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malinaa · 2 months

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2023 WRITING REVIEW

tagged: no one i just wanted to do this and i forgot about it soz </3 tagging : board of directors i'd tag u here but this is mostly fic-based so sorree... anyway if u have already done this my b.... i wld like to see ur post tho @evcndiaz | @brimay | @usignedupforthis | @seek--rest | @posallys | @dustorangeheartssnowman | @adhd-merlin | @queerofthedagger

number of stories posted to ao3: 34 ±1 bc i updated a fic from a while back <3

word counted posted for last year: 90k... a feat (i wrote more but it was ofic so add like maybe 10k to that)

fandoms i wrote for: alex stern series, merlin, house md, pjo, spidey, hunger games, doctor who, & the grisha trilogy

pairings: merthur / arwen / mergwenthur / mergana, darlingstern, hilson, percabeth, petermj, everlark, tenrose, malina

stories with the most KUDOS: jealousy, jealousy (house md) with 522 <3 BOOKMARKS: except my life (merlin) with 137 <3 COMMENT THREADS: rip current (pjo) with 38 <3 *technically the answer to all of these is tested with torment but that's a fic i updated so i don't reallyyyyyy count it

work i'm most proud of (and why): thread of gold (arwen, bbc merlin) because i don't exactly post 2nd person fic and tbh most people HATEEEEE 2nd person fic AND i got people to enjoy it. HA!

work i'm least proud of (and why): coffee drinker (gen fic, bbc merlin) because it was just a promptfic and i didn't even really feel like posting it but i wrote it so i might as well yk?

share or describe a favorite review you received: any review that quotes a line but this one from judas kiss (arwen, bbc merlin)...

THIS. IS. WONDERFUL ❤️❤️❤️ *creates bookmark with gusto* I LOVE that you dug into what it might have been like for Gwen while she was under that enchantment! It was so creative to have her past memories blurring with glimpses of the present during the enchantment. I *felt* her disorientation, and it *hurt*. I felt so bad for Gwen all over again! 😭😭😭 That aspect of this story could have been a fantastic standalone one-shot in its own right, but noooo, you raised the bar and KEPT GOING and made it even better!!! I love that you showed Gwen and Merlin staying friends after Gwen becomes queen, and I love how she confides in him and how he immediately drops everything to go look for the offending piece of jewelry. The bit about Arthur’s incredulity at Merlin’s method of testing the enchantment was a great dash of humor, and I love that you fleshed out the concept of the enchantment to be something the others could experience so that they could truly *know* that Gwen had been innocent. And don’t even get me started on how much I love Arthur’s “Forgive me.” I love how he doesn’t think twice about humbling himself in front of everyone because his focus is solely on Gwen, consumed by the urgency of doing the right, honorable, and loving thing in that moment. You write Arthur and Gwen’s relationship so beautifully. 💕 Well done; I hate you (/affectionate) for all these feels. 🥰🫂👏

a time when writing was really, really hard: august through october... idek why i was literally in agony not writing

a scene or character you wrote that surprised you: writing jj in spider-man: homewrecker because i've NEVER written him before (in my memory) and i was like. Hello .

a favorite excerpt of your writing: cannae lie i have a few favs so... killing is a love language (mergana, bbc merlin) Heartbreak snakes up his throat, constricting him at the sight of her. Morgana’s beauty is incontestable even like this, but her hatred wore her down to her bones. Gone were the full cheeks and rosy lips, the perfectly combed hair, the wardrobe that would put princesses to shame. Now, her face is sunken in, her hair a curled storm, her dress is merely black rags at this point. thread of gold (arwen, bbc merlin) Your father’s presence is larger than life. Larger than love. It looms. It casts shadows long enough to hide every hope and dream you’ve ever had for yourself. the boy and the girl (malina, the grisha trilogy) Memory fractures into shards. Real or not real? There’s Mal in the meadow. Mal buried beneath the hanging tree. Mal cold in her palms. There’s a sky darker than night. Her hands bloodied. A knife lodged in his heart. Her knife. His blood. Her fault. She killed him. She loves him. Her fault. Rest her head on his still chest. Her fault. No heartbeat. Her fault. No warmth. Cold light spilling from her palms. She killed him. The Saint’s only true worshipper martyred.

how did you grow as a writer last year: my hopes from last year was that i finally finish a multichap fic.... 😭 does a short 3-shot count. besides that i wrote more consistently and i'm finally Used to my writing style. i think.

how do you hope to grow this year: hell if i know if i could write something longer than 20k that'd be great 😭😭😭😭

who was your greatest positive influence this year as a writer (could be another writer, beta, cheerleader, etc.): the board.... @rosesau / @bipercabeth / @stellwood fnh...... i'd tag katie but she absconded from tumblr smh. anyway hi freaks n geeks

anything from your real life show up in your writing last year: oh i don't even know. nothing ig

any new wisdom you can share with other writers: bro idek the more i write the more writing becomes fundamentally so hard to talk about ... sorreeee

any projects you're looking to starting (or finishing) this year: IF I DON'T FUCKING MAKE PROGRESS ON MY PLAY I WILL BASH MY HEAD INTO A WALL. THIS CAN'T KEEP HAPPENING. ATLAS AND VIVIAN YOU WILL BE WRITTEN ON THE PAGE INSHALLAH

#tag games #2023 #writing #text #tais toi lys #not the numbering getting fucked. whatever

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midnight-masquerade-p5r · 25 days

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Why I Hate Maruki's Ending And How It Really Is The Worst Ending. You can choose it if you want, but I never will and here's why:

So, why is Maruki's Ending horrible? On the surface, it might seem like a wonderful ending. Everyone is happy right?

Futaba has her mother back, and in turn that also means Sojiro has Wakaba back as a good friend.

Haru has her father back.

Yusuke has a Sensei who genuinely cares for and loves him.

Ryuji can run again without pain and he and his mother are doing amazing for themselves.

Morgana is finally human.

Ann and Shiho never had to suffer under Kamoshida.

Sumire got her wish to live as Kasumi.

Makoto and Sae are doing well and their relationship was never fraught with tension.

The Protagonist Akira/Ren got to stay in Tokyo and his wish for Goro being alive is granted.

Now, taking it at face value, it truly does look like the ideal ending for the Thieves. It seems as though it really is their Happily Ever After.

However it is actually the most depressing ending for them.

For this ending goes against everything the Thieves stood for and it also strips them of all their character development and it completely destroys the genuine bonds they all forged with one another that they wouldn't have had, had they not stood by one another and fought side by side as they did.

It completely ruins the Phantom Thieves and their friendships from the inside out. The connections they have in this disgusting false reality are not genuine. Maruki orchestrated that they all should be friends in this Reality because they were friends in their True Reality.

Another thing to point out-

This also in turn ruins Futaba's deep bond with Sojiro. Even though it seems that she and Wakaba have a good bond with him, there's no doubt that Futaba's deep bond with Sojiro has been altered.

The reason why Futaba has such a deep bond with Sojiro stems from the fact that Sojiro took her in and gave her love and supported her when she was at her lowest. Without that integral piece of their shared connection, there's very little doubt that with Futaba's mother still in the picture- that Futaba and Sojiro's bond is nowhere near as strong.

By altering their lives, Maruki ends up ruining their true and genuine bonds and forcing a falsified connection within the Thieves. And as well as their bond with other people, like Futaba and Sojiro.

The game even spells out as such that their bonds are not quite right as the Thieves come together while Akira/Ren and Goro are on their own, struggling to fight against Maruki to get Sumire back.

This right here has always struck me. Because this shows without a doubt, that their true connection with Akira/Ren is already not as strong in this Reality. This also includes their bonds with one another, for without Akira/Ren starting off the chain events, and being a huge influence and inspiration to their lives and how he helped guide them, and also helped them all come together and forge their bonds and connections- it clearly paints out a very dismal picture.

That if the Thieves accept this sugar coated reality, they will lose their true bonds with one another, and they will lose the people they've worked so hard to become.

They will be stripped of it all. They will be stripped of the choices they made that ultimately led them to who they became. All of their choices would essentially end up meaningless, and they'd all be husks of their former selves and it would be a betrayal not only to themselves but to those they helped along the way.

The Thieves came together and fought back against an unjust game and kept going, no matter how bleak things became. No matter how much pain and adversity they had to go through. Their bonds are what saw them through their lowest of lows. Their Journey as the Phantom Thieves is a big part of what shaped all of them into the people they became. And all of that is utterly and completely destroyed with Maruki's meddling of Reality.

It goes against everything the Thieves stand for and it ruins their bonds and connections. The Thieves become nothing but Puppets under Maruki's "Paradise."

Though it might not be labeled as a "bad" ending in the traditional sense, it is indeed the worst ending for the Thieves and their bonds and their sense of self and identity. All of which are abandoned and replaced to fit with Maruki's visions of what would make them "Happy".

And as the old saying goes: When you set out to make everyone happy, you often end up making no one happy.

The game itself backs this up, when the Thieves rebel against Maruki and are determined to take him down. It shows that they are not happy with what Maruki has decided for them. That they cannot accept it.

The Phantom Thieves in their True reality would NEVER bend to the whims of Maruki. They would NEVER stand for the erasure of their bonds and would never turn away from the lives that they lived out, regardless of the fact that some of the experiences they went through hurt.

To submit to Maruki would be them denying their true selves, it would be them spitting in the faces of their rebellion, their Shadow. It would be them regressing back to the people they were before. It would literally be them rejecting themselves at their very core. All that change that they went through? Then discovering their true selves and fighting for everything they believed in?

GONE.

All of it gone in the blink of an eye if Maruki's deal is accepted.

The people you see at the end of the game aren't the Phantom Thieves, they're puppets. Every single last one of them.

Goro, is the perfect person to be the voice of reason here, because he was a puppet for so long and he knew exactly the end result of what would happen if Maruki's deal was accepted. The Thieves would all become puppets too. They would betray themselves and the people around them that they fought so hard for.

To accept Maruki's Ending is to destroy the Phantom Thieves and make all their choices having never mattered. Essentially, you make their entire story and character arcs all for naught. You turn them into puppets, into husks of their former selves. They are no longer who they were before and they will NEVER again be the Phantom Thieves you knew and loved.

The Phantom Thieves that stood up to the injustice around them and did something that no one else cared to do, the Phantom Thieves that rejected and rebelled against those that sought to oppress and abuse them and others. The Phantom Thieves that, no matter what happened, they would stand together and face it together and overcome it like they always had.

The Phantom Thieves that accepted their past and the pain that came with it, and faced down their true selves to become the people they are in the end. And the Phantom Thieves that forged a bond with one another so unbreakable that it literally defied not one, not two, but three separate Gods, all of which the stakes were all rigged against them. ((Yaldabaoth, Maruki, and later EMMA)).

All of which will become obsolete if Maruki's reality is chosen.

Maruki's Ending is truly the worst ending for the Thieves.

And that's why I hate it and have never chosen it in any playthrough and never will.

#persona5royal #p5 royal #p5r #p5r spoilers #persona 5 royal spoilers #bad ending #phantom thieves #takuto maruki #the worst ending

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morganalefae · 6 months

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s3 morgana being "beyond redemption" is soooooo crazy to me like yeah trying to kill the evil tyrant king whos been murdering every last one of your kind is sooooo evil lock her up and throw away the key!!

such a prime example of a kick the dog character too. like they cant condemn her for just fighting for her right to exist so they have her executing civilians and trying to have gwen executed to make her into the villian.

and! the same goes for morgause! literally what did she ever do wrong? uther conquered camelot (said by him in the episode where gili fights in the tournament) and then executed hundreds if not thousands of people with magic but morgause trying to kill the king is a step too far? why? its almost like the show is actually on uthers side 🤨🤨🤨🤨

which leads me to: the fact that we essentially watch the entire show through the pendragon perspective. merlin protects arthur so everything we learn about the purge and magic and the old religion is from uther/gaius. so, biased, to say the least. one of the most important things they tell you when researching history is to consider where your information is coming from and how that persons perspective influences their discussion of it.

which is why i also dont consider nimueh to be a villain. shes an activist! yeah she tried to kill arthur that one (?) time but he didnt even die so. doesnt count <3 but we SEE her having a conversation ALONE with uther where she says she didnt know what would happen to ygraine and i just cant imagine why she would lie. if she really wanted to hurt him she could have said she'd known and killed her on purpose but i dont think thats the case at all. she says she never would have helped him if she'd known what would happen. like, surprise, if you hunt and kill people for the crime of existing they will fight back and its not going to be the way you like it and innocent people will die. because thats war. you ruthlessly slaughter her people and she will slaughter yours.

worlds most unstructered post. professors hate her. anyway the show eventually starts to take on a very firm, "merlin has magic but ues not LIKE those other magic users therefore hes ok :) everyone else is evil tho. except the druids (sometimes :|)", whereby merlin using magic is only allowed if hes helping or saving arthur (except all those other times but we dont talk about those i guess) and his stance on magic eventually warps until hes just kind of horrible about it.

100% unpopular opinion but gaius should have died in s2 or 3. he influenced merlin far too much and basically never for the better. sorry to gaius lovers but i do NOT like that old man. he advises merlin EVERY time to not tell morgana about her magic (which she has no control over and therefore is manifesting in ways that will absolutely get her caught), to never help any of the unfairly persecuted people of the episode or even to use magic at all. hes a bootlicking coward who only helped people he cared for or when it suited him. how many people do you think he watched burn simply because he didnt agree with the way they used magic, whether it actually "evil" or not.

merlin's only friends who know about his magic are an old conservative man and a guy who dies right when merlin could have used the support of someone to help him "come out" to arthur about his magic.

im firmly of the opinion that had he told morgana about his magic everything would have been literally fine. because alone and with loterally no support system at all, is it any wonder that morgana would go down the road she did? after years of fear and watching people just like her be burned for the crime of existing, with no prophecy or friends to tell her that it wont always be this way. you dont have to be afraid because youre not the only one and i wont let anything happen to you. oh wait. she did get told that. by MORGAUSE. not about the prophecy but how can they be judged by trying to bring about change by themselves. by trying to kill a king whos killed so many of their own people.

if the intention of the show had been to give a poignant message about the cycle of abuse (morgana succumbing to bitterness and hatred just like uther) or how fear can control you (merlin eventually becoming essentially the bad guy, judging everybody who doesnt use magic the way he sees fit, staying silent and contributing to persecution of magic people because living in fear can make you paranoid and bitter (sound familiar?)) then i would applaud because wow did that make me fucking cry! and hit actually very close to home! and it was tragic and horrible but also inevitable

but as far as i can tell that was not at all the point, because in the end kilgharrah tells merlin the prophecy has been fulfilled, albion is united and magic returned! hurrah! but. um. did i miss something? when did that happen? oh, you mean when gwen is queen....? so.... gwen unites the land of albion and returns magic to the land? except, merlin seems to have lived on until the 21st century of our world and magic is not what i would call flourishing atm.

so i guess my question is... well actually i dont have a question. actually wait i do. what the fuck?

#whoops long and probably confusing post #oh well #merlin #bbc merlin #morgana pendragon #arthur pendragon #uther pendragon #merthur #gaius

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arcplaysgames · 1 year

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hmmm where did i leave off....

To celebrate the Madarame Job, the team comes together for hot pot. It's a nice sequence! It's cute! Ann and Yusuke continue to be my favorites. Everyone bonds over their sad backstories and Reverie re-explains how he wound up with an assault charge.

Morgana is briefly sad that he doesn't have any memories to bond with the team about. Yusuke is as comforting as I would expect him to be. He has such a dry sense of humor, it reminds me of Akihiko when he starts to open up and has these really straight-faced little jokes.

AND FOR A WHOLE TEN MINUTES THE GAME LETS ME THINK YUSUKE IS GONNA MOVE IN WITH REVERIE AND I WAS LIKE "AT LAST, EVERYONE TOLD ME THIS GAME WOULD DELIVER SOME GAY AND NOW I GET TO HANG OUT WITH EFFETE AESTHETE MATT MERCER EVERY NIGHT, YESSSS" but no he decides to go to the dorms.

my pout can be seen from fucking space

He does leaves Sayuri in the cafe, which actually made me emotional for a moment.

MEANWHILE

I don't know shit about Akechi but he sasses Makoto, so I'm a fan.

Also, Makoto, idk gurl maybe people get on your case because you fucking suck? It ain't that deep.

Okay, one: RYUJI I AM GONNA GET YOU A FUCKING BALLGAG AND IT WILL BE THE LEAST EROTIC USE OF A BALLGAG IN THE HISTORY OF GAGS. WHY CAN'T YOU SHUT THE HELL UP.

Two: I'm about to vault over this table and throw hands with Makoto. This might be a new landspeed record for a character getting so fucking deeply on my shitlist, this might actually rival Ryoji The Insta-Creep Whomst I Hated in P3P, I despise this girl.

Makoto blackmails the team into going after her target, a mafia group that is going after students.

(I wonder if they are yakuza in the original JPN? I feel like "mafia" sounds extremely weird here. If for some reason you don't wanna call 'em yakuza, even "organized crime" sounds less weird, but what do I know.)

This game is really trying to pitch me on Makoto being in a tough position, but I am a complete no sell on this. I think because I flat out do not buy the idea that she didn't know about Kamoshida when multiple students were going around the school with visible injuries and everyone was talking about Shiho and Ann. Like, if Makoto swore she didn't know, she's either a liar or she's so fucking oblivious to suffering around her, she shouldn't be in a position of authority over anyone and doesn't have a leg to stand on against the Thieves.

Glad the game lets me convey my contempt to her, tbh.

Oh then right after, she digs up Reverie's phone number to call him to thank him.

Makoto, you are a full-ass stalker and we are not friends. You lying to Sojiro to get Reverie's personal cell number to call him is like the cherry on top of your stalker sundae.

Also, through this entire sequence I have squinting at her shirt collar to figure out what that is. It's a B and a J, for Boaz and Jachin, the pillars at the entrance of the Temple of Solomon and framing the High Priestess as she sits sentinel before the veil BLAH BLAH she's the fucking Priestess. In what universe. Whatever.

The only good Priestess I have seen in Persona thus far is Fuuka. As discussed previously, Yosuke was P4's real Priestess.

If she's not the Priestess and her collar stands for, like.... Japanese Baseball, I will uninstall this game.

Anyway, I started Temperance.

Mostly because I wanna know what the fuck is going on here and is it deeper than some asshats at Atlus going "what if we combined our Maid Kink with our Hot For Teacher Kink!!!!!"

Also oh my god when the fuckign framing device thing kicked in and Sae was like "YOU MUST HAVE HAD HELP AT SCHOOL" i about fucking died.

The framing device of this game unfortunately takes Sae, who had a great introduction, and makes her seem like an idiot.

........ GOD could you IMAGINE if this game had The Fox?

SAE: "It seems like you were seen at the shrine on a regular basis. You MUST HAVE HAD CURRIED THE FAVOR OF THE GODS. Who helped you????"

LOOK AT HER FUCKING FACE I'M CRYING. I almost flung my Odin away in terror. PUT THAT AWAY!

Do you... want me to play along? How much is this a chosen job and how much is necessity?

I hate to be That Guy but if this.... is actually a line of work Kawakami enjoys, that would be very Temperance of her. Taking subconscious desire and want, and connecting it to material needs like money. Temperance would be the card of "getting paid for what you enjoy doing," honestly?

But who even fucking KNOWS. In P3P I literally Noped out of the Temperance SLink and in P4G I never got to rank 3. I figure I owe Atlus to follow ONE of the routes so why not the one that raises the most alarm bells! For fun!

Meanwhile, Mishima continues to be a crisis case waiting to pop off and I just wanna scream.

And then. Oh. He's in Kichijoji? AKA my favorite location? HM.

Am I being fucking punked? Or doxxed? What is happening here?

I mean... again, the Jake English vibes are bananas through the fucking roof, but he's also a master of billiards and a (so far subtle) flash bastard about it?

This is not helped by the fact that if I were to assign, uh, a Certain Character I Wrote In A Story a major Arcana, Justice would be one of the best options for him.

Anyway uh. Okay. I'm paying attention now.

Even if he is still Beige as all hell.

Last note for this post, I finally kicked off Yusuke's link and

damn Sae you fucking got me, we were having Yusuke make counterfeit copies of high-value TCG cards and sold them on the black market to fund our work, YOU FUCKIN CAUGHT ME

I don't even know how to deal with Yusuke being the fucking Emperor. What the fuck is his domain? The art world at large? How the fuck does he exert power over that? Also, like, if that were his domain, that's more a Hierophant thing than an Emperor thing--

MY POINT IS, I DON'T THINK IN THESE THREE GAMES YET I HAVE BEEN SO BAFFLED BY AN ARCANA CHOICE. I can see Magician, Hermit, Priestess, Strength, even the Hanged Man if you wanna be Spicy. Ooh, or the Star, he'd be a GREAT Star.

The fuckign EMPEROR?

Is the game gonna pull another rabbit out of its hat and convince me "oh yeah he the emperor" like it did with Kanji? STAY TUNED, TRUE BELIEVERS but the odds are not in their favor. oh my god, Yusuke as the Emperor, I'm fucking flabbergasted. What the hell.

#p5 #persona liveblog #lmao lot in this post

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sanversandfriends · 1 year

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Sanvers fans know her from her amazing contributions of art and fic to the Big Bang, but @morganastorm24 is also a multi-talented writer and artist for multiple ships in the DC universe. She also has love of everything Lois Lane. In honor of the Planet's star reporter, we've asked her to share a glimpse into her writing process. Thanks, Morgana!

Tell us a little about yourself. How did you get started writing fic? Have you written for other fandoms? What are your favorite tropes?

I've been writing for as long as I can remember - even longer according to my mum. I've always loved creating stories and would sit with my teddies and toy horses, reading them stories (even before I could read, because that's what pictures are for, right? Telling a thousand words and all that). For my 6th or 7th birthday, I apparently asked for a "really nice writing set and an even nicer book to write in". I was given a ring binder with plastic pockets, a notebook and a pencil case full of stationery. I still have that ring binder to this day, though it's not filled with all my random childish scribbles like it once was.

I started writing fanfiction not long after Star Wars: Attack of the Clones came out. That's the earliest fanfic I can remember writing, anyway. I wrote Anakin and Padme's adventures after they got married, and then when rumours started flying about what was going to happen in Episode 3, I wrote my very first "fix it fic" by finding a way to keep Padme alive (as I couldn't bear the thought of my favourite character dying). Most of those very early fics never left the pages of the notebooks they were scrawled in and nobody else ever saw them (thank god!), but it wasn't until I started reading fanfiction online that I realised I could actually do that too - share my ideas with the world. I dabbled a little in fanfic for the tv show Casualty (a British medical drama), had more success with Doctor Who, wrote some more Star Wars, then Merlin and eventually (and most recently) Supergirl (with a dash of other DC).

What were your inspirations for this particular story? What was it about this/these ships that grabbed you?

This fic was born of a single image - namely Chyler first revealing that she was going to wear a black and blue super suit and become Supergirl for one episode. That image alone was enough to get my mind racing with possibilities and ideas of how it might come to pass. I have to be honest and say I stopped watching the show after the Crisis stuff, so I've never actually seen her episode as Supergirl, but maybe that's a good thing? At least this way I know that my version of her is different and unique.

I am and always will be a huge Sanvers stan, but there's something so appealing about AgentCorp as well, and the show really dropped the ball when they wouldn't let Alex and Lena be together. They're an interesting and dynamic pairing - they share interests, are both huge science nerds and yet so completely different that its great fun writing them both together.

As for Lois and Kara - that one literally came out of nowhere and took me by surprise. I'd never intended for it to happen, and yet now that it has, I'm wondering why I never thought of it sooner!

Has the time spent away from your story changed your outlook or approach to any of the storylines or themes? Have you had any new inspirations or breakthroughs/revelations in the meantime?

Absolutely. I got to a point with the fic where it had grown stale, and I was constantly hitting up against a wall with no idea how to get around it, or to power through it. So, I walked away from the fic and decided to focus on other WIPs and new creations instead. Coming back to it now, I've been able to see everything with fresh eyes, and I can see not only where I was going wrong before, but also a way to fix it. Changing the villain, adding characters, getting rid of redundant plot threads and adding more relevant pieces has really helped to get this work to a place where finally, I can see the finish line and I know I'm going to make it. That's a huge relief, considering where I was 2 years ago when I first started writing it.

Any advice for new or aspiring fic writers?

Never give up. No matter how hard it might be, just put words on a page. It doesn't matter how rubbish they are, as my BFF always says, "You can't edit a blank page." Let yourself suck, let yourself write horrendously. It's all good practice. Even if those words never leave your notebook or the document on your computer, they've taught you something, they've helped you to improve, so be proud of them.

Writing is also a bit like a painting. Not even Da Vinci or Van Gogh sat at his easel and created a masterpiece on his first try. There's the initial sketches to plan out the idea. That's your plot or summary. Then you add basic blocks of colours. That's your first draft. From then on, you work away slowly, adding details, shading, contouring...those are your second, third, fourth drafts. Keep revising and editing as much as you need - there's no right or wrong number of times you should be doing it. Because each time you do, you're adding more detail to your masterpiece. And what you end up with is a work of art.

One final piece of advice... writing is not a solo event. All those times a writer is depicted sitting along, tapping away at a keyboard or scribbling in a notebook, it's so misleading. Get yourself a writing buddy. DKGwrites and I are best friends, we met through fanfiction (and I'm eternally grateful for that everyday). We have regular writing sessions together, and ok it's 90% messing around, distracting one another, talking utter nonsense or throwing random videos and links to each other, but that 10% when we do actually behave and get down to the task at hand, it's so much more fun writing together than it ever is when we try to write alone. Silliness aside, we help one another, bounce ideas off one another, motivate and encourage one another, and it's the best thing ever. So find yourself a writing buddy, and have a blast!

If you were going to promote this fic with a single line, what would it be?

What if Supergirl was a badass redhead called Alex Danvers?

We'll have more about her artwork in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, check out her work on A03!

#Supergirl #Finish the Fic #AgentCorp #Kaois #Lois Lane

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writebackatya · 1 year

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What are your headcanons for postcanon Drake or that bear from talespin I forgot his name sorry

I've got a few ideas for good ol' Drake/Darkwing Duck some of it was said in my Launchpad headcanons response post such as the fact that I headcanon that he and LP eventually get married because come on, why not?!

As for some more post-canon stuff, I like to think that eventually Drake would move out of Darkwing Tower so that Gosalyn would have a proper home. Probably some time after the wedding the Mallard family would move out of Audobon Bay Bridge and into the suburbs where their next door neighbors will be the Muddlefoots (JUST LIKE THE OG DARKWING SHOW!!). As for Darkwing Tower, it would still be used by Darkwing and co.

And since we are talking about Drake here, I might as well share some post-canon stuff about Darkwing Duck. More specifically the Justice Ducks cause frankly, I'd like to add two characters from DuckTales 2017 to that team

Let's get some obvious answers out of the way: Gizmoduck is on that team (much to Drake's chagrin), Neptunia (because she's a great Darkwing Duck character that I'd love to see come back) and Morgana (same reason as Neptunia). What about Stegmutt you ask? I have no idea who you are talking about. No sir, definitely no idea. I definitely don't hate that character and find him annoying so I'm not including him in my headcanon

As for those DuckTales 2017 characters I want on that team, I always felt that Penumbra and Storkules would make fine additions to that team. Both are mighty warriors that have spent the majority of their lives fighting for others and are now trying to find their place in the world; so why not join a superhero team? It's not too crazy: the Justice League has Wonder Woman, the Avengers have Thor; gods and amazons make excellent team members

I like to think the Justice Ducks has some honorary members such as Launchpad and Quiverwing Quack (Gosalyn, in case you didn't know). I like to think that post-canon, Dewey visits St. Canard and participates in Darkwing-related adventures more often than the rest of the McDuck family so he too would be an honorary team member. Gandra Dee, I see as someone who would occasionally help out it all depends on some factors such as: her schedule, if she's gonna get paid for her work, and if Fenton/Gizmoduck gives her puppydog eyes to help them out.

Also Fenton would be an honorary member. Why? Because he'd definitely help out the team as both Fenton and Gizmoduck. And yeah, Drake still doesn't know they are the same person. I'd like to keep that running gag going. Everyone else on the team knows, but they don't tell Drake because like come on, that's the one person who doesn't know that Fenton is Gizmoduck and Fenton just needs that one win

...Oh right! This ask prompt was also about Kit Cloudkicker!...Who I know nothing about since I never watched TaleSpin and have no desire to start watching it as of right now. I guess he joins Molly Cunningham as a fulltime sky surfer on her Danger Woman's Death-Defying Sky Circus...that's all I got.

It's not too often I talk about Kit Cloudkicker so I'm just gonna write this here, but doesn't he both look and sound like a character Chris Pratt would be typcasted as?! Nothing against the guy, I thought he was fun, but the first time I watched The Lost Cargo of Kit Cloudkicker! I just thought that.

Also, did anyone else find it kind of funny when we first saw that F.O.WL. kidnapped Kit? Again, nothing against the guy but compared to everyone else they captured, is Kit really that much of a threat? Gods, various scientists, superheroes, Santa Claus; all forces that could easily stop the evils of Capitalism sure. Some dude who surfs the clouds really good? Yeah make sure he's locked up so he will no longer be a threat to F.O.W.L and all that it stands for

Like can you imagine just during the meeting when they were planning this capture, Bradford is playing footage of Kit surfing the clouds and glaring at the monitors and then dramatically pausing the footage. And then go on an entire rant about how much of a threat Kit is to F.O.W.L and how he and Molly must be stopped

Don Karnage would be 100% on-board of course and would be like, "Well he's not Dewey but he'll do for now"

...What was the question again?

#ask response #ducktales headcanons #ducktales 2017 #drake mallard #kit cloudkicker #darkwing duck #justice ducks #writebackatya

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thepaladincosplays · 1 year

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I posted 596 times in 2022

237 posts created (40%)

359 posts reblogged (60%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@doomface

@kururu418

@cooltmoney95

@olianahorror

@hello-just-random-me

I tagged 370 of my posts in 2022

Only 38% of my posts had no tags

#thepaladinrambles - 235 posts

#tales of mewni - 103 posts

#anon - 51 posts

#callyieverse - 50 posts

#froppy butterflyfan2000 - 41 posts

#laylaylamode - 27 posts

#commission - 20 posts

#thepaladinreblogs - 17 posts

#loki heedsi - 14 posts

#envie - 14 posts

Longest Tag: 137 characters

#and more often than not long for affirmations and assurances from others because it doesn’t feel like they’re saying it out of obligation

My Top Posts in 2022:

“Alright, let’s get this started!”

A rather strong young man of sixteen, Tony Detweiler’s “go-get-’em” attitude leads him toward both lots of fun and lots of trouble. As the right-side hitter for the Citiesville Knights he takes his blocks and passes seriously. When he’s not at home or working at Nasty Burger, he’s mostly found on the court or at the gym. He and his parents moved out to Citiesville for better opportunities, and although he wishes he was closer to Townsville he’s glad to have found some friends on the volleyball team.

Another lovely commission from @harchibudytgorichi! Please go check out their work and support them if you can. They’re a wonderful artist and do most of the art designs for all my characters.

15 notes - Posted March 2, 2022

“I’m Morgana. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Living in the Jaggy Mountains, one of the last few Goliaths alive made her acquaintance with none other than Jagur Jaggy. Considered a runt by her culture, Morgana’s nine-and-a-half foot tall stature towers over the Jaggy citizens. After meeting the Jaggy Prince she became quick friends with him, though shades of scarlet will tell you about her other feelings for the prince. Despite living on her own for most of her life, Morgana believes that her long lost brother may still be out in the world surviving on his own. With a few secrets of her own, the shy girl only lets out so much about her past to Jagur...

Another commission from the amazing @harchibudytgorichi! Meet Jagur’s (future) girlfriend! Me and @kururu418 tossed around a few ideas and ultimately I ended up coming up with a lot of backstory for Morgana that’s gonna trickle out over the course of the fics I write about her and Jagur. Stay tuned!

16 notes - Posted January 15, 2022

“If my son Sandor has done you wrong, then you talk to him about it, not me.”

The previous monarch of Lunaria, Kalista Heart held the title of Queen of Hearts for two-hundred and fifty years before stepping down from the throne and giving it to her son. Known for her strict law and order, Kalista was popular among the old noble families in Lunaria for favoring them when writing the laws of the land. Many of these families want her put back into power now that her son has undone these laws but she continues to deny them. Despite no longer ruling over Lunaria, Kalista still lives inside the Heart family castle and will, on occasion, grant her son advice on how to rule the kingdom.

Another wonderful commission from @harchibudytgorichi, this time of my character Kalista, the mother of the King of Hearts (changed his name to Sandor ‘cause I didn’t want him having my name anymore... lol) and previous monarch of Lunaria!

23 notes - Posted September 18, 2022

Of all the members of the Norse Pantheon, none are as cunning and devious as Loki. A magic using god, Loki’s most notorious crime among the Aesir and Vanir was the slaying of Baldr, the punishment of which was the chaining and separation of his children Fenrir and Jormungandr from him. A shapeshifter by nature, Loki often switches between a man’s figure and a woman’s figure (typically going by the name “Heedsi” when presenting as female). Despite his more loner personality, Loki has had his eyes set on a certain someone for some time now (though he doesn’t act on his feelings often). He secretly despises the new Apollo, not believing he’s the incarnation of the Baldr he killed over a millennia ago...

Another amazing commission from @harchibudytgorichi! Gonna be working on a fic for him soon so if you have any questions about him feel free to ask!

26 notes - Posted February 15, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

The odd duckling of her family, Princess Ofelia Naga is the youngest and third child of Queen Nixitia Naga and King Colton Kahn of the Queendom of Wraiven. Like both of her older sisters, the Crown Princess Thesephia and Princess Ankahlia, Ofelia has a special interest of her own. While Thesephia concerns herself with law and her books, and Ankahlia loves her taxidermy, Ofelia gives her attention to her garden and alchemy. Although they keep their relationship a secret, it’s not unknown to her family that Ofelia and the King of Hearts are romantically entangled with one another.

Another lovely commission from @harchibudytgorichi, this time of one of my fantasy series characters, Ofelia of the Queendom of Wraiven!

31 notes - Posted September 11, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review

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weakforarwen · 2 years

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The Beginning of the End

There’s a lot to unpack in this episode. I’ll do it character by character because it’s easier.

Arthur: Perhaps I didn’t give Arthur enough credit in my review of A Herald of the New Age, when I said Arthur’s regret for killing the druids seemed insincere. Perhaps it wasn’t, because Arthur argued against the execution of the druid man and pleaded with Uther to spare Mordred many times, going so far as to call him out for forgiving Morgana when she had “betrayed” him too. Of course, talk was all Arthur was willing to do. He wouldn’t betray his father and personally carried out Uthers’ orders, so he was essentially an accomplice to his crimes.

Furthermore, Arthur raided a druid camp in The Nightmare Begins, when Uther believed Morgana had been kidnapped, and told his men to “Remember the King's orders! No prisoners!”. Did he believe killing an entire group of people, children included, was fair because Morgana had been kidnapped? My point stands: Arthur’s tears in A Herald of the New Age may have been more for Elyan and himself than for the boy he killed - he was terrified of dying or losing Elyan to the boy’s spirit. Or, perhaps, he had been crying for the boy, but only because it’s easy to mourn children. I’m sure he regretted his actions but clearly not enough to change. Arthur may have believed the druids were a peaceful people, but he would only disobey his father if talked into it. In this case, Morgana appealed to his sense of honor and shamed him into doing the right thing:

M: I can't believe you'd let an innocent child die! A: It's too late. He's been caught. I have no choice. M: And is this how you will rule when you are King? You're not like your father. A:I will not betray him. M: If I know you at all, you won't stand by and let this happen. Please. If you won't do this for the boy, then do it for me.

I wonder what held more weight in Arthur’s decision: his desire to prove that he was indeed different from his father - back when his father was still alive and the urge to please him was perfectly counterbalanced by the urge to dissociate his identity from Uther’s - or, if he just couldn’t bear to see Morgana’s judgement and disapproval.

This scene reminded me of a similar scene in The Witchfinder, where Gwen shamed Arthur into doing the right thing and not letting Gaius die like Tom had. She told Arthur he was the Prince, so he should start acting like one.

In both cases, Arthur’s sense of duty and pride, and perhaps the fear of being looked down on by those he cared for, were the only things powerful enough to motivate him to act against his father - pure empathy or kindness alone weren’t enough, doing the right thing wasn’t enough.

However, Morgana flattered Arthur a bit more than Gwen did - she straight up judged him - and that’s a difference between the two of them. Gwen was always more honest and Morgana more cunning.

But after Arthur chose to help Mordred, he committed to it. He’s competent when they let him be. Even when he believed they’d been found, he shielded the boy’s body with his own and drew his sword out, ready to attack his own men.

This episode also showed that Arthur cared a lot about Morgana, which I found a bit surprising. I only remembered him truly caring about Morgana in season 3. They bickered like siblings here, which was cute.

Morgana: Gwen said Morgana had never shown such concern for another, and even questioned if it was wise to risk so much for a boy and betray Uther. But was Morgana supposed to let a little boy die? Obviously, Gwen’s role was to bring to our attention how strong Morgana’s connection to Mordred appeared to be, strong enough that it shocked even her closest friend. Morgana likened saving Mordred to her “destiny”. I don’t quite understand Morgana’s mostly one-sided connection to Mordred, but I think she saw herself in him: someone who was scared, helpless, innocent, and being hunted for something they couldn’t control. Deep down, Morgana was aware she had magic, and I think she sensed Mordred’s magic too, and perhaps their magics were compatible or similar?

Morgana’s hatred of Uther was evident even in this episode, and his treatment of her was appalling. He let her know, under no uncertain terms, that she was not his daughter and he wouldn’t hesitate to execute her should she betray him. Morgana really only became Uther’s daughter in season 3. Literally.

Morgana’s a really good actress though - played Uther well. Foreshadowing something?

Lastly, I want to call out the irony of this scene:

M: I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to either of you.

And, yet, Morgana was more vicious in her attacks against Gwen and Merlin than she was against Arthur. She tried to kill Arthur by any means necessary, but she didn’t try to torture him or draw it out. With Gwen and Merlin, though, she robbed them of their agency, imprisoned them, humiliated them, made them powerless, and tried to kill them slowly and painfully.

Gwen: Shout-out to Gwen for getting caught up in the Mordred situation and bravely facing the threat of execution for Mordred and Morgana. No one gave her much of a choice, and she was only a servant unlike Merlin, Morgana, and Arthur, but yeah, Gwen’s brave.

Mordred: I find it curious that Mordred didn’t talk to Morgana much. He spoke mostly to Merlin. Was it because the druids had told them Emrys was good? Did he know of Morgana? If he knew of Morgana being evil, wouldn’t he know of his destiny to kill Arthur? Was he aware when he spoke to Arthur that he’d one day kill him? If so, he would’ve know Emrys was no friend of his, yet he asked for his help... What did the druids think of Mordred? He was prophesied to kill Arthur, and the druids didn’t necessarily want that, because Arthur was prophesied to “save” them. Did they protect Mordred because he was just a boy and because they were supposed to remain neutral and not interfere with the future? Or perhaps knowing such things was above their pay grade, and they only knew of Emrys as he was the most powerful sorcerer to ever live?

Merlin: Oh Merlin, you blew it again. I can’t understand why Merlin was so distrustful of Mordred from the beginning. He was reluctant to help Mordred escape even before talking to Kilgharrah. He was just a boy with magic and he wouldn’t have hesitated to help any other stranger. It’s like Merlin was picking up weird vibes from Mordred, who was just a child, and I found that gross. He never gave Mordred a chance. When Kilgharrah told Merlin to not protect Mordred, he immediately listened though Kilgharrah for some reason didn’t reveal why. Before choosing to let Mordred die, though, he did ask Kilgharrah for a reason, and guessed that Mordred would kill Arthur.

In the end, though, Merlin didn’t have it in him to ignore a boy’s cries for help. That really was the beginning of the end for Arthur, because Merlin refused to kill Mordred many times and things unfolded the way they did...

I didn’t know anything about King Arthur when I first watched this episode, so I missed its significance. Now I know it’s a meaningful episode, I can appreciate it more. However, looking at it objectively, it’s good, but average.

#bbc merlin #merlin #arthur pendragon #mordred #morgana #gwen pendragon #the beginning of the end commentary #the beginning of the end

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retphienix · 2 years

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Cue the heartfelt montage of meeting all my friends and convincing them to follow their convictions and fight on!

Honestly some touching dialogue in all this :(

And some that I feel I missed the weight on since I didn't get to hang too much (Haru) :(

Yusuke refuses to bend to the will of others and declares that he'll fix injustice and repaint the world in a beautiful light.

Ann redoubles her efforts as she refuses to give up for Shiho and her own sake.

Haru, sadly, mostly just felt worthless to us, but when I told her she controlled her own life she said "I'll keep doing better!". Maybe this is always how the talk goes, but I feel like since our Confidant has only just started touching on her building confidence and overcoming the manipulative people around her, perhaps more would be talked about if I maxed her before this, whoops.

Ryuji really got me because he's usually so direct and unfussed with details- and this was a show of his will being beaten and leaving him dwelling in retrospect and assigning the worst traits to all his past decisions. Mostly it was just how I've talked about how his motivations have really developed over the game, and he specifically calls himself out and believes that maybe he was always just being defiant for no reason. He comes to his senses and says much the same I've already said about him :)

He at one point did it for the power trip, then the popularity trip, and finally, because he believes it's what's right. Good guy. I fuckin' love this character and can not stress that enough.

Futaba did super well on her rebound :) Pretty much just expressed her sadness, then bounced back as she refused to accept the dark lies she told herself about it being hopeless or stupid for her to have tried to begin with. Basically talked herself down, then got mad at the voice telling her to be down and bounced back, love Futaba :)

Makoto was a really nice one too. She feels entirely outmatched by what we've seen; She even attributes this literal fight against society with what her father and sister must have felt- that they could target the individual criminal but society just kept making more and they didn't know how to confront that. But she turns that defeat into fuel and rebounds with pure stubbornness. So what if society seems stuck in its ways, unchangeable even? That doesn't mean we ever, Ever, stop trying.

And we get the final little reveal on Morgana which is, well.

I like Morgana. I don't think this is a bad surprise explanation as to his creation, purpose, and what he is.

But it's kinda sad after all the potentials thrown around. He's basically just a tool Igor created to guide us. So he's not human, not cursed by something, not a persona gone rampant (I don't think? Maybe that's kinda what he is, not sure). He's just like, a magic creature who's entire identity is "Help Joker".

Or, you know, was. That was his created purpose, I think he's plenty more than the will of his existence at this point.

And with that the band is back together and, somehow, we're to fix the world back up now that it's become a literal hellscape.

Wonder how I'll manage that.

#Persona #Persona 5 #P5 #P5R #Persona 5 Royal #RetPlays

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trouble-writing · 1 year

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I posted 280 times in 2022

That's 275 more posts than 2021!

19 posts created (7%)

261 posts reblogged (93%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@specterthief

@naometry

@nosmallpotatoes

@itsrapsodia

@skyheaven1231

I tagged 228 of my posts in 2022

Only 19% of my posts had no tags

#art - 146 posts

#fanart - 144 posts

#persona5 - 137 posts

#queuing because i can - 119 posts

#writing - 41 posts

#myfanfics - 16 posts

#akeshu - 16 posts

#fe3h - 12 posts

#shuake - 11 posts

#akeshuake - 5 posts

Longest Tag: 74 characters

#because it captures exactly the vibes goro had in my mind while reading it

My Top Posts in 2022:

Slightly cracky 'he was the gardener all along'-idea.

Let's turn the 'Akira's parents are loaded'-headcanon up to 11. They have a huge elaborate garden. Akira comes back and slots seamlessly back into the family.

His parents ignore him as much as before, but they don't think of him as an absolute criminal, so that's nice. But they are adamant about him not going back to Tokyo, and more or less forcing him to enroll in the college in the next bigger town.

Maybe they could pull some strings despite his (overturned) criminal record. He goes there after protesting, being sure he will transfer at the first opportunity. It's not that bad. Morgana's here, his friends can video call and message, and he mostly has the house to himself.

On one of the rare occasions his parents are there, they inform him that they hired a new gardener from a local firm with good reviews, and he's supposed to keep an eye out if he does a good job, etc. And he does! The flowers look better than ever.

It's a delight to see the garden flourish, especially after he spent working so many hours at the flower shop. He starts doing his homework outside, but he hasn't seen or met the gardener yet, since he always comes around when Akira has classes.

Until one day - classes are canceled - he looks out the window and sees someone working out there. Imagine the general gardener fit, jeans, a t-shirt, if we're daring a straw hat, and Akira's just looking. And keeps looking.

He likes the glimpses of sun-bleached hair he sees and the slight tan, but he's busy, having a call with Ann scheduled, and during it, he carries the laptop over to the window and she approves of what she sees, comparing Akira to a romance heroine lusting after the gardener.

He just laughs. He doesn't laugh when he sees the gardener remove his shirt the next time. And thus begins Akira's journey of lusting after the gardener, but trying not to become a cliché by being inappropriate towards the guy. He hasn't even seen his face!

And well, it's summer soon, and he still misses Goro, and maybe Ann was right that he should distract himself, and flirt a little. And of course, there's a pool in the garden. Because of course. And maybe he should do his homework at different times on one of the beach chairs.

Wearing shorts and t-shirts, maybe even a tank top if he's particularly brave, to see if there might be a little interest. And there is! It's almost as if the gardener can't look away whenever Akira enters the garden and makes his way to his new favorite spot.

The guy keeps working and himself hidden, but it's as if Akira can feel his eyes on him. They keep staring at each other once the other looks away, and it's fun for a while. Definitely distracts him from everything else going on in his life.

At one point he gets bold enough to just approach the gardener. More or less sneaking up on him. And when he finally makes a noise to let him know Akira's approaching, he turns around.

And Akira stares into the face of one Goro Akechi, who found his calling in taking care of plants and nurturing them during their time apart.

*bows* That is all.

6 notes - Posted November 19, 2022

PT.exe has stopped working an akeshuake No Powers AU, in which a Dating Sim appears on the Phansite.

Graphic for this post and the fic has been made by the wonderful @nosmallpotatoes!

Pairing: Goro Akechi/Akira Kurusu - Rating: M

Posted for ShuAke Week 2022 Day Six: Rule 63 - Crossover - Dating Sim

7 notes - Posted November 20, 2022

True Romance is Dead (I shot it in the chest then in the head)

Pairing: Goro Akechi/Akira Kurusu - Rating: M

A self-indulgent fic I'm actually rather proud of. Maybe one day I'll even write the second part.

Posted for ShuAke Week 2022 Day Two: Body Swap - Heist - Cooking

7 notes - Posted November 19, 2022

Tell a little truth an akeshu one-shot written for the Monster Smash event on Twitter.

My gift for @enlacinglineswrites who wanted shuake/akeshu with a bit of truth serum.

Pairing: Goro Akechi/Akira Kurusu - Rating: E

Summary:

The truth that spilled out of him made Goro's eyes widen once more, but he gave no answer, just kept thinking, hand going up to his chin, already absorbed in whatever he was puzzling over.

“Just a hypothesis, but whatever you did to the potion very obviously made us unable to lie.”

After accidentally brewing a healing potion with another interesting property, Akira and Goro have to navigate the lingering effects of a truth potion.

14 notes - Posted November 21, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Claws and Feathers an akeshuake soulmate AU with shapeshifting.

Pairing: Goro Akechi/Akira Kurusu - Rating: M

Posted for ShuAke Week 2022 Day Five: Bad End - Sickfic - Shapeshifting

24 notes - Posted November 20, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review

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emrysofealdor · 4 years

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some of y’all are willing to justify every single one of Morgana’s actions and turn Arthur into the evil one and honestly I’m so tired of it

#morgana was valid when she fought for the freedom of magic users #she was NOT valid when she began to kill everyone who didn’t stand up to Uther #she was NOT valid when she forced gwaine to fight for his elyan’s and gaius’ food #she was NOT valid when she tortured gwaine and elyan to the brink of death #SHE WAS NOT VALID WHEN SHE BROUGHT BACK LANCELOT FROM THE DEAD TO HURT BOTH HER BROTHER AND HER FORMER BEST FRIEND EMOTIONALLY #SHE WAS NOT VALID IN TAKING PLEASURE IN THE PAIN OF ALL OF HER FORMER FRIENDS #morgana is a wonderful character not because she’s right but because she started out right and then she went mad with power #morgana also would have made a terrible queen because she placed her personal grudges above the goodness of her kingdom #and I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again #90% of the problems with Arthur’s character came from the writers constantly pressing the reset button on his character development #if they allowed him to retain the knowledge he gained and the lessons he learned then he would have been the best character here #and THAT is why I consistently defend him #pro arthur pendragon #arthur pendragon appreciation club #okay to rb if you want I guess #I’m just so frustrated with the fact that some people in this fandom are so willing to worship Morgana and shit on Arthur #morgana made some good ass points but that in no way justifies her actions #and it sure as hell doesn’t justify flipping the script and hating on Arthur when he was consistently trying his best #okay I’m done now #alex’s ramblings

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doctorofmagic · 2 years

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The Death of the Doctor Strange #5 review

Feelings, feelings everywhere.

We start the chapter with the conclusion of the fight between Stephen and Kaecilius.

While they’re at it, Wong is the one responsible for gathering the power of the sorcerers across the world, as I pointed previously. Thank you, anon, for clarifying the only one I couldn’t identify! I read the White Fox tie-in but I don’t remember if she appeared back in Agent of Atlas? It’s been a while since I last read this book and I was there for Luna and Silk, ngl haha

I’ll come back to the differences between 60′s and current Stephen, but this is one of the interesting aspects that allow us to bring light into his character development. Stephen has many friends now, even though he pushes people away. His deeds may stay hidden from most people and heroes, but sorcerers are pretty much aware of his importance. And he met all these people over the years and allowed them to build a safe magic community. And for those who missed the preview post, here are their names: Doctor Voodoo, Shaman, Jennifer Kale (I think?), Auntie Ante, Nico Minoru, Mahatma Doom, Médico Místico, Count Kaoz, Daimon Hellstrom, Professor Xu and Talisman.

The spell is preventing the other Sorcerers Supreme (Aggamon and Tiboro) from escaping to their respective dimensions, for they need them to execute the plan against the Peregrine Child and the Mothers.

Next, Stephen overcomes Kaecilius not with powerful attacks but a healing spell, which is absolutely in character since Stephen always does that in order to overcome powerful enemies. This is why I love him so much. IT’S NOT ABOUT POWER.

Stephen strangeplains that, since his soul is located in Kaecilius’ stolen hands, the healing spell regenerates his former body entirely. It demands flesh, tho, which kinda reminds me of Fullmetal Alchemist, you know. Very dark spell for 60′s Stephen to perform but hey, Kaecilius saw that coming.

Stephen is not one to be okay with killing his enemies, that much is true. But I consider this one an equivalent exchange. And 60′s Stephen does explain that the kind one who wouldn’t do it is no longer among them.

I think that... Listen, Stephen was supposed to have his hands healed, right? Because continuity and such. But do I care about v5? No. My mistake was to assume that there would be continuity, but I’m just so glad it didn’t because boi, you know the drill. V5 is definitely not my jam. And also, I don’t think this spell healed his hand (you can still see the scars). Instead, it healed Stephen’s “body” by transmuting it.

And so, our beloved Stephen is reborn (for a brief period, at least). He’s so confused haha poor thing. Also always a pleasure to see him in different clothes.

Next, Stephen is contemplating his younger self’s accomplishments while he was gone. It’s funny to see how he says he doesn’t remember being like that, especially the cold aspect of his personality. Mostly because, as you keep reading Stephen’s chronology throughout the years, you start noticing subtle shifts in his subjectivity. The Sanctum starts getting crowded, first with the Defenders, and then with Sara, Imei, Wong and Clea, even Morgana (ew) and Rintrah. For an introvert, he sure had many people around him, and he grows fond of them, no matter how hard he tries to get isolated from time to time (as I always post that panel from New Avengers Annual #2). Stephen is aware of his own growth, as he points out. Even ice can melt, and he doesn’t regret the man he has become. Reckless, depressed, afraid of relying on others? Yes. But also kind, passionate and loved by those around him. I can’t help but wonder what current Stephen would do in his place. Probably a less dramatic sacrifice, but a sacrifice nonetheless.

60′s Stephen then makes a demand of current Stephen. We do not know what it is yet, but we’ll find out.

And as I predict, a price will be paid. Because magic comes at a cost. Stephen contemplates Death. She has been chasing him for a while now (that beautiful cover from Doctor Strange v2 #4 is a nice homage), and he always managed to deceive her. But not this time, he’s afraid. Stephen knows the price of magic, he knows the sacrifices he has made in order to protect the world. The same way that he knows that, even though he admires the courage in the Avengers and the X-Men, magic will seal the final battle.

Five Sorcerers Supreme to distract the Peregrine Child. I’m a little bitter here because some time ago I saw discourse on Illyana, saying she isn’t powerful enough to be a sorcerer supreme. Ah, Jed is definitely my vindicator. She’s an X-man too, but look at her, having the spotlight. BECAUSE SHE’S A VERY POWERFUL SORCERESS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Ahem. But back to the chapter. 60′s Stephen’s astral form then confronts the Peregrine Child, as planned. He’s consumed, and yet, he desires to be, for he’s their Trojan horse. The Peregrine Child is a concept that feeds upon magic, right? So imagine all the magic it has stored within? It’s beautiful, really, the way Stephen’s astral form ignites the fire.

I love these panels. It reminds me of Doctor Strange - The End, in which his sacrifice ignites and restarts magic. It’s beautiful, I really really really adore this.

With 60′s Stephen’s aid, the sorcerers have enough power to banish their enemies across the dimensions before the child detonates. And so they do. The chapter then finally gives us a moment of Stephen and Clea (YES!)

Here we learn what 60′s Stephen demanded of current Stephen. I’ve waited for this moment for SO LONG, since I last read Sorcerer Supreme #67. And I wonder about those who have been reading comics since then, or even before. 30 years!!!! And they finally, finally have a closure!! Literally, Jed can have my whole soul at this point. I’m just so grateful, even though, yes, Stephen is aware that he will not last.

I love how the chapters end with “the beginning” instead of “the end”. Because even though Stephen dies, this is not the end for him. Also it’s a new chapter in Clea’s life.

Stephen is right, though. It’s not fair for them but there’s literally no one else who could fit the job better than Clea. Let me remind people that a Sorcerer Supreme usually has to learn deity magic in order to become more powerful. Who are the four people Stehen has taught this kind of magic in the past? Jericho, Illyana, Victor and Clea. Jericho was once Sorcerer Supreme but the job took its toll on him. Illyana is the SS of Limbo and she cannot leave her realm unattended (things go south there). And lastly, Victor cannot stand the light of the Eye of Agamotto (also he wasn’t featured in DODS, glad to see that he will make an appearance in Strange #1 soon though heh).

It’s “easier” for Clea to leave the Dark Dimension in the meantime while she finds a way to bring Stephen back, not to mention that she was the one who learned the most while living with Stephen.

My heart is full and empty at the same time. Mostly because we have such a sad ending, but we’re also about to get more real soon, and I can’t wait!! One month, folks!

That said, Jed has been a blessing to my fan’s heart and I cannot stress this enough. There’s literally no one else I’d trust more to write Stephen nowadays. I felt it in my bones that he would do an amazing job as soon as I realized how deeply he admired Stephen through Felicia’s POV. He has been teasing his love for the character for a long time now and the fact that he fixed a relationship that has been ruined since the 90′s? That he has been delivering references and writing him exactly the way I see Stephen? That I’m not crazy for overthinking Stephen’s personality because it’s right there in a canon book? Really. I’m so so so so grateful.

My thanks to him, as well as Lee Garbett, Antonio Fabela and everyone involved in this book. This blog will have a quick shift to focus on Clea since she will be featured often in the next book, but this is not a problem since y’all been known my love for her since day 1 hehe.

10/10. A must read for sure!

#doctor strange #stephen strange #clea #clea strange #wong #kaecilius #review #dods #wednesday tomes #marvel comics #jed mackay #lee garbett #antonio fabela

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supercorpkid · 3 years

Text

Once Upon a Time in…

Camelot

Supercorp, Kara Danvers x Daughter!Reader, Lena Luthor x Daughter!Reader, Emma Swan x Reader, Regina Mills x Reader, Snow White x Reader, Prince Charming x Reader, Merlin x Reader, Morgana Pendragon x Reader.

Word Count: 3100.

Previously on the series - Neverland

“So I guess we’re going to Camelot.”

You look at Henry, not knowing what that means. Wait, Camelot. Legend of the sword? It can’t be it. They can’t be talking about that, right? But you look around, you see Snow White’s soft smile at you, the ‘Evil Queen’ appearing and disappearing with nothing but a purple fog around her. They are definitely talking about king Arthur, and Lancelot and the sword buried on the ground that no one could lift it.

“I need my bow and arrow.”

“And my sword!”

“We should take more than one magic bean.” How is it possible that you’re not even surprised about magic beans anymore?

It takes around fifteen minutes for everyone to be standing in the same place close to you, ready to go to Camelot. Henry nods his affirmation at you, and you almost feel bad for making all these people use a magic bean and go to a different world, just to ask a powerful wizard how to take you home. But then again, you really need to get back home. So, you’ll accept the help.

“We’re all ready?” Emma asks and you nod in agreement. “To Camelot!”

And to Camelot you go, through a magic bean, and dear Rao you can’t wait to tell Jamie this. She is never going to believe you.

When you get to Camelot, to the castle, Merlin is nowhere to be found. King Arthur -although he is not king yet, so- sends someone for him and all you can do is wait.

“Wait, wait! They’re here! My moms! They’ve come to pick me up!” You point out the window. Watching Lena, all dressed as she belongs in this story, walking by.

“No, I believe you’re incorrect, child. That’s Morgana.” Arthur says, making you even more confused. “She might look like someone you know. But there’s nothing in her heart that shall confuse you any further.”

“What happened to her?”

“What didn’t? That would be far more of an appropriate question. But this matter shall not be discussed any further, as Merlin should be returning to assist you.”

You look around. Snow, Charming, Emma and Regina are waiting on Merlin for a solution. And you want it too. You need to go back home, but-

You look out the window again. To where you saw ‘Morgana’. She looks just like your mother. You can’t help yourself from sneaking out of the room in a flash. You think you’ve left unnoticed. You’re wrong.

“Hey, where are you going?” Henry yells at you and you finally stop. You look behind and see him running towards you. “Merlin is coming. He is your chance to go home.”

“Henry, I know what I saw, ok? That woman, she-she looks just like my mom. Don’t you think that’s a crazy coincidence?”

“She could be using magic to trick you.”

“Yeah, she could.” You agree with your head, but don’t turn back. Henry stands beside you, looking like he’ll follow you if you decide to go. “I have to.”

“Wait, before you go.” He takes an enormous book out of his backpack. “Maybe you should read her story first. See what you’re dealing with.”

“Do you just carry this monstrosity everywhere?” You ask while he places the book in your hands.

“Just read it.” He flips through some pages, and you use your super speed to read faster.

“Huh.” You put the book down, furrowing your brows. Henry has the same expression. “Her story is-is like my mom’s.”

“How come?”

“She is an illegitimate daughter of someone powerful, raised as if she wasn’t family at all. She was good.” You open the book again to show it to him. “Then she was betrayed by Merlin! Her friend. He knew she had magic and thought she would become evil, so he tried to poison her. And that is what turned her evil.”

“Oh, is your mom evil? Mine was too!”

“No. That’s the thing. My mom, she had her moments, but she redeemed herself. My mom was always supposed to fall into the light. But Morgana-”

“Is supposed to be the darkness to Merlin’s light.” Henry finishes reading the sentence back to you.

“Don’t you get it? She wasn’t evil. She doesn’t have to be evil. If we can save her then-”

“Then what?”

“I don’t know.” You breathe deep. “I don’t know, but maybe that’s the reason why we’re here. Because heroes need to save. And Morgana needs saving.”

“Maybe we should call the rest of the family.” Henry says looking to where his mothers are.

“There’s no time. There she goes.” You watch Morgana going inside the woods. “MORGANA!”

“It’s High Priestess to you.” She turns around and you look at her. You really look at her. There’s no kindness in her face. “What do you want?”

“I wanna help you.” You give one step forwards, shielding Henry with your body.

Morgana looks at you, she really looks at you, like she can see deep inside your soul. It’s so hard seeing her, as she looks just like Lena. And you wonder if Lena could have fallen into this dark path too. Why does one have to fall into the light, and the other into the darkness? What if things weren’t as black and white?

“This isn’t you. You were good. Kind-hearted. They’ve turned you into this, but you can fight it.”

“I don’t want to fight it. I want to embrace it.” Morgana gives you an evil grin. “I want power, I want to rule Camelot. Being good will take me nowhere.”

“You will never rule Camelot being evil.” Henry chimes in. “Haven’t you heard? Good always wins, so you will never take over Camelot like this.”

“You’re looking at this all wrong, kid. What do the good guys get in the end? A happy little family? Settling for dumb hopeful kids?” She scoffs and you know she is talking about you and Henry. Dumb hopeful kids. Ouch. “That’s not in my cards. I want something far greater, but you wouldn’t understand.”

You look back to Henry, exchanging a hopeless look. “Arthur was right. There’s nothing in your heart to confuse me.”

“Arthur being right? That would be a first.” She looks at Henry behind you, gives you a mischievous smile. “You don’t have to protect your brother. He doesn’t look powerful at all. You, on the other hand…”

“He is not my brother.”

“And I guess he won’t ever be, if you make the right choice.” She quirks one eyebrow at you looking amused. Your mind screams Lena. Your heart says otherwise. “You mistake me for someone else. I do not know why the person holds your heart like that, but I assure you, if you stand with me, you won’t need anyone else.”

“Why?”

“Because I can give you power. Beyond the one you have.” Morgana motions to the castle. “This entire kingdom shall be mine. Soon. It could be ours, if you wish.”

“Don’t do it.” Henry whispers behind you. You give one step forward, instead.

“I don’t want a kingdom. I want to go home.” You say, earning a smirk as a response.

“Great. I wouldn’t want to share, anyhow. Why don’t we make a deal? You help me take back what’s mine by right, and I’ll send you to wherever you want.”

“Another reality?”

“Don’t do it!” Henry speaks a little louder. Morgana’s eyes turn bright yellow, and she moves her hand, throwing Henry backwards, with nothing but that.

“Believe in me now?”

“Yes.”

“NO! DON’T DO IT!” You hear Henry’s yelps getting louder as you move closer to Morgana.

“Does he ever shut up?” She asks, eyes turning yellow again.

“Get away from her, Morgana!” You hear from your side and see a guy raising his sword at her. “She’s just a kid and has nothing to do with your desire for revenge.”

“Merlin.” She points out, nonchalantly. And you blink your eyes feeling yourself coming down from a weird dream. When you look behind yourself you see Snow with her bow and arrow ready to shoot. Charming is pointing a sword at her too. Regina’s hands are on fire. Emma also has white magic coming out of her hands. “I see you brought a cavalry. You always need it when you’re up against me.”

“Get away from the kids!” Emma yells from behind you.

“Too bad.” Morgana looks at you, ignoring everyone else. “I would’ve guessed you wanted to go home. Merlin cannot do that for you. You’ll be STUCK with them.”

Her words send shivers down your spine. And you cave, feeling like you should follow her because she is your only hope. You give one step forward again.

“Get away from her! You’re not the only evil witch in here.” Regina says, earning a sigh from Morgana.

“I see the decision was made for you.” She says while she leaves, as quickly as she appeared.

“Are you ok?” Snow runs to you, while Emma and Regina help Henry up. She touches your face looking for any bruises.

“She didn’t hurt me.” But your eyes are full of tears, and Snow can’t believe you’re not hurt.

“Come on.” She throws her arms around your shoulders and guides you back to the castle. “Merlin’s here now. He’ll help you.”

But she was wrong. Merlin can’t help you. So Morgana was right.

“Another protection spell around the city, you say?” Merlin seems to be considering the information. “I’m sorry to inform you that there are no shortcuts, and you must break this curse as you’ve broken the last one.”

“But we don’t know who started the curse this time.” Regina says.

“Then you must start there. But quickly. As long as she is in Storybrooke inside a curse, she’ll become part of the book. And then, she won’t be able to leave again.” Merlin has not even finished talking and you’re already crying. Storybrooke is nice but you can’t be stuck there. You have to go back home. “I apologize if my help wasn’t what you required.”

“It’s ok.” You sigh. Heart even heavier on your chest now. “I’m used to losing.”

“I have victories and I’ve losses-” Arthur puts his hand on your shoulder. “And I’ve learned that it’s the losses that require us to be brave.”

Sure, it makes sense. You know it’s true, you know you have to be brave. But his words don’t fix the ache in your heart and the emptiness in your stomach. You’re still a kid, stuck in a foreign city, with fairytale characters as friends. If the pain didn’t feel so real, you would’ve thought you were dreaming.

“Thanks.” You point to the door. “I’ll wait outside while you guys figure out how we’re leaving.”

You walk outside. Looking around to see if anyone is following you. It seems that this time Henry didn’t follow you, so you’re safe. You don’t want to help Morgana take over Camelot, especially not because she’s doing it for revenge. But she was right, Merlin can’t take you home. Maybe she is your only option. Maybe you have to do the dubious call so you can get back home to your moms, aunts, cousin, girlfriend-

One step forward.

Kara would never tell you to do the wrong thing, no matter how long it would take for her to see you again.

One step back.

But would she be right? Would it be fair for you to wait to get home and maybe never get back, because you couldn’t do what’s morally wrong even if it was for you to see them again? Maybe Lena would have told you to help Morgana. So you could get home to them and be safe and sound.

One step forward.

But then again, would she have wanted for you to fall into the wrong path because of them? Would she have liked to have that guilt hanging over her head?

One step back.

“You’re still here.” You hear Emma’s voice, and you look back at her. “I was sure you would be out in the woods looking for that woman.”

“So you stepped out to stop me?”

“You know she can’t be trusted, don’t you?” She ignores your question. You agree with your head. “But you’re still considering following her.”

“She might be my only hope to see my family again.” You bite your lower lip, holding your tears. “Henry told me a little about your story. Back when you were a kid, all alone in that universe. If someone could have brought you to your family, wouldn’t you have followed them?”

“I think I would.”

“Then you understand why I’m considering doing it.”

“Trust me, kid. I know what it’s like when others tell you what you can and can’t do, especially when you’re a kid. But ultimately, whatever you’re considering doing or giving up, the choice is yours.” Emma says and you shake your head, confused and lost. You weren’t expecting her to say that. You thought she would stop you immediately. It feels heavy, having a choice. “I know you have no reason to believe us, but we’re not going to stop until we can find a way to your home.”

“You won’t?” You ask, a lonely tear streaming down your face. Emma shows you her hand.

“We won’t.”

And so you take her hand. Leaving Morgana, and maybe your chance of getting home, behind you.

“Hey, are you two ok? We’re ready to leave.” Regina says and Emma looks at you, waiting for your response.

“Hmm, yeah. Sure. Let’s go back to Storybrooke.”

And you all come back. And everyone finds their way into what it seems to be the only diner in town, sharing a table like a big, happy family. And it doesn’t matter how welcome they are making you feel, your heart still aches, and you can’t be around them without being sad and without missing your own family.

So, you step outside, and sit alone on a bench watching leaves flying in the wind. Thinking about what Kara must be looking at right now; wondering if Lena has left her lab in days to see that it is Autumn already; asking yourself how long they will keep looking without success, because as long as there is a curse cloaking this city, they won’t find you.

“Hey.” You watch Snow White coming closer to you, she points at the space next to you. “Can I join you?”

“Sure.”

She sits next to you. “What has come over you?”

“Just thinking that I probably left my only chance of going back home behind.” You sigh, heavily.

“You might have.” Snow agrees with her head, and you look at her waiting for more, because this is not comforting at all. “But it was the right thing to do, and you know that too. Because heroes do what's right. Not what's easy.” You agree with your head, because you’ve heard that before. “You know, every time I look at you I see a very strong hero.”

“Thought you were going to say that you saw yourself when you were younger.” You smile, and she chuckles, denying.

“Oh no. When I was younger, I would’ve followed Morgana into the forest because it was easier. It would’ve been a mistake, because there are other paths – harder paths, and later I would’ve wished to have taken them instead. So, I don’t see me in you. I see someone far greater. But I guess you are a Superhero, huh?”

“Just-” You stop yourself. It’s insane that you’re about to open up to a fairytale princess. But she is here, she looks interested and most of all, she looks like she cares. “I’m not really a hero anymore. Being a hero is exhausting, Snow. We fight every day, and we get beat up, and we get scared. And what for?”

“For the ones who can’t fight for themselves.”

“So because I was born with these powers, I’m supposed to fight for everyone? I’m not supposed to choose what’s right and better for me? What if I want to be selfish?”

“Kid, I know you’re tired of what life has thrown at you.” Snow holds your hand, and you agree with your head, unable to get your words out. “But you still fight for the good every single day. Every time you have hope, and faith, and care, you’re fighting against darkness whether you mean to or not. You did that today with Morgana.”

“But I failed.”

“No, you didn’t fail. She did. Her darkness was too strong. But your light is still intact.” Snow cups your face gently, like a grandmother would. “Sooner or later you will find your way back into saving. Because being a hero is not what you do, but rather who you are.”

“But what if that is not who I want to be?” You ask, eyes filled with tears and fear.

“Oh, honey, but it is.” She gives you a soft smile that says it all. “The choices you make every day it’s what makes you who you are. If Henry was lost in-” She narrows her eyes, trying to remember.

“National City.”

“If he was out there all alone, wouldn’t you do everything in your power to bring him back home?” Snow asks, but she seems to know the answer already, before you even nod at her. “See, being selfish could have made your life a lot easier. But would you be able to live with yourself while doing that?”

“No.” You cry, thinking about your life. “I would probably feel sick, and empty, and-and I don’t think I would make it out of bed.”

Huh. Did you just have a therapy session with princess Snow White?

“See? You can try and run from it, but if it’s who you are then it will always catch up to you. Trust me, I’m familiar with heroes, and you are, for sure, one of us.”

“Indefinitely.” You think about not making home, being stuck in Storybrooke until someone finally lifts the curse. You don’t know how long that will be. You hope your moms don’t give up on finding you.

“For as long as you’ll have us.” Snow throws her arms around you, and you let yourself fall into her comfort.

Being away from your life will suck. But thank Rao, they are the ones you’re stuck with.

Notes:

Am I making a crossover with Supergirl, OUAT and Merlin? Yes, yes I am. And I have to thank @oncemoonie for the prompts. That was really fun

#supergirl #kara danvers #supercorp #supercorpfamily #lena luthor #supercorp daughter #kara x lena #kara x reader #supercorp fanfic #lena x reader #ouat #once upon a time #emma swan #regina mills #swanqueen #snow white #morgana pendragon #merlin

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help-i-need-a-cool-username · 3 years

Text

Been thinking about what Mordred's life in Camelot would've been like if Merlin didn't hate him and then thought about how if Morgana was around she would probably always give him her favor at every tournament (until he married) and the other knights would tease him for that so have a broad outline for a Beloved Characters Dont Turn Evil AU

Morgana discovers her magic and Merlin swears to her that he'll protect her. He comforts her when she's scared and Merlin begs Gaius to share his knowledge and suspicions about Morgana to Morgana herself. One night Morgana bursts into their quarters in hysterics, waking them up, screaming and sobbing, and it feels like Merlin's hug is the only thing holding her together but its not enough. Glass starts shattering, candles flare, chandeliers fall to the ground. Gaius decides at this point not telling her will do considerable more harm than not, to both herself and others. They stay up through the night. Gaius speaking and Morgana asking questions, Merlin with a supportive hand on Morgana's shoulder. At one point Morgana tearfully asks the question Merlin asked Gaius long ago, "am i a monster?". They all fall asleep at the table, and that morning when Gwen arrives to wake Morgana only to find her absent with her blankets thrown over the bed and several things knocked over she runs and alerts the guards. The guards initiate lockdown and the commotion reaches Uther and wakes Arthur (Merlin is once again late), and they proceed to fear she was kidnapped right under their noses without anyone knowing. Arthur runs down to get Merlin so he can prepare him for the day only to open the door to find the three of them asleep on the table.

Later Merlin organizes for Morgana to learn more than Gaius can tell her from the Druids, but she intends to stay the night at least, if not then significantly longer (anywhere from a week to several months), and they have no good excuse for her to use that would allow her to leave without Gwen and guards. They come up with some very convoluted plan, which does not end up in the raid that occurred in canon, and when Gwen catches her sneaking back she lies and says she wanted to check up on Mordred (who she did run into), to see if he was with the Druid encampment that was rumored to be nearby (which he was). She didn't learn nearly as much as she hoped in those few hours, but they at least pointed her in a direction.

Morgause comes to town, and leaves Morgana her bracelet. After discovering it stops her visions Morgana takes it to Gaius, who reveals it was enchanted and looks similar to the one Lady Vivienne used to wear. Morgana states Morgause got it from her mother, but that Lady Vivienne was Morgana's mother and wonders how the bracelet ever got to Morgause. Gaius says there was a rumor that Lady Vivienne had a baby that displayed a affinity for magic, but Gorlois told Uther their baby had died before they even named her. Gaius reveals that the baby was smuggled out of Camelot and given to the High Priestesses, and Morgause might very well be that baby. Morgana begins to long for a connection with Morgause, to meet the sister she never knew of and recover something of her dead parents. When she begins secretly meeting Morgause, she tells Merlin and then asks him to come with her when she begins receiving lessons from her. Morgause tries to convince them that killing Uther is the right thing to do, but Merlin keeps reassuring Morgana that all they need to do is convince Arthur to change the law for when he is king, and he's not ready to do that now so theres no use in killing Uther before he's ready, and that she does love Uther and Uther does love her and would try to "fix" her well before he ordered her death. Morgause still wants him dead, to rush the prophecy of magic's return. Them sneaking out every few nights cements the idea that Morgana and Merlin are secretly dating in castle gossip.

Im not sure what happens with Morgause, but i think she would still take Camelot at some point and she would spare Morgana and by extension Merlin. Morgana and Merlin make sure to get Arthur out (and Merlin probably goes with him) because they dont trust Morgause to not kill him. Morgause reveals her heritage (and makes Morgana a Princess and her Heir) despite claiming the throne for people of magic and not the House of Gorlois, and the knowledge that Vivienne and one of her daughters were sorceresses leads Uther to believe he can not save Morgana from magic that is likely in her blood and THAT is what breaks his mental state. Morgana's real heritage is revealed soon after, with Uther informing Gaius that Morgana being a Princess is actually within her birth rights. Morgause continues Morgana's training because at some point Morgana has to become a High Priestess because canon. That or Morgause switches sides (this is a Beloved Characters Dont Go Evil AU might as well make it No Beloved Characters Are Evil AU) and she trains Morgana later after Arthur is a established King.

Morgause is overthrown and the Round Table formed. Arthur as well as several people in the castle know of or suspect Morgana of being a sorceress but he refuses to banish her, first believing it to have been out of her control (forced by Morgause) and later learning that her nightmares had been magic all along (how could he punish her for something he knows she had tried to get rid of for over a decade?). Perhaps he lets her keep the title of Princess, having always seen her as a sister (and someone who is compassionate for the people in a way royalty should be) and armed with the new knowledge of her being his actual sister. Everyone expects Regent Arthur to crack down on magic, its what Uther would have done and what the people want, so he does. Morgana becomes a advocate for magic, as she had been for Arthur in private as a Prince, and it scares people in the castle. They believe her to be working with Morgause, despite her arguments being for individuals' wellbeing and how punishments fuels hatred for Camelot. Several attempts are made on her life, many stopped by Merlin and Gwen and sometimes Lancelot. Arthur often "asks" Merlin for his opinion on magic and with Morgana's voice being public he feels okay with being straight with Arthur on what he thinks. Uther dies same as he did in canon: protecting Arthur from a assassination.

Mordred becomes a Knight because canon. Morgana is ecstatic to see him again and acts like a mother who hasn't seen her child in ages when she first sees him. Merlin has learned you often make the enemies that are destined to kill you (ex. trying to stop Morgana's visions from coming true) so he ignores Kilgharrah and doesn't hate Mordred (he is always wary though). Mordred alternates between childlike eagerness around the knights and following Merlin around while hero worshiping him (no one can figure out why. Their best guess is that Morgana is a mutual friend). In the beginning he kept messing up his name (calling him "Merlin" is just weird) and they often talk in their heads and therefore just stare at each other which has led to two conflicting rumors: theyre in love or they hate each other. Morgana often invites him to dinner, and when they dine with Arthur they easily slip into mind-talking (because chewing) and Arthur is convinced that they're making fun of him every time they do it. He protects Arthur when Merlin can't, often runs off to do side quests Merlin needs to do but cant get away to do, and often tags along with Merlin on his quests. Being able to share the knowledge of his destiny since Lancelot died (if he dies in this AU) relaxes Merlin's caution and allows him to be emotionally closer to him. Mordred enjoys being around Merlin and Morgana not just because he's Emrys and she's Morgana, but because they are the closest thing to home he has: they know what he is, they understand (bits) of his culture and make it possible for Mordred to share it with them, their individual magic sings strong enough to remind him of when he lived surrounded by it. He quickly grows to love them so very much and no one understands WHY. The knights tease him about it, and Morgana forcing Arthur to take Mordred on certain missions he isnt qualified for "so he can learn" does not help. Gwaine and Percival were planning to convince him that he couldnt compete in a tournament without a lady's favor because he's the rookie and his panicked look greatly amuses them only to find Morgana giving him her's before kissing his cheek. They were relentless after that, alternating between "lady's favors dont count if they're from your mom," "Mordred has a girlfriend," and whatever the medieval version of affectionately calling him "Bambi" is. Morgana sits in the stand's throne (since Arthur is competing) or besides it if Gwen is queen, and she flashes a smile at him when he comes out (Gwen too. He's a sweet kid with a baby face, of course he's one of her favorites. He also reminds her of Merlin when she first met him: kind, awkward, cute). This settles Mordred's nerves but has the unfortunate side effect of increased teasing. Merlin doesn't let it go to far, he never does, and gives them a distraction before running back to Arthur.

And then magic is brought back to the land and Morgana continues the work of the High Priestesses and helps the rebuilding efforts and they're still adventures and problems, but everyone Lives Happily Ever After

#hinacu merlin #bbc merlin #morgana #mordred #merlin #morgause #au #morgana is good au #mordred is good au #to clarify merlin and morgana never date #its just castle gossip and arthurs assumptions #mordred has familial love for morgana and no you dont need a family dynamic for that #people make mom jokes but its not like that #morgana cares a lot about people and wants to protect them but mordred is ''new'' and ten years younger than her #so mom jokes are too easy #morgana tells merlin of her visions and he sets out to stop them like when kilgharrah tells him stuff #and then she gets her bracelet and that stops but its not like merlin can ask her to take it off #idk when morgana finds out about his magic #maybe he tells her about the whole dragonlord thing but i dont trust her not to NOT say something about it when defending him #he def would have kept it a secret around morgause and in canon she didnt seem to know his power but nimueh did so who knows #i like to think she has no idea that he has powerful magic that hes actually super weak with it since he almost never does magic #big fan of mordreds silent hero worship

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shelobussy · 3 years

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Ohmygod YES Susan Pevensie is awesome please talk to me about Susan i want to know everything you have to say

Literally THANK YOU for asking me this bc Susan Pevensie is a character I never get asked about and I have So Many Opinions.

I'm going to start by saying that Susan used to be my least favorite character in the series. This goes for the books and the movies. Some of it was for personal reasons--she reminds me of a couple of annoying ppl I know irl--but it was also bc I watched Prince Caspian which shoehorned her into a relationship with Caspian which I hated.

HOWEVER. I ended up rethinking this position after interacting with Susan fans and realizing that there are so many wonderful things to love about her!

(putting under the cut bc this got long)

Things Ash Loves About Susan Pevensie

Aight I'm not going to do a formal analysis yet on her, but instead rant about some of the unrelated things I adore about Susan Pevensie.

Susan the Archer

Look we all love archery here. I don't have anything more to say.

Okay, I actually do have more to say. I love the fact that Susan is a complete badass with the bow. You get the general impression that she's one of the royals in charge of public relations, traditions, foreign policy, etc. and yet she's the most competent archer in the series. One of the few things I liked about the movies is how they didn't downplay this. They actually let her be a badass and show off her skills.

Also the part where she kicks Trumpkin's ass was awesome.

Susan the Gentle

Susan being the most passive Pevensie was something I definitely underappreciated as a teenager. I think my non-ability to see past "I'm not like other girls" narrative and the combination of Susan being described as the most traditionally feminine woman in the Narnia series is what initially turned me off from her.

HOWEVER, now it's one of my favorite attributes! I love that Susan is a badass and the most beautiful woman in Narnia. She has hair down to her feet, every man and woman in the kingdom want to fuck her, and she's still a fucking badass who will not hesitate to kick your ass.

Susan the Sister

Most of my thoughts of Susan as an older sister mostly stem from my own personal headcanons, but she is an awesome sister to her siblings. She's Peter's voice of reason, Edmund's sass partner, and Lucy's big sister.

Susan the Mom-Friend

She is a literal mother-figure for Corin.

"[...] the most beautiful lady he had ever seen rose from her place and threw her arms round him and kissed him, saying: "Oh Corin, Corin, how could you? And thou and I such close friends ever since thy mother died. [...]"

-The Horse and His Boy, 33-34

Most everything I have to say about this ventures into headcanon territory, but I love the idea of Susan basically adopting Corin after his mom dies. The way she trusts Cor--who she thinks is Corin in this chapter--is really sweet and I wish we could've seen more of that relationship.

Susan the Flawed

Something I notice from the fandom is a lot of people who hate Susan tend to because of her flaws. On the other hand, most Susan stans like to wave away these flaws and blame C.S. Lewis for being misogynistic or Aslan for being a "cruel god" and ignore the fact that she is a deeply flawed person.

Susan gets something of a "reverse redemption arc" in The Chronicles of Narnia. This makes her not only a fascinating foil to Edmund--as both are analytical, logical people--but an interesting character by herself.

She starts out in TWW as very skeptical of Narnia and it's whole deal and also very condescending to Lucy throughout. She ultimately does admit that Lucy was right and does get on board with the whole prophecy at the same time Peter does, and ends the book being crowned "the Gentle Queen."

In The Horse and His Boy, she has a very interesting dynamic with Edmund and in even more interesting relationship with Rabadash. They don't even interact on-page with each other, but it's highly implied that she was interested in him when he was a guest in Narnia. His behavior obviously changed when she visited him in Tashbaan, but you have to wonder what their dynamic was like before for her to travel all the way to his home when relations between the countries were strained at best.

Prince Caspian is where the cracks start showing through. Susan has lived an entire life as an adult in Narnia, gets thrown back to England with her siblings, and is yet again in Narnia as a child. This book is what really emphasizes her one fatal flaw: convenience.

(Put a pin in that thought, I'll get back to it.)

Susan denies once again that Lucy saw something that the rest of them can't seen. She continues this narrative until every other sibling finally acknowledges Lucy in the right and only then does she apologize.

The last mention of Susan is in The Last Battle, where all of her flaws rise up against her in the worst way possible. I have a lot of controversial opinions on this that I'm going to address later, but I just want to say that Susan's reverse-redemption arc is something I actually like about her.

(There is also evidence that Susan does get a full redemption arc, just as Edmund and Eustace did, but C.S. Lewis was pretty much done with The Chronicles of Narnia at the point and instead encouraged fans to write their own version of how that went down.)

Okay, back to convenience being Susan's fatal flaw. So the one thing that comes up time and time again in the series is that Susan is very focused on material comforts. I believe it's implied that she's vain, and it's canonical that her own personal comfort spurs her to make decisions.

"[...] I really believed it was him — he, I mean — yesterday. When he warned us not to go down to the fir wood. And I really believed it was him tonight, when you woke us up. I mean, deep down inside. Or I could have, if I'd let myself. But I just wanted to get out of the woods and — and — oh, I don't know [...]"

Prince Caspian, 81

Prince Caspian has the strongest examples of Susan doing this, but certainly there's evidence elsewhere. There are a lot of fans who are distressed by this, claiming that Aslan and the others are too hard on her and shouldn't judge.

Honestly, I like that she's written with this flaw. Not only is it very relatable--(my own personal comfort and convenience is something I highly prioritize too)--but it humanizes a character who otherwise is ridiculously op and basically the Helen of Troy of the series. It may sound like I'm using this as an excuse to rant, but I really wouldn't have her any other way.

Susan As Portrayed by Anna Popplewell

Movie!Susan is a fucking delight.

She's sarcastic and badass and awesome and I could spend hours heaping praise on Anna's acting and her portrayal of Susan, but I can already tell that this post is going to be long so, I'll just stop here.

(10/10 want to be stabbed by her tho.)

Personal Headcanons

Let's talk about my fanon thoughts. I have many.

Susan is Aro

There's canonical evidence for this! Susan is a character who is heavily pursued by suitors everywhere, and even lets herself be courted by many of them, but chooses not to settle down. Even when she gets back to England and is described as only having interest in parties and material things, boys aren't mentioned.

I like to think that in The Horse in His Boy Susan was interested in Rabadash at first because he was a brilliant conversationalist. Nothing she says about him implies romantic interest, before and after she realizes the truth of his intentions.

Susan and Edmund Were Best Friends

This might be my love for The Horse and His Boy showing itself, but I think Susan and Edmund were thrown into circumstances where they interacted the most with each other.

Edmund is the ruler in charge of politics. Susan is the ruler in charge of Cair Paravel's public image. I imagine they spent time as ambassadors to other countries and planning royal functions.

They're also the most level-headed and logical out of their siblings, so they probably found a lot in common.

Susan Fancast

I literally just said I loved Anna's potrayal of Susan's (and I love what they gave us of older Susan too in LWW!), but I read the books in 2008 and my parents didn't let me see the movies bc I was like...nine years old and they thought it would be too scary.

So I had to headcanon my own interpretations.

Queen Susan the Gentle:

For some reason Merlin wasn't too scary for me to watch and I fell in love with Katie McGrath in like. Two episodes so. (On an unrelated note, I also fancast Bradley James as Peter at the time.)

Anyway, fanon Susan is basically Morgana Pendragon pre-evil arc. Sassy as hell, hot as fuck, and can kick your ass.

Unpopular Opinions

Yeah, feel free to skip this part if having controversial fandom opinions is a deal breaker for you.

The Problem With Susan Isn't Actually A Problem

I'm about to start so much discourse in the Narnia fandom, but C.S. Lewis's choices with her in The Last Battle weren't misogynistic. Bear in mind, I'm not saying that all of his writing choices in the series were A++ or excusing away certain racist/sexiest bits, but it's honestly baffling to me that people are so up in arms over Susan's exclusion in the final book.

So the part that everyone loses their shit over is as follows:

"My sister Susan," answered Peter shortly and gravely, "is no longer a friend of Narnia."

"Yes," said Eustace, "and whenever you've tried to get her to come and talk about Narnia or do anything about Narnia, she says 'What wonderful memories you have! Fancy your still thinking about all those funny games we used to play when we were children.'"

"Oh Susan!" said Jill, "she's interested in nothing now-a-days except nylons and lipstick and invitations. She always was a jolly sight too keen on being grown-up."

"Grown-up, indeed," said the Lady Polly. "I wish she would grow up. She wasted all her school time wanting to be the age she is now, and she'll waste all the rest of her life trying to stay that age. Her whole idea is to race on to the silliest time of one's life as quick as she can and then stop there as long as she can."

The Last Battle, 83-84

There's a lot to unpack here and I first want to say that everyone's opinion on this part, no matter how different than mine, is valid. I'm going to be quoting some other ppl's opinions on here and by no means am I bashing them. I just want to address my feelings on the matter and the best way to do that is to cite the thoughts of ppl who have opposing ideas.

Here are some arguments on Tumblr I've heard regarding "The Problem of Susan":

"How about we talk about what might have happened if Narnia hadn't deserted Susan? [...] What if we didn't tell Susan she had to go grow up in her own world and then shame and punish her for doing just that? She was told to walk away and she went. She did not try to stay a child all her life, wishing for something she had been told she couldn't have again."

"Narnia is filled with metaphors (often not very subtle ones) that are supposed to teach us how to be, and the most glaring one for any young girl to absorb is that it's okay to be a girl like Lucy, unthreatening and cheerful and valiant and faithful, but to be a girl like Susan gets you punished - in fact, you aren't just punished, you're destroyed."

"why do we call it ‘the problem’ where’s the problem about a young woman dealing with her trauma and choosing her own path, actively making the choice to keep living and to stay and to carve a life out in England when her siblings couldn’t? what is the problem about susan forgetting to somehow cope with what she’s experienced? why is it ‘the problem of susan’ that she recontextualised her faith?"

And then there's JK Rowling who said this:

There comes a point where Susan, who was the older girl, is lost to Narnia because she becomes interested in lipstick. She's become irreligious basically because she found sex. I have a big problem with that.

It's weird how I'm still finding new ways to hate JKR in the year 2021. Again, there is absolutely zero implication that Susan had sex when she came back to England. ZERO. Did she actually read the books? IDK. If someone shares this opinion pls reply with actual canonical evidence.

Back on topic, I'm a firm believer of death of the author and interpreting art via your own experiences. Which is why I'm also going to share my own interpretation by saying y'all are wrong.

Susan Pevensie was not abandoned by Narnia. She was not barred from Narnia because she is traditionally feminine or because she "owned her sexuality" (another opinion I didn't have time to condense down for this post) or because she recontextualized her faith or even because she deserved to be punished.

I also fail to see how Susan recontexualized her faith, as the entire point of it all is that she has none. Bringing this back to Susan's fatal flaw (personal convenience/material comforts), her prioritizing herself over her own faith is the reason she is "no longer a friend of Narnia." Not...whatever fanon y'all are imposing on her character.

Susan is not being punished for liking lipstick and looking pretty. Susan's not even being punished. Y'all read Neil Gaiman's The Problem of Susan and forgot it wasn't canon.

There are many reasons Susan is not in Aslan's Country (one of them being that she's not actually dead yet), but the main one has to do with this:

"[...] But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.”

Voyage of the Dawn Treader, 215-216

Yeah, okay that's why Susan is no longer a friend of Narnia. The implication when the Pevensies are told that they can no longer enter Narnia is that they are to find Aslan in other places. Susan doesn't do this, instead choosing to focus her life on material things. It isn't the lipstick, it's that she only wants the lipstick.

Susan Had Sex In The Books

Oh and not in the context y'all are thinking. (Again, there are no implications that Susan was barred from Narnia for having sex or that she had sex when she came back to England.)

So there's actual canonical evidence that Susan and Rabadash had a sexual relationship. Sort of.

"What think you? We have been in this city fully three weeks. Have you yet settled in your mind whether you will marry this dark-faced lover of yours, this Prince Rabadash, or no?"

-The Horse and His Boy, 35

Edmund calls Rabadash her lover. Not her suitor. I don't know if the word had a different meaning in 1954, but it feels like C.S. Lewis is saying that they're fucking. I'm not really happy with the idea of Susan sleeping with an abuser, but really proud of her for Getting Some as a woman born in a time period where having premarital sex was a big no-no.

This also invalidates the weird opinion going on that Susan was barred from Narnia because she had sex.

Suspian Is The Worst

I haven't really talked about Movie!Susan much, but as long as we're talking unpopular opinions, it's worth noting that I hate Suspian. Some of it is the "Susan is Aro" headcanon screaming inside of me, but it's also the fact that it's written poorly, does nothing interesting for either character and generally comes across as awkward.

I feel like they were trying to make Prince Caspian sexy and relevant to teens. It came across as super heteronormative and unnecessary.

It also gets really really weird bc the next movie then gives Caspian and Edmund mad chemistry and we're all just like........ok.

Final Thoughts

Susan may not be my favorite character in the series, but she's grown on me over the years. I have many issues with fanon interpretations of her--which definately fueled some of my disdain for her initally--and I don't identify as a Susan Apologist.

I do however adore Susan and have many headcanons for her not mentioned here. I love reading fanfic, writing fanfic and meta, and generally having conversations about her and would love to talk more about it.

I welcome criticism (CONSTRUCTIVE) and conversation on all of my opinions and observations. Please drop into my inbox. <3

#susan pevensie #the chronicles of narnia #the problem of susan #narnia #meta #narnia meta #susan meta #ash does fandom #ash does meta

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