The Maiden Who Courts Death

If you were to ask, this would be the one quote I would use to define the connection between Sauron and Galadriel. Everyone is entitled to their own interpretation of a character or a ship and mine is simply one of many.

The word ‘love’ in it of itself is not straightforward in its definition or the way one experiences it. Love is also a word that’s used in contrast to the word hate. Even then it’s said that there’s a thin line between the two. If that’s the case then Sauron and Galadriel certainly have a love/hate relationship. Allow me to paint a further picture,

Galadriel and Sauron are two halves of a whole. Each is a manifestation of the other’s will and desires. Considered outcasts amongst their own people, they still choose their own path despite those that would tell them to do otherwise. It would be those very same paths that would eventually lead them to each other. Meeting at a time of such vulnerability that it allowed for them to let down their walls. Just a little at least.

Sauron in his truest nature is a being who values creation. Taking great pride in his own craftsmanship and ability to recognize the flaws in something. Finding fascination in another’s work and praising them for it. However, much like how we see an artist with a blank canvas ready to paint, Middle Earth needs to be wiped clean (healed as he puts it) before Sauron believes he can craft something of absolute perfection in its place.

It has already been recognized that Galadriel is someone who wishes to obtain power, but I haven’t really seen it be discussed as to what kind of power she wants to embody. In my opinion, I believe Galadriel at her core is someone who desires to be a fucking force of nature. Saying the iconic quote “You would have a Queen. Not dark but beautiful and terrible as the dawn. As treacherous as the sea and stronger than the foundations of the Earth”. To me, this is a clear indication that she craves a power possibly comparable to that of The One. What sparked such a desire remains unclear, but I think this unanswered detail might just hold the key as to why Galadriel consistently rejected Sauron.

When they met, the two were simply a nobody to each other. A random elf and man (fallen maia) crossing paths in the middle of the freaking ocean with no land in sight. What need would there be to outright lie? Especially when he could’ve easily killed at any point he wished. Oh, she thinks he’s king of the Southlands? Ok, sure, he’ll run with it but couldn’t care less. He speaks of a past with unspecified evil deeds, she doesn’t ask for clarification. She proclaims with conviction that they were brought together for a purpose, NOW he’s all ears. Galadriel later states that he deceived her, Sauron in response says he told her the truth (from a certain point of view).

Before they got back to Middle Earth Sauron was recreating his origin story and seemed set to just live out his days (for a little while at least), but it would be Galadriel’s untamable fire that would relight his spark for creation. Simultaneously, his constant challenging of her direction and choices reawakened her desire to strive for power. When they finally returned to Middle Earth, that’s when the story began to change. Sauron started to see more opportunities to take advantage of and Galadriel believed she had found someone who valued her direction and character. They truly both lifted each other up and ultimately sealed their fates in blood.

Calling them ‘partners’ lacks the intensity they have towards each other. Saying it’s a ‘one-sided relationship’ completely ignores the fact that they do indeed share similar feelings, even if they’re in different tones. Saying that they were ‘lovers’ is much too simplistic and soft when thinking of how deeply the betrayal and rejection affected them for centuries to come. Reducing them to just ‘enemies’ practically leaves out the all brief moments of tenderness that we do see. All of this contributes to the foundation of why I believe them to be two halves of a whole.

She wanted him by her side and he wanted to bind their ‘souls’ together. Both desired the company and connection of one another, in way that exceeded beyond what words could describe and knowing that they have no reason to concern themselves about whether the other ‘loved’ them or not.

AHHHHH, THIS IS NOT A DRILL!!!!

Here’s the thing…

I love both story concepts and so I have decided to make it a two part series. I’m going to make it a seamless continuation because I think it would be interesting to see what Titus and Lilith’s story is like before and after the events of the movie.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the voting and I can’t wait to post the first chapter. Until then hail Satan ;))

1. The first idea takes place before the events of Ready or Not. Mr. DanForth is celebrating his 50th year as the head of the Satanic cult and to conduct such an unholy event reader(or Lilith if the oc route is a little better) is sent to lead the cult in worship for it. Sister Imperator is still alive and would be mentoring her along the way. Reader has an automatic interest in Titus, but keeps it well hidden under the surface with her devotion to Lucifer. Overtime it becomes increasingly harder to hide her infatuation, so she begins to act indifferent to the man and focus all her efforts on the unholy anniversary. Titus doesn’t quite know what to make of this young woman at first, but during a sermon that Lilith leads, Titus has never felt so close to committing a cardinal sin of the flesh on the alter of worship to Le Bail.

2. The second idea would take place after the events of Ready or Not: Here I come. In this Ursula and Titus are brought back since they were the last family to be in possession of the ring. However they have new contracts since they were resurrected. Le Bail made this decision because the utter collapse of this Satanic hierarchy would be catastrophic and that simply won’t do. The power is split equally between the two and any attempt to kill the other would violate their new contracts. Since the cult suffered so many losses the Lawyer (who I’ve decided to name Azazel) is tasked with reaching out to the Clergy in the hopes that their way of attaining worshipers would help. Reader(Lilith) is sent to lead the sermons to recruit people since Nihil is dead, Copia is on tour and Sister Imperator is running the Clergy as a whole. Lilith finds comfort in her familiarity with the Lawyer and isn’t quite fond of the DanForth twins at first due to their stronger interest in power instead of their devotion to Satan. Over time Lilith grows to greatly respect Ursula and her resilience and authority. With Titus…. The best way I can put it is this, Lilith sees the jagged edges that Titus keeps sharp as thorns she’d willingly cut herself on and bleed and those glimpses of actual tenderness are seem so pure that she might just reconsider her devotion to Lucifer. With such a thought though, Lilith distances herself quite a lot from Titus because he is making her feel conflicted with her devotion. However, when she conducts her sermons and performances from Ghost’s repertoire (because I feel like it’s through Ghost’s music that people become fans/followers) it’s becoming increasingly harder to tell whether she’s talking about the unholy father or a damned man. Titus is initially annoyed and offended that the Clergy is getting involved because they can recruit people just fine, but due to his contract he had no say in the matter. Ever so slowly or all to quickly really, Titus becomes so infatuated with this woman that he’s beginning to understand what devotion really means.

Listen, I can’t help the way I audibly gasped at the sheer insanity that Titus DaForth put into that kiss. I’ve never been kissed like that before in my life and I feel like I’m missing out. (Don’t know who I’d rather be in this situation tho because Samara Weaving is so fucking gorgeous)

I’m also saying this now before anyone else gets the chance, but I head-cannon that the band Ghost exists within the Ready or Not universe. Not only could this fit so well, but it would be so funny seeing two totally different ways people worship Satan in this universe.

One more thing (and it’s the whole reason why I have this Ghost head-cannon), I seriously need an xreader fic featuring Titus DanForth and someone from the Satanic Clergy. Maybe they could be a future Papa or Sister Imperator. My mind is already cooking up some ideas, but I need to know if anyone else sees this vision that I have.

I don’t know why, but I feel like Isaac actually loves milkshakes. He’d specifically get mint chip or black raspberry for a flavor and would probably get everything that comes with a milkshake too. Whipped cream, cherry, he might even have it be a malted milkshake with chocolate syrup.

I really don’t know what it is, but he just looks like a milkshake person.

Isaac doesn’t strike me as the type of person who would have a sundae or a waffle cone, but since he still loves ice cream, a milkshake is the only sensible option to him.

I want to share a milkshake with this zombie so bad, that I’d even be open to it being a brain flavored one.

• Does not celebrate the holidays in the traditional sense and doesn’t really see a point to most of them.

• Due to Isaac and his sister’s upbringing, he has a sour taste in his mouth when it comes to most holidays. The only reason why Isaac would likely celebrate a holiday is because Francoise asked him to.

• Halloween is one of the only holidays that he actively still enjoys and is willing to participate in it. Does he dress up?? Can’t really say if he does or not. He looks like he’s dressed as a mad scientist on a daily basis, so who’s to say he’s in costume on Halloween? However, he has been known to dress up as something truly mysterious on All Hollow’s Eve. Of course that’s what Gomez says. (You can’t tell me that this isn’t absolutely a plausible thing to happen. For one, he’s roommates/best friends with Gomez, so there’s gotta be a certain level of cooky within the man. Not to mention he literally has a clockwork heart for crying out loud! Plus, his hand will one day be called Thing who fits right in with the Addams family. This dude is ooky, spooky and you can’t convince me otherwise. He may not be an Addams by blood, but he is one in spirit .)

• Ironically, out of all the holidays, Christmas is the one that he still holds the most fondness for from childhood. That fondness has faded over the years, but the memories he has tucked away keep that fondness from being laid to rest.

• When he was bedridden in the hospital, he remembers the different nurses and faculty members trying their best to make Christmas special for all of the kids there. I 100% believe that one of the nurses bought him an old copy of ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘The Time Machine’ to have as a gift for under the tree. Thus, inspiring his idea to create a mechanism to combat and overcome is sickness. Because of this, he would hold onto those books for years to come. (I wouldn’t be surprised, if after Isaac died, those books eventually ending up in the hands of either Tyler or Wednesday.)

• The holiday that aggravates Isaac the most is the 4th of July and Thanksgiving; I’ll leave it at that.

• If there so happens to be an instance where Isaac has the desire to give a gift, he either makes it or refurbishes something to give to that person. For example, one Christmas years ago he made Francoise a ballerina music box after she went on and on about the Nutcracker ballet she saw with one of her friends.

• Issac will 100% draw the line at becoming socially involved in most festivities. Oh don’t worry, he’ll absolutely build a snow machine for your Christmas party, if it means he can showcase his great talent of course. Ask him to join you in singing carols with everyone though? Well, you’re shit out of luck and will probably regret ever asking him.

• As far as other holidays go, such as Easter and Valentine’s Day, Isaac doesn’t really bat an eye if there were festivities happening for them. To him it was just another average day. (He’ll only do something if Francoise asks.)

• He has grown to have a mild appreciation and interest in holidays from other countries/cultures due to Gomez being his roommate/friend. The Day of the Dead is probably the one holiday where Issac finds himself looking forward too; once in a while at least.

• Even though Isaac stays up until all hours of the night on a regular basis, he does find himself intentionally staying up until midnight on New Year’s Eve. He’d never admit it, but he quite enjoys the display of fireworks that the school puts on.

• Interestingly enough, I believe New Year’s Eve is the one holiday where Francoise spends it entirely with her friends and leaves Isaac to celebrate it as he wishes. Francoise knows Isaac isn’t fond of holidays and she knows she asks a lot of him when it comes participating in them. I think she believes that New Year’s Eve may possibly be the only holiday that Isaac would willing participate in and enjoy on his own. If it’s true, then she wants him to have it all to his own.

• I think if you were to ask Isaac if he celebrated his birthday, he’d flat out deny it. In truth though, when Isaac’s birthday comes around he takes great pride in it. He beat death, created his very own clockwork heart and found a solution to escape his fatal condition. Each year he lives to see his birthday is practically him giving death the middle finger. He never wants a party and doesn’t really care for cake, but somehow he makes sure that everyone in Nevermore knows it’s his birthday.

I’m still working on my oc x Isaac fanfiction and hope to post it soon. Even though the overwhelming love for Isaac’s character has ebbed within the fandom, I’m so happy to still see new fics be posted on here.

Ugh, I’m so happy to be returning to this part of tumblr because I’ve missed this decaying genius.

• Isn’t a huge fan of animals after his heart transplant, but is still very much a dog person. (Frankenweennie reference)

• Is definitely an insomniac, but will preach about the importance of sleep with circles under his eyes.

• Believes that listening to music must strictly be on vinyl and played on a phonograph. (He does make an exception for walkman’s tho.)

• Not really a movie person, but has a lot of appreciation for silent, black & white films.

• Absolutely 100% neurodivergent.

• His sister is the one presence he doesn’t mind. (Gomez is a reluctant exception due to him not giving Isaac a choice of being included or not.)

• Black licorice is his favorite candy.

• His favorite season is autumn, however early spring is also a nice time of year in his opinion.

• He’s a black coffee drinker purely for the taste. (Once in a while he’ll put cinnamon in it.)

• Demisexual, but has never known someone long enough or has seen them prove themselves worthy of sparking interest within him. (Of course oc’s and y/n’s are separate from this.)

• Isaac is the older sibling and has ‘eldest daughter’ syndrome.

• Is aware that people try to use him, yet doesn’t reveal that he knows.

• For 10 seconds, Isaac thought about becoming a surgeon and then realized that he was above that profession.

• Has a god complex which is a direct result of his inferiority complex.

• Doesn’t really care for holidays and only partakes in festivities because of his sister.

• Isaac was on the donor list, however the doctor’s gave him weeks to live and stopped trying to find ways to prolong his life. Thus, Isaac took matters into his own hands and made his clockwork heart.

• His heart condition is a result of cardiomyopathy due to having Ehlers Danlos syndrome; unfortunately since this is in the 80’s-90’s most doctors weren’t knowledgeable in this condition. Therefore, he went undiagnosed up until he started having severe symptoms.

• Is an avid gothic literature reader and ironically the most frequent novel that Isaac rereads is ‘Frankenstein’. He won’t admit that he had a crush on Mary Shelly.

Come to think of it, it’s a little bit of an open wound that’s regularly exposed to the elements. How does he make sure that no potential infection sets in? Does he have a specific routine to take care of his heart and make sure it’s pristine and functional? On top of that, the power source he created for it must be self sufficient when it’s ticking, otherwise he might just need to keep rewinding it to make sure it stays working.

On a separate note, we know that Isaac was young when he made his heart. I wonder if there had to be other underlying health conditions that lead to the clockwork-heart’s creation. Maybe he still dealt with some of those conditions even with death no longer breathing down his neck.

I can’t help but consider that Isaac might’ve also dealt with some form of chronic pain.

Maybe specifically with his ribs and chest. Even though the heart he made is magnificent, it must be uncomfortable more often than not. Trying to breathe and your lungs push up against metal. Always feeling organic arteries connected to metal ones. Needing to regularly oil the heart’s gears and make sure it’s clean. For as complex as the clockwork heart is, the care Isaac must use has to be quite significant and meticulous.

I think it’s also over looked that this mechanical heart is still pumping blood through its steel ventricles. Subconsciously we know that hearts contain large amounts of blood, but to see a mechanical one that keeps pumping blood through the body is truly remarkable. I could truly go on and on talking about the complexities of Isaac and his heart.

Do not worry though, I’m making great strides in learning how him and this heart works. Hopefully soon I’ll be able to bring my Zombieboy back to me.

Somehow it has taken me 5 days to check Spotify for an Isaac Night playlist. Turns out that I couldn’t find a single playlist for my Zombieboy and therefore I decided to take matters into my own hands….

I’m seriously considering signing him up for some etiquette classes if this gets anymore out of hand. At least carry a handkerchief in your pocket if you’re going to get food all over yourself. Now I don’t mind kissing the blood off of him, but I would prefer not to taste pieces of brain alongside it, if it can be helped.

What I can’t help however, is the fact that my mind goes straight into the gutter when I think about his tongue.

Because can we take a second to talk about this scene?

He literally looks like a kid who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Of course in this case, it’s his black, slimy tongue caught inside someone’s brain.

But like look at him. I know this looks horrifying, but I can’t help it that I find this to be a little hilarious. With the blood smeared all over is face, his expression is very much saying “Oh fuck. Who the hell just screamed?” And when he doesn’t see anyone, he gets the hell out of there. To be honest though he did leave the classroom door open, practically an open invitation if I ever did see one.

Seriously though, all I can picture is how long his tongue gets when he’s hungry. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was just under a foot long. Combined with how much he must salivate at the prospect of eating something to satisfy his hunger. No wonder he’s a messy eater….

Now this is the face of a Zombie-boy who’s looking forward to having a snack later. Of course, I can be his type of snack if he promises to eat my heart first. I’d die happy if that happened to be honest. Side note, Isaac’s teeth are perfect. They don’t have that rotten and cavity ridden look to them. No, instead they look so well taken care of that I want to run my finger over them and feel every grove. The way that Isaac’s teeth are also a bit uneven makes me love his smile more.

All in all Isaac may be a messy eater who needs some manners, but at least he finishes his meals.