"I Want To Tell You I Miss You With No Subtext. No Guilt, No Anger, No Expectation That You'll Fix It.

“…there is no happiness like that of being loved by your fellow-creatures, and feeling that your presence is an addition to their comfort.”

Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

the "I'm not a drinker myself" to gradually becoming an alcoholic to numb out the pain pipeline

the "I don't want them to change me. turn me into something I'm not" to being turned into a mutt version of himself pipeline

the "I do everything in my power to protect my sister" to losing her anyway pipeline

Seriously tempted to write a time-travel fic about Will meeting teenage Crown Prince Halt and royally screwing things up in the process. Someone slap me with a brick.

Search Parties Continue To Sweep Ocean For Halt’s Mysterious Friend, Albert

The search continues throughout the seven seas for the elusive “Albert,” who the famous Ranger Halt of Araluen has been seen earnestly searching for from the decks of the Skandian ship Wolfwill on many a voyage. Many a Skandian wolfship has promised to keep a sharp lookout for the Ranger’s friend, amid puzzling bouts of laughter. Presumably, this unfortunate was swept overboard, and though it’s almost certain that he has drowned, Halt’s extended search would indicate that the Ranger has reason to believe he is still alive.

We spoke to Gundar Hardstriker, skirl of Wolfwill, who was seen to clutch his helmet tightly and look about to ensure the Ranger wasn’t on deck before responding. Here’s what he had to say about the search:

“We’ll keep looking, all right, and none harder than our Ranger friend. He spends hours huddled at the bow of the deck, calling Albert’s name over and over…. at least, that’s what I think he’s saying.”

We also spoke to Will, Halt’s former apprentice, who glared at our reporter. “Things are really going to go south if Halt gets wind of this,” he muttered darkly. When pressed as to his meaning, he glanced back apprehensively towards Halt’s cabin and refused to answer further questions.

Halt will not come out of his cabin and thus could not be reached for comment. According to Courier Alyss, he is suffering from a mysterious Gallican illness known as mal-de-mer. We don’t know what this means, but it certainly sounds scary, and we can only hope for his speedy recovery and reunion with his missing friend.

so soft it hurts

"𝐽𝑒 𝑡’𝑎𝑖𝑚𝑒. 𝐴𝑢𝑗𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑑’ℎ𝑢𝑖. 𝐶𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑟. 𝐷𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛. 𝑃𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑡𝑜𝑢𝑗𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠".

—Michelle Hodkin,The Retribution of Mara Dyer (the third book).

Any Heartless fans out there?

“Captain?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think it was destiny that brought us together?"

He squinted and, after a thoughtful moment, shook his head. "No. I'm pretty sure it was Cinder.”