#character devel

[valentine-cafe]

˖⁺. “ waiting for a hero ” : 

﹙ ex!antihero merc x gn reader. ﹚.𖹭 ݁

. . . verse 781 alessio x gn reader !! 🍓  :  ﹙  mercenary  ˖  inhuman ˖ antihero ˖ punkgoth character ﹚

you adored him, but you had to let him go. it would seem that alessio refuses to let you go completely though. you're waiting for a hero, he's waiting for you.

﹙ cws ﹚: angst | wc : 1.0k 

﹙ receipts ﹚: put your pitchforks down! PUT THEM DOWN THIS IS CHARACTER DEVEL-

꒰  other treats : guidelines ˖ m.list ˖ characters ˖ our lore  ꒱

Ex!Alessio who just can't believe you're not in his arms anymore.

( Heeeyy. )

You frown at the pop up text. There's only one person you know who talks like that.

( What phone did you get now? )

( I just keep changing the card baby. Not that hard. Anw, dinner tonight? )

( Sure. )

( Really!? )

( If we were fucking together. )

( Come on amor. Don't do me like that. )

You humour him one more text before this number's blocked too. You can already see his frown through the screen. As much as your heart might twinge, you'd rather it ache than shattered. How else could you separate yourself from a man like Alessio?

Not only did he cook, he cleaned too. Respectful as hell. Made you laugh. Worshipped the very ground you walked on. You needed cash? Not with him. Had a problem? Not with him!

Oh right, yeah. Apart from one: he's a damn antihero.

The prospect of him being a mercenary, while daunting at first, isn't what drove you away. The nights he trudged in bloodied, the endless weeks he'd spend away, the stray bullets of anxiety shot several times through your gut. Now, that's what took you to the edge. What sealed the deal? His consistent strings of death. Yes, he came back like a npc nudged off a pixel cliff. But this wasn't a game. Neither was your heart. There is only so much you could take.

He's simply the hero you'll keep waiting for. Only — he's not a hero. He's a murderer. Once you left the relationship, only then could your morals fully voice their opinions.

This isn't a game.

It splits two ways. On one hand, you wished he could let you go. Slip through his fingers as easily as atrocities left them. On the other, you're almost touched with each attempt he makes. As frustrating as they might be.

Phone tango is a bi-weekly occurrence. Aren't they suspicious of how many SIM cards he's buying? Isn't he getting tired? Not when he shows up at your door. He'll talk for a solid twenty minutes to your door monitor. Either fully aware you're listening to everything or clinging to hope you'll check the recording.

"C'mon am I that bad? Look! Didn't even break through the window this time!"

He seems so proud of that statement. Like a child with an A for effort. "I just wanna talk baby. Promise. Time me even! I just need to talk to you and it's hard to do that since. Y'know. You keep blocking my numbers . . . didn't you like that cat pic last night?"

At midnight. He spammed you with several cat pics before trying to start another conversation. Maybe his method worked. This time you granted him ten minutes instead of five.

Another thing he never forgets? Your flowers. You'll open the door to a new bouquet every month. Florist bought, but with his own touches of course. You fell for him that day he brought you wild flowers. Of course he's trying his luck with this. You'll turn over the card with a cartoonish-mini-Alessio sporting comically big, pleading eyes to read an even more desperate note at the back:

"For my pretty tesoro. Give me one more chance?"

The flowers are let into your home. But he isn't. You almost feel solemn as you plop the blooms into your favourite vase. When would this end? Are you stringing both of you along to a meaningless demise? Is death not what you feared?

Maybe a part of you wanted it all. The resolve. All the lose ends to tie themselves so that you could find yourself in his arms again. Unfortunately, the pain they held outweighed the pain to be apart. It's funny, you're still here. Waiting for that hero.

You hold your breath whenever you spot him in public. This time, you're far too distracted. Male company tends to do that, doesn't it?

Is this it? What you've been waiting for? The questions leave you blind to emerald strays from the side. Sat in a booth not too far from yours. Not that it mattered. Your smile wasn't for him anymore. That much he can see. Crystal clear.

Happiness. When last did he spot it? It's a memory so vividly burned into his mind. How foreign it feels to witness it on your beaming face. It suits you.

Dark nails claw at knees. Doesn't make it any less uncomfortable that it's for another man. What more should he expect? You're not together anymore. He's not your saving grace or solace tower any longer.

It's only when black tuffs catch your vision, do your ears tune to your heart's wail. You stiffen at first. Assuming a scene. That damned grin as he so readily sits beside you. Drapes an arm over your shoulder and converses with the other man in front of you. You expect to smell leather, but only the aroma of coffee remains.

Had he . . .

That night, you await the inevitable text. Your phone stays silent. Maybe tomorrow? Only the weather forecast is there to greet your sleepy eyes. Routine, right, he already texted you two days ago. You'll wait a week. But when that too passes? Your gut coils.

You turn. Neither of your visions came to pass. You catch a familiar head's back. Solemn nips at his boot's heels. So heavy in the way he walks. Undeniably swift as he leaves the cafe fate brought you together in. You see the red string laid torn over the checkered floor.

The calendar flutters. One week, two - three. Your flowers are due, but your vase is left empty. Another month, not a peep at your doorbell. Nor a beep from your phone. Even when there is, it's never him.

It's cruel to expect, you know. Distance does make the heart grow fonder. Colder. Like a damsel who forgot their coat atop a dark, windy building. Feet to the edge. Heart calling. Soul pleading. In the end, you're still waiting for a hero.

But he's not a hero, is he?

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[blackholezyy]

Honestly, I don’t actively hate Scorfuma like I do certain ships like C//A. I just find it to be really, really boring. Let’s get into it:

I already don’t like Perfuma as a character. She’s hypocritical, annoying and ableist (like she put Entrapta on a leash). Not to mention, she’s just not a good written character. She’s boring, one dimensional and had no character arc outside of “nice flower girl preaching about peace.” I wouldn’t mind her had anyone called her out on her BS but no, it just doesn’t happen.

Perfuma also enforces toxic positivity.. which, if you don’t know, it’s basically an excessive harmful pressure to maintain a positive, happy attitude and in turn ignores or dismisses negative feelings like sadness, anger, grief, etc. I won’t go into detail too much so I might just make a separate post about this.

Moving on, Scorpia is probably one of the better characters from SPOP. She’s naive, energetic and deeply protective but also self conscious, deprived of love, and insecure. And throughout the show, she does go through character development (which got retconned in S5 but I digress). One of the most memorable things about Scorpia is her loyalty to Catra. As seen multiple times, she actively defended her even behind her back, is extremely defensive over her to the point where she hates Adora simply because she knows Catra is hurt by Adora leaving the Horde, stays by her side even if it gets her into danger, and is convinced that Catra is misunderstood.

Heck, I’ll even come out and say that Scopria strongest relationship is with Catra. It’s not exactly healthy per say (any relationship with Catra is unhealthy) but we could see that time and time again Scorpia deeply cares about Catra and Catra secretly deep down cares about Scorpia until S4.

The only grievance I have is that when they first met, Scorpia was immediately “ride or die” for Catra. I think it would make more sense and be narratively better had Scorpia grow to deeply care for Catra rather than her immediately caring right off the bat.

But what about Perfuma, you may ask? Well.. I have nothing to say about Scorpia’s relationship with Perfuma outside of aesthetics. It’s the same situation with Glimbow but at least with Glimbow, they were friends and had something. Granted, it was rushed, poor written and came out of nowhere, but at least it was something. With Scorfuma, it was nothing.

One of the biggest issues I have with Scorfuma is that Perfuma immediately liked and crushed on Scorpia the moment Scorpia arrived in Bright Moon. Excuse me for being pessimistic but that makes ZERO sense. You have been fighting for three seasons straight and have like no reason to trust Scorpia, who mind you was practically Catra’s right hand and helped the Horde with the Battle of Bright Moon, kidnapping Bow and Glimmer in the Princess Prom episode, etc.

This is why I say that this show just doesn’t portray war well because in the middle of a war, when an enemy deflects, they would be greeted with suspicion and a bunch of background checks and reasonably so. In war, the enemy could easily plant spies or use someone to gain the other side’s trust and use that to their advantage.

For the rest of the show, it was just.. boring. Perfuma and Scorpia had no meaningful conversations, no real connection, nothing. It’s hilarious that Scorpia seemed closer with Sea Hawk due to their similar insecurities than Perfuma. Which is a shame because I feel like if written well, these two could’ve had a good relationship, both platonically and romantically.

One of the things I do like about Scorfuma though is that in S5, when Scorpia was chipped, Perfuma was heavily devoted to save her and because of that devotion, Scorpia managed to resist Horde Prime, even briefly. Scorpia being chipped had a clear effect on Perfuma and I like how Scorpia sacrificed herself. But that’s where my praises end. Because this would’ve been way more impactful had their relationship had time to actually develop.

Overall, I don’t hate Scorfuma. I actually think it’s arguably one of the more better ships to come out of SPOP. But again, the poor writing and lack of development just drags this ship down for me.

[tare-anime]

SxF Read Along (sxfra25) Volume 2

Ah, finally I got time to finish reading vol 2 and write what I thought of it.

Hmm.... it is interesting to see that each of the Forgers feeling down upon seeing the admission results. Is it really that everyone has something to gain from this fake family arragement, or during the first weeks of staying together, all already feels attached to one another?? 😏

Tbh, I'm leaning towards the latter. Especally since the latest Garden Introduction arc showed us that Yor wouldn't get into trouble with SSS per se, if she didn't get married on the first place.

Nevertheless, I'm relieved to see how Henry's recommendation saved the family. Truly elegant! 🥰

The Castle shenaningans was so funny. And yet, I much prefer the anime version because they really going all out in making Anya's wish to live version 🤣🤣🤣

From the first time we were introduced to Handler, I've fallen in love with her. She's such a badass boss. And yet, as we found out later, Handler is not a perfect person. She has her own trauma and still trying to recover. And that make her character even more intriguing. Strong first immpression here.

And yet, I still think the goal set by WISE is outrageous. 8 stella in four month?? That's crazy. Especially so if in this Operation Strix plan, they utilize a 6 y.o kid. What do they expect?? And Sylvia's okay with that??? Handler seems to have a soft spot for kids. Hmmm 👀

This is what feed me to think that the goal of Operation Strix is fishy. Is it really just to make the supper stubborn Twilight to settle down? Or is Twilight too capable that WISE starts to fear him and thus forcing Twilight to have 'weakness' in a form of 'family'?? hmmm..... 👀👀

Chapter 7 would always be my favorite. When Yor dclare to the world that Anya IS her daughter, and nothing would ever change that. As a moot has mentioned in their meta, I find it interesting to see that Yor found something to protect, and she wants to do it. And at the end it made her more alive (as observed by those around her). And it pushes her to try other activities, such as trying to cook (even though she's bad at it). All because she wants to. Beautiful growth 🥰🥰

And Yor has been teaching Anya about self control. As I've stated before, that I'll always believe, Yor has amazing self control. She has so many physical power and skills, and with that came great responsibilities. She has to know when and why to utilize her power. And Yor teach Anya this from the very beginning.

I think this IS very important lesson. And I'm glad Yor do this.

The first day at Eden, and we encountered so many kind of children. The first introduction of Damian, and I already dislike the pompous kid. But it's not his fault. He has to act that way to impress his father (what a very tough thing to do!! No kid should've tries to impress their parents on the first place 😫).

I'm glad to see that Damian immediately find Emile and Ewen among all of other kids. Later in the story we found that Emile and Ewen are true kind of friends, that can make Damian feels what is like to be boys 🥰

The same with Anya and Becky. I love it how Becky supports Anya from the very beginning. And even with Becky's reassurance, Anya can shut down the disparaging voices around her and feels safe. Awwwww.... I'd always love that panel. 🥰🥰

And I have to agree with Becky during chapter 9. Loidy.... Anya isn't at fault for punching Damian. She shouldn't apologize to bully! But then.... by apologizing, Anya give an even hard punch towards Damian. So, that's another win. lol.

The first time Yor steps in as a mother and the one who keep the Forger family at balance of work and leisure 🥰🥰🥰 It's nice to see how the always perfectionist and super capable Twilight apparently has something that he cannot do well.... and what's more important is he acknowledge his weakness and give credit to Yor. 🥰🥰🥰

"I trust you to do things that I cannot do"

Yeeesss!! That's one of the first signs of developing trusts between TwiYor. 🥰🥰

Yuri's introduction page..... after we see the Briar's day out.... I really find that Yuri is sooooooo young and immature in viewing the world. He didn't suspect at thing about being manipulated by the SSS that gladly squeeze him out of his talent and dedication, to further their goals. The chief's comment 'He's like a puppy' really disgust me. It showed that SSS view Yuri no more than animal and tools, that they can dispose anytime when they found Yuri no longer usefull. uuuugghhh......

And despite Yuri's initial hype in doing his job at the SSS for his sister's sake, later we found out that he realize .... that the very same job make him stand farther away from his sister. I do hope Yuri will continue to grow. 🥰🥰

The extra mission, the Penguin park. I just love to see how the Forgers helping each other's out, without the others know anything about it 🤣🤣

And the "wow" that both Anya and Loid said after seeing Yor displaying her prowess? Perfect 🤣🤣👏👏👏

[yukasyukasyukasyukas]

Hc agents full names and Birthdays ‼️‼️‼️

I'm gonna cry, Tumblr deleted more than half of what I spent two hours writing😔😔😔💔💔💔😩💙🐗🙌🐱😔😭🙌😨🇩🇬🐁

Brimstone: Liam Joseph Byrne, middle name given after his grandfather

January 15, 1995 (Valorant: 55yo, irl: 29yo)

Viper: Just Sabine Callas

March 20, 2018 (Valorant: 32yo, irl: 6yo)

Omen: John Morris, I hate thinking of English surnames, é paia demais😔

October 30, 2021 (Valorant: 29yo, irl: 3yo)

Killjoy: Klara Emilie Böringer, she looks like she's named Emily idk

June 16, 2025 (Valorant: 25yo, irl: not born yet)

Cypher: Amir Adil Mohammed al Amari, thought the names sounded good together

May 10, 2005 (Valorant: 45yo, irl: 19yo)

Sova: Alexander Novikov, he doesn't look like he has a middle name

July 28, 2016 (Valorant: 34yo, irl: 8yo)

Sage: Wei Ling Ying, I hate when characters have, canonically, more than one given name

June 5, 2022 (Valorant: 28yo, irl: 2yo)

Phoenix: Jamie Akin Adeyemi, named after his Grandfather too

September 2, 2030 (Valorant: 20yo, irl: not born yet)

Jett: Han Sunwoo but her friends used to call her Joon-He because she told one of them that was her name when she was a kid and it sticked

February 20, 2028 (Valorant: 22yo, irl: not born yet)

Reyna: Zyanya Mayra Mondragón, she looks like she's named Mayra so she is

December 7, 2018 (Valorant: 32yo, irl: 6yo)

Raze: Tayane de Santos Alves

June 26, 2026 (Valorant: 24yo, irl: not born yet)

Breach: Erik Torsten, having a name too long could make it easier to identify him when his family was hiding from the police

August 17, 2007 (Valorant: 42yo, irl: 17yo)

Yoru: Kiritani Ryo Akio, just Ryo is too short😔

December 27, 2024 (Valorant: 26yo, irl: Soom to born but not born yet)

He looks like no one cares about his birthday

Skye: Kirra Adie Foster

April 2, 2023 (Valorant: 27yo, irl: 1yo)

Astra: Efia Nanyamka Danso

May 20, 2022 (Valorant: 28yo, irl: 2yo)

Kay/o:

Several days bc it took long between his building and adjustments, 2055 (Valorant: 3 years in his timeline, not made yet on the normal one, irl: not made yet)

In the lore he is from several centuries on the future but it doesn't make sense since he met Reyna, Sage, Brimstone etc in his timeline

Chamber: Vincent Devell Jaques Fabron , he seems rich and looks like he has a long name

January 21, 2017 (Valorant: 33yo, irl: 7yo)

Neon: Tala Nicole Dimaapi Valdez, her name is already long enough no need to add more

March 20, 2031 (Valorant: 19yo, irl: not born yet)

Fade: Hazal Nilufer Eyletmez

November 19, 2024 (Valorant: 26yo, irl: exactly 6 weeks old)

Harbor: Varun Farid Batra

July 6, 2020 (Valorant: 30yo, irl: 4yo)

Gekko: Mateo Francisco Armendaríz de la Fuente, in my head, Francisco and Enzo have the same vibe but Francisco is timeless

August 2, 2030 (Valorant: 20, irl: not born yet)

Deadlock: Legally got rid of the rest so it's just Iselin, used to be Iselin Ylva Ege

December 25, 2022 (Valorant: 28, irl: 1 year and 11 months old/ practically 2yo)

She also looks like no one cares Abt her birthday

Iso: Yu Li Zhao

October 20, 2028 (Valorant: 22yo, irl: not born yet)

Clove: legally Rory Campbell, social name is Clove

November 7, 2031 (Valorant: 19 yo, irl: not born yet)

Vyse: Vivian Zhu

June 5, 2018 (Valorant: 32yo, irl: 6yo)

[alpaca-clouds]

Lucifer - Not Quite Like You Think

Alright, @greenpeacocks asked about the Ars Goetica and Lucifer. And I will do this in two different blogs, because both are more than enough for me to ramble on about for like 1k words. lol Because, oh boy, demonology and history are so interesting to cross over.

I will start with dear Lucifer.

Let me start with one question: Where does Lucifer come from? And what was he?

Chances are, you said, Lucifer was an angel who rebelled against God (with a capital-G) and because of that was cast out of heaven together with other angels, who rebelled. And now he either has become Satan, or is one of many demons/fallen angels in hell.

And with that you would be wrong.

See, something you have to understand about the Lucifer story, as written in the bible, is, that the Abrahamitic religions - as long as they had been Abrahamitic - had been monotheistic. Yes. However this religion came out of the Canaanite religion, which was a polytheistic religion, that eventually went back to Sumerian religion. I will for now not go into detail how that polytheistic religion became monotheistic. The tl;dr version of what religious scientists right now believe is this: There was an Egyptian weather god called Yahweh, that got imported into the Canaanite religion, where he eventually merged with the god Ba'al. One of the Canaanite tribes had this Yahweh/Ba'al eventually merge with the highest god of that religion, El, also known as Elohim. Which is why the bible uses both names for God. The last bit - him merging with El - is the important part.

Because in the Canaanite religion (probably going back to the Sumerian myths) there was a myth about the Morning God, Helel or Helal, who was the manifestation of Venus (aka the Morning Star), challenging El's position as the upper god of this pantheon. He was prideful because he was shining brighter than all the other gods, but for this challenge got eventually exiled from the realm of the gods for a while.

This does sound a bit familiar, right?

Well, what if I tell you, that in the untranslated version of the Bible the supposedly "rebelling angel" was actually called Helel?

Yeah, for some reason this big of old mythology just happened to survive into the bible. Helel was there, never being fully defined as an angel, but just as "a bright being of the sky", which was eventually by scholars interpreted as an angel.

"But," I hear you asking, "why do we call him Lucifer?"

Well, this is because of the Latin translation of the bible. See, when the bible - which originally was partly written in Greek, and partly in Hebrew - got fully translated into Latin, the people translating it realized that the name "Helel" did not mean anything to their audience. However, they were still aware of the origin of this story, and new that Helel was a name for the god of the Morning Star. So they just used the Roman name for the god of the Morning Star, son of the Aurora: Lucifer. A god, that in Roman mythology was not really meaningful. He shows up in a couple of Roman manuscripts that we have, but does not appear to have been prayed to a whole lot. And they put this name into the bible for this god/angel trying to take God's throne.

So, yeah. That is how we got Lucifer. A left over from an old religion.

Now, some of you might also have heard that Lucifer was originally a dragon. And of course, most of you think of Lucifer as Satan or the Devil. Why is that?

Well, both of these are related. Satan is twice described as a dragon in some parts of the bible. And in one of the scenes Satan is also cast down from the heaven. Now, Lucifer is not mentioned anywhere near that - but people went: "Huh, someone gets thrown down from heaven, so I guess that only ever happened once, so Lucifer and Satan are the same person and they are both an angel and a dragon!"

Whether or not Satan and Lucifer are eventually portrayed as the same character is very depedend on what source you might use. (Note, demonology developed during the second half of the middle ages and came up with a whole of its original rules for both demons and the hell or hells. In fact, a lot of depictions of hell and evil gods we see in modern fantasy and horror media, like DnD, Castlevania and so on, is more based on this demonology, than actual religious doctrine.) In a lot of Demonology they are differentiated, but once you are go more into Catholic depictions, they often get merged into one character.

I will probably write about the Ars Goetia later this week or on the weekend. Because that needs a whole lot of context. xD

[daraifu]

✦Self-help Guide to Daaradium✦ by Daraifu

Are you confused? Lost? Don’t know where to start?

Don’t worry, this post is all for you!! Here is a brief summary to help you out!!

!!Some information may change in the future, like names or other stuff, but it will all be updated here!!

"Business" Section

✦ Where you can find me?

Tumblr (you are already here!!)

Instagram

✦ Commissions?

No, but yes. Commissions are an unknown territory for me... although I don’t typically do them, I’m open to accepting a few here and there. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch. It's important to note that the minimum price for a drawing is 15€, and the cost will increase depending on the complexity.

I am open to draw anything if its not too complicated, maybe with heavy restriction only against real life people and children. I will draw them but only within specific boundaries.

I also note that I will only be using PayPal as the major payment service.

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Worldbuilding Section

✦ Beginning

This information may not be critical for understanding my stories going forward, but it’s nice to have.

The Titans are the creator gods of their inner worlds, as they are essential to the fabric of these universes. Without them, these worlds would slowly cease to exist. The relationship between a Titan and its world mirrors that of a person and their cells. Just as a cell is unable to live outside of its body, a universe can't survive without its Titan, but a Titan can live on without their inner world. A Titan can only operate within their personal universe and can't influence another's, making so that each world is separated from one another.

More on #Titans or #Titan + Suhn (first draft)

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✦ Universes/Worlds

The settings where all of my stories take place. Multiple stories can take place in the same universe, but not necessarily at the same time or region.

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⟡ Ylifi

The stories that will take place in Ylifi will focus more on complex issues such as grief, trauma, and other similar things.

That's why I don't have much to say about it because I don't wanna rush it, and I wanna find a solid idea first.

In short, Ylifi is in development HELL.

More on #Ylifi + work in progress (SORRY)

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⟡ Erthe

Erthe's world resembles our own, with a few adjustments and a small flood here and there...

hehe

In contrast to my other universes, Erthe is home to just two species. (my brain is itching at the idea of aliens, but we'll see)

The focus is more on people's lives and their new environment, examining how society has evolved. I have made so many drawings for this world, but none of them explain the lore... I am so sad at this realisation

More on #Erthe + Timeline + Implants + Derek + Mayor and Minor characters info (outdated) + Antagonist + work in progress

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⟡ Lureed

Lureed is my comfort zone and personal favourite to develop.

The stories here will focus less on world-ending calamities and more on exploring and daily life. There will obviously be some exceptions, such as stories with a greater global impact or deeper themes.

Lureed is diverse like that

More on #Lureed + Homins + Plumoa Anatomy + Enses Culture + subspecies + Jeathiel&Zamarm + Ens&Devel facts + Lumall + the chief + Plumoa Clothing p1 + The Sheatrhee Family + Adult Luta&Atta + Agy

Updating...

[beeeinyourbonnet]

Fic Masterlist

I needed a new pinned post so here is my new masterlist of fics that I have either finished or am actively working on, which I will update as I post new things. Sorry for the unhinged tags, they are there for me and will almost certainly grow longer and more unhinged yolo. Also I accept prompts for any ficlets or character questions in anything from this list (possibly also other stuff on my AO3 if I'm feeling it)!

Rumbelle

By Hook or by Crook - E - complete, 28/28 chapters Just when Belle thinks she's doomed to a life without adventure, an investment banking firm all the way from New York City plops its new headquarters in Storybrooke's abandoned cannery. Winner of best rumbelle fic and best comedy smut CCAs 2025

By the Book (By Hook or by Crook) - T - complete, 1/1 chapter After Gold brings a partially-conscious Belle to the Nolans', he and David have to find out what happened (set between chapters 20 and 21 of By Hook or by Crook).

Gilded - E - complete, 1/1 chapter Mr. Gold runs a speakeasy during Prohibition and hires a new waitress. RSS 2024 fic. Winner of best RSS fic and best one-shot CCAs 2025.

The First Thanksgiving - T - complete, 1/1 chapter Newly married Emma and Neal invite Belle to the first Thanksgiving they're hosting in an attempt to set her up on a blind date, not knowing that she has been keeping a secret from them since the wedding. Fluffapalooza 2025

The Twenty-Eighth Date (The First Thanksgiving) - G - complete, 1/1 chapter A prequel to The First Thanksgiving, Belle and Gold meet at Neal's wedding while both are trying to hide from someone else. The Siren - T - complete, 1/1 chapter The town librarian is behaving strangely, and Mr. Gold definitely does not care (third round entry from the rumbelle showdown 2024).

In the Glow of Moonlight - E - complete, 3/3 chapters Rumpelstiltskin gets cursed and, when the cure is to experience happiness, he assumes he'll be cursed forever. (tentacles)

Wrong Number - M - incomplete, under 20 chapters at present Belle has struck up a strange friendship with a man she only knows over text. Having finally escaped a bad living situation, she gets involved in the local city council, where she meets Mr. Gold, who seems hellbent on hating her guts. It's a good thing she has her mysterious text friend for comfort. Updates tuesdays and fridays.

Anyelle

Nostelle (Nosty from Safe x Belle) Covetous - E - complete, 25/25 chapters Father Joseph MacAvoy wakes up in a library across town with no idea of how he got there, and when the kind librarian doesn’t kick him out immediately, he considers that maybe there’s more to life than alcohol. Unfortunately for the Father, the kind librarian has a habit of taking in dangerous men, and MacAvoy feels wholly unequipped to protect her heart from them--and his own. Winner of best bobby squared CCA 2025

First Kiss (Covetous)- T - complete, 1/1 chapter Belle and Nosty kiss for the first time.

Bellish (Hamish Macbeth x Belle) The Beginning of a New Book - E - complete, 27/27 chapters When Belle discovers that her fiance is not the man she thought he was, she finds herself in witness protection in a little Scottish town called Lochdubh.

Almost a Widower (The Beginning of a New Book) - complete, 1/1 chapter Sergei learns that Belle has disappeared.

Develle (Danny Devine from Dead Fish x Belle) Unbowed - E - complete, 48 chapters Belle works nights at the Parrot Club as an assistant to pay off her estranged husband’s debts to Danny Devine, and days at a bookstore where she has struck up a friendship with a gentleman named Ives. Belle is just supposed to do Danny's books and keep the office organized, but when Something Happens, she gets drawn into a world she never expected. Also includes ivelle (belle x ives from Ravenous).

Devine Intervention - M - incomplete, series of one-shot ficlets This are all my old develle ficlets that I post as I edit them, where she is his assistant to work off her dad's debt.

Plunkelle (Will Plunkett from Plunkett & Macleane x Belle) An Ever-Fixed Mark - E - incomplete, 32/33 chapters The widowed Lady Belle desires nothing more than freedom. When her father brings her to London in an attempt to find her a new husband, she instead meets a highwayman who could use a woman on the inside. Updates Mondays and Thursdays.

Lachelle (Lachlan Macaldonich from California Solo x Belle) On the Rocks - M - incomplete, under 5 chapters presently Desperate to stay in America, Lachlan vows to quit drinking, but it's hard when he lives alone and there's nothing else to do in the farmlands of California. Luckily for him, he meets a woman outside the AA meeting. On hiatus.

[avacolemanplsbebi]

The Subtle Romance of Avanine: Could It Be Real?

In the season 3 finale for "Abbott Elementary," Gregory and Janine seem to be throwing caution to the wind and finally getting together. To Avanine truthers everywhere, that seemed to be the final nail in the coffin and relegated any Ava x Janine content to fanfiction and fanart. But I am fully delusional and believe that this might not be the end for Ava and Janine. In this essay, I will explain why I think Avanine could be endgame, including narrative evidence and character development throughout the series.

Janine's Journey of Self-Discovery

Janine Teagues has been on a remarkable journey of self-discovery from the very beginning of "Abbott Elementary." Introduced as an idealistic and perpetually optimistic second-grade teacher, Janine's character is defined by her selflessness and unwavering dedication to her students. However, this dedication often comes at the expense of her own happiness and personal growth. Over the course of three seasons, Janine's character has evolved significantly, marked by several pivotal moments that have shaped her journey.

One of the most defining moments in Janine's journey was her breakup with Tariq, her long-term boyfriend. This relationship, while comforting and familiar, was also limiting. Tariq's lack of ambition and direction contrasted sharply with Janine's passion and drive. Their breakup in season 1 was a crucial step for Janine, allowing her to break free from a relationship that was holding her back and start focusing on her own aspirations and needs.

As Janine navigates single life, she begins to explore new relationships, including a brief romance with Maurice, a friend of Gregory. This relationship serves as a stepping stone for Janine, helping her to understand what she truly wants in a partner. Maurice's easygoing nature and genuine interest in Janine provide her with a sense of validation and confidence. However, it also highlights the contrast between Maurice's laid-back attitude and Gregory's more serious and supportive demeanor.

The kiss between Janine and Gregory during the teacher's conference is another pivotal moment in her journey. This unexpected and passionate kiss brings Janine's feelings for Gregory to the forefront, forcing her to confront the reality of her emotions. It's a moment of vulnerability and clarity for Janine, one that sets the stage for future developments in their relationship.

Janine's decision to tell Gregory that she wants to be selfish marks a significant turning point in her character arc. Throughout the series, Janine has consistently put others before herself, often to her own detriment. Her declaration of wanting to be selfish is a bold step towards self-empowerment and self-care. It's a moment of self-realization where Janine acknowledges her own needs and desires, setting the stage for her to make decisions that prioritize her happiness.

In the first episode of season 3, Janine's journey takes another significant turn when she goes to Gregory, hoping to rekindle their relationship. However, Gregory's response, "Honestly, Janine, in my mind, I had kind of put a period on that," is a harsh reality check for Janine. This moment forces her to confront the fact that not everything will go according to her plans, and it challenges her to reassess her approach to relationships and her own emotional needs.

The culmination of Janine and Gregory's journey occurs at the end of season 3 when they seemingly "get together." This moment, while joyous, is also complex. It's a culmination of their long-standing chemistry and mutual feelings, but it also raises questions about Janine's growth and her ability to prioritize herself. Gregory's decisive action in going to Janine's place and initiating their relationship contrasts with Janine's earlier desire to make decisions for herself. This dynamic sets the stage for potential conflicts and growth in their relationship moving forward.

Gregory's Character Development

Gregory Eddie's character development throughout "Abbott Elementary" has been more subtle compared to Janine's and Ava's, yet it is equally significant. Gregory starts as a substitute teacher with aspirations of becoming a principal. His reserved and disciplined nature often puts him at odds with the more chaotic and unpredictable environment of Abbott Elementary. Despite this, Gregory's character evolves as he becomes more integrated into the school's community.

One of the key aspects of Gregory's development is his dating life. Gregory's relationships with various women throughout the series highlight his struggle to find a balance between his professional ambitions and personal life. His interactions with Janine, however, reveal a deeper emotional connection that transcends his usual guarded demeanor. Gregory's evolving feelings for Janine are evident in the way he supports her, offers advice, and ultimately, the way he handles his own emotions.

The pivotal moment of Gregory telling Janine, "Honestly, Janine, in my mind, I had kind of put a period on that," is crucial in understanding his character. This statement reflects Gregory's attempt to protect himself from emotional turmoil by setting boundaries. It also indicates his frustration with the uncertainty of their relationship. Gregory's desire for stability and clarity contrasts with Janine's more spontaneous and emotionally driven nature.

By the end of season 3, Gregory's character reaches a turning point when he decides to be with Janine. His visit to her place and the subsequent kiss signify his willingness to take a risk and embrace his feelings. However, this decision is not without its complexities. Gregory's choice to initiate their relationship, rather than allowing Janine to make the decision herself, highlights a potential conflict. Janine's journey towards self-empowerment is challenged by Gregory's assertiveness, setting the stage for future growth and negotiation in their relationship.

Gregory's development from a cautious and reserved individual to someone willing to take emotional risks is significant. His relationship with Janine serves as a catalyst for his growth, pushing him out of his comfort zone and challenging him to confront his own vulnerabilities. This evolution is crucial in understanding the dynamics of their relationship and the potential challenges they may face in the future.

Ava's Transformation

Ava Coleman has undergone one of the most remarkable transformations in the series. Initially portrayed as a self-absorbed and unprofessional leader, Ava's character is revealed to have surprising depth and complexity. Her journey from a seemingly selfish individual to someone who genuinely cares about the school and its staff is both compelling and significant.

Ava's initial portrayal as a self-centered and flamboyant principal sets the stage for her character development. Her disregard for rules and her tendency to prioritize her own interests over those of the school create a comedic but problematic dynamic. However, as the series progresses, Ava's character begins to reveal unexpected layers. Her interactions with Janine, in particular, showcase a different side of her personality.

One of the most surprising aspects of Ava's character is her adeptness at various tasks when she chooses to apply herself. This skillset, combined with her sharp wit and resourcefulness, highlights Ava's potential as a leader. Her transformation is marked by moments where she steps up to support the school and its staff, demonstrating a growing sense of responsibility and care. This shift is particularly evident in her interactions with Janine, where Ava often goes out of her way to support and protect her.

Ava's relationship with Janine is a key element of her character development. While Ava's initial interactions with Janine are marked by teasing and superficial comments, their relationship evolves into one of mutual respect and support. Ava's protectiveness over Janine becomes more apparent as the series progresses, and their shared moments outside of work hint at a deeper connection. This transformation from a self-centered individual to someone capable of selflessness is significant in understanding Ava's character arc.

A notable moment in Ava's development is when Janine decides to leave Abbott Elementary to work at the District. Ava's decision to hire someone who is the exact opposite of Janine underscores her deep attachment and appreciation for Janine's presence at the school. This action highlights Ava's growth and her recognition of Janine's importance, not just as a colleague, but as a friend and confidante.

Janine and Gregory's Relationship

The relationship between Janine and Gregory has been a central narrative thread throughout "Abbott Elementary," marked by numerous ups and downs. Their journey from colleagues to potential romantic partners is complex and layered, reflecting the intricacies of their characters and their individual growth. Understanding their relationship requires a detailed examination of key moments and developments over the seasons.

From the moment Gregory joins Abbott Elementary, there is an undeniable chemistry between him and Janine. Their shared passion for teaching and their mutual respect for each other's dedication create a strong foundation for their relationship. Gregory's initial crush on Janine is evident in his supportive actions and the way he often goes out of his way to help her. Janine, on the other hand, is initially oblivious to Gregory's feelings, focused on her relationship with Tariq and her commitment to her students.

As their friendship deepens, Gregory and Janine share several significant moments that bring them closer. The kiss during the teacher's conference is a turning point, bringing their feelings for each other to the surface. This moment of vulnerability and passion highlights the depth of their connection and sets the stage for future developments. However, the complexity of their feelings and the external pressures they face create a turbulent path forward.

Janine's declaration that she wants to be selfish and focus on herself adds another layer to their relationship. Gregory's response, "Honestly, Janine, in my mind, I had kind of put a period on that," is a pivotal moment that reflects the tension between their individual needs and their mutual feelings. This statement underscores Gregory's desire for stability and clarity, contrasting with Janine's journey towards self-empowerment and self-care.

The culmination of their relationship occurs at the end of season 3, when Gregory goes to Janine's place and initiates their romantic relationship. This decisive action by Gregory contrasts with Janine's earlier desire to make decisions for herself. While this moment is a culmination

 of their long-standing chemistry and mutual feelings, it also raises questions about the dynamics of their relationship. Gregory's assertiveness and Janine's journey towards self-empowerment create a complex interplay that sets the stage for potential conflicts and growth in their relationship.

Overall, the relationship between Janine and Gregory is marked by significant moments of connection, tension, and growth. Their journey reflects the complexities of balancing personal needs with mutual feelings, and their evolving dynamic highlights the challenges and potential of their partnership.

Janine, Ava, and Gregory

The dynamics between Janine, Ava, and Gregory add another layer of complexity to the narrative of "Abbott Elementary." Ava's initial attraction to Gregory and her evolving relationship with Janine create a rich tapestry of interactions and emotions that influence the main characters' journeys. Understanding these dynamics is crucial to fully appreciating the potential of an Avanine romance.

Initially, Ava's attraction to Gregory is a source of comedic tension in the series. While Ava is not interested in a serious relationship with Gregory, her flirtatious behavior and attempts to get his attention create a humorous dynamic. However, this attraction also sets the stage for Ava's evolving feelings towards Janine and her protective behavior regarding Janine's relationship with Gregory.

One of the key moments that highlight the dynamics between the three characters is the club scene where Janine and Gregory are dancing together. Ava's decision to break them up and invite Janine to continue clubbing with her and her boyfriend is significant. This moment not only underscores Ava's attraction to Gregory but also her interest in spending time with Janine. Janine's reaction to Ava being in a relationship and her decision to join Ava instead of going home alone highlights the evolving bond between the two women.

Following this, Ava and Janine's relationship deepens as they begin to spend more time together outside of work. Their shared moments suggest a growing intimacy and mutual support. Ava's protectiveness over Janine becomes more apparent, and their interactions reflect a deeper connection that goes beyond mere friendship. This evolving dynamic adds a layer of complexity to the potential of an Avanine romance.

However, the most significant shift in Ava's behavior occurs in season 3, when she begins to actively push Janine and Gregory apart. Despite having previously supported their relationship, Ava's actions in season 3 suggest a change in her feelings. Her happiness when Gregory tells Janine he has put a period on their potential relationship, and her constant interruptions, indicate a deeper emotional investment. This behavior raises questions about Ava's true feelings and her motivations for keeping Janine and Gregory apart.

The final look Ava gives Gregory during the party scene in the last episode of season 3 is particularly telling. Despite being canonically over Gregory, Ava's expression suggests jealousy and concern. This moment highlights the complexity of Ava's emotions and her potential feelings for Janine. It raises the possibility that Ava's actions are driven by more than just friendship, suggesting a deeper, unspoken attraction to Janine.

Ava and Janine's Relationship

The relationship between Ava and Janine is one of the most intriguing and complex dynamics in "Abbott Elementary." While much of their interaction occurs off-camera, the glimpses we see suggest a deep and evolving bond that could potentially develop into a romantic relationship. Understanding the nuances of their relationship requires examining key moments and the subtext of their interactions.

One of the most significant aspects of Ava and Janine's relationship is the way they support and understand each other. Ava's hyper-awareness of Janine's location and her actions to ensure Janine's well-being suggest a level of care that goes beyond mere friendship. Janine, in turn, knows exactly how to break Ava out of her serious moments and bring out her playful side. This mutual understanding and support highlight the depth of their connection.

Their regular outings to a drag club indicate that they spend significant time together outside of work. These moments away from the school environment allow them to connect on a personal level, further deepening their bond. The fact that they have a regular place where they hang out suggests a routine and comfort in each other's company that is significant in any relationship.

Most of Ava and Janine's interactions that have deepened their connection have occurred off-screen and in private settings. This contrasts with Janine's interactions with Gregory, which are often public and chaperoned by their colleagues. The private nature of Ava and Janine's moments suggests a level of intimacy and trust that is crucial in building a strong relationship. These off-screen interactions allow them to explore their feelings and support each other without the pressures of their professional environment.

The comments from Janelle James, who plays Ava, further support the potential for an Avanine romance. James has hinted at the depth of Ava's feelings for Janine and suggested that their relationship could develop into something more. Additionally, the show's creator, Quinta Brunson, liking an obviously gay Avanine edit, adds another layer of intrigue to the potential for a romantic relationship between Ava and Janine.

The evolving dynamics between Ava and Janine, marked by mutual support, private interactions, and hints of deeper feelings, suggest a strong foundation for a potential romance. Their relationship is built on a genuine connection and understanding, making the possibility of Avanine an exciting prospect for the future of "Abbott Elementary."

Conclusion

While Ava and Janine might not get together, the evidence suggests that Ava has a significant crush on Janine. This crush, combined with the complex dynamics between Janine, Ava, and Gregory, is likely to create interesting developments in the fourth season of "Abbott Elementary." The potential for an Avanine romance adds depth and intrigue to the narrative, and fans can look forward to seeing how these relationships evolve. Whether or not Avanine becomes canon, the possibility itself enriches the story and keeps viewers engaged with the characters' journeys.

TL;DR: The season 3 finale seems to solidify Gregory and Janine's relationship, potentially sidelining any romantic possibilities between Janine and Ava. However, examining the narrative and character development reveals that the potential for an Avanine romance remains strong. Janine's journey of self-discovery, marked by pivotal moments like her breakup with Tariq and her declaration of wanting to be selfish, contrasts with Gregory's more stable but less aggressively developed character arc. Ava, initially self-centered, undergoes significant growth, showing unexpected depth and selflessness, particularly towards Janine. Their off-camera interactions and mutual support hint at a deeper connection. The complex dynamics between Janine, Ava, and Gregory, including Ava's changing behavior towards Gregory and her evident jealousy, suggest Ava's unspoken feelings for Janine. With Ava canonically over Gregory, her actions indicate a crush on Janine, setting the stage for intriguing developments in season 4. The essay argues that while Avanine might not become canon, the possibility enriches the narrative and keeps fans engaged.

[horizon-verizon]

Phoebe Campbell saying about Baela and Rhaena “There’s a little bit of tension because of their separate upbringings, Baela was raised with grandma & grandpa, Rhaena by stepmom and half siblings. Rhaena feels quite a lot of resentment there.”

So... that garbage fanfic wants to put the dragon twins against each other ?? They aren’t Arya and Sansa, Baela and Rhaena actually love each other, and unlike Sansa, Baela never bullied her sister. And why would Rhaena resent the fact that she had to live with her stepmom and half siblings ??

This is if--and only IF--Phoebe is correct in how the show will decide to characterize Rhaena, and since they literally acted the character, shot all the scenes, and haven't gone on record with bad takes, I think we don't have much a reason to suspect otherwise.

Link to the article that came out today and what anon refers to:

BranwynHlfwitch over at Twitter has a whole thread pointing out other stuff how Ryan Condal has never had a great grasp on the plot or really of history & historians.

I think that part of it is they are trying to develop these characters for their larger roles they're planning during the Dance & the way they decided to go about that is to create conflict b/t the fan fav sisters. And I think they might try to to argue or imply that she is resentful bc of not just second-son syndrome, but basically Baela was picked by their grandparents to be closer and let Rhaena be. Why not both of them, if they are already seeming to break tradition? It will likely folow the theme of silent rejection the show allows the audience to quickly assume from episode 6, where Rhaena bemoans Daemon ignoring her bc of her not hatching an egg...which I already talked about.

Baela--for a very dumb reason--becomes the "ward" of the Velaryons & Rhaenys wants Corlys to name Baela as his heir...presumably without consulting Daemon, the girl's father or Viserys, the head of the house Baela is actually a part of and who would determine how his house's possible heirs inherit what over other candidates...bc Baela & Rhaena are both technically still in line for the throne though they aren't titled as princesses. Just way down and the claims would get stronger the more people before them die...which we already see in the bk.

Anyway, Baela is seemingly older than Rhaena instead of being her twin as by canon; she has a dragon where Rhaena does not; she is, bc she is older, taken to Driftmark to learn the ways of a leader as if she might become the head of a house or whatever even though we also know that Corlys has definitely not named her his heir by his & Rhaenys' conversation in the last episode (so for 6 years why is Baela there without being named when they could just visit each other--her and Rhaenys--by ship and dragonback [pic below] idk, the spectacle of it?).

And while Rhaena loved her dad, loved her stepsiblings/1st cousins-once-removed & I believe that Rhaenyra was a great stepmother to her, because the show did not show us their lives, they will take advantage of that and present us with a lot of stuff like this--breaking lore and going along with the breakage to build their own tale but also sometimes not showing a logical progression from that point of breakage [again, lok to the link abt cradle-bonding].

Yes, there's the argument that Daemon is merely worried over Rhaena's being singled put and left out or belittled, sidelined, for not having a dragon as he felt being a second son/child even with his dragon...but again, look to my post about cradle-bonds and the history of dragon bonds he supposedly knows and it becomes still dumb when he still ends up doing the very thing he's supposed to have feared for his daughter, to her.

Would it have helped if the writers actually developed these people's lives before the Dance and actually think through their plot decisions if they planned to make Rhaena-Daemon's deal this, absolutely! But we have what we have.

Show!Rhaena could come to just resent her sister for all this perceived favoritism.

I may be wrong, who knows.

[bg3-ficrecs]

The Loving Master series - #BG3 FanFic Review

Review by Apollo (@apollo-stories)

Good timezone my friends, I am happy to present another constellation in the bright sky of fanfiction: The Loving Master series by calqmity on AO3. (You can find the author on Tumblr at @calqmity and on Twitter.)

A note from the BG3 Fic Reviews team: As always, mind the tags, and for this wonderfully dark work in particular, as it includes numerous controversial and dark themes. These include NSFW; dead dove; necrophilia; non-con elements; and abusive relationships; among others. Our review is continued below the fold due to the heavy nature of the content in this particular series.

Virtual photography by @xandirge.

The series is comprised of three separate works exploring the dark desires of our favourite bloodsucker Ascended Astarion. It starts with The Doll Collector, a fantastic title in and of itself with no small amount of sinister foreshadowing. 

In this story there is a constant and ominous theme of dehumanisation as well as an exploration of Astarion’s relationship with death. The author details Ascended Astarion’s recently devised methods of collecting his new vampire spawn cohort, as well as the addiction he develops in controlling their lifeless bodies. (Reminder: mind the tags!)

Astarion is obsessively controlling, and takes great delight in stripping any sort of independence or autonomy from his spawn that they may have once enjoyed in their former lives. It is a dark work, and there is no healing to be found here. This is an excellently constructed examination of Ascended Astarion’s dark mind and how he fulfills his most toxic needs as his spawn become his latest possessions to play with at his leisure.

The Unbearable Pressure, the author's second work in the series, is no different to its predecessor in its exploration of Ascended Astarion's growing darkness and cruelty. This work focuses more on on his relationship with his most disobedient spawn, Blaze, and his efforts to break her and ensure her obedience. 

The theme of dehumanisation and dollification gets more pronounced the further we read. Astarion wants to control every single part of his spawn. And even despite the obvious sadism of his actions, Astarion genuinely believes he is doing his spawn a kindess, and grapples to understand why his spawn are not more grateful for his 'assistance' and what he considers his dedicated 'care'. The author has expressed Astarion's delusion of benevolence well, as our narrator is wonderfully unreliable.

Haunted By Your Touch, Aching For Your Love is our third and final work in the series, and quite possibly my favourite of the three! (I would call it a crowd pleaser, but that requires that the crowd in question likes breaking characters down and making them suffer oh so deliciously.)

The cycle of abuse and the affection for one’s captor can be difficult to write in fiction. There is a common mistake of stepping back from the scene and becoming more clinical in order to convey why the cycle is happening and why it continues, and, in so doing, create a disconnect between the reader and the characters. This work sees that tripping point coming from miles away and does cartwheels over it. 

We are deep in Astarion’s mind and psyche in this work as his delusions and twisted perspective have completely erased any distinction between reality and his wicked desires. It is left to the keen eye of the reader to pick up on the subtle hints and evidence of his delusions, which are expertly described by the author via the reactions of the other characters that suffer Astarion's whims and mistreatment.

The Loving Master, as a whole, is a wonderful exploration into dark themes and abusive relationships. Astarion’s character is portrayed consistently through the entire series using beautiful metaphors that I could hear Astarion himself repeating in his own voice. And beyond our lead antagonist, the author's original characters are well-written and developed, becoming well-established personalities in their own right. Each one has their own clear motivations and responds to Astarion differently, adding to the depth of the overall narrative with every line. These stories are also structurally sound, as you can look forward to a healthy mix of short and long paragraphs and sentence structures that makes the story easy to read and easy to enjoy.

Mind the tags on AO3, as The Loving Master does not shy away from NSFW elements and very heavy themes. 

Enjoy your dove, but be aware. It is very, very dead.

---

We have included a snippet of The Doll Collector below for your enjoyment, as well as the author's tags as they are currently listed on AO3 for this particular work. Please remember to support the author by leaving kudos and comments on their work on AO3. 🫶

The Doll Collector

"One more bite, is all it would take."

And now his beautifully pliant Lydia laid underneath him, fully submitted to his one desire: for her to become his. Her jet black hair framed her round, delicate face. Through her long, black eyelashes, her dark purple eyes stared up at him, wide and vulnerable. The indigo moonlight skin that bruised wonderfully under the force of his fingers was soft and warm to the touch.

"Be gentle," her quiet voice trembled.

There was nothing gentle about forging an undead monster out of an innocent, precious soul—his perfectly obedient, beautiful little monster, yet a monster nonetheless—but he could pretend, for just a moment.

He brought her wrist up to his mouth, laying a feather light kiss on top of the flesh, eating the garnish before digging into the main course. He cradled it in his hands before sinking his teeth in. Her quick yelp from the sudden pain sent a raging, hot inferno through his abdomen, encouraged by the red delicacy on his tastebuds.

Eventually he forced himself to pull away, letting the bloodied, shaking hand fall from his grasp. He leaned forward, placing his hands on either side of her head, trapping his prey.

"You have given me everything...thank you." His words came out breathy and in between sighs of pleasure. The taste of her blood lingered on his lips, but it wasn't enough. He needed every last drop. While the ritual had rid him of the hunger caused by his supernatural curse, it had been replaced with a new hunger: to take, to take, and to take, from everyone around him. He wanted it all.

She look terrified out of her mind about what was about to happen, her eyes glancing at the liquid ruby dripping down his chin. In this moment, she looked like a porcelain doll. Her plump lips and flushed cheeks had a warm glow cast on them from the candle light in the tavern room. But when his fangs pierced her neck, she did not crack—only screamed. It was like biting into the plumpest, ripest fruit in the orchard, and her cries of pain were the beautiful notes of the birds' song high above in the sky.

[kiraisrika]

Hazbin Hotel: Trace the primal light

This will be part 1/3 Of my hazbin hotel rewrite

Link to part 2: xxx

Edit: this is a safe measure to vivziepop's stans that happen to come across my silly post

I just did a rewrite of a show i thought have so much potential, viv's ideas is good, great even and i respect her (though not support her) because of how far she has come. Shes a great animator and artist, i just wanted to expand her idea in another way unlike her way, its just a silly little rewrite you don't have to take it seriously.

Tldr: I am a bored teen who see the potential and decided to expand on it im not attacking Viv im just critisizing her work, all writers, artist, creator go through that (even me) its just a part of making creating for other people to enjoy. So lets be respectful.

Lets start of with the big fish, the tonal problem of Hazbin Hotel.

I feel like Viv can't decide whether its a serious story or a comedic story, everything feels so unbalanced, one thing the viewer is supposed to make fun of a character the next you need to sympathies with them in one scene to another.

Im not saying comedic shows cannot have a serious setting once in a while, see for example: the amazing world of gumball or heck even my little pony A SHOW MADE FOR KIDS THAT MEANT TO BE LIGHTHEARTED

But ofcourse, Hazbin Hotel have this problem, so lets change it shall we?

In my rewrite HH is in its core a semi-serious show, it has mature theme that is handled seriously and it doesn't make fun of a character in their more character driven moment

Ofcourse, HH still has their humor and allat, it just doesn't interfere with the over all tone of the show

now we move on to season 1 (-ep 9)

In the original series, hazbin hotel has 8 episodes, i wouldn't blame them because their an indie production but i think it should be extended to 9 for good measure

Ep 1 focuses on the setting, tone and introduction

Ep 9 will lay out the stary of the conflict in season 2

And lets just say, the Pilot of HH did a pretty good job of standing in for Ep 1, it has the setting, the characters and how they interact. I particularly liked the introduction to charlie at the start of the pilot, when its the end of the recent extermination and she's essentially "waking up" the rest of hell.

It captured Charlie's motivation and role so perfectly and nicely, it shows her status as princess, and her motivation to end the extermination for her people. All without a single dialog only her song.

Season 1 of my HH rewrite will lean onto more episodic elements, each episode after ep 1 will introduced a new character that come to the hotel and want to be redeemed.this will be the perfect chance for viv to showcase her designs and push the premise forward.

What about sir pentious? Hes a guest yes, he's a guest in ep 1 and will be more of like the core cast along season 1

My rewrite will probably look like this:

Ep 01: Prolog

Ep 02: a guest related to greed

Ep 03: a guest related to gluttony

Ep 04: a guest related to wrath

Ep 05: a guest related to sloth

Ep 06: a Guest related to lust

Ep 07: a guest related to pride

Ep 08: cast centric episode (maybe angel dust)

Ep 09: epilog that will lay out future season

I will talk about ep 9 later after i talk about the villains in part 2

But kira how about the main cast? How about their development?

Good question and i have an answer to you

Each cast or more will handle the said guest in every episode, for example Charlie will try to calm down a rouge wrath guest or Husk will try to help slmeone with the gluttony problem and so on and so forth.

The guest will contrast the cast very much, and this will give you how they interact with someone outside the main cast

Now how about the main cast itself? How do they interact with each other? Through the episodes ofcourse, found family dynamic that build up slowly but surely. Like angel, who don't care about the hotel at the start but slowly warming up to the others

But how about their personal development or trauma? Yes, beacuse season 1 focuses alot more on episodic, developing a character through episode is hard but plausible, so i guess in season 1 we will get a little development in the show don't tell format while in season 2 we will push to more character driven story and story driven story episodes.

how about the main characters?

Ofcourse we gotta start with the main cast

Charlie morningstar

Charlie in my rewrite is nice, sweet and often times pushing herself too much, she has her pride and will do anything to protect it, even if it harm herself. Shes down to earth and thats why she gets brushed off so much by her people because she doesn't earn their respect yet

Her development in season 1 is all about her trying to gain respect and all the while pushing the inner conflict of herself for working herself too much.

And her flaw is shown in one of the scene where she lashed out to her fellow main cast beacuse of her pride as in only her method is the right one. But through out the said episode she will try to fix that part of her in the guidance of her friends.

Likable component

- friendly

- nice

- confident

- leader type

- down to earth

- caring

Unlikable component

- prideful

- Headstrong

- pushing herself too much in the cost of her own self or even her friends

- gullible

- get jealous fairly easily ( not in like a posessive way but in like of how dare you're better than me way)

Vaggie | Vagatha | Valitas (angel name)

Yes i did rewrote her name too because what the fuck is Vagina.

Anyway-

The problem i had with her is the fact she doesn't have any and i mean Any character outside of her being "Charlie's girlfriend who is an angry latina stereotype" so we gotta fix this

In my rewrite, shes a pretty serious and headstrong woman, often being the "straight man" inside the chaos of Hazbin Hotel. While she look like she's made from stone, she actually has a pretty soft side more to her friends.

She's only acted aggressively where she deemed the situation is calling for it or she sense danger arising.

Shes a very good fighter and has been with Charlie for a long Time, though they never outright have a relationship. Their romance is a slow burn one, scenes here and there like lasting glances or playful flirting throughout season 1 that build up to season 2.

She has a pretty good, enemies to friends dynamic with angel dust, and out of all the main cast she's the closest to him by far (platonic!!)

We can easily showcase her character in a show don't tell format like simple gestures like putting a hand in front of charlie when she danger is coming or reassuring the other main cast calmly while holding their hand if need be

Likable components

- attentive

- logical

- serious

- street smart

- wise

- gentle

Unlikable components

- headstrong

- violent (if the situation calls for it)

- self loathing

- overbearing

Angel dust

Angel dust oh yeah we gotta talk about him

*sigh where do i start

I am not going to show his SA scene

Thats it, thats the rewrite

JUST KIDDING

But still no SA scene bcs wtf is that

Angel dust in my hazbin hotel rewrite is a confident and flirty man, he's confident, charming and sexually active man though he does fake his emotions a whole lot.

He stand in the middle of a string between overconfidence and self loathing at the same time, even if he's tired he'll often push all of his real emotions inside and stand proud in his drag queen persona.

He is an actor after all.

He has a very heavy trauma history with Valentino, and beacuse of valentino he develop his eating disorder and self loathing tendencies.

His interaction with main cast starts from him using them as means to escape valentino to him genuinely caring about them

Hes a very complex character over all

Likable components

- confident

- charming

- caring (he doesn't want to admit it)

- attentive

- soft spot

-attractive

Unlikable components

- he'll often accidentally invading others personal space because of his flirting (he'll work on it)

- self loathing

- overconfidence

and also his eating disorder (he'll work on it too in season 1 this will be viewed negatively as in its a bad thing not that angel dust is a terrible person to have ED)

Angel ae urip iki

Husk

Husky dusty my lil meow meow (hes a grown man) Just kidding!!

Husk in my rewrite is often times dismissive, petty, and overall a not fun person beacuse of his " i don't care" attitude but surprisingly hes a pretty good listener and a very detailed observer, he has street smarts and will sometime spit out uncharacteristically good advice.

His relationship with alastor will be dived in more deeper in season 2

Over all he will be that one idgaf bartender that has surprisingly good advice

Likable components

- attentive

- observant

- good listener

- street smart

- wise

- uncharacteristic good advice

Unlikable components

- petty

- dissmissive

- bitter

- salty

Nifty

Ah yes, the hyperactive skrunkle

she's honestly...a very interesting can of worms, she acted like a child but in that one episode she displayed in this sexual setting that made me ick for a little bit

Her character is basically nothing outside of the sociopathic, hyperactive silly goober

In my rewrite she's more reserved while still holding on to that hyperactiveness of her, shes a clean freak and kinda a sociapath often times.

While she hold on to that shes a rather friendly and approachable character, shes like that one friend you would talk your problems with all the while she offered to get rid of the problem (in more ways than one). While she has her flaws with her, it wss established that she was not aware that what her doing is wrong, because in her human life she never thought about right or wrong

And yes in my rewrite shes a rather young gal (maybe high school age?), how did she met alastor? No one knows

And she's ace btw, it just doesn't accured to me she will be the type to think about romance, let alone sex.

Likeable components :

- friendly

- easily approachable

- positive

- clean

Unlikable components

- cant distinct between right or wrong

- gullible

- violent

- overbearing

Alastor

Alastor alastor alastor, what should i do with you?

In my rewrite he is an polite and old timey man, he is a gentleman and quite a charmer. Hes smart, observant and confident.

He'll probably will be the only character in my rewrite to not swear once, instead he will passive aggressively critisize someone with his signature gentleman words for example:

"Your highness perhaps with that silly little head of yours you cannot comprehend this level complexity do you?"

but ofcourse he wasn't a tumblr sexyman for nothing Ain't he?

he's manipulative while simultaneously approachable, making him more dangerous, he is sadistic and psycothic all of his move and act is for himself and only himself

It wasn't clear of wether or not he started to care for the other main cast or not but one thing is for certain that he is a force to behold.

And hes one of the girls

Also, no voodoo thingy

Likable components :

- Charming

- polite

- gentleman

- observant

- smart

Unlikable components

- manipulative

- sadistic

- fake.

- obsessive

Yes that's all for today's rewrite, part two will hopefully be tomorrow, ofcourse this is not a perfect rewrite, im open to what interpretation you guys have about my rewrite!!

Edit: sorry guys, i write this on a whim in the middle of the night and im veryy sleepy so i hope the typo and grammar mistakes can be excused

[p0m0u]

Campus Visit vs In Love, an analysis

This post was inspired by @kitabearuwu’s posts, here and here. This also a companion post for this post, and heck, why not, this other post. The video is super rudimentary, but I hope it helps to understand the musical thingy better.

Before we get to the main issue, a few notes on the usage of music to convey meanings: some composers (classical, ost) use the concepts of leitmotifs and themes to add a deeper layers of information to their compositions, or to films and series.

The difference between leitmotif vs theme is that a leitmotif is usually a sequence of just notes (one-two minimum), while the theme is the developed version of the leitmotif (with more notes and accompaniment). The Hedwig leitmotif would be, for instance, “dan-dan, da-dan-dan, dan-dan, dan, dan, da-da-dan, da-dan”, while the theme is the whole Hedwig’s theme track, with full orchestration.

A leitmotif can be used in a lot of ways: to imitate a sound (of a bird, for instance), to convey a feeling (love) to represent a character (Darth Vader), a place (Hogwarts)… and so on. When played in a negative tone, it can mean the contrary (love = hate or break up). When developed, can evolve into anything else (loneliness = friendship).

(For more info on this: this video and this video)

Leo Birenberg borrows some leitmotifs/themes from Jurassic movies and creates new ones, even though he said he doesn’t (I don’t believe you, my musical dude). Darius, Ben and Yaz have their own themes (that represent concepts), although Sammy makes Yaz’ theme her own since s4 in a few sequences.

Camp Cretaceous (the camp itself) has a theme, too: it’s the theme of friendship mainly. It plays in ep 1, when the kids hop off the car and contemplate the camp for the first time, or in ep 4, in a negative way, when Yaz says they are on their own, or at the end of ep 2x8, when the group hugs.

You might think that this is not relevant but it is, because Camp Cretaceous theme is played in a negative way in Campus Visit track, along with the In Love leitmotif (just 4 notes, it’s not still developed like the In Love theme). CC theme sounds different here because it’s a variation (with added notes), but it’s the same idea as in JWCC.

And my dudes and dudettes, the In Love is the very same that plays in both tracks, no doubt. Played with different notes and different scale, but the idea is the very same.

Ben’s In Love sounds more positive, despite having the sad Camp Cretaceous theme, and also ends in a positive way, contrary to Darius’ In Love, while this last one is more developed: Ben’s In Love is played just with and harp (struck string instrument), while Darius’ is played with violins (bowed string instrument) + light voice chorus. Darius’ theme is more developed simply because we still don’t know what would happen with Brooklynn and Ben but we do know that Darius is in love with Brooklynn. Also, Darius theme is kinda unresolved / resolved in a negative way because, allegedly, Brooklynn didn’t reciprocate him.

My theory again (a bit romantic one) is that Brooklynn is the girlfriend and she really likes Ben romantically. Remember the “at first, I was like, ugh, but this view?” line? I believe that’s a hint. As I said on my short essay, Brooklynn has been alone and isolated for months. Talking online with Ben probably helped her not only to keep tabs on Nublar 5, it also helped her emotionally. At the beginning, they were just online friends, but with time both felt something more (even though Ben does not know that his friend is Brooklynn). And instead of abstain herself, she let herself go.

That’s why (maybe) the In Love plays, but also the sad Camp Cretaceous theme, because this catfishing is going to hurt Ben and damage their friendship for a while, but if I interpreted the piece correctly, they will make up somehow, although the piece ending positively does not imply them being canonically together. I believe that another season will be needed to develop this.

The other option of Catfishing is that Brooklynn did it because “Whatever It Takes” is her motto and she went on a spiral. I don’t like this option because it would damage their friendship even more, and maybe beyond repair, but it’s an option we have to consider.

“But do you consider the possibility of Ben having an actual girlfriend?” I did considered it until I re-watched the sequence thanks to @kitabearuwu and also noticed the themes.

And that’s it. Feel free to comment/discuss!

[quirkwizard]

I always did wonder how Mount Lady became the pro hero she is today. Considering we have been given some backstories to most heroes if you had to give Mount Lady a origin story, how would you do it?

Since we know so little about her, I'm basically going full on headcanon, fan fiction mode and coming up with what I think is the most interesting idea for her.

Like a lot of characters in this setting, Yu's issues started when she is very young. Because he power is so volatile and dangerous, she ended up causing a lot of damage. So as Yu grows up, she gets constantly reprimanded by her parents for using her power all the time. Her power has been nothing but a big problem. Then at some point before high school, she could could some heroic event involving her. Maybe she helps beat up a giant bully or helps smash through something with her massive size, but the result is that people start to praise her for her power. It's basically the first real affirmation she's gotten from her power and makes her want to be a hero. Because it's the only occupation where a power like her could be useful. Where she could be praised for something that defines her more then anything else. I could see her being the queen bee and popular girl at whatever hero school she went to, with her amazing power quickly shooting her to the top of the school, further inflating her ego, before entering the greater hero world with a bang.

Now this could seem like a retcon with her initial personality, but I think this still fits with the popularity driven version of her. It just adds some more context and sympathy to her actions while develing into an unexplored aspect of the world. Namely how hard is it to live day to day with certain power and how that could affect people. It's not something that really expanded upon in the series. And I'm not talking socially, like the undercooked mutant plotline, but more in terms of infrastructure. That people can and do have their lives made harder just because of the Quirks they have and how the world can't accommodate real out their cases. There's a brief implication of it with Izuku at the start of the series and how UA is designed with bigger doors, but it doesn't really go anywhere. And while it is isn't a consistent problem with Mount Lady, the fact hew power is so destructive and dangerous could work as an avenue to explore the idea more. Like how her parents would have to constantly repair the house or buy special clothes just to work around Yu's power and how that affected how she saw herself and her ability to grow.

[ynscrazylife]

got an angsty scenario that idk how i’d write (like pairing/character wise) but i’m gonna share it with you all anyway!

it’d be a demon/devil x human or angel. forbidden romance, ofc, but once they actually fall in love with each other and get together, the human or angel gets sick. feverish. a bad fever. at first they presume that they’ll just get over it (or, if it’s an angel, they’re a little worried cause angels aren’t supposed to get sick). but it doesn’t stop. their devil partner does everything to try and help and nothing works. eventually they realize — the devel is unintentionally causing the fever with hell’s heat radiating off of them. bam. angst. hurt. sadness. there you go.

[scruffyspeaks]

ok then if you want criticism. ok then here is some criticism for all the ssec main cast (except Vay since i already made on for him)

blizz: ok this is going to hurt you but the big problem with him is that he was made like a uwu boy who did nothing wrong with a traumatized backstory which made more boring and flatter. it less feel those help his character and more you are grappling me by my shirt and telling to love him or else.

dusk: my problem with him come from his two-mask persona. so when he was in his goofy side, i did not mind, yes, he was dumb and a deuce, but he was fun as a character, but then when they revealed he was faking his stupidness and how an intelligent Pokémon, that where i lost it. now every stupid he does is now mean less since we know the truth. there is also the whole what is he doing is good or bad situation which is more confusing and made not like him at all.

eve: ok while i love this character, i can say that she a massive flaw and that is she boring, she a Mary sue character with almost no character development until the fight chapter and that chapter 27 out of 30 chapters. don't get me wrong what we got in the fight chapter was good and all but waiting that long for her character to shine really feel as a rocket was shot to my face.

both bolt and flame are in this spot for one reason, they do nothing at all, they have little to no character development until recently which is wired considering how many chapter there are in this comic. they have one note personality and feel they aren't developed Yet.

both dawn and Miku are here for also the same reason, they barely appear in the comic at all and when they do, they have the most boring personality ever and they are very one dimensional.

finally, we have daisy: oh boy this character needs to be said. so daisy has three going for her, her love life with blizz and Vay, her two alter ego and her become a better person. good thing, one problem, two of those things appear very late (like chapter 27 to 30 late) so we only had is the love triangle and that get really repetitive really fast. daisy like blizz who was oblivious as hell, Vay like daisy which she does not love him back. and that happen over and over till it become boring. there is nothing there for daisy to become good

look just a reminder that is a critisim post on the character, not a hate, you a decent writer that made some good character, they just need a little tuning. also you asked for this.

I'm actually aware of all of these things! I learned to be very self critical and overly analytical of my writing over the years, so I'm very aware of all of these points. Tho, some of these points are opinion.

It's so funny that I talk about most of these in the video. Recording my lines for that today btw!!!

I do think I explain most of these points pretty well in the video already, so I'll just talk about the things I don't talk about in the video.

1- Blizz Oh yeah, BIG TIME. Some people told me that I lifted Blizz up while putting down the rest of the main boys, but I don't exactly see it that way, because like- How the other boys treated him was not great, but all of them had legitimate reasons for doing so (Even Bolt, SADLY). If I explain things from Vay or Dusk's POV, Blizz would not be as liked, and that IS IN FACT the case, because when I DID explain Vay's POV of a situation without putting in why Blizz did the things he did, people started disliking Blizz due to his actions towards Vay. But the comic frames it in a way that we see things in Blizz's POV, NOT Vay's POV. I don't exactly like how his character became "UwU bb" tho, I liked it better when he had "Spice" Like in the Shopping with idiots chapter. Sadly, I didn't exactly KNOW how to go back to that Blizz without Dusk being in the picture, because Dusk purposefully pushes Blizz's buttons. I felt as tho his character was so muddied up with different iterations that when I finally found a direction to take him in, and saw him develop as a character, a lot of his original roughness left as well. Also, Blizz HAS done wrong, we just haven't really seen him get any consequences for his own actions yet. Specifically on how he treats the eevees or treats his position, because we were not really there yet? Like, Blizz beat up 2 eevees in front of the entire brotherhood and the Icedrop eevees afterward were saying how awesome he is. Why is that? I think the only form of decent we have rn in regards to Blizz is Jed being implied to not like him. We WERE going to explore this more ofc, Buuuttttt Box 31. Also!! All the main cast (except Dawn) have traumatizing backstories!!! That's kind of the point of the series, and that wont change with Box 31.

2- Dusk This is an opinion. plenty of people like this about his character. Also, all the stupid things he did are malicious. If you look at it, Dusk is literally the villain of the series. (explained more in vid)

3- Eve Yeah Eve kind of sucks as a main character (this is fixed in Box 31, as explained in the video). I wanted to start off her plot with the girls way earlier in the series, but chickened out sadly due to thinking I'd get backlash. Also, I made her a Mary Sue on purpose (No- like really, I did, I based the girls in the cast off of anime archetypes). Nothing really to say about her, she's kind of a bad main character for the story and it's literally just wild how much actual Mary Sue-ness I packed into her. (Like bro she has the blood of a legendary Pokémon flowing through her veins, WHY???? TTATT)

4- Everyone else Lack of screen time and pacing issues explain the others, but I talk about this in the video so no need to talk about it here.

[beebeeswee]

2024 books in review!

This is a very long post, and moreso for me to get my thoughts out than for anyone else's interest; but I'd love to know if any of yous have read these!

HERE WE GO!

Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë: This was the first big classic I read by myself at 14, and it was fun to reread it for the first time, now as an adult, and to see how my experience of the story changed. Still loved it just as much as I did the first time, but I gained a much deeper understanding of Jane's character, and found her to be even more inspiring. Her determination, sense of self and strong moral compass makes her one of the powerhouses of female protagonists. Mr Rochester still gives me the ick though...

To the Lighthouse - Virginia Woolf: Incredible novel. I adore how Woolf interweaves and switches from different narratives and perspectives seamlessly throughout the novel, and in the middle of scenes. I spent 90% of reading this underlining her beautiful imagery and metaphors. Her writing feels so alive. It's no mystery why she is so renowned for her female characters; after finishing this, I read a very cool feminist article about how this is considered one of the first pieces of media to acknowledge the emotional labour women have to perform for men. I would love to talk more about my own thoughts on how emotional labour is represented in this book through the characters of Mrs. Ramsay, Lily Briscoe and Cam Ramsay in relation to Mr Ramsey and maybe I will...who knows...

Dead Poets Society - Nancy H. Kleinbaum: I read this in a day when I had some time to kill in a coffee shop. I didn't realise until after I'd finished it that the book is based on the movie, not the other way around, and you can definitely tell. It reads as a beat by beat of the film's plot, without really any inner thoughts from the characters to differentiate it from just being a very a long Wikipedia synopsis. Feels like you're just being carried along quite passively. Not bad, but the movie is such a masterpiece you should just watch (or rewatch) that.

The Lottery and Other Stories - Shirley Jackson: More amazing feminist literature. I love domestic horror, and these short stories capture the horror in what is often seen as very mundane aspects of everyday life for women. A lot of strong themes about the contrast between the city and developing suburbia / rural countryside, and has great female centred perspectives that show the horrors in both. Other concepts like domestic violence, bigotry and class dynamics are explored by Jackson as well. There's so much tension in each story, through dialogue full of unspoken meanings, well developed characters over a few short pages, and rich descriptions that make you feel like you're the characters inside each story.

The Mill House Murders - Yukito Ayatsuji. The second book in Ayatsuji's 'House Murders' series and so far my favourite. The slow burn plot, unique narrative structure, exciting mystery and endlessly charming detective Shimada Kiyoshi made me not want to put this book down for a second. I loved trying to solve the murders before he did (I didn't do half bad) and I found it gripping until the very last sentence. Excellent way to follow the cult-classic first book, The Decagon House Murders.

In the Miso Soup - Ryū Murakami: This was a very violent horror novel, very sexually graphic and gory. The violence came as such a shock in comparison to the very slow pace the book started with, that I had to re-read serval pages multiple times to make sure I didn't miss something. The motivations of the characters seemed a little blurry, and I found that no-one really acted with any purpose or agency. Perhaps that was a conscious choice, as the novel takes a very critical stance to both Japanese and American culture in the late 1990s, but it left me stumbling behind a bit, not really getting a chance to absorb the true gravitas of the actions. I found the violence too intense at many points, without the pay off of a developed villain or protagonist to justify it.

Notes from Underground - Fyodor Dostoevsky: I read this in between The Idiot and found it to be such a great counter to that novel. The narrator is realistic, funny, unreliable and quite unlikable in an engaging way. It's amazing that Dostoevsky's underground man holds sentiments that are relatable to a 22 year old woman 150 years later. The interactions he has with other characters, his strange motivations and intense emotions were brutally refreshing. The only fault in this book is that I can't read it in the original Russian, and I really felt a miscommunication between the narrator's ideology and how I received it. I'd love to read a different translation of this, an older one, and compare them.

The Invisible Man - H. G. Wells: I love 19th century/Victorian sci-fi horror, and this book has been on my to-read for a while. I loved the premise, the story was engaging and I read it over the course of a couple of days. 'The Invisible Man' is a very strange and unusual person, and I think that characterisation is needed, without that the plot may have suffered, as his motivations twist dramatically throughout the book. It also makes it very interesting to follow his decent into desperation. Jarringly humorous at points, which I don't think was Wells' intention, and a classic for a reason. It's my personal opinion that so many protagonists from this genre are so Icarian in nature, and Griffin is no exception.

The Idiot - Fyodor Dostoevsky: This book was amazing. I found it pretty hard to keep track of all the characters, and I did have to refer to the character sheet at the front of my book quite a few times, but that didn't dampen how dear the protagonist, Myshkin, became to me. As did so many of the minor characters, all of whom are hard to let go of when you close the book. The characters were so strong, the motivations clear, and the social commentary so vital that I feel I'll have to re-read it with a degree in Russian History. One of my new favourite books, with devastating character arcs and strong themes of religion, class and ideology to that made me empathise with the kind-hearted Myshkin as he was thrown into Russian society. Dostoevsky's own voice was strong in the book, and he didn't shy away from skilfully positing himself into the characters' political debates. I haven't got much to compare it to, but I found similarities between the female characters in the Idiot to those of Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, another one of my favourite books.

No Longer Human - Osamu Dazai: This book has been on my radar for a couple of years now; and I won't lie and say that discovering Bungo Stray Dogs over summer didn't act as the final push to finally read the novel this year, but I'm glad I finally did. This book is devastating, and follows the diaries of the troubled and extremely isolated Yozo and how his lifelong struggles with mental health and addiction shape his life from childhood to his late twenties. I read this book in a week, and found it hard to put down, even though each page turn was devastating. Yozo was such a self-aware and self-critical character, but that didn't deter his manipulative and self-destructive behaviour. A very heavy read, but one I found very interesting and compelling. Followed The Idiot as another book I sobbed my eyes out reading.

The Labyrinth House Murders - Yukito Ayatsuji: The third book in the 'House Murders' series, and unfortunately I didn't enjoy it as much as the first two. The premise was interesting, and there were some very unique puzzles and methods of killing, but the ending sucked the joy out of solving the mystery. Ayatsuji left out important character details and storylines that made solving the mystery alongside Kiyoshi impossible for the reader. Throw in a strange (and wildly inaccurate) plot point on menstruation, and this book left me feeling underwhelmed as best and frustrated at worst. I'm still looking forward to reading the next English translation, which will be released next year, The Clock House Murders.

HAPPY (ALMOST) NEW YEAR EVERYONE!