#it's a neat folktale!

[skyloftian-nutcase]

I know this isn't part of the prompts thing technically, but I was wondering about your opinion on this:

Ordonian Folktales: The Tale of the Stáblad & the Twisted Capaill

It's just a folktale I thought up to try & flesh out the culture of Ordon a bit is all.

I'd really like to see something on Twilight telling the story to the other Links, but again I understand if you don't. Perhaps with Twilight as the blorbo & horseshoes as the item if you're willing to stretch the prompt a bit?

If all I can get is your opinion/critique on it or even just a polite, "sorry, not doing it." Then, I'm more than okay with that.

So, yeah. If you're not feeling up for it, that's fine.

Twilight watched Warriors take an all too eager swig from his flask. He ignored it once, twice, thrice as he scraped some caked in mud out of his Epona's horseshoes. Then he noted, "You know, there's a tale in Ordon about a stable boy who liked to drink too much."

Warriors glanced at him in profile, eyes simultaneously teasing and curious. "Oh? Are you going to impart some country wisdom on me?"

Sky burst out laughing, his cheeks far too flushed. "But you two only got Courage from the Triforce!"

Twilight gingerly reached over and plucked the bottle out of Sky's hands. "That's definitely enough for you."

Time sipped his own flask slowly. "Go on, rancher."

Watching Warriors in particular, Twilight explained, "A stable boy used to steal moonshine from his boss. Never owned up to it, always enjoying getting drunk and having fun. One day he had to hide the stash from his boss, and he panicked, dunking it into the water trough. The boss' prized horse drank it and started to dance."

"Dancing horses is fun!" Wind piped in.

"Yeah, but she fell and broke her legs. They had to put her down to end her suffering." Twilight continued.

Wild's head shot up. "I don't like this story."

Warriors sighed. "Yes, yes, slovenly drunkenness is bad. We all can see the lesson here."

"The stable boy didn't own up to it, though," Twilight continued. "So the horse god punished him by turning him into a horse."

Sky hummed, eyes wide with wonder. "I want to turn into a loftwing."

Twilight laughed, reaching over and pulling the younger hero to him in a side hug. "You're a mess."

"Stuck as a horse forever, huh," Legend yawned, laying on his back and stargazing. "Kind of a nice amount of freedom to that."

"Oh, no, it doesn't end there," Twilight continued. "The next stable boy had the same vice and made the same mistake. When the first boy drank out of the trough, he danced and broke his legs as well. But he confessed his crimes before they could put him down, and for that he was transformed back."

Warriors finished off his drink, leaning against a rock. "Well. For starters. I wouldn't steal alcohol. I can just buy it."

Hyrule barked out a laugh. Twilight rolled his eyes.

[dramatic-dolphin]

English does (well, did) absolutely have formal vs. informal "you" though. That's why the Lord's Prayer goes "hallowed be thy name". Thou/thee/thy/thine/thineself, and it changes the conjugation ("you are" -> "thou art", "you see" -> "thou seest").

Plot twist: because it's in the Lord's Prayer, people tend to assume "thou" is the formal. Nope! You were supposed to address the Lord like your pal.

(for further examples of its use, read Shakespeare or *checks notes* A Clockwork Orange)

oh yes, i know! what's wild for me is that english actually got rid kf the INFORMAL you. and it's not the only one! brazilian portuguese ALSO decided to get rid of the informal you instead of the formal. hell if i know why.

funnily enough, hungarian is the other way, in that we did not originally have a formal you until the 17th century or so. and even now, god is always referred to with the informal you. no distance from god, he is your friend and you will address him as such. i think that's cool :D

[river-gale]

jane eyre and fairy tale references in the mars house by natasha pulley

Let's talk about folklore! TMH references it near-constantly. This post was originally just going to be me chatting about individual references for fun and enrichment, but now I want to talk about what purpose they serve.

A few of them are to describe situations or scenery:

This one is a Sleeping Beauty reference, used to describe what happens when the internet goes out. Sleeping Beauty is also a ballet with music by Tchaikovsky, completed in 1899; a lot of ballets are based on fairy tales, so it makes sense that these are the stories the narrator picks. The story is from January's perspective, and he's a former ballet principal—it's a neat bit of characterization.

He also uses them to talk to and about Gale:

(If you know a specific Tang dynasty novel this is referencing, please tell me, I will give you my hand in marriage.)

This is the plot of Bluebeard!

The second one here is Selene and Endymion. The first one is Jane Eyre, which is not technically a folk tale—it's a novel, a work of Gothic literature by Charlotte Brontë—but, like TMH, it follows the same archetypal plot of plenty of folk tales. A vulnerable person, usually a young woman and sometimes poor, has to marry someone powerful and monstrous—an animal, a dragon, an invisible god, a serial murderer, a nobleman who's keeping his ex-wife locked in the attic, or in the case of TMH, a CEO who is also a xenophobic demagogue who may or may not have murdered their last spouse. This is why January references Bluebeard. He's in the exact same type of story.

There's an equivalent feminine archetype of the Monster Bridegroom—the Swan Maiden and related tales—but the allusions in TMH tend towards the Monster Bridegroom version, just because it works better for the themes of power dynamics and different kinds of power.

The thing that makes TMH interesting, though, is that it isn't just an Monster Bridegroom folktale from January's perspective. It's also one from River's. January is marrying an incredibly wealthy and influential politician who wants people like him permanently disabled; River is marrying someone with superhuman strength who belongs to the same group as the person who recently ripped off their leg. If we take "monstrous" to mean alien, powerful, and potentially dangerous, then that's exactly what they are to each other—and what the animal spouses in Monster Bridegroom myths are.

And the allusions in the book reflect that, because they're also used to describe January.

Could be a lot of things—many different cultures have Things In Ponds That Eat You, and that's beautiful—but my first thought is kelpies.

A generic one.

January's Swan King thing! (And then they kiss about it!!)

I don't have a quote for this one, but Earthstrongers—and January in particular—are often compared to polar bears. (He's got polar-bear-colored hair.) It's very East of the Sun, West of the Moon.

The double fairy tale plot of this book is super cool—they're each the same fairy tale archetype to each other—but possibly even cooler is that Jane Eyre does a really similar thing with its fairy tale allusions!

The first speaker is Rochester, and the second is Jane. He's her monster bridegroom (due to the attic wife situation), but he frequently alludes to changeling and fairy stories when speaking about her. It adds some depth to the Jane Eyre reference in TMH!

It also recalls this passage from TMH:

Because at their hearts, Jane Eyre and TMH are both stories about class boundaries and power dynamics being transcended by the ability to match someone's freak.

[ask-jiro-kirisaki]

He listens to her story following her gaze to the water. It's an unfortunate mistake, and putting Taiga in charge of an anomaly was not Darkwick's brightest idea. Jiro didn't know what was more shocking - the fact that he was trusted to handle an anomaly or that he didn't try to eat it. "Veterinary medicine is a bit different from what I practice, but one rule remains the same. No matter how hard you try, you can't save everyone. The only thing you can do is save who you can, and there are quite a few anomalies that lived to see another day." He pauses, looking down to the scars that trail down his chest. "Sure, he's missing his tail, but he's still alive and doing quite well by the looks of things." A name for a brave survivor... He isn't really good with names, but he's sure he could come up with something. In fact, perhaps he could draw inspiration from one of the many stories his brother told him in their youth. "I'm reminded of the story of Momotaro. It's an old folktale of a boy who came to Earth from inside a peach, given to a childless woman and her husband from the Gods. He went on a journey to destroy the marauding oni of Onigashima. Along the way, he befriended various talking animals, who would aid him on his quest. Even facing insurmountable odds, the boy and his companions defeat the oni leader and his army. Afterward, he returns home to spend a peaceful life with his family." A scarred hand runs through his messy hair. "I can't quite do the tale justice, but that's the long and short of it. What do you think?"

Approaching the gates of the park entrance, Jiro takes out his phone and types a brief message:

(This is Jiro Kirisaki. I'm at the entrance. Ready whenever you are.)

Although Alli said she'd try to convince Towa to be on his best behavior, he was prepared. The bag at his side didn't carry medical supplies this time. A portable umbrella, an emergency rain poncho, a light jacket and a small blanket.

She seemed determined for him to have a good time, so he did his part to prepare for any issues his condition may bring. - @ask-jiro-kirisaki

Alli lit up as she saw the text on her phone and texted him back immediately.

kk! gimmie a sex!

I MEAN SEC

as in second!!

The tour hasn't even started and she already made a mistake. is it too late to cancel? To hide in her room and cry about this typo for hours? No, she has to stay strong! She runs, making a beeline for the Jabberwock gate. And trips.

hng.... it's okay.... it'll be okay....

She tells herself, brushing some of the dirt off her uniform. Finally, she makes it to the gate, flustered and panting and covered in dirt.

h... hey....Jiro...!!

[halcyonwrld]

— EVERLASTING PROMISE

PAIRING. Kim Dahyun x Fem!Reader

After a persistent princess tracks you down through meetings with a few of the local village’s herbalists, she has the gall to request your presence, in search of some of your more… magical pursuits. You set up a place and time just so she’ll leave you be, but find yourself waiting for her there out of pure curiosity. (1K)

TAGS. royal!au, fantasy!au, forced marriage, bittersweet angst, witch!reader who's just fed up with everything

“You clean up nicer than I expected.”

With that, you set down your mug with a sour grimace, the fresh brew on your tongue going stale as your mood.

Muffled thunder rages overhead, nearly drowned out by a bout of laughter around you. You open your eyes. Take in the sight of dripping lashes, a neat collar around the throat, and squared shoulders— all fine until you notice a flash of silver rings as pale hands rise to adjust the neckline of a shoddy cloak.

“And you hardly know a thing about subtlety,” you snap in retort.

She was practically asking to get caught.

Dahyun gawps, stammering on her words, “Hey- if you must know, subtlety is practically my middle name! It just.. slipped my mind that it was meant to rain tonight, is all…” Her explanation goes flat under your unamused glare, her last sentence coming to a quiet, embarrassed drawl. You imagine her with feathers, all of them fluffing up as she tries to recover, leaning towards you to hiss, “I might’ve fared better if I didn’t have to abandon my horse to travel on foot. This terror hole is nearly impossible to find, it could’ve taken—”

You hold up your hand, stopping the princess dead in her tracks.

“Spare me the even bigger headache and make this quick, please.” You stifle a wince as the chatter in the tavern swells once more, rubbing at your temples. “There are things I have to tend to.”

“Fine. I need a love potion.”

You scowl. “No.”

“I knew you would-” her face drops, “wait, w- what do you mean no?”

You pick up your mug again to drown your laughter in ale. “It means it’s not happening, princess.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Or what? You’ll tell on me?”

Dahyun reaches her hand into her jacket, fear visibly seizing her into motionlessness as a subtle blue aura begins to dance around your fingertips. Your voice lowers considerably. “This isn’t your pretty little castle, sweetheart, no one’ll be answering your cries of distress if you try anything stupid.”

Under the faint haze of torchlight, Dahyun swallows.

Still, she pulls the object out of her coat pocket.

It’s just a scroll.

You ignore her trembling hands as she flattens the page onto the rickety oak in front of you. It's a lengthy thing. Written neatly in inks darker than nights like these. Your eyes skim back and forth.

These… these are papers for her marriage. If she wants them, this means—

Your heart plummets.

The silence on your end must make her anxious, her body practically vibrates as she blurts out, “I know- I know they’re illegal. But I need this.”

You swallow. “For you, or him?”

“Myself.”

You don’t know if that makes it better or worse.

“...Why would you marry someone you don’t love?” you ask, keeping your voice carefully measured. Not overconcerned, but not too careless either.

“If it’ll aid in my favor, I’ll have you know this wasn’t my decision either.”

The way she breaks your stare betrays her casualty about it all, but that doesn’t stop her from shrugging. Her lips purse. Brows furrow.

Like a flash of lightning, the moment is over as quick as it happened. Those dark eyes are back on you again. Her stare resolute. “But… everyone has a part to play.”

Everyone has a part to play.

Where have you heard that from before?

Shaking your head, you stand swiftly, taking your lantern in hand. “I’m sorry, but I’m not risking everything just so that you can live out your happy ending.”

And you leave.

Princess or not, it was silly for her to come to you. Everyone knew love potions were forbidden. Folktales and parables told countless stories about them. How they quickly turned love into obsession. Turned the simplest of men into something cruel. Nearly unfeeling.

Part of you couldn’t deny her courage, you supposed, but another part of you abhorred her presumptuousness. Immediately assuming you’d say yes. Approaching you in the first place. Saying she had an offer you couldn’t refuse. Like hell you couldn’t.

You’re a few feet from the backdoor when you hear her call.

Ignoring her, you step into the rain, letting the door shut behind you. Serves her right for wasting your time on a night like this, where the moon is full and the opportunity for harvest yields higher than usual.

“Wait!”

You're pulled back by your wrist.

“Please, I’ll give you anything you long for! Access back into the town, jewels, herbs, a spot in the castle, however much money it takes-”

You yank your arm away, glaring at her from underneath your hood. “You don’t even know what you’re asking for.”

“I know I don’t want to spend the rest of my life in misery!”

“Don’t we all,” you snark.

“Look, I know that my parents exiled you. But you should know better than anyone that not everyone happens to align with the likes of them or their ideals!” she yells over the rain. “I- I seriously want to change the way things are. But I need it to be perfect, anything but and you can bet someone just as bad as them will be sitting up on that throne! And they might do worse than banish and imprison.”

You stare at her with wide eyes, so shocked you speak before your brain even has time to catch up, “They teach you that in princess school?”

Dahyun crosses her arms with a pout, muttering, “That’s not a thing.”

You turn to hide your smile, “If you say so.”

You only get a few paces away to reenter the woods when you realize you don’t hear any movement behind you. Turning around, you find Dahyun still standing there. Her posture reeks of defeat. Shoulders slumped. Lantern dangling to the ground. Head low. All of the rain like a vicious fog, only adding to her somber image.

“You coming or not, princess?” you call.

Dahyun looks up with wide eyes, as if not having heard you the first time. Unable to take a win, it seems. You roll your eyes, lifting your lantern and gesturing with your head as if to say come on. The way her face lights up is a magic of its very own.

You turn back forward.

“We still have a lot to discuss, privately,” you say once she reaches your side, making sure your tone leaves no room for discussion. Not out here. Even the woods have ears.

“You won’t regret this, I promise,” she breathes out.

That makes you clench your jaw. The last time a royal promised you something, it’d ended in disaster.

After all, you would know best, since you were the first Kim Dahyun ever promised to marry.

[deadg0ds-pad]

miss the blue noise so much. they were a really cool mechanic and a neat sort of reward for exploring. they also have really cool designs but i wanna shoutout the progfox in particular. it’s more than just how it’s the most unique fight, plus one of the hardest in the game (and a really good example as to why the ds using both screens enhances twewy’s gameplay since it’s perfectly chaotic). i’m a sucker for folklore in general and god is progfox a perfect sort of representation for kitsune. so here’s a lil trivia revolving around this bastard.

(putting this under a cut since it’s pretty long)

first i’d like to give a bit of cultural background. yeah the progfox is a kitsune, a kind of yokai that’s definitely one of the most well known. foxes in general have been characterized throughout history as being tricksters, but some of the kitsune background are based on a certain divinity.

white foxes are most closely associated with inari okami, a very popular deity even to this day, likely due to representing agriculture and industry. of course he/she/they (gender is different depending on the context) represent a lot more, but rice is definitely incredibly important to japan’s agriculture. humans and foxes in ancient japan have a history which is likely part of their association. the yokai part also likely emerges from a popular folktale of a white kitsune named kuzunoha, one who was saved from a hunter by a man named abe no yasuna, turned into a beautiful woman and cared for him as thanks, and eventually became his lover.

as such, it’s no surprise that kitsune are highly represented in japanese media including video games, and the kuzunoha folktale is also represented in some ways + is part of the influence for the common white fox rep.

the progfox, also unsurprisingly, has the unique ability to transform into various noise, weird forms, and a neku doppelgänger. strangely, while a tail or other fox features is what gives away a kitsune, the neku form only has a slightly different color palette and has him wear a mask.

there’s also this weird skeleton form which is most likely based on another yokai, gashadokuro—a giant skeleton made of the collective grudges of people who passed on without a proper burial (oddly fitting considering twewy’s story and lore). gashadokuro is also unable to be killed, which is also likely why this form is invincible.

then of course there’s this infamous form. also deriving from folklore, depending on how many tails a kitsune has, the more powerful it is, with the most they can have often being nine. this is why the progfox (and other fox noise) gets progressively harder the more tails it gets, and also why this form is what launches the super move.

last bit here more so applies to fox noise in general like the multiple tails and transformation stuff (though the progfox is definitely closer to folklore than just the regulars). they all use fire attacks aka kitsunebi aka foxfire. kitsunebi is said to represent the magical power of a kitsune and are a lot like will o wisps. they’re also used for important events held by yokai, particularly weddings, so idk you can see all three fox noise as being in a polyamorous relationship if you want.

[thatraggedyguy]

I'm looking at getting some work added to my tattoo and man it's hard to find references for American badgers. I love these flat fucks. I love that they are known to squad up with coyotes. I love their Rorschach esque facial stripes, and their little corgi like tails. But trying to find any kind of tattoo work of them is really hard. Especially in a silhouette style. I just want a hardy, relentless little dude running across the my forearm with grass and flowers blooming as he walks. Yet what you'll find is the English badger and honey badgers.

In Zuni folktales the American badger is a guardian of the South and because they're so short they're deeply connected to the earth element. They also hold a great knowledge of herbs and grasses that have healing properties.

They are just really neat and don't get enough love.

[genopaint]

Week 41 off the presses, more or less. A day late.

As always you can follow me on twitter where they’re posted daily

And read more info on each of them below the cut

Daily Dragon #280 - Cake Wyrm

These odd little creatures take on the forms of cakes! You can find them in many varieties ranging from chocolate to birthday! If you find a cake in the woods and think it's too good to be true, it probably is!

Daily Dragon #281 - Buggodon

These dragons lay dozens of eggs at a time, they start as small lizards but eventually will grow into large Buggodons. When mating season is around, you can hear them sing a lovely song to attract mates!

This is a redesign of THIS dragon from 2016! Called the Bug Dragon, I tried to make sure I didn't redesign it to look too much like Flygon lol

Daily Dragon #282 - Terrasaur

Large mountain dwelling dragons that are covered in thick stone-like scales. They're incredibly strong, able to move massive stones with their large horns and throw them long distances by grabbing them with their powerful jaws.

This is another redraw for you today! These are from all the way back in 2011 and were originally fan monsters I made by editing Pokemon sprites! Neat! These 3 were originally named Rocktile, Bouldermeleon, Stonasaur! THIS redesign is based more on my 2016-ish redo of it, though

Actually I didn't have the 2016 redesigns of Rocktile and Bouldermeleon in their original colors so I had to guestimate them based on the properly colored Terrasaur. I only had their shiny color schemes. So... Here are those!

Daily Dragon #283 - Sunrise Beast

Only coming out in the morning to hunt, this monster is known by people who live near it as the Sunrise Beast. It's scales brilliantly reflect the early morning light, making it easy to know when it's out flying. Don't get blinded by the glare!

Yessir this is another alt medium dragon! This time it was done in chalk at the public park! I got up nice and early so I wouldn't be in anyone's way. Here's some closeups!

Aaaaand here's some behind the scenes :)

Daily Dragon #284 - Feral Knife-Wing

These small wyverns are scavenger monsters. They're almost blind but have incredible hearing and smell to make up for it. Scientists believe they evolved their helmet-like armor because their head was a weakspot.

You can see some more info on the construction of this creature by clicking its name above! It'll take you to the post about it. But here's an alt color and the sprites before I put them together and colored them :)

I LOVE how this one came out SO much it's not even funny!! I will confess though, I made this one a few days ago. I tried to make other splices to use for the daily dragon instead but didn't like any of them nearly as much. So I cheated and saved this for today.

You'll have to forgive me but also it's my challenge and we're almost 300 days in, cut me some slack

And I suppose you could consider this another alt. media dragon! Neat!

Daily Dragon #285 - Punished Dragon

A demonic dragon from a realm of torment. Unfortunately for many adventurers, it gets stronger the more damage it takes. When it's about to die, it'll release a vile miasma to disintegrate attackers.

Yeah it's Halloween season it's time for some freaky dragons I think

Daily Dragon #286 - Weredragon

These folktales describe Weredragons as being hyper violent, hunting any meat without a care. Wild animals, cattle, and humans. If they can sink their teeth into something they will. Even the calmest human will become a crazed beast under the curse

[raayllum]

next chapter of "teach me how to name the bigger light" has been started, approximately 1/6th of the way through and just under 2k. here's a snippet

“It’s not that,” she said quietly, not reaching up to scratch Stella on the chin when the cuddlemonkey nuzzled comfortingly into her cheek. “It’s...” She slipped out of his grasp and pushed the letter into his hand.

Questioningly, Callum unfurled it. Janai’s neat penmanship greeted him at the top, all loopy and regal.

Rayla,

Due to my family’s history from the time of Queen Aditi, it seems an old ghost has come back to haunt us thanks to my idiot brother. Amaya and I have both encountered and fought a Moonshadow elf named Kim’Dael, otherwise known as the Bloodmoon Huntress. She is deadly and can disappear and reappear at will, as well as going in and out of her Moonshadow form without the light of the moon at all. 

Not many Moonshadow elves come this way, so we wondered if you had heard of her, or if you might have any information—old folktales perhaps—that may offer aid in defeating her. Anything would be helpful.

Sincerely yours, Janai

Then, in Amaya’s stubbier, somehow cheekier handwriting, a P.S. You owe us!

Callum looked back up at Rayla’s pale face, swallowing hard as he rolled the letter back up. A Moonshadow elf who could... “Is Kim’Dael really bad, or something?”

Rayla laughed hollowly. “She’s a monster.”

“You say that like you know her.” “That’s because I do.” Rayla hugged herself, shoulders drawn tight, both small and furious—like it was a bad thing, and not an understandable thing, that she was scared.

[dubioushonour]

Every time I see people talking about the Pandemonium Tsukasa card they're like "oh, he's a kitsune!!! He's a tanuki!!!"

Which, like, is true and important and relevant, but I haven't seen anyone point out, very notably,

He's a kasa-obake. Also called karakasa-obake and karakasa kozo, they're classed typically as tsukumogami (tools that have become self aware when they turn 100 years old) (there is debate about this classification but for the sake of it, I'm not getting into it). They only have one eye, which is likely why Tsukasa above has one of his shadowed (besides the usual spooky supernatural hidden motives reasons). Karakasa are usually best known for being tricksters who like to jumpscare and prank people, but are ultimately fairly harmless and just enjoy the attention. They are most notable for being a yokai that isn't attached to any particular legend or folktales; people just started drawing them around the Edo period and they started showing up everywhere, with more people making stories about them. Nowadays they are pretty much a staple yokai for haunted houses, like a bedsheet ghost that will lick you.

(Karakasa also share a lot of similarities to hitotsume-kozo (or One Eyed Brat), they are functionally the same type of ghost but one is just a child.)

I couldn't tell you how relevant this is to his character, or if they just did it for the pun, but I mostly just thought it was unfortunate people didn't seem to realize there was a third, very neat yokai influence in this picture (or just weren't acknowledging it because it's not as a trendy as the other two in English speaking circles)

[post-hummus]

Last Summer, I worked as a puppet designer for The Moonlit Princess (Mah Pishooni), a Persian folktale directed by Afsaneh Aayani. The show was held at Rec Room in Houston and was funded by the Houston Arts Alliance. 

To express the amount of time & effort that goes into a production like this is...insurmountable. As someone who is primarily used to working alone, I surprisingly enjoy being part of a crew and the collaborative efforts that help turn an idea into reality. It's an experience that I don't take for granted.

Also, it was my official debut as a puppet designer--that's pretty darn neat! 

Here's to more opportunities to weave something beautiful with a group of passionate people & a unique vision. ♥

(Photography by Lynn Lane)

[muninnhuginn]

here we go. please ignore the quality, but these are a few of the media I highly rate that I've sorted into groups based on shared qualities with other media. the idea is along the lines of "if you like this show because of y theme, then you may also like z show which shares said theme".

a few bonus recs that I couldn't fit on this list (because I either didn't want to give stuff away or because they fit into multiple different groups at once):

Link Click (donghua) (time travel, first season much more about individual stories, second season more plot-based. Two seasons out at present.)

Spy x Family (animanga) (yes, I know everyone knows about this one already, but it's one of those shows that strikes such a good balance between the humour and the drama. and the way that the manga arcs start to increasingly weave in social commentary is so well done. Ongoing series.)

Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju (animanga) (full disclosure, I haven't yet completed this hence not wanting to put it down yet, but so far it's really impressed me. It's a complete series.)

Full list of media (and some more tidbits) below the cut:

Serial Experiments Lain (anime)

Complete

Really fascinating dive into the Internet, identity, and conspiracy theories. Despite being released over two decades ago, it's somehow more relevant nowadays. That said, there is an underlying thread of tension and it's hard to piece together what's happening at times. Very surreal and heavy on the unreality. So, it's probably not for everyone (and it'll be fairly obvious early either way), but if that sounds like your jam, then go for it. (EDIT: Also, I just realised that I entirely forgot that this series also belongs in the ND-coded protag circle because Lain's whole deal has a lot of overlap with schizophrenia/psychosis in general.)

Jibaku Shonen Hanako-kun (animanga)

Ongoing

The anime is an incomplete adaptation for this (though it does have Ogata Megumi) and the manga goes much further. It's a monthly release and the art is gorgeous. It's centred around a school where urban legends come to life as the supernatural. I've seen some people say it's fairly light-hearted a series before, but I can't really say I agree, especially when it comes to the later chapters. It can play into particular anime tropes at times though.

Princess Tutu (anime)

Complete.

There is also a manga, but I've heard it's pretty different and I've not tried it so can't really comment. If you like ballet and European folktales then this is the show for you. It's... probably aimed at the lowest age range of all of my recs and it does show at times, but I'd point to it as an example of how just because a show is aimed at younger ages, that doesn't mean it has to look down on you. Anyway, it's neat seeing the protagonists interact with the concept of the story they themselves are a part of.

Revolutionary Girl Utena (anime)

Complete.

The manga for this is meant to be pretty different so keeping this rec to the anime. Obligatory "look up trigger warnings" if you think you may stumble into something you can't handle, because this show sure covers a lot of fairly dark topics. Still, it's pretty surreal and at times ridiculous so it's not all dark all the time. The premise is around a girl who wants to be a prince, who participates in duels for the hand of the 'rose bride'.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica (animanga)

Complete (og series)

The manga iirc is fairly similar, but the anime is really good in its presentation so would recommend anime over manga for sure. The soundtrack and the way it's directed both elevate the story massively. Anyway, twelve episode season, with a movie afterwards you can decide whether to proceed to or not. It's about what it takes to be a magical girl, and what is taken. I imagine most people nowadays know the big twists already but in case you don't, I'll just say that the foreshadowing in it is one of my favourite things. So much rewatch value.

The Locked Tomb (book series)

Ongoing. Three books out, with fourth expected to be final.

Speaking of foreshadowing, this series has so many levels of foreshadowing going on, I think it would take many rereads to catch it all. The first book in the series is a relatively standard murder mystery, but after that, the author immediately cashes in the good will earnt to become increasingly experimental. Each book therefore is pretty different genre-wise, despite being set in the same universe and progressing the same story. Anyway, I know this one isn't for everyone, but I'd say at the very least give Gideon a shot.

Orphan Black (Canadian drama)

Complete.

This is a co-production between a US and CA company but Wikipedia classes it as Canadian so okay let's do that. Okay. Orphan Black is about discovering you may be a scientific experiment and the questions inherent in that. In this case, it's about clones. The main actor has such range and she plays half the cast and somehow makes it work. I will say it takes her a couple of episodes sometimes to get the accents right (I took psychic damage occasionally), but once she's got it down she keeps it. This one is another genre blender, with different clones progressing different subplots. One of them off doing an investigation whilst another is trying desperately to live in a soap, etc.

Severance (US drama)

Season one complete, season two ambiguously in the works.

More science experimentation. This show is based on a premise wherein people can partition off parts of their brains so that their work selves are entirely independent of their non-work selves. The two selves have no shared memories, but they are in theory the same person. It brings up a lot of questions about nature vs nuture, along with commentary on religious cults and workplace rights.

Oddtaxi (anime)

Complete.

We follow a taxi driver through his daily life, picking up passengers, dropping them off, getting accidentally (or maybe--) involved with the local gang members. It's pretty chill, but as you go on you realise just how thoroughly everyone's lives are intertwined with each other. And there's a mystery or ten to be solved. If our driver guy can be bothered. This and Reset both fit into the incredibly small niche I like to call "character-based mystery show with social commentary set in a vehicle". Very catchy.

Reset (cdrama)

Completed

Time loop scenario where a pair of strangers are caught on a bus that keeps blowing up and have to try and figure out how to escape. I feel like the pace at which the audience figures out stuff is timed really well to whenabouts the characters figure out stuff, but there's a lot of foreshadowing I didn't realise until I rewatched a few episodes. Just, really solid mystery and character drama.

March comes in like a lion (animanga)

Ongoing (manga)

Full disclosure. I have only watched the anime of this and from some of what I've heard about the later parts of the manga it's likely to stay that way, but! The parts covered by the anime are something special. I grouped together this series with Skip and Loafer and Frieren because they're very... they're all about 'moving forwards, despite'. So, at the start of this series, the mc is pretty depressed, but as it goes on you get to see him slowly unfurl out of that. You get to see him make new connections, progress with shogi (aka, what the series is ostensibly about), and just generally let himself live again. It's a very wholesome anime without letting itself forget the darker aspects of life.

Skip and Loafer (animanga)

Ongoing (manga). Season one of anime complete.

This is a definite comfort show and has one of my favourite depictions of developing friendships (I want to say something here about the intersection of platonic and romantic but I'm not sure how to put it). This show/manga follows Mitsumi as she starts at a city school after growing up in a rural village. It has her meet new obstacles and new people and shows how they all influence each other. Overall, it's a fairly gentle story, but I think it pulls off heartwarming so well because it can also do heartwrenching.

Frieren (animanga)

Ongoing.

I may regret putting an ongoing anime here before it's even finished airing (staying anime-only for now personally). So far though, this is a show about grief, and living life beyond that. It's a show that could so easily be a tragedy but chooses to venture beyond instead. It follows Frieren (an elf with a long lifespan) as she realises that she hasn't really allowed herself to know people properly and decides to fix that. It's a fairly standard fantasy setting so it's hard to describe what's so appealing about it, but it's very intentional with its parallels, with putting the words of long dead characters in the mouths of those who never knew them. Very cyclical. The first four episodes released in one go, so if you're thinking of giving it a shot, I'd watch those four before deciding whether to drop.

Stranger (kdrama)

Two seasons out. Can be taken as complete at end of either season though still open for more.

So, it's a drama about prosecutors/corruption, a lot of the standard kdrama jazz. It has one of my favourite pairs of besties though and I love how many threads are woven through all levels. It's a show that's heavily plotty (the number of times you're forced to recalculate as you get more pieces is ridiculous but in a good way), but despite that, doesn't neglect the characters.

Mob Psycho 100 (animanga)

Completed.

An OP protagonist would rather focus on his non-psychic attributes. I tend to struggle with OP protagonists sometimes, but this show/manga deals with it well, because the point isn't actually *about* Mob's powers. It's more about how his powers are linked to his emotions. There are plenty of fights (and they're all incredibly well animated), but the tension isn't usually in "who will win", and I don't mean that in a bad way at all. Anyway, the show is for the most part a comedy (it does have some off-colour jokes at times unfortunately, though they're mostly relegated to specific episodes at least), but my favourite parts are always when you get to see the other side of things. This show also has Reigen, for whatever that's worth. (I hate the fact he's so well-written. Why couldn't he just be the meme and nothing else.)

Arcane (US animated)

Season one complete. Season two in the works.

You don't need League knowledge for this despite it being based off it. This (like a few of the others actually) is a three-act structure following Vi and Jinx as they grow up in the shadows of Piltover. Visually, it's a gorgeous series, and the mix of 3d and 2d works so well. Despite being only nine episodes long, it manages to fully develop scores of characters with their own interweaving subplots, all culminating with the finale. It's another one with social commentary, in this case, it's not particularly subtle, but it doesn't actually need to be. And it does the showing not just the telling so it works in tandem.

Blue Eye Samurai (US animated)

Season one complete.

And now we reach the revenge trio of shows. I will fully admit I started this series because I saw many a pretty gifset across my dash. And the aesthetics absolutely hold up. This is an Edo-era revenge quest by a samurai who has given up on happiness. It starts fairly tropey and by-the-book, but it pulls off the execution solidly and infuses a lot of symbolism into the main trio (especially Mizu, but Akemi gets plenty as Mizu's reflection). There is a decent amount of sex and graphic violence though and, given that the show deliberately conveys various characterisation points through them, they're not really skippable. Try not to wince at the pronunciation of Japanese words either. It's old-style English anime dub level a lot of the time when it comes to names/places, despite a lot of the setting itself being relatively well-researched from what I can tell. I guess it's just a disparity between the voice actors and the writers.

Nirvana in Fire (cdrama)

Complete. There is a season two but it's a next generation deal.

Terminally ill guy returns to the capital to get justice for a betrayal before his time is up. Despite how grim that sounds, the show itself has a much nicer balance between the light-hearted and the serious. It does chuck you right into the depths from the very start (I know a lot of people refer to charts for relationships for the first few episodes until they get the hang of it), but once you start to understand, you can really get the impact. How the previous generation has echoed onto the current generation. Also, the main character is Mei Changsu, one of my favourite schemers. He knows how to troll, even (or maybe especially?) as he's plotting someone's downfall.

The Glory (kdrama)

Complete.

The mc in this show (Moon Dong-eun) was bullied at highschool, to the extent she was suicidal. The show is about her revenge on the bullies, as she sets the pieces for their own flaws to fell them. I will say for this, that the first episode is imo the darkest in tone. The later episodes do still touch on darker topics (sexual assault, suicide again), but for the most part, the first episode is the darkest to help you understand why she's willing to go to the lengths she is. And yet, despite that, a line of hope runs through the show. There's a line early on about the solidarity between victims vs the solidarity between abusers and it's a real thesis statement for the whole show.

[beejbsbswiwisnsnwwk]

Belos ignored the witches and demons glancing at him, who worked in the castle, ignoring how some looked at him with fear, respect, other emotions and some combined.

Belos walked down the labyrinth like hallways, some of them completely empty, only having torches on the walls to light up the dull but golden colored hallways, some banners having patterns of the Emperor’s coven sigil. The floors were the same dull golden colors as the walls, but had a dark, forest green pathway. 

Belos wasn’t sure how many hallways he walked down, maybe five, maybe seventeen, maybe twenty. He wasn’t entirely sure.

As he came to it, belos entered the large wooden colored doors of the library, the door having intricate small carvings on them. The large doors closed quietly behind him. 

The library was huge, with two stories and hundreds of bookshelves with thousands and thousands of books. And yet, it was so quiet you could hear your ears ringing and your heart beating. 

Some books were simple stories or legends, some folktales and lore. Other historical events, how belos came into power, and his story of eradicating wild witches, and saving the innocent from the wild witches crimes. Others were books from the human realm that had somehow crossed over the realms, which were Belos’ favorite. 

Belos walked past the many, many bookshelves, deep into the library. He walked up the curved flight of stairs in the back of the library, entering up the second floor. He picked out a few books at one shelf, sitting down quietly at one of the desks. 

Belos looked down at the book in her hands, thinking quietly. He set it down and stood back up, grabbing a few other books, and retreating back to the desk. 

In the very back of the library, on the top story and completely out of view was where belos sat. He didn’t do it on purpose, however. Belos just preferred the desk and its position, along with it being near the books he grabbed. 

He rusted gently through the pages, reading, and occasionally writing things down on a blank sheet of paper, his handwriting a neat cursive, as he wrote with a quill and ink. 

[fangedjustice]

"Dog."

They hadn't been properly introduced at the Ethereal Ball - when the man had had the gall to get into Raven's face, to dangle what precious little he had left in the world sitting far and away in Etruria and to promise danger - but he wasn't the only one who could do his research.

Reed. He didn't know the families of Bern nearly as well as the families of Lycia, but when he'd done his digging the name carried weight in the same way that a folktale might, the whisperings of bogeymen and protectors of the smallfolk alike. He'd reached out, contacts that he'd developed, spent some coin and earned a finespun yarn for his trouble of fangs that gleamed in the night.

He knew it wasn't the other man's preferred epithet - his brother's, if anything - but he also knew that Lloyd would respond if he addressed him.

He would not have a choice, trapped at sea as they were, and looking just as green about the gills as Raven had been when he first traveled across the sea to Fodlan.

Raven seated himself beside the other man, keeping his face neutral and his voice low, turning his back to the other passengers.

"Homesick, are you? So concerned about these fairytales that you thought you'd check in with the family?" Raven leveled his gaze on Lloyd's, knowing full well that the other man's family resided safely back at Garreg Mach.

Raven's, however...

He resisted the urge to find Priscilla in the crowd, at least for now, but he knew she was on the boat.

He pitched his voice even lower, and leaned in, clenching his fist where the scar on his palm had healed into a neat white line. "You will remember your promise, or you will not be returning."

Foolishly, Lloyd had let himself think that maybe -- just maybe -- his terrible experience sailing to Fodlan had been a fluke. He'd not been at his best, and perhaps that was what had caused all the trouble.

But, no. Despite the first little bit after leaving the docks being uncomfortable but bearable, he now felt hollowed out and drained of everything that could possibly come back up through his guts. Everything rocked. There was no solid ground here, nowhere to feel like he could steady himself and at least put on a front that he was unbothered.

It would be embarrassing, if all his willpower and thought was not currently being poured into not heaving over the rails again. Really, what could be left at this point?

"Dog."

Lloyd grimaced, still facing the open ocean, hands gripping the railing with alternating pressure as the sea pushed the ship this way and that. But he made himself straighten out, stand tall. Show as little discomfort as possible. Not so easy to accomplish when it was clear he wasn't used to this sort of travel, but he could at least remind the ill-tempered lordling that even as he was now, he had fangs.

"We're on the same boat, are we not?" Lloyd returned with a question in kind, both of them making jabs but neither doing so outright. "I do not think you would come all this way simply for image. Keeping someone close, hm? Several, perhaps?"

Linus was back at Garreg Mach, much to his younger brother's outrage. That had been...an ugly conversation. They'd not left things on good terms. But Linus would be in less danger in Fodlan, could cause less trouble there -- in a certain light, that is.

But Nino was an unknown factor, and as much as Lloyd had thought leaving her in Elibe would be better for her future...there might not be a future if these rumors were anything more.

The ship lurched once more, the creak of rope and wood in his ears as Lloyd turned to meet Raven's gaze. Seemed they were on even ground now. Not a fool, this one. Lloyd could understand why Linus was intrigued. If that desire for justice wasn't so narrowed, so self-destructive and bitter, Lloyd could see a world in which the Black Fang took him on.

Lloyd smiled, all teeth once again, just like the night they'd spilt blood for promises they both knew were likely to not keep. "My lord, you think me a man of such little honor? With you here, and my brother behind us, I've no reason to do anything but make sure you and yours return safe and sound. I gave my word, and while that might not mean much in your circles, loyalty means everything to mine."

But this was not that world.

[revelisms]

In her weakest moments, she does not dare reveal how hope lays a noose about her throat, and squeezes—unforgiving, unwanted, metal blistered on the tongue—with the thought she may belong; may be worthy, for all her faults; may be anything more than what she dreads and yearns for—

(A girl seen for her strength, a sister able to stand on her own two legs, a daughter (again again never again)—

A homestead, crawling free on shaken limbs.)

And that hope feels like a battered hand wrapped in linen, bloodied; like a heart beat-beating, beat-beating ugly drums in her chest.

A fire, blue-glittered and bruising—

Falling.

He writes letters to her: dagger-sharp swipes of quilled pens, elegant; juniper-chill of neat gin, stirred to an inken hand.

We cannot claim to know the horizons from these vantage points below — cannot force ourselves to grow wings, when they were already clipped from us. But so are our lives in this world, child. So have they always been. Never let it inhibit you. In time, you will find yours.

Countless letters—reminders, stanzas, notes—folded and tucked beneath the latch of her door, beneath the midday-breakfast he leaves on the staff kitchen table, beneath the welding plate in her workshop; letters she cradles, crushes, smears smooth.

(And how would you know? she wants to carve back: neon-spitting violent hate.)

In a hundred different ways, he tells her he loves her—and yet cannot manage the words I love you, in any of their forms.

He hands her specially-wrapped parcels: paints and guns and tailor-made coats. He learns which meals she will spit out, and which she will savor. He lays a gloved hand upon her shoulder, when the crowds begin to bare their teeth: a tether, a blanket, a reassurance. He leaves room for her, unasked, on the days that are wretched and empty and dark, when she wants nothing more than to sit with someone, anyone—anyone who will have her.

He cannot manage the words I love you.

What he says, instead:

You are a marvel—

The greatest limitation we face sits only with ourselves.

(Her own wretchedness the nail she can never wrench out.)

You can achieve wonders the spirits alone could fathom—

This reparation, this rebirth, our people are owed.

(And what is she, within it? A vehicle for it all? Nothing more than a bullet waiting to be fired?)

You are not defined by your destruction—

This is our genesis; our revolution.

(Her genesis had rained in fire and smoke; her genesis had devoured all in its wake.)

You're strong, now.

Sometimes, that is a comfort enough. But only just.

She wants him to hold her. Wants him to smile, fully: shark-teeth glinting sly and unabashed. To snicker with her, cradle her hand blithely into the crook of his arm and sweep her off the streets, out of her own head, into shops and theatres and galas and lecture-halls; to greet her with open arms and a tired Good morning, instead of a gruff When shall I expect you, for dinner? in passing; wants him to be Vi—

(But Vi didn't want her, either. Didn't need her.

Vi told her to stay away—)

So of course she doesn't believe it, doesn't allow herself to, when he rests a cold hand behind her ear: draws her into the soot-smoke earthen-spice of his collar: lets her cry into the silk of his clothes, for as long as the tears demand of her, and does not push her away.

(How could she?)

Of course she refuses, when he leafs through a collection of yellow-paged folktales, legs crossed atop his dark comforters and his voice a dry, drousing drawl: awake for two hours too long now, but not shooing her out, not until she's ready—until the voices have quieted, lulled her mind to dim flickering, heavy on the pillow beneath her ratty hair and the bony shoulder against her cheek and her chipped nails a mangled cat's-paw at his sleeve.

(Why would he?)

Of course she denies, when he shields her with the tall line of his back: wields knives and pistols as naturally as another limb, to ward off any threats that could cross their path—and denies again, when he cups a blood-stained palm too firmly to her cheek, his body still in one piece (always), still put together (broken, but never shattered), red glossed through the fibers of his fancy suits yet not enough to care, huffing Are you alright Are you alright Are you alright—?

He cannot manage the words I love you.

But in a frail voice, firm voice, embers in the dark, he says:

You are my daughter. I'll never forsake you.

(And how could she have known? How could she have known?)

But she'd never managed the words either, had she? Never dared to. Never tried.

(So how, too, could he?)

jinx and silco / a daughter

[cfmysteries]

star sign: leo mythological creature: irshi folktale: köroglu fairytale character (classical or modern): taffyta muttonfudge (wreck-it ralph)

"Taffyta Muttonfudge is a skilled racer from the game Sugar Rush, where she is known to be second only to King Candy, whom she admires and respects. Due to her accomplishments, her ego and confidence have inflated and made her arrogant and cocky. Taffyta is also quite charismatic and can put on quite a charming front; she is evidently popular and the leader of the group of Sugar Rush racers." (x)

3 fictional tropes: mystery magnet, the fashionista, amateur sleuth

Mystery Magnet - "A Mystery Magnet attracts mysteries, usually murders, with the occasional case of kidnapping, extortion and fraud for variety. Wherever they go, people drop dead at their feet, often with a cryptic dying message. This behaviour isn't planned by anyone — there is no killer stalking the magnet, nor is the magnet responsible for the deaths — it's just pure coincidence." (x) The Fashionista - "The Fashionista will invariably love to shop, read Fashion Magazines, and watch (or be involved in if she is a model or a designer) Fashion Shows, and will either have an Unlimited Wardrobe or long for one. She may be the Girly Girl in a Tomboy and Girly Girl pair. If not she will — depending on temperament — either be Alpha Bitch/Rich Bitch or Spoiled Sweet." (x) Amateur Sleuth - "A character with no formal connection to law enforcement who regularly solves crimes and mysteries, but does not get paid for it. They may informally help the police to solve puzzling cases." (x)

romantic or platonic trope: can't live with them, can't live without them

Can't Live With Them, Can't Live Without Them - "They can't stand the person/situation and wishes for his old routine. When they gets their old routine back, they suddenly realizes they miss that person a lot and does everything in their power to get her back. Usually, happens when a bickering pair become Vitriolic Best Buds, or generate an Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other situation, whether it's a fraternal sort of love among buddies, or romantic love." (x)

creepypasta story: I Investigate Disturbing Cases: Here are My Stories (x) greek god or goddess: apate, the goddess of deceit time of day where they draw the most energy: depends on the day their achilles heel: being incorrect medieval weapon of choice: crossbow survival, starvation, or death by the undead in the apocalypse: survival which of the seven sins represent them? horseman of the apocalypse?: pride, conquest what their superpower would be: truth inducement  could they pull excalibur from the stone?: no one aesthetic for each of the five senses (taste, hearing, sight, smell, touch):

the mint of teeth whitening strips, thin heels clicking across a linoleum floor, neat and flowy cursive handwriting written in purple ink, the floral fruity scent of tom ford’s rose prick perfume, laying down on freshly cleaned silk sheets after an extensive self care routine

a bad habit that won’t go away: being pushy instead of taking a step back a recurring nightmare: being in the same room as their mother an object they consider their lucky charm: a ring with a diamond surrounded by amethysts that they purchased for themself