#that's MY opinion of course

[aleksanderscult]

https://www.tumblr.com/greensaplinggrace/734627296606044160/i-am-being-annoying-ik-but-all-your-comments-are your views on this? i am kinda disagreeing but am unable to put it in words. especially the he would have loved zoya part.

Oh boy.

I have lots of things to say.

First of all, thank you for the ask. And thank you for asking my opinion on this.

The post we're referencing (for those who don't know) is this. And under no circumstances is this my hate reply or anything. I'll only state my opinion.

Anon, I want your opinion about this post of mine once you read it, please. ❤️

(Cut below because this is the LONGEST post I've made so far)

Let's take it one at a time.

"Alina is nothing at all what he wanted a Sun Summoner to be".

I have already examined about what Aleksander was expecting from a Sun Summoner here and I recommend you to read it 'cause most of my thoughts about this are there.

In a few words, I believe Aleksander wanted a person gullible, easy to manipulate, easy to follow him. And to have the same views as him (about the world, politics, the Grisha persecution and what needs to be done etc.). Also someone cut off from other people since this way it'll be easier to take him/her under his wing and manipulate him/her as he wishes.

And I say him/her because I don't think Aleksander was sure if the Sun Summoner would be a male or female. And he DEFINITELY didn't want to fall in love with that person nor did he intended it. I think he only wanted to use that person. Not rule with him/her. The whole "ruling with the Sun Summoner" thing only came to his mind after 1) he fell in love with Alina 2) and when he saw the power she had, the bond between them and their dynamic.

Certainly he must have suspected that the Sun Summoner would be immortal like him. But I believe he thought "he/she will become my right hand, my lieutenant. Someone I will use." Not a King or Queen at his side. That thought only came, just like I said, after he met her (😉).

In the beginning, Alina both was and wasn't what Aleksander was looking for.

She was what he was looking for in a Sun Summoner because:

1) She was an orphan. So hooray! to that 'cause she doesn't have a family to feel connected to. She's all alone for him to take her and mould her as he wishes.

2) She's gullible and thirsty for approval. Aleksander himself said that in RoW:

But she also wasn't what he was looking for 'cause:

1) She already had a villainous perception of him. She told him that she had heard rumors of him. That he has no soul, that something evil created the Fold. Also, what he did to the Fjerdan assassin made her feel even more scared. And of course when she told him that she didn't expect from him to show her kindness because he's the Darkling and he tortures people. All these made the latter distrust her and keep information from her. And, of course, it was a huge obstacle since he had to change that perception.

2) She had Mal. And he tried to cut off that connection by keeping the letters. And he succeeded in that. For a month.

Others could say that her stubbornness was another obstacle for him. And it was because she directed it against him. But people need to understand that even though that annoyed him, it also made him admire her.

And as for the line "the Sun Summoner was the cosmic answer to his needs and loneliness" I believe he also didn't think that but after he met Alina.

Why I stand by so strongly with that belief? Because Leigh said it in a Q&A.

The question by a user was: "If all the Darkling wanted was to be king, why did he had to wait for Alina to come along? How did he know about Sun Summoners and the fact that he should wait for one?"

The answer by Bardugo:

Just like Bardugo said, he waited until the Sun Summoner came to sway the public opinion or use the Fold to his advantage. Not to rule with him/her or stay with that person forever united by marriage. His perception of the Sun Summoner (before Alina came) was entirely political.

Of course some can say "I don't care what the author says. I make my own canon" but I do care. Especially about what she says about the Darkling. Because what she has said about him in interviews and Q&As make total sense about his character and about how I see him too.

I also agree that the Darkling wanted someone that would adore him but I don't exactly believe that he wanted from that person to be a narcissist. That's a strong word. I think he wanted from that person to own his/her power. To have confidence. But narcissism? No.

Also, I don't agree that the Darkling got himself into politics out of his loneliness. I think he did it because no other Grisha would do something about this situation. It kinda reminds me of Thanos when he said "Fine. I'll do it myself". In addition, he knew that he was immortal. So he believed he was the only person that would withstand the test of time and stay on Earth until he solved those Grisha problems.

And about what the post said that the Darkling had the mindset that everything must be happening for a reason, I slightly disagree.

In my mind, he was a realist. He wasn't like "I must be living forever for a reason!" No. He was "I am living forever because I'm too powerful and that's how things are. I have powers that no one else has and yes, that makes me kinda superior than all of you bitches but at the same time I feel lonely." Because the problem with being unique, my dears, is that no one else is like you. You're alone. For him I think it felt both a gift and a curse. But he was a pragmatist with it. I don't think he constantly thought about how the Fates had touched him in everything. And he believed he could save Ravka because he thought of everyone else as too weak and foolish to do it. According to his mindset, HE had more experience, more power and more knowledge to do it.

Now. About the anon's characterization of Alina. I absolutely disagree that Alina is an extrovert. Not in a million years she is. An extrovert is someone who makes friends easily, is outgoing and feels confident socially. Does that sound like Book!Alina? Not to me. Nikolai is an extrovert. Mal is an extrovert. But Alina is more like an introvert or an ambivert. Alina only became very social in S&S because she was forced to as the leader of the Grisha. But even then she needed guidance and advice from Nikolai about it. An extrovert would talk easily, make allies and friends easily, would feel totally at ease on the spotlight. Yes, she was friendly to new people. But that doesn't make her an extrovert. I'm an introvert and I identify with Alina strongly. I'm friendly with new people too but I don't have neither the gift nor the easiness to talk much. Or to laugh or socialize with them.

Here's an example of Alina's awkwardness with other people:

If she was an extrovert she would find something to talk about and there would be no silence. Extroverts have that gift. (My own awkward ass could never💀)

Now about her tendency to avoid responsibility. I both agree and disagree here. There were moments that Alina didn't avoid responsibilities. For example, when she willingly and by her own wish took command of the Second Army in S&S. She could have said "Nah fuck that. Let's go Mal. Nikolai, thank you for the rescue but no". But she proposed that idea herself.

And then of course we have that infamous act of hers where she abandoned everything at the end of R&R and run off with Mal at the orphanage. That really was an evading but I mostly blame Leigh here for the lack of cohesiveness in Alina's character. Sometimes Alina is responsible, sometimes she isn't. For the whole trilogy she loved her power and wanted to shine with it and then Leigh took that from her and made the character seek a quiet life in the countryside. So about this trait of hers I blame the author mostly. Not the character. Leigh didn't keep a cohesive narrative.

I agree that the Darkling was pissed off when Alina run off at S&B because he expected more from her. To save her country instead of abandoning it. And I agree with him. She should handle it better in the first book but she was also seventeen so 🤷 It's complicated.

I agree that Alina isn't comfortable with having attention on her.

I agree that she likes teamwork BUT! only with specific people. For example, she has no problem collaborating with her friends (Mal, Nikolai, Genya, David etc.) but she doesn't like it at all when she has to collaborate with people she doesn't like (Vasily, the King etc.). So it depends on the people she's collaborating with.

She wants to belong yes. I agree.

She likes goofing off with her friends, yes. But! Only with her friends. Those she feels comfortable with (And I don't find it bad at all. That she wants to goof around with her pals, I mean. It's not like she does it in the entire trilogy).

She wants togetherness yes (with her friends again). And even with her allies but only after they understand her and are kind to her.

And I also agree that she mistrusts those in power. She did when she met the Darkling, the King, Nikolai. And she definitely bonds with the underdogs. Genya, for example. And even with Nikolai when she finds out that he's a bastard. Of course it's not surprising for her character since she was an underdog too her entire life.

The Darkling is an introvert but he was made to be this way because his mother never allowed him to make friendships. So he was kinda socially awkward as a child. Who knows what he would have been if his mother wasn't so strict and restricting. An introvert or an extrovert? I leave this for you to decide. But still, as an introvert he had good manipulative skills and knew what to say to people (to the King, to the Grisha etc.). I agree that he wanted to be on the top of the pyramid and about all the rest that he wanted a powerful Sun Summoner capable of subjugation to him.

Now about Zoya. This is the point which I disagree with the MOST. He didn't ignore Zoya because she wasn't the Sun Summoner. He ignored her lustful feelings because he had given up on love after so many heartbreaks. He had witnessed so many loved ones die that he eventually closed off his heart.

The user asked if the Darkling was ever loved by someone (besides him mother). And if he has ever loved someone too in the past (before Alina).

Bardugo answered:

So it's plain that he had given up on love a looong time ago.

"He'd known the name for it once. A hundred lifetimes before."

So apparently for more than a century.🥲

He brushed aside Zoya's feelings for him and any other women's feelings because he was done with his love life. He was being hurt enough. He wouldn't try again.

I think he fell in love with Alina naturally. Aside from her powers and the ideal that she's his balance, he also fell in love with her spontaneity. Her witty remarks. Her failure to hide her feelings. She always showed her emotions through her expressions. And that was something surprising and pleasant for him since when was the last time he met such a person? That also talked to him with such ease?

She made him laugh thrice, remember?

And her tendency to show her emotions openly must have been something strange to him. After so many years in court where nobody must show any weakness.

(The Tailor)

If Zoya was the Sun Summoner I don't think he would fall in love with her. I don't know what would happen between them but I don't think he would feel love for her the way he felt for Alina.

And no, he doesn't ignore Zoya because she isn't the Sun Summoner. He ignores her because he doesn't allow himself to get close to anyone. Not exceptions.

But that doesn't mean that he didn't find Zoya powerful. He did. She was one of his favourites and he had gifted her an amplifier. But that was it. Nothing more than that. Because it's all business to him. Not lovey dovey emotions getting in the way. Not anymore.

And now about the last paragraph of that meta.

I agree that he must have wanted from Alina to accept the color black since the first moment he offered it to her. To embrace it and show to everyone that she's not like the other Grisha. She's special. A favourite of the Darkling's. I'm not sure what the Darkling felt when Alina refused to wear it. But his persistence at the Winter fete shows to me that he considered it important since many important people of the country would attend the party and he wanted to show them "Look who she belongs to. We're one and the same now".

I don't believe that he considered Alina's tendency to hang out with the other Etherealki annoying. I believe he kinda liked it because he thought "Good. She feels one of them now. She feels she belongs here. Not to her old life with her tracker. But here." I think he considered it useful in making her feel more connected to the Little Palace. More accepted. More relaxed. And that way it would be easier for him to manipulate her. She wouldn't have her guard up. Of course he knew that Alina was above them. Different and unique and a league above them. But that connection with others would serve him well for his plans.

I also agree that he wants her to choose him and only him out of devotion and isolation (and yes it's kind of a projection). He refused to comply to her wish in S&B about sparing Mal's life because that would making him weak. Yes, he could be merciful, just like he said. But he wants to have the upper hand. Not her. In the tent scene he's already feeling vulnerable and weak. From Alina's rejection, from the jealousy he feels for the entire Malina situation, from the way she abandoned him etc. If he complied to that wish he would become even weaker. And he certainly does NOT want that. The Darkling wants to feel in control. If he does what Alina wants, she will control him in a way. He will give in to her wish and his feelings. And he wouldn't allow that. So he makes up his own terms.

"Mal is going to die and you will watch that because I want to regain control and cannot give in to you."

He regains the power dynamic in their relationship.

Yes, she will fight him. Yes, she will hate him.

He knows all of that. But it doesn't bother him much because she's immortal too. Eternity will tire her of everything. She will become numb. Like he did. All these emotions will fade eventually.

And about his frustration that she doesn't want what he wants. That what she thinks about the world is not same as what he thinks. I think the Darkling is impatient. He expects from Alina too much. To be as mature as he is. But the difference is that he's centuries old with centuries of experience. And Alina is only 17 years old.😭

Literally, what do you expect from a seventeen year old, Aleksander?

His expectations of Alina were unrealistic, let's face it.

Finally, his belief that Alina will love him eventually because everyone else will be dead, comes from his relationship with his mother, I think. He projects that relationship with Baghra to his relationship with Alina. Just like he kept coming back to Baghra because she was the only constant presence at his life (and everybody else died a mortal death), he thinks Alina will do the same with him. She will come back to him because he will be the only constant presence at her side. Everyone else will become dust and shadows.

OOF!! THAT WAS LONG AF

But kinda necessary because it gave me the opportunity to say some things about these two characters.

In NO case this is a hate reply or hate post. I just said my opinion.😊❤️

Dear anon who send me this ask, please tell me if you agree or disagree with my opinion. I'm REALLY curious. And everybody else feel free to state your opinion too 💛🖤

[kenapiece-main]

Can you believe I'm having to make this meme even after successfully finishing up taxes and applying to job

[vvanillavveins]

Is she Lucy Westenra, or is she just a vessel for the writer's barely disguised fantasy of a women being punished for her promiscuity? Is she really"Bram Stoker's" Lucy Westenra: a naive, innocent 19 year old, with a cheery personality and a bright future ahead of her? Or has the writer instead just slapped her name on an OC that behaves nothing like her, and- with none of the grace or decorum that Lucy's tragically short story deserves- sexualized her slow and agonising death as much as possible, whilst very unsubtly doing their best to blame her for being murdered, so that we won't object to her being killed again later in an even more gruesome and sexual manner?

[egophiliac]

ENG PLAYERS I BESEECH YOU

I have been informed that you guys are getting part 4 of episode 7 tomorrow, which means we are FINALLY going to get the official romanization of Revaan's name, somebody please tell me because I need to know what it is.

like, yes, it's probably just Revan/Levan, but look, I'm sitting here with my finger over the button of all these Laverne and Shirley jokes and just waiting for the opportunity to deploy them --

[captainjonnitkessler]

I truly, TRULY do not know how to say this, because the fact that I have to say it makes me feel like I am losing my grip on reality. But no, in the post-capitalistic anarchist utopia, I will not be relying on “autistic minecraft girlies” to be building inspectors because - and this may shock you - one of those occupations takes years of education in how to read and interpret hundreds of thousands of lines of regulations based on complicated math and physics that were the result of decades of tragedy and death, and the other one involves playing a children’s video game.

[theabigailthorn]

"Good" Acting

i have a theory that a lot of people say acting is "good" when they're emotionally moved by it, and a lot of cishet white people have a lifelong habit of not listening or empathising when minoritised people speak, so minority actors get called "bad" even when they display some pretty fucking amazing technical skill

[lazylittledragon]

ok someone please correct me if i'm wrong but am i weird for thinking those 'audiobooks don't count as reading' posts are ableist as fuck????

[raphmybeloved]

Not “good parent splinter” not “bad parent splinter” but instead “splinter raised four children with no resources as a survivor of horrific trauma and while he had better moments and worse moments. to simply divide his parenting as good or bad does a disservice to his character”

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

The Charcuterie Board, as designed by your votes! Thank you to everyone who participated; this was a fun challenge!

[kjscottwrites]

And, importantly, share some recs!

[peachylynnie]

old

word count: 800 (unintentional)

synopsis: in which you ask rafayel a question he isn't prepared for.

contains: rafayel x mc!reader, established relationship, they're at the beach, reference to rafayel's lore (the part where mc doesn't remember him), fear of age, fluff to angst to even more angst (not a bad ending), and kissing.

a/n: this is a result of me listening to algernon by yorushika on loop, especially the part, "we're losing our memories slowly." enjoy! reblogs and comments are always welcome. do NOT copy or translate my work. rafayel does NOT endorse plagiarism.

"will you still love me when i'm old?"

"what kind of question is that?" rafayel pouts at you, scrunching his nose. "of course, i will."

you chuckle mirthlessly. bringing your knees to your chest, you don't look at him. instead, you stare off into the sun who is eager to finally embrace the waves after a long day. sighing deeply, you wonder if it is happy even though it no longer shines. "i'm serious, raf. i'm going to have wrinkles and all."

"pft, did i ever tell you i have a thing for wrinkles?"

"raf!"

"okay, okay!"

with a bright smile, rafayel cups your red cheeks and turns your face towards him. you can't help but tear up when you meet his eyes. no one has ever looked at you with so much love. there is no doubt he loves you now. but what about in the future? will he still look at you like this when you have aged? grayed? no longer able to hold a candle to a ripe rose?

shaking your head, you try to turn away, but rafayel doesn't let you. he turns you to face him again. "yes, i will still love you when you're old."

unable to stop the tears from flowing, you bury your head in rafayel's chest. you don't deserve him. no one does.

but rafayel wants to convince you otherwise. he wants you to see what he sees. he wants you to trust he will love you until your dying breath. he wants you to know he dreams of a moment in the future when he can truthfully tell you he lived a good life thanks to you and draw his last breath in your arms. he wants to grow old with you.

"cutie," he calls for you, trying to pull you away so he can look at you properly. "look at me. please?"

you could never say no to rafayel. you tilt your chin up, allowing him a peek at your swollen eyes. he can't help but giggle at how adorable you are. "there you are, cutie."

"it's not funny, raf," you whine as you tilt back down. "i won't be beautiful to you anymore. heck, i won't even be able to talk or move anymore. how could you possibly still love me then?"

"woah, woah," the lavender-haired man reacts as he pulls you by the shoulders. "you're afraid of a natural process all humans go through and not the terrifying, monstrous wanderers you face every day?"

"yes." you grumble.

rafayel chuckles and kisses your forehead. "trust me on this, cutie," he kisses your nose. "no matter what you look like," he kisses your cheek. "or what you do," he kisses your chin. "i will always love you." he kisses your lips, finally saving them from the cold ocean breeze. "always."

he deepens the kiss, wrapping a hand around your nape and the other around your waist. shutting your eyes, you relish in his lips and allow your tears to fall. as the sand beneath you grows wet from your tears, your fingers find refuge in rafayel's clothes, with you desperately hoping this moment could last forever. two lovers, seeking each other's presence on the beach and promising to love each other no matter what the world throws at them, including time—the very thing people fear yet want.

as your fingers tighten around his attire, rafayel can't help but push himself more into the kiss, causing you to fall backward with him on top of you, his arms planted at each side of your head. opening your eyes, you gasp at the sight above you. there he was, panting with his sweet lips parted, his cerulean and coral eyes dazed, and his broad arms trembling.

he wants more. he always does. but there's one more question you have to ask.

"will you still love me," you swallow shakily. "even if i forget about you?"

his breath hitches.

"r-raf?" you stare at him in concern, raising your hands to hold his face. flinching at the chill of his skin, you rub his cheek with your thumb. why is he so cold? he's never cold, ever. his evol makes sure of that. and his eyes… there was a flash of sorrow in them. "are you okay?"

rafayel inhales deeply before burying himself in the crook of your neck, his arms now tightening around your waist. his voice muffled and the wind strong, you don't hear what he says. "raf?" patting his head, you ask him to repeat what he said.

slowly, rafayel rises, his now-watering eyes meeting yours. you immediately return your hands to his face, trying to wipe his tears away. "raf? what's wrong?"

"nothing," he replies hoarsely. "it's just…"

you gaze at him worriedly, your eyes imploring him to answer quickly so you can take away whatever was paining him. but rafayel doesn't say anything. instead, he brings a hand to your face and strokes your cheek with his thumb. "it's just?" you repeat softly.

a moment of silence passes before he finally answers.

"yes, i will love you even when you forget about me, my beloved bride."

[witchlingcirce]

Seeing people refer to Daenerys as entitled, or narcissistic is so actually mind boggling. Like DAENERYS???? The Daenerys who never even had a proper home??? The girl who said she would not rule of ash?? And wanted a happy kingdom??? The girl Who listens to all of her people’s complaints almost everydau??? Same girl who cried over chaining her dragons away??? THE GIRL who is legit kind to people who aren’t even close to deserving it (Viserys, Jorah)??? LIKE DAENERYSSS?!??!?!?!?!??

[doctorwhoisadhd]

for the last time steven moffat is a progressive guy yes hes said some weird things about women but that was all in like, 2011

[ollieofthebeholder]

Just saw a "What was your favorite PBS Kids show" poll but only one of them was old enough that I actually remembered it sO

Please note that this poll does NOT contain the Big Three PBS Kids Shows: Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Sesame Street, or Bill Nye the Science Guy. It also does not include Barney & Friends or Teletubbies. This is deliberate on my part. (I may make a separate poll for them later.)

[the-burgah]

tiredly shunting this slop here in the hope that people are less insufferable than on twitter

[da-janela-lateral]

There is an opinion I've seen a lot on anime circles that Dimple's return on Confession Arc cheapened the emotional impact of the Divine Tree Arc finale. However, I don't think him coming back from "dead" was that sudden, nor that it was unnecessary or ruined anything, because:

1 - Dimple is supposedly exorcized in several major conflicts, only to return like nothing had happened. It's almost a gag.

2 - Dimple's presence was ABSOLUTELY necessary on Confession Arc for plot and thematic reasons (not only through helping a wounded Reigen, but also because Dimple and Reigen are Mob's closest friends and see two opposite sides of him)

3 - The emotional weight of the Divine Tree Arc is not just Dimple's "death". It was much more about Dimple's character development and motivations and his bond with Mob. These elements are the very foundation for the feelings the audience had on the conclusion.