*This fanfic is underneath my folder titled “Shadow House fanfics”. Gacha Club character designs are under this forum: https://www.youngwriterssociety.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=117842. This is based off the book series called “Shadow House” written by Dan Poblocki. Connie, Dash, and Poppy are already in the story, but Valerian is my OC. Poppy was 12 in the series, she’s an adult in this fic. Anyway, enjoy!*
Poppy tried to go through her days as normally as she could, but flashes of what happened back in Larkspur all those years ago kept flickering in her mind, haunting her very dreams. She didn’t even see Connie anymore.
Sometimes, she saw Valerian backstage, smiling at her as she performed. They still spoke to each other but she wished that they could speak to each other more, because there was so much she felt like she wanted to say to him and she didn’t even know where to start.
Poppy’s hand pulled away the red curtain softly. It would be another day of performing and trying her best to ignore the memories. It didn’t matter how she felt. As long as those watching were happy, then she was doing a good job. She wanted them to be proud of her.
But instead of the audience staring back at her, Poppy was outside on a cloudy day, a long road twisting in front of her, just like-
“Larkspur?! But how?!”
Valerian stood next to her, his white, frightened eyes searching, trying to make sense of it all.
Poppy took a step forward, saying nothing. She saw Larkspur burn down, so how…but they were there, nonetheless.
It seemed that they were the only ones out there. Maybe there were other houses. Maybe they could call out for help. But she had a feeling that they would just be pulled back in.
“I don’t understand how this happened, but it seems like the only way out is in.”
“What?”
Poppy turned to look at Valerian.
“You know Larkspur. You know it doesn’t let go. It looks like there’s still things that need to be fixed.”
Valerian said nothing. She knew how he felt. He would yell at her just like the other kids did. They didn’t want to come in there. They thought she was crazy, Dash in particular. It wasn’t like she wanted to go in there either, but it never did any good to run. It would just find them like it always did.
“Let’s go.” Valerian said, walking past her.
Poppy blinked mildly in surprise, then followed after him.
She didn’t expect him to go along with it. At least she wouldn’t have to argue.
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137,429 Literary Works • 672,015 Reviews
Good evening! Saw you posting another Poppy chapter and was like "ohh I read this recently so I need more!"
Oha, and we have a time jump. Last time, they both got a letter and Poppy seemed so sure that she's never gonna see Val again. And I've been so sure that she's wrong XD But it sounds like he really did move out of her appartement and now they are only rarely interacting huh?
Are you sure you need the "then" here? "As long as those watching were happy, then she was doing a good job."
I like the sudden transition/location change! Very well handled!
Even tho I still think the phrase “Poppy’s hand” makes it seem as if she has some sort of body dysmorphia where she doesn’t really recognizes her own hand?
I’m really curious how you are going to explain why Larkspur still exists. What type of thing you want to explore with this fic :3
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this scene is pretty interesting because it shows how poppy is dealing with everything that happened in larkspur. the way she suddenly ends up back there makes the story feel creepy and mysterious, and it made me think something bad is about to happen. i also liked how valerian doesn’t argue with her and just goes along because it shows he understands how serious it is. all in all, it’s a strong scene, even if the whole situation feels kind of crazy c:
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