, there’s room to add fun little traps and tricks, truly underrated
You show up to your gf’s place with roses. I show up with my doublet all unbraced, no hat upon my head, my stockings foul'd (pissed myself) ungarter'd, and down-gyved to my ankle, pale as my shirt, my knees knocking each other, and with a look so piteous in purport as if I had been loosed out of hell to speak of horrors.
you’re in her DMs. I’m in her grave, throwing hands with her brother.
Ok so when YOU put on skits for your family, your parents think you’re cute and show you “love” and “affection.” But when I do it, it’s all “what means this play?” and “u have to go to england for committing treason”
▪︎ Hamlet.
Artist: Alphonse Mucha (Moravia, Ivančice, active France, 1860-1939)
Date: 1899
Medium: Lithograph in four colors: red, blue, pale yellow, and olive green; on two sheets.
always thinking about the production of hamlet i saw at the pop up globe a couple of years ago where everyone was costumed in typical shakespearean dress and the set was fairly minimal BUT! they gave polonius an iphone. it was like a running gag that his ringtone kept going off when hamlet or claudius were trying to speak and they would get more and more impatient with him every time. the cast had perfect comedic timing and it was such a perfect modernisation of typical shakespeare humour
but oh my God. the nervous laughter that rippled through the audience when his phone went off behind the tapestry. the heavy silence that followed, interrupted only by the incessant chime of polonius' ringtone and a muffled "shit, shit!" while he tried to decline the call. it keeps ringing even after hamlet has already put his sword through him. hamlet picks it up in his bloody hands and ends the call, puts it back in polonius' grasp before turning back to face gertrude.
hands down the best set up and pay-off of any addition to a shakespeare play i have ever witnessed
the most insane double casting i’ve heard of is ophelia and horatio being played by the same actress. the implications of that drive me crazy
POV: Scrolling through Steve Harrington’s camera roll
I was planning to take a small social media break but I saw the amazing headcanon that Argyle and Billy might have been friends in California! It such a sweet idea that I just had to draw something with that :) There’s something so special about childhood friendships and having seen someone through everything including growth spurts and the preteen awkward phase! And in a scenario where Billy lived, seeing that pizza van would be like some sort of miracle after everything he’s endured.
Joyce trying to mother Billy when she realizes his situation at home (as a mother who raised two boys in that environment) and Billy assuming she wants him like all the other moms in town. So he plays up the charm, is sweet on her, and Joyce thinks he’s finally warming up to her, finding a home at her house. Then he goes to make an actual move on and she is just like “wOAH MISTER”. She’s ready to scold him to high heavens until he snaps that he just assumed she was like the rest of them, pride hurt, and Joyce rants on for like an hour about the audacity of these women, that he has nothing to feel ashamed, honey, for pursuing them because they shouldn’t have reciprocated and blows a fuse when she asks for a list of names and he mentions Karen. She makes the woman apologize personally to Billy at 10pm at night, and he is just mortified and wants to be anywhere else because please Ms Byers I’m an adult you’re ruining my street cred right now
Cute headcanon: Imagine Billy being told the truth that day at the Byers in s2 and becoming the Party Co-Parent with steve and Dustin telling Billy that he and Steve are the party's paladin and fighter and Billy's gleaned enough to be like "haha I'm the fighter I get it" only for Dustin to be like "nope you're a paladin under the oath of devotion, you fit all the tenets" and just rocking Billy's world bc he's never been told his tendency to throw himself in the middle of shit and this protectiveness that's gotten twisted is a *good* thing
Steve finds him later just staring blankly at the Players Manual that Dustin showed Billy and he just sighs and goes to yell at Dustin like "what did I SAY about not breaking Billy with the revelation that he's not a complete asshole"
Listen, listen, listen. This is pure gold.
Because picture it: Billy was in the right to be creeped the fuck out when he rolled up to the Byers house that night, right? He's running around looking for his little sister, knowing he's going to get his ass handed to him if something's happened to her, and he finds her with Steve fucking Harrington and a whole bunch of boys at a strange house in a part of town he's likely never been to, that Max snuck out to get to. If he'd gotten an actual explanation, if Steve had said, "Hey, man, I know this is weird as shit, but there's a whole lot that you don't know. There's some life or death shit happening here."
...I mean, Billy still would've tried to fight him. It's Billy. I'd love it if a demodog attacked at that same moment. Ramp up the tension and shove Billy right into this world of monsters and mayhem. Maybe it grabs him while he's pummeling Steve, so he has no choice but to react, to whirl around on it, and Steve stumbles up and helps him kill it and Billy just stares at him like what. the. fuck.
And he looks at Max because, seriously, we have been here for like a week, how have you already gotten involved with some Stephen King-level bullshit, Maxine? And she has absolutely no time to explain. She's still wrapping her head around all of this, after all. She tells Billy he's either in or out and holds her hands out, demanding his keys, and he just rolls his eyes and piles everyone into his car and they do the whole going down into the tunnels thing. He has NO CLUE what's going on, but he's not letting Max out of his sight now that he knows her life is in literal danger.
It's not until the Snow Ball that Steve gives Billy the full run-down. Max has given him bits and pieces, but it's still so new to both of them, so he has to get the whole story from Steve. They drive Dustin and Max to the dance, then spend the night sitting on the hood of the Camaro while Steve tells Billy everything. "There's a girl with superpowers? What is this, the fucking X-Men?" He's dumbfounded, but he's got no choice to believe it. And he won't quite admit it to anyone else, but it did feel good, down in those tunnels, to fight with someone instead of against them — to feel like Steve and the kids all had his back.
And maybe when the Mind Flayer comes back around, it doesn't go after Billy, because Billy's not alone, he's not isolated. He's got Steve now, because you don't fight inter-dimensional monsters with someone and not get close to them. They hang out. They become friends. Maybe more than friends. And it's a package deal, yeah? You get Steve, you get the kids. Plus, he and Max have a better relationship after, y'know, nearly getting eaten by demogorgons together. He might be a little grumpy, a little rough around the edges, but he still has friends. He's not an island anymore. The Mind Flayer has to pick someone else while Billy is with the kids, all of them worried about where Steve and Dustin might be this whole time, and when they finally link up together at the mall, Dustin tells him his role. He looks at Steve and Billy and says, "Fighter. Paladin." and Billy rolls his eyes because yeah, okay, of course he's the fighter, all fists and rage, and Dustin looks at him all confused and is like nope, no sir, you're the paladin — the leader — the protector.
And Billy is blown away.
No one challenges Dustin, either. They all agree, and this confuses Billy even more. Max is the one that explains that he protects them. That they all see it, that they all know that he looks out for them, this little group of misfits, these targets for the bully that Billy thought he was. They see him. They know that he's more than some angry kid, more than the asshole his father has molded him to be, and MY GOD would he take that so, so seriously.
And yes, when all is said and done and they can have their little MCU-esque post credits scene eating pizza and playing D&D in Mike's basement, Billy sits in the corner and thumbs through the player's guide to learn more about this title that Dustin has bestowed upon him, and Steve shakes his head and looks at Dustin all, "Nice going. You broke him." but he can't say it without smiling because look at Billy. Being part of the group. Embracing the weirdos. Counting himself among them.
GOD I LOVE IT.
two (2) people asked how i did the matchbook thing so take this
this is just a simple idea but if you spend some more time you can get real krazy with it:
making fake prints is so fun please do it immediately free resources under cut xoxo
retrosupply my love
dustin, basically: maybe if you could be a little bisexual, we could get some work done stranger things 4, chapter 2: vecna’s curse
.That Judge Judy Pussy grip insane. You be calling her Judith on the second stroke.
i know its the mets, but this is the coolest shit i’ve ever seen a human being do
The Hunger Games, Actual Teen style!
On the left, 15-year-old Josh Hutcherson.
On the right, 16-year-old Jennifer Lawrence.
Think how much creepier it would be to see them killing other kids when they look so squishy-cheeked and little.
The point is that they’re all stupid
I made a what the fandom thinks of you generator
edit: please remember
1. i have to read all the tags
2. ITS RANDOMLY GENERATED I AM SORRY IF YOU DONT LIKE YOUR RESULT BUT DO NOT FUCKING HARASS ME ABOUT IT
thank you
well…
that escalated quickly
Happy new year everybody!
SOME BOOKS RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I THINK ARE GOOD
FOR BEGINNER AND NON-BEGINNER WITCH :
psychic witch by mat Auryn
Secret teaching of all ages encyclopedia of esoteric teaching
weave the liminal by Laura tempest zakroff
six ways by aidan wachter
the grek magical papyri in translation edited by dieter betz
the complete grimoire by lidia pradas
witchery by juliat diaz
spells for change by frankie castanea
celtic witchcraft by mabh savage
the althlone hiatory of witchcraft and magic in europe
the spell book for new witches by ambrosia hawthorn
kate freuler of blood and bones by mat Auryn
the kitchen witch's spell book by cerridwen greenleaf
love spells by anastasia greywolf
encyclopedia of magic herbs by scott Cunningham
guided tarot by stefanie caponi
the witch's journal by selene silverwind
the casting of spells by Christopher penczak
sacred essential oils edited by claire waite brown
the crystal bible by judy hall
the magical household by scott Cunningham
wicca in the kitchen by scott Cunningham
the house witch by arin Murphy-Hiscock
the heart witch's compendium by anna franklin
the heart witch's kitchen herbal by anna franklin
a spell book for the season
the complete illustrated book of herbs
italian folk magic by mary grace fahrun
the complete illustrated guide to palmistry by peter west
apractical step by step guide to herbs for the home and garden by Shirley reid
top 50 edible plants for pots by angie thomas
the mystical magical marvelous world of DREAMS by wilda b. tanner
the eclectic witch's book of shadows by deborah blake
plant witchery by Juliet diaz
the witch at thd forest's edge
subtle energy by keith miller
protection&reversal magick by jason miller
curses,hexes&crossing by S. connolly
modern witch by devin hunter
the complete book of incense,oils&brews by scott Cunningham
encyclopedia of 5000 spells by judika illes
the good witch's journal by selene silverwind
inner magic a guide to witchcraft
spell crafting by arin Murphy
the green witch by arin murphy
moon magic by diane ahlquist
protection magick by cassandra eason
the little big book by ileana abrev
herbal remedies by andrew chevallier
witchcraft for healing by patti wigington
complete book of correspondences by sandra kynes
poppet magick by silver davenwolf
earth medicine by kenneth meadows
earth power by scott Cunningham
a century of spells by draja mickaharic
positive magic by marion Weinstein
And Now the Screaming Starts! (1973) dir. Roy Ward Baker
me, your friendly neighborhood villain apologist: zuko was never evil he was just 16