#I have a love-hate relationship with this book

[iwtv-theories]

Similarities between Daniel & Armand (analysis)

In the iconography: 20 y old Daniel is on his knees (and 20 y old Amadeo is on his knees in the painting). I also have to point out that young Daniel has a startling resemblance to the white-washed Amadeo painting as well. A visual cue that they’re more alike than meets the eye.

"Bartering with desire" vs "in kind". At 20, both were 'rent boys'. Daniel 'bartered' himself for dr*gs. While Armand was 'donated...in kind' to pay for art work . "In kind" = payment in goods or services as opposed to money. "Bartering"= trade by exchanging one commodity for another. 

At the end of Louis' interviews both get their heads shoved into walls.This could be visual symbolism : both their ‘minds are broken’ because both of them can’t recall a decade’s worth of memories. Ironically, Louis may know more of his own story , than Daniel or Armand .

"curiosity"

“An instinct to self efface" . Effacement :“to erase oneself from a situation (to keep oneself in the background ) ” . Cough Armand literally erasing himself from memories & his Rashid disguise. Interestingly, out of all the traits Armand lists about Daniel this is the one trait Daniel agrees is true about himself. Both of them use ‘self-effacement’ as a manipulation tactic to find connection with others. Armand does so to stay with Louis. Daniel uses it to "get angles” and get people to "open up" to him. Literally right after Daniel said this he almost got Armand to open up about his life story

Armand:" That warrants investigation" vs Daniel the "investigative journalist".

Daniel & Armand lounging on the couch and saying Louis is being overly dramatic XD

being turned while having terminal illnesses : Parkinson's (Daniel) & in the show an unknown illness (for Armand) . Similarly , in the books Daniel was turned due to alcohol poisoning and Armand due to being poisoned.

Armand says in ep 4 his memories as a human are “fragments” vs Daniel saying his memories from the 70s-80s were a “blur” .

Both are called “boy” despite being old men. Santiago, the youngest coven member referring to the oldest : “I don’t know what the boy sees in him.” Louis: “he looked like a boy masquerading as a gentleman.” Daniel: “I’m not your f*cking boy! I’m an old man with all the triggers that come with it.” Daniel : “save it for the rent boy.” Armand looking visibly triggered by the comment then asking to leave the room . Armand to Marius (who often called him “boy”) : “I hate you! I’m a man and you deny it!”

As a human , book Amadeo had a drinking problem while book Daniel almost died of alcohol poisoning. Young Daniel (in the show) may also have drinking issues like his book counterpart /book Amadeo. Armand to Daniel in episode 5 : “a genteel drinking problem , like your father .” Armand’s dad : “Ivan the drunkard… Ivan was hopeless. Ivan would never see another sober night or day .Ivan would die soon poisoned by liquor./ a soft prayer for my father that he would not freeze to death tonight as he had almost done so many times, falling down drunk as he did in the snow. (*this echoes human amadeo getting so drunk he fell into the canal)”

Show Armand says Marius called him his "beloved Amadeo", which seems like foreshadowing/an easteregg of 70s dm since "beloved" was his nickname for Daniel in the books. Armand tries to emulate the Marius/Amadeo dynamic in his future relationships since he still equates it to love. Like how he tries to put himself in the Amadeo role with Louis as his 'Maitre (master) '. But for d.m he put Daniel in the Amadeo position (partially because it’s his first relationship with a human , since becoming a vampire and his relationship with Marius is the only vampire/human relationship he’s had) . So at least on some superficial level he recreates some aspects of the Marius/Amadeo dynamic, with Daniel .

In the books Marius feeds human Amadeo his blood, like Armand does to human Daniel. In the books amadeo says Marius’ blood tastes like “honey”.Cough- Louis describing Armand's blood as tasting like "honey" and Armand saying to Daniel in ep 5 "like honey on your tongue" (*this could be foreshadowing he will drink Armand's blood in the 70s/80s… or simply when he was turned).

Armand , during their first encounter, says “it’s okay it’ll be like a bath ” after he uses a rag (to remove the dried blood from his neck). This reminds me of when Marius first met amadeo and used a rag to clean his face / give him a bath. “He bathed me slowly . He had a soft gathered cloth with which he wiped my face.”

Human Amadeo/daniel were incredibly sarcastic and snarky to their future vampire makers

And both of their makers abandoned them

The parallels between Armand/Daniel persist throughout ep 5 , Daniel says he’d be a good companion to Louis because he has traits similar to Lestat and Claudia . 

But the IRONY is throughout the whole episode we see Daniel has A LOT of similarities to Armand . Possibly laying the groundwork for devil's minion in the 70s-80s.

I think while Armand was reading Daniel’s mind -whether it was as subconscious or conscious - it irritated him even more that they had so much in common. Or at least how similar Daniel was to Amadeo. Especially because he was trying to discern why Louis found him “more fascinating” .

For Example , all the other traits Armand lists out about Daniel’s could also be attributed to himself

'Dirty'

'deceitful'

'Enterprising'

'A splinter of coldness ' .

“He wants you in pieces for the privilege of putting you back together “

There’s also other more superficial similarities like Daniel saying he’d do night swims if he was a vampire (similar to Armand who swims often). Or the fact they both read the newspaper often.

I feel one of the MANY reasons Daniel and Armand were probably constantly butting heads and being snarky to each other in the present timeline is because on some subconscious level they remind each other of themselves (and they don’t want to acknowledge that). Especially Armand who is constantly playing a new character to placate his lovers . Young Daniel definitely reminded him of Amadeo . Similar to how Claudia reminded Armand of his past self as well .  

If I missed anything feel free to add to the comments or in a reblog :P

[lavndrmy]

Astro Observations #5 (Based on My Placements) 🪽

hey guys! its been a long time since I did these but here you go. These are only based on what I feel and experience so chill back and relax 🤍

❤️‍🔥 Leo Rising: Yess I do love this placement it really gives me that cheerful vibrant youthful energy I always feel like I shine when I walk into a room and everyone kinda just stares at you I’m the introverted Leo rising tho lol but yeah no I don’t have thick shiny hair, bummer 😩 Overall 7/10

❤️‍🔥 Virgo Sun: I actually love this placement because it keeps me grounded and having that calm energy kinda book smart energy but the downside of it is having to deal with anxiety and shit phew 😮‍💨 Overall 7/10

❤️‍🔥 Libra Moon: Tbh I kinda hate having libra placements in my chart because it gives me that people pleaser energy having to please everyone and needing to fall in love and having crushes it’s exhausting but also having that pretty popular girl energy sometimes 💅🏼 Overall 6/10

❤️‍🔥 Virgo Mercury: Yesss I feel smart and intelligent lol but no really I actually adore this placement I wouldn’t have it any other way the brutal honesty and overthinking is real don’t get me started but yeah we only talk when we DO feel like it other than that we just observe most times 🤓 Overall 8/10

❤️‍🔥 Libra Venus: Oh gosh another libra placement great. nah but for real feeling the need to be in relationships all the time and needing reassurance is a big no for me my venus-saturn just don’t allow it to happen its kinda sad being a full time lover girl but YES we do flirt but we can be loyal if treated properly 🦋 Overall 5/10

❤️‍🔥 Scorpio Mars: Winner award goes to this placement! Yes its obvious I’m in love with this placement it really gives me energy in every aspect and determination the passion and boi oh boi I feel sexy most times the downside of it is yes the cliche revenge and jealousy yeah, not so good 💋 Overall 10/10

❤️‍🔥 Sun in 1st house: Yeah I do vibe with this its just that no I don’t have no leadership qualities as everyone been telling and yes I hate having to attract attention all the time and being put in a spotlight but the aura is amicable you can’t deny 👑 Overall 7/10

❤️‍🔥 Moon in 2nd house: Foood indeed. I’m in love with food whenever I feel overwhelmed I will eat my favorite food if that what it takes to keep my emotions in check and yes I love keeping expensive material possessions and having a financial stability is also a mood boast 💸 Overall 6/10

❤️‍🔥 Mercury in 1st house: Ah yes the classic I’m an intelligent thinker placement nah but for real I do feel intelligent most times lol but yess the feeling the need to have all the information and knowledge is brilliant but also having to be that one witty funny friend that everyone has 🥸 Overall 8/10

❤️‍🔥 Venus in 3rd house: Woah the classic send me a love letter and poetry I’m so in love with this I feel charming and flirty having the advantage to keep a smooth conversations between an admirer and people its just very easy to navigate 💌 Overall 9/10

❤️‍🔥 Mars in 3rd house: Say that again and I’ll roast you and give you all my brutal honesty and receipts while we argue energy haha no but for real having to argue with people online most times just verbal argument when things do get heated 🗣️ Overall 6/10

❤️‍🔥 Mercury Retrograde: Speech delay? Talking and having to have a conversation with others feels heavy and misunderstood always made of fun of with the way I speak and text, having no trouble communicating with another mercury retrograde natal 📝 Overall 4/10

❤️‍🔥 Sun-Mars: It gives me energy? And yes I have a sextile aspect so it really do flows nicely and gives the endurance and energy physically and mentally it also gives you the need to serve in a military or navy career to release that physical energy that you need and yes we do have anger issues despite the positive aspect 🔥 Overall 8/10

❤️‍🔥 Moon-pluto: I am an emotional wreck rollercoaster yes I do feel everything so intense to the point that I feel numb at most times emotions are all over the place but I do hide my emotions pretty well when I need to. Having to experience that dark energy tho and knowing people’s intentions and be right 🎢 Overall 6/10

❤️‍🔥 Venus-Saturn: Yes and no I have a love-hate relationships with this placement because this placement keeps me in check and yes I can be loyal despite having an air venus, surprised. And no I hate having to wait for the love an actual love that you really deserve for a long time while having to watch others fall in love 💔 Overall 6/10

❤️‍🔥Mars-Jupiter: Reckless and Impulsive. This placement makes me feel goofy and funny lol and willing to take risk no matter how dangerous the outcome is the never ending energy but people do say I look funny when I get angry which pissed me off ngl 🥶 Overall 6/10

❤️‍🔥 Mars-Ascendant: Yes the bad bitch energyy indeed. I feel bad and sexy most times and yes I do get angry and do display that emotions on my face no matter how hard I hide it but downside of it is having to be misunderstood and people having bone to pick on you 👄 Overall 8/10

[muxshwriting]

a world of dreams

Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen x Atreides!reader

summary: Feyd’s wife was always branded as a dreamer, content to spend a day in her books. but her husband would always entertain her dreams, especially when they save her life /or/ basically the request || warnings: violence, haters gonna hate, death, blood || word count: 1658 || masterlist

REQUEST: I’ve always wondered how Feyd Rautha would handle having a wife like Helaena who speaks in riddles and flinches at loud noises and violence. Maybe an Atreides daughter they’re supposed to create the Kwisatz Haderach with? In a Universe where Jessica stayed loyal to the bene Gesserit. I’d love to know how someone like Feyd would react to her telling him he’s scared the way Helaena does to Aegon in hotd. Maybe he’d have very little patience for her but I could also see him bonding with someone like that. Also I think that someone with Helaena’s ability to retreat inside her own mind would be able to survive on Giedi Prime.

Your fate had been set in stone since your very conception, meant to mend the relationship between two houses that had been at war for centuries and bring forward the greatest mind the universe had ever seen. Jessica had trained you in the Bene Gesserit way since you were young, always believing that your bloodline would be famed for generations after.

But you didn’t want to be famed or revered or feared. You wanted nothing more than to be loved, completely loved. When you learned of your betrothed, there was a sadness that overtook you, an accepting that your husband may never truly love you. He was famed for his cruelty, his majesty in the arena and his fighting prowess. He was not known for his ventless and his love, no Harkonnen ever had been.

The first time you met eyes with your future husband, there was a silent understanding that passed between you two. He was a young boy, barely older than you and yet he looked as though he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. Perhaps there could be a connection between you two, despite your afflictions.

Your father called it dreaming, ignoring whatever technical explanation your mother held. There were things you saw that no sane man could explain and yet they were always true. They came to you in the silent moments of the day, when you read or sketched. You had loved it growing up, seeing glimpses of things yet to come but as you grew, they only ever turned darker.

The diplomatic visit to Geidi Prime was short and yet long enough for you to spend a few hours alone with Feyd. There was an itching under your skin from being on the planet, a discomfort that lingered as you pushed down any dreams that threatened to reveal themselves.

You sat across from Feyd, your hands twisting in your lap.

“What do you like to do?” His voice was soft, always soft when he was with you but the sterness returned the moment someone else entered the room.

You wondered if someone had shared your condition with him. “I read. I draw.” Around him, you didn't feel the necessity to boast of your suitable talents your parents had raised you on. The itching had ceased, even if it was just for a moment. “You?”

“I fight- I'm good at fighting.” He corrected himself. For a moment it seemed like he was done talking, but then he met your gaze and continued. “I don't have much to time to do things I like.”

“Perhaps when we are wed, you will have time to explore things you enjoy.” You meant nothing by it, only that you hoped your husband could find a hobby not controlled or pushed onto him by his Uncle.

Feyd smiled in response and you got the distinct feeling that everything would be alright if you married him. But you could not marry him without guilt unless you told him yourself what you were.

“I dream.” You say, unsure of how to tell him.

Feyd was slightly amused, “You dream? I’m sure many do.”

“No.” You quickly reply. “I see things, visions almost. They are never truly clear, only glimpses of the future.”

“Ah.”

“I didn’t want you to marry me if you didn’t know. I only hope you understand and do not judge me for something beyond my control.”

Feyd’s expression softened as he took stock of the panicked breaking out of your being. “Then you have nothing to worry about.”

The hopefulness in your eyes glistened as you stood, offering Feyd a small bow before leaving the room and returning to your mother and father.

When your day of union arrived, it was a rather happy occasion. Your family smiled as you stayed by Feyd’s side, your hand twisted with his. There was a soft and genuine look of almost-love everytime he looked at you. All that look needed was time to evolve into true love that would pull him under without hesitation. Feyd would let himself be taken by everything you are and he would even beg for it. Your mother and father could see the affection you already shared and knew nothing would come between you.

The Baron, on the other hand, had indifference covering his face all day. This was not a joyous occasion, but a simple ceremony that had to be done in order to end the conflict he wanted to continue. However, this union would bring him more power than war would, and he would just have to accept that.

Feyd reached for two glasses and passed one to you, raising his in a toast. “To the rest of our lives?”

“To the rest of our lives.” You agreed, clinking your glass with his and taking a drink.

Once you had placed your glass back down, Feyd leant forward to capture your lips, letting his heart float like only you could make him. Your marriage was nothing more than picturesque. There was finally peace felt throughout the universe and yet there were some who were still not happy.

The Emperor, despite suggesting the match to weaken the houses and cause friction, watched as they came together in love and only grew stronger. The Atreides were a threat to his reign long before, but with the Harkonnens now as allies, there was nothing that could stop them if they desired his throne.

The final straw came when news of an heir flowed throughout the Imperium. The Atreides and Harkonnens would soon have an heir that would bind them with blood, for eternity.

Your husband had been even more protective of you since the beginning of your pregnancy, barely wanting to leave you alone. The dreams had shown you your daughter, a beautiful girl that was the mix of both you and Feyd. But there was one persistent dream that shook you to your core.

“Feyd?”

“Yes my love?” The nickname had never stopped, ever since the wedding.

“I'm afriad.”

Feyd's face flashed with confusion for a moment as his eyes darted around the room. “What are you afraid of my love? Our families are united, no one would dare stand against Harkonnens and Atreides united. The babe is well, she is growing stronger by the day.”

“There are snakes crawling through the city.” Your voice is a whisper, trembling with every word. You weren’t really aware of what your words meant, only repeating what your mind brought forward.

Feyd smiled at his wife’s words. “There are no snakes on Geidi Prime, my love. They cannot survive here.” He takes a seat next to you, pulling you closer to him as if to protect you.

“They will worm their way to our palace.”

“Then I will double our guard and order lockdown at the slightest threat.” He said it with such conviction that you were almost convinced.

“But-“

“What have I said?” Feyd asked you. “I would never let anything hurt you or our children. There is nothing that can get into our palace unless I will it.”

You let the dream sit in the back of your mind, pushing it away from thought but not forgetting. And it did you well not to forget when you couldn’t sleep one night and a echoing crash startled you. No one else awoke and you took the risk to glance outside your room, where your guards stood to attention.

“Is everything alright Na-Baroness?”

You forced a smile. “All is fine. Just… stay alert.” With nothing else to say, you turn and return to your bed.

Feyd was not disturbed but you found yourself reaching under his pillow to touch the knife he always kept there. It was a reassuring reminder that if your dream came true tonight, there was something Feyd could do. You lay, the blank ceiling taunting you and your ears hearing every footstep and breath people made.

It was only as you had begun drifting back to sleep that a muffled shout came from the hallway and your heart stuttered. You reached over, shaking Feyd awake as he quickly looked around before settling his eyes on your own frantic ones.

“What’s going on?”

Your breath trembled once more. “The snakes are here.”

At your words, Feyd reached for the knife and practically jumped out of bed, directing you to the corner of the room furthest from the door, furthest from harm. The thump of a body was heard and Feyd tightened his grip, activating his shield.

Two men, Imperial soldiers burst through the door and you caught sight of the bodies of two others as well as your guards. Terror gripped you, a hatred of blood instilled in you since you were a young girl. Your hand flew to your mouth as you shrunk into the corner even more, wishing the floor would swallow you up.

Feyd leapt forward, his body practised in fighting people at a moments notice. His knife carved flesh, splattering blood over the room. A small scream escaped your lips as the bodies crashed to the floor and your husband stood in the centre of your room, blood dripping from the knife still in his hand.

He turned to face you, throwing the knife across the room and rushing towards you. You practically threw yourself into his arms and he squeezed you close to his chest and rested his head on yours.

“You’re okay.” He said, letting you feel his steady heartbeat against your rapid one. “The snakes are gone.”

“The snakes-?”

“They’re gone. We’re okay.” He pulled away just enough to take your hand and pull it down to your stomach. “She’s okay, you’re okay. We are all okay. No one can hurt you.”

You let your panic settle and relax into his arms. Everyone’s alive. You can manage whatever comes next, you can let the snakes try but they will never be able to bite you.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

[mortalityplays]

I love the practice of requisitioning, remixing and reworking books, comics, movies etc. through any means you like, but I hate hate hate the way so much vocabulary that used to be rooted in individual creativity has been taken over by this kind of fucked up deference to mainstream publishing and ip.

easy example: everyone calls the characters they work up for their projects 'OCs' now. that genie is out of the bottle, I'm not even going to try and cram it back in. it's universal terminology. but I do want to reflect - why is the default position to assume that when someone says 'my characters' they mean something derivative, unless they specify 'my Original characters'?

similarly, all character relationships are 'ships'. but what's wrong with that? you say, it's just short for 'relationship'. and you would be right, by merit of completely ignoring the fandom ancestry and common understanding of that term in order to win an argument. because you know as well as I do that 'ships' aren't 'relationships', they're hypothetical romances that the speaker is rooting for. so why do I keep seeing people talk about shipping their OCs? why is a hypothetical relationship entertained and enjoyed by the creator of the work described using fan terminology?

I have for real no joke seen people talk about their 'headcanons' for their own characters, in their own stories. that's not a headcanon babe, that's canon!!! that's YOUR WORK. moreover, why are we even talking about the canonicity of your personal original writing? this isn't the star wars extended universe, why are international franchise IPs setting the baseline for the relationship you have with your writing and the terminology you use to conceptualise it?

tbc this is not a 'fandom brainrot' post. because I don't think it's fanwork that's the root of the problem. I think it's the insidious creep of capitalism and the ever more draconian weaponisation of copyright law that has rewritten our capacity for talking about creative work so that it revolves at all times around ownership and precedent. there is a deep learned anxiety about describing fictional works as fictional properties, that echoes in our vocabulary as we constantly make clear what is owned and what is not, what has been established on the record and what exists in the realm of speculation.

the reason 'fandom brainrot' is such a compeling stand-in for this issue is that it's really just one step downstream from all that voracious rent-seeking behaviour by publishers. if the only things you ever read or watch are in the milieu of those franchise copyright lawyers, that is the understanding of fiction-as-property you develop. if you're not exposed to a broader spectrum of art and artists, living and dead, who talk about their work as work - as expression, as experimentation, as a personal process and as a shared space with their audience - you will quickly be alienated from your own creative practice by design.

the point i want to make is this: going off the beaten track, exploring outside the franchises and bestsellers and box office babies, is not just a matter of good taste. imo it is a necessary act of solidarity with artists who still live, work and speak as individuals. it's a healthier environment for you as an artist. you deserve a relationship with your own work, not a ship.

[babsaros]

being evicted from my "home" suddenly after 5 years and need support

Hi all, i really really really hate that I have to make this post, and the background feels too personal to get into, but after 5 years of living here in what i thought was an amicable and indefinite arrangement, I am being forced to find alternate housing as my relationship with our landlord has completely deteriorated over this winter. My girlfriend and I have until the 31st to be completely moved out. We intend to follow through on this no matter if we have somewhere else secured or not. Living out of our car would be preferable to dealing with any more hostility or attempts at manipulation from our landlord. I work 30+ hours a week in retail, my girlfriend does online sex work and has a potential part time job lined up as well, but because this is so unexpected we have basically no savings. I have some very dear, generous friends offering to spot us on moving costs and first month's rent, as long as I can find somewhere, but I would prefer not to rely on them so heavily. It doesn't make me feel any better to e-beg, but know that I will be immensely grateful for any amount of support we receive at all, especially when I know so many other people are in equally vulnerable positions, including those attempting to survive and flee the genocide in Palestine.

If you are not in a position to donate, please do not feel pressured to! Just sharing this post would also be incredibly helpful, and I sincerely thank anyone who gives us support in any way.

I can offer small doodles as compensation for donations, though please bear in mind my turn-around may take longer than normal as I deal with everything else. I have full commission info and slots on kofi, and you can see more of my art style on my blog. Anyone interested in supporting my girlfriend through OnlyFans can DM me for the link to her page.

Book-ending this post with a picture of my cat, to make myself feel better. I love him more than the world. He's cuter than the two of us anyway, and deserves to be warm and safe.

[bonsai-maze]

oooh hell yeah

uh no idea. ig totes bc they're easier and i always use that for my sleepover stuff

traditional art, even tho i can do neither

fall for sure

fruits

ooh mushrooms. trees and i have a love/hate relationship

animated is cool

science is cool too

swimming but not actual swimming. more of the friend swimming where you bob in the water and try to drown your friends

small town bc it's all ive ever lived in. but at the same time there's like nothing to do so

physical books, bc i can show them off and have a collection n stuff

hurrah!

favorite music genre? (kpop rahhh)

favorite instrument? (bass/violin thingy)

followers count? (118)

introverted or extroverted? (introverted)

short hair or long hair? [in general not just for you] (short)

are you a morning person or night owl? (definitely a night owl)

hot or cold? (absolutely cold)

fruit candy or chocolate [as in fruit flavored candy]? (definitely fruit candy)

hoodies or zip up jackets? (absolutely hoodies)

perfume or cologne? (definitely cologne)

@aneptunicperson @floofeh-purpi @shroombloom248 @hazelartz @ho-ho-homosxual @eatin-bread-n-cryin @ihavenothingoops @unstableunicornsofasgard @juicyfruitsnaxx @just-eat-the-damn-soap @yoongisjuicebox + anyone who sees this

Ten questions to ask a mutual

Instructions: prev asks ten questions and you answer them, then ask ten new ones and tag ten people to keep the chain going! I’ll go first

What is the weirdest thing you’ve eaten? (For me it’s the time I accidentally drank ants)

do you like purple or green more? (For me it’s a 50/50 I love them both)

what is your favorite two color color combo? (For me it’s purple and gold)

are you a cat or dog person? (Dogs 100%)

what is your favorite painting (Miranda by John William Waterhouse)

Mountains or beaches? (Mountains)

what’s your favorite dessert? (Lemon bars)

are you right or left handed? (Right but I used to be left handed)

salty or sweet? (Sweet)

summer or winter? (Winter)

I’m tagging 11 people but it’s whatever

@wra1th-k1ng

@bladevoyager

@tragedyanddust

@kindred-spirit-93

@urfavgreekmythnerd

@sickneurotic

@ry-diggity

@we-are-but-dead-stars

@thestarryfalls

@tamaruaart

@hermesmoly

[blueberrypancakesworld]

You are never a mistake

Dmitri Smerdyakov x betrothed!reader

warning : kissing, hurt/comfort, cuddling, emotional, abuse (beating), family problems

Summary : Dmitri thought for a moment that he would be accepted by his father, but when he felt the blow and his wife's intervention almost backfired, the Kravinoff son realized that he had to become strong, not weak. For his love, for someone who loved him as he was, he himself would stand up to his father no matter what a disappointment he was.

info : Finally the first one-shot for Dmitri the cute little beaten up bastard who just needs a little love. I hope you enjoy reading ;)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Many couples around the world meet in cafes while they are both reaching for coffee, looking for life books in the library.

Maybe at a party or through friends, there are moments that last forever and are cherished when you find your partner for life, a relationship that becomes a marriage and an eternal bond with the exchange of rings.

Something that symbolized love and strength a bond when you had your own family maybe even about to start and then there were still the couples that met and a shadow seemed to lie over them forever, a shadow that had a name and didn't even seem to be happy for the love of their own child.

The first time they had met was in their music store, the best and biggest in New York, a store for the elite and those who could afford it.

An old family store that was the heart of every musician and singer from strings to wind instruments to keys and to microphones and stands.

A business that adapted to the talent.

Behind the counter, glancing up every now and then to greet the new buyers, she had seen him first, the slightly wavy blond hair, the cute nose, the little smile on his lips and the gentle demeanor.

The first time she had seen him, she had dared to leave her seat and come to him, seeing how he looked a little lost as he stood in the piano section.

She knew the feeling of being lost in a place you were interested in, not quite knowing whether to move or stand still.

The first time she had heard him play in her shop was the day she no longer saw her customer as just a customer, she saw his strength, his art, his beauty as he seemed to be absorbed in playing the piano.

There was a talent, a dedication in it and his voice, that voice she could have listened to for hours, made her hum along even when it seemed to be just the two of them in her shop.

,,A wonderful talent, really beautiful" her praise came from the purest heart...but for him, for Dmitri Kravinoff, it was the first time anyone had recognized him in what he was good at.

It was the first time for Nikolai's son that someone had inspired him in what he did and it was the first time that he lost his heart to her on the spot.

The day they exchanged numbers so that he could deliver the piano she had chosen to the club and also so that he could take her out for a meal at the end of the day.

It was on that day that two people had found each other and that only some time later it was more than just a relationship and fleeting dates, it was a bond between the two young people to whom the world was open...or so it seemed at first glance.

For the first few months it was like that, moving in together, partying, having fun, traveling everywhere, gifts that went from expensive to cheap to homemade and then to something more intimate the more they opened up and trusted each other.

The more she realized who his family was, what he was, but most of all what he had experienced, his ,,I-I understand if you hate me now...I wouldn't stop you if you wanted to leave” surprised her but most of all hurt her that he gave up on him so easily.

That her talented, precious, wonderful, gentle Dmitri, who kissed her on the forehead every morning, who did everything you could do with her and who dedicated every song in his club to her with such love and kindness, thought so little of himself.

Who had hurt him so much?

Who hurt him so much that every loud noise made him flinch, that he almost cried during an argument over trivial things and how he hated it when animal documentaries came on TV, little things she would have overlooked but with what she knew she just wanted to hold him in her arms.

Who had hurt him so much that he saw himself as nothing, which she tried to talk him out of every time ,,Dmitri my beautiful star I don't care who your family is, it's us who are together and not your last name” she tried to explain to him that he was the most important thing she had.

That her kisses and hugs, her words and gestures had the same loving effect as he had on her, that they had each other and when she threatened to kiss him every time he thought something like that again.

Dmitri finally seemed to find his smile again, ,,Do it," he just said, and he pulled her into a kiss as they lay cuddled together on the couch.

Together they gave each other the support they needed, Dmitri kept her motivation up whenever she wanted to give up with her msuik and she lovingly told him every day how good he was, that he was loved and above all that he was not alone.

The two of them in the club they had built with Dmitri's family money was their common pride, a club for the rich customers of the city.

A club where she could recommend her regular customers and the best entertainment was guaranteed with his piano and singing as well as her violin playing which made for a pleasant atmosphere.

Almost every evening, the two of them stood on the small stage and performed their harmony, ,,I dedicate this song to my beautiful fiancée,” he announced, while she joined in with her violin and the soft music amused the guests.

His blue eyes kept going to her, the smile was returned and she gave him a wordless ,,I love you” which he reciprocated, it couldn't have been better for the couple... until the moment when Dmitri's eyes fell on a man, a certain someone who came into his club and almost made the Russian play the wrong music.

With a hand movement that made the music continue to play by itself from the equipment hanging on the walls, and she saw how he smoothed out his jacket.

Everything will be fine, she thought he wanted to tell him, but he had already gone to his father, who had sat down in one of the recesses in the walls, looking directly at the stage from which she also came down to follow her fiancé.

Nikoali was a man of strength, a man you didn't want to mess with and yet there was no avoiding him, ,,Father, we're glad you're here, can I offer you something?” Dmitri asked and got a hug and a gesture she didn't get instead Nikolai gave the back of her hand a kiss and she gave him a quick friendly look.

It seemed that Dmitri was the only thing keeping her future father-in-law from killing her-what a luck.

But as long as Dmitri was happy and had his father, the two should get along, ,,I'll get a few glasses,” she let the men know as Nikolai gave his son a bottle of expensive wine.

A gift of value not from the heart but it made no sense to the son his father was here and happy that was all that mattered...so she thought.

It was just a moment when she pulled out the wine glasses in the kitchen at the back of the club, not wanting to take any more advantage of the waiters who had a long shift ahead of them.

The glasses in her hands and a smile on her lips, she heard the muffled noise and a crash, rushing back into the main room she saw Nikolai had pushed Dmitri against a wall, knocking over the table and no one was doing anything.

,,Dmitri! Let him go!” she shouted at the older man, afraid that he would seriously hurt his son, because the horrible stories that sent shivers down her spine told her everything she needed to know about the underworld boss.

Her fiancé's attempts to get free were unsuccessful, so without hesitation she picked up one of the glasses and threw it against the wall next to Nikolai, ,,Let him go and get out of our club,” she continued to threaten.

An empty threat that amused the dark-haired man, who was already lifting the next glass when he let go of his son, who slumped to the floor, barely able to support himself.

,,Even your bitch has more courage than you, shame on you,” Nikolai said to his son and walked past her with an appraising look, hurrying to her fiancé as soon as the door closed and he fell onto the nearest chair, ,,Are you all right? To the hospital?” she asked, trying to wipe the blood from his lip with a slapped hand from the blow his father had given him.

He looked terrified, as if all joy and hope had drained out of him once more, but he just shook his head before he simply poured out a tearful ,,You're fine” into her arms and she embraced the couple just lying in each other's arms for a few moments.

They held each other until Dmitri calmed down and his tears had stopped, the decision to close the club early was hardly one because it looked like a mob had gone wild there and not just Nikolai, ,,Your heart is too big for the world,” she told him as they rode back to the apartment together in a cab.

Her hand didn't leave his and stroking his head at least reassured him but the look in his eyes, she had never seen such hatred, whether it was just the confrontation or something else she couldn't say.

Whatever it was it seemed to keep him occupied the whole time no matter what they both did, no amount of embracing or kissing could break his blcik until the moment they lay in bed together.

She cuddled up to him and he gave her a good after kiss she couldn't shake the feeling that something else was going to happen.

Even though she felt safe in his arms, he stroked her side until she fell asleep like he did every night, usually soothing them both, the sound of the door opening and closing was something she didn't realize, didn't realize how Dmitri had to do something.

It was one thing when he was pushed around, he had been pushed around all his life but now that he had his fiancée he wouldn't let his father get away with it.

Knowing she was safe in the apartment sleeping peacefully, it was the Kravinoff who set off through the city at night to his father and it was only the clanging and rattling of cupboards that woke his fiancée from her slumber.

,,Dmitri?” the question came cautiously as she groped beside her but he wasn't there, but the sounds from the apartment frightened her.

No one had a key except for the two of them, pulling the covers aside she reached for the water bottle next to her bed, quietly and carefully venturing out of the bedroom, she saw the shadow in the hallway that seemed to be raging in the kitchen.

She should have called the police, anyone, but what if Dmitri was in danger?

She was ready to sleep with the bottle tighter if ever, she cried out in fear when she saw Dmitri, who seemed to be looking for something in the kitchen and looked completely exhausted, ,,What the hell? Dmitri darling what are you doing?” she asked putting the bottle down.

Seeing the torn clothes, the fuzzy hair, the black eye but most of all the bloody knuckles as if he had hit himself or better said as if someone had hit him.

Seeing what he had failed to find, however, she grabbed the first aid kit and went with him to the couch, ,,I well...I told my father never to insult you again and then there was a little altercation” he began to confess as she gave a makeshift dressing to his wounds which fortunately did not require stitches or hospitalization.

His courage touched her as she realized that he had pushed away the person he had once needed the most for her, ,,I've never loved you more and well...next time we'll both beat him up” she suggested and felt the kiss he gave her as they both laughed at the idea.

But in his eyes the look of gentleness and love was there again and not the hate ,,I love you too" he replied and she pressed a kiss to the bandage on his hand which should make the pain less.

At least Dmitri didn't seem to be in pain, not when they kissed, not when she continued to nurse him and he proudly told her how he had told his father off, and not when his hand stroked the engagement ring on her hand as they made love and finally seemed free of the gray of the Kravinoff family.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ @tori111777 , @bel0ved-heretic , @amecchii , @xxxibgdrgons , @lordbelzeebub , @simonsrealwife

[tutuntuntuinen]

Best Fics 2024 edition

I read 57 fics last year, transferred to a traditional book pages, it's over 10 000 pages. And yes, it's all ✨Ineffable Husbands��. I have a catalogue and I mark and rate all fics I read. And here are my favourites from 2024!

(See all the tags and warnings from AO3 page, fic names are links to AO3.)

stalwart sun, wily moon by @dustandhalos (Heist AU) Rated M, Words 369 969 My comment: They are both working with art, Aziraphale fixes the antiques, Crowley steals it. I read this 2 times last year, it is my all time favourite. I will read it again this year. Yes, it's a long one, but it is so wholesome and it has everything (not smut though). It broke my heart and fixed it later and nurtured my soul. I'm a fan.

Mon Horrible Chéri by @mrghostrat Rated E, Words 39 954 My comment: They are teachers and they go to Paris with a whole class. They hate each other! Enemies to lovers and so delicious. My favourit part is this small scene from the theatre (minor spoilers): "The air swept out of Aziraphale’s lungs and he stared blankly at the stage. He couldn’t hear a thing for all the blood suddenly rushing to his ears, boiling from the heat that exuded from Crowley’s thigh. It didn’t move, didn’t bounce. Just sat there, flushed against his own, positioned knee to knee and thigh to thigh, securely and intentionally." Like... that's... someones knee touching yours but Ghostrat makes it the whole world! Also the illustrations are soo good!

Big Name Feelings by @mrghostrat (Fandom AU) Rated E, Words 103 997 My comment: Another one from Ghostrat. "Crowley is a BNF fic writer, and Aziraphale is a lurking artist who might be just a little parasocially in love with him." This, too, is so well written and also with lots of illustrations and custom emojis.

Anthony J. Crowley, Retired Demon and Airbnb Superhost by TheOldAquarian (@darkpurpledawn) Rated G, Words 3 027 My comment: This fic is basicly a review section of Crowleys Airbnb apartment, which is in Mayfair and has a lot of house plants and frequent angel like visitor. It is HILARIOUS! "Don’t post a close-up picture of that statue of the two angels, Instagram WILL remove it." Pray For Us, Icarus by Atalan (@brightwanderer) Rated G+T, Words 67 805 (Parts 1-7) My comment: This is a heart breaking story and it's so good and well written. "For three centuries, Crowley has been reincarnated over and over as a human with no memory of his past. Aziraphale has tried to find a way to restore him to his true self, but all he seems to do is hurt them both. This time, he only means to steal a brief moment when he walks into Crowley's flower shop. But Crowley can't let it go…"

What We Make of It (Shotgun Wedding) by @charlottemadison42 Rated E, Words 213 340 My comment: Crowley is Adam's guardian and Aziraphale is Adam's English teacher. Our heroes meet and you know what happens. But because their jobs, there are legal issues and they can't have a romantic relationship. So what to do? Panic, angst, be recless! Great story with all the kids and other characters.

Or Be Nice by @charlottemadison42 Rated E, Words 151 368 My comment: "A human AU in which Aziraphale is a bookseller, Crowley is a drummer, and they are both petty disasters in the worst/best way." Also they are neighbours. This is so FUN!! And also sweet. The pranks they make each other are delightful!

Slow Show by mia_ugly (@mia-ugly) / Podfixx (@podfixx) Rated E, Words 95 505 My comment: I have listened the podfic by Podfixx two times last year. Slow Show is a whole story with our favourite heroes who are co-stars of a popular television program. I love when the characters have a past and it shows and it affects everything they do. It makes the story go deep. I love this!

sanctuary by @moonyinpisces Rated T, Words 22 635 My comment: "Whatever’s happened, Aziraphale doesn’t like it. Change. Such a dreadful invention. (One of Crowley’s, undoubtedly)." This fic has so many things I can't even remember all the things I loved in it (I should read it again!). I think the biggest thing was that it triggered my religious trauma some how and the way Aziraphale had to deal with all the things made in the name of Christianity. And still he could love and be loved.

We Only Said Goodbye with Words, I Died A Hundred Times by ras_elased Rated E, Words 9 333 My comment: This is a hurricane of dialogue and emotions. It was (checks the catalogue) february, when I read this, so I can't remember too much (should re-read). But after reading this I was so impressed it made it's way in this list!

---

There were also other great fics! If you are interested in my lists, you can contact me. I'm very open to fic recommendation exhange! There are great fics from year 2023 which are not mentioned here, but are superfabulous!

[maraudersmrz]

HATEFUL

James Potter x Reader (unspecified)

Angst, minor fluff

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Thank you for the love on my last post !!💓 I’m in the mood for some devastation right now.

I might do another part to this if this one does well???

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W/A: swearing

Summary: you and James weren’t a new concept, things between you had sank into a pretty little routine in which you both bounce off of each other. Out of nowhere he begins to slip, the usual patterns falling out of place leaving you wondering why.

-

It had been weeks since you and James had your argument. Things were frosty and stiff between the both of you and it wasn’t as easy to ignore for the others as it was for you and James. You and him still shared a bed don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t that bad but that was mainly down to the fact you were both keen to brush over it rather than solve it. It was driving you mad. You yearned for that familiar warmth of James, his bright smile and his gentle, lingering touches once you’d settled down into bed but alas you could only wish for that. You hadn’t felt the warmth of your lover in a long time, he’d recently drifted from you and you weren’t the only one to notice it. It was so bad that rumors floated around the castle like ghosts about you and James possibly splitting up. Other girls were asking him out, assuming him single.

You simply brushed it off, Hogwarts was not only most known for its spectacular quidditch games but also its gossip. Everyone loved a gossip and there was a running theme for about a week until they grew bored and moved on leaving you as last weeks news. Only the rumors didn’t die down about you and James, they only shifted. From break up rumours to ‘I heard them arguing’ rumours. Your relationship was the hot topic. You half debated picking up a daily prophet for the first time to see if they’d touched on it too. It seems everyone had. Except you and James. You both refused to address the words about the castle.

Usually after an argument, you’d both communicate your thoughts and feeling, kiss a little and maybe fuck and it was all forgotten. It was all healthy. You bounced off of each other like a tennis ball to a racket but James fell out of this pattern, leading you to do the same.

You were sat in potions, book laid open on the rickety desk as an enchanted quill scribbled furiously the words in which you instructed it to jot down. Slughorn was waffling and your quill couldn’t keep up and neither could your mind, causing it to drift to the curly haired boy staring right back at you. You offered him a small smile, sheepish almost and he returned the favor. It was awkward and if you weren’t so caught up in it all you’d have noticed Sirius and Remus share a ‘what the fuck’ kind of look as they watched the 2 bubbliest people fizzle out into nothing but glances and sheepish smiles. Once Slughorn finished his demonstration, you were told to pick a partner. You had recently impressed Slughorn when asked to make a sleeping draught so you were rewarded with the opportunity to pick your partner as everyone else’s would be chosen for them. You could choose one of your close girlfriends, Marlene looked at you giddily but your eyes fell to James. You hadn’t spoken much since the argument. You’d exchanged words but you hadn’t really spoken. You missed it. Maybe a lesson spent with James could bring you closer?

Slughorn knew that look and wasted no time in pairing you and Potter. James walked over to your desk, he looked on edge and you imagined you mirrored the same sort of look.

“Hi Jamie..” it was awkward, it was stale like the bread laid on for breakfast this morning.

He sat down next to you, offering a nod of acknowledgment before grabbing his bag and taking out the necessary equipment. Amongst the contents of his bag was a badge. A prefect badge.

“Hey, I didn’t know you made prefect? James that awesome !!” You were genuinely happy, not only were you over the moon for him but you were oh so pleased you had something to discuss with him now. It saddened you a little knowing that you and him hadn’t spoken that much to the point you were unaware as to what was going on in his life but it was a topic non the less.

James’s face fell, his hands tightened around the fabric of his bag and he looked at the Scarlett badge glistening in the dim light of the room. He didn’t say a word. You didn’t pick up on his reaction and instead began asking him who he patrolled with, desperate to drag a word out of him.

“I have a feeling you patrol withhh…” as you scanned the room you gazed as every prefect badge. Marlene was wearing one after being granted it by Dumbledore under special circumstances but Marlene had never mentioned a patrol with James nor had she mentioned him becoming prefect at all so she was off the list. You looked to Lily Evan’s, she was a prefect of Gryffindor so definitely an option, only when you glanced at her you noticed the absent badge. She wasn’t wearing her badge.

Your eyes flitted between James and Lily-

James and Lily

James

And

Lily.

[ladyinbl00d]

HEYYYYY THANKS FOR THE TAG EDITH!!!1!1!!1

last song: she walks on me by hole

favorite colors: HMMMMMMM black, crimson, light light pink, sliver, orange, uhhh yes!!!!

last book: something happened here by felicity meadows !!!!!!

last show: shameless (am rewatching)

last movie: the lost boys (watching it every single day for this year…. HAHAHAHA)

sweet/spicy/savory: i have a really bad sweet tooth so.. sweet AND i love SOME spice not all but some

relationship status: one of the things

current obsession: uhhhhh the lost boys, gossip girl, arcane, shameless, IDK💔💔💔

last thing googled: a03… i needed to reread… fics…

looking forward to: mmmmmmmmmm probably to scroll on tiktok when im done w this?? idk i have NOTHING to look forward to at the very moment n i hate it 😭😭😭

thank you for the tag @ginger-lover-maybe-emo <3

last song: cry baby, the neighborhood.

favourite colour: i cherish them all.

last book: girl interrupted, susanna kaysen.

last movie: conclave [2024].

last show: three body problem [2024].

sweet/spicy/savoury: depends on my mood tbh.

relationship status: single and not ready to mingle.

last thing i googled: carlos diehz.

current obsession: playing gacha games 🤕 and reading yuri 🙂‍↕️

looking forward to: passing my exams, finishing my fics & gifs, travelling to places, learning a new language.

tagging: @taemcains @kundaquarius

[ruruvxz]

Keeping it quiet 'til I hit back — California

The Woman Who Left Too Soon; Lara Raj, the lead singer and coveted music producer for Katseye, has never felt the need for useless romance. Don't get her wrong— she loves a good chummy romance, but it was never really for her. That could partly be blamed on her past lover, who abruptly left her just to become some indie artist, but then again, the tides change, and so do the people. And what the— she's famous now, she's unstoppable, she can pull anyone, so why the hell is the woman who left her in the dust, pretending to be all buddy-buddy with her.

PROFILES∿ nightmare blunt rotation > KATSEYE

#masterlist, #payroll advocates

LARA RAJ ❀ lararajj & larahatesbabies

“Said I had the prettiest eyes, you’ve ever seen.” Lara has always known who she was since birth, a beautiful singer, and an even more beautiful person, despite her intimidating exterior, she’s such a kind soul. She’s the sweetest person to everyone, although has trouble being in relationships due to her previous rocky one with another musician. Y/n L/n left her high and dry without a word, though, she avoids talking about it completely and tries her best not to contact her due to her issues. Although one thing can be noted, she has never told anyone the name or who her evil ex actually was, just the terrible stories that came with it.

MERET MANON ❀ meretmanon & bluntmanz

“She’s a catch, but so am I.” The only girl who doesn’t know how to keep her mouth shut, constantly getting in trouble for slipping updates and upcoming projects the girls are doing. Manon is very genuine though, she hates liars, absolutely adores her members, and will always defend them. Despite that she doesnt know about Y/n, and only knows of an evil girl Lara used to date. She thinks y/n would be perfect for a blunt rotation though. She met Lara during Dream Academy and connected through the fact that both girls had been chosen and hadn’t auditioned like the rest. The both of them are so close, in fact, they even go to family parties together with Megan and Lara’s sister.

SOPHIA LAFORTEZA ❀ sophialaforteza & sophiathefirst

“Guess sometimes you learn to forget.” The mother of the group. As someone who Lara confides with the most for relationship advice, Sophia knows all about you, in a strange way, always finding another reason to dislike you every day. Despite that, she remains civil and enjoys your music (mainly because she doesn’t know it’s you). Her heart is in the right place, Sophia and Lara had a shared love for musical arts, and often went to musicals and plays together, even having their little group filled with other theater geeks.

DANIELA AVANZINI ❀ danielaavanzini & opiummdani

“You had to make it obvious.” Lara’s biggest opp I’m afraid, it’s all in lighthearted fun, but y/n was unironically one of her celebrity crushes so she’d sometimes go on and on, not knowing the true extent of her behavior. She means nothing bad by it, but on multiple occasions, Lara has blocked her, even during events the redhead is side-eyeing Daniela whenever she brings you up. Even then, Daniela and Lara had an inseparable bond, through their love for dance and Playboi Carti, the both of them make a lethal duo. Daniela would often barge into Lara’s room begging to go to Erewhon together or to do another dance trend for the Eyekons.

MEGAN MEIYOK SKIENDIEL ❀ meganskiendel & mamanmegan

“I wanted to see the world in color, through your eyes.” Lara’s roommate and number one victim of her constant yapping and ranting knows Lara like an open book and is undoubtedly the closest one to her. This leads her to being the only person, other than Lara’s sister, who knows who you truly are. Despite the fact, that she adores Y/n more as a musician than a person, teasing Lara at the fact Megan owns Y/n’s poster and hangs it on the walls of their shared bedroom. She is quite literally Lara’s little sister she never had, she invites Lara to family events and vice versa. She never goes anywhere without Lara, often begging her to come with her to do minuscule tasks, like getting a lighter for the deli a jogging away, she has to bring Lara with her.

YOONCHAE JEUNG ❀ y0pn_cha3 & yooninurwalls

“And the walls painted white, they tell me all their secrets.” Even though everyone knows about her sassy attitude, Yoonchae is regarded to be one of the innocent members. Although no one knows she’s friends with Y/n and her little crew, since she’s often kept to herself, and no one asks about it. Despite being in both groups, she has no clue that you and Lara where ever in a situation together, and completely blocks out all her member’s love lives. She is Lara’s baby, her child, her toddler, even when Yoonchae’s tired and sleepy, Lara would always lend her a shoulder to sleep on. And when Lara’s tired, she still tries her best to entertain Yoonchae despite how exhausted she is.

[vivianthepigeon]

Reading the HP books for the first time

So I love Harry Potter but ive only ever seen the movies and all the information ik about the books comes from my friends who have read them. Recently I’ve been getting back into the Harry Potter fandom and I decided it was about time I started reading the series, and to make it a little more fun I wanted to document my thoughts about them on here!

So far I’m in chapter 11 of the first book and here’s my thoughts so far, sorry if my notes are a little scatterbrained 💀 (spoiler warning obvi)

First of all couple of side note but I thought it was interesting that the wizard that Mr. Dursley bumped into was so open talking about wizarding world stuff to a muggle, not a very smart move if ya ask me. Also omg! Hagrid got his motorcycle from Sirius?? Also a cute little detail I loved was the fact that the owls get paid for delivery lol! I wish that was kept in the movies.

Harry is genuinely SOO funny in this! His little remarks and comments make me laugh so hard. Also freaking Dudley is even worse in the book! This mofo is awful! Mostly blame his parents for that but he pisses me off (I could go on a whole rant about the Dursley family). On the flip side, the Weasley family is soooo darlingggg! When Ginny starts crying when the train starts leaving and one of them says they’ll write to her is so sad and sweet especially as she starts running after the train.

Something I thought was really funny was when Harry first met Draco while getting his robes and Draco saying something about bullying his father into letting him take a broom to school and thats genuinely so funny that he said that.

Something I thought was real interesting was all the Slytherin hate, from the adults especially. It surprised me a little to see Hagrids biases about the house.

I love how the books go into more detail about the classes, for example even though Harry thinks it’s the most boring class History of Magic sounds so cool! Especially since it’s taught by a freaking ghost! Also good to know that zombies exist in the Harry Potter universe, professor Quirrell says that he fought off a zombie or something and even if he didn’t fight one off they still exist apparently! And ik it’s controversial but I love Snape, his beef with children makes me laugh tho I’m upset with how he called Neville an idiot.

Speaking of which why is literally everyone so mean to Neville?? My poor baby’s got the worst luck in the world and people are rude to him for it 😭. I’m glad Harry stood up to Draco for him but even then Harry was avoiding being his partner in charms class, WHY HE IS SO SWEET AND A PRECIOUS LITTLE BOY

I do have a question tho, and maybe I’m just a dumb dumb but why did Hermione lie about the whole mountain troll situation? It’s the same in the movies. But couldn’t she just says “oh I was in the bathroom and didn’t know about the troll and Harry and Ron came to warn me and ended up saving me”? Was it bc she didn’t wanna say that she was crying in the bathroom or was it to make Ron and Harry look even more courageous? I feel like the whole thing wouldn’t have ended up the same just minus her getting lowkey in trouble

Oh and! When prof Quirrell was off fighting vampires or something is that where he got parasite Voldy?

I’m such an indecisive person and I can’t decide who my fav character is rn! I love Ron and I love Hermione but I love Harry and Neville! I’m also obsessed Fred and George but that might just be bc I’m a twin and I can relate to them lol

On another side note, I can’t wait to read how Ron and Hermione’s relationship progresses bc they are my fav ship ever and young love is sooooo cute 🥹

[scripts4dreamers]

Leave a light on pt. 4

AN: Aaaaaand we have part four! The next two chapters are a little shorter, but only because I'm ramping up to the Fade Jail thing. Hope you enjoy!

Part One, Part Two, Part Three One of the things Solas hated most about mortal bodies was hangovers. It was his own damn fault, of course. He could not reasonably expect anything else after drinking into the early hours of the morning with Amala but still he couldn’t help but feel sorry for himself as he sipped his coffee and tried to focus on the book he was reading. It was nearly noon, by his reckoning. He had woken an hour or two earlier feeling more hopeful for the future of his relationship - if that is what he and the inquisitor had - than he had in years and had started the process of going about his day. He could hear movement from Amala’s room, so he knew she was awake as well and he found himself anxiously waiting to see how she would behave when they saw one another again.

The night before had been…intense. Some parts were clearer than others. Solas was still admonishing himself for the way he handled some things but, amongst the chaos there had also been moments of tenderness, brief flashes of intimacy that burned like a fire whose embers had never truly gone out. She had looked him in the eye! He had touched her, held her, told her he loved her. It did not fix everything. The ghost of Varric, of Lace Harding, of Corypheus, of a thousand little deceptions still lay between them, but it was something. He hoped that they could build on that. In fact, he had a plan to ensure that they did.

“Good morning,” Amala greeted, as she always did, her hair still wet from the bath.

He looked up and smiled at her, feeling the familiar stab of regret when she let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief. Every morning the routine was the same. She didn’t think he noticed or, if she did, she didn’t think he understood its significance, but he knew what that sigh meant. It meant that, just for a moment when she was walking down the hallway, some part of His Heart had been convinced that he wouldn’t be there, that he’d snuck away in the night and left her. Again.

It was a valid fear. He would be lying if he said he had not considered leaving, that he had not considered slipping away into the fade and freeing her from the blood soaked anchor that was tying her to this place, but he could never bring himself to do it. Not again. What had once felt like a selfless act, protecting her from the misuse he had suffered, now felt like the ultimate act of cowardice.

“Good morning, Vhenan. How are you feeling?”

“Ugh,” she complained, taking the seat beside him and stealing a strawberry from his plate, “Like death warmed up, you?”

“Better than Elgar’nan is feeling right now, but not by much,” he countered, pushing his plate closer towards her. Another part of their routine. “Do you have plans for the day?” he asked.

Her eyebrows shot up midway through her biting into a strawberry, a perfect picture of surprise.

“Um, no, I suppose not.” she said, “Do-did you want to do something together?”

Gods, he should have kissed her last night. He should be kissing her right now. If he just leaned forward he could pull her chair close and-

“You needn’t sound so surprised,” he laughed, “I merely thought we could visit that island you were telling me about last night.”

She perked up and his heart wanted to melt at how excited she looked, “The one with the bottomless pool?”

He nodded, “The one that is, what did you say exactly? Quite beautiful once you get past the Mythal of it all?”

She flushed, “I never said quite.”

“We do not have to go. We could stay here if you-”

“No,” she interrupted, “no, that would-I would like that very much.”

“Good,” Solas said with an internal breath of relief, “I’ll put together some provisions for us and we’ll leave as soon as you are ready.”

She nodded, still smiling to herself and they lapsed into comfortable silence as she finished her breakfast. At that point he knew reading was pointless, but he kept up the pretense so that she would feel comfortable. As soon as the last berry had been consumed she bounded back up the stairs to her chambers, and Solas couldn’t help but chuckle.

The walk to the island Amala had described was fairly daunting. Perhaps not to a highly trained assassin with years of experience balancing on rafters but for Solas, a mage who’s ribs had only just stopped actively hurting, it took a great deal of his concentration to navigate the intricate series of wooden planks, ropes and strategic jumps she had set up without plummeting into the ether. She tried her best to help him out but there was only so much she could do. It was worth it though. Not only was the island beautiful, but Solas had a legitimate reason to stare unabashedly at his Inquisitor as she did the thing she was best at. At one point Solas slipped and Amala grabbed his hand to keep him from falling. Once he was stable and she’d finished laughing at him, she’d laced their fingers together and they’d continued on their way, their joined hands swinging between them.The planks of wood could have been 3cm wide and no one would have caught Solas complaining.

Once they had made it to the main body of the island, Amala excitedly showed him some of her favorite places and they settled on a patch of thick, soft grass on the edge of the pool. Solas did remember this place. He and Felassan had spent many long afternoons sparring here, cooling off in the water and discussing their plans for the future and the things they would build together. His heart twinged. Oh, Felassan. Amala had also been right, there were a lot of statues of Mythal scattered around the place. He remembered those too.

They spoke about nothing of note for a while, reminiscing about their travels through the Hinterlands, swapping stories from their time in the fade and commiserating about how wrecked they both were after their night of drinking. It was so normal. It was almost perfect, but Solas could still feel the tension simmering just below the surface. He let it be for a time, settling down in the grass with his sketchbook while Amala tried her hand at scaling the crumbling walls. He traced the familiar lines of her body in charcoal, using his fingers to soften the edges and show her movement. There was something almost meditative about the process of seeing something, envisioning it on paper and then executing that vision. When he couldn’t describe the way he felt about something in words alone, he had found that he could usually depict it through his art, or through some combination of both. It was rare for him to go anywhere without a sketchbook. He had many full ones that he kept stored away to return to when he felt particularly nostalgic. He had burned many more.

Some amount of time must have passed, Solas was far too enraptured in his sketches to keep track of exactly how much, because when he looked back up, His Heart was naked. Alright, not quite, but before he had had the chance to process anything beyond the bareness of her stomach and the smooth line of her thighs, he had pointedly looked away, feeling the familiar lick of warm desire shoot through his stomach like an arrow.

Amala, who had removed her clothes in favor of a simple breast band and undershorts, laughed at his discomfort, though it wasn’t a truly mocking sound.

“Oh come now,” she teased, “I feel as though we’ve covered this already. Nothing you-”

“-haven’t seen before.” They finished in unison.

“It has been ten years, Vhenan,” he pointed out, “and you always did have a way of making me shy.”

She sat down at the water’s edge and slowly slipped in, making a sound of pleasure when the coolness hit her sun warmed skin that was so erotic that it bordered on torturous. She submerged her head under the water for a moment before popping up again and swimming over to the rocks near where he was sitting.

“Come swim,” she encouraged, “the water’s wonderful.”

“So I heard,” he said with a pointed look.

His instinct was to pull away, to politely decline and continue his drawings, but what was the point? Who did that instinct serve? So, instead, he got up with a sigh and started to remove his clothes, not bothering to fold them as they slowly came off, one piece at a time until he was only in his underclothes. Solas could feel her eyes on his back, tracing his spine, taking note of the places that were still tender and healing, cataloguing his new scars. He felt a slight twinge of insecurity, wondering what he must look like to her, if he measured up to her memories of their time together. He briefly felt the ghost of her hand brushing his stomach and sliding over his hips, but he pushed the feeling away and focussed on not twinging his ribs as he moved.

He slipped into the pool beside Amala, doing his best to look nonchalant and sighed with relief. The water really was magnificent. The water was also clear. Very clear. He had to fight to keep from staring at the flashes of Amala’s skin just beneath the surface. Her thighs were especially tempting. His mind helpfully providing him with the memory of just how soft they were beneath his palms, how her skin broke out in goosebumps when he ran his thumbs-

“Come, let me show you something,” he suggested quickly, crossing the pool in long, steady strokes.

There was a place, right beside the small, babbling waterfall, where the rocks formed a natural bench of sorts. It was long enough for several people and allowed them to sit in the water without needing to expend energy treading.

Amala gave him an impressed look, pulling herself onto the bench beside him and admiring the view it gave them “This is lovely. You must have come here often to remember it so well.”

“I did,” he admitted, “with Felassan. It had been so long since I had thought of it that I didn’t even remember until we arrived. It was part of a larger island that we used for training at the time.”

She hummed, shooting him a look out of the corner of her eye that told him she wanted to ask something. His chest tightened. His Inquisitor was a smart woman. She would have put it together by now that he and Felassan had been close. That Felassan had been an agent of Fen’Harel. That Felassan was not around anymore. He ought to just tell her. There was no sense in hiding from the truth, but still, Solas shrank away from the idea. Something of his discomfort must have shown on his face, because Amala let it go and changed tack.

“So, what prompted this little outing?” She asked, her tone forcibly light, “You haven’t asked to spend a day with me since we arrived here.”

“I was giving you space,” he replied, giving her a grateful look, “but after last night��well, I suppose the idea of space from you has simply lost its charm. Plus, I had things I wanted to say.”

She nudged his shoulder with her own, a small supportive gesture that had pulled him back from the edge more than once during their travels together. It said ‘I’m with you if you need me’. It said ‘you’re not alone here’.

“Then say them,” she suggested gently, “I’ll listen.”

They sat in silence for a while, just soaking in the sun and enjoying the simple joy of being together. Solas was painfully aware of her thigh pressed up against his, of the warmth of her body brushing against his bare arms. It was equal parts teasing and comfort in the way only Amala had ever been able to pull off, and the urge to wrap his arm around her side and pull her close was almost irresistible. He glanced up at the unseeing face of Mythal from where she perched eternal, watching over the pool. It would have felt poetic, he thought, to have a real, flesh and blood woman who loved him right under the eyes of a memory of one who did not. But that wasn’t why he had brought Amala here.

“Do you know why I pushed you away when we first met?” He eventually asked, “Why I fought so hard to deny what clearly existed between us?”

Amala shrugged, “Nonsense reasons, I suspect. Not wanting to lie to me and all that.”

He let out a huff of fond laughter and reached out hesitantly, a question in his eye. Amala nodded, letting him take her prosthetic hand in his and turn it over so that he could inspect the palm, “Amongst other reasons, it was because, at the time, you were channeling the power of a foci. My foci. Every time you closed a rift or brushed up against the fade, without knowing it, you were the foci of Fen’Harel. That could have given me power over you, undue power, undue influence. I feared that I would turn you into a tool in my crusade. Like I had done to so many others and like so many others had done to me. I would have had the best of intentions, of course, but it would have been cruelty all the same. I never wanted to use my power to shape you into something you did not wish to be.”

The prosthetic hand was a work of majesty. It was made of silverite and gold and seemed to be modeled off the old elven sentries that used to stand guard in Arlathan. As Solas ran his fingers along the intricate metalwork, he felt the familiar hum of Dorian’s magic. It made him smile. He should have known.

“I was never romantically involved with Mythal,” he continued, “I loved her. Deeply. I know she loved me the same, but it was…different then. The world was younger. The lines between things were not so severe, things defied definition more readily. At the time I felt like I belonged to her, belonged at her side. I did whatever she asked because she was my liege. She was the person I had chosen to follow, come what may, and we were never equals. I was her second-in-command, her guard dog. I excelled at the role.”

Amala nodded. She already knew all of this, but it was clear that he was building to something.

Solas continued, “I never wanted to become, for you, what Mythal became for me in the end. I wanted us to be equals.” he paused, feeling the familiar rush of shame and self-loathing flow through him, “I failed at that. I used you.”

She sighed, her metal hand giving his flesh and blood one a gentle squeeze as she looked up at the statue of Mythal, “People use people, Solas. It happens.”

He shook his head, staring at their interlocked hands “I-I will not attempt to explain away how I treated you. It was unjustifiable, but the point I was trying to make is…” he flushed, suddenly shy, “I am new to this. I have had very few romantic relationships considering how old I am, and the ones I did have happened in less than ideal circumstances so-” he forced himself to meet her eye and let out a breath, “I have no idea how to do this.”

“Do what?” Amla asked with a gentle, affectionate laugh.

Solas gestured vaguely, “This. Be in a normal, healthy relationship where no one is dying or planning a rebellion or deceiving the other person. When last we were together, I was always aware that one day I would have to leave you. Our relationship was always temporary-”

“Not that I knew that,” she pointed out.

He gave her a sheepish look and sighed, “I do not know how to build something with you with the intention of it lasting.” He admitted, “And I do want this to last. I want to do this properly.”

She was silent for a moment. He felt the ghosts that they had both been fighting to ignore rise between them again. Varric, Lace, Flissa, Corypheus, Haven, Redcliff, Adamant. A million moments of terror, of pain and confusion and sacrifice. Every lie by omission. Every betrayal. Ten long years of loneliness. There was so much to consider that Solas instinctively pushed it away, shoved his feelings down into a box in his heart that could be dealt with on some other day.

“Well, I’m not the world’s foremost expert or anything, but usually the people in the relationship know things about one another.” Amala eventually said with forced levity, clearly having made a similar choice to ignore the obvious.

He knew it was wrong. He knew this fragile, unspoken agreement to not have the fight wouldn’t last, that it would only fester and deepen the hurt on both sides but, in that moment, he was so grateful to her for it that it made him dizzy.

“We know things about one another.” he insisted.

“We know the big things,” she agreed, “we know we would die for each other, and the worst things that ever happened to us, and how much pain we can each take before we black out, but life was so chaotic when we met that we skipped over all the small things.”

The worst thing that had ever happened to Amala was a direct result of his actions, he reminded himself, feeling the familiar twisting pain of self-loathing in the pit of his stomach but, again, he pushed it away. He tried to focus on the day, on the sunlight and the cool water and the intoxicating brush of her skin against his. It partially worked.

He nodded, his brow furrowed with concentration as he redirected his attention back to the conversation, “Alright, I suppose I can see the truth in that. What sort of little things should we know?”

Amala shrugged with one shoulder, something playful in her eye, “Oh, I don’t know, anything really. Like, for example, earlier when you said it had been ten years…you meant since you’d seen me without my clothes on, right? Not since you’d seen anyone?”

The tension shattered. The ghosts faded.

Solas flushed, rolling his eyes with faux frustration, “I hardly think that’s relevant, Vhenan.”

Her mouth dropped open, “Solas. No, be serious now. It cannot have been a decade since you last…”

“I have had longer dry spells,” he admitted, “I spent a great deal of my life either at war with the Titans or leading a rebellion.”

“And here I thought battle was an aphrodisiac,” she replied.

“Back then everyone was immortal,” Solas reminded her, “everything felt less urgent. As for my recent…activities-”

“Or lack thereof.”

“Or lack thereof,” he agreed with a chuckle, “it held no appeal for me.”

She continued, sounding genuinely stunned, “I just-I can’t even-why?”

Solas felt his face warming under her scrutiny, but he wasn’t truly uncomfortable.

“What use did I have for desire?” he replied, “I was preoccupied with my plans, and besides,” he let his voice dip low, “it would be unfair of me to lay with someone when my heart and soul had been given to another.”

If he could bottle the look of fond exasperation and pride that that statement brought to Amala’s face and drink it like water, he would.

“I can think of some uses for desire,” she countered, letting her hand rest gently on his thigh beneath the water.

Her touch was light, teasing almost as she trailed her fingers slowly up. Solas felt like a teenage boy, his skin flushing as desire sank even deeper into the pit of his stomach. His mind, desperate for Amala in that way it always had been, eagerly provided him with the memory of what it felt like to flip her onto her back and pin her hands above her head. It reminded him of the way her voice would catch on his name when he slid his thigh between her legs and kissed down her neck, how her eyes would flutter shut even as she fought to keep them open when he-

He grabbed her hand with his own, slightly shaking one, “You’re playing a very dangerous game, Inquisitor.”

She held his gaze for a moment, her eyes flicking to take note of the tremor in his hand before she allowed the moment to pass. Solas let out a breath, grateful for the cold water.

“Alright, you were celibate for a decade” she said, simply, as though nothing had happened, “that is something I definitely did not know about you. Something to keep in mind.”

He snorted, “I assume you were not similarly restrained in your affections then.”

“Of course I wasn’t,” Amala replied, still chuckling, “I was alone! I had just saved the world and been dumped by a god, of course I wasn’t celibate.”

A completely fair and valid point, he reminded himself. A truth he had always assumed existed, and yet…he imagined his Inquisitor tangled up with some faceless person, her head thrown back in ecstasy as they kissed along the column of her throat, and felt jealous. It was surprising, in a way, and completely unsurprising in another way. He had always been a possessive man, prone to bouts of obsession and groomed for devotion. He did not like sharing the people he loved. At the same time, he had always assumed that Amala would eventually move on from what they had. In those first dark days after he had left the Inquisition, Solas would lie awake and imagine her slowly falling in love with someone new. He would imagine their first tentative kiss, the flowers they would buy her, the ring they would use to propose. He would imagine their house and their children, and the smile lines by His Heart’s eyes deepening throughout years of joyous, blissful matrimony and partnership. He would imagine himself fading from a wound, to a scar, to the ghost of an old memory and comfort himself with the idea that that was a sort of death, a sort of apology for a millennia of mistakes.

So, yes, in the greater scheme of things, his jealousy surprised him.

“Who was your first?” Amala asked curiously, “I had always assumed it was Mythal but…”

Solas scrunched his nose, banishing the thought of the faceless partner to the back of his mind, and replied, “Her name was Valina. She served Mythal, like I did. We were both new to having physical bodies and the desires and urges that came with them so it was…a learning experience, to put it mildly.”

She groaned sympathetically and nudged his shoulder with hers, “So not even the immortal can escape that core experience. Good to know.”

“And yours?”

“Leonid,” she answered, “we had just gotten our Vallaslin and we snuck away in the middle of the night. It was quick and fumbling and very sweet.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Solas replied gently, “you deserve sweetness.”

“So do you.” she countered, equally softly,

“Maybe someday,” he conceded, slightly uncomfortable with the idea as he stared out over the endless fade, “but right now my sins are too numerous for that.”

Amala sighed and, before Solas could do anything to soothe her disappointment in him, he felt her lips press softly to his cheek. His heart stuttered. Time slowed to a crawl.

Touch starved. That was the phrase he had heard bandied about by soldiers, too long away from their wives, families and friends. Like so much else in his life, it had never made sense until he met Amala.

The kiss should have been nothing. It was quick and chaste, the kind of thing she had once done instinctively if they were going separate ways on a mission, or if one of them was heading out without the other. Instead, after so many years of solitude, it felt like the very first time. Warmth spread from where her skin touched his, his every nerve ending felt alive and he recognized that this kiss felt meaningful. It was a promise, a dedication to treating one another softly no matter how scared or broken they both may be from years of constant battle. It was an offering of better times ahead.

But what use is a general in peacetime? How could he give her better days when all he had to offer was dread?

[thelostgirl21]

Oddly enough, most hate I've seen for the show comes from a specific subset of fans of Henry Cavill (and game Geralt) that are firmly claiming "woke culture" is destroying the Witcher they love, by pushing their agenda onto the show, and that see Cavill as the ultimate alpha male dudebro (hating on "The Witcher" and its feminist and pro-LGBTQ+ themes is an incel's idea of having a good time!)!

They are essentially the same people that are mad Ciri became the protagonist of the 4th videogame and call her looks "ugly".

They hate the women casting for the sorcerresses on the show with a passion, because they are supposed to embody the pinaccle of female beauty perfection, while on the show one is "morbidly obese" (the exact words I've seen used) and black when she's supposed to look like a greek goddess (spoilers alert, she does on the show!), Triss is supposed to be all red hair and white skin, Yennefer a raven haired white lady, etc.!

Before Season 3, in their opinion, Jaskier was given way too much agency on the show (especially in Season 2 when they made him the Sandpiper) when he is supposed to more or less be a womanizer that objectifies (again, mostly white... With the occasional succubus) women, and will refuse to stop oogling their breasts even when asked. But now, they've made him *gasp!* gay (they don't believe in panromantism/sexuality, much less in sapioromantism/sexuality, and it shows)!

And, to "legitimize their hate", they'll tend to say that the diversity on the show doesn't respect the Slavic world of Sapkowski (when the author himself clearly said that his books aren't particularly meant to be read through a Slavic lens, and it's a fantasist, fairy tale world), and twist videogame narrative and character to pretend that not staying true to the game is disrespecting the books.

They'll claim that this is why Cavill left, too!

Sadly, each time you see Cavill defending how he petitioned the writers to stay true to the books, he's mostly defending the game rather than the books themselves. And he's impossibly vague about it (so again, as fans you're the one needing to fill the blanks and decide what he means by that).

I think the only main cast member with some firm knowledge of the books, is actually Joey (because you've got quite a few other books nerds in the ensemble).

And, when you take into consideration that Cavill was refusing to be talkative and say his line on the show, you realize that this specific Jaskier is more or less saddled with an emotionally ambiguous Geralt that won't banter and share with him like the two of them are meant to be doing (if you go back to the source material)!

So, TV show Jaskier is forced to "constantly assume" what Geralt is thinking, feeling, etc., while taking the complete lead in the relationship, and imposing his own vision/interpretation of who they are to each other.

Even on that front, until Season 3 at least, it was a very "You can decide what Geralt feels for Jaskier", because it's all up to viewer's interpretation!

Ex: You can decide that Geralt's abandonment issues are making him fearful of trusting that he's genuinely loved (platonically or alterously, or perhaps even romantically) by the bard, and is causing misunderstandings between them.

You can decide that him refusing to call Jaskier "a friend" (especially refusing to reassure Yennefer on the subject) means that Geralt is confused about the nature of their relationship, because Jaskier behaves with him like a romantic partner would (bathing him, rubbing salve onto his butt while calling it lovely, etc.) while calling him "his best friend in the whole wide world"... Something that would make tons of sense for an a-spec person with a strong squish that would have been looking for a queerplatonic "travel companion" (Jaskier), but less for someone that would typically expect his close relationships to fall either in the clear category of friendship (emotional intimacy, but without the wish to make a commitment as life partners / marry your best friend / share a family with with them, more or less) or romance (Geralt).

Or, you could also decide that him refusing to call him "a friend" is because Geralt finds his pushyness annoying, because Geralt is clearly an "alpha type" while Jaskier is clearly a "beta type", and yet, he tries to "impose" on him and pretend he's the alpha, etc.

The possibilities for interpretation are near endless!

Even with Yennefer, Geralt gives a lot of mixed signals as to what he feels and wants from the relationship.

I think Season 3 is the first Season where he's more open with his emotions, says "thank you", "I love you", etc.

They've started giving him a clearer direction, and there are a lot less sighs, fucks and grunts coming from him.

Oddly enough, that's also when the actor has chosen to leave, perhaps because Geralt feels less and less like his own.

But yeah, it seems that Joey, as Jaskier, had been more or less forced to play and portray that friendship "on his own" in Season 1 and 2, because Cavill wouldn't commit to a specific type of relationship with his character, either, in a sense.

They have tons of chemistry on screen, and would make each other laugh on set. They are reportedly great friends IRL (and I've no reason to doubt it). But professionally, Cavill's portrayal of Geralt feels very subdued and without clear direction now that I look at it.

And I even think that the reason why I identified with Jaskier so much, too, and found him a bit "co-dependent" with Geralt, is because of the lack of clear feedback from Cavill that is sensed on screen.

People that are emotionally manipulative will constantly hold you in a state of uncertainty about the way they feel about you and where you two stand in the relationship - giving you just a tiny sliver of hope to keep you hooked on the relationship while never fully committing to it - to constantly make you prioritize them and nearly obsess about winning their approval / love.

And Jaskier (Joey) is dancing around Geralt (Cavill) trying to get a response / answer out of him all the time, and Geralt is... up to interpretation!

Is that gaze fond/affectionate? Does he care? Is he receptive to my ideas? What for does he yearn, damnit?!

Who knows?! You figure it out, Jaskier (Joey)!

Joey's read the books, he knows where that relationship is supposed to go to technically stay true to the source material™.

Now that I know that he constantly had to improvise lines to try to say everything that Cavill wouldn't, it feels like he's basically taken the responsibility of trying to make Geralt seem more sympathetic than Cavill plays him on the show, and attempting to move the relationship towards how it is in the books, while playing opposite a Geralt that is not book Geralt, and that doesn't respond to Jaskier as he would in the source material, either!

He's not even the TV show writers' Geralt!

He's Cavill's own private Geralt that only exists in his mind, and that everyone watching the show can own and fill in with whatever blanks they want!

He's just there making grunts, faces and sighs with Jaskier (and many other characters), and you're the one that needs to decide what he feels and what it means!

No wonder some people feel like something about Jaskier, Yennefer, etc. feels "off" on the show, Geralt is "off".

But because "Geralt is us", we don't instinctively realise that it's him that doesn't work with the ensemble! We want to be a part of that world, too, and Cavill is giving us that opportunity.

But he's not embodying Geralt. We are.

So, maybe that's why I instinctively trust the character that's emotionally available and more verbal (Jaskier)'s perspective on the show...

And why my constantly feeling that Jaskier is reaching out to an "unresponsive Geralt" in the relationship comes from the fact that Joey Batey is constantly reaching out to a co-star that's letting him drive the whole dynamic of the relationship on his own, and refusing to commit to Jaskier and Geralt's friendship in any specific manner.

Then, you watch Joey act with Hugh Skinner, and Hugh gives back as good as he gets!

He's committed to the role and the emotions of his character without ambiguity. Sure, a lot will always remain up to interpretation. That is true of any dynamic between characters.

But it's a relationship that's very "spoken" on screen, and that both actors appear to be showing a commitment to, at the very least.

The first feeling I had watching Jaskier and Radovid interact together on screen was literally relief. Finally I don't have to make any mental gymnastics to make it work!

I see beauty (and dysfunction) in Jaskier and Geralt's on screen relationship on the show because I chose to fill in the blanks in a way that I'm sure others have filled completely differently!

Again, it's not bad, but it might explain why so many people with so many different ideologies are so protective of Cavill's Geralt... he's essentially theirs!

An incel can relate to him and connect with him - seeing him as a long-suffering wise stoic no-nonsense man trapped in a world filled with woke nonsense.

A victim of parental abuse can relate to him, and see him as emotionally fragile and trying to protect himself from further hurt.

He's no one and everyone!

It's quite fascinating, really.

p.s. Not all people disliking the show do so out of "anti-wokeness". Like with any adaptation, some people will enjoy it, and others will dislike it. They may be annoyed with the non-linear narrative or Season 1 (a friend couldn't even start watching because of that), for example, feel like it's too far off from their own interpretation of the books, etc. There are tons of reasons not to like it! I'm really talking about the most virulent haters that I've come across that will devote entire YouTube channels to worshipping Cavill and destroying the show, and band together to complain on Facebook each time any post with "The Witcher" shows up! There's nothing wrong about being passionate about the videogames and preferring them to the books either, and being put off by the fact that the TV show is ignoring the game. But there's this very specific subset of toxic gamers (one of them I argued with was also trying to convince me Felicia Day was never harassed, and gamergate was justified) that are excessively vocal on various platforms driving the anti-Netflix TV show movement that you seldom find in other adaptations that feel very validated by Cavill's performance and departure from the show and massively identify with his Geralt. Now I'm starting to understand why, I think.

I've been thinking about The Witcher books and tv show recently. Because half of the things that make Geralt seem cool and edgy in the show just don't exist in the books.

In the show he's always so stoic. Most of his exposition has to be told by side characters implying things and you just have to gage his reaction to decide if it's true or not. In the books however, he gives a full lore dump to anyone who's remotely nice to him.

Random Character: So how've you been?

Show Geralt: Hmmmm.... 😒 😔 😒...

Book Geralt: Terrible actually, thank you for asking. Monster hunting is dying out and I have zero transferable skills. Yennifer's left me again and Jaskier's off god knows where. Overall I suppose it could be worse, but that's the life or a Witcher. Also, my perfectly good leather jacket got ruined in a fight the day after I bought it :(

[theres-whump-in-that-nebula]

Ok so I just read chapter fourteen of The Rebuilt Man.

Why does every female character‘s breasts have to be immediately described within seconds of introducing them? Why does every lady with more dialogue than “Hello, and welcome to the Mauna Loa Holiday Inn! How may I help you?” have to get butt naked and instigate sex?

Fucking. Louisa. Vandenhoff’s step-niece. Does it. With Vandenhoff. “It’s okay because we’re not actually kin.” BRO YOU’VE KNOWN HER SINCE SHE WAS FOURTEEN and you’ve been fascinated with her “big ugly thighs” ever since. Yuck.

For the record I don’t mind graphic or disturbing depictions of… anything… in fiction, so long as it makes sense and is done with some level of delicacy; but every instance of a man and woman staying together in this book, no matter what the relation, has ended in sex. Every time. Lori and Don, I can understand; that makes sense. She’s pretending to be his wife for top-secret national security reasons. But this? Come on. No. “Louisa needed somewhere to stay for college. It took Louisa and Vandenhoff exactly ten weeks of them staying in the same house before the desire became unbearable.” I feel like I’m reading a story on confessionpost.com (don’t go to that website; it’s vile and full of just about everything in the average person’s DNI… and it’s allegedly all real).

AND! AND! It gets worse. Right before these two do the deed, the narrator goes on to explain how undesirable Louisa is. In fact, EVERYTHING about Louisa is undesirable except her voice (which is uncharacteristically sexy, of course). None of the boys her age would have her because of her looks (which, by the way, sound similar to a lady’s in classical painting); so Vandenhoff — HER FIFTY-YEAR-OLD STEP-UNCLE — is the only guy in the world who wants her. That’s the implication. Yuck.

[arrimorr]

Your art style is very unique it reminds me of professional artist that draws old children stories

What inspired you ?

Thank you so much 😭😭😭 Im honestly very surprised whenever someone says I have any form of a style in what I do, because, personally, I think I am a bit all over the place (which is normal since Im still trying a lot of things out for myself)

First of all, I'm very inspired by Brecht Evens, especially the way he works with color and is capable of showing different light environments through it.

My brain chemistry was also forever changed by the way over the Garden wall artists went about depiction of creepy cartoony stuff.

Also, I've been going though a process of re-evaluating soviet art for the last couple of years. I absolutely HATED it as I child but I had to revisit it for one of my Uni researches and there are actually a lot of fun examples of work with color and shapes there????