#friendship: claudia the talented
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There is one thing i'm really wondering about.
When did Rayla fall in love with Callum? I mean i get the why, and i ship it "yay" but she was so good at hiding her emotions i can't really pinpoint when she tipped over from "Callum is a friend." to "I can't lose him."
You can pinpoint when she turned from weird ally to friend. It was when Callum asked her to go to the Banther Lodge, his "heartfelt speech" was relatable to her.
We know she was already aware of her own feelings regarding Callum by the time he did dark magic.
We also know she was already very protective of Callum by the time Villads had to stop the Ruthless because of the storm. "If you die out there, i swear i'll kill you."
Before that they were flying on Phoe-Phoe, and before that they were staying with Lujanne where the only thing remotely suggesting any of her feelings was that she was disgusted by Claudia's clear approach to Callum. Which i hardly accept as Soren was also disgusted eventhough he showed support for Callum's approach to Claudia before. And also because... as an aroace i did find it cringe too. Somehow Claudia's romantic relationships end up being cringe.
I'm sorry, idk how to say it nicely but she doesn't seem to do well in romantic relationships. She is very Azula-esque in many ways(i mean... duh) They are both very close family oriented characters, both are essencially victims of their broken family, both are incredibly talented and powerful despite being hella childish because parents forgot to raise them, oops. And being raised so fked up they seem to be unable to form actually functioning romantic relationships.
Even with Terry, i felt like Terry loves her and Claudia is just happy to have a mostly yes-man by her.
But this is a Rayla post, sidenote over.
On Callum's part i'm fairly sure by the time he used dark magic he returned Rayla's feelings, as unaware of it as he was. I mean dude pretty much decided on a whim to throw his principles out the window for Rayla's sake(and ended up corrupting his own soul in the process but he didn't know that)
You'd think that he didn't love Rayla when they were still with Lujanne because he still had a crush on Claudia, but that's not entirely correct.
In the novelization of season 2, when he hangs out with Claudia he is acutely aware of Rayla's whereabouts and opinions and doesn't want Rayla to see him with her even in pretty normal circumstances. The guy just... didn't think it's weird to be hyper aware of someone who he apparently has no feelings for.
So... what's my guess on when Rayla started feeling more than friendship towards Callum?
Hmmm.
Probably when they made up on the frozen lake where they dropped Zym's egg.
And Callum eeeehhh probably earlier he just didn't know? I mean in chapter 14 "the sad prince" he was completely unaware he drew Rayla and he quickly hid it from her when she returned, eventhough Callum is not shy of his drawings.
Siiigh... book 3's novelization is still months away, i wonder what insight that's gonna give.
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wip whenever
yeah this is getting long. No there’s no end in sight. Yes I’m enjoying the Sheriff’s POV.
Tagged by @outtoshatter for a wip whenever. Thanks for the tag lovely. Tagging (no pressure) @tkwritesdumbassassins @monsterrae1 @redhoodiskra @missanniewhimsy @whimsyswastry @kikiroo and how about @scoobybuddie. No pressure as always if you want to play along, this is just for fun.
Wip whenever banner by the talented @radio-chatter
Title: Suspicions, from the Firefighter!Derek AU series
Fandom: Teen Wolf, borrowing of a few characters from 911 Lonestar that pop in from time to time.
Working summary:
Noah had his suspicions about the Hale fire. With Laura Hale dead and animal attacks increasing exponentially, he knows that Derek is not the problem but possibly an answer to the question of what is going on in Beacon Hills.
Tags/warnings: timeline what timeline? ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE people! Firefighter!Derek (see series). Whump and angst for Derek! Sheriff Stilinski figures it all out, TW canon levels of violence and mayhem. FIRST DRAFT (ish).
Noah gets to go home at a regular time for once. Stiles is home and does the whole dog and pony show of being annoyed about his grounding, but he still makes dinner all the same—tofu stir fry and brown rice.
His son is not punishing Noah for grounding him. He is quote-unquote “worried about his dad’s health” and giving Noah a heart-healthy meal to make up for all his dietary indiscretions when Stiles can’t monitor him. His son’s spies—Roberta and Bobbie—had told Stiles about the trips to the local diner for lunch three days in the last week.
Even Claudia and her crunchy granola self would have said that the stir fry lacked flavor, if healthy, and was somewhat sad looking. Noah just tries to swallow without tasting it after the first few bites.
“So, what’s new at school?” Noah asks, making conversation.
“Not much.”
Stiles is mostly pushing his own stir fry around his plate instead of eating it. Noah knows that Stiles actually likes the healthy food that he makes, so something is bothering his kid.
“And Scott?”
Hit landed. Stiles’ jaw clenches, and his eyebrow twitches, telling Noah that Scott is the source of Stiles’ current agitation.
“He’s dating this new girl, Allison.”
“A new girl? “Allison, who? I don’t think you’ve mentioned her before.”
“Allison Argent. Her family just moved back to town—she lives in the Heights.”
The Heights was the wealthier part of town and a new subdivision that Mitchel Martin had developed about fifteen years ago. The last name Argent was familiar somehow but not ringing any immediate bells. However, the face his son had made told Noah that Stiles wasn’t one hundred percent happy that Scott was dating her.
“Is this Scott’s first girlfriend?”
Stiles rolls his eyes at him. “You know it is, Dad.”
Ah. It looks like Melissa might owe him twenty bucks as she’d been sure Stiles would finally get a date from Lydia Martin before her son would find a girl, given Stiles’ five-year plan that they’d both laughed over. “Scott ditching you for her?”
His son huffs, annoyed, and waves his fork around in agitation, punctuating his speech. “Yeah. Everything’s Allison this and Allison that. Ohh Allison, you’re pretty brown eyes and long flowing hair.”
Noah nods. He remembers what it could be like when he and his friends first discovered girls (and boys). The rearrangement of priorities could strain even the strongest of friendships, and Stiles had picked Scott over Jackson in the third grade when Rafael and Melissa had divorced. Since then, it’d been Scott-and-Stiles for everything, and now it wasn’t, and Scott was leaving Stiles behind for a girl.
“He ignoring you for her?”
“Yeah. He’s being stupid over her.”
“How so?”
“Doing stupid stuff, Dad. Showing off,” Stiles grumbles, then takes a vicious bite of tofu, jaw working the food aggressively. “Doesn’t think of consequences.”
“What kind of consequences?”
Stiles pauses, eyes dropping to his plate and suddenly fascinated by the little pieces of vegetables, and shrugs. “Just school and stuff.”
Noah suspects the ‘and stuff’ is more than just hanging out with Stiles and maybe explains why Stiles has been poking his nose into things he shouldn’t as of late. However, Scott had called the tip line, so where did Derek come into this?
“So, how’d you meet Derek Hale?”
Another direct hit—Stiles looks up at the mention of Derek’s name, and a faint creeping blush starts covering his son’s neck. “Just ran into him,” he squeaks.
“And when was that?”
Stiles is again fascinated by his food. “A few days ago.”
Noah wonders if Stiles has figured out he plays for both teams yet.
“It was pretty cruel—what you and Scott did to him, accusing him of murdering his sister.”
Stiles has the good grace to look embarrassed. “Yeah. That wasn’t nice of us.”
“I expect better from you, kid. She was his only family.”
The guilt he’s shoveling piles on and Stiles now is completely abashed about his actions. “I didn’t think.”
“Well, next time do. You’re smarter than this. Think things through.”
“Yes, Dad.”
Figuring he’s made his point, Noah switches topics. “So what sort of report am I going to get tomorrow when I go to your teacher conferences?”
Stiles gulps. “Um… depends on what you’re wanting.”
“Turning in work on time, no behavioral issues,” Noah starts to list off.
“You uh… might want to redefine the no behavioral issues…”
Well, at least it sounds like Stiles is turning in his homework on time.
#wip whenever#teen wolf#pre-sterek#sheriff Stilinski figures it all out#Derek hale whump and angst#Derek hale#Sheriff stilinski pov#Firefighter!derek series#Firefighter!derek#borrowing of 911 Lonestar characters#First draft#alternative universe#timeline what timeline
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We need the full lashings against the margarita show
Honestly, I don't have much new to say except that it's actually such a bummer to see a book I love this much be turned into not only a bad adaptation, but a bad show. If it made a lot of changes but was well-written and created, I'd get over it. One example of an adaptation of a book I enjoyed that was a bad adaptation but a good movie is A Simple Favor--it's really not all that much like the book and has a totally different ending, but tbh? The stylistic choices made it better. This can be done. Interview with the Vampire (the show) changed a lot of things about the source material--the time period, Louis and Claudia's race and origins, a lot about Daniel, the explicit sexuality and romance of Louis and Lestat's relationship--but it honestly, for the most part, elevated the story.
But this is like... legitimately a super weak show. I've actually never experienced this before lol. Most of the books I truly love love love don't get turned into shows or movies, and those that have I'm usually pretty happy with. This is new for me!
(Also, wasn't Nicky an Italian prince in the book? This is such a non-issue, but I feel like random Italian royalty~ is way more believable than random Irish royalty. For fuck's sake, a Borghese "prince" was on THE BACHELOR. Beverly d'Angelo was married to an Italian prince. They're not that hard to find. WHERE ARE THESE IRISH PRINCES??)
Special callouts for the latest batch include:
--the "I don't regret that dress", an objectively cool, punchy line that absolutely sums up Daisy's character--a woman who's lived hard and wild and is aware that she's messy and feels bad about some things but also objectively enjoys certain aspects of living hard and perhaps misses them--getting flipped into "I don't regret that day". LOL. WHAT WAS THE REASON. That's what I don't get about so many adaptational choices. There's no fucking reason. No reason at all. It really feels, sometimes, that they want Daisy to be more approachable and everygirl when the point of her appeal is that she isn't approachable and everygirl. You aren't supposed to identify with Daisy; you're supposed to admire her, want to be her, and then realize that there is a catch to being as cool as Daisy. You also have to commit to being as fucked as she is.
--Simone's queer disco queen subplot was legitimately one of the most interesting things the show has given (the song was one of the better ones too, even if the lyrics were... still rough....) but ultimately, she still exists to go save Daisy and that sucks. Honestly surprised the show didn't replace Simone going there with more DaisyBilly fanservice. There's a lot the show sort of skirted around about Simone wanting to be successful as easily as Daisy, a privileged white woman, could be; how much she wanted to be open with her own truly committed lesbian relationship the way Daisy could be about her fly by night straight marriage. But rather than delving deep, we have Daisy literally going "IT'S LIKE YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH ME OR SOMETHING" a la Regina George.
And if Daisy had been sympathetic versus obnoxious up until this moment, if we'd had real investment in that friendship, I think it could've read as a slap in the face. Like "oh wow, this woman who seems cool and chill and impossibly chic is actually a fucking messy drug addict who, like many addicts, says ridiculously gross, fucked up shit in a moment, she is cool and she is chic and she is talented but she has a serious ugly side", which is something I think... Let's give an example. A Star Is Born (2019)! Did well. Yeah, you could make jokes about Jackson Maine pissing his pants, but to ME, the moment that rang as "oh this is ugly, even though he's been so lovely otherwise" is when he, while shitfaced and jealous, calls his wife, who he knows is insecure about her looks, ugly to her face. While she's naked in front of him. That scene, after you watch how loving and tender he is, even while fucked up, reads as a harsh slap. It's very realistic, if you've been around people who are otherwise loving and amazing, who struggle with addiction. They do that shit. It hurts. It doesn't necessarily invalidate who they are when they're in better places; which makes it hurt more.
Daisy has been so fucking obnoxious when she's... Sober? High but reading sober because the show hasn't gone in on how much of an addict Daisy is and their version of "functional heavy drug user" is "basically sober, maybe a little stoned"? That this moment just read as more of Daisy being obnoxious. Plus, a lot of this agency is taken from Daisy's hands, and we're told that Nicky is manipulating her. The thing is that Nicky was a total symptom in the book--he was a symptom of Daisy's addiction issues, her mental health problems, and her damage with Billy. He was not a cause. He may not have encouraged her to get better, he may have sped up some escalation, but honestly? Daisy was already a pretty fucking messy person before marrying him. Daisy was already showing up high and drinking throughout the day. She handled it worse on the tour, but a lot of that was touring and having to be around Billy while being in love with him and rejected by him. The show, imo, has done such a poor job of portraying the extent of Daisy's issues that it feels like they suddenly RAMP UP in these episodes, when in fact Daisy had always been an addict with PROBLEMS PROBLEMS, which is! A huge reason! Why Billy can't be with her. The show boils a lot of that down to Camila v. Daisy, and while Billy's love for Camila (and his kids) was a major roadblock... It's possible that if Billy and Daisy had met while he was married to Camila but without the addiction issue in hand? Maybe things would've been different. I don't know. Maybe. But Billy also literally wanted to be alive and a present father, and he could've done that had he and Camila broken up, but he couldn't have done that had he relapsed.
--I found the "Daisy in the shower with Billy" scene so funny. It was just so... corny. Like, this literally reads as bad fanfic. Camila is shuttled off to the side, barely present and mostly dealing with a guy who she isn't into. Billy is holding Daisy and going "LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME! NOAH THIS ISN'T YOU". It's so unbelievably corny. Billy in the book would've been wrecked about Daisy almost dying and then sublimated that by keeping his distance and then showing up to be like ".... so was it worth it? Almost dying for a bump" and then they would've either been completely cold or had some massive blowup about a song.
Similarly, the way Billy and Daisy fight on this show is so contrived lmao. A lot of the way they fought in the book was similar to how they expressed their love; the love was conveyed in lyrics and performance. The anger was conveyed into conflict about the music, which the show sorta does but it also has them getting up in each other's face to scream about Nicky, and it seems like they are BEGGING you to believe in the chemistry and I.... don't.
--The downplaying of Camila is very sad, and I find it endlessly hilarious that the show is all "pat us on the back, we champion diversity by having Simone go from The Black Best Friend to The Black Best Friend with a Minor Subplot, also Billy's Latina wife is going to be more complacent and mostly just sad about his cheating and probably die sooner also".
Again I say, as Warren and Camila speak Spanish to each other and Eddie gives us his best Nice Guy... If we were going to give Camila full affair.............. why not have it be Warren......
--Karen just announcing her relationship with Graham, which was a full secret in the book even decades later, in order to prop up Graham's ego.................. truly wild. Lol so much of Karen on the show is about male ego, it's ridiculous.
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Okay, Ik I already asked you this but what are Francesca’s and Ariel’s relationships like with the rest of the members of New Directions?? GIMME ALL THE DIRTY DETAILS!!!
Francesca has an one night stand/friends with benefits relationship with Puck (who’s faceclaim is Charles Melton), but they do remain friends.
When Sam begins dating Quinn, she feels very jealous, and that is before she realises that she’s in love with Sam.
Her closest friend is Kurt, and she gets on pretty well with Blaine too.
Francesca can’t stand Rachel, and finds her to be ‘a right diva’ and feels ‘there’s only room for one drama queen’ which she means herself.
At first, she doesn’t get on well with Santana (and there’s loads of girl fights!!) but eventually Francesca calls her ‘one of her closest friends’ and she is very supportive when Santana comes out as lesbian.
She isn’t the biggest fan of Finn, at first. She was very angry at him, when he ‘outed’ Santana, but she eventually tolerates him. She thinks him and Claudia (who she has an opposites attract friendship) are really sweet and are actually perfect for each other.
She finds Brittany to be ‘very sweet’ and ‘totally harmless’.
She thinks Mercedes is very talented, and thinks if it weren’t her, that Mercedes should be in the limelight, instead of Rachel.
She gets on well with Mike, Matt, Artie and Tina too. When she graduates, she helps Mike and Matt set up a dance studio, and helps Mike runs street dance classes for young children (when she’s not busy with her modelling schedule), and when she was in school, she was the biggest Tike shipper.
Despite their different personalities, Ariel is very close to her sister Rachel. Ariel is the youngest twin, so as the older twin.. Rachel always likes to take charge of things, and Ariel just tags along with it. If people were bullying Rachel, Ariel would always defend her, and show those people that she’s not one to mess with.. even giving them a few bloody noses.. (let’s say that Ariel is definitely no stranger to detention 😉)
Artie and Tina are her closest friends, and they’re always together. When Ariel graduates, she becomes a successful tattoo artist, and she (along with Tina) help Artie design the sets for his films.
She finds Brittany to be ‘very annoying’ and ‘dumb’ and you would find her ‘rolling her eyes’ every time Brittany says something. Eventually Ariel would realise that she finds Brittany to be ‘hilarious’ and would always go to her if she needs a laugh.
There’s definitely loads of girl fights between her and Santana, but eventually Ariel would admire her growth and attitude.
She can’t stand Finn, and doesn’t know why Rachel finds him so attractive, and while she thinks Claudia is ‘mousey and naive’.. she admires her for helping Rachel ‘move on’ from Finn, and eventually become her own independent woman.
Ariel tolerates Kurt, Blaine, and Mercedes. She finds Sam to be ‘sweet and harmless’, and she has this thing where she gives everyone nicknames and she’s named Francesca and Sam ‘Barbie and Ken’ and Sugar and Rory ‘Midge and Allen’ even though, Francesca and Sam mostly have nothing to do with both Rory and Sugar.
Thank you so much for the questions @luucypevensie!!! 💕
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┈ ⟡ ( 𝑎𝑢𝑔𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝚑𝑜𝑙𝑡 ) ! JW4
name. augustine holt | age. 24 | 11/15 | scorpio | entp
occupation. piano teachers’ assistant | single
born & raised in nyc, new york, usa.
sexual orientation. straight
┈ ⟡ ( 𝑝𝚑𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 )
light brunette layered midi cut, with wispy bangs and big brown doe eyes. standing at about 5’6ft tall, augustine has the physique of a model — semi tall and skinny.
her aesthetic/style is downtown girl, containing numerous jeans and sweaters for the winter, and for summer it’s mini jean skirts and camis, overall good fashion sense.
faceclaim: claudia gomez | voice claim: hailee seinfeld
┈ ⟡ ( 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 )
very welcoming and usually quiet, has a small group of friends and enjoys going to cafes. she makes jokes, uses sarcasm frequently even whenever unnecessary due to nervousness.
talents include playing piano, and writing, thanks to the many books she reads in her free time, along with the movies she enjoys watching.
she listens to music frequently, usually oldies.
negative attributes. comedic relief, burnout, maladaptive daydreamer, overthinking, hiding emotions, people pleaser.
positive attributes. very friendly and not shy, loyal, brave, helpful, intelligent, golden retriever energy.
likes : dogs, macarons, walking, autumn, modern architecture, playing the piano, falling in love.
dislikes : degrading, intense violence / gore, isolation, being lonely in general, fear of not being pretty enough.
┈ ⟡ ( 𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 )
Augustine Holt grew up in the bustling streets of New York City, surrounded by the sounds of the city and the sights of its towering skyscrapers. From a young age, she displayed a natural talent for music, particularly the piano. Despite her modest upbringing, Augustine’s parents recognized her potential and encouraged her to pursue her passion.
After completing her education, Augustine found herself working as a piano teacher’s assistant, sharing her love for music with eager students. It was during this time that she crossed paths with John Wick, who happened to be seeking piano lessons to fill the void left by his late wife, Helen. Augustine was initially taken aback by the mysterious and stoic demeanor of the infamous assassin, but over time, they formed a unique bond built on mutual respect and shared experiences of loss.
As Augustine’s friendship with John grew, she found herself drawn into his world of danger and intrigue, encountering other key players such as Winston and Charon along the way. Despite her initial reluctance to involve herself in the violent underworld of assassins and criminal syndicates, Augustine’s loyalty to John compelled her to stand by his side, offering support and assistance whenever needed.
┈ ⟡ ( 𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑤 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑠 )
Though she has had many relationships in the past, she is yet to bloom, or in simpler words, she’s a virgin. she’s a total party girl, but deep down she just wants to be cared for and loved, and yes, she is very submissive.
kinks: praise, large age-gap, bdsm, dirty talk, toys, filming, use of daddy, being bratty, foreplay, fingering, oral (giving & receiving) but of public play, clothed sex, slight humiliation, innocence play, aftercare.
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Little Women OC Masterlist (wip)
Lottie March
Full Name: Charlotte March
Nickname(s): Lottie
Face Claim: Olivia Cooke
Alternate Face Claim(s): To fit with the 1994 Little Women, Maya Hawke; for the 2019 Little Women, Kathryn Newton
Fic Title: TBD
Place in the Age Order: The middle child, younger than Jo and older than Beth
Love Interest(s): She does end up married but she doesn't really have one.
Biography Stub: What is it they say about middle children? They get the least amount of attention from their parents and develop different characteristics and personality traits from their siblings. While oldest children can be dominant and conservative and youngest children ambitious and privileged, the middle child is often cooperative and independent.
While her sisters all have artistic talents (Meg in acting, Jo as a writer, Beth at the piano, and Amy as an artist), Lottie aspires to become a doctor like her idol Elizabeth Blackwell. She hates when her sisters fight and like Jo, she has a tendency to go off on her own.
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Frances Knight
Full Name: Frances Knight
Face Claim: Connie Jenkins-Greig
Alternate Face Claim(s): To fit with the 1994 Little Women, Claudia Jessie; for the 2019 Little Women, Tamzin Merchant
Fic Title: TBD
Love Interest(s): Beth March
Biography Stub: Amy's wealthy school friend who develops a friendship with and fondness for Beth and takes her with her to Italy.
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I’ve moved around a lot. I’ve gotten to know lots of people, have a dozen of best friends, and shared my life with a hand full of people - for better and for worse.
some times I imagine what they are doing, and I feel a physical pain, a stab in my chest, a lump in my throat, the seizing of my stomach. I cant help but wonder if my name ever passes their thoughts.
how often do they think of me? or am I a school friend they cant quite remember the name of. Am I spoken about in old friendship groups. Do they hold on to the past like I do? Do they dream of what would have happened if I had stayed? Do they miss me? Did they love me?
Is Daisy doing her laundry right now or on the phone her partner? Did her parents ever forgive each other.
Did Ellen sleep in today? Does she still paint, she was so talented.
Is Harry going church this weekend? Has Harry grown up, did he every recognise the pain he caused me.
Where does Claudia live now? Did she ever know why she stopped being friends with me.
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for the ship thingy: jay x carlos, simon x izzy, mal x evie
jay x carlos: otp (bc my sons are not straight HOWEVER, i love lonnie x jay bye)
simon x izzy: otp
mal x evie: otp
thank you claudia!!
“send me 3 names”
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The Lady Whistledown issue in the show will be much more interesting and FUN! I'm here for the drama!!!! Eloise's season will have the consecuenses of the reveal as side plot and I'm all for the oldest Bridgerton bros to take the wheel, the show made Eloise and Benedict the closest to each other so I wouldn't be surprise if Anthony lets Benedict handle the Phillip/Eloise situation while he make his best with the whole Whistledown (bc there's no way the show Bridgertons will be happy about it)
Hi anon! I am so here for the drama as well. I think they'll really throw a curveball into the future seasons and I can't wait to see what it is. That's a v good point-Eloise's season will have to focus on that as the book was so frustrating as if Penelope hadn't said a lot of bad things about everyone? It wasn't all bad but especially in the show-she's hurt a lot of her closest friends and family.
I'm really hoping we see Anthony have a close relationship with Francesca, Eloise, Hyacinth or Gregory in S2-my hope is it's Francesca as she was barely in S1 and she's old enough to have more mature conversations. They need to build her character more as well.
I love the Benedict and Eloise's friendship. The Bridgerton boys crashing into Philip's house to fight him and rescue Eloise was the highlight of TSPWL and I loved Eloise/Anthony's moment in the study, and how Anthony talks about Kate <3 Anthony will definitely have to take charge of the Whistledown aftermath.
So excited to see what's in store for us! I saw Chris VD said he was in LA editing the first two episodes which is a really good sign? I don't know a lot about the post-production process but I imagine it takes months and months and Netflix have a habit of pushing out shows anyway! I wish it would come out at Christmas but I'd say we're looking at April 2022 earliest, maybe even Summer.
The fact it got multiple Emmy nominations is so good but tbh, Rege's was a popularity nomination rather than an acting one. I do think Simon's story and his trauma from his relationship with his father was not done well in the show and he didn't have a lot to work with but it just isn't Emmy worthy. If Rege got one, it's very unfair Phoebe has been snubbed yet again like she has since Bridgerton came out-all the attention has gone to Rege and it's not been very fair. I'd be saying the exact same thing about Phoebe as well, it wasn't an Emmy worthy performance but she definitely deserved it more than Rege did if someone had to be nominated.
I don't know if this is me snooping for drama but I noticed that all of the cast congratulated the show for the best drama but no one directly congratulated Rege? I really wonder if he just didn't get along with the cast or something or his exit has left bitter feelings.
I was very surprised when I saw his nomination. Having him in a category with the likes of Josh O'Connor, Matthew Rhys and Billy Porter for Bridgerton? He is a very good actor but this was not an Emmy worthy performance at all, I saw him in Roots and he was ten times better. Josh has the win already for the Crown, he was phenomenal in that. I adore Bridgerton but I wouldn't have given a nomination to any of the actors except Adjoa Andoh.
I don't know how this year's nominations will impact next years, the Emmys can be funny-but I have watched nearly everything Jonathan Bailey has been in and seen some of his stage work on YT and the man has won an Olivier! He's so bloody talented and I love him. I've seen some of Luke Thompson's stage work on Youtube as well and the man is talented. Out of the main cast, I think Johnny, Luke Thompson and Claudia Jessie are the most talented actors.
Anthony's storyline is an excellent opportunity for raw, emotional acting that I think Jonathan will be able to pull off if it's good writing. Jonathan B also has great range and he was hilarious in Crashers so the frustration and arguments with Simone are going to be very fun to watch as his expressions and brooding were hilarious in S1. He's the main main this season so he's going to have a big opportunity to showcase his talent. I've only seen Simone in Sex Education and she's hilarious in it but it's a small role and it's not enough for me to have an opinion really on her acting yet! I think she's amazing and from the praise she's been getting from Chris and the cast, I think she's going to be a brilliant Kate. The two of them on screen are going to be electric and the chemistry is going to be off the charts. This is her big break and I’m so excited for her, she deserves it so much and a good few actors get nominations from their big breaks and I would be thrilled to see it!
Luke Thompson could do very well in his season as well but there's definitely not as much to work with it as Anthony's storyline but they'll definitely give him something more. Claudia is incredibly expressive and absolutely hilarious-I can't wait to see what she does with Eloise and what they have in line for her, I'm guessing it's just hunting for Lady Whistledown.
I hope I don't sound negative here, I do adore the cast and they are all very talented! I really rambled on here haha, apologies! Hope you're having a good day anon :)
#bridgerton#do I ever stop talking? No x#anthony bridgerton#regé jean page#jonathan bailey#simone ashley#claudia jessie#eloise bridgerton#kate sharma#kate sheffield#phoebe dynevor#luke thompson#benedict bridgerton#the viscount who loved me#emmys#bridgerton discussions
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childhood friends to lovers/growing up together sterek fic reclist
uhh this kinda got a lil angsty but i recommend you pick a growing up together fic and listen to this song i promise you will not regret it
https://open.spotify.com/track/5Dz8nrwQlPLE68WaTEIqY5?si=aogjMc1aToSALmAlfQOR7A
anyways as usual check tags please!!
(click on the title for the fic)
you know you're on my mind
bibliosexual
Summary:
If there’s one thing Derek’s learned in life, it’s that crushing on someone who lives on an entire other fucking continent is probably a bad idea.
(hs!au + texting!au + childhood friends to lovers the ULTIMATE fluff fic)
i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart) (series)
yodasyoyo
Summary:
Stiles is six years old when he first hears Derek's voice in his head.
Or what happens if you have a soulmate bond, in a universe where soulmate bonds don't exist?
Up Down Lock Unlock
isthatbloodonhisshirt (wasterella)
Summary:
“Why are you going into grandma Ito’s apartment?” he asked.
Derek turned to him, key sliding into the lock. “What do you mean?” He tried to turn it, but the key wasn’t budging. Maybe the lock was sticking again, it’d been doing that the past few days.
Stiles was staring at him like Derek was stupid.
Derek did not appreciate sass from a ten year old.
“That’s grandma Ito’s place.”
“No,” Derek said calmly, pulling the key out and then shoving it back in, wiggling it a little when it continued to refuse to unlock the door. “This is my place.”
“I think you’re on the wrong floor then, because that apartment belongs to grandma Ito.”
(time travel counts as childhood friends right?)
the difference between going back and going home
thepsychicclam
Summary:
Stiles and Derek were inseparable growing up, but then college, jobs, and life happened. When Stiles comes back to Beacon Hills a decade later, he doesn't expect to reconnect with Derek, and he sure doesn't expect to fall in love with him.
It's Such a Gas When You Bring Up the Past
orphan_account
Summary:
Stiles finds a box of old photo albums that dredge up the sweet, the funny, the adorable, and the mildly heartwrenching parts of his and Derek's past.
(mainly a friends fic but its too cute to not include)
It's Always Been You
charlesdk
Summary:
Stiles' love life was practically non-existing, always had been. He was always terrible at picking up clues when people hit on him (it had happened, Erica had been witness to it and had been the one to let him know it was happening in the first place) because he never expected anyone to do so.
He wasn't the most desirable guy around, he knew that. He was loud, extremely nerdy, never knew when to stop talking, not exactly much of a looker if you asked him, the list was endless.
Point was, he never did know when someone was flirting with him. Which was probably how he ended up in the fight that would change his life for the better.
Lead You Home Again
GotTheSilver
Summary:
The first time Derek meets Stiles, the kid’s brown eyes are wide, and he’s staring up at him with a mischievous grin as he tugs at the arm of Derek’s first ever Batman figure like he’s trying to separate it from Batman’s body.
An alternate take on Teen Wolf, wherein Stiles and Derek are childhood friends, and things unfold from there.
Kingdom By The Sea
kilaem
Summary:
Lydia grabs his arm and pulls him down in the seat next to her. “When the hell did you find time to bag a guy like Hale?”
“We’re friends,” Stiles feels his face heat up, and then the team are running out and Derek sees him and smiles. His blush gets worse.
“Oh really?”
“Our moms were friends, okay? We’ve been in diapers together.”
“I thought you two hated each other.”
Those That Bump In The Night
bleep0bleep
Summary:
A boy’s head appears upside down, hanging off the bed. “Is anyone there?” he calls out curiously, looking right at Derek’s eyes.
Caught, then. The protocol for being deliberately seen by a child is just to look as strange and fearsome as possible. No one would believe them, anyways. But Derek is tired, and he’s been running and scared, and now he just kind of flickers, curling out a tendril of dark smoke, hoping that he’s a little bit scary.
No such luck.
The boy’s eyes widen. “Oooh, are you the bogeyman?”
“Bogeyperson,” Derek says, before he can help himself.
~
When Stiles was a boy, he had an imaginary friend named Derek. Ten years later, Derek comes back, and is very, very real.
Five Times Derek and Stiles Kissed For Practice (And One Time They Didn't)
mikkimouse
Summary:
In which Derek and Stiles grow up together and practice kissing, roughly in that order.
216 + 1: Words To Say Instead of I Love You
briggs
Summary:
Derek and Stiles have been best friends for fourteen years. They have their differences, sure, but it's never been a question for them. Their friendship has been the most solid thing in their lives -- until suddenly it isn't anymore.
Funny how just a few choice words can throw fourteen years of friendship off-balance.
OR
a collection of "Bro, That's Gay" one-shots that actually ended up turning into a concrete storyline.
hope is the thing with feathers (part of a series)
ShanaStoryteller
Summary:
Stiles is ten when he saves the Hales from their burning home and Derek from a wolfsbane bullet, and this establishes a pattern that seem to continue indefinitely.
"Then he's facing a burning home, and he wraps the hood of his sweatshirt around his mouth before he pushes the door open and steps inside. There's Mr. Hale asleep - he hopes asleep - on the couch, next to - Stiles thinks that's his brother but there are so many Hales, who can keep track. He rushes over and starts shaking him, can see the rise and fall of the man's chest so he knows he's alive, but he's not waking up.
He shoves away his hood so he can shout, "Mr. Hale! You have to get up, there's a fire! Mr. Hale, get up!" Nothing, he's not even twitching, both of them taking in deep even breaths like they're having the most peaceful of rests, and Stiles is going to cry. "Wake up, wake up, wake up!"
There's a moment, where all Stiles can hear is the blood rushing in his ears and not the roar of the flames or the creak of wood, then with a violent, silent pop it's all back and both of the men are gasping awake, eyes open and jumping to their feet. "
(one of my favourite fics like EVER)
it came from the trees
whatshouldntbe
Summary:
“Don’t worry, Scott caught me up on everything,” Kira assures with a bubbly smile via video-chat. “You and Derek, huh? I probably should have seen that coming. I always thought it might be Cora, but Derek was the one that looked at you how I used to look at you.”
Stiles goes a little pink. “It’s still kinda new but, yeah. I really like him. He’s...” Beautiful. Patient. Smart. Painfully honest. Sweet.“...a total dork.”
Kira laughs and laughs. When she gets herself together, she replies, “Yeah, those little hearts and stars in your eyes definitely say different."
or
Stiles moves from the shiny, fast-paced lifestyle of Los Angeles to the foggy, sleepy town of Beacon Hills so his dad can become the new sheriff. Newly fifteen, he does his best to finish out his freshman year of high school (by staying under the radar) when he suddenly becomes the Beyoncé of the Supernatural community. And, without much prompting on his part, he ends up catching the eye of one of the most prominent Werewolf families in all of North America. It literally all starts with a stuffed animal(s).
(oh god this fic is the literal best even though its abandoned it ends at okay-ish place. this is one of the best hale family characterisations ive ever read. if you squint it can be a childhood friends to lovers fic but im including it anyway bc its amazing)
Promises aren't Meant to be Broken
paradis
Summary:
“Thanks for saving me,” Stiles blurts out, staring up at Laura, wide eyed.
Laura grins. “I like you,” she says, “we’ll be friends.”
(more laura and stiles besties centric but totally worth a read)
The Things We See
MelodramaticSalad
Summary:
Stiles grew up in the life of knowing that there was always more to life than what others saw with a first glance. Even as a child he saw things that no one else seemed to and always had a fascination with the unusual.
Some considered him an unusual child, but Claudia welcomed every single quirk her son displayed. His mother had a few special talents of her own and thrilled her to see it in her son as well. She'd raised Stiles to always keep his mind open and as grew and started to display his powers, she began to teach him how to use them. She even taught Stiles about werewolves at a young age, his infatuation with them growing once he had learned the truth about her closest friend.
Stiles spent nearly every possible moment that he could roaming the Hale house, following after the middle child most of the time. Derek was three years older than Stiles, but the bond they developed with each other was something their mothers considered out of a story book. Like Derek, Stiles was sensitive to his emotions, but unlike Derek, Stiles didn't need a scent to figure it out. He could feel it.
take me back
matildajones
Summary:
“I dare you to kiss me,” Stiles taunts, and he’s not expecting the way Derek says a naughty word under his breath and then leans forward.
Stiles yelps. He just dodges Derek’s mouth before he’s laughing wildly and running through the trees, calling out a series of ew ew ew as Derek chases him back home.
#sterek#sterek fic recs#childhood friends to lovers#au#growing up toget#reclist#teen wolf#stiles stilinski#derek hale#hale pack
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what do you think of rayllum in season one? ( i haven't watch tdp in awhile and i may watch it again anyway) do you think they were well development in season one? sorry i really like to know your option on this
Season one Rayllum lit a fire in me that never went out. If you want a bit of both my own Rayllum and fandom related history you can check out this post here. If you want a closer insight into what I saw in season one Rayllum, this early meta does a good job at summing it up. If you want more specific thoughts on some of their season one moments, you can check under the Season One header on my Meta Page here.
But, in the context of having the entire first arc of the series (in their relationship), I think season one Rayllum was absolutely perfect at setting up everything that relationship would grow to be in addition to being a masterful demonstration of building a sufficient bond to begin with, because like — season one (and season one Rayllum has to do a lot).
There’s about an episode and a half before they meet and we have their characters independently established. On the surface they could not seem more different. Callum is safe but awkward living at the castle and has a crush on Claudia. Rayla is almost immediately embroiled in an ethical dilemma and failure in her eyes. She’s extremely athletic. Callum is not. Rayla is independent and somewhat abandoned by her family. Callum grapples with being a protective older brother and part of a family unit.
Yet the parallels, not just the contrast, are already quickly being laid.
Right off the bat, Callum and Rayla’s relationship is developed in a way that no one else’s is. For example, while the trio is undeniably the heart of the show — including Ez and Callum’s brotherly relationship and Ezran and Rayla’s deep friendship — Ezran is introduced to Rayla in the context of a trio scene. When he meets her, Callum is already there. Alternatively, Callum and Rayla’s solo first meeting and its various stages — the hallway, the battlements, Viren’s office and the debate — have already developed their individual dynamic outside of the trio.
In fact, Callum and Rayla are two characters with an introducing foil relationship in the way that they validate each other in early season one. Rayla gets berated for feeling compassion for a human, yet her encounter with Callum and who he is proves her right to do so — she stalls her mission and that’s what gives Ezran the time to find the egg and it’s that combination which saves Callum’s (a non target’s ‘innocent’) life. Likewise, Callum is put down quite a bit by Soren in the first couple of eps, and then Rayla comes along and is the first character to prove him right in the series when she sweeps the leg. And while Rayla isn’t aware of this, Callum and the audience are.
On a narrative level, Callum and Rayla to a certain degree embody the faults of each other. Rayla is everything Callum is supposed to be as a prince — talented at sword fighting, a leader, a prodigy in her adopted father’s eyes, etc. Callum is the manifestation of Rayla’s mistakes in identifying who her targets should be and her “weak” compassion for humans. Yet just as fast, they become the character who validate each other the most on a narrative level. (Beyond validating the themes of the show by being an elf-human friendship/relationship.)
Rayla is what sets Callum on the path to mage hood. Callum’s selflessness proves that there are things worth sparing in humans. Both have to confront a fear of making the wrong choice as well as their own internalized inadequacies.
Cl: Callum, what are you doing?
C: The right thing, I hope!
R: I dunno. I hesitate, think too much, get confused about the right thing to do.
Their parallel conversations with Ellis and Ezran, respectively, in 1x08 only drive this point home more. There’s also something to be said for Rayla and Callum’s relationship being distinct from the ones either have with Ezran. The trio is made up of unique dynamics between all three members. However, while you can see similarities in how Callum and Rayla treat Ezran — helping him up and down places, looking out for him, generally having an older sib vibe, him going along with them (most of the time) — Callum and Rayla’s relationship is very different from the ones they have with him.
Callum and Rayla are the ones bickering. Callum and Rayla are the ones who have the trust issues that they then work through. Callum is the one Rayla bends for; Callum is the one who is continually trying to get to know her; Callum is the one Rayla opens up to. They both tease each other, teach each other things about the world and themselves, are working towards a common goal, are generally friendly to each other. They have their pitfalls but claw their way out, too, often offering a hand to each other. They have a friendship that is very enjoyable and rich, to the point that some people wanted it to stay a friendship — and I’ve always said that the best OTPs are also BrOTPs.
Think of it this way: one of Rayla’s main traits is that she’s kind, right? It’s one of the things that makes her naturally endearing. She spares Marcos in 1x01, but we don’t know enough about TDP’s world to say whether that was the right choice or not; we don’t know the full extent of what’s at stake for everyone involved. Then, Rayla lies to her team until she gets caught and decides to go attack the princes, who we’ve grown to feel sympathy for because they’re sad about losing their father. This doesn’t mean that we don’t feel sympathy for Rayla or don’t like her (I liked her right away) but she actually enters the story in a pretty antagonist way, and arguably stays that way until this:
Then she’s protecting the boys and the egg. Then she’s pushing Callum to take charge and do something—that works! Then she’s standing up against Runaan. Then she’s offering to go up into the tower with Callum and face her people again to save his father. These are the brave and heroic actions that come to define her. I think the one that comes closest to being kind is her tower offer, which is why it’s always quite emotional. We see even by the end of 1x03 that she doesn’t want to hurt the boys, even if that means lying again. She has a caring and compassionate streak. That much is evident early on. Even if we know said compassionately rooted lie could be a disaster down the line.
And they’re all wholly her choices. Her offers. No one has to convince her. She may have been caught up in a major life changing whirlwind of events, but there are very few moments in the first three episodes where Rayla isn’t in control, to a certain degree, nor that she has zero confidence or drive about something.
But what happens when the shifting cause she was willing to die for faces the practicality of travelling with two princes Rayla doesn’t know? The short answer: Rayla is immediately fond of them. And I say immediately because this is how she looks at Callum when she gently pokes fun at him before they’ve even spent a morning together.
I think the kindest things Rayla does in season one is when she listens to Callum spilling his guts out to her—and relaying how she’s already changed him: “And you called me a mage, and that felt... right”—and decides to go get his cube against all of her better judgement, and when she brings back berries for Ezran’s stuffy nose in 1x07. Likewise, Callum’s ability to be very open is established in this conversation, which is a core trait of his character. Callum is unafraid in asking for help; Rayla kind of is. Callum needs to learn just how capable he is on his own. Rayla needs to learn how to rely on other people. This is all pretty evident in season one, even just within the first four episodes of Rayllum interacting with each other and because of each other.
Their feelings, I think, are also pretty obvious. Callum is fascinated by her in 1x05 and wants to know all about her. Rayla, like in the screencap above, is exasperated and fond of him. Rayla inspires him and Callum gives her credit for it. Rayla agrees to go get the cube despite her better judgement; Callum admits that he likes her against his better judgment and demonstrates how well/quickly he can read her in 1x06: “Hey, I like her too, but the thing is [...] she’s not telling us everything. I can feel it.” Callum worries about her safety and her binding in 1x07 even when she doesn’t. Rayla, eventually, lets him in. Season one Rayllum have an incredibly developed and rich dynamic.
To the degree that everything between them in season three is set up in season one.
The way Rayla pushes him away in 3x04 and Callum is patient and loving when she finally breaks down? Set up in 1x05 and 1x06. Callum calling her brave and heroic? Wait, are we talking about the scene on the shore in 1x05 after she’s saved Bait, or his love confession in 3x05? Rayla taking detours just because it’ll make Callum happy? The Banther Lodge in 1x04 and taking the scenic route in Xadia in 3x02. Callum says “We’re in this together” in 1x05 and Rayla says, “We should decide together” in 3x08. Rayla grabbing his arm to show him something? Starts in 1x07 with the Sunforge dagger and happens twice in season three (3x02 with the adoraburr meadow and 3x03 once they reach her home). Callum running after Rayla? Set up in season one (1x04, 1x05, 1x06, 1x09). Rayla saving everyone else and Callum saving her? Set up in season one (1x03, 1x05, 1x08).
There’s something amazing and hilarious in how as soon as they’re more firmly friends, Rayla starts to tease the shit out of him. The way he always listens to her. How in 1x06, they’re more irritated and flirty with each other than ever before, simultaneously — it never fails to crack me up how Callum literally forgets the food they need to live because he’s too busy grumbling about Rayla being closed off. When Rayla hears him yelling for help and sprints back to answer.
Not only that, but it’s actually kind of astounding how much these two care about each other like, right away, on rewatches. Callum defending her on the roof to Runaan; Rayla offering to go into the tower with him; Callum being beside himself worrying about her at the Banther Lodge; Rayla getting the cube for him even when he’s forgotten about it and things have gone south. How much she cares about his opinion — why shouldn’t a human prince who’s never met an elf before not think she’s a monster, after all? — and how Callum takes all her baggage in stride on the shore in 1x05. The way he goes to give her the egg even when he knows she’s still hiding something because he decides he trusts her more than his fear and that it doesn’t matter. The way the guilt finally makes her fold because she can’t do that to him.
Season one Rayllum had to establish an enemies-to-friends dynamic, which is already hard to do, and did it brilliantly, in addition to laying fantastic ground work for a future romance (whether that was intentional or not). The virtues and flaws of each of them are largely revealed in their relationship with each other as they are both tested and triumph. Season one Rayllum is one of my favourites, mostly because of how much it grows, and I could talk about how every episode has a slightly different take on their bond as it builds, but I feel like this answer is already long enough.
Basically: every season of Rayllum is equally good in my eyes and I have the biggest bit of nostalgia for season one because it was the beginning, and when I fell head over heels for these two and their messy, compassionate love for each other over two years ago.
#rayllum#analysis series#tdp meta#s1#requests#parallels#anonymous#thanks for asking#i Love them#analysis#i'm not putting a read more bc we're all gonna look at it
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"my boyfriend would kill us" Claudia said to Artemisia.
"Your ex-boyfriend" said Artemisia "That hysterical fag didn't deserve to breathe the same air as you" the girl raised her glass of beer and then drank it all in one gulp.
"Are you jealous, amica mia?" asked the young Auditore raising an eyebrow and smiling amused, and then quickly took a small sip from her goblet.
"Is it heresy to want your closest friend to aspire to something better?" the other girl then asked, leaning both elbows on the table, like the perfect tomboy she was.
"And let's hear, what I should aspire to?" Claudia asked curiously, lying comfortably in her chair, squaring her friend up with goose that tasted of honey. Artemisia then, took a moment of silence, he wanted to tell her that she was the right girl for Claudia...but obviously this would have ruined the life of both of them and their strong friendship.
"You should aspire to a person who respects you as a woman, a person who knows that you have equal intelligence to them, equal privileges, equal talents. A person who worships every part of you, from the most physical to the most spiritual, who they feel like writing poems about your every detail, that they want to draw you in every pose and in every dress. A person who burns for you, and who makes you burn with passion when he touches you, who makes love to you and that you do not use yourself only for the purpose of a progeny" Claudia observed her friend in silence, then smiled wistfully.
"They seem like an impossible person to meet"
"It's not impossible...They exist, you just have to look where you wouldn't expect" Artemisia concluded with a bitter lump in her throat, before asking for another beer.
#5 sentence fics#Artemisia Levavi#claudia auditore#assassin's creed 2#assassins creed 2#assassins creed ii#assassin's creed ii#ac ii#ac 2#Artemisia being a disaster bi for claudia#someone help this dumb girls#JUST KISS PER DIO
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Hi there! I was hoping for some information about Miss Claudia!! Us Finn OCs got to stick together, you know?
Totally agree!!! Us Finn OCs have got to stick together!! ♥️
Since her father’s death due to a car accident and moving to Lima, Ohio in the fifth grade. Claudia became withdrawn from her mother. Her mother couldn’t handle being in the same state anymore and had turned to alcohol to cope with her late husband’s death.
When her grandma was alive, Claudia would go to her house, to take her mind off things when she was having difficulty coping with her mother’s relapses. They would both bake cookies together and watch old movie musicals such as The Sound of Music and My Fair Lady.
As a way to help her cope, Claudia took up song writing and learning to play an acoustic guitar as a hobby. In the early days of Finn and Claudia’s childhood friendship, both she and him would have jamming sessions in Finn’s bedroom. Claudia would play her guitar and Finn would play on his drum kit. Finn’s mom, Carole would grow fond of Claudia and she would often lightly tease Finn by asking him when he’s going to marry Claudia, as much to his amusement, which Claudia just played along with her. She would admire Carole about how much she cares for Finn, and wishes her mom was the same.
Like Finn, Claudia is a big fan of classic rock music. Her favourites would include Fleetwood Mac and The Beatles. She is also a huge fan of Florence and the Machine and considers Florence Welch one of her idols, along with Christine McVie, Steve Irwin, Audrey Hepburn and Stevie Nicks. When Claudia joined Glee club, she let Mercedes Jones introduce her to Aretha Franklin, and can always find herself singing the chorus to “Think” whilst she’s in the shower.
Whilst Finn was romantically involved with Quinn and Rachel. Claudia would find herself getting jealous, before she realised that she was actually in love with Finn. She would find herself wishing that she was more beautiful like Quinn or more talented like Rachel. But even when Finn ended those relationships, his friendship with Claudia still remained on good terms. That was until Claudia herself got romantically involved with Sam Evans for a while. Finn would find himself getting jealous of Claudia getting close to the blonde guy, in which in the end, Claudia started to realise that she was falling in love with Finn after all.
As a child, Claudia had a crush on Robin Hood (the fox from the Disney film) which she would never admit to anyone, apart from Finn which he would find absolutely hilarious.
If Claudia had an aesthetic, it would be.. red knitted jumpers, home baked cookies, her ginger cat called Georgie (named after George Harrison), heart shaped candles, classic romance films, handwritten song lyrics, her acoustic guitar, pancakes with strawberries, hot chocolate with marshmallows and daisies..
Thank you for the ask @luucypevensie!! 💕
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Viren and Callum—Defining Heroism
Callum is a foil for each of the three antagonists, and each season focuses on a different pairing.
During Season 2, Callum’s arc was a foil to Claudia’s. I break down some of the similarities between them here. Callum and Claudia both exhibit a curiosity to learn more about magic (particularly at the Moon Nexus), and both are fiercely protective of those closest to them. To the extent they will use Dark Magic to protect them.
But whereas Callum tries it once and decides to reject it for good, Claudia continues to succumb to this temptation, time and time again.
During Season 3, Callum’s development is contrasted with Aaravos. At this point, Callum is, like Aaravos, a magical prodigy; each had mastered at least one Primal Source they weren’t born connected to.
Additionally, both demonstrate great influence over the lives of those around them. But they are diametrically opposed in terms of their goals. Whereas Aaravos cares primarily about advancing his own interests, Callum wants to genuinely help people, and empower them to make their own choices (as opposed to manipulating them like Aaravos).
This foil can be summed up simply—Callum is motivated by the Narrative of Love. Aaravos is motivated by the Narrative of Fear.
Harrow: “I ask you and your brother to reject history as a narrative of strength and instead have faith that it can be a narrative of love.”
Aaravos: “You tried to win over the other humans with loyalty and friendship, but they ignored you. Those who fail tests of love are simple animals. They deserve to be motivated by fear.”
But the focus here is on Viren and Callum, and starting in Season 1 and throughout the first three seasons, Viren and Callum have very deep, narratively important parallels with one another.
Both are the mages who advise their respective Kings.
Callum: “When you grow up, sometimes you have to face things you’re not ready for.”
Viren: “He insisted I stand next to him in the painting, because he knew I would stand by him through anything.”
Both are curious and want to explore the depths of magic to the greatest extent possible.
Viren and Callum are also both insecure in their place in the world, relying (at least initially) on magic to help give them a sense of belonging
But their differences not only define their dynamic, they also define many elements and themes to the Saga, in particular as to what it means to be a hero.
To begin, Viren is great, though not necessarily good. That is to say, even though he may be capable of great deeds that save countless lives (such as in saving the people of Duren with the heart of a Titan), these deeds don’t actually make him a heroic person.
This is because every great deed he did stemmed not from altruism or compassion (no matter how well he convinced himself that it did), but from his tragic flaws: his arrogance, his vanity, and importantly, his hubris—his belief that he can subvert the natural order in his favor without consequence.
From what we can gather, Viren is a force to be reckoned with. His skills with magic have made him so powerful, he can cast a spell that would save two kingdoms from starvation.
They are also such that he’s considered by Amaya, a talented warrior herself, perhaps “the most dangerous human in the world.”
His martial prowess is quite exceptional as well, as he’s able to go toe to toe with two Dragonguards for a time. Even though they’re elite fighters and they’re flanking him, he’s able to hold his own for a while before having to resort to magic.
However, Viren is a tragic character. I don’t mean this in the sense that we should feel sorry for the power-hungry man who attempted to murder two boys and steal the throne. Rather, his “greatness” is undermined by his personal flaws, which he can’t quite shake and prevent him from being good.
Part of Viren sincerely wants to improve life for his people. When talking to Aaravos, to whom he has no motivation to lie, he states his aim is to help mankind flourish “without a knife to its throat”
He’s even willing to consider sacrificing himself, either for King Harrow or, in Lux Aurea, for his army.
Aaravos: “We’ll risk as few lives as possible. One.”
Viren: “Ah. Mine.”
But as per his hubris, he exhibits great pride in how his abilities can help mankind flourish or save his people. While he wants mankind to prosper, he wants this to be his achievement and wants people to know that he is the one who saved them.
In his story to Queen Aanya, he places a bit of undue emphasis on the fact that he was the one who up with a solution that saved Katolis and Duren. Whether or not this is what happened, it’s clear that he wants Aanya to know that he personally saved her kingdom.
A little less unclear is how necessary he ultimately was. Sarai goes back to save Viren because “without him to perform the spell, the heart is worthless, and this was all for nothing.”
I’m...skeptical as to whether this is what Sarai says, or if it’s Viren intentionally or unintentionally reading in what he wants her to say. Truth be told, Viren has no idea if this is what Sarai said because he wasn’t there when she said it. And why is the heart worthless? Viren wasn’t the only Dark Mage in the world, and probably not the only one between Duren and Katolis. There’s no reason why another mage couldn’t perform the spell.
But for Viren, the heart of the Titan might as well have been worthless because, in his mind, he’s the only capable of accomplishing these great feats.
Even when he was potentially willing to sacrifice his life for Harrow, he botched it with his speech to Harrow.
Viren: “Right now I do not come to you as my King. I think of you as my brother.”
Truth is, none of this throat-clearing is necessary. But, Viren’s not quite so humble, even when he’s attempting to do the right thing. He still wants to be seen as someone special, even when laying his life down for another.
Turns out, this was entirely the wrong thing to say to Harrow, who is put off by Viren’s self-righteousness.
Harrow: “I see the problem now. It’s that you believe you are special. Better than everyone else, above the laws of this kingdom.”
When he’s forced to kneel and Harrow calls him a servant, this infuriates Viren and he sets aside any plans he had to sacrifice himself for his King.
Harrow: “You are a servant of Katolis. You are a servant.”
Because if Viren is going to sacrifice himself, he needs people to know what a great thing it is that he’s doing. He’s not a mere servant, he’s their savior.
It’s interesting that Viren’s pride is so hurt of being called a servant of Katolis, since that’s exactly how Harrow sees himself, according to Viren.
Viren: “King Harrow worked tirelessly. He told me he thought of himself as a servant of all the people of Katolis. A servant King.”
But Viren doesn’t see himself in this way. When his potential sacrifice is treated with the same level of significance as though he were anybody else, it offends him that he has to share that importance with others.
And thus, his pride leads to his downfall, casting aside his desire to protect his King, and replaces it with a desire to be the King himself.
Viren: “Today, we must mourn sevenfold. For tonight, there will be a coronation.”
Callum, on the other hand, begins his journey on the opposite side of the spectrum from Viren. Whereas Viren can accomplish great feats without being good, Callum is a good person, though not great.
At least, not yet.
According to the main site, “Callum has a big heart, and always tries to do the right thing.”
He can be super proud of himself and his accomplishments, but he usually has enough perspective to avoid letting this get in the way of what he knows is important. For instance, he connects to the Sky Primal, something thought of as impossible for humans, he immediately shifts his attention to Ezran, never once bragging or reminding people of his accomplishments.
Corvus: That’s incredible, Prince Callum.
Callum: Thanks…uh, who are you?
And, when it comes time to laying his life on the line for others, he never hesitates. Notably, around the same time as Viren was thinking about sacrificing his life for Harrow, Callum was preparing to sacrifice himself for his actual brother, but with none of the bravado or self-righteous congratulating of himself.
Just a solemn, quiet attempt to save his brother, even at the cost of his own life, and even without anyone finding out about his sacrifice.
For Rayla, he performs Dark Magic, knowing how much she could possibly hate him for it, but deciding that her life is worth more than how she sees him.
Callum may start out with a big heart, but when it comes to his skills, well…
But if Viren begins as both powerful and amoral, it makes perfect sense to have Callum’s arc to begin as his opposite--someone without any special abilities but with a strong moral compass.
Because of this, we get to see him go from good to great. And his story walks this fine line, where he develops these magical abilities to perform heroic feats walking hand in hand with the realization that he doesn’t need magic to be heroic.
Callum: “It’s up to us now. We have to return this egg. We have to keep it safe and carry it to Xadia.”
Callum has the same temptation as Viren—this need to be someone important, which is a big part of his arc in S1 and S2.
In S1, he initially places a high premium on his sense of self-worth, willing to put their mission in jeopardy just so he can obtain an object that might help him become a better mage.
He assigns great importance to objects (such as the Primal Stone and the Key of Aaravos) rather than focusing on people or lives. Much in line with the way a Dark Mage would attach significance to magical components that are needed for spells.
Callum: “The truth is, its not me. It’s this. All the magic, all the power, all the confidence. It's just because of this amazing thing. A Primal Stone.”
Ellis: “That Primal Stone needs you to do all that amazing stuff. Without you, it's just a neat, glowy ball.”
Callum: “I guess so. But without this, I'm nothing. Just a guy who can draw and make wry comments from time to time. And they're not even that wry.”
Much like how Viren assigns great value to the mirror or the Dragon Egg, even above his own children’s lives.
Viren: “The egg. If you have to choose [between Soren and the egg], choose the egg.”
But by the end of S1, he realizes just how much more important the lives of his friends and the Dragon Prince are over his own sense of pride or self-worth. Unlike Viren, who places a great degree of importance to his sacrifice (honestly, Harrow should be honored that Viren would consider throwing himself on the sword for a mere king), Callum simply makes the realization of what he needs to do…and then does it.
S2 follows the aftermath of his decision, and Callum has to deal with no longer having his mage abilities. Again, he latches his entire sense of self-worth to be able to do magic.
As @raayllum points out here, he also aligns his ability to do magic to agency. Without magic, he’s paralyzed by indecision and an inability to do the right thing. He believes himself imprisoned by his inadequacy.
Callum: “If we're really going to change things, we can't just watch while humans and Xadia keep hurting each other. But how do I take a stand? Believe me, I want to go down there with you, and be the heroes who stop all the fighting and save the day, but I can't do that. I can't do anything!”
And he follows this line of reasoning to its logical conclusion:
Dark Magic
Dark Magic gives him all the power he needs. If Callum wants to be special (like Viren), if he wants to have agency and freedom for himself, this is the path he can take.
Dark!Callum: “You can have unlimited power, and you can choose what to do with that power.
And in that moment, he’s tempted. Truly, he’s tempted, to commit to this path, set himself free from his past limitations and feelings of worthlessness.
He can become like Viren, and make himself great…but in a moment of clarity, he sees Dark Magic for what it truly is.
This isn’t freedom. It’s not the power he wants.
It’s just another prison.
And unlike Viren, who succumbs to this temptation, Callum sees through it.
What’s noteworthy is that Callum doesn’t press on the point that it’s possible for him to learn an Arcanum and do magic some other. He doesn’t insist he can make this choice easy on himself; he chooses that, Arcanum or no Arcanum, this is not the kind of magic he will choose to do.
Callum: “Destiny is a book you write yourself!”
Instead of attaching his sense of self-worth and agency to magic, he breaks free of this toxic cycle and seizes the ability to direct his own fate.
This is a lesson that he then passes on to others.
Rayla: “What does this mean? What should I do?
Callum: “I don’t know. But it’s your choice. No one else’s.”
He finds his agency and self-worth independent of his ability to do magic, and realizes that his potential is actually in his complete control. Fittingly, it’s this realization that completes his journey to finally understand the Sky Arcanum.
In the end, Viren and Callum are quite similar, but the former lets his flaws get the better of him, his pride sinking him until he becomes malicious, grasping, and power-hungry. Eyes set on stealing the power to make him important.
The latter ascends past his prior limitations, refusing to yield to his own worst impulses.
Moreover, Callum holds on to his ideals in the face of adversity, even at his own expense, while Viren constantly tries to find “pragmatic” and expedient solutions to problems that always happen to end up with him on top of everyone else. Viren continues his dramatic decline, eagerly crossing one moral horizon after another, until by the end, he admits to Aaravos what he is really after is conquest; he’s willing to steal Zym’s life force just to become more powerful, sacrificing the entirety of his army to do it.
Callum, on the other hand, begins to truly understand what can make a good-natured person into a hero.
He expresses it in a speech about Rayla…
Callum: “It's because Rayla is a hero…Rayla saves people. She's brave. She does what's right, even if it puts her own life in danger, and even when the odds seem impossible. Even when it means her own people might misunderstand and turn against her. Rayla is selfless, strong and caring. That's what makes her a hero. That's what makes her Rayla.”
…and then proceeds to do each and every one of those things on the pinnacle. He bravely leaps after Rayla--even though it put his own life in danger--because it’s the right thing to do. Even though the odds of quickly mastering a complex spell on the way down seemed impossible.
Viren thinks his great feats are a substitute for a good character. Callum’s journey, on the other hand, is learning those character traits that make one heroic. He realizes, not only that Rayla is “selfless, strong, and caring,” but also why and more importantly, why he can be those things too.
And this dynamic between Viren and Callum culminates in the finale, where one falls…
…and the other rises.
#callum#viren#rayla#ezran#harrow#tdp#the dragon prince#s2#s3#s1#aaravos#primal magic#dark magic#soren#claudia
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Sometimes I can't help but think that I would absolutely love to be a part of a Pride and Prejudice remake with you at the helm of it. I wanna see what your vision for it would be.
Awww thank you darling, that fills me with delight. I admit I haven’t given a ton of thought to a remake since I love the 2005 version so much, and I feel like at this point every Austen book has gotten a worthy adaptation (the 2009 Emma, 1995 Sense & Sensibility, pick either of the Persuasions they’re both amazing, Love & Friendship was an excellent adaptation of Lady Susan...) and I feel like at this point it would just be playing it safe to redo Austen again instead of writing a whole new Regency-era romance.
However.
If someone said, “hey Mads we need you to redo P&P,” I am not going to say no, because we really, really, really need an Austen adaptation that isn’t fucking white.
Part of my problem with the 2020 Emma is that we’re doing yet another Austen adaptation, when we already have a decent one from the ‘90s, and an amazing one from 2009 as a miniseries, I mean, it was really unnecessary in my opinion. So if you’re going to insist on doing another Emma... why the FUCK did you make it all white AGAIN. We’ve SEEN white Austen heroines fall in love over and over, where the hell is my Claudia Doumit or Letitia Wright as Emma? Where’s my Oscar Isaac as Mr. Knightley? Hmmm? HMMMM?
So anyway if I was going to helm a P&P adaptation I would be casting it with people of color (John Cho would be in there but I’m torn on him as Bingley or Darcy, God, he’d be great at both, why must you be so talented sir) and I would probably choose to adapt it with a modern sensibility lens.
That is - there are a lot of things about Regency times that people simply don’t translate into modern times. There’s a lack of modern sympathy and understanding for conventions and situations of the times. I feel like a lot of people dismiss things or don’t realize the implications of something, or they want to adapt it to make it “sexier” or more “modern” without realizing that the sexy and modern is already there.
For example, a lot of people get down on Austen for the whole “Lizzie likes Darcy after seeing Pemberley” bit. They see it as Lizzie being impressed by his wealth, when what really happens is Lizzie sees that Darcy’s servants love him. It’s like if Lizzie walked into Darcy’s office building at the company he owns and asked his secretary, his coworkers, his receptionist, how he treats them. And they all said, “oh my God he’s the best boss ever, I really love working for him, he gives us paid sick days and lots of vacation time and is always understanding about mental health.”
That’s why Lizzie starts to like him. She realizes that she herself was prejudiced and proud, and that Darcy is a kind and responsible man who looks after those in his care. Austen repeatedly tells us in her work that marrying a man because he’s charming is not the way to go. You can’t survive on ‘charming’. You survive on responsibility, on respect, on common sense. Austen’s heroes are all charming in their own way, I mean, my God, “I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death.” That is charming as FUCK, who the hell gave you the right, Wentworth. Henry Tilney is arguably Austen’s most traditionally charming hero, affable and friendly and witty.
But Austen was well acquainted with financial ruin and fear of homelessness and poverty, and she was also well acquainted with the fact that a woman was controlled by her husband. So picking a man who charmed you wasn’t enough. You had to pick a man (if you could) who respected you. Who listened to you. Who was compassionate and thoughtful. Lizzie, in going to Pemberley, sees that she can trust Darcy. He will take care of her and he will respect her.
That’s why she falls for him. Not because he has a big fancy house. If Lizzie was the type to be impressed with wealth she would’ve been impressed by Lady Catherine de Bourgh the way everyone else is, but she’s not, she thinks the lady’s a fucking tosser and stands up to her and doesn’t care how much money or wealth either of them have.
And frankly, I think that’s something we can still find relevant in our modern times. In our capitalist society where we are obsessed with wealth, with celebrities - not just artists or royalty but influencers, people like the Kardashians who do fucking nothing to earn praise or loyalty. They just sit around and exist while looking pretty and being rich. WTF. And people are impressed by it. People are impressed by charming boys who know how to wink and flirt and women still settle for men who yeah, sure, won’t hit you or cheat on you but also won’t do any housework or make dinner or help raise the kids.
I think that if Austen were writing P&P today, she would have Lizzie visit Darcy’s offices and see how he treats his workers. She would notice him being kind to waiters and leaving a large tip. She’d go to a party at the Bingleys and see him in the kitchen doing dishes to help clean up. She’d visit his house and assume he had a housekeeper since it’s clean and neat or that his sister does the chores only to learn that no, Darcy cleans the damn house himself, and wants Georgiana to focus on her university studies. Austen would show us a man who carries his own weight and respects those who are “under” him. A man who doesn’t take advantage of his wealth or privilege.
A lot of recent takes on Austen want to make it for a modern audience so they have ‘darker’ shit going on like cheating and sex and abuse etc. And I get it, some people want that. But there’s kind of this nose-thumbing at Austen implying she was sanitized and all that and frankly I like having a goddamn story that doesn’t include the ‘dark side’ of Regency society like I get it, it wasn’t perfect, but my God, Sanditon, could you shut the fuck up?
I want to give credit to the serious stuff that Austen already put into her story. If you’re reading her stuff thinking “oh this isn’t serious/realistic enough, I want more thrills and drama,” then first of all you’re in the wrong genre and second of all you’re not reading her stuff properly. Stop throwing in drama to make it appealing to modern audiences, guys, it’s already in there!
So yeah. I haven’t thought to myself, oh I want to redo P&P and this is how, but if I were to see any new Austen adaptation, that’s what I want to see. I want to see people of color, and I want to see the adaptation done in a way so that the audience is able to realize just how little things have changed and how similar our needs and societal rules were back then, and I want them to fucking respect Austen because she is my girl and she fucking knew what she was talking about.
EDIT, SINCE I THINK THERE’S SOME CONFUSION:
I am not talking about a modern-day adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. I am talking about an adaptation set in Regency times, in that historical setting, but with a cast of color and with an awareness of modern-day audience sensibilities and the modern lens and showcasing that many of our modern-day values and issues were the same in Regency times. Or at least the same to Austen, and something Austen noticed and commented on.
For example, Wickham is a predator. He’s not just an asshole marrying women for money, he preys on younger girls. He preyed on Georgiana and then on Lydia. Part of why he stopped talking to Lizzie was she was too smart for him and would’ve figured him out. And Austen points this out in Lizzie’s horror. It’s part of why Lizzie’s so angry with her father and how she realizes her father isn’t perfect either - his apathy about Lydia led to Lydia not being raised to recognize danger signs.
There are still men like Wickham out there today. They’re the men who only date teenagers or women half their age. Wickham arguably went after Georgiana for her money but he went after Lydia for her youth, because unlike the older Lizzie, Lydia was too young to realize what Wickham was. That is still relevant to us today and is still something we’re concerned about today, and it can and should be shown through a historical lens.
We shouldn’t have to change the setting to a modern one to get people to figure out how fucking brilliant Austen was. I want it in Regency times, showcasing to a modern audience what is already in the book.
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