#Naturally I have my nitpicking and my worries and my 'what I would do differently' thoughts already churning

[bonefall]

unironically stormclan is the coolest thing the writers have done in years

Like?? This kinda fucks ngl. Secret history of the Clans causing a breakaway group, forbidden love with a "Great Betrayal," playing around with the afterlife systems and giving StormClan cats a unique connection to their ancestors...

They're even called "Storm" Clan. Storms are objectively cool as hell. The 13 year old within me is giddy with glee.

[tornioduva]

Thoughts on Mistoborn (Era 1)

Ok, so, as promised, the nitpicks/preference post. I wanted to wait for the excitement to cool down, but if i wait more i'll just forget everything. so.

SPOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOILERS, BIG, HEAVY, MEATY!!!!

I'll just blurt out a list of things that i didn't like/left me concerned:

The Lord Ruler ""redemption" I thought this was going to be a more controversial take, but i've seen many other express the same feeling already, so cool. Basically, the way they talked away the evil Rashek did under his rule reeeeally left me with a disappointed. understandable, yes. all the things the characters say about him are contextually right and informative, but aside from the content, the emotions behind felt...wrong. The reader should be the one kind of above all saying "i kinda get what he was going for", not the ones that saw his massacres and cruelty. Plus the emphasis on "Ruin corrupted him, he had good intent in the beginning"; i don't hate it as a concept...but it should've have been worded differently i think. I will excuse only Sazed on this because he basically achieved Nirvana, but even from him i expected more...criticism let's say. Less gush about microorganism and more fuck you Rashek.

Disconnect of powers Now, this can all be explained away with "it is the way it is, because yes", and it wouldn't be incorrect. but still. Why either Rashek nor Vin Managed to realize, even on an insticual level, what the true nature of the mist/deepness was when they took the power? Vin is told to be able to briefly see in the past of the power, and has her senses and understanding greatly expanded; how come she doesn't realize they fit together in some way? I included Rashek because i remember he moved the planet to burn the mist, and i guess this means he viewed it as something to defeat, but i may be mistaken. Again, maybe she didn't have enough time, maybe Ruin obfuscated her understanding, maybe it's just the way it is. but, if sazed took his time to explain to me that there were organism to eat ash, he could've also told me why she didn't just know what the mist were. but it's also not that important i guess, admittedly, i don't know if it wouldn't have changed the story all that much.

There's an afterlife??? That. I rode the rolelcoaster of emotions that was the final chapters of HoA and it was amazing and heart breaking, everyhting fitting together, climax climaxing, tears tearing, me dying. The sacrifice of Vin and Elend was so moving and spectacular, i wouldn't have asked for a better one. but. Then came Sazed, giving their friend a beutiful goodbye in the form of their bodies left in the flowers...and then you follow that saying "but don't worry, they be chilling were they are now, lol". why. why Ruin (lol) such a beautiful send off by demistifying their death. or at least without elaborating on it more. without that note, their death would've have left a bittersweet taste in my mouth, happy that they both died doing what they thought was right, giving their people hope, and loving each other, but without knowing what that would mean for them, if they were just gone, reunited or else. The question of an afterlife was also like one of the big questions of this book, part of the selfdiscovery journey of Sazed. To just having it resolved in a footnote like that, right after i was starting to grieve for my main characters, was terrible. "guess i was dumb for feeling sorrow for them, they're fine anyway". Plus, to me it would've been faaaar more interesting if Sazed, even in a god form, still couldn't respond to the question of what happens, to confirm that even a god does not know what lies for him in death. that'd be chilling. instead i guess there's paradise? bah. I mean, happy for them, poor things, at least they can dance for all eternity now. I'm sure someone will RAFO me in regard to the afterlife, but doesn't change my feeling about it.

Kelsier ... Everything regarding Kelsier's actual actions post death, in regard to the voices and influece, to Sanderson saying he was briefly a god before Vin...that is all just kind of silly to me. at least presented as it is. It's too little too litle to be of any interesting significance, but at the same time his actions are relevant to the story. I'd say, either have him play a quiet, interepretative but bigger part in the story, or as is, just don't have kelsier doing wierd shit that technically shouldnn't have the powers to do. hell, Vin struggled to talk to Elend the one she had a special bond with, while in FULL GOD MODE. Idk, it feels just kind of there.

Pewter Reaaaally small nitpick. It's magic, i know, but given that pewter doesn't heal by itself, but just accellerates and intensifies the natarual one of the body (at least for how i understood it), i really think mistborns and thugs should have waaay more scars and residuals bruises than they are described with, Vin in particular. i personally choose to see her as a very scarred indivdual given everything she survived.

...Why metals? This is a strange question, like asking why a mage uses a wand to cas magic. because that's how it works. i know. still. Given how in depth of the rules of how this world functions are, and how much Sanderson clearly wants to explain them to us, to the point of, again, having sazed telling us that rashek made specific micro organisms to eat ash. like, for real. why do the powers of the gods of this world need metals to express themselves. I guess this is the most likely of all my qestions to receive hordes of RAFOs, because i'm sure he will explain it at some point, maybe by talking about the power behind Ruind and Preservation. But still, in a world where everything makes kind of sense, having to eat metal to access magic still feels kind of there as "it's that way because it's cool". It's weird too, because i wouldn't quetion it if it was just, magic powers manifesting into people. but by being this specific, having to use a finite reosource to access an infinite (apparently) reserve of power, an ability that was decided and designed by the gods that created this people...idk, feels weird somehow. i fully expected Sazed to at least question it. but i guees i'll find out later. or maybe not, and honestly i'm okay with that. it's ok to not expalin everything, it just feels weird juxtaposed to everything else being explained.

Aaaand these were my main nitpick about this saga. not too many all things considered. enough to nag at me in my mind, but not to hinder at my overwhelmingly positive enjoyment of the experience.

[charmixpower]

Any Sky vs Riven HCs? It's always abt Riven's issues and thoughts on Sky but what about Sky's perspective on Riven?

The show made their rivalry completely one-sided and that's so unsexy of them. Mutual hatred and rivalries are so much more fun and hotter. Guaranteed

Sky and Riven's opinions eachother:

Season One;

Sky -

Remember in s2 when Sky was so mad about Avalon (before he knew Avalon was evil) he ended up in the trees with a set of binoculars. Sky has a control problem me thinks, Riven has a problem being controlled, you can see why they don't like eachother

Riven works much better when he's allowed to innovative and not stick to a script and Sky is the exact opposite, the difference is that Sky tries to make everyone line up with what he thinks is correct

Thinks Riven is both an asshole and a complete delinquent and has a BAD habit of micromanaging Riven's actions. I usually don't consider s4 canon, but with his tree business, Sky leaning over Timmy's shoulder the whole time the girls were in the game is so like him

Doesn't hate Riven but is endlessly annoyed with him. Sky puts a lot more credit to the rare moments when they have a normal conversation together. If Sky became more agreeable to Riven I think Riven would be still very wary of him, but if the reverse happened Sky would happily accept him

When Riven is manipulated into thinking Bloom attacked him, the genuine hurt on his face when he and Brandon (correctly) don't believe him is something that genuinely takes Sky a back

Is very horrified at post CT jump Riven's conviction that Sky genuinely wants him dead, because??? No??? They we're never friends but he always wanted the best for him

Riven -

Oh my god if this fucking rich boy doesn't stop pointing out his every little flaw he's going to strangle him. Correction, he's already trying to strangle him

Thinks Sky is purposely lording his superior education and natural talent over him, looking down on him, and Riven hates it, he fucking hates it so much

Riven constantly picks fights with him to prove he's good enough to not be nitpicked, be in a group with the best, and his deep seeded insecurities and inferiority complex grows with every defeat

Riven always assumes the worst in people and Sky has a bad tendency to make really bad implications without noticing, Riven is half convinced Sky is doing it on purpose. The other half of him thinks Sky wouldn't do that

Tho he respects the fact that Sky never snitches on Riven for constantly trying to fight him and other little stuff that the other nobility LOVE to get on his ass about constantly. Respect where it's due, Sky is an annoying rich boy, but he's not as awful as he could be

This is just enough for Riven to tolorate Sky in doses without wanting to murder him

Deeply deeply dislikes Sky, but doesn't actually hate him until the Trix convince him that Bloom tried to kill him and Sky and Brandon didn't believe him. That hurt. It hurt way more than Riven thought betrayal from them would hurt

This is what causes Riven to actually hate Sky. Riven has always been paranoid that Sky secretly hated him and wanted him gone, and Darcy played into his conformation bias hard

After his little hop off a tower, his tendancy to think the worst of people mixes with his depression and rock bottom self esteem, and he convinces himself that Sky hates him enough that his continued existence is annoying to him

Season Two;

Sky -

"Hey, have you eaten and gotten a full nights sleep today? The nurse said that will help your condition—"

He's channeled all of his control freak energy into care taking. His not friend jumped off a fucking tower, forgive him for being worried

Sky is a mother hen, glad to inform you of this. No one really understood this except for Bloom and Brandon (and Flora bc she's so emotionally intelligent) but now all of the guys are subjective to Sky's usually tendencies but focused around care taking

Tries to stop mentioning anything about Riven's form or technique to just give him a break

Sky is about to cover Riven in bubble wrap, please stop getting hurt, your scaring the local prince

Riven -

"Why is the rich boy pestering me?"

Thinks Sky only cares for the sake of his image and PR or only out of a misplaced sense of guilt. Cannot and will not be convinced that it's because Sky actually cares. Trust me Aisha has been trying for hours at this point

Doesn't have the energy to put up a fight against Sky's mother henning, depression gang gang, but it makes Riven spiral a bit. Tends to ping pong between being angry that he's being pitied and not understanding Sky's motivation in the slightest

Too busy being depressed and rethinking every life choice he's ever made to think about Sky too much

Season Three;

Sky -

Considers Riven a friend, they're not close by any standard, but they're buddies. They willing hang out with only one other person around. Big process from when they couldn't go three seconds without trying to fight eachother in s1

Then he gets mindcontrolled into being in love with someone, and there is soo much fucked about that I can't even get into it. So many feelings of violation

Intentionally clinged to Riven in the aftermath because Riven has gone through being in a relationship under false pretenses with some mind and emotion control mixed in (though in a very different why and under very different circumstances) and just need any help and support and thought Riven was his best bet for actionable advice and empathy

Riven -

Was very happy when Riven quickly reciprocated this and begun telling Sky all about his healing process and what Sky should expect, advice he got from professionals, and things that have never gone away

Using Riven as support untill he feels safe in his own head again

They're still not close close, but after this they can hangout one on one without it getting deathly awkward and uncomfortable. They're full fledged friends baby

Has been!! Finally!! Convinced!! That Sky doesn't hate him!! Godbless you little dumbass

Sky seems to genuinely care about him and Riven's finally willing to accept it

Sky still slips up and says things that have terrible implications, and Riven still has a bad habit of taking things in the worst possible way, but Riven makes a conscious effort to give Sky the benefit of the doubt

*pointing at Sky getting mindcontrolled by Valtor's mark* "No!! My friends people aren't supposed to go though the horrors!!!"

No one really understands the exact brand of terror not being able to trust your own actions, feelings, thoughts, and perceptions like Riven does so makes an active effort to be there for Sky during the aftermath

Like doing everything that made him feel better, telling Sky things his therapist told him before Sky was ready to do his own therapy, stuff like that. Riven knows what this was like and really doesn't want Sky to be alone though this

Bonding over trauma at three am is a very normal friend activity

Finally is able to take Sky at his word without taking him in the worst way possible, or getting defensive. There's finally a sense of trust there

[halite-jones-reblog]

Been doing a lot of work on myself recently. I am trying to have some kind of dialogue with my inner child and trying to get back to why I am so much like how I am. At 41, my own story is very complex and long. It's full of trauma, and I'm being held back in a lot of areas I'd really wish I wasn't mostly because I am afraid of so many things. I'm screaming internally a lot lately, but it's difficult to scream externally without making people worry about me. I don't want the attention that comes along with asking for help, and I don't want to get up the hope to ask for help and have it be denied to me, whether through natural circumstances that are no one's fault, the general state of people who mean well's lack of availability, or by some kind of nature that I may be classified as beyond help, but I don't want to give up hope that I can be helped, at least by myself.

I've been very cruel to myself, and I need to convince myself that I need to stop. After all, who got me into this mess? Me? Absolutely inexcusable Behavior. But the notion that my mistakes are worse than they actually are, are the echoes of too-severe guardians who cared more to correct me than establish any kind of understanding first with me, which made me very resentful of them, even while I was basically crushed into obedience.

I get a lot out of stories where characters have terrible guardians that they overcome. The characters in those stories aren't usually good people themselves, but I like the mental lift of being able to break free of the yoke. Even if it's just a little wiggle. Even if they're so close to thinking about it but not acting on it. Because that's essentially how I had to grow up, having no choice but to accept what I was given, and call it acceptable even though I was absolutely miserable. I could not conceive of anything different. I thought happiness was something other people got, or pretended to be. Even when joy happened in my life, it came along with the impending dread of when it would stop or be taken away for whatever reason.

Now that I'm in charge of my own happiness, after being unhappy for so long, it's been difficult to navigate what happiness actually looks like. It can't be a thing that happens all the time, but it is a thing that can be sought out and returned to, and very often. Very few things make me truly happy, and I often have to be the person who does the thinking about them in order to make the good brain juice flow.

I think when I can feel truly free to think about the things that make me happy, I can get along just fine. I've made the mistake of letting other people's opinions about the things I like weigh me down, but those other people probably have incompatible trauma to my own, and whether I like them or not, cutting my own needs off is painful, unnecessary, and results in way more resentment than it should.

I've endeavored to try to be a thoughtful and unselfish person, but in the course of trying to stay unselfish, the things I've taken on for the sake of others, without even being asked to, have melted my resolve, which is something I very much need fully intact in order to navigate and survive adulthood. I can no longer take on other people's small nitpicks as my own. I regret that my comfort characters offend people, but I don't regret finding things that make me happy, and my intent, at least when I'm not in an incendiary mood, is not to offend. It is about personal healing, at least until I argue for too long about the meta arguments that I lose concentration on the healing portion of the work, and then the comfort comes along with discomfort, and I'm messed up enough that I need my comfort things to actually be comfortable. And with that, I have to close myself off to what others think about my comfort things, regardless of if I want to or not.

I prefer to talk about the things I like. Not being able to do so makes me feel unwelcome and invisible, and I can't sustain myself in situations where I can't talk about things I like. There's a bunch of other stuff that goes into it, but I feel like I've tried to stick it out in so many places where I've mentally had to put duct tape over my mouth to try to fit in, and it's just made me feel like I've been kidnapped or jailed, even though I've done nothing wrong, and it's all just been me doing it, so I typically only really have myself to blame in situations like that.

For years, I've worried that treating myself better would make me some kind of badly behaved ego maniac, but regardless of if that becomes true or not, I need to let myself accept my own healing. It can't get better if I don't, and I think if I accept that healing, I could find that I'm not actually the bad person I'm worried about being.

[athensandspartaadventures]

What kind of things would you want to have done differently, regarding storytelling, character designs, personalities, interactions etc on your comic?

All of these thoughts are sort of documented in the comments on each page as I had reposted them here, I can't really be much more detailed than that because I don't actually know where the entire story is going as a whole if that makes sense? the problem with dwelling on that sort of thought process is 1. I don't want to overlook the fact that this was originally created as a study comic and I had specific constraints on my time and abilities both academically and artistically and 2. what is posted online is basically the second draft of a rough draft that was for passing an exam rather than telling a story, I think a third draft would have to overhaul that purpose entirely and I would rather just let it grow organically and see where it takes me. (This is something that is actually quite common in webcomics historically, and I think the rise of these polished professional webtoons is kind of challenging that right now as comics become more accessible.)

Like, as a small-yet-big example, I am still struggling with whether I want to keep the character of Greece. I drew her when she was only mentioned in text and never in art back in ye-olde Hetalia days, so in a sense she is a fan-character. Now that she has a canon design in Hetalia, now that I feel so far removed from the source material I don't know whether I want to affiliate the work with Hetalia or not, I have to consider other things like "does she have a narrative role in the story beyond just tying it to that source and if so, what is it and where is it going". This is a question I'm actually hoping to answer more in chapter 9, but it's also one of my biggest hurdles that is blocking my writing process because I have been gradually changing the nature of the story as I learn more, it's a reflection of my personal growth.

I hope that makes sense, I am constantly re-reading things and thinking about how I would do them differently in everything I do, not just this silly comic, and it gets to the point where I get so hung up on it I forget that it's just an impulse from a different version of me in a different version of time, and I think it's more productive to push on with what I have and clean it up later when I figure out what I really want to say! and that might be different 5-10 year from now than it was all the way back in 2011, or 2015, or today. I never would have even imagined the stuff I wrote recently back then, so I would rather just push on and look back to see how far I've come rather than nitpick things I want to do differently in the moment. If things change, I'll make the changes now/later and worry about the continuity with the old stuff later.

[letters-to-lgbt-kids]

(TW: sexual abuse - there are (slightly) specific examples in this letter on situations in which abuse might have occured or things that may have happened to you during abuse. If such details are difficult for you, please skip the second part of this letter (starting after “there are multiple reasons...”)

My dear lgbt+ kids, 

This letter is for those of you who are abuse survivors, especially survivors of childhood sexual abuse: I had a conversation with my therapist that was very eye-opening for me and I want to share what I learned with you. 

(Before we get into it, here is an obligatory reminder that therapy insights are not always appliciable to everyone. Everyone’s story is unique and my therapist only knows mine, not yours - so please do nitpick this post and only take the pieces that are helpful for you) 

I talked to my therapist about “False Memories Syndrome”, a term that describes people who have blurry memories of sexual abuse that actually never happened... and was very surprised to learn that this syndrome is, largely, a myth. 

While false memories are in theory possible, they are extremely rare in reality.  The narrative that a lot of abuse survivors actually just suffer from false memories is plain wrong. There are almost no circumstances in which the human brain would ever jump to “let’s create a completely fictional traumatic memory and react to it like an actual trauma”. That is not something brains are likely to do (or are even capable of doing - even among the extremely rare cases of actual false memories, it’s basically unheard of that someone would specifically make up false memories of sexual abuse without any other false memories. That’s just not how the brain works.). 

I wanted to share this with you because “questiong your own reality” is such a common (and such a painful) part of trauma - and the myth of “False Memories Syndrome” can really pour salt in your wounds. Knowing that it is a myth, knowing how rare false memories actually are might relieve you from some of your worries: If you have memories of abuse, you can believe in them. You can trust your brain. You are allowed to let go of the question “What if my brain just made it up”. You can trust yourself. 

Memories of sexual abuse do often feel blurry, unreal or different from other memories. There are multiple reasons for that (all of which are MUCH more common than false memories): 

- Freezing is a common response to abuse. Many people are physically unable to move, speak or fight back during the traumatizing event. Later on, when they think back to the event, they are often not able to make sense of that reaction (as it goes against our natural expectation how we would behave during such a situation). This can create a feeling of “unreality”, make you feel distached from the memory. 

- Parents or family members who abuse young children often do so by creating a environment where the abuse seems so “normal” to the child that they do not even consider fighting back (for example by incorporating sexual abuse in normal parent-child interactions like bathing or playing). This, too, creates a internal disconnect as you may not be able to make sense of your reaction later on. 

- While the brain doesn’t usually make up memories from thin air, it can distort them. This has nothing to do with faking or lying, it’s a defense mechanism. The brain is capable of blocking out or obscuring details of abuse to make the memory less unbearable (a common example for this is remembering that you couldn’t move your arms but not being able to recall why - a detailed memory of forcefully being held or tied down is often too painful to deal with, so the brain blacks that part out)  

If your memories feel blurry, you are not alone. A lot of survivors deal with “brain fog” around traumatic memories. You are not a liar, you are not crazy. You can trust yourself. I believe you - and you can believe yourself, too. 

With all my love, 

Your Tumblr Dad 

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Hey Steph, I am just asking a little bit but I have been writing a rather long Johnlock fic for over a year now. And it's been fun I admit but I just don't feel like I get many people interested compared to other writers. I still want to finish my work but I just am a bit scared of screwing up.

Currently, John and Sherlock in my fic are going through what would be called as a rough patch with both pining majorly for each other but John doesn't want to confess because he thinks Sherlock isn't interested and also due to other circumstances.

My fic features Sherlock screwing up a lot and I just don't know if this is in character enough.

From I have seen, Sherlock just seems like the type to screw up a lot, especially since he kinda seems emotionally constipated to me.

I have gotten some comments asking why I don't just write John forgiving Sherlock (by the way this takes place after season 2 aka Sherlock's fake place and is a canon divergence in some ways, meaning season 3 and 4 won't happen but Sherlock will still come back and John will still feel angry).

I am a bit confused because in my eyes, there are still a lot of problems to work through between the two.

Am I just writing too long or am I just a bad writer when handling Sherlock ?

Because I just think writing Sherlock screwing up and trying to repair his mistakes is an in character idea. No offense but I just think Sherlock can be a dick sometimes and has a chance of ruining his chance with John.

And I did write John after give Sherlock a good lunch after he returned, just letting Sherlock slip back in his life, but he's just more cautious now and tries to keep his temper in control because he doesn't want to physically assault anyone out of nowhere again. And apparently some think that I am writing John like a doormat.

What do you think, Steph?

I know my question is a bit too long but I am just desperate for a second opinion

Hey Nonny! *HUGS*

First off, OOOOOF I feel you on the "taking a year or more to write a fic" front, hahah. I've had a few drabbles drafted for years now and because I keep nitpicking them, they're not getting done, heh heh.

Secondly, Nonny, there is no right or wrong way to write your interpretation of the characters in your own fic! Every single one of us reads all the characters differently, and just because you see a character as X and I see them as Y, doesn't mean you're writing them "wrong", just means you have a different idea for the path you want to take these characters on! It's TOTALLY natural to be concerned about how you're projecting them, but you also have to remember that, say, a super bubbly character isn't going to work in a dark brooding setting unless you're intentionally writing a parody. Same goes for your interpretation of the character: you have a character journey planned, and you have a baseline for his character based on your interpretation of the show, and you go from there!

I know it's easy enough for me to say all that, but really, I think as long as you're "feeling" his character is believable within the universe you created for him, then I don't think there's anything to worry about! AND if you're that concerned, put a call out for a beta to check over your story when its first draft is done. A beta is essentially a second set of eyes who will correct inconsistencies that you've missed, grammar check, and ensure your plot threads are all tying up nicely!

And, here's the thing, "if you write it, they will come". If you're concerned about negative, non-constructive feedback, set the story to be locked to Ao3 and turn off Anonymous comments. Quite frankly, your story sounds super interesting and I'm totally wanting to read it now, hahah.

Don't think too much on it, Lovely, and remember that you're writing the story because it's one YOU want to see. I wrote Sonic fanfiction in my teens over 2 decades ago, and while I do cringe at them now, I do still enjoy the world I created for those characters, and always enjoy going back to that universe. And the same goes for your story. You might cringe about it years from now, but as long as YOU enjoyed it, and can look back fondly upon it, then there's no "right or wrong" way you could have done it <3

That all said, I'm SURE you have written something great, and please, when you do start posting it, let me know, I would be honoured to promote it for you :)

I hope to hear from you again soon, Nonny. Please don't second guess yourself, get a second set of eyes on that story if you're unsure, and take constructive criticism for what it is: people wanting more stories set in your universe from you, and just want to make sure you feel confident in doing so. <3

If any other authors have some suggestions for Nonny, please do!

[whaleofatjme1920]

How about some head canons for kondraki, cimmerian and clef with a dimension traveling s/o lmao

Dr. Kondraki, Dr. Cimmerian, and Dr. Clef with a Dimension Traveling SO

I find this ask so much fun omfg also my first SCP post!

Dr. Kondraki:

He's not into the dimension travel thing, but really, it depends on whether you can dimension travel at will or it just happens.

If it's just whenever, he's definitely not going to like it because what the hell, where did you go????

But if it's just because you want to, whenever you want, he's going to be more accepting of it.

Honestly the man just wants you safe and with him. Would he admit that? yeah but he's horrible at it.

You can always offer to take him with you! Just hug him. Wrap him in your arms and boop!

Show him beautiful things please. The man doesn't see pretty thing near enough.

I mean you're pretty -

But like y'know.

Kondraki will take notes and pictures of the places he goes. Part for research, and part because he just,,,,

he's a sap lowkey

wants a polaroid wall of the two of you and the fun times you've had.

Lots of little silences between the two of you as you explore the dimensions you take him to. Just conversations without words.

He just cares so deeply about your safety but he's so awful at saying it.

Will give you little lectures about staying safe.

Always ends them with a kiss.

Dr. Cimmerian:

I feel he's both hyped and concerned for you.

He's a serious guy from what I can understand but he has some wiggle room.

So if it's just y'know not by your will, he's going to concerned and has his eyes on you

But if it is by your will he's gonna travel with you.

He will make puns about the situation and dry jokes.

He may or may not get stressed if you travel without him though but again, he just wants you to be safe.

It might manifest in lectures or just nitpicking in general.

Just tell him to stop and he'll fold tbh.

He may or may not run some experiments just to see what's up.

Takes tons of notes. Wants to know why you're like this.

It's probably how the two of you even got together - he found it fascinating and oh no research is now smooches wow.

If you try to tell him you're going to a different dimension with out him he's going to say you're wrong. It's not that he doesn't trust you -

He gets caught up in the different dimensions too, just wants to learn about whatever is different and stuff. LOTS of notes from him.

Honestly the two of you have dimension dates.

That's it that's the post.

Dr. Clef:

A part of me wants to say that he's hyped and another says like the other men here, he's worried.

Wtf am I talking about this man is hyped.

In both situations.

If you just dimension travel whenever he's gonna be excited because it just gives him more of a reason to hang around you so he can "document" what happens and where you go and if it's by your own accord, he's going to be excited because he can just come see you whenever he wants also under the guise of work.

If you think he's not going to tell tall tales about where the two of you go you...

Half of the time the excursions the two of you go on ARE wild, but he's always going to make it sound like that much more.

He finds the dimension thing fascinating as all hell and wants to know how you're doing it, but also likes if you keep your secrets.

He kinda likes that mystery -

I feel if you brought him to dimensions where it's nothing but beautiful nature or something like that, he's going to bring his uke and just spend time strumming it as the two of you space out.

Careful of some of the dimensions you bring him to,,,,,,,

Other than that, he's just going to use your dimension traveling ability as a way to hang around you more.

[stripesthesupervillain]

A Review of “The Batman” by an Amateur Fanfiction Author No One Knows About

~~~

Aight boys. I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it. And I’ve had time to digest it. Let’s talk about my opinion of The Batman.

Don’t worry about spoilers. Spoiler free, everybody.

Aight so what did I think of it?

Fucking. Amazing.

Now, I was originally going to compare this to the most well-received Batman thus far, The Dark Knight Rises, but I realized that these are two different movies entirely and that comparing them would not be fair game. For one, this movie returns Batman’s title of “World’s Greatest Detective”, as a majority of the movie focuses on Batman solving a mystery that revolves around a killer going after the corrupt, and having the Riddler as the main bad guy in this was a brilliant choice. Each riddle keeps the story going in a natural yet interesting and engaging fashion, given each one is a lead to another riddle.

The writing is fairly good, though, as always, I’m iffy on the dialogue. It’s just a me thing, but I see it in movies a lot, and I always have to point it out: characters don’t speak like this. In a crowded room, you don’t hear two detectives speaking to one another in dead silence while each phrase is said in low, raspy voices and interrupted by long pauses for dramatic effect. I get it, it’s Batman, so I’m not too hard on it for this, but it’s a nitpick on my part.

The writing is very well done, giving a good story, likable characters, and a very satisfying ending of a Batman that still has much to learn. And while it mostly focuses on the mystery, it also leaves lots of room for very well choreographed fight scenes, and many of them I was surprised by because there are many times were you actually see Batman get hurt. Like he gets punched and dragged by unnamed thugs and at one point he absolutely eats shit on the concrete, but never did I once think that it made Bruce look lame or pathetic. In fact, I thought it was a pretty nice touch, as it definitely supports the idea of him having much to learn and being imperfect (I believe he’s been doing to Batman thing for two years in the story). But he has some peak moments.

One of my favorites is near the beginning, where you see this guy about to be attacked by some thugs, and then you just hear a thump thump thump coming from a dark hall. Everyone goes silent and watch as the thumps get louder until the Batman emerges from the shadows, silent and intimidating. Those moments are fantastically shot and so simple, yet highly effective.

The camera work does have its weak points, however, one of the main ones being a car chase scene with the Penguin. So many changing angles and blurry shots and changes in colors and movements actually made it hard for me to really follow everything, but that’s probably the biggest one I can think of, and it’s not that bad. Other than that, there are some truly beautiful shots in the movie, many of them with Catwoman, and that leads me to my next point.

Batman’s thing with Catwoman is pretty heavily pushed, especially in the trailers, and while I do think their dynamic worked out well in the end, I did find the emerging romance aspect to be a bit too much, especially since they haven’t known each other long. But I do like Catwoman. Zoë Kravitz plays her wonderfully and she has some great moment for herself and she is fairly likable.

Along the vein of actors and characters, Robert Pattinson was fantastic as Bruce Wayne. I always thought it would be a bit weird to see him out of costume and pretending to be normal billionaire Bruce Wayne, but I found it to be a very convincing choice. Bruce is very much made out to be a recluse who hates to go into public and isn’t interested in public outings and the like, and Pattinson fills it great. He looks tired, lost even, and always in his own thoughts or reflecting. Bruce goes through a vast variety of emotions throughout the movie, and each transition is smooth and realistic and you can really understand how he feels, but also understand when he’s in the wrong.

The Riddler. Paul Dano is excellent as Edward Nashton, and when the face reveal came, I was quite stunned by how much they made him look like a normal, average guy. A bit awkward and extremely sympathetic. It’s hard to really see him as the villain by the time his true reasoning comes out, and while most versions of Riddler are assholish and narcissistic, Dano definitely keeps the spirit while being very likable, though ultimately he is in the wrong and you see that by the time his plan comes to fruition.

Penguin and Gordon were also good side characters, appearing often and it feels like every minute they appear, they’re essential to the story. Gordon especially feels important, given he and Batman work together and a good chunk of the movie wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for James. The Penguin also has a very nice charm to him. If you’re looking for posh, sophisticated Penguin, this is not him. Like Riddler, he goes down a different path, but is still very much a charming and likable character, and funny as well. If you want an indicator as to how this character acts, when he first meets Batman, he introduces himself as “Ozzy”. Definitely more Italian, big city vibes.

Also, I have to touch up on this. There is a certain character that you see at the end. You may have had it spoiled for you, and if you read my works, you know I’m not a fan, but I think his brief introduction was handled fantastically. You only see a brief sliver of his face and hear his voice, but it was a fantastic tease, and the movie ends on a great note that leaves more to be desired and yet would transition fantastically into the upcoming show. One that I, after seeing the movie, am psyched for. I’m legit gonna buy HBOMax just to watch it. Not joking.

All in all, a great movie! And while it does have it’s flaws, I do love it entirely, especially after the recent DC movies I’ve been subjected to. This was the first time I’ve been to a theater in years, and it was so so worth it. Matt Reeves did a fantastic job, and I can’t wait to see what he does for the show.

100% recommend a watch, especially on the silver screen.

If you read this entire thing, congrats, count me officially surprised.

[rrasado]

The demon brothers with MC who is very childish like they still watch blues clues wear soft and pastel cloths and play with toys?

Such Childish Antics

And again, I’m soft af- y’all just keep sending fluffy requests and it’s distracting me from my daily dose of angst dkns/j. But on all seriousness I had a lot of fun with this one ^ ^.

Lucifer

At first it was...not exactly what he expected, like far from it actually. Was there something that purposely made you wanna act like this? Who knows.

When he checked your files prior it didn’t mention anything about... needing routine head pats or literal tucking into bed- heck he didn’t expect you to actually go along with Mammon’s equally childish antics.

Which fully circles us back to the subtle fact that he learns to actually find rest in your behavior because let’s face it- your childish and his brothers’ childish are different.

Actually gets worried when you refuse to eat your veggies tho- he didn’t think he’d had to resort to...very underhanded methods i.e. using illusion spells to just feed you proper food despite sweets.

“MC you must finish this if you don’t want to fall ill. You wouldn’t want that would you?”

Very by the book with dealing with you he isn’t exactly the best at kids due to his aura but overall his actions make up for it.

Mammon

The solidarity you two have just spiked up tenfold, don’t worry about being the few people that still use jinx or superstitions like swallowing gum and believing it’ll stay there for the next seven years, because mammon also semi believes them-

But on a more chaotic note, mammon would go from ‘hey I don’t like the human being here why do I have to look after them they’re so childish-‘ to ‘oi f*Ck you my child is fine-‘

Sometimes feels guilty of taking advantage of your childish nature so he makes sure to make it up to you in some way whether a food treat a plushie treat or heck whatever outing you’re up for.

Which equates to the conclusion that if mammon is being nice to you he might’ve pulled a joke or two unbeknownst to you and his mind won’t let him rest the guilt dsdkwksk.

“Yo! I found a new ice cream downtown wanna get some and try? We can bring beel if ya want!”

As proven by season two(?) he’s good with children so I believe he’s the best at dealing with you in general. Besides you distract him from the suffering he gets from his brothers so win win!

Leviathan

This can go either two ways, one a grand friendship via watching anime and reading manga/comics or two unholy screeching cause hey Mc don’t touch those not so family friendly series he has ey-

So starting with the former- wait you said you wanna binge some colorful series instead of doing work? GRAB THE POPCORN LE GO- will literally have stars in his eyes the moment you two click on one series and it’s just a rant (on his end) while you nitpick at your favorite elements of the series.

The latter well, after delving into your more hyper ish series he’ll try to avoid letting you catch glimpses of his other stuff, which we all know is a lot but we don’t need to mention that now do we-.

Will not hesitate to pull out a human tv with a human cable plan just for you to binge watch your own cartoons and series because if that’s what it takes for you to calm down then aIGHT- besides it’s calming you down so win win?

“Hey wanna cosplay that duo together?”

I kid you not it becomes a dream come true when you both get to cosplay duo characters from series and the sheer nya uwu power you two hold is powerful enough to break devilgram records djdjd.

Satan

As uncanny as it sounds, he reads bed time stories for you, to put into context- he teaches you a lot of useful still via bed time stories because he can’t approach you the normal way.

Like- the concept of corruption in the history of the Devildom? Yey let’s turn that into a tyrant king! Need to learn the importance of always having one of the brothers with you? Eyyy this is the tale of the Queen’s child and their knights!

If there are any words you have a hard time getting your head around or just don’t know the meaning like at all, he’s your go to dictionary.

Suffice it to say he’s good at what he tries attempting. Was at first a bit concerned because you complained about his books not having pictures and it takes the fun out.

“Hm? Well we can always search for ones with diagrams in the library if that’s how you learn faster...”

Surprisingly to him those horrific diagrams did help you learn faster in various Devildom subjects, but your suggestion of making them colored ink was just calmly rejected.

Asmo

I pray for the House of Lamentation’s mail box because it’s full of chEQUES AND BILLS- the shoppings sprees you two go on is enough to even have Mammon concerned.

Like- you two just went down town to buy some new matching outfits and really pretty ones at that, and asmo is now dragging you by the arm to head to another newly opened boutique saying it’s from another district and he and has to be the first ones to post some of their pieces? Mhm

Non stop devilgram pictures, you are the epitome of color in the Devildom soley because of this Demon- He actually managed to make pastel a trend in the gloomy circle of hell with the amount of pastel you wore in your pics together.

When he takes care of you or offers you a relax day, mans will grab the most spontaneous bath soaps and body washes and even make you a bubble bath with hella cool shaped bubbles in, ngl I want one now-

“Ahh darling your genuine laughter is just a good break from the others’ bickering it’s actually doing wonders for my skin-“

Asmo is the ultimate wine aunt and he will not hesitate to end anyone’s career the moment they speak of one negative thing about his precious human.

Beel

....we all know it’s gonna be glorious food- ANIMAL CAKES AND CUTE CUPCAKES THINK ABOUT IT GUYS THINK ABOUT IT-

His food diet looks like a Pinterest aesthetic pastry board because of you, the amount of cafes and cute bakeries you go to because you said you liked their vibe and that they look cute has him nomming sweets upon sweets.

Heck- you two Will attempt to make those cute Sanrio bento boxes for lunch, well more like for you cause he doesn’t care what his food looks like but hey! If it makes you happy and if it’s good then he’s hella happy.

Is probably on Lucifer’s side regarding you needing to eat your veggies. He’ll shape them into cute animals and objects if that’s what it takes assuming he can even go without eating them himself-

“Please MC? For me? Finish mr snikerdoodles-“ “you named your chives after what-“ “hush it Belphie”

Will join you and mammon on district runs for food and outings, will also join you and Levi when making cute food from certain series you’ve watched.

Belphie

Depending on how childish you are you’ll either see nap time as a blessing or a punishment, no matter which one you’ll still wind up napping with belphie.

Ya don’t wanna nap? Well too bad cause you’re already trapped with his arms to sleep, he does that with his pillow and since his pillow helps him sleep well Goodluck cause you’re now a plushie.

You wanna nap? Good cause you get to nap with a lot of stuffed toys heckin soft pillows fluffy blankets and a grown man to make sure you actually sleep and not...pretend. (I actually do that a lot believe it or not-)

But here me out, animal onesies, matching animal onesies, matching soft and comfortable animal onesies- ok but really, onesies you two will wear and not care if the others see because you’ll walk a round the house and that at night heading to the twins’ room.

“Want some milk before bed? It’ll probably get us more good dreams..”

Whether he actually believes what he’s saying or not, a good glass of milk before bed is one of the few calming routines you two share and he finds them pleasant.

[autumnleaves1991-blog]

Dornish Delights - Oberyn Martell

A/N: This is Shop Week 2 Day 11 of the January AU Writing Challenge. Thank you for reading, reblogging, commenting, and liking. 

Pairing: Oberyn Martell X Reader 

Warnings: 18 + (Language & Kisses) 

Word Count: 1K 

My Masterlist 

Moodboard made by @ghostwiththemostbitch​. I LOVE HER! IT’S SO PRETTY!

I like buying books at this one bookstore, particularly because you work here and think you’re cute AU. 

You put the car into park and put your head down on the steering wheel, taking deep, calming breaths. The morning had been an absolute nightmare. Your mother was staying with you for a few weeks due to her apartment getting fumigated, and she was intolerable. Always making some comment or criticizing how you did something. There was nothing that you could do right, and she made it her life’s mission to remind you. 

This morning it hard started with the dining room table. Usually, you were pretty organized, but the last few days, you’d come home late and been exhausted, the mail piling up on the table. Instead of helping you organize the space, she chose to screech at you about impeding on her spot. It was then the breakfast; it didn’t have enough flavor, it was too salty, and it was cold. She nitpicked every single thing. Then, the most uncomfortable conversation came around again; about your relationship. Or lack of. 

That’s how you ended up here at your favorite bookstore, Dornish Delights. From the outside, it looked like a plain old brick building. The sign above was new, a large golden painted sun right in the middle, but all the rest had been worn from age. The inside is where the treasure is unveiled. 

You let out a sigh as you walk inside, the tinkle of the bell alerting your presence, and you take in your home away from home. The whole room is flooded with natural lighting from the enormous sky lights. A plethora of couches, overstuffed arm chairs, and a large mural of the ocean covers the back wall. Everything draped in blankets and pillows the color of a sunset in natural oranges, yellows, and rich golds. 

The scent of books, jasmine, and citrus calm your nerves as you move over to the counter. You hear his footsteps before you see him; Oberyn Martell. You’d met him six months before when he first opened the shop. You’d pulled over and gone in only intending to check out the newest book store, but you’d come away with so much more. 

Oberyn was in his forties, with black hair and a mustache; the scruff of facial hair follow the sharp line of his jaw. His eyes were bright with happiness that seemed to spread from him and flow into you. He always dressed for comfort; jeans, flip-flops, and a different color shirt for every single day. 

“Sunshine,” his voice already brings a smile to your face as his accent comes out thick and deep. “It’s early for you, are you alright?” He comes around the counter, and you look into his eyes, nodding yes before slowly changing it to a no. 

Oberyn had become your friend instantly; he was so easy to talk to and loved to tell you tales of his childhood in Dorne. A small island off the coast of Spain. You’d spent so many nights over glasses of wine or tea talking on the plush couches about everything; he’d quickly become a constant in your life. 

“What did she do now?” his voice turns hard as his lips turn down, and he reaches forward, pulling you into his chest. You feel so small as he tucks you under his chin and places his lips to your head, the tears pooling in your eyes, falling like raindrops. 

“I just- I can’t do anything right,” you cry into his chest, fisting his shirt between your hands. 

“Oh, my beautiful sunshine, she doesn’t know what she is talking about. Anyone would be mad to think you any less than perfect.” You let out a watery chuckle pulling away to look into his chocolate brown eyes. 

“I am not perfect; you’re biased,” he chuckles and nods before kissing your forehead, letting his lips linger on your skin as you close your eyes. 

“Do you want some tea?” he whispers away and cups your cheeks beneath his palms. “I bought more of your favorite.” You sigh and open your eyes, smiling through the tears. 

“Why are you so good to me?” His smile could rival the sun streaming into the shop, making him glow. 

“Because you are my Sunshine,” the air shifts around you, almost supercharged as his smile droops and his hands move down to your neck, and he steps closer. “I care about you.” 

You try to deflect, not wanting to reveal your feelings, even though your heart is furiously beating out of your chest. “I bet you say that to all your customers.” He turns your neck to look back at him, and your mouth goes dry at the look in his eyes. 

“You have not been just a customer for some time.” 

“What do you me-” he cuts you off with his lips. Bringing your face closer and kissing you with an unrestrained hunger. You take a moment to respond, but then you’re pulling him closer until the space between you is non-existent. He runs his hands down and wraps his arms around your waist as you take fistfuls of his shirt into your hands. His tongue coming out to lip your bottom lip begging for entrance. Gasping you feel him tangle himself with you both fighting for dominance. 

“Oh, my,” you both jump apart at the woman standing in the door, jaw open.

“I’m sorry we’re closed,” Oberyn steps away from you and turns his charms on the woman. Quickly offering her a percentage off her next purchase and shuffling her out the door. He flicks the sign off and locks the door standing there, catching his breath. When he turns to you, you tremble at the heat in his eyes. His hair is mused, shirt wrinkled and fucking gorgeous. “Tell me if you don’t want this. Because I’ve been in love with you for months.” 

Oh, my fucking… “I love you,” you don’t think, the words just spilling from your lips, and he smiles a real genuine smile, and it takes your breath away. Taking the last remaining steps and closing any distance between you, kissing you senseless. 

“Will you go out with me?” he asks between kisses, and you giggle, nodding. “Now, I’m going to kiss you until we are both satisfied because of I have dreamed of these sweet lips for too long but after, I will go with you and we will handle your mother, together.” 

“At least she will stop asking me about my relationships,” he chuckles holding you close, “Thank you for helping me. I don’t know what I would do without you.” 

“Don’t worry my love, I will be your champion.” 

Taglist: @josepedropascal​ @mrschiltoncat​ @mrsparknuts​ @ghostwiththemostbitch​ @zannemes​ @xjaywritesx​ @oldstuffnewstuff​ @yespolkadotkitty​ @heythere-mel​ @justanotherblonde23​ @artsymaddie​ @anetteaneta​ @lunarthoughts​ @aellynera​ @lucifer-​ @houseofthirst​ @phoenixhalliwell​ @chicken-ona-stick​ @its--fandom--darling​ 

[himmelheim]

Grab a cup and get comfortable cuz I have THOUGHTS:

Things I liked about Halo (TV) (Keep in mind we only have 1 episode. It's way too early for me to form a full opinion):

Sound effects from the game.

WORT WORT WORT

Natural Formation

Chief behind the wall waiting for his shields to recharge. Like, that's The Halo Experience.

That Pablo didn't imitate Steve. It may sound a bit too Mandalorian-y, but this is a different universe Chief so I'm ok with it. (Like, I have TWO Chiefs now. Life's good mate).

Action sequence at the start.

The fact that this is a separate timeline. I don't have to worry about writers ruining other mediums now (IF it goes wrong) so without that worry it's much easier to have fun. Smart move from Paramount after the SW Sequel fiasco.

Keyes/Halsey drama. Sign me up.

Silver Team. Sure, they're not Blue Team, but I like them already. Besides, Vannak gives me Sev/Paz vibes, so that's a plus.

Mjolnir Armor. You need to modify it irl because of stunt scenes and there's no way around that, so taking that into account; It was perfect imo. Also can't believe ppl are complaining about his footstep sound - it sounds fine, dude. At this point you're just nitpicking.

Pablo's acting. He's doing great considering the material he's been given.

Halsey. She's different, but in-timeline context I like this take on her SO FAR.

Things that could've been better/I'm not sure about:

Helmet scene. I don't mind a helmet scene at all because it's not like Spartans are (Children of the Watch) Mandos; but I think it was waaay to soon. Wait until ep 3 at least.

Miranda Keyes. It's way too soon to see where they'll take her, but she is a really different character.

Chief's humor. Sure, he is not main timeline Chief, and we got a glimpse with the bolts-microchips line, but I need the game sarcasm back, it's just too Chief. Hope they put it in the upcoming episodes. I mean, remember the crash scene with Cortana? He definitely had the BIGGEST shit eating grin under the helmet. You know John is a prankster at heart.

The weapons sounds. Should have been the same from the games - they would fit well and they are already using the game sfx for everything else, so...

The Covenant girl. I suppose the covenant keep her as nothing more than a forerunner relic opener, but...eeeeeh. Too soon to judge, but I don't vibe with this.

Captain Keyes. I don't mind the actor being black at all (Jesus, people). My only criticism is that he was, uhm pretty different from the games in terms of personality. That may not be a bad thing (?) but we'll see where this goes. Acting was great, however.

Timeline's pretty wonky, since this is before the Fall of the Reach but with elements from after that event. It's quite weird. But, considering that, I don't mind Chief's face being young and not-scarred. It's just fine.

Could use more game music. I get there are some disagreements with the composer (I think?) but ffs Microsoft just pay they guy or whatever and get back in route.

Cortana thing...it's way too early to judge for me, but it gives out weird vibes. Idk. Also, Halsey's relationship with the Spartans. Not... bad, per se, but weird.

Things I Did Not Like:

Kwan. Christ I'm trying to be empathetic but God she's annoying, and, much worse, pretty stupid. "Independence for Madrigal" where everyone is dead and am pretty sure nobody's visiting. "I can tell the other colonists the Spartans did it" ahahaha yeah you do that; the Covenant wipes out the entirety of humanity, then what? Hope you enjoy being the sole survivor a g a i n.

Good on the actress for working with that script tho.

Episode 1 with Chief running away with her is too much like Mando running away with Grogu, and even tho media was inevitably going to compare Halo TV to Mando, I really hope they aren't going down that route, it's just not going to work when Mando did it better. Also, Grogu is at least a cute little alien, Kwan's hair is a crime against humanity, poor girl.

Gun doesn't work for the insurrectionists but the moment Chief picks it takes down 3 aliens per second. He pulls the trigger harder, I suppose.

The UNSC being written like ONI. Like UNSC is authoritarian and shady, but no as much as ONI. Also, neither is stupid, which is literally what Parangosky was when she turned killing Kwan into this Super Important thing. Real Parangosky would just put her in a cell if she doesn't wanna collab until she cools down or smthing like that. Also, contemplating attacking Chief, omg.

Even UNSC in games was pissed whenever Chief said no, but they wouldn't dream of antagonising their best soldier. It get this is related to TV UNSC being much more controlling over Spartans than Game UNSC, (something I also didn't like, Spartans need a long leash to be creative like supersoldiers should be, game UNSC got that). At least she was smart enough to realize stopping him would take everything she's got.

I get it's a TV show limitation, but I'm just too used to Chief towering over everyone like, even more. This is more me talking minor stuff than a real critique, but I had to say it.

All in all, I'm liking the show a lot so far.

[tsukishumai]

50 from the general list + Matsukawa

Ty so much for the request, anon!

send me a prompt with your fav character here :)

50. “I didn’t know where else to go.”

Synopsis: You were just a few minutes away from closing when Matsukawa Issei comes into your flower shop asking for a big favor

Word count: 1.2k

Warnings: aged up characters, mentions of death

The amount of symbolism that could be found in nature was something that you always thought to be intriguing. Lush green shrubbery and foliage would have one thinking of life and vitality, mountain ranges represent strength and foundation; hundreds of messages that the earth could teach if only one was willing to listen.

And perhaps it was this thought that drawn you to flowers in the first place. Flowers, by definition, are simply just the seed-bearing part of a plant. Even so, each variation of its petals, each different color, different shape, all hold their own special meaning.

A red rose may symbolize love and romance, yet a yellow rose symbolizes friendship. A white carnation wishes someone luck, but a pink carnation will show someone gratitude.

You could spend your whole life studying flowers; their origins, biology, cultural significance, and you will always discover something new.

It was this very idea that drove you to open up your very own flower shop. Your days were spent practicing different arrangements, nitpicking different flowers and herbs to convey different message.

Red roses, red chrysanthemums, white clover ; I love you, I hope you’re thinking of me

White hyacinth, sweet basil, bells of ireland ; I’m sending you prayers and strength

Standing behind your counter, you were starting to close up your shop and reading through your orders for the following day when you heard the bell above your door ring, signaling the arrival of a customer.

In quickly walks a tall man with messy black hair and thick eyebrows, fairly big in build, and sporting a slightly panicked expression as he approached your counter.

“W-welcome,” you stuttered out, “how can I help you?”

“Hi, I’m Matsukawa Issei, I’m the director at the funeral home across the street,” he introduced himself, and slowly his face began to spark some recognition.

“Ah yes, Matsukawa-san,” you greeted, setting down the floral tape and scissors you were holding, “To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today?”

He slowly rubbed the back of his neck, fidgeting nervously in his spot before he spoke. “I’m sorry, I know you’re about to close but I didn’t know where else to go. My usual contractor flaked on me last minute and I was hoping to pick up some flower arrangements for a funeral.”

You wiped your hands on your apron, pulling out a notepad and pen from your pocket. “When did you need these by?”

Matsukawa visibly grimaced. “Tomorrow morning.”

Your hands stilled, looking up to give him a pointed look.

He quickly raised up his hands. “Look, I know, I’m sorry. It’s just really important to me that this family gets a proper arrangement,” he sighed out, running a tired hand through his hair, “I’ll pay double.”

You crossed your arms, tapping a finger against your elbow as you scrutinized the funeral director. He looked tired, dark circles under his eyes, shirt wrinkled and shoulders tensed.

“I’m desperate,” he pleaded with his eyes, setting two hands down on your counter and meeting your gaze.

“Alright,” you slowly conceded, “I’ll do my best, but you’ll have to make do with whatever flowers I have in-house.”

You didn’t miss the little fist pump of victory he did at your agreement, but you turn your attention back to the notepad laying on the counter.

“Can you tell me more about the deceased?”

You were shocked at the level of detail Matsukawa was able to tell you about the dearly departed. He was an old man who finally passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. He had three children, and seven grandchildren who spent every Sunday having dinner together with him and his wife. He often liked to fish and his biggest catch was an eighty-pound albacore tuna. He was a serious man who appreciated anyone that was able to make him laugh with a good pun.

“Did you know this family personally, Matsukawa-san?” You asked, jotting down the last bit of information.

“No,” he answered, smiling sadly, “But I always like to meet with the families beforehand. You know, offer counsel and give them a chance to tell stories about their loved ones.”

You felt a pang in your heart at the thought. “That’s actually very thoughtful, Matsukawa-san.”

“Just call me Issei, miss...?”

“Y/N.”

“Y/N-san,” he reiterated, “And I can’t thank you enough. I really appreciate you doing this for me. You sure your boss won’t mind you keeping the shop open late?”

“I don’t think so,” you replied, walking over to the fridge to check on your supply of Lilies, “Considering I’m the owner of the shop.”

Matsukawa raised one thick eyebrow. “Oh? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to assume. You just seem a bit young to own your own flower shop.”

You laughed, shrugging a little as you replied, “I know, I get that that a lot.”

“So do I,” he chuckled lowly, taking his hands off the counter and putting them in his pocket.

“True, you don’t see many fit young men choose to be in your profession,” you commented, mentally slapping yourself for calling him fit. The smirk on his face tells you he didn’t mind it, so you continue, “What made you choose this career?”

His expression softened, looking off to the side as if he were wondering the answer to the question himself. Still, he replied, “I just want to make sure that every family that walks into my funeral home is able to have one last, proper goodbye to their loved ones.”

His answer made you smile, the simplistic nature of it making you slightly admire the messy-haired young man.

“How about you?” He asked, “It’s not very often a fit young woman like yourself would choose to be in this profession.”

You blushed at his repetition of your words, choosing to ignore it and maintain some semblance of dignity.

“Flowers have the ability to deliver messages that some people are unable to say out loud,” you try to explain, “They’re like a physical manifestation of our feelings. You could spend all day and night playing with different flowers and herbs and colors and species, and come up with a different message every time. Each bouquet is personal, whether they’re given or received. I just want to spend my days helping people express themselves in ways they can’t on their own...”

You looked up after your tangent to Matsukawa’s mouth hanging slightly agape, giving you a curious look and you’re left worried that you might have said too much.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to blabber on like that, I just -“

“No, it’s fine,” he interrupted, offering you a soft smile, “I think that’s beautiful, y/n-san.”

You blushed, gathering up a bundle of Gladiolus for remembrance, “Thank you, Issei-san.”

A silent beat passes between the two of you, Matsukawa looking as if he wanted to say something.

“Thank you, again,” he finally said, though something tells you that’s not what was on his mind, “You’re a lifesaver.”

You offered him a smile. “The arrangements will be ready tomorrow morning.”

He nodded, offering a small wave goodbye as he made his way out the store. The smile didn’t leave your face the rest of the night, your encounter with Matsukawa Issei replaying over and over as you gingerly reached for the bundle of thyme, hoping it will give the mourning family strength.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

(Issei comes to pick up the arrangements, exchanging the grand bouquet with a lavender Rose.

Love at first sight.

A knowing smile spread across your lips, teasingly remarking, “Buying from my competitors?”

He smirks and shakes his head, “No, I plucked it from my neighbor’s garden.”)

[maddie-kungs-emporium]

Dune RPG Review: Modiphius vs. Denis Villeneuve

This review is special to me for a number of reasons. Dune is a book series that both me and my mother appreciate greatly, as my mother has a Muad’dib quote pinned on her office wall, and I’ve come to appreciate just how much was put into those six books over the years (I haven’t actually read Brian Herbert’s books, but I’m sure they’re fine). Naturally, when it comes to Dune, I get very passionate, and it just so happens that Denis Villeneuve’s new movie surpassed both me and my mom’s expectations. Everything was as it should be, with noble but flawed House Atreides being presented as the tragic characters they should be, the Harkonnens and Sardaukar being utterly terrifying, and Duncan Idaho being a badass. I genuinely believe it might be one of the best pop culture adaptations of the 2020s, if not the best. I have a few nitpicks (There were a few moments of weird pacing and a lot of what makes Yueh’s story work is cut) but I loved it regardless. Around the same time, Modiphius released a Dune TTRPG, and I had to check that out also. I actually tested this one in the field, as I’m currently running an abridged version for my group at university (I’m in a lot of things at university, stay tuned for 7th Sea). I can confidently say the Dune TTRPG is pretty okay, but if you’re wondering how okay, then keep reading.

Rules

It’s Modiphius 2d20. If you like the system behind Conan and Star Trek Adventures, you’ll probably love this. If you hate that system, try running Dune in Genesys or ORC. Of course, I should probably mention that Dune takes a page out of the playbook of TTRPGs like Agon and abstracts combat quite a bit, with far less meat on the bone than either Conan or Star Trek. If you hate having to fiddle with Roll20 or make a bunch of maps like I do, this is a definite plus, and if you like the idea of not having to do accounting for equipment, that doesn’t hurt either. That being said, fans of crunchier systems should look elsewhere.

Lore

I should note the art for this game is inspired heavily by Villeneuve’s film, and is fantastic both on it’s own and as a reflection of Villeneuve’s vision. In terms of how the lore of Dune is presented, much of it is distilled into a very digestible read, with no need to worry about alienating the many people under 40 who haven’t read the book. I will have to kill many a nerd’s beefswelling and say that Expanded Dune is fully included in the book whereas Dune Encyclopedia is not, probably due to Brian Herbert being a consultant. Don’t worry, though, in that a fairly well-versed GM can pick and choose what’s appropriate for their game.

Gameplay

I would say the gameplay is solid, and I have to say, it’s pretty impressive that Modiphius actually figured out how to give players something to do. That being said, there are a few flaws in its presentation. In particular, I feel like the game isn’t very good at explaining how to run a chronicle other than a standard “Landsraad romp across the Known Universe”, and while those are fun, they also tend to get a little repetitive. In particular, I was a little disappointed that they didn’t expand further on how to actually run a Bene Gesserit chronicle, though that might come later when HBO Max finally feeds me Chapterhouse.

Recommendation and Score

If you consider yourself even a casual fan of Dune, or even just in the mood for a sci-fi TTRPG with a different bent than the standard space opera, the Dune TTRPG is for you. That being said, if you are neither of these groups, well, you probably didn’t care anyway. The Dune TTRPG easily earns a discretionary point just because of how much I liked it’s aesthetic and how it handled a franchise I love.

Rules: 2/3

Lore: 3/3

Gameplay: 1/3

Discretionary: 1/1

Overall: 8/10

[bytheangell]

If you are still taking prompts, what would you think about writing something(s) based off of this, either/both, the Professor/TA, or the Writer/Editor?

Dedication (modern AU, Herongraystairs, check the link in the ask for full writer/editor prompt, a wonderful plot idea by @high-warlock-of-brooklyn!) (Read on AO3)

This is the first book Will and Tessa are collaborating on. They’ve written plenty of books individually and Jem’s worked with each of them in turn. But this is the first time they’ve co-authored, an experience that’s proving unique and challenging for all of them.

Being with Will and Tessa while they work on a new project is always a blessing and a curse. They’re two of the best writers of their generation and when they work on their own they’re brilliant, but when they work together - well, they’re also brilliant, but that brilliance is coupled with the occasional near-catastrophic clash of opinions and emotions.

Which is where Jem comes in.

Where Will and Tessa are so driven by passion and feelings, Jem finds it much easier to distance himself from their project (and from the writers themselves) enough to see the bigger picture and find solutions before the issues build up. Like many things about the three of them, it’s a perfect balance - they just work, better than anyone (including Will, Tessa, and Jem) ever imagined possible when they first got together.

It’d been a messy start, with Will and Jem already together but both developing serious feelings for Tessa after they met during a book event. The three of them quickly became very close. There were whispers of which of them would end up leaving, then confusion when the answer was none: instead of two of them growing closer and shutting the third out, they all seemed to adjust and adapt naturally around the three of them coexisting. They aren’t perfect, but they are perfect for each other, at least as far as Jem’s concerned.

Jem knows that what they have is special, which he reminds himself of over and over as Will and Tessa sit on opposite sides of the sofa, voices quickly elevating to nearly shouting over an issue with one of the characters Will is in charge of writing: one he’s chosen to give a pretty damning curse from a trickster faerie in this land of magic their current collaboration is set in.

“Tell him he needs to make the changes, Jem,” Tessa insists, the third time she’s repeated the demand now.

“Tell her that this plot adds depth, and without it, he’s boring,” Will counters. “Sometimes people - characters - need to be brutally honest about their own faults and issues. Sometimes people are disappointing.”

That’s how Jem can tell things are spiraling: when Will and Tessa - who have effectively communicated and collaborated on half a dozen bestsellers and who love each other more than Jem’s ever seen two people experience love - refuse to speak directly to one another. The moment they start talking around each other and at Jem instead is when he knows he has to step in and diffuse.

Usually, it’s a matter of taking a break, getting some fresh air, and coming back with clear minds. Jem normally isn’t one to pick sides, but this is different. He isn’t worried about the direction of the book… but after reading the latest draft from Will, which Will wrote while refusing to speak to either of them for a full week, he’s worried about Will. And he knows Tessa is, too.

“Perhaps a good starting point would be admitting this isn’t really about the character at all,” Jem says softly, gazing closely between Will and Tessa. Will looks a bit guilty and Tessa looks away entirely, which tells Jem that he’s right in guessing their concerns are also less plot-based.

“...what else would it be about?” Will asks defensively. But they can all sense how he’s been pushing them away lately, much like the cursed character undeserving of love he’s written in. It’s obvious that Tessa isn’t sure how to bring it up or else she would’ve already. Or maybe she already had and it hadn’t gone well.

“Tessa, would you mind making some tea?” Jem asks, waiting until she’s out of the room to turn back to Will.

“Will… you know this is about you. You barely talk to anyone for a week then come back with this character in such a self-deprecating mindset…”

“That’s ridiculous. He’s just a character,” Will says, but Jem can tell he’s entirely unconvinced of his own words.

“So if Tess came back having written Evangeline that way?” Jem counters, and there’s that look of subtle guilt, right back on Will’s face as he frowns and pieces together why Tessa’s so upset with him.

“I fucked up, didn’t I?” Will sighs.

“We’re not mad at you,” Jem’s quick to point out. “We’re just worried. It’s been a while since you tried to push us away like this, I just want to make sure you’re okay. We both do. Take it out in the writing if you want, but talk with us, too. Alright, my love?”

Jem’s tense as he waits. This has one of two options: Will relents and listens to him and they all have tea and talk this out, or Will storms out and they don’t see him again for another day or two.

Will stays. “I’m just letting the pressure get to me,” he admits. “I’m sure that’s all it is... But yeah. Okay. Tea.”

Tea, meaning ‘I’ll stay. I’ll talk. I’ll try.’ Jem leans over and places a barely-there kiss on Will’s lips before he relaxes back in his seat. Reaching out a hand that Will readily takes, Jem gives it a tight squeeze as they both wait for Tessa to return.

They talk.

In the end, the character arc stays. With a few redeeming modifications at Tessa and Jem’s entirely unbiased suggestion, of course.

---

A little over halfway through the first draft things seem to stall out. They have a progress deadline that week with the publisher and they’re cutting it close - mostly because Tessa keeps tossing everything she writes without giving Jem the chance to look it over. Recently she’s let her curiosity get the best of her, delving into research she should be allowing Jem to help with.

...and when he says ‘delving’, what he really means is stubbornly obsessing over, nitpicking bits of lore to streamline, and doing hours and hours of research for single-line references.

“When was the last time she slept? Like, an actual night of sleep?” Jem asks Will one day after a quick touch-base meeting that went… not terribly, but not particularly great, either.

“You need to get her out of here. No books. No wifi. I tried to kick her out but… well, you can imagine how well that went,” Will admits, and Jem winces in sympathy.

“The Time Out Cottage?” Jem asks, referring to a small cottage they own for unplugged getaways, where the wifi signal is nonexistent and a landline exists for emergency calls. “That means we’ll both be out of easy reach, and with that Friday deadline-”

“I can handle it,” Will cuts him off. “She’s been getting in her own way for days now, but she refuses to listen to me.”

A few minutes later Jem tentatively knocks on the door to the small study that does, in fact, look more like a makeshift research library. He nearly doesn’t see Tessa behind the small mountain of books on the floor, but he hears her pen tapping rapidly against the hardwood. No, not just rapidly - anxiously. He knows that action all too well.

“Tessa, what number is that?” he asks, the question needing no further explanation past his accusatory tone and pointed look at a coffee mug, which is next to a second coffee mug, which is next to a cup of black tea.

“Four? No, wait… what time is it?” she glances around and seems surprised by the height of the sun in the sky. “It’s afternoon already?”

Jem sighs. “It’s nearly four o’clock, Tessa, and your blood is probably about 90% caffeine. Come on, get your things, we’re taking a trip.”

Tessa looks immediately horrified. “No! I can’t, we can’t! The deadline, and I still have to streamline the fae lore between the two-”

“Will has it handled for 24 hours. That’s all we’re asking. 24 hours without research.” “Jem, you know-”

“-that you’ll be twice as productive once we’re back and you’re refreshed instead of running on fumes and fever dreams?” Jem cuts her off, his tone kind but insistent. He bends over and picks up a piece of paper. “Tessa, my love, this is nearly incoherent.”

Tessa reaches up to take the page from him and frowns. “I… okay, I can make out some of this, but I’m pretty sure that bit talks about aliens which isn’t any more reassuring. Will did say I was writing myself in circles, but I thought he was just, well, being Will, so... Yeah. Okay. Maybe I need to step back for a bit.” Tessa sighs. “The Time Out Cottage?”

“I already packed you a bag,” Jem confirms with a soft smile, leaning down to kiss the middle of her forehead before reaching out a hand to help her up off the floor.

When they return exactly 24 hours later, Tessa gets back to work and the lore practically falls into place between the two of them.

They meet the Friday deadline without a problem.

---

Jem spends his free time playing violin while Will and Tessa go through the first draft and begin to brainstorm fixes for plotholes, new minor characters to add to scenes that feel a bit lacking, and other small improvements to really round out the story and the world they’re weaving. They both claim to think clearer with his music in the background so he stays, even if he doesn’t feel particularly useful for this stage of the process until they have a single, coherent draft to hand over to him.

These are the moments Jem’s own insecurities and flaws float to the surface. The moments he watches Will and Tessa, so alike, so perfect for each other, connect on a level he isn’t privy to. He knows it’s a silly thought, that he and Will have their own things, as do he and Tessa. But sometimes he wonders if they truly need him around, or if he’s simply just become too much a part of the routine to actively get rid of.

He watches them sit next to each other with shoulders touching, hunched over a small screen, whispering back and forth. There’s a small smile on his face, one that’s wistful and tinged with hints of longing that, much to his dismay, they pick up on.

“I know that look,” Tessa says, catching Jem’s gaze and drawing Will’s attention before Jem can wipe the expression from his face. “Get over here. I think we’ve done enough work for today.”

Will is the first to move over, making room for Jem in the middle of them. After placing his violin back in its case Jem heads over to join them on the sofa, embracing the way Will and Tessa immediately crowd into his space once he’s settled, both placing a comforting kiss to his temples simultaneously before resting their heads on each of his shoulders and a placing a hand in each of his own.

They talk a bit, not about the book, but about anything and everything else, and fall asleep there, still entwined together.

---

It’s rare for any part of one of their books to be a surprise to Jem upon publication. He sees all the drafts, talks them through the acknowledgments and dedications, double-checks the reference pages against the chaotic piles of books and notes around their home.

So he’s immediately (and rightfully) suspicious the moment they hand him the first advanced copy and tell him to open it, watching his every move with eager expressions. Excited, but anxious.

‘A dedication to the one most dedicated to us:

This book would not be what it is without the kind heart, encouraging words, and infinite patience of James Carstairs. Neither would we. Jem, you are a light in our darkest hours, and we don’t know where we’d be without you.

We hope we’ll never have to find out.

Jem, our love, will you marry us?’

Jem reads, then re-reads the dedication. He closes the book, then opens it again, reading it a third time for good measure.

“Well?” Will asks impatiently, earning himself a nudge in the ribs from Tessa. Will huffs.

“I see you’re as dramatic as always,” Jem says quietly, instead of answering the question posed in the book. He knows his answer. He’s known for a while now what his answer would be, should the topic ever present itself, but he gets a bit of joy from making Will wait in anticipation just a short while longer.

“He wanted to be even more dramatic and show you at the event tomorrow,” Tessa admits. “But we decided against it. We thought you deserved the chance to say no without two hundred sets of eyes on you.”

Jem raises an eyebrow. “You think I’ll say no?”

“You haven’t said ‘yes’ yet,” Will points out, but he doesn’t sound nervous about it. Nor should he be.

“Yes,” Jem says, smiling brightly. “Of course it’s yes.”

[terramythos]

TerraMythos 2021 Reading Challenge - Book 21 of 26

Title: The Galaxy, and the Ground Within (Wayfarers #4) (2021)

Author: Becky Chambers

Genre/Tags: Science Fiction, Third-Person, Female Protagonists

Rating: 9/10

Date Began: 8/15/2021

Date Finished: 8/22/2021

Gora is an unremarkable planet. It has no natural life and few resources to speak of. In fact, its only use is its proximity to more interesting places. Over the years, it’s become a waystation, notable only as a temporary stop for travelers as they wait for their spot in the wormhole queue. 

The Five-Hop One-Stop is a small, family-owned rest stop on Gora. Three travelers— a marginalized nomad, a military contractor, and an exiled artist-- lay over at the Five-Hop awaiting the next stage of their journeys. But everything goes horribly wrong when repair work on an orbital satellite causes a cascade event, destroying the planet’s communications. Now stranded on Gora with debris raining down from the sky, the travelers and hosts must live with each other while cut off from the rest of the galaxy. As they learn more about one another, each is forced to confront their personal struggles… and challenge their perspective on life.

Speaker had a word for how she felt right then: errekere. A moment of vulnerable understanding between strangers. It did not translate into Klip, but it was a feeling she knew well from gatherings among her people. There was no need being expressed here, no barter or haggling or problems that required the assistance of a Speaker, but errekere was what she felt all the same. She’d never felt it with an alien before. She embraced the new experience.

Content warnings and spoilers below the cut.  

Content warnings for the book: Non-graphic sexual content, child endangerment, ableism (if you squint; it’s not malicious), references to warfare, discussions of intergenerational trauma re: colonization (not the scifi kind), prejudice and xenophobia, recreational drug use. 

I’ve had a mixed experience with Wayfarers, which is unusual for me. I can’t remember the last series I read that fluctuated so much in terms of personal enjoyment and (in my opinion) quality. People as a whole seem to enjoy this series more than me, hence the multitude of awards and glowing reviews. I liked book two, A Closed and Common Orbit, because of the focused narrative and dedicated development of two lead characters. But the first and third books suffered from an overly large cast and reliance on generic archetypes. When a series is built on character development and plot is a secondary concern at best, those characters have to be outstanding. And to me, they usually weren’t.

But in this fourth and final book, I felt that Chambers finally hit her stride. On a surface level, The Galaxy, and the Ground Within has striking similarity to book three, Record of a Spaceborn Few. Both are virtually plotless novels which do deep dives into a cast of characters. What sets The Galaxy apart is its execution. All three leads have unique and compelling personal conflicts. An underutilized strength of the series is its creative aliens; something Chambers takes advantage of here with a fully alien cast. Finally, this book hinges upon interaction between the three leads, something sorely missing from the previous book. 

In these reviews I often seem critical of ensemble casts. But when done well, I actually prefer them to singular narratives. The main hurdle is having consistently interesting characters across the board. When there’s one or two characters I prefer over the others, I usually struggle with the novel. There’s an inherent sense of disappointment when leaving a favored character’s POV. For me this affects my overall enjoyment of the story. But when I like all of the characters or they all have something interesting going on, ensemble casts are great. The Galaxy, and the Ground Within is successful in this regard because I thoroughly enjoyed all three perspective characters. In no particular order…

Speaker is an Akarak, a birdlike scavenger species introduced as sympathetic antagonists in the first book. Going in, we know their home planet was colonized by the Harmagians, which has caused irreparable harm to their culture. Robbed of their homeworld and forced into the margins of GC society, the Akarak are nomadic, and many of them rely on banditry in order to survive. We have seen very little of them besides that. The Galaxy expands their lore a lot; their short lifespans, their incompatible biology with other sapients, and the resulting generational trauma from centuries of colonial exploitation. Speaker’s arc in particular is about dealing with the prejudice she encounters daily, adjusting to acceptance after being othered for so long, seeing things from a new perspective, and persistent worry for her twin sister Tracker, who she’s been separated from due to the events on Gora. 

The Aeluon Pei is actually a recurring character; she’s Ashby’s love interest from the first book. Here we get a more intimate view of her as a person. In particular, she struggles with living a double life. She works a prestigious yet dangerous job among her people, running cargo into critical warzones. But her affair with Ashby (a Human) is a huge cultural taboo among the Aeluons. If her colleagues discovered her romantic relationship, her life as a cargo runner would be over. The double life is wearing on her, because she loves both aspects of her life, but knows that it can’t go on like this forever. To make matters worse, she goes into “shimmer”, a once-in-a-lifetime fertility period, during the events on Gora. This adds a layer to her struggle; does she do her duty to her species and produce a child, or does she pursue what she really wants? 

Finally, there’s Roveg, a Quelin. Like the Akarak, Quelin haven’t received a whole lot of development in the series. In the first book, they’re portrayed as a xenophobic insectoid race, and their role is unambiguously antagonistic. Roveg is the polar opposite of that. He’s something of a renaissance man; an appreciator of fine art and dining, who designs artistic sims by profession. He delights in meeting aliens, befriending them, and learning everything there is to know about them. His arc centers around his exile from Quelin society and all the hidden pains associated with that. Chief among these is a mysterious meeting he has to make— which the Gora disaster obviously complicates. 

Complementing the three leads are the Five-Hop’s hosts; a Laru mother and child named Ouloo and Tupo. Similar to the Akarak and Quelin, we haven’t seen many of the Laru (who I always picture as fuzzy dog-giraffe hybrids). Ouloo struggles to be a kind and accommodating host in the wake of disaster. She’s also forced to confront her own prejudices, especially regarding Speaker, the first Akarak she’s ever met. The two initially have a lot of tension, but grow to be great friends over the course of the novel. Her child Tupo is a nonbinary character using xe/xyr pronouns throughout the novel. Xe’s basically a Laru teenager, and super endearing. I love xyr natural curiosity and naiveté. Definitely the “heart” of the group. 

Interaction between these characters is the bread and butter of this novel. There’s very little action; instead it focuses on their differing perspectives and life experiences. It’s a gradual build as the characters grow more familiar with one another. The epilogue is brilliant, because we see the long-term effect of these characters meeting. Despite interpersonal conflict in the story, Speaker inspires Pei to make a specific decision. From this decision, Pei realizes she can help Roveg with his meeting. As a result of this, Roveg is inspired to help Speaker based on one of their earlier conversations. His help fundamentally alters Speaker’s perspective on life— and there’s an implication it will reach beyond that, to the Akarak as a whole. It’s a cascade effect, but rather than the disastrous version that happened on Gora, it’s a positive social change for the leads. That’s the kind of literary parallel that really fires me up. 

I do have a few criticisms of this novel, minor and otherwise. The first is, I wish the tension between Speaker and Pei was more strongly built throughout. While I’m glad the novel isn’t all sunshine and rainbows when it comes to the character interactions, their conflict goes from an idea in the back of one’s mind to an explosive event. This is something of a nitpick because it’s otherwise well executed. I especially like that despite their interpersonal problems, they work together in the climactic events of the novel without sacrificing their respective principles. 

My other criticism is a series-wide observation. Wayfarers is optimistic to a fault. As such, it’s pretty rare that we see true evil or even bad behavior in this series. On one hand, it’s nice to read something where the characters are people who want the best for everyone. But there’s a lot of dissonance here, because there are MASSIVE social problems with the GC at large. For example, we see the effects of xenophobia, war, slavery, and colonialism, but the ones who perpetuate these issues are faceless. If Chambers wants to portray good characters, that’s fine, but it strikes me as odd to build complex social issues into your society, yet exclusively portray groups of morally good people. Why would a society full of such nice, helpful groups also marginalize the Akarak, or create an entire caste of slave clones to sort through their junk? This approach comes off as a desire for nuance without committing to it. 

This trend continues through the final book. The Galaxy, and the Ground Within is clearly a COVID-19 response novel (“we’re all in this together”!)— but everyone is blameless, and the government response is reasonable and timely. That’s just not how it worked in real life. So many people were (and still are!) selfish in response to COVID, often outright endangering others. Practically every government botched their response for the sake of money, leading to mass death worldwide. If Wayfarers has similar social issues to the real world, why would the response to a disaster be any different? It’s an ongoing contradiction; the Wayfarers society is simultaneously utopian and flawed, and it’s hard for me to suspend my disbelief. 

As an individual novel, though, I really enjoyed The Galaxy, and the Ground Within. Like all the other books in the Wayfarers series, it’s a standalone and can be read on its own. My experience with this series has been up and down; I recommend the second and fourth books, but I’d skip one and three if I ever do a reread. There are things to like about Wayfarers in terms of worldbuilding and the creative ideas behind all the different aliens. Characterization is hit or miss, but the hits are great, and this book in particular knocked it out of the park. Chambers’ prose improves a lot over the series, and it’s nice to see how she develops as a writer. As I’ve mentioned, Wayfarers has gotten lots of positive feedback, so it’s possible you will enjoy it more than I did. But I’m looking forward to reading something new.