#he seems equal to the gods

[baphometsss]

do you ever think about how solas repeatedly states that he is a man and not a god, not out of humility per se but because he is desperate for someone to see how much pain he is in? 'god' implies a level of invulnerability which is completely at odds with who he is. the man is in a world of pain and he is constantly asking for it to be acknowledged.

[dereks-unrelenting-heart]

They clarified it more during the QnA, but while Tom's emcee character in itself was a highlight of the longform, I specifically really like the little lines he threw in at the end to imply a more supernatural, existential backstory to the characters. "Don't worry, he'll wake back up soon. We've been doing this for a long time" and "Did you enjoy today's show? ... Me neither" it's just the right amount of unsettling and I'm so obsessed with the possible implications

[chillentertainer]

have yet to read conclave the book so i'm not sure if robert harris decribes lawrence/lomeli's childhood but how did the man's parents treat him for him to turn out this way as an adult. or was he just born this way, with infinite melancholy and a sadness in his eyes that you only see in eastern european gay porn

[maegalkarven]

Also there're so many reasons why durge might want to deny Bhaal, aside from general "killing is bad, the god of murder is bad."

Orin betrayed them and it was somewhat from silent approval of Bhaal, so "god betrayed me first" kind of narrative. A desire to get revenge, on Orin AND on Bhaal.

A desire to live. Durge's fate, Durge's Destiny is to literally kill everyone and then themselves. What if they want to live? What if desire to live is stronger than desire to kill?

Alternatively, what if there's someone they don't want to kill? A single person for Durge to care about, a single person they would want to save instead of bloodying father's altar with their blood. A single connection like that is all what it would take.

A desire to break free. Durge can be completely okay with murders, loving murdering people even, reveling in violence. But they're their father's puppet and they could want to break free of it, to have their own will, to have only their voice in their head. To be a master of themselves with no one to kneel to.

The "I'm better than my father" kind of mindset. Durge is made of a flesh of a god, in a sense they ARE god. Bhaal was mortal once. Why would Durge listen to him when they can attempt to overthrow him, to become a new god?

Being compelled to other side. It's not unknown for gods to steal each other's followers/chosen ones. Look at Ketheric, look at Shadowheart. Myrkul is recently chosen-less after the Moonrise Towers. Bane would love to fuck with Bhaal like that. Shar is there. Good gods who would try to redeem Durge or use them against their own father are there. It would be a delightful power move from Selune to offer Durge assistance/ an alliance against Bhaal.

Idk, I just love how multidimensional the defiance of Bhaal can be. I have a lil army of Durges exactly because I can mold them into such different people

[derangedrhythms]

Other men seem ants compared to him. I am physically attracted to no-one else. All the complexities of my soul & mind are involved inextricably with him. 

Sylvia Plath, The Letters of Sylvia Plath Volume II: 1956–1963 ⁠—Ruth Tiffany Barnhouse Beuscher, 11th July 1962

[spacetimeaccordionfolder]

Currently thinking about characters touching another character and leaving blood on them. Like if a character's been hurt or just murdered someone and they touch another character's face and leave blood. push hair out of another's face and it's red now. care and horror and red

i don't even ship arkayne in a ship way more a "I want to study them" sort of way but oh the art folks do or or whatnot with Kayne leaving blood where he goes. and does he touch Arthur? Does he leave who know's who's blood that is on Arthur as it stains his own hands? or does he avoid that, leaving Arthur clean of him until The Order. And then after that! what happens. care and horror wrapped up in a bow with a smile and a light touch and two fathers who have lost their daughters talking to one another and it's this false kindness. does it leave behind blood. A reminder of what could happen if Arthur fails, or passing the blame of that blood on to him- blood that could be shed if he fails and more if he succeeds. Does Kayne notice he's bloodied Arthur or does he treasure the sight of a hand print on his sleeve, of the red now on Arthur's hand. They're alike now.

And anyway now I'm once again thinking about moments where tenderness and horror are mixed and woah

[i-am-creacheur]

okay listen. I get the urge to talk about my favorite life series ship like it's Canon in every season...BUT. THAT HAS NEVER ONCE BEEN THE CASE.

Yes, Jimmy would be upset if Tango canaried (technical scientific term for that). Everyone would be- even I would be, and I've never watched a single one of his videos. Canarying sucks, and it hurts. Of course I would be upset. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT I THINK JIMMY WOULD BREAK DOWN SOBBING FROM A CHARACTER STAND POINT. They have had only like... THREE on screen interactions. One is Tango murdering a man infront of Jimmy and another is Tango cheerfully burning down something one of Jimmy's teammates worked very hard on. WildLifeChara!Jimmy has more reason to hate or be afraid of WildLifeChara!Tango than to be madly in love with him.

I promise you, if Tango had offered Jimmy a life instead of Ren, people wouldn't shut up about for MONTHS. But, because it's Ren, somehow the interaction isn't NEARLY as homoerotic??? I understand having NOTP's, but the Jimmy/Ren ship doesn't even show up ONCE on ao3. Zero fics. ZE-RO. There's no reason to hate something that doesn't even exist.

This same concept applies for Flower Husbands as well- not just in Wild Life, and Secret Life and Limited Life and Last Life and Real Life though- in Empires.

I have no clue about Empires Season 1, but they barely interacted in Empires Season 2- and yet the amount of ship art I sift through on a weekly basis for my side blog is actually insane. Yeah, the few interactions WERE important, but I think Scott only flirted (in video) with Jimmy maaybbeeee three times. I have no idea what the count of that for streaming is, but I swear it is not enough to keep that number so inflated.

Although, honestly, this problem might just be affecting me because of my personal view on shipping- if it's in a context where it doesn't make sense for the characters to be romantically engaged, I won't read it or write it.

For example, my beloved Solidwood! I mostly get their vibes or read their fics from the following series: Evo, Last Life, New Life, Empires2, Secret Life. That's because those settings make sense! They are active, they are engaged, they have near constant interactions or very close base locations. It makes SENSE for them to be shipped. However, if you showed me art or fic of them in, say, Limited Life, I'd furrow my brow and tilt my head and say "no, that doesn't do anything for me." BECAUSE THEY HAVE ZERO REASON TO BE INVESTED ROMANTICALLY IN ONE ANOTHER THERE, AS A STAND ALONE SETTING.

Most of the major Jimmy ships, though, don't follow this rule. I can understand loving a ship so much you want to see it everywhere- but, I promise you, stepping back and looking at which characters actually have chemistry regarding the new setting and social system will do wonders... you won't have to think of new Au's to insert your favorite ship into a new setting... all ships will be your favorite ship (unless they give you the ick). Join the multishiper hivemind /j

No but honestly it's gotten to the point where I will like or dislike a creator/character of theirs by what ship is their most popular given the context of the setting. Like, Tango in Double Life? Awww the sweetie!! I love him :) and then Tango in Empires2 sets off alarm bells in my brain screaming at me. He is NOT meant to be here bringing that ship here, this is NOT its territory. Same problem for Scott in nearly damn near every SMP both Jimmy and him are in... except Wild Life because he's actually been pretty nice and not condescending or forcing on Jimmy. I guess also power imbalances in how fans view them is a major no-go for me...

Idk if you read this whole thing thanks I guess... for anymore needed context I am a Jimmy rarepair obsessed multishiper.

TLDR; Lots of popular ships are inserted into settings without a thought for what that would mean for the setting and any changes in the established social connections, which gives OP the ick. I'm also not policing ships I'm just begging people to please either understand more ships using in setting context or list their AU details in the summaries of the fics. This goes hand in hand with misinterpreting characters in writing also... the more ships you like the more characters you will get to get good at writing!!!!

[junaofaulis]

why is his family tree giving gender swapped mamma mia

[interactivefictionramblings]

[Heaven’s Secret 1 spoilers.]

Tbh, I don’t understand why Sepha didn’t just send Malbonte - not Bont or Mal, Malbonte - down to Earth, as a fallen angel, to be with his parents? Like, he wouldn’t have ever been able to come back, right? So it’d ‘solve the threat.’

I mean, I guess the answer is just ‘plot,’ but it’s a boring answer. The little bit we got of Sepha, I got the impression he’s not even able to grasp his own cruelty—like he doesn’t try to be, yet still is, anyway. And I guess part of that makes sense, with him being an unbelievably ancient deity and all, but it doesn’t explain his actions about Malbonte, when Earth was right there.

Like

?????????

[mandareeboo]

For some more Pope trivia (if you're interested)...

As far as I understand, popes do not keep their surnames. For example, Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio.

It can be seen as a way of paying respect to a past saint or pope, and/or signalling who you are going to emulate.

For example, Pope Francis told journalists that he chose that name to honour Saint Francis of Assisi's concern for the poor.

This is the concept of regnal names (used by both monarchs and popes), which is the practice of giving yourself a new name when beginning your reign. Similarly, many monarchs do not have surnames.

I physically cannot imagine being so rich and/or powerful to not need a last name, holy shit. That's a fucking power move imo. Imagine going to the train station and being like hey I'm Leo and not needing a last name on your ticket???

And, tbf. Leo and Francis are both pretty solid Pope names. I'm also partial to Innocent, Pius, and Agatho (oldest recorded Pope???? Holy shit????). That said, if I was somehow able to climb the ranks up to Popedom, I'd be sorely tempted to choose a totally new name and have it mark whatever kind of Pope-ing I did. Just a little extra touch of pressure for my legacy.

[greeklyric]

Sappho Fragment 31

He seems to be to be equal to the gods,

that man whoever sits opposite you,

and listens close to your lovely voice,

and delightful laugh.

Truly this causes my heart to flutter in my chest,

for whenever I look at you,

for a moment,

I can say nothing.

My tongue is broken entirely,

and at once a delicate fire runs under my skin,

I can see nothing with my eyes,

my ears are buzzing.

And sweat pours down me,

a trembling seizes me whole,

I am greener than grass,

and I appear nearly to have died.

But all can be endured.

[whoblewboobear]

I need to know what levels Jace and Porter are I’m begging Brennan pls I need to know for science (fanfic)

[derangedrhythms]

I love you and you are my best god anyhow. 

Anne Sexton, from ‘A Self-Portrait in Letters’ ⁠— W. D. Snodgrass, 28th November 1958

[coraline-piange]

first sentence fanfic game

thanks @fairandfatalasfair and @ghostinthelibrarywrites for the tags!

rules: share the first lines of ten of your latest fanfics (or up to if you have less!) & tag 10 people

i'm gonna do this in reverse chronological order with all ten fics i've actually posted to ao3 (how neat that it's exactly 10!)

1. give me a call if you ever get lonely (DBDA): Excerpt form a transcript of a red carpet interview with JUBILEE:

INTERVIEWER: So, how’s it feel to be back in London again?

2. i would worship you instead of him (DBDA): Edwin takes a last drag of his fag before putting it out on the ashtray of one of the outdoor tables.

3. you might be the answer to the sinner in me (DBDA):

When Charles wakes up, his head is pounding.

4. he seems to me equal to the gods that man (DBDA):

Clara's hurried steps echo uncomfortably loud in the almost deserted corridor.

5. if this ain't love then what is (i'm willing to take the risk) (DBDA):

It starts with a confession on the steps of hell. With bloodied feet and bloodied clothes, with pleading eyes and reaching hands. It starts with an escape and a chase. With the raw self-exposure of the depth of a bruised heart. It starts, as it always does, with love.

6. let me taste your silhouette (you can talk between my legs) (RWRB):

Nora was never supposed to know. It was a thing June fantasized about in the privacy of the dark in the middle of the night. The idea, the concept of it simply thrilled her, but she knew better than to suggest—or god-forbid attempt—to actually do it. So the fantasy lived in her mind and the thought alone was enough to keep her satisfied.

7. i don't want them to know the way i loved you (RWRB):

Are you okay?

The question echoes through Alex' mind, bouncing from wall to wall, and keeps getting louder — until it’s screaming at him.

8. she's got me on fire and i'm freaking out (RWRB):

“Please, Nora?” June puts on her best puppy eyes. “I promised Alex I’d go to this stupid party with him, but I don’t wanna watch him make heart eyes at the new British transfer student while insisting he can’t stand him all night.”

9. say that you'll hold me forever (i'm gonna hold you forever) (RWRB):

Shit hits the fan at roughly three am on September 27th, 2020. Nora’s phone keeps buzzing on the nightstand, waking her from a very short two hours of sleep.

10. cause good girls are bad girls that haven't been caught (RWRB):

The screen has barely loaded all the little black squares with the names on it when June already feels her eyes grow heavy.

i think at this point almost everyone has been tagged, but if anyone sees this and wants to share their own first lines, feel free to say i tagged you! seeing all these is sm fun

[bifronse]

If Johnny doesn’t have any woobifiers then Pony is dead

[my-thoughts-and-junk]

i like the concept of a huskerdust overlord!husk au but like. it is very much just being sold to one direction