#character discussion: the root pack

[saioratral]

PARING: itoshi rin x reader

PROMPT: speak, don't keep quiet SYNOPSIS: rin really listens to you, as if he tuned everyone out just for you

WARNING: none NOTE: based on something in my morning discussion. not proofread and uh very short because i was in a hurry

the library room filled with chattering, afterall it was time to do the project.you found yourself paired with a group of kids, all of whom seemed far smarter than you'd anticipated. who else would laugh at the square root of two jokes? beside you sat itoshi rin, a student who had once been highly admired by the class before he began to shut everyone out of his life 

a list was made for the presentation topics, and it was time to vote. you had an idea you wanted to share—hoping to contribute and improve your grades—but every time you spoke up, someone cut you off or talked over you. the chattering wouldn't stop even when you tried to raise your voice 

"can you guys shut up?" rin rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. "speak."

"huh?" you asked, turning to him in confusion.

"you were speaking, weren't you?"

suddenly, the room fell silent. your group mates turned to look at you, apologizing for not listening. you paused for a moment, collecting your thoughts, before sharing your idea. they seemed to like it, adding it to the list and finalizing the topic. the discussion came to an end, everyone packed up to leave.

after waving goodbye to the others, you and rin stood at the door of the room. you checked to make sure the lights were off, not wanting to get into trouble with security. you flashed rin a small smile before turning to leave.

"how are you getting home?" rin asked, glancing away, his hands stuffed in his pockets.

you turned back to the teal-haired boy, gripping your bag strap a little tighter. "i'm waiting for the bus."

"..."

"see you around," you said, starting to walk away, but rin called out and quickly caught up to you.

"i'll walk you," he said, tugging gently at your sweater. "you're a professional at getting lost."

you throw him a glare but allowed him to lead the way to the bus stop. it was a nice walk, the morning air cold as ever but you felt so warm beside him, what magic is this? 

© saioratral 2024-25 -- do not repost, translate, alter, etc on any platform without permission. Any characters used in my work do not belong to me, they are created by their original creator. all images used are from pinterest

[florenceafternoon]

━。゜✿ jily fic recommendations ✿ ゜。━

I've also seen a lot of people asking for 6/7th year jily so I tried to include some. These fics explore how much they've grown in that period between the end of school and the rising tensions of war.

Of course, I've also included fics with marauders shenanigans. As always, these fics are set in the wizarding world but aren’t necessarily canon complaints.

For reference, anything in italics is taken from the summaries.

Death and Other Inconveniences by @asteriaem

When James Potter disappeared for ten days in the middle of the spring term of their fifth year, the whole school noticed. He buried his parents in a quiet ceremony and returned to school amid outrageous rumours.

When Lily Evans disappeared for three days before the Christmas holidays in sixth year, two people noticed. She found the house packed, a nasty note from her sister, and spent the rest of the holidays sleeping rough. Both are left grieving and angry at Hogwarts over the summer, with no where else to go and war raging around them. Really, how else could it have gone?

God where do I even start? This fic is incredibly well written; everything from how well-rounded and dynamic all the characters are to the dialogue and descriptions. For everyone tired of character deformation and would like to read a long-form that explores the turbulence of adolescence coupled with grief and the uncertainties of war this fic is for you. When I say I miss old jily, I mean this exact era of characterisation.

Notes by @scriibble-fics

On an ordinary Tuesday in October of 1975, James Potter passes Lily Evans a note. She has no way of knowing it, of course, but it’s the first note of thousands that will pass between them in the years to come.

Head of House by SwissCheesePlant

The consequences of Sirius and James pretending to be boyfriends weren't supposed to come to a head during a convoluted and unnecessarily kinetic drinking game... but such is life.

As If By Magic by @annabtg

Lily Evans, Head Girl, is starting her seventh year at Hogwarts. Alongside her, Head Boy James Potter, who has always had a crush on her yet has given up all hope of winning her over. But between working together, sharing fun times with friends and getting through the darker moments that come with living in an era of war, things between them are bound to change...

Questions and Answers by lizardcookie (on ao3)

The simple question of whether or not they're dating doesn't exactly have a simple answer (seventh Year jily).

Come Together by @thequibblah

It’s difficult to say when James and Lily took the first steps to love. Perhaps they had always been walking this road, unaware of the person they were walking towards until the mist cleared. They would fall in love eventually — but we would be remiss in ignoring the hiccups along the way.

Okay so confession, I haven’t read this but it's been on my TBR for ages and everyone's been recommending me to read it. Judging by other works by the same author that I have read, I can attest that Lily and James have always been well-written so I trust that this fic is no exception.

These next few fics are all by @gigglesandfreckles-hp because Abi's characterisations are perfect and there’s just something about her writing that transports me to the scene. This woman can make me laugh and cry and worry all in under three thousand words.

roots of memory

Lily frowns slightly, mulling it over. “I’m not really sure either,” she admits. “Honestly, don’t take this personally, but I don’t remember much about you in the first couple of years. I think I was too focused on trying to figure out school and magic and everything else.”

James clutches his chest in mock offence. “I’ll act like that didn’t just irreparably damage my soul.”

crafting chemistry

“Is there something that needs to be discussed between the three of us?” Minerva prompts, her eyes narrowing sharply.

Lily’s face betrays her first. A bright flush creeps slowly along her cheeks, blooming from her neck upward, as though her skin can’t hide the emotion simmering underneath. She keeps her eyes stubbornly trained on the far corner of the office, anywhere but James. Minerva notices James’s hand, the one that had been habitually running through his hair, freeze mid-motion, his fingers tightening slightly.

but we dream in the light (a continuation of one of my favourite fics)

“Lily Evans, we have got to stop meeting like this,” he grins.

She shakes her head, laughing. “Jesus Christ.”

James spins around dramatically. “Where?”

the dance of mischief and duty

Lily Evans is an infuriating mosaic of traits—beautiful and she knows it, captain of the House Quidditch team, and the loudest voice in nearly any room. She has this way of floating through the school, her laughter ringing out as she moves between corridors and classes, one arm usually slung around Sirius Black’s shoulder and the other gesticulating wildly as she spins tales of misadventure.

But she also sort of has a point, and that’s possibly the most infuriating part about her.

prompt: flip the script

my church offers no absolutes

She stares at him, her eyes the only ones open as the priest prays, but she can’t look away.

James Potter is here.

under the influence of loss

“Like what? You fancy me! Kiss me.”

Each time she says it, it’s like a new bruise blooms around his heart, her words pressing on all of them at once.

“I can’t!” he shouts, the frustration cracking through.

“Because I’ve been drinking?” she demands, a bitter laugh escaping her. “Your chivalry is duly noted, Potter, but I’m giving you a pass here. Just—”

“It’s not about that,” he interrupts.

You know what they say, you can tell who an author's favourite character is by how much they make them suffer

From the Edge by @maraudersftw

A three-hour-long detention. A barrage of unspilled words. A kiss that has remained unacknowledged. Until now.

That Summer by the_casual_author (on ao3)

In which James and Lily spend the summer in a house by the sea. (and fall in love in the process)

pleasant, poised, polite, professional by @ohmygodshesinsane

Lily Evans' journalism career is stagnating, and when Mumblemumps sweeps through the office, she couldn't be less pleased to be asked to cover the sports beat. James Potter, the captain of the Wimborne Wasps who is campaigning to win Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile, only seems to confirm her worst fears about athletes. Until.

If you enjoyed James' characterisation in James Potter Won't Go Quietly then you'll enjoy this

Fantasise also by @ /ohmygodshesinsane

When Lily ends up taking Veritaserum as part of one of Sirius' games, James finds that he really doesn't need to know any of the nitty-gritty details. Fate has other plans.

And James Potter also by @ /ohmygodshesinsane

The most unfortunate part about being one of the best students in the year, if you ask Lily Evans, is being forced to work alongside James Potter. The most fortunate part about being one of the best students in the year, if you ask James Potter, is getting opportunities to annoy Lily Evans. The fact of the matter is, that despite their both being talented, intelligent students with bright futures and burning competitive streaks, Lily and James will never get along. No matter how much others think they ought to.

Braid also by @ /ohmygodshesinsane

Sick and tired of revision, Lily gladly takes a distraction in the name of giving James Potter a helping hand.

Revenge Tastes Sweeter by @charmsandtealeaves

This by far had to be one of the more stupid things that Lily Evans had ever agreed to, and she’d gone along with a lot of her friends' bullshit ideas. She’d wanted to maintain her dignity in breaking up with her shit of an ex-boyfriend. However, fake dating James Potter hadn’t been in her grand plan of dignity. She’d merely been venting her frustrations to her dorm mates in the common room, she hadn’t expected advice and well… plotting. Though she should have expected better, these lot were always plotting something. Was it too late to just go with Dorcas’ “Stab him!” suggestion?

Simmer Until Ready by @kay-elle-cee

James Potter is not a healer. His is a potioneer—the Order of the Phoenix's lead potioneer, in fact. So when their top field fighter—Lily Evans—comes to him for treatment after a particularly rough mission, he helps the best way he knows how: a vial of freshly-brewed Skele-Gro and a dose of laughter.

Kels always writes the best order!jily

climb higher by penniesinthepool (on ao3)

It's been three (long) years since Lily and James have seen each other. Now, he's living out his dream playing Quidditch with Puddlemere United and she hers as an Auror.

They're happy. But fate (and annoying friends) works in funny ways, sometimes, and through a series of chance meetings, they begin to wonder if maybe, just maybe, they could be happier. My take on what would maybe happen in a universe where James wasn't Head Boy, taken to the extreme.

after O.W.L.s by @juniperpyre

a short snippet of James Potter's and Lily Evans' thoughts after their Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L., and before the altercation with Severus Snape changes everything.

It was so close to going a better way

Haley's characterisations are always on point

”Just” Partners by @petalsthefish

James asks Lily what they are after a series of long and hidden snogs in dark corridors.

tied to you by @jjameslily

Lily’s foot sank into the damp earth as she stepped closer to the water’s edge. The lake mirrored the starry sky above, but something else caught her eye – a shape in the reflection.

James my sweet summer child, thank you for looking after her

Love for the Summer by @missgryffin

It's the summer after sixth year, Lily Evans is realizing she fancies James Potter, and James has Sirius Black's motorbike to thank for getting Lily out of the friend zone.

of hearts and keys by the_crownless_queen (on ao3)

In a world where magic means everyone can see your soul, Lily Evans wonders what it would feel like for someone she loves to open her heart.

Seven Years and Seventy More by surlybobbies (on ao3)

When James walked into the 7th year Gryffindor boys’ dormitory a few moonstruck minutes later, he found Sirius lying in bed with his hands folded across his stomach. “Been with Evans, then?” he asked, without lifting his head. There was a distinct note of disapproval in his voice.

James froze in the act of unwinding the scarf from his neck. “Er, yeah.”

“She doing well?” Remus asked from his bed, the closest one to the door. He had a book open on his lap but had lifted his gaze when James came in. His stare was steady and pleasant, but there was a sharpness behind it that put James on the defensive.

(James has some news.)

This Town Is Fake But You're The Real Thing by @tedwardremus

Teen radio star Lily Evans works for a show on the wizarding wireless network called, The Marauders. The teen soap drama stars James Potter as an arrogant school jock and centers on the secret adventures of his friends in the forbidden forest as illegal animagus and a werewolf. The show's antagonist, played by Severus Snape, left after a scandal, and now Lily has a romantic storyline with James in the final season of the show. Basically, her life is a disaster.

Prophecy by Alohaemora (on ao3)

Faint rays of sunlight began to filter into the nursery from the pink-red sky outside, the morning song of robins and thrushes lilting as all of Sirius's worst fears manifested before him, devastating in their might.

"Fuck," he whispered. A horrible, painful lump swelled in his throat, clawing, stinging. "Fucking hell."

The corners of Lily's lips trembled. "James didn't know how to tell you."

Not quite a jily fic but I wanted to share

not as smart as you think you are (or how to fall in love in 7 months) by Squidge_06 (on ao3)

Lily Evans has spent the past 6 years excelling at school and hating James Potter. Both these facts converge suddenly at the beginning of her 7th year when she’s confronted with a less than perfect grade and a Transfiguration tutor who is the very last person she wants to see.

That same person might just turn out to be a whole lot more complicated and just a little more wonderful than she could ever have imagined.

Meeting the Potters by FloreatCastellum (on ao3)

It's always a risk, introducing your parents to your girlfriend. Most people don't have to worry about whether or not their mother is going to be in handcuffs, though.

Mistle-Wow by LiveLaughLoveToRead (on ao3)

Lily and James Potters’ love was fiery, filled with passion, tragedy, and love. It was not a fast ignition of a flame that proceeded to burn bright. No, it was a flame that was lit on the Hogwarts Express before anyone had joined the compartment. It burned brighter as their years progressed, and it was lit ablaze in their seventh year. It burned until the day they died.

Or an incident that would have had Madam Pince seething (if they were caught)

Simple Math by yallofthemwitches (on ao3)

Remus notices something is off about James and Lily at the Prefect's meeting.

[bluegiragi]

Hello! My friends and I are big fans of your work and like to babble about it like excited babies and we got to talking about your monster au today, because we’re so excited!

My friend brought up the fact Price might have balance issues because of the missing wing and we were discussing how he might deal with that (other than very quietly so no one worries about him). We thought perhaps he might carry a weight on his shoulder to balance it out and during missions, carry his gear more concentrated on that side. I was wondering, did you have any ideas fleshed out for how he deals with his disability?

(Also, just an aside, it’s sort of a big thing for me to see disabled characters, because I’m disabled myself, so thank you for adding it! And just gushing: I love your work! Your König gives my heart the flutters! ❤️❤️)

hello anon!! thank you so much for giving me ample opportunity to talk about price and his wing - you've kind of nailed the mechanics of it but I thought I'd talk more broadly about how accommodating monster-y features works in the monster au.

wings (and other features) for monsters can be retracted and regrown at will, but the process is always gruelling and painful. the process also begins to leave more pressing residual effects when the monster gets older, like lingering muscle pain or weakened bone structure. this is why the 141 relish being around each other - government contract work is one of the few opportunities where monsters can be openly comfortable with their bodies with other monsters outside of their immediate herds/packs/flocks etc.

price's tail (as well as most of the other shifters) is a permanent fixture of his body. in civilian mode, he straps it down to his leg to keep it from moving around. however, his wings and horns are retractable. this 'regrowing' ability is also why a prosthetic just wouldn't be viable.

the wing price lost was ripped out at the root (ouch) meaning he can't regrow it like he can his other wing. and you're right! the loss of one wing means that price's weight is almost always leaning towards his left side, even when his remaining wing is retracted. to offset it, he tends to wear a weighted shoulder brace on that side of his body.

the muscles around where his wing stub should've been also don't get a lot of work these days and are intermittently wracked with muscle aches, so he has to stretch that area pretty regularly.

[animefeminist]

The joyful affirmation of plus-sized leads in yuri

Content Warnings: Discussions of fatphobia and sizeism in media (not directly present in the manga discussed, but rather in general pop culture), sexism, and queerphobia.

Spoilers for the second volume of She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat

Character designs are one of the most crucial elements in a visual medium, as choices in clothing and hairstyle can be subtle references to cultural expectations and understandings. Body type is one of these indicators, as many protagonists are portrayed with idealized bodies, while antagonists are given “undesirable” bodies. This commonly results in unconscious examples of harmful stereotypical beliefs rooted in ableism, racism, cissexism, sizeism and/or fatphobia.  

Fatness, in particular, is commonly used as a shorthand visual cue for a character who has an abhorrent and insatiable appetite whether it be for food, power, sex, or some combination therein. Even secondary characters on the side of the hero(ine)s are not immune to this harsh perception, as their fatness typically makes them the butt of the joke to both the other characters and their creators. In this context, fatness is often something associated with clumsiness and incompetence in comparison to the rest of their group, and these characters can only be worthy of respect after they shed some pounds.  

Finding positive examples of representation within any genre is generally frustrating for many plus-sized readers and viewers, but the romance genre is perhaps one of the most disheartening as we typically are not present at all. This harkens back to common perception in various cultural contexts that larger, fatter, bodies are synonymous with being unattractive and undesirable, alongside other negative connotations. 

Mainstream manga with romance (sub)plots are no exception to this, with very few stories positively portraying a fat protagonist in the leading role. This is part of why seeing two recent yuriseries with plus-sized women in the leading roles was such an unexpected, long-overdue joy. These series are the action-packed, sci-fi-horror-romance SHWD by sono.N and the sweet, grounded, and unquestionably queer positive slice-of-life She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat by Yuzaki Sakaomi. In a media landscape where there are seldom women who have a body type like mine, seeing two very different series, in terms of genre and presentation, showcase plus-sized sapphic women as people worthy of respect and desire, was so impactful for me.

Read it at Anime Feminist!

[icyrambles]

of all my transformers takes, i feel like the one that'll get me sent directly to fandom hell is my feral hatred of the term "femme"

like genuinely it's such a stupid term. not because i don't think the robots can't have gender. because i do think they have some concept of gender. but because it's just woman 2.0

like you've got this super interesting alien species. they've got their own culture, their own language, their own ideas of sexuality and right and wrong, and their own religion. and to see most of the fandom look at that and go "but what if i just made man and woman but for robots" pisses me off

it makes me mad because it's fucking boring as shit. you've got all this cool worldbuilding and lore and you decide that the best thing to do when discussing robot gender is just to give them human gender but slightly to the left

"but icy, how to you distinguish the women transformers from the male ones?"

just fucking use mech for all of them. i use mech/mecha as a catch all term. it's my replacement for person or man or guy. like when someone says "you guys" they could obviously be referring to a group of all men, but let's be real here, "you guys" as it is used in colloquial english, is a gender neutral term despite having a more gendered term within it.

and it's specifically the term femme that grinds my gears. i don't have any issues with people headcanoning characters using she/her pronouns. i think that's cool as hell because pronouns do not equate to gender and in a fandom where like, 90% of the characters use he/him it's nice to see some switchups for pronouns because it gets a little repetitive after a while. but the term femme just tells me that you subscribe to the idea that the alien robot species who do not have the same concepts and ideas of gender as humans do, somehow managed to craft together the exact same gender concepts as an organic species halfway across the galaxy.

and i'm sure someone might be like "well it's not a gender thing" but i only ever see the term femme used to describe a canon character who uses she/her pronouns (like arcee or elita-1) or to describe a fandom headcanon that revolves around a character using she/her pronouns (like starscream or ravage) it has everything to do with how the fandom seems to cling to the idea that cybertronians have to have the same concepts of gender for humans

i've been in this fandom for a little over a year and despite going through forums and tumblr posts and even looking at twitter for a tiny bit, i've yet to see an actual attempt at exploring the concepts of cybertronian gender.

so here's mine; taken from my worldbuilding ideas that i'm sorting out for my in the works fan continuity

cybertronian gender, like a lot of their societal norms, is tied to one's altmode.

as taken from the marriam-webster dictionary: gender is - a subclass within a grammatical class (such as noun, pronoun, adjective, or verb) of a language that is partly arbitrary but also partly based on distinguishable characteristics (such as shape, social rank, manner of existence, or sex) and that determines agreement with and selection of other words or grammatical forms

now applying that to a species that has the specific characteristic of being able to literally change shape with the assistance of an internal organ (ie the t-cog) leads me to the idea that instead of gender being based on the biological sex like it is for humans, gender is instead rooted in the altmode.

the terms of seeker and speedster are adjectives to describe the altmode of a cybertronian, but also can describe the gender. this isn't meant to be a direct 1-1 copy of human ideas of sex and gender but instead a theoretical worldbuilding exercise in how a species that does not reproduce in a sexual manner would develop similar concepts of personal expressions through their established canon biology.

within my worldbuilding. the common language packs of cybertron come with three sets of standard, altmode neutral pronouns. these roughly translated into english, are he, she, and they. notice how i said altmode neutral pronouns. that's because most altmodes have their own sets of established pronouns that crop up within the groups.

this particular idea ties in with how my versions of cybertronians communicate. basically cybertronians communicate both via verbal speech, such as talking using a vocaliser, but also via manipulating their EM fields, and attaching non-verbal alterations to their spoken words via radio waves and the EM field.

so the pronoun [He] when used in a sentence, might have extra attachments added onto it.

EX: [He (positive/neutral) went to my house the other day.]

So in this case the speaker is referring to someone in a positive or neutral manner.

Here's another one using pronouns on a personal level when referring to one's self.

EX: [Hello. (courteous) My name is Starscream (Vosian - Seeker). I use He/Him (Neutral) pronouns.]

This is a typical cybertronian style of greeting. It includes a hello to the other party/s, the title of the individual along with their region of origin/residence and altmode, and finally their preferred set or sets of altmode neutral pronouns. In this case, Starscream would tag his "Hello" with a neutral emotion, being courteous but not excited because the mech he's talking to is someone he doesn't know but isn't enemies with. He then attaches his region of origin "Vos" and his altmode group "Seeker" and finally caps it off with his preferred set of pronouns "He/Him" which has a neutral emotion modifier tagged onto it because while it's his preferred set of pronouns in the neutral sense, it's not what he'd like to be using all the time.

he/him, she/her, and they/them are all equally neutral and for all cybertronians they exist in a state of purely personal preference. there's nothing about arcee using she/her pronouns that makes her more woman gendered anymore than starscream using he/him pronouns makes him male gendered. that's just human bias. they're robots, so they don't view themselves in the same way. those sets of pronouns, again, are merely translated into english for the reader's convenience.

Now I've thrown around the term "altmode neutral" quite a bit so here's an explanation for that.

Cybertronians with the same or similar altmodes will often develop languages and cultures surrounding those altmodes, similar to how many cultures and identities are developed through similarities with each other. This varies from region to region, with many languages and cultures not meshing together even if those mecha have the same altmode.

A jet like Pharma who was raised in Iacon around primarily ground based altmodes tends to use pronouns specific to grounder based language families while someone like Starscream or Thundercracker, who are from Vos, use altmode specific pronouns indicative of language families developed by mostly flight frames.

The common language data pack exists as an easy way for mecha to communicate with each other without potentially butchering another individual's native language. While one could theoretically download a whole language into their brain module, their actual speech would likely sound distorted or unnatural due to the fact that the brain module only retains the information that was on the download and is unable to account for things like accents, region dialects, and other such nuances in languages

Altmode specific pronouns are often tagged with extra modifiers and would function similarly to the concept of neo pronouns in english.

Megatron as an example has a tank altmode and his specific altmode pronouns are chk/chiks and using them in spoken dialogue would require one to either create a noice similar to a tank canon loading with their vocaliser, or in another tank's case, would simply have them use their own tank barrel to produce the noise.

flight frames often clank their wings together or whistle as their altmode specific pronouns. speedsters will revv their engines. smaller cars like bumblebee or cliffjumper will beep their horns, and ambulances like ratchet will whoop their sirens.

going back to my "pharma raised in iacon" example. he's a jet, but rather than clanking his wings together, he'll utilize his inbuilt siren (installed while he was in medical school) as his altmode specific pronouns. it, roughly translated to written form is wheep/whoop

this also extends to preferences for partners. i've seen people joke about how ratchet has a thing for speedsters because of his thing with drift and rodimus, but genuinely i do think that within the idea of altmodes being tied to gender, mecha would develop preferences for certain altmodes.

and when i say preference, i do mean just a preference. altmodes are fluid things within cybertronian society. megatron, as an example, is a gun, a tank, and a heavy bomber plane across varying continuities, yet at the end of the day, he's still megatron. his altmode is not what defines him as a character.

therefore i think changing altmodes is purely a thing that's tied to economic status. it's very expensive to have the whole exoframe completely reformatted so those who regularly change their altmodes either have shanix to spare, or have saved up enough money to have the procedures done.

this is even touched upon within idw's version of cybertron, what with the existence of relinquishment clinics, where mecha will go and donate their frames for money, and then those shells can be bought so another individual can have a new altmode.

when a mech decides to have their altmode changed they'll often shift up their altmode specific pronouns too. a smaller car changing altmodes into a bigger vehicle will instead honk their horn instead of beeping or maybe they'll revv their engines louder just to signify that they've changed altmodes.

going back to my sentence examples. here's one with ratchet and pharma introducing themselves to a patient

EX:

Ratchet: Hello (positive/friendly/welcoming) My name is Ratchet (Vaporex - Ambulance - Medic) I use He/Him (Positive) and siren whoops pronouns.

Pharma: Hello (kind). My name is Pharma (Iacon - Jet - Medic). I use He/Him and clanks wings/whoops sirens pronouns.

like i said, this isn't meant to be a direct 1-1 with human genders. cybertronian altmodes within my fan continuity defy more than just how another individual views them. they can signify occupation, social standing, and economic class. and some mecha even choose to disregard their altmodes entirely when it comes to their personal expression, sticking exclusively to the gender neutral pronouns.

anyways this post is half rant half worldbuilding so if ya made it to the end i'd be happy to hear your thoughts. and as always, if you liked this post please feel free to reblog :]

[yuurei20]

Rook Info Compilation part 2: Advice

Rook is often dispensing advice: his advice to Deuce in Book 5 indirectly contributes to Deuce discovering his unique magic, and he coaches Epel outright on how to summon his own unique magic after it manifests for the first time.

Rook and Jamil witnessing Epel’s unique magic is referenced during Glorious Masquerade, with both characters less worried than others when Epel stays with Riddle to protect the group from the encroaching fire lotuses, as they know that his unique magic works on plants.

Rook also helps Epel with his table manners, advises Kalim, Silver and Ortho to not discuss Beanfest strategies where they can be overheard and a significant turn in the Port Fest event comes from Rook’s advice to Jack:

When Jack can’t (or won’t) heed Rook’s attempts to guide him, Rook advises that he speak with someone whom he deeply respects and admires. Jack goes to Leona.

Rook’s advice is also a significant contributor to Book 5 when, after witnessing Ace and Deuce stand up against Vil to protect Epel, he encourages Vil to select them for the VDC team.

Vil is incredulous until Rook explains, “You are a grand diamond whose radiance draws eyes the world over. Now imagine, if you will, a tiara packed with precious stones all crowding one another out. But another option is a tiara in which a single, grand diamond has a smaller, more colorful array of gems inlaid around it. Personally, I would find the latter more tasteful and appealing,” thus convincing Vil to accept Ace and Deuce on the team.

Rook also explains that “There is beauty to be found in perfection, but imperfection has its own unique allure,” indirectly explaining why the VDC team would ultimately lose to Neige.

As the music producers explain, “Their dancing is out of sync, and their harmonies are clunky at best…but I’m glued to the performance. I want to root for them!” and “Mega-hits aren’t born from simple trendiness and beauty.”

It is also on Rook’s advice that Vil promotes Epel’s village’s apple juice on his Magicam, helping their financially unstable situation and saving Vil and Epel’s relationship.

When Epel returns to Pomefiore (after running away in frustration with Vil), Rook advises Vil not to punish him (or Deuce, who took Epel off campus without permission), and Vil agrees to give them a second chance.

In Book 6 Rook advises Vil to invite Ortho to join the Film Club. Ortho later approaches Vil himself with an interest in joining before he can be invited, and Vil accepts his application without requiring an audition.

[multidimensionalguidance]

The Astrology Behind: “The Chronicles of Narnia” Pt.3

This is the continuation of an analysis of this series of books and movie adaptations with a heavy focus on breaking down the natal charts of not just the author but characters as well. My intention is to find the associations behind his literature with astrology. If you'd like to read or revisit the previous posts before reading further, please check them out below:

Part #1

Part #2

The movies that have been released so far are all related to the books that have this planetary associations:

Jove (Jupiter): The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Mars: Prince Caspian

Sol (the Sun): The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

In this part we will be going over the charts of one of the oldest female characters, and discover the patterns behind her natal configuration and the relation to the story, titles, background, characters, etc.

Susan - The Gentle

Anna Popplewell has her Sun in Sagittarius (Mula), Moon in Pisces (Uttara Bhadrapada), Mercury in Sagittarius (Mula), Venus in Scorpio (Anuradha), Mars in Pisces (Revati), Jupiter in Taurus (Krittika), Saturn in Sagittarius (Mula), and Rahu/Ketu axis in Aquarius (Shatabhisha)/Leo(Purva Phalguni). There isn't any birthtime available for her, and I'm unsure of what her ASC might be so I will not discuss her appearance.

In the series, Susan is the eldest sister who is supposed to be a "mother" to her youngest siblings, and even to her older brother. She's the one who steps into giving words of wisdom and soft guidance towards all the others, which is very fitting of her Sagittarius energy. She's serious and somber, yet still has an adventurous heart.

A lot of her energy is concentrated around Mula nakshatra. This section of Sagittarius carries the symbol of roots from trees which aren't directly visible, yet keep the whole structure together and fully alive. In the movie she acts as one of the main foundations that keeps her two brothers from tearing their faces off, and her little sister from feeling far to alienated. Her work and actions are not always the most visible, but her presence and importance is essential in all the movies (even the ones where she isn't around).

These natives are also great detectives and can find the root issue of any situation. The deity of Mula nakshatra is Nirriti, the goddess of destruction. This divine influence gives natives a very fierce nature, and it's specially noticeable when anyone gets in the way of their siblings. Since their yoni animal is the dog, they also function best within packs and will become very vicious towards anyone who wounds them. Conversely, they will also remember fondly and treat kindly anyone who treats their loved ones well.

Since their nakshatra lord is Ketu, there's always an air of mystery that creates confusion within others. Similarly to a black hole, they have the ability of pulling everyone to their orbit easily, and just as we read it on textbooks anything that goes in is never seen to leave in the exact same way. Those who become close to Mula natives are transformed spiritually in a way that often feels confusing or magical. All Ketu nakshatras leave people feeling in awe in general.

Susan has this energy that also seems to draw others in and forces them to pay attention to her every word, which is common for anyone who carries Jupiter's influence very strongly. From her own little sister who feels jealous or envious of her beauty and confidence, to the prince Caspian who is left utterly surprised by her as well. She's very independent throughout all of the films, and her character never truly changes, but it sure causes others to grow willingly or not.

Her Moon being in Pisces, specifically Uttara Bhadrapada, and ruled by Saturn also has a huge role into her big sister persona as well. She's kind, empathetic, dreamy, yet troubled in her own ways. Saturn ruled individuals always have to take upon themselves many responsibilities that mimic the ones of a parent, and in the movie she's literally the replacement of her own mother. They are also very spiritual and are able to reach wealth easily through their own efforts due to past and current life karma.

Another interesting observation from this nakshatra made by Astrologer and Occultist Claire Nakti here is that they often end up marrying a rich husband, or coming into wealth after dealing with really harsh obstacles. The same pattern seems to continue with Susan when in the second film she ends up attracting the attention of *drumrolls* a literal prince too, so the connection between wealthy spouses, royalty, and Saturn seems to be ever present in all water signs, but specially in Pisces.

In terms of her association with the books and films, we can see her having a main role with plenty of presence during the first one with her Sagittarius and Pisces placements taking the lead since "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" are ruled by Jupiter.

In the second one ruled by Mars, she has a special connection with prince Caspian who happens to have his Moon in Aries (coincidence? I think not). Now, the best part of it all is that she has Mars as her Atmakaraka, meaning that her soul lesson and journey is towards learning how to be courageous, a leader, yet not using violence to resolve conflicts. The prince who was very much ready for war and destruction in order to gain his kingdom back was destined to connect with her. The both of them understood and learned the value of standing their ground without having to encourage a slaughter of lives from both sides.

In the last film she doesn't really make an appearance at all as a main character, and only does show up when her younger sister gives into temptation by unknowingly choosing a spell that allowed to take upon her life. She wished to be just as beautiful and appealing as her older sister. I find it pretty ironic that in the movie that's ruled by the Sun, she is withdrawn and fully absent yet still makes others drawn to them like magnets, all while having her own Sun ruled by Ketu.

Thank you so much for reading and continuing on enjoying my analysis of these beautiful movies. It fills me with child-like nostalgia to write down about these characters, and brings real enjoyment to see the astrological connections of it all. Stay on the look out for the next part!

Xox

Mary from multidimensionalguidance

[irondad-creator-awards]

2024 Irondad Creator Awards Categories

Story Categories  

Best Multi-Chapter

A story which kept you up all night or calling in sick for work so you were free to read. Who’s the culprit?

Best One-shot

Some writers can cram more greatness into less words than a 100k monster. What’s the one-shot (standalone story of one chapter) that did it for you?

Best Drabble

A drabble (under 1k) can pack in all the goodness that you need in a coffee break read. What’s that story for you?

Best Plot Twist

A story which had a plot twist you didn’t see coming. Something that caught you so off guard that you had to stop a minute and take a breath before devouring the rest. What’s the story for you?

Best Biodad

Some of the greatest stories flip canon and make Tony Peter’s biological father. Be it baby Peter taking his first steps or Tony dealing with the fact his son is following in his superhero footsteps as Spider-Man, which is the one you loved most of all?

Best World's Colliding

Is it the ever-popular Field Trip Trope or Tony arriving at Midtown as Peter’s emergency contact? Which story mixes Spider-Man’s superhero life and friends with Peter Parker the student and decathlon team member?

Best Hurt/Comfort

Another massively popular Irondad trope is hurt/comfort, and there’s some amazing stuff out there. Which is the one that you love most of all?

Best Homeless

There’s some wonderful homeless Peter stories out there, so which is the one you were blown away by?

Best Adoption

Who doesn’t love an adopted Peter story? The magic when they sign those papers is just… aww. What’s the story that has that second-chance-home for you?

Best Fix-it Fic

There are some incredible fix-it fics inn the Irondad fandom. From the wonderful Tony Lives™ to the Accords Dealt With By Simple Discussion, what’s the story that fixes things just right for you?

Best 5+1

Irondad has some of the best five-time plus-one stories and we want to know your favorite. 

Best Identity Reveal

Identity reveals are soooo much fun. Which story had the reveal that wins for you?

Best Kidnapping

A popular trope is Kidnapped Peter and/or Tony. Which story has them working together or alone to make it home best for you?

Best Bonus Bond

We all love Irondad, but some stories come with bonus bonds that give us just as much. Do you have a surprise Peter & Bucky bond, or a particularly cute Peter & Morgan?

Best Humor

Irondad is open to so much humor. Which story is the one that has you laughing like an emoji?

Best Wild Card Story

The story that does (or doesn’t) fit into the above categories but you believe deserves the prize. Which one is that for you?

Best AU

There’s lots of imaginative AUs in Irondad fic. Whether it’s Steve and Tony as baseball players or Pepper being Peter’s mom, which one is your number one?

Best Series

Some of us love to go on a long ride with a series, so which is the world of multiple stories that you binged or waited anxiously for each update?

The All-Time Favorite

Which story or series is your favorite, independent of all categories above and independent of the time constraints? Be it a 2024 piece or all the way back to the roots of Irondad.

The 2023/2024 Favorite

Which story from the Awards Era is your favorite, independent of the categories above?

Writer Catagories

THE PROLIFIC WRITER AWARD

Irondad has some amazingly prolific writers. Which are the ones you’ve subscribed to get at that fic-wonder goodness with 10 works or more?

THE NEWBIE

New writers are joining the fandom all the time. Who’s the newbie (posting for 12 months or less) that’s delivering the good stuff for you?

THE OG

Who’s the writer that’s been around for a while (12 months or more) that keeps you captivated?

Art Catagories

BEST DIGITAL FANART

Who has those digital programming skills?

BEST IRON FAMILY FANART

Who can create those feeling of Ironfam with their art? Who captures the characters we love in that iconic family.

MOST HEARTBREAKING FANART

Art can move us to tears. Who captures those moments and brings tears to your eyes?

BEST SKETCHES — THE PENCIL AND PAPER ONE

Who has the skills with the original medium of art? Whose pencil can create the characters we love best? The Irondad artists are so of the most talented in the world, and it’s time to share the love.

BEST CARTOON DRAWING

Chibis, Manga, Anime, who can create the very best?

BEST FIC ART

Art inspired by a scene or cover art of a fanfic.

FAVORITE CANON REDRAW

Art that reproduces a canon moment in another medium.

BEST MOOD BOARD

What mood board fits a fic or creates an atmosphere with only a few images.

THE WILD CARD ART

The art that does (or doesn’t) fit into the above categories but you believe deserves the prize. Which one is that for you?

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

[ please support this blog ]

🦇 A Monsoon Rising Book Review 🦇

❓ #QOTD What's your favorite enemies-to-lovers story? 🦇 Even after a lifetime of war, being married to a sworn foe feels far from peaceful. Talasyn must play the part of Alaric’s willing empress while her allies secretly plot to overthrow his reign. But the longer the couple are forced together, the harder it becomes to deny the feelings crackling like lightning between them. When the time comes to act, can she trust him, or must she ignore her heart for the sake of so many others?

💜 The second book of The Hurricane Wars trilogy starts exactly where the first leaves off. Let's break it down:

✨ Characters: As the second book in the trilogy, we should see the bulk of character development in this novel--moments that hint at Talasyn & Alaric seeing one another's perspectives to the point of changing their ideologies about the world & how it should operate. While we are given those moments, they're nearly always rooted in lust (namely, throughout the second half of the novel). The tension I loved so much in the first book still holds, but the pattern starts to become repetitive: an argument, a heated kiss, no real discussion of their feelings & thoughts. Yes, the third book requires Talaysn & Alaric to hold steadfast to their secrets (& potential betrayals), but they could have at least been honest about their messy feelings for one another. The cast grows a little in this book, but we barely see any real characterization for the supporting cast.

✨ Plot and Pacing: This novel focuses on the cataclysmic event, the Moonless Dark, that partially drove Talaysn & Alaric's political marriage. It takes place over the span of four months, with multiple time jumps. Still, the pace seems to drag at times. It's the action-packed scenes that drive the pacing (as they should). More reveals (political secrets, information about Talaysn's mother) would have allowed suspense to drive the pacing faster.

✨ World-Building: Just as before, Guanzon's descriptions of this world are beautiful & descriptive. I can't believe I'm typing this, but I wish there were fewer descriptions & more INFORMATION. What about the universe beyond the Continent and Nenavar? What about Nenavar's culture & history? There are small hints, but not enough to expand this universe.

✨ Romance: You bookish bats wanted more smut from this trilogy, & you got it. The spice definitely amps up in this one, but again, it becomes a distraction for Alaric & Talasyn when there's SO much more going on. That tension between them remains, the sassy banter still builds toward eruptive moments, & they're both definitely falling for one another. It wasn't the smut that caught my attention, but the soft intimacies between them that REALLY mattered. They start opening up to one another in ways that MATTER--I just wish there was more of THAT than the mindless, poorly timed, frenzy of smut.

✨ Mystery/Suspense: There's DEFINITELY a reveal lurking in the shadows of book three, namely, about Talaysn's mother, Hanan (my mom's name, which throws me out of the story EVERY time I see it). This story DOES end on a cliffhanger, albeit an awkward one, so we'll see where it goes.

🦇 Recommended to fans of Avatar the Last Airbender (or Zutara and Rylo shippers), Fourth Wing, and ACOTAR.

✨ The Vibes ✨ 🌀 Romantic Fantasy Trilogy 🌀 Enemies to Lovers 🌀 Forced Proximity 🌀 War/Occupation 🌀 Southeast Asian/BIPOC 🌀 Marriage of Convenience 🌀 Slow Burn 🌀 Feminine Rage

🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

💬 Quotes ❝ “His Majesty ought to grant me a title.” “On top of all the other names I already call you?” ❞ ❝ “Little hellcat,” he muttered, lost in her narrowed eyes flashing with hints of gold. “Claws out even while you purr.” ❞ ❝ “Deadly. Magnificent. The prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.” ❞ ❝ Just him and me and the monsoon. ❞ ❝ Ever since we met, I have lived in a dream of what could be. ❞

[cripplecharacters]

I want to write a god character who is lost his powers and got chronic pain due to him using the powers to cover up the pain and now that his power source is gone and can’t get rid of the pain with the help of magic but I’m not entirely sure how to express the chronic pain or how he acts because of it (he’s really arrogant and doesn’t trust others easily plus the fact he was once a ruler before his kingdom fell and doesn’t like showing weakness around others)

Hello!

I'm afraid I'm not entirely sure what's being asked here. With the information given, there also isn't very much I can help with.

There are several different ways that chronic pain can occur and somebody with chronic back pain will present very differently than somebody with full body chronic pain.

It also depends a lot on the root cause of it. Is it from an old injury? A connective tissue disorder like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)? An autoimmune disorder like Rheumatoid Arthritis?

There's also the matter of how he was covering up the pain. Was he using his powers as a way to help manage his symptoms such as using ice powers as an ice pack? Was he using it to block his pain entirely? Was he just using it to hide his pain from others?

Without more information, I'm also a bit concerned that this may be falling into or coming across as the 'disability as punishment' trope, which is discussed a bit here [Link].

Something else to keep in mind is being careful with how you portray his chronic pain, especially if you're considering it a "weakness". Having chronic pain doesn't make you weak, I'd actually say that being in near-constant pain and still being able to live your life makes you pretty damn strong in my books.

I'd suggest taking a look through our pinned post for some general information on writing disabled characters as well as some links to helpful posts. Then feel free to send another ask with some more information!

Cheers,

~ Mod Icarus

[snowdice]

Tales From Logan’s Office (Part 4) [Sometimes Labels Shift Series]

Fandom: Sanders Sides

Relationships: Logan & Virgil

Characters: Logan, Virgil

Summary: Virgil invades Logan’s office. (Multiple times.)

This is a dealing with events set after my story Sometimes Labels Fail.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Virgil hesitated outside of Logan’s office door in a way he hadn’t done since the first summer he spent with him and Patton. He knew Logan was in there and probably just busy grading unless he’d already finished all of it. Logan was predictable like that.

Logan was… Logan was very predictable. So predictable that Virgil knew exactly what would happen if he knocked on that door and said what he’d come here to say.

And yet he hesitated.

It was like there were two Virgil’s in his head, at odds with one another. One Virgil knew everything was alright and was going to be alright and that Logan would help it feel alright much quicker. The other Virgil wanted to drop out of college, find a small space somewhere, and curl up into a ball while waiting to die. These two Virgil’s existed completely separate from one another, unable to affect each other or inspire Virgil to action, and left him rooted to the spot outside his dad’s office.

He was finally unfrozen when the door to Logan’s office swung open revealing Logan’s TA, Cas. “Oh, hi Virgil,” Cas said as though there wasn’t anything unusual about this, though for him there probably wasn’t.

Virgil swallowed down the go-cry-in-a-corner Virgil for a moment and said “Hey.”

Cas smiled and held the door open for him.

Well, Virgil supposed he didn’t have a choice now. (It was probably for the best.)

He walked through the door into Logan’s office, doing his best to not let Cas see his anxiety. The door closed behind him.

Logan glanced up at him briefly and seemed unconcerned when he saw it was him. “Hello, Virgil,” he said, turning back to his computer. “This isn’t the usual time you invade my office. Do you need something?”

Even if Virgil could think of words to say right now, they would probably have died in his throat. There were 3 seconds of silence, 4. After a 5 second pause, Logan looked back up at him.

“Is something wrong?” he asked.

Virgil tugged at the sleeves of his hoodie and nodded. He had Logan’s full attention now and that was a relief for the rational part of him that had brought him here even while it made the anxious side of him squirm.

Logan stood up from his chair and rounded his desk. “Sit,” he told Virgil. Virgil sat.

He could feel Logan studying him but couldn’t bring himself to meet his eyes.

“Physical?” Logan asked. It was always the first thing Logan checked even though physical injury rarely put Virgil in this state. Virgil shook his head. “Social?” Virgil shook his head again. “Academic?” Virgil hesitated but then nodded.

“I see,” Logan said. “It is Thursday afternoon. Is anything past due, due tonight, or due tomorrow.”

Virgil shook his head.

“Okay. Then I will take you home tonight for the weekend.”

“I have class tomorrow,” Virgil managed to say, wringing his hands.

“You have class with Dr. Simmons,” Logan said. “She has mental health days in her syllabus for a reason. This is the reason.”

“I can go,” Virgil said quietly. “I’ll be fine.”

“You certainly could,” Logan agreed. “You do not need to.”

Virgil felt a bit of the vice grip that had been squeezing his chest loosen. “I need to…” he tried tentatively.

“You need to pack an overnight bag while I teach my last class of the day,” Logan said, “and then sit on your bed watching whatever silly Youtube things you do while waiting for me to pick you up. We will discuss what needs to be done with your schoolwork tomorrow afternoon after you have had time to rest. You will have the entire weekend to complete whatever task is worrying you.”

“I shouldn’t skip class.”

Logan waved him off. “Do you know how many classes I skipped for worse reasons as a student?” he asked. “And now I’m a professor dealing with students skipping my courses for even worse reasons than that.”

“…Okay.”

“Good,” Logan said. “Now would you like a hug?” Despite everything, he couldn’t help but smile slightly at the business-like tone Logan took to ask. Maybe at one point he would have felt uncomfortable about it, but now he knew it was just Logan making sure he was comfortable with it before touching him.

Virgil nodded.

“Thank you,” Virgil said once Logan had reached forward to hug him.

“Anytime,” Logan said back. “My office is always open for you.”

Want to read more? Click below!

Labeled Master Post.

My Masterpost.

[eliteprepsat]

Nowadays, the internet is woven into the fabric of our lives. While there are any number of reasons why we may connect to the world wide web, how often do we use this vast resource specifically for inspiration and education? It’s easy to hop on social media and seek out instant gratification, but what about nourishing your intellect and spirit? Fortunately, there are plenty of opportunities to do so, and in this article we’ll focus on TED Talks designed with students in mind. If you’ve never heard of TED Talks, they are speeches under 18 minutes long defined as one of two things:

Something that’s new and surprising; an idea or invention that your audience has never heard about.

A great basic idea (that your audience has maybe already heard) with a compelling new argument behind it that challenges beliefs and perspectives.

These are great videos to check out at any time of day, perhaps first thing in the morning or when you have a 15-20 minute break. No matter when you watch, I highly recommend the following seven TED Talks that cover a variety of topics that students will find relevant and thought-provoking.

1. WHAT YOUR GRADES REALLY MEAN

We begin with a TED Talk by Eva Ren, who delivered this talk when she was a high school senior. In a hyper-competitive society in which everyone is striving to achieve the best marks, Ren offers insight on why grades aren’t as indicative of success as is commonly thought. Whether you are stressing over your grades or have a perfect GPA, this talk should resonate and give you perspective on your unique role within the learning process. 

2. GRIT: THE POWER OF PASSION AND PERSEVERANCE

We tend to think that IQ and talent determine an individual’s success, but Angela Lee Duckworth, Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, explains the science behind what it actually takes to reach success in this quick, yet effective TED Talk. Exploring a relatively unstudied phenomenon, Duckworth makes the case for shifting our perspectives of what it takes to be successful and how we can better prepare students for their own future success. At under six minutes, this talk may be one of the shortest, but it packs 

3. THE SECRET TO STUDENT SUCCESS

Building on the concept of grit, Arel Moodie delivers an intensely personal TED Talk that reveals his own struggles as a student, from elementary school through college. The peaks and valleys that characterize any meaningful journey are on full display as Moodie grapples with the realities of growing up in a tough New York neighborhood. Many of the elements in his story will be familiar to students, but he ultimately ties in the lessons learned into a broader message that should be received by all.

4. THE POWER OF BELIEVING THAT YOU CAN IMPROVE

The previous two TED Talks both incorporate the primary theme of this talk: growth mindset. Carol Dweck, Professor of Psychology at Stanford University, discusses the science behind motivation and reward to explain how all students are capable of improving their abilities. She mentions studies conducted on the brain to support her message while also rooting the science in real-life scenarios to show how students can be helped in practical ways. As one of the pioneering researchers in the field of motivation, Dweck ensures listeners that the power to improve lies within us all.

5. INSIDE THE MIND OF A MASTER PROCRASTINATOR

Procrastination. It has a tendency to get the best of us all. Easy to slip into and difficult to escape, procrastination can derail your greatest intentions. In this TED Talk, Harvard graduate Tim Urban shares an entertaining and insightful take on procrastination and how it can affect even the most well-meaning among us. He introduces a familiar (and hilarious) cast of characters to help frame why we procrastinate and what can be done to procrastinate less. There’s something here for everyone. 

6. THE POWER OF INTROVERTS

Extroverts are all around us. We see them; we hear them; we easily recognize them. There seems to be an emphasis on extroversion in modern society, but what role does introversion have to offer? In this TED Talk, Susan Cain offers a poignant perspective on the power of the inner self. She traces how we have reached a point in today’s culture in which extroversion seems to have more value than introversion and offers historical and personal examples to show why we should strive for more balance between the two.

7. EVERYDAY LEADERSHIP

Our final TED Talk deals with the power of connection and how it relates to a type of leadership we all possess but may not acknowledge. Drew Dudley uses an entertaining extended anecdote to introduce the concept of Lollipop Moments, a straightforward and easily applicable technique that can be used to change the world. His story will evoke many laughs, but the overall message contains a dynamic approach to how we understand leadership and the effects it can have on the people around us.

[fuckmeyer]

Ok so I follow you because of your amazing analyzing and theories of twilight, but it's gotten to a point I have to consider reading your stories, and besides a Paul lahote story here or there over the years, I haven't really read twilight stories, especially ones that aren't about the Wolfpack.

I'm scared. So I wanted to ask about yours, what is it like?

Is it crazy like full of plot twists and insanity and madness covered into brilliance (the good kind) or crazy in a way that I start liking bella and edward (the terrifying part)?

(If you answer this, please consider the fact it might actually make me reread twilight (the original) and start ranting worse. For both our sanities, is it smart?)

Is it crazy like full of plot twists and insanity and madness covered into brilliance (the good kind) or crazy in a way that I start liking bella and edward (the terrifying part)?

both! liking Bella & Edward is THE biggest plot twist of this saga LOL. i'm not really one to hype my work so bear with me. here's the difference between Twilight & In The Afterlight:

the familiar:

setting. rainy rural PNW vibes

rough plot. girl meets vampire. vampire wants to kill her. love ensues. it starts you off in familiar territory, then slowly peels away as the story progresses. you'll find enough of the "iconic" scenes to keep you oriented in nostalgia, but not so much that you feel chained to the original book.

characters. no OCs. Bella & Edward are somewhat OOC, but their core traits are still intact.

the unfamiliar(ish):

Bella's personality. i think it was @blurry-walker who made this excellent point: we're supposed to like Bella because of how she's described, not by how she acts. Bella is not really selfless, mature, observant, compassionate, intellectual, or self-aware. which would be fine... if that were the author's intention. i've tried making Bella a mix between how she's described & how she acts: selfless, contemplative, & stubborn, with a sense of humor. & i threw in a backstory & hobbies - i.e, drawing, music, reading - so she has a life besides Edward. (she can still act like she's 18 tho. as a treat.)

Edward's personality. no stalking, no anger issues or mood swings, no misogyny, no invalidation of Bella's choices, no militant chastity. just a vampire who's lost his way & startled to discover he is every bit a part of this world as Bella. more humorous, more overwrought/ romantic, more contemplative.

the result is a relationship that's rooted in mutual respect, common interests & values, & genuine companionship. they talk about philosophy, they exchange mixtapes, they tease each other, & have slightly less self-control when it comes to sexual intimacy

James/Victoria plotline

twilight is less fairytale, more gothic horror

deeper thematic discussions (bc i think they're neat! :D). what does it mean to be you? how do you find yourself again when you're lost? what's the secret to keeping your humanity in death?

vampire/Cullen lore. what's the difference between a golden-eyed vampire and a red-eyed one? what are "la tua cantantes" and "mates"? why are the Cullens going to high school? what's the Cullen-Volturi relationship like? who are the Cullens, really? i'm trying to paint them as grayer characters & have their personalities/backstories make sense for who they are.

werewolf lore. i *hate* canon imprinting - how an imprinter loses him/herself to the imprint, how the imprintee can't say no, the fact that they imprint on CHILDREN when the theory behind imprinting is to "find the strongest genes"... NO. i hate it all. i hate that smeyer appropriates the legends of the Quileute tribe & how stereotypes/ tropes of Native people are perpetuated in this series. i especially hate the double-standards Bella puts on the pack vs the coven. justice for the wolfpack or bust

since you mentioned liking the wolfpack (same), the sequel, Come Nightfall (aka New Moon), has way more wolfpack content than the original, & we see a lot more interactions between Jake & Bella. (and Bella & Sam!)

i don't feel it's my place to tell you whether you should read this or even whether it's good. if it helps, this is what other people say:

"This… Was incredible. It was the kind of fanfiction that should be praised along the classics of the fandom, the kind you would want to print and put in the shelf in between Twilight and Life And Death."

"This is, to me, the epitome of great fanfiction--you took the story idea and characters and tweaked them to how you imagine it would be better as well as adding in your own flare, AND you have the story telling ability to back it up."

"You've managed to write something that not only surpasses the source material, but flies so far beyond it in nuance, craftsmanship, raw emotion and SMUT that it travelled through space and time continuum and shows no signs of stopping. Every time I think it can't get better, it does."

"I read both of your books in like 2 days; I couldn’t put them down. This is some of the best writing I’ve ever read on here."

"What a gem of a story. I read it in one sitting, the best canon rewrite I've ever read. Very very clever writing, engaging plot, and the most real Bella and Edward relationship I've ever seen. Everything about it, Bella and Jacob, Sam, Alice and Bella's dynamic, Billy and Bella, everything added so much colour to this story. I can't believe this came from Meyer's twilight and New Moon. Absolutely genius."

[vpofcookies]

Let’s talk Technoblade and flower symbolism!

(please note that these are the reasons that I use these specific flowers in my art for Technoblade, usually in reference to DSMP techno, so not all of the reasons are serious or symbolism-related :D)

(Part two here)

Dandelions

Not only do the common meanings of dandelions perfectly match Techno (faithfulness, hope, growth, and healing) but societal impressions of dandelions, to me, are a perfect reflection of Techno’s character and of his arc in the DSMP. I won't go much into faithfulness and healing, but I hope that those are evident from his friendship with Philza and the healing of each member of the Syndicate.

Loyal talks about Techno collecting dandelions (Here!), discussing both the symbolism of Techno growing in an adverse environment and collecting hard-to-kill flowers and the fact that Techno uses the dandelions for stew and for his bees.

I think Techno’s use of suspicious stew is often overlooked. A suspicious stew made with dandelions increases saturation. He didn’t choose to create regeneration effects using an oxeye daisy. Technoblade, who focuses on xenia, guest friendship, the laws of hospitality, and the policy of providing food and shelter to guests; Technoblade, who chose his retirement to avoid the conflict and violence of his past and was still hunted anyways, chooses saturation. The choice to rely on dandelions was intentional. It was a declaration, perhaps just to himself, that he was retired, that he would not need regeneration, that all he would need is to be able to provide the hospitality of a filling meal and to protect himself and his friends from hunger.

Now, let's talk about society and dandelions. Dandelions are considered by many to be a weed, an unkillable plant that spreads it's roots even after they try again and again to get rid of it. Sound familiar, anyone? But, like many "weeds," the reason that dandelions are seen as undesirable has roots in colonilization, where plants that were food sources to native and impoverished peoples were derided by colonizers and the upper class. The societal perception of these flowers is rooted in their usefulness to those that the figures in power wanted to eliminate.

Other than that connection to Technoblade's anti-government perspective, why am I connecting this to our favorite anarchist pig? Consider Technoblade's role throughout the dsmp, specifically the pogtopia arc. Technoblade provides armor, food, tools and materials. Then there is a shift in power and his 'usefulness' is up, as those in power no longer align with his goals and instead try to eliminate him. This shift in being recognized for usefulness to being forceably removed is due to a shift from the group in power, despite being the same as before.

I don't want to limit this analogy to usefulness, although the tendency of Techno to provide food and hospitality does lend itself to that. No, the main reasons that I connect Technoblade to dandelions is their resilience, their potential for growth, and the hope they represent.

Technoblade retires. Technoblade is executed. Even before this, it is evident that Technoblade needs healing. He has the air of a war veteran, is referenced to as the blade, is used, betrayed, and fights for his life. He says that there is no safety except isolation. And yet, he retires and throughout it all there is his friendship with Philza, his cabin in the arctic, his suspicious stew; pieces of evidence that he never gave up hope that he could heal without violence. Pieces of that undying determination that both he and dandelions are known for. Dandelions can grow on rocks, on hard packed soil, in drought conditions, but they prefer rich soil like any other plant. Technoblade grows his hope in hard conditions, fights to keep that hope, and finds a place where it can grow. He finds a place where he can grow, and learns along the way that maybe faithfulness is not a weakness, and maybe you can live and grow with others.

[sunriseverse]

I'm going to send you a second one!

fandom: Sha Hai (again)

character: Wang Meng

prompt: "My boss is..."

WANG MENG!!!!!!! oh this is going to be fun, i haven't taken a crack at him yet.......

-

If there's one thing that Wang Meng has learnt these past years, dogging Wu Xie's heels across the continent and every imaginable inhospitable clime on offer, it's that morals are highly relative, and generally useless when in the business he's unwittingly fallen into—though, to be fair, he supposes that selling tomb goods isn't many degrees up from actually doing the tomb raiding, all things considered—, which is why when he catches the kid—he's been calling him the kid, because honestly, he's not sure he'll last that long, even if Wu Xie seems pretty optimistic, because, honestly, Wu Xie and optimism are things that one should run from these days, and the only reason Wang Meng doesn't is because he's dug himself in too deep—rooting through the pack where Wu Xie stashes his cigarettes, all he does is sigh, and say, "Those are expensive, you know," rather than bother with any of the bullshit about how they'll destroy your lungs.

"Wu Xie smokes them all the time," the kid says, glaring at him mulishly as he finally wrestles the small pack of dongchongxiacao cigarettes from the hidden pocket in the pack that is, probably, not that hidden, if some teen can figure out where it is—Wang Meng will have to mention that to him, when he gets back from his ostensible discussion with Lao Ma about how to enter the tomb beneath their feet—, before almost dropping them from hands are far too clumsy for the false confidence being projected, which makes Wang Meng snort in amusement.

"My boss is..." Wang Meng pauses, trying to think of how to formulate something that doesn't sound like he's spent far too much time with a man who barely even pays him anything, something that would make his schoolmates jeer at him, and then finally settles on, instead, "go take a piss or something, you haven't left the tent all day, kids need sunlight and fresh air," and plucks the carton from his hands, tucks it into his own pocket for safekeeping, and steers the kid towards the tent flap.

[imaginefinneganswake]

Of the first was he to bare arms and a name Wassaily Booslaeugh of Riesengeborg.

Finnegan’s Wake - James Joyce

ChatGPT40 literary report:

This line from Finnegans Wake—“Of the first was he to bare arms and a name Wassaily Booslaeugh of Riesengeborg”—is a rich example of Joyce’s densely packed allusions, wordplay, and mythopoetic layering. Let's break it down, engaging with some critical interpretations.

1. The Mythic and Heroic Layering

The phrase "Of the first was he to bare arms and a name" recalls the primordial act of assuming a name and taking up arms, themes common in heroic epics and foundational myths. This suggests an archetypal figure, someone representing a "first man" or original patriarch, much like Adam in the Bible or some culture's founding hero. Joyce’s use of the word "bare" instead of "bear" introduces multiple meanings—such as "exposing" or "revealing," possibly hinting at the dualities of creation and conflict, honor and violence.

Critical Insight: The character suggested by "Wassaily Booslaeugh" is often interpreted as a stand-in for HCE (Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker), the central figure of Finnegans Wake. HCE represents both an individual and a type—the everyman, the father figure, a symbolic Adamic being. The taking of a name—an essential act of identity formation—echoes the broader theme of historical cycles in Finnegans Wake, where individuals continuously reinvent themselves in various historical and mythic contexts.

2. Wassaily Booslaeugh and the Russian Allusion

The name “Wassaily” immediately evokes the Russian name Vasily (Василий), suggesting an Eastern European connection. Some critics have drawn parallels between this name and Russian historical or literary figures. Vasily may point toward the Russian czars (such as Vasily II) or even literary figures like Dostoevsky’s "Prince Myshkin" in The Idiot, though this is a more speculative connection.

"Booslaeugh" could be seen as an approximation of "Buzlay," hinting at various interpretations, including echoes of Russian or Slavic roots. Additionally, "boos" hints at “boo,” a sound of disapproval, tying into the fall from grace or disgrace motif that haunts HCE throughout the novel. The act of being "booed" might reference both public shaming and comic degradation, as HCE is often ridiculed and disgraced.

Critical Insight: This name reflects Joyce's interest in collapsing the boundaries between cultures and histories. HCE (through his many avatars, including Wassaily Booslaeugh) is not just a Dublin pubkeeper but a figure whose story incorporates all of human history, including Eastern Europe. This reflects Joyce's "transnational" vision of human culture, where figures and motifs transcend their origins and become universal.

3. Riesengeborg: Place of Giants

"Riesengeborg" combines "Riesen," the German word for “giant,” with “Borg,” meaning castle or fortress. The name thus evokes an image of a stronghold of giants, possibly recalling mythic places like the Norse Jotunheim, home of the giants in Scandinavian mythology, or the fortress of some legendary figure. The reference to giants ties into Joyce’s recurring theme of the fallen, overreaching figure—paralleling HCE's role as a giant in his own right, a man of hubris who falls into disgrace.

Critical Insight: Riesengeborg likely refers to more than just a specific mythical or historical place. Joyce often blends the mythic with the historical, creating locales that represent multiple ideas at once. Riesengeborg could also be seen as the symbolic site of a fall—a "castle" from which HCE, as a giant figure, will inevitably be toppled, recalling the fall of great civilizations or mythic figures. Joyce’s giants often represent flawed heroes, beings of great power whose stature is as much a liability as a strength.

4. Joyce’s Wordplay and Themes of History

Critics frequently discuss Joyce’s linguistic play as reflecting his exploration of history's cyclicality. The phrase "to bare arms" might refer both to the literal act of carrying weapons and the figurative exposure of one's identity or vulnerabilities. "Bare arms" echoes heroic traditions where warriors must "prove" themselves, yet the phrase can also signal shame or humiliation. In this light, the act of baring arms takes on a tragicomic tone, as HCE is as much a victim of history’s cycles as he is a heroic figure.

Critical Insight: Joyce’s engagement with historical cycles and mythological figures means that HCE, in his various incarnations (including Wassaily Booslaeugh), serves as both a representative of universal patriarchal authority and as a flawed figure doomed to fall and repeat the cycle. His taking up of arms and names might symbolize the continual reconstruction of history’s heroes—only to expose them as vulnerable to disgrace, much like HCE himself.

5. Multicultural and Polyglot Layers

The blend of Russian, Germanic, and English elements in the names suggests Joyce’s interest in the polyglot nature of language and history. Just as no single culture dominates Joyce’s text, no single interpretation of these names can be definitive. Joyce’s use of multilingual puns and etymological richness makes Finnegans Wake a testament to the interconnectedness of global history and myth, reflecting the interplay between language, identity, and history.

In sum, this line is a typical example of Finnegans Wake’s ability to compress layers of myth, history, and language into a single phrase. "Wassaily Booslaeugh of Riesengeborg" serves as one of many avatars for HCE, representing a mythic everyman figure doomed to repeat cycles of heroism, disgrace, and reinvention across history. Critics often highlight the line’s evocation of heroic beginnings, the vulnerability of patriarchal figures, and Joyce’s engagement with the interplay between language, myth, and identity.