#this was so fun...nighteyes my beloved

[obsob]

my loves my loves!

ref images under cut :3

art from :The Poems of Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1899) by Dorothy C Smyth

[cicide76536]

"We are whole."

[ratkiing-a]

۞ ! :)

send me a "۞" and I'll introduce you to one of my other muses / @goreuroboros meets sasaki mirai / no longer accepting !!

pen drops to their desk, eyes peeking over their glasses as they stare forward. "the amount of sleep that i have gotten is no concern to you." alright, maybe mirai hadn't been getting the recommended amount of sleep as of late. and maybe, just maybe, it was becoming painfully obvious that it was getting to them. hand raises upwards, using their index finger to push up their glasses. "there is far too much paper work for me to waist time on sleep. now please, get me another cup of coffee and leave me to my work."

[nite-eyes]

WIP "Wednesday"

Living legend @tragediegh tagged me to share a snippet of something I'm working on! Surprise, surprise: I'm still chipping away at my pre-Fool's Errand fic wherein Liveship chronology is dismantled entirely so that Beloved can rush to the cabin to care for Fitz who is, as always, Going Through It. Here's a fun little scene of The Pack snuggling after a rough night.

When Fitz wakes again, it is nearing midday. He blinks blearily, eyes gritty and sore from the night’s weeping. His head is pillowed on the Fool’s chest, and the golden man’s elegant fingers run through his hair, unraveling it from its tight plait. The wolf lounges against his back. There is a supreme sense of safety here, bracketed between them. Fitz feels small; is loath to move ever again.  I thought we were not supposed to lay in bed all day, Fitz observes. The Fool’s other arm is snaked under Fitz’s neck and his hand rests companionably on the wolf’s ruff. This is different, Nighteyes answers wisely. Because you are enjoying it?, Fitz jests. But the wolf is earnest in his reply. Because this is time with pack. All are enriched.  Fitz hums, considering this. The Fool shifts under him and lays his gloved palm sweetly against Fitz's temple. "What are you two talking about?," he murmurs, his voice rumbling Fitz’s ear.  "Normally, Nighteyes would not wish for me to be abed so long," Fitz explains, tilting his head so he can see the sharp edge of the Fool’s jaw. "But he’s allowing it this time. It’s good for the pack to spend time together." Nighteyes grumbles in agreement, shifting closer to Fitz.  "The pack," the Fool echoes, his voice strange.  "The three of us," Fitz agrees sleepily. He feels nearly drunk on their nearness, on the touch all around him. Moves in slow, unthinking ways toward the warmth of it, like a flower turning toward the sun. His arm is draped over the Fool’s waist and he tightens his grip there. The Fool stills, seems to hold his breath. Then, tentatively, he slides his hand back into the wild black curls, raking his fingertips against Fitz’s scalp and locking him in place against his chest. Under his ear, Fitz hears the thundering of the Fool’s heartbeat. The rushing sound lulls him and he drifts again, though the long lines of the tawny man’s body remain alert and watchful, his grip resolute. Like he's bracing for someone to wrest Fitz from his arms at any moment. Eventually Nighteyes grows impatient and hungry. The Scentless One’s sense of me grows, the wolf informs Fitz proudly. Observe. He proceeds to think very fixedly of ginger cakes: how much he’d like one and how wise and clever the Fool is for making them so well, and wouldn't he like to make some soon? Fitz buries his smile in the soft fabric of the Fool's tunic. After a few minutes of this, the Fool murmurs, "Are you hungry, dear one? Shall I make us a very late breakfast?" Fitz startles him by barking out a laugh. Behind him, the wolf rolls onto his back, tongue lolling, immensely pleased with himself. The Fool rises onto one elbow, displacing Fitz into his lap, and looks between them in consternation. While Fitz, still chuckling, does his best to explain, the Fool levels Nighteyes with evaluating stare, one brow raised. But his eyes are dancing, and the corner of his mouth curls up and up, despite his efforts to look stern. In one lithe movement, the wolf flips onto his feet and licks the side of the Fool’s face. To Fitz’s surprise, the Fool blushes and then slides his eyes over to meet his own. "I have been trying," he allows. "I flatter myself that I hear him better than before." Fitz assures him that the wolf agrees, and the Fool preens extravagantly, bending to peck Nighteyes on the top of his head. Then he vaults from the bed in a graceful leap and declares grandly, "Ginger cakes, ho!" and capers into the kitchen with the wolf prancing at his heels.

If you see this and are working on something that you're eager to share, please please do so! Thank you for reading ily <3 <3

[that-vigilante-piedpiper]

Couldn't fit in ask so I hope it's okay here!

Warning very long! 

I absolutely adore Pied Piper, I found it when it had only chapters in the 20s and was obsessed. Your writing is beautiful, I adored Reo, Izuku was killing me in the best way possible. (Plus your humor is so fucking funny, your social media breaks in it have me dying) I subscribed and left it there for when it's almost done because I have been burned far too many times by illegal cliffhangers and discontinued fics. 

And with that out of the way, it's time for the latest thing. I always look at all the fanart at the beginning and end. I'm absolutely blown away by all the amazing fan art. Ferret is truly doing God's work. So you can imagine my confusion when I saw Nighteye(I only knew it was him cause the centipede called him Mirai), some centipede human, a woman, and Gang Orca in the same bed. I was understandably disgusted but mostly confused. I checked the tags, saw nothing about it, and brushed it off as a discord inside joke. 

More chapters flew by (I read all 64 chapters in 2 days, yes I should sleep but your writing is way too good.) and I got to the art of a human centipede and who I thought was some random guy about to kiss. It's been a while since I watched the show so I didn't remember Centipede as a sidekick or what Nighteye looked like that well. I'm still scarred and Ferret has to pay for my therapy.

Y'know that one line where Nighteye mentions that he attended their wedding? I first thought 'wait Nighteye isn't married' checked the tags and saw nothing about it. So I reread it and thought that Nighteye attended Aizawa, Hizashi, and Oboro's wedding instead.

Thus I was able to finish chapter 64 peacefully and went on your Tumblr. Your word game is really fun and adding on the DFO spin-off is very entertaining. Until I stumbled on the Centipede ask for the word game. And I saw the tag centipeder x nighteye. 

I thought it wouldn't take me that long to see the end of it to know the mystery behind this very much cursed ship. 

I WAS WRONG

I'm now fully aware of why that fanart is there and you can't even blame the LoveWins nation anymore. YOU BETRAYED YOURSELF. You didn't need a bet to kill off Nighteye. YOU ALREADY IKIT. (I'm still mourning him)

But yes, have the divorce go through, let us readers see the mention that Nighteye isn't wearing a ring. AND FOR EVERYONE'S SAKE DON'T BET ABOUT MPREG!

(Serious note though I really love your fic, I hold Izuku very close to my heart and have grown very attached to your version of him and his growth. You're amazing)

[THANK YOU 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 AND YES I HAVE ALSO HABE A LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH FERRET MY BELOVED 😭😭 also the woman in their 4 way ship is Rei Todoroki 😔😔, her and gang orca arent BAD, BUT WHEN THEY WANT TO COMBINE ALL FOUR LIKE SOME POWER RANGER EPISODES I DRAW THE LINE. BUT YES, IM SO HAPPY TO FIND ANOTHER CENTIPEDER X NIGHTEYE HATER, THERE ARENT ENOUGH OF US, I NEED MORE, AND I PROMISE, I SWEAR TO YOU I WILL NOT BE MAKING ANY MORE BETS 😭😭😫]

[insomniac-jay]

Male Hero OCs: Body Types

One of my biggest gripes with BNHA (and superhero comics overall) is the lack of different body types among the characters, especially among the men (also why Fatgum and Sir Nighteye are my beloveds). To combat that, I decided to do what Hori could never with my own OCs.

Demoman

Akio is rather small compared to some of his peers like Chargeman, standing at 5'10. But he's got plenty of might.

Ya boi got some muscle on his arms because of his powers and some on his legs from playing soccer a lot as a kid.

But when it comes to the rest of his body, he's got an athletic body type, so he's not buff but not skinny either. He's got a toned stomach with some abs but they ain't visible.

He still retains this body type post Sports Festival even with the workouts and training he's done, but he's bulked up a little.

Chargeman

Listen. Chargeman is built like a fucking tank, okay? I mean, he's standing at a whooping 6'9".

He's got a bodybuilder build, which is fitting because my guy is a hero, a wrestler AND a trainer. Not to mention he's chucking and throwing around guys both in and out the ring so he needs a build like that.

Despite being every gym bro's wet dream, Shukara refuses to subscribe to diets. He would rather die than give up his favorite foods for the boiled atrocities gym bros make.

And he's got the endurance of a brick shithouse. Like, his endurance is on the same level as Powerflow's (Marco Castillo-Delgado).

Phoenix Knight

Lancelot is just as tall and strong as Chargeman is standing at 6'5" but not as built like his peer. Instead, he has a simple muscular mesomorphic body.

This comes in handy since he's wearing fucking iron armor as his hero costume. Not to mention all the intense training his father put him through.

However, post Sports Festival his body does change from mesomorph to endomorph. Is he still fucking strong tho? Yes he is.

Powerflow

Now Marco. He's a fucking beast. For starters, he's probably the shortest of my male OCs at 5'5 and he's fat. Like, big stomach, got made fun of in school during gym class fat.

Marco may be big, but he hits like a fucking wrecking ball. He is an absolute unit. Not to mention he's fast as fuck and has a high level of endurance.

Many people find it odd that even though he's a boxer and he does daily training, he's still fat. But in his eyes that just makes him even more of a threat.

Helios

Sol has an average body type, he's not too skinny but he's not muscular either.

He's no pushover in a fight, but only gets physical with opponents on his level of physical prowess.

Someone once made a joke about him being the only normal guy and that stuck to him like a magnet.

@floof-ghostie @calciumcryptid @s0ursop @opalofoctober @elflynns-horde-of-stuff @pizzolisnacks @peachyblkdemonslayer

[mettywiththenotes]

There's actually 2 but the one is pretty reasonable

The crack one is Mera and Centipeder. I just. It's a thing. I needed someone to write as a pairing for Centipeder in the future of one of my fics and it just sort of happened. The dynamic tho is Juuzou (Centipeder's name is Juuzou Moashi) being oblivious as Yokumiru pines and drops subtle hints of interest but he's too tired to put much effort into it bc he's either busy or exhausted.

Will they ever figure it out? Who knows?

The other is Yokumiru with Tomie Takami. So, hear me out, they are in the same age group probably. Yokumiru is 39 in canon. Hawks is 23, so that's 16 years difference, meaning that Tomie is probably in her mid 40s, and only a handful of years older than Yokumiru.

But like, imagine your mom reentering your life just to tell you she's now dating your boss Keigo would be so confused.

Haven't had any plans to write this pairing but maybe someday it'll fit into a fic.

Mera x Centipeder (CentiMera? JuuMer? MerJuu?), I love it. That's sort of an office romance to me

I can imagine that, since Centipeder is the one who took over Nighteye's agency after his death, he would be very busy getting all the work done that Nighteye used to do so he'd be too caught up in the business to notice Mera's attempts, so Mera's trying to get his attention but damn they are so busy, it's hard to get through to him when they're both so tired. Poor Mera, he really is interested but god he needs a break

I like to think that if they did figure it out, it would be that Awata (Bubble Girl) noticed every now and then Mera's attempts to get closer and she's like "You know he's been interested in you for months, right?" and Centipeder is like "? ??" and idk the idea that someone who is already so busy still finding the time to think about him and maybe drop down for a visit makes him feel so warm and happy? Relationships for him have been kind of brushed aside thanks to all the work he's had to deal with, but if given the chance, maybe he'd like to try? He'd like to try

So yeah. I can imagine they'd be the kind of couple that are, of course, busy, but always find little ways to show that they love each other. Notes in the kitchen, pre-made meals for their beloved when they get home, Mera sending flowers to Centipeder's agency (Juuzou likes aroma, you know, so Mera would pick the most gorgeous smelling arrangements - with advice from the flower shop owner of course), and there would be days where their schedule aligns and they'd get to cuddle up together, planning to watch that one new show together and Mera always falls asleep halfway through, Centipeder joining him at some point, but they wouldn't have it any other way

Also I like the contrast of it being that Mera is so sleepy and doesn't care too much about what he says because of this, whereas Juuzou is a well mannered person, so uh. opposites attract? They're a fun ship concept to work with imo

Tomie x Mera (ToMera? MerTo?)...

Personally, I've had a small running theory about Tomie and Mera being siblings or smthg, so my mind is quite fixated on that involving those two

HOWEVER, pushing that theory aside and focusing on them as separate families, I can kind of see something in it. Namely because Hawks having his mother in love with his boss is pretty funny and Hawks would be having a crisis over it lmao

Also, Hawks being messenger boy while Mera tells him to give Tomie a necklace he bought for her or Tomie asking him to give chocolates to Mera while he's over at the HC is pretty funny too (Hawks is Going Through It)

I guess it would open up some stuff for Hawks and Tomie reuniting

There's Dad Mera as well, oh my god I imagine Hawks just feeling so awkward that his boss is dating his mother. Mera probably wouldn't care whether Hawks accepted it or not but I think he'd try his best to connect with him which would be cute. The idea that he'd be like "Your mother and I-" tho and Hawks just grimacing... I'd read that, it'd be interesting to see what you could come up with

I don't think I could actually ship it though. I just don't think those two would mesh well together unless Tomie goes through therapy or smthg, or maybe working with the concept that since she gave away Hawks, she could have gotten gradually more and more self aware over the years and tries to be better for the people in her life, idk

Though a crack ship is a crack ship and, despite my opinion on it, I'll say you do you and I hope you get around to writing something for them someday :)

[elderling-magic]

Fitz, Nighteyes, Fool and Time

“...To free humanity of time. For time is the great enslaver of us all. Time that ages us, time that limits us. Think how often you have wished to have more time for something, or wished you could go back a day and do something differently. When humanity is freed of time, old wrongs can be corrected before they are done.” - Kettle about the role of the White Prophet, “Assassin’s Quest”

For at least a year now I wanted to make a post about time and how it relates and affects my favourite fictional trio so that is what I am doing today. This post will contain SPOILERS for the entire series so if you haven’t read all the Fitz books - you have been warned. Time is overall a very important theme in the series, but I want to foccus on these 3 characters because it is what is more interesting to me.

Fitz - Past

“The knowledge that he had left me with no intent ever to return had come over me in tiny droplets of realization spread over the years. And each droplet of comprehension brought its own small measure of hurt...He had wished me well in finding my own fate to follow, and I never doubted his sincerity. But it had taken me years to accept that his absence in my life was a deliberate finality, an act he had chosen, a thing completed even as some part of my soul still dangled, waiting for his return.” - Fitz, “Fool’s Assassin”

One of Fitz’s characteristics is how he is more often than not stuck in the past. This is partly because of trauma, but is still important. Even before the story starts Fitz already made an attempt to reject the past by claiming he forgot everything about his mother. He didn’t really. The memories just hurt him too much, but Fitz was never able to forget or let go of past events (even after giving part of his memories to a stone dragon in AQ).  Fitz gets stuck in the past and is hard for him to move on. Molly was his first love and he is stuck with that, Kettricken is still Verity’s wife until the (end even though the man died in book 3), Beloved is still a bit under the shadow of the court jester no matter how much he has changed since RA, etc. Fitz’s past affect his entire life.

Fitz can’t help but be reminded of Molly when thinking of red skirts or the Fool when seeing black and white. These are the colors he associates with them and that had initial impact in his past memories (even Molly being known as Nosebleed as a kid has the hint of red in there).

Fitz’s connection to the past is not as easy to observe in the Farseer trilogy since he is still developping and usually either Nighteyes or the Fool are around him. The Fool and Nighteyes influence him and make him not drown in past memories. Fitz holds on to the people he met as a kid and as the trilogies go on he seems to give less and less importance to new characters (so much that the ones introduced in the last trilogy barelly feel like characters at all in Fitz’s POV). 

Fitz going back to Molly at the end of “Fool’s Fate” is partly because of this attachment to the past. When the Fool leaves and Nighteyes isn’t around what does he do (as seen in “Fool’s Assassin”)? He gets a room just for himself where he can write and cry about the past. That is one of the most painful books to read when it comes to Fitz because he is so lost in past memories without Nighteyes or the Fool being around to stop him and bring him new perspectives that he just brings me down with him.

Nighteyes - Present

“Come, hunt with me, the invitation whispers in my heart. Leave the pain behind and let your life be your own again. There is a place where all time is now, and the choices are simple and always your own. Wolves have no kings.” - Nighteyes, “Royal Assassin”

Obviously Nighteyes has a strong connection with the present. As he says, wolves live in the now. So, when he is with Fitz he influences him and makes him live in the present. When Fitz is living in a cabin with just Hap and Nighteyes, he says he foccuses on the present and the routine of it (not for the first time, he mentions it in AQ before too). Fitz, being Fitz, still writes about his past, but since Nighteyes is around there is a balance between how often he thinks about the past and how often he foccuses on the present.

Fitz’s connection to the past also affects Nighteyes. When the wolf starts to gain human like qualities these are associated with past memories - like Fool saying something in AQ in the lines of “I didn’t know he would remember that” about Nighteyes showing his gratitude for Fool giving him cakes in the past, for example. Or that time Nighteyes remembered his family.

Even Fitz’s stupid plan in “Assassin’s Quest” has the foccus on the present all over it. He knows he wants revenge on Regal because of what he has done to him in the past, but instead of having a plan for that future, he says he will think of something when he gets to where Regal is currently living. Completelly living each day as it presents itself. No future planning because guess who isn’t around?

Fool - Future

“If he had not come to see me, I would never have recalled how much I missed him. I would have continued to pine for the past, but I would not have begun to long for a future.” - Fitz about the Fool, “Fool’s Errand”

Of course the White Prophet is strongly connected to the future. The Fool has visions about the future and his constant concern and dedication about what he must do keep him from thinking about the past or the present.  the Fool feels blind when his dreams stop. He has no concept of living beyond his "time", of a future he doesn't see. He is so anxious about it that he would not allow himself happiness and the society he wishes for because he is constantly considering what each of his actions would mean for the future and that paralyzes him.

The times Fool seems to be enjoying himself on the present is when Nighteyes is around and still alive (”Assassin’s Quest” and “Fool’s Fate”) - there is the water fight in AQ and overall the fun he seemed to be having on the adventure in FE. Take Nighteyes away and Fool is constantly worried about the Future or remembering his past because of Fitz. 

Fitz is the only person we know that the Fool opens up about his family or his mission as Amber, for example. Fitz even unlocks the Fool’s tragic backstory slowly. Being around Fitz makes Beloved think of his past memories even if he has been avoiding them like the plague for years. There is this person he tells about it because they influence each other that much.

In Liveship Traders, Amber is 100% thinking of her goal the entire time, which makes it feel a bit different than how Beloved usually acts if Fitz is around. Fitz and Nighteyes surprise him and make him slow down a bit and think of something else no matter how few minutes it lasts.

In the same way, Fool makes Fitz plan for the future. When the Fool is around Fitz has always something to do (usually according to prophecies). Fitz also thinks about a future living with the Fool in AQ, FE and AF. Take away the Fool and Fitz drowns in the memories of his past, unless Nighteyes is there to help him.

So, does that initial quote from Kettle about getting rid of time connects with the ending where Fitz and the Fool end up in the stone wolf and basically die? Given the strong connections these 3 characters have with time I guess I could say that now that they are not around the White Prophet mission is trully complete. I am not sure what this means for the new prophet (Bee)’s future goal though. Unless that there is no future goal. Bee herself was a new entity entirely given that she was called the destroyer. I see her as having the powers of both catalyst and white prophet. So, it can really mean the end of white prophets and, like Kettle said it was their mission, the end of time itself. 

PS: I also don’t see ghost!Nighteyes as being trully Nighteyes. Nighteyes died in FE and to me that ghost is the personification of the memories the Fool and Fitz had of him. But that is another future post entirely.

[mystofthestars]

Thanks for the tag @blackandwhitemotley ! I’m not good at picking faves but let’s see what I can do.

Favourite RotE Book: The Liveship Traders trilogy and Fool’s Fate. (I am not good at picking just one fave okay)

Why: Liveships - the concept of the liveships itself is so original and cool. These books have: Amber, sea adventures, willful ships who love drama, pirates, sea serpents with cool lore, DRAGONS, Kennit, Amber, one of the characters with the coolest character development I’ve ever seen (Malta), amazing female characters, incredible characters in general, BINGTOWN which I love, mysterious magic and ancient ruins and tree cities, and of course Amber. ....aaaand I’m sorry to say that the 3rd person POV helps it here for me. I did my share of crying in Liveships but being out of Fitz’s mind helped the rhythm of the books and, in general, I was happier reading this and the Rainwilds series, without Fitz’s gloomy attitude to spoil all the fun. Sorry Fitz. Also did I mention Amb-

Fool’s Fate - so much for being glad of getting rid of Fitz’s gloomy attitude ahah - I’m probably a masochist and, although this book delivered some real pain, it was the good kind of pain. Plus, it was really Beloved-centered and Beloved is my absolute fave, so. 

Top Three Favourite Characters: The Fool, Amber, Belov- Seriously speaking, though, Beloved is above being my favorite character. My feelings for them go beyond a top three faves list orz. 

Still, it’s so hard to pick only 3 faves for 16 books?! So, to name a few: Patience, Kettricken, Verity, Malta, Paragon, Alise, Sedric, Rapskal, Nighteyes, Motley.

...I did not name Fitz because being so much inside his head makes perspective change. I think he’s an incredible character but I also think the relationship between him and the reader makes it hard to simply put him in a top 3 list or the like.

Top Three Least Favourite Characters: Starling, Starling I couldn’t stand. She was rude to the Fool so get out of here woman. Thymara and Tats weren’t my faves either. 

Favourite Ship (of the floating kind): Paragon sure, but Tarman and Ophelia too.

Top Three Favourite Ships (of the people kind): Erek and Detozi because hands down, best romantic story out there. Molly and Burrich - I cried when they got together. They were happy together and we all know both of them deserved it and were perfect for each other. Fitz and Kettricken - now, let’s talk about real stuff here: those two could have had it all. Think about the Six Duchies (or seven) with them at their lead. Damn.

Again, Fitz and the Fool is just something else, I can’t really put it in a top 3 list. Their dynamics made me laugh, killed me with tenderness, made me so angry I could barely read the book any further, made me cry out of sadness and out of frustration. But it’s Fitz and the Fool. They are as one and their love is so multifaceted and complicated and yet simple that it’s almost pointless to describe it.

Would you rather be Witted or Skilled: knowing myself, I’d be witted, but hey being skilled would be amazing. The piss trick would save me from so many situations.

If you were Witted, what animal would you bond with?: I don’t know. I’m open to whoever wants to bond with me I guess.

Would you rather live in the Outislands, the Mountain Kingdom, the Six Duchies, Bingtown, the Rain Wilds, Kelsingra, Jamaillia, the Pirate Isles, or Fool’s Homeland?: I love Bingtown!!! It’s one of the coolest fantasy cities I’ve ever encountered.

How were you introduced to the books? Robin Hobb came to Italy at Lucca Comics&Games last fall and I signed in to go listen to a presentation she made. I had not read anything by her so I thought I should at least read Assassin’s Apprentice. However, I managed to read only the first chapters - the rhythm was slow and I was very busy at that moment, so I put it away for later. Later came in January and I told myself, I’m gonna finish this and then read something else. I was engrossed by the end of AA, and hopelessly lost to the series somewhere along Royal Assassin. I couldn’t out it down until the very end.

Share a quote you love: I loved all the quotes by Beloved, all of them. I’ve bookmarked them, too. Let’s go with “Tomorrow owes you the sum of your yesterdays. No more than that. And no less.”

(Special mention goes to the “you are confusing plumbing and love again”, all those conversations in Assassin’s Quest are just brilliant.)

I tag whoever wasn’t tagged yet and comes across this and wants to share some RotE love :D

[sophygurl]

"give me a character and i’ll answer" I cannot NOT ask you about RotE, that's like postbaiting. I give yoooou... Kettricken, Althea and Alise! (also curious about what you would say about Beloved)

woot yay! and lol postbaiting. 

Kettricken

do I like them: Oh I love her so very very much. 

5 good qualities: This is a woman who raised her son to understand that leadership is about sacrificing yourself for those under your rule instead of about privilege and power over them, goddamn! She’s also incredibly sweet even when she has to be firm with someone, has amazing reserves of mental and emotional strength, respects all life including animals and those people who are usually discriminated against and hated, and understands keenly the importance of cultures retaining their own traditions even as they join together. 

3 bad qualities: Does she have any? IDK. I can’t think of a one. Especially as seen through Fitz’s eyes, who ADORES her. 

favourite episode/etc: I think in Royal Assassin when she leads the hunt for the Forged and inspires everyone to be brave but also take it seriously, and then cleans and prepares all the bodies and a whole unit of soldiers take on her colors afterward and songs are sung of the Vixen Queen - that showed a lot of her character, especially since she was really on the outs with everyone at the time. 

otp: I mean obviously her and Verity, but you know I have my secret otp of her and Fitz too. ;)

brotp: her and Nighteyes. *tears up*

ot3: I mean, I guess sort of her and Fitz and Beloved? Though it would be more platonic on her part mostly, and especially between her and Beloved.

notp: her and Regal. *shudder*

best quote: Oh gods, probably the part at the end of Assassin's Fate when Fitz makes a comment about not seeing her there, and she kind of sadly says he never does and kisses his head and walks away like. OOOF in the feels!

head canon: She’d have happily joined Fitz and Nighteyes and Beloved in the stone wolf if she hadn’t both her own grandkids and Fitz’s daughter to take care of. But she’s a sacrifice to her people, and so even had she been asked, she’d have said no. *crying*

Althea

do I like them: Ooohhh, I love her so much!

5 good qualities: She stands up for herself and those she cares for against even impossible odds, she chooses what she believes is right for those she loves even if it goes against what she wants for herself, she tells her truths even when it’s incredibly uncomfortable to do so, she’s a fantastic captain, and she’s a great friend once she’s chosen to be one to someone.

3 bad qualities: Her over-confidence/need to prove herself does sometimes get her into dangerous trouble, it takes her awhile to realize she loves someone, and oooooo she has a temper!

favourite episode/etc: Gosh, I’m having trouble picking a favorite part, but probably when she and the others are working on getting Paragon sea-worthy and she realizes she has to let Brashen be the captain because if they get Vivacia back she’ll need to go and be her captain, so even though she stubbornly believes she’d be just as good if not better at it than him, she backs down and acts appropriately as his second - even to the extent of covering the feelings she finally realizes she has for him.

otp: with Brashen, obvi.

brotp: with Amber, or possibly Ophelia. 

ot3: none.

notp: with Kennit - blech!

best quote: Probably the one where she talks about how she wants both romance and to captain a ship in her life, and how anyone she would partner with would have to be okay with that. 

head canon: The two dragons that were once Paragon, especially Karrigvestrit, come to visit her and Brashen and Boy-O sometimes. They are favored by many of the dragons, especially the ones who were once liveships, for their part in freeing them and for the care they gave them as ships. This helps their families survive the community’s difficult transition to the new economy. 

Alise:

do I like them: I do! She annoys me on occasion, but I do like her.

5 good qualities: She’s brave as heck, she has compassion for days especially for dragons even when they have none back for her, she doesn’t care much about social class even though she comes from the richer Bingtown stock, she’s optimistic as whoa, and she cares deeply for the history of her home even though such academic pursuits are looked down on in her social and familial circles. 

3 bad qualities: She’s so so so naive, she has trouble standing up for herself, and she sometimes gets so wrapped up in studying the past that she loses track of what’s happening right in front of her. 

favourite episode/etc: When she and Sedric realize they’ve both been used by Hest and that their friendship to one another means more to them than any hurts they’re carrying - but she still makes it known that she’s angry with Sedric for how he betrayed her and that it will take her some time to get over that. She’s so strong and true to herself and her own value in that moment and I love it. 

otp: with Leftrin of course.

brotp: with Thymara. Adore their friendship. 

ot3: noooone, but. the part of me that kind of digs dysfunctional love/hate stuff would be interested in a much less abusive Hest/Sedric/Alise something something??? idk, probably not. maybe just a little.

notp: with Hest or anyone else who would abuse her trust and open heart and not see her with the same adoring eyes as Leftrin does.

best quote: Can’t think of a specific one - wish I had those books! (I got some in the series for Xmas, so that only leaves ummm 11 to go? holy crap this series...)

head canon: She eventually finds out what happened to Hest because even Kalo took pity on her and Sedric’s constant worry about when he’d come back out of the woodwork to hurt them again. She doesn’t approve of what the dragon did, but she’s also quite relieved. She has trouble reconciling the two things and Leftrin has to assure her that she’s not a bad person for being glad that her ex is dead.

Beloved (aka The Fool, Amber, etc.):

do I like them: I very very much do. 

5 good qualities: Genderfluid (as well as classfluid and just kind of identityfluid), wonderfully playful trickster type, lives with constant awareness of how every action they take could set important historical events on or off course and yet finds ways to be joyful and have fun despite the seriousness of their life, brave - oh so brave - charging into battle even as a pacifist with no fighting skills to speak of, able to befriend kings and slaves and everyone in between alike as well as animals and dragons and liveships - basically can empathize with and get along with just about anyone. 

3 bad qualities: Really really doesn’t like to talk about themselves even when doing so would help someone out a great deal, allowing this trait to turn from a mysterious sort of wiliness to outright deceit at times, can be cruel even to those they love if they believe it will help fulfill their spiritual purpose in life.  

favourite episode/etc: Probably how much fun they had playing the role of Lord Golden and treating Fitz like their servant and hobnobbing with the rich and famous of the Duchies. 

otp: with Fitz, the only person they ever loved in a romantic way, IIRC.

brotp: also with Fitz, since their relationship was primarily platonic. 

ot3: I mean kinda with Fitz and Nighteyes not in a romantic/sexual way but as a 3-soul soulmate kinda way. (Add in Kettricken to plz?)

notp: Pale Woman? IDK, I could see some fans shipping them but I wouldn’t like to see that personally. 

best quote: So many, especially all of his fool-like quips and puzzlers. But probably the best is where he tricks Fitz into calling him Beloved. hee

head canon: As part of the Wolf of the West, they check in on Bee and Kettricken and Nettle and Hap and everyone else as often as they can. They also visit with the spirits of Chade and Verity and Shrewd in the skill-river. *tearing up*

[elderling-magic]

Realm of the Elderlings Ask Meme Thing

This is obviously very old and I wasn’t tagged by anyone, but I wanted to do it anyway. I believe it was created by @hermitknut

Favourite RotE Book: Tawny Man trilogy. You can’t force me to pick one.

Why: It’s the best trilogy because it has all of my favourite characters; introduces wonderful characters (like Dutiful, Thick, Elliania, Fennel, Web, Laurel and Nettle); there is more information about the Fool’s past; it tackles many kinds of prejudice and the different ways people react to it; it goes from a fun adventure to “Help me! I’m drowning in my own tears” (all of the feelings); development in the relationship between Fitz and the Fool; Fitz, Fool and Nighteyes dynamic - best trio ever; it has the best jokes; it has the saddest moments; it has the sweetest moments. It’s just as close to perfection as you can get - for me, anyways.

Top Three Favourite Characters: Fitz, Beloved, Nighteyes (I’m counting them as one so I can cheat), Bee, Patience (ahhhh it can change because I love so many characters - almost all of them. It pains me not to mention Paragon, Malta, Alise, Sedric, Kettricken, Dutiful...)

Top Three Least Favourite Characters: The Four (counting them as one), Hest Finbok, Kyle Haven.

Favourite Ship (of the floating kind): Paragon <3

Top Three Favourite Ships (of the people kind): Fitz and the Fool (the best ship ever of course), Dutiful and Elliania, Alise and Leftrin (Carson and Sedric would be a 4th).

Would you rather be Witted or Skilled: Witted

If you were Witted, what animal would you bond with?: I would like to bond with a fox. Or a bird...

Would you rather live in the Outislands, the Mountain Kingdom, the Six Duchies, Bingtown, the Rain Wilds, Kelsingra, Jamaillia, the Pirate Isles, or Fool’s Homeland?: Kelsingra and be an Elderling. Thanks.

How were you introduced to the books? Booktube. I think it was the Sam’s Nonsense channel. But I only started reading the series sooner than I planned to because Robin Hobb came to Portugal last year (I had just finished the first trilogy when I went to sign my book and I was already a big fan by then).

Share a quote you love:  Everything that comes out of Amber’s mouth in the Liveship Traders trilogy and most of Beloved’s quotes in other occasions. “Words do not contain or define any person. A heart can, if it is willing." - Beloved, The Golden Fool

Tagging: Everyone who is new in the fandom (like myself) and has never done this (I really would like to see the answers so tell me if you do this, please).

Take the thing, copy and paste it into your own post, tag it “elderlings” and then tag as many people as you can that you know in the fandom.

[sophygurl]

RotE feels spewage

Okay, so now that I’ve read everything currently written in the Realm of the Elderlings series (but boy howdy am I excited about the new short story coming out soon!), I’m gonna try and capture some of my overall thoughts and feels. This will be very long and undoubtedly spoilerific. 

For the record, I started the whole series about a year ago and have just raced through it all. The first thing I read was the short story Homecoming and it so fueled me with all of the mystery and magic that I started in on the first Farseer trilogy and then banged out through all of the other short stories and novels in order. 

I am happy to see there are lots of RotE fans on tumblr, but sad to see most of the posts go back months and years ago and there isn’t a lot of current discussion. Woe is the fangirl who finds a fandom later than everyone else. But I won’t let that stop me from sharing my thoughts. 

Okay so I have some new all-time favorite characters from this series. Strangely enough, Fitz is not one of them. NOT that I dislike Fitz, and I sure did enjoy reading 3 sets of trilogies from his perspective, but he’s just not a fave-fave. 

A lot of the people (and animals) around him became faves, but I have to admit to being somewhat in the minority from what I’ve seen, in vastly preferring the Rain Wilds/Bingtown stuff over the Six Duchies stuff. Again - not that I don’t love all of it, but just those were my fave bits and the stuff I personally related to more and want more of.

Most Fave Characters:

Paragon. Oh my dear mad ship, how I love you. How can my favorite character be a sentient ship made out of dragon cocoons who has literally gone insane? IDK, Robin Hobb that’s why. I am so pleased for Paragon that he got to finally be dragons, but oh how I’ll miss my crazy traumatized liveship. I hope we get to see more of his dragons in future works?

All of the Vestrits, but particularly the women. Especially Althea, Ronica, and Malta. Their character arcs were phenomenal and I���d love to read any and all side-stories of their lives and adventures between the Liveship Traders trilogy and the Fitz and the Fool trilogy, as well as anything in their futures. 

Bee! Bee Bee Bee Bee Bee. Bee Farseer. Bee the Destroyer. Bee....loved. I love her. Every single thing about her. More Bee! MORE BEE!

Thick. He was probs my favorite part of the Tawny Man trilogy and omg the picture of him as an old man with a cat in his lap teaching Bee how to make skillsongs and being happy and comfortable and cared for is just killing me. ILU Thick!

Thymara. Best part of the Rain Wilds Chronicles imo. And the bits we gleamed of her and Tats and their kid in the Fitz and the Fool trilogy made me so happy. The way her wings grew! I bet she flies all the time! Oh please please tell me more about Thymara’s life once she settled into Kelsingra! 

Nighteyes. I don’t know that I can discuss my feelings for him without sobbing, so I’ll leave it at that. 

Nettle Farseer. What an amazing arc, and getting to see her from being a baby to having her own baby. MOAR Nettle! 

Perseverance. Where is the Per fandom?! I adore this little due with my whole heart and soul. So brave, so kind, so patient, so loyal. I cry just thinking about him and how good he is. 

The Fool/Beloved/Lord Golden/Amber/whatever all else... I think I loved his Fool persona the most, but they’re all fantastic. 

Chade Fallstar. Look, I know he’s a real son of a bitch, but I love him anyway. I’m a sucker for old wizardy teacher types and prankster/trickster types and just always wanted for him to find some happiness and belonging.

Kettricken. Such a strong, sweet, fierce, stable, amazing woman. Who was so in love with Fitz and you can’t tell me otherwise! 

Ophelia - my second favorite liveship and one I think might... even?? want... to stay one??? Maybe??? We’ll see. Hopefully. Please tell us. 

Patience. Quirky mom/grandma figure who couldn’t have her own kids so protects the ones that need protecting forever in my heart! (Also Lacey, who I am certain in my heart of hearts was her lover as well as her friend and bodyguard.)

Spark/Ash. Another wonderful genderbender in the series. I hope they get to keep being both sides of themselves. 

Motley. How can you not love a crow who calls Fitz “stupid” every chance she gets and who bonds with Heeby and loves all the same characters we love? I hope Motely finally finds a good wit-bond. She deserves it. 

Every cat we ever encounter in any of the books. 

Characters I love but with some reservations:

Kennit Ludluck - I mean I hate this man, but I also love him. He was a fascinating character and his relationships with other characters were interesting, and his whole ... thing ... with Paragon was so emotional and intense. And I could have forgiven every other awful thing he ever did up until he raped Althea and then it was just - nope. Sigh. 

Dragons - particularly Tintaglia, Sintara, Mercor, Heeby,and Relpda. Dragons can be terrible, but they’re also a lot of fun.

Rapskal - loved loved loved him before he merged with the Elderling memories. Still kinda like him, but not quite as much. His relationship with Heeby is always sweet. 

Ships (as in shipping not liveships)

First a note about Molly. I always felt like Molly’s character was strangely un-fleshed out. She was just Girl who is a Friend, Young Woman who is Attractive, Woman Fitz Loves, Woman Fitz Longs For, Woman Fitz Finally Gets to be With, Woman Fitz Loses. And then from Bee’s perspective she’s Mom. But she never felt like a fully realized character to me??

So it was hard to love her, to ship her with anyone, to really understand and empathize for Fitz’s feelings for her. She was just kind of this Figure. Which is really such a shame, because Hobb has so many other wonderfully filled out female characters who are so varied and fleshed out and amazing in such different ways from one another. And then there’s just Molly. Woman Fitz Loves. For ... some reason?? 

IDK - is this a thing that other fans feel? Did I miss something that everyone else gets?

I mean, I understand that the fandom mostly ships Fitz with Beloved/Fool, but did anyone ship Fitz with Molly? Or ship her with Burrich for that matter?? 

I personally shipped Fitz the most with Kettricken, but I obvi get the Fitz/Fool thing too. I always thought when Fitz grew up into himself more, he’d realize it was for the best that Molly and Burrich had ended up together and leave it at that, and then eventually the feelings he and Kettricken obviously had for one another would have a chance to blossom. But whatever. She gets to raise Bee now, so that’s something. 

So anyway, my ships for this series:

Fitz/Ketrricken, as stated above. 

Fitz/Fool, cannot be denied.

Fitz/Nighteyes - not in a romantic or sexual way but they were true soulmates. 

Fitz/Burrich and Fitz/Chade and Fitz/Verity as son/father.

Fitz/Dutiful and and Fitz/Hap and Fitz/Per as father/son.

Fitz/Nettle and Fitz/Bee as father/daughter.

Fitz friendships - Fool, Riddle, Thick, Nosy, Smithy, Myblack, Fleeter, Motley.

Fool/Shrewd as friends or even a touch of father/son.

Fool friendships - Fitz, Prilkop, Verity, Kettricken, Nighteyes, as Amber: Althea, Brashen, Paragon, Jek. 

Chade/Shrewd as brothers.

Verity/Chivalry as brothers. 

Patience/Lacey - mirite?

Chivalry/Burrich - right?? right??!?! Come at me about it. 

Althea/Brashen - perfectly coupled. 

Malta/Reyn - especially once they’ve actually had some time to get to know one another better. (their courtship was kinda yikes in a lot of ways tho)

Etta/Kennit’s charm necklace lmao.

Nettle/Riddle - so sweet together. I’m glad she gets her happy ending, so to speak. Getting to be recognized for who she is at Buckkeep, having a job/calling she’s good at and loves, getting to marry the man she loves, having a child she gets to actually raise. All the stuff Fitz never got to have. 

Erek and Detozi! How cute are they and how adorable was the way their relationship was shown in the books? Awwwww. (I did think for the first couple books that they were both dudes so I was slightly disappointed when I figured it out, but still sweet.)

Sedric/Carson

Alise/Leftrin

Alise/Sedric as friends.

Alise/Thymara as friends.

Sintara/Mercor - can you ship dragons? I think I do. 

Fave Places:

Rain Wilds - anything to do with the Rain Wilds, Trehaug, Cassarick, Bingtown, Kelsingra, etc. Love it, want more of it. 

Withywoods. I fell in love with this quiet home and the people in it, especially as seen through Bee’s eyes, and especially once she discovers the places in the walls.

The Pirate Isles - fun stuff and I liked that we got to see a little bit about how it’s developed both as far as appearances and it’s political/trading place in the world. 

Stuff I especially want more of, questions I still have, mysteries I want solved, etc.:

I’ll honestly take anything in this world at any time, but here’s the stuff particularly weighing on me....

Magic: SO much more about magic and how it works and where it comes from. For instance, the Silver.

How is it in the dragons?

How did it get into the memory stone?

How is it related to the Skill?

How did the Farseers get access to this magic?

How do people not related to Farseers sometimes get it?

Is the Skill/Silver related to the Wit or are they totally separate things?

Do dragons have Skill and Wit? And also something else?

What, exactly are (were?) The Others.

AND WHY ARE THEY TERRIFIED OF CATS?

Speaking of cats - why can they talk to anyone regardless of Wit?

Are cats and dragons related somehow??!

And what about pecksies?! 

What about The Whites? Where does their magic come from? Is it related to all the silver/skill/dragon stuff at all? Where did they come from and how are they related to humans, Elderlings, etc?

Also what in the freaking frak IS the skill-current and how does it woooorrrrrk? 

HOW are the Vestrits all so linked to magic?!?! I keep having these theories that Ephron did something to all his kids and grandkids, maybe to protect them from the blood plague, that made them all more susceptible to things like dragon glamour and skill-healings and the like. And why did he decide to stop trading with the Rain Wilds and magical items? What did he KNOW? Am I making stuff up in my head, or is there something there? I feel like there’s something there.  

History: grand-scale and smaller more personal things I’d love to see explained more either in short stories or as characters learn more in potential future trilogies and such - like as Nettle and the coteries learn more from the skill-cubes or as the new Elderlings and dragons learn more from their artifacts and buildings. Some examples:

Chade’s life. Would ADORE a short story about his life pre-Fitz, his many adventures as Lady Thyme and other identities, his life as Lord Chade and all of the secrets he never told anyone, his various spy networks and how they worked, etc. 

How did the Servants get so corrupted? How did their unholy alliance with The Others get formed? What was Clerres before it was the White Prophet/Servant place? What were the bones and skulls from? Some creatures bigger and badder and older than dragons?? 

FITZ’s Parentage! Especially his mom! We know she was Mountain-born, we know she had an affair with Chivalry who was not one to go about having affairs like that, we know Fitz’s grandfather forced his mom to give Fitz up, but that’s literally it. How did Chivalry and his mom meet and what happened between them? Why did his mom’s family decide she couldn’t keep him? Did she have the Wit - is that how he got it?? What was little toddler Fitz’s life like?? What happened to his mom after she was forced to give him up?? Did she marry and have more kids - are their Fitz-siblings and their kids and grandkids out in the world, maybe in the Mountains?

And that time really early in the books, maybe the second one? When he encountered some people in the market from the Mountains and there was a young woman who started screaming and pointing at him and crying and was held back by the others - I mean, that was his mom yea?? Why did we never come back to that scene. I kept waiting for Fitz to remember that and link it to what little he remembered of her. Sigh. 

Stories about Dragons and Elderlings of old! Maybe some about their destruction but also just ... what their lives were actually like?? How they came about?? How they made their art and architecture and stuff?? IDK. I’m so curious about this part. 

Maybe something about King Wisdom and how he sought out the Elderlings for aid, or if the Elderlings were already gone by then how he discovered the putting-your-life-into-stone thing? Maybe some stories about skill coteries who traveled together up the skill road to make their own dragons? TELL ME HOW THE FARSEERS ARE LINKED TO THE ELDERLINGS!

The gods, too. Sa and the priesthood of Sa and how all that got started, how it got corrupted, etc. How Sa connects with El and Eda. Are they real? Are they representations of the Skill or the Skill current or???  

Chalced’s history is one I’m very curious about. Are they connected to the Servants and Others in toppling the Dragon/Elderling civilizations, or did they just hate the Stone Pillars for other reasons? How did they get to be so ... terrible? 

Future:  Some of the stories I wanna see about what comes next!

BEE!!!! Bee and Kettricken and Per and Integrity and Hap and Motley and Spark riding through the Mountains together with Fitz/Fool/Nighteyes-as-stone trailing them! How all of their lives progress, and how Hope and Promise grow up together and what their lives are like and maybe check-in with Steady and Swift on occasion and yea. 

Are Fitz and the Fool and Nighteyes happy now that they’re whole and in the Skill together? How long can they stay active and watch over Bee? 

Gosh, I’d really like to see how the folks at Withywoods continue to heal and recover. Too bad they don’t have therapists in this world...

Will Prilkop be able to take the dozen or so Whites left and build something new? Maybe use their powers for good? Will Bee ever be prompted to find and use a Catalyst or will she continue to refuse to be a White Prophet? Will another White step in her place, and if so - will it be good or bad?!?! 

Will Motley find a wit-bond? Did Fleeter ever find one?? What about Swift - we never found out if he got one did we??! More wit-bond stories! 

Chassim, the Duchess of Chalced! How is she faring? Is she able to make progressive changes to her country? Do she and Selden keep in touch??

How are the Rain Wilds and Bingtown Trader’s societies being affected by all of the changes? Same for the Pirate Isles. Are they able to adapt and prosper? Would love to see some stuff about their times both between when TRWC ends and Fitz/Fool trilogy begins and also after all the dust settles as the Liveships turn into Dragons and whatnot as well.

How are Erek and Detozi doing??

Geography: I’d love to see some complete maps of the Realm. Maybe have some stories set in or around the Spice Islands since we hear so much about them but have never been there. Will we find more Elderling ruins? Where the Whites originally came from? Are the icy glacier areas in the North covering more ancient ruins? More about this world!!

So yea that’s a lot. And that’s just what’s occurring to me right now. I feel some deep re-reads are gonna be in order. This might one of those series that I just continually find myself reading and re-reading. 

I’m dazed.

Come talk to me RotE fandom!! (my inbox is open)