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windholm · 1 year

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LOST GIRL PROJECT #1 - 2/2

Hi everyone, and welcome, to another Woodend!

For whoever's back, so glad and thankful you returned. For whoever's new to it, thank you for joining this """""little""""" fanfiction project, and please be sure to check out the introducting post for everything you have to know about it and to read its prologue, or Foreword, just as the previous post.

DISCLAIMER: swearing language/coarseness and hints at themes as alcoholism, gore, and kidnapping

Post referred to Chapter 2 (Three Siblings), Paragraph 1

Here we finally are, in the timeline mostly based upon Doctor Sleep and especially The Black Phone. But as you can read, historically speaking, this is none of their settings: we are in 1983, and of course Australia, as the rest of the world, changed a fair share since 1903; two World Wars happened, the Cold one has been splitting the planet for decades, the Vietnam one recently ended in the most unexpected way, cities grew all over the world, technology made great strides, social movements are growing normalised in everyday life (feminism, movements for gay rights...)...

Back to the paragraph itself, though... yep. That's so. In this story, Danny from Mike Flanagan's Doctor Sleep is Finney and Gwen from Scott Derrickson's The Black Phone's elder brother! I actually hadn't thought it like this from the beginning, I had imagined Danny more as a friend/paternal figure to them, but when I realised how much... in common they had, I just thought it was perfect. Hence why, on the other hand, you'll have to imagine him a liiiiiiiitle younger than in Doctor Sleep...

Just for the record, don't expect any Shining movie/book references in here... I tried, okay?!?!? I tried so hard to fit it in, but it just didn't, and was too much stuff! So yeah, it will just be Danny's character like he appeared to have grown up in the Doctor Sleep movie (I never read the book), more or less, with a different and somehow even more fantastical background... please, Stephen King fans, don't be mad at me!!!

Moving further, there really isn't very much to say (yet) about his "acquired siblings". Of course, if you saw The Black Phone movie, you'll notice I kept as much as I could of Gwen's original outfit (besides the flares turned to baggies) even though it was really "70s", not to talk about this being australian February, where it's like Boreal Emisphere's July or August (not exactly the right time for ponchos and long jeans... 🥵). I tried my best to fit it in, and of course, I hope I did. The thing is... I mean, just look at this little fashion icon!!! 😍

Jokes aside the thing is that, despite Finney being a pup and me shipping him with Robin, Gwen was absolutely my favourite character from The Black Phone movie in every possible sense (interpretation, character, look, INTERPRETATION...), and so I meant to keep her as close to her original self as I can. And a hint about what's coming: pay attention, as the story progresses, to the way she combs her hair...

Quite the opposite, instead, about Robin... don't worry, besides some details, his character himself will be just as in The Black Phone movie (just a little deepened, for the original character is pretty two-dimensional). If you read this paragraph, though, you'll probably feel a little weirded out about his family name being changed from "Arellano" to "Allison", but here's the reason: in this story, he's not hispanic/latin american, but aboriginal.

⚠️ Before you kill me, though, let me explain: to this day, as far as I read, there's very few hispanics/latin americans of origin or descendance in Australia, mostly living, of course, in big cities as Melbourne or Brisbane; so, I just thought it would be a little too improbable for Robin to be hispanic/latin american given that Woodend remains a small town, even in this alternate timeline where it flourished and developed a little differently because of the "Cursed Picnic". But just the idea of whitewashing him pissed me off, so I thought it was a good idea to "translate" his heritage to Aboriginal, for him to be more "geographically accurate", also because I had the luck to meet an australian girl on a trip to Iceland (and if she's reading, by any chance... BLESS YOU FOR EVERY BIT OF THE HELP), and she confirmed to me that it's possible for aboriginal kids to look just like him. Even though it's obvious that hispanics/latin americans are a whole different thing as people, culture, heritage... don't get me wrong, I'm just saying that, personally, I'll just keep imagining him as Miguel Cazarez Mora in The Black Phone movie. ⚠️

It's one of those things I told you in the introduction would be adjusted to Australia, and especially Victoria as a setting. All of the other kids beside one will stay the same, I promise (you already had a chance to glance at Billy).

Well, that's all, guys! See you (hopefully) soon, and hope you enjoyed this first bit from another Woodend! 👋

WARNING: I do not own Picnic at Hanging Rock, nor any of the other movies/series/books/songs this fanfiction was inspired from. Again, this is just a fanfiction, and a homage to many of them.

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kimium · 1 year

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I'm bored (and mentally need a break from fic writing) so I'm just going to ramble about the top three things per dorm in Twisted Wonderland that I enjoy. Because why not?

Top Three Things I Enjoy about each dorm

Note: This is just me having fun. You don't have to agree with anything I'm saying.

Heartslaybul

-Their entire aesthetic. I'm a Huge Alice in Wonderland fan. The book is one of my favourites and its imagery is top tier. From Twisted Wonderland I love the silly, borderline too busy clothing design of the dorm uniform. I love the card suit make up on their faces. I especially love the red eye makeup on Riddle.

-They seem like the nicest dorm? I mean, apart from Ace and Deuce bullying our player character in the prologue, in the end they're Yuu/MC's loyal friends. Trey is overall pleasant (and he can bake). Cater, while coming off as too much, is overall a fun, pleasant character. Even Riddle, who was a tyrant in his chapter, is a soft, kind-hearted person who is a little too rigid sometimes. He's learning and that's what counts!

-They are the dorm to have Tea Parties consistently. I love tea. I love desserts, but especially tarts. I'm sold on this dorm.

Savanaclaw

-I love the way they present the desert: harsh and dry, but also a paradise with luxury within. It's that juxtaposition that really sells me. Plus, it's different from Scarabia, which I appreciate.

-Jack. His entire personality as honest, straightforward, hardworking, and compassionate has sold me. I love him so much! He's such a great character, plus he's yet another character foil to Leona.

-Their dorm has a lot of accessories. From beaded necklaces and bracelets to leather bands and belts. I love it all. I also love how subtly colourful their accessories are (thinking of Leona) which adds a fun pop of colour to their mostly neutral colour palette.

Octavinelle

-Their lights. They have soft, gentle lighting in their dorm that look dimmable. I couldn't be more in love with it. I absolutely LOVE low/soft lighting. Plus, the clear fish tanks around their dorm give a soft blue light and that's so calming yet eerie at the same time. Which fits the dorm perfectly in my opinion.

-The music. Octavinelle has my favourite Twistunes hands down. I love the jazz theme and their Twistunes are the ones I've replayed the most.

-The fact that Azul, Jade, and Floyd give off mafia vibes to the point they're lovingly nicknamed the Fish Mafia in fandom. That's hilarious and I think it adds so much to their dynamic.

Scarabia

-They seem like the nicest dorm x2? I mean besides everyone basically holding Yuu/MC and Grim hostage for the entire first half of Book 4, everyone seems very pleasant. They feel like people who welcome others and are very generous. Definitely helps that Kalim is very giving and loves throwing parties. The tone has been set.

-Their aesthetic. I love their colour palette. I love their clothing designs with all the scarves and sashes and golden bits. I love the contrast in the dorm's night look with the cool blues against the reds, oranges, and yellows.

-The way they present the desert. In contrast to Savanaclaw, Scarabia's desert aesthetic is completely different. I love how they frame it as working with the land to find a way to live of it. I especially loved learning more about Kalim and Jamil's hometown in the A Firelit Sky event. It's probably my favourite event so far. (Second is the Fairy Tale Gala in case anyone is curious.)

Pomefiore

-The BALLROOM! It's so clean and I love how it hints there is a lot of natural light pooling into the room! I also love the crystal chandeliers, especially due to the "Hidden Mickey" in it. Yes, I say this even after I've been traumatized by KH3 "LOOK, A LUCKY EMBLEM" hunt.

-The dorm members. I've said this in prior posts but Vil and Rook are easily two of my favourite characters in the entire game. I am especially in love with their dynamic. My favourite ship in the game.

-Their entire story centered around a music/dance competition. I think it was a fun breath of fresh air to have a lack of battles in the story. (On the flip side, the amount of Twistunes nearly took me out ahaha.)

Ignihyde

-Blue flames. I love blue flames and think it's a fantastic design choice for any character. It also makes Idia's instantly recognizable to who he was "twisted" from.

-Technology is the base of the dorm. I'm always a big fan of taking magic and applying it to modern scenarios. I love the idea that magic can co-exist with technology as so often media likes to separate them and have them on opposite spectrums. It doesn't have to be like that!

-Ortho! Who is a bean and very precious. I really like his character and design. Super cute! Sorry I don't have too much else to say. Maybe once I fully play their Chapter I'll have more to say.

Diasomnia

-Malleus. Maleficent is my favourite Disney villain of all time, especially thanks to Kingdom Hearts so it makes sense I like Malleus so much. Beyond the superficial, however, Malleus is also a character trope I love: super strong (dragon!) to the point of being Over Powered but is actually a little socially awkward. I think the combination of those two character traits is very funny and cute. He's also So Excited to make friends. He's also not as scary as people think he is which is why his Lab Coat vignette with Deuce is so endearing to me.

-Lilia. Once again it's down to character trope. I am in love with characters who are older, wiser, and stronger than they act/appear. Lilia also has the top tier character design of "colourful hair underneath". That pink is so striking and makes for some great art.

-The main core characters of Diasomnia are basically a family. This provides a unique dynamic between them because the only other dorm to feature family is Ignihyde. Both dorms present the idea differently and distinctly. For Diasomnia I love that it's downplayed in public but privately us the player know it's present. Adds a fun perspective on their interactions with one another.

#personal #twisted wonderland #my own ramblings that are just for fun

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yuta1forme · 3 years

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light & shadow pt. 1 | yuta

summary: standing in line for doyoung’s book signing, yuta wonders if he has ever acted normally around you

author’s note: i had no idea how else to split this story into a readable format so this will be a two (maybe three) part series! as always let me know if you would like to be tagged in the future parts!

taglist: @sweet-rintarou

prologue: [21:26]

genre: fluff, friends to lovers, college!au (this part)

pairing: yuta x reader

length: 1.7K

There are certain fundamental truths Yuta knows about the universe - the sun always rises in the east, milk goes before cereal and that Nakamoto Yuta does not blush.

“Nakamoto Yuta, do I have permission to flirt with you in Japanese?”, the translation app reads out in its robotic voice. He whips his head around to face you as if the words had left your mouth and not the phone held in your hand. And then he feels it. That unfamiliar heat rising to his neck and cheeks. One look at the amused grin on your face and he knows that you have noticed too. If there is one thing that has not changed in all eleven years of him knowing you, it’s that he should always expect the unexpected from himself when he is around you.

Even right now, hearing you gush about your attractive new coworker, Yuta feels an unfamiliar knot of form in the pit of his stomach. He suspects that it is the protectiveness he feels towards you that is making him feel so strangely antagonistic towards this man he has never met. But there is a niggling feeling at the back of his mind that tells him that that’s not the only reason why.

You always had a way of getting a reaction out of him that no one else could, always had him feeling emotions that he didn’t know he could feel. His relationship with you, while not better or worse than the relationship he had with any of his other friends, was certainly different. It always had been.

In freshman year, equipped with only a translation app on his phone, Yuta left his hometown of Osaka for Seoul. He had been offered a full-ride sports scholarship by Sooman University. He would play for the school’s soccer team and pursue, to his parents’ relief, a more “practical” degree in Business Management.

He would be playing with the team where some of his favourite soccer players had first gotten their start before moving to the Japanese league. It was a dream come true. Well, almost.

He had just never imagined it would be quite this...lonely.

Over his first month in the city, he could count the number of people he had spoken to on one hand. The first was his roommate with whom his conversations were limited to “hello” and “good morning”. The second and third were two middle-aged cafeteria ladies, who would coo over him and give him an additional helping whenever they saw that he was down. The younger of the two looked so much like his aunt, that it made his heart long for his family back in Osaka.

The fourth and final person was Mr. Jung Yunho, the Student Affairs Counsellor - an energetic man in his early thirties who had lived in Japan for most of his adult life. He had sense that something was amiss and had tried to pry into what was bothering Yuta right from their first meeting. After about three weeks of beating around the bush, Yuta had finally, begrudgingly, confided in him about his homesickness and his trouble communicating in Korean. Mr Jung had listened intently through it all, occasionally patting his shoulder to comfort him.

“You must feel very lonely, Yuta”, the older man had told him, resting one hand on his shoulder, eyes shining with sincerity.

It was lonely. He didn’t have a single person he could call a friend. Everyone he had met thus far seemed so busy, living a life far too fast paced to notice the quiet foreign student at the back of the lecture hall. He wondered if anyone in his classes would even notice if he stopped attending lectures. The only time he felt like he belonged somewhere was when he was playing soccer with the team, but even then he wondered whether he could call his teammates, his friends.

“Let’s start with helping you communicate first, shall we?”, Mr Jung had said, interrupting his self effacing train of thought.

“I’ll put you in touch with someone who can help tutor you in Korean. A Korean Literature student who’s been working with some other foreign students as well. I have a gut feeling you two will become great friends!”

That was how Yuta had come to know you. He clicked on your kakaotalk profile picture and zoomed in to your beaming face. You had one of those warm, welcoming faces. A face that one would trust immediately. Your face gave the impression that smiling was your resting face. The laugh lines on either side of your mouth and the crinkles beside your eyes were further proof of that.

Yuta had sent you a short, impersonal message introducing himself as the student Mr. Jung wanted you to tutor. He had not wanted to get his hopes up. Having been all by himself in a foreign country for the past month, being dependent on someone felt strange to him.

Still, before he went to bed that night he found himself refreshing his messages, hoping for a notification from you. As his luck would have it, you hadn’t replied even the following morning. Yuta had swallowed the lump forming in his throat, pushing any disappointment out of his mind.

You made the decision to move, all on your own, to this country far away from your friends and family, where you don’t even speak the native language. You have to face the consequences on your own too. Y/N is not obligated to help you. No one is. This is your own battle, for you to fight on your own.

With those thoughts in mind, he had busied himself with getting ready for the first match of the season against the neighbouring university.

At half-time, Sooman University was trailing behind Seoul University with a score of 3-1. With the centre forward benched because of a foul, things weren’t looking up for the team. Yuta had made several attempts to score a goal throughout the game but had been stopped by the right-back, Park Minsoo, on Seoul University’s team. He was much taller than Yuta and had a larger build, which he used to his advantage.

If there was one thing he absolutely hated, it was foul play. Yuta’s teammates had tried signalling to the referee that Park had been playing dirty, but the referee, infamous for being biased towards the Seoul University team, had brushed off their concern.

After having collided with him several times over the last half, Yuta was getting impatient. He knew this wouldn’t end well for him but he had let his anger get the best of him. After another foul-worthy tackle from Park, Yuta used his side to shove the man out of his way with all his energy. Perhaps it was the momentum with which Yuta had crashed into him or pure dramatics, Park landed on his back howling in anger.

The referee blew his whistle to signal a pause and the players from both teams began fighting amongst each either, trying to put the blame on the opposing team’s player. The situation with Park must have been grave because the Seoul team’s coach and manager hurried on to the pitch as well. Yuta’s team captain stepped forward to defend Yuta from the wrath of the other side. But ofcourse, being Japanese, Yuta barely understood a word being spoken. There was no way he would be able to dig himself out of this.

The thought of being benched for the rest of the semester crept into his mind. The fear of losing his scholarship made his legs tremble and he instantly regretted not heeding his older sister’s lifelong advice to him to be more gentle.

Then you appeared. Like an angel, only instead of white robes and a halo made of pure light, you wore a blinding neon green visor and an equally garish hot pink t-shirt bearing the Korean Literature Department’s logo. He saw you hop down the bleachers and squeeze through half a dozen sweaty soccer players, to thrust yourself in between Yuta and the opposing team’s coach. You explained somewhat emphatically to the referee that Yuta was a foreigner who barely spoke Korean and that any missteps on his part were purely a misunderstanding because of the language barrier. The man didn’t seem convinced, grumbling and gesturing animatedly at the two of you, egged on further by the other coach’s growing impatience.

Yuta wished he could understand what was being said. He tried to hang on to every word being spoken, but the adrenaline from the tackle and the heightened atmosphere made it even harder for him to concentrate. He picked up a few words here and there. A mention of a foul. Then someone yelling out the word suspension, which made him clench his fist so hard he thought he would pop a vein in his arm.

But he understood the last words to come out of your mouth, perfectly well.

“Please let my friend off the hook this one time? I apologise on his behalf”.

Friend. No, he definitely had not misheard that. You had called him your friend.

You had yanked Yuta forward by the arm, pushing his head down into a deep bow. Yuta took the hint and apologised, somewhat robotically, to Park and his coach. He was not bothered by the condescending smirk on Park’s face or the dirty looks that were thrown his way by the rest of the Seoul team as he allowed himself to be dragged off the field by you.

You dragged him quickly to the empty booths near the back of the stadium, sat him down and handed him a bottle of Gatorade.

“I saw your text. I’m really sorry I didn’t reply any earlier. But to be fair I had wished you good luck with your game but I doubt you saw my message considering you were down here getting shoved around by that asshole Park”, you had started rambling while Yuta chugged the drink.

Then he did something that he would cringe about for years to come. He should have known right then, on day one, that he could never act like his usual self around you.

He had shot up out of the seat, stepped forward and pulled you right into his arms, lifting you a couple of inches up in the air due to the sheer force. Through shaky breaths, he had whispered out a barely audible thank you to you. To his relief, you didn’t fight him off.

After a few seconds, you broke the silence and embrace.

“Hey, I know I just saved your ass but you’re kind of really stinky from the sweat”, you had said in between giggles.

He had dropped you back down and grinned somewhat apologetically at you in response.

After that day, he was no longer alone.

#yuta #nakamoto yuta #yuta fluff #yuta scenarios #yuta college au #nct #nct 127 #nct scenarios #nct fluff #nct friends to lovers #nct college au #yuta friends to lovers #moonrise

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mirach · 4 years

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Good Omens recs

Here are some of my all time favourite stories, but be warned that my taste is rather specific and can get into darker themes. I especially like hurt/comfort focused on Aziraphale, but that’s not the only thing you’ll encounter in this list.

The Strong Tower by @aziraphalelookedwretched (M, 41,458)

After the failed executions, a vengeful angel takes it upon herself to neutralise the threat presented by Crowley and Aziraphale.

All stories by BuggreAlleThis are wonderful even if they get very dark in places. There (almost) always is comfort that’s more than worth the hurt and I love them all, but this one remains special to me as one of the first stories I read in this fandom and awaited every update eagerly.

White Walls and Dead Air by BabyHoldMyFlower (G; 3,382 words)

It’s after the fourth day that he decides he hates God. He’s too tired to hold it back. Too miserable. Too busy dying. He knows he’ll go back on it later. He knows that he’ll repent later, and he’ll mean it, he thinks, once he gains some perspective, but there is nothing that could stop this bone-deep agony from churning and rising into something ugly. He’s not supposed to feel this way. He’s an angel, he really shouldn’t be thinking these things. Blind obedience is what they were created for. It’s in this moment that he can admit to a flaw in the Almighty’s design. If she wanted soldiers, she shouldn’t have given them the capacity to love.

Beautifully written and bittersweet, with lovely wing grooming and insights into the characters.

A Demon Would A-Wooing Go by @shinyhappygoth (G; 301 words)

“Heigh ho,” said Anthony Crowley, and just drove anyway.—Good Omens

Filk of "A Frog He Would A-Wooing Go".

I just love a silly take on a silly folk song that was actually referenced in the book, okay?

Flaming Sword by Bookwormgal (T; 8,576 words)

A dark shape in the not-quite-empty darkness. Dressed in black robes. Humanoid. Skeletal. Then wings unfolded. Angel wings, but not ones of feathers. Wings of night. Wings that Aziraphale could sense more than see in this strange place. And even if the thin thread didn't truly exist except as a concept to better understand what was happening, one skeletal hand rested on the weakening connection. Waiting patiently.

Azrael. Creation's Shadow. The Angel of Death.

"Oh," he said quietly, his voice swallowed by the emptiness.

Aziraphale remembered what happened. He remembered moving. He remembered the blade sliding in, sharp and sudden. He remembered pain. And then…

"I died, didn't I?" he asked.

I like the exploration of the theme of self-sacrifice here. This is just my personal pick from several of my favourite stories from this author.

Courage by Anonymous (E, 21,595 words - WIP)

Ten years after the world didn’t end, Heaven and Hell want to punish Aziraphale and Crowley for their treason. Gabriel decides that the perfect way to punish both of them is to torture Aziraphale and force Crowley to watch; Hell agrees to the plan. Aziraphale and Crowley are kidnapped from their South Downs cottage and taken to a neutral location; Aziraphale is tortured and raped and Crowley is forced to watch; they are then returned home, Aziraphale critically injured.

This is the Prologue (the first three chapters; all of the violence is confined to chapter 2, which can be skipped).

The real story begins in chapter 4; it’s the story of how Aziraphale and Crowley recover from the trauma. They are both profoundly traumatized; it takes a long time, but they work through it together, and their marriage recovers. There will be a happy ending.

Aziraphale and Crowley heal each other.

This story is a WIP, but it already got to the part where things are getting better. It’s very (very!) heavy, but absolutely beautifully written, it’s giving me goosebumps.

Love Seeketh Not Itself to Please by die_traumerei (T, 14,645 words)

After Aziraphale is left gravely injured by a summoning, Crowley must take him to heaven and bargain with the angels for his life. It doesn't go as he'd expect.

A hurt/comfort story that’s focused on the comfort part, really satisfying to read!

Evolution by @lady-divine-writes (M; 1,455 words)

Five times Aziraphale wasn’t the most confident Dom, and the one time it finally clicked.

Again I’m only picking one story, but there are so many more from this author that I love! I bookmarked this one because I don’t usually see Aziraphale as Dom, but here he is fully in character and gets there through conscious effort, and it feels very empowering.

The Longest Night by @charlottemadison42 (series rated T-E, 34,747 words)

The night the Apocalypse doesn't happen, an angel and a demon share a bus bench on the way home to face their fates. This is the story of their evening spun out line by line, all the little moments that carried them through the night they knew might be their last.

A wonderfully written series giving a detailed account of the night before the trials, complete with drunken talk, with wonderful grasp of the characters. Again just a personal pick from the stories by a really great writer.

Who Needs Heaven (when we have each other)? by Kat_Rowe (series rated G-M (so far), 48,057 words so far)

Now that they're independent of Heaven and Hell, Aziraphale and Crowley become even closer. Friendship eventually turns to romance, and emotional intimacy to physical. (Slow-burn friends-to-lover fic series.)

A very gentle series starting with wing grooming and continuing through the exploration of a relationship in which one of the partners (Aziraphale) is asexual.

Fancy Patter on the Telephone by @hotcrosspigeon (G, 12,854 words)

A series of telephone conversations between Aziraphale and Crowley during the Lockdown.

They get steadily more desperate and ridiculous as the weeks go on.

Featuring a moping demon, a teasing angel, a pub quiz, an explosion, extraordinary amounts of alcohol, a bubble bath, awkward flirting, several love confessions... and an ill-conceived bet on who can last the longest without seeing the other.

What could possibly go wrong?

HotCrossPigeon is an amazing hurt/comfort writer who writes absolutely delightful Aziraphale ahurt/comfort from Crowley’s spot-on POV, so definitely check their other stories as well, but I just had to pick this one that’s actually humorous and doesn’t contain even a drop of blood because I couldn’t stop laughing with it.

Feathers by @29-pieces (series rated G; 23,247 words)

Pre-Apocalypse shenanigans. In this AU, when an angel and a demon fight, the victor customarily takes a feather from their opponent signifying victory over them. Usually followed by killing them, naturally. But sometimes the defeated angel or demon is left alive, minus a feather, so that everyone KNOWS. Neither Crowley or Aziraphale ever took part in that sort of thing because it's really just a mean thing to do.

A series of three stories, two with hurt Aziraphale and one with hurt Crowley.

5 Times Aziraphale was Almost Discorporated and One Time He Actually was by @charliebrown1234 (series rated T-M; 29,011 words)

This series is an absolute match for my need of Aziraphale hurt/comfort, just like their more recent story Ex Infirmitas, Sinceritas. One of the authors I’m subscribe to and read everything they write.

The Whole Sky Fell by @thepaisleyelf (T, 9,692 words)

“Okay, Aziraphale, out with it,” Crowley said finally. “What’s wrong?”

Aziraphale blinked. He suddenly seemed very interested in looking anywhere that wasn’t at Crowley, fiddling with the napkin in his lap.

“I don’t -- I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean.”

Aziraphale really was a terrible liar. Under other circumstances Crowley might have found it charming, cute even, but his concern had been growing ever since he’d picked Aziraphale up for breakfast that morning....

Same as above, Turcote just knows what I love to read. Definitely check their other stories as well!

Desperate Ground by @desperateground (M, 55,883 words)

After they prevented the apocalypse and escaped execution, Crowley and Aziraphale thought they were safe from the machinations of Heaven and Hell. But there are still some demons with scores to settle - and since the angel and demon have made it clear to the world how far they're willing to go for each other, Hell has plenty of leverage on them.

A breathtaking story with torture and unwavering loyalty of the characters to each other.

***

And if you find these recs to your taste, then you might also enjoy

Back to the Roots by me (M, 90,946 words)

"We always knew it would end. Like mortals know that they'll die." Crowley closes his eyes, finding the stare of his own reflection unbearable. "When you're immortal, you can afford to pretend and hide and go slow. And then, when you finally figure it all out, it turns out that what you have can end anytime. It's unfair..." ---------- The morale in Heaven and Hell is low after the failed Apocalypse. Punishing the traitors (effectively this time) seems like a good idea to raise it for both sides - the angels would see what awaits them if they dare to disobey and the demons could just use some fun. And then there is someone else as well - someone whose grudge is even more personal.

Also torture and unwavering loyalty, breaking the characters and then putting them together with great care. This is the darkest from my stories, so if torture is not your thing, you can check my other ones (mostly Aziraphale hurt/comfort too).

#good omens #good omens fanfiction #good omens rec #hurt aziraphale

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wishesofeternity · 3 years

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rambling thoughts on SSNS (Glass Alliance 3 by Joanna Hathaway)

(SPOILERS)

(it’s gonna get long)

okay, I read the prologue and already started crying.

I really want Cyar to survive.

“Jali Furswana says that if he dares flatten even one of her cities, she’ll kill him in his sleep with a manicured nail to the neck.“ we’re all rooting for you, Jali.

… Shadowborn? Oh, Athan.

Athan is just Done™

ARMY-NAVY-AIRFORCE! That makes for a cool scene

Kalt is officially the vainest brother.

Oh hey, they won.

Ali’s letter hurts.

"Kaziah’s aggressively watering her beloved herbs” I feel like this is the core of who she is, honestly.

BARK

SHE’S HERE

Arrin, stop being an ass and give Bark a hug.

But on the plus side, he and Athan are finally getting along!

“I’m convinced that if I can learn to paint, if I can just pat every horse I pass and learn to love them, then Ali will come back to me.” … I have nothing to say to that

Just for the record: Leannya is bi, and is therefore my favourite Dakar.

Ali in this book is really like “fuck the rich”

“A dazzling sparkler of a woman” … damn

Oh my god, these soldiers are disgusting.

“Everyone here knows what happens to local girls when left alone with the Butcher of Thurn” I want him dead

"This is what he does. He takes brave people, and he breaks them" I WANT HIM DEAD

Wow, he’s apparently a terrible father, too.

Cyar and Minah are engaged?????!!!!

Garrick and Violet are married????!!!!

Well, at least Athan's love life still sucks

god, I want to give Ali a hug.

Kalt is officially the coolest brother.

"My father...he's fading" excellent

ALI

AND

LEANNYA

!!!!!!!!!!

oh shit

wait, this is all happening too quickly

WAIT

This is probably the most visceral, horrifying death in the entire series, and I think what hurts the most about it is just how preventable it was.

god, I'm going to miss his jokes.

“I hate crowds” same

oh god, this hurts

I love Kaziah so much

it feels like Athan has been trying to keep everything and bay and now it’s just … exploded

Athan’s grounded. oops.

Dakar is a terrible father and a military dictator responsible for countless deaths, but at least he likes dogs?

wait, no

this hurts too much

OH MY GOD

RAHELLE

wait, Merlant’s also involved???!

Their plan is from a place of privilege, but it's also well-intentioned, and it makes sense, and it's sure as hell more than what anyone else from Landore is doing.

damn, Leannya is clever

she's also just...so tired of everyone, lmao.

good god

Ali is the governess of Arrin’s son?

Mati is literally a mini-Arrin and everyone sees it and that is both absolutely hilarious and horrifically tragic

lmao, even Athan hates Windom

I'm kinda confused with Arrin and Windom's dynamic though

I adore all the Leannya content we’re getting so far

ALI AND VIOLET! ALI AND VIOLET! ALI AND VIOLET!

it’s so heartbreakingly sad that they love each other, and they always will, but they’re just so fundamentally divided in who they are and how they see the world that things just … can’t go back to the way they were before.

but they love each other! they’re still sisters!

okay, is everyone married?

Leannya just dragged Athan's ass lmao

Violet is the No. 1 Ali x Athan shipper.

Ali and Athan break my heart.

but also, props to Ali for all this deception, lol

oh fuck

Kalt

wait, no

GARRICK???!

Oh, Garrick

Arrin refusing to see Garrick but making sure his comrades are with him till the very end was … Something.

Poor Folco :(

I like how Athan and Katalin are … comfortable, if slightly distant, friends. It works, for both their parts.

Leannya is doing what we all wish we could do by trash-talking the fuck out of her father

Leannya, I LOVE YOU

I really love Ali, Kaziah and Damir sitting in their apartment and plotting away.

damn, Ali, you’re fucking brilliant

(terrifying, though)

yeah, I can see how this is gonna go down

okay, this entire conversation with Athan and Kalt was intense.

“His Wicked Majesty”

so much shit is going down, and he's actually still concerned about his stupid love life.

oops, Ali x Athan drama

OH SHIT

SHIT

SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT

WAIT, SLOW DOWN

IT WASN’T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN LIKE THIS

WHAT’S GOING ON????!

(This is just not a good day for people who's names begin with K)

… Havis???

Oh damn, I did not expect to see Seath right now.

Seath “builds and breaks, shatters and restores” I love this

“I want to know how a princess—my niece—escaped a royal trial, crossed the sea, survived for eleven months living right alongside her enemy, and now arrived with this” Ali's had a wild life

I love how the conflict so far has just been … this complete disaster of things, everything happening at once and yet nothing moving forward, barely holding itself together with new treaties and scattered positions and haphazard lines. but now, with this one decision, the war that has been looming overhead for so long is finally going to be unleashed.

at least Kalt’s in the sea

“I’ve given you everything. I’ve done everything you’ve ever asked, since I was too young to know better, and now you’ve stolen my brother. This is your own goddamn fault. You made him fight even when in a corner! And you’d better pray I don’t live long enough to see you do the same to him.” Arrin's SNAPPED

oh. my. god.

this entire conversation is making me tear up

the parallels between Ali/Athan and Arrin/Rahelle, though

honestly, this entire conversation about choices is … interesting. and very approproate.

“I want to force them to see us as we are—even if only for a moment.” and "We have the chance to alter history. To make sure they’re broken at the knees for good. We may go down burning, but we’ll take them down burning right along with us, and maybe that’s worth it.” Ali and Athan are so different, and yet they’re exactly the same.

They’ve come so far.

“Make an airplane” HOW DARE YOU

Ali is in a frozen world, surrounded by despair and death and decay … and yet a little child hands her a warm cup of tea.

can you believe I actually found Havis annoying in DotW?

no, honestly, it’s absurd to think about that now. I guess it was because he was that typical annoying, far-older suitor who Ali hated, and though I obviously found him interesting, I didn’t like him.

but all of that seems so far away now. he’s seen a lot, he knows the world, and he does care. he’s entwined with Ali’s family.

also, he's clever and crafty and fun.

“It wasn’t really peace they offered us. It was violence of another kind”

and the fact that Arrin knows how fucked up this is, but he's been fighting for so long, that he's resigned himself to it. he's tired. he's trying to survive.

but Athan, who despite everything he’s seen and everything he’s done, still hopes, is able to convince him to refuse. to take a stand.

and Arrin agrees. because they’re brothers. and because it’s what’s right.

“Arrin takes Father’s chair at the head of the table.”

god

THIS IS SO GOOD

THIS IS GLORIOUS

(just imagine the look on Dakar’s face)

I love this so much. All these people, so very different, who have come from so many different walks of life, but they’re all united in resistance. they’re all united under the name Nahir.

“I’ve learned not to care what anyone thinks of me” good

I would kill for Elan

wait, never mind, Ali already did

“I will kill all the monsters for you. I promise.”

OH MY GOD

IT’S CYAR!

I MISSED HIM!!!!!

Athan and Cyar both wanting each other to get the fuck out of this war and start living again.

but both of them refusing, because that wouldn’t be living, it would be surrendering

all they can do now is fight

Arrin and Leannya are both like “our brother is an idiot with zero self-preservation instincts, and we need to protect him”

aww, Arrin's crying

“And then—then he goddamn hugs me.”

GOD

WHAT THE FUCK???????

I can’t handle this.

I’m taking a break.

Just saying, Sapphie Erelis would be so happy right now. Because this is her legacy. Her children standing together and trying to do what’s right. Her children loving each other, wildly and unconditionally. (also her children overthrowing their father and placing him under arrest) (I think the last one would almost make her happier, honestly)

god, Ali has come so far, and I’m so sad for her, but I’m also in awe.

she’s amazing.

Seath is fascinating, and there’s something about him that’s so similar to Sinora. I don’t know what it is - maybe it’s the way they speak. their expansiveness. the sheerness of the lives they’ve lived and precision in how they continue to endure. There's something so radiant about them.

I LOVE YOU, ALI

Athan and Cyar are 20-years old and are considered old veterans.

“I’m a bastard of a captain” oh, Athan.

Also, what has Leannya been doing till now? Is she in Savient?

but also, how the heck have they managed to hold on so far? like, there’s no way their forces are any match for the combined ones of Landore, Elsandra, Resya, and the other royal nations.

still, there’s something so powerful about them going up against an entire empire to keep their fire burning.

Kif is Athan’s surrogate dad, confirmed.

naturally, Bark works as an adorable buffer between two ex-enemy Aces.

I really love all this resistance fighting. all the little things and the bigger things that they do, that all make a difference.

did I mention I would die for Elan?

“The Safire have outfoxed everyone” whoops. (so that's how they're somehow managing to win.)

Ali raging against the battle unleashing before them, and then trying to get a little lost girl to safety … that’s who she is in a nutshell.

Ex-rivals to reluctant allies to frenemies who save each other’s asses in battle.

“Prince Charming”, huh?

I ship it

Ali and Arrin do have a strange history between them, but any interaction they have is also just very funny

Ali is so damn sharp, and I love it. She gets people. She gets what her uncle was going to do, and she refused to play into it. She adapts, she survives, and she hopes, and there’s something so empowering about that.

“I know I’m just tired” LMAO (same tho)

“Am I not allowed one impossible hope in all of this?” you are, Ali. You are.

“If her soldiers dared turn back, gave up even an inch of ground, she ordered her officers to shoot them.” what … the … fuck.

yk, the way Dakar was just … brushed aside, without even a word, was so abrupt in the best way possible. I’m honestly curious to know what he thinks about all of this, though.

OH MY GOD, HE’S ALIVE

YES

FUCK, YES

I missed you, Kalt!

…oh no

damnit, Arrin. Just to give my take on it though - I think this was Evertal's idea, and that Arrin knows, deep down, that he is absolutely wrong and Athan is absolutely right. I think those bullshit justifications he came up with, which he might have even convinced himself were true - this is what they need, perhaps things would be different with them - are his way of rationalizing it to himself. But he's unable to see the sheer extent of how wrong he is - how horribly, disastrously, pathetically wrong. He cares and understands on a personal level, but it's like Athan said, he's been groomed to see the world in through sheer objectivity. that's learned behaviour, it explains his thought process and is really sad, but you have no idea how much i want to fucking slap him right now.

oh shit

if they do anything to Elan, I’m gonna fucking murder them

Evertal, leave Elan alone

… oh

Arrin and Elan recognizing each other from Beraya is … something.

wait, what the hell?

those fucking idiots, lmao

“You don’t deserve to be a father” SNAP

I'd love to read a whole other novel just on Seath, and the long complicated heartbreaking tale of his life.

I'm so glad Fenn is alive. I'm so glad Ali is okay.

Arrin was doomed right from the beginning. In this life, there is no way he could have survived.

“The first wave of grief isn’t for me. It’s for Leannya.” oh my god

“But in death, couldn’t he at least be buried beside our mother? Couldn’t we all be together, somewhere, eventually?“ YOU STOP RIGHT THERE

“Maybe he really didn’t want any of this. But it doesn’t matter. He still went—we all did—and now here he is, destroyed by his own artillery. It’s both just and stupid.” that just about sums it up.

but I love how Arrin believed in Athan, till the end and beyond. He knew that he was right. Which is why i think that, had he lived, he would have listened to him. It might have been probably been a longer and messier path, but i genuinely think - or rather, I hope - that at the end of the day, he would have listened to his brother and done the right thing, because I don't think Athan would have let him do anything less. And I think Athan believed that as well - or at least wished for it - because even though Arrin was dead and gone, Athan made the right decision with his name.

I also really like how the narrative doesn’t really … define Arrin. It just gives us his story, his choices, and it lets us decide for ourselves, as history will probably decide for itself, what kind of a person he could have been, and what kind of a person he was.

at least he’s with his mother and sister now.

and I definitely want to know what their father feels about this whole thing.

… holy shit

Fenn

She's such a "give no fucks, take no orders, smash the prisons and the borders" kind of person. She is spectacular.

okay, I’m crying

THEY’RE SISTERS

“We all deserved better”

you did

god, you did

you all deserved so much more

Evertal is just. so entertained by the Dakars brothers' disastrous love lives lmao

WE’RE HERE

WE’RE AT THE PROLOGUE

Oh my god

okay, this is intense

this is INTENSE

Ali and Athan FINALLY come clean to each other, clear up their misunderstandings, and it’s … soothing, in a sense.

“Beautiful in a world of steel.” wait, I remember this. god, Athan, you’re such a romantic.

I love how … the war is raging, and Ali and Athan are there, but they’re together, under a golden sky, and they’re going to be okay.

they’re going to be okay.

... everything seems to have gone to hell again

I love Ali’s letter to Reni.

goddamn

LEANNYA

I can’t believe she actually killed him, lmao

what a legend

ATHAN GETS HIS PLANE BACK

wait

wait, no

god, I expected Cyar to die within the first few chapters, but it’s so much worse that he almost made it to the end

almost

DAMNIT, IT WASN’T SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THIS

of course he went down defending his best friend

but god, I so desperately wanted him to live.

(edit: HE’S ALIVE! HE’S FUCKING ALIVE AND I’M SO FUCKING HAPPY AND DKJSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKSKS, AT LEAST ONE OF THEM GOT TO HAVE SOMETHING EVEN REMOTELY RESEMBLING A HAPPY ENDING)

Reni, you have absolutely no right to talk about pretentious royals. You’re one of them.

oh, no

Violet’s gone, too. at least she’s with her father again, and Garrick

holy shit

I knew it

I KNEW IT WAS LEANNYA. Look at her - she's organizing councils, giving speeches, making sure all those who are lost are returned to their homes. she's amazing, and it is so damn embarrassing that a literal teenage girl is more competent than all these idiots combined.

“I think of her before the League, repeating her brother’s words, making them new. She is him. But she is also not, because she made a different choice.“ I love her

I bet people are gonna have historical debates about the Dakars someday.

and i love how this situation seems to be shaping up? because Landore might have won now, but Savient is gonna be the nation that eventually gets it right in the long run. maybe not the immediate future, where the story will be rewritten, but a century from now, in the eyes of history, i think they're going to be viewed very differently. because the values on which Savient was founded upon were always important. they grew dangerous with Dakar, but the potential is there. it's always been there. and im sure, someday, it's going to thrive.

“I want us to have mattered.” you have, Ali. I promise you, you have

what the FUCK

this is so wacked and so fucking amazing, holy shit

I guess Athan has two surrogate father-figures, now.

Athan is like “look, if I’m gonna die, can I at least have some food?”

The Isendare siblings make me sad

(Not really relevant, but i wish Ali had taken her mother and uncle's surname in this book? It would have been symbolic but would have also been a genuinely believable and logical decision based on the way she's grown over the series)

“If we’re truly looking for those guilty by association, then are you not the greatest culprit here?“ DRAG HIS ASS, ALI

I’ve waited for this for so long

honestly, I really cannot stand pro-monarchists. and I find Reni...sad, but also deeply irritating. It's a mixture of his absolute privilege, his self-righteousness, the way he pats gimself on the back for doing the literal bare minimum (honestly, barely even that), and the way he occupies a weird centrist middle-ground position in the conflict that allows him to be complicit in it while also staying removed from it while also benefiting from it.

I'm glad he's found his own path though the circle of reformers, and that he's doing what Sinora had dreamed of.

“It wasn’t good enough." / "But it was good.” SHUT UP

sorry, I refuse to believe that Athan will die.

I’m just … I'm so happy for Ali

I’m so happy that she gets to live on her own terms, that she's in the South, with the people she’s come to love. I'm so happy that she looks at flowers growing from the ruined earth, and sees herself in them.

I’m so happy that she gets to live.

I’M SO HAPPY THAT ATHAN IS OKAY

I love how this series has a prologue that shows a world that’s broken, and an epilogue that shows a world that’s finally beginning to heal.

Okay, I’m gonna go cry myself to sleep now. See y'all in therapy.

I am so fucking grateful that I read this story.

#glass alliance #books #queue #mine #dark of the west

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wardens-stew · 3 years

Text

The Mask Falling Hints MASTERPOST

Clearly I have wayyy too much time on my hands!

I have compiled a list of information Samantha Shannon has divulged on social media about The Mask Falling, mostly paraphrased from her Tumblr and Twitter. Some of it dates back as far as 2016, so it’s not certain that all of it will happen - I’ve included an asterisk for the tidbits in which Samantha explicitly mentioned that it was pre-editing. I didn’t include a link to the original source because that would be too much work, but if anyone has questions I can probably find it pretty easily! The recent ARC reviews also include some hints, but I haven’t included them because that would be a crap-ton of text. Feel free to add anything I missed! Anyway enjoy the fruits of my obsession!

Hints:

We will find out how badly Warden was affected by Paige’s torture - there’s a lot about the effects of her torture in the book

The non-binary character is a free-world spy, pretending to be French

Paige has issues with drinking water and showering

Paige will make another valiant effort to get Warden to talk about his feelings

Paige’s demisexuality is clarified - she reflects on the way she wants in comparison to the way the allosexual Nick and Eliza do

Paige gets slammed into the wall by someone, but not Terebell (also not Warden, because then she would be very dead)

The grey market storyline continues

Etymological connection of Arcturus meaning bear-guard and Mahoney meaning descendant of the bear is worked into the books

Paige cries

Paige’s PTSD is a thread throughout the book

Paige has mental and physical difficulties following her torture

“The scope of everything gets bigger, there's more focus on the free world and how it interacts with Scion, and you'll find out more about Rephaite history and the origin of clairvoyance.”

You may figure out what happened to Procyon

Warden’s aura type is mentioned*

Paige starts calling Warden Arcturus. They have a discussion about it. But she keeps calling him Warden in front of other people.

The prologue begins about an hour after The Song Rising

Warden asks Paige to teach him Irish

Contains clues as to the big secret at the heart of the series

Warden does a few very sweet things

We’ll find out a reason why Nashira considers Warden a possession rather than a partner*

Paige is at her most fragile

One of the characters eats an orange

There is a distinct Priory parallel in one section of the story

Paige asks Warden if Rephaim can get drunk

We will find out if Rephaim can get physically ill

We’ll get a piece of information that may help us understand the Rephaite logic behind Warden feeding on Paige’s aura

More about the golden cord

Paige’s feelings with her father will be explored

We will find out why it was common knowledge amongst Rephaim that Terebell and Warden were once mated

Warden might tell us what would happen if he tried to eat

More about voyant-amaurotic sex will be explained

We will learn more about the Rephaim’s internal politics and conflicts

We get to see Paige’s birthday

We we’ll find out how Warden knows how to develop Paige’s gift*

Paige and Warden butt heads over right and wrong

We’ll find out why Warden said that Sargas are the only Rephs who choose their mates

We’ll find out more about the half-urge

We’ll find out more about the complicated history between Warden and Terebell

Warden is planning to learn Gaelic (pre-editing)

We’ll find out two of the reasons why Warden hates Nashira so much*

We’ll find out about the promise Warden made to Nashira that she alludes to before the Bicentary

Warden says something with an exclamation mark

Warden will tell us more about the memory of Terebell, and how it was a prelude to one of the defining moments of his existence

Paige visits Warden’s dreamscape a few times, but we only see it once

Paige addresses the author directly

Nick isn’t in the book at all

The plot takes place only in Paris

Paige dies her hair red

A character Samantha did not originally plan to be in TBS4 now is

There’s a big scene in the Sainte-Chapellle in Paris

The book is shaping up to be the darkest book in the series, but also contains the most jokes

Paige feels really ill for most of the book

Samantha starts hinting at the Grand Backstory of the series

Paige is under strict orders to stay inside for a month, but she breaks the rules to explore Paris

The main antagonist was born in “the burning summer of 2019”

We’ll find out about two of Warden’s past relationships

Paige and Warden have to get food deliveries from a guy called Albéric because they’re not allowed to go outside

There’s espionage

Warden uses the super unnecessary word “sennight”

A lot of the book takes place underground

We learn if a non-polyglot could ever learn Gloss

There is a Very Awkward Conversation*

There is a time skip between the fourth and fifth books

Warden smiles a lot… with his eyes

The ending will change everything

Scion must change its public face due to an event that happens at the end

People who liked The Mime Order will love it

TBS4 picks up when Paige is resting.

It will go into more detail about how Rephaim emerge

It marks the beginning of Beautiful Dresses in The Bone Season

It introduces a Rephaite character Samantha absolutely loves, with her favorite Rephaite name

There’s a scene Samantha has wanted to write for years

The ending is very dark

There’s a cute priory reference

There’s a character Samantha loves - “she’s so cool that I don’t know how a nerd like me invented her”

“The relationship between Warden and Paige gets deeper and more complicated in this one, and you get to know Warden a little better.”

“[Paige and Warden] are together a lot in this book, as they’re sharing a safe house in Paris. It’s the first time they’ve spent a significant amount of time with one another since they escaped Sheol I. You’ll actually glimpse the ways they both react to being stuck inside in The Mask Falling, as they’re meant to stay hidden in a safe house for a month so Paige can start to recover from her ordeal.”

“It’s a love song to Paris in the way The Mime Order was a love song to London.”

“[Paige and Warden do have some happy calm moments.] Although there’s a lot of action in the book, there’s also quite a lot of downtime. Paige is still recovering from her ordeal in the Archon, so she can’t always be out in the world kicking ass. She’s resting as well, trying to get her strength back.”

“I won’t lie, The Mask Falling is a book to fear . . . but there are some nice bits. Including some coffee-drinking.”

“[Paige and Warden] do so much in this book. So much.”

“Most of the characters who didn’t go to Paris are absent from TBS4.”

“Paige and Warden do so much in this book, I just couldn’t cram any other storylines in. However, several old friends do turn up in it, as well as a bunch of new characters I hope you’ll love as much as I do.”

“Paige [experiences the messiest-most-intense emotion in TBS4]. She goes through the emotional wringer in this one.”

“The second ‘arc’ has the same main characters and the same antagonist. The difference has more to do with the setting, the scope of the narrative, and the type of battle being fought against Scion. You’ll have a better idea of what I mean when you read the end of TBS4.”

“This book puts both [Paige and Warden] through the emotional wringer, but there are lighter parts as well.” “Nick meets an old friend while he’s in Sweden and Paige and Warden will be staying in central Paris, on Rue Gît-le-Cœur. You can see some of the locations from Book 4 here: [x]”

“TBS4 is basically just a long Hurt/Comfort piece with occasional and reluctant splashes of Action/Adventure”

“THE MASK FALLING leans a little more Adult than the other BONE SEASON books. The whole series is officially classified as Adult, but the first three aren't far off YA in terms of sexual content, violence etc. THE MASK FALLING is . . . maybe a tiny bit sexier.”

“Doing my final reread of THE MASK FALLING and naturally I've noticed a recurring phrase that I have used no less than thirty times in the manuscript.”

“It blows the world of The Bone Season right open. It’s where everything changes. It takes place in a brand-new setting and forms the bridge between the two ‘arcs’ of the series. I hope the ending will show readers get why I really do need seven instalments to tell this story.”

“Books 1-4 is what I call the “Scion arc”, but Scion is still a threat in Books 5-7. Book 4 is kind of in the middle, with more of a focus on Rephaim than there currently is in Book 3.”

“He’s in Book 4, he’s French, he’s voyant, and I’m writing his introduction scene now. I think I love him?”

“The draft is about 140 000 words long – a little shorter than The Mime Order – with a veritable tonne of action, espionage, international politics, eerie catacombs, old enemies, new friends, and messy, intense emotions packed into that word count.”

“This one combines my favourite elements of The Bone Season (Warden and Paige chats), The Mime Order (syndicate weirdness) and The Song Rising (heists and angst)”

“The fourth Bone Season book is well underway, and things are about to take a very dark turn for Paige.”

“It’s mostly focused on Paris, but you’ll find out bits and pieces about what’s happening in both England and Europe.”

“She’s suffering from PTSD and aquaphobia following her water torture in The Song Rising, so she’s pretty much in the ringer for the whole book. There are a few light moments, but she’s under a lot of stress from the start.”

“While I wouldn't call it spy fiction, TBS4 is delving into espionage territory as Warden and Paige, still exhausted from their tremendous efforts against Scion in The Song Rising, attempt to navigate the convoluted political and criminal networks of Scion Paris.”

“Book 4 is a touch more political, laced with subterfuge”

Lists:

Things you’ll see:

The carrières of Paris

A masquerade (ofc)

A mysterious character you haven’t seen in a long while

Arcturus Mesarthim saying ‘hm’ about 18 times

Five words:

Revelations

Politics

Water

Heartache

War

Three adjectives:

Macabre

Emotional

Seismic

There is a lot of:

Warden and Paige

Rain

Classy interior decor

Angst

New characters include:

A spy so fashionable and icy cool I’m unsure of how a nerd like me created her

A tall, irritable Frenchman with a bit of a God complex

A terrifying new Rephaite with an uncomfortably sexy voice

It has:

A Parisian underworld

A demisexual MC

A masquerade ball

Catacombs

Forbidden, angst-stricken desire

Verbal consent

Acknowledgement of periods

I can promise:

Parisian buildings TOURISTS LOVE. Notre-Dame? It's there, there's a masquerade INSIDE IT. Sainte-Chapelle? Oui. Versailles? Naturally. The Eiffel Tower? Oh, we're climbing it

Getting DOWN and DIRTY. (By which I mean literally, down, into the catacombs.)

People who arrive in Paris SPEAKING FRENCH because they have been given a job for which they have the correct SKILLSET *bangs table*

No crêpes (#OhCrepe), but CHAUSSONS AUX POMMES

ROOFTOP PICNIC

Not everyone is STRAIGHT

Chic OUTFITS, all quite filthy by the end

Locations:

The beautiful Sainte-Chapelle, my favourite place on Earth.

Rue Gît-le-Cœur, a major location in the book and previously home to the Beat Hotel.

The famous doorway in the Paris Catacombs. The inscription translates to 'Stop! This is the Empire of Death.'

Rue Montmartre, where we may or may not encounter an old face.

Preview in gifs:

Originally posted by cinemagraphs

Originally posted by queeniegoldtsein

Originally posted by cumlelerinruhu

Snippets:

Out-of-context chapter title: Chapter 3: Gloomy Coffee

Part names*:

1. To Pay Thee Free

2. Turn the Anchor

3. Eurydice

Quotes:

“What the fuck is that?” she whispered to me. “Looks like a frozen rainbow.”

“The horizon was as red as if the fire still burned. I watched the sunrise from the roof. Fog breathed into every nook and alcove of Paris, laced over the dark crests of the river, blanched the skin to the pink of salmon. I was sure the air was still spiced with the tang of smoke.”

“So,” he said, “we are choosing larceny.” “Always so surprised when his criminal friend commits crimes.”

“I wouldn’t usually care who you’re riding at any given time”

“I sensed all of this was very important, but I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about”

“I picked up the floundering ribbons of my dignity and started over”

“His home was in decay, and mine lay in the shadow of the anchor. Scion had made wanderers of us.”

Current opening line (circa Dec 18, 2018): “The sun had been climbing over the cliffs when our ship had pared away from Dover.”

“Someone who had heard of me and whose first response had not been to try to kill me. What a treat.”

“A hollow ache stretched out within me. It started in the chambers of my heart, in a place that reached eternally for Ireland.”

“‘I promised you we would stay together,’ he said. ‘In the absence of other options, I will follow your lead on this matter.’”

“‘I’m fine.’ ‘Your attempt to mask the darkness under your eyes serves as compelling evidence of that. As does the full bowl of coffee.’ I cocked my head. ‘Did you just master sarcasm?’ ‘Paige.’ ‘It’s a cup of coffee. With… no handle.’”

“‘There’s no fireplace,’ I stated. ‘No.’ ‘But how are you-‘ A wild laugh was bubbling up. ‘How are you going to cope without one?’ ‘Cope,’ Warden repeated. ‘You need one. To stare into, pensively. Did you know,’ I said to him, ‘that you do that a lot?’ He tilted his head, which only set off a fit of silent laughter. My ribs ached in protest.”

‘I mustered all the breath I had left and screamed, until I folded on myself and my voice burned to nothing.’

‘Who can break you now, Black Moth, now there is nothing left to break?’

#the mask falling #the bone season #masterpost #hints

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lizziestudieshistory · 3 years

Text

Books of 2021 - May*

I had a very patchy reading month, some days I read loads in one go and finished two books in as many days. Other times I was reading the same book for ages (looking at you Persuasion!) Reflecting on this, I probably should write separate reviews for some books in future...

Villette by Charlotte Brontë - I've made no secret that I absolutely despise this book. To date it's perhaps the book I hate the most... I could quite happily burn my copy and I don't say that kind of thing lightly. If you're interested I've written a full review here because it's too long to summaries here.

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys - In a complete turn around I really liked this book, I won't say love because it wasn't perfect but I do think it's worth the praise it has. I will admit my love of this could be due to my new found utter hatred for Charlotte Brontë, but I do think it's genuinely fabulous.

I loved how Rhys gave Bertha Mason, Antoinette Cosway, a voice of her own. A flawed quite voice because she's never really given the chance to define herself, but it is a voice nonetheless! And she uses Antoinette's liminal place in the world - both of the Caribbean and not, and of Europe and not - to explore the conflicts in both race, power, and identity that torments the emancipated Caribbean of the 1830s. Antoinette gives us a wonderful insight into this world that is seemingly a dream but in reality is a nightmare full of hatred and needless violence. No one wants to move on from the horrendous history of the slave trade to build something new. Instead the cycle of hatred and abuse is maintained by everyone until no one is free of it. All of this means Antoinette is cast out with no home or real identity to call her own, she never finds out who she is or where she belongs. No one gives her the opportunity to do so. We almost see it in the unnamed Mr Rochester - they could have been happy together, if it wasn't for the hatred that inhabits everyone in this story.

I loved how Rhys used this backdrop and theme to explore whether Bertha Mason is really mad and, if so, what made her so. It was a fascinating character study of a woman who otherwise might as well be a faceless monster. The similarities between Jane Eyre and Antoinette Cosway are pronounced but Jane was allowed to form her acceptable identity as a white English woman, with all the privileges that brings, whilst Antoinette was stripped of everything, including her own name, and locked away in shame.

My one criticism for this book is that it wasn't enough. It needed to go bigger with the disorientation - by the end of part three I was expecting to come out of this story in a haze, as if I'd lost my own grip on reality... It just didn't do this, sadly. The language wasn't quite weird enough to cause that disorientation and really bring the reader into Antoinette's mind as she started to lose herself. It's a minor thing really, but I think it would have really helped develop Rhys' themes that one step further and turn a good book into an excellent one.

Sailing to Sarantium by Guy Gavriel Kay - I have a complicated history with this book, I've DNDed it twice in the last year or so but managed to finish it third time around. It is a fantastic book, full of excellent world building based on the Byzantine Empire, some wonderful characters, and stunning writing - Kay has a truly beautiful style.

However, there are some flaws: Crispin, his family, and the chapter lengths. I really disliked Crispin, our protagonist... I’ve met far too many men like Crispin in my life and I just don't like them. It's on me and I do think Crispin is a well drawn character, but we wouldn't get on and there is A LOT of time we spend just in his head and I didn't love that, especially in part one.

To be honest Crispin and I would have got in a bit better than we did if it wasn't for not one, but THREE women dying OFF PAGE to give Crispin some character development. His wife and daughters had died before the start of the novel from a plague and, of course, he's angsty about it before learning to continue living his life... This could have been done in ANY other way and I wouldn't have minded but three women dying to serve a man's character arc is something I'm tired of and have a very low tolerance for.

I also think the book needed some better organisation. 10 chapters in a 500+ page book is not enough. I think this is a large part of why I struggled to get into this book and it just needed a few more. It became a chore to read a times because I'd be reading for 70 pages just to finish a chapter! It's a minor issue and, again, very personal to me but I genuinely think chapters longer than 30 pages are too much unless it's a major sequence such as a battle.

These are very personal flaws though and I did enjoy the book as a whole! The prologue is possibly the best opening sequence I've ever read in a fantasy novel in terms of creating characters, establishing tone, and the sheer power of worldbuilding. It was astonishingly well done and I'm still in awe of what Kay achieved. If you like slow, world and character driven novels then I'd definitely recommend it, though if you're starting with Kay maybe try Tigana first.

Persuasion by Jane Austen - I've already written about Persuasion last year. This was a reread and I regret spending the time on it, my opinion hasn't changed and it's time to just admit I dislike this one.

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson - I'm going to write about this one separately as this is already ludicrously long. Needless to say I loved it, Sanderson is the King of modern fantasy, and Stormlight is my favourite in the works fantasy series. I'll link the separate review here when I've had time to write it.

*I'm not proofreading this, sorry but I don't have the time!

#books #reading #bookblr #mini reviews #sort of #may reading #may wrap up #books of 2021

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wherestoriescomefrom · 3 years

Note

1, 15, 23

taken from this ask list!

i've already answered number 23. Favourite book covers - here, so i'll answer the other two!!

1. What are you reading right now, and what do you think of it?

i'm reading The Golem and the Djinni on the recommendation of @seastormstars. incidentally this is a buddy read with @aliens-correspondent. i'm liking it so far, it's really lovingly written but it's got a lot of POV characters, which can be a little frustrating.

i'm also reading Jennifer Armentrout's book - whats its name. From Blood and Ash. this one is being really frustrating because it feels like there is so much worldbuilding happening, that it keeps getting confusing. the author is opting for a more naturalistic style of storytelling, but the worldbuilding has no references to the real world so i keep getting lost in whats going on. it's also a buddy read so i guess i will finish it.

15. Do you prefer: chapter titles or not? Table of contents or not? Prologues and/or epilogues or not?

i think i really like chapter titles in my own stories??? i pay attention to chapter titles when they are distinct, but on the whole it doesn't bother me when they are not there. but in my own storytelling i really like them.

i don't care about the table of contents as much. i do think it can serve a purpose, ngl, like i am not going to say boo no more table of contents - for example, i think they really work for the percy jackson series??? the funny table of contents makes you anticipate whats going to happen and makes you excited.

but if it isn't there, i wouldn't feel too fussed i guess. depends on how you are using the table of contents at the end of the day.

i LOVE prologues and epilogues. i think they bring a circularity to stories that i really enjoy, and its a real bonus when the epilogue mirrors the prologue in some way. absolutely love this story telling technique!!

thank you for this ask!!!! it was really insightful, got me thinking <3

#hello void this is ridiculosity #ask game #the people??? want me to answer???#booklr

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saeyoungs-sunflower · 4 years

Note

What are some of your favorite writers/fics? Can you link them? I’m new to the fandom and I love your writing but can’t find some other things that are as high quality of yours :)

Hey there! I absolutely can, I love to the spread the love and there are so many talented writers that deserve all the recognition. To be honest, since I returned my blog (after 3 years away haha) I haven’t been reading a huge amount of fan fiction, mainly because I’ve been too busy focussing on my own projects, but there are still a few writers whose work I have been loving lately! I’ve also included some writers who, to my knowledge, are no longer active/don’t plan to write for MysMe anymore, but I wanted to mention them because they are the ones who inspired me to write and hold a very special place in my heart.

Ahhh you’re so sweet, thank you so much for love and welcome to the fandom! I hope you feel at home here xxx

Favourite MysMe Writers!💛

Active writers:

@sunshinejihyun - This gal has only started writing for the fandom recently, but damn she is killing it. She has such creative ideas and they are always executed so beautifully. She somehow manages to make me fall deeper in love with these characters and I ain’t mad about it.

Favs:

The Three Times He Realised He’s in Love (Zen x MC)

Open Secrets (Seven x MC)

Where You’re Meant to Be (V x MC)

@truth-be-told-im-lying - Everything this lovely lady writes is so unique and written with so much care, and there’s also a great mix of work. You get fluffy, sexy, angsty…the whole package! She’s also currently doing a ’50 Types of Kisses’ project at the moment and I don’t know how she does it but every single one I’ve read has been brilliant.

Favs:

You and I (Seven x MC)

The Garden (Saeran Choi)

50 Types of Kisses

@abbyologie - I’ve just followed this blog and I’ve only read ‘Compromise’ so far but it was gorgeous! A perfect mix of sexiness and sweetness, and they manage to really bring out Jumin’s kind and more sensitive side. A lovely read!

Compromise - Part One (Jumin x MC)

Compromise - Part 2

Inactive blogs/No longer writing for MysMe:

@serensama - This wonderful lady right here is the reason I started writing. Her writing is absolutely golden, and she has such a gorgeous way with words and it always leaves me in awe. If she’s writing angst, it’s heart-wrenching; if she’s writing fluff, it’s teeth-rotteningly sweet; if she’s writing NSFW, it’s electric. I wish I showed her more love 3 years ago, because she is truly phenomenal and (if we’re getting personal lol) her writing made me feel something at a time when I was really struggling. Basically, if she wrote a book, I would be the first to read it. I think she is planning one last MysMe fic, and I am preparing to ball my eyes out.

Favs (oh man don’t make me choose😭):

Saeyoung: To Help #5 , Saeyoung: To Help #5b (this one, good grief this is my favourite fic of all time)

Jumin: To Promise #4

V: To Promise #7

EXTRA (bc I can’t help it) I love you. Not. (Jumin x MC)

@spacechip707 - My go to place for Choi boi feels. Every fic was so sweet and just always gave me the warm fuzzies. This has made me want to go back and re-read them all because it’s been so long and some of my favourite fics ever were written by this person.

Favs (from my memory):

Sweetness of You (Seven x MC)

You Are My Sunshine (Seven x MC)

Broken Nights (Seven x MC)

@thirstyfortom - QUEEN of series. I remember when the High School Band AU series was being written and everyday day I would refresh their timeline waiting for the next chapter. I was constantly on the edge of my seat when reading their work, and I’m just jealous that you get to binge-read them all for the first time.

Favs:

High School Band AU (series) - Prologue

18C Apartment (Vanderwood x MC)

Seven Minutes in Hell (Seven x MC)

I’m terrified that I’m missing someone, but I hope you enjoy the work of these brilliant human beings! I’m infinitely grateful for how each one has managed to lighten my mood or helped me find an escape in their writing, and I can only hope that I can do the same for others. Happy reading, anon! 🧡

#fics i love #sunny answers

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jackdawyt · 4 years

Video

youtube

I am beyond privileged to share my very Early Access impressions of The Waylanders, thanks to the developers at Gato Studio who gave me an early key.

The Waylanders is a party-based RPG set in the Celtic and Medieval eras, inspired by classics like Dragon Age: Origins, Neverwinter Nights 2, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. I’ve only played the first 10 hours of this game, and I’ve fallen for it. It’s very apparent that the developers of The Waylanders love Dragon Age. And so, to anyone who loves Dragon Age, will love The Waylanders.

I’ve played prologue and the very few early hours of the game which are in early access, meaning there’s plenty of work that needs to be done and nothing in the game is final. However, I was able to get an amazing feel for what the finished game will look like, and believe me when I say, this is the Dragon Age successor we’re all looking for.

Character

Upon starting the game, you’re taken to a very recognizable character creator, clearly inspired by Dragon Age: Origins. You can choose between a male/female body, four races, six classes, and then an origin story based on each of those choices.

The races in Waylanders are rather distinct, as opposed to traditional DND races like elves, humans and dwarves. Here we have the choice between human, werewolf, mourian and semi-fomorian.

The classes are rather straight forward, each of them have unique weapons, abilities and features. As an example, Rangers have the Pets feature which allows them to have animal companions, and Sorcerers can teleport using their specific magic feature.

You can customise your character with a few hairstyles, facial types, different skin tones, eye, hair and facial hair colours.

You can then apply more points into your statistics based on your race and class. And the final aspect of customisation is your identity, where you choose your name, pronouns and voice.

The voice is just for grunting noises in combat, I believe the game follows a silent protagonist so you can make up your own voice.

After making those final decisions, you’re given a cute lore character summary, backing up each choose you’ve made for your PC. Now your adventure can begin.

Story

The story is told through a plentiful of cutscenes and long dialogue interactions, of course, just what Dragon Age fans love. I found each of them engaging and I was hooked from the start really.

I’ve played the prologue twice, and a few blocked out side quests that are still in very early alpha. The story starts with the Spanish Celtic tribes arriving at Ireland to meet and convey a union with their gods. However, things don’t go according to plan, as you can imagine.

What’s fascinating about The Waylanders compared to Dragon Age for example, is that the lore is steeped in Irish and Spanish folk lore. We discover many legends like ‘The Tuatha Dé Danann’. Which means ‘the tribe of the gods’ in Old Gaelic. It’s exciting lore that actually exists in some of the real world’s sub-cultures today.

The setting of the game is based in medieval Galicia, which is in Spain. The developers are actually from Spain, the stories they’re telling throughout The Waylanders are tales each of them has grown up with.

I won’t say much more on the main story, other than the protagonist has a mystery that reminds me of Kingdoms Of Amular Reckoning. Of course, another stellar RPG that takes pinches from Dragon Age: Origins.

The plot seems to surround a lot of time travel themes, going forward and back in time, with many choices and consequences taking effect from your decisions.

As a whole, the writing is excellent. And that’s expected due to the fact that Chris Avellone, best known for writing Fallout: New Vegas, took the helm. Alongside with him, Ex-Telltale's Emily Grace Book who’s the fabulous Narrative Lead.

Not to mention Mike Laidlaw aided to team with his creative vison to “create a high-level narrative and to structure the game and the story.”

And if that’s not enough, Dragon Age veteran Inon Zur composed the soundtrack of The Waylanders too, which is just beautiful.

I want to share more about the main characters. So far, they’re compelling, even in just the first hour, I found myself latching onto each of them, with their many different personalities.

In my opinion, the dialogue holds the game up, I found myself engaging in every single conversation I could, interacting with every character. I’d say my favourite character so far is Nazhedja. Naz for short.

She’s very intriguing! Being a mourian, she’s immortal, though she composes herself as a charming and relatable individual.

The voice cast is amazing and familiar with the likes of Simon Templeman, known for playing Loghain in Dragon Age taking the role of the Celtic Druid Amergin. Personally, as a Brit, I fell in love with hearing so many of my countries’ varying accents.

And apparently there will absolutely be romance in the game, however, it’s not in the alpha stages. But we can all look forward to that!

Gameplay

The Waylanders gameplay centres on building up the narrative, there’s an emphasis on interactive conversations. You’ll spend a fair amount of time asking questions and getting to know each of the characters in this world, building bonds and shaping the story.

The game has a linear feel to it, however, once the prologue is done, you can explore many of the hub areas. Very much like Dragon Age: Origins. The world is lush to explore, and the art style is fantastic. It has a cartoony feel to it.

While exploring the stunning areas, you can switch the camera’s placement for a more isometric feel, or stick to a more third person feel, whatever suits your playstyle. This is an amazing quality of life feature, that I think other games like this need to adopt.

There’s a huge codex, which updates frequently after conversations. It’s a wonderful touch, I spent plenty of time reading each of the characters and their backstories.

Combat

The combat is rough around the edges and it can be hard to properly aim and target your opponents. Too often I’d cast a spell at an offensive enemy, and I’d accidently click and switch to my warrior companion who’s bashing the same enemy in the face.

You can have up to five party companions at a time. And there are these grouped up attacks you can do as a squad called formations. You band together and attack. It works like a charm.

The combat does feel very identical to Dragon Age: Origins, even down to the animations of fighting and how long it takes to fire a spell, or shoot an arrow from a bow.

One of the developers gave me a few console commands for my stream, and I was able to see what animal pets we could have, I was very surprised with the amount of animal companions you can have. There’s even a dragon!

Each of the classes prove to be very unique, in my two playthroughs, I played as a Sourcer and a Rogue. I loved the individual features each class provides whether it’s a passive or an actual ability, each class have dynamic ways to stand out. And of course, if you’re undecided which class to play, Waylanders is a party-based RPG, you’ll always have a companion with a different class you can switch to and play as.

Summary

In summary, judging the early hours of The Waylanders, the game has very reminiscent systems and gameplay that anyone who’s played Dragon Age will find themselves familiar with. However, the game has proven itself to be original with its engaging story, intriguing characters and unique lore.

Of course, the game is in its early access alpha stages, and there are plenty of bugs and things that need further improvement. But I can see the heart and passion that has gone behind this game, and that’s what I’ve grown to like about this game.

I’d say to anyone who’s a huge fan of Dragon Age: Origins, why not go and give The Waylanders a shot. The game launches on Steam’s Early Access store on June 16th, support this game as it grows throughout development, and releases as an epic Dragon Age successor.

#The Waylanders #The Waylanders Early Access #The Waylanders Gameplay #Studio Gato #Dragon Age #Dragon Age: Origins #RPG #New RPG #lore #early access

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surveys-at-your-service · 3 years

Text

Survey #350

“let’s play a love game, play a love game / do you want love, or you want fame? / are you in the game?”

Who was your first good kiss with? Jason. Would you kiss this person again? I know I fucking would and I hate it more than I could possibly express. Name something that is on your bedroom wall? Lots of artwork, mostly of meerkats. What accessory do you want in your bedroom? I need another desk to put stuff on. If you could paint your walls any color what would it be? Something pastel. Maybe like, peach. Soft and warm and would really bring light to the room. What does your phone case look like? It's just this boring purple one that came with the phone. What do you take the most pictures of? My camera roll says my pets, hahaha. What is the point of Twitter for you? Liking Mark's shit lmao. What does your planner look like? I don’t have one. If you get into an argument what is it usually about? My anxiety, I think. What are you always in the mood for? Ummm probably a car ride where I can control the music in the passenger seat. It is very, very rare I'll turn that opportunity down. What’s the last emergency you dealt with? I don't really know; I'm thankfully not in these situations very much, especially when you're cooped up at home. I probably haven't been actually engaged in an emergency since I had to call 911 for my mom before she found out about her cancer. She was basically immobile from agony in her abdomen. Do you have a son? I'm perfectly happy without a son, or kids period. Are you married? No. Have you ever worn a suit? I haven't. Have you ever had to call 911? Twice for Mom. How many keys are on your key-ring? Just one for the house. What’s the last thing you created? An RP post would count as art creation, I'd say. Who are your closest friends? Sara, Girt, and uh... Well, they might be it as far as friends I consider truly close to me. I have a few other people I consider good friends, but we're just not like... on that "close" level, you know? Lisa is maybe another, and Lyndsey perhaps, both WoW friends. Are you ready to have a family? I hate that "have a family" tends to mean get married and have kids, which I'm guessing is what you're implying. If that's the case, no, given I don't want kids and am not fit to get married right now. I'm not even with anyone. I'm content right now with just living with my mom and my two pets, who are children well enough to me. Have you ever taken a DNA test? No. Do you have a family cemetery? No. Would you say you have a high sex drive or not so much? *shrugs* I think it's pretty normal. How do you feel about swallowing pills? What do you mean how do I "feel" about it? I just do it if I need to. What animal is the scariest in your opinion? Some kind of bug, probably. Giant centipedes creep me the fuck out, for one, and I've heard their bite is incredibly painful. I've also always been very afraid of Australia's funnel web spiders since watching some show on Animal Planet when I was younger; I think it scarred me for life, aha. And let's not forget the murder hornets. No thnx, rather die. :') Have you ever questioned your sanity? Way more than once, my friend. How do you feel about people wearing fur coats? Are you for or against it? I am VIOLENTLY against it unless it is for survival in extreme climates and you don't have access to other material. That aside, there is NO way you could possibly convince me that it's okay to wear the fur of something once living on yourself for ~fashion~. What’s the worst thing a friend has either done or said to you? Let's not go here. What’s fake about you? Like extensions, fake nails, botox etc. Nothing. If you got the chance, would you audition for a reality show? No. Have you ever gotten into a Facebook fight? Haha, yeah. Favorite flavor of jelly bean? Probably watermelon or strawberry. I'm not a massive jellybean fan. Do you use Tinder? If yes, have you ever met up with someone you matched? I've never tried it, no. What book/movie has made you cry the hardest? Either The Notebook or Titanic. Something you feared as a kid but don’t anymore? Thunderstorms. What’s your skincare routine? I don't really have one. Just wash it with water in the shower and then use a washcloth when I feel the need. Would you rather have a snake or a tarantula as a pet? I want both, but I prefer snakes. What is something you are NOT looking forward to? I both am and am not looking forward to my second Covid vaccine because it's notoriously worse than the first; the only bright side to it is that after the potential side effects blow over, I'm job hunting. What do you usually do right when you wake up? Check the time on my phone. Would you rather eat your pizza cold or hot? Hot, but I like both. Who taught you how to swim? Dad, I think? Can you do push-ups? No. Do you like Doritos? Yesssss. Who is the closest friend that you live by? I don't know. Have you ever banged your head against something? I've had two concussions before, so, y'know. Have you ever jumped on a trampoline? Yeah, I loved that as a kid. Do you like watching scary movies? Yeah. Has anyone ever told you that you have a big butt? No, considering I have like no ass, rip. Has one of your friends ever tried to "hook you up?" Ugh, yes. Do you prefer landmarks or street names when being given directions? Landmarks, by a mile. Although, I'm super bad with directions, so it probably wouldn't really matter much. Do you read the prologues in the beginnings of books? Yeah, you got to. Does your house have more than one fireplace? No. What was your favourite gym class moment? The one and only thing I liked about gym as a kid was when you took one of those rainbow tarps and made like, an air bubble underneath to make this awesome dome everyone sat in. Ya missed out if you didn't do that. Do you think that ocean boardwalks are fun? Yeah. Do you dread when people ask you to sign their yearbooks? Not at all; I was always flattered, knowing they cared enough to want mine. Apple Jacks: yay or nay? I looove those. Do you have a favorite Scooby-Doo movie? Haha yeah, I think it's the second one? Such iconic scenes. It's the one with the Mary Jane girl that Shaggy liked... oh, jokes that went over your head as a kid. Who were your last 3 Facebook messages from and what do they say? I'm too lazy to list the convos themselves, but the people involved are my friends Chelsea and Ian, as well as a friend's mother. Do you turn your phone off at night when you go to sleep? No. It's always on vibrate, and I just turn the brightness way down. What is the sexual orientation of the last person you talked to? She's straight. What’s your favourite hairstyle on the opposite sex? Don't you fucking dare laugh, emo hair is A++. Has anyone ever played a prank on you? What happened? Not a big one, no. Do you like the Silent Hill movies? Do I?! I love the first one (though for a while I wasn't very happy they swapped the lead role from Harry to his wife), and while the second is literal trash story-wise and it's ALL over the damn place, I still enjoy it with just how much I adore SH as a whole. What movie scared you the most out of any other movies? The Rite, because the concept of being raped and impregnated by a demon is fucking horrifying to me. Have you ever wanted to be on American Idol? When was this? Nah. Name 5 things you don’t believe in. 1.) "Everything happens for a reason;" 2.) karma; 3.) destiny/fate; 4.) psychics, fortune tellers, all that; and 5.) luck, at least in the sense of someone having set "good" or "bad" luck. If you could have any friend that you’ve lost back, who would you pick? Probably Megan. If you have pets, who normally puts food and water in their dish? Me for both of them. Do you organize the pictures on your computer into different folders or are they all just under “My Pictures”? I have folders. Do you think if someone is in a relationship, that it is acceptable to have sleepovers with other people of their preferred sex? Eh, nah, that feels a bit far to me. I am very firmly for friends still being able to hang out even if they're each other's preferred gender, but a sleepover sounds a bit too intimate, even without sharing a bed. Would you shoot a gun if given the chance? If you’ve shot a gun before, how many different types of guns have you shot? No. I'm very intimidated by guns and nearly shook when I merely handed a friend his (not for anything bad, he just carried it with him when he goes out), and I've got noooo plans of holding one again unless my life depends on it. Do you feel uncomfortable sharing things like artwork or poetry you’ve written? Is it because you don’t think it’s good enough to show off or because it’s too personal? You. Have. Zero. Idea. It's for both reasons, and it's far more severe in person. Online, I actually don't mind much, oddly enough... I can't quite pin down why. Do you have any siblings you absolutely despise? Why do you despise them? No. Do knives scare you? Is it from watching scary movies? Knives scare me like five times more than guns. Scary movies have nothing to do with it, though. They're just so sharp and the idea of being stabbed by one is terrifying. As someone with a history of self-mutilation too (not with knives, but I've thought about it and once planned to slit my throat with one, but Mom stopped me), they just make me incredibly uncomfortable to the point I can barely hold a "real" knife to just slice food. Have you ever climbed a chain-link fence? Many times. What is your LEAST favorite Disney animated movie? That I've seen, uhhhhh... I don't know man, there are way too many Disney movies lmao. Who was the last person’s house you went to besides your own? My sister's. On YouTube, who are two people you find hilarious? I'm just counting GameGrumps as one, and then you can't forget Shane Dawson, regardless of the controversy. He probably made me laugh more than any other YouTuber. Do you shave your pits? Yeah. Do you know anyone who has been on life support, and survived? I don't think so. Besides the USA, what is your favorite country? I'm not nearly informed enough about foreign countries' politics and laws and mannerisms to have a favorite. Would you rather go to Europe or Asia? Europe. Would you rather go to Africa or Australia? Africa. Would you rather go to Mexico or Canada? Canada. Do you think emo/scene hair is attractive? I love emo and scene hair, don't @ me, it's cute as fuck. Have you ever seen a ghost orb picture? Lots, actually, at one of my old houses that I totally know was haunted. Do you think abortion should be illegal? NO. You would NOT end abortions. You would end SAFE abortions. Do any of your pets have strange habits? Explain? Venus, my ball python, is extremely odd with food to the point I sometimes worry about her, but she's always been this way and is healthy, so I guess it's nothing really worth fretting over. Anyway, when I place her rat in her terrarium, she gets excited first and will pretty much frantically examine her surroundings, like slithering around everywhere, and even when she has clearly found the rat (she'll even prod it with her snout), she usually won't immediately eat. She just like... sits there and has to continue to verify for ten minutes that it's food. I know it's thawed perfectly, btw. So anyway, THAT'S weird... As for Roman, dear god, that cat's just weird, lmao. Especially in the morning, he's very hyper and will bolt around the house sometimes, he "plays" with nothing all the time, he "meerkat"s at nothing that I can nothing, etc. etc. etc. He's a weirdo lol. Have you ever told an extremely inappropriate joke? Oh god, I said something really inapprops once when my friend Chelsea startled me. I won't be repeating it lmao. Who in life have you felt the strongest need to protect? Sara, I think. Who have you most feared in your life? My dad. He doesn't scare me anymore, but he did. What was the quickest friendship you ever made? Oh idk. What is the worst word anyone ever used to describe you? "Martyr." And not the kind that dies for their beliefs. It hurt me so badly to know someone thought of me that way, and I'll probably never let it go. If you have any pets, were they adopted from the humane society? No. Roman is one of the billion kittens born to the cats my sister's in-laws have, and Venus is from a ball python breeding business in Florida called The Gourmet Rodent (they sell f/t rodents too, obvs) Do you like home design, like picking out paint colors and furniture? Not really. My grandmother though, whew, that was her calling for sure. Have you seen any of the old James Bond movies? Nope. List all of your features that you have ever gotten compliments on: My hair, my eyes, my tattoos, my hands, I think my nose, my dimples, my smile, and my boobs lmao. Have you ever been in a hot air balloon? And if not, would you ever want to go in one? I haven't. I think it'd be kinda cool, but they seem too easy to fall out of, and I'm afraid of heights. I'd probably go in one if given the opportunity. Do you have any stains on your shirt currently? No, but there are two small rips. It's just an old tank top. Do you listen to local bands? No. Not that I'm opposed, I just don't know of any I really enjoy. Do you watch YouTube videos often? Many, many daily. Do your parents fight? Do they even talk at all? They're divorced; they used to fight a lot when they were together. Now they only talk if they have reason to. Have you ever watched a movie that's in a complete different language, so you had to read sub-titles? No. Do people with yellow teeth disgust you? Dude, fuck off, no. My teeth are kinda yellow, and I'm extremely self-conscious about it, so seriously fuck this question. You never know for sure why someone's teeth may seem yellowish. Do you drink alcohol on New Year’s Eve? Usually a drink or two. Do you wear rings? I always have two on, yeah. Are you hungry right now? No, I literally just ate a breakfast bowl. Have you ever tried smoking a cigarette? No; I haven't the slightest interest in doing so.

#survey #surveys #questions #lyrics: ''lovegame'' by lady gaga

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everybodylovesrand · 4 years

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Raje Judkins answered some questions about the show. Filming spoilers for the show below:

Q: What part of the books should you be caught up on for the first season?

A: Depends on if you like to read something before you watch it or not.

Q: What are you finding most challenging about going from book to screen? A: The hardest thing is the physicality of production. In the first book alone they go to more than 20 villages and cities. To try to do that is physically impossible for the show, so most of the work we don in the room is geographical, figuring how to condense the story and move it through places we can physically create.

Q: Do you have a favorite chapter from the whole saga? Mine is Veins of Gold. A: So many. But Honey in the Tea is the one off the top of my head.

Q: We can’t wait to see Elayne, Aviendha and Min

A: Me either. Three of my favorites.

Q: Has any post-production work begun or does that not start until filming is completed?

A: Nope! We do it simultaneously. Before the corona hit, I was prepping 2 episodes, shooting 2 episodes, in post on 4 episodes and writing Season 2 simultaneously :-0

Q: Will there be a soundtrack? Who’s the composer? A: Of course! David Buckley. Plus a few incredible musical guests we’ve already had.

Q: Are Min/Elayne in season 1? A: The Wheel weaves as the wheel wills

Q: Are you going to merge Min and Elayne? A: Hell no

Q: First moment you were speechless on set? A: First time walking into Emond’s Field with my mom

Q: Is mat fluent in the old tongue yet? A: We’ve had a couple cast members speak in it already and they NAILED IT

Q: Which character has your favorite costume so far? A: Ooo this is tough. Probably Geofram Bornhald.

Q: How is the cast and crew weathering the pandemic? A: Our team in Prague did an amazing job of getting everyone out and keeping them safe. And now everyone’s home and we all live on Instagram.

Q: Who is your favorite Forsaken? A: Ahhh. I love the ladies. Graendal, Lanfear, Moghedien. And Ishamael holds a special place in my heart the more time I spend with him

Q: What’s been your favourite shooting location so far? A: Slovenia! Spectacular stuff there

Q: Yes or no. Have you had to make any cuts be it a scene or character, that has been painful for you? A: Yes.

Q: How are you planning to handle the visualization of the weaves? Any little tidbits? A: We are trying to stay as true to the books as possible. I’ve been giving a bunch of VFX folks long diatribes about channeling, weaves, threads, earth vs. air, etc and they early stuff has started coming in. It looks FUCKING AWESOME. I screamed when Rosamund started channeling

Q: Similar to Them performing in an old Inn, what other iconic moment filmed stands out to u? A: Rand and Tam walking through the Westwood

Q: Blink twice if Min is in season 1. A: 😉😉

Q: Will Jeff Probst be one of the Aiel? Can you make some calls? A: If he dyes his hair red 😉

Q: Which WOT book title best describes your self isolation experience? A: A Memory of Light…

Q: Can we expect a trailer for the show anytime soon? A: Probably not for a long while sadly.

Q: Can you guys do a big WoT Wed announcement during the hiatus to keep all us fans hyped instead of al A: Yea! It would cheer us all up and we have some fun news

Q: Is Lan going to be as much or an absolute stud in the show as he is in the books? A: You’ve seen @danielhenney right?

Q: If you were an Aes Sedai, what Ajah would you choose? A: Such a good question. They all have merits but GREEN for the win. If only to hang with @priyankabose20

Q: Will we have to wait till season 2 to see any Aiel? (Other than Rand)

A: Nope. And the one you see will shock you. Hah. Amazon shouldn’t let me be on here when I’ve been cooped up for a week.

Q: RJ writes a lot of internal headspace stuff. What’s 1 hint on how the show will handle that? A: That’s the biggest difficulty of any novel adaptation. Figuring out how to make the internal monologue come out clearly to the audience. A lot of the changes we make and stories we tell differently are designed to serve exactly that purpose – showing you what those characters internal monologues from the book are without them just saying it out loud in exposition

Q: Are you using taller actors to portray the Aiel, or camera trickery? A: Trying to get tall folks. But I’m less concerned with height and more concerned with acting ability.

Q: Since JordanCon was cancelled, can we maybe get an extra treat next month? A: Sure! What do you want?

Q: Do you have a favorite Wise One? A: Avi

Q: How many trollocs do I have to take out to become a writing assistant? A: Violence is never the answer

Q: What would you say the CGI to practical ratio is going to be? A: Tring to do as much in camera as we possibly can!

Q: How are you handling sword forms and their names? A: We have a for real sword master on the show who walks into every room and tests out everything as a weapon. He could most definitely kill me with any item in my office.

Q: How are the horses on set? Is Mandarb spectacular? A: They are so great. Honestly I love our horses. Mandarb and Aldieb are downright sexy

Q: When will we get more casting announcements to hold us over? A: I’ll try to get them to put out something soon. A lot of folks in all departments are affected by the state of the world right now though, so I can’t promise a timeline

Q: will we see the prologue from the Eye of the World on screen in season 1 A: You will hear that phrase

Q: What has been your favorite set so far? A: Fal Dara!

Q: Please tell me you’ve cut Narg!! A: Never!!

Q To what extent has Harriet McDougal been involved with the project? A: She’s a consulting producer so she’s been out to Prague to the sets and reads all the scripts and sends me her notes on them. She and Maria are hugely helpful for maintaining the truth of the series and always keep me honest when it comes to things that change too much

Q: Is any aspect of the show still in development, or has it all stalled because of the virus? A: A lot can be done virtually! I’m still doing VFX, editing and the Season Two Virtual Writers Room! And I can do it all in pajamas

Q: Will min, elayne, and avienda have to be combined into a single character?

A: Girl you crazy. I’m not going to combine huge characters like that. Maybe sometimes a minor character folded into a more major one to make better use of our cast but nothing nutso

Q: RJ created 1000’s of character. Given that did you feel the need to create new characters? A: Anyone “new” is inspired by characters in the books or a number of characters combined. If we paid to cast all speaking roles in the book we could only afford to have a radio play

Q: So far, what is your favorite prop in the show? A: Great Serpent Ring. We all want one.

Q: Will Loial portray the Ogier species, or will he be humanised for screen? A: He’s an Ogier!

Q: How involved, if involved at all, is Sanderson in the writers room? A: Brandon is hugely helpful. I talked to him before we started Season Two while he was in Prague to get advice and he reads all the scripts and gives notes. He’s incredibly thoughtful and understands the process of adaptation and what’s required from it. I feel so lucky to have him involved. I would have him do more if I could make him!

Q: What words of hope would you offer a fan afraid that the show will cut out a lot of content? A: I genuinely think we are cutting less than most people think. When I see people ask questions like “are you cutting Min?” It blows my mind. I don’t know how you do an adaptation without some of these characters. I think it’ll be more of the smaller stories you’ll miss. We can’t have Rand and May (sic) travel to many many inns on their travels across the countryside for instance. It’s just not producible. So that will be more of what you miss I think, and the books always exist to read for that 🙂

Q: I think Bella is such an important character, will the same horse play bella through the series A: We’ve already had to have two Belas. It turns out a horse for riding on film is not the same as a horse for pulling a cart and SHE MUST DO BOTH

Q: Can you please make sure you do a great job? Book are so great A: This is are a really good idea

Q: Now you’ve met them, settle the score: who’s better with women? Rand, Mat or Perrin? A: I think they’d all say it’s the other

Q: Will the show be understandable for those who didn’t read the books? A: That’s the idea. If there are little things they don’t get though, luckily google exists

Q: Who is your favorite Aes Sedai in the books? And you can’t say Moiraine/Siuan or the Wonder Girls A: So many rules. I honestly love all of them though (except Galina that bitch) Alanna Liandrin and Verin are probably my Top 3. And Siuan! There’s too many I love. Sheriam! Pevara!

https://www.wotseries.com/2020/03/22/show-runner-rafe-judkins-does-an-ama-on-instagram/

#Wheel of Time #The wheel of Time #Rafe Judkins #answers questions #WOTonPrime

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qqueenofhades · 4 years

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Hi! I've been reading your fic ("de volente (lux aeterna)") for the most part of today (far preferrable to writing my phd proposal) and I just wanted to say that it is probably the best thing I've read on the internet/best historical fictions I read in my life. And the amount of detail- omg. It made me dig up a reading list for a crusades module my uni offered, which I never had a chance to take, because I specialise in modern/Cold War history and terrorism but damn (1/2)

(2/2) do I really want to read up on that now (on that note, I think I spotted somewhere that you wrote a book on crusades, so if you don't mind sharing the title I would absolutely love to read it). So yeah, massive kudos and thanks for writing this fic, I am so, so in love with everything about it <3

Aha, thank you so much! Boy do I feel you on the avoiding-writing-the-PhD-proposal part (though now for me it’s the endless pile of soul-crushing job applications.... we make good choices). I am a medievalist by training, but I have a secondary research interest in the Cold War and 20th-century Europe, so I am also curious about what you’re doing (if you want to tell me, of course).

If you’ve enjoyed DVLA, I am going to super shamelessly plug my new fic, The Key of Solomon, which takes place five years after the end of the First Crusade and is a historical/magical/supernatural AU with more medieval history, medieval magic, Enemies to Lovers shenanigans between our two favourite immortal idiots, and so very much banter. The prologue and first 10 chapters of Part 1 are up, so if you love historical fantasy, handsome gay morons, found family, adventure, snark, and Feelings, it is definitely worth checking out. As usual, I am having a great deal of fun with it.

As for my book on the crusades, I have not posted the title/link publicly (since it has my real name and former institutional affiliation, etc) but I have been very happy to share the link to purchase it with anyone who wants to DM me - so if you want it, do feel free to hit me up, and I’ll send it along. As I’ve noted before, it is expensive, because academic publishing, but if you are at a university, you can perhaps craftily convince your library to buy it for the collection.

Anyway. Thank you so much again, I’m so happy that you’ve enjoyed DVLA, and good luck with all your research!

#dvla asks #peterpandame #ask

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thecrystalquill · 4 years

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The Taming of the Shrew

A/N: hey hey it’s chapter 1!! Let me know if you want to be tagged or if I missed you out at all. And don't forget to read the intro bc I swear it's important that you get it!! Enjoyyyyy! :)

Masterlist Series Masterlist Prologue/Intro

•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•

Chapter 1: Technically-Philosophy and a Battle Against Society

•*•*•*•*•**•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•

Bianca Stratford was absolutely beautiful. Her short light-brown hair bounced at her shoulders and her eyes shone with an adorable sense of innocence - and by Merlin did her yellow robes suit her exquisitely. She sat in the courtyard on this particular afternoon, talking away with her friends and practically glowing in the sunlight. No wonder Regulus Black was completely infatuated with her - she was truly stunning.

“Staring again?” A voice beside him interrupted, causing Regulus to flinch back and tear his eyes away from the girl. Of course his best friend would catch him at a time like that - it was almost as if he did it on purpose. “I honestly don't get what you see in her though, mate. I mean, I get it, she's cute and all, but really?”

Regulus was almost offended by his friend’s lack of attraction towards the girl, shaking his head in an almost practiced defiance that showed how they'd had this conversation before. “What are you talking about? She's completely perfect, and smart and funny an—”

“—And how would you know?” Jacob mocked, moving his strawberry-blond hair out of his eyes. “You’ve never even talked to her.”

“That's not true…” Regulus muttered, frowning defeatedly.

Jacob scoffed. “Oh, forgive me. How could I forget? She asked to borrow a pencil once in second year and you told her she could keep it - such a romantic moment. I'm sure she's treasured that lump of lead ever since—”

“—Oh shut it will you?” Regulus elbowed him in the ribs, walking back towards the school slowly, hoping to catch a word of the girl's conversation as they would soon pass. “She's completely pure!”

“Not to mention vein.”

“Don't be ridiculous!” Regulus argued as they neared the group, “she's so—”

“—Supercilious?”

“No, you're wrong.” Reg replied, rolling his eyes. “She isn't like that at all, she's sweet and mindful and—”

“—Mhmm,” Jacob interjected again, “and deep, I'm sure…”

“Well you see, there's a difference between like and love,” they overheard, glancing over to Bianca and her friends, Regulus feeling a little smug after his friend's last sarcastic comment, “because I like my Witches Weekly subscription, but I love my Monthly Magical Makeup parcels.”

Feeling slightly less smug, Regulus continued walking as his friend snickered behind him. Well, he thought, it was still technically philosophy…

“Look, Reg,” Jacob continued, wrapping an arm around his shoulders comfortingly, “I’m just saying, you could do so much better than her.” It wasn’t that he didn’t necessarily approve of Regulus’ love interest, he just didn’t want him getting his heart broken by a girl that wouldn’t give him the time of day; he didn’t need that, Jacob decided, and he would be much better off falling for someone a little more in his reach – Bianca wasn’t even allowed to date, no matter how much she might want to. But never the less, Regulus just wouldn’t listen.

“So, how was your day?” Lily asked, strolling next to the (y/h/c) in the hallway, handing her bag over so she could wrap her robe around her waist, whereas (Y/N) had discarded hers long ago.

The girl shrugged carelessly. “Oh, y’know, people suck, teachers suck, school sucks. The usual, really.”

The red-head laughed and nodded along; it couldn’t be denied, could it? “Well, on the plus side, we only have just almost two years until we can leave.” She reassured – she always has been the more empathetic of the two.

“I can’t wait two years,” (Y/N) groaned, feeling her life being wasted away by hours spent doing homework, “I want to get as far away from here as possible – Australia maybe.” She half-joked, smirking at her friend.

“Well, until then, how about we go change then do our homework by the lake today?”

“Absolutely.”

The nearest common room was Slytherin, which was of course where they went; luckily the two did this so often, that they both had clothes in each other’s dorms. Some thought it odd – a Slytherin and a Gryffindor being such close friends – some even frowned at the very idea, but the two had known each other for so long (even before Hogwarts, having lived in the same area and going to the same park) that something as silly as a house rivalry could certainly never separate them. And it only sometimes became a problem with having their clothing in the same draws; Lily was somewhere between sweet and girly and incredibly casual in her style. Whereas, (Y/N) had taken more of a tomboy fashion in these last years. Still, they would occasionally accidentally wear each other’s things – but hey, who cares?

The girls changed and re-packed their satchels with only the essentials before heading out again. Just as they stepped through the exit, their conversation was interrupted by an incredibly pretentious noise. “Well if it isn’t Stratford and her little Gryffindor pet,” Malfoy teased, only to show off to his party of snot-nosed prats. “What’s with the camouflage? Running off to that muggle military, are you? Let’s hope you don’t come back any time soon.” He laughed with his peers, obviously thinking he had offended her – which would be pretty impossible for him, given that (Y/N) would have to actually value his opinion in the first place.

She did nothing but roll her eyes in response, “Keep walking, Lucy,” she dismissed with a wave of her hand, then continued on her route. She wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of a reaction; besides, calling him ‘Lucy’ was revenge enough.

Malfoy scoffed and angrily lead his friends into the common room, annoyed that his attempt was so easily deflated.

“Oough! Sometimes I really just want to hit him in the throat,” Lily growled, curling her fists at her sides. She hated Malfoy – they both did. He was a bully and an arrogant pureblood supremist who thought he could do anything just because he was loaded, of course they hated him! “Seriously, (Y/N/N), just give me the word and I’ll throttle him – I will!”

“I don’t doubt that, Lils,” she assured, shaking her head slightly in amusement. ‘Gryffindors’, she thought. “But if you really want to hurt him, I’d suggest going straight for the pride – cut off the ponytail.”

“Oof, that’s just evil… I like it.” She amused, subconsciously playing with her red hair.

It was an unusually sunny day today, considering that it was mid-October, but it wasn’t time for the snow just yet so they would make the most of their time while it was still dry, albeit quite cold. They sat against a tree on a plain of grass not far from the Clocktower Courtyard, and started working on whatever work they were given today; luckily enough, there wasn’t as much as usual. “So…” Lily began, with a smirk that (Y/N) was both concerned and proud of, “off to join the military, are you?” They eyed each other playfully for a moment, occasionally glancing at their outfits before neither could contain their smiles.

“In a way, yes.” The Slytherin laughed and rolled her eyes mockingly, “I’m preparing for my inevitable battle against society.” She answered seriously, the corners of her mouth turning upward slightly as she looked down at her outfit: her comfiest cargo pants, her favourite boots, and obviously the camo-patterned vest she wore under her jacket. She looked comfortable, that was for sure, and anything but girly. But what was the social ideal of beauty compared to complete comfort?

Lily snorted. “Ever the dramatic, aren’t we?” She wasn’t surprised at all, to be frank. (Y/N) was very opinionated – which was a good thing, as far as they were concerned – and often felt at war with her peers and their social norms, so it was no shock that her style could reflect that; she always wore whatever she felt like anyway, regardless of what anyone would think. Lily hadn’t noticed that she had been too lost in thought to notice that (Y/N) had given up on her homework and was now reading a book. Frowning, Lily nudged her side to break the Slytherin out of her novel-induced trance. “Hey, you’re supposed to be doing Herbology,” she scolded; their observational notes still needed to be translated into read-able sentences and then converted into a short essay, “it has to be done by tomorrow afternoon.”

(Y/N) shrugged and turned a page. “Then I’ll do it tomorrow, at lunch. Right now though, I just want to relax a bit, yeah? Enough work for one day.” It was a new book that she was reading, having purchased it before the summer came to an end, and only now had she gotten enough time to make it past chapter two. It was an old muggle classic – as many of her books were – written in 1815 by Jane Austen. She wasn’t quite sure if she liked it or not yet, but (Y/N) was determined to make it at least half-way through.

“What are you reading, anyway?” Lily asked, still scribbling away at her parchment; she really was such a perfectionist when it came to her studies, making sure each sentence was clear and specific. “Any good?”

Lifting the book up higher in front of Lily, (Y/N) continued to read, letting her friend read the title and blurb. “S’fine I guess, can’t tell yet,” she mumbled, refusing to remove her eyes from the page.

“Picky…” scoffed the Gryffindor beside her, earning a kick in the foot, “just don’t forget about your homework, okay?”

(Y/N) only waved a hand in her direction. Although, she soon became bored of her book – five chapters later – and turned her head back to Lily, who seemed to be finishing her work already. How long had she been reading? “Lils, what time is it?” She asked, sitting a little straighter.

For about a minute and a half, Lily did nothing to answer the question, just held a finger up as she finished writing, crossing out a couple of things and replacing them; only when she read over the page to make sure that everything was correct and written as intended did she finally give her friend her attention. They stared at each other for a beat, until Lily recalled what was asked of her and looked down to the dainty watch on her wrist. “Half five,” She informed, catching the (y/h/c)’s eyes widen, “why?”

The Slytherin quickly started to pack away her things and stood. “I have to meet at my dad’s tonight, said I’d be there by five at the latest. I got to go – see you later, okay?” She rushed.

“What? No…” Lily complained, “lunch ends at seven, I don’t want to have to fend Potter off on my own!”

Five times a week, the Stratfords would meet at their family’s personal quarters – or rather, Professor Stratford’s personal quarters – to have a family meal and catch up and all that. It was usually quite tedious, but her father would go absolutely insane if they didn’t go – the man had issues. “I’m sure you’ll be fine for a while, I’m not your only friend y’know.”

Tag List:

@siriusement

@siriuslysirius1107

@missmulti

@izzy28901

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feuilly-cakes · 4 years

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Breaking Dawn - 3* review

Oh boy was this a long one. Okay, I really don't know how to feel about this book, because on one hand I had lots of fun revisiting my old favourite and picking it apart but on the other hand I had a very big issue with a major part of the plot. If I were rating based on each book within this book, I would give book one 4*and book two and three 3*. It starts out strong, then gets progressively harder to keep track of, but then maybe my short attention span is the problem here. I learned many interesting facts and character traits in this book, and I also figured out something important to do with imprinting that's been vaguely introduced in the previous book but is explored in-depth here. Stick around if you want to see what that discovery is. As usual, I'll be putting interesting and relevant facts and things I found particularly offensive under sub-headings, but I'll be saying a lot about each book as if it's separate before then, because Breaking Dawn as a whole is too long to talk about with any coherency. So without further ado: There are only spoilers ahead. Book 1: Bella First let me just say that these books have such amazing prologues/prefaces that immediately grab your attention. If you didn't know she was going to get pregnant, it would probably seem like she's talking about Edward being the one killing her. Anyway, this book was shorter than I expected, but far more enjoyable. This one seems to be more family oriented in the language used than previous in the series; while before any of the Cullens would be described as 'Edward's adopted -' , in this they are simply his mother, his brothers, his sisters. Even Jasper, who always seemed to me to be the outsider of the bunch, uses the term "We Cullens" and it just feels more like a family than a vampire coven pretending to be a family. This is helped along by Bella suddenly knowing so much more about the history of the Cullens and their extended family the Denalis. She's ready to fit right on in there. This book deals with the wedding and the honeymoon. Bella reflects on how she told her parents, freaks out about getting married, has her wedding, abruptly changes her stance on said wedding, then they shoot off to the honeymoon and things occur. Basically, she gets pregnant. It's a huge commotion. Backtracking, both Charlie and Renee were weirdly supportive about the engagement and handled it super well, with Renee and Bella having such a lovely conversation I nearly teared up. She's a great mother even when she's not physically there for Bella. Bella, on the other hand, is doing that thing again where she's selfish and a bit mean without realising she's being that way. Poor Edward is stressed to his eyeballs about the honeymoon and the very real possibility of hurting and even killing Bella, and she just brushes him right off. More on that later, but that's not the responsible way to do things, Bella. Fast forward to the honeymoon, and Edward is now the one being dramatic, refusing to sleep with her again because he bruised her and not listening to her when she says she's perfectly fine. The way it happens is very funny. Then we get to see random things happening that oh so subtly turn out to be pregnancy symptoms, like strange dreams about vampire babies who look human, oversleeping, mood swings, strange eating habits, and last but not least, morning sickness. It wasn't subtle. When they figure it out Edward loses it and says he's going to arrange for her to have an abortion. Bella asks Rosalie for help, and screen fades to black. The big theme here is that Bella changes her mind. She doesn't want to be married until she suddenly does at her wedding, she doesn't want to stay human until she decides she can afford a few extra years, and she doesn't want kids until she's already pregnant. Even with Rosalie, their slowly evolving relationship wasn't going to be proper friendship until Bella asks her for help. She's changing so quickly it's like getting whiplash, but it's not unrealistic. That's how I make most of my big decisions too, like it simmers away unnoticed until it's ready to be addressed. Relatable, really. Book 2: Jacob Book 2 takes us through Bella's pregnancy from Jacob's perspective, as he goes from planning to kill the Cullens to becoming their biggest protector and an Alpha of his own pack. As much as I love multiple POVs in books this is one I couldn't get behind, and here's why. One of the main themes in this book is imprinting. I don't like it. While I adore soulmates as a concept, and even more so platonic soulmates, it's made clear that this isn't what that is, and it's icky. We get 4 pages of Quil interacting with his imprint Claire, who is 3. The whole time Jacob has a running commentary on how Quil is more devoted than a parent would ever be, how he wants to make her so very happy, how it's so very different from that of a parent, and how Quil has to wait like a "monk" for "a good fourteen years" until Claire was his age. This was never platonic, it was a waiting game. It's also grooming. This was also around the time it became apparent just why Quil imprinted on Claire in the first place: it was all a set up for Jacob's eventual imprint. It had to be a part of the story before it happened so people wouldn't question it, and for the most part it worked. Both Quil's story and Jacob's interactions with a pregnant Bella prove this: "the hold she had on me only got harder to break. Almost like it was related to her expanding belly" and "It feels... complete when you're here, Jacob. Like all my family is together." I hated reading that. He should've imprinted on that nice girl Lizzie, from the park. Surely Stephenie Meyer could've come up with something else to keep Nessie alive? Onto similarly disturbing things but less revolting in the long run, Bella's story here seems to be an attempt at pro-life propaganda that backfired. The reason? Bella makes a choice about her body, and though most of them don't like it, they don't force her to do otherwise. People seem to forget that being pro-choice also means the choice to stay pregnant even when it's best not to. Bella makes that decision and she's absolutely sure of it, at the expense of her life and health, but it's hers to make. She is pitted against Edward, who would absolutely force her to have an abortion if he had backup, and who is also losing his damn mind. He insists to Jacob that Carlisle would help him if not for Esme, and that Rosalie doesn't care about Bella's life, only the baby's. Carlisle himself tells Jacob he would never take the choice away from Bella, and context shows that Rosalie is protecting Bella's choices and bodily autonomy, and carrying out her last wishes to ensure the baby is brought into the world healthy. Remember that Rosalie had all her choices taken from her, and all she wanted for Bella was for her to make the right ones. Edward doesn't change his stance until he discovers the baby has thoughts that can be read, and loves Bella. Once again, this seems to have been an attempt at showing that babies have thoughts and feelings in the womb, but it does almost the opposite as Bella is a day away from full term and not once has anything been picked up by either him or Jasper before that point. It's safe to assume there was nothing to pick up on. The pregnancy ends with a truly horrifying birth scene that made my hands go numb and my ears ring from the violence of it all. Bella dies, Jacob imprints on a minutes-old baby and begins his journey as a child groomer, and then Bella comes back and begins her transformation. Book 3: Bella. Or as I like to call it: It all goes downhill from here. Bella has the most unrealistic yet brutal experience ever, and is now a super sexy, super perfect, super powerful, super smart vampire. She has a perfect baby, perfect control of her bloodlust, and somehow the perfect life. But oh no! The Volturi are threatening that peace! Who could have predicted that the last remaining villains would appear in the last book? Now Bella and the rest of the Cullens have to find their friends to stop the Volturi in their track, but peacefully of course, because they are the good guys really! Just a misunderstanding! I'm so glad that was addressed in story, because I would not have been able to deal with a pro-police/pro-dictator story in this political climate. The most unrealistic part of this is when the Volturi don't simply assert their vampire dominance over them by killing them all without taking their own witnesses. I didn't like how Bella suddenly became perfect and good at everything in this book. It's so unrealistic. Less than a month to become the strongest shield ever and be able to scare the ancient Volturi? Perfect control on her first hunt? I think not thank you. There was also a missed opportunity to have Bella be a psychic of some kind since she dreamt of the future accurately many times. Renesmee was very sweet though, and that's all I'll say on that. Now onto my lists! Differences between book and film This was mostly pretty accurate in terms of plot. - Edward's backstory that we see pre-wedding isn't a thing in the book. It actually isn't a thing in any of the main books, but I can't speak for the others. - Bella knows about the immortal children before the book even starts, and she's the one to realise that Irina thought Renesmee was one herself. - The wedding is inside. The film had it outside I'm pretty sure. - The whole part where Jacob freaks out and borrows a very fancy sports car to go and try to find his imprint was never in the films, and I think that's a tragedy. Vampires - The appearance of the nicknames Em and Jazz for Emmett and Jasper. It's not at all important I just thought it was cute. - Half vampire babies use their teeth to escape the womb. Also, Renesmee was trying to be careful to not hurt Bella while she was still inside her. She started reading when she was under 3 months. If I saw a baby read aloud in full sentences I'd never sleep again. - Edward called Jacob "Jake" in book 3. It's weird how their relationship changes throughout the book. - Poor Renesmee knows it's because of her that the Volturi are coming, and says "This is my fault." She's just a few months old at this point, and she's already going through a whole lot. - The volturi look like someone threw baby powder on them because they sat still for so long they started "petrifying". - There are 32 Volturi members, considering they took the whole coven with them to Forks. - Fun Bella fact: she was going to let Charlie assume what was up with her because she thinks he will never decide on vampire. Red Flags Most of these have been discussed in depth so I'll just mention them briefly. - Edward, pre wedding, is described as having a "panic attack" by Bella at the thought of hurting her, and instead of reassuring him she brushes him off and thinks "He wasn't getting out of this deal. Not after insisting I marry him first." This is beyond selfish and even cruel, because he has a point and genuine concerns that should have been discussed properly. - "We're going to get that thing out before it can hurt any part of you." Edward has decided this for himself, without Bella's input. - Jacob contemplates suicide over the thought of having to see Leah. This is absolutely not something that should be talked about like it's nothing. - The imprinting of Quil and Claire. - Every bit of foreshadowing about Jacob imprinting on Renesmee, and the act itself. - Rosalie calls the place in South America where the half vampire myths originated "a disease-infested swamp with a medicine man smearing sloth spit across your face" in relation to giving birth there, and it's more than a little racist. How would she even know what it's like? - "the Egyptians all looked so alike, with their midnight hair and olive-toned pallor, that they could have easily passed for a biological family" The white, blonde Denali sisters were never ever described this way, so why are the non-white people described as such? - Bella had "never met any vampires less civilized" than the Amazons. They have long black braids, so we can assume they aren't white. Why are only the non-white vampires being described these ways? - Bella describes the rough area where she met 1 person, who was working for J Jenks and happened to be Black, but was well dressed in rich clothes, as the "ghetto address". Upon googling, I learnt that this refers to low income areas of a city that are occupied by minorities. She met one person. How could she possibly know if it was the "ghetto"? It was described as the "downtown office" by Max, the man in question, so why wouldn't she just use that term? - Jacob gives Renesmee the Quileute equivalent of a promise ring. I want to throw up, because we all know what a promise ring symbolises. - Lastly but certainly not leastly, when learning Renesmee will be full grown at age 7, Bella feels a "shudder" from Jacob. I hate it, it's gross, it needs to burn. Disgusting. And that's that, sorry it's so long, I had a lot to say. If you have any opinions on this review, feel free to discuss with me!

#twilight #twilight renaissance #breaking dawn #book review #book blogger #Books and Literature #next up is Midnight Sun!!

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