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julemmaes · 3 years

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Robyn

Rowaelin Month, Day Ten

A/N: I'd planned on posting them in order, but you get what you get. Idk when the other prompts will come tbf. I hope soon. Anyway, I managed to write over 6k words today and I'm pretty fucking proud.

This is just fluff over fluff, so yep enjoy!!

Word count: 3,047

Rowan was unbelievably late as he sped through the streets of Orynth.

So late that the school had called not only him, but also the front desk of the place where he worked when he hadn't answered the call on his personal phone. Sorscha, his assistant, had entered his office with an embarrassed smile on her lips, as if she didn't want to tell him that he had forgotten for the umpteenth time to pick up his daughter from school.

Lorcan had joined him, for some strange reason, but Rowan had stopped bothering when it came to his best friend. He'd been trying to figure out how he reasoned for years and had come to the conclusion that there was no logical sense in the actions of the man sitting next to him, who was currently singing at the top of his lungs to one of the songs on the Frozen CD - which much to the chagrin of both of them, had gotten stuck in his car radio months before, forcing them into hours of torture.

He would never deny that the songs were all quite catchy, but after the sixteenth time Rowan had had to listen to Let It Go at maximum volume, his positive opinion of the film had begun to waver.

As they pulled into the school parking lot, Rowan noticed with deep regret that the only cars still there were those of the teachers and school staff.

They both got out of the car, Rowan walking quickly towards the entrance while Lorcan dragged behind him.

He greeted the caretakers sitting at the entrance, who returned a big smile. A smile that grew even wider when his large, imposing friend entered a few moments later. He stopped to talk to the old ladies and Rowan walked down the corridor he knew led to Robyn's classroom.

He could hear muffled voices from inside the teachers' room on the left and the one he knew belonged to Miss Galathynius coming from the right. He looked out over the classroom, spotting the two people sitting at a desk.

As soon as his daughter saw him, her eyes widened and a huge smile flashed across her face.

No words. No "hello, daddy!" or "I missed you!" from the little girl.

Her teacher turned as she leapt out of her chair and ran towards him, hugging his legs and looking up at him. Rowan smiled at her in turn, running a hand over her hair that was shot in every direction.

"Hello, little bird," he murmured to her. The child's smile widened even more if that was possible.

The woman a few feet away from them pulled herself upright, crossing her arms over her chest and offering a sincere smile to the child, who hid behind his thighs.

Rowan was about to tell her that Robyn was shy with everyone like this, ready to defend his daughter's behaviour as he was used to doing in front of every adult, but he was beaten to the punch.

"It's good to see you, Mr Whitethorn," she said, extending a hand. Rowan shook it without hesitation. "Actually, I just wanted to write you a letter regarding Robyn," she continued, never taking her eyes off the little girl. "Nothing serious," she hastened to reassure him when Rowan grimaced, "quite the contrary. Robyn is remarkably good. One of the best in the class, though I shouldn't offer that information so bluntly."

Miss Galathynius winked at him, but he couldn't process what he'd just been told.

"Sorry, could you-"

The little hands clamped around his trousers tightened a fraction more and Rowan looked down, trying to figure out what was bothering his daughter, but then something happened that he hadn't even dared to dream about in recent times.

"You're here!"

The little girl broke off and ran away from him in less than the blink of an eye.

Rowan turned just in time to see Lorcan grab Robyn in mid-air, spinning her around as he brought her to his chest and showered her with kisses. The loud, incessant laughter that erupted from her seemed too much coming from that fragile little body, but he never tired of hearing it.

"Why hello baby!" said Lorcan laughing in turn, starting to tickle her until she begun to rebel and he was forced to let her slide to the floor. Robyn was still laughing at the top of her lungs and nearly fell to the ground as she squealed left and right, letting herself be pushed around by the closest thing to an uncle she had ever had.

When Rowan turned back to the woman, she was wide-eyed and her lips slightly parted as she watched the massive man dressed completely in black and the menacing face turn into a completely different person the second he had seen Robyn.

He chuckled, "I know, it's not every day you get to see a little girl be so comfortable with a brute like that."

Lorcan, who was listening to everything, looked him straight in the eye and without stopping smiling and playing with the little girl, mouthed to him to fuck off.

"Well, yeah. You caught me a little off guard." she confessed, still shocked to hear how Robyn was having a full conversation with Lorcan. They couldn't hear anything of what she was actually saying, but even just the fact she was talking to someone seemed to have Aelin unsettled.

She returned her attention to Rowan and let out a breath that sounded more like a giggle, "I've never heard her laugh before."

He nodded, blushing a little at the teacher's surprised but relieved tone.

"I'm sure the dean warned you about the problem she has," he said in a low voice. He grimaced at her poor choice of words, "I mean, not problem, but the difficulty she finds in interacting with people she doesn't know."

Liar, he told himself. Robyn hadn't spoken to anyone but him and Lorcan since the day Lyria had died. It wasn't a difficulty, but a response to the trauma that prevented her from speaking to anyone who wasn't part of her immediate family.

"I know, I know. We've been looking for solutions together." she informed him. "I give her a white board every morning. Come on, I'll show you." she turned to the desk they were sitting at earlier and raised the magnetic board, on which a few words were scribbled on. "I'll write here what she might need. Yes. No. I need to go to the bathroom. I'm thirsty. I'm hungry." she read, listing the various options. Rowan gaped. "We've only just started going over the alphabet for a second time, so she can't really read or write yet, as I imagine you know, but the little drawings next to each sentence help her."

She continued talking, but he couldn't quite follow.

The woman in front of him - aside from being breathtakingly beautiful - had done as much as she could to help her child with communication.

"Mr. Whitethorn-"

"Rowan. Please, call me Rowan." he said, clearing his throat once he realized how hoarse it sounded to his ears. Lorcan walked up to them at that point, still holding Robyn in his arms and positioned himself next to him, letting their shoulders touch in a comforting way.

"Call me Aelin, then," she smiled at them both. Then she made a small grimace, turning to Rowan, "I wanted to ask if it bothered you, that I sought a solution like that. Maybe I put her in distress, embarrassed her. I'm sorry if I gave you the impression that I wanted to solve this on my own. I really wanted to discuss it with you, with your husband too, to avoid misunderstandings. Maybe we could arrange a meeting."

He was about to tell her that she had given him the exact opposite of annoyance, that he had been more than pleased that she had helped Robyn this way, when her words finally registered.

Lorcan, beside him, had opened his mouth wide and his lips were slowly bending into a mischievous smile.

Rowan furrowed his brow, "I'm sorry, what?"

Aelin's smile seemed to falter. "A meeting? With you? To talk about how to handle the situation," then she shifted her gaze to Lorcan, "You're more than welcome to join as well. I didn't know Robyn had two dads, I apologise for assuming Robyn had a mum and dad. That was very rude of me-"

"I love this," Lorcan whispered, laughing in shock. He turned to Rowan with eyes that sparkled with amusement, "I would definitely be the top."

Rowan looked at him with an expression of complete shock on his face, "What the fuck are you talking about?"

Robyn gasped, opening her eyes wide and bringing a hand to her mouth, pointing then to Rowan's.

"Yeah, sorry, love. I shouldn't have said the bad word." he apologised, giving her a quick kiss on the forehead. He turned back to Miss Galathynius, "I'm sorry to have to disappoint you, but we're not married."

"No need to lie, sweetie. I'm sure Aelin," he gave her a knowing look, "doesn't mind at all about our relationship status."

Aelin nodded, "Well, yes. That doesn't change anything. Mr..." she turned to Lorcan, searching for a name.

"Salvaterre."

"Mr. Salvaterre can still attend. The fact that you are not yet married is no reason why you cannot both be present at the meeting. You don't have to worry, we are a very tolerant school and if anyone bothers you, you can come directly to me."

A sound of sheer glee escaped Lorcan.

Aelin continued, "I mean it. I was pleased to see both of you today. I was also pleased to see Robyn smiling so much." she concluded, looking the little one in the face.

Rowan took a deep breath, bracing himself, "No, I meant, we're not a couple. We're not gay. He's her uncle."

The woman's blonde eyebrows shot up and a second later she turned almost as red as the dress Robyn was wearing as Lorcan shook his head muttering something very much like 'you're no fun', which made Robyn giggle.

"Why did you even get off the car?" he asked him exasperated.

Lorcan shrugged, "Because I missed my little bean, you monster." he replied, clutching Robyn to his chest. The little girl clutched Lorcan's shirt in her chubby little hands and Rowan huffed, shaking his head.

Aelin brought her hands to her face, leaning against the desk behind her. She shook her head, her face still hidden, "Oh, god. I'm so sorry."

Lorcan let out a dry laugh, "Don't worry about it. It was fun while it lasted." then he turned to Rowan again, who was still trying to recover from the idea of being involved in a relationship with his friend, "You're really no fun."

"Yeah, no fun dad." repeated Robyn.

Silence fell over the class. Rowan looked at her with wide eyes and blinked once, twice. Robyn was staring at him with a sweet scowl that mimicked so much that of the man who was still holding her, but Rowan couldn't get over the fact that his daughter had spoken while Aelin was still beside them.

He was about to talk, noticing how Robyn had started squirming in Lorcan's arms, when there was a knock at the door.

They both turned, Aelin peering over Rowan's shoulder, and saw the figure of a petite girl with black hair and eyes standing in the doorway, watching them with her head slightly bent to the side. She had a tag on her t-shirt that was too colourful to belong to someone who didn't work in a school with children, so he guessed she was a teacher herself. Besides, Rowan felt like he'd seen her elsewhere. Probably every day when he picked Robyn up from school, he said to himself.

"I know you're not supposed to eavesdrop but I stopped by earlier and heard you were a couple of dads," she said by way of introduction. "I just wanted to reassure you that the school is an extremely safe place. I'm the one who did most of the interviews with the parents," that's where they had met then, "and one of the questions that is asked is just about the tolerance of the people who will be attending the school."

Aelin watched her, remaining silent the whole time and putting on an amused smile, nodded, "That's what I was telling them. How tolerant the school is. They make such a cute couple, don't you think, Elide?"

Rowan turned to her, arching an eyebrow, silently asking her what she was doing. The woman, as if she could truly understand what he was trying to convey to her, nodded her head towards Lorcan, who Rowan only then noticed was standing weirdly, his eyes fixed on the woman in the doorway.

He grinned, deciding to take his revenge right away. "Oh, yes. Thank you so much for the reassurance," Rowan began to play along as well. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Lorcan turn towards him, dropping Robyn to the floor, who made a disapproving noise at being dumped so suddenly. "We are happy to know that this school is a safe place for our daughter. And for us."

Elide offered him a blinding smile, "Good. I'm happy to hear that you are pleased so far. And I am happy that Aelin is the one who is taking your daughter's class. She's the best one here."

Rowan didn't know her yet, but he knew the thing Elide had just said could only be true.

"Well," she said again, giving them an apologetic smile, "I really must go now, but if you need anything, you can find all my contact details on the website. Have a nice day!"

Aelin and Rowan said their goodbyes, thanking her. Lorcan took a while to recover, but when he realised he was staring into empty space he ran towards the door, almost stepping on little Robyn, who was moved by Aelin.

"We are very much not gay, miss!" he shouted into the hallway. Aelin, now beside him and with a hand on Robyn's shoulder, cackled. With Lorcan's infinite luck, someone walked by just then and gave him a stern look. "Oh, shut up ma'am. I'm an ally. The best ally."

Rowan shook his head as Lorcan launched himself in pursuit of the poor teacher and burst out laughing when he heard him shout, "I'm not homophobic! I'm willing to suck someone's cock if I have to prove it to you!"

Aelin opened her mouth wide before bursting out laughing in turn.

Robyn, seeing both adults so happy, giggled too and Rowan bent down to pick her up. The little girl laid her full head of white-light hair on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

She was tired and Rowan really needed to get her home to sleep.

He glanced at Aelin and reduced his lips to a thin line, "I'm sorry about the commotion, I'll try not to bring him into the building again. Even if it means tying him to the seat."

The soft laugh she gave made something tighten in his chest. He frowned.

Aelin didn't seem to notice the effect she had on him, "Don't worry, Elide is crazy about fools like him. If he says the right things, we might start seeing each other outside of school too."

Rowan nodded, now too caught up in the thought of having to take Robyn home to focus on anything else.

They agreed on when to hold the parent-teacher meeting and then he grabbed Robyn's backpack, walking towards the exit.

He was thoughtless as he reached into his pocket for his keys and balanced everything else - including the girl - on his other arm, but when Robyn's hand brushed his cheek, he looked down and his eyes met their twins. Green against green.

"What is it?"

The little girl's voice never stopped making him smile. Each time was like the first time she had said dada.

"I really like her."

Rowan frowned, "Who?"

"Miss Aelin." she whispered, almost as if she was afraid they might hear her.

He smiled at her, "Yeah? You like her?"

"She's nice to me."

Rowan had to put her down as he opened the door and let her get into the back seats by herself.

"I'm glad she's treating you well, love," he let her know, buckling her in.

He hoped she'd tell him more about her new teacher, but like any kid her age, the topic of conversation couldn't last for more than four lines apiece, "Where's Uncle Lorcan?"

Rowan snorted, "No idea, little bird."

Robyn nodded, "Elide is pretty too."

And as if those words had summoned him, Lorcan appeared beside the car, making them both scream. He entered the car in a heartbeat and turned to his daughter, who was still settling into the seat. "Do you know Miss Lochan?"

But before she could answer him, Rowan had entered the car in turn and smacked the back of his head, which made the Robyn giggle, "You're not using my daughter as your wingman. Now stop it and buckle up."

Lorcan gave him a gentle push, before doing as he was told and for once he was happy he'd convinced him to do something.

Or at least, Rowan thought he had convinced him.

"What if I left you a note to deliver to Miss Lochan, Rob? Would you be up for it?"

Rowan knew, even without looking at her, that she was nodding emphatically.

Keeping his eyes on the road, he murmured, "Could you stop calling my daughter Rob, please? You'll give her an existential crisis."

Lorcan clicked his tongue against his palate, "Rowan, I'm not giving her a damn thing. We live in this new world, okay? Your daughter could be called Simon and still be a beautiful princess. Grow up and educate yourself before you talk shit."

"Aaaah!" shouted Robyn, "Bad word!"

Rowan sighed and shook his head, but still he was smiling.

This was his life. Had been for the past two years.

And he wouldn't change it for the world.

tog tag list (if you wanna be added or removed just dm me or send me an ask)

@maastrash @ireallyshouldsleeprn @sleeping-and-books @hellasblessed @thegoddessofyou @ghostlyrose2 @claralady @sayosdreams @perseusannabeth @letstakethedawn @terrible-and-proud @post-it-notes33 @booksstorm @nalgenewhore @queen-of-demons-and-hell @lanyjoy-13 @vasudharaghavan @cupcakey00 @bri-loves-sunflowers @queen-of-glass @thewayshedreamed @the-regal-warrior @fangirlprincess09 @januarystears @rowaelinismyotp @starbornsinger @bookstantrash @thegreyj @feysand-loml @autumnbabylon @a-court-of-milkandhoney @highqueenofelfhame @story-scribbler @mariamuses @rhysandswingspan @tanvee1231

#rowaelinmonth #rowaelin #rowan whitethorn #aelin galathynius #tog #throne of glass #rowaelin fic #fluff #rowaelin month day ten

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battlestar-royco · 4 years

Text

updated faq

Round 2! I tried to shorten the answers so as not to be repetitive, and I also added new FAQs for your convenience. My past self who wrote my first FAQ annoys me, and this one is more thorough anyway, so here you go. I still can’t believe you all actually interact with me enough that I have to make one of these.

Questions up here, answers under the cut.

anti sjm basics

1. why are you an anti?

2. why are you specifically anti SJM?

3. do you like anything about SJM’s books?

4. terminology and practices

5. why do you hold SJM to a higher standard than other authors?/why do you focus on criticizing this one woman more harshly than you do men?

6. did you see what xyz stan did?

7. are you an anti for non-SJM stuff?

best of (in my humble opinion)

diversity and sensitivity

8. I have a question about writing and/or how to portray xyz identity...

9. can you please tag...?

10. is it okay if I like [x author]/[y series] even if I know they’re problematic?

11. what are your suggestions for aspiring authors who want to write diversely?

personal

12. is it okay if I message you?

13. why don’t you post about books/shows/movies you actually like?

14. favorites?

15. book suggestions?

16. are you a writer/what are you writing/do you plan on publishing?

17. is it okay if I follow you on other social media?

18. fandom research

19. when did you start your blog?

20. how did you decide your url?

anti SJM basics

1. why are you an anti?

I love thinking critically about the media I consume. Though I wouldn’t say I’m particularly “anti” any text or author, some people classify any criticism as “anti.” To respect people in the main tags, I post in anti tags so they don’t have to see critical posts. Otherwise, I love talking about positive, neutral, and negative aspects of books.

2. why are you specifically anti SJM?

The Anti SJM Manifesto

What made you turn into an anti? x x

Rowan/Rowaelin: x x x

The fandom: x x x x x x

3. do you like anything about SJM’s books?

Yes. I like a lot of SJM’s ideas, but I don’t like how they’re executed at all. I highly enjoyed TAB, TOG-HOF, and the witch storyline of QOS. My favorite TOG characters are Manon, Chaol, Nehemia, and Sorscha. Honorable mention for Lysandra, Kaltain, and Asterin. My favorite ACOTAR characters are Nesta, Lucien, and Tarquin. Additional links: x x x x

If you want my positive thoughts on certain SJM characters, look up: “anti sjm: [character name]” and you’ll find them.

4. terminology and practices:

Anti SJM Glossary. Seeing as many of us have had bad experiences with stans and in one case, authors, we censor names so our posts stay in our own tags.

What is soap dick? From August 2018 x x.

Manongate? when KOA came out, Charlie Bowater’s promotional art (x) depicted Manon as Asian. Here’s more on why that’s a problematic and lazy decision on SJM and Bloomsbury’s part: x x.

5. why do you hold SJM to a higher standard than other authors?/why do you focus on criticizing this one woman more harshly than you do men?

SJM alone out of all the biggest YA authors has yet to make craft improvements or display a social awareness similar to what I’ve seen from her colleagues. I give all authors an equal chance, but SJM’s writing and behavior has significantly decreased in quality compared to other fantasy authors despite her books being lauded as complex and feminist works. However, I’m not perfect, so do feel welcome to send me an ask if you think I’m being unfair.

The anti SJM community is focused on women because we all mainly read women. Critiquing women doesn’t mean we are unaware, dismissive of, or silent about the issues in men’s work. The “anti” movements for the likes of GRRM do exist, but under a different name than “anti”–there are thousands of critical meta blogs, book/TV critics and reviewers, Youtubers, etc out there who discuss his flaws in depth. I also have lengthy anti GRRM, anti GOT, and anti ASOIAF tags. Finally, I personally find critiquing and discussing women’s work a lot more interesting, productive, and empowering than doing the same for men, especially because my blog’s focus is on the YA author/transformative fan community at large.

About Leigh Bardugo: x x x x x x x

About GRRM (and GOT): x x x x x x x

About Tolkien: I've only read The Hobbit and a third of Fellowship of the Ring, and I’ve only watched FotR, so I don’t say much about him at all.

6. did you see what xyz stan did?

Probably not, especially if what they did was off Tumblr. I don’t look at stan accounts unless someone informs me that my posts or I have come up in conversation on their blog. Any specific stan urls in asks will be redacted both for their privacy and my own well-being. Stans have doxxed, harassed, and discriminated against antis, including myself, so I’d rather save us all the trouble.

7. are you an anti for non-SJM stuff?

I most often talk about SJM’s books, but I’ve also been very critical of GOT/ASOIAF. Following GRRM, several other YA authors have appeared in positive, neutral, and critical lights. On the more critical side we have Cassandra Clare and JK Rowling, and a very little bit about Victoria Aveyard, John Green, Maggie Stiefvater, Stephenie Meyer, and Veronica Roth. Otherwise, I’ve talked about Susan Dennard, Rick Riordan, Leigh Bardugo, and Marie Rutkoski. Check out my YA critical tag for more. I’m also down to discuss franchises like Star Wars, Fantastic Beasts, MCU, etc, as well as TV shows. Basically anything big in genre fiction media, there’s a good chance I’ve read/watched it and I have opinions!

best of

anti SJM

Are the Illyrians MOC?

Moral Ambiguity Series

Anti Nessian

Lucien or Rhysand?

Chaol or Rowan?

misc.

why are period dramas like... that

White Feminism

a beginner’s guide to fandom racism

diversity and sensitivity

8. I have a question about writing and/or how to portray xyz identity...

First and foremost, check my “writing advice” and “writing advice: poc” tags to see if the question has already been answered.

I am black cis girl with a dual degree in women’s/gender studies and creative writing. I will best be able to answer questions regarding black characters, women, racial oppression and identity as a whole, and most questions about queer characters. There’s a chance I can provide a basic answer to questions about demographics outside of these, but I’ll most likely advise you to ask another blogger or seek out sensitivity readers.

9. can you please tag...?

Yes. Just send an ask and I’ll tag anything. I’ve turned off all Tumblr notifications for this account so I probably won’t see tag requests in comments unless you comment within a day or so of the post.

10. is it okay if I like [x author]/[y series] even if I know they’re problematic?

Absolutely. I’m not the liking-things police and I can’t control whether you like something or not. There’s no such thing as an unproblematic author or unproblematic series, so you just have to like what you like at your own discretion and with a critical eye. As long as you’re aware of the issues and not denying or ignoring them, maybe even seeking out other people whose opinions add to the conversation, you’re good. It’s exhausting to be 100% critical but harmful to be 100% uncritical, so you have to seek out critics you like and figure out how to maintain a dialogue with the text and/or the author. The balance is different for everyone but once you find it, it gets easier to keep up!

11. what are your suggestions for aspiring authors who want to write diversely?

Concepts to be aware of and tropes to avoid: male gaze, the Bechdel test, the Mako Mori test, the sexy lamp test, fridging, Orientalism, xenoface (called “the Gamora Phenomenon” on my blog), black best friend, Spicy Latina, Dragon Lady, bury your gays, disability narratives, queerbaiting.

What not to do when creating a culture.

My advice about writing POC.

Check out these blogs if you like: x x x.

Follow as diversely as possible. Follow multiple blogs, especially writing- or fandom-themed blogs, run by POC (especially women and LGBTQ+), bloggers from religiously marginalized groups, bloggers with disabilities, older bloggers, younger bloggers, international bloggers, plus size bloggers, etc. Everyone has different perspectives and opinions, so it’s best to read from multiple sources.

Magnify marginalized voices in conversations about diversity, and LISTEN to what they are telling you.

Read diversely! Read genre fiction written by marginalized people. Maybe even read some gender, queer, race, or disability theory if you like. I’m personally a fan of Audre Lorde, Anne McClintock, and Sara Ahmed, but I like a lot more.

Seek out multiple sensitivity readers for the specific identity you are trying to represent (ie if you are trying to write a Muslim woman, ask a Muslim woman to sensitivity read for you. Experiences are not interchangeable so don’t treat them as such).

Don’t let the research stop here. This is just the beginning. There are plenty of awesome and accessible resources out there if you want to know more. I started learning about this stuff on sites like Tumblr, Goodreads, and Youtube. The Goodreads review sections, especially for YA books, are so entertaining and full of commentators coming at texts with feminist, queer, and POC lenses if you look in the right spots. There are also podcasts and Youtube videos about feminism, history of queerbaiting, and such. Happy reading/listening/writing!

personal

12. is it okay if I message you?

If we’ve been mutuals and/or we’ve interacted for a while (at least a few weeks or so), absolutely. When it comes to questions about writing or diversity advice in WIPs, I prefer asks (off or on anon is fine; if you’d like to be off anon but answered privately, you can indicate that in the ask). That way, other people with similar questions can join the discussion and I’m less likely to repeat myself. That said, I’m not opposed to messages; I just get shy around people I don’t know :). Regardless of ask or message, please try to ask the full question as clearly as possible so I can answer it to my best ability. Generally, you can expect an answer to your message or ask within a few days to a week of sending.

If you’re looking for a fight and/or if you start using condescending, rude, or discriminatory language, you will be ignored.

13. why don’t you post about books/shows/movies you actually like?

I do! :)

14. favorites?

books: Harry Potter; The Hunger Games; Six of Crows; Percy Jackson; The Winner’s Trilogy; Angelfall; The Secret History; Othello; Jane Eyre; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe/The Magician’s Nephew; A Storm of Swords.

movies: Alien, Blade Runner 2049, Harry Potter, Wonder Woman, Black Panther, Annihilation, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Terminator 2, The Breakfast Club, The Lion King, Moonlight dir. Barry Jenkins, Sleeping Beauty, Mulan, Tangled.

tv series: Sense8, Battlestar Galactica (2004-2008), Black Mirror, The X Files, The 100, Westworld (season 1 only), Watchmen, Homeland (seasons 1-4 only), Orphan Black, Breaking Bad, The Office, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, New Girl, Fleabag.

15. book suggestions?

Book recs!

Maxine, did you read/watch...?

16. are you a writer/what are you writing/do you plan on publishing?

I hope to publish, yes! I write mostly YA fantasy, but I also love sci fi, crime drama, and certain elements of horror so I have works in or influenced by all of those genres. I want to get my foot in the YA fantasy door first and foremost :). Check out “polysorscha writes things” if you want to know more specifics.

17. is it okay if I follow you on other social media?

As of now I keep my blog disconnected from my personal life, so I don’t share my other socials but feel free to follow me over on my main blog @ripley-stark if you like! It’s just pretty gifs and photos of my favorite movies and shows, social justice, meta reblogs here and there, and rambling in the tags. Don’t feel like you have to follow if you don’t want to; I say a lot more on here.

That being said, I have given my Goodreads to a handful of people who ask, so if you want to track what I’m reading, private message me and I’ll send you the link. In the case that I share the link with you, please respect my privacy and do not repost or share the link anywhere else unless you see me share it on my blog publicly.

18. fandom research:

In March to May 2019, I conducted a survey on my blog in an attempt to gather information about fandom through a social justice–specifically, intersectional feminist–lens. Here are the results and my analysis of the survey x. The purpose for this data collection was to write my final undergraduate research paper in one of my two majors, women’s and gender studies (the other is creative writing!), which focused on diversity and inclusion in genre fiction media and fandom. The final paper is about 11k words. I haven’t publicly published it, but message me if you’re interested in reading it! I also plan on doing more similar surveys to gather information about what audiences want to see in future media, so if anyone is interested, please send messages, asks, comments etc about what YOU want to see and/or ideas about how we can spread the info to creators. This is much bigger than just me and I can’t do it without your help. I love hearing from diverse voices and amplifying them as much as I can. Everyone’s perspective is meaningful!

19. when did you start your blog?

No earlier than the end of April or beginning of May 2018.

20. how did you decide your url?

I wish the Celaena/Dorian/Chaol love triangle resolved in a polyamorous relationship, and that Nehemia and Sorscha were thriving. Seeing as I am black, Sorscha is one of two characters in T0G who represents me. Thus, polyamorous + Sorscha. :)

#faq

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shewhotellsstories · 6 years

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Your Fave is Problematic Pt. 15: When Magical Girls Are Mammified

Fair warning, this post is critical of Sarah J. Maas’ writing choices.

Sorscha, who will only be referred to as Sorscha because the author didn’t give her a surname, was another disposable woman of color in the story. She is introduced in the fourth book and is one of the castle’s healers. In the continent where the events of Throne of Glass are taking place, it appears that Ellwye, Nehemia’s country, is heavily populated with black and brown people. When Sorcha’s physical description is given, when Prince Dorian Havillard is noting her golden-tan skin he deduces that one of her family members comes from Ellwye. And while talking about her physical appearance it’s probably worth pointing out that Dorian describes her as not beautiful, but only “pretty.” In comparison to his previous love interest Celaena one imagines; the thin, blonde haired, blue eyed epitome of white womanhood and western beauty. These observations from others that Dorian is settling for the “average” looking Sorscha not only doubles down on extremely limiting beauty standards but sets her up to be a consolation prize for Dorian, who could not win Celaena’s heart. A colleague of Sorscha’s also goes out of her way to inform her that she’s not nearly attractive enough to be with Dorian. Sorscha has been pining for Dorian for years. With Celaena absent Dorian falls in love with Sorscha. Their relationships begin at first out of necessity. Dorian has recently discovered he has magic and his father the King of Adarlan has a radically anti-magical person regime. He believes that his father wouldn't hesitate to have him executed upon discovering this truth thus it’s a secret Dorian tries desperately to keep. Except that he has little understanding of his magical powers and accidentally reveals them in front of Sorscha. Sorscha feels for Dorian, being the daughter of two immigrants who were slaughtered as a part of an immigrant purge ordered by Dorian’s father, and she decides to help him. They enter into a secret relationship, only to be discovered by the King. It is revealed that Sorscha’s no ordinary healer. She’s a spy for the rebels. This and her less than respectable relationship with the heir to the Adarlanian throne costs her, her life. She’s beheaded before Dorian and Captain Chaol Westfall’s eyes. The pain of her death causes Dorian to reveal his magic and Chaol to finally break his oath to the king. Again: the woman of color’s awful death is mere catalyst or motivation for another character’s development.

The world of fiction is no stranger to the women in refrigerators trope, meaning killing off female characters to create storylines for male characters. This is a textbook and unnecessary example. Dorian and his father do not have a close relationship. Throughout the series despite having been presented with numerous examples of the damage his father has done, Dorian is unwilling to challenge him in any meaningful ways. He doesn’t condone the massacres his father orders, he doesn’t support the possibility of more slave mines, he doesn’t turn in his best friend Chaol for his interactions with the rebels, but he doesn’t challenge his father. Neither does Chaol whose inaction almost makes more sense. Chaol gave up his birthright and family to be the captain of the guard, his narrative is that he just wants to be loyal and keep his promises. And yet despite being described multiple times by Celaena as the epitome of what a good man should be, despite also being confronted multiple times with evidence of the king’s cruelty, he’s a bystander. Until he see’s Sorscha beheaded. Sorscha spends her final moments ensuring that Dorian’s magic is not revealed. Sorscha, although revealed to be a rebel and spy, was defined in her being Dorian’s love interest. Sorscha was decapitated to show Chaol and Dorian how evil the king was. Sorscha is the second woman of color out of three existing women of color in the series to be murdered to teach two white characters a lesson.

As the series goes on people of color are not treated much better. Nersryn Faliq an immigrant, who in the real world would fall into the Asian-American category is a rebel and former city guard. Throughout her life, she and her family have suffered due to the anti-immigrant sentiment that the king’s policies have encouraged. Nersryn is brave but is often ignored by other characters or treated as an emotional punching bag. Unlike Sorscha she’s at least given a surname and she’s not brutally murdered. But she feels like a consolation prize because Chaol cannot be with Celaena.

Bad representation is as damaging as no representation. Whether the authors mean to or not creating characters like Sorscha, Nehemia, and to an extent Maia who exist to be tortured and killed for white characters to learn a lesson or have an epiphany perpetuates white supremacy as it perpetuates the idea that black and brown people only exist to serve. Characters of color in this scenario exist to hold other characters’ confidences, they exist to sacrifice themselves, they exist to be tortured, but they do not exist to be the heroes of their own stories. While studies have shown that reading fiction increases empathy, stories that perpetuate negative stereotypes can reinforce real-life prejudices. (Duyvis) Being included in the narrative only to have negative stereotypes about you reinforced leads to individuals internalizing those stereotypes. Psychology describes this process as a stereotype threat. In regard to children of color, media with negative representations of them can contribute to low-self esteem. This can lead to underperformance academically and socially. (Myths, misfits & masks: Sana Amanat at TEDxTeen 2014)

It’s true that we live in an imperfect world wherein revolutions there is collateral damage. However, in these worlds all too often and consistently the collateral damage is a character of color. Throne of Glass is a series praised for its diversity and yet by the end of the series only one of the three prominent characters of color is alive. A story with more dead people of color than alive is a poor excuse for diversity. Real representation and diversity are when characters that are part of marginalized populations are fleshed out, three-dimensional characters, who are not simply plot devices. This is especially true for the world of fantasy, because in a world where anything is possible audiences are given the opportunity to imagine worlds where there isn’t inequality. This becomes increasingly more troubling when taken into account that both The Mortal Instruments and Throne of Glass series contain such complex allegories and metaphors for real-world inequality and yet have a tendency to treat their characters of color so poorly.

To be a hero or heroine means that you model what heroism is for an audience. Having a character that is a woman of color choose to die for the “greater good” and because they ultimately were not the chosen one sends the message that the only acts of heroism women of color are capable of is martyrdom and that communities fictional or otherwise are better served without their existence. Having a character like Sorscha who wasn’t even deemed important enough for a surname gruesomely beheaded to move her boyfriend’s story along means that characters of color, people of color can only ever be footnotes in other people’s stories. And that their experiences and pain only matters in relation to how it affects white characters.

Quick note I wrapped up my thesis months before Tower of Dawn came out, feel free to let me know if Nesryn was treated like an actual person in that book.

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sarah-bae-maas · 7 years

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A lil Manorian fic

Fun fact: when I have writer's block I write random shit for the ships I adore. If you would like to see more, I have a masterlist you can look at, wither way I hope you enjoy this!

***

Dorian trudged up the steep hill, the mud so deep and thick that it fell into his calf high boots and drowned his feet. He may as well abandon his shoes at this point, they were certainly doing him no good. He wiped the beads of sweat off his forehead, his whole body overwhelmingly hot despite the cold winds, and pushed his legs harder. His strength was wavering, but he had to make it back to her.

He let the stars guide and distract him, pinpointing specific constellations that reminded him so much of home that he forgot where he really was. He saw Mala’s Trail and thought of when as boys, he and Chaol would hide from their tutors in tall trees and throw acorns at nobles as passed under. He gazed at Annieth’s Sword and Belt and remembered the night he had kissed Celaena – no, Aelin – under the cover of darkness. He peered at the Circle of Seven, and thought of Sorscha and how she would gently rap his wounds with her delicate fingers. He looked for the Crown, but stopped. He wasn’t ready to think about the fate of his mother Georgina or his brother Hollin. Lastly, as he came to bridge of the hill, he saw the twinkling stars that made up the Wings of the Wyvern. As a young boy, his father had let him sit in his lap and would tell him many a story about the creature on their crest.

But his father was dead now, and seeing the lights that outlined the shape of monstrous wings in the sky made him think of something else entirely.

“Can you hurry up?” Asterin snorted as she came to meet him at the top of the hill. She was in just as filthy a state as he was, and he was glad he wasn’t the only one covered in dirt and Gods know what else. Asterin, however, had not been given the task to collect foods and test out magic while she did so, so she was still far livelier than he was.

“I’ll take your advice under consideration.”

Asterin rolled her eyes and held out her hands to one of the menschen sacks he was holding. “It would be best for you to put your charm to use, she’s awfully testy at the moment. The scratch on Abraxos’ hide has yet to heal.”

Dorian furrowed his eyebrows in concern, not for Abraxos who he knew would be perfectly fine, but for the Queen who would run herself into the ground without a second thought if it meant protecting the ones she loves.

Dorian didn’t reply, just continued his hike to the Thirteen’s camp.

All the women were there, snuggled in close to their Wyverns to keep warm. They had risked a small fire, the stormy grey clouds and searing winds covering any hint of smoke, but it was still freezing. Dorian’s bones were aching from every effort to move, even if the full force of the storm upon them hadn’t hit him yet. He wished he knew how to control his magic so he might warm them all up, but he wasn’t Aelin or her fae prince.

Anyone could spot Manon. Her white hair was loose and she was pacing back and forth furiously. She was muttering to Abraxos as his eyes lazily followed her every step, occasionally huffing or whining. It was rather comical to watch, but from the sneer on her face Dorian predicted that if he pointed it out he might lose his eyes.

“Witchling,” he called gently instead.

“Where have you been?” She snapped. The tone she used cut through any warmth his body had mustered from his walk, slicing him open and letting the bitter cold have its way with him.

“I was looking for food and practising my magic, just as you suggested.” His voice was placating, like he was talking to a wild hound. He even spread his hands out in a gesture of peace.

“That was eight hours ago.”

“Why does it matter, Witchling?”

“Because how are we supposed to kill an ageless king and his evil spawn if you can’t stay put for a day, Princeling?” She battered her eyelashes at him but her smile was nothing short of savage. If Dorian didn’t know better, he’d say Manon had been worried about him.

They hadn’t had sex since that night on the boat, and excluding a few grazing touches and distracting flirtation, no situation had come even remotely close. It might have, if they hadn’t been surrounded by witches and wyverns. Dorian could not deny his body’s reaction at the thought of her scarred skin under his hands and tongue, but for the first time in his life, a woman could not seem to be less interested in him.

He looked away and didn’t say anything, instead dumping his findings for the day near the flickering fire. He sat down took off his shoes and socks, wiggling his toes over the flames to dry the mud and warm his feet. The Thirteen, who had been curiously watching his interactions with Manon, went back to doing their own thing: talking, reading, planning, scheming.

He let his mind wander back to the constellations, and before long a body gracefully sat next to his. He didn’t turn to look. The witches around him started wondering to their bedrolls, all tucked under the mighty wings of their wyverns, and quickly feel asleep. Not knowing know the next moment you’ll get rest makes it easy to fall on command.

“I was worried when you didn’t come back.” Manon whispered.

“Why?”

“Because you’re mortal and fragile.”

Dorian snorted and turned further away from her. “Good to hear.”

Dorian decided to lay down then and there. He was exhausted from the day’s events, and to keep warm he couldn’t stray from the fire. He had settled in a semi-comfortable position, ready for the day to be officially over. Tomorrow was the day they flew to Crochan land, a last resort to find allies. And when he said they, he wasn’t including himself. He had done as much as he could and now it was time to reunite with this brother Chaol, down safe in the south.

He needed his best friend more than ever right now. Dorian had never felt so conflicted in his life. He knew he should not feel for Manon the way he should, it had always been about a release for them, but he couldn’t help the way his breath hitched when her eyes glittered as the sun rose, or the goose-bumps that lined his flesh whenever he heard her raspy voice. More than anything, his chest ached with guilt. When he looked at Manon, he forgot about everything else: Adarlan, the war, Sorscha…

How could Dorian fall so quickly in love, again?

Dorian knew Manon was still next to him, could hear her breathing, could sense her intoxicating body. When she laid a hand on his arm, a zip of energy raced to his heart and spread to the rest of his body, making him shudder. This had happened before. What hadn’t happened was her standing up and stepping over his body, just so she could curl in front of him. She put one hand on his face, and closed her eyes.

“You aren’t fragile.” She said through gritted teeth. “You are brave, and strong, and the king this cursed continent needs. I just can’t bear the thought of you being anywhere but by my side.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this before we all decided it would be best I leave?” He risked a hand to her waist, and at his touch she moved closer to him so their bodies were pressed together.

“Because you are kind, and I detest the thought that my brutality will mar that. I am not ashamed of who I am, but it scares me that one day you could be.” It was the most candid and sincere she had ever been, and it made his eyes sting.

“That will never happen, but either way I have to leave tomorrow.” He told her. It was the truth, his time with this coven was over.

“Even if I asked you to stay?” She tangled her legs with his.

“We’ll reunite again, someday.” Dorian knew not when that would be, whether in this life or another, but the queen in front of him would not easily escape his grasp.

Manon opened her mouth to say something else, but was interrupted by an earth-shaking boom as Abraxos planted himself next to them, the gust from the wyvern’s movement blowing out the fleeting fire. He wrapped his wings around the king and queen, and wiggled until comfortable. Dorian didn’t know from childhood stories that wyverns snored, but oh how Abraxos certainly did.

“Good night, Witchling.”

Manon leaned forward and pressed a hesitant kiss to his lips. “Good night, Princeling.”

#throne of glass #manorian

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propshophannah · 7 years

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7 part Anon ask on Manorian

[1/7] “I feel like we can’t judge Manorian’s relationship based on EoS. Like they are both so broken right now, their sex scene was about their body’s needing a release, but we know that they do have hidden feelings for one another. TOG6 is where we are going to”

[2/7] “Them interacting with each other. We will get the deep stuff then. And then people can choose if they still are anti-Manorian. I love them together, and I love that we are seeing a character who is showing her vulnerability in a realistic way. She slept with a man she is just”

I respectfully disagree. Dorian was 100% depressed in the beginning of EoS. And Manon certainly had her moment to be depressed when she was on the ship, but she snapped out of it.

EoS, chapter 44. Kindle page 423. “Manon Blackbeak awoke. … She blinked as she sat up, her wound now a dull ache–and found her head clear of whatever that haze has been.”

Maas doesn’t waste words. The first thing she told us, after we left Manon in Ch. 43 sleeping, is that Manon awoke. Then we get this nice image of her sitting up (meaning she’s becoming aware), the ache in her belly is “dull” (meaning her emotional pain has subsided), and her head clear “that haze” (her depression/self-loathing).

Manon is not depressed any more. She is not human enough, and I’d argue too Crochan, to be able to be continually depressed. Those emotions don’t last in predators like her because the survival instinct kicks in and overrides it.

Moving on.

Their sex scene was 100% NOT about a either of their body’s need for release. Subtext and actions are important to understanding Maas’s writing and character development. I’ve posted so much on this, so I’ll be brief:

Dorian spent the whole book unable to stay away from Manon and unable to stop thinking about her. Manon did the same thing. The attraction between them is described the same way as Aelin and Rowan’s mating bond.

Their feelings aren’t hidden, they just haven’t expressed “love” out loud. They show it.

They show it when Dorian and his magic can’t control themselves when people threaten Manon.

They show it when the air between them goes taut.

They show it when Dorian kills the bloodhound because he knows the Bloodhound is lying and he sees how it’s affecting Manon. Manon who has just come out of her depression a few days before. He allows his mask of control to slip and Manon sees that his “sapphire eyes are utterly merciless” (EoS kindle pg. 441).

They sense when the other is looking at them, and what the other is thinking. Mate bond, yo.

Dorian shows it when he gets Manon released from the chains.

Dorian shows it when he tells Manon, “I wouldn’t harm you,” with his magic hands (EoS kindle pg. 455). Which is 100% him picking up on all the clues of her sexual assault, btw.

Dorian shows it when he confesses to her in that same scene that he has no interest in human women. “…the words struck some deep, aching wound in him” (EoS kindle pg. 456).

Later in the marshes he tells Manon about Sorscha, and Manon validates his feelings and he feels relieved (EoS kindle pg. 509).

Manon understands and vow to kill Dorian before he can be taken to Erawan. (EoS kindle pg. 519)

In the marshes, Manon recognizes how tense Dorian is and asks him what’s up when no one else does or cares (EoS pg 549)

THE LIST GOES ON BUT I’LL STOP NOW.

So what did we learn? Feelings between Manorian = NOT hidden.

Now on to that sex scene.

There is a shit ton of stuff going on in this scene. But I’m gonna hit a few things that are important. They’re mates. Okay. All the evidence that was suggested for Rowaelin being mates, is there for Manon and Dorian. Sure, I’ll listen to an argument that it’s a witch version of a mating bond, that’s fair. Because it’s not canon so anything is possible. But because they’re mates they can’t stay away from one another and their bodies are satisfied with just having sex one time.

I 100% think that Dorian went into her room telling himself that his attraction to Manon is just physical. I think he HONESTLY thought that could have sex and get her out of his system–but that did NOT happen.

And when it didn’t, Dorian knew that the things he’s been secretly thinking about the whole book, are true. Because all EoS, Dorian was in his head putting together the pieces of the puzzle and I think he knows that Manon is his mate, or that fate/the gods want them to be together. Because he realized during the sex, that he could have NEVER felt for Sorcha the way he feels for Manon.

Dorian is described as “trembling with restraint” (EoS kindle pg. 574). Three reasons: he is holding himself back from jumping her bones, he’s already picked up on her sexual assault and doesn’t want to move to fast–he’s being considerate, AND he likely knows that most men are rough with her/take too much/try to take too much–AND GODS-DAMNIT DORIAN HAVILLIARD WANTS TO TAKE HIS TIME AND SHOW HER WHAT A REAL LOVER CAN MAKE HER FEEL.

And DORIAN is the kind of guy who is smart enough to pick up on how Manon has a need to always be in control. She can’t be vulnerable. So what does he do? He eases her tensions and he allows her to be in control.

And then he picks up on that “tight part in her chest,” and he eases it by telling her that he knows the Bloodhound was lying and that Asterin might not be dead. AND IT WORKS. He makes her comfortable that way.

Then when she lets him take her shirt off and look at her bare from the waist up, she notes that his gaze turns icy when he sees her scar. And what does he do? He confesses that he would cross the line from killing to protect to killing for pleasure if he ever met the Matron.

I DON’T THINK I NEED TO TELL YOU HOW HUGE THAT IS FOR MANON. FOR SOMEONE WHO IS NOT HONOR OR DUTY BOUND TO HER, TO MAKE A VOW TO PROTECT HER BY CROSSING A MORAL LINE THEY HOLD. NOR SHOULD I HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHY SOMEONE LIKE DORIAN, VOWING TO DEFEND HER AGAINST HER ABUSER IS A BIG FUCKING MOMENT. It honestly breaks my heart, this scene. Because Dorian ALSO could not save Sorscha. So him vowing to protect Manon in this way is HUGE. HUUUUGGGGEEE. That there is enough left of him to be able to say that he would again risk failure to try and protect another woman he loves. He really reeeaaaally put himself out there in a vulnerable spot when he said that. And Manon rewards him, by allowing herself to be equally vulnerable with him.

Then they smooch–and let me tell you, MANON THINKS DORIAN TASTES LIKE HOME AKA THE WASTES AKA THE WITCH KINGDOM SHE’D NEVER BEEN TO. Same way Rowan smells and tastes like home to Aelin.

THEN: Dorian confesses that he wanted her from the moment they met (*cough* mates *cough*), and Manon says, “Yes” and her hands are trembling.

SIDE NOTE: At some point in this ask you claim that Manon is just starting to like Dorian. Nope. This attraction started the moment they met. Manon has a thing for chained things and a special (Crochan) ability to see the person within/someone’s essence. She liked Dorian from the moment they met. She couldn’t stop thinking about him, AND she asked Asterin what it meant to love shortly after. NOT to mention she went back to the king after the Temis temple scene (where she watched Aelin and Rowan–when aelin first knew they were mates–fuss over hurt Rowan. Manon should/could have been assessing her own injuries, but she didn’t. She chose to watch their shows of love.) and she asked AGAIN for the king to send Dorian to her in Morath. Then we get that scene with Asterin and her witchling. And a few scenes where Manon starts describing blue things as “sapphire” and moments where she CAN’T LOOK AT ASTRERIN because they’re talking about Adarlan and she knows that if she looks at Asterin, her second is gonna give her a look that says, “I know this is about the prince you met in the forest. You can’t fool me bitch. I know you better than you know yourself.”

They the sex happens AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HER FUCKING LIFE, MANON CROCHAN IS ABLE TO JUST BE. To just exist. The selfishly enjoy a moment without worrying who or what she is or promised to be. All that exists is him and her and their bodies and she wants more. She wants to feel this way, like she belongs to someone in this way, that someone selfishly belongs to her in this selfish way. And when she says “Dorian gave it to her. To them both,” we know that he felt the exact same way. Because they’re forever doing the mindmeld thing. She is aware of what he is thinking and feeling, same as he is of her.

Not to mention, that is Manon’s Crochan gift–the ability to see inside someone and know who they are. To see their essence. I’d argue she did it very VERY obviously in the marshes, but she’s been doing it the whole series with “chained things.” And now that we know she is Rhiannon’s heir and that Rhiannon channeled Mala’s “essence” to forge the Lock, it should be HELLA obvious.

Then when it’s over, they’re both shaking “with… whatever he’d done to her,” (EoS kindle pg. 576).

And then Dorian says “that was supposed to take the edge off” and it DIDN’T (EoS kindle pg. 574). Meaning: Dorian’s like “well, shit. I have nothing to feel guilty about when I think of Sorscha, because I would have left her the moment I met Manon.” And be know this because two things happen:

On his way out the door, Dorian’s depression is gone/the Old Dorian is BACK IN ACTION because that’s when his mind starts to work how it used to and he is able to solve the riddle for the witch-mirror.

Dorian tells Manon they’re not done, which she knows. She just objects to the “order” in his voice.

[3/7] “Starting to care for, let her be. Her walls are finally coming down. Nobody bitches about Aelin when she dies things, but they always seem to do so with Manon. WHY MANON? Bc she is actually a really well written character who has her guard up. Who isn’t giving herself”

I’ve never bitched about Manon, but I sure as heck bitch about Aelin. LOL. Have you been to my blog?

[4/7] “Manon realizes that sex didn’t make her feel better emotionally, therefore in ToG6 she will actually begin to know Dorian. And not the smooth talking dorian, but the real vulnerable and hurt dorian! Bc even dorian has a mask. And that is the one he showed Manon in EoS.”

Please. Show me where Manon indicated that sex with Dorian didn’t make her feel better. Because last I checked, they were both able to pick up their royal mantles and agreeing that the thing between them (mating bond!) is not over.

[5/7] “manorian is actually being very beautifully set up. I mean… he didn’t forcefully bite her LIKE SOMEONE WE KNOW 🙄”

I agree. Manorian was the plan from Day One, and Maas has done a stellar job piecing them together. It annoys me when people don’t see it. But alas, sometimes I realize that people didn’t read the same book as me.

And LOL. People get salty about that Rowan bite, but I thought it was necessary to get Aelin to stop acting like she wasn’t a Fae Queen.

[6/7] “Not sure if you got the last bit of my Manorian rant but….I’m done now lol”

But are you?

[7/7] “Wait!!! One more thing… Which is actually my Favorite part of their whole sex scene!!!! the part were Dorian moves a strand of hair from Manon’s face!!!! that was such a sweet and loving gesture. Plus I didn’t take their sex scene as something that was hot and heavy, more like it started out hot and heavy and then when they actually came together it actually turned more sweet. Like sarah could of had them say dirty things to each other or make ridiculous noises but she didn’t, and I think that is because she wanted both of them to have a bit more of a connection. I’m sorry if I’m not making any sense. I’m typing this to fast lol. Also, the fact that we get so few details to how they actually had sex makes it open for interpretation. Like was it fast? Slow? who knows”

YAS! Him still unable to STOP touching her gives me LIFE!!! And when he put his hands on her waist to ride Abraxos at the end LIKE COME ON! WE ALL KNOW SHE MADE HIM LAUGH BY REFERENCING THIS SCENE AND HOW SHE SAID THE NEXT TIME HE TOUCHED HER IT WOULD BE HER DECISION.

And you’re 100% right. The sex was hot and heavy, but it was also … dare I say love making??? it was gods-damned beautiful! And the whole scene was WAY to short! I needed/wanted pages. And ALLLL the details!

#manorian #manorian mates #Anon #Manon crochan #Manon blackbeak #dorian havilliard #maas trash #manorian sex scene

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