Hey, so does anyone else ever think about the routes in StP, and go "yeah, I can make that worse."
Like, I know there are fanfics for writing from the princess's perspective for the routes, but from what I've seen they can be pretty direct translations from the game.
My favorite part about writing fics is that we can absolutely fill in the gaps. We have that power.
In Happily Ever After, why shouldn't the princess experience time loops of the same day? Magically appear at a starting point (the basement) and losing hours of time when a cycle resets because the construct isn't meant to support a cabin so severely altered that it almost defies its original purpose.
Why shouldn't she suffer for the equivalent of months before her Hero actually enters the cabin? What the Decider experiences in seconds, are months for her.
Why shouldn't she and Shadow Smitten be horribly codependent during their time in the cabin? They rely on each other for company. Smitten praising and adoring the Princess for simply existing, while he is the only affection she will ever truly know.
They love each other dearly, but soon enough their relationship curdles. Smitten no longer having energy to support the cabin and provide his lover happiness, while the Princess is infuriated at herself for being so ungrateful despite everything she has been given. Spiraling because she doesn't know how to be honest with herself and what she wants.
She is not in chains in this place, she is as free as can be, yet still remains unsatisfied.
So when her Hero finally arrives, acting as though no time has passed, the Princess and her loving shadow are so exhausted that they can barely keep up the facade of a good host.
The Princess is thrilled to see her Hero, but then remembers their parting request - to remain in this place - and she slowly loses hope of anything ever truly changing.
And then loving shadow has a name, but he is too tired to explain, and she can't ask for more then she has already been given.
And when she finally admits that she isn't happy, the words are blades in her throat and the weight of her ungratefulness burns her eyes, her shadow surrenders, and she has never known more aching loneliness then does in that moment.
But with it, she earns her freedom, either at the blade that pierces her heart, or with a dance under the stars.
izzy806
origamiaround
jacobvanloon
dailybridgerton
