#in fact she would probably empathize with her dad

[probablyaseamonster]

Heyy guys? Not sure if anyone's still here... uh, last couple days were complicated.

It wasn't normal issues like school, college or work or like a funeral or anything, no it was AO3 author level shenanigans.

I uh, was homeless for like a day (had enough of home), tried to evade the corrupt police for a while, made some friends (might have been predators but I'd like to hope not), tried to enjoy escapism in between (including the like... 4? days before being forced to leave) but external forces killing my vibe every fricking time. I was planning on making a fucking tier list of evil I experienced daily on a scale of the degree of immorality, and THEN I found out that my parents were like the second-to-worst tier, which is ALSO by my definition irredeemable?

Every particularly bold individual with toxic parents had that moment where they realized their parents were irredeemable. I had two of those IN A ROW and I was literally just trying to enjoy a little scrap of life dawg *emoji button isn't working. just like my traumatized and ruined brain. and reality in general-* I'll stop here but oh my god I literally cannot enjoy shit without my housemates bursting in, fucking shit up, and then scapegoating me.

So the point is I WANTED to answer this, but I had other things to think about! Between escapism, fake safe spaces, human beings and nature that just Can't let me have One good day, and being literally homeless but by choice and then Having to go back, currently in danger but no escape for a bit... Yeah my priorities were not ideal heh

That's my explanation for now! Moral of the story... I now have several Magnus Archives and Hatchetfield characters on my kin list and that's Not Great I'm pretty sure. As well as some Fun new ocs to give the happy ending I wish I had! Ask me about Robin and Jay sometime or whatever my Centaurworld But Human characters end up being called. I ove them already.

Today I discovered the Lords In Black while still on a Magnus Archives hyperfix, after knowing very very little about Starkid cinematic universe lore, and I wish to converse with someone about things related!

I'm hoping this reaches one of my mutuals because it's kind-of a recent development and the fun is fresh. And I don't have friends who like Starkid's works lmao.

[breadraccoon]

I know this will never happen, but I really wish Btsv alluded to the fact that part of the reason Peter turns himself into the lizard is because Gwen reject his romantic feelings. Just think of the layers!

Stay with me here. I promise I have an interesting take.

It’s made clear to us that she never saw her Peter romantically. Peter was family. That scene at the dinner table at the beginning of atsv is proof enough of that. Gwen already feels guilty about how that fight with Peter’s lizard self went down. She watched her best friend die. But if she also rejected his feelings, then Gwen would probably feel guilty for not giving him a chance. (That statement felt so gross to write. Hold on, let me cook real quick).

Gwen’s an empathic person. She tries to see the best in people. Like how her Dad is a cop in a corrupt system trying to do good. She can see that all he wants to do is protect people and serve justice. I can see her seeing Peter’s intentions of getting super powers as a desperate plead for attention. He was a kid bullied in school and had few good friends. Gwen was probably the only girl who gave him any attention. No matter how easily Gwen let him down, it probably made Peter feel like he was undesirable. And in Peter’s twisted mind, he thought becoming a hero like Spider-woman would make him feel desired. Tragic, but this is by no means an excuse for he did to himself. Peter turned himself into a monster and attacked his high school. Take away the superpower and Peter was a- well you know. You can try to defend him and say well he didn’t mean to turn himself into a monster. But intention can’t mean everything. Sometime you do something with good intentions and people still get hurt. That still means you did a bad thing.

The public opinion of spider-woman only turned mostly negative after Peter’s death. So now Gwen is forced to carry this wound while the public keeps stabbing in to it by barging in with their opinions. This teenage boy managed to screw Gwen over both superhero-wise and in her personal life. She was his friend. Her father talks about him like a son. The public is probably well aware of who Gwen is and her relationship to him. And all of this unwanted attention is forced on to Gwen because he couldn’t handle rejection. This screams girls who are bullied or called the b-word for rejecting guy who the public see as shy or award. The guy doesn’t not inherently deserve the girls attention. Girl have feeling and are not object to be give too.

Peter’s death makes Gwen carry around a guilt that she doesn’t deserve to have forced on to her. And this affects how she interacts with other spider-folk. She can’t help but feel a little scared of what would happen if she fully rejects an alternate dimension Peter’s attention. So she plays coy with them. She pleasant when she really wants to run for the hills. Not every Peter is in the same stage of grief. Gwen is forced to be around all these men and teenage who all have different views on their old relationship. I bet a bunch of them project their Gwen on to Spider-Gwen. She hates when they do that. Spider-Gwen is constantly made to feel like a cheap copy because she isn’t their Gwen.

Looping around to Miles, this can be another reason why she starts becoming interested in him. He respected her boundaries. She said she just wanted to be friends and he said okay. And in Atsv, on the clocktower, he stop inching his hand towards her when she shows her discomfort. He let Gwen set the pace. This is very traumatized teen. He wait for her to get comfortable. It just show how Miles see her as her own person. Someone with equal say in a relationship. And one of the few people who can see Gwen is her fullest form. She isn’t the typical book smart Gwen, but she has this love for music and gymnastics/ballet. She is artist not a scientist. Gwen may be friend with a lot of other spider-men but none treat wholly like her own. Miles see her and doesn’t see her as a victim of dying young. This is what makes their bond so much more special to her.

Adding this can add so many more layers to Gwen. Also what’s more the female experience than having to be constantly worrying about how men perceive you. It’s awful, but that just how the world works. I think if btsv could nail this, then this could be a nice way to support is own theme. Everyone has these views of Miles and who he should be. Miles decide to push forward and do his own thing. Everyone has these views of Gwen and how her life will end, but Gwen is going to keep living on and being herself.

[liyawritesss]

ᴍɪʟᴇꜱ ᴍᴏʀᴀʟᴇꜱ [ꜱᴘɪᴅᴇʀ-ᴍᴀɴ] ʜᴇᴀᴅᴄᴀɴᴏɴꜱ

Characters: Spider-Verse!Miles Morales [Spider-Man]

Type: headcanons

Synopsis: general thoughts and headcanons for everyone's favorite afro-latino spiderman!

Warnings: some cursing but overall no warnings. KEEP IT CUTE AND PG-16 CUZ THIS IS STILL NEPHEW WE TALKIN BOUT HERE!!!

A/N: went to see atsv and i’m absolutely floored by that movie…it’s definitely giving me new material to write abt and a new hyperfixation so buckle up yall cuz the next few posts are gonna be all spiderman related!!

Tags: @6-noir @babyboiboyega @badass-dora-milaje @jacuzziwaters @venusdraco @mbakuetshurisprincess @shuriszn @verachii @writingintheshadowsforever @cafehyunji @lulu-network @niyahwrites @pantherheart @marsfunzon22

Sign Up For My Taglist Here!

First off I wanna say this is my SON, and on everything i love i will throw hands over him, if anybody wanna try it prepare to be demolished cuz I will NOT spare you. This is a lil boy ion wanna see none of yall sniffin around him period. I will gladly held you find your mind if you wanna lose it today!!!

Okay, no that that spiel is over, we’ve got some headcanons to address about everyone's favorite afro-latino spiderman

He’s so precious. Idc if you know already I’m telling you again, he is the most precious thing in the world. He has a heart of gold and wears it on his sleeve, he’s always looking out for people and wants to see the best in everything and everyone. Which, while it is a good characteristic to have, can sometimes put him in tough situations, and sometimes it doesn’t end well.

He’s such a momma’s boy, but like the good momma’s boy where he adapts the things Rio teaches him and repays her by being a good filial son, even though he’s growing up and wanting to branch out. If he’s having emotional trouble, he’ll come to her to try and figure out how to express himself and understand how he’s feeling. On special occasions, or just when he notices her mood is off, Miles will conspire with his dad to do something small but special for his mom, like make breakfast or drop off flowers at her work. She’s always super appreciative of it too

Waking up for him is hell in the morning, because he is not a morning person at all. It’s worse if he went on patrol the night before (which, 9/10, he has) and he almost always sleeps through his alarm. He’s the type to have to have several alarms set to get up up, because otherwise he will sleep through the day

Similarly, Miles also finds it hard for him to sleep most nights. In the beginning of his career being Spiderman he would almost never go to sleep really. Even the trick of using nyquil or melatonin gummies didn’t work because his mind was always on one hundred, thinking about everything and nothing all at once. Though as he meets friends he can confide in and grows older he learns how to manage that kind of stress, which makes it easier to sleep. Though the insomnia never truly leaves him unfortunately, and its something he has to take with him for the rest of his life

Despite his introverted self, and the fact that he tends to want to keep to himself more often than not, Miles is actually very easy to talk to and if given the time and patience, great at making friends. He’s awkward at first because he wants to measure his interactions based on the vibe of the person he’s talking to, but you will find a hardcore loyal and caring friend in Miles.

So emotionally aware that it almost hurts. He’ll be upset and know why he’s upset, but sometimes wishes he didn’t know because in some situations he may not think his emotions are valid. And because he’s such an intentional person and a hyper empath, everything he feels is multiplied by ten. So if you fuck him over, he’s probably more upset about it than you’ll ever be if you were upset at fucking him over, if that makes sense?

He’s a cuddle-bug and nothing will change my mind about it! He had hella teddy bears as a little boy and would get upset if Rio took them to be washed because he was afraid he wouldn’t see them again. For no reason in particular he’s slowly dissipated his teddy bear collection and now uses a very fluffy body pillow to hold on to as he sleeps. Sometimes if he’s sick or just very down in the dumps and Rio notices, she’ll climb into bed with him for a while and comfort him

A decent cook actually as well! He was always in the kitchen when his mom and his tia’s came over to cook so he knows how to throw down in the kitchen a lil bit. His favorite thing to make is tamales because while the process may be tedious, it allows him to unwind and clear his mind while focusing on the preparation of them.

Miles’ is the type that when he goes into the store he will always, without fail, buy a new notebook/sketchpad. He may not even need it, he may already have like ten new ones he has yet to break in, but he always likes to stay prepared for when his current one runs out. He also likes to alternate between them or dedicate certain notebooks to certain muses or drawing preferences

Will squeak out of surprise and say something in spanish if he’s startled or scared. And I’m talking like a girlish squeak and it's so cute but he’d be so embarrassed, cuz why did you have to sneak up on him like that? He was doing perfectly fine til you wanted to give him a heart attack.

On the topic of spanish, he isn’t that confident in it so he doesn’t really like to speak it if its not with his family, because he just knows he’s gonna fuck it up. So if he feels like there's pressure in a conversation where he knows he’s going to have to speak it at some point, he’ll try to back out before that happens

Miles gets so fascinated with things all the time. It happens mostly when he’s either strolling through the neighborhood or he’s on patrol. Definitely checks himself out in the glass of skyscrapers…then promptly remembers that there are people behind said glass that can see him and hurriedly swings off. And if a new pair of Jordans have been teased? Best believe he’s doing all the chores and buttering up his parents so that he can get them as soon as they drop

Speaking of Jordans; this boy is such a sneakerhead it’s insane. His dorm room AND his room at home are full of shoe boxes he has yet to style with some clothes. Keeps telling his parents “I’ma wear ‘em, I’ma wear ‘em!” but he never has the time to cuz he’s too preoccupied with being a good student and Spiderman to prioritize style over comfort (even tho he do still be fresh n clean)

He’s also the best bestie to have. Texts you tiktoks, checks in on you at seemingly always the right time. If you go to school together then you know you’re hanging out after classes. And if you need help in the sciences, Miles is the best tutor ever. And his family loves you, so birthdays, christmas and other holidays, if you’re not already celebrating with your folks, if you don’t fuck with them like that, or if you don’t have a real family, he’s inviting you over his place all the time so that you never have to feel alone.

If you enjoyed, please leave a like, comment, and reblog for others to see! And don’t be shy to send in a request!

[sea-owl]

Because of your last question, now I want to know what kinda buddy comedy movie Lucy and Simon would star in?

Well, we know for a fact that Simon is gonna be some sort of father/big brother figure to Lucy. Because even at his worst rake lifestyle, I fully believe Simon still would have been a better role model than Lucy's uncle or brother. And from the book, we know Simon isn't bad with children. He just refuses to carry on the bloodline. We see him positively interact with both Gregory and Hyacinth, who were ages 11 and 10 at the time.

I like to think Simon somehow acquired Lucy during his traveling years. Not 100% sure how, probably some sort of tradegy for Lucy's parents, but somehow Lucy ended up in Simon's custody. Originally, Simon was just going to make sure Lucy got back to England safely and drop her off in the care of her relatives. But Lucy was so adamant about not going back. There was something in her expression that Simon recognized and empathize with.

Simon, being the young and kinda dumb 20 something year old he was, didn't think much beyond that and just took Lucy wherever he went. Was this kidnapping, maybe, but Lucy's uncle didn't care when he got that letter one less problem for him. He was happy to sign over custody to Simon. Simon, being the nerd that he is, rationalized that he was giving Lucy an advanced education. Lucy was just happy to strap in for the ride and not back to her creepy uncle.

So now we got the pre marriage girl dad Simon and his precious baby girl Lucy. Simon tries his best to give Lucy a childhood better than his own, and yes, sometimes he may spoil the girl. Simon's nerd side comes out full force when he helps Lucy with her studies, especially math. He teaches her how to follow the stars like a map.

There are some who theorize that Lucy is actually Simon's illegitimate child who takes her mother, but those rumors are ignored. Simon himself rolls his eyes at those rumors while Lucy herself follows his lead. She doesn't understand fully herself, but if Simon says to give them no mind, then she'll do just that.

Things start to get interesting when Simon starts his fake courtship with Daphne. Lucy thinks they should court for real. She likes Daphne, and Daphne has quickly taken the girl, too. Simon is lowkey side eyeing Gregory, though, because why is he standing so close to Lucy? Good sir, you both are too young to think of courtship!

[ask-swansea]

Tell us about your family back home :3

Oh gosh, where to start. I've told you lot plenty about Ethel, won't stop me from telling more!

She's about as sweet as a peach cobbler after a day workin' out in the winter cold. The kind of woman who somehow always knows just what you need, offers her shoulder to cry on, and genuinely can empathize with..anyone. She's just about the loveliest lady around. Well, when she wants to be. She can be as fierce as she is sweet, especially when it comes to the kids- or me, surprisingly. As great as she is at controlling it she's got the temper of a momma bear when someone crosses the people she cares about, and won't hesitate to unleash her internal Russian babushka on you! But if you're kind and respectful, then you'll be welcomed with open arms. She used to love hosting neighborhood events for all of the kids; every year she'd have me dress up as Santa, we'de buy little gifts like stuffed animals, toy cars, and animal figurines, and go door to door visiting any houses with children. She always dressed up as my Misses Claus!

On Easter we'de spend a good two or so HOURS hiding eggs all around the neighborhood park, have the parents bring their kids, and let them have a huge Easter egg hunt. She adored our neighbors; truth be told, everyone loved her too. Once we had a scare; shortly after the twins were born, they found a mass on her uterus. We were terrified waiting for results after the biopsy. Just about every day we'de have neighbors visiting, offering to babysit, bringing us snacks and food. Thank God it ended up being nothing; but, really did open our eyes to just how strongly she managed to pull our little community together. Ethel was like that; people gravitate towards her. Her demeanor, that smile that could clear my brain in seconds and leave me speechless. She was *beautiful*. Inside, and so help me god, DEFINETELY outside. Feel bad she got stuck with a shmuck like me!

Then my kids. The two troublemaking boys, Asher and Ace. They aren't fraternal, thank God; Asher got my (albiet longer and less thinned) blondeish-brown hair and dark eyes, and Ace got his mother's darker brown hair, and pretty green eyes (My dad had green eyes; carried the gene over.) love them to pieces; I swear, even with everythin' else that's happened in life, I've never cried as hard as the day they were born. Holding them in my arms, even screaming their tiny little heads off? Perfect, most love-filled feeling in the world. Even if part of me always wanted a baby girl. They're perfect; even when they cause trouble. Asher is the wiser of the two. Which, helps them get away with more. They love playing pranks on me; Hiding all the sweets, hiding water balloons under my pillow, and once when they were younger, they used the food dye bottles from our kitchen to dye Jaxson BLUE! Nicknamed 'em 'Blues Clues' until the dye finally washed and faded out.

Asher was the orchestrator behind most of these; and, once found out, was proud of that fact. Ace is the free spirit; and I mean that in the BEST of ways. While Asher liked staying home with Ethel and reading or watching her sew and knit, Ace was the one who wanted to go fishing with me, go on hikes, and occasionally tag along with me to work back when I was stationed on the ground working ship maintenance at the harbor; before I was needed to be sent up. We went between drawing and babbling away while I worked, to intently watching me, and even trying to help (which, I usually had to decline, promising he could always help me out when he was a little older and less likely to get me in trouble!) Ace best reminds me of- ahem. He's really similar to Daisuke. They're probably be best friends if they met.

But life at home was good. Every night, after the kids got into their pajamas, I'de curl up with them and tell them bed time stories. Their favorite being one I made up about a pirate who traveled through space! Ethel would join in, sometimes she'd tell the story. We'de all be snuggled up, usually on me and Ethel's bed, and then send them to their rooms to sleep afterwards- or on the occasion carry them to their beds, when they fell asleep laying in our arms mid-story. If wasn't perfect. Me and Ethel had our little scraps..but nothing ever big. The kids of course had their moments, but they always made up. We were *happy*.

And God, I can't wait to get back home to them.

[thatawkwardmoth]

Ideally, if Scott and Emma had kids in the main comics, would you want Megan and Ruby to co-exist? Or do you consider them similar enough to be multiversal variants of the same person, a Cable/X-man or Hope Pym/Nadia Van Dyne situation. I tend to lean toward option 2, but it would be interesting to see them try to get along in option 1.

(But also writers need to remember Emma's actual original surrogate daughter, the Hellion Catseye. She's both a daughter and a cat, which is peak cuteness. She should get a chance to hang out with her posh cuckoo sisters and/or help her mom troll her current stepdad Tony.)

(P.P.S. Emma and the Cuckoos need to meet Tony's AI daughter Friday.)

I want them to coexist. Scott Summers is meant to be a girl dad, he's meant to have a large family. I love Megan, Ruby, Megan's siblings (the one named Alex goes straight to my heart, he and his brother might fight a lot but he loves Havok so much), all of them. Emma is meant to be a mom and not in the way where it's like "she's not fulfilled until she's a mom". Her biggest fear was turning out like her father (the way she acted with the Hellions and getting them killed, the small thought she had where she was like 'im just like him'). With Megan and Ruby both, their stories boast about an understanding mother, one who was caring. She was the White Queen to everyone else but she was the mom Hazel Frost never was. Attentive, caring, not just focused on image and perfection.

Like how she is with the Cuckoos. She's a little awkward because they're teenagers but multiple times she's seen worrying about them, caring about their feelings. When they didn't return home from the first Hellfire Gala when it was sunrise, when they approached her about becoming the new White Queen, when Esme told her about her and Nathan's relationship and she helped her through that.

And Catseye being overlooked is really annoying. Because they pulled this Emma and Kate like Emma has always had her eye on Kitty being her apprentice, even though they butt heads a lot in older comics. Catseye probably wouldn't have been made Red Queen but maybe someone on Emma's team of people at Hellfire HQ.

I honestly loved the things they did with Empath still working for Emma while with the newer Hellions team. She still cares about them obviously. They're all alive on Krakoa, there is a scene where Empath is being yelled at by them because he let Sinister use their team name.

I personally am not a big fan of the Tony Stark/Emma Frost thing. I enjoyed it when it was a fling but Emma is a strong fighter for mutant rights. AVX and the other superhero teams reactions (FF4) to Krakoa were very revealing, showing how the Avengers viewed mutants and mutantkind having another nation. Tony Stark can say he's sorry a lot but it doesn't change the fact that Emma canonically holds grudges, she's always waiting for a way to get you back. They're cute together but only if you ignore the countless times Avengers have slandered the mutants, even when having mutants on their team.

Meeting Friday would be adorable, I will admit.

Anyway, I'm rambling and frazzled from work so this might not make sense.

[flightfoot]

So I have no idea how asks work, I hope o am doing the right thing.

Sooooo any miraculous fan fiction suggestion? Maybe something chloe focused? Because I am basically running out of fic about that on ao3,butaybe maybe maybe you can help me? Thank you!!!!!!!!!!(oh and thank you even if you don't aswer oh and sorry if I am disturbing you!!!!!)

Have a nice day :)

I'm happy to help! I read a crapton of Miraculous fics so I can help. I'm glad you specified Chloe fics because well, I need something to go off of.

Oh yeah, it probably goes without saying if you know me at all, but none of these fics will demonize Alya, Adrien, the class, any of that sort. I don't tolerate those fics.

So first of all, @generalluxun really likes to write Chloe fics, so looking through his AO3 page is probably a good idea. I Won't Let You, which is a one-shot of Felix and Chloe talking at the Hawkmoth defeat party, empathizing with each other's circumstances, is a particular favorite of mine, if you want a taste.

Now onto the rest of the fic recs!

well somewhere along the way our words I must've gotten lost by @noirshitsuji

Beelya where Queen Bee visits the Césaire house after Alya writes an article about her fighting Mr. Pigeon alone. Normally Chloé would like the publicity but Alya had titled it ‘The Birds and the Bees’. After that she ends up coming back to complain about her mother. And her father. And about the fact that her oldest friend seems uncomfortable around her. Her visits becomes weekly, then almost nightly. (Don’t forget to include Chloé redemption (and some “Bee Movie” jokes).) * Alya isn’t quite sure how she ended up here, in a place where she isn’t even surprised Chloé would seek her out to talk about her dad, where she wouldn’t even mind her doing so, where she would expect it, where she would– (–thud. She might be in trouble.)

I loved seeing Alya's and Chloe's relationship grow and change through the years here, becoming closer and trusting each other more!

---

Can't Sleep Either, Huh? by EmeraldButterfly

Chloe gets up late at night. Turns out she’s not the only one who’s worried about Pollen. (AU where former Miraculous holders have an empathetic link with their kwamis)

This one's really short, but I love Zoe and Chloe comforting each other, since they can both feel what Pollen's going through at Monarch's hands over the link.

---

at our wedding by @anna-scribbles

“Chloé,” Adrien said slowly, “At our wedding, are we gonna have to…” “No!” Chloé shook her head firmly. “We don’t have to kiss. We can do whatever we want. It’s our wedding.” “Oh, good,” Adrien sighed. “You have to kiss at a wedding,” Félix argued. “I don’t have to do anything and you’re not the boss of me!” Chloé shouted. “Yeah!” Adrien grinned. He grabbed Chloé’s hand again. “Yeah, it’s our wedding.” // Adrien and Chloé, wedding planning through the years.

This one's great for seeing how Adrien's and Chloe's relationship in particular has changed over the years, though Felix is involved a lot as well.

---

Restorative Justice by @kasienda

Chloé has never been a fan of Ms. Bustier’s community building activities. In fact, she detests them. She doesn’t want to learn about the drab boring lives of her peers. And she absolutely can’t stand it when their confessions make her feel things. Feelings that she doesn’t even have names for. But when Adrien unknowingly shares his struggles with his double life, Chloé vows she will do anything to get Ladybug to set things right. Even if it means pissing off the heroine. Chloé was already mad at her anyway.

I love this, everyone sits down in a circle and talks about their feelings and problems and work on making things BETTER, on healing and fixing things.

---

This last one is a special treat, it's one of the best Miraculous fics I've ever read (and that is saying a LOT).

Hold Me By Both Hands by @angelofthequeers

“I know he said never to take you back,” Plagg mutters. “But he’d change his tune if he knew.” He looks Adrien straight in the eye and, more serious than Adrien’s ever seen him before, says, “There’s someone you gotta meet. He’s been looking for that book for ages.” How differently might the events of season 2 have gone if Adrien had also known of Master Fu from the start?

This is a rewrite of seasons 2 and 3, with Lila being active and sneakier, Adrien not being left in the dark, and everyone talking things out a lot more. I ADORE the interweaving plot threads of this fic, it's fairly episodic in nature and it packs a lot into its word count.

The single best plotline it has, and the one that shoots it up to the top of my list of best ML fics, is its Chloe Redemption plotline.

Basically, Adrien says he won't be friends with Chloe unless she starts treating people decently, and so, taking this to heart, she goes looking for help in learning how to do that because well, she doesn't want to lose Adrien. So naturally, she goes to Marinette.

Marinette helps, but there are no shortcuts here. If you've seen The Good Place, Chloe's character arc here is a lot like Eleanor's was there, with her not only needing to learn how to be nicer to people, but t find reasons to WANT to be a better person, outside of simply wanting to avoid a bad outcome. I literally wrote an essay about Chloe's character development in this fic, THAT'S how much I loved it.

Anyway, seriously, check this fic out!

[nobodyfamousposts]

I apologize if this has been asked before but how different would the Mominette/Dolls AUs be if Luka was their "Dad" and not Adrien? He can still be their uncle or something.

There would be some differences.

Probably post-Silencer, Marinette makes a Littlebug Doll for Luka. She "wakes up" while he's playing a guitar and Luka is understandably surprised when he's broken out of his "zone" to the feeling of Littlebug resting against him while listening to him play.

Luka is understandably surprised because okay, the doll is clearly alive. But she's peaceful and seems to like his song so he keeps playing and observes her for a bit.

Littlebug: (P erks up at one of the songs he plays)

Luka: Oh. You like that?

Littlebug: (Nods)

So Luka plays more and Littlebug smiles and sorta sways with the tune.

But she sways too far at one point and falls over.

Luka picks her up.

Littlebug is sheepish but smiles at him in thanks.

It reminds him of Marinette—whom Luka remembers was the one to give him this doll and figures he should check on her because if her doll is alive, it may be because she's an akuma.

He calls Marinette and is happy to confirm she ISN'T an akuma. But does immediately tell her that her Ladybug doll came to life.

Marinette: ....wait. What?

This results in Marinette knowing about Littlebug much, MUCH sooner. A lot of things happen sooner, actually. The Dolls meeting and becoming friends/siblings. Luka and Marinette discovering the other's dolls and starting to co-parent. And the Dolls determining that the two ARE their parents and start calling them "Mama" and "Papa".

But since this is still season 3 era, what DOES take time to work out is the reveal of Marinette's identity as Ladybug.

The other issue would be whether it's Chaton or Little Viperion staying with Marinette. Still debating...

On the one hand, I know everyone adores Chaton and he is very much a Mama's Boy and it wouldn't feel right to put him with anyone else. Plus part of me argues that changing their dad figure doesn't necessarily mean the dolls themselves have to be swapped.

....on the other hand, it is a Little Viperion. A Neonate, if you will.

What IS clear though is that there would be a major difference in how the Dolls act because of this.

Marinette made Littlebug to protect Adrien and make him happy. And given Adrien's life, Littlebug takes her "job" very seriously.

But Luka....while I don't doubt Marinette would make Littlebug for the same reasons and the same "purpose", the fact is that Luka's got a pretty easy-going life and is capable of handling his own problems. So no one is threatening Littlebug's Papa or trying to throw her into trash bins. Littlebug of course is gonna want to protect him during akuma fights, but otherwise, he's fine.

Then there's the OTHER point that Luka is more chill but also wouldn't be as much of a pushover as Adrien. He would be more responsible when looking after his little Doll/sweetheart/mini menace. So he wouldn't let Littlebug get away with as much. :p

But that's okay! Because Luka has Juleka and Anarka both of whom would let Littlebug get away with murder. And let's be real here...how long do you really think Luka would manage to go before Littlebug gets discovered?

So yeah. Anarka has magical grandkids and just ADORES them. And teaches them all the things they need to know. Like how to pick locks. How to evade pursuers. How to deal with enemies.

Littlebug is gonna be a pirate!

Luka would try to be the responsible parental figure (which Marinette would certainly appreciate)...but it only helps so much when Anarka encourages the antics.

Then there's Juleka...

Shy sweet Juleka.

Littlebug is a serious Doll with a serious purpose. And as per her purpose, she wants to protect and dote on someone. Luka is her main person she's bonded to and was made for, but he's mostly self sufficient and it's clear he looks out for Littlebug more than the other way around. However, whether through the Dolls' innate empathic abilities or just the vicariousness of children, Littlebug adores anything Luka cares about, and Luka cares about his little sister.

Cue Littlebug doting on Juleka.

If she's not with Luka or Marinette, Littlebug is never far from Juleka. She will defend the Princess's honor and break any nasty curse that threatens her smile!

Just try and pull another stunt, Chloe. SEE WHAT HAPPENS!

So yes. Littlebug's got quite the family. Music and deliveries with Luka. School and modeling with Juleka. Fashion and playtime with Marinette. And fun and crimes with Anarka.

...and just wait until Jagged and Penny join the fun...

[thebrainrotsreal]

I’m interested in the idea of Mark and Kate interacting. With how the story focus on Mark’s journey it’s easy to forget he’s not the only punching bag character in the series. They’re both people who have been beaten down by life, who have fought against opponents stronger than them and lost spectacularly but somehow move forward and try to do good despite the odds being against them. Kate also seems to be dealing with some family drama too if the S1 imprisoned supervillain with duplication powers shares any association with her. I just like the idea of Mark talking to other superheroes his own age besides Eve.

OH SAME! They're such an underrated, if not like non-existent dynamic that would be so good, like hello????

Agreeing with every little thing you said, anon!!! They're both determined as fuck to do the right thing and keep moving forward, and if they both have family drama, that'd be perfect because they know exactly how the other feels! It's perfect scenario for bonding!!! Another shoulder to lean on! Considering there's drama with Eve & Rex, I'd image they'd be a breath of fresh air to each other! Plus, I always pondered how Mark, who often gets beat to the verge of death and keeps living anyway, (which hello high pain tolerance? or forced to have a high tolerance???) AND Kate, who feels every single clone death in agonizing scrutiny (which DAMN GIRL, SAME QUESTION BUT ALSO HOLY SHIT), can ALSO bond over those kind of death-like experiences. They can pop right back up, yeah, but that kind of agony has gotta fuck with you severely.

Kate especially whose been a hero longer than Mark has, and as probably felt herself die so many times and still has to fight anyway, just feeling yourself being ripped apart mid-battle is insane. WHICH IS TO SAY: MARK AND KATE DYNAMICS, PLEASE. Like unlike Rex whose shown to be dismissive of Kate's clones, Mark, in the very little 0.8 seconds of interaction, is polite! He doesn't dismiss them, and just outright asks who to face to be respectful! Granted he never gets his question answered, but still. Their dynamic could have bloomed.

Every day I wish they could talk. Kate get away from The Immortal, please, I promise there are better people to lean on, holy shit. Not to mention that so far her only intimate, or just more than friend/coworker dynamics are either the Immortal, which, man you are like over 100 grandpa, GROSS, or REX who used her to cheat on Eve. She needs a relationship that isn't romantic/sexual outright, which is not to dissuade shippers, but like holy shit she needs some friends. And so does Mark! They just feel like both incredibly isolated characters!

Basically their friendship would make so much sense! And it would do them both some good! Kate gets someone to lean on who can actually understand and empathize with the struggles, in family drama, in agonizing deaths, in pushing forward anyway because she wants to do the right thing, and Mark the same!

Plus, with s2 finale's leaving Mark fresh off the morality crisis of taking a life, and yet Future!Eve tasked him with confessing to Eve like he doesn't have other shit to process makes talking to Eve a fuck ton of pressure. The timing is almost comedic istg.

This scene will never not be utterly insane and hilarious to me. Like side step the fact you almost stayed stranded out here for years, ignore the fact there is a version out here who survived and became someone you "wouldn't like", ignore the fact you just killed someone exactly like how your dad nearly killed you, confess to me, Mark. LIKE GIRL. HELLO?

They just feel like perfect, potential friends! Like come on, please? Please. Let them interact for more than 0.05 nanoseconds. Fanfic writers where are you. Please. WE WERE ROBBED I TELL YOU! FUCKING ROBBED!

Ty again for the ask, invincible anon! :DDD

[svt-nari]

fun facts about nari !

— she got ranked #1 three times in a row in the 'top15 female idols chosen by lesbian korean girls' list, nari's really famous amongst the female audience of kpop.

— people say she's one of the prettiest 3rd gen idols, she's often praised by her beauty and how effortlessly pretty she is. that's also one of the main reasons she's called eternal nari and maknae noona, she's had the same face ever since their debut. she doesn't age in people's eyes.

— nari appeared on the episode 174 of 'the king of masked singer', using the identity of 'cheomseongdae', singing the song 'observatory'.

— she also did a studio choom 'artist of the month' performance, with the song 'mushroom chocolate', in 2021. she went viral for it, being one of the most watched performances.

— during seventeen's first appearance on 'knowing bros', suju's heechul asked nari out during the filming, the members immediately declined it and told him she couldn't go out with him. then, when asked why, they answered that their noona couldn't date unless it was someone they truly knew and approved of.

— all her past partners had to go through a type of test, in which the members would secretly analyze them and either approve or say no to the relationship.

— all the hybe 4th gen groups love to talk about nari and how sweet she is to them. she often sends coffee trucks and small gifts for them whenever they are having comebacks or doing something different to congratulate their work.

— her solo song became a hit due to the fresh and cool choreography. people loved how it fit her image and her song, the members love to mimic her dancing whenever they can.

— nari has a lot of idol friends in the industry, she's especially close to loona's yves, the twice members, fromis_9's chaeyoung and jiheon, the got7 members, blackpink's jennie and jisoo, somi and a lot of other idols.

— during the 'game cateters' with the hybe groups, nari was often praised by the other idols by how effortlessly pretty she was. she also used it for her advantage since she's close to them and know their soft spots. it was also one of the few times she used aegyo for her own advantage.

— she's a big taeyeon and snsd fan, she cried lots when they reunited to release a new album after years. she was also seen at various snsd concerts, being it either solo or group concerts.

— her english name was given to her by joshua when they first met, since then, whenever she goes to the us, she will definitely introduce herself as julie.

— if she sees someone crying, she will cry too. especially if the one crying is either her mom, dad or her members. nari has a weak heart for crying, she empathizes with people a lot and tends to cry easily too.

— her favorite food is spaghetti and her favorite drink is starbucks’ pink drink. she isn’t a big fan of coffee but she does drink it from time to time.

— her favorite color is probably purple, she isn’t really sure but she loves the color.

— nari loves to receive flowers as a gift, usually at fansigns, carats tend to give her tulips, sunflowers and roses.

— her representative emoji is a butterfly due to her nickname ‘nabi’, which means butterfly in korean. this nickname started during her trainee days and lives up until now.

all rights reserved © svt-nari, 2023

[dandylion240]

OC Deep Dive Questionnaire Tag

A set of 20 questions to get to know your OC!

Thanks for the tag @bool-prop

I decided to do this for Josie O'Neil, a next gen sim and one of my favorites.

What uncommon/common fear do they have?

Her biggest fear is losing someone she loves. She knows death is a fact of life but she doesn't want it to be due to something she did or could have prevented.

Do they have any pet peeves?

People who never apologize even when they know they're wrong.

What are 3 items you can find in their bedroom?

Cell phone, Yellow Roses and a picture of her dragon. All three are on the nightstand beside her bed.

What do they notice first in a person?

If they're kind to other people. She takes special notice of someone who holds the door open for someone or offers to help when someone is in need.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how high is their pain tolerance?

Her personal pain tolerance is quite high, like around a 7 or 8. It's the pain of others she has a difficult time coping with. As an empath she tends to take on other's emotional pain as her own and it sometimes overwhelms her.

Do they go into fight or flight mode when under pressure?

It depends. She tends to flee from a fight if it's for herself but if it's for someone she's close to she's more apt to fight. She doesn't like to fight but she will if it means defending someone.

Do they come from a big family/are they a family person?

The Reagan family is a huge but her particular family unit isn't that big. Just her parents and adopted brother. So quite small by Reagan standards.

What animal represents them best?

Goldne Retriever - she's playful, affectionate and loyal.

What is a smell that they dislike?

She likes most flowers but she can't stand the scent of marigolds.

Have they broken any bones?

No broken bones but she has sprained her ankle a few times.

How would a stranger likely describe them?

They would probably say she's naive, selfless and an easy mark.

Are they a night owl or a morning bird?

She's a morning bird. She loves getting up early and working on her farm.

What is a flavor they hate and a flavor they love?

She loves citrus fruit, oranges, lemon, limes although she doesn't really like grapefruit. She doesn't like cabbages, especially cooked cabbage.

Do they have any hobbies?

Gardening, horseback riding, long strolls in the woods taking pictures of the world around her. She's a simple girl who likes the simple things in life.

Boom, surprise birthday party! How do they react to surprises?

She get's embarrassed. She doesn't like being the center of attention. She'd rather spend her birthday volunteering at the homeless shelter with her dad or hanging out at the animal shelter.

Do they like to wear jewelry?

Yes. She has her dragon earings her parents gave her one year for christmas even though they're more than ten years old. She has the necklace that Hayle gave her that wears all the time. And one day perhaps a ring a certain dragon gives her.

Do they have neat or messy handwriting?

It depends what it's for. If it's meant to be read by someone else than she makes sure it's neat and legible. If it's just for her than it tends to be messy and she often has to guess what some of the words are if it's been some time since she wrote it.

What are two emotions they feel the most?

Love and contentment - but it does take a while for her to get to this point.

Do they have a favorite fabric?

She has a favorite snuggly blanket but she doesn't know what it's made of. She just likes it because it's soft and perfect to snuggle on the sofa with a good book.

What kind of accent do they have?

None.

Tagging: @wannabecatwriter @mahvaladara @stargazer-sims @rebouks @lynzishell @anamoon63 @kimmiessimmies

[velvet4510]

“Well, you’ve wasted a year, so why wait longer?”

This line is interesting to me. On the surface, it sounds like Rosie is being sincere here; that she has so little understanding of what Sam went through that she thinks he wasted time in not marrying her sooner. But it just doesn’t sit right with me that Sam would actually want to marry someone who cared so little. After going through such trauma, an experience that changed him forever, why would he be even interested in spending his life with someone totally dismissive of it all?

I think it should be remembered that hobbits make light of serious things. It’s what they all do. Also it’s never explicitly denied that Sam told Rosie all that had happened. Not only is it likely that he did, but it’s likely she asked him to tell her in the first place. Considering that he and Frodo lived with the Cottons for several months, Rosie must’ve noticed Frodo’s illness - it was her dad who found Frodo sick on the 1st anniversary of Shelob - and maybe even noticed the first drafts of his book that he’d written. Surely if the guy I loved vanished with his master then came back after a year with his master a hollow shell of who he used to be, I’d be hurt, but also pretty darn curious.

This is why I think Sam must’ve told Rosie everything that happened (likely she was the only person), and Rosie understood what he and Frodo did. So she claims Sam “wasted a year” to tease him, to try to find some way to smile at the situation.

And of course Sam was triggered: “Wasted? I wouldn’t call it that!” But we’re not told Rosie’s response, which would hold a definitive answer as to whether she was sincere or sarcastic. Since we’re left to put it together on our own, I’d say she probably laughed and apologized and clarified she was just messing with him.

Tolkien’s choices regarding Rosie’s few lines of dialogue are really thought-provoking. Certainly her first few lines during the Scouring of the Shire are sincere and meant to show how people back home couldn’t understand what the soldiers went through during the war.

But what about when a soldier wants to build a life with a person like that, to build a stable marriage? How could a marriage survive without some understanding?

I feel like he must’ve intended for Rosie to gain some sense of empathy for Sam and Frodo. It was practically a requirement for her and Sam’s marriage to succeed. And we do see proof of this: she’s fine with her and her husband sharing Bag End with Frodo, she’s fine with Frodo naming her firstborn, and she’s fine with naming her first son after Frodo. Why would she be fine with any of these unusual things, unless she understood as best she could? Why would Sam be in love, to the point of marriage, with someone who didn’t share his ability to empathize with others?

Rosie’s comment about wasting a year may say one thing on the surface, but when you think about the circumstances, I think Tolkien wanted it to show us a trait of her character: like any hobbit, she tries to find a way to make light of something dark, to smile about it. She may not always succeed at that, and her teasing may sometimes come out the wrong way, but she deliberately makes understatements in order to prove that she does in fact understand. She’s a hobbit of unusual depth, like Sam. She IS a queen among hobbits.

[biirbi]

Dndads season 2 expectations :3

Frankly I do not really know how tumblr works; just posting this to keep track of it! I just finished season 1 of dungeons and daddies a bit ago and am starting the next one soon! Here are my current thoughts/expectations:

ummummmm honestly I have no clue what's going to happen in S2- I know the premise is the doodler has returned, but besides them trying to defeat it probably, no idea. I'm excited to hopefullyy see some of my favorite s1 characters again (I am pretty much exclusively talking about Erin and Scam)! If willy shows up again im going to leave. forever. he doesn't get to be an antag for two seasons.

AND ALSO IM GONNA BE. VERY UPSET IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO THE STAMPLERS. I know scary isn't a stampler technically but I'll still refer to them all as that. but I care them so hard im gonna be so mad. all in all I just want the stamplers to be ok. and scam and erin. Also speaking of erin I hope vince dies she deserves someone with more dimensions (me)

The kids as dads!:

Honestly, I love all the kids- I cannot see them being that bad of parents (but apparently I'll find out soon!)

Adulthood clearly fucks them up SOMEHOW bc idk how they could be so awful but Sparrow (My favorite kid as of now :3) would probably just be. kinda like henry but I still think different? Like Henry is probably more protective than I imagine sparrow would be; aloof (p.s. I had a different idea of what aloof meant but I can't think of a different word so. oh well just use your imagination LMFAO) though he still is very loving! And does his best to sprinkle in life lessons even if they're not. that great. Like I'd think the worst he could fuck up his kid is not really teach him any particularly valuable life skills

Terry Jr! I love him, I'm very glad he and Ron are doing well as of now. I think he's a great kid that would make a great step-dad, especially considering the fact he knows what it's like to 1: lose his dad and 2: have an emotionally distant step-father. You'd THINK he wouldn't want a kid to also go through that but who knows I guess.

I love Grant too, and I know I've said this for all of them but honestly I have no clue what tf they do to him to possibly get him to be that bad of a dad. He was definitely traumatized by murdering that thing so I get him maybe like being emotionally distant. and like overbearing at the same time. but I wouldn't really call that being a poor parent,,,

Nicky uhhh. He confuses me I don't really know what he's like anymore since he was Glenn's kid. then Jodie's. now kinda both so honestly I've no real idea of what he's gonna be like but I still can't see him being that bad.

AND THAT REMINDS ME if hermie is presumably a grandkid of one of the preexisting s1 characters I can not figure out WHO tf might be the one that fucked him up that bad. I don't really know anything about him but it's soo obvious that he is Not gonna have a Good Time. I don't even know if he's a normal guy (normal hehe) or from the forgotten realms or>?????

Characters I'll probably get attached to

Honestly, as far as I can tell abt hermie (which I'm not really supposed to know about yet but whatever) he does seem like a character I will get attached to. And hopefully not empathize with cause that won't help. He just looks like he's designed to hold SO much trauma.

*slaps roof of hermie*

This baby can hold so much trauma in it.

I don't really have any clue abt him but. I can tell it probably won't go well for him! Also he kinda? ?? looks like an antag but also doesn't? Idk maybe an antag because of a forced hand, or more along the lines of an anti-hero? I've no idea.

Scary! She seems likeable in an. unlikeable edgy way. She's played by Beth so it can't be that hard to like her (Which I recently met someone who DOESN'T like beth!? He just hates to see a funny woman...), plus I'm a sucker for edgy emo characters. She's not actually related to ron but yknow terry's her step-dad and that's close enough.

Honestly I don't particularly take to very chipper and upbeat characters (which I'm just assuming Normal is, I could be wrong), so no clue if I'll like him. I at least probably won't dislike him as long as he's not annoying abt it.

And I have no clue what Taylor's gonna be like so really I can't say anything. He's kinda sorta related to Glenn? kinda????? and I didn't like Glenn very much at first, he did grow on me a little but idk- we'll see

I totally forgot to put lincoln in here. idk ANYTHING about him so uhh we'll see!

ermm I think I had something else to say but I forgot- I'm going to start dedicating the next 10 days while I'm by myself to probably binging all of s2. Uhhhh wish me luck!

[softsnzstuff]

oh my god you watch m/anifest??? marry me rn i am On My Knees 😭😭 i've been waiting for so long for someone else on snzblr to get into it so this is like. the peak of my existence. i literally love you omg this is so!! i am Screaming!! & also,,, if you have any snz thoughts/headcanons about literally any of the characters,,, i would sell you my soul for them,,,,,,,

HI ANON!!!! Ahhhh! Yes I’ve been watching religiously since it first aired in 2018!!!!

Have a few headcanons for some of my fave characters!

Zeke

Zeke literally died from frostbite and came back so I think when he gets sick or has a fever, he gets the chills

Because he died from the literal cold before I think that would also make him emotional in a lowkey ptsd sort of way - delirious and cold and not sure how to fix it

Zeke is a major empath so if people around him are sick, I think he feels it too. Sort of like those phantom pregnancies that some men experience? I forget if that’s actually what they’re called? Sympathetic? Don’t quote me on that lol

Also because he’s sober I think he wouldn’t want to use NyQuil or cough meds

Ben

Ben is a super duper good caretaker. Dad of three??? You can’t tell me this man doesn’t know how to take care of people.

Ben also seems to be easier going in terms of slowing down to actually rest? Like he’ll probably still check shit out if it’s just a cold but otherwise he’ll just work from home like a normal person.

If he’s super sick maybe he can’t differentiate fever dreams from callings.

Mick

Mick thinks she can handle everything on her own. Whether it’s Jared or Zeke telling her to slow down, she isn’t gonna listen. She’ll find her way around it or around them to get shit done.

If she gets a calling and she’s sick she’s going to go investigate anyways because it’s in her nature to put others and their safety first.

Jared

Listen okay. I think Jared is so fine. Like jeeeeeeesus. That’s not a headcanon that’s just a fact 🫡

Jared’s the guy who would stay home sick but if Mick called him for help or if he knew she was about to get into trouble, he’d be out of bed in a heartbeat to go stop her or bail her out

^ that being said she would give him shit. “You’re supposed to be in bed!” And him like “I would be if you weren’t getting into trouble!!”

I thought I had more headcanons but I am also sleepy and blanking rn. If I think of more I’ll reblog this with them though!!! Thank you for asking 🤭

[harpyreborn]

Who is phens one piece bestie? Who is her crush? Rival? Does she like or oppose the marines? What are her thoughts on the dragons?

If were talking cannons, I think she would get along very well with marco and monet (bird buddies) she and chopper would get on like a house on fire (medical buddies) she would probably really get along with some of the charolette kids praline, chiffon, lola, katakuri and brulee, would definitely wanna box cracker. she would be delighted by brooke (music buddies) and think jinbe is a baddie and delightful.

ACE. she would ADORE HIM. BESTIES.

crushes on everyone (or like way too many people to list) because shes a flirt BUT RESPECTFUL. though i think her mains would be Zoro and jinbei (especially jinbei! hot dad alert!), bartolomeo, chrolette katakuri!

Rival? more like just wants to beat her ass. Boa hancock. while she feels for the woman and understands why she is what she is, her disrespect and uncaring nature towards animals is getting her ass a beat down.

proper rival? Yamato! pushing eachother to the limit of what they can be would be fun!

Marines: Complicated. she understands why they exist and that they do in fact do alot of good for people and the core values and nature is great. But the underbelly and the bootlicking they do for the dragons and the way they absolutely are unwilling and unwavering in what they feel is just and right even when the person accused has shown to be just as complex and willing to do right by the people who need it. Some marines she likes and will defend with her life. others she would take out in a heartbeat no questions asked. but generally, avoids them because Shes a wanted woman for various reasons now.

dragons: Complicated but mostly despise. There are and have been good natured and willing to learn dragons. But those are far and few between. She looks at them with a mixture of pity and disgust. they close themselves off from the beauty of the world and then have the gall to take what is beautiful for themselves even at the detriment to others wellbeing. They are so far removed from the world and think they are so much better than everyone when the simple truth is that it was a few families that started the new age and basically forced themselves up to godhood. for no good reason. She can feel, and even empathize, and sympathize with some of the dragons. but she doesn't trust them, she doesn't particularly like them, but she believes that if taught and shown that maybe some of them can change and become great allies. and maybe even friends.

[draculeo]

As a muslim Iraqi American with a significant tumblr following, I feel as though I should let it be known exactly where I stand when it comes to Riordan’s statement about Samirah. I have copied and pasted it down below and my reaction to it will be written down below. This will be the first time I have read it. If you want to engage with me or tell me that I’m wrong, I expect you to be a muslim, hijabi, Iraqi American, and from Baghdad. If you are not, I suggest you sit down and keep quiet because you are not the authority on the way I should be represented.

Like many of my characters, Samirah was inspired by former students of mine. Over the course of my middle school teaching career, I worked with dozens of Muslim students and their families, representing the expanse of the Muslim world and both Shia and Sunni traditions. One of my most poignant memories about the September 11, 2001, attack of the World Trade Center was when a Muslima student burst into tears when she heard the news – not just because it was horrific, but also because she knew what it meant for her, her family, her faith. She had unwillingly become an ambassador to everyone she knew who, would have questions about how this attack happened and why the perpetrators called themselves “Muslim.” Her life had just become exponentially more difficult because of factors completely beyond her control. It was not right. It was not fair. And I wasn’t sure how to comfort or support her.

Starting off your statement with one of the most traumatic events in history for muslim Americans is already one of the most predictably bad moves he could pull. By starting off this way, you are acknowledging the fact that a) this t*rrorist attack is still the first thing you think of when you think of muslims and b) that those muslim students who you had prior to 9/11 occupied so little space in your mind that it took a national disaster for you to start to even try to empathize with them.

During the following years, I tried to be especially attuned to the needs of my Muslim students. I dealt with 9/11 the same way I deal with most things: by reading and learning more. When I taught world religions in social studies, I would talk to my Muslim students about Islam to make sure I was representing their experience correctly. They taught me quite a bit, which eventually contributed to my depiction of Samirah al-Abbas. As always, though, where I have made mistakes in my understanding, those mistakes are wholly on me.

As always, you have chosen to use “I based this character off my students” in order to justify the way they are written. News flash: you taught middle school children. Children who are already scrutinized and alienated and desperate to fit in. Of course their words shouldn’t be enough for you to decide you are representing them correctly, because they are still coming to terms with their identities and they are doing this in an environment where they are desperate to find the approval of white Americans. I know that as a child I would often tweak the way I explained my culture and religion to my teachers in order to gain their approval and avoid ruffling any feathers. They told you what they thought you’d want to hear because you are their teacher and hold a position of power over them and they both want your approval and want to avoid saying the wrong thing and having that hang over their heads every time they enter your classroom.

What did I read for research? I have read five different English interpretations of the Qur’an. (I understand the message is inseparable from the original Arabic, so it cannot be considered ‘translated’). I have read the entirety of the Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim hadith collections. I’ve read three biographies of Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) and well over a dozen books about the history of Islam and modern Islam. I took a six-week course in Arabic. (I was not very good at it, but I found it fascinating). I fasted the month of Ramadan in solidarity with my students. I even memorized some of the surahs in Arabic because I found the poetry beautiful. (They’re a little rusty now, I’ll admit, but I can still recite al-Fātihah from memory.) I also read some anti-Islamic screeds written in the aftermath of 9/11 so I would understand what those commenters were saying about the religion, and indirectly, about my students. I get mad when people attack my students.

And yet here you are actively avoiding the criticism from those of us who could very well have been the children sitting in your classroom. 

The Quran is so deep and complex that its meanings are still being discovered to this day. Yes, reading these old scripts is a must for writing muslim characters, but you cannot claim to understand them without also holding active discussions with current scholars on how the Quran’s teachings apply today.

When preparing to write Samirah’s background, I drew on all of this, but also read many stories on Iraqi traditions and customs in particular and the experiences of immigrant families who came to the U.S. I figured out how Samirah’s history would intertwine with the Norse world through the medieval writer Ahmad ibn Fadhlan, her distant ancestor and one of the first outsiders to describe the Vikings in writing.  I knew Samirah would be a ferocious brave fighter who always stood for what was right. She would be an excellent student who had dreams of being an aviator. She would have a complicated personal situation to wrestle with, in that she’s a practicing Muslim who finds out Valhalla is a real place. Odin and Thor and Loki are still around. How do you reconcile that with your faith? Not only that, but her mom had a romance with Loki, who is her dad. Yikes.

First of all, writing this paragraph in the same tone you use to emulate a 12 year old is already disrespectful. “Yikes” is correct. You have committed serious transgressions and can’t even commit to acting serious and writing like the almost 60 year old man that you are. Tone tells the reader a lot, and your tone is telling me that you are explaining your mistakes the same way you tell your little stories: childishly and jokingly. 

Stories are not enough. They are not and never will be. Stories cannot even begin to pierce the rich culture and history and customs of Iraq. Iraq itself is not even homogenous enough for you to rely on these “Iraqi” stories. Someone’s story from Najaf is completely unique from someone from Baghdad or Nasriyyah or Basrah or Mosul. Add that to the fact that these stories are written with a certain audience in mind and you realize that there’s no way they can tell the whole story because at their core they are catering to a specific audience.

Yes, those are good, but they are meaningless without you consulting an actual Baghdadi and asking specific questions. You made conclusions and assumptions based on these stories when the obvious way to go was to consult someone from Baghdad every step of the writing process. Instead, you chose to trust the conclusions that you (a white man) drew from a handful of stories. Who are you to convey a muslim’s internal struggle when you did not even do the bare minimum and have an actual muslim read over your words?

Thankfully, the feedback from Muslim readers over the years to Samirah al-Abbas has been overwhelmingly positive. I have gotten so many letters and messages online from young fans, talking about how much it meant to them to see a hijabi character portrayed in a positive light in a ‘mainstream’ novel.

Yeah. Because we’re desperate, and half of them are children still developing their sense of self and critical reading skills. A starving man will thank you for moldy bread but that does not negate the mold. 

Some readers had questions, sure! The big mistake I will totally own, and which I have apologized for many times, was my statement that during the fasting hours of Ramadan, bathing (i.e. total immersion in water) was to be avoided. This was advice I had read on a Shia website when I myself was preparing to fast Ramadan. It is advice I followed for the entire month. Whoops! The intent behind that advice, as I understood it, was that if you totally immersed yourself during daylight hours, you might inadvertently get some water between your lips and invalidate your fast. But, as I have since learned, that was simply one teacher’s personal opinion, not a widespread practice. We have corrected this detail (which involved the deletion of one line) in future editions, but as I mentioned in my last post, you will still find it in copies since the vast majority of books are from the first printing.

This is actually really embarrassing for you and speaks to your lack of research and reading comprehension. It is true that for shia, immersion breaks one’s fast. If you had bothered to actually ask questions and use common sense, you would realize that this is referring to actions like swimming, where one’s whole body is underwater, rather than bathing. Did you not question the fact that the same religion that encourages the cleansing of oneself five times a day banned bathing during the holiest month? Yes, it was one teacher’s opinion, but you literally did not even take the time to fully understand that opinion before chucking it into your book.

Another question was about Samirah’s wearing of the hijab. To some readers, she seemed cavalier about when she would take it off and how she would wear it. It’s not my place to be prescriptive about proper hijab-wearing. As any Muslim knows, the custom and practice varies greatly from one country to another, and from one individual to another. I can, however, describe what I have seen in the U.S., and Samirah’s wearing of the hijab reflects the practice of some of my own students, so it seemed to be within the realm of reason for a third-generation Iraqi-American Muslima. Samirah would wear hijab most of the time — in public, at school, at mosque. She would probably but not always wear it in Valhalla, as she views this as her home, and the fallen warriors as her own kin. This is described in the Magnus Chase books. I also admit I just loved the idea of a Muslima whose hijab is a magic item that can camouflage her in times of need.

Before I get into this paragraph, Samirah is second generation. Her grandparents immigrated from Iraq. Her mother was first gen.

Once again, you turn to what you have seen from your students, who are literal children. They are in middle school while Samirah is in high school, so they are very obviously at different stages of development, both emotional and religious. If you had bothered to talk to adults who had gone through these stages, you would understand that often times young girls have stages where they “practice” hijab or wear it “part time”, very often in middle school. However, both her age and the way in which you described Samirah lead the reader to believe that she is a “full timer,” so you playing willy nilly with her scarf as a white man is gross.

For someone who claims to have read all of these religious texts, it’s funny that you choose to overlook the fact that “kin” is very specifically described. Muslims do not go around deciding who they consider “kin” or “family” to take off their hijab in front of. There is no excuse for including this in her character, especially since you claim to have carefully read the Quran and ahadith.

You have no place to “just love” any magical extension of the hijab until you approach it with respect. Point blank period. Especially when you have ascribed it a magical property that justifies her taking it on and off like it’s no big deal, especially when current media portrayals of hijab almost always revolve around it being removed. You are adding to the harmful portrayal and using your “fun little magic camoflauge” to excuse it.

As for her betrothal to Amir Fadhlan, only recently have I gotten any questions about this. My understanding from my readings, and from what I have been told by Muslims I know, is that arranged marriages are still quite common in many Muslim countries (not just Muslim countries, of course) and that these matches are sometimes negotiated by the families when the bride-to-be and groom-to-be are quite young. Prior to writing Magnus Chase, one of the complaints I often heard or read from Muslims is how Westerners tend to judge this custom and look down on it because it does not accord with Western ideas. Of course, arranged marriages carry the potential for abuse, especially if there is an age differential or the woman is not consulted. Child marriages are a huge problem. The arrangement of betrothals years in advance of the marriage, however, is an ancient custom in many cultures, and those people I know who were married in this way have shared with me how glad they were to have done it and how they believe the practice is unfairly villainized. My idea with Samirah was to flip the stereotype of the terrible abusive arranged match on its head, and show how it was possible that two people who actually love each other dearly might find happiness through this traditional custom when they have families that listen to their concerns and honor their wishes, and want them to be happy. Amir and Samirah are very distant cousins, yes. This, too, is hardly unusual in many cultures. They will not actually marry until they are both adults. But they have been betrothed since childhood, and respect and love each other. If that were not the case, my sense is that Samirah would only have to say something to her grandparents, and the match would be cancelled. Again, most of the comments I have received from Muslim readers have been to thank me for presenting traditional customs in a positive rather than a negative light, not judging them by Western standards. In no way do I condone child marriage, and that (to my mind) is not anywhere implied in the Magnus Chase books.

I simply can’t even begin to explain everything that is wrong with this paragraph. Here is a good post about how her getting engaged at 12 is absolutely wrong religiously and would not happen. Add that on to the fact that Samirah herself is second-generation (although Riordan calls her third generation in this post) and this practice isn’t super common even in first generation people (and for those that it DOES apply to, it is when they are old enough to be married and not literal children). 

As a white man you can’t flip the stereotype. You can’t. Even with tons of research you cannot assume the authority to “flip” a stereotype that does not affect you because you will never come close to truly understanding it inside and out. Instead of flipping a stereotype, Rick fed into it and provided more fodder to the flames and added on to it to make it even worse.

I would be uncomfortable with a white author writing about arranged marriages in brown tradition no matter the context, but for him to offhandedly include it in a children’s book where it is badly explained and barely touched on is inexcusable. Your target audience is children who will no doubt overlook your clumsy attempt at flipping stereotypes.

It does not matter what your mind thinks you are implying. Rick Riordan is not your target audience, children are. So you cannot brush this away by stating that you did not see the harm done by your writing. You are almost 60 years old. Maybe you can read in between your lines, but I guarantee your target audience largely cannot.

Finally, recently someone on Twitter decided to screenshot a passage out-of-context from Ship of the Deadwhere Magnus hears Samirah use the phrase “Allahu Akbar,” and the only context he has ever heard it in before was in news reports when some Western reporter would be talking about a terrorist attack. Here is the passage in full:

Samirah: “My dad may have power over me because he’s my dad. But he’s not the biggest power. Allahu akbar.”

I knew that term, but I’d never heard Sam use it before. I’ll admit it gave me an instinctive jolt in the gut. The news media loved to talk about how terrorists would say that right before they did something horrible and blew people up. I wasn’t going to mention that to Sam. I imagined she was painfully aware.

She couldn’t walk the streets of Boston in her hijab most days without somebody screaming at her to go home, and (if she was in a bad mood) she’d scream back, “I’m from Dorchester!”

“Yeah,” I said. “That means God is great, right?”

Sam shook her head. “That’s a slightly inaccurate translation. It means God is greater.”

“Than what?”

“Everything. The whole point of saying it is to remind yourself that God is greater than whatever you are facing—your fears, your problems, your thirst, your hunger, your anger.

337-338

To me, this is Samirah educating Magnus, and through him the readers, about what this phrase actually means and the religious significance it carries. I think the expression is beautiful and profound. However, like a lot of Americans, Magnus has grown up only hearing about it in a negative context from the news. For him to think: “I had never heard that phrase, and it carried absolutely no negative connotations!” would be silly and unrealistic. This is a teachable moment between two characters, two friends who respect each other despite how different they are. Magnus learns something beautiful and true about Samirah’s religion, and hopefully so do the readers. If that strikes you as Islamophobic in its full context, or if Samirah seems like a hurtful stereotype . . . all I can say is I strongly disagree.

I will give you some credit here in that I mostly agree with this scene. The phrase does carry negative connotations with many white people and I do not fault you for explaining it the way you did. However, don’t try to sneak in that last sentence like we won’t notice. You have no place to decide whether or not Samirah’s character as a whole is harmful and stereotypical. 

It is 2 am and that is all I have the willpower to address. This is messy and this is long and this is not well worded, but this had to be addressed. I do not speak for every muslim, both world wide and within this online community, but these were my raw reactions to his statement. I have been working on and will continue to work on a masterpost of Samirah Al-Abbas as I work through the books, but for now, let it be known that Riordan has bastardized my identity and continues to excuse himself and profit off of enforcing harmful stereotypes. Good night.