#they all look like literal children next to sam and riley

[laurelwinchester]

i’m so glad i read daisy jones & the six because now i get to be one of those annoying book nerds who has Opinions on the adaptation

[dollypartonswig]

every book i’ve read in 2022

Fiction

House of Hollow - Krystal Sutherland - 3 sisters disappeared when they were children and reappeared a month later ~changed~

⭐️⭐️ - I think the idea of it was really good but not executed as well as it could of been

——————

This Time Next Year - Sophie Cousens - Quinn and Minnie are born on New Year's Eve, in the same hospital, one minute apart. Their lives may begin together, but their worlds could not be more different. Thirty years later they find themselves together again.

⭐️⭐️- The main character is literally called Minnie Cooper. Nothing about this book stood out to me

——————

Great Circle - Maggie Shipstead - 2 parallel narratives, one about the disappeared 20th century aviator, Marian Graves, and the other about a 21st century actress who is starring in a film about Marian

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - I loved this book so much. I 100% recommend it

——————

Icebreaker - Hannah Grace - Anastasia, a figure skater, and Nate, an ice hockey player end up needing to share an ice rink after an accident

⭐️ - do not even look at this book if you’re under 18. The antagonist in this was just so comically bad and all the other characters are just *too* nice and try hard likeable

——————

Final Girls - Riley Sager - Quincy, Sam and Lisa all survived massacres and became what the media dubbed final girls. Lisa is found dead in her house and Sam ends up on Quincy’s doorstep, what really happened to Quincy 10 years ago and what is Sam hiding?

⭐️⭐️⭐️ - i didn’t like the ending of this

———————

What Might Have Been - Holly Miller - This shows the two different paths Lucy could take, in one she decides to move to London and revive her career and in the other she stays in her home town to become an author

⭐️⭐️ - this just didn’t stand out to me and I thought the London love interest was the absolute worst

———————-

The Reading List - Sara Nisha Adams - Widower Mukesh lives a quiet life in Wembley after losing his wife. Aleisha is working in the local library for the summer when she discovers a note with a list of books on it impulsively she decides to read every book on the list. When Mukesh arrives at the library trying to find a connection with his bookish granddaughter Aleisha passes the list onto him

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - I LOVED this book so much, my favourite read of the year

——————

The Cuckoo’s Calling - Robert Galbraith - Struggling private detective Comoran Strike is asked to look over a models death after her brother reveals he doesn’t think it was a suicide

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Points off because Strike is described as ugly and having pube like hair but three (3) beautiful women all want to sleep with him? Unrealistic

———————

The Love Hypothesis - Ali Hazelwood - Olive hatches a scheme with grumpy professor Adam to pretend to date so her friend Anh will date Olives ex Jeremy and so that the school won’t think Adam is leaving and they’ll release his frozen funds

⭐️ - I paid 99p for this, it is literally published reylo fanfic

———————

The Whistling - Rebecca Netley - Elspeth arrives on a remote Scottish island to become a nanny to a young girl who hasn’t spoken in months. The girls silence is not the only mystery on the island. What happened to the girls twin brother and the last nanny? Is the whistling heard at night just the sea or is there something out there?

⭐️⭐️⭐️ - average book average score

———————-

Book Lovers - Emily Henry - Cut throat literary agent Nora agrees to go to Sunshine Falls with her sister Libby to complete a check list of small town tasks but while there she meets a familiar face from the city.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - I really liked this book, a good twist on the small town romance genre.

————————

The Pact - Sharon Bolton - six friends are looking forward to their futures, until a daredevil game goes horribly wrong, and a woman and two children are killed. 18-year-old Megan takes the blame, leaving the others free to get on with their lives.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ - kind of slow paced. Megan deserved to be more evil

—————————

The Flatshare - Beth O’Leary - Tiffy needs a cheap flat, and fast. Leon works nights and needs cash. Their friends think they're crazy, but it's the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy's at work in the day, and she has the run of the place the rest of the time.

⭐️⭐️ - Kind of cliche and predictable. Does not live up to the hype in my opinion

—————————

Six Stories - Matt Wesolowski - Elusive online journalist Scott King investigates the murder of a teenager at an outward bound centre

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - This is like a true crime podcast but a book, very interesting. I felt the twist at the end was a bit silly

—————————

The Jackman and Evans series - Joy Ellis

⭐️⭐️ - I think these books are really bad but I am obsessed with them because of how stupid they are

————————

Non fiction and short stories

The mystery of the exploding teeth - Thomas Morris

⭐️⭐️⭐️

————

The vanishing triangle: the murdered women Ireland forgot - Claire McGowan

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

————

Post mortems - Carla Valentine

⭐️⭐️⭐️

————

A sincere warning about the entity in your home - Jason Arnopp

⭐️

————

Taken over by something evil from the TV set: a history of Britain’s video nasties controversy and other scary journalism - Jason Arnopp

⭐️⭐️

————

Down among the dead men - Michelle Williams

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

————

[simply-wins-little-sis]

The Conference of Hidden Genius

Request:  I had an idea for a Winchester sister thing where the brothers go to a parent/teacher night expecting to hear you are average &keep your head down but your teacher goes on about your good grades and societies you're in (arts/sports/science/whatever) and how you won a funded place at a summer school at a (random) college and will they reconsider letting you go. They ask you about why you don't talk about school and you didn't think they'd care as its not hunting and that's all they care about xx

Tags: @winchesters-favorite-girl​ @percussiongirl2017  @the-third-winchester-warrior  @hellhoundlover @emmazach @sisterwinchesterwriter  @fandom-queen-of-wonderland @staticweekes @hi-my-name-is-riley @a-paranoid-bastard @because-you-never-know-when @enchantingempathhumanoidturtle @alexwinchester23 @winchesterhound

A/N: Not sure if this will be one imagine for awhile or if this means I’ll be back regularly. Love you all xx Also this is a tad different if you want it rewritten lemme know!

An average Tuesday night. That’s all it was to any normal family attending the local high school’s parent night. Each time slot filled with the expectation of a progress report and comments on student behavior. It was the average American system of pining parents and children against teachers, or sometimes the other way around. 

You had been nervous all week, walking on thin ice around your brothers, forgetting to remind them. That’s why when they both knocked on your door and told you they were going to go you shot up like a rocket. 

“No guys, it’s really okay!” you protested, without doing much to make it seem suspicious. 

“Nah babygirl, Dad would miss this stuff for us and we’d miss out on some decent extra credit, plus I heard they’re supposed to have a dessert spread” Dean smirked as he left the room. 

“It’ll be good to know where you stand amongst your classmates Y/N” Sam gave a small smile and followed him. You groaned, throwing a pillow over your head. Falling out of the pillowcase was the brochure to an expensive summer program, one you’d secretly prayed to Castiel on, even though he was nowhere to be found.

When the boys arrived at the school they were shocked to find they were the last guardians to be scheduled. It seemed as though they were thrown on last minute, almost as if your marks had been forgotten. 

Dean was disappointed to find that the dessert spread had been long demolished. 

Entering your homeroom a cheery red head with matching lipstick greeted them. 

“Oh I had no idea Y/N had two fathers! How lovely!”

The boys choked, holding back vile, “Actually we’re her older brothers,” Sam greeted, “But lovely to meet you.” 

“Lovely indeed,” Dean winked. 

With a grin she took the boys to her desk, sitting on the other side. 

“Well, to be honest I don’t really know why you two are here.” She began. 

Both boys cocked their heads to the side. 

“Y/N is a great student, so smart and kind. Quite the little leader. She has perfect scores in all of her classes and is honestly on track to becoming top student,”

The boys looked to each other. 

“Are you sure you’re talking about the right Y/N?” Dean asked. 

“Y/N Winchester, you know, quiet, keeps to herself,” Sam started. 

“Isn’t really good at turning things in on time, often sleeps in class?” Dean recalled his own experience being a hunter in training while doubling as an adolescent student. 

“I fear as though you aren’t hearing what I am saying. Your little sister is really great. One of the best actually. Always turns everything in on time, never sleeps in class, and is charming and kind to everyone she meets or works with. She’s quite the class discussion starter too. In fact, she’s been offered a full scholarship to the Eastern Scholars Summer Program. I know how you both feel she shouldn’t go, but I have to say, you have a bright young person on your hands and not letting her go is the biggest mistake I’ve ever seen guardians make.” 

The two looked at each other again. “The what now?”

“Y/N said you two won’t let her go. But I’m begging you, the girl we have here is different then the one you’re describing, and if you just give her the chance she’ll prove you wrong. I promise.”

When the boys got home you were in the library, reading. 

“Y/N” Dean called. 

“In here!” You yelled back. 

“Why wouldn’t you tell us about the Summer program?” Sam asked. He leaned against the doorframe as Dean leaned on a bookcase. 

You pushed your hair back from your face. “It’s really not that important. It’d just get in the way.”

“Y/N according to your grades you’re smarter then Sam. And Sam is Sam.”

Sam rolled his eyes, “What he’s trying to say is that you’re not telling us about how good you’re actually doing in school. Not to mention you have the opportunity for something really-” he started. 

“No stop,” you interupt him, “This is exactly why I didn’t want to tell you. You guys expect me to be one thing. To live this life or get out completely and to be honest I don’t know what I want. I won’t lose you for a picket fence future, but I also don’t know if I can keep looking death in the eyes, literally.

“The summer program would be the first time I’ve ever gone away. Alone. I don’t know if I’m smart enough let alone ready to face that without you guys. “

They both looked at you. “Well at least talk to us next time, don’t just keep us in the dark, okay?” Sam asked. 

You nodded. 

“I think you should go though,” Dean whispered. 

You looked at him, tears spilling over your bottom eyelids. 

“Okay.”

“But this report card is going on the fridge regardless of what you say,” Sam laughed. 

“The teacher’s phone number on that?” Dean asks. 

“DEAN!” both you and Sam chirp.

[im-just-a-random-fandom-girl]

trying to articulate my frustrations with Marvel’s treatment of female characters and characters of color

Hi, hello, hola, bonjour. I've been having a lot of thoughts about Marvel’s lack of diversity and of how they treat minority characters, so I'm taking a page out of Luisa’s (@its-tortle) book and just making a long, rambley post to get it all out.

Please bear with me while I try to encapsulate all of my frustration within the limitations of English language.

(ALSO, I'm white. I’m Spanish-American, but I do not have the ability to speak for fans of color and the other grievances they have. This post is just a combination of my own thoughts and what I've heard other people say on Tumblr, in YouTube videos, in articles etc.)

Now that we've had over week to collect ourselves after the WandaVision finale, because it was such a tearjerker and the end of a true masterpiece of a show, we really need to talk about how Marvel treats their their characters of color and female characters. I'll specifically be looking at Sam Wilson, Natasha Romanoff, and Monica Rambeau.

Let's start with Sam.

Until Monica Rambeau became Photon just a few weeks ago in WandaVision, Sam was THE ONLY Black superhero in the MCU.

He first appeared in Captain America: The Winter Soldier 7 years ago in 2014, and he's been in 4 movies since then (not counting the post-credits of Ant-Man).

Let's see what we know about Sam in the MCU:

He was a pararescue airman in the U.S. Airforce

His wing-man, Riley, died in combat, prompting him to leave active duty

He works at the VA to help other veterans adjust to civilian life

That's it. This is all we know about his backstory, separate from Captain America. However, the MCU decided to include these parts of his backstory, (and exclude others) because they make him a better supporting character to Steve.

Sam's a vet - so is Steve. They have the same, early-morning run routine that alludes to strict military training. Steve is still new to the future and hardly knows or approaches anyone, but Sam is wearing his VA sweatshirt, so there's some sense of connection, one that is furthered when they talk about their beds being too soft. Sam is someone who can understand him, aside from being a super soldier.

Riley, Sam's wingman, died in combat - Hmm, haven't heard that one befo - oh, wait. *Bucky waves from the abyss of the Alps*. Yeah.

I'm not saying that these connections are bad, in fact, I think the opposite. In terms of storyline, these connections are incredibly important for their friendship. Steve is lost and alone in the future. No one he knows cares about him for any reason other than the fact that he's a super soldier, nor can he relate to any of those people on any level. Sam just fits. He's funny and kind and although they are 60 years apart in age, he can, to some extent, understand what Steve is going through in a way they no one else can.

But for the last 7 years in the MCU, all he's been is Steve's supportive friend.

Almost immediately after meeting Steve, Sam is dragged into an end-of-the-world battle. He readily agrees to put his life on the line to fight by Captain America's side. After SHIELD falls, Sam gives up his life for 2 years to help Steve find Bucky. When they find him, Sam, without a second thought, becomes an international fugitive to protect Bucky and Steve.

I mean, he practically says that he lives in Steve's shadow himself: 

"Don't look at me. I do what he does, just slower."

Who does all this? Seriously? Sam is also a recovering vet. He, in theory, has a life, a family, a job, his own mental well-being to consider, but he immediately gives it all up to help Captain America, to follow in his shadow, to be his back-up and support in every battle. Marvel wrote him as a 2D character that lacks his own identity and agency.

Sam deserves his own storyline; he deserves to exist outside the orbit of Steve Rogers.

What Mackie has been able to do with the character is astounding. He took Sam off the page and truly brought him to life, turning him into a beloved character. I'm ecstatic that both Mackie and Sam finally (hopefully) get their time to shine in TFATWS, but it should have happened WAY sooner. Marvel has continuously overlooked Mackie, despite how much he brings to the movies and despite the significance of Sam as the only Black superhero. It's just so clear that they do not care about representation.

(And let's not start with the whole "Bucky should be Captain America" thing, thanks)

Next, let's talk about Natasha.

Nat has been in the MCU for 11 years, starting with Iron Man 2 in 2010. She was heavily featured in an additional 6 MCU movies (not including small cameos/post-credit sequences). She's one of the few female superheroes in the MCU, and the only one that's been there since the beginning. Nat was the only female superhero for 4 years until Gamora appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy.

Let's see what we know about Natasha's history:

She's a former KGB operative and assassin, trained in the Red Room project

When she was a part of the Red Room, she was sterilized

Clint Barton got her out of the Red Room and converted her to a SHIELD agent

THAT'S IT. The second point is actually nauseating because this is what she says to Banner when we learn about her infertility in Age of Ultron:

"They sterilize you. It’s efficient. One less thing to worry about, the one thing that might matter more than a mission. It makes everything easier — even killing. You still think you’re the only monster on the team?"

Like, actually, what the fuck? I remember watching this scene and having to rewind because I thought I mis-heard what she said. In truth, Natasha is probably referring to the terrible things she was forced to do as a KGB operative are what make her a "monster," but why in the world would they include this anecdote here?? It's just so distasteful and disgusting! It makes it seem like her infertility is what makes her a monster, perpetuating the misogynistic belief that the center of a woman's identity and purpose is to have children.

As Vox says in this article, the subject of Nat's infertility 

"rears its head sub-textually when Black Widow sacrifices herself for the Soul Stone. [...] It’s reasonable for Natasha to make the calculation that Clint’s kids deserve to have a dad when they come back to life after the Avengers complete their “time heist.” But because of that Ultron plot, there’s also an insidious implication that Natasha’s infertility renders Black Widow just a little bit more disposable than the rest of her teammates."

Furthermore, Nat's death in Endgame serves for nothing more than motivation for the other characters working in the time heist, WHICH ARE ALL MALE. Even then, the other characters talk about her death briefly (in a mostly unaffected manner), and by the end of the movie, she's been pretty much forgotten about,  completely overshadowed by Tony Stark.

I don't want to say that Nat shouldn't have died in Endgame. It caused me so much heartache and emotional pain, but I truly believe it was a great way to end her arc. CinemaWins on YouTube put it best:

"She needed to save her family, Clint included, finally wiping the red from her ledger. So much of her jouney in the MCU was trying to find her purpose, figure out which side she was on, and she finally feels like she's found it, just in time to die for it. 

"It's not wrong to feel cheated by her death, [but I think] she deserved this moment because of it's importance."

She says it in the movie: 

"I used to have nothing, and then I got this. This family. And I was better because of it."

Nat shouldn't have to die, but it's on her terms, and she is absolutely ready for it. Saving her chosen family... that is her purpose.

But altogether, over the course of the MCU, Natasha was cheated out of getting the storyline she deserved. Like Sam, she was relegated to the position of the supportive friend of Steve, but also of Bruce and Clint. For the audience, her identity is tied to this role that she plays. The identity and motivations she has independent from these other characters, her history, is skimmed over, and treated with immense disrespect.

It took 11 years, but it is thrilling that Scarlett Johansson finally gets to be the start of her own Marvel movie. There is no way that Black Widow will be able to completely make up for her and Natasha's mistreatment by the MCU, but I hope it will at least bring us some closure and allow us to have a better understanding of Nat's history and who she is away from the other Avengers.

Last, but certainly not least (despite what WandaVision may have you believe) is Monica Rambeau.

I spoke about this last week after posting about this review of the show, but it bears repeating.

Monica is a new character. You'd hope that, after 11 years of extremely limited diversity in the MCU, much to the dismay of fans worldwide, and after recognizing this and creating a movie with a cast like The Eternals, Marvel would try to get their shit together across the board.

Nope!

Monica was seriously the token diversity character of the show. It seemed like they would give her more depth after the episode during which they flashed back to the her during and after the snap, losing her mother, and seeing a little bit of what she's done as an adult since Captain Marvel, but that ended up being the most we got.

But why? Monica literally became a SUPERHERO. She became Photon! She deserved a much greater role in the show, especially in the finale, where she instead had maybe 5 lines and just stopped some bullets for about 30 seconds.

As the review I linked says, 

“There are so many black writers, fans, and critics noting how Monica got relegated to a complete lack relegated to meaningless best friend protector lacking in their own self agency and story except for making a shoehorned comparison of grief.”

Marvel made the same, bull-headed mistake that they made with Sam with Monica!

Let's do this again. Monica was snapped away for 5 years, and when she was snapped back, she learned that her mother had died. Losing someone you love and having the whole process of mourning and pain be complicated by the snap? What an interesti- oh wait. *Vision phases his head through the wall with a smile*

The only reason we got this backstory was because it made her a more sympathetic character towards Wanda. Her understanding of what Wanda is going through allows her to be the catalyst in the creation of the ideological fork in the road between herself, Darcy and Woo, who see Wanda as a victim of grief and loss, and Hayward and the rest of SHIELD, who see her as a dangerous threat.

How do you make the same, major mistake that you've been making for the past 7 years again? Guess what? You don't! Maybe it's not intentional, but Marvel, again, clearly doesn’t care enough about their characters of color to consider the roles they relegate them to in the MCU, realize what they've been doing is harmful, and then change it.

Hopefully, they will not continue to treat Monica this way and will remedy this in the next Captain Marvel.

In conclusion: MARVEL GAVE A FUCKING ROBOT AN ACTUAL ORIGIN STORY, A RELATIONSHIP AND MORE INDEPENDENCE THAN ALL OF THESE CHARACTERS.

But in all seriousness, Marvel needs to be help accountable for how they treat women and their characters of color in the MCU. I just looked at 3, but you could also make a similar argument about Rhodey, Hope van Dyne and Valkyrie, as well as Jane Foster, MJ, and Ned, although they are supporting characters and not superheroes. And I'm sure there are many others. Marvel (and Disney!!) has had an awful track-record, and change is long overdue.

[avengerscompound]

The Tower: The Queen of Asgard - 33

The Tower: The Queen of Asgard An Avengers Fanfic

Series Masterlist PREVIOUS //

Pairing:  Avengers x OFC, Bruce Banner x Bucky Barnes x Clint Barton x Wanda Maximoff x Steve Rogers x Natasha Romanoff x Tony Stark x Thor x Sam Wilson x OFC (Elly Cooper)

Word Count: 2513

Warnings: Canon typical violence

Synopsis: The twins are now three and while the Avengers know that Clint and Thor are the biological father’s none of them know or care which blond, blue-eyed baby is related to which man.  When Riley gets the power to control wind and it becomes evident that she is the heir to the Asgardian throne, Elly, Steve, Thor, and Tony take the twins to Asgard to train her.

Not every Asgardian is happy with their king’s choice of consort, nor the impurity of the heir’s blood.  While others expect Thor to make things more official.  What’s clear is, the role of Queen of Asgard is not easily filled.

Author’s Note:  Written with @fanficwriter013​

Chapter 33: The Battle for Asgard

We came to on the ground.  The ropes that bound us were still partially in place like there had been an attempt to remove them but it had been interrupted.  Around us were the sounds of battle.  Metal hitting metal.  Bricks crumbling.  Shouting and cries of pain.  Our friends and the Asgardian guards were fighting an army of what looked like angels.  I couldn’t see the children anywhere but the threads that ran from me to them stretched off behind the throne with one that connected me to Loki.  Standing over us was a giant grey wolf.  It was snarling and attacking anyone that came near.

Steve reacted first, throwing up his arm like he had his shield to protect us from the wolf, forgetting that he didn’t actually have his shield here with him.

It didn’t matter.  A large shield of light, much like Sam’s wings, spread out over all over us.  Wanda’s powers glowed pink and the ropes and thread that bound us together disintegrated.

“It’s okay, Steve,” Bucky said, pulling himself to his feet.  “That’s Fenrir, he’s protecting us.”

Steve didn’t lower the shield, but he looked uncertainly at Bucky as he tried to push through the shield.

“Steve, seriously.  He’s fine.  I can… it’s like I can understand him,” Bucky said.

Steve looked around the group and nodded.  “Elise, suit up. Try and get to the kids.  The rest of you, get to a weapon if you need one.  Bruce, we might need Hulk in charge for this.  We need to shut this down.”

Bruce nodded and his body shifted.  Becoming larger and his face shape changing more as the Hulk took complete control.

I tapped the earrings and nanobots bled out of it forming my very own iron armor.  Overlaying the visor was a kind of head-up display that was analyzing everything that was happening around me.  “Hello, Elise.  I’m charged with getting you to safety.  You wanted to call me Synergy?”

“Yes, but… no… I have to help,” I said.  “I can’t just run.”

“That’s not what I was designed for,” Synergy replied.

“Cut the shit,” I snapped.  “I know Tony hasn’t just made me a run-away machine.  We’re fighting.”

“Yes, miss,” she said and the display changed slightly.  “Entering combat mode.  I am able to read micro-expressions.  Just move naturally.  I’ll keep up.”

Steve dropped the shield and everyone scattered.  Hulk charged into the fray, grabbing angels out of the air and throwing them.  Sam spread his wings and took off, kicking an angel in the face and stealing their sword.  Natasha disappeared but I could see the end of her thread running toward the throne where the babies were.  Clint ran out, and as he broke into the crowd, Fandrall called out to him and tossed him a bow, Clint changed his direction, heading toward Fandral, I assume to get the arrows to go with it.  Tony took off into the air and started blasting.   Bucky touched Fenrir’s side, and the wolf crouched and let him climb onto its back.  Steve ran grabbing the first thing he could find and throwing it at an attacker while Wanda took off into the air.  She stopped and looked up and the ceiling disappeared.  In the space above it, a large fleet of ships hovered.  Carol was currently locked in battle with them and Wanda took off towards her.  Thor called for Mjolnir and took off into the fray, casting lightning around him.

I leaned up and the suit took flight, I fell into synch with Tony and we began fighting back to back.

“The babies are okay?”  He asked as we did a combo move, spinning in the air as we blasted the angels around us.

“Yes.  Loki and Natasha are with them.  She’s cloaking them,” I said.

The angels seemed to keep getting distracted by Sam - who had now worked out he could literally throw shards of light out of his wings like a weapon.  They would stop fighting and watch him while talking to each other in their native tongue. 

“They think he’s one of them.  Like an important one,” Clint yelled up as he loosed an arrow, piercing an angel’s wing.

“Yeah, baby!”  Sam called back.  “I am an angel!”

We began to get an upper hand.  There were so many, but there were more of us and we had a large contingency with powers.  Mjolnir flew from one hand to the next.  Thor used her to slam into the ground taking out a swarm of angels that were trying to overwhelm him.  She flew to Natasha who used her to stealth strike some angels that were getting too close to the twins.  Then to Steve who dragged a bolt of lightning through the roof and took out a large group.  To me as I swung her, slamming her into someone’s face as I used an energy blast to take out another person.   She followed the path of the threads that connected us like she could feel them too and knew where she was needed.

Just as it looked like we were about to subdue the last of the angels there was a loud crash at the far end of the hall and a burst of black energy.  The red-headed woman strode into the room followed by what looked like a whole new army.  She was flanked by a man and a woman who were dressed differently to the others.  More regal.  I assumed they were the king and queen of Heven.

“Enough of this!”  She shouted and then spoke in what sounded like two completely different dialects.  “Surrender the throne!  I am the rightful heir.”

Thor flew up in front of the group and stood, squared up, not giving an inch.  “What rightful heir?  Why are you doing this?  We have no quarrel with your people.”

“But we have a quarrel with yours.  When your father conquered us.  We took your heir and now we will take the nine realms,” the man said and attacked Thor.  The army charged in and the woman who had attacked Riley and I led them.

“What did she say, Barton?”  Tony asked as he swooped around towards Clint who had been bailed up against the wall.  Tony and I took out his attackers and hovered near him while he caught his breath.

“Just that she was the firstborn child of Odin and it was her right to rule,” Clint said.

“Wasn’t the firstborn a son?”  I asked.

Loki appeared beside me, giving me what felt like ten simultaneous heart attacks.  “She has transitioned, fool.  I would have thought that concept wouldn’t be hard to understand.”

“Jesus, Loki,” I said.  “How did you sneak up on me when I’m fucking connected to you now?”

“You’re what?”  She asked.

“Connected.  That’s my power.  I see a thread between me and my family members.  I can feel them with it,” I say.  “I know where they are.”

Loki looked at me with her head tilted, like she was trying to process a great deal of information.  “There is a thread between you and I?”

“Yes.  Here,” I said, running my hand along it.

“Is there one between you and her?”  She asked.

I narrowed my eyes and watched the redhead locked in battle with T’Challa and several members of the Dora Milaje.  There was a small thread of light that ran from me to her.  It was faint and muddy and when I put my hand on it the feeling I got was confused and … wrong.  Like they were being muted by something else.

“Yes, there’s something.  It doesn’t feel right though.  Plus it’s faint,” I said.

“I wonder… there should be no need if they raised her, but a connection means she is family.  It’s not about blood because you have a connection with me.  They might have messed with her mind,” Loki suggested.

“You two work this out.  We’re gonna get back into it,” Tony said, grabbing Clint under the arms and taking off.

I put my hand on the thread that ran straight up into the air to Wanda and sent my thoughts out.  “Wanda!  We need you here.”

We continued fighting as Wanda floated back down through the ceiling and she turned and looked at the woman as he fought.  “Yes,” she said.  “Definitely mind control.  I need to get closer to do something about it.”

The three of us moved in and Wanda’s eyes began to glow.  Loki stepped up and began to fight the redhead pulling two long blades from the air and welding them with deadly proficiency.” 

“Sister, we need not fight.  Surrender to me and you may have the throne of Jotunheim as you were destined,” the woman practically purred.

“If I wanted the throne of a lonely ice planet I would take it.  Just as I took the one here.  I understand your cause, it’s a pity that you do not, sister,” Loki countered.

The thread got brighter and I called Mjolnir.  It changed direction mid-flight and flew into my hand.  I ran a current of electricity through the thread and it pierced the woman’s body.  Her eyes flared pink and blue as the electricity blending with Wanda’s powers and she screamed and dropped to the floor.

The fighting paused for a moment as everyone turned to see what was happening.  Wanda moved in closer putting her hands on the woman.  “Angela!”  The queen of Heven screamed running towards us followed by the king and several Heven warriors.  Thor called Mjolnir and she pulled free of my hand, flying into Thor’s.  He summoned a lightning bolt and slammed her into the ground.  It threw the entire army back, giving Wanda more time to work.

The pink light faded, and Wanda helped the Red Head to her feet.  The thread between us was brighter now.  Just as bright as between Loki and me.  She blinked slowly looking dazed and held up her hands and called out something in the language of Heven.

The angels all stopped fighting and dropped their weapons.  “People!”  She called again.  “I apologize.  The fight is over.”  She turned to Thor.  “Brother.  I apologize most to you.  If you must arrest me I shall go willingly.  I was not in my right mind.”

Thor approached her.   “Sif!”  He called.  “Take the king and queen to the dungeons.”

Sif gestured to some guards and they muscled the two rulers of Heven out of the throne room.

“Aldrif?”  Thor asked, extending his hand.

She winced and shook her head.  “That is my dead name.  It is Angela.”

“I apologize.  Angela,” he said, taking her hand.  As their skin touched his whole body stiffened and his eyes glowed a bright blue.  Everyone went straight to attack mode and stepped forward, but I held up my hand.  This was not her attacking him.

“Wait!”  I called.  “He is having a vision.”

When Thor came to again he shook his head and smiled a real genuine smile.  “I saw you, sister.  Sitting on the throne.  Ruling Asgard and the Nine Realms fairly and wisely.”

She shook her head.  “I couldn’t.  You are the king.  It is your place to rule.”

He clapped his hand on her arm and shook her head.  “Don’t you see… I don’t want it.  I have never wanted it.  I do it because there is no other choice.  If there were anyone else capable of the job I would let them have it.  I want to be with my family.  I want to raise my children.”

Loki rolled her eyes but didn’t say anything.  Angela looked around at the hall and up at the throne.  “I shall never bear any offspring.  You and your daughter will remain direct heirs to the throne.” 

Thor nodded and dropped to his knees before her.  “I am aware. I defer to you, sister.  You are the rightful heir.”

“Get up,” she said.  “You are not lesser than me, brother.  We are equals.  But if it is what you wish, and what your vision saw, I shall take the throne.”

“Good!”  He cheered getting back to his feet and pulling her into an embrace.  “We have much to organize. Many things to set right.”

“Yes, and I promise we shall,” Angela replied.  “But my people did you the disservice of attacking you during your bonding.  You should finish and make it official.”

Thor turned to Wanda.  “Can you fix this, my love?”

She looked around and nodded, her whole body became absorbed by the pink light of her powers and spread out.  Damage was undone, wounds healed.  When she settled back to the ground the only sign that we’d even been in battle was the foreign army in the throne room.

The armor on Tony and I retracted leaving us back in the clothes for the ceremony and we all moved up to the throne.   Bruce returned to that midway state where he was both Hulk and Bruce at the same time.  Natasha brought the children to us and as the room settled and people returned to their correct places, we passed the children between us, cuddling and kissing each of them.

When the room settled again the high priest moved forward again, still visibly shaken.

“Friends and loved ones, people of Asgard and the Nine Realms,” he announced.  “Our lovers have taken their journey and all have returned, stronger and knowing their place with each other.  They now bear the mark of their clan and that mark shall be branded to each, a visible symbol of the bond they share.”  He touched each of us in turn.  When he touched me a burning sensation seared the skin on my forearm.  I looked down at it and saw a symbol, it looked like part of a star over two connected circles.  One of the sides of the star was missing and instead, one line formed an arrow.  There was an M attached to one side.  Each line was traced in a different color, so you could see the element for each person.  Wanda’s M formed part of Sam’s symbol.  Clint’s arrow came off of Bucky’s star that sat on Steve’s shield.  One circle was half Tony’s arc and half the symbol for radiation symbolizing Bruce.  There was part of Mjolnir making up the star, as was Natasha’s widow mark.  Right in the center of the star was a v shape turning it into a heart.

“As above, so below,” he said, returning to his place on the platform.  “These ten people are bonded.  They will have this bond for the rest of their lives, sharing their highs and lows, protecting and caring for each other.  None shall come between it and it will not grow weak with time.  I present them to you now bound together as family.  They may now seal it with a kiss.” 

We smirked at each other and each person turned to the one closest.  For me that was Sam.  He pulled me into his arms and we kissed.

// NEXT

[bumblesimagines]

Rewatching Eclipse

Thoughts and shit

"Marry me" "No bitch"

Bell clearly doesn't/isn't ready to get married

"It's called a compromise" stfu

"Knocked up" oof

Ew I'm skipping cuz this cutesy shit ain't for me

Stop being a bitch to Charlie

"Edward is in my life" i think your seventeen and you're an idiot. He's a guy.

Jake wasn't a dick when Bell was in her time of need

He really broke something from her truck to stop her from seeing a friend what a piece of shit

Love that Mike/Ned/Nate

Jasper got a new haircut

"That's what you said last time" ouch, he's right there Bell

With each passing movie, everyone gets prettier

How come they don't bother with contacts? Golden eyes aren't normal

"Super. That makes me super happy." poor Charlie

Why was she staring out into the water like that??

Her mom's cool

She looks fifteen with the sunglasses

TELL HER MAMA

Cool gift. She's not gonna need it lmao

STAY HUMAN YOU'LL FINE BETTER DICK SOMEWHERE ELSE

Y'all look like a cult standing like that

Why'd they change the actress for Victoria? It's so obvious lmao

Wolves

Half of the movies is just running

Rosalie looking out for her man

Emmett and Paul should've been friends

Wtf is that intro song for Jake?? Lmao

Bella and Jake always have angsty moments in bad weather

Stfu Ed

She deserves to know

MiSuNdErStAnDiNg

Jake lmao

He's always lying to you Bells

Jake looked really confused when Bell said she called him

I like the boots Jake

Soundtrack *chefs kiss*

All of them rushing out is so cute awe

Monologue

I love them

L E A H

I love HER

Emily owo

The boys really are like children

Jake don't be a dick Leah's cool

Sam and Leah should've talked

Imprinting is brought up. Finally.

Her her her her what about the gays, Jake?

Wait... I thought Jake did imprint but it was somehow... Not really

A MONTH???

He has a point. She hasn't even lived.

Jake is a dick but he has some fair points.

PRETTY BOY finn? Or was his name Riley?

Leave pops alone pretty boy

His eyes?? IM SO LOST

Rosalie is so 💕💕💕

She has Jake

Aye ya girl was right

You need them Ed

Same here Bella. Both of them are annoying

Monologue

Emmett and Alice look so dumb standing there lmao

Flexing on these hoes

Oof he kisses her just to piss him off

"Hey beautiful" stOP

BONFIRE

Council meeting? Oh oof

History to make her not trust vamps lmao

SETHSETHSETHSETH

OwO i love Seth. His voiceeeeee

Your as cold as ice

Nice shift there buddy.

Screaming match

She couldn't have cut her palm or some shit? But whatever! Love the story

Way to guilt trip Jake lmao

Finn/Riley looks so disgusted but he's so attractive 💕

Emmett has so much chaotic energy i love it

So his name IS Riley aight super cute

Charlie is such a good dad

you're already selfish for constantly lying to her Ed

OOH IS THIS THE SCENE WHERE SHE PUNCHES JAKE AND BREAKS HER HAND??

Mkay truth. Options.

In love or did you imprint?

She just rejected you wHAT DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND

Lmao ain't for long

She wants to change. Ask Ed lmao

Bell is so uncomfortable poor girl

LMAO THE SOUND WHEN HER FIST CONNECTED TO HIS CHEEK JUST *thump*

The way Jake explained it is so funny

Oop Rosalie 💕

Bonding time

I AM TEAM ROSALIE fuck Ed and Jake

FUCK ROYCE

Rosalie deserved better

ROSALIE IS MY QUEEN

Jesus so silent and then just screaming lmao

Riley uwu

Alec and Jane 💕

Damn his back must hurt like a bitch

Jane's voice is so soft

Jessica's speech is *chefs kiss*

Nice party outfit Bell

I wonder if anyone stole anything lmao

Right hook lmao

Highly doubt he made anything

Did they kick everyone out??

RILEY

Oh no nvm

Yeah no shit they're after her

They were made for fighting Bell

Ooh the training scene

You've never met a newborn Bell lmao

Jake you ass

The whole ride there and he didn't notice the bracelet??

WOLVES

They look so soft

Sam noted Carlisle's words lmao

Mr. Jasper Hale

Musiccc

How come the wolves didn't train? Like with each other?

They look so soft

She's bait good to know

Jaspers backstory is so... Oof

He suddenly got an accent

Ma'am

My apologizes ma'am

As a spanish speaker, hearing that over and over again was uncomfortable

Rileyyyy

Why is he so pretty????

Ooof Victoria

as bAIT

Bella looks kind of like Elena lmao

Jake tried to be funny but got pissed off

Stinks

Jasper tried to be nice with the scent comment

"Since I let Sam"

Thanks for mentioning it Bell

But uh, Sam would beat Jacob's ass

It's called a poly relationship, Jake

She broke her hand, If I were her I'd be nervous too

Alice and Charlie.. It's uncomfy

"Like.. Alone?" you're not getting any dick Bell

Charlie said Alice x Bella rights

"wat"

Charlies attempt at the 'talk'

Old school sounds... Terrible

"I'm a virgin!" "aosjaiauha glad we covered that" "Me too!"

Just say you got jelly and go Ed

Pretty bed

She thinks she's gonna get some

"Anything you want is yours" "yoUR DICK"

Ed is a good Christian boy

Bell is super thirsty holy shit

Ed is saving it til marriage good for him

Courted you ugh

That is one ugly- Oh it's your mother's? Wow it's so cute

R I L E Y

So she's lying to him

The talon clan was what I heard lmao

She's pretty too

Put a bandaid on it sweets

What she's trying to say is "it's an ugly ass ring"

They can feel the weather??? Huh??

"Same old same old" you don't even knOW

Aaljaiaha i can imagine them fucking power walking underwater

"What can I do?" stay the hell away

I wanna know what Jake was thinking lmao

"She's in love with me too. She just won't admit it to herself" no Jacob, you're supposed to be her bestie

They're bondingggg

Jake ruined it

Ed seems really sweet and genuine in this scene

THEY 👏 SHOULD'VE 👏 BEEN 👏 A 👏 POLY 👏 COUPLE

The shared smilesss

THEY 👏 SHOULD'VE 👏 BEEN 👏 A 👏 POLY 👏 COUPLE

A flannel in the snow. Lit.

SETH

Oop-

He did deserve to know. He's not fighting lmao

"Maybe I'll get myself killed and make it simple" Go ahead and jump off that cliff/mountain your on Jake

"That's not good enough" bitch-

Jacob your a little bitch for actually kissing her

She's engaged oml lmao

PushhimoffBell

He was gonna go anyways-

More like heard

He's her best friend dude

Does nobody understand platonic love???

We love a good power couple

EMMETT AND PAUL SHOULD'VE BEEN BROS

Seth is babey

Poor Riley he's babey

SETH

Victoria is a good villian. She had a good reason to attack the Cullens.

Riley should've been adopted and become best buds with Seth

You could've just pricked your finger Bell lmao

Her eyes were open in one shot and closed in the next

Only you can prevent forest fires

Lowkey ship Jake and Leah

We can see your faces, no need to take off the hoods lmao

Billy, Carlisle, Charlie, and Sam should've started a 'Done with my children' club

Lmao Jake says Ed isn't as bad as he thought and then said he wasn't as perfect as she thought what??

Give. It. Up. Jake.

The romance field is back. Sigh.

THEY 👏 SHOULD'VE 👏 BEEN 👏 A 👏 POLY 👏 COUPLE

"Like literally stumbling through my life" lmao meee

At least she didn't say I'm not like other girls

Ugly ass ring won. Yay.

[iheartgracie]

slas/oxford group quotes

“the entire group was crowded around the kitchen, passing paper plates so that Cassidy and Emma didn’t have any dishes to take care of before their early-morning flight the next day. More wine was consumed, the group growing ever louder as they talked over one another”

“she placed a piece of sandwich on a paper plate and held it out to him. “Eat this sandwich, you’re acting hangry, sweetie.”

Lincoln resisted the urge to bat the plate out of her hand like a child, and instead glared.

Riley shrugged and picked up the rejected sandwich. “Is now a good time to tell you that Sam can’t make it?” she asked, taking a huge bite.

“Jesus, Ri, are you pregnant again?” Emma asked. “You’re eating a lot, even for you.”

Riley licked mayo off her thumb. “Sadly, no. Lady time is roaring loud and clear.”

“No,” Jackson said, as he dropped his own sandwich back on his plate in disgust. “Just no. There are rules for these sorts of things, Riley. No talking about your lady time while people are eating.”

“Or,” Jake said, raising his soda, “how about not talking about it ever?”

Cole clinked his Coke can against Jake’s. “Here here.”

“What do you mean, Sam’s not coming?” Lincoln asked, ignoring the banter that was normally right up his alley.

Riley sighed. “He’s in a whiskey tasting. He didn’t know.”

“Fine,” Lincoln grumbled. “But I need…”

“Bourbon?” Cassidy said, coming back into the conference room armed with a bottle of Blanton’s and a stack of plastic cups.

“God, yes,” everyone said, almost in unison.”

“Cole wooed me back in rather impressive fashion,” Penelope said, staring adoringly at Cole.

“Only because I helped,” Cassidy muttered as he poured himself some of the bourbon.

“None of you have anything on me,” Jake said. “I got my woman back at a baseball game in front of an entire stadium.”

“Yeah, I’m taking credit for that one,” Cole said. “I was ready to put my tongue in Grace’s mouth so she wouldn’t be humiliated by your idiot cowardice.”

“For what it’s worth,” Mitchell Forbes said from the doorway of the conference room, impeccably dressed as ever in his pinstripes and wire-frame glasses, “I got Julie back all on my own.”

“Um, only after you had me on my knees on the ground, crying,” Julie said, even as she gave him a loving, indulgent look.

Mitchell lifted a shoulder. “Made the whole finale more dramatic.”

“Yes,” Lincoln said, going to Mitchell and clamping the other man on the shoulder. “This is what I’m talking about. I need drama, people. Fireworks.”

“What about literal fireworks?” Jackson asked. “That could be catchy.”

Everyone stared at him, then Mollie. “Good God, Molls, however did he land you?” Riley asked in awe.”

“I paid Cassidy to keep them at bay. I love this weird Stiletto/Oxford family of ours to death, but I’m not entirely convinced that they won’t steal our children.”

“But, damn, he was going to miss it. And them.

“We know,” Grace Malone said, coming up beside him and resting her head against his shoulder. “We’ll miss you too.”

He glanced down with a smile at the pretty brunette. “Did I say it out loud?”

“No,” Jake Malone said, taking a sip of his beer. “But how could you not miss us.”

“Super true,” Penelope chimed in. “We’re the best.”

“To the Stiletto and Oxford people in attendance tonight: For once in your lives, if you’d actually do as I say, please get your asses onto the dance floor to join Daisy and Lincoln in their first dance….”

“And they’d had this crew. They’d had the ladies of Stiletto, the men of Oxford (plus Penelope), who’d stayed with them every step of the way. The distance hadn’t mattered. It would never matter.

They’d all be there. For one another. Always.”

“The gang’s all here!” Riley said, sounding quite pleased with herself.”

Jake lifted his glass to interrupt. “And to all of you, for being the best wedding party, with the absolute worst toast.”

“Emma felt an overwhelming surge of warmth and gratitude for this group of warm, bubbling friends”

[fanesavin]

What was the inspiration behind your character?

*cracks knuckles* Alright then, I have a feeling this is going to get long-winded because there’s several sources from which I’ve drawn and based Fane from. 

Edit: I was right this ended up being 3 pages long and over 2200 words in length.

I think the first thing I should say was in actuality I wasn’t entirely sure I even wanted to play Fane, I wasn’t entirely sure where I’d approach him from or jump into his psyche but the more I worked on trying to figure out his backstory the more I came to enjoy writing him. Initially, all I really had to go on was when Kcat approached me about Sumner and was like YOU SHOULD CHECK THIS OUT and gave a *nudge nudge wink wink* into taking up Fane. I’d been out of the RP game for a while at this point but I was like… eh why not… 

Thus this dork right here was made.

So my start point was this aspect of Dani’s bio:

“Though he’d never had the audacity to admit it out loud, Fane had long desired to be a father. Over the centuries, he’d watched his friends grow and love and start families, but being what he was, he was only able to sire new vampires, never his own children. He’d tried to fill that void in many ways: lavish parties, charming lovers, elaborate travels, even academic pursuits, to no avail. It wasn’t until an orphaned child had been brought to him by one of his reckless blood-drinking progeny that his envy for his mortal companions finally began to recede.”

It wasn’t much, but it was a good base. I tweaked the story a little to make it one of the vampires that Fane took in and tried to help rather than one of his own progeny. From the start I had base facts: that he was from Transylvania, around 400, that for some reason he didn’t want children before he hit perhaps the 300 mark and that even in Soapberry’s standards having a human child was considered odd. Fane was unique amongst his peers because of his willingness to attach himself to something that for all intents and purposes he would outlast/outlive. 

This wasn’t a common occurrence even by Soapberry’s standards and thus I knew Fane has had to live for the last 26 or so years facing criticism, judgement and skepticism from those he considered his friends and peers but despite this I never wanted him to become cynical– it felt like the easy route to take. To make an affluent character who was broody and locked himself away in his estate hoarding his money for his own pleasure. So I decided to take the trope of rich broody vampire, flip it 180 and turn him into rich generous philanthropist who opened up his home to anyone he came across who was in need a la Charles Xavier style, leading to the question of why even after four-hundred years of seeing things that likely would turn even the best person cynical he was still willing to give humanity and by extension those who judged or criticised him the benefit of the doubt time and time again?

I won’t lie, I love tropes I like picking them and exploring them through characters and admittedly Fane suffers from chronic hero syndrome, and with this I sometimes draw comparisons between him and Clark Kent– Clark has super-hearing and can hear literally everything even whilst he’s doing the most mundane things in his life and he makes deliberate decisions whether to help or not help someone. That he’s learned to ‘tune out’ what he has to and that he’s come to accept that even he can’t be everywhere for everyone and that sometimes people who need help sometimes need to be ignored. 

By comparison, Fane hasn’t come to learn this lesson and until he does he’s driving himself into the ground by taking on too many burdens belonging to other people (i.e. his willingness to listen to what people’s problems are and offer advice or even get involved trying to help them somehow sometimes show with Tuah, Faye, Dani, Sam, Elizabeth, Bella more recently amongst others he’s come across in his time). Unless someone willingly steps in to point out that this isn’t actually healthy behaviour he’s become blindsided to just how negatively it affects him and even when it is pointed out i.e. as it has been more recently by Faye, he’s been acting this way for so long that even now he can’t just break this cycle of behaviour. He feels a responsibility to use his time towards altruism and when he isn’t doing just that he feels like he’s failing to live up to his own moral code.

Speaking of moral codes, I also draw some influence from Arthurian myths– every single knight at some point in the myths feels a responsibility to got out and quest for trouble. In this instance Fane’s questing takes him in search of people he might be able to help. After all, I knew that if he’d taken in Dani he would have an inclination towards individuals with broken or traumatic histories which after exploring his zodiac as well just… fits. As a Leo sun and Pisces moon Fane is rather in touch with the nuances and subtleties of human nature, he does his best to take on other people’s points of view, to put himself in their shoes and try to understand from their point of view so that he can in turn help them as best as he possibly can. It’s part of the reason why he studies people a lot during conversations, he’s looking for clues to help him read body language and facial expression to figure a person’s intentions out.

ANYWAY, going back to the question of why he is this way I went back to look at history in the 15th/16th century considering I knew he was give or take 400 it meant he was turned in 1617/6 (I’m pedantic about dates) and since I hc he looks 37 it meant in turn he was born in 1579. So I started researching Transylvanian history and the background of Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages. I am a self-admitted history nerd, growing up I wanted to be an Egyptologist but now I couldn’t actually be further from the field considering I’m a sports science student. I try to do a lot of research about the things I write about (Riley can testify to this considering how much research I’ve done around life in 18th century London for a separate RP set during this era that we’re in) but even then pretty much all of my knowledge and interests stem from my understanding of more Western European / pretty much all English eras from the Roman conquest / WWI / WWII along with a mixture of ancient history that I’ve had an opportunity to study or come into contact with i.e. Mayan / Egyptian / Viking / Roman / Greek. 

Being brutally honest I knew next to absolutely nothing about anything to do with Eastern European history stepping into this or museum curating to be honest ahaha. So for me this was a huge leap of faith and a big ass research project before I even felt comfortable applying for this character because usually I like to write things I know about and can get a grip on. Fane’s the first character where due to prerequisites I kind of had to step outside of my comfort zone but this also likely explains why Fane’s interests lie with ancient history in comparison to nearer situations i.e. the Cold War/Vietnam War etc because I myself feel more comfortable and confident in myself writing about these eras.

Anyway, the Long Turkish war was my first point of contact with coming to terms with how I wanted to shape his background. I love a good coming of age story hence why Robb Stark is probably one of my favourite ASoIaF characters along with Margaery Tyrell and Arianne Martell (forever bitter about the show trashing Dorne). Anyho, in regards to this I turned to look at some actual historical figures and ended up looking at a young Edward IV born the son of the richest duke in England, who much like Robb and in turn Fane was forced into taking on huge responsibility and risk at only 18 after his father’s passing by comparison Fane was only 15 when his father was killed in the Great War in 1594. 

Fane like his historical counterparts had to assume leadership of his father’s men and make decisions risking not only his own life but that of his men making decisions that still haunt him mirroring what Edward likely felt after the Battle of Towton where supposedly 1% of England’s population died due to the ongoing civil war that now is more commonly known as the ‘War of the Roses’ which ultimately placed him on the throne. As a result of these deaths, Edward likely wasn’t all that fond of war and preferred to find other routes to avoid bloodshed, at the time he was viewed by his contemporaries as being overly forgiving (he showed mercy to traitors and issued orders allowing common soldiers to escape the end of battles).

That was his beginning, and from there I knew I wanted him to travel, learning about cultures and becoming fascinated with the rich history of the places he visited. So I figured in his chance to leave the boundaries of his home for war it ignited in him a curiosity and wanderlust that eventually later led to him forsaking his stead as Head of the Alois family and turning to pick a life of travel and immortality over simply dying. 

Thus the next character I drew on, one that outlasted the death of his own people along with several of his own companions due to his own longevity, decision making and ability to regenerate is The Doctor from BBC’s sci-fi hit Doctor Who (a character who ultimately chose to end a war by committing a mass genocide of not only his own morally questionable race but supposedly their opposing side as well). A character who initially only explored with the intention of experiencing the wonders the universe had to offer but more often than not got involved in the machinations and crises of various places he was visiting. Fane always was a man born into wealth and privilege but could never stand the plight of the weak and oppressed, thus his travels much like the Doctor’s became a way for him to protect and stand up for those who couldn’t stand up for themselves. Yet, in doing this Fane has had to do plenty of bad deeds and though many might call him a hero he refuses to actually subscribe to this title in any shape or form.

Out of all the incarnations if I had to pick, I’d say Fane’s an amalgamation of the 10th and 11th, with aspects of the 10th’s outgoing personality and the same fondness for pop-culture traits along with a bright, playful nature largely existing to conceal left-over emotional trauma from things he has done in his history. Although he is cheerful, bubbly and fun-loving darker traits occasionally emerge particularly when those he cares about are put in harm’s way or successfully manage to truly piss him off which is an incredibly difficult feat to truly accomplish. 

Aspects of the 11th that Fane displays are also the tendency to act far younger than he is, displaying childlike enthusiasm for plenty of things in life AS WELL AS HAVING A HUGE SWEET TOOTH, literally don’t offer him sweets or surgery things he will take them with 0 qualms about taking it. He’s not above doing things if they’re fun and engaging so long as they prove to make other people happy then… Really he’s willing to do almost anything within reason (caterpillar duck races 10000% included in this) but in truth this conceals that fact that at the end of the day he’s a very old, guilty, lonely and grief-stricken individual who has actually grown rather tired of the world.

Another ASoIaF character that inspires Fane is Davos Seaworth, the brutally honest advisor to Stannis Baratheon. The dynamic works because Stannis hates people sugar-coating their words if they have a point to make. Fane likes to give and be given in return good honest advice.

Fane’s a gentleman scholar, an aspect of his persona that draws on several points and characters perhaps the most ironic being Abraham Van Helsing from Bram Stoker’s Dracula, where, despite being “one of the most advanced scientist of his day” possessed nerves of steel, an open mind, kind heart and a wry sense of humour. Other characters influencing this part of him is Faramir who is known to be highly intelligent and scholarly, a gracious host and pleasant individual to encounter able to hold a friendly conversation wtih various people regardless of their culture and background. In Tolkien’s own words, Faramir was “modest, fair-minded and scrupulously just, and very merciful”

In regards to his anger when it does rear its head Fane’s fury is very tranquil in nature, much like Ender or Dumbledore when they’re angry. No matter how much fury they might feel, outside he tends to maintain a deathly calm and collected appearance. It’s deliberate, Fane knows the difference between hot and cold anger: the former is all-consuming, and will lead to them doing stupid acts, but the latter? In his mind it can be harnessed as a tool to harden one’s resolve and steel one’s will. This tends to be infused with Dumbledore’s quiet disappointment that makes the focus of his fury usually feel worse than if he’d simply raged and ranted at them.

The final two people I’d point out as references and influences in Fane’s characterisation would be Jay Gatsby and the Edmond Dantès from The Count of Monte Cristo.

[willreadforbooze]

Hello!

BIG NEWS PEOPLE! Our Will Read For Booze twitter account (formerly Sam’s personal account) is going to be dedicated to the whole blog! So go check us out kthxxxx. While that’s amazing, Sam has to start from scratch on a new account, let’s show her some love huh? Check out her new account TheBooktender_  She’ll love you forever and ever.

Ginny’s Updates:

Busy week, busier weekend. Short summary.

Currently Reading:

Wicked Fox  by Kat Cho: Sam heard good things about this book and picked up a copy at ALA. I’m not super far in but so far I’m enjoying the lore of it. I’m not particularly familiar with Korean lore so it’s interesting to try to pick it up. That being said, I’ve been moving further away from YA so I’m having a little trouble getting into the book. We’ll see how it goes.

Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time by Jeff Sutherland: It’s been a while since I read something for professional development. I received this book at a training a little while ago and decided to pick it up. This book talks about the best way to run a project. Pretty basic.

Blaze of Memory by Nalini Singh: This if the 7th book in the Psy-Changeling series and at this point it should be very clear that I really enjoy this series. I’m a big fan of the various plotlines foiling serial killers. Right now, Dev, the leading of the Shine (an organization protecting children with Psy blood from the full-blooded Psy) has found a Psy woman with amnesia who clearly needs help. Cool.

Finished:

Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi: This was a fun read. The aliens who want to be introduced to the world look like humanity’s worst ideas of what aliens could be; amorphous blobs that speak through potent aromas. I liked the characters in this book, though it’s pretty easy to tell this is one of Scalzi’s early books. Still enjoyable. 3.5/5

The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite: Holy shit, this book was delightful. Lucy watches her GF/BFF marry a man and decides to leave. Goes to London to talk to the Countess of Moth about an introduction to the scientific society so that she can write a translation of the seminal astronomy work at her time (she worked as an astronomer with her now-deceased father). Both of these ladies have insecurities but reading them falling in love was wonderful! Watching they ways the worked (or didn’t work through) their problems was a ton of fun, always felt in character, and desperately hurt at times. 5/5

Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells: This is the third book in the Murderverse series. Murderbot continues to work their way around the universe, this time going on a mission to an abandoned planet to prove some wrong-doing of their previous owner. They originally hide from the team doing the exploration but obviously that doesn’t go to plan. Watching Murderbot start to realize the various ways they need to change to fit in with society, and the way they want to live is (to steal a word from Sam) precious. 5/5

Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh: The sixth book in the Psy-Changeling series, this is the first book that involves a relationship between two Changelings. Mercy and Riley have crazy chemistry and drive each other crazy; figuratively and literally. They’re also working together to try to deal with a kidnapping attempt that involves both of their packs. The way this world continues to be laid out is magical. I love the way the characters, locations, and political landscape continue to change to adapt to each book. 5/5

Wanted, A Gentleman by K.J. Charles: This is an author I keep seeing mentioned by the people I follow on twitter and now I completely understand it. This book features a freed slave’s complicated relationship with their prior owners teaming up with a seemingly ruthless man who writes basically personal ads to hunt down the daughter of the family of his old owners to save her from a bad elopement. This book is wildly dramatic and yet makes so much sense. 4.5/5

Queen of the Unwanted  by Jenna Glass: This is the sequel to the Women’s War that came out last year. I also received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, and I’d prefer not to say too much but if you read and enjoyed the first book you’re going to enjoy this one. If you want complicated relationships, women in power, and diverse personalities, this book has them all! 5/5

Destiny’s Embrace by Beverly Jenkins: Yup, lots of romance novels this week. Logan Yates is a ranch owner who ends up with Mariah as his housekeeper. She’s been abused by her mother for years and decides she’s not going to let anyone step over her, and goes toe to toe with Logan at every turn. There are some portions of this book that kind of get a side eye mostly because I think a few sentences about posture or something would make them a little more palatable. That being said, this was a lot of fun and a good start to a series. I’m looking forward to the next book 4/5

Linz’s Updates

What Linz read:

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing: Marketed as a cross between Dexter and Mr. and Mrs. Smith, this contemporary novel introduces us to a married suburban couple who keep it spicy with a little bit of murder. I think it was kinda dumb they used Mr. and Mrs. Smith, when there are some good similarities to the Gone Girl genre, but whatever. I’m not mad I read it, but it was … fine?

The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis: sort of fantasy version of Old West Texas, where Good Luck Girls (ie prostitutes) are kept trapped to their welcome houses with cursed tattoos and a really shitty government. I thought the concept was alright, the ending was very good, and I really liked the protagonist, but some of the world-building was clunky and I thought some elements weren’t really explained.

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: I would never have heard of this book if it weren’t for my book club, and I’m kind of pissed about it because it’s REALLY good. Why weren’t more people talking about this 1920s-era mythology-heavy book? I loved the style of writing and the weaving of old and modern worlds, reminded me of American Gods in a better way.

What Linz is currently reading:

Queen of Ruin by Tracy Banghart: The sequel to Grace and Fury that I’ve been itching to get my hot hot hands on. Loved the first installment about two sisters who are forced to switch places in a horribly run patriarchal society.

Middlegame by Seanan McGuire: Had to put this down to knock out some ARC reading by drop dates, but Ginny will probably be happy to know I’m picking it back up so she can have her copy back.

Sam’s Updates

It’s Nats World Series Week so I’m spending my days working through hell and my nights (late nights) watching baseball. I. Are. Tired.

What Sam read this week:

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: This is our book club book for the month. Basically it’s the 1920s-ish in Mexico, and our main character Casiopea accidentally lets the god of death out of prison and he gotta put himself back together before he turns mortal and for a variety of reasons (including potential death herself) Casiopea goes with him. I’m not going to put too many thoughts here because book clube but I will be writing a follow-up drunk review to Minda’s sober one.

Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman: This is the first in a new sci-fi series by our fave Illuminae duo. Tyler has it made, he’s gonna get the #bestsquadever. But then when he’s out practicing space stuff, he finds a ship that has a buncha dead people in cryopods, except one isn’t dead, she’s Aurora. Anyway he ends up with the last of the last crews and may have accidentally witnessed the start of an intergalactic war. So.. that. I’m really really liking the dynamic of the squad, everyone is a little odd and a little broken but they’re starting to get to know each other. We’ll see if my love for them overcomes the pace of the story (slowwww).

A River Of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy: This is a story about a girl named Eva, she’s a princess. She’s gotta compete with her sister for the throne, to the death. But the thing is, she can’t figure out her magic. So she tries real hard to figure it out all while someone is trying to kill her. This book was fine. I sorta figured it out early but I enjoyed it so that’s good I suppose. 3/5 Shots Drunk Review coming.

…And Other Disasters by Malka Older: This is a collection of short stories that are in the world of sci-fi. I loved them all, and that rarely happens with collections like this. Everyone go pre-order it right TF now. 5/5

What I’m currently reading:

Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore: So this is a story of a family that always has 5 girls, 5 cousins. The men that spawn these women disappear, so it’s always the women. 5 ladies, 5 mothers, 5 Grandmas (abuelas), when suddenly a boy appears. He has no memories. Guys I know I’m slow going at this but some stuff happened in the book and now I’m v v sad.

Girls of Storm and Shadow by Natasha Ngan: This is the sequel to Girls of Paper and Fire which i didn’t…. love… but also didn’t hate. We’ll see how this goes. I’m predicting a ton of miscommunication between romantic relationships so…

The Kingdom of Gods by N.K. Jemisin: This is the final installment to the Inheritance trilogy. Seems to be about Sia. Listening on audio so we’ll see how it goes.

Minda’s Updates

No update from Minda this week.

Until next time, we main forever drunkenly yours,

Sam, Ginny, Linz, and Minda

Weekly Wrap Up: Oct 21-27, 2019 Hello! BIG NEWS PEOPLE! Our Will Read For Booze twitter account (formerly Sam's personal account) is going to be dedicated to the whole blog!