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happyk44 Ā· 3 months ago
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For the character ask- Jason Grace and Jason Todd šŸ’Œ
Jason Grace
1: three facts about them from my personal headcanons:
Jason suffers from severe depersonalization and emotional disconnect/amnesia
He has chronic pain that he does not treat and ignores because he's had it so long it's become normal to him
He knows ASL
2: a reason they suck
He was not fleshed out as well as other characters - he doesn't really have a backstory and we never see him refer to his past the way the others do, even after TLH when his memories should've come back in full
3: a reason they are great
He's sees the best in people
3: a reason I relate to themĀ 
I was definitely that kid in school was seen as a flawless overachiever
4. (what I consider to be) the top tier otp/ot3 for that character
Lol, I don't write it very much, but my preference is 100% valgrace
5. five things that never happened to that character that I believe should have happened
His arc finalized with him realizing that he wants to learn how to be his own person. He does not go back to Camp Jupiter, but he also doesn't stay at Camp Half-Blood - he just leaves to go on his own journey
He and Leo confess their feelings because, look I love aroace Leo, but also I love gay Leo who falls in love with Jason and they get married and are happy together forever and ever
I also!! Really love the idea of Jason disabling Leo as a parallel to Hera disabling Hephaestus after she threw him off Olympus. There are two options I like: 1) it happens near the end of the book, Jason blasts Leo's arm off by accident in the middle of the battle, Hera is freed and patches him up before he bleeds to death, or 2) it happens during the fight with Circe. Jason pins Leo with heavy air pressure and readies to kill him - but killing Leo goes against his base morals and as a child of Jupiter, he is bound to little else but his morals and the rule of law. So the disconnect between that and with what he's being told to do temporarily frees him of Circe's influence and he's able to deviate and severe Leo's arm off instead. Afterwards, he and Leo use a combo of fire and lightning to cauterize the wound.
I would've loved to see Jason embrace or be more of a representative of Jupiter/Zeus's law and order side of things, the way Hazel and Nico showed the two aspects of Pluto/Hades. Since the Greeks appear to be more within the realm of nature and Thalia is shown using lightning frequently, it would've been cool to have scenes showing Jason using skills outside of lightning and wind. Manipulative Jason who can turn enemies on each other, diplomatic Jason who can convince people to help him so easily. Jason being able to enforce order and calm to a chaotic situation, Jason being able to force his rules, his beliefs, his laws on people. That would've been so much fun - and also a fun way to repel him against the other characters, like Percy, who may be put off by his ability to override someone's free will
Also bloodthirsty wolf boy Jason!! Like yes I get that he wasn't at the Wolf House for that long but who cares? Give me vicious Jason who is protective of his pack, give me starving Jason who rips the flesh from your throat and swallows it whole
6. five people that character never fell in love with and why
I don't understand this question tbh - is it like. who did they fall in love with in canon but I don't think they should have, or who I think they should've fallen in love with, or what.
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Jason Todd
1: three facts about them from my personal headcanons
His white spot is due to vitilgo. Going through the pit just kind of triggered the gene, sort the same way getting a cold or the flu or severe stress can
He helped take care of Damian as a kid - I think this is canon in one of the animated series, or at least like, implied canon, but unsure about the greater comic network. As Talia was helping him recover and whatnot from the pit, he helped train Damian. He has conflicted feelings about this now, but he remains a safe space for Damian to disappear to whenever he fights with Bruce. Dick may be Dami's big bro now, but Jason was his big bro first.
Autopsy scar! I just like the idea.
2: a reason they suck
He hasn't ripped the Joker's head off yet :( Like I understand why - it has to be Bruce who kills him, it wouldn't be as comforting or satisfying and it wouldn't mean much, but like whatever, someone kill this fucking clown, I hate him
But, nah, on a serious level, I think Jason is a good character. I don't really have anything on why he's bad, other than maybe poor writing? I don't read his comics much tbh
3: a reason they are great
Shoots things and pisses off Bruce
4: a reason I relate to them
I also was an angry little nerd when I was young
5: (what I consider to be) the top tier otp/ot3 for that character
I don't really ship Jason very much, but jaydami would be my go-to because Damian is my favourite. Otherwise, I would recommend either jayroy or jaydick. Or brujay, but only because of the angst potential. I don't really care for Bruce past that, lol. Maybe brujaydick if that's a thing. Little wing getting smushed between people he opposes but also loves a lot. That's hot.
6: five things that never happened to that character that I believe should have happened
I don't have a lot of thoughts on Jason because I priortize Damian and also don't read a lot of comics (so Jason and others get left out because I prefer to read the ones with Damian. Or Duke. Or Dick. The DDD trio lol), but I do get kept up to date by my friends who do love Jason. I'm not sure what never happened to him that I would've wanted to happen to him other than like. Him not dying.
Actually, I do kind of wish they would give Jason his own team. Like I know JayRoy is popular and everyone liked the teamups with Starfire, but I like the idea of each robin sort of having their own little group - like Damian with Jon, Maya, and sometimes Suren, or Tim w/ Kon and the others whose names I don't remember, Bart, Cassie and someone else I think? And then Dick w/ the OG titans. I do get the sibling experience of being friends with your older sibling's friends because they're around all the time and you don't have anyone
I know he had Bizarro and Artemis at one point as a group? I don't know if they sort of "belonged" to anyone else first, but if they didn't, then yeah bring 'em back. Let Jason have his own people to connect with.
Also I want him to beat up Bruce and win. Just for funsies. Doesn't even have to be about anything. Just smack him around.
7: five people that character never fell in love with and why
Right so. Yeah I still don't get this question. šŸ˜‚ Sorry.
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ladyhindsight Ā· 5 months ago
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Clary doesnā€™t manage the escape from Sebastian and is thus forced to attend the following ceremony so we can finally get to the climax of this book. Eventuallyā€¦
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ā†’ Glaring anyone through eyelashes (many characters do this in the series) is a dumb expression and even more so dumber when you try to do it yourself. Nobody who does that expression looks serious rather than petulant.
ā†’ I donā€™t like the structure here: ā€¦when heā€™d carried her away from the Dahak demons. Then she had been confused, if not grateful, but now she was filled with a boiling hatred.
Feels more effective, especially making the distinction between the more positive-like feelings Clary experienced towards Sebastian before and the outright negative ones here. (and ā†’ but)
We cut to Maia and Jordan. Jordan receives the news of his roommateā€™s death.
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Kissing, cuddling, or even sex donā€™t exclude commitment or caring, though can be done without neither. Comforting can be inauthentic and without true caring as well. Sometimes itā€™s difficult to differentiate individual thoughts belonging to characters from the preachy aspect of Clareā€™s writing because her characters mostly think the same way and have same opinions. And I donā€™t really care for any of it at all.
Maia then comforts Jordan and receives the call for battle from her pack. Cut back to Clary and Sebastian and me wishing this thing would finish itself sooner because these books are exhausting. Anyway.
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Sebastian is a vile misogynist, I get it. Individual Shadowhunters can hate scars or think they are ugly, I get it. But for people that it is the way of life, causation of their abilities and very essence, scars are, primarily, nonissue. Itā€™s lazy and boring to have every character appraising scarsā€”someone elseā€™s or their ownā€”with such intensity and so incessantly throughout the series.
Cut to Alec and Isabelle at the Institute.
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Being Jaceā€™s parabatai has less to do with the fact that he is used to conversational tangent. Try brother or best friend. Parabatai came after.
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If there ever was a truer fact that was in accordance with the actual writing, it is this. Simon continues to prioritize Clary, even after when Simon hasnā€™t been Claryā€™s priority for some time now, if he ever even truly was.
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Interesting development, considering they met only a short time ago. Which seems like these background LGBT relationships have to be rushed in order to be taken seriously as representation.
ā†’ Isabelleā€™s eyebrows went up.
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The hell is the point of leading the Clave if you canā€™t do shit to stop shit. Plot convenience, thatā€™s what.
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Once again Iā€™d like to remind us all that people are in this position because Clary and Jace lied by omission and hid the truth. The milk has already spilled and gone stale on the table but because no one ever holds them responsible, I will. Forever and ever.
Cut to Team Evil. They've arrived to the ceremonial site and Clary reveals she has destroyed the Moving House of Valentine.
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Once again, Iā€™d really like if Clare managed to write something else than characters remembering something when she needs to call back on some scene. Itā€™s the only way she seems to know how to write this stuff and it persist throughout TDA and TLH also.
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Why would Jace care or do something about it if his enthralled and connected to Sebastian? Jaceā€™s wants are Sebastianā€™s wants, it was clearly stated. Claryā€™s threat shouldnā€™t stop anything.
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I like this part. The hatred for the uncaring creator and the resentment born from it. A good motivation for disillusioned bad guys.
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Isnā€™t a bit strange that Raziel doesnā€™t give a shit if the Nephilim abandon their mandate and turn on him? What if the Nephilim took over the mundane world? There isnā€™t a threat of Raziel if they donā€™t do their Shadowhunting duties, is there?
Sebastian summons Lilith, she gives her blood for the Infernal Cup, and Sebastian wants to test it on someone who is revealed to be a kidnapped Amatis. What a twist.
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belle-keys Ā· 2 years ago
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Matthew Fairchild: Beauty and the Bottle (Meta)
Alternately entitled Matthew is still in love with Cordelia in the Epilogue, or, The Love Triangle made sense thematically, or, Matthewā€™s character arc was just excellent in ChoT, or, Matthew as one of Cassieā€™s best.
Feel free to stream Pomme while you read.Ā 
Okay, so now that weā€™re post-ChoT, Iā€™m starting a new meta series where I break down some of the characters and the issues I had with The Last Hours trilogy now that itā€™s complete. In this post, Iā€™m exploring the intersection between the Fairstairs, Matthewā€™s alcoholism, his characterization, and Oscar Wilde (the man). Iā€™m starting off with Matthew, whoā€™s my favorite character in the trilogy and like, my third favorite TSC character ever. This is a review and analysis of his character arc in the series as well as some of my opinions on his character. (N.B. thereā€™s a lot of gushing and simping here. The other ones I have planned are not even remotely as flattering.)
How Cassie writes Matthew
All in all, I thought Matthew was the best written character in TLH and in Chain of Thorns. I thought that his character had a clear-cut narrative arc and that his character also remained consistent from start to finish. Matthew feels well thought-out because heā€™s fundamentally a character of enigma and a character of subversion. It felt like Matthew was real and wasnā€™t just a sidekick or an unwilling hero. But moreover, I find that from the midpoint of Chain of Iron, Matthew changed the trajectory of the story completely. I donā€™t mean in the sense that the love triangle was formed and got in the way of Jordelia (okay, I guess), but rather that Matthewā€™s character arc threw both James and Cordeliaā€™s own arcs off guard, out of their orbits. This was for the better.
Enigma - Itā€™s incredibly interesting that we donā€™t know what Matthew thinks or feels, at least not really, due to no Matthew POVs. We got a couple of pages in ChoG from his POV, but that was only to show the Grace kiss, and that was only because we couldnā€™t have gotten anything from Graceā€™s POV so early on in the trilogy for obvious reasons. And besides Cast Long Shadows, we got nothing else using Matthewā€™s narration in the trilogy. Nothing in ChoI or ChoT at all, at the very least. Likeā€¦ thatā€™s fricking weird, isnā€™t it? Not weird in the bad way, but weird in the sense that you have characters who are significantly less influential in the main plot/in the Jordelia plot, like Anna or Ari, who get POVs literally all the time. And yet, we never really know what Matthew is feeling at any moment. This is actually awesome. By giving us less of Matthew in the POV, Matthew becomes a larger-than-life character in the story i.e. heā€™s outside of the reach of the reader; heā€™s almost untouchable despite being, in my opinion, omnipresent in ChoT. I find it hard to believe people donā€™t see Matthew as a compelling character by default.
Subversion - Indeed, I was not kidding when I said Matthew is vaguely omnipresent. He is, kind of. He literally threw the Herondaisy ship off its course in a considerable way. His alcoholism and increased depression were always in the back of every characterā€™s mind, and yet, we didnā€™t really get a peep out of Matthew until we did, and when we did, it always packed a punch. I think the fact that Matthew hides his feelings and his innermost desires is an effective trait that Cassie plays on time and time again by not giving us his POV. Weā€™re always getting a reveal from Matthew, or an unanticipated act from him i.e. ā€œlove is a creeping vineā€, him going to Edom with James. I know this is partly due to the alcoholism, but itā€™s a smart narrative choice nonetheless. Matthew is always important without his importance being immediately shoved in our faces: Matthew was instrumental in both the Thomastair arc and the Jordelia arc.
Matthew and Alcoholism
I was really pleased with the way Cassie dealt with Matthewā€™s addiction and his trauma. The scene where he tells Charlotte about the potion business should have been an extended scene, but everything else was amazing. Cassie absolutely needed to put Matthew through the wringer in ChoT for all of his foreshadowing as being a beautifully tragic young man to make sense. In fact, I had anticipated it would be way worse than it actually was, but alas, itā€™s fine. I like the way that Matthew absolutely did not have an easy time in Chain of Thorns. Every time you thought the withdrawal symptoms were manageable for him, he either drank again, or got hurt in some way, or simply couldnā€™t manage the withdrawal symptoms at all. It also was the factor that ended Fairstairs, which was important, as Matthew was becoming, in Cordeliaā€™s head at least, a potential reincarnation of her father. Matthewā€™s alcoholism was as realistic as possible, at least in the context of a YA paranormal fantasy book. Cassie didnā€™t sugarcoat or water down what Matthew was facing nor its consequences on his relationships, and good.
Matthew and Cordelia
I maintain that by the Epilogue, Matthew is still in love with Cordelia, that he's leaving in part because of his feelings for her, and that she's very much aware of this (the stone thing seems metaphorical). This is why I say that Matthew's arc is bittersweet: his love will indeed remain unrequited and he has to live with that, at least until he inevitably moves on. He does not have the chance that Jem will inevitably have with Tessa in 100 years. He's leaving James and Cordelia for a reason, because he knows it will hurt to live and have to see it every damn day (in the same way that he was actually gonna run off to Paris alone and by himself at the end of ChoI anyway, before Cordelia has busted in).
In my opinion, the Fairstairs arc was excellent, from a holistic perspective. I will talk about this more in Cordeliaā€™s meta piece, but essentially, Matthew symbolizes the self-liberation trope as it relates to Cordelia (James symbolizes stability and safety). For Cordelia, Matthew is kindled fire where James is eternal cool, Matthew is the bacchanalia where James is the hearth, Matthew is the Bohemian where James is the Gentlemanā€™s Paragon. As you may have noticed in some of my previous posts on this topic, Matthew exists to provide an avenue of freedom for Cordelia: freedom from rules, from Edwardian morals and etiquette, from judgment, freedom from repression - he subverts Cordeliaā€™s expectations of how her own life can play out. Itā€™s for this reason that Matthew is characterized as the hedonist and as the decadent, and why weā€™re reminded of it time and time again by Cordelia herself. Matthew, by nature of the subversion that weā€™ve covered in the earlier section, was the ideal choice to whisk Cordelia away from the path sheā€™d thought was carved out for her. If James and Cordelia are two stars locked in each otherā€™s orbit, Matthew is a golden comet that appears out of nowhere but whose power you cannot deny.
If Matthew effectively symbolizes self-liberation and his character plays purely on subverted expectations, then Cordelia not having Matthew and Cordelia rejecting Matthew (Jordelia stans, look away now!) represents the end of Cordeliaā€™s quest to escape society, to escape societyā€™s inherent restrictions, hierarchies and repression, and the end of her quest to attain self-liberation to the fullest. Cordelia has chosen the least subversive path possible at the end of her story and has chosen to stay in orbit after all, and great for her! Matthew, to paraphrase Oscar Wilde, will always represent to Cordelia all the sins she never committed, all the choices she never really made, all the opportunities she did not take, and she will always be fond of him for that. Regardless, Matthew was not in a suitable mental place for any relationship in ChoT (see the previous section on alcoholism) and weā€™re reminded that this freedom that Matthew symbolizes came with a caveat after all. Plus Herondale love runs true yadda yadda. But letā€™s not pretend that anything is given for nothing - Cordelia indeed has lost something very big by the end of ChoT, and itā€™s very bleak if you look at it with a microscopeā€¦ but this isnā€™t Cordeliaā€™s post! On we go!
Matthew Fairchild as Dorian Gray
So, Matthew is absolutely Dorian Gray. Starting with the physical or immediate similarities, we do notice that Matthew is lean and tall and blonde and angelic, looking the way Dorian is described in the text (we as a society must never let a certain actor, bless him, let us forget this). Dorian makes a deal with the devil to stay young and beautiful forever, while Matthew purchases a truth potion from a sketchy fairy because his trust in his mother faltered; this is the crux of Matthewā€™s central conflict (which will always be directly proportional to Alastairā€™s own conflict in the story). Dorian's horrid painting hidden in the attic is Matthew's grim secret about what later happened with the potion. Dorian is a murderer, and Matthew sees himself as a murderer (he isn't one, but he absolutely believes it). Dorian has sold his soul, and Matthew thinks his own soul is forfeit. Both Dorian and Matthew live for the sake of art, freedom, amorality, and beauty. After all, Matthew's key tenet in life is to do ā€œmad, wonderful, colorfulā€ things. But a hidden darkness and silent suffering beneath the obvious beauty are intrinsic in Matthew's character. Matthew turns to the bottle to cope with his own painting in the attic. The fact that Matthew is also bisexual, eccentric, a lover of Oscar Wilde, and positively adored by everyone he interacts with whosoever are also signs of his parallels with Dorian Gray. Both Matthew and Dorian prioritize extensive travels as a means of attaining these mad, wonderful, colorful experiences - Dorian, like Matthew, had fled London to tour the world and gain all the experiences he could gain with his newfound gift. Likewise, Matthew and the Fairchilds having an ever so tangential link to Faerie (even if it's by virtue of his own character descriptions) also helps us picture him as eternal and larger than stuffy London life. Matthew's beauty - beauty of body, beauty of soul, beauty in suffering, beauty as a mere pursuit - is simultaneously Matthewā€™s core value and core trait.Ā 
But Matthew Fairchild eventually supersedes Dorian Gray. Dorian did not ever have the heart or soul or courage to look his own sin in the eye or to acknowledge the equilibrium that must exist between body and spirit. But Matthew finally opened up that dusty attic by the end of Chain of Thorns and looked the worst of himself in the face. And so, Matthew will retain that grace and beauty and light that is now forever out of Dorianā€™s reach.
Concluding Thoughts
Matthew is a character who we crave more of by virtue of Cassieā€™s choice to give us less of him than we would anticipate, especially considering that heā€™s one of the four cornerstone characters of The Last Hours. He's one of the few characters in ChoT specifically who didn't constantly make me envision Cassie just pulling strings and making things happen out of nowhere. Matthew is aesthetically beautiful on the outside and by consequence, itā€™s easy to merely watch him flirt with the joy of living like youā€™re watching a play, which is rather fitting for a character who is timely linked to stagecraft and who claims he would have been an actor in another life. But the other Matthew on the inside is also equally beautiful and shining, and he shows his capacity to love, suffer and still come out on the other side of it all with his cracks glowing gold like kintsugi. In this way, Matthew Fairchild is as relatable to us as he is still untouchable. And thatā€™s fricking awesome.
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f0xgl0v3 Ā· 7 months ago
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Seeing as Iā€™ve been dreading doing the SoN re-write post because I donā€™t have the full outline done, I present,
SoN Re-Write; what I have done so far done in really informal terms
(P.S this is really long sorry guys-)
The Brain vomit ā€˜I think thatā€™s how I wrote it in my notebookā€™ with all of the silly bits instead of it being more formal because I can leave the more ā€˜officialā€™ I guess one for later when I do have the entire story outline roughly done. Anyway,
We start out with a sort of maybe prologue? I like prologues and they can help set up the story (I know tLH is going to have prologue type thing thatā€™s Hera doing Hera stuff) but this prologue starts at the end of Percyā€™s wolfhouse training. Heā€™s waking up from an Annabeth dream, he gets up and notices that both the pack and his training buddy are just.. gone? He walks through and sees Lupa, who says something something about like Rome and then gives the vague directions on how to get to Camp and itā€™s like ā€œgo south :3ā€
Then weā€™re at the stretch to get into Camp Jupiter itā€™s pretty much how chapter 1 of SoN goes down. Maybe we get word that Percy has like a backpack or something (so stuff like the pillow pet and where thatā€™s been makes more sense because I forget how they explain Percy having the pillow pet goes down) and we like slash slash at the Gorgons and they reform, showing that somethingā€™s up and soon enough heā€™s running down and spots Calcedott tunnel and the two legionnaires (Hazel and Frank) freak for a second and call for him to get over to them.
Percy gets over to Hazel and Frank; who take him through the tunnels. Itā€™s being debated if I want Hazel to collapse Calcedott (Is that what she does in the book? I donā€™t really remember-) to set up Hazel and her like, power. But Hazel is busy collapsing tunnels and stuff, so Frank is helping Percy, they get roughly to the Tiber as the Gorgons are back. Percy (with aid from Juno in a Homer-esque style) does the power thing and the Tiber does Tiber stuff. By that time a couple legionnaires had filed out including Reyna and Dakota as notable people. Reyna is like ā€œwoahzersā€ and Juno does Juno stuff behind the scenes and Dakota kinda like, shuffles his legionnaires + Percy and Reyna tells him to like, do stuff? Idk, she has to talk with some before before talking with Percy and trusts Dakota to like keep them in check- build up Dakota as a respected guy
So they get to walking camp and stuff Dakota explains what camp is until they reach the Principa They go through the Reyna questioning scene and then she tells them ā€œGo to the Auguraculum so Octavian can like; double check that your supposed to be hereā€ and like yeah. Dakota is excused to find Frank. When leaving the Principa Nico appears out of nowhere, says he needed to talk with Reyna about some stuff but would take the detour to walk with them.
We set up Hazel and Nico being siblings, Nico and Hazel not liking Octavian; all the good things. He wishes Hazel good luck and they enter the Auguraculum. Itā€™s dimly lit apart from the skylight and smells, nicely; just a lot like incense. The central Dias lowers so Octavian can talk. Hazel and Octavian stare at each other silently, he tries to make a joke ease tension, it fails. Kinda drops that he knows itā€™s Juno who sent Percy here (Percy doesnā€™t know either, Octavian just like switches the topic and says that heā€™s the Augur so he should know this stuff) Ushers Percy and Hazel onto the Dias, claiming that itā€™s better to be closer up to the heavens, Hazel says something how at least itā€™s not dead animals so we can sneak in the animals fact. Octavian is cool and does the pillow pet thing (asks Percy if he has any stuffed animals with him that are significant. Percy fishes it out of his bag not expecting Octavian to take it) but the Gods say that Percyā€™s a-ok. We get the blackmail comment (this time including Calcedottā€™s collapse) and Octavian calls Percy back a second to slyly express interest in Percy joining the 1st; saying he has good potential. Hazel and Percy leave, we get a sneak peak of Mercury slipping into the Auguraculum after them
They leave. Maybe know is the Frank switch, Iā€™m going back and forth on if I want PoV switching or if I want each book to just be in 1 PoV but for that PoV to switch- weā€™ll see.
Anyway we get to dinner; the legionnaires donā€™t like Percy because he relied on his powers and gets special God treatment. Frankā€™s back, if we donā€™t do PoV swap he complains about the armory stuff he had to do and then Hazel probably explains that the legionnaires donā€™t view powers positively (set up the dynamic of Hazel being more in tune with demigod life and the small underbelly of camp, make Frank a bit less experienced but able to be a little more comforting or something- idk). By now Dakota and Mercury slip over, Dakota makes a comment about people flitting between tables all the time, introduces Mercury as an Optio (we get the introduction to the Optio role). Dakota addresses her by her nickname Freddie- she quickly corrects Percy and tells him that only her friends call her Freddie (honestly the whole legion does sheā€™s just salty that a Percy is the newest topic of discussion-) She grumbles a bit and gives a backhanded compliment about Percyā€™s Tiber incident and says that Octavian was talking about him. Dakota and Mercury maybe banter a bit, she says something about letters of recommendation; explains what those are before someone (Kahale) calls over for her and sheā€™s gone.
By now Reyna calls up for the announcements. Welcomes Percy into the legion officially, hereā€™s where he gets his Probatio tablet. Octavian asks about letter of recommendation, Percy vaguely remembers some envelopes in his bag (Juno planted them; she wanted her guy to succeed-) but theyā€™re gone, or unusable or Percy simply is getting bad vibes from the 1st cohort between Mercury being a little snappy, Hazel and Nico not liking Octavian and stuff. So whatever, Octavian tries to make a case for having Percy join the 1st because of the talent heā€™s shown, Reyna shoots him down and Dakota snatches Percy up for the 5th. She announces war games, Percy makes eye contact with someone in the crowd whose been staring him down (Bryce Lawerence)
Yay okay, uh. A couple days later. Dakota drags Percy up to a Centurion meeting between the 5th, 4th, and 3rd because more opinions are better than none. Hazel and Frank come along. We meet Gwen!! The other Centurions sit there and are like ā€œDakota dude, why are they hereā€, Gwen smooths things over a bit. Uh, we meet her, she tells us that sheā€™s the Senior Centurion of the 5th, daughter of Mithras; gets a personality, shown to be well-liked, easy going, positive. They all yap about stratagems or whatever, 5th gets to be the front lines. Dakota and Gwen bring Percy and Hazel over to the side and go ā€œhey we kinda wanna be cool and like Romans so pretty please donā€™t use your powers because we want this win to feel genuineā€ or whatever. Uh, Bryce, is there after the meeting breaks up. Percy stumbles over when Bryce calls his name; he says heā€™s in the 2nd cohort and that, ā€œitā€™s for losers who had good letters but werenā€™t strong enough for the Prima cohort (1st)ā€ heā€™s sharpening an old family heirloom 1st cohort stamped Pilum (this is important information). Percy gets kinda gross vibes, but Bryce is a sleazy manipulative guy and they walk for a little. Percy notes that people seem to avoid Bryce while they walk, Bryce talks about how he admires Percy using his powers and says how he should in the war games because ā€œEveryoneā€™s on their high horses here and donā€™t know what it really takes to winā€ Percy walks back to the barracks conflicted.
War games, war games!!!! Goes pretty much how the actual war games go. Uh, set up that is was indeed Bryce who stabbed Gwen, Octavian is still missing his Pilum. Mars shows up, heā€™s having trouble staying Roman at the moment, claims Frank, then is splitting a bit too much- gets a couple lines of prophecy out before having to go. All eyes go on Octavian, Reyna diffuses, says to go about their days and theyā€™ll go to the Senate with this soon.
Soon is, the next day at 5:30 sharp. Dakota wakes up Percy, Frank, and Hazel. Explains the Senator stuff while tugging on his toga, says that Gwenā€™s been inside of New Romes actual hospital due to the severity of her wounds. They head to Camp, Percy notes that he hasnā€™t seen Bryce since their talk two days ago. Uh, Senate meeting pretty much goes as expected, Octavian gets to actually dish out a prophecy like the cool Augur he is (Mumbles under his breath a little about how itā€™s not quite a proper prophecy). A Senator proposes Octavian lead the quest seeing as he is the Senior Centurion of the first cohort. He awkwardly says that his job as Augur is too important and that he wouldnā€™t have quest mates eligible for this mission (elude to Mercuryā€™s family line *The Varus family* being cursed and standard loosing and that Octavian would want to bring his buddies. But bringing Mercury and Michael means thereā€™s no one in charge of the 1st, and Reyna has too much stuff on her plate-) Reyna kinda does Octavian a solid and switches the topic to the fact That Frank was asked to go on the quest by Mars. Everyone (and Cato the Youngers ghost is still there in the audience because Iā€™m sorry but that was a really funny inclusion-) are all in uproar because excuse me thatā€™s a Probatio. Reyna gets enough votes to makes Frank a Centurion (After we get that cameo by Gwen in the crowd saying that she got her honorable discharge from the legion.) Frank picks Percy and Hazel to go on the quest and yay or whatever. Reyna mentions them packing and Octavian bringing them to the docks to go immediately, says thereā€™s more important things and as Octavian is leading them out Percy sees Bryce being dragged up to the center of the Senate room.
Octavianā€™s kinda iffy. Respecting Reynaā€™s choice but doesnā€™t think Frank (or any of them) are ready for a quest like this maybe aside from Percy (look when a guy shows up covered in battle scars, invulnerable, and very strong you take him seriously too). Makes a comment about how they couldā€™ve gone and used one of the legion cars but Someone collapsed Caldecott; Hazel quips back and Frank is like ā€œstop fighting >:((ā€œ and they walk out. Get to the docks where Octavian gives them their stuff, wishes them the best of luck, makes a kinda good joke about how he wouldnā€™t be good for the quest anyway knowing his families luck with boats (haha Augustus Caesar boat joke-) and off they go :D
Okay thatā€™s all I have drafted out right now that Iā€™m confident on. I have to go re-read how the actual quest-quest part of SoN works through because the order is jumbled in my brain and itā€™s all like soupy until they get to the iceberg with Enceladus.
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incorrectlasthours Ā· 2 years ago
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Introducing: The Malevolent Tides
A Post-TLH Story - synopsis below!
Please note: The worldbuilding, TID, and TLH characters all belong to Cassandra Clare. I took the liberty to make up the children of the TLH characters (partially based off of the inaccurate Clockwork Princess family tree, but mostly from my own imagination). This story will contain spoilers for Chain of Thorns!
September, 1929: Coming of age during the mundaneā€™s Great War and the Spanish Influenza, the young Shadowhunters of London are no strangers to demons and despair. In fact, compared to the hordes of demons attracted to Earth by the mundane conflicts of their youth, things have been relatively calm as the children grew from a troubled youth into a tentatively hopeful adolescence. Things are looking upā€¦ but little does this future ā€œlost generation,ā€ know, their light-hearted, wild youths are about to come to an abrupt end, as darkness and violence comes to claim the mundane - and shadow - worlds once again.
New York City, USA: Elizabeth Herondale has finally left her familyā€™s homeā€¦ and her drama with her brother, Owen, and his fiancĆ©e, Lydia, behind. Elizabeth is eager to forget her troubles in the vices that make New York City the center of the modern world; touted as a place where anyone can arrive a pauper and leave a millionaire, where women are free to move through the streets unaccompanied by men, and where illegal vices - booze, cards, jazz - are easier to find than avoid, Elizabeth is ready to relocate for good and reclaim her future. Accompanied by her intrepid parabatai and cousin, Margaret Blackthorn (who is more comfortable behind the lens of a camera than onstage in a flapper hall), Elizabeth has no plans to return to London any time soon. Then comes October, and the infamous crash of Wall Street that plunges the entire globe into economic recession. Elizabeth does not want to return home, but her and Margie might not have a choice in the matterā€¦
Athens, Greece: Edmund Blackthorn was supposed to return to London and his family eight months agoā€¦ and he did, but something drew him back to Athens once more. Picking up his Uncle Jamesā€™ love for the ancient classics from a young age, Edmund always knew he wanted to do his travel year in the center of it all: Athens, Greece. While he expected his year abroad to be full of research and sightseeing, he did not expect it to be entirely thrown off course by the witty, brilliant Cadia Sedgewick. Together, the two have uncovered an ancient mystery; while other Shadowhunters are urging them to focus on the rapidly-approaching and grim future, Edmund and Cadia are drawn further and further into the past. All the stories are true, after all, and this mystery might just be the key to aid the present and save the future.
Berlin, Germany: Owen Herondale didnā€™t plan to fall in love with Lydia Kingsmillā€¦ but Herondales love only once, as his father and grandfather told him from the time he was young, and Lydia was the only one for him. The Treaty of Versailles that ended the mundane Great War has thrust Germany into despair, and the Shadowhunters of the German institutes are feeling the side effects; indeed, as the churches and government are no longer able to tithe, many Shadowhunters have packed up and left for more lucrative cities, or returned home to Idris. Owen desperately wants Lydia to come to London with him, but Lydia doesnā€™t want to leave her family - and the institute she grew up in - behind.
Amsterdam, the Netherlands: Vienna Fairchild was determined to embark on a grand voyage like her father, and she wasnā€™t going to let the fact that she was a woman stop her. At the start of her travel year, Vienna ran to the last city full of glittering nightlife and wild parties in Europe - and indeed, Amsterdam is the last European stand of the ā€˜Roaring Twentiesā€™ as recession grows over the continent like a shadow. Planning to pack her trunks and flee for the Americas with her best friends Lizzie and Margie, Vienna is stopped when the local institute desperately needs help. Their issue, however, is much larger than Amsterdam itselfā€¦
Alicante, Idris: The youngest of her siblings and cousins and friends, Alaina Blackthorn is thrilled to finally have her turn at Shadowhunter Academy. The Academy is, after all, a legendary place for life-changing bondsā€¦ itā€™s where her Uncle James and Uncle Matthew decided to become parabatai, and where her brother Theodore and Graham Fairchild first became friends - and now they, too, were parabatai. Flanked by her friends Raya Fairchild and Taron Carstairs-Lightwood, Alaina cannot wait to finally experience freedom - until the world starts to fall apart, and all their parents summon them back to London.
London, England: The adults of the London Enclave are certain the worst is behind them - they defeated Belial when they were teenagers, and the mundane world has finally calmed down after over a decade of war and pestilence. But the wicked never rest, and dark forces are gathering - and their target is London, the city that started it all.
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edwinspaynes Ā· 7 months ago
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now I'm curious on those thoughts and character, can you put them under a read more?
Sure. I guess.
Devoted Grace/Gracetopher lovers, exit stage left. I like the ship too, and this is NOT an anti post by any means, but it definitely is a somewhat critical hypothetical.
Over the past few months and couple of TLH reread, I've found myself becoming ... disenchanted with Grace. I still love her character. I find her interesting and her story is undoubtedly resonant, though I think other characters had stories that packed a better punch for abuse survivors and those looking to heal. But I'm not really feeling protective of her anymore, or like, adoration for her anymore, if that makes sense.
I think this is partly because I have become SUPER attached to James again, as I was for most of my TSC fandom life. It was easy to brush Grace off when I temporarily wasn't spinning James around and around in my head like a plate in the microwave 24/7, but I'm back to that state I was in for several years. I just took a little hiatus ā™”ā™”ā™”ā™”ā™”
Anyway.
That's Thought 1 on the Character.
Thought 2 is a what-if scenario where Christopher hasn't died. What if Christopher hadn't died and Gracetopher became an endgame ship in Chain of Thorns?
I think that, while I really like their dynamic and would 100% want Kit to be happy because he deserves it, it would have caused James, Matthew, and Thomas a LOT of pain. I think Thomas would be really angry and distance himself, but would not fully cut Kit off - but I think it would be his right to if he did. I think James and Matthew might genuinely stop talking to Christopher because of everything Grace did to James (and to Matthew that one time), and I think they would be right to.
I think it'd be different if they got together in like 5 years, but immediately in ChoT would have been a trainwreck and I could not take Kit's side even if I like him and Grace together. But it's hard to know without having James's PoV on Kit defending Grace in ChoT, which we'll never have.
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shoecrabs Ā· 10 months ago
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I decided a few months ago that I wanted to try rewriting tLH to see if I could give Jason and Piper stronger character voices (and maybe derail the plot so that I could make it more connected to new rome and the newer characters haha *shoots the series with my AU-ification beam*)
But at the same time, I'm realising how much more was packed into the unexpressed details than in the explicit ones. Sure, I'm currently only on chapter 2, but I read ahead, and one thing I saw about Jason specifically is the fact that he is so used to the Roman standard of what a soldier is that he never even respond to Piper, Leo or Hedge once the fight starts. It's like he's in the unfeeling soldier mode, because he never fully expresses anxiety or impulsiveness at the fact that his supposed best friends could die any at any moment. He doesn't jump after Piper or help Leo until he's been given an order. It's like the "born a Roman, die a Roman" thing is etched into his psyche.
And for Piper I always had this feeling that she's been suppressing all her feminine and empathetic qualities so that she wouldn't be made fun of or devalued. Reading about how she interacts with others feels very on brand for a young girl who wants to fit in with the boys because she can't connect with the girls for one reason or another, and in the first chapters we know it's because she's an outcast among them. I think the best example of what I'm saying is that she is so quick to defend Leo and Jason and make sure they're ok, but unlike later on in the series, she doesn't hold them, or outwardly express her relief or concern. It's like she's trying to not look weak around the boys she's befriended. She doesn't want to lose them.
Another thing for Piper that I realised is that she constantly channels her desperation r sadness into anger. She flings herself at problems, as if proving to herself she isn't just some weak, spoiled brat. It's like she's running that part of herself like her dad is, and we all know she got that from him.
which then brings the painful thing within the trio. they're all running from themselves while also trying to look normal to the others. Leo is obviously running from his past. Jason just doesn't remember what he was running from, and keeps doubling back to chase after it. Piper is so used to doing it that she doesn't realise how it hurts her until she's exposed to positive outlooks and acceptance/encouragement
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an-affectionate-heart Ā· 1 year ago
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Gracetopher Week Day 4 (and 3ish)
I've never really written for TSC or TLH, but after how strongly Chain of Thorns hit me, when I heard there was a Gracetopher week going on I couldn't really resist doing something for it. I kinda wrote this in a rush over the past few days - apologies for any errors! It's also a kind of dual submission for yesterday's prompts and today's. Partially because I didn't have it done yesterday (whoops!).
Anyway! Hope you enjoy. šŸ˜Š
<><><>
When all is said and done, Christopher comes back to them.
After Belial disappeared into the heavens in a swirl of bright light, after Lilith was cast out, there was a moment of stillness in the abbey, and outside. It felt as though time was suspended, being held in place. Grace didnā€™t understand it, until she heard an ethereal voice in her head. Like the Silent Brothers, butā€¦ different.
What do you desire?
Afterwards, when trying to describe this moment to others, no one was really able to articulate how they understood what was happening. Only that they knew, deep down, they were being granted a very special, nearly impossible gift. It seemed the only ones truly aware of this phenomenon were their core group, scattered though they were.
Grace only had one thought. And she was certain she wasnā€™t the only one to think it; Anna, Thomas, James, they all recounted their own experience in a hushed sort of voice that spoke of hardly daring to hope. No one said what theyā€™d wished for, but it was clear nevertheless.
Christopher.
The moment came to an end. The sky returned to normal, the sounds of the city and the aftermath of a battle returned. The doors to Westminster Abbey were thrown open, and the members of the Clave rushed in with a distressed clamor.
Grace exchanged dazed looks with Lucie. Jesse came over and touched her shoulder; there was a moment where he hesitated, and Grace didnā€™t know what to make of it.
They were swiftly bundled up by parents and aunts and uncles and brought back to the Institute. James especially was transported with care, Cordeliaā€™s hand firmly clasped in his and Matthew trailing resolutely behind. It made Graceā€™s chest twinge.
Now, back in a packed Institute, Grace stands alone. Some of her friends ā€“ can she really call them friends, she wonders? Now that they are no longer bound by a bigger fight? ā€“ like Ari and Lucie take some steps toward her, but theyā€™re intercepted by adults eager to check on them and ask a million questions. Jesse is in a cluster with Thomas, Alastair, and Thomasā€™ parents. Grace knows Gideon and Sophie are Jesseā€™s family. Technically, they should be hers too, but she has a feeling they wonā€™t see it that way. And truthfully, the Blackthorn name hasnā€™t hung right on her for a long time now.
Feeling out of place and uncomfortable, Grace slips away. She has no idea where sheā€™ll go now; with Jamesā€™ parents back and likely to learn the truth of what she did to him, they probably wonā€™t want her to stay at the Institute. Jesse might attempt to vouch for her, but she couldnā€™t say she was especially confident in that these days, no matter how well they worked together while London was under Belialā€™s control.
Until sheā€™s kicked out, though, she has a room she can escape to. The raucous bustle of everyone downstairs gets quieter with each step she takes, though thereā€™s a moment when the volume seems to pitch even higher, Shadowhunters yelling and crying out. It catches her, makes her freeze in place until she realizes they are sounds of joy rather than fear or pain. It truly is over this time, it seems.
Grace shuts her door firmly behind herself and leans back against it. Thereā€™s an emptiness in her chest that, while sheā€™s always felt its existence, is sharper now. More prominent. She supposes it doesnā€™t take a genius to see why.
The war is over. Good prevailed over evil, and now the rebuilding can begin. But while others might see hope in the future, Grace still sees shadows that have yet to solidify into anything real. Her mother ā€“ as much of a mother as Tatiana was ā€“ is gone. She has no other family save Jesse, and heā€™s already made more headway in building a proper life for himself than she has. Sheā€™s barely had any training, most of the Enclave hates her, and the one true friend she seemed to gain, the one person who practically offered her a future, is dead.
A sob bubbles up in Graceā€™s chest at the thought of Christopher. She presses her shaking hand to her mouth, trying and failing to suppress it.
ā€œAve atque vale, Christopher,ā€ she whispers to herself. She barely knows the Shadowhunter traditions, but she knows that much. And she knows he was robbed of the chance to be properly mourned, what with everything else that had been going on. He deserved so much more than he had been given.
Sometime later, after Grace moved to her bed, a knock on the door makes her sit up. She expects itā€™s Jesse, come to check on her and possibly offer some food. Heā€™d been very vigilant at getting her to eat when she was working on the fire messages, and that habit likely isnā€™t going to go away.
She stands on unsteady feet and crosses to the door. When she opens it, though, sheā€™s met with lavender eyes instead of green.
Christopher offers her a bright, crooked grin. ā€œHullo, Grace.ā€
Grace thinks that if she hadnā€™t grown up in a literal house of nightmares, she might scream. Because while Christopher isnā€™t a nightmare ā€“ could never be that ā€“ it isnā€™t right for him to be standing there before her. And she checks ā€“ he is standing, and not floating like a ghost. He looks as solid as ever, as solid as Grace herself.
(She checks that too, glancing at her hands and down at her torn, stained dress.)
ā€œYouā€™re -ā€ she says, and stops. Her eyes are filling with tears, and her breaths come in rapid pants. It seems her body has caught up with what her mind cannot process, not yet.
Christopher seems unbothered by her inability to speak, though somewhat alarmed by the sudden appearance of tears. ā€œI know itā€™s a shock,ā€ he says. ā€œI think I gave everyone the worst fright downstairs when I walked in. Anna held me so tight she mightā€™ve bruised my ribs, and Tom nearly fainted. I know that I went away for a while, but I must say, I didnā€™t really expect that kind of reception upon my ā€“ā€
Grace cuts him off by throwing her arms around him and pressing her face to his neck. Christopher sputters a moment in surprise before quieting and pulling her close, arms snug around her waist.
ā€œIā€™m sorry,ā€ he says, softly. ā€œJesse warned me that you might be startled by my appearance, but ā€“ I wanted to see you.ā€
Grace only hugs him tighter. A thousand emotions are racing through her right now: Disbelief, joy, grief. It is hard to reconcile the memory of his death, still so fresh, with him standing before her, once again flesh and blood.
ā€œAre,ā€ Christopher tentatively says. ā€œAre you going to say anything?ā€
Grace takes a deep breath and pulls back only enough to properly look at him. At his spectacles, already sitting crooked on his nose, and his surprisingly delicate features.
ā€œI missed you more than I can say,ā€ she confesses.
Christopher smiles then, and Grace thinks sheā€™s never seen anything quite so beautiful.
ā€œI missed you too,ā€ he says. ā€œI think. Itā€™s hard to say what happened after ā€“ well.ā€
Grace knows this isnā€™t the end of it all. Regardless of how he is now, Christopher died, and that canā€™t be easy for someone to come to terms with. Even now, with a sweet smile on his face, she senses some unease within him.
But thatā€™s when Grace makes a vow to herself. As long as he wants her around, she silently vows to help him get through whatever demons he now faces (this includes the literal ones, she decides; Jesse can start her training again). He wonā€™t have to face anything alone.
ā€œChristopher?ā€
He hasnā€™t let go of her yet, and vice versa. She wonā€™t be the first to pull away, propriety be damned.
ā€œYes, Grace?ā€
ā€œIf I offered my services to your lab, as a partner of sorts, what would you say?ā€
For a moment, that unease fades in Christopher as he lights up, his eyes shining with happiness.
ā€œIā€™d say thatā€™s a capital idea, Grace.ā€
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cabeswaterdrowned Ā· 1 year ago
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which tda book is your favorite?
Lord of Shadows slightly edges out Lady Midnight although theyā€™re really close since I love both so muchā€¦ but LoS has the overall most impactful arcs and storylines to me the section in the Unseelie Court is probably my favorite part of the series, and the ending packs a big emotional punch to say the least. It might be my favorite tsc book period actually I really love LoS. Also like I just said in the previous ask I tend to be a middle book(s) or middle seasons girlie itā€™s just who I am. I think this book struck a neat balance between being character driven and plot driven that was extremely effective although to be clear it would probably also be my favorite if it was just character centric filler angst about Emma&Jules because thatā€™s who I amā€¦ but Iā€™m still glad it was more than that! LM is also wonderful in a way that few first books in fantasy series are to me usually thereā€™s a slow burn for me to be really invested but not here, and the whole murder cult mystery with body horror (had forgotten about the missing hands that made it even better) + forbidden romance + familial dynamics themes combo and vibe really works for me. Qoaad is my least favorite of the three but I still really like it, and I definitely thought far better of it on reread compared to when I first read it since back then I had been anticipating it so hard and theorizing etc. and had very sky high expectations (especially with Clockwork Princess being a rare perfect finale to me and with how much I loved the first two tda books I hoped for Qoaad to accomplish the same thing..) on reread I could evaluate it more for what it is and I came to the conclusion that about 80% of the actual content of the book I am a fan of, itā€™s just that the pacing of the book is insane. Genuinely if that book was split into two books and they were paced normally Iā€™d have loved them as much as the first two I think! Genuinely I think cc has gotten too attached to trilogies as the sole structure for her work and itā€™s a big part of why the receptions for her last two finales have been what they are ā€¦ (well Iā€™m sure there are multiple factors at play but Iā€™m confident thatā€™s one of them) also maybe even effected tmi part 2 because I remember cofa being pretty filler and the plot there feeling like it could be resolved in a duology? I love almost every individual storyline in that book so if you asked me which ones I would snipe for the third book to be paced correctly Iā€™d be hard pressed to get rid of things but if you split it into two books and grounded them each tonally to feel distinct and just gave us some breathing room I think you could stick the landing! But since I like almost every individual element of the book itā€™s an enjoyable reread when you already know where the story ends up and the best parts of it really work for me / get a level of emotionality from me no tlh or tmi book does so it still ranks high (like #6ish since I like all the tid books more as well as first two tda) for me, I slander her but sheā€™s my bestie <3.
#s speaks#myhouseofivyandstone#so to answer your question Lord of Shadows lol#tda#tsc#asks#I think itā€™s the same deal with Chain of Thorns objectively btw the issues are more about pacing than content. But then it was the opposite#for me with that book since I wasnā€™t actively theorizing or anything so I donā€™t think I went into it with much expectation and I liked it#more than most of the fandom. But Iā€™m curious if I were to reread those books back to back if it would be the opposite and Iā€™d be more#negative on a reread? tabeling that thought for the future#the role hype and expectations have in a reading experience. not to be underestimated#the best part of qoaad is definitely what it has to say about grief which I can also appreciate more now because#sadly my loved experience over the years since I first read the book mean that those resonate more with me now. Especially these methods fo#exploring it in a paranormal/fantasy media#but it is objectively something that makes it an odd finale because thereā€™s a lot of other things at play. Which is why I think there shoul#have been another bigger book to delve into those themes and Thule Livvy and switch-off Jules and everything. And then another book about#the main political storyline and parabatai curse (and there would be overlap ofc but as main areas of focus)#I wonder if that might have been why thereā€™s such a lack of willingness to give Any time to characters grief in ChoTh. Like she went too#hard in the other direction#the dark artifices
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thevagabondexpress Ā· 1 year ago
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earth and breath
A short story from my Genderbent TLH fanfic-universe: Claude and Judith, after Pscipolnitsa. An exercise in desire, and in grounding meditation.
They went home. They walked, to be more specific, arm in arm. Judith leaned into Claude's warmth and strength and let her mind carry her away. Her feet still tapped, struck with the urge to waltz, and her mind was still full of the simple tune that Claude had hummed as they danced in the roofless library of the Institute. The sky was clear for once. Everything was new, andā€”
"It feels so unreal," Judith stated.
"What does?"
"This. Us. Thinking we might have a chance to repair our love and truly be together again. That the war is over. That Pscipolnitsa is . . . gone. That Addison is gone. That Tobias is gone. That Christa has left to join the Seafarers and Michelle is awake and packing to go stay with her parents and Tracey and Alice are going to Tehran and my brother, my little brother, our Lou, is going to Idris to . . . something or other, something the Clave, something Jacqueline Blackthorn, something demon pox and ley lines in Brocelind Forest and angels and death gods and I don't even know what all is going to happen, except that when it's done, you're going to be parabatai and . . . there's the very real possibility that at the end of tonight I will curl up in your arms and it won't be because I'm desperate or afraid. I can't picture waking up tomorrow with all of that still being true."
"Judith." Claude stopped. He took both of Judith's hands and he squeezed them. "I do not know how I am supposed to make this feel more real for you. Not when I am still also waiting for something else to crumble and break. But I can try to do something, for the both of us. But I am going to need you to trust me and close your eyes."
Judith took a deep breath and sucked air into her lungs. She let her eyelids flutter shut.
"Now. Feel my hands."
Without really thinking about it, Judith squeezed Claude's fingers, and he squeezed hers back. His hands were broad and strong and thick-fingered, and warm even through his gloves and hers. For the first time in what felt like ages, desire welled up in her chest, real and raw and . . . new.
She had not felt this kind of desire before, never. Not in all the encounters she'd had. This was a slow warming, thick and syrupy and gentle, oh so achingly gentle. As if all the want she'd felt before had been the fiery high of whisky, and now someone had instead handed her a fresh mug of hot cocoa.
"Okay." Claude's voice again, rougher, rawer than it usually was. Like he was collecting himself from the edge of tears. "Now the ground."
"Uh-huh." Judith was not wearing heels. It was cold today, viciously so, and her gear boots had heating runes stamped into them. She flexed her toes, stretching them, wiggled her feet in her shoes. The ground pressed back. It pushed up when she pushed down and when she lost her balance a bit it set her steady again on her feet.
"Now what do you hear?"
"Birds. Not many, but there are one or two still here and awake in the city . . . a carriage going past. People shouting. They sound young, and happy. A dog barking, but it's not upset. My breathing and yours."
"And the air?"
"Crisp, and clean, and cold. Smells like snow. Warmer and smelling warmer when I'm near you. Is that . . . licorice?"
Claude chuckled. "Something like that. Soap that's scented like it. Now open your eyes."
Judith blinked her way back into the light, squinting as she adjusted to its brightness. She was looking at Claude's face. His olive skin was tanned golden, even in the winter. His eyes were very large and very dark, and the wind blew his thick curls into his face. The full sun caught the red in its mahogany color, turning it almost burgundy. She took a moment just to look at him, to take in the way his face rounded, the pointed chin and his adorable nose and the shape of his mouth, soft and full.
"Remember that trick," she said, withdrawing her hands from his. She looped one arm through his, but there was no more leaning against him as if she couldn't walk on her own. "It's . . . I can't say it's a perfect solution. But I felt something."
"I hope it was something you wanted to feel."
"Oh, yes, yes it was." Judith took a deep breath, released it in a soft noise that was almost a laugh. Her face warmed. "I'm thinking we had better get home."
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lastfrontierheli22 Ā· 1 year ago
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Skiing Safety Within The Wilderness A Heli-ski Primer
Skiing in powder is very comparable to skiing hard packed slopes with a few specific variations. Although in some situations leaning again is warranted, it normally solely causes fatigue, makes for unnatural movement and gives you drained thighs (quadricep muscles). The hands ought Heli skiing to be positioned comfortably out front where you'll be able to see them. If your arms path behind you, the physique usually follows and you discover yourself leaning back in that unnatural locked up stance. You should exaggerate many motions including rotation to make a flip in that position.
Because of the inherent dangers involved in heli-skiing, Canadaā€™s operators take safety extremely critically. AtĀ TLH Heliskiing, every guest is issued a Vario ABS avalanche survival backpack. Heli-skiing is not always perfect, it's mountain skiing in a completely uncontrolled setting. The aim is to provide the greatest skiing out there every single day however since we don't management the climate, one of the best skiing some days could also be very tough and/or in the bushes. The Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and the Canadian Ski Guide Association supply training and accreditation for guides, HeliCat Canada says.
There are a number of completely different resorts and helicopter corporations to choose from, so you'll find the best package deal on your capability degree and price range. If all or a half of your group is excited about heli-skiing, Whistler is a great vacation spot, as it supplies something for everyone! Kids can be part of a ski faculty program for the day whereas they expertise unbeatable massive mountain terrain by helicopter. There are a couple Heliski of primary ski resorts in British Columbia that offer heli-skiing, together with Whistler Blackcomb, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, and Panorama Mountain Resort. All these resorts provide totally different terrain and different levels of difficulty, so it is important to choose the right one for your capacity stage. A great information will assist elevate your heli-skiing experience from good to nice.
With over one hundred fifty,000 acres at our disposal, our heli and boarding terrain is both vast and breath taking. I can see how skiers get hooked on the expensive heli-ski behavior. After having millions of snowy acres to ourselves, it is onerous to return to the confines and crowds of the common ski resort. I was also reassured that safety Heliskiing is high precedence, with the guides' constant snow pack and avalanche evaluation, I can make the educated argument that you're safer heli skiing than driving to a ski resort, or skiing a busy trail. Snow Conditions Snow circumstances vary significantly over winter and alter almost every day.
Imagine infinite miles of big-mountain terrain so far as the eye can see, and an ideal slope of untracked powder beneath your skis simply waiting to be ripped. You drop in along with Heli skiing Canada your buddies, turn on the Go-Pros and make your individual ski porn. This and rather more comes with the ultra-adventure experience of heli-skiing. Our most unique package deal
CotĆ© started flying helicopters in his early 20s, however ā€“ like Doty ā€“ he didnā€™t get into heli-ski piloting for a while. Heā€™s lived and worked in Revelstoke as pilot since 1995 but didnā€™t begin working as a heli-ski pilot till the final 20 years. ā€œYouā€™re dealing with terrain ā€“ steep terrain ā€“ and difficult terrain, and obstacles. After savouring the previous few minutes in his mattress, Doty is up at 6 a.m., in his truck, and out to the Hillcrest Hotel for the STHS morning meeting Heli skiing BC. The meetings cowl everything from weather, snow circumstances, to passenger weight (which elements into gas calculations) and guaranteeing the all-important half mile of visibility. ā€œEveryone to my left,ā€ Gertsch says as he leads us down a billowy slope near the remote southeast fringe of Glacier National Park.
Today, Bell 212 helicopterscan ferry teams of up to 10 skiers and two guides. Half a century after helicopters first transported daredevil recreational skiers excessive into the mountains of British Columbia, heli-skiing continues to be the last word alpine rush for many. Every run leads via unspoiled snow ā€” a resort skier may not get this many fresh tracks in a whole season. If I had my climbing skins on, it will take days to ski an identical quantity of vertical. The firm Gmoser foundedā€”headquartered in Banff, Albertaā€”now has gross sales reps around the world and a fleet of 11 lodges throughout B.C. CMH is the titan of the industry, however with tens of millions of dollars of capital invested in lodge infrastructure, it has to remain nimble to keep beds and helicopter seats stuffed in the face of competition.
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leitorespacks Ā· 4 years ago
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The Last Hours pack
Ā© malecbane
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incorrectlasthours Ā· 2 years ago
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Four-year-old Lucie: Iā€™ll be up late. I have homework.
Will: Youā€™re in preschool, darling.
Lucie: I have to color this whole picture, papa.
Will:
Will: Iā€™ll put on the kettle.
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obsessedwithbooksandmusic Ā· 2 years ago
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HI SO I READ THE post
yes I donā€™t like Lucie much now mhm
The fact TLH is literally completely miscommunication is good but at a certain point you get absolutely sick of it (says me writing a song called Miscommunications based on Herondaisy but moving on) and I was very much sick of it. The second half wouldā€™ve felt so less rushes if people just talked. At some instances it was good because of the angst, Thomastair would be a good example. The love triangle lasted way too long Iā€™m sorry. And Lucie and Cordeliaā€™s full relationship was absolutely ruined with the miscommunication because the best thing about their friendship is how well they knew each other even though they barely got the chance to see each other. Personally thatā€™s what made me fall in love with the idea of them being parabatai but now the fact they barely had any discussions about what happened, the few they did literally got cut off.
OMG THE DEMON UGH I HATED THAT SCENE because my brain was glitching because what the actual fuck was that mess
THANK YOUU like I have a love-hate relationship with this book because yeah objectively I would say itā€™s a good book. Itā€™s not a horrible book. I wouldnā€™t give it 5 stars, but if I had to rate it a solid 3. No to me itā€™s the fact that it couldā€™ve been so much better. These are characters I cherish and yet the way they were portrayed, the situations they were put in and the way they reactedā€¦it didnā€™t seem good enough to me Iā€™m sorry. As a TSC finale, it did not hold up to the high expectations I had. If it was a second book, I would personally understand, because yeah, itā€™s the buildup. But thatā€™s exactly it. Most of the book was just buildup. The conclusion is supposed to be scattered thoughout the book, slowly but surely tying up those loose knots. Thatā€™s the special thing about Cassieā€™s finales THATā€™S HOW THEY WORK. but here the conclusion was packed into the end and I barely registered that half of the stuff I was waiting to be fixed was indeed fixed.
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edwinspaynes Ā· 3 months ago
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How do you think the TLH gang would do as parents? Do you think some of them will chose not to have children?
I definitely don't think Thomas and Alastair will have children! I am a big fan of childfree Thomastair, and that's how I portray them in my fics. Fun gay uncles that everyone loves. But I am also open to them adopting an older child who was in an abusive situation, much like Alastair was. It would be really sweet to see them give a child who needs love desperately a home. But that's not my first choice - I just wouldn't mind it, and it's my 'if they did have kids' scenario.
I'm not too sure about Matthew. I thought he would be a really fun dad back when I thought he would get with a woman and be Clary's ancestor. I no longer think this. I think he'll be with Sylvain. And, if possible, I would like Matthew to remain childfree as well. Because I don't really think he's the type of person who would necessarily want to be a parent, you know? But I'd need to see his dynamic with his partner first.
James and Cordelia are the only ones I'm rah-rah over seeing as parents. I like to imagine them with two girls - Layla and Iris - and then a boy as the youngers. Like Thomas and his sisters, the two girls are constantly doting on the brother. James is a total girl dad. They take the kids on adventures and teach them to love learning more about the world, and also Cordelia makes up bedtime stories for them and James acts them out with finger puppets. My God I love them.
Ari and Anna are going to be Interesting to see as parents. I love Arianna. Don't get me wrong. But I do NOT think they should be adopting a child now. Anna will need to totally overhaul her personality and lifestyle, and their relationship is also, like, six months old. I feel like Ari will be a wonderful mom, and I really hope that Anna will too. I'm rooting for her. I just am really struggling to see the shift from ChoT epilogue Anna to immediate parenthood. I think a few years between now and adopting a baby would have done both characters good.
I think Lucie and Jesse will have a ton of kids. A whole pack. And one of them is Marjorie.
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cant-think-of-anything Ā· 3 years ago
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Why is he packing, where is he going
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