#okay this has the scene I've been wanting to write for FOUR YEARS

[likeamadonnau2]

A new chapter of You Wanted Me Alone, titled Probably, is here!

7500 words of Edge POV, set in August 2013 and Fall 1983.

[robin-evry]

Hi, i really like your writings, so I was wondering if I could request a yuu based on Shuri Von Neuschwastein, if you don't know, she's a girl who was forced by her parents to marry very young (14) to a man who was twice her age, so she had to mature very quickly. When her husband dies, ( she was 16) she has to take care of everything and look after this man's children. She also had a very bad reputation since people believed that she only wanted this man's fortune¿ ☠️ Sooo maybe when Yuu was taken to Twisted Wonderland she was desperate to go back to take care of her family because she genuinely thought it was her responsibility to take care of them, and despite her age she is very mature so she could handle many things (It is not healthy for someone of her age to talk and act as if as if she were 30)

And no more because God, what a long message, an apology in advance because English is not my first language and I am doing it with a translator.

If you don't want to write this that's fine ‼️‼️

I've been wanting to read A Stepmother's Märchen manhwa for so long but I've been too busy to start it. PS : sorry for the long wait as well if it's not accurate

Anyway, ask and you shall receive

𝐓𝐖𝐒𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐀 𝐒𝐇𝐔𝐑𝐈 𝐕𝐎𝐍 𝐍𝐄𝐔𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐖𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐈𝐍!𝐘𝐔𝐔 🌷👨‍👩‍👦‍👦

Marchioness Shuri Von Neuschwanstein is one of the main characters of The Fantasie of a Stepmother manhwa. She is the second wife of Marquess Johannes von Neuschwanstein and the stepmother of his four children, Jeremy, Elias, Leon and Rachel. She is the current head of the Neuschwanstein Family. She is formerly of the Ighöfer Family. She is the daughter of lower Viscount Ighöfer and Stella von Ighöfer and the younger sister of Lucas von Ighöfer.

( English is not my first language )

Day 5 : Shuri Von Neuschwanstein!yuu

Shuri!yuu would be so desperate to go back home, every at the end of the day they would ask Crowley had he found a way back. To the point it really got in his nerve he told them to relax. And enjoy it NRC before they went back home

Would be a mother figure to grim. They would take care of him, feed him, give them food and just literally be motherly for him, grim would be so protective of them refusing any harm gets in their way.

A top student at NRC, even tho magic is pretty new but they adapted to the environment very quickly, they are able to get one of the highest scores in NRC competing with Azul and riddle. Professor trein treats shuri!yuu are like one of his daughters after learning about their past he is pretty concerned about them going back to their home due to how much they suffer so much.

The first years after learning about shuri!yuu being married when she was 14. They were shocked and asked if shes okay. When Ace and deuce ask about a former marquess and where are his whereabouts, shuri!yuu replied that he passed away from pneumonia and when they asked why, the first years looked at them like "because it's pedophilia".

But during their time shuri!yuu finally have time for themselves. They are finally free from the responsibility of a mother for the first time. They tried new hobbies, interests and for once they are free from responsibility but they keep reminding themselves they had to go back because of their responsibilities. But they will enjoy this moment of freedom before going back to work.

Cater will teach them how to use a cellphone, they start to post and take photos as a documentary for their time in twst, and it manages to gain popularity and gain many sponsorship, they ask for the help of vil because they don't know how to do these things.

Lilia will feel pity and respect for shuri!yuu ability to stay strong even at the age at a young age. No one at that age should experience being a mother at that age.

During their time NRC shuri!yuu finally have the time to enjoy their childhood and be free from their responsibility of being the leader of the house of Neuschwanstein.

And these scenes are being seen by Jeremy von Neuschwanstein after his stepmother has mysteriously disappeared and all searches have gone dried and the nobleman and woman have been saying good riddance, during one night a mirror in his bedroom emits a glow and when he takes a closer look at it. It's shuri!yuu sleeps peacefully at the ramshackle dorm with grim next to them.

he screamed and called for their name trying to get their attention towards the mirror until his voice dried. Everyday he goes to the mirror and looks at the mirror working like a one way mirror towards them, so close and yet so far. He saw them enjoying their life, laughing and the largest smile he ever saw more than when they were in here. He started to think it would be better for them to be there than here, in twst they would find true happiness and enjoy life for the first time, and they can marry whoever they want and love whoever they want. Right now he's just gonna be watching from the sidelines for now.

[writingquestionsanswered]

So whilst I know you're not a therapist or psychologist, but you're a damn good writer with great advice; what can I do to tackle this? Could I know your own process? When you develop a plot and get to a part that needs something new - what do you actually do? How do you brainstorm effectively and... trust your decisions? I think my issue is a combo of autism (like going down a research rabbit hole just for shopping new things...) but also feeling distrustful because of past bad choices... 2/2

My Plotting Process

I think part one got eaten by the Tumblr goblins, because I couldn't find it anywhere. Unless I already answered part one and it isn't obviously related to this one, but I'll do my best here. :)

Just as there are people who can hop into the car with no map and no planning, and just drive across the country to some destination, there are writers who can sit down without an outline or plan, and write a story that somehow manages to hit all the requisite plot points. I'm not that person, in either case. I used Google Maps today to get to a place less than two miles from my house that I've been to twenty times, because I wasn't 100% sure exactly where it was or where I needed to turn for it. I'm the same way with writing. It doesn't matter how many novels I write, I still need the damn map. That's why I always outline and use various story structures as reference, according to feels right for the story I want to tell.

For people who are ND like you and me, and for other people prone to falling down rabbit holes, outlines have the added benefit of keeping you on track. If you're following a road map that tells you to stay on this road for two miles and turn left at the intersection, you're much less likely to turn down random roads and end up inadvertently exploring hidden neighborhoods and back country lanes. Outlines work the same way. If you know exactly what scene you're writing, what's going to happen in that scene and why, and what major plot point it fulfills or helps build toward, you're not going to get lost along the way.

So, when I get a story idea, the first thing I do is write out an exhaustive beginning to end summary with everything I know. Then, I look at Save the Cat! and start plotting out the story according to the plot points. Quite often, when I get to a plot hole, I can fill it out based on the previous or upcoming plot point. If not, I'll start looking at other story structures to see if that jogs something loose. Sometimes I'll realize that structure just works better for the story I'm trying to tell, and I'll replot the whole thing according to that structure. I might plot my story using three or four different structures or a combination of a few before I settle on one that works for the story. Once I have the structure hammered out, I start making a list of necessary scenes to encapsulate, build-up to, or ramp down from the various plot points. Once I have my scene list, I write out a beginning to end scene summary for each scene so I know what has to happen. I think about things like conflict of the scene, how it begins, what happens in the middle, and how it ends. I think about the character's goal in the scene, and how the scene builds upon the scene before it and leads up to the scene after it. And, with my scene list in hand, I'm usually good to start writing. If I hit things that don't quite work out or need more fleshing out, I might refer to other story structures, or I might even write out my scenes on scene cards and see if moving things around makes a difference. The important rule is I never let myself feel limited by the structure I'm using or have created. I know it's just there as a guide, and it's okay to stray from it if need be. I always follow my gut, and knowing when to trust my gut is just something I've learned over many, many years of writing. You'll get there, too, but you have to take calculated risks before you can build up that sort of trust with yourself.

I hope that answers your question well enough! ♥

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I’ve been writing seriously for over 30 years and love to share what I’ve learned. Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

♦ Questions that violate my ask policies will be deleted! ♦ Please see my master list of top posts before asking ♦ Learn more about WQA here

[spyxslayer]

Mikasa After Eren: A Deep Dive Into Why I Don't Think She Married (And Why That's Beautiful)

Look, I know this is probably going to be controversial, but I've been thinking A LOT about Attack on Titan's ending lately, particularly about Mikasa's story after Eren's death. The series didn't give us a simple "happily ever after" ending - and it wasn't meant to. At its core, Attack on Titan shows us that while the cycle of hatred will inevitably continue, there will also be times of peace. But it's also about something even more personal: the freedom to choose your own path.

While scrolling through forums and social media, I've seen countless debates about whether Mikasa married Jean and had a family or chose to remain single. Both sides want what's best for Mikasa, and after diving deep into the evidence, I've become convinced that she likely didn't remarry - and that this was her choosing her own path to happiness.

Why I'm Writing This

First off, I want to be clear: this isn't about bashing the "Mikasa married Jean" theory. If that interpretation makes you happy, that's valid! Isayama deliberately left things ambiguous enough for fans to find their own meaning. But I've noticed some really interesting details that point to a different reading of the ending, one that I think actually fits better with Mikasa's character arc and the themes of the series.

The Promise She Refused to Make (And Why That's SO Important)

Let's start with what I think is one of the most powerful moments: the cabin scene. But here's something crucial that often gets overlooked - this wasn't the first promise between them that got broken. Remember, Mikasa had already broken her promise "not to talk about that stuff" when she brought up wanting to live out Eren's last four years peacefully together. It was this broken promise that prompted Eren to ask for one final, different promise - to throw away the scarf, forget him, and find freedom.

And what does Mikasa do? She tightens the scarf instead. I get chills thinking about this moment because it shows exactly who Mikasa is. She's not just defying Eren; she's choosing her own definition of freedom.

This is so perfectly Mikasa, especially as an Ackerman. Her bloodline literally exists to resist the Founding Titan's control, and here she is, refusing to let even Eren dictate how she should live or remember him. Throughout the rest of her life, we see her wearing that scarf and visiting his grave. She made her choice, and she stuck to it.

But here's what really gets me: her defiance of Eren's request isn't just about the scarf. It's about her entire approach to life after his death. When Eren tells her to forget him and move on, he's essentially trying to write her story for her. But Mikasa has always been about making her own choices, hasn't she? Even her love for Eren wasn't because of her Ackerman blood - it was her choice, her truth.

Let's Talk About Visual Evidence

One thing that really stands out to me is how the anime handles these post-time skip scenes. The time lapse sequence showing Mikasa's visits to Eren's grave uses some interesting artistic choices that seem deliberately crafted to maintain ambiguity. All the scenes are shown from a distance, with figures drawn without detailed features, often from behind or from far away perspectives.

Those "Family Scenes"

Look at how these moments are depicted:

Every scene is shown from a distance

Character features are kept minimal and undefined

Faces are often turned away or obscured

The positioning of figures seems carefully planned and meaningful

The artistic style emphasizes silhouettes over detail

These artistic choices feel intentional - creating just enough ambiguity to let viewers draw their own conclusions rather than definitively showing Mikasa with a new family.

The Grave Visits and Family Positioning

Okay, let's break down that scene with the "family" at the grave, because the positioning tells us SO much:

On the Front Left (Near the Heart):

The grown figure who stands behind Mikasa on the left? I believe this is her adopted child from the earlier scenes, now grown (honoring her “Papa”).

This positioning on the left suggests they're directly connected to Mikasa's heart.

At funerals or memorials, family members of the deceased are positioned at the left and toward the front near the deceased (or their portrait) in several cultures.

They (or she) appear to have their own child now too!

On the Right and Back Right (Supporting Roles):

Friends of the deceased are often positioned at the right and in the back during funerals/memorials.

The man standing directly to Mikasa's right (and behind Mikasa in the manga)? That's likely Jean in his continued supportive role.

Further back on the right, I think we're seeing Armin with his grandchild.

Notice how Jean's potential daughter (maybe with Pieck?) might be standing near Armin with her children.

One of those children has dark hair similar to Pieck's while the other’s hair color resembles Jean’s - another subtle detail!

Why This Makes Sense:

The positioning mirrors the relationships: chosen family closer to the heart, supporting friends on the right.

It shows multiple generations coming to honor Eren's memory.

Some characters (like Annie, Pieck, and others) might have passed away by this point, explaining their absence.

It feels like a collective decision to show the next generation Eren's legacy.

Think about it: what could be more meaningful than all of them bringing their grandchildren to understand the sacrifice that made their peaceful lives possible?

Let's Talk About Jean (And Why This Matters)

I know what you're thinking - what about that man we see with Mikasa at Eren's grave? A lot of fans assume it's Jean and that they're married, but let me break down why I think there's more to this story:

The Chemistry (or Lack Thereof)

Let's really break down why the Jean-Mikasa romance theory doesn't hold up when we look at their actual interactions:

Training Days Interactions

Remember how their dynamic played out during training? Jean would try to talk to Mikasa, and she would:

Consistently look past him to check on Eren

Walk away mid-conversation if she thought Eren needed her

Respond with polite but minimal answers before returning her attention to Eren

Show zero interest in Jean's attempts at deeper conversation

There's this one telling moment during training when Jean tried to compliment Mikasa's hair, and she immediately turned the conversation to asking about Eren's whereabouts. Classic Mikasa!

The Reality vs. Jean's Imagination

Jean's crush on Mikasa reveals a lot about how he sees an idealized version of her rather than who she really is.

What Jean Imagines:

A refined, sophisticated woman interested in literature and culture

Someone who would enjoy quiet, intellectual conversations

A traditionally feminine personality who'd appreciate his gallant gestures

Someone who would want a conventional family life

Who Mikasa Actually Is:

Straightforward and action-oriented

Focused on practical matters over intellectual pursuits

Someone who expresses care through protection rather than words

A person whose emotional world revolves around her chosen family (primarily Eren)

Their Actual Interactions

Throughout the series, look at how they actually interact:

Mikasa rarely initiates conversations with Jean

Her responses to him are typically brief and practical

She's never shown seeking his company or opinion specifically

Even in group settings, she gravitates toward Eren or Armin

Remember that scene where Jean tries to engage Mikasa in a discussion about military strategy? Her response is to simply state she'll do whatever helps protect Eren. It's a perfect example of how they're fundamentally misaligned in their priorities and ways of thinking.

The Emotional Investment Contrast

The difference in their emotional investment is stark:

Jean blushes and gets flustered around Mikasa

Mikasa remains completely unaffected by his presence

Her emotional reactions are saved exclusively for Eren

Even when Jean actively tries to help or protect her, she rarely acknowledges it beyond basic courtesy

Their interactions consistently show a one-sided attraction where Jean projects his ideals onto someone who, while respectful of him as a comrade, has never shown any hint of reciprocating his romantic interest.

Jean's Evolution (This Makes So Much More Sense)

Here's what I think really happened with Jean:

He was there at the grave as a supportive friend, not a husband.

At some point, seeing Mikasa's unwavering devotion to Eren might have been his wake-up call.

He probably realized he loved the idea of being in love with her more than who she actually was.

This understanding likely helped him move on emotionally while maintaining their friendship.

Supporting her visits to Eren's grave shows his maturity, his care for her, and the depth of their platonic bond.

The Political Reality

Here's something that often gets overlooked in the "Mikasa married Jean" theory - the political situation in Paradis. Let's break this down:

Jean was a known anti-Yeagerist.

Living permanently in Paradis would be incredibly dangerous for him.

Even with Historia's protection, his safety couldn't be guaranteed long-term.

At best, he might manage occasional visits under Historia's protection.

The logistics of a marriage under these circumstances seem highly improbable.

Jean's Dream Sequence (This Is FASCINATING)

Remember that scene where we see Jean's dream of domestic life? Let's break it down because the details are WILD:

He's sitting OUTSIDE on the porch, looking in through a closed window at a woman with dark hair and a baby.

There's literal physical separation between him and this family scene.

Windows in storytelling often symbolizes something desired but out of reach.

Even in his own dream, he can't fully be part of this scenario - isn't that telling?

Here's the thing about Jean's dream that I find really important: it's not that Jean can't or won't ever have a wife and kids. He absolutely can and deserves that happiness! But this specific dream, with (potentially) Mikasa and her baby? That's what's out of reach. I think this scene could actually foreshadow Mikasa with her adopted child, with Jean wishing he could be the husband and father but knowing he can't be - even if he stays close to them and considers them family in a different way.

(And who knows? Maybe his dream wife will be someone else we know. ;)

A Better Match for Jean

You know who I think would actually be a better match for Jean? Pieck! Let me break down why their chemistry actually makes so much more sense:

Personality Alignment

Think about what Jean actually wants in a partner:

Someone intellectually curious who loves books and history.

A strategic thinker who can match his analytical mind.

A person who can engage in deep conversations.

Someone who balances practicality with idealism.

Now look at Pieck:

She's consistently shown to be highly intelligent and analytical.

Her strategic thinking saved the Cart unit multiple times.

She demonstrates both wit and wisdom in her conversations.

She shares Jean's ability to see both the bigger picture and immediate practical concerns.

Their Actual Interactions

We see hints of their compatibility in their interactions:

During the alliance formation, they show mutual respect for each other's tactical thinking.

They work well together in combat situations, complementing each other's strengths.

Their conversations, though limited, show an easy understanding of each other's thought processes.

Both demonstrate similar values about protecting their comrades while thinking strategically.

Shared Perspectives

They align on so many levels:

Both are pragmatic idealists who want to fight for a better world.

They share similar views about the complexity of the conflict.

Neither is blindly loyal - they both think critically about their allegiances.

They both value intelligence and strategic thinking over raw power.

Political Alignment

Unlike the complications with Jean and Mikasa:

They're on the same side politically after the war

Neither would have to compromise their beliefs or safety to be together

They could live freely without fear of persecution

They share similar hopes for the future of both Paradis and Marley

Communication Styles

Their way of interacting just fits:

Both are capable of witty, intelligent banter.

They share a similar dry sense of humor.

They can be serious when needed but also lighten the mood.

Their communication styles complement rather than clash.

Consider how Pieck typically analyzes situations with careful consideration - just like Jean does. They both take time to think things through, unlike the more impulsive characters in the series. This similarity in approach suggests they'd understand each other's decision-making process in a way that other potential pairings might not.

When you look at all these factors together, doesn't it make so much more sense for Jean to find happiness with someone who actually matches his intellectual and emotional needs? Someone who can engage with him on the level he's always wanted? Pieck fits that role perfectly, while still allowing him to maintain his meaningful friendship with Mikasa.

(also…maybe the woman of Jean’s dreams IS actually Pieck! ;) )

The Adoption Theory (Which I Love)

Now, about that child we see... What if Mikasa adopted? The more I think about it, the more perfect this feels.

Why Adoption Makes Sense:

Mikasa's Own Experience:

She was adopted by the Yeagers.

She knows firsthand how powerful chosen family can be.

It would be a beautiful way to honor Carla's memory.

Character Consistency:

Allows her to protect and nurture someone.

Creates family bonds without needing to "move on" romantically.

Fits with her understanding that family isn't about blood.

The Visual Evidence:

Her Ackerman mark stays covered in the manga.

The family scenes are deliberately drawn at a distance.

The positioning of figures in these scenes feels meaningful.

The Timeline Doesn't Add Up

Here's something that's been on my mind about the "Mikasa got married" theory, specifically about that scene with the baby at Eren's grave. People often say this happened at the 10-year mark because of Eren's comment about wanting Mikasa to "not get over him for at least 10 years" before even considering another guy. But let's actually break down this timeline:

If that scene really shows Mikasa and, in my opinion, Jean, married with their biological child, the math does not seem to work alongside that specific 10-year theory. Think about it:

They would need time to develop a relationship

Then get married

Then conceive and carry a child (9-10 months in Japanese counting)

So either:

Mikasa started developing feelings for Jean before the 10-year mark (going against Eren's wish that she clearly respected, whether she knew about this or not)

She somehow fell in love with Jean instantly right at the 10-year mark, got married (or got together) immediately, and got pregnant right away

OR if she waited the full 10 years before even considering Jean, that scene with the baby would have to be at least 11 years after Eren's death

None of these scenarios really fit with what we know about Mikasa's devotion to honoring Eren's memory, do they?

However, if that baby is adopted? The timeline makes perfect sense. Mikasa could have waited the full 10 years, processed her grief, and then chosen to create family through adoption - all while staying true to both Eren's wishes and her own heart.

Those Final Scenes (Let's Get Into the Details)

The Ackerman Mark and A Mother's Request

Before we dive into those final scenes, we need to talk about something significant: the Ackerman mark. Mikasa's mother made her promise to pass down this crest when she had children of her own.

But in the manga, we see that mark stayed covered until the end. Why?

I think there are several powerful reasons:

If she adopted rather than had biological children, there was no crest to pass down.

With the Titans gone, the burden of the Ackerman bloodline no longer needed to be carried forward.

Keeping it covered became her personal reminder that she makes her own choices.

Most importantly, it symbolizes her refusal to be a slave to anyone or anything - not the Founding Titan, not even Eren's wishes.

That "Wedding Ring" Debate

The anime's final scene has sparked so much discussion about whether there's a ring visible through the flowers. Here's my take:

This detail wasn't in the manga at all.

If there was meant to be a literal wedding ring, why hide it behind flowers?

The ambiguity feels purposeful.

What if it's not actually a ring at all, but the shadows and flowers create that impression for symbolism?

I believe this was an artistic choice, a stylistic depiction, meant to symbolize her eternal bond with Eren rather than showing a physical wedding ring

(Also, in Japan, wedding rings are commonly gold, whereas "commitment rings" are often silver.)

I believe the ring's appearance is a visual metaphor meant solely for the audience's understanding, similar to other symbolic elements in anime. We see this technique used in other moments, like when Mikasa envisions her younger self and child Eren at the grave. Another example would be how Demon Slayer depicts elemental effects around swords - these visual flourishes exist to convey meaning to viewers while not being literally visible to the characters within the story world.

And here's something interesting to consider: if Mikasa did marry someone else, why would she choose to be buried with Eren? Now, I know some will say "but people who remarry sometimes choose to be buried with their first spouse!" And that's absolutely true! But combined with everything else we've discussed - the scarf, the covered mark, the ambiguous ring - doesn't it make more sense that she remained single while creating her own kind of family?

The Itterashai Connection: A Beautiful Confirmation

Okay, can we talk about that Japanese exclusive ending song "Itterashai" for a minute? Released in 2023, this ending provides what I think is some of the strongest evidence for Mikasa's eternal connection to Eren. Here's why it's so significant:

Shows elderly Mikasa at Eren's grave.

As she's placed in water, she returns to her younger self.

Birds appear throughout (a constant symbol of Eren in the series).

She finally reunites with Eren in what appears to be the afterlife.

The title "Itterashai" means "see you later" - exactly what Mikasa always said to Eren.

Think about it: why would they release this Japanese-exclusive ending that so beautifully depicts Mikasa's reunion with Eren if we were meant to believe she found her true happiness with someone else?

The Final Resting Place

The gravestone details are incredibly moving and telling. It reads exactly: "here forever, rest, peacefully, most beloved, my dear, 854". This sounds more like a message from a widow to her eternal love than from someone who moved on to a new marriage, doesn't it?

Even in death, Mikasa chose to be buried with Eren, still wearing his scarf. Yes, some might argue that people who remarry sometimes choose to be buried with their first spouse. But combined with everything else - the covered mark, the ambiguous ring, the consistent devotion throughout her life - doesn't it paint a picture of someone who never truly wanted or needed another romantic relationship?

The Last Visit (This Part Gets Me Emotional)

The way Mikasa's story ends is so powerful:

She's buried with Eren's scarf

The gravestone reads "here forever, rest, peacefully, most beloved, my dear"

She kept her promise to herself, not to Eren's request

She lived life on her own terms while honoring her love

Here's Why This Matters So Much

I think this interpretation shows something really beautiful about love and loss:

Moving forward doesn't mean replacing what you lost

There are many ways to build a family

Choosing your own path to happiness takes courage

Sometimes the most powerful love stories don't follow conventional patterns

What's Actually Tragic Here?

You know what's interesting? Some people see Mikasa not remarrying as tragic, but I see it as triumphant. She:

Chose her own path

Created family on her own terms

Remained true to herself

Found happiness without compromising who she was

The Broader Themes: Why This Matters

Before we go deeper into the evidence, I think it's important to understand why this interpretation of Mikasa's ending matters so much in the context of Attack on Titan's broader themes.

The Cycle of Violence and Peace

Attack on Titan shows us something profound about human nature - that while cycles of hatred and violence may be inevitable, they're always interrupted by periods of peace. We see this play out in Mikasa's story too. After all the violence and loss, she finds her own kind of peace - not by following others' expectations of moving on through marriage, but living life her own way, paved by the sacrifice of Eren and so many others she cared for.

True Freedom

The series constantly asks us: what is true freedom? Is it what others tell us freedom should look like, or is it the ability to choose our own path, even if that path isn't what others, or even we, expect? Mikasa's choice - to honor her love for Eren while still living fully - represents perhaps the purest form of freedom in the series. She's not bound by:

Others' expectations of how to move on.

Traditional ideas of what happiness should look like.

Even Eren's own wishes for her future.

The Path Forward

What's beautiful about this interpretation is how it shows there are many ways to move forward after loss:

You can honor past love while still living fully.

Creating family doesn't always mean marriage and biological children.

Supporting friends can be family without romantic attachment.

Peace can be found in choosing your own definition of happiness.

Breaking Free from Expectations

In a way, Mikasa's choice mirrors the series' central conflict about breaking free from predetermined paths. Just as humanity had to break free from the walls that contained them, Mikasa breaks free from societal expectations about how she should find happiness after loss. By choosing to:

Adopt rather than have biological children.

Maintain her love for Eren while still living fully.

Create family through chosen bonds rather than marriage.

Define freedom on her own terms.

She demonstrates exactly what Attack on Titan has been telling us all along – despite the inevitable cycle of hatred and war, true freedom comes from making your own choices, even when they go against what others think is best for you.

Read "A Second Chance: The Modern Day Connection" HERE!

A Final Thought

You know what really gets me about this whole thing? The way Mikasa's story challenges our assumptions about what a "happy ending" looks like. She didn't need a new romance to have a fulfilled life. She chose her own path, created her own family, and lived authentically. And isn't that what freedom - a core theme of Attack on Titan - is really about?

What Do You Think?

I'm really curious to hear other perspectives on this. Maybe you've noticed details I missed, or maybe you see these same details differently. That's what I love about Attack on Titan - there's always more to discuss and discover.

One thing's for sure though: Mikasa's story shows us that there are many ways to live a fulfilling life after loss. Sometimes the bravest choice is staying true to yourself, even when others think you should choose differently.

[blazehedgehog]

This probably has been asked before but how do you feel about there being a character whose name is a nod to something that you are responsible for establishing? (I'm referring to Sage)

It's nice. It makes me happy. It's probably the most recognition I'm going to get for anything I've ever made or will ever make. Because at this stage, I will probably never work for or even collaborate with Sega on anything.

I don't have enough "official" experience or trust to ever qualify for one of their jobs, and I don't update my Youtube channel enough or pull in big enough numbers for them to ever even send me promotional packages for movies or games. Even when it comes to side projects, like the comics or animation or whatever, I will probably never touch those things behind the scenes. I don't have the connections or the social skills or maybe even the writing skills.

SAGE is my strongest legacy, and the most positive I've put out into the world. I have to fight back on impostor syndrome really hard to remind myself that it's okay to be proud of it. That I get to have the honor of being the founder. My doubts tell me "You barely ran it for two years out of the last 25" but I also stayed hands on for at least another four or five years after I gave it up. I helped a lot of friends and made sure deadlines could be met.

Sage being named after that means a lot to me. I left enough of a mark on something, somewhere that I helped change the face of the Sonic franchise. It may end up a footnote in a trivia section somewhere, one that doesn't even mention me, but I know, and that's what matters.

Leaving your mark on the world is what most people want, right? I can't complain. SAGE has been the work of many very talented hands, it has grown far beyond anything I had the ability to accomplish, but two of those hands were mine, and they were as important as anyone else's. And I'm not dead yet, so who knows what the unpredictable future still holds for me. Impostor syndrome is a liar, after all.

[rose-of-the-underworld]

What are your favorite shoujo shows? I just started watching anime and would love recommendations.

AAAAAAAAAAAA! First of all, I'm sorry that this took two months to write up, but I am honestly touched that you asked me! Okay, so disclaimer that I wasn't deep into the anime scene until a few years ago (I'm a late bloomer), but shoujo is my bread and butter so to speak, so I'm happy to give some reccs! Note that this isn't ranked in any particular order, it's just as they come to me! Will give a summary and my thoughts on each. Also, most of these anime don't cover the entirety of the story published in their corresponding manga, but they're all a good starting point if you want to dive into reading the rest!

Putting under a read more because I'm more long-winded than I thought I would be

1.) Sailor Moon: The magical action-adventures of a teenage girl who learns of her destiny as the legendary warrior Sailor Moon and must band together with the other Sailor Scouts to defend the Earth and Galaxy.

Had to start with the original!! Now my love for Sailor Moon goes back to before I knew what anime even was. I caught wind of it when I was five years old and it was airing on TV for the first time, but I adored the show and my Princess Serenity doll. Now, please note that I really did not absorb much outside of the aesthetics and the insane dialogue of the 90s English dub before it stopped airing on tv and I forgot about it for a while, always meaning to get back into it, but never quite managing. Then during 2020 lockdown, my good friend and Sailor Moon expert @pollyannaisms started streaming little watch parties of Sailor Moon Crystal and boy did I fall in love all over again. I'm so happy that it came back into my life when I needed it most, tbh. It really is such a hopeful and optimistic series with some of the most lovely female friendships, one of the most beautiful and romantic love stories I've ever seen, and wonderful messages about loving yourself.

If you want a more streamlined plot with less episodes, I recommend starting with Sailor Moon Crystal since it follows the manga very closely and it's relatively short. 39 episodes across three seasons and then four movies - Sailor Moon Eternal parts 1&2 and Sailor Moon Cosmos part 1&2. Cosmos is FINALLY being released internationally on August 24th and I can't wait to finally see it, I've been rotting for it.

Now, the original 90s anime is also fantastic, it is just incredibly long with I believe 200 episodes and a few movies. It was airing as Naoko Takeuchi was publishing the manga so there's a lot of filler and the monster of the week format can get a little monotonous if you're trying to binge. I would say to take your time with it, but I do believe it's worth the watch because you get some wonderful character development episodes that are absent from Crystal. It's not perfect and there are some....odd choices made, but I do love it. Please note, that if you watch it in English through official streaming services, you'll be seeing a re-dub that Viz did with the Crystal cast when they bought the rights. It's a good dub! But man, I wish I could watch the original 90s English dub more easily (pirating such a long series is kind of an ordeal) because it has some of the funniest dialogue I've ever heard. Lots of people hate it, but I love the nostalgia factor and I personally find it hilarious.

2.) Ouran High School Host Club: Haruhi Fujioka is a studious girl who has recently enrolled at the prestigious Ouran Academy. One day, while looking for a quiet and peaceful place to study, she stumbles across a seemingly unused music room. Upon entering, Haruhi is welcomed by the members of the well-known Host Club: a club in which attractive boys amuse girls from across the entire school. However, when Tamaki Suoh—the founder and president of the club—startles the bright scholarship student, she accidentally breaks an expensive vase.

With repayment looking difficult for Haruhi, the Host Club members come up with the perfect solution to the girl's problem: work for the club and ultimately become a Host herself! Mistaken for a boy by her peers, Haruhi has to entertain various female students while coping with her fellow Hosts' extravagant personalities.

Ouran was the first anime that I ever watched on purpose at age 17, and it is very near and dear to my heart. It does come with some caveats, though. While this was the perfect starter anime for me (the friend who recc'd it knows me very well), it's not a good starter anime for everyone. It is incredibly over the top and is also a parody anime of shoujo romances, so some of the jokes might not land if you're a newbie. While I loved it at first viewing, I found it MUCH funnier when I rewatched it ten years later after having seen much more shoujo anime. Also, please note that Ouran aired in 2006, and while it was very progressive for the early 2000s, there is a lot of outdated terminology when it comes to LGBT topics, so tread with care and know that its heart was in the right place and we've come a long way in the last 20 years.

That being said, this series will always be one of my favorites. Aside from being insanely hilarious (and wildly out of pocket), the show has a lot of heart and characters who all genuinely love each other. It touches on feminism and gender and I credit it with making me bisexual.

3.) Fruits Basket: After a family tragedy turns her life upside down, high schooler Tohru Honda takes matters into her own hands and moves out...into a tent. Unfortunately for her, she pitches her new home on private land belonging to the mysterious Sohma clan, and it isn't long before the owners discover her secret. But, as Tohru quickly finds out when the family offers to take her in, the Sohmas have a secret of their own--when hugged by the opposite sex, they turn into the animals of the Chinese Zodiac.

God. Fruits Basket is everything to me. This was the second anime I ever watched on purpose, recc'd by the same friend who showed me Ouran. She lent me her DVDs of the 2001 anime adaptation when I was 18 and it took me a few months to actually watch it but MAN. When I tell you that I was crying during the finale with my 8 week old kitten on my chest, and then when the 2019 reboot aired their version of the season finale, I was crying AGAIN with the same cat who was at that point 14 lbs and still snuggling on my chest. Full circle. It will never not be good. I would absolutely recommend that you watch the 2019 reboot over the 2001 version because it encompasses the whole story and has the budget for a much higher quality production. The animation is beautiful and I really like the music. The storytelling is phenomenal, thank you, Natsuki Takaya for my life.

Tohru Honda is truly one of my favorite characters of all time. There is so much depth to her, so much kindness and sadness and a heart full of love. She changes the lives of everyone she meets by just loving them unconditionally and has a legion of friends who would do anything for her. This is another story that features the struggle to love yourself, but it is also about the struggle to let others love you as well. The main romance is another top tier love story for me, and all of the side romances are compelling as well. I will warn you that the series deals heavily with familial abuse and with grief. For every laugh and heartwarming moment, there is a punch to the gut right around the corner. But god, it's worth it in the end. Fruits Basket is full of bittersweet moments of catharsis and it never fails to make me insane (affectionate). Fantastic characters and an excellent plot, it's one of the most compelling series I've ever seen.

4.) Kimi Ni Todoke: Sawako Kuronuma has had a difficult time fitting in, due to her shy nature and her similarity in name and appearance to Sadako from The Ring. On her first day of high school, Sawako meets the one boy who treats her like a normal girl-Shota Kazehaya. Through his selfless aid, Sawako slowly learns to come out of her shell and even begins to make friends for the first time in her life. However, with a new social life come social pressures. As she grows into her new identity, Sawako must learn to deal with such pressures as well as start to understand the unfamiliar feelings inside of her, especially in regards to the boy who made her new start possible.

This is probably THEEEEE sweetest thing I've ever seen. I watched it for the first time last year and I was legitimately crying happy tears in episode 1. If this is your first time watching, you're in luck! Season 3 just premiered after a 13 year hiatus! I've only watched an episode and a half so far, and I already love it so much. It has the exact same energy as the first two seasons. Sawako and Kazehaya are too adorable for words, and Sawako's two best friends are wonderful. This series does a great job of handling the real struggles of adolescents while also being full of optimism and love of all sorts.

5.) Kamisama Kiss: newly homeless teenager Nanami Momozono is trying to figure out her next move when she helps a stranger in need. Out of gratitude, he offers Nanami his home, a rundown shrine, and also his job as a land god. Now, Nanami must juggle high school along with the duties of a deity with the help of Tomoe, a reformed fox demon who reluctantly becomes her familiar in a contract sealed with a kiss. As the headstrong Tomoe tries to whip her into shape, Nanami finds that love just might have cute, pointed fox ears. With romance in the air, will the human deity be able to prove herself worthy of her new title?

This series made me CRAZY!!!!!!! Nanami and Tomoe are such a good nuisances to lovers story with a really interesting twist that I genuinely did not see coming! Nanami is adorable and Tomoe is the perfect house husband, I love them so much. This series is such a fun little romp through the supernatural world of gods, demons, and spirits, with an incredibly interesting cast of characters. The anime has two seasons and a few OVAs, but in order to see the latter, you're going to have to search the less than legal sites because they were never licensed internationally. Definitely worth it in my opinion to see the end of the story.

6.) Yona of the Dawn: Sheltered and spoiled Princess Yona is the only heir to the throne of Kouka. Yona's perfect world comes crashing down when a heinous act of treason threatens to erase all that she holds dear, including her birthright as the princess of Kouka. Left with no one to trust but her childhood friend and loyal bodyguard Son Hak, she is forced to flee the palace. Faced with the perils of surviving in the wild with a target on her back, Yona realizes that her kingdom is no longer the safe haven it once was.

Free from the shackles of naivety, Yona vows to do everything in her power to become strong enough to crush her enemies. With Hak by her side, she must piece together the remains of an ancient legend that might be the key to reclaiming her kingdom from those who conspired to steal it from her.

THIS SERIES MADE ME CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yona of the Dawn honestly ticks all of my boxes -- sheltered princess who needs to learn how to fight, political intrigue, betrayal, heartbreak, ancient magical legends, and a princess/bodyguard romance. The anime (and OVAs) are only a very small part of the story, but it was excellent regardless. The manga is incredibly long and actually just celebrated its 15th anniversary; it's regarded one of the greatest shoujo manga of all time. I had started reading the manga a few years back, and I REALLY need to get back into it, especially since it seems to be inching closer to the end. But if you love action packed fantasy adventures, this is the story for you!

7.) Inuyasha*: Suddenly finding herself in feudal Japan, schoolgirl Kagome teams up with half-demon Inuyasha to retrieve the scattered shards of a sacred jewel.

*Technically, a shounen, but has the vibes of a shoujo. I need you to know that last year when I had covid, I watched 50 episodes of this series and the first movie. And then I was compelled to make the following image:

Inuyasha is a long one so I suggest pacing yourself, but it is so so worth it! This is another action packed fantasy series with awesome characters, fantastic writing, and a heart stopping romance. The creator, Rumiko Takahashi was already an experienced mangaka when she made Inuyasha, and it shows. She's excellent at naturally weaving the romance into the overarching narrative and there's a maturity to her writing that makes this story about young people feel so intense and complex in the best way.

8.) Maid-Sama!: Misaki is class president of a formerly all-male school. A beacon of hope to the female students as well as teachers, she rules over the boys with an iron fist and a heart of ice. A popular male student stumbles on to her secret double life- working part-time as an upbeat and cheery waitress at a maid cafe! Misaki is forced to make a deal: spend some time with him, or have her hard earned reputation destroyed by revealing her embarrassing secret.

I will warn you, there are elements to this anime that have not aged well since its airing in 2010. A lot of it is very feminist in that early 2000s way! But it also includes that early 2000s brand of "problematic" possessive (and maybe a little too inappropriate) love interest and some outdated romance anime tropes. But all in all, I think it's worth a view. I really love Misaki as a character so much, and her relationship with Usui is fun and frustrating and very, very sweet.

9.) My Love Story!!: With his muscular build and tall stature, Takeo Gouda is no ordinary high school freshman. However, behind Takeo's intimidating appearance lies a pure heart of gold. Unfortunately for Takeo, his appearance does not bode well for his love life. As if his looks were not already enough to scare girls away, Takeo's cool, handsome best friend and constant companion Makoto Sunakawa easily, and unintentionally, steals the hearts of the female students—including every girl Takeo has ever liked.

One day, when Takeo saves cute Rinko Yamato from a creep on the train, he falls in love with her instantly. But with handsome Sunakawa around, does Takeo even stand a chance?

It's rare to see a shoujo series with a male protagonist, but Takeo is honestly perfect for the role and deserves everything good in the world. This is such an adorable anime with the sweetest couple on Earth and the best friend that anyone could ever ask for. Takeo and Rinko are both down so bad for each other and they're both adorable, awkward clowns. They were truly meant to be! Takeo's friendship with Sunakawa is also such a vital and lovely part of the series and shows that your platonic relationships are just as important as your romantic ones.

10.) My Little Monster: Shizuku Mizutani is apathetic toward her classmates, only caring about her grades. However, her cold view of life begins to change when she meets Haru Yoshida, a violent troublemaker who stopped attending class after getting into a fight early in the school year. He is not much different from her, though—he too understands little about human nature and does not have any friends. Much to Shizuku's surprise, he proclaims that she will be his friend and immediately confesses his feelings toward her upon meeting her.

Because of her lack of friends and social interaction, Shizuku has a hard time understanding her relationship with Haru. But slowly, their friendship begins to progress, and she discovers that there is more to Haru than violence. She begins to develop feelings for him, but is unsure what kind of emotions she is experiencing. Together, Shizuku and Haru explore the true nature of their relationship and emotions.

This is a story about a boy and a girl who struggle with love and friendship. Opening yourself up to other people forces you to be honest with yourself.

Here's another "problematique" anime that I fell head over heels in love with in spite of certain things that didn't age well. I'm a simple woman, give me a cold girl and a feral boy who are obsessed with each other and don't know how to function in society and I'm sold. While Shizuku and Haru's bizarre, never-on-the-same-page romance is the overarching narrative, an important part of the series is the two of them learning how to make friends and find community with other socially dysfunctional weirdos. The friends that they make are just as interesting as the two of them and are equally important to the story.

This is another series that I highly recommend reading the manga for, since the one season anime doesn't get far enough into the story for a satisfying ending. Shizuku's revelations about herself and her character development in the manga genuinely made me cry, and Haru gets some good development as well. Their relationship progresses in a very sweet way as they work to understand each other and respect boundaries and communicate.

11.) Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun:

Chiyo Sakura is a cheerful high school girl who has fallen head over heels for the oblivious Umetarou Nozaki. Much to Chiyo's confusion, when she confesses to her beloved Nozaki, he hands her an unfamiliar autograph. As it turns out, the stoic teenage boy is actually a respected shoujo manga artist, publishing under a pen name. A series of misunderstandings leads to Chiyo becoming one of Nozaki's manga assistants and befriending many of her quirky schoolmates. This slice of life comedy follows Chiyo as she strives to help Nozaki with his manga and hopes that he will eventually notice her feelings.

I adore this series to the moon and back. Both adorable and absolutely HILARIOUS, Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun, is a wild ride from start to finish. The slow burn to end all slow burns, this ongoing 4-panel, slice of life manga has been ongoing since 2011, yet remains hilarious and so does the one season anime. This is another parody shoujo anime where some jokes might go over your head if you're a beginner, but I think it's easier to digest than Ouran, and would be a fine starter anime. This is another clown4clown romance, but Chiyo and Nozaki aren't the only ones. Their friends are a vibrant cast of characters who tend to fall into classic shoujo manga tropes (though not always in the ways you'd expect) and all have their own incredibly silly and off the wall will-they-won't-they romances.

This is such a fun series that never fails to make me laugh, and often makes me swoon. It's both ridiculous and relatable and you can't help but root for every single character.

And I'll end it there! I have quite a few other series that are near and dear to my heart but these are probably the ones I talk about the most. If you've made it this far, thank you for reading. Anon, I hope that you enjoy your adventures in shoujo anime!

If anyone ever wants to talk about any of these series, my inbox is always open. Seriously, I am always dying to talk about all of these!

[kiefbowl]

I've been embarrassed so I haven't been blogging about it...but I've been watching himym for the past couple months. but the reason is not because I like it (bease pelieve me I'm crying), but because I find it a fascinating cultural artifact, and I wanted to write a more thorough post on tv and misogyny than the one offs I wrote oh like 2.5 years ago when I watched a couple episodes.

but gyns, I can't get though season 8. I can't do it. I've gotten this far and you might think oh it's just a little further...you can do it but season 8 is straight up hot garbage. truly abysmal. how did anyone hang on. Even though I've been pacing this little project over months to not want to krill myself, season 8 is taking corporeal form and strangling me and laughing about it. It's not even the ~wacky rape jokes~ that are doing me in. I knew that was 80% of the show and the bulk of barney's character. I was prepared. It's not even that jason segal looks weird and seems to be astral projecting himself back to the freaks and geeks set every second he can to take back his life of acting for a quiet career as an accountant to avoid this miserable, god awful job in the future, though he makes every horrible scene he's in just that much horrible because of it. It's because I can't fucking stand to watch robin's life slowly be picked apart for shit by these four loser friends. I just can't do it anymore. The writers HATE ROBIN. They hate her. The main love interest. Of two men. They think she's wrong. They think she's stupid. They think she should be punished. Even though they write her, and center her, and she's the linchpin of this entire stupid fucking show.

And when the writing is this abysmal in season 8, a show that has been sometimes okay, a lot of times mid, many many times already awful, I just can't watch her character be assassinated for the sake of sitcom concepts like "let's host a game show in our apartment to decide our baby's legal guardian in the event of our deaths" or ideas like what if barney picked up a random dog. can't do it. Can't do it!!! this is my essay, I'm deleting all my notes. This show Sucks. I was going to give it a teeeeny bit of credit at the end for some things, but fuck that. Fuck you for writing Robin in episode one so you could gleefully dismember her piece by piece over nine years like some sort of spit pig in service of ted and barney's rape escapades. truly fuck this piece of shit show.

[itsbenedict]

okay fine i played Fire Emblem Engage

That's where I've been for the past, like, week. It wasn't a great decision. I would call it a purchase made in a moment of weakness.

The conventional wisdom I've heard is "yeah the story and characters are Bad and Nothing, but the gameplay is really good", and that was kind of accurate to my experience. But it was... weirdly not as bad as I was expecting? It had some redeeming qualities, narratively! I enjoyed it more than, say, Fates by a mile.

It was still extremely stupid, though. Wow. It's not as actively infuriating as some recent FE has been, but it's certainly a completely braindead narrative.

You can open this readmore if you want to hear all about that.

So the plot of the game: there's an evil dragon man who wants to take over the world. He got sealed away a thousand years ago but now he's back and wants to take over the world. You Have To Stop Him. (There are epicycles to this, but all of them are dumb and very few of them matter.)

Toothpaste Lord, Alear, is the [son/daughter, in my game daughter] of the Divine Dragon, a very nice queen lady who the people of [setting] worship as a goddess. A thousand years ago she got mortally wounded sealing away the evil dragon man, and went to sleep for a thousand years to recover. Fast forward to now, and she wakes up, except she has amnesia and doesn't remember jack shit including her mother. This is concealing one (1) twist, which doesn't really affect anything, and mainly the amnesia is so that there's a reason for people to be constantly introducing concepts to her. Standard fare.

So she wakes up, and almost immediately, evil dragon man's zombie army is inexplicably invading the palace. He kills Divine Dragon queen mom in a very tragic scene where Healing Doesn't Work (at least they bother having the healer try, so points there) and she dies in your arms and there's like five solid minutes of poorly-paced anguish and angst over this character you've known for all of five minutes.

I want to stop and note- this is a beat this game fucking loves. The scene where a loved one dies tragically in someone's arms while delivering some inspiring last words happens- if my count is right- eight times in this god damn game, sometimes for the same character twice. They do it constantly, for characters that do not matter and you do not have any investment in. I'm halfway to thinking this is someone's fetish somehow- but more realistically it's just hack writing.

After that, the Prince of Somewhere shows up to save you, and you escape the palace and go on a journey to recruit allies and stop the evil dragon man. The journey involves traveling across four continents, each of which has a kingdom in it, which have two princes/princesses apiece, each of which have two loyal retainers apiece. Add the player and their own three loyal retainers for a total of 28 playable characters who are just there because they're On Your Side and otherwise have no investment in the conflict besides not wanting to get killed by zombie armies. There's eight other playable characters that have any other motivation at all, and most of them are bad.

(Actually that's not true. Two of the princesses have other motivations- they're princesses of Evil Cultistopia, which starts the game on evil dragon man's side, and they have a sort of journey to a face turn that would be kind of interesting if either of them were good characters. Evil Cultistopia's state religion is the worship of evil dragon man, except it's been a thousand years since he was sealed away so they're sort of just a normal country with a normal religion now. The idea of a country suddenly face-to-face with their god, who's asking them to wage war on the entire world with zombie armies, and it being politically impossible to not do that despite no one really wanting to do that? Cool idea! If only they fucking used or explored it in the slightest.)

Anyway, the big bad's evil plan is to gather the 12 Emblem Rings, macguffins that if collected together will grant INFINITE POWER. Again, standard stuff. But the rings in question are the central mechanical gimmick of the game, and the focus of the plot in and of themselves, and I have to talk about them because they're so dumb.

Each ring has the spirit of a protagonist of a previous Fire Emblem game in it!

Why? What are they doing here? How did they end up in magic rings? Do Not Ask Questions. They're here for fanservice reasons and we will be exploring precisely zero of the implications of their existence.

None of them are characters even slightly. They're there, they follow people around as stando powerghosts, they can talk and stuff- but like... Fire Emblem protagonists struggle with having personalities even at the best of times, and this is not the best of times. Every single one of them is reduced to vapid friendship speeches, even the ones that weren't already just a human collection of friendship speeches.

Most of the plot, such as it is, concerns the collection of these rings, and occasional dramatic turnabouts when the bad guys take the rings from you. Oh, shit!

Oh no! They took Marth! Y'know, Marth! That character, who had traits and stuff! Aren't you horrified that the bad guys have Marth now? Isn't it so sad that his hair is red? Please buy it when Alear is so, so crying about Marth getting kidnapped! They had such a close friendship, which you can tell from how the only thing they ever talked about was how close their friendship was!

(Also, every single one of these twelve non-characters has their own Paralogue chapter, where they encounter a random ancient ruin or fort or something on the map, and they're like "whoa! this random location looks weirdly like a fan-favorite plot-important map from my game! Let me spend eight seconds recapping its plot, and then challenge you to a duel here to Strengthen Our Bonds somehow!". They're all exactly the same and drag out the game way longer than it needs to be.)

It's all very stupid! I hate it terribly.

Which is why it's a shame that the Emblem Rings are the coolest fucking mechanic that's ever been in Fire Emblem.

You equip a ring to a unit- any unit- and they confer fucking busted abilities, like teleporting halfway across the map and nuking something, or making seven consecutive attacks, or getting tons of extra movement and movement actions so you can be anywhere when you need to be there.

One lets you do the "give four adjacent allies an extra turn" thing that Reyson let you do in FE9/10, except you can put it on anyone and not just a frail bird-man you have to keep out of danger. And since there's another actual Dancer in the game, you can bust the action economy wide open.

Here's this overpowered tanky flier who can't just divebomb enemy back ranks because she dies in one hit to arrows or wind magic! Oh, but she has the ring equipped that makes sure she survives attacks that would kill her unless her health is already low! Bye, giant wall of enemy mages!

Here's my armor knight who's an unstoppable brick wall! He's balanced by being so slow that you can't get him in position to use him reliably, but- oh, hey, here's the ring that just puts him on a fucking horse!

One just lets the unit equip healing staves even if they weren't magic at all before. You can staple utility roles that are normally balanced by making the unit itself shitty and fragile... to units that already kick ass normally. My assassin can heal people now! I am become the master of both life and death!

It's so goofy and lets you have so much fun with it. You can also inherit skills from Emblems to keep them after you swap the ring from someone else- so if you want someone to get the mounted unit post-combat reposition thing, just have 'em hang out with Sigurd a bit!

It's also, like... an effective bit of fanservice, because they put an inordinate amount of work into fleshing out the system. Every character gets a unique insane magic superhero outfit and color scheme and combat voice lines for when they merge with each of the twelve emblems. You can make anyone say "I fight for my friends" and "You'll get no sympathy from me!" by equipping Ike. It's bizarrely high-effort.

That's the good part, mechanically. The bad part, mechanically, is this thing called the Somniel- a magical floating island in the sky you can fast-travel to, which is just Garreg Mach again.

Run around the same too-big 3D environment doing pointless bullshit between every map! Don't you want to go to every glowing spot on the minimap to collect the free items that spawned there? You might miss out on some Rare Fruit, which you can add as an extra ingredient in the fucking cooking system to increase the odds the dish will be higher-rarity! Surely you want to collect random wildlife from maps after you beat them so they can hang out in a pasture and generate random drops for you to collect between maps! Do the fishing minigame, which has two more steps than last time for no reason, in order to get Minced Fish and Bond Fragments! Spend the Bond Fragments to pull from the Bond Rings gachapon, to get jpegs of old-ass art assets of Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Game that you can equip for incredibly marginal stat bonuses! Watch your horribly-designed anime soldiers in their swimsuits going back and forth in the pool for extra support progress! Cram your inventory with literal horseshit because it looks exactly the same sparkling on the ground as the stuff you want! Play a rail shooter! Do some push-ups! Feed this stupid-looking dog thing to max out its affection meter for no benefit whatsoever! I hate you! I HATE you! I HATE YOU! 𝐈 𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔! DON'T DESIGN YOUR VIDEOGAME THIS WAY!! IT'S BORING AND SUCKS SHIT!!! I'LL PUNCH OFF YOUR LEGS!!!!!!!!!

...haaaaah. I need to calm down. It's just- it's so bad. It's so much extra development effort to create all these extraneous systems that you could've just not had and it would've been better. So many wasted manhours of effort put into building and polishing unfun time-wasting garbage because some suit thought "more features = more sales". I feel sorry for the devs that were forced to work on that!

...

Okay. Okay I think that's the end of the review. What else is there to say that I didn't say?

No, wait, right. I said the plot had redeeming qualities. I said it didn't piss me off as much as Fates. Okay. What are those redeeming qualities?

Well... first off, while the plot is braindead and tropey and nothing, it at the very least passes the bare minimum bar of the characters' actions making sense. It's not hard for their actions to make sense, since it's a dead simple goodguys-versus-badguys situation where the main villain is an evil dragon man with a zombie army, but so many things fail to clear this bar. The characters are almost never interesting, but rarely do they make me go "what the fuck are you talking about? why would you make that decision?", and after Fates and Three Houses that is a breath of fresh air.

Secondly: they're kind of smart about their antagonists. Evil dragon man is so obviously not a compelling character, just a force in the plot, that they don't bother putting him onscreen more than necessary. We mostly follow his Four Elite Generals that Fire Emblem big bads always have, except instead of elite generals they're just a bunch of fuckin' weirdos who've been tasked with babysitting his split-personality daughter. They get up to some infighting and have approximately believable motives and you get to kind of care about what's going on with them! The writer gave at least half a shit about what motivates the villains as people, despite the overarching villain being a stock evil demon king guy.

(In particular, there's this one really good death scene after you beat a couple of them- one of them has a heel face turn when they're dying, complete with yet another tragic dying-in-your-arms inspiring speech... and then after the heroes leave and pledge to always remember them, you get a scene where another one, who also got fatally wounded in the same battle, goes "so what was that all about. that sappy stuff was obviously bullshit. what gives, why betray the boss right at the end?" And they're like "yeah, no, i mainly did that to say fuck you to the boss for sending me on this suicide mission instead of rewarding me for my loyal service. but i figured if i was doing that i'd make up something more noble-sounding so they remember me fondly instead of as a petty asshole." Then they have a truly fucked-up conversation about their mommy issues before dying. It's a good scene!)

Thirdly, they do this really fun thing in the big climax before the final gauntlet, where... I mean, a lot of it is nonsense, but they're doing a fairly standard fakeout bit where the protagonist gets killed by the big bad but some kind of deus ex machina brings them back to life, right? But the way they do that, specifically, is... there's this character who did the zombie-army raising who eventually turns good and joins you, and while the protagonist is dying, she's like "hey, I have an idea- how about use your dark magics to bind my soul to my corpse as a zombie, and then just don't suborn my will?" And then they do that, and it works and it's kind of fucked up and makes everyone uncomfortable! A very cool moment. (Then a different deus ex machina brings you back as a ghost instead of a zombie and your hair turns completely blue, which I was hyped about purely for color scheme reasons since it's otherwise pretty stupid.)

I should probably also say something about the characters? They're usually a pretty big draw for Fire Emblem, and this game does go whole hog on having a large cast with lots and lots of support conversations. But, uh... they're mostly bad. The character designs are over-the-top and anime in a way that doesn't convey anything useful about them, and they tend to just be "character trait A meets incongruous character trait B and we will do the bare minimum to reconcile this". Pretty bad voice direction and dialogue pacing sucks a lot of the charm out of it, too. The fact that most characters are just there to Be A Character You Get and don't organically get involved in your quest doesn't help.

(There are a few that are functional- Yunaka's a good one, as one of the few that isn't just some prince's retainer and has a motive to be with the party. I like her "dark superassassin past but embarrassed about it" shtick, and her VA manages to make her cutesy catchphrases not annoying somehow. I don't know that anyone in the cast is above like a B-tier character, though.)

So... that's Engage. It wasn't ambitious, but it basically worked. It's not a game that has anything to say beyond "it is virtuous to be a really big fan of Fire Emblem, please go whale in the gacha", and it didn't have two brain cells to rub together- but it was pretty and fun and mostly didn't piss me off.

[constelationprize]

Last line tag!

Thanks for @codename-adler for tagging me! I'm having a bit of a moment right now where I hate everything I write (and I'm not cool, and I'm not smart, and I can't even parallel park). Anyway these days I've been hammering around Kayleigh's POV for my Challengers-inspired prequel fic. This scene is supposed to be the start, when Tetsuji first announces the Ravens, but I'm not sure if it's flowing the way I wanted.

1990

Stage lights are so much hotter than they appear. It's like twin suns are trained on Kayleigh's face, making her sweat to the point she isn't sure the heavy makeup they applied on her will survive the night. It's not the first time she's done this – Tetsu and her are old dogs at the press junket by now – but it rankles as if it was.

The host of Late Night with Sam Carter, still unfortunately the titular Sam Carter, has asked his last four questions to Tetsuji alone. That's four questions past her usual limit, but today’s about Tetsuji, mostly, so she's exerting some degree of patience.

She taps her heels against the fake wood floor. Kayleigh can spot Kevin from here, sitting cross-legged behind the cameras, coloring his picture book. Riko is kneeling by his side, eyeing the crayons as if they were a new invention. Kayleigh hums, noting to herself what to get the boy for his birthday, so Tetsuji’s color allergy won’t prove hereditary.

Tetsuji discreetly knocks his knee against hers, and when she turns back, it's to see that Carter has finally deigned to ask her a question.

The reporter laughs at her face.

“It’s very charming to see you so enamored by motherhood, Kayleigh,” she hates the familiarity in his tone. Tetsuji preemptively lays his foot on top of hers, ready to press down if Carter sets her off. “Couple years ago, your priorities were completely different. Not that anyone would blame, you of course – cameras, can you show us a look of young Kevin Day, please?”

Kayleigh calms herself down by thinking about how much of a fuss murdering a man on live television would cause.

“Do not.” She orders through a gritted teeth smile, “My son is not the one your wonderful crew spent time and effort to prepare for the cameras today.”

“Oh, but he's such a darling child!” Carter laughs again, but he does wave the cameramen off. “It's no wonder you have decided to dedicate your time to him. Raising a child on your own must be very challenging.”

He poises it as a question, arching his brows. This has come up in every other interview Kayleigh gave since news of the pregnancy broke out, though she usually can avoid them by forbidding the question on her briefing or ordering them to edit the footage out when they tried to press it. Sam Carter, of course, thought he could get away with saying anything just because he was a live show host.

“I find it very easy, actually,” Kayleigh shrugs, “I am not the first single parent to manage a career and a child, and if you think I am, Sam, I suggest you take your head out of your ass.”

She makes sure to keep on smiling, to let the silence sit long enough that Carter feels forced to laugh as if she told a joke. Tetsuji sighs next to her tiredly, but low enough the microphones won't pick up.

“I have, in fact, just finished teaching a three-month intensive exy training camp in Santiago. Tetsuji has also done wonderfully, helping raise his nephew and setting up the exy collegiate sports bracket with the NCAA. Which, if you don't mind the reminder, is what we were supposed to talk about today.” Kayleigh clears her throat, “So, do you mind repeating your question?”

Carter is not quite red, but she will settle for the quiet fury in his eyes. His hands are firm on the notecards, which is a pity, because she likes to get them to shake a bit.

Well, the night is still young.

I invite @jaywalkers @dayurno @queer-lovebot and anyone else that feels like it to join in if they want to!!!! Okay bye

[doomed-era]

very quickly speedrunning hi can i ask about the return alt chapter the ghosts gboh chapter and the unreleased the devil went down to gerogia fic devil voice okk byyeeeee

HEHEHHO UH I can actually tell you more about the return it's not. actually spoilers it's just throwing a lot of things at you with no context. And it's set like, four years before ALT proper starts. I gotta leave for work in a few so this will be a while in the making

the return here is a very literal title again, it's about blasse returning home from. Something. It also alludes to the origin of the scar he has on his face

As for what I enjoy about it, I really like the buildup to an exchange Blasse has with Lance.

He would have been home by now. Lance would be in his study-turned-room, brooding over a poem he had been stuck on for a month or writing in his journal, and the captain would have burst through the door. Every other day he tried to get fish from the market, claiming he had caught it from the river himself. The younger soldier would groan at his stupid, repetitive joke, then they'd make dinner.

"Now I've really caught something," a familiar voice said. "Not as scaly as I'd like." The captain put away his sword, and removed his hood, grinning impishly.

Lance and his not-dad are so silly and I love them smh. I. MIGHT post it soon but only after I get through a good portion of Chapter 4 and finish something I want to write to give more context about Lance and Blasse's relationship.

Just a Ghost is also fairly straightforward. It's a chapter dealing with Link's feelings about Mipha, and the chapter title references that. I really enjoyed writing Link having some good moments with Hylia here, too. In both the story itself and in regard to her purpose in the story, she's not *just* there to torment him, technically.

We also have that one flashback scene with Paya. Yeah the mysterious person is her!! That whole scene was to establish what happened to Link and why he is Like That about Mipha, but it's also partially because I haven't really liked fics that handle trauma very much. Honestly if that's not your main focus, that's completely okay, not everyone is gonna talk about how the big adventure will affect the protagonist in very negative ways, and not every person will even be affected at all. Still, I see a lot of people treat trauma like it's something you can kinda just slap onto a character to make them cry for a scene and remove once it's convenient, which I loathe, since I've been treated like I should just get over stuff before I was ready to, and I've seen people treat others this way too. It's an unkind mentality, and I don't want to see it in fiction where I'm supposed to accept it and see it as good!

Sorry I have feelings about that. uhh. yeah that was a major driving force behind this chapter.

Okay now for the devil went down to georgia :) I am shameless this is a song title and i loveee this song please listen to it. I am somewhat tentative about the title because I'm afraid people are gonna think "the devil" is in reference to ganondorf when he's actually more like the other character in the song lol. also to be fair the "devil" in this situation isn't even evil she's just chilling. Title is also in reference to this:

For one moment, just one, Ganondorf felt his will slip, and he did as all ghosts do. He sank.

I really haven't written much of it it's more of an outline in my head but he meets the goddess of decay here and she eventually promises to help him get a new body :)

[destinysbounty]

The whole time travel thing? The fact that getting rid of the golden weapons in the past means the mega weapon should've never been made means the devourer wouldn't have been defeated means Lloyd shouldn't have aged up means the entire episode wouldn't have happened

Help

Ooooh, I've been wanting to talk about this for a long time (as in, since middle school). So thank you for giving me an excuse to rant about this subject!

First, let's identify all the issues with the s2 time travel situation:

They went back in time and shot the Golden Weapons into space - not just the ones from that episode in season 2 (taking the form of the Mega Weapon), but also the ones from the pilots-era that Kai had found in the past.

If the Golden Weapons were destroyed in the past, Garmadon wouldn't have used them to escape the Underworld and head for the Realm of Madness, which is where he acquired his four arms. He also wouldn't have any motivation to grow two extra arms in the first place (remember that he only gave himself four so he could hold all the Weapons at once).

On a related note, Samukai wouldn't have died from wielding all four of them at once. So if not for the Weapons, he'd...probably still be alive.

Garmadon also used the Golden Weapons to defeat the Devourer. Like, I'm sure he could have killed it with a different weapon, but this definitely changes how that scene would've gone down

Without the Golden Weapons existing anywhere in Ninjago, past or present, Garmadon couldn't have been able to create the Mega Weapon.

This means all the Mega Weapon's effects are now defunct. He wouldn't have used it to rebuild the Bounty. Soto wouldn't have been resurrected, thereby nullifying his involvement in Skybound. Not to mention the Bizarro Ninja wouldn't have been created, which...doesn't have a big impact on things, honestly, but still kinda makes me a little sad.

And of course, as we're all mutually confused by, Lloyd wouldn't have had any reason to take the Tomorrow's Tea, and as such should have spent the rest of the series aging up much more normally.

When coming up with a theory to explain the s2 time travel situation, we need to make sure whatever we come up with provides reasonable rationale for all (or at least most) of the above-mentioned points. Which...okay, that's a bit of a tall order. But I think we can do it!

In the end, I've come upon a theory I personally consider to be the most believable:

Alternative History Theory

These events - Garmadon growing four arms, Lloyd growing up, all of it - was meant to be. They were simply machinations of destiny, setting up the Final Battle to happen exactly as it was intended to. These events had to happen. They were part of a master design as planned out by the Cloud Kingdom and the Overlord alike, a plan over a thousand years in the making.

Garmadon has to eventually grow four arms and Lloyd has to eventually grow up and defeat him. So long as the events occur, destiny doesn't care about how we get there.

What I'm saying is that the timeline rewrote itself to ensure things stay fundamentally the same, in an act of preserving destiny. The journey changed, but the destination remained the same. These events that had to happen, still happened, but the way they happened is now suddenly different.

In other words, Lloyd still took the Tomorrow's Tea, but now the reasons and context for his decision are different.

What messes with my head about this theory is the possibility that there's an entirely different, alternate version of the first half of season 2 that we don't know and will never see. S2 shows us the timeline the og4 got to experience, but not the timeline Lloyd and Nya remember living through.

(I admit I've always kinda wanted to write a fic exploring what that alternate timeline would look like, but I've never figured out a good way to write the premise without first writing an essay to explain the theory behind it)

So then with that in mind, let's consider how such a timeline would transpire. What would a Golden Weapons-free version of s1-2 look like?

...huh. It's actually surprisingly easy to imagine.

When you think about it, none of these events strictly necessitate the use of the Golden Weapons:

Samukai could have died another way.

While we don't entirely know the terms of his banishment, it's reasonable to assume Garmadon could've found another way to the Realm of Madness.

So long as Garmadon hit the Devourer at her weak spot, he still could have killed her with any other weapon.

Nya and Jay could have rebuilt the Bounty instead of Garmadon using the Mega Weapon to do it. They've done it several times throughout the series already, so this is well within the realm of possibility.

The Mega Weapon isn't the only means of resurrection present in this series. Even if it didn't happen by Garmadon's hand, there's a myriad of other ways Soto's crew could be brought back to life. It wouldn't even have to happen during s2 specifically.

Strictly speaking, Lloyd was only aged up because of the Tomorrow's Tea. The events leading up to this don't necessarily require the presence of the Mega Weapon. Something else entirely could've happened to require him to take the Tea, or maybe it happened on accident. Or maybe his friends were in danger and Lloyd was the only one able to save them, so he deliberately sought out and used the Tea in order to be strong enough to rescue them. Anything is possible here.

Ninjago is consistently a story about doomed narratives and the inescapable nature of destiny. No matter how something happens doesn't change the fact that it will happen. The Serpentine were meant to open the Stone Warriors' crypt - so if Lloyd hadn't released them, they would have escaped another way. The Devourer's venom was what awakened the Stone Warriors - even if Pythor hadn't awakened her, someone would have. If Garmadon didn't get his extra arms in the Realm of Madness, it still would have happened some other way.

And if the Grundle didn't force Lloyd into taking the Tomorrow's Tea, something else would have.

So yeah. Blah blah blah, destiny is inevitable, everyone is doomed by the narrative and it sucks, you get the idea. Make sense?

Wow, that was fun. Thanks for the ask <3

[amethystina]

Fanfic Tag Thingie

I am choosing to be tagged by @miss-ingno because this sounded like fun and I need an escape from the realisation that I am literally on the edge of burnout and my life is a mess. So here we go! :D

How many works do you have on AO3?

76

What's your total AO3 word count?

2 237 636

... and I have around 200k more just sitting in my WIP folders. I can't write short things x'D

What fandoms do you write for?

Right now it's mainly various Kdramas (The Devil Judge, Black Knight, plus my bold venture into Strangers From Hell) but, before that, it was mostly The Losers, Marvel, Pacific Rim, and Teen Wolf. With the occasional detour here and there.

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Who Holds the Devil (The Devil Judge, Gahan) at 3 390

Tech Support (MCU, Winteriron) at 3 217

Autonomy (MCU, Winteriron) at 3 137

I Won't Hold My Breath (MCU, Winteriron) at 2 914

Conflict of Interest (MCU, Winteriron) at 2 173

It's honestly a little wild to me that Who Holds the Devil has somehow managed to race to the top despite the other fics being at least four years older (sometimes more). And for a much bigger fandom, at that. You guys are not fucking around.

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I do! Every single one if I can, though it can sometimes take a while before I get to all of them. And I just can't help it, I guess? Partly because I want to show that I've read the comment and appreciate the time and effort that went into writing it, but also because it often gives me an opportunity to talk about my writing and the choices I made in the fic.

And, apparently, the fact that I reply to all comments has become a bit of a thing at least when it comes to Who Holds the Devil, where readers will search through my replies looking for tidbits and extra information about the fic, characters etc.

(you guys are so weird and so dedicated and I love all of you xD)

What is a fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Grief (The Losers (Comics)). Because it is, predictably, about grief and how to keep living after someone you love has died. Though I would argue that the ending has a hint of hopefulness to it since it's also about moving on from said grief?

But yeah. Definitely that one since it's Major Character Death that I choose not to fix.

What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Literally every single fic except for the one above xD I LOVE my happy endings, okay? And it's kind of difficult to rank them since it depends a lot on the setting, characters, and the personal preference of the reader.

Heck, I even managed to give my Strangers From Hell fanfic a sugary sweet happy ending! That's dedication right there!

Do you get hate on fics?

Yeah, from time to time. I've gotten everything from childish insults calling me a bad writer to backhanded comments questioning my choices, writing style, grammar, spelling, dedication, intelligence, etc. I've even received more targeted, personal hate where people I thought I could trust were making fun of me behind my back in private chat rooms.

Most recently, though, it's less hate and more the "I simply must tell you that you're not writing this fic as I want you to write it" type of deal. Often paired with "It's my personal opinion and I have every right to express it." Which, fair enough. But that means I get to do the same, which I've noticed is something those kinds of commenters kind of hate. Especially when I point out that they've now made me a lot less keen to write the fanfic they're supposedly so fond of.

Turns out people don't like being reminded that their actions have consequences.

All in all, though, I've learned to just delete the comments I find too offensive or hateful.

Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Oh god no. Sex scenes are the bane of my existence and I spend the entire time writing them looking like this: ლ(ಥ益ಥლ)

I've been told I'm not bad at writing them (the ones in Until Death Do Us Unite were quite appreciated) but anything involving sex or sexual tension is just a nightmare for me. Even more so when it's supposed to be kinky or extra spicy.

So why is one of the main ships I write for right now clearly a Dom/sub ship, you ask?

Because I'm an idiot. That's why.

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

I rarely do. The only crossover I've written is Resurrection where Derek Hale ends up in Purgatory together with Dean Winchester and they fight their way back to the world of the living (so Derek replaces Benny, basically).

I also have this one random fic (yet unposted) where Tony Stark and Eddie Brock are a couple (from the MCU and Venom movies, that is). But they're technically both in the Marvel universe so I'm not sure if that counts?

Long story short, crossovers aren't really my thing. I rarely write or read them.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of, no.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

I have! Several, in fact, from various fandoms. Mostly into Russian, Spanish, or Mandarin. And I am honestly so flattered every time someone asks me if they can translate one of my fics 💜

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

I have not, no. I made plans to write a fic with a friend once, but we never got to the point of actually writing it. And, in all honesty, I think that might be just as well. I'm a perfectionist and writing a fic with me would probably be very exhausting for the other party xD

What's your all-time favourite ship?

I really don't know. Like, I'm tempted to say Jensen and Cougar from The Losers, or maybe Destiel or Stony, but I think that's partly founded in comfort and nostalgia. My ships change as I do and I really can't pinpoint an all-time favourite.

But CURRENT favourite? Definitely Kang Yo Han and Kim Ga On because they present such a wonderful challenge to someone like me, who loves to go real deep into character motivations, behaviour etc. They're a delight.

What's a WIP you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

I'm not sure. I plan to finish all the ones I've started posting but there might be some in my folders that I'll decide to abandon if I truly can't revive my interest in them. But, usually, I can.

And, speaking of that, to all my MCU peeps (if there are any of you still out there): I know you've waited six years for the Tech Support sequel but it's finally been written and just needs to be edited. It's coming, my darlings. I promise.

Basically, when I say I'll do something, I will do it — even if it takes me six goddamn years, apparently x'D

What are your writing strengths?

Characters, tone, and emotions. I'm good at capturing the essence of the characters and write them in a way that feels believable and close to canon. I'm also really good at making people feel things with my writing, I've been told. According to testimonials, my readers can often see what's happening play out inside their heads like a movie, and feel the characters' emotions as they're living through them.

What are your writing weaknesses?

Aside from the aforementioned sex scenes? I think it's my inability to keep things short. I use a lot of unnecessary words and could definitely get better at being more concise. In a similar vein, I sometimes focus so much on the details with lengthy, wordy descriptions that I accidentally forget about the big picture, which is understandably confusing to my readers.

Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

I've done it from time to time (since my man Cougar speaks Spanish) but I'm pretty careful with it. And if it's longer sentences I always make sure to double-check with a native speaker.

First fandom you wrote for?

Teen Wolf! Which, admittedly, was because I didn't care if I fucked it up x'D I enjoyed the first two seasons of Teen Wolf, make no mistake! But I chose it mainly because it wasn't the ship I was the most emotionally invested in and so I figured it wouldn't feel as bad if it turned out that I sucked. Luckily enough for me, I didn't xD

Favourite fic you've written?

Just like with the all-time favourite ship, I'm not sure if I can answer this one. Because I like all of my fics but in different ways.

I'll always have a fondness for that first huge Teen Wolf series I wrote, for example, and had a lot of fun with Autonomy because of the world-building. Same goes with Hyperborean. But Who Holds the Devil is definitely my favourite when it comes to character work. While Allies is my favourite when it comes to tone, since it ended up just the way I wanted it to. And Until Death Do Us Unite was an absolute BLAST because I got to write horror and some really weirdass shit, which I've never done before.

So, truly, I can't say. Each one I've written has something I cherish and while some definitely stand out more than others, I wouldn't be able to just pick one.

___

And that's that! I tag whoever wants to do it! :D

[edai-crplpnk]

didn’t the self-rec ask say five favorites? are there not four more?

So it appears I know how to write but I do not know how to read haha. Thank you for letting me know.

I'm gonna copy paste my first answer so we get all five in one post!

1. Silhouettes: https://archiveofourown.org/works/38185219

It's a fic centred around Shikaku, Ionichi and Chouza's first Chuunin exam as kids. It's been over a year and I still really really wanna write more fics in this universe with them.

There are fic that I am maybe more emotional about, but it's one where I've never been like "okay this isn't optimal, but I'm gonna go with that" while writing. I'm really happy with how I could explore intergenerational relationships in Konoha, both on an interpersonal level, and on a political level with how quick the world has changed and how each generation has lived through extremely different times.

Also I don't often write fights and I had several here and I think they're good? I'm happy about them at least.

2. In You: https://archiveofourown.org/works/36072856

I think it's a fic from the moment where I was really starting to fall in love with bittersweet ambiences and mundane daily life (I have not changed since then). It's a KakaGai fic about Kakashi's routine after Gai's death and his state of mourning. I promise it's not that sad. I love it a lot.

3. Take Your Heart Above the Water: https://archiveofourown.org/works/38403286/

It's a Blank Period NaruHina and SasuNaru fic that explores their respective relationships to family, love and home, as they try to figure out if and how they want to be/stay with one another.

I am very soft for Naruto wanting to be a dad.

4. The Smell of the Rain: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46041961/

This one hasn't always been easy to write but it's my biggest worldbuilding baby. Full of headcanons about Konohan legal structure and history, clan politics in Konoha and Suna, Kankurou's relationship to puppetry, Sand Family dynamics, Aburame clan history and traditions... Plus some sweet sweet uncle Kankurou and uncle Shino content and cute babies.

This series has done a lot for how my writing process and style and interests have evolved this past year and I'm very glad it did.

5. Before a Doll: https://archiveofourown.org/works/43038387/

Honnestly it's hard to chose a fic from this series because I love all of them to pieces, and the current WIP might over take this one when it's done, I don't know, but yeah.

KankuShika modern AU, I got to write several scene about their respective relationshipd to gender and sexuality and queerness and coming out and I was very happy to get the space to do so much on that front.

I'm really loving writing the Sand Siblings dynamic in this series too, I think they have a great balance between struggling to make it work between them because they are very different and it's hard, but also genuinely wanting to put in the effort because they care deeply. Love them.

That's 5 this time! Most of my fics belong to series. They can usually be read independently (if not it'll be in the notes), but that means if you like anything you can usually find more to keep going afterwards haha

Edit: now I did five more here!

[hecatesbroom]

I finished watching The Golden Girls last night and I have Thoughts about those final two episodes. So here's a little elaborate analysis because I have to get them off my chest lol

(under the cut because unfortunately I'm too long-winded for anyone's good)

Usually I despise final episodes of shows where they're saying goodbye and things are changing forever. Because the characters' lives are being upturned, often out of the blue, and it usually feels so unsatisfying. But something about the way this was done made it such a good, fitting ending, that there really couldn't have been a better way to finish things off.

It's like, there really was no other way this should've ended -- because yeah, everything is changing, but it's also okay, because everything is changing thanks to, rather than in spite of, the past 7 seasons.

It's an ending that wraps everything up pretty neatly, and it seems that every character got their own emotional arc. For a show with basically no continuity it's amazing how they managed to make it feel like all seven seasons had been building up to this conclusion all along.

Dorothy gets married and she leaves, because of course she does. There's no way she could've stayed there with them and her husband. And as much as I would've loved to imagine the four girls living together in that house forever, the way they handled it, the way Dorothy was able to open up to a new, serious relationship only because she had lived with Blanche and Rose (and Sophia) for so long, only solidified how much these four women mean to each other. It's like, by marrying Lucas, Dorothy is able to show just how much her friends (who at this point have become her family) mean to her.

And that's such a huge part of why I loved this ending so much. It's not just a farewell, it's not just a way to get Dorothy out of the way and leave a window open for a possible spin-off with the remaining three girls. It's an ending that does not only her justice, but all of them. It's a little tribute to everything they meant to each other over the years, and a reassurance that sure, life has changed and so have their circumstances, but even in her marriage to Lucas, Dorothy is carrying Rose and Blanche and Sophia's love with her. Because she wouldn't have been able to marry him if they hadn't loved her so much, and she hadn't loved them in return.

Rose, Blanche, and even Sophia are left together, and it could've been handled so, so much worse. The writing team could've taken it for granted so easily: of course Dorothy leaves because she gets married, so of course Rose and Blanche (and maybe Sophia) stay together. It just makes sense!

But instead of taking the easy route and paying barely no attention to any potential for an emotional conclusion there, the writers took the opportunity to put Rose and Blanche in a position of almost having to say goodbye to each other, too, and gave Sophia the opportunity to make them realise just how much they need each other. Which, in turn, showed her (and them) how much they need Sophia, too.

It leaves the three of them feeling not as the leftovers, or the people who were ditched because Dorothy went off with someone else, but as three women who very consciously, very lovingly chose each other in spite of this big change. And you're left feeling happy for them staying together instead of bitter about them being left behind.

And that final scene? Where Dorothy leaves and she keeps coming back again because she misses them already, and she really doesn't want to say goodbye? When finally, Rose and Blanche and Sophia are left waiting there, in silence, and they realise Dorothy really isn't coming back this time? I loved that. I've seen plenty of scenes where characters have to say goodbye at the end of a show, and every single one of them left me with the bitter aftertaste of what felt like an unresolved ending.

But this? This works, because this time it's not just the audience being left behind. It's Dorothy, who keeps coming back because she's going to miss them so much. It's the three remaining girls, standing in that room, waiting for Dorothy to return and slowly realising she's really gone this time.

And this time, as an audience, you're not the only one being left behind. You're standing there, right next to Rose, Blanche, and Sophia. You're sharing the characters' hurt, in fact they're probably feeling even worse than you are, and that's what makes it such a good ending to me: it's an ending that empathises with the audience.

[astramachina]

For those of you who've been following me for a while now, there's a good chance you got to experience my journey reading the Remembrance of Earth's Past series last year. I loved Three-Body Problem, but The Dark Forest and Death's End were like pulling teeth. Both books had their very very good moments, but getting through them was a tedious experience I considered giving up on on multiple occasions. I will give it to Cixin Liu tho, I needed to know how the series ended and that alone was the sole reason I pushed towards the finish line. Any author that can make me tough out bad writing for the sake of seeing the end deserves some kind of award (and he won a ton anyway, so).

I approached the Netflix series with zero expectations given their propensity for shitty adaptations (One Piece notwithstanding), but after watching the first episode I was left cautiously optimistic.

Having watched all 8 episode I'm still unsure how to feel about it. I spent most of the series hitting pause to rant at my roommate about it, both positively and negatively.

I had many issues with the books, but some of the more obvious ones came from a writing standpoint. I love hard sci-fi. I could not excuse the sheer length of those final two books. The atrocious treatment of women as objects to romance and use as bartering for the main character. The abysmal MCs (specifically Luo Ji) that made me want to yell to the high heavens due to annoying they were. The lack of human connection between characters.

For books so steeped in sociopolitical and ethical commentaries, the flagrant misogyny and homophobia was eye-rolling. And not even in a "This is Bad" sort of way, just in a "This is So Fucking Boring" kind of way. I cannot speak for the author's biases, because the contents of a book in no way reflects the views of an author or their character.

Where the books shone the brightest were during the battle scenes, the looming dread, genuinely horrific thought experiments.

And, surprisingly? It feels like the people at Netflix thought the same.

I've never watched Game of Thrones but I understood why people were against it from the get-go. That, along with the whole "whitewashing" thing which I consider to be interesting. For starters, you're using whitewashed wrong. Yes, they moved the central story from China to England which was... a fascinating choice, but of the core five (that quickly became the core four), only two of them are white. I'm not saying it was okay for a western adaptation to take a cast and further diversify it, I'm just saying that that's not whitewashing.

That aside, I did like some of the choices that were made from a narrative standpoint. Reshuffling and streamlining events, for one. Removing the whole plot line about Luo Ji hunting down a woman who he invented in his head in order to marry her? I'm not entirely sold on the idea of taking core events and divvying them up between four different people, but I do understand what they're trying to do.

The book series failed at crafting believable and impactful relationships between its human characters, which made the narrative feel hollow and one-dimensional. This adaptation aimed to change this by slapping a band-aid over the issue. Like I said, I'm still unsure of how I feel about this.

A lot of unnecessary stuffing was removed to make a suitable run time, and I say unnecessary because there's really no scenes that are making me go "oh, I wish this had been included". Was some stuff rushed? Yes. The passage of time could have been outlined a little better, but that's a small nitpick on my end.

The scale of things was toned down, and I don't think Netflix has the capability (or budget) to tackle space battles.

Honestly? I don't really see this getting a second season for a variety of reasons, and I'd be okay with that.

It was an "okay" watch, in the end.

Tho, I'm still flabbergasted by the random "gory scary jumpscare" scenes????? Where did those come from??? I don't remember anything like that being in the books but, you know. I've read a lot more books since finishing these, so.

[misc-obeyme]

I'm going on a tangent because i thought of silly things, I think I might try writing the next part tonight after work. This probably takes place way before what's currently going on in my rambles.

I'm imagining I impulsively bought something online and had to cut down on coffee (what did I buy? Who knows. Probably concert tickets for fob. I was scraping by when I bought those tickets last year 💀). I think it'd take Mammon two weeks before he finally caves and texts to ask if I'm okay. I sheepishly explain my purchase and why I haven't been around, and get left on read.

Later in the day, Mammon shows up to the shop with a coffee and a box of various pastries. He's blushing hard as he shoves the box towards me but gently sets the coffee down. I'm completely puzzled, and it's the first time Mammon has ever set foot in my shop. He goes on to ramble that he wasn't worried or anything, just had some leftovers and decided they should be able to tide me over and make up for lost orders.

The longest I've ever gone without stopping in is a week when I went on vacation maybe in the summer to visit family? But I had let him know ahead of time. And the other time was four days, and I texted him "i promkse ill wakenip ealry timorrow" and it was sent at 3 am, typed exactly like that. He texted back "ya better be asleep by now. Dumbass. Not like i miss ya or anything either." He replied back after 5:30 ish when getting up for the day. I did keep my promise and showed up, even if I definitely looked out of it.

That was supposed to be a silly scenario but now I'm thinking of the actual concert date taking place after they start realizing their feelings for each other (the cutting back scene was during the presale). And them getting worried about me going alone. But ticket prices are insane the closer to the date since I originally bought mine during the presale, and the seat I snagged managed to be on the floor. So even if they wanted to join, they'd have to shell out a lot of money, and wouldn't be sat next to me.

Unless ....... Mammon had an older brother, who was working for someone else.... who was the ceo of a company, and said company was sponsoring the tour.....and could get them front row seats together...... Only in fiction can things work out like this !! 🤣 Imagine your first concert also being a date. Crazy.

also thinking about nicknames. The most common one is 'treasure' from Mammon, and I usually use that for my character. Maybe 'lucky charm' for solomon? as long as it is, it's cute. I gotta brainstorm

- ✨ anon

OHHHHH but I love Mams being all cute and blushy and bringing you pastries! Absolutely adorable! And that text... not like I miss ya or anything!! Yeah yeah, you keep tellin yourself that buddy!! LOL.

Concert date concert date!!! I am all about it lol!

Isn't it amazing how convenient things can be in fiction?? Listen, it's not like it'd never happen irl! People always complain about how things seem to "work out" just right in fiction, but yo. That happens in real life too, friends. Just nobody's complaining about it because there is no Almighty Author pulling the strings!

Anyway, slight tangent there but the point is I say it's perfect!!

I think "lucky charm" is cute! Maybe it sometimes gets shortened to just "lucky" I think that's cute, too! Ahh nicknames make me soft lol!