#holly rants

[hollyshipsboys]

Ok guys I need to address this because I feel it is getting a bit out of hand.

Please, read until the end before judging, please!

In byler fandom I often see claims that older fans are sexualising teenage characters, and this happens every time 30+ year-old people say something that is seen as more than platonic. Of course some times it does happen that these comments are inappropriate and it’s absolutely legit to be upset about them.

But, there’s a but, and I hope you read this because this is important.

The post that prompted this very post is this one by @magalaga-buckley, which is about, and I quote, “30-year-old interviewers […] wondering how good the underage actors are at kissing”, referring, I believe, to Millie Bobby Brown lie-detector interview, in which she’s asked if Finn Wolfhard is a good kisser and if he’s gotten any better over the years.

First thing to be said is: it is a polygraph interview, the format is designed to ask questions that put the person interviewed in an awkward situation (I’m not saying I agree with this kind of things, mind), no one behind this interview actually gives a crap if Finn is or isn’t a good kisser, it’s all about Millie’s reaction really.

My second point is slightly more elaborated and definitely longer, but I beg you to read it, as it is the core of this post.

I know how as a teenager one may feel grossed out every time a grown-up mentions something related, even vaguely, to sex and sexuality, all the more so if it regards a teenager. I clearly remember cringing every time my mum made a comment about which one of my friends she thought was the most attractive.

And I get it, ok?! When you’re a teenager, sex is this new, scary (and possibly exciting) thing, so everything suddenly revolves around it. But in reality it doesn’t.

I’m a grown-up now (?!) and I’m a high school teacher so I interact with teenagers daily, and they some times come to me to talk about sex, due to me being a very soft, open and welcoming person by nature, around whom they feel comfortable (which is something I’m very proud of) – one of “my” kids even came out to me and said I’m the only person they discuss their queerness with (they’ve got quite the bigoted family, so I think this is so important for them and I’m happy to be there for them as long as they need me).

This is to say that it happens that I ask question of the “are they a good kisser” sort, and not because of some morbid interest or something, just because it’s part of the conversation and because I want to provide good advice that may help my students feel more comfortable in their relationships.

This little preamble seems very unrelated to fandoms, but in the end it is not. Let me explain.

Every adult was once a teenager and most of us recall that time as the best of their lives (ofc when I was a teenager myself I couldn’t believe it when grown-ups said this to me). And sure, it is complicated and unsettling and confusing, and so many things are happening and you get overwhelmed by things that to adults are just so silly, but they’re true to you and that’s all that matters. Overall, a very chaotic time. Nonetheless, the most beautiful in a way that one can understand only when they’re out of it. It’s the first time in which we discover ourselves as independent from our families and in a more complex social context (because attraction changes everything).

I’m not saying this to be the classic grown-up that lectures you on life and stuff, but to make you understand the general nostalgia around teenage years (which is one of the reasons, I believe, as to why there are so many teen dramas in media).

So, as an adult that enjoys teen dramas to the greatest extent (me being inherently nostalgic and relating to teenagers on a daily basis), I want you all to understand that the curiosity and fascination we experience towards teenager lives is not, in fact, morbid (I’m not excluding this may happen, but it surely isn’t the rule, more like the exception really). It is a way of reconnecting to our inner teenager, that part of us that lived the biggest excitement (ofc I’m not saying that after teenage years life is dull, it has its beauty, but kind of lacks the novelty, at least that’s what I experienced/am experiencing).

Now, this also concerns fan work, especially smut fics. I know this fandom, on this platform, is very sensitive to the subject, and I won’t blame anyone that, after reading this post, decides to block me, even though this will be the one and only time I talk about this topic, because I’m here for the fluff and the fun and I’m not interested in starting any drama/discussion (even though, ofc, if you feel like you want to comment on this, pls feel free to do so).

I was saying, fics. Mind that I don’t like any sort of problematic themes (as long as one doesn’t consider sex between consensual teenagers - no adult involved - problematic) and tropes (even though if someone has a kink that they want to transfer to fictional characters, or whatever the reason it is to fantasise around certain topics, I won’t bother them, because this isn’t who I am). For reference, I think that 50 shades of grey is a) very poorly written, b) extremely problematic (but one of the reasons why I believe this is that it is a fuc*ing best seller, so it reached a very wide audience that can take a very wrong message about love and relationships from that piece of shit book; I believe people that enjoy fanfictions to be smarter than 50sog general audience 🤷🏽‍♀️). I stay very clear of anything I don’t like and fortunately tags allow me to do that.

That said, for me, very sweet, romantic and respectful sex between teenager characters is enjoyable to read because it sends me back to those days of joyful, thrilling discovery. I was a very sexually active teenager (I had a lot of casual sex, sorry not sorry 🤷🏽‍♀️), so sex was a big part of my experience and that’s why I enjoy reading smutty fics, as much as I did back in the days (it was drarry at the time – and it taught me so much!), because they take me back, simple as that. I see myself, no one else.

As it is for the majority of smutty fics readers, they revisit and some times exorcise (this may be the case for some problematic fics) their experience. Nothing of it has anything to do with sexualising, or being attracted to, kids.

This very long post is to say I UNDERSTAND teenager fans may find adult fans’ interest in teenagers’ sexuality upsetting, because they experience this through their lenses and feel sexualised themselves, and I respect this, and indeed this is the first and last time I’m addressing this topic here, but I assure you on the other side there are, usually, very respectable people that are not interested in the slightest in sexualising them or any other teenager they interact with (I can assure you I DO NOT sexualise my students!), but are simply re-living their own experiences in, frankly, a very harmless way. And these now-teenager fans may very well experience this themselves when they reach the very age they’re demonising.

Last but not least, we millennials are indeed kind of weird, in the sense that we don’t really wanna grow up, so anything that keeps us in contact with happier easier times is very much welcome 🤷🏽‍♀️ please let us enjoy it.

.

I feel like I digressed from the original point of the post, but, well, I went with the flow. I hope this may be useful to anyone that wants a peek inside a 30+ yo fan’s head.

#byler #please read this #holly speaks #holly rants #fandom #teenager characters #ships #fics

[honey-bee-holly]

They’ve cut off the water on the isle. Didn’t tell anyone till 1pm. Mum got text saying someone will drop water round at 2pm but haven’. So she’s phoned them. Told them I’m autistic and because of that they’re gonna try and get 20 bottles round as soon as possible.

Thing is apparently they knew yesterday that they were cutting the water. And they can’t tell us what time or day it’ll come back. Plus all shops have now been shut. So no one can get food either.

What the fuck is happening?

Also pissing me off cause it’s fucking with my routine. Plus cause of a medical issue, I need to be able to have a bath when I’m sore.

#holly talks #holly rants

[starrynightsxo]

"jude and cardan had a toxic relationsh-"

no actually, they did not. there were reasons for everything that happened and just because everyone is so quick to judge things these days doesn't mean it needs to happen to them. whilst in the first book there was some initial behaviours that do support the claim, there were reasons behind them and also this is how enemies to lovers works !! they BECOME lovers. there is such a thing called a redemption arc?? not to mention we get an apology from cardan for everything he has done. toxicity is not what was in their relationship - it was ferocity. The ferocity of their love.

So let's all please stop labelling everything to ever exist toxic and focus on the people who actually need support from their toxic partners / relationships

EDIT: I would just like to clarify that I meant all this for when jude and cardan were in an actual romantic relationship together! This is by no means condoning what happened at the beginning of the books as that was most definitely wrong. I DO NOT condone any form of toxic relationship. I was trying to point out that once they were in an actual romantic relationship then they were NOT toxic and this is what some people argue they were. Apologies for any misconceptions!

#i do not condone toxic relationship #it just really grinds my gears when people say this #like ugh #books #bookish #the cruel prince #booklr #jude duarte #cardan greenbriar #tfota #cardan #jude #the folk of the air #rants #random thoughts #jurdan #jude x cardan #cardan x jude #love hate #enemies to lovers #judecardan #the wicked king #the queen of nothing #book rant #new books #holly black #old books #the folk of air #high king of elfhame #high queen of elfhame

[ro0-b0o]

NO ONE! AND I MEAN NO ONE WARNED ME OF THE BETRAYAL I WAS GOING TO FEEL FROM THE WICKED KING!! NOT THE EXILE BUT GHOST! LIKE IM SORRY! HE WAS MY 15 BOOK BOYFRIEND! NOW I ONLY HAVE 14! TUMBLR HAS LET ME DOWN! I WASNT MENTALLY PREPARED!! I READ THAT PART IN MATH I COULDN’T HAVE MY MOMENT OF PUTTING BOOK DOWN SCREAMING!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I also had to read Cardan’s conversation with Jude before the wedding… I was blushing so hard. Cardan could be threatening her, idc, I love this man!!1!!!1!

#tfota series #tfota #cardanandjude #high king cardan #prince cardan #the queen of nothing #the wicked king #the cruel prince #tcp #sorry for the rant #jude x cardan #jude duarte #the folk of the air #actually i’m not sorry for the rant #holly black

[alma-n]

Stop whitewashing Holly Short

I feel like I have to have this talk somewhere outside my head.

I, a 14 year old teenager of color, have always loved Holly Short.

She was described as powerful, with features like a hooked nose, and a dark skin, that made her beautiful. Things that I have always been insecure about, teased for, insulted for, were what made her beautiful.

The powerful woman, who fought sexism and always did the right thing, IMMEDIATELY became my comfort character.

I started to feel better about myself. Draw portraits with my favourite features in my self exaggerated in them. I loved my own features, because she had them.

And then, after reading the whole series and loving it, came the thirst for content. Content in wich, Holly Short, was always whitwashed.

So many fanart, official comics, covers, the goddamn movie! In all of them, Holly wasn't how i imagined her to be. The fact punches me every time. Her skin, her features, are FLAWS that people just prefer to erase from her character.

I still remember how sad i got when i first was raving to a friend about Holly and she said 2 my face how she thought she would be prettier if she were white.

Whitewashing Holly is basically saying the same thing.

Many may go, "whatever, who gives a shit about her color".

But things like this are what make teenagers, kids, like me back at the time, insecure and hating themselves because of simply simply being born the way they are born.

#All I am saying is that #what we do to characters #even if fictional #CAN have impact on real people. #artemis fowl #fowldom #af #artemis fowl ii #holly short #whitewashing #personal experiences #book series #rant

[manikas-whims]

In “The Hollow Boy”, i don't think Lucy's behavior towards Holly is unjustified..just a little petty some times but its understandable.

THB begins with Lucy thinking that Lockwood & Co. are finally functioning as a proper team. She is satisfied and happy.

She comes from a family where her mother only saw her value in being used as a means to earn money. And she left that environment and experienced a bunch of ups and downs with Lockwood & Co. but nothing she couldn't handle.

However, when she goes to revisit her mother in THB, she doesn't receive the any sort of lively or loving reactions from her mother or the others. Not even much concern about why she ran away and is only showing up now. Or where she lived and how she managed..

So now, emotionally deflated, she tries staying positive and thinks to herself that maybe Portland Row was meant to be her home all along, and heads back, holding onto that thought.

But right upon her arrival, she is met with the sight of a new girl sitting in her place, conversing with her boys. A sense of dread fills her because this probably reminds her of her birth home. She probably thinks that yet again, her value to Portland Row and L&Co only lies in her abilities as a listener..Also makes her feel as if she is replaceable..she definitely has some abandonment issues there..

So her snarky attitude towards someone whom she believes is trying to steal her spot (she's barely 15?) is totally understandable. She's like a ferocious little kitten, growling angrily to protect her bed and food 😆

And yeah, some of her actions are a result of outright jealousy, seeing Lockwood give more attention to Holly but that's once again understandable cuz she's a teenager. And Lockwood only adds more fire to her issues by scolding her. He did need to scold her for her recklessness but he should've considered her feelings too but again..Lockwood himself is still young and not all that mature either so its understandable.

Its all understandable. And I think Holly and Lucy handled it very well when they had a proper argument in the Shopping Mall and helped each other all the way back whilst avoiding the ghosts.

Idk where I'm going with this rant but i just wanna say that Lucy isn't annoying or badly-written in THB. She's just a growing teen, still learning and maturing.

the only thing i do hate in the books are the fatphobic remarks she makes towards George..

#okay rant over #lucy carlyle #lockwood and co #anthony lockwood #holly munro #george cubbins #george karim #the hollow boy #jonathan stroud #l&co. netflix #l&co #lockwood & co

[of-the-way-and-wildflowers]

I know we’re all excited about the Jurdan moments in Prisoner’s Throne but I gotta circle us back to Wren and Oaks story for a sec. Has anyone else noticed the Snow White undertones of the story? It very, very loosely based where it is more subtle nods but it’s there. Wren as a child being corpse pale, the hunt for her heart and the deception of an animals heart!?! Those are the one I remember in Stolen Heir. In Prisoners Throne, Oaks kiss brings her back to life!?! I love when Holly Black does this. Like with Cruel Prince it was Alice in Wonderland. Did y’all notice any others cause their story already has me in a puddle in the floor then there are these nods and aaaaahhhhh

#the prisoners throne #prisoners throne #the stolen heir #stolen heir #holly black #jurdan #wren x oak #fairy tale retellings #yes I’m alive #I need to rant and scream about this

[spaghettiwench]

Day 5: Character appreciation

okay i know this is two characters but what can i say i'm an overachiever.

YOU CANT PUT TWO CHARACTERS WHO ARE EACH OTHERS DRAMATIC FOILS IN FRONT OF ME WITHOUT ME GOING INSANE OVER THEM!

Because here's the thing Holly and Lucy are like two faces on a coin, they contrast each other so strongly to the point of clashing but still are key players in Lockwood and co. Holly and Lucy's relationship (while a bit strained for most of the books) is essential to both Lucy's character development and how we see her grow as a character. Without Holly there to push her and contrast her I don't think we would've gotten to see such a wide range of her personality then we would if it was just the iron trio. Love them or hate them Holly and Lucy's relationship towards each other is one of the most memorable in the entire series and that's fully because of the way they bring out certain traits in the other.

They make me insane. they are my girls. they're best friends. they're worst enemies. they can't live without each other. they are night in day. the push in pull of the tides. one cannot exist without the other. they're two sides to the same coin.

#lockwood and co #lockwood & co #lucy carlyle #holly munro #god they make me insane #laying awake at night thinking about them #dramatic foils! they're dramatic foils #they're relationship makes me crazy #i could go on #i could rant about this for hours #save lockwood & co #save lockwood and co #the whispering skull #lockwood and co fanart #the empty grave #the hollow boy #the creeping shadow #swmakes

[theinsanecrayonbox]

the next leg of Sabretooth War has previews...liking the narrative parallels

but wait is that Holo? Holly Bright. from The First X-men

huh, that's a big old yes. neat. i was always fuzzy on if that series was canon or not (since it felt contradictory to other parts of the timeline it should be on)

but the next panel...that's not the same scene

Vic's whole design is different. the first panel, very much matches First X-men. but this one...it's almost close to what he was looking like in Mary Shelley Overdrive...

but that's not Bonnie Hale...and not just because she's not blonde, but the wrong outfit

yet it is probably close to her death scene

artistic flub? blending of memories? the two girls' deaths were similar...he killed them both, but not fully by his own choice, so that is plausible...

but interesting. someone did their homework.

#thinking outloud #kp rants about comics #sabretooth #victor creed #sabretooth war #holly bright #bonnie hale

[sona1800]

Holy f**king hell 😳 😵

I'm going dead bruh 🥴

See you at my funeral Channie 🫠

#bang chan #christopher bang #chan bang #stray kids #Swarovski #swarovski crystal #bang chan for swarovski #holly hell #he looks soooo hot #my two personalities #skz #sonas rants #skz stay

[thechampagnesocialist]

The Rebel - Extremist duo my beloved :)

#no rolls barred #nrb #ken cheng #holly musgrave #king's dilemma #my art #comic #kd au #holly's kd design drop <3 and she is Very <333 #her hair design is from that brief moment in lovecraft letter btw. if you want to look respectfully #anyhow i say that as if i even know whats going on with these outfits... dont laurie too much about it #the reincarnation lore implication here as well... god. #i will rant about kd proper so you have more context i swear #just know that ken hates it <3

[beemango5]

Ok people saying that Jotaro doesn’t care for Jolyne did not watch the same series that I did…

Jotaro obviously cares a lot about Jolyne and his (nameless, CMON ARAKI 😭) ex- wife. He just left them because he didn’t know how to communicate to them that there was a powerful superbeing stuck inside him and that no matter where he went trouble was going to follow him.

{edit} Another angle to add to this: Jotaro probably didnt see himself as deserving of a normal life and family- he found happiness in his wife and daughter but knew the looming threat of enemy stand users would eventually bring harm to his precious family.

Just like Holly, who he didn’t know how to protect other than putting himself in a jail cell, he ran away to protect the two women he loved.

And you’re thinking: ok, so why did he go to Japan? Well; he knew Josuke was a stand user. He knew that he was connected to Joseph, and felt more equipped to handle a situation that didn’t involve regular people like his wife and his (then stand-less) daughter.

Jotaro isn’t very good with words. He’s not the best communicator, something he never really grows out of. So the only way he can protect the people he loves is getting the hell away from them and hoping the bad follows him instead.

Which also feeds into my Autistic Jotaro theory but that’s a whole other rant

#jotaro and jolyne #rant #anime rant #jotaro kujo #jolyne kujo #Jotaro wife #jjba #jojos bizarre adventure #Jojos bizzare adventure analysis #jjba analysis #character analysis #autistic Jotaro #holly kujo #holly joestar #jojo joestar #stone ocean #stardust crusaders

[honey-bee-holly]

They phoned mum at 9:20pm and said water should be back on in half hour. And if we still wanted the water bottles. Mum told them yes cause she doubts the water will actually be working.

And she was right. It’s now 11:40pm and still no running water.

And all my medical problems have flared up. Which is fucking great.

#holly rants

[morois]

jonsa + the great war

#i havent made a proper one of these in years #but i simple cannot get this out of my head #jonsa #sansa stark #jon snow #asoiaf #asoiaf edit #holly's stuff #lit #sansa stark edit #jon snow edit #*rants for 10 minutes abt how the great war is the perfect jonsa song* #valyrianscrolls

[little-mouse-adventures]

Based on the facts that Artemis:

was able to perfectly portray the emotions regarding remembering and being sad about Julius and did so to try and ease the suffering of someone to whom he didn't really 'know' at the time

has canonically worked at a bake sale with his mother

undoubtedly knows the intricacies of each business his family owns and runs down to the specific requirements of the housekeeping staff at the hotel chain be bought out

I propose the idea that he would have a truly spectacular Customer Service Persona, which he detests with every fiber of his being but continues to use as needed because it makes everyone think he is a Nice Young Lad™ and keeps him in as many good graces as possible

#artemis fowl #eventually he probably also learns to enjoy being nice to people #but i can just see him internally SEETHING with rage #at kindly offering tech help to stubborn old ladies who insist the problem is with today's youth #and not with their eyesight or understanding #it's just this darn technology moving too fast and for no reason #but he can't just rewrite the software on their phone because his mother is watching #and he has to Play By The Rules and Be Helpful #so he keeps smiling and being helpful and later on rants in his journal and to Butler and Holly #who of course have no sympathy for him #of course Holly is simultaneously torn because while she enjoys seeing him suffer his Customer Service Voice bothers her some reason #and once she figures out it's because it sound's like Orion and she tells that to Artemis #he uses it around her whenever possible

[hollisartsblog]

Sorry for the long post, I just felt like I needed to get it out, if you want to read I'd be happy, if not, it's okay!

reading for the first time after almost 5 years what I used to write and think about late at night, and now I feel like doing it again, trying to find the right words.

I wanna talk about being in the moment as an artist, appreciating what you do, and not giving a fuck. (and loving ur young self)

I spent my teenage years drawing and posting here, so I had a lot to read tonight and to think about.

have u ever experienced that strange feeling, where you are like "wow. I was actually so beautiful and smart, who could have ever hated me?"

I was a completely different person, and maybe I miss that little girl, and maybe I hate her even a little. now, I'm not here to talk like I'm in a psychoanalyst's deckchair, of course. but I'm here, to resume the beautiful, however embarrassing in my opinion, habit of writing my most intimate thoughts (shareable, of course) that cross my mind at night, because maybe they can help someone, because we are never alone. just as they helped you years ago, just as it has helped me re-reading them now after all this time. I've had some crazy years. I was young, I was passionate and genuinely free to do whatever I wanted. I had friends, I had just sold a self-published book, I had "fans", I was "successful", I had good grades, I had a girlfriend, yet I wasn't happy. I know it sounds like the usual sweet story about happiness and self-satisfaction, but I don't think so (and even if it was, well, here we are ;) ) I didn't realize how necessary EVERYTHING that was happening to me was.

artists have a huge difficulty accepting that sometimes we have to look inside and accept that we have to constantly learn, instead we are always in a hurry to be perfect, to get likes, to earn, but that's not how it goes. I was literally 16 and already thinking about this, thinking I must be good enough to please everyone.

spoiler: you can never do that.

as I said years ago, our eyes are not the right eyes to judge us.

appreciate the compliments, don't dismiss them with an embarrassed smile. appreciate the effort and hours put into a work even if it is bad for you. hug your self when after a bad day you still have the courage to do what you love. being an artist is beautiful, but a huge burden, especially for us. remember that when our insecurities take over, we are not lucid.

yes, that drawing u posted that got 8 likes made 8 people feel something. how amazing is that?

yes, it will be fine, that text you wrote will be something new in someone's eyes, it won't be something read and re-read to make it perfect. you will amaze and make someone fall in love with what u did.

internet is an amazing place, and sometimes it's not. I got myself into a really bad place because I was too immature and too impatient to immediately be the artist I always felt I was, but NO ONE is after you with a clock ticking away time.

you really think someone care about how much time does it take you to get to your goal? why should it matter? I'm not going to list every single successful person who actually made it and tell you "look! they were poor now they are rich, so u can do it!". i'm telling you to always love the process; I would've punched myself in the face, I hated when adults told me this phrase, but it's true: everything pass. you are not gonna be like this forever. you are gonna love what you do one day, and love life because life takes but gives.

(tw: mental health) I spent years between psychologists and suicidal thoughts, I was never enough, and my art not only made me feel miserable, but it was one of the first reason I fell into depression. it always reminded me how plain, boring, and uninspired I was.

there was never anything that was right in what I did, every comment and every ask you sent me had no weight for me, they meant nothing because I didn't I believed in myself, yet I should have tasted it. now I reread them crying, not believing what I read. I was talented, man, I was full of ideas, I was amazing. I lost that spark, because of fear, of waiting for the right moment. i sabotaged myself because i was afraid of judgement, of pressure, when i had love around me, everywhere.

now I'm in Florence, far from home, studying in a private academy of animation and digital art. would I ever have thought that? absolutely no. I deserve it? Yes. because I, like you artists, have grown, we have learned, and I'll tell you this once and for all: do not give up. things are really getting better. now I'm not saying that because I magically healed and I love my art all of the sudden (unfortunately, I still really struggle) but please don't look at likes, followers. you're good, just because you love what you do, literally that's all that matters. I took a long break, now 2 years, because, as much as I didn't want to admit it, I was starting to hate what I was doing, it had become an obligation, a simple circle to mark before going to sleep on the to-do list. to alone.

16 years old. and it wasn't right.

love what you do, take breaks, post without checking a thousand times, show your work, accept compliments. you have created something, and that is enough.

look at you past as an amazing book you just read, the satisfaction coming from all the pages you already read and learnt from, now you are a different person thanks to them. look at you future with the same excitement when you still have a lot of those pages to read.

#hollis' thoughts at night #artist rant #love is everywhere #good omens #thank you so much for how much i learnt from you and your support