#bejeweled the rewrite

[nortonluv]

BEJEWELED THE REWRITE

it's out. Feel free to read whenever I still need to do one more proofread but it should be good enough for the time being.

[the-romanticists]

Also interesting to toy with the idea that this takes a more political route instead of trying to keep up with the canon storyline and Jennette and Athy team up not only to find the killers of their mothers after some mess at the debut that reveals this (probably Claude, again) but also to unite the noble houses against Claude because he is a cruel dictator. So, the end game is the noble houses allying together as one to take down one big bad and then when the cornering ceremony comes, instead of Athy taking the throne for herself she has Ijekiel, Jennette and Lucas (alongside probably one more from another house) to share the throne with her

[magnus-the-maqnificent]

So Taylor and Joe confirmed their breakup?????

And people think she's dating someone else already????

Why does this still seem unbelievable??? Especially with some of the songs on midnights.

Also, I really hope she isn't dating the person everyone is saying she is.

It really does seem unbelievable :’)

There still isn’t any proper breakup statement from either of them, but yeah it seems like she’s dating someone else.

Don’t worry. No one likes her current… whatever that is. The only ones who do are clearly lacking in brain cells and I wish them well

[achaotichuman]

hi there, this is my first time asking anything from anyone on here. but, i am a big fan of your work.

i was wondering, when given the time, can you write about how Feyre and Rhysand diss Tamlin at a high lords meeting, but Eris and Lucien are quick to defend him? Lowkey even Nesta gets upset.

i’m a simp for these four. again, when given the time, there’s no rush.

thank you 🥰

Hi!!!! I'm so glad you like my works, thank you for the compliment!

I love this prompt request, I too am a simp for these four. So, without further ado, here you are!

Edit (future me here) I just realized after writing this that you meant for me to rewrite the original High lord's meeting, I am so sorry I thought you meant a future meeting. I can rewrite this later if you would like to see that, but so I don't leave this request for too long, here is what I wrote, I hope you enjoy it!

Another monotone meeting, another set of excruciating hours. Purple eyes flicking to him at every twitch and odd breath. Fingers tapped against the wooden armrests, and his hand slid to her knee. Pale skin gleaming in the light of day, splotchy against her tattooed arms. Blue eyes once stormy pale, were like deep pools, reserves for power and magic since being turned Faery. She looked at her husband, then flicked towards him. They were speaking mind to mind. Tamlin looked towards Thesan speaking. 

It was a lengthy speech that alluded to alliances forming between Dawn, Day, Winter and Summer. A discreet hint for Night, Spring and Autumn to get past differences and keep peace between the Courts. 

Eris, lounging in his golden chair, the peaks of his bejewelled crown glinting in the light, asked to see the contract they had all signed. With a quick glance, he smoothly began asking questions, subtly voicing his interest. 

Tamlin simply watched and listened. Not having been born with the ability to speak words very well aloud, he found another talent he possessed. In silently watching and determining decisions from observations. He listened intently as Thesan and Eris went back and forth for several minutes, before Eris placed the contract on the large glass table they all sat at. 

“You have a deal, Lord Dawn.” Eris wickedly grinned, signing his name to the paper and handing it back to Theasan. 

“Glad to see eye to eye with you, Lord Autumn.” Thesan bowed his head only slightly, before he cast smart eyes between Night and Spring. 

Feyre wrinkled her nose at the contract and Rhysand placed a hand on her shoulder, expression smug and proud. Neither looked as though they would reach for it, so Tamlin made his final decision. 

“May I view the contract, Lord Thesan?” Tamlin asked. 

Thesan nodded as he handed it over. Green eyes flicked to amber ones, Eris nodded once, confirmation that the contract was legitimate. Tamlin trusted Eris more than anyone (perhaps besides Lucien, who watched quietly from beside Helion) and since their recent alliances, he had met with the Autumn Lord more than once for advice on Courtly matters and thus trusted his judgement. Though he read it over himself more than once. The paper were enchanted with bargain magic, and once it was signed by every Ruler, it would be sealed, and they would have to keep up their end. 

In the end, he found no loopholes. The far too long contract was specially worded in every Lord’s favour. Tamlin was impressed. Placing the contract on the glass, he took up a pen and began to write his name into the paper. 

“Deal.” He said, as ink touched the yellowish white. 

A scoff echoed from the otherside of the room and Tamlin felt his hand begin to shake even as he ignored Rhysand. 

Signing his name, Tamlin handed the contract back to Thesan who murmured his thanks. 

Finally all eyes turned to Rhysand and Feyre. Who briefly glanced at each other, before Rhysand said, “We will not be signing, quite frankly I can’t see why any of you would.”

“It is a way to ensure no arguments between territories and smooth workings from now on.” Eris replied easily, eyes disinterested in Rhysand’s antics. Tamlin’s lips flicked up, but only for a moment. 

Tamlin glanced over to Lucien, they hadn’t spoken in forever, and every breath felt like a string being pulled tighter and tighter. As if sensing it, Lucien looked over at him. Gods he was breathtaking, wearing lighter colours. Though he still wore simpler clothes. Pale linen trousers and a white shirt with golden accents all over him. A band of gold around his head. He grinned, jerking his head ever so slightly to Night before rolling his eyes. Tamlin stifled a giggle and turned back to what was happening. 

Elain and Nesta sat beside Feyre. Nesta in her Valkyrie gear, with her sword strapped to her back, she looked at Rhysand, eyes turning from careful blankness to confusion with a slight sneer. 

Rhysand said, “There are no arguments between Courts.” 

He looked over at Tamlin, the Spring Lord’s muscles locked up, but he faced those venomous eyes with no emotion. 

“Well I suppose there is one that stirs up trouble for the rest of us. But for someone who was raised by the woods, what should we expect?”

“I’d close my mouth there Rhysand,” Tamlin replied, “Considering you met your brothers in the mud of Illyria.”

“At least I wasn’t known as a feral beast.” Rhysand said lazily, “I could hold a conversation without being kicked out of a ballroom for childish antics.”

Tamlin clenched his fists. Childish antics, yes snapping back at his abusive brothers was childish in retrospect, but he had been on his last thread at that point of his life. 

“I do believe you met your shadowsinger there by beating him to a pulp.” Tamlin replied with just as much ease, “I’d call that feral, wouldn’t you?”

A twinkle sparkled in Rhysand’s violet gaze, as he purred, “You know I hardly think your agreement to this deal is a good indication of its legitimacy.”

As Tamlin furrowed his brow, Rhysand cocked his head and finished, “You couldn’t even keep Hybern, your ally, from turning on you. You entire people left you. Why should anyone think you capable of making decisions in regards to your Court?”

Tamlin gripped the rests of his chair, “You know, it does become quite difficult when your ex-lover fucks with your people’s heads in order to remake their memories so they turn against you.”

Feyre’s face turned white with fury as she said, “Don’t turn this on us when you couldn’t keep your Court from falling apart.”

“You caused it to fall apart.” Tamlin hissed, “You plotted and lied.”

“People lie in Court all the time, Tamlin.” Rhysand said, “You not being able to catch Feyre when she pointed at how you truly are is not our problem-”

“Shut your viper’s mouth, Rhysand.” A voice hissed. 

Tamlin glanced over at Lucien. Eyes flaming orange, as he glared daggers at the Ruler’s of Night. 

“Lucien-” Rhysand began with a proud tone. 

“Don’t.” Lucien warned, “Don’t start this when we are trying for peace, the only ones arguing and antagonising are you.”

“We are not-” Feyre tried to cut in. 

“Feyre you tore the Spring Court apart when they trusted you as a leader of their lands.” Eris drawled, “You are in no position to make judgements on others here.”

Tamlin nearly gaped at Eris, who briefly glanced at him with… sympathy? Sympathy, in his eyes.

“Hybern’s actions are not ours.” Rhysand argued. 

“No, but your actions are yours. And you opened the floodgates for Hybern to come in. You are an accomplice for the lost lives and destroyed lands.” Lucien countered. 

Rhysand opened his mouth to argue but another smooth voice cut in sharply. 

“They’re right.” Nesta said with flaming eyes. 

All eyes went to her. Rhysand flared up with anger, his hatred burning intensely in the room, “You be quiet.” He hissed. 

“No, you be quiet, Rhysand.” Nesta gritted out, “We came here for peace, there is no reason to torment others because you are desperate for revenge.”

“You-” Morrigan began to harshly reprimand, but Nesta continued. 

“Feyre you killed people when you let Hybern in.” Nesta said, “You have no moral high ground here, you are not justified in what you did.”

“I did no such thing!” Feyre raised her voice, skin burning bright with Day’s drop of power. 

Tamlin looked between the three. Watching as Nesta looked towards Eris and Lucien who glanced at each other briefly. 

What were they plotting?

“I think that’s all quite enough from you two.” Eris said to Feyre and Rhysand, “Every time we have a meeting it’s your Court that is raising your voices and starting arguments. Threatening others until you get everyone under your thumb.”

“Oh please.” Rhysand murmured, “I could wipe your minds and have you under my thumb. I don’t, I only speak the truth to you.”

“That is exactly what we mean, Rhysand.” Lucien replied smoothly, adjusting the rings on his fingers. Sliding out of his seat, on elegant limbs, he stood, looking down his nose at the Lord of Night.

“You threaten and antagonise. You fuck with people’s minds and expect us to fall to your every whim no matter how impulsive.” 

Eris agreed with his brother, saying, “We have no reason to trust you. When at any given moment you could plant false memories in our heads and we’d be none the wiser.”

Stepping slightly towards Tamlin, Lucien said, “You could agree to our new terms and create a Prythian where we are all connected and not at war. But you choose not too, this raises plenty of warnings for the rest of us, not to mention,”

He glanced down at Tamlin, who blinked up at Lucien, dumbfounded. 

They were sticking up for him, he realised distantly, not for the life of him able to understand why. 

“Not to mention,” Lucien breathed, “You are consistently going at the Spring Court, you killed thousands Feyre, was your massacre not enough?”

“Massacre?” She stuttered out, fists clenched around the rests of her chair. Rhysand grabbed her hand and said, “How dare you-”

“No, how dare you!” Eris stood suddenly, eyes blazing with fire that Tamlin hadn’t seen in a long while in him. A memory of the two training when their fathers met yearly flashed through his mind, the fire that had been in Eris back then…

Reawakened, no longer smothered under the heavy gaze of his father. Now with Beron buried beneath six feet of dirt, Eris’ flame was let loose. 

“How dare you sit there, acting as though us trying desperately to restore peace to our lands is laughable when you both are the reason that we nearly lost the war!” Eris’ voice raised as he continued, the room grew hotter and hotter as his eyes turned to liquid gold, swirling with flame. 

Lucien stood back on his heels sneering at the Night Court, as Eris went on, “We could have all died because of your reckless actions for the sake of pity revenge, your constant degrading of us will no longer be tolerated.”

“You think you can speak that way, Autumn?” Rhysand hissed, face slightly flushed with embarrassment and eyes simmering with loathing. 

“In defence of him, no less?” Rhysand added with a smile to Tamlin that was full of all the hatred he held for Spring. 

“In defence of the man who fought for his home at every twist and turn, yes, I will side with him, in nearly every case I will side with him. At least I can trust what he says is true, considering I don’t believe Tamlin has ever told a lie of his own accord, nor would he fuck with my memories to make himself out to be in the right.” Eris snapped back. 

Clenching his fists, eyes darting between all of the High lords, Helion stared back at Rhysand with a hardened gaze. Nothing like the usual laid back demeanour he normally held.  Hatred simmered in his gaze, not a speck of starlight in that hardened gaze, the purple darkening to near black. Feyre’s skin glowed with the power of Day as the clad around her magic faltered. 

“Don’t you dare throw another temper tantrum, High Lady,” Eris hissed as he stepped sideways, slightly towards the former Lady of Autumn, no beside her Day Court lover. The memory of Feyre’s outburst that resulted in her harming the Lady flashed through Tamlin’s mind.

‘You tore my Court apart because I couldn’t control my magic. Now you do the same.’ He thought. 

“How dare you speak to us like that.” She hissed, “After everything our Court has done-”

“Done what, Feyre? Cause problems?” Eris hissed back. 

“How dare you speak to my High lady like that.” Azriel shot to his feet, shadows a storm around him, looking as though he was try and ram Eris again. 

At the same time, Thesan got to his feet and shouted, “That is enough!”

All at once everyone went quiet, the normally mild-tempered male losing his cool was enough to snap everyone’s attention to him. 

“That is enough.” He repeated, quieter, “I think it’s time you leave.”

Rhysand shot a smug look to Eris and Lucien, “I agree, it is time you leave.”

“Rhysand,” Thesan said in warning, “Not them.”

Violet eyes went wide and the room went hot as Feyre also caught on to what Thesan meant. 

“No!” Rhysand shouted, “You will not make us leave when we are not the problem here. We have only pointed out facts, we will not be driven out because you all chose to side with the insinuatar of all quaralls today.”

“Rhysand, get out.” Thesan murmured, with quiet vemon that sent a shiver down Tamlin’s spine. 

“How dare you.” Feyre said, “How dare you allow them to twist the narrative, because they chose to sign your agreement!”

“I will not ask again.” Gaurds appeared at the doors, no doubt summonded when the arguement started by their High lord, “Either leave, or I will have you removed.”

“You cannot remove us.” Morrigan said, “We will not go.”

A snap of thunderous power shot through the room. Thesan’s eyes glowed bright gold, threads of power whipped around him, his hair became like long waves of glowing magic. 

“Get. Out.” He said in a dark voice, half-turned to his true beast form. The strange metallic rendition of his normally calm, soothing voice was enough to make the Inner Circle shoot to their feet. Commanded by the voice of the Lord that ruled this part of the lands.

Everyone but Nesta stood. The Lady of Death along with her Valkryies remained perfectly poised at their chairs. 

“You-” Rhysand pointed his finger, no doubt trying to reach deep within his power to overthrow Thesan’s control of him.

Thesan just nodded to the door, and the Inner Circle, commanded by the power of the Ruler, walked as told.

“We will not forget this, Thesan! You will regret this!” Rhysand spat at him as they all winnowed back to the Hell hole they crawled out from. 

All power ceased, Thesan returned to his normal state. Those dark eyes turning straight to Tamlin, asking, in that familar soothing voice, “Little Lin are you alright?”

Maybe it was the fact Tamlin had just watched his oldest friend and even older enemy be forced out the door in the name of protecting him. Maybe it was the centuries old nickname Thesan had coined for Tamlin when he was a youngling. Maybe a combination, either way Tamlin felt a tear slid from the corner of his eye and fall down his face. He quickly wiped it away and managed a croaked, “Yeah, fine.”

“We’ll put the meeting on hold,” Thesan said anyway, “A short intermission, and then we’ll return.” 

The High lord’s all nodded their agreement, and before Tamlin could stand to run and try to collect himself, the older High lord, now the oldest in the room with Beron gone, appeared quickly before Tamlin, grabbed his wrist and led him out of the meeting room. 

“Thesan-” Tamlin tried to pull back, but as they left the room, they winnowed. Whisked off by the winds and scents of breaking dawn. 

When they reappeared it was deep within the cherry blossom gardens of Dawn. The soft pink petal fell and kissed Tamlin’s face. Soft and powdery, he turned to Thesan, brow furrowed. Confusion lining his face. 

“Are you okay?” Thesan asked once more, in a softer, gentler tone. 

Pressure collected in his chest, feeling like his heart may explode. A band around his head, getting tighter and tighter, as hot tears swelled in his eyes. A breeze like honey, pears and fresh blossoms drifted around him, as he whispered, “No.”

Hours passed and he felt like he might cry for day. It was a strange feeling though, to be held while he lost all composure. Thesan’s touch was warm and comforting, and a gentle carrassing feeling spread over his body, he knew it must be the healing magic native to Dawn.

When he finally managed to collect himself, Thesan took him to a room. Waiting outside while he washed his face and tried to reduce the appearence of his red, puffy eyes. 

Once Tamlin stopped feeling like he was one minor inconvience from sobbing his mind out again. Thesan said they would return to the meeting now, Tamlin folded his hands behind his back and nodded. 

But they didn’t walk towards the meeting room, as they passed through long hallways, filled with tapestrys and painting Tamlin had never seen before, or may have once when he was very little, he asked, “I didn’t think the meeting room was in this direction.”

“We aren’t going back to the meeting room.” Thesan said. Now Tamlin was properly confused, but the High lord just through a knowing smile over his shoulder. Rolling his eyes, Tamlin submitted to allowing the Lord to take him to wherever he was going. 

Soon enough, they were in the East Wing of the palace and stationed before a large oak door. Tamlin was about to ask what this room was, when Thesan opened it. 

“No, you’re wrong, I win you lose.” Eris hissed at his youngest brother. 

“No I win, green cancels out red, you idiot!” Lucien snapped back, grabbing onto the deck of cards Eris was clutching in his hands and tried to rip them out. Eris pulled back and tried to kick him. 

“You’re so fucking annoying!” Eris yelled as Lucien proceeded to try and launch himself at the Autumn lord, before their mother caught the back of his shirt and ripped him back down the floor. 

“Stop it, Lucien he wins.” Andrea scolded. 

“No, but ma-” Lucien attempted to save his bruised ego, but a swift slap to the back of his head silenced him. 

“No, ‘but ma’s’ from you.” Andrea told him. From across the room, Nesta fell into a puddle of hysterical giggles at the sight, as Gwyn and Emerie clutched their own stomachs in laughter. 

“That’s what you get, Lucie.” Cresseida smirked as she took the deck from Eris’ hands, who handed them over easily. 

“Tamlin!” Helion noticed his arrival, “Welcome back!”

Tamlin stared with his mouth agape at the sight of the room, every High lord and their Court all lying across the floor filled with pillows and blankets. An array of card games and puzzles strewn amongst them. 

“What..” 

“We figured since Night is gone, we could all relax a little.” Thesan explained.

“It’s really only them that are so uptight.” Kallias quipped from where he was, head in his wife’s lap whilst she quietly cheated in a game with Tarquin. With his head focused in on his own cards, he did not notice Viviane sneaking a peak and playing accordingly. Gwyn stifled giggles when she saw it. 

Lucien shot to his feet, puling away from the grip of his mother, and grabbed Tamlin’s hand, “C’mon Tam, you’ll be alright.”

“Yeah, you have to be on his team to help him win.” Eris said as he watched Cresseida shuffle the deck. 

“You are a cheater!” Lucien yelled as he pulled Tamlin down amongst the pillows, Thesan closed the door and followed them into the chaotic yelling that overtook their ‘meeting’.

For once in his life, Tamlin was thanking Rhysand for causing problems once more. It led to a far better outcome then he could have ever imagined.  

[ginadope]

artificial light

There is nothing poetic about my guilt All this mystery and gold It is just longing and love You see me clearer I am still dreaming, I can see it Consciously Blinded by the dark artificial light I treasure the art you come from That mirage you long to rewrite

I am stronger than my fear Yet not strong enough I can not bejewel a dear heart

[reviewsdefinitionofsatisfaction]

Taylor has been lying on Joe since You’re Losing Me (Important Thread)

I’ve been confident in this theory since Midnights, but didn’t know how to spread it. Taylor is now blatantly lying about Joe and rewriting history. SHE was the one who didn’t want to get married, and Joe broke up with her over it. She chose fame over marriage, and the evidence is all over her music.

Ever since I heard “Mine” I instinctively knew Taylor was afraid of marriage. It’s the classic child-of-divorce case. “You say we’ll never make my parents’ mistakes.” / “Brace myself for the goodbye ‘cause it’s all I’ve ever known.”

Her fear of marriage continues throughout her discography. Don’t let “Lover” and “Paper Rings” fool you—those were false promises to Joe at the start of their relationship. Listen to “champagne problems,” a song she and Joe co-wrote. What couple writes a song about breaking up because the girl is terrified of marriage 4 years into their relationship? Why, one where that’s happening, of course. “Your Midas touch on the Chevy door,” aka how she always references Joe turning things to gold. And don’t forget “Renegade,” a song where in the music video SHE is the one anxiously staring out the window being told to “open the blinds.” (“Is it really your anxiety that stops you from giving me everything or do you just not want to?”, the lyric referring to Joe asking for marriage) This was a song written by Taylor from Joe’s perspective at the time. “I tapped on your window on your darkest night” (referring to Rep era) / “Starry eyes sparking up my darkest night.” … “And then you squeeze my hand as I’m about to leave.” (Joe’s POV) / “It’s on your face, don’t walk away, I need to say…” Taylor was the one always blowing up on him and then apologizing, as illustrated in Afterglow, The Great War, and most obviously her post-breakup behavior. Joe was NOT the volatile one of the two (also supported by articles released by her team, stating Joe’s personality was “great for Taylor” because “he is very calm”).

Then, just look at Midnights. The Bejeweled music video (which Taylor wrote and directed) is the clearest thing. A video all about choosing pop-stardom over a ring from a prince? While she and her boyfriend are having marriage disagreements? Hmmm. Interesting. Seriously, just go watch the intro to that video and tell me Taylor was the one fighting to get married behind the scenes.

Midnights lyrics: “He wanted a bride, I was making my own name. Chasing that fame.” (a person who WANTS to get married would NOT be writing this song!!!) “All they keep asking me is if I’m gonna be your bride. The only kind of girl they see is a one night or a wife.” “No deal the 1950s shit they want from me. I just wanna stay in that lavender haze” “I have this thing where I get older but just never wiser.” “I have this dream my daughter-in-law kills me for the money. She thinks I left them in the will.” (accompanied by elaborate scene displaying family-related anxieties in music video)

This is someone who is terrified of marriage and being an adult. I believe she launched herself into a fame-hug to avoid confronting her issues with Joe at this late stage in their relationship. After he broke up with her, she realized how deep of a mistake she made during the Eras Tour. Hence, the big lie in “You’re Losing Me” (which was written THEN, in 2023, conveniently dropped during the Matty Healy controversy) and her daring him to “say something” about the lie. (False God lyric: “I can’t talk to you when you’re like this, staring out the window like I’m not your favorite town.” When they fight, he was always the one ignoring her craziness.) And soon after, her peculiar surprise song choices on June 23: “Paper Rings” (“I’d marry you with paper rings”) and “If This Was A Movie” (“If this was a movie, you’d be here by now”).

The initial breakup article by People (Tree Paine’s mouthpiece) even outlines this story. “According to multiple sources, Swift and Alwyn had been ‘talking about marriage as recently as a few months ago.’ But at the end of the day, the couple wasn’t ready for a future together. ‘Taylor didn’t see them working out in the long run,’ says the insider.” This was before she wrote YLM, trying to provoke him, and now she will be driving it further with this new album I’m certain she wrote during 2023, NOT 2 years ago like she and Jack are trying to push. Her having Jack drop YLM’s “2021 date,” and then liking that tweet implying Sweet Nothing was not about Joe (when it was clearly about Joe)… she’s rewriting the narrative. You can’t trust a word she says.

[ceph-the-ghost-writer]

Get To Know Your Moots Writeblr Interview

Tagged by @ink-flavored (here) to do this event created by @davycoquette (question template here)! Thanks to both of you.

To anyone seeing this, consider yourself tagged in addition to @sunset-a-story @touloserlautrec @sarahlizziewrites @k--havok @thatndginger @oliolioxenfreewrites @the-scaredy-crow @words-after-midnight @space-writes @vacantgodling @jezifster @ghostpoetics @lacependragon @xenascribbles @afoolandathief @drawnecromancy @the-ace-of-wrath

[ID: A thin border divider showing a sliver of a golden sky streaked by rain clouds above a dark blue sea.]

ON THE TUMBLR WRITING COMMUNITY

How long have you had your writing Tumblr/Writeblr?

Since, like, 2020? Somewhere thereabouts.

What led you to create it?

Wanting to connect with writers/readers outside of Ao3 (it's just not set up for conversations outside of comment threads). And wanting to raise my characters up like baby Simba at the start of The Lion King for more of the Internet to behold.

What’s your favorite thing about the Writeblr community?

It's about the connection. 🤌 Plenty of writing communities, both on and offline, focus on critique or getting something published. Which can be great, if it's what you're after. But I think having others who genuinely cheer you on and let you ramble is just as important to helping writers through the often messy process of creating.

What’s one thing you’d like your mutuals to know about you?

I can be a bit shy or slow to interact, but once I'm invited in I'll haunt follow your blog or writing even if I'm not constantly saying anything.

Is there anything you’d like to see more of on your dash?

People talking about what they love, in published work and with writeblr stuff. A lot of the time I read or watch something because of the way others talk about it. That includes your own writing!

What tips/advice do you have for someone who made a Writeblr today?

Be patient, manage your expectations, and focus on having some fun. There's no algorithm here and even less clout. Writers can and do build audiences on Tumblr, but it's uniquely suited to allow us to experiment and be weird too.

WIP IT GOOD

Which Works-in-Progress (WIPs) or writing projects are you noodling about, lately?

I'm rewriting Apophenia, a novel about a supernatural researcher enduring the worst assignment of his life. A lot of my other projects are set in the same world.

How long have you been working on them?

Over five years now, I think! I'm slow.

Do you remember what inspired them/what got you started?

The Chocolate Box event on Ao3! The prompt was for a human captured by a vampire, but I wound up creating an entire world and series. Oops.

How much time, in your best estimation, do you spend thinking about them?

If I'm not thinking about these characters it's only because I'm dead.

When someone asks the dreaded, “What do you write about,” question, what do you usually say?

Gay vampire trash.

What do you want to say (if it’s different from what you do say)?

I write about characters who struggle towards community, compassion, and being better people despite a) their flaws, and b) the world burning down around them. I hope that it gives me the courage to continue doing the same.

LET’S ROTATE BLORBOS

Name any characters you created.

I'll direct you to some mood boards/intros even: Isaac Soto Márquez, Renato Faria Dimas, Dorian St-Ange, Kinslayer, Elfy Bosques-Rodriguez, Ankaris the Memory Salesman, Fior the Master Transcriber, Vess the Collector. And here's a comic sans presentation for Apophenia.

Who’s the most unhinged?

Outwardly? Any of my necromancers. They come in a wide variety of styles, from Motley sewing patches of skin onto itself, to Acacius of Antioch who drapes his bejeweled and gilded bones in black veils. Each also has an, um, unique view of (un)life, the body, and ethics. Views which could come across as unhinged.

Who comes the most naturally for you to write?

At this point Isaac Soto, the protagonist of Apophenia. We do share a few similarities, but mostly I've just been writing him for years now.

Do you ever cringe at them?

At my characters or their antics? I wouldn't give them the satisfaction.

How much control do you feel you have over your characters?

They do frequently just spring ideas and actions on me, but I have the ultimate say in what makes it onto the page. Same with having the power/responsibility of changing something I realize isn't working, is insensitive, etc.

Do you enjoy people asking questions about your characters?

Always and forever, yes. 💜 Send me asks, comment in the tags or on Ao3, shriek in reblogs, replies, or a dm. It doesn't matter how--I love whenever someone is curious or interested enough to ask something about my fictional creations.

ON WRITEBLR ENGAGEMENT

What makes you want to follow another Writeblr account?

Sometimes it's based on vibes, sometimes I really like the sound of their stories. I appreciate a sense of whimsy and/or humor especially. And someone who likes spooky as well as fantasy stuff.

What makes you decide against following?

Two things: A) Their intro already has, like, 80+ notes (though the vibe/story will override this), and B) lots of posts hating on things/trends/people. I don't mean venting or sometimes ranting, which is everyone's right. I mean someone's whole brand is ridicule or just immediately seeing the bad in everything. Which is still their right. It's also mine to avoid it, and I think this is mutually beneficial. Thankfully, though, this experience has been very rare for me on writeblr.

Do you interact with non-mutuals often?

I try to. I'll reblog, read, comment, take an open tag, whatever when I have the energy. I mean, how else do writers get readers? It takes people who might not know you personally talking about your work a lot of the time.

Do your mutuals’ characters occupy space in your noodle?

I am absorbing the essence of your blorbos as we speak, making them an eternal part of me.

[clarabowmp3]

So over talking about Joe Alwyn and rewriting history and her love songs about him opposed to you know. Talking about her art, her success, her show and her music. It's just so boring.

right??? Swifties love/loved to say that the media only defines her by the men she’s been with and then turn around and connect everything about her to joe/travis (jobeless kept her in the basement/he lets her bejeweled!)

that’s why I’m simultaneously anticipating and dreading ttpd because this album has some of her most artistically interesting titles (my boy only breaks his favourite toys?? Who’s afraid of little old me???? COME ONNN) but it’s going to take a grand total of 30 seconds for ppl to zero in how any of it can be used as ammunition against an ex. I joined tumblr a few weeks after folklore was dropped and I feel like her emphasis on it NOT being autobiographical encouraged most ppl to look at its artistic value rather than its real-world implications and things were so much more peaceful and enjoyable then

[lcndonboysstuff]

Her copium has been obvious all year. Try to delude herself into thinking this current life is the life she wants and her life with Joe was not letting her bejeweled and a waste of her time and in reality - she was sad. She lost the man she wanted to marry. She gave herself away every time - the probable meltdown she had leaving London in the autumn when she had Tree go after Deux Moi, doing something every time Joe dared show his face, jumping to Matty right away, trying to get Joe’s attention with her words and actions, rewriting the narrative of her songs she wrote about Joe.

I would say I hope she can get some peace and understanding because I can’t imagine it is easy to lose the love of your life - but I hate how her coping has made Joe be the subject of a years worth of harassment, so…

yeah she could have done it literally any other way that didn’t make him the subject of mass hate and him being accused of things he didn’t do

[clarafell]

                        @deathdanse has made a contract.          —         ★

Time magic has always been her specialty ever since she made her wish on that stormy day. She spun and spun with time, refusing to accept the fate that they were dealt. Other souls with time-based magic may have different rules, but her sand found within her shield restricts her from meddling too far into time. She can only go back a month with her shield. She will lose this shield once a new wish gives her something new in the form of a real weapon, but totally new magic. Eventually, the Isolation Field is created to allow her to become the first experimented witch.

She breaks free from the bittersweet dream, waking up in her. She should become one with the Law of Cycles to close the chapter of her long, long fight. But she had other plans when she decided to ruin everything because of her desire. Her poor soul is submerged until it becomes something brand new. The universe is at her fingertips to rewrite. With wild magic coursing through her wicked veins, she remembers overflowing with the burning urge to ruin the Incubator race for their attempt to control everything as if they were god—

Then a dizzying darkness claws at her until she is swallowed up. She awakes not in the hospital nor anywhere in Mitakihara City. No, she founds herself lying on a forest floor. Stars in the sky greet her, but the moon is not there to light her surroundings. She hears the trickling of a quiet stream nearby as only crickets chirp all around her. It doesn't take her long to realize that she is in a forest, but what confused her is how dark the forest is.

Homura slowly rises to her feet, but wobbles back to the ground with an intense nausea. At first, she thinks it might be due to whatever the Incubators have done to her in the Isolation Field. They stabbed her gem over and over until it should've shattered if they removed the thick nails, but they didn't remove their sharp tools. No, they only monitored the gruesome-looking soul. This motion-sickness that she feels isn't connected to their tampering. No, it matched the feeling she got whenever she woke up in the hospital room time after time—

Wait—

That's it. I... I must've traveled back in time. She thinks to herself, staring at the sky past all the trees as realization chills her body. She could never forget the feeling of going back in time, but what disturbed her is the surroundings. She knew her pattern like the back of her hand, but this is something she has never experienced before. Where am I?

Her new surroundings were no help at all, though she has wasted a couple of minutes looking around in growing panic. Nothing seemed to help since she couldn't see any source of civilization anywhere, especially in the dark. She looks up at the sky to study the stars, noting the endless shimmering stars. Light pollution washes away the majestic canvas of stars, did it not? Yet the sky is bejeweled with so many of them. She stares upward, panic making her question all that she knew—

Move. She had to move now. With no map to guide her, Homura searches for the ring form of her soul gem upon her left hand... But she finds nothing at all. More panic grips her until she finally notices an odd, rather warm sensation upon her ear. She touches her ear to reveal that she is wearing an earring on only one ear—

Further examination allows her to discover that her diamond-shaped gemstone is dangling from an odd earring of some sorts, though her ears are not pierced. She traces the pattern with her hand until she realizes that this new development is shaped like a small salamander with strange engravings upon its torso region. Stroking the body so much ends up bringing the object to life, much to her surprise. It falls from her ear, but still gracefully lands on the dirty ground. The moving salamander radiates a soft purple light. It looks up at her with its gemstone eyes, swaying its tail and her diamond gemstone ever so slowly.

I've never seen a moving soul gem look like this before... No, it can't be a soul gem at all. I don't know what to call it, but I guess this still all mine. Homura ponders while staring down at it, relieved that its glow is bright enough to act as a light source. Still fresh from her ascension, all the lost ravenette can do is hope to find another magical girl before her bad luck gets worse. Hearing her heart's desire, the salamander begins to confidently walk off.

❝  H-hey— Wait for me! ❞  Homura calls out to the sentient salamander in a huff, not expecting it to just leave her like that. Luckily for her weary body, the salamander is briskly walking without a care in the world. Like a lost traveler following a will-o'-the-wisp, the Devil begins to follow her the carefree thing. It doesn't look familiar to her except for the signature diamond gemstone hanging off of its long tail, but it feels right to follow it.

Either way, Homura is not prepared. Only having her school uniform to wear in this awful climate is not fun, but it could be worse. It’s a good thing she can rely on the magic she did know to make this journey easier. Her irresistible Dark Orb will lead its unsuspecting owner straight to Corbeau, perhaps some battling soldiers as well. Whether they are soldiers from England or France is anyone's guess.

[nortonluv]

I have an insane amount of drafts that I've never finished... i should prob get back to them but I wanna keep working on Bejeweled because i have a few drafts backed up for it just waiting to get enough to post them weekly. I dont think i have enough yet

[the-romanticists]

Okay, so I don't know what I'd call this rewrite but I guess it's mostly just me putting in my thoughts!

To begin, Jennette still gets introduced at the debutante, except Athy doesn't immediately view Jen as an enemy but actually an ally as Athy talks of her plans to escape and Jen is like, bring me with??? Another thing besides Jen and Athy being partners in crime is that Lucas wouldn't be all powerful because it kind of throws stakes out the window?? So while Lucas can use magic it is not to the complete ability he has in the original where he literally just talks to God. He does indeed travel to the World Tree about the same things but the big takeaway is that he can't solve everything with his magic and needs to rely on Athy's mana and Ijekiel's knowledge to do the things he can do in the manhwa.

Also big thing, though I'm not sure on it, is that Athanasia does find a way to run away after Claude loses his memories and it's to Siodonna. This will introduce more characters as well as the looking threat of war with Obelian since the death (murder) of Diana. Because, no way in hell did Diana die in childbirth when MAGIC IS RIGHT THERE. No way homie. Somebody killed her and I wanna know who. Also good to note that Athanasius is indeed dead like in the novel and the big bad isn't Aeternitas but Claude's actions. I'm debating whether he dies or he lives the rest of his days trying to be a better father.

Anyways, back to Siodonna. It'd be a whole thing where Athanasia comes back because Diana had close ties to the Siodonna queen and was a close friend of her's before her late death. I'd also like to expand on the world building as well in this and the culture of Siodonna as a whole. Now, personally I would switch between Jennette's POV and Athy's as they are basically on opposite sides but still working together because their main goal is to both survive and live a happier life. So, while Jennette is being prepared as the next crown princess by Claude, Athy is being prepared as Siodonnan royalty, and this all comes to a head at a big international relations ball where various countries and nations gather and Siodonna and Obelia not so subtly hint at wanting to kill each other. This has been a mess of ideas because now I am thinking that they are working together for some goal other than finding Diana's killer (maybe Penelope's too?) And escaping, and that why they are on opposing sides and stuff. Ijekiel and Lucas have their own other set of issues such as Ijekiel watching his father being slowly driven insane by Aeternitas and him and Lucas having to work together to stop what is basically Lucas's uncle from going to the family barbeque. Just, a lot of ideas are floating around in my empty head.

[septembersghost]

I feel like I'm going insane because in the taylor sub they're all convinced that Maroon and Bejeweled are about joe, and Question...? and Glitch are about Matty like. HOW? am I wrong for thinking this is stupid?

no. swifties use common sense challenge, i am begging. (same for cardigan btw.) how on earth could songs written and recorded at least a year ago (if not longer) be about a current situation happening within the past couple of months? be so serious. why would taylor put songs like lavender haze/snow on the beach/labyrinth/karma/sweet nothing/mastermind on an album, have them very clearly reference her partner, and also include shady digs at him via one song and a detail of their breakup (that hadn't happened yet lol) in another? (maroon is now the funniest song on earth, it's like it's been about everyone she's ever met. please let's use occam's razor here. maroon is red. she wore the red ring to announce it. this is not hard math.) QUESTION SAMPLES OOTW, she couldn't have been more obvious, what why where HOW is there reason to ascribe it to that man? glitch?! what are they thinking, how are they making these reaches? fans please stop rewriting history challenge. we'll lose our minds together if they keep doing this.

and unfortunately more than ever i think we're going to have to learn to separate songs from subjects.

[ileftherbackhome]

I'm not a fan of you guys writing off glitter gel pen songs off as just fun or silly music she writes for no reason because sure, sometimes she writes fun songs but if you watch like the making of gorgeous for ex you can see even the glitter pen songs are her processing emotions. Like, oh my god, this woman is so autistic it's hilarious honestly. Anyways, I digress. Like, every single one of her glitter gel pen songs are so vulnerable in a way that I would personally classify as more vulnerable than her fountain pen or quill songs.

It takes so much bravery to showcase positive emotions in a world that encourages chaos and trauma as our baseline. There is something so vulnerable in gorgeous, behind the drunk girl crying over how attractive a man is, in the lyrics of putting yourself on the line for a man. Of being sexually forward in a way that discouraged in society, and especially discouraged by society in taylor swift, of putting your sexuality on display in a song that goes out to your millions of wildly sexist fans. Like, there is something so vulnerable in making a song like starlight where you're listening to someone recount the love story of a lifetime so soon after being groomed by 2 disgusting ass predators and feeling like you're never going to love again. Like, even stay x3 is so vulnerable because it's about daydreaming of what a perfect love would like but really it's about romanticizing an unhealthy past love but rewriting its story into something beautiful. Shake it off was written about her unhealthy tendency to ignore her feelings and punish herself for feeling by not eating and dancing to forget how hungry and sad and empty she feels all the time. ME! Is about accepting your bisexuality enough to go public with it to the world for the first time, making yourself into the beautiful rainbow with all of your colors and not giving a shit about what people have to say about it, which is so heartbreaking. Like, taylor specifically grew up being told she had to be closeted and queer stuff was bad and in 2016 she was literally being canceled for being "weird" during a political climate in which transphobia and homophobia was cool again (my out friends were terrified for the community, how do you think taylor felt at that time in regards to her sexuality... just see maathp) and then during lover to come out with ME! as the single was so fucking BRAVE of her. Don't even get me started on bejeweled. You guys know how I feel about bejeweled.

Taylor is her most vulnerable in her glitter gel pen songs precisely because of the way she shrouds her emotions in poppy lyrics and melodies as a smokescreen for the real emotions she was processing at the time. I fucking hate yall for the way you shit on this set of her songs just because you don't fucking get it. It makes me wanna scream whenever yall hate on them because it's so clear you don't bother to question shit + just take the surface level explanations for everything given to you. You don't care enough to dig deeper and analyze the music you listen to, you don't use music to process your emotions and its so evident in your terrible analysis of these songs honestly.

Justice for glitter gel pen taylor.

[splinterend]

"The Hand" (1965) - dir. Jiří Trnka

I write this as the 2024 election continues to unleash itself upon the American populace with both North Carolina and Georgia being called for Trump (it is 10:14p PT, November 4, 2024 as I begin feverishly typing this), my mind keeps wandering to Jiří Trnka’s 1965 film ‘The Hand’ which is a rather apt film about how totalitarianism and nationalism are absolutely crushing on the human soul and creative spirit. 

Trnka’s film mixes puppetry with an omnipresent live-action hand that. (Side note: if this hand imagery served as the inspiration for the main antagonist in the Super Smash Bros game series, I would not be surprised.) 

The main character, a simple Harlequin, seeks only to create flower pots for his plants – an autonomy that the hand violently rejects. The short film then revolves around the antagonistic relationship between harlequin and hand, artist and authoritarian, person and state as the two characters express their respective values and drastic differences in power dynamics. 

“The Hand” is not subtle about the oppressive and fascistic nature of authoritarianism, nor does it shy away from criticizing the dangers of extreme nationalism and sovereignty to the state over the creative freedom and rights of individuals simply trying to live their lives. The short’s symbology of hands, medals, accolades, and cages directly criticizes the very notion of extreme nationalism. 

Yet, in the face of this fascism, the harlequin courageously fights back at the hand, refusing to create what it demands except under the most extreme circumstances (read: coercion, torture, and imprisonment). Even under extreme circumstances, the harlequin finds a way to escape, eventually dying in the comfort of his home. 

When the hand discovers a deceased harlequin, it effectively rewrites the harlequin’s life story: instead of being remembered as a anarchic sculptor and botanist that fought and died against artistic censorship and forced labor, the hand creates a funeral procession that effectively whitewashes the harlequin’s anti-authoritarianism leanings, painting its face free of abuse with make-up and bejeweling its coffin with accolades, flowers, and a procession it deems fit and nationalistically appropriate. 

Gone are any signs of state-level abuse and torture of what it deemed a threat to national security, present now are the pretense of remembering and embracing an artist and plant enthusiast as ‘a good citizen’. 

I muse upon the inherent power dynamic of the hand versus harlequin because it extends not only between the heartbreaking difference between state- versus individual-level power, but also in how there is an inherent power differential and dynamic in how stories and histories are rewritten. In the current political context of America, we bear witness to the constant re-writing of political narratives and speeches by talking heads telling us ‘the real intent’ and ‘real story’ behind what something has been said or done before us. 

The power of narratives headed by political and capitalist leaders never ceases to impress with how many times they are rewritten to assure us that they have our best interests at hand when their legislative and business practices say otherwise. (See: Roe v. Wade, Citizens United, Twitter.) This is all to say that I fear “The Hand”, even as a nearly 60 year film, is still as relevant today. 

I now end this at 10:54 PT where a convicted felon is more than likely to win the White House again. 

No matter who the hand may be, I choose to be the harlequin. 

[stood-onthecliffside]

I resist the rewriting of Midnights of being a calculated and on purpose focus on breaking up knowing full well she had to break up with her boyfriend at the time. To me Midnights actually only has 4 actual break up tracks (Q, Mdinight Rain, Maroon, Bejeweled) on the main album (12) and of the 22 tracks only maybe 7 (YLM, Hits Differnt, High Infidelity, WCS) are actual openly break up thinking about tracks and that's allowing Bejeweled and WCS to be a break up tracks. Compare that to TTPD or Red or 1989.

going to say this again before i am vague-post; this is obviously my interpretation and its NOT a fact. i definitely agree with you nonie! it would be cruel to say that midnights was an album where they wanted to break up?? is midnights a bit heavy? definitely! but also there is somewhat a struggle or desperation to make the relationship work (which is normal obviously and you can see both the difficult and lovely parts of it; hits different + paris, mastermind, sweet nothing- and just like the great war sums it). WCS obviously is more than 'just a break song'- i mean the muse exists but he isnt central to the theme like other songs, this is the same with bejeweled. midnights is just a memory lane down to RED, 1989 etc etc at least to me. a reflection and/or an ode to her past experiences.