#a funked up fairy tale

[leavemebetosleep]

do you have any good fluttercord fic recs?

OH BOY DO I. In no particular order (except of when I thought of them):

1: Non-Entity by Captain Wuzz: An AU in which, instead of being turned to stone, Discord was shot in the head with a magic arrow that takes away his sentience and magic for a 1,000 years. Fluttershy mistakes him for a wounded animal and brings him home. I loved it so much.

2: Chaotic Neutral by C-Puff: The magic is starting to fade from Equestria, and the Main 6 and Discord go on an adventure to find out why, and reverse it. A bit of AU, in the sense it was written before the show was done, so it diverts in some places because of that. Super sweet, and I love the character development here.

3: Time is Taller than Space is Wide by Dott. Can also be read on Ao3 if you prefer. Soulmate AU (?) fic with a Groundhog Day style twist. I rarely see fics play with the idea of what if Fluttershy and Discord's friendship had started when they first met, so this is fun.

4 & 5: Blank and it's sequel Reconnection by @geekcat. Can also be read on fanfic.net. AU in which, before Discord can choose friendship over ruling Equestria, Twilight remembers a "reformation" spell. He is stripped of his free will, and Fluttershy does her best to bring him back. If you don't like the idea of Twilight being a villain, you might not like this one, but I think her villain arc in this is done in a perfect way for her character. It's super heart wrenching in many places, but in a good way.

6: Our Fair Lady of the Chaos Lord, also by GeekCat Can also be read on fanfic.net. Fairy tale inspired AU in which Fluttershy is a princess who's father is pressuring her to marry noble knight Sir Big Mac. Wanting to be sure he's a good person, she makes a deal with the Chaos Lord, letting herself be "kidnapped" so she can test his character. You can guess who she falls for instead. Honestly I've enjoyed all of GeekCat's fics, so they're getting an extra mention. Check out the rest of their fluttercord fics if you like any of these.

7: The Draconequus with the Dragon Tattoo by A M Shark This is a major case of, strange premise, kick ass results. Basically an AU based off Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson, with Discord as Lisbeth, and Fluttershy as an amalgamation of Mikael and several other characters, but focusing more on the murder mystery aspect of that book, and less on the...everything else. If you're familiar with GwtDT, don't worry, there's no rape scenes. Again, it's more about the murder mystery part. If you're not familiar with GwtDT, then don't worry again, because you don't need to know the original to enjoy it. It's just Discord and Fluttershy playing detective and solving a murder together. It has two sequels, but I haven't read them yet, and it didn't feel right to rec something I haven't read.

8: The Corpse Bride by Bad Horse. Dark fic. No relation to the Burton movie. Fluttershy dies in a tragic accident, and Discord brings her back from the dead as his zombie wife. Her friends (sans Pinkie) are horrified. Has a fantastic twist ending. If you like some of the darker stuff, def worth a read.

Bonus: Comic rec: The Last Adventure by Eveeka. Taking place after the final defeat of Tirek, Cozy, and Chrysalis, Discord gets into a depressive funk after shouldering the hatred from Ponyville citizens for his latest actions, but also because his friends seem to never be available anymore. He starts to think maybe Equestria would be better off without him, as he can't seem to exist with out making everyone miserable, and decides to hide away in the Everfree forest. Fluttershy, worried when he doesn't show up for tea, asks her friends for help, only to discover there's a monster running lose there he and the rest of Equestria might be in danger from. This fic has two endings, so keep reading even when it seems like it's over. You've got one more ending left. This one nearly made me cry.

[islxms]

-ˏˋ⋆ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄 ︱ 𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐄 ⋆ˊˎ-

𝑖����𝑑𝑒𝑥 ☆ 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡 ☆ 𝑛𝑒𝑥𝑡 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟

──────⊹⊱✫⊰⊹──────

pairings - actor!aaronwarner x actress!femoc

summary - Kenji Kishimoto, your best friend, insisted that you audition for Dear Love, a romance series, as he didn't want to spend time there alone. After various pleas, you finally accepted the request.

warnings - none

words count - 1,948 words.

︳⋆ ⎙ 𝅄 𝖬𝖠𝖨𝖫𝖡𝖮𝖷 ﹎ hope you enjoy the first chapter, especially since it took me a while to start and finish, since I couldn't decide or think how to. I don't know how to feel about it, I hate it and love it. I promise the future ones will be better.

"Finally, ugh," I grumbled as the credits for Tangled rolled across the screen. Kenji had insisted on making me watch his favorite Disney movie again, and I was over it. This had to be the fifty-sixth time, on a fucking Friday! I could've done many things!

"Hey! Don't say that. Tangled is a masterpiece," he protested, flinging a pillow at me, which made me slip slightly on the couch.

"Yeah, sure," I said dryly, barely masking my irritation.

"I hate you," Kenji fake-pouted before storming off to the kitchen. Just like a little kid.

"So, are you going to audition for the new series or not?" Kenji changed the subject as he rummaged through the fridge. I knew he was after those damn Skittles he always devours at my place.

"I'm thinking about it," I replied, getting up from the couch and heading toward him. "But I heard it's a romance story, and I'm not keen on kissing anyone on screen." I folded my arms, narrowing my eyes as he finally pulled out the Skittles. "And if you keep raiding my stash, I might just stop buying them."

Kenji's eyes widened in mock horror as he clutched the candy to his chest. "How could you say that, Sunshine? I'm deeply hurt!" Despite his dramatics, he tore open the bag and started munching away.

"By the way, I'm in it too," he mumbled through a mouthful of Skittles.

I rolled my eyes. "Great. Just so you know, Kenji Kishimoto, I have zero plans of kissing you on set or out."

Kenji Kishimoto, my best friend and one of the few people I trusted, had a knack for making me laugh, even when I was at my lowest. He could pull me out of any funk with his jokes and relentless teasing. But despite his flirtations, I never saw him as more than a friend-something I could never admit to him since his ego was already larger than Asia, and the last thing I needed was to inflate it even further.

"Don't worry, you'll change your mind eventually," he said with a playful smirk, but his triumph was short-lived as I smacked him on the arm.

"Ow! What was that for?" he whined, rubbing his arm.

"For letting your stupid ego get the best of you again," I shot back with a grin.

Kenji pouted, rubbing his arm like it was injured. "You know, you could work on your people skills. Not everyone is as charming as me."

I rolled my eyes, leaning against the counter. "Charming? Is that what we're calling it now? Delusion suits you perfectly."

He ignored my jab and popped another Skittle into his mouth, grinning like he'd won. "So, if you're not planning to kiss anyone, what's stopping you from auditioning? You could just act."

"Acting involves more than just pretending," I said, brushing a stray hair behind my ear. "And romance isn't exactly my thing."

Kenji studied me, his playful demeanor softening. "You used to love the idea of being in love. What changed?"

I paused, taken aback by his sudden seriousness. He wasn't wrong. I used to be a hopeless romantic, dreaming of whirlwind love stories. But life had a funny way of turning those dreams into something else entirely.

"I grew up," I replied firmly. "Realized that not all stories end with a fairy tale."

Kenji frowned, searching my face. "You don't believe that, do you? That happiness isn't in the cards for you?"

I shrugged. "Let's just say I've become more realistic."

"Realism's overrated," Kenji said, leaning closer with a serious edge. "You're too young to give up on love. You should audition. Who knows? Maybe you'll have fun."

I met his gaze, a smile tugging at my lips. "Since when did you become such an optimist?"

He grinned, the mischievous spark back in his eyes. "I'm not. I just think you'd look great trying to resist falling for me on set."

I laughed, shaking my head. "You're impossible."

"Impossible and irresistible," he corrected with a wink.

I sighed. "You know," I said, reaching for a Skittle from the bag still clutched in Kenji's hand, "if I audition and get the part, I expect you to be on your best behavior."

Kenji's grin widened. "No promises, Sunshine. But for you, I'll try."

Did I just sell my soul to the devil? Probably.

Kenji managed to drag me to the set I might be working on. He was practically bouncing with excitement as he led me through the studio doors, and I had to remind myself this was my choice even if it felt like I was being dragged.

"This is going to be great, trust me," Kenji said, flashing his trademark grin. "Castle's a good friend, and he's excited to meet you."

Castle-the director. Naturally, Kenji was on a first-name basis with him. He seemed to know everyone who mattered. We walked through the bustling set, with people rushing around and the constant hum of activity.

"If I'm being honest, this isn't as bad as I thought it would be," I admitted, glancing around. The set was impressive-detailed and alive, like the story was already coming to life.

Kenji shot me a triumphant look. "See? I told you. It's not all that scary."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't deny a small thrill of excitement starting to build.

As we continued our tour, Kenji pointed out different parts of the set, explaining what each was for and how they'd be used in the scenes. He was in his element, effortlessly charming everyone we passed.

When we finally reached Castle, he greeted Kenji with a warm hug and then turned to me with a welcoming smile. "So, this is the star Kenji's been talking about," he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Glad to finally meet you."

I forced a confident smile. "Nice to meet you too, Mr. Castle."

"Please, call me Castle," he replied, waving off the formality. "I'm looking forward to seeing what you can do. Kenji's been talking you up like you're the next big thing."

I shot Kenji a look, but he just shrugged, grinning like a cat that got the cream. "Just speaking the truth."

Castle laughed, clearly entertained. "Well, I can't wait to see you in action. I have a feeling you're going to bring something special to this project."

I wasn't sure how to respond to Castle's enthusiasm, so I just nodded, keeping my nerves in check. I loved acting, just like I loved watching romance movies, but being in one and living out those moments on screen made me jittery. The thought of kissing someone on screen, even though I'd done it before, still gave me chills. This felt different.

What are you even worrying about? It's just acting. Don't throw away your opportunities. You've done it many times before!

Perfect, now I'm talking to myself.

Audition for the movie and stop being an overdramatic baby.

I'm not!

Then why are you still thinking about whether you should audition?

...

"What are the available roles for Dear Love, again?" I asked, breaking the silence as we continued walking through the set.

Kenji turned to me with a grin, clearly pleased with my sudden interest. "Ah, so you're considering it, huh? Well, the lead role of Emma is still open, and a few supporting characters too. But I have to say, you'd make a great Emma."

I bit my lip, the character's description echoing in my mind. Strong-willed, independent, and hesitant to believe in love-qualities that matched mine. Could I step into Emma's shoes and bring her story to life?

Before I could second-guess myself, I glanced at Kenji and said, "Alright, let's do it. I'll audition for Emma."

Kenji's face lit up with excitement and pride. "That's the spirit, Sunshine! You're going to crush it."

The next morning, I sat in front of my vanity, staring at my reflection with a sense of purpose. My mind was racing with thoughts of the audition. I had agreed to try out for the role of Emma, and now that the reality of it was sinking in, I was ready to own it.

What if I'm not good enough? What if this role isn't for me? What if I completely mess it up?

I shook my head, dismissing the doubts. I had done this before-auditions, roles, the whole process. I was a pro, and I had the confidence to prove it. The thought of kissing someone on screen, while still nerve-wracking, wasn't going to stop me. I faced tougher challenges and came out on top.

Kenji's words from the previous day echoed in my mind. "You're going to crush it." He had so much faith in me, and I was ready to show him and everyone else what I was made of.

With a deep breath, I started getting ready, choosing an outfit that made me feel confident and powerful. It was just an audition, after all.

As I applied a touch of makeup, I rehearsed the lines I'd been practicing. I could feel Emma's character taking shape within me-her strength, her hesitance, her guarded heart. I related to her in many ways, and I was determined to bring her to life on screen.

When I arrived at the studio, my nerves were still buzzing, but I was focused. Kenji was waiting for me at the entrance, his usual grin plastered on his face.

"Ready to show them what you've got?" he asked, his tone teasing but supportive.

"As ready as I'll ever be," I replied, forcing a confident smile.

We walked inside, surrounded by the buzz of activity. The studio was alive with the sounds of people preparing for their auditions, and the energy in the air was palpable.

Castle was chatting with a few other actors when he saw me. He waved me over with a warm smile. "Ms. Solans, great to see you again. Ready to give it your best shot?"

"Absolutely," I said, my voice steady and clear.

"Good. Just remember, have fun with it. Don't worry about being perfect-just be yourself," Castle advised, his words surprisingly comforting.

As I stepped into the audition room, the familiar lights and cameras in place, I felt a surge of determination. This was my world-acting, performing, and becoming someone else for a while. I had this.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a moment. When I opened them, I was Emma. The lines flowed naturally, and the emotions felt genuine. For those few minutes, I was fully immersed in the character's world, forgetting about everything else.

When I finished, there was a pause, followed by Castle's approving nod. "That was fantastic, Ms. Solans. You really brought Emma to life."

I felt a wave of relief wash over me, the tension in my shoulders easing. "Thank you," I replied, my voice steady.

As I left the room, Kenji was waiting outside, his grin wider than ever. "I told you you'd crush it! You were amazing in there, Sunshine."

I couldn't help but laugh, the earlier nerves replaced with a sense of accomplishment. "It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be."

"See? I knew you could do it," Kenji said, slinging an arm around my shoulders. "Now, let's get out of here. I'm starving, and I'm sure you could use a break."

"I saw you munching a sandwich earlier," I said with a smirk.

"What? A star can't eat now?" He crossed his arms dramatically, giving me an exaggerated pout. I stared him down, and the facade crumbled into a playful smile.

"Fine," I said, laughing. "Let's go grab something to eat."

[ofliterarynature]

FEBRUARY 2024 WRAP UP

[loved liked ok nope dnf (reread) book club*]

The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years • The Memory Librarian • Pixels of You* • Arch-Enemies • Moby Dyke • Pip Bartlett’s Guide to Magical Creatures • A Sinister Revenge • Lud in the Mist • Crying in H Mart • Something Close to Magic • Hula • (Renegades) • The Divorce Colony • Foundryside • Earthlings • A Far Wilder Magic

total: 13 books (12 audiobook, 1 print)

Not as many books this month! And not just because February has fewer days, I was really in a funk this month and struggling to pay attention to my audiobooks (and enjoy them). You wouldn't think there's such a thing as too many books, but I think the overtime hours at work are hitting their peak mental health destruction. Here's to hoping things improve in March!

The Divorce Colony (4.5 stars) - genuinely can't believe this was my 3rd nonfic of the year already! I picked a print copy of this up at a library sale in December after hearing about divorce colonies in the early 20th century on a recent episode of the 99% Invisible podcast. Turns out this book was actually about the beginning of the moment that took place in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in the 1800's. Western states had shorter residency periods and less strict divorce laws, so women (and the occasional man) would travel west and live there for several months in order to obtain a divorce. This book tracks the movement through the stories of 4 of the more infamous cases to make the papers, and does an incredible job of weaving in the surrounding political and religious discussions. Would recommend, and has a great cover to boot!

Renegades (3 stars) - a reread, and for some reason it was torture. I originally read this back in 2018 and loved it, and wanted to tackle it again and actually finish the rest of the series. But I kept getting worked up and frustrated this time around! It kept trying to take itself seriously while also being very YA and kind of superhero-camp, and I was absolutely overthinking it lol. I found the strength to press on into book two, Archenemies (3.5 stars). I liked it a bit more! Something about it being new, the story being a bit more settled and maybe getting a better grasp on its message/politics, the characters growing more, me figuring out that I shouldn't listen to the audiobook for more than an hour or so at a time, lmao. Not great, but fun, and possibly worth reading? I'll keep y'all updated when I finish book 3.

Hula (5 stars) - incredible. Part generational family story, part history, part discussion of what it means to be Hawaiian, culturally and legally. Not always the easiest of reads, but it was so so worth it. It was also doing something very interesting with parts of the narration voiced by a collective "we" (culture/community?) that I would love to get a look at in print. Highly recommend, I'll definitely be getting myself a copy.

Something Close to Magic (4.5 stars) - an absolute delight! The Gail Carson Levine comp on this one is not entirely unearned, anyone who's a fan of fairy tale type fantasies will enjoy this, I had a great time! Very interestingly, it has characters who are in their mid to late teens, but is written in a way where they're still allowed to be young, to the point I'm surprised it didn't get shoehorned into MG instead of YA. If the author writes any more of these I'd be happy to read them.

Crying in H Mart (3.5 stars) - nonfic number 4! I'm sure everyone's heard of this one by now, which is why I finally picked it up. It's fine (which is why it got an extra .5 star), but on the scale of take it or leave it, I'd leave it. It just wasn't for me and I kind of wish I'd dnf'd it. A great cover though.

Lud-in-the-Mist (3.5 stars) - this one seems to be considered a sort of early precursor to fantasy and fairy tale type stories from the early 20th century, and I was eager to try it! While I definitely don't think it would feel out of place amongst it's more recent fellows (think the Last Unicorn, Robin McKinley, DWJ, etc), I absolutely could not get into it. Probably the chief recipient of "my brain doesn't want to cooperate, sorry," so maybe I'll give it another shot someday.

A Sinister Revenge (4 stars) - enjoyable as always! Not to hide this deep in my reviews or anything, but have the Emily Wilde people tried Veronica Speedwell yet?

Pip Bartlett's Guide to Magical Creatures (3 stars) - This one's been sitting unread on my shelf for a while, and since I was on a bit of a Maggie Stiefvater run, I figured it was perfect! Well. Unless you are like 7, this was so bad. Not good. Having previously read and not liked a book by Maggie's co-author Jackson Pearce, I think it would not be unreasonable for me to assume she did most of the writing while Maggie did the illustrations - if the audiobook had been any longer than 4 hours I'd have absolutely DNF'd it, and I have no intention of continuing the series.

Moby Dyke: An Obsessive Quest to Track Down the Last Remaining Lesbian Bars in the Country (4.5 stars) - part of me was wondering what I was doing trying this lol, not being someone who drinks or goes to bars, OR, as previously mentioned, is not the biggest fan of memoirs. It was not, as I hoped, also part research project, but it is a travelogue, and as a consequence has a strong narrative thread. It also has a lot of discussions about issues in the LGBTQ+ community, and overall I really liked it once I figured out what it was doing!

Pixels of You (3.5 stars) - a very short sapphic rivals-to friends-to lovers graphic novel about a human-form AI and a human with an android eye competing for a photography internship at an art gallery. The creators clearly put SO much thought into their characters and worldbuilding, but sadly there is nowhere near enough length here to do it all justice, and a number of elements felt very odd or under explored. The relationship parts are great! I just think this needed to be twice as long to really given everything its due, or maybe explored in prose instead.

The Memory Librarian (3.5 stars) - to start, I know nothing about the musical album this is related to, so I don't know how much that might have affected my reading. Overall I wasn't super impressed - when I discovered that the first story was cowritten by Alaya Dawn Johnson - no shade to her - I almost dropped it then, I just really didn't like her writing style in the one book I've read. But I stuck through it. Of the five stories, only one really stuck in my mind - Nevermind, cowritten by Danny Lore, which I could have read an entire novel about. I wish I could recommend it on its own, but overall I just don't quite understand the world Monae has created.

The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years (3.5 stars) - I probably should say more about the book, it was fine, I was surprised to find that it's set in relatively current day, I found myself a lot more interested in the second narrative about the house's history, which did make me cry a bit. Mostly though, I really just want to let you know how MUCH of a non-entity the djinn was in this story, I have no idea why it was there and why it was included in the title of the book. All the author had to do was make the house a little more sentient and haunted and it would be fine, idk. Read it if you want, but it's not one I would rec.

DNF'S

Foundryside - I was so ready. I had the first two audiobooks checked out, I had the third one on hold. I started this but oh, the writing. bleh. I was looking thought reviews and someone referred to it as something like "21st century internet speak." In a high fantasy novel. I noped out at just 10%.

Earthlings - I've considered the author's other book before but haven't read it, but thought maybe a sci-fic book would work better for me? The beginning was odd but not uninteresting, and I might have continued if it had stayed that way. But then the main character was in school(?) and her teacher started getting handsy after class and I wasn't invested enough to stick it out.

A Far Wilder Magic - the success of Something Close to Magic made me a little too hopeful I think, bc while I'm still a little leery around YA, I know people have liked this. And it sounded interesting, truly, and I love the cover. But first it was the religion stuff. And I didn't really like the characters. Then it's like, oh, this is the same plot as The Scorpio Races, but nowhere near it's quality in any shape or form. I decided to stop while I was ahead, before I started to actually dislike it. (anyway here's your PSA to go read The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, I recommend doing it in October if you can).

[moontrinemars]

a Few Notes on Writers and Storytelling in Vedic Astrology - and how to use that in your own chart!

Researched for my use, published for your reference. Disclaimer in bio. I use Sidereal placements but suggest checking both.

✒️ Ardra has massive connections to Gothic fiction. Mary Shelley (Frankenstein) and Lord Byron (romantic poetry) both had Ardra Ascendants, with Shelley also having Ardra Saturn and Indu Lagna. Charlotte Bronte (Jane Eyre) had an Ardra Mars and Emily Bronte (Wuthering Heights) had an Ardra moon.

📖 This makes sense! Ardra is the Star of Sorrow. It is also called the Star of Oppression. The Vimshottari Dasha says Ardra can be connected to condemnation and sacrifice. It is ruled by the Howling God, Rudra, born crying for he had no name. He was the god of Destructive Storms and Thunder, and also the Lord of Wild Animals and Medicines. This aligns with many common Gothic motifs!

📖 As a result, Gothic fiction can be an amazing introspective dive for Ardra natives... if they aren't too afraid to see their own wounds reflected back at them. Like Frankenstein's monster, Ardra natives often end up rejecting or being rejected by their "creators" - whether that's their families or their gods. Catherine and Heathcliff and their tragedy will speak to the wild Ardra native's inclination to lash out or run away out of fear of being trapped or abandoned. Etc!

✒️ You can look at an author's D5 for common threads in their popular works. For example, D5 Mars in its own sign or house is common for suspense and noir authors, as is prominent Scorpio. Both of these things are true for Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot books and other mystery novels), Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes series), and Truman Capote (In Cold Blood)!

📖 If you are a creator, you can look to it for inspiration, or use it to analyze your works for patterns you never even noticed! For example, I also write original fiction in my own time. My D5 Ascendant is Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter, and faith, fate, and the divine are common themes. My D5 sun is 6th house Taurus and my works usually explore one on one relationships with lots of dialogue. Venus, my D5 sun's sign ruler, is in the 12th and Scorpio and the plots typically involve secrets, mysteries, and the link between life and death. Etc. etc. etc.

📖 Even if you don't consider yourself a creator, you can use your D5 to look at the creators that helped shape you! For example, my D5 has a Mula Ascendant and a triple conjunction in Bharani under 1º, and my favorite author as a child, Cornelia Funke, has Bharani Mars and a Venus/Saturn conjunction in Mula under 2º in her D1. I also loved Peter and Wendy, and on top of us sharing D1 Ardra Risings, J. M. Barrie has his D1 sun in Krittika, same as my D5 Jupiter.

✒️ Fairy tales are usually associated with Punarvasu, Hasta, and Revati. Hans Christian Anderson (The Little Mermaid, The Emperor's New Clothes, etc.) had Punarvasu Rahu, Hasta Saturn, and Revati Sun and Mercury. J. M. Barrie (Peter and Wendy, later iterations known as Peter Pan) had Punarvasu Jupiter, its ruling planet, in the 1st and D10 Hasta Ascendant and Pluto. Hans Grimm (Grimm's Fairy Tales) had Hasta Moon, which is its ruling planet, and Revati Rahu.

📖 Punarvasu is the Star of Renewal. It prospers the greatest only after experiencing failure - a common theme in fairy tales. There is a Rags to Riches element to this nakshatra, or the reverse. It's not a romantic nakshatra but it is well suited to travel. I personally associate it with The Emperor's New Clothes, The Lost Princess, and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.

📖 Hasta is the Hand, which has more than one meaning. This nakshatra puts what you want in your hands, but there is also a connection to palmistry, fate, and magic. These natives have the quick wit and mystical audacity that gives characters in fairy tales the happiest endings. They're also willing to 'take with both hands'. I associate this nakshatra with Jack and the Beanstalk, Rumpelstilskin, and The Seven Ravens.

📖 Revati is the Star of Wealth, because they find what has been lost or overlooked and appreciate it appropriately. They are at their best when they act as guides, or as guardians, to those who need them. I associate them with The Blue Bird, The Frog Prince, and Thumbelina.

Hope this was useful, thanks for reading. If you have any questions, feel free to message, ask, or reply ♡

[television-overload]

Analyzing track no. 7 from Michael Weatherly's NCIS:TIVA playlist for @fairy-tales-of-yesterday

"The Traitor" by Menahan Street Band

First impressions:

Sinister/mysterious vibes

No lyrics

Reggae/funk vibe which is very Michael Weatherly

Layered instruments

My thoughts:

Despite the fact that this song is instrumental, there's plenty to talk about

The TITLE is alarming

My first thought is that this has something to do with the spinoff, a hint at what may be to come

That being said... "The Traitor"

Will someone we know betray Tony and Ziva? Is that how they end up in danger?

Traitor, to me, implies that it's someone they know well. A former lover? An internationally connected ally? One of Tony's employees at his security company? A business partner? A friend? (I can't imagine this one being true, at least of any main characters on the series)

This track I could definitely see as the background music while a character is up to no good (not that that's the point of this playlist, I'm just saying if it was used in a show or movie, that's how I'd see this one used). If we really are looking at songs that represent both the OG NCIS and the spinoff Tiva, I do think Michael has the spinoff in mind for this one.

However, there definitely were times in seasons 3-10 where Ziva was accused of being a traitor. Tony too, for that matter. But the argument for that isn't as strong, so I'm sticking with this being an indicator that we may see betrayal kick of this globetrotting adventure, which I am very intrigued by.

Like this song's many layers, I'm hoping to see extremely well fleshed-out characters, especially Tony and Ziva and Tali, of course. They may be holding things together on the surface, but underneath we know there will be tension that gets resolved by the end of the series. I cannot wait.

Send me a number between 1 and 30 and I'll analyze/give my thoughts on one of the songs on Michael Weatherly's Tiva playlist

[novelmonger]

Stories About Stories

There's this certain genre (or subgenre? or category?) that I love, which I like to call "stories about stories." (At first I was going to say "books about books," but obviously it can also be a movie/game/etc.) You know - a story that revolves around the very power of stories, of reading, of the deep love of books and fiction in general, where books and stories and reading are central to the plot. Stories about stories are less common than you might think, considering...well, presumably most people telling a story have a deep love and appreciation for stories, or why would they bother writing their own? But every now and then, I come across one and add it to a little mental bookshelf in my head. Here's what's on my bookshelf so far:

The Fall (2006) - A man with a spinal injury starts telling stories to a girl with a broken arm he meets in the hospital. The epic tale that unfolds not only helps pass the time, but also hints at characters' motivations and backgrounds. I'm not exaggerating when I say the story they weave together saves lives.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke - People known as Silvertongues are able to read characters and objects out of books when they read aloud - and something from the real world goes into the book at the same time. The main character, Meggie, has a father who is a Silvertongue, who accidentally read characters out of a book called Inkheart, and Meggie's mother went into the book. Ever since then, he's been trying to read her back out. This book is all about the power, danger, and beauty of the written word.

Seven-Day Magic by Edward Eager - A group of children find an untitled book in the library and open it to find that it's telling the story of them going to the library and finding this book. They use the book to make wishes and go into some of their favorite stories. It's basically every child's dream come true, if that child is a bookworm like me ^_^ I love every single one of Eager's magic books, but this was one of my particular favorites growing up.

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde - In an alternate version of our world, there are organizations that regulate time travel as well as literary crimes (such as gang wars over Shakespearian authorship, which is a big deal in this alternate history). The main character, Thursday, is a detective looking into one such complicated crime, and ends up going into the book of Jane Eyre. In this world, any changes made to an original manuscript will change all copies of the book, so you can imagine the kind of chaos that ensues. I actually didn't care for this book very much, but it was more because I disliked the characters, not because it wasn't fun to explore an alternate world where literature is so vitally important and you can meet literary characters for real.

The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman - There is a huge, seemingly endless library that is its own dimension, connected to an infinite number of alternate worlds. The main character, Irene, is a librarian who is tasked with collecting new works of fiction for the library. This time, she goes to an alternate London to pick up a version of Grimm's fairy tales, meets an alternate version of a certain literary character, and has to contend with a chaotic but really fun steampunk world. Ultimately, I decided not to continue this series after the first book, but...I can't deny that risking one's life for the sake of a book made Irene very relatable XD

The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep by H.G. Parry - The main character's brother, Charley, has the ability to read characters and important objects out of books. Which is all well and good until someone else ends up reading a very literal version of the Hound of the Baskervilles from the scene where it seems to actually be a spectral horror, and sends it to Charley's house to kill him.... An excellent book, which deals a lot with how different people will read the same character differently, colored by their own perceptions and understanding of the literature in question.

Alan Wake - A horror writer goes to a small town in the hopes of breaking through writer's block. Instead, he discovers that there is some kind of magic in the place that makes everything he writes come true. And...he's a horror writer, so.... This is an excellent horror game, with a really engaging story and one of the best (probably) unintentional allegories I've encountered in a video game. It feels almost like a cautionary tale about not letting writer's block get the best of you :P

Myst (series) - Okay, this one's maybe a little more metaphorical than the others. But the series is all about the D'ni, a hidden race of people who have the ability to create worlds by writing a book about them. It's like...sub-creation writ large. The point of the games is to explore these worlds, which are mostly abandoned after the fall of D'ni civilization, and to help the last few surviving D'ni find some measure of peace. The D'ni books aren't so much stories as just worldbuilding descriptions, but there's something so metaphorically resonant about touching the page of a book and then finding yourself in the world you just read about. And the people inhabiting these worlds being real people with free will and everything even though they were written by someone else...is that not how every writer's characters are?

Please add on to this! I always want more stories about stories. And I'm probably forgetting something super obvious anyway.

[leafs-lover]

Prompt List

In a bit of a funk with writing, thought this might help. Send in a prompt or two with a player and I'll try to write it (it can also be for characters/ fics I have written). Just fyi, I'm really hoping these will help pull me from my funk and inspire me, but if not then I'm sorry basically no promises these will be written or in a timely manner

---

“No, no, don’t give me that look, you know I can’t handle when you’re upset.”

“Stay quiet.”

“Shouldn’t we go somewhere…a little more quiet.”

“Please don’t cry.”

“You’re so needy.”

“Open up.”

“You take me so well.”

“Spread your legs.”

“Shut up and kiss me.”

“I can’t hear you.”

“Guess that’s why fairy tales end when they do.”

“Stop pushing everyone away.”

“It’s better this way.”

“I never thought you’d be the one to hurt me.”

“I need you to trust me.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“Like what you see?”

“Didn’t realize you were so sensitive.”

“You’re allowed to not be okay.”

“On your knees.”

“Don’t make me regret this.”

“When I get home you better be ready and waiting for me.”

“You want everyone to know what a slut you are, don’t you?”

“Oh hun, you know better than to tease me.”

“You want everyone to know what a slut you are, don’t you?”

“It would be better if you stayed away.”

“I never planned on this.”

“My boyfriend will kill us if he finds out.”

“Remember who you belong to.”

“This isn’t how it was supposed to happen.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“Why do you always doubt yourself?”

“That looks like it hurts.”

“You have to let me go.”

“We could be great together.”

“I wanted to marry you.”

“I wish I had an answer for you.”

“Who needs labels?”

“You need to let me go.”

“It can be our little secret.”

“You left me.”

“What’s your perfect Sunday?”

“So, this is it then?”

“You said that last time.”

“All I’ve ever wanted is for you to see me.”

“I missed that laugh.”

“I can’t lose you.” “You already did.”

“You know the rules.”

“You sure you can keep quiet darling? I don’t have anything besides my cock to gag you with, and I’m planning on using that elsewhere.”

[surpriseraisin]

spiteful au some thoughts

if it was going to continue i think it would be by doing more world building about the strings and also exploring other effects of songs.

we've seen that songs/music can have magical effects (power chord, perfect family harmony, jazz music, hustle button, etc) also like branch bringing back color with the song and bringing back music and color in general during the ending of world tour

theres also the effect of a pinkie promise (which honestly kinda looked like the perfect family harmony)

so one of the key difference is that floyd made a pinkie promise to come back and become a family again before leaving branch.

velvet in this au; she keeps the talent and a permanent stain of magenta. she discovers that the talent grows stronger the more applause she gets, and that there's a certain allure to the audience so even those who may have put together that this was troll based talent or witnessed the tragedy from the trolls perspective it gets washed away by the pop songs.

but velvet also notices that she's been getting migraines and that there's been a soreness and bump growing on her head. it could be a troll egg manifesting, containing floyd in order to try and fulfill the pinkie promise. it could be a nasty side effect of imbibing concentrated troll essence, especially fully consuming the troll.

veneer is proper horrified and is no longer singing with velvet, but is acting more like a manager. he's organizing her shows and watching over her routine, and its to make sure she doesn't get more trolls and that he knows what she's doing. has been noticing the migraines and the complaints of a bump. may also be hearing voices; could be a side effect of partially imbibing floyds essence.

branch and his brothers were transported away by rhonda, bridget and gristle. branch has fully gone catatonic and is being led along by poppy. john clay and bruce still in the diamonds are being held by bridget and gristle. they look uncomfortable. clay is practically vibrating with energy, fiddling with his arm bands and tugging at his hair. john is clutching his head or hitting the walls. bruce is holding himself and looking at the other brothers, telling them not to hurt themselves.

viva is trying to lead them along and is silent but is now convinced that bergens may have become friendly but there are still monsters out there and her fear is very much valid. She's trying so hard to not bring up her concerns, because everyone is so distraught, but she really wants her sister and everyone away and out of here.

much later viva remembers the story that poppy told her about the other trolls and the real history of the pop trolls and the string. in turn viva tells poppy about the stories she used to hear during her childhood from their dad, that she thought were just fairy tales but may have truth in them if the other trolls are real.

such as the lengths pinkie promises can change the world to be fulfilled or the consequences of it being broken. powerful enough to have an effect on the fabric of the world. << this discussion is not brought up until later when branch gets absorbed into legends and myths to see if there could possibly be an answer when poppy tried to get him out of the funk by saying there has to be an answer don't give up branch.

maybe they can fully bring floyd back by singing a particular song and sacrificing some of their talent. to replace the void of talent that was taken from floyd. or maybe they siphon some of floyds original talent away from velvet, and supplement it with the song and put it all together with some kind of ritual

[africanotaku92]

Winter and Spring: A Story of the Four Seasons.

HI!! I'm Sorry i haven't been really writing in a while but!!! i wrote a fairy tale!! Or at least fairy tale-esque story. It was fun to write, (to tell you the truth i've been in a funk for a while.)

I take constructive criticism! Just be polite about it!

@jessesblogg @baaaa-king @omniithe-deer @jadenoryuu

inter and Spring: A Story of the Four Seasons.

Once, when the earth was young and the people new, there was a king named Summer. He was a wise and noble monarch, who lived in the Palace of Sky.  With his radiance he warmed the land, and with his wisdom, he gave council to the people. The King Summer had a daughter named Spring. She was a lovely young thing. Under the loving watch of her father, she danced on the fields of the earth, her joy and carefree nature giving reason for the  festive moods, her sunset dress gliding through the earth, bringing forth the most beautiful of blooms, and the bees she kept provided the sweetest of honey. She tends to the new mothers, who welcome their children in her domain. When she is finished her dance, she retires to the castle, were she will watch her father walk upon the earth, his golden robes ripening the wheat and other crops, giving console to the people, and watches over the young ones as they grow and renew the peoples. The people loved their King and their Maiden, and the father and daughter loved their people.

One day, Spring had decided that she would take her dances further than the fields in which she knew. She went and begged her father for a piece of the wind, so he relented and gave her. 

“This wind is a little weak, so it will only take you a bit further than you’re used to. If you stray further than you know, you must come back immediately. And beware  the Knight of the first, for she is a dangerous thing.”

She thanked her father, promising not to stray too far, then hopped on the wind and rode North. However, the wind was stronger than her father had said, as the more she rode, the less she recognised the land. She saw a dense forest, with trees taller than she could imagine, with some having their leaves an assortment of colours, and others with barely any or no leaves at all. The forest floor was covered in vibrant reds and yellows and oranges, with plants and mushrooms and animals she had never seen before, and the whole place smelled of fresh blood. She was so amazed by what she saw, she forgot her father’s instructions and rode on. Eventually, the wind had slowed, so she knew it was time to land. She landed in front of the largest oak tree in the middle of the forest, and at the base of the tree, lay a woman. 

Her crown was woven from bronze twigs, decorated with the fallen leaves and the seeds of trees. She wore a cloak and boots of animal hide and fur, covered in arrows and dyed red. Her tunic and skin made of the same brown of the oak. She was the most beautiful thing she had ever laid her eyes on. The woman then woke from her slumber, and got up from the base of the tree. Upon noticing her guest, she turned and with her head high, gave a demanding voice.

“Who enters the Forest without my permission? It is not yet my season, so who are you to walk upon so freely on my land?”

She curtsied. “I am Spring, daughter of the King Summer. I intended to go to the fields to the North, but I’m afraid that I strayed too far.”

The woman's eyes widened, and she quickly bowed. “My apologies, young Maiden. I didn't mean to be rude.”

“It’s quite alright, please rise. Though may I ask, who might you be? And why are you lying by this tree?”

She rose and replied. “I am Autumn, and my Forest grows and takes over the land when you and your father have gone to rest for the seasons. I am in charge of the cold North winds. I change the colour of the trees, and pluck their leaves once ready. I wither the crops of the last harvest and ripen others. I lead the Hunters to the best prey, and reap the spoils of the past seasons.I am the Knight of this land, and I protect the peoples in my domain. I was born of the mighty Oak and came to rest by my mother." She then bowed again.

“Young Maiden, your father must be worried. I will guide you back to the fields.”

She smiled, satisfied with her answer, and curtsied again.

“I accept your offer. However, I have one request for you.” She then extended her hand to her. “Grant me a dance!”

Autumn looked at the Maiden, dumbfounded. “Maiden, you truly are peculiar. Have you no fear of me?”

She smiled. “Noble Knight, you are kinder than your duties say. There is no reason to fear a heart who considers others. My original goal was to dance, so dance I shall. But, I'd much prefer dancing with a partner!”

The Knight was shocked, but she complied with the Maiden’s request. So they danced and danced and danced all day, all they way to the fields. Then she was given a piece of the North wind, and rose it home. From that day, the Maiden could not stop thinking about Autumn. Everyday, she would ask for the wind from her father, and everyday she would ride it to the Forest. Everyday, they had something to give each other, for Spring would bring forth strange, never seen before flowers and teach her how to play, and Autumn would gift her the finest furs and meats from hunts, and feed her the bounties of the Forest. And by the end, they would dance and dance until they got to the fields, where she would ride the wind back home. And, slowly but surely, sealed with a chaste kiss, Spring and Autumn fell in love.

Her father had been growing more and more suspicious of his daughter’s actions. So, when next she collected some wind, he secretly followed her, and what he saw filled him with fear and rage. He took the winds back home, and started plotting on how to separate them. He went down to Earth, and met a powerful witch called Koni living in a cave. He bowed to the king.

“Grand King Summer, Lord of all the lands, what can this humble servant do for you?”

“The Maiden Spring has been approached by and nearly sullied by the wretched Knight Autumn.  I need a solution to this problem.”

The Witch looked around the cave and took multiple strange ingredients. He made a potion with them, and gave it to the king. 

“Pour this potion onto the biggest fruit in the Forest. When it is cooked, it will become a powerful poison that will put her out of her right mind. The maiden will fear her, and she will come back to you then.” 

The king thanked the Witch and left. He snuck into the forest and found a really large pumpkin, and poured the potion over it. The next day, when Spring and Autumn were together, she harvested the pumpkin, carved it and roasted the seeds. She gave Spring the seeds, but after she ate four of them, she lost her reasoning and all her memories of Autumn, and she ran away. She chased after her, wanting to know what was wrong, but as they reached the fields, the King Summer took his daughter and forbade the Knight from entering his domain. 

“Wretched fiend! You have poisoned my daughter, and sullied her mind with your lies and deceit! For as long as I say, she will never see you again!” and with that, the king left.  His daughter, who had heard all the commotion, became sick and fell into a deep slumber.

Swallowed with the grief of her love taken from her, the Knight fell and 

Cried. For seven days and seven nights, she cried, and her tears caused a great flood on the earth, splitting the land apart and causing vast oceans and rivers to form. Then, as quickly as it consumed her,  her grief turned into icy, hollow rage. Her heart became harsh, cold and uncaring, losing the very nature that made Spring love her. And with the bitter frost having overtaken her heart, so too did it overtake her appearance. Her hair, once fluffy and brown, now grew long and bleed white. Warm, soft green eyes now turn hard, icy and blue. She trudges the earth on the long, suffering journey to the Palace of Sky, her boots bringing death and starvation to the masses as she kills the harvest and makes the game flee, and her cloak of stars leaves the world a trail of ice and frost  in her wake, her mournful wails bring about the North wind, who only feels her rage, and brings merciless blizzards. And with this new form, she was also granted a new name: Winter, the Prince of Snow, Harbinger of Death. 

The people had not known such suffering before, and so pleaded with King Summer to help stop it. The King went out and saw Winter on the horizon of the fields, and demanded she stop. The newly formed Prince scowled, and then spoke in a stern, cold voice, one that even shook the king to his very core. 

“ I will not end this suffering, nor will i ever forgive you, for your greed of love  has blinded you to the happiness of others. For as long as she does not return to me, I will not relent. No crops shall grow and the animals shall remain in hiding. The sun will bear down but no warmth will come. The people shall suffer and they will have their foolish king to thank for it. “ and with that, the Prince turned and left.

For four months, the hellish season continued. For four months, the people suffered, and for each month, Winter came back to demand for the Maiden, with which she was always declined.  The King grew more anxious by the day. Eventually, he had had enough, and went back to the Witches cave and asked for a cure. The Witch instructed him this:

“Find four items that has survived the wrath of Winter. Bring them to me and i will make them into something that your daughter can take. It will weaken the poison, and then she will be able to lift the curse of Winter.”

The King then made a degree to all the land in search of the ingredients. Soon, three warriors came back with their prizes: the firm skin of a fish that still swims in the frigid cold, the spun sugar from the juice of a crisp Apple that grew in Winter, and a singular Rose that bloomed through the snow. The fourth and final item was a lock of his daughter’s hair, which had not been affected by Winter at all. He brought them back to the Witch, who created a soft, sweet jelly wrapped in a thin piece of skin and tied with Spring’s hair. 

“Feed this to both your daughter and the Prince, if there is forgiveness in his heart, the curse will be fully lifted. However, if not, then the Maiden will fall asleep every time for the same number of days each year.”

The king took back the jelly and fed some to his daughter. She woke up and, having regained her memories, immediately demanded her father to take her  to see the Prince. She saw how different the world had become, and was deeply saddened by the pain her beloved was suffering.

The Prince saw her beloved in the fields by her Forest, and rushed to meet her. The reunion between her and her beloved was enough to melt the frost in her heart. And they danced in each other's arms, laughing wildly and clinging to each other so as not to lose each other again, the frost melting and the plants blooming with each step they took. 

The king bowed his head to the returned Knight and offered him the jelly, but the rage in her heart burned fiercely and refused to forgive the king. He hung his head, fully accepting the shame of what he has done, and is said to still beg for forgiveness till this day. 

So it is said: That Spring Dances the fields and brings new hopes and beginnings, That Summer Governs the world and brings a time of wisdom and gain, That Autumn Hunts the Forest and dances with her love, and brings happiness and abundance, and when Summer ends and Spring falls into a slumber, Winter brings survival and longing.

[rohansoutsidemydoor]

new opposite ocs: Everybody loves somebody is basically a cupid stand and it basically lights up anyone's love life like a fairy tale stereotype, can do this to multiple couples Cupid: make's anyone's love life a complete mess, making them a hopeless romantic to everyone who doesn't suit them

ELS gets funked up and accidentally made their user fall in love with someone while Cupid is still making everyone's love life worse including their user

everyone's just miserable here

[daveslutstaine]

I was tagged by my sweet mutual @darkoverstar (hope you're doing better!) Thank you <3

1. Nickname: I have a few. My sister calls me "the creature", and some people call me Andy both online and in real life since my real name is apparently too difficult for most people. And then there's one other nickname I have that I won't be listing here since it's derived from my actual name, though only one person actually uses it

2. Sign: Same as Mustaine's, Virgo

3. Height: 5'2 or roughly 157.4 in cm

4. Last Google Search: not counting the one I just did for my height, it would be "signs and symptoms of vsd in babies" for a school assignment that I had to do

5. Song currently stuck in my head: The current song my brain decided to play on repeat right now is "Sin's A Good Man's Brother" by Grand Funk Railroad. Might try and learn how to play it if I get the time

6. Number of followers: It's over 1300 now I think

7. Amount of sleep: 6 hours on a good night

8. Lucky Number: Don't got one

9. Dream job: Anything that let's the goblins in my head run amok. Basically anything that will let me create

10. What are you wearing?: Uh some plaid pj pants, an old and super faded Godzilla T-shirt I've had for nearly a decade now, one black sock with orange skulls on it, and one gray sock with a purple line through it

11. Favorite media: In terms of format, it's audio. Now if this is asking me what my favorite pieces of media are, well, man where do I begin. Well besides the bands, singers, and composers/performers I never shut up about, I really like reading. My favorite genre is horror though, and some of my favorite horror stories include, At The Mountain of Madness, by Hp Lovecraft, The Chemist by Thomas Ligotti, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, and The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty! I also really like Shakespeare, with my favorite play to read of his being Hamlet! I also love reading fairy tales and myth tales from all over the globe! I have an anthology of the Brother's Grimm fairy tales that was printed back in 1912 or the early 1920s, and the illustrations in that book are downright gorgeous! I love that book to bits and it makes me sad that it's pages are beginning to crumble 3: I keep that book in a safe place to prevent any further damage to it. I also like non-fiction, particularly historical non-fiction, with my favorite book that I've read so far being a biography on a German executioner from the late 1500s. I'm a huge bibliophile, and I'll basically read anything that is not YA (sorry but that genre has come to seriously irritate the crap out of me). Hell, I'll even read on subjects that don't usually interest me, such as in a recent case when I checked out a book on philosophy. Though I will say, I did come to love what the philosopher had to say, and I came to love his philosophical view of things. He was a breath of fresh air from all the awful postmodernist philosophers that just piss me off. And I'll just leave this part here because wow this is way too long, oops 3X

12. Favorite song: Oh must you do this to me! There's too many wonderful songs out there, I couldn't possibly pick only one. I'll tell you what, instead I'll list what some of my favorite songs are from some bands/singers I've gotten into lately, so here it goes!

1. Season of Mist by the Changelings

2. Ain't That A Lot of Love by Taj Mahal

3. Go! by Tones On Tail

4. Theme from Harry's Game by Clannad

5. Trying Times by Demon Hunter

13. Favorite instrument: And here we go with another tough question XD. I hold a lot of love for many instruments, but ultimately, my love is split among the violin and the guitar. String instruments in general make me go ❤💞💗💖

14. Aesthetic: uh I have to admit, I don't have a set aesthetic. Basically I just like what I like and don't like the idea of being boxed into one thing only. I like a lot of different things that go into various, oh what do you call them, aesthetic "subcultures" I guess??? Idk my whole living space and wardrobe is a bunch of "aesthetics" if you will mixed into one. I just don't like this idea of "you have to like one thing and stick to it ONLY" because I like being a varied person, if that makes sense

15. Favourite Author: It's a tie between Ligotti and Lovecraft

16. Favorite animal noise: I love the sounds of birds chirping, cats purring, and I even love the croaking of the frogs!

17. Random: I forgot but one of my old nicknames was "cow eyes" because of weird black-ish gray spots I have on my eyeballs. Had them for my whole life. They're harmless though. The doctors said it wouldn't affect my vision in anyway and that a bunch of other people had them. Not sure why they happen though, but I'll probably be googling it some time to see if old Dr. Google has any idea what they are or why they're there

I now leave this an open tag!

[an-organized-confusion]

Just thinking about a vid that catalogued some of the most sampled drum breaks in music. Like “Amen, Brother“ and “Apache“... and just how much of it comes from funk traditions (mmm, bass guitars and sax and rock organ.... *chefs kiss*.)

The latter got me into the Incredible Bongo Band (which I’m just going “Heart Eyes Motherfucker” about rn)... and hot damn. They did a fun rendition of “In A Gadda Da Vida“. I just love the psychedelic supergenre of art/music. So much. orz

There’s a reason half my Creativity is a damn hippie.

It’s kind of funny think about how my dad’s taste in psych/prog rock was formative. Pink Floyd’s probably my favorite that he played a lot (which I’ll never not be amused how Logan mentioned “Comfortably Numb”.) And how I see Liam’s temperament being closer to Patton (which that scene has it’s own Dad energy in today’s moment and my own experiences) than Roman as a lighter and more sentimental (and trippy) side of my creativity.

Liam’s less Disney-centric or fairy-tale like in aesthetic, more Yellow Submarine and all that jazz. Vibrant and bold colors, recursive fractal patterns, dreamlike surrealism... yeah.

Which there’s some fuzziness in boundaries with Mel. Surrealism can turn dark and nightmarish like a bad trip (”The Wall” was so damn haunting and it was great to grow up listening to it) - so that’s the kinda stuff she excels in. And some macabre, trashy, absurdist humor too, so she vibes more with Remus and she’s my main squeeze. Still amused she’s more temperamentally like Virgil though.

(But then again my creative pursuits weren’t ever as “extroverted” as theater/singing/acting. I was a visual artist, writer, and cellist.)

[glapplebloom]

The return of Sugar Belle EDIT: DANG IT! it’s Hard to Say Anything.

We’re with the Cutie Mark Crusaders who found a bunch of disguises when they happen to notice that Big Mac is delivering a bunch of apples to Starlight’s old village… Again. Curious, they decide to stowaway on the Apple Cart to find out the deal. Turns out, it seems both Big Mac and Sugar Belle have a thing for each other, but neither of them took that first step. So when the girls confront Big Mac about it, He admits it, but also admits he’s afraid to take that first step.

It also doesn’t help that another pony named Feather Bang is interested. So Big Mac, being desperate, decides to ask for the advice of three little girls who have not been in a serious relationship and are taking their ideas out of a fairy tale book.  Surely this will work. But since the meat and potatoes are the failed attempts at wooing Sugar Belle, let’s talk about three specific things…

First, they referenced Hearts and Hooves Day a lot. They sank the ship with Big Mac and Cheerilee. Big Mac is still mad at them about the love potion and DEMANDED no potions. While others may think it’s unnecessary, the important thing to me… Second, Feather Bang is someone I presume is based on Justin Bever. While I have not seen a lot of him (the only song I really listened to was Beauty and the Beat), based on the parodies I’ve seen he connects a lot of dots.

Finally, I’m not a fan of the songs. This is a cringe comedy I am not enjoying. But because I usually tuned them out of memory, I never realized that “Be My Lightning Bliss” was a parody of one of the songs here. It really shows how context can change how a song works out. Like the FNF Song “Deathmatch” when I hear it gives me Undertale “Hopes and Dreams” vibes but was really for the final stand of Daddy Dearest against the Corruption that took over Boyfriend.

With Sugar Belle mad at both of them, Big Mac realizes that Sugar Belle isn’t a fantasy Princess, she’s a real pony with real needs. Like a bigger display case. So with Scootaloo distracting Sugar Belle, the Apples work on the new Display Case as Sweetie is on Lookout. Luckily Scootaloo did her job long enough so they could complete it. She looks like she really appreciates it. Like REALLY appreciates it.

Big Mac Apologizes and the Crusaders leave because this is a TV-Y series and it honestly looks like they’re going for an HBO show. And this relationship will be revisited again and again until we get wedding bells. It ends with Feather Bang asking for advice from the Crusaders because he’s all show and no substance. It ends with them agreeing to help him connect to these three groupies. Should be an easy slam dunk.

But this story continues in the 2018 Gameloft Hearts and Hooves Day Limited Story. Feather Bang is ready to take their advice, but he wants to know who they are on the inside so the girls go to them to find out what they’re made of… First we meet Swoony Fanfilly, the Unicorn of the trio. Thing is, she's also thinking about why she likes Feather Bang. Luckily for her Blaze the Wonderbolt arrived to help her sort out her feelings. And while Swoony claims to be happy being single right now, I'm betting she's now eying a certain Wonderbolt.

Enraptured Fanfilly, the Earth Pony, was wondering how Sugar Belle got his attention before her. Even if he got him now, she still wonders why not before. So she thinks it's because of the baking Sugar Belle did. So Apple Bloom's quest is to get a baked good from Sugar Belle so Enraptured can stop being enraptured by wondering. Sugar Belle's shop is being built and Big Mac is there as well. Since they needed bits, Apple Bloom helps by getting some more. She gets an Apple Cinnamon-bun pie but despite trying it, Enraptured feels worse since it just makes her feel more down on herself. And then Blaze shows up again to pep talk Enraptured out of her funk. She was so busy being jealous of Sugar Belle, she forgot her own talent for mummenschanz puppetry.

And if any of you know your basic pattern recognition, you probably know what’s going to happen with Giddy Fanfilly, the Pegasi of the trio. Scootaloo finds her in the windmill practicing dancing. She's terrible but the music is catchy. She always loved his slick moves, but she did ballet, what more can I say. So Scootaloo tries to help give Giddy some new dance moves that are modern. But while she got the DJ and the outfit, Scootaloo realizes she's not an expert at modern dancing either. And 3... 2... 1... BLAZE shows up willing to teach her about Jazz-Funk and Poppin'. But she still fails and is sad she can't relate to Feather Bang. Another Blaze pep talk later she's all in on ballet that Feather Bang is out of the picture.

The girls report back to him about what they found out. To sum it up, one did it because she wanted to support her friends, another was crazy jealous until talked into appreciating her own talents, the third one thought she needed to change but was told that differences are what makes things work and all three of them were talked to by a Wonderbolt named Blaze. Hearing all these options and having a patented Cutie Mark Crusaders Hearts and Hooves Day Card, Feather Bang makes his choice: Blaze. He asks her to be his special somepony and she accepts. Yay, mega happy ending!

Overall, while the episode is great for setting up Big/Belle, I do like the addition Gameloft made more. Made those three fillies more than just Gaston’s duplicates. And no cringe comedy. Click here for the original review.

[chrisryanspeaks]

Empowering Pop | Remi Wolf - “Cinderella”

Remi Wolf's "Cinderella" is a vibrant single from her upcoming album Big Ideas, set to release on July 12 via Island Records. The song, recorded at Electric Lady Studios at the beginning of 2023, draws from vintage funk and disco influences, perfectly aligning with Wolf's unique style. Wolf collaborated with Solomonophonic initially, and later enhanced the track with horn sections to complete its rich, dynamic sound. The lyrics of "Cinderella" are described as a "lyrical collage" by Wolf herself, reflecting on the myriad emotions and challenges she faced while working on her album. These included feelings of insecurity, mood swings, and the search for stability amidst constant travel and change. Through this song, Wolf channels her own fairy godmother, empowering herself to take control and find balance. She aimed to blend '70s nostalgia with contemporary sounds, creating a track that encourages listeners to dance and feel uplifted​. "Cinderella" explores concepts of self-identity, empowerment, and resisting conformity. The song uses the transformation of Cinderella as a metaphor for personal growth and freedom of expression, contrasting fairy-tale imagery with the realities of modern life, such as the struggle for recognition and authenticity. The stunning music video for "Cinderella" adds a visual layer to the song's themes, featuring Wolf performing funky dance moves in a park accompanied by a brass ensemble, with a humorous cameo by Mac DeMarco as a subpar ice cream vendor. The video, co-directed by Wolf and Ragan Henderson, underscores the song's playful yet reflective tone. "Cinderella" stands out as an anthem for embracing one's true self, navigating the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with life's ups and downs, and celebrating individuality against the backdrop of societal expectations. Read the full article

[audiofuzz]

Empowering Pop | Remi Wolf - “Cinderella”

Remi Wolf's "Cinderella" is a vibrant single from her upcoming album Big Ideas, set to release on July 12 via Island Records. The song, recorded at Electric Lady Studios at the beginning of 2023, draws from vintage funk and disco influences, perfectly aligning with Wolf's unique style. Wolf collaborated with Solomonophonic initially, and later enhanced the track with horn sections to complete its rich, dynamic sound. The lyrics of "Cinderella" are described as a "lyrical collage" by Wolf herself, reflecting on the myriad emotions and challenges she faced while working on her album. These included feelings of insecurity, mood swings, and the search for stability amidst constant travel and change. Through this song, Wolf channels her own fairy godmother, empowering herself to take control and find balance. She aimed to blend '70s nostalgia with contemporary sounds, creating a track that encourages listeners to dance and feel uplifted​. "Cinderella" explores concepts of self-identity, empowerment, and resisting conformity. The song uses the transformation of Cinderella as a metaphor for personal growth and freedom of expression, contrasting fairy-tale imagery with the realities of modern life, such as the struggle for recognition and authenticity. The stunning music video for "Cinderella" adds a visual layer to the song's themes, featuring Wolf performing funky dance moves in a park accompanied by a brass ensemble, with a humorous cameo by Mac DeMarco as a subpar ice cream vendor. The video, co-directed by Wolf and Ragan Henderson, underscores the song's playful yet reflective tone. "Cinderella" stands out as an anthem for embracing one's true self, navigating the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with life's ups and downs, and celebrating individuality against the backdrop of societal expectations. Read the full article

[laufire]

Top five fan creations you've made.

cheating right out the gate and linking you to all my three-sentence ficathon drabbles. I just like them!

what I think of as my two klaroline dark fairy tale aus (cheating again!).

dauntless + wings high over me aka the what if castiel pulled bela out of hell to 'verse. I swear I'll finish that fic one day, I just lack the bandwidth for that specific show now ^^U

might as well continue cheating. behold, my rizzy one-shots. they were what they originally got me out of my funk, writing-wise, at a really low point in my life so they deserve to be here.

yeah I'm just gonna leave here empty spaces (bruce mourning jason and being a mess on his deathversary), slow climb but quick to descend (roswell: new mexico, nora truman ficlet), and risqué business (some light smut for moist von lipwig and adora belle dearheart)

sns about the shameless self-promotion, I'm feeling happy with my writing today xDD (I'm NOT checking any of those though, especially the older ones, I know I'd start wanting to obsessively edit lol).

I focused on fics but I might as well keep it up with the first edits that come to my mind: this caroline gifset, this max edit, the memori x his dark materials gifset, this one I made for the spn women's week, and the one of this scene of elizabeth i in reign.

put “top 5” anything in my ask and i will answer ok go