#or like. fixed any of the relationships you can fix or anything. aside from hades and persephone lmao

[blueskittlesart]

You have any thoughts about Hades 2?

i am so so so so lesbian

[whitherliliesbloom]

lights, camera, duty commenced!

[ ffxivwrite2021 ] ★ [ masterlist ] ★ [ prompt #14 - commend ]

[ illya, g’raha & emet ] ★ [ 2,263 words ]  ★ [ actors au ]  passing mention of some friend’s ocs and illyanaud

commend: praise formally or officially

behind the scenes of the critically acclaimed long running tv show, final fantasy fourteen, g’raha tia is (almost) inconsolable after he reads the final act’s script

The not-so everlasting light shining down feels radiant and warm, but not scorching. In the distance, one can hear the push and pull of the tides from the nearby lake, as well as the rustling of the purple hued leaves that hung and swayed ever so gently upon the trees. A light baby blue canvas with dusty cotton candy clouds crowns lakeland, painting the perfect, serene vista for an uneventful day of shooting.

Though, Illya has to remind herself, as she looks up at the peaceful sky, and sighs in contentment that she was in the completely wrong headspace. Even though the sky above was bright and undoubtedly beautiful on this fine afternoon, she knows that all it takes is for a little bit of compuer-generated television effects magic to turn the tranquil landscape into a scene of naught but utter devastation and war.

Think termination. Think termination. You’re in the middle of a large-scale battle between Elidibus and the people of Norvrandt. The tone’s supposed to be somber and tense. You’re the warrior of darkness. You got this!

“Oh.... How could this be...?”

Her train of thought is rudely interrupted by the sorrowful moping of her co-actor, and she has to resist the urge to chide him for dragging his early morning sulking all the way into the afternoon. 

“G’raha, please...” the lalafellin sighs, though cannot help but to let a sliver of sympathy slip into her tone. “The next scene’s starting soon.”

“I know, I know... But...” the man heaves a heavy sigh, hanging his head low and letting his arms drop onto his lap so dramatically she’d almost thought that his flesh really was made of crystal and wasn’t just a product of the hard work of extremely talented make-up artists. “I can’t help it. I can’t believe that my poor crystal exarch is-”

Illya can say she at least empathizes - though perhaps not to the same extent. She’s been casted into roles of characters who would meet an unfortunate demise later, but to be fair, they weren’t often major characters within the narrative of the show or film she was playing a role in. 

The crystal exarch on the other hand, has played a key role as one of the many recurring supporting casts in the show. He’d lingered in the background as early as the first season, and was, to G’raha’s jubilation, finally given a main role in the fourth season they were filming. 

Only to be killed off in the final act - succumbing to the crystallization of his entire body, from head to toe, in the throne room of the crystal tower after the warrior of darkness’ battle with the ascian Elidibus. His death scene was to be an emotionally poignant one... and Illya herself has spent the last few days getting into the headspace of the protagonist - who would understandably be utterly devastated by the loss of a dear friend. 

It didn’t help that the crystal exarch was a considerably popular character within the international community of fans - and his significant increase in screen time was due in part to fan demands... though that perhaps made his long foreshadowed death even more of a cruel irony. 

And there was nobody in the world who was a bigger fan of the crystal exarch than the actor who played him himself. It wasn’t narcissistic either, in their line of work, it’s easy to get attached to the roles they play... even more so when they’ve hovered within the headspace of their character for as long as 6 years - she would know, Liliya Liya is as big a part of her as the crystal exarch is for G’raha now.

Thus, though she felt the urgent need to get G’raha back up on his feet in preparation for the remaining scenes on their schedule to film... she could not bring herself to so callously talk down his very real and personal attachment of a character he was meant to portray well anyways. 

“Oh come now... you should’ve seen this coming.” with a swagger in his step and lazy grin plastered over his expression, Emet Selch strolls over to the pair.... far too comfortable within his own role that he was speaking with Hades’ signature slur in his speech even while out of character. The man has always noted just how similar he was to the god of the underworld, and Illya wouldn’t be surprised if he’d claimed to not even be acting in his scenes at all.

“I...” G’raha pouts, looking up at Emet as his ears flatten atop his head. “I guess I was in denial of it. I thought they would maybe subvert expectations... but-”

“But that wouldn’t be a very compelling story to tell, now would it?” The older man shrugs, and Illya regrets to think that she’s inclined to agree. 

“I guess not..” 

The robed miqo’te man sighs, and she notes with an amused raise of an eyebrow as his tail that had once been tucked tightly to his side was now swiveling from side to side and puffed up in annoyance.

“Still! They could at least let him go out with more of a bang! Maybe... after he has a solo action scene... or give him a kiss scene to make things more dramatic!”

“Is defeating the big bad and saving the heroine not dramatic enough for you, already?” Emet’s voice is in part mocking as it is exasperated, his arms thrown up to his shoulders in a shrug. “Also I hope you didn’t mean a kiss scene with Liliya.”

“W-what-?? I-” Illya’s mouth hangs agape. 

“No! I wasn’t thinking anyone in particular, honest. Besides, she’s already caught in that love triangle subplot with the twins, isn’t she?” 

At the mention of the topic, the lalafellin woman’s smile fades.

“D-don’t remind me of that. I’m really not looking forward to acting those scenes out.” 

She’s already read the script for the fourth season in it’s entirety... and though she has incredible respect for the masterful writing and the wonderful character dynamics that has only gotten better with each passing season... she has never been... entirely comfortable with the romantic aspects of the scenes involving the elven twins. Scenes of the pair vying for her attention, scenes where she held hands and even got unsettingly close to kissing them... 

Though, she will admit... her own uncertainty over her competence in filming those scenes are a result of her own, very personal emotions... something of which Emet Selch seemed to be more than aware of.

“Is it not because you harbor actual feelings for one of them? Would having scenes of you being close to him not be a blessing for you, then?”

The miffed glare Illya’s shoots up at Emet rivals moments of shadow possession Liliya experiences throughout the show, and he can only shrug with a cocky grin as her star-spangled swirl with indignation. Anger aside, heat is spreading across her cheeks in the form of a burning red hue that reaches the tips of her short, pointed ears.

Please stop. 

Her expression spells out. She’s as annoyed as she her frightened about something.

Oh dear. 

“Relax. Workplace romance here is nothing new.” His words only serve to worsen the already infuriated gleam in her blazing, shimmering eyes. “Mint certainly isn’t shy when it comes to showing she’s in a relationship with Estinien. Nor your friend Laurelis for that matter. She’s still keeping in touch with Haurchefant, no?”

Illya doesn’t say anything, but her silence and the paling of her complexion speaks louder than any words she can spill from her lips. 

It’s precisely because he doesn’t know. So please, please shut your mouth.

He still cannot understand why on earth she would stay so adamant about keeping her feelings a secret anyway. For all he knows, the entire cast of actors... and the whole final fantasy crew for that matter, was fully aware of their pining - and Illya’s feelings towards her close co-worker and friend wasn’t unrequited either. 

Just like in the show, the pair are completely oblivious to their attraction to one another... something he’ll just have to fix with his bare hands then... 

But the matter is neither here nor there, and there was something of greater urgency to rectify now. 

Emet Selch turns his gaze back down to G’raha, who has gone uncharacteristically quiet... and sensing his seriousness, Illya too diverts her attention back to the sulking redhead. 

“You know... you’re a very talented actor. It’s so very rare to find someone who can capture the emotions and nuances of a character as well as you do.” Emet is the faster of them to speak, and Illya can barely believe the words she’s hearing leave his lips. 

Compliments and praise, genuine ones at that, coming from one of the cast’s eldest, most experienced actor who is not only known to be critical when it comes to the art of acting - but is a certified acting coach himself? The monumental honor is not lost to G’raha, as his ears perk up and he whips his head up with widened ruby eyes to look at Emet.

“Death is difficult to portray - dare I say, almost impossible. After all, how can we, who have never experienced death... truly capture the sorrow and despair in it?”

Emet Selch pauses, drawing in a breath before he lifts his hand up to gesture at the pair before him.

“Which is why this is your biggest opportunity to showcase your talents, to move the audience with not just the story, but your very acting! The only thing we can do, as men and women of this field, is to act as vehicles and carry the emotions of the story into the hearts of the fans.”

The man finally sighs, shoulders falling and arms flopping lazily to his side, the sentimentality of the words he just spoke tasting bitter on his tongue.

“Besides, even in death there is a beauty. The crystal exarch lived his life fulfilled and having realized his wish at the end. I expect you to remember that when you eventually see him off.”

There’s a silence that hangs and festers in the air for a moment, before the fur on G’raha’s tail stands and his chest puffs up in a show of renewed determination.

“Y-you’re right, Emet! The crystal exarch dedicated his life to finding a way to save others... There is no better way to end his legacy than to see the world he’s protected for so long finally saved!” 

Standing onto his feet, the miqo’te clenches his hands into fists and nods before casting a glance down at Illya.

“Illya! I will act my heart out to the best I can! I’ll act so hard that I’ll make you cry on set for sure!”

The corners of her lip tugs upwards into a wide smile, glowing as the afternoon sun basks down and reflects upon her snowy white hair and the blossoms of her amethyst eyes. Even with the black of the garments she wore and the eastern patterned ribbon that held the braid around her head in place, she was luminous and blinding in her radiant presence... not unlike the heroine of their story.

“Of course! And I’m sure the rest of the crystal exarch fan club will too when they watch that episode.” 

“Illya, G’raha!” A pink haired lalafellin calls out to them from a distance away, her olive green eyes wide and excited as she waves her hands high above her head. A raven haired man stands just behind her, his dark blue eyes narrowed as he reviews the script in his hands intently. “We’re starting soon! Get over here!”

“Coming! Just give us a second!” G’raha waves back with a grin before turning back to look at Emet Selch with an apologetic, yet grateful bow, his relaxed tail swaying gently from side to side behind his back. 

“Thank you, Emet. I won’t soon forget your encouragements. I’ll do my best and make sure to not let everyone down.”

“Yes, yes. Spare me the nauseating mush. I was just making sure you didn’t drag your co-actor down with your sulking.” 

The elder man now glances at the starry eyed girl with amusement flashing through his expression, and Illya can already feel her earlier lighthearted elation fade as quickly as it came. 

“By the way... I’m sure if you asked Yoshida properly.. he’d be willing to consider writing in a kiss scene with Liliya and-”

“If I were the warrior of darkness, I’d take my crescent moon cane and stab you with the end of it......”

------

Meanwhile, a little distance away from the trio, Kaye lets out a low hum as he reads and re-reads the words upon the small stacks of paper he held, expression doubtful and confused.

“You sure this is the script to Endwalker?”

“Yeah, I am! Alphinaud gave this copy and said that he got from miss Ishikawa directly! Apparently he’s playing another major role in the next season, which is why he got the script early as a heads up.”

“But... it says here that the crystal exarch gets reincarnated? Assuming that’s not gonna be changed... that means G’raha’s gonna be...”

Kaye’s head lifts and turns, eyes wide and brows furrowing in bemusement only to see an impish smile glimmer upon Lily’s face.

“Should we tell him?”

“Hm...? Nah... He’s gonna film the exarch’s death scene soon, right? I’m sure he’ll appreciate the little surprise later, anyways.”

[celticheartedfangirl]

My OUAT Rewatch -- S5E16 -- Our Decay

Link to Rewatch Review and Ranking archive

Oh good, a Zelena centric.  Just what I wanted right after a Hook centric.  

Oh yeah, Belle is back too.  I’ll get to her later.  And I’ll once again be using the strike out at certain points for those who can’t deal with my comments, and this will probably be a frequent thing until the end of Season 6.  

But first . . . . 

So basically they didn’t want Zelena murdering someone ON SCREEN so they made they Scarecrow CGI because are we really gonna get mad at her killing a CGI thing?  

This show, I swear . . . . . 

Honestly, aside from the Rumbelle scene (hold onto your butts for my commentary on that), I really don’t remember this episode.  I think this is really where my full-on rage watching kicked in, and I also know, based on a combination of memory and my archive, that by this time I was well into hosting a weekly chat session called “Once Upon a Gripe” where we just bitched about the show while it played in the background.  I think I stopped it somewhere in S6 when I just lost interest in even bitching about this shit in live chat.

But anyhow, I wanted to revisit April 2016 me to see what she has to say about this episode.  

https://celticheartedfangirl.tumblr.com/post/142213166482/honestly-all-the-people-hating-on-rumbelle-right

https://celticheartedfangirl.tumblr.com/post/142235268987/friendly-reminder-zelena-did-this

And oh lord, the ABC CS Advisory Board . . . . . . good times!

https://celticheartedfangirl.tumblr.com/post/142241735707/so-a-cs-stan-on-the-abc-advisory-board

Remember when I got kicked off that board because some shitty little CS fan got butt hurt because I didn’t fawn all over them?

Remember when I got back on stealthily and posted on here what the now fully CS worship space was saying? (That’s coming!)

Remember when that ENTIRE SITE got deleted and here we still are in 2020 during a pandemic?

But anyhow .  . . . . I digress . . . . so this episode . . . . 

I mean . . . . once again . . . . it hit the GOALS litmus test for OUAT episodes at this point . . . .  it didn’t totally suck . . . . 

The Scarecrow CGI aside . . . . . I really didn’t totally hate the Zelena/Hades stuff.  And hey, was that Zelena actually having character development?  

Not that I give a shit -- still hate her, still not sorry -- but at least it’s more than the pirate, who is literally YELLING AT A TEENAGE BOY while he offers . . . . what exactly?  

Sit down and STFU, you useless lamp.  

Also there was a side thing with Snowing using a ghost phone booth to talk to baby Neal or something stupid like that.  Whatever.  

But let’s go on to the Rumbelle stuff, shall we?  This is where the “ermagod I can’t deal with anything bad being said about perfect pwincess Belle even if it’s correct and true” folks need to bail . . . . . you’ve been warned.  

April 2016 me sums it up rather well:

https://celticheartedfangirl.tumblr.com/post/142479018702/here-is-my-frustration-with-the-rumbelle-scene

Except this line:

I believe there will be more to this and we haven’t seen the full context of this episode.  

Current me to 2016 me:

Get a clue, stop holding onto hope, you idiot.  No there’s not more, no you HAVE seen the full context.  THIS WAS IT.  And it’s bullshit.

But for an even better take, let’s visit the review of this episode that Lily Sparks posted (the one that the CS twits above where bitching about):

http://www.tv.com/news/once-upon-a-time-our-decay-review-jump-start-my-heart-145972732916/

I’d like to point out this line -- I’m serious Belle fans, back away or be sorry, and this are the words of Lily Sparks, NOT ME.  Also I agree with every single fucking word:

In other words:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFOvOQ8xLv4

Preach it, babe!

But anyhow, let’s look at this little section of the Lily Sparks review (pretend there is a strike out  here, Belle fans):

This speech was completely refreshing. Just Rumple saying, guess what, I'm the Dark One, I love it, don't ask me to change, just effing get on board the Dark One train and let's own this effing town.

There's a potential analysis here that he's basically an abusive spouse who, once his wife is entrapped by pregnancy, feels free to revel in the darkest side of his nature. But I'm actually going to reject this analysis, because Belle tried to legit stab Rumple, so if anyone here is abusive it's her. She also constantly threatens to leave in an effort to control his behavior which is incredibly toxic, no matter how well intentioned, and she actually has left him now what, four times? Yet she always comes back thirsty for more. So maybe it's time for all of us, including Belle, to face the fact she's into emotional chaos, toxic relationships, and bad boys.

BOOM!  Italics emphasis is mine, by the way.  

I really don’t need to say anymore.  Lily Sparks hit the nail on the head perfectly.  

Here, have a post-episode one-shot to fix this shit (literally my last EVER fix-it because I was DONE not too long after this):

https://celticheartedfangirl.tumblr.com/post/142247070882/honesty-rumbelle-one-shot

BTW, fun fact: During the filming of the Rumbelle scene, Emilie was super duper pregnant.  And it took them forever to get through the scene because Rumple tells her she’s pregnant and even as far apart as they were standing her belly was touching him.  Even watching the scene you can see them both kind of snicker and it’s probably the best take they could get.

Also fun fact:  Did any of the takes they didn’t use show up on the DVD deleted scenes?  Of course they didn’t.

Points tally:  

40 points to start

5 points for in character Rumple

20 points deducted for Zelena centric

5 points deducted for Hook

10 points deducted for OOC Belle

25 points added bonus for Rumple telling it like it is.  Yeah you heard me.

Reminder this is a PRO RUMPLE blog over literally every other character.  

No deductions, despite some of the stupid this episode wasn’t all that bad.  

Total points:  35

Follow #celtichearted OUAT ranking tag for more to come!

[thetimelordbatgirl]

Well for starters, just throw away the entire current script- there's no fixing this mess really.

BUT- keep Hades the same but also fix ALOT of continuity- in the second film, he appears to have a shop sign that's seen behind Carlos in Chillin' Like a Villain, so maybe bring that it in as a way to explain why he's out in the market place a lot and then rocking out in peace in his underground home- keep his motivations the same as well, cause PLEASE someone besides Uma, tear these people a new one.

A obvious fix would be DONT MAKE IT MAL CENTRED- this is the last movie, this should be a core four focus still and not just casting them aside like Mal's accessories she no longer needs- give them proper conclusions and arcs outside of Mal's- show us Evie trying to help the VKs, show us Carlos struggling to keep the four together while also him and Jane being the ones who can figure out ways to stop this and show us big brother Jay struggling for once cause he's outmatched and he needs to think beyond the rules now he was so set to keep to in D2 and show us Mal getting her dam consequences finally for everything in D2, show us Ben finally snapping at her about trying to erase her memories and how he's paranoid still about that, show us Uma getting some rightful revenge for everything still and when Mal tries to make it about pride?

"THIS ISN'T ABOUT PRIDE, THIS IS ABOUT EVERY CHILD YOU ARE NOW ABANDONING ON THE ISLE!"

With the Audrey detail......either scrap it or have it be through Maleficent- have Maleficent return from D2 and in the form of Diablo, have her pray on Audrey's emotions still from D1, the feeling of utter betrayal she feels and remember how Ben will scream at Mal finally how he feels about being spelled? It includes the love spell- and who overheard this? Audrey- who knows she was now humiliated by Mal and even Ben in some sense and no one ever said sorry and left her to drown basically- and when Maleficent gets her where she wants her? Similar to the pricking the finger scene from the movie, we see a almost tranced Audrey steal the sceptre and crown, but then we see green lights flash and we hear Audrey cry out....and then its just Maleficent in her eyes- having been her grand plan- after all, what better revenge on Auradon then through her own enemies daughter?

When it comes to VKs like Celia and Dizzy and the Smee twins- we'll keep them, but we'll show them Dizzy and the twins being worried over the other kids on the Isle still and Celia only being soft with them, but the VKs who abandoned them for Auradon and left for them so long? They don't owe them anything- and Celia slowly works from behind the scenes with Hades for their revenge on Auradon and to free the Isle- they never belonged there, and its time for freedom.

And how to tie our villains together? Hades and Celia and Uma are obviously at one point semi on the heroes side when Maleficent's reign of evil threatens Auradon and the Isle itself, cause lets say Maleficent originally ropes the three in with the promise of freeing the Isle- Uma and Hades and Celia however don't fully trust her and when the truth comes out Maleficent is just taking over and doesn't care about anyone but herself while possessing Audrey still? All three retreat from her and only team up with the heroes to ensure everyone's safety, including the Isle.

When it comes to ship-wise.....honestly, as mentioned, let Bal have conflict- let Ben finally snap and Mal have to face the consequences of what she did- break up? More like PAUSE for a bit.....or if we wanna bring in Beast Ben still, have it be that while they were arguing, one cleverly disguised trick of Celia's in the form of a card explodes and almost Naveen style, Ben's a beast and now Mal's gotta fix it- except Ben doesn't need to change- Mal needs to fess up and fix her mistakes and by the end of it- they hopefully better, Bens back to normal but they push more engagement for a bit- cause not everything needs to end in a dam wedding- it can end in them pushing it off for a bit to get their relationship more fixed, and this time, properly.

As for the whole sleeping spell and statues.....no to the statues- its just too much- the main threat would be the sleeping spell no matter what- its a Maleficent trademark- and while some people like Jane and Uma with her boys escaped via water or such, many fell unconscious and that's already a motivation to stop her and in the process, save Audrey from being possessed by Maleficent after one confrontation Maleficent taunted Mal how she made her own enemy and now it will cost Mal dearly- meaning by the end of it, Audrey gets the apology she deserves and isn't blamed at all and Maleficent is finally locked up and powerless fully.

And for the VKs thing.....VK Day will still happen, BUT- we see the VKs don't like it almost bar Mal maybe, and in the end after getting rightful angry responses and seeing the cost of their actions- children fighting for scraps still, children getting hurt and neglected and everything- they decide this time to fix it and by the end of it, we see them taking on every VK they can and getting them off the Isle with Uma being put in charge of it by Ben, aware shes more of a expert then any of them can be.

Hades being Mal's dad thing if it happens.....scrap it- there's too much already and again, Mal doesn't need a powerful name for her dad- she's the daughter of Maleficent- no more power please.

And for conclusions: as mentioned before, Ben and Mal put off getting married for now to fix their relationship, Hades finally has his underworld back, Uma is in charge of freeing the VKs and the last shot we see of her is kissing Harry on their newly acquired ship from Ben with Gil playing with some VKs they bringing to Auradon on the ship, we see Evie running her business but she laughs as she happily goes to model Dizzy's design for her while Doug smiles and watches, we see Carlos and Jane together as they do a re-do of her birthday cake and they smile at each other as the candle goes out, Jay is seen entering a ROAR stadium and is greeted by Lonnie, much to the twos smiles before they begin the match and Celia and her father are seen giving fortunes out, but this time they real fortunes while with Audrey, we see her greeting new VKs and smiling at them as she welcomes them, the last shot we see being off the kingdom and this time, its the end.

WHY DID THIS GET LONG

[coppermarigolds]

DYW Letter

Hi, Yuletide writer! Thank you in advance for whatever you write this year! Here are a few notes on my fic preferences:

What I like: Genre-wise, pretty much anything goes–angst, romance, fluff, humor, etc. I love fics that dig into characters’ heads: what they’re thinking and feeling, what drives them, how they interact and react to the world and the people around them, and so on. The same is true of relationships–what makes this pairing tick? Why are they together? And so on. I also love love love awesome female characters being awesome. That doesn’t have to mean being physically kickass, either. It could be anything from a witty line of banter to a thoughtful conversation to a creative problem-solving method, just to scratch the surface. I particularly enjoy female characters being assertive and taking charge in relationships.

What I’m not so into: Rape/non-con is my biggest DNW. I would prefer for character death to be avoided if possible (unless the story deals with the ramifications of a canonical character death, of course). While I’m fine with an angsty story, I tend to stay away from extremely dark, punch-to-the-gut angst. I like my endings happy, or at least bittersweet and/or hopeful.

Fandom-specific notes:

Horizon Zero Dawn, Aloy

Aloy is such a breath of fresh air and I love her so much. She’s wonderfully snarky and take-charge and doesn’t let anyone talk down to her, but also struggles with the pain of abandonment and ostracism. She’s one of those characters that I relate to in some ways, and aspire to be more like her in other ways.

As for other characters, I didn’t request any so as to leave it more open for potential writers. If you want to include supporting characters, feel free. Romance-wise, I really only ship Aloy with Erend, so while I’d love a story about the two of them, I’d prefer for her not to be paired with anyone else. But I’m perfectly fine with friendship fics involving other characters. Aside from Erend, who I adore, I’m particularly fond of Ikrie from the Frozen Wilds expansion.

A couple specific ideas (though please don’t feel limited to these):

• One thing I wished the game would have explored more is Aloy’s reaction to finding out she’s a clone. After spending her whole life in search of her mother, discovering she technically didn’t have one must have been a blow. But aside from a moment or two of shock and angst, the game doesn’t really give her much time or space to process the revelation. So, once HADES is defeated and the dust has settled, how does Aloy deal with the truth of her past? How does she feel about Elisabet?

• One of my favorite things in the game is finding the bits and pieces of files left behind by the “Old Ones”–i.e., us! I’d love to see a story with Aloy reacting to some of the ancient ruins and information she finds. Does she find them strange and confusing, or intriguing? Or do they help her feel closer to Elisabet?

The Letter, Hannah Wright and Zachary Steele

The first time I played this game, I started shipping these two practically from the moment they met. I loved how they almost instantly seemed to click and sympathize with each other despite the stark differences in their backgrounds. But then I got Zach killed by accident (oops), so I didn’t get to see how their relationship might pan out. So I’d love to see a fic that fixes my mistakes and fills in those blanks, whether during the game, or after (or both). Or if romance/shipping fic isn’t your thing, I’d be happy for a story focusing on their friendship, as well. Whatever makes you most comfortable!

Night in the Woods, Mae Borowski, Bea Santello, Candy Borowski

This game hit hard, but I loved it. While the whole thing was compelling, what I enjoyed most was Mae’s friendship with Bea and her relationship with her mother. (Her relationship with her mom, in particular, reminded me so much of my relationship with my own mom.) I loved how realistic the relationships were: complicated, messy, and sometimes damaged, but ultimately supportive and uplifting. One important note: while I’d like all three characters to be present in one form or another, you don’t have to give them all equal weight if you don’t want to. i.e., if you’d prefer to write a fic focusing on Mae and Bea with a minor appearance from Candy, or vice versa, that’s fine! I do prefer Mae and Bea as friends rather than in any kind of romantic context.

One thing I really appreciated in particular about this game was the thoughtful, realistic portrayal of mental illness, how difficult it can be to manage, and the effects it can have not only on the people who suffer from it, but on their loved ones as well. I would love to see a fic about how Mae moves forward after the end of the game. Does she finally get some effective treatment for her dissociative disorder? (My greatest wish for her!! It kinda seems like Dr. Hank wasn’t the most qualified to be treating mental illness.) Does she go back to college? Does she ever feel comfortable enough to leave Possum Springs again? Does she ever tell her mom what exactly happened down there in the mines? And what about Bea--is she ever able to fulfill her dream of going to college? I’d love a story dealing with any of these scenarios!

The Ritual, Moder

I first became aware of this film when I saw a Tumblr gifset of Moder and was awestruck. She has one of the coolest, creepiest monster designs I’ve ever seen. Needless to say I immediately watched the movie and was fascinated. I want to know everything about Moder and would love to see your take on her past and/or future. Where did she come from, and how did she end up in that forest? Was her worshiper’s claim that she’s a child of Loki true? If so, meaning Norse mythology is real, what are the implications of that? If not, what is her true origin? Is she an alien? The result of a horrible science experiment gone wrong? Why can’t she leave the woods? After the end of the film, does she ever find more worshipers, or is she stuck there in that forest, alone, forever? Basically there are so many unanswered questions, and a story addressing any of them would make me happy as a clam. 

Thanks again, and happy Yuletide!

[wearetakingthehobbitstogallifrey]

For the ask game: Creation of Man, The Thinker, Pietá, La Grand Jatte (can't remember if that's how it's spelled), American Gothic, and David? Feel free to only answer a few, I know it's a lot! Sorry!

Hi @nalavistahlia!  Thanks for asking!  And I will answer all of them :)

Creation of [Adam]: What is your favorite story from mythology?  Do you have any favorite fables or fairytales?

Well I already wrote about how I used to love Prometheus’s story a lot, and asI grew older, I got to read more diversemythology, not just Greek tales, but I think one of my all time favoritestories is that of Hades and Persephone.  I JUST LOVE IT SO!  I mean,the guy everyone thinks should be the evil one, the bad boy, is really just along-suffering man and brother who is trying to do his job and then in dancesthis lovely and brilliant young woman whose name Kori supposedly? equates to“little girl” and she is like hmm I like the Underworld I want to stay. And he is like…ok?  I mean how do you say no to someone who lookscute as hell but also like she could kill you with a glance? And she stays andis like QUEEN of the Underworld and they love each other and she literally becomeshis queen and he calls her Persephone “Bringer of Chaos” and its ADORABLEand then her mom is like yo Zeus I need my precious fragile daughter back andhe is like why do I have to get in the middle of this I just want to go back tobanging everyone else’s wives but to end everything as quickly as possible saysbro you need to return the girl and Hades does NOT want to do that but he alsoknows the situation is a delicate one so he goes to Persephone and is like safetravels to your mom’s house but also I know you love pomegranates, here eatthese (if you love me and want to be bound to the Underworld) and Persephoneknows exactly what the pomegranates will do and eats them! and long story shortshe spends half the year with her mom and half the year with the love of hereternal life and has a great time exacting the curses of men upon the dead…and Nala I think you know all this already but I couldn’t help but go on about it

As far as fairytales go, I used to read this lovely collection of tales from Arabian Nights and my favorite was Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.  Which should have been called Morgiana the Most Cunning and Courageous Woman in the World and the Forty Thieves.  Morgiana is one of Ali Baba’s slaves but when he gets himself in a pickle and is fixing to wind up deader than his dissected brother, Morgiana is like step aside I got this.  And she does.  Boils the bad guys in oil and if I remember she seduces and slays the leader.  And Ali Baba is Impressed and is like yeah uh you’re not a slave anymore can I call you my daughter please and this is literally what happens because she marries his son.  Morgiana is the coolest

The Thinker: Do you often find yourself getting lost in thought?  What is it usually about?

All. the. freaking. time.  And it might be about any number of things, most of them having to do with fiction.  Of late, my current novel in progress, the novel my brain is really wanting to spend its energy on, the beautiful yet painful relationships between the members of the Batfamily, the beautiful Pride and Prejudice fanfic modern genderbent adaption Fixing on the Hour and all the way that @thelonelybrilliance might break my heart in its upcoming sequel (hint hint), the tragedy of the Silmarillion, the fact that I am probably going to have to disregard the entire last quarter of Scarlet Heart Ryeo because dang it nobody is getting the things they deserve, the adorable cuteness of Ahn Min Hyuk and his love for Do Bong Soon, the glory of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, wondering whether I agree with the half-canon half not canon idea that the Mage is Guinevere, wondering what the heck happened to Rubio, and a whole slew of other things that probably have no importance to the real world

Pieta: Name something that tugs at your heartstrings.

ONE THING?  HAHAHAHAHA I am a fangirl and an INFJ.  EVERYTHING tugs at my heartstrings.  How about that time when Ahn Min Hyuk found out which brother was threatening him?  Yeah how about that?  WORST THING EVER MY POOR LONELY SON WAS CRYING AND BROKEN HOW COULD THAT WRETCH HURT MY SON

La Grande Jatte: Do you take time out of your day to kick back and relax?  Where can people find you if so?

Yes.  I can work hard but I also need a good balance of fun and relaxation or I become very stressed and even unhappy.  You might find me reading books or watching Netflix in my living room or bedroom, or sitting out in my backyard watching the sunset, or taking a walk in the late evening and looking at the stars, or chilling at my mom and dad’s house with them and my brothers.  Or spending time on tumblr, which I love to do all to well and often :D  Or going for a hike.  Or doing yoga.  Or, and this might sound strange, if I am really stressed by my day going to the gym is really relaxing because it helps clear my head so I can focus on the things that really matter!

American Gothic: Would you like to lead a simple and happy life?  Or do you prefer adventure?

Yes and yes.  :D  I want a simple and happy life, with a little house and a huge yard and weekly visits with friends and family and going out for coffee or movies or shopping or bowling or whatever.  Quiet days with books or yoga mats.  Walks in nature.  But I also want to travel and see the Yellowstone National Park and live on a horse ranch and hike all over Ireland and England and Scotland and Wales and visit Spain and Italy and Japan and Korea and NEW ZEALAND OMG MIDDLE EARTH!!! And I love nothing better than getting into characters’ heads and sometimes I wonder what it would have been like to have taken acting classes and done theater or film.  I don’t know.  Over all I suppose I prefer the simple life, because it is much easier to remain physically near the people I love.  And that is more important to me than anything.  So yes, I still hope to go on adventures throughout my life, but I always want to come home in the end.

David: Are you the bold type?  Do you want your ideas and thoughts to be heard all around the world? 

Noo…..I mean…As a writer I hope that someday I will have at least a small fandom dedicated to loving and spreading the love of my stories.  But I will not force myself in front of a microphone–I would get tongue-tied.  If I want to influence the world, it will probably have to be done subtly :)