#star guardian harp

[astrodart]

HEYO! Doing a New Year Sale on all my stickersheets over on my ko-fi! I would like to open up some space for some new stickers this year!

Make use to use the code: NEWYEAR to get 50% your order!! check it out here!

[obscurecharactershowdown]

Group F Round 1

[image ID: the first image is of Harp, a person with medium length blond hair, large, round glasses and a black suit and tie. a small, white creature with yellow, pink, and blue markings, 4 legs, and pointed animal-like ears sits on her shoulder. Harp appears to be crying, but smiling. her body, visible from the head to waist, is transparent starting from just below the chest. the second image is of Dadish, a cartoon radish with a happy face. end ID]

Harp

Magical girl who (technically iirc) uses it/its pronouns canonically. Very cute but also has a very sad story.  [mod note: the official Star Guardian website page uses she/her pronouns for Harp, which is why I used them in the image ID. this was not an attempt to misgender the character]

Dadish

Dad radish

[surelysimplyme]

Sailor Mercury Crystal Power

Just randomely decided to do this and now I'm currently doing all the Sailor Guardians crystals.  Hubby critiqued my work and asked of I would change the golden symbol of the harp item to stars.  I quite like this minor change and I'll be doing it for the other guardians as well.

Since my youth, I've always loved Usagi/Serena, but for the last few years, I've identified more with Ami as I've always loved my books, though I'm not as intelligent as her and I have some of the same traits as well such as her shyness or lack of social cues.

I'm really happy how this turned out.

Used a screencap of their symbol outlines Sailor moon belongs to Naoko Takeuchi

[juukai]

DCAtober day 6: Hue

moon/sun x reader, ~3k words, fluff

plz be kind I haven't posted my writing in years

The question was innocent enough and asked extremely casually. Somehow it still threw you off just enough to have you looking up from tying Jamie's shoes for her so that she could leave.

"Huh?"

"Your favorite color, star! Somehow we don't have that information yet. Which is weird, I could have sworn we would have asked as part of your first introduction day..." Sun tapped his chin and gave the impression that he wasn't quite looking at you, though without pupils it was hard to tell. He seemed to be muttering that last part to himself- or to the both of them in there- at any rate.

You shrugged and tightened the last of the bows for Jamie and sent her off to her waiting guardian. An early pick-up today, it hadn't even been nap time yet. You hoped that she was going to get to do something fun at home with her family.

"Well, I suppose if you ask again reeeally nicely this time, I'll let you in on the secret."

Sun huffed in obvious play outrage. "I asked you nicely the first time! My manners are impeccable!" You grinned at the lack of the plural there- it was no secret that Sun thought Moon was slacking on manners. The two of you watched each other for a few moments before his shoulders dropped and he gave you a simulated sigh.

Ha! Point to you.

He must have seen the smugness creeping in, because just as suddenly he had his hand clasped to his chest and another outstretched in your direction as he swept into a bow. Point lost, now he was going into full thespian mode.

It was really hard to not either push at him to get him to stop or to start laughing before he could even speak.

"Please, my dearest and most precious friend!" Oh, he was really leaning into it. He had a little accent going and everything. "We cannot continue like this. Will you not gift us with the knowledge of the hue held closest, the most cherished, in your heart?"

You were doing a terrible job of not laughing at him. Some of the children were giving the two of you strange looks, while a couple others were giggling at the theatrics.

"Oh my god, please stop."

His grin hadn't changed and yet somehow it looked so self-satisfied. If there weren't a bunch of kids around to set a good example for, you'd definitely be pushing him now. It was still very tempting anyways.

He rolled his wrist, reminding you that he was waiting for you to answer him. Between chuckles you finally gave him the response that he was waiting for and dipped lower in his bow before standing up straight with a flourish.

"You're so dramatic." You didn't give him a shove, but you did purposely bump into him once he was completely upright again. He let you and swayed with the motion to give you the effect that you were looking for, and probably also to soften your thunk against his hard frame a little for your benefit.

His rays spun merrily as he looked out over the daycare to get a beat on what the kids were all doing, then returned his attention to you. "Why thank you! We do try our best."

For a while the two of you just stood near one another, the both of you watching different zones to make sure that everyone was following the rules and playing nice. Sun didn't always seem to prefer when there wasn't a guided activity going, but naptime was coming up before too long and you knew Moon harped in their headspace that the kids needed a little wearing out before they were expected to sleep. There was only so much the moondrops could do to help them get to sleep, and the kids always settled for a story better if they were tuckered out.

"Why'd you want to know my favorite color, anyway?" you asked after a while.

"Hmm?" Sun perked up at your question, though he kept looking out across the room. "Oh, one of the little ones wanted to give you a star sticker earlier, for being such a good helper and since we usually call you star! But it seems like they might have forgotten now. I can still give you a sticker, though, if you'd like."

You laughed and waved one hand vaguely. "No, that's okay. Now you know for next time. I guess that got missed somewhere in our introductions." You looked at him and then thought about it for a moment. "... Y'know, I don't know yours either. What's your favorite color, Sunny?"

"Yellow!" He answered so quickly that you had to wonder if that was what he legitimately preferred or if it was a scripted like- sometimes the animatronics, for all that you forgot that they were programmed to be the way that they were sometimes and that they weren't just really weird looking people, couldn't escape a coded response.

"Uh huh. Not sure if I expected that or not." It seemed like too obvious an answer, since he was yellow. But then, it still would have been fitting, you supposed.

The two of you went your separate ways for a while a little later, Sun going to return to taking a hands-on approach to playtime when one of the kids came up and asked to go to the bathroom. It wasn't too long once you came back that it was time to start clearing the softer area of toys and foam shapes to drag out the nap mats and blankets, You helped to get them all set up with the children while Sun made his way to the light switch.

The music shifted to a version of the normal song that was much calmer and quieter, and lacked the goofy sound effects sprinkled in, as the lights dimmed. You stayed off to the side as Moon came back to the area and passed out little wrapped candies to everyone who sat nicely for story time. He gave you a rather impish little look as he made a big show of skipping over you with the distribution of the drops, which earned an echo of amused little giggles. You didn't really want one anyway but you still put one hand on your hip and wagged a chastising finger at him.

You collected all of the wrappers from the candies while Moon took a poll on what story everyone wanted to hear and then started to recite from his internal library. Sometimes he used physical books just so that he would have pictures to share with the kiddos, but today he recited it without one while the kids hunkered down. Most of them were asleep before the story ended and you watched from a good distance away as Moon checked on the remaining few stragglers to make sure that they didn't need anything, then he left their immediate area so as not to disturb them.

You knew that his sensors had picked up that they'd fallen asleep when he approached you. He only put so much distance between him and them when everyone was out and he wouldn't be needed for a while.

"Finished hovering?"

His chuckled softly. "Brat. Are you going to go take your break?"

You shrugged. "In a bit. Thought I'd keep you company first, I'm sure Sun won't mind if my break bleeds over into his time a little."

Moon's faceplate ticked to the side once, twice, and then a full spin in delight. "Oh, he minds. But Mr. Manners needs to learn to share." You laughed, though you were mindful of your volume. You'd gotten plenty of scolding in the past from the naptime attendant, who took his job of making sure sleep happened very seriously. It and security were about the only things he seemed to take seriously.

"You two bickering again? Over lil' ol' me?" You snickered. "You see me almost every day, I don't believe for a minute that either of you actually mind me going on break."

Without having pupils to make it visible, Moon was forced to roll his eyes with his whole head. "Of course we don't, we want you to take your breaks." You could see him pause to give his programming time to work through not needing to tell you to rest. It was a process, he had explained once, bypassing certain triggers to his protocols since adults weren't people that he was in charge of unless it was for security. "That doesn't mean," he continued, "that we like missing time with you."

You were not getting flustered by the robot. "Aw, shucks," you joked as a distraction. "You two are going to make me blush."

He made an amused sound before a comfortable silence settled between the two of you for a couple moments. He watched the children for some of that time, on the look out for any signs that someone was stirring, but luckily most naptimes went very smoothly and stayed dull. You made your way over to one of the craft tables after a while and Moon shadowed you all too quietly for a tall animatronic covered in bells.

You started to clear the table and get things organized again when you came across a sheet of stickers that reminded you of earlier. "Hey, Moon Man?"

"Yes, Starling," he answered in a sickly-sweet tone. You might have deserved that teasing, you know that he doesn't like 'Moon Man', you just used it anyway to annoy him.

"What's your favorite color?"

He hesitated, tilting his head at you before he looked down at the stickers in your hand. You saw the lightbulb in his brain go on. "I am obligated to tell you blue or purple."

You wrinkled your nose at that. "Okay, gross. They really don't let you guys pick your own favorites? Is Sun's actually yellow?"

He stared at you for a moment that felt like it stretched on a little too long. Was he trying to think of something to say? Was he talking to Sun? There couldn't have been something in his programming that kept him from talking bad about the rest of his programming, right?

You only noticed that he'd been slowly leaning in close to you when he stopped. "No."

"No..?"

He didn't move back at all. "No, it's not his favorite."

"Oh." The atmosphere between the two of you was starting to feel slightly heavy but at the same time you didn't move to put any extra space there. "What... are your actual favorite colors? Can you even answer that?" Hopefully they could.

It took some time for Moon to respond but this time you really did get the feeling that he was having some sort of communication with his counterpart. It was a loaded silence.

"Yours."

Huh? "Mine? What, you both like my favorite one?"

He shook his head slightly and the bell on the end of his nightcap jingled softly. "No." He seemed to hesitate and you let him have time to give you an actual answer, just like you'd let him have time to get around the knee-jerk reaction to tell you to nap. "Your color is our favorite."

You started to open your mouth to express your confusion about that, but stopped short when his cool, clawed fingers met your cheek with extremely gentle tenderness. "The color of your skin, your hair, your eyes." His hand cupped your face and tilted it a little further up towards his. "The colors of the clothes you wear aside from your uniform, the ones you pick the most often during crafts time, the one of your phone case."

You were pretty sure that your brain was short circuiting. Was he really saying these things, holding onto you like this? Sure, you and the both of them had gotten pretty close over the time that you'd been working inside the daycare, especially recently, but nothing like this. Was he joking? This wasn't the way that he had ever messed with you before, you had no reason to believe that he would be now, but him being serious made just about as little sense. Your lips parted like you were going to say something, though you had no idea what it could have been. Nothing actually came out.

"The color of your lips," he continued as if your floundering had drawn his attention there and you felt the pointed tip of his thumb just barely brush underneath your bottom lip, which made you squeak. "Your blush."

And now you could feel that you were blushing. Your cheek felt hot against the contrasting temperature of his hand.

"I..." You didn't actually know what to say. You stared up at him, still pole-axed, for a moment before his intensity came down by a few degrees. The way that he held you and looked at you was still achingly gentle, but the pressure of it lessened enough that you could feel some of your higher thought processes rebooting. "You... You both?"

His free hand came up to hold your other cheek and he used that to hold you still as he pressed the teeth of his faceplate against your forehead. "Both of us, I assure you, starlight." He stayed there for a moment before pulling back with a soft chuckle. "Did you not notice?"

You shook your head, dumbfounded and wide-eyed.

"Sun thought he was being so obvious. He's losing his mind that I was right and we just needed to be a little more... forward." He practically purred the word and you felt your face heat even further.

"Was he? Being obvious?" You didn't have any idea that this was coming. Were there signs that you had missed? You thought that he was just being friendly! That they were both just friendly! For as much as you found yourself forgetting that they weren't actually just sentient and independent beings also performing a job every day it had never once occurred to you that they could develop feelings like this. That felt like it was doing them a massive disservice now while Moon held you in place and stared at you.

Another chuckle. "A little, but obviously not enough." He backed a little more out of your space, and took in the look of surprise still on your face. A hesitation came over him then, though he didn't release you. "Is this okay? Am I making you uncomfortable?"

"No, no! It's okay!" You reached up and held onto his wrists over the ribbons and bells on each. "I just... can't believe..."

He snickered and you could see the way that his constant smile strained at the edges into something so mischievous and smug but with the hold that you had on him and him on you, you could also feel the way that he seemed to be nearly vibrating with energy. He didn't look it, he always outwardly seemed so much calmer and nonchalant than Sun, but you could feel the slight tremor against your skin and you could hear the muffled way that his internal cooling system was working hard to keep his temperature even.

"Then we have your permission to pursue this?"

The answer was out of your mouth before you even had a chance to think about it. "Yes. Both of you." It didn't strike you as something strange until after you'd said it. You had never really considered how logistics with one of the highly advanced animatronics would go, let alone with two separate AI. But this didn't seem strange to them, or at least to Moon. And Sun had never brought anything up before, though he had obviously spoken with Moon about it if there had been this supposed conversation about the tactic that they should take for their approach. He'd chastised Sun teasingly to you for needing to learn to share, but it seemed like there must have already been some sort of discussion about doing just that.

Moon's expression was downright devilish. "Good. In that case, would you mind staying a little late tonight? I think I might need some help once the daycare's closed..." He laughed at your spluttered response and leaned to press his mouth against your forehead one more time before letting you go with visible reluctance. "Don't worry, I'll put in a note to your manager for an overtime request. Now, naptime's over."

You felt very much like a mouse being cornered by a cat as he looked at you for another few seconds before he took a couple steps backwards. "Have fun with Sun, little star."

Oh. He was making his way to the light switch. "Wait-!"

He cackled at you before he lunged for the light and slapped the button.

You missed the change between the naptime and the daytime appearance as you blinked to adjust your eyes to the light. There was a moment where no one made a sound while Sun completely took over and the standard daycare music started back up. A couple of the children started to rouse but there'd still be a small window of peace until you went and got them up for lunchtime and whatever other activities Sun had on the docket for the day.

That quiet was shattered when Sun's eyes landed on you just before he started marching your way. "Moon got to kiss you first?!"

Oh, so that was what he'd been doing to your forehead? "Oh boy," you breathed as seven feet of excited and agitated robot burst your personal bubble.

[valacre]

: ̗̀➛ The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?

Optimus Prime x Reader - transformers prime

Delightful music lulled him gently as the moon's bright glow lit up the land around him. Optimus revelled in these quiet moments where it was only him, the silence of the night and the stars, the soft hum of earthly classical music, and your voice occasionally humming quietly. He’d been hesitant by the idea of becoming your guardian, thinking Ratchet had been the better choice seeing as you were quiet and preferred to stay at base, but the medic had been against it… in the beginning.

Now, Optimus wondered whether his old friend had grown to regret his choice as you were nothing like the children. Of course, you were an adult, so that was already different, but your temperament was soft and gentle; timid. You didn’t speak often and when you did it was with a soft voice, one that always caused a hush to fall over the base. Everyone grew to know that once you spoke, they had to quiet down, or else they didn’t hear you.

Your voice reminded Optimus of the harps and the violins singing out through the radio, yet as he listened to you hum along, he found your voice to be more pleasant than the already pleasant instruments. It made him smile.

You’d been so careful in the beginning, keeping your distance and opinions to yourself, as if afraid of speaking out of line or saying something offensive. Yet even now Optimus realised you often preferred to listen and watch, your eyes analysing and soaking up all the information they possibly could. It had been one of the many reasons why you’d thrown such a beautiful Christmas celebration for them all, surprising even Ratchet as you’d stayed up the night to prepare. Gifts had been wrapped, a fake tree set up with wonderful ornaments, lights decorating the space and casting a cosy glow, and you, most wonderful of all, standing with a beaming smile despite the clear tiredness in your eyes.

It'd been well into the night before you’d passed out, exhausted after a whole night and day, and it’d been Optimus who’d picked you up and cradled you within his servo before he’d carefully transformed around you to bring you home.

Ah, your cosy little home so far away, tucked within a valley covered in snow and frost at the height of winter in your country, yet the warmth emanated from within your windows, and though Optimus had been reluctant to awaken you from your lovely slumber, he’d seen it as worth it once your eyes opened and you sleepily spoke his name.

“Oh, thank you for taking me home, Optimus. You’re lovely,” you’d said, and when you’d leaned close to kiss his dashboard, his engine had stuttered, and he’d been rendered speechless. It had been entirely unexpected, but your barely conscious self hadn’t noticed his reaction, only wishing him a ‘Merry Christmas’ before you’d left and begun your short walk through the gate and towards the front door of your home.

Optimus had stood long after you’d gone inside, watching your figure move about before lights slowly flickered off, the last one coming from your bedroom. Only then did he leave, driving slowly to think through what had happened, and how it’d made him feel.

It hadn’t taken him long to realise his growing love for you, though it would take him months to accept them fully within himself, yet as he now drove with you, putting on an excuse of going on a late night patrol as a reason for being alone with you, he found that although he was worried for your wellbeing, he didn’t entirely reject the idea of allowing himself to love you.

He wouldn’t say it. Couldn’t say it… not yet. Maybe once the Decepticons were no longer an issue. Maybe if they somehow managed to win the war so that Earth could be left in peace… maybe then he could confess. Maybe then he could allow himself to hold you, to kiss you, to love you fully.

“The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?” you asked, gazing out of the passenger window at the full moon, standing out as a bright silver light upon the black night sky. One of your hands held onto the seatbelt, thumb gently stroking the material, feeling it tighten ever so slightly against you.

“Yes, it is,” said Optimus, slowing down slightly to draw out more time with you.

You made a gentle huff as you smiled, so quiet he barely heard it, and you turned to look at his steering wheel, the Autobot insignia in the centre glowing slightly. The look in your eyes was tender and it made Optimus’ spark hum pleasantly.

“I’m glad you asked me to join you tonight,” you said, hand reaching to stroke along the inside of his door. Optimus shuddered at the touch. He wondered whether you knew what you were doing, whether you were aware of how much your touch affected him. “The sky is so clear, and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen so many stars before. I’m glad I get to experience it with you.” You leaned against the door and let out a quiet sigh. “I like spending time with you, Optimus. You’re lovely to be around.”

“As are you, y/n,” said he, trying to calm the aching yearning which had so quickly flooded his spark. Only allowing himself to gently squeeze you with the seatbelt which held you, he took a moment to reflect on the words you’d said earlier to distract himself, the comment regarding the moon. It had sounded so familiar, as if he’d read about it somewhere on the few occasions he had enough free time to indulge in Earth’s literature.

Perhaps he’d ask you about it later so you may enlighten him, but for now, he allowed the sounds of violins, harps, and the piano to fill the silence, sending you both into a lovely trance as he slowly drove at a crawl back towards the base.

[bookofmirth]

What could happen to the Prison in acotar5?

As a preview, this post is going to be hella long. It focuses on things we learned primarily on acosf and hofas. It also discusses the Illyrians and the Valkyries, Pegasuses, the 8-pointed star, and the fallout from Avallen being restored by Bryce. 

The tl;dr is that I think that the Valkyries (and potentially some Illyrians) could serve as guardians for the Prison, along with being a neutral political force and army in Prythian, not aligned with a specific court but rather being a balance between them all. 

Before you proceed, be aware that I tend towards analysis of the current content of the books, not theorizing about what will happen in the future, so this may not read like theories that other people in the fandom come up with. A majority of this is facts from the books, with me tying things together to think about the implications.

Part one: what we know based on HOFAS

First, it's helpful to get some context for what we know (for sure) about the Prison:

It was the land of dusk (not a Court in the way Prythian currently has courts).

After the events with Fionn, Theia, Helena, Silene, and Pelias, the land was mostly abandoned.

When Silene returned from Midgard, she created the Prison in order to hide the Harp, using the monsters she put there to deter anyone from looking for it. Silene decided if this place was seen as cursed, then let it be cursed.

We also find out that Silene left her portion of Theia's light under the Prison, which Bryce then took.

There is also a large cache of firstlight remaining under the Prison.

When Bryce used Truthteller and Gwydion/the Starsword to heal Avallen, Pegasuses appeared again.

Avallen and the Prison are in "thin" spots in the universe that make it easy to travel from one planet to the other (fwiw, this idea is not unique to sjm. See: Stephen King.) These spots are identifiable by the mists that surround them.

These thin spots are also on the nexus of ley lines, where energy flows.

It stands to reason that when Bryce "unlocked" Avallen, the energy and magic that it now experiences will flow to other places along the ley lines, IE the Prison. It's also implied that the land keeping the power imprisoned is one of the reasons it grew sick.

Bryce's actions in hofas have implications for Prythian. While the above is related to the Prison, we also have:

Nesta now has possession of the Starsword/Gwydion

Azriel's reaction to Truthteller and the Starsword being together

The 8-pointed star (more on that later)

Part two: what we know based on ACOSF

So based on this information, we need to go back to acosf and look at what sjm left for us. 

The main thing to keep in mind is that Nesta found the Harp in the Prison, and that it was laying on an 8-pointed star. 

One of the main dangling threads from acosf - that we know to be canon, that is not a theory or supposition - is that the Illyrians and the Valkyries are going to continue training together. We know that Mor is interested in training with the Valkyries. From hofas, we know that Nesta is every bit as well trained now as she was in the months since acosf.

Now, there are a couple of partially-fulfilled statements from acosf that I think are relevant here, in addition to Valkyries and Illyrians continuing to train.

The first is the wish that Nesta made on the friendship bracelets. 

"I wish for us to have the courage to go out into the world when we are ready, but to always be able to find our way back to each other. No matter what." (chp 59)

We know that in the Blood Rite, the second half of that wish was fulfilled. The first half has not been fulfilled yet. That gives us very good reason to assume that the first half will be fulfilled.

All three of them, Nesta, Emerie, and Gwyn, will go out into the world at some point in the future. 

There is another, much larger implication that was made in acosf:

Nesta smirked. “If we are to be Valkyries born again,” she said, “maybe we should combine the Illyrian and Valkyrie techniques.” She’d meant it in jest, but the words rumbled through the space, as if she’d spoken some great truth, something that made fate sit up. Azriel turned to them fully this time, eyes narrowed. Like those shadows had whispered something to him. A chill breathed down Nesta’s spine. Cassian stared into their faces. Like he beheld something he hadn’t seen there before. (chp 44)

And the later on:

Gwyn whispered, “I am the rock against which the surf crashes.” Nesta straightened at the words, as if they were a prayer and a summons. Gwyn lifted the blade. “Nothing can break me.” Cassian’s throat tightened, and even from across the ring, he could see Nesta’s eyes gleaming with pride and pain. Emerie said, “Nothing can break us.” The world seemed to pause at the words. As if it had been following one path and now branched off in another direction. In a hundred years, a thousand, this moment would still be etched in his mind. That he would tell his children, his grandchildren, Right then and there. That was when it all changed. Azriel went wholly still, as if he, too, had felt the shift. As if he, too, were aware that far larger forces peered into that training ring as Gwyn moved. (chp 60)

SJM used similar phrasing in the same book for which we know the consequences: 

Strike after strike, and Cassian could have sworn the world paused as she unleashed herself with the same intensity she brought to training.

This is when Nesta is Making the weapons, which we find out later is actually a significant moment, not just Cassian being hyperbolic about how great his mate is. Then, when Nesta is using the Mask and Harp to heal Feyre, the world also pauses. This phrasing is used when something important is happening - even if we don't know what the implications are, yet.

Given that we know for sure that the Illyrians and the Valkyries are going to continue training, and there are loose threads because we don't know the implications of fate/the world standing up at Nesta's, Emerie's, and Gwyn's statements and/or actions, there is a very, very good chance that the Valkyries will continue being a big part of acotar. 

My final point about the Valkyries is that in myth, they rode horses through the sky - not Pegasuses because those are from Greek myth, and Valkyries are Norse. But they fly through the sky on horses nonetheless. (This is literally the only piece of evidence I have coming from outside the books.) Pegasuses are connected to Avallen and likely the Prison. We know that Helion keeps some, but they are struggling to breed/thrive. (We also know that sjm loves to take what she wants from myth, so it’s not a stretch to think she’d shrug at the Greek/Norse distinction.)

All of this together tells me that the Valkyries have more story coming, and it is connected to the Illyrians'.

Part three: The 8-pointed star

A common thread between both series is the 8-pointed star. There are a few ways in which it is used:

Nesta and Cassian's bargain tattoo in acosf. They both had this tattoo on them - an Illyrian and a Valkyrie. 

Bryce also has the 8-pointed star on her chest that glows when she is near people who will aid her or who are part of the Starborn line. When she took the piece of Theia's light, it went into her star and powered her up.

The Harp was resting on an 8-pointed star in the Prison, where Silene left it.

In HOFAS, Bryce put Truthteller and Gwydion into the slots of an 8-pointed star in order to revive Avallen.

When training, Cassian teaches the Valkyries the 8-pointed star sequence. This is a series of moves that they make with a sword, and is an Illyrian technique. 

Cassian walked her through eight different cuts and blocks. Each was an individual move, he’d explained, and like the punches, they could be combined. (chp 38) “I’d thought today would be a good day to integrate the eight-pointed star, but if you’re already complaining, we can wait until next week.” (chp 44) Nesta lifted the sword and executed a perfect arcing slash. Her weight shifted to her legs just as she flipped the blade, leading with the hilt, and brought up her arm against an invisible blow. Another shift and the sword swept down, a brutal slash that would have sliced an opponent in half. Each slice was perfect. Like that eight-pointed star was stamped on her very heart. (chp 50)

And finally, at the end of HOFAS, Bryce gives Gwydion to Nesta and tells her to explore the 8-pointed star:

“I think that eight-pointed star was tattooed on you for a reason. Take that sword and go figure out why.”

Note that it’s not just a matter of the star, anymore. Both Cassian and Nesta were tattooed with it; Bryce used Gwydion and Truthteller to activate the star in Avallen. And now, Nesta is in possession of Gwydion with knowledge about the Prison and a connection to the star. There are elements coming together, and those elements are connected to both Illyrians AND Valkyries. 

My thinking is that the 8-pointed star is the symbol of the dusk land, the Starborn Princes in Midgard (Theia) and in Prythian, of the first and only High King. If that land is where the Valkyries will be reborn and where Starborn power is from, and we know it is the source of a huge cache of firstlight, then that star is a symbol of what has been lost - and what is about to be revived.

So now the question is - what part will the Valkyries and Illyrians play?

Part four: What might happen to the Prison?

To sum up the above, and adding on a couple of small points that don’t fit elsewhere:

We know that the Illyrians and Valkyries will continue training

We have very heavy-handed phrasing around the world/fate paying attention to the idea of the Valkyries being reborn and working with Illyrians.

We have the connection between Valkyries, Illyrians, and the 8-pointed star because it is also an Illyrian sword technique that is being taught to the Valkyries.

We know that the Prison is going to go through some changes akin to puberty.

In addition, we have Gwyn being allowed to write the Valkyries into the books she is researching. 

SJM has also said that Nesta’s story is going to continue.

Since we know that the Prison is going to change and there are these characters and groups poised for action - I haven’t even touched on Ramiel and the Illyrians being created by the Dagsteri, Azriel and his connection to Truthteller and Enalius, and his reaction to the TT/Gwydion, and will do that in a separate post - we can make some predictions about how that might look. If it’s going to make sense, sjm has to think beyond the magic system that she has… sort-of established, and past the involvement of individual characters. There are a few things to take into consideration with the Prison.

It is very likely that Pegasuses will return to the island as it is suffused with magic and energy again. 

There are also other, unforeseen magical consequences as the magic flows back into it, thanks to the ley lines being “unblocked” by Bryce. 

It may become easier for people/creatures to travel between worlds, given that it is a thin place that has been "unlocked". 

The Prison is still full of prisoners! They are monsters that Silene gathered to hide the Harp, but... does that mean they just get released? Get slaughtered? Do they now have access to the power of the island? What is going to happen with them? 

The High Lords cannot all be trusted to stay within their own courts, minding their own business. Beron is the most obvious example, as he has his eye on Spring while Tamlin is Suffering. 

If there were another court established, one that sits on a huge reserve of firstlight, that could be a huge point of contention amongst the courts. Even if the High Lords don’t want it for themselves, they wouldn’t want anyone else to have it on the chance that one of them would use it against the others. In acomaf, Rhys explains that the Prison is keyed to his blood and that he has jurisdiction of it; however:

“Do all the High Lords have access?” My words were so soft they were devoured by the dark. Even that thrumming power in my veins had vanished, burrowing somewhere in my bones. “No. The Prison is law unto itself; the island may be even an eighth court. But it falls under my jurisdiction, and my blood is keyed to the gates.” (chp 18)

We don’t know yet what that reserve of firstlight is going to mean for the island.

To me, it makes sense for us to have a more neutral third party come in. One who doesn’t have ties to a specific court, but could act in all of their interests. 

Enter: the newly reformed Valkyries. 

I have had a personal headcanon that the Valkyries, once fully established, could create another political/martial entity in Prythian that can help balance the power between all the courts, and provide support when needed. This is how they worked before, which Cassian talks about in acosf: 

“The Valkyries fought when even the bravest males would not. The Illyrians tried to forget that. I fought against males who were my superiors, arguing to help the Valkyries. They beat me senseless, chained me to a supply wagon, and left me there. When I came to, the battle was over, the Valkyries slain.”

Valkyries and Illyrians don’t have the best history, but given that Cassian tried to help them, and that they are working together now, this could be a way of righting a wrong. It could help to explain why fate/the world is taking note. 

The Valkyrie ethos makes sense for this sort of neutral position, too:

“A clan of female warriors from another territory. They were better fighters than the Illyrians, even. The Valkyrie name was just a title, though—they weren’t a race like the Illyrians. They hailed from every type of Fae, usually recruited from birth or early childhood. They had three stages of training: Novice, Blade, and finally Valkyrie. To become one was the highest honor in their land. Their territory is gone now, subsumed into others.”

An improved Valkyrie force, especially if they continue learning Illyrian techniques and recruiting from women across Prythian, could be a big factor in upcoming conflicts with Kochei or any other villain sjm comes up with. They would ensure that the firstlight would be used fairly, so that no court is advantaged or disadvantaged unfairly. It would continue the threads that sjm has left for us, while also giving us space to explore questions that have yet to be answered (such as Azriel’s connection to Truthteller and Enalius). While I think that Nesta would keep her home in the House of Wind, the Prison island would be a good place from which the Valkyries can work - both guarding the monsters that are there, and keeping the firstlight safe.

I believe that Nesta will be the most important character when it comes to reviving the island; while it is heavily implied that the island is already going to have access to its powers thanks to being impacted by Avallen's healing - it is likely already on its way to healing - Nesta with her connection to the 8-pointed star, the Harp, possession of Gwydion, and the Valkyries can help bring stability to the place.

Thank you a million times to the people who helped me fact check and keep things straight, or just listened to me rant about this: @hellacioushag @lily-thesuriel @elains @aionuel @yazthebookish @fracturedarkness and @/michaelanoelreads on TikTok :) @highqueenmorrigan (Mary I forgot you brought up the sword technique thank you for that!)

[ensignsimp]

Romantic TOS HCs: Kirk, Spock, McCoy

A/N: After a horrible blog explosion I've had to rewrite some of my headcanons. I hope you all enjoy it.

Prompt: Romantic TOS Kirk, Spock, McCoy w/ GN! Reader

James T. Kirk

Kirk is most definitely a hopeless romantic.

He is also the KING OF SAPPY ROMANCES.

Kirk most definitely reads those cheesy romance novels your grandma has on her nightstand.

He tries to keep things professional on the bridge, it doesn't last.

He'll give you longing looks, and endless compliments, the man is a total flirt with you on the bridge. (That and info-dumping.)

He'll give exaggerated sighs and swoon anytime you do even the bare minimum.

"Thank you, Ensign (L/N). What would we do without you?"

He'll write you little love notes and have the other Ensigns deliver them to you.

He is constantly blowing you kisses.

He even gives you the most ridiculous pet names;

"Sunshine, My Star, Sweetie"

It would be embarrassing if it wasn't so cute.

You're barely in the turbolift when he's covering you in kisses.

He's always sharing books to read with you (maybe the less goofy ones).

It's like having your own book club.

He loves head scratches and when you hold him in your arms.

He is a huge cuddler and enjoys snuggles.

He prefers to be the big spoon or to lay on your chest.

Kirk gets the cutest happy golden retriever look on his face if you give him head scratches and read to him.

S'chn T'gai Spock

When Spock falls in love, he falls hard!

He thought he should have been incapable of the feeling.

But to Vulcans' it's not just about the feeling of love, it's the subtlety of action.

He keeps things professional on the bridge. However, that doesn't stop him from consulting you any chance he gets.

He shows his love in discrete ways; long loving looks, sharing in debates and games of strategy, in addition to the ozh'esta. *Finger Embrace

He will complement you, just not in the way Kirk or McCoy would.

"I completely trust Ensign (L/N)'s judgment, they have profoundly sound logic for a human."

During slower times on the bridge, he'll write lines of poetry about you.

Though he never likes to share it.

Pet names are sadly rare but when you are alone he calls you almost anything but your name.

"Ashal-veh, t'nash-veh, t'hy'la"

He doesn't protest you using pet names for him while working together.

He likes to hold your hand by wrapping his pinky around yours.

He'll teach you how to play the Vulcan Harp if you're interested.

Totally not so he can have you sit in his lap and caress your hands.

He loves it when you caress his face and run your fingers through his hair.

If you just hold his face in your hands and look into his eyes he'll turn bright green.

He enjoys cuddling and having you sleeping next to him.

He'll usually prefer the honeymoon position or have you lay on his chest.

Leonard McCoy

He's a doctor and a glucose guardian.

He never thought he'd fall in love again, but here he is.

He's very old school when it comes to his style of dating.

He keeps things professional on the surface but you can tell he favors you more.

It doesn't matter what is going on, he'll always make time for you.

He isn't the best when it comes to frequent compliments but you know they're sincere.

"Ensign, you make me feel young again."

He scolds Kirk if he puts you on dangerous way missions.

He likes to keep you close by, like Spock, he's always calling you up for something.

His pet names for you are the sweetest.

"Honey, Sweetie, Darling."

He loves it when you call him things like "Doc, Hot Shot, Good Lookin'."

He likes to spend all of his off hours with you. He practically follows you around like a puppy.

Sometimes when you two are apart he likes to give you personal com messages, like back in the 20th century.

He loves to take you dancing even if he can't move as fast as he used to.

"In-quarters" dates are his favorite because he can just sit still with you in his lap.

He adores cuddling up in a big blanket and watching old movies with you.

During this time he's more openly affectionate, he likes to run his fingers through your hair and cover your face in kisses.

He prefers to have you sit in his lap, but he won't argue if you want him to sit in yours.

[stargareed]

Click

Summary: Dany finds something peculiar among her family’s ashes.

(Jonerys fanfic)

Dany looked up at the white, puffy clouds, which appeared to be moving quickly past the still ruins that framed them. Despite the shadow of grief that hung over it, she was surprised at how alive Summerhall was. Colorful birds were chirping without a care in the world, flying in and out of the rubble. Perhaps there were nests in the nooks and crevices they were attending to? She turned her head to see a young tree growing in the middle of the ruined hall. Dany squinted at one of the leaves. Was it a chestnut or ash? During their trip across the Narrow Sea, Tyrion had rattled off the names of a dozen or so trees she’d likely see for the first time in Westeros. It definitely was not an oak. They had those in Essos as well.

She saw a squirrel scurry across a limb out of the corner of her eye. Dany found herself envying the creature’s freedom. Collect nuts. Don’t get eaten. Success. She smiled, then furrowed her brow. Well, I guess he likely has to find a mate as well. That always complicates things. She frowned. The gray rodent stopped, as if he could hear Dany’s thoughts.

“I must needs return,” Dany whispered to the squirrel. “But I want to stay here forever, where time cannot touch me.” She had flown to Summerhall to find answers. She thought when she arrived at Dragonstone, her mission would be clear--take back the throne for her family. Instead, the opposite occurred: Dany learned that a young man claiming to be her nephew had already taken King’s Landing in the name of House Targaryen. It caused her mixed feelings. If he really was Rhaegar’s son, why was he protected when she and Viserys weren’t? Or was he only protected because his guardians sought to gain power through him? Mayhaps he truly was a mummer’s dragon? Regardless, Dany would have to treat with him sooner or later, as she would with what was left of the Lannister-Tyrell alliance, the ironborn, and this supposed “King in the North” whom Tyrion was surprisingly fond of. Gods, is there anyone Tyrion doesn’t know?

Ser Barristan had told her that Rhaegar would travel to Summerhall alone, with only his harp as company, and would always come back with a song. But it wasn’t a song she needed; it was guidance. So, Dany had spent hours combing over every inch of the abandoned castle, hoping to hear the whispers of King Aegon, Prince Duncan, or even the woods witch. But the only voices she heard were the sounds of wings fluttering and claws scampering.

But before she left to face the inevitable conflict that awaited her, Dany decided to lay out her blanket in what remained of the great hall and rest where her brother once slept beneath the moon and stars. She pretended that her white blanket was a cloud, and that she was floating amid the soft, snowy sky mountains above her. Not quite as exhilarating as riding a dragon, but far more relaxing. She ran her fingertips over the soft fabric, imagining her hand going through it like it was a ghost. Was her family proud that she had managed to do in the Dothraki Sea what they failed to do here? Or were they angry with her for Viserys’s death, and being poised to battle Rhaegar’s son? Maybe that’s why they weren’t speaking to her? It didn’t matter. Dany couldn’t worry about their judgment. If I look back I’m lost.

Her eyelids grew heavy as a soft, cool breeze kissed her cheek. Dany felt a wave of calm slowly roll over her. She hummed. She felt a tickle on the back of her hand. Was that the wind as well? Dany listened to birds and frogs serenade her, interrupted by the occasional rustling of leaves. She felt the tickling again, this time on her arm. She opened her eyes and saw a butterfly, its wings a curious mix of red, black, and white. She remained as motionless as the ruins around her, hoping not to scare her visitor. But a few seconds later it fluttered its wings and drifted away towards an alcove.

Dany frowned, but then her curiosity overwhelmed her desire to rest and before she knew it, she was on her feet, chasing after the flying insect like a fool. Dany didn’t have to go far, as the bug appeared to be waiting for her on an old chest tucked behind an arched opening. As she approached, she noticed the wood on the chest had rotted from being exposed to the wind and rain, and the metal had rusted. Even if it was locked, I could probably open it just by sneezing.

The butterfly didn’t move, even when Dany got close. It wasn’t until she reached for the latch that the insect flew away. She winced at the loud creaking sound the hinges made as she slowly opened the chest, but any embarrassment was quickly forgotten when she noticed dozens of scrolls filling the inside. Dany opened one and blew the dust off. Her eyes flitted across the page, and then rolled when she realized it was just an inventory of horses. Information on sheep, goats, and chickens greeted her in the adjacent scrolls. After about ten minutes of reading, she blew a stray hair out of her face, annoyed.

Dany dug her hands deeper into the pile of scrolls, then stopped when she sensed one was weighted. She pulled it up and a silver necklace fell out of it, into her hand. Dany shifted the chain around with her thumb and studied the pendant. It was a strange shape that had jagged edges on one side. She couldn’t make out what it was, though she noticed it had small holes in the back and bottom.

Dany unrolled the scroll the necklace had been tucked inside of. She’d never seen such elegant writing before. The letters looped and flowed seamlessly. The embellishments on the first letter of each sentence made the writing almost into a work of art. The letter read:

If it were up to me, I would have stayed with Lyanna in that tower until the end of time. But alas, I cannot hide from the Usurper forever. We are destined to meet on the battlefield. If I were to fall, I cannot stand the thought that this would pass into my cousin’s hand, especially considering who has the other half. I hope to return to retrieve this. But if I do not, I pray someone still loyal to my House will find this and return it to my love, Lyanna, with my deepest apologies for leaving her to raise our child alone. 

It was signed, “Rhaegar Targaryen, Prince of Dragonstone.”

Dany’s surprise at finding something ostensibly written by her brother eventually receded into mild amusement. “Ser Barristan was right. He really was a lovestruck prince,” Dany muttered to herself, shaking her head and smiling. She read the letter a few more times. Lyanna must’ve lost the child when she died. A feeling of sadness swept over her as she thought of yet another child of Rhaegar who never had the chance to grow up.

Drogon’s roar broke her from her thoughts. I wonder if he was able to find some food in the Red Mountains? She stood up, shut the chest, and began walking to her child, tucking Rhaegar’s letter into her pocket. It was comforting to know that her brother also knew how she felt—wanting to stay in a peaceful place where time stood still but having to leave to face your enemies. I just hope my fate will be different than his. She clasped the chain behind her neck and gripped the oddly-shaped pendant between her thumb and forefinger. I’m sorry, Brother, that Lyanna and her child are gone. But hopefully you find me worthy to wear your necklace.

Three Months Later—Dragonstone

As the door shut behind Missandei, Dany felt more at ease. She could finally talk to Jon Snow alone without having to worry about projecting power with every sentence. Though she’d be a fool if she thought she could let her guard down, even for a moment.

“You’re fearless, I’ll give you that. Traveling to Dragonstone, not to bend the knee, but to demand I fight with you. Maybe you should inherit the name Ser Barristan has borne since he was a boy?” Dany poured them wine as she talked, only making eye contact when she handed Jon his cup. His face was ice, revealing nothing. It was also surprisingly handsome, as the Starks weren’t known for their looks. A faint scar across his eye hinted of battles fought. She was intrigued and wanted to know more. Though she’d never tell him that.

“I’m not bold, just desperate,” he confessed in a deep Northern accent, never once breaking his gaze from hers after she sat down. She was taken aback by his honesty. Or is this part of his ploy to win my sympathies? All her life men had wanted things from her. This “king” was no different.

Dany noticed him look down at her chest, and when he continued staring, she cleared her throat. He looked up at her, puzzled. Then it dawned on her what he was actually staring at: She’d been playing with her necklace without realizing. Dany then noticed the King in the North also had a necklace, though she couldn’t make out the pendant with where he was sitting.

“I see you also like necklaces. Where did you get yours?” she asked, gripping her cup tightly.

“My mother left it to me. It was originally hers,” Jon said.

She furrowed her brow. “Tyrion said you didn’t know who your mother was. You must’ve learned in the past few years? Perhaps at the Wall?” She took a sip of wine. This is getting interesting.

“I learned only recently, at Winterfell.” Jon began looking at her necklace again.

“I also inherited my necklace, in a way. It was my brother Rhaegar’s. He left it at Summerhall,” Dany explained, smiling sadly.

Jon nodded. “He must’ve left it there on his way to fight Robert at the Trident.”

Dany’s eyes widened. “How did you know?”

Jon put his cup down and rose from his chair, slowly walking up to where she was sitting. He offered his hand and helped her up so they were standing face to face. “May I?” he asked, pointing at her necklace.

Dany was confused but found herself nodding anyways. When Jon gently grabbed her pendant, his fingers lightly brushed against her bare chest, causing her breath to hitch.

“I think it’s important that we combine our forces. For as powerful as we are separately, we’ll be unstoppable—” he paused, clasped the pendants together until Dany heard a click, and then released them to reveal a single larger pendant— “together.”

Dany couldn’t believe her eyes. The two pendants had snapped together into the shape of Westeros: Jon’s pendant was the North, hers was everything south of the Neck. She must not have noticed it before because her pendant was always upside down when she looked at it—the jagged edges must’ve been Dorne and the Fingers of the Vale.

Dany looked back up at Jon, a thousand questions filling her mind. “So, wait, who was your mother? How did she--?”

“She was a woman who loved your brother very much,” Jon said, a slight look of apprehension on his face.

Then she realized. “My brother, or your father?”

“Why not both?” Jon said, his stormy eyes penetrating hers. For the first time, she noticed they were almost touching; both chains were short, which left them so close she could see the individual hairs of his beard. And his scent, gods. She instinctively began to move back to get a little breathing room, eyes widening when she felt a slight tug on the back of her neck as she realized their necklaces were still locked together. For the first time, Jon’s full lips formed a smile. That arse. He’s enjoying my captivity.

“I hope being locked together with me isn’t too unpleasant. I made sure to wash my mouth out with mint this morning,” Jon japed.

“No, it’s fine. It’s just, the chains aren’t very long,” Dany said, feeling her cheeks warm.

“I’ll release the latch if you promise to help me,” Jon offered, tapping his finger against the taut chain so Dany could feel it like a pulse.

“You’re coercing me?” Dany asked, raising an eyebrow and pursing her lips.

“I learn from the best. How many times did you remind me of Drogon during our initial meeting?”

Dany sighed. “I never intended—” she began, then paused to gather her thoughts. “I’m not my father.”

“Aye, I know. But I am. Just as you are your brother. That’s why we’re going to work well together.” Jon arched his brow and nodded, waiting for her to speak.

Dany smiled. “Aye . . . Nephew. But you’ll have to release me before I can fight the army of the dead.”

Jon grinned as he pinched the back of the pendant and wiggled, unlatching his from Dany’s. Dany didn’t move. “You’re free now,” Jon said.

Dany nodded, then grabbed Jon’s pendant and latched it together with her own once again. She giggled, and then caught herself. “Sorry. It’s just very clever.”

Jon smiled. “Aye, it is. Apparently, my father had it made for my mother after the Tourney at Harrenhal. He gave it to her when they met up the next year. I never thought,” Jon began, pausing as his eyes began to glisten. “I never thought it’d be whole ever again. I thought Rhaegar’s half was lost forever.”

“Two halves, separated for almost 20 years, finally meeting again, and becoming whole,” Dany said, wondering if Jon caught her double meaning.

The way his face changed showed he did. “The singers would love it,” Jon joked.

Looks like I left Summerhall with a song, after all, Dany thought.

[smaller-comfort]

It is WIP Wednesday, my dudes!

I need to work on necron stuff, but instead I've been kicking away at actually fluffy SoS things. Palate cleansers, now that Save Scumming is done.

A little bit of Outshine the Sun, Etudes, and Modern AU.

Untitled Aephorul/Resh'an, the extremely silly, porny sequel to Save Scumming.

--

“Let me look at you,” Resh'an said at last.

“Hmph.” He didn't want to. It didn't matter what Resh'an said; there was always that moment when he could see the pity in Resh'an's eyes. And then the disgust. Resh'an was good at hiding it- but he'd always been an open book to Aephorul.

Still. They were trying something new. He let go of Resh'an. “I'll show you mine if you show me yours.”

For a moment Resh'an just stared at him with narrowed eyes, but then he shrugged. “On three?” Resh'an tucked his fingers under the edge of his mask.

“One.” Aephorul rearranged the flesh beneath his hood into something vaguely face-like.

“Two.” Resh'an's eyes glowed a little brighter.

“Three.” In unison, Aephorul pulled back his hood and Resh'an pulled down his mask, and they both dispelled the illusions that hid their faces.

He hissed again, this time in sympathy; when they'd last met, Resh'an hadn't looked good, but he'd at least been relatively whole. Now, half his face was missing, the skin torn away to reveal the skull beneath. The lower mandibular angle was crazed with hairline fractures.

----

Etudes: Beginnings (B'st/Resh'an). I'm still going to finish Glass Harp first, but now this series has over 15k words and at least five separate stories in it and I've clearly lost control of my life. Resh'an is such an unmitigated disaster in this series, but he's trying so hard.

----

He rarely used his bedroom in the tower; on the rare occasions that he actually slept, he usually just put his head down at his desk. The actual bedroom and living quarters had become a secondary storage space for his research notes. The first time B'st had found an entrance to the Archives, Resh'an had thrown him into a time loop in a mild state of panic, and then hucked everything in the bedroom into an extradimensional storage closet. 

He'd gotten so used to solitude- but that was no excuse for poor hospitality. When he released B'st from the time loop (hopefully none the wiser, but he wasn't going to ask) the bedroom was sparsely furnished, but clean. In the end, it didn't matter; they hadn't spent any time there that first visit. He gave B'st the tour of the tower, such as it was- the library and the reading room at the heart of the Archives, the laboratory, the living quarters- and then they'd spent the rest of their time on the observation deck.

It took considerable effort to unmoor his tower from its physical anchorage, but he did it anyway. It let him relocate the observation deck anywhere he liked, so they could look at the stars from new vantages. Resh'an had, quite frankly, been showing off.

And it had been worth it, to see B'st's eyes- already so bright- light up when Resh'an transported them into the center of a meteor shower.

----

Alternative Sleeping Arrangements (working title), Aephorul/Resh'an, college students au. Aephorul goes home with Resh'an over spring break; he meets Resh'an's aunt; a pillow fort gets built. I'm not sure if this one will ever really get finished, but I like fleshing out some of the background for this AU.

This is a non-magical AU; it literally takes place in New Jersey. But Anais and her partner Estelle are still also Guardian Gods, despite that.

--

He was surprised by how much she looked like Resh'an; she was nearly as tall as Aephorul, with the same long-limbed, willowy silhouette. But on her it looked graceful, where Resh'an always looked like he was surprised he had elbows. Her hair was a frizzy cloud of strawberry blonde to Resh'an's dead straight auburn, but they had the same eyes and the same smile. 

She drifted in on a cloud of sandalwood, peasant skirts swirling above her bare feet and silver bracelets jangling down her arms. “Darling boy!”

Resh'an looked slightly pained at his aunt's endearment. “Hi auntie. This is Aephorul.”

She kissed Resh'an on both cheeks despite the way he rolled his eyes, and then she turned to Aephorul.

He understood what Resh'an had meant when he said his aunt was a lot, now. Anais looked at him like he was a bug caught under a glass. For a moment, her face was as still and cold as a marble statue, unsmiling and distant. Then she smiled at him, the same radiantly beautiful smile that Resh'an used when he was genuinely happy. 

It took considerable effort not to flinch when she offered her hand to shake. Her grip was surprisingly firm. “It's nice to finally meet you,” she said warmly. “Resh'an can show you around the place- Essie's out getting groceries, but when she gets back we'll start on dinner.”

Resh'an rescued Aephorul from his aunt's handshake and tugged him away, down the hallway. “Come on, my room's this way.”

[saitama-division]

Happy Halloween from Femme Fatale

(+ Yoshiko!)

“Oh these are beautiful! Lola, I can’t believe you made all of these outfits! They’re so detailed!”

“Of course, Sweetness! You really thought I was just gonna let us go this year with some cheap, poorly made costumes? Absolutely not! Only the best for me and my girls! Also, real nice job on the props, Kureha! You really went above and beyond this year!”

“Yeah, yeah, tell that to my still aching hands, remind me again why exactly are we all dressed as angels? I was one last year, I wanted to do something different this time.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, honey, there was talk amongst some of the Divisions that teams were going in group costumes this year and I thought that would be fun, I would’ve picked something else but a lot of my ideas were already chosen so this felt like a good option, I’m really sorry.”

“O-oh, no, mom, it’s okay, I was just wondering that’s all, it’s fine, it’s not like I’m in the exact same costume last year.”

“God, you’re such a mommy’s girl, Kureha. If it had been my idea, you’d call me all sorts of names.”

“Shut up-“

“By the way! Er, why are you two holding weapons? Wait, those aren’t real aren’t they?!”

“No! They’re just props! They’re part of these characters Lola and I are cosplaying! We’re Panty and Stocking!”

“Ohhhh, how neat! Stocking and…Panty? What’s that about?”

“Pfffft-“

“U-uh, oh, hey, look! There’s someone here! We gotta give out treats! Here, uh, you can have this.”

You received a treat!

Chocolate Harps. Oval shaped block of chocolate with an engraving of a harp etched onto them wrapped in a golden layer of wrapping paper, rich and chewy, you can’t help but want to sing.

“Haha, you’re so adorable, Sunshine. Here cutie, take this, consider it a token from your guardian angel~”

You received a treat!

Lolliwings. Lollipops in the shape of angel wings, they’re wrapped in a sparkly plastic wrap and they come in all sorts of colors and all sorts of delicious flavors.

“Hello there! Happy Halloween! Make sure to bundle up and be safe out there!”

You received a treat!

Cloudy Cotton Candy. Small bags of white cotton candy resembling clouds with small hard candy inside of them shaped to look like stars. Each bite leaves you feeling light and fluttery.

“Hi hi! Wooooow, you have such a cool costume! Do you like mine? I’m the Cheshire Cat! From my favorite story, Alice in Wonderland! I’m so excited, Mama says that we get to go trick or treating with some of my friends from school! I wonder what they dressed up as? Oh! Sorry! Here you go! Bye bye!”

You received a treat!

Kitty Chews. Little bite size chewy candy in the shape of either a cat’s face or paw, comes in a variety of flavors. As you bite into it, you can’t help but feel a grin starting to form on your face, perhaps the Halloween spirit is getting to you?

[ivanttakethis]

In this edition of ALIEN STAGE Magazine, we have an exclusive interview with fashion model and Round 10 contestant, Tov!

With the start of supersized Season 39 of ALIEN STAGE right around the corner, Tov sat down with us for her first ever interview and opened up about her life and her thoughts on the upcoming competition.

————————————————————

1) What have you been up to since your graduation from the Anakt Garden? How has your life and routine changed since then?

Tov: I’m a model full time now for my guardian’s fashion house, Cassiopeia. Mostly photo shoots for print or billboards, but occasionally I have the opportunity to walk in shows. I also sing in lounges sometimes for vocal practice.

Thankfully, my daily life hasn’t changed too much since graduating. It’s been an easy transition.

I’ve even been able to reconnect with one of my friends from Anakt Garden, Himei. She’ll be competing in this season of ALIEN STAGE too, though we’re in different brackets.

2) Have you noticed a shift in the public’s perception of you since the season was announced?

Tov: Somewhat, yes. People outside of the fashion industry have started to recognize me. Not a whole lot, but a few. It’s a nice feeling when they wish me good luck.

3) How do you feel about the start of the new ALIEN STAGE season? Does being on Side B take some of the pressure off?

Tov: Yes and no.

Yes because it gives me the chance to rehearse and refine my performance without having to rush.

No because there are so many strong performers in Side A that it will be a big challenge to follow up.

4) If you had the opportunity to sing a duet with any competitor from this season, regardless of bracket, who would it be?

Tov: My first answer would be someone I was close to in Anakt Garden, but I think any of us would say that.

Aside from them, I’d like to sing with Azure. He has very nice tone and smooth vocals. I could see our singing styles working well together.

5) What do you think is your charm?

Tov: It’s hard to say from the inside looking out. I’ve been told that people find the stars in my irises charming. Though Cassio insists it’s my smile.

6) Is there anything that you think sets you apart from your competitors?

Tov: I would say my voice. It tends to be deeper and a little more soulful than people expect when they first see me. I believe it adds to my strong stage presence.

7) Speaking of your voice, some of your competitors learned to play instruments as well as sing in their formative years.

If you could go back and do your time at Anakt Garden over again, would you pick up an instrument as well?

Tov: Possibly. I wasn’t really drawn to any particular instrument at the time, but if I had a do over, maybe I would try learning to play the harp.

8) What are your recent interests?

Tov: I’ve always had a strong interest in the stars, but lately I have been learning more about different galaxies and deep space. Luckily there is a lot of information and research to read about, so I don’t see myself getting bored anytime soon.

9) Has your guardian been involved in your preparation for ALIEN STAGE?

Tov: Very much so. Cassio has designed all of my outfits themself and they’re all custom made to fit my frame. Each of them is one of a kind and I am grateful for the work they have done for me.

They’ve also asked that I accompany them to work over the course of the first bracket so I can learn how my round will go from a production standpoint.

10) How are you preparing for your performance with Minori?

Tov: The same way I would prepare to perform with any of my classmates. I will do my best because I know she will do her best. It’s how Anakt Garden taught us.

11) Speaking of Minori, what do you think of her?

Tov: I remember her being very energetic back in Anakt Garden. She was always running around during playtime. I couldn’t run like she could because of my heart condition, but I enjoyed watching her race our classmates. She always won. Athleticism was her gift, but she was also good academically as well. I admire her varied talents.

12) Do you think you can win?

Tov: I hope the stars will align for me, but it is ultimately up to the audience which of us shines brighter. I will place my fate in their hands.

13) If you won ALIEN STAGE, what would you do after?

Tov: I’m not thinking that far ahead yet. I prefer to focus on each round as it comes and perform to the best of my abilities.

14) Do you have anything to say to your opponent?

Tov: I’m glad we will get to sing together one last time.

Tune in to see Tov face off against Minori during Round 10 of ALIEN STAGE Season 39!

————————————————————

Thank you to @shakingparadigm for sharing their questions! I also added some of my own as well.

Minori belongs to @skyisjusthere / @minori-dash.

Himei belongs to @lookatmysillies.

Azure belongs to @azureitri.

[ultimate-character-design]

The Ultimate Character Design Tournament

Please remember to vote for characters solely based on their design, rather than which character you are more familiar with or like more!

*One of the characters in this bracket is considered a spoiler for: Inside

*Additional warning for Body Horror

*Additional spoiler warning included for: Star Nemesis (Fiddlesticks)

The Huddle | Inside

Toki Pona | Prolangs

Toki Pona is a character based off of a constructed language of the same name. So, to make this less confusing. Toki Pona = the character toki pona = the language

•the simple design of just two colors, a basic yet expressive mouth, the use of simple shapes and lines, and arms hidden under their clothing do a great job of reflecting toki pona’s emphasis on minimalism as a conlang onto Toki Pona’s character design.

•The little lines on Toki Pona’s hat don’t just make Toki Pona’s character more recognizable, but (to me) look like “emitters” which are a type of radical that make up some toki pona logograms, further linking Toki Pona as a character to toki pona as a conlang.

•also, the hat and scarf are just really cool and the symbol on Toki Pona’s chest is cute but also says the words “toki pona”.

Thanks for coming to my TED Talk

P.S.

learn toki pona, it has the word “pipi” in it

Laios Touden | Delicious in Dungeon

Star Nemesis (Fiddlesticks) | League of Legends

*Spoiler Warning*

This specific incarnation of fiddlesticks is from an AU called "Star Guardians" that's essentially like madoka magica / sailor moon with magical girls and whatnot. Star Nemesis Fiddlesticks was actually once a girl named Harp who was on the original team of Star Guardians !!

Giotto | Katekyo Hitman Reborn

he has everything. suit. shiny things. flame. fire. nice color palette. he looks incredibly stylish.

Willis | Awful Hospital

He looks like the circle of Willis found inside the human body but anthropomorphized just enough to look like a little guy! It’s so cute!!

Yaoshi, Aeon of Abundance | Honkai: Star Rail

"The flowers share their petals without care, waiting for their inevitable withering destiny. The birds fly high in song, moving toward their inevitable crash and death. The streams flow rapidly with life, in a direction where they inevitably run dry. Why must all things come to an end? There must be a miracle somewhere in the universe that can cure the disease known as finality." — Life Is Too Short by Anonymous Ask with sentiment, and you shall receive. Yaoshi is the nurturer of the people, the god of peace. THEIR presence ensures the existence of life. Yaoshi is an Aeon who answers all prayers and cannot bear to see death and the pains of illness. (In-game Data Bank)

Brainiac 5 | Legion of Superheroes 2006

*They didn't specify what version of Brainiac 5 to use

[shroud-of-empire]

Review: So Speaks the Heart by Joyce Carlow

I had low expectations going in, and yet this was still somehow worse than I anticipated!

So Speaks the Heart—published in 1997, and currently available for free through the Internet Archive—was brought to my attention by @suburbanbeatnik last week, and the cover looked so absurd that I immediately knew I had to read it. And I tried. I really tried. But I ultimately ended up DNF'ing it around the halfway mark when the lead characters abruptly died, then reincarnated centuries later as different people in sixteenth-century France.

It technically makes more sense in context, but, like, barely.

The premise

So: The plot of this book revolves around "immortals"—vaguely supernatural beings who reincarnate every few centuries to steer historically important figures towards their destinies. Aside from possessing the ability to reincarnate, immortals are also beautiful, intelligent, infallible, and psychic, frequently receiving premonitions from the future, as well as insights into other people's minds. In some ways, they're like an unholy hybrid of stereotypical romance vampires and high-fantasy elves—their powers are as unclear as they are expansive, and their inherent beauty and goodness means that they can do no wrong. Our protagonists, a physician named Leandra and a charioteer named Alexander, are a pair of Immortals who were born in the sixth-century Byzantine Empire to steer Justinian and Theodora towards their fates as Emperor and Empress of Rome.

I'll admit at this point that I disliked this premise from the start. It's very Great Man History™, except the "great men" are random nobodies with vague, unattainable powers, pushing people around like chess pieces for reasons that are unclear to everyone involved. The magically-perfect, always-right nature of the Immortals also makes them dull characters to read, and blaming every historical event on Immortal meddling only serves to reduce the agency of the few humans in the story—the end result is a book where everyone is underdeveloped and boring. The Immortals don't need character development, because they were born perfect, and the humans don't get character development, because the Immortals do everything for them. I do think the concept of star-crossed lovers dying over and over again only to find each other in new lifetimes could have been done well, but it was wasted here, shackled to all of this weird baggage.

The characters

Leandra and Alexander obviously compose the "main" couple, but Justinian and Theodora also soak up a lot of page time, serving as the secondary, human protagonists to their perfect, Immortal friends. Leandra is the Immortal "assigned" to Theodora, like the most irritating kind of guardian angel, and Alexander is similarly "assigned" to Justinian, so all four of them come as a set. Every single one of these characters is terrible.

Leandra gets the most focus out of anyone, and consequentially, she is the absolute worst. She's the type of protagonist who can be generously described as an "escapist character"—again, because of her Immortal status, she's automatically right about everything, she receives special insights that nobody else understands, and she's beautiful beyond words (and way prettier than Theodora, obviously). She's also a virgin, which makes her even more special; while every other woman in the Hippodrome sells her body for fun, Leandra never gives into the temptation. (For what it's worth, the author doesn't harp on this as much as I expected, but it does come up more than once, and it's used as yet another metric by which to compare Leandra and Theodora—Leandra being superior, naturally.) Leandra also has medical training, by which I mean that she magically understands complex microbiological concepts that were not discovered until the Scientific Revolution. Not only does she believe in germ theory, she also understands what bacteria are, and how antibiotics work. How does she know these things? Because she's special. It's beyond aggravating—especially because the author has an incomplete understanding of what penicillin does, and as a result, Leandra does, too. Leandra spends half of the story spouting total nonsense, but the narrative treats it as correct, and any character who questions her is depicted as an idiot.

Outside of her interest in medicine, Leandra really has no personality. Her only goal in life is to get Theodora where she needs to be, so she spends most of the story just kind of orbiting Theodora like a satellite. This isn't even a conscious goal, though—Leandra has no idea what she's actually steering Theodora towards. Most of the time, her suggestions to Theodora are based on vague feelings and indecipherable prophecy dreams. It's the blind leading the blind—Leandra gives Theodora advice based on nothing, and Theodora follows that advice based on nothing, and they're both headed towards an end goal that neither of them understand. Everything they do is guided by feelings and instincts that they have zero control over. It's boring to read, and Leandra's sheer perfection, combined with her lack of agency, made me want to tear my hair out.

The male lead, Alexander, is not much better—his main character traits are “liking Leandra” and “being handsome,” and that’s about it. He actually begins the story as a nervous virgin, but then he buys a night with Theodora and, apparently, a personality transplant, and he’s a completely different person by the time he and Leandra actually get together. (Specifically, he transforms into a generic, stereotypical, pushy “bodice ripper” love interest, but the “bodice ripper” elements feel halfhearted, probably because he was nothing like that for the entire first half of the book). Theoretically, Alexander is meant to guide Justinian the way Leandra guides Theodora, but he doesn't seem to share Leandra's medical knowledge or psychic dreams, so it's unclear what Justinian is actually getting out of their friendship. Actually, it's unclear why any of these characters like each other at all, because, again, their friendships and romances are entirely determined by "fate." Why does Justinian hang out with Alexander? Fate. Why do Alexander and Leandra fall in love? You guessed it: because it's meant to be. Everything is insta-love or insta-friendship, with no relationship-building at all.

Aside from the two leads, Justinian and Theodora are the only other characters of note, and they're both... well, kind of stupid. Again, because their decisions are largely driven by Immortal meddling, they don’t get to make many choices of their own, and whatever choices they do make independently of the Immortals are shown to be incorrect. (For example, Theodora leaves with Hecebolus despite Leandra’s protests, which results in both Theodora and Leandra nearly dying.) Theodora at least gets a couple of cool scenes—she wins the Blues’ favor by somehow taming a snake (?!), and she does get (a truncated version of) her Nika speech. Justinian, though, barely does anything. Their romance, which serves as the B-plot to Leandra’s A-plot, is hardly even a romance—like every other relationship in this book, it’s underdeveloped insta-love driven by “fate.”

Oh, and finally, something else I felt the need to mention: Justinian and Theodora seem to have no friends or advisors outside of Alexander and Leandra. Belisarius, Antonina, Narses, Theodora’s Monophysite allies, Justinian’s sister and cousins and nephews, etc, are all totally absent from the story. Theodora’s sisters do appear once, but they vanish after their introductory chapter and are never seen again. I understand sidelining less important characters for the sake of keeping things concise, but it struck me as strange that so many people were casually cut from the narrative. I guess the author figured Justinian and Theodora would never talk to Alexander or Leandra if they had literally any other options.

The sex scenes

There are a lot of sex scenes in this book, which isn't necessarily problematic—I'm not a puritan. Unfortunately, the sex scenes are weird as hell. They're all cloaked in bizarre, convoluted metaphors, which is to be expected, but they're also odd in other ways:

The phrase "moist depths" is used more than once.

There's a lot of "moistness" and "dampness" at pretty much every turn, actually, and it gives off real un-sexy bog energy.

The word "pleasure" appears 8 times in rapid succession in the same sex scene. Other words that appear too often: "undulating," "pulsating," "throbbing," and "nipples." (Do I understand why these are used in sex scenes? Yes. Is it a lot of repetition that could have been worded differently? Also yes.)

Justinian and Theodora love each other so much that a "miracle" occurs when they have sex: Theodora is "incarnated anew," becoming "like a virgin again."

Leandra's guardian is a fellow Immortal who once had sex with Zenobia, and he fantasizes about having sex with her again as he lays dying, which makes for some weird tonal dissonance.

An evil Immortal named Cyril is depicted as an agent of the Empress Euphemia, and they are obviously having an affair with each other, and you can tell it's an evil affair because they do weird shit in bed.

Alexander calls Leandra "my little virgin" as a nickname.

Alexander verbally calls Leandra's breasts "pink-tipped mounds." Like, it's not a metaphor that the narrator uses; he says this out loud to her. It's not even part of a longer sentence. He's trying to seduce her, and the only thing that comes out of his mouth is fucking "pink tipped mounds" and that's it.

"He sucked strongly, like a hungry child" <- NOT A METAPHOR YOU SHOULD USE DURING A SEX SCENE.

"She excreted warm, wet moisteners to ease his passage" <- ALSO BAD, FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. "EXCRETED" IS THE WRONG WORD TO USE HERE.

The plague

About 90% of the plot of this story revolves around the plague, and plague is my specialty, so I'm about to go off here. (Feel free to skip this if you do not care about plague.)

So, Leandra is a physician. She receives medical training at some Byzantine school early on in the story—women, obviously, did not get to become physicians very often in the Byzantine Empire, but again, Leandra is special—and she is then appointed as Justinian and Theodora's Official Royal Court Doctor. Because Leandra is Immortal and Not Like The Other Scientists, she immediately figures out germ theory, basic immunology, antibiotics, and a host of other extremely complicated concepts. How does she figure this stuff out? Not from experimentation using the scientific method, or anything else that follows any kind of logic. Instead, she just gets flashes of insight, which she assumes are true, and then everybody operates as if her unproven theories are obviously correct. Why does she believe that disease is caused by microorganisms invading human tissue? Because She Just Does. Why does she know that inflammation is an immune response to injury or infection? Because She Just Does. Nobody questions her beliefs at all, even though they completely contradict the theories of seminal figures like Hippocrates and Galen, and they're based on such little evidence that nobody has any reason to trust her. She's not seeing microorganisms under microscopes—she doesn't know what a microscope is. She's just saying random shit that happens to be true for reasons nobody in the setting understands.

It's difficult to put into words why I find this so irritating, but I think a huge part of it is that it plays into an idea I really hate—namely, that the people of the past were stupid and unobservant, and that science is easy enough that they could've solved all of their problems with a few basic thought experiments. Leandra criticizes the people around her for having dumb, incorrect theories about medicine—but these people have no reason to think that their theories are wrong. Miasmic theory is a perfectly rational thing to believe in if you don't have microscopes, and you've never heard of a bacterium, but you have noticed that people who live in smelly, unsanitary conditions seem to get sick and die more often. Blaming "bad air" isn't stupid if that's all you have to go on! Germ theory isn't obvious if you can't see the germs! But Leandra knows better, because She Just Does, so everyone who disagrees with her is evil or stupid, and all of the good guys think she's the best doctor on Earth. It's infuriating, partially because it plays into the popular image of early medieval people being dumb and zealous (Leandra claims that Roman medicine was superior to Christian medicine, as if Roman medicine gels with modern germ theory at all?), partially because it makes Leandra all the more obnoxious, and partially because it misrepresents the history of microbiology and epidemiology in a way that I do not like.

Because Leandra discovering germ theory hundreds of years too early isn't special enough, she also goes on to discover penicillin (not named as such, but obviously penicillin), and I also hated this subplot. It plays out exactly like Alexander Fleming's 1928 experiments—Leandra leaves a bunch of cultures out on a lab bench, and finds them contaminated by mold when she returns, then she notices that the mold has seemingly prevented the growth of the infectious bacteria. She then puts this mold to use, and everyone acts like she invented a miracle cure. There are about eleven billion problems with this, but this review is long enough, so I'll just list a couple of them:

The most obvious issue here is that penicillin is fucking hard to isolate and use as a medication. Fleming did his first experiments with penicillium molds in the late 1920s, but pencillin wasn't deployed as a drug until the 1940s because it was so difficult to extract. Seriously, read the Wikipedia page on the isolation of penicillin. It took over a decade and cost a shitload of money, and that was with the technology of the early 20th century. You cannot take raw penicillium mold and cram it into people's wounds and expect it to cure them of plague. That is not how this works. (In fact, various ancient cultures were aware that certain fungi could prevent infections from worsening, but they couldn't identify or isolate the actual antibiotic compounds, which limited their use.)

Leandra somehow understands that she shouldn't feed her patients liquid penicillin, because their stomach acid might degrade the drug and prevent it from working, so she decides she needs to introduce penicillin into their bloodstreams. How does she accomplish this? By cutting people's buboes open and cramming them full of mold! And this is portrayed as the correct course of action, and a reliable way of getting medications into the blood.

Leandra's mold-shoved-into-buboes treatment has a 100% cure rate, and all of her patients survive. For reference, plague has a 13% fatality rate today if treated with IV antibiotics. It is an extremely dangerous disease. So either the author dramatically underestimated how lethal plague actually is, or we are meant to believe that Leandra's cure is more effective than modern medicine.

The author completely ignores pneumatic and septicemic plague—everyone who gets sick gets bubonic plague, period. I get that buboes and fleas are the first things that come to mind for most people when they think of plague, but if you're going to build your entire plot around your protagonist's inexplicable knowledge of Yersinia pestis, maybe consider its other presentations?

Relatedly, the author also ignores that plague can be spread from person-to-person, as well as through other means. Leandra seems to believe that flea bites are the only route of plague transmission, and this is presented as right. Leandra spends a lot of time handling infected tissues in her laboratory, getting up close and personal with infected patients, and having sex with her infected husband, and she never worries about getting sick herself, because plague is transmitted by fleas. She does die young, but only because an evil rival doctor stabs her out of envy—not because she's spent the past six months breathing nothing but aerosolized plague.

Other inaccuracies

Obviously, a lot of the science is wrong, but so is the history. The timeline is all muddled—plague hits Europe and becomes endemic before Justinian even rises to power, and then it spirals into a pandemic at some point before the Nika riots. Theodora is infected with plague (although she's cured by the mold), while Justinian remains healthy. The Hagia Sophia in its current form exists before the Nika riots even happen. Justinain doesn't start work on his law code until after Theodora gets the plague. You get the picture. Everything happens out of order, on a condensed timeline, so that Leandra and Alexander can experience the best Byzantium has to offer before they die young and reincarnate in sixteenth-century France. (I know less about France than I do about Byzantium, but for what it's worth, I suspect the French setting is also filled with research errors.)

The ending

I gave up on this book at some point after Leandra's first death, but I did skim the French part until I got to the ending, and I discovered that the scene on the cover—the picture of Leandra and Alexander riding a pegasus to the sky—does literally happen in the final paragraph. Nostradamus actually witnesses them flying into outer space as he's charting the movement of the stars.

For what it's worth, I think both Leandra and Alexander are anthropomorphic constellations at this point, if that makes it any better.

Final verdict

This book is insane. I've read a fair amount of wacky Byzantine romances, but this one is on another level. The premise alone is bonkers, the characters are all horrible, the sex scenes are absurd, and the science and the history are both so wrong that I don't even understand how we got to this point. I majored in microbiology, and I minored in medical humanities, so I know a fair amount about the history of infectious disease research, and this book feels like it was designed specifically to torment me. When I got to the penicillin subplot, I said "noooooo" to myself, out loud, like some kind of madwoman. This book has driven me to the brink of insanity. There weren't even any fucking birds in it.

10/10, would write a scathing review of again.

[jellyfishjuliet]

probably the thing i dislike most about comicsharing these days is how insanely disingenuous ppl are about the books they’re sharing. specifically with kon. he was incredibly overexposed during his initial run, and pretty damn popular. his writing relayed the zeitgeist of the 90s with barely any filter, despite being comics code authority approved. it’s ok to admit that contextually speaking, his run (meaning ALL his books from 1993 - 2002) wasn’t THAT crazy compared to others aka miss hal’s menty b and superman literally dying and coming back and suffering ENDLESSLY until the clois marriage healed his heart and psyche. you don’t have to treat his initial writing like it needs to be heat-treated prior to reading.

the fact that ‘fans’ love harping on his early writing like its some kinda radioactive green rock is actually insane! that is LITERALLY the concept work that lasted TEN YEARS across MULTIPLE writers and books. kesel wasn’t the only one clowning. editorial marched to his tune even after superboy 1994’s hands changed. kon dont got a hundred years of history. he’s only got thirty, and a third of that was entirely his creator’s, and you know what? It was GREAT! it was raw and heartbreaking and funny and indicative of how terribly neglectful parents were and how easy it was for kids to get caught up in adult bullshit without being adults. im tired of ppl talking like it’s a diseased run ‘not up for the current times.” it is ABSOLUTELY of the current times.

it was about a partyboy who never got to party for the sake of it, and about CSA without kon knowing he was a victim and survivor of CSA. it was about ppl in positions of authority and power leaving kon to his business bc kon wasn’t theirs to take in, and no one in any position of influence thought to question why a grown ass woman was dating him PUBLICLY. they laughed! kyle and clark and dubbilex and makoa, they did not care! bc kon was supposed to be a way for neglected kids to read about a character who’s making his own way since he’s been emotionally starved of love and affection. he makes his own family, even tho those ppl don’t really SEE him as family! he thinks of a clone handler as his father even tho that handler does the bare minimum! he thinks his agent’s daughter is his sister even tho she’s been lusting and pining after him since the start! he didn’t understand boundaries, didn’t draw them, and didn’t understand that his emulating the people around him was NOT normal!

he’s the one kid in school who thought it was ok for sixteen year olds to attend college parties and sleep with older girls cuz he got his growth spurt early and looks like an adult, even tho he’s not! he’s the kid you grew up with that didn’t have parents, but had random guardians who did a subpar job at taking care of him bc they couldn’t put him in foster care. he was the guy you knew growing up who said the most off-color shit and did the most off-color shit bc he had anger issues and deep-seated resentment and shit tons of sexual trauma and NO friends his age that didn’t wanna fuck him.

kon was THE exploited teen star. his story can STILL resonate today if you stop treating his early writing as icky and focus on the actual fucking themes and purpose of the story. his first real gay friend wasn’t ray, it was hero. he joined yj with a heavy heart. his first love was one of the ppl who destroyed his life the most, and yet he loved tana! knockout gave him sexual trauma so deep, he was still acting out in ttv03. his life’s lack of parental love is WHY the kents taking him in is so moving and important. no, clark not taking him in from the start was not on clark bc KON IS NOT HIS RESPONSIBILITY. kon was the government’s responsibility, and the government did what it does to all kids who don’t have loving parents and guardians - left him to fend for himself.

kon’s initial run isn’t a 90’s shitshow. it’s a legitimately sad tale with multiple moving parts that highlight how much legacy can both destroy and make a person’s spirit. stop treating that shit with kidgloves. commit to the fucking bit. he was never anyone’s prop, and it’s sad how some of y’all act like his only heartbreak is tim getting away with bernard. i don’t know how to tell you this, but tim’s timkonnie feels were wholly a personal problem. focus on the kon. i PROMISE you, you’ll free yourself from chuck dixon’s boogers and geoff’s grimdark teen soap that paled in comparison to the actual teen soap of the era, smallville.

[mapleleavesart]

Making a new girlie, have some doodles

She's gonna be a goddess of celestial objects, space, and melodies. Her holy symbols include moths, stars/constellations, and the harp. I'm flipping between making her a hunter, a guardian, or a creator goddess