aesthetics.

❝ I would know his face in dark or disguise. I would know it even in madness. ❞

❝ I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world. ❞

❝ I will never leave him. It will be this, always, for as long as he will let me. ❞

❝ To the ends of the earth, would you follow me? ❞

❝ In my dreams, it’s always you. ❞

❝ Your name fit into my mouth better than my own ever has, like I was born to speak it. ❞ 

❝ There is no room for anything in my body but you. ❞

❝ I think you know how to love better than any of us. That’s why you find it all so painful. ❞

❝ If I had words to speak such a thing, I would have. But there were none that seemed big enough for it, to hold that swelling truth. ❞

❝ I would give all this and heaven too, I would give it all if only for a moment. ❞

❝ How I ruined everything by saying it out loud… ❞

❝ He is half my soul, as the poets say. ❞

❝ You can love a monster, it can even love you back, but that does not change its nature. ❞

❝ What a waste to say the heart could feel apart or feel complete. ❞

❝ Someone will remember us, even in another time. ❞

❝ We were like gods at the dawning of the world, and our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but each other. ❞

❝ I cannot love a hero. I do not want to see you being turned into a statue. ❞

❝ I called your name ‘til my fever broke. ❞ 

❝ There is nothing in the world I wanted more than to hear what he had not said. ❞

❝ The heart is hard to translate, it has a language of its own. ❞

❝I’d choose you; in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, I’d find you and I’d choose you. ❞

❝ I made a promise when we were young. I told you I would see you again, no matter what became of us. ❞

❝ We are only human, and the gods fashioned us for love. That is our great glory, and our great tragedy. ❞

❝ I am not beautiful, but I could be. ❞

❝ If you didn’t want the beautiful so badly perhaps you would’ve found it in your spirit singing softly. But hunter, you are human. ❞

❝ Because you want to die for love. You always have. ❞

❝ I’d give him all that I am. I’d give him all that I was. I’d tie our hearts together, chamber by chamber. ❞

❝ The blood in your mouth, I wish it was mine. ❞

❝ Be with me always– take any form– drive me mad! ❞

❝ I love you so much I’m going to let you kill me. ❞

❝ When I am dead, I charge you to mingle our ashes and bury us together. ❞

❝ I will love you forever; whatever happens. Till I die and after I die, and when I find my way out of the land of the dead, I’ll drift about forever, all my atoms, till I find you again. ❞

❝ You were my new dream. ❞

❝ I wish for earthquakes, eruptions, flood. Only that seems large enough to hold all of my rage and grief. ❞

❝ Speak of her over my grave, and watch how she brings me back to life. ❞

❝ I’ll live without you, though the struggle will be daily. ❞

❝ How dare you ask me to live with it? I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul! ❞

❝ No grave can hold my body down. I’ll crawl home to her. ❞

❝ Don’t leave me in this abyss where I cannot find you! ❞

❝ When he died, all things soft and beautiful and bright would be buried with him. ❞

❝ I cannot conceive of a universe without you in it. ❞

❝ He would go, and I would follow, even into death. ❞

❝ If you have to go, you know I will go with you. ❞

a good friend will always stab you in the front.

it is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend.

but the cruel thing was, it felt like the mistake was mine, for trusting you.

for there to be betrayal, there would have to have been trust first.

i used to advertise my loyalty and i don't believe there is a single person i loved that i didn't eventually betray.

if you spend your time hoping someone will suffer the consequences for what they did to your heart, then you're allowing them to hurt you a second time in your mind.

everyone suffers at least one bad betrayal in their lifetime.

stab the body and it heals, but injure the heart and the wound lasts a lifetime.

there comes a time when silence is betrayal.

but i'm afraid, and i'm sick in my heart that you might look at them, then at me. and regret.

betrayal and dishonour is usually an inside job.

the weather today is partly suspicious with chances of betrayal

do you stop loving someone just because they betray you?

let us remember that a traitor may betray himself and do good that he does not intend.

betrayal is the only truth that sticks.

anyone, anything, can betray anyone. even your own heart.

when no one you know tells the truth, you learn to see under the surface.

if i had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend, i hope i should have the guts to betray my country.

if i ever get the chance to betray you, i will.

if you have to speculate if someone loves you and wants to be with you, chances are they don't.

relationships are made for two people, but obviously some people don’t know how to count.

betrayal is never easy to handle and there is no right way to accept it.

only those you trust can betray you.

true love is tested when betrayed.

we’ve had a terrible start—it doesn’t mean we can’t have a better ending.

the moment they discuss you with their friends and family, compete with you, bad mouth you to others is when they give themselves away.

have you ever experienced a pain so sharp in your heart that it's all you can do to take a breath?

your worst sin is that you have destroyed and betrayed yourself for nothing.

you can be betrayed in your sleep. the whole world can tilt while you're dreaming of butterflies.

when you care about someone, you can’t just turn that off because you learn they betrayed you.

trust is earned, respect is given, and loyalty is demonstrated. betrayal of any one of those is to lose all three.

everyone thinks you're so strong, but inside you're a frightened child waiting to suffer betrayal again from those who should love you most.

they’d lied to me and betrayed me.

trust, once lost, could not be easily found. not in a year, perhaps not even in a lifetime.

to me, when someone wrongs you, you both share the burden of that wrongdoing—the pain of it weighs on both of you.

one day you will learn that love does not always betray you.

there's ways you can trust an enemy you can't always trust a friend because an enemy's never going to betray your trust.

we are all betrayed sooner or later.

words could betray you if you choose the wrong ones, or mean less if you used too many.

the world was not made of energy and delight but of foulness, betrayal, and lassitude.

those who betray me only do so once

everything becomes symbol and irony when you've been betrayed.

i would rather my enemy's sword pierce my heart then my friend's dagger stab me in the back.

it is an awful thing to be betrayed by your body.

was this a betrayal, or was it an act of courage?

nothing can be more hurtful to your heart than betraying yourself.

all you're telling me is i won't betray my friends or family. if that's a weakness, it's one i want.

if it’s by you, then it’s probably fine if i’m betrayed.

can’t you see, these masks we wear betray us. they reveal us.

how hard you worked for what you wanted, how cruelly fate betrayed you in the end.

i learned early every kiss and betrayal are up for interpretation.

friends can betray you, but with an old enemy, you always know where you stand.

not all friends know they have lost you.

never look back; you may only find what you left or let you go.

there are many kinds of betrayals.

i know how betrayal and disillusionment feel, when someone who could give you the world refuses even a tiny piece of it.

there is no honour in betraying your friends.

let us use words carefully, because words can betray and kill.

sometimes the people closest to you betray you, and your home isn't a place you can be happy anymore.

if someone betrays you once, they would betray you twice.

prompts designed around the concept of a character having a difficult day and another character arriving to help/support/care for them!

DIALOGUE PROMPTS.

“ you look like you could use a hug. ”

“ please tell me you didn’t cancel your plans for me… ”

“ don’t be silly, you’re much more important than some tinder date! ”

“ where’s your jacket? i’d like to show you something, and it’ll involve a bit of walking. ”

“ you know i’m always here for you, don’t you? no matter what. ”

“ hey, now… i’m only ever a phone call away. ”

“ come on. let’s get you to bed. ”

“ i’m listening. ”

“ hey, do you have any spare pajamas? i’m going to sleep on your couch tonight; that way you just need to shout if you need me. ”

“ what are your nightmares about? they may not be so bad if you talk about them. ”

“ another nightmare? ”

“ hey now, no more apologizing. i’m glad you called me; i meant it when i said any time, any place. ”

“ you know you’re never a nuisance nor a burden. not to me. ”

“ i’m helping you, and that’s final. i’m not taking no for an answer. now. where’s your kitchen? i’m making us some comfort food. ”

“ maybe you think it’s your job to look after everyone else. but it’s not supposed to be like that. it works both ways. and now it’s my turn to look after you. okay? ”

“ hey, now. you’ve been helping me ever since we met. it’s about time i started repaying the favor. ”

“ i’m so proud of you. i know it’s hard to get past these rough days, but… i still want you to know that i’m proud of you. “

“ you know, i reckon our bond is definitely strong enough to endure whatever it is that you need to get off your chest. “

“ it’s alright, now… i got you. “

“ you don’t need to worry about scaring me off. i’m not going anywhere. you can try as hard as you want, but there’s nothing you can say that’s going to make me like you any less. “

“ you know, i make the best hot chocolate in the world. seriously, i’ve asked absolutely everyone on the planet. everyone except you… what do you say? wanna make it a global fact? “

“ let’s go smash some stuff until you’re ready to talk, okay? “

ACTION PROMPTS.

[ TEA ]: sender prepares a mug of hot tea for the receiver.

[ BLANKET ]: having found the receiver either sleeping or just lying on the couch, sender gently takes a blanket and drapes it over them.

[ BATH ]: sender runs a hot bath for the receiver after a particularly challenging day.

[ DINNER ]: having learned that the receiver has had a difficult time lately, sender arrives at their door with their favorite dinner and drinks.

[ COOK ]: in an effort to boost the receiver’s spirits, sender arrives with all the ingredients needed to make the receiver’s favorite comfort food, with the well-intended intentions of cooking it for them.

[ FORT ]: sender builds a blanket fort for the receiver following a long and difficult day.

[ HUM ]: sender hums gently under their breath to soothe and comfort a distressed receiver.

[ WIPE ]: after the receiver has stopped crying, sender tenderly leans forward, cups their face in their hands, and wipes their tears away.

[ JOURNEY ]: noticing the receiver has had a particularly rough day, sender invites them to accompany them on a walk or drive to get out of the house.

[ HAIR ]: as the receiver leans against them/lies in bed, sender begins to run their hand through their hair to soothe them until they relax or fall asleep.

[ CARRY ]: sender lifts a (nearly) sleeping receiver and carries them into their bed, tucking them in in the process.

[ GUIDE ]: sender physically guides an exhausted receiver into their bedroom, following weeks of very little sleep and very high amounts of stress.

[ BESIDE ]: receiver wakens from their first genuinely restful sleep in weeks, to find the sender asleep next to them, having been holding the receiver throughout the night to help them fall asleep.

[ BEDSIDE ]: receiver wakens from their first genuinely restful sleep in weeks, to find the sender asleep in an armchair by their bedside, having stayed there for the night in case receiver had a nightmare or needed them in any other way.

[ KISS ]: as a gesture of comfort and affection, sender leans forward to kiss the receiver on the forehead.

[ HAND ]: noticing the receiver is close to tears, or otherwise struggling with an unseen but considerable burden, sender gently takes their hand and holds it in an attempt to comfort and encourage them.

[ RUB ]: sender gently rubs receiver’s back in a soothing motion.

[ TV ]: sitting next to the receiver on the sofa, sender joins them in watching their favorite show/movie on the television.

also known as rivals to lovers / idiots to idiots but they’re lovers / rivals to besties / rivals to idiots, the list goes on. some of these are inspired by pre-existing media. change pronouns/aggressive terms of endearment/insults as you see fit! these can also be platonic of course!

“i dunno. sometimes i just… feel things when you’re around.”

“i love your ass.”

“your ass is your best quality.”

“i’d tap that.”

“i love you, bitch.”

“do you ever feel… like… you know… things? like… those warm… feelings?”

“oh my god, stop looking at me like that! i’m gonna end up kissing you.”

“sometimes you’re not annoying.”

“you don’t, like… make me wanna tear my eyes out… or whatever.”

“you love me? are you sure?”

“i don’t hate you.”

“shut up and stay. please.”

“i hate when people say shit like ‘you’re my best friend, i love you, i can’t imagine my life without you. i wake up and you’re the first thing on my mind, and the last thing before i go to sleep. suddenly all the love songs make sense.’ you know? i prefer starting it by saying how much i hate when other people say it, then say what i mean anyway. it’s way less embarrassing like that.”

“we aren’t friends. friends don’t do this kinda thing.”

“maybe i don’t wanna be just friends with you.”

“who the fuck said you aren’t funny?”

“who the fuck called you boring?”

“who the fuck said that? you’re great.”

“i don’t think you’re weird. i think you’re cute.”

“i don’t think you’re weird. you’re a dumbass, maybe, but i like that about you.”

“obviously i like you! i’ve been trying to tell you for ages now!”

“i’ve been flirting with you for the last six months, thanks for noticing.”

“some parts of you don’t make a lot of sense to me, but i don’t know why the sky turns pink at sunset and i still think it’s beautiful.”

“i want you. i don’t know why, i can’t explain it, but i just wanna be around you all the time.”

“i woke up one morning and realised i loved you.”

“you’re the worst. i love it.”

“you’re stupid, that’s what you are, buddy.”

“i wouldn’t die for you, but i think i’d kill for you. maybe. but then, that would mean going to jail… nah. i take it back. no offence.”

“did you know when i call you dude i mean it romantically?”

“what are you gonna do? kiss me?”

“you don’t look totally ugly today.”

“you look… never mind. i didn’t say shit!”

“they’re just flowers, don’t read into it.”

“can you please stop moving your mouth so i can kiss you?”

“you wanna kiss me so bad it makes you look stupid.”

“i trust you, stupid.”

“i love you, dumbass.”

“you’re a pain in the ass but i’m glad we met.”

“of course i care about what you think of me!”

“you’re looking at me funny.”

“i’m not looking at you funny! this is just how i look at someone i hate.”

“being with you makes me feel like a better person.”

“being with you makes me feel like a better person. i look like an angel compared to you.”

“huh? what was that? are you being nice to me?”

“sorry i made things weird the other day. we can still hang out, right?”

“sorry i kissed you, that was stupid. let’s just forget about it.”

“maybe kissing you was stupid but i don’t regret it.”

“are we hugging right now, bro? is that what we’re doing? do we… keep going? do we stop?”

“i’m not going anywhere.”

“i’m here, aren’t i?”

“this is all your fault!” *it is not*

“you drive me crazy in a way that makes everyone else look boring.”

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑

❛ Come here… It’s okay, I’ve got you. ❜ ❛ Breathe slow… slow… copy me, okay? ❜ ❛ It’s okay. Just let it out. ❜  ❛ You can hold my hand if you want. ❜ ❛ Do you want to lie down? I can lie with you. ❜ ❛ Are you throwing up in there? ❜ ❛ Want me to rub your back until you fall asleep? ❜ ❛ You’re all dirty… let me see if I have any clothes that’ll fit you. ❜ ❛ We’ll get you in a shower when you’re less shaken. ❜ ❛ You’re safe… Nothing bad is going to happen, I promise. ❜ ❛ Lets get you to bed, okay? ❜ ❛ Shh… It’s okay, It’s okay… ❜ ❛ It’s okay, get everything out. ❜ ❛ Nobody blames you… ❜  ❛ Don’t say that… ❜ ❛ You’re so important, you know? I know you don’t feel like you are… but you are. ❜ ❛ What did he/she say to you? ❜ ❛ You’re so strong. ❜ ❛ I’m not going anywhere. ❜ ❛ Here have some water… ❜ ❛ Shh. Everything’s okay. You’re safe. ❜ ❛ I’m not going to tell you to calm down, I know it’s hard… but you need to focus on your breathing. ❜ ❛ You don’t have to talk about it. Just come sit down with me. ❜ ❛ It’s okay to admit that this hurts you. ❜ ❛ It was just a nightmare… ❜ ❛ Is this helping? ❜ ❛ Can you name five things you can see? ❜ ❛ Breath in for seven seconds, exhale for eleven. ❜ ❛ Do you wanna go to a doctor? ❜

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐃

mentions of panic attacks , vomiting , trauma , self harm , and distressing situations . Feel free to adjust as needed ! ♡ 

( 𝐑𝐔𝐁 ) ; one muse rubs the other’s back to comfort them while in a moment of distress.

( 𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐓 ) ; one muse grabs a bucket for the other who’s about to throw up. 

( 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐄 ) ; our muses share a bed so the other doesn’t have to be alone. 

( 𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐑 ) ; one muse calls the other a term of endearment to comfort them. 

( 𝐇𝐔𝐆 ) ; one muse holds the other close while they open up / cry.

( 𝐀𝐈𝐃 ) ; one muse runs to the others aid after they were violently hurt. 

( 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 ) ; one muse calls sender late at night in tears and the other comes over to comfort them. 

( 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇 ) ; one muse reaches out to the other after they’ve withdrawn from everyone. 

( 𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐂 ) ; one muse discovers the other during a panic attack. 

( 𝐍𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄 ) ; one muse takes care of the other while they’re sick.

( 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃 ) ; one muse holds the other’s hand while they’re in pain or panicking. 

( 𝐂𝐔𝐃𝐃𝐋𝐄 ) ; one muse offers to cuddle with the other to help them sleep.

( 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐃𝐄 ) ; one muse opens up to the other about a traumatic experience. 

( 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄 ) ; one muse guides the other through a breathing technique.

( 𝐖𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 ) ; one muse comes to the other with an injury they’ve been trying to hide that’s beginning to worry them.

( 𝐊𝐈𝐒𝐒 ) ; one muse gently kisses the other while they’re crying.

( 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄 ) ; one muse helps the other into a bath/shower after a traumatic event. or they bathe together.

( 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐁 ) ; our muses instinctively grab each other while they’re scared.

( 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐀𝐆𝐄 ) ; one muse gives the other a shoulder rub.

( 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃 ) ; one muse wipes blood off of the other.

( 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐓 ) ; one muse shows up at the other’s doorstep in tears.

( 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 ) ; one muse has been missing and finally shows up, dirty and traumatized. the other helps clean them up and tries to get them to talk.

( 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐄 ) ; one muse wakes up the other after having a horrific nightmare.

( 𝐌𝐄𝐀𝐋 ) ; one muse makes the other a warm meal to make them feel better.

( 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐄 ) ; one muse has been slowly deteriorating mentally/physically, the other takes it upon themselves to make sure they’re taken care of.

( 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐄 ) ; one muse takes the other’s face ( cheeks , chin ) when trying to comfort them. 

( 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄 ) ; one muse lets the other stay over when their house gets too stressful.

( 𝐃𝐎𝐎𝐑 ) ; one muse sits outside the door to comfort the other who won’t let them in.

( 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 ) ; one muse stays over to make sure the other doesn’t hurt themselves.

( 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐊𝐄 ) ; one muse strokes the others hair.

( 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐔𝐌𝐀 ) ; our muses sit together after a traumatic experience. 

( 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 ) ; one muse helps ground the other ( bonus if you specify how ) 

( 𝐈𝐂𝐄 ) ; one muse holds an ice pack to the other’s injury.

( 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐏 ) ; our muses cry and hold each other after a traumatic experience. 

( 𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 ) ; one muse strides up to the other and suddenly embraces them tightly after experiencing something distressing. 

( 𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐑 ) ; one muse calms the terrified other.

↬   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.  ’

↬   OF  MERMAIDS,  MASQUERADES  AND  MAGIC.

scenarios  inspired  by  various  settings,  encounters  &  magic  tucked  between  pages,  fashioned  by  the  author.  tw  for  drowning  mentions.

+   feel  free  to  change  pronouns  /  roles  !

MERMAIDS.

‘  beyond  the  winds  and  past  the  shores,  strange  magic  lurks  about.  ’

‘  will  you  go  to  the  lagoon  with  me  ?  it’s  unsafe  to  go  alone.  ’

‘  they  say  a  siren’s  call  alone  can  drown  a  man  before  she  swallows  him.  ’

‘  quick  !  cover  your  ears.  ’

‘  what  did  you  imagine  as  you  heard  the  song  ?  ’

‘  i  can  feel  a  voice  like  claws  sinking  beneath  my  skin.  ’

‘  one  can  pray  to  the  ocean,  but  the  waters  answer  in  strange  tongues.  ’

‘  careful,  or  we’ll  hit  the  reef.  ’

‘  the  sea-folk  are  flighty  as  their  fins,  and  illusive  as  shimmering  scales.  ’

‘  i  should  like  to  find  myself  a  sailor  fit  for  a  feast.  ’

‘  sometimes  i  wish  there  was  more  than  the  endless  waves.  ’

‘  do  you  see  that  ?  there,  beneath  the  surface  ?  ’

‘  that’s  no  fish,  and  no  woman  either.  ’

‘  what  lies  off  the  edge  of  the  map  ?  ’

‘  the  sea  has  monsters,  but  beauties  too.  ’

‘  i’ve  heard  that  merfolk  make  bargains,  and  trade  in  the  ocean’s  magic.  ’

‘  i’ve  never  seen  a  pearl  like  this  one.  ’

‘  the  ship  will  go  down  if  we  don’t  turn  about  !  ’

‘  what  is  that,  out  there  on  the  rocks  ?  ’

‘  won’t  you  listen  to  my  song  ?  ’

‘  mermaids  love  shiny  things.  keep  a  careful  eye  on  yours.  ’

‘  if  we  hide  in  the  kelp,  we  might  see  them  as  they  pass.  ’

‘  i’ve  heard  the  tales.  to  catch  you  means  to  gain  a  granted  wish.  ’

‘   i’ve  never  seen  your  likeness,  only  heard  the  myths.  ’

‘  come  with  me,  beneath  the  sea  and  foam,  and  be  mine.  ’

‘  some  of  us  live  in  the  ocean,  others  in  rivers  and  streams  and  even  trees.  ’

‘  falling  in  love  with  a  human  is  an  old  tale.  tell  me  a  new  one.  ’

‘  so  you  gave  up  your  fin  for  legs  ?  ’

‘  soon  i  will  be  nothing  but  seafoam.  ’

‘  what  is  a  heart,  but  an  ocean  of  secrets  ?  ’

‘  you’d  let  yourself  be  undone  and  remade  for  someone  you’ve  never  known.  that  is  not  love.  ’

‘  let  your  dreams  sink  to  the  depths.  they’ve  done  you  no  good.  ’

MASQUERADES.

‘  i’ve  never  seen  so  many  unfamiliar  faces.  ’

‘  he’s / she’s / they’ve  been  looking  at  me  all  evening.  ’

‘  would  you  do  me  the  honor  of  a  dance  ?  ’

‘  neither  of  us  need  know  the  other  tonight.  i  prefer  the  mystery.  ’

‘  your  choice  of  costume  is  rather  extravagant.  ’

‘  what  fun  would  it  be,  if  i  took  this  off  ?  ’

‘  i’m  certain  we’ve  met  before.  ’

‘  i’ve  always  longed  for  a  night  like  this.  it’s  something  out  of  a  dream.  ’

‘  won’t  you  come  away  with  me  ?  there’s  a  balcony  just  outside.  ’

‘  i’m  inclined  to  think  we’ve  never  met  before,  and  perhaps  will  never  meet  again  after  tonight.  ’

‘  you  look  like  you  know  how  to  waltz.  care  to  ?  ’

‘  i  must  stand  up  with  someone  this  evening,  and  i  don’t  see  why  it  can’t  be  you.  ’

‘  would  you  stop  staring  so  intently  ?  what  do  you  think  to  find  ?  ’

‘  i’ll  stop  bothering  you  if  you  agree  to  dance  with  me.  ’

‘  please  take  it  off.  i  want  to  see  you.  ’

‘  i’ve  never  been  to  a  masque  before.  ’

‘  it  seems  our  attire  makes  opposites  of  us.  ’

‘  i’ve  never  seen  a  more  hideous  costume  than  that  one.  ’  

‘  i  can’t  stay  much  longer.  you  see,  i’m  not  supposed  to  be  here  at  all.  ’

‘  you’ll  never  know  who  i  am.  ’

‘  people  like  you  always  make  a  fool  of  me.  ’

‘  oh.  i  thought  you  were  someone  else.  ’

‘  i’ll  give  you  three  chances  to  guess  who  i  am.  ’

‘  the  next  time  i  offer  you  my  hand,  you’ll  get  more  than  a  dance  from  me.  ’

‘  i’ve  wanted  to  dance  beneath  stars  like  these  for  as  long  as  i  can  remember.  ’

‘  what  do  you  look  like  ?  ’

‘  that  look  in  your  eyes  tells  me  all  i  need  to  know.  ’

‘  you  won’t  like  what  you’ll  see.  ’

‘  i  recognize  your  voice.  ’

‘  you’ll  know  the  truth  before  the  night  is  up.  ’

‘  i’ve  heard  the  darkest  of  dances  are  the  best  for  falling  in  love  to.  ’

‘  you  don’t  know  it  now,  but  we’re  friends  already.  ’

‘  can’t  we  pretend  a  little  while  longer  ?  ’

‘  it’s  when  the  party  is  over  that  we  learn  to  know  each  other  most.  ’

‘  happily  ever  after  can’t  come  so  easily  as  a  single  night  dancing.  ’

MAGIC.

‘  i’ve  caught  you.  you  have  to  undo  the  spell  for  me  now.  ’

‘  think  carefully  before  asking  for  something  well  beyond  the  reach  of  mortal  power.  ’

‘  i  think  i  know  a  spell  for  that.  ’

‘  i  can’t  help  you.  but  there  are  people  in  other  worlds,  in  the  moors  and  hills  and  trees,  that  might.  ’

‘  you  must  gather  the  necessary  ingredients  for  such  a  potion.  ’

‘  true  love  is  never  the  answer  to  the  riddle.  not  when  so  much  as  life  and  death  is  at  stake.  ’

‘  i’ve  found  and  made  my  way  here  by  right.  you  can’t  deny  me  the  answers  i  seek.  ’

‘  be  warned:  monsters  hide  between  the  trees  and  whisper  in  magic  tongues.  ’

‘  it  always  makes  a  fraction  of  sense  to  be  careful  what  you  wish  for.  ’

‘  i’ve  been  turned  into  an  unsightly  creature,  and  i  need  a  way  of  turning  back.  ’

‘  not  all  magical  stories  happen  in  castles,  or  cottages  in  the  wood.  ’

‘  preposterous.  magic  and  sorcery  do  not  exist  but  in  the  minds  of  superstitious  fools.  ’

‘  get  back  from  that  cauldron  !  it’s  dangerous.  ’

‘  i  don’t  mess  with  things  like  candles  and  the  stars  and  the  moon  after  dark.  it  never  ends  well.  ’

‘  i  am  something  ancient.  my  name  has  been  forgotten  by  mortal  mouths  and  is  found  only  in  their  oldest  texts.  ’

‘  not  all  fairy  helpers  are  kind,  and  not  all  villains  are  ugly,  or  even  cruel.  ’

‘  if  you  want  my  help,  you  must  earn  it.  ’

‘  is  this  something  i  could  learn  ?  ’

‘  i  don’t  want  to  be  ordinary,  and  i  don’t  care  what  the  risks  are.  ’

‘  you  think  to  put  a  curse  on  me  ?  i  will  spend  my  life  defying  it.  ’

‘  stay  back,  witch,  and  keep  your  spells  from  sneaking  past  your  lips.  ’

‘  you  must  chain  a  magician  in  more  than  metal  or  rope  if  you  wish  to  stop  them.  ’

‘  that’s  a  parlor  trick.  show  me  real  magic.  ’

‘  only  you  can  break  the  spell.  it  is  something  you  are  meant  for.  ’

‘  fate  is  nothing  but  an  illusion  placed  in  our  heads,  that  we  might  follow  the  words  of others  and  not  our  own  intentions.  ’

‘  whatever  has  brought  me  here,  i  cannot  turn  back  now.  ’

‘  soon  the  clock  will  strike,  and  nothing  more  might  be  done.  ’  

THE TRADITION

❛ she’s easy on the eyes. ❜

❛ her soul is black and it’s a fact. ❜

❛ so take what you want, take what you can, take what you please. ❜

❛ ask for forgiveness, never permission. ❜

❛ It’s in the blood and this is tradition. ❜

❛ they dress her up in golden crowns, her smile hides a lie. ❜

❛ you can take it back it’s good as gone. ❜

❛ this is your soul, i hope what’s left will last all summer long. ❜

❛ they said that boys were boys but they were wrong. ❜

BELLS IN SANTE FE

❛ don’t call me by my name, all of this is temporary. ❜

❛ watch as i step away, for your sake. ❜

❛ maybe i can hold you in the dark. ❜

❛ leaving through the door without a word. you won’t even notice, little bird. ❜

❛ better off dead, so i reckon i’m heading to hell instead. ❜

❛ don’t wait for me, it’s not a happy ending. ❜

❛ to sort out all his bullshit, to figurе out the treason ❜

❛ jesus, you’ve got better lips than judas. ❜

❛ i could give you bad one, otherwise i’m useless. ❜

❛ ‘cause who the fuck would choose this? ❜

EASIER THAN LYING 

❛ i’m only whatever you make me. ❜

❛ you make me more and more a villain every day. ❜

❛ you don’t know you reap, you sow. ❜

❛ whatever you give to me from yourself you take. ❜

❛ well if you’re a hater then hate the creator, it’s in your image i’m made. ❜

❛ 'cause i’ll hang myself if you’d give me rope. ❜

❛ i got so much faith and lost all hope. ❜

❛ one eye broken and one eye bruised, ‘cause I gave myself away for you. ❜

❛ you liar, you don’t love me too. ❜

❛ my heart is massive but it’s empty. ❜

❛ gasping for some real attention, some undivided hypertension. ❜

❛ losing you is easier than lying to myself. ❜

LILITH

❛ i’m perfection when it comes to first impressions. ❜

❛ you got me thinkin’ that i was too mean. ❜

❛ everything that I say I believe. ❜

❛ tuck a knife with my heart up my sleeve. ❜

❛ i am disruptive, i’ve been corrupted. ❜

❛ by now I don’t need a fuckin’ introduction. ❜

❛ you know I get too caught up in the moment. ❜

❛ i can’t call it love if i show it. ❜

❛ i just fuck things up if you notice. ❜

❛ have you noticed? tell me, have you noticed? ❜

❛ now i’m wondering if i ever wanted to hold you. ❜

❛ you’d let anybody with a body control you, and you know it too. ❜

❛ the more that you have, the more that they’ll take. ❜

GIRL IS A GUN

❛ i’m not your daydream, i won’t have your baby. ❜

❛ it’s a shot in the dark, i’m not a walk in the park. ❜

❛ this girl is a gun, and we been havin’ some fun. ❜

❛ i can show you if you turn the lights on. ❜

❛ i keep waitin’ for love to come and swallow me up. ❜

❛ I feel better when the boys stop callin’. ❜

❛ this girl is a gun, before you know it, it’s done. ❜

❛ god is a gun, he can have what he wants. ❜

❛ let me show you how to touch my trigger. ❜

❛ makin’ me crazy from mornin’ to evenin’. ❜

❛ i can’t not take it, i love it, i break it. ❜

❛ it’s never enough, so I’m givin’ you up. ❜

YOU ASKED FOR THIS

❛ i don’t know what you want from me. ❜

❛ now what the fuck does all this mean? ❜

❛ my tears are falling flawlessly now. ❜

❛ go on and be a big girl, you asked for this now. ❜

❛ who the hell is in your bed? ❜

❛ you gotta kiss goodnight and give some head. ❜

❛ i want my cake on a silver plater, i want a fistful in my hands. ❜

❛ i want a beautiful boy’s despondent laughter. ❜

❛ i wanna ruin all my plans. ❜

❛ i want a fist around my throat. ❜

❛ i wanna cry so hard, i choke. ❜

❛ i want everything i ask for. ❜

DARLING

❛ really can’t remember where i left my spine. ❜

❛ maybe I’ll be better if I take my meds. ❜

❛ darling don’t you weep, there’s a place for me. ❜

❛ somewhere we can sleep, see you in your dreams. ❜

❛ ever since i was a little girl i found this sweet. ❜

❛ all the little flowers give me something to believe in. ❜

❛ never knew the feeling of a stable home, been a couple years of living on the road. ❜

❛ only you have showed me how to love me in a life. ❜

❛ until it’s time to see the light, i’ll make my own with you each night. ❜

❛ i’ll kidnap all the stars and i will keep them in your eyes. ❜

1121

❛ i won’t die for love, but i’ve got a body here to bury. ❜

❛ the parts of myself that i’ve hated… i can’t tell which ones are mine and which I created. ❜

❛ you could have my heart and i would break it for you. ❜

❛ i try to be careful with the thing inside my chest. ❜

❛ so you can forget me , i’ll leave if you let me. ❜

❛ please don’t leave, don’t leave me in the shape you left me. ❜

❛ just leave me in the place you found me safe and soundly. ❜

HONEY

❛ she’s on the tip of my tongue, she’s on the top of my thighs. ❜

❛ open your mouth, i got a surprise. ❜

❛ all i can taste is the blood in my mouth and the bitterness in goodbye. ❜

❛ drippin’ like honеy, down the back of my throat and on the front of my mind. ❜

❛ she stings like she means it, she’s mean and she’s mine. ❜

❛ i love every second, it’s fuckin’ fantastic ❜

❛ she’s hell in a basket just makin’ a racket. ❜

❛ good things aren’t easy to get, i know that i won’t regret you. ❜

❛ between my fingers, she leaves then she lingers. ❜

WHISPERS

❛ you sabotage the things you love the most. ❜

❛ this is the voice in your head that says, “you do not want this”. ❜

❛ this is the ache that says, “you do not want him”. ❜

❛ bet I could fuck him. ❜

❛ why do you need love so badly? ❜

❛ i’ve got a monster inside me. ❜

❛ isn’t it lonely? ❜

❛ think that you know me? you think that you could if you hold me? ❜

❛ think you could try to console me, but i do not know me. ❜

I AM NOT A WOMAN, I’M A GOD

❛ i am not a woman, i’m a god. ❜

❛ i am not a martyr, i’m a problem. ❜

❛ i am not a legend, i’m a fraud. ❜

❛ keep your heart, 'cause i already got one. ❜

❛ every day i’ve got a smile where my frown goes. ❜

❛ maybe i could be a different human in a new place. ❜

❛ i just wanna feel something, tell me where to go. ❜

❛ i stay right herе 'cause i’m better all alonе. ❜

❛ i never listen but i see you with my eyes closed. ❜

❛ it really does hurt when you love someone. ❜

THE LIGHTHOUSE

❛ from a tender age i was closed with rage. ❜

❛ i went swimming with the devil at the bottom of a lake. ❜

❛ he was tall and mean with venom eyes so green. ❜

❛ i’ll allure you like a landslide and I’ll show you lovely things. ❜

❛ he kissed me on the mouth and dug his fingers in my thighs. ❜

❛ a sailor ain’t a savior 'cause they only tell you lies. ❜

❛ he’s laying in the water, begging god to let him down. ❜

❛ i showed him all my teeth and then i laughed out loud. ❜

❛ i never wanted saving, i just wanted to be found. ❜

❛ that should teach a man to mess with me. ❜

❛ i’m glad i met the devil 'cause he showed me i was weak, and a little piece of him is a little piece of me. ❜

YA’ABURNEE 

❛ i can’t decide if i love you more at morning or i love you more at night. ❜

❛ the moon don’t pick sides and the sun won’t resign until you’re by my side. ❜

❛ your beauty is a blessing. ❜

❛ i never got to tell you how i lovеd the way my eyes makе yours look green. ❜

❛ i think we could live forever in each others faces. ❜

❛ if we don’t live forever maybe one day we’ll trade places. ❜

❛ darling, you will bury me before i bury you. ❜

❛ i’ll never know if there’s danger in confession. ❜

❛ it’s memory that presses like a blade against my throat. ❜

❛ or to die without revealing that you got inside my head. ❜

❛ love is just a currency so take my pockets, and take me home. ❜

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒖𝒓

“The gods notice, and they know you insult them!”

“You bite people!”

“I never liked islands. You get stuck on them.”

“She knew the heart was human, no mater what the face.”

“Why do you weep? For the bull’s death?”

“Never! I promise!”

“Mother is my father a great warrior?”

“Be wary of those who arrive with blood on their hands!”

“Nothing would stand in his way, not love, not fear, not a promise.”

“You will bring each other nothing but pain and sorrow!”

“Let the sky fall on him, the sea swallow him, the earth drown him. “

“When he caught his own reflection he had the monster’s face.”

𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒐𝒏

“What is that?”

“It is a thing of darkness, a night fear. Don’t even look at it.”

“That face- it’s horrible. Where did it come from?”

“A long way away on a rock at the edge of the world lived a woman-”

“There’s a shame in asking what’s to come.”

“Nothing now for both of us. Nothing but silences and funerals and things that might have been.”

“Suddenly there was light!”

“Look what the sea brought us!”

“Sometimes I miss the darkness. I miss the shadows and the silence.”

“My house is full of shadows come and live with me.”

𝑶𝒓𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑬𝒖𝒓𝒚𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒆

“What did it say?”

“Makes you want to move.”

“The roots of the trees would haul themselves up and dance to his rhythm.”

“While they danced the goddess spring came and joined among them.”

“I have sung storms to sleep.”

“Sometimes a story doesn’t end when two people fall in love.”

“They loved each other as if there had never been love before they met and there never would be love afterwards.”

“There will be no more music!”

“Satyrs understand only pleasure, in the face of pain they are like children alone in the dark.”

“Death is strong than love.”

“Fear me!”

“People think of death like absence but absence isn’t forever!”

“Death is unimpressed.”

𝑫𝒂𝒆𝒅𝒂𝒆𝒍𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒖𝒔

“He fell so far from grace he finished a broken man.”

“His greatest dream was to fly, to soar through the clouds like a bird.”

“Even his hands were awkward and clumsy.”

“I think your brains must have run from your head!”

“The gods play with us.”

“When I look down from the sky things are small. I see fields of corn like raffia mats, people shrink to the size of dolls.”

“Do you think it would be possible for people to fly?”

“He blamed himself didn’t he?”

“It was the only time the great artist smiled.”

“Vile tyrant!”

“Nature makes such clever things.”