@miraculousturtle / miraculousturtle.tumblr.com
Okay so after deleting a bunch of random things, I have narrowed down my inbox to about 414 prompts. Just. Prompts. That is crazy! I could to a prompt a day and not even be done with them lmao Anyway, even if things are like three years old, i am making it a goal to get at these and finish these up!!!
STOP BUYING NEW BOOKS DEAR LORD YOU HAVE A 3 FOOT HIGH STACK OF THINGS TO READ
“Just a good friend, huh?” Marinette mutters to Tikki, who hums apprehensively as her chosen’s smile grows fiercer, more determined.
“Marinette…it’s not the worst thing.” She chides, snuggling against the girl’s warm cheek, before floating off to grab a cookie from the nearby plate.
“No…Its…actually brilliant! I’m super excited!” Marinette claps her hands with glee, turning to Tikki with bright eyes and a gaze that spoke of a plan being hatched.
Tikki merely laughs from behind a mouth full of sugar cookies and hopes that Marinette won’t go too far.
—
She should have given Marinette more credit. Marinette is intelligent. Marinette can be patient. Marinette is seeking refuge in this new claim of Adrien’s.
She begins by showing her regular affection for Alya even in front of him. It takes some effort to slough off the usual stiff shell she forms whenever he’s around, but clinging onto Alya and filling herself with affection for her best friends helps divert her anxiety.
Adrien looks on with find amusement as Marinette wraps her arms around Alya’s waist and proceeds to whine about her Chloe into her shoulder.
But Marinette is still sly, and she catches the way his fingers seem to twitch, and the way he hugs himself.
She takes it up a notch later that week when she slings an arm around Nino’s shoulders and presses her ear against his headphones to listen to the music drifting from them. Nino is a bit surprised, but he accepts it with a good natured laugh and draws Marinette into a conversation about composition and beat counts.
Adrien chimes in with a few questions, and Marinette notices the way his pretty eyes drift over to the arm she keeps around Nino. Interesting.
—
She decides she’ll start with something small. She’s still a little nervous, but she shakes out the snow in her bones and lets her trembling fingers tug on the edge of sleeve to catch his attention.
Adrien turns around abruptly, surprise devolving into the most tender smile as he realizes its her.
“What’s going on, Marinette?”
(Too pretty…he’s just a good friend. Swallow down all the rest, Marinette. Keep calm.)
“I uh…we uh…we were planning to go to the cafe later to study for the physics exam. Wanna come?”
She still hasn’t let go of his shirt sleeve, but he doesn’t seem to notice as he answers with the giddiest yes. She feels a vague pity for him, but decides that the next small step should be enough.
She gives him a playful punch to the shoulder.
“Cool.” She says.
“Cool.” He repeats. He hesitates for a bit, before tapping her twice on the shoulder and heading off.
The snow slowly overtakes her legs, and Marinette has to nearly wobble her way to scream into Alya’s shirt.
—
She finds him unexpectedly lonely on one of their outings.
Nino has already laced his fingers with Alya’s left hand. Alya’s right arm is hooked through Marinette’s. It’s a formation they’ve gotten used to overtime, and Adrien feels a little left out when he realizes how well they manage to maneuver all connected like this.
He misses it when Nino tries to offer him his free hand and Alya hisses something at him, her eyes drifting pointedly to Marinette who looks astonishingly like a ladybug with a very stark red painted across her freckled cheeks.
Marinette doesn’t hesitate however. She merely threads her arm under his, and hooks her elbow behind his.
“There.” She says with some finality, grinning up at him invitingly.
His eyes are wide, and the look of loss quickly chips away to reveal a sudden joy that’s nearly blinding. His arm tightens around hers until she’s pulled closer to his side.
“There.” He repeats happily, before leading them all to the nicest cafe he can treat them to.
—
Adrien finds himself at a loss. His heart stoppering up his throat until he can barely speak at all. Marinette’s touches have begun to burn him.
It’s been a few months since Marinette had begun to treat him with the same tactile affection she lavished on all her loved ones, and he’s found himself to be looking forward to those occasions.
She’d begun winding her arm around his waist in a casual side hug about two weeks back. He’d leaned into it with all the careful composure he could muster, but that had been a lie told by a stoic face. Inside he’s been a giddy, tangled mess.
Because with Marinette weaving these threads to pull him closer, she’s brought with her an unsettling sort of warmth that sears deep into him wherever she touches. He can feel the imprints of her fingertips as she musses his hair to make him look more dashing.
He can remember the trailing bits of stardust that lingered under his skin when she’d contemplated how smooth his face was. The little bits of sparklers that had crawled up his spine when she’d leapt and hugged him after a long winter break.
This strange feeling leaves him breathless. Wanting more. And theres a vague annoyance underneath all of that when Alya or Nino, or any one of the countless people that love Marinette, pull her away and are gifted her lavish affection too.
So he tugs on her arm a little closer when they all walk together. He ignores the knowing look Alya gives him over Marinette’s head.
Sometimes, when he’s feeling particularly cold or lonely after a long weekend at home, he’ll beeline towards Marinette and walk her to a more empty side of the courtyard as he engages her in conversations.
About fashion, about music, about anime, about food. Anything about her is fascinating and he’s just as greedy for this information about his newest good friend as he is for her casual tactility.
Thoughts of Ladybug are a little farther away these days, nestled deep in the secret part of his chest more useful for nights under city lights than for sunny days at school.
But here in daylight, Marinette is real and solid and so close.
He knows he’s being a little selfish like this, but he’ll let himself be hugged and coddled by his good friend because she seems completely fine with doing so.
—
There comes a time when his selfishness crosses a line. When they’re tired from playing several rounds of the newest Clash Bros game, and they’re sprawled across Marinette’s divan.
He’s as content as a cat with cream, his stomach pleasantly filled with pastries and hot chocolate. His head rests against Marinette’s, hers on his shoulder, legs stretched out and pressed together as they watch the an episode of a particularly sappy Korean drama.
She’s absently sketching patterns in the palm of his open hand, and has to put in effort not to close up his palm or let himself…let himself do what?
Marinette is just a good friend. And it’s late at night and he’s so sleepy and she’s so warm and here…she’s right here.
He’s being entirely selfish when he closes his fingers around hers. He’s being entirely selfish when she looks up at him in confusion and he drops his head down to kiss her.
He’s being entirely selfish…even when she pulls away in shock and disbelief, and his apologies tumble from his lips, lacking all sort of proper regret.
“I…I need to sleep. I’m tired.” Is all she says.
He wants to say sorry. To make her understand that he hadn’t meant to…that he’d done it all wrong…but her eyes are large and tearful in the shifting light of the television and that hurts him more so than anything else.
He hurt a good friend. And that’s nothing a simple apology could fix. He leaves with one last sorry.
He’s really screwed up. And the burning in his lips and his chest are far from pleasant when his burning shame eclipses it all.
—
It’s like starting from scratch. She’s so confused. She’d gotten so comfortable. The hurt in her chest at being called a friend had died and rebloomed as something that could only be termed utter content.
A good friend was what Adrien had needed more of. She’d seen the way he’d opened up after she’d changed how she approached him. The soft warmth of his hugs and the solid safety she felt with him and Alya at her side.
And then…when all her last remaining bits of romantic affection had nearly settled into memory, he’d kissed her.
One of her best friends had kissed her and she didn’t know where to start.
Her refuge in audacity had backfired and she’s unsure if it’s as welcome as she once wanted it to be.
Where to go from here?
—
Where to go isnt that difficult a question. How to do it is the conundrum.
She avoids him. And he doesn’t chase after her.
But he’s too selfish to let her go completely out of his life and he’s determined not to let her slip away. He misses her warmth. And if good friendship is the most he can ask for, then he’ll take it. Marinette is worth it all.
So he starts small. He manages to catch her unawares one day. He tugs on her sleeve to catch her attention.
“We’re uh…Nino and Alya want to go to the aquarium for the lab assignment? Want to go as a group?”
Marinette’s eyes nearly swallow her face while when she looks at him. She recoils away, and he lets the fabric of her sleeve slip through his grip as she steps back to look at him.
He offers her a small, hopeful smile. Full of unworded apologies. She looks wary, ready to run.
He doesn’t notice it, but he crosses his arms and hunches over, to stop the pain that radiates from his chest from spreading any further.
That seems to change something in her assessment.
She looks fierce and determined as she steps up to him, places a playful punch to his shoulder.
“Cool.” She offers. And she still isn’t quite close to him, but small starts are great.
Relief suffuses him and its without any guile that he taps her shoulder twice and answers-
“Cool.”
Her gaze softens at his earnest happiness, and she seems hesitant, before she opens her arms a little wider to welcome a hug.
Adrien lets loose the wildest single bark of laughter he can manage, before pulling her close and burying his relief in her shoulder.
“Cool.” He repeats. “Thank you, Marinette.”
She winds her arms around him, holding him tight and realizing just how much she’d missed him. Regardless of what her feelings are now, there’s still time to examine them later. Whatever that kiss had meant to him is a whole other conversation to be had, perhaps after some more recovery.
For now, good friendship is the best sort of reward and she has the audacity to enjoy to its fullest.
You guys asked, and I finally delivered. I seriously didn’t think her dress would be this popular lol.
The dress from this comic~
Cheers, ~Joy
Okay my face looks dumb lol But thank you everyone ;.;
I decided to make a 101 Dalmatians AU.
Roger and Anita are a very cute couple and I think it fits how Mari and Adrien will behave when older. Also Roger being a little shit with Cruella is the way I see Adrien behaving too xD
I’m still not great at digital art, so this took quite a while to finish. This is better than some of my earlier attempts, so I’m still pretty happy. Also, sorry about the quality! I’m still figuring out the proper settings when I post digital art!
I’m so proud of myself, this panel ended up exactly how i imagined it (*high five to myself*)
It is HER cat :3
I really like this one. Which is weird. I don’t usually like my own art that much.
Love square week day one Senses Sight,smell,taste,touch & hearing In which I almost forgot hearing was a sense lol. It’s finals week for me so I only have time for some fun quick sketches.
Romeo X Juliet AU 🌼🌼⚔ (I am hurt…)
I'm sorry that it seems you've had a bad day ;-; but remember that we, your followers, are here if you need to vent and we care about what happens to you :) we appreciate you because you are a great person who knows how to use your words. Again, sorry you had some crap, but I hope the rest of everything was good ❤️❤️
Thanks anon, today has really put me through the emotional wringer. First, I got terrible news, next I got my heart stomped all over and lost faith in humanity, then I got my faith restored in humanity while I cried like a bitch lol and finally, the day ended on a high note of me getting full time hours at work???
(and when i thought about how I got those full time hours I cringe because oh no, i kinda started shit, but not really because none of this would have happened if these supervisors showed me some compassion lol.)
but yeah. today has been really exhausting lol
protip to aspiring authors: if you ever need to feel better about your writing then please just read any of the best-selling erotica titles on amazon
you’re fine
wow, if i ever needed a pick me up hahaha
Many of the people who post on romance novels on Tumblr are well-versed in common aspects of the community. But some are not. Here’s a rundown of common references. (Not alphabetical, grouped arbitrarily as I saw fit.)
Romance novel: A story that centers on a love story and culminates with an emotionally satisfying ending.
HEA: Happy ever after. The traditional ending for romance novels. Often means the characters are married or seriously committed by the end of the story.
HFN: Happy for now. An alternative version of the happy ending that has become more common in the modern genre. In this type of ending, the characters are shown to be happy and committed, but no promises are made about their future status.
Black moment: The point in the story when it appears that the problems between the characters cannot be overcome. The darkest and most hopeless point of their journey.
Modern genre: Current and recently published romance novels with modern themes and sensibilities. Commonly understood to be post-2000.
Old school: Can technically be understood to mean romances published before 2000, but more accurately means a romance novel that followed conventions commonly used prior to the modern genre. These are romance’s “problematic” books with alpha heroes, sexually naive heroines, scenes of dubious consent, sexual assault or rape, and an almost total lack of characters of color, except for often-stereotypical depictions of Native American heroes and sheikh heroes. Known for world-ranging adventures, feisty heroines, larger age differences, and Fabio. Often the starter books for many a romance reader and contains numerous classics of the genre.
Bodice ripper: A term that is either a pejorative for the genre or reclaimed by the romance community, depending on who you speak to. Often used by outsiders to describe all romance novels. Stems from scenes in old school romances where the hero would tear the clothing of the heroine. Generally understood in the community to refer to old school romance published in the ‘70s.
Fabio: Full name Fabio Lanzoni. A romance novel cover model who became popular in the 80s and 90s. He was on many covers and was known for his flowing blond hair. Went on to minor celebrity status. “Wrote” some of his own romance novels. Is still used as representative of the genre despite not being on a cover in decades. Once got hit in the face by a bird while on a roller coaster. The bird died. Reportedly a very nice person.
Alpha: Heroes with domineering qualities. These heroes are protective of the heroine and they may be possessive or jealous. The hero’s ways are redeemed, changed, or softened by the ending.
Alpha-hole: Alpha heroes who are not redeemed, or alpha heroes whose behavior is too over-the-top for the individual reader. Sometimes alphas are always alpha-holes for an individual reader.
Beta hero: A hero with a calm demeanor, respectful ways, or less status than an alpha. A big umbrella that basically encompasses any hero who is kind or has less status or is a social outcast in some manner. These heroes’ journeys are more often lateral in nature (he started out kind and compassionate and he remained kind and compassionate) or upward in nature (he was poor at the beginning but gained status by the end).
Theta hero: A lesser-known categorization for a subset of betas who have even less status or social standing. For example: a bumbling nerd who, at the beginning of his journey, cannot speak in front of the heroine.
Heroine: In stories with a heroine, she acts as the emotional center of the story. Many readers expect to identify with the heroine. Her journey is the reader’s journey.
H/H: Hero and heroine. Sometimes written as H/h. Can also mean hero/hero or heroine/heroine. Alternative option is MCs for main characters.
BDSM: Stands for bondage, discipline, submission/sadomasochism or variants. A common theme in erotic romance. Increased in visibility since the popularity of Fifty Shades of Gray.
Erotic romance: Romance novels with an abundance of explicit sex.
Romance: Most romances fall here. Will usually have a handful of explicit sex scenes. Contain less sex than erotic romance and the sex often begins later in the story than in erotic romance.
Clean romance: Romances were no sex or no explicit sex occurs.
Closed-door/open-door: A story with explicit sex is an open-door romance. A story were the sex occurs but is not described is a closed-door romance.
Inspirational romance: Romances where both characters are explicitly Christian or are converted to Christianity by the end of the book. AKA inspy or inspies. Generally clean romances.
Amish romance: Romances where one or more characters are Amish. Can be historical, but usually contemporary. Usually also inspirationals and clean. AKA bonnet rippers, which may or may not be a pejorative depending on who you ask.
Muslim romance: Romances where one or more characters are Muslim. Significantly rarer than Christian romances, to the point of near-nonexistence outside digital or self pub.
Jewish romance: Romances where one or more characters are Jewish. Significantly rarer than Christian romances, to the point of near-nonexistence outside digital or self pub.
Mainstream romance: Romances published by traditional publishers or romances that dominate in terms of availability. Traditionally contains stories focused on one female character and one male character, both of whom are usually white.
Traditionally published: AKA trad pub. Books published in print + ebook by legacy publishers, often based in New York. Considered the stodgiest and slowest publication option but also the most prestigious. Historically hostile to non-heterosexual and non-white stories.
Harlequin: The most well-known publisher of romance novels. Publisher of category romances, romance, and women’s fiction under a variety of imprints. Based in Canada, recently purchased by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, and a division of HarperCollins. “Harlequin” often used as a shorthand for romance novels by outsiders.
Mills & Boon: Another historically famous publisher of romance novels. Based in England. Owned by Harlequin. Where Americans would use Harlequin as a shorthand for romance, Europeans would say Mills & Boon.
Avon: A publisher of romance novels, also owned by HarperCollins. Many of the most popular romance novelists publish with Avon and many romance classics, including The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss and Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers, were published by Avon.
Self published: AKA self pub. Books published usually in digital form by authors without the support of a traditional publisher. Authors may also have their books printed. Known for low prices and prolific titles. Previously demeaned as “vanity publishing,” has gained in status in recent years. Less restrictive than traditional publication, which means authors of color, characters of color, and more types and styles of stories can find an eager audience.
Romance novelist: An author who focuses exclusively or almost exclusively on the romance genre.
Nora Roberts: The most famous romance novelist. Has written 200+ books. Also writes under the pseudonym J.D. Robb.
Beverly Jenkins: A famous romance novelist who writes historical romances featuring black characters and characters of color. Known for deep research and longevity of success.
Danielle Steel: A famous and successful novelist often considered to be a romance novelist but most of her books cannot be categorized as romance novels as they do not focus on a love story or have happy endings.
Nicholas Sparks: A famous and successful novelist often considered to be a romance novelist but most of his books cannot be categorized as romance novels as they do not have happy endings. Largely hated by romance novelists and romance readers for multiple comments that are derogatory about the genre.
John Green: A famous and successful YA novelist often considered to be a romance novelist but most of his books cannot be categorized as romance novels as they do not have happy endings.
Category romance: Popularized by Harlequin and Mills & Boon, romances of usually less than 250 pages published under a category wherein each story fits certain guidelines or follows a general theme. Also called series romance.
Single-title: Industry term for a romance that is not published under a category imprint. Longer than category romance, usually 350-400 pages.
Series: A romance series takes place in a common world and follows a common theme. It is rare for a romance series to need to be read in chronological order, outside of paranormals. Often includes connecting characters that readers enjoy revisiting.
Standalone: A romance that is not part of a series. Romance novelists and publishers will often tell readers that a book that is part of a series “can be read as a standalone.”
Serial romance: A single romance told in multiple books. More common in self pub than trad pub. See cliffhanger below.
Cliffhanger: A romance novel traditionally ends with an emotionally satisfying ending. Abrupt endings in romances that require the reader to read another book to reach the happy ending often earn blowback for novelists from readers. Because of this, authors will generally warn readers if the book contains a cliffhanger. More common in self pub than trad pub.
Romantic suspense: Subgenre of romance where the romance is surrounded by a suspenseful plot that heightens danger to the characters or establishes a mystery that must be solved by them.
Historical romance: Subgenre of romance set in the past. Often shortened to historicals.
Regency romance: Popular subset of historical romance set in the Regency era of England. Often set in London or the great houses of England. A commonly understood world usually correlated to a love of the works of Jane Austen. Often shortened to regencies.
Western romance: Subgenre of historical romance usually set in the American West, generally following the American Civil War. Can also be contemporary.
Contemporary romance: Romances set in contemporary times with modern themes. Often shortened to contemporaries.
Small town romance: Popular subgenre of cotemporary romance set in a small town in America. Themes of family, home, and renewal common.
Paranormal: Subgenre involving mythical or supernatural characters or human/part-human characters in a mythical or supernatural world. The romance genre’s version of fantasy. Sometimes shortened to PRN.
Science-fiction romance: Subgenre with love stories surrounded by science fiction.
M/m romance: Romance with male-identifying main characters. Incredibly popular subgenre. A m/m romance can exist in any subgenre.
F/f romance: Romance with female-identifying main characters. Much rarer than m/m romance. A f/f romance can exist in any subgenre.
Menage or poly romance: Romance with more than two characters. A poly romance can exist in any subgenre.
Tropes: Common themes or elements in romance novels. Romance readers often prefer certain tropes to others or will seek out stories with their preferred tropes. Some of the more popular or currently popular tropes:
RWA: Romance Writers of America. A professional and advocacy group with a popular annual conference. Conference shorthanded to RWA.
RT: Romantic Times. A once-print, now entirely digital magazine focused on reviews of romances. Runs a popular annual conference attended by both writers and readers. Conference shorthanded to RT.
RITA: Biggest awards in the genre. Books, authors, and people in the community are nominated in several categories. Awards are given at a banquet during the annual RWA conference.
Romance scholar: A person studying the genre or aspects of the genre. Gaining in legitimacy as an academic endeavor in recent years.
Romancelandia: The romance community. An all-encompassing term for writers, editors, readers, and fans of the genre.
$1 billion: Commonly cited size of annual romance sales, which is large enough to support and subsidize the rest of the publishing industry. Since this number does not account for much outside of mainstream romance, the amount is likely far higher.
This is fantastic!
inktober day 8/9. fineliner, copic markers, white gel pen.
adrien: bird of paradise; freedom, loyalty
marinette: chestnut flower; seek justice
I am swooning.
