#not tagging this cuz i haven't read the books so i still don't know much about armand and marius' relationship

[captainrayzizuniverse]

👀

[missgallavjch]

and the fact that amadeo means "lover of god"... while armand means "warrior"...

armand's original name, arun, meaning "the colour of the dawn" or "dawn"/"sun" 😭

[aquasarsstuff]

Spending the night with Lilia Vanrouge

Tags: Lilia Vanrouge x gn!reader, fluff, long-haired Lilia, yokai!Lilia, historical au, reader gets

A/N: I made this while waiting for the rain to stop. Like please stop now, I'm sooo hungry. Kinda regret not going out earlier. Welp- it's already noon, so I used some of my stacked noodles. Also, I was listening to Renegade over and over again while writing this lol, it help with my writer's block especially the part where I had to describe Lilia lol. Yes, there's some secret meaning in some parts here cuz why not

Your school has been demanding all your attention to be poured in your studies. Hence, you weren't able to visit you lover that was living deep in the mountains. You hunch over your desk after reading a ton of books. It was already midnight, and you were sure that if Lilia was here, he would have already lightly scolded you for staying up late. You stop working on your desk, and neatly arrange your school materials. Grabbing the lamp you have; you place it not too far from your futon. After all that work, you slip inside your futon and fell asleep.

The next day, while you were in school and about to leave, you saw a glimpse of Silver and Sebek who was also studying there. As usual, the two were having a one-sided banter. You walk towards them but was blocked by students who were also about to leave. You sighed defeatedly when you don't see them anywhere after trying to force yourself out of the crowd. You wanted to ask them about Lilia. You made up your mind; You were going to visit him tomorrow. It was weekend anyway, and the school schedule only lasts up until the weekdays. You were also studying for hours this past few weeks, and you were not like Riddle who enjoys doing it all day. You were going to spend the day tomorrow with Lilia, and also take a break from your studies. You were hitting two birds with one stone.

Before you head out mountains, you patted the head of the yokai you were living with. Grim merely rolled away from you but still not waking up. You softly laugh before shaking your adorable friend.

"Grim, wake up. If you do, I'll buy you a can of tuna this morning when I pass by the market." And as you expected, all it takes to bring Grim out of his bed was bribing him a can of tuna. The stock of food in the house was also running out, and you just can't bear the thought of leaving him alone in the house and then having to handle the mess he will make in the kitchen when you come back.

When you went outside, you carried Grim like he was some pet cat. Your left hand was occupied by a bamboo basket. You bought some berries and nuts, along with cans of tuna as you promise Grim earlier. Since you haven't had breakfast yet, you thought why not come by Epel's place. You walk away from the busy marketplace and entered a bakery. Immediately the scent of apples filled your nostrils. Delicious deserts made with apples were decorating the place. Epel was in the counter talking with Ace and Deuce in a seat near him. The sound of chimes hitting each other attached on the door, alerted the three people inside.

"Y/N!" Ace called you loudly. You took the vacant seat in front of them. "Did you come here for breakfast too?" Deuce asks you while taking a bite of his omelet. You nod.

"Good morning, Y/N. What would you like?" You gave Epel your order alongside with Grim. As what happens every day, the Adeuce duo somehow never fail to have a squabble.

"I'm not going!" Deuce protested against Ace.

"It's just some rumors. Don't tell me our juice is scared to come to the woods at night, because of it," Ace plasters his signature smirk at Deuce, while the blue head just glares at him. This piqued my interest.

"Rumors?"

"You don't know?" Deuce looks at you.

"Obviously. Why would they be asking?" Ace pipes in much to Deuce frustrations. Epel sighed at the duo and took over the conversation.

"You see Y/N, recently there's been whispers of a creature lingering in the woods who extinguishes any ignited light. All they see is an unseen silhouette, and then darkness." You turn your head slightly at his explanation.

"Myahh?!" If anything, you were more scared of Grim's sudden outburst...

Ace groans when he heard that. "It's pretty windy up there. It could just be the wind. That shadow, whatever it was, was probably just for dramatic effect."

"But, Y/N you're going to the mountain, right?" You almost laugh at Grim worried expression.

"You should be careful, Y/N." You nod at Deuce.

"Don't worry guys, I won't stay that late. I'll be back before sunset."

______

With a bamboo basket filled with berries and nuts, you trudge through the forest's thick foliage. You strayed the trail after reaching a place filled with vines. After a few minutes, you finally saw the cottage you were looking for, but the man you want to see was not there. As you were just about to call out and walk towards it, you notice thick strands of hair, much longer than yours taking purchase upon your shoulder.

"What do we have here?" You were suddenly aware by a presence as soft as melody. Before you could turn around, a finger reaches out from behind to catch your chin and spun you around. You were met face to face with Lilia. His face was uncomfortably close it made your heart ran erratic. His ruby red eyes that were looking through mine felt like it was holding the cosmos inside them.

When he started to inch his face closer to yours, you felt inclined to close your eyes. Suddenly, his finger disappears at your chin. A laughter that sounds like a bubbling brook then follows. "Someone has a mind that dances with the clouds."

You suddenly had the urged to bury yourself six feet because of this suave Nobusuma. You were just about to compose yourself when he drops himself to the ground and reach for your hand that wasn't occupied by the basket and kissed it. He looks at you teasingly. His eyes held the allure of a siren's call, like it was going to enchant and ensnares you with an irresistible allure.

While you were distracted, Lilia grabs the basket out of your hand and took a piece of its content. He greedily munches on the berry, its residue leaving a light tint of red on his lips. "I accept your offering after abandoning me for a long time, my enchanted rose."

"Stop making me the bad guy here Lilia," you sighed, finally out of your flustered state. "Where's Silver anyway?" he playfully plastered a frown on his lips, making him look like a puppy that was just kicked.

"I can't believe this; I just got betrayed by the closest to me. Poor me."

Safe to say, you spend the rest of the day trying to comfort his crocodile tears.

-----

It was already the golden hour, but you still weren't back in your place. You just couldn't bear to move and wake the sleeping Nobusuma in your lap. You gently touch the silk fabric of his black kimono. You traced the hand-painted crane design with the tips of your fingers, until you too fell asleep. When you woke up, a warmth and an aroma of a Chrysanthemum envelops you. You suddenly scramble up, escaping from Lilia's embrace.

"Oh no! It's already dark! I have to get back to Grim."

"Venturing the mountains at dark is filled with peril. It would be wise to stay here," he stopped me when I was just about to leave.

"But..."

Suddenly, his face morphs into a grin. "Don't worry, I won't do anything with you."

"I wasn't thinking about that!"

"Not yet atleast," his eyes glints with mischief.

-----

Bonus:

Lilia: If that doesn't convince you, I heard from human travelers-

Y/N: I know it was you, Lilia.

Lilia: *smiles innocently*

-----

Not sure about this, but let me add it.

Black kimono made of silk: represents a wealthy or high status

Crane design: Revered for their supposed thousand-year lifespan

Enchanted Rose: I dunno why I pick rose, but since he is a yokai and a fae in cannon I added enchanted. And reader's pretty enchanted with Lilia in this fic (I tried-)

Chrysanthemum: Often use as a symbol for immortality

Mind that dances with the clouds: a person who is a dreamer, or has thoughts that is beyond ordinary

okay- im done. You guys interpret the rest

[mare-sanguis]

People i'd like to know better

Tagged by: @andaniellight, @kanronotatsu and @frouponical

Thank you so much for the tag but you guys need to stop tagging me in such little games because then i will never shut up yapping (pls never stop tagging me, bored 24/7) 😓

Last song: "have you had enough" and "vital" by poppy are currently playing on loop (they just perfectly set the scene to that monster of a SCJW fic that got my fingers screaming in pain), "ticki-ta" by the fix, "follow me" and "umm umm umm" by kave

Favorite color: black (cuz i'm a basic bitch, i feel most comfortable in it and as an avid techwear wearer it's THE color) and these specific shades of lavender, purple and blue (upper two remind me of a happy childhood and lower two of the midnight sky)

Last book: human acts by han kang but it's been a while since i picked up that book tbh, i think by the start of this year, as i haven't had much time and motivation to read anything more. it's such a beautifully written and thought provoking book- anyone who hasn't read it yet should. i think i'll continue reading lapvona next (my taste in books is very questionable 😹)

Last movie: venom 3... i cried in the goddamn cinema omg, right next to my a friend (for reference, i never once cried in cinema) who's left absolutely clueless lmao, but SYMBROCK MY BELOVED and i just started "woman of the hour"

Last TV show: the fiery priest s2: god i love the directing this season, the camera work is very entertaining (the staircase scene in ep1 hello???) as well is the editing- they already improved from s1 in such a short time, and don't get me started on kim namgil's insane acting and how he still does his own stunts. miseinen mijukuna oretachi wa bukiyo ni shinkochu: this one already had me in a chokehold by episode 1, what a beautiful JBL that tackles so many issues at once (domestic abuse, child neglect, academic pressure, loneliness, ignoring of own feelings, superficial friendships) the acting is a soldi 10/10 and the editing? oh the editing dont get me started.

Sweet/spicy/savory: what ever doesn't make my tummy hurt 😓 but if i had to choose its savory

Relationship status: situationship with life

Last thing I googled: something about SA (do i even want to elaborate? no... but it's for the fic i promise) and the "it wasn't me it was patricia" meme

Current obsession: i have no original thought so... black out (let me rewatch it a hundred million more times, hmm the taste of autism)

Looking forward to: finishing the 2nd chapter of that (⬆️) SCJW fic (as well as some other 2 fics) and my 7 black out fanarts in the next weeks before the ship and fandom sinks to the depths of the ocean. i especially look forward fo finish this face/blood study painting

Lastly (No pressure) Tagging @senshipluto and @mondscheingarden who's the silent member of the black out fandom and my bestie (as well as @zhivchik @existingingrey @thedevildeer @angeru-hatake and @ikjun ... we're all just tagging the same people atp🏃🏻‍♂️)

[that-was-a-bit-stupid-of-you]

meeins cuz idk it's fun

basics

i'm ava

indian

bisexual

I have nothing interesting to say about myself

OH WAIT uh yeah I have adhd

I have no personality at all, but always open to conversation! (narrator: they don't know that she can't hold a conversation to save her life)

OH THAT REMINDS ME, my pronouns are she/her

most of the time, I don't tag any reblogs

that's... it. I like to draw and write. idk. I play guitar but I'm still learning

okay that's it I have nothing more to add

miscellaneous

books:

I first came here cuz of harry potter, but have long gone left that fandom (I'm fine with having convos about it, but that's it. fuck jkr, and hope she falls in a bathtub and- wait focus). anyways, so that's why you will find many old posts on hp, so yeah. disclaimer.

in the pjo fandom, but I haven't read all the books yet

completely against booktok and their rampant consumerism, romanticization of abuse and also. worst writing in history. I will judge you if you like colleen hoover.

fav books: animal farm by george orwell, not my problem by ciara smyth

currently reading: the woman's room by marilyn french and to kill a mockingbird by harper lee

books I wanna read: franz kafka diaries, the woman in the library, war and peace by leo tolstoy and many more

shows/movies:

I have watched the entirety of friends, however you will not see much of it on my blog

brooklyn nine-nine, and i will never stop talking about it. it is the best show ever, and ik it has its problems, but goddamn. in love.

derry girls because it is the funniest show in the whole world

one day at a time because if you don't see it. don't even speak to me, like.

the good place because I'm in the bad place right now

bridgerton. and no I haven't seen the third season

gilmore girls cuz it gives me the will to live

I don't remember omfg lemme check my blog

OH YEAH I ALSO WATCH MIRACULOUS (and lots of other stuff too I just don't remember)

if you see me post about chhota bheem (indian kid's cartoon) or doraemon (japanese cartoon). d-don't question it, okay?

music:

ex-swiftie. not a dedicated hater, but i dislike her a lot, so if you're a swiftie, you would probably hate me

current artists i like: niall horan, zayn malik, louis tomlinson, harry styles (can you guess which band I like lmao), hozier, beth mcarthy, chappell roan, sabrina carpenter and olivia rodrigo.

and a 🌟 if you guessed it, one direction

political views

this blog stands with palestine, and if you don't, boy do I have a list of curses for you

anti-billionaires and capitalists (can you guess why I'm an ex-swiftie hehe)

pro-choice

intersectional feminist

anti hindutva and bjp

atheist

[mellifloraa]

i got tagged by @honrupi thankie thankie!!! sorry m only gettin to this now ily gomen ;w;w;w;

last song: fly by bloodwitch!!! not a day goes by that i don't think about i am not okay with this it's a fucking shame what happened to it

favorite color: pink n purple!!! though yellow is also a very big fave UwU

last book: the last book i read that wasn't for school was a dowry of blood by s.t. gibson!! it was a cool read i definitely enjoyed it, though it was hard to get through at some points c":

last movie: oh man i dun even know.. one of my favorite YT channels put out a rango video yesterday so i guess that!!! rango's a weird fuckin movie i can't decide if i like it or not

last TV show: i am a slave to the arcane train,,, i have Thoughtzos about the finale but i'll spare you all the torment ;;;>///<) but i'm also watchin the ranma remake!! i binged the first few episodes and then two new episodes got released that i haven't watched yet,,,,,,, maybe that'll be what i do tomorrow durin my day off ehehehe

sweet/savory/spicy: spicy spicy spicy oh my god i love spicy food so much if i ever turn down spicy food that's how you know i've been turned into a pod person

relationship status: i'm involved with someone!! we're not using labels cuz of personal preference but i do love her very much c:

last thing i searched: "edwin hubble" cuz i wanted to find a picture of him to color!!

current obsession: .............. arcane..........

looking forward to: doing absolutely nothing tonight and tomorrow lmfao since my last class got out today i'm officially on thanksgiving break but i still have tons of work to do, so i'm taking two days to just rest and relax and vibe so i can still have a little bit of time off before i start workin again ;w;w;w;w;

favorite drink: water n dr pepper,,,, the two drinks necessary for life to form =w=) although i also fucking love eggnog which is great bc we just got a fresh carton the other day that i am very excited to crack open ehehehehe

song playing on a loop in your head 24/7: since the 23rd it's been spin the wheel by mick wingert, but other current contenders are the ballad of jane doe from ride the cyclone, all comes crashing by metric, and omen by guilhem desq

current favorite character: jinx my fuckign beloved,,,,,,,,,,,, my lil pookie my boo bear my lil angel that's never done anything wrong ever,,,,,,,,, ilysm

fun activity you would like to get into: i know i've been saying this for like a year and a half but i would love to get into hema!!! i gotta find a club near me i think there's one that operates a few miles from me, i just gotta dole out the cash to get everythin i need as well as find the time in between my busy schedule ;w;w;w;w;w;

last video game: minecraft!!! i'm workin on a build with my pep n it's comin along very nicely if i do say so myself UwU

last comic/graphic novel: hmmm... i'm not really one to consume comics anymore, so the last one was probably skip and loafer!! i read all the translated books i could get my hands on at that point and it was mega fun, i still have to get up to date with em again cuz ik more's been published online!! the stars just gotta fuckin align already,,,,,,,,,,,

thankie thankie for taggin me honeybee this was mega fun!!! i tag @scalierpepper @illudens @spacey-daydreams @echoequinox @muttself and anyone else who wants to do it UwU

[grollow]

Hi, hello. Same Anon who sent the first ask. Just came by to say thank you so so SO much for taking your time to answer my ask in details and I appreciate it loads. Your long explaination is so SO beautifully well-written (like seriously, you're so good with words. How are you not writing your own book yet-???).

That being said I'm still unsure I'll warm up to it just yet. Since I've recently got into HK, I'd like to test the waters with other ships and see what sticks and what doesn't. That and I'm hesitant to try it cuz I've had... traumatic experiences with popular ships in the past with other fandoms and it left me scarred so...yeah. BUT thanks to your explanation and from others, I can definitely DEFINITELY understand the appeal and unspoken potential it has and I can and WILL respect you Grollow shippers for your passion and dedication to it ^^

Also I'd like to apologize again for causing so much trouble for you with the other Anons with my ask. I really never meant for things to get so out of hand with it. I'm genuinely sorry.

On a lighter note tho, when you mentioned 'vessel for the radiance' , I thought back to a lovely AU fic in AO3 with the same name and funnily enough, the MC in that fic is the son of the Radiance and technically the nephew of Grimm whom is arranged to be married to Hollow as a 'peace treaty'. Idk why but that was the random thought that popped into my head when you said it ^^;

Ah, you didn't cause me any problems, anon! All you did was show me why the asks I've received in the past were so frustrating. Tone and intent really makes all the difference. Don't worry!

Write book... (Sweats profusely and stares openly at Blinding, which I haven't touched in a few days) ... Uhhh (gulp)

Every time you call Grollow popular I have to do a double take. I guess it kind of is the most popular ship involving both characters, but in the scope of what I consider popular, I see so much more of certain other ships (Lacenet in particular, but I also see tons of Palewatcher-- both of which I support ftr, so this is not a complaint-- as well as Quirrel/the Knight) that I never really considered it to BE a popular one. Especially considering how dead our tag is on AO3 (lighting a candle and saying a prayer for the swift return).

If I'm being honest with you, I don't think it's a good idea to write something off just because you are intimidated by the way that fandom handles it, even though past experiences make that easier. I know that instinct -- I come from animanga background, trust me, I KNOW it well -- but at the end of the day, you might be limiting yourself. For a long time, I avoided fandom entirely as a result of that, and sometimes I think I was happiest when I was full gremlin not speaking to anyone churning out fics from the heart. I wouldn't trade my friends for the world but there's a certain inner peace that comes with connecting with fandom the way that YOU want to. It involves liberal use of the block button and blacklisting tags but it does, in the end, make the internet a more enjoyable place to be.

Whether or not you come around to shipping Grollow, though, I hope I've at least shown you that our side of the fandom doesn't bite. You're welcome in my inbox any time.

I've not read that fic! Maybe I'll give it a shot. When my massive pile of back reading is done. Sweats. I'm drowning under the weight of all the things I want to read while writers block beats me up and calls me names behind Applebee's.

[suddenrundown]

@leverage-ot3 tagged me in this ask game! (thaaaaanks :D)

Star Sign(s): *meme voice* you guys got more than one star sign? i just know im a pisces lol

Favorite Holidays: I think probably thanksgiving

Last Meal: i had a frozen pizza a little bit ago. 'twas pretty good.

Current Favorite Musician: good ol' carly rae jepsen. what a queen.

Last Music Listened To: looking at spotify it was crj lol (specifically cut to the feeling) but i was listening to my 2023 wrapped playlist which is not made up of all carly rae jepsen, if you can believe lol. but she is there quite a bit!

Last Movie Watched: I watched Rye Lane with my roommate! I didn't get to finish it cuz i needed to go to bed since I had to get up early for work the next morning, but I'm gonna go back to it! it's very good :D

Last TV Show Watched: Fully sitting down and watching something? Our flag means death, I think?? I feel like I must have watched something since that ended but I can't think of anything. I did skip around a few scenes from specific leverage episodes for writing reasons, but that probably doesn't count lol

Last Book/Fic Finished: Officially the last actual book i read was the lies of lock lamora. Haven't read anything since because I quit the book club i was in (did you know you can just leave things? if it sucks hit da bricks) but that was a good book. last fic was how do we turn on the light which is a aziraphale/crowley fic by moonyinpisces on ao3. its super good (if you like go you should read it!!)

Last Book/Fic Abandoned: Ancillary Justice (also for that book club).

Currently Reading: I'm not currently reading any books but I am reading that aforementioned go fic!

Last Thing Researched for Art/Writing/Hyperfixation: Lol i googled if there was such a thing as a window opener and what that looked like. I wouldn't call that research but I don't have a better answer!

Favorite Online Fandom Memory: I think the time I got @faorism invested in my heartsong au and then they made a whole fic for it. faor is truly a treasure in the leverage fandom. also the response i got when writing as whole as we could be was overwhelmingly lovely <3

Favorite Old Fandom You Wish Would Drag You Back In/Have A Resurgence: uh. well. i kinda wish we could get the fandom we had for leverage back?? i understand why the people that left it did and totally support it, but i miss the community and the different corners of it. i think people obv still post about and create things for leverage but not to the extent that we had before. such is life though!

Favorite Thing You Enjoy That Never Had an Active or Big "Fandom" but You Wish It Did: i think i could probably give the same answer for this as the last question, honestly. in some ways its nice to be small though :) OH maybe the toby daye series?? idk if there is much of a fandom for it and i just dont know about it lol that is quite possible.

Tempting Project You're Trying to Rein In/Don't Have Time For: good lord. come back and haunt me. im fucking trying out here dude! im trying so hard lol

ok i shall tag some people but if you see this and dont see yourself tagged and think "i wanna play too!" well consider yourself tagged, whether we are mutuals or not. and if you are tagged directly, no pressure at all <3

@cloysterbell @shinybulbasaur @faorism @miss-interpretations @applejuiz @majesticartax @romansmartini @wizardrights @imusthavebecomesomething

[navree]

Hello there!

I want to know your opinion about the show version of Aegon, what do you think about it, do like their interpretation of his character? ( with exception of ramsay's stuff they added to his character)

Given by the fact you've read the book what things you want to change about Aegon and things you want to stay the same. I mean I'm curious how you would write aegon if you have given the chance to do so, just going by the vague description of his book character

Hey anon!

Fortunately for you, I have discussed Aegon a lot (because people ask me about him A Lot), so I'll link the posts below, but the long and short of it is that, excluding the "ramsay stuff" as you said, there's a lot that's going on with Aegon that I quite like, I just wish it was intentional writing rather than some subtext, TGC's acting choices, and interpretation.

So with that in mind, by and large I'd keep Aegon the same as we're seeing him thus far, just exclude the stupid bad writing stuff and make it clear that the stuff I do like about him is authorial intent, not just us overanalyzing stuff. I've touched a bit on stuff I'd change and keep if I were writing Aegon here but in how I'd write him if I were in charge, I'd add in a lot more of him being incredibly family oriented.

The book, like with everything it is, is kinda vague about it, but I do think it's important that Aegon be shown, despite his failings and his waywardness and his alcoholism and all his issues (and he does need to have issues, this show would be incredibly boring if it actually was cookie cutter good side vs bad side), to have a deep and unabiding love of family that overrides everything. One of the versions of how Aegon was convinced to accept the crown has it that he really started to get on board with it once it was pointed out to him that his kids would be in serious danger if Rhaenyra and Daemon were ruling, which is remarkably prescient considering Certain Things That Happen Later. It also needs to show up in his relationship with his siblings too (and honestly we just needed so much more of Aegon and Helaena's dynamic I would have loved to see the messy contradiction that comes from a pretty solid older brother/younger sister relationship contrasted with a dysfunctional marriage and what it does for Aegon's character that he physically can't love her That Way but he still loves her cuz they're family), the core actualization of that Alicent line about cuffing each other as they wish at home but defending each other in the world. It's why I love the dinner scene in episode 8 so much, Aemond decides to be petty at people who hurt him and Aegon is 100% on board to the point of committing physical violence against Luke even just for getting involved.

Most things about his book storyline I'd keep the same (I especially love his time on Dragonstone and eventual takeover, if only for the Sunfyre bond), but I'd definitely flesh out more stuff about his thought process, his feelings, how he as a character reacts to certain things. All in all, I don't think I'd write him much different than how he is now (stupid bad writing aside) I'd just be making a better, upgraded model.

And here's the more detailed posts about Aegon. It's not all of them, cuz I do reblog stuff and I'm a prolific tag talker, but this is all the important stuff in terms of how I view Aegon and some of the wants I have for his arc and trajectory:

Post about Alicent's relationships to her kids where Aegon and their relationship is discussed at length (to the point where I finally hit Tumblr's character limit per paragraph)

Post about how Viserys is the worst where Aegon and their relationship is discussed at length

Some generalized Aegon thoughts

More Aegon thoughts and why the rapist thing was bad writing

Aegon and his brothers

Some theorizing on Aegon and Aemond

Theorizing on Aegon's ultimate fate (spoilers for what that is in case you haven't ready the book and don't wanna know)

Hopes for Aegon in s2

Aegon's subtextual touch repulsion

Sunfyre headcanons post that includes parts of his relationship with Aegon

More Rook's Rest wishcasting (seriously I have like a shot for shot idea of the entire battle in my head)

[justthesauce]

Okay, I never post/add to a post outside of tags, BUT it drives me insane how many good webcomics are out there that changed my brain in such a positive way that no one I know has read, so I AM going to recommend a few just 'cuz I can!

Go Get a Roomie, by @cloverscomics: they're doing a rerun with commentsry, since it ended a couple years ago, and it's the most loving, goofy, adult, queer, story I have ever read! I love it to bits! I could talk forever about it! If you read nothing else, go read this (plus, if you go back to the original run, I actually have some guest art in here)! The creator has two other webcomics, only one of which I've read, but both are excellent! You can find them through the link above.

Sunstone, by @stjepan-sejic: I've only read the first arc (book?) with Allison and Lisa, and the veeery beginning of Mercy. I only know how to find it on deviantart, so you will need an account to read it there, because it's VERY much about bdsm. It's very sweet and silly and queer, and such a fun read! The art also dips into erotic at times, if you're into that, but the story is really good too if you aren't.

(honestly GGAR and Sunstone got me through being a queer teenager more than my family and peers did, so I love them extra for that)

Octopus Pie, by @octopuspiecomic: this also a finished comic, though the author does toss in some epilogues every now and then. It's a slice of life comic about a woman in her early 20s through to 30s, and it's just......... GOOD. Like, it's really just following a bunch of people's lives told in a sincere, kind, matter of fact kind of way, and I don't know how to describe it better than that?? Check it out!

Goth Western, by Livali Wyle: short, but packs a punch. This one is also complete. If you like lesbians, westerns, tragic love, weird death magic, and creepy gods, this is your moment. Go to them. This is such a good story. I will keep this one short (like the comic) because you should stop and go read it now.

Atomic Robo, by Brian Clevinger and @swegener: think Hellboy, but more atompunk and goofy science jargon than gritty occultism. It's still going, and continues to be a delightful romp of robots punching monsters, monsters punching robots, robots punching robots, SCIENCE, wise-cracks, and adventures. There's also a spinoff that I haven't read that can be found through the link above.

And finally, because I have to stop somewhere:

Order of the Stick, by Rich Burlew. This one's been going for a WHILE. Like, pre-teen me started reading this, and it's STILL going. It starts as a loving self-referential jab at D&D, from the perspective of someone who clearly played (plays?) a lot, and slowly becomes one of the best goddamn fantasy stories I've read. It's very discworld, in the sense that the author originally was just having a good laugh, and then began to actually tell a nuanced and thoughtful story. That still has stupid jokes all over the place. I still can't believe that I quote this stick-figure dnd comic to my friends unironically. If you check it out, you'll see what I mean.

i’m not joking about how much i love webcomics btw. this is why stuff like webtoon feels so hostile to human life. webcomics are supposed to be for like, sporadically updated comics made by hobbyists about their unpublishable YA premises, or shockingly competent polished graphic novels that have nevertheless been running for 100 years and make no fucking sense, like, niche, labor of love projects hosted on vaguely pre-web2.0 sites and available to read completely for free. this is the best kind of media that exists

[notebookmusical]

Hi! I'm glad you're feeling better. I know I didn't reply..its been kinda tough lately and I would appreciate some support or good vibes lol. Thanks for putting under the cut as I feel kinda weird when my messages are so long. I hope no one reads them haha. I totally get that about your reading goals cuz I'm also trying to read more books I own this year. I think I told you that before but mostly it will be one I wanna read with one I already own per month...at least. Hopefully I reach my goal of 24..cuz it's 2024 lol but maybe more as well. It's not looking good for January so far for me but hopefully that will change. Haha idk why it stuck out to me but I really don't care about the ratings..I just like reading your tags/commentary. I guess I just generally wanna know if a book is good or not. I was also thinking of getting on goodreads/story graph soon so I can track my reading too but I'll have to see. Everything i never told you always interested me I think so tell me if it's worth checking out. Your goal overall makes sense..you shouldn't pressure yourself to read more than you want or something you're not enjoying. I will update you whenever I get back to it.

Well I wanted to see it this weekend if I can or maybe until Tuesday. If not, then I won't have time really. So I will let you know. Usually I see all musicals in theaters and that's the only movies I go to theaters for but it's just a blah time right now and they were all close together. What did your friend think? I'm sure Broadway is better so not expecting much. Things have been pretty mixed overall and I saw you listened to the soundtrack anyway and hated it lol. Those are all good musicals, but I haven't listened to Shucked yet. I've heard independently owned and watched the Tony performance though. I'm not sure I would like it as much as other musicals honestly based on the music.

What are your favorite songs from This is Why? After Laughter is good but has a few skips for me compared to This is Why, but it could be that This is Why is only ten songs. Haha that's funny that your friends guessed that but ya it definitely is a more poppy sound if you like that style. It's also really good and can't choose favorites. I actually saw your post first cuz it was before I checked anything! I always think it's so interesting when other bands cover or reimagine a tribute album. This happened with Switchfoot last year when Top covered a song and I heard the original for the first time then the cover album. So I will probably do the same for this! I'm familiar with Burning down the house of course so I'm excited to see Hayley slay vocals and her take on it. I remember watching the pro shot of American Utopia but barely remember it. Anyway Tegan and Sara also did that with the anniversary of their album The Con and Hayley sang my fav song by them called Nineteen, another age song lol. I love her cover and also the original. I'm not sure if you are familiar with them or not..but they are twin sisters and I've loved them for years. They are also friends with Taylor and sang as a guest on the Red tour. You probably have..they had some popular songs around that time. They also have a memoir and show based on it I've been meaning to read/watch. Apparently they weren't as close as teens..lol. But I totally recommend their music if you haven't..the Con and they had an album in 2022 I enjoyed. So that was a little off topic..sorry, but Paramore also did this with their own album This is Why a few months ago! They asked artists to remix or sing their version of one of their songs. The only one I really enjoy is Remi Wolfs cover of You First honestly but I think it's a cool thing to do. She changed the vibes a bit but I still like the original more. They also had an extra song on there that was basically a vault song from After Laughter called Sanity so I think you would like it and give it a listen. I definitely connect You First and Karma as a pair, which shocked me when I first heard it since it mentioned karma, but one is more happy and one is more angry.

She has worn a few more green outfits since I last replied to you which makes me happy. The snake boots seemed like a hint even if I don't always like reading into her clothing so much but we mostly knew it was next anyway. I definitely know how you feel with Taylor and I have felt a little bit of the same but I'm hoping my mood will change when tour starts again or rep comes out. I still think there will be a documentary for all of that hopefully and it could be similar to the long pond one or just cover several different things, including the tour, rerecordings and this era of her career. I think After Laughter does kinda share the same sound of the 1975 too but that's also cuz they all had albums around the same time in 2014 so it could be the popular sound from that time but it's a cool comparison since I like them all. I'm glad you enjoy my comparisons..I'm wondering if they only make sense to me so I hope it makes sense to you too if you start listening. Another thing is their early albums focus on faith and religion as a theme but it's not necessary to interpret it that way if it bothers you. I also wanted to ask if you've heard any songs by them or are familiar with them at all cuz they were also popular in 2015 lol. I hope you're having a good weekend too and I'll try to reply soon!

hi friend!! please don't feel bad about not replying, or taking care of yourself!! 🤍 i'm sending you all the love and support and good vibes, and am always here if you want to chat or need anything!! giving you a big virtual hug if you like hugs and putting the rest of this under the cut!!

yay for reading books from your physical tbr! i've been trying to do the same — the bulk of my physical tbr is mostly gifted reads that i just ... never got around to, but there's still a fair amount of books /i/ bought and haven't read, so i'm trying to do a few of those every month! you're always welcome to ask me about my thoughts on books, even if i don't post a rating on here!! you should definitely join me over on goodreads/storygraph! i am a lot more active on goodreads than i am storygraph, though! i really, really loved everything i never told you — it's the first book that's made me cry this year and i really think it's going to be a book i'll be thinking about forever. i already want to reread + annotate it (despite how long annotation projects take me). here are the content warnings: death, death by drowning, emotional abuse, sexism, sexual assault (briefly mentioned), hitting & punching, and racism, infidelity.

most of my friends who have seen the mean girls musical movie were like 😵‍💫 ... well ... it wasn't as bad as i expected ... but i did readjust my expectations after listening to the soundtrack. i think the consensus is that the girl who plays cady is simply miscast / the weakest link, like she's just vocally not ... as good ... and i really am just ... not to be a Snob ... but why did they cast her if she can't sing!!!! my entire tiktok FYP right now is criticizing her stupid with love :( i don't have anything against the actress, i just don't think she was right for the role / that they could've gotten someone who can act + sing. i also don't love the new song, but maybe it'll work better in the movie? curious to know your thoughts when you see it (no rush!).

i really liked liar, big man, little dignity, and the news, although i've had this is why stuck in my head today so maybe i have to add that song to my favorites list too! i really am a pop girlie at heart, so i think that's why after laughter is my favorite! i know of teagan and sara, but haven't done a deep dive! i did see the remix and i thought that was cool! if you could pick one of taylor's albums to be ~ remixed ~ and sung by other artists, which album would you pick? and do you have any artists in particular you'd want on it?

she's been wearing a lot of green lately! i wonder if reputation really will be announced in february (going back to the karma MV hint). and yes! i think after laughter and the 1975's stuff both have this like, upbeat music but talks about more serious/heavier topics? which is why i also connected the two! i think a few of my friends listened to twenty one pilots back in the day / sometimes i see them on airbuds, but i don't think i know a single song! but maybe something will jump out at me once i actually listen!!

hope you're taking some time for yourself and doing okay 🤍 sending love!

[magniloquent-raven]

tag 9 people you want to get to know better

i was tagged by @once-in-a-blue-moon-rising 💕

Three Ships: (only three?? 😭)

harringrove cuz i've written so much fanfic about these two and i've met a lot of rly great people because of it 💖

gentlebeard cuz we still haven't heard shit about s2 and it's killing me slowly, i miss them so much

and wyndolliday cuz i've literally never wanted three people to kiss each other more than i wanted these three to kiss each other. it's been years and im still hung up on how hard i was rooting for polyam engame yall

First ever ship: i probably liked some ships when i was a kid but i can't think of like, the first one i ever got attached to. i do remember what ship got me into fanfic and it was hijack (hiccup/jack frost) lmfao. i fell into a disney/dreamworks fanvid rabbit hole in my early teens and got really into crossover ships. one video had a fanfic linked underneath and so. i was introduced to ffnet. i didn't venture onto tumblr & ao3 until i was in my late teens tho

Last song: slipping away by barcelona

Last movie: i..............don't remember😅

Currently reading: i'm waiting for ordinary things to update, does that count? i think it's the only WIP i'm actively following rn and i haven't picked up a book in....too long. i'd really love to get back into reading regularly. lockdown kinda killed my stride when i wasn't allowed to go to the library anymore

Currently watching: uhhh. i've been putting on old episodes of the simpsons while i work out?

Currently consuming: i've been watching watts the safeword videos all morning lmao

Currently craving: teaaa. i wanna make a tea. it's been too humid this last week to drink as much tea as i usually do

tagging @growup-thatbeautiful @ihni @platypan @mourntheantagonist @paperbodiesamongthestars if yall feel like doin this, no pressure 💖

[precious-potter]

Harry Potter (Draco/Hermione) Fan fic recs... I know Draco/Hermione is sometimes controversial but this is MY Tumblr account so mind ur business. Jk, feel free to message me to try and convince me why im evil for liking this OR message me your fic recs! Either works. Rated 1-10 based off many things but mostly memorable-ness and feels they made me feel.

Manacled (370515 words) by senlinyu OBVIOUSLY Im going to recommend this one... Arguably a famous fic amongst the Harry Potter fandom... I recommend this if you are emotionally stable enough to handle uh horrible horrible things. Very very dark and sad but honestly just amazing, better than most published books. Senlinyu is a great writer and ive read their other works and am always amazed. Harrys dead, kind of a handmaids tale au? that's how some describe it. Voldemort wants to repopulate the earth with more wizards and is using prisoners of war (the girls mainly) to do it. LOTS of dark stuff srsly read the tags before you read this. That being said, one of my favorite fan fictions, would recommend. Explicit. Rate: 9.5/10 BECAUSE ugh idk I don't want to rate smth 10/10... I haven't read everything yet so who knows! Also because this is a very serious fic and I like a little bit of fluff sometimes.

All You Want (172650 words) by senlinyu Give me ALL the omega verse fan fictions plz... Hermione stumbles into being an Omega when really she just wanted a quiet 8th year. P much all the alphas want her but only one is not actively chasing her, until he is. tbh they deserve to be together in my opinion! Its not really like a werewolf AU, more of like a secondary gender type thing. Some smut... kind of a lot but still some good plot. Explicit. Rate:8/10 I did read this a long time ago so im forgetting some key points however, I am bias and love a/b/o and pining!Draco so sue me... also well written smut, did not make me cringe at any point lol.

Unwritten (28891 words) by Maloreiy Veela!Draco.. yas... I guess I just love creature fics idk. Basically, Veela!Draco, Mates r a thing kind of, Hermione is his mate, but obvi he can't just tell her cuz they hate each other. No-war AU which I honestly always really enjoy. Feels like a very long fic when you read it but only almost 30,000 words... I don't have much to say other than I really liked it. General Audiences. Rate:7/10 because it is not very memorable but still cute. Also, I like how they are written.

The Auction (325702 words) by LovesBitca8 Possibly also a famous fan fiction amongst the Harry Potter fandom.. I often confuse this fic with Manacled when reflecting on it and remembering it however, they are very different. This fic is more light hearted (not by much) but still has very dark moments... dark themes, dark imagery, but no dark Draco really. He's KIND of dark... well ok he's pretty dark but I am unfortunately a dark Draco apologist. Essentially, Harry is dead, Hermione and everyone else is being sold off at an auction (hence, the title lol) to death eaters. This is kind of spoilers... sort of, but Hermione ends up in the "care" of Draco. Its honest an amazing fic and there's some badass girl characters/moments. Especially towards the end we get BAMF Hermione kind of. This fic is long as shit and also has some dark stuff so read the tags for your own mental well being. Loved the ending tho even if it took me like 5 days to get to it. Would 100% recommend this. Favorite fic probably. Explicit. Rate:10/10 I know I said I was saving it but.... this is a good fic! idk maybe its not a 10/10 and im crazy but this was a good read! very memorable very emotional, all dat stuff. Also, smutty? a little? romantic? a little? idk read this fic and send me your opinions plz, do that w/ all these fics I need to know how other people feel abt these!

Bring Him to His Knees (246526 words) by Musyc BDSM uh stuff...post-war, auror Draco, Friends w/Hermione... the author tags it as "idiots to lovers" so I think that's funny. Murder is happening and its linked to a local BDSM club and he needs to go undercover w/Hermione (just cuz) in order to access the BDSM club and find the murderer... they cross some lines and end up uh in a different sort of relationship... Awkward Hermione and confident but horny Draco. Good fic, I was in my BDSM era when I read this so there's a good amount of smutty stuff but it takes a while to get to, very drawn out (in a good way) but some ppl don't like slow burns. Explicit. Rate:7/10 cuz its very long but also really good and I do love the ending a lot.

Love is Madness (24589 words) by Canttouchthis, LeilahMoon DARK!Hermione... like seriously fucked up... this is a fucked up fan fiction tbh like its seriously messed up... Idk what else to say about it. Hermione is obsessed w/ Draco and takes advantage of his emotional troubles and practically kidnaps him and does some... immoral things... Idek what to say abt this honestly and I wouldn't recommend smth like this usually but its realllyyyy well written. I usually don't like dark!Hermione but its just really well done.. idk im warning you its weird as fuck and dark but its good! Explicit. Rate: 7/10 superrrr memorable and well written but the... content is disturbing... I still read it and liked it obviously but its just sort of off putting a little. Good luck...

The Troublesome Thing About Time (38914 words) by LadyKenz347 Okay so first of all... I do have daddy issues so maybe thats why I like this fic but... its good! Draco and Hermione are co-workers kind of when somehow Older!Draco (like 40 or 50) is sent back in time and finds Hermione and claims they are married in the future and he needs her help.. yes he is a DILF for real... without the father part idk. Smut happens and it is uh controversial to present Draco but its ok dw abt it. The plot is actually really original and interesting and the smut is well written, double trouble. Mature. Rate:7/10 Good fic honestly but not super memorable, maybe cuz it ends really sweetly.

A Thing With[out] Feathers (18253 words) by senlinyu Honestly.. slay. Veela!Hermione? (kind of Veela!Hermione idk) r u joking? Love it. Romantic comedy? hell yeah baby. Good fic. Hermione works at the ministry and gets sent out to deal w/ a Veela divorce when things go.. wrong and Draco helps her out. The author tags it with "idiots in love" so thats adorable. I love idiots. Not much to say without spoiling it since it is kind of a short fic but I do love a good creature fic. Explicit. Rate:8/10 just a good fic idk no explanation for the rating other than bc I said so.

Honorary mention:

Love In A Time Of The Zombie Apocalypse (355727 words) by rizzlewrites I have been meaning to read this and I WILL give me time... it looks really good. Basically, Voldemort's defeated but then a zombie apocalypse? whaaaat? crazy. Hermione and Draco team up to survive and search for a cure, I think? not sure, I'll get back to you but! it looks so good so I had to recommend it. Explicit. Rate:?/10 idk haven't read it but it looks interesting! but I am scared of zombies so it might give me nightmares. EDIT: I finished it…. This actually might possibly be my favorite fic….. took me a week to read and it was so worth it, the best relationship dynamic and such an original plot with so many original characters…. literally amazing, Rate:10/10 amazing i have no words to describe my love for this fic! would recommend a million times over.

Thats all for now.. send me ur opinions and ur personal recs!

[fr1day-incredible]

Thanks for the tag!

And no pressure tags: @angst-is-love-angst-is-life @the-feral-gremlin (and any other mutuals/followers that write or just anyone who wants to do this tbh)

Novels, Short stories or Poems?

Well my ambitions lay with Novels. But i have yet to finish one. So I am now trying to write short stories (and in regards to reading, anything but poetry)

What genre do you prefer reading?

Oh it's gotta be action, crime, fluff (can you even call that a genre? Lmao) and horror. Yeah horror gotta be my ultimate favourite tbh

Are you a planer or write as I go kind of person?

Ik i should be a planner, but in reality I'm the figure-it-out-as-i-got-but-then-give-up-not-even-half-way-trougth-cuz-i-did-in-fact-not-figure-it-out

What music do you listen to while writing?

Really depends on what I'm writing, but usually I just got for my "Random <3" playlist that is 25+ hours long and has a fuck ton of different genres of songs in it

Favourite books/movies?

The warrior cats kid will forever live inside me. But Two Little Savages, it was my dad's favourite childhood book and so he showed it to me and I loved it as well <3 And here is also Three on a boat, not counting the dog, that my parents/grandma read to me and honestly I barely remember what it was about. But what I do remember is that I loved it! Also some specific Sherlock Holmes stories, I don't remember their names. I just remember it was a book my mom got as a present years ago, and it just had a collection of Sherlock stories with some unrelated pirate stories in there as well. And my god I was feral after that book, Sherlock had me in a choke hold!

Tho gotta say I only know warrior cats in Norwegian and the other three only in Russian. So my view of them might differ from the view that people who read them in English have lmao

And for movies it's gotta be Ocean's 11, Queen of the gas station orrrr Ivan Vasilievich: Back to the Future

If someone were to make a cartoon out of you, what would your standard outfit be?

Oh I wish I could say that it would be some really cool stylish outfit. But in reality it would be baggy jeans/sweet pants, a random t shirt, a hoodie and then headphones that have seen some shit as an accessory

Create a character description of yourself?

Ummmm, yeah I don't have the energy for that

Do you like to incorporate actual people you know into your stories?

I haven't actually done it, but I like the idea of it! Like making my friend(s) into epic background characters. Or if I'm writing a fic and one of the characters reminds me of someone ik irl, I can see myself giving some of the traits of the person ik irl to the character in a headcanon way

Are you kill happy with your characters?

I keep switching between it, like I decide to kill off a character and but then i change my mind about and then it's an infinite back and forth. So I think I gotta start compromising with: only almost killing them, resurrection (bonus point if they come back wrong one way or the other), becoming a ghost after death. But I'm not sure, I gotta think about it

Tea or coffee?

Tea (or water or some soda). I can not stand the taste or smell of coffee tbh

Slow or fast writer?

Sloooooooooow. Slow!

Where/What/Who do you draw inspiration from?

Anything, everything and anyone, literally

If you were in a fantasy world, what would it be?

Ooooo, I would love to become part of Narnia, Lotr/the hobbit or my own original world! :D

Most favourite book cliche? Least favourite?

Idk about favourite. I don't really issues with cliches, like just write what you want and like. And if I personally don't like it, I'll just click off and let you be in peace. But still I have my least favourite tropes, and it's: (if you can even count it as cliches) when a character loses their powers at the end, does a 360° to get kids and settle down pretty much out of the blue or loses all common sense because of a love interest they keep chasing. Like these tropes ofc can be done well! But most of the time I personally just don't like them either way 🤷

Favourite scene to write?

Oh that gotta be dialogue (especially if the characters are bickering), descriptions or a character's inner thoughts!

Reason for writing?

For my original story, I just want to document all my ideas so that I remember them and have a bit of me still exist in the far future! And for fics I just want to be part of the community, making people and myself happy with my works :D

Writeblr Interview Tag

Dearest @sableglass, again, many thanks. I appreciate you. Hope you are having a stupendous day. I hope you kick this weeks butt. The week is your bitch now.

Short stories, novels, or poems?

All. I write (very bad) poetry, and read (very good) poetry.

What genre do you prefer reading?

I lean towards fantasy tbh. I don't read much anymore- full time job means i choose- read or write. I usually choose to write.

Are you a planner or a write as I go kind of person?

Pft. What's a plan?

I really like stories that grow organically and move reactionary (kinda like playing a live D&D game with yourself).

So if i have a plan it's usually only some rough ideas of what happens next.

What music do you listen to while writing?

None. I write in silence.

No I'm not joking.

Yes, i'm aware its weird.

Favorite books/movies?

I don't have one really? But I guess right now I'm re-obsessed with Avatar the Last Air Bender. I am more obsessed with High Rollers D&D streams presently.

Go watch, it's better than anything on the Tellie.

If someone were to make a cartoon out of you what would your standard outfit be?

I'm seasonal:

late spring to end of summer:

tanktop, shorts, socks with sandals

late summer through the cold bits:

beanie, hoodie, yoga pants

Create a character description of yourself: 

Eww no.

Do you like incorporating actual people you know into your writing?

No? There may be pieces of people I know but i cannot say that any character reflects any one person.

Are you kill happy with your characters?

:)

Coffee or Tea while writing?

Both at the same time, also probably water and a club soda. I have 2-4 drinks with me at any given time.

Slow or fast writer?

Depends honestly. Some books go sonic fast, and some go much slower.

Where/who/what do you draw inspiration from?

The cosmic ether.

If you were in a fantasy world, what would you be?

Party healer that gets forced into supporting the protagonist and main party.

I'm combining these three because same answer who dis:

Most fav book cliche

Least favorite cliche

Favorite scene to write

The answer is that there is no answer. Most of this depends on how well the words go for me in terms of writing or reading. I'm quite happy with most cliches or scenes as long as it feels in keeping with the character.

Reason for writing?

The universe beats me on the head if i stop for too long. It's not a choice, it's a compulsion.

I be taggin (hopefully this isn't redundant, trying to revitalize the tag game economy and spread the <3 ):

@ettawritesnstudies

@simonnebethel

@dyrewrites

@leahnardo-da-veggie

@bluberimufim

@gothamxwattpad

[evies20dollars]

OMG FELLOW DIVINERS FAN!

Who is your favorite character?!?! What's your favorite ship? Who do you think has the coolest power? How much have you cried?

I'm so glad I found another diviners fan! I still haven't read the last book cuz it wasn't translated to the language I read the books in but it's still one of my favorite book series ever!

Ahhhhhhhh! Yes, I'm pretty sure that's how I found you on the Diviners tag lol! My username is a ref to the twenty dollars Sam steals from Evie in the first book!

Real talk I seriously love all the main characters (except Jericho, but this isn't about him), but my top favs are Evie and Sam! I love them both so much. "Too much" messy heroines are my absolute favorites (hence my love for Devi from Never Have I Ever also) and i find Evie relatable in some ways. I absolutely love Sam, he's brash and snarky, but sweet and cares so much and is also super funny and yeah, Sam Lloyd my beloved <3 But honestly the entire main squad (again, besides Jericho) are awesome and deserve all good things

Also side note for a favorite minor character, I love T.S. Woodhouse-- especially after the end of the series. I like how some characters also are not necessarily my favorite, but I think are very well done and complex like Blind Bill

Lol if not obvious, my favorite ship is Sam and Evie. Everything about them-- how they first meet, Sam wanted her to see him, their constant snark-to-snark combat (another favorite trope of mine) is just fun, the fake dating, ofc, and the way they grow close to each other and are just so reliably there for each other emotionally. I'm not gonna say anything more because I don't want to spoil you for King of Crows, but yeah!

Coolest power is a tough one, but maybe Memphis's? I feel like healing is very useful to have. I think object-reading is very cool too though, so maybe that one.

God, I don't even know how much I've cried. Lmao too much, there's your answer.

Agreed about it being a favorite series ever! I reread them like once a year and tell everyone and their mother to read them because they are so criminally underrated it's insane. They should have a fanbase as big as Six of Crows or the Ravenboys and the fact they don't? Deeply upsetting and positutely tragic.

Also, can I just say the writing as a whole? It's so immersive to the time period and setting, which I love so very much.

Also, unrelated to the Diviners lol, love your icon-- get Hunter some therapy

[esther-dot]

After watching Shadow and Bone, Malina got me sooo hyped! They were really cute, even had some Jonsa parallels, I loved them!...and then I found out about book Mal.

In the books, he’s a f*ckboy that goes breaking hearts left and right, while kind of slut-shaming Alina for being attracted to the Darkling and Nikolai, resents Alina for her powers and is bitter about her being Grisha for a very long time, guilt trips her for having enjoyed life at the Little Palace, is jealous about her importance, so much so that he’s happy when she’s repressing her powers (something that deteriorates her health), gets mad because she cares about saving the world, therefore she doesn’t pay enough attention to him. He’s kinda the embodiment of toxic masculinity, and Alina’s codependency certainly isn’t so great either. Her main trait is being almost obsessed with Mal.

God, can we just pretend that only show Malina exists? I liked them in the show😭

Well, I haven't read the books, so to me, show Malina is the only one that exists!

Even without being involved in the book fandom, because everyone I follow likes the Darkling and ships Darklina, I've seen each of these complaints about Mal before, so you aren't alone in your reaction by any means.

But, I scrolled through the Mal and Malina tag, and it appears to me that we have a POV problem. As in, the author gave you the story filtered through Alina's desires, fears, insecurities, and Mal's characterization suffered because we don't get his POV. As in, Alina may feel judged, but is her interpretation of Mal entirely accurate? In the show, Mal tells her she doesn't owe him an explanation for what happened while she was gone, which is a shortened quote from the books in which he says she could have danced naked with the Darkling, but she doesn't owe him an explanation. I don't see how that's slut shaming. In fact, for a teenager, that sounds rather mature.

And, it is odd to me that I almost always see that accusation paired with calling Mal a fuckboi...which, typically means someone who doesn't have much to offer other than sex. Since Mal is dedicated to reuniting with Alina and then protecting her after, and *spoiler* ultimately not only allows Alina to kill him but helps her do it to save the world...*end spoiler* fuckboi feels more like objecting to him having multiple sexual partners rather than an accurate summation of his character. I know as a romantic, I frequently don't want to read about my main couple being with other people, but realistically, most people have, and it doesn't say anything bad about who they are that that is the case. 

Also, there are tropes that once were very common in romance novels that we have largely progressed beyond, but they still do influence (to some degree) how romance is written. For a long time people wrote more sexually experienced male leads paired with virginal women. That goes back to a much older, more problematic trope, but I'm guessing why YA authors perpetuate a watered down version is simple wish fulfillment. The idea of a more popular, more experienced, hot guy wanting the overlooked girl is likely meant to make the girl feel more wanted, more special.

As for Mal resenting her powers, I think he is meant to be afraid of her following in the Darkling's path. The powers are meant to affect the characters, and he is afraid of her losing herself. I understand that it makes Grisha ill to not use their powers, but from what I've seen, it sounds like he had genuine concern for her well-being if she continued. And also, let's circle back to *spoiler* the fact that in the end, he sacrificed himself to allow her to have the power to save the world, *end spoiler* so perhaps he struggles at times (idk cuz I haven't read it), but in the end, he has as much faith as you can have in another person, and made the greatest sacrifice one can. What more can anyone ask of him?

Writers are told to make their characters flawed to allow character progression. If we as readers get stuck on a specific moment, insist that a character is only the worst of themselves, I don't see how we will ever be able to enjoy anything but the most saintly of characters. I imagine that moments the author felt important to Mal's development have hit readers much more forcefully than she intended and that the evolution of him/his relationship with Alina isn’t fully accepted because of it. Also, I've seen fans and some members of production say that show Mal is book Mal, we simply get to see his side of things now. Here is a post talking about that (link).

You don't need to agree, and since I haven't read the books, I can't argue it, but I'm guessing there were weaknesses in the writing that led to a misinterpretation of what the author was hoping to accomplish. I have seen some comments from her about her own experiences in an abusive relationship, and far from making her main romance codependent or toxic, I believe she was trying to convey how a bad relationship involves someone trying to take ownership of you, while love will free you. I understand that the author may have failed in her efforts, but I suspect the fandom is judging Mal too harshly for all the above reasons.

Regardless, I'm sorry that your enjoyment of show Malina was tainted by the books! <3