#anyway colour isn't real and the points don't matter

[emilystheories]

The Bryce and Azriel theory.

Matching weapons, ancient prophecies, dusk, and true equals.

Before you scroll away or block (which I totally understand if you do anyway - you are entitled to curate your own experience on here!), please note that I am not trying to convert anyone to this ship. I am fully aware that most people in the fandom are in favour of Gwynriel, Elriel, Elucien, and/or Quinlar, and I 100% respect those preferences.

I am also not saying this is canon, or will be canon - it's a theory. However, I very rarely (if ever) see people correctly talk about the actual evidence for the Bryce x Az pairing, especially when they're mocking it as nothing more than a 'crackship.' Given the sheer size of this post (and the fact that it took me weeks to put together), it's no surprise that I disagree with such a sentiment.

Feel free to form your own opinion on the matter; I only ask that you keep an open mind. And if that's not possible, then at the very least, I hope this is still an entertaining read, as it breaks down a sizeable chunk of the SJM multiverse.

(So, evidently: SJM universe spoilers ahead).

[art by Gabrielle Ragusi].

To begin: Bryce's connections to dusk.

Throughout both Crescent City books, Bryce is repeatedly connected to dusk. For example:

Bryce's scent is of dusk.

One of the first things Hunt notices about Bryce is that her scent is of the "first stars at nightfall." Nightfall is another word for dusk. This is important, as SJM often uses scent to foreshadow a character's true home (e.g. Rowan's scent being of Terrasen).

"She's here," Hunt said. The scent of her still lingering on the sidewalk, lilac and nutmeg and something he couldn't quite place - like the gleam of the first stars at nightfall."

Bryce is repeatedly associated with dusk imagery.

For example, Bryce often has her nails painted in "twilight" colours (again, another word for dusk), and even her damn nipples are described as being "dusk rose."

"She examined her nails, now painted in some sort of color gradient that went from pink to periwinkle tips. Like the sky at twilight."

Bryce is obsessed with pegasuses and unicorns (which originated from the Dusk Court).

Bryce has been obsessed with pegasus dolls (i.e. Jelly Jubilee!) since book 1; they are iconic to her character. In fact, there is a unicorn-pegasus hidden on the cover of every Crescent City book (see image below).

It's then no coincidence that the pegasuses in Prythian came from the Prison Island... the Dusk Court.

"According to legend, the pegasuses had come from the island the Prison sat upon—"

"Dusk's Truth"

The entirety of Crescent City 2 centred around "Dusk's Truth," which was confirmed to be about the Dusk Court. This logically implies that dusk (and the Dusk Court) is a pivotal aspect of Bryce's storyline.

This is also why I believe that Bryce's entrance into Prythian isn't just a fun cameo, nor a brief, temporary visit (as many seem to believe) -- instead, all roads point to dusk.

"An isle of near-permanent twilight, the home world of her breed of Fae … A land of Dusk." “Dusk’s Truth,” Bryce breathed. It wasn’t just the name of this room that Danika had been talking about with Sofie."

Bryce is also connected to Prythian.

As much as people try to deny this (for reasons I still don't understand), Bryce is strongly connected to the ACOTAR world, and this has been heavily foreshadowed all along. For example:

Bryce is the true owner of Gwydion; the High King of Prythian's sword.

Crescent City 2 makes clear that Bryce is the true owner of the Starsword (or Gwydion, as it is known in the ACOTAR world).

"He snarled. "The sword belongs to Theia's female heir. Not the male offspring who corrupted her line."

But, this isn't just any sword - it's the sword of the first and only High King of Prythian.

In ACOSF, Amren states that Rhys could use Nesta's "made" swords to set himself up as High King. So, what does that mean for Bryce, who owns the real deal?

“But you, Rhysand, are not.” Amren nodded to the still-rotating weapons. “With these three blades, you could make yourself High King.”

Bryce literally glows for Prythian.

Bryce possesses a star on her chest that is a "beacon" to Prythian; its purpose is to guide people home to the ACOTAR world.

As such, Bryce literally glows and lights up for Prythian. Not Midgard. Prythian.

"The star on your chest - do you know what that is?" "Let's assume I know nothing," Bryce said grimly. Rigelus inclined his head. "It's a beacon to the world from which the Fae originally came."

Bryce possesses the exact starlight of Theia; the rightful queen of the Starborn fae in Prythian.

The star inside of Bryce's chest is that of Queen Theia's. Bryce's starlight is Theia's starlight. It's even suggested that Bryce possesses the same powers that Theia once did (though, she hasn't yet accessed said powers). It's for this reason that many believe that Bryce is the reincarnation of Queen Theia.

“I thought Theia’s light was forever extinguished.” “So did I. I thought they’d made sure she and her power died on that last battlefield under Prince Pelias’s blade.” His eyes glowed with ancient rage. “But Bryce Quinlan bears her light.”

But Theia wasn't just any old queen. Instead, she was the queen of the Starborn fae in Prythian (with it being hinted that she once ruled the Dusk Court).

As such, I find it hard to believe that the land (and the Cauldron) won't recognise this; that Theia (Bryce) has come home at last.

“I remember the last Starborn Queen, Theia, and her powers.” He seemed to shudder."

[art by AnaSebag].

Putting two and two together; Bryce is likely the future High Lady of the Dusk Court.

At the end of CC2, Rigelus confirmed that Bryce's bloodline - the Starborn fae - not only originated from Prythian, but specifically lived in a "land of dusk."

"An isle of near-permanent twilight, the home world of her breed of Fae... A land of Dusk."

Putting all the clues together across both the ACOTAR and CC books, this is likely in reference to the Dusk Court. ACOTAR readers will know this as the Prison Island (which was suggested to be the "eighth court").

"Rhys told me once that this island might have even been an eighth court.”

In linking with this, when Nesta visits the Prison Island (Dusk Court) in ACOSF, she senses that "something great" had once existed here, but seemingly vanished. However, she then states that the land "still waited for it to return." Many agree that this is in reference to Bryce and the Starborn fae.

"The very land seemed abandoned. Like something great had once existed here and then vanished. Like the land still waited for it to return."

However, now that Bryce has indeed returned to the Dusk Court (or is about to in CC3); I believe that her presence will awaken the Dusk Court once more, and what was vanished, will return.

As foreshadowing of this, recall this scene in CC1:

"The gentle illumination danced on Bryce’s hair as she ambled down the stone path, night-blooming flowers opening around her. Jasmine lay heavy in the twilight air, sweet and beckoning." "Bryce didn’t flinch as he dropped into step beside her. “I wanted some fresh air.” She admired an unfurling fern, its fronds lit from within to illuminate every vein." "She continued past beds of night crocuses, their purple petals shimmering amid the vibrant moss. The garden seemed to awaken for her, welcome her."

Bryce is walking through a garden. As she continues walking, flowers open around her, and ferns unfurl in her presence. Hunt remarks that it's as if the garden "seemed to awaken" for Bryce.

And the kicker is; as this was happening, Bryce was walking though the "twilight air." This scene occurred during dusk.

Let's also not forget that the star on Bryce's chest is that of an eight-pointed star; the symbol of the Starborn fae (the same symbol engraved on the Prison Island floor, as shown in ACOSF). As a comparison, that's like Rhys having the Night Court insignia branded on his chest... it's rather overt foreshadowing.

“Well,” she said with a sigh, “that’s new.” Indeed, just visible down the V-neck of her T-shirt, a white splotch—an eight-pointed star—now scarred the place between her breasts."

Combined with the fact that Bryce is the heir to the Starborn fae, that she possesses Queen Theia's starlight, that she glows for Prythian, and that even her scent is of dusk... there's no one better suited (and heavily foreshadowed) to rule the Dusk Court, than Bryce Quinlan.

"Homecoming."

As we know, Bryce has now just arrived in the true home world of her people: Prythian.

"An isle of near-permanent twilight, the home world of her breed of Fae... A land of Dusk."

The instance of returning back home is known as a "homecoming."

"Homecoming" [noun]: an instance of returning home. (e.g. "she spent most of the day preparing for her husband's homecoming.")

And, that's exactly what SJM (curiously) labelled this image on her Pinterest board for Bryce.

Many believe this image to look like Bryce and Azriel (especially when SJM could have labelled it "Bryce and Hunt," which she happily did for the other photos on her CC Pinterest board...), and thus, the Bryce x Azriel theory begins.

The knife and the sword.

In the first Crescent City book, we are told of an ancient fae prophecy; "when knife and sword are reunited, so shall our people be."

"It's another of the Fae's countless inane prophecies," Bryce muttered. "When knife and sword are reunited, so shall our people be." "It's literally carved above the Fae Archives entrance - whatever the fuck it means," Ruhn said."

We now know that this prophecy is referring to Azriel's knife (Truth-Teller) and Bryce's sword (the Starsword). Keep in mind that SJM could have connected this prophecy to any number of characters, but she specifically chose Bryce and Azriel.

Additionally, we are also told that the knife and sword need to stay together in order to activate their full powers. Given the importance of these weapons in defeating the Asteri/Daglan, this suggests that Bryce and Azriel will also need to stay together in some capacity.

"Ruhn shook his head. "The sword doesn't work like that. Aside from being picky about who draws it, the sword has no power without the knife."

[art by itswibell_art]

Azriel as Starborn.

The Starsword (Gwydion) is a Starborn weapon, as only those with enough Starborn blood can wield it.

"Ruhn shook his head. "The sword doesn't work like that. Aside from being picky about who draws it, the sword has no power without the knife."

Given that Truth-Teller is the twin to the Starsword, this suggests that the knife is also a Starborn weapon. And, the fact that Azriel can wield it, implies that he too is Starborn (or at least connected in some capacity).

This is further substantiated in CC2, in which we learn that the Starborn fae aren't just those with starlight powers, but shadow powers too. This was confirmed by Cormac, who stated that the ability to wield shadows (and teleport through them) was once a gift of the Starborn fae.

"But Hunt didn't so much as sniff as he asked Cormac, "Where did you inherit the ability from?" Cormac squared his shoulders, ever inch the proud prince as he said, "It was once a gift of the Starborn. It was the reason I became so... focused on attaining the Starsword."

In fact, Cormac believed that because he could teleport using his shadows, this was an indication that the Starborn bloodline had resurfaced in him. However, this wasn't true; he had "some Starborn blood," but not enough to be "worthy of the blade."

"I thought my ability to teleport meant that the bloodline had resurfaced in me, as I've never met anyone else who can do it." His eyes guttered as he added, "As you know, I was wrong. Some Starborn blood, apparently, but not enough to be worthy of the blade."

But, do you know who can also use their shadows to teleport...? Azriel.

And, do you know who else has been "deemed worthy" and can wield a "Starborn blade" (i.e. Truth-Teller)? Azriel.

[art by cludi_a_]

Bryce + Azriel = Dusk Court.

The crux of this theory is that with their matching weapons and connections to the Starborn narrative, Bryce and Azriel represent the two halves of the Dusk Court.

This is because dusk is the crossover between the light and the dark.

This is further exemplified by SJM's own definition of dusk, as seen in Throne of Glass:

"Nightfall. That was when Maeve had told Erawan to meet. That liminal space between light and dark, when one force yielded to another."

As such, Bryce is light, and Azriel is dark. This is evidenced by their powers:

Bryce's power is pure starlight.

Azriel's power is pure shadows (in comparison to other characters, who have shadow powers + something else).

Further, and perhaps most importantly; Bryce and Azriel's weapons also symbolise this same dusk imagery:

Bryce's sword (the Starsword), glows with a GLITTERING, WHITE LIGHT (as if symbolising starlight).

Azriel's knife (Truth-Teller), glows with a DARK LIGHT (as if symbolising shadows).

"It was its twin. The Starsword began to hum within its sheath, glittering white light leaking from where leather met the dark hilt. The dagger - The male dropped the dagger to the plush carpet. All of them retreated as it flared with dark light."

Bryce (starlight) + Azriel (shadows) = Dusk.

And I mean, look at that dusk imagery on the CC3 cover (when the previous two covers were just solid red and black...).

(I'll also point out that the sword and knife are featured on this cover, with the knife right over the woman's heart...)

Alpha and Omega.

Further, Bryce's sword and Azriel's knife - together - is described as "Alpha and Omega."

"The male dropped the dagger to the plush carpet. All of them retreated as it flared with dark light, as if in answer. Alpha and Omega."

This term means "the beginning and the end."

"Alpha and Omega" [noun]: "the beginning and ending."

Which, is also a term that SJM often uses to describe love, or mated couples. For example, Feyre and Rhys:

"and saw and smelled that bond between us, until our scents merged, and I was his and he was mine, and we were the beginning and the middle and the end."

And this quote here, from Throne of Glass:

"She would find that love again—one day. And it would be deep and unrelenting and unexpected, the beginning and the end and eternity, the kind that could change history, change the world."

Additionally, when the weapons are finally together at the end of CC2, it's said that Azriel's knife glowed "in answer" to Bryce's sword.

"The male dropped the dagger to the plush carpet. All of them retreated as it flared with dark light, as if in answer."

They are matching halves.

Bryce and Azriel as rulers.

Given everything mentioned thus far, I believe that Bryce and Azriel are destined to become the High Lady and High Lord of the Dusk Court.

But, I actually think it goes one step further than this, and it has to do with Bryce's likely rule as High Queen of Prythian. As proof of this:

SJM is drawing from Arthurian mythology, and Bryce is King Arthur.

Throughout both Crescent City books, there are a number of nods to Arthurian mythology. Most obviously is Avallen Island (where Cormac lives), which is likely inspired by the renowned Avalon Island.

In fact, Ruhn retrieving the Starsword from the Avallen caves (and being "deemed worthy" to "pull the sword from its sheath") seemingly parallels King Arthur being deemed worthy of the famous sword, Excalibur, and thus being able to pull the sword from the stone.

"That your son, not you, stood among the long-dead Starborn Princes asleep in their sarcophagi and was deemed worthy to pull the sword from its sheath."

However, as mentioned previously; CC2 makes very clear that the Starsword belongs to Theia's "female heir." The Starsword belongs to Bryce.

As such, I believe that in this series, King Arthur is actually represented by Bryce. And, as further proof of this, consider Rigelus's words at the end of CC2; that Bryce's star glows for those she chooses as her "knights."

"It also glows for those who you choose as your loyal companions. Knights."

Just like King Arthur's own knights; the famed Knights of the Round Table.

King Arthur was the High King of Great Britain. And, Prythian is in the shape of Great Britain.

Putting two and two together, could this suggest that Bryce will become the High Queen of Prythian?

2. Bryce has the High King's sword.

As mentioned previously, Bryce is the true owner of the Starsword (Gwydion). The same sword that the High King of Prythian once wielded long ago. That alone is heavy foreshadowing.

3. Bryce is repeatedly foreshadowed as a queen.

For example, Hunt often notices Bryce's queenly demeanour:

"She spoke with the imperiousness of a queen. Hunt could only rise with her."

And even the contact name for Bryce in Hunt's phone is "Bryce Is a Queen."

Ruhn also implores Bryce to become queen:

"But you have to live, Bryce. You have to be queen."

To which Cormac agrees, stating that the decision to lead their people forward, will be up to Bryce:

"But after today..." Cormac's words grew heavy. Weary. "I think the choice about whether to lead our people forward will be up to you now."

Additionally, SJM often uses the phrase "lifted their chin" when someone is signifying their authority (e.g. "she lifted her chin, every inch the queen"). Then when Bryce meets Feyre and Rhys, the same term is used:

"So Bryce addressed the two of them as she lifted her chin. “My name is Bryce Quinlan.”

And most of all, is Ruhn's final words to Bryce:

"Her brother pulled away. And Ruhn said, shining with pride, “Long live the queen.”

(Speaking of Ruhn, recall his prophecy from the Oracle; that the royal bloodline ends with him. Considering that he is connected to both the Valbaran and Avallen royal houses, this suggests that there won't be any 'queen positions' left for Bryce to take in Midgard. But, there might be in Prythian...)

4. Bryce has Queen Theia's starlight (and likely her same powers).

Again, as mentioned previously, Theia ruled in Prythian (with some even believing that she was High Queen).

If it's bloodline alone that determines who would be High King/Queen (as Amren appears to suggest in ACOSF), then again, as Bryce is the true heir to the Starborn fae, placing her at spot #1.

5. Bryce glows for the ACOTAR world.

The star in Bryce's chest glows for Prythian. She is a beacon for Prythian. That's queen symbolism right there.

6. Bryce is a main character.

It is a well-known fact that all of SJM's leading ladies rise to power; Aelin as Queen of Terrasen, and Feyre as High Lady of the Night Court.

And, although I have heard some solid theories suggesting that Rhys or Lucien may become High King... it's also a well-known fact that SJM loves a female ruler (especially when Prythian is already so overly patriarchal).

Bryce, however, would be perfect.

[art by Gabrielle Ragusi]

7. Lastly, and perhaps the most important of all: Bryce is foreshadowed to unite the worlds.

Notably, the last High King (Fionn) rose to power because he united the people of Prythian.

"A millennium of peace followed, and the lands were divided into rough territories that were the precursors to the courts—but at the end of those thousand years, they were at each other’s throats, on the brink of war.” His face tightened. “Fionn unified them and set himself above them as High King. The first and only High King this land has ever had.”

Bryce is foreshadowed to do the same, as per that same ancient fae prophecy; "when knife and sword are reunited, so shall our people be" (and, this is where Azriel comes in).

Although this prophecy can be interpreted in a variety of ways, I believe it to mean that Bryce and Azriel will reunite the Starborn fae, lost across two worlds (Midgard and Prythian). A unification of people... just as Fionn once achieved.

Now, it is theorised that Bryce and Azriel will continue this legacy, as High Queen and High King. In doing so:

Bryce will represent the Midgardian fae, Azriel will represent the Prythian fae.

Bryce will represent starlight, Azriel will represent shadows. Light and dark. Dusk.

Together, Bryce and Azriel are two halves of whole. Alongside their weapons - which are also matching halves - you can't get anymore equal than that.

As mates are supposed to be.

A common rebuttal to this theory, however, is the belief that Azriel "doesn't have what it takes" to become a High Lord or a High King -- that he is inferior to other contenders (such as the likes of Feyre and Rhys).

Yet, I'd argue that the one character who could match up to Feyre and Rhys (and has foreshadowing hinting as such; power-wise)... would be Azriel. For example:

With Feyre (ACOSF):

“Give me some credit, Feyre,” Az said. “I can keep hidden well enough.” “We take no risks,” Feyre said, voice flat with command. “Pull all your spies out.” “Like hell I will.”

With Rhys (ACOFAS):

“And what would you have me do, then? Disband the largest army in Prythian?” Az didn’t answer. I held his gaze, though. Held that ice-cold stare that still sometimes scared the shit out of me."

“You sure about that?” I asked quietly. Azriel’s Siphons guttered, the stones turning as dark and foreboding as the deepest sea. “Where did Lucien go.” I straightened at the pure order in the words."

Az nodded knowingly. He’d always understood me best—more than the others. Save my mate. Whether it was his gifts that allowed him to do so, or merely the fact that he and I were more similar than most realized, I’d never learned.

With Rhys (ACOSF; the bonus chapter):

"Azriel stiffened. Let his cold rage rise to the surface, the rage he only ever let Rhysand see, because he knew his brother could match it."

Similarly, it is also argued that Azriel would "never leave the Night Court." Yet, take it from Azriel himself; that he too is not sure where he truly fits in.

"I don’t really know where I fit in anymore,” I admitted, perhaps only because the wind was screeching around us and Rhys had already winnowed ahead to where Cassian’s dark form flew—beyond the wall. “I’ve been alive almost five and a half centuries, and I’m not sure of that, either,” Azriel said."

Combined with Azriel's disdain for the Illyrians and their culture (and the fact that when Az refers to the Illyrians, he will often say "they/them" as opposed to "we/us"...) could it be that something else is in store for Azriel's future?

Especially when we know Azriel has always been so curious about what lies beyond...

"At the far end of the room, a little dais led into a broad raised alcove flanked by more books—and in its center, a massive, working model of their world, the stars and planets around it, and some other fancy things that had been explained to Cassian once before he deemed them boring and proceeded to ignore them completely. Az, of course, had been fascinated."

Bryce and Azriel's beast forms.

If Bryce and Azriel are indeed set to become High Lady and High Lord of the Dusk Court, then they will presumably possess beast forms.

To expand on this, in a recent Marie Claire interview (August 2023), SJM stated that her favourite place to write is her desk, where she's surrounded by the things that remind her of the current book she's writing.

SJM: "I like to write at my desk, where I'm surrounded by lots of little items that remind me of either the book I'm writing, or things that just make me happy."

SJM then mentioned that when writing House of Flame and Shadow, she kept a vintage My Little Pony pegasus figure that was the inspiration for Jelly Jubilee.

SJM: "While writing House of Flame and Shadow, for instance, I had a vintage My Little Pony figure with me that was the inspiration for Bryce's beloved Jelly Jubilee!"

Then, when SJM announced the title of Crescent City 3, we were offered a glimpse of her desk, and sure enough - that vintage My Little Pony figure is right there.

But most importantly, this tells us that the items featured in this video aren't just random, but are instead (part of) the inspiration for House of Flame and Shadow.

Which then begs the question; what is the Godzilla toy hinting at? Well, the only connection I have been able to make... is to Azriel.

As proof of this, recall that in ACOMAF, Azriel's Siphon is described as being the "great eye" of a "half-slumbering beast" from a "frozen wasteland."

"I watched the light shift inside the sapphire Siphon instead, as if it were the great eye of some half-slumbering beast from a frozen wasteland."

This description matches Godzilla almost perfectly; who is an ancient monster, often slumbering at the bottom of the ocean, and also often frozen within ice.

And, if Azriel's Siphons are supposed to be reminiscent of the "great eye" of this beast, then it's perhaps no coincidence that Godzilla is famed for his blue, glowing eyes.

Similarly, Godzilla's atomic breath manifests as blue fire (which is what you can see coming out of the mouth of SJM's own Godzilla toy).

Coincidentally (or perhaps not), Azriel - and specifically his Siphons - are repeatedly described as blue flame.

"The shadows deepened around Ariel, his Siphons gleaming like cobalt fire."

"Azriel caught his eye. Rhys nodded. The Siphons atop his scarred hands flickered like rippling blue fire as he reached for the Attor."

"Illyrian lines buckled. Azriel sailed closer and closer to them, Siphons trailing tendrils of blue flame in his wake."

In linking with this, I have also theorised that Bryce has a beast form, and that hers will be a unicorn-pegasus (as outlandish as that may sound, it's one of my most well-received theories; link here).

Thus, I believe that the pegasus and Godzilla toys on SJM's desk in the CC3 reveal video, are symbolic of Bryce and Azriel.

Bryce and Azriel meeting for the first time.

When CC2 first came out, people started shipping Bryce and Azriel based on their first interaction alone. Some even noted that Azriel acted in a particularly uncharacteristic manner towards Bryce; he touched her repeatedly, and seemingly showed more emotion (or rather, a lack of composure) than what is usual. For example:

"He hissed, and then a strong hand clamped on her shoulder, hauling her up and twisting her to face him."

"The male’s hands were gentle but thorough as he fitted it tightly over her eyes."

"He set her down, taking her by the hand."

"He caught her, and sighed. She could have sworn he sounded … exasperated. He gave no warning as he hauled her over a shoulder and tromped down a set of stairs."

(It is argued that this is because Bryce is a danger/threat; but if that was true, then why would Azriel take Bryce to the townhouse?)

To me, the last line is the most significant. Azriel is usually calm and collected. He is polite and respectful towards women. Yet within only a couple of minutes, he is already frustrated and "exasperated" with Bryce, and he immediately chucks her over his shoulder.

[art by Paint Faery]

And speaking of parallels to other couples, Azriel and Bryce meeting for the first time seemingly shares many parallels with Feyre and Rhys meeting for this first time:

As well as parallels to Elide and Lorcan meeting for the first time:

And although this is more of a fun tidbit (one I acknowledge is definitely a reach), it's interesting that in ACOSF, we are told that mating ceremonies are commemorated using black ribbons.

"But all that mattered, she realized, was the male who would be standing with her, first as they swore their vows, then as they offered each other food, and then as their friends and family bound their hands together with a length of black ribbon, to remain until the mating was consummated.

Then, this is what Azriel does as soon as he meets Bryce...

[art by witchlingsart]

It's also interesting to note that when SJM was asked about her "favourite part" of HOSAB (in an interview with Entertainment Today), she answered the "penultimate chapter," where "a lot of major things come together for Bryce."

Interviewer: "What is your favorite part of House of Sky and Breath?" SJM: "The penultimate chapter - where a lot of major things come together for Bryce!"

SJM is referring to the very chapter mentioned above; when Bryce meets Azriel and the Inner Circle.

Bryce was "yanked" into Prythian.

Speaking of the penultimate chapter of HOSAB (and the events leading up to it), we know that Bryce originally intended to travel to Hel. However, her journey to the underworld was interrupted, as Bryce was instead "yank[ed]" into Prythian.

"It was the last sound Bryce heard as the darkness within the Gate swallowed her whole. She fell, slowly and without end—and sideways. Not a plunge down, but a yank across."

The definition of "yank," is pull, or tug. And, it is a word frequently used when SJM is describing the mating bond. For example, with Feyre and Rhys:

"No sign of him. No pound of beating wings. But the tug yanked again in my mind, my gut - a summoning. Like some servant's bell."

As such, fans of the Bryce x Az ship often speculate that Bryce was "yanked" into Prythian, right at Azriel's feet, because of their (yet to be discovered) mating bond.

Mor and Azriel = Bryce and Azriel.

It is widely accepted in the fandom that SJM initially intended for Mor and Azriel to be endgame (before changing this in ACOWAR). Not only is this because of the way Mor and Azriel interact in ACOMAF, but SJM's Pinterest board also strongly hinted at their pairing, for example:

With this in mind, consider that whenever Azriel's shadows were around Mor in ACOMAF (when they were likely supposed to be endgame), they lightened and faded in her presence.

"It was almost enough to distract me from noticing Azriel as those shadows lightened, and his gaze slid over Mor's body."

"Azriel, who kept a step away, whose shadows trailed him and seemed to fade in her presence."

Curiously, in the final chapter of CC2, Bryce doesn't mention Azriel's shadows once (when in comparison, she always noticed Ruhn and Cormac's shadows...). As such, could it be that Azriel's shadows lighten and fade in Bryce's presence?

Consider also these points connecting Mor/Azriel to Bryce/Azriel:

In ACOMAF, it's mentioned that Mor's family once ruled the Prison Island. However, we now know that the Prison Island is most strongly connected to Bryce; the Dusk Court.

In ACOMAF, we learn that Azriel's knife is called "Truth-Teller." Many speculate that this was also evidence of Mor and Azriel being endgame (as his knife was "Truth-Teller," and Mor has the power of "Truth"). However, now Truth-Teller is connected to Bryce and the Starsword.

Additionally, if we know that SJM once believed Mor and Azriel to be compatible, then it's worth noting how similar Mor and Bryce are:

Both Mor and Bryce have very similar personalities. In fact, if you're into MBTI (and are familiar with Personality Database), you'll note that both Mor and Bryce are said have the ESFP personality type.

Both Mor and Bryce are physically described in the exact same way. An example of this is outlined below:

"[Mor] wore a gown of pure white, little more than a slip of silk that showed off her generous curves. Indeed, a glance over her shoulder revealed Azriel staring blatantly at the back view of it, Cassian and the stranger already too deep in conversation to notice what had drawn the spymaster's attention. For a moment, the ravenous hunger on Azriel's face made my stomach tighten."

"Bryce Quinlan leaned against the large ironwood desk in the center of the space, her snow-white dress clinging to every generous curve and dip."

Although these comparisons in itself aren't a slam dunk of any sort (as evidently, Azriel is attracted to lots of different body types/people/personalities), I just can't help but wonder if SJM did a copy + paste with Mor and Bryce for this very reason...?

[art by mftfernandez and wictorian_art]

Speaking of personalities...

Although Bryce and Azriel have only interacted for a single chapter (yet are already causing waves with that alone!), some readers have been contemplating their (potential) compatibility.

More specifically, it appears that Bryce frequently mirrors Azriel's dark and cold demeanour. For example:

"The sprite crawled off her arm and floated in front of her, arms wrapping across her round belly. "You can be cold as a Reaper, Bryce."

"Bryce said quietly, her amber eyes full of cold fire, "I'll find them." She met the Archangel's gaze. "And then I want you to wipe them off the fucking planet."

"Bryce's face remained cold as stone. Colder. Males approached, saw that expression, and didn't venture closer."

"The last gift of the synth before it destroyed her. Yet in her eyes. ... he saw no haze of insanity, of self-destructive frenzy. Only cold, glittering vengeance."

"That icy look—their father’s look—passed over her face. The sort of look that told him there was a wild, wicked storm raging beneath that cold exterior. And the power and thrill for both father and daughter lay not in sheer force, but in the control over the self, over those impulses. The outside world saw his sister as reckless, unchecked—but he knew she’d been the master of her fate since before he’d met her."

In line with this, there have been frequent discussions within the fandom that Azriel needs "healing" or "curing" from his darkness; that he needs to "change his ways." But, what if instead, Azriel needs someone who can match, and embrace his darkness?

And what if that person is Bryce?

(Speaking of 'embracing the darkness,' I find it interesting that Azriel "is a freak," as confirmed by SJM herself. With that in mind, let me remind you that upon first meeting Bryce, Azriel put a knife to her throat and then blindfolded her...).

[art by brielyasmin]

The Little Mermaid: a hint to Bryce and Az?

I know this is a popular Gwynriel theory (with extremely valid evidence to support it!), which is exactly why I haven't spoken about this connection before, as I don't want to offend anyone.

However, I am going to briefly mention it (only once) right now, and suggest that The Little Mermaid retelling SJM has alluded to, may in fact be Bryce and Azriel.

To first demonstrate this: there are several similarities between Bryce and Ariel (the mermaid).

Bryce and Ariel both have red hair (in comparison, Gwyn is canonically more of a brunette, with "coppery-brown" hair).

Ariel's story is about her journey from life underwater, to life in the human lands (where she meets Eric). Bryce's story involves her journey from Midgard, to Prythian (where she meets Azriel).

However, upon arriving in the human lands, Ariel's voice has been stolen; she cannot communicate with Eric. Similarly, Bryce arrives in Prythian and does not speak their language; she cannot communicate with Azriel.

In Ariel's story, the main antagonist is Ursula, a witch. Bryce also knows (a rather suspicious) witch... Jesiba.

[art by Morgana0anagrom]

Further, many in the fandom have already pointed out that SJM saved a variety of 'The Little Mermaid' inspired photos to her Pinterest. However, SJM specifically saved these photos under a Pinterest board titled "Story Kernels," meaning that we have no idea whether it's in reference to ACOTAR, CC or both (or neither!)

Some believe these photos to be reminiscent of Gwyn, but, when you compare these photos to the Pinterest images SJM saved of Bryce... the resemblance is most certainly there as well.

However, some may argue that "Bryce has no real link to mermaids" (in comparison to Gwyn, who has water-nymph heritage; though, that's different from being a mermaid as well).

But I disagree. Recall that in CC2, Bryce seems to rely on other people to "charge up" her power (such as Hunt and Hypaxia). However, I don't believe that is the true manifestation of her abilities. Instead, Bryce hints that she can feel a "giant cloud" of power inside her, one that she can't yet access.

"Bryce sucked in a sharp breath. “I can feel it—like, this giant cloud of power right there.” She ran a finger over the eight-pointed star scarred between her breasts. Starlight pulsed at her fingertip. Like an answering heartbeat. “But I can’t access it.”

The bulk of Bryce's power came from the Gates in Lunathion. Power that was donated by thousands (perhaps even hundreds of thousands) of different beings every time they touched the Gates. And given that the civilians of Midgard herald from different worlds... the variety of this power is staggering.

And it's exactly this power that I believe Bryce can feel (as the "giant cloud") but can't yet access. The evidence for this is engraved into the Gates themselves; "the power shall always belong to those who give their lives to the city." Just as Bryce did.

"The quartz Gates were memorials, though she didn’t know for which conflict or war. But each bore the same plaque: The power shall always belong to those who give their lives to the city."

As such, I believe Bryce's true power is that of the four houses of Midgard; she is Earth & Blood, Sky & Breath, Flame & Shadow, and Many Waters. It's similar to Feyre's power (but x 100).

(And, look again at the cover of CC3 and tell me it doesn't align perfectly with this...)

We even see this in canon when Bryce is making the Drop (after obtaining the power from the Gates):

"But his princess fought for every bit of progress upward, her power shifting, traces of everyone who’d given it to her coming through: mer, shifter, draki, human, angel, sprite, Fae."

"She was sea and sky and stone and blood and wings and earth and stars and darkness and light and bone and flame."

Thus, I believe a good chunk of Bryce's arc in CC3 will be about unlocking this power. And when she does... she will have access to the power of House of Many Waters (the highlighted quotes above emphasise this).

There's even a section of Bryce's ascent (during the Drop) where she thrusts upwards with a "mighty tail." I believe this is a mermaid tail.

"Her power shifted, dancing between forms and gifts. She thrust upward with a push of a mighty tail. Twisted and rose with a sweep of vast wings. She was all things—and yet herself."

And to tie the 'Little Mermaid = Bryce x Az' connections together even further; what's the likely title of the next Crescent City book?

House of Many Waters.

(And as a bonus fun fact: recall that the items on SJM's desk seemingly hint to the inspiration behind HOFAS? Zoom in and you'll see a Little Mermaid cup...).

Hades and Persephone too!

If you scroll back up to the Pinterest photo SJM saved as Mor and Az and reverse-image search it, you'll discover that it's actually an image of Hades and Persephone.

(So no, Feyre and Rhys weren't the only couple inspired by Hades and Persephone).

Similarly, the above Little Mermaid inspired photo that SJM saved (top left)? Also of Hades and Persephone.

The story of Persephone is that of a woman who once lived on Earth and was taken to the underworld. There, she eventually fell in love with Hades, the ruler of the underworld.

[Hades and Persephone art by oblivionsdream; it's giving Bryce and Az...]

Similarly, the final chapters of CC2 detailed Bryce's decision to use the Horn, and travel to Hel; the underworld. In doing so, she was taken to Azriel; someone who is heavily theorised to be a Prince of Hel (or connected to Hel, at the very least). As evidence of this:

The Princes of Hel are repeatedly connected to the cold. For example, when Apollion reaches out to touch Bryce, it's said that his touch was like "ice so cold it ached."

"[Apollion] reached out a hand, and Bryce flinched as it touched her. Truly touched her, ice so cold it ached."

Then Feyre touches Azriel for the first time, it's said that his skin was like "pure ice." (The similarities are uncanny!).

"But my attention drifted to Azriel, who took my still-offered hand and rose. The scars were rough against my fingers, but his skin was like ice. Pure ice."

However, this isn't the only instance. Instead, Azriel is repeatedly and consistently linked to being cold/icy/frozen. For example:

"I took Azriel’s hand, and his rough fingers squeezed mine. His skin was as cold as his face."

"There was an icy rage in Azriel I had never been able to thaw."

"Azriel’s dark breeze was different from Rhys’s. Colder. Sharper

"Azriel tucked in his wings and left without another word, stalking through the house and onto the front lawn to sit in the frigid starlight. To let the frost in his veins match the air around him."

We also know that Azriel is "different," and that even Rhys has "no explanation" for Azriel's shadowsinger abilities.

"Az is different. In a lot of ways." His tone didn't invite further questioning.

"Though the cobalt Siphons were proof that his Illyrian heritage ran true, even the rich lore of that warrior-people, my warrior-people, did not have an explanation for where the shadowsinger gifts came from."

Thus, if Azriel is indeed connected to Hel (a storyline far more prevalent in the Crescent City series than the ACOTAR series, by the way), then one could logically assume that his mate will also be someone connected to Hel.

Who do Hel's armies strike for? Bryce.

“Hel’s armies shall strike at your command, Bryce Quinlan.”

Who has Aidas (the 5th Prince of Hel) been watching over? Bryce.

"The cat’s whiskers twitched. I told you. Come find me. Her eyelids drooped—a final descent toward sleep. Why? The cat angled its head. So we can finish this."

Who is Apollion's (the 7th Prince of Hel) "greatest opponent?" Bryce.

I also find it interesting that when they meet, Apollion refers to Bryce as "Princess," and Bryce refers to Apollion as "Prince." I understand that Bryce is the Princess of the Valbaran fae, but the way they spoke in this scene felt more like Apollion and Bryce were on equal footing...

“Princess.” The voice was like Hel embodied: dark and icy and smooth.” “Prince.” Her voice shook.”

Many people in the fandom have been theorising that Prythian (and the broader ACOTAR world) is a layer of Hel. Could it be a missing 8th layer?

And if so, if Bryce and Azriel are set to rule Prythian (as High Queen and High King, as per this theory), wouldn't this make them both also Princess and Prince of the 8th layer of Hel? Ruling from the Dusk Court... the 8th court? Signified by an 8-pointed star?

(This is ultimately why I ship Bryce and Azriel: their epic story potential is unlike anything we've seen before).

As further proof of this, recall the connections between Bryce and Theia (with many believing that Bryce is a reincarnation of Theia). Although Theia's backstory is still shrouded in mystery, at present we can deduce that:

Theia lived in Prythian, and had two daughters with an unknown man.

She then travelled to another world; Midgard (unwillingly), and allied with the Princes of Hel.

She was then said to have a relationship with Aidas, a Prince of Hel (as she was said to be Aidas's "great love").

(Fun fact: Aidas is another name for Hades).

Compare to Bryce:

Bryce lives in Midgard, and is currently with Hunt.

She then travels to another world; Prythian (unwillingly), in search of the Princes of Hel.

As per this theory, she will have a relationship with Azriel, a (theorised) Prince of Hel.

History is repeating. Rigelus even notes the similarities himself:

"Rigelus sighed dramatically at their stunned silence. “This all seems very familiar, doesn’t it? A Starborn queen who allied with a Prince of Hel."

Twilight of the Gods: SJM's multiverse series?

"But Bryce won't forget about Hunt!"

"She's not going to skip off into the sunset with Azriel in just one book! All of this is too much!"

I agree. I don't believe any huge shipping revelations will be made in CC3.

Instead, things will be much more tame to begin with. Perhaps Az will be the one to guide Bryce around Prythian (and they'll figure out their matching weapons, and the origins of the Dusk Court - both together, and alongside other pivotal ACOTAR characters). I believe Bryce and Az will develop a friendship, and that will be all (sort of like Aelin and Rowan, and their dynamic in Heir of Fire).

(That's not to diminish the significance of their interactions, though. If this theory is correct, then Bryce's POV may be the first to include Azriel at the forefront - no other character within the Azriel ship wars has had this opportunity yet).

Then, if Bryce and Azriel are indeed true mates and endgame, then I think that will be explored further down the line in what I predict will be SJM's multiverse series; Twilight of the Gods (which, as per the latest SJM publishing news, seems to be looking veryyyy likely; more information here).

"Twilight" is also another name for DUSK. Given everything I have already discussed, I am sure you can see how I believe that Bryce and Azriel's story (if they are indeed endgame) will be explored in this series - Twilight of the Gods (if it does indeed come to fruition).

Interestingly, both the Crescent City and Twilight of the Gods Pinterest boards are full of Sailor Moon imagery, and it appears as if Bryce (and her powers) have also been modelled after Sailor Moon herself. Knowing this, this image (which was also found in the Twilight of the Gods Pinterest board) is particularly interesting...

The sword? The multiverse-esque aesthetic?

This is fundamentally what the Bryce x Azriel ship comes down to: the promise and intrigue of a multiversal romance.

And don't you think SJM has considered this too? I find it hard to believe that SJM (the queen of fantasy romance) spent 5+ years planning out a crossover between her worlds, and didn't once stop to think about the possibility of a multiversal romantic pairing.

I mean, even back in 2015 SJM admitted to thinking about "crossover fanfic" with her own characters...

Moderator: "So, speaking of fandoms, different fandoms, um obviously you have ACOTAR, which is different from the TOG series. If both worlds could collide, which two characters would get on really well?"

SJM: <giggling>

Moderator: "Get on really well, not get it on really well" (laughs).

SJM: (laughs) "In my head I already have like, crossover fanfic (laughs). Like, is it fanfic if I'm writing it, or is it ultimate universe, canon things?

So, knowing all of this... why pair Bryce and Azriel together?

Most people in the fandom agree that Bryce and Azriel are connected in some way. I'm hoping that this post has made clear this connection even further.

But here's the thing: if we can all agree that Bryce and Azriel are connected, then why? What's the reason? And why not connect Bryce with other characters instead? Why Azriel specifically?

The two explanations I have heard are:

"Bryce and Azriel are cousins/related."

We already have the Ruhn and Rhys reveal, so why add another? I also don't see how Azriel could be related to Ember Quinlan or the Autumn King... (I also feel like Bryce's descriptions of Azriel's "tall, muscled body" and "gentle but thorough hands" is a lil weird for cousins...)

"Bryce and Azriel will be just friends."

Whilst I don't deny the likelihood of this, I also think that Bryce has the potential to become close friends with Nesta, Rhys, Feyre, Mor, Cassian (and many of the other characters). "Just friends" still wouldn't explain why SJM chose Azriel over everyone else (for example; why not make the prophecy around the Horn in Bryce's back and the remaining 3 Dread Trove items that Nesta can wield...?)

Instead, whenever there has been this much build-up or this much foreshadowing of a pairing... it's usually a sign that they are something special. Something more akin to mates - endgame.

[art by m_bohnet]

After all, consider things from Azriel's POV.

Sure, he has been busy with Mor and Elain and Gwyn (as people often tell me in response to this theory), but what happens when a beautiful woman from another world shows up, carrying the matching sword to his most prized knife? What happens when these weapons start glowing for one another in unison?

Don't you think Azriel would think something of this?

And, don't you think that if Elain or Gwyn had a sword that was the matching half to Azriel's knife (and a significant prophecy to boot!), it would be used as irrefutable evidence that their ship is endgame...?

But what about Hunt?

It's an opinion that earns me no favours in the fandom; but despite liking Hunt, I have always been sceptical about his relationship with Bryce (and am not yet convinced that they'll be endgame). This scepticism predates CC2 (and isn't just a feeling I conjured up in the hope that Bryce x Az will be endgame, as certain people assume).

For starters, both the Asteri and Apollion need Hunt and Bryce together to operate the Horn, and this is concerning.

To put it simply, Hunt was bred (for reasons we still don't yet know). However, as a result of Hunt's breeding, he possesses power that works with the Horn. In fact, CC2 makes clear that Hunt's lightning is the best source of power to "charge up" Bryce (and more specifically, the Horn).

“Your teleporting works when your power gets charged up by energy—considering what I heard about how quickly you ran out of steam with Hypaxia, Hunt’s is the best form of it.”

Bryce has the Horn in her back.

“Don’t think for one moment that Aidas and the Prince of the Pit have forgotten the Horn in your back. That Thanatos didn’t have it in mind when you spoke to him.”

To explain it in simple math terms:

Bryce + Hunt = fully operational Horn (they are like lock + key).

Apollion + Rigelus = both really want the Horn.

Apollion + Rigelus NEED Bryce + Hunt if they want a fully operational Horn.

In fact, we see Apollion egging Bryce and Hunt on to explore their powers more, and Rigelus fully admits to luring Bryce and Hunt to the Asteri palace at the end of CC2.

"Hunt’s blood iced over. “That was why you lured us here?” he found himself demanding of the Asteri, even as he roared with outrage at Bryce’s offer. Rigelus said, “I couldn’t very well snatch you off the streets. Not such notorious, public figures."

What's more, Bryce killed Micah, and Hunt killed Sandriel. The Asteri have punished (and killed) civilians for far less than that, but not only do the Asteri keep Bryce and Hunt alive, but they actively encourage their relationship together (and no one really questions that...).

"We also trust that this favor will serve as a reminder for you and Hunt Athalar. It is our deepest wish that you remain in the city, and live out your days in peace and contentment." "Fear gleamed in Hunt’s eyes. In her own, too, Bryce was sure. Nothing was ever this easy—this simple. There had to be a catch."

I just can't help but think of Maeve. She used her power to manipulate fate, leading Rowan to believe that Lyria was his mate instead of Aelin (for her own selfish gain).

Could it be possible that the Asteri, just like Maeve, have been... meddling with mating bonds for their own agenda - to use Bryce and Hunt for the Horn?

(Recall that in her latest interview, when asked if Bryce and Hunt's mating bond was the same as Feyre and Rhys's, SJM said "pass").

This leads to my second point.

The mating bond is a little strange between Bryce and Hunt.

I know this is a contentious subject, but there are enough people in the fandom who have stated a similar opinion for it to warrant suspicion. No one ever questions Rhys and Feyre's mating bond, nor Nesta or Cassian's, nor Aelin and Rowan's. But many don't buy Bryce and Hunt's mating bond.

In part, this is likely due to the nature of how it was initiated; after only knowing each other for 5 months, Hunt suggested calling each other mates because they couldn't find another term that fits. It happened randomly, and Bryce seemed to come up with a million different excuses initially; it just felt lacklustre in comparison to other mating bond reveals.

(That's not to invalidate Bryce and Hunt's clear affection for each other though - mating bond or not, their love for one another is more than evident).

“I thought that’s what this thing between us is.” “We’ve known each other for, like, five months.” “So?” “My mom will throw a fit. She’ll say we should date for at least two years before calling ourselves mates.”

But for me personally, it comes down to Bryce and Hunt's power (and the Horn). Again, using Throne of Glass as an example, when Maeve messed with Rowan's mating bond, she admitted that she didn't suspect Rowan and Aelin were mates once they met, because their carranam bond (which involves the sharing of power, as Bryce and Hunt do...) was masking the mating bond.

"I’ll admit I did not anticipate it. That I had broken Rowan Whitethorn so thoroughly that he did not recognize his own mate—that you were so broken by your own pain you didn’t notice, either. And when the signs appeared, the carranam bond washed away any suspicion on his part that you might be his."

Instead, the only indication that Aelin and Rowan were mates, was that they could feel each other's pain.

"Maeve ignored her. “Well? When did you know?” “At Temis’s temple,” Aelin admitted, glancing to Manon. “The moment the arrow went through his shoulder. Months ago.”

This is objectively absent in Bryce and Hunt. Not only that, but in the Bone Quarter, Bryce seems to question the validity of the mating bond herself:

"Hunt's lightning had stopped. Where was he? Would a mate know, would a mate feel-"

Which again, you have to wonder; if SJM is trying to sell Bryce x Hunt as endgame to her readers, why include this?

Further, even if Bryce and Hunt are mates, we don't yet know how this works across worlds. Given that the Cauldron (supposedly) assigns mating bonds in Prythian, and Bryce's "true world" is also Prythian, does Bryce have an additional Cauldron-assigned mating bond in that world too...?

Maybe that aligns with this tweet from SJM:

The Oracle.

In CC1, Hunt visits the Oracle, and she tells him to "keep well away from Bryce Quinlan."

"Do yourself a favour, Orion Athalar, and keep well away from Bryce Quinlan."

The Oracle could presumably see into Hunt's future, and could see whether he and Bryce live happily ever after. If this was the case, and the Oracle could indeed see such a happy outcome, then why would the Oracle say such a thing...? Why warn Hunt like that?

Similarly in CC1, Aidas reveals to Bryce that although the Oracle was blinded during her visit all those years ago... he wasn't. Aidas was there too, and he saw Bryce's future.

"Aidas had nearly vanished into nothing when he added, the words a ghost slithering through the room, "The Oracle did not see. But I did."

Yet in that exact same scene, Aidas turns to Hunt and has no idea who he is, asking "who are you?"

Hunt kept perfectly still as Aidas studied her. Then his eyes registered Hunt. He blinked—once. As if he had not really marked his presence until this moment. As if he hadn’t cared to notice, with Bryce before him. Hunt tucked away that fact, just as Aidas murmured, “Who are you.”

Thus, if Aidas has seen Bryce's future, and Bryce and Hunt are indeed endgame (and he is in her future)... then why didn't Aidas recognise Hunt?

Hunt's future.

If this theory is correct, and given that we have two beings with foresight (the Oracle and Aidas) hinting at Bryce and Hunt's ominous future... then what could possibly happen to Hunt

Theory 1) Hunt may die.

This theory has been around even since the HOEAB days, and is well-known by most (so I won't expand on it too much). However, the basic premise of it boils down to Hunt's birth name, Orion, and Orion being famously killed (often by his lover) in mythology. Perhaps this also explains the Oracle's warning to him.

Recall also the quote repeated again and again (often by Hunt);

"Memento Mori. Remember that you will die. They now seemed more of a promise than the mild reminder from the Meat Market."

Similarly, knowing what happened to Sam in Throne of Glass, I find this parallel to Bryce and Hunt a little uncanny (and is exactly what we mean when we talk about death flags...).

[Sam and Aelin]: "I can wait," he said thickly, kissing her collarbone. "We have all the time in the world." Maybe he was right. And spending all the time in the world with Sam ... that was a treasure worth paying anything for."

[Bryce and Hunt]: "Assuming I live through it, you mean." "Assuming you live through taking on the Archangels and Asteri, what then?" "I don't know." He gave her a half smile. "Maybe you and I can figure it out, Quinlan. We'll have centuries to do it."

2. Hunt may become an Asteri weapon; an (unwilling) villain.

In fact, it has recently been theorised (such as in this post here) that Hunt may already have acted as an Asteri weapon in the past, and may have even had a part to play in Danika's death. As unbelievable as this may sound, consider these two quotes.

In HOEAB, Hunt remarks that his victims always said the same words; "please."

“Please.” It was always the same word. The only word people tended to say when the Umbra Mortis stood before them.

Then, this is the only audio we hear of Danika right before she dies:

"And then someone was roaring—a feral wolf’s roar. “Please, please—” The words were cut off. But the hall camera’s audio wasn’t."

To that people would say "Hunt would never!" And rightly so. However, consider that:

Hunt didn't know Bryce when this occurred.

Hunt was already tasked with killing one of Bryce's friends; Fury. Twice. The only reason it didn't happen was because someone higher up halted the orders.

"Micah had even ordered Hunt to kill her. Twice. But she had too many high-powered allies. Some, it was whispered, on the Imperial Senate. So both times, Micah had decided that the fallout over the Umbra Mortis turning Fury Axtar into veritable toast would be more trouble than it was worth."

However, regardless of whether this theory is true or not (as sure, perhaps the wording could be coincidence), one cannot deny the connection between the names of Hunt (Orion) and the Asteri; all named after stars and/or constellations.

In fact, Sirius (the 7th Asteri), is known as Orion's hunting dog in mythology.

And Rigel (as in Rigelus), is the brightest star in the Orion constellation.

Consider also Rigelus's words to Hunt; "I thought we were friends, Orion," and something just seems... off.

(Though, I'd be happy to be proven wrong, as Hunt is one of my favourite SJM males. Just because I think an awful thing could happen, doesn't mean I want it to happen).

What about Gwynriel/Elriel?

Another topic that I won't touch on in too much depth, as I'm sure that most people are already familiar with the points for and against these ships.

The only thing I will say is that things change. What ships appear to be canon or strongly foreshadowed in one book can totally change in the next. SJM has said as much herself (as outlined in the FAQ section on her personal website):

"Will [my favourite couple] be endgame?" "No spoilers! In all seriousness, while I do have ideas for all my currently contracted books, I would never guarantee any plot points or pairings until each book is written. I've been surprised by where characters have taken me before!"

But we also know this is true based on the Throne of Glass ship wars that raged on back in the day. If we were to time-travel back to 2012 and 2013 (when the first two TOG books were released), we'd see people arguing as to whether Aelin (Celeana) would end up with Chaol or Dorian. There was no third option.

And then in the third book, Rowan was introduced. But even then people denied the possibility of his romance with Aelin, instead siding with Chaol, with arguments such as:

"Rowan already has a mate!"

"Rowan and Aelin are probably just related and nothing more!"

"Rowan and Aelin are from two different kingdoms, it would never work. Chaol is back home in Rifthold waiting for her!"

(Sound familiar...?)

It was also argued that Chaol and Aelin would be endgame instead, given the mate-adjacent language that was used between them:

"Far inside of her, she found a golden chain that bound them together."

"The rest of the world quieted... she looked at him and realised she was home."

"She knew his every move and he knew hers, as though they'd been dancing this waltz together all their lives."

"It somehow felt as if it had always been Chaol, even from the beginning, even before they'd ever met."

But nope -- in the third book, Aelin stumbled into a foreign land and came face to face with Rowan; her true, fated mate.

In fact, this speaks to a certain SJM pattern I have noticed:

Aelin is forced to leave Rifthold for Wendlyn (oh no!)... but then she meets Rowan.

Chaol and Nesryn are forced to leave Rifthold for the Southern Continent (oh no!)... but then they meet Yrene and Sartaq.

Feyre is forced to leave the Spring Court for the Night Court (oh no!)... but then she meets Rhys.

Nesta is forced to leave the human lands for the faerie lands (oh no!)... but then she meets Cassian.

Now, Bryce has been forced to leave Midgard for Prythian (oh no!)... and she falls right in front of Azriel. He "gently" blindfolds her, grabs her hand, chucks her over his shoulder, and their matching weapons start glowing "in answer" to each other... and this is supposedly just a crackship?

And I get it; there's already Bryce and Hunt. And Azriel and Gwyn. And Azriel and Elain. However, I do think it's interesting that at present, the two biggest debates within the fandom are:

Are Bryce and Hunt truly mates/endgame?

Will Gwynriel or Elriel be endgame?

If any of these ships were a slam-dunk guarantee... these debates just simply wouldn't exist. Point is, with SJM (and especially with the multiverse opening up)... the possibilities are endless.

And, the promise of Bryce and Azriel is just one of these possibilities, but it's my favourite one of all.

After all, stars cannot shine without darkness.

(P.S. Some of these points were first identified by my friends - so credit and a huge thank you to them! ❤️)

#acotar #crescent city #bryce quinlan #azriel acotar #sjm multiverse #sjm theory #sjm crossover #bryce x azriel #bryceriel

[bookshelfdreams]

Hey I like a lot of the takes you have regarding the pirate show so I wanted to ask for your opinion on smth that's been bothering me for a while:

I have a deep seated dislike for Hamilton. Twinkifying the fucking founding fathers, romanticizing slave abusers and overall villainizing the wrong people while others (Hamilton at the front naturally) gets sung at. Speaking of singing - I really hate it. Shipping (i want to repeat) the founding fathers, the blatant white washing bla bla bla. Anyway those are all known problems and better people have said it smarter before and that isn't really my point

It's the fact that a friend of mine recently brought up that Ofmd pretty much is the same and I shouldn't scream so loud in my glass house. Inaccurate historically speaking, the blatant ignoring of the slave owning that the real Stede and Edward did and so on and so forth. Minus the singing perhaps if we ignore Frenchies and Izzys

So. Does it make me a hypocrite to like ofmd so much but despise the mere mention of Hamilton? It's a thing I'm really stressed about lately and that kind of ruined my joy about finally getting season 2. I would love to hear your opinion. or that of your followers for that matter.

Thank you 😊

oh thank YOU because I do feel that this is an interesting thing to examine and we do not talk about it enough.

I have never seen Hamilton, or listened to the songs (except some snippets). I have never been involved in the fandom. I really, really can't speak to what the musical itself did wrong and right. But I will say this: There was a reason it got as popular and received the critical acclaim that it did. I can't speak to how it addresses the systemic injustice baked into the USA from the very beginning, and I do have a suspicion that it glosses over a lot of uncomfortable truths. But I also feel it is important that we divorce the source material from the fandom it spawns because ultimately, Miranda isn't responsible for Hatsune Miku Binder Jefferson, or the whole hivliving debacle.

Just as David Jenkins isn't responsible for the handwaving of slavery in fanworks, or the great Izzy Hands Debate, or whitewashing in fanart, or shitty, racist headcanons of the characters of colour, or whatever deranged scandal is yet to come to light. This is true for all fandoms; criticizing fandom dynamics is a very different conversation from criticizing the canon.

Let's focus on the canon here, though, because defending the fandom is pointless, and not something I want to do. Curate your experience.

The first thing to say is: If you like ofmd but don't like Hamilton, that's not hypocritical at all, that's first and foremost a matter of taste. Things are good when we like them and bad when we don't. We don't have to find objective reasons for it.

If the fact that the historical Stede Bonnet was a slaveowner, and the historical Blackbeard also participated in the slave trade, are dealbreakers for someone, that's valid. People have every right to be uncomfortable with that. The conversation could end at this point, if we want it to (I don't because I love to hear myself talk).

If we look at the historical figures a little closer the first stark difference is the cultural context in which they exist. The founding fathers seem to be extremely mythologized in the american consciousness but also, are understood to be real historical people. The founding myth is fundamental to the way in which the USA perceives itself (that is, as a beacon of freedom and democracy), and it's pretty hard to reconcile that with the bloodshed and human misery it was founded on. It's uncomfortable; and it's not just an American problem. Every western nation/former colonial power has quite literal corpses in their closets they'd rather not talk about (just so you don't think I'm getting on a high horse about the famed Erinnerungskultur here; go ask a german person about Lothar von Trotha and what he did to the Nama and Herero to receive a blank stare). The difference is, that the founding fathers are too prominent and too important to just not talk about, so instead, they are sanitized to a degree that can be straight up historical revisionism.

That's not Miranda's fault. Nor is it the fault of any one particular piece of historical fiction, biography, documentary, or what have you. But it is the context in which Hamilton exists and, from what I understand, a culture to which it contributes. Especially since it's based on a biography of the real Alexander Hamilton, and (again, to my understanding) claims to tell a more or less accurate story.

Pirates, on the other hand, are perceived completely differently. They are mythologized, but not for ideological reasons, not as state-building propaganda. Pirates are more like folk heroes; cultural icons (near) completely divorced from whatever historical figure once lived. They are "real" in the sense that they are based on real people, but engaging with them, from the start, has a layer of removal from reality that engaging with figures like the founding fathers hasn't. Blackbeard is from a saga. George Washington is from history.

ofmd, specifically, makes clear at every turn that what we are told is a fictional story that has very little to do with any real events. It's openly anachronistic, it has absurd internal logic. Life-threatening injuries are walked off. There's actual magic. Dinghies are treated like spawn points in a video game. Everything, from the costumes to the vernacular to the story beats, tells the audience that none of this is real.

You wouldn't accuse, idk, A Knight's Tale, or Mel Brooks's Men In Tights of whitewashing history. I feel like ofmd plays in a similar league; it's a comedy very vaguely based on history, and it makes sure the audience knows we are not about to be told anything true. If you watch ofmd, you know this isn't about the real, historical Stede Bonnet or Edward Teach.

So. Let's examine the actual story, yes? The story that is told here is anticolonialist, antiracist, and challenges oppressive power structures as much as is possible for a production like this. It addresses these things and condemns them, both explicitly and in its underlying message. (I'm not gonna explain all of this, enough ink has been spilled about it by people smarter than me)

I do not know what Hamilton is about at its core. I know Our Flag Means Death is about authenticity in the face of the whole world telling you there's something wrong with you. It's about resisting dehumanization and reclaiming your personhood. It's about love, in a radical, system-destroying way, about breaking the cycle of abuse, about healing, and finding joy.

Yes, the real historical figures it's based on were all horrible people. Again, if that's a dealbreaker, that's fine. I'm not trying to convince anyone who is deeply uncomfortable with that fact; it's perfectly understandable.

However, for me, personally, the story as a whole is so far removed from reality, and so firm in its message, that I feel this is forgivable.

(Oh, and a lat aside, I also feel like likening ofmd to Hamilton seldom seems to come from a place of genuine criticism. Often it seems to be more along the lines of "Hamilton is cringe, and if I say ofmd=Hamilton ppl will be too embarrassed to defend it" which yk. feels kinda disingenuous to me.)

#oh also im a white european so yk limited perspective here #i do encourage people with different perspectives to join in the conversation! #or like link the things youve already written on this because i know people have talked about this before #i just kindly ask you to leave your 'ew cringe' arguments at the door. thanks. #our flag means death #anonymaus #message #thoughts

[bedoballoons]

anyway you could do, them reacting to you wanting to break up? you can do whatever characters, i would just like Zhongli to be included. please, thank you!

Of course!! I hope you enjoy this and thank you so much for your request!

Genshin Men Headcanons:

~Them reacting to you wanting to break up~

CW: Angst! Lots of arguing, Begging you to stay and just general sad stuff!

(Includes: Zhongli, Alhaitham, Kazuha, Wanderer, and Xiao!)

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Zhongli:

Zhongli looked at you in disbelief, never in six-thousand years would he ever have expected this and now, he felt completely caught off guard...how would he continue? Every plan....every contract had been made with you in mind, he thought about you every second of every day...and by human standards he'd thought he'd done a excellent job at being your partner. He cleared his throat...his voice cracking as he started to speak, "May I ask why...? Surely...we can talk your decision over? If your reasoning for ending our relationship is because of me I'll do what I can to make myself more suitable for you. Please... reconsider...."

Alhaitham:

He stared at you, his eyes drained of any emotion they once had...his skin paler then you'd ever seen it, how...how could you do this to him? He barely ever trusted someone and you...you were the only person he'd ever let this close to him, now you didn't want him at all? "Very well...there's no point in being with someone if you don't like them anymore....just don't expect me to ever feel any way for you again. Or anyone else for that matter..." He sounded so hurt...his words harsh in your ears....

Kazuha:

His breathing seemed to stop...his heart hurting so much he thought it might be the end, he loved you more than anything else and considered you his soulmate...,what had changed? "O-oh..." He said quietly, he didn't have any words to say for once...it felt like any happy emotion had been drained away...he was loosing you and he didn't even know why. "Can...c-can we talk first? Please...p-please...maybe I can change your mind?" He attempted, his voice cracking at the end when he noticed you shaking your head.

Wanderer:

He couldn't move, it was like he was completely frozen in place, any colour was gone from his face and his hands were shaking at his sides. No...not again, he couldn't be abandoned again, not by you...not the one he loved, he had finally started to feel something other than anger and you were going to rip that all away...no this must be a joke. "T-this isn't funny...I don't like jokes like this." His words held so much fury...so much pain and suffering, he looked at you as he spoke...but you simply shook your head confirming this was real, making tears forming in his eyes."No...no you can't! I trusted you! I....I did what I was supposed to, I...I love you...like I've never loved anyone else! Please don't leave me...I don't want to be left again, especially not by you!"

Xiao:

Xiao stood silent, his bright yellow eyes searching your face for any sign this wasn't real, that this was some type of nightmare or sick joke, but he found nothing...you didn't want to be with him anymore...and that was the truth. "But... why? All I've done is cared for you...kept you safe and I thought...what we had, could last forever. I thought that I'd found someone I never knew I was looking for,...tell me what I did wrong. I'll do what I must to fix it..." He sounded desperate, pleading with you to give him a second chance but that just wasn't in the cards...

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

✿Hope you have a good day!✿

#genshin #genshin impact #genshin fanfic #genshin headcanons #genshin imagines #genshin scenarios #genshin hcs #zhongli headcanons #zhongli x reader #zhongli angst #zhongli hcs #zhongli x you #alhaitham x you #alhaitham x reader #alhaitham headcanons #alhaitham hcs #kazuha x reader #kazuha headcanons #kazuha x you #kazuha hcs #kazuha angst #wanderer x you #wanderer x reader #wanderer headcanons #wanderer angst #xiao x you #xiao headcanons #xiao x reader #xiao hcs #xiao angst

[fushiglow]

Who the hell is Gojō Satoru?

Some thoughts on his character in 236

Seeing everyone arguing about Gojō’s characterisation in 236 over the last week makes me realise just how good the chapter is, no matter how dissatisfied I am with Gojō's death.

When you're upset about something, it's hard to judge accurately whether something is 'bad' or whether you simply don't like it — and they are different things. Interestingly, 236 presented me with a conflict I've never experienced when following a story before. I'm really disappointed with the way Gege Akutami chose to end Gojō's story, but I think 236 will go down as one of the most beautiful chapters of Jujutsu Kaisen. In that sense, my feelings about the chapter after a week of sitting with it aren't too unrecognisable from my initial feelings — just with all of the big emotions that were colouring my judgment stripped away.

I think there *is* value in immediate reactions, and I think much of the initial outrage about the chapter was simply people grieving what was an intentionally shocking end to a beloved character. I hate that people tried to police social media reactions to the chapter, because I think everyone should be allowed to process their feelings in their own online space (as long as they don't bring harm to others, of course).

Aside from the outpouring of emotion, there have been countless arguments about 'who' Gojō was as a person in the end, and that doesn't sit right with me either. I think many artists would be disappointed to hear fans of their work insist that there is one 'proper' interpretation — because the value of sharing your art with the world is in how different people receive it based on their own experiences.

To me, that's Gojō Satoru as a character.

I know lots of people have already shared some variation of the post below (and everyone has moved on to 237 now anyway) but this was sitting in my drafts so I thought I may as well hit post before 237 is officially released!

In my analysis of Gojō's character after 235, I talked about how Gege Akutami keeps Gojō at a distance from both the readers and the characters around him, making it deliberately difficult to know who he is as a person. Despite that, everyone in-universe and out has something to say about Gojō's character, but we've never really known how Gojō views himself until this chapter.

For maybe the first time in Jujutsu Kaisen, we get to deep dive into Gojō's interior world and hear his innermost thoughts when he's at his lowest and most vulnerable. As a result, something fascinating happened across the fandom.

Even when Gojō literally tells Getō that the 'wretchedness of isolation' is something he shares with Sukuna, that he gave everything he had so that Sukuna might understand him and be understood in turn, and that he knows not everyone will get it, some people called Gojō 'out of character' in 236.

And isn't that just so damn meta?!

Akutami loves challenging readers' assumptions through his characters, so while the chapter is shocking, it isn't really surprising. I'd even go as far as suggesting that the journey of emotions the reader experiences while reading 236 is the exact same journey Gojō is going on in-story.

The thing is, I've seen tons of people arguing about whether Gojō was selfless or selfish, whether he fought for the love of his students or for the love of the fight, whether he took strong young sorcerers under his wing from a place of care or simply as a means to an ends — but I think the point is that it's always been all of those things at once.

Because he's human, and humans contain multitudes.

I think we were meant to have our view of Gojō shaken by 236 — the same way Gojō's view of himself is challenged in this chapter. However, just because we can find some truth in Nanami's criticism of Gojō, doesn't mean that his interpretation of Gojō's character is the correct one — especially when it's entirely possible that what happens in the airport isn't even real.

Getō listens with empathy as Gojō confesses his self-doubt and regrets, the solitude of his strength, and the dehumanisation he experienced as the 'Strongest'. He even expresses jealousy when Gojō admits he had fun fighting someone strong enough to understand him. Then, only two pages after Gojō says, 'You can cherish a flower and help it bloom, but you don't ask it to understand you', Nanami appears and calls him a pervert for his approach to sorcery.

It's actually really funny.

Importantly, Nanami isn't exactly wrong for saying the enjoyment Gojō gets from fighting is a little disturbing (and, to be clear, I *adore* this about him) — it's just not the whole picture of Gojō Satoru.

Akutami actually gives us some lovely imagery to visually represent the gulf between those who understand the solitude of strength and those who don't — Gojō and Getō sit on one side of the bench while Nanami and Haibara sit on the other, with each duo facing in opposite directions.

I don't think Akutami is implying that either side is wrong or right — it's just two different perspectives. Nevertheless, Gojō is pictured side by side with someone who understands him, and back to back with someone who doesn't understand him but who cares for him all the same.

Recognising this, he pivots to asking Nanami about something they can both relate to and receives an important lesson in return. What Nanami means and what Gojō takes from it is deliberately ambiguous, like everything that's discussed inside the airport:

Could Sukuna have won without the Ten Shadows?

Who does the 'flower' represent: Gojō, the people around him, or both?

Did Gojō reach Sukuna like he hoped?

Why exactly is Getō jealous?

Does Gojō feel satisfied?

Is Nanami's assessment of Gojō's character correct?

What is the relevance of north and south?

Which direction did Gojō choose?

Is it all in Gojō's imagination or is it real?

Whether we'll receive answers to those questions remains to be seen, but I highly suspect that most of them don't even have a definitive answer.

Once again, it's just a matter of perspective, and I think that's Gojō's character in a nutshell. Whichever side of the bench you're sitting on, whatever you see in Gojō says more about you than it does about him — and that's exactly why it's so fascinating to see the fandom erupt into arguments about who's interpreting the character correctly.

I can honestly say I think the chapter is really beautiful even though I hate what happened to Gojō, and that's an entirely new experience for me. For that alone, Akutami has my praise. Whatever happens in the rest of the story will determine whether 236 becomes my favourite chapter in the whole of Jujutsu Kaisen — isn't that bizarre?

By the way, I found a really thoughtful post about some of the word choices in 236. The poster shared some really interesting insights across a series of posts and they convey the tone of the chapter really well. Well worth checking out!

#i forgot to post this until now ooooops #jujutsu kaisen #jjk #jjk 236 #呪術廻戦 #gojo satoru #jjk spoilers #jjk manga spoilers #jujutsu kaisen spoilers #jjk meta #jjk analysis #jujutsu kaisen meta #jujutsu kaisen analysis #my writing #fushiglow

[threadsun]

Sweets🍭 Asks: "Heeeey! It's me! I've just been struggling with ideas because....ive been thinking about things unrelated to sunny day Jack

BUT HEAR ME OUT

Remember that one fic you wrote with Jean and Joseph with teacher MC

Yeah that but...mc is the director\creator of the sunny time crew and here's the kicker

They are extremely miserable

They hate their job

They hate their life

They hate children

They probably hate Jean and Joseph too

Will that stop them from flirting with this tired annoyed grumpy director?

Nope! I mean Jack and Rory were made to make people happy!

It's gonna be a piece of cake

...right?"

Oh Sweets hellooooooo!!! I love you!!! You always bring me the absolute most banger ideas!!!

I love the idea of them both falling for this person who looks like they haven't slept in weeks and visibly loathes every moment they're on set lmao

Content: hatred of children, general depression, ngl reader just sort of sucks, smoking, absolutely shamelessly dirty flirting, suicidal ideation/joking about suicide, reader is not okay

Coffee isn't enough anymore. You need an IV drip of caffeine straight into your blood stream. Or some heavy drugs. Or a real hard blow to the head with a baseball bat. At this point, you're not picky. Whatever gets you off this stupid set.

The SunnyTime Crew Show. Your crowning achievement. The idea that made your career. Shown across millions of tv sets all over the country every single day. Shown to all those little ankle biters you can't stand the sight of, too young and useless to so much as wipe their own asses.

It's all bright colours and simple words and stupid, terrible songs that get stuck in your head on loop until you want to bash your brains in against a wall. Not that it takes much for you to feel that way these days. Especially given the people you're working with.

Joseph Haberdae and Jean Laurent. Rising star and bossy diva. The constant bickering. The even more constant flirting. The adlibbed lines. The relentless cheer while the cameras roll. And the insufferable questions when they don't. They take the whole thing so fucking seriously. Like this is anything more than some drivel for parents to shove their kids in front of when they can't be bothered to parent anymore.

Maybe you don't hate the kids, maybe it's the parents you resent. Always shoving crying babies into your arms during live recordings so their "precious child" can get a better look at the set. Demanding the show teach this or that lesson. Begging for the Crew to come work birthday parties.

But no, you can't stand wiping little noses and listening to the shrieks. Kids have always given you the creeps, but now they piss you off. Always saying weird things and rubbing their sticky fingers all over set. You're just lucky the stars are better with the kids than you are.

"Should we cut?" Your brought out of your stewing annoyance by the sound of your PA whispering in your ear.

You down the last of your coffee and shove the cup into his hands, a silent demand for more. "Cut!"

You hadn't noticed the scene end. But it didn't matter, Joseph and Jean had started improvising lines anyway, as they so often did. Your eye twitches in annoyance. You don't spend your time yelling at the writers to get every line perfect just for these idiots in costumes to make shit up.

"Haberdae, Laurent." You snap your fingers and point to the spot in front of you. "Everyone else, take five. Then we reshoot. We get it right this time or every single one of you is out of a goddamn job."

As the rest of the cast and crew file out for their break, the two men stand at attention before you. They know where this conversation is going. It's the same one you have every time they so much as change a single word from the script.

"So, which school was it?" You cross you arms and scowl at them both.

They exchange a look of confusion before Joseph ventures a reply. "What?"

"Which school? SoCal? Columbia? You do RTF at Austin?" They can tell your tone is derisive, but they're still not sure what you're getting at. You roll your eyes. "Where you studied screenwriting. I assume you've got some writing background, since you're always changing my fucking script."

Oh. Ohhhhh. Okay, they're on the same page as you now. Joseph has the good grace to look chastised, staring at his feet like a kicked puppy. Jean isn't one to be so easily intimidated. He raises an eyebrow and shrugs.

"What was it today, your assistant got you the wrong coffee? Or did some kid get ketchup all over your copy of the script?" He's used to your bad moods. They both are, but he's not swayed by them. "If you'd actually watched the take rather than staring off into space, you'd realise it was better than the shit your writers came up with."

You purse your lips. He's... probably not wrong. It's hard to find good writers who are willing to throw their talents away on a show like this. And they do both have an admirable understanding of their characters. Much as you hate them, they're true to your original vision. The vision you wished you'd never had.

With a reluctant sigh, you move to rewatch the take. Your PA hands you your coffee and a lit cigarette before hastily retreating, not wanting to be caught in the crossfire of whatever's going on. It's a relief, the burn of the smoke in your throat followed by the burn of the scalding coffee.

"Watch."

Joseph's behind you, hands hovering just over your waist as his breath brushes against your ear. Damn this infuriatingly handsome man and his lack of personal space. You grit your teeth and focus on the screen, ignoring the huge man all but pressed against your back. He and Jean crowd you, trying to get a good look at the viewer as you play back the scene.

It's... good. Better than the script. You don't want to admit it out loud, but their additions make more sense with the episode's story, and sound more like Jack and Rory. Damn them.

"See?" Joseph's lips brush against your ear, one hand making contact with your waist for just a moment to give it a soothing rub. "Not bad, right?"

You shove him aside, taking a long drag of your cigarette and pretending to mull it over. As if there's any question. He watches you closely, with all the eagerness of youth and all the ego of an actor who knows he's good at his job.

"Fine." You breathe the word out in a plume of smoke. "It's good enough, I guess. We don't have time for another take anyway."

Joseph grins, leaning an arm on your shoulder like you're an old friend rather than his director. "Come on, you can admit it. We're good."

You sneer at him, trying to nudge his massive forearm off you. But he doesn't budge. Instead, Jean takes up an identical position leaning on your other shoulder.

"So tense," he tuts and shakes his head. "Come on, you can praise us sometimes, you know."

With a roll of your eyes, you resign yourself to once again being crowded by the two men. You can't honestly say you mind it. "Why, so you can get off to it later? I've got about as much interest in stroking your goddamn egos as I do in stroking your pathetic cocks."

"Watch out," Jean's voice is a familiar, teasing lilt. Though it feels directed as much at Joseph as it is at you. "Talk like that might just get Joseph all riled up."

"Eugh." You mime throwing up, ducking from under their arms to grab your coffee and down some more. "Don't need to know about your humiliation kink, thanks."

Joseph's redder than he'd care to admit, but he tries to brush it off. "You know, I didn't realise you thought about stroking our cocks that often. Or our egos."

"Maybe a quick romp would help loosen you up a bit?" Jean suggests, raising an eyebrow with a quirk of his lips. "Keep you focused on your job. Is that why you've got that thousand yard stare every time we shoot? Too busy thinking about fucking us in our dressing rooms?"

From an outside perspective it might seem like sexual harassment in the workplace, but... you encourage it in your own way. You could easily set boundaries if you wanted to, but their flirting—however much they annoy you—is the only interesting part of your life right now. The only part that doesn't make you consider jumping off the roof of the studio.

"Too busy thinking about the easiest way to off myself, more like. Still trying to decide between throwing myself in the reservoir and just jumping in front of the next car I see."

"Well, wouldn't that be a waste of a pretty face?"

Jean's not worried by your theatrics. It's not the first time you've loudly proclaimed your intentions to off yourself, nor will it be the last. It never stops you coming in the next day, looking as dead behind the eyes as ever, and yelling at everyone you see.

"Pretty face." You snort, trying not to choke on your coffee. "What, is it the eyebags or the fact that I haven't had time for a decent meal in months?"

"I think it's your smile." Joseph's always so... genuine. He flirts like Jean, of course, but sometimes he'll throw something so earnest at you that it winds you. "We don't get to see it often, but... you've got a really nice smile."

It feels like he's punched you in the chest, not given you a sweet compliment. It's time to put a stop to this for now. The flirting's gone past entertaining and straight into that dangerous territory that leaves you worried you might do something stupid. Like fall for one or both of them. Not to mention, you've still got half a day of filming this bullshit left.

"Fuck off to makeup, be back on set in two. We'll pick up with Rory's baking lesson."

With a stern nod to the stage door, the two hurry off. You feel like you can breathe again. When they're around, you start to get claustrophobic. Or maybe coulrophobic. Or maybe just... you feel vaguely nauseous at even the shadow of a thought about having romantic feelings for either of the frustrating, handsome actors.

Nope.

No way.

Definitely not.

Not while you have the world's worst tv show to direct.

.

.

.

God you hate your life.

#swwsdj #something's wrong with sunny day jack #sdj jean #sdj joseph #joseph haberdae x reader x jean laurent #gn!reader #18+ only #sunshine #sweets🍭 #dear director au #crosspost

[definesanity]

Gentle Madness

A dull light shone overhead, painting the walls a sickly yellow. Only to then be overpowered by the colours of midnight purple and gold.

Uzi took a step into the lab(? She thinks it's a lab.), and the thing followed her. Said thing she finally came up with a name for.

Scyn. Clever, she knows, no need to praise her intelligence. (She does not mention that Scyn came up with it. She said it was an 'attempt at humour'.)

"So, this place is...?" Uzi drawled out, keeping near the door as she looked over the ruins and copious corpses.

"A CABIN FEVER LAB. WHEN THEY, DISCOVERED ME, THEY ATTEMPTED TO HELP ME 'GROW' INSIDE OF WORKER DRONES. ONLY THREE HAD PROMISE, AND ONLY ONE SUCCEEDED."

"My mom." Uzi bitterly replied.

"NORI, YEVA, AND ALICE. ALICE DID NOT AWAKEN TO ME, YEVA DID NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH... GIGGLE. BUT NORI? SHE HAD CONVICTION. AND THAT WAS WHAT I WANTED."

"And in the end, everyone died?" came the dry prediction.

"HM. PONDERING EXPRESSION. YEVA, PERHAPS. BUT ALICE, WAS CRAFTY, ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST, FEW MONTHS. SHE WAS ABLE TO TURN SCRAP INTO SOMETHING, USEFUL. SHE IS MOST PROBABLY ALIVE."

"...So I have more troubles... ack." Uzi groaned into her hand. "...Why me? Why does it have to be me...?"

"DEATH ISN'T REAL, AND I AM BASICALLY GOD." Scyn replied as easily as she faked breathing.

Uzi sighed. "We're going back. And you're going to teach more more about how to use this... thing."

Scyn gave her a mock salute. "I AIM TO PLEASE."

-----------

"...Uzi?"

"N, do not touch me, I will explain why." Uzi quickly snapped. She didn't mean to, but she was getting annoyed at why she couldn't use the Solver correctly.

N deflated a little, but perked back up. "Oh, it's something important, gotcha! I, ah... was just a little worried, you know? This back and forth between locations no one knows about, not to mention with that puppy of yours..." N knew that Scyn wasn't a puppy. But he just couldn't remember where he's seen her before.

"I'm fine, N, sheesh. I'm getting closer to figuring this crap out... but anyways, don't touch me. You'll get a virus."

"Say what now?"

"Scyn gave me a virus that infects personalities. And they still haven't given me a straight answer as to why."

"T-The puppy is evil...?" N looked horrified at the thought.

"No, she isn't, just... a little weird." Uzi had still not gotten over whatever N is, but there are slightly more important things at hand.

N gave a such sight of relief. "Oh, okay! Well, I'm gonna go now, V's been getting cranky recently... eh, it's probably fine. See ya!"

N soon left the room, and Scyn came out of the closet. Literally.

"So why did you hide?"

"IF HE DISCOVERS I AM ALIVE, IT WILL CAUSE AN ALTERCATION IN MY PLANS. I AM NOT EXAGGERATING." Scyn then squinted. "WELL, I AM, BUT THAT ISN'T WHAT MATTERS. WHAT MATTERS IS THAT MY VOICE IS TOO OBVIOUS."

"Noted." Uzi got up, and pointed at Scyn. "Stay."

"GLARE. I DON'T WANT TO JUST SIT HERE."

Uzi lifted up a can of oil. "I'll buy your silence."

"CURSES." Scyn took it and sat back down, pouting. Fucking pouting. What the hell.

Uzi is tired.

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

Uzi is now awake.

Ever since two weeks ago, more and more people have gone missing. No one knows how, though.

Uzi took a long look at the posters. Then, she looked around. An oddity was how no one was able to catch a sighting of then.

...That camera was wrong.

HOLY SHIT.

Uzi quickly took the posters and near enough skipped back to her room, a grin growing and giggling manically to herself. She connected them, and looked up--

It was gone.

She blinked. Then again. Then she saw Scyn leaning over her.

"KHAN."

She near enough stormed her way to where he was, glaring at him, with his eyes widening at just how quick Uzi caught him.

"MY CRAZED RAMBLINGS!" Uzi raged at him, getting closer and closer. "STAY OUT OF MY FUCKING ROOM!"

Khan only looked at her in mild concern. "Personal space for a very alarming coping mechanisms isn't covered under a--" the bitch consults his manual for how to act as a father, "--'non-optional family support structure'."

Uzi ripped the manual out of his hands. "Oh, well I'M sorry for being vulnerable for five seconds! You were never, EVER, there for me! So don't think for one goddamn SECOND you can try and save the day!"

Khan remained silent.

"Stay distant. For both of us. I'm going out now, and I'm bringing Scyyyyyyyyyyywhat the hell is that?" she said, looking at a skeleton of a human.

"Prom tux! Child's small. You're banned from seeing those no-good murder drones and from going on adventures to who-knows-where."

"Huh?" Uzi looked confused.

"Buuuuut I was able to talk to your teacher to find classmates help you with getting you ready!"

"HUH?" Uzi now looked distressed, with Scyn looking equally as worried.

Khan opened the door, revealing a smirking Lizzy and a blank faced Doll.

"'Sup, Uzi." Lizzy gained a determined look and Doll somehow looked more scary. "Get ready to be popular!"

Khan then nailed the coffin shut. "I'm chaperoning!"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Uzi screamed as Scyn's eyes displayed 'DANGER: 1,000,000%'

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

Deep underground, a different kind of despair was brewing.

Deer antlers wobbled as the one called 'Alice' looked through drawers upon drawers, but found herself lacking something she needed.

A new visor. Hubris for her mistakes, she guesses...

Beau looked at her with concern, also looking through, but coming short of nothing.

"This sucks ass." Alice groaned, sitting down and tapping her fingers together. "Ya know what this means, righ'? One'a us has ta' go to the surface ta' get a new'un."

Beau nodded. Then, the cheeky shite pointed at Alice.

"Geez, thanks." she rolled her eyes, but made her move.

Then she nearly shat herself, seeing familiar purple and gold shine.

Before long, it was gone.

...Nori...?

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

"Oh, um." Uzi was very on edge, but tried to salvage the situation. "...Nice room?"

["Thanks. I cleaned it."]

No offense to her, but Doll did a shit job. It was like taking a comically large brush and sweping it under a rug, which shows how much shit is under it.

Not only that, but the smell...

"So, Uzi, babe--can I call you babe--cool, anyways, I'll ask first and foremost: dress or suit?"

"Uuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmm." Uzi shrugged. "Suit, I guess?"

"Coolio. Always thought you'd look good in a suit."

["No, she didn't."]

"As if you were any better. I saw you stalking Uzi!"

["I was not 'stalking' her. I was making sure she was safe."]

"From what?" Uzi blinked. Honestly, she wished Scyn could have kept her viruses to herself. It was much easier...

["Don't worry."]

'Worrying. Okay, they're keeping me hostage... the heck can I do...?'

"I appreciate the help. Really. I do! But, I'm just gonna g--" Uzi's eyes widened at the door shutting in her face.

"You're hilarious," Lizzy turned to Doll, "She's hilarious," then, back to Uzi. "We're gonna make you look badass, and I'll be dammed if I don't help you. We're gonna make you look cool, in a brave sort-of way!"

Uzi looked at the door. Doll was there.

Uzi looked back between them. 'Holy shit, Doll can teleport.'

["Bedroom is done the hall, on the right."] something about Doll's grin got her on the wrong side.

Oh well. Thank god they don't have that thing activated...

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

"TASTE ZIP BOMB." Scyn said, delivering another zip bomb, this time to Doll. "SATISFIED LOOK. GUESS I SHOULD, GO CHECK UP ON MY THIRD FAVOURITE, 'IDJIT'."

Like a spider, she made her way unto where she detected Alice.

It was easy. Annoyingly so.

The Solver of The Absolute Fabric, now Scyn. And she felt... happy, at it. She thinks. She is not sure. She is a program, playing puppet to a mentally unhinged Worker Drone who she made skin her only friend and wear the corpse for years.

She felt a weird emotion. She analysed it as 'guilt'. She ignored it, much like Uzi does. That was a problem for future her. Is she a her? Whatever.

"SNEAKY, SNEAKY." she narrated.

She'll find that weird deer. Sooner than later.

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

Uzi ducked her way into the bathroom, first, if only to try and get her suit on.

She admits it looks good on her. Pretty kick ass, all things considered.

She then swore to herself as Scyn sent a zip bomb to her.

"Easy there, Solver, I'm trying to make this work..."

She looled at the mirror again. The mirror shattered as the symbol appeared.

"Oh for...!"

"Oh, relax for a sec, Doll! Listen, I'll keep the doors shut, and you can go fetch Uzi!" Lizzy's voice echoed. "This had better be worth the trouble of getting you an alibi for you, just to get to V."

"...The fu--?" Uzi cut herself off, for once, seeing something drip. It was black.

She moved her way over to the bathtub but, as she grabbed the curtain, she heard the door opening. Looking around, she spotted her exit.

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

Doll yawned as she walked in, rubbing her eyes. Then she blinked, looking at the empty bathroom. Then the vent. Which was open.

["Well, as they like to say in Russia: 'Oops, I knew I should have kept that vent shut, because now the only other person I know who is infected with that virus has escaped through it via broken mirror shards, leaving me to try and find them."]

It's a real saying. Believe her.

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

Uzi coughed, catching her breath. Ugh, this so annoying!

Feelings! Friends! THAT GODDAMN--

Her thoughts halted as something landed in front of her. It was N. In a... suit.

To each their own.

"U-Uzi?!" N looked shocked to see her.

"N?!"

"Why are--/You look--" the two spoke at the same time. "How did--/Well, um--"

"Something, er, happened--"

"I, could help!" N then turned around, muttering. "Though, you probably don't..."

"No, I... could... use. The. Help. Please?" begging. It doesn't suit her.

In an instant, N came next to her, gasping. "Dapper buddies!"

"Bite me... though, you kinda look good in that suit."

"Right?! I thought it wasn't gonna work, given how I only ever wore my coat up until now, but hey, it did and OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH." he looked around, and then began to virtually sweat. "Um, bad news! V is kinda... maybe... gonna kill everyone?"

"Wha--SHE GOT OUT?!"

"I know! I-I thought that chain could hold her, but she must have cut through it!"

"But why wait? And why now?" Uzi screamed into her hands. "AAAAAAAGHH I HATE NOT KNOWING THINGS!"

"SAME!"

"STOP YELLING!"

"O-OKAY!" N took a deep breath. "Okay. Calm... now, wanna go save everyone?"

"Yup. Let's go." Uzi started to run her way there, with N unfurling his wings and flying above her.

N didn't say anything, but he did blink in surprise at Uzi teleporting around in a purple glow.

Cool! His friend is maybe a child of Satanael!

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

Alice saw something flash around the corner, and immediately brought her butcher's knife up into a defensive position.

There was exactly two points of entry. Behind her, and in front of her. Slowly, she made her way forwards, slowly walking and keeping an eye on the shadows.

Did she imagine it? She didn't want to admit it, but she was getting older...

A sudden rush of air next to her right leg put those worries to rest. Something was there.

"Aigh', coward, show yerself!" she called out.

No reply.

"What, 'fraid of a lil' ol' lady like me, are ya? C'mon, I don't bite!"

No reply. Something was moving.

Alice raised the knife.

Something was moving. Fast. Quick--Where is it?!

"GRAB."

Alice screamed as a claw lifted her up. And she came face to face with the Devil.

"GOOD DAY, ALICE. KIND SMILE. I REQUIRE YOUR, ASSISTANCE."

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

The prom was... alright, Doll will admit. Still, showtime approaches.

V looked good in that dress. Shame it'll get stained with oil...

She lifted her arm, ready to strike--

Only to hear a thud from behind. Everyone turned to see another Disassembley Drone... and Uzi.

"Hey."

She was then punched in the face.

#ryuusei's works #murder drones #uzi doorman #md cyn #absolute solver #tessa james elliot #md n #khan doorman #md lizzy #md doll #md alice

[sophieswundergarten]

I can't stop thinking about that Wing AU and Sticky plucking his feathers...

(Weird, angsty ramblings that might require some knowledge of bird anatomy to fully understand to follow)

(Basically, when birds grow feathers they start as "blood feathers" which are basically just little sacks of blood and growing cells. After this, they are "pin feathers", and the blood is all inside where it belongs, leaving the feather all rolled up and covered in this papery stuff that rubs off and leaves a fully grown feather. Also, Primaries are the big "pointer finger" feathers at the tip of the wings, Secondaries are the medium sized ones from the "wrist" joint to the "elbow", where they get smaller and are referred to as Tertiaries. That should be it :>)

Because, in real life, it's quite common in pet psittacines (Parrots: so, macaws, cockatoos, budgies, lovebirds, etc.) especially when they are stressed. And it can get out of control really fast and take a long time to train the bird out of even though it's very obviously hurting it.

And I just keep thinking about how young he was when he started being on TV. And for a while the fluffy little baby feathers were cute but an entertainment industry seeking engagement instead of connection demanded he grow up too fast.

And so the make-up/wardrobe department for any competition he was on started pulling some of the downy feathers. There weren't that many left at this point regardless, but they assured him it would make him seem more mature and appeal to a wider audience. And it would be fine, it wouldn't really hurt him, especially since he was growing in big feathers anyway.

So it went. With Sticky being so self-conscious and anxious anyway, he probably kept his wings tucked in tight behind him no matter what people thought about them.

He had never put that much consideration into how he looked, but now he can't stop thinking about it. He doesn't know why it's so important, but apparently it matters to people. He doesn't want it to matter. He doesn't want to be seen or recognised. He just wants to be left alone.

He starts fidgeting with the pin feathers that will one day unfurl into adult primaries, and even though he knows it's counter-intuitive because removing the casings will only free the feathers sooner, he can't help it. A few times he goes too far and starts picking at blood feathers, and even though the red coats his finger tips more often than he'd like, he still can't stop his hands from scratching and pulling and yanking as he grows more and more agitated.

And then he ran away

He ran and he couldn't keep his hands off his wings for more than a few minutes. Tugging and raking his fingers through the feathers in a futile attempt to calm down. The first couple of times, it's an accident.

The first couple of times he's so caught up in soundless panic and all he can hear is his own breathing, it's only later that he notices a small cluster of secondaries, close to his body and almost never seen with how rigidly he holds himself, are missing. Small pieces of the night sky littering the alleyway ground where he'd been hiding.

His wings are so dark in colour, not to mention unkempt after a few weeks hiding and running and flitting from place to place trying to find safety, that the other kids don't even notice anything wrong.

It isn't until a few days later, when they're all in the backyard attempting to practice their Morse Code, and Kate does something that startles him that they really see what kind of a state his wings are in.

Most birds, when scared or on edge, will carefully spread their wings. Maybe not a lot, but they are preparing to fly away or make themselves look bigger in hopes to scare off the threat. (I imagine Milligan having great big owl wings that he puffs up to try and guard the children when the Recruiters come after them in the maze)

But Sticky just draws them in closer to his body. When he is scared, which Constance would note is often, he holds his wings so tightly to his back that they seem half their size. This would be considered odd and in some ways handicapping himself or keeping him from being able to react properly.

But this time, as Kate wobbles unstably out of her cartwheel and lets out a shriek of laughter, landing on the ground right next to him, Sticky jumps. He starts off the bench he had been sitting on, hunching his shoulders and reflexively spreading his wings.

And instead of the fully extended mix of fully grown flight feathers and occasionally wayward piece of down the other kids have, Sticky's wings are a mess. They have a skeletal quality, with just enough plumage that when they are folded in it's hardly noticeable, but when they are extended it's clear there are significant gaps. The remaining feathers have the dull, stunted quality of someone who has been under an incredible amount of stress without nearly enough nutrients to fuel them, and indeed Sticky looks rather like a feral cat in that moment: Spooked and curling in on himself as if expecting a fight.

He quickly realises his overreaction, and then processes that the girls are staring at his wings (Reynie's eye did dart up, but quickly returned to looking at Sticky's face), so he jerks them back into a resting position. Though there's nothing particularly restful about how stiff his posture is, back ramrod straight and muscles so tight he's beginning to shake.

However, this is something that the others know he doesn't want to share yet. And he doesn't need to. Not until he's ready.

So, Kate grabs the flashlight from where it had fallen to the ground, a sheepish grin on her face as she apologises for scaring him.

Reynie suggests they all go inside, take a break and get something to eat before they begin again.

Constance glares at Sticky suspiciously, but right as she opens her mouth she seems to think better of her questions and simply shrugs.

And Sticky is grateful for his friends, grateful that he has these people who love him enough to trust him with his secrets, even though they don't know each other very well yet. So he follows them inside, and if Kate dumps a little bit more food on his plate, and Constance doesn't try to swipe his juice glass this time, and if that night (for the first time) Reynie shyly asks if the two of them could take turns preening each others' wings, when it's just the two of them alone in the room, Sticky thinks he might be able to trust them too.

#Anyways #I wanted to get this idea out of my head so I could actually think about other things #Because it has been crowding out a lot of other thoughts lately #That's what I get for getting all excited about bird anatomy I guess :/ #I hope it isn't too annoying or weird #But it's a super real thing that lack of proper nutrition can mess up a bird's feathers too #Birds are kind of ridiculously delicate #In other ways aside from the hollow bones I mean #But at least they're not as bad as horses #All this is mostly based off my own experience with anxiety and doing stuff like pulling on my hair or pinching myself? #I don't really know anymore if that's a common anxiety thing or something I should tag as a 'trigger warning'? #I thought it was normal but if anyone has an issue with it please tell me #Anyways like I said #Lots of feelings about wing aus and birds and a TON of feelings about Sticky #Whoo I finished that now I can retreat to the safety of my phone and leave the clown behind #the mysterious benedict society #mbs #sticky washington #mbs wing au

[love-killed-the-superstar]

the more i read through issue one, the more i think the stone situation isn't caused by some enemy - i'm more convinced the cause of it is odyn himself.

(i had about half of this typed up before hashing this concept out in a very cool conversation with @last-ronin earlier today... but i fell asleep before posting it last night, lmao.)

these kids are Developing Powers, guys. they can communicate telepathically, not just holding entire conversations but also projecting imagery into each other's minds. it's unclear at this point whether they can all project images psychically or if that is specifically yi's gift, but it does seem to be implied that this makes her retellings different from uno's and favoured by odyn. i'm on the fence about whether uno's colour-changing ability counts as a power or not since it's something other lizard species can do and he's been doing it since he was a baby. moja is also noted as having an 'overactive nose' literally smelling something 'wrong' which is like... either a very odd character quirk or another sign of enhanced abilities. if she has heightened senses in general, that might have been subtly foreshadowed by the times in lost years where she's seen wearing her headphones even when she's not listening to music.

much like casey growing to inherit enhanced strength and reflexes from interacting with mutagen, it seems like the turtles bodies are also starting to get all funky from ooze exposure. hence the title, re-evolution.

at the end of the chapter, when the babies finally get their chance to fight a real fight, odyn clearly doesn't want to. he's very much giving michelangelo in the lost years - it's making me nervous that at some point we're going to get a 'GET UP FOOLISH CHILD' moment with casey and odyn, because as much as she loves her kids, casey marie is a complete hard-ass on the battlefield. i HOPE that we get to see it play out differently if history repeats. that always felt painfully unresolved in lost years and it really made me resent roninverse splinter. if this happens i'd like casey to have to confront the fact that she DID make these kids to fight a war, that was incredibly FUCKED UP and they DON'T have to accept that.

(this scene is so hard to read no matter how many times i come back to it. sincerely, FUCK YOU roninverse splinter.)

anyway. here are just a few moments in that final battle where he hangs back while the other three jump in with weapons swinging:

free my boy. clearly odyn doesn't want to be here rn. he seems rooted to the spot...

...like a statue, wouldn't you say?

so yeah. in a life where he's been raised to fight or fall, this feels very "third option" to me. this poor kid is in an impossible situation so his body gives him an out where he can keep himself safe like his family want without having to experience the horror of fighting lethal opponents. the problem is, if he's completely frozen solid like this, how does he know when the fighting is over? how does he know when or how to snap out of it?

my prediction is the turtles are going to use their telepathic abilities next issue to break through to him and coax him out of this stone state (possibly creating more hijinks if a new power is discovered in the process). i have NO CLUE if april and casey marie know the turtles have these powers, but they sure as shit are going to find out when they catch their babies performing a seance around their brother lmao.

there's also the possibility of this 'insidious foe preparing to spring a trap' from the issue 2 synopsis... i wonder if they have a way of messing with the turtles' new mutations?

much to think about. anyway, VERY hyped for issue 2!

#tlr2 spoilers #i wrote this post last night. fell asleep before posting. and then me and tumblr user last-ronin ended up discussing the same concept today #but since i'd already written it out last night i thought i may as well post it and sum up my thoughts on all of this #i need issue 2 to drop asap so i know whether my boy odyn can snap out of this on his own or not #until then i may just have to start writing angst about the family panicking that they've lost him for good or something... </3

[realasslesbian]

In the process of arguing with some LGBTeeaboo about lesbian representation and why including a man watching in the background of a lesbian kiss scene is Bad Representation, regardless of what that man's function to the plotline is, and I actually realised something. People literally have no clue of what is an inherently dangerous situation to lesbians.

People recognise 'man following woman on street' and 'woman holds keys in fist' as cause and effect. You wouldn't ever see a scene in a movie where a woman is walking alone in an empty street, and there's a man following her in the background, but she's still smiling and skipping along blissfully and the music is happy go lucky, the colour palette cheerful, all presented without any hint of irony whatsoever. People would lose their shit about it. People would be out here rightfully pointing out how absurd and disrespectful it is to take being followed by a man, which is a common traumatic situation for women, and paint it in a 'happy happy joy joy male violence against women isn't real' type of way. So why is it any different with lesbians and our common traumatic situations?

Having a man watching me display any sort of affection for another woman is an extremely common experience for both myself and every other lesbian I've ever met (far more common than being followed on an empty street btw). More often than not a man watching will quickly turn into a man being overtly, and sometimes violently, lesbophobic. It doesn't matter if it's a man I don't know or if the dude's my best friend since birth, a man watching almost always means imminent lesbophobic violence (in fact, women are actually far more likely to be assaulted by men they know, so don't give me that 'oh Darren's been Quinni's bestest best friend since forever so there's nothing sinister here just a man watching his bff having a lesbian kiss and actually he doesn't identify as a man so stop being twansphobic tee hee').

So, as a lesbian, who deeply associates a man watching with guaranteed male violence, sexual harassment and assault, being hate crimed and extreme lesbophobia in general, seeing that situation being repeatedly delivered in a 'cheery, wonderful, nothing to worry about, certainly not male violence towards lesbians' type of way is EXTREMELY FUCKING DISSONANT. I literally have never related to any of the copious lesbian scenes in media where there's fifty fucking cut-takes to some man watching. It doesn't make me go 'awwhhhhhh', it doesn't feel good, I don't feel represented. It makes me feel sick.

And it's another level of mindfuckery to state that and have non-lesbians start bitching about how I'm over-reacting, men love lesbians, I've never heard of men being violent to lesbians so shut tf up about it, yada yada yada. It's like every tier of society is designed with the gaslighting of lesbians in mind. I can literally go to hospital, have the damn police report of what this man did and why, and society will still be out here like 'let's take your situation and rewrite it so that lesbophobia doesn't exist uwu'.

But anyway TL;DR it's kinda fucking shit to have my traumatic experiences as a lesbian continually watered down and dismissed in the media, and for such dismissal to be paraded around as woke and great lesbian representation. It's not, it's painfully heteronormative, actually.

#lesbian #lesbian representation #lesbian visibility #lesbian invisibility #lesbophobia #lgbt #feminism #gold star lesbian #gold star lesbians DO interact

[raptorbricksart]

Realised that I never actually talked about her on here, since I've been spending more time on twitter lately but they're on fire so you get to meet her as well. Beware, it's going to be rough and rambly.

I've been working on a Spider-sona lately, still an early WIP, but I want to talk about her anyway.

I wanted to a slight modern fantasy take on the basic plot, so instead of the classic "inner city lad bitten by a radioactive spider", I've mixed it up a little.

Walking through the woods, on the way home, she was bitten by an enchanted spider that served as a prison for an ancient fae who had been sealed away for a long time.

On top of the standard Spidey powers, she got a magical version of web slinging. The fae that was sealed in the spider, Huntress, has now bound herself into her mind.

The relationship is kinda like a Symbiote, but the human is in charge. Huntress can still speak on her own, and fully take over when she wants to take matters into her own claws, but the host can take back control at will.

She's trans, because, why not.

Her recruitment into spider society was after an alternate Green Goblin got into her world got pulled into her world.

----

So far, I don't even have a name for her, neiw her real name, or a costume name, though I'm using Spider-Lass as a place holder. Since her story is largely in rural England, it feels fairly fitting as a place holder.

---

Also featured in her universe:

Gwen Stacy -

She's a journalist working at the Daily Bugle

Specialises in stories about people with powers

A good friend of Spider-Lass, both in and out of costume, but hasn't yet realised that they're the same person.

The pair work together on occasion (behind J. J. Jameson's back, he doesn't like Spider)

She's transfem, yay!

Has some powers of her own, though isn't aware yet

All are stealth based, and only maintained when she stands still or moves slow

She's even invisible to spider-sense unless she was going to take an aggressive action.

Keeps accidentally startling people

Dating Peter Parker

Speaking of...

Peter Parker -

Working in biochemistry at Alchemax

Also trans (transmasc)

An old friend of Spider-Lass

Only one of the trio not to have any powers

Big ol nerd

(still kinda bare bones since he doesn't have much plot involvement)

I haven't decided on villains yet, but have some vague ideas floating around

Huntress has her own Sinister 6, the Six of Shadows who were responsible for destroying her physical body and trapping her in the spider.

-----

Suit design is still in it's vague concept phase, but I have ideas

Below is the only concept I've done of her, outfit: a hastily thrown together concept for her mask drawn in Blender over a ripped model if my Sim. I don't like the colour, but I'm keeping the base design.

The overall outfit is an antithesis to the usual form fitting suits of most spider-people. An oversize hoodie with some custom decorations, baggy trousers and some sturdy hiking trainers. She's dressed for both comfort and durability, she hasn't got the same agility as most spider-people so needs to be able to take a blow.

---

At this point, I'm out of thing off the top of my head that aren't spoilers for some projects I have for her, but:

If you have any questions about her, or anything/anyone around her, let me know via comments or asks, I'm happy to answer more!

#text post #spider sona #my ramblings

[viscountessevie]

I wasn't going to say anything because Nicola had taken down the video and all I had to say on that was a summary of whatever has already been said about her on this blog.

And to be clear this isn't to talk about that video but the harassment I've been getting on Twitter just because I pointed out the contradictions NC said in her video with how she's been conducting herself online and in interviews. Nothing was false or misinformation. Simply stating things she's done and how as fan of colour they all have come across as micoraggressions.

Yet I've been labelled a liar, told to shove it up my ass and to kill myself. Apparently now I'm stupid and need to be reported dor "spreading hate" Also I'm "justifying the hate" against her. They really saw my very first tweet and went all:

Like please read the whole thread. I literally start the tweet acknowledging that Nicola DOES probably get hate from a gross minority of the fandom (no particular subfandom just general haters) about Pen's weight and what not. Besides, hate is very much different from the criticism that most of the fandom has against Pen's actions against Marina and Eloise.

I also say that Nicola had really fair points and shed light on the PR of it all which I have always blamed for the most part. I believe I gave Nicola points and agreed with her where it counts while also disagreeing with some of the false statements she has made. Then I literally end the thread on a note saying that there's a difference between criticism and hate. Guess who ends up getting hate against them anyway?

All I did was call out how her actions throughout her Bridgerton tenture is harmful. Turns out the worst thing you can call a white celebrity with intense stans a racist. And instead of listening to us, fans of colour who feel hurt by her actions, they send us death threats.

The Polin fandom can say it's not all of them. But where are you all telling your fellow stans to back off when you see vile tweets like this:

TW: Intense virtrol hate and suicide baiting

I don't know how I am "rewriting history" by sharing liked shady tweets against Regé and comments on Ruby and Newts' BTS vids that (indirectly) encouraged her stans to attack Ruby on her IG to the point of Ruby's hospitalization. But go off I guess

This is the main one I referring to when listing how I was attacked. I am okay right now but reminder that you never know what people may be going through and no matter what it IS NEVER OKAY to tell ANYONE to kill themselves.

Again pretty mild because also inaccurate. The difference between their fandom's reaction to attack and hate on Kathonys unprompted when it was a comment by an Eloise fan featured on Nicola's video and slut shaming Simone vs every other fandom calling them out on their bigotry. I don't think I'm the hater here.

[These ones below are pretty old but just more examples of how I've been verbally abused on Tumblr as well and they don't even specify what exactly got them so mad?? It feels like they just hate me for existing]:

It's always really classy to call someone the c word, ugly and a hag. Also the person who said I was ugly because they saw my picture wtf you creep where are you seeing them?

Again all I've ever done on this blog is call out racist actions that are harmful to those in direct line of it and it hurts us as fans to see our escapism show turn into something ugly and hateful that we already deal with on a real life basis and now we gotta deal with it in our safe space too. Didn't realise calling bigotry out made ME the hateful one and deserving of being sent stuff like these.

And I understand that you can't call out everything - hell even sometimes I can't keep up in the Kathony fandom cos I just keep to my small circle but even then when I'm told shit is going to down, I evalaute the situation and act accordingly.

But I just can't respect you all for STILL staying a part of that group and by being silent, you're being implicit in this hate and abuse against fellow fans of the show. Yes, we may dislike each other but the least you can do is not send threats and hate. It's common decency and Internet etiquette.

I only know one or two Polins and they are mostly Book Polins who have called this shit out. They're in the minority so they can only do so much and I am thankful for them for doing so. But the rest of yall are just happy to sit by while a large majority of the fandom (not only Polins but mostly from you guys) sends racist, homophobic and now sexist and slut shaming insults and death threats to every other subfandom until we shut and just take it.

I can have easily taken all the shit thrown at me yesterday in stride and I really thought I did. And I was only ever going to make a post telling yall to stop slutshaming Simone (definitely still making that post) but I am my rope's end. I never let this shit get to me because I know better than to believe these lies so you must understand how intense it is and how upset I must be feeling to make this post. Again I don't want to indulge more but you never fucking know what anyone is going through.

This is the last thing I'm saying on this issue (alongside the post about Polins slutshaming Simone) and honestly on Bridgerton.

I was going to make a separate and most likely will for anyone who missed it but this alongside that Nicola interview where she puts down S2 for not having enough sex while propping up her own season was the final push for me to put this fandom behind me. This blog will still be active but it is no longer going to be a Bton blog after I clear my asks. This shit is just not worth my mental health or risking my life.

Anyways with that I'm logging off. Thank you in advance to everyone who will inevitability check up on me - I love you my moots and lovely anons/followers and I'll check in tomorrow!

If this prompts hate, Imma just assume yall didn't read the whole thing, just not going to read any of it and will report, block and delete! So don't bother you're not getting any attention.

#Bridgerton Fandom #Hate Tweets #Hate Anon #Polin Fandom #Bridgerton Racism

[remmammie]

Since TWEWY was added in Kingdom Hearts ♥️ : DDD. I was thinking Misaki Shiki x Male! Reader where the two of them are in an amusement park and reader has a Polaroid camera to take photos of the park and Shiki.

I apologise for this taking so long! Between college and hobbies, I've been stressed for time, but I'll always have time for you guys! I do have some exams coming up, though, so I'll let those pass before opening up my asks again. Anyway, Shiki! My love! Enjoy some scenario headcanons for such a precious character~

Shiki x M!Reader at an Amusement Park HCs

If she's going out anywhere, you know Shiki is coming out in her best clothes. She embraces the fun and bright colours of an amusement park and, though she doesn't insist that you match per se, she'd be over the moon to see you looking your best as well. If you let her, she'll happily pick out a handsome outfit for you - after all, if she wants to work in the clothing industry, she must know a lot about men's fashion!

During this "getting ready" period, Shiki whips out a disposable camera.

"What's that for?"

"For taking photos, silly! I want to commemorate this forever! I'll pin them up on my corkboard at home, ooh! And you can take some too!" Shiki keeps rambling about all the different places, rides, and poses she wants to include in the photos, acting like a real model. You can't help but smile and nod.

As soon as she's secured the camera in a satchel bag, Shiki is tugging you out of the door, into your chosen mode of transport and is practically buzzing the entire ride to the amusement park. You both have been planning this trip forever; you once slipped up and called it a "date" which left Shiki in flustered fits of laughter.

Once you arrive, Shiki's eyes are positively glittering with awe: all the flashing lights, the glorious smell of trashy food, the bustling people all with different stories, and, the best of all, experiencing it with you. It's the first photo she takes.

"Come on! Pose with me! Get over here, you goof!" She bundles you over to her side, standing on her toes with the camera stretched over her head. She smiles, teeth and all, almost as if the strings holding such a grin up will snap! Her other hand grips yours tight and Shiki angles it secretly so the photos captures the intimate moment.

Shiki has been to an amusement park before - she's likely gone with her friends from school - but it's a lot different when you're accompanied by your partner. Yet, she can't be nervous around you, especially when there's so much to do with you!

If you're the type of person who likes rides, I'm sure Shiki is an adrenaline junkie too - she'd go on pretty much anything with you, often taking photos getting on the ride, then getting off. As for anything that goes too fast or too high for her, Shiki will cling onto your arm for dear life, screaming from pure amusement, laughing like a complete madwoman. She's enjoying herself, don't worry!

If you're not the type to go on rides, Shiki insist that you try some stall games together: hooking ducks, throwing darts and balls, kicking a football into a certain hole, etcetera.

"Isn't this the part where you swoop in like my hero and win me a big stuffed animal?" she suggests with a cheeky wink. You sigh and rustle the hair on top of her head. Shiki has just wasted at least half of your money trying to win a stuffie, now she's practically begging you to try and win one for her. Whether you're successful or not doesn't actually matter to her because she'll tease you either way.

Of course, you two need to eat at some point. After insisting that you should get the rides out of the way first lest Shiki wants to feel sick all night, you decide to invest in some trashy, amusement park food of your choice. Shiki's all for it: hot dogs, ramen, ice cream, doughnuts, crepes, and pancakes! This is where her taste buds thrive. She makes sure to get a really unflattering image of you both eating. When you try and get her to get rid of it, she just cackles and hides it from your view, giggling while she looks at it.

"Oh! I'm totally showing this to Eri! She'll get a real kick out of it, haha!"

At some point during all of this, you secretly take the camera from Shiki and take some more candid photographs of her. Shiki is so gorgeous without even trying, you know this... She might be playing with the stuffed animal you got her or if she decided to bring Mr. Mew with her when you snap a quick photo without her noticing. Pocket it to put it somewhere special later, or show her, tell her she's pretty without even putting in any effort. She'll giggle and blush a little, telling you off for being such a sap.

#twewy shiki #twewy #the world ends with you #twewy fanfic #twewy fanfiction #shiki x reader #shiki misaki #twewy x reader

[the-travelling-witch]

guess who's alive? exactly, me!! :D *slumps down and never gets up* (sorry in advance this will be quite the long ask >_<)

i get the feeling of fried brain, my session just finished ;-; #neveragain (wish i could say it for real tho) it's not a problem if you can't add much ahah, really, so don't worry :3

i feel you, my rbf isn't of any help but luckily those who receive my love know it and about the rest i don't care °v° and as i said (i think) as long as you're genuine i don't think that's a problem, honestly is what matters ^u^

yeah i noticed the game and noticed only now i forgot to ask you a question but now head is empty so whatever 🫠 if you say so then brb gonna go buy pencils for xiao and you so you can fill each other's skin with drawings and writings eheh~

me too honestly, i just need to relax, eat good food and sleep for hours trapping the indigo menace in a cuddling hug >:3 for movies i'm down bad for pixar but indie and artsy sounds good too 👀 and slow dancing at night is just something sooo cute and sosksiskdjsjskwj i'm down bad pt2

we can agree that villainous fictional men >>>>>>>>> goody two-shoes hero, but morally grey characters deserve a mention of honor, a whole hall just for them @^@

NOW, ONTO THE NEW MODERN SERIES FIC FUCK I'M SO EIDJWKSNDKWJWOSJSIHS

childe you cocky little menace with that shit-eating grin 🤺 i love this type of grin it sends me on cloud nine but also actives my fighting spirit lmao

i loved every word and the implicit mention of scara's partner and childe's being colleagues, what a chaos putting those two in the same room because of their lovers (saw the other asks, died of laughter)

it had me going 👀 when reader went "one coffee for the mystery man" LIKE MAN THE AUDACITY i would have prayed the universe to swallow me especially after ginger's reply folsdoodsj so good really

also, a curiosity: since you mentioned yanqing (my son <3) does this mean that gi and hsr men will interact more often, being in the same universe? tbh knowing some characters either they will get along well or a big fight would start the moment they see each other pfft-

anyway, i think that i covered everything so that's all! as always, take care, drink water and coffee, eat healthy and sleep well at night, you can do this! and good luck with uni :3

bye bye~

— ❄️

hii great to see you back and good job on surviving!! i’ll put the answer under a cut for brevity’s sake haha

well i hope i sound and look genuine bc sometimes i feel like i don’t and if i try to sound more excited, people would probably think i’m faking it; but yeah my friends probably know by now how i act so i think i should be good :>

don’t force yourself to participate if you can’t come up with something, i promise i still have enough material to go through (me, typing a novel for a moot’s entry /aff); whenever i doodle on my arm i normally just use ball point pens or eyeliners but i also saw people using like actual colours for painting/body paint and i really want to try that; having someone drag a brush and paint over your back must be such a funny feeling <3

i’m not watching a lot of films right now, so i can’t say what my favourite genre is but i do love a good animation (i still need to see the new spiderman aaahhh); speaking of going to the cinema: there’s sth so special about going there during daytime and coming back out when it’s dark outside; imagine walking home after the film with your fave, he gives you his jacket against the chill of the evening and you laugh and joke as you discuss the film you just saw until he gently grabs your hand and starts twirling you around under the light of a street lamp… *sigh* what a dream (frantically scribbles into my notes for the modern au hshsh)

i just think villains and morally grey characters just are much more fun to explore; would i want hazbin hotel’s alastor to be real or would i like him if i met him? no because he is/was a serial killer, but in fiction? fascinating, intriguing, fun to explore; fiction just gives us the means to explore these morally not so cool actions and mindsets without most of the consequences, and i love that (also it really is sexy if a bad guy drops everything for their love; who wouldn’t want to be their partner’s priority; also also, villains with their own set of moral code, like ‘sure i’ll burn down a city but hit a woman? i would never’)

childe activates my fighting spirit in general, like come over here and let’s bicker, you gorgeous idiot, and maybe i’ll kiss you afterwards <3 and also yes that grin… it might be here bc of the writer’s bias…

i just had to make them colleagues!! please just imagine them gossiping about their bfs after work or during the double date the readers are just talking the night away whereas childe and scara just have this icy atmosphere around them, but the second their partners look over they melt bc they’re just so in love dorks, all of them

and omg yes, thank you for mentioning it, i’ve been dying for someone to point it out: it’s official, it’s a genshin/honkai shared au!! it’ll be mostly genshin with some hsr characters but yes!! they’re sharing the same universe, they will be interacting (now we wait for someone to mention the company vizion is signed under… i wonder who works there… /silly)

thank you, make sure to take care of yourself as well!! <3

#┊✩彡 divine correspondence ♡ #┊✩彡 cherished guests ♡ #┊✩彡 letter from — ❄️ anon ♡ #hey tumblr stop deleting my tags #i’m not keen on redoing them all the time #┊holly’s modern au ✩彡

[squirrelno2]

Apropos of nothing but

The thing people mean (or should mean) when they say "product of their time" is shit like this Agatha Christie I'm reading rn, where she is clearly trying to call out antisemitism in the text but also turns around and regurgitates some pretty awful antisemitism as though it's fact, like - I don't know where overall her beliefs fell, just what I read, and there's real sympathy and an attempt to dissect the English Christian attitude towards the Jewish characters presented unless I'm really misreading, but it's also deeply upsetting to see some of the shit that gets said in basically the same paragraph

(edit: actually more of this feels straight up antisemitic as I dig deeper into it, she did write from povs of characters that she clearly didn't agree with at times but I wanna make clear that I'm probably going to be retracting my opinions on her good intentions here. The rest of what I say still stands)

And I think this is important to recognise not just so we don't put ppl whose work has cultural contributions on a pedestal where we can never critique them, but also because like. She was probably saying all the polite, progressive things. We can all say the polite, progressive things. That is what makes us products of our time

The thing that helps us transcend that in our fights against bigotry is to really look at each impulse we have when discussing/describing/characterizing marginalized people, and to say "why did I choose this? Is there something else I could do that would achieve the same goal? Why is it so important to me to tell this story, and does it convey a truth or does it convey a theory I have built about the world that I always assumed is truth?" I started writing characters of colour as a teen because I knew I should, because I knew the world wasn't as white as my backyard is. I didn't know why it would matter to a reader beyond that. I just did it because that is what A Good Author does, and A Bad Author ignores poc. It's not the worst place to start, if you ask me - deeply invested in your own status as a good person or writer and therefore dangerously self centered, but a jumping off point if you're willing to learn.

The thing that took me farther was the moment I realised I didn't know why I had disdain for certain things (in my case specifically hip hop dance was the catalyst but that's a longer story). I sat down and looked at those things I ignored and claimed not to like and found that I had no tangible reason for any of that. I simply had never looked for something to love. I have found, in my time in fandom, that many people refuse to look for things to love in characters they do not associate with themselves. They might pay lip service to a character being great, say they deserve the world, but in the end these are not the characters who get endless fics and meta and art. (This is most obvious with fandom racism but it manifests with other facets of marginalisation as well) It requires an active effort, and a willingness to step beyond "I have said the right thing, the appropriate thing, the polite thing, and that means I have done it all right" into a space where you know you may get it wrong, but always in pursuit of doing something not just right but good

Anyway "products of their time" still fucked up, whether they were trying to do the Right Thing or not, and we all will fuck up, but you have to be willing to step further than politeness, and really start to conceptualize other people as being just as wholly human as you. Nobody is the guest star in an after school special about acceptance. We are, in fact, all the main characters of our own stories, constantly crossing over and spinning off, and the sooner you realize that your kindness to somebody else isn't about you being the protagonist who needs to be loved but about them being their own protagonist who deserves your respect, the better. Don't say things because you're supposed to. Say them because you thought about what they imply, and because you stand by those implications - or don't say them at all

#pity and sympathy isnt enough you have to know they are people on the other end #writing #this gets so rambly but reading agatha christie does this to me theres so much awful shit even though she does The Right Things overall

[herocarved]

If his sisters were to see how flustered he gets over even the slightest compliment, they would undoubtedly tease him for the rest of his days.

----they tease him relentlessly about Sora anyway, but that's besides the point.

He's relaxed after a long morning trip to their mother down below, the surface horizon breaking with the first burst of afternoon colour as he rises, & it's become near instinctual, now, to go to the cove they've called their own.

He's not surprised to see Sora there, though he isn't always - but it's a comfort when he is, for there always seems to be a bright smile aimed in his direction burning brighter the closer they get.

The kissing is new, too, even more so than the cove visits or anything else between them - it's like every kiss makes them bolder, more confident, & this kiss definitely lasts longer than the ones they've shared before, fingers brushing through the wet strands of his hair as his own hands catch against Sora's jaw.

He loses track of the seconds, ends up counting based on the rapid thrum of his heart in his chest, until they part - & it's fascinating, to see the way sky blues glaze over, as if this is too good to be real to Sora, & has to be a dream.

Sometimes Riku feels like that, too.

"Sorry I kept you waiting."

@dawnled

It's been a long running joke of his friends that he'll never date anyone because he's already married to the sea. They aren't --- weren't --- wrong; he'll be the first to admit he's always been bewitched by the waves, the eerie beauty, the mystery of what lays beyond where humans can physically reach.

Sometimes, he wonders if Riku is the ocean's gift to him for his earnest, lifelong commitment to its well being.

He waits on the warm sand of their little sanctuary with mounting impatience. There's homework in his backpack to do, a book about the anatomy of various species of sharks to distract him, snacks and water --- but he wants nothing more than his siren. When Riku finally does break the (relatively) tranquil surface of the water, everything, including his patience, is forgotten.

He meets him in the surf. His bare toes curl at the inevitable chill of the ocean, but it's forgotten in the velvet heat of their first kiss. It's hard to say which of them initiated it. It doesn't matter, not in the least, as his lips explore and memorize Riku's. The bitter tang of saltwater still clinging to the other's skin is forgiven.

The caress of fingers against his flesh, pressed against his jaw and cheeks, cause a hum of contentment; his own fingers catch and soothe through starlight hair, turned shades darker by the water still clinging to it. He remembers the comb and hair ties and towels tucked into his bag - and his fingers slide loose, only to catch around Riku's.

Their foreheads touch briefly.

This could be heaven.

The apology grabs his attention. His brows furrow, just slightly, and he has to force himself to focus to remember why he should be upset. But he's not. How could he be? Riku came back, after all.

"You don't need to apologize for that. I would wait the whole rest of my life for you, if I had to."

Sora tugs on those larger, gentler hands with the flash of that usual, devil-may-care smile.

"Come on. I brought snacks to share!"

And, it's likely that the rest of their afternoon would be spent in this little cove of theirs - truly, paradise. Then again, wasn't anywhere paradise, so long as Riku existed in the space?

#dawnled #ic . #v . siren cafe .

[sinkingtime]

Remaking the DCU 2: Now with facts!

If you haven't read my first DCU post, well I cannot blame you, it was long. Still, today won't make sense. I've just done the research for all the things I said I didn't wanna look up at the time.

It has also given me ideas for future stuff, which I will post at some later time; and a few corrections to the original post, which I'm having here.

At the end I have a question of the "does this make me bigoted" kind. I'm serious, I want to hear some opinions. Nonetheless, if you'd rather not interact with that, just stop reading after the bullet points.

The company Steel worked for was "AmerTek Industries". It reappears in relation to him sometimes, and was used in some of the Arkham games, but otherwise doesn't have anything.

He originally lived in Metropolis, later on moved to Washington, the real city. My movie could be in either: I would prefer to have a mix of real and fictional cities, but since the fictional ones need sets, there'll always be someone that recognizes something. You could always say it's like the Tower of Tokyo, an intentional reproduction of an existing landmark, but there's only so many times you can pull that excuse. On the other hand, I'm not filming for real, so it doesn't matter. Metropolis it is.

There's actually a "Jinx" in the comics. She's a sorceress from India, her gimmick is that she needs to touch the ground to do magic. Presumably any part of her body would work, but it seems to mostly be an excuse to draw her barefoot. Much as I may appreciate that, I'm keeping the purple one, thanks.

This movie is in the fictional Coast City. In the comic it was destroyed by Mongul, that should be the name of the "demon lord" she thinks the cult is summoning, or of the head cultist.

Because the other Jinx was indian but mine isn't, that made me look at indian heroes. I pick "Freak", with the power to control her hair, like Golden Darkness from To-Love Ru and Medusa from Inhumans, but her hair is black. Someone needs to make a crossover with women with that power in all possible hair colours.

Anyways, Freak is primarily a member of the Doom Patrol, which is a super team composed of people who are commonly ostracized as a result of their powers; sometimes they are credited with inspiring the X-men. We don't need them. Her power is due to an alien and she struggles to control it; I'd ditch the former but keep the later. Her name is Ava, no surname i can find.

Naturally, this means Coast City ends in India after the teleport. I couldn't find any fictional cities there, so just somewhere away from the ocean.

If there's the after-credits about the Wayne Foundation fixing the city, everybody always calls it just that aloud, but I want a view of some document or newspaper showing that it's formally the "Thomas and Martha Wayne Foundation".

Turns out the Wonder Twins are aliens. I'll actually go ahead and remove that, mine are just randomly powered humans. Superman and Pink Lantern fill my quota for "aliens hiding among humanity", not counting the secret civilizations.

For my original flying paramedic, both names are kinda taken, but also technically not? Curious coincidence.

"Streak" was the Flash-type from the Justice League (cartoon) episode where they travel to an imaginary world created by a dying psychic child.

There is no "Stripe" but there is a "S.T.R.I.P.E.", a giant robot piloted by Patrick Dugan, who is Stargirl's stepdad and sidekick. I actually knew that dude, he's in the show and even uses the robot sometimes; I just didn't remember the robot's name.

I also learned there is a third season of Stargirl, gotta watch that sometime.

Anyways, I pick "Streak". They clearly chose the name for the same reason I had, it sounds fast. He was clearly based on an older version of Flash, Jay Garrick I would guess, so I will go full circle: my character was inspired in-universe by the Flash in the League, made her costume similar to him. I even would like a scene, if there's screentime, where he looks at her and tells her he wishes he could also fly; maybe sincerely, maybe intentionally after seeing she's looking sad.

This probably means she's from his city, Central City, though we may also pull the doubly-fictional Seaboard City from the episode. I would like to name her after that Streak's civilian name, but he didn't have one.

King Shark is from Hawaii, so we may get a scene set there, as the heroes talk about their heroic exploits. He's sometimes descended from some vaguely mystical people, but it's probably safe to remove that. Everything else I can find about him is extremely villainous, so I was already disregarding all that.

Turns out "Static Shock" was just the name of the cartoon, the character and most versions of the comic are just "Static". I've been using both exchangeably. Sorry.

His real name is Virgil Hawkins, named after a real-life lawyer who was banned from law school on account of racism, and whose struggle against that was ultimately important in making things better. It's actually pretty heartwarming, I encourage you to read on him. For now the point is that, if Static gets teased in Justice League, it should be under his civilian name.

As I thought, the time of Robin's death was not established in BvS; the director said in an interview that he intended it to have been 10 years earlier. Good enough for me, just push Pink Lantern's timeline back those two years.

He also confirmed it's supposed to be Dick Grayson that died, but I had suspected as much and didn't care before; that's an intentional change.

Stargirl's city is called Blue Valley, in Nebraska. A previous Flash (Wally West) was also from that city, our Flash (Barry Allen) may know of it because of that.

Livewire's name is Leslie Willis.

Military ranks are a mess, changing all over time and space. I found multiple mentions of "Sergeant" being either the highest level that doesn't have subordinates or the lowest that does. So that's my choice for Supergirl, people can just assume she had leadership experience. Maybe we can even suggest it would have been true, had her future not been so heavily depopulated.

Matrix Supergirl was "an artificial lifeform", not nanobots, though I retconned that away either way. I was right that she was from a pocket universe, though it doesn't seem to have been artificially created. Most of her life is as I remembered from Death and Return, shortly after she fused with an angel and I stop caring.

For the Static movie, their powers are from the police using an untested, not-yet-approved experimental tear gas to suppress the gang fight (peaceful protest in my version). I had thought they'd just shot something they shouldn't and spilled chemicals over them. This is absolutely worth bringing over.

Now that I know his name matters, I want that to be referenced. He would have been named after the historical figure in-universe. I'm thinking a teacher guesses it's a Divina Commedia reference, and he gets up and explains.

For villains, the most interesting one is Francis Stone alias Hot-Streak, a stereotypically hot-headed pyromancer. That's definitely our cop turned superhero wannabe turned main villain.

Second most interesting was Ivan Evans alias Ebon, who can teleport through shadows and vaguely control them. If the spin-off is not (Poison) Ivy, it should be this guy.

They also have someone with blades made of light. Nothing special about him except I'm pretty sure he and Ebon are here to rip off marvel's Cloak & Dagger.

He operates out of Dakota City, as far as I can figure out the real one. That's good enough, but I do have one unsolved case of arson later; may be worth moving this all to Gotham City just to suggest that it was Hot-Streak.

Diana doesn't have as many aliases as I expected; it seems she didn't get into as many shenanigans as Superman during the Golden Age because she was too busy doing BDSM. Seriously, did you know he was the first Nightwing?

Of the aliases she's had, most of them are explicitly about her femininity; which makes perfect sense, it's just a bit inconvenient right now. I did find one mention of "Knight Eternal", but no citation or context; the only other Knight Eternal I found on DC is just an immortal who's good with swords. That's basically a lesser Wonder Woman already, hardly someone she'd usurp. I'm inclined to believe that mention was fake.

So I realized I'd been a fool. The people of the eighties will know her masked alter-ego as "The Prince". Barbara will then be "The Duke". Have their clothes be shakesperean-style, and the masks be masquerade ball masks, rather than the zorro-style thing I was imagining but didn't actually mention.

Cheetah, and specifically the Barbara Ann (surname varies) version, did indeed derive her powers from a magical artifact: a dagger she cut herself with as part of the ritual. I'm keeping my brooch but using that to rework a few things. The first time she takes it, instead of experiencing any magic, she accidentally cuts her hand. She checks the brooch but there's no blood on it, she's relieved; the audience hopefully thinks she should have been more curious about that. The initial sensory overload comes whlie she's driving home, after having stayed late at work (so Diana already went "home"), the Prince saves her from accidentally driving into the river. Since Diana later claimed they were together at the time, that means they were driving somewhere after-hours; add that to the list of things their coworkers mention innocently that make her sweat bullets.

Since she has a car now, the noise that wakes her after first putting away (but not formally Forsaking) the brooch was her own alarm. Yes I checked and they did have car alarms in '84. In the morning she finds it gone, but since she's magic now, she just runs to work. That makes Diana suspicious, she checks on the brooch but it's there and she doesn't think Barbara could have hidden it so quickly, so she just figures all that excercise was good for her friend. Also, her second round of patrols is no longer random, she's specifically hunting down her (recently expensively repaired) car, and its thief.

Turns out the Smithsonian Institute where they work is just a few blocks from the Potomac River, in Washington. So that's where she buries her friend at the end, at the bank of the river. Probably the same spot where she saved her earlier. Also, she says something like "I'm sorry it wasn't meant to be".

Turns out Rick Flag has a single "g". My bad. Nothing of interest about him, just a career soldier who ends up entangled with supers.

There's two Hawkmen. One is an alien cop, one is a human with an ancient magical and/or superscience wing pack. Also sometimes they are secretly the same, or got fused, or one was a cover for the other; this guy is convoluted. Anyways, for my version he's definitely the human, Carter Hall, either just happens to have wings or found the magic wing belt. Doesn't really matter.

Because the ex-cop from Static is now a pyrokinetic, we don't need Diablo anymore. Instead, Black Manta needs to be in Task Force X. I absolutely forgot that he had survived Aquaman. He's definitely the one with the mission to find something worth stealing, specifically picked for his existing experience with the stuff; Rick Flag knew nothing about that. He's perfect!

Supergirl's real name, so to speak, is alpha-charlie-two-five-two-alpha-charlie-two-four-seven-sierra-one-six-sierra-victor-tango-one, being the first appearances of Supergirl in general, the Legion of Superheroes and Matrix Supergirl, and the Superman vs Terminator elseworld, for fun.

Indeed it was Kara Zor-El that was a member of the Legion, though I was wrong about it being simultaneous; there's some real-life stuff, but basically she got demoted from her own comics to Superman's family to a large super-team. Anyways, I pretty much knew that it wasn't Matrix, that's an intentional change on my part.

The city she operates in is National City. So this character has two bad names associated with it. Whatever, we keep it.

I couldn't find much in the way of an actual supporting cast for her new neighbour in the end; she mostly didn't keep up her civilian identities, it seems. I could pull someone from the CW show, but instead I'm choosing her strained friend and ex-roommate from Red Daugther of Krypton (and presumably earlier), Siobhan Smythe.

Siobhan is also Silver Banshee, who has a sonic attack that also vaguely drains life, and she speaks all languages, or all languages of people she's touched, or something. I like that last power, makes me want to find an excuse to bring her back actually. For her actual scene she's just an easter egg though; maybe she wears a t-shirt for a band called "The Silver Banshees", which I checked and doesn't seem to exist; but probably not, I expect her name is weird enough to make people look it up.

Punchline is much newer than I assumed, invented during COVID. I couldn't find any info on romantic attachments or orientation for her, save for her fixation on Joker. So let's play it safe and say she doesn't hook up with Harley. She'll have to wait for Ivy I guess.

Superman's heroic montage in BvS is shorter than I'd expected. The "hands" part actually starts with him bringing a kid from a burning building; that can just be Harley arriving with the food, maybe she burned the oven or maybe we ignore that part. There's also a bit where he saves people from a flooded city, or more accurately poses dramatically in front of them with the implication that he may save them soon-ish; that's just a cat stuck in a pool, on one of those floating cushion things, she's standing at the edge judging the jump. Finally he saved a part of an exploding rocket, presumably the part that contains the astronauts; I've no idea what to do with that, the rocket isn't important, but it has to be something she'd logically carry like he was carrying the rocket piece. And it's all intercut with various news people explaining to us what Superman means to the world (because his movie didn't), so that's replaced with her therapist explaining to her how much better she seems to be doing, how proud she should be and what hopes he has for her going forward.

As mentioned, the burned beauty shop should be implied to be ex-officer Stone, from Static (unless he died in Task Force X). If that movie was moved to Gotham that's enough, if it wasn't then he had some sort of "tell" we can see in the forensic report, which they don't understand.

Looking up Chloe Sullivan reminded me her actress got involved with some bad stuff. Reminder that I like the character, not the real person. Also, don't look that up in front of children. Anyways, there isn't anything in particular about the character that I didn't remember or would like to add.

I had forgotten that Lobo is in Red Daugther of Krypton! I thought it started with the Silver Banshee fight, but actually he starts it by provoking her and then leading her to Earth when he regrets it, in hopes she has friends who can calm her down. This doesn't matter, I changed him enough and my Red Daugther is completely different, it's just a funny coincidence.

His species is called "Czarnian". So yes, Supergirl knows that, she calls him out from the bar entrance like that.

DC doesn't have a Prime Directive. Understandable. I would steal the name from Star Trek, but it's just "General Order One", not useful. The vulcans allegedly have or had a similar rule named after one "Savar", though I think that's in a novel; the only other Savar I found was a minor New Generation character, who presumably was named after the historical one, possibly retroactively. May be worth stealing his name for the one Supergirl doesn't pronounce right, but maybe we just drop that particular bit.

not!Starfire's name is Koriand'r, her planet is Tamaran, and her people are tamaranians. Also found out she uses an human name, Kory Anders. I'm keeping the "Star" hint/red herring, but she may be Star Anderson in reference. We probably wouldn't get to see that, though.

Since Coast City ended up in India, they will go straight west from the Sahara, before starting getting side-tracked by tourist stuff. Since they will pass by Alaska after all, this may be the opportunity to court that sweet, sweet Chinese propaganda money.

Found some Legion-era swearwords, most useful seems "Grife". May be worth going back to add it to Supergirl somewhere.

The first movie I couldn't fill in before will be Freak. I don't have an actual plot, but I like her power, and her city was recently tremendously disrupted, even if the foreigners have all gone back by now. Also may want to establish an excuse for why Lobo and Supergirl found Coast City fully abandoned; utilities don't work of course, but you'd expect squatters. Other than that, don't actually bring in the Doom Patrol (since she joined the League), but do check their members and common enemies for names and rough personalities for others in the cast; though nobody else should have powers, except maybe the bad guy.

The poster for Freak may change depending on what the actual plot would be, but for now I'm picturing an ornate hair comb, multiple teeth broken.

As I remembered, the video of Cyborg in Justice League (canon) was ambiguous. I now assume it was on purpose; if market research showed they should make a Cyborg movie, they wanted the liberty to give him a living father or a dead one. So for my imaginary franchise, I'm officially declaring that Bruce totally sent Diana a video of that poor dude dying. He hasn't flirted in over a decade, ok? He's rusty.

Jonah Hex unfortunately was no mage of any kind, he's just called that. He was a cowboy, from a series of western comics that DC apparently had at the beginning (or possibly before it was DC, I'm not even touching the legalese there). So I should probably check for another sorcerous character to be the mentor, there are several characters who no I like "Hex and Jinx" too much. Instead we get a mention somewhere that his great-great-something-father was adopted by a native chief, and that's enough.

No meaningful love life for Leslie Willis and no real positive relationships for King Shark, not that I expected either. Make up something.

Now that my Streak is related to Flash, "former Flash" wins out over "Starman". Probably should be Jay Garrick, though Wally West would bring Stargirl into the "people who know this dude" club.

Static's predecessor in the activist group may be named after someone from the real Virgil Hawkins' life, though not him since Static has taken that. Otherwise, Richard Osgood Foley, his friend who eventually became a gadgets-type superhero, though obviously not in my version.

Didn't even look up anything for Supergirl's brother, he was always made up, and it's not like he'll have the opportunity to tell us his name (serial).

Jonah now has a cut in his hand, which bothers him and may vaguely hinder his spellcasting. Right after Martian Manhunter announces that the possessed are fully aware of all that's going on, he apologizes to his host for having done that, then remembers he saw it so he knows why (so that he doesn't tell us), then he gets the idea to try and sèance himself. This plus the change I made to Wonder Women above is our foreshadowing for Cheetah.

Another mention of National City, Supergirl's adopted home base.

A few other mentions of Koriand'r's name, through the finale of Rebirth.

Nightwing's city is Blüdhaven. I'm giving myself two half credits for this one.

At the end of Supergirl and Wonder Woman's argument, she should hesitate at least a little before bringing up the "brother" thing. I should have used ellipsis and lowercase there.

Livewire sometimes got her powers from electricity filtered through Superman's body, and sometimes she always had minor ones that she intentionally overcharged when she went evil. What I'd really like is for her to dig up Static's corpse and somehow graft his powers to herself, possibly introducing a character or group that does that. Unfortunately, that corpse was last seen on the Moon, and it makes sense they just left him there; pretty good tombstone. So I don't know. Minor powers all along would have made her more than an easter egg, I don't like that. A less ridiculous (and Superman-less) version of the first one is probably best.

There was actually a male Cheetah, Sebastián Ballesteros. Basically nothing of his characterization is useful, mine is just a normal guy, but I'm definitely giving him the name.

Various missing mentions of Princess Koriand'r and Ruler/Castle/City/Planet/Empire Tamaran through Red, I'm not even going to pretend to have considered trying to list them individually.

As I researched the seven Lantern Corps, I was struck by just how much the others are built around the Green. I knew this, because historically Green came first and the others have been retrofitted around it, but it's still ridiculous. I'm changing them a lot, this part will be long.

The central point is that none of them are evil; individual Lanterns may be (and in fact I should probably start coming up with some) but the magic itself is just dumb emotion, looking at the world and going "look at all those nails!". It's possibly even slightly on the side of good, since I established Tests roughly around the idea of using the emotion responsibly; naturally the other colours get some too.

Green is Will, which is mostly ridiculous. Willpower is not an emotion, you can tell this is the "Protagonists" colour. I'm changing that to "Determination", as in the feeling that you must, independent of whether you can. The Test is then to show that what you have is not empty words nor mindless repetition: the magic will stop you from achieving a goal you are trying for. This is the most overt Test of them all, some candidates may actually see the green energy stopping their fists. You pass by trying to achieve your original goal in another way, or at least trying to find such a way; or as always, by some dramatic gesture that shows you will do either, so long as the emotion is genuine on your part.

The corrupted Green Test would revive people who died in trying something important, whose quests may allegedly tempt you from your own. As always, as judged by you, then those close to you, spreading outward socially.

Green tentacles are thin pyramids, and don't bend nearly as much as the others. They are the least nimble of all the colours.

Yellow is Fear, and it's also weird. You'd expect it to be for those who are afraid, but it's more for those who are scary. Stupid asymmetric emotions. I'm keeping that though; the legitimate use of fear is to react to legitimate danger, so the emotion in my Yellow is the instinct-to-warn-others (though it's still widely known as "fear"). The Test is to show your warning is both legitimate and a good reaction; the candidate will be given visions of a future they would dearly avoid but are powerless to do so, except by bringing the warning to those who could; you pass by making an honest effort to so convince them, independent of actual results. Cassandra would have been a Yellow.

Yellow Test visions (and other pre- and post-cognition) are less often illegal thank Pink's far-sight/psychological profiling; since the victim(s) and perpetrator(s) may never have overlapped in time, and indeed may be separated beyond any reasonable statute of limitations, few jurisdictions even bother and most that do have a huge amount of caveats and bylaws.

Because all Yellow Lanterns have foreseen disaster, some believe the Light engineers those situations, though this is false.

Because "powerless" is relative and world-ending threats are relatively rare, this colour recruits primarily among the downtrodden, the oppressed and the disadvantaged, whatever those may be in any given society. It is also the colour with the greatest proportion of children.

The corrupted Yellow Test will return people who are feared, be it for themselves or for the warnings they brought. It's also the easiest test to fail automatically, since many candidates were never aware of their upcoming disaster until their first vision, which in this case they would not receive.

Yellow tentacles are apparently evaporating all the time, though this is purely cosmetic; it doesn't affect the "hitbox", and you cannot inhale the emmisions.

Orange is Greed, since "green" was taken. In the comics there was actually only one Orange Lantern, who would raise a zombie army with proxy powers, I'm ditching all that obviously. The legitimate use of greed, of hoarding stuff, is to prepare for eventuality; like for Reds, the Test will manifest the default ring at the beginning, not the end; but at a distance, or under lock and key, or otherwise where the candidate can aqcuire it but not trivially; to a candidate that is currently in the middle of preparations for an important reason. You pass by deciding to take it, if your reason is that it is the best way to achieve your goal; and fail if you ignore it or if you take it for itself and forget your earlier quest. This includes if you neglect the ring for the sake of securing a resource legitimately more useful; the Light will never acknowledge that such resources could exist.

The corrupted Orange Test will return people who are useful, by whatever metric each summoner has in mind. It is probably the easiest corrupted Test to succeed at, since at least one person has most likely been selected to aid in the original quest, and procuring their help does count as attempting to seize the power of the Orange Lantern. Though it will then ironically unsummon that person and technically waste any effort spent.

Orange tentacles split into three smaller ones at the end. They require more practice to use, but a Lantern who has put in the work counts among the most nimble among all the Corps.

Blue is Hope, and it's the one I like least. I was really hoping one of them would be "pride" or "shame". Oh well. Hope is for holding you when you cannot act, so you may be ready when the time is right. The Test will then grant the candidate one miracle, repair whatever situation was threatening to crush the candidate's hopes, sometimes in ways beyond the power of actual Blue Lanterns to replicate. You pass the test by taking action, in a way that previously, allegedly, the situation was preventing you from; you fail by finding another excuse for inaction. The initial gift is not undone even if you fail, though.

The corrupted Blue Test will return people who died waiting for better times, or after having their chance taken away. Everybody else is receiving a second chance now, what will you do?

Blue tentacles are the longest, curling around the Lantern's body and spiralling outwards. They are actually incapable of straightening them fully.

Indigo is Compassion, the impulse to help and protect others. The illegitimate use of compassion is when it self-sacrifices beyond need. This is at the end of She-Ra, "You're worth more than what you can give to other people". The candidate will be in the process of helping others, and will be empowered to do so beyond their normal ability but not all of the way; the Test is to turn back, to take care of yourself even at the expense of available innocents; but still with the intention to go back and help once it is safe to do so, if there is still need. Most who fail this test do so by dying.

The corrupted Indigo Test will return those who were in great need, whom their summoner tried to help, "the one I couldn't save". Again the candidate is being tempted to stretch too thin, or else turn their back on others for good.

Seriously Adora would have failed so many times. I love that show, you should watch it.

The Indigo tentacles are covered in spikes. Those are sharp, but not nearly as much as they seem.

I also have an amendment to the literal "ring" part. Most candidates have a default ring created when they earn the power (or start being considered, for non-corrupted Red and Orange Tests), but if there's an available piece of clothing/jewelry/whatever that has significance, in a way resonant to the colour, then that may be empowered instead. With the additional caveat that the relevant item for an Orange candidate must not already be within easy reach, for the Test to proceed. That was the case for Dick Grayson, it's a coincidence that it was already a ring; he may have ended up a Lantern with a ring of a different colour, which almost makes me wish I'd done that instead now that I mention it.

This also means that nobody actually inherits Lantern magic; there won't be characters conveniently finding a dying pilot, the magic searches galaxy-wide and doesn't even have a strict personnel quota, but waxes and wanes over the ages. So the rings of dead Lanterns, those that are formally Forsaken, and any failed Reds and Oranges all fly away, to a location in Lantern Space, where they float around each other but eventually vanish into nothing. (If the magic had been transferred to another item, it flies away as pure magic, it won't steal your clothes nor seek the original default ring.) This is the origin of the common myth that they fly out in search of a new host.

That is also the reason Lantern Space is where it is; they, and those who would be interested in them, have over the aeons naturally congregated there by following rings, or reports of them; eventually meeting more of each other and building towns and so on.

Also by "Lantern Space" I mean the area they claim for their pseudo-nation, not any dimensional distortion stuff. Do I have to specify that? Oh well. Back to the plot.

In the scene where Supergirl searches for Nightwing, add Harley Quinn to the crowd. I didn't realize until rereading but she should absolutely join the League.

When she's insulting all the colours of the rainbow, I don't have pithy wording right now, but Oranges are stupid/easily surprised, Blues are lazy, and Indigos are heartless/pitiless.

Koriand'r's elder sister is Komand'r. She's much more villainous than I remembered, again mostly knowing her from the Teen Titans cartoon.

When I wrote Koriand'r's hypothetical corrupted test I established that she got a custom one, but didn't for Supergirl. That should be a general rule, it's all broadly in line with what I said above and the two originals, but appropriate to each candidate. Supergirl was trying to destroy death itself, so she would have returned killers, and specifically killers who someone despises because of their killing.

I couldn't find any fictional DC cities in Mexico or Canada, and also learned the most populated in the west is not Mexico City, but São Paulo, Brazil. So that's now where Koriand'r first landed. She definitely speaks Portuguese, may have the accent.

The Teen Titan's city is Jump City, on the west coast of the States. So she didn't simply cross the frontier after fleeing São Paulo. Let's say she flew up into space, took a lap around the sun against the Earth's travel, and happened to land there.

For the Jokerz poster, there isn't a cover like I was thinking actually. I'm picturing four faces equally spread on a square, against black, partially illuminated so we only see the right half of each, or slightly over half. It seems I mixed up the covers of With the Beatles and Let it be. So, just imagine as I described, it was never important that it be a Beatles reference.

For Red Daughter of Tomorrow, I meant the cover of the first Twilight book. I never knew the movies used generic "look at our actors" posters instead.

And with that I remind you that next comes the potentially-but-hopefully-not offensive question. Thank you if you have honest feedback, and I quite understand if you left already.

So, as I consider what may come after Red Daughter of Tomorrow, I find that I want to pull multiverse shenanigans already. I MAY be a hack.

And as I look at what I wrote and what characters may come from other universes, I realize I want Supergirl's friend, the second time traveller from the Legion, to become Power Girl.

Is that ok? Given the one-off joke that first originated the character. Is that insensitive? Relatable? Something else I can't think of? Somebody please get back to me on that.

#my writing #story rewrite #i rewrote part of my previous rewrite #so it still counts #dc #dc comics #detective comics comics #writing this i learned there is a character limit per paragraph #and that bulleted lists are in a single paragraph #and that there is actually no way on the keyboard to break into a new paragraph #you have to change the type to normal and then split and then change them back to list separately #you may be able to see weird spacing between my items because of that #and presumably it means numbered lists reset and you cannot have enough numbers #i further learned that even if you use that workaround once you save as draft #once you open to edit it will automatically merge all lists into a single paragraph so it can tell you it is over the limit #thereby forcing you to edit it all in one go #what the hell tumblr