#to be clear I love Darry and he is my favourite character

[purecommemasolitude]

There’s something very fitting about how Darry’s struggles and actions are presented through water metaphors (“I keep treading water/but I sink just like a stone”, “I don’t know what we would do if you were not around/the one to keep the ship afloat when it’s going down”) and then his little brother almost drowns, indirectly because Darry is in fact struggling and doesn’t know how to act

[alittlebitofloveliness]

3, 4, 7, 9 (outsiders asks)

EEEEE thanks for the ask anon!

3. Favourite character outside the main seven

Tim Shepard! I feel like Hinton threw mentions of him and Curly in there as a sort of foil to Darry and Ponyboy's dynamic but I have SOOOO many headcanons about him (and Curly and Angela too).

PS. The only reason I said Tim and not Angela is because she's not technically mentioned in the book. Angela is my favourite outsiders universe character ever and since theres not enough content for her I've decided I have to make my own lmao

4. Rank the main seven

OOF omg ok this was a hard one

First, Steve. Probably seems really random and unpopular but I feel like theres so much depth to his character that there just wasn't enough book to provide. We know he has a rough background and a soft spot for Sodapop and that Ponyboy's narration of him is biased since he thinks Steve doesn't like him. Tbh tho I think Steve really does care about Ponyboy in his own way, it's just hard for Ponyboy (and probably a lot of younger readers to see). My love of Steve was kind of an evolution but I can firmly say he's my favourite out of the gang atp.

Second, Darry. My man was a 20 y/o whose parent died who had to give up on his dreams to raise two younger brothers who he loved so much the feelings bled off the page. He NEVER should have hit ponyboy and it was such an out of character moment for him- AS IT WAS INTENDED TO BE. I have a LOT of thoughts about him but as someone who has grown that I'm almost the same age as him I cant IMAGINE having gone through what he went through and dealt with it as well as he did. My man needs more recognition.

Third, Ponyboy. He's such a dumbass and a weirdo but so reltable and sarcastic and profound. He's a main character who never gets in the way of other main characters and he's so quintessentially 13 that reading his story when I was that age fundamentally altered my brain chemistry and I haven't been the same since.

Fourth, Johnny. He was the gangs favourite for a reason and such a good friend to Ponyboy. I feel like the fandom infantilizes him sometimes, which is partially due to Ponyboy's narration, but the book makes it clear he's a really tough kid who looks like trouble but isn't. He's such a prime example of how the lottery of birth can fuck up someone's life. He is so tragic to me because he never had a chance.

Fifth, Sodapop. I know he's a fan favourite and I'm not saying I don't like him, but he's just kind of...boring? imo. Like, not much there, and not as much depth as some of the other characters. maybe its because we see a lot more of him in Ponyboy's thoughts but I'm not curious about him the way I am about some of the others.

Sixth, Dally. He's not likeable- but he is, as johnny said, gallant. I know it was by design that he's mysterious but I wish we got more backstory for him. I've just never connected to him the way I connected to other characters.

Seventh, Two-Bit. Again, probably unpopular and I know he's a fandom favourite but to me his issues have always jumped out more than his redeeming qualities. His alcoholism is a hallmark of his character, and i think at one point Ponyboy mentions he's a dead weight on his family's finances. He also has a little sister that's Ponyboy's age thats mentioned like once? I just feel like he's kind of a deadbeat for his family if that makes sense.

7. Favourite non romantic relationships. i could (and probably should atp, whoops this got long) make a whole other post about this but:

darry and ponyboy's relationship

johnny and ponyboy's friendship

steve and sodapop's frienship

johnny and dally's relationship

9. Favourite scene/moment from the book?

When Ponyboy runs directly into Darry's arms as soon as he sees him at the hospital. Gets me right in the feels every time.

Bonus: the moment when that guy tells Ponyboy he shoudn't smoke and he's all confused, like why? theres not a no smoking sign? and the dude is just like uh? but youre a kid? it's just such a stark reminder that while Ponyboy has grown up sheltered in some ways he has absolutely not been in others and his background is really rough and agh it gets me every time its such a clever scene.

ANYWAY this got longer than i meant it to, whoops. Thanks ever so much for the ask :)

[coffeedrgn87]

First Lines

Rules: List the first lines of your last 20 stories (if you have fewer than 20, just list them all!). See if there are any patterns. Choose your favourite opening line. Then tag some people to take part.

So, I wasn't tagged for this, but I am so intrigued that I decided to give this a whirl. I have my last 20 stories open and it will be a mixture of Darry (HP Fandom) and Lamen (Captive Prince). I'll work my way through oldest to newest and highlight my favourite opening line in bold. I may also leave a blurb explaining my choice. If I can put it into words... Since I wasn't tagged, I'll refrain from randomly tagging someone but feel free to have a go.

I think what stands out most to me is that I did a lot more experimenting with tenses lately, going between past and present as I please. I used to be terrified of that. Still am, to be honest. Also, I think it's quite clear that when writing Drarry, there's a good mix between writing either Harry or Draco but when writing Lamen it's definitely Damen. Finally, I either write E or T. There seems to be hardly any middle ground. 🤣🤣🤣

But honestly, I cannot pick a favourite line because these last few months of writing have been blissful, healing, exciting, and filled with development, laughter, and growing confidence. You tell me, please. I'd love to know. Which line catches your eye?

1. It always starts with Draco surrendering his wand, even before he’s allowed to enter the cottage where they play. [Losing Control, Pt.1, Drarry, E, 9K]

2. Harry carelessly swept his half-empty Firewhiskey glass to the side and swooshed his hand over the spill he’d created, wandlessly disappearing the mess. [When Draco Met Santa, Drarry, M, 79K]

3. Relieved to be standing outside on the large patio, Draco casually leaned back against the balustrade, careful to move his robe slightly out of the way, lest he ended up catching it on something. [Happy New Year, Malfoy, Drarry M, 2.5K]

4. The swirl through nothingness was relatively short, so fleeting that the mild nausea that usually overcame Draco after an unexpected or even forced jump didn’t have time to settle in. [Ink Stains, Drarry, E, 7.5K]

5. Tired eyes, sleepy smile. [Home Again, Drarry, T, 52 words]

6. He seethes. May just breathe fire. [It Works Like This, Drarry, T, 111 words]

7. A raised eyebrow, silent question. [This Is How They Are, Drarry, T, 101 words]

8. Wobbly first steps. [Pitter-Patter, Tiny Feet, Gen, T, 116 words]

9. Draco's book sits forgotten on the small coffee table, his glasses on top. [Forgotten, Drarry, T, 140 words]

10. Draco laughs, sidesteps a curse, throws up a shield, then ducks. [Practicing for the ballet, Potter?, Drarry, T, 234 words]

11. It started with visible gooseflesh. [The Greatest Pleasure, Drarry, T, 250 words]

12. The soft white of the awning blends perfectly with the white marble of Ios, gently shielding Laurent from the blistering sun that glitters high above in the cloudless sky. [What Has Luck Got To Do With It, Lamen, T, 2K]

13. Draco couldn’t remember when exactly the occasional tumbler of Firewhiskey after dinner had become a much more regular occurrence, well, he could but he didn’t want to, not particularly anyway, though he strongly suspected that it had started sometime after he and Astoria had married back in early 2001. [Escaping Reality, Drarry, E, 117K]

14. Restricted. That is the first word that comes to mind as Damen―finally fully dressed―eyes himself in the floor-length mirror. [Molten, Lamen, E, 6K]

15. It was―Laurent had come to learn over a period of many months―a little more than just a simple quirk of character. [Like A Map, Lamen, E, 3.5K]

16. The coolness of his gaze betrays his true intentions; masks the heat that Harry knows burns brightly beneath. [One Day, Drarry, T, 754 words]

17. Draco’s long white marble nails with their silvery glitter accents shimmer alluringly in the bright bathroom light. [(Cheap) Thrills, Drarry, M, 1.7K]

18. It doesn’t take much for Harry to assert his authority, exercising discipline over the throng of photographers that’s come out to meet him and Draco. [When You Get That Come-Get-Me Look In Your Eyes, Drarry, E, 5K]

19. The Great Hall of Arles is packed with spectators: Nobility from Akelios’s many provinces and every corner of Vere, all the Kyroi and their retinue, the Veretian council, distant relatives, courtiers, dignitaries, and emissaries from Vask and Patras, esquires― Introductions, while staggered over a week, were quite the headache and Damen still isn’t over the sheer extravaganza of it all. [Official Introductions, Lamen, T, 2K]

20. After a busy morning of exhausting council meetings and various judicial hearings, Damen, upon his return to the Kings’ quarters, isn’t at all surprised to find Laurent out on the balcony, overlooking the calm, peaceful Ellosean Sea. [Isthima, Lamen, (currently) M, WIP]