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For a while now I've been wanting to try painting over the Pillars of Creation photo taken by the Webb telescope.

When I was a kid I thought the earlier version looked like a bunch of dragons racing to the sky, and I think the new pic looks even more like it, so, here they are~

For reference, same crop of the photo down here:

#and on that note: #see u later tumblr #// #!! #this is gorgeous! #art #digital art #paintings #painting #photography #outer space #astrophotography #dragons #cool stuff #photo set #fyc

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An older sketch (that I also used for my blog icon) of early cw Obi-Wan gifting Ahsoka a cloak post battle.

Really wish the clone wars delved more into their relationship, what with Ahsoka being assigned to Obi-Wan before Anakin.

#<3 #lovely work OP! #and a loud YES to your comments! #ahsoka tano #obi-wan kenobi #obi wan kenobi #swtcw #star wars fan art #swtcw fan art #star wars #fanart

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what if jellyfish were just, like, really big. all the time

#this gives me the same feeling of awe i got when visiting aquariums as a kid #// #art #pretty things #jellyfish

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#!!!!!!#my biggest gripe with KoS (not actually but one of them!) was the move AWAY from moral ambiguity wrt Nikolai#when his potential for cutthroat choices was one of the most fundamental parts of his character#your choices don’t get LESS morally ambiguous when you’re ruling a kingdom#anyway yesss love the haunting ever present question of what IS he capable of#the choice of fratricide being taken away from him means he’ll never know if he would’ve actually done it!#always thinking of that moment in S&S when Alina tells him that he’d probably walk her to the gallows himself#if it put him closer to the throne and his chance to save the country#and he’s like… damn idk maybe

^^^

I find Nikolai so much more interesting (not to mention realistic!) when he’s continually perched on that knife’s edge. He’s a largely good guy, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t take morally ambiguous actions. When do the ends justify the means, and at what point do you stop being “largely good” when your actions continue to get more and more morally dubious?

When your personal ambition is so deeply entwined with your desire to help your country, is it even possible to detangle the two? And what does it mean for a person if your most selfish desires are so tightly wound through your noblest intentions, and vice versa?

Nikolai is self-aware enough to know that he’s walking that fine line, and he’s a good enough guy to be bothered by it. Neither of these things will inherently stop him from crossing said line, though. It’s up to him to keep himself from sliding too far on that slippery slope of morally dubious actions. (And “too far,” of course, is deeply subjective.) To a lesser degree, it’s also up to the people around him, but that’s dependent on him listening to them—which is just another choice for him to make.

As you said, becoming ruler of a kingdom should only intensify your potential for making morally ambiguous decisions... as well as the magnitude of their consequences. 

(As I think we may have discussed before, Nikolai abdicating the throne in ROW didn’t work for me—not for Nikolai and not for the story—but the worst part is that it could have if Bardugo had delved deeper into his character.)

Like Mal’s not-death, Nikolai being allowed to remain so untainted feels emotionally/intellectually dishonest. I get it, these are YA books, but Bardugo is the one who introduced these quandaries in the first place. And she even called the readers’ attention to them in that great scene between Alina and Nikolai in S&S that you mentioned!

#anyway yesss love the haunting ever present question of what IS he capable of#the choice of fratricide being taken away from him means he’ll never know if he would’ve actually done it!

*highlights and underlines these lines*

Exactly! The fun thing about Bardugo giving Nikolai narrative copout after copout is that we can explore the affect this would have on him. The Darkling kills Vasily for him. He’s conveniently able to privately exile his father. (Which has a lot more moral ambiguity packed into it than fandom typically acknowledges, IMO.) But what if it hadn’t worked out that way? He’ll never know what he’s really capable of, and if he lets himself think about it too much, it could easily eat him alive from the inside out. Just how much a “monster” is he? And how much more of a monster is being King making him?

I wish Bardugo had engaged more deeply with the monstrous aspects present in Nikolai as a person—his internality and interiority, the choices he makes and the costs he considers acceptable—as opposed to him having a literal monster in him thanks to the Darkling. (Or, you know, both. Which is what I think she was trying to go for, but the metaphor didn’t work for me, since the monster seemed so disconnected from Nikolai himself.)

ANYWAY! Thank you so much! I always love reading your thoughts.

One of the fun (and tricky!) parts of this fic is trying to get Nikolai’s headspace through while writing solely in Alina’s POV. Because Nikolai does open up to her—canonically, he opens up to her quite a bit—but that doesn’t mean he talks about everything. Or that he’s always aware of everything going on in his head. The same is true of Alina, of course, but we have the benefit of actually being inside her head. 

Sunday Snippet

“What would you have done if Vasily hadn’t died or abdicated the throne?” Alina asks him once.

Here where it’s just the two of them, Nikolai has allowed himself to look just a hair less the perfect, polished king. He doesn’t tense at her question—he’s too disciplined for that—but she can see the uncertainty and guilt in his eyes when he turns to face her.

“Honestly? I’m not sure.” His voice is wry and tinged with an uncharacteristic bitterness. “I like to think I could have gotten him to abdicate of his own free will, but perhaps I’m still fooling myself. Vasily hated work, but he loved power and the appearance of it.”

—I’ll tell you how the sun rose (a ribbon at a time)

#grishaverse meta #nikolai lantsov #i'll tell you how the sun rose #grishaverse #grishaverse fanfiction #meta #the grisha trilogy #kos duology #long post

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Aster and goldenrod season.

#and on that note: #see u later tumblr #// #photography #nature #pretty things #landscape #flowers #flora #aster #goldenrod

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my fucking squire died so I’m stuck in this stupid armor

#puns #i love puns #makes you laugh #fyc

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ykno the thing about poetry is that 99% of it is bullshit and the other 1% will cut you like a material knife, and for every person that 1% is a different section of the whole. this is probably true about all art.

#pretty much! #critical analysis is always relevant #poetry #art #Art! #literature

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Sunday Snippet

“What would you have done if Vasily hadn’t died or abdicated the throne?” Alina asks him once.

Here where it’s just the two of them, Nikolai has allowed himself to look just a hair less the perfect, polished king. He doesn’t tense at her question—he’s too disciplined for that—but she can see the uncertainty and guilt in his eyes when he turns to face her.

“Honestly? I’m not sure.” His voice is wry and tinged with an uncharacteristic bitterness. “I like to think I could have gotten him to abdicate of his own free will, but perhaps I’m still fooling myself. Vasily hated work, but he loved power and the appearance of it.”

—I’ll tell you how the sun rose (a ribbon at a time)

#at 11000 words now and still not done w/ this thing! #bardugo: what if nikolai never had to make any of the hardest/most dramatic choices that would soil his morality no matter what he did? #me: okay. i get it. but try this: what if he's haunted by it anyway?? #nikolina #nikolai lantsov #alina starkov #// #things done by phos #i'll tell you how the sun rose #10 #11 #12 #13 #14 #15 #16 #17 #18 #19 #20 #grishaverse fanfiction #the grisha trilogy #grishaverse #het

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Alternative readings are good, I say, while grinding my teeth because I don’t like this particular one

#it's funny because it's true #fandom life #fandom problems #(of the lesser variety)

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Template Letter to the Board

OTW Board meetings are one of the few ways fans can witness decisions being made about how the AO3 operates. Unfortunately, many fans don't even know there are board meetings, how they're run, or what they do, and even fans that do follow Board activity find it difficult to learn when they're scheduled. This has to change.

Part of the system that has created the problems OTW/AO3 are currently experiencing is due to this ongoing lack of transparency and confusing processes. In line with the upcoming elections, we feel these next few Board meetings before and after the election will be particularly important and feel the organization can be doing more to publicize them, making them more accessible and available to fans. To that end, you can share the following letter with the board by using this link and setting your message to go to the OTW Board Of Directors.  

We call on the OTW Board to demonstrate their commitment to further transparency by better publicizing their Board meetings.  Here are a few ways we feel you can do this: * add a banner to AO3 pages, like those used for membership drives * post announcements on all news platforms, not just Twitter, and pin them to the top of the page across social media  * email notices to all OTW members * maintain an opt-in mailing list for non-members Your promise of being more transparent about the org's processes must include an effort to reach as many fans as possible when announcing these meetings, giving us the opportunity to see the Board at work and make our voices heard. I stand with End OTW Racism in holding the OTW accountable to its commitments. Please start now with  better publicizing the upcoming meeting on July 2nd. Thank you, [your name]

Thanks and credit to @seepunkrun on tumblr whose basic format for these suggestions they’ve graciously allowed us to use as the foundation for this request.

#endotwracism #fandom life #fandom problems #fandom racism #racism in fandom #otw #ao3

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Living in Ohio is just like living in the Riverlands, I think

#or at least it feels that way during the US presidential election cycle lol #// #asoiaf crack

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I don’t have any mobile phone network in or around my farm, but I can get some spotty reception if I pace around the woods for a good while. So now when I want to send or receive a text, and it’s too cold or dark to go outside and walk aimlessly for half an hour, I attach my phone to Pandolf’s collar and send him out in the forest. Usually when he comes home after taking my phone for a walk the text is successfully sent. He’s like those rescue mountain dogs with a little barrel of whiskey round their necks, but the millennial version. 

#have i reblogged this before? #do i care? #what a good pupper! #adorable animals #dogs #makes you smile

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If the chapter is mostly done can we see some of it 🥺🥺

AFDHFHFD sure! I’ve been gnawing my arm off over nikolina atm so I guess here’s a slightly longer romance scene

***

Nikolai is working at his desk. He looks up at her approach sharply but his expression warms. And through her own swarm of worries, Alina thinks that he might genuinely be pleased to see her.

“Do you mind me interrupting?” she asks hesitantly. She already feels calmer here, or like she could be calm. In this room, with the lamps lit, and mundane work to be done.

“Not at all. Though I think I’m too tired right now for a continuation of our earlier debate.”

“Shall we call it a truce?”

“So you’ve realized my argument is stunningly correct and have come to praise my brilliance?”

She snorts.

“Couldn’t sleep?” he asks and she shakes her head. “Neither can I, or well I haven’t really tried.”

“It’s late,” she says, drifting closer. There are dark circles under his eyes and for a moment she wishes she had Genya’s ability to simply wipe them away with a touch. Instead she traces her thumb lightly over his cheek, and marvels at the tension draining from his face.

“I don’t think I could stand to be still long enough.”

“Then come to bed with me,” she says, only a little coyness to her answering smile.

This catches his attention. “Have you finally succumbed to my seductive charms?”

“Perhaps.” She leans down to brush her lips against his, resting her hand on his, taking the pen away. She feels a sudden pang of fondness for these hands, scars and all, though he might hate them. She holds his palm to her cheek, the warmth of it chasing away the Darkling’s touch.

“We’re married,” he says quietly, when they break for breath.

“I suspect we might be.”

“Just seems odd to consider.”

“Nikolai,” she says again, kissing him insistently. She twines her fingers in his hair. Takes his lower lip between her teeth and he shudders.

“I get the distinct sense I’m being taken advantage of,” he replies. “But then I could never refuse my beloved wife anything.”

She rolls her eyes but smiles as he finally rises from the chair, pulling her to him, a more urgent note to the way his mouth moves against hers.

“You always say such glib nonsense,” she breathes in between kisses, as his hands travel over her back through the silky material of her dressing gown. She can feel every line of his body against hers, solid and warm. Real.

“It’s either nonsense or terrible poetry, I’m afraid. I need an outlet for my romantic tendencies.”

“You never told me what you wrote poetry about.”

“Ah. Nothing worth mentioning.”

She angles her face away to get a better look at him, she grins. It nearly feels genuine. “What would you write about now?”

He slips the dressing gown over her shoulders, down her arms, to let it fall in a puddle around her feet. “My own heroic exploits clearly. There are so many words I could dedicate simply to my charm and handsomeness. Not to mention prowess with a sword.”

“Naturally. And your modesty?”

“Not a trait worth lauding in kings I’m afraid. Though I suppose you deserve a few poems too.”

“Oh? How generous. What would you write about me?”

“Your surly disposition. Brutal dedication to any argument. Passionate, seething hatred for mornings.” He pauses. “Perhaps an epic about how you punched me that one time.”

She smacks him on the chest lightly. “That was ages ago.”

“Hm yes. I think you did kick me too.”

“I could kick you again.”

“Fine, fine, the hypothetical terrible poetry can also include a few verses about your stunning beauty as well, is that sufficient?”

“I suppose it will have to do.”

He brushes his lips over her jawline, her throat. “That isn’t very enthusiastic. Did you want me to profess my undying love in verse? I could. What do you think of limericks?”

She arches her neck to give him better access. “Very funny.”

“Oh, that is not a joke.”

“So it’s a threat?”

“If you want to call it that.” She can feel him grin against her throat and before she has a chance to question it, he lifts her up in his arms. She squeaks in surprise.

“What are you doing?” she laughs, looping her arms around his neck for balance as he carries her away. His bedchamber is connected to the study so they do not have to brave the halls. And for that she’s grateful.

It’s freeing to be alone, to simply not care about appearances. But also disconcerting to think of how unusual it is for her now. Keramzin was never particularly private, but she wasn’t constantly scrutinized in the same way.

“Fairly evident, wouldn’t you say?” he replies, carefully setting her down.

She glances around the room. The lamps have been lit, and there is a low fire in the hearth. There are shadows in the corners, cast by the furniture, Nikolai himself, where he stands in front of the bed, back to the fire. They don’t appear to be darker than natural, but she cannot tell either. Could something be lurking there? She tears her gaze away, refusing to follow the line of thought.

#!!!! #you write their banter so well #and i love the way their romance is sort of sneaking up on both of them #(well on alina more than nikolai... he's clearly already pretty aware of his own feelings and deflecting HARD #both as a self-preservation mechanism and to avoid scaring alina off by coming on too strong too soon) #idk i just have a lot of FEELINGS about this #it's so sweet! but not sickeningly so #and i am delighted that someone else remembers nikolai has canonically written poetry and reads it #// #the grisha trilogy #grishaverse #grishaverse fanfiction #nikolina #nikolai lantsov #alina starkov #fanfiction #het

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hey i know that i dont talk about it a lot on here but this blog is pro masking. official govt and world organizations ending the health emergency doesn't mean covid is over. long term organ damage happens w every infection. the chances of long covid increase w each infection. we are facing an ever evolving infectious disease with no institutional protection. respirators protect you and others, please mask up!

you can request free n95 masks from project n95 here:

all we have is each other, mask up and take care of your community

#how to help #current events #History! #2020s history #2023 #covid-19 #wildfires

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A low, sweet voice filtered through the noise of the storm, for a moment, he wondered if it was his mother, he wondered if this time death would be different, perhaps he’d hear the lullaby she never had the chance to sing.

Daylight Comes With Slow Fire -- A Post-canon Jonsa fic on AO3

#ooo i love the graphic you've created! #and i'm looking forward to reading this later #fanfiction #jonsa #game of thrones #het #GOT fanfiction

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#makes you laugh #tumblr life #internet life #social media #no spoons to caption atm #current events #2020s history #2023 #twitter #twitterpocalypse #tumblr

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Matilda (movie) remake where Trunchbull looks like one of those hyper feminine bleach blonde Republican women you see on talk shows as the token girl/eye candy. And then Miss Honey is a soft-hearted, handy, tie-wearing Butch.

#it's what we deserve #matilda