The Green Dress by littlesecret84

Summary: Isabella Swan and Edward Cullen cross paths one evening. This will be a night that he never forgets.

AmelieGee says:

I found the dress at a vintage store in New York, back when I thought I had a chance. Long, emerald green silk. Spaghetti straps, a high-front slit, longer in the back with a flowing train. It leaves my back completely exposed. It's tight, very tight over my stomach and around my hips.

...It's going to look breathtaking in the wind when I'm out on the cliffs later tonight.

Imagery is something that a lot of authors find hard to master. There’s that delicate balance between baring all to the reader, going overboard with details and long-winded explanations.

LittleSecret84, however, gives us enough detail to make us weave the picture in our head. Bella chose her dress back when she felt as though she had a choice in the world - the type of dress that is saved in the back of a closet, for that right moment, that occasion that deserves a breathtaking entrance.

Bella is ready for her moment. She is going to give it her all.

The scenes are evenly paced between Bella, and her yet-unseen admirer. His voice is casual, but the type of casual that sends chills down your spine - Dracula bidding you welcome into his castle, the spider’s gentle wisp as it carefully descends towards its prey.

He’s chosen her because of her name, because of who she is - Bella, beautiful in her green dress with her pretty name.

I like girls with pretty names. Last week in Chicago it was a Rosalie. All golden hair and big blue eyes with perfect skin. I was going to fuck her right before, but her voice was unpleasant and she kept talking and talking and I thought quick and easy would be best, but wouldn't it be wonderful to see bright red running down her white shirt? Now I don't usually enjoy using sharp objects-things get messy and I really liked the grey shirt I was wearing that night, but once the idea of the red and the white started playing in my head I couldn't help myself. Pretty Rosalie with the pretty name. A shame. I should have just fucked her right before.

Just like Bella, we aren’t told directly who he is. But we are shown, gently, casually, all with that slow sensation of rising hairs and goosebumps on chilled flesh, what he wants from Bella. He is drawn to her because of the idea of beauty, and she is drawn to the green dress, to the idea of whether the skirt of the dress is going to look like wings when [she] falls, opening in the front and flying back.

The story unfolds like a haunting swan song, like a beautiful tableau that strikes some chord deep in you. Beauty is the core of the story - simple, but chilling. He chooses her because of her name, because of her lips, and tiny slender hands, and a long white neck.

When I read this the first time, I was in a hurry. I skimmed through the words, to the end, registering the main point - but that’s a mistake. This is the type of story you have to unwrap, savor word by word, taste it on your tongue:

This one is special. You should taste her. Take your time and make it sweeter than the ones before. The end won't be any different, either way.

mjinaspen says:

Boy meets girl. Boy kisses girl. They live happily ever after. Fairytales are nice. But this isn’t a fairytale. It is, however, quite lovely and somewhat lyrical in its prose. And there is an HEA of sorts, depending upon your definition of HEA.

From the very first moment in this fic you hear the music. Bella is a metronome, steady and focused. Edward is the soaring, circling, then diving melody. They complement each other beautifully. They are a symphony of death and despair.

"I'd like to introduce myself, I'm Edward Cullen."
She sighs and shakes her head.
"Don't waste your time. I'm only around for another two hours."
"That's more than plenty of time for what I had in mind."
"And what's that?" she asks.
"A dance, maybe two."
And then I fuck you twice up against a tree.
Once because I want to, the second to make up for my mistake with Rosalie.

"Do I look like I would get up and dance here?"
"You don't look like you should be here at all."
"Oh, I know. Just two more hours."

Like most Bellas and Edwards in Twific, these two are destined. For what, you don’t know, but it becomes immediately clear that they will fulfill each other’s needs and desires.

Edward quickly assesses the value of each person, place, and thing, while Bella just bides her time, uncaring about anything of value, including her jewelry and the cash she carries in her purse. They serve a purpose for each other without immediately recognizing it.

One of my favorite lines:

She turns her back to me and plays with her bracelet, a large, ugly object that looks too expensive.
But then Bella looks expensive.


There is a reason Bella seems careless and Edward doesn’t, but I don’t want to ruin it for you by giving too much detail – the details are part of what you’ll love about this fic – suffice to say that he is obsessed with her and she allows it, welcomes it. He tells her what she wants to hear and gives her what she needs.

“You are too pretty, your body is too precious to be broken on the rocks.”
She tilts her head to the side and considers this.
"What do you suggest?"
"Kiss me."

For a brief moment you think LitteSecret84 will turn the car around and give these two the traditional ending – wedding dress, babies, white picket fence… but thankfully she doesn’t. That’s not to say Edward and Bella aren’t forever affected by this experience, they do touch each other and neither is able to take it back. Not that either of them would want to.

I place my hands on either side of the neck, caressing, adoring, as I greedily consume the first kisses I have received in years … I continue to kiss her, and I can tell that she too hasn't felt anything against her lips for quite some time.

They spend just two desperate hours together, way too short a time, and LitteSecret84 doesn’t muck it up with mundane details that mean nothing to us as readers (or to Bella and Edward.) Nothing is lost in the telling of this story. It’s visual, sensual, and beautiful.

If I’m making The Green Dress sound romantic, I’m glad, because it is. It’s dark and terrifying, too, but then it wouldn’t be here, would it? Go read it once or twice. I promise you won’t be sorry.

dihenydd says:

It is hard to know what to say about this perfect little story without quoting every word back. It is very short – only 3K words but it says everything that needs to be said.

In the beginning Edward and Bella know nothing about each other. In the end (two hours later) they know everything that matters. What struck me about this story when I first read it were the imagery and the feeling of rightness. I was going to say fatalism but that somehow conveys a sense of settling for something less than you want, and they don’t do that. In that sense they are in fact soul mates, they were made for each other, for that moment. They complete each other.

I have always been enticed by writing that can make me see something from a new perspective. I like my preconceptions to be thwarted and I love ambiguity. Purely factually this should be a horror story; but it isn’t. It isn’t a love story – though it might have been. It is however about art. About seeking that perfect moment, the one that defines you.

Bella has been planning for it. She visualizes it.

“I slip on gold vintage t-strap pumps and take a final look at the dress.
It's going to look breathtaking in the wind when I'm out on the cliffs later tonight.”

Edward has been planning for it. He fantasizes about it.

“Her skirt billows perfectly with each step she takes. Her ass is tight and round, and I want to watch the green silk slide off it, exposing more white flesh in the moonlight."

The imagery is stunning and the thread running through it is the green dress symbolizing something potent and very different for each of them.

“I wonder if the skirt of the dress is going to look like wings when I fall, opening in the front and flying back.”
“Isabella is a vision… the dress spread out around her, pale skin in the moonlight”

The Green Dress on FF.net

This Buried Life by Emmanuelle Nathan

GUEST REVIEW: This Buried Life by Emmanuelle Nathan



SUMMARY: Bella Swan is content with her career and her new life in London but feels that there is still something missing. Will a chance encounter with sinister yet intriguing stranger hold the answer to what she truly desires? AU. Rated M for lemony reasons.

Yellowglue says:

First:

But often, in the world’s most crowded streets, / But often, in the din of strife, / There rises an unspeakable desire / After the knowledge of our buried life; / A thirst to spend our fire and restless force / In tracking out our true, original course; / A longing to inquire / Into the mystery of this heart which beats / So wild, so deep in us - to know / Whence our lives come and where they go...
-Matthew Arnold’s “This Buried Life”

And then:

I pull my coat more tightly around me. These British January mornings are freezing and dark, and I’m not quite awake yet. I am still trying to feel more human as I finish the ten minute walk to the Underground station. This is where I know I’ll be brutally woken up by all the other commuters...
-Emmanuelle Nathan’s “This Buried Life” - Chapter One

I don’t know that I’ve ever read a story where the opening lines reflect so clearly the lines it drew inspiration from. Arnold (poet and critic) speaks of a kind of self-discovery, during the busiest and hardest of times - an awaking from what we’ve always been, to who (or what) we truly may be. It’s an unignorable invitation to immediately begin questioning and uncovering.

Emmanuelle has paralleled her protagonist’s opening efforts to this sudden shake from what she thought was lucidity, perfectly. The not quite awake feeling in the crowded Underground station, trying to pull her coat tighter, trying to feel more human... it’s not someone inhuman that we’re reading though. It’s Bella: American in England, wounded once by love and on the lonesome defense, sought-after Harvard grad working at one of the most prestigious museums in the world.

And one of the other commuters does wake something in her. Brutal, like Emmanuelle said, and unspeakable, like Arnold did. A longing to inquire into the mystery, so unspeakable in fact, that soon she not only refuses to speak of it - but more often than not - to allow herself to even think thoughts regarding it.

Scenes written out according to days of the week, we follow Bella through her responsible routines. Perpetually playing it safe, her work and her research have become her buried life, until one morning something deeper and more wild than she’s ever known rises up in her. She cannot look away. She cannot put her finger on it (mentally, or physically). She cannot process or pick apart the passenger whose stare has pierced her; whose slight grin has frightened, angered, and amazed her.

This is a man who’s crossed the line without touching, speaking, or even being anywhere near her. Yet she’s invaded, and when her mind as well as her heart tell her to leave without a second thought or glance, she does.

Every time.

Only to be brought back into his line of vision, and eventually to where his hands and words can reach. Slowly. Little bits of him at a time, that are heavy with mystery and a modern kind of darkness, are revealed. You, just like Bella, have no idea who (or what) he is, where he came from, or what exactly he wants. You have an idea, based on the way you feel more than hear his breath, and that thing that he does with just one finger -

He makes no attempt to touch me anywhere else and my mind can’t understand how my body can be reacting so strongly to a touch I would never have imagined as being erotic. Except here... now... with him... He wants this. He wants me at his mercy and weak. (- Chapter Five)

Her body right? That’s what he wants... Right?

When I read, I read just as much for the quality of the writing as I do for the story itself. An amazing plot line or awesome character idiosyncrasies, development, and growth, are next to nil if the writing fails to carry them through with due justice. At the same time, awe-inspiring and articulate writing doesn’t do much without an actual story to tell. Finding a tale that has both, that goes beyond your expectations is pretty rare. And wonderful.

I was recc’d this story with a “trust me - just read chapter one”. And now I’m all but demanding you do the same. Trust me. Just read chapter one. If you get to the end of it and don’t want to continue to the next, I’ll be dumbfounded, because I’m betting you can’t not keep reading.

“Don’t ever make me wait again.”

This Edward is the exact incarnation of tall, dark, and dangerous. It’s his mystery that makes and keeps him deviant, and completely captivating.

“I mean it.”


Dihenydd says:

I am not a fan of horror or scary stories but I love a story that is so atmospheric you can feel yourself drawn unwillingly into the authors imagination. This is one such story.
It began as a one shot for the Show Us Your Dark Side Contest but has been altered and extended.
Bella is a high functioning professional who has recently moved to London for her dream job in the British Museum. Her life revolves around her research, partly because it fascinates her but also as a refuge from an emotionless life. A painful previous relationship has her avoiding any romantic entanglements. She is rational and intelligent trying to hold her own in an intensely competitive academic environment. In such a situation job security is not a given and rivalry can be vitriolic, petty and personal. This is so well conveyed that the author must have first hand knowledge.
Bella is tied to her routines and travels to work every day on the tube. She becomes aware that someone is watching her – and not being furtive about it.

“His stare is not natural, not for a Brit, not for any nationality for that matter. It's beginning to creep me out, and again I think he knows it. I frown. In response his smile widens. He is now leering at me. I am self-conscious and suddenly angry. He is getting off on this.”

As days progress his behavior becomes more forward and controlling. This is not however a titillating exhibitionist smutfic. It is actually quite scary as seen through Bella's inner turmoil. She is a smart woman who is aware of the dangerous nature of what she is undertaking and the impact it may have on her entire life.
Although the element of danger starts to feel like an added inducement to this unusual seduction, Bella is genuinely frightened. She is however also aroused, against all her instincts and logic. As things escalate her feelings of shame also increase. She is not that sort of person, she is not wanton. She is terrified that she will be found out and not only lose her dignity and her credibility but also her job, which she loves above all else. Yet there are moments when she wants to lose control and not be so restrained.

{The fact is that I know I am here now because no matter how scared and wrong this is, no matter how out of character this is for me, I want to know what happens next. My whole life I've been cautious and sheltered. This is a chance to walk on the wild side, even if it's just to dip my toe in. I'll be in a public place.}
{This is foolhardy. This is dangerous. This is the most exhilarating thing I have ever done…}

The story could not be better named, the whole feeling is one of claustrophobia from the physical description of the crowded train and the intensity of sexual repression to the stifling pettiness of academic competitiveness.

Of course the stalker is Edward, though we do not know if he is vampire or human. He is however controlling and not gentle or reassuring. In fact he seems to get off on her fear and uncertainty.

{"You are to be completely quiet. Any noise and this will end immediately. Nod if you understand".
I nod. He watches intently as I bite my lip. His eyes narrow and I nearly shout out as he suddenly pinches my upper thigh. I certainly wasn't expecting this and it stings like hell. Whether he likes it or not I am very glad I've been biting my lip. It has stopped me from making any noise, so I continue to do so.
"Impressive." Is his only comment as he gently strokes the area he pinched a moment ago, soothing away the pain and shock. Now that I know that he is not beyond doing such things my body is on alert, hyper-aware of where he is touching and of his body.}

Beyond everything this is a tale of an unconventional relationship that is told without titillation and captures so well the sense of danger and taboo. Not just real physical danger but the danger of exposure and subsequent humiliation (and possibly the loss of her job which is not just her livelihood but the basis of her feelings of self worth). Her fear that her own body is betraying her and that she is out of control adds to the sense of foreboding.

This is all conveyed so chillingly and deliciously. You would be foolish to miss out on a story this consummately written.

AnAnomolly says:

Bella Swan is content with her career and her new life in London but feels that there is still something missing. Will a chance encounter with sinister yet intriguing stranger hold the answer to what she truly desires?

I can’t rightly tell you how much I love, Love, LOVE the story that Lambie asked for me to guest rec on the Darkward Blog today. It delves into the darkest corners of the human psyche and will suck you in, chew you up & lick its lips greedily after it’s had its wicked way with you.

I have this thing, a penchant if you will, for an Edward who is controlling, domineering with a bit of possessiveness thrown in. Very rarely with that do you also get a Bella who is head-strong & forthwith. In This Buried Life by Emmanuel Nathan, you get that & so very, very much more. This story has incredible writing, beautifully narrated descriptives and a hell of a lot of ~Unf~.

Right from the start you’re taken on a ride to the clandestine (and maybe not-so-much-so) meeting of our fair Bella and Edward. The story is set in London, and if you know me, you know that I heart all things London (aside from the shiteous exchange rate.) Reading this, it’s like you’re on the tube with Bella experiencing Edward for the first time.

The lights come back on… and holy fuck… I am greeted by the most startling eyes I have ever seen. I never knew eyes could be this color. He stares right at me. Deliberately. It is all the more shocking given how everyone else always avoids eye contact. It's not an inquisitive stare. It's feral, full of want and desire, and something else I can only describe as hunger. It's, quite frankly, scary.

And believe you me; it is an experience to read. The chills started at the nape of my neck and spread quickly all over. The first chapter alone will call Time Out for a knicker change.

As it continues, you’re taken on Bella’s journey to the Museum each morning and given pieces of each day’s events which introduce you to external characters where the plot comes into focus. You learn who & what she’s up against, with bites throughout to nibble on, and provided a peek into one seriously hot & somewhat sinister Edward.

As she hears his voice for the first time, her mind & body are conflicted and she doesn’t know how to react.

"Don't ever make me wait again."

What? I stare back at him, incredulous. I open my mouth to ask him who the fuck he thinks he is.

"I mean it."

I close my mouth not saying a word.

He is disarming and sexy with a dash of frightening power.

"Tomorrow you are going to wear your wrap around dress again." It's a statement, not a question. The words startle me out of my haze.

"Aren't you?" Again, it's said more as a demand rather than a question, and I manage only one response.

"Yes."

It’s hard for her to reconcile the guilt, shame and fear along with the conjunction of nervous, consuming desire for him.

As the story stands now, there are only six chapters, but each one packs a punch. Chapter seven is in the works and a teaser has been posted on the Twilighted Forum. It’s hard for me to write this and not want to give too much away, but I’m positive you won’t be disappointed.

Go forth & read. Trust me on this one, I don’t rec fic lightly.

This Buried Life on FF.net
This Buried Life forum on Twilighted.

Darksper Special

DARKSPER SPECIAL, brought to you by the wonderful MaleficentKnits.


As most of MaleficentKnits’ fellow fanfic reading friends know about her, she is a lover of all things Jasper… well Jasper and Alice… but as much as she loves her favorite cannon couple, she loves to watch the other Cullens, and Bella in particular, suffer even more… If its angstperv, Mal is all over it feasting on their pain and anguish. Give her a miserable, someone is going to pay for their sins and the sins of others even if it means they have to die after watching everyone else suffer, she is all over it…

One would think that, with Jasper having this amazing ability to feel, as well as, manipulate the emotions of others, more tales would be told in the fanfic world. Usually he is a minor character unless he’s involved in a slash story with Edward or the latest craze, *shudder* in a relationship with Bella *ick* which really does nothing for Mal…

Once in a blue moon though, something comes along that makes Mal’s black heart leap for joy: Darksper…a cruel creature that makes others suffer in a lovely twisted way… Usually he’s a vampire but occasionally he’s human and these rare gems shine like blood red rubies illuminating Mal’s dark soul.

Unfortunately this past year, with university taking over Mal’s life, she didn’t have a lot of time to really search for really well written A&J stories, let alone Darksper. Luckily there were a couple contests that allowed for a few one-shots to leap into her arms… the following are a few that made Mal giggle or swoon in a lovely twisted way…

Anguish by kirmit
Kirmit, half of Team Alsper, usually writes A&J with a definite HEA that Mal admits to loving… *hey! everyone has their guilty pleasures!* Here, kirmit took a leap into a bleak void that she never thought she would face and entered the Black Balloon Contest. With a bit of encouragement *okay pushing!* from Mal, kirmit found her dark side and gave us a human Darksper who desires nothing but vengeance for the wrongful death of his one true love.

Her Own Particular Shade of Ebony by theladyingrey42
The ladyingrey amazed Mal with this little gem that she entered into the Les Femmes Noire contest… Her Darksper is a vampire that has a talent that allows him to “pull back the veil of the world and taste emotions like colors” leaving him to feel painfully alone in this world. Then he meets his Alice, and she is nothing like he ever expected… who is really the darker creature: the vampire or the human? theladyingrey is truly an artist that paints a brilliant, yet dark picture, that Mal would love to hang over her mantle piece…

The Musings of a Deranged Mind by EmraePenne
Here is a little gem that was the Judges Pick for the Death by Darksper Contest… this is a peek into Darksper’s cruel mind… the true insanity of Darksper here gave Mal the giggle fits… truly brilliant in its madness.

Fighter by Chicklette
This is a one-shot Darksper and one has to always wonder how it is possible for Darksper to maintain the *vegetarian* lifestyle of the Cullens... Let’s get real; sometimes love just isn't enough and one has to admit to what they really are... if it is true love then one must accept the faults of those they love.

There are also a few stories in Mal’s favourites list that, even though Jasper is a killer, he manipulates his victims in such a way that death doesn’t have to be terrifying… it can be so pleasant that one would love to die in his beautiful hands….

A Southern Moon by duskwatcher2153
This was an entry for the "In the Dark" Contest taking place just after the Civil War. Not so much a Darksper as he uses his abilities to make death as pleasant an experience one would just beg for…

Requiem by Twila Reaux
Mal just had to rec this little gem because she has always wondered what goes through the mind of a vampire’s victim… it could be sheer terror, sexual release, or reliving one’s life as it flashes before their eyes… this itself could bring joy or sadness…


So my pets… Mal hopes that you take the time to look at these little beauties that you might normally pass over… Darkward might be exciting to you but admit it… you all would love for someone like Darksper to manipulate your emotions and make you feel things you never felt before while he bleeds you dry…

Taboos and Delving into the Dark.

Dark can have many meanings to different people, and trust us, we could rage on forever about how dark doesn't have to mean rape, abuse and torture. However, we wanted to delve into and aspect of dark that most people won't:

TABOO'S.

There's a contest running at the moment all about the subject, so thought now was the perfect time.



BEYOND THE PALE CONTEST.

It's being run by the awesome yellowglue, who always likes to push the envelope when writing.


When asked the question “What’s taboo, to you?” – Answers tend to be pretty much the same, and easy to guess at, across the board.

To be expected: murder, rape, incest, pedophilia, bestiality, necrophilia, etc.

But that’s too black and white, too easy, too boring (yeah, I said it) for me.

For me, taboo exists in the grey, the difficult, and the definitely anti-boring. It’s the completely and utterly UNexpected. It’s the epitome of everything outside of carefully constructed comfort zones and social norms. It’s the things that when you read/see/hear them, you have an outloud response because what you’ve just read/seen/heard has fucking floored you. For better, or for worse.

There’s really not a simple or succinct answer, because depending on whom you ask, and when/where you are, that answer will change because what’s comfortable and acceptable from one time and place to another, changes. Just because we see threesomes, anal, dom/sub play, and bloodbloodblood, all across this fandom doesn’t mean those things aren’t still taboo in lots of places, for lots of people. It’s timing and placement that makes all the difference. And it’s scrupulousness and style that keeps decides the difference between taboo and just plain shocking, perfidious, and grotesque.

How many years ago would it have been not just taboo, but basically unacceptable for a woman to show her ankles? For a man and a woman to just sit on the same bed, side by side on television? Lucy and Ricky slept in separate ones, and CBS wouldn’t even allow the show to use the word “pregnant”, even though at one point she and her character were. Just decades later though, Will and Grace were allowed to talk open and honestly about the pros and cons to a threesome she’s having reservations about.

Because time and place is (almost) everything.

With the Beyond the Pale contest, I wanted authors not just to include taboo habits/happenings/hankerings in their stories, but to explore the different causes and/or effects of them as well. I feel like anyone can write a story where Carlisle is a racist psychokiller, or where Alice is a nymphomaniacal cutter – because stuff like this isn’t half as shocking or taboo as it used to be. It’s in our books/music/movies, as well as our headlines. What’s more interesting, and often more controversial is to look at WHY Carlisle is like that, or what happens to Alice’s relationships with her friends and family as her habits begin take their toll. Blood/sex/violence isn’t necessarily taboo – but exploring it, thinking too much about it, sometimes is.

What I think is one of the most interesting options, and am surprised (and wanting!) that no one has tackled yet, is a story not set in the here and now. Writing something that’s set in a more conservative era opens up so many interesting options. Sex isn’t taboo anymore, but sex between two secretaries in a 1930’s office is. Addiction of almost any kind is far from taboo at this point, but that wasn’t the case just 50-60 years ago. Adultery, while still somewhat taboo, doesn’t typically end in with the loss of a nose, testicles, or life, but depending on when and where you are, the consequences vary into what some might consider extreme.

Old Scandinavian laws would have permitted Edward to castrate Jacob and kill Bella, had she broken her vows once they were married. The code of Moses would have had the two trespassers stoned to death. And in ancient Greece, the guilty pair might have been dragged behind horses or starved. Punishments like these are what have become taboo to us now, but then and there it was the crime that was so profane, not the ramifications that followed.

There’s a lot of the “same-old, same-old”, not just in this fandom, but all around us. Imagination and a little bit of thoughtful pushing is what I appreciate most. Shocking just to shock is just as prosaic as something that’s not shocking at all. But a tactfully written twist, a meticulous maleficence is (I think) more rewarding to read as well as write, and what’s most memorable.

We're also asked two of the entrants to comment on WHY they would such a contest.

22Blue has entered Red.

What drew me to the contest??? Well, originally, I had an idea about Bella as a high-class call girl, and Edward as her, ahem, client, and went searching for a contest that it might go with. Literally, two days later, I saw a tweet about Beyond the Pale and checked out the picture prompts. The ninth picture was perfect – it’s the black and white photo showing part of the back of a nude woman and a man holding her wrists behind her back. That photo gave me all kinds of ideas, and to be totally honest, I really wanted to try something different. To answer the original question of what drew me to the contest – it was the challenge of not going past the very thin line of taboo. I think everyone has their own definition of what crosses that line and what doesn’t - there are certain ‘taboo’ subjects I won’t touch with a ten foot pole.

What I like best about this contest is there are SO many different directions an author could go by choosing one or more of the twenty pictures prompts given. There are specific limits, yes, but this contest really does let your imagination run wild. If I had written my one shot the way I’d originally intended, it would have come out entirely different. I’m much happier with the end result thanks to the challenge Beyond the Pale provided.


nitareality has entered This Woman's Work.

The moment I heard about the Beyond the Pale contest, I knew I wanted to write for it. I love to explore taboos, in my personal life, in what I read, and in what I write. To be given the green light to go ahead and push that envelope was very freeing, and my mind ran in a million different directions. I was writing before I saw the prompts. Then I saw the prompts and dropped everything.

I share Yellowglue’s love of pictures, and using them as inspiration for writing. What was picked for this contest was such a rainbow of temptations and taboos. Within days, I had drabbles for each picture, and it was just a matter of picking. Each picture is inspiring in it’s own right, but one picture in particular spoke to me. Being free to explore topics that are edgy but important to me, like mental illness, led to a cathartic writing experience and I’m so glad I took part. I’m pleased as punch that there isn’t an entry limit, because now that I’ve started I don’t want to stop!

I encourage you to take a look; get involved in this contest. Show us the deep depths of your depravity, your secrets.

The closing date isn't until 11th September, so why not give it a go?

Snap by Ruby Wednesday

Snap decisions have devastating consequences. Edward makes a different choice on Bella's first day of school and learns the hard way that two wrongs can never make a right. A two-part dark AU

Donna_rai says:


This is a two chapters fic and to start with I didn’t think I would like, I didn’t think two chapters was enough to tell a proper story, but after reading I was proven wrong!!
This is based on what would have happened if Edward’s bloodlust got the best of him on Bella’s first day at Forks High school.

“Bella Swan stood with her back pressed to the wall beside the door, a piece of paper clutched in her hand. Her eyes were even wider than usual as she took in my ferocious, inhuman glare.
The smell of her blood saturated every particle of air in the tiny, hot room. My throat burst into flames.
The monster glared back at me from the mirror of her eyes, a mask of evil.”

I am always intrigued by Authors that are willing to take there fic to a darker side, this is what I consider a more realistic approach at Edward's nature.
Raw, compelling, haunting and refreshingly different - there's something about the alternate nature of this one that sticks with me.
I wish I could be a little bit more coherent in my review, but I'm just overwhelmed and awed with this story. It was an experience in itself. Ruby Wednesday brought out the best and the worst in Edward and did his character complete justice.

“But I saw too much with my heightened senses and witnessed him sob with his head on the steering wheel until a bell rang and he drove away.
That parking spot became the location for a new tragedy and gave the good people of Forks a new loss to rubberneck at.”

Lambcullen says:

I’ll be honest and say I have no idea where to start with this one. I read it three times - one after the other, when I initially found it, not because it was difficult to understand, or because it confused me.
I read it three times because I adored it.
It starts on that very first day at Forks High; the day Edward scented Bella for the very first time.

“The monster raged in my head but I was willing myself not to reach out and grab her as she walked by. This human was surprising indeed, not that it would matter for too much longer.”

It’s Midnight Sun before it was ever leaked. It shows Edward’s thirst for what it really was, and the description have you salivating right along with him.

“Her blood was seeping through the fabric of her jeans. I had fantasized about it all afternoon. Now that it was flowing freely the scent was even more mouth-watering than I had imagined. It was like water to parched man, a drug to an addict, the finest brandy to an alcoholic. I no longer had a choice in the matter. I had to have it now.”

Ruby Wednesday had me hooked within the first five hundred words, and I was enthralled until the very last sentence. Donna is right when she says it’s raw, because after it’s over you’re left stunned. I’m not even going to into the ending, because I’d hate to ruin it.
I know two chapters is short, but there is really no need for more. It’s perfect as it is.

“I sank my teeth into her flesh.
The taste of her blood was even better than I envisaged. Better than I could have dreamed.
Filled my mouth and coated my throat as thick as honey
It was ambrosia from the gods.
An oasis in the desert.”

I found myself thinking of the end for hours afterward.
It stays with you...just like all good stories should. I think every single fan of Darkward should devour this, because it ticks every single box....and more.

Snap! on FF.net

Tangerine Dream by YellowGlue

AngryBadgerGirl says:

There are so many ‘taboo’ fanfiction stories out there, more than one can count. They range in premise from sexual slavery, BDSM, ‘Darkward’ vampire, to everything in between. To be perfectly honest, I don’t read a whole heck of a lot of them. Truth be told, I prefer stories that are relatively low on the angst scale, so that would preclude most, if not all, of these fics from my reading list.

I have a handful of exceptions to this rule, and one perfect example is Tangerine Dream by YellowGlue. If you want to judge this one-shot purely for its shock value, I will be bold enough to say that you’re grossly underestimating its worth as a quality piece of writing. There is so much more to it than that.

My first reason for considering it to be so good is that the writing is superb. Indulge me for a moment and look objectively at how the story is written, regardless of its content. (I’ll get back to that later.) There’s an amazing tone and ‘cadence’ to the narration, for one. Yellow’s words are almost poetic, rich with metaphor, simile, and imagery.
The eroticism just jumps off the page—it’s written with intensity and incredible emotion. There’s no ‘smut’ here, if that’s what you’re thinking. Calling it just ‘smut’ is an unfair dismissal of the profound passion and energy that flows throughout Edward’s mind during the entire story. Here’s an example:
I kiss her hot skin and I taste all that vanilla mandarin sweetness I remember from all those years. I lick her and lap her sweet-dream-creamsicle innocence onto my tongue. I tease her and feel her tense and writhe under me, hear her cry out in sugary joy, feel her cum for me. Once. Twice. Three times over.
Another device Yellow uses that I love is word repetition. Normally, writers are told to avoid it, but she uses it to add a sort of rhythm that’s almost like poetic meter. I did a search within the story for the word ‘all’ and it appears 150 times within its total 7.5K word-length. Edward describes Bella, over and over, using the same syntax and structure, but it’s not jarring and doesn’t distract the reader at all. In fact, it just pulls you into his head even further. Here are snippets of what I mean:
All consuming...all sweet and soft…all vanilla sugar and mandarin blossom…all dream-creamsicle sweetness…all innocence and lullabies and building blocks and bedtime stories... all milk and honey like promised paradise…all ripped jeans and clean laundry…all white cotton and her little toes all painted periwinkle blue and my self control was raging.
As you read the ‘all’ descriptions piece by piece, you see them gradually shift from describing her as a child and a representation of innocence, to ultimately, an object of desire and the complete catalyst that causes his lose of self-control.
This component of the story is the perfect segue to the ‘taboo’ aspect of the premise. Edward is practically driven insane from the conflict he feels. His bloodlust draws him to Bella when she was nothing more than a toddler. I’ll be bold enough to say right now that if Edward and Bella had met when she was that young in canon, he would have felt the same exact reaction to her blood. She is his singer, after all. Canon Edward would have surely felt as if he were every last bit of strength not to drain her, just as he did in the original saga when they first met.
But the notion of their meeting when she is much younger forces us to look more closely at the idea of bloodlust versus actual lust. At some point in canon, Edward’s bloodlust ebbs when his romantic feelings for Bella begin to emerge. But I don’t think SMeyer did an entirely thorough job of delving into the ‘why’ and ‘how’. She brought Edward and Bella together in a very idealized and romantic way, a la two star-crossed lovers like Romeo and Juliet, or Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Something just ‘pulls them’ together.
Tangerine Dream looks at that transition from hunger to love with a heck of a lot more detail. Edward spends years fighting the urge to drink from Bella, while at the same time, involving himself in her life in some subtle, peripheral way in order to watch and protect her. It’s the ultimate practice in tortured restraint. But I think the years of standing back and watching do a few things to him: namely, his willpower and resistance to harming her grows substantially.
Through that willpower, his instinct to protect her grows and he begins to realize that he could only care this much if he loved her. His protectiveness goes well beyond her physical wellbeing. He becomes upset and almost agitated when she’s emotionally hurt as well. Her feelings of inadequacy and loneliness genuinely affect him, and he wants to take that hurt away too.
In the end, they both profess their profound feelings for one another. Bella is not as innocent as Edward imagines her, not by any means. (Raise your hand if you think she left her mitten in his car on purpose.) She knew Edward was watching her and felt comfort from it.
So rather than looking at this strictly by the age difference, by when and how they met, and judging the story simply on those points merely misses the picture entirely. Yes, the taboo is there, but I think Yellow does an extraordinary job of using it as a vehicle to examine other elements from canon and weave them together in a way that’s beautifully written and extremely compelling.

EunHye says:


My review of Tangerine Dreams. I'm one of the many, right? So I'll keep it short. :)

Tangerine Dreams, a fliffity, fluffity citrusy one shot, sounds like a twisty, lemony Dr. Seuss rhyme. And in some parts, it is. The words are rythmic, even upbeat, but they didn't distract me from the topic, which is the unconventional relationship between a human and a really old (but supersexy) vampire. It started with the girl as an infant, progresses through the years, culminating into a sexual act that is agreed by mutual consent but not between adults.

Sex between an older man and a girl under the age of consent is always suspect, as society dictates that minors should not have sex with adults. I don't mind it in fics, as long as it's written with skill and restraint. Tangerine Dreams, luckily, exceeds in both. There is nothing amateurish or clumsy in the way Sarah writes. Her words are smooth, like Edward himself, and tight, like the way he feels. She draws you in and takes you for a rollercoaster ride of Edward's emotions as he dances around temptation, torturing himself, before he accepts, calmly, that the only way to end his suffering is to give in to his obsession. She takes you round the bend as Edward manipulates Bella by initiating close contact, giving her the attention and gentleness that she needs and the moment she reciprocates his affection, he succumbs to his wants. It's wrong, and yet, Sarah's words made me cheer for them.

But then, Tangerine is not only about the sex, although everything did seem to lead up to it. It's about Edward fighting his nature. He's a vampire, and he doesn't operate within the bounds of what is socially acceptable (like drinking blood or not dying can ever be socially acceptable) but he aspires to these conventions...up until he doesn't. Which makes him, ironically, very human.

An aside, age of consent in the Philippines (my country) is 12, as long as the other person is not more than 10 years his or her senior. Which goes to show that even established communities differ in the perception of what's taboo and what's not. If humans can't decide what is what among themselves, how much so for vampires?

Maylin says:


This week saw the beginning of the Beyond the Pale competition, which challenges writers to take a fresh look at taboo themes. It is no coincidence, therefore, that we have chosen to review Tangerine Dream this month.
This one-shot was originally an entrant in a contest which had as a requirement that any relationship should be illegal. Tangerine Dream has been removed from Fanfiction.net twice after some rather esoteric complaints and has received some very vitriolic flaming as well as effusive praise. It is now only available to read on the author’s blog.
For me the attraction of reading stories about taboo themes is not for the shock value or the titillation of something ‘naughty’ but from a genuine belief that there are few absolutes in morality (maybe none at all). Rather there are vast grey areas where given a particular set of circumstances nothing is intrinsically ‘bad’. I happen to know that grey is Yellowglue’s favorite color.
I want to read something so well written and thought provoking that it turns my assumptions and prejudices on their head. Tangerine Dream is one of those stories.
Ostensibly this is a story of Edward as a vampire posing as a 31 year old human. He first encounters Bella at the age of 2 years and is immediately obsessed with her. He watches as she grows up waiting for her to attain womanhood, until he can wait no longer. Although Bella’s age is never mentioned she is undoubtedly a minor.
This could be viewed as pedophilia. However age of consent is a fluid area even in law. It varies considerably in different cultures with the US probably having one of the highest (18 years in some States). Even then the Law is not necessarily protecting those that need to be protected or allowing freedom to those who are mature enough not to be exploited. Youth does not necessarily make one vulnerable, nor age a predator.
We do however have a duty to protect the vulnerable and in this story Bella is undoubtedly vulnerable. Not only because of her age but also through appalling parenting.
Is Edward a predator though? This question hangs there throughout the story and is what adds that edge of darkness that transforms this into something you really engage with rather than consume.
“Her crimson called out to me; a siren, it sang my name in her tiny baby voice, begged me, confessed she was mine all mine for the taking.”
In the beginning his focus is her blood. He desires her blood. Her age is immaterial – too young – too old it makes no difference; unlike a pedophile whose focus would be her youth and vulnerability.
Although his bloodlust gradually grows into so much more he is still determined to wait. Although he is not human he still feels constrained by societal taboos and needs to continually justify his behavior to himself.
“Waiting when you don’t know exactly what it is you’re waiting for, only that you must wait, is always impatient waiting.”
At is “It felt too odd, I felt too rotten in trying to justify that much. She’s a child, years later yes, but still just a baby, and I a grown man. If I was waiting, I decided I would wait as long as it took for her to grow into a woman; when I could at least be seen with her and not raise eyebrows.”
His resolve is stretched, though, as he hears her blood quite literally singing to him the more contact he has with her.
“My mind racing with all the hundreds of ways I knew I could get her alone and bleed her dry and calm all of the universe with just one drink.”
Ultimately it is she who makes the first move. She has a loveless, uncertain life and through their intermittent encounters through her life sees him as someone she can rely on and feel safe with. His feelings are overwhelmingly protective and at every stage he asks her permission. “Is this OK” becomes a mantra.

“I smiled, my whole self soaring again. “Yes. If that’s okay?” I asked, yet again and determined to always ask her permission; wanting so much to please her, to keep her safe.”
In the end though what captivated me immediately was the writing style. Elegant and original, the narrative is lent poetic intensity by the repetition of key phrases and the rhythm of the wording. Her use of adjectives is so sensual you feel you can almost taste the words. This evocative, almost nostalgic style imbues the story with an innocence that contrasts with the subject matter.
If you want to read something beautiful yet ambiguous and thought provoking, there is no better place to start than with this under-appreciated gem.

Tangerine Dream is available on YellowGlue's Blog.

Lovegame by Moneybeet

Summery:

Every night she goes about her business ignorant to the man who watches her from her window. She doesn't understand what is coming. She couldn't know the horrors he would subject her to in the name of fascination

Donnarai says:

"I have been waiting so long," he muttered near her wrist, "For so long, Bella."
"Waiting?" she wondered in a tone that betrayed how much he was effecting her.
"To make you what you always have been," he replied.
Edward tilted his head just enough for Bella to catch a glimpse of his expression.
Terror crept into her body, making it numb.
Words were caught in her throat as she tried to pull away from him.
"No, no, no, kitten," he taunted her. "If you try to escape, you will only make things worse for yourself."

Moneybeet is the author responsible for this fantastic story.
I found this Fic when I was in dire need of a pick me up from a lack of good Darkward!!
The writing is absolutely amazing; it grabs your attention right from the 1st chapter.
I am trying to figure out why this Edward fascinates me so much, he is very Dark, sinister, bloodthirsty and obsessed, the way he controls Bella like his own personal toy is very interesting, the details and descriptions that go into this is out of this world!
Bella is scared and confused when it comes to Edward, she has been dragged into a deadly game that she has no control over, she can’t go to her family or friends for fear that they will be killed so she has no choice but to play along.
Edward really seems to get off on torturing Bella, her blood and body is his whether she likes it or not and the more she tries to fight it the more twisted and dangerous he gets.
This is one story that I can quite happily read over and over again and never get bored!!
Moneybeet captures the essence of what a true Darkward fic should be like, she doesn’t hold back or shy away from scenes that are more violent and disturbed than others.
This story has the potential to get even darker and I am really looking forward to seeing what the author has up her sleeve when it comes to Edward and Bella.
Hope you all enjoy.....


"I want you to flee, little kitten," he hissed back. "I want to play and you will indulge me."
Bella felt her skin crawl in response to his words.
Rather suddenly, she was freed from his closeness.
She stood and tried to ignore the thick mud covering her jeans and arms. She found her knees still wavering slightly as he intensely stared her down. Bella didn't move.
At least she didn't start to leave until Edward crouched down into a predatory stance, his face twisted into that same devious smile. "Don't you have any self-preservation instincts at all?"
Bella stepped away from him, stumbling slightly over a tree root. Luckily enough she was able to catch herself before falling.
"Ah, there it is." He said calmly. "Run now, little Isabella."


O_oza says:

There’s one word that consistently comes to mind when I read Lovegame.

Nightmare.

Bella finds herself in a most unfortunate predicament the day she meets Edward. The scent of her blood and silent mind are enough to seal her fate as nothing more than his plaything. Edward is a master at controlling her, owning her, and he gets her to obey him by threatening the lives of others. Not that she really has a choice. He is playing a game, physically and mentally, and unlike other stories of similar nature, Bella is forced to go on with her everyday life pretending that everything is normal.

This story is written in 3rd person and moneybeet does a brilliant job of portraying the emotions of the characters. When Bella is afraid, I feel it in my gut. When Edward is tormenting her, I’m on the edge of my seat wanting more. Most of the time these emotions are happening simultaneously. She makes me want to cover my eyes and cheer at the same time.

Not only is Lovegame well written, but this Edward isn’t going soft anytime soon. At times he may come across as caring, but it’s quickly overshadowed by his underlying motives. I can’t wait to see what other twisted things he has up his sleeve!

"Still hurting, kitten?" he whispered in his velvet tenor.
She gave a slight nod, trying to ignore the little stabs of pain. If only she had remembered to bring the bottle of Tylenol sitting on the kitchen counter this morning…
"Good."

Lovegame by Moneybeet on FF