#the great comet version specifically

[notmoreflippingelves]

It's dawned on me suddenly

And for no obvious reason

That I can't go on

Living as I am.

[cathchicken]

Oops I tripped on a rock-

Welp timeline change ig

Sooooo this is the new collector and king AU I made today. As you can tell, it is very different from my normal aus. I’m tempted to not even call it an AU at all, since it is almost one in the most literal sense…

Essentially: king and the collector exist as different people in a completely different witch and demon universe. The collector himself is a witch, or “wizard” as I call them. King is, well, a demon still, or a monster more specifically. They live somewhat different lives, and are somewhat different people, but are still collector and king nevertheless.

Definitely not a traditional AU. But I think this will be fun

The collector: he is a young wizard who is mainly socially reclusive. Probably late teens, as compared to the typical ToH collector. Not immortal. Their communication skills are… not great, and often resorts to talking with their hands. They try their best. His status as a wizard means somewhat; he is able to provide spells to non-magic folk, but for relatively cheaper costs. It thankfully is enough to make him a reasonable living. He’s not afraid to chew on a few stray comet newts every once in awhile…

King: a monster. He is usually ignored by most people, and often prefers to stay unnoticed anyways. He one day find the collector, however, and is allowed to crash for a bit before he continues on. A nomadic lifestyle is common for monsters, anyway. But soon, they get close. And King decides each day, essentially, “tomorrow I’ll leave”

TW FOR BELOW: disturbing themes mainly

Their overall relationship is extremely complex. The collector… craves intimacy. He’s not sure how it really works though, but he’s sure what he wants is more than just something to fill the void of his loneliness. He sees king as an opportunity, but doesn’t want to force anything. They are pretty desperate though. King, on the other hand, has his own issues. As you can see in the art, he doesn’t actually possess a skull-like face. It’s just a mask. King isn’t afraid to show his own face however… he just eventually found the mask as a way to better express himself, in to an almost idealistic fashion, without his insecurities getting in the way. But sometimes… his own feelings of wanting a genuine relationship bubble up… especially around his new buddy, Collector. The Collector says he should embrace his inner self, as it’s what makes him beautiful. But it’s soon pretty obvious that when King lets go, he REALLY lets go. He can’t control himself anymore, and sometimes ends up hurting collector. He knows it’s bad, but with the constant praise of the collector, he chooses not to stop. The collector also gets the feeling that he shouldn’t convince king to keep giving in, but he also knows that this is essentially Kings raw and unaltered version of affection… and he likes it. He’s so happy at the thought of receiving love and friendship, he doesn’t realize he is being bitten… and scratched… and torn apart…

In the end, this AU is about two people who, essentially, are not neurotypical in any way. They are trying to fit into societal norms, but also wanting to be able to be themselves in a healthy way. This relationship, as you can tell, starts off really dirty. But if I ever develop this story a bit more, I want it to be about them both finding how to care for each other in their own way, but also in a healthy way. It’s not that they won’t make good friends, they both have just never had a friend before. This is a journey they will face together

Ok it is 3 am. Sleep time!!!

[kittencombat]

@klkirbles tagged me to make a poll of my 5 favourite songs, so in no particular order!! And probably maybe unexpected??

1. Landslide - All versions but SPECIFICALLY the Dixie Chicks version, I love a violin !!!!

2. Blue - MARINA I truly think this might be the song I've listened to the most ever in my whole life

3. Sonya Alone - The Great Comet OBC this is the go-to "I need to cry my eyes out" song but also !!! Ow owie everything about it

4. Your Song - Elton John man this is Romance The Song imo

5. Make Me Feel - Janelle Monae tbh this one feels like a bisexual freebie but dear god Janelle Monae makes music for feeling sexy and cool

I know some people been tagged already but @hammerikaika @nuvomica and @tuffgreg get over here

[iamthecomet]

Hello comet! I see you mentioned enjoying magical world building :] what are your thoughts on the pit? What is the atmosphere like down there? What does it look and feel like to get summoned?

Oh man, I could really get carried away with the pit. I will try not to. So, first of all, I'm fully on board with different circles. I think all of them are different, though I haven't really decided which circle I think is what (and I don't know enough about, say, Dante, to be able to reference those ideas confidently). But what I do think is that different types of ghouls come from different circles. So, there's a water ghoul circle, a fire ghoul circle, air ghoul circle and so on...I think multi-ghouls get to sort of travel within the circles. Whatever their elements are, they sort of get a free magical pass to travel between those circles. Otherwise, you're sort of stuck where your element lands you. I don't want to get too in the weeds on what I think that means for atmosphere/setting because we would literally be here all day, but if you want me to talk about a specific circle I will absolutely dig in (I have thoughts, but not full fledged ones, but that could change). As far as what it's like to be summoned--I'm of two minds and I haven't fully decided which I like better. I've seen a lot of talk of the church casting a net so to speak into the hell and seeing what they get. They ask for specific elements but nothing else, and then some poor unsuspecting ghoul is lifted from their life and yanked top-side. I feel like this version is unpleasent and doesn't feel or look great. And some ghouls are fine with it and some really hate it.

But I also really like the idea that they volunteer. I think someone in the church probably does have a direct line to hell. And I think there is a hierarchy that makes things run down there. So, when the church needs a new ghoul, the powers that be in the pit ask who wants to go--or they have a lottery. If your number gets called, you go. When it's that case, I picture mirrored rituals. The ghoul standing in a summoning circle in the pit, words whispered around them, blending together with the ones being said on earth until there's a sharp tug and the world shifts beneath their feet. Things get warmer--or cooler depending on the circle--and when they open their eyes...they're topside. I think, maybe, depending on the urgency, the clergy has employed both tatics. Generally, the one where they just grab whoever they can, does not go as smoothly as the ones that are planned.

[musicalrecs]

Hello! I need your recs! I am looking for a musical to listen to. My favourite creators are Sondheim and Malloy and I generally like shows with rich orchestrations and emotionally powerful plotlines (rhyming lyrics are a bonus). Some of my favourite shows are: Great Comet, A Little Night Music, Les Miserables. It can be from any year, genre etc. , no limitations, I am open to anything! Save a theatre nerd from boredom!

Thank you!

Oooh, now this is a fun request. Are you already familiar with Frank Wildhorn? If not, find a copy of The Scarlet Pimpernel to listen to, stat. Then, you might give Chess a try, specifically the concert version with Josh Groban, Adam Pascal, and Idina Menzel. And finally, I'll throw in the musical version of Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

What's everyone else got to recommend?

[sillovn]

Cheat Sheet: Hybrid Sorcery

So you want to play a hybrid sorcerer? Here is a quick overview. (X) - more Cheat Sheets

This series started as a reference for planning my ER characters, and also as notes for spell types. Ive tried to keep this info dense and not just list things you can pull from a wiki/build tool.

As always, I recommend the following for detailed math and specifics...

Build and Inventory Planner by sovietspaceship

Glintstone Staff math by Chrightt

Magic Schools Overview

Death

Stat: INT+ FTH min - Rancorcall (16 int, 14 fth) max - Explosive Ghostflame (42 int, 30 fth)

The most stat intensive magic school with few practical uses. Main strength is throwing out persistent homing projectiles (ie. being annoying in PvP). Besides this, Death spells are slow acting and deal very little damage.

Fia's Mist is a source of Deathblight. Only 1 other spell (Death Lightning) also has this.

Tibia Summons can be blocked by obstacles (the skeletons spawn where an invisible projectile lands).

Lava

Stat: high INT + low FTH min - Magma Shot (19 int, 10 fth) max - Rykard's Rancor (40 int, 18 fth)

The only fire damage sorceries, spells are slow acting and leave lingering damage effects. This school is very weak, if you need fire damage projectiles - consider using throwing pots instead.

Magma Shot, Roiling Magma are "magic grenades", manual aim works better than locking on.

Gelmir's Fury, Rykard's Rancor focus on flooding areas with damage hazards. They are also (arguably) less useful.

Claymen/Bubble

Stat: INT + ARC min - Oracle Bubbles (19 int, 15 arc) max - Great Oracular Bubble (25 int, 18 arc)

Only 2 spells, send out bubbles that drift slowly and explode on contact. Very efficient damage per FP but very slow acting; treat these less like ranged missiles and more like environmental hazards that you can prepare a fight with.

Oracle Bubbles are very weak, leaving Great Oracular Bubble as the 1 real spell in this school.

Great Oracular Bubble has similar damage to Comet, and works somewhat like a slow-motion version of it.

Both spells are found early, with no boss kills needed.

Aberrant

Stat: FTH min - Briars of Punishment (21 fth) max - Briars of Sin (24 fth)

Has many strange properties; FTH-only requirement, inflicts bleed and costs life to use.

very low fp cost, also surprisingly fast cast speed.

damage improved by many sources. Staff of the Guilty (+20%), Alberich's Armour (+6% per piece).

despite appearance, deals magic *not* physical damage.

Glintstone Staff Breakdown

Spell scaling comparison is vs. 60 INT on Academy Glintstone Staff (~304). In short, +50 points in damage stat given most classes stat with ~10 stat base.

Prince of Death

INT/FTH staff, has the most damage given infinite levels (80 INT/FTH). However, stat scaling is low up until ~60 INT/FTH. Consider for NG+, poor choice otherwise.

226 scaling at 35/35 or 40/30

Gelmir

INT/FTH staff, more usable than the above, but still very weak. This staff is drop-only and *very hard* to farm.

248 scaling at 40/30 or 35/35

Albinauric

The only hybrid staff with reasonable damage, scales Arc>Int. However! you still need INT for spell requirements; take note, even if high ARC + low INT looks good on paper.

293 scaling at 40/30 or 45/25

Guilty

Pure FTH staff, drop-only. Large school bonus (+20% damage for Aberrant spells).

271 scaling at 60 fth

Closing Thoughts

Hybrid sorcery is difficult to work with. And with good reason.

Sorcery is *very focused* on 'long range + magic damage'. The hybrid schools don't improve/widen your strategic options. Additionally, the most usable hybrid spells also tend to be the low req. ones.

Sorcery requirements overwhelmingly ask for INT and lots of it. Even if damage seems good, having less INT limits your arsenal.

Hybrid staves tend to have low damage

All this to say; 'INT+ splash stat' is the most reasonable build for (most) hybrid sorceries.

For example: 15 Fth lets you use 3 of 4 Gelmir spells. For most characters, that is ~5 levels. Additionally, school bonuses only need the staff *equipped*. In this case, you could Off-Hand a Gelmir Staff and cast with an Academy Glintstone for much more damage.

The 1 noteworthy exception? Aberrant spells. The staff damage is pretty decent with a *very large* school bonus. At reasonable levels, dual-wield Guilty Staves is the most damage (for Aberrant spells specifically and nothing else).

[darkersoul]

Note, voting for specific songs and not the shows as a whole!

[bcbdrums]

what do you think of the English fan covers of papermoon and which version do you like the most if you do??

Yeah, I've listened to several.

I won't go into which ones I don't like and why, which...is most of them. Because I don't want to insult people's awesome efforts. But I'll say that generally the reasons I will end up disliking a cover are a collection of a few reasons: bad mixing; melody and/or rhythm departs too much from the original (I'll go into this more), translation that departs too much from the original.

That said, so far my favorite English cover is Caleb Hyles. And it's funny cuz I don't usually go for his stuff. But, it's a great mix, it sticks to the song overall, the translation does its best to use the actual translation where it can... Words such as "degraded" that you just wouldn't really see, for example. He kept in as much as made sense, I felt, and didn't poeticize it too much; he really tried to stay true.

And of course, his surprise switch to Japanese at the end was great.

Do YOU have a favorite cover??

And what I said about melody/rhythm departing too much... We have to remember, it's often the case that the songwriter wrote those specific notes/melody for a reason and so changing them can in fact change the entire feel of the song.

I'll give an example.... "Comet" from Steven Universe. Every single note and rhythm she wrote very precisely.

Some say I have no direction That I'm a light speed distraction But that's a knee-jerk reaction

On that last word, reaction, the melody drops an interval of a fourth and the drop there in combination with the lyrics is meant to show Greg's dejection. Also the initial word of the second and third lines there, the melody starts an octave below before rising. This adds to the anchoring feel of those lyrics, of negative things that have been spoken over him.

Still, this is the final frontier Everything is so clear To my destiny I steer

The initial melodic notes of the second and third line here stay in the same octave, making the melody sound more confident (ironically the same note though... makes you wonder if there's a subliminal doubting in Greg of his choices) but with that confidence added from the constancy of the initial melodic notes, each conclusion sounds more certain, more hopeful, even though the chordal structure is the same.

So, melody matters. Don't change it. (Like every single cover of Comet out there... I like none.)

I could go into the importance of the super-triplet rhythm of Comet but...this was supposed to be about Papermoon. 😅😅😅

Sorry sorry sorry, Comet is just like...one of the best songs ever written in terms of how the music represents a character... It's a modern Wagnerian approach and boy does it succeed.

[agerefandom]

1, 4, 29, and 37 for the author ask game please!!

Thank you thank you! I love writing questions and this ask game is soooo fun!

Describe your comfort zone—a typical you-fic.

Ohhh this feels like I'm going to drag myself for only writing one (1) kind of fanfiction

I like spending a few paragraphs on background (memories and how the person got into the current situation, since I write oneshots), then a problem with a little bit of angst, and then it gets resolved and we get a page or two of fluff to fix it all. That's my standard agere formula! Now you can tease me when I follow it 80% of the time.

4. How many fic ideas are you nurturing right now? Care to share one of them?

My gosh I have so many requests in the inbox I don't really do my own fic ideas anymore! I'm mentally prepping for the follow-up to my Great Comet of 1812 fanfiction: relistening to the musical and generally turning the characters over in my head.

29. If you could write the sequel (or prequel) to any fic out there not written by yourself, which would you choose?

Ough I have been writing a self-insert version (with the author's permission) of a FNAF fic and it's been so very fun: my partner has been talking about writing a sequel and I've been working with them on it, although I don't think it'll ever really get written.

If you wanna read the best FNAF fic, here it is! It's got an aro/ace nonbinary main character (OC), magnificent robotics writing (to a layman), great character development, and an M rating for violence. It's twice the length of Moby Dick and I read it twice in a month, once by myself and once out loud to my partner. Feel free to hit me up for specific content warnings, since it did make me cry for about an hour, but it was soooo good.

37. Talk about your current wips.

Ughhh I really only have finished fics or fics that I'm stuck on: I do most of my stories in one sitting (and then another for editing), so if I only get halfway through, it's a bad omen.

That said, I'm partway through a fic about Light regressing during the chained-together era and I was having a really good time writing the L and Light dynamic, but got myself stuck right on the edge of Light admitting what was happening and couldn't wrangle him back into character.

And I'm a few paragraphs into the Armand and Lestat part of my IWTV fanfic: I feel like I've really got them down separately but then they start interacting and I'm like ????? who are you????

Anyways this has been me "talking" (complaining) about my wips lol

[thealmightyemprex]

Sci Fi Month Review 7 : Roger Cormans Fantastic Four

For this review…..We're looking at something special,the unreleased Fantastic Four movie

In this 1994 film Scientist Reed Richards(Alex Hyde-White ) and his companions Sue Storm (Rebecca Staab ),Johnny Storm (Jay Underwood ). and Ben Grimm(Michael Bailey Smith) take a space flight to study a comet,but things go wrong and the four find themselves changed with extraordinary powers and in the clutches of the mysterious figure named Doctor Doom (Joseph Culp )

So Marvel is huge now in mainstream American pop culture ……But that wasnt always the case.I'll just be honest people ,I am hesitant looking at pre Blade/X Men/Spider-Man live action Marvel adaptations cause they can be …Rough .I mean theres some gems ,I will always love The Incredible Hulk TV show starring Bill Bixby and even have a soft spot for the subsequent TV movies based on that show …..But then you have the 1990 Captain America movie ,Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD starring David Hasselhoff and of course,Howard the Duck .One that has always fascinated me is this film because in fandom circles for many years it was infamous for being the Marvel movie so bad ,they never released it (Which isnt the case truth is more complicated and capitalistic ,basically the film was a way to maintain rights ),a film you could only find as bootlegs at conventions,seen as a geeky oddity along the same lines as the Star Wars Holiday Special .Now you can find it on youtube (Which is how I watched it ) ,and having watched it……I think this film is kind of underrated and I am sad it did not get a proper release

So I gotta explain myself :As a kid some of my earliest comic memorie were reading the Stan Lee and Jack Kirby run of Fantastic Four ,and my dad had the complete series of the 90's Fantastic Four cartoon ….So the Fantastic Four have a special place for me .From the pathos of the Things plight ( a man trapped in the body of a monster ),to the sci fi adventure,to the romance of Reed and Susan ,to the grand villainy of Doctor Doom(Heck a slew of great villains),to the feeling of family ,the Fantastic Four appealed to me .....And I am kind of grumpy that Fantastic Four lacks a great adaptation that captures the spirit .Now there is no shortage of Fantastic Four adaptations out there.....But most of them,at least for me,are kind of mid ,specifically the film adaptations have left a lot to be desired .The Tim Story duology has the humor and the four leads relatively right ,but drops the ball in that they dont DO much and completely misrepresent the villains ,and 2015's Fant4stic might be the worst comic book movie I have ever seen .However this film ,while not the definitive film version I crave and not really a great movie .....IS the BEST movie version of the Fantastic Four and a fairly decent super hero film I feel

Now there is a lot I could make fun of ,its very flawed,like keep in mind ....This was produced by Roger Corman ,they didnt have much of a budget ,so the visual effects are a bit cheesy and bad(The CG Human Torch looks like he is straight out of Reboot ) but I dunno I find them charming .The only lack of budget thing that bothered me is the dialogue of Doctor Doom.....In that they didnt either have the money to loop him or think to loop him(HAve him record his lines later ) which is a problem cause Doom is clanking about and is wearing a mask that muffles his speech......So I dont know what the main villain is SAYING sometimes (Credit to Joseph Culp who does project very well so I know 75% of his dialogue but that 25 % is annoying ).My main flaws are the romance elements ,from the creepy Reed falling for Susan who he knew as a child to Ben and ALicia being in love despite meeting ONCE(And even that scene is a bit creepy ).We also have a subplot that frustrates me as the film has two villains ,Doctor Doom of course.....But then you have the Jeweler.Now the Jeweler was supposed to be the Mole Man ,a guy who due to his physical appearence has cast aside society to live underground and was actually the fours first villain.....Till Marvel said "NO you have the rights to this select group of character,not the Mole Man " ,so he was reworked into the Jeweler ....And I think they should have cut him out.Now I like the idea of his subplot ,him falling for Alicia and trying to make her his queen ,inviting Ben who has now become the monstrus thing to joing his group and Ian Trigger actually gives a great performance ,being creepy but also having a sense of sadness (He reminds me of what Tim Burton tried to do with the Penguin in Batman Returns ) ,and while the name is changed,its a good adaptation of the Mole Man .........Pity he adds nothing to the film other then causing the accident that makes the four the four and kidnapping Alicia,things that Doctor Doom couldve easilly done .I mean it folks in the grand scheme of things,the Jewler is pointless,he never fights the Fantastic Four and he just kind of runs off before the third act .I like the performance and the plot idea,but it shouldve been reworked or cut

Thaaaatttt said.....I still like the movie.....BEcause of the Fantastic Four movies.....Its the bonly one to get that Fantastic Four feel to me:A fun lighthearted sci fi adventure and thats what I want from Fantastic Four .The Four feel in character,its accurrate to the source material andits the only one to get Doctor Doom right at ALL(Actually keeping that he is the King of Latveria and hinting at doombots ).Yes the film is low budget but it makes that budget work ,heck the comic accurate sewn spandex costumes for the Four are charming to me because in universe the costumes are made by Susan and they legit look like something she could make herself (An issue I have with a lot of superhero movie costumes ment to be handmade ).Doctor Doom looks like he stepped right out of the comics with the green cloak and tunic combo and metal mask /armor ,I love this look for Doom .The Thing looks pretty good too with an animatronic face that brings to mind the old Jack Kirby design and stunt man Carl Ciafalio gives a good physical performance (THoughI do find it amusing that the Thing is SMALLER then his human persona Ben Grimm,played by Michael Bailey Smith ) .No one in the main cast is bad ,alll these actors are giving it their alll .I have already discussed my soft spot for Ian Trigger as the Jewler, Rebecca Staab is a good Susan ,and Jay Underwood is a suitable Johnny .Michael Bailey Smith is a good Ben Grimm and he also does a decent job voicing the Thing and bringing the appropriate pathos (Though I do wish he had the Things signature Brooklyn accent ).Alex Hyde White might be my favorite Reed Ritchards really selling both the scientist and the leader aspect .Biggest props have to go Joseph Culp,who delivers a great performance despite being in a vfery uncomfortable costume with a mask that muffles his speech,and is able to project well ,make grand gestures (Inspired by real tyrants like Mussolini ) but also make him a fun eloquent villain who still has a sense of humor with a good hero villain dynamic with Reed .Also he is CONSTANTLY evil laughing ,and I dig it

I like this movie ,there is clearly a lot of heart in this movie .....Which makes me sad that the film was mistreated by those at the top.Its not a lost masterpiece ,but it is an highly entertaining B movie that pays tribute to its source material

@ariel-seagull-wings @filmcityworld1 @the-blue-fairie @amalthea9 @goodanswerfoxmonster @themousefromfantasyland @angelixgutz @princesssarisa @theancientvaleofsoulmaking

[the-director]

I just finished natla with my grandparents I have some thoughts specifically with the ending of the season.

First positives:

I'm glad they kept irohs line "whatever you do to it [the moon spirit] I will unleash upon you tenfold"

The color grading was cool!

Uhm... I like kuruk?

Unfortunately. That's all the positives I got in me.

Now cons:

I was missing. A handful of great lines. These include but are not limited to: "you rise with the moon, I rise with the sun", "azula was born lucky, my father said I was lucky to be born", "it's time for me to give it back", "it's just that, ever since my son died-" "uncle you don't have to say it" "I think of you as my own" "I know uncle, we'll meet again"

Are they just. Getting rid of the Wan shi tong library entirely? That was where Zhao got the information about the moon and ocean spirits, and where they learn of the comet. But if the fire sages have all that won't team avatar just be able to go back there? And plus with Wan shi tong no longer remaining in the material world...

I don't get why the "moon and ocean spirits only appear in the material world during one night" thing had to exist. Why can't spirits just exist in the material world? Why do they want the world's to be so separate, the point is that while they may seem separate they are more interlinked than anyone could know.

I CANT BELIEVE THEY DIDNT BRING UP THE ENGAGEMENT NECKLACE AND GRAN GRAN COMING FROM THE NORTHERN WATER TRIBE.

Also I really. Just. Disagree with this version of Yue. She is! Completely different! The point of Yue is that her giving her life back was her destiny, an act of service for her people. Just the same as her engagement that she went willing even though it hurt. Why is her sacrificing her life some rebellious action? Why is it noble? It's tragic! This young girl dying is devastating! But it had to happen.

I don't get why she wasn't a stillborn either. It's literally implied in the cartoon "most babies cry when theyre born, but I was born as if I were asleep, my eyes closed " AKA SHE WAS DEAD, NO SOUL. I don't get why a more "mature" live action instead has to be like "oh yeah she was alive, it's just that she was sick"

Also will forever miss team avatar saving zuko, as well as sokkas line about how zuko never gives up.

As well as Zhao being taken by the ocean spirit, zuko trying to save him, but Zhao refusing help. THAT SCENE SPOKE SO MUCH TO WHO ZUKO IS. AND WHO ZHAO IS.

Okay actually I do have one positive, I like katara talking to aang in the end and calming him down (but really, that's just like. Bare minimum katara talking aang out of avatar state moment)

[narrativelysignificantturtleduck]

nina what are your thoughts on jeong jeong and the fire healing in lok? inquiring minds 🎤🎤🎤

this post by @twilight-skies outlines a version i like a lot - it makes sense that the sun warriors would be the ones keeping that tradition alive, and i do think that iroh or zuko or aang would be really insistent on jeong jeong going to see them. (i think it'd be sweet if it was aang, like that episode is all about aang healing from the trauma jeong jeong passed onto him and maybe he'd think jeong jeong should get that healing too.)

getting there, jeong jeong is less impressed by the visions of ~true firebending~ than by seeing (what i presume is) a culture that uses firebending primarily in non-violent ways. this includes healing, and jeong jeong is immediately interested in learning but also extremely hesitant about using firebending again, especially in such a high-stakes way. what if someone who's hurt just gets more hurt?

i haven't been using pronouns for jeong jeong so far here, because i think that like water-healing, fire-healing is considered feminine. jeong jeong's fire-healing teacher is a kind old woman who clocks that jeong jeong's desire to learn is also partially about femininity. jeong jeong spends some time as the "token guy" in the healing classes, even making some friends once everyone gets over their (understandable) mistrust of the outsider. eventually, finding this community of women helps her come out.

(i suppose it wouldn't be great if the sun warriors, in all their wisdom, didn't have gender equality, but jeong jeong really needs friends, and specifically female friends.)

with a new gender and a new passion, jeong jeong definitely softens up a bit, but i think fire healer jeong jeong still retains a bit of that grumpy asshole energy. she's very adamant about her patients following her instructions and she won't sugarcoat anything. and when she becomes a teacher, revitalizing the tradition in the fire nation proper, she still very much expects her students to have respect for the power of fire and a level of self-discipline. but she is a much nicer teacher than she was, more patient and more hands-on. she and piandao have this in common - they expect a lot of their students, but it's because they believe in you.

twilight-skies's post mentioned azula learning as well and i definitely think that could be interesting. it's pretty easy to see how jeong jeong parallels zuko, as aang's scarred angsty firebending teacher, but the wiki says young jeong jeong was a prodigy, and she was an admiral when she left. that seems very azula - someone in a privileged position under a lot of pressure to be a perfect firebender and soldier, who eventually couldn't take it anymore. jeong jeong could be a good post-canon mentor for her - fire-healing or not - because she knows what it's like to be the golden child. (iroh does too, but family might be a bit too complicated for azula to deal with right away.)

in fact, i have a wip where jeong jeong, having gotten her shit together and transitioned sometime between her episode and sozin's comet, volunteers to take on the care of azula post-canon. it's kinda like my sokka&piandao wip. young person staying at piandao's place struggles to figure out what to do with themselves post-war while old man* yaoi is happening in the background.

*jeong jeong is not a man, but her relationship with piandao started when they were young men in the military dealing with homophobia so it's definitely not a straight relationship. also she transitioned pretty late in life but knew pretty early on that she was attracted to men so she's been thinking of herself as a gay man for a while and isn't gonna let that go so easily. queer people have complicated and conflicting identities!

anyways. long story short transitioning and becoming a fire-healer is my ideal post-canon path for jeong jeong. i'd still think that even if lok hadn't canonized fire-healing because i just think it should exist. but it's nice to have the confirmation, and to imagine it was jeong jeong who brought it back

[god-i-love-theatre]

I’m pretty young a feel as if I’m not diving deep enough into theatre. (Like I hardly know any shows other than the classics) Do you have any recommendations? Specifically ones with a good soundtrack as I am very into music and happen to be studying it.

hi! apologies if this has been in my inbox for a bit, i'm not checking in here as often as i used to. i think just listening to musicals and reading about them is a good way to learn a lot (i honestly used to just surf Wikipedia for hours). i don't listen to cast recordings too too much anymore, but here are some of my all-time favorites that i'd recommend as a good starting place (it's good to find out what kinds of sounds you're interested in anyway):

In The Heights (Original Broadway Cast)

Rent (Original Broadway Cast)

Sunday in the Park with George (Original Broadway Cast although I do also like the Jake Gyllenhaal/Annaleigh Ashford recording)

Into the Woods (Original Broadway Cast)

Merrily We Roll Along (Encores! cast recording - this is controversial I KNOW but I like this version a lot)

Next to Normal (Original Broadway Cast)

Avenue Q (Original Broadway Cast)

Fun Home (Original Broadway Cast)

Something Rotten! (Original Broadway Cast)

Legally Blonde (Original Broadway Cast)

Company (2008 revival cast)

Spring Awakening (Original Broadway Cast)

The Last Five Years (Original off-Broadway)

Pacific Overtures (2004 revival cast)

Waitress (Original Broadway Cast)

Dogfight (off-broadway cast)

Bright Star (original broadway cast)

Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 (both cast recordings are great tbh)

She Loves Me (2016 Broadway revival)

Sweeney Todd (original broadway cast)

The Band's Visit (original broadway cast)

Once (original broadway cast)

Girl from the North Country (i actually love the London OBC recording a lot)

Oklahoma! (2019 broadway revival - okay you should probably listen to a different recording first but i do love this recording)

this is like a pretty random array of shows and definitely ages me in terms of when i was coming up in learning about theater but these are recordings I genuinely enjoy listening to when i decide to listen to showtimes. Also I'd recommend the My Little Tonys podcast which is no longer producing new episodes but they do a really great job explaining theater history in a fun and accessible way.

but yeah from a music standpoint hopefully this helps!!

[cometzz]

ok im also doing these ghost quartet asks except im answering all of them so you all have to see my opinions. thanks @wolf-tm

1. Favorite character

soldier or camera shop rose

2. Favorite timeline

hmmm stardust (idk if everyone calls it that - scheherazade's timeline) or usher. or camera shop. three-way tie

3. Favorite song

changes by the day but bad men/soldier & rose rn

4. Favorite performer?

gelsey <3 need her bad

5. Live album or recordrd album?

live. the recorded version makes me angry it takes away so much personality

6. How much of the plot do you think you understand?

all of it. or at least i fully understand my interpretation of it. but analyzing this for 2-odd years gives you a bit of knowledge i think

7. Least favorite song/song u skip most often

photograph. its a great song but i dont like listening to gelsey screams while walking my dogs or whatever

8. Favorite non-sung/spoken line?

pearls "and it's the LAST piano in the world and it's KEYS cut his fingers with every note he plays" monologue. or roses "FUCK ALL YOUR FUCKING BOOKS" rant

9. Favorite lyric

very difficult choice but "if i told you this was special / and that love is more than chemicals / it's me and you and angels too / and time will end and we'll transcend / and rise above the ash and dirt / and baby i could never hurt you, 'cause you are me" or "how many people has rose been? / rose is the same as anyone else"

10. Do you have any ships for the show? If so what are they?

soldierrose. they are so important to me

11. What's your favorite non-confirmed theory?

idk LOL

12. Have you produced any artwork/content for Ghost Quartet?

drew all of the roses one time and i've drawn a few gelseys but thats abt it

13. Which role would you most like to play?

rose <3 (or would you call the role 'brittain'?)

14. Which Usher song is your favorite?

usher iii no competition

15. The Starchild, Roxie, Rose, or Rose Red?

rose. her awkward loserness has endeared me

16. Subway or the Photograph?

subway no competition

17. Four Friends or Any Kind of Dead Person?

any kind of dead person. or specifically gelseys four friends verse LOL

18.  The Gelsey/Brittain dance in Monk or the Dave/Brittain dance in Midnight?

gelsey/brittain dance tho the dave/brittain dance makes me feel things too

19. The Astronomer or The Telescope

hm. the telescope. both are good though

20. Fathers & Sons, or Lights Out?

fathers & sons

21. Tango Dancer or Hero?

very hard choice but hero because i love Brittain Ashford Depression Solos

22. How did you first get into Ghost Quartet

after i got into great comet i saw a lot of people talking abt gq so i checked it out and now i am forever changed. i don't remember how i got into great comet though LOL

23. When did you first start listening?

2021

24. What's your favorite moment (musical or vocal) in the show?

that is such a difficult choice what the hell..... if i had to choose one itd be the overlapping parts in subway but. "you drove that train right through my HEAAAAARARRrtRTRTt" or gelseys audible disappointment on "staring at my phone." or "arabian nights?" "yeah :)" "alright." or gelseys four friends verse or literally any other bit in the show is an honorable mention

25. Are you going to/have u seen Ghost Quartet?

NO (peter griffin dead image)

26. What's your favorite bizarre connection in the show? (E.g., edgar telling the story of pearl and the pusher in usher pt 3, Shah Zaman becoming the Man In Iran in the Astronomer, etc)

hm. scheherazade telling the story of the camera shop

27. What moment would you love to see live/what moment did you love the most live?

i need to see any kind of dead person live i need to be the best damn tambourine player theyve ever seen

28. If you could ask Dave Malloy one question about the show, what would you ask?

why does rose tell roxie to cross over ???

29. Have you read either the fall of the house of usher or arabian nights?

nah

30. Have you read the show's Genius annotations? If so, what's your favorite annotation by Dave?

"i mean literally what the fuck gelsey bell"

31. What part of the show disturbs you the most?

not really anything but if i had to choose probably gelseys screaming in photograph

32. What part of the show confuses you the most?

nothing my brain is huge and wise

[most-fuckable-character-showdown]

hélène kuragina (specifically the great comet version as played by amber gray, but she’s originally from war and peace)

Thank you for your submission!

I love Amber Gray

[silverysongs]

Any/all of 16, 17, 21, 22 for the song asks 💓

16. Most beautiful vocal performances

My Luve is like a Red, Red Rose // Voces8

Maria // West Side Story (specifically the 1961 film version)

Almost Real // The Bridges of Madison County

Jubilate Deo: VI. Alleluia (Song of the Earth) // Dan Forrest

17. Songs most likely to give me full-body shivers

(honestly I feel like this happens to me with a lot of music, so these are the ones that come to mind:)

Romance from Piano Concerto in A Minor // Clara Schumann

The Deer's Cry // Voces8

Omar Sharif // The Band's Visit

Millstatt // The Arcadian Wild

21. Songs that make me think of my favorite books

Gravity // Sara Bareilles

Not With Haste // Mumford & Sons

Orpheus // Sara Bareilles

illicit affairs // Taylor Swift

22. Songs in which I see myself

No One Else // Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

peace // Taylor Swift

The Cave // Mumford & Sons

The Graduate // The Arcadian Wild

lessons // Lilli Furfaro

The Words // Anais Mitchell

Kathy's Song // Simon & Garfunkel