#beautifulterriblequeen did

[random-fandom-ramble]

Dionys and Tindryst

Here’s a commission I did for @beautifulterriblequeen as a gift for @careful-silent-still ✨

[beautifulterriblequeen]

Hi @beautifulterriblequeen

I know we have three seasons of TDP left, but with some of the out of context spoilers and teases of S5, it's going to become and make S1 even heavier and more angstier. Because I remember seeing the first round of Discord Q&A back in November, and the writers teased that there will be emotional scenes regarding relationships from events of S1-S3. If we get moonfam flashbacks in the next three seasons, I believe it'll make S1 even more heartbreaking, but it'll also be filled with lots of faith and reassurance for the moonfam. They especially seem to favor Rayla heavily with the most important, hopeful ending in her arc with her family. To me, they wouldn't take that chance from her because it goes against everything the show stands for. I'm excited to see how they unpack and process all the Moonfam's trauma. Let's Go S5.

I think this is a healthy natural progression, especially considering kids who are literally growing up with this show. When S5 comes out it'll have been ~5 years since TDP's first season dropped. That's a big chunk of a young person's life. Heck, it's a big chunk of mine.

And with time comes perspective. We can all look back on early periods of our own lives and understand them with extra context now. Why someone did something, or why no one did anything. TDP manages to achieve an extra layer of this with its condensed flashbacks, adding in extra time even in 9 short episodes per season, offering the benefit of the passage of time and its effects on the involved characters.

We might get to the point where a flashback references a time frame that's occurred since the show began, revealing something that was previously skipped. Or we might get older flashbacks that shed more light on what we've been given in TDP's early seasons, making them cast longer shadows, maybe in different directions.

I know it's landing differently to watch S1 now that we've all seen how happy the castle denizens are under two years of Ezran's rule. Runaan and his assassins disrupted the entire castle ecosystem, if you will, by killing the man who oversaw it. Somewhere along the chain - or binding ribbon - someone decided that all that fear and misery and disruption was worth taking Harrow out. Looking at you, Zubeia. (and I'm always looking at Runaan, he knows what he did)

I think the show intends to give everyone at least one chance to choose peace, in some way. The trick is whether the characters will take it!

[cometconmain]

I literally did this recently but with drinking it. One day I will keep it in a playthrough specifically so I can act this out as soon as everything lines up. XD

Also @beautifulterriblequeen I love your tags and I am both so sorry and wish I could have seen this tragicomedy in the making. XD

im going to be,,,,uploading my twitter art here too lol

[lairofsentinel]

Detailed Info from the TDP Podcast - Episode 5

Startouch elves   Sunfire elves   Tidebound elves

Moonshadow culture ❘༻༺❘ Weeding and courtship  ❘༻༺❘Goshting spell details  Silvergrove Goverment ❘༻༺❘Money  ❘༻༺❘Horn cuffs symbolism

Ethari

Ethari regrets the ghosting spell ❘༻༺❘Ethari is playful

Runaan

Runaan’s feelings while being trapped in the coin ❘༻༺❘Runaan and Ethari’s reaction to Rayla-Callum relationship

Rayla

Transition to live with Runaan and Ethari and her relationship with her parents

Rayla in School  ❘༻༺❘ Rayla’s parents personalities

Different scenarios for characters

Summary list 

They never came with a strong lore concept when they did this stuff. 

Silvergrove and Moonshadows:

Moonshadows live in small communities. 

Silvergrove is not the only Moonshadow community. Maybe the rest are hidden from one another since entering to them it’s needed a particular dancing-key.

Government in Silvergrove is apparently through a Council of different groups via consensus [They don't have a strong idea about this]

Silvergrove is in permanent dusk. It was based on Ashenvale from Wow (I loved Ashenvale so much, always!)

Main values: honor, loyalty, commitment, strictness that comes from valuing a close community.

They work to support each other. They work for the good of the community. (They are communist xD)

Because they are an isolated community, any small betrayal is magnified. It's a double edged sword. Having a community so close, supportive and isolated resents your ability to perform all of yourself  for the good of that community, and sometimes misunderstanding can be understood as big betrayals [Rayla’s case].

Horn cuffs can be extremely meaningful relationship-status gifts between couples but they don’t always mean marriage. 

 “Ethari definitely thinks Runaan has cute horns though. Fact.”

Sunfire: 

Singular authority. Monarchy.

Heavily militarized. 

Too focused in might and demonstration of strength. 

Xadia looks at them as protectors, but also as violent. They are a dual edged sword. 

They patrol the border.

Tidebound:

different in each part of the ocean. 

The concept of the flow allows them to communicate all over the planet through water, rivers and lakes. 

Not too much lore done about them for now. They need to work on it.

There is no Startouch elves society since they are not numerous.

Ghost spell:

Ethari regrets 100% having accepted the ghost spell, but he has no power to reverse it. He can do a quick charm to null it in the moment only.

Rayla’s ghost may be undone, but it needs a collective decision. It’s hard to believe that Ethari would convince the whole village about that.

They never thought if it has been a precedent of this spell being broken before. They think it's a good story to think about. 

Rayla and her parents:

(They are still thinking about this, and there are many versions, and this may change in the future. )

Honor is a key part of Moonshadow culture, so Rayla was sad because their parents were leaving but at the same time it was a huge honour because they were going to be part of an elite force defending the King and the Queen. That's why she was so hurt when she knew her parents had run away, putting aside her sadness and the honour that such duty represented. 

She also found honour in living with Runaan, the leader of the assassins. 

Because Runaan and Ethari were close friends of Rayla's parents, she didn't feel it as a big shock to go to live with them. They had been taking care of her before anyways.

Lian is like the ultimate Bro. A very positive person, who wants his friends to succeed and be happy. 

He is the most friendly elf among the Moonshadows.  And more impulsive. 

Tiadrin is the cold one, the one who does more calculations. 

Rayla as a child

Rayla was feisty.  

In the school she got general education, gardening, weapons, basics to everything and enough to contribute to the community in many ways.

Ecology of Moonshadow forest or history, were not her fave subjects. 

She was good in general subjects but excelled in PE.

She may have friends in her childhood but not many, since she appreciates her lonely time. 

“Fitting in is overrated” for her 

Ethari and Runaan [characters and relationship]

Their wedding involves dancing with a ribbon.

Dating should have a degree of formality since it's the moment where they express their emotions. Exchange of gifts and small favours as mutual hints: Ethari would put extra details in objects to Runaan. Runaan would ask Ethari too many checks on his weapons, more than it's necessary. 

The process is stiff and difficult [especially for Runaan], but once it's surpassed that time, there must be an open discussion about it. 

Runaan struggled a lot more about this.

Runaan is the most moonshadow elf of all moonshadow elves xD. Runaan probably would do the exchange of emotions in the most private way possible.

Runaan doesn’t stop to consider the emotional motivations for anything as his first course of thought. He jumps right to a very strategic and almost militaristic belief in the way people operate. 

Ethari has a playful side, but in episode 3 it is opaque due to the grief. 

Ethari is more clear with his display of emotions and apparently that's something that Rayla learnt from him, so that's why she was so confused about Callum when he did a display of emotions that she thought it was romantic and failed. 

Rayla took her soft heart from Ethari. 

Runaan in the coin.

Runaan certainly has a lot of time to think now. 

He wanted Rayla to succeed deeply, to redeem from the weight of her parent's sin and free her from her shame.

He has a small crisis thinking this is his fault, that he failed. “I did not train her well enough. Ethari was right.” 

He pushed her so much to put her into a position to fix her shame, that he ended up putting her in a position that she could not succeed at all. He regrets this.

He took her to this mission because he wanted her to succeed even if it meant their death, but he wanted to make Rayla to survive. He believed that she being alive was better than everyone dead. 

He feels guilty because he projected on her more what kind of person he wanted her to be, than what she truly is. But also a bit of anger, because he gave her all the opportunities and tools to take them and redeem herself, but she rejected them. However, the guilt will prevail during the introspection. “Maybe it was me who stepped too far.”

Runaan and Ethari relationships with Callum

Ethari will get that Rayla and Callum are a thing without needing too much time. And Ethari would be the one to talk about that with Runaan first, in order to soften his ideas.

Runaan probably will not want to show his emotions about the bad feelings that Callum inspires him but Ethari will sense that Runaan is not taking this well

Callum will live on the edge of “I'm going to die tonight” every time there is a family meeting XD

Ethari and Callum will get along quickly. Callum would do the dad jokes, Ethari would humour him, and Runaan would be completely oblivious to the meanings.

[lily-lilou]

Aaravos and the wings

Okay guys, revisiting old posts on Reddit to aliment one of my theories, the one about Aaravos and the possibility of our dear startouch getting wings!

(@beautifulterriblequeen​ this one is for you, ‘cause you’re the one who gave me the idea of Aaravos getting wings... with the post you made about those deeper purple-kind-of wings :D)

Well I might have found the ultimate proof that you saw correctly and that the creepy caterpilar friend will have them! 

 As I said, I was digging on Reddit and I found this one old post again and... 

Well... look at what I forgot and just re-found: 

it’s a single soundrack that appeared on Frederik Wiedmann’s spotify a few month ago (and when I say a few, I mean it was during summer or something?). It’s not from the first 3 seasons, it’s not a soundtrack I ever heard during the show. (of course, since it was released after s3)

But the main part is: guys? Did you see the title? It’s called “I am Aaravos, Risen with wings!!!”

WINGS!

NOBODY WILL CONVINCE ME OTHERWISE FROM NOW ON!

Edit: it wasn’t during summer! Found the release date: april 2020! (Sorry but not sorry, still up for s4 being really not far away)

[hoothalcyon]

Hi! Thank you for tagging me in this! I'm almost halfway through my fic for Ruthari week, which I explained in some detail here. Here are six sentences from my rough draft.

His hands dealt death, and he did not take any decision to do so without the appropriate gravity. Suddenly, the sound of the door slamming shut became apparent to Ethari, who immediately shot upwards to follow. The last gentle thought that entered his mind was to close it with care, and from then on he turned to pure instinct as he raced through the house, searching for his husband.  “Runaan!?” He yelled, then swiftly regretted his volume. It wouldn’t do any good to chase his husband down like he was his prey. Despite the way he was now trembling, Ethari counted to three in his head. 

tagging @beautifulterriblequeen @blutopaz15 @yurayuramiharin

Six Sentence/Stitch Sunday

Thanks for the tags this (very early) morning @j-nipper-95 @cosmicalart @hushed-chorus and @letraspal! How is it COTTA posting week already? What? Where did this past week go?

Speaking of COTTA: I'm putting together a behind-the-scenes post, which includes all my dead darlings, behind the writing commentary, and other things! Including some crochet... so keep an eye out for that! It'll get posted... sometime after COTTA. I still have ruthari week to contend with next week 😅 Maybe I'll post it on my birthday as a birthday treat. Or maybe not, since I'm planning to go to Lake Michigan and be autistic about rocks and watch musicals with my best friend that day.

One final teaser from Lavender hearts before Wednesday:

I feel like a child being reprimanded for sticking my hand in the homosexual cookie jar.

Baz's morbid humor, showing through once again.

I've also got a mystery crochet pattern in the works! Can you guess who I'm designing 👀

And! I had a stroke of inspiration on my Sad EthariTM fic last night!! It's going to be two parts with a hopeful ending (my soul needs some healing after Lavender hearts). Since I already shared one sentence above, here are five new ones from this fic:

He falls asleep out here sometimes. Arms resting on the stone, head pillowed on his sleeves. When he’s not backed up on orders or house chores that Runaan is no longer around to help him with, he sometimes sits to watch Rayla’s lotus.

To make sure she’s safe.

To reassure himself she’s alive.

I've got some fun (painful) things planned for this fic. My hurt no comfort muscle has been put to good use lately.

I know I don't technically have to stick to six sentences, but it's fun to challenge myself.

Tagging @bazzybelle @youarenevertooold @imagineacoolusername @yeonjunenby @aristocratic-otter @artsyunderstudy @tea-brigade @iamamythologicalcreature @forabeatofadrum @stitchyqueer @hoothalcyon @legend-of-the-fandoms @larkral @wellbelesbian @cutestkilla 💖💖

[beautifulterriblequeen]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The Dragon Prince (Cartoon) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Characters: Runaan (The Dragon Prince) Additional Tags: Angst, Heavy Angst, Loneliness, sad elf hours, Neurodivergent Runaan, Isolation, feelings of worthlessness, redemption but make it angsty, Crying Summary: A neurodivergent young Runaan struggles with feeling out of place during a new moon.

written to "Hallelujah" cover by Pentatonix

Notes: Runaan's feelings in this ficlet are based on mine as an autistic person. Feeling like I exist outside the real world, and therefore don't deserve to be a part of it, really sucks! But when I showed this ficlet to a good friend, she yelled at me with love until I realized that my feelings were based on an illusion. Also I was really depressed for other reasons that day, and that didn't help either. I usually write in past tense, but I wrote this in the present tense because it made me concentrate way harder and pay less attention to that depression. I also added more detail than I usually do--swirlies, if you like--to make myself spend more time thinking about pretty words. Writing while depressed isn't really very fun. I mostly just sat there and sobbed a lot. Super dumb, super uncomfortable. But you know what? The writing helped. And I can look at this and tell how hard I worked to wriggle away from my Sads, by how different it is than my usual writing.

This angsty little ficlet is proof that I won. I was depressed as hell but I did something anyway. It was hard and annoying. But life is not the boss of me. I am. So please remember, as you read this, that Runaan is wrong. He is loved and appreciated, and his friends and family will make sure he knows that. Just like my friend did for me. Runaan is not alone. I am not alone. And you are not alone, either. The title says (derogatory), but see, that's just irony now. The best kind, where things turn out better than you expected. ;)

[basil-leafeon]

Did some designs for the Mo Dao Zu Shi au that I’ve been talking about with @beautifulterriblequeen ! She has some really great ideas. 

(I don’t claim to own this art- I traced the models for Runaan and Ethari to use as paper dolls for the outfits)

[theredhairedmonkey]

Do you think that Callum might kinda become for Rayla what Ethari was for Runaan? Like, use his magic to create special items for Rayla to use in battle?

I don’t think Callum would become a craftsman like Ethari—enchanting objects or smithing magical artifacts seems to be a different skill than casting spells. While Callum might learn some basic craftsmanship, mages don’t seem to be engaged in the same work that we see Ethari doing.

But to your general question—would Callum be like the Ethari to Rayla’s Runaan—I think that, while there are some parallels between Ruthari and Rayllum (I’ve pointed one out here), I don’t think Rayla and Callum’s dynamic is simply a Ruthari 2.0.

In 3x03, through the flashback with Runaan and Ethari, we see that their character traits seem to line up pretty well with Rayla and Callum, respectively. At the time “Ghost” takes place, Rayla is quite a bit like Runaan, while Callum more closely resembles Ethari--he even has a similar scarf to Callum’s!

I think you can draw that parallel here, but if you look at the direction the story goes from here, it’s a bit more complicated.

In fact, I didn’t realize this imagery before writing this, but…there does seem to be something suggested by the mounts that Rayla and Callum each choose to ride.

Rayla’s mount is a Shadowpaw, a creature known for having a “protective and familial nature.” Many have speculated that this was Ethari’s mount.

While Callum’s is the Moonstrider, notoriously stubborn, solitary, and far more difficult to tame. Many have speculated that this was Runaan’s mount.

I think the symbolism here is that, while Rayla learns to become more comfortable in being vulnerable and accept the softer, gentler side within her, Callum learns to handle the wilder and more ferocious side of learning magic and being a mage.

And indeed, Rayla has always had Ethari’s gentleness, especially when comforting Callum and trying to comfort Ezran.

While Callum has always had Runaan’s fierce determination and a kind of steely resolve that says “no, you move.”

Soren: "Woah! Slow down there, step-prince. The king's pretty busy right now, trying not to, you know, die and stuff."

Callum: You’re not stopping me.

These layers underneath each character are what @beautifulterriblequeen has described as “very Moonshadow” type of traits.

But while Rayla and Callum have these layers within them, the former was more comfortable bottling up her emotions while the latter prefers to avoid being in the thick of the action. 

However, S3 pulls both of them out of their comfort zone. Rayla is forced to confront her inner turmoil.

While Callum has to put himself front and center against Viren’s army of darkness.

Leading up to these moments, we have the best parallel between Rayllum and Ruthari. We all know the one—the soft hand gesture on the other’s cheek.

Runaan and Rayla are letting their love know that, while they may not survive, they care deeply about their partner, and hope they will remember them should they not return.

And, at least Ethari is willing to stay behind, watch over the lotus flowers, carrying the torch and hope that his husband returns, but at peace with at least having a memory of Runaan with him.

But Callum…

…utterly rejects that peace. He is not content with settling for just a memory of Rayla. He crushes the pendant, much like Runaan does in 1x01.

In prior seasons, he was more comfortable letting Rayla run off while he remained behind. But not this time. He’s not going to leave her behind, and in the end, Rayla decides she won’t stand alone anymore.

“We should decide together.”

Callum and Rayla develop quite a bit in S3—he grows into Runaan’s fierce resolve while she learns Ethari’s emotional depth.

And this development is on full display during the Battle of the Storm Spire. While Callum fends off waves of Viren’s soldiers, Rayla tries to comfort Zym. She had to overcome her instinct to always jump into the midst of the action, taking on Callum and Ezran’s usual role of remaining behind to watch over the Dragon Prince and keep him safe.

Runaan once told her that her heart wasn’t hard enough to do “whatever it takes,” but moments like these that help show why her soft heart is actually what makes her stronger. Her emotional connection with Zym pushes her to sacrifice herself to protect the dragonling.

And when Rayla was willing to sacrifice her life for Zym, Callum was willing to sacrifice his for her. He’s learned to take initiative, to not second-guess or figure out whether there’s something he can do.

When Rayla had them dive hundreds of feet off the Ambler, Callum was amazed and wondered how she learned to do that. Turns out, Rayla had no idea—she just went ahead and did it, figuring out the how on the way down.

Callum takes that lesson to an absurd level, diving down thousands of feet and figuring out a rare and complex form of magic on the way down. He proves to himself that he doesn’t have to be content with hoping and waiting the love of his life will be fine—he can just go ahead and save her himself.

So, it’s not that Callum and Rayla enter Ethari and Runaan’s shoes respectively, nor that there is some kind of role reversal at play. Callum and Rayla each learned how to incorporate Ethari’s kind nature and Runaan’s assertiveness, without repeating either of their mistakes.

Ruthari is such a beautiful couple, and both Ethari and Runaan have many positive qualities. But neither Moonshadow elf is without his flaws. Runaan’s adamant refusal to see the conflict from his enemies’ eyes became his downfall.

Ethari’s gentle nature tethered him to the Silvergrove, caring deeply about Runaan and Rayla but unable to actively protect either one. 

Rayla and Callum end S3 with a better understanding of themselves. Ralya realizes that she has Ethari’s softer side, while Callum recognizes that he has Runaan’s more daring side. 

When they stand before the Dragon Queen, neither one stands behind the other. They stand side by side.

Because that’s how they’ll face whatever dangers lie before them—together.

[heroesandmasterminds]

Possible Runaan and Harrow parallel

@raayllum and @theredhairedmonkey have some brilliant metas on the parallels between Harrai, Rayllum and Ruthari, as well as those between (among others) Callum and Harrow, and Callum and Runaan. @beautifulterriblequeen has one comparing Harrow, Viren and Runaan. I've linked them all below:

Rayllum and Harrai parallels by @raayllum

Harrai, Viren and his ex-wife, Ruthari and the narrative of strength by @beautifulterriblequeen

Rayllum and Ruthari by @theredhairedmonkey

And somehow my brain started thinking about another possible parallel between Harrow and Runaan shortly after Runaan is freed from the coin, one that puts them directly in contrast with Callum (a character they both have quite a few parallels with).

Harrow expresses uncertainty in regards to how he helped perpetuate the cycle of violence and believed in the narrative of strength in S1 E2:

Harrow: I am responsible for some of those wrongs. I've done terrible things. I thought they were necessary. Now I don't know.

He did a bad thing, and now it's come back to bite him and he isn't sure it was right anymore. However, Callum does a bad thing when he uses Dark magic, he knows it was bad and he doesn't defend his actions, but he also knows it was necessary.

I suspect when Runaan stumbles out of that coin, finds the world so different and sees what Rayla leaving that night and working with humans did, and has to directly engage with the sons of the last man he killed, he will have to change his worldview and struggle internally in the process. I would love to see a scene in which he says something like, 'I thought it was necessary. Now I don't know.' in regards to Harrow's death. I would absolutely love to see that.

He will have done this deed, and he thought it was right at the time and now he isn't sure at all, and his family will help him find his place in this new world they have built.

[its-leethee]

My money's on neither - at least, not primal nor dark magic - human magic. Clever puzzles, sleight of hand, riddles and tricks, Kpp'ar's puzzling trap of a house, or Viren's secret dungeon door... and some other hints too:

"I was visited by a human mage who called herself the Jailer.... She needed my powers to craft the prison itself." 5x05

"I've seen 'human magic.' Fake ropes, false doors, birds and rabbits stuffed into clothing." 5x07

@beautifulterriblequeen posted the hypothesis much more coherently than I just did, lol. I definitely screamed in the tags there too.

so we know the Jailer was a human mage, but we don't know whether she practiced dark magic, primal magic, or both huh?

[ladyandherbooks]

Aaravos, his mirror, censorship and important elven folk part 1

Here you go @beautifulterriblequeen. A bit different than what you may expect but still very interesting (I have another hc specifically about the mirror and I'll talk to yoy about it soon.)

One of the storylines and aspects I'm most interested about is the censorship that surrounds Aaravos. In season 2 we get our first glimpse of the censorship in place when Viren tries to research Aaravos and his history.

When Viren found any information about Aaravos we saw that a spell had been cast on this knowledge causing all information about the arch mage to literally disappear into thin air.

Now up until season 3 I wondered if it was only the human kingdoms that were subject to this censorship. That they had been prevented from learning about the one who gave them dark magic and that Aaravos was used as a cautionary tale, his actions used as a warning to young elves. However, when we get to 3x07 we see that some very serious and widespread censorship also took place in Xadia's east.

We learn that Queen Khessa and Janai's grandmother Queen Aditi had her fate censored so severely and successfully that not even her granddaughters and probably even her own children don't know what happened to her. Hence the surprise on Khessa's face when she hears that a human king knows of her grandmother's fate.

Later on in the episode we see the confrontation that Aaravos and the Sunfire elves have with Aaravos. While they are all understandably shocked to see him appear there is no indication or hint that any of them know who he is, not even from the mage or Khessa. We never get a line like "It's him" or "No, it can't be".

They don't know. Khessa, queen of the Sunfire elves was killed by the most powerful mage in the world, who knew her grandmother personally and yet did not know the identity of her murderer. She should have known, as queen she should have been privy to Aaravos' identity and his past as a precaution, just in case he one day broke free so that she could protect her people from his wrath. But she wasn't and she's not the only elf who should have known but didn't.

In 3x08 we get a flashback where we learn what really happened to Rayla's biological parents. At the beginning of the flashback we see them pleading with their fellow Dragon Guard, asking him to take the egg. They never mention the mirror and given who it contains one would expect them to be equally as worried about it falling into Viren's clutches. They never acknowledge it, look at it or give any indication that they know that it more than your typical mirror, magical or otherwise.

[lily-lilou]

Great thoughts on magic systems! I just got recommenef to visit your blog and it's wonderful :-D what do you think about how the human half of the continent is devoid of magic? Almost as if it has been drained of it's magical sources a la dark magic. Or perhaps the continent not having magic is it's natural state and xadia somehow became magic infused? So many questions.

ooooh hello, nice to meet you, Anon!!!

and thank you, for the ask and the compliment :D

Well, I do have some theories about why the human half of the continent is devoided of magic.

First of all, I think we should notice that it's not entirely devoided of magic. Some places are still filled with it even though they're located in the human part of the continent. But they're hidden, hard to find (the moon nexus, the grotto where Claudia found her glowing fireflies in s1 and probably other places we don't know about yet).

And with that I do have some theories. (under the cut 'cause it's a little long ^^')

1) it's because (like you said) of dark magic

Since dark magic destroys what it uses and leaves nothing behind (if not for corrupted remains, it seems) it could be the overuse, along the years, of magical ressources that slowly drained the land of it's physical/primal magic.

It would fit with the "hidden" part of it, if the places where we still find magic are still like that because no one found them or, if they were found, weren't completely drained of their magic...

I would add to this theory that, if it's in any part close from truth, it could also be a long-game move from Xadia. We know from the creators (don't remember where, but I'm pretty sure it was in one of the earliest AMA on Reddit) that Xadia is more characterized by "timelessness" and "perfection".

And since we also know that Archdragons and some type of elves have extra long lifespan (several thousands years for startouch and archdragons, several centuries for the rest, apparently), time would indeed mean nothing to them.

With that in mind: dividing the continent to let humans use all of their part's magic until there's none left? In almost one millenia (so not much for Xadia) = no more magic = no more dark magic = disappearance of that higly controversial practice. problem solved and it's not Xadia's fault. Because Xadia is perfection and killing innocents along the bad ones it's not perfection (yes, we know Xadia and it's view of innocence is higly controversial too, but that's another story, another theory... and we would need more informations about what truly happened 1000years ago, we only got unreliable narrators, until now...)

It would also fit with one of @beautifulterriblequeen hc, where Moonshadow elves are some kind of police for humans. After all, they're sent after "bad humans" when they do "bad deeds" to correct them, give an example. We also see how Sunfire elves have a lot of intel about humans (Kazi and KSL, etc.) while humans don't know much about Xadia. It's as if Xadia is acting like a (distant, cold and really condescendant) parent with an unruly child. (... we all remember Sol Regem)

In fact, when you see how Xadia is looking down on humans, I'm pretty sure they're totally convinced of their own magnanimity. because "there's nothing worth saving in humans" and yet they let them live.

But I'm digressing and drifting again... sorry...

so! second theory

2) It's about who live in the land.

I think I mentionned that in one of my theories, but here it is:

Magic (in my theory) is one part physical (primal magic) and another part... well, about "love", and "feelings" and everything related to the heart. It's forgiveness, empathy, all of that.

I'm really not sure this is close from truth, but I do like to think that while Xadians have an affinity for primal magic and so infuse the land with their presence, humans have one to the other part of magic. But it's so... invisible that it doesn't look like magic at all. And yet, we have an Ezran with strong empathy who can talk to animals... (however, I'm still up for @kotikala 's theory about Ezran having an afinity with the stars, hehehehe)

Anyway! with that theory, some things seems to fit: the human part of the land is almost devoided of magic because there has been almost no xadians here since the division. But we can see that the kingdoms have come to an alliance. Despite their differences, and all, they're united, they even created a temple for the summit of the pentarchy in Allhaven Hill (the place where we saw all the other kings and queens). Because their magic is just about this, (I guess?)

As for Xadia, it's filled with primal magic, sure, but when it's about the heart, about being together... I mean... In the 1st episode of s1, when we got those... screenshots of the first wars, on the elven part: we never saw tidebounds or earthblood elves. (maybe they''re not fighters, but somehow I highly doubt that...

nobody will convince me that these two can't fight. NOBODY!!!)

Moonshadow elves? Messed up to the last extent, so much that apparently (according to Devon in HBMP ep5), it can be confusing as if you're allowed to show your feelings or not... (and seriously who ghost a 15 years old girl without even giving her a chance? WHO? SHE'S A BABY AND SHE NEEDS HER DADS!!!!!!! ... sorry, sensitive subject...)

Skywings? Loners, it seems. even Ibis, who's supposed to be an ambasador between elves and dragons according to his descritpion on the official site. Aaand... I mean... The dragon queen is dying in s3 and except for him, they're absolutely NO ONE on the storm spire. Nobody seems to care?

hem! Dragonguards? 6 of them just let their king and most of all another baby down just to save their freaking lives.

Startouch? ahahah! Seems, from Callum's spellsbook, that it's extremely rare to see one of them, so they're kind of never here (And I won't even talk about Aaravos... and since we got that wonderful tweet from A.Ehasz I won't not talk about it:

I'm pretty sure Startouch are nothing but walking disasters...

I'm not sure if it's me coming with this or if I saw that in an interview, but I'm pretty sure A.Ehasz said once that Xadians aren't that close to each other (amongs different kind of elves, especially, I mean).

Okay, digressing again. All of this to say what?

That of course, nothing is as white and black as what I wrote above, I'm more talking about tendencies who would be influenced by magic. But Humans infuse... people with their magic, Xadians infuse the land, and they're both supposed to work together because magic is a whole thing.

That's why magic created both. (see that like some kind of yin and yang?)

and finally my 3rd theory. The most stupid but somehow my favorite:

3) it's Aaravos fault.

No reason, just like that.

Because he plans. Because he knows! Because he gives me a "mad scientist" vibe. The "why not" more than the "why" kind of mad scientist(still sure he has a hand in the creation of dark magic).... you know?

did he do it without anyone noticing? Or did he convinced Luna Tenebris, 1000years ago, after the fall of Sol Regem and Elarion, to mess up with magic and remove it from the human part of the land, presenting it as a faster way to erease dark magic but in fact planning something sinister?

I don't know.

In fact I don't know if any of these theories are right, but they're fun. I wonder if you have another, however ^^

Thank you again for asking, have a really nice day, Anon :D

[no-cinnamon-for-synonym]

Oh hhhhhhh I'm so excited to read your smutfic!!! It looks so good, as usual. I, too, have a smutfic WIP, but I haven't touched it since receiving the bad news back in May, and then life just took a nosedive ever since. ☹️ Hopefully I'll manage to get back to it soon (smutfics, I'm noticing, are unlike the rest of my fics--they take a long time to work on and cannot be banged out [pun intended 😏] overnight).

“Kneel,” came the rough command. Runaan’s cheeks burned as he did as he was told. It seems that Ethari had finally gotten fed up with the flirtatious teasing that had been going on for a while. Obediently, Runaan fell to his knees from where they had stopped dancing in the middle of the living room. Ethari considered him for a moment, forcing the assassin’s chin up between his index finger and thumb. “So eager to please. So willing to take orders. To kneel before someone, put in your place.” Runaan’s breathing quickened at the other elf’s sadistic drawl. There was another moment of silence as Ethari looked him up and down. “Bow.”

tagging @yurayuramiharin @hazy-summer-sky @beautifulterriblequeen @my-chemical-platonic-romance @sexually-confused-goblin @uglyduchessrantsandcomments and anyone else who wants to join!

WIP Wednesday

Hi hi! Been a minute since I've shared a WIP!

I recently posted a part two to Grow as we go, a soft hurt/comfort (mostly comfort) fic. Here's a paragraph I especially love:

Runaan paints different types of stars and planets, a galaxy bursting to life along his husband’s arm. Stars shimmer as they dry, planets dance with each twist of Ethari’s wrist. His markings and his own scars set the galaxy alight, comets shooting across his skin. Ethari seamlessly switches his mug to his other hand as Runaan moves to paint his other arm, this time painting a garden of vines. Flowers bloom along them, stems and vines branching out, growing leaves, curling in the crook of Ethari’s elbow.

And I wrote smut for the first time since last year! I wrote a smutfic!! And finished!!! (And so did they 😉) I'm currently working on editing it :D

Runaan comes out of the bathroom wearing nothing but a towel around his waist, drying his hair with another towel. Ethari swallows harshly, eyes traveling down his husband's body. Runaan notices and grins, but only comes to sit on the edge of the bed, grin softening.

“How are you feeling?”

Ethari hums. “Better. But perhaps I could use another distraction...”

Runaan’s grin returns in full force as he moves to straddle him. Runaan tosses aside the towel he was using on his hair, draping his arms around Ethari's neck and nosing at his ear.

“Oh? And what did you have in mind?”

Thanks to everyone who keeps tagging me @artsyunderstudy @stitchyqueer @brendughh @noblecorgi @run-for-chamo-miles

@wellbelesbian @hushed-chorus (excited for your CODW!) @forabeatofadrum @larkral @imagineacoolusername

@you-remind-me-of-the-babe @rimeswithpurple 💖💖

Tagging all y'all back plus @hoothalcyon @bazzybelle @no-cinnamon-for-synonym @valeffelees @tea-brigade <22

[tdpholidayexchange]

I’m Always Warm With You

This is @random-fandom-ramble​‘s gift to @me-see-world​! (with a little help from @beautifulterriblequeen​ who wrote it, @random-fandom-ramble​ did the art!) They said: “The fanfic by @beautifulterriblequeen and the artwork to go along. Merry late Christmas to sydney, and a happy new year! Sincerely, Brittany s.B.” Enjoy! Fic and art under the read more cut.

“Hey, how about this snow, huh?” Callum called. He couldn’t help grinning at the sight of Rayla wading across campus toward the gym, shin-deep in snow, her navy blue beanie heavily dusted with fresh flakes. He waded out himself and intercepted her in the middle of the green. Though “green” really didn’t apply at the moment. “It’s just like you to forge your own way even if it’s harder.” He grinned and waved a hand through the fat, falling flakes, toward the sidewalk he’d just left behind. “Look at that, a completely shoveled, easy path. And so close, too!”

“My way’s faster,” Rayla insisted, though a smile played across her lips. “All these sidewalks go straight around the edges. I need to go across. So I am. End of story.” 

Rayla’s eyes sparkled even more when it snowed. Callum wasn’t sure how they did that. If snow could blush, he knew it would blush the color of Rayla’s eyes. Warm ice. She was a perfect pairing of contradictions, and he’d never tire of trying to understand how all of them fit inside such a sweet, smart, capable woman.

“You’ll catch your death out here. I’ll lose you in a snowbank, and they won’t find you until spring,” he teased. With one hand, he pulled his bright red scarf free and held it out to her. “Here. Ezran’s really gotten into his knitting club at Katolis High, and he made this for me. I want you to wear it, since you’re so insistent on taking the hardest and coldest way possible.”

Rayla hesitated, but then her gloved fingers delicately picked up one end of the scarf. “Ezran’s got a fine stitch.” Her eyes rested on his, warm and cool. “I can tell he loves you.”

Callum’s smile radiated as he heard her voice soften. “Yeah? And how about you? Do you love me? At least enough to admit that you’re cold and that you need this very practical gift?”

“Practical, he says. Callum, we have this whole snow globe to ourselves.” Rayla’s eyes sparked, and a crisp laugh burst into the air, softened by the falling snow around them. She took hold of the scarf by both ends, leaving the middle looped around Callum’s hand, and began to spin him around her.

“Oh boy here we go—” Callum stumbled through the thick snow, trying not to face plant, leaning into the scarf for support. 

Rayla slowed down and started twirling around with him, two dancers at the ends of a scarlet ribbon, marking a soft circle in the fresh snow. “You’re doing fine, Callum. And look! Just because we’re cold doesn’t mean we can’t have fun dancing in a winter wonderland!”

Callum dragged his feet through the snow, trying to make a smooth path for himself on the next rotation. “This from the student who’s top of her class in two martial arts classes and three dance classes!”

“Yes.” Rayla’s voice was teasing but warm. “That makes me an expert.”

“And it makes me a prime candidate for visiting the nurse’s station. If I break something, I hope you’ll at least carry me there while you’re laughing at me…”

A dark form caught Callum’s eye just past Rayla’s shoulder, and his eyes drifted from her. 

Claudia.

Her goth finery made her stand out even more dramatically than usual against the soft white backdrop of the snowy campus. She carried her books in one arm and held a lacy black umbrella overhead to keep the snow off her hair. And she’d paused to stare at Callum as he danced ever so clumsily with Rayla in the middle of the green.

Before the snow had fallen, he’d loved her. Before university. Claudia had been his first crush back in high school. They swore they’d do everything together. But when they reached the university campus, they began to realize that there was so much more they wanted to do, so much more they wanted to be. And none of that matched up anymore.

Especially since Claudia wanted to remain the same, and Callum craved change like it was the air he breathed.

Rayla had been a big change. Callum hadn’t forced Claudia to choose. He’d chosen, for himself. And now the ghost of romance past hovered over the shoulder of romance present, a tiny black specter, an angel on the left, trapped in the dark despite the bright light of day.

Their eyes met. It still hurt a little, leaving Claudia behind. But he’d grown so much from knowing Rayla. He wasn’t scared of who he used to be. And he wasn’t scared of who he’d become, not with Rayla at his side.

Or at the other end of his scarf.

His eyes found Rayla again, and he grinned. 

“Of course I’ll carry you, Callum,” she said. “And I’ll only laugh at you when you’re being funny.” She leaped lightly along their circle of tracks like a snow fairy, laughing and spinning him by the scarf they both held, while snowflakes stuck to her navy blue beanie and clung to her white hair.

Rayla had danced right into his heart like a cool beam of moonlight glimmering on fresh snow. Every move she made was a promise of something new and exciting. He loved her with every misty breath he took.

He reeled her in by his scarf until they stood together in the center of their snow-dancing ring. Then he gently wound the soft red fabric around her neck until she was snug and warm. His hands lingered on Ezran’s red stitching, and their breath puffed mistily around them as they smiled at each other.

“I love you, Rayla.”

Rayla laced her fingers together around Callum’s neck. “I love you too, Callum.”

Callum used the scarf to pull her closer. Their lips met, cold and soft in the falling snow, quickly warmed as the kiss drew out.

“I don’t expect to keep up with you all the time,” he murmured, “but if you’re taking the hard way—across the green or anywhere else—you’d better know that I’ll be right behind you with every step.”

Rayla slipped her fingers through his and squeezed tight, and his hand warmed from her touch. “Then I’d better hold on tight to you,” she said softly. “Because I don’t want you anywhere other than right at my side, no matter what.”

Callum’s chest filled with light and warmth. He smiled down at her, feeling like all the snow in the world was blushing with him. “You know what? That doesn’t sound like the hard way at all.”

[beautifulterriblequeen]

Hello Beautifulterriblequeen !

I read again Seeing the Light, and a question came to me as I was reading the third chapter : did Runaan’s employees draw straws to find out who’s going to interrupt the boss’s appointment ? ^^

Everyone else blurted “Not it!” and Ferg got stuck with Boss Interrupting Duty.

Ferg has known Runaan the longest, so he’s most comfortable approaching him with bad news. But Not It was Andi’s idea, and he lets her have her team tradition because it makes Runaan loom larger in the newer recruits’ eyes. Helping Runaan’s loomingly mysterious reputation is all to Ferg’s advantage, after all, since he works for him. More jobs, more cash, more money in his pocket so he can send his grannies on their worldwide honeymoon tour.

That said, even Ferg had no idea what to expect when he approached Ethari’s driver’s side window to knock and interrupt the passionate kiss important meeting that was happening inside. He really did take one for the team, there.

Thank you for rereading my fic, and thank you for this ask. I’m doing my best to get back on my feet with my writing energy, and this was really nice to see in my inbox.