#YOU ARE THE RESON I'M ON HERE

[satari-raine]

I'm still not used to fully talking on here but I just have to talk for a minute about Sleep Token and Wembley.

They did fantastic. After touring so much this year, doing back-to-back shows, dealing with a band member having to take a leave of absence for most of their final tour, incorporating new changes to their routine and style, and with Vessel having hurt his voice during such a huge show, they did fantastic.

I watched along with Discord. Mostly lurked. And everything I saw from the effects on stage, the fun antics, the performances, the playing - guitars, bass, drums, the dancers, the choir - they did fantastic. And Vessel. I said it in chat that he doesn't need to hurt himself or his voice to earn the love of those who listen to his music, but he kept going. He sang, and pushed through when he had every right in the world to put a stop to the show and focus on his health. He kept on going while also giving to the crowd the chance to carry him through, and seeing everyone - from those on stage with him to the crowd to people in chat and what I saw on here - still loving him, loving them?

They did fucking fantastic, and I dare anyone tell me otherwise. As a community, we should be celebrating them despite any differences of opinion - being kinder and supportive of one another is literally everything they've shown with III's situation and in general. It's what so many of us showed back to them with the hand salutes for III and the marked ? on our hands during specific songs. Their new outfits have fan-made decals to them, for fuck's sake. They are absolutely, without a doubt, genuine about making everyone feel loved.

Look, I'm just a stranger on the internet at the end of the day but this band has come to mean so much to me since I found them, to the point where they've honestly kept me going some days - them and the wonderful people I've met through them - and I just need them to know that they did fantastic, their music still brings people together despite hiccups along the way, and regardless of any of those hiccups, they are so loved. Loved beyond belief.

The night didn't just belong to all of us at Wembley, but to them, too.

[tin-can-iron-man]

I'm just gonna say it again real quick:

Yes!! Iron Man is a tragedy! It has and always has been since the very first appearance in 1963 which describes itself, Tony's life, and legacy, as such.

Tony causes most of his issues himself, he is his biggest villain, a majority of his rogues gallery are caricatures of the worst versions of himself brought to life (when they're not just being racist cuz...60s...). The worst thing about being Tony Stark is that he can't stop being Tony Stark (he tried!!) That is the point.

The majority of pain Tony goes through, is pain he inflicts on himself, whether intentionally or inadvertently. That is the point.

He is not A villain (at least. Not usually. There are...some rough moments and arcs that are. Not great. As there is with any character as old as he is). But he is his own main antagonist.

[moonchild-in-blue]

I just want everyone to know that in the span of 3 days, I have made 3 loads of laundry, and have a 4th already sorted and ready to go (which includes towels / blankets / bedding). I still need to fold them and put them away BUT the important part is done 🥹

[transingthoseformers]

But how funny would it be if Starscream was reincarnated as a human in a crack au

[noisytenant]

Being reminded once again that a lot of people have fucking sleeper cell agent triggers that make them instantly fail to see the human being in front of them, regardless of any personal history they have or any rapport. instantly, that person is an Enemy that cannot be reasoned with. Permanent fight or flight.

And that instead of this being seen as, you know, a rather maladaptive attitude to bring to your relationships that will permanently strip you of the capacity to experience full love and companionship, there is a dominant strain of thinking that this is a reasonable, righteous, moral good.

That a "boundary" looks like building an impenetrable wall that nobody can see but you; That conversation, negotiation, and collaboration aren't just avoided--They're treated with contempt. The very notion of trying to understand why another human being that you care about may suddenly act in an unpleasant or even monstrous way is spat upon and trampled underfoot. Complete abandonment is considered a first line of defense rather than a last resort.

I think we all need to do our best to get over this kind of thinking. And I don't mean that we should be push-overs; In actuality, moving away from this kind of rigid "boundary" often means advocating for yourself and fighting for what you think is right. I think we all deserve friends and allies who can compassionately challenge us when we adopt ways of thinking and behaving that hurt others without immediately assuming the worst.

[syndrossi]

Ahhh, it's been a while since the last comment complaining about the story pacing; maybe I should add a "molasses-paced character study" tag to the story to better set expectations.

Am I just weird? I feel like it makes perfect sense for the first few days at King's Landing to be quite dense. You're dealing with:

The first week of Daemon and the twins figuring out their relationship

And then subsequently having a ton of variables thrown in once they arrive in King's Landing to shake up the relationship

The political aftermath of a nation attempting to steal children and dragons from House Targaryen / the Iron Throne

Having to introduce the twins to SO MUCH family and set up the dynamics there

Having to progress the politics of their presence

Candle shenanigans

The disaster that is Daemon and Viserys's relationship

Hatchlings

I like to liken pacing to a camera's lens, and how tightly focused/zoomed it is. Take the first playdate with the Green kids in chapter 20. There are four main "zooms" you can use.

A single throwaway sentence. "Aegon led them to the gardens, where Rhaegar spent the next two hours turning the story of Aemon the Dragonknight from the previous night into a game of pretend that both cousins delighted in playing, to the point of bitter complaint when it came time for their arms training."

A paragraph. A bit like the above, but with a few extra details. You can capture a little more of the dynamic, like mentioning Rhaegar reluctantly accepting the role of Naerys and the suggestion of Jon being an evil Dornish assassin.

A subsection of a scene. Basically what ended up in chapter 20. There's some dialogue, but the play session is mostly summarized, with the highlights being recapped, and the boys get to break down what they noticed during their play.

A complete representation of the game of pretend, complete with dialogue and play-by-play.

I may be a madwoman, but even I usually don't go as far as #4. On the opposite side of the spectrum, #1 gives almost nothing, characterization-wise. It tells us nothing about Aegon or Aemond's personalities, or how they feel about / relate to Jon and Rhaegar. It's mostly flavor text to indicate time passing between lessons.

#2 gives us a bit more. We can see that the way they've been taught to feel about the Velaryon boys bleeds into their subconscious feelings about Jon. It's a bit more "tell don't show," which (contrary to the stereotypical writing guidance) is fine in many cases; by which I mean, since there are fewer words, the things that the writer chooses to focus on tell you what they think is important, vs a tighter zoom where there are more opportunities to read between the lines or have a different interpretation.

#3 lens gives us the "you're prettier than Helaena" line and the boys fighting over who gets true love's kiss, and you can read those both so many ways! Maybe someone has a tiny crush on Rhaegar. Or maybe Aegon hates the reminder that he'll likely have to marry Helaena someday and wants to escape it by having someone else in the role of Naerys. Maybe it's a power thing--they live in a very patriarchal society, and so they put themselves in the positions of highest power and relegate their lower-ranking cousins to the roles of women/enemies. Maybe the true love's kiss argument is about the power struggle/sibling discord between Aegon and Aemond. That's sort of what I mean about room for interpretation, which I personally (as a reader) find more fun. It's how headcanons are born! And then there's the debriefing at the end with Jon and Rhaegar, where they get to reflect on their own impressions after the playdate, which is something you wouldn't get with #1 or #2. And we get a glimpse at the personality of their Kingsguard for the day, Ser Erryk, who plays a recurring role in their lives now.

I like to use #2 lens for things that aren't as "new" (or interesting, or that don't have important new information to convey). For example, #3 lens is appropriate for their first playdate together. Their second playdate, we might not need that level of zoom; #2 might suffice to show what's changed since last time. Are they more open to Jon being a hero/family? Does Helaena finally get to join? Etc. Basically, #3 is about establishing a baseline, and #2 lets you tell the reader what has changed/progressed after that. And then as pacing increases (several days pass at a time), you can reach for the occasional #1 lens just to add that flavor when indicating the passage of time. Or maybe a dynamic gets shaken up and you can reach for a #3 later on to show how.

It comes down to the intention of the scene/chapter. What is chapter 20 trying to do? It's checking in on the current level of trauma in the wake of the kidnapping (Jon's difficulty sleeping) and level of trust with Daemon (Daemon stopping by to help), it's establishing the new routine for Jon and Rhaegar by showing what a typical day looks like (and where their hatchlings will live), it's setting up the initial dynamic between them and the Green kids, it's demonstrating the boys' skills to the people at court, and it's setting up eventual conflict between Daemon and Jon. Those are all great candidates for a #3 lens!

It just makes for what some people might perceive as a "slow" pacing if what interests them isn't the relationship dynamics but rather whatever they perceive the larger plot to be. (For those for whom that's "getting to the Dance," this story will always be a struggle.) I also probably have a very different perspective because I "know" that ultimately it's 1Mil+ word story if I tell the kind of story I want to. For people used to stories ending around 200-300K, they're perhaps wondering when this will "get to the point."

[whomeidontknowthem]

There is something very amusing in discovering the word whump, learning just how much it describes your interests, and then in the next review of your memories just tagging parts of your life 'whump' with a delighted giggle.

Like yep. Yep. That's a scenario I'm seeing described as a fantasy of some person on this wonderful site, and guess what! It happened to me in my life! (It sucked in the moment but the memory of it somehow is simultaneously traumatizing and makes me feel the same giddy satisfaction fictional sufferings do.)

[dye-it-rouge-et-noir]

"For particularly important things, it's always more reassuring to write them down like this." - Zhang Beihai

[ID in alt text]

[moe-broey]

Some. Sort of spectrum. From most likely to least likely.

And by kitten-pile I mean This

I'll put a transcript under cut for easier reading! 🫡

How Likely Are They to Kitten Pile?

__

Mirabilis: "are you tired..? do you need a break...? ohh we could take one together..."

If she likes/trusts you even a little, she wants to cuddle about it!!!

-

Sharena and Peony: "Okay! 💖 Yay! 💖"

Shari: The only thing stopping her is social conventions -- making her MORE likely to jump at the opportunity!

Peony: Learning social awareness as she goes, and is surprisingly good at it?

-

Triandra: "Aren't we a bit old for that...? But... even so..."

Embarrassed, conflicted, but feels strangely nostalgic at the notion...

-

Plumeria: "I'm not so petal-soft that I'd resort to such INDECENCY, I mean even if your intentions are Pure USE YOUR HEADS YOU FOOLS!! Girl, the IMPLICATIONS!!!"

Desperately wants to join the kitten-pile, but her Issues and Pride gets in the way.

-

Moe: "aw, so cutes!"

Generally touch adverse, extremely picky even with the people it likes/loves -- everything is entirely on its terms.

[roomba-mangga]

taking a little break from writing for a few days to cool down the brain but first... yaad&thistle au fic preview under the cut. this is clocking in at 12k atm, i haven't finished drafting all the scenes yet, but i am deeply enjoying this one.

[musical-chick-13]

The problem is. When I go, "Oh, this system is bullshit" and try to live outside it. My choices are still defined by that system. And that makes me feel really weird.

[reinelefey]

I FINALLY started listening to The Amazing Devil

FIRST OFF.

Inkpot Gods fucking HURTS. 

So does Farewell Wanderlust!!!

THAT BEING SAID.

I have fucking CHILLS. 

Welcome to my latest hyperfixation. This is all I’m gonna be talking about for fucking MONTHS. 

My next Spotify wrapped may as well be written right now, because it’s gonna be this. Maybe a few other things, but it is /GOING/ to be this.

[kolyasangel]

lowkey don't feel like writing anymore

[saltpepperbeard]

AAAAH so I’ve been inactive/lurking for years but I need to come out from the shadows for a second to THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR OFMD METAS. Especially your takes on Stede in 6/7!! I know a lot of people have said it, (bc it’s true and right) but you describe and explain things SO WELL IT BREAKES MY HEART. AGH. THANK YOU. I feel like this last episode especially was just the culmination of Stede putting all his core insecurities into a pressure cooker and leaving them there while he focuses on everything else. We all love to point out that this man just does NOT talk about any of his core issues while they are VERY MUCH still issuing! He still believes everything bad that has happened is all his fault!! He’s still thinking about that blood spattered little boy at his core!! (side note: a famous, deadly pirate getting killed via Stede throwing a violin at his head was NUTS. that concept is NUTS. I love this show.) Honestly I think at this point it’s just finally Stede’s turn to have a breakdown, and that’s where at least some of his behavior at the end of ep 7 is coming from. Most of our major characters this season have had one where they break hard, find support, and come out on the other side of it at least a little better. He has NOT. He hasn’t had a Stede centered heart to heart with anyone yet!! He’s grown so much in so many other ways, but like you’ve said!!! He just will not OPEN UPP. Because it’s scary!! What if you finally say the thing you know is fundamentally wrong with you, and the people you love finally see you for what you are?? Why would you do that when you can just try to fix it by shoving it down and making yourself into something else instead? And then what do you do when that all goes to hell anyways?? You act a fool and get your ass beat by a pirate queen is what 😭😭. It feels like we’ve all been side eying Stede not talking about his issues and the show just went, “Yep! For sure! Now look at what it’s done for him.” That compared to everyone else working through things and starting to move on?? Owie. Absolutely delicious- but also I think I’m different now. Like, as a person. And I trust this show to work it out!! I think Stede will get there eventually!! But like. Fuckin OWIE.

(This is an absolute WALL of text good god. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts and being yourself <33 I’m going to cry into the floor and try to function like a normal person)

...

Well goodness, do I feel honored to be graced by your presence and YOUR lovely thoughts too! Because your so-called "wall of text" is SO beautiful and so thoughtful and so very ACCURATE AS WELL. AND IT SUBSEQUENTLY PUNCHED ME IN THE KIDNEY </3 SJDKLS.

Because Lord, you're right, how do we expect this man to function when he hasn't had his bathtub moment yet? And to think--he ALMOST could have. Ed was opening the door and giving him a place to talk and share vulnerabilities. Ed came in and started talking about his DAD, which as we know is a MAJOR piece of vulnerability for him. He really came in and set the stage for them to go in that direction...

Onllllyyy for adrenaline and desperation and perhaps a bit of fear to still prevail.

Like, it kills me. HE kills me. People give him the opportunity. People try and extend an olive branch. And yet still, he hides behind numerous walls. He helps other people before he helps himself. His bathtub was used for the benefit of others in episode 6 as opposed to his own. And I think that's a perfect representation of his character as a whole, really.

And man I knew, I KNEWWWW he was going to have so much to work on when the season opened up with that dream sequence. I think that dream sequence spoke on SO MUCH of what's going on in his head. It really cracked his psyche right on open. The beard, the ruthlessness, the deeper voice, the posturing, the way he doesn't "gain access" to Ed until after he's made a kill...

It was all just SCREAMING self-image issues and toxic masculinity issues and trauma to me. Not to mention how DRAMATIC of a contrast it was to Ed's. Ed loves his darling, sweet, fantastic goldfish for who he is. And it kills me that Stede can't see that yet.

But yes, I do believe we'll get there. I believe that's WHY all of this is being shown/set up. The show is very clearly telling us that Ed and Stede have issues to work through, and that their relationship is going to take mutual effort to become mature and grounded.

...But man, is the climb up to that A BIG OWCHIE INDEED LMAO.

[ro-sham-no]

cities, a poem by me.

[paperlovesadness]

I'm sitting outside in the sun in wet jeans - following advice on how to stretch denim to better fit you - making breathing room for myself and my thighs who are hated by jean sizing everywhere - and I'm getting sappy about Tumblr and fangirling and this community of lovely, unapologetically excited people I've met here.

This is something not many will probably read (long posts can be tough, I get it) - it just kind of all spilled I guess? Incoherently but with passion. So why not set it free when it's already here.

You see - I can't help but credit Tumblr as this huge part of my inner child healing journey. And particularly the girlhood part of it all.

Subconsciously & even consciously I've felt so so ashamed of these "girly" sides of me all my life. Especially in their "prime time" of my tween and teen years. I'd love things secretly - or at most - talk about them only after loudly labelling them as "guilty pleasures" (quite a terrible concept) or acting like it's all done with a tinge of self-aware irony.

But being a hopeless romantic; loving your favorite characters with your whole being; squealing over your favorite music and the musicians who make it; talking about your favorite songs and lyrics and photos; drawing, editing, making fanart of things that make your heart sore; sharing your fantasies and dreams; crying about quotes and big ideas; writing stories - those are all such beautiful things.

I've immersed myself back in the worlds of blogging and fanfiction and musical fangirling and... In many ways I haven't felt this good since I was a kid - still untouched by society and it's shaming of the endless supply of passion I had in me towards the things I loved.

And fangirls are a force. Fangirls are what made the music industry what it is. They're who discovered the Beatles and Leonard Cohen and Frank Sinatra and David Bowie - amongst so many others - and when they did the hard work - only then was it all taken over and appropriated by men who claimed only they can "truly and objectively" appreciate it.

It's girls - bright, unapologetically excited, passionate girls who care for pretty things and things with a soul and things with a story, with romantic connotations - girls who love to curate aesthetically pleasing landscapes and spaces around themselves - it's those girls who contributed hugely to an actual analogue photography and vinyl pressing revival & re-popularization.

I'm in my late twenties. I've only recently let myself pierce my ears and start wearing makeup sometimes. And care openly about my appearance and fashion choices. It's very much still all queer coded and slightly gender-mixed. Because that's me. But caring about these things has always been categorized as a "girl thing" = therefore = shameful, shallow, not something to be proud of.

I'm continuously curing my incredibly hurtful and internally misogynistic complex of "not being like other girls". There are still biases and automatic-judgements I'm fighting on the daily. But it's become so much clearer and easier to do so.

Im more ways than one I want to be exactly like other girls. I want to grab the hands of all the fangirls around this site and dance with them in a circle and tell them they look great whatever they choose to look like and I want to sit down in a meadow and make flower crowns together and squeal over our favorite things.

And to be clear I'm not saying be girly. I'm saying embrace you inner girlhood.

And that could be so many things. Just... Never be ashamed of the parts of it that society deems shallow and embarrassing or worthless.

And just... Thank you for being girlies with me 💗

(girlies & girls as usual used as more of a state of my mind and being; not a strictly gendered term. This applies in all, most or many ways to queer people & of course non-binary and trans experiences).