#maybe cat and laila can join too

[athleteinaviators]

need renee to come steal jeremy’s identity documents back

she already stole one person, what’s one more?

[iam-anordinary-human-orami]

I really want a scene like this in tsc2 where Neil seems to call Jean more often to check up on him and the floozies are perplexed "Why is Josten calling you?" "You guys close or sth?" "You still haven't told us what happened when he whisked you away" "we are worried sick Jean, how can you keep us in the dark?" And then Cat will say sth like "are you not sharing what you're talking to Josten about cause you're embarrassed?" Jeremy being a worried mother hen "is he bothering you?" And Jean keeps shutting everything down telling them not to worry, and then Laila as a joke says "is he flirting with you?"

And Jean responds with "I hope not. I don't think his boyfriend would take it well"

Everyone immediately stops what they are doing. "Im sorry, his WHAT?"

All hell breaks lose. Cat is shaking Laila "Josten is FRUITY?!", Jeremy is like "He has a boyfriend?" Laila being like "in the year that he joined the foxes and almost died in the hands of his serial killer dad, he got a boyfriend??? How???" And then Cat and Laila start asking questions, Jeremy trying to calm them down but also being curious, Jean is like "Well he's not told me explicitly, but it's obvious."

Jeremy having an epiphany "oh my god. Is it Kevin?" Cat in the background "oh please let it be Kevin" Jean says no, "Kevin is too much of a coward", the floozies are looking at each other like "oh we are definitely unpacking THAT at some point". And then they're like okay, well maybe the boyfriend is not on the team. But Jean confirms, it's a fox, i can tell u who it is-' "NO! We need to figure this one out!" "Let our gaydar do the work Jean we got things to prove!" Jean tiredly: "to who?"

So they start guessing, oh Hemmick is undeniably fruity, Jean is like "I don't even know who that is. Oh, backliner? No, not him". "Maybe it's Boyd?!" Cat being like "Escandalo! Cause he's with the captain right? Wilds?" Laila commenting "He'd be out of his mind to pass on that, and this is the educated opinion of a lesbian", Jean is like "how come u guys know all their names?" Jeremy says "they are a small team and it's hard not to keep tabs on them when they are in the news cycle every week or so"

"Guys we're losing track, keep your heads locked in! Who could be Josten's boyfriend, that tonight's pressing question!" "But there's no one else... wait, is he with the other backliner? Short blonde?" "I'm gonna be honest, I don't get queer vibes from him" "Lol can u imagine it's actually the goalkeeper twin" "what the one that went to juvie and looks like hes one step away from biting our heads off on the court? Nahh". Jean looks at an invisible camera like he's in the office.

And then something happens and they forget about it, until like the winter banquet or some shit and Cat is intently looking at Neil trying to decipher who his boyfriend could be, maybe he is in a throuple with Wilds and Boyd? Jean is like "Why are you looking at the foxes' table so intently?" "It's investigative work, don't worry about it" and then Neil comes over and takes Jean away at the open bar to talk about sth, the floozies are pretending to not be looking at them. Neil notices and he's like "I see they taken claim already." Jean responds with "It's not what u think" and they talk, Andrew probably gets bored at some point and goes to Neil, puts a single hand on his lower back and Jean being able to hear commotion in the Trojans table turns to see them acting like "normal", except their poses look rehearsed, there's drinks that have been spilled on the table and Cat is drinking from an empty glass looking at the sky.

[butterflydm]

WoT rewatch thoughts (1x5-1x08)

Still has spoilers through the s3 information that we have so far and book spoilers through a memory of light.

1x05

Both beginning and ending this episode on funeral rituals worked so well. Great structure.

Time skip for traveling! Mark a month off on the calender.

We can really see how Mat has deteriorated in the last month by the way he snaps at the kid who runs into him.

Love the shot of Dragonmount looming behind Tar Valon. They exist always with that reminder of what the Dragon did.

Mat has no appetite. Poor sad wet cat.

The betrayal of there being Two Beds in this inn room, lol. Why are we not respecting the classic fic tropes?

Rand reassuring Mat that he didn't kill that little girl or her family. Rand believing so hard in Mat's goodness maybe partly because he can see that Mat is having a difficult time seeing it in himself.

Even with Nynaeve's coat off, she's still half Green and half Yellow.

Moiraine trying so hard to mentor Nynaeve and she Does Not Want It.

Man, Perrin and Egwene had a much more cheerful journey than either of the other sets. But they get plenty of trauma right now, so they don't need to be jealous.

Once again, the show does such a good job showing us the strength in the Tuatha'an. And this thread will continue into Perrin's storyline in s3, with both Whitecloaks & Tuatha'an. They've done a solid job of tying Perrin to them both.

Loial shows up and immediately calls Rand an Aielman, lol. Poor Rand!

Oh, I see you, Fain!

Oof, people throwing food at Logain and mocking him. Baffled at the people who say the downsides of being a man who can channel weren't shown.

The promise scene between Mat & Rand is so good. Ultimate sad wet cat Mat. I really do love everything about this scene.

I really like our exploration of Stepin's utter and compete grief and emptiness after Kerene's death. How much the other Warders try to help him, how Nynaeve tries to help him but it isn't enough.

Love love what they did with the old rings being melted down (to create new).

Between what happens with the Whitecloaks here and then the Seanchan in s2, Egwene reacting by being as fiercely independent as possible makes all the sense in the world.

The Whitecloaks and Tower novices both wearing all white seems like it might create some emotional dissonance for Egwene, but I understand why the show didn't go there. That's just down to Jordan making too many groups of people wear white.

Oof, the Whitecloak stuff with Egwene & Perrin is hard to watch.

But our first hint of Perrin's golden eyes.

I note how Valda feels about all channelers similarly to how Liandrin feels about male channelers. And then we can get into the Seanchan's dehumanization of channelers as well.

Liandrin trying to bond more with Nynaeve. Has she been having ta'veren dreams? Ishy has had a month to try to figure out at least some of the places where his potential ta'veren have gone.

Our first reunion! It's always such a relief when any of them get to reunite. Man, Mat really does look on the verge of death.

Nynaeve can now join Rand & Mat in the Not Trusting Aes Sedai or Moiraine squad. Oops.

She tells Rand a story about Egwene to reassure him of Egwene's strength, never realizing that it's also the moment when Nynaeve likely channeled for the first time (to heal Egwene).

Perrin shares his deepest shame and secret with Egwene here - that he killed Laila by accident during the battle. So Perrin & Egwene's journey ends up being also very traumatic but the trauma was concentrated into the last day or so of the journey.

And just like was hinted at with the fire, Egwene & Perrin are finding their power at the same time. I wonder if this will happen again with their TAR training in s3? I really hope they run across each other in TAR. Let the characters stay connected!

Liandrin definitely got shot down by Moiraine at some time in the past.

Love the whole "shrine to ward off the Forsaken" thing. Great touch.

Siuan has been off in Caemlyn - was she talking to Elaida about Elayne, or was it about politics?

Moiraine: the White Tower's Woman of Mystery. Everyone wants to know what she's up to!

Alanna got such a glow-up in the show compared to the books. She's great here.

We get another nod to accepted poly relationships (amid the Green Ajah, at least).

Great conversation between Stepin & Lan. And a heartbreaking conclusion to Stepin's little mini-arc of grief and the Warder bond.

1x06

Little baby Siuan! ❤️ ❤️

Our first look at Tear as well.

Such a great way to introduce Siuan, considering they wouldn't have her for more than one episode this season.

And we learn in some places that it's dangerous for a woman to learn to channel - it's not only the Whitecloaks who assume that everyone who can channel is a Darkfriend.

Given that we know now (as of s2) that Moiraine & Siuan are older here than in the books, I wonder if that means her dad has already passed on.

Much like Egwene, Siuan is strongly associated with the water.

(This scene made me tear up too. I've cried three or four times today, I think)

Leane wearing light colors here vs the darker colors she wore in the s3 sneak peek to bash a Darkfriend's head in.

Another scene that gains so much depth on rewatch- knowing about Moiraine & Siuan's relationship & knowing about Liandrin being Black Ajah.

We just saw Stepin choose death in the previous emptiness of losing his bond, now Logain seeks and is refused death while suffering the emptiness of losing his connection to the One Power.

Everyone does still look good here, but the costumes definitely got a glow-up in s2 & again in s3.

The only main player in this scene not playing an elaborate game is Alanna. Siuan and Moiraine are pretending not to be in cahoots, Liandrin is pretending not to be Black Ajah - Liandrin trying to fracture the divides between the Ajahs, and also throwing Moiraine under the bus. A lot of Daes Dae'mar going on.

I also feel obligated to note that around this time frame is the jumping off point of my (now over 500k!) fic series: voice in the back of my head (archiveofourown.org/series/2688649). It is Cauthor-focused (Mat & Rand romance), though it does bring in the canon romances for Rand later on and we have some fun poly relationships going on, and it is currently spoiling through the twelfth book, but each fic in the series says how far that particular fic goes with regards to spoilers. The fic premise is: Liandrin found Rand & co instead of Moiraine finding them, and Rand is motivated enough to instinctively Travel himself, Mat, and Nynaeve to Tear because he wants to escape her.

This fic has been a lot of work and I am pretty proud of it so if you feel at all inclined to read an AU of the series that starts with the idea of "what if we gently slid Mat into Rand's romance situation?" and is a mix of show and book canon... give it a try. If you like it, please let me know your thoughts. <3

Anyway, Moiraine be spying on Rand & co., waiting for Nynaeve & Loial to leave to go talk to Rand & Mat.

Rand's protectiveness over Mat on this scene is really what threw my shipping switches on for them. He pulls a sword on Lan, despite knowing he had no chance against him!

"The world doesn't need a Dragon like me."

But Moiraine has figured out this is something else, not going mad from saidin, and Mat gets healed of the dagger's sickness.

So... was Rand using the One Power to help keep Mat from succumbing to the dagger's pull? Moiraine thinks that Mat shouldn't have been able to resist as long as he did.

We get some Tower politics, and we get the first hints of the Seanchan.

Moiraine is just encountering so much weirdness with these kids. Now there are wolves, she must be thinking to herself. Wolves!

The romance reveal scene! I like this change for several reasons- it's better romance than either gets in the books, it follows naturally from the NS relationship setup, and it adds drama for Moiraine, who did get a bump from mentor figure to being a protagonist.

It also gives the show a chance to show softer and warmer sides to both Moiraine & Siuan. Plus the nice play between duty & love bodes well for other romances.

I love how they reunite and only afterwards does Moiraine let Siuan know about the Dragon. Priorities!

And it makes so much sense that Moiraine has been doubting their prophecies after all this time on the road, while Siuan hasn't been out there with disappointment after disappointment.

This conversation also (unintentionally, given that it was a last-minute change) sets up Moiraine deciding she'd rather have the Reds potentially gentle the Dragon than risk Mat choosing to join the Shadow, because she thinks he's not strong enough to resist.

Ishy deliberately sent Siuan that dream. 😭

Liandrin knows too much. She definitely has been getting Ishy dreams.

Another reunion!

And the convo with Siuan is great. Nynaeve not bowing still cracks me up. Egwene going "wtf, nynaeve can channel? and she's stronger than I am?" with just her face is also hilarious.

Egwene & Nynaeve get a much kinder pep talk from Siuan than poor Rand gets in s2.

Moiraine's exiling is another great, emotional scene. And it also teaches us more about how the Oath Rod works, and sets some reasons in place for the Hall to be wary of Siuan. And sets up some precedents for the future.

And Moiraine trusting and giving more to Siuan than she was asked to give in the Oath - not just exile but obedience. That's gonna hurt a lot when we get to s2.

Even though she literally asked for it, it's obvious how hard it is on Moiraine to see her Sisters turn their backs on her.

But now we do (briefly) get our full Two Rivers reunion, and that is lovely. Hugs all around! Fond teasing! They love each other!

So we know that it wasn't actually the Dark One who was trapped at the Eye, so... it sounds like the knowledge of the location of the Dark One's prison is lost to time. It does make sense that Darkfriends would target that info specifically.

Moiraine not able to tell them that she trusts them, due to her Oaths, is a. so funny and b. makes it mean so much in s2 when she is willing and able to say that she trusts Rand (this is the real reason why it's difficult for me to get on board with The Ruse (TM) theory - because it feels like it would retroactively ruin that 2x07 moment between Moiraine & Rand).

Now that he's pretty sure Mat can't channel and isn't the Dragon, Rand knows deep down who it really is.

But then we lose Barney-Mat at the Waygate and I'm sad!

You can tell this very last scene was shot after the post-covid shutdown, because Maddy (Egwene) lost some roundness in her cheeks during those in-between months and it makes her eyes look a lot bigger.

I adore Donál's Mat but also miss Barney's. The feelings are both very present.

1x07

The Blood Snow! So epic. I love everything about this scene.

I will say, given that we have a stabbed pregnant Tigraine in the side here and it looks like we're getting a flashback to pregnant Morgase in s3, it does feel fairly likely that we will get pregnant Elayne as well, later on in the series. Tigraine gets stabbed the same way that Elayne is described as being stabbed in one of the super-late books (can't remember which, so I'll tag through AMoL) iirc.

Tigraine really did give every ounce of herself to her destiny, and I'm so glad the show version of her got a moment of kindness and compassion at the end.

Moiraine's cynicism about Mat vs Rand's rose-colored glasses about Mat: fight!

Nynaeve doing her job as Wisdom to keep all the kiddos together and make a promise to find Mat later.

"The one thing that we cannot afford is for the Dragon to turn to the Shadow."

Lan trying to cheer Nynaeve up is very sweet.

Egwene wants to sleep near Rand and he lets her this time (contrast to 1x02, when he pushed her away).

I like negging Machin Shin better than the version in the books, I admit it. It's more personal! Just relentlessly dunking on everyone's deepest fears.

Everyone looks so haunted. Poor kiddos.

I don't understand the people who don't understand the big fight. Everyone is so on edge from what they just went through! They are all overly emotional and vulnerable right now. The fight could have been MUCH uglier and still been valid tbh.

Uno! Congrats on your s2 upgrade to Hero of the Horn!

Another confession: I find this Lord Agelmar & Lady Amalisa much more interesting and memorable than the ones in the books. And I was kinda relieved that the show took the whole Five Great Captains thing off the table right away.

I also love their outfits.

Oh, hi, Fain! I suspect we'll get to see more of him in s3.

Min is so much better in the show than the books, omg. Just... on every level. She actually is jaded and world-weary.

"There is a man they must find. A boy, really."

Given that we saw Mat visibly recoil at hearing the Red Ajah mentioned in that s3 clip, I wonder if we're going to see him & Moiraine actually talk about it. I mean, it's in character for both of them to avoid that particular convo, so we will see!

Egwene's little quip at Rand's cooking is cute but I bet contributes to that feeling of Rand's that she doesn't see him as a man but as a boy.

I like how Min's visions were used here. And that she does what Moiraine blackmailed her into but holds back enough to protect what she knows would be the biggest secret (that Rand is the Dragon) because she doesn't feel like it's hers to reveal.

I really love how the shot with the three kids is framed to show the empty chair at the back to emphasis Mat's absence.

Anyway, I like the fight. Characters should be allowed to be messy and argue. Each of them has a perspective and is stubborn about that PoV.

Egwene is right that Moiraine can't lie, but the others are right that she can mislead or withhold.

And I love that the tipping point for the actual fight is Mat & his absence.

And then Nynaeve lobbing a bomb into the conversation as soon as it gets heated enough that she's getting uncomfortable. I mean, they aren't arguing about Mat anymore, at least?

Perrin's super-close "the only woman I've ever loved is my wife" and the hot five seconds that I shipped Perrin & Rand (but then Mat was mentioned in Rand's 1x08 fantasy world and I was right back to Cauthor lol).

I like that Lan had Malkieri friends alive in Fal Dara & I'm pretty stoked about the s3 Melindhra spoilers as well. Very cool to dive more into those relationships than we did in the books. Nynaeve getting an introduction to Lan's people & culture! After he got to know hers in 1x01! Very nice.

Jump-scare Lan does crack me up.

Anyway, good for Nynaeve and Lan for hooking up when they think there's a chance they might die in the morning.

Rand struggles with coming to terms with being the Dragon but Egwene thinks this is all about the big fight earlier. So they are having two different conversations right now.

Hey, in light of this convo- Rand is going to go to, well, Tar Valon anyway. Maybe not the White Tower itself. We'll see if he gets a doorway visit or not.

But this is Rand's big final burst of denial before he goes and talks to Min, confirming to himself that he's the Dragon, as he's tried not to believe that he is. So we've now had two instances of Randgwene sex used to delay or avoid an important conversation.

I am... very curious if the pattern continues in s3. Pretty sure they'll sleep together again, from what we've gotten in the trailers & such, but I am curious about the framing & context.

This montage of Rand accepting the truth about himself gives me chills.

Min's exhaustion here makes her so relatable.

I am so glad Tigraine had someone to hold her hand at the end. That she saw that her son would be taken care of.

"Rainbows and carnivals and three beautiful women." 😍

Elayne only three episodes away (2x02, right?), and Aviendha a little bit after that, but they are on their way! And this is our first hint about them.

1x08

3000 years ago, whoo!

Love their outfits.

Love the choice to have the AoL scenes in the Old Tongue.

LTT is perfect. Genuinely so good.

And the gut punch of seeing how technologically advanced the world used to be. It was a magitek utopia (or at least seemed that way to them).

I do wish that Rafe & co could have brought their original vision of this episode to life, because it is so devastating to go over all the things they lost (a principal actor! Their original Blight location! Their stunt team! Even more that I can't recall at the moment too I bet) but they did so much with what they had. I am so fucking impressed.

"I love him, Perrin." And then she thinks he died to save all of them. Yeah they do need to finish things off properly in the show.

Lan 100% thinks that going after Moiraine right now means his death, hence the sweet but flowery speech to Nynaeve here.

Ishy and Rand come face to face. I wonder who Ishy thought the Dragon was (he says he didn't expect it to be Rand). I love the reveal of Ishy's true face. And trying to touch Rand's face right away lol.

"Stubborn as ever, Lews."

The convo between Moiraine & Rand is interesting (all of them are) but partly because Moiraine doesn't actually say that she believed it was Egwene. I think she hoped it was Egwene but that's not quite the same. And Rand doesn't ever really think it was Egwene either, except maybe at the start, because we know he was worried it was Mat during that month of them journeying together.

Hey, the horrible bully from Moiraine's story! We're gonna meet her in s3. Because that story is about Elaida. She beat a novice with the One Power to force her to channel.

Min is very amusing in the show. I like her a lot. I really like that we get to go on an emotional journey along with Min about the downsides of having her viewings in s2, instead of it all happening before we show up in her life.

Again, really like the relationship between the siblings here - Lord Agelmar & Lady Amalisa. It's sweet.

"Let us hope we will buy the women and men of this world enough time to stand a fighting chance."

Rand recognizes the place where he locked Ishy up years ago. Love that we get to see that moment in s2.

Moiraine talking about the Tower's histories getting destroyed by Darkfriends. Very important note, I feel.

And Ishy springs his win-win trap. There was no actual way for Rand to win here, because he didn't know who he was fighting.

I've mentioned this before but I love that the show split up the battle into philosophical (Rand) vs physical (everyone else) because that's the Last Battle too. Rand's fight is a philosophical one and it always was. The Power is there to get him to where he needs to be to make that choice.

Our mention of Mat in Rand's temptation world, where Egwene is clearly being fondly exasperated but not truly annoyed. So, you know, like how Rand feels about Mat.

Ishy plays with his food, taunting and shielding Moiraine.

Perrin and Loial's friendship being a throughline for all three seasons, getting to know each other here, spending more time together in s2, and Loial going home with him in s3.

Rand struggling against a hollow perfect reality. Major, major foreshadowing for the endgame so I'm glad I already listed amol spoilers.

And Rand also needs to forcibly let go of Egwene and his dream of their life together in order to wake up from his encounter with Ishamael, something that Egwene doesn't get the opportunity to do, because the boyfriend she recently reunited with heroically died in order to save the world (to her understanding). So Rand and Egwene go into s2 (and presumably s3) with very different contexts about where their relationship left off.

You know, in retrospect, it's so appropriate that the Horn was being guarded by one of the Heroes.

Ishy is so smug here because he really does win no matter what. Tbh I feel like waking up Lanfear was his big mistake in s2. Because her agenda is different enough from his that they ended up conflicting, even though they share an LTT obsession.

That being said, even though this is a win-win for Ishy, what Rand learns here can/will help him win the Last Battle. So it works out in the long run.

Rand & Moiraine believe that the Last Battle is won, so she's willing to let him wander off to die in the wilderness if he wants... and then she kicks herself forever when she realizes how wrong she was. Like, it's Moiraine & Siuan's plan that fully releases Ishy. They thought they could do an endrun around the prophecies (which Moiraine has to be fully aware that Rand has not accomplished!).

As Moiraine might say "the arrogance".

Love the setup here at the end by Fain.

"Rand may be the Dragon but all five of you have a part to play."

And Moiraine. "This wasn't the Last Battle. I fear it was the first."

And our great intro to the Seanchan and how wildly different they are to anything we've already seen.

Tomorrow, I'll start rewatching s2 and see how far I get!

[berryhatfingers]

You said you wanted to make people mad on the internet, and you have instead brought delight to my internet. I love your opinions and share them. So I’m build on what you said and potentially piss people off myself.

I feel like despite it being such a huge deal in TSC the fandom has decided to ignore the fact Jean is 19, that he was 14/16(I can’t remember if he had two years before joining the line and I’m too tired to check) when he was sold and because the most abused and targeted person there. The one Riko learned, practiced, and intensified his sadism on.

Like the sexualization of Jean is so frustrating to me. I get that everyone heals and responds to sexual abuse/assault differently, but that’s not the only thing Jean needs to heal from, there’s also cult-aspects, being owned/trafficked, his sister having been sold as a child bride to her death, years of ritualistic torture/abuse, and others, so much else.

Because yeah, Jean is a fighter, his instinct is to fight, he also fights in his own way: keeping French, his accent, and teaching Kevin the language were just some ways in the nest, he had rebellions, smart ones. What he’s doing a USC is also such a big ‘fuck you’ to Riko hating Jean-Yves the French boy. THEIR PR STRATEGY INCLUDES HIM BARELY SPEAKING ANYTHING BUT FRENCH. Like that interaction in the mall wasn’t official strategy, but it’s such a healing move, he’s getting to fight/rebel safely, not having to panic over public statements/speaking, holding openly hold his nationality, his language, his personhood. THAT is what TSC is about.

Yes, we have simping after Jeremy, and yeah, JereJean is probably gonna start teasing in. But just for some perspective guys, it took me seven years to be able handle that sort of intimacy, friends are hard on their own, but those extra layers that are part of sexual intimacy (which I’m including kissing in) had more layers of vulnerability, trust, and triggers.

I want TGR to be Jean getting to heal, coming into his own, letting him have friends, a home, something like freedom, and maybe a flirtation with Jeremy. But Jean didn’t have friends (‘cause cult) he had alliances, his closest relationship was with Zayn and when that bargain got broken we know what Zayn let be. That was a connection/alliance that Jean had to build and fight for. Renee was complicated, friends that could have been romantic in different circumstances. Renee is the first person Jean was friendly with since his sister who hasn’t complicit in his abuse, and even then she knew about the abuse, and removed him from that environment without his consent and without a plan (thank you Neil for sorting that).

So Cat, Laila, Jeremy, the floozies, the Trojans (minus Lucas) are Jean’s first experiences of friendship and amicable companionship. Let the kid breathe. Because @sidevolt is right, he’s NINETEEN.

SocMed AU is a great little teehee moment, and I love it. But don’t forget canon, how young these character are, how traumatized they are. When thinking about Jean remember he and his sister were human trafficked as children, Elodie died, published is the only version where Jean didn’t, and now he is a traumatized kid who’s trying to figure out what life looks like without daily violence and threat of horrific abuse.

I know a lot of pre-2024 fandom material has Jean as older, but even then he was still what, 20/21? Still YOUNG. I didn’t understand the weight of these character’s youth when I first read these books, they felt old, as can happen when you read about characters older than yourself, but I’m in my mid-20s now. I am still young, but I look at these characters and I feel the heaviness Wymack does, because they’re kids, they’re barely legally adults, but further they’ve had to act adult so much while still being KIDS.

So yeah, don’t sexuality these characters, don’t rush let, let them be, let them heal, let them find their place and their rhythm to life rather than saying their healing should be rushed/haphazard so you can get JereJean to be canon in a month.

Let the art be art. If you want those things write or read fanfiction, I know I’ve come off judgey and preachy in this, but like guy, not everything needs to be canon, and not everything need to happen fast in a series either. That’s the power of fandom, that you can have what you want without the canon. Have an au, canon-divergence, headcanon, ship, dream for post-story future, whatever, I enjoy such things, and you get to as well! We can all enjoy fandom spaces however we do so, these are just my thoughts, k thanks.

(Also an aside @sidevolt if I ever start writing fics I will definitely ask for translation help)

i'm french and in my early twenties, of course i want to make people mad on the internet!

here are some opinions :

- i don't want JereJean to kiss in tgr, Jean is not ready for that.

- Jean isn't a weak submissive damsel in distress, he is a 6ft man who's first instinct is fight. just because he had to submit to survive doesn't mean he's naturally submissive

- and yet he is still a teenager with no normal life experiences, so sexualizing the way some people in this fandom do is weird

- the way some people sexualize any character is weird actually

- the socmed AUs can be funny, even if they're ooc and not realistic

- i want tgr to end with Jeremy's graduation, and book 3 to be about Jean learning to live on his own during his last year

- i don't like it when people use french words in fanfic bc most of the time they don't use the words correctly and it makes me cringe. sorry about that one it's a little mean but it had to be said. i'm more than okay to help with translation tho, just dm me !

that's it for now but there will probably be more.

i'd say "don't like, don't interact" but please, interact :)

[richincolor]

Politically Minded Books

Since we are 4 days away from a national election that could greatly change our nation, I thought instead of a review, I’d highlight books that encourage political activism. Working with teens, many have expressed that they often feel hopeless because they are too young to vote, but I am always reminding my students that there are other ways to amplify their voices. The following books show how teens can still be politically active and have their voice heard. 

You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen

In this compelling and thought-provoking debut novel, after a terrorist attack rocks the country and anti-Islamic sentiment stirs, three Black Muslim girls create a space where they can shatter assumptions and share truths.

Sabriya has her whole summer planned out in color-coded glory, but those plans go out the window after a terrorist attack near her home. When the terrorist is assumed to be Muslim and Islamophobia grows, Sabriya turns to her online journal for comfort. You Truly Assumed was never meant to be anything more than an outlet, but the blog goes viral as fellow Muslim teens around the country flock to it and find solace and a sense of community.

Soon two more teens, Zakat and Farah, join Bri to run You Truly Assumed and the three quickly form a strong friendship. But as the blog’s popularity grows, so do the pushback and hateful comments. When one of them is threatened, the search to find out who is behind it all begins, and their friendship is put to the test when all three must decide whether to shut down the blog and lose what they’ve worked for…or take a stand and risk everything to make their voices heard.

Yes No Maybe So by Aisha Saeed  & Becky Albertalli

YES

Jamie Goldberg is cool with volunteering for his local state senate candidate—as long as he’s behind the scenes. When it comes to speaking to strangers (or, let’s face it, speaking at all to almost anyone), Jamie’s a choke artist. There’s no way he’d ever knock on doors to ask people for their votes…until he meets Maya.

NO

Maya Rehman’s having the worst Ramadan ever. Her best friend is too busy to hang out, her summer trip is canceled, and now her parents are separating. Why her mother thinks the solution to her problems is political canvassing—with some awkward dude she hardly knows—is beyond her.

MAYBE SO

Going door to door isn’t exactly glamorous, but maybe it’s not the worst thing in the world. After all, the polls are getting closer—and so are Maya and Jamie. Mastering local activism is one thing. Navigating the cross-cultural romance of the century is another thing entirely.

Read our Group Discussion of the book

The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert

Marva Sheridan was born ready for this day. She's always been driven to make a difference in the world, and what better way than to vote in her first election?

Duke Crenshaw is so done with this election. He just wants to get voting over with so he can prepare for his band's first paying gig tonight. Only problem? Duke can't vote.

When Marva sees Duke turned away from their polling place, she takes it upon herself to make sure his vote is counted. She hasn't spent months doorbelling and registering voters just to see someone denied their right. And that's how their whirlwind day begins, rushing from precinct to precinct, cutting school, waiting in endless lines, turned away time and again, trying to do one simple thing: vote. They may have started out as strangers, but as Duke and Marva team up to beat a rigged system (and find Marva's missing cat), it's clear that there's more to their connection than a shared mission for democracy.

Romantic and triumphant, The Voting Booth is proof that you can't sit around waiting for the world to change, but some things are just meant to be.

Read Crystal’s Review

Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson, Ellen Hagan

Jasmine and Chelsea are sick of the way women are treated even at their progressive NYC high school, so they decide to start a Women's Rights Club. They post everything online—poems, essays, videos of Chelsea performing her poetry, and Jasmine's response to the racial macroaggressions she experiences—and soon they go viral. But with such positive support, the club is also targeted by online trolls. When things escalate, the principal shuts the club down. Jasmine and Chelsea will risk everything for their voices—and those of other young women—to be heard.

Read our Group Discussion of the book

Running by Natalia Sylvester

When fifteen-year-old Cuban American Mariana Ruiz’s father runs for president, Mari starts to see him with new eyes. A novel about waking up and standing up, and what happens when you stop seeing your dad as your hero—while the whole country is watching.

In this thoughtful, authentic, humorous, and gorgeously written novel about privacy, waking up, and speaking up, Senator Anthony Ruiz is running for president. Throughout his successful political career he has always had his daughter’s vote, but a presidential campaign brings a whole new level of scrutiny to sheltered fifteen-year-old Mariana and the rest of her Cuban American family, from a 60 Minutes–style tour of their house to tabloids doctoring photos and inventing scandals. As tensions rise within the Ruiz family, Mari begins to learn about the details of her father’s political positions, and she realizes that her father is not the man she thought he was.

But how do you find your voice when everyone’s watching? When it means disagreeing with your father—publicly? What do you do when your dad stops being your hero? Will Mari get a chance to confront her father? If she does, will she have the courage to seize it?

Art of Protest: Creating, Discovering, and Activating Art for Your Revolution by De Nichols, Diana Dagadita (Illustrator), Olivia Twist (Illustrator), Molly Mendoza (Illustrator), Diana Ejaita (Illustrator)

From Keith Haring to Extinction Rebellion, the civil rights movement to Black Lives Matter, what does a revolution look like? Discover the power of words and images in this thought-provoking look at protest art by highly acclaimed artivist De Nichols.

From the psychedelic typography used in "Make Love Not War" posters of the '60s to the solitary raised fist, some of the most memorable and striking protest artwork from across the world and throughout history deserves a long, hard look. Readers can explore each piece of art to understand how color, symbolism, technique, and typography play an important role in communication. Guided by activist, lecturer, and speaker De Nichols's powerful narrative and stunningly illustrated by a collaboration of young artists, this volume also has plenty of tips and ideas for creating your own revolutionary designs. This is a fully comprehensive look at the art of protest.

Read Crystal's Review

[againagainagai]

Dear future me, and dear past me?

Dear college me,

HI! How are you, how’s college going? Are you still becoming a Therapist? If you are, good luck! Have you taken up the bass Flute yet? It’s so cool isn’t it, I love the sound of it so much, I hope you do too. :) How are your friends? Are they cool? Have you made new ones since 9th grade? I can’t wait to meet them. How are the cats by the way? Have any of them died yet? If so, I’m sorry I’ll pet them for you when I’m done with this letter. What’s our favorite swear word rn? Mine is bitch, it can be a term of endearment or a term of hatred. Do you have a girlfriend? Is she pretty? I bet she is. Go on a date please, like, right now. Go get up and leave whatever you’re doing, stop by her place and go get lunch at waffle house. If you don’t have a girlfriend, that’s awesome too! You have made the decision to focus on school and I support you!! You’re gonna get one someday and who knows? Maybe she’s the one! I hope you’re doing well! Love ya!

Lexi 💛

Dear fifth grade me, Hey, I know that moving seems really hard right now but it will be really beneficial to your growth as a person. First things first, don’t try to be friends with Laila, she belongs in her crowd and you belong with yours even though you haven’t found it yet but when you get on that bus to Jackel island, you’ll find a new friend and she’s gonna be your best friend for almost four years now. And in three you’re gonna fall for her (yes you’re gay, congrats) but try not to. It will save you so much time. When she and Caitlin are fighting, don’t support her. It’s just a goddamn shirt. But you’re gonna do it anyways and your gonna regret it a year later but that’s okay. You’re gonna regret a lot of things but joining marching band isn’t going to be one of them. First, in 6th grade, you’re going to pick up the flute and you’re going to love it. It’s gonna be boring for the next couple of weeks but I promise you, you’re gonna do amazing. In 8th grade, your gonna start marching band and believe me when I say, it’s gonna be hard so start training and eating better now because it’s going to help you in the future. You’re never going to regret the day that you join but remember, you can’t eat cereal and go outside for four hours. Learn how to properly pet a cat please!! Because they are going to be all over you and you’ll need to know how to pet one. And try to stay neat,I know it’s hard n stuff but I promse, if you get in the habit of doing it today, yore going to be set for the rest of your life. Life will be really unfair!!! It’s gonna suck!! But it’s going to be okay! For now, just trust me and believe me that everything is going to be okay because that’s gonna be the only thing that will cheer you up just think of what you will look like in 9th grade and trash it because I’m not who I thought I would be and you’re in for a pleasant suprise when you grow up

Also? Don’t be afraid to cuss, God isn’t gonna strike you down... take a chill pill

[thebluekingdomstory]

Adara’s story part thirty two

“The Prince’s safety is of the utmost importance” Luna was lecturing the guards that would be escorting Aegean and I to his old home. I let her words drone into the background as I listened instead to Aegean gushing about his house and his father.

“You’re gonna love him Adara! My dad’s the best! Oh, and you can meet our cat! You like cats, right? What am I saying, everyone likes cats!” Aegean was practically vibrating with excitement.

“Alright everyone! Let’s head out” Luna called. I followed one of the guards as I walked beside Aegean. Luna and the second guard were behind us. We decided traveling at noon would be best as it would be easier to blend in with the crowds.

“Adara look! The craft market is on today, can we stop for a second? Please?” Aegean begged. I glanced at Luna behind me, who gave a curt nod.

“Okay but just for a little” I agreed. The streets were lined with stalls and tables filled with everything from pottery to knitted blankets to small painting. I followed Aegean around, smiling as he pointed out different wares to me. I was only half paying attention. I wanted him to enjoy his time out but I was getting more nervous by the second. I couldn’t shake this feeling of dread. That dread only increased as I noticed the two guards with us had gotten distracted by some kind of scuffle. I turned my head to look for Luna and saw she was just a couple tables away which oddly made me feel a bit better. I was about to call her over when a shine in the distance caught my eye, followed by a familiar whistling sound. My instincts took over as my world slowed. I knew I only had seconds to act. I leapt at Aegean, transforming midair. I heard gasps and shrieks of surprise around me, but I ignored them. As I tackled him to the ground I was hit by a piercing pain on my left side. I rolled off of Aegean and turned back to human form, looking down at the arrow protruding from my ribs. I looked at Aegean who was staring at the arrow in horror, but it looked as though he was unharmed. I tried to take a breath in relief but found I couldn’t. That’s not good. My arms could no longer hold me up as my head began to spin from lack of oxygen. 

“You two, get the Prince back to the castle now!” Luna yelled over the growing panic.

“Wait! Adara!” Aegean called as he was pulled away from me. Good, if he was safe I could stop worrying. I could close my eyes... I groaned in pain as I felt a solid pressure on my wound. I forced my eyes to open to see Luna leaning over me. My vision was dotted with black.

“Stay with me Adara! You don’t die here, you can’t!”

I never noticed how pretty Luna’s eyes were. I guess I don’t often see them empty of angry, I thought to myself as I slipped out of consciousness.

___

Warmth on my face. Softness on my back. An alarming tightness around by torso. I opened my eyes in confusion. I sucked in a quick breath as I took in my bandaged rib cage. I winced at the pain of breathing and tried to keep my breaths shallower.

“You’re awake, thank the goddess” Kato said from a chair beside my bed. My mind cleared as I remembered what had happened. How I ended up in my own bed was still a mystery though. I hope Luna didn’t carry me; I’d never live that down.

“Yeah” I croaked, “how long have I been asleep?” My body felt like it hadn’t moved in ages.

“You’ve been in and out for the past few days. Laila’s with Hari and Prince Aegean is safe so don’t worry about them” Kato said, anticipating my next questions. I nodded, relieved.

“Do they know who did it?” I asked.

“Straight to business huh? It wasn’t Hari if that’s what you’re asking. He was with me”

The thought had crossed my mind but even if Hari hadn’t promised me to leave Aegean alone, the attack was too well thought out. No, whoever had planned this knew that Aegean would be outside of the carefully guarded castle. I gasped in pain as I tried to sit up.

“Try to get some more rest Adara, there’s nothing you can do about this until you’re better, okay?” Kato insisted, a worried look in his eyes.

“Fine” I sighed and let my eyes close again.

___

I woke again in the evening. Kato was gone. I tried to get up, this time ignoring the pain. Just as I swung my legs down, my bedroom door opened.

“Nah uh, I don’t think so Adara” Hari shook his head. I sighed and lay back down in frustration. Hari was carrying bowl of plain rice and a glass of water. He put them down on my side table before joining me on the bed. I winced at the movement as he got settled.

“Is Kato alright? He seemed kind of upset earlier” I asked.

“You’re seriously worried about other people right now? And of course he was upset, you could have died”

“But I didn’t”

“That’s not the point Adara” Hari sighed. “Regardless, I’m just glad you’re okay”

“Okay? I’m not okay, someone tried to kill Aegean and almost succeeded”

“But they didn’t” Hari teased, mocking my earlier words. I rolled my eyes, I guess I deserved that.

“Speaking of the little Prince, are you feeling up to some visitors?” Hari asked.

“Visitors?”

“You’ll see. I’ll be right back” Hari eased himself off of the bed and left the room. He strode back into the room, carrying Laila on his hip, followed by Aegean and Luna. He put Laila on the bed next to me. She curled up beside me and carefully clung to my arm.

“I’m so sorry Adara! This is all my fault” Aegean exclaimed, throwing himself dramatically at the end of the bed.

“Don’t be ridiculous” I told him. Luna hung back, standing against the far wall. I flashed back to her leaning over me. Fear glittering in her sun like eyes. Her hair flowing down over me like a pale waterfall. Her strong hands holding the life inside of me. Her voice telling me to stay with her.

“Adara?” Aegean said. I snapped back to the present.

“Sorry what?” From the way everyone was looking at me I must have been staring a bit longer than I meant to.

“I asked when you’d be better enough to come back to the castle. Luna never lets me do anything fun”  

“Well as long as she’s keeping you safe, then that’s all that matters right now. And I’m sure I’ll be better before you know it” I reassured him.

“That’s right kid, Adara’s not gonna let a little arrow keep her down for long” Hari agreed.

“A punctured lung is not something that should be taken lightly” Luna muttered to herself. Ah, that would explain my difficulty breathing. I glared at Hari. He and Kato hadn’t told me that part.

“Hey kiddos, I bought some new crayons with your names on them” Hari said in a light voice, Laila’s ears pricked at that. She let go of my arm and made grabby hands at Hari. He lifted her up and gave me a look of feigned innocence.

“Cool!” Aegean followed him out of the room. I wished I could have gone with them. My heart rate picked up as I realized I was about to be stuck here alone with Luna. Our eyes met for a moment before I glanced away. She cleared her throat and sat on the chair that Kato had used earlier. This was weird. Luna was in my bedroom. This was really weird.

“Thanks for bringing Aegean to visit” I broke first.

“I was worried he’d try to come alone so...” Luna trailed off.

“Right.” That certainly sounded like Aegean.

“Do you know who tried to kill him?” We asked at the same time.

“I’ll take that as a no” she smiled. It hit me that I had never really seen her smile before. It was... kinda nice.

“I was supposed to do it. I was supposed to help kill Aegean” I don’t know why I just admitted that.

“What stopped you?” Luna asked gently, after the surprise faded from her eyes.

“I don’t know. I just don’t have it in me anymore”

“Maybe you didn’t see him as a target. Maybe you saw him as a child, someone worth protecting. Perhaps motherhood has made you soft Adara”

“Soft?” I wasn’t sure I liked the sound of that.

“Well, a little more empathic at least”

“I wish I could blame it all on that” I sighed.

“Why can’t you?” Luna questioned. Before I could respond, Aegean burst into the room followed closely by Laila. I was grateful for the interruption as they showed me their drawings enthusiastically. I guess Luna wasn’t so bad, but I wasn’t ready to talk about him with her.

[thebluekingdomstory]

Adara’s story part twenty seven

I left Laila with Hari for a little while longer so I could accompany Kato to the border. Chi led us through the forest in their lion form, Kato and I transformed as well to be as quick as possible. The green and white forest blurred around me as we ran. My ears pricked as I heard someone pursuing us. I whipped back my head to see Noriko running after us.

“Noriko, what are you doing here?” I called back to him.

“I heard about the intruders, I want to help” he responded, catching up to me. It was too late to argue, we were already nearing the border. We slowed as we reached it. I sighted the rest of Chi’s patrol first, waiting for us, and then across the border stood three unfamiliar Nekojin. They were all in human form, as if to see seem less threatening. They were definitely from the mountains, all dressed in heavy winter cloaks lined with dark brown fur. Kato and the others shifted out of cat form and I reluctantly followed suit. One of the intruders stepped forward but stopped as I growled in warning. She had medium length brown hair and almond shaped violet eyes. Her stance exuded confidence and she kept a hand resting casually on the sword on her side.

“Which one of you is the alpha of this pack?” She demanded.

“That would be me” Kato stepped forward. The woman nodded respectfully to him.

“My name is Elda Mir, I’m the alpha of the Coldpeak pack to the north”

“Mir?” Kato echoed quickly. I recognized the name too, but I couldn’t place it.

“I’m Kato Larsen. What can we do for you?” Kato asked, louder this time.

“Let’s get right to it then, I have a proposition for you and your pack. Due to some… recent events, my pack is in need of some new blood. I’d like to offer you the chance to join your pack with mine”

“Recent events” Noriko scoffed beside me.

“Noriko?” Elda exclaimed in surprise, “so this is where you ran off to”

“You know her?” I asked.

“Unfortunately, yes. I was apart of the Coldpeak pack”

“Unfortunately? That is no way to speak of your home” Elda chided.

“Former home” Noriko muttered.

“Back to the matter at hand, Kato. I urge you to consider my offer. Nekojin are perfectly fitted to life in the mountains” Elda continued.

“You want us to go back to the mountains with you? I’m sorry Elda but I can’t agree to that” Kato apologized.

“Think about it, our territory is vast, and the hunting is always good. Our prey isn’t so easily scared by the cold. You wouldn’t have to worry about your restricting borders or dealing with a kingdom of humans” Elda urged. I felt panic rising in my chest. Kato wouldn’t actually consider this, would he?

“I empathize with your situation, but I can’t ask my pack to abandon their home”

“Very well. We’ll go. Noriko, come back home with us. Noelle misses you greatly”

“I can’t. You know I can’t. Just tell her I miss her, please” Noriko couldn’t meet his former alpha’s eyes. The disappointment was clear on her face, but she nodded to him. My body finally relaxed as three turned and headed north. Even though they were leaving, I had a feeling this wouldn’t be the last we heard from the Coldpeak pack.

___

It had been a few days since the confrontation at the border. I was watching Sable practice her knife throwing. We hadn’t been able to train that morning, so we were met in the evening today.

“May I join you?” A voice sounded from behind him. I turned to see Noriko standing there. I gestured him over.

“Did Elda really think Kato would join packs with her?” I asked, making an attempt at conversation.

“She speaks!” Noriko teased. “And Elda has a way of getting what she wants, one way or another” he continued darkly.

“That’s not ominous or anything. So why did you leave?”

“Trust me, you would’ve too”

I gave him a dissatisfied look.

“Look, Elda’s a great alpha, in theory. Determined, courageous, even compassionate when she wants to be. But I’m much happier following someone like Kato. Someone who wants what’s best for his pack and puts them above his own ambitions. Not to say Elda didn’t have our best interests at heart, she can just take her… beliefs a bit far” he explained. I nodded slowly. I could understand that, as far I was concerned, Kato was a great alpha and I wouldn’t trade him for the world. There were clearly some details Noriko was omitting as to why he left his home, but I couldn’t really blame him, I hadn’t exactly been the most welcoming. We watched in silence for a moment. Listening the sound of the blades hitting the tree and Sable grunting in concentration. A warm breeze blew by us and I couldn’t help but smile. Maybe spring was finally around the corner. Noriko on the other hand, didn’t look so pleased.

“Not a fan of the warmer weather?” I asked, pointing to his frown.

“Just not used to it I suppose, winter here is already so much warmer than in the mountains. I cannot imagine what it’ll be like in spring. What about you?”

“I like the spring, not to warm not to cold” I shrugged.

“No no no, it’s all about summer!” Sable cut in, throwing her last knife, “every other season here is way to cold”  

“Here? Are you not from the Pinewood pack?” Noriko asked.

“Nu uh. I was born in the desert, where it’s a much more reasonable temperature. My sister and I have only lived in the Blue Kingdom for a couple years now”

My eyebrows went up in surprise. I hadn’t known that. I mean I knew Sable wasn’t from this pack, but I guess I had assumed she had been born in the Kingdom.

“What brought you and your sister here?” Noriko asked before I could stop him. The news of desert massacres clearly hadn’t reached that far north. The desert used to be home to three packs much like around the Blue Kingdom. A pack of Kitsune, Bounders and of course Nekojin. In the past couple of years, all three had been destroyed by an unknown force.

“Sable, we should finish up training” I broke in to save her from answering what I assumed was a sensitive topic. Judging by the thankful look on her face I had come to the right conclusion. I gave Noriko a look to urge him not to push it, I could explain later.

[silenceandswords]

or neil "I have 30 different identities" josten creating new ones for him.

just saying

need renee to come steal jeremy’s identity documents back

she already stole one person, what’s one more?