#also Geralt's hilarious line

[corvuserpens]

Whatever happens next with Netflix’s The Witcher, whatever chaotic, wacky road they decide to take the show on next, you can’t deny that the scene in episode 3 in which Geralt’s fight with the Strigga is overlapped with Yennefer’s transformation, how the Strigga’s screams become Yennefer’s screams and vice-versa because they are both girls who have been wronged again and again throughout their lives, always seen as monsters rather than people, but this is the moment when they will finally be reborn as the women they were always supposed to be through a ritual of blood and pain, literally shedding the trauma that defined them since they were born, is fucking epic.

I love that sequence so much. Even the soundtrack playing mingles the tension filled, heart-pounding vibe of the fight with Yennefer’s lamenting theme in perfect balance. It’s a hard sequence to watch for being so graphic and gruesome, but the themes behind it make it so worth it. Can’t praise Anya Chalotra enough for her performance, either. Just... Wow.

#also Geralt's hilarious line #''Nothing; unless you can fight a Strigga until the FuCkInG rooster crows three times!'' #man I'm gonna miss Henry Cavill as Geralt #I had my doubts at the beginning but he swept me off my feet with how he chose to portray him #the witcher #a Crow's rants

[asexualbookbird]

Oh what a month for reading! Some really bad books, but also some candidates for favorites of the year! Had book club! That was fun as always! I also started TWO new fiber craft projects which I'm excited about. The Cabled crochet blanket is SO much fun and I'm really getting into the groove of it. I've learnt how to read crochet charts! Partially anyway. For this one project. It's clear I am still recovering covid because I can't do much else than sitting in bed reading lol But hey, I'm resting and having fun!

Envy of Angels by Matt Wallace ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - What a delightfully hilarious nugget of a book! Absolutely wacky! Definitely interested in the rest of the series, but it's also more of a Read When In Brain Fog so I want to save it for my bad brain days lol

Shadow of the Crown by Amber Morane ⭐ - Unpolished. Poorly written. The ending sucked. No redeeming qualities and I do not want to read more from this series or author. At least it was free.

Starter Villain by John Scalzi ⭐⭐⭐ - Another fun and silly book! Scalzi definitely has a way of writing that defines a Scalzi Book™️. Don't think too much about it, just enjoy the ride. Loved the cats, I think more authors should put genius cats into their books.

Firebreak by Nicole Kornher-Stace ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - CRYING. SOBBING. SCREAMING. Finally read this and I am in PAIN! Very good, very feelings, this is what Ready Player One could've been.

Flight & Anchor by Nicole Kornher-Stace ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - The Prequel to Firebreak, glad I read this second so that lines could hurt me more because I know how their stories end. I'm not sure what, but this one was missing something for me that made me enjoy it a little less than Firebreak, but I still enjoyed it a lot! A great duo!

His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Reread for book club! Still enjoyed it a lot! Still adore Temeraire and Laurence! The amount of times they call each other "my dear" so early melts my heart. I'd probably like this even more if I actually enjoyed historical fiction and the Napoleon wars.

Godkiller by Hannah Kaner ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - hey. Hi. Hello. What if Geralt was canonically a woman and the demon chicken from Nettle & Bone had a Voice. What. If. This book is a part of me now thanks bye!

Again, no clear goals for March. I"m honestly having a good time just reading with whatever I vibe with. I didn't get to the Ga'Hoole books in February, so I'll put those at the top of my potential list for March, but other than that? Who knows! I definitely immediately put myself on the libby waitlist for Sunbringer I need to know how Kissen, Elo, and Ina get on. I need to know they're all okay. Please let them be okay ;-;

If you have any recommendations for books like Godkiller I am ALL EARS! Might replay Witcher III about it in the meantime.

#bookbird babbles #books #booklr #reading wrap up #monthly wrap up #february wrap up

[fangirleaconmigo]

Ok so. Yennefer of Vengerberg in the books.

This is the moment where I understood that there was more to her than self interest. Just this liiiiitle detail, this one little line that made me go…ok…I see you Yen.

It’s in The Last Wish. We’ve just met her. She has Geralt under a spell, and he’s kicking people’s asses for her. (That part is the selfish part, obv, you can’t just take people’s bodily autonomy) But listen to the speech she makes him give: (Chireadan is relating this to Geralt, because Geralt doesn’t remember.)

"And you made something of a speech to the crowd."

"What sort of a speech?"

"To put it simply, you stated that a self-respecting man shouldn't ever call a professional harlot a whore because it's base and repugnant, while using the word whore to describe a woman one has never knocked off or paid any money for doing so, is childish and punishable. The punishment, you announced, would be dealt there and then, and it would be fitting for a spoilt child. You thrust the apothacary's head between his knees, pulled down his pants, and thrashed his arse with a belt."

So. Firstly, notice she does NOT have Geralt say “how dare you call me a whore”, she says “you should never use the word whore to describe a woman who does not exchange money for sex” , so she's teaching them a broader lesson about respecting women.

But BEFORE SHE DOES THAT she says that you must not call “professional harlots” whores either. She is like USE THE PREFERRED FUCKIN TERM FOR PROFESSIONAL HARLOTS YOU ARE REPUGNANT WHEN YOU CALL THEM WHORES (presumably in this universe, harlot is the respectful term).

She takes that opportunity to enforce a bit of manners towards sex workers first and foremost. Just slips in a bit of solidarity there. She is not aligning herself with the powerful political men and just insisting they give her respect as one of the respectable. She is like fuck you, treat all of us better.

It's just one line but it told me that there was more to learn about Ms Yennefer.

There are actually several caring things she does in that story that didn't make it into the show, (like instruct Dandelion to use his third wish to rescue Geralt from punishment for what she made him do) and I should do a whole post about that.

(also, when I say that her enchanting Geralt's body was wrong, I say it in respect to Geralt, not the politicians and priests and business men she was getting revenge on. They deserved it, let's be clear, and a spanking in the street was hilarious.)

#the witcher #the witcher books #the last wish #yennefer of vengerberg

[stillness138]

for the character ask game: Vernon Roche

i gotta think about this! thank you

first impression: i actually remember this pretty well because witcher 2 was my first exposure to the franchise. i think i felt pretty much what i was supposed to feel though; "this guy imprisoned me but seems more sensible than the goons he employs". i liked his matter-of-fact but clearly proud and protective attitude towards Ves and his putting the key on the table and walking away like 'surely Geralt will manage'.

impression now: i still like him! surprisingly, cdpr writes original characters with really commendable nuance. of course, if Iorveth is to be believed word for word, Roche is responsible for carrying out hate crimes (he doesn't deny the accusations Iorveth makes, so i think that's just fact), and yet he shows time and time again that he really is more sensible than most. compare him to Rayla - also a special forces leader - and see the difference. Roche lacks the outright bloodthirst or really even the prejudice; it seems to me that he does his job and obeys Foltest without objection because he sees it as doing something worthwhile with his life, considering how he grew up. he and Iorveth contrast and parallel each other in fascinating ways.

favorite thing about him: his relationship towards Ves, because he clearly values her as an employee and as a person. his relative level-headedness. and the unpacked daddy issues that are most definitely there even if he won't talk about it. that part of him is sadly the most relatable to me. i also enjoy his humor, whether intentional or not. "emhyr var emreis, spice merchant" bursting into the elven baths while Triss is trying her hardest to seduce Geralt, fucking comedy gold.

least favorite thing about him: apart from the hate crimes? i think most of my issues that relate to him are metatextual - because the entire political landscape and plotline of witcher 3 sucks ass. maybe he could've held back the cops that beat Geralt though ngl.

favorite line/scene: "And we did. For three days. Then they smashed us into splinters." again, as much as i dislike the politics in witcher 3, this bit stands out to me. maybe also because it's punctuated by a reprise of the second game's main theme, in 3's instrumentation and a much more somber mood. good scene. that and the funny bits. "Some professional you are..."

favorite interaction he has with another character: it should be mainly credited to Letho's absolutely hilarious one-liner, but their little reunion at Kaer Morhen always gets a chuckle out of me. the entire interrogation at the beginning of witcher 2 is up there too.

a character that i wish he would interact with more: in the second game, elves in general. he mostly proves he's not completely shit-headed in context, but it would've been interesting to see him have a conversation with someone like Cedric. third game should've had Iorveth, we all know that.

another character from another fandom that reminds me of him: i know 5 things, but if i had to make a comparison... general Tullius from Skyrim? both are very capable and dedicated servants of a government despite its obvious failures and both show a noticeable sensibility or even calm you perhaps wouldn't expect. both have a badass lady as their right-hand person, too.

a headcanon about him: he hates the smell of cheap alcohol. childhood reminder. i also think he has a notable appreciation for architecture. can't remember if he actually comments on Loc Muinne in any way but somehow it feels like a thing he'd do. and i think it's pretty much canon that his hair color is towards light brown? or have i been living with fanon for far too long. either way, yeah, dirty blonde or warm light brown, super short on the sides.

a song that reminds of him: Shadowplay by Joy Division, in a way. first verse about beginning to serve Foltest, second verse about Foltest's and Temeria's fall. "but i could only stare in disbelief as the crowds all left" versus "and we did, for three days, then they smashed us into splinters".

an unpopular opinion about him: i famously dislike shipping him with Iorveth and i'm actually yet to see a good Roche ship. but the real hot take is that he doesn't need one. did i just say aroace Vernon Roche? maybe.

favorite picture: i'm sorry, but it's gotta be this one. on a more serious note, i always liked this piece of fanart a lot too. he gets to be cool.

#thanks again! #ask game #shut up elis #the witcher

[kuwdora]

Istredd recs

Here are some Witcher recs of Istredd with Geralt and a few stories with Yen 'cause I love Istredd a whole lot!

Geralt/Istredd

Alright, let me tell you about @brighteyedjill 's series Collaborative Scholarship, because this is 100000% my jam.

Research Methods (5,302w. Explicit) features Istredd enlisting Geralt to retrieve some arachas eggs. Of course Istredd discovers Geralt’s unorthodox method of collecting the eggs via oviposition. What you need to know about this fic is that Geralt and Istredd are complete and utter NERDS. And adorable. The story is also incredibly sweet and endearing and god, the banter is so good.

Advanced Study (5,589w. Explicit) is where Istredd gets fisted by Geralt and it’s so fucking cute and dorky and nerdy and hot. The Istredd POV is just absolutely exquisite the entire way through. Denial, cute horny thirst, nerdy. Geralt is dry and funny, but also nerdy and sweet. This fic really does have everything for these two.

The Scholar in the Ruins by @bittylildragon. (9,944w. Explicit). Istredd enlists Geralt’s help with some wraiths at some elven ruins. THIS IS SO SOFT. Like!!! Geralt has such low self-esteem but he ends up having such a good fucking time with Istredd. They're so soft. I adore the way Geralt tries to understand Istredd’s motivations about the elves and how Istredd manages to surprise and disarm Geralt with his sincerity and charm. This fic is a joy to read. (Also it is incredibly hot!!)

The Giant Bumblebee (1661w. Teen) by C_hawk. Istredd saves Geralt from bleeding out and Geralt returns the favor by helping Istredd look for a monster of interest. This is a cute, banter-y fic that sends me in a happy tizzy because their dynamic is hilarious and lovely. I'm smitten with how Istredd doesn't really know what to do with Geralt.

The Thing You Loved (1057w. Teen) by @brighteyedjill. Istredd gets kidnapped! ISTREDD WHUMP. ISTREDD WHUUUUUUMP and Geralt. I adore thiiis fic, I ADORE THIS. This is more Istredd whump than just slash but it just sets off happy firecrackers in my brain because their dynamic!! Is so good!!

points of the same star (468w. Mature) by and_a_dash_of_Angst. This is a great smutty ficlet with some bondage and d/s vibes. The twist at the end is AMAZING!!

If You Go on Like This (4582w. Teen) by @brighteyedjill. Geralt rescues Istredd and they learn a little about each other along the way. I. ADORE. THIS. God… I could just eat up this pairing all day long forever. Jill manages to build up their dynamic so subtly, slowly, delightfully and I am in LOVE. This is more of a Geralt & Istredd situation instead of the slash but ooooh, so delicious.

as flies do by flirtygaybrit (7020w. Teen). Geralt shows up to the conclave of mages on Thanedd and finds an potential ally in Istredd. The ongoing metaphor in this is superb, and Geralt’s humor is just absolutely spectacularly hilarious and dry and witty. ALSO. Omg! Istredd’s first line in this fic: “I can’t say I’d be any richer for being accused of ogling a witcher’s backside.” It only gets better from there. Their dynamic!! is top fucking incredible! If you love delicious imagery and prose, please check out this fic. It’s mindblowingly good.

Yennefer/Istredd

One Last Thing, Before I Go (3283w. Mature) by @arse-blathanna. Alright, so this is a sad Istredd and Yen get back together and breakup again, so it’s painful and ache-y in the most exquisite way. I love this Yen POV and it’s so difficult to let go of that first love. They don’t really fit together in the same way anymore, but they’re trying...even though it’s not enough. So if you’re in the mood for some angst, this is a fic you want punching you in the heart. 😭❤️

A Little Chaos (1223w. Mature) by @brighteyedjill. Istredd and Yennefer. Whumpily sweet sex pollen that is so lovely and emotionally satisfying.

Come Back For You (2:52) by me, @kuwdoravids. This is my Yen/Istredd, Istredd/Geralt, Istredd/History fanvid. Didn't I, didn't I, didn't I say I would be the one to make you feel this way. The love and pain of caring for another person (and about history!). Moving through the shit to be there because that's just what you have to do. Even though people aren't really listening to you. Come for Istredd's gorgeous face, stay for the vibes and feelings!

#istredd #geralt x istredd #istredd x yennefer #the witcher #the witcher netflix #twn #geralt #geralt of rivia #yennefer #yennefer of venegerberg #witcher recs #my witcher vids

[raccoon-eyed-rebel]

⚡️🌊🌈

(And you just know I want to ask 💦 🤣🤣🤣)

⚡️Lightning - Have you ever spontaneously added something to your story that you wouldn't have added normally? If so, what made you do it?

Hm.... "Spontaneously"? Not that I can recall. But I added Sy to Under Orders and it was all YOUR. FAULT.

🌊 Tsunami - When and where do you like to write?

Pretty much whenever the mood strikes me, wherever I am, but MAN do I prefer "at my own computer back home, with my own keyboard"....

🌈 Rainbow - What do you think makes your story unique / stand out?

The level of realism I don't typically see in fanfic. I crave it, so I love that I do that. And people seem to think I'm hilarious and laughing while reading smut was a new experience for some of them.

And honestly I think I have some kickass ideas. (ex; the Fantasy AU. Not gonna be modest about it; I fucking love my weird little creatures!)

💦 Flood - How many WIPs do you have?

Let's see...

Under Orders (not just 5, but 6 and 7 as well, just saying...) = 3

Natural

179CS

FixU

Coffee + Cats (the next one, and also the one after, and the next 2 after that) = 4

Mermaid!ofc x sailor!Marshall (currently blandly titled 'part of your world)

The Edge of Paradise (I might want to finish that at some point, FFS)

Shot through the heart (working title. Photographer!Mike)

White Blossoms (still haven't finished that pesky wedding...)

A kinky little number involving ropes, D/s and our very own Napoleon Solo (Modern AU)

Diary of a pretty boy (affectionately dubbed 'the hooker fic'. Darkfic)

Father Walker (priest!August. Also darkfic)

A first times headcanon

A little addition to the fantasy AU where Satyr!Charles gets absolutely nowhere with whatever nymph he ventures near, because FUNNY

Don't think I'm yours (modern!sugar daddy! Charles)

Daddy!August drabble where he has you write lines for very poor behaviour..... (Read; a brat-ass attitude he refuses to attempt to smack out of you anymore) 👀👀

The pirate fic (pirate Mike, Melot and Stephen, August snuck in there, a few others, perhaps)

So... Anything you'd be particularly interested in?

(that's 17 WIPs, where no1 counts for 3 and not counts for 4, so add 5, makes a total of 21...)

@geralts-yenn @ellethespaceunicorn @mayloma @martha-oi @ylva-syverson Anyone in favor of me finishing something special? 😂😂

#ask game #writers ask game #writers asks #ask me stuff #raccoon answers

[karen-kurobara]

The Last Wish - Some moments that I want to highlight.

Well, I have officially finished the first book in the witcher saga and I have every intention of talking about some moments I loved and that are lost in the netflix adaptation.

First, about the cute moments between Geralt and Jaskier (sorry, my love for the relationship, whatever it is, between these two morons is too great).

I love the first mention of Jaskier in the books, ever since I started them I've been waiting for this moment and I wasn't disappointed. In "The voice of reason, part 5", Nenneke (a priestess of Melitele's temple) makes her dislike for Jaskier clear, but Geralt is happy to see him, does not hesitate to call him his friend and even recognizes him as a famous poet. Read the full text, this exchange is gold.

Nenneke highlights Jaskier as "your famous poet" claiming that Jaskier belongs to Geralt hahaha.

And the icing on the cake, Geralt acknowledges that Jaskier and he are completely different from each other but "opposites attract".

A nice moment that warms my heart for some reason is when Jaskier says that he would become a Gardener. In this same part, Jaskier talks to Geralt about his work as a witch and subtly asks him what he would do if there were no monsters.

Also, in the chapter "The Last Wish", the same one that names the book, it begins with Jaskier and Geralt fishing. The scene is too long to put too many screenshots of the book, but Jaskier and Geralt seem to really have fun fishing to get breakfast, Geralt being grumpy and Jaskier making the scene much more dramatic and fun.

At that point I really couldn't help but think how genuine and hilarious their friendship is. Here it is Jaskier who pulls the djinn out of the river, and even when Jaskier is hurt by the djinn, it is a simple situational mistake and is not directly caused by Geralt's anger.

Once Jaskier suffers the wounds caused by the djinn and Geralt takes him to the nearest town in search of a sorceress, meeting Yen for the first time, I want to highlight several things about this encounter and my opinion about the Yen from the books.

But first…!! To put them in context, Yen has put Jaskier to sleep to be able to heal him (just like in the series), Geralt constantly, repeatedly, I could easily count more than 5, Geralt asks how his friend is and if he has already been healed .

Here Jaskier's life is not directly in danger, Chireadan even says that Jaskier will be able to speak, but not to sing.

Other than that, the rest goes pretty much the same as in the Netflix adaptation, but I want to mention a hilarious moment where Yen puts Jaskier to sleep in a nice dream and he starts dreaming about his beloved Virginia, literally moaning in his sleep, and Geralt is there to listen.

To finish, I just want to say that here the friendship between Geralt and Jaskier is much more expressive, genuine and they really seem like just two idiots having fun all the time (yes, Geralt is one of those idiots).

But it's just that, their friendship is more genuine in the books and I love that, but in the netflix adaptation I can't help but love Joey Batey's Jaskier even more (he's the perfect Jaskier). On the small screen, Jaskier seems, at least in the first season, a little puppy in love, a cinnamon roll and the sun in Geralt's life. I love the books because I see more of their friendship, but that's it (I wish with all my being that they give me more reasons to ship them). Even so Jaskier is still a sun in Geralt's life in the books.

Finally, I want to talk about two important plot points

First Yen, In her first meeting with Geralt, she doesn't seem to be that arrogant and even her outbursts against the town councilors seem justified (when she forces Geralt to beat them up and the witcher ends up in jail for it). Geralt also expresses a pure love for her. Damn, when I was reading the last few lines I genuinely thought of their relationship as "cute", instead of carnal arrogance, eroticism and sex like in the netflix adaptation.

Just finished the first book, I still hope to read a lot more about Yen, but at least in the first book, Yen doesn't seem as arrogant and I don't dislike her as much as the Yen from the first season of Netflix (in the second season I have to admit that I loved her). Yen seems more like an inexperienced witch than someone who flaunts her abilities by causing orgies.

Second, Ciri. To make it short, Jaskier is not the one who takes Geralt to the palace, Pavetta is a simple princess who never utters a word (seriously, not a single dialogue) and it is Geralt who directly and with all intention claims the law of surprise. He knows that Pavetta is pregnant and Geralt says that there are no more witches being produced, that only those children born under destiny can become a witcher, so he claims Pavetta's son, with all the intention of turning him into a witcher just like him. Calanthe is a little reluctant but in the end she accepts and Geralt leaves with the promise of returning one day for that child. I have to be honest and say that this surprised me a lot, because it doesn't match the character I had for Geralt.

But what more can I say, in general, these have been my thoughts on "The Last Wish"

#the witcher #geralt #geralt of rivia #jaskier #dandelion #geraskier #the witcher books #henry cavill #joey batey #ciri #calanthe of cintra #witcher yennefer #yennefer #pavetta

[akilah12902]

Charakter opinion bingo: Foltest :]

[cackles wildly]

Thank you for the excuse 😆

Anybody who’s taken a gander at my AO3 has watched me fall headlong into really actually liking Foltest... mostly via that ‘study like a cockroach’ and ‘constantly rotating like a fork in a microwave’ thing. I started Major Design Flaw out because I wanted to write Roche’s corruption arc by this guy and... instead... well, not instead, because it’s definitely still a corruption arc, but Foltest is a startlingly reasonable and charismatic human being by Witcher terms. Is he a good person? HELL NO. But he dresses up as a guard to sneak out to talk to Geralt in private, lets Geralt go to possibly kill his daughter because he knows that she’s suffering and Geralt is the best chance he has to cure her and end this (The Last Wish), he’s possibly the only non-Geralt person in the series who does not want to marry/impregnate Ciri (and he throws a honestly hilarious tantrum over the other rulers suggesting that he might and telling him he’s definitely hot enough to get that) (The Blood of Elves), he’s excited to get to play dice poker with Geralt (Witcher 1), he doesn’t follow through on any of the threats he makes to Geralt even if Geralt kills his daughter (Witcher 1), he remembers a random arbaelist that he fought in one battle with four years ago and decides to promote him on the spot (Witcher 2), he’s always just slightly to the left of proper metaphors (Witcher 2), and I am firmly of the opinion that his relationship with his sister was a consensual one.

That’s barely even scratching the surface of my headcanons, too, because in the absence of any evidence of other incestuous relationships, there’s gotta be some reason that he and Adda wound up like that, and there’s that line about the King of Temeria being extremely fond of the dryads (Eternal Flame, Sword of Destiny) and how Sancia, his mother, is suspected as the other possible originator of the striga curse...

Plus, there’s something so very compelling about a guy who will do anything for someone he cares about except let them go.

I like the way that Netflix restructured Betrayer Moon/the striga curse but I do not like the way they restructured Foltest, they did my man dirty in more than just looks! And while I know there are some absolutely spectacular Foltest writers out there there’s a whoooole lotta people who don’t... really look at a bunch of his character and end up making me go aaaugh!

IN SHORT I LOVE HIM AND I WANT TO TWIST HIM AROUND LIKE A CORKSCREW INTO BEING A BETTER PERSON WHILE STILL ALSO KEEPING HIM ASTOUNDINGLY FUCKED UP, THANKS

#Foltest #Witcher 2 #Witcher #The Witcher #asks answered #character bingo

[awritingcaitlin]

10 First Lines

@elbritch-kit tagged me for this a month ago! 👋🏻 Sorrynotsorry I'm late!

Anyway, I've done a couple of these before, but this one's rules is very specifically:

rules: share the first lines of the last ten things you’ve written

So, uh, this should be interesting because fun fact about me, I rewrite the same stuff over and over again.

🔥TBW: Mama Cass normally prided herself on her composure.

🥃LGO: In all honesty, Rinnie was too drunk to remember who hit the bed first.

👩‍🦰RA: “Where are we?” Taryn asked.

🎻ROTG: A Temple of Adelus wasn’t her favorite place for a gig, but considering Em was avoiding Seamus Finn establishments, she’d take what she could get.

💥SB: The wind on Berthingtonn’s eastern docks always seemed to blow far more strongly than it did on the west side.

♟TGG: “Eileen,” Aravae said, trying to put enough warning into her tone that Eileen would get the message, but not so much warning that Finley would pick up on it.

💨WH: “Wind’s howling,” Teagan mutters in her best Geralt impression.

❄CTQ: Two women walked along the busy evening streets of Himmelmauer, their course pointed towards the castle.

🍲AEB: First there is chaos, and then there is cold.

💎TWS: Rinnie is on a beach, but it's not a beach she recognizes. The magic feels different. 

Okay, that actually wasn't too hard to track down all things considered. I feel like elaborating with more stats, so I'll do that under the cut.

But first, I'll tag: @sentfromwolves, @tananaphone, @legiomiam, @mjjune, and @muddshadow (no pressure, anyone!)

The Brewing War: aka Book 1, it's up at the top of the list (most recent) because it's been in steady revisions of it since April. That first line? Totally new.

Lights Go Out: is a character study of Rinnie, Aravae, and Ciara and I was writing it separately from TBW because that content does not actually belong on the pages of TBW, but it's up there because I wrote it in June.

Redheads Abound: is a AU fanfiction essentially combining my characters with characters from 3 others writeblrs on here. Wrote that back in April.

Relic of the Gods: aka ViolinHeist, happens in the same universe as TBW but is not a prequel. It got a few revisions in April, but after rewriting the first three chapters of Draft 3, I set it down to let other stuff percolate in the back of my head.

Siege of Berthingtonn: aka Book 2 got some edits back in March, though that first line is older.

The Great Game: aka Book 4 where I've done bits and pieces of that so that's the first line I've written but it's definitely not Chapter 1 or a prologue even. That was back in March.

Wind's Howling: is a flashfic I wrote back in February. Experimenting with present tense.

Cure for the Queen: aka Book 3. It got finished back in March of 2022. April-August was ROTG Draft 1, August-October was then SB Draft 8, November-February was ROTG again which explains the break and reemphasizes that I just write the same things over and over again.

Soup 2 Another Electric Boogaloo: was something I was working on back in October of 2021 (in between working on CTQ). It was fanfiction of fanfiction and I wrote it primarily while still working at GameStop because I could just write it on my phone.

Team W Shenanigans: was also something I was working on back in the Fall of 2021, same time as AEB. It was fanfiction that Rinnie was also involved in.

Hilariously, Rinnie never seems to get first lines unless it's a character study, or fanfiction. I should probably change that. But also, Rinnie's not really a candidate for the prologues of the main series of books so there's also that.

Okay I'm done rambling now. Have a cookie if you read this far 🍪

#tag games #10 first lines #my writing #the brewing war #redheads abound #relic of the gods #siege of berthingtonn #the great game #cure for the queen #mama cass #rinnie #taryn #em

[ainulindaelynn]

10 Characters / 10 Fandoms / 10 Tags

Tagged by @brasideios and @aeide (notifications robbed me of this until today )

Always enjoy doing these, so thanks!

I love that it took you so long last time 😂 I’m going to learn from that and try not to agonize over this too much, because that’s definitely my tendency also.

In no particular order:

1) Cole in DAI - Aside from the first game, I’m not big on this series, but COLE. Whoever wrote him just struck these bizarre cords with my ultra-empath side. He has this line about things hardening like a little ball in your chest or softening and fading into the fabric of who you are. Very strange appearance. Not a fan of that. But the writing for him…. very unorthodox and wonderful 🙌

2) Also Shane from SDV - I’ve got a lengthy playlist that I return to regularly. He’s a type I hardcore bond with in real life, which has gotten me in a few messy situations. Big web of feelings on this one. Someday I may write a bit for him. There’s plenty in my head.

3) Keeping with commonality, I’m going to cheat and do a trifecta that I probably couldn’t choose from even if I did have a week - Alexios, Brasidas & Kassandra 😜 Alexios is just … has a more gorgeous human ever existed, real or otherwise? I doubt it. Brasidas I’m completely fascinated by. And Kass is … Kass. Enough said.

4) Garrus Vakarian - I was halfway through the 3rd game (and waaaaay far down a different path) when this one just clocked me out of nowhere. I fucking love Garrus. That ME2 opening…. They did such a good job making you feel alone and adrift. And then when he came back as Archangel and he just TRUSTS you. I could’ve cried. Ride or die. Partners for life. It took me another whole game to realize it was more. Probably my most comical game realization to date. I was dumbstruck. Can’t read Fanfiction for him though. It’s a weird respect thing. And the alien bit. Bit much for me 😂

5) Lee Adama from BSG - It’s me. I’m him, but way less athletic 😂 My dog is named Apollo, partially after his callsign, partially as a shoutout to mythology (more academia in general, really), and an overt play on Apollo Creed, because when you have a boxer… 💛

6) Izogie from Woman King - Setting aside historical accuracy and looking at this purely as fiction, this movie blew me away. And not for the reasons it was advertised for. I’ve NEVER seen such gorgeous platonic intimacy in film. She’s the heart of that, and also the stiff edge that holds the line. You never see both of those things in the same character. She’s everything.

7) Revan from KotOR - the very first blorbo 🥹 I still pine over her all the time. Stone-carved headcanons here. I’ve even considered writing this entire game so my kid can read it one day because it’s such a derelict and it was so central to constructing my little nerd self. Lifer here.

8) Geralt of Rivia - returning to platonic intimacy, the found father/daughter dynamic he has with Ciri is awesome. I also love that his romantic relationships are de-centralized and very imperfect. He walks a hilarious line between sociopath (not at all) and cringe-worthy bleeding heart (seeping out 24/7) and I’ve laughed out loud so many times reading these books. He just seeps emotion, but in the grimmest way possible.

9) Temperance Brennan from Bones - dating myself, but another comfort show. I can’t even describe what I love about her. She’s just flawless 😂 Not sure there’s any fandom left (like half of these), but worth a mention anyway.

10) Fingolfin from The Silmarillion - I read this out loud with roommates years ago and we built god diagrams and studied pronunciations and picked through waaaay too much detail in our apartment late at night. Hands down one of my best memories. He wins this nostalgia, because of the secret city, the drama, his END. Exquisite.

I’ve left out a few key ones and dropped some very random ones in, but that’s what I’ve got for now. I’ve seen a lot of people tagged in this one, so I’m just going to put it out there to anyone interested ☺️

#tag games #it might not have taken a week #but it sure looks like it did 😂 #this week my brain decided sleep is for the weak #maybe I should be flattered #but mostly I’m just delirious 😂 #all my miscellaneous musings

[dreamwritesimagines]

Hi there!!

I stumbled on your Benedict fic a few days ago and read it in less than two days and now I'm sad I caught up lol.

I also just finished your Geralt fic and loved it too btw!!

I also wanted to say that "the archer" by Taylor Swift reminds me a lot of Clover, especially with the lines

"I cut off my nose just to spite my face"

"They see right through me,

Can you see right through me?"

And the whole bit of who could love her and who could stay resonates a lot with her and her feelings for Benedict, I think.

Also, I know you probably can't say much cause of spoilers but: will we ever meet Clovers parents? I'd love to see the drama unfold if Benedict and the other Bridgerton met them and they try something against Clover. I feel like Benny would be all like "I'm usually a lover but today I'm a fighter bitch 👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼" and I personally would be more than happy to cheer him on

Thank you so much for your wonderful stories💖💖💖 and all the hard work you put into them. I just wanted to let you know how appreciated it is💖

Hope you have a nice day btw

Hi honeeey, thank you so much! ❤️ This is so nice of you! ❤️🥰

Oooh I'm going to listen to it right now! 🥰

I do think we will meet Clover's parents, yes! ❤️ And we will also meet overprotective!Benedict around the same time as well😏❤️

I feel like Benny would be all like "I'm usually a lover but today I'm a fighter bitch 👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼" This is hilarious lollll😂❤️ I can totally see that! 😂

It means so much to me to hear this love, you're amazing! ❤️❤️ Have a wonderful day as well! ❤️

[bambirex]

Jaskier and Jesse Pinkman are kind of the same person: Part 3

The last part of my nonsense comparison post, I promise!

Spoilers for both shows, and tw for mention of drug and alcohol abuse!

Part 1 Part 2

They're often blamed for things going to shit: see the infamous mountain scene between Jaskier and Geralt where Geralt brutally sends Jaskier away, and quite many scenes of Walt going off on Jesse and calling him stupid over the smallest of things.

Both are pretty ADHD-coded, hyperactive, fidgety; a big chunk of their fandoms headcanon them as ADHD- havers. (couldn't find a pic to prove this one, you just have to trust my own ADHD brain)

The writers love to torture them both, physically and emotionally alike; they both go through some extreme, bloody and horrific situations, which they miraculously leave in one piece but the shitloads of trauma remains. Since the writers love to whump the shit out of them, the fandoms usually follow the same pattern. Let's just hope Jaskier's trauma will be addressed in the upcoming seasons, the way Jesse's was!

The substance abuse. Obviously very explicit in Jesse's case, as his drug addiction is a very prominent plot point.

With Jaskier, it's mostly theorizing and a bit more subtle (and I guess this can be a controversial take), but i couldn't help but notice (and I've seen other people point it out before), that he might have a problem with drinking, especially in season 2 where he appears to be drinking heavily to soothe his heartache, presumably - the scene where he's cuddling a literal wine botttle, anyone? The show probably won't adress it, but i wish it did.

They're both kind of smart and dumb at the same time ; Jaskier is master of the seven liberal arts and an academic, and is obviously very intelligent, but he does say and do the weirdest, dumbest things (trying to befriend a monster in the bushes, for example); Jesse is beloved for his often very simple way of thinking. But the boy has street smarts, and by the end, he cooks up some incredible plans to bring down Walt and save himself. Kind of related to this, both of them often get used as comic relief. Jaskier more so, obviously, often providing the light- hearted fun when things get very heavy (he also definitely uses his humor as a coping mechanism, right??), and Jesse, while not being a comic relief character at all, often says and does the funniest lines on the show, and the most hilarious scenes are usually tied to him.

Jaskier befriending the mice in the prison cell, and Jesse befriending bugs give me lots of feelings for some reason, and it's also just such a lovely little parallel.

Poor meow meow and cringefail vibes in all the best ways. No picture needed, I think y'all get the point. I wanna put them both in my pocket.

Lots of people headcanon them trans/queer in some way. I don't know what to do with this, but I love it and find it interesting enough to point out, so here.

Alright, that's it, this is what happens when I have the thought process of "wouldn't it be fucked up if I spent an hour making a useless list" 😂

#jaskier #jesse pinkman #the witcher #breaking bad #meta post #blorbo showdown #bambi says some bullshit

[ilikeitalyanormalamount]

My dad watched an episode of hetalia today. Which was perhaps the weirdest moment of the year thus far, but it was honestly hilarious.

For context my father is a middle aged man who’s married to a Catholic and is also in love with Geralt of Rivia. This man sat through the first episode of world stars, stared at it very intently, and laughed once when Russia had the “what’s the best way to kill that’s not banned by the convention” line.

He wants to watch more so??? Perhaps I’ll update on my dad’s thoughts about hetalia because he’s funnier than me.

#rose rambles #rose’s dad’s hetalia thoughts #hetalia

[fangirleaconmigo]

Ok I just finished Season of Storms and gotta say I really enjoyed it. Geralt is an interesting character in the book. After reading it, all the romantic encounters he has in the game The Wild Hunt make sense. He really does have a weakness.

The ending in particular was really cool. Referencing the story line with Ciri etc from the other books.

My favorite passage though is from Dandelion:

Hello dear! Woo!

Boy you are not wrong. Geralt really just plows (hehe) through em in that book doesn’t he? 😂 he also ‘feels’ different to me from other books how he is with Mozaic. (Sp? Sorry I don’t have my book in arms length) but idk could just be me.

But OH MY GOD what a hilarious quote. Dandelion has so many great ones, he kills me. They really are good for each other. Geralt works hard at controlling Dandelion’s ego and Dandelion works hard at keeping him from just sinking into self pity.

#the witcher #the witcher books #Geralt of rivia #dandelion

[hanzajesthanza]

why baptism of fire is my favorite book out of the saga:

the overall setting in a warzone is well-written and thoughtful, and though tragic and horrific, its very 'realistic' and haunting. the fear, the eventual indifference... how the war-torn landscape influences the characters and their actions and narratives is compelling.

the pacing is great, chapters flow into one another so well it took me actual years to decidedly separate them by chapter in my head. it’s also not too long of a book and it feels like cozy, easy reading. the journey of the characters is not boring or full of “filler”, because plot-relevant stuff keeps occuring.

the theme of a “baptism of fire” is reiterated throughout the novel, but you as the reader are not hit over the head with it extensively or annoyingly (coughs... like in... time of contempt)...

ciri is spiralling downwards (no spiral pun intended) as her trauma builds, but she hasn’t yet faced the powerless gore-strewn tragedies which are ttos and lotl, since bonhart isnt here yet she can be as evil as she wants and its interesting to see her character get caught in the frenzy. she is practically rebuilding her identity from scratch outside of the constraints of moral guidance, and “falka” is overtaking her.

yennefer finally receives solo scenes as an individual character in which we get her point of view and we learn how thoughtful and intelligent she is, she is thrown into a political frying pan fighting for her fucking life with the lodge of sorceresses and we finally get some answers to ciri’s background. 

geralt’s character is at his lowest since the beginning of the series, and he has a choice to make in terms of how he wants to react to losing everything and who he wants to become during this painful climb back up. his utter devastation at losing his child and his lover are ‘realistically’ written and he says and does unlikable, prickly things - yet he never becomes a bad person and his ethics (and motivation to act in the face of injustice) actually grow stronger during this period. we as the readers can hate him and think he’s a dumbass and laugh at him as he tries to shun company.

best dandelion characterization in the series as he helps geralt the most and is the least misogynist in this novel. his stubbornness to not leave geralt’s side is actually admirable and ethical, and we get to see his and geralt’s friendship evolve in this new situation, and dandelion repositions himself in terms of what the role of a best friend is

milva barring

emiel regis

i already put milva, but the conversation scene between her and geralt with "i cannot help you..." "you just did. now go, please. go away, witcher before you destroy my entire world"

i already put regis, but his value as a comic relief character is astounding

cahir is finally introduced as a side protagonist, and is actually just some guy. he proves himself brilliantly at the end of the book. and there is no introduction or even *thought* of cahiri

fish soup scene. everyone collectively makes fun of geralt and we as a reader are laughing it up alongside them.

zoltan, percival, and the rest of their company are introduced as silly comic relief side characters, but represent a jewel of optimism in the side of the death-strewn landscape and keep being these beacons of humanitarianism and “good” in an evil world. considering that they are side characters and disappear for most of the novel, this says something about how goodness is rare, but not impossible to find, it does exist...

it’s short but thank god for that, the scene of djikstra and his spies finding vilgefortz’s lab is horror-filled and shocking, but sets vilgefortz up well as an absolutely wretched villain

the ending battle scene is action-packed and full of drama, but it has deeper messages than what is said on the surface, it has meaning and intention behind the character decisions. huge anti-war and anti-imperialism sentiments

it’s admittedly the first book of the witcher saga that i read, so i’m incredibly biased :B

#the short stories are better in terms of writing though. but baptism of fire is my favorite for this reason #and yeah im not elaborating on milva and regis bc it would take up the entire post. im sorry #for a quick round i would say milva's pov is interesting to read and her character is such an interesting dive into how character tropes can #actually become harmful if applied to people (because the pressure she feels from society is comparable to the tropes she inverts) #regis is. so hilarious but the main funny thing is the amount of dramatic irony leading up to his reveal #and then the absolute bitchiness he demonstrates towards geralt after he can be sure geralt won't fight him #also when regis heals the girl from the camp and when he heals dandelion and when he rushes to help milva and when he armchair diagnoses ger #the only parts i dont like is when assire is bullied by the northern sorceresses because it makes me cry #and when dandelion sings the misogynist couplets while drunk in regis' hut. that's actually my least favorite #it is only 4 lines so it can be redacted but [shrugs] it's still shitty #i also -_- when regis is like 'i know some druids' because i know he's wrong and i know he's stupid #book: baptism of fire #not really 'analysis' but #analysis #the witcher books #the elbow-high diaries

[tothedesert]

if this is the path i must trudge

i’ll welcome my sentence, give to you my penance,

garroter, jury and judge

#soooooo i listened to her sweet kiss yesterday and i couldn’y get this line out of my head :) just had to really #and i’ve seen this song be described as jaskier’s jolene which is HILARIOUS #the witcher #her sweet kiss #jaskier #geraskier #geralt x jaskier #the witcher fanart #calligraphy #lettering #it looks kinda crooked and i didn’t know what background to use so i just used dan brown’s the lost symbol lmao #also it’s really weird finally being able to create content for fandoms #but good