#i so badly want the dialogue to be 1:1 but i know they will leave the silly rabbit line out 😔

[warblogs17282]

Blitz and self-hatred, plus his self-forgiveness journey.

Aka, watch me try to make sense of the massive lore drops in ghostfuckers. (Long post alert, my first meta post after ghostfuckers dropped)

Section 1: The roots of Blitz's self-hatred.

The circus fire. We know what Blitz's actions were that day, he saw Fizzarolli, and tried to call for help, but then he realized that Tilla was also caught up in the fire, and instantly rushed over to attempt to save her the moment Blitz realized that fact.

We know that Fizzarolli getting severely hurt in that fire affected Blitz very deeply, considering that it was one of the memories in that slideshow.

If you look at this frame by frame, you can see some sort of face in the fire when Blitz is rushing to save Tilla from the fire. The face in that fire looks like a mix of an angry face and a screaming face at the same time. Signaling that Tilla has been consumed by the flames. That she's dead.

There's an interesting detail within the hallucination sequence as well.

"This is your life." The fact that the fire in this sequence starts right at Blitz's hand is really telling. It tells us that Blitz still blames himself for accidentally causing the fire. Blitz blames himself for the fire that severely hurt Fizzarolli, and the fire that killed Tilla. Blitz feels like he hurt Fizzarolli and killed Tilla, his own mother.

Look at Blitz's hand during this memory, you can very clearly see that it's quite badly burned, including some that haven't even fully scarred properly yet, placing this memory very shortly after the fire happened. During this scene, Cash hits Blitz, and it's very clearly a memory that still deeply affects Blitz, a memory that most likely reinforced Blitz's own self hatred, because he's blaming himself for Tilla's death and Fizzarolli's injuries at this point, and his dad is just rubbing that in a lot by getting extremely pissed off with Blitz and hitting him because of the circus fire.

Plus, just look at Blitz's reaction to this memory, look at Blitz flinch, look at Blitz starting to struggle against the chains the moment this memory comes up. Blitz's reaction to this just proves how deeply it affects him to this day, and also proves that Cash hitting Blitz added to Blitz's self-hatred over the circus fire. Also, just how many times did Cash physically abuse Blitz like this over the course of his life so far?

Finally, we have the memory of Cash keeping Blitz from seeing Fizzarolli at the hospital. "But they told me you didn't want to see me.", Cash lied to Blitz and most likely the hospital staff as well considering the 'they' used, saying that Fizzarolli didn't want to see Blitz again, having strong implications to Blitz that Fizzarolli hated him. He also lied to Fizzarolli and said that Blitz never even visited him in the hospital. Further adding to Blitz's self hatred over the circus fire.

Section 2: Everything that has reinforced Blitz's self hatred, and is important on Blitz's self-forgiveness journey.

Let's start with Loona, we see her two times during the memories sequence.

The first having this exchange of dialogue.

Blitzo: Because, I adopted you! And that should mean something!

Loona: Oh, what does it matter?! You're not my real dad! I was almost eighteen!

Blitzo: It still counts!

Loona: Well, it shouldn't! I didn't need you then, asshole! I don't, now!

Notice the word 'need.', it's something that Blitz has internalized by now, Blitz thinks that if the people in his life don't 'need' him, they'll just leave him. Another thing that this shows is that Blitz is worried about if Loona hates him.

And it's very clear that Blitz is still effected by this exchange in s1 e3, even quite a while later. In s2 e2, we see Loona kick Blitz right in the balls, and just look at Loona's face in this scene, what Blitz sees here is his fear that Loona hates him, which is why it's in the memory sequence, and there's also these pieces of dialogue to consider.

Loona: If I'm so terrible, how about you just grow a pair and replace me?

Blitzo: Okay, well, maybe I- Maybe I might.

Blitzo: Oh, Loona, my sweet baby girl! I'm so sorry, I'll never replace you no matter what you--

Blitz is still concerned that Loona hasn't forgiven him/hates him for saying that he might replace her, hence why he instantly says he'll never replace her the moment Blitz sees her again, and that face and kick in the balls definitely fed into Blitz's fear that Loona hates Blitz.

And this fear that Blitz has about people who he cares about hating him seems to be something that applies to a lot of different people.

We see this fear in Fizzarolli, because this is one of the memories that comes up in that sequence. The malice-filled stare Fizzarolli gave Blitz during Ozzie's, and we all know Cash was the reason why Fizzarolli hated Blitz for so long, because he lied to Fizzarolli and said he started the fire on purpose, and said that he never visited him once. Alongside other things like Cash making Fizzarolli the golden child. So even all those years later, Cash is still contributing to Blitz's fear of the people he cares about hating him.

Don't be mistaken as well, just because they made up in s2 e6 doesn't make this fear of Blitz's go away, doesn't make the pain of the malice-filled stare go away, which this memory being brought up proves.

And, as I've said before, Blitz still blames himself for accidentally causing the fire that severely hurt him, also adding to the fear and self-hatred.

Barbie Wire, we can see this fear play out with her as well.

"I never wanna see you ever!"

Looking at both Blitz's face at the time and the fact that this scene made it into the memories sequence, it just shows us that Blitz has this fear for Barbie Wire as well, just like how he had it for Fizzarolli. The fact that Barbie Wire doesn't even want to see Blitz again just confirms that fear he has, that Barbie Wire hates him, and the memory of it also confirms just how deeply her saying that effected Blitz.

"Are you worried I may have enough of it one day as well?"

Truth Seekers, the fact that this is Blitz's subconscious telling him this is proof of the fact he has this fear that Moxxie will get tired of Blitz's behavior, that Moxxie will hate him and just, leave.

And the sequence with all the dead Millies and her appearance in the memories sequence also confirms that Blitz has this fear when it comes to Millie as well. Plus, the sequence with the dead Millies also tells us quite a few things, but I think the main ones are the insecurities Blitz has that he 'keeps fucking people's lives up' and 'leaving them worse and more broken than he found them', which both add to the fear that the people in Blitz's life who he cares for hates him.

The last person, Stolas.

There's three memories in ghostfuckers of him I'd like to bring up here.

The first being the All 2 U song memory, just look at how angry Stolas looks to Blitz in this specific memory, while singing lines like "'Cause I don't think it meant a thing at all!"

This one, Stolas was literally just crying a moment ago with all the makeup streaming down his face, but Blitz doesn't seem to remember that fact, instead, he's more focused on what Stolas said, more specifically, "You! Why are you here? I don't want you here, go home, please! Let me not feel so sad!"

And the final one, Stolas and the BTB guy. It's not jealousy, it's god damn heartbreak, especially considering the 'I mean you're a fucking prince. How could you ever actually care for an imp... Me? How could anybody?' Which shows us that Blitz thinks Stolas deserves a better partner, and then a guy literally with a shirt named 'Better than Blitzo' came in, with them dancing and enjoying each other, something that Blitz most likely wished he could do.

Plus, it had been around 24 hours since Stolas' confession to Blitz, and to Blitz, Stolas is already with someone else, someone 'better' than him. With the moment of the BTB guy kissing Stolas being all the confirmation Blitz needed, that he'll never be enough for Stolas, that Stolas has found someone better than him. That he's unlovable.

With all these three memories just massively contributing to Blitz's fear that Stolas hates him, and his self-hatred in general.

(Obviously Stolas doesn't hate Blitz, and that the BTB dude is a one night stand at most, but I'm speaking like how Blitz sees things rn)

Something else that's also relevant is this memory of Verosika, and the reason why this is specifically in the reel is because this was the moment that Verosika said "A reckless, heartbreaking freak!", all while Stolas was watching, which is something Blitz very clearly noted in his memories of the event, showing how much this effected him as well.

And to show that even more, this is the exact point that gets Blitz's tears flowing.

Another thing I want to quickly mention is that Blitz struggles to understand concepts and such of love, outside of a transactional context. Like, correct me if I'm overthinking this, but the 'unconditional support' card is yet another example of Blitz doing this kind of stuff. Everytime they give Blitz 'unconditional support', Blitz punches a hole in the card, with the one at the end being that Blitz has to leave M&M alone for one date, like, my babygirl, that isn't unconditional.

I also suspect that this has roots with Cash as well, considering that Cash was 100% the type of person to only see their value as 'how much money they can make him', and that the less they make for him, the less that Cash will 'love' them, something that is extremely clear in the difference that Cash treated Blitz and Fizzarolli on multiple occurrences. Like, here for example. Plus, there's also the fact that Blitz was bought by Paimon to be friends with Stolas as a kid.

And well, I think we all know what the biggest example of this kind of relationship has been throughout the show, it being something that only ended a few episodes ago.

Of course, I have to mention "I believe your subconscious is trying to tell you that you simply cannot fathom proper intimacy, but�� also crave it as well.", which is something that is extremely intertwined with this subject, and the best example of this is probably s2 e8.

Something else in the memories sequence that this line from truth seekers also heavily applies to are these memories.

It shows us very clearly that Blitz is rather envious of the relationship that Moxxie and Millie have, because Blitz craves proper intimacy, so what Blitz sees is something he wants, but something he feels like he can't obtain.

Finally, the last subject I'd like to talk about is the fact that Blitz, hasn't really been able to see much of the good things he's done for the people he cares about or that he straight up doesn't know, by just being himself.

Blitz saved Moxxie from a life with Crimson and also busted him out of prison, Blitz gave Millie a life, a husband, and a purpose, Blitz gave Loona a home and a loving father, right before she was about to get kicked out the system, and Blitz gave Stolas the courage to stand up to his abuser, to allow him to choose for himself and get that divorce.

But, the sad part is that Blitz doesn't really see much of that.

Section 3: The progress Blitz has made on self-forgiveness journey so far.

S2 E6, the fact that Blitz and Fizzarolli was able to make up after so long removed a huge roadblock in the way of Blitz's self-forgiveness journey. The fact that Fizzarolli no longer hates Blitz. While there are still memories about Fizzarolli that still haunt Blitz, as I've shown in this post, this is still a huge step forward for Blitz being able to repair his relationships.

The first real heart-to-heart Blitz and Millie conversation, a lot gets brought up here, just exactly how Blitz has improved Millie's life for the better, confirmation to Blitz that Millie never hated Blitz and the fact that they're best friends. Of course, there's also Millie's apology to Blitz, with this conversation being something that Blitz desperately needed to hear, and I really hope everyone else eventually tells Blitz just how much he's changed their lives for the better.

And the second conversation between the two, the first thing that Blitz mentions is Millie's best friend comment, and that is huge for Blitz, because it signals the start of Blitz learning that people in his life can care for Blitz unconditionally. That Blitz can just have friends in his life, as the line "I- I've never had a real friend that I didn't want to fuck."

(hit the image limit, so time for timestamps!) Timestamp 24:31

(Timestamp, 24:45) "The bird got to you that bad, huh?", it just means so much to me that Blitz has finally admitted the fact that Blitz has feelings for Stolas, because it shows that Blitz is slowly, but surely starting to open up, and this is gonna be a huge thing for Blitz's relationships, including when Stolitz finally gets back together.

[literupture]

they made a tv show about the I'm Mr. Sterling's Right Hand Arm Man scandal?????? holy shit??? she fucking says the line in the trailer lmaoooooooo

[nburkhardt]

Saw a prompt and couldn’t let it go, so enjoy! 🥰 (no dialogue because I can’t figure that part out)

Steve has always craved touch even though he never got it.

His parents found out his unique ability at a young age when Steve touched his aunt and she immediately fell to the floor dead. Just from his skin touching hers. After that he wasn’t allowed any sort of touch, his parents warned anyone and everyone to avoid touching him. Near everyone in town knows, knows to avoid touch with him; stays away from him.

Steve manages, as much as someone can with deadly powers.

He figured out how to get his own comfort from plush toys and once he figured out when others touch his clothes first, nothing happens. He figures wearing sleeves and pants and gloves will always be his best options.

Still touch-starved though.

He has friends, but no one wants to get super close. Too afraid to accidentally touch. His parents leave often, also too afraid of his ability.

Eddie was told by his Uncle Wayne that he was special.

That when he was five, he was in a terrible car accident that should’ve killed him. It did kill his mom, but the emts and doctors were shocked that Eddie was fine. He was hurt, sure, but completely fine otherwise.

So, he grew to be little reckless. Lives on the edge and found out at sixteen that he can’t die. After several visits with specialists, it was officially confirmed.

He’s able to get hurt, pretty badly sometimes. But besides that, he can’t die. Which scares him just a bit but not enough to stop living life on the edge.

Steve leaves his hometown as soon as he can with only his things and a plan to get as far away as he can from all the people who are afraid of him.

He’s also afraid, so afraid that he’s not only touch-starved but also a little touch averse now. Doesn’t want anyone to die just by simply touching him. He might want touch, but will always be afraid.

They meet by chance, but mostly because of Eddie being a reckless idiot and his friends daring him to try running across very busy traffic. Which, as the daredevil he is, Eddie attempts to do it.

He’s only stopped by Steve freaking out at seeing it. For once, Steve acts before his brain catches up with him. Just throws his gloveless hand and grabs hold on Eddie’s arm to force him to stop moving.

Eddie jerks back and for a split second, feels a warmth before it fades. He’s taken back, annoyed at being stopped but also very confused. Most people that live here, know him. Know that he can get hurt but can’t die.

So this random person grabbing hold of his arm is new.

The touch registers in Steve’s head minutes later, as Eddie stares at him. He immediately lets go with wide eyes and panicking. But instead of the guy dropping dead, he’s still standing.

Eventually they’ll talk, they’ll learn each other’s abilities and someday in the future learn to love each other.

~~

Sooo, I can’t figure out how to work out dialogue into this. Or really flesh out their abilities. But it’s a thing! If you want to take this and pick it apart, you’re definitely welcome to do so! (If you do tag me!)

Permanent tag list:

@spectrum-spectre @itsfreakingbats @mysticcrownshipper @artiststarme @thereindeerlady @justforthedead89 @ronniescontinuum @freyaforestafay @littlewildflowerkitten @gregre369 @zerokrox-blog @flustratedcas @carlprocastinator1000 @marvelmwah @solliesolesito @navnae @i-less-than-three-you @grimmfitzz @estrellami-1 @cartercaptainofthemoon @strangersteddierthings

[buddiebeginz]

Guys don’t let spoilers for new eps rattle you. We’re closer to Buddie now than we have ever been. Just have to let the story play out.

Remember these things:

They’re not really pushing B/T in the press they’re doing for the show. Like sure they’ve talked about them but go read all the articles and watch the interviews T*mmy is being talked about more as a mentor figure for Buck and not a long term love interest.

The show has very deliberately connected Buck’s bi awakening including B/T to Eddie and compared T*mmy to Eddie.

They’ve literally with dialogue pointed out Buck wanted Eddie’s attention twice (once when Buck was talking to Maddie after the game and once when T*mmy says “my attention” a clear indication he knew Buck wanted Eddie’s attention).

They’ve full on paralleled B/T scenes and Buddie scenes (call Eddie/call T*mmy)

Buck was talking about how great Eddie is moments before T*mmy kissed him.

Eddie was the character they chose to have crash Buck’s first date with a guy. They chose to have it be where Eddie announces that Marisol is moving in and after the date was over and ended badly the main thing Buck focused on wasn’t T*mmy it was the fact he lied to Eddie.

They’ve made it a point to say in interviews that Buck isn’t going to be having any more one on one coming out scenes this season. Yet they had both of Buck’s important coming out scenes involve Eddie. Buck ends up coming out to Maddie because he’s talking about the date and how he’s upset he lied to Eddie. They also had some very deliberate dialogue when Maddie said “I just think maybe you’re not sure of your own feelings yet. And if there’s something you need to tell Eddie you will. In your own time.”

They devoted a whole intense scene to Buck coming out to Eddie including with a hug.

They keep promoting Buddie in interviews and the press and almost all of the promo videos and pics this season have included them. They’ve also had Ryan and Oliver front and center during the press early on and both seem excited about Buddie’s storyline together this season.

They’ve even made Maddie and Chim’s wedding about Buddie to a large degree. All the promos for it are 98% Buddie. They’re also wearing a couples costume, partying with drag queens, and being more physically close than we’ve ever seen them be. Remember this is also happening at an event we saw Buck invite T*mmy to and we know Eddie has a gf who should presumably be his +1.

Marisol has barely been in this season. We don’t really know her as a person or even her last name. We don’t even know how a relationship between her and Eddie functions because we’ve barely seen them together. The one ep Marisol was heavily featured in the show treated her more like a punchline than a fully fleshed out character and certainly not like a long term love interest to a main character.

They’ve already had Eddie talking about how he’s a nester this season. But they also had a very emotional scene where Chris talks about Shannon and how everyone leaves. Eddie having Marisol move in with him so quick (even if she did move back out) just proves he’s repeating old patterns. He’s looking to replace Shannon in his life and for Chris. Instead of looking at what he has and what he wants.

Also remember that Ryan was included with all the other cast members who play queer characters on that episode of Family Feud that’s likely to air during pride month.

I know a lot of people are nervous about what the show is going to do with Buddie but remember there is more incentive for them to make Buddie canon now than ever before. They’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback especially in the press from Buck’s bi storyline. Tim and Ryan and Oliver and the rest know how much people want to see Buddie happen and how much attention they will garner the show when it does. They’re in the perfect position to finally move these characters in that direction and I think they are slowly and steadily. We just have to be patient. We’re likely to have parts of the story suck as we get closer to Buddie but it will be worth it in the end.

[eriexplosion]

Okay so. I cannot take it seriously when people say that we weren't led to think CX-2 was Tech. Because no we were not just having foreshadowing of the creation of an Evil Bad Batch. The clues led directly to Tech.

We have to start with the fact that they didn't kill him off definitively. Start with his survival being debated (and there's no way they didn't know it would be debated because I choose to believe they are not stupid) then introduce a character that lasts suspiciously long and has weirdly intense beef with Crosshair and you already are inclining people towards believing this is Tech.

CX-2 goes through a speedrun of Tech scenarios with 1. the leg crushed by a heavy falling object, similar to Ruins of War 2. knocked over by an explosion leaving him dangling above the abyss from a line like Plan 99 3. going over a waterfall and crawling out in a shot that completely matches the scene from The Crossing.

One or two of these is a coincidence, all three together less so.

Plan 99 notes mixed into The Battle of the Snipers. Which the Kiners only explained as the notes 'sounding good in brass' and nothing else.

He gets distinctly Tech like dialogue and no I don't just mean 'domicile' though we do have to acknowledge that no one else in Star Wars uses this word on the regular. We also have the exact match of 'Who are you' to Decomissioned, and the matching of 'I have simply cut off her means of escape' to Tech regularly saying 'I am simply-' when explaining himself, which again is something no one else in the show shares. Tech has a distinct way of speaking that matches CX-2, especially as of Point of No Return. (And CX-2 doesn't really sound like Crosshair, because Crosshair is just straight up not as chatty as CX-2 and never has been.)

He gets a long, unnecessary scene with Phee where he suddenly forgets how to be a murder assassin and starts playing soft.

He doesn't shoot Hunter when he has a chance and chooses to instead shoot his own man, he doesn't blow up the Marauder while Wrecker is inside, and when Omega surrenders he opts to just wait for her to hand him her communicator. He doesn't even shoot Shep when Shep starts talking back to him, all of which indicated that maybe for whatever reason he didn't want to, bolstering the Tech theories.

Getting into an opinion rather than analysis here but: Evil Bad Batch is a stupid fucking idea, it serves no purpose whatsoever other than a cool boss fight that adds nothing to the story. Having a CX be someone, anyone they actually cared about would have been interesting and actually played into the themes of family and forgiveness that were set up earlier in the season. Instead it's just more people to kill off to zero interesting payoff. It's stupid.

Every person I spoke to offline thought that this was Tech. All of them. People that have never looked on social media, watched a theory video, anything. All thought CX-2 was Tech and were confused when he was speared. This was not terminally online theorizing gone wild, this was a very widespread thought and assumption.

So, if they didn't mean to do any of that and at no point intended to imply this was Tech and were solely trying to foreshadow their 5 minutes of Evil Batch fight? They did it poorly. When the majority of your audience actively believes you are leading to one direction only for it to be some other direction that you meant to lead them to, the problem is not The Audience Didn't Read It Right, the problem is you wrote it badly.

[spideyhexx]

kit's tbosas notes

here are my notes from reading the first five chapters of tbosas <3 this includes quotes I particularly picked out/thoughts as I read! if you want to discuss anything, pls send any thoughts!

CHAPTER 1

Starting off with Coryo & Cabbage immediately made me think about the beginning of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which starts the same way, where it's making sure you KNOW he's poor.

Memories of looking at picture books with his mother...no thoughts on this, it just made me sad.

"But better off sad, than dead...," (Pg. 5) - ARE YOU SURE CORIOLANUS

"As if controlling one element of his world would keep him from ruin," (Pg. 7) - Suzanne is telling us everything right from the beginning. Tendency to obsession! He seeks control because he didn't have that for his entire childhood.

Communications Professor - Satyria Click favored Coryo and he's the TA for that class.

Coryo considers flaking over a shirt as the most relatable thing as someone who also deals with anxiety and being meticulous. More on that, there is so much to be known about him in just the first few pages, how perfectionist he is, how badly he tears himself down over image, how much he hates his status...

Tigris is so exceptionally sweet, that it hurts!

He's pricked by a rose immediately and I don't take that moment lightly, that's deeper than it comes off.

I must have forgot reaping day was on July 4th but that's insane.

"LOVE THE BANGS." - Coriolanus is a kiss-up

Gymnasium Mistress is such a silly title - Agrippina Sickle - SEJANUS IS THE TA

Pg. 17 - Sejanus and his soulful brown eyes! Josh comes right off the page as Sejanus, what perfect casting.

There is disdain and camaraderie from Coriolanus' POV regarding Sejanus. He's playing with him but he also kind of likes that?

Coriolanus' first dialogue with Sejanus is about working out.

"Ma? Was Coriolanus' place about to be usurped by someone who referred to his mother as Ma?" (Pg. 20) - Coriolanus being funny.

CHAPTER 2

Coriolanus singing the national anthem in a forceful voice, getting nods of approval over it, and immediately thinking, "It was pathetic," is the most relatable thing I have ever heard. (Pg. 23)

"his insult," referring to Lucy Gray (pg. 25)

Mayfair wetting herself from the snake.

"There was something vaguely familiar about her but disturbing about her," (Pg. 25) - more than just the circus memories he has in this moment.

Sejanus immediately calling that Lucy Gray being chosen was rigged is so interesting to me? The fact he picked up on that out of anyone.

"Don't cry," - CORYO

"Coriolanus wondered if, like him, they were hoping she'd keep singing," (Pg. 29) - he's already in so deep

"But his brain had developed properly; at least he hoped it had," (Pg. 34) - funny coryo

The entire scene of Highbottom insulting Coriolanus is much sadder here in the book than in the film due to the sole fact of what happened before. Coriolanus so badly wants pie, even thinking about getting two slices and after Highbottom insults him, Coriolanus just wants to leave the Academy, he completely disregards how much he wants to eat after he's mocked. Also Coriolanus not knowing why Highbottom hates him? And thinking it's the nickname the students call him. Interesting.

First the threat of losing his apartment, then the lowliest tribute assignment -- who, on further reflection, was definitely crazy..." (Pg. 36) - I actually thought he was gonna say something nice here for some reason.

CHAPTER 3

"As you always say, your roses open any doors," (Pg. 38) - he never forgot this.

Remus Dolittle - Game-maker in training, who lives below Coriolanus

"She was terrifying really. And here he was in his uniform, clutching a rose like some lovesick schoolboy, hoping she would -- what? Like him? Trust him? Not kill him on sight?" (Pg. 39) - thought this was funny.

Coryo waited three hours!!! He felt a mix of pity and revulsion at the tributes.

Coriolanus believing his gravelly voice from not speaking for hours had a nice maturity to it (Pg. 42)

Lucy Gray calls him gorgeous.

He clocks Lucy Gray 'performing' from the get-go (Pg. 42) - and on that note, Lucy Gray feels so much more mysterious in the book since we're inside Coriolanus' head, she comes off as like an enigma and I really do love the discussion of how she is using him almost as much as he's using her. Of course, Coriolanus has worse moments than in regards to her, but she is performing for a lot of this.

I like the change that he sneaks onto the truck in the movie instead of Peacekeepers giving him permission.

"He remembered she carried snakes in her pocket and the usual rules didn't apply to her," (Pg. 43) - funny Coryo

In the truck scene with the tributes, I think the film had better lines (dialogue), especially from Coriolanus

He's a pampered poodle!

"Coriolanus resorted to the one move that had yet to fail him in schoolyard scuffles, driving his knee up hard into his opponent's crotch," (Pg. 45) - okay 1, WHAT SCHOOLYARD SCUFFLES WAS CORYO GETTING INTO and 2, I like that they took this out from the film because it would characterize him more on knowing how to fight at least somewhat but I feel like it strengthens what happens when he kills a tribute in the arena to not see him be violent in any regard beforehand.

"After Lucy Gray's wink, it might be worthwhile to stay," (Pg. 47) - CRAZY, OKAY CORYO!

CHAPTER 4

"HIS GIRL," (Pg. 49) - he's so possessive immediately

"Who were all these people hanging around on a weekday at the zoo? Didn't they have jobs? Shouldn't the children be in school? No wonder the country was such a mess," (Pg. 49) - Coryo continues to be funny

"All the faces...began to blur...his limbs felt numb, his lungs starved for air...he felt immense relief that he was not entirely alone...," (Pg. 49) - This whole section is so key in his character and his immediate liking/trust to Lucy Gray. First, he goes into a panic attack over the situation, and she's the one to ground him and calm him, which we learn later he usually calms down at night with his mother's rose powder scent in the compact and it's just making me think about how he misses that presence or a presence that can ground him and Lucy Gray does that without him even asking.

Coryo felt a spark and a burst of charisma from holding her hand AND she gripped his hand like a vice despite her outward appearance being so calm and confident (Pg. 50)

Lepidus Malmsey - Capitol News

"tried for likable with a hint of roguishness," (Pg. 53) - okay, Coryo

"He thought the combination of cohorts and unceremoniously had just the right note of superiority," (Pg. 54-55) - thinking of himself as superior to the Peacekeepers and also showing his perfectionism even within what words he chooses. He's so pretentious.

Io Jasper adored Coriolanus

"the smell of formaldehyde triggered his gag reflex," (Pg. 55) -wrote this down because I'm a teen boy/j

Coriolanus watched Gaul melt the flesh off of a rat at NINE!!!

Boa Bell is the sweetest name for a cat, I'm in love. She loved Coryo!!! And consoled him :(

"it upset him to think of Boa Bell ending up in the lab," (Pg. 58)

Coriolanus remembers Lucy Gray's words about owning it to help with talking to Gaul and Highbottom. She's so in his head already.

"Coriolanus would have to review the Academy student guide so he could object to the punishment," (Pg. 61) - he's so anxious and particular and insane

CHAPTER 5

he and Lucy Gray were the stars...okay Coriolanus!

"What was Sejanus up to? Was he trying to outdo him and steal the day's thunder?" (Pg. 63) - Coriolanus!!!

Also "that girl wasn't even his tribute," (Pg. 63) - referring to Dill. Sejanus trying to hand out food to anyone. This is such a good way of characterizing him as being sympathetic towards all of them, not just Marcus.

"His dog in a fight," (Pg. 68) - Coriolanus is referring to Lucy Gray here...he's so contradictory because he does make comments about knowing they're not 'animals' and he treats Lucy Gray as a normal human, but then his thoughts reflect more of this! The way he doesn't question it though is a testament to how it's been drilled into his head.

Coriolanus broke his denial of eating after seeing the ketchup in Lucy Gray's sandwich

He gets flustered after openly admitting to Lucy Gray of not having much food at home!!! I feel like the film lost out on so much character for Coryo in regards to his relationship with food because it is so important in almost every chapter. Also, him admitting it this quick to her is another point in showing how he's gained trust for her so quick. He calls himself an idiot over telling her.

"but this caressed his brain, calling her from the depths," (Pg. 71) - referring to Lucy Gray's song as it reminded him of a song his mother sang, then Coryo goes into the backstory of her death. There really is a connection between the love his mother gave him and his relationship with Lucy Gray.

he smells the rose powder when he has trouble sleeping :( this was all such a sad passage to read but especially, "it never failed to calm him with the memory of how it had felt to be loved like that," (Pg. 71) - Like that's very tragic.

The entire conversation with Sejanus, I'm still thinking about it but. It's clear Coriolanus is manipulating his own thoughts with how he sees Sejanus' actions, like Coriolanus almost can't fathom Sejanus is saying/doing things out of the mere goodness of his heart. And if Coriolanus does believe that, he sees it as stupid. And he sees Sejanus' actions as not being grateful for what he has. So at the end of it, Coriolanus is just jealous and spiteful.

"Lucy Gray was one thing belonging to Coriolanus that he [Sejanus] would never, ever get," (Pg. 75) - absolutely wild thing but this goes back to what was said in chapter one!!! Coriolanus wants to be able to control something and add into it what he feels towards Sejanus, it's amplified right now because he has the ability to deprive Sejanus of what he's asking for.

[jjwho]

What you Need to Heal Right Now

Collaboration with : @amionatea

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Pile 1

Cards pulled out: four of wands reversed, three of cups, the empress, page of swords

So Pile 1

What I see is that in the past you mgihtve never felt included or welcomed. People mightve canceled on you a lot of you could have a lot of family members who don't like you or cut you off. What you need to feel is your insecurity and instability and your self doubts. These issues have most likely caused you to be inable to go to requires or party's or to just have fun with people or just to feel comfortable with yourself being in an area with people without being so subconscious about yourself. You need to Heal by getting more buturingveuth yourself and to be more in tune with you feminine energy. You need to find balance in yourself and have patience with yourself. You should communicate more and be assertive and direct. Don't overthink anything.

Why should you heal this issue?

Nine of cups and King of cups

You'll finally have your dreams come true and finally feel fulfilled with yourself and feel accomplished, you might even meet more emotionally mature people who are patient and tolerant which can help you a lot.

@amionatea s turnnn

Pile 2

For pile 2-

You are in need to heal your connections, both personal relationships as the connection to yourself.

You seem to be stuck isolating yourself, turning a blind I to well meaning connections meant to blossom.

The hurt you've endured in the past keeps you from opening up towards like minded individuals, offering you a harmonious relationship or simply showing interest in you as a person.

Your inner dialogue keeps repeating the same mantras of vigilance and distrust while your need for vulnerability and unity is at a constant high leaving you fighting an inner conflict.

This has exhausted you both mentally and emotionally.

As of now you are asked to face your fears of betrayal and slowly work towards connecting with your surroundings.

You have already made progress in the right direction,you just need to push yourself a little.

Step away from your inner turmoil and allow people to get to know you for you,not for what you perceive them to want from you.

Yes, you have encountered negative people in the past and your need to keep yourself safe from future disappointments and hurt is understandable but not only are you stunting your own personal growth,you are denying yourself of the love you yearn for.

You are meant to experience safe and loving connections and they are there for you to explore if you are brave enough to cross that bridge.

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Pile 3

Pile 3-

Are living in a lack mindset?

The first two cards in your pile paint a picture of some on constantly over burdening themself in hopes of gaining more.

You seem to be working towards emotional fullfillment, longing to have it all in the near future ,thereby forgetting to enjoy your blessings and achievements in the now.

You like to be prepared for the unknown,as much as possible and not wanting to experience certain live situations again has lead you to become a hard and disciplined worker but you can't seem to see yourself as such.

You are stuck viewing yourself as someone aimlessly drifting when you have clearly worked past this aspect of you.

You are in need to work on both yourself Image and your perception on "being of value".

You do not need to be on top of everything for people to love and admire you.

It's okay to not be prepared for everything and relay on your loved ones, especially in regards to emotional situations.

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Back to me😌

Pile 4

Cards pulled out: The star, ace of pentacles reversed, nine of wands reversed, seven of cups reversed

Pile 4.

You need to Heal your creative and positive energy. You need to let your healing energy do its job and heal and not stop it from healing.

You need to start healing these issues so you won't make bad financial decisions, you need to recognise how badly you're spending money and being stingy at the same time. You need to stop being so stubborn and not accepting the help that is offered otherwise you'll be left with nothing and shit options left because you don't accept the help and you don't let yourself think positively and don't you let yourself get hope that you need. You need to work on your issues where you avoid your problems and being too focused on superficial shit.

Why you need to Heal these issues?

Eight of cups and knight of pentacles

So you can finally leave these issues and be given and get stability, security and good financial opportunities.

STOP BEING NEGATIVE OH MY DAYS. You're in a bad situation because you're stubborn and don't let yourself have hope and be positive. Let yourself heal and be positive and hopeful. My days..

[flowerandblood]

Writing the Long Series

How I manage to do this for @troublesomesnitch

I often get questions about how I write and how I structure my work. If you are a perfectionist and like to have everything organized and tidy, this guide is not for you, because most of my work is chaos. However, I know that there are people like me who are tired of having to make lists, think about beta-readers, etc., so for all those who don't like to plan, here's how I write long series.

1. Never assume that your series will be long

When I write a oneshot or the first chapter of my story, I never assume how many chapters it will have − I do this very rarely when I have a specific plot in mind for a mini-series, but I often change my mind anyway, adding or shortening the series as I see fit. It's usually only when I've written the first two chapters that I have a sense of whether or not the story itself for me is asking to be longer.

With The Impossible Choice I thought I would close it in 20 chapters, and ended up with 55 chapters and 3 Alternate Universes. I had no idea when I wrote the first chapter that this would happen. Putting the pressure on yourself "okay, this is my moment, it's time for a long series, I want to make it 30 chapters" will make you shy away from writing at the thought of how much work lies ahead. Don't think about it, just write.

2. You don't have to have an ending

In none of my long series I knew what the ending would be. I usually know what's going to happen a maximum of 2/3 chapters in advance. I believe, but this is just my personal opinion, that writers pay too much attention to the ending, and if we are not writing a crime story, or the ending itself is not supposed to be a big breakthrough, it doesn't really matter. Even whether everything ends well or badly. Sometimes what's more important is the journey and what's in between.

I come up with the ending at the very end, when I have all the chapters. Then I know exactly what happened and what ending to the story will make sense in the context of what has happened so far. What's the point of coming up with a super-thought-out ending if it doesn't seem to fit the whole? This is starting from the wrong side. We are supposed to feel emotions throughout the story, not just at the end.

3. Don't predetermine how each chapter will end

This is suicide. Because what if you have a couple of scenes at the beginning, an end scene and a blank of what to write in between? It makes no sense!

When I write a chapter, I just go scene by scene and look at the number of words. Once it's over 2'500, I'm already thinking about slowly closing the chapter and I usually end it with some kind of breakthrough sentence or a character's thought. That's enough.

You don't always have to come up with a cliffhanger at the end. It's more important that the story reads smoothly and with breath, not to have someone gasp in surprise at the end but feel that what they were reading was just a bunch of scenes that weren't necessary.

4. Accept the fact that you won't use all the scenes you've imagined

I know we often think we have fantastic ideas, that this and that could happen, but sometimes we find that when we write, they just don't fit anywhere. There's no need to get upset then. If it's not a key scene for the whole story, it should be omitted or modified completely. Having said that, I'm against planning scenes ahead, except for the ones that matter most and push everything forward. It then makes such a pattern with holes that aren't there when you write everything in sequence.

Some people say − don't know how to do it? Leave it, move on to the next scene! I say no here! Don't keep writing until you know which way you want to go! And even if you do know, if you can't make it happen with a scene or dialogue, ask yourself if that way is good. Maybe just because you came up with it doesn't mean it makes sense in the context of the whole story you've created so far?

Maybe it's worth taking a different course, surprising yourself, choosing a different solution? Don't be a prisoner of your own decisions, let the creation of the story be fluid and changeable according to what you feel will be most viable for the development of your character!

5. Write other stories between chapters

Write oneshots or other mini-series in between chapters of your big project. Allow yourself to take a breather and not think about it all the time. I always intersperse my long series with my other work and it has helped me a lot. Sometimes, you just lose the verve for that concritical story and feel like writing something else − you should do exactly that. Don't think 'oh no, I'm starting a new story and I haven't finished that one'.

Even if you don't finish that one, nothing will happen. By controlling yourself in this way you are killing the fun you should be having with it. When you feel like it, read your long series again, or at least the last chapters to get the mood and then try to sit down to write a new chapter. I've found that when I take breaks and come back to stories like this after a few days, good new ideas come to me which keep me engaged in creating this story.

6. Play with characters, not scenes

Sometimes we come up with a scene that doesn't resonate at all as well in the story as it did in our mind when we wrote it. The reason I knock such scenes out is usually because they don't fit the character I'm writing about.

In my series The Fall from The Heavens originally when Lady Strong and Aemond are sitting in the library years later and Aemond tells her about having his first intimate experience with a whore, I wanted him to have tears in his eyes, get up from the table and walk over to the bookcase, Lady Strong was going to approach him and try to draw out of him what had happened.

However, as I wrote this, I felt somewhere in the back of my mind that something was wrong. I realised that while the scene itself was interesting and poignant, it didn't fit completely with my Aemond in this series. He would never allow himself to show weakness in this aspect, he would never have tears in his eyes at the thought, at most he would feel disgust, discomfort and anger.

I thought I would change this to a scene where her question reminds him of what happened and he tries to put it out of his mind and pretend he was content, drawing sastifaction from her jealousy. This, in my opinion, was definitely better suited to his spiteful, sullen character.

7. Do not ignore the thoughts of the protagonists

Some authors forget that only they know what is in the characters' heads − readers do not. Putting everything in dialogues makes no sense, because ordinary people don't say everything they think about.

Each of us thinks about something constantly, even when we just look at someone, when we sit alone or when we don't say anything. The characters' thoughts, so often overlooked, are a gateway to entering various scenes and events without the need for dialogue or additional events.

In The Knight & The Judge, readers would hate my Aemond if it weren't for the fact that they know his thoughts, how he regrets his actions, what he goes through, why he does certain things. Events do not happen by themselves, but are the result of what is happening in his head, even if he does not say much to other characters.

8. Don't be afraid to use side characters to show your couple's perspective

I often swap perspectives, once showing the perspective of a female character and once of a male character, but I also often use the eyes of side characters like Aegon, Daemon or Alys to show what their relationship looks like from the side.

Although some people dread this (like being afraid to write a chapter without smut because no one will read it because there won't be spicy scenes − that's nonsense) such a pov often gives a much wider view of how our characters are perceived from the side, what others think of their behaviour, what their decisions lead to, how they affect other characters.

If these side characters are an important part of our story, we can use such an extra chapter to build up what they will do in the future, engaging with our couple's story.

9. Confrontation does not always mean violence

I notice that often when there is a conversation between the main characters, many authors do their best to make both characters as sassy as possible, throwing fanciful insults at each other, threatening each other, considering it a good prelude to sexual tension. Of course, in one or two scenes this will work, even more so when, in fact, the two parties are very much at odds and practically hate each other.

However, it can't be that even though the characters are getting closer, they act as if they haven't gone through any development, haven't had any thoughts. It amazes me when someone writes an elaboration on the appearance of a gown or a room, on how someone raises a hand or performs an action, but does not lean into the fact that their character's behaviour is unnatural.

People say unpleasant things to each other in anger, but usually, forced to be in each other's company, they also have calmer discussions. Sometimes one word or sentence can make someone's perspective change, make them understand something that was unclear to them and new feelings emerge that can push the plot further − compassion, grief, longing or even understanding.

Creating templates out of our characters who have specific characteristics and always behave identically makes the whole story unbelievable.

10. Be kind to yourself

At the moment, there are no series from my first months of writing here written by me that I would consider good and I edit most of them, or I just left them as is and will never come back to them. I just know they are bad. But that's the way it is, in order to develop we have to make mistakes and not always be satisfied with ourselves (although at that moment I thought I had created my life's work).

Be understanding and kind to yourself. I managed to create so much work, not always good, mainly because I did it with passion and joy. I am very proud of many of my stories now and I like them even when I come back to them after a long time, I feel my progress and I know that it was worth it. Give yourself a chance and don't block yourself.

[ginnyw-potter-archive]

Fan Fic Humble Brag Tag

Sometimes we love something we wrote so much we want to knock on every door spreading the good word of our little story. But sometimes we fear being seen as rude or too self promoting. Here is your chance to do a bit of self promo and bragging without fear because some asked you too.

Answer the questions and then tag five writers who you think deserve to brag about their work Tagged by @thelighthousestale!!

1.) the funniest bit of dialogue you wrote

I write a lot of banter so I find it difficult to choose, but I wrote this earlier this week and really wanted to show it to someone (I'll leave you to guess what fic this is for)

Ginny walked into their room at night. “We are having sex.” Harry looked down in mock-surprise. “Are we? You should have told me, I would have bothered to undress.”

2.) A story you wrote that made you cry

This is a really low bar because I cry really easily I'd choose This is me trying, I suppose

3.) A story that still makes you laugh every time you reread it or think about it

A hungover Harry in her bed. I like to laugh at Harry's despair meeting Ginny's carpet face-to-fabric.

4.) Best moment of canon compliant characterization

I have taken a lot of different approaches to writing Hinny's post-battle reconciliation and I think the latest attempt comes closest. I think it showed a good mix of their maturity, their grief and their connection.

Snippet (In the arms of the boy she loved):

They walked aimlessly through the aisles for a while. When Ginny let go of his hand, he stopped and looked at her. She leaned against the bookcase and looked up, breathing deeply. He stepped forward and rested his forehead against hers, stroking her cheek. Her hands reached out, nearly trembling and clutched onto the sides of his shirt. He kissed her softly. As soon as he leaned away, her lips followed him. She refused to disconnect from him and kissed him again. He did not object, he needed her as badly as she needed him. His whole body seemed to hum from her touch, revelling in the comfort of her proximity. He held onto her, telling her silently he was staying right there with her. “Breathe,” he told her, locking eyes with her. She shook her head. “I’m trying.” “I know.” He brushed her hair out of her face with his hand. “I’m right here.”

5.) Something you wrote in a fic you secretly (or not so secretly) think as canon

I think they went for a 4th child because the house was quiet without James and ended up with twins, Ruby and Remy.

6.) The most romantic bit you’ve written

There is a part in Not your Captain where Harry disappears. Ginny turns her ship around and sails back out to sea in the hopes of rescuing him from certain death. I think that's pretty romantic.

7.) A fic you wrote that everyone sleeps on, but you know, is excellent

I don't think this was slept on, but That has a ring to it had significantly fewer interactions than Experimentally in Love. I am not sure if it was the trope that spoke less to people, I just felt there was a difference for sure.

8.) Wow us with an excellent excerpt For Spilt Blood

“Up! Up!” Potter’s Aunt Petunia’s voice shrilly roused them from sleep as she barged into the bedroom. Ginny jumped away from her, towards Mr Potter. He pulled on her arm, pulling her out of his aunt’s way. They stood against the wall, breathing heavily from their sudden awakening. Petunia jerked back the sheets with a menacing look and stared at the spot of blood. Ginny’s heart was pounding. Petunia walked up to her, craning her long neck. “Did it hurt, girl?” “I am married,” she said boldly, staring up at the woman. “You will address me as such.” The slap echoed through the room and her cheek stung immediately. Ginny leapt forward at Petunia, who screamed with arms flailing as she tried to escape. Ginny grabbed onto her arm and pulled, trying to get a better hold. Mr Potter’s arm swooped around her and pulled her back against him and away from his aunt. She had half a mind to bite him in the arm to free herself but changed her mind at the last moment. She tried to escape but he held onto her tighter. Petunia’s expression turned vicious, and though the sting of Ginny’s cheek was quickly fading, she remembered her husband's back, and wondered if this woman was responsible. Ginny was suddenly glad to retreat. She ducked out of his hold, and he pushed her behind him, both holding her back and protecting her from his aunt. “No!” he bellowed, his arms stretched out to keep the two women apart. “You got what you want, now get out of my house!”

9.) Five words to describe your writing

Banter, light-hearted, romantic, direct, optimistic

10.) The fic you are most proud of

Wreck My Plans, I don't think this is my best writing, but I think it really helped me find a slightly different approach to writing and pacing and I think that's why it was such a significant fic to me.

Tagging: @sophie-hatter-jenkins, @starlingflight, @four2andnew, @charmsandtealeaves and @takearisk-x

[2demondogs]

Well since you updated guidelines ...Okay okay okay hear me out.. Could you maybe write something with epilogue Charles x John?

I don't know.. it was so domestic. We see them laughing and horsing around. They literally built Beecher's Hope together, ough!!

There's some dialogue between the both of them discussing Charles leaving to 'Indochina' and John just goes "I wish you could stay :(" and it made me urrgghhh. If you see the vision, do you mind writing something angsty but sweet?

I am hearing you out do not fret Anon. Definitely a new pairing for me and I haven't played through the epilogue so I hope it did it justice.

Honestly I might write more eventually because "Where even is that?" "I don't really know." Charles babygirl... what does that mean? Why did you say it like that?

Words: 1.1k Tags: bittersweet angst, background John/Abigail, referenced character death, canon compliant, one(1) drunken kiss

The differences and similarities between Arthur and John come to Charles often, ever since he was once more swarmed by the memories. He supposes that they will linger for a long time, until the holes in his heart are patched over with fresh tissue.

He thinks John could stand to reflect on it, too.

There was always something about Arthur's future that was foggy. Whatever happened to Arthur Morgan simply happened, Charles thinks, because the man had no desires and therefore no agency.

Dutch could have crushed his fingers beneath his boot and he would not have been angry until it was over with. Then he would have figured out — in his own words, he figured out a lot of things in retrospect which were more or less lies he told himself to soothe the pain — why it happened. Finally, Arthur would have made peace with it by the morning, because it was much easier than taking action.

Those years ago, Charles felt it too: that clotted-air stagnancy and apathy about his own place in the world. It was starting to reek of death by the time he settled in Saint Denis, and the scent remains in his nostrils to this day. Whenever he grasps his great big purpose in life, it should wane. At least, that's what he tells himself, because each purpose he has tried on for size has yet to banish the stink.

He still misses Arthur, though not as painfully as he once did. The man's heart was good, for all it bled.

Crimson stains John's hands as badly. He must have thought on himself, on his brother, on his lover, on someone long enough to figure out that decisions need to be made or he will waste into the wind just the same.

Except, in the litany of memories that's found him since joining John and Uncle, Charles is uncertain where John's decision-making will stop. Something ugly inside of him is reminded of Dutch, in a way. It had struck him upon reading his letter to Abigail. Like all things to do with her, John never trusted himself to make the final call. He pressed it into Charles' hands with an anxiousness as clear as if it were really meant for him.

Before, he had never stopped to think where kindness becomes selfishness, and like always, John put some of his distastes into distinct words and gave the rest room to take shape.

Who would warm John's bed if Abigail did not bow under the weight of Beecher's Hope?

Who would raise his son if the enormity of this was not as much of a fairy tale to her as it was to John, and to Uncle?

Somewhere deep inside, it has even appeared as one to himself. Charles blames his time cooped up with the two men for poisoning him with fondness for such romantic ideas as my lover, I have built you a house — though the old-world romantic quality of the gesture, which he guesses is what endears Uncle to the sweetness of it, is discolored by a new-age addition of I'll live in it, too, and so will everyone else.

A house, not a home. Not yet.

It's a good life, by definition of whoever decides what elegies will call a good life and what will simply be too bad. He isn't sure if John wants Abigail or if he only wants that foretold good life. Men should be sons, then fathers; if Charles knows nothing of what society expects of men their age, he knows this, and he knows that John's time as a son has well and truly ended.

Still, Charles loves him. He thinks of these flaws the same way he thinks of his habit of spitting out phlegm on the trail: warmly, because John's ugliness is as John as his kindness is.

That sore has been stinging since he read the letter. Never good news in a letter, he has been thinking wryly, on and off. Death or marriage, and never the ones you want.

All of them drunk and Uncle fast asleep, John kisses him just an hour after promising to Abigail what a fine life they will have. Never tactful, but Charles has never been hard to please, either, so he even let John lean into his chest and smell his throat afterwards.

A final to us for a vague entanglement that he always feared would not develop fine lines. Retroactive ones drawn in the dust are better than nothing. The ugliest parts of him flicker with hope for doubt, but then he remembers who they are, where they are, and what year it is.

Charles knows that John will send the letter to his woman, anyways, because she is his woman and that is his son, and he feels dirty for having desired for more than a second that he should come between a man and his family. Good life or not, John is probably experiencing the first chance his whole forsaken bloodline has ever had at something like that.

He also knows that John might keep kissing on him in these privacies because he was raised, to questionable success but undoubtedly in part, by Dutch van der Linde. Charles indulges in feeling over the finally-healed scars on John's cheek for the first time since wondering how thick the skin has grown back, says something sickeningly saccharine about how they cut through his beard much nicer than his own, you always was handsome— and in the soft fall of John's lids, mouth already furled up with drink, he realizes John wants him as much as he wants the good life.

"Are you happy?" He's asking, and his voice cracks over Charles' wrist. "Y'think you can be happy here, I mean?"

And like usual, he's asking more than he should ever ask. It's why they've always been close.

"It'll be a fine place," Charles says, instead. His belly is warm with beer but not enough to indulge the shared fantasies that fall so easily from John's mouth. "For you and your family."

His smile falters. "It's yours, too," he says, brows drawing. "M'family is your family, Charlie. Always will be."

It's a ridiculous thing to say. The name is too sweet on his tongue. It's a question more than anything, a silent won't you play house with us? that he takes offense to for Abigail's sake.

His hand falls from John's face to his shoulder, and he squeezes gently. "I ain't a homebody," he lies. I wouldn't know, he thinks truthfully. Nowhere has ever felt like home. This one isn't his, either, but John's face hardens the way it always does when he gets upset, and so Charles adds: "Maybe in another life, John."

It soothes some part of the ache spreading over his face. "Yeah," he agrees, and his fingers hook around Charles' hand to put it back over his scars. "One where that porch is ours."

Charles feels his eye twitch.

"Maybe," he repeats.

[k2ntwo]

20 Questions for Fic Writers

A bunch of writers that I follow have already been tagged and responded @helloliriels @khorazir @7-percent @discordantwords @totallysilvergirl to name just a few. Now I have a few new things to read that I somehow missed the first time around as well as a bunch of old favorites to go and re-read. So much good fic is out there by so many talented writers!

In the spirit of adding to folk’s ever growing MFL list I’ll just pile onto the bandwagon with my answers as well.

 1.  How many works to you have on AO3?

56 although there are several collections of snippets that technically could be counted separately. On AO3 I'm KtwoNtwo.

2.  What’s your total AO3 word count?

496,860

3.  What fandoms do you write for?

Primarily Sherlock Holmes (most all iterations from ACD to Sherlock) and James Bond.  However, I dabble in a good number of other fandoms upon occasion.

4.  What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Metamorphosis

Conversations from Q-Branch

50 Reasons (The Q-Branch Edition)

A Rare Breed

Brothers Three

5.  Do you respond to comments?

Yes, even if its just a “I’m glad you liked it.”  The only ones I don’t respond to are the generic solicitations to join some random contest or fic publishing website.  Those get blocked and reported.

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

Well, I don’t really write major angst but The Four Riders has got a bit as does the poem Gun in the Drawer though they both end on a hopeful note.

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

Most of my fics have happy endings but probably A Toast to the Science of Deduction resolves the happiest of the lot.

8.  Do you get hate on fics.

Nope.  Only got one anonymous troll alleging trademark infringement due to a title.  I fired back a factual rebuttal: basically "there is no book by that name by that author, there is no lawyer by that name, you didn’t provide contact information and btw trademark doesn’t work the way you allege" then added a set of quotation marks to the title.  Never heard anything more about it.

9.  Do you write smut?

I have but I’m not terribly good at it.  Most of the time the characters look at me then politely, or not so politely, shut the bedroom door in my face.

10.  Do you write crossovers?

Oh God Yes!  Technically I think I write fusions, where both fandoms end up in the same universe, as opposed to crossovers but I’m rather unclear on the difference between same so I tend to just call 'em crossovers and leave it at that. 

11.  Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I could find or prove.  I did have a couple of strange search results pop up with my use name and some fic titles attached but the websites all seem to be defunct now.

12.  Have you ever had a fic translated?

Not to my knowledge.

13.  Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No.

14.  What’s your favorite ship?

Sherlock Holmes/John Watson

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

There’s a fic based on a song by Abney Park that I’ve got an outline for but it never seems to go anywhere.

16.  What are your writing strengths?

I can merge and/or crossover all sorts of different fandoms. 

17.  What are your writing weaknesses?

Typos and punctuation.  Being slightly dyslexic I can’t spot the former and I never know if I’m using commas correctly or not.

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

I actively avoid doing so because I’d butcher it badly.

19.  First fandom you wrote for?

Emperor’s Edge by Lindsay Buroker.  I will admit that I wrote in my head, but never got around to put on paper, a number of Star Trek stories when I was significantly younger.

20.  Favorite fic you’ve ever written?

I like all of them for different reasons.  The one I’m most proud of however is The Emerald Falls my Study in Emerald inspired ACD Fic.

I'd love to have some of the artists/podcasters respond to this with whatever modifications are necessary to fit the medium involved. Hours of podcast or number of artworks as opposed to number of words for example. @podfixx @bluebellofbakerstreet if you haven't responded to this thing already and I just missed it.

[a-crumb-of-whump]

Okay, so I finally got around to all the responses given for the Random Whump Questions google form I made! Everything is ranked from highest to lowest in terms of what was picked, and the number beside them is how many people chose that option:)

Also, to make sure it's not longer than it needs to be, I'm going to do the open ended questions in a separate post:) Let me know if you'd like to be tagged for that!

One more thing to keep in mind. The 'custom answers' section is where only one person has brought it up. If multiple people have said the same thing, then it will be included in the main answers :)

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Question 1. When did you first discover whump as a term?

A. 15 - 17 (106) B. 11 - 14 (105) C. 20 - 25 (42) D. 18 - 19 (39) E. 26 - 30 (21) F. -10 (4) G. 36 - 39 (4) H. 31 - 35 (3)

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Question 2.

A. Absolutely not (135) B. Some of them do but I prefer to keep it to myself (127) C. I don't try to hide it but not many people know anyway (42) D. Most, if not all of them know - I'm very open about it (10) E. One person knows (4) F. Friends know, family don't (2)

Custom answers: I'm not secretive but I don't explain it because it's hard to, I've never said it but you only need to look at me to know.

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Question 4. Biggest pet peeve when it comes to whump in media?

A. Whumpee miraculously recovers as if they didn't just break three vital bones in their body and get stabbed by the enemy (204) B. Skipping over it and going straight to recovery (165) C. Changes POV's right as it's getting juicy (154) D. Whumpee is too stoic and unphased by what happened (130) E. Too comedic/lighthearted (128) F. Main character(s) die rather than living with what they've done/what happened (127) G. Too much comfort and not enough hurt (80) H. The recovery/captivity is far too unrealistic (77) I. Too much hurt and not enough comfort (62) J. Whumpee is a massive wuss (56) K. All of the above (23) L. The recovery/captivity is too realistic (20) M. Too heavy/serious (16) N. Whumpee is unattractive/not cute enough to me (2) O. Wrong characters are whumped/favourite characters are ignored (2)

Custom written: Obvious medical errors, turns out it was all "just a nightmare!", Caretaker's wellbeing is ignored, Whumpee is rescued right before the whump was about to start, Caretaker never figures out what happened and it's never brought up again, no women, never goes as badly as I want, not enough from Whumpee's POV.

Custom written #2: Whumpee is infantilised during their recovery, no trauma/trauma is overlooked, aftermath/recovery is ignored by a timeskip, Whumpee has no personality apart from being the one who deserves pity for being white and pretty and sweet, caretaker saves the day and it's never brought up again.

Custom written #3: Caretaker saves the day and Whumpee is the perfect victim and there's no conflict ever again, too much emphasis on physical pain rather than emotional, whumper wants love from their whumpees, recovery is too fast and it involves sexual/romantic stuff.

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Question 5. Best thing a whumpee can say to give you whumperflies?

A. "Please- please, no more." (146) B. "It hurts." (142) C. "Please don't leave me." (109) D. "Don't hurt them." (94) E. "Get the hell away from me." (85) F. "I just want to be good." (81) G. "You promised." (71) H. "Am I not enough?" (69) I. "I thought... I thought it was over." (50) J. "You came back!" (49) K. "I was so scared." (43) L. "You will not break me." (36) M. All of the above (19) N. Description over dialogue/I prefer whumpees that are too scared to talk (6) O. Begging (2) P. "I'm fine." (2) Q. "I can't take it anymore." (2)

Custom answers: "Go away" | "It's all my fault, I'm sorry" | "don't touch me!" | "I'm sorry, I won't do it again, I promise" | "don't look at me" | "I don't want you to see me like this" | "fuck you" | just a heartbroken "why?" | "it's fine!"

Custom answers #2: "Nobody is coming..." | "i'm not the same person I was before" | "is this real?" | "I don't want to die" | "why are you helping me?" | Repeating "i'm okay" to themselves while trying not to cry.

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Question 7. Best thing a whumper can say to give you whumperflies?

A. "I wonder how long it'll take to break you." (120) B. "Surely you can take a little more than that, can't you?" (111) C. "Tell me what I need to know and it'll all be over." (111) D. "You're being so good." (107) E. "You're so adorable when you cry." (98) F. "You're mine." (79) G. "Which finger should I crush this time?" (78) H. "I think if you were really sorry, you'd __" (63) I. "This is your home now." (57) J. "At least try to show a little enthusiasm." (49) K. "Please forgive me." (47) L. "You live to please me." (41) M. All of the above (15) N. Prefer no whumpers (7) O. Silent whumpers (3)

Custom answers: "Everything you touch dies." | "I have your whumpee." | "You wanna see something weird/interesting/cool?" | "Get some rest, darling. We'll pick this up again tomorrow." | "Just what do you think you're doing?" | "Don't worry. I'll take good care of you."

Custom answers #2: Petnames | "It's not personal." | "Nobody's coming for you. Give up." | "This is all your fault." | "You shouldn't have done that, darling." | "You'll be begging soon." | "Maybe some pain/time out/etc. will change your mind." | "It's you or them." | "Go ahead, try to run."

Custom answers #3: "Do it or I'll hurt them." | "This is for your own good." | "This will only hurt a pinch." | "Why do you have to ruin everything?" | "The more you scream, the more I have to hurt you." | "It's for science, Whumpee." | "I truly am sorry about this." | "I love you so, so much. I want to taste you..." | "Good boy."

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Question 8. Best thing a Caretaker can say to give you whumperflies?

A. "I got you." (180) B. "Breathe. Just breathe." (170) C. "What did they do to you." (154) D. "Hey, I'm here, okay?" (152) E. "Lie down, okay?" (107) F. "I'm gonna get us out of here." (107) G. "When was the last time they fed you?" (97) H. "Lay a hand on them and see what happens." (88) I. "Don't hurt them." (83) J. "I'm sorry but this is in your best interest." (66) K. "I will not rest until I find who did this." (41) L. "Don't cry." (32) M. All of the above (26) N. Any sort of medical talk (2) O. No caretakers (2)

Custom answers: "Don't touch them!" | Pet names in general | "Just relax. It's all over." | "Don't fucking touch them." | "It's not your fault." | "Hold still" while tending to wounds | "Almost done | Just hold on." | "Hey... not so fast." | "Just look at me, okay?" and then proceeds to gently explain what the medical procedure entails | "You're safe now." | "Please believe me?"

Custom answers #2: "May I see? I promise I won't hurt you." | "Whoa, hey, calm down. I'm not gonna hurt you." | "Shh, you're safe now. It's okay. I'm not leaving." | "Who did this to you?" | "Take this, you'll feel better." | "Shh, I know it hurts" to a squirming whumpee | Anything as long as there's physical touch to go with it | "Stay with me, okay?" | "You need to stay awake for me." | "Leave them alone!"

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Question 9. What role do you think you'd play in a whump story?

A. Whumpee (87) B. Caretaker (52) C. Side character (44) D. Caretaker-turned-whumpee (32) E. Whumpee-turned-caretaker (22) F. Whumper (16) G. Whumpee-turned-whumper (14) H. Whumper-turned-whumpee (11) I. Whumper-turned-caretaker (10) J. Caretaker-turned-whumper (8) K. Caretaker or whumpee (6) L. Carewhumper (3) M. None/I don't insert myself into scenarios (2)

Custom answers: Narrator, all of the above depending on my mood, side character.

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Question 11. Favourite place to consume whump? (not including movies/tv shows/games/etc)

A. Tumblr (294) B. AO3 (212) C. Pinterest (62) D. Fanfiction.net (23) E. DeviantArt (8) F. Wattpad (4) G. My brain (4) H. All of the above (3) I. Youtube (3) J. Character.AI (2) K. Discord (2) L. My brain (2) M. Twitter (2)

Custom answers: Sketch book, google,

Other notes: Someone also gave @whumplovers-collaborate a mention, saying they've been on that server for over a year and that it's amazing.

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Question 12. Pick a whumpy anime out of the ones I've watched (so far)

A. Castlevania (51) B. Black Butler (43) C. Bungou Stray Dogs (43) D. Banana Fish (35) E. Vanitas No Carte (19) F. Black Bullet (5)

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Question 14. How old does a whumpee need to be to be considered an "older whumpee"?

A. 40+ (127) B. 34 - 37 (68) C. 30 - 33 (51) D. 38 - 39 (38) E. 26 - 29 (18) F. 22 - 25 (2) G. 18 - 21 (0)

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Question 15. Pick a character that I think needs to be whumped more.

A. Link (The Legend Of Zelda) (96) B. Tony Stark (The Avengers/Iron Man) (64) C. Vanitas & Noe (Vanitas No Carte) (47) D. Joel Miller (The Last Of Us) (45) E. Hosea Matthews (Red Dead Redemption 2) (5)

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Question 16. Do you prefer hystorical whump or modern whump?

A. Modern (220) B. Hystorical (82)

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Question 17. Do you prefer hurt or comfort?

A. A healthy combination of both (163) B. A little bit of comfort, lots of hurt (81) C. Hurt (44) D. A little hurt, lots of comfort (28) E. Comfort (8)

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Question 19. Favourite species to whump?

A. Human (290) B. Immortal (118) C. Vampire (105) D. Demon/angel (87) E. Werewolf (57) F. Robot/android/cyborg (54) G. God/deity (49) H. Birdpeople (48) I. Merfolk (44) J. Tiny (38) K. Catpeople (26) L. Alien (19) M. All (16) N. Humans with inhuman/magical abilities (5) O. Giant (2) P. Elf (2) Q. Lab subjects (2) R. Species isn't important (2)

Custom answers: Shapeshifter, hybrics, faefolk, winged whumpees, dhampir, superheros, dwarves, mobian.

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Question 20. Pick something to restrain your whumpee with.

A. Chains (104) B. Rope (101) C. Handcuffs (38) D. Zipties (31) E. Your belt (18) F. A piece of their own clothing (18) G. Your tie (6)

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Question 22: Your whumpee bites you. What do you do?

A. Put a muzzle on them. You're not mad, but you need to keep yourself safe (119) B. Beat them until they learn their lesson (82) C. Have a rational conversation with them once they've calmed down about why it's wrong and how to stop it from happening again (61) D. Get checked for some kind of desease. Who knows what they've been carrying (25) E. Ignore it and hope it doesn't happen again (8)

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Question 23. A whumpee shows up at your door, terrified and scared. They beg for your help. What do you do?

A. Let them in and give them some food. You can worry about what you're gonna do with them later on (273) B. Keep them prisoner. Whump their to your heart's content (31) C. Slam the door in their face (4)

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Taglist: @dismemberment-on-a-tuesday-night @let-the-whump-commence @pigeonwhumps @rule-masochism @whumperofworlds @whump-space @wollemi-whump

[omgkalyppso]

15 Lines of Dialogue

15 Lines of Dialogue Rules: Share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using the dialogue without other details about the scene, but you're free to include those as well!

I was tagged by @ghostwise! Thank you! (✿◕‿◕)

You were worried about being long winded, but I'm going to do both Fae, and then Étoile below the cut. And you can all count yourselves lucky I'm not doing Borgakh too.

I'll tag @the-eldritch-it-gay, @razrogue, @lucius-the-sinful, @recurringwriter, @bosspigeon,

@eeldritchblast, @dustdeepsea and YOU.

Fae

"I trust that whatever Seteth discovers won't delay our scheming." - Expanded Epilogue, Chapter 2: Unbreak My Crest

"You'll be no use to her if you kill yourself to get there." - Expanded Epilogue, Chapter 3: Bound By More Than Blood

"My father always called me his child, never his daughter. I don't think it would suit me. Should the time come, I will be a spouse, and not a wife." - Expanded Epilogue, Chapter 3: A Prospective Invitation

"I … I'm so afraid that any time I close my eyes - to sleep, to blink - that I'll open them to another five years lost." - Gentle Moments, Chapter 1: Nightmare

"I know," they sighed, pouting. "I want to have this child with you. I want to be a parent. I want to be by your side as we birth and witness families in our new land. I just worry that I want too much." - Gentle Moments, Chapter 3: First Pregnancy

“They will both be so loved and provided for, so sharp and kind like their father, that they could never be so cruel.” Fae’s tone betrayed their smile, as they teased him, “Besides, they won't have a malicious bone in their bodies, I'm making sure of it.” - Gentle Moments, Chapter 6: Names

Fae groaned, asking Claude, “Can you go turn off the music? Or … put on something softer?” - Oops

“No. Hilda,” Fae whined. “You have to tell us when you feel like that, okay? That’s not what I want for us, or for you…” - Shucks, Chapter 2: Tempt Me

"I heard from Hilda what a mess you've gotten yourself into." Lorenz opened his mouth, clearly on the verge of a self-defense and explanation, but Fae pressed on, "I think it's honorable, if a bit misguided." - I Wanna Be Yours, Chapter 4: I'm Not Lost

Fae shook their head, picking out blooms. "Roses are smart," they insisted. "Classy." Lorenz frowned. "Classic," Fae amended. - I Wanna Be Yours, Chapter 4: I'm Not Lost

“I can go embarrass myself some more?” Fae suggested. “I’ll talk about flowers until they question inviting me into their house.” - I Wanna Be Yours, Chapter 26: First Impressions Go Both Ways

“Hump me while you kiss him,” Fae requested, taunting and seductive as they left a kiss on Lorenz’s temple. - I Wanna Be Yours, Chapter 34: What We Do With Tenderness

“You don't have to say anything,” Fae interrupted. “Just look at me. You're doing so well. Hard part’s over.” - The Crest Of The Waves, Chapter 3: 20,000 Leagues Or Less

“He’s already blushing so badly, be nice to him Claude,” they chided. - Oops

“Look at them again before you lie to me,” Fae insisted. - Gentle Moments, Chapter 10: Together At Last

Étoile

“That won’t happen,” Étoile insisted. “Not while we travel together.” - As Many Problems As There Are Stars

“Well now’s the fun part,” Étoile assured him, tossing their remaining clothing on their pile of things as they fell to their knees upon the bedroll, swiping back their hair. “Come here.” - Late Night Celebration Rituals

“Then I will not be plagued by discomfort for my last few hours,” Étoile answered, shaking their head as they sought to dress Astarion in the condom, relieving the item to his care when Astarion brought his hands to the task. - Late Night Celebration Rituals

“And there’s no reason to speculate about leaving people behind,” Étoile said with a groan in their tone, scolding each Wyll and Astarion. “I won’t leave you to die like this.” - Depth Below The Surface

Étoile moved as if to speak, and at first no sound came, just the strain of torn muscles and a wheeze of air, but they tried again very quickly and managed the softest sound. “Hi.” - Running With The Minotaurs

“I’ve been away from the Earthfast Mountains nearly fifty years entirely. The sky that far north is … different? Deadly, and alive, whether with storms or with magic. There are auroras and living tableaus of the heavens. It’s hard for other skies to compare.” - Stargazing

“I’d love to believe in luck. But I don’t think the feats you’ve listed could be counted as such. And — well, my deity of choice isn’t known for that manner of divine intervention. We will have to keep pushing forward to get through this. And I will do all I can.” - Stargazing

Flushed, Étoile confided, “I am greedy though. Glad to have company in this. Glad to have your company, in this.” Astarion blinked, a benign smile across his surprised face. “Not everyone would be so plain in their objections, nor their praise. I’ve appreciated your perspective. You’ve a very logical mind.” - Stargazing

“Sorry,” Étoile offered. They rolled their eyes to the sky, a silent plea to the fallen and a verbal prayer to their goddess for pity, “Oh, sweet Auril.” - Bad At Biting, Chapter 1: Sip you through my front teeth

“It’s alright,” they soothed, senselessly. “I know that there are great complexities when it comes to … the creatures of the night. I know evil is often a matter of perspective. I know that some who die for flesh or blood … aren’t always the victims that clerics make them out to be. Not always.” - Bad At Biting, Chapter 1: Sip you through my front teeth

“Have we not been about choosing lesser evils?” - Bad At Biting, Chapter 1: Sip you through my front teeth

“I had … months of study dedicated to Menzoberranzan history. All certainly outdated now, especially since I heard they had another war this past decade.” - Bad At Biting, Chapter 2: Curse that comes with a kiss

"So there are limits to the distribution of magic," Étoile concluded. "Even innate." - Tu/mblr Post in need of a title and to be posted on a/o3

"I would ask you to dinner, should we survive. I would know you, for any measure that you would trust me. I would celebrate you, even as a friend. But in this moment I would kiss you," Étoile said, feeling their heart beat in the back of their throat, "if it would please you." - Tu/mblr Post in need of a title and to be posted on a/o3

"Are you sure you want to do this? I am content as we have been and I would not assume." Their expression earnest as they continued, "I do not expect that I am owed anything more than you've given to me thus far." - Worship by razrogue

[thedragonagelesbian]

For the companion tav asks for Cyrus:

7 for general

12 for Story

11, 12 for romance

💞

thank you 💕💕💕

companion tav asks

7. (General) Do they have their own personal quest that spans the course of the game?  Can it take different branching paths depending on the choices the Player Character makes?

Yes!!!! This is going to be needlessly long & detailed 👍

Act 1 (The Austringer)

Like for Shadowheart & Astarion, Cyrus' Act 1 quest is less about accomplishing anything in particular and more about being a nosy bitch. The player learns in his recruitment that he is the Champion of Iriaebor and the sworn sword of its ruler, Lady Meredith Stannard (the shared tadpole vision is him swearing fealty to her for the first time). Despite being keen to return to her, Cyrus initially hides the extent of their relationship, his feelings on the matter complicated by the recent life transference spell.

There are a couple of ways to learn more from him, including some insight/persuasion checks when asking him about his life in Iriaebor. If the player gets his approval high enough, they'll get a cutscene in which they find him studying his reflection in the Chionthar. He admits that he's still adjusting to this changed body, as he gave away a century of his life to prolong Meredith's and is still quite young for an elf (~175). Taking Cyrus to the Zhentarim hideout will also prompt some unique, hostile dialogue as the player learns that Cyrus and Meredith crusaded violently against the Zhentarim in Iriaebor-- and this branch of the organization is even holding one of Meredith's couriers, who was sent to look for Cyrus, prisoner.

If the courier is freed, they will explain that Meredith has devoted countless resources to finding Cyrus again and bringing him home, but Cyrus says that he cannot leave until the parasite problem is resolved-- no matter how badly he wants to return to her side.

At the tiefling party, Cyrus accidentally gets shitfaced drunk and is exuberantly enjoying himself, seeming much happier & more carefree than he has at any other point in the game so far, and he admits that he hasn't had this much fun in a very long time. The player also has the chance to spend the night with him, keeping him company as the intoxication slowly wears off

(I think you can convince Cyrus to stay if you go the goblin route, but only if you know about his relationship with Meredith already and threaten him with the fact that he'll never find his way back to her if he leaves the party [DC 20 Intimidation check].)

Act 2 (subquest: The Champion of Iriaebor)

In a long rest cutscene sometime after entering the Shadowlands, while the party is leaving to set up camp, Cyrus is ambushed by an unknown figure who tries to drag him back into the Shadowlands. They cross the barrier of the Shadow Curse, but Cyrus fights them off and crosses back over before the curse can affect him, wounding the assailant in the process and stranding them to succumb to the curse. Despite being injured himself, Cyrus insists on returning to save them, which the player can either permit or discourage (DC 15 persuasion check; succeed, and the information that follows has to be gleaned through Speak with Dead). If Cyrus saves them, it costs him (some unknown mechanical penalty I haven't thought of yet) but allows him and the player to interrogate the attacker.

The attacker reveals herself to be a half-elf from Iriaebor (let's call her Merrill because my default for putting characters in Cyrus' bg3 backstories is to steal from DA2) who watched Cyrus slaughter her parents as Meredith was consolidating power after her initial campaign to reclaim the city from the Zhentarim. Cyrus protests, insisting that he only ever attacked Meredith's enemies, but as Merrill reveals the despotic conditions under which residents beyond the High Tower live, he has to come to terms with her brutality-- a brutality he enabled and participated in.

The player can dismiss Merrill's claims, or try to convince Cyrus that what he did was right and just anyway (deception/persuasion checks respectively), but given the choice of how to respond to this, Cyrus believes Merrill and is disgusted with himself for the blindness of his devotion. Pronouncing this, Cyrus suddenly spasms and clutches his chest, and though he tries to pass off the pain as nothing, the player can discover (if they are themselves a paladin, pass a religion/insight check, or persuade him to explain what happened) that he has broken his oath.

At the next long rest, the player discovers that Cyrus has been visited by the Oathbreaker Knight and is arguing with him, insisting that he still believes in the tenets of his oath, just not who he vested that oath in. The player can suggest he try to substitute his oath to Meredith with an oath to something/someone else, and if the player has high enough approval, Cyrus--desperate in the face of the emptiness in his soul--suggests that he pledge himself to them. The player can either accept this offer, encourage him to commit to their cause of destroying the Absolute, or suggest it might be helpful to sit with his broken oath for a bit before rushing into another vow (DC 25/30 persuasion check depending on approval; if failed, he will pledge himself to protecting Faerun from the Absolute).

While these options map on to his endings, they don't determine them, as the player has the option to push him in a different direction at the end of his Act 3 personal quest.

Act 3 (subquest: The Sworn Sword)

Meredith is a diplomatic guest at Gortash's coronation! If Cyrus isn't in the party, she will approach the PC and demand to know where his, and will later appear in camp. Otherwise, the reunion happens then and there, and (provided he learned everything from Merrill & the player didn't convince him to disregard this) it's as uncomfortable and painful as every other companion-major backstory npc encounter that happens in that chamber is. Cyrus freezes up seeing her again, overwhelmed with rage and disgust when she touches him but not wanting to make a scene and not ready to confront her about everything she did to him/Iriaebor. Indeed, an insight check reveals that mostly what he's feeling is fear.

The player can intervene, though if they're too aggressive about it, a Steel Watcher will step in, and Meredith regards them coolly in any case, reticent to allow Cyrus to stay with the party (especially if he's romanced) and relenting only because Cyrus/the player insists he has to to keep him safe from the parasite.

Beyond the interpersonal stuff, Meredith mentions that she's come to Baldur's Gate to discuss the future of the city's diplomatic relations east of the Sword Coast and expresses admiration for Gortash, and the Steel Watch in particular. Finally, she mentions that the patriar who is hosting her will have a small ball to honor her visit, to which she invites Cyrus though explicitly not the rest of the party. Despite his own discomfort with the idea, when they talk about it in camp afterward, Cyrus suggests he play along and try to learn more about what Meredith is doing here, as she's rarely ever made diplomatic appearances beyond Iriaebor.

Adamant that he not go alone, the party puts together disguises and we get an Upper City masquerade quest! Shenanigans and sleuthing ensue, with chances to discover more about Baldur's Gate's wealthier residents (including the life and death of Duke Stelmane), the Flaming Fist, rumors about Cazador Szarr, gossip about the Stone Lord/Zhentarim/Thieves' Guild etc. The party also has plenty of opportunities to just be Sera-esque pranking shits, subtly disrupting festivities to distract its hosts and guest of honor and give Cyrus some reprieve. If they do all the pranks, the player (whether romanced or not) will even have the chance to lure Meredith away for long enough to dance with Cyrus, which he appreciates immensely. He admits it makes him nervous to have to rely so much on someone, but says the player is much worthier of that trust than Meredith.

As the end of the ball draws near, the party hatches a plan to find Meredith's (previously undiscovered) room by having Cyrus request to retire there for the evening. There, they find correspondence with Gortash revealing that Meredith seeks to replicate the Steel Watch in Iriaebor as part of the Absolute's future campaign against Elturgard. While previously expressing hope that Meredith might change her ways, Cyrus is convinced that she cannot return to Iriaebor and goes to confront her. Combat ensues, with a heavy mechanical focus on Meredith's court mage, Elsiee, trying to use enchantment magic to turn Cyrus against the party.

Like Viconia, Meredith is knocked out automatically, and when Cyrus goes to finish her, she laughs at him, telling him he is still little more than a very pretty sword best wielded in someone else's hands. His divine fury and grief are palpable as he smites her, sobbing, before quickly once more excusing himself from the party (though the player can hug him before he goes).

When all is said and done, the player finds Cyrus reflecting on the docks. Calmer now, he explains that he used to work these docks, a lifetime ago, after being orphaned on the boat back from Evermeet and falling into the dubious care of an orphanage headmaster. Though Cyrus knew he was being taken advantage of, made to look after the children and contracted to the docks as a source of income for the orphanage/headmaster, he never thought of leaving because if someone didn't make that sacrifice, who would?

This leads him to reflect that his issues with devotion might've begun long before meeting Meredith, that there is something about him that might've left him uniquely vulnerable to her, that has made him easy to abuse, and if he had previously sworn himself to the player in Act 2, he expresses doubt now. The player can either encourage that doubt or insist that their circumstances are different. If he had sworn to protect the realm from the Absolute, he'll wonder what he should do after it's defeated, and the player can encourage him to stay in Baldur's Gate to make it better than it was when he was young, return to Iriaebor to finish what they started by killing Meredith, or take some time to figure out for himself who he is without a cause or person to devote himself to. If the choice is left to him, Cyrus opts to return to Iriaebor.

Endings are complicated, because I am not bound by development time restrictions and can do whatever tf I want. They vary both on what Cyrus does post-game and how the player has handled the depth of his devotion, either encouraging him to find another commitment/duty after Meredith or encouraging him to discover what it means to live for himself. Also, I'm just personally not a fan of the good/bad ending dichotomy (even though I obviously think some of these endings are worse than others), so I use the distinction between devoted (I am defined by what I offer others) and undevoted (I am more than what I can offer others).

With one exception...

UNEQUIVOCAL BAD ENDING: Encouraging Cyrus to return with Meredith in his Act 3 personal quest; his equivalent of handing Shadowheart over to Mother Viconia. He leaves the party, though he and Meredith can be summoned as allies in the final stretch of the game. Talking to Cyrus in the tower before beginning the final assault will find him quiet and sullen, with Meredith largely talking on his behalf, and a letter from her at the epilogue party reveals that Cyrus has struggled to return to life in Iriaebor. She ends on an ominous note suggesting that her court mage has been investigating magical means of making him happier there.

Stays in Baldur's Gate, devoted: Cyrus joins the Flaming Fist. His service to the patriars is flawless and unquestioning.

Stays in Baldur's Gate, undevoted: Cyrus joins the Harpers, and while he's still working on the 'discretion' part of spy work, he's fallen in love with the Harpers' dual commitment to the natural world.

Follows the player, devoted: The player, whether romanced or not, has become Cyrus' new object of service, and he goes where they go, whether to the Hells with Karlach and/or Wyll or to assist in the player and Minthara's campaign against Menzoberranzan. A player who romanced ascended!Astarion will even have the option to make Cyrus his spawn too. If the player decides to stay in Baldur's Gate, this ending is distinct from the ending where Cyrus himself decides to stay.

Travels Faerun, undevoted: Cyrus wanders the Sword Coast for a time, visiting everyone after they've gone their separate ways and enjoying his freedom. If the Shadow Curse was lifted, he mentions particularly enjoying Reithwin and seeing the hard work Halsin has put into building it up. Otherwise, he's thinking about helping to rebuild Waukeenan's Rest and provide a safe, cozy outpost for travelers in that area.

Returns to Iriaebor, devoted: Cyrus reclaims his title of Champion of Iriaebor, no longer the right hand of its tyrant but of its people, yet the title continues to weigh on him.

Returns to Iriaebor, undevoted: Working under the existing resistance movement, Cyrus' knowledge helps to quickly dismantle and replace Meredith's loyalists and guards, though he stays out of the spotlight himself. Come the epilogue, he feels confident that six months of hard work have put the city on a better path and that it would be best to leave its future in the hands of others, severing as many ties with Meredith's rule as possible.

In both the Baldur's Gate and the Iriaebor devoted endings, a romanced player will find that Cyrus seems more committed to his duty than to them.

12 (Story). Is it possible for your Tav to be kidnapped and replaced by Orin?  How is Orin's deception revealed?  How do they react to the PC rescuing them in the Temple of Bhaal?

Yes! "Cyrus" becomes convinced that the PC is Orin in disguise and attacks them for the good of the party. "Cyrus" either overpowers the player, realizes his error, and turns his blade on himself, or the player overpowers him, he realizes his error, and insists the player kill him for his mistake, at which point Orin reveals herself.

The first thing Cyrus gasps when he's freed is "Meredith." Realizing who has rescued him, he quickly follows up with an apology, disappointed with himself for being kidnapped and forcing the party to put so much blood and sweat into rescuing him. In the follow up convo in camp, he mentions previously being held hostage by the Zhentarim in the early days of his and Meredith's fight against them. Back then, he had no doubt that she would come to rescue him, but now, the idea of that kind of dependence--of not being enough to keep himself safe--makes him uneasy.

11 (Romance). What are Tav’s plans for the future?  Do they propose to the PC, or is marriage not something they’re interested in?

Devoted to PC: He proposes during the docks scene and follows the PC wherever they go next.

Devoted to city: He proposes in the post-final battle cutscene, declaring that he wants to make Baldur's Gate/Iriaebor their home, if the player will stay with him.

Undevoted: This may be the only version of Cyrus who doesn't want to rush right into marriage. He cares for a romanced PC deeply, of course, but he's just gotten out of an abusive relationship that eroded his sense of self rediscovering that sense is his priority, worrying that running head-first into another deeply committed relationship will make that difficult. In his Act 3 romance scene, he says he's okay with the PC not wanting to wait for him to figure this out, allowing the PC to affirm their willingness to be patient & stick with him. Cyrus is surprised, admitting he's all too used to being the one who has to compromise what he wants in a relationship, and tells the PC how much he loves them.

(And, in fact, the player can propose to him at the epilogue party, and he is overjoyed to say yes)

12 (Romance). Free space! Share anything from your companion!Tav au!

If the PC lets Volo icepick them & gets the ersatz eye, after the interaction with the courier in Act 1, they get a special long rest cutscene where they catch a glimpse of a scrying sensor floating above Cyrus. If they mention this to him, he identifies this as the magic of Meredith's court mage, Elsiee, and though he tries to brush its presence off as Meredith being worried about his safety, he's visibly uncomfortable with the discovery.

[monikafilefan]

20 Questions for Fanfic Writers

Tagged by @slippinmickeys <3

1. How many works do you have on A03?

75 (maybe one day I’ll reach 100?)

2. What’s your total A03 word count?

589,435

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Basically just txf fandom but I have dabbled in GoT, The Fall, and Sex Ed.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Five Years and a Lifetime

Only One Choice

All Eyes Lead to the Truth co-written

Together

Language of Love: Prompts of Angst and Romance

5. Do you respond to comments?

I absolutely do, just not every one of them. Unfortunately A03 counts author responses as comments and that bugs me, but I wholly appreciate any and all feedback!

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Oh damn. Probably a chapter in my prompts collection called That Night in 2014 when Scully left, and one called Bone Deep set post Tithonus are angsty enough. I love writing angst, but prefer to leave my fic on less of a dreary note.

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

Ha it turns out I write a lot of fic with happier endings, but I guess Brother Bill ended very happily considering it was during the cancer arc. There’s plenty more I could’ve chosen though.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Not that I know of.

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

Yes, I mix it up. Lots of soft, sensual sex, but also some downright dirty smut too. Depends on the tone of the story.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

I wrote one where Mulder and Scully go see Jean Milburn from Sex Education and have a therapy session. Coming Undone. It’s ridiculous and funny and was way too fun to write haha!

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of but I hope not.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yes but I can’t remember which one 🫣

13. Have you ever co-written before?

YES many times and I love it. I’ve written with several amazing writers @cultureisdarkbeer @admiralty-xfd @fridaysat9 @gaycrouton @slippinmickeys one several different fics.

14. What’s your all time fave ship?

MSR ofc! I do also love Jamie/Claire and Stella/Reed.

15. What WIP you want to finish?

I have this Unruhe fic that isn’t even that long but I cannot seem to fucking finish it for the life of me. I will eventually though.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Details? Creating a scene and capturing the characters as close to THEM as I possibly can comes easier to me than other things.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Probably dialogue and writing longer novel length fics.

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

I want to dive into the Outlander fandom very badly but I’m too scared to try Gaelic/accents and be happy with the outcome. Maybe one day.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

X-Files! I was just a wee 15yr old on my dialup desktop trying to write a post FTF fic on the original XF storyboards. I never did finish it past the second chapter.

20. Fave fics you’ve written?

I have a few I really love, but I am kind of hard on myself as a writer. I enjoy writing but can’t seem to reread my own stuff and come away beaming about it. The ones off the top of my head I’m proud and have not mentioned above of are A Life to Remember - an AU were Mulder and Scully are doctors and meet under interesting circumstances. Lots of UST, angst and family fluff as they flashback to their past on how they met.The Things They Say in the Dark is another one I love. It has angst, lots of hurt/comfort (not to mention Scully washing Mulder’s hair post Amor Fati) and serious yearning! Honestly love these two so feel free to check them out if you haven’t, I’d be blessed if you loved them too!

Tagging @today-in-fic and anyone else who wants to join in. This was fun!

[mitziholder]

what media would you actually recommend? you seem to have very discerning taste

geeeeee... I don’t know. there are multiple metrics by which a piece of media can have value to me... but maybe not to you.

1) sheer entertainment value (personal, subjective - in my case usually humor-oriented, less focused on action and explosions and violence and gore and hacking and slashing and sex meant to titillate ... but humor is subjective in its own right)

2) rhetorical value (based on the presence and effectiveness of conveying intent - a thesis, a point to make, something new and interesting to say unique to the creator’s perspective. also, prose/dialogue/text that sounds good, hits right, says exactly what it wants to say with brevity and precision)

2a) IMO, “objective” judgments of a piece of media’s quality should rest most strongly on this point. 2b) sometimes the meat of my analysis is based in an interpretation of how a creator failed to say something or what they unintentionally revealed about themselves and their views in the process. and that can be interesting, but it doesn’t necessarily make the work any less shit

3) informational value (for research purposes, which may not be relevant to anyone else. definitely a step down in importance because I can read something and find it informative without enjoying it or thinking it’s “good”)

it’s impossible for everything I consume to meet all of those standards all the time... and I like to have a diverse media diet. I enjoy plenty of things which don’t really affect me or make me think too deeply. but it’s hard to recommend anything because people’s priorities and tastes vary so much.

as far as what I’ve enjoyed and found value in? I’ve already gone over books, so let’s do movies. I love Bob Roberts; had a point to make and made it with aplomb. it was very funny - and useful as a point of reference for my own work(!) Dr. Strangelove was also great. I’m a big fan of satirical dark comedies that leave you with this sense of gruesome hilarity... beyond the funnies, I like things that are sort of distant from their subjects, inhuman and quirky, using them as tools to move us along on a painterly backdrop - A Zed & Two Noughts and other Greenaway fare + and arguably Kubrick as well - but I also enjoy studies that lavish attention on their subjects, like Girl, Interrupted. I still love that one. in spite of it all. and I liked One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s nest despite its treatment of Ratched/the vile protagonist lol. Network was “good” no matter how badly they fumbled Dunaway and how much that fucking pissed me off. oh and anything about Watergate... I love a good documentary

but anyway, I know saying any of this invites speculation about the Problematic or questionable elements present therein. why not more lesbian media? why not more woman directors? how could you enjoy x knowing what y did to z? I don’t know. I respect an auteur, a clear and defined vision. I have had fun with many things that are not that. but at the end of the day, regardless of content, it all serves to entertain me, to shape and inform my artistic endeavors writing about what I want to read and saying what I want to say. so, you know, your mileage may vary. also I like musicals