#i could make a story out of my essences i really could. storytelling is just so much fun

[black-arcana]

WITHIN TEMPTATION Lost Tens Of Thousands Of Instagram Followers Over 'Pride' Post

In a new interview with Germany's Radio Bob!, vocalist Sharon Den Adel of Dutch symphonic metallers WITHIN TEMPTATION was asked if she took notice of the fact that the band recently surpassed 400,000 followers on Instagram. She responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, to be honest, I'm not sure if I should say this on radio, but I was a bit shocked of our own audience in a way, because we reached actually 4,2 [420,000] and we lost a two [20,000], because we made an announcement, like, okay, just a post about Pride [the yearly event for acceptance and visibility of the LGBTIQ+ community] in the Netherlands. And we lost 0,2 just by one post saying equality stands for…"

She continued: "I don't care about losing those, but it was a shock to me. So many people were appalled by that message, it's, like, what is the world going to? I was a bit sad about that. It was, like, okay, because you said something about equality and how we see people, how we treat people. Wow. It was a shock… It's reflecting how people are thinking about how things are changing in society sometimes by things you post. It's, like, wow. I didn't see this coming. But anyway, anyway, I'm not regretting it at all. So I'm really happy that it happened because it just cleans up the database. [Laughs] Who cannot stand for equality for everyone? It's, like, come on."

Last December, Den Adel was asked by Mexico's Summa Inferno why it was important for her and her bandmates to voice their political views in some of their recently released songs, including "Wireless" and the title track of their latest album "Bleed Out", which have highlighted such current topics as the war in Ukraine and the suspicious death of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian woman "detained" for not wearing a hijab. She said: "We are musicians. And what do musicians do? They're storytellers, in my opinion. At least that's how I see myself, as a storyteller.

"Back in the day when there were castles, hundreds of years ago, when the musicians were traveling from country to country, what they did is bring the news from one country to another country," she explained. "If there was a war far down South, then half year later, people would know up North because then the musicians came and they make music, telling the stories of what's happening in the world. And I think that essence of being a musician, I think that's important. I think the essence of keeping certain subjects alive in a different way than in the past, of course, but now more like the news goes so fast in our time, because we have Internet and everything, we know what's happening in every country, more or less. And the thing is it becomes old news very fast. But certain things you need to keep addressing and talking about, like what's happening in Iran, for instance, but also the war in the Ukraine, and of course now that what's happening in Gaza and in Israel. Those topics are important to talk about.

"For us, we've written songs about certain of these topics, like Ukraine and Iran," Sharon added. "We did write something about that. We were inspired by that. So that's why we're talking about it in our interviews. And because it becomes old news very quickly here in Europe. I don't know how it's in your country, but nobody talks that much anymore about the Ukraine or what's happening in Iran. Not at all, because it's not in the news anymore. Ukraine is, because we are, of course, supporting them, but in different ways from a European point of view. But Iran, it's already very much old news since Mahsa Amini died because she resisted the morality police and died in a horrible way after being beaten to death, just because she wore her clothes in an incorrect way, to them. And it's very important to talk about these topics because otherwise it becomes old news and their fight is still going on. And that's in many subjects. We could have written about so many things in the world, even about South America where certain things are happening. But these were the things that inspired us when we were in the studio. At that moment, the war broke out in Ukraine. At that moment, Mahsa Amini had just died and we watched the news, and before we knew it, it was integrated in our music. But it could have been also other topics that are just as much needed to be talked about, of course. But these were the things that were happening in the moment when we were writing music."

Asked if she is afraid of the backlash and criticism she and the rest of WITHIN TEMPTATION might receive for publicly voicing their political views, Sharon said: "Well, I believe in democracy. And I think also we have a voice, and I believe in debating. What I hope to do with this — we're not lashing out or criticizing anything. It's more like we try to keep the subject alive because just by talking about it, we can bring other people to new ideas or get a little bit deeper into the subject or start being interested in the subject and thinking about what is the right thing to do. What kind of world do we wanna live in? I think that's a good question. So I'm not afraid of feeling attacked because of the fact that we take a certain point of view because I think… Well, I think it's, that's the thing of democracy. We can all be a voice and we can all contribute to the debate on what kind of world do you wanna live in and what do you accept from each other and what don't we accept from each other. There should be a certain pressure from other countries trying to help certain people in need. And I think it's most important that we support those who are in oppression, who are oppressed, and to let them know there's people thinking about them and supporting them."

[postmodern-blues]

A full live breakdown of my reaction and thoughts to the Variety interview because I feel like I’m going crazy.

- I fucking KNEW Reitman was going to reduce each cast member to one aspect of themselves. I FUCKING CALLED IT. Pretty sure I laid it out in a dm exchange with @mrs-jake-blues. Reitman, you goddamn bastard.

- “Like that Peter Jackson documentary about The Beatles- What was it like when certain songs were written?” Make a documentary then. What the fuck are you doing making a biopic style movie when you had access to all the people you wanted to interview. Tell the truth rather than making the story into a movie and the people into characters. I can’t tell you how excited I’d be if they were making a documentary about the first SNL episode.

- SO glad that Rosie Shuster’s actress got to speak with her directly. That is a comfort, in fairness.

- I’m still furious about who they picked for Gilda. Young hollywood beauty standards are a disease. They could have spent 2 extra minutes finding someone who was as interesting and distinctive as Gilda. someone jewish even

- “I wanted to talk to Lorne, but Jason didn’t think that was a good idea” what the fuck does that mean. Are you kidding me? Why??

- “The internet is very abundant” girl come ON

- “Oh, I didn’t have to meet him and I didn’t have to try and figure him out because he’s a different man” are you saying that people fundamentally and irreconcilably change as they grow older and more famous, retaining not even a spark of their former selves? Jesus Christ just one conversation man

- “One of the things that Jason was really clear about with us as soon as we got going was that we were trying to capture the spirit of this moment in time and the essence of these people at this moment in time” I don’t know man that just seems like a super weak excuse for why the still living members of the cast and crew weren’t more involved. Why does your movie have to be some kind of ultra special time capsule if the people it’s about didn’t really get a say in how they were portrayed?

- “We didn’t have to think about them ten years later or even think about them once they had been affected by fame” that would be much more interesting though. You know that, right? Because then you’d be forced to write and portray them as complex people rather than stock characters for your boy wonder self insert fantasy

- “We were representing them, not recreating them.” What???? It sounds like you’re doing the opposite, actually.

- “Being on set and seeing everybody in their wardrobe, it was like, oh my god these are like superheroes or like shakespearean characters that everyone is familiar with that we’re getting the honor to show our interpretation of” Okay if he’s talking about the actual CHARACTERS, like Emily Litella or the bees or whatever, FINE. But you can get the same thing just by putting on a conehead mask on halloween. But if he means the players?? Insane thing to say. They’re not characters, they’re people. Two of them died young. There is an excess of storytelling and mythology surrounding them, but they are in fact people. To call them characters and to claim you can have an “interpretation” on them is laughable. This is the kind of shit that gets biopics torn to shreds. You can’t just take the history of a living human person and reduce it to an acting exercise. You’re doing everyone a disservice.

- “Dylan’s voice is insane in this movie” Unbelievably offensive. At least I’m getting some confirmation that O’Brien is attempting a Canadian accent but girl wtf is wrong with you why would you say that? Dan Aykroyd actually sounds like that! It’s not insane; it’s his fucking voice! Christ alive

- “I did not do a lot” And there it fucking is folks. My worst nightmare made flesh. Every single fucking nitpicky thing I’ve said about this movie made manifest and validated in one little sentence. The guy playing the most interesting guy ever to grace showbusiness: Dan Aykroyd, who is a fascinating, multilayered, quirky, abundantly creative, unlikely genius, who has given us the greatest and most beloved films in the past century. He didn’t research to play that guy. I’m shaking with fury it’s just so unbelievable. And Reitman has a direct line of access to the actual living breathing human man! The man who, as author Daniel de Vise described, went so far as to offer the details of his route to school for de Vise’s newest book. Aykroyd would be willing to talk, I know it. Jesus H tap dancing christ I cannot even fucking believe it. Worst case scenario.

- “In that way, you followed Jason’s direction” die

- “The idea is to capture one piece of essence of the character. You can’t actually replicate a person.” Insane shit. I thought the idea was to capture a moment in time? This is just further solidifying my fervent belief that this could have been a documentary. A documentary can do WAY more and go WAY deeper than a movie with regard to historical stuff like this. ESPECIALLY when you have the people in question sit down and explain themselves. You can’t replicate a person, so why make them characters? Why not try your hand at documentary filmmaking instead of making this all about you, Reitman?

- “I was in terror that I’d ruin my career over trying to do this.” “Are you serious?” Okay at least Chevy’s actor gets what a big fucking task this is. Everyone else is acting like it’s no big deal to do no research and stumble your way through playing one of these people. At least he respects that this is a legacy worth PREPARING FOR

- “You spend a lot of time in this film watching these people not performing but living” GREAT POINT. ALMOST LIKE YOU SHOULD GET TO SPEAK WITH THE PERSON AND GET A SENSE OF THEIR VOICE AND MANNERISMS. HMMM

- I really respect Chevy’s actor right now actually. Not only did he go in depth with interviews trying to get a sense of Chevy as a person, but he actually seems to have picked up Chevy’s inflections and mannerisms and such in a way that is convincing. As someone who has watched a lot of Aykroyd interviews (as many as say someone playing him should) I can list specific vocal and physical habits of his for you in detail. I get the sense this guy could do that for chevy, that gives me a small sense of relief.

- Thank GOD Garrett’s actor got to speak with him. Garrett is fucking old, guys. Can you imagine if instead of a shitty poorly researched biopic starring bland young people, we could have an in depth and stylistically pleasant documentary starring all the still living people who were involved before a lot of them die?? Because remember most of them are in their 70s and 80s??

- If they make Garrett “the black one”… if they make his whole character about how he’s the only black guy. I’m literally gonna kill myself. Super inspiring guys. Great job. I don’t really have any reason to think they will but the way they talk about him just irks me slightly

- “He was going through a lot more than just having to perform” something you’d only know by talking to him, once again.

- “Jason was spot on with his writing” based on everything I have seen I am very much inclined to disagree. Jason doesn’t seem to give a shit about reality

- “The one thing I’m not going to do is I’m not going to watch any of the first season of SNL” from GILDA’S actress is CRAZY. How do you know what her characters and physical comedy are like then?? What the fuck that is so insane. Why would you do that??? My confidence in the quality of the Gilda performance just dropped back to zero.

- “Our dressing rooms were designed and catered for our characters’ personalities” weird as shit. Stop calling them characters.

- “There was this clip of Gilda that I had never seen before” Literally insane. Unfathomable.

- “Gilda was the fairy dust, Garrett was looking for his identity, Chevy is an ego that needs to be humbled, Aykroyd is this genius that’s like filtering a firehose through a straw, each one had like one thing to focus on that was their journey” Congratulations Mr. Reitman you’ve officially read the introductory paragraph of a 500 page book about SNL. Usually a sane person would finish that book before presuming to turn its subject into a movie. But fuck man whatever.

To be completely honest the thing that kills me is the smugness with which he delivers all of this. It’s like he feels entitled to this story because his late father was of the set that produced this era of comedy history. And Ghostbusters, I get. Ghostbusters is Ivan Reitman’s legacy, and it makes sense to pass it on to his son. I love the new Ghostbusters movies. But this is different, man. This isn’t yours. And everything about this interview and the promo just oozes with presumption. I truly believe that if he really gave a shit about telling this story in a way that was meaningful and paid hearty homage to the people involved, he’d make a damn good documentary. He has the connections to make it happen and the stylistic eye to make it memorable. It could be the next STEVE! (martin). But he chose to make a biopic comedy, and he chose to tell his actors not to research, not to speak with the subjects of their portrayals. And he seems to think it’s some kind of big flex that his actors don’t know shit about the 70 somethings they’re playing because “it’s just a moment in time”. Horseshit excuse, dude. This group of people matters to me. The complex dynamics and the internal grappling with fame and the comedic theses of each one (I mean, comedy MEANT something to Gilda Radner. She performed with purpose. To fail to watch the most famous examples of her prowess is absolutely inexcusable), it’s all important. And Reitman is acting like it’s not. All that’s important is that his name comes up in the same sentence as the legends he wishes he was. Fuck all the way off.

And seriously, I mean, I know I’ve been snarky about the Aykroyd portrayal without any real reason, given how little we’ve gotten of him, but the confirmation from the horse’s mouth that O’Brien barely did any research justifies all of it. Absolutely revolting development. My confidence in this movie (such as it was) has waned to absolute zero. I will not abide by this being how these people and this show are remembered. Congratulations, guys, you Bohemian Rhapsody’d one of the most important moments in comedy history. Exeunt.

[bitesu-bitesu-bitesu]

Sui Ishida: Tokyo Ghoul

2011-2014

10/ I should've read this sooner! I'm pretty sure I would've liked it even more if I was still in high school, but I still couldn't put it down. I haven't seen the anime yet, so apart from knowing that this is Certified Cool Shit I had no idea. The art style at first was a bit repelling for me, I didn't like the face structures but I've grown familiar to it, and I wouldn't care anyway because I really wanted to know what happened next! The story is beautifully written, it's worth to read just for that alone, but we're presented with phenomenal concepts, I love well worked out *creatures* so detailed science of the ghouls was a real treat for me. Surprisingly I found that I could connect to Kaneki really well especially at the notions about sacrifice, destructive altruism, and the motivating desire to provide protection. I loved the exploration of the human condition, and I always love a story that questions what makes us human.

colors: the yellowish purple of a bruise, white linen, pink meat, trembling hands and the smell of coffee and rain

Sui Ishida: Tokyo Ghoul: Jack

2013

10/ I'm so glad I found this! Almost missed it. It was so refreshing to dip back into this world after a break. I liked the stylized look of this release, I feel like I could learn about the drawing process while reading this, and I'll definitely try to recreate some panels. I love complete stories like this one, for me this is a perfect example, even if it's set in a preexisting world. I love how the conflict of being human, and the essence of being human and longing for that essence is fit in these 7 chapters, with an exciting plot and loveable characters who I could connect to even though I spent only a few hours with them. Even if someone isn't familiar with Tokyo Ghoul I would gladly recommend this manga!

colors: mauve purple, tire marks on melting asphalt, piercing sun from a hospital window

Sui Ishida: Tokyo Ghoul :re

2014-2018

10/ such a beautiful, beautiful story! For me this far surpassed it's predecessor, but I might be partial because I finished this one just now. Either way, I grew to love this manga immensely and I think it's because it moved so much emotion, and called upon the feelings I have in my own life. The story of these characters touched my heart, and the dinamical storytelling kept me interested constantly. Every time I thought the story's gonna plateau there was one more twist, surprising turns and new ways opened to tragedy. I know I'm always taking about the human condition yadayada but honestly, I feel like again, stories like this should bring us together. Being the chainlink between two worlds seems to be a common trope, and I think we find these themes so interesting and hold these stories so close, because we recognize ourselves, and our own torn-apart nature in these characters, and thus we have a way to cope with the conflict of it all. In reality it doesn't have to be ghouls, devils or titans. It's us. And I'm glad to be alive with you all! I'd like to finish with and excerpt from the chapter before the last:

"All those that walk this earth are the main characters of their own tragedies. All steal, and from all, something is stolen. We can't help it. That's who we are. Steal, and be stolen. Imprison, and be imprisoned. Follow, and be followed. Do, and be done unto. Affirm, and negate over and over. And yet we fight ceaselessly to save ourselves from loss. The people and places we love will one day surely be lost. We all will surely be forgotten. Life is sad. Empty. But despite knowing we will one day be bereft, despite knowing we will one day disappear, we still strive in wretched ways. We still wish to be beautiful. And I consider "Which one?". I choose. "This one." Forever choosing. Forever being chosen. Nothing more, nothing less."

colors: half-dried blood on someone's lips, black chitin, white porcelain, grey rubble, wet grass at night

[ofmdlovelyletters]

Okay my love letter to ‘There is a Flower Within My Heart” by adamarks ~

I’d been hesitant to dive into AUs in the past. Loving OFMD has opened me up to them. But this fic is what really showed me how much they could mean.This one is real special. An AU where Stede is a nonverbal robot and Ed is a cyborg and there is treasure and yearning and dancing and understanding and heroic escapes.

Jay is just so talented at honing in on the very essence of Ed and Stede, and manages to translate them into these other universes so naturally. Their humor, their absurd banter, the way they understand each other like no one else could. Robot Stede charms immediately, and I LOVED getting to be inside his head and to meet this beautiful cyborg Ed through his eyes.

This is a fic you can read even if you aren’t familiar with the characters or their story ahead of time; perfectly contained and immensely satisfying. Hitting familiar and beloved beats in ways that make me laugh out with surprise, and all part of this grand, sweeping adventure. It’s FUN and devastating and heartbreaking and sentimental and brings tears to my eyes and leaves me feeling hopeful down to my core every time! Nothing in storytelling conveys yearning quite like robots. Let this story beep boop straight into your heart. Love is stored in the robot. 💜

Hello @adamarks! You've received a lovely review from @cahootings. Congrats on being featured as Author of the Week! 💌

Crew, click here to read There is a Flower Within My Heart, and then be sure to check out his other stories here.

[keepsdeathhiscourt]

💌 Create Your Own: 5 Fics You Feel Deserve More Engagement 💌

It has come to my attention that quite a few of the fanfics I enjoy reading simply do not get the attention they deserve. Therefore, I've come up with this little idea (that's probably been done before, okay, I don't claim to be original) in which we fanfiction writers/readers/content consumers give a little bit back to our fellow creators. Tit for tat, you know.

Now, I know we fic writers do not always write for others, and that we do not always feel like we should need external validation but hey, a little pat on the head once in a while sure is nice and this is what this post is for.

Feel free to tag your mutuals as well! Nobody is obligated to do this (obviously) but let's try to spread some love to some under appreciated gems out there, one post at a time.

Tagging: whoever wants to do this! Spread the love!

The aim is simple: pick 5 fics of your choosing, in the fandom(s) of your choosing, on the platform(s) of your choosing (ao3, Tumblr, FFNET, etc.) and write a little something about why you like them, or why you think they deserve more than they're getting etc etc.

There's no barometer for this, you decide whether or not you feel a fic is getting enough love or not based on how you feel about it. We're just here to share the love.

Here's mine below the cut.

Prickly thorns, tender roses by @ruiniel

Fandom: Castlevania

Pairing: Adrian Tepes (Alucard)/OC

Summary:

Set after the events of Castlevania (Netflix) Season III. After the betrayal of his young apprentices, Alucard feels barely alive in his lonesome castle. Days wear on, chipping away at his mind and sanity. And what is the son of Dracula to do with this unwanted visitor, suddenly come at his doorstep? Often the prickly thorn produces tender roses - Ovid

This fic was one of the very first I discovered in the Castlevania (Netflix) fandom, and it set an incredibly high bar. I was craving more Alucard content with that same brooding, gothic romance feel of the series, and this story absolutely delivered. Ruiniel has a remarkable talent for capturing Adrian’s character—his angsty, dreamy essence is beautifully rendered, yet the complex layers of his personality remain intact. The emotional depth and nuance that make Alucard so compelling are preserved and expanded upon in ways that feel authentic and true to his character.

What really sets this fic apart, though, is the addition of Ravenna, an original character who is anything but a side note. She’s fully fleshed out with her own agency, motivations, and a presence that is every bit as captivating as Adrian’s. Their interactions are electric, filled with tension and emotion, and Ravenna feels like a natural part of the Castlevania world. Ruiniel’s storytelling is rich and immersive, weaving a narrative that’s hard to put down. Cannot recommend enough.

Always & Forever by @anphibole

Fandom: TVDU

Pairing: Elena Gilbert/ Elijah Mikaelson

Summary:

Looking up at the intimidating walls of the infamous Abattoir, Elena kept those words close to her heart, like a talisman against the dangers she knew lurked inside. She took one step, then another, forcing her legs to move despite the fear. She knew she couldn’t stay the way she was, alone and scared. She knew who she could trust. She always had. 

Wow. This fic completely floored me. It not only taps into one of my absolute favorite (and sadly rare) fic plots—Elejah in New Orleans—but also dives deep into the emotional aftermath of Elena’s transformation and her harrowing experiences with the Salvatore brothers. The author masterfully captures the weight of her trauma in a way that feels both poignant and heartbreakingly real.

What truly sets this oneshot apart is how it gives Elena the voice she was often denied in canon. Her inner struggles and pain are brought to life with such nuance and care, making her story resonate on an entirely new level. The hurt/comfort dynamic is so deliciously written, perfectly blending raw vulnerability with tender healing.

And, of course, all of this is wrapped up in the exquisite Elejah dynamic—a pairing that feels natural and cathartic in this context. This fic is a beautifully crafted, emotionally charged piece of storytelling that lingers long after you’ve finished reading. An absolute must-read for fans of both Elejah and emotionally resonant fics.

Chaos Theory by @tehrevving

Fandom: FF7

Pairing: Vincent Valentine/Reader

Summary:

After he protects you during the Tiny Bronco crash, you find yourself growing ever closer to the mysterious, attractive and red-eyed newest member of your group.

This fic is an absolute gem for anyone who loves a perfect balance of steamy romance and in-depth character exploration. Set during the aftermath of the Tiny Bronco crash, it captures the electrifying tension that builds as you grow closer to Vincent, the enigmatic and dangerously attractive newest member of the group. The author does an incredible job of blending the slow-burn romance with moments of raw vulnerability, peeling back the layers of Vincent’s mysterious persona in a way that feels deeply satisfying and true to his character.

What stands out most is how beautifully the narrative draws you into Vincent’s world--his guarded demeanor slowly giving way to genuine connection. The chemistry between the characters practically sizzles off the page, but it’s the emotional depth that truly shines. This fic isn’t just about the romance; it’s about understanding Vincent’s complexities and how the growing bond between you both brings healing and strength. Go check it out!

Reprisal by @bouncymouse

Fandom: FF7

Pairing: Tifa Lockhart/Reno

Summary: The rebuilt Shinra Electric Power Company is being targeted by an unknown threat and it's up to the Turks to stop them. As Reno starts playing with fire events begin to take a sinister turn. Somebody wants revenge and they'll stop at nothing to get what they want.

This fic fundamentally altered my brain chemistry—in the best possible way. Taking place after the events of canon, Reprisal delves into the often-overlooked question: what happens to the heroes once the fight is over? The story doesn’t shy away from exploring the emotional aftermath, and the result is a richly layered narrative that feels both authentic and deeply engaging.

Tifa’s portrayal is a standout; she’s given the space to grow, to grapple with her emotions, and to navigate her path in a post-canon world. Her struggles and triumphs feel real, nuanced, and utterly human. And then there’s Reno, who is at his absolute best here—charming and infuriating in equal measure, yet layered with an emotional depth that makes him impossible not to love. The unexpected romance between the two is a deliciously complicated slowburn and so satisfying.

Full Disclosure by Cairistiona144

Fandom: FF7

Pairing: Tifa Lockhart/ Vincent Valentine

Summary:

Somehow she was compelled to lay down every deep dark thing inside her for him to see. Because she knew he understood. He would not judge. He realised that she was seeking and finding every hiding place he knew, filling every dark corner of him with her flickering light. * In the half-year since The Advent, Tifa Lockhart ruminates on a bittersweet, sedate new life - until news of a wedding promises to reunite her with friends. The first one to darken her doorway, however, isn’t necessarily the one she’d have expected…

Another Tifa-centric fic because I cannot get enough of her. This one is such an amazing exploration of grief and healing, wrapped in a gentle, bittersweet romance.

Set in the quiet aftermath of Advent Children, it follows Tifa’s journey as she adjusts to a slower, more introspective life. The arrival of an unexpected visitor—Vincent—serves as the catalyst for a relationship built on shared understanding and unspoken truths.

Both Tifa and Vincent are portrayed as beautifully broken, their vulnerabilities are explored in a way that feels natural to both characters. The romance is understated but so touching, their connection forged in moments of quiet domesticity and mutual acceptance. Though not yet finished, the prose is stunning, capturing the raw, unfiltered emotions of two people dealing with their ghosts and finding solace in one another and totally worth giving a read!

[lullabyalikpoptarot]

Hueningkai's Love Reading

Nothing here is facts, just my interpretation of the cards and messages I get. Here we go.

Alright, I was curious to get to his as an anon response to his perspective reading made me curious as to what is happening in his love life.

So, we start with the Neptune card, this card has its good and downsides to it, on one end, it is a very dreamy energy. Kai seems like someone who sees all the possibilities when it comes to love and fantasizes about what love can truly be like, but this energy can also be a bit delusional and not really see things for what it is. There could be confusion and a cloud over him when it comes to his love life.

I also see a strong spiritual essence to Hueningkai with this Mystic card. I am not sure how that plays into his love life. But the Mystic card also goes along with the Neptune energy, this sense of him not really seeing the reality of things when it comes to relationships, like he seems to idealize things, which could be why he can get caught up in a relationship with toxic individuals. I don't see him seeing things clearly when it comes to relationships, which can happen to a lot of people. I can also see him being easily manipulated as well by someone.

So, I am seeing this Emperor energy once again, but it seems like he is trying to move away from this person. I can see this person being very strict and demanding, but this 6 of Swords is promising, because it seems like he is trying to move past this person and move on with his life, so it does look like he may be actually moving on from this person, well we can hope.

The storyteller card is interesting. I don't necessarily see him telling this story, unless it is in private, but maybe he will try to use this experience to tell his story through some outlet, maybe music or cryptic messaging, but I am seeing him wanting to share it somehow, obviously not in ways people would realize so easily.

Now, with this tarot spread. I see something new happening for him, a new interest. I see it being more sexual and passionate at first. There will be an instant spark and attraction there. They will get along very well. I see good energy here, having fun date nights together, maybe going out dancing. I see a lot of fun and passion. He may need a lighthearted relationship after what he may have allegedly experienced. I see him feeling much more comfortable and safer with this person. I can see this going long-term, or maybe it will just be a stable bond. I see closeness and comfortability here. I just feel he would feel safe in this bond.

The hanged man at the end is interesting to me. Not sure how to make of that. Does someone eventually leave someone hanging? Not sure. Or maybe this experience will show him more of what healthy relationships should be like. I am also seeing this as maybe his ex will try to come back at him, call him, but do not see him budging on that. Or he reflects on it and to see if it is a good idea or not.

It does seem there could be worries and fears regarding love and that may impact his future relationships, so that may be something he may need to work on. Past relationships could continue to haunt him, or he may have a fear of addressing those things of the past in the future. Dealing with a bad relationship can be difficult to move on from, but healing work will help him move on. But the fear of the cycle repeating again may weigh on his mind.

His guidance is to remember to use his mind in ways that can benefit him. To remember to use logic and tact when moving forward in a relationship. And to not allow toxic people back in. He would need to work on gaining clarity and use his intellect to help navigate him through any future relationships. I hear logic, reason and tact is what he needs right now. And to not get caught up in emotions.

So, it looks like he may be done with that toxic person for now, hopefully he sticks on that path, but looks like new and exciting things could be happening in his love life for the future. So, that makes me happy to see. His energy wasn't that complicated. This one was pretty easy to do. I was expecting a complete mess, but it seems his love energy is clearing up a bit.

[96percentdone]

Every time my old post expressing bafflement at 'anti player theory' undertale and deltarune fans gets a note, I go through the war again. Maybe some of them are normal, but like every post from these people that I have ever seen is never content to just have a strictly in universe read of the text. They gotta assert that believing a video game has meta elements spits in the face of craft and storytelling, and no video game could ever draw attention to it being a video game as part of it's thematic identity. They have to debunk the concept of metafiction just to be right, which is hilarious because they end up overwriting the thematic craft they claim to be the only real supporters of.

Undertale is about war, and violence, and hate and how we respond to it. Most monsters don't really want to fight, half of them are just hanging out, so they're happy to be friends if you are, but the memory of the war between monsters and humans lingers. Whether they don't entirely understand the war's true essence because of their purehearted natures make them antithetical to it (Papyrus, Monster Kid), or use the narrative around it as a prop for their personal goals and are forced to contend themselves (Alphys, Mettaton), or try to teach its horrors with its methods (Toriel), or are convinced that the only way to escape the shadow of the war is to win it (Undyne) even if they don't really want to wage war at all (Asgore), the history of that war informs it all. Flowey is who he is because that violence ravaged Asriel, a small child, SO hard his grief and anger are now everyone's problems. He cannot feel love because the cycle of violence stole his ability to believe in it. Every genocide boss only fights you to stop you from carrying out your own. They know that if the entire underground is so easily destroyed, there is no reason humanity wouldn't face the same fate, and this cycle must end, even if they are powerless. The ending is determined by whether you perpetuate war. The genocide run is a grueling, unfulfilling, deliberately difficult challenge as punishment for enacting war for nebulous gain, while pacifist ending brings about the best future, where everyone including Asriel is saved, and it is the most fun to play, because is one where you commit to kindness and understanding. They both are in service to the thesis statement that "love and compassion are good and the key to rectifying all wrongs."

Hbomberguy and NezumiVA have made videos on the same lines, but Undertale's meta because it's about how we engage with video games as a medium. It's about completionism. It asks whether mining a story for every possible scrap of information is worthwhile. Chara's true name is literally a derivative of player character, you are meant to name them after yourself, and project onto them and Frisk until the game seperates them from you because you are a real human being, not a character in a video game. You only learn Frisk's name by the end of pacifist, the best possible ending that you should be satisfied with as a means of separating your ties, and you only meet Chara when you go way the fuck out of your way to get the worst possible ending because of vague hints that there is one. Undertale uses the vibe and aesthetic of old turn-based rpgs to draw you in, get you comfortable, only to use it's characters to ask why are you doing any of this? Is this why you like stories? Are video games merely arrangements of lore to be logged into a wiki until you run out of data to sort, or did you like Undertale and other video games because its characters and ideas resonated with you emotionally? The text has a lot of compassion for Alphys and her fan hobbies, and it only criticizes her when she treats the real world as a self insert fanfic, and it's meta thesis for you is similar. It's fine and good that you love your favorite games, but what are you getting out of engaging with the medium in this way? "Don't you have anything better to do?"

But Deltarune is where they really start to lose me. It is not finished, things could change with later installments, but from what little we have, it follows up on Undertale's commentary about the cycle of violence, and brings it back to suburbia. Violence here is interpersonal abuse and neglect. It is adults caught up in the myriad problems of adult life they do not notice, or fail to support, or do not care about the children suffering under those same systems. Kris is a child who lives in the shadow of their older brother. They befriend Susie, who eats garbage and doesn't seem to have parents (or at least not any that give a shit), and they have a childhood bond with Noelle, who has lost her sister, her father is in the hospital, and her mother is absent and otherwise not great. Even Berdley has a whole complex about needing to be smart thanks to his upbringing. Kris opens this portal themself, literally escaping into a fantasy land where they, children, are the most important and powerful, unbeholden to adults and their baggage. They get to be agents, not subjects, and yet the dark world still has those same anxieties. Lancer is afraid of his father, Queen is an overbearing mother, Rouxls is an opportunist most concerned with himself, King struggles in vain to liberate himself from being a subject while forcing his subjects to adhere to his agenda, Spamton wants to escape his chains and is the incarnation of a spambot, Seam gives up, and Jevil escapes into his imagination. Kris can abuse Noelle into the snowgrave route, and Susie and Berdley are bullies because kids are just as capable of hurting one another as adults are. Darkners may say shit about not wanting to fight anyway, and Ralsei might regurgitate Undertale's lesson as truth like it's his full time job, but even he re-evaluates by the end of chapter one. In the real world things cannot be as simple they were in Undertale.

Agency obviously relates back to the meta, as Kris' is literally overwritten by the red soul you are asked to give your own name in a dialogue that once again separates you from your fictional vessel, a player character, then goes even harder when they slam dunk that little guy you made into the trash because "No one can choose who they are in this world." You can't either. You can get Kris to abuse Noelle into killing people, carry out the abuses that made these kids desperate to escape in the first place, even if they don't want that, but understanding the player solely as a force that strips agency, much like understanding Undertale's player as a comment on real world morality, is incomplete.

If Undertale critiques completionism and datamining as a valuable ways to understand art, then Deltarune reuses its cast and critiques is thesis as part of a its meta to showcase the it's real value. It is a story that even in universe is about fiction. The dark world and its inhabitants are palatable reflections of Hometown. Kris and Susie keep going back because it is freeing, and allows them to grapple with the their complicated feelings about their world. They can come out more confident in themselves, with a healthier mindset, or Berdley can fucking die! Violence in the dark world comes back out of it because the dark world is a mirror. Video games aren't real, you don't actually kill monsters or darkners, but war is real, and violence is real, and abuse is real, aren't they? Isn't that why you get sad when characters you like die? How often do we use analogies and metaphors to explain our feelings, or complicated ideas? Fiction is just a tool to understand the world. What are the stories you love saying to you?

If the meta doesn't compel you, it's not what you find value in, or how you interpret the text, I don't care, even if I think it's strange. What you get out of these games belongs to you, and you deserve to have your reading as much as I or any meta proponent does. But anyone making claims about what fiction must be, just to deny the a meta angle is possible? That's anti-intellectual bullshit. It denies metafiction exists as a tool altogether. It shits on not just Undertale and Deltarune, or meta video games, but stories written across every medium that have ever used their work to comment on itself, its genre, its medium, or art as a whole. If you denigrate a whole artistic convention and the work of countless artists just to validate your hot take? You don't deserve any respect.

[centaurianthropology]

Given how things are shaping up in C3 I have some thoughts about what might happen next (moon scouting aside). It’s clear that the Hells are given power-ups similar but different to the Vestiges of Divergence quests in VM. And honestly, I totally understand how the shard ended up with Ashton rather than Fearne. From an in-character perspective (and even from a player perspective), of course it went to them. The shard appeared at the end of what has essentially been Ashton’s backstory quest, which has been all about titans. Ashton is about titans and dunamancy. Fearne is about fae and a touch of infernal. So when people insist she get the titan shard just because they’re both fire-based? The shard that appeared right at the end of Ashton’s quest for information about himself? Yeah, I’d want to give it to him too, concentrating titan power into Ashton.

And that leads me to my real thoughts about what happens next: essentially the Hells, or at least several of them, have doubled down on what originally gave them power. Ashton has doubled down on titans, Laudna on Delilah (and I think we’ll get a full quest of that later).

I think that the moon scouting mission will double as something of Imogen’s continued backstory quest (a lot of the early part of the campaign started it, but this, I hope, will focus on Leliana). I think we’ll probably gain some moon object for her to absorb and power her up with moon stuff. And that’s another thing about the way this is shaping up: they are embracing the most dangerous parts of themselves, the parts that could kill them or turn them evil. That’s what each of them will have to grapple with (and why I’m thrilled it was Ashton who got the fire shard, because that puts them on a collision course with repeating the choices their father made, and really coming to terms with what being Hishari means. From a storytelling perspective, this is by far the cooler choice).

I have an idea that Laudna could literally absorb Delilah in a way that Delilah is no longer in control. Laudna becoming her own patron is the best possible end to cutting her puppet strings, and that would be a fascinating way to do it: stealing all the power and the last bit of essence of the woman who murdered her. There is something of a darkness there, with the end of a vengeance storyline, which will be juicy.

Fearne would have two options: doubling down on being Fey by obtaining something from another spelunk in the Feywild, or going to the hells and retrieving something infernal. I think the infernal route is likely the real Dark Fearne route, while the fey route likely puts her on the path to becoming Archfey, which could be a very interesting end for her character (and likely one Ashley would be intrigued by, to become the new Grandma Morri).

Chetney is likely going to delve either into something Catha-related (other moon, whoo!) or something nature-related. I think going white moon to Imogen’s red moon would be cool, and would really focus in on controlling his werewolf side.

FCG is likely going to have to go Aeorian. They could go divine, but I think Aeorian would be juicier. Delving into their past and the person they used to be before they lost their memories is something I’ve been excited for, and even though they’re already coming to the conclusion, realizing that what makes them themselves is their choices now, not a thousand years ago, will be very cool. We might even see a different side to FCG come out and be in conflict with his current self (something else I’m expecting in a lot of these storylines).

And finally there’s Orym, the little guy. He’s actually the hardest to define how to give a power-up to, because so much of his story is about not having that. All his friends are magical powerhouses, and he’s a little dude with a sword. So I actually am hoping that Orym either goes for another nature-based Wildmother powerup (making him the one with divine powers), or one of entirely humanity-based power, possibly by teaming up with someone like Percy, who was also never divine.

Anyway, this all may get proven wrong (and a lot of the finer details almost certainly will!), but this is sort of the trajectory I see in the next leg of their journey: getting their own legendary power-ups, but those power-ups forcing them to confront their past and the possible futures. And because they’re incorporating them into their very beings, those confrontations are both inevitable and necessary.

[flower-sunflower-blog]

s!Ryan theory part 1/3 : Sun, keeper of the flame, breaker of the day

So, I’m finally getting on s!Ryan, what I’ve been figuring out so far, my theories and the different possibilities I could think of !

s!Ryan is a complex character that is giving me a hard time since a while, don’t get me wrong I really enjoy it - but still it’s hard xD Her story is conveyed through a multiformat storytelling and various hints spread around like pieces of puzzle. And everything is tying to a general story you need to figure out in order to connect everything.

That’s why it was so hard to share my thoughts about her, even small, compared to other characters. Because most of the time to understand my points you had to know about this one hint, connected to this other hint that made me think that, and could’ve explained this etc. My mind was a mess xD

BUT I tried to put everything into order, and through a 3 part theory, I'll try to go through everything as much as possible ! In order to give a better picture about her lore, the real mysteries about her, as well as a general context/timeline of event.

And yeah 3 parts, because s!Ryan is THAT much of a headache /lh

I hope we could be on a same page this way, so pay attention and follow me through this ! (if you're interested of course ;D)

This is the first part who will be discussing s!Ryan’s nature and powers, as well as her link with the sun.

The second part will be about her past, mostly based on her playlist "the origin story". And the last part will be about her connections with other people.

s!Ryan references and appearance

Let’s start with the “easiest” part. s!Ryan is looking like this : 

On her pinterest board, we can see references for her fairy-looking outfit. 

s!Ryan seems to like flowers/have a connection with it, she has a texture pack based on it. It looks like she’s a fairy, her connection with flowers and nature in general would make sense. 

Another interesting detail about her : she’s ginger. There are multiple references of ginger hair. 

I know this is shocking news for everyone xD BUT for realsies, keep in mind that s!Ryan has ginger hair on her pinterest board. More specifically, fully ginger-hair. It’s important for later.

Then something I noticed was various elements about fortune telling : crystal ball, tarot cards, palm reading. 

There is also this, that I found out to be "perfume". (Well at least that's what google told me)

It could be in line with fortune telling, it may even refer to something else unknown to us. But in general it just give up a certain vibe/aesthetic from her. 

s!Ryan and the sun

Omg guys, now we're getting onto the real deal, make sure to follow through everything xD

s!Ryan is heavily, heavily tied to the “sun”. There are so many hints about the sun, the light, the sunrays in general.

First when you look at her pinterest board you can notice them easily :

I also tend to think the sun has a divine essence in this world, i'll go more on that in a bit.

s!Ryan has a deep connection with the sun within herself. On twitter, she dropped 2 hints that highlighted it.

First there is this one :

Then there's this one : 

The description is a line coming from the song "The Moon will sing", and the next line is “I loved you like the sun”.

(note : it’s not the only time I’ll talk about these 2 hints, it will come up on later posts)

Finally, half of her hair became blonde at some point. Ryan said it was related to her lore, she didn't described it as something new, but as a part of her already existing but that she started to “show” little by little. And recently, her second eye started to glow.

Looking at it for a bit, I definitely think about the sun. We had hints and references, but it's almost like this eye and her blonde hair color is sort of physical mark of her connection with the sun.

The divine sun

So now it’s clear that s!Ryan is connected to the sun. But what kind of connection ? That’s where things get complicated for real. 

First of all, in order to have the slightest idea, we need to understand the nature of the sun to begin with. I said earlier that I think the sun has a divine essence, however I purposefully didn’t say that the sun was a god. Because nothing can be certain yet and that's even the whole question.

On a general note, I think the Shelter has a specific “theology” let's say, which was agreed upon everyone. Thus meaning that even if there is individual lore about member’s involvement with some gods, I think it’s still tied to this theology common to everyone, related to the specifics about the gods’ nature and everything, that is still unknown to us. 

Going back to the sun, what makes the question complicated and why.

We had confirmation that there are “gods” in plural. At one point s!Artea and s!Forest were discussing gods while the sun was up, and when they criticized them a lightning stroke on them. 

That means there were gods above them when the sun was up, and after all since we had the confirmation that there was a “moon entity”, why not a “sun entity” ?

However though, we have no certainty that was coming from the sun itself, it could always have been another god while the sun was up.

Then at another point, s!Cherry said that the sun was too bright and hurted her eyes, which s!Ryan found suspicious.

It really looked similar to when s!Artea was saying that the “moon” is “watching them”, not to mention that s!Cherry is particularly hostile to the gods. 

But the sun could also be a concept more abstract, holding a great power over everything and be an incarnation of a divine essence, while not being a “sentient” being. 

And even if the sun is a god, or at least related to a specific god, we know there is multiple gods.

Some of them are qualified as “dramatic” and “petty” by s!Cherry. However, there is no confirmation that all the gods and deities of this place are acting the same, and that the sun god is “among” the gods s!Cherry called petty.

On a general note, that's the main challenge about having multiple gods : we have no certainty all deities works the same, share a common nature, are on a similar scale etc

Not to mention that if you listen to s!Ryan playlist, there is a recurring theme about monotheistic religion : “hell”, “heaven”, “god", “devil” etc. Another reason to think the sun could possibly work on different rules. The sun may refer mainly to the "holiness" (you'll see I'll have the occasion to get on that later ^^).

But it’s also possible that the “sun entity” is indeed a sentient being with not-so-great morals too. That's also an interesting point to explore, but not on this post yet !

In conclusion, there is a whole lot of possibilities, and while we have some hints, there isn't much yet to tend to one more than another.

That's what you have to understand, and the reason why it makes it so challenging to theorise on.

But

I think there is definitely a form of cult around the sun, whether the sun is indeed a deity or an abstract/symbolic divine concept.

There is this picture that comes from s!Void’s board 

It makes me think that the cult with the sun tie to the general theology of Shelter.

 

s!Ryan’s powers and divinity

So you know now why the sun's nature is a complicated question. But so is s!Ryan’s, oh so is s!Ryan's.

For starters, Ryan confirmed her character isn't human neither an elf. I tend to think s!Ryan is a fairy, however it doesn’t end here.

Beyond the "specie's name", there is a question of "technicality". If s!Ryan is indeed a fairy, what does being a “fairy” in this world means exactly? After all, s!Cherry was also hinted to be a fairy, would it make them related in one way or another ? 

And since s!Cherry was hinted to be directly from the Shelter, would it also be the case for s!Ryan ? Are all the fairies related to the Shelter and magic tree in general ? That's also something that needs to be uncovered.

Going back to s!Ryan, her being a “fairy like” creature would be in line with the magic elements. She said her magic powers were lightning, light and fire-like elements.

But there's likely even more to it. At one point s!Ryan said “did they forget who I am, do they know the power that I have ?” hinting that her “true nature” is really powerful and that she didn't reach her full capacity yet :

Not to mention she said she “knows people with great power” while looking at the tree.

The tree, magic gods, you know xD

At one point, when s!Artea was shocked s!Ryan could fly, and asked how it was possible, she just answered she was “god’s favorite”. What could it mean ?

And now tying everything with s!Ryan's connection with the sun : s!Ryan is often directly compared to the sun. When we look at it, her powers (light, fire, lightning) seems related to the sun.

She's hinting having a great power, that she's starting to show her "true nature" through her current appearance. That when she started having half blonde hair, and recently had a glowing eye, who made me think of a physical mark of her connection with the sun.

Finally we have this coming from her board :

"Sun, keeper of flame, Breaker of day, I gave you my sword, my heart and my faith"

I think s!Ryan is holding her current powers from the sun, a kind of power that probably reaches a divine level.

But how comes ? What kind of link does s!Ryan have with divinity ?

That’s where there are multiple options possible, and we’ll go from the highest degree to lower degree : 

She could be the sun entity herself, thus a goddess. Maybe her having her “powers” coming from the sun means that she draws power from this divine essence, she “incarnate” its power. 

She could be related to the gods, either fully or partially. Maybe directly related to the sun deity, or to another deity while she would still worship the sun, no matter its nature. 

She could have made a “contact” with the deities which allowed her to “reach” this state and power, thus meaning her divine side recent. It could be either the sun deity, who would be an entity of its own in this case, either another kind of deity able to grant her powers from the sun.

She could not be divine, and her power would only come from what “gods” granted her. The subtle difference the previous case is that, while having divine powers, its not fully "hers" and the gods could take it back from her any time.

And among all those options, there may be even more I didn't think of yet. Again, there is so much possibilities.

There is various possibilities about the sun's real nature, as well as various possibilities about s!Ryan's. So figuring out s!Ryan's nature in parallel with her connection with the sun leaves us with soooo many option.

(When it comes to theorising, I think something important is avoiding to jump on the "obvious" conclusions, and instead try to think of all the possible interpretations possible :D)

There is one last thing I need to cover up :

The Ryans

It all started in the beginning of the Shelter. Ryan was turning people into clones on herself, chasing people around to submit them and "convert" them to the "Ryans cult"

And IF you don't believe me yet when I say that in this story, genuinely EVERYTHING can be lore, that should definitely proves you otherwise xD

Because at first, I didn't think it could be lore either, I thought it was just silly goofy fun. But then I discovered this :

Not only that, during one of s!Ryan lore stream, she referred to the Ryans again.

"The Ryans will attack, the Ryans will get them".

There is clearly something to uncover about the "Ryans" and what they truly are, and how it could possibly connects to s!Ryan's nature.

Changing who I was...

So ! We kinda covered everything about s!Ryan's powers, the hints and specifics, the mysteries and all the possible theories about her true nature. Well, "all the possible theories" not exactly yet :D

I talked about how s!Ryan could be a non divine fairy, or be divine through various degrees. But between a mere non divine and a divine being, there is one last option I didn't cover yet, an option in between. An option that I purposefully left at the end because it has interesting implications.

But before everything, there is some context to place. From now one, we'll try slowly but surely to introduce a timeline of event. The chronology from past s!Ryan, to s!Ryan coming from the tree until current s!Ryan.

There is something I wanted to bring your attention on. We know that s!Ryan has this sort of connection with the sun and hold her power from it. But since when ?

The first hint was posted before the stream where s!Ryan revealed her power, that she could fly. And if she had her half-blonde her since the trial, it's also where she revealed it was part of her lore.

And again, she did not described it as something "new" that appeared, but something already existing in her that she was "showing".

There is something to know about the description of her tweets : these are lyrics from the song "If I killed someone for you". Moreover, it's a song she has in her playlist ! And here, let me put you the full verse of the song :

You have to understand that The one I killed is me Changing what I was For what you wanted me to be I followed your direction Did everything you asked I hope that makes you happy 'Cause there's just no turning back

My interpretation is that, the power she has now, she didn't have it before, it's "recent". She had to do something in order to, there is something she had to "change".

But what was it ? And who is this "you" she may be referring to ? Again, there is a lot of possibilities. My main goal is to showcase everything and let you guys have your own prefered interpretation afterward :D

I said earlier that I think that her blonde hair, as well as her eye since recently, is a physical mark of her connection with the sun/power she holds from the "sun".

About her hair ! Do you remember how I said at the beginning that s!Ryan has ginger hair on her pinterest board ? And that it was something important ?

Here we are now : there is only ginger hair on her board, there isn’t ginger-blonde hair.

And just in case, I looked it up, and there are reference pictures for ginger-blonde hair on pinterest. Ryan could have put a reference for this, but she didn't. Why ?

Maybe she didn't think about it, or just didn't want to for no particular reason. But I have a possible interpretation that it was a purpose, and that there is actually a reason why.

I think the board focuses either on non temporal/general elements (reference outfits, fortune telling elements, powers etc), either element specifically from the past.

My theory :

Past s!Ryan= ginger --> Current s!Ryan= ginger-blonde

And having that in mind, it may show us that in the past, s!Ryan didn't have these hair, thus possibly meaning she didn't have powers from the sun at that time as she does right now.

But since when she had these power from the sun ? Again, s!Ryan said she was showing something "existing" in her through her hair, not something new.

But "existing" since when ?

Nothing is sure. Because right now, I'm only talking about the powers she has "now", that she hinted to go through a "change" to reach.

Maybe she didn't have powers at all before this "change" ? Maybe she had powers before but became more powerful ? Maybe she always had access to these power but decide now to use it ? (After all, at one point s!Ryan mention "my potential, what I possibly could be")

But that's not all I have to say. Because there is actually something I ended up being certain of.

There is at least one key event when we can be sure she "at the very least" hold these powers since then.

It's the "change" she's talking about.

And what is it ?

Her death

This hint mention a "slumber" that she woke up from. I saw it as a glince of the moment when she was brought in the Shelter by the tree. But the important part is that she "woke up" in general and what it actually mean :

s!Ryan died and was ressurected.

Let me put you again the lyrics from the song "If I killed someone for you"

You have to understand that The one I killed is me Changing what I was For what you wanted me to be

So, there is 2 thing to add to this :

I was certain that s!Ryan "death" was in the metaphorical sense"of "killing her old self", "changing" who she was before. And then I evoked the possibility that it was also in the litteral sense. But now I'm *convinced* it is ALSO in the litteral sense. And I'll have the occasion to tell you more about it later.

Past s!Ryan (ginger hair)

⬇️

s!Ryan's death ("change")

⬇️

Current s!Ryan (ginger-blonde hair)

Even tho I think s!Ryan's "death" is litteral, I think that the most impactful aspect is still the fact that her death was "metaphorical". In fact, this is for me the all core of s!Ryan's character, and something that allow us to understand more her current personnality.

The Saint

So ! I think s!Ryan holding the current power she has is something recent that we can date at least since her death. But what about her connection with the sun in general ?

I think s!Ryan always had this connection with the sun. And if it's not in a magical way, it is at a very least in the metaphorical way.

And I finally get into the possibility I was talking earlier, the possibility about s!Ryan being something "in between" a divine and a non divine being :

This are hints about the sun, again. But these one are really particular in the "aesthetic", it’s giving up a symbolic about “saint” and “holiness”.

You know how I said that there is a cult around the sun’s deity ? Maybe s!Ryan would have been part of it, and even more ?

This is the last option, something that I think is similar to s!Ana : the fact that s!Ryan would be a priestess of the sun, a “saint” in it's cult, even an angel ?

She wouldn’t be a god, but would be above the mere “non divine” beings.

-> That’s where getting it to tie to a “general theology” would make a change, because it would allow us to figure out the different role anybody could occupy in this.

The gold element is something common to s!Ana's board. And it would explain this quote !

Her being a “saint” would have allowed her to reach a deeper connection with the sun, and would explain why her nature is so tied to it.

One last minute element I could think of : You know how s!Ryan call s!Pomme "sister Pomme" ? Well, it also happen that s!Pomme is hinting to be an angel/saint, and related to "monotheistic" element like "heaven" just like s!Ryan. It may be something relevent ?

It wouldn't mean there are sisters in the "litteral" since, but it would be a hint to the fact that they share a similar nature ?

And on a /meta note, I know there is a context to the "sister Pomme" nickname. But Lumi and Ryan could've talk about it behind the scenes and be like "oh yeah let's make it fit with the lore". It would fit both of their way of storytelling xD

But if she was indeed a prietress/saint/angel/you get me, was it from her own will ? Of from birth ? Does she still consider herself this way ?

I also said earlier that s!Ryan has a connection with the sun within herself. But maybe this connection is to take metaphorically, as an allegory ?

There could be a symbolic about her being similar to the sun, "like the sun". This idea of being "holy", being a sunshine angel.

And we're finally getting to it. The reason why I wanted to develop this point at the end of the post, the one implication I ended up being certain about past s!Ryan :

s!Ryan was a saint before.

And whether or not she was a saint in the literal sense, I mean that I'm pretty certain she was metaphorically a saint, an incarnation of a perfect girl who was acting like a beacon of light for people around her.

But then she died, she "killed" her old self and she changed, going from a saint to a devil.

And this will be for part 2 !

Thanks for your attention :D

[pynkhues]

curious as to your thoughts on the may december discourse (some spoilers i guess) - vili has come out and essentially said that he felt the film contributed to his victimization and hurt him. and the response from a lot of film twitter seems to be to yell ITS NOT A BIOPIC and to say he doesnt understand the film (gross). i feel like i dont really care if its a biopic or not, when the film literally quoted vili/mary kay, recreated the mary kay in prison photo exactly, and both charles melton and julianne moore studied vili/mary kay for their performances. to hand wave that all as "not a biopic" feels like a way of writing off any discomfort. i feel like the film should not have made those specific choices, but having done so they had a duty of care to vili. i dont think the film that ended up getting made is worth the continued trauma to vili even if it is art. there were other ways they could have told the story to minimize the harm and they chose not to - and i dont think that choice is a great commentary on tabloids or whatever, its just a ghoulish thing to do

I did see that, anon, and I do have thoughts on it as it's a real grey area in terms of creative license, art and storytelling, and it's a grey area that's been around really since storytelling existed, but before I get into that I just want to quickly clarify what Vili said, because I do think it's important.

Vili didn't say that the film contributed to his victimisation and hurt him, he said the film offended him because it was a ripoff:

“I’m still alive and well,” says Fualaau, now 40 and still living in the Seattle area, where the scandal unfolded. “If they had reached out to me, we could have worked together on a masterpiece. Instead, they chose to do a ripoff of my original story. “I’m offended by the entire project and the lack of respect given to me — who lived through a real story and is still living it,” he adds.

“I love movies — good movies,” he says. “And I admire ones that capture the essence and complications of real-life events. You know, movies that allow you to see or realize something new every time you watch them. “Those kinds of writers and directors — someone who can do that — would be perfect to work with, because my story is not nearly as simple as this movie [portrays],” Fualaau adds.

The reason I think this distinction is an important one to make is because in interviews since Mary Kay Letourneau passing, it's pretty clear that Vili - while absolutely being a victim-survivor - doesn't see himself that way, and even says pretty specifically in his Doctor Oz interview from 2020 that he doesn't see her as a predator or himself as having been preyed on ('there was no perversion...she was my wife and my best friend' are his exact words), and he's pretty clearly open to the idea of a film being made about his story.

I'm not saying this to diminish his feelings about May December at all (I strongly believe that Vili is entitled to feel any and every which way about the film) or to patronise his own understanding of what he experienced - I can't even begin to imagine the complexity of trying to unpack the life he shared with her - but I think it's important to reflect his feelings accurately and to provide a little context to those feelings.

With that said, do I think the creative team should've reached out to Vili before making the film?

Honestly, I don't know.

I think it's one of those questions in art where there's not really a right answer. If Vili's feelings towards Mary Kay are still lost in the silver linings of her grooming, any film that has his direct approval or involvement is going to run the risk of tacit endorsement. It also hamstrings the creative team and opens them up in terms of liability (I actually was a writers assistant on a TV show a million years ago that was sort of a bio pic and I can tell you for a fact that it was a disaster once the person it was based on got involved), and, of course, it runs the risk of shifting the focus of the story the writer is wanting to tell.

And that's the thing about art, right? By design, art is supposed to reflect us back to ourselves in ways that we might not always be comfortable with. Of course, that usually happens less literally than in how Todd Haynes has used Vili and Mary Kay's stories, but not always. Todd Haynes is certainly no stranger to the technique given Velvet Goldmine is pretty transparently inspired by David Bowie and I'm Not There is often confused as a Bob Dylan bio pic despite the fact that it's actually not.

Hell, everyone loves that Succession points a pretty clear finger to the Murdoch's, and while, of course, the Murdoch's - and Bowie and Dylan for that matter - have social, political and economic power that Vili doesn't which does impact the ethics of the decision, it's still made under the same creative ideology that aspects of a real story can render an artwork, a story, a film more emotionally authentic, can create greater resonance, can offer a sharper reflection of the world we live in and offer, perhaps, a message or a question that lingers.

All of this has actually kind of been funny timing as I just finished reading Sarah Weinman's The Real Lolita the other day which is a really excellent blend of true crime, literary history and critical commentary on this exact topic. The book explores the real life case of Sally Horner who was kidnapped by a pedophile in 1948 when she was 11 years old and was forced to roadtrip with him around America for two years. It's actually mentioned in passing in Nabokov's Lolita, but once you go a little deeper it's pretty clear how much of Horner and her story Nabokov used to create Dolores Haze / Lolita.

In the book, Weinnman asks the question as to why Lolita gets to be remembered when Sally's been left to obscurity, and of course, the answer is that there are other Sally's in the news cycle, but only one Lolita in art, and that hopefully in her writing Sally Horner's story she can write her back into bookshelves and place her back into this artwork but who knows if that's what Sally would've wanted (Sarah does, at least, talk to Sally's lone surviving family member, and makes a measure to show that it's very unlikely Nabokov ever did the same).

Was Nabokov wrong for not seeking out Sally's family for Lolita? Honestly, I doubt it even would've occured to him to do so, and the fact that we do now ask questions like this about the ethics of inspiration is, I think, a good thing. We should be critical of how stories are told and who is, and isn't, involved in the telling of them, but again, I don't actually think there are right or wrong answers here.

Fiction is always inspired by real people, real events, real life, it's a part of creation, it's a part of capturing a moment in time, it's about reflection and authenticity, but of course that's been rendered more complex in recent years by the fact that we live in a world that's ever shrinking and the people or the events that inspire new stories are inevitably brought into the public narrative in a way they just weren't back in 1955 when Lolita was first published.

So what does that mean for creativity and inspiration? I don't know, but personally I guess my thoughts would be that Vili is absolutely in his rights to be offended by the film, but I also don't think the filmmakers were wrong necessarily to not reach out. It's not the most ethical choice, but I also don't think it was an inherently bad one either. This isn't a Blonde situation where they write fiction and present it as fact, the creatives have been clear about it being inspried by what happened between Mary Kay and Vili, but they're also not saying Vili and Mary Kay are Joe and Gracie.

I appreciate you feeling like it's much of a muchness though given how they've apparently lifted entire scenes of dialogue. It's a murky question after all, and it's certainly one that's more complex when it comes to people like Vili and Sally than it is with the Murdoch's or even David Bowie, but yes, I'm not sure I see it as something inherently wrong, and I don't personally think it was ghoulish. I just think the specifics of this particular case just kind of shows how the sausage is made when it comes to storytelling.

[fayedartmouth]

I meant just in general! Something you have written that makes you feel proud or just hits different

It always feels so weird to talk about that? Like, the stuff where I impress myself. I talked too much so I'll drop it under a cut here.

I mean, in general, I tend to think, yes, I can write acceptably well. I have a decent command of language and I understand the ways to structure a story and develop a character. But it's always just this rudimentary thing where I feel like it's not all that special. And most of the time when I'm writing, I'm just literally throwing words out there and I spent virtually no time editing my fics, so I know they're not, like, as good as they COULD be.

That said, I think I most enjoy when I am able to bring something together narratively in an unexpected way, like when you're able to bring about a theme just the right way and execute it meaningfully.

Also right now I'm just talking OBX fics because -- if I go beyond that, it's a whole can of worms and I have to look back on 20+ years worth of fics, half of which I don't even remember writing, lol.

But okay I wrote a short one called the Persistence on AO3. And it's this short fic and it's not really plotting and it's probably just pretty forgettable to readers because it's not hitting any of those classic fic buttons. But in terms of how it's structured, it's something that I love, because it delves into this memory JJ has of his family when he was little -- this idyllic, perfect moment -- and how it unravels and he realizes that it's not real, that moment wasn't what he thought it was -- and just how the bottom falls out of it and yet, somehow, it's enough for him to keep going forward. I just like the build of the fic and I like the delivery of the revelation -- the understanding that JJ is his own unreliable narrator. In my own nerdy storytelling way, I Just love that.

There's also the scene at the end of These Mistakes You Make when Heyward is trying to help JJ, trying to offer support, and he mentions DCS -- and JJ just immediately shuts down. And like that moment when Heyward makes the overture, and JJ immediately withdraws -- I just feel like it's a very true moment, one that I think has probably happened at some point and I just like it. I think it explains JJ, and I think it explains Heyward, and I'm just pleased by how it resolves things -- without resolving them at all. Sort of bittersweet.

Also just sometimes there's whump moments, you know? Like in If I'm on Fire, there's a moment when Mike is trying to stop the bleeding from JJ's gunshot wound and JJ's trying to clean the floors because he knows he's making a mess. I love everything about that scene and that moment.

Last one I have off the top of my head is in Safe Spaces, when John B finds JJ catatonic after a fight with Luke. For me, that scene is so visceral and like JJ's physical brokenness is so clearly secondary to the mental toll, and just how he can't hide it any longer and John B so perfectly cares for him in that moment. I love those two together, and that moment is like the essence of my head canon for them. I just really like it.

I don't know if that answered any of it! But I think I rambled enough!

I'll get to more prompts after Christmas. I'll be pretty much out of contact for a day or two here, but I think I have 4-5 more prompts to go? I'll do what I can!

[twilightichor]

While I know that I shouldn't apologize for this, I do feel like I'm being more inactive than I would've liked for myself even in these moments where I have free time before the training starts. Know that I love Dain to bits, always have and he's been the reason why I got into Genshin. I love his lore and everything that surrounds him. But many times it can get really dragging when the content in Genshin is lacking for the most part and for a character that has so little about him, the fact that there is so little content to go with as things stand worsens it.

It becomes even harder when there is a newer game that will barely make it to a year soon to compare it with. And no, I won't get into the "Genshin would never" because I find that stupid and it's not the case. But it's the gameplay, the storytelling and a whole list of things that I won't bother to write up here that I discussed in private with friends. As for what the current circumstances go, it's hard to think that H.YV is taking it seriously with this game when, as soon as they finish the main arc of the newest nation, we're jumping from one festival to the next without little regard of the aftermath of the current nation after everything it went through. I don't want Genshin to get suddenly gore-y or anything of the story, but it does get sad when this game story becomes interesting when it gets dark. It has many reasons to be and a select amount of antagonists to make it interesting if it weren't... because they make it laughable at this point, so not-threatening or they pull redeeming qualities out of their behind for marketing purposes. There are many interesting things that could be done in Genshin both from the storytelling and gameplay perspectives, but eventually it's all reduced to this go-happy thing that in essence, feels so forced.

To conclude with this ramble, I just wanted to say that I've been feeling demotivated and it's showing to me, I can't imagine what it'll be to you. Know that I won't stop writing Dain, he's been the muse I've been the most invested in years and it'll continue to stay that way. It's just that... it's being hard in my end and that I'm trying my best to get out of this by thinking new things to address with him. All in all, I hope that the team responsible for Genshin will get their poop together soon and get serious with it.

[adapembroke]

Ask Ada: How Do I Create a Character with Astrology?

Question: This may sound crazy, but I’ve been trying for a long time to create myself as a fantasy character (think Dungeons & Dragons). Ideally, the character (me) would be the protagonist in a book that would eventually turn into my memoir. I’ve always related strongly to my astrological signs, so I thought I would delve more deeply searching for the most objective, truthful perspective on myself. I need help in translating my chart into a character and selecting a “class” for myself. I have a number of squares and opposition aspects, which is making it even more challenging. If you could check my chart and let me know your thoughts on what class/subclass would best represent my chart, I would really appreciate it.

I can’t tell you how excited I was to get this in my inbox.

What you’re describing is the essence of narrative astrology.

Narrative astrology asks questions like: If my life was a story, what kind of story would it be? What kind of character am I? What is my story about?*

These are the great questions of philosophy, translated into the language of story, just like you translated the language of story into the language of Dungeons and Dragons.**

Human beings are storytelling creatures. Stories are how we give our lives meaning. Stories are so wired into the way our brains work, we need stories to understand what’s happening around us.***

All of this is to say… You’re not crazy. Or, at least, you’re not any more crazy than Frodo was when he volunteered to take the One Ring to Mount Doom.

I’m using The Lord of the Rings as a metaphor purposefully because your chart reminds me quite a lot of that story.

You have four planets in Sagittarius, the sun in Scorpio, the moon in Leo, and a Taurus ascendant.

In the language of literature, this is the chart of a complex character with lots of internal conflict. There is intense drive in the pursuit of meaning. (Sagittarius is the sign of the philosopher.) Your heart was made for joy (moon in Leo), but you need to feel secure and safe (Taurus ascendant) in order to express yourself authentically. As if this wasn’t enough, there is a deep awareness of the potential for evil in the human heart (sun in Scorpio).

If your life was a novel, some of the themes would be: How do you find meaning in a world full of evil and suffering? How do you find the security in an insecure world? How do you find joy?

That sounds an awful lot like a Hobbit on a great quest against an ancient evil, facing impossible odds. At least, to me.

If that resonates with you, I want to encourage you on your quest. There are a lot of people out there who will tell you you’re crazy for doing something hard. That’s just because they’re jealous.

* We dive into those questions in depth in my course Reading Stories in a Natal Chart.

** I don’t think it’s an accident that the greatest philosophers have also been the greatest storytellers. I don’t know if anyone will be reading Discourse on Method in 300 years, but we’re still coming up with creative ways of telling the story of Plato’s Cave over 2000 years later (see also: The Matrix).

*** Source: Spellbound by Daniel Z. Lieberman, MD

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Have a question? Ask anonymously on my website.

[wolfgabe]

The Super Mario Bros Movie My Review

Be warned will contain spoilers below.

The Story: This seems to be a major point of contention among the critics with how there was barely any character development and how bare bones the plot was but as I often keep saying to people "If you went into this movie expecting an Avengers grade plot with Oscar worthy storytelling you were basically just setting yourself up for disappointment. In my personal opinion the Mario Movie represents something I think has been missing from a lot of animated films as of late which is essentially a straightforward fun filled adventure the family can enjoy that isn't worried about trying to perform any social commentary or impart any big moral life lessons. A lot of the critic reviews also do complete disservice to the dynamic on display between Mario and Luigi in particular with Mario's drive to save his brother and his refusal to give up even when everything seems stacked against him really serving as the films emotional core. In essence one could say that the structure of the film is almost like a game in itself where the plot and character development essentially serve as a vehicle through which to drive viewers towards the next big set piece or as some have called it an amusement park ride. But at its most basic core the story of the Mario Movie is a tried-and-true origin story wrapped in a good old-fashioned tale of good versus evil which really serves Mario well in this case. In the span of 90 minutes we see Mario struggling to make it as a plumber, accidentally get him and his brother sent to a fantastical world, team up with Peach to save his brother from Bowser's clutches, stumble through a training course, and slug it out with Donkey Kong before teaming up to crash a wedding that ends up leading us right back to where we began complete with one final confrontation. All in the process finding new confidence in himself and coming out as a better man. It's nothing new for a plot but this is a Mario Movie and if you know Mario, you should know you probably aren't watching this film for the plot in the first place.

The Visuals and Presentation: I am gonna be honest here I didn't expect Illumination of all studios would manage to do justice to the look and feel of Mario, but I can safely say I was wrong in that regard. It's been mentioned how working with Nintendo pushed Illumination's VFX teams to new heights and their newfound effort clearly shows in every frame. You can clearly tell Nintendo's trademark commitment to polish and attention to detail has rubbed off on Illumination. It's not just in the gorgeous set pieces which I dare say rival some of Disney and Pixar's finest work or how Illumination's signature squash and stretch art style fits the Marioverse like a glove but also in the smattering of enough easter eggs and cameos to warrant many repeat viewings. You're not just watching a Mario Movie but in essence a celebration of Nintendo and Mario's legacy be it nods to iconic NES titles or blink, and you'll miss it cameos, this is clearly a film for the Mario and Nintendo fans first and foremost.

The Soundtrack: The music my god the music Its frankly incredible how Brian Tyler has managed to do such a masterful job of weaving Koji Kondo's most iconic melodies into a cinematic soundtrack. As a longtime Mario fan I found myself astounded at how I found myself remarking "I recognized that tune." during the film. Its also crazy to say this might be the first film soundtrack I actually have shown genuine interest in listening to in a long time. I highly encourage the Mario aficionados to stick around for the credits especially.

The Voice Actors: Now this was another major point of contention prior to the films release but I think I can safely say the voice acting for the most part works. Chris Pratt and Charlie Day does a surprisingly good job of playing up Mario and Luigi's Brooklyn roots. With their falsetto Italian accents cleverly being presented as a marketing tactic for their plumbing business and before you ask Charles Martinet Mario's original voice actor does make an appearance which I won't spoil. Anya Taylor Joy does a wonderful job casting Princess Peach as a strong devoted ruler while Keegan Micheal Key manages to radiate excellent sidekick energy as Toad. Seth Rogan manages to be well Seth Rogan as Donkey Kong who's dynamic with Mario makes for some of the film's funniest moments, but the real scene stealer is arguably Jack Black as Bowser. It's almost surreal how Black has managed to do such an amazing job bringing an air of goofiness and menace to the Koopa King that hasn't been seen in ages. One point he is burning down a penguin clan's Ice Palace just to take their Super Star and the next he is tapping into Jack's musical side belting out a Tenacious D style power ballad on the piano declaring his love for Princess Peach. Be warned you may struggle to get Peaches out of your head after watching this film.

Final Verdict: Personally The Super Mario Bros Movie is a film where I can safely say that if you are a fan of Mario and Nintendo you can basically ignore what the majority of the critics are saying because those critics are not the audience this movie was intended for in the first place. While there may be some pacing issues and some scenes could be fleshed out a bit more, The Super Mario Bros Movie manages to be a lovingly crafted celebration of Mario that isn't afraid to embrace its gaming roots. And with the movie well on the way to breaking the 1-billion-dollar box office mark and having already smashed several records this will no doubt become the video game movie against which video game film adaptations are judged for years to come. I still find it hard to believe that after all these years it would be Illumination of all studios that would end being the ones who redeemed Mario on the big screen and who essentially may have truly broken the video game movie curse. I think I can safely say I am excited to see where they go next on the big screen with Mario and likely other Nintendo franchises as well.

My final score for the Super Mario Bros Movie I would say probably 8/9 out of 10.

[foxtrotziggurat]

Superheroics

Am I too old for superheroes?

They are the best of us, even though they are not amongst us. They are fables. Fiction. Fake. I still love them, though. Spider-Man especially. He's so cool. And everything I want to be. Smart, funny, charming, but also strong, kind, and resilient. But the question I should ask myself as a Spider-Man fan is, "Have any of his traits rubbed off on me at all?" I think the answer is not really. I've watched all the movies and some of the animated shows. I feel like I've only done it just for the sake of saying I did, because I have a commitment to the character.

I think the worst part about all this is that I'm 19. Almost two decades on Earth. I'm supposed to be maturing past this kind of thing. I don't know what kind of things my peers are into, but it probably isn't the capeshit that I am. I wish I could bring myself to have sophisticated and refined taste, but I can't help myself. Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, the Fantastic Four, you name it, I'm into it. And to think I should really be reading Dostoyevsky or studying Bauhaus. Could I balance both? Is that a question I should be asking? I think it boils down to me not having many creative hobbies. I used to draw web comics ands design flags. Now I mostly just play video games and shop in my free time. There's a serious difference between those two, and it's that and the end of the former two, I have something to show for my work. I gained something. And lately I just haven't been gaining that much.

So how do I stop this? Well, I'm working on a Charlie Foxtrot story now, an animated series. Creative by nature, so I have something to work toward. I love working on it. The characters are so personal to me, and I seem to have fallen in love with storytelling. And they are heroes, just not superheroes. But they get into all kinds of scenarios which is fun. Maybe I'll share some of it here. But there are other things I can do to alleviate my addiction to consuming the slop and drivel that I am so used to, and it's to simply replace my media diet with more obscure, more thoughtful, and more fulfilling things. Sun Tzu over Snapchat, if you will.

I spent time with a girl today that I really admire. She's the quiet reserved type who's into a few of the same things I am as well (superheroes, go figure). But in essence, there is very little between us. I felt like a child in her presence. I often feel this way with a lot of people, including my family. I am the youngest in a family of six, including my parents. They think I'm an old soul because I like vintage sweaters and record players, but beyond that, I am genuinely a nine-year-old. I play Fortnite, watch comic book-derived shows, text all day, and don't like doing my homework. I am ridiculously ashamed of this fact because I think it has to do with whatever is subconsciously wrong with my brain. I didn't get the childhood I wanted; is this some form of regression? I have the inner rage of a fourth grade bully. Where did that come from? How do I harness that? Should I?

The smallest change I could make is going outside. My parents give me so much shit for it, and I hate it, but they are right. I hardly leave my dorm some days. I could also stand to read some of the many books I own. I have a concept I like to use, "doing the right thing for the wrong reasons." Unloading the dishwasher not because I'm proactive and courteous, but because someone is going to bother me about it later if I haven't. And I feel that could be applied here. Read and go outside not strictly for the benefits of it, but just to shut my parents up about it. Because they are the only people that judge me for it. Implementing change will be hard, but it's the only way to grow up and grow out.

—CF

[average-guy-reviews]

Femstival by LEMAN Day 2

28th April 2024

After a very successful first day of Femstival I was invited back to day 2. I went into this day without any knowledge of the artists involved, unlike day 1. I was extremely intrigued as to what I was going to be hearing, and the styles of music I'd be listening to.

Back in Sotto, which is a fabulous little venue, I settled in and prepared for the show.

Zara Smile

This is a young woman who, to me at least, had vocals that had an essence of Brit Pop entangled with a little Lily Allen and a young Alanis Morrisette. Her lyrical style shows a really strong sense of storytelling, using her own personal struggles in a way that is, at times, intensely emotional and certainly resonated with this particular listener.

Her playing style has a power that is in stark contrast with her physical stature, and the dichotomy of power and size combines to create a superb young artists. For such a powerful young storyteller I am more than certain that she has an interesting musical future.

Rose Greenwood

With a chilled, ethereal vibe Rose brings a warmth to the stage with music that tells tales, but more so evokes images of quiet passion. It's music to watch a sunrise to, with a warm cocoa in hand and your closest friends by your side. It feels good.

Rose's style is a relaxed one that makes it seem like she is completely, and with ease, at home on the stage. She draws the audience into her musical world, and because of this we can relax into the music without any issues or complications.

Eleanor

Smooth vocals over a gentle guitar work together with strong lyrics to create an artists I could listen to on a regular basis...without any fear of getting bored. In some of her songs her vocal 'swops', from her lower range right up to her higher are really smooth. It's a heck an ability to keep that kind of thing as smooth as she does and it's really quite special to hear.

As an artist it can be hard to create short art, be it movies or music, and have it make sense, or feel complete. Eleanor does this with style, and hits a lot of emotional points in songs that are incredibly easy to listen to.

Shannon Gillespie

Of all the acts so far, (as I wrote my notes at least) Shannon is the first one that wouldn't feel out of place on stage in Nashville. As a fan of country music Shannon's style really worked well for me. Within it though I did, at times, also hear elements of groups like Sixpence None The Richer.

Powerful vocals, on top of lyrical intensity, brings out a force on stage that the audience seems to really like, and definitely seemed to connect with. Shannon is a strong confident performer and it is utterly clear that she loves what she does.

Sophie Mac

On stage she specifically described herself as not being a singer or a guitarist, and yet what I watched on stage tells a very different story. She absolutely is a performer, but she is performer of her own past and her own pain. I have to say that while she was singing there was something about her vocals, the trills and wavers, that drove emotional needles right into my heart, and just....wow! It made me speechless and anyone that knows me knows how big a deal that is.

In her own words her set is based on depressing songs, but her personality is such that between songs you are able to rise above the mire to a much happier place. Sophie also does rap/spoken singing sections in some of her songs, and it adds another level to an already deep well of awesome.

In all honesty Sophie's set was by far the loudest, from an audience perspective. This is because a lot of people had come to Sotto in support of her, from friends, family and work colleagues. The venue felt full with the size of the crowd by the time her set started. As part of her set she stepped off stage so that a young lady, inspired by her, had a chance to sing a song. This was a really decent thing for her to do and the young lady in question did a really great job.

Overall

Day 2 of Femstival was a superb show and Mel Price should be rightly proud of what she has arranged, and of all the work she put into this and all of her other shows she works on. Every artist for this day was genuinely so talented and deserves all the recognition. It is good to see that the future of female independent music is as strong as this two day event has show it is. If you get the chance to check out any of the artists from day 1 and 2 on your streaming service then please do, and help support independent music.

Also check out LEMAN (Liverpool Entertainment, Music and Art Network) on all social media for further information about upcoming gigs they are supporting and running.