#This is going to be a work in progress for ages!

[closetsof-backlogged-dreams]

okay so I’ve seen and loved a bunch of these posts already but everything u say is immediately correct and amazing and sending u asks is the best

opinions on why zukka works and makes sense as a ship and if you think it could work in canon (outside of fanon)?

I CANT BELIEVE YOU JUST MADE MY ENTIRE LIFE COMPLETE AND FULL BY ASKING ME THIS QUESTIONNNN (strap in folks hold on to your hats keep a good hold on your bladders bc this is 10+ years worth of BUSINESS)

Why "Zukka" works and makes sense as a ship

something i've discussed THROUGHLY with my notes app and a school slides presentation is that Zuko and Sokka are both direct parallels AND contrasts to one another, at the same time. i'll list them out here:

Their fathers' roles in their lives

Both Hakoda and Ozai were the leaders of their respective nations, with Sokka and Zuko as the heirs. Then, they both become absent in their sons' lives and leave them to fend for themselves.

This is a parallel, but this is also where they contrast. Sokka's father left to go fight in the war, a noble and honest pursuit, and left Sokka to protect his sister and the village.

Ozai, on the other hand, cast Zuko out of the nation and forced him to protect and defend himself, while effectively turning all their people and his own sister against him.

Their sisters' roles in their lives

Despite both of them being the oldest sibling and brother, they both have severe inferiority complexes due to their younger, powerful bending sisters.

With Katara, she was the only waterbender in the entire tribe, a marvel. She could learn to protect the tribe in a way that Sokka had been trying all his life, and she eventually does. Despite all this, Katara is still a grounding and valued person in his life, and he would be completely lost without her (something he openly admits to in canon!!)

With Azula, she was a prodigy firebender, while also being a special kind of keen and cunning. She was adored by their father and grandfather and Zuko could never quite measure up. Because of this, Azula is the main villain in Zuko's childhood. She does everything she can to break him down, and that continues when she returns as a character in his life in season two. All throughout the show, instead of being a source of comfort and familial love, she is his main obstacle he must overcome.

The loss of their mothers

Both Sokka and Zuko lost their mothers at very young ages to the Fire Nation, but they had vastly different impacts on their families (and further developed their sisters' roles in their lives!!)

When Sokka's mother died, she was killed by a Fire Nation general. Katara quickly took over the motherly role in his life, cementing her place as a grounding and comforting force. Her death also did not break their family. It deeply hurt all of them, but Katara, Sokka, and Hakoda still loved one another just as much as before.

When Zuko's mother died (obviously not really, but this is what he believes for many years), she was "killed" in order for his father to ascend to the throne and become Fire Lord. This left Zuko without anyone to protect him from Azula's tormenting and cemented her place as a destructive, villainous person in his life. Ursa's death also did destroy their family. Whatever way she had managed to keep them all together was eradicated, and Zuko was left with a sister and father that resented him and a sister fighting for his place in the line of succession.

Their obessesions

Both Sokka and Zuko had two bone-deep obsessions that were very defining parts of their characters in the first season, that slowly wavered and faded away as the story progressed and they developed as people. They were both given these obsessions by their fathers immediately before they became absent in their lives (whether leaving themself or sending their son away) and proceeded to dedicate their entire life to these goals in the name of honor.

With Sokka, his father asked him to protect his sister and his village. Sokka then dedicates all his time and energy to becoming a brave soldier and training the children of the village in order to protect his people. This is seen further in season one even after they leave, when he is overly protective of Katara and constantly worried for her safety (something this fandom doesn't talk about enough!!)

With Zuko, his father sent him on a wild goose-chase to find the hundred-years-lost Avatar, and when he actually does, all he can do is chase after Aang so he can go back home. As we see in season three, letting go of capturing the Avatar was essentially letting go of his former self.

Unlearning their flawed cultures (the big one!!!!)

Both of their cultures had many flaws that became ingrained in their belief systems and characters; their whole development is dedicated to unlearning these flawed teachings and reorienting their perception of the world.

It is very obvious throughout the shows that the Water Tribe had strict gender roles that were both implicitly and explicitly taught from birth. The men go off to fight in the war, the women take care of the children, Sokka has to protect his "defenseless" little sister, etc. Suki helped start him on the journey of unlearning his deeply-rooted misogyny, and by the end of the series he's really drinking the Respect Women Juice™️ (unlearning the flaws of his culture also brought him much closer to his sister and strengthened their bond and respect for one another)

The Fire Nation is a lot more complicated with a lot more cultural nuances and implicit and explicit teachings, but we'll focus on one central cultural theme: the constant prioritization of ambition over absolutely everything else, including (if not especially) love. (I actually talk about this extensively in another analysis post about Azula, if you want to check that out<3) We see Zuko battle with this teaching all throughout the series, and it is the main conflict he faces, at its heart.

We watch him commit his entire life to capturing the Avatar in season one. We watch him betray his uncle in season two. We watch him, time and time again, put his own health and safety on the line trying to capture Aang, especially in season one. Constantly, over and over again, he puts his ambition first because that was what he was taught.

And though this is a trait him and Azula share, it is also what pits them against each other. Azula's entire character is built on putting ambition first, and that leads her to chasing the throne that is Zuko's birthright. Zuko just wants to go home, but that would reestablish him as the heir to the throne. Time and time again, we watch them fight and betray each other, constantly battling for this crown for a broken nation. In the end, it is Azula's undoing, but that's another post.

All in all, unlearning the flaws of their culture is central to their development as characters and a place where they parallel... but it is also a place where they directly (and perfectly) contrast.

Despite the cruelty of the Fire Nation, they are the only military that includes women. They seem to not really struggle with the same gender roles the rest of the world does. They may be colonizers, but they're not misogynists. Zuko never looked down on his sister because she was a woman, nor did her father. It was always her propensity for cruelty that undid her. (They even send a team of highly skilled women to capture the Avatar!!)

This is a direct contrast to the teachings of the Water Tribe, which are entrenched in misogyny and gender roles. The men go off to war, the women stay behind. The men are strong, the women are weak. Can you imagine how much Zuko could have assisted Sokka in his development here? (blah blah directly paralleling Suki's role in Sokka's life blah blah blah)

In the Water Tribe, love and family comes before everything. We see that time and time again. Sokka's main priority, every time, is his sister and his tribe. They stick together. They love one another. They are united, with one person leading them as a group but not standing over them like a tyrant. "Ambition" seems like a mostly unheard of concept in their nation. The only ambition we ever really see from Sokka is when he's trying to protect his tribe (season one finale)!!

Can you imagine how much Sokka could have helped Zuko unlearn his constant prioritization of ambition?? Like, come on. All the things Zuko was left to stew with and angst over all on his own Sokka could have gently taken into his own hands and shown him the way. Like, it actually makes me go feral just thinking about it. Sokka could have helped Zuko so much!! (pushing the Ba Sing Se Zukka AU rn)

Consensus

Okay, let's recap. It looks like Zuko and Sokka are both direct parallels and contrasts, paralleling in the ways that allow them to understand each other but contrasting in the ways that help them heal one another. Like, it's actually insane. I really don't know if it was intentional or not but it's really just so perfect. They slot together perfectly as characters. I hope this all made sense😭😭

Could "Zukka" work in canon?

Now, this is tricky. Believe it or not I'm actually really glad they didn't make Zukka canon. ATLA had a huge problem with writing good romance, and in the canon we saw in the show, neither Sokka or Zuko were in a place to get together.

I've enjoyed my fair share of Zukka AUs where they get together before the end of the war, but you and I both know that would have been a hot mess. (Both of them just weren't ready, they were both in relationships, and sorry but they were kinda busy—Katara was right about the whole "there are other things to worry about.") If they were ever to get together in canon, it would have to be years after the war ended.

Let's address a few things that needed to happen before they could ever have gotten together:

Finally admitting that Maiko was just an extreme example of comphet

Zuko did not give a single shit about that girl. Like. He didn't even personally go get her out of prison WHEN SHE WAS LITERALLY ARRESTED FOR PROTECTING HIM😭😭 And then they try to play off their story as some big epic romance?? uhhhh no

(really, Mai was in long-time unrequited love with Ty Lee that was finally requited after Boiling Rock but idk if society is ready for that yet)

Not to mention, Azula literally forced both of them into that relationship, but if I get started with that I'll never stop so. Moving on.

Figuring out Sokka and Suki

Okay, so while there is a good chance that Sokka and Suki could have made it work in canon, there is also a good chance they would have broken up. They both had very different priorities: while they both did care about overall world peace, it was obvious from Suki's first introduction that her Kyoshi Warriors were her top priority every time, and Sokka's was his tribe, his found family (Aang, Katara, Toph, Zuko, yk yk), and world peace at large. You're telling me those don't conflict? Especially because they really seem like a Piper/Jason situation, where they found comfort and love in each other during wartime but wouldn't have known how to keep up the relationship without the constant threat of death.

Overall, in order for Zukka to work, Sokka and Suki would have had to break up, which would not have been difficult to arrange.

Sokka needed to go home and begin rebuilding the Water Tribe

No matter how much I adore fics where Sokka stays behind in the Fire Nation and helps Zuko rebuild, it just wouldn't work. Sokka's obvious priority had always been his tribe. The second the war was over (ignoring the comics bc that's a can of complicated worms i don't want to get into), he would've gone back with Katara to work on rebuilding their destroyed tribe. Only once the Southern Tribe could stand steadily on its own two legs could he have even considered leaving.

Anyways, that's really it. In order for Zukka to work, three plot points would have to be resolved: Maiko, Sukka, and the reparation of the Southern Water Tribe. Extremely doable, imo.

Personality-wise and just as characters, would it have worked?

I really think it would have! Like I said before, Sokka and Zuko are two characters that perfectly parallel and contrast at all the exactly right points to make them slot together flawlessly as a pair. (Whether that's romantic or not—doesn't matter.) Really, I genuinely think they are a real missed opportunity. I have genuinely never seen two characters that seem so different that actually work that well together, or even just characters that work that well together at all.

Like, I really mean it, they are perfect matches. It's genuinely scary. Like it or not, no one will ever be able to replicate the perfection of what Zukka could have been.

Anyone that says that it's "random" or "doesn't work" obviously hasn't been watching the same show or simply just hasn't been paying attention. People might ship it just because it's opposites attract or red and blue or even just the most accessible MLM ship in the fandom, but they really are perfect for each other.

alright, I think that's it! sorry for this monster of a post😭😭 genuinely did NOT expect that to happen. PLS SEND ME ANY ASKS YOU CAN THINK OF ABOUT THESE TWO!! i have spent a concerning amount of time thinking about them and these show has analysis potential for days, so. (and who knows, maybe i'll finally post the like three unfinished fics i have for them💀💀 god knows i should)

thanks for the ask, and have a great day <3

#atla #avatar #avatar the last airbender #zukka #atla meta #atla ana #atla analysis #zukka nation #atla zukka #sokka x zuko #zuko #sokka #atla sokka #atla zuko

[ponett]

Is the TKP revival and accompanying video essay still in the cards for this year?

They are. They're just not my focus right now, because they'll be a huge undertaking. I'm probably going to have to reread not only the entire TKP archive but also all of Ken's actual Sonic comics as a refresher before I can make any real progress on the video or resume regular updates. It's been anywhere between five and ten years since I last read any of Ken's Sonic comics, and I don't want to just recycle things I said on the blog in my 20s in the video. There are things I missed, and things I would articulate differently at age 30 than I did at age 20. All this will take some time. But, I mean, the year's not even halfway over

In the meantime, I'm working on a long piece about both the original FF7 and Rebirth, which is taking longer than I'd hoped because I'm making very slow progress with Rebirth. And for TKP, I know I'll have to write something about the Knuckles show this week, and after that I still have a half-finished review of Sonic Dream Team, and I might post something about the Fang miniseries as well

#anon #ask

[isaksbestpillow]

Gmmtv 2024 part 2

Didn't we just have part 1??? I don't remember any of the shows in part 1 but it's time to watch another 15 mock trailers. I actually haven't finished a Gmmtv show in ages so let's see whether they manage to lure me back!

Ossan's Love Th

The original franchise is my beloved and it's interesting to see it adapted to a different culture especially since Thailand is more progressive than Japan as far as lgbtq rights go, but this show is harder to adapt than something like Cherry Magic because so much of the comedy comes from Japanese language/culture and the actors. They really hit the jackpot with the original cast, they're hard to replace. I wasn't blown away by the trailer but I like Eartmix and I'm glad they cast a veteran actor as the boss so I'm going to give it a shot. I might've been more optimistic if I hadn't just seen OLR and been reminded of how great the original cast and editing is, the trailer couldn't quite meet that energy for me. But I don't think this is the official trailer yet??? I hope they'll they'll tune it up for the real thing! Anyway, it's nice to see Earth in a fun role after so many brooders.

Leap Day

This one seems to be a thriller with Dew and Pond who both suffer from a curse that kills their loved ones every leap year. The characters are called Night and Day. Where have I heard this before................... People are dying and Gun plays a disabled brother (?). I won't be tuning in.

The Heart Killers

Firstkhao and Joongdunk are making out and handling guns. Khaotung gets a terrible tattoo of 信/trust. I don't know what the plot is. This is an outing by P'Jojo, but unfortunately his latest works haven't been the moment for me, I feel like his plots fall flat in the middle and I tune out. Casting two branded bl pairs is an interesting choice, but I don't want to be there when their fans take out their rulers to measure who got the most screentime.

Friendshit Forever

30-year-olds play university students. Heterosexual activity happens. This time with knives. I'm already sensing a pattern with these shows.

Perfect10 Liners

The mandatory Jittirain university bl. Please sit down for what I'm about to say because you may be shocked by the surprise: they were engineers.

Us

Another gl??? Stop the press!! I already watched the trailer three times. A woman tries to make heterosexuality work with the brother but actually likes the sister. Finally a gl where I feel like I'm in the target audience. The high heel lesbians that we've gotten so far just don't feel that relatable to me, so I've watched those gls as entertainment but not gotten deeply emotionally invested. I don't really know the main actors sans Sing which is great since I can enter with a fresh perspective. This one feels like the first serious romance out of this batch. I'm gonna watch the hell out of this!!!!!

Hide & Sis

We start with a murder. Jan is here. The vibe feels very PS I Hate You. Oh, it's by the same producers, no wonder! I expect this to do well in Thailand but I'm not planning on tuning in.

Thame - Po Heart That Skips a Beat

Another bl with some new guys. Who will be Gmmtv's next branded pair? The story is set in the idol industry. I hate this type of music lol. My heart did not skip a beat but maybe the actual show will be more interesting.

Break up service

Off and Godji run a dubious breakup service in this story based on a webtoon. The vibes are very Midnight Motel with more grey morals since there is illegal filming of sexual activity.

Revamp The Undead Story

Bounprem have moved to Gmmtv. I don't really vibe with vampire stuff. *gets shot*

Sweet Tooth, Good Dentist

We got Mark Pakin in a main role but at what cost. He's a dentist and it's another Jittirain adaptation (how many books has this author churned out???).

The Dark Dice

I feel like I already saw this same trailer like four times. Jumanji meets all the other dark trailers from this batch.

The Ex-Morning

Kristsingto return as exes with unfinished business. Krist's character is a reporter who has a scandal during a livestream, Singto's character returns from abroad to help rebuild his reputation. The setting is hilarious, I love it. Both have matured a lot since Sotus days and I'm genuinely excited for this one.

Scarlet Heart Thailand

Gmmtv tries their hand at a historical drama. A lot of popular names in the lineup. The trailer doesn't give out much but this is a remake of a Chinese series.

That was all 15 trailers, I think! I'm looking forward to Us and The Ex-Morning the most.

#gmmtv 2024

[vasilek-ymep]

my lorax au once-ler (Drug-Ler/Junk-Ler/Weed-Ler/Addict-Ler or just Torchalkins)

translation of the interview 1997:

Jane: We haven't been able to contact You for a long time. Are You always so busy, or is there some other reason?

Once-ler: Yes, I work all the time. The corporation isn't standing still. I'm directly involved in the development of new and more advanced 'drugs' .

Jane: Is 'Dr.' Moore after all?

Once-ler: (laughs) You could say that.

Jane: The our article title is 'Sweet 16x2'. How do You feel at 32?

Once-ler: I feel great. I can't believe it's been so long! This age was always seemed unattainable and very far away to me. Especially at the 16.

Jane: The article should have been called 'Sweet 16'!

Once-ler: (laughs) maybe!

Jane: You haven't changed much. What's the secret?

Once-ler: There are no secrets. I just don't drink or get drugs.

Jane: That's good. Now many people are addicted. Especially teenagers.

Once-ler: It scares me.

Jane: Is Your company RSGS MED CORP aimed at combating teenage alcoholism and drug addiction?

Once-ler: Yes, that's right. It needs to be eradicated.

Jane: I like Your attitude!

Once-ler: Likewise, Jane.

Jane: It's great that You took the time for a little interview. You haven't appeared on TV since the 1990s. What is the reason?

Once-ler: I try to exclude TV from my life. It spoils the nerves. There are no promising shows for me at the moment where I would like to appear.

Jane: Mr. Moore, You have become a sex symbol of the 80s. It's already the 97th year, and You still remain the idol for teens. Tell us about Your views on life.

Once-ler: I think everyone should appreciate the time that God has given us. Every second should be spent usefully. Communication gives us a lot. You need to strive to get to know new people in order to gain experience from them. Of course, the most important thing in life is mental balance, career and family.

Jane: (laughs) arranged in decreasing order of importance for You?

Once-ler: (laughs) Almost.

Jane: My newspaper has received a lot of questions from fans about what You're listening to. Tell us about Your favorite musicians.

Once-ler: I really like Prince!

Jane: Exactly, how could I forget. You have his guitar?

Once-ler: Yes, yes!

Jane: A gift?

Once-ler: Yes, we contacted.

Jane: Which his song do You like the most?

Once-ler: 'Soft and Wet'.

Jane: (laughs) Exotic and sexy!

Jane: In '89 You released Your album under the label 'Crystal', and in '91 You starred in the musical 'Go Billy Gox3'. What was the reason to stop trying to enter a musical career?

Once-ler: Perhaps a criticism. You know, I've always loved funk and rhythm-and-blues more, but my voice is too low to compete with Sly & the Family Stone or Talking Heads.

Jane: I think You'll find Your genre!

Once-ler: (laughs) No, no, I'm not into music.

Jane: You've been in three films. Are You planning to shoot more?

Once-ler: I would like to. So far, there are no scripts that I like.

Jane: Really?!

Once-ler: Alas!

Jane: Tell us about Your favorite actors and films.

Once-ler: Audrey and Ted Wiggins definitely!

Jane: Such a quick response. What kind of paintings do you like with them?

Once-ler: 'Sweet Blood'. All the parts.

Jane: Wow!

Once-ler: I like the theme of inquisitions and steampunk... and vampires, of course! (laughs)

Jane: What do You think about the progressive-anarchic views of life of young people?

Once-ler: I think this is maximalism.

Jane: Were you like that?

Once-ler: Perhaps! It's just that my environment is enviably full of aggressive fanatics. I know you're going to read this, American!

Jane: (laughs) Is there a problem with your cousin?

Once-ler: Conflicts of worldviews.

Jane: You have a direct influence on American politics. Why haven't You been running for president yet?

Once-ler: I'm a pharmacist. I doubt that I can make America strong if I become president.

Jane: Are You a patriot?

Once-ler: True. I protect my homeland from people like me. (laughs)

Jane: Tell readers Your favorite books.

Once-ler: Read McDonagh.

Jane: The Scotsman?

Once-ler: The Irishman. But it seems to me that these are familiar problems for our country.

Jane: You've written two books about finding yourself. Is this an important issue for You?

Once-ler: Very much. As I said before, balance in the soul is a balance in life.

Jane: It's inspiring!

Jane: Are You still single? Or have You got a partner?

Once-ler: I haven't found the right person for me yet.

Jane: In the future, can I leave you my number? (laughs)

Once-ler: I'm yours! (laughs)

Jane: We don't know much about Your personal life outside of the media amplua. Why is that?

Once-ler: I prefer to be in the circle of friends and family without prying eyes.

Jane: Do You like being alone?

Once-ler: Perhaps…

Jane: Thank You, Mr. Moore!

Once-ler: It was a pleasure to answer Your questions!

Jane: You're very sweet. You seem so serious on TV!

Once-ler: Really?! How embarrassing…

Jane: It's even entertaining!

#art #digital art #oc #onceler #onceler au #onceler oc #once ler #onceler art #onceler fandom #the onceler fandom #lorax au #the lorax #lorax #lorax 2012 #lorax fanart #lorax fandom

[briarrolfe]

Our 78 year old Italian neighbour Josie might not remember my name, and may never get my pronouns right, but the thing is: We Are Besties and I am totally obsessed with her. She blasts disco music 24 hours a day. She chain smokes. She is so obsessed with Vegemite that she cut a holiday visiting family back home short because she was seized by Cravings. She took her first ever selfie with me. She flirts with my fiancé. Once I had to rescue her from her finding a lizard in her toaster. She drinks her first coffee of the day at like 4 am. Recently she told me “if anyone tries to take you away from me… I will kill them” with total seriousness and I fully reciprocate it. She is a constant source of chaos in our lives. I would do anything for her and I love her with all my heart

#josieposting #you don’t understand. she’s the best person on earth #she glares and smokes out the front while wearing all black and heavy eyeliner. my friends have asked if we live next door to a witch #she got fired from the arnotts factory in 1960 something because she stood up for an Aboriginal coworker… BEFORE SHE SPOKE ENGLISH #she put up string lights in her house because she liked that WE had them in OUR house #we are going to buy her a record player for her birthday #she is so obsessed with how Charlie does the ironing. she’s not really across how queers work. she’s like wow… he’s helping you… #she was wearing miniskirts out dancing until age 50 like. wow… legend… #she also voted yes in the referendum. constantly unexpectedly progressive woman #she recently asked a new neighbour what his religion was because she didn’t want to say ‘god bless you’ unless it was appropriate 🥲🥲🥲 #COBURG BABY!!!!

[allatariel]

Margo opened the file and closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath before flipping up through the pages as she had earlier that day. The post-it. She had almost convinced herself it had been a dream, a sudden madness, but there it was just as she remembered it and her heart once again skipped a beat. Sergei’s handwritten equation called to her comfortingly like an old friend. 

Careful not to bend or curl it too much, she lifted it from the page and held the equation between her fingers, feeling the grooves of the figures made by the pressure of his hand through the pen. She recalled the gentle yet urgent pressure of those same hands on her face, her neck, her body, and a heated flush climbed out of her memory and up over her chest and neck. Shocked by the intensity of the feeling ten years on and after everything that had passed between, she started, her back straightening as she willed herself back into the moment and to the task at hand.

Replacing the post-it on the page, Margo set about solving for Sergei’s message.

It wasn’t long before she had a time and a location… This is a secret place for you?

Frank’s was adjacent to 11:59, she’d had many a hurried meal there before or after a set over her years with the house band. At least until the club closed up well over a decade prior in the years following the Apollo-Soyuz broadcast. Soyuz-Apollo…

Did he truly want to unearth their meager past? Surely he must have moved on by now?

She had forgiven him years ago. Mourned what might have been. God knew he must have done the same, believing along with everyone that she had died with her colleagues. Wildly she wondered if he had shared a memorial borscht with his family in their honor, in hers? She’d eaten a lot of borscht that first fall in Moscow, learning the true meaning of cold before winter had even officially started. Her nightly memorials did little to warm the chill of grief. She shifted in her chair and swallowed down the old guilt that rose like bile in her throat at thoughts of the bombing.

She had to get up, had to move, shift her weight, her perspective.

#margo madison #sergei nikulov #margo x sergei #sergei x margo #for all mankind #fam #i made this #my writing #wip #work in progress #wip wednesday #ok this is not finished but i like where it's going #this is a companion to the little piece i wrote from sergei's perspective #ok ok that one probably isn't finished yet either—might be the same story i'm not sure yet #i have so many ideas i can't focus on one long enough to make much progress <sigh /> my age old problem

[summertimemusician]

Warriors/Hyrule Warriors Focused WIP Sneak Peak

“... So, you came here not as the ‘Captain of the Knights of Hyrule’, or even as ‘The Hero Who Wields the Sword of Evil's Bane’...” You started, light and raspy and something close to hollow that made Warriors ache, you both breathing heavily and bloodied and bruised, and still standing, you were beautiful, taking the place of the late hyrulean sun as you had your knee to his chest and your dagger to his neck, but he wasn’t worried, not with you  “... But rather as an ‘old friend’?”

The way you practically spat the words through clenched, bared teeth would have been mistaken by loathing by anyone else, snake venom and the shape of winter winds in your eyes and mouth in your frigid fury, if he couldn’t tell how your usually steady hands shook like icicles in early spring. Knew as well as you did that all it would take is one slip of the blade and his neck would be split open.

“You heard me the first time, didn’t you?” he spoke calmly, breathing and taking you in as if that single moment would be your last.

(And maybe it might, if he didn't do this right.)

You paused, then a snort, then a chuckle, then a laugh, something close to a yowl, or maybe a howl as you sobbed.

Your blade misses his neck by inches, stabbing into the ground below and he doesn't flinch. Doesn't allow himself to flinch, knew you'd pounce on any hint of weakness and hesitation

“Aah… I suppose it’s my loss, Link.” You laughed, it was a bitter, ugly sound. Something that made him hurt and want to hold you in his arms as he did back then, in unwanted ballroom nights where you'd both slip to vacant rooms and talk about everything and nothing. When he felt comfortable speaking, when the vitriol of his fellow men didn't burn against his skin and the loathing both from others and himself for why the war started didn't tighten around his neck like a noose. When you'd both go horseback riding while on leave and you'd smile for him with all the brilliance of a star and all the sharpness of a blade, ready to take on the world so long as you were together.

He hated seeing you like this, broken down and ruined by war and thirst for justice never given, hated how he burned away pieces of himself and didn't think to look more into the situation before he lost you. 

(And why would he have? Good soldiers follow orders after all, even if it's against their own comrades.)

He missed you so, so much.

“It never ends, does it?” You snarled out, hurt and tired and something that was all the melancholy of a trapped animal, “You hurt me, you come back, I hurt you right back, you still return. I just can't keep doing this anymore.” You bare your teeth in a smile, half mocking, half desperate, “I can't even slit your throat to shut you up properly now, pathetic, isn't it, hero?” 

He felt flayed open, who knows, maybe it would be a kindness if you did slit his throat open. He'd prefer that in the place of seeing the one person he cared for the most a hollow mirror of their old self.

(He knew Mask, Linkle, Spirit, Tetra and the Sailor would give him a good shake for it. But he couldn't help it.

It wasn't the first time he considered ways to end the war after all.)

“It doesn't have to be like this,” He offered, somewhere between the charm he sometimes had to use when interrogating the enemy and a desperate plea, “We can do better, we can make things better.” 

“You really think I can just let it go? That they will also let it go?” You say, scoffing bitterly, “Everyone has seen me fighting you today, hero, all remember what I've done. The only route waiting for me is execution if I throw it all away now.” There's conviction in your voice, but hesitance in your gaze as he dares to place a hand over yours, over the sharpened, but old blade, the one he once gave you, “I hurt you, you hurt me. There's no going back from that.” 

You don't push him away, so he presses on with cautious hope in his breast, courage rekindled. He is so, so tired, but he'll be darned if he loses you a second time, he's come this far after all, “There isn't. But we can move forward from this, there's no need to let it go, but it's not too late to try and make things better either. Not yet anyway, I know you can't trust me after everything I've done to you, and I can't fully trust you after all you've done either, but I don't know about you, but I'm done with trying to hate you. I'm tired of letting those doubts turn into hate.”

Your grip tightens, suspicious as a fox in the face of a wolf, “And what makes you think I'm done hating you?”

“You wouldn't have let me keep speaking if you were.” He bites back, he doesn't have much time left until the rest of either of your companies arrive, “Come back with me, please.”

His tone is soft and kind, and something in your expression breaks, it is the conflict between loathing and grief and longing, all clashing spears and swords and none winning.

You let the blade go, and he doesn't waste any time holding you as you choke on a sob, doesn't mind the way one of your hands curls into a claw, cutting against his wounds. He's sure he's holding you a bit too tight too after all from the way you wheeze, but you don't push him away, and that's enough.

‘Finally.’

#fic wip #wip #my wips #wip stuff #work in progress #linked universe x reader #link x reader #lu warriors x reader #all by a technicality. can be read as either really #just know it's Hyrule Warriors focused and go from there lol #Me: I think Warriors Link is pretty neat. Maybe 5th favorite really *proceeds to give him a bad time* #I just think there's a lot we don't talk about the War of Ages and what it did to Link #and what it did to his interpersonal relationships #something something sneak peak of something I'm working in #Sleep deprivedly written as always #and now I nap

[kiwichaeng]

Seven Sentence Sunday

I'm sure someone somewhere left an open tag on this thing so I'm using that. I've never done this before but there are still a few hours till sunday ends so why not. Also I think this is more than 7 lines?

“Salem?” His mom’s voice is full of confusion on the line.  Carlos doesn’t look up from where he’s throwing clothes into a bag, unlike how he’s ever packed before. Unfortunately, time isn’t a luxury he can afford right now.  “Yes mami.” He intercepts her next question, “It's a work thing. I’m following a lead there.” That’s as close to the truth as he’ll allow.  Carlos can see TK flickering from the corner of his eye. He’s stopped his wandering and is now standing still in a corner. It would be unnerving if Carlos wasn’t used to it by now.  “Well, will you be back in time for Thanksgiving?” His mother’s question makes Carlos stop moving. He locks eyes with TK and something surfaces with clarity in his mind. He may very well not be alive by Thanksgiving.

Tags under the cut (if you wanna be removed from any future tags lemme know!) also I have no idea who has or hasn't done this today so I'm very sorry if I tagged you when you've already done it. I have absolutely no idea how this works

@liminalmemories21 @orchidscript @lemonlyman-dotcom @paperstorm @strandnreyes @redshirt2 @carlos-tk @im-overstimulated-and-im-sad @ladytessa74 @carlos-in-glasses @theghostofashton @heartstringsduet @three-drink-amy @fallout-mars @chicgeekgirl89

#I call this one 'autopsy fic' affectionately in my head so that's what it is #very much a work in progress #idk I was talking to my grandfather about some history stuff he's seen but I've only studied and he started telling me about his youth and #I started thinking that one day when I'm his age I want to be able to be telling some other young people about my youth and that isn't #possible if I let my own insecurities hold me back #so have a little something I'm working on! #I tagged very randomly as I remembered people who existed #autopsy fic #evie's writing #gonna go close tumblr and stare obsessively at the word doc as soon as I post this

[deathlysilent13]

DPxDC Fic Snippet: Selina Finds Hurt Danny

(Basic backstory for understanding: Selina finds Danny hurt. This is absoltuly a Bad Fenton Parents WIP. He's hurt enough that he's retreated into his core and Selina took him home and has been keeping him safe until he can reform.)

Morning dawns and leaves the cat burglar behind. She doesn’t rouse until just after 11, as per usual, but when she starts to stretch out, she notices a weight on her chest that hadn’t been there before. She nearly panics, opening her eyes to see fluffy black hair. Confused, she tilts her head to look over the face attached to all the fluffy locks and has to bite down fresh panic at the literal child curled up on top of her. She’d rescued a teenager with white hair, and somehow ended up with a possible black-haired toddler.

The boy stirs, groaning lightly, and only then does she look over at her nightstand to see the little nest she’d made for her orb empty. “Oh,” the boy whispers, sounding like it hurts to speak. 

Selina sits up slowly, keeping one hand wrapped around the boy. She won’t just fling him onto the floor like an unruly cat, after all. This is still a child, even if she has no idea where he came from. The boy stays curled against her, only whimpering once in pain. Selina’s concern grows. 

She shuffles her pillows around so she can lean back just enough to keep the boy lying comfortably while still being upright enough to try and talk to him. “Good morning,” she says softly, not wanting to alarm the boy. 

He nuzzles into her sternum briefly before finally looking up and pinning her with stunning cerulean irises. “You’re the one who found me, right?” he asks softly, still very clearly hoarse. 

Selina nods. “If you’re the white-haired teenager we pulled off that silver boat, then yes,” she replies, needing the confirmation. 

The boy sighs, his eyes closing again. “I didn’t….I’d hoped……” he murmurs, likely to himself. She cards her fingers through his hair, gently detangling as she goes. She wants to push, to know what was going on, but whatever had made him young may also send him running. She knows all too well how well untethered children fare in Gotham, after all. 

They lay quietly for some time. “My parents didn’t know,” the boy finally murmurs again. “Not for ages. I thought they’d love me more than they hated ghosts.” She feels the shudders first, but it doesn’t take long for the tears to start soaking her shirt. She expects to be mildly disgusted, at least, but finds as she sits there and holds him that all she feels is sorrow. No one should be broken of the belief that they’re a parent’s priority. 

She doesn’t do anything but pet him until his stomach rumbles, and hers answers. Even with his face still smushed against her sternum, she can see his face going red. “I should still have some leftover pizza,” she says, grinning when his head pops up with much more enthusiasm than she’d seen from him thus far. “Come on, up with you. There should be a spare toothbrush, and then you can decide if you want food first or a shower.” He doesn’t go far, but all she really needs is for him to slide off. 

She scoops him up, warming at the way he squeaks and flails but curls back into her anyway. She takes him into the bathroom, letting him sit on the counter while she pulls out a fresh toothbrush. Thankfully, he doesn’t argue, and the whole ordeal goes quickly. He blushes red again, however, when he asks if he can stay for a minute and points to the toilet. Far from being bothered, Selina simply ruffles his hair and tells him to wash his hands when he’s done. 

She’s in the kitchen, a nearly full box of cold, mismatched pizza from the previous night giving him options when he wanders through, clearly hesitant. She gestures to a chair, trying not to baby him since he is, or was, a teen and she remembers all too well how each of the Robins got about their independence. She won’t intrude if she doesn’t have to. 

He climbs up, eying the box, and she does nothing more than take a second slice out and slide it over. “Help yourself,” she says as though it isn’t important. “I don’t usually have leftovers when the girls come over, so I’ll probably forget I have it anyway.” It’s a bit of an exaggeration, but it has him digging into the food with enough gusto that she’s probably right in it being entirely too long since he had actual food, and she’ll happily sacrifice an entire pizza to him if it helps. She’s gonna have to ask the hard questions soon enough anyway. 

#wip excerpt #work in progress #dpxdc crossover #Bad Fenton Parents #Hurt Danny #De-aged Danny #I have no idea where this is going #Or if it's gonna go anywhere

[rigelmejo]

This is the lovely post by MoonIvy that inspired me to get myself back into reading chinese by the way:

And this is MoonIvy's other amazing post, which includes a list of everything they read so far in order of difficulty which is a great reference list if you are looking for something to try, and includes some suggestions on listening study things you can try too.

MoonIvy is part of the group managing the Heavenly Path site I keep mentioning, that just has so many phenomenally organized media recommendations, a good guide to starting to read, and lots of linked resources:

#rant #reading #resources #chinese resources #rec list #so in these posts moonivy mentions some good starting places for HSK 4 people to push into reading #and i agree at about hsk 4 you can handle 1 a ton of graded readers (from 500 hanzi to 2000 as you go) #and 2 u can eventually handle native novels at hsk 4. thats when i pushed into native novels #i would say though. my own difference in learning #is i personally found it motivating and enjoyable to read WAY above my level at times. #i personally always go between 1 easier thing for myself and 1 harder thing to read. i felt that kept my #reading level both progressively increase while also giving me easier stuff to practice extensive reading #and for me it was HIGHLY motivating to read 100 pages of priest in print 2 years in #HIGHLY motivatkng to read tian ya ke with a click dictilnary 10 months in. #to see chapters go from 1.5 hours to read to 50 minutes to 40 minutes to 25 minutes. #so for me. i would say if you WANT to read something way above your level? just go ahead #you can always bounce between easier and harder stuff #i find a good balance worked better for me. and also i tend to learn better when massively challenged ToT #idk why i think its just cause its familiar. id read my parents novels at age 8. ToT it feels #more like how i leafned my native language to simply read my foreign language the same #though i know it demotivates some people. in contrast i find keeping some harder stuff on hand #reminds me to challenge myself and not idle at the level im at. #so i say? assume u can do ANYTHING with success. and do it. and when it burns u out or is not fun anymore? #go do something easier u Know is Easy. (and it sure will feel easy after the Anything before lol) #then u get confidence doing it easy. and remember ur #still capable of Anything so try again when ur ready.

[strokingbooks]

#long post #so here goes #i made these #still a work in progress? #maybe #but i'm going to sell them as stickers #aaa #The Killers #Hot Fuss #Sam's Town #Sawdust #Day & Age #Battle Born #Wonderful Wonderful #Imploding The Mirage #Pressure Machine #vinyls #cds #art #stickers #yes I did sawdust too #i want to make Brandon's solo ones as well #day & age took ages #those circles #fanart #Brandon Flowers #Ronnie Vannucci #Dave Keuning #Mark Stoermer #my posts

[drarrily-we-row-along]

Making It Work (Chapter Nine)

If Harry tried to say that their training was a walk in the park that afternoon, he’d be lying but it was strangely far more tolerable than it had been the past several days. Malfoy still got irritated with Harry for his impulsiveness and Harry still felt like he was chomping at the bit trying to drag Malfoy along with him but they at least communicated more. 

They were both lying on the floor trying to catch their breath from the last simulation when Higgins came in. 

“I see the Nexus orb is doing its job,” she said.

“We passed?” Herry asked hopefully.

“No,” she and Malfoy said simultaneously.

She smiled at Malfoy, even as Harry rolled his eyes at him and stuck out his tongue.

“What, are you 5, Potter?” 

Higgins spoke up before Harry could say anything, “So, your physical response and emergency response indicators were both up by 3%, which was a great improvement. But the indicators that really showed that your orb was working was your personality response. That was up 11%, good work you two. Obviously, it’s helped the two of you to talk with one another more.”

Harry nodded and glanced at Malfoy, “Yeah, I think it is helping.”

“That’s only because it hasn’t started asking the hard questions that you’ll resent it for later,” Malfoy said, and Harry couldn’t help but wonder if he was teasing or serious.

“Well, I think the progress you’ve made is brilliant.”

“Thanks,” Harry said with a grin.

As they walked out of the room Malfoy stretched his arm across his chest, his breath hitching slightly. 

“Alright?” Harry asked.

“Fine,” he said briskly as he exhaled. “Old shoulder injury that’s never managed to heal up properly. My body takes a beating as your partner, even when we’re not in the field apparently.”

“Wanker,” Harry replied, knocking his shoulder into Malfoy’s good one.

As they stumbled into their office laughing and shoving at one another, they were met by the sight of Ron and Hermione staring dumbstruck at the two of them. “Ron! Hermione! Hey,” Harry said, pleased to see them.

“Hi Harry,” Hermione replied, an odd expression on her face before she turned to Malfoy and nodded in greeting, “Draco.”

“Hello,” he replied carefully.

They stood in awkward silence for a moment as Ron gawked at the two of them and Hermione looked between the two of them calculatingly with a look Harry was not entirely fond of.

“Well,” Hermione said after the strain apparently became too much for her to bear. “We just thought we’d stop by and see if you’d like to grab lunch with us.”

“Yeah,” Harry replied immediately, like he always did when they invited him to a meal. “Oh, err,” he turned to Malfoy, “Did you want to come too or...”

“No,” Malfoy said quickly, then he cleared his throat, “No, thank you. I have some leftovers from last night and loads of paperwork to do. I will be fine here.”

“Are you sure?” Harry asked uncertainly, suddenly feeling like he was somehow bailing on the other man.

“Quite sure,” Malfoy replied as he moved toward his desk and busied himself with some files.

“Do you want me to stay-”

“For Circe’s sake, Potter. Get out of here. Go to lunch,” Malfoy snapped.

“Yeah, alright.” He glanced over at Ron and Hermione; Ron was standing there looking at him like he’d grown an extra head but Hermione just looked curiously at him. The curiosity seemed much worse.

They made their way to the cafeteria and thankfully Hermione started talking about one of the projects they were working on developing for St. Mungos. Unfortunately, this only lasted until they’d gone through the line to get their meals and sat down; then Hermione cast a muffliato and Ron immediately opened his mouth.

“What just happened?”

“Sorry?” Harry asked, feigning innocence and stabbing into his food.

“I think what Ron is trying to ask is if you and Malfoy have decided to be friends?” Hermione clarified.

“No, I mean what the bloody hell is going on,” Ron said. “Are you under an imperius curse?”

“Ron, I can throw off an imperius curse, remember?” he replied, rolling his eyes like Ron was being dramatic even though he would have said the exact same thing a week ago.

“Calm down, Ronald,” Hermione said briskly as she took a sip of her tea. “Let him speak.” Then she looked at him expectantly and waited.

“Well,” Harry said, “We’re not friends, exactly, but we don’t exactly hate each other anymore either.”

“How?” Ron asked, his brow furrowed. “This is Malfoy we are talking about.”

“Well he’s not the same as he was at school,” Harry said with a shrug as he stuffed his sandwich in his mouth hoping to avoid having to say any more about it.

“Really?” Ron asked skeptically. 

“Yeah,” Harry said through a mouthful of food. “Spending over a week in someone’s presence really forces you to get to know them a bit.”

“Huh,” Ron said, staring off into space for a long moment.

“We’re just surprised,” Hermione said quickly. “We thought it would be unbearable for you.”

“It was in the beginning,” Harry replied. “But eventually I realized I was still imagining him as the stupid prat we knew at school but he’s not that person any more than I am who I was at school.”

“But the pureblood, elitism shite he was always spouting?” Ron asked.

“Yeah, haven’t heard a single word out of his mouth about any of that," he replied honestly.

“Huh,” Ron said again before shrugging and shoving a crisp in his mouth. “Who would’ve thought it?”

“Right?” Harry replied, glad that Ron and Hermione seemed to be settling into the idea that Malfoy wasn’t awful more quickly than he had.

“Well, it’s not really surprising when you think about it,” Hermione said.

“How so?” Harry asked as Ron said, “What do you mean, not surprising?”

“Well, he sort of rebelled against Pureblood culture, didn’t he?”

“Hermione,” Harry said, “You're using the 'we all know what's going on here voice' when in fact you are the only one who knows what's going on here. Tell us what you know that we obviously don’t.”

Ron nodded in agreement.

“Well, it was all over the papers and Millie Bulstrode couldn’t stop gossiping about it at work. It was quite the scandal.”

“What was?” he asked, barely tamping down on the desire to snap in an effort to get her to talk faster. He never read the Prophet and he didn’t have any coworkers or friends who were in the same social circle, she knew all of this.

“He was supposed to marry Astoria Greengrass, you remember?” Harry didn’t but he didn’t say so. “His parents had set it up, it was supposed to help the Malfoy name, he was supposed to go into politics or something. But after a few weeks, he called the whole thing off, said it was a sham and neither he nor Astoria deserved to live a lie.”

“Wow,” Harry said.

“His parents didn’t take it well, from what I understand. His father demanded he marry some pureblood girl and start a family but he refused and his father disowned him. It was quite a public spectacle, I’m told. Draco apparently opted to shout abuses at his father on the sidewalk in Diagon alley outside of a restaurant. The direct quote, if I’m remembering correctly,” and Harry had no doubt she was, “was that ‘all of their antiquated pureblood traditions could go straight back to hell from whence they’d come.’”

“Blimey,” Ron said with a low whistle.

Harry didn’t quite know what to say. After a moment he decided on, “You couldn’t have told me this before I made a complete arse of myself and basically called him a bigoted prick who was exactly the same as he was in school?”

Hermione shrugged, “I’m sorry. I’d just assumed you’d heard. He works in the same department that you do and it truly was in all of the papers. They hounded him for weeks to get quotes from him and he always said things about how terrible the whole system was and that it was a load of codswallop. Some people thought it was just a publicity stunt to get him into good graces in the ministry, I just assumed that’s what you thought too.”

“Yeah, but his parents disowned him,” Harry said. “Even if it was a publicity stunt, that sort of consequence doesn’t seem worth it.”

Hermione nodded, “I agree, but how was I to know that you didn’t know?”

Harry shrugged, suddenly feeling like even more of a heel. “I feel like a jerk.”

“But you couldn’t have known, mate,” Ron said conciliatorily. “And it seemed like the two of you are getting along fine now so he must not be too mad at you.”

“No,” Harry agreed. “He’s been pretty kind, actually.” He snorted, “He thinks I have a deathwish and hate my job-”

Hermione and Ron gave each other one of those pointed shared looks that Harry hated. 

“Which I don’t,” he said, glaring at them. “But honestly, it’s been nice having a partner who calls me out and doesn’t treat me like I’m made of glass and always right.”

Hermione nodded but Ron said, “I mean, I hear you, mate but Malfoy? Really?”

“I know,” he said with a helpless little shrug. “He drives me a little batty but I think this might actually work.”

They moved on to a different topic of conversation, Hermione telling them more about her work. Before long, Harry found himself saying goodbye and heading back to his office and feeling just the tiniest bit nervous. 

Malfoy was sitting at his desk, filling in paperwork, when Harry came back in and he looked calm enough but Harry couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking about. “Hey,” he said.

The other man glanced up at him, “Hi,” he said before going back to work. No other words were forthcoming but Harry couldn’t help standing there and waiting for him to say something else.

“Did you need something?” Malfoy asked.

“Are you mad?”

“Mad?” Malfoy asked. “No, why would I be mad?”

“I don’t know.”

Malfoy went back to writing again but when Harry didn’t move he dropped his quill and rubbed his hands over his face, “What, Potter?”

“What are you thinking?”

“That you’re an irritating prat.”

Huffing Harry asked, “What were you thinking before I came back in?”

“That I could barely remember the details of the case I’m writing up and I really ought to have gotten to it before now,” he said blandly.

“Malfoy,” Harry growled warningly.

“Just leave it.”

“No,” he said, stubbornly crossing his arms across his chest.

“Fine,” Malfoy exploded and now he did sound angry. “I was wondering if Granger and Weasley were going to bring you back to your senses and make you hate me again. I was wondering how much ground we were going to have to recover. I was wondering if there is any way this bloody partnership will ever work. Happy?” he spat.

“Oh,” Harry replied.

“Oh? That’s all you’ve got to say?” He threw down the paper he’d been holding and stood up. “You’re unbelievable.”

“Malfoy,” Harry said, holding out his hands trying to placate him. 

“Don’t,” Malfoy replied and Harry didn’t think that was quite fair because how could Malfoy know what he was going to say when Harry didn’t know himself? “This is not easy for me, Potter, whatever you may think. It is bloody hard living with someone who has every reason in the world to hate you, to never forgive you, and to be right for both of those things.”

“Malfoy,” Harry started again.

“I said dont.”

“Draco,” Harry said, not entirely sure why he was using Malfoy’s given name, but Malfoy froze so it was probably the right call. “Listen to me. I do not hate you. Ron and Hermione didn’t want to tell me that I was being an idiot, they just wondered how everything was going. I told them things are going well.”

“You did?” he asked disbelievingly.

“Well, yeah,” Harry replied. “Things are going well, aren’t they?”

“Well, I thought so.”

“Right, then why are you worried?”

“I’m not worried,” Malfoy sneered.

Harry raised an eyebrow.

“Because you’re unpredictable!” he burst out. “Because it is exhausting living with someone and waiting for them to remember that they have good reasons to dislike you.”

“You have good reasons to dislike me, too,” Harry replied softly.

“No, I don’t. You literally saved the world. You are so noble and good that you came to my hearing and testified on my behalf even though I did all of those horrible things.” 

“I literally cast a spell at you that could have killed you.”

“Because I was trying to crucio you,” he said. Then he added, ”I am the representation of everything you fought against.”

“You’re not,” he said firmly. “Malfoy, you were just a kid. You were right when you said you had no choice and you were right when you said it was easy for me to make the right choices. It was hard sometimes, I guess, but for every person you had pushing you to do horrible things I had someone pushing me to do good things.” Harry swallowed and took a step toward him, “I do not regret testifying at your trial, or at Narcissa’s. The war never would have been won if it weren’t for the two of you.”

“But there never would have been a war to begin with if it weren’t for people like me.”

“Do you believe those things? Do you believe in any of the things that Voldemort stood for?”

“When I was younger-”

“Right now,��� Harry interrupted. “Do you believe any of those things? At this moment, do you believe even a word that that madman said?”

“Of course not.”

“Then it’s settled.”

“What is?”

Harry held out his hand, “Let’s start this all again, yeah?”

“What?”

“Hi,” he said after a deep breath. “I’m Harry Potter.”

“This is ridiculous.”

Harry just stood there, hand outstretched, waiting. He got the terrible feeling in the pit of his stomach that Malfoy wasn’t going to take his hand.

But after a moment he took Harry’s hand and shook it, “Draco,” he said. “Draco Malfoy.”

Harry kept his hand gripped tightly in his own, “We were both just kids, Draco. Stupid kids. Let’s move on.”

Malfoy nodded once.

Harry beamed at him, “Great. I look forward to working with you.”

-----------------

Chapter Eight | Chapter Ten

#making it work fic #getting along #making progress #having conversations #slow burn #Hermione sees where this is going #they don't call her the brightest witch of her age for nothing #drarry #love eventuall

[queenofbaws]

hello hello my friends!!! just a quick little update from yours truly - and a few snippets, of course ;)c

things continue to be strange and chaotic here, and as a result, my brain has decided to be...strange and chaotic :P i've been trying to stick to one project at a time and just soldier through, but said chaos is making that rough, so i'm trying to just get words down as they occur to me, regardless of what project they're for. so, much as i'd like to say "keep your eyes peeled for an [x] update soon!" the reality is that i have...no idea what's going to hold my attention for the next ten minutes, hahaha.

what i will say is i currently have three ongoing projects that are priorities, and those are like wringing blood from a stone, of mummy men & bathtub soup, and the tale(s) of the champion - so i've included little teaser snippets of those below! as always, thanks for your patience, your well-wishes, and for reading!!! i hope you and yours are doing well, and that you're being extra kind to yourselves now that we're entering the winter months <3

like wringing blood from a stone

“Holy smokes, you sure take ‘protect and serve’ seriously out here, huh? Thirty minutes or your arrest is free—is it that kinda thing?” His head was spinning too fast to make a lick of sense out of that; luckily, Diane wasn’t having the same problem. “Believe it or not, he was already here. Kaitlyn, this is…” she paused just long enough to meet Chris’s gaze, but he couldn’t for the life of him read what he saw there in her eyes. “…uh, well, meet Sheriff Hackett.” “Sheriff Ha—oh.” Then, with more feeling, “Oh. I…huh, wow, really? I don't think I would've guessed that.” Chris shrugged. “We get that a lot. Turns out there were only enough handsome genes for one sibling in this family.” “Yeah,” Diane sighed, “and it’s a crying shame it’s Bobby who got ‘em all.” That broke the tension instantly. Chris and Travis both whirled to stare at her, expressions incredulous. Gently nudging Kaitlyn’s shoulder, Diane nodded towards them. “See?” she asked. “Now you can tell they’re related.” “Wow, you’re not wrong! Weird.”

of mummy men & bathtub soup

“Oh good God, Alex. This is obviously some kind of dumb joke—” “Did you find something?” Ashley asked suddenly, looking up from the table. “Something that felt like it was…I don’t know, um, hidden? Not just lost or left behind but actually hidden?” Even knowing it was bullshit, Conrad had to admit…Brown had been well cast. A finger of dread slid down his spine in a lover’s caress, making him shudder; Alex and Julia, less sure of the truth behind this whole debacle, did a little more than that. Fuck, he watched the color drain from JJ’s face like she was some kind of cartoon character, and Mr. Big Bad Med School Bro wasn’t doing a whole hell of a lot better, by the looks of it. The spell broke when Julia whirled on Alex. “Did you say any—” she froze, turning on him then. “You told them! You told them, didn’t you, you little shit weasel?!” Chris sat up straighter. “Shit weasel?”

the tale(s) of the champion

“Which one,” she repeated. “It’s the first thing Varric said during his questioning, did you know that?” The smile in her voice made its first appearance, quirking the corners of her mouth into a shape subtle enough that the Inquisitor felt as though the two of them were in on some secret joke together. “Cassandra asked him…well, demanded of him, I suppose, that he tell her everything he knew about the Champion. And he responded by asking her—” “Which one.” She watched Leliana’s smile grow. It wasn’t by much, but it was there all the same. The sense of being in on a joke grew right along with it. “Now, she probably thought he was poking fun at her…and in all likelihood he was, but of course we know now that there was so much more to it, don’t we?” Leliana rose from her table with the grace of a ghost, each fluid movement reminding her in no uncertain terms that, spymaster or not, agent of the Divine or not, the woman opposite her was, at the end of the day, a bard before all else. “Cassandra is skilled in many, many areas, Inquisitor, as I’m sure you’ve come to learn. Certainly she’s without equal on the battlefield, but when it comes to…reading people, let us say…” Again that inscrutable smile grew. “Well…suffice it to say an answer like that would’ve caught my attention, had I been the one questioning him.” “But you weren’t.” The last word came out strangely choked—she hadn’t been able to decide whether or not she’d wanted it to be a question.

#queenie rambles #queenie writes supermassive #queenie writes dragon age #to those who've sent nice messages - thank yooooou #there's just a lot of medical stuff going on rn between me and two close family members and it's pulling me every which way lol #but writing is my JOY and my escape so im just sort of letting the winds of inspiration come and go as they do hahahaha #i always feel better when im making DEMONSTRABLE PROGRESS on a project but brother that ain't how it's working today

[steelycunt]

hello good morning beautiful friends!

#another day! what are we all planning on doing with it! what is everyone reading right now! having finished gios room yesterday i #am currently not reading anything except um. hex hall. with ren. because i love ren. but a second hand book site had a sale going #on so i got 4 secondhand books for 13.30 and they're arriving this weekend :-) today i am planning to. carry on looking for jobs which #is miserable especially considering my cv is underwhelming and looks like i dont have much meaningful experience because i was #unable to find a delicate way of mentioning that on top of my old job i also did my managers' job starting from the ripe old age of 16 #because they decided to just stop putting managers on most of the shifts i used to work so all the stuff that the manager was responsible #for was left to me and was not reflected in my pay...not that im bitter about that or anything...ANYWAY. also today i plan to #make some genuine progress with planning [noisy train passes by] and also get my paints down and sort through them to find which #ones havent dried up..maybe paint something..like a pigeon although i dont know how to draw or paint pigeons i just love pigeons and sheep. #(ridi's) bigmouth strikes again

[bookwyrminspiration]

Had Sophie stayed in the human world until she was older like the Black Swan planned for her to, do you think their experiment would have worked?

They want her to bring change to the human world, but an elf raised as a human being who came to the Lost Cities as an adult would have incredibly hard time adjusting or taking the Black Swan seriously for reasons that I think are fairly obvious. She would have had a life, with friends and family in the human world. Then they would require her to sever all of those relationships because they want her to bring change to a world that she did not even know existed. Once she got to the Lost Cities, she would have incredibly hard time integrating to the different clothes, food and culture. Once she got past those hurdles, she would have to work incredibly hard to be taken seriously. She would be a grown woman that no one in the Lost Cities is connected to, who is advocating for change in a world that she has no connection to. I am thinking of real life equivalents of this, like a child being raised in Russia, who only speaks Russian and thinks of themselves as Russian, is brought to the United States as an adult to tackle American social issues. They do not understand American social issues and it will take a long time before they do. Exchange the word Russia for human, Russian for human world and United States for Elvin world. Her credibility would be very low in this scenario, as she would struggle to get people to hear her thoughts on issues especially because she is not impacted by these problems. Moreso, she would view herself as a human being and would ultimately defend humans and even betray the elves if she felt the elves were going to harm humans.

Ultimately, the Black Swan would not work out. They would bring her to the world of the elves, use her for a different perspective then bring her back to the human world. Then, there is the problem of her abilities and lifespan. Would they leave her with her abilities and do nothing to do with them? Would they leave her, an immortal being, in the human world to spend the rest of her life with people who live quickly and die quickly? That is an interesting way to handle things.

There are so many ways the plans of the Black Swan could have gone wrong.

That depends on what you consider "working" for Project Moonlark. If we're going solely with the goal of bringing a new perspective to the Lost Cities, that still would've been achieved; she still would've been raised with the same human mindset that the Black Swan was looking for. If we're going with the goal for her "to be something new", then she still would've been that.

I personally don't think the problems you're suggesting would be too different from how it is now in the series. Perhaps they waited until Sophie was in her 20s or 30s, before people could notice she wasn't aging, but that's still so small compared to the elven lifespan. That's hardly a difference to their world and those who've lived in it for centuries.

Sophie now still had a hard time adjusting (and is still adjusting, over 2 years later), she had friends and family that she had to sever ties with, she's not used to the clothing and culture--though she has gotten used to the food for the most part. I think almost everything you're proposing isn't unique to an adult Sophie, it's the same as she's going through as a young teen.

I do think you make a good point about having no connections, though. The elven world is incredibly isolated, and she wouldn't have the connections or circle she does without being adopted and going to school, both things that only happened because she's a kid. However, I do think that could be compensated for via connections in the Black Swan. She wouldn't have as much exposure outside of them, but she wouldn't be completely on her own. However, that does also mean there's no easy way for other people to learn about her and hear about her the way there is now, but there could be gossip that makes her more known, people just wouldn't first learn of her at school as her peers.

Based on my understanding, I think the biggest problem they'd encounter is Sophie herself. She goes along with other people's suggestions and submits to certain authority because she's a kid, because she doesn't have the same sway as an adult. Her parents can tell her to do things and discipline her, the Black Swan can partially shut her out and guide her citing her youth. Adult Sophie would be an adult. Redundant statement, I know, but my point is she would be more on their level. She'd have more autonomy, be more individual. Even as unaware as she is, she's more equal. She doesn't have to listen to what people tell her, she doesn't have to do what they say. She's an adult who can do what she wants for her own reasoning. So the Black Swan would have to truly work with her more to cooperate.

However, at a certain point she doesn't have a choice in the matter. She has abilities, she doesn't quite fit in the human world (though in both cases she still sees herself as more human), the Black Swan can hold info over her head (like her parents/origin), etc. She's tied to them and I think would always end up with them and in the elven world.

The way I see it, Project Moonlark still would've worked, it just would've played out differently. Different people in her life, different setting, different dynamics between her and others. But ultimately the core of it the same. Her being a child is crucial to the story as we know it, but not crucial to Project Moonlark. Even if she prefers humans, she's not going to turn a blind eye to elven problems and ignore everything. Her age isn't a huge factor in the project on its own, so a lot of the details (leaving her life behind, struggling to adapt, etc.) are ubiquitous!

#kotlc #kotlc character analysis #sophie foster #quil's queries #thepinkdove #long post #this is of course just my interpretation and opinion. it's not set in stone or anything #I just don't really think at the core of it all it'd be that different #the premise and execution is pretty much the same regardless of age #so I think it would have the same impact. or at least similar enough to not be too noteworthy #but I don't think the black swan and project moonlark wouldn't have worked if she was older #that's how it was intended to work #perhaps sophie would've been more like the black swan if she didn't have that sort of teenage rebellion thing going on #and their progress would've been slower #who knows! i can't say exactly how it would've played out #anyway i should stop before i ramble forever :)

[aurosoulart]

current WIPs!

I’ve been streaming the process of the moon&star one via tumblr live! if you have the update on your phone you can favorite me @ aurosoul. I play chill music and do voiceover explaining what art techniques I’m using and why :)

#tumblr live #wip #work in progress #art #digital art #dolphin #that dolphin has been a wip for ages now #it's going to have an iridescent/holographic sheen #and be surrounded by bird of paradise flowers framing a window to a starry seascape background