#bittersquash

[beautifulterriblequeen]

TDP likes to look at the act of changing the reality of a real moment and creating a new reality whose purpose is to be perceived by the masses. It fits very nicely with the framing that individual perspectives are inherently limited, and no one has the full story - but that this does not automatically make anyone "evil." But it's very much its own concept, too.

In these above examples where we get to see both the reality and the art that it inspired, changing even something as simple as the poses or clothing of those involved shifts the focus from the authenticity of the moment itself to a curated narrative that is deliberately chosen for its own purpose. An artificially altered perspective that is intended for many to share.

There's a meta layer to this as well. The Dragon Prince itself is deliberately created, of course. And within the art of the show, it is choosing to hold a mirror up to itself with all this in-universe art, and how it is not a perfect reflection of reality. Fiction is always a carefully crafted universe of its own.

So, why did TDP choose the alterations it did? And why did it deliberately draw our attention to those changes through this repeated altered-art motif?

Art is neutral. Art is a medium. It can be used for good or ill, depending on the intent of those who create and distribute it. Are we to look at every example of art taken from historical events in TDP and question whether it really happened the way they're portraying it?

Yes.

Are we to look at real Earth history itself this way, and all the art it has spawned in the real world?

Absolutely.

Fiction is an imperfect mirror on purpose. That is the entire point of fiction: that it is not reality, but it is close enough to make us think twice.

Or at least once. Bare minimum.

Personally, I'm really curious what the reality was behind this art installation:

Maybe we'll find out someday.

[ask-ethari-anything]

do you also like beige buttersquash, considering how it must be constantly in stock at the treehouse? (wonder why that could be)

The nice thing about beige bittersquash is that it's not bitter anymore if you drench it with honey and cinnamon!

Runaan always looks askance at me when I dump an acorn's worth of spices onto my squash. But he doesn't object to my sweet sweet kisses once we've eaten, so I think I can be forgiven!

[ladyandherbooks]

I'd love to see Soren bonding with Runaan and Ethari in seasons 7 and beyond. I also think that Soren would actually really like and vibe with Moonshadow culture, especially with Moonshadow assassin beliefs.

I can see Soren being interested in Runaan and Rayla's fighting style and him asking Runaan if he can teach him some of these skills and techniques. And I think he'd really benefit from a father/ male mentor figure praising him in a way that Viren never did.

I think he'd also be very interested in some of the assassin teachings around life, death, the balance and weight between the 2. Especially this lesson:

And given how much Soren loves to work out and maintain his fitness I think he'd be as excited for Beige Bittersquash as Runaan is:

And I could see Soren and Ethari getting to know and care for one another. I could see Ethari laughing at Soren's jokes, as well as giving him advice or support when needed. I can also see Ethari making him his own unique weapon, something that I think that Soren would really appreciate. I could also see Soren spending time with Ethari in his forge, learning about his job and about who Ethari is as a person.

[a-very-sparkly-nerd]

Rayllum Month 2024! (4/13)

white flowers and love letters, you say i’m yours forever

July 7th - Flowers

~

Rayla hated mornings. Callum couldn't get enough of them- she was convinced he must be on something, but it wasn't her place to say; hell knew she'd done weirder shit. And conversely, Callum hated late night while Rayla loved them. But at least she had a reason- she was a Moonshadow elf, after all. Moon's at night. The math wasn't difficult.

He slumped onto his bedroll when they made camp that night in a meadow, a clear view of the stars above. And if Rayla had chosen it specifically for that, in memory of their last time and hoping for a repeat, well… at least Callum had the good nature to not say anything if it bothered him. He was probably too exhausted to care.

She pushed his hair back. “Go get some rest, Sleepy Mage.”

He groaned, pushing himself up and rubbing at his eyes. “No, I'm fine. I'll help with dinner, and-”

Rayla rolled her eyes, lifting the bag off Luna and holding it out of Callum's reach. “Your eyebags could carry a gallon of milk. Go to bed- you're exhausted. I've got it.” She smiled, letting her hand fall within his reach. “Really.”

Callum took it, sending a rush of warmth through her perpetually cold body, the smile he gave her worth a billion gold coins. No- more. Priceless. “Thanks, Ray.”

She smiled back, squeezing and lingering. “It's not a problem.”

With Callum passed out instantly, Rayla ate a handful of beige bittersquash as she set out her own bedroll. Once she had it laid out as flat as she could get it on the uneven ground, she plucked Stella from her shoulder, the cuddlemonkey looking at her sleepily.

“Shh, I know, baby,” she soothed when she chittered, scratching her under the chin. “Will you do a very quick job for mama?”

Stella nodded eagerly, big purple eyes focusing.

Grinning, Rayla set her down near Callum with a pat on her head. “I'm going to go use the bathroom. Will you keep an eye on our things and Callum for me?”

The cuddlemonkey saluted her, adorably tapping Callum’s shoulder.

Rayla kissed her forehead. “Thanks, baby. I'll be right back. So fast you won't even notice I'm gone.”

She picked her way off through the woods until finding a dark, secluded enough spot to do her business. Stopping the fuss with the buckles of her pants on her walk back–honestly, she’d had them for over a year now, and the damn things never got any easier to clasp–she stopped short.

Nothing looked familiar. Sure, it was dark, but Rayla had always been good at memorizing environments and had keen night vision even for a Moonshadow elf. Shit, was she lost? Wonderful; that was just the icing on the cake.

Rayla flicked open a single blade, letting it hang at her side. She doubted there was anything nearby, but better safe than sorry.

She slowly spun around, getting her bearings and trying to figure out which way was east, the way she’d come from. Moss grew on the north side of trees, so if she could just find some freaking moss, she’d be set.

She squinted at a faint glow in the darkness, picking up the pace as she made her way over, curiosity getting the better of her. She was already lost; what was another detour?

A cluster of flowers bloomed at the base of a tree, glowing silver and shaped like lilies. A little like lunablooms, Rayla couldn’t help thinking, a shuddering wave of nostalgia washing over her.

Rayla inhaled the flowers’ scent, smiling at the smell of, oddly enough, fresh-baked cookies and Stella–unhygienic as the little monkey was, she thought with a snort–and- Callum. Why on earth did a flower smell like her ex-boyfriend? Why did it smell like home?

Greedily, she leaned back in to smell it again, but lurched back when instead of everything she’d longed for those two years away, it smelled of sulfur. Of evil. Rayla coughed, shaking her head. Where had that come from? Yet when she sniffed them again experimentally, certain she’d gone well and truly crazy, she was proven correct by how it had gone back to smelling like home.

She was clearly crazy, Rayla decided. She’d already been having auditory hallucinations, and with the added stress of her parents in her pocket, the fate of the world on her and Callum’s shoulders, everything that might happen once they reached the Starscraper, what he’d asked her to do… She really deserved more credit for keeping herself out of an insane asylum.

She pulled up a flower, gently gripping it by the stem in her free hand, and continued on her way. No reason to kill all of them. Let a little beauty spread around, right? But, come to think of it, it was odd that none of the little blossoms were anywhere to be seen other than that one patch.

But what did Rayla know? She was no Earthblood elf, no botanist. And she had bigger things to worry about than flowers.

And yet, she couldn’t make herself let go of the blossom in her hand.

By the time Rayla found her way back to camp, tired and agitated from stumbling over tree roots and through thorn bushes, it’d been at least twenty minutes since she’d planned on returning. Stella had fallen asleep curled up with Callum, out like a light.

Rayla smiled softly at the monkey, brushing a kiss against her forehead. She glanced down at the flower in her hand, and before she could think better of it, tucked it behind Callum’s ear. Adorable.

Read more on AO3!

[that-disabled-princess]

Love, war, and bittersquash

Xadia is hit with a heatwave.

Runaan and Ethari being sappy and disabled for 300 words. Heatwaves can go get fucked.

[moon-sky-sun-earth-ocean-stars]

Moonshadow Elves Food

This account is here to help writing fanfics. So besides giving info about random characters I also organize information as well that could help. So here is a list of food Moonshadow elves eat that I could find. If I missed something let me know in the comments and I'll add it.

Moonshadow elves are vegetarians.

Moonberries (they made juice and moscato out of it and other things as well)

Beige bittersquash

Honeyburst rainbow grapes

Ruby potatoes

Crackle bird eggs

Star-seed biscuits

Dew-flower jelly

Mushcup

Bonbon brew

Star plums

Voltberry jam

Razzleberries

Bone biscuits

[earlgreyscentedgarbage]

little sketch for his birthday

hope he gets out and gets to enjoy some beige bittersquash soon

(love that the widest smile we've seen from him is in that panel in BH where he's holding a gourd)

[ask-runaan-anything]

I heard you like beige bittersquash, so I thought you might be interested in trying this human drink, coffee aka hot brown morning potion. What do you think?

I do enjoy beige bittersquash. It's a very reliable food, and I like reliable things.

*sniffs drink carefully* Ah yes. The Potion of Runaan Go Fast. I have to be very careful with this potion or I will run so fast that colors blur and light streaks and I enter the dimension of the Moon.

Ethari gets very cross with me when I do that. I tease him that it's because while I'm there I cannot do the chores he asked of me... so when I get home I do them very fast, and that cheers him back up.

[gullahislandfarmer]

A few things in the field. Bitter melon climbing the string in the tunnel, greens, eggplant and cut okra. @amjones42 #bittermelon #bittersquash #Eggplant #summergreens #okra #sustainableagriculture #seasonalhightunnel #farmliving #farmlife #agriculture #ruralliving #ruralphotography #farmphotography #naturephotography #vegetables #veteranfarmer #womenfarmers #womeninagriculture #gullahfarmer (at Saint Helena Island) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmmfhqUFGgC/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=rppyvyw4mlm4

[mummaworld18]

Does any one really enjoy eating bitter gourd?? Mine is favourite ... Lots of people doesn't like it because of its bitterness.. But Bitter is better... #bittergourd #bittergourds #bittersquash #bittermelon #bitterapple #karela #bitterflavor #herbalmedicine #traditionalmedicine #diabeticfood #diabeticrecipes #immunebooster . . #sugarlevels #glowskin #glowskincare #skincare #naturalremedies #healthcare #bitterguardfry #greenveggies #kakarakaya #greenvegetables . . #breakfast #northindianfood #indianfood #homemade #lockdown4 #mummacooking2020 #bitterisbetter #bittersweet (at Bangalore, India) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAHS9uVgFPR/?igshid=zppbp0ilxi4q

[homemakertw]

Chicken Soup with Shiitake Mushrooms . #chicken #soup #mushroom #mushrooms #instafood #photooftheday #dinner #tasty #food #delish #delicious #eat #foods #bittergourd #bittersquash #鶏と干し椎茸のスープ https://www.instagram.com/p/BvT7BBqBUiJ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=17o3to2xq6gn2

[angelica-so]

the moon is a lesbian reblog if you agree

[ladyandherbooks]

So in my theory that the dragang will end up staying in the Silvergrove I've been wondering about Runaan and Soren potentially bonding in-between seasons 6 and 7.

For example I could easily see Soren wanting to join in a training/sparring session that Runaan and Rayla are having together. I could see him wanting to train with the person who trained Rayla but I could also see Soren perhaps wanting to join out of curiosity or a deep need or desire that he hasn't really acknowledged yet.

Perhaps he's also interested in Moonshadow assassin fighting styles and techniques and wants to incorporate them into his skillset and training regime. And perhaps he also becomes curious about their philosophy and views about life and death and Runaan teaches him about understanding the weight of life and death and understanding that balance.

And maybe during these training sessions Soren gains something that he's always wanted, the acknowledgement and praise of his own skills and talents that he never received from Viren. And, much to his surprise he starts getting this from Runaan, who, despite their vast differences in personalities, sees and acknowledges Soren, his hard work and talent as a warrior. And in doing so Runaan ends up becoming his mentor and someone he can open up to about his own insecurities, doubts and fears. And maybe even about his decision to kill his father back in 3x09, which still haunts him even though he only killed an illusion.

And on a much lighter note, what if Runaan introduces Soren to Beige Bittersquash and Soren ends up loving it just as much as Runaan does due to its nutritional value and how much it could help him to ensure that his body remains in top physical condition.

[gullahislandfarmer]

Bitter melon, bitter gourd, bitter squash are just a few of the names this #vegetable goes by. It is eaten various cultures around the world, the Caribbean, Asia , Africa and it’s shape varies from slim and long to pear shaped. It has medicinal qualities that are beneficial to persons with high #bloodpressure and #diabetes . The leaves can be made into a tea and the flesh of the vegetable can be eaten in a number of ways. I included bitter melon in the curry I prepared yesterday. We are #seedsavers as well as growers. The #seeds of this variety have a red covering that is removed before storing. #bittermelon #bittergourd #bittersquash #medicinalplants #medicinal #food #eathealthy #eathealthyfood #eatyourveggies #plants #plantsofinstagram #seedstarting #seedsaving #foodculture #foodtradition #farmersofcolor #garden #gardenlife #gardenactivist #gardeningtips #seedstarting #food #foody #foodie #foodiesofindia #africanfood #carribeanfood (at Morning Glory Homestead) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDULUlol8pI/?igshid=mx6lrbc4pk29

[mummaworld18]

Trust me, I'm sweet as sugar and bitter as bitter gourd...🥰🥰😜 .. ... ... #bittergourdfry #bittergourdbenefits #bittergourdsalad #bittergourdchips #bittergaurd #bittergaurdfry #karelarecipe #karelachips #karelarings #bittergourdrings #healthbenefits #healthyfood #healthyrecipes #kadwakarela #bitterisbetter #snacksfordiabetics #sugarpatientdiet #diabeticrecipes #diabeticfood #karelagram #bittersquash #bitterapple #bittermelon #balsampear #bitterfruit #maintainbloodsugar #healthysnackideas #homemadesnacksarethebest #crunchychips #chipsathome (at Himachal Pradesh) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQSssM-lcWZ/?utm_medium=tumblr