#as a short king I just tend toward making characters that are also short kings

[writers-potion]

Any advice for actuly getting the motivation up to write?

Firing Up Writing Motivation

Hey there, thanks for the question ( ˶ˆᗜˆ˵ ) Here are some things that I have tried:

Reading books, esp in the genre you're writing.

Playing around with character/setting aesthetics to warm up before you start punching out the words

Getting a writing partner to keep each other accountable.

Writing at a specific place & time. I know this is more difficult than said, but making a habit of writing is important. As Stephen King said, you need to tell your Muse when and where for them to come find you.

Declaring to friends/family your writing goals.

Taking a writing course in university/college. When my GPA is on the stake, I tend to get more motivated, haha...

Switching between multiple stories. This can backfire, but I tend to do better when I'm able to "run away" to another story when I get utterly stuck on one.

Some other suggestions:

Check whether you have made enough notes to actually sit down and write. I lean more towards a planner than a panster - if I don't have a satisfying ending in mind, I find it difficult to push through the middle.

Watching writing/reading vlogs. Again, beware of sitting hours on YouTube, but watching others reaching their writing goals motivates me to do better.

Taking part in short, simple writing contests. I'm a Wattpad girlie, and sometimes I find small writing competition hosted by the Ambassador profiles just to take a little breather.

and lastly... just brute-forcing yourself in front of your monitor, haha.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* . ───

💎If you like my blog, buy me a coffee☕ and find me on instagram! Also, join my Tumblr writing community for some more fun.

💎Before you ask, check out my masterpost part 1 and part 2 

[duckiemimi]

this was commented a while ago on my tiktok (it was about this post), but it’s so good, it’s stayed on my mind ever since. i’ve been meaning to talk about this for a while!

on geto & empathy.

let’s address the likely reason why people tend to see geto in this empathic light and through this lens that almost absolves him from blame.

the hidden inventory arc, especially towards the end, was written in a way that humanized geto; we read his mind, we saw his thoughts and how he processed them, we shadowed him as he went through traumatic event after traumatic event. we were placed in his shoes as he ran through a never-ending marathon—essentially, we were him in his moments. we’re supposed to empathize with him.

it’s why at first hand, his defection might’ve seemed like a logical conclusion to us. it made sense. (unlike how it was for every other character in the story, and especially how it was for gojo—geto’s decision came to them all as a shock.) this is what makes him a well-written character and an overall excellent villain.

it’s also probably why geto is such a personal character to many people, but this intimate association doesn’t make him faultless. yes, he was a victim of circumstance, but so was everyone else in the story. geto was also a perpetrator who inflicted harm on other people: a genocidal cult leader who had his eyes set on the greater good, someone who disregarded the means for the end. “well-written,“ in my opinion, also means multifaceted, complex.

now let’s talk about geto pre defection.

geto is gojo’s foil. at first read, he’s supposed to contrast gojo in a way that highlights specific aspects of gojo’s character. (and vice versa, but this arc is also called “gojo’s past arc” for a reason; gojo is our main character in this part of the story, he is our point of reference.) geto serves as a comparison to gojo, but he also stands as his own character. where gojo failed to empathize with the “weak,” geto succeeded. but what was empathy to geto anyway?

empathy, in its colloquial connotation, is seen as a virtue. it’s a community-building tool and it’s inherently human. it’s how we contextualize our place in the world and our connection to other people. in broad construct, it’s a “good” quality to have, to be empathic—but not all forms of empathy are the same.

geto’s empathy towards the “weak” was, in a word, paternalistic—like how a father would interact with his children, or how a deity or a king would interact with their subjects. it stemmed from his arrogance and his “well-meaning” saviorism tendencies: in short, “i am better than you, therefore i know better than you. i know what’s best for you.” this is especially true in regards to his patronizing attitude towards non-sorcerers pre defection (and it extends post defection, too).

geto’s sense of duty as a sorcerer manifested in how he assumed responsibility, and to a lesser extent, authority over non-sorcerers. it’s a type of benevolent prejudice; these people are powerless and weak, therefore inferior to him, and so it’s his job to protect them, it’s his job to care. while he had good intentions, he saw them as “lack,” not as humans who were ultimately just different from him. he saw them as helpless victims of themselves; which, given his occupation at the time, was an apt contextualization, but within the bigger picture, it ironically dehumanized non-sorcerers. it was underhandedly condescending, whether he was conscious of it or not.

the very root of his defection is this: he did not view non-sorcerers as equals to him in the first place. sure, plenty of other sorcerers also have this mindset, especially the very powerful ones, but geto made this the basis of his purpose, taking on the moral high ground by giving it meaning. after toji and after mimiko and nanako, he recontextualized and changed the meaning of what it meant to be powerful—but while his circumstances and his proximity to non-sorcerers changed (him revoking his empathy towards them), the patronizing way he viewed them (“monkeys” now) was constant; it was his pivot foot from charitable pity to resentment and hatred.

some things to consider: i assume geto was fairly new to the jujutsu scene in the hidden inventory arc, given his non-sorcerer family. i also assume he must’ve felt very alone prior to his enrollment, being the only one in his family to see cursed spirits, and possibly the only one in his childhood environment. this grand introduction to a some sort of a secret society must’ve felt special to him; it must’ve made him feel special, especially considering he was put on par with the kid who everyone thought was immensely powerful.

i can see why he thought himself better compared to the non-sorcerer background he grew up in. plus, it would be hard to not let your ego inflate when someone like gojo keeps referring to you as half of “the strongest duo.”

i also think that despite how black and white and consequential his outlook on life was before and after his defection, he probably still had his doubts and moments of wavering throughout his decade-long career as a curse user. i mean, he said it himself—his goal is only possible for one person only, and it’s not him. that could definitely be a factor, and it could also be some lingering sentimentality, too. he burned the bridge between him and his past and he just couldn’t risk the distance, but he probably thought of it sometimes.

i’ll end this post with a quote from him from the anime that made me really think. geto does care, but at such a young age, it was a juvenile and idealistic concept of “care.” had he stayed and grown up a little, worked through the trauma and organized with his fellow sorcerers (instead of assuming responsibility alone like he did, leaving to create a better future for sorcerers without including them in his plans), perhaps he could’ve made this a reality:

“survival of the weakest. that’s how a society should be. the weak help each other and discourage any who are too strong.”

[tavyliasin]

Raphael - Archduke of Asexuals

Welcome to another essay from Tavylia! We need some words about the handsome devil himself now, darlings, do we not? Because there's something very Ace about him - and I don't just mean "what a nifty guy", strap in (but not on) because we're going on a deep dive on...

Why Is Raphael the King of Asexuals and What Is It About Him That Draws So Many Of Us To Him Like He Is Made Of Garlic Bread: Another "Short" Essay by TavyliaSin (Who Frankly Rebels Against The Idea Of A Concise Title) ((Because This Is More Fun)) (((I Might Have Some Volo In My Family Tree)))

((Side Note - Ended up discussing more of Asexuality in fandom in general, but that's cool, right?...Right, well, the sections are marked, read as you so wish~)) Alright, this time we're not going to go too heavy into any darker topics, but there will be a deep examination of character, lore, asexuality, and a large heap of headcanons. There will also be a lot of microlabels, so I'll pop a short glossary at the end and some resources.

Also, please remember that no headcanon of mine is ever intended to override canon, or anyone else's HC - each HC is true and valid to the head it lives within~ that's the beauty of them, they are ours, and even when shared they remain our own to enjoy too.

What in the Hells is Asexuality Anyway? Aka, is Lia really trying to say the man she writes so much smut for is not sexual at all? (A brief overview of Asexuality)

Asexuality, in the most basic definition, means quite simply: "Experiencing limited or no sexual attraction." Now, look very closely. Some Asexuals, or Aces as we are sometimes called (and will be in this essay) experience absolute 0 sexual attraction. Some experience a very limited amount, or only under specific circumstances. It's also about Sexual Attraction and does not necessarily include feelings towards Action. I find this is best explained by the Split Attraction Model: Sexual Attraction - Attraction with a sexual component. Romantic Attraction - Attraction with a romantic component. Libido - Arousal, physical desire to act on arousal whether alone or partnered. Sex Drive - The desire to engage in partnered sexual activity, with or without arousal. A lot of people might look at those criteria and think "but those are the same thing", and for many that would be a fair assumption if they tend to be experienced simultaneously. But many among us only experience some parts, or they're not connected. The key is that whilst some Asexuals may experience little or none of any of those four, the only one relevant is the first, and an asexual with high libido or sex drive is no less asexual than any other, there's just no person attached to that libido or drive. So there are asexuals who enjoy sex, who have sexual relationships, and there are also asexuals who have no interest in any of that - the best part is, we're all valid!

Alright, But What Does This Have To Do With Raphael? The Devil Who Seduces In Every Other Sentence?

Right, see, here's the thing. He does flirt, but it never goes further. Seduction is just another tool that he uses, the same way he uses intimidation, promises, and bargains. It would be foolish of him to ignore the potential to bend someone to his schemes when he notices the colour rise to their cheeks when he talks, his goals need a lot of pieces to fall into place. None of it feels genuine. Raphael simply needs people to agree to his terms, and if the promise of sex secures a signature then so be it - besides, he has a hungry incubus at home who can fulfil that side of the deal without him ever having to lift a finger~ It isn't uncommon either for asexual people to make innuendo, lewd jokes, or to flirt without intention - some may even find that it's very easy to do this when there's no attraction or expectation. So for that... He reads as very Ace to me, it's all a part of the manipulation and the grand scheme. There's no actual attraction there. Interest? Certainly, the player character can be a very useful tool in his needs.

What About Haarlep? How Do They Fit In If Raphael Is Asexual?

Haarlep is an extremely sexual being, by their very nature they feed on sex and sexual energy, and we know by what they say that Raphael does indeed sleep with them. The canon would lead one to a logical microlabel when looking at Raphael and Haarlep together: Autosexual - This means experiencing more sexual attraction to yourself than to anyone else. This is a rarer microlabel, but still under the Ace umbrella as "limited sexual attraction" which can mean "attraction is very infrequent" and/or "attraction is only experienced under specific circumstances". And, of course, the HC territory can veer into Haarlep feeling like a safe enough option to deal with Libido and Sex Drive without having to find another partner or worry about attraction. You can also, if you really want to, bring in the canon that so many Anti-Raphael people love to scream about, "Haarlep says Raphael is bad in bed". Perhaps he is, perhaps he's just not into it beyond the simple release of tension and need. I'm not judging him for that, even if my HC is wildly different.

Why Is It Asexuals Like Him So Much? Is It Just Because He's Ace Too?

Well here come the deeper theories, based more on my own personal angle than anyone else's, so please do not assume this is the "only correct interpretation" nor the only way an ace may adore him. Plenty of aces don't feel any sexual or romantic attraction to Raphael, they're simply very fond of him as a character. He's interesting, oddly non-threatening because that flirtation is never pushed too far, never acted on, it's just there, a part of his clear interest in the player character (and he is obsessed, in his way, those diaries read like self-insert fan-fiction Raphael, my love, I see you). There's depth, intrigue, and the same things I've talked about before with villain fandom. So we can look deeper. Flirtation can be nice for anyone to feel, and oddly enough as an Ace I have often preferred characters who are open and overt in their attempts to seduce. This isn't necessarily true in life, real people and fiction are very different (hello, fellow FictoSexuals, good to have you here darlings~) but there is something appealing in the casual manner and clear tone. We also might have more of a draw to villains in general, but I've covered some of that in my last little ramble~ Reciprosexuals may also feel more for Raphael as he's initiating the flirtation, expressing potential attraction. Demisexuals are also likely to find that getting to know him is what draws them in. There's an element of "Forbidden Fruit" at play here too, in the way there isn't a romance for him (Haarlep does not count, they are their own being, a different personality). Then, of course we have kink.

Aces In Kinky Spaces

Here's the controversial one, loves, but I do ask that you approach this with understanding and compassion~ Not all aces are kinky. But there are a good portion who are. Kink is not always sexual, although it very much can be there are some people who enjoy, for example, "subspace" in BDSM - this is where a submissive reaches a kind of blissful inner peace as a result of being made to submit, their senses brought to focus on bondage, pain, or following orders. It varies from person to person, but it often described as a floaty feeling, freeing, relaxing, deeply satisfying without necessarily including anything sexual at all. Of course, kink can be sexual too, which you will find in a whole lot of my writing, don't think about it too hard darling let me have this one~ This can be helpful for someone not experiencing sexual attraction, but instead finding sex drive and libido from kink instead, allowing them to engage in sexual relationships and activity in a manner they are comfortable with and enjoy. There is also the safety of trust and rules with kink play. So the obvious reminder goes here: Consent is key Safe words and signals are binding and must be instantly respected when used Nobody should be shamed for safe word/signal use Aftercare is important and not optional Negotiation needs to happen before a scenario, not during/after When I write with Raphael, there's almost always the kink angle because he so naturally falls into D/s and Power Play tropes. On the surface you have a very Dominant personality, so it's easy to see him continuing that role in the bedroom. But then there's the other side, Raphael as a sub, not only because of what Haarlep says (and do remember "sub" and "bottom" are not the same thing), but because people who are often in control and making decisions in their daily life find freedom and enjoyment in giving over that control to someone else, not having to worry about anything but enjoying the situation while another takes on all those decisions. So he fits very well with plenty of kinky ace themes, and I quite like that feeling of "he's not just going to get into bed with someone who is pretty, there's going to be a genuine interest and desire there that's beyond the surface, a deeper need and longing for who they are". That's rather nice, honestly.

Aces and Spicy FanWorks

Alright going to draw this in to a close now loves we are running long with this one! FictoSexuals will be more aware of this than most, but fictional characters and works often have more draw because there's a layer of disconnection to it. There's no actual partner with expectations or needs, you can step away from fiction at any moment. You can close the app/browser, scroll past the art, stop reading, save and exit the game - there is complete control in how and when you engage with the content, whether consuming it or making it. So there are a fair few of us, playing around with those fantasies in art and writing, things that are fun and comfortable in our own ways, and I'm grateful that we have this space to do so~ I've met more than one fellow ace in the creative side of fandom and I'm simply never surprised by it. We aren't defined by our attractions, and we are collectively rather talented at this little hobby of ours~ The fun theory there is that when we don't experience much (or any) sexual attraction, we are looking that much closer when writing about it. We don't tend to skip it, we analyse what is attractive, where it comes from, how it might feel, why it feels that way, and that can present itself as deeper and more detailed fictional works. Whether that's in the posing and expressions of visual arts, or in the narration and dialogue of writing, we are paying attention to trying to get it right, whether it's an experience we can ever relate to personally or not.

Alright, Is This Thing Ever Ending?

It really should, you're so right~ Raphael Fandom, and other more niche characters, do have a fair amount of Asexuals for all the reasons above and likely a whole lot more too. I love that for us, and I love talking about it because there is so little Asexual visibility sometimes that people take many many years to even know they're ace because it's simply not an option they're aware of. So hello to all of you who slid down the OverCompensating Bisexual/Pansexual -> Asexual pipeline because you thought "feeling the same way towards any gender" was all that meant and didn't realise "feeling nothing towards any gender" is actually different and its own thing, oops. We're here now, and that's just fine~ Take care, beloved Aces, regardless where you are under the Asexual Umbrella, or what microlabels you wear.

You are valid, seen, heard, and loved.

^ Raphael realising he's not Bi/Pan, he's Ace and owning it, like the king he is. Or perhaps not king... Archduke of Asexuality~

---------------------------------- ---------------------------------- ASEXUAL RESOURCES AND MICROLABEL DEFINITIONS ---------------------------------- ----------------------------------

Asexual - Experiences little to no sexual attraction Greysexual/Grey Asexual - Experiences limited sexual attraction Demisexual - Only experiences attraction after an emotional bond has formed or knowing the individual well on a personal level Fraysexual - Sexual attraction is brief and does not last once an emotional bond is formed Fictosexual - Experiences sexual attraction towards fictional characters (art, writing, film, games, other media, but not real people) Autosexual - Attraction is towards the self more than to other people Reciprosexual - Only experiences attraction after attraction towards them has been clearly expressed --- This is not a full or comprehensive list of microlabels! Nor should people feel a need to use them. They are there to help us understand ourselves and to relate to others in the community. None have to be strict, and it is perfectly valid for your sexuality to shift during your lifetime for any reason. --- For more information and resources on Asexuality, I strongly recommend seeking out Ace communities, even on places like Reddit, and this website:

Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN) Website

[madockisser]

Hello! I was browsing through your dain and greenbriar sisters’ analysis- very insightful!! I enjoy your takes, and I was hoping to maybe get your thoughts about balekin as well? Tysm! :) 🌸

balekin greenbriar analysis spoilers for tcp trilogy and novella!

hi! thank you sm!! i really appreciate that ppl actually read and enjoy my character analysis dump!!

and yes, balekin has a lot of page time, so this also will be a really long one!

ok so, minor details first; balekin, first born, cardan says that balekin grows bored easily, he is very unseelie, he is the leader of the circle of grackles, those who enjoy drugs and debauch, he does not care for mortals and captures sprites and uses them as lights until they die (terrible), he views mortals as mice “they die before they gain any cunning”(not exact quote but in htkoelths). madoc also seemingly owes him a favor!

let’s start in chronological order (since i tend to spew out all my knowledge at once and get super disorganized !)

first things first, the prologue of tcp. madoc says “i doubted balekin when he said i would find you here.”

there it is people!

madoc probably (most likely, seeing as it’s the faerie way to pay each other back, especially w something so important as madocs family, i’d wager that madoc owed him a LOT.) owed balekin a favor for finding eva and madocs daughter alive and well! how balekin did this? i assume through asha, or spies. or simply faerie rumors, since it’s said that justin bragged abt stealing the generals wife

“but maybe balekin was just being nice!”

good one! balekin is a royal asshole(literally) and he takes advantage of every little opportunity he gets! i will go more into detail about that a few paragraphs down!

so we can assume that maybe that’s why (apart from the whole dain and oak thing, and madoc hating the greenbriars(but balekin doesn’t know that yet!) madoc backs balekin, or why balekin thinks that madoc is going to back him!

this analysis features a short story (Lament of Lutie Loo, by holly black,of which you can probably find online, and if not, it is in the last book of the modern faerie tale series, ironside! there is also a cardan cameo!)

okay so we first see him at hollow hall, he’s kidnapped lutie, who is a sprite(teeny tiny faerie, like tinker bell size) and locks her in a cage bc balekin knows that she works for lord roiben.

balekin full intends to hold lutie and roibens sister (who was also there! and the reason lutie was at balekins house) hostage until balekin can force roibens hand into going with him to see eldred, so that roiben can be all like

“hey high king, ik i’m sorta your enemy rn since i haven’t sworn to you, but if you make balekin king (and only balekin) i’ll swear to him! 👅👅”

this would get balekin eldreds favor and obviously the political advantage. as the story goes on dain somehow gets the upper hand and roiben and dain fool balekin. (while the details aren’t important here i do recommend you read the story! though reading modern faerie tales first is better obv since there are spoilers for that series!)

while balekin isn’t very smart/he assumes the worst in people(i’ll get into it paragraphs down), he still views humans and those beneath him as something he can take advantage of. he uses humans at his house as slaves, cooks and cleaners, gatherers and messengers. he captures sprites and locks them in lanterns until the light that radiates off their bodies is gone, and they’re dead.

what i’m trying to say is, he takes advantage of the world around him. he does this consistently throughout the series. nonstop even.

in htkoelths, he takes advantage of cardan, picks him up out of the stable and takes him home. then he immediately beats him. this is his way of “showing dominance” (that was cringe to type out but it’s true)

it makes me wonder if maybe he is taking his anger toward dain out on cardan. makes me wonder if balekin wishes he took dain in to take advantage of, to groom into being his little prince, rather than of course, the only person standing between him and the throne.

anyway, after he beats cardan, he drugs him up, takes him to orgies (?!), shows him how to get high and get drunk and stuff (really awful of him)

and ofc he’s like “i do it bc i love u!” and who knows maybe he wanted to spend some brother to brother bonding debauch time w him (🤮)

though i definitely think that he was manipulating cardan. keeping him high and drunk so that he could keep cardan from 1, becoming maybe a political problem, in the sense that maybe he didn’t want cardan to become like dain and want to be king.

2, so he could keep cardan from gaining some sense of self worth and leaving balekin without a good little prince of whom has nicasias favor.

3, that he got cardan addicted to never/nevermore (golden powder drug first seen in “the modern faerie tales!”) and to wine, to the point he cannot go without it without severe withdrawal. (this is a possibility, especially since we see never withdrawal in “valiant” a part of the modern faerie tales series, BUT perhaps not, since cardan doesn’t seem completely high all the time mostly in jude’s perspective, but who knows, maybe he grew accustomed to it and became a functioning never addict.)

anyway, it’s worth mentioning that during the tournament, jude looks up to the stand, and madoc and balekin are gone. because balekin is taking advantage of the fact that madoc owes him. so they’re probably scheming together about the whole coronation thing.

now, as for the middleish of tcp. jude’s in his house, there’s faeries just laying around, and jude sneaks into his office. then there’s the infamous “i know the provenance of blusher mushroom 🥸!”) very mysterious. anyway, balekin comes in, beats cardan again, but he’s like “i’m doing this bc i love our family”

which is interesting, since he ends up slaughtering or trying to slaughter all of them! and it leads me to deduct that either he’s got this twisted view that even if he kills them all and becomes king, that they would be better off, OR that he doesn’t love the members of their family, just the greenbriar lineage!

anyway, later on jude spirals and wants to save veiny dainy (valid babe! at this point he’s looking pretty scrumptious to the reader) and she finds that balekin had dains love poem to liri, (there goes that chance ig!) but thinks nothing of it.

which is strange, since he had such damning evidence against his greatest opp, dain the vain, he doesn’t use it against him. there could be a number of reasons for that. 1. he thinks eldreds too far gone in making dain the king, and also distrusting balekin, 2 he wasn’t intending to use this evidence against dain, maybe he stumbled upon it when maybe he had spies looking into madoc, (since we know that madoc found out abt dain being oaks daddy somehow) or even oriana (a bit of a stretch but i’m grasping at straws trying to understand why he didn’t expose dain for screwing w eldreds lady and then knocking her up, and then killing her and that little mistake dain put in her womb!) or simply 3, he didn’t piece it all out yet. (seems most likely)

anyway looking past oakeys existence, balekin slaughters the fam, and disregards eldred on the dais, (bringing me up to why he didn’t tell eldred of dains affairs, bc he thinks he’s too old and feeble to do shit abt it) and then runs good old daddy thru.

THEN, we see him again at hollow hall, at balekins soon to be coronation, and he misjudges cardan. like a lot. which i’ll get into a few paragraphs down. but pretty much he shields cardans body with his, which says a lot.

jude says that she misunderstood the complexity of their relationship. but i just think that balekin wants to use cardan for getting the crown since he’s the only one left who can do so. and maybe since he doesn’t understand that cardan has betrayed him already, he still cares for him atleast a little.

now onto twk.

when he was in the tower of forgetting, he took advantage of the guards(making them slap jude), of the undersea messengers(sends missives to orlagh to get himself free), and of his own title and status as eldest prince(managing to get himself rugs and tea and finery even in his cell)

when he was in the undersea, he was prisoner, but still managed to get orlagh to make him ambassador, which i’m sure was simply just orlaghs doing and part of her plan bc she doesn’t strike me as the type to be manipulated by a faerie prince that is way younger than she is (if i remember correctly).

his downfall however, is that he is so narcissistic, he believes himself to be the very best, and he believes the very worst in people, (he assumes cardan despises mortals despite the fact cardan has taken beatings for them and freed them from his estate, and he believes that lutie will go unnoticed by lord roiben and that roiben won’t care much for her enough to save her or fault balekin for capturing her. he also underestimates jude, her ability to lie and deceive, and so when she tricks him with the poison, he doesn’t expect it.)

ALSO, despite him being so manipulative, manipulating cardan, blackmailing whoever sent him that letter abt poison, and manipulating the circle of grackles into being his own loyal unseelie court within the high court, of whom are high constantly and very violent, he does seem to get screwed over/ manipulated a lot doesn’t he? by madoc, by dain (more than once lol) by even cardan his alcoholic little brother of whom he mostly raised (no wonder he started crashing out at the end) and by orlagh and jude. and just so many of these are the product of his narcissism. he truly expected madoc to be down for him despite madoc having human daughters and a human wife, all while actively enslaving humans ?? like hello?? silly as hell tbh!

now, as for balekin kissing jude, i have speculated on this before, but i have more thoughts.

balekin always believed dain to be his greatest obstacle in front of him and the throne, but then it became cardan. obviously he didn’t expect this, so he sought to take advantage of cardan in the only way he knows and can, through jude. bc that’s what he does. obviously he “glamours” her and makes her do his bidding, but there’s more to it.

i obviously assume that balekin is aware that cardan cares for jude at this point, ( if u haven’t already i posted a theory abt it which u might wanna see) and at first he mistook cardan making jude’s seneschal as cardans doing, assuming that jude was head over heels for cardan and cardan being the one with the power in their little king-seneschal relationship.

but then he sees how cardan is negotiating w orlagh and balekin to get jude back, so bro kisses her. maybe to understand, but probably to manipulate jude into wanting to submit to balekin rather than cardan. since balekin sees jude as this airhead human girl who’s willing to do much for cardan, he assumes he can make her do the same with him. especially now that he’s glamoured her, and the fact that it would give him something over cardan in the process is just a bonus.

anyway, i’ve sorta lost the plot here ( i am sorry there was just so much to analyze abt him) BUT as for how he was as a person, he seemed manipulative, narcissistic, very unseelie, and arrogant. he expected so much to be handed to him. he expected cardan to free him, to relinquish the throne to him, even after his abuse.

so maybe balekin is just so cruel that he didn’t see how his abusing cardan truly affected cardan, since he was so dead set on calling it “love” and since he wanted to make cardan “better.”

but i doubt it. balekin is consistently dumb, in the arrogant and narcissistic sense, expecting everyone to be just as morally awful as he is.

there isn’t any sympathy from me, i don’t like him, despite loving morally grey characters. he’s too stupid to like, and he assaulted jude and enslaved so many humans.

but feel free to add on! or lmk if i missed something! send me more asks as well, though i am working on an eldred/taniot/ val moren one rn which i’m almost finished with!! 🫶

[the-ninjago-historian]

Quick Into The Deep Q and A!

I got a few questions here to answer about Into The Deep! Thanks to @dexter-the-dog for sending these in! And if anyone reading this has any other questions about this fanseason, feel free to send them! I love to hear them! Now, let's get started!

(Question 1: What is the Insectoid Army?)

Great question! I actually made a post on them not to long ago. But some of that information is outdated now. So I'll make this the new reference for them!

The Insectoids are a swarm of bug like warriors that hail from the deepest reaches of Primeval's Eye! Their society is formed similar to ants and bees. There are different classes such as soldiers and workers. Soldiers tend to be more heavily armored, and also have different sub classes, depending on what type of armor or defense adaptions the soldier has. Insectoids are based of many insects. Like praying mantises, rhino beetles, and dragonflies! The Insectoids are ruled by a single queen and they all live together in a hive.

Thousands of years ago, the Insectoids were attacking villages and stealing their crops. Wu and Garmadon were called in to help stop them. Somehow, the brothers managed to trap them in The Amber Tree! (This tree is talked about a bit in the official Ninjago short story Amber Spiral.) The Insectoids became frozen in the tree's sap for thousands of years. They are later awakened by Vangelis. They help aid him in his plot to overthrow Shintaro and become King again. Some notable Insectoid characters you can look forward to are listed here;

Queen Ocellex: The leader of the Insectoids and a blood thirsty conqueror. She is the largest Insectoid and most powerful. Her head sports a large pair of horns, and she has praying mantis like front limbs. While she is bloodthirsty, she cares deeply for her hive. Vangelis promises her territory for her people to take control of, in return for her helping him take over Shintaro.

General Torrlax: Ocellex's highest commanding officer. He is distinguishable from the other Soldier Insectoids by a large scar over the right side of his face, along with a blind eye. He takes his job very seriously, and won't let anything stop him from completing his goals. He will use any means necessary to achieve them. He's very close with his younger brother Mandorax, one of the few people he's actually soft and caring towards.

Mandorax: Torrlax's younger brother and his right hand man. He's much shorter and stockier than Torrlax, and he has huge mandibles. Hence his name. (A mixed up version of the word mandible.) Mandorax is heavily armored and can roll into a ball to crush enemies like a pill bug. He's also not very bright, but Torrlax is convinced he's a military genius! Most of his shows of this intelligence are however, just very perfectly timed coincidences. But it's enough to convince Torrlax! Another interesting trait Mandorax has is that he's uncharacteristically gentle for an Insectoid.

(Question 2: What is Cole's Grandpa's role in this story?)

Cole's Grandpa takes on a few roles! He's a teacher, warrior, and guide through Deep Lands for the team! He also serves as a connection to Lilly for Cole. The two bond over missing her, and learn things about each other and the Earth Tribe through it! Although, Cole's Grandpa hasn't quite delt with his grief of losing Lilly in as healthy a way as Cole. This eventually leads to some brief conflict. (Family angst, my beloved.🤣) He's also the very last chief of the Earth Tribe! So he has that role as well!

(Question 3: Where is the Jaya wedding going to be held?)

This question made me think actually! Initially, I was going to have the whole thing held at the Monastery. I felt like the place was special to everyone and it was the place he proposed. So it seems to fit!

But I think the reception party is going to be held at a new location never seen in the show! A really beautiful beach side event hall and ballroom in Ninjago City! I already know how it will look, but I have yet to name the place. Ideas are welcome!

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And that's it! Hope you all had fun reading! Bye for now!

(Tag List: @shatteredhope123 @nocturnal-nexu @dexter-the-dog @aroninshonour @piereoglyphics @looonytooons 😁👋)

Want to be added to the tag list? Just ask! That way you can stay updated on Ninjago: Into The Deep all the time!

[waveridden]

okay I'll bite. what's the deal with the life series. what's the lore. what's your favorite thing about it. I wanna understand the Posts

huge win for the me community let's go. okay. idk your minecraft knowledge level so i am going to explain as though it's zero bc mine was basically zero when i started watching.

so. the life series (also known as 3rd life, bc that's the first season) is a minecraft survival multiplayer series, which essentially means it's a server where you can die. in fact, it is a death game! everyone on the server has three lives; if you die three times, you're out of the series. your goal is to be the last one standing. additionally, when you're down to your last life, you are expected and honor-bound to engage in pvp and ruin your alliances. your goal is Murder.

there are five seasons out right now with different gimmicks, each one has the same core cast with some changes - essentially it's a bunch of friends who will take any excuse to kill each other, but with increasingly weird and complex political factions and interpersonal dynamics. people are out here swearing fealty. there are betrayals. there are team banners. there's a season where they build a complex net of paths in the sky and drop tnt on one another.

it's one of those things where there is some lore/plot and you can take it as seriously or not-seriously as you want! yay! i for one love to go the "let's take this to its logical horrifying conclusion" route but some people are here for the sillies and that's good too. the fanart game is insane, people are making renaissance paintings and stuff.

anyways, this explanation is a mess, so i will go on to reccing povs, because there are ~15 people in each season and they're all posting videos and that can get overwhelming! there's not really a "right" order but when i started, @charaznablescanontoyota gave me the excellent advice of "start with the winner of each season and then whenever you're curious about something watch that next" - if you like that route and don't mind knowing who wins,

er4df444444444444 sorry that's my cat. he's been watching along with me. he has a lot of opinions.

anyways here's the list of winners, the wiki is a pretty good reference to have on hand. HOWEVER. i will also add that everyone has a different style! some people edit things very short, some people do long videos, some people are builders and some are very into the roleplay - i bounced pretty hard off the first pov i watched but switching to someone else worked for me, so in a way having so many options is great bc it means you can shop around, so to speak.

and i will close this out with a few of my personal favorite seasons! just for funsies.

inthelittlewood 3rd life (s1) - probably my personal fave. in which an early game alliance becomes an intensely charged king/knight relationship that they both take WAY too seriously (honorific)

smallishbeans last life (s2) - have you ever wanted to watch someone do a very, very bad job at murdering a lot of people?

pearlescentmoon double life (s3) - in a season where everyone has canonical soulmates, pearl ends up the odd woman out because her soulmate doesn't want to be with her. it is an insane and compelling character arc

ldshadowlady secret life (s5) - diversity win! this woman is so so bad at "what if minecraft were taskmaster"

and as a side note i tend to prefer the tightly edited stuff, so if you know that you Do Not prefer that, i would point you towards ethoslab secret life or grian 3rd life! or tbh still towards pearl double life.

[bolithesenate]

Boli I saw your wip game post and my god that's a lot of wips lol, I'm mostly curios about this ones:

anti anarchist royalists

no witches

the heart of a star is home

cache lineage

true sith padme (tale the l palpy)

fuck it all

come ooooon, tell me what your brewing!

*cracks knuckles* Okay, here we go

anti anarchist royalists - this one is a original fiction writing exercise for the fantasy writing course I am in. I got the prompt "a young and inexperienced king tries to stop his kingdom from falling into anarchy" and the main purpose of the exercise is to figure out how to describe characters

this is everything I have so far and I'm not sure if I'll add some more bc I'm actually quite happy with it even though I am miles away from the recommended word count lol

Augustin folded his hand in front of his face and observed the chaos that lay before him. Noblemen screaming their lungs out left, right and center, none really getting the point across they would liked to have made. Maybe that wasn’t the worst thing though, he thought. He’d seen what their ‘points’ had done to his mother’s reign – as well to the short time his dear sister had claimed the crown that was slowly and steadily making its way down the back of his head. It was technically his sister’s crown and thus made for a woman two heads taller than him and with the thick hair befitting her heritage and station. They hadn’t had time to fashion one for him properly, the people who’d led him to his crowning had said – but Augustin knew that was not true. His sister’s guard, those that had stayed, hadn’t even bothered to hide their whispers.  Everyone expected him to last a week at the utmost on this damn throne. His nanny-turned-head-maid had even told him so straight to the face, just this morning. She’d been braiding his hair in an attempt at providing some support for the crown and tried to talk him into slipping some sharp hairpins in. You know, just in case a would-be-assassin came into stabbing distance. Which was unlikely, from everything Augustin knew of their ilk. Assassins tended to stay in the shadows and way out of reach of their intended marks. Those that didn’t, didn’t stay assassins for long. At least that’s what he had gathered from the fact that the head of the palace guard and the spymaster were still looking for the man – or woman – that had taken his sister’s life. Only barely suppressing a sigh, he reached up, pulled the crown back into position and winced. The ominous mass of gems and gold immediately had jabbed one of the sharp pins into his scalp. Great. Heavy crown, heavy mantle, heavy heart – Augustin was just fourteen, palace-pale and definitely not made to be king. Least of all king of a nation that was so dedicated to tearing itself apart as Vesna.

no witches - this one is a future part of the mud fic universe, centered around Sheev's (mis)adventures on Dathomir and the weird situationship he strikes up with Talzin during it.

It's also the fic I have started coming up with the dathomiri conlang for, so there's that

(Ig this makes little sense if you haven't read the mud fic, but the tldr is that Sheev was kidnadopted away from his og family by Jaster and so is about 50% more stable in his life choices down the road)

Well after the sun had gone back down again, the little witchling returned. Only this time, she carried a thick, leather-bound (Sheev hoped it was leather) honest-to-the-Stars book with her. By the Manda, Jaster should never be allowed to know of this, lest Silas reconsidered his stance on expansive politics. Conquering worlds over rare books was not something that had been done before in Manda'yaim's history, but if his buir had shown anything so far then it was his neverending willingness to pave new ways. Her yellow eyes flitted towards him, then to the book and she let the thing plop down on the dirty floor. The wince that went through Sheev at that sight was entirely the fault of the rigorous conditioning Jaster had put him through in regards to proper handling of precious artifacts. Nothing more. He didn't care for old books, after all. The witchling's grubby little hands pawed over the pages of the thing, flipping back and forth until she seemed to have found what she was looking for. Hopefully not some sort of crazy witchcraft magic spell. That green fire everywhere was really starting to give Sheev eye strain. If he got myopic during his stay here they were going to pay for his contact lenses, that Sheev swore to himself. Then his attention was drawn back to the witch-child, who started sounding out words. "Ssah-," she tried, but broke off with a frown. "Ssuh," her face did weird things as she sounded out the words - at least Sheev assumed that's what those were trying to be, "Zuh-ee…kar?" Yellow eyes wandered up at Sheev, seeming almost hopeful? Which was weird. Sheev scowled. For good measure.

the heart of the star is home - now this i am excited to talk abut, because it's my ghiblification origin story for Feemor! We all know and love him as the one normal guy in the disaster lineage, but I say what if that is all very hard work on his side!

His father might be a farmer (and proud o that) but his mother is the spirit of the desert their family cultivates XD

It also gives me the opportunity to smol Feemor, which is a joy in and of itself

He moved through the field of glowing lights, Feemor in his arms. With every step Audunn took, the glowing, hovering points closest to them shifted, parting and making way. Then, the man raised his voice and a smile was plastered on his face, the burnt skin around his eyes and cheeks crinkling in delight. “Najm,” he called out, “Look who has returned!” And while Feemor’s mind was preoccupied with following the implications of those words, the lights all around started to move. As if someone had dropped a loadstone in a bucket of magnets, all the individual points of light coalesced into a rising, writhing flame in the sand before them.  Audunn’s milky eyes reflected the multicolored fire like mirrors, shadows deepening the laugh lines around his mouth and the mottled skin above. It would have been scary if Feemor hadn’t felt the genuine love and joy radiating off the man. Yet he couldn’t look directly at the flame. He tried to and the Force screamed in warning – and with the Force rang a second, lower warning, like a woman whistling in the night.

now for cache lineage - this one is all about Jocasta and her padawans! Listen, the moment I learned she had three whole students in (eu) canon, I knew I HAD to do something with it. The thing that popped out eventually was the start of my first ever chatfic, so....

('cache lineage' is the name I have given their lineage because I think it fits nicely) (Ole Bole is Olee Starstone, Mr.Galaxywide is Jerec and Grandstand is Jocasta Nu. Jin-Lo is self-explanatory)

Box Office Hit Ole Bole: who tf changed the chat name? Ole Bole: rude Mr. Galaxywide: guess Mr. Galaxywide: also, Master whi is this traitor still in the chat? exile her now Ole Bole: TRAITOR?! Ole Bole: I’ll show you traitor you ******* ******* *** *********** Ole Bole: wtf what’s that Ole Bole: what is happening Mr. Galaxywide: guess you got censured, Ol. ***** ** **** Mr. Galaxywide: D:?! Mr. Galaxywide: really? suck is censured?! Mr. Galaxywide: OH NOW IT WORKS?!?!! Mr. Galaxywide: ***!?!?! Mr. Galaxywide: ******* ********* ***?? Ole Bole: @ Grandstand what is going on??? Ole Bole: @ Grandstand Ole Bole: @ Grandstand Ole Bole: @ Grandstand Mr. Galaxywide: @ Grandstand Mr. Galaxywide: @ Grandstand Mr. Galaxywide: @ Grandstand Mr. Galaxywide: @ Grandstand Mr. Galaxywide: @ Grandstand Grandstand: Preemptive safety measures. Grandstand: Children, behave. @ Grandstand has added @83365299 to the Chat @ Grandstand changed @83365299 to @ Padawan Learner Rayce Padawan Learner Rayce: Thank you, Master Nu Padawan Learner Rayce: :D Ole Bole: A BABY?!?!?! Padawan Learner Rayce: Hi, I’m Jin-Lo Rayce, happy to be here. Padawan Learner Rayce: I’m not a baby, I’m 12? Mr. Galaxywide: A BABY!!!!!!

true sith padme - that one was my very impulsive 'a sith is just nine handmaidens and a queen in the same trenchcoat' fic where Padme and company get to be the unhinged teens they were meant to be. They also cause enormous psychological damage to Palpatine because in true naboo fashion they all chose very similar sith names and also switch places willy-nilly to cause more confusion

This actually had one chapter already published, but I've been very lazy with working on the next one. nonetheless, here, have a snippet of a later thing

<Pretender, you do not know what Forces you play with. My wrath will- > "I'm sorry," Eirtaé interrupted the cloaked figure, "I think you have the wrong comm number. Who are you?" <What?!,> the cloaked stranger spat, <I am DARTH SIDIOUS, and you, 'Darth' Akako, are a pretender to the Line of Bane and I–" "Ah, yes, I see now," Eirtaé interrupted him once again, "No, I am not Darth Akako, I am Darth Shirogo. Darth Akako is my cousin thrice removed." Then, after a very brief moment of consideration, she added, "She is known for her rogue actions, if you have an official complaint, please direct it to the High Council. I will transmit their contact right now." She sent the guy Dormé's private comm. The older Handmaiden would know how to stall for time better than her. <You–!> "Thank you for your time and have a good day, good bye!," she cheered and then cut the line, the fake smile that had split her face immediately falling. Grumbling, Eirtaé rubbed her cheeks. Just what the kark were Padmé and Sabé doing out there? And who the fuck had given this old creep her comm number?!

and last but not least

fuck it all - the one and only crossover i'll likely ever write. That's my witcher/lotr crossover where Thranduil and some guard ocs get transported into the witcherverse and proceed to adopt their way through the ranks of protagonists

Another already published thing i should fix up a new chapter for at some point, but after the latest weirdnesses with how the witcher series was treated by netflix it kinda lost its shine. i'll return to it one day though.

Until then, have this. I like to think I am hilarious.

Thranduil looked at the young edain with the rather garish red doublet (the scale-like detailing of the fabric woke unpleasant memories and seemed a bit distasteful). The man was currently drinking what must be the fourth or fifth tankard of beer since Thranduil had entered the dimly lit establishment and he was still holding up pretty well. This, coupled with the fine lute leaning on the side of his chair sealed the deal. ‘He certainly looks like a sensible young man’, the Elvenking thought. “Young man.” There was a benevolent smile on his face as Thranduil tapped the edain’s shoulder to gain his attention. The man reared back, startled, and stared at him with big brown eyes that were red and swollen, as if he had cried not long ago. ‘Oh dear’, Thought the Elvenking now, but it was too late. His smile took a tad of a strained note. Hopefully it wasn’t recognizable. “Young man, I may have a business opportunity for you.”

[s0nia246]

Nightshadz

My Y2k Magical Girl oc. I created her in 2021 using a generator. I love her so much. She doesn't have a team yet but I wanna create on for her.

Cilvian name:Nia Blair

Magical Girl name: Nightshadz

Nicknames: My Jester (called by Monochromatic), My Jester Knight(called by Monochromatic)

Age: 21

Gender: Female

Occupation: College Student, Magical Girl

Cilvian Apperence: Nia is an African American female. She normally wears alternately/modern fashion that her sister makes. Her skin is brown with freckles scattered all over her body, her hair is a reddish-brown short pixie cut, and her eyes are light brown. She also wears makeup and her transformation item the 'Jester's ring' with a red ring with the head of a jester.

Magical Girl Appearance: As Nightshadz, her hair turns into long dark red pigtails with bells at the ends of her tips, her eyes are bright salamon pink. She wears a nightshadz red jester outfit. The outfit is sleeveless underneath striped pink and white with a poncho with bells at the ends on top of it. On her right hand is a short glove tha goes up to her wrist while the left hand a a long glove that reaches her upper arm, shorts un-paned breeches with white and pink striped thigh-high socks, also she has coat tails similar to her poncho on top.She waera a pair of nightshadz red knee-high pointy boots with bells at the ends. She also wears white facepaint, red lips, and red tear drops, similar to how a clown or mime might do their makeup.

Personality: Nia is described as a genius in logic and problems but has difficulty understanding emotions or behavior. She is shown to have a dry and somewhat twisted sense of humor. She is also shown to be very sarcastic when it comes to her sister. Nia is extremely close to her sister. Nia can be seen as a generally rude person. However, she can be social towards other people as well. She loyal and protective to people she cares about.

Backstory: Nia was just a regular college student before one day while walking home for class night at night, Nia and her sister saw a poor rooster getting attacked by something. Her sister quickly went to protect the poor animal. See the monster Nia when to protect her sister. Surprisingly, Nia defeated the monster that attacked the rooster. Shocked by this strong human, the rooster, introducing himself as Monochromatic, the King of the Infernal Regions, he gave Nia his ring, Jester's ring to help her fight and return the citizens of his dimension.

Likes:

• Solving logical problems and puzzles.

• Modern fashion, especially the clothes her sister makes.

• Loyalty and protectiveness towards her sister.

• Ugly-but-cute things like Monochromatic

• Statues

Dislikes:

• Monsters or creatures that threaten innocent beings.

• Lack of logic or irrational behavior.

• Dealing with her difficulty in understanding emotions.

• Anything that poses a threat to her sister.

• Being underestimated or misunderstood due to her sarcasm.

Character Quirks:

• Always analyzing surroundings: Nia has developed a habit of constantly assessing her environment, looking for potential threats or escape routes, even in mundane situations.

• Whistling in stressful situations: Nia has developed a habit of whistling a tune when faced with tension or stress, providing a peculiar contrast to the seriousness of the moment.

• Bookmark obsession: Whether it's a physical book or a digital document, Nia can't resist using unique or themed bookmarks. She collects them and always has a variety on hand.

• Counting steps unconsciously: Nia tends to count her steps subconsciously, whether walking down the street or climbing stairs. It's a quirky habit that helps her maintain a sense of order in her surroundings.

• Unusual fascination with constellations: Despite her logical and problem-solving nature, Nia has a soft spot for stargazing and often finds comfort in identifying constellations, associating them with various events in her life.

• Reciting poetry under her breath: When deep in thought or during moments of reflection, Nia quietly recites snippets of poetry to herself. It's a private practice that helps her connect with her emotions in a more artistic way.

Positive Character Quirks:

• Precision in everything: Nia is meticulous and precise in her actions, whether it's solving a problem, executing a magical attack, or even arranging her belongings.

• Keen problem-solving skills: She enjoys tackling challenges and can't resist the urge to solve problems, always seeking logical solutions to various situations.

• Night owl tendencies: Nia is most active and alert during the night, which aligns well with her magical girl duties but can make her seem mysterious to others.

• Bell obsession: Nia has a fascination with bells, stemming from the ones on her magical girl outfit. She tends to collect unique and interesting bells as a quirky hobby.

• Quick reflexes: Thanks to her self-defense training and magical abilities, Nia possesses exceptionally quick reflexes, making her adept at dodging attacks or reacting swiftly in unexpected situations.

Negative Character Quirks:

• Sarcasm overload: Nia's sarcasm can be excessive, sometimes unintentionally hurting others' feelings. It's a defense mechanism she uses to mask her difficulty in understanding emotions.

• Impatience with inefficiency: She gets easily frustrated when things are not done efficiently or logically, often expressing her annoyance through sarcastic remarks.

• Minimal trust in others: Due to her protective nature and past encounters with monsters, Nia finds it challenging to trust people easily, leading to a somewhat guarded demeanor.

• Obsessive overthinking: Nia tends to overthink situations, analyzing every detail, which can sometimes lead to unnecessary stress or anxiety.

• Secretive about vulnerabilities: Despite being protective and loyal, Nia struggles to open up about her own vulnerabilities, fearing it might be perceived as a weakness.

Abilities:

The Jester's ring can also turn into a knife and staff with four morning stars.

• Jester's Ring Transformation:Knife Proficiency: Nia is skilled in wielding the Jester's ring when transformed into a sharp and versatile knife, making her a formidable opponent in close combat.

Staff with Morning Stars: The Jester's ring can also transform into a staff adorned with four morning stars, allowing Nia to engage enemies from a distance with both striking and bludgeoning attacks.

• Hell-Fire Manipulation & Hell-Fire Attacks: Nia has the ability to manipulate hell-fire, allowing her to unleash devastating attacks with this mystical and potent element. These attacks can vary in intensity and range, providing her with a versatile range of offensive capabilities.

• Illusionary Mastery: Nightshadz can create intricate illusions, deceiving opponents with vivid and convincing images. This skill enhances her tactical abilities, allowing for strategic diversions and misdirection during battles.

• Shadow Teleportation:Nightshadz can meld into shadows and teleport to another shadowy location, granting her unparalleled mobility on the battlefield. This skill enables her to reposition swiftly and surprise enemies.

• Enhanced Agility:Nightshadz possesses heightened agility, allowing her to perform acrobatic maneuvers with grace and precision. This agility enhances her overall combat skills, making her a difficult target to hit.

• Night Vision:Nia gains the ability to see clearly in low-light conditions as Nightshadz, giving her a significant advantage during nighttime battles or in environments with reduced visibility.

• Emotional Resonance:Nightshadz's magical abilities are subtly connected to emotions. The stronger the emotions she experiences or witnesses, the more potent her attacks become. This adds a unique dynamic to her fighting style, where emotional intensity amplifies her magical prowess.

• Jester's Insight:Nightshadz possesses an intuitive understanding of deception and trickery, allowing her to anticipate and counter enemy strategies effectively. This skill enhances her defensive capabilities, making her a strategic and cunning fighter.

[gawrkin]

as someone who doesn't go here, I'm really interested in all this arthuriana stuff, lol. So far what I know is that good pal Lancelot there is really head over heels for the very misunderstood red haired queen, Arthur is a questionable human and that Sir Gawain (and all his 150 other names) is a knight icon.

Oh, I'm not the right kind of Blogger to explain all these sorts of things. I tend to ramble and it becomes a kind of essay and I have to insert screenshots of specific texts. Not to mention the hassle of producing links to a source.

But yes, there's a lot of nuance that a casual read wouldn't really get if, say, you only read Le Morte D'Arthur and nothing else. Or worse, read up on only Modern works, like Idylls of the King or Once and Future King. The last two are Modern Stories to the core, often neglect important medieval contexts when it comes to the treatment of the legend. It would take an entire posts detailing the nitpicks I have towards them.

So to keep things short, here's a bullet point summary, that lacks a bit nuance itself but gets to the point and keeps it brief:

These characters have been written about for centuries. They've had different contradictory portrayals - sometimes even in the same story - depending on the cultural trends and motives of the storytellers. Arthuriana is a massive tradition with huge influence and to euclidate it all would be virtually impossible.

For instance, Sir Lancelot, as a character, is fundamentally the "Fantasy Boyfriend" archetype - he exists to be an idealized love interest wish-fulfillment for a female audience to fawn over (through Guinevere). Everything he does as warrior is done in the name of Love and is glorified for it. The sad thing about Lancelot is that he became outdated, with the cultural trend that created him - Courtly Love = having puttered out a long time ago. And as a result, he tends to get misconstrued by later interpretations.

Likewise, Queen Guinevere as has had many characterizations over centuries, from villain to heroine and everything in-between. She's misunderstood in the sense that most people don't know or acknowledge that the narratives surrounding Guinevere has changed, evolved and, more importantly, has accrued different and confusing plot points and themes - stuff that for their time made sense but aged poorly in retrospect. And that a lot of writers work from a limited pool of references (sticking to only 1 or 2 classics with all the strengths and flaws of those few stories) and insert contemporary biases in their retellings.

Also, Guinevere is not necessarily a Redhead. She is Blonde in Knight of the Cart.

King Arthur is... a Dark Ages Warlord. He would not exactly the nice man that gets hyped as an ideal leader, like Alfred Tennyson and T.H. White would have you believe. He has, throughout the evolution of the legend, character traits that don't exactly jive to the modern image of the character and has ambitions that would be tyrannical in our minds (Like his Campaign to conquer Europe or his Sexual Escapades)

Sir Gawain is the go-to action hero of the Romances. He can be said to be both an everyman and a stock character archetype - Gawain can be shoved in any story and in any role (heroic or villainous) and it would still make sense. The guy is versatile.

Even this Bulleted List doesn't cover everything I wanted to say. There's just simply so much to parse through and I'm not very good at organizing my thoughts in the spur of the moment.

I'll finish this post by saying keep digging and look up articles on medieval culture and history to give a little bit of context. From time-to-time, I also post about IRL Medieval Culture facts (like Law Codes).

There's so much more to learn about this (and possibly get disappointed in so many modern stories about the Arthurian Legend)

[smilesrobotlover]

hay I really love your king of the gerudo au if you want to why don’t you just go ham and just give us some random facts / tidbits about this amazing story your making or just talk about it I will take literally anything about this au I love it so much

I’m so glad you’re interested in it! The story is very messy but I’m mostly thinking about character arcs and stuff!

I still don’t know if totk stuff will be in it as much as before. The dungeons will be there, but that’s it. That’s all I’ll really want to put in there? And Ganondorf obviously lol. Totk pisses me off so yeah… not a lotta it.

Some ideas I have mostly regard Revali, Ammon and Orman, and Mipha.

So I hc that the bigger the Rito is, the stronger they are. Revali is very freaking short, even for a Rito, so he grew up being seen as weak and lesser than the rest of the Rito. He was also bullied a lot, mostly from a certain Rito that I may or may not get into later lol. I feel like Revali’s arrogance mostly stems from extreme insecurity, and the bullying and being perceived as weak really caused that. He didn’t want to be weak nor did he want to be seen as less than other Rito. So he really worked hard to be a good archer and flyer. Even tho he’s not as fast as other Rito, he is very agile and can dodge things in the air easily. Thanks to his size he can also slip past obstacles while other Rito will get stuck. And of course. He’s the best archer in all of Rito village. So he really did become the best by hard work. And his arrogance kinda got worse when the other Rito with wind powers was not picked to be the champion (again, I’ll get into that Rito maybe later). Anything that threatens his confidence he tends to be very hostile towards. Really he’s just a rude person in general cuz he has the mindset that he might as well be cruel since it’s a cruel world. He doesn’t want to be seen as weak so he thinks that being cruel will show people that he’s not. He needs therapy is what he needs Dhskdbskdbk. I wanna actually give him development and help him warm up to Link, they’re gonna have some time alone in the desert as you saw with that one wip hehe so he needs to learn to actually like him.

Something else I wanna explore are the divine beasts. I love seeing them as more sentient beings, and the only way to pilot them is to connect with them and control them with your mind and body. You can still control them with a Sheikah slate but it’s much better when you have an connection with the beast. The champions weren’t just picked for their magic, but it was also their connection with the divine beasts. So the divine beasts have a certain Sage occasionally speaking to the champions. Urbosa heard it as soon as she was on Naboris, and she and voice talk here and there (it’s actually why she knows that Naboris was named after Nabooru teehee). Mipha hears the voice occasionally but not very often. She usually tends to hear it during a battle tho. Revali talks to the voice all the time, he has a very deep connection with the voice and Medoh in general. Daruk on the other hand hasn’t heard any voice. He didn’t even know that was a thing, so he’s gonna be dealing with trying to hear the voice ;) but he’s the only Goron with a connection tho, but he still struggled with it in the beginning.

That’s all I’ll really say but I’m excited to explore the different champions! Especially revali I love that bird brat more than anything (I actually drew him for this au too!)

[magicalgirlmascot]

May or may not have been inspired to create the KNPS Toa in Hero Forge. Probably also gonna do the Turaga. I’m def curious as to your thoughts on everyone’s appearances, wanna see how what I have so far compares.

I am in TEARS please please please show me when you're done!!!

I've been kind of deliberately vague about their appearances in the fic itself because last time I wrote a big long human!Bionicle fic where I was more specific about their appearances I. wound up hating it later lol. I will say though that my Bionicle Sports Anime designs aren't necessarily what I have in mind when writing! (Those are mostly just for drawing Bionicle fanart without having to draw robots and possible eventual comic reasons.)

I do have some stuff in mind, though! I'm putting it under a readmore because it wound up getting fairly long lol

Tahu: redhead, toned and fairly beefy on account of the MMA but not like dehydrated about it, jeans, t-shirts, and button-downs with the sleeves rolled up kinda guy

Kopaka: my brother thinks he should be albino but I'm on the fence there, either way he does have blue eyes and light hair cut pretty short, glasses, tall and thin

Gali: petite, curly hair usually pulled back from her face, wears a lot of long, flowy clothes (cardigans, skirts, etc.)

Onua: short af, fat, muscular, hairy, I've made Gimli jokes before but I honestly do picture him looking like Senshi DungeonMeshi with less beard, almost exclusively wears black jeans, glasses are not prescription but to help with his light sensitivity

Pohatu: tall, runner's build (muscular legs, kind of average weight distribution tbh), thick brown hair that he's been growing out, tends towards muted colours and earth tones

Lewa: fucking beanpole, tall, thin, and gangly, hair is a bird's nest 99% of the time and he has given up trying, wears green almost to the complete exclusion of other colours, loves himself some good cargo pants

Vakama: glasses and tidy beard, greying hair, middling height, wears a lot of old man sweaters/cardigans

Nokama: taller than Matau but shorter than Vakama, hair is going grey but she dyes it, carries herself with grace and poise, it's. I do picture Lucretia Adventurezone a little bit while writing her ngl

Matau: short!!! absolute manlet and either mad about it or chill with it depending on which is funnier in context, wears loud shirts

Onewa: was not a cane user at the start of the story but is one now on account of his bad back, growing his beard out, worst case of resting bitch face you've ever seen, decently tall

Whenua: tallest Turaga, thick glasses, has worn a dress shirt and tie to work every day for the last 20+ years and isn't going to stop now even if his husband makes fun of him for it >:(

Nuju: average height, long fingers, went white by age 35 (claims it's from stress but it just runs in the family, Kualus was also fully white by 35 and Matoro probably will be too), dresses nicely but not a full shirt and tie like some people

Also you didn't mention them but bonus characters bc I've been thinking about them:

Takua: built like Lewa (tall and gangling), dyes his hair blue, fashion choices are "the colours gave me a headache so I bought it immediately"

Jaller: short king, blonde, probably the most athletic kid in the class

Hahli: shorter than Takua but still pretty tall, wears jeans and sturdy clothes, solidly built

Krahka: I mean sometimes she's a fox and sometimes she's got six arms and tits the size of her head, she can look however she wants

Again please please show me when you're done!!!! I would like to see it

[authoralexharvey]

INTERVIEW WITH A WRITEBLR — @vermontwrites

Who You Are:

Vermont || they/them/she/her

Writer with an avid love of museums, staring at paintings and reading murder mysteries. Mysterious and yet readable, oddly obsessed with drawing demons. I have a collection of half written in notebooks and too many sketchbooks to count.

What You Write:

What genres do you write in? What age ranges do you write for?

Adventure, fantasy, historical fiction, paranormal, sci-fi. New Adult and Adult.

What genre would you write in for the rest of your life, if you could? What about that genre appeals to you?

Fantasy. Magic and new worlds really invoke a sense of belonging for me. I want to explore medieval towns with dragons and potion stores. I adore magic and elves and the lure of those stories.

What genre/s will you not write unless you HAVE to? What about that genre turns you off?

Non-fiction. Facts are cool, but I'm not the one to write those things. I find it tedious and too time consuming to make sure every tiny thing is correct.

Who is your target audience? Do you think anyone outside of that would get anything out of your works?

Adults. Perhaps teens would enjoy my works as it may allow them to feel a sense of belonging, but my characters are adults and so I assume teens would find it harder to relate to them.

What kind of themes do you tend to focus on? What kinds of tropes? What about them appeals to you?

Enemies to lovers, found family and the good old only one bed. I live shoving two characters that may be icy toward one another into a situation that makes them a little closer. In love or in family bond.

What themes or tropes can you not stand? What about them turn you off?

Whumper. Is that a trope? Either way, I dislike it.

What are you currently working on? How long have you been working on it?

Golden Veins. Its been a series I've been planning and worldbuilding for for about 2 years.

Why do you write? What keeps you writing?

I write because I enjoy it. It lets me escape the real world. I keep writing because it keeps me from the boredom.

How long have you been writing? What do you think first drew you to it?

I used to write silly stories when I was 10, but then got serious when I was about 13. I liked the ability to be creative and put all of my ideas onto the page and find pride in my work.

Where do you get your inspiration from? Is that how you got your inspiration for your current project? If not, where did the inspiration come from?

Everywhere. TV shows, movies, other books. The inspiration for my current work is The Lion King as well as some other writers on AO3.

What work of yours are you most proud of? Why?

I'm proud of most of my works. I don't see any reason to pick one when everything I write brings me joy and pride.

Have you published anything? Do you want to?

No. And no. Maybe just on AO3.

What part of the publishing process most appeals to you? What part least appeals to you? Why?

I've never been interested in publishing my works. Maybe a short story, but the whole thing is tricky and just doesn't appeal much at all.

What part of the writing process most appeals to you? What part is least appealing?

Planning and character design. I love writing an outline and also writing about my characters. Character design is most enjoyable. I hate editing though, drives me to boredom.

Do you have a writing process? Do you have an ideal setup? Do you write in pure chaos? Talk about your process a bit.

I just open the document, put on some music and go for it. It's chaos, yes, but only in my mind.

Your Thoughts on Writeblr:

How long have you been a writeblr? What inspired you to join the community?

1 year. I joined at the recommendation of a friend.

Shout out some of your favorite writeblrs. How did you find them and what made you want to follow them?

@abalonetea - I don't recall how I found her work but the aesthetics alone made me follow. @woodhousejay - Again, my brain is mush, I don't remember how I found their account but I did. Their art is amazing.

What is your favorite part about writeblr?

Interacting with the community.

What do you think writeblr could improve on? How do you think we can go about doing so?

Just as I said above. We should all interact more with one another. I should likely try more.

How do you contribute to the writeblr community? Do you think you could be doing more?

I contribute my art, I suppose but I think I should reblog more when I can.

What kinds of posts do you most like to interact with?

Character introductions.

What kind of posts do you most like to make?

Art and character snippets.

Finally, anywhere else online we may be able to find you?

I have Instagram I hardly look at, but links to media I use is on my Tumblr.

Questions For Fun:

What is your favorite kind of museum to go to? Have you used anything you've learned from your visits in your writing?

My favourite museums are the ones with anything historical. Natural History Museums are quite enjoyable. I've learned a lot from museums, I use the things I've learnt more so in my art than my writing.

Do you have an OC you default to when drawing? What about them makes them so drawable?

I default to drawing Zazu or Silviano. I like their body types and the lines of their clothing and bodies.

What is your favorite murder mystery you've read? Why?

My favourite murder mystery I've read thus far is The Museum Mysteries, a series by Jim Eldridge.

[salamencerobot]

What's that show you're reblogging

This made me laugh so hard I had to take a minute. Because now I get to continue the tradition.

Ok so. The show is called Ohsama Sentai King-ohger. You can watch it here. (use ublock please)

That tells you nothing, because that's the short answer.

Super sentai (the overall.. series?) Is what Power Rangers was based off of. It's Japanese, targeted towards kids to sell toys, and it's never dubbed/subbed officially because it has a tiny English audience.

It's also cheesy, fun, live acted with practical effects, and tends towards the homoerotic.

It's also Supremely Silly.

King-ohger is the 47th installment in the Super Sentai series, but don't worry, you do not need to watch all of Super Sentai and I advise not doing so. Each series/installment runs for about a year, and has one episode a week, so it's very long. Every series has a whole new cast and plot, so nothing really carries over except in crossovers

This is the kind of series that's great to watch one episode at a time, as it can get repetitive binge-watching it.

Because it's a whole new cast, you can get started with the first episode of kingohger right now, and it will explain everything to you!

Admittedly, it's very kid-friendly, but if you want a more... Idk mature? More dramatic series, you may want to look into a Kamen Rider series. It's aimed towards teens, as opposed to kids. Still not adult content, but you can get stuff like permanent character death.

I prefer Super Sentai because it's more about teamwork (cause how else are you gonna combine the robots into the cool mech!)

Kamen Rider, Super Sentai, and Ultraman, can get lumped together under the word toku (short for tokusatsu). Directly translated it means special effects, but really these shows/movies/etc. are all about practical effects, and it's a kind of art form that started with the original Godzilla. Filming on location, or staging fights in deserts and forests. Colored explosions, actual suit actors and choreographed fights, etc.

For instance, the mech suits are usually real, just a normal suit they put on someone and then use like miniatures and stuff to get a sense of scale.

Kingohger's backgrounds are almost always green screen because it's set in several sci-fi/fantasy kingdoms, but in other series they tend to film on set, and this can make for some fun fight choreography.

Kingohger is currently on its 33rd episode, we get the subs every Sunday/late Saturday night, and in this series the main characters are all kings of different countries, and their mechs are bugs!!!! So everyone is bug themed and it's so sick!!!

[verecunda]

Obviously I have to ask about Aegnor/Amdreth, and tell us about your novel too if you like!

Eeeee! Thanks. :D

The Aegnor/Andreth one I think you know about already; I've been picking away at it for ages now. Pretty much born out of my twin desire to write something about A/A spending time at Aeluin together, since it definitely seems to have been their spot, and also to write something sexy for them, because dammit, they deserve it!

Here, have a grumpy Andreth in the opening :D

The morning was hot, even before the sun had fully burnt the morning mists from the high slopes; and as the sun rose ever higher towards its noonday pinnacle, it grew hotter still. Even in the heights, there was hardly a breath of wind to stir the heather, and the air was hazy with the heat, the sky a dry, parched blue, without even the merest feather of a cloud. Even in country with good roads, the going would have been hard; but in these trackless moors, with all their rocky outcrops and sudden rises, it was nigh unendurable, and Andreth was out of temper long before they ever reached their destination.

Her mood was not at all improved by the sight of Aegnor as he strode ahead, as untouched by the rigours of heat and thirst as by cold and hunger. Indeed, he went lightly, gaily, the sunlight making a beacon of his golden hair.

Truly, the Eldar could be maddening in their perfection.

As for the novel, it's still mostly in planning, though I've started writing wee bits and pieces to get a feel for the characters.

In short: tribal king's sister and Roman centurion have to work together to stop a war erupting on the frontier.

tl;dr version: the Votadini, according to Greek geographer Ptolemy, were tribe who were centred around Lothian. They tend to be seen as nominally, at least, on good terms with the Romans, based on the wealth of high status Roman goods that have been excavated at Traprain Law, which is generally thought to be their premier stronghold, possibly even a royal seat. If this is the case, then they must have been affected by the various fluctuations of the frontier, which sometimes put them inside the Roman Empire, sometimes just outside - and it's easy to imagine they often must've felt caught in the crossfire when war broke out between the Romans and the Caledonian tribes further north. I'm assuming they had to navigate a lot of tricky politics - and navigate them quite well, because they survived into the post-Roman period as the kingdom of Gododdin. I'm seeing all sorts of opportunity for intrigue and political wheeling and dealing, as well as complex loyalties and shifting allegiances, and friendships across cultural lines, even across the gulf between the conqueror and the conquered. All the good stuff. :)

[willowisapillow]

So currently I'm back to my Koopalings obsession, especially with Wendy, who has currently became my 3rd favorite Koopaling 💕

Its funny cause I used to really hate Wendy when I was younger, because I thought she was this whiny, super obnoxious spoiled brat (I blame the cartoons for me having that mindset), but over time, I've started growing to really like Wendy for being a Mario female character who isn't portrayed as helpless or a damsel-in-distress, and I've also started easing up my feelings towards Kootie Pie/DiC Wendy a little bit. I kinda have a soft spot for her now, but she still gets on my nerves sometimes.

While I was in a chat with some close besties of mine on Amino, I came up with a few headcanons for Wendy that are heavily inspired by elements from the New Supers games, the comics, some of the sports-themed spinoff games, and the Super Mario 3 and Super Mario World DiC cartoons.

And before I start the headcanons, yes, I am fully aware that the Koopalings are confirmed to not be Bowser's biological children, and are just his minions, but I don't care about that. I've always seen them as being his adopted children rather than just his other generic entourage of minions. It was also pretty weird with how the Koopalings themselves never really acted like siblings towards one another, and instead just acted like fellow comrades in some sort of military army.

Now for the Headcanons:

• My version of Wendy is like a mix between Chloe from Miraculous Ladybug, and Charlotte from Princess and the Frog. She's a very spoiled girl who loves expensive things like jewelry. While she doesn't cry or throw temper tantrums over the most trivial things like in the cartoons, she still has her short-tempered nature, and can be pretty scary when angry. However, she tends to not let her emotions get the best of her, and uses phrases such as, "I'm too pretty to be angry" in order to calm herself down and cope with stress.

• Just like in the DiC cartoons, she thinks of herself as Bowser's favorite child since she's the most responsible when compared to her brothers. She loves getting the spotlight and attention, and loves being congratulated by her father for her bad deeds and behavior. She also tries her hardest to impress Bowser, and her biggest fear is him being disappointed in her for not being able to get something done on time.

• And like in the DiC cartoons, she still refers to Bowser as, "Daddykins", though she mostly calls him that whenever she wants him to buy her something. Though like her brothers, she does refer to him as, "King Dad" sometimes.

• She doesn't just see Bowser as a money maker who can buy her anything she asks for, she does genuinely love him for all the stuff he does for her and the rest of her brothers. Though I like to imagine that the bond they have is similar to Mr. Krabs and Pearl from SpongeBob. Wendy gets super embarrassed by some of the stuff that Bowser does (especially if they're in public going somewhere fun like an amusement park), but she still loves him deeply in the end.

• She really doesn't like greasy foods such as fries, burgers, or pizza. She prefers to stay on the healthier side, like eating fruits. Though she doesn't like veggies that much, either.

• That doesn't mean she doesn't like candy either, Wendy enjoys her sweets just as much as she loves fruit. Her favorite type of sweets are chocolate based. She loves mint chocolate chip ice cream, hot cocoa/chocolate, and chocolate gâteau. The inspiration for this headcanon comes from Chocolate Island from Super Mario World, the area where she inhabits.

• The characters she has the most beef with are Bowser Jr, Roy, Daisy, and Peach. For Jr, the two are always butting heads with each other because of the arguments they have over who's the favorite child of Bowser. For Roy, it's because he's always trying to push her buttons because of how obnoxiously, "girly" she is. She usually claps back at him by making remarks about his low intelligence. For Daisy, she thinks that she keeps cramping her tomboy style, and sees her as a poser. And as for Peach, she just can't stand her goody-two-shoes nature, and how saccharine she acts. And the fact that her father kidnaps her not just because he wants to take over the Mushroom Kingdom, but also because he's in love with her annoys the hell out of her. That's why she never calls her "Mama Peach" like the rest of her brothers, and instead calls her by her last name, Toadstool, but in a very patronizing manner.

• When she's not battling Mario and Luigi, or starting drama with others, she enjoys hanging out on the beach, swimming, and ice skating. Wendy's favorite seasons are summer and winter. The inspiration for these headcanons comes from Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and 2, where she serves as the final boss for the water-themed worlds. The other inspiration is from New Super Mario Bros. U/Deluxe, where she's the final boss of the ice-themed world.

• Her favorite music genres are pop-punk, and punk-rock, which is inspired by the person she was named after, Wendy O. Williams. She's the lead singer of the punk band, Plasmatics.

• She loves fashion and designing clothes, with 80s themed fashion being her most favorite type of clothing. This was inspired by her old DiC voice actor, Tabitha St. Germain, who voiced Rarity in MLP: FiM. Rarity is a fashionista in the show, so I'd thought it would fit Wendy lol

• In some media like the Super Mario-Kun, it's shown that she has a thing for Mario, but I just don't see it, tbh. I just like to imagine that she pretends to show affection for Mario in order to piss off Peach and make her jealous.

• Wendy enjoys singing and doing karaoke, but she's VERY tone deaf, and her brothers often call her singing, "the equivalent to nails on a chalkboard". Bowser doesn't like her singing that much either, but he's probably one of those parents who still cheers on and supports their kid, even if they aren't good at doing something.

• Wendy and Birdo are practically besties. They share the same love for expensive jewelry, singing, the spotlight, and they got similar looking bows, too. The two usually spend their time at Coconut Mall shopping for clothes, eating food, or just gossiping and spilling the tea on drama that's been going around in the Mushroom Kingdom.

• Even though she does enjoy a fair fight and will accept a loss, that doesn't she isn't cunning nor sneaky. She'll try different methods of making a competition slightly easier for herself, or her team.

• Out of all of her brothers, the only one she really gets along well with is Ludwig. The two are the most responsible out of all of the Koopalings, and they share similar leadership qualities. Wendy enjoys listening to the music that he plays on his piano, but hates it whenever Ludwig starts being brutally honest about her horrendous singing skills.

• Despite her big-headed and bossy attitude towards her brothers, she does love and care for them all deep down, and always has a blast with them whenever they take a ride in the Koopalings Clown Car, or start vandalizing the Mushroom Kingdom. She won't say it straight to their faces though, because she doesn't like to be corny or sappy lol

And that's all of my headcanons! Hope you guys enjoyed them, have a great day or night, and make sure to stay safe out there.

💍💕💋

[asongoficeandthrones]

A Clash of Kings First Read - Chapter 2

(POV: Sansa I.) => Be careful about triggering themes in certain parts.

Setting: The Red Keep (Joffrey Baratheon et al).

Favorite character: Sansa. Because she's grown so much, and in such a short amount of time, but deep down she's still the kind soul that she was at the beginning, if not so naive anymore.

MVP: Um. Can't really talk about an MVP here. But if I had to, I'd say Tyrion, because he hasn't been back for five minutes and he's already dared challenge the king, if only verbally (although a more courteous greeting might be in order, for an uncle and an elder), so he might be able to curb Joffrey's reign towards a more... lenient path? But that's not happening yet.

Things I loved/liked:

TYRION IS BACK (and his snark too, YAY)!! And through Sansa's eyes. So I like that she sees him as "the ugliest man she had ever chanced to look upon," because it kinda feels like old, vain Sansa, always thinking about men and how handsome (or ordinary, or ugly) they are, is back... which is not entirely a good thing, since it's definitely not my favorite trait of hers, but still, I hate the fact that she had to change so quickly, so...

Sansa being smart enough to "help" Ser Dontos.

Tyrion and Sansa's conversation. And the fact that she tends to not trust him right away, because it shows she's smart and knows what she needs to do to stay alive at court.

Understanding that the Lannisters are not all cruel and manipulative (I know, no generalizations, but still! And I had kind of forgotten about Tommen and Myrcella, oops). The bond between the two of them was the cutest thing ever. And Sansa supporting Tommen when he rode. Probably the only relatively "happy" moments in the chapter.

And the comet is here too! This time with a Joffrey symbolism, which kind of confirms my thoughts last chapter.

Things I disliked/hated:

*cough* Joffrey F*CKING Lannister *cough* (Also, whoops, I just realized that maybe I should have called him Baratheon? Don't know, because we know he's a Lannister but not a lot of people know in-narrative that he's one...) Need I say more? He's still an entitled little pr*ck. And cruel. And... Well, I think you got the gist of it.

Every reference to Sansa being beaten and mistreated at court. Because she certainly doesn't deserve it.

Quotes: The ones showing Sansa's growth, such as "Once she had loved Prince Joffrey with all her heart, and admired and trusted his mother, the queen. They had repaid that love and trust with her father's head. Sansa would never make that mistake again." But on the other hand, poor Sansa...

Thoughts overall: Joffrey needs to die. But I liked the chapter anyway, because of Sansa and Tyrion.