Hi readers! Ahead of Secrets Predetermined’s final part’s release... I’ve been both advised by @aquietjune and spurred on by the confusion of others to create some recaps on the original characters, the main setting and the overall story up until this point - to save anyone from having to re-read the whole thing for a memory jog, where required.
Without further ado:
Ink Strokes Recap {~1k words}
Saturated Palette Recap (Part 1) {~1.3k words}
Saturated Palette Recap (Part 2) {~1.3k words}
OC/Main Setting Recap/Summaries {~1k words}
I will likely be adding to this list - plus that last recap - in the future, as the third and final fanfic inevitably also grows in length and in age. I hope these all help anyone who needs them!
Just for an update, for those of you following who might exclusively be over here, Chapter 20 of my JeanPiku-centric fanfic Cherished Canvas is now up! Further info on the update schedule is in the author notes.
RULES: share the last line you wrote for your WIP, and then tag as many people as there are words.
...
Apart from a few bandages wrapped around his forearms, his body lay unusually bare; an apparition of ghostly pale skin.
(Guess who ^^)
Tagging: (I've got to annoy 20 people now? Fuuuck. Note to self: edit out these stupidly long, run on sentences). @this-is-krikkit @wanderlustqueen-writes @sixpennydame @littlerequiem @leviismybby @romantichomicide95 @nuri148 @wyvernslovecake @fanmoose12 @moogleterra @mstwnttd @yokohamapound @dreamingon-forever @hangeslefteye @nube55 @giuliadrawsstuff
Help, I have no friends so I'm having to bother the people who have already done this! Thanks for the tag @youre-ackermine @humanitys-strongest-bamf - you're it now! And I'm sure you guys don't mind sharing another line? @roseofdarknessblog @the-milk-anon
“I can’t help you,” She whispers, biting back a sob.
That was short lmao xD Anyways, no pressure tags, and definitely not as many as the words T_T: @distortedclouds @annawayne @dudewhy3 @novaae @aquietjune @underthetree845
Thanks for the tag; leaving my anti-Internet lair for this:
"Would you ask for a miracle? I can give you one."
And who’s in this scene? Who knows, who knows
Tagging @celestialstarcandies @anyaskalliope @mistystarshine and that’s it cause I’m awkward and not quite new yet not really active and really terrible at this (also, if you’re writing aot stuff, please free to add me, talk to me, shout at me). Going back to my lair now, bye-bye
Pieck casually studied the other woman - trying to pick up on anything that might be eluding her, amid the mounting stress culminating over the past few weeks.
******
Changed slightly, to avoid spoilers. 😛
I can't adhere to the rules exactly, but I'll tag as many mutuals as I can. Apologies! 🙏
WARNING: Contains spoilers for the entirety of Ink Strokes.
The fanfic this recap covers is Rated M, and as such there may also be adult content mentioned within the text below.
Viewer discretion advised!
Full recap located under the cut:
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Notable Canon Divergences - Begins to divert from canon right before the timeskip in Chapter 139 of the manga.
Marley has been abandoned by its surviving population, due to a rapid state collapse and uninhabitable conditions - following the Rumbling. Now effectively an extinct country, overrun by wildlife.
With Paradis declared the victors of the war by default, the remaining Yeagerists operating within its military have inexplicably disappeared - commonly believed to be working undercover, at the behest of new leadership. Overseas sightings have been reported around the surviving nations.
The Alliance have been ‘honourably’ discharged from their respective militaries and did not become ambassadors by their own volition. They are now joined by Levi and Onyankopon. Mikasa, Gabi and Falco have been pardoned for their respective war crimes and left behind on Paradis.
03/03/23: Eren and Zeke’s grandparents are alive in this fanfic and fairly pivotal side characters for the development of certain core characters. As far as I’m aware, their deaths were not outright confirmed in the manga as they were in the anime and I did not take certain things into consideration at my time of reading. Sorry about that!
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Jean and Pieck meet again, three months after the Rumbling, at one of the refugee campgrounds situated on the outskirts of Paradis. After opting to help the former warrior, her father and many other displaced families in need at this same location over the weeks… vandalism of the crop fields leads the former scout to the discovery of a mysterious, non-titanized giant - who proceeds to magically clear the damage and then vanish into thin air.
***
Following this strange encounter, Jean intervenes in a fight between two men and is subsequently bailed out of trouble by Pieck - who tells him not to come back, for fear of his safety and reputation leading towards their upcoming war tribunal. Sometime later, the Alliance is reinstated and their new positions as peace ambassadors are established - following an illicit ‘trial’ on behalf of their newly-elected government, placing their fates and that of their families and friends directly into the palms of these new ministers’ hands... alongside Queen Historia.
***
Two months thereafter, the eight remaining members of the Alliance leave by ship - helmed by Onyankopon - to travel the globe and kick-start peace & trade negotiations with the surviving nations. Upon departing, they lay their sights on a dam splattered in ink and the gears begin to turn in everyone’s heads as to what might be causing the strange phenomenon…
Jean discovers Pieck ‘sleep-crawling’ one night and enters into a long conversation with her, following a potentially traumatic rescue - realising, soon after, that he is slowly developing a crush on her.
***
A peace tour gone horribly wrong winds Jean up with a head injury, of which Pieck blames herself for and tends to his wound sometime afterwards - while the rest of the Alliance head out on business to a fireworks festival. The two decide to watch the show from the upper deck, as they divulge more of their life stories with each other. Sparks fly, and they share an impromptu first kiss…
***
With their reciprocal feelings now brought to light, the pair hopelessly dance around one another - in closely-guarded secrecy - for several more weeks until potential trouble at a desert-surrounded nation brings them together - and alone, once more - on horseback. Their conversation is cut short as the giant reappears, as does another vision of an ink-covered wall. Both of which, coupled with distressing visions, send Jean into an emotional frenzy - where a less-than-friendly exchange happens between himself and Pieck.
***
Apologies are exchanged the very next day, and tensions mount until the two end up vehemently making out in the ship’s storeroom. Jean stops them both, before it can transcend into something more, but their mutual attraction still persists as the Alliance’s sea-bound trials and tribulations continue on…
***
After a meeting which brings to light the confirmation of hidden Yeagerist activity, following an investigation conducted by Paradis’ New Age Government due to the aforementioned suspicious events at the desert nation, the main pair share another intimate moment and Jean’s unhealed bodily scars - following his titanization during the Battle of Heaven & Earth - are revealed to Pieck.
A visit to the ominously abandoned Griphus Isles, coinciding with Pieck’s birthday, brings her impatience with Jean and frustrations with herself to light as he finds her swimming in a strange cave - covered in the very same ink that continues to haunt them. While Jean reports back to Armin, Pieck finds a present from the former in her room and a date is subsequently set up between the two, upon his return to her.
***
Following their eventual gifted day out, Jean makes a call to his mother - with Pieck present - which only fortifies the unwieldy rift between the two friends-with-benefits, as piffling but ill-timed news of a patron attempting to betroth him to their granddaughter comes to light.
Sometime later, nearing the end of their tour, a local newspaper from one of the neighbouring isles to their final destination - Sculderhaven - details a report on the strange worldwide ink phenomenon, backed by the nation’s Scientific Sector… chalking it up to disrupted squid migration patterns, as a result of the Rumbling, and leading the Alliance to deem it as a false alarm…
Immediately afterwards, the group of eight leave their ship for a celebratory night out while the naval crew restock the vessel - in preparation for the journey home. As Connie loses out on his own ‘chances’ at finding love, a drunk and dispirited Jean upsets the already precarious balance of his own awkward ‘relationship’ with Pieck by almost revealing the true nature of their hidden connection to the entirety of the bar - following what he irrationally perceives to be a kidnapping attempt on her and Annie, by a passing group of fellow pub-going men.
The two talk their situation out in the men’s bathroom, where honest feelings come to light and they make some surprisingly positive headway. So much so that days later, upon making port in Sculderhaven’s pivotal town of Lichland, Pieck seems to have prepared herself to go all the way - when the local noble family line invite the Alliance to a gala at their lavish family estate…
WARNING: Contains spoilers for Chapters 1-10 of Saturated Palette.
The fanfic this recap covers is Rated E, and as such there may also be adult content mentioned within the text below.
Viewer discretion advised!
Full recap located under the cut:
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Months and months of confusion, denial and abstinence all come to a head as Pieck leads Jean into a guest room at the Wells’ Estate - where the two have penetrative sex for the very first time and then proceed to enter into an impulsive romantic relationship, that they still elect to keep a secret from the rest of the world, before proceeding to spend the rest of the night together and finding that things work out really well - in spite of the messiness of it all…
***
But keeping this new relationship under wraps is easier said than done, as a mishap with the condom provided to them by Annie and an accidental unveiling of one of Jean’s love bites to Onyankopon reveal their secret to the two other ambassadors - effectively halving those that they perceive to be unaware from day one. To make matters worse, their ship is effectively tampered with upon the strange appearance of a cluster of holes in the walls and the two must wait a little while longer until their ‘second time’ - lest they want their little secret spilled to not only the four remaining ambassadors, but also the entirety of the thin-walled B&B that they’re all required to stay at until a replacement ship arrives.
***
A trip to the local museum - one week later - to find and thank Luis Lavin, the man who had avidly tasked himself with checking their damaged ship for explosives before its removal from port, presents a tantalising chance for the new couple to ‘spend some time together’ and Jean grabs it by the reins. Unfortunately, they find the other scout and warrior couple - Armin and Annie - staring down the painted wall of a newer ‘Subjects of Ymir’ exhibit and a bout of trauma almost comes between their art gallery tryst, while Jean and Armin confide in each other about their sinful relationships with the warrior women… Almost.
As Jean and Pieck subsequently and voraciously make love within the museum’s storeroom, they are instead broken apart at the climax by a chance encounter with Yelena - who has taken up work there as an archivist, in exchange for nearby housing through the museum’s trust fund. A reluctant truce is formed, and a promise for all that they found out within the repository to remain between the three of them is formed.
***
Another week or so later, evidently not having learned their lesson, the couple canoodle within one of the changing rooms of the local tailors and are - this time - interrupted by none other than the store's CEO, the youngest son of the grand Duke & Duchess of Sculderhaven, Bellamy Wells.
The man in question extends an offer to join him, his older brother and a couple of their friends for drinks at one of the local taverns. The other Wells brother having ties to the local military, with the Field Marshal being one of Paradis' prime targets to make negotiations with, prompts the pair into readily accepting his proposal.
The rest of the Alliance are also extended an invitation, and more mysteries are left for them to unravel throughout the night… Including Bellamy's missing wife, Reiner & Luis Lavin's strange behaviour and just what kind of evidently-illegal substance is located within the museum receptionist's - also in attendance - coveted tin.
***
Their night of fun is cut short, however, when an uncomfortable question posed by Bellamy's aforementioned older brother - Atlas - sends Annie over the edge and seemingly prompts a vicious attack from a masked group. Their not-so-leisurely outing ends with Connie getting shot in the arm and Pieck getting stabbed in the liver…
Yelena is present and forced to join the fight, revealing herself to everyone within the Alliance. Our main couple's relationship is also unintentionally revealed to Connie and Reiner, in the process. Atlas, supposedly feeling bad for how things have gone and knowing that this will all reach Paradis' government, offers to accompany them to their next meeting and vouch for the group.
***
Pieck's mental health further deteriorates following this ordeal, alongside Jean's best efforts to find the identity of her and Connie's attackers - which involve an undue interrogation of Yelena, that brings new information following the mystery of the holes to light.
Sometime after their two casualties have been discharged, a new ship finally arrives and the Alliance leave Lichland to return home. Upon getting closer to Paradis, they hold a late birthday celebration for Armin. As Reiner and Connie come across a chance encounter with a mysterious sea monster, while Armin and Annie find a strange worm in the bathroom, Jean and Pieck manage to crack the meeting room's table while performing some incredibly risky anal sex and consequently alert Levi to their activities - finally completing the circle of those in the know.
***
The Alliance all share what they've discovered with one another about the mysteries back in Sculderhaven - in both distraction and preparation for the meeting with Historia & the ministers, back in Paradis - before making port at their home island and temporarily heading their separate ways…
Mikasa is soon made aware of Jean and Pieck's relationship upon their arrival and joins Armin in pestering their longtime comrade about it, as the three native Paradisians visit Eren's grave. Meanwhile, Pieck visits her father and Reiner heads back to Shiganshina to visit Falco, Gabi and the rest of his family.
Later that night, Connie makes his way over to Pieck - on Jean’s request - and informs her about some strange new health and safety regulations that bar the two of them from attending the Alliance's meeting with the ministers. A walk-and-talk theory session on the beach ends poorly, bringing up old wounds as his newly infected gunshot wound festers - prompting him to finally and honestly confront the former warrior about the Ragako massacre, as his sudden condition rapidly worsens.
***
Pieck hurries him to Eren and Zeke's grandparents' home and assists the pair in extracting what appears to be an infant squid from Connie's arm. Catching sight of Atlas Wells' plane at the docks, she leaves Connie in the elderly couple's care before heading over to fruitlessly interrogate the Lichland General.
Meanwhile, Queen Historia pays an impromptu visit to the Brauns’ family home in Shiganshina and enters into a formal talk with him concerning the past, the present and the future - signalling the possibility of a negative outcome during their upcoming meeting, while making it clear that she & Atlas are both on the Alliance’s side and have a plan.
The next morning, Levi & Mikasa discuss those they've lost while visiting Erwin's gravestone and Hange's memorial. There, he ‘reluctantly’ adopts a one-eyed stray cat - who had been routinely following him around for some time, even before the Alliance's global tour - and gives the other Ackerman some much-needed advice, concerning moving on, that prompts her into staying with the Yeagers as an apprentice doctor.
The meeting with the New Age Government, with attendance permitted to only four members of the group as Levi & Annie are also deemed 'unfit for 'work, takes an unexpected turn for the ministers… revealing that their Queen and Atlas Wells have been in contact for quite some time. A proposition is put forth to place the Alliance under the care of Lichland's military, as investigation into the holes phenomenon continues, of which the ministers begrudgingly accept as Historia gives her blessing.
Though Armin places his full trust in their old friend's judgement and signs their lives away - with everyone's permission - Annie is, naturally, less than happy but ultimately also places her own trust in Armin's judgement. She, Levi and Mikasa all regroup at Atlas' plane, after Pieck & Connie have a more subdued talk with one another while sitting on board.
WARNING: Contains spoilers for Chapters 11-16 of Saturated Palette.
The fanfic this recap covers is Rated E, and as such there may also be adult content mentioned within the text below.
Viewer discretion advised!
Full recap located under the cut:
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Jean and Pieck head out on their first 'official' date, shortly after stopping off to introduce her to his mother - in person. The date of which ends less than perfectly, as the two get drunk and clumsily attempt to have sex in a secluded forest - eventually leading Pieck into a crying breakdown mid-fellatio, with the reveal to Jean that she harbours deep-seated guilt about the death of her own mother following her birth.
The two share a heart-to-heart in one of the fields overlooking Trost, before heading off to Atlas' plane for their departure back to Lichland - and the Wells' Estate. Mikasa, Gabi & Falco see them off - with the latter two fiercely proclaiming that they're coming with the Alliance to Sculderhaven, next time.
***
Upon arrival, the Alliance are introduced to the Field Marshal's daughter and a General in her own right - Druscilla Cato - as they get settled into the old gala's location. Meanwhile, Reiner & Luis have a heartfelt reunion - with a gifted set of earrings involved, from his mother and with her blessing - and they share their first kiss.
Armin soon notes that a couple of things are amiss... the worm's remains - that he and Annie kept within a bag - have vanished without a trace, and there is a painting missing from one of the walls within the expansive building.
Pieck is plagued by sleep problems and perceived auditory hallucinations of piano-played music, since her return to the mansion, in spite of Jean's best efforts to make her feel safe and wanted.
A strange conversation with Bellamy's daughter Verity puts her ever further on edge, as does Yelena's presence at the estate - speaking with the Grand Duke, close to the stables.
It all culminates into a night where the former warrior repeats history, during a second gala, and takes her beloved into their bedroom - where she proceeds to fulfil one of his many lurid desires and pegs him, without abandon.
***
During the gala, Armin and Annie stumble across a heated conversation between Atlas and his father - the aforementioned Grand Duke, Marvin Wells - and the Alliance's suspicions of the Wells family skyrockets. Meanwhile, Reiner & Luis discuss the latter's upsetting past over the span of several weeks…
During which, Atlas is coerced into playing a song on the piano by Verity - which Pieck immediately recognises, from her hallucinations…
Annie and Connie intrude upon Marvin's study and discover the following: the old man is the painter behind the Subjects of Ymir exhibition mural, he has information on the mystery of the holes that he has not divulged with the Alliance - in the form of a file containing photos including the mysterious sea monster, labelled 'Project S.E.A.' - and most importantly… he also has files from the Marleyan military, on the warrior unit of 843. All of which are hidden within the same drawer.
Following this newer information, Armin and Annie argue over what to do before eavesdropping on a phone line conversation between Marvin and the museum's receptionist - Hollister Fernsby. Pieck then suddenly recalls a decade-old memory, triggered after the sight of a wayward flock of flamingos, involving a troubling experience with Atlas & Druscilla when they were on opposing ends of the war to one another... solidifying, within Pieck's mind, that the Alliance is not safe here.
***
The two Lichland Generals catch onto Pieck's shift in behaviour around them, and she prepares to defend herself by stealing & concealing a kitchen knife - much to Jean's dismay. Meanwhile… Levi, Annie & Armin plan to sneak out and confront Marvin Wells at the museum while Connie & Onyankopon take a guard and look around town - to draw Druscilla's suspicions away from the prior trio, as they exit the estate in secrecy.
Over in Paradis, Queen Historia and Hitch walk into the orphanage to check on the children - plus Gabi and Falco, who help around there at times. They arrive to find that the former has subdued a strange attacker, who had been aiming for the latter.
Back in Lichland, Levi encourages Luis to disclose the full truth to Reiner - surrounding what he knows about Atlas Wells. After Luis takes Reiner back to him and his uncle's home, with the intention of doing so, they encounter a strange conspiracy theorist there.
After a harrowing chat with him - that Reiner is unable to accept - they find Connie and Onyankopon at the docks, along with Verity Wells… who Connie swiftly saves from being consumed by the very same sea monster that he and Reiner once saw, that night on the ship, by sacrificing himself in the process.
Reiner jumps in to try and save his friend, only to end up flung back onto the port with a broken arm. Meanwhile, Connie ends up in a strange island location where he encounters Bellamy's missing wife - Aimee Wells. The two discuss Project S.E.A., as he tries to find a way back to the real world… where Luis is currently formulating a plan to rescue him.
***
Back at the estate, Jean and Pieck find a photo of the Wells family from over two decades prior - which includes a mysterious girl... before running into Atlas, who then proceeds to set alarm bells ringing between the two with a cryptic request to talk in the piano room. Pieck, however, seems to have a plan of her own. Meanwhile… Annie, Armin and Levi uncover the truth that the Wells are, in fact, Eldian. Adopted in secrecy by the generation preceding Marvin's. Not only that, but there is something amiss with Atlas in particular...
Over in Paradis, Gabi & Falco are instructed to stay with Mikasa and the elderly Yeagers - as further investigation continues into Falco's attacker. That same night, Pieck confronts Atlas back in Lichland and uncovers the Wells scandal for herself - during her planned altercation with Atlas, in the piano room. Although, in a twist that shocks even her, Atlas holds the knife that she was attacked with out for her to take by the handle. Upon doing so, her hallucinations graduate to visual and she bears witness to an old event that took place within this very same room - and discovers that the mystery girl, whom she saw in the earlier photo, is actually her own mother.
Opal Wells.
***
Back on the mystery beach, Connie ends up finding his way into a blackened void and comes across Lichland's dead royal family - among a sea of other decaying matter - as well as a vision of Aimee herself talking with Pieck's masked attacker. While in the estate, Atlas reveals to Jean that the knife Pieck was stabbed with carries triggering properties for Eldians, which - in turn - have gifted both himself and Pieck with supernatural abilities - his, of which, have been used and abused by Lichland's military for years.
Druscilla, Luis and company all manage to pull Connie out from the worm - who, as they find out, is actually Aimee's titan. The missing woman also has a power, 'gifted' through presumably similar means to the knife, with the same also possibly being true for Connie. As they head back to the Wells' Estate, Atlas gifts Pieck with her mother's old stuffed bear - the very thing that she was named after - and requests for her to stay hidden within her room, while he talks with their relatives.
With newer information unreservedly brought to light, the Wells family splinters and Bellamy cuts ties with his father & brother - angry about the information that they kept from him, concerning his wife. The Alliance, Aimee and Druscilla all gather into the kitchen and discuss the road ahead, just before Reiner is taken to the hospital by the latter - accompanied by Luis.
Jean wants to take Pieck and run away from the dangerous situation that she has unwittingly found herself thrust into, but she herself decides to stay put - in an attempt to help her mother's family. Though he doesn't like the idea, he ultimately - albeit fretfully and tearfully - respects her wishes and the two embrace…
WARNING: Contains spoilers for the entirety of Secrets Predetermined.
The fanfic this recap covers is Rated E, and as such there may also be adult content mentioned within the text below.
Viewer discretion advised!
Full recap located under the cut:
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Lichland is a large town located within the nation of Sculderhaven.
The nation runs under a constitutional monarchy, who delegate leadership and funding to the four major contingencies of the country: the Military, the Scientific, the Sociopolitical and the Media & Arts sectors.
With the undue absence of the royal family, the noble line directly below them - the Wells - are currently standing in as the country's legal representatives.
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Atlas Wells - Eldest son of Marvin and Marjorie, older brother to Bellamy and a Duke in his own right.
Serves as a 'Frontline General' within Lichland's Armed Forces, and a secret test subject for Sculderhaven's Military & Scientific sectors after a medical test revealed his Eldian bloodline. He possesses telekinetic abilities, granted to him by a mysterious knife.
Though his familial relationships are often rocky, he still strives to do whatever it takes to keep those that he cares for safe from harm. He hopes to somehow make amends to those that he has wronged, someday.
***
Luis Lavin - A friend and temporary adoptee to the Wells family.
Rescued by Druscilla Cato as an orphaned child from a southern nation razed by Marley, then yet again by Atlas from an abusive guardian during his teen years, Luis' prodigious knack for the sciences is both a blessing and a curse to himself and those around him…
This, along with his budding romance with Reiner Braun, have deeply entrenched him within the growing mish-mash group of mystery solvers trying to uncover the secrets of the knife - and the nature of the abilities that it grants to those it marks.
***
Druscilla Cato - General of Lichland's Armed Forces and Basil Cato's middle aged daughter.
Unforthcoming, but loyal to her own personal values and a select few individuals - namely the Wells family and Luis Lavin. She currently oversees the stationed guard at the Wells' Estate and has been tasked with keeping Paradis’ ambassadors out of harm’s way.
She does not see eye to eye with her father, having been forced to join the military - as soon as she was eligible - to stay close to him, and believes that his leadership is detrimental to the future of their nation.
***
Basil Cato - Field Marshal/Head of Lichland's Armed Forces and the elderly father of Druscilla Cato.
The Field Marshal holds evident disdain for those that he deems to be a threat to his nation. Eldians, in particular, still unapologetically fall under this umbrella.
Regardless, he appears to have no qualms about exploring and using their incredible potential to his own advantage…
***
Aimee Wells - Bellamy's wife, Verity's mother and a Wells-by-marriage. Co-owns a tailoring business, alongside her husband. Unlike Bellamy, she strangely harbours no resentment nor evident suspicions towards her family - following her disappearance - and is simply happy to be back home. Aimee was missing at sea for a full calendar year, having laid dormant inside of a worm-like sea titan of which she appeared to be controlled by.
***
Bellamy Wells - Youngest son of Marvin and Marjorie, younger brother to Atlas, husband to Aimee and Verity’s father. He was not officially bestowed a royal title, in the hopes of allowing him to live more freely than his parents and brother.
Bellamy is a professional tailor and business co-owner, who has recently recovered his missing wife and estranged himself from his father and brother - who had shared and secret knowledge of her possible condition and whereabouts.
***
Verity Wells - Bellamy & Aimee Wells' six year old daughter. Therefore, Atlas’ niece.
A seemingly normal, if extremely bright, little girl with a gift for piano playing and unsettling Pieck.
***
Marvin Wells - Grand Duke of Sculderhaven and believed-to-be biological successor to the throne.
A rather reclusive man who usurped the position as a teenager upon adoption-in-secrecy by the true-blooded, infertile Grand Duke and Duchess - the generation prior to him.
Lived the life of an orphaned Eldian boy, beforehand.
***
Marjorie Wells - Grand Duchess of Sculderhaven and matriarch of the Wells Estate.
A proud socialite who expresses unconditional love for her family, before and after learning of their true origins…
Found to have died in childbirth, after Atlas follows a trail of evidence that leads towards her now-adult daughter - Pieck Finger.
***
Hollister Fernsby - The local museum's eccentric receptionist, a friend/client of Bellamy's and a connoisseur of the finest 'consumable plants'.
He had a crush on Opal Wells when they were both teenagers, that he never quite managed to move on from…
***
Meryasek 'Mer' Ford - A senior, eccentric friend of Luis' adoptive guardian and an old classmate of Basil Cato's.
Meryasek is a sequestered Eldian who oddly appears to be a little more open about his background, following the Rumbling. Though only if he feels like he has something to gain from doing so…
He prides himself in his 'outlandish' conspiracy theories, in spite of the status quo or what others may perceive of him as a result.
***
Fox Stroud - Luis Lavin's legal guardian. A fisherman who also runs a fishing shack close to Lichland's docks.
Fox and Luis seem to get along, still living together and working to support one another long into Luis' adult years. Though at times, the older man appears to be out of his depth when it comes to his younger charge...
***
Inker - Connie's pet squid.
Grew within and then emerged from his arm, from what is believed to be a bullet that he was shot with - around a month or so prior.
***
Violet - Levi's one-eyed, white pet cat.
Found at Erwin & Hange's gravesite. Mild-mannered, though observant and demanding - as is customary for the average feline companion.
***
Alfred - Marjorie Wells' pet samoyed.
A friendly, if somewhat dopey puppy dog that Connie suspects to be an Eldian chimera.
A small update that I'm leaning strong towards a mid-August release date for Chapter 1 of Secrets Predetermined's Part 3, though my re-read of SP seems to be going painfully slow right now.
I'll likely start writing before doing a solid finish of the re-read, as such. A couple of the subsequent chapter updates will then coincide with the last of the re-read... I don't know, we'll see what happens. >>
The rough outline for the sequel is done, and being added to at a leisurely pace. I'm hoping to be back with some previews for C1 during mid to late July time.
Thank you for your patience! I'll be back next month, with another update. 💫
The final chapter of Ink Strokes is now up and ready to read {right here}.
Hope you enjoy it! More information on where the story is going from here, and when Part 3 itself is coming, is all linked within the author’s notes at the end of the chapter.
I’ll be taking a long break from writing now, but I’m hoping to be back before the end of summer so until then...
So in light of Ink Strokes finishing soon, I'm using this post to detail my plan for the next few months leading up to the sequel.
For those who would like a more in-depth explanation, I have provided it under the cut.
TL;DR: Part 3 of Secrets Predetermined will begin sometime between August to October 2022.
I will of course be re-reading IS and SP before I make a proper start on Part 3. I've done my best to ensure that everything from IS connects well to SP and that continuity between the two has been maintained, but wherever necessary I may add or change things within Saturated Palette to reflect the newer information provided within Ink Strokes.
I do not plan to make major retcons or include any more huge plot details, so if you've already read both fics then don't worry too much. The story will still flow as it did before, this is more just my perfectionist tendencies kicking in. lol
I also need to sort through a monster amount of notes and just chill & enjoy our upcoming summer. I actually hope to at least have Chapter 1 up between mid August to early September, so consider the earlier time frame as more of an 'at the latest' estimate.
I'll probably be providing previews for the first chapter closer to the time, either way. I don't have any planned publishing frame that I'll be working from, and the chapters will not have a defined end number from the looks of things, but I'm still very invested in this story and want to stick with it long-term.
I would like to explore more points of view (from other OCs, in particular), so the story may be straying from a central JP focus from time to time...
That said, JP will still be an important aspect and this last fic will be very Pieck-centric.
I've enjoyed writing primarily from Jean's POV in Ink Strokes, but I'm really looking forward to getting back to Pieck and the dark underbelly of Sculderhaven again~
I think I've managed to introduce the bulk of the named characters in the first two parts, in some shape or form, so this last part will primarily be focused on exploring the themes introduced in the previous two parts and then wrapping them up to the best of my ability.
As such, this fanfic will be LONG with an unplanned amount of chapters - as stated before - and may take some time to finish. Especially as I'm ideally aiming for these chapters to be shorter, which also means the update schedule is a little more uncertain for me at this point.
At the very least, expect no change from my current one chapter a month trend I guess. lol But I am in this thing for the long haul now, this story and its support means so much to me. As usual, I can only ask and thank you for your patience.
I'll see you all again in a little while! Stay safe and wear sunscreen, if needed. 💫
