#gwen is our monarch

[dianneking]

For the fanfic asks :) C (Members being anyone from any Gwen fandom) and F 🥰

Thank you!!

C: What member do you identify with most?

That was a hard question, because sometimes it's difficult to tell who you'd aspire to be, and who you identify with... but I'd say out of all of Gwen's characters (and Gwen fandom characters too) that I am familiar with, I feel most in tune with Larissa Weems: I can be fiercely protective of my loved ones, I wouldn't have to many moral boundaries if they were endangered, and I tend to try to be a perfectionist by bottling things up. I don't have the impeccable style though, nor the Desk Lean Superpower. Yet.

F: Share a snippet from one of your favorite dialogue scenes you’ve written and explain why you’re proud of it.

I think it might be this somewhat toxic interaction between Morticia and Larissa in my AU Surprising Like Good Coffee On A Bad Day. I love how you can tell that there's history between the two of them, and it's not necessarily good history, but it still brings them together. I love the angst, the fact that it might be wrong but we are all human sometimes and we make mistakes. It makes me feel things.

“Don’t you want some?” The mocking lilt of her black painted lips let no doubt about the fact that she didn’t mean just the cigarette. Larissa took a sharp breath. Two could play this game.

“No, thank you. I quit twenty years ago.” Tish’s black eyes grew bigger, as if she hadn’t anticipated the challenge, as if she now enjoyed the chase even more. Like a fucking shark. Her mouth opened in a predatory smile, and her tongue -God, her tongue- came out to wet her black lips.

“Did you, now?” Her free hand snaked between them, climbing up and reaching Larissa’s lapel, possessively tugging her down, to her level. Their bodies pressed together, only the bulk of their winter clothes separating them. They always did fit amazingly well with one another. “Were you holding out for me, Lissa?”. She took another long drag, and for a moment, Larissa’s brain was frozen in her memories.

“I…” She scrambled, searching for a comeback, something that could…

Oh.

There were lips on her own, blowing acrid smoke into her mouth. It had been so long.

[billboard-hotties-tourney]

Vote for Queen of the Shadow Realm!

With Round One at its end, and in our anticipation of Round Two, it's that time again to nominate someone to rule over the Shadow Realm. Our newest monarch will rule alongside our King (Queen?) Roger Taylor, who was ousted in Round One of our first tournament. As with the previous election, voters will be able to select from one of twelve Round One losers who came closest to advancing. The top two will go into a final 24-hour smackdown for the Shadow Realm crown.

After the coronation of our Queen of the Shadow Realm, we will hold the vote for Duchess of Died-Badly-Shire. Round Two still begins at midnight PST on July 10th!

[tanith-rhea]

Could I request Lucifer x champion reader?

Can be sfw or nsfw👀, little bit of hurt/comfort, missunderstandings, them being reunited and maybe love confessions?

Much like Lucifer R used to an angel, knowing Lucifer back then aswell, R being considered a Golden child but also a trouble maker because they craved freedom, R remained and mourned when Lucifer fell but was prevented from following after them by their parents, R becoming kinda like a replacement for Samael in heaven since they were both the best and favorites despite their trouble making nature. Eventually R rebels against heaven and chose to leave and revisit their “best friend” you can chose how it continues and ends.

Your Feelings True

Oookay so that was a bit of a rollercoaster. I loved your request and as soon as I read it I had two different plots in my mind. Since I liked both so much, I thought why not do both! So we have the same premise but with two endings: one Happy with a hint of corruption and one Angsty with cruel Lucifer and sad feels. I hope you enjoy it! Also, it is sfw, but I liked the happy ending very much and will probably do a small continuation for it especially because I want LUCIFER SMUT. Sorry, Gwen's Lucifer just does things to me...

Anyway... enjoy!

You remembered what had brought you there, in front of the Ruler of Hell. How could you forget? Their beautiful face could never fade from your memories, no matter how many millennia passed. Their laughter whenever you toyed with your siblings’ creations, how delighted they looked when the others discovered your shenanigans. You could never get rid of the feeling they blossomed in your celestial, immaterial and hypothetical heart. Angels were made of something else, not flesh and bones, certainly not organs, but your chest still hurt as if something inside it clenched every time you thought of your best friend; the one who got away.

“Anael?” their voice was still soft, but more calculative than when last you spoke, “I thought my demons had it wrong when they claimed seeing an angel fall to our doorstep.”

You had rebelled. The Silver City didn’t have anything for you anymore. Since you were forced to battle on opposing sides with the monarch in front of you, Heaven lost its appeal, it also lost its righteousness to you. How could it be right to fight the ones you loved? Forget ineffability, it simply made no sense.

“I came for you, Samael-”

Their laughter interrupted you. You could not fail to notice the stark difference from the ones you were used to hear when you were young, just two mischievous archangels fooling around in creation, crafting the most breathtaking stars and cosmical explosions to fill the universe with beauty.

“I haven’t been called that for a long time,” if you didn’t know them your entire existence, maybe you wouldn’t have noticed the sliver of disappointment behind their practised cordial façade, but you did.

“Would you prefer I called you Lightbringer? Morning Star?” you smiled tenderly at them “Lucifer?”

Nothing changed much on their face. It saddened you that the being you loved, once full of mirth, seemed now a sealed vault, keeping everything away from view. You could not look at them without sorrow.

“Lucifer, I came here for you. I rebelled against our creator like I should have done all these years ago, to be with you,” you reach for their hand, and they let you take it.

“I seem to remember you cowering and betraying me,” they caress your hand in theirs, smiling faintly to themselves, for which reason you could not tell “You knew I would be cast here, didn’t you?”

“I overheard God and Gabriel talking of your rebellion. God certainly knew I was aware of your fate but didn’t seek me to explain. I knew you would be cast to the farthest place from Heaven, but I didn’t know of the existence of Hell, I only thought we would be so far away that no light would ever kiss our skin again, and I could not let you do that to yourself.”

Their grasp on your hand loosened, and they brought both their hands to your face, caressing your cheeks free of the few tears staining them. They were so gentle, their face so compassionate that you were overcome by your feelings, covering their hands with yours and looking deep into their eyes.

“I love you, Lucifer. I could not live a second more away from your presence. The Silver City in all its glory pales in comparison to my feelings for you.”

At that moment, Lucifer closed the space between your faces, coming down to meet you in the middle. They kissed you feverously, ferociously, as if their life depended on it, and you responded with just as much. You felt their fingers holding your head strongly, if you were a different being you might have felt searing pain from the sheer force they held you with, the desperation in them almost too much, too overwhelming.

Suddenly you screamed, parting from them in a panicked thrashing. Your wings were burning.

Happy Ending

Immediately, Lucifer held up their hands, deep sorrow and resentment twisting their face. They stepped close to you while you screamed and thrashed like a wounded animal, eyes wide with no understanding of what was happening and why your feathers had simply combusted.

“Shh, calm down, my love,” they walked carefully in your direction “It will end soon, I’m afraid I can’t make it stop but let me help you with the pain.”

The fire was slowly subsiding, in their place blackened leathery wings like a bat’s were becoming visible. The smell of burnt flesh was not uncommon in Hell, but somehow you could tell the smell of your own body from the others.

You fell to the ground, all strength was gone from you, and Lucifer encircled you with their wings, pulling you to their lap in a protective bubble. Their touch was oddly calming and you felt yourself give in to their soft words.

“I must admit I thought you would have burned in your fall. Perhaps Heaven is a bit more vindictive than we give it credit for.”

You could not believe they would do this to you. You saw it happening to Lucifer, but somehow you thought it would be different now, you thought your wings would remain dove-white and gentle. It appeared you were wrong.

“Come, I’ll take care of you,” they lifted you in their arms, taking you to what you could assume was their chambers “I will make you the strongest ruler to ever exist. No real shall be unaware of your power, fierceness, and wisdom. You will rule by my side, and we will bring those bastards to dust.”

As they whispered in your years, you felt a slow smile twisting your lips. Maybe it was the fall, maybe you resented The Presence since the first rebellion, but the thought of burning it all to the ground sent you into a satisfied sleep, in your dreams, you saw Hell the only remaining realm in the universe.

Angsty Ending

“Do you think I believe for a second that you chose to come to me? To abdicate the cold comfort of the Silver City for your supposed ‘affection’ for me?” their voice was cold and cruel, their smile just as kind and comforting as before. You could not understand how such bitterness could be hidden by so perfect of a mask.

When your guard were down, Lucifer manipulated the flames in the throne room to burn you, making your wings as black as theirs.

“Bitterness has consumed everything good in you, Samael, you’re a shadow of who you were, you’re not free, you are a slave to your resentment!” you shouted, infuriated. The rage building in your body enough to power a hundred smites. However, you had just fallen, your wings were just burned, and even with the power for a very decent battle against Lucifer, you lacked the strength to wield it.

“Mazikeen, please escort our guest to their cell. Make sure it’s the right one, where they’ll be able to contemplate what a foolish choice it was to betray me,” they said, gesturing with their hand to summon the archdemon.

You didn’t have a way of escape, Lucifer would make sure you were securely held in their claws, so you simply accompanied the creature to your new abode, a windowless cell of hot obsidian. It was just your luck you discovered that now you could burn.

After hours of introspection, sitting in your hellishly warm and uncomfortable cell, you realize why Samael were entitled “Prince of Lies”. Because in the throne room, when you looked into their eyes, you could swear on your life and the life of all living beings that they loved you just as much as you did them. It appeared you were wrong.

[femslashrevolution]

Popular Pairing List Update

The following pairings have more than 10 recent posts in their pairing tag, and are therefore too popular to be posted on Rarepair Thursdays:

Akemi Homura x Kaname Madoka (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

Ariane Yeong x Elster (SIGNALIS)

Arlecchino x Columbina (Genshin Impact)

Asahina Mafuyu x Yoisaki Kanade (Project SEKAI COLORFUL STAGE!)

Aylin x Isobel Thorm (Baldur's Gate)

Azusawa Kohane x Shiraishi An (Project SEKAI COLORFUL STAGE!)

Bo-Katan Kryze x The Armorer (Star War

Bronya Rand x Seele (Honkai: Star Rail)

Cam Bentland x Rebecca Godfrey (Under the Bridge)

Claudia x Madeleine Éparvier (AMC Interview with the Vampire)

Ema Skye x Kay Faraday (Ace Attorney)

Eva Yan x Yulia Lyuricheva (Pathologic)

Fina Valero x Marta de la Reina (Sueños de libertad)

GeminiTay x PearlescentMoon (Minecraft Youtube)

Katara x Yue (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Klaasje Amandou x Ruby (Disco Elysium)

Lohse x Sebille (Divinity)

Marina Domek x Samarie (Fear & Hunger)

Mizi x Sua (Alien Stage)

Nangong Jingnu x Qiyan Agula (Jing Wei Qing Shang)

Suki x Yue (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

The following pairings have been posted less frequently recently, and have therefore been removed from the popular pairing list:

Abigail Blossom x Thomasina Topaz (Riverdale)

Amanda Clarke x Emily Thorne (Revenge)

Ann Walker x Anne Lister (Gentleman Jack)

Barbara Holland x Nancy Wheeler (Stranger Things)

Celia St James x Evelyn Hugo (The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo)

Gwen Stacy x Mary Jane Watson (Marvel Comics)

Hermione Granger x Narcissa Malfoy (Harry Potter)

Jack Danvers x Keeley Jones (Ted Lasso)

Jadzia Dax x Kira Nerys (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

Jess McCready x Lupe Garcia (Amazon A League Of Their Own)

Katya x Sofia (Goncharov)

KJ Brandman x Mac Coyle (Amazon Paper Girls)

Molly x Nick (No Good Nick)

Natasha Romanoff x Peggy Carter (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

And to avoid any confusion, the following pairings on the Popular Pairing List were renamed during our recent tag check:

Blaze Rogers x Kristina Corinthos Davis (General Hospital, formerly Blaze x Kristina Corinthos Davis)

Cate Randa x May Olowe-Hewitt (Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, formerly Cate Randa x May Olowe Hewitt)

Cleopatra Smith x Frida Kahlo (Clone High, formerly Cleopatra Philopator x Frida Kahlo)

Mon Phetpailin x Sam Anantrakul (GAP, formerly Mon x Sam)

Ongsa x Sun (23.5, formerly Earth x Sun)

[sapphickittykatherine]

i just wanna talk for a sec about arthur. disclaimer: i adore him. he's my blorbo boy. however, he definitely does get prince privilege with regards to both the narrative voice of the show and the fandom. i'd like to point to this post as a jumping-off point:

if you're anything like me, you might need cw: lancelot slander

ofc my bias towards lancelot has affected my view of this in absolutely no way whatsoever lmao

i understand that arthur was raised by a power-hungry tyrant - although, one who was said to care for his kingdom even before his own son... - and that being brought up with privilege goes to someone's head. this is why i excuse his dickishness in early seasons. he's going to grow! that's what merlin is there for! by season 5, however, when he has not only not grown but actually gotten worse, you have to question why everyone - including merlin - still praises him so much. he still oppresses magic. he still upholds the inequality of the monarchy. (another disclaimer: i adore fictional stories about monarchs and royalty etc. nothing wrong with liking them!) yet still, people praise him for the absolute barest of minimums. this man will be like, "yeah i don't think we should leave our citizens to die actually :)" and everyone will act like this is some incredibly brave moral stance. "we shouldn't tax our citizens to the point that they starve, or execute innocent people without a fair trial. probably." and the crowd goes wild!

basically every character who isn't a stuck-up noble with their head in the stratosphere thinks this. yet arthur is the one who gets praised for it. why? because he has the power to actually do something about it? the guy actually fights alongside his knights rather than hiding in his castle, which makes him better than the other knights. bc logic. "he's such a great guy!" he's bordering on a mediocre guy with bare-minimum moral stances. and that's okay! he's allowed to be a stuck-up royal prat! he's a medieval prince with a tyrant father, for goodness' sake! but this worship of him - not just by characters, but also members of the fandom - is weird tbh.

how the aforementioned post ties in to all this exactly: lancelot. there is a reason, dear pinterest user, that lancelot is the bravest and most noble of them all, rather than arthur. arthur fights to defend his kingdom, first and foremost. he is the crown prince, and later the kin. if not for the seemingly infinite supply of knights and citizens of camelot, thanks to this being a show, he would have no kingdom to rule if he let everyone die and all structures be destroyed! he wants peace among the kingdoms - great. again, a highly bare-minimum stance, though. you remember when uther signed a peace treaty with a bunch of other kingdoms, even though another king was mad he couldn't get rich off war if that happened? uther the pure-hearted. on the other hand, people like lancelot are just commoners. he wants to risk his life not because he's defending the kingdom over which he presides, but because he doesn't want a bunch of people who, honestly, have very little to do with him, suffer or die like he saw happen to the people in his village. "arthur risks his life for his friends!" the guy has, like, three. i should hope so. not to mention lancelot does the same 💀 for arthur (1x05), for gwen (2x04), for merlin (4x02).

lancelot is literally just one example. if you don't want to, it's chill - it's literally just a work of fiction lol - but maybe try to assess arthur sans privilege. even once. do i think that arthur is better than uther and other tyrants? obviously! do i think that's a particularly high bar? ...

he's a dick with a heart of... bronze. maybe. good for him.

[stromuprisahat]

Expectations were low, but Oh My God!

I intended to write down the dialogues that don't make much sense, but then I figured it's no use to copy/paste all the subtitles. There's rarely anything that isn't plain stupid. The Witcher: Blood Origins is amalgam of badly used tropes I've seen thousand times before. 

The Elves

Forget the beautiful, graceful humanoids with equally stunning culture. The elves here are dirty, rude and equally pathetic as humans. The only difference is pointy ears. Their architecture is massive and angular, their blades, proverbial elven blades, often look like a total amateur with zero skill forged them out of scraps.

Elves are also morally corrupt. Colonization is a huge issue we won’t learn much about, except they’re just as bad as humans will become in future. Given the context the point seems to be they had it coming... in case you were starting to feel for their race in present time.

REPRESENTATION!!!

Recently I’ve read a post about how little representation is in “source” material. Shocking, isn’t it? Slavic fantasy, heavily inspired by mediaeval Poland doesn’t include POCs (read: Blacks and East-Asians, because I’ve never seen anyone complaining about lack of Native Americans... in pseudoEurope...). The show creators obviously decided to fix that by ticking off the proper boxes.

You’ve got Black elves, East-Asian, gay gay, chubby deaf-mute... well, at least this time the different colours came from distinct nations. If only the stereotypes were avoided.

Tropes and patterns

Soft, slightly feminine gay, gullible disabled, wise older East-Asian mentor,  washed out hippie healer, abused genius, forbidden love between protector and his charge, soldier who was done killing untill the enemy wiped out his home, redemption = sacrifice = suicide, two characters arguing about who’s gonna do the sacrificing only for the one, who “lost” to go behind the other one’s back and do it...

... sprinkle some well-known terms and names: chaotic power, Xin'trea, Eredin, Avallac’h... aaand done! Brand new tale from a widely-loved universe is done!

Perhaps try writing less of what could people find cool, and focus on a good story.

Rah, rah-ah-ah-ah!

Four episodes don’t offer much space to develop many characters. Seven good guys, at least four antagonists... personalities, interactions, needless romance... it’s interesting how much can actors express in only so many interactions.

Zacaré and Brother Death are believable. 

Meldof and Gwen's story's tragic, but rather sweet in a way. (Tho they could’ve refrained from that rape aspect.)

Éile and Fjall, flat and boring. One of the unsurprising, disappointing turns of events. Zero chemistry. Made to fuck with the sole purpose of making a baby to artificially connect them to Ciri, one of the MCs in the “original” series.

The WITCHER: Blood Origin

You're telling me that the first version of a witcher was a badass elf? This is really gonna piss Geralt off.

One would hope for something different, after all this fuss, but no. First “witcher" is just another butch guy, only with pointy ears.

How do we know the turning potion's ew? It's black!

How do we know he's really WITCHER 1.0? Yellow eyes!

How do we know he’s not quite himself? Black eyes and veins on his face!

I'm sure this improvised ritual had the same effects as carefully honed procedure sorcerers spent decades perfecting...

Fuck the Coup, free The People!

The story starts with a coup, killing off three monarchs with their bodyguards. Corrupt, elitist leadership’s gone, the new rulers- army, magicians and overlooked princess- plan to invade new worlds to gain resources their world’s lacking. Sounds like a decent idea? Our heroes would disagree. The empress needs to be destroyed, because people suffer.

You changed nothing. You're just another boot looking for more necks.

... reproaches the great Éile new empress. When was she supposed to do that? In a week? Change takes time and resources, Merwyn had none. Am I supposed to cheer, because now it's faceless "people" in charge? Do they have knowledge to rule? The skill? Anything? Or are they expected to wing it? Rule isn't about putting new people to the wheel and hope it will all work out. Talk about freedom won't feed you, run trade, economy, agriculture etc..

The worst thing's we know the Empire is crumbling. We know there's no food to redistribute, even the leadership has barely anything and you can't let the head starve if you want to fix anything. Merwyn's unforgivable sin was being born into the ruling class.

- You've no idea what elfkind even is. You're just another spoiled princess.

~ I am Empress!

- You are a child ~given~ the reins of a warhorse. You don't speak for elfkind.

... the writers try to gaslight us. We’re introduced clever, idealistic, inquisitive princess, who wants to help her people. When she’s confronted with reality, she tries to learn more. She goes from her family’s pawn to schemer, who makes allies and plans, frees herself from role of figurehead and reminds others the most important task is to feed their people. That’s a character I’d love to watch. Not a dumb singer, who rallies a mob, destroys government, helps to cause cataclysm and fucks off to countryside.

The Story of the Seven

What did those fame-deserving Seven achieve? Did they solve famine? Did they end war? Did they offer better way to rule? No, no and no.

But they (unintentionally) caused the Conjunction, brought the monsters and humans into weak, starving, disorganized society. The rightfully forgotten Seven effectively crippled their own race and destroyed any chance for defense they might have had.

I don’t know who is Jaskier’s song about, but it’s not about these Seven.

[highsocietyhq]

☾ ° › update 9:00 am !

the sun rose and the comfortable and safe darkness was set aside. this was bad news for our escapees. klaus and ronan had fought valiantly against fate but not even they could fight against two search parties dedicated to catching royals. 

the other groups did not have much luck either max, sylvie, aurel and julien could not outrun well rested men despite their best efforts. uriah, araya, nikolai, sergi & kurakin were slightly luckier — or at least nikita kurakin was. he was the only one who did not get caught. 

new day, new rules ! at the break of dawn the men began moving people around. first the monarchs were picked out: alexei, anneli, max, sergi, jianguo, lixue & catherine were taken to the room with arnauld and michael — matilde and levente were removed. only one was missing: verona di savoia. but instead of seeing that particular blonde get pushed into the room, fanni croÿ was escorted into the room. 

the monarchs ( and a poorly identified blonde ) were informed of the reason behind their capture: each monarch had a demand to respond to. inability to act would lead to being eliminated. 

it was the chinese’s turn to start. they were told to end the blockade on the bohai strait. they were given four hours.

in the same building ronan, maitê, matilde, wiebke, robbie, xiuying, vitya, layla & aslan were contained in the same room.

ana maria, andrew, daisuke, hafiz, freja, marisol, art & okeyo were locked in a room in the building close to the docks. 

ilija, sol, ireti, jelani, aurel, klaus, helena, araya, effie, silje, sylvie, gwen, gabriel were all moved to a room in the building on the west coast.

in a different room meixu, uriah, nikolai, elyse, julien, giselle, olimpia & alessandro were held captive.

ariel, bash, reggie, yasmin, levente, ines & tekla were placed in the building in northwest. as were  giovanni, natalia, manon, johannes, samuel, barbie, leo, verona, dianna & sasha.

GROUPS:

the building in the middle of the island:

group one: alexei, anneli, max, michael, arnauld, catherine, fanni, sergi, jianguo, lixue

group two: ronan, maite, matilde, vitya, layla, aslan, wiebke, robbie, xiuying

the building close to the docks:

group three: ana maria, andrew, daisuke, hafiz, freja, marisol, art, okeyo

the building on the west coast:

group four: ilija, sol, ireti, jelani, aurel, klaus, helena, araya, effie silje, sylvie, gwen, gabriel

group five: meixu, uriah, nikolai, elyse, julien, giselle, olimpia, alessandro

the building in northwest:

group six: ariel, bash, reggie, yasmin, levente, ines, tekla

group seven: giovanni, natalia, manon, johannes, samuel, barbie, leo, verona, dianna, sasha

[ashneirmk3]

This is similar to Gwen in Across the Spider verse in that the message is obvious, provided you have any amount of media literacy. We stand our shapeshifting monarch. 

The trans flag being in the background of THIS SHOT SPECIFICALLY… You already KNOW what’s going on

[7serendipities]

Mystic South 2023

This year I was presenting a workshop on four Irish Fairy Queens I titled “Into the Hollow Hills”. Like last year, this year my workshop was in the first block on Friday, and also like last year I did not expect very many people… and was proven wrong! I ran out of handouts, which is always a good position to be in! I think it went pretty well, though this was the first time I’d run through the entire thing with an actual audience, and it ended up taking a bit longer than I expected, so I skimmed some of the additional material after I covered the four main fairy queens. I basically only included information on other fairy monarchs if they had a connection to one of my main four: Úna, Áine, Clíodhna, and Fand. Fand is not necessarily known as a folkloric fairy queen, but she has shown up in that role in my own life for a long time, and she is the wife of a very well known fairy king (Manannan Mac Lir), and I thought it would be best to include her with those caveats. (Aoibheall I approached to see if she would like to be included but she demurred, so I only mentioned her briefly. I would not have chosen to exclude a fairy queen known as Clíodhna’s sister and rival, otherwise! I wouldn’t want to have my firstborn cursed to prick their finger on a spindle.) Then I covered some basic safety rules for the journey, and led a guided journey to a liminal place between our world and the world of Fairy, and brought everyone back right as the block ended, though I stuck around a little to chat with folks for a bit!

Meeting people finally in person is really one of the highlights of Pagan events for me, and I got to meet a couple of people I’d only known online again this year, and got to spend more time with the ever-amazing Daniela Simina (who has two books coming out next year, and I am finally the proud owner of a signed copy of her first book)! I also went to a bunch of really great workshops, both by people I hadn’t heard of before, and people whose work I’ve admired for a long time.

In that second category, Llevin and Gwen Ithon were back and teaching several workshops, and I went to most of them! The class on “Raising Bairns” was taught by Gwen and their (adult) daughter Aurelie, and was a really good look at how to raise kids within a pagan/magical culture without indoctrinating them into a specific tradition. Instead, Gwen and Llevin emphasized the philosophy and core values of their culture and traditions, taught their children some basic skills (grounding, centering, cleansing, etc) and involved them in the home practice (rituals to the household gods, prayers said when lighting a fire, etc). Gwen and Aurelie both emphasized that their culture believes that if one family continues only in one magical society or tradition, it stagnates; having generations each find their own preferred way to practice keeps things fresh and invigorated and breathes life into the practices. They also talked a bit about rites of passage. Then Llevin and Gwen together taught “Soul Burden”, about releasing illness and negativity from the spirit body. It included an esoteric discussion of how souls and reincarnation are viewed in their tradition, and a few examples of healing modalities, including one using a bowl of silvered water that I’m going to have to try for myself! I also took their class on fairies, called “Conjured by Candlelight” and though it took a more ceremonial bent than my practice, there was a lot of valuable information, and some streams of continuity for me that I’m going to be chewing on for a while.

I also went to Daniela’s paper presentation on fairies, specifically on “Apotropaic and Propitiatory Elements in Home Design”, which was full of great information, and even better pictures! I love hearing Daniela present, because our paths are so similar, and while I did already know a lot of the information, I also learned some new things! And in any case I wouldn’t have wanted to miss it; I always try to go to my friends’ workshops! I went to Debra Burris’s workshop “An Eclipse is Coming!” for the same reason, but by about ten minutes in I had caught the hype bug. That workshop was a fun mix of science, mythology, and folk practice, and I’m really glad I went. The only other person I really knew who was teaching was John Beckett, and alas the class I most wanted to take was scheduled in the same block as mine, so I’ll have to grab notes from someone!

Of the people I had never taken a class from before, I think Nathan Hall’s workshop “Hedgeriding: Experiencing the Liminal between Animism and Witchcraft” aligned the most with my own philosophies (if not quite with the specifics of my practice). He talked about how it’s not re-enchantment of the world around us, it’s ourselves that we need to reenchant, and I could not agree more. And as for rewilding, that, too, is necessary to internalize: “What can you do today,” he asked, “to make yourself 10% more feral?” The last part of the workshop was a guided meditation to meet local land spirits, and it went a little sideways for me (I got the Fair Folk first instead, which shocks no one), but I did end up having a powerful experience with the local river. I liked the workshop so much I bought his book!

I went to three classes about plants, two by Anastasha Verde and one by Ivy Laine. Anastasha’s first one was “Sacred Botany, Sacred Grief” and it focused on ecological grief and presented an overview of pagan rituals she’d found that were meant to address that. It definitely got my ritualist brain wheels turning! Her second one was on “Rewilding Your Practice with Bioregional Animism” which I am ALL ABOUT, and it was great to have an open discussion about the Appalachian and Piedmont regions. She also emphasized knowing your local watershed, which is particularly important to me. I came away from that one with a lot of good ideas. Ivy’s workshop was “Beautiful but Dangerous”, on poison plant allies of Appalachia, and it had a lot of good information. I learned a lot, and got to finally ask someone what I might use Carolina Horsenettle for. I’ve been wondering about it since that plant popped up in my yard two years ago, and while I’ve been trying to get to know the plant spirit, I’ve not found much folklore on it, but Ivy (and others) agreed that generally you’d use it the same way you might use bittersweet nightshade — that is to say, as a a slightly less malefic substitute for belladonna.

All in all, it was an amazing conference (as always), and I can’t wait until next year!

[katherynefromphilly]

Fic Rec: “I Keep Going Over the World We Knew (Over and Over)” by Mellacita

Rating: Explicit

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: Multi M/M

Fandom: Merlin (BBC)

Relationship: Arthur/Merlin

Characters: Arthur Pendragon Merlin Morgana Nimue Freya Morgause Gwen (Guinevere)

Additional Tags: Reincarnation Reunions Travel

Language: English

Stats: Published: 2013-09-10 Completed: 2013-09-10 Words: 53153 Chapters: 4/4

*****

EXCERPT:

Merlin Emrys lived an average, normal sort of life.

He lived in London, which was very normal for someone who, as far as he knew, was born and grew up in London.

He woke up in the morning and fed his cat. A freelance writer, he tended to work from home, but he still managed to get dressed most days.

He played cricket on the weekend and hung out at his favourite coffeeshop. He ran in charity races, got shitfaced with his mates, had relationships that didn't work out, and killed houseplants with stunning regularity.

He was, in a word, completely normal.

"That's two words," his best friend Renuka pointed out during their weekly coffee/debriefing. "And I'm not sure they mean what you think they mean."

Merlin drained his coffee—black, no sugar, nothing but pure twitch—and set down his cup with a glare. "I'm a writer," he said. "I know what words mean, Renu."

He'd met Renuka at university; they'd formed an instant bond over an arrogant lecturer they'd both hated. Merlin could never explain it, but they just clicked, somehow.

These days, she made it her hobby to ensure Merlin found domestic bliss with one of her numerous gay friends. "Of course you do, darling. Which is why I got a series of exceedingly angry texts from Stampy after your blind date, all of which, by the way, included the phrase: 'not normal.'"

Merlin scowled.

"In all capital letters, no less," Renu added. "Really. I'm not going to keep fixing you up if you keep creeping them out."

"How was I creeping them out? I was making conversation!"

"Merlin." Renu covered one of his hands with hers. "Not everyone shares your passion for old, dead monarchs, you know."

"They should," Merlin insisted. "It's our cultural heritage. How could they not want to know more about it?"

Renu rolled her eyes. "It's not everyone's cultural heritage. Besides, at the first date stage, I'd say worry more about attraction and less about if a bloke can distinguish between the Vulgate and Post-Vulgate cycles."

Merlin pointed his finger. "Ha. See, you know your Arthuriana. Stampy has no excuse."

"I only know it because it makes it so much easier to take the piss out of you, Merlin, and you know that's one of my life's great pleasures."

"Doesn't matter why. You still know it, thereby proving that you are better than him. If you had a cock I would date you and be done with it."

"If I had a cock, I'd fuck Karen Gillan and not worry about you."

"Thanks."

"Seriously though, I just want you to find someone. You're too lonely. King Arthur isn't going to keep you warm at night, you know."

"You say that at least six times a year," Merlin said.

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/113950/chapters/159051

[retelling-of-ragnarok]

WHINNN ♥️🙇‍♀️ CAN I ASK FOR 🎨 BUT WITH RICHTER?? I wanna see what moodboard Gwen and him would have 👀

Send "🎨" for a mood board of our muses

🔷 YES YOU CAN. this was honestly pretty difficult, since I was trying to encompass their ENTIRE relationship. but i did my best 😞✋ Also i rambled. oops. 🔷

➸ I have a very specific interpretation of this song regarding this two. I’M NOT GONNA GO INTO IT HERE but I just wanna say that I chose this song for a reason 😌☝️ Also it just slaps, and the lyrics are great.

➸ Honestly their relationship just depends on the day, and how much energy the both of them have to act civilised. But digging deeper into it, it isn’t that great.

➸ From Richter’s perspective, it was like his biggest and deepest regret had come back to haunt him, in the form of a child. He’s never had a sound night sleep, as all of his nightmares dreams are filled with screaming and bloodshed. Even in slumber, he can’t escape his own helplessness.

➸ It gets worse, during training. He didn’t choose only one day a month to train Gwen because he was busy. He chose only one day because he can’t stand the sight of them. From the moment he saw them, he picked apart that friendly, childish exterior. And found something all to similar to his past.

➸ A child, too young to be in the service of an out of control monarch. Although instead of the hopeful, optimistic friend he used to know. He found a child soldier— A miserable soul. Yet somehow, a vessel. He deemed them unfit for someone he once saw as the perfect being, someone who used to be his lifeline. And seeing the stains his brother left on them wasn’t doing him any favours. Adalfieri was the one person who Richter had to himself. The one person who looked at him equally; yet somehow, as usual, what was once his/what he desires always ends up in the hands of his brother. Somehow, someway.

➸ This wasn’t a reincarnation though, but rather Gwen was their own person. And like Karl, this angered him. Not only had the memories he had all but forgotten resurfaced, it felt as if he was looking at a mockery. Blatantly being spat in the face by whatever deity was in charge of guiding those to the afterlife. Adalfieri was so close to him, but completely out of reach. It was infuriating, and he took all of his anger out on Gwen for existing. After all if it wasn’t for them, he wouldn’t be plagued like this.

➸ He trained them harshly, which furthered his own suffering once he saw Gwen’s bloodied face and hands. Bringing up all too familiar images of his old friend’s execution. And unlike his friendship with Rio, he can’t overlook/appreciate the similarities. Because this isn’t just someone similar. This is a real, genuine, vessel.

➸ But he does do his best to… Get along with them. After all if they become comfortable with him, he can slowly but surely slip ‘clues’ or items to jog their memory into their line of sight. Or even just have them become useful. Send them on jobs that keep far, far away from him. He gets to keep some sanity , and get work done. He does his best, truly. But even if they have to converse together, their personalities clash negatively, instead of positively.

➸ THROWING A RYUUTO CENTRIC BULLET IN HERE. YOU DON’T HAVE TO IMPLEMENT THIS ANYWHERE I’M JUST RAMBLING; I THOUGHT OF THIS ON SPOT AND IT MADE ME SOB

➸ The… Jealously(?), he felt by watching his son run off to god knows where with Gwen. It hurts, truly; watching him live a kind of enjoyment that he had ripped from them. The amount of similarities between Ryuuto and Gwen’s relationship reminds him too much of the relationship he used to have with Adalfieri. Even the way they met was similar. So he will do his best to keep those two far apart. Or at least as much as he can. If he becomes envious enough, he may even try to break the relationship all together. Because what does his son have that he doesn’t? Plus he fears that if they keep this up, history will repeat itself, and he’ll lose his friend a second time. By his own hands this round. (oof father/son rivalry never stops huh)

➸ ANYWAYS. ONWARD TO GWEN’S POINT OF VIEW.

➸ There isn’t any kind of super personal reason to Gwen approaching Richter. They took him for some kind of weapon wielder or boxer when they first saw him, so asking for proper training was something impulsive, but something that made sense to them. Besides, he’s Karl’s brother. Getting close to him meant more chances that Karl wouldn’t approach them. Meaning they would get a break, and an extra stretch to living.

➸ They agreed on a schedule, and went from there. Soon after Gwen had found out about his friendship with their Grandfather. It was a motivator for them, given that Rio was their role model. It was a reason for them to put up with Richter’s harsh training regiments. The burns, frostbite, slashes, or other extreme situations they were put through were suddenly worth something; if only to come closer to their goal.

➸ However they noticed Richter looking at them like an object. Like a box, that he was trying to peak into. And one day, after catching that kind of intense and malicious gaze, it made them physically ill. Not because they were scared, but something different…

➸ Gwen began having nightmares. Reliving memories that weren’t theirs, losing more sleep than they already skipped out on. Richter, both young and old, felt more like a ghost or a haunting spirit, more than a real person. Looking into mirrors made them nauseous. Their face didn’t feel like their own— As if Richter set off a ripple inside their subconscious; revealing the deepest, darkest, most hidden parts of it. Arousing the soul that currently resides inside of them.

➸ The scars on their back had began to become more visible, as they reached the age of twenty (Adalfieri’s death age). Thus, Richter was able to see them. Those incredibly unique scars, from the most gruesome spell the founding race had ever created. Scars that someone shouldn’t be able to get anymore, especially not ones shapes like mistletoe vines. Especially not with that rune on their right hand. Or rather, His rune.

➸ That was the angriest, or most vicious he’d ever been towards them. Spitting out curses and accusations they didn’t understand. But everything made their head hurt, made their heart hurt. Hell even Karl joined in on the little tantrum.

➸ They didn’t change their appearance to remain out of sight, or hidden. They changed their appearance because for the first time, those two worked together on something. Were angry, and aiming for the same goal. Gwen was sure they had seen the gates to hell that day, and never wanted to go through that again. Needing a break from their former “colleagues”? No. They were saving their own skin— They even speak in a higher pitch than usual, just to make absolutely sure.

➸ Now Gwen is a lot more careful around him, or tries to be. They’ve picked up on four different modes for him. Slightly annoyed, but amused. Annoyed. Wanting them away from something. And genuine anger. This is sort of the basis they created, and continue to use, when dealing/conversing with the Vampire.

➸ They can’t say that Richter isn’t useful though. And they’ve racked up a relationship built on mutual gain. Gwen gets access to vast amounts of information, in a large variety; in exchange for being a versatile chess piece.

➸ OKAY I RAMBLED IM SORRY. BUT YEAH THEYRE RELATIONSHIP IS. A MESS. under different circumstances they might have got along but. it didn’t work that way. SO I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS V LONG POST.

[fury-of-darkin]

Aatrox interactions for every Champion

Ahri: “You are the last of your kind, little fox? Not for much longer...”

Akali: “You forsook balance. Now, I will show you chaos!”

Akshan: “I will send you to the master cherish so deeply!”

Alistar: “You fought for your freedom, minotaur! Now, fight for your life!”

Amumu: “I will silence every cry, and we will both be free of our torment...”

Anivia: “I am no stranger to rebirth, spirit. Today, one of us shall be freed from the cycle!”

Annie: “Until I am defeated, I will slaughter every man, woman and child in my way!”

Aphelios: “Conjure as many weapons as you wish; I only need one to end you!”

Ashe: “You seek peace in a world driven by war! You are a fool, doomed to perish...”

Aurelion Sol: “I once looked to the stars with reverence. Now, they only remind me of what I have lost.”

Bard: “I do not understand you, but I will strike you down all the same!”

Blitzcrank: “A crude imitation of life, nothing more.”

Brand: “Yes, let your fires burn! Let us reduce everything to ash!”

Braum: “I was once like you, but then my eyes were opened to the cruelty of this world...”

Caitlyn: “Go on then! Take your best shot! It will be the last you EVER take!”

Camille: “A surgeon saves lives; a butcher ends them. We are BOTH butchers, Camille.”

Cassiopeia: “Naganeka’s doing, no doubt. Allow me to put you out of your misery.”

Cho’Gath: “I remember you, beast. My sword broke against your hide that day. This time, my blade will not shatter!”

Corki: “You are an insect, buzzing around incessantly! I will be the one to swat you down!”

Darius: “Those who seek war are doomed to fall in battle. This is true for people and nations alike.”

Diana: “It was the moon’s light that fell upon my brethren in Nerimazeth. Now, I will avenge them!”

Dr. Mundo: “You desire pain? Come closer, and we will see how much you can handle!”

Draven: “Craven, was it? A fitting name for a pompous fool like yourself.”

Ekko: “It is time you learned, child: we must all live with the consequences of our choices!”

Elise: “No matter how large, a spider is a spider, waiting to be crushed!”

Evelynn: “You think you know agony, demon? Allow me to enlighten you...”

Ezreal: “Where did you get that gauntlet, boy? No matter... I will pry it from your corpse!”

Fiddlesticks: “My blade knows you... It... Remembers you...”

Fiora: “I too seek a worthy foe, but it seems I will not find one here.”

Fizz: “I shall chum the waters with your remains, yordle!”

Galio: “You think you are the first titan I have faced? Size means nothing to me!”

Gangplank: “Will you still swim, captain, when cast into a sea of blood?”

Garen: “You preach truth and justice, yet you serve a land of lies and prejudice. You... Are more like me than you know.”

Gnar: “Unleash your rage, little yordle! Let us see how it fares against a Darkin’s!”

Gragas: “The only drink my sword is concerned with is your blood, mortal.”

Graves: “Is it foolishness or greed that drives you stand against me? No matter; you will die all the same!”

Gwen: “Your soul brims with light and hope, with nary a trace of darkness... I will snuff it out.”

Hecarim: “Come, Hecarim! Let me teach you the true meaning of war!”

Heimerdinger: “They say your mind is sharp, yordle, but is it sharper than my sword? Let us find out!”

Illaoi: “We are more alike than you know, priestess; nothing more than vessels for powers beyond our control!”

Irelia: “You are a dancer PLAYING at being a warrior, nothing more!”

Ivern: “I will cut down every tree, trample every flower, and burn every forest until I know peace!”

Janna: “You should have remained buried with Oshra Va’Zaun...”

Jarvan IV: “A monarch is nothing but a symbol of their nation, and a puppet of their advisors...”

Jax: “Your people unleashed the Void on this world, Icathian! Now, you too will pay the price for it!”

Jayce: “You did not ‘invent’ Hextech Jayce; you merely rediscovered and renamed what Shurima had done long ago!”

Jhin: “In another life, someone like you would have made an ideal vessel for the Darkin...”

Jinx: “You think you know chaos? Let me enlighten you, ignorant child!”

Kai’Sa: “You cannot trust or rely on the Void’s strength; in time, it WILL consume you, making you the monster they fear you to be.”

Kalista: “What do you know of betrayal, ghost? You barely even know yourself.”

Karma: “Is it not maddening? The voices in your mind, urging you to act on THEIR behalf?”

Karthus: “I long for the embrace of death, but it eludes me. You rejected of your own will to become an abomination!”

Kassadin: “I took up this sword for the same cause you now fight for, Kassadin, but the Void is not so easily bested...”

Katarina: “Daggers cutting in the dark... You assassins are so painfully dull.”

Kayle: “Have you come to judge me, Aspect? Deliver justice for my crimes? You are centuries too late, and only half of what you once were!”

Kayn: “So your darkness can keep even the Darkin’s corruption at bay... But for how long, Kayn?”

Kennen: “I believed ninjas were masters of stealth! You are loud, bright, and annoying, little lightning squirrel!”

Kha’Zix: “Consume, grow, evolve... But when the Void consumes this world, what will your evolution amount to, Kha’Zix?”

Kindred: “Our land’s death spirit was forsaken and forgotten. Perhaps that was our greatest folly...”

Kled: “I will stain your property with your blood, you loud, annoying thing!”

Kog’Maw: “Of all the Void’s abominations, you are perhaps the most repulsive!“

LeBlanc: “A plotter and a schemer... Just like the man who brought our empire to ruin. I will not give you the satisfaction of seeing YOUR schemes to fruition!”

Lee Sin: “I am to fight a blind man? No matter. Your blood will feed my sword all-the-same!”

Leona: “Every sun sets, Leona. This day will be your last!”

Lissandra: “You, too, have seen the horrors of the abyss? Gazed into its gnawing emptiness? Know this, witch: I will bring the world’s end long before the Watchers.”

Lucian: “Your light is but a dim glow pushing back against the shade. Let me teach you, Sentinel, what a REAL monster is.”

Lulu: “Whimsy, innocence, naivety; I will strip them from you this day, yordle.”

Lux: “Demacia is broken and divided, just as Shurima was; it will tear itself asunder, and you can do nothing to stop it now!”

Malphite: “So Ne’Zuk’s Monolith bore some fruit after-all. Come then, Malphite! let us see if your strength is a FRACTION of what it once was!”

Malzahar: “You preach of annihilation, but it is you who will meet your end this day, prophet!”

Maokai: “An old tree is little more than tinder waiting to be set alight!”

Master Yi: “Do you think your Wuju a match for me, Ionian? Hold nothing back, or your art will die with you!”

Miss Fortune: “How would you like to die, captain? Here, on land? Or shall I send you the abyss with your ship and crew?”

Mordekaiser: “Ours will be a battle for the ages, Mordekaiser! Let the living AND the dead tremble at our fury!”

Morgana: “You shackle yourself, denying your true lineage, Morgana! If you so adore the ground, I shall bury you in it!”

Nami: “Flee back to the depths, marai; you will find no hope here!”

Nautilus: “The tithe? Will tossing your broken body back into the sea suffice, Nautlius!?”

Neeko: “Can you sense my essence, little lizard? Or has it been blotted out by this accursed blade?”

Nidalee: “Will you die a human, or a beast? Be grateful you have the luxury of choice, Nidalee.”

Nocturne: “I spend every waking moment trapped in a living nightmare. You are nothing to me.”

Nunu and Willump: “Even the closest bonds can be fractured. This I know well, child...”

Olaf: “Rejoice, Olaf! Today, I will give you the death you seek!”

Orianna: “A clockwork doll? I will grind your gears to dust!”

Ornn: “Can you forge a weapon to rival the Darkin, Ornn? Can you forge a weapon to slay me!?”

Pantheon: “Pantheon... No, Atreus, was it? Let this battle be our last! May my sword extinguish your stars, or may your spear quell my madness at last!”

Poppy: “Heroes are naught but a fantasy, yordle. In battle, there are only survivors and the fallen.”

Pyke: “I do not care if my name is on your list, Pyke, but you are on mine!”

Qiyana: “So Ixtal still stands, all these years later? Not for much longer...”

Quinn: “A woman and a bird... Is this really the best Demacia can muster?”

Rakan: “One wing to clip. The other will follow soon enough.”

Rammus: “God, Ascended, animal, it does not matter! Today, the legend of Rammus ends!”

Rek’Sai: “The only queen I acknowledge fell long ago, battling your kind. Today, I will avenge her!”

Renata: “You clawed your way up from the dirt? Then I will send you back there!”

Renekton: “How low we have both fallen, Renekton! My body and your mind, both hollow echoes of what once were... May our battle rekindle even a spark of that glory!”

Rengar: “Today, the hunter becomes the the hunted, Rengar! Run and hide; let us see how long you will last.”

Rhaast: “So the fool succumbed in the end... Such is the fate of all who take up the call of the Darkin.”

Riven: “There is no redemption to be found for those who walk a bloodstained path. For us, Riven, death is the only recourse!”

Rumble: “I will grant you a mercy, Rumble, and bury you alongside that atrocious machine!”

Ryze: “You think you are saving this world, Ryze? I do not need runes to bring Runeterra’s cataclysm. If anything, you have buried the only this world has to stop me!”

Sejuani: “Come, Sejuani! I will paint the snow red with your blood, and your tribe will follow!”

Senna: “You could not even defeat the Ruined King, yet you would challenge ME? You will pay for your insolence, Sentinel!”

Sett: “Come Sett! I will give your an audience a show as a massacre you, before turning my blade on them as well!”

Shaco: “I will silence your mad laughter and erase your wretched smile, jester!”

Shen: “Balance? There is no balance, Shen. Chaos is the only truth, and I am ITS avatar! ”

Shyvana: “You think a dragon’s fury a rival for the Darkin’s? Let us find out, Shyvana!”

Singed: “Cowardly old man! Cease your running! You cannot elude me forever!”

Sion: “We are both hollow shells, filled by endless rage... But at least I remember what I once was. Can you say the same, Sion?”

Sivir: “The Chalicar belongs to a warrior queen of Shurima! You will pay for disgracing Setaka’s legacy!”

Skarner: “Run and hide, Skarner! That is all the Brackern are truly good for!”

Sona: “Soon, the only sound you will know is the silence of annihilation.”

Soraka: “I shall tear the stars from the heavens and bring the crashing to the ground! You may have embraced mercy, Soraka, but I abandoned long ago!”

Swain: “You have damned yourself, old man. You think you control the demon’s power? I thought much the same, until it was too late...”

Sylas: “Yes, tear it all down, Sylas! When the royals are dead and buried, you shall join them!”

Tahm Kench: “I learned my lesson long ago, demon. I understand the price you ask, and I refuse!”

Taliyah: “Stoneweaver! Weave yourself a tomb; one large enough for you AND your tribe!”

Talon: “You thought to assassinate a Darkin? Your ignorance will be your undoing, boy!”

Taric: “You cannot protect anything from ME, Taric, let-alone yourself!”

Teemo: “I will trample you and your insufferable mushrooms alike!”

Tristana: “You think yourself a soldier? You are a child playing pretend! Let me teach you the ravages of war, yordle!”

Trundle: “You may call yourself king. You may call yourself clever. That does not make either statement true.”

Tryndamere: “I can feel it... The Darkin imparted to you a fraction of its power that day. Should I fall, you will be the next vessel.”

Twisted Fate: “You left your fate to chance, and now it will be your doom!”

Twitch: “Nothing more than a pest to be exterminated! This is beneath me, but I will kill you all the same!”

Udyr: “Do you command the spirits, shaman, or do they command you? Regardless, you will all perish this day!”

Urgot: “The flames of war will consume everyone and everything, Urgot, including you.”

Varus: “Love drove you to take up the bow, but hate guides your arrows. When you are finished, there will be nothing left to avenge!”

Vayne: “You think yourself a demon hunter, Vayne? Let us see how well your silver fares against a Darkin!”

Veigar: “Evil, yordle? I will show you TRUE evil!”

Vel’Koz: “You seek knowledge, monster? Very-well. Today, I will teach you what it means to die!”

Vi: “Here comes Vi, racing to her death at the edge of my blade!”

Viego: “There is but one way for you to reunite with your precious queen, Viego! Come, let me send you to her!”

Viktor: “You grafted metal onto your flesh and called yourself evolved? I do not know whether to laugh or pity you.”

Vladimir: “Your blood will feed my blade, Vladimir! Every last drop of it!”

Volibear: “We are both gods made beasts, but we still carry our pride! Show me the majesty of the storm, Volibear, and I will face you as general of the Ascended Host!”

Warwick: “Your likeness reminds me of Cebotaru... But that is all you have in common.”

Wukong: “Observe a true master of the blade, Wukong! Perhaps you will learn something before I end your feeble life!”

Xayah: “One bird to tear from the sky. The other will follow suit.”

Xerath: “How I have dreamed of this day, Xerath. I will do what neither Nasus or Renekton could, and strike you down for your treason ONCE AND FOR ALL!”

Xin Zhao: “First I shall break your spear, then your body, and then, your kingdom!”

Yasuo: “Death is a constant companion to me as well, but today, you alone will be claimed by it!”

Yone: “Do you know the Darkin’s name, Yone? Can you hear its voice? You will, soon enough...”

Yorick: “You long for death, as do I... I shall send you and your Isles to oblivion, Yorick!”

Yuumi: “A talking cat, with a magic book...? I have seen many strange things across the ages, but this is a first.”

ZAC: “How many times must I cut you before you die? Let us find out!”

Zed: “I will give you true darkness, Zed: the darkness of oblivion!”

Zeri: “A bolt of lightning is a powerful thing, child, but oh-so fleeting...”

Ziggs: “Enough of your incessant explosions!”

Zilean: “You wish to save Icathia, old man? There is nothing left to save, and I will destroy the remnants of its legacy with my bare hands!”

Zoe: “I know what you did, Trickster! You gave Ta’anari the means to kill them! Come! Face your retribution!”

Zyra: “I will trample your garden underfoot, and nip every last of your children in the bud!”

[scionofguineverependragon]

Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Merlin (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Gwen/Leon/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)
Characters: Leon (Merlin)
Additional Tags: Character Study, Love Confessions
Summary: An introspection into Leon’s feelings for his monarchs. Of course he would fall in love with his future king and the girl he loved. How beautiful, how fitting. How privileged he was to witness that love and cherish it from so close.

[raevenlywrites]

Ties That Bind First Lines

@indecentpause tagged me to share characters first lines, so of course I used it as an excuse to paw through Ties That Bind :D

Danica: Since she’d the 1st person narrator, the opening line is technically her first line, which my fic shares with its source book, Hawksong

They say the first of my kind was a woman named Alasdair, a human raised by hawks. She learned the language of the birds, and was gifted with their form. 

Her first spoken line is: “I don’t believe you were the only one shouting.”

Rei: His first line is “Shardae?”, which is anticlimactic, but followed swiftly by:

“Dani,” he breathed, only after the door was closed firmly behind him. “I’m sorry I lost my temper in the hall today. It’s my fault we were banned from further discussion.” 

Zane enters the scene with one of the best first lines ever:

“Please, I’m terribly sorry, but we need to talk, and so I need you not to scream.”

Nacola Shardae comes in with a nasty accusation to Rei:

“Didn’t sweep the room for her safety, or didn’t do you duty and slay the villain while you had the chance?”

“Routine maneuvers,” said General Rinnman, along with  “We have to keep up our conditioning,” from General Viridian makes for a rather uninspiring introduction to the Generals’ council.

Technically, Elanor’s first words are: “Your majesty, we have to leave.” but the text doesn’t attribute them to her directly. It’s immediately followed by: “My lady wake up!”

Raymond helpfully leads with: “Vasili was my cousin, Shardae.” and his partner Emune is immediately suss with: “I swear that unless my monarch commands it, I will take no lives this night.”

Much like Rei, head guard Adelina started in with “My Arami.” and it takes another three chapters before she adds: “Lay down with him, brave Danica. I won’t bite, and I won’t let him bite you either.”

There are a ridiculous amount of supporting characters I’ve yet to touch on, but this is already too long :P

Tagging @gwens-fiction @notwritinganyflufftoday @nikkywrites and YOU!

[panharmonium]

why are you being like this?

people i’ve met - they’re not like you.  they don’t care.  i don’t matter.

don’t ever think that.  we all matter.

just some meandering thoughts on where the thematic center of merlin bbc lies for me, and how it weaves itself in and out of my fandom experience.

under a cut because this is a) sort of long and b) not really directed anywhere but my own brain, as i keep thinking about and creating for this show.

[as always, before i get rolling, a reminder: when i write about how i engage with this show, it’s just me talking about what gives me, personally, the most satisfaction or enjoyment, not the way i think everybody should do things.  if this isn’t your particular read, please feel free to scroll past.  i am not ever going to bother anybody for engaging with this show in their own way, so please don’t worry about it if we are not on the same page.]

that post about kilgharrah really got me feeling things.  

i struggle a lot with the sort of...non-nuanced ‘fuck kilgharrah/fuck gaius/fuck arthur/fuck whoever’ mode of engagement that i sometimes run across in fandom.  (and i’m not saying there’s anything intrinsically wrong with it; if you have the most fun engaging with the show in that way, please continue to have fun.  i’m just writing, on my own blog and in my own space, about what i personally do or don’t find compelling.)

i struggle with this mode for the same reason that i struggle with the whole ‘fuck yoda!’ narrative that pops up sometimes in tumblr’s star wars fandom.  because it’s not the narrative that the story is actually trying to create, and though this fact doesn’t mean you can’t twist things that way if it gives you more enjoyment, for me, there’s nothing about it that feels good.

writing fictional characters off like this, when the narrative is clearly not asking us to do so, feels...frustratingly false, and externally-imposed, as if characters are being evaluated based on the exacting standards of a universe in which they never lived, in a context where they were never intended to exist.  doing so requires you to willfully ignore what the story is actually trying to say, and it’s fine to go ahead and do that if you want, but for me it strips away so much of what makes the story meaningful.

bbc merlin’s core plotline is about believing in someone’s better nature.  the central storyline is that merlin commits himself to someone who doesn’t always give merlin reason to believe that this commitment is worth it, and yet still there’s always this hope and faith and belief that one day arthur will make it right.  

and this is presented as a worthy choice.  are there problems with it?  of course.  the show knows that, and it gives us places to think about that.  but even with this being the case, the ultimate message of the show is still never that this commitment was useless, worthless, or foolish.  the message of the show is that under the right conditions, people grow.  this show says that when we are given deep love, care, and companionship, we can change for the better.  it says that people, under the right conditions, can learn how to be better than they were before, and that everyone deserves the opportunity to grow into the person they were meant to be.

bbc merlin is not asking us to cancel any of its characters, ever.  that is never the show’s intention.  i won’t try to stop anybody from doing that, if that’s how they have more fun watching the show, but i am still going to contemplate, in my own space, how small that makes the story feel for me.

sometimes i see things like ...‘morgana/gwen/whoever is the only valid character in merlin bbc,’ and i just...first of all, neither of them are perfect, okay, and second of all, it doesn’t MATTER, because that has never been the point of the story.  this story is not asking us to rank characters on a scale of how righteous/unproblematic we think they are.  it’s asking us to CARE about the characters - ALL of the characters - and to root for them (yes, ALL of them), in the fullness of their imperfection.

when i explore the wider fandom, i typically bump up against one of two mindsets.  there’s the shipping mindset, where everybody loves arthur and he’s helplessly in love with merlin.  but i don’t want that mindset (because i don’t ship that pairing), so i look elsewhere.  but the other mindset is an attitude that dislikes arthur, full stop.  and i don’t want that either!

this ‘either/or’ divide is the opposite of what bbc merlin is asking us to do with its characters.  i criticize arthur all the time, but i still don’t think the story is asking me to reject him.  and i don’t WANT to reject him, either - why would i even watch this show, if i didn’t think it was important to see him become who he was meant to be, if i weren’t invested in his growth, if i didn’t ultimately believe in his possibility?  if i didn’t think the show was asking me to root for him - not uncritically, of course; the show is never asking me to do that - but with the core understanding that arthur is somebody worth caring about?

the same goes for morgana.  the show never asks us to write her off.  up until the very end, the show wants us to care about her.  the show wants us to root for her.  the show never asks us to forget that she and the other characters used to love each other; it never tells us to stop wanting morgana to get what she needs.  

gaius, too - the show never wants us to kick him to the curb.  it knows he’s not perfect.  he knows he’s not perfect.  he tells merlin, when talking about his own life, “there has, for the most part, been very little purpose to it.”  but the show doesn’t want us to fixate solely on his failures, or to dump him for his more cowardly moments.  the show wants us to know that he still has value.  it wants us to know that he is doing more good in the world now than he did before, which is all we can ask of a person, in the end.  it wants us to know that he cares, and that he is trying.

and kilgharrah - the show is never asking us to hate him, either!  yes, i get that it’s funny to joke about how “unhelpful” he is; i think that stuff is funny, too - but i also think it matters to understand that in canon, in the show, we are not meant to read kilgharrah as a malevolent figure.  we are not supposed to read him as a villain.  we are supposed to care about him.  we are supposed to understand that he, too, is working, ultimately, for the triumph of Good.  even though his version of this may feel convoluted to us, because kilgharrah isn’t human and can’t possibly be evaluated by human standards, we are supposed to understand that he, too, is trying.  we are supposed to be moved when merlin asks him, “what will i do without you?”

we are supposed to care about all of them.  we are supposed to find all of them worthy.  we are not supposed to evaluate them (and then discard them) according to inflexible, merciless, decontextualized standards imported from a non-merlin-bbc world.

and this doesn’t mean people aren’t still allowed to do that, if it’s fun for them, but for me, analyzing this show outside of its context doesn’t bring me any satisfaction.  we can go ahead and say things like ‘arthur should get his head chopped off’ and like, okay, that’s funny as a joke.  but as an actual analysis of the show - as a sincere interpretation of the story - it fails.  it’s devoid of all context.  we aren’t supposed to be evaluating this story from the perspective of ‘let’s overthrow the monarchy, kings should die, etc etc.’  the context of merlin bbc is that albion is waiting for a righteous monarch, and that this is a desirable, acceptable, correct thing, in the context of that world.  we are supposed to understand that arthur IS the once and future king, and that this IS a good thing, in this universe, and that the journey we are on here is one where he becomes worthy of his seat on the throne and then ushers in a time of peace and justice for all of albion’s people.

(and as i’ve said before - this is why the merlin bbc finale is so stunningly bad.  it’s not that the show subverts our expectations, it’s that it annihilates its own story, which it has been consistently telling for sixty-three episodes.)

that aside, though - this same overlooking of contextual nuance is the reason why i don’t connect to takes that consider ‘oh no, merlin kills people!’ to be evidence that he’s “changed,” “gone dark,” or “lost his soul.”  merlin does go through a dramatic (and tragic) change by the time we hit season 5, but what happens to him has nothing to do with the fact that he’s killed people.  the context of this show isn’t one where killing is a universal evil.  killing in battle or for the purpose of self-defense is not a morally problematic choice, in this world.  merlin, like everyone else in this show’s context, understands this, and killing a group of enemy soldiers to protect his own life is not something the show intends for us to interpret as an erosion of his humanity. 

what IS framed as an evil act, in the context of merlin bbc, is when someone chooses to kill despite the fact that mercy is an option.  if arthur had killed odin when he could have instead made peace with him, if arthur had executed annis’s champion or vivian’s father when he had already defeated them in single combat, if merlin had killed kilgharrah whilst having absolute power over him - those are morally bankrupt choices, in merlin bbc’s context.

we’re not supposed to see things like merlin killing agravaine as evil decisions.  in the context of the show’s world, killing agravaine is a necessary, morally uncomplicated act.  it isn’t something merlin wants to do, certainly, and he tries to avoid it, and he doesn’t strike back until agravaine tries to kill him first, but ultimately this moment is not supposed to be illustrative of merlin turning down a dark path.  it’s grim, sure, but in the context of the show - in the context of the era - it’s nothing more than the justified wages of aggression.  agravaine brings this fate down upon his own head.  merlin is not a pacifist, and neither he nor anyone else would expect himself to just stand there and let a group of enemy soldiers murder him when he could instead kill the soldiers and get away.  that’s nonsensical and utterly decontextualized.  it’s not an expectation that anyone in-story would have, nor a standard that merlin (or anyone else) would hold himself to.

all that aside, though -

the issue, for me, in summary, is just that i think sometimes we...evaluate this show in ways that it really isn’t meant to be interpreted, without considering the story’s context or thinking about what the story’s actual intent is.  and i think that these decontextualized interpretations are often less generous than what the show is actually trying to say to us, and that sometimes we write characters off when the show absolutely is not asking us to do that.  

and of course, nobody has to listen to what the show is trying to say if they don’t want to.  if it brings someone more enjoyment to pick one character to stan and say ‘the rest of these characters are Bad People and i’m not interested in them,’ then that’s fine!  whatever floats your boat.  

it just doesn’t float mine.

the point of this show, for me, is that everybody deserves a chance.  the point of this show is exactly what merlin says to daegal in the woods, even as daegal is leading merlin into a trap: we all matter.  the theme at the heart of this story is that it is possible to love someone who doesn’t deserve it, and that this can be a worthy choice, a transformative choice, a powerful choice - not necessarily a perfect choice, or even the right choice, maybe, for the person making it, but still a choice that holds value, a choice that creates something good in this world, even at cost.

listen to me, clotpole.  i don't care if you die, there are plenty of other princes.  you're not the only pompous, supercilious, condescending, royal imbecile i could work for; the world is full of them.  but I'm going to give you one more chance.

should merlin have done that?

we can debate that forever.  i am critical enough of arthur pendragon myself, when it comes to merlin’s well-being, and i could easily argue that no, merlin shouldn’t have given arthur as many chances as he did; he shouldn’t have stuck around; he shouldn’t have offered so much of his life to someone who continued to make arthur’s kind of mistakes.

but i think it matters to remember that in canon, thematically, the story’s answer to this question is yes.  mercy, in this story, is the most noble gift a person can bestow on someone else, and i think we are asked to bestow this same kind of mercy on the show’s characters, heroes and villains alike.  we aren’t ever told, in this show, that some of these characters “weren’t good enough” to deserve their chances.  we are told that in this world, compassion is always worthwhile.  love is never wasteful.  it is never foolish to care for people, even and especially when they aren’t yet their best selves.  giving someone a chance does matter.  choosing to care does make a difference, in the end.  

people don’t have to import these themes into their own personal analysis, by any means.  but i am still committed to remembering, in my own work, in my own space, that when we raise the question “was it worth it” in reference to whether these characters truly deserved to be loved, or trusted, or given a chance to grow - the story’s answer is unequivocally yes.

[yaziciyasemin]

𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟓

You are invited to celebrate with all the familiar faces you have missed for the past 15 years. Come join us as we renew friendships, reminisce about the days gone by, and share in life experiences both past and present. Let's bring the gang from the Thomas Jefferson High School's class of 2005 back together!

For further information on the events planned for our reunion and to know how to RVSP click the link down below.

Hope to see you there!

With best regards, Alicia McCarthy, your 2005 student council president.

PLOT SUMMARY: Fifteen years after graduation, the class of 2005 receives an invitation for their High School reunion week. Their student council at the time, Alicia, has made sure to bug everyone into coming back for the event. This is a discord based group verse that follows the class through their HS reunion but will also count with events happening back in 2005 for further development.

𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐋��𝐍𝐄𝐒

Your usual, no godmodding and no ooc drama. Open to mutuals and people I’ve been in verses with. Muns must be over the age of eighteen and all older FCS should be 28+, respecting the five years rule. Age range for muses is 32-34. You are allowed up to two muses, but please make sure to keep them diverse. 

𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

( fc/younger fc, gender, pronouns. ) isn't that NAME LASTNAME? god, they hasn't changed a bit. back in the good old days they were voted as YEARBOOK SUPERLATIVE because they were known for being TRAIT. they must be at least AGE IN LETTERS now, but they still look hot. i can't wait to hear everything they've been doing for the past fifteen years! ( mun name/alias, age, @url.) 

𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟓 ( 11/12 muns)

( dakota johnson/danielle rose russel, cis female, she/her. ) isn't that PARIS SARGENT? god, they hasn't changed a bit. back in the good old days they were voted as MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED because they were known for being CAPTIVATING. they must be at least THIRTY-TWO now, but they still look hot. i can't wait to hear everything they've been doing for the past fifteen years! ( barbie, 23, @sncflwers.)

( margot robbie / scarlett leithold, cis female, she/her. ) isn't that HAYLEY STEVENS? god, they hasn't changed a bit. back in the good old days they were voted as MOST LIKELY TO DESTROY A TALENTED MAN’S POTENTIAL because they were known for being PERSUASIVE. they must be at least THIRTY TWO now, but they still look hot. i can't wait to hear everything they've been doing for the past fifteen years! ( bela, 20, @drunkenloved. ) 

( trevante rhodes/algee smith, cis male, he/him. ) isn't that CAIN HOWELL? god, they hasn't changed a bit. back in the good old days they were voted as MOST LIKELY TO GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING because they were known for being CALCULATIVE. they must be at least THIRTY TWO now, but they still look hot. i can't wait to hear everything they've been doing for the past fifteen years! ( bela, 20, @drunkenloved. )

( elizabeth olsen/josephine langford, cis female, she/her. ) isn't that MAYA PRESTON? god, they hasn't changed a bit. back in the good old days they were voted as MOST LIKELY TO CHEER YOU UP because they were known for being BENEVOLENT. they must be at least THIRTY-TWO now, but they still look hot. i can't wait to hear everything they've been doing for the past fifteen years! ( jules, 23, @seremity.)

( chloe bennet/nathasha liu bordizzo, cis female, she/her. ) isn't that GWEN KNIGHT ? god, they hasn't changed a bit. back in the good old days they were voted as MOST LIKELY TO BE A REALITY TV STAR because they were known for being AMBITIOUS . they must be at least THIRTY-TWO now, but they still look hot. i can't wait to hear everything they've been doing for the past fifteen years! ( jules, 23, @seremity.)

( casey deidrick/nick robinson, cis male, he/him. ) isn't that COOPER HAWTHORNE ? god, they hasn't changed a bit. back in the good old days they were voted as MOST LIKELY TO BE CEO because they were known for being AMBITIOUS. they must be at least THIRTY-ONE now, but they still look hot. i can't wait to hear everything they've been doing for the past fifteen years! ( ron, 24, @mythvlogie.)

 ( manny montana/diego tinoco, cis male, he/him. ) isn't that RYAN NAVARRO ? god, they hasn't changed a bit. back in the good old days they were voted as MOST LIKELY TO WIN THE SUPERBOWL because they were known for being RESILIENT. they must be at least THIRTY-THREE now, but they still look hot. i can't wait to hear everything they've been doing for the past fifteen years! ( ron, 24, @mythvlogie.) 

( phoebe tonkin/diana silvers, cis female, she/her. ) isn't that ATHENA MONARCH? god, they hasn't changed a bit. back in the good old days they were voted as MOST LIKELY TO BE FAMOUS because they were known for being DRAMATIC. they must be at least THIRTY TWO now, but they still look hot. i can't wait to hear everything they've been doing for the past fifteen years! ( del, 22, @hctknife.) 

( nathalie kelley/isabela merced, cisfemale, she/her. ) isn’t that ALESSANDRA “ALES” QUISPE ? god, they hasn’t changed a bit. back in the good old days they were voted as MOST LIKELY TO END UP ON A MAGAZINE COVER because they were known for being COSMOPOLITAN. they must be at least THIRTY TWO now, but they still look hot. i can’t wait to hear everything they’ve been doing for the past fifteen years! ( han, 20, @stainedful​.)

( elizabeth lail / nicola peltz, cisfemale, she/her. ) isn't that SOPHIA BAUM? god, they hasn't changed a bit. back in the good old days they were voted as MOST LIKELY TO FALL IN LOVE... AGAIN because they were known for being QUIXOTIC. they must be at least THIRTY-TWO now, but they still look hot. i can't wait to hear everything they've been doing for the past fifteen years! ( holly, 18+, @frgilebones.)

( matthew noska / rudy pankow, cismale, he/him. ) isn't that HOLDEN LOWELL? god, they hasn't changed a bit. back in the good old days they were voted as MOST LIKELY TO TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD because they were known for being AUDACIOUS. they must be at least THIRTY-FOUR now, but they still look hot. i can't wait to hear everything they've been doing for the past fifteen years! ( holly, 18+, @frgilebones.)

( chris evans/evan roderick, cismale, he / him. ) isn’t that DARREN WRIGHT? god, they hasn’t changed a bit. back in the good old days they were voted as MOST LIKELY TO WIN AN OLYMPIC MEDAL because they were known for being ARDENT. they must be at least THIRTY-FOUR now, but they still look hot. i can’t wait to hear everything they’ve been doing for the past fifteen years! ( leesh, 21, @wearyhands.) 

( megan fox/kennedy walsh, cisfemale, she / her. ) isn’t that REINA MANCINI? god, they hasn’t changed a bit. back in the good old days they were voted as MOST LIKELY TO LEAVE AND NEVER COME BACK because they were known for being DAUNTLESS. they must be at least THIRTY-TWO now, but they still look hot. i can’t wait to hear everything they’ve been doing for the past fifteen years! ( leesh, 21, @wearyhands.)

( bill skarsgard/hero fiennes-tiffin, cis male, he/him. ) isn't that MILO QUINN? god, they hasn't changed a bit. back in the good old days they were voted as MOST LIKELY TO SET A WORLD RECORD because they were known for being WILFUL. they must be at least THIRTY THREE now, but they still look hot. i can't wait to hear everything they've been doing for the past fifteen years! ( lottie, twenty four, @sugarkick.)

( zoe kravitz/zendaya coleman, cis female, she/her. ) isn’t that MAZVITA ZABALA? god, they hasn’t changed a bit. back in the good old days they were voted as MOST LIKELY TO GO ON A TOUR because they were known for being RESTLESS. they must be at least THIRTY THREE now, but they still look hot. i can’t wait to hear everything they’ve been doing for the past fifteen years! ( lottie, 24, @sugarkick.)

( imogen poots/madison iseman, cis female, she/her. ) isn't that SUTTON RHODES? god, they hasn't changed a bit. back in the good old days they were voted as CLASS CLOWN/BIGGEST PRANKSTER because they were known for being MISCHIEVOUS. they must be at least THIRTY TWO now, but they still look hot. i can't wait to hear everything they've been doing for the past fifteen years! ( kels, 25, @foolsongs.)

( theo james/jacob elordi, cis male, he/him.) isn't that GRANT PALMER? god, they hasn't changed a bit. back in the good old days they were voted as MOST LIKELY TO QUIETLY TAKE OVER THE WORLD because they were known for being RESOURCEFUL. they must be at least THIRTY FOUR now, but they still look hot. i can't wait to hear everything they've been doing for the past fifteen years! ( kels, 25, @foolsongs.) 

( chace crawford/thomas doherty, cismale, he/him. ) isn't that JAMESON BAXTER? god, they hasn't changed a bit. back in the good old days they were voted as MOST LIKELY TO DIE ALONE because they were known for being NONCOMMITTAL. they must be at least THIRTY-FOUR now, but they still look hot. i can't wait to hear everything they've been doing for the past fifteen years! ( bryanna/bry, 25, @jcycus.)

( laura harrier / alisha boe, cis female, she/her. ) isn't that CLAIRE HUNTER? god, they hasn't changed a bit. back in the good old days they were voted as MOST LIKELY TO BECOME FAMOUS because they were known for being AMBITIOUS. they must be at least THIRTY-TWO now, but they still look hot. i can't wait to hear everything they've been doing for the past fifteen years! ( sky, 24, @wuunderstruck.) 

( kirby howell-baptiste/diamond white, cis female, she/her. ) isn’t that ISABEL BAXTER? god, they haven’t changed a bit. back in the good old days they were voted as MOST LIKELY TO SKIP GRADUATION because they were known for being INDOLENT. they must be at least THIRTY-THREE now, but they still look hot. i can’t wait to hear everything they’ve been doing for the past fifteen years! ( jay, 22, @heartshapcd.)

( adelaide kane/ella hunt, cisfemale, she/her. ) isn't that KEIRA MURPHY? god, they hasn't changed a bit. back in the good old days they were voted as MOST LIKELY TO WIN THE LOTTERY AND LOSE THE TICKET because they were known for being FORGETFUL. they must be at least THIRTY-TWO now, but they still look hot. i can't wait to hear everything they've been doing for the past fifteen years! ( bry, 25, @jcycus)