i just finished chapter 13 of we don’t talk about enemies and (spoilers!) am truthfully, really shocked at the revelation that dirk was wylan’s first kiss! i, of course, picked up on how he would flirt around him, but it’s got me thinking about a chapter in gold rush, i believe? (might be sometimes i wish for falling) where either nina or inej are in conversation with their stylists, regarding capitol gossip, and wylan and dirk sleeping together was one of them (also alys and van eck sleeping both sleeping inconspicuously with the same man without the other knowing, something about dirtyhands, nikolai being a bastard, etc.)
at the time i thought it was one of the false ones, given the chapter note at the end, so it threw me off guard to see that that one was (partially) true.
if it isn’t too much trouble on your behalf, could you at some point revisit the gossip and confirm/ deny? (my nosy arse is invested)
also this is genuinely incredible. i’m aware the final chapter of enemies was released today, and while i’m exited to be able to read and react to the final installment of nwaaco in real time, i’m also going to profoundly grieve binging these marvelous works.
💋💋💋
Oh yeah, lol! Dirk was always Wylan's first kiss--I actually intended them to kiss at the party in Bright Morning Stars but it didn't work in the chapter, though it was going to parallel Jesper and the sponsors, with Wylan having a gentle, age-appropriate introduction to his sexuality and Jesper dealing with...all that. Didn't make the cut, but I had fun with the Easter egg.
As for the rumors...I'll put them below a cut for spoilers
She learns that trains have been delayed coming in and out of Six, that a drought has hit Eleven and certain food quotas aren’t being met, that fishing is poor in Four but gold plentiful in One
All of these are true--they're intended to clue you in on which Districts are (or aren't) currently lined up with the rebels
that there are rumors that Head Gamemaker Lantsov’s health is so poor that he’s going to step down and hand the role off to one of his sons—her prep team can’t seem to agree on which
This is both true and false--Alexander's health was not good, but he was not planning on stepping down anytime soon. If he did, he'd want to bring Vasily in rather than give the Head Gamemaker position to Nikolai
and rumors that his health is so poor because he’s being poisoned—though again, they can’t agree on by who
You'll know from Gold Rush that Genya had been slipping him laxatives for years, but most of his health issues were due to his alcoholism--Alexander dying too soon would have been disastrous for Nikolai, he needed either a way to get the position himself (and he was very young for it) or to keep his father alive so he could do the work for him
rumors that President Van Eck’s pretty, young new wife might be pregnant, rumors that she was and miscarried
This is true--Alys was not currently pregnant at that point, but she'd had a recent miscarriage
rumors that she’s sleeping with the stylist from Six
1000% true
rumors that Van Eck is sleeping with the stylist from Six,
Not true but god, can you imagine the world where it was?
rumors that his first wife was poisoned and he’s doing the same to this one,
Anything about Marya is a spoiler but Alys was not being poisoned
rumors that some girl named Eline Hoede is engaged
True but unimportant
and rumors that her brother Dirk is sleeping with President Van Eck’s son.
half-true, they kissed but did not hook up. Dirk offered, Wylan said no and minimal credit where it's due, he accepted that, though he's available if Wylan changes his mind ;)
I'm so glad you're enjoying the story--I've had so much fun getting all your comments!!!! I hope the rest of the au lives up to expectations <3
so, i began ofs on monday, hoping to read the whole of nwaaco over the course of this summer. i’ve just began wtaemtwut . i’m scared shitless. there’s a sole chapter left. catching fire is my fav. i’m not ready.
amazing writing, though! 💋
Thank you so much! I’ve enjoyed seeing all your comments, I hope the end of the fic lives up to expectations!
