#also I just LOVE them both as characters individually

[galactic-rhea]

ok but can i say how much i love your profile banner. like, besides being hillarious it also feels like, idk, an acknowledgement that anidala/vaderdala/etc is by no means perfect. it isn't. there's definitely some unhealthy behaviors (tho i'm no psychologist), but it's not irredeemable or intensly toxic. with some work (and a universe that doesnt hate them, seriously) they could be like, THE couple. I mean they kinda already are to me... couple goals. minus the infanticide.

Snskdja i think you need to see the full comic

(My partner drew it for me!)

They're pretty much mutually obssesed and codependent, their whole deal is that they bonded over trauma. These were two kids forced to grow fast and carry responsabilities beyond comprehension, in extreme danger and away from home and family, in circumstances where they weren't allowed to grow any kind of normal way of coping, and very lonely; so there isn't anything normal about them and honestly they don't need to be because they fit perfectly what the narrative needs of them, which is Space Romeo and Juliet with magic and laser guns and swords thrown around.

Their whole love story started because they both are deeply scarred and damaged individuals who were dehumanized in different ways but found solace in each other and their similar personalities, and because of their circumstances, they developed that extreme obssesion that became a brand for them and they hadn't much of a room to actually work a more normal relationship

Usually discussions about wether a ship is toxic or not (which is kinda a buzzword at this point, not pointing at you, anon! But i mean the general public, some ppl heard it once and never dropped it) are kinda reductive because it more often than not ends in a very White and black approach to the text and a very 'eh' conclusion, especially in cheesy and camp movies like SW because of course they aren't normal nor they cope on the correct ways, there wouldn't be story or much of a interesting aspect going on! Their devotion is insane and fantastical and closer to a greek myth or a Shakespeare tragedy than many of the other aspects in SW (like the politics) and they do have a positive impact on the other, and that's what's fun about it; there's no much point of comparison in real world because it simply can't be compared 1:1, but they're fun to analyze regardless because of how much of a compelling characters they are! And yet they can be very simple, narratively their concept isn't hard to grasp but you can dig so much about them with what little we have (particularly Padme has very little screentime compared to other characters, but there's still a lot to infer about her).

What's also fun about Anidala is that because SW is actually about love conquers all and all of that cheesy stuff, is also at the center of the whole story and through Luke it gets proven correct, Anidala as a relationship haunts the narrative and there's some gothic kinda vibes to it that I love. Both Anakin and Padme as characters come with SO MUCH to unpack, and so many flaws, and I have joked before that they lowkey match like puzzle pieces in such a way that they're mostly able to water down their issues, but that if they were to date someone who's more normal? It would be over, lmao.

(Now, Vaderdala, or at least my Vaderdala does take the insanity to a whole different league, theyre particularly freaky and evil in the empress padme AU lmao)

Alas, sorry for the rambling! I just love them!

[novlr]

How can I make my editing process quicker and less stressful? I feel like I’m spending way too much time on it and not really getting anywhere, so I’d love some tips on how to keep it simple and actually productive.

I think that most writers have a love/hate relationship with editing. It feels so good to see your manuscript go from a rough draft to something really polished, but at the same time, the editing process itself is painstaking and laborious.

The editing phase can feel like wandering through a maze without a map. Every writer has been there, staring at their manuscript, overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work ahead. But editing doesn’t have to be a source of stress. With the right approach, you can make your editing process both efficient and effective.

Break it down

While some writers thrive taking a do-it-all-at-once approach, this isn’t one that works for everyone. If you feel overwhelmed, you can try to divide your editing into distinct passes, each focusing on a specific aspect:

Story Structure – Focus on plot, pacing, and narrative flow.

Character Development – Examine character arcs and relationships.

Scene Level – Look at individual scene construction and transitions.

Language – Analyse word choice, clarity, and style.

Technical – Look at grammar, punctuation, and formatting.

By tackling one element at a time, you’ll catch more issues and avoid feeling overwhelmed. And you also don’t need to do them back-to-back.

When I do my first editing pass, I look at only story structure and character development. After draft 2, I look at a scene level analysis, with some attention paid to language. If I need to, I’ll repeat this for as many revisions as I need, leaving a deep-dive on language and the more technical proofreading aspects until my final draft.

Create a system

No two writers write alike. Your process will be as unique to you as the writing you produce, so never take someone else’s routine as gospel or as the only “right” way to approach it.

What you will need to do is experiment. Try different things. See what works for you, and what doesn’t. Things you can try might be:

Set clear goals

Before each editing session, define what you want to accomplish. For example:

“Review chapters 1-3 for pacing issues.”

“Check all dialogue in Act 2.”

“Analyse character motivations in transition scenes.”

Having specific targets can help give you focus and give a sense of progress, as it’s a task that you can tick off.

Track your progress

Monitoring your progress lets you actively see what you’re accomplishing. It can be a huge motivator when you can see your manuscript start to take shape.

Keep a spreadsheet of completed editing tasks.

Use a notebook to log issues that need addressing.

Create checklists for common problems you want to catch.

Track time spent on different editing tasks to identify where you might be getting stuck.

Organise visually

If you’re a visual learner, then being able to see your editing process taking shape can be a game changer. You could try to:

Highlight plot threads in different colours.

Mark scene transitions with clear breaks.

Flag areas that need deeper revision.

Use comments or sticky notes for bigger structural issues.

Create a colour code for different types of edits (dialogue, description, pacing, etc.).

Incorporate these colours into your tracking if you decide to use it.

Set a sustainable schedule

Editing can be just as time-consuming as writing (in some cases, it might be even more time consuming), so it’s important to make sure you don’t overwhelm yourself. Don’t expect your editing to be done in a week. To keep a routine that’s realistic and sustainable, you can try to:

Block out specific times for editing.

Set deadlines for completing different passes.

Build in buffer time for unexpected issues.

Schedule regular breaks to give yourself a fresh perspective.

Plan rewards for hitting milestones.

For me, the rewards are the biggest part of the process. I need that little serotonin bump when I finish something and give myself a treat. That can be anything from taking a break, to buying myself something. You can even involve a housemate or family member in the reward!

Keep reference materials handy

If you’re the kind of person who likes to remind yourself of the task at hand, then it can be uesful to keep reference materials or a style guide handy. This could include:

Your story bible or outline.

Character profiles.

Setting descriptions.

Style guide preferences.

A common error checklist.

Notes from previous drafts to make sure you don’t repeat mistakes.

You don’t need to have all references handy at all times. You can pick and choose what works for you, and what is important for that editing pass.

Know when to step back

Fresh eyes make better edits. If you’re tired or overwhelmed, there is absolutely no shame in stepping away. You’ll be much more productive if you approach editing when you’re not exhausted, because it’s very easy to miss things and get distracted if you’re not in the right headspace.

Make sure you take regular breaks between editing passes to maintain your perspective. And don’t be afraid to take a week or two away from your manuscript can help you return with renewed clarity. Read something else. Watch television. Just make sure you do something other than constantly working on your manuscript.

Get outside input

If you’ve done a few self-editing passes and feel you need to start polishing, you might want to look for outside help. This can take many forms. Some are free, while others will cost nothing more than your time. You’ll need to decide what is best for you. You can:

Share your almost-finished product with beta readers (I recommend you read this guide to get the most out of your beta readers, as they can be such a valuable resource).

Consider hiring a professional editor once you’ve done all you can.

Join a critique group for regular feedback during the drafting and editing process.

Find a writing partner for accountability and reciprocal labour.

Trust your instincts

Try different editing processes to see what works for you. Don’t try to force something that isn’t, and be willing to change tack if you need to. If something feels right, stick with it. If it doesn’t, let it go.

But no matter what editing process you choose to pursue, don’t aim for perfection in your first pass. Instead, focus on steady improvement through multiple editing rounds. With practice, you’ll develop a rhythm that makes editing feel less like a chore and more like a natural part of your writing journey.

[vshiftsss]

SOLANA’S MOODBOARD AND ABILITIES - (CAMP HALF BLOOD DR)

𝓢olana’s 𝓐bilities…

APOLLO

health regeneration: self-explanatory. i can both heal myself and heal others, though i have a faster rate of healing since the internal regeneration is innate. this, along with all my abilities in this section, are strengthened while the sun is shining down on me.

pain transfer: along with healing, i can transfer wounds to my own body or to someone else. this is used offensively — i transfer my wounds or my allies’ wounds to the enemies who inflicted them.

photokinesis: the ability to create and manipulate light. i can use this for an array of things, such as lighting up dark areas and blinding enemies. i can also create weapons out of pure light, or any object i would need in the moment. the item i create will be hot to the touch and will weigh the same as the item would normally.

solar energy transfer: i can use the energy from the sun and convert it into energy for myself. the solar energy can be converted into strength, speed, stamina, defense, or additional power for any attacks i would execute with the abilities i inherited from apollo.

master of melody: i have a perfect pitch, and i can automatically hear and play the tune of something just from reading a note sheet. playing instruments comes easily to me, even if i haven’t seen it before.

natural archer: i have an innate talent for archery and anything that requires aim.

prophecies: i can decipher prophecies naturally. this is how i knew immediately that i would be working with malakai on the next quest.

way with words: i’m a walking thesaurus. the perfect words come to mind when i need to use them, and i can create the most beautiful metaphors to put into my songs or my writing.

SOTERIA

danger sense: i have a sixth sense for danger. five seconds before anything dangerous happens to me or a loved one, there’s a hot flash behind my eyes. not necessarily painful, but definitely noticeable.

telekinesis: i can control any items with my mind to create a shield or a protective cover. i can control all safety equipment with my mind and i can sense all sharp/potentially dangerous objects through walls.

impromptu protector: if there are any animals or humans nearby, i can convince them to protect me or an ally from what i deem evil. it is up to the individual what they do to protect. they could attack, distract, or hide us.

shield generation: i can create force fields around myself and my allies. people inside/behind the force field cannot hear whatever is outside it, and vice versa. the bigger the shield is, the more energy it takes up. everything something hits the force field, more energy is consumed.

MORPHEUS

reflection of the gods: as i stated in my introduction post, this ability allows me to channel any god or goddess and “reflect” them, therefore giving me some of their powers and natural skills. sometimes i think of a specific deity, and other times the best deity for the situation reflects automatically.

dream travel and communication: while i am sleeping, i can travel into other people’s dreams and watch them, although this is an extreme invasion of privacy and only used when necessary. i can also send people messages through their dreams, in case i need to warn them of something.

minor hypnokinesis: if i want to see someone’s dreams or make them dream something specific, i can send them to sleep for a short period of time so they can experience the dream.

note: i got some of these ideas from a camp half blood roleplay server’s document on different ideas for characters! i’m not sure who exactly wrote it but creds to them!

END OF POST - HAPPY SHIFTING!

tags… @avelineshifts @julianasversee @visualcve @miaojune

[foxbuck]

BuckTommy or Buddie (Endgame Spec)

Pt. 1- BuckTommy

I've seen a lot of theories about why BT/Buddie would go cannon, but I haven't seen anyone compile all of them yet. This is my best attempt at a semi-comprehensive guide to the theories that I think hold some weight! I didn't get all of them of course, so if I missed an important one please please put it in the notes. For the most part I'm using other users' ideas and then building on them, so all users and the post I referenced are linked next to their theory (go check them all out!!!).

For the sake of ease I'll be referring to all the pieces as "___ theory." Also I don't know what the fuck the writers are doing in that damn room so don't take any of this too seriously. It seems to be a general consensus that they're making some peculiar decisions recently so who knows what the hell is gonna happen next episode/season.

sahtinekryz post BuckTommy is Chekov's Gun

"A narrative principle emphasizing that every element in a story be necessary, while irrelevant elements should be removed. For example, if a gun features in a story, there must be a reason for it, such as being fired at some later point." (Wikipedia)

The Checkov's Gun theory claims that Tommy's repeated appearances must have a narrative purpose. Tommy has been consistently reappearing/mentioned in s8. His story hasn't closed yet because the gun hasn't gone off yet. Something major is going to happen with him, and a very likely explanation is that he will get back together with Buck.

Personally I started with this one because it has a lot of weight imo. Sahtinekryz mentioned this in their post, but the showrunners probably spent a significant amount of money to have Tommy and his expensive-ass helicopter stunt in 8x15. He is reoccurring in these episodes for a reason. I'm not going too into depth with it because a lot of the other theories build off of it, but definitely keep Chekov's Gun in mind while reading the other theories.

-

Main Character Tommy

vanpalmersgf post Tommy Character Independence

This theory states that Tommy is being set up to be more important in the show because they are giving him scenes where he is a) present and b) acting independently from Buck (maybe ((hopefully)) implying that the runners are trying to give him his own arc??)

The best evidence for this is Tommy's appearances in the 8x16 flashback saving Bobby and in the funeral procession. In both instances, Tommy was involved because he is a character that the show sees as important--he wasn't just there to interact with Buck. The showrunners want the viewers to like Tommy.

Building off this idea, giving Tommy's character more independence in the show and establishing his relation to the 118 in his own way (in contrast to his only connection being through Buck) allows for him to later be recognized as an important part of the 118 family, which is damn near exactly what distantreverbs brings up in their post about Tommy's 7x04 wish. distantreverbspost 7x04 Wish

“I was super jealous… All of you. The 118. How it’s become like a family over there. I mean, how you all… were willing to put everything on the line for one another. I wanted to be a part of that.”

I really do like how well these two theories fit together. Tommy outright said last season that he wants/wanted to be a part of a family like the 118. Tommy's character getting this independence feels like he could be set up for his own mini-arc, and as op said, "Tommy’s entire narrative is clearly being built around fighting through his demons and getting the loyalty and love he so desperately craves as his reward."

As I mentioned already, giving Tommy's character more independence from Buck in turn tightens his individual connection to the 118 as a whole. Having a closer connection to the 118 leads up to his 7x04 wish being granted, and, being reintroduced to the 118 through Buck, the reasonable follow up would be for him to reestablish his connection with Buck.

-

distantreverbs, niraves, Chug Ugly (yt) Invisible/Red String Theory

I think this is a relatively popular theory but I can only really find a few posts and a video so I linked those.

"String theory is a theoretical framework in which the point-like particles of particle physics are replaced by one-dimensional objects called strings."

Just kidding. I can't find a definition for this one though, idk where y'all get this shit from. Anyway.

Invisible/Red String Theory basically states that soulmates are connected throughout time and space with an 'invisible string.' I'm not exactly sure how to explain this, but I think that giving some examples of how this applies helps.

1. Tommy leaving the 118 opened the space that let Buck join. (This one feels the most tangible, almost like Tommy is literally pulling Buck along behind him.)

Abby connection (including in s1 where Abby's parents thought Buck was Tommy.)

The bubbling scene (where Buck and Tommy are thinking about each other at the same time.)

As niraves mentions, previously these were all accidental. However, the 'Abby reveal' makes it seem like Minear is solidifying them and making them now seem intentional in-universe. The showrunners are actively giving this theory substance (and Minear reposted the yt video so ..!) Points for Bucktommy.

-

Parallels

I'm not giving these a lot of weight because they can happen on accident a lot of the time I think, but I figured I'd mention a few recent ones since it was already mentioned that some accidental things are being made to be seen as noteworthy now. I also only found a few so.

sahtinekryz post Madney/Bathena parallel in 8x15

In 8x15 Maddie and Athena both listened/watched as their s/o was laying down in immense pain, paralleling Tommy watching Buck collapsing on the camera at the end of the ep. In all instances, there was a barrier between the pair (glass, distance [only audio or visual]). Iirc Tommy's scene was actually decided on film day that they should show him watching Buck. Take from that what you will.

bucktommysource Try Again

[Buck in 5x18] "Is that really love? Right, shouldn't it be when you're at your worst, they're at their worst, you have every reason to give up and you still decide you want to try again"

[Buck in 8x11] "You want to try again?"

ambernotember I should go.

[Maddie talking to Chimney] "I should go."

[Tommy talking to Buck] "I should go"

firehose118 BuckTommy at Madney wedding

Buck and Tommy having a major scene Maddie and Chimney's hospital wedding implies a parallel between their love and the love that Maddie and Chimney have. Narratively, if this parallel holds, it makes no sense to not have Buck and Tommy reconcile/be endgame

That's all for now! Feels really short so I know I missed a lot, but I wanted to get this out now so I'll have to come back or make a continuation post.

I'm planning on making a part 2 with Buddie theories so if y'all had a theory you want me to add then definitely comment/put it in the tags; it would help me make a bit of a longer post than this one (and save me a lot of research time lmao) <3. Same with if you have anything you think I should add to a BuckTommy cont. post.

Setting aside long-term spec, I really don't think that we've seen the last of the Buck/Tommy relationship. All of Tommy's minor reappearances hint at him doing something, and that is really undeniable. These theories are all of course about a BuckTommy romantic relationship, but even if we don't get that, all signs point to them making up at least platonically.

Also please no shipping discourse in the notes, these are all just theories written in good fun, not meant to say one ship is better than the other <3

[anonymousreader4d7]

Hermit-A-Day May - Day 14: Groups and Collabs

Day 14 is Groups and Collabs - I decided to do EGGGIS (with the Ranchers as little ghosts) because I LOVE their REPO streams!!! (I also love GIGGS Phasmo but REPO has more people, they've played it more lately, AND it's easier to draw)

So, not RMAU today, but I HAD to do EGGGIS REPO, XDDD. Especially after GIGGS got so excited when Etho decided to join them! Just in case someone doesn't know who is who, Gem's in the cart, Grian is pushing it, Scar is being carried by Etho, Impulse is carrying a diamond, and Skizz is running and screaming. And then there's Jimmy and Tango floating as little observer "ghosts" above Gem, since they have each individually played with GIGGS and they each make a hilarious addition to the crew.

I had a lot of fun drawing this and am really pleased with how they all turned out! Doing the metal shading was fun, and I really like the last minute additions of the little dirt/rust spots on them all - I think it adds both a lot of character and... Context isn't the right word, but it's the best I'm coming up with right now, lol. All in all, I'm super pleased and had a ton of fun with this one!!!

[animalpetcel]

Carnelian Blood Thoughts

I have spent the past day or so just binge reading Carnelian Blood, the spin-off series to Diabolik Lovers (my guilty pleasure) and one of the many series of Rejet.

Honestly I had a lot of fun lol. I feel like the mystery of Carnelian plan's, the missing 6th Erosion member and the origin of both the guys and our main girl I feel like helps make the content feel meatier and not just rely on romantic moments with the boys (or them just goofing off). And the fact that the cds get plot moments at all is pretty interesting! I also like how it is kinda more evident that they all have different relationships with their dad (from Byakuya's freak outs at the near mention of him, Toxin's more gung-ho attempt at fulfilling Carnelian's orders, Creha and Yoru being more doubtful and Neight/Ura being the ones who are actually in touch with him).

I think the only kinda frustrating thing is that Erosion are chimeras, demon world races with something imbued in them (the tl said they had demon parts but I'm not actually sure what it meant by that?). You'd think that this means that we would be able to see more of the behaviors of the adler, vibora and werewolf races that sets them apart from DLs vampires right (even with a bit of other stuff mixed in)? Well no bc they also drink blood (but of not-humans this time...which feels like splitting hairs) bc of their chimera condition and have so far demonstrated only supernatural abilities related to their chimera condition....so Toxin & Yoru don't do werewolf stuff, Creha doesn't do anything related to vibora and Neight/Ura & Byakuya don't seem much like adler...it's disappointing that they feel like just...weaker vampires atm but I'm willing to give them time to cook.

(Also outside of Neight/Ura and I think Toxin, the boys haven't actually made the largest use of their chimeric traits. But again I'm willing to wait and see).

Now here's my thoughts on each individual member, from youngest to oldest.

Creha: Ngl I thought either him or Neight/Ura would have ended up being my favorite but instead it was someone else (Yoru). I think his video game obsession and how he uses that to kinda avoid difficult things, or it also demonstrating how he gets tunnel vision when he's focusing was really neat. I only kinda think that it would be nice if Creha demonstrated a specific preference for certain video games rather than the writing making it sound like he loves every single video game genre equally (he does seem to have a preference for challenging games...but that's also pretty vague. Not that he can't be a video game nerd, but nerds also have specific stuff they like). Also I thought that the two little scars he had under his mask felt but a little goofy, like I've seen similar characters who avoid showing their mouths for similar reasons but bc of the genre Creha can't actually look non-traditionally attractive so they just kinda look like really light scars.

Byakuya: Ngl he's probably my least favorite if only bc it is really hard to decipher what's he's saying at any given moment. I find the way how he gets affected by his "blood cravings" the worst out of all of his brothers, and the fear he has for Carnelian interesting but there isn't a lot of bite on otherwise? Even his obsession with disinfectant feels like it's missing context so until we get more info on him I can't really say much.

Toxin: What if "Sold to 1Direction" went terribly wrong? Or right if you're into that thing. Despite him not being my favorite, I want to spin him around and study him like a bug. I guess off all the boys I consider him to be the most unsettling, simply bc I do think pop stars similar to him like...exist lol. The way he craves perfection and flies off the handle into destructive rage is both unnerving and I feel like creates a nice mesh between his "princely" persona (also contrasting with his twin brother, who is spicy on the outside but mostly sweet on the inside, while Toxin is the reverse). My only question is that how did take the moment of him basically dragging the mc on stage and assaulting her for like...his fans to become aware? Not that they wouldn't defend him (ppl like that exist), but that there aren't even rumors that his guy has anger issues lol. I also find it interesting how he's the main guy pushing Carnelians' goal forward while Yoru is on the more hesitant side. I do wish we saw these two play off of each other more tho bc I feel like there could be some good content in showing how they became so different. So I will be watching him closely as more content comes out.

Yoru: Best boy! Baby! He cooks, he (begrudging) plays piano, he seems to be the mostly sane member of the group and swears like a sailor! What more could you ask for? I find it funny how, despite him being the "bad boy" of the group, he's actually the kindest to the point where he's the only one who doesn't kill/torture you in his bad ending cd (partially bc the mc kills him but ssssshhhh). Even tho he still sucks our blood and namecalls the mc, he feels almost out of place bc of how less violent he is compared to the rest of the DL universe. He also seems to be the only one curious as to why Carnelian wants the MC, and his distrust of Carnelian, and the fact that he might have been taught by Elias I feel like gives him a lot of plot threads for juicy drama if they like...ever give Carnelian Blood a game (pleasepleasepleaseplease-)

Neight/Ura: I think he's (they're?) like my second favorite. Honestly I really buy into the theory that Ura might be the sixth boy on that island, and the way he described having to see his own dead body makes me sympathize with him. I'm honestly fairly happy that Neight gets to be the "leader" of the group, even if he doesn't get to that show that (or his smarts) often. Honestly the dynamic between Neight and Ura left me with a lot of questions. For starts, does like...their school know that he has a split personality? Ura never seems interested in like, even remotely pretending to be Neight, and Neight falls asleep often (honestly the CDs struggle to balance these two. Even in their solo cd it did not feel like these two got to have as much back and forth as I would have liked, and the group cds did "Neight falls asleep fairly early in and then we spend the rest of the cd with Ura" way too often that it never feels like we spend enough time with Neight) in random places yet it doesn't even cause that much of an issue? Like maybe seeing Neight have to struggle to clean up Ura's messes and Ura feeling limited by Neight's responsibilities I feel like could have added to their attempts to kill one another. Also Ura at one point says that he doesn't want to perform, nor help the rest of Erosion but that also like...doesn't go anywhere? Like I just feel like they could do more with two being forced to coexist.

I'd like to ramble about Carnelian and his plans as well as comparing him to Karlheinz but I think I'm gonna wait for a bit more of his plan to come to light. I do wanna say that I wish his daughters lived if only bc it would be nice to have more non-evil/dead female side characters.

Anyway those are my thoughts and everyone is feel to add to them or ask questions! I really hope they get a game bc I feel like they really have a content that'll benefit from the change in medium. I heard that there are more cds coming out too so I'm excited for that!

[glinda-of-the-north]

love lost, and happily ever after in wicked.

So, one of my favorite things I recently realized about Oz has to do with its very loose cannon. We started with the 14 wizard of Oz books;  

The movie largely keeps the spirit of the books, but with light contradictions. Those contradictions are largely accepted as cannon to the universe by it's followers and admirers in a way that most media fans would likely reject (they'd still enjoy the movie but the line of what is cannon feels softer)

Gregory maguire then writes the wicked books... And he loves this universe,  he meticulously makes sure to write in universe with little contradiction; but clearly shifts the intent. Again, the followers and admirers count this work as cannon in a way that it feels real to the universe.

The musical is then based on the book, and brings enough contradictions that it's often called a different story altogether, and still, it's accepted as cannon. There are obviously discussions around things being cannon to the movie or to the book and not the other, but the line just feels so much softer than I'm used to seeing.

I've spent a LOT of time on the fey. Both in terms of historical folklore studies, and personal spiritual experiences.

While there are multiple origin stories and religions in Oz, the oldest story is that Lurline's magic made Oz a magical place and cut it off from the rest of our world. Belief in her is fading amongst the residence of Oz according to the books - but many still believe. She's a queen of the fey, and based on what I've read so far, I think she's (loosely or not) based on Aine (a fairy queen and Goddess from our folklore irl. Even if it's not Aine a lot of these themes still work... It also.. *feels* like Aine)  Anyway... reality works differently in the Sidhe (fey world), and This place in our world being shrouded in fey magic means that the laws of reality shift to something between that of the two worlds. in the Sidhe, Intent has physical power, and so do stories. In our world, reality bends perception in a way that perception fails to bend reality, but in the Sidhe, perceptions influence on reality is stronger than reality’s influence on perception. The lens a story is viewed through often has influence on what is true of that story, and the people involved. This is part of the reason for the warnings against giving they fey your name in the old stories - knowing your name allows them more control over your story, and what is true of you by how they see and tell it, and the fey love a good tragedy.. If they tell a story of an anonymous individual, their view may be a tale of you, but the listener’s imagination fails to match the picture - if however, a story is told specifically about Elphaba Thropp, we the perceptions of us, the listeners, harmonize on what this story makes true of her; perhaps not absolutely true, but truer than it was before the story was told.

So when it comes to contradictions among The musical, Gregory Mguire’s Wicked, frank L Baum’s 14 books that started it all, and even every fan fiction we’ve all written,. All of these stories define the experiences and lives of the characters - and even facts that can’t be harmonized can still be true despite the contradictions. Furthermore; each layer added, each shift of intent or new media, whether with contradiction or not, seems to make the world feel even more real. This aligns with faerie magic as well, as we’re giving it more focus, more cognitive energy, more intent.

    They get every tragedy, and every happily ever after, all at once. We can take comfort in knowing they get those happy endings along with the bittersweet and the tragic ones, all equally accurate. They’re always;

Glinda, and Elphaba, enemies to lovers. opposites in many ways, fall into each other’s arms after a significant amount of tension, where they find love, and find themselves in the process. They’re eventually separated, by death or circumstance, leaving poor Glinda to mourn the love that made her who she is - and eventually, Glinda finds some clue that her Elphie is still out there, leaves her post caring for Oz, or Elphaba makes her way back to Oz, to find her Glinda and they leave again together, to be safe and happy. a tale of love lost, what could have been; and a happily ever after

Fiyero and Elphaba, the handsome, bold, and reckless adventurer, finds the selfless girl who wants to make a change and follows her toward the fire, and he gets burned, and she’s left to mourn his death; and her spell is able to save him. a tale of love lost, what could been; and a happily ever after

Glinda and Fiyero, the perfect couple. she’s beautiful, and he’s handsome, and they both know how to work a crowd. They’re to be married, and they’re to be perfect. He leaves her, to die, or to be with Elphaba, or for her own safety, and she’s left alone.. And after some time, ruling Oz, she eventually finds some clue of his resurrection, and after taking the necessary time to make sure everything is in order with the political turmoil of Oz, or at least that people she trusts are handling it - she tracks him down, and they reunite. a tale of love lost, what could have been, and a happily ever after.

The three continue to exist, falling away from each other, and back together again, sometimes in pairs, sometimes all three of them, forever, and always, or so long as we continue to share and shape their stories. and as we write our fanfics and tell our stories, we change that world in the same way Gregory Maguire did when he shifted the intent of the wizard of oz. the story on stage ends with the tragedy of their separation, but that separation doesn’t have to be permanent. The idea that the three of them find each other and come together in the end feels like the most agreed upon next step among writers of fanfiction and just fans telling stories about the universe, and as those stories are shared and grow and influence each other. We’re giving it enough attention to add another layer, and giving our beautiful thropple their eventual happy ending. the three of them get to be deeply in love with each other, and face whatever else their story holds together.

And while this is sort of true of any work of fiction, since we can continue to tell divergent endings, and send the characters on whatever adventures we want; I particularly love that this story has such a strong basis for it written into the creation of Oz itself, and such a strong history of the malleable cannon gradually giving us more endings and insights into the characters, and giving way for Fanfiction to be as real as the paradox riddled cannon multi media, multi author franchise that this world has become.

[aihoshiino]

Always love reading your Ai posts! I lost interest in OnK somewhere in the movie arc but I still keep up with your posts haha <3

Can I ask about the Secretly Ai characters you mentioned in the recent Aikane ask? Pls and ty professor 🙇‍♂️

I'M SO GLAD YOU ASKED!!! Sorry in advance that this is going to be majorly rambly lol this is one of those topics I have always sort of rolled around in my head purely as A Vibe and never had to rly articulate at length. but lbr you guys are here to read me post 50k word screeds about hoshino ai.....................

So when I talk about the Secretly Ai Characters in OnK, I'm talking about a little something I mentioned in an older ask, in which the story uses certain side characters and deliberately and obviously parallels them with Ai in ways that are intended to sort of, indirectly communicate things to us about her. Obviously they are still characters in their own right with their own individual role in the story separate from this - but those pointed similarities are very much intended to make you hear information about them and go "oh, so Ai must also..."

These characters are, imo, Yuki, Abiko and Mimi.

Of the three, Abiko is the most in-your-face and deliberate about it. Her colour palette is very similar to Ai's and the anime even adds a really explicit and clearly intentional parallel to one of Ai's most iconic frames from episode 1 - and this was so important, apparently, that it was basically the first thing we saw of her in the anime continuity when season 2 previews were being released.

Abiko's similarities to Ai are mostly about making the viewer understand their shared communication issues and how this impacts their social health - the way it contributes to isolation and a snowballing fear of trying to connect with other people.

I think there's also a vibe to Abiko being hyped up as being a "genius" and "supernaturally talented" in her field in a way that both obfuscates the obscene and frankly unhealthy amount of work she puts into meeting those expectations and heaps additional pressure on her to live up to the role of a "genius", without anyone else taking into account the fact that she's just a person doing her best. I, uh, probably don't need to elaborate on why that's particularly Aicore...

Yuki and Mimi are less clear cut, but for Yuki specifically, Akane's 'Aikane' performance cribs quite a lot from Yuki's persona on LoveNow in the same way it does from Ai herself. In fact, here's another one I just caught lol:

We can tell by these parallels that Yuki and Ai are similar sorts of people, then - or at the very least, similar sorts of performers. I think Mem puts it best here (DOESN'T SHE LOOK BALD HERE WITHOUT HER HORNS BTW) when she says it's "not lying, just exaggerating". This lines up with how Rie Takahashi (and, implicitly through her, Aka Akasaka) describe the difference between 'Ai Hoshino' and 'Ai of B-Komachi' - that the latter is not a wholly distinct fabrication but just a different side of the real Ai that comes out depending on the situation. In other words, an exaggeration.

As for Mimi, this one kind of speaks for itself I think LOL. She's definitely the most undercooked of the three... I think everyone in the fandom kind of like, implicitly agrees that Mimi and her brother were supposed to have larger roles in the narrative and that Akasaka just kind of dropped whatever he was setting up with them. So I'll start with the parallels that actually exist in-story and then I'll go onto what my current theory is for the role Mimi was supposed to play.

First off, I think it kind of speaks for itself that Mimi just... looks a lot like Ai? It's a bit less clear when she's in her big snuggly hoodie but when she has her hair loose for her Dig Deep cosplay, it's kind of uncanny.

and those eyes sure do look, uh. coughs. familiar.

Mimi's role in the industry is also very similar to Ai's. She's an indie VTuber seeing a lot of success without association with a major agency which neatly parallels B-Komachi's success as an underground group backed by a small agency managing to see major success even while fighting mainstream groups. A lot of Vtuber culture has its roots in idol culture and Miyako even points out in volume 3 that present day idol culture (in the world of OnK, anyway) is primarily online. So Mimi can be understood as a sort of 'modern day' Ai.

In fact, the more I went over Mimi's intro for this post, the more parallels I found...? Some of this is certainly accidental, but Mimi is managed by a family member just like Ai was and the reason she becomes a VTuber is because she has communication and mental health issues that make an 'ordinary' job difficult for her. She even dropped out of the education pipeline just like Ai did.

All this combined (the idea of those eyes being accidental is very hard for me to believe lol) makes me wonder if Mimi isn't supposed to read as a sort of 'failed' Ai or at least an exaggerated one. Both of them have (as mentioned above) communication and mental health issues that make living 'ordinary' life difficult for them and so they both commit themselves to strands of the entertainment industry that are maybe not necessarily good for them but because of their individual pathologies, they are uniquely suited to find success.

Heading into what is straightforwardly speculation territory (so take this with a huge glacier of salt), I actually wonder if Mimi was being set up to join B-Komachi as the catalyst for the Kana-Nino parallels and rather than Ruby being the Ai in that equation, Mimi would've been our Ai.

From what we're told about gen 1 in the Movie Arc, Nino was originally the group's center and basically the entire reason they got off the ground to begin with but she was ousted in both position and popularity when Ai joined and completely eclipsed her. Part of this was due to Ai's natural talent as an idol but it's also pointed out that Ai and Nino both had very similar personas as idols and were thus competing for the same fans.

This is exactly the conflict between Kana and Mimi set up in the lead in to Scandal...

... which is very much not the case for Ruby and Kana, which makes the attempts to force that parallel in the Movie Arc (as the manga later does) a little hamfisted.

As such, I really wonder if Mimi joining B-Komachi would've lead to a long-term rivalry between her and Kana that more explicitly paralleled the one between Ai and Nino. I really do feel like that would've been a much more natural way to play with echoing that dynamic than what we get between Kana and Ruby - I've criticized this before but it really is kind of insane that Ruby treats Mem and Kana like shit all during her BH era, never apologizes or has to make any amends for it and when Kana is finally able to express discontent over this, not only is this framed as being something she's doing for Ruby's sake but also something Kana is at fault for, all so Ruby can graciously forgive her. Insane!!!!

As for why it never came to fruition if that was indeed the plan... who knows! The manga following the Scandal arc is littered with so many nonstarters and dropped threads that I really could not tell you what was going on in Akasaka's brain. It could just be that he recognized he didn't have the time for it and decided it wasn't worth taking up page time for. But again, the inner machinations of his mind are inscrutable to me so it's anybody's guess, really.

[teratomatica]

you always land on all fours

[anghraine]

ROTJ ruled, as usual— it has more flaws than my beloved ESB for sure, and more than ANH, but the highs are so good and so rewarding in a way that never gets old.

One of my favorite parts this time around comes after Anakin tells Luke it's too late for him to ever go back (a belief explicitly shared by Palpatine, Yoda, and Obi-Wan, but not by Luke until that moment—and only for a little while). Luke withdrawing into "Then my father is truly dead" is always great, especially the shot of him in the lift, surrounded by taller men in Imperial uniforms with his shoulders and back rigidly straight and the warmth in his expression gone. But the thing that really makes it is not ending the scene with Luke disappearing, but letting that rejection linger by shifting to Anakin and just letting seconds tick by as he contemplates what's just happened.

He doesn't actually do much—just walks a few steps and reflects. His body language isn't overwhelmingly despondent or anything. Obviously we can't see his face. And yet we feel how hard that hit and how much he's dwelling on it. He's all but encouraged this response from Luke and yet it feels like it's really, truly sinking that this isn't at all what he wants from Luke.

He doesn't want Luke to call Palpatine (or anyone) master, I don't think; he just considers it inevitable, the only possibility other than Luke's death. And for Anakin, death above all is the thing to prevent.

Everything Anakin says is about things he or they must do, or what cannot be escaped, or destiny, but all of these things he says to Luke are ultimately about Not Getting Yourself Killed. There's no sense of choice beyond submission or destruction.

(Anakin does know he's done terrible things, clearly, but his takeaway from that understanding is that he's gone too far to turn back. That sense of powerlessness, the inability to make a choice that really means anything, pervades his characterization in ROTJ in particular.)

But I feel like, while he still feels powerless after Luke leaves, there's also this sense of a slow, half-buried epiphany. This isn't what he wants.

[sleepyvib-es]

Just having thoughts about the og series starting with Luke, Thalia, and Annabeth's promise to each other about family and Nico making Percy promise to protect Bianca, his sister.

Annabeth to Luke:

"Family, Luke, you promised."

Nico to Percy:

"you have to promise to keep my sister safe." "I… that's a big thing to promise, Nico.." "Promise," he insisted. "I'll do my best. I promise that.

Both promises being broken.

Also this part:

"You promised you would protect her," Nico said. He might as well have stabbed me with a rusty dagger. It would've hurt less than reminding me of my promise.

_

The dagger mention here ?? And Annabeth's dagger being the cursed blade part of the prophecy that Luke used to stab himself with that was cursed specifically because he broke his promise.

Nico's fallout with Percy being the catalyst to Percy accepting being the Hero of the Prophecy because he wanted to spare Nico from suffering more pain. And because he felt he owed it to his sister.

Annabeth's reminder and unwavering faith leading to Luke's sacrifice, completing his role as the hero of the prophecy.

Both promises being everything but also not enough in the end.

Neither of them getting back the family they wanted.

Both of them healing and making bonds that they let themselves have despite all their heartbreak and pain and fear of abandonment.

Annabeth finding a family in Percy and Grover (and Sally).

Nico finding a family in Hazel, never seeing her as Bianca's replacement. Nico eventually being able to accept Jason and Reyna and Will's friendship and love for him (don't think about reyna and bianca hunters of Artemis parallels or jason dying).

Just... both Annabeth and Nico desperately wanting to preserve their families.

Both Annabeth and Nico being so full of love.

Love being why Annabeth's faith in Luke never wavers, which saves them in the end. Love being the reason why Nico wanted to resurrect Bianca and also why he respects her wish to be let go. Love also being why he helps Percy and why he doesn't give up on Hades making amends with his family, which ultimately helps save them in the end.

[shallowseeker]

Zachariah torturing Dean:

5x03

///

Zachariah torturing Jack:

13x14

(Script 13x14 via @spnscripthunt-inactive)

[garvalhaminho]

i'm not usually a multishipper but i NEED y'all to understand how important one-sided jessamine x tessa is to me

[t-u-i-t-c]

Toku Pride Month Challenge│Ships

Koh & Canalo

[skitterjitter]

unsurprisingly to me, my favorite characters in Star Rail as of Penacony are Dr Ratio and Aventurine

Ratio because I too am an autistic in academia who wants knowledge to be widely and freely available. he might be cold and rude, but he genuinely wants to help people

Aventurine because I like characters with facades. pulling them apart and seeing what's underneath that mask is always Very Interesting

[sparring-spirals]

Went through my kith and kin tag after that last post and once again lying on my floor thinking about. vex snarling at vax about his judgement being swayed by a pretty face-

(another person vax is brave enough to love, even if its dangerous. looking for the good and the kindness and the humanity among the darkness, trying to bring it forward, let vex experience it, even when it can leave him bleeding)-

and vax snarling at vex about her judgement being swayed by her desperation to be accepted-

(another time vex sees a way to secure safety and security and approval, which is safety and security, in a different form. for her, her and vax and trinket and everything she loves, safe in one place, where they can belong, they can stay)-

and. oogh.

Holding these twins in my hands. squishing them like playdough. one of them fights desperately to find the kindness and good and light even when its a fools errand. leaves himself open and hurt for a little bit of light. if it keeps vex safe, happier. one of them counting and calculating and running and cruel because the world demands it. keeps the counter going and going and does the hard things if it keeps vax whole, and okay. one close range and one long.

they'll hurt each other if it keeps the other whole. they'll gladly get hurt if it keeps the other safe. the world is harsh, and they are surviving. what the fuck. theyre such a fucked up pair. they love each other so much.