GrumpyMarshmallowFan

Obsessed with playing visual novel games. Mostly Choices and Romance Club.

[manicpixelwench]

Hi again!

I’m having the time of my life reading everything you share about The Missing and its background, so I just wanted to let you know that the Department of Shy Boy Mads Lauritzen Studies is eternally grateful for every little piece of information - especially that Easter egg about Mads and Kuno. I mean, can you imagine Kuno throwing Mads around like a ragdoll? We already know what that big man can do to Ghita. Crazy.

Anyway, I’ll definitely be back with more questions, but since you asked, I thought I’d shyly share a few of my own thoughts. I’m currently stuck at home with my newborn, so I figured… why not? Let’s fool around a little and fill in some of the gaps. Just to be clear, I absolutely don’t expect you to confirm any of this.

Why did Mads want to kiss Ghita after accusing her of being the mole?

I think he panicked. He switched into investigator mode, convinced himself he was doing the right thing, and then suddenly saw that she was genuinely hurt and furious. Maybe he expected her to defend herself or try to convince him, but instead Ghita basically went, “Fuck this guy.” (And then later… “I kind of want to fuck this guy.” lol)

Since he was already hanging by a thread after everything that had happened (like forced proximity stuff and Ghita nearly dying), I think something in him simply snapped. You kind of hinted at it in his character description, and I completely agree with the idea that offering her his trust is almost like giving her a gift - choosing vulnerability on purpose. And maybe there was also a part of him thinking, “Fuck this case. Everything is so unbelievably messed up, and it’s messing with both of our heads.”

The first date and the first “I love you.”

This one is incredibly difficult for me because I can’t quite place Mads anywhere. I don’t think he invited her straight to his place because that would have implied something more intimate from the beginning of them being officially dating. Instead, I imagine him choosing a small, cozy, quiet restaurant with wooden furniture, dim lighting, and a classic menu, the kind of place he occasionally visits alone because it feels familiar and comfortable. I think he was incredibly nervous. They had already slept together, yet somehow they were going back to the awkward “first steps” stage of a relationship. But (un)fortunately for him, Ghita loves teasing him, so instead of an unbearably awkward evening, they end up having a long conversation about books, her university work, his undercover assignments, and everything in between.They only end up drinking whiskey at his apartment because Ghita is the one who suggests it.

As for the first “I love you,” I imagine it happening after sex, during aftercare. Mads had already caught himself calling her “darling” a few times without even thinking about it, and I think that’s when he realized he was already hopelessly in love with her. So he was the first one to say it.

A few additional headcanons that somehow took over my brain:

At some point, Mads realizes he has an absurd number of unused vacation days because he never takes time off. So they start traveling. I think Greece would be their first destination because Ghita has never been there, and I can absolutely picture Mads enjoying sailing (you know… stoically watching the sea). Then something unexpected happens: Mads becomes the one planning their next destinations. He discovers that he genuinely enjoys wandering through tiny local museums and spending slow mornings reading in bed in some cute little hotel.

Saga and Mads never become especially talkative, but after what feels like their hundredth gathering with Ghita’s friends, Saga casually mentions a book from her book club (not horny book club, the other one). Mads asks her something about the plot because he has already read it. From that moment on, they accidentally create a silent little book club of their own. They don’t lend each other books - that privilege belongs exclusively to Ghita, but whenever they meet, they have one more thing to quietly discuss.

Mads never mentions it to Ghita, but he secretly starts reading books about schizophrenia and how to recognize the earliest warning signs. He simply wants to understand her better. Eventually, Ghita finds one of the books. At first she is pissed off, but  then she realizes he bought it because he wanted to know how to support her if she ever needed it.

Mads isn’t really a gift-giving person, but he always remembers her favorite wine and snacks (I refuse to believe Ghita isn’t a wine-and-cheese kind of girl). He quietly keeps them stocked at his apartment so that whenever she comes over, everything she likes is already there without him ever making a big deal out of it.

Ten years after Greenland, when they’re already married, Ghita is invited back to a university as a guest lecturer to talk about the O case and everything surrounding it. The students are fascinated. The case was horrific, famous, and she experienced it firsthand. She talks about the investigation, presents psychological profiles, tells stories from the case. One day Mads quietly attends one of her lectures. Somewhere in the background and he reflects on all the crazy stuff that happened, but also he feels incredibly proud of his reckless, beautiful, infuriating wife.

Thanks! And sorry - I didn’t expect this to turn into such a long message! 😅

First of all - congrats on your baby!

Secondly - why shy????? I read your ideas and I couldn't stop smiling - they're wonderful! I feel like you really understood the characters and very much captured their dynamic in your headcanons.

Everyone should see these, as they are brilliant!

I came from the fandom myself so fanfiction is like..... crack to me. I love to toy around with scenarios that I think should've happened and explore closed-door situations, fill in the blanks as you say. I still try to keep up with books both in Romance Club and other apps, and sometimes an author will touch upon something inconsequential and my brain just starts firing 'what if...!' 'what if...!' 'what if...!' - I love that! It's an incredible feeling.

I know not everyone is like this but then I really hope we as fandom support those who are - and I'm not talking about The Missing, specifically, I'm saying support your mutuals who have ideas and encourage them to bring them to life. It doesn't matter if it's the most navel-gazing, self-indulgent crack ship in the world, or just 100 words describing a kiss that never happened - having an idea and being creative, even chaotically, is good for your heart and your brain and your soul.

Now, I won't make this a habit AT ALL, for all we know, this will be a one time thing, but your first date scenario is super cute and I am really grateful that you took the time to write down your own ideas in such detail, so I wrote you a tiny tiny fic to accompany the date scenario.

Please enjoy when you need a short break from mommy business 😊

(not edited and not canon, just a blablabla)

Ghita held her breath as she noticed the sign of the restaurant in the distance and walked purposefully towards it. His choice, a small Thai-fusion place at an obscure location, obviously not meant for tourists or casual diners. The temperature had dropped again, the winter stubbornly refusing to loosen its grip. She was in heels and a long, strategically tight dress, maroon-coloured and thin enough to match a thick cardigan without giving her the silhouette of a knitted ball. She planned to take the cardigan off if the restaurant was warm enough, but then again, if they sat close to the door…

“Shit…” she mumbled as the sidewalk merged into cobblestone. The shoes were brand new and expensive and wouldn’t survive a slip. She’d be late if she tried walking around the block to the other side. These bloody old side streets, sure it’s cute in the summer, but when it’s zero degrees, icy, drab and—

“Blom?”

The sound of her name in the quiet darkness made her jump and then whip around in alarm, ready to throw hands at whomever.

“Lauritzen?!” her voice echoed in the empty street, a stress on the ‘L’ that for some reason made her cheeks flush.

“I was trying— I didn’t mean— Why are you skulking around in the darkness, you told me to meet you at the restaurant!”

She said this accusingly, narrowing her eyes. The senior PA’s mouth fell open a fraction as he tried to collect himself enough to give a coherent answer. She realised she must’ve surprised him too.

“I didn’t want to get there too early. In case…” he trailed off. Too honest. In case she changed her mind and stayed away? Ghita softened her expression and swallowed hard before replying: “Right, okay, well… sorry for being jumpy. I didn’t—”

“I didn’t mean to scare you—” he interjected over her “—mean to freak out…”

A pause. They both smiled at the other. This is how it's gonna be, isn't it? Delicious.

“Well…” Lauritzen stepped closer, his hands remaining in his pockets, “we can walk there together.”

Unconsciously, Ghita bit softly into her lower lip as his towering figure came closer. She could see the colour of his shirt poking out of the top of his jacket. Not grey. And he was freshly shaven with a dash of cologne. They’d evidently both made an effort.

“Yes, but I have a small issue…” She nodded towards the cobblestone. “It’s hard to walk across that in these shoes. I have to walk around the block. Maybe you should just go ahead?”

Mads looked towards the restaurant and then down at Ghita’s footwear. He looked like he was calculating something.

“Take my arm?”

He caught her eyes and held them steadily. Any other person would’ve heard this as a command, a confident request made by a man to a woman in the spirit of gentlemanly behavior. But in the seconds of silence, Ghita recognised the plea in his voice. The subtle lowering of his chin to his chest. The words ‘you don’t have to touch me if you don’t want to’ already primed to cover up the 'please please please, let me serve you'.

She smiled as she put him out of his misery.

“Yes, thank you.”

He lifted his elbow and she linked her hand through the gap. Her fingers splayed and felt his upper-arm tighten. Would she see those arms tighten later tonight? God, she hoped so…

“I’m glad we’re doing this.”

Ghita looked up and flashed a shy smile before quickly averting her gaze. What was wrong with her? She was suddenly feeling very warm. 

“Me too.”

Mads cleared his throat. She couldn’t look back up at him out of acute fear of letting out an embarrassing schoolgirl giggle if their eyes met, but sensed him pull her closer, her hip nudging his, the side of her breast indecently pressing against his arm. Their bodies calling to each other, attraction pulling them together.

Sweet torture. 

And then they reached the restaurant.

[manicpixelwench]

Starting the week of deep-dives with the most difficult man. I don’t know exactly how this will go, it will most likely just be a long yap so get comfy…

Where do we begin? Originally, his name was Mikkel. After a while, I realised it might be too difficult for an international audience to pronounce, so I went with the more recognisable Mads. His original character description read: 

He is known for his brilliant mind and cold demeanor, a loner who only really has his job to fill his life. He is struggling in silence with his mother’s advancing dementia and having to deal with the death of his father.

Who knew that silence was gonna last almost all of three seasons? Not me… I had in mind that the cemetery scene would’ve come much earlier in the final season but alas, it never really seemed to fit in…

Anyway, his character started with Harry Hole, and more specifically with Harry in ‘The Bat’, the first book in the series. I don’t know if I ever mentioned this, but the very earliest idea was of Ghita as a more established detective with an almost inhuman ability to find missing people, which took her from Denmark to South Korea, to New Zealand, to South Africa and then finally Greenland (representing all the at the time planned ethnic backgrounds of the MC). Mads was meant to be a Korean police inspector who tags along due to some personal issues—Can you imagine Mads as a Korean guy? Weird to think of now (I would have used Lee Dong Wook as inspo!)

When the story had cooked in my head a little longer, Ghita pulled more towards Denmark. I’d been watching episodes of ‘Rejseholdet’, an old Danish show, and been inspired to move the changing scenery closer to home. There’s a character on the show called Jan Boysen, a forensic pathologist played by Michael Falch, and his physical appearance was an inspiration for Mads. I was also influenced by The Snowman (2017) where Michael Fassbender portrays Harry Hole - Fassbender is the right level of sexy-rugged, I think, for a man who seems hellbent on repelling romantic entanglements.

His arc moved slow on purpose, his mind having to catch up with his heart when it came to letting a woman like Ghita, who is naturally reckless, play with his emotions. I wrote in the early documentation:

He and Ghita start off on the wrong foot and this follows them in the first season, until the main character meets him outside of work and a friendly respect/attraction starts to form. [...] He feels isolated and it’s not until he meets Ghita that he starts to see that there’s more to life than work.

I really enjoyed writing his early flirting, because he obviously knows that he’s tall and handsome and has the ability to command a room, but then to see him tense up and fumble so badly when Ghita is doing her thing… delicious, honestly. He plays it cool in season 1 (him winking at her in the season finale when he leaves her after their exchange at the station is like AAARGH, I know he was cringing at himself so bad all the way home, while Ghita genuine didn’t consider it anything but his smartass attitude) but in season 2, he’s had time to pine after her from afar for a few months and now she’s more comfortable with him and it’s torturous. Booking into the hotel and being mistaken for a couple? The discovery on the ship where Ghita presses up against him? The awkward tumble in the backseat of the car??? He was fighting for his life.

By season 3, we’re either established as a couple, or not. I chose to focus on showing them having already reached an equilibrium in their relationship (before all hell breaks loose), but I understand it’s a question of preference. I wrote The Missing like a TV show and for the sake of pacing, it wouldn’t have worked for me to show every first while also gearing up to deal with Hoyer’s death. It would have been too much of a whiplash for me to write. I prefer to show enough, not everything, and I trust people’s own imagination to fill in the gaps. Having Mads established as ‘the boyfriend’ also allowed me to show how utterly lost he is in his affection for Ghita, how dependant he is on her validation and how crippling it is for him to have to express himself emotionally in such a rigid pattern, because he has so much fear residing inside his mind about vulnerability. Which brings me to the next bit…

credit to uoyiiii

…I saw the ‘Waterlily if cast by different authors…’ and I can’t believe I got the kink card when 7B is right there??? I LAUGHED but also, damn… am I a freak? I don’t think I am. I’m sex-positive and I do think a lot of people benefit from expressing their inner lives through sex, but the last thing I would call myself is kinky. I just like diversity! And with the restraint I was building up inside Mads, I knew he would need to release the tension in a unique way. An inspiration was Harry Ambrose from the show The Sinner - I wasn’t a big fan of the first season but 2-4 were really good. I want to add that the "visions" that Ghita experiences—the trolls in the darkness, the qivittoq in the snow—this was inspired by Harry Ambrose. But also, Ambrose likes it rough. He lets a partner choke him until he passes out in season 1, which you shouldn’t do, but it said a lot about him as a character. In contrast, Harry Hole, I believe, accidentally chokes his romantic interest Rakel too hard during a sex scene in one of the later books, which is also an expression of his character.

Making Lauritzen a submissive sexual partner was a very deliberate choice and meant to underline how meaningful it is for him to fall for Ghita, even when he can't articulate it. He so bravely offers his weaknesses as a sign of trust, even when they both don’t really understand what’s going on and he's pretty much risking it all to get the girl.

His journey from their first encounter in Hoyer’s office, to receiving Ghita’s present, butt-naked and on his knees, is truly something, and I will miss this pathetic yearner a lot.

Do you have questions? Leave them in the comments or submit an ask!

[grumpymarshmallowfan]

Please do.

[grumpymarshmallowfan]

HELLLLO GENERAL.

THIGHS.

[manicpixelwench]

Faye, thank you for another update full of amazing Mads content!

I just wanted to say how much I appreciate you adding an option to *not* lean into the kinks in his spicy scene as well as giving us a choice. I *might* have played it several times..

The scene in the hospital? His angry and worried face? Him being worried but knowing that we're right AND capable? 👌👌👌 This man could not be any more supportive if he tried!

I compared this scene to my corrupt MC slot where I'm dating Mads and went alone. Seeing Mads completely lose his shit was something else!

I loved the whole scene in the car and talking about *those* rumours. I also chose to ask if he was happy with us and the resulting scene had me twirling my hair and kicking my feet. MY GOD. He's flippin' adorable. Worth every damn diamond and teacup.

You are EVIL for that ending though! 😭😭😭

[manicpixelwench]

Thinking about how Mr Protective Yasin and Mads “I’m scared all the time” Lauritzen are going to react to Ghita (probably?) being kidnapped by O… Delicious! I love angst 🥰

[grumpymarshmallowfan]

Counting down the days!

[grumpymarshmallowfan]

My adorable, precious bean ♥️

[grumpymarshmallowfan]

Integrity (with Safaa) vs Corrupt (going alone) reaction scene with Mads

Both of these are on my Mads route.

My Root of Integrity MC took Safaa with her and is loyal to Mads.

My Seed of Corruption MC went alone and also erased the message on the wall prompting officer Beding to be suspicious of us.

I've slept with all the male LIs on this route and left Yasin for Mads. So, Yasin was ice cold when you see him again before this. We also didn't text Mads in the last update after meeting Odin in the alley.

As you can see, Mads uses anger to mask just how worried he is about us. But going alone makes him truly lose his shit! Which has to be wrapped up in his past because this was quite the reaction. The rest of the scene plays out the same, with the MC suggesting that she's a way in.

[manicpixelwench]

Ah. Reference from Arina's stories. Really miss her story 🥲

We 💜 Arina in this house.

[grumpymarshmallowfan]

Same!

[manicpixelwench]

Final LI playlist, broody detective boy Mads, I hope you've enjoyed listening!

[grumpymarshmallowfan]

This is painful.

[manicpixelwench]

Faye, you have me doing fanart! I hardly ever make time to draw things I'm not getting paid for 😅

Got me thinking how amazing The Missing would be in comic form too!

Of course it had to be my fave.

Counting down the days until the update!

It's WONDERFUL!

[grumpymarshmallowfan]

Just a little fanart of my fave ❤️

[grumpymarshmallowfan]

Just finished my Onyx & Tallis route.

I actually really loved Tallis and I thought this throuple was done well.

[itlivesproject]

Is there a rough-ish release date for the Obsidan Cut? I'm dying to replay but really want to hold out for the new scenes. Thanks for being amazing!

Ummmm a few months at the earliest? The written edits are pretty solid through chapter 19, i believe, but there are some consistency things I still need to work on (like the personality and interest systems revamp) and there are some new scenes I'm planning to add to the final chapters, plus need to finish the variants for the beach episode. I will let you know when we get closer to release.

[grumpymarshmallowfan]

I seriously can't wait for this!

[grumpymarshmallowfan]

I love him, your honour.

[grumpymarshmallowfan]

Good morning to me 👀

Replaying Shen's route and I flippin' love this man.

[manicpixelwench]

I just want to tell you once again how much I LOVE The Missing and the different ways it can be played!

Currently doing a loyal Kuno slot (and trying my hardest to resist Mads 😅).

I even decided to lock in with Mads on my corrupt Odin slot because I love this frustrating man so much! Thank you for my new obsession. You're amazing!