#i forget who wrote seasons 8 9 and 10 but like for real they are Not Great for character writing

[snapdragxnn]

uhmm uhmm what are ur top ten music artists,, OR, top 10 shows

okay so top 10 music artists, I'm going to try to not go based solely on stats rn

1.) Bastille!! they are a consistently no-skip artist for me, and have yet to release anything I don't want to listen to!! idk if "doom pop" is a real genre but it should be!! I love love love bastille sm!! their new album is definitely different from its predecessor, BUT it remains a no-skip album. I love it so much!!!

2.) Hozier!! again, consistently no skips. I love his lyrics and I love the way that he writes things with such ???? passion???? idk how else to phrase it but it's that like yearning that's a pull in ur chest like the desire to peel open the music and live inside of it god I love him so much I can't wait to see him again

3.) Taylor Swift!! we all knew this was coming, it was not an if, but a when. she was the first (and only) secular artist i was allowed to listen to, but I rlly did find a lot of solace in the songs she wrote!! all breakup songs can be about your parents if ur damaged enough!! /j /j no but fr she's my most withstanding artist because I've grown up with her ig?? she definitely has some skips for me but she also has a fair amount of songs that have their claws in me always

4.) The Amazing Devil!! only found them in the last couple years but they're so good i fucking love the intensity and the same just ???? pull to live in the music as I mentioned with hozier i love them so much

5.) Ghost Quartet!! ik they're technically not a music artist and technically a Broadway show but the ocr of ghost quartet slaps like nothing else I will always return to the oddities and twisting timelimes of the ghost quartet

6.) Junie & theHutFriends!!! strange and fantastic, I love them so much

7.) Missio!!!

8.) Florence + the machine hello????? I forgot her thusfar BUT I love Florence + the Machine sm another almost no skip artist I love the otherworldly sort of ethereal feel to her music but in like that ??? intense way?? ugh I rlly don't know how to describe it accurately like when u feel the music in the deepest core of u and ur bones idk man

9.) Ashnikko!! ngl I found her more.recently but I just rlly like her songs and the grotesque way she portrays feminity idk idk

10.) Flyleaf!! they had me in such a chokehold when I was younger ((but then, most alt Christian groups did because it was.the closest to exploring music i could get)) and ngl they still do like i u put anything from the first album or memento mori on, im there

---

top 10 shows will be simultaneously easier and harder bc i don't rlly watch a lot of shows but let's GO !

1.) Arcane!! I love the nuances, I love the themes of love as a motivating and destructive force, I love that no character is a wholly good character, that every character has depth to them, and the animation is literally some of the most beautiful stuff I've ever seen

2.) Very Important People!! an improv comedy interview show of sorts, I fuckin love it it's so funny

3.) Kipo and the Age of the Wonderbeasts!! I love the music and the animation in this show it's such a fun world and again I love tje characters sm

4.) What We Do in the Shadows !!! its so funny I love it so so much

5.) Um, Actually!!! there's nothing i love more than trivia, and it's so much fun when it's like stuff that i enjoy and know about like

6.) Kotoro Lives Alone!! I love this anime so much I'm crying

7.) The Dragon Prince!!! I love the worldbuilding amd the characters so mucj I haven't watched the final season yet ((I hate ending things)) but it's so good so far

8.) Our Flag Means Death!!! anyone who mentions pirates near me knows that I LOVE LOVE LOVE pirates, and this show is so fucking good i will never forgive its cancelation

9.) OH MY GOD HOW DID I FORGET GALAVANT WHAT THE FUCK these aren't ordered in any way anyways but GOD i love.galavant so much I've watched it so many times I've got so much of the show in my brain at all time I cannot believe I've forgotten it so far down anyways galavant I love u I love u Madelena I'm so mad we didn't get a third season but. expected tbh

10.) She-Ra and the Princesses of Power!!! I fuckin love this show too i love the primcesses i love the designs and the animation and the art style and the colors I love watching catra spiral into losing her shit at being left behind surely that's a one-off surely that's not defi.itely a pattern surely that's not -

[suzyq31]

20 Questions Game

Thanks for the tag @nodirectionhome-ao3 and @practicecourts

How many works do you have on AO3? Currently at 17

2. What's your total A03 words count? 696,804

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Right now just Harry Potter

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Maybe Tomorrow: Post War. Harry and Hermione are renovating Potter Manor over Christmas then wake up into a different life. (almost finished!)

Iris: My first story, and the bane of my existence. Hermione flees after the war, five years later she's dragged back in by a dangerous situations. Follows my series Seasons. Hidden child trope, angst fest, long as hell and on hiatus. H/Hr

It Had To Be You: Post war, completed, steamy romcom with some loose inspiration from the film When Harry Met Sally. Co-written with @bettertoflee

Found: A spin off of Iris, and another alternate ending to Seasons. Never thought I would write an OC protagonist, but here we are!

My next highest kudos is another Harmony, but that's boring so going with my highest rated Jily fic which is Plans. It's also more Sirius & Lily focused, takes place right after Harry's born.

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I try my best! Sometimes I can forget if I'm distracted/dealing with real life stuff. But I am SO grateful for people who take the time to let me know they've read my work.

6. What's the fic you wrote with the angtiest ending?

For now probably Spring or Winter in my Seasons Series.

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Well seeing as how I struggle to finish anything...I guess the ones that are complete which is It Had To Be You and Home.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Yes, so far only in Harmony. It's a huge reason I don't participate in the fandom much and why I moderate comments. Most of it has been concentrated on my stories Iris and Found, but I've also received rude comments on other works including It Had To Be You (which got some very incel type comments, and is the main reason I only allow registered users and block instantly).

9. Do you write smut. If so what kind?

Yes, mostly reluctantly as I still get uncomfortable writing it, but some stories feel incomplete without some. Love reading it though! Not sure what kind means? Like M or E? I would say my smut is relatively tame. I've only written one E rated fic, which was co-written haha.

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written? Nope, can't imagine I ever would.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I'm aware of.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated? No idea! People have asked me, but haven't seen them.

13. Have you ever cowritten a fic before? Yes! Working on my second collaboration with @bettertoflee. And my story Iris gets so much support from my beta Green_Eyes that it feels like she may as well be a co-writer!

14. What's your all-time favourite ship? I've shipped both my fave HP ships since around 2001 when I was a child and they haven't changed even with the dreaded epilogue for Harry and Hermione (I take Unlike a Sister as canon and breathe easier for it), or you know canon for James and Lily (which is why AU is so fun!)

15. What's a WIP you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

Ideally I'd like to finish all of them. If I didn't have such a strong editor/beta reader for Iris it would likely stay unfinished. I REALLY struggle with endings at the best of times and that story has a variety of factors that make it difficult for me.

16. What are your writing strengths?

I'm very hard on myself, so its hard to think of positives. I do think I'm creative, and as someone with ADHD I often think outside the box. I think I have a good ear for dialogue. I've also received compliments on my descriptions/scene writing, as well as for conveying emotions. The thing I do love best about writing is seeing the growth year by year, story by story.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Plotting, getting stuck after the midway point. ADHD brain always wanting to jump to something new. Spelling/Grammar from years of French Immersion. Wordy, though REALLY have worked on this and I do so much slashing and cutting in my editing.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

No strong opinion unless it's constant.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Probably Harry Potter as a child. Although me and a friend wrote a That 70s Show script and posted it on fanfic.net back in middle school haha.

20. Favourite fic you've ever written?

This is a hard one. I am really proud of Maybe Tomorrow, I put a lot of my heart into it and it's actually complete except for some edits and additional scenes I'm contemplating.

I also really enjoyed writing Plans. And I'm proud of this short micro where I managed to stay under 1000 words!

I think this has made the rounds already! At least for Jily. But will tag;

@bettertoflee @myst867 @glitterwitch1 @riverwriter @runawayminds @annonymouslyblonde

[solipsistful]

Director's cut for Doubled? (-sandy brett)

i already said a bit about Doubled, but the fact that this comes right after i posted the Automatisms thing makes me think you want a chapter-by-chapter. Doubled is a bit longer (what, how) so let's go:

Chapter 1: Voices

the idea of making MW plural i think was like. an automatic reaction to MW's mass consolidation. after all, there was already a question of whether consolidation might leave some "unintegrated material", so when MW showed up, i remember some people literally explicitly asking if Dylan was about to write a plural character. personally, i don't really think he ever will, so it's up to us, clearly.

Chapter 2: Mission

i had MW[s], Walters, Emdubya, and Bear all outlined as characters from the start, so a lot of the early chapters are just like. introducing them and what their Deal is.

it really was mean to bring MW on this mission in canon though, like wow, why not just show off the life that every single one of MW's 32 wanted.

Chapter 3: Spy

ok so in the notes i say that this "fits better" after the Vancouver mission even if canonically it occurs before, but the truth is that i sorta forgot this happened/didn't think about how it might interact with MW's plurality until i wrote it. now you know my secret.

Chapter 4: Party

this was the first real way that this story Surprised me: Bear hating Base Edgar. i was sorta planning on him fawning for every Edgar ever but nope! which makes sense, and is a lot more interesting than the alternative where there's no real problems between Base Edgar and any MW.

Chapter 5: Hunt

Bear is such a punk i love him

Chapter 6: Cage

i knew from the start that Bear's headspace was the storage shed we find the "first" MW in, so it was fun adding hints to that and seeing people who reread react to that lol.

also it occurs to me that i sorta didn't go anywhere with that idea that Emdubya just literally cannot have a reaction to Edgar, like that's just not within the scope of his existence as part of the system. maybe i should return to that, but i guess the MWs in general have become a bit more like "full independent people" than i was originally thinking at the start.

Chapter 7: Respect

Bear is a punk, yet again. i like how this all comes together to really make Michael's and MW's relationship a lot more strained.

Chapter 8: Disclosure

i remember this chapter was one that had a lot written/planned out before the prior chapter even. that is, one of those Big Deal chapters. i knew that i wanted Bear to come out to MDawg and Edman especially, though a lot of the exact implications of that didn't come until after the fact (and i think like... through canon even? did we know that MDawg and Edman were part of OI at this point, i forget lol.)

Chapter 9: Correction

the whole "following canon" thing is funny when canon has an entire season without your main character at all, whoops.

also that relatively offhanded idea that the MWs can't actually feel pain in the headspace had a lot broader ramifications than i was thinking of at the time

Chapter 10: Compound

em my beloved

i forget when exactly i decided on his existence, though as noted above, he wasn't someone i originally had in mind. i love Ty-ified Mikes though so naturally there was gonna be an MW like that.

i really wasn't thinking of him as "evil villain alter doing things behind the rest of the system's back" even though he. absolutely could be read that way, whoops.

Chapter 11: Inside

someone was liveblogging their reread of Doubled recently and talked about how stressful this chapter is in hindsight, and i kinda agree. i didn't really note at the time that it's Bear himself that hands over the literal metaphorical keys to his own imprisonment, though i think i knew at the time that he would be the next of Walters' targets

Chapter 12: Keys

a bit of a "and then stuff that happened in canon... happens here!" chapter, but not only is it a conversation important for plot reasons but, really more importantly in Doubled, it gives MW information about MDawg's activation shtick.

Chapter 13: Divided

MDawg/MWs ot33 honestly i mean what.

i remember making this note elsewhere before, but this chapter is where it really stuck out to me how i kinda expect the audience to align with Bear's anti-consolidation/integration message than "we all need to consolidate in order to be Healthy and Happy". like, i don't have to do as much work explaining it, for starters (if anything, it's the counter opinion that i feel like i need to do work carefully motivating lol)

Chapter 14: Calibrating

can you imagine if this was the chapter that preceded a kinda lengthy hiatus lmao lol. also Anne is very fun to write.

i knew that i wanted OI's tech to do something drastic to the system, but couldn't really come up with any idea beyond the amnesia and trouble switching, which feels a bit... boring but it's leading to its own interesting developments. basically i wonder if i could have come up with something different if i spent more time thinking, one that maybe speaks more to MW being a blurry median-ish system. oh well.

Chapter 15: Reflection

i don't think i ever posted this lol

Chapter 16: Fall

i want to note that i think of Em as having a decent amount of control over who's cofronting with him, even in this post-OI chaos, not because of a particular skill with controlling fronting but by drawing on exactly what was used against him: being locked away and the ways that everyone distances themselves from him. basically like "oh, you don't want to be around me? fine, i don't want to be around you either, byeee."

Chapter 17: Winter

don't worry, i plan to do more with that image of Bear and Walters staring at each other across different bodies. :)

Chapter 18: Horse

was it ever a question that Tex/Outlaw would be in this fic lol. i actually spent a while feeling like it was, idk, Too Gratuitous or something, but i was convinced into agreeing that it's actually a point of significant characterization for all the MWs, whether they agree or disagree with this, how they react to Michael's disapproval of this, etc.

Sneak Preview: Chapter 19: [i don't name the chapters until the moment i put them into AO3 lol]

Fists still balled, Emdubya asks, "Which one were you?" Bear has shrunk back from the body. What? he asks, apprehensive. "Of the thirty-two. How many times were you left behind?"

- ace

[truegodofthearena]

Stancy Week Day 1: Favorite episode

4.07: The Massacre at Hawkins Lab

Why?

1. Nancy diving in to save Steve

2. It gave us THIS moment which Nancy witnessed and honestly how can she ever recover from this:

3. Gently touching shirtless Steve and making sure he’s okay

4. The TENDING WOUND scene which tops all wound tending scenes. The tenderness, the gazing, the sexual tension. ALL in the upside down having no way out to the real world. WILD WRITING CHOICE that I approve. The writers really said this is the time for peak romance tropes

5. “You almost shot me with that one.” “You almost deserved it.” BLATANT FLIRTING in front of on lookers with no shame, so much so that Eddie had to throw a shirt at Steve to contain them

6. Robin ships it. EDDIE MUNSON ships it. Friends with top tier shipping taste who will fight alongside them in the upside down. Pure epic ness.

7. All the callbacks to season 1 Stancy. With the diary entry to the chemistry test notecards and the sex scene. The fact that the upside down was stuck in the past could have been conveyed in so many ways but the writers chose to include the Stancy scenes in this means a lot!

8. The BIKE scene with the older teens and younger teens. Gives me goosebumps every time. What an epic shot that was.

9. Steve and Nancy purposefully lurking back while Robin and Eddie go back to the real world first. Almost like they didn’t want to leave each other in case something happened. A comfort thing, I feel.

10. Clinging to one another during the earthquake ! How can I ever forget !!!!

All of this. It’s INSANE that the writers wrote romance scenes for the upside down. Can you imagine that Stancy got them? It’s INSANE. And I loved it. Romance in every dimension baby

[extremelyblackandwhite]

a year in the life | rockstar! s.s.

pairing: rockstar!sebastian stan x writer!reader

main work: i wanna know what love is

season: autumn 🍁

a/n: in celebration of 4 major works of mine turning one this year (my babies, cannot believe it’s been a year) and based on the reboot of gilmore girls, i will be revisiting my works per season. we are starting with autumn and rockstar!seb. hope you enjoy xx

Y/N laid on the big chez lounge couch in the middle of her living room, surrounded by her children’s toys, with a large bowl of Doritos on her lap as the Real Housewives played on the background. For the very first time since forever, she was alone at home; Jess and Marion were at their respective schools while Sebastian was busy in the studio, doing some rearrangements to a new album. She loved the three of them more than anything but she knew that she would’ve never had the chance to eat Doritos without Sebastian complaining it was unhealthy for her or her children trying to take a bite. Lately, all she wants is to lay low, bask in her leave from work and watch some trashy TV. 

As her eyes were getting heavier and heavier with sleep when the front door opened, sending her back into alert mood. Luckily, it wasn’t no one trying to break in but her husband who still couldn’t open doors without making a big ruckus about it. 

     - I’m sorry, bunny. -  he stepped back as he recognised his wife’s sleepy face. - I thought you’d be in the bedroom. 

     - Can’t move. - she pointed at her bulging bump covered by one of his old jumpers which seemed to be the only thing that fully covered her at this particular stage. Sebastian chuckled, walking over to her to quickly kiss her, hand caressing her bump through the jumper. - Didn’t expect you to be home so early.

      - I can see. - he pointed at the bowl of Doritos on her lap. - You’re supposed to be the prudent one. 

    - I’m carrying your offspring. It makes me make bad decisions. - she teased, cuddling against him as he sat by her side, worn out slightly loose black leather jacket still on. - How are the boys?

    - Fighting about who gets to be godfather this time.

    - Did you tell them my brother is gonna be the godfather?

    - Now, where would the fun be in that, bunny? - he smirked, with that boyish like looks he still managed to remain after all these years. 

    - Stop it. - she leaned towards him to kiss him. 

    - How are you feeling today? - his hand mindlessly rubbed her bump, feeling the little moves of the baby whenever the baby moved. - Little one is a bit feisty today.

    - It’s been like this all of last night. I think I might be closer to labour than we think.

    - Why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve driven the kids to school, honey love. 

    - You needed to sleep. - she groaned as she stretched her legs. - Besides, Marion is staying with your mum today so I wanted to spend some time with her before she went. 

    - No kids tonight? - he leaned over to kiss her collarbone. - How long has it been?

    - As long as I’ve been pregnant. - she pushed him away playfully. - Jess is not going. 

    - Why not? Jess loves my mum. Is he sick? Urgh, is the flu going around his class again? We need to put him into a better school, those kids at his school are always s...

    - Seb, stop. - she rolled her eyes, smiling at the same time at how he’d gone from let it be to constant rambling about his children’s wellbeing. - He just wants to be home tonight and he’s been a little sad lately. 

    - You’re sure he’s not sick? Because there’s this private school which tests kids for all those flu things.

    - He’s not sick. He’s just got ... a bit of a lovebug. He got like this when I was last pregnant with Marion. 

    - Well, at least he hasn’t decided that the baby is just not coming. - Sebastian referred to Marion. Their daughter had just decided there was no baby coming around, even after being offered her own bedroom with her own bathroom, just for herself. - I’ll go pick him up, make it a whole thing. Maybe even pass by Al’s ... get you that pasta you really like. 

    - You’re just trying to make me forget that you’re the reason we’re moving houses. 

   - Y/N, this house has always been too small.

   - That’s because you need a whole room for your guitars alone. 

She’d spend the best part of her initial married years trying to convince Sebastian to either get a storage unit to put all his guitars in or to just merge it with his office yet, he’d always come back with an excuse. “Honey love, they need to be displayed”, “Bunny I would just get distracted if they were in my office” he would tell her with his rockstar like charm which she thought was strong enough to resist, yet how can she say no when he immediately shifts from boyish smile to having her pressed against the wall of that very same room, pounding into her as if he was an up and coming rockstar and her his favourite groupie. With the need for that bedroom, their once spacious apartment they bought when she was pregnant with Jess was becoming too small. Normally Y/N would be okay with it but being 8 months pregnant during the fall where it constantly rains in New York, moving seemed like the last thing she’d like to do and just thinking about it made her tired already. After all, she could barely walk to the kitchen without feeling tired or taking a short break in the middle of the path. She thought that after two pregnancies, the third one would be a walk in the park. Turns out it’s more like a run in the park, except the park is on fire and she’s barefoot. 

   - Honey love, asking me to get rid of my guitars is like asking you to get rid of your five copies of Emma.

   - They’re in different languages. - she argued back.

   - They’re different models, besides, we can finally have a guest bedroom. You always wanted a guest bedroom.

   - Sure then maybe my grandfather will come visit more often. How about that? - Sebastian chuckled at her answer. - I’m not joking. You get me pregnant, you get to be annoyed by my grandfather. 

   - You’re acting like this is my fault when you were the one who wore fishnets with a leather skirt. I’m only human. 

   - Fine, 10% my fault, 90% you fault. That’s my final offer.

   - You sure? 

   - Yes. You see, you are a sex maniac who cannot be controlled. 

   - That’s not what you wrote about me. - he smirked. - You said I had more soul than just a sex pot. 

   - Do not quote my own words at me.

   -  You bought my old guitar.

   - Urgh ... - she rolled her eyes. Sebastian grinned, happy he’d won the debate. - Just go make the other mums jealous please.

   - Look at you, using me for my sex appeal only.

   - No. I just really enjoy being the powerful mum. 

   - Yeah? What’s that like?

   - Constant questions about if we do weird sex blood rituals. Then mysterious answers, so they all fear you and don’t force you to attend PTA meetings on date nights. 

   - I gotta say, bunny ... we got this parenting thing covered. 

   - We do.

   - When I come back, you better not have a bowl of Doritos on your belly.

   - I’ll do whatever I want.

   - Sure, bunny, if you walk to the kitchen by yourself ...

   - Low move, Stan. Low.

   - You love me. - he chuckled, grabbing his keys from the trinket dish by the entry door. - See you soon, bunny.

   - Love you. - she scrunched her face in a little smile which he couldn’t help but smile back.

Sebastian liked to pick up Marion and Jess from school. His schedule normally meant Y/N, who had a more 9-5 job, was the one who’d do the drop offs and collections so he’d always meet them at home but whenever he could pick them up, he’d be the first one there. He just loved to see his two babies come out of school in their little uniforms which he incredibly hated when they first enrolled but now couldn’t help but find incredibly adorable. He also loved to see how both his children came out of school. Marion would be the one who’d take the longest, surrounded by all her friends and probably nursing a scrape or two on her knee as if kindergarten 2-3 year old was a big fighting ground while Jess would come out as quickly as he could. 

He parked slightly in front of his son’s school, coming out of the car and leaning against it. The parents’ eyes were immediately on him, maybe it was due to the star power or, most likely, it was because he was wearing a leather jacket, dark shades and his neck tattoo could be seen peaking out the collar of his jacket. His shoes crinkled the fallen leaves on the floor, avoiding those looks as he waited for his son. He knew who he was and he was not going to change it because he became a father, he is a good father, he knows that. The bell rang and a swarm of children came rushing out of the school, and they say birth rates are low. He took his sunglasses off, trying to pin point his son in the middle of all different aged children. 

   -  DAD! - he turned his head to the memorable voice, crutching down as he son rushed to him. Jess wrapped his arms around his father, little childish giggles as Sebastian pulled him off the floor.

   - Hey, buddy. How was school?

   - We did hand turkeys.

   - Hand turkeys? No way, that’s so cool. - he opened up the car’s passenger’s seat, sticking around to check if he fastened his seatbelt correctly before taking the driver’s seat. - It’s just gonna be us three today, bud. You, me and mummy. We getting Al’s and some ice cream. 

   - Why didn’t mummy come?

   - Mummy is very tired, buddy. The baby is kicking a lot, won’t let the baby sleep.

   - Oh ...  - Sebastian saw his son’s face grow sadder.

   - What do you want from Al’s, bud? You can get whatever you want.

   - Really?

   - Yeah.

The little restaurant had soon become a staple in their family life. Sebastian had. discovered by accident after accidentally burning dinner for Y/N’s. He wasn’t already too popular with Y/N’s family so he knew he had to fix it and there it was, the small little restaurant filled with delicious food. Now, it was just a Friday night tradition yet today was special, almost nostalgic to when Y/N, Sebastian and Jess had their first home. Back when Y/N and him were new parents and would trip on every toy in the apartment. God, those were the days. 

  - Dad? - Jess pulled at his sleeve while the two were waiting in the queue. 

  - Yeah, bud? - Sebastian picked him up, already understanding the signs of whenever he wanted to be held. 

  - I ... The baby’s not coming for a while, right? 

  - Why, Jessie? What did Marion say?

  - She didn’t say anything ... uhm, it’s gonna be three of us now. 

  - Yeah. We’re gonna get a new big place, we can even get a dog or a cat. You always wanted a cat, didn’t you? 

  - But, now I’m third.

  - What do you mean? - Sebastian furrowed his brows at the comment.

  - Well, when Marion was a baby you and mummy were always with her but she’s still a baby and now there’s a new baby, so I’m gonna be third. - Sebastian’s heart broke at that comment. Now it made sense. - And ... you’re not home a lot and mummy is gonna be busy with the baby.

  - Hey, you’re not third. - he rubbed his son’s back, kissing the side of his head, soothing him to the best of his ability. - You want me to be home more?

  - No, daddy ... you like doing music. 

  - Hm ... how about you come to the studio with me when you don’t have school?

  - Really? But you said I’m too little. 

  - Well, you’re gonna be a big brother again, I think it’s time.

  - Really?

  - Yeah. - he smiled him, his smile reflecting back at him. 

  - Faye. 

  - What?

  - We should name the baby Faye. 

  - Faye? You want your baby sister to be named Faye?

  - Yes.

  - Well ... Faye it is.

[glitterfairy-21225]

20 Questions for Fic Writers!

This made my fucking week, let's gooooooooooooooooooooo!

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

87, blame The Lucky Ones.

2. What is your total AO3 word count?

741,058. No comment.

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Mostly All of Us Are Dead. I have ideas for other fandoms, but like, I should really update my AoUAD fics.

4. Top 5 fics by kudos?

Losers! Parents! Georgie! (IT) (1,510)

Beating of our Hearts  (The Umbrella Academy) (1,501)

The Power of Friendship (And Being Sort of Siblings But Not Really But Also Kinda) (X-Men/WandaVision) (1,500)

This is fine. I'll be fi- THREE HOURS!?!?! (IT) (1,453)

Twistin' the Night Away (The Umbrella Academy) (1,228)

Gotta love big fandoms...

5. Do you respond to comments?

90% of the time. Sometimes I'll get a comment on an older fic and procrastinate on replying, then forget. Or sometimes they'll ask about updates and I don't know what to say. 😭😭😭

6. What’s the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Take your fucking pick of TLO fics...

(My choice is I Didn't Have It In Myself To Go With Grace ('Cause When I'd Fight You Used To Tell Me I Was Brave) )

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Man, I don't know.

I feel like my early Umbrella Academy fics had pretty happy endings so maybe… Beating of our Hearts or Klaus and Dave’s Fancy Party?

Not to say that I never have happy endings, those just felt the most cheesy-happy.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Pretty much never.

9. Do you write smut?

Oh God. I will be honest and say that in the past I’ve posted two fics of this nature anonymously, and I’ve since orphaned them. Um… yeah, never again. I accept that I mostly don’t have the stomach for it.

10. Do you write crossovers?

I was this close to saying no before I remember my Maximoff twin AU. But even that doesn’t really feel like it counts because canonically, the Marvel multiverse is real, and they technically could meet in canon. It’s not impossible.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

No. Fingers crossed it never happens. 🤞🤞🤞

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

No. Someone did say they wanted to translate Good Luck<3, and I gave permission but I haven’t heard from them since, so either it’s taking awhile or it’s not happening.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic?

Of Apologies and Food Fights: A Glimpse Into the Afterlife with @glowstar826!

14. What’s your all-time favorite ship?

Call me overdramatic but Joon-yeong/Woo-jin from All of Us Are Dead is what taught me what true love is. I’m being serious, no one has touched them.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you will?

Oh God. I’m about to go on a tirade. I’m gonna say Maximoffs of Madness (Emphasis on the Madness) because even though it didn’t do well, it’s the sequel to one of my most popular fics, a fic I ended on a bad ending.

And like, when I lost passion for it, I told myself I’d get it back when Multiverse of Madness came out, which is something I tend to do whenever I lose inspiration. I tell myself it’ll come back whenever the media I’m writing for gets a sequel or a new season. But that method has never worked. And like, I’m still hopeful about my Encanto fics and that one Ghostbusters fic, because I can see myself still liking the premises of those fics if I ever become invested in those franchises again, but honestly, this Maximoff fic is just kind of a mess.

16. What are your writing strengths?

I write emotion really well. Especially if someone is miserable, I’m like, ‘Let’s fucking go.’ I want readers to know exactly where a character is, what they're going through. I don't want to be like, 'They were happy' and then move on. I want to go on for paragraphs about why this specific person with this specific background feels peace from this specific situation.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Setting a mood and keeping it consistent. Like, hate to say it, but sometimes I will be that writer who will tell the joke, even if the scene is better without it, or even if that character would not say that, just because I think it'd be funny.

Oh and also I can't fucking finish the projects I start. 😭😭😭

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language?

I usually have to consult google translate when I do this, since I only speak English. I've seen people write characters talking in different languages by using written English that's in [ ] or ( ), which seems effective. No matter what, I want to portray a culture authentically.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

I still have access to the account I posted it on. I was so close to linking it.

Once Upon a Time. That was my show in middle school. I had gotten into fanfiction the year earlier when I first got into HP, but the Zelena arc inspired me because 👏I👏love👏long👏lost👏sibling👏tropes. The fic was called ‘Sister Power!’ Yes, the exclamation point was a part of the title. It’s still up on Wattpad, if you wanna look it up, search with the username I have now bc I came up with GlitterFairy in the sixth grade. I was like… twelve when I started it. It’s not good.

It’s funny, because I ended it on a cliffhanger, and the cliffhanger was like, ‘But then everyone was distracted by the crazy thing happening on the other side of the battle field’. But I didn’t know what the crazy thing was, I just wanted an excuse to end the fucking chapter, and so I never knew what to write for the next chapter. And then I gave up.

20. Favorite fic you’ve ever written?

I'm gonna say Good Luck<3 because two very specific things are true for it. a) I still think about it all the time, I have not forgotten about it in the time since I've stopped working on it. And b) When I do reflect on it, there are very few things I regret about it. Like, some fics I look back on and to quote Olivia Rodrigo, 'Oh God, what did I say?' and 'I made it weird. I made it worse.'

You see my point.

But not this fic.

Also, it was just such a fun experience the whole way through. I never lost interest or motivation. I was updating consistently. I got a lot of comments and kudos on it, which is always gratifying. And it was always so fun whenever I would start a new episode reaction. The plot points were so simple, people react to what was already in the show, that the plot more or less became character development, which was just so fun, and I'm so glad that that was my first long fic for AoUAD.

tags: @casualscribbler @elisedonut

20 Questions for Fic Writers!

Let’s get this baby started! Thanks for the inspo @gracelesslady23!

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

60 (blame my HP and AoUAD obsession lmao).

2. What is your total AO3 word count?

471,017. That’s…insane.

3. What fandoms do you write for?

At the moment, mostly for All of Us Are Dead. But of course, I can’t forget the whopping majority of HP fics I have! They really defined the beginning of my fanfic-writing journey.

4. Top 5 fics by kudos?

The Filthy Half-Blood Spy (777)

A Meaningful Sacrifice (490)

Albus Potter and the Journey Through Time (481)

The Bravest Man I Ever Knew (277)

My Old Friend, Minerva (267)

As you can see, I really love HP. The second one is AoUAD.

5. Do you respond to comments?

Of course I do! I appreciate everyone who takes the time to leave them.

6. What’s the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Oh, I’ll take a quiet life for sure. It’s a canon divergence of A Meaningful Sacrifice, and hoooo boy, that’s probably the single most saddest thing I have ever written in my life. (Never again, Glow. Never again.)

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Pretty much all of them have happy endings, so if I were to pick a few, then they would probably be The Bravest Man I Ever Knew, A Miracle in the Midst of September, and Come Back to Me.

The second fic is Downton Abbey while the third is AoUAD.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Not really, but when I was writing A Meaningful Sacrifice, I got a lot of spam.

9. Do you write smut?

Not explicitly, no. There was one fic I posted (that I since deleted) which features non-graphic smut between Snape and Lupin. (I deleted it because it was too embarrassing to keep on my profile.)

10. Do you write crossovers?

I have one, Finding My Way Back to You (Again)! It’s a crossover where Oh Joonyeong of AoUAD is a doctor in the 20th Century Girl universe who helps Poong Woonho overcome amnesia sustained in a plane crash.

Other than that, I prefer writing AUs where I put characters from one show into another show’s universe. My Duty After School AU with AoUAD characters, Reluctant Duty, is a great example of this.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Thankfully, I have not.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yup! Albus Potter and the Journey Through Time in Portuguese on Wattpad (which is unfinished, unfortunately).

13. Have you ever co-written a fic?

I have! Of Apologies and Food Fights: A Glimpse Into the Afterlife was an awesome collab with the amazing @glitterfairy-21225!

14. What’s your all-time favorite ship?

Oh Joonyeong/Jang Woojin, for sure. Since February 2022, these boys have been living in my head rent-free. Honorable mentions include Lee Cheongsan/Nam Onjo, Yang Daesu/Seo Hyoryung, and Lee Junho/Woo Youngwoo. The first four ships are from AoUAD, and the fifth is from Extraordinary Attorney Woo.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you will?

Probably Albus Potter and the Journey Through Time, even though it won’t take much longer to finish it. Every time I go back to it, I immediately feel discouraged from writing it because it suddenly seems like too big of an undertaking. However, I will never stop trying!

16. What are your writing strengths?

Dialogue, descriptions, and AU ideas (God knows how many are floating around in my head right now 😭).

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Having too many ideas. I swear, if I could just commit to finishing one project, then I would have way more completed fics.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language?

It would be all fine and dandy if it uses the Roman alphabet (think French, Spanish, German), but if it was a language like Korean or Chinese, then I’d rather write the transliteration since my writing would be targeted towards English readers/speakers. But obviously, I’d try my best to write other cultures authentically.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Though they’re all deleted, I first wrote for Detroit: Become Human. That was what got me into fanfic in the first place because I reasoned that, since the game had 99+ endings, fanfiction was fair game (I really hated fanfic at the time).

20. Favorite fic you’ve ever written?

A Meaningful Sacrifice, hands down. That was probably my single best piece of writing in terms of characterization, setting, worldbuilding, and cohesiveness with the original show. Additionally, I ended up creating two very important OCs which had significant influence in the main character’s life.

Writing that fic inspired a whole lore which is present in my other AoUAD fics like Washed Down the Drain, Us, Withering Under the Sun, and Reluctant Duty. I also gained an awesome friend from it in @glitterfairy-21225, so yeah. One of my best fanfic-writing experiences to date.

On that final note, here’s your tag to do this, @glitterfairy-21225! <3

[thebookreader12345]

750 Followers Celebration - Q&A

Thank you so much for supporting me through this journey! You guys don't know how much this means to me. Every single one of you is amazing.

Below the cut are my answers to the questions that you all submitted.

Q: Do you think Jay is going to become Sergeant this season? A: There has been a lot of debate over this question because of the past few seasons and all of the "Easter eggs", like the sergeant exam poster hanging in the background of the show. In my opinion, I do not believe Jay will become Sergeant. Yet. I think it won't be until the beginning of next season because, if this is a possible storyline, I would expect that the producers and writers would make the finale of season 9 about Voight stepping down/getting promoted, etc.

Q: Did Chicago Justice deserve more episodes? A: I'm sort of split with this question. I loved the fact that there was a big episode involving Kevin, and they always included people from Med, Fire, and PD in some of the episodes. However, the whole plot of the episodes was kind of slow because it wasn't like they were police officers and could go out and chase suspects and arrest people and what not. Their job was just to gather the evidence and then present it in court. I think for many, the show fell flat because there wasn't much action, and part of me does agree with that, but the whole idea of the show itself was kind of cool.

Q: What would make you stop watching each Chicago show? A: This is a tough question because I've only ever dropped one show that I can think of, and it was only because the plotline got really dumb. Maybe if some major characters died in each show I'd stop watching it? But then again, I love the One Chicago universe so much that I don't think even that would stop me from watching. So yeah. I really don't know.

Q: Do you believe in magic? A: As much as I would love for magic to be real, I don't believe it is. But I feel like everyone thinks that way. Cause lets be honest, Harry Potter and Disney make magic look so cool. However, we all know deep down somewhere that it's almost impossible for certain things to be real, and magic just so happens to be one of them.

Q: Are you superstitious? A: I'm not the most superstitious person out there, but I do somewhat follow a few superstitions. Whenever I find a penny on the ground with heads facing up, I pick it up because I believe I'll get good luck. Doing the whole "fingers crossed" thing is something I do a lot. I believe you shouldn't open an umbrella in the house or else you'll receive bad luck. Broken mirrors are bad omens. Those are the top 4 I believe in, but other than that, I'm not really too superstitious.

Q: Is your perception of yourself similar or the same to how others perceive you? A: I mean, I would hope so. I appreciate my level of smarts, and whenever my friends acknowledge them or compliment me on them it makes my day. However, with that, people think that I'm always only doing things to boost my intelligence. For example, I love to read. So whenever I say that I didn't do much over the weekend, people always assume that I read a bunch, when I really didn't. Or that I always study for tests or do homework like a week before it's do. That is not the case. But for the most part, I believe my perception of myself is the same as how other people perceive me.

Q: Who is your favorite couple on each One Chicago show? A: Okay, so for Med, there aren't really any couples at the moment besides Maggie and Ben, whom I love but they aren't my favorite, so I'm gonna pick a past couple. When I first started Med, Manstead was my prime ship, so I'll choose them. Will had been pining after Natalie for so long so I was glad when they finally got together. For Fire, it's gotta be Kelly and Stella. They were literally made for each other, and they support each other with everything. Also, they are so cute together and all of Firehouse 51 ships them as well! And for PD, while I do love Burzek, Upstead is my favorite ship at the moment. I've seen the connection between Hailey and Jay since season 5. You don't understand how angry I was in season 7 when Hailey was so close to confessing her feelings. So season 8 made me very happy when Jay and Hailey finally got together.

Q: Jay and Lindsey or Jay and Hailey? A: I respect everyone's opinions on this matter, so hopefully you all respect mine. I thought that Erin was almost toxic in a way for Jay. She continuously broke his heart when all he wanted to do was help him. But what really does it for me is that she left Chicago without telling him goodbye. Hailey, on the other hand, has pushed Jay to seek out help when he needed it, like when she recommended he take seeing a therapist seriously to help with his PTSD, and she is always there for him, no matter what. That's why I believe Hailey and Jay are the better pairing.

Q: Which character death got to you the most? A: There have been too many sad deaths in the One Chicago world. But if I had to pick one, I've gotta go with Otis on Chicago Fire. Otis was always one of my favorite characters, even way back when I watched Fire with my dad when it was first coming out. He was witty and funny, and his friendship with Cruz was everything. So, when I watched the episode where he died, I was full on balling. I had to pause the episode for 10 minutes because I couldn't stop.

Q: Who is your favorite character on each show and why? A: I'm gonna do favorite male and female character because I've got too many favorites from each show. On Med, my favorites are Will and Natalie. Will has been my favorite since day one, and I like that he will go out of his way to help patients, even if it means he could get in serious trouble. Natalie, even though she's not in the show, always pushes for the best of care for her patients, and whenever she dealt with kids it was always the sweetest thing. On Fire, I like Kelly and Sylvie. Kelly is so headstrong and driven, and he will do anything to protect the other members of Squad 3. Sylvie is such a hard worker and you can tell she is passionate about her job. I feel so bad that she's had to go through so many partners. On PD I love Jay and Hailey. Jay has not always been my favorite male character. Back when I watched the show for the first time, I adored Adam. However, I love that Jay has such good morals and is always pushing to do the right thing even when Voight disagreed. Now, it took a few episodes for me to warm up to Hailey, but after seeing her be so badass, it was hard not to like her.

Q: Where do you get inspiration for your stories?/How do you get inspiration when there's not a request? A: This question is always hard to answer because I really don't know. Most of the time I'm fulfilling requests sent in by you guys and I just write what comes to the top of my mind. If there are requests that are not requested and I come up with them on my own, chances are I saw the plot somewhere else, like in a book or show or movie, and I just tweaked it a bit to fit the One Chicago universe. Either that happens, or while I'm trying to fall asleep, I make up random scenarios in my head, and if I find one that I really like, I'll make a note of it on my phone so I don't forget it, and then I'll write about it.

Q: Do you think Brett and Casey are endgame? Why or why not? A: I'm gonna go with yes on this one. Now, Brettsey is not one of my top ships in the universe. However, they are cute together, and I've been expecting them to get together for a while. The two of them, even when Gabby was around, had a great relationship and always cared for each other. Plus, Matt jumped out of a firetruck to go help Sylvie when the ambulance flipped. He was willing to risk an injury just to make sure she was okay. And now that they are officially together in Chicago Fire, you can see that they really love and care for each other.

Q: What inspired you to start writing? A: I always seem to get this question whenever I do a q&a, but that's okay because I don't mind talking about it. I first got into stuff like this as a reader. Basically, I went on to Wattpad and Tumblr to read other people's stories. I had no intention of creating my own. And then, one day, I started imagining myself in some of the fandoms I was apart of, and I thought, "If I'm imagining myself in these fandoms, chances are others are too," and I began creating stories that followed the plots of movies and shows exactly, just adding Y/n in it. However, that got tiring after a while because I wasn't able to have much freedom because I was following a set script, and that's when I remembered I had a Tumblr account I never used. So, I revamped my account just a little bit and started posting story ideas I had that I couldn't post on Wattpad because either they didn't fit with the stories or they were for someone I didn't write for on Wattpad. And now, here we are. For anyone interested, I've posted this before but I'll post it again, my Wattpad handle is @Writer_Reader05.

Q: Jay or Will Halstead? A: I'm sorry, but I really can't choose between the two of them. I love them both so much. Will and Jay are two of my favorite characters in the whole One Chicago universe. While they do have some qualities that I'm not the fondest of, at the end of the day, I adore the both of them, and I could never choose between them.

Q: Who would you rather date: Jay or Will Halstead? A: Why do you guys do this to me? I love them both so much! But, if I have to choose, I'm gonna pick Jay. The only reason is because I like the characters in PD more than Med, so if I'm dating Jay, chances are I'm friends with Hailey and Adam and all of Intelligence. Will is just as awesome as Jay though and I feel like sometimes people sleep on that.

Q: Which of the requested fics you’ve written is your favorite? A: I think I'm gonna have to go with a Jay Halstead x reader I wrote titled Two Becomes Three. Something about the plot just makes me smile. And to think of Jay being a father......So yeah, while I have so many amazing requested fics thanks to you all, that one has to be one of my favorites.

Q: What’s your favorite series you’ve written so far? A: I love all of the series I have written. Something about creating a whole story that's more than just one part is always fun. If I have to pick one series, I'm gonna pick On the Loose. It was the first series I wrote on Tumblr and the plot of it is something I'm really proud of. However, From the Big Apple to the Windy City, Identity Loss, and Difference of Opinion are all amazing! The first two are finished series and the last one still has a few chapters left to go. Go check them out if you haven't already.

Q: What's your favorite imagine you've come up with and why? A: I don't have a lot of fics that are solely my ideas. Most of my stories have plots that were sent in by you all. However, if I had to pick a favorite out of my stories, it'd be Back Home for Christmas, a Halstead Sister fic I released when I was somewhat new to the platform. Something about writing sibling fics always makes me happy because I get to express the familial side to the characters.

Q: If you had to be roommates with 5 of your mutuals/fellow writers, who would you pick and why? A: I love all of my fellow writers/mutuals so much! I know how much work we put into whatever we post, and most of us are very active on this site. As for who I would pick to be my roommates, I'd choose @hereforhalstead @fighterkimburgess @halsteadlover @resanoona @sylviebrettsey because I feel like we'd all have great conversations, mainly over One Chicago. And every Wednesday night we'd all watch the episodes live together and experience them as a group and then freak out over what happened..........Now watch me fantasize about this all day.

Q: Do you listen to music when you write? A: It depends. On some days when I plan that I'm gonna write, then yes, I do put on some music. When there are days that I have a few minutes to spare, I don't put on music just because I'm only writing for a few minutes and I don't want to waste time. But mostly when I'm writing I do play music in the background.

Q: Do you know how your fics/stories end before you finish writing it? A: This is a really interesting question. The answer is no, I do not know how I'm gonna end a fic before I finish writing it. The only story I had a set ending for was my series On the Loose, but that one wasn't even fully planned out until I got a chapter or two in. Obviously, if I get a request that includes a set ending, like two characters get together or something like that, then I know what the ending will be. Otherwise, I have no clue.

Q: Have you ever met someone who had a very similar personality to your own? Did you get along? A: You know, I can't say that I have. Everyone is different in their own way, and that's what makes us all unique. I would imagine if I did meet someone with a similar personality we'd get along because we'd basically be a carbon copy of each other, but who knows. Maybe our similar personalities would cause us to clash.

Q: Do you hold yourself to higher standards than you hold others? A: Not really. I know myself more than anyone else so I know what my limits are and when I've reached them. With people, on the other hand, I always feel like they can be doing more with themselves and their lives. So I do not hold myself to higher standards than others.

Thank you to all of you who sent in questions! I never thought I'd reach 750 followers on this platform. The only reason I have is all thanks to you wonderful people out there!

@winterberryfox @maximeevansblog @scarletsoldierrr @i-like-sparkly-things @dreamingmanip @soph0864 @ryliegh8 @lorenakaspersen @wanniiieeee @nevertoofarfromivar @securityfriendly-jay @pinkbay-love @stephie123

[cdt12345]

We've been friends many years but I've never thought to ask; Top 10 gay OTPs?

1.) Ian & Mickey (Gallavich) - Shameless us

What can I say about these two that we haven’t already said about them?! They are my absolute all-time favorite couple ever! Gay or straight. They perfectly complement each other, they love each other on a level I feel like I’ve never seen before (and I have watched a lot of tv/movies), they’re like a comedy duo, they support each other, understand each other better than anyone else ever will, they fell in love as kids, they bring out the best in each other, and they’re each other's best friend. I’m a sucker for opposites attract, who are also best friends. Gallavich really fits that bill. I wish they didn’t have to struggle so much to get their happiness, but I’m happy they finally got it. When they got married, it felt like the biggest victory ever! We went through those years of struggle with them, rooted for them, mourned for them when John Wells let Noel go after season 5. So much has tried to keep these two apart, even real-life circumstances tried to keep them apart. The chemistry between these two characters and between Cameron and Noel was so powerful, they were brought back to the show. That kind of thing doesn’t happen very often. When an actor leaves a show, they don’t usually come back as a series regular, let alone two actors who have already left the show. It felt like a miracle! I will never forget getting the news that Noel was coming back from you @luckyshazmrsmonaghansblog I was crying with happiness bc we wanted this for so long and I never believed we would get to see both Cameron and Noel back on the show. Or that they would get their happy ending outside of a jail cell. Especially after Cameron left the show in season 9. With their return we got a wedding, an entire season of them as a married couple, we got to see them dance with each other twice, we got them singing together, we got to see them start a lucrative business together, we got to see them free and happier than we’ve ever seen them before, and we got to see Terry get what he deserved after putting them through hell. We are only halfway through season 11, but I already feel so fulfilled with this extra time with gallavich that we were never supposed to have. JW tried to take that away from us. I will never understand why, but he failed. I am not surprised this is the one I wrote the most about. I can go on and on about gallavich!

2.) David and Patrick - Schitt’s Creek

This was everything I ever wanted to see onscreen, where there was zero homophobia. The pansexual character didn’t need to have a big coming out or tell everyone in the town of his sexual orientation, except his best friend. The gay character had a coming out with parents who loved and accepted him for who he is and was only upset that he felt he couldn’t tell them sooner. I dreamt of a day where I could see this kind of representation onscreen. The casual treatment of their sexuality was so refreshing and something I’ve been waiting for. There is no darkness or huge struggle they had to overcome to be together or a sad ending for them. They were allowed to be together without the major conflicts most LGBTQ characters have to go through. Once David made the first move Patrick was comfortable allowing himself to fall for David and start a relationship with him. He was so sure of his feelings for David after that first kiss, he never looked back and I loved that. They had such an adorable love story. Truly one I have been waiting to see for so long between two LGBTQ characters. They made me smile every time they were on screen. They are another of my OTPs that are exact opposites who complement each other perfectly. Patrick was welcomed into David’s family and blended in with them so well, even when he and David had very different upbringings. Patrick serenading David with Tina Turner and then Mariah Carey at their wedding is one of the most romantic things I have ever seen!

3.) Holt and Kevin - Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Captain Holt and Kevin are strange men on their own but together they are the perfect pair. They get each other in a way no one else does. The best part is their adorable fur baby, Cheddar! They seriously make the cutest family! I was so nervous when they went through a rough patch for a while because I didn’t want them to split up. Thankfully, they made it through and are still going strong!

4.) Will and Vince - Will & Grace

On the show's first run, Will and Vince were in a serious relationship and Vince was Will’s longest relationship on the show. They broke up a few times but were together by the series finale. The two reunite during the funeral of Will's father. There was a time jump on the series finale. Though I didn’t love everything about the last episode, I did love the fact that Will and Vince had been together for 20 years and raised a son together, who was conceived through in vitro fertilization with a surrogate. After the time jump, nearly twenty years later, their son goes to college and meets Grace's daughter, whom he would eventually marry. Though I wasn’t happy with the fact that Will and Grace didn’t stay close over the years, it did allow for their kids to one day meet, fall in love, and get married. I did like that outcome out of the finale. My family and I used to watch the original show, but we refused to accept or watch the 2017 revival because they completely changed everything from the original series finale. The second I found out they were changing everything; I knew I couldn’t watch it. They even wiped the existence of their kids from the first series finale. The revival was an attempt to cash in on the reboot craze and I wasn’t happy about that already, but even more so when they were going to break up one of my OTPs for easy money. Bobby Cannavale, who played Vince, has become even more famous since starring in Will & Grace. So, I already figured he wouldn’t be back for the show as a regular, but I know he did guest star. I won’t accept the revival and to me, Will and Vince stayed together, and their son married Grace’s daughter. THE END!

5.) Albert and Armand - The Birdcage

Miss Albert and Armand were the earliest gay couple I remember ever watching onscreen when I was eight years old. I have watched this movie more than I can count over the years. It is a family favorite that we quote often. Their son is planning to marry a girl whose father is in politics and is very conservative. They have to hide the fact that he has two gay fathers for one night, but everything goes awry, and comedy ensues. Nathan Lane and Robin Williams give a wonderful performance without resorting to using the stereotypes that are often used on gay characters, especially back then. It’s a classic!

6.) Stefon and Seth - Saturday Night Live

Okay, hear me out on this one! They’re not the most conventional OTPs on my list, but I really do love them so much! Stefon started doing a correspondent segment on Weekend Update on SNL. The first time Stefon came on, he flirted with Seth Meyers. The second he did I was like ooh they would make a cute couple! Stefon the wild party guy and Seth the serious news anchor. It was a match made in heaven for me. Before Seth Meyers left SNL to do Late Night with Seth Meyers, Bill Hader came back to play Stefon for Seth’s last episode. I didn’t expect what happened next to happen at all! They gave Seth and Stefon the ending that I haven’t even gotten from some actual scripted shows. I never expected Stefon and Seth to have this big ending, but I could not be happier that they did. I’m posting the link to the six-minute skit/ending and I hope it works. It’s worth watching. Though the video says it’s Stefon’s farewell it was really Seth’s farewell episode.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj-wYWMdWNk

7.) Mr. Simmons and Peter - Hey Arnold!

Anyone who grew up watching this show already knew that Mr. Simmons, Arnold’s teacher, was probably gay. It was hinted at in the Thanksgiving episode. Arnold and Helga visit Mr. Simmons on Thanksgiving at his house and his family and “friend” Peter are there. Mr. Simmons mother says she didn’t know Peter was coming to dinner and Peter responds with the infamous line “There’s a lot of things you don’t know.” When Mr. Simmons mom tries to get him to take a woman friend to the ballet, he says he loves the ballet and Peter gives him a disapproving look and Mr. Simmons immediately declines. Those were enough hints for us fans to decide Peter was his boyfriend. Years later, the show's creator Craig Bartlett finally confirmed Mr. Simmons is gay and had them together in the 2017 Hey Arnold: The Jungle Movie. It was so exciting to finally get the confirmation years later, even though I was already certain of it for many years. I was happy that the cartoon no longer had to settle with vague hints about it.

8.) Callie and Arizona - Grey’s Anatomy

I was very happy to see a lesbian couple on prime time tv and I really liked both characters. I was excited to root for them but sadly as most couples on this show, their relationship took a turn, and I wasn’t thrilled about it. I was disappointed that it came to an end. By then I was already getting tired of watching the show. It was starting to feel like a chore to watch it every week. I tried to stick it out because I don’t like to give up on shows in the middle of it, but I just couldn’t do it anymore. I’m glad I did though because the shocking events with Derek Shepard, is something I’m glad I wasn’t around for. Anyway, I heard things between Callie and Arizona got even worse, so I was even happier I left when I did.

9.) Sherwin and Jonathan - In a Heartbeat

This was one of the cutest things I have ever seen! I wish this got the full-length movie treatment instead of a short film. But it was still a step in the right direction for the LGBTQ community. Gay characters in cartoons always bring me such joy and that was the focus of this short. A boy with a crush on another boy with a cute ending. What is not to love?!

10.) Mitch and Cam - Modern Family

Another show I had to give up on in the middle of the series. The show began to be less funny and more annoying to me. Another reason, that really has nothing to do with the show itself, that used to annoy me was that this show repeatedly beat out Parks and Recreation during award season. Parks and Recreation is a superior show when compared to Modern Family. This show won almost every year for years and it got really annoying especially when the quality of the show started slipping and they kept winning. After a few years, they finally stopped winning all the time. But before all that, I was a fan of Cam and Mitch. They were a great couple who I loved watching on the show. They were the best part of the show most of the time. But sadly, my annoyance of the show no longer being as funny as it used to be, was enough for me to stop watching.

[queerchoicesblog]

Epilogue: Underwater (SC Titanic, Zetta x Adele Series)

As promised, here the epilogue of the Zetta x Adele Series, folks. 

This is the very end of a project that meant me quite a lot to me and got me through the last terrible year. Thanks to all those who supported it: hope you enjoyed it and will enjoy this ending.

In case you were wondering, this song inspired the whole series, particularly the last chapters:

I will skip the tag list for once since it’s pointless anyway. 

➡️ Ch. 1, Ch. 2/1, Ch. 2/2, Ch. 3, Ch. 4, Ch. 5, Ch. 6, Ch. 7, Ch. 8/1, Ch. 8/2, Ch. 9, Ch. 10/1, Ch. 10/2, Ch. 11/1, Ch. 11/2, Ch. 12, Ch. 13, Ch. 14, Ch. 15 , Ch. 16, Ch. 17

_________________________

Almost a century after the sinking of the RMS Titanic and to celebrate Canada becoming the first country outside Europe to legalise same-sex marriage, the Canadian Film Institute decided to work side by side with several LGBTQ+ organisations across the world to put together an exhibition focused on the early queer cinema and the many queer stars who were forced to hide their true selves in the Golden Age of cinematography, spanning from 1890s till the aftermath of Second World War. "A testament to the role the LGBTQ+ community played in the history of cinema and that we have always been here, even if people hardly saw us" as a journalist wrote on a queer magazine. After the recent discovery of some private documents, the curators were overjoyed to include an icon of the 1900s - 1910s cinema like Zetta Serda into the retrospective and cast a new light on her extraordinary career sadly soon forgotten after the advent of the sound era. Yet, the silent picture star was mentioned as a model and 'endless source of inspiration" by many queer movie stars like Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, Greta Garbo all part of the retrospective. Rumor has it that as soon as she landed in America, Marlene Dietrich demanded his agent a meeting with Mrs King.

A curator drove all the way to Montreal to meet the last known heir, a certain Mrs. Julia Nowak, who greeted him on the threshold of a cosy downtown apartment. She offered him a coffee and a slice of a Polish sweet bread: the recipe was a family heirloom, she explained, beaming. She was in her late fifties, a therapist, she said. Her hazel eyes gleamed when she added, in a pleasantly soothing voice that betrayed a hint of excitement: "I must confess I am so incredibly happy that you contacted me about the retrospective. I adore the idea and I will make sure to attend it. Also" she nodded to a wedding picture hung to the wall "did you know that my wife is in politics? She campaigned for the legalisation...yes, Madeleine Fournier: see, you know her! We got married right after the law passed. If anything, your call and project made me twice as happy". She took a pause, smiling over her coffee in remembrance. "Anyway, back to the matter of your visit...yes, as far as I know, I am Zetta's last heir. As you probably know, my family wasn't officially related to her but she stated otherwise in her will". She moved to the couch and gestured the curator to follow her as she opened up one of the boxes and chests piled into the living room and picked out an old album, the leather cover worn at the edges. Dust waltzed in the air as she opened it with caution and gentle care. She showed him a slightly discoloured black and white picture of a young couple kissing for the camera in front of a church. Another wedding picture, from a different era. "Nana Hileni and Papa Maciej's wedding picture. I still remember them even if they both died when I was barely a teen...as if one couldn't bear to live without the other. Or so I like to think. She would help me with the homework, mathematics particularly, and he baked this bread for me till he was too weak to do so. He always claimed that he won Nana's heart with his pastries but she always denied it laughing". She passed another picture of the same couple proudly standing in front of the Nowak family bakery in Hoboken. "Frankly, I believe that Papa's broad shoulders and Marlon Brando smile are more likely to blame for this coup de foudre" she laughed. "And he knew how to deal with her no-nonsense attitude and vice versa. They...balanced each other, if you wish". She picked another picture and handed it to him. A woman was looking down in tender adoration and awe to a baby nestled in her arms looking up at her, outstretching a tiny arm in an attempt to touch her face. "There! This is Dad" she pointed at the baby before turning the picture where someone wrote 'Alex meets Auntie Adele'. Turning it again, she pointed at the woman. "This is Adele Carrem. Or Auntie Adele as I've always heard calling her. Nana's sister and Zetta's publicist and companion" Putting it back into the album, she carefully picked a bunch of other old pictures. "You surely know who this one is" she smiled, handing out the one on top. The photo was rather grainy but you could still recognise the same kid, slightly older, around two, sucking his thumb, cuddled up in Zetta's lap. The actress had aged a little but her features were unmistakable and it was endearing to see her sitting by the fireplace to read that kid with the sleepy face a bedtime story. "Sadly, I have never met them. I wish I did, oh you have no idea...but stories of them lived through in our family" Julia continued. "My Dad loved his Aunties - as he called them - dearly and by what I've heard and read, they loved him in manner as if he was their own. He knew little of them or Zetta's career back then...to him they were just the sweet ladies who would buy him ice-cream in Central Park or take him to see his favourite pictures over and over again at the movie theater. He said he will never forget the afternoons he used to spend with them in a Manhattan cafe that no longer exists around Christmas: Nana and Papa worked like crazy as the festive season approached and the glorious cup of hot chocolate with an elegant puff of cream on top with the Aunties became a tradition to him. He kept it alive somehow as he did the same with me". She handed the curator a bunch of other pictures: Zetta cleaning up Alex's face smeared with jam, the both of them laughing; Zetta posing with Maciej and her Dad at a table in the Hoboken bakery. He eventually mirrored her smile seeing a five years old Alex at the beach all engrossed in building a sandcastle with Hileni and Adele, and he standing at the water edge hand in hand with Miss Carrem, looking out into the distance. "These are family pictures. I'll show you the Zetta's private memorabilia we cherished". Julia searched a little, opening an old chest and handling every item inside with tender care. When she found what she was looking for, she showed the curator an elegant set of smaller boxes containing letters, dried flowers and photos. "I have already received an offer to get these published. I'm still pondering it. Before agreeing, I want to consider throughly if this is a thing they would have wanted, even if they're no longer here" The curator nodded as she kept searching. He skimmed a few letters and smiled as his eyes fall on the photos hidden away in those boxes: the two women sitting together and chatting at Hileni's wedding, Zetta's reading a script, lazily sprawled on a chaise long in her apartment. Some had short lines handwritten on the back, like a promotional picture with "Missing you" written by Zetta herself. The curator showed another to Mrs Nowak: a visibly excited Miss Carrem proudly showing to the camera a document announcing her voter registration. On the back, in Zetta's penmanship: "On the way to vote...my sweet Adele won!". "Oh you didn't know? Auntie Adele was a suffragette! I couldn't believe it when I first heard it! Nana told me that she was in and out jail when they lived in London because of protests. You know, like those suffragettes you read about in history books but less famous. Yet she fought for women's rights and kept fighting for them even in America. She was quite disappointed though by some major decisions of some feminist movements and eventually joined a socialist Union 'more rightfully welcoming working class individuals, immigrants and black brothers and sisters'. It's all in those letters but yeah, you couldn't possibly know. So little is known about her outside family". A little smile drew on her face as she put back the photo. "That photo was taken the day of the first election open to women. I checked the date. I suppose Zetta wanted to immortalise the moment...it was sweet of her, huh? Auntie Adele must have been so proud and overjoyed that day! You know, my Dad was born in 1920 when women's right to vote was legalised nationally and Nana once told me that Auntie commented the lucky coincidence saying she was incredibly happy her nephew would get to live in a fairer world. She was a true force of nature...she never talked much of the sinking of the Titanic just like Zetta and Nana actually but when one day Dad asked...he was barely a child and probably found an old article about the tragedy...Auntie Adele minimised but Nana assured him that her sister saved her life that night, risking her own to go down to the belly of the sinking ship to bring her to safety. Auntie simply shrugged, saying that it was what sisters do and that they made it to the lifeboats only thanks to Zetta, who shouted protests to stubborn officers and eventually found them a spot on a boat. I cannot even bring myself to imagine how scary that must have been: I cried so much when Madeleine took me to see Leo and Kate...to think they were there and it was all real!" She picked a few other objects out the box: a Shakespeare Sonnets book in a leather cover with golden engravings, with a little handwritten dedication 'To Adele, my sonnet 116. Happy birthday! With all my love, Zetta'; old scripts with annotations, a framed photograph of Adele and Zetta slow dancing barefoot in the living room of a gorgeous Long Island mansion. "These have a sentimental value" Mrs Nowak noted, her voice betraying the flicker of emotions as she picked it up. She took a deep sigh and continued. "I remember the day I told Dad I was gay as it was yesterday. We had always been quite close so it came natural to tell him first. We were in his car, he had come straight from college to pick me up at ice-skating practice. I..I dropped it in the middle of a conversation, bracing myself for the worst. I heard so many bad stories about coming out to your parents I was terrified of the consequences but I couldn't hide it anymore. I mean, yes, in public: bullies get even nastier if they know and I didn't want people shouting me "dyke" at school. But I needed to get it out of my chest...with someone at least. He kept quiet for a moment and I felt like drowning in shame. But then he spoke". A nostalgic tender smile formed Julia's lips. "He said he had two amazing Aunties that contributed to make his life a wondrous adventure. It was thanks to them that he, the son of a baker, could attend a prestigious college, for instance: they offered to pay for it without asking a penny back. They also helped him write his first romantic letter to his childhood sweetheart and consoled him when the little girl turned him down. But his Aunties had a secret, he added. He said: to my kid eyes they were no less a couple than Mom and Dad and at home we all treated them in manner but one day Mom made me promise to behave differently when we were in public. In public I would refer to her sister as 'Auntie Adele' but call Zetta by her name. He didn't get it and it took some getting used to. He soon noticed that even the Aunties behaved a bit differently out in the sun: they wouldn't hold hands or use endearing words in the street or when other people were around. They simply behaved like good friends did. He understood it later when he, as stubborn as a mule, asked them directly". Julia gently grazed her fingers on the glass of the framed photograph, caressing it. "And they told me everything, he said. That they were in love, just like mom and dad were, but people out there could be uncomfortable and extremely rude to women loving other women and men loving other men. That they kept their companionship a secret in public because those people had no problems with women being friends and they didn't want to have bad words or worse happening to them. I remember asking him what he thought about it. He smiled. 'I cried. Since Auntie Zetta mentioned people claiming that women like them were sick and would burn in hell, I actually started crying. I sobbed desperately in her arms, crying that I didn't want them to burn in hell, I loved my Aunties and I was happy they loved each other. Eventually they explained me it was just a vile lie spread my malignant people. But I got quite a scare and kept staring at them with puffy red eyes and my face wet with tears for a while. It required lots of cuddling to bring a smile back on my face'. He shook his head, laughing of his endearing naivety. Then he pulled over and looked at me. He continued: 'I still don't get why people keep spreading those mean lies but I know for sure that my Aunties weren't sick and didn't end up in hell and so won't you. Don't believe bullshits like that for a split second, okay? And I also want you to remember that it doesn't change a thing for me and mom too. You will always be my little girl, our little girl and we love you'. We shared a long hug before driving back home. On the way back he insisted to buy my favourite chicken and waffles for dinner, saying mom's veggie soup could wait. For my birthday, a month later or so, he asked me to follow him to the attic and showed me this chest. To meet the Aunties that 'would have surely been there for me'". She tipped away a tear. "I told you I married Madeleine right after the legalisation of same-sex marriages. My wedding was also the last public event Mom and Dad attended together before his health worsened irremediably. He passed away last year". For a moment she looked on the verge of tears but she recovered quickly. "Sorry...anyway, that day Dad insisted on walking me down the aisle even if he was getting weak. He beamed with pride when a friend fixed a rainbow ribbon to his jacket. Later at the lunch he read a speech he had written for the day, his hand shaking. He shared the story of his Aunties. He said that despite the hardships their situation forced upon them, they had quite a happy life together, a happiness carefully hidden from the world. He wished us to find something similar to what they shared without needing to hide anymore. He said Adele and Zetta would have been so happy and proud to celebrate with all of us that day" Mrs. Nowak picked the Shakespeare Sonnet book and gave him a fond look. "He brought this to the wedding. And he read for us the sonnet 116, the one Zetta mentioned in her dedication. You know, the one that starts with 'Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments..." ----------------------- A few months later the exhibition on old Hollywood queer cinema and artists opened. Each artist had a room that soon filled with a crowd of enthusiastic visitors. In the first half, in a room arranged as a turn of the century nickelodeon with velvet chairs, all the memorabilia of Zetta Serda's public life: panels explaining the various stages of her career and the birth of her myth, promotional pictures of her performances, articles about her and a copy of a gazette announcing her wedding with the director Richard King. On the wall, on a screen her entire filmography rolled up in loop, bewitching spectators after a century. In display cases: the gorgeous sapphire necklace she wore on her last night on the Ship of Dreams and at the movie party of Surviving the Titanic, and a replica of her Cleopatra costume. The aging Queen of Egypt with a tragic love and destiny immortalised by Shakespeare was her last role back on the theater stage before retiring from the scenes. Old scripts with her personal annotation were displayed with photographs taken on sets and mundane events. The wall hosting the motion-picture screen cut the room in half. On the other side, the hidden half of her life. Her life with Adele no one suspected back then. A life kept secret that now unveiled in front of the eyes of the visitors. The curators discovered that finding public pictures of Miss Carrem was nearly impossible, true to the nickname she acquired as time went by: The Shadow. She stayed at Zetta's side until and even after she stopped acting, showing rare loyalty and devotion, but ever surrounded by this mystery allure. No one, even the most stubborn reporters managed to know anything about her and she was soon dismissed as a Titanic survivor, possibly a fan, who worked as Zetta's secretary and somehow gained her respect. Little they knew about the depth of their relationship and what stacks of secret letters and family memories revealed of the life of Miss Carrem. A panel finally told her story and her secret achievements: Adele, or better Adal, kept fighting for a fairer world and society her whole life and marched for women's right to vote on the famous parade in 1915. She also passed the teaching of Edith Garrud to her American sisters. The only pictures of her came from the Nowak family, except for one. The only photograph of a public appearance of Miss Carrem as well as the only known public appearance of Zetta and Adele. An old grainy photo accurately framed showed Adele shaking hands with The Unsinkable Molly Brown on a podium. In her free hand a shiny medal and a few steps behind the mayor of New York. According to the panel, the survivors' committee founded by Mrs. Brown decided to award Miss Carrem a medal for bravery and a generous check "to help her and her sister starting a new life in America". With great surprise, Miss Carrem received the medal and the check, thanked the board but refused the honors. Instead, she asked to deliver them both to the family of a certain Charlie Stoke, a stewart that lost his life in the sinking to save her life and those of many passengers. She added that her friend expressed the desire to study naval engineering one day and she wished that the money kindly offered to her would be enough to establish a scholarship for boys like him across the ocean. In another picture, Miss Carrem and her sister chatted with Moll Brown in company of Zetta. Eventually, other philanthropists and wealthy socialites signed checks for her cause so that the Stoke family received a generous contribution too. And today, as another picture confirmed, the faculty of naval engineering of the University of Newcastle hosts a marble engraving of Charlie Stoke: to his memory a scholarship had been instituted one year after on the anniversary of the sinking. Since 1913 it has been helping students of poor background to get an education and improve their life. Zetta herself became a philanthropist during her Renaissance and ever since. The first act of her new phase of her life was joining the Moll Brown survivors committee to provide help to the second and third class passengers families and survivors. Some said that the tragedy she witnessed touched her heart, other claimed that it was to be attributed to the influence of her publicist. Jokingly, she used to say that after all, she had too much money yet all she could have wished for in her life, so why not doing some good with it? A considerable donation under her and Mr King was received by the main hospital during the Spanish flu pandemic; she was particularly active in providing financial help to struggling neighbourhoods and female education institutions. In the middle of the room, a long glass display hosted the Shakespeare Sonnets opened at sonnet 116 and a selection of the private correspondence between Zetta and Adele. My darling, You will receive this letter tomorrow morning when I'll be already off to Chicago. The suitcases are ready and packed, this is a goodnight note scribbled the night before leaving you to remind you how much I love you and care about you. How much I'm going to miss you even if - thank God! - we won't be parted for long... Do not forget you promised me to write every day! Write to me, Adele, write to me whatever thought crosses that gorgeous mind of you: you know I could you rambling for hours without getting tired of the sound of your voice, of your sparkling wisdom. I wanna know everything. So don't be shy: I'll be waiting your letters with tender impatience. Can't wait to be in your arms once more. Adoringly yours, Zetta - Dear, dearest Zetta, I went to Central Park today with Hileni. It was a gorgeous spring day, sunny, a gentle breeze blowing: 'simply too beautiful to be wasted inside' as my sister put it. Did I tell you that she's still exchanging letters with the delivery boy from the hat shop? I thought they were over but apparently he invited her to the nickelodeon next week. Anyway, walking in the park with her I suddenly realised how I wanted to share that spring wonder with you. When are you coming back to New York? Tell me soon, please. And even 'soon' won't be soon enough: you're always on my mind since you left. But yes, tell me soon so I can make you promise we will go for a walk before the weather becomes too hot. Do you think I can wrap my arm with yours? Is it professional enough for a publicist? Even just for a few steps: oh you have no idea how I would love that! Or maybe you have? I hope so: it'd mean you miss me as much as I miss you when we are apart. Oh, I almost forgot: all settled with that magazine you mentioned before your departure! I negotiated a two pages long interview, plus pictures. And a cover mention. Hope I did well: you have already fired me as your secretary, I must prove you I am just what you're looking for in a publicist... Can't wait to see you again! Loving you always, Adele Only one letter was copied on a panel of its own on the main wall side by side with a blow-up of the picture of Adele and Zetta slow-dancing barefoot and free, for a blessed moment immortalised in a discreet shot. Adele pressing a tender kiss on Zetta's forehead, drawing a soft smile on the acrtress' lips. Many visitors commented it was heartwarming to see such a photograph that conveyed the intimacy and the warmth of affection radiating from the dancing couple. Some said that Zetta was even more beautiful like that: free, hair slightly askew and genuinely happy, loved. What stole their hearts away though was the letter attached to it. It was no surprise that the curators decided to name the retrospective Underwater. Dearest Adele, Forgive me for the tone of this letter. I am writing it down in bed while I cannot sleep and my mind runs back to you as if we could meet halfway between the miles separating us, in a world of fantasy of our own. It's ridiculous how much I miss you! I want you near, I need you near all the time. Take tonight: if you were here with me, I would be heavenly sleeping in your loving embrace. Most unfortunately, you are not and I'm lying here, insomniac, thinking of you. And about my life. No, don't frown. I am not getting all sad again. It's...bittersweet. And - I'll spoil you the ending so you will stop worrying, hopefully - it gets better the more you proceed. Have you ever felt trapped underwater? I did, my whole life. Always hiding, always measuring words, gestures, gazes not to let them see, not to let them know...so little time to go up and break the surface. Drop the mask and breathe. In, out. Once, twice. In my lowest moments I repeated to my myself: how are you gonna survive? One day an acquaintance with a remarkable passion for the sea explained me and the other bored commensals that you can keep someone alive by breathing oxygen into their mouth underwater. Pretty much like mouth-to-mouth resuscitation helps an unconscious person to regain consciousness. I found it interesting but doubted his words. Then I met you, Adele. My dearest, wondrous Adele. And I learnt that yes, you can't breathe if you're constantly underwater...but you won't drown if you have the right person swimming by your side in those deep waters. Put your lips on me, Adele. Touch me, hold me in your arms. And I can live underwater. With your love, I can live underwater. We can live underwater. I love you. I want to cover a full page of these three simple words: I love you. I want to cry them out and entrust them to the winds, to the night. But what for? Who cares if the world knows or not? I'll whisper them over your lips when we will be reunited. So you can breathe underwater. Counting down the hours separating us, my love. Eternally yours, Zetta

[an0nymousghost]

simblr asks v2

here are my answers! find the questions here.

i wrote soo much ahaha. like however much you think i wrote, i wrote more than that. imo everything i write is gold though

1. are you going to buy the new pack (cottage living) when it comes out? no, it looks really nice but i legit never ever buy packs at launch, especially cause this one is a expansion and it will probably go on sale at some point

2. do you p*rate your dlc or buy it legitimately? buy it legitimately 👌

3. what’s your favorite world? brindleton bay, it gives like seaside cottage vibes. willow creek is good but it’s boring. 

4. if you use a queue, how many posts per day do you set it as? 3 or 4. i used to do like 12 lmaoo what even was wrong with me

5. do you watch sims on youtube? yes, i watch mainly malixa, oshinsims, and msgryphi

6. what are your thoughts on the most recent pack? (dream home decorator) those sectional couches look good! but honestly im kinda annoyed because now it’s even harder to have all the items filled in when i place lots from the gallery. like i’m just saying like a lot of builds will use that pack probably and if i don’t get it then i can’t really use builds/save files 

7. how many packs/kits do you own? lemme count

expansion: all - 10/10 game: 5/10 stuff: 9/18 kits: none xo

24/38 - 63%

8. what’s your origin id? is it the same as your url? 🤗 it’s in my title, it’s celeschul. it doesn’t look that nice in my title but i use celeschul in my package files and i’m guessing people search things like, “celeschul penny hair” or something like that in order to find my cc- so i keep it in there so the search results are easier. i do want to change it though..

but no it’s also not the same! well i mean it’s the username i use for cc. my origin id used to be an0nymousghost but i changed it. i wonder if anyone’s taken that one?

9. is your simblr your sideblog or main blog? main blog ✌️ my old blog @stardze​ is a main blog as well.

my old old simblr was a sideblog but it had like 1 follower and it literally a bot so i don’t think that counts. i have a multifandom sideblog though 

10. do you have a cc finds blog? i wish. i was thinking bout it earlier and that would be sooo neat but sometimes i download stuff that doesn’t have a tumblr post attached to it, and also it’s stressful to keep up with so nah

11. are you wcif friendly? yes sir. in fact i bring the trouble of wcifs onto myself but doing them even when nobody asked.

12. what’s your favorite sized household to play with? (ex. 1 sim, 4 sims) gonna have to think on this one, honestly 1 sim is really fun and stuff goes by so fast. doing stuff with astrid when she was on her own, it was much more efficient. 

for families, i haven’t done that in a while actually. 5, 2 parents and 3 kids is cute tho. why did i write this this is honestly such a hard question

13. if you have c&d, do you play with pets? i feel like i haven’t played with cats and dogs in forever. honestly i just have no paitence. noelle fae was supposed to get a cat (there’s a food bowl + cat bed in her house) but when summer vacation started, the amount of time i spent playing ts4 decreased a lot. (this doesn’t really make sense, i have a lot more time. honestly it just has to do with my recent obsession with a certain anime/manga and some other personal thing)

i did random nightmares in may though and i had pets frequently. g5 didn’t because sofia scarlett lived in an apartment, but g2/3/4 had cici, and g1 had all the cats. but that was back in march so it’s been a while.

14. what lifespan do you use? i really want to do aging off but then i feel like it drags on. but aging legit stresses me out, sometimes i just want to sit down and do some cas stuff but i only have 2 hours in real time and there’s like 4 days left till one of my sims’ birthdays. 

15. if you own a lot of packs, how many of them have you actually played through? just so everyone is aware this question was made for me

i feel like eps require a specific save made for testing them out, but the only save i’ve ever made for an ep is noelle fae’s get famous save. 

that is literally a lie - i made a save for island living with one of my 100bc kids, maisie acapella. i did actually post it on tumblr BUT then i deleted all the posts BUT i reblogged them on my alt account BUT i privated my alt account so i honestly forgot about it

i have never played through discover university or watched anyone do it on youtube, i’ve read gerbits’ story about it so i think i’m pretty qualified. i’ve always wanted to do one with periwinkle acapella but i never got around to it

another ep i know nothing about is get to work

i tried doing a eco life playthrough but i hadn’t watched any videos and i was like..what is going on. so i quit lolx d ;;;;; i mentioned it but the whimsy stories legacy was the first time i had played with the eco lifestyle features so technically i think i know what im doing

i got outdoor retreat literally on monday of this week so i haven’t played through it yet. 

jungle adventure i still don’t know what’s going on. i remember last year before i bought the pack i was brainstorming, and wanted to do a ja playthrough with luna and cedar, who are a couple who i did a random legacy with and it was all queued to post when i deleted everything (if you’re wondering why, it’s because my queue was literally 200+ posts). except this time i didn’t save them to my sideblog so i lost them. 

i still havent had a restaurant in dine out 

also never did the vet thing from cats and dogs

i have no idea what that rock climbing thing is from snowy escape but i did most of the other stuff because rn g5

city living i did through psc stage 5 and also it was the first pack i bought anyways

the rest of them are either stuff packs or i ended up playing them through casual gameplay (seasons, parenthood)

16. what do you do as you play sims? (ex. listen to music) i listen to music most of the time, or listen to commentary youtube videos because i am an alpha chad. i also used to talk with my friends on voice call but i don’t do that anymore 🥲

17. which sims challenges have you tried? random legacy, whimsy stories, perfect sim challenge, 100 baby, legacy (just the plain get-to-10-gens one), random nightmares, berry zodiac, astrology legacy, apocalypse

i feel like im forgetting some.. honestly most of the stuff i did before simblr was either 100 baby (i love that challenge) or random saves that lasted for 2 seconds. 

18. do you like the new(ish) hair swatches? nah. 

i do appreciate that most cc hairs have a true (ish) black, thank god! and the fact that the hair update is what inspired me to update and fix a bunch of hairs with different issues is pretty nice. but will i use them? no. 

plus it takes up like 5 gb? depending on how many packs you have.

19. post the latest screenshot you took 📸

i live in cas

20. what is the cc/ingame hair that looks the most like your own? i think that dream home decorator side part hair looks a lot like my hair. honestly i havent see much like my hair but that one is kinda-? close

21. who is your favorite sim of yours and what is their story? noelle and alari fae i think! 

link to post

noelle is blonde and has blue-grey eyes. she wears purple contacts pretty often though (because she wants to 😌)

alari has light brown hair that is kinda curly, and she’s got pretty vibrant blue eyes. 

they’re sisters, alari is 3 years older than noelle. noelle was 19 and alari was 22 when they got spotted

they worked as models when they were young adults. their jobs involved dyeing their hair blue/pink, and they would model like clothes and stuff. anyways, they were pretty successful. like not ultra famous but they had enough money to not work for the rest of their lives. 

their modeling group was made of 4 girls, the others were named paisley autumn and they were green and red, respectively. some things are: 

paisley and alari started dating during this 

autumn was a single mother to a little girl named destiny

noelle dated many people during this but never ended up finding the one <3

when their contract ended after like 6 years, paisley and alari went to go live together and noelle decided to get into acting. so thats when get famous playthrough started!

there’s more but basically they’re like oc’s with sims on the side. xoxo

22. if you use cc, are there any cc creators that you have like ALL of their items? this is such a good question! i hoard hair very heavily (my folder is 11gb) i so i have like 97% from most of the popular hair creators. 

i think i had legitimately EVERYTHING from simstrouble though, i went through multiple times to check and i also have all of her retired stuff. 

i have everything from ridgeport i think-? because of the fact that she uploaded all her stuff in one big zip. 

i think that’s it.. for a long time i also had everything by clumsyalienn, but then i ended up deleting it and only keeping my faves. 

and looking at my collection, maybe ah00b? i might be missing a couple but i at least have like 99%.

23. what’s one pack you think is underrated? dine out, it’s laggy af yes but it’s such a nice thing for my sims to do. 

24. what are your favorite sims stories/legacies? melons by gerbits always and forever

this question was inspired by this ask anyways so 

25. if you could change one small thing about ts4, what would it be? most of my suggestions are pretty complex but literally just - when you add tray files, they appear at the top. my life would be so much easier

this took me literal hours to answer

[parachutingkitten]

Imma Rant About How Pixal Deserves Better (cuz what else is new)

I love Pixal. That’s no secret. But the writers need to make up their minds about if they want her to be a member of the core cast or not, cuz it’s driving me nuts. Now, this is not a ‘pixal needs to be a ninja!’ post, cuz no, she doesn’t. Her being samurai x is an awesome and coherent move story wise. Moving from samurai x to the water ninja was a natural transition for Nya (even if I personally didn’t like the execution that much, but whatever- that’s a rant for another time), but if they tried to do it for Pixal, it wouldn’t make any sense. This doesn’t mean I’m against Pixal having the potential for ice powers- I wrote a fic about her reaching her true potential for goodness sake- but that also isn’t what this is about. This is just a post about her being a member of the team, because the writers have been playing her with only one foot in the door for four seasons now, and it’s NOT working. 

Remember in season 1 and 2, when Nya was samurai x? Yeah, sometimes she would stay behind, but most of the time, she was going on the missions with them. She got to interact with all of the boys. When the ninja got captured, she got captured. When the Ninja went on a large scale mission, she went with them. Down. Out of the Bounty. She worked with the Ninja, beside them, not in a totally separate B plot with just Wu. Her role in the team was admittedly different, but it was still equal. But now, samurai x, as Pixal, is the designated ‘stay behind’ character. And it’s played like this big sacrificial move, and she does some cool things while the team is gone but the one big problem with it is THE TEAM ISN’T THERE TO SEE IT! So it doesn’t expand her standing within the team. It doesn’t give the satisfaction of a big heroic moment, because it’s a B plot! The one purely Pixal centered episode EVER was the one in season 11 where she fights the preeminent. Guess what? The only team member there is Wu, it’s a b-plot filler episode, and it’s never brought up again. 

And yeah, that’s the only Pixal focus episode in the whole series. She’s a side character in season 3, she’s non existent in seasons 4-7, season 8, her reveal episode is cluttered with baby Wu/Harumi drama, and she’s not even physically and mentally there until the last few seconds of the episode (that rewrite is on it’s way, promise), season 9 she’s drowned out by the EMs, season 10 she has half an episode to shine where, once again, she ‘stays behind’ in a b plot with 0 character growth, which leaves the one episode in season 11 where she is the true 100% focus, and even then... it’s ‘stay behind’ b plot filler. Pixal hasn’t even been given a decent character arc... ever! She has like 2 (and a half) arcs total in the whole series. Season 3′s ‘getting a heart and falling in love’ arc, Season 8′s ‘I am samurai x arc’ which they don’t even explore that well, and then arguably, if you really squint, season 4′s ‘becoming part of Zane’ arc, but even then, that’s pretty much discovered and wrapped up in one episode. Complain all you want about Cole not having his own full season, but at least he’s got himself several well written, entertaining, A-plot, multi season arcs. The ‘Holy crap I’m a ghost’ arc, the ‘frustration with my best friend’ arc, and the ‘I am a father now’ arc. Say what you want, but he’s a main character of the show, and one of the go-to characters the writers love to throw stuff at, with distinct relationships with his cast-mates. 

Pixal’s interactions with the team all feel so forced. Like the writers want to include her, but don’t know how to. Mainly cuz they don’t know how to write her when she’s not around Zane. Her scenes with Zane are drop dead adorable! And... I suppose her alone time with Wu was...okay. But it’s like when she’s not alone with Zane the writers forget who she even is. That season 11 episode? They play her weirdly innocently. I’m sorry, that’s not Pixal at all. It’s been established since season 3 that she’s our grounded, painfully realistic, sass robot. Where is this “does that mean you’re not mad at me?” stuff coming from? Thing is, later in the episode, she’s acting like herself. So... idk what happened in the middle there. But because they don’t know how to write her in the context of the team, most of the time she’s reduced to standing around in the background. Even in fight scenes. Why? WHY?! You obviously want to include her? How do you do that? Maybe, I don’t know, HAVE HER INTERACT?!

Seriously, this isn’t that hard to fix. You split up the team all the time. Just have her go on a mission with Jay. Or Cole. Or Nya. Or anyone other than Zane. Play it for laughs. Play it seriously. Play it for those sweet sweet wholesome vibes. Idk. Just have her do something! These characters have stuff to bond over! Jay has a fascination with Borg industries in general, that would be fun to play off of. Cole and Pixal both have a pretty DEEP untouched emotional baggage. Lloyd and Pixal both have this sort of “not part of the pilot cast, joined later and never really integrated 100%” vibe going for them. Kai and Pixal have beef! This could be one of the great Ninjago rivalries! Nya and Pixal can bond over samurai x, that’s a total gimme one! These characters have relationships ripe for building, but they just DON’T TALK TO EACH OTHER! 

Every main character. EVERY MAIN CHARACTER has at least one episode (but likely many more) dedicated to them, where they do something real cool, single handedly save the day or something, and the whole team comes and hugs them and says “wow, great job!” “You’re an important and valued member of our team!” “This is why you’re great!” and... I just want one of those for Pixal. Please. Pretty please. Just so she can have some validation. Just so that the main cast can acknowledge her existence. And as trivial as this one episode may seem, I think it’s really important. She needs her big ‘save the team’ episode. She never had a sort of “true potential” moment when she really proved herself, and I think that’s really what she needs. Think about how good the Royal Blacksmiths episode was for Cole. He spills about some of his baggage, each of the team members is forced to interact with it, and try to understand it, and in the end they all work together to help him get past this rough patch in his life, and he ends up looking like a boss and saving the day in the process (also note, probably the best group hug ever in Ninjago history). Now, you could argue that since she doesn’t have a element, her being samurai x could work to give her that episode. Great. Cool. That makes sense. But Pixal doesn’t have a “true potential” episode- she has a “reveal” episode, where the ninja have to fight her cuz she’s evil and she doesn’t end up saving the day, Nya does. You see why even though it’s technically “focused” on Pixal, it isn’t meaningful at all to her character?

Thing is, I wouldn’t even be that mad... if she were a Skylor type character. I like Skylor as much as the next chick, and say what you want about her screen time, but at least she has a defined role within this universe! If Pixal was Zane’s cool robot gf/ samurai x - secondary protector of the city - that popped up for a cameo once in a while and played a larger role in seasons that merited her, I would be fine with it! Borg isn’t a big character, but he gets appropriate screen time, some seasons more than others, and he still feels like a cared about piece of the canon! This would work pretty well for Pixal too! Would I like this better than her being an active part of the main team? Hell no! I think her being on the team is the right way to lean, but as of right now, she’s just doing nothing of substance. I’d rather the screen time she has be meaningful than have her as a token nothing in the background of every episode.

That’s my main point here. Either start respecting her as a character, or stop pretending she’s on equal footing with the team. We already know season 12 isn’t gonna improve on that. The ninja go into the video game world and Pixal stays behind. Granted, Zane doesn’t go either, so maybe we’ll get some good content. But again, it’s the B plot, and with Zane. Nothing we haven’t seen before. (I could keep going about how the show has been pushing Zane out of the picture even back in season 3, but again, a rant for another time) 

Anyway, this rant pretty much sums up why most of my fanfic is Pixal-centric. It’s a character the writers just REFUSE to write for but has a decent amount of screen time, so there’s a lot of possibilities. Might do another rant about the whole ice powers thing. Idk. Just needed to get this out. thanks for reading :)

[writersplanetarium]

Facade: Peeling The Layers Away

Part 1 Part 2 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12

Aelin needed revenge, she decided after getting her car back from the shop. She'd hit his car on accident, he'd done it on purpose. 

And she knew just how to get him.

They had a live interview today with Ren Allsbrook for his web show and Aelin had just purchased her perfect bottle of revenge. She'd had to admit it was tricky getting his skin color right since he had such tan skin, but lucky for Aelin, Elide had offered to help. She said she'd warned Rowan not to get revenge, but he hadn't listened, so she was looking for a little revenge of her own. Elide worked in makeup for the show, specifically on Rowan, so she had his exact shade for Aelin to match the foundation to. 

So Aelin arrived early to their hair and makeup room. So early the artists weren't even there yet. But the makeup was. Aelin quickly switched her concoction with the actual foundation that was going to be used on Rowan and took a seat.

A few minutes later, the artists arrived, greeting Aelin happily.

"We are such big fans of the show," the older woman, Julia, gushed as she came to get started on Aelin, "Yours and Rowan's relationship is by far the most titillating ‘will-they won't-they’ I've ever seen. I mean the progression of your relationship has just felt so real and natural." Most people outside of the show didn't know Aelin and Rowan hated each other and they'd made a deal to keep it that way. Most of the time their bickering was seen as teasing between friends since they were careful not to snap at each other in public, no matter how badly they usually wanted to.

"Well our characters are written well," Aelin said with a grin. Aelin adored Charlotte and Daemion, truly. It was odd at first, to watch herself and Rowan interact so differently, but Aelin could see what they saw. Charlotte and Daemion were indeed perfect together. Aelin and Rowan? Not so much.

"What's it like to kiss him?" The younger woman, Fiona asked, sitting down in the chair for Rowan with a big grin, her chin in her hand.

"Between us?" Aelin asked, looking between them.

"Of course," both women said in unison, leaning in to listen to the secret.

"It used to be okay, but now… I don't know. I think he's getting sick or something. He's been off his game a lot lately."

"Really? Do you think it's bad?"

"I don't know," Aelin said, "But… today is the first day he's going to have been out of his house in a week." Aelin had been sure to keep him up extra late that night to ensure the dark circles under his eyes to continue her plot.

"My God. I hope he's alright," Julia said, setting a hand over her chest.

"The show can't go on without both of you. I hope he'll be okay."

"So do I," Aelin said. Just then the door opened and Rowan walked inside looking just as she'd hoped. Exhausted.

Fiona was up and out of the seat in a flash, offering it to him.

"Mr. Whitethorn, it's so nice to meet you. Just take a seat right here." Rowan sat down, setting his coffee on the table, enough bite in his brief look at Aelin to let her know he was having a bad day. And she smiled to herself knowing she was about to make it just a little worse.

She was careful not to watch him. Too many glances could set him off to her plan. So she waited patiently, letting the woman work through her hair and makeup. When they were done, Rowan and Aelin headed out to the stage.

"You knew we had an interview today," Rowan ground out quietly as they walked side by side, "What could you have possibly been doing up so late?"

"Stuff," Aelin said vaguely.

"Some of us actually need sleep," Rowan said, taking a long drink from his coffee.

"And some of us have lives."

"Well my life right now involves actually getting sleep for once, you should try it. God knows we won't be getting much when the new season airs." Aelin was about to remark when a voice cut in

"Aelin! Rowan! Good to see you two again. How’ve you two been?" Ren Allsbrook asked, standing with a grin and his hands on his hips. They’d been on once before when he’d just been getting his start. He reviewed shows and movies and occasionally had on guest stars to interview or just have a good time with. They had been some of the first people on as guests.

"Rowan's pouting because he's a baby who can't sleep if there's any noise." Rowan rolled his eyes, his fingers paling as they gripped his drink tighter.

"I can sleep if there's noise, I can't sleep through dubstep you're playing so loud it shakes your house."

"I was working on stuff. I work best with some music." That was a lie, she had just been messing with him.

"I hope you go deaf. It's the least you deserve," Rowan said with an annoyed huff as he set his coffee off to the side and took up his spot.

"Why me? If you went deaf it'd solve both of our problems. You wouldn’t have to hear it and I’d stop getting interrupted whenever I try to do anything.” 

“You’d stop getting interrupted if you actually thought about anyone but yourself.” Aelin glared at him.

“I paid for a surround sound system and I’m going to use that surround sound system.”

“Alright one minute to stream,” Murtaugh Allsbrook said from behind the camera, “And it’s nice to see you again Aelin.”

“You too,” she said with a grin, crossing her legs as she took her seat. Anticipation rolled through her as she waited for her revenge to be enacted. She didn’t know how long it would take for it to work, but she had her fingers crossed that it would.

“Three, two, one… Action!” Aelin put on a big smile.

“Hello Terresen,” Ren said with a warm smile to the camera, “Today we have two much-awaited guests. They were here once and you begged to have them back again. Your pleadings have been heard. Back again is Aelin Ashryver Galathynius and Rowan Whitethorn!”

“It’s so nice to be back,” Aelin said, "It's been too long. But we've been so busy with the show that we haven't had much time. But now that we've finished filming this upcoming season, we were able to finally make it on."

"Now that you've finished, can you tell us something about this season?"

"It's going to be one you'll never forget," Aelin said with a sly smile.

"So last time you were here we talked about the characters, but this time people want to know more about the two of you. So what better way than to see how well you know each other. On the show, you two are best friends who know each other like the back of your hand, but how well do you two know each other?" Aelin and Rowan both looked at each other out of the corner of their eyes, knowing this was about to get rough. "We have a test and whiteboards for you two to write your answers on." They were brought over and Aelin and Rowan accepted them with thanks.

"This is a best friend test with answers chosen by your fans. You write your answer on the left and the other's answer on the right. So let's start. Question number one. It's an easy one. Favorite color?" Aelin blanched for a moment. She had no idea what colors Rowan liked. She didn't even think he had a favorite color. So she wrote as much and put down red for hers. She’d always thought she’d liked blue, but she finally admitted she loved red.

"Got your answers?" Ren asked.

"I'm ready," Aelin said.

"I'm ready," Rowan said as well.

"Alright let's flip them and see." Aelin smiled and flipped her whiteboard. She glanced over at Rowan's to see if she'd been right and frowned as she saw she wasn't right. But he wasn't either.

"Red?" He asked, "Seriously?"

"Yes red. It’s pretty!"

"Why'd you think I didn't have a favorite color?"

"Because I thought you'd be just brooding enough to not have one. But green? Seriously? How vain." Rowan was clearly resisting an eye roll, which made Aelin happy.

"That's too bad. Question one goes to neither of you. Let's hope you'll have better luck on this next one. Birthday?"

"Yikes," Aelin laughed.

"I've actually told you this one," Rowan said, writing down his answers.

"What? When?" Aelin asked, narrowing her eyes at him. He was just lying to make her look bad. She knew it.

"That's for you to figure out because I plan on winning."

"You don’t know my birthday," Aelin said.

“You throw a party every year. I can’t miss your birthday.” Aelin gritted her teeth, her eyes flicking between Rowan and her board.

“You never told me your birthday. You don’t tell anyone your birthday.”

“Well, then that just makes this easier for me if you don’t remember.”

Aelin wracked her brain, rifling through every conversation she’d ever had with Rowan.

“Alright, are you ready?” Ren asked.

“As I’ll ever be,” Aelin sighed, writing down a random date she thought might suit him.

“Alright! Let’s flip them and see.” Aelin flipped her board, her eyes trained on Rowan’s. 

Her jaw dropped.

“How did you get it?!” He smirked, leaning back. May 3rd. She couldn’t believe he got it right.

“Doesn’t matter. But that's one point for me."

"One point for me," Aelin said beneath her breath in a mocking tone before realizing she was trying to win at being a better friend to Rowan that he was to her. She wanted to beat him, but at what cost to her pride knowing if she won it'd prove she paid more attention to him than she cared to admit. “You do not seem like a December baby.”

“Since when does your birthday dictate how you act?” Rowan retorted.

“You just have a November vibe!”

"Sorry Aelin,” Ren laughed, “One point to Rowan." She seriously hoped her revenge kicked in soon.

They went through other various questions, right answers bouncing between them. Aelin was surprised by some of the answers and answered others easily. Like she didn’t know his favorite activity was working out, though from the looks of him she should have guessed. She did know they were tied, waiting to see who got the winning point when Rowan finally did what she’d been waiting for. He rubbed his jaw.

Aelin pretended not to the notice the peeling, fake focusing on her answer that she was going to get wrong on purpose. Aelin knew his favorite food was just meat on a stick since he didn't have a very refined palate, but she was going to say garlic bread, just to spite him.

"Alright, final answer. Who will win? Turn your boards in three… two… one!" They turned them, Rowan guessing hers right as chocolate hazelnut cake. He had a soft promise of a slow death in his eyes as he saw her answer.

"No!" Aelin said, playing upset that she'd lost.

"That's a tough loss, but it makes Rowan the winner! How does it feel to be the better friend?" That realization that hit Aelin rounds ago hit Rowan and she saw him have to visibly restrain himself.

"Bet it feel great, huh, Rowan? To be the better friend?" Aelin remark, letting her eyes say everything her mouth couldn’t.

"Yeah, great," he said, rubbing his jaw. Now a considerable piece peeled back.

"Rowan, are you okay?" Aelin asked with feigned concern.

"Wha- What do you mean?" He asked, confusion at her concern playing over his face.

"Your skin." There was a gasp as a few people off to the side noticed as well. He touched his cheek, feeling where the foundation was peeling. He furrowed his brow pulling at it making a few people scream and freak out.

"Doesn't that hurt?" Ren asked with a furrowed brow.

"No," Rowan said, peeling more back.

"Well luckily that's a wrap for today," Ren said, "This is Ren Allsbrook signing off. Good day, Terrasen." 

"Cut!" Everyone rushed around Rowan as Aelin slipped off, barely suppressing a grin.

"You were right! He must be sick," Fiona said, standing at Aelin’s side, "But how bad… He may be dying…"

"Dying? No, I think he’s just… out of his depth." She was going to win this war against him, even if it was the last thing she did. Aelin grinned as she slipped off, letting Rowan deal with the fallout of his “sickness”.

Tagged:

@captain-timetraveldreamer @tangledraysofsunshine

LMK if you want to be tagged!

[kimmycup]

♡ answer the 10 questions of the person who tagged you and then create 10 of your own  ♡

Thank you so much @obsessive-and-crazy​ for the tag! Look, is it me not forgetting about a tag game for once?

1. Favourite colour?

PINK PINK PINK PINK!!!! 

2.What made you join tumblr?

It was like 2014 Merlin phase. Then later on, I think around 2015, I made this account (I had a different one, I think it may still exist somewhere) to promote a London Spy fanfic of mine... that fanfic is still abandoned like two chapters in. Oooops.

3. Hardest lesson you’ve learnt?

Sometimes things will go to shit. And you need to let them go to shit. The best things in my life came from my absolute lowest and as much as I fought what was happening tooth and nail when it was happening, I am now HAPPY that I didn’t manage to stop it, because I think if I did, it would just delay the inevitable crash and burn and things would be unsalvagable.

4. One thing you love about yourself?

Oh damn. That’s a hard one. I think... my looks? Like, we live in a world that’s so tough on self-love. That’s all about putting yourself down and hating yourself, and showing self-awareness as arrogance. But nope. I love how I look. I think I currently have fantastic haircut I’m happy with, and I’m okay with my weight and all dimples and curves of my body, and I love bikini pictures and posing in fun outfits and myself. So that’s one thing I do actually love.

5. Winter, summer, autumn/fall or spring?

Summer. I’d say spring but spring turned into this wintery/rainy/gross gray mass so I’d say summer. Also, definitely not into this entire “climate change deleted seasons” thing. Gimme back normal seasons.

6. If you could go back in time where would you go and why?

Another tough one. You know what, it’s a question I did actually wonder about before and ultimately, the answer is I wouldn’t. At all. I think the right direction to go is the future, but I wouldn’t travel in time to the future either - I think it’s the right satisfaction to fight for this future and happily look back on what we earned.

And as much as I hate parts of present a lot, I do think those parts were even worse in the past. So I am happy right here making sure they’ll get better.

7. Biggest regret?

So in 2013 I wrote an article connecting some of the documents on WikiLeaks to Euromaidan events, and it was actually on spot but I was young and felt REALLY insecure in an idea of this high school girl talking about politics and the worth of this article, and ultimately, I didn’t publish it. 

Like a month later, this material, the same connection I spotted, was released on national TV. I LITERALLY WAS THE FIRST TO GET ON THIS SHIT, HAD I PUBLISHED IT.

So turns out my instincts were right and the article was good. Since then I’m a lot more about jumping on chances and not being afraid to get political. 

8. Favourite book? And does it have a movie/series adaptation?

Ulysses Moore series. Mostly 1-12, the new ones don’t hit the same. They haven’t been adapted yet, though there’s been rumors a few times. But honestly, at this point, I am quite happy without them being adapted because even if it's well-done, I do not want a real visual to crumble the intricate world I built in my head.

9. Indian or Chinese takeaway?

Chinese all the way. I love Indian but I’m addicted to noodles. 

10. Do you want kids in the future?

Yup. Three of them, adopted. 

I tag @takaraphoenix @guardian-rose-petal @redramzi @snarkyship @wolfrunner09 @shirasade

The questions are:

Do you celebrate Pride Month? If so, how?

If you could go to space, would you?

What’s your favourite mainstream media trope vs favourite fanfiction trope?

Do you enjoy non-fiction literature?

Favourite Knight of the Round Table?

Are you an organized person?

Do you prefer listening to music in headphones or through a speaker?

Chocolate or vanilla?

Are you religious?

Seaside or mountains?

[butch-himbo-king]

1-60 I'm dead serious

1. selfie

(don’t worry i swear i’m not driving, i’m in a parking lot)

2. what would you name your future kids?

lmfao i haven’t even planned what i’m doing tonight and y’all think i’m out here planning out my future all the way to what i’ll name my kids (if i have any)

3. do you miss anyone?

yeah but who doesn’t

4. what are you looking forward to?

going home lmao. i’m tired and ready to hang out with stevie

5. is there anyone who can always make you smile?

uhh Yes @kirbymilkshake and @kaloi-jeni-doxun both make me smile every fucking day i love them so much

6. is it hard for you to get over someone?

not usually....... there’s one person i’m still not Entirely over even though it’s been like 4 years but we don’t talk about that

7. what was your life like last year?

stressful but made better by having good friends around me

8. have you ever cried because you were so annoyed?

all the fucking time. especially since getting my brain damage it’s so easy for me to get super emotional Real Fast and pretty much every emotion turns into tears now

9. who did you last see in person?

my friend lily

10. are you good at hiding your feelings?

usually yeah

11. are you listening to music right now?

Ye!! dermot kennedy released an album today and i’m listening to it for the second time

12. what is something you want right now?

lunch

13. how do you feel right now?

hungry and also tired

14. when was the last time someone of the opposite sex hugged you?

not to be depressing on main but i honestly can’t remember the last time someone of Any sex hugged me

15. personality description

dumb of ass, pure of heart, home of sexual

16. have you ever wanted to tell someone something but you didn’t?

yeah. some things are better left unsaid imo

17. opinion on insecurities.

they’re dumb as hell and i’m gonna fight every single one of ‘em

18. do you miss how things were a year ago?

a little bit, yeah

19. have you ever been to New York?

nope

20. what is your favourite song at the moment?

my favorite song rn is probably i’m on fire by @seashellronan she wrote it herself probably it’s great you all should go listen to it

21. age and birthday?

20, my birthday was last saturday

22. description of crush.

uhhhh curly brown hair, really light hazel eyes, super cute, little nerdy

23. fear(s)

i’m too stupid to be scared of stuff

24. height

5’5”

25. role model

me bitch!

26. idol(s)

me again bitch!!

27. things i hate

Me Again Bitch!!!

28. i’ll love you if…

i’ll love you if i ever learn how to do it lmfao

29. favourite film(s)

jennifer’s body 100% all the way

30. favourite tv show(s)

derry girls i watched the entirety of season 1 and 2 in one sitting and i’m probably gonna do it again this weekend tbh

31. 3 random facts

1) 20-30% of the population has this bone growth thing on the roof of their mouth called Torus Palatinus and no one knows what causes it

2) if you have a blind cat they’ll memorize the feel of a room and where things are and if you move a chair a few inches to the left and don’t move it back bc you forget abt moving it the cat Will try to jump on it while sprinting around the room and he Will miss completely and crash into the wall

3) jennifer from jennifer’s body can’t fly. in the movie she just hovers which really isn’t that impressive

32. are your friends mainly girls or guys?

majority of my life my friends were mainly guys but lately i’ve made a lot more girl friends

33. something you want to learn

finnish

34. most embarrassing moment

probably that time i was making out with my best friend and my shirt was off and his roommate walked in on us to tell us that he left his phone out on the table and his gf had been trying to call him 😬

35. favourite subject

P.E.

36. 3 dreams you want to fulfill?

traveling, learning new languages, dying young under mysterious circumstances

37. favourite actor/actress

megan fox i would lay down my life just for her to have a good day

38. favourite comedian(s)

me i’m hilarious (but also probably cody ko & noel miller & kurtis conner)

39. favourite sport(s)

soccer

40. favourite memory

i have no memories my brain is Fucked

41. relationship status

single

42. favourite book(s)

i don’t know how to read bro

43. favourite song ever

still i’m on fire by @seashellronan i’m serious go listen to it it’s on her blog you won’t be disappointed

44. age you get mistaken for

usually around 16-18

45. how you found out about your idol

i looked in the mirror

46. what my last text message says

it’s an ugly top keysmash and i Know how y’all feel abt those so i won’t type it and subject you guys to that kind of horror

47. turn ons

this is a christian minecraft server

48. turn offs

people trying to talk abt sex on my christian minecraft server 😤

49. where i want to be right now

in bed

50. favourite picture of your idol

why are these asks so obsessed with idol??? no false god’s here, only me.

51. starsign

libra

52. something i’m talented at

literally everything

53. 5 things that make me happy

my friends, food, animals, soccer, those good naps that only take like 30 minutes but feel like a full night’s sleep and you wake up not knowing what time it is or where you are

54. something thats worrying me at the moment

i have anxiety bro everything is worrying me all the time

55. tumblr friends

uhhh i have like... A Lot but the people i talk to the most (like Every Day) would be @kirbymilkshake, @kaloi-jeni-doxun, @seashellronan, and @spookyfemme

56. favourite food(s)

i love any kind of comfort food and you can’t go wrong with street tacos

57. favourite animal(s)

All Of Them

58. description of my best friend

uhhhh really funny, super pretty, low key a bitch but like in a fun way

59. why i joined tumblr

my siblings told me to

60. ask me anything you want

this isn’t a question so haha fuck you i only had to answer 59

[trinuviel]

Winterfell’s Daughter. On Sansa Stark (part 14)

I’ve previously written a series of essays that analyse Sansa Stark’s narrative arc in Game of Thrones - during season 1 (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6) and during season 2 (Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10) and now during season 3 (Part 11, Part 12, Part 13).

One of the important themes in Sansa Stark’s narrative arc in season 3 is her political importance. As Robb Stark’s heir apparent she is the Key to the North, which is stated by political players such as Lord Varys and Tywin Lannister. That is also why she is courted by both Patyr Baelish and the Tyrells. They all want to secure her claim in the case of Robb’s premature death. However, her arc is also about hope - the hope of escape, safety and family - and the subsequent crushing of that fragile hope. 

In my previous post I analysed how Sansa was charmed and courted by Margaery and Loras Tyrell - with Margaery not only offering a marriage to Loras but also the promise of sisterhood as well as a new home, filled with all the courtly sophistication that a nobly born girl could wish for. Loras’ awkward courtship in the beautiful gardens of the Red Keep re-awakened all of Sansa’s girlish dreams that she had gleaned from the romantic songs that she loved so much in the first season.

A POLITE REFUSAL

The Tyrells are not the only ones that offer Sansa an escape from her abuse. In the very first episode, Petyr Baelish offers to sneak her out of King’s Landing. This is a plan that is much more dangerous than the Tyrell offer and Sansa is vary of Baelish in a way that she isn’t with Margaery - so it isn’t surprising that Sansa chooses the less dangerous option, an option that promises the protection of a powerful noble House. 

In episode 5, Petyr Baelish once again approaches Sansa while she’s alone,  watching a lonely ship at anchor in Blackwater Bay. A bit of seemingly inconsequential small talk follows. I say seemingly because this little exchange between Sansa and Baelish is, in fact, fraught with subtext - and the subtext is informed by our knowledge of the fact that Baelish already knows about the secret betrothal between Sansa and Loras Tyrell.

Baelish: She may not be the grandest ship in the world… or the fastest… but she is mine. I’ve always wanted a ship. Now I want a dozen. Strange, isn’t it?

Sansa: What is?

Baelish: It doesn’t matter what we want, once we get it, then we want something else.

Sansa: Many ladies wear it this way.

The subtext to this exchange revolves around Baelish indirectly implying that he offered Sansa something she wanted - seeing her family again, escaping King’s Landing - and now she wants something else, something more. The way he then changes the subject to Sansa wearing her hair in a style favoured by Margaery Tyrell is also him hinting that Sansa is now under the influence of Margaery in more ways than just a sense of fashion. Of course, Sansa is unaware of him knowing her secret - so the subtext of his words are entirely for the benefit of the audience. Then, Baelish changes the subject of conversation yet again.

Baelish: I have good news. I’ll be leaving the city soon.

Sansa: You still want me to come with you?

Baelish: It is not a question of what I want. It is what you want. You want to go home, do you?

Sansa looks down.

Sansa: Of course. More than anything.

She looks down again.

Sansa: But maybe it is better to wait. I’ve been thinking how dangerous it would be. Not just for me, but for you. You’ve been so kind. I’d feel terrible if anything happened to you.

Baelish: I can’t tell you how touched I am by your concern for my welfare. I hope you know that I’m your friend, Sansa. Your true friend.

Sansa: I do, Lord Baelish.

Baelish: Petyr.

He’s trying to force familiarity here, a sense of friendship - but unlike Margaery he isn’t very good at charming people. He’s unctuous and oily, quite different from the lighthearted camaraderie that Margaery so effortlessly projects in her interactions with Sansa. He understands neither real love nor true friendship because he’s always looking to exploit people for his own benefit. Not to mention the fact that he’s a middle-aged predator, obsessed with Sansa’s mother whom Sansa greatly resembles. 

Sansa: Petyr.

Baelish: If you wish to stay, then of course you will stay.

He takes her hand and kisses it.

Baelish: We’ll talk again when I return.

As he leaves, Sansa exhales audibly. She was extremely nervous about this conversation because she was lying to a man who had previously told her that she’s a poor liar. She smiles slightly and it is clear that she thinks she pulled it off. However, the audience already knows that Baelish is aware of the truth. He knows she’s lying to him and that her concern for him is false. I wonder if this has made him angry. It is clear that his decision to tell the Lannisters about the Tyrell-Stark betrothal is a move he makes to prevent Sansa from slipping through his fingers but I do wonder if there’s also an element of him wanting to punish her for rejecting his offer. However, this is pure speculation on my part.

HOPE CRUSHED

In my previous post, I wrote how the secret betrothal between Sansa and Loras Tyrell re-awakened all her girlish dreams of chivalric romance. The prospect of marrying a dashing knight and escaping her prison in order to live in Highgarden with its sophisticated culture has Sansa all atwitter, which is highlighted in a scene between Sansa and Shae where Sansa is happily discussing both fashion and her future wedding to Loras.

There are two things that are worth noticing in this scene:

Sansa still tells Shae everything! Her planned betrothal to Loras is secret but Sansa trusts Shae implicitly.

Sansa is so hopeful in this scene, which is rather heartbreaking since the audience already knows that her hopes are about to be crushed.

Sansa asks Shae whether the Tyrells will let her invite her family to her wedding to Loras. I’ve seen a lot of fans say that this line proves that Sansa is still hopelessly naive and stupid. I beg to differ. She is hopeful. I don’t find hopefulness stupid. Is her hopefulness naïve? Perhaps – but how is she to know that the secret betrothal isn’t very secret anymore? Are the writers telling the audience that Sansa is stupid and naïve? Possibly – but considering the scene that immediately follows this exchange between Sansa and Shae, I tend to think that this particular line of Sansa’s (“Will they let me invite my family?”) is more about lending a poignancy to her hopefulness right before those hopes are unequivocally crushed. It is a more generous interpretation than the one that dominates the fandom but I’d argue that there is room for both – it all comes down to whether you think the ability to hope for something better, even amidst abuse and loss, is stupid or not.

The conversation between Sansa and Shae is interrupted by a maid, announcing the presence of Tyrion Lannister who is there to inform Sansa that they are to marry.

Tyrion: Well… This is awkward.

The scene ends before he actually tells Sansa that they are to marry but the fact that Tyrion is about to break the news to Sansa in front of his lover shifts the focus of the narrative from Sansa onto Tyrion and Shae. In fact, all of Tyrion’s lines following his initial statement refers indirectly to his relationship with Shae! So this scene is really about him and not about Sansa at all, even though it is her hopes that are about to be crushed. This scene is also is an invention of the show since in the books Tyrion never bothers to actually inform Sansa of their upcoming wedding. In the books, Sansa is only informed of her wedding to Tyrion on the very day it is to take place and Cersei literally threatens to have her forcibly dragged to the altar.

One of the things I really dislike about the show is the way that it expunges Tyrion’s worst qualities and makes him act better than his character is originally written. This creative decision really impacts Sansa’s arc in a rather negative way since it frames Tyrion’s “suffering” as being equal to Sansa’s and it removes the focus on how utterly helpless and friendless Sansa is as a hostage at the Lannister court. Indeed, the way the show depicts their wedding (and marriage) repeatedly shifts the focus away from the victimization of Sansa in favour of Tyrion’s man-pain – and it erases the fact that this marriage serves to rob Sansa of everything while it only serves to benefit Tyrion. 

He may not being jumping with joy at the prospect of this marriage but let us not forget that it is designed to rob Sansa of her inheritance while Tyrion stands to benefit politically from her disenfranchisement.

We don’t get to see Tyrion actually telling Sansa that they will be wed but we do get to see her heartbroken reaction in the montage that accompanies Baelish’s infamous “Chaos is a Ladder” monologue at the very end of the episode. Sansa appears in the middle of his monologue after we’ve seen what happens to the people that try to climb the ladder of chaos but fails and are broken by the fall with an shot where Joffrey fiddles with his crossbow while Ros’ dead body is tied to his bedpost. Then the camera cuts to a shot of Sansa and Shae, their backs to the camera, with Blackwater Bay and Baelish’s ship in the background.

Baelish (VO): …and some are given the chance to climb…

The camera slowly zooms in on the ship that represents Sansa’s lost chance of escape.

Baelish (VO): …but they refuse.

Cut to a shot of a tearful and heartbroken Sansa.

Baelish (VO): …they cling to the realm or the Gods or love.

Cut to a close-up on the ship at anchor in the bay.

Baelish (VO): Illusions. Only the ladder is real.

Close-up of Sansa’s face as she desperately tries to hold back her tears.

Baelish (VO): The climb is all there is.

On the surface it looks like the narrative judges Sansa negatively for refusing to climb the Ladder of Chaos, that she’s still naively clinging to her illusions. It is easy to see why many come to that conclusion due to how the shots of Sansa are placed in the montage that is combined with Baelish’s monologue. However, we have to ask ourselves this: does the show itself endorse Baelish’s cynical ideology of chaos as a means of self-promotion? In order to find the answer to this question we have to look at how the entire sequence is framed, both the monologue and the images that accompanies it.

Baelish delivers his monologue after a conversation with Varys where they discuss their actions. Varys justifies his actions by saying that they are for the good of the realm. Baelish scoffs at this remark and says that the realm is simply a story that is a lie. Baelish doesn’t believe in the realm, in any kind of community that serves the many rather than the ambition of the individual. Varys counters this statement by saying that without the “illusion” of the realm, there is only chaos: “a gaping pit waiting to swallow us all”. This is where Baelish states that chaos is a ladder - a ladder for the ambitious individual to climb to further his own advancement.

Neither should we forget that Baelish is consistently presented as a villain who is willing to let the world burn in order to get what he wants - there’s a reason why Varys calls him the King of Ashes! Varys, on the other hand, is presented as Baelish’s opponent, as someone who puts the good of the many before his own desires - and if he can help someone at the same time as achieving his overall goal, so much the better (like preventing Baelish from getting his hands on Sansa and at the same time getting her away from Joffrey’s abuse). 

It is also worth noting that while we see Sansa when Baelish talks about the people who refuse the climb, she is not the only person that this segment of the monologue targets. It also targets Varys when he talks about people refusing to climb because they cling to ideas of love, the gods or the Realm! 

Love, Religion, the Realm. These are things that Baelish himself considers to be meaningless illusions. Baelish is a cynic who scorns people who believe in things that are larger than themselves, people who don’t put their selfish desires first – and while it seems that people like that are losing the game at this stage in the narrative, he is actually the one who is wrong. Despite its many weaknesses, season 7 is actually where the narrative affirms that protecting the realm is more important than the people who selfishly try to come out on top. During season 7, Jon Snow, one of the undisputed heroes of the story, reaffirms that his role is to be “the shield that guard the realms of men” – and the narrative leaves no one in doubt that his mission is far more important and more morally sound that the objectives of the people who bring about destruction in their desire to rule the fates of other people.

So, no. The narrative doesn’t punish Sansa for not wanting to climb Baelish’s ladder of chaos – Baelish is the one punishing her for rejecting him! But you have to look beneath the surface of the montage and look at the way it is framed within the larger story.

MAKE THE BEST OF THE SITUATION?

While we do not witness Tyrion telling Sansa of their upcoming nuptials, nor her immediate reaction, we do get to see her heartbroken state later on in a scene between her and Margaery in episode 7. The scene begins with a wide shot of Sansa and Margaery, sitting in a patio in the gardens of the Red Keep. Margery comforts a tearful Sansa who is mourning her lost hopes of a brighter future in Highgarden.

Sansa: Growing up in Winterfell I always wanted to escape, to come to the capital. See the southern knights and their painted armour. All the candles in burning in all the windows.

The camera cuts to a close-up of Sansa’s face. She starts to cry.

This is just such a heartbreaking utterance. Sansa has never been stupid. She was a sheltered child, loved and protected by her family. Her innocence wasn’t stupid and neither were her dreams. They were the symptoms of a child who had been loved and protected. It is incredibly sad to see her denounce her hope of a better future in Highgarden as stupid. 

Hope is never stupid! Hope is what drives people to work to create a better world, even in the face of overwhelming hardship. To give up on hope is to give in to despair.

Sansa wasn’t stupid or wrong to hope for something better – to despair is to give up on life and Sansa is stronger than she thinks, stronger than many people among the audience think. Her hopes were crushed by callous people who seek to rob her of her inheritance, her freedom and her autonomy. Sansa’s crushed hopes are not a symptom of any stupidity on her part but an indictment of the callous ambitions of men like Petyr Baelish and Tywin Lannister. The very fact that Sansa calls herself stupid is also an effect of the emotional abuse that both Cersei and Joffrey have heaped upon her. Both of them repeated call her stupid and foolish. Her self-esteem has been destroyed. Thus, it is no wonder that Sansa has internalized this notion, sad as it is.

Margaery: I remember the first time I saw you in the throne room. I’d never seen anyone who looked so unhappy.

Sansa wipes away her tears. Margaery takes her by the arm as they stroll into the lush gardens of the Red Keep.

Margaery: I want very much for you to be happy, Sansa, and so does my grandmother.

I think that Margaery is honest here – at least about her own feelings – and Natalie Dormer’s acting choices certainly supports this interpretation. Her expression is genuinely sympathetic when she’s witnessing Sansa’s unhappy tears. 

This scene is very much about Margaery extending her hand in a genuine spirit of friendship. This is yet another marked change from the books where Margaery drops Sansa like a hot potato after the Tyrell betrothal falls through. It is a change that I actually like because one of GRRM’s most glaring blind-spots is the complete lack of any positive relationships between women in his story.

During their stroll, Margaery stops to pluck a rose, the heraldic symbol of House Tyrell.

Margaery: You would have been happy in Highgarden… but women in our position must make the best of our circumstances.

Not only is Margaery older and more worldly than Sansa but I think it is safe to assume that she was never raised to be quite as sheltered as Sansa has been. She’s an ambitious pragmatist and she’s giving Sansa what she thinks is the best advice that she can offer.

Sansa: How do I make the best of my circumstances? I have to marry him.

The camera cuts to a medium close-up of Margaery and Sansa, facing each other. Margery hands Sansa the rose, which is a nice call back to the tourney scene in season 1 where her brother Loras handed Sansa a red rose. However, unlike Loras, Margaery offers Sansa her rose as an act that symbolizes a genuine offer of friendship.

Margaery proceeds to ask Sansa whether Tyrion has mistreated her? Whether he has been kind to her? Sansa says that he has tried to be kind.

Margaery: You don’t want him though.

Sansa: He’s a Lannister.

This is the crux of the matter! Tyrion’s family holds her prisoner, they are responsible for the death of her father and some of them abuse her emotionally as well as physically for their own enjoyment. She is being forced to marry an enemy of her family and this marriage will keep her a hostage forever. 

In this context it doesn’t really matter whether Tyrion is kind or not – this marriage will strip her of her family name and it effectively ends her hope of ever returning to the loving embrace of her family. 

Furthermore, the very reason for this marriage rests upon Tywin Lannister’s desire to appropriate her family home since she is Robb Stark’s heir apparent. It is also one part of a two-pronged attack on her family since Tywin is plotting to kill Sansa’s brother so that he can install Tyrion as Lord of Winterfell by way of this marriage. Tywin’s nefarious plot comes to a bloody fruition just a few episodes later when Sansa’s brother and mother are cruelly slain by the Freys.

Margaery continues to dispense advice as she and Sansa stroll in the gardens.

Margaery: My son will be king. Sons learn from their mothers. I plan to teach mine a great deal.

While Margaery is ambitious, she doesn’t plan to wield power directly. We have already seen that Margaery excels when it comes to the use of soft power – her charitable endeavours have helped win her the love of the people in King’s Landing and so far she’s successfully manipulated Joffrey. She plans to use the same approach in her marriage, not only by subtly influencing people in power but also by shaping any future children she’d produce so that it’ll be her legacy rather than Joffrey’s that would shape the realm in the future. Interestingly, this scene also functions as a companion piece to Cersei’s advice to Sansa about loving her children despite not loving her husband from season 2.

Margaery then points out that if Sansa has a son by Tyrion, he might be Lord of Casterly Rock and perhaps even Lord of the North. She’s trying to appeal to a sense of ambition in Sansa because that is how she approaches her place in the world – and she doesn’t really understand that Sansa doesn’t crave power but just wants to be safe and loved. This talk about children makes Sansa rather uncomfortable and the issue of sex comes up. Sansa is adamant that it isn’t the pain of losing her virginity that she fears (she’s used to bodily pain after what Joffrey’s put her through). Rather she objects to the fact that Tyrion is a dwarf. Margaery then proceeds to talk about how different people find different things attractive and says that sexual experience in a husband can be a good thing for the wife.

I cannot stress enough how I absolutely HATE how the show frames Sansa’s upcoming marriage here! Suddenly, Sansa is presented as shallow when it is in fact not Tyrion’s dwarfism that is the most problematic thing about this marriage. The most problematic thing about this marriage is the fact that Sansa is being FORCED to marry him and that he, as a Lannister, is an enemy of her family! This marriage is a scheme aimed at disenfranchising Sansa and it is predicated upon a plot to murder her older brother so that the Lannisters can claim her home for themselves. 

Furthermore, the idea that she should just give Tyrion a chance and try to make the best of things completely puts the onus on her to make the marriage work and that is such a gross notion since she has been given absolutely no choice in the matter, the marriage will make her hostage situation permanent and the whole thing is designed to steal her inheritance. 

Combined with the general whitewashing of Tyrion’s character, this framing blames any lack of success in the upcoming marriage on Sansa while erasing her helplessness and lack of consent - it is an implicit piece of victim-blaming, which is almost too gross for words. The changes that the show made with this marriage plot are really deplorable because they appear to have been made in order to make Tyrion more likeable than he is in the books - and this comes at the expense of Sansa’s characterization.

To be continued...

(GIFs not mine)

[dayna-scully]

ncis/tiva liveblog...the dregs

season 3  |  season 4   |  season 5  |  season 6  |  season 7  |  season 8  |  season 9  |  season 10

11x01

the real whiskey tango foxtrot is the writing on this show

at the moment, you

���😖😖😖😖😖😖😖😖

want some company?

yes :-)

murder me???????

“this is good”

that fake typing though

you’ll always be an agent in her heart

is mcgee Abby’s Shannon

after what happened to secnav, how can I stay?

oh gut punch

clonk

I mean, someone’s gonna get a souvenir from Tony’s trip to Israel

a living, breathing, tiny human souvenir…

maybe it’s not the brightest idea, but we’re not coworkers anymore, so

Anthony!!!!!!

he was so happy

I’ll travel for good hummus

I didn’t know that “hummus” was, uh, some kind of new…slang

but all of their stuff is still there?

mid century mob hit

where’s ziva?

thank you dick

he reminds me of the terrible sweets clone bones got after sweets died

which was a terrible decision, btw

who would she trust

TONY

SHE WOULD TRUST TONY

oh tony

11x02

don’t worry tony, we will be okay

can you put the hammer down please

perhaps the him is you

baby ziva hadn’t yet been weaponized by the men in her life

gibbs absolutely knows who Captain Kirk is

why should she have the man that she loves

wow that’s really dark

and cruel

he looks good with some hair on his face

Tim does not

I can’t believe they’ve kept that goatee on him for multiple seasons

tony should have stayed in Israel

baby!!!!

“I meant to do that this morning”

HE DIDNT FORGET HE WAS JUST TOO BUSY GETTING BUSY

confession: I don’t think I’ve ever actually watched this episode

I didn’t watch s11 because at that point we (obvs) knew cote wasn’t staying

yeah dinozzo can sure feel somethin

maybe you could try saying what you’re saying

he already found her, dad

you know how hard that was

you did not have to do any of this

except???? He did????

her “old life” man fuck these writers

finally I found you here, of course

FUCK THESE WRITERS

the center of all this pain is me

I’ll kill whoever wrote that

I hate these people!!!!

this is what Eli made of her

bad adr

tony should have stayed

it’s a start

you don’t have to do this alone

ziva was a fantastic investigator, regardless of what she did for Mossad

she loved being an investigator

this doesn’t make sense

just come home

I remember after truth and consequences came out I sat down with a notebook and my iPod and whittled down a tiva playlist

it was a very intense project

I just want you to come home with me

oh tony

I can change with you

he should have just…stayed

that’s a very bad fake black eye

did he clip Tobias’ ass

you shot me in the ass!

I’m the one got shot in the ass for it

they done did it

I want to make him proud

😖😖😖😖😖 her daddy

alone

that’s horseshit

horseshit!

tony you are so…loved

I wanna be done with this

this hurts more than I remember

I am more angry about all this than I remember

then came tali

pick up the phone!!!

hey ziver

13x24

who made these terrible styling choices

why does tony look like an old man

I bet it’s the same person who thinks that goatee McGee has now was a good idea

I can’t stay here

surely she would have told gibbs

right??

he wouldn’t have told tony

maybe she wouldn’t have told him tony was the father

oh tony

ah, dinozzo

oh are you just fucking figuring that out now gibbs??????

ten years later??????

really???

I hate these writers

I need to know what happened

I’ll breathe when Trent kort is dead

are these writers fucking serious

his ziver???????

fuck

stop with the monologue

something about you running off with her father

friends don’t let friends get hit by mortar fire

you’re Mossad you know everything

like, this whole ass house was leveled to nothing but tali’s room just…survived intact

how convenient!!!!! Almost like ziva had planned this!!!!

tali girl

tali is ziva’s daughter

and your daughter, tony

what a clusterfuck

no doubts

that was not her decision to make

it wasn’t

it was, for once, in character

but it was a shitty decision nonetheless

she knew you wouldn’t be pleased/then she never knew me at all

we cannot lose sight of Anthony

daddy tony

tali’s aba

your mom always packed a go bag

because she was always one step ahead

and she would have been ahead of this

you’re a single dad now, tony

were you and ziva an item the whole time

because lbr of all of them, McGee would absolutely be the last one to figure it out

and he wouldn’t even figure it out, Abby would tell him

I loved her, Tim

ima and aba

ziva must have told her

tony must have always had that with him

I think I’ve decided against watching 16x13

I know the gist of what happens, I’ve seen the screenshots

I don’t read Hebrew, so the fantranslations are all I really need anyways

I don’t really want to watch them write gibbs badly again

how did he get his eyeball back

selective morality

she was my family

I’ve never been anybody’s everything before

abby knew

abby 100% knew

aaand I’m done

I don’t even really know how to summarize all of this.  I don’t understand the thought that will-they-won’t-they is somehow more exciting and fulfilling than consummation of slowburn.  Shows keep doing it over and over again, and sometimes they get it right at the last minute (see: josh and Donna, tww) but most of the time they get it wrong.  Like at least with something like Olivia and Elliot (svu) there was a reason that they couldn’t be together - he was married (though I think they could have and should have handled Chris leaving better than him just vanishing).

Bones kind of fumbled through it all - I don’t think that they would have put b/b together if Em hadn’t gotten pregnant.  Maybe eventually, but I think they had and would have made the same mistakes the ncis writers did.

Clearly that could have been handled better, but like b/b being together was so good?? They were happy, there was still drama, but god it wasn’t a poorly written tease (well, actually, let’s not get into the quality of the writing on Bones)

Cote is such a fantastic actor, and as horrible as MW is, he is (was??) a really good match for her (was if only because bull kind of sucks and I’m not sure if it’s shitty writing or him sucking or him not wanting to be there??).  There was so much emotion and intensity in all of their scenes, romantic or not, it’s absolutely astounding.  I really appreciate them for all the effort that they put into tiva, because they were really the heart of it.

How often do you have couples that are written but not acted? Couples with absolutely no on-screen chemistry, and actors who can’t or won’t put the effort in to make it work.  And they had that!  They could have done so much with it.  But the writers failed. Over and over again, they failed to deliver consistent characterization and complex plots beyond the same old.

Tony was so much more than a frat boy.

Ziva was so much more than a weapon and a perpetual victim.

I was trying to find good fanfic while I was watching (I…didn’t find much), but there was one where the author decided that Ziva, who was alive, had only put the message out that tali was Tony’s because she knew it would get his attention, and that tali was just some random guy’s.  And that really pisses me off.  Ziva (the writers) made some really poor choices in regards to Ziva’s impulse control, but that’s too far - Ziva wouldn’t intentionally hurt tony, and that would be the worst thing she could do.

Ugh.  I’m tired.

basically how I feel about the series: