#she also wrote two different versions of arthuriana

[liveandletrain]

Explaining to people that one of the most formative influences on my style as a writer was Rosemary Sutcliff always feels like an exercise in futility because no one ever knows who she is :')

[tookishcombeferre]

Awwwwww! *bows* A-thank you! Yeah. That actually, ironically, the whole "Sorcerer's Secret" thing also came off a conversation with Spouse Unit 1. We were talking about how the 3 Good Fairies seemed to know what "The Sorcerer's Secret" was. It seemed like it was some kind of actual academic theory. Maybe not an overly well known one. But, it was one they had heard of. So, I thought, well ... what if it was? That's not implausible. It also seems like, based on the culture of the two schools, that RPA would be more accepting of it than Hexley. So, while it may have been developed at Hexley, the Good Fairies would be more into adopting it as a practice. Hence, why they're actually aware of it. It also seems more like a pedagogical practice than an actual taught principle. This is also where a certain beloved faun teacher's youthful studies may or may not weave their way into the intricate tapestry of Hexley Hall's vine draped walls. But, I'll leave that thread hanging. Gotta keep some secrets. I also have an entire country built for Fionn based on the fact that he looks like the centaur from Tilly's wedding who, cannoncially, speaks - I believe - Irish. Warning Major Info Dump Incoming: I've called the country Fionn comes from Ulster after the "Ulster Cycle." That being one of two major collections ... yeah ... we'll call 'em collections ... of Irish lore. The Ulster Cycle includes a bunch of stories in it and was developed from the oral tradition of Northeast Ireland. Those were eventually written down and collected in this group of stories. Cú Chulainn, who am OBSESSED with, comes out of the Ulster Cycle. Which is why Ulster was named Ulster. Fionn mac Cumhaill's story may be, generally more popular, but Cú Chulainn is ... I could tell you that story 8 different ways because I've read and listened to probably 20 versions of it in my 30 years of life. I'm *obsessed.* I've read just about everything I could get my hands on that W. B. Yeats' wrote about him when I studied in Ireland. I've listened to podcasts. Every time one of my friends finds a song about him they send it to me. Like, I *love* Cú Chulainn. He is so awesome. Look him up! Y'all look him up! His story is tragic. It's an old timey war story, so it's really gruesome. I'll give that warning. But, it's so good. So. Good. Anyhow, Fionn's name comes from the main hero, Fionn mac Cumhaill, of the other kind of most famous collection of Irish stories This group of stories is generally called the "Fenian Cycle." There are several Irish stories that don't fit into these two Cycles, but the most famous ones come out of these two kind of "books" as it were. (The Legend of Manannán mac Lir is one of my favorites. He's in both cycles. But, his actual story, story is really beautiful. All his kids get turned into swans by a curse, and it's really sad. The Swan Princess, as a fable, was actually, I believe, loosely inspired by the Scotch-Irish myth.) (Whoops ... got a wee sidetracked.) But, anyway, that's the method to my madness. I really tried to do my homework to keep with the show's naming conventions and plots. I think, if I were to really sit with it, a bulk of the names of places, characters, etc. have some connection to famous pieces of literature. Merlin isn't just there as a call back to Sword in the Stone. Morgana is actually a character in Arthuriana. (You probably know that. She's pretty famous.) The wee-sprites are a call back to Gulliver's' Travels as well as being just a play on true fair folk in the Scotch-Irish tradition. Most of them are destructive little monsters. So, yeah, there's a whole *ton* of those little references tucked in there. So, yes. I did my homework. I very much did my homework. Also, bonus headcanon for making it this far is that Cedric is the one who taught Amber to speak fluent "Ulsterian." The reason she knows conversational Ulsterian is because of him. RPA may have taught the greeting. She can speak the language because he lived there, he learned it, and he taught it to her.

Cedric for ask game- 1, 12, 14, 25

1. Why do you like this character? Okay. So, ever since I watched Avatar: The Last Airbender, I have been a sucker for a well written redemption arc. However, if I were to get into specifics, I think there's a lot to explore in this character from a literary perspective. He's complicated. Very complicated. His motivations make a lot of sense even if he goes about things in ways that aren't objectively moral. Which, honestly? That is stuff you don't see in children's TV much since Gargoyles or other things from the 90s and early 2000s. He has the backstory and personality of a Shakespearean tragic hero. He reminds me of like if you shoved Macbeth and Hamlet in a blender in the best way possible, and then, somehow, came out with Macduff? IDK how that works, but that's what happened. Secondly, I find him relatable to my literal life. Zuko hit me when I was just a little younger than Zuko's age. I saw Sofia the First, for the first time in earnest, as I approach 30. I am, exactly, the right age to relate to Cedric's personal issues. So, I like him because a lot of the stuff he deals with is the stuff I'm processing in my own life. Aging parents. Trying to repair a difficult relationship with my own dad as we both grow older. Realizing I might not be able to fix everything that's missing there, and trying to walk the line between indifference and cynicism. Check. Trying to form a solid relationship with a/my child and teach them things. (Granted my squish is biological, but still. Check.) Trying to look past my own personal failings to create a better world for my kid and future generations. Check. Trying to look past what people say/ have said about me and others like me to see the intrinsic good in myself despite my nuanced set of identities. Check. Realizing that my kid just existing in my life is what gives me hope to see myself as great. And, maybe, just maybe, that's a lesson I can teach my kid without them having to go through all the crap I've gone through to learn it: we are great because, unmasked, in our fullness, together with others, we are greater than in isolation. So, I like him because it's easy to walk his journey and see some elements of my own life and where I'm at personally. And, you know what? The show does a nice job presenting this struggle. I feel less alone in my own crap when I watch it. I've got a buddy to walk in my adult problems with while my kiddo gets a princess to learn how to be a good person alongside. I LOVE that. It's truly something we both get something out of, which, is, like, SO supremely rare. As a parent, I just cannot express how much I care about that. Bluey might be the only other program I can think of that does "both" as well as Sofia does. Like, I don't know if there are any other fans in this fandom who are parents. But, man ... Cedric hits because *all* of the life stuff he's dealing with is stuff that, like, is so real. Especially the stuff with his parents. Oof. I don't know if any of y'all have had parents age. But, it's a different beast y'all. It makes you think about things, it makes you want to retreat, and it makes you want to fix things - all at the same time. Sorry if that's a lot. But, when we talk about Cedric being an adult, this is what we mean. So, I just kind of fell in love with Cedric's character because in so many ways his story just kept slapping for me from every angle.

[captain-aralias]

Name ten favourite characters from ten different things (books, tv, film, etc.), then tag ten people

I resisted doing this last time, because all my favs are rubbish men (or men who aren’t rubbish, but are still men). but now you know that, I guess I can just tell you :/

One per canon sort of helps, although it also really really doesn’t.

here’s the thing - if i wrote in that fandom, i probably love the character far more than i would love any other character, because i spent far far more time thinking about them than i do other characters i also really really like. and i’ve written in a lot of slash fandoms. 

i also really like protagonists and/or leaders - i mean, you’ll see.

in (approximately?) alphabetical order.

1. Sirius Black - Harry Potter

everyone is in love with sirius - he just has everything you want in a character. i mean, most people here love baz - there’s no surprise there’s a massive crossover with wolfstar. which i, of course, wrote plenty of before i was 20.

i think if i was in Potter now, i’d probably slide away from sirius to prefer remus because everyone preferred sirius, but i don’t know. a lot of my ships have a kind of sirus in them, even if they don’t necessarily make this list, but who i obviously adore.  

2. Roj Blake - Blake’s 7

he’s the underdog in his fandom - everyone loves avon! i love avon too - but i really love blake’s anger and weariness and commitment to doing good. and his dad jokes. here’s a thing i wrote ages ago about why i like blake best.

3. The Doctor - Doctor Who

the doctor is now a woman - does this redeem me? of course not. (i was very sad when it was announced that the doctor was now a woman, because - you know, i like rubbish men. but i like this new doctor too. and also, i realised that i was also angry because i wanted to be the doctor and now jodie is instead of me.) 

my favourite doctor is paul mcgann - because he was the doctor when the programme was off the air and so all kinds of crazy fucked up shit happened, plus he’s the original time war doctor. plus - eight looks sweet, but is actually dark on the inside. and he makes shit jokes, too. 

here’s a thing i wrote even longer ago about eight.

4. Benton Fraser - Due South

hello! what’s this? this man is NOT rubbish. a bit autistic, but not that rubbish at all - by all rights if i’m going to fall for a paul gross character, it should be geoffrey tennant, and i DO love geoffrey, he’s exactly my type. but oh - i love fraser. he is so beautiful and honourable, and i just love honour. and people who are true hufflepuffs, through and through. even as i love me an anti-hero or a villain. i also like them straightforwardly good. 

i have never written benton fraser and don’t ship him with anyone, although i was closer to Ray V than Ray K.

5. Sherlock Holmes - Sherlock Holmes

book!holmes and granadatt!holmes, who basically is book holmes. you can see he follows on fast from fraser - they’re men of a similar cut. super smart, a bit rubbish with people but also super kind and dorky. and jeremy brett is divine, of course.

i have never written holmes. i platonically ship him with watson, and i like both the watsons from granada!holmes.

6. Horatio Hornblower - Hornblower

... super smart, socially awkward, protagonist, leader - i mean, you see where i’m coming from. 

there was a moment where i might have gone into hornblower fandom, instead of blake’s 7. i wrote hornblower/bush. which is a very true ship, even though hornblower’s wife lady barbara is also amazing.

7. Arthur Pendragon - T.H. White’s The Once and Future King/Camelot

i took authurian literature at university because i loved the movie ‘camelot’ so much. what i learned from this course is that i have no patience for real medieval literature - but i love T.H. White’s Arthur, on whom Camelot’s Arthur is based. 

he’s kind and sad - he tries to set up a utopia and fails. he knows his wife is cheating on him with his best friend, and his reaction is to try and warn them both, then to sentence her to death because he can’t sacrifice his whole country for her - and then to hope that lancelot rescues her. richard harris plays him beautifully.

I have never written Arthur, but I think if I was to ever write something ‘original’, it would actually be Arthuriana.

here’s a thing i wrote about arthur the last time i was avoiding this meme, and how he’s the platonic ideal at the bottom of quite a few of these.

8. Jean Luc Picard - Star Trek: TNG

Picard is Hornblower in space. You get me. 

i have never written picard. i would ship him with Q (who i love), but i know that picard hates that dick. understandably.

9. Simon Snow

i wrote about why i love simon really recently. while he isn’t a super genius like pretty much everyone else i love, i think you can see bits of him in Blake and Arthur, particularly.

10. Numair Salmalin

Probably the first fic I ever wrote was about Numair’s escape from Carthage - and then I updated it (which is the version squirrelled away on my AO3 under a pseud, but still very old). he’s a powerful magician, he’s a womaniser who falls in love and reforms, super smart, clearly an ex-anti hero. he’s great. 

i also like jonathan, of course. and alanna - but not as much. not as much. 

the only woman who was even slightly close to making the list was... 

hectate hardbroom - who is over the top and emotionally repressed in a way that female characters often aren’t. she’s great. and i love watching her. she would have been number 11. 

i have never written worst witch. although i was forced to dress up two halloween’s ago, and i was miss pentangle.

i also like villains - so i love servalan from blake’s 7 and azula from A:tLA, and i love jenna from b7, but not more than the men of their fandoms.

i wouldn’t even really put princess leia on the list, even though she’s great - because i was the right age to imprint on... luke skywalker. (see above) retrospectively, i think that han solo is awesome and leia is awesome and luke is probably whiney or whatever. but that’s not what my heart says. 

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here’s 10 tags from a mix of fandoms: @bunn1cula​ @annabellelux​ @agapi42​ @flintandfuss​ @ilsa-fireswan​ @xivz​ @thisbluespirit​ @milo-fanarts​ @giishu​ @sbazzing​