#black swan matching icons

[fallofthecelestial]

[ivsjake4evr]

The only person standing in your way is you...

[bambiilooza]

i just wanna say the reference to venus de milo in ur aphrodite design is literally genius omg??? anyways here are some tidbit thingies to help u design the rest of the god games dudes

ARES symbols: spear and helmet, dogs, vultures, venomous snakes, and boars

apparently theres a myth which states the reason he wears his helmet is because he’s ashamed of his feminine face but i cant find it so 🤷

HEPHAESTUS symbols: donkeys, guard dogs, cranes, hammer, anvil, a pair of tongs

he has a deformity in his right leg and usually wears a pileus (some greek hat)

APOLLO symbols: lyre, bows, ravens, crows, roe deer, swans, cicadas, hawks, foxes, mice, snakes, hyacinth or gladiolus flower

other than god of the sun he’s also god of poetry, healing, music, plagues, knowledge, order, prophecy, beauty, agriculture, and archery

also he apparently looks like a “beardless youth”

omg thank you!! both for the compliment and these ideas :D

i'm still working on them but these are my intial ideas.

ares

i haven't really included his animals in his appearance here. but i'm currently thinking of adding a boar insignia to the back of his armor

and yea i've read about his baby face and i love the idea he wears the helmet cuz it doesn't fit his image. it makes him weirdly endearing? he's kind of adorable in that sense.

also it's not fully shown in these sketches but whereas athena's armour would be more elegant and more sleek, ares' would be scratched and stained with blood. his cape isn't shown her but that would be ripped - wheras athena's would be pristine

hephaestus

i'm strugging with the hat but i'm rlly happy with his body. he doesn't have his mouth open here to see it but to ref donkies, he would have buck teeth! ofc i'm designing his hammer too, that's iconic.

and he would have clothes btw but i'm still figuring it out. idk if it's noticable here, but his chest is not symetrical.

i love how he's turning out sm

the orange will be paired with black and his clothes will reference lava in some way. i'm thinking of making his skin really dark but with bright orange markings.

like this lady

apollo

no font yellow rip

so the earings and necklace have the sun shape but lil music note bit on one of the rays. and there is a jewel in the middle of the circle to make it look like an eye to reference prophecies.

the hyacinths in the hair is temporary. i don't love it just by itself. i think it would look better if i kept this hairstyle but have a bun behind the hyacinths.

i think i achieved the beardless youth here. i've seen some good androgynous apollo designs so i wanted to put my own spin on it

also the sun tattoos/markings. artemis has moon ones so they match <3

also here's a very quick concept for his lyre. the ends make swan heads and there's sun symbol too ofc

[admirationandromantics]

Dina Clothing/Wardrobe Headcannons

Thank you for the request!! I tried taking inspiration from the game, but I feel like most people can’t express themselves correctly using clothing cuz duh, they’re in an apocalypse. I did get something out of it though. I may have very different opinions than many when it comes to this since there's so many options. Still hope you like it <3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

First off, she’s definitely the type to rock ALLLLLLL hairstyles. Either if it's in a bun, ponytail, braid, or down. It really depends on what she’s doing though. 

She’s definitely the gold jewellery type, and loves to wear small, minimalistic necklaces. She doesn’t wear clocks, but occasionally a thin gold bracelet. Earrings are varied by the day, but something which isn’t that flashy. At last we have rings, which are also gold and an occasional small stone. I imagine she uses 2-3 rings on her hands. (Sorry to those that looooove the stereotypical ring look, I get it, but bear with me)

I find this one hardest, since there’s so much to choose from. She’s very experimental in this field, wearing blouses, tight t-shirts, baggy sweaters, singlets and more. Sometimes she goes for those Bella Swan-tops (which she rocks), and sometimes a more defined style. She never wears brown (I stand by this), and instead incorporates colours like orange, blacks and blues. Not really the type to wear turtlenecks, but rather square, sweetheart, and off shoulder stuff. 

In the 2010s she’s probably one of those who wore tights with a denim short over, but not now (I’ll spare you that). She can rock skirts, but doesn’t use them often. Wide leggings are usually not a good pick for her either. 

I’m thinking tight jeans, dark blue, dark grey or black to perfectly match her shoes. 

The first thing I thought about when imagining Dina in a so-called “right now”-style was knee high stiletto boots. Black ones that go up to her knee. They don’t have a designer icon thingy on them or some flashy metal-stuff. Just plain ones with a pretty heel. 

For standard wear though, I imagine Doc Martens or Converse (never brown ones). They usually always have to be black also. 

She’s a cloak-person. A dark one specifically, either if it's blue, grey or black. I can also imagine her in a tighter black leather jacket, specifically those with a little fur. 

I get if you have a totally different perception than me since this is only one part of her that I can imagine. I think for example flannel stuff would look great on her as well.

[the-90s-music-colosseum]

Round 2 Group B Match 1

expand for propaganda ↓ (major wall of text warning)

Björk:

"sooo pretty"

"Björk looks like her music sounds. Out of this world and beautiful"

"she's like the chipmunk who visits my window"

"She is mjother. She has the range, the versatility to serve any and every kind of beautiful you could ever want. She went from cute art pop girly to icy electronic queen in the span of a few years. She served cunt while dealing with the fallout of divorce. And then immediately pivoted to ethereality and fairies. An icon. Oh also, all of Vespertine exists. Need I say more?"

"She IS grateful grapefruit. No one is doing it like Björk she's so one of a kind and insane and very beautiful and everyone should vote for her. A vote for Björk is a vote for Icelandics everywhere!!!!!!!"

"Björk's voice had such a beautiful clarity and delicate chastity that has infused some of the loveliest songs to ever be written. She is an angel that came down from the Heavens to bless us all with her talent, her mind and her grace. Vespertine, with the most elegantly crafted songs of Pagan Poetry, Cocoon, It's Not Up To You and every other majestic opus on the album stands as the most mystical, tragic, and sensual exploration of love and the core of us that makes us human, our souls. And my second favourite album only to In Rainbows. And all her other albums are great too. Just Google I Love To Love by Björk which is a cover but still shows you that she was the most talented sweetheart ever, even at 6 years old. She is my fire, the one desire. I quoted Backstreet Boys, that should tell you how dedicated I am to this cause. If that still doesn't persuade you however, I'll have you know that Justine Frischmann burned my house to the ground, frequently urinates on my lawn, abducted my mom, pushed my grandmother down a flight of stairs on her trip to Manchester and chopped my dad's "you know what" off to use as a heirloom for her house. She is a nasty and crazy woman. Vote Björk, our Icelandic queen."

"bjork is sexy in a mind-expanding way. she would [redacted] and then teach u how to build a computer. my partner says she makes music for autistic people to have sex to. also history ot touches ??????? hello????"

"Have you seen the swan dress? She's an icon and she is the moment"

"swan dress. need i say more"

(the dress in question)

Justine Frischmann:

"justine frischmann could walk into any 1990s dyke bar with "butch bait" on her belt buckle and i don't know where i'm going with this because i just got so horny i blacked out"

"she’s so hot she made DAMON ALBARN look like a cringe fail medium ugly boyfriend"

[pcarlescent]

independent, private, highly selective multimuse blog featuring canon divergent & original characters from ANIMATION, FAIRYTALES, GREEK MYTHOS & FANDOMLESS. manifested by ꩇׁׅ݊ꫀׁׅܻᧁׁ, she / her. twenty-nine. est 2024. 21+ minors DNI. dark themes will be present. heavy focus on romance..

heavily affiliated with — wildyovths open starters. character intros.

𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥— @bornofthedawn ( princess aurora )

𝟎𝟏. the gifs i use were not made by me, they were made by various people and/or found in gif hunts. the gif icons are ones I found around made by rphs and so on. if you see your gif used, and don’t approve — please send me a message and i’ll stop using it! unless stated otherwise, the static icons were made by me. i format with small/medium gifs or static icons and small text. you do not have to match this, it is just my preference! psd credits to necromii & static icon border credit to jessource.

𝟎𝟐. please don’t reblog memes, musings or visages posts from me. i do not like it clogging up my notifications, thinking i got a reply. it takes one click to go to the source or whoever I reblogged it from. i will softblock if i must.

𝟎𝟑. i have no interest in ooc drama. i am here to write. this is a hobby and i'm not here to partake in anything other then that.

𝟎𝟒. chances are if you ship it, so do i! please however, do not force a ship on me — but i do love me some romance so please send all the romance my way!! if you see a shippy plot on my wishlist that you're into, by all means, send me a message!! all ships are in separate universes. i am obviously very multiship.

𝟎𝟓. this blog will be a low activity, highly selective muse. please keep in mind that i do work overnights, in the est timezone. i may make replies during the day on my days off, but i may not answer private messages until late into the night.

𝟎𝟔. if you are uncomfortable with any of the faceclaims i use but want to interact with that muse — just shoot me a message requesting a change and i'm happy to oblige! if i don't have a secondary fc, then i have no issues going gif/iconless.

𝟎𝟕. when the muse is strong, i tend to ramble. in no way do you ever need to match my length! however, i rarely do one-liners. i prefer even just short paragraphs.

𝟎𝟖.  i do not condone nor support jkr. any harry potter based muses are of age, as i only will roleplay hogwarts as an alternate university setting.

temporary muse list. ( carrd tba. )

𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻.

diamond bordeaux. new york heiress, socialite. twenty-six years old. ( grace van dien. )

lilly knight. fashion intern. twenty-eight. ( genevieve angelson. )

valentina adams. london socialite. fourty-five. ( kelly reilly. )

clara yorkshire. ballet dancer. twenty-four. ( ashley moore. )

𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘆 / 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗹.

odile la'nuit. the black swan. twenty-eight. ( kaya scodelario. )

venus. siren princess. immortal. ( avantika vandanapu. )

aurelia. mermaid princess. immortal. ( fc tba )

𝗺𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀.

aphrodite. goddess of love. headcanon based. immortal. ( kate winslet. )

hebe. goddess of youth, wife of hercules. headcanon based. immortal. ( ellie bamber. )

persephone. goddess of spring, queen of the underworld. headcanon based. immortal. ( elizabeth olsen. )

athena. goddess of wisdom. headcanon based. immortal. ( brandy norwood. )

𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹.

evangeline del monaco. fallen angel. immortal. ( jessica alexander. )

𝗳𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗺.

scarlett walsh, disney oc, the iron princess. twenty. ( dove cameron ) formerly at ironprinccss, see carrd for character info.

odette journee. the swan princess ( 1994 ). canon divergent. twenty-eight. ( anya taylor-joy. )

thumbelina. don bluth's thumbelina ( 1994). headcanon based. unknown. ( abigail cowen. )

constance hatchaway. disney's the haunted mansion. headcanon based. immortal. ( natalie dormer. )

cassara goldroot, the 100. healer. twenty-nine. ( jodie comer. )

ursula davies, the little mermaid. seawitch. fourty-four. ( pollyanna mcintosh ( fantasy ), kate hudson ( modern ) )

glinda upland, wicked. twenty. ( ariana grande )

𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲.

zelenia rosi. ice witch. twenty-three+ ( dove cameron. )

rose rhiannon. artist. thirty+ ( natalie dormer. )

seraphine viscuso. fallen angel. immortal. ( kat mcnamara. )

ariella dawn. summer fae. immortal. ( morfydd clark. )

[deerwith2heads]

my christmas wishlist! ❤︎

i def wont be able to get most of this stuff but i like to dream!!

⋆ Knee-High Converse: I think they have always been super cute!! my mom doesn't like them tho :( I'm getting them in black!

⋆ Yoga Pants By Moonkissed Collective: I have wanted these forever omg!! For ref they say "All Good on My End" on the ass!!

⋆ Sofia Coppola Archive Book: Jaw droppingly gorgeous from the queen herself.

⋆ Chococat 35 mm Film Camera: my favorite sanrio character and I love cameras!!

⋆ Calico Crritters Lakeside Lodge!: I've been getting into calico critters/sylvanian families lately, and this is the cutest home that I've seen that's currently being sold!! I always love cabinesque little playsets and homes in general, and I think it will be especially fitting because the families I want the most rn are the bears and the skunks. :))

⋆ Lucky Notebook: This is rly expensive for a notebook imo but they seem like really nice quality and all the ones I've seen are adorable!! This is a hardcover notebook with blank pages and the cover is a cute little cat!!

⋆ Djungkelskog: I love him and you probably love him too bc imo everyone loves him. The icon.

⋆ Locket: Matching lockets with my boyfriend!! It's silver and has a moon and stars, to represent us :).

⋆ Chococat Plush Tote Bag: I just think it's cute, and again, chococat is my favorite.

⋆ Boa Concert Tickets: For me and my bf to see Boa in orlando :)))

⋆ Clinique Black Honey: ...

⋆ American Beauty Signed Screenplay: My favorite movie!!

⋆ Black Velvet Heels: These are so cute, I'd be getting them with the spide charm on the side!

⋆ Circus Fantasy by Britney Spears: One of my dream perfumes. According to Fragrantica, main accords in order = sweet, floral, fruity, vanilla, powdery. top notes = raspberry, sugar, apricot blossom. middle notes = orchid, peony, water lily. base notes = sweet notes, vanilla, musk, violet, woody notes.

⋆ Tampons: This is a big pack so it would last me a while and still be relatively inexpensive in terms of gifts. This would also be useful because even though I live at home I buy my own tampons, so I ask for this every year :)

⋆ Moon Hoop Earrings: These are the prettiest earrings I think I have ever seen. Absolutely jaw-droppingly gorgeous.

⋆ Swan Ballet Hair Brush: From Flower Knows, I'm also in dire need of a new hairbrush and this one is gorgeous.

⋆ Hair Dryer and DIffuser: I don't have either and I'm trying to start making my hair look better.

⋆ Morning Affirmations Mug: By Moonkissed collective, pretty and funny. Says: I am never stressed out by anything ever - nobody is mad at me - i have beautiful friends and we take beautiful pictures - i love checking my bank balance - i am a fairy and so everything in my life is a fairytale - i have not missed out on anything fun lately - i don't even know what bpd is - the outfits i imagine as look as good when i try them on - i am uncancellable - life is perfect and nothing haunts me.

⋆ Adios and Ciao Ciao Blind Box: Made by Tokidoki, fetures a grim reaper couple, one with a pink hood and the other with a black hood. My bf loves grim reapers so it would remind me of us <3.

⋆ Candy Cane Kiss Candle: Made by Goosecreek so supposedly a really good candle. Peppermint scents are my favorite for the wintertime and the candle itself is pink and cute so I love it. I've also just gotten into candles more lately and the ones I already own are quickly running out.

⋆ Hanamaruobake Hair Cips: From the offical Sanrio online store, this is a sanrio character now being sold for the second time ever and I need more hair cips anyways. I think it is super super cute but my mom said it has jigsaw vibes </3

⋆ Snowflake Shaped Peppermint Patties: My favorite candy, especially during Christmas. Snowflakes are one of my favorite winter motifs too, so it's just cute to me all around!

[victorluvsalice]

VITD Sims Lookbook: Alice

And finally, with Victor and Smiler done, we finish off with some looks for our lovely Cutter, Alice!

Alice gets straight into the custom content with one of her everyday outfits, wearing the blue swatches of the 1890s Working Girl set by @vintagesimstress! And unlike the last time I showed her in this outfit, this time she has the apron overlay to go with it. XD Looks good on her AND gives her the proper working-class vibes!

For bedtime, Alice gets a pretty nightgown -- and much like Smiler, while they're not era-appropriate, I had to give Alice the cute bunny slippers too. XD What, we know she likes white rabbits! If I remember correctly, that nightgown is a dress that comes with the Cottage Garden Fan Stuff Pack made by @plumbobteasociety -- I thought it looked nice as nightwear for her.

For that semi-formal party everyone's going to, Alice gets a Realm of Magic top and skirt that make her look at least somewhat respectable. While I think the outfit as a whole is a little pale, I really wanted to use that top on her -- I think she looks good in it. And the skirt ended up working with it pretty well (which is good, because it took me ages to find one that actually went with the top. Some of this shit is HARD to match, let me tell you!).

And for a formal occasion -- well, unlike the boy and the non-binary person, Alice doesn't need to rely on CC here. Get Famous provides a beautiful Victorian dress for her to swan around in! (Though I should probably download a few for her anyway, for variety's sake -- or at least a couple of hats that might go well with this outfit. Head looks a little naked here!) She looks ready for a day in Brightstone, doesn't she?

Okay, admittedly I didn't intend this outfit as an athletic outfit, just another everyday one (though I suppose Alice COULD wear it for working out). And this Cats & Dogs dress is probably a little too modern to fit the proper BITD vibes. But I really like it for the simple reason the patchwork skirt looks like something Alice made herself -- finding and saving up scraps of fabric so she could have something else to wear besides her iconic striped blouse and black skirt. And you can't deny, it DOES look good on her!

And finally, for those chilly days, Alice gets in on the cozy vibes with a cherries-and-flowers theme -- the sweater (and I believe the skirt) is from Cottage Living, while the hat is a recolor created by Plumbella (from "illegally downloading clothes for my sims," in this SimFileShare folder (as you might imagine, it's the one called "beret")). She looks pretty comfy -- and those boots were definitely made for stomping around the streets in the snow and rain.

And that's that! Hope you enjoyed this look at what my VITD characters would probably wear in their universe. Next time (after Valicertine's Day), we're back to the Chill Valicer save for store shenanigans and magic shenanigans! See you then!

[when-wax-wings-melt]

Roisin’s Reading Rumble: Round 1 @camelspit @arson-anarchy-death

(note: I used ebooks, not all of them exactly legal, so i don’t have exact page numbers for some of these quotes. You can have the books instead)

Final wordcount: 3k (out of a total 5.5k on the google doc, the rest of them being my outline and notes)

Preview:

As Fitz considers this, he decides that it is unacceptable, and Alvar must be faking. By accepting that Alvar’s violence comes in any part from his environment, he is acknowledging that he might be blamed—and be capable of the same.

FITZ AND ALVAR

Part One: PRE-SOPHIE

Childhood Dynamic

Alvar turned to the group and whispered, “Fitz is a cuddler.” (Neverseen 576)

Fitz and Alvar have around a fifteen year age gap, with Fitz being around 16 during the books while Alvar is in his early 30s. They were never that close, but still act and joke like siblings.

They mention shared interests in sports, experiences such as Alvar’s pet raptor peeing on Fitz’s hand, and constant family dinners that keep them in close contact. The Vackers place strong emphasis on family love and loyalty, and it shows in the way Fitz looks up to his brother. This makes what comes later all the more heartbreaking.

The Importance of Appearances

Same wavy hair, same square jaw—but he had Della’s pale eyes. He was also ridiculously good looking, but he clearly worked hard to look good. (KOTlC)

“The more you look like you belong, the more likely someone will believe you if they spot you.” (Neverseen 588)

The typical Vacker appearance (as in, the five Vackers we are more acquainted with) fits Fitz like a glove. Features such as dark brown hair, pale or tan skin, American-beauty-standard thin, and the iconic teal eyes fit the Vacker narrative, with the caveat that all of it has to be effortless. A Vacker is naturally perfect, uniquely beautiful, and genetically powerful.

Alvar, despite having pale skin and dark hair, doesn’t fit into the Vacker image for two reasons: his cobalt eyes inherited from his mother, and the effort he puts into his appearance. Sophie consistently notes that he pays special effort into working out at the gym to maintain muscle, gelling his hair, and tailoring his clothes to perfection.

Probably, Alvar doesn’t feel like he fits in. He has to work to catch up to what Fitz naturally has. He’s an outsider in his own family, watching someone else take his place as the best without even trying.

Success (Alden)

Alvar wins the Radiant award, the highest achievement one can reach from Foxfire. He has Della place it on the mantle to encourage Biana and Fitz to succeed. Fitz, who has always reached for the best grades and scores, always winning every splotching match, no doubt expected to earn it. Alvar’s pride in himself at receiving the Radiant shows his arrogance and his need for success, as well as his willingness to brag about his achievements to his siblings.

Fitz manifests as the youngest Telepath ever, and certainly one of the most powerful. Alvar, on the other hand, is a fairly average Vanisher—when Biana manifests, Della comments that “Alvar took days until he could vanish completely, and he was a year older than you when he manifested." (Everblaze). Biana’s natural talent at Vanishing reinforces the Vacker talent, which seems to skip over Alvar. As Fitz continues to grow in his talent, Alvar continues to remain average, continuously working to reach what Fitz naturally has.

It seems that Alvar went to live with the ogres for a long time—perhaps to get away from home, but more likely as a diplomatic mission on the behalf of Fintan to get Dimitar on their side. Still, he was involved with the Council and was allowed to know classified information, which he often discusses with Alden along with the Black Swan information. Fitz, though, was close to Alden without being a diplomat, without being involved with the Council. Being such a powerful Telepath meant that he automatically had an “in” with their father that Alvar resented. Despite looking up to Alvar the most, Fitz expected it to be his father he looked to; he places weight in his father's opinion, and Alvar must have too.

Looking for Sophie

Alvar was the first one to look for Sophie, but Fitz soon took over. Alvar’s failure led to two waves of disappointment: one from the Neverseen, and the other from Alden. Imagine his resentment when Fitz did find Sophie! He succeeded, he failed. This remains a trend.

Part Two: SOPHIE - NEVERSEEN

Alvar’s Intro

“Halfway through the feast of epic proportions, a dark-haired guy rushed into the room and sank into an empty chair. He was a Vanisher, blinking in and out of sight with every step.” (KOTLC, 199)

At a dinner to celebrate the end of midterms, Alvar shows up late. Sophie mentions that she didn’t know there was another brother, and he comments sarcastically that his family must talk about him a lot. To be fair, at this point, she barely speaks to Fitz, and this was one of the first times with Biana—but no one has mentioned Alvar. And he seems to expect it.

Fitz and Alvar never speak at this dinner. We don’t see them actually interact on page until Exile, when Alden’s mind breaks.

Kidnapping

Did you know that Alvar went to your planting in the Wanderling Woods? After he’d drugged you and tied you up and staged the cave to make everyone think you’d drowned? Then he stood there with his hand on my shoulder and offered to let me borrow his stupid handkerchief. (Lodestar 66)

Alvar aids in the kidnapping of Sophie and Dex. He goes home in between torture sessions and comforts Fitz, Biana, and his parents. Fitz welcomes the comfort—his typically absent brother is here for once, here to make things better. It doesn’t matter that he’s not grieving like the rest of them because he didn’t know Sophie like that, anyway. 

All the comfort, all the handkerchiefs and hands-on-shoulders and sorries make it all worse, later. When Fitz has to look back and realize that none of what Alvar said was real, and he was actively lying and hurting them. Perhaps if he had been a little smarter, Fitz thinks, he would have discovered the lies before putting Sophie and Dex through all that.

Alden’s Break (not in a vacation kinda way)

“I think that’s enough, little brother,” Alvar said, appearing in the room. (Exile, 717)

When Alden’s mind breaks, Fitz loses it at the world. But he doesn’t lose it at his family: Biana, Della, and Alvar are the only people exempt from his anger. The sides become Fitz against Sophie, and everyone is forced on either one. Notably, Alvar chooses Sophie, and Biana chooses Fitz. 

During the initial break, when they need to know what happens, Alvar tries to prevent Fitz from searching Alden’s mind, and instead urges Sophie to. Alvar, as Fitz’s hero, doesn’t believe in his capabilities over this new girl. Fitz wants to be the strongest, and to save his father—Alvar does not believe in him. The worst part is that he’s right: Fitz’s mind is lost, and Sophie needs to save him. When she realizes Alden’s mind is broken, she steadies herself on Alvar’s arm, not Fitz.

It’s Fitz versus Sophie, but Alvar’s fighting more than she is. Alvar continuously bridges the gap between Sophie and Fitz. Later, he will BE that gap. On the other side is Biana: she chooses Fitz over Sophie, but also Fitz over Alvar. Alvar is the one to tell her Alden’s mind breaks, and Fitz reminds her to hate Sophie. Biana as the tug-of-war rope remains a constant in Fitz and Alvar’s relationship (more on this later).

When Fitz eventually apologizes to Sophie, he is confused as to why she isn’t mad at him. Throughout the upcoming books, he doesn’t believe her when she says he’s forgiven. He knows how to hold grudges, and he doesn’t understand why someone wouldn’t hold them.

It remains worth mentioning that Fitz only forgives Sophie when what he blamed her for will be fixed. He apologizes before Alden is healed, but most likely if she’d failed he would have held a grudge, if a small one. Additionally, if the possibility of Alden’s healing had never been brought up, quite possibly he would not have snapped out of it until it was too late to salvage their relationship. Alvar’s betrayal is something that can never be fixed— even when Alvar loses his memory, getting a “redo” isn’t possible when Fitz can never forgive him, because time cannot be turned back.

Fitz’s Hero

Person you look up to? she asked him. / Alvar’s face popped up in his mind. (Neverseen, 154)

Fitz says that he would have thought the person he looked up to the most would be his father. But that wasn’t the case. It’s a little ironic: Fitz thinks Alvar is just the coolest thing since sliced bread, and meanwhile Alvar is in fact actively working towards his downfall.

Alvar’s Betrayal

“You really wouldn’t understand,” Alvar snapped. “You’re the Golden Son. I had to find people who appreciate my talents.” (Neverseen 620)

What more is there to say? Alvar is forced by Fintan into the reveal that he’s been working for the Neverseen this whole time. Brant’s comment that he overestimated Alvar’s abilities since he allowed Sophie to get away as The Boy Who Disappeared is answered with defensiveness by Alvar. Even when all is out in the open, he still has things to prove. “You want to compare mistakes?” Alvar asks, and Fitz and Biana back away.

This is the moment of the breaking. Fitz’s trust fractures, to be shattered fully later (see: Fitz vs Keefe vs Alvar). He is damaged beyond repair. Betrayal becomes second nature. His loyalty is proven misplaced: the man he looked up to most, the brother who teased him, the family he’d leaned on and asked for favors and trusted with his tears and heart, hated him the whole time.

Alvar’s motivation was based around Fitz. The Golden Son.

This is the Snap.

Part Three: LODESTAR-STELLARLUNE

Reconceptualizing:

“No,” Della whispered. “He wouldn’t…” / “Oh, he would.” Fitz’s voice was black ice.” (Neverseen)

Alvar’s mind was not broken by the violence he committed. Unlike Brant, Fintan, Umber, or even Gisela, he was perfectly capable of maintaining a life full of who he’d been before joining. Confirmation that he was aware and possibly present for the kidnappings, aided in the attempted genocide of the gnomes, burned human cities, and committed many other atrocities just raises questions about how guilt affects elves in the first place.

Or, one could draw the conclusion that he just didn’t care.

Fitz now knows that all of Alvar’s absences, comforting shoulder pats, and jokes were made while fighting against the Black Swan, and specifically Sophie. He also knows that his, Biana, and Della’s joining of the Black Swan would not have made any difference. Alvar was perfectly prepared to continue being a double agent against his family, even when it could catch them in the crossfire.

Alvar’s Amnesia

Fitz leaned closer, getting right in his face. “If you were actually sorry, you’d volunteer to spend the rest of your life in that horrible cell. Same goes for if you really wanted to make sure you never hurt anyone again. But you don’t care. All you care about is yourself. And that’s how I know that even if you don’t recover your memories, someday you’ll go back to being that same creepy murderer.” (Flashback)

As Alvar is remade into a version of himself that never was weighted with expectations or resentments, he brings in the ancient debate of nature vs nurture.

The natural, reborn version of Alvar is kind, polite, respectful, and entirely not evil. He possesses no ulterior motive, no instinct to cruelty, and no interest in violence. He is, in essence, proof that his environment is the reason he turned out the way he did.

Whether it was the influence of his parent’s expectations, Fitz’s overachievement, Alvar’s isolation, the discovery of the troll hive (or whatever else could be the “Vacker Legacy”) or the Neverseen’s persuasive abilities, Alvar was not “fated” to be a part of the villains.

As Fitz considers this, he decides that it is unacceptable, and Alvar must be faking. By accepting that Alvar’s violence comes in any part from his environment, he is acknowledging that he might be blamed—and be capable of the same.

Fitz’s Violence

“Nothing!” Alvar promised, and the red streaming from his nose glinted in the moonlight as he lifted his head and his wild eyes met Sophie’s. “Please—I don’t know what you’re talking about!” / Fitz punched him again, hitting Alvar in the mouth with a horrible crunch. (Flashback)

Speaking of being capable of the same—Fitz absolutely is. He could have—would have—killed Alvar. 

Alvar’s missing memory doesn’t change Fitz’s anger towards his brother—in fact, it serves to intensify some of that fury with the knowledge that even after everything Alvar has done, he will still be trusted and loved over Fitz. Their tug of war, their endless push to be the best and most perfect Vacker breaks everything between them—and it breaks them. In his terror that Alvar has infected him, Fitz loses himself in punishing his brother.

He layers all that has happened to ruin his life (since he can’t exactly blame Sophie) onto his brother’s shoulders and attacks that. Guilt doesn’t factor into it—it plays into the idea that Fitz and Alvar are different from all the others, since guilt doesn’t affect them. Alden’s mind broke from something that was his fault but long-passed, while Fitz and Alvar can physically hurt and bleed each other with no mental effects (that we see—personally, exploring the possibility of either of their broken minds that just doesn’t show externally is fascinating).

If Alvar’s betrayal was the fracture, and Keefe’s betrayal was the break, then this is a demolition. Fitz will destroy himself to destroy Alvar—he slices his knuckles and doesn’t notice in the violence. Their blood blends together, and it’s the same.

Alvar’s “Death”

Fitz swallowed hard, blinking several times before he turned to Sophie, his eyes absolutely unreadable. “Is it wrong that I’m not sorry?” (Flashback)

He stops pushing buttons. He’s not sorry about it. His mind doesn’t break. He doesn’t lose sleep. 

“Life is a series of hard choices.” is what Sophie tells him. It’s the only way she knows how to comfort him, but the truth is, it was never a hard choice. He always knew that it would end that way, because an end by any other hand was unacceptable. He would believe it was done right if he hadn’t been the one to do it. That’s the point: that it’s the two of them who can’t live with each other. They crowd out each other’s space, steal each other’s air.

Part Four: EXTRA

What makes Biana Different?

“You want to talk about my family?” he snapped, his features angling into hard lines. “And I don’t mean the brother who would’ve been happy to murder me about ten minutes ago—though that was eye-opening. And I don’t mean the sister who would’ve stood by and let him do it while shedding a few pretty tears, either. I don’t even mean the parents who’ve only been so supportive recently because they know they all but phased me out of their lives the moment they chose to have more children. (Flashback)

So, the question: why does Alvar hate Fitz, but his “eyes soften” when looking at Biana?

When Alvar betrays them, Biana is much more sympathetic than Fitz—but that’s a low bar. She does not actively hurt him, and believes his lost memory. Biana reacts to Alvar’s loss with just as much betrayal as Fitz, commenting that she had seen Alvar sneaking away in the past and never thought to wonder where he was going. She keeps herself from missing him by reminding herself how often she’s caught her parents crying in the weeks since he’s left. She seems more open to a fresh start (seen as an utter betrayal by Fitz, of course). But at the same time… she would have watched Fitz kill Alvar with that knife. 

Really, no one talks about how Biana also stopped pushing buttons.

In fact, most likely Biana and Alvar were not as close as Fitz and Alvar. Alvar left for the Elite Levels only a few years (two or three) after Biana was born, and Fitz mentioned that he’s lucky to see him twice a year. Biana manifested as a Vanisher (common ground) only recently.

During the first betrayal, Alvar looks at Biana, and that is when he brings up the Vacker Legacy. Clearly, she is an acceptable part of it. Clearly, Fitz is not. For some reason, even though Biana manifested before them both AND manifested as a Vanisher, is very powerful and also friends with Sophie, she is not the threat. SHE did not take anything. SHE is not a copy of him.

Alvar's grudge only extends to Biana after she chooses Fitz. But Fitz was plenty mad at her for choosing Alvar in his mind; they present a spectrum that is "with them" or "against them" and they can't find a grey area. If Sophie accidentally lets Alvar go—she's chosen her side. If Biana is sympathetic—she's lost too.

Remember Biana as a rope in tug of war. In Nightfall, they find Biana in a pool of her own blood, cut up by shards of mirrors. She is invisible in them, and they scar her with what can never disappear. Soon after, they find Alvar, also scarred by who he has become. Fitz, now, is an outlier from his siblings: his physical scars are more internal, with his heart controlling the pain in his leg.

Fitz vs Keefe vs Alvar

Are you angry? she asked. I know you are at Alvar—and I’m with you on that. But are you sure that’s what you’re feeling toward Keefe? (...) That was Alvar. You can’t keep lumping him together with Keefe. Your brother is… I don’t even know. I don’t understand why he would turn his back on his family, or do such unimaginably awful things. (Lodestar 64)

Let’s talk about how Fitz’s emotions aren’t allowed to be complex about Alvar. He betrayed them and that’s that. But Keefe did too. Why can’t he be angry at both? Why can’t he love and miss both, too?

Alvar was Keefe’s hero. He was rebellious, wild, but also loved. He had a family and then threw it all away, and this is something Keefe could never understand. But despite not understanding it, he still copies him and joins the Neverseen. Alvar says that he always liked Keefe more than his actual little brother, and Keefe consistently reminds himself that Alvar likes him, would never hurt him, actively roots for him.

But Fitz knew both of them in other ways. He knows the loving and the breaking. He forgave Keefe. He said he forgave Keefe. But really, he would never be able to—because he has pushed the two of them together in his head until Keefe is a reminder of Alvar all the time. As long as he is a reminder, Fitz can never forgive him, and they can never go back—Fitz is the bridge between the two of them, but Keefe is also a bridge. He is a fractured one, one that Fitz resists crossing as best he can.

Part Five: CONCLUSION

Basically: they hate each other because they ARE each other. Constant expectation and pressure from childhood have molded them into who they are today. Mirror symbolism works so perfectly for a reason.

They treat those around them like they're in a war and need to choose sides or be marked as deserters. Sophie, Biana, Keefe, Alden, Della, and all their other friends are forced into this war unwillingly. They don't even know what they're fighting.

Fitz and Alvar, truly, don't know what they're fighting anymore. They just keep on punching.

[twirlingballerinas0]

The Timeless Elegance of Ballet Tutus

A ballet tutu is much more than a costume—it’s an enduring symbol of grace, artistry, and the magic of dance. For dancers, it marks a milestone of dedication. For audiences, it’s a visual masterpiece that adds depth to every performance. Let’s journey into the fascinating world of ballet tutus, exploring their history, craftsmanship, styles, and significance in storytelling.

A Glimpse into Ballet Tutu History

The origins of the ballet tutu date back to the 19th century when ballet itself began evolving into a more technical art form. Early costumes were long and restrictive, designed more for aesthetics than functionality. However, as choreography became more intricate, dancers needed attire that allowed freedom of movement.

Marie Taglioni’s debut in the romantic tutu in 1832 revolutionized ballet costumes. This knee-length, flowing skirt gave dancers greater mobility while showcasing their legwork. Over time, the classical tutu emerged—short, structured, and designed to highlight the dancer’s precise movements. Both styles remain iconic in ballet today.

The Art Behind Ballet Tutu Design

Crafting a ballet tutu is an intricate process requiring skill, patience, and artistry. Each tutu is handmade, tailored to fit the dancer perfectly while maintaining the aesthetic of the performance.

The process starts with layering tulle, silk, and netting to create the tutu’s volume and shape. Once the base is complete, designers add embellishments like sequins, beads, or lace to match the character and theme of the ballet. These details are meticulously applied to ensure that the tutu sparkles under stage lights, captivating the audience’s attention.

The Many Styles of Ballet Tutus

Not all ballet tutus are created equal. They come in different styles, each tailored to specific performances and characters.

The romantic tutu is long and flowing, with layers that cascade below the knees, creating a dreamy, ethereal effect. It’s commonly seen in ballets like Giselle and La Sylphide. The classical tutu, on the other hand, is shorter and more structured, designed to highlight the dancer’s precise movements. Iconic performances like Swan Lake and The Nutcracker often feature this style.

Modern ballet sometimes blends these styles, giving choreographers room to experiment while maintaining a nod to tradition.

The Ballet Tutu as a Storytelling Medium

Every detail of a ballet tutu plays a role in telling the story of the performance. Designers carefully select colors, materials, and styles to reflect the character’s emotions, status, or personality.

For instance, in Swan Lake, the white tutu worn by Odette symbolizes purity and grace, while Odile’s black tutu conveys mystery and seduction. These visual cues help the audience connect with the characters and the narrative, adding another layer of artistry to the performance.

Why Ballet Tutus Continue to Enchant

The ballet tutu is a timeless symbol of the beauty and elegance of dance. For dancers, it represents a journey of discipline, artistry, and achievement. For audiences, it’s a visual embodiment of the magic of ballet—a blend of tradition, craftsmanship, and storytelling.

Whether it’s the soft flow of a romantic tutu or the striking lines of a classical one, ballet tutus hold a special place in the hearts of everyone who experiences their charm.

Conclusion

The ballet tutu is a masterpiece that transcends time, combining history, artistry, and functionality. Its presence on stage elevates performances, turning every movement into a visual symphony of grace and elegance.

[starfriday]

Gifting ideas for International Men’s Day

As we gear up to celebrate International Men’s Day on 19th November, 2024, let’s celebrate the men who have always cheered us up, been our support system and pushed us to give our best. While they may not be very expressive, let’s express our thanks to them with these thoughtful gifts and celebrate their essence in our life:

Oolong Blanche Tea Beer

Oolong Blanche celebrates the cross-cultural brewing. Here East meets West in a seamless blend of Taiwanese tea traditions and Belgian beer expertise. This tea beer starts with a classic wheat beer base, crafted with coriander for a hint of spice. At the end of the brewing process, Xiangzhuang Red Oolong tea leaves are delicately added to preserve their natural aromas and flavors. The result is a beer that’s subtly floral, mildly spiced, and refreshingly smooth. And this would be an ideal gift for your man if he loves tea as well beer.

GianChand Gift Box

From the house of DeVANS, this gift box is for whisky lovers. The thoughtfully crafted gift

box is steeped in the cultural heritage of Jammu. It showcases the traditional Basohli Art

from this region and is available in two variants. The beautiful boxes show Mubarak Mandi

and Reasi, iconic places from Jammu that are loved by all those who belong to this city or

have ever visited Jammu. The box consists of GC Whisky, the one that was termed as the

finest single malt from India by whisky critic Jim Murray. Matured in specially made copper

pots with long swan neck, the combination of soft barley with spices and exotic fruit notes

lends a unique spin to the whisky. It has a surprise inside, that will match with the taste the

whisky offers.

Gabit Smart Ring

It is the ultimate gift you can give your man or brother this International Men’s Day and show him that you care for his health. This health and fitness tracker Smart Ring form the house of Gabit, that promotes good habits will become their ultimate health partner for life. It tracks sleep, fitness, stress, key health vitals like rest heart rate, heart rate variability, SpO2, VO2 max, calories in vs calories out and assesses 15 workout modes. The complete health tracker smart ring will become a constant companion. To weed out sizing issues of the ring, a Gabit Smart Ring Sizing Kit available on Amazon is the best bet as you can try out the 8 sample rings on your index finger. This way the smart ring will fit perfectly.

Beardo Chrome Beast Grooming Kit Black

Give the Beardo Chrome Beast Grooming Kit-Black to the guy in your life as a grooming present. This package includes a male body and beard trimmer with six attachments for shaving your body and beard, as well as 40 variable length settings. Additionally, this Beardo grooming kit's titanium-coated blades guarantee a smooth and nick-free experience, and its strong lithium-ion battery lasts for 90 minutes on a single charge. The trimmer has 40 length options, six body and beard grooming accessories, and a handy docking station for storage. You can groom in both rainy and dry situations thanks to the water-resistant trimmer. Gift it to your man and watch his grooming game elevate!

Versace Eros Deodorant

Versace Eros is for the powerful, passionate, and confident man. Its turquoise tint is a bold and masculine reminder of the predominant colour of Eros. A clear reference to the Mediterranean Sea and its way of life, as well as Greek-Roman art and culture re-examined in a modern context. The lovely medusa at the bottle's centre represents Eros' power. The Greek fret produces strong visual emotion, especially on the back. It was made in Italy. You'll never be disappointed with this present.

[ataraxiaspainting]

ily <3

i love you too anon!! 😳🩷

i feel like oversharing on this lovely october evening, so i'm gonna overshare a little. as a treat.

thinking about doing my nails to match the birthstone of each month! this month is pink i think and i love pink...... maybe though. it's not set in stone, but i think it would be cute.

i got myself some more black and white dresses. i'm a little shy when it comes to short skirts, but i'm trying to get the hang of it. c:

i've been revisiting soup recipes since it is now comfortfoodseason™. pumpkin soup, tomato soup, and potato leek soup have been my favorites to make for me and my fam!!

reading the gintama manga and slowly getting into it... my sisters are trying to get me more into one piece too but damn.... i feel like i'm gonna turn fifty by the time it ends....

rewatched the swan lake ballet and the jekyll and hyde musical. they're both still iconic in their own ways and admittedly..... the toxic men and women are getting hotter...... my guilty pleasures.

i caved and got some phantom troupe merch (mostly funko pops) and they're staring down at me from my bookshelf as i'm typing.... sigh.

[shadows-starlight]

Shadows and Starlight

Book 53: A Trip to the Ballet

-

The date?

March 4, 1877.

The destination?

The Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia.

The occasion?

The very first performance of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's very first ballet, Swan Lake.

People from all walks of life flocked to the theater to witness Tchaikovsky's classical music debut. Two of which are our very own Malakar and baby Aurora.

See, through the time-traveling adventures he had taken through the years, Malakar had become friends with the soon-to-be classical music icon, and tonight, he, along with the baby, came to support his old friend.

This was also the first time Aurora would get to see a ballet in person. She has heard some of the stories that would eventually become ballets before, but, tonight, she would get to experience people reenacting the story of Swan Lake through music and dance.

The two were dressed in their fanciest clothes.

Malakar was dressed in a finely tailored tailcoat of midnight blue and milky white while Aurora was dressed in a deep emerald green satin dress with lace trimmings and a matching bonnet that made her auburn hair peak out from beneath it.

Her dark olive green eyes sparkled with curiosity as she took sight of her new surroundings and all of the people dressed in their fancy attire, including her father. He looked very elegant and extremely handsome, especially with his long, silky black hair tied up with a silver ribbon.

"Oh, my darling Aurora," said Malakar, smiling at the baby, "Are you in for a treat tonight? We are about to witness one of our bedtime stories come to life in a way you could never imagine."

Aurora cooed softly and snuggled against her father's chest, her small hands gripping the edge of his coat.

They made their way up the staircase and into the warmth of the theater where Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky himself was standing in the grand hall, a smile on his face.

"Malakar, you old rascal!" Tchaikovsky greeted, extending his hand. "It's been too long!"

"Pyotr," replied Malakar, shaking his hand, "it's so wonderful to see you again."

"Indeed," said Tchaikovsky. His eyes fell upon the baby resting on the crook of Malakar's other arm. "And who is this lovely young lady you have here?"

Malakar smiled at Aurora, lifting her so Tchaikovsky could get a better view of her. She blinked at the composer with wide, curious eyes, her expression serious at first before letting out a soft giggle, her tiny hand reaching out to touch the composer's finger.

"This," said Malakar, "is Aurora. My daughter."

"Well, hello there little Aurora," greeted Tchaikovsky, his face lighting up at the sound of her giggling. "My, you certainly have a beautiful pair of eyes."

Aurora gurgled happily at Tchaikovsky's compliment.

As the audience began to settle into their seats, Tchaikovsky led the pair to the stairs that led to the private boxes. "Come, your seats are up here."

Malakar followed Tchaikovsky, holding Aurora close to him as they ascended the stairs that led to their box. It was a luxurious space with gold walls and plush velvet seats, offering a high view of the stage.

Tchaikovsky opened the door to their box, stepping aside with a graceful move. "I hope you both enjoy the show. I have reserved the finest seats in the house."

Aurora looked around, wide-eyed, at the plush golden and crimson interior of the box, her fingers gripping the fabric of Malakar’s suit. She gazed down at the stage, where the orchestra was beginning to tune their instruments.

"Thank you, Pyotr," Malakar said, taking his seat and settling Aurora comfortably on his lap. "This is perfect."

As the lights dimmed and the first notes of the overture filled the air, Aurora’s eyes widened in wonder. She clutched her father's coat, her gaze fixed on the stage as the curtain slowly rose, revealing the first scenes of the ballet.

The dancers moved with grace and beauty across the stage, and Malakar watched as Aurora's face filled with wonder, her tiny mouth forming a small 'o'. Tchaikovsky observed them while sitting in the chair next to Malakar's, a smile touching his lips at the child's obvious enchantment.

The music flowed like a river of magic, weaving its spell over the audience. Aurora, completely captivated, watched the swans dance, her eyes reflecting the soft glow of the stage lights.

Malakar leaned down and whispered, "Do you like it, my little star?"

Aurora responded with a soft coo. Tchaikovsky chuckled. "It seems I have my first set of fans tonight."

The ballet continued, unfolding its tale of love, tragedy, and transformation. When the final act came to an end, the audience erupted into applause. Aurora even joined in on the clapping, joining her little baby hands together.

After the final curtain call, Tchaikovsky turned to Malakar with a smile. "Would you care to join me backstage?"

"Of course," Malakar replied. "I think Aurora would love to meet the people who had helped bring one of her favorite stories to life."

They made their way backstage, where Tchaikovsky was met with applause and congratulations from the cast and crew. They made small talk with both Tchaikovsky and Malakar while fussing over the baby.

He turned to Aurora.

"Little Aurora," Tchaikovsky began, reaching into his coat pocket, "I have something for you, a gift to remember this night."

He produced a small, exquisitely crafted Fabergé egg. It was a light pink, delicately encrusted with tiny diamonds that sparkled in the dim backstage light.

Malakar's eyes widened. "Pyotr, this is wonderful. Thank you, my friend."

"Of course," replied Tchaikovsky, "but, this is more than just any old Fabergé egg. Watch."

He turned the tiny key on the bottom, and the soft, melodic strains of the Swan Lake theme began to play. Aurora's eyes widened with the delightful music.

"Oh Pyotr," Malakar murmured, "it's wonderful. Thank you very much."

"It is my pleasure," Tchaikovsky replied, gently placing the egg in Malakar's hand who then put it in his coat pocket, "I am glad that I was able to make her first ballet performance one to remember."

Aurora had fallen asleep on Malakar's shoulder by the time he and Tchaikovsky said their goodbyes and made their return back to present-day Ebonvale. As Aurora slept peacefully, the Fabergé egg continued to play its tune, marking this as another wonderful memory for Aurora.

[cyc-jkm]

—😭

[lyseries]

back to the dynamite mobile layout with a new icon :D

[prettyndsad]

request icons and gifs with any aesthetic!!

Message me cause idk if the ask me button is working