#a similar thing happened with thg

[gatheryepens]

Godzilla-read's Easy & Simple 2023 Reading Challenge

💐 March- A book a parental figure enjoys. If you don't have a parental figure, choose a friend.

3.5 ⭐️ - A Court of Thorns and Roses

Okay so I know this is two months later but I was in big book slump, so I’m slowly but surely catching up on the reading prompts 😭. None of my parents are big readers so I read a book that two of my friends really enjoy. I was really surprised that I actually enjoyed this book I don’t read fantasy often but I would say this book had a good magical element (I’m still waiting to read a fantasy book that blows me away and makes me adore the genre). I kept going back and forth on a rating for the book because there were some really good elements and some elements I didn’t enjoy as much. I think what bumped it to a 3 star book for me was the plot it was very good and kept me interested, what kept it from not being 4 stars were the characters. Don’t get me wrong not all of them were bad but the main character Feyre irked and frustrated me a lot and the two love interests did some questionable stuff that made me so angry. Will I continue the series? Probably not, for two reasons:

1. I’m fine with the ending thus far. After reading the book, I didn’t automatically think oh I need to read the next book and I don’t think that is a bad thing I just didn’t feel that connected.

2. I’m inherently lazy and committing to four more books is something I couldn’t do.

If anyone has any good fantasy recommendations I would love to hear them :)

[thesweetnessofspring]

Mutual you know I love you and respect your opinions but I just CANNOT get behind you hating on Katniss being related to the covey 😭 what did she do to you????❗️

Look I totally get not wanting everything to be interconnected and like "fate" and stuff because part of the value of THG is that there's no chosen one. So like I understand and appreciate and enjoy that reading of it

But I don't think Katniss being covey ruins that? I think it's more to show the same group of people being routinely oppressed over and over again. Not to mention 12 is a small district, so I guess it just doesn't bother me so much. But I'd love to hear more of your opinion

I don't like it because:

There are NO INDICATIONS of Katniss being Covey from the original trilogy. Maude Ivory and Katniss both being quick to learn new music was put in during TBOSAS, but other than the songs, there is no other definite evidence of the Covey even existing. And because Katniss seemingly knows nothing about the Covey, I genuinely hate the idea that a Covey-Mr. Everdeen never shared his culture with her, other than songs, which don't necessarily have to be limited to the Covey's culture anyway. And before anyone mentions the lake or woods, TBOSAS says other people went there too, Francis is the one who made the movie say only the Covey knew about it but that's not canon. There is a fiddle player from 12 in MJ, so if he were Covey, where are Mr. Everdeen's instruments? Where is a hint of a Covey name for Katniss or Prim (like maybe just a ballad or just a color, something inconspicuous but important)? I can accept a culture being snuffed out/going way underground in 12 without Katniss knowing about it and thus we only get the smallest clues about its existence, but I can't accept that her father was part of that culture and didn't share it with his kids or even leave any clear indication it was part of him. Especially when he works such a dangerous job and his death could mean all memory and knowledge of his people might disappear. And I mean, he was willing to sing The Hanging Tree so it's not like he wasn't willing to risk giving his children forbidden knowledge.

As you mentioned, the whole "fate" thing. Lucy Gray was rigged to be reaped, but Prim was random chance. It shows you can do everything "right" (i.e. not be made a target by the Capitol, not take out tessarae, be the youngest age with the least amount of slips) and random odds don't care. You can be reaped. I see Katniss being Covey making the "it was rigged for Prim to be reaped" theories happen all over again, like Snow knew and wanted to kill off the Everdeen line. Now, in TUC, Suzanne plays with the idea of if something is fate or our own choices, so I can see a similar theme play out in the background here if a reader chooses to explore it. Was there some kind of fate that Lucy Gray used to bring about Katniss and Peeta going into the Games together? But I don't like the idea of it being a bloodline thing. I'd rather it be from Katniss's merit, like Lucy Gray's ghost observed her in the woods and chose her to be the Mockingjay and knew that Peeta would be the one to get her there as he is Snow's foil.

A non-Covey Katniss still shows that the same people are oppressed over and over. D12 is as a whole, even the merchants, though they certainly benefit from certain privileges those in the Seam don't have. But Katniss, who is Seam, is incredibly oppressed as well, as have the generations before her. And again, saying that Prim being reaped and Katniss going into the Games shows that one group (the Covey) is a more oppressed group supports the "Prim's reaping was rigged" theory that is such bullshit.

I don't see anything being gained in terms of the themes. Katniss may be a "chosen one" in a sense, but she was a girl who loved her sister, and Rue, and Peeta, and got caught up in being the Mockingjay. Making her Covey turns her into a traditional "chosen one" and it just does not jive with the theme of THG or Katniss's character at all. If the Capitol is built on the same 15 families having power, then why would that be replicated in the rebellion with the Covey being the "chosen ones" to bring down Snow? As if because Lucy Gray was betrayed by Coriolanus, those of her people are the ones who must take him down as well. Not because Katniss and the districts have been oppressed and so it's something she feels bound to do as a duty to the people, as she realizes in MJ. Katniss was used by some of those powerful families, but she wasn't powerful in that way. Making her Covey gives her extra mythology that goes against this idea and makes her "special" even if she wasn't special until that Reaping Day.

The fact that the district is small is why I'm not bothered by Haymitch and Mrs. Everdeen having some kind of history (it's there in CF, so it is an original part of the story) or even if Mr. Everdeen makes an appearance! I'm from a big city but it's wild hearing how some of the older generations in my circle are connected and now that I'm an adult, knowing about the relationships and drama that happened to my older siblings' cohort (especially as their kids are now becoming teens and learning some of that history). Life does connect in interesting ways! My personal favorite theory is that Mr. Everdeen hung around the Covey and learned music from them (maybe Haymitch was even a little intimidated thinking Lenore Dove would prefer Mr. Everdeen to him?) but making Mr. Everdeen's connection a family connection (blood or adopted) really sinks the themes of the original and Katniss's role.

[violet-moonstone]

Black Women and Girls in Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Media in General

Thinking about how much Mel Medarda (and characters like her) means to me and considering making a sideblog with posts about black women in science fiction, fantasy, and historical fiction -- because we are often not included, sidelined, or portrayed primarily as struggling.

And I want to focus on Black women who are portrayed as intelligent, kind, wise, graceful, cherished, etc because we are not expected to be these things (I've straight up been told to my face that someone was shocked that I was kind and intelligent because I'm Black...and they meant this as a compliment). I've also had friends make comments about not expecting a guy I liked to be interested in me because they just naturally assumed he's "not into Black girls" because that's the norm in our neighbourhood.

I've also been told that I'm not "really Black" or that I'm "whitewashed" or "an Oreo" because I don't fit the narrow idea of a Black woman many people have about Black women and Black people in general. I'm not loud, sexual, or aggressive enough. The way I speak isn't Black enough, and neither are my hobbies and interests). Seeing Black women and girls portrayed in a variety of ways is so freeing, because it allows all Black women to see themselves in media and art.

I think conversations about how women are portrayed in fiction can be difficult, because no, I don't think all women should be portrayed as traditionally feminine and/or as love interests. Yes, I think there should be women who are portrayed a strong and brave warriors...but as a Black woman, that's pretty much the expectation -- to be a warrior who needs no help. But this expectation does not come out of admiration.

We're expected to be strong and able to shoulder burdens on our own because very often, people don't want to help us so we have to help ourselves. We're not expected to be watched out for and certainly not serious, long-term love interests (unless we're biracial or have light skin) in fiction or even in real life. And then when you get intelligent, dark skinned Black girls/women as love interests who have any personal goals or opinions that don't 100% align with the male protagonist, prepare for her to be hated (See the Castlevania: Nocturne and Invincible fandoms for examples).

I'm not going to get into detail about the history of the "strong Black woman" trope and the effects of slavery on perceptions of Black women, but if you need an example of how this still affects society: Black women in countries like the US, Canada, and England are more likely to die in childbirth. This is partially because of how wealth disparities among racial groups affect access to healthcare, but it's also related to Black women's pain not being taken seriously and Black women not being seen as worth protecting in the same way (This also happens with Indigenous and Hispanic women btw).

There are still people in healthcare programs/people who work in healthcare who were taught that Black people have a higher pain tolerance than people of other races. Being a "strong Black woman" isn't exactly an empowering experience when your suffering is seen as trivial or non-existent.

Let's not forget that when Rue (who was explicitly described has having dark skin in THG) was cast as Black (and played by a very light actress btw) there were people in the fandom talking about how they automatically pictured her as being pale and blonde because that's their mental image of a sweet, innocent girl. (Also because these people were not very bright and couldn't imagine that Katniss thought Rue was similar to Prim in terms of personality, not literal appearance).

When Annabeth Chase was cast as Black, I saw someone talking about how it didn't make sense because as a white blonde in the books, she would have a reason to prove her intelligence and defy stereotypes...as if this isn't something Black girls go through in a much more intense way on a regular basis!

Anyway I wanted to mention all of that because it's important to keep in mind when I'm talking about appreciating characters like Mel. Appreciating femininity or being a primary love interest can be seen as frivolous and limiting because in general it's a box that a lot of female characters (especially White female characters) are put into, but it's important for Black women because we get it so rarely (although I think it's getting less and less rare these days, thankfully).

[blues-valentine]

the Alina debate going on reminds me of the Katniss debate even years later. there’s people that in this date and age think Gale was a better choice …..some people hate to see girls that went through imaginable levels of trauma find themselves a calm and quiet life with a man that brings them safety and peace.

These two cases are pretty similar and with THG renaissance on social media lately the discussions about this subject are getting wildly inaccurate and lacking media literacy.

Alina and Katniss are similar in how they were just kids that had to grow up in a mess up world and take care of themselves alone. They both were thrown into a role way bigger than them. Deemed as holy and untouchable. Prayed as the sole savior of a nation, painted as a symbol. A role they’ve never felt prepared for and during all of that trauma and grief they just hoped for some normalcy beyond that chaos. Mal and Peeta represent comfort and security for each of them but still the choice to seek that peace creates controversy. I saw this amazing post (X) about how thinking Gale and Katniss should’ve ended up together is simply incorrect and a terrible interpretation of what the books and movies are telling you and similarly goes with Alina’s ending being sadly misunderstood.

People don’t get that Gale became everything he was fighting against. The thing Katniss was trying to run from. In his search to destroy the Capitol and eradicate the games he became too blinded by hatred and started justifying all that violence with the idea of revenge. He would easily switch off his humanity to justify the means in which he achieved those goals. He would’ve never been able to provide Katniss with the peace, safety and the healing she was searching. Peeta and Katniss both understood the trauma lived in the games and ultimately wanted the same thing: peace, get a hold to their humanity, move on from the pain. I still cannot comprended how people think Peeta is “boring” because he is by far one of the most complex characters but also, doesn’t Katniss deserve a mundane or “boring” life? One that isn’t pledge by chaos and trials? One that feels like a routine in the most full-filling way? Katniss getting that plus allowing herself to have kids — because she never said she didn’t want kids, she just didn’t want them to exist in a world in which the games existed, and she fought so it won’t ever happen again. Katniss deserves to have a peaceful life instead of feeling the burden of a role she has to play.

THG is still one of the most complex trilogies I’ve ever read. Katniss and Peeta’s love story isn’t typical but it’s true in its essence. Both were thrown into circumstances that only them would be able to understand and managed to find peace within each other. Their love was born from being able to give each other mutual understanding and comfort. Katniss is able to share her real feelings with Peeta, who sees her as Katniss and not as the symbol of rebellion. That guy, a kid himself too, who’s been used as a weapon to torment Katniss would give his life for her in a heart beat. His love for her is pure.

For Alina, her powers while they made her feel powerful at times, they were also a burden. They made her feel lost, confused, scared of herself and suicidal. Alina’s powers didn’t develop normally because she wasn’t raised as a normal Grisha. There’s a reason why the amplifiers are called a fetter and a collar. They were never meant to be seem as a positive thing. Alina’s whole journey has been filled with trauma and with the imposition of a role she had to play that went against her own freedom. Her powers made her a pawn. The title of the savior, the sun summoner, the queen, the Saint; those all were titles she did not ask for and she found a tremendous burden to perform. She said it herself multiple times. She felt like a fraud and people worshipping her made her feel like she was bigger than herself. Alina would’ve never been able to achieve her peace if she still had those powers and therefore would’ve never been truly free. I’m sorry, no one will ever convince me that Alina making the choice to remove herself from a world that has brought her so much trauma in exchange for a peaceful, mundane life in which she’s able to provide orphan kids just like her the love and security she didn’t get for herself (or for Mal) is not empowering. Her choice IS empowerment.

Mal, who was also a kid himself, had to deal with trauma, with the idea of being disposable and insignificant in a world that only valued those with powers or status. He was used as a weapon against Alina so he swears himself to be a weapon for Alina, because ultimately she is the only person he’ll fight and give his life for.

A thing that it’s similar to Katniss and Alina is that people are so convinced they should’ve healed from their trauma alone to be deemed more empowering. Why should they not be in the company of someone that brings them peace? Someone that makes them feel loved and comforted? Women are allowed to have character developed while also being with a love interest. Not all women have to stick to Hollywood’s propaganda of empowerment.

If you don’t understand why Alina and Katniss endings and the fundamental nature of their choices being about healing, and for Alina about the promise that her power lies in herself, on her own value, then you simply didn’t get it.

And no one can convince me this wasn’t a good, bittersweet but fulfilling ending for Alina:

[hearts4eros]

RP REQUEST: PLEASE BE 18+ I AM 22 I DO NOT ROLEPLAY W MINORS!

disc: hearts4eros

DON’T BE A FUCKING WERIDO / MINORS DO NOT INTERACT!

Marvel: Anything at all i’m actually insane but preferences for poolverine and spideypool!

Scream: Billy x Stu (Stuilly) open to other ships!

THG: Finnick x Peeta, Snowjanus

SAW: coffinship / chainship / Lawrence Gordon x Mark Hoffman (please nobody gets this ship like I DO)

DC: Riddlebat / batjoker

DBH: idk just wanna do this, could be ocs!

ALWAYS OPEN TO OC RPS!!!

here’s an example of my writing, keep in mind i can write from anywhere from 300 words to over 2k+ but I prefer on the longer side

Alex was going to spiral when he woke up. How could he not? The world was going to end. That was it, his world was going to come crashing down and burn all around him. If he thought his future was somewhat salvageable before, it was no longer going to be. How could Alex go from an active addiction, to living a normal life? He couldn’t. He never would be able to get *clean* after this. Not after Alex felt. Not after how *fucking great* it felt. Life would be boring. It was boring whenever he was sober. The male wasn’t ready to give up on an exciting life. He didn’t want to work a 9 to 5 anymore after this.

All his ambitions are gone. What if Karl found out he was *wasting* his life. Wasting all his potential. It was only a matter of time before Karl found out. Alex would try his best to hide it, but everything comes to light. Everything comes out. *He didn’t want Karl to know.* Karl would look at him differently. What did everyone think of Alex? Were they already disappointed? Did everyone already lose hope for him? Probably. They probably did. He wouldn’t be surprised at that.

He went to bed, knowing he was going to spiral in the morning. He knew it. But that wasn't an issue right now. He was asleep now. Everything was okay at this moment. No worries about what the fuck they just did. No worries at all. The worries didn’t even seep into his dreamless sleep. Luckily. This was going to ruin him. *Forever*. He had never been so *attached* to a person before. It was like Nick was everything to him. Alex idolized Nick. Romanticized the heavy drug use. How could he not? Seriously.

Nick was *everything* he wanted, maybe that was because of the drugs. But something about Nick, lured him in. He was captivating, he was exciting. Maybe those were the only things Alex liked about him. Oh he was also *very very* pretty. Alex loved the idea of Nick. Sure they didn’t know each other, not in the slightest. The addicts never opened up to one another. So his past was unknown to Nick, and Nick’s past was unknown to Alex.

Alex ~~loved~~ liked Nick. He was unsure where along the line this happened. Though he knew that, it was not reciprocated in the way he wanted it to be. He was blind to this, but something similar was happening between himself and Karl. Alex was far too blinded by the drugs, and this dependency on Nick. Maybe it was ironic in a sense. Alex probably deserved this, because the same was happening to Karl. Call it karma, or whatever one believes in.

Karl didn’t deserve to be second place on the list of things important to him. First place was shared by Nick and drugs. Karl came second. Just like how Alex would become second to Nick in due time. Parallels. If only Alex could see these, maybe he’d stop. Losing Karl was the last thing he wanted. His *best* fucking friend. Now discarded to the side. Abandoned like an old toy when a child gets a new one. Forgotten. Was that all Karl was to Alex? Someone who could be discarded, without a second thought to how this *might* hurt Karl.

It most likely *was* hurting Karl. Going from hanging out everyday to, just once in a blue moon. Alex was always too busy with Nick to text or call back. Coming up with some bullshit excuse as to why he was missing, or why he couldn’t call back. The realization would hit him when he woke up. When the withdrawals hit, allowing him to spiral completely. This came much sooner. Hearing voices down the hall he reluctantly woke up, first noticing how he woke up alone. He didn’t open his eyes though. He really *really* didn’t want to. Rays of sunlight shone in, not enough to be an issue though. He just laid on his side, not moving an inch. He heard the door close, though no footsteps back into the room. Alex let out a breath he had been holding in, it was a silent one. He didn’t want to bring attention to himself.

He didn’t *want* attention right now. He didn’t *need* it. He wanted to disappear. Alex wished he wasn’t existing right now. Alex didn’t want to see Nick after what happened. What was he supposed to say, ‘Oh yeah what are we by the way?’ To only get hit with something he didn’t want to *hear*. They would talk about it, right? They had to, despite Alex’s wishes. It was something that couldn’t be avoided. Maybe it could if he got high and forgot about it for the moment. He really didn’t want to have *this* conversation. They weren’t even together, yet Alex knew that this wasn’t gonna be a one and done kinda thing.

It was all hitting him.

How he wanted Nick to be violent with him, how he liked it when Nick made him scream. That wasn’t him though. He knew it was the drug, but what in the world was it laced with that made them act like that. Molly didn’t do that. Alex had taken it enough times to know that. Molly itself wouldn’t do that. He didn’t have extensive knowledge on drugs, at least the way Nick did. He was familiar with how they’d make him feel though.

This was so different.

Why did he like it so much? He was going to crave that high now. He knew realistically that it would *never* feel the same as the first time. Nick probably wouldn’t do it again so he wouldn’t bother, at least he’d try to. Yeah he decided that the *best* option was to avoid that

Alex didn't like feeling like a burden, so bothering Nick about it would make him a burden. That's just how it worked.

Why the fuck did he sleep with Nick? He’d never get over Nick now, not that Alex wanted to.

His head hurt, it felt like it was going to explode. Yet Alex stayed exactly where he was. He wasn’t ready to move, even if his thoughts were starting to get the better of him. What the fuck were they? Did any of it matter? Why wasn’t he good enough to date? Was he not being good enough for Nick? Did Nick actually like him? Did he care about him? Why? Why him? Why him. Why did this have to happen to him? What did he do to deserve any of this? Logically Alex knew that he should be with someone who actually wanted to make it official with him. Who would love him in the way he loved. Alex actually didn’t know how Nick felt about him. He wasn’t going to ask. Though part of him did know that Nick had to care about him. He was never mean to Alex, never raised his voice or *hit* him. So that had to mean something.

These thoughts wouldn’t let up. His mind was torturing him. All he could do was lay there and take it. Take every negative, self deprecating thought he had about himself.

He felt like he needed to throw up. He wanted to scream, rip his hair out - he just wanted to be loved. Didn’t he deserve to be loved?

No. He did not.

Karl. Karl loved him, Alex knew this. Karl was very affectionate. Yet that wasn’t enough. He didn’t want Karl, he wanted Nick. He hadn’t talked to Karl in so long. Not even a normal conversation was shared between them. It was like they were strangers. Alex didn’t want to be strangers with Karl.

However, Karl would make him stop. He didn’t want to stop. He didn’t want to recover. He *wasn’t* sick. What would he even recover from? It wasn’t bad. He wasn’t sick. Yet, he felt like he was going to die. That this was the end of the world. *He was being dramatic.* He was always dramatic.

Opening his eyes finally. Looking at the floor. He was going to break down. It was becoming too much. The thoughts were so loud.

He was a bad friend. A bad son. He wasn’t even good enough to be a boyfriend. This was *his* fault. He was the problem. If he wasn’t the problem then why would he treat Karl like this. This was not who he *used* to be. Would that version of him ever come back? Probably not. It was moments like these where he felt everything at once. He managed to pull his boxers and pants up. He was now on his back. Looking up at the ceiling. Staying idle.

*’You deserve to feel like this. You deserve to suffer. You’re a shit person. Look at you, a mess over drugs and a boy.’* Loud. Loud. Loud. Too LOUD.

He sat up. Alex felt disgusting. He glanced around the room, seeing his belt and walking over to put it on. He looked out the window. He had never felt *more* alone. Walking over to the closet and grabbing one of Nick's shirts. He knew that Nick wouldn’t mind. As soon as he put it on, he immediately felt worse than feeling comfort. Ignoring everything around him he went to the bathroom. He shut the door. Alex didn’t want to look in the mirror.

Yet he did. His eyeliner was smeared, it was messy. Then all the marks on him. From Nick. From their night. Why?

He felt helpless. He turned around leaning against the door, sliding down, leaning his head against the door. He covered his mouth because he knew he was going to be loud. He clasped a hand over his mouth. Then the tears came.

He felt nauseous. Holding his hand tightly against his mouth, preventing any noises from escaping. Alex couldn’t let Nick know he was crying. Nick wouldn’t like him if he saw him like this. The tears kept coming. The spiraling thoughts didn’t let up. Thoughts about the sex, thoughts about the drugs, thoughts about *Nick.*

He needed to pull himself together. He needed to call Karl. He needed to tell Karl what he was doing. Though, he wouldn’t. Karl would look at him so fucking differently. Karl would hate him. Then Karl would leave, and he’d have nobody. At least with Karl, Alex could open up, since they had been friends for so long. Yet Karl couldn’t see him like this. This worked up over his addiction, this worked up over a boy who couldn’t even make it official with him.

He stayed crying for some time.

His stomach turned. He crawled over to the toilet dry heaving. There was nothing to throw up. Nothing would come up. Tears still streaming down his face. He didn’t know how long he had been in the bathroom for.

*He wanted to die.*

At some point a flip switched in his brain. He stood up. Perfectly fine. Well that was dramatic. He used the bathroom, flushed the toilet. Went to the mirror. He felt like shit. He washed his hands and his face. Drying his hands on the towel that was in the bathroom.

Why was he so fucking dramatic. He was fine now. Perfectly fine.

Dramatic. So fucking dramatic.

He shook his hands.

Time to find Nick. He hesitated. Alex wasn’t even gonna ask what they were. He needed to get high.

Exiting the bathroom and going to find Nick. He didn’t think about it too much. He pushed away those thoughts. He was fine.

Alex found the male at the table sitting down.

He didn’t know what to say, he was at a loss for words. He hated this. He hated being sober, nothing was easy like this. It just felt so nerve wracking.

“Do you have anything left - or can you please give me something?” He spoke, unsure. He regretted how awkward he sounded. Did he come off too desperate. It’s fine. It wasn’t *that* deep. He was fine, he just needed to get high. That would fix everything. It always did. He was slightly shaking despite trying to act completely normal, like this didn’t do *something* to him.

[everythingwasalreadypicked]

I got a very disturbing Pjo idea after watching TBOSAS trailer and since nudging the people in the Ta server wasn't enough for me, I'm putting it out here.

(Very excited for that movie btw)

TW: Dehumanisation, murder, child death, general things you would see in THG

Okay so you know how THG was inspired by the Thesus and the Labyrinth myth?

And you know how the Games were started to punish the Districts for rebelling?

And, and what army was technically a rebellion? That’s right. The Titan army demigods.

So, what if instead of massacring the Ta kids; the gods put them thorough similar games. I mean Hephaestus TV is a thing, they canonically watch demigods as entertainment. Wouldn't be the first time they made them fight for entertainment either. Remember Bachus?

"After all, if they're so willing to raise up arms against their fellow demigodkind killing their friends and fellow comrades shouldn't be that hard, right?" — Zeus (and Kai thanks for the dialogue)

So those who didn’t immediately joined back the camps gets rounded up and imprisoned somewhere before they got thrown into the arena to fight monsters and eachother to death.

All the while the gods are watching their new family entertainment. Hey, it's free :D

Apollo takes it upon himself to do the interviews (like Ceasar) which half of it has to get censored before it reaches Zeus.

"Hecate, your son fucking bit me!"

"Good." — she's not happy about the situation at all.

Of course, they would group the kids and do more than one run: Prolongs their fun and the traitors's suffering.

Not that all of the kids are sent to fight. The Olympians who have children there are more likely to spare their favourite ones and hold it over their heads for the rest of their life. (And leave the ones they don't like to die)

Sponsorships still happen, it's an effective way to break the comradeship. You're more likely to receive one if 1) Your godly parent is an Olympian and/or 2) You’re more willing to put up with whatever the gods throw at you without a fuss.

The current run is broadcasted to the imprisoned demis as a further way to break their spirits, and so they can see their friends kill eachother, sometimes without hesitation.

The winners gets paraded around Mt. Olympus. They're free now that won the gods's bloody bullshit, right? Wrong. Sure they're being "celebrated" for killing their friends but they're nothing more than shiny trophies. Just props for entertainment :)

Of course, with the way things are broadcasted to the other members of army make it seem like one of their own being treated like a celebrity for turning on them, which further drives wedges between the victors and them.

The winners gets to watch their own run, too. They can't turn on Olympus if they're too busy self-loathing :)

The kids are prepped up before their interviews, a courtesy of Aphrodite (so what if some of her own children are there, they should've knew better than treason), but they’re sent to the arena with basic white chitons. The Olympians get nostalgic all right, they’re old. (And it does make the Ta demis feel even more degraded and patronised.)

The Arena itself is really pretty, too pretty for what's happening inside. I'm talking about polished marble Greek columns, giant statues of the gods, intricate carvings of silver and gold.

[It is of course designed by their newest architect. Not that Annabeth knows what it's going to be used for. They petition for "a shiny arena for godly games" and she does it. Not knowing it's going to be used for demigod bloodshed. She can't be imprisoned like her half-brother Daedalus however, they can't have either of the camps know about what's going on. (Those in Ta who knew her recognises her work, however causing them to think the Camp is on it) So, Hera kindly takes it upon herself to wipe the memory. She needed practice for her future exchange program anyway.]

"Why are you protesting that "we're forcing you to kill eachother" Torrington, we aren't the ones who are holding weapons."

[I will reblog with art later]

[gurinpotte]

let's talk process!

Bellow is a video of my latest thg art! I think I never shared video on here, so I thought I'd give it a go!

I wish this was a reblog of the original post but tumblr didn't let me. So here we are! I felt like talking a bit more about this piece because it was so good to make it. I am actually proud of how it turned out! The impression of depth works well enough and the lighting too, which made me very happy - happy to be able to give Katniss and Rue this sweet moment in such a dark story. I can't recall if this exact scene happens in the book, but it must be similar enough.

Still figuring out My Katniss. That's not exactly how I want to draw her. But a victory here is that she looks like an actual teen - something I struggle with tbh hehe. Little Rue is not exactly how I see her as well, but I love to see her sleeping peacefully like this with someone taking care of her.

This just......sprung up in my brain as listened to thg yet again because i have brainrot and need to be constantly entertained to be able to work lately. And it broke my heart and mended it continuously. Rue is so little and innocent, and even if she wasn't reaped, she already had a miserable and exploited life in district 11. That's so unfair. And the way Katniss stood by her, gave her the most she could, told her she was strong, lifted her up in the short period the two had together - makes me love them so much. Makes me love Katniss very much! This girl dared to > LOVE <. I guess that's the heart of this illustration, the daring to love in the direst circumstances.

As for the makings ofs its. T'was made on procreate with a funny little brush named quoll. Very ill tempered. But very beautiful watercolor look. I did have to do it in layers of color to get it right, which is also very watercolor-like. The thing to make it look like people are LAYING DOWN is to draw their faces as seen slightly from below. Does the trick every time. Now for the ground, I think it's the blue that gives the depth, and the lack of detail. The unfocused leaves gave me a bit of a hard time, hard to figure out their color and lighting. Even drew focused leaves. I very much lack the processing power do draw leaves and flowers and complex things. But we manage! Just keep arting and you'll manage.

[the-path-to-redemption]

Hi I was scrolling through you blog and I saw the post about Rwby and the Racism issue and I was wondering how did Rwby failed in all 3 categories?

I have seen other POCs express their distain regarding fantasy racism and fantasy oppression because you are taking a real life minority experience and using it for your white race (Hunger Games and Bright are examples). Then we have some that says as long as that race is an allegory or being race coded is fine such as Zootopia. Did Rwby followed or try to followed these examples?

That moment when your blog is just chocked full of posts about this topic that you can't find the specific one-

So, I want to preface that this post is my perspective, and it will not always align with other POCs' opinions on similar matters. We're not a monolith, and I speak from my own experiences.

Long Post Ahead

I don't think I can answer the 3 categories you mentioned because I literally cannot remember which post has that. So I'm very sorry.

So I'll start with the next part. In matters regarding the Hunger Games and its usage of societal discrimination, I personally would not say that it's a bad example, and race plays a more subtle part in the totalitarian world of Panem. THG as a series is a commentary on what will happen when we let the government exploit and divide the people, keeping us under their thumb with a cruel system disguised as a form of social order rather than what it truly is. Hell, even the main villain of the series President Snow (spoiler ahead) in the prequel claimed that the Games are a method of showing order in a world thrust into chaos, that the tributes are part of a larger game of reminding everyone in Panem that they are only parts of a bigger machine in order to keep peace. Which the series clearly stated that what he's saying is propaganda, and the world isn't just full of woes. It is capable of love, kindness, and unity even in an environment where the people kill each other.

Sorry for the long rant, but I would highly recommend you read the series. Panem as a world setting isn't a fantasy perse, more like a hypothetical America or any similar nation where the discrimination based on race, class, and everything not considered "norm" is something inspired by real-life without making it a direct example, it's a series encompassing the struggles of being free and allowed to love without being oppressed, which can be seen by any race. I encourage you to get into a deeper analysis of this wonderful series, it's worth it.

And for Zootopia? I would not consider it allegorical. At all. It obviously takes inspiration from real-life racism, particularly that in the States, but just...

If you equate the predators in Zootopia, who are discriminated against because of their instincts to hunt prey and are faced with constant fear that they will kill their prey peers based on instinct or via drug, on any non-white groups in America, while the prey animals are white people? You... you see the issue, right?

You see the issue of making a fictional race that instinctually behaves very differently from humans via eating others an allegory to real-life races, especially black people, right???

That's why I wanted RWBY and the Faunus to be their own thing because the premise itself is fantastical. Don't Write Real Life Racism with Fantastical Allegories. PLEASE. RWBY shot itself in the fucking foot when they equate the Faunus to Black Civil Rights Issues when they aren't educated enough on the topic to even discuss it. If that was what they wanted, just write black people. There are other ways where you can write a fantasy racism plot without allegorizing it to real-life racism. Just write the fucking latter.

RWBY failed, and it failed badly. Even if you don't have the whole Faunus be about Black Civil Rights, the writers still INTENTIONALLY write a disabled child slave fighting for his rights after being abused by a corporation to be the VILLAIN. Not just any kind of villain, but the kind to abuse his loved ones, kill his own kind, aim for mass murder, and never actually gave a shit about his rights. That alone should tell you enough about whether or not RWBY failed or not.

[realmermaid333]

During TBOSAS era of THG universe, it is interesting how the Capitol is actually under lots of government control while the districts seem to be a bit more free and left alone, besides the Hunger Games of course. Or at least they are more left alone than they are when Katniss is alive. We see in the movie especially how District 12 is very colorful and full of culture, and it seemed like people had more food then than they did in the future. But, by the time the 74th Hunger Games is around, the Capitol is extremely rich, and lavish goods and mass consumerism are the norm. While the districts are under massive surveillance and control, and are without food, and good medical care, all while working slave labor. I think this is an interesting parallel to real life as it is similar to how billionaires are made. They will underpay and mistreat workers, or harm people and steal from their lands (think elon musk's emerald mines) in order to wrack up billions. I think this is definitely what happened in the Capitol. They were able to live lives of superabundance to the point that they'd normalized a vomit drink so they could throw up food just to eat more. Or at least the more wealthy did. All of this was possible due to scarcity in the districts. As Rue tells Katniss in the first book, she was not allowed a bite of the crops she picked. All of it was sent to the Capitol while her and her siblings starved. It's just interesting and tragic how this is real and a real thing that happens. This is how billionaires are made. This is how corporations get their cobalt and their mica. And the slave labor of children in other countries is how first world countries are able to live in abundance, though it isn't even those of us in first world countries faults. Corporations cheaply mass produce things for profit so we are never encouraged to think about purchases, or think about how goods need to come from somewhere, and be made with resources and by people. I'd say the same could be said for people in the Capitol. Their mass consumption was normalized, and I'm sure many of them weren't even aware of how harsh the living conditions were for people in the districts.

[trashland-llamas]

Dec Wrap Up

Twilight in Hazard; An Appalachian Reckoning [4.5 stars]

I found out about this book from my public library branch's Libby section for books about Appalachia and I'm glad. I've been wanting to learn more about Appalachia for a few months now, as I've lived in KY for most of my life but felt like I didn't really know anything. Not truly having roots here as my parents are west coast transplants. This book gives a very thorough history across many decades to the early 2020s.

Covering the coal industry, the OxyContin boom, the major levels of poverty, political corruption, and the shift from physical newspapers to online tabloids in Eastern Kentucky. The last one being that the author used to work for the Louisville Courier Journal and that this shift has actually been more detrimental to rural areas than beneficial. The book is a good starting point for those who know next to nothing about Eastern Kentucky and why it views the federal government and certain social issues the way it does. Would say to read other books in conjunction with this one due to its geographical specificity though. But there will definitely be similarities regarding the surrounding states.

Plus I'm overall tired of how people keep only recommending Hillbilly Elegy as that book is just another "pull yourself up by the bootstraps" story that doesn't seem to care about what happens to the area. Which I don't like that line of thinking as it doesn't account for all the outside forces affecting someone's life and why they make the choices they do. That's not to say they're the uwu helpless sort, just to clarify. Rather, the whole situation is a lot more nuanced than people like to admit and I think the author does a good job going about it all.

Alongside this, I'd simply rather hear from those who actually do want Appalachia to flourish. Even if said person starts out as an outsider. I listened to the audiobook version and will probably end up checking out the print version as there were some things mentioned that I definitely want to research and learn more about.

Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins  [4.25 stars]

Knowing the end of Gale's character arc in this series makes certain sentences a shit ton more eerie which is definitely foreshadowing on Collins' part

'He's something of a whiz with snares, rigging them to bent saplings so they pull the kill out of the reach of predators, balancing logs on delicate stick triggers, weaving inescapable baskets to capture fish.'

'Hands that have the power to mine coal but the precision to set a delicate snare.'

'I recognize that voice. It's the same one he uses to approach wounded animals before he delivers a deathblow.'

Apparently I remember the film a lot better than I thought cause I'd be reading certain passages and the movie scene would pop into my head as I was reading it. But just like TBOSAS, it's interesting to discover what they changed for the movie. Even with Collins' previous work in television before THG series.

I understand what people mean when they say Katniss' internal monologue is funny cause I was laughing at her pulling a Timothee Chalamet SNL character break, going 'I'm pregnant!?' knowing damn well she isn't. Yes, Peeta is charismatic but not that charismatic. 

That and her struggling to keep up the facade in the games. Like no wonder Snow didn't believe y'all's love bs, beyond his past w/ Lucy Gray

Same with the 'ayo, why is Finnick kissing Peeta?' but then going 'oh, right, cpr is a thing,' which I do think emphasizes how she's 17 without necessarily calling to it. Like a show, don't tell thing cause there's only one line I saw that outright said her age.

Also the attention that Collins gives to implementing folk customs into the story - the herbalist book from her mother's side, the district's all having a diff staple bread, & how district 12 does their wedding

And I am now caught up on the Hunger Series except for the Haymitch book that's about to be released. Reading order has gone; The Hunger Games -> Mockingjay -> TBOSAS -> Catching Fire

Dark Moon: The Blood Altar Vol 1 - HYBE [4.25 stars] Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story - Laurie Loughlin [4.0 stars] Pupposites Attract Vol 1 - Hono Natsuna [4.0 stars]

Has similar vibes to the webtoon My Giant Nerd Boyfriend but the roles are reversed and there are exponentially more dogs involved. But that's where the similarities begin and end. One of those sappy/fluffy, quick reads for when the weather's dreary. 

All-New Wolverine: Immune Vol 4 - Leonard Kirk & Tom Taylor [3.75 stars] Given Vol 7 - Natsuki Kizu [3.0 stars] Hanukcats: And Other Traditional Jewish Songs for Cats - Angela Shelf Medearis [3.5 stars] Pupposites Attract Vol 2 - Hono Natsuna [3.75 stars]

The next 6 were rated 3.0 stars just b/c while I wasn’t the intended audience, I still greatly enjoyed them and thought the art style was extremely adorable. 

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea - Ben Clanton [3.0 stars] Super Narwhal and Jelly - Ben Clanton [3.0 stars] Narwhal's Otter Friend - Ben Clanton [3.0 stars] Narwhal's Sweet Tooth - Ben Clanton [3.0 stars] Narwhal's School of Awesomeness - Ben Clanton [3.0 stars] A Super Scary Narwhalloween - Ben Clanton [3.0 stars] Pack Origin - Kate King & Jessa Wilder [2.0 stars]

I always forget that romantasy is not really my thing seeing as I'm extremely picky when it comes to romance in general. Haven't entirely given up on the genre though.

As implied by the title, it's omegaverse where a character thinks they're a beta and then ends up an omega and their pack/harem is their alpha friends. There was an interesting aspect mentioned offhandedly in the first chapter about how omega/alpha pheromones are used as party drugs by betas. But because this book, despite the multiple povs is mainly framed in the fmc Bliss' perspective so it's unfortunately never explored. Otherwise, this book did make me realize I only like omegaverse in fanfiction b/c the book wasn't terrible.

It is a prequel novella to what seems to be a duology at this point in time. Went into it blind so Idk if the author is continuing it or if it's a completed series. Anyways, I bring this up as the novella does seem to be akin to how designers will make mock-ups of stuff when pitching ideas.

Unofficial Recipes of the Hunger Games: 187 Recipes Inspired by the Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingbird [2.75 stars]

This cookbook, oddly at the beginning, wants you to make everything in the recipe from scratch but the further it goes along, the more it becomes 'yea, buying stuff's fine.' Which isn't necessarily a bad thing but I'd rather them pick a lane

Would mostly recommend it for those who know next to nothing about cooking/baking and are wanting a place to start. That or if you're wanting to make more dinners at home with more vegetables

While it heavily acknowledges the fact that district 12 is supposed to be Appalachia, there's not a single recipe for grits. Closest they get is Mrs. Everdeen's Breakfast of Mush

It also treats meats such as squirrel, rabbit, and even venison at times as being 'exotic' meats. Which, as someone who lives in the south, aren't considered such. So that just came across as weird to me

Taylor Swift By the Book - Tiffany Tatreau & Rachel Feder [1.5 stars]

It's a recap video when I was expecting a video essay but in book form. It's extremely surface level and comes across pretentious as f. And funny enough in a book where you should be allowed to quote the lyrics, there's next to nothing. Or rather it's a single line used so it falls extremely flat when they point out the references. Like it's basic ass stuff you could research yourself going line by line on your own time. That and their quips piss me off.

Quips include [listening to the audiobook so apologies if the punctuation is off];

'If the theme of two girls competing for the affections of one guy doesn't sit well with you, we invite you to consider the following thesis; Cinderella was the original pick-me girl.'

'The choruses of Don't Blame Me and I Did Something Bad could've been sung by Ophelia and Lady Macbeth respectively at karaoke night...'

'Romeo and Juliet wish they had this steamy song to bop to, back in the 1500s'

Not a quip but 'Swiftian'

And to clarify, this isn't to say having this lightheartedness or the attitude the authors have towards old timey classics insults or devalues their work. Because simply put, it doesn't. The classical authors mentioned throughout have been dead for a while now. It's rather that there's an insulting insincerity that comes with treating Swift’s work akin to academia.

[vasilissadragomir]

for the fake fic ask game:

a THG fic with: accidental marriage, political intrigue and mutual pining!

OOF this is so hard i’ve been thinking about this one for a WHILE but i think i got it!! in honor of Passover…a Jewish!Everlark (shtetl!District 12, really) AU set during Catching Fire.

The twin burns on their hands aren’t the only things binding Katniss and Peeta together that fateful night before the Passover Seder. When they tear the loaf to drop in the Mellark fireplace together, cleansing the house of chametz before the holiday, they’re transported to another time with another burnt loaf…until they look down to find a toasted piece of bread in each of their hands. And, worse yet, Mrs. Mellark saw the whole thing. Couldn’t they at least have waited to do the toasting under a chuppah? Oy, what a shanda!

As Katniss and Peeta are marched down to the Justice Building by Mrs. Mellark and the town rabbi, Katniss fears the repercussions from President Snow, whose perfect, goyische Capitol wedding was just ruined by the accidental fulfillment of the District 12 tradition.

A month after Peeta stepped on the glass in the Justice Building, making their marriage legal in the eyes of both the state and HaShem, they learn the consequences of their actions when President Snow announces the Quell. With nothing left to lose, Katniss and Peeta start to think that maybe the meshugas they caused could be what saves them in the arena. After all, being star-crossed lovers worked pretty well last time.

In the battle for their culture, their rights, their traditions, and their lives, they can’t help but wonder…is it beshert?

glossary for the goyim:

shtetl - small Jewish towns in Eastern Europe (generally pre WWII for obvious reasons)

Passover - holiday where we don’t eat leavened bread and we often burn it to ensure our houses are entirely bread-free before the holiday

Seder - super long ritual dinner we do on the first night or two of passover

chametz - leavened bread

chuppah - a big ritual tarp we get married under

shanda - scandal

rabbi - Jewish spiritual leader (comparable to a minister or imam)

goyische - goy-like (“goy” means non-Jew; serves a similar role to gringo/a in Spanish-speaking regions)

breaking the glass - wedding tradition where the groom steps on a piece of glass which usually ends the ceremony

HaShem - literally translates to “the name” but is just God (we’re not allowed to say God’s name)

meshugas - ridiculousness, chaos

beshert - basically destiny (“it would’ve happened anyway…”)

[julietasgf]

Do you think Strabo ever had the suspicion that Coriolanus played a role in Sejanus's death? I read your character studies on the Plinth family (love those works so much) and wondered if Strabo would ever have the feeling that Coriolanus betrayed Sejanus because Strabo knows that Coriolanus is just like him. If Strabo sees similarities between himself and Coriolanus, I'm assuming he can sense that Coriolanus is power hungry and willing to betray anyone to get to the top. On another note, how do you think Strabo mourned/reacted after Sejanus's death? We see that Ma curses the mountains for the rest of her life, but Strabo was never really religious.

so, first: tysm for reading my works!!!! I'm so happy you enjoyed it <33

I DEFINITELY think strabo suspected something, but not right away. he was an asshole, but as I always say, I do think he loved his son and his family in his own twisted way. at first, I think he went through the logic he himself says in the book: the plinths were parents without a son, coriolanus was a boy without his parents. and coriolanus was intelligent, and ambitious, and young and full of potential.

but that's the thing: full of potential. coriolanus was 19 at that time, and I think strabo underestimated him for a while. he would never think such a young boy would do the kind of things he did, let alone to sejanus, someone so loyal to coriolanus.

however, as time passed by, and strabo started to notice more and more how coriolanus seemed even more ruthless than himself, even more power hungry... it all started to come into place.

strabo betrayed his own district, his own home.

why wouldn't coriolanus betray a friend?

now, let's talk about strabo and the plinths in general: one thing that makes me think a lot is that after the events of tbosas, we don't hear about the plinths never again in thg. never. coriolanus became their heir, and I'm assuming they became some sort of parent like figures to him. maybe I'm reaching, but in these conditions, I would expect for coriolanus to mention them at least once. but nothing. nothing at all.

so. what happened?

there's a saying where I'm from (I at least never heard it in english) that goes like "it's snake eating snake". it basically means that when two horrible people get close to each other, it's not really a surprise when they start betraying each other. and that's basically coriolanus and strabo to me after years after sejanus' death, after the first moment of pain went away and the logic started to come back into place.

my personal theory is: strabo at some point knew. he was a smart man and too much alike coriolanus. and we all know how things end for people who cross coriolanus' path.

about how strabo reacted: I think he was devasted, really. and in the same way coriolanus has this feeling all over the book that he's annoyed and tired of having to get sejanus out of trouble, strabo have done this all his life, and it wasn't enough. strabo hated to fail, and regarding sejanus, I think he felt like he failed. and plus, he not only lost his son, he lost his heir. I think he drowned himself in work and I do think he had something to do with why the hell D2 went from their mentality in the 10th games to their mentality in the 74th games. maybe he helped coriolanus with propaganda, or gave him ideas, idk, but it was important to him to make sure that no other boy from that district would end up in the dangerou rebel path sejanus ended.

(of course coriolanus supported his ideas. strabo just didn't know at the time that the reasons were completely different from his.)

[maadilin]

the extent of the sex trafficking in thg

here's my theories/monologue on the sex trafficked/possibly sex trafficked victors, and victors who may have been trafficked if things went different.

Cashmere, District 1

mentioned indirectly as sex trafficked by haymitch in mockingjay. there's a possibility she refused, but it's most likely she did, especially based on the entirety of the capitol's sympathy for her during her interview in cf.

Enobaria, District 2

mentioned as a capitol favorite, there's a good chance she was sold as a sex slave. based on her vote for a symbolic hunger games, where she says, "let them have a taste of their own medicine." it's clear she was more rebellious than the other careers (with the exception of finnick, annie, and mags) giving more probability towards her being trafficked.

Finnick, District 4

the only confirmed victor to be trafficked, he announced this in a d13 propo in mockingjay. arguably the most "desirable" of all the victors.

Johanna, District 7

as it's mentioned she has no family and no close friends, (besides katniss, finnick and possibly peeta) there's a good her family/friend's deaths were as a result of her refusing to be sex trafficked by president snow.

Haymitch, District 12

not confirmed to be trafficked, although he possibly could have been, but his family and girlfriend's death being caused by his defiance, snow had nobody to hold against him if he refused. also, even if snow didn't kill his family, he probably wouldn't have trafficked him because he became an alcoholic. if his means of winning were different, and if his family wasn't killed, it's almost certain he would have been approached by snow about the victor prostitution.

Katniss, District 12

obviously we know she was never approached/trafficked, but if the whole star crossed lovers thing never happened, she would probably have been approached by snow, and she would probably accept as it's clear she's selfless when it comes to protecting prim. thank god for peeta.

Peeta, District 12

similar to katniss although he would have been more likely to refuse, as besides the possible exception of his father, he didn't seem to love his family much, especially in comparison to katniss. thank god for the star crossed lovers, as if one of them won without it, they would have probably been prostituted.

that's all for now byebye lovelies~

xx madi

[lauren-210]

What's your favorite character from all across THG trilogy & TBOSAS?

Why do you like this character?

Favorite quote or moment from them?

Please state one (or more) thing which you don't like from them.

Thank you 😊

@curiousthg

Ahhhh yes! Happy to answer this question! 😊

Favorite character across the series: My District 2 golden boy, my best friend, my husband: Sejanus Plinth ❤️

There's certainly so much I can say about him and why I love him so much. He is literally everything for me: Compassionate, empathetic, kind, loving, selfless, brave, morally strong, pure, honest, a pacifist, and the biggest sweetheart. He is a man of heart who wears his heart on his sleeves. I adore this man. ❤️ I love his backstory, his storyline, and I find his character interesting to me. I truly see so much of myself in him when it comes having very similar personalities, our beliefs/moral compass, our life experiences (being bullied in school when we were young, being shy, not having many friends growing up), and also similar flaws we both share such as acting or thinking from our hearts first, being naïve on certain things about the world, or acting out from our emotions, especially in regards to things that pertain to our beliefs about the world or situations that happen. His humanity and his capacity to be good as well as the convictions he has in the good in humanity and people’s capacity to do good are what makes him so special to me. I love that he maintains his humanity all the way thick and through and not playing the Capitol’s game of letting them turn him into something he’s not. He always wants to do the right thing and puts others before him. ❤️

One of my favorite scenes and one of the most defining moments that showcase his humanity and emphasizes the degree to how much he cares is (and represents who he is as a person) is when he sneaks into the arena to give Marcus (his former District 2 friend/classmate and his tribute) a vigil while also going in there to die as a martyr. He was ready to make a statement for people that didn't even LIKE him and the amount of compassion and love he has in his heart to do that for Marcus despite him giving him the cold shoulder the entire time and hating him (when it could have been so easy for Sejanus to shrug Marcus off for how he was treating him) is incredible. He sees and watched him die a painful, senseless and cruel death in being hung up for display and goes in to cross his arms, perform their District 2 tradition of spreading the bread crumbs over his body to die peacefully because he wanted to say "Fuck you. You can hang up this boy but I am not letting him die without showing how human he is." He even does that for Brandy after she's killed by Peacekeepers after she kills Arachne and he wants people (no matter how cruel or unkind or violent they are; no matter where they come from) to be treated with respect and dignity.

Favorite quote: So hard to choose cause I love so many of his, but picking just one, I'd have to go with this one because it's so powerful ❤️:

"You’ve no right to starve people, to punish them for no reason. No right to take away their life and freedom. Those are things everyone is born with, and they’re not yours for the taking. Winning a war doesn’t give you that right. Having more weapons doesn’t give you that right. Being from the Capitol doesn’t give you that right. Nothing does."

No Sejanus slander in this house 🙅🏻���♀️🙅🏻‍♀️🙅🏻‍♀️ If I have to mention anything that I don't like about him........him being su*cidal cause that makes me so god damn depressed and he deserves the world. 😭😭😭

[the-gayest-tree-you-ever-did-see]

Lucy Gray Baird - an innocent victim or a manipulator?

What's your first impression of Lucy Gray?

Do you think she loved Coriolanus in tbosas?

What do you think might have happened to Lucy Gray in the end?

What's your opinion about theories :

1. Greasy Sae as Lucy Gray.

2. Coin as a daughter or relative of Lucy Gray.

Thank you :)

@curiousnonny

oof im so late on this but HERE WE GO

i think trying to categorize her into one thing almost eliminates her humanity. she is both a manipulator and a victim. she is both a songbird and a snake. she is more than just one choice she makes, or even all of the choices she made, because she's human. we see her through coryo and i think that does a disservice to who she is because coryo struggles to quantify her, not realizing that she isnt quantifiable, because shes human. i also think the fandom discussion around her is very telling, because i can see peeta making a lot of the choices she made in her shoes (and vice versa) and i know they are not the same characters, but the ways in which they are similar and the way we talk about both of them are pretty interesting.

i loved her when i first met her -- i annotated ballad and my note on her introduction was 1. a bunch of hearts because i loved her and 2. a paragraph on how she was just a kid and the differences in how she acts versus how the tributes in thg act. i loved her and she didnt deserve anything that happened.

i think she did love him. i think at first it was an act, that she was just putting on a show for the capitol, trying to latch onto something so they didnt let her die, but i think she slowly grew to love him. until, of course, she realized who he was. again, she was just a girl. she just went through a break up and the other girl sent her to her death in the games and she has people she loves and needs to take care of and no one who takes care of her. however misguided and youthful, i really think she loved snow.

it's a mystery, sweetheart. and mysteries have a tendency of driving people mad. im content with not knowing, but i will say this: i believe she survived. i have to believe she at least survived snow's rage, just that little moment in the woods. at least let her survive that.

absolutely not. why the hell would lucy gray risk her life and everyone she loves by staying in twelve.

even more no. coin is vastly different than lucy gray and everyone she loves, there is no way she is related to her. i honestly hate these theories because they remove lucy gray's autonomy as a person and her own character. i will be petty and say these theories are stupid as hell and so are the people who believe in them amen 🙏🏽 like we did not read the same book

[logictoinsanity]

Recently read The Silence by Tim Lebbon and it was great, found out there was a movie and watched it and now I'm subjecting the Internet void to

My Thoughts on The Silence (2019) (6.5/10):

-(TLDR: I enjoyed it, but if I hadn't read the book it'd be much less interesting

TLDR of the move: if youve seen a quiet place, very similar creature, blind and hunts via hearing, reminiscent of like, piranhas combined with bats. parents, young son, deaf daughter and moms mom are trying to survive)

- Casting is all good except for Huw they fucked up (actor did a good job, just don't think he has the right vibe and its not /just/ because he's bald)

- Jude and Ally are great, Otis is a Rottweiler and I can't remember if that's book accurate (definitely not how I pictured him, I pictured a mutt that vaguely resembles a dark grey Irish wolfhound, but not as ridiculously large). but he's so so cute (I hid during The Scene™ so I have no clue how they handled it, but maybe next time I can just think about the dog actor having a really fun time)

- Not a fan of the change of setting, I understand that the problem had to move faster than the book, but they could've still kept the UK and Moldova, I feel like this would be more important to me if I was British tho tbh, im sure theres aspects of the characters in the book that got messed up when they turned american that i didnt notice. Probably cheaper to film in the USA tho.

- Obviously lacks all of the incredible build up and suspense of the entire first quarter of the book, with Ally seeing the cave on TV and slowly watching it become a bigger and bigger thing, which is one of my favorite things about the book

- Note from ~25 minutes in- better than a quiet place because it starts from the beginning, although I've heard the quiet place 2 provides a lot more context, maybe it's a ouija situation

- FUCKING HATE THAT THEY CHANGED 'HE WANTS ALLY FOR HER SIGN LANGUAGE AND SEES HER AS A FUCKED UP SAVIOR' INTO 'THE GIRL IS FERTILE' THATS SO FUCKING STUPID WHY WOULD THEY VALUE FERTILITY AT ALL WHEN BABIES ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO HUSH AS A PRE ESTABLISHED FACT THATS JUST GROSS PERVERSION FOR THE SAKE OF SHOCK VALUE INSTEAD OF WHAT ACTUALLY MAKES SENSE FOR THE PLOT

- They also fucked up the order of events with the hushed attacking the house, which fucks up the relevance of the grandmas sacrifice, since they just grabbed Ally again right after

- They also didn't include the smile from grandma to Ally which would've been so so easy to include and imo was a good moment.

- I liked Jude stabbing the guy, can't remember if that was in the book. also didn't like that it was three kidnappers instead of one really big guy who ignored like, a knife wound and being punched repeatedly

- Overall very similar to how I feel about THG movie, although this movie is worse than THG generally, so the concept is amplified. fun to watch because I know the deeper parts, decent basic genre movie, but doesn't have nearly the substance, meaning, or craftsmanship as the book.

- Really wish the beginning had slightly more time to show the doubt the world had when the vesp infestation first started. I think like two or three weeks passed between the Moldova cave incident and the vesps crossing the British channel in the book. There also wasn't time to show all the ways people tried to fight back, the military burning cities while blasting off fireworks, releasing toxic gases, etc. But I think specifically the doubt that was surrounding the vesp infestation in its early stages is a very important part of what makes the book so effective, it shows how people will ignore the things they cant handle, the cognitive dissonance we all have about whats happening in far away countries, it could never happen to us etc

- Really wish Glenn got more screen time and character development, especially in relation to the doubt, but I understand why he didn't. He's the madge of this film (not as bad tho, they did their best with him and the time they had I think)

- Feel pretty much the same about the ending, I get they needed a satisfying conclusion since they knew the odds of a sequel were slim, and the original ending would've been to frustrating for a more general audience.

- Personally though, I would've written it closer to the original, but they make it to the house in Scotland, and there's vague hints about the refuge (and maybe a more solid conclusion on rob somehow) so its like, there's a little open endedness and if they really wanted to do a sequel they could, but its still satisfying and more follows the original storyline. Especially since they totally cut out the plot line of huw and his parents weird relationship and his weird feelings about Scotland.

- Still enjoyed it more than quiet place, though tbf I don't remember that movie very well, I was high as fuck during both movies, and I haven't seen the sequel

- Huws brother and sister, Allys best friend and the lake house woman's machete are all absent, along with the prime Minister announcements (although I guess itd be the president) which I really enjoyed since the governments response is a key component to how a society reacts to catastrophy, which I think is a solid bit of the point of the book

- Basically I want a five hour long extended version that's just a little more book accurate and has slightly better pacing and casting. Just like The Hunger Games, Percy Jackson, and every other book to movie adaptation I've ever seen