laurasimonsdaughter

[laurasimonsdaughter]

What would tsukumogami be like in an urban fantasy setting?

I'm afraid I'm not really the right person to ask... Same goes for your (I presume) question about tengu!

I have not read much Japanese folklore yet and I know very little of the cultural context of the stories that I have read. The concept of tsukumogami in particular is far more complex than it seems at first glance and I can't say I've ever fully wrapped my head around it beyond how deeply unnerving it is to me to think that tools or household objects might come to life ^^;

I'm definitely interested in Japanese folklore but I've never mixed it into my own writing. I simply do not have the knowledge required to do it justice

#ask #sorry anon!

[laurasimonsdaughter]

I went to the museum and saw some very good Beasts on the fairground organs~

#laura's life #the bird lion with one singular boob bemuses me the most #but what a good cockatrice and what a fancy griffin

[laurasimonsdaughter]

Dear Domestic Dragons Trust, I’m in dire need of some help! My dragon just became a mother and I’m at loss as to what to do!

Awhile ago, my dragon, a mischievous golden colored girl, got out. She was out of her enclosure and the window was open. Disappeared for a week but thankfully came back in good health. I thought all was good until she started getting rounder and spending more time in her nesting box. Lo and behold I check on her and I find she’s laid a clutch of eggs! And they’re all fertile!

I don’t know what to do? What’s some advice you could give for dragon nesting and raising baby dragons?

Hello!

First of all we'd like to say congratulations and good luck! This is a pretty rare occurrence nowadays, considering wild dragons don't tend to live too close to humans anymore. Of course it is also possible that your dragon found someone else's pet dragon. Some people still let them outside unattended, even though that's certainly not advisable.

Pocket dragons are the most common domesticated dragon breed, but not the only one. It's much more difficult to distinguish between large domestic breeds and wild dragons though. If your pet is a pocket dragon the eggs should not be bigger than 2 centimeters. If they are...maybe transfer the nest to a fireproof environment.

In general if you take good care of the nesting dragon, you are taking good care of the eggs. They do not really need anything extraordinary. Once the fledglings have hatched, however, you should take them to a occult veterinarian to have them checked out. They will hopefully also be able to tell you if you are dealing with a crossbreed and what kind. They can usually scry for that information.

Dragons tend to be solitary creatures as soon as they are of age, so keeping multiple dragons in your home is usually not a great idea. Feel free to contact us at any of our shelters if you need help caring for or re-homing your young dragons!

Best of luck,

~ The Domestic Dragon Trust

#dragon #dragons #the domestic dragon trust

[laurasimonsdaughter]

I just noticed a recurring motif among these Sicilian fairy tales that is so incredibly well-suited for fanfic:

A princess sees a handsome young man (usually a prince in disguise) making eyes at her in the marketplace and begs her father the king to make him a royal servant, because he is so beautiful.

The king complies, because he's too fond of her to say no, and makes the hero a stable boy or gardener.

The princess now suddenly spends much more time out riding or requesting flowers, and then tells her father that the new servant is far too good for outside work and must become a servant in the castle.

The king complies, but soon enough the princess requests that the new manservant is made her personal page. By now the king is getting very nervous, but he still can't say no to his daughter.

The princess and the page manage to keep up the charade a little longer before the princess goes to the king and outright demands to let her marry her favourite.

The king gives the hero three "impossible tasks" that are meant to kill him, but naturally he accomplishes them all through trickery or supernatural intervention and the clandestine lovers get their way.

The pining, the flirting, the sneaking around, the devotion— do you see my vision?

#self reblog

[laurasimonsdaughter]

I just noticed a recurring motif among these Sicilian fairy tales that is so incredibly well-suited for fanfic:

A princess sees a handsome young man (usually a prince in disguise) making eyes at her in the marketplace and begs her father the king to make him a royal servant, because he is so beautiful.

The king complies, because he's too fond of her to say no, and makes the hero a stable boy or gardener.

The princess now suddenly spends much more time out riding or requesting flowers, and then tells her father that the new servant is far too good for outside work and must become a servant in the castle.

The king complies, but soon enough the princess requests that the new manservant is made her personal page. By now the king is getting very nervous, but he still can't say no to his daughter.

The princess and the page manage to keep up the charade a little longer before the princess goes to the king and outright demands to let her marry her favourite.

The king gives the hero three "impossible tasks" that are meant to kill him, but naturally he accomplishes them all through trickery or supernatural intervention and the clandestine lovers get their way.

The pining, the flirting, the sneaking around, the devotion— do you see my vision?

#please make this a new AU #please #in the fairy tales this is usually a side plot to the main event #but a good ship could /make it the main event/ #laura tumbles #fairy tale AU #this is the happy version of this motif #there is also an not happy version but I like this one #fairy tales #fanfic #tropes #writing prompts

[laurasimonsdaughter]

What if Disney adapted Journey to the West?

There's no need! Overly Sarcastic Productions is giving me all the English-language Journey To The West my heart desires:

This is also literally my only exposure to this epic, so take my opinion with a grain of salt, but I'd say that any adaptation of this would definitely have to be a series. There's just too much to squash it into a single movie and the episodic nature of the adventures is actually important to the development of the characters.

I've never managed to read the book myself, but I highly recommend this (ongoing) YouTube series summarising it with wonderful drawings and fun commentary <3

#the journey to the west #overly sarcastic productions #recommendations

[laurasimonsdaughter]

Of course you're not bothering me! And I did not know that!! Considering the story it will probably make me cry my eyes out, but it does look very beautiful...

I'll leave this here for everyone else who is interested and will put it on my to watch list!

What if Disney adapted the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter?

I am only vaguely familiar with the context of this story, but I don't think I would give it to Disney. While I'm inclined to say that it would be better adapted into Japanese animation, for Disney vibes without involving Disney, I would latch onto the moon celestial aspect and ask the team from Over The Moon to do it. But beg them to pretty please make it all in their 2D storybook style:

This story is a true tragedy, at least from a mortal perspective, and I think these dreamy, romantic visuals would suit it:

A bamboo-cutter discovers a tiny baby inside a shining stalk of bamboo and he and his wife take her in as their own child.

From that moment on he finds gold inside every stalk he cuts has a nugget of gold inside it.

The baby, Kaguya-hime, grows into a young woman in just three months and is so beautiful that even though her parents try to hide her, men start to come from all over to court her.

Five noblemen are put through impossible trials which they all fail to try and win her hand.

The emperor of Japan falls in love with her, but she won't even have him for a husband, even though she keeps writing with him.

Three years pass and in the summer the mysterious maiden begins crying whenever she sees the moon. At last she reveals she is not of the earth but belongs on the moon and will be taken back there, to parents she has by now forgotten.

Her foster parents try to hide her, the emperor even sends guards to keep away the envoys of the moon who come to fetch her, but of course to no avail.

A chariot comes down for her with the rising of the yellow harvest moon. A messenger tells the bamboo-cutter that Princess Moonlight was sent to earth as punishment for committing a grave fault and that they have sent him the gold in return for the good care she received.

He begs for them not to take him and Kaguya-hime tells him she goes against her will and would rather have stayed with her loving foster parents in their old age, but she must go.

Her foster father is not allowed to go with her. She gives him her embroidered robe as a keepsake. When she is given Elixir of Life to drink she even tries to share it with him, but she is prevented.

Finally she writes a letter to the emperor, encloses the rest of the Elixir of Life and gives this to her foster father, asking him to deliver it. Then she ascends into the sky in the moon chariot.

The emperor has her gift bunt at the summit of Mount Fuji so that the smoke can be seen rising from there to this day.

I think a faithful adaptation should keep it a tragedy, but perhaps there could be just a little bittersweet mixed in with the sorrow for the poor parents. Maybe they can hear their daughter singing to them when they look up to the moon. Or perhaps the ending could be made a little less formal and the princess's celestial parents can come down themselves to get her back and to thank her mortal foster parents for all they have done for her. If I were adapting this I would downplay the part of the emperor a bit and really put the focus on the relationship between the moon princess and both her foster parents.

#thank you very much for your addition ^^

[laurasimonsdaughter]

What if Disney adapted the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter?

I am only vaguely familiar with the context of this story, but I don't think I would give it to Disney. While I'm inclined to say that it would be better adapted into Japanese animation, for Disney vibes without involving Disney, I would latch onto the moon celestial aspect and ask the team from Over The Moon to do it. But beg them to pretty please make it all in their 2D storybook style:

This story is a true tragedy, at least from a mortal perspective, and I think these dreamy, romantic visuals would suit it:

A bamboo-cutter discovers a tiny baby inside a shining stalk of bamboo and he and his wife take her in as their own child.

From that moment on he finds gold inside every stalk he cuts has a nugget of gold inside it.

The baby, Kaguya-hime, grows into a young woman in just three months and is so beautiful that even though her parents try to hide her, men start to come from all over to court her.

Five noblemen are put through impossible trials which they all fail to try and win her hand.

The emperor of Japan falls in love with her, but she won't even have him for a husband, even though she keeps writing with him.

Three years pass and in the summer the mysterious maiden begins crying whenever she sees the moon. At last she reveals she is not of the earth but belongs on the moon and will be taken back there, to parents she has by now forgotten.

Her foster parents try to hide her, the emperor even sends guards to keep away the envoys of the moon who come to fetch her, but of course to no avail.

A chariot comes down for her with the rising of the yellow harvest moon. A messenger tells the bamboo-cutter that Princess Moonlight was sent to earth as punishment for committing a grave fault and that they have sent him the gold in return for the good care she received.

He begs for them not to take him and Kaguya-hime tells him she goes against her will and would rather have stayed with her loving foster parents in their old age, but she must go.

Her foster father is not allowed to go with her. She gives him her embroidered robe as a keepsake. When she is given Elixir of Life to drink she even tries to share it with him, but she is prevented.

Finally she writes a letter to the emperor, encloses the rest of the Elixir of Life and gives this to her foster father, asking him to deliver it. Then she ascends into the sky in the moon chariot.

The emperor has her gift bunt at the summit of Mount Fuji so that the smoke can be seen rising from there to this day.

I think a faithful adaptation should keep it a tragedy, but perhaps there could be just a little bittersweet mixed in with the sorrow for the poor parents. Maybe they can hear their daughter singing to them when they look up to the moon. Or perhaps the ending could be made a little less formal and the princess's celestial parents can come down themselves to get her back and to thank her mortal foster parents for all they have done for her. If I were adapting this I would downplay the part of the emperor a bit and really put the focus on the relationship between the moon princess and both her foster parents.

#The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter #laura babbles #disney goggles #japanese fairy tales #I am aware that Over the Moon was inspired by Chinese folklore #but the “lady pulled away to the moon motif” is strong

[laurasimonsdaughter]

I am steadily making my way through this lovely collection of Sicilian fairy tales and I'm delighted by how many of them resemble other European folktales I am familiar with, while still being distinctly different

So I was wondering if any of you would be interested in a post comparing them to their more well-known relatives (mostly the Grimm or Perrault versions) and the details that make them unique?

#normally I 100% just post what my heart desires on here #but my heart has no opinion on whether to do this in my notebook post it here #so give me your opinion! #poll

[laurasimonsdaughter]

Seeing as my last question was a bit broad, how do you see kappa in an urban fantasy setting?

I haven't seen them often, perhaps because they will not easily blend in with humans, but it could be very fun! Obviously my brand of urban fantasy tends to be rather low conflict and kappa can be pretty dangerous, so I can imagine they would do well in a more high stakes environment, but these are the characteristics I would focus on:

Lives in rivers

Has an underwater society but mostly lives solitary

Looks like a small humanoid

Green, with webbed hands and feet and skin like a turtle (I would leave the turtle shell)

Has a small hollow in it's head which stays filled with the water of its river when it goes on land, diminishing its power when it is spilled

Physically strong

Quick and graceful in the water, slower and a little clumsy on land

Very fond of cucumbers

Averse to iron, sesame, or ginger

Often capable of healing illness or injury

This type of character would lend itself very well for the "clandestine friendship with a human" plot where they introduce each other to their respective worlds.

But if you write kappa in such a way that they can physically blend in with humans you have a lot more options. In the Cryptids Emerging collection I was also featured in there was very sweet story about a little kappa girl that wants to play sports with the other kids in the park and her family being afraid of her spilling her water and revealing what she is <3

#laura babbles #kappa

[laurasimonsdaughter]

What if Disney adapted The White Snake?

Ohh an obscure one!

(I'm genuinely curious if you want to know about Disney adapting this, or if you mostly want my opinion on the fairy tale, because if it's the latter I need everyone to know that you can barge into my asks any time requesting my take on anything folklore without any sort of framing device!)

That aside, I think a story like this with a straightforward "solve impossible tasks to gain a reward" plot would probably do best as a Mickey Mouse adaptation. These vibes:

The travel and completion of the tasks can be funny and full of slapstick and at the end there's a cute wedding with Princess Minnie.

This is a fairly simple story, the characters don't have a lot to them, but it does have some of my favourite fairy tale tropes:

I stole someone's dinner and now I have a magic power

Being able to talk to animials is the Best Boon

What are the odds I came across two different kings that want me to find a golden ring (if I had a nickle for every time, etc.)

A ring cast into the sea will always end up in a creature (but it's a mussel this time, not a fish!)

The Tree of Life at the End of the World

Great stuff

#disney goggles #the white snake

[laurasimonsdaughter]

Dear Domestic Dragons Trust, I’m writing about my recent experiences with my new “pocket dragon”. Which I’m starting to suspect might not be one.

About six months ago I acquired my dragon after years of wanting and saving for one. He’s a male with scarlet red scales, blue highlights and large pointed horns. The breeder at the time seemed reputable and had official paperwork for him upon purchase. He’s been a darling little menace so far, but I’ve been noticing some very bizarre traits of his that don’t add up. First off, he’s Huge! He’s almost quadrupled in size since I got him and his growth is not slowing down. He’s refuses to eat any fruit or cream, only wanting meat and poultry (which he incinerates upon receiving). He’s much more aggressive about his hoard and especially gold, to the point I need welding equipment to separate things from him he’s not supposed to have.

Did I get some bizarre off breed of pocket dragon, or is he something else I need to be concerned about. I love the little guy dearly either way but I’d like to know if he really is a pocket dragon or not?

Hello,

I'm afraid it does sound like your dragon might be a crossbreed. This does happen sometimes, even with breeders who are careful, because dragons are quite crafty and wild dragons do still roam about in some places. It sounds like your dragon might be half firedrake.

We recommend going back to the breeder and asking for their help. If they care about their reputation at all, they will be willing to help you figure out how this could have happened. Knowing what type of crossbreed your dragon can help provide you with the necessary information to keep taking care of them.

It's not illegal to keep a crossbreed dragon like this, but unlike pocket dragons you do need a liscence for them, and you can only keep them in urban areas under the following conditions:

The dragon has been treated with a fire safety spell.

The dragon is no larger than a horse.

The dragon has been (magically) chipped.

Of course you'll also need to be able to house and feed him, which can certainly be a challenge for bigger dragons. If it turns out keeping him at your home is too difficult or too risky, you could house him at a Magical Menagerie, but renting a stable or kennel there can be very expensive.

If worst comes to worst you can bring him to us and we can figure out how to house him at one of our locations. Hopefully close enough for you to come visit and possible train with him!

Best of luck,

~ The Domestic Dragon Trust

#the domestic dragon trust #dragon #dragons #urban fantasy #thank you anon!

[laurasimonsdaughter]

Dear Magisowo, id like some legal advice if you have any.

I’m a wizard and have recently acquired and renovated my home into a proper wizard tower. However problem is I’ve been getting harrased by the local HOA, them complaining that my tower is an “eyesore” and “disturbing” their neighborhoods image. My tower was built perfectly legally, I’ve got all the proper building permits and followed all local county tower laws. That still isn’t enough for them as they’ve sent countless “inspectors” who’ve found nothing, and have been sending threats of legal action. Is there any way to get them to stop and do their threats actually hold weight?

Good morning!

That sounds like a horrid situation and let us assure you: this so-called Homeowner Association hasn't got a leg to stand on. Of course neighbours are always free to band together for purposes of mutual support - like establishing a feral griffin watch or communal herb garden - but legal rights are only granted in the case a HOA of owners that share communal real estate. As is the case with apartment complexes where one buys an apartment instead of renting it.

If your home is a detached building and you obtained the proper planning permission, your tower construction is perfectly legal. I imagine these people are threatening to report your building to the urban aesthetics commission, but if you have your papers in order the municipality will have ran your plans by them already. Besides, wizard towers are protected under the Occult Habitat Provision, as studies have shown they are a requirement for performing certain types of magic and frequently attract endangered magical species.

We advise passing this information on to the individuals that are bothering you, asking them politely to stop, and if need be warn them that you will treat their actions as intentional harassment if they continue. We will send you an example of how to keep a log to build a harassment case, if worst comes to worst.

We absolutely can not recommend contacting the Wizard Orb Assistance Helpline (WOAH) and inquiring after the latest neighbour-repelling wards that they have on file under Occult Commons. That would be irresponsible from a community building perspective and as such we would under no circumstances advise you do such a thing.

All the best,

~ the MagISoWo Team  

#this took me a while anon because I had to figure out how HOA's work in my part of Europe where the magisowo world is based on :P #wizard #wizard tower #magisowo #Wizard Orb Assistance Helpline #(WOAH)

[laurasimonsdaughter]

I made this little tribute all the way back in October 2019, but this story is no longer on AO3. Because it has been polished and picked over and perfected and is now an actual real life novel you can buy!

If you're here for selkies, sapphic yearning, and impending tragedy turned towards happiness, please treat yourself to this actual physical book by @rosesutherlandwrites <3

“There was something familiar about that, if she could just figure out what— A woman glimpsed once, from across the street, sitting stiff backed in a wagon, looking off to sea. A pair of wide dark eyes under a lace trimmed bonnet, and a bit of gossip, about a fisherman’s new bride and sudden marriage��”

~ A Sweet Sting of Salt, by @laughingmistress

Keep reading

#the link is to the US cover (right) #but I like the Canadian cover better so I will have to contrive ordering that one instead... #recommendations

[laurasimonsdaughter]

How do you see yokai in an urban fantasy setting (such as kitsune, oni, kappa, tengu, etc.)?

I think they are fantastic! I generally really love seeing (urban) fantasy interpretations of them, although "yōkai" is such a broad term that what they will bring to a story very much depends on the kind of yokai.

I've always been fond of shapeshifters, so creatures like kitsune and tanuki and jorōgumo delight me. But in my experience they do work best when they are not divorced from their Japanese context and I personally lack the cultural knowledge to write them with confidence.

You do sometimes get into the uncomfortable territory of "is this a supernatural creature or is this a divine being" with yokai, as some of them are also considered kami. But many yokai have been enthusiastically adapted into literature and media by Japanese artists for ages, and those naturally tend to be the ones we see the most.

One pet peeve I have is people using "kitsune" in stories when they actually mean "fox-shifter". I think it is very important to the nature of kitsune that they are fox yokoi first, their human shape is just an illusion. A human who can turn into a fox, is a fundamentally different being.

This also might make yokai a little harder to integrate into an urban fantasy world, because they are fundamentally not human. But then again, the selkies seem to be doing alright~

#I earlier got a very similar ask that wasn't off anon #so I anwered this one in case this is the same person and you wanted to stay hidden! #laura babbles #yokai #japanese folklore

[laurasimonsdaughter]

I'd like to give props to this prince from the Sicilian fairy tale "Beautiful Angiola" for being in it for the long haul:

"Furious, [the witch] cast a curse on beautiful Angiola: "May your beautiful face be turned into the face of a dog!" she yelled. Within seconds Angiola's beautiful face was transformed into the face of a dog. The prince became very distressed and said, "How can I present you to my parents now? They'll never allow me to marry a maiden with a dog's face." He took her to a small cottage in which she was to live until the evil curse could be ispelled, and afterwards he returned to his parents and lived with them. However, whenever he went hunting, he visited poor Angiola." (Gonzenbach, trans. Zipes, 2006, p. 51)

I absolutely adore the implication that it's genuinely only his parents' probable refusal that prevents him from marrying her anyway. Finally a proper Prince Charming. (He's proven right too, because when he presents her to his parents after the curse is broken, it's stated that they are immediately won over specifically by her beauty. Probably because she's a peasant girl without a dowry.)

Other fantastic details in this Rapunzel-like folktale:

The witch has a guard donkey for her garden

The witch's tower is furnished with living furniture and household objects that can speak and eat

The witch's own pet dog persuades her to break the curse on Angiola, arguing that she has been punished enough

#beautiful angolia #sicilian folklore #laura babbles #the living furniture threw me for a loop #you do sometimes come across talking objects like garden gates and ovens and whatnot #but /all/ the furniture?? #fairy tales #fairy tale

[laurasimonsdaughter]

One off idea for a werewolf specific disability: Shifters Disfunction

A type of disorder where a werewolf suffers from partial, incomplete transformations. So when they wolf out they may have random human body parts just hanging around. Like human hands instead of paws, their teeth remains as flat molars rather then sharp fangs, only their head and arms transforming leaving the human lower body, etc… . Every werewolf with this condition expresses differently, and due to the mismatched parts can often be uncomfortable to downright painful, making it difficult to function in lupine form.

Oof! That gets a bit too close to body horror for my personal taste. (When it comes to incomplete transformations I usually take the softer route of only making their teeth, eyes, hair and maybe ears more wolfish while they still look human.) But that's a really cool different take, anon, and it's a very interesting concept to play with in general!

I really like using complex transformations when I write werewolves. There's so many interesting variations available, for example:

Werewolves who start out being compelled by the full moon to transform and can learn to resist the moon and transform at will instead, but for some this is a great struggle.

If lycanthropy isn't a curse but something in a bloodline, someone who is "half werewolf" might have particularly volatile transformations.

If lycanthropy is a curse, it might be partially warded off or not take hold completely, leaving a person who is not a werewolf, but who is either permanently or occasionally physically changed in far subtler ways.

Strong emotions being directly linked to the wolf transformation, causing werewolves to (partially) transform whenever they get carried away with by their feelings. (Bonus if this includes strong positive feelings!)

Man I love werewolves

#thank you anon <3 #werewolf #werewolves #laura babbles