#ursula’s two birds

[ursulaincorporated]

The debate between having Phil confront Elena and having Baghera confront Elena is strong. And they are two entirely different vibes as well.

Phil would be angry that someone would do that to anyone, let alone someone he’s claimed as his child. They don’t call him the Angel of Death for nothing. He’s not Death’s favorite for no reason. He’s destroyed kingdoms and countries and he would do it all over again for the fun of it if he truly felt like it.

But Baghera would be soft. It’d be gentle. There’d be anger but there’d be defeat. She’s been through Hell, it’s called Purgatory, and now she can’t bring herself to be angry like that anymore. But she’d see this Fed worker who works in genetics, who stares for too long, and she’d know. She wouldn’t destroy kingdoms. No, she’d whisper a quiet “why?” And for the first time, calm the hatchling in her head on her own, and ask “why me?”

And both would be just as impactful as the other. Forced to answer to the child that Elena loved more than anything or forced to confront the person she wanted to be more than anything. In any other universe, she wouldn’t be here.

But this is the 1/1,000,000. This is the one universe she didn’t pick the right choice. Both would haunt her, both would follow her forever. Both would make her question her choices for the rest of her life.

But they can’t both happen at once. It’s one of the other. The effect is only that impactful once.

[choppeddreamworm]

Can I get something where fem reader/(Y/N) is in the school musical/play and they are secretly dating James Hook and his crew don't want to go to the show cause it's "stupid" or something and James sneaks into the musical/play and sits in the back just to watch his secret gf.

Musicals have a special place in my heart so I loved when I got your request! I feel like my writing fell a bit flat towards the end but I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

-nini 𓄿

One Act play

Pairing: Captain hook x fem! reader

Warnings: none, just hook being rude :] not to you though Word count: 2.2 k (not proofread apologies for grammar/writing mistakes! )

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Song used:

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       "15 minutes till opening!" your directors loud voice notified the cast. The people below you conversed amongst each-other as they tried to fix the bottom of your dress. You held your arms up subconsciously trying not to block them, the puffy shoulders not helping. Before the director had come in and interrupted your train of thought you were running over your lines even mouthing some out loud if needed to fix your pitch. But now you could feel how overbearing your quick pulse and butterflies in your stomach fluttered enough to feel them in your throat. were.

This was the day you'd actually perform the musical you and your classmates had been working on for weeks. You put your heart soul into the auditioning process and your effort paid off because you got the lead role! To add to the overwhelming pressure you had invited your pirate boyfriend to come watch. Which gave you a whole new reason to take this play seriously. He had assured you to not over stress your little head about it but you wanted it to be perfect. No one knew the love you shared with the villain and this was the closest it would come to both of you seen in the same room without suspicion arising.

"Come on Uli it won't be so terrible," hook wasn't one to actually beg with the sea witch but he was trying to keep true to the promise he made you that he'd be there. It would be less weird if him and the Vk's arrived maybe cause some havoc afterward his leader would just have to agree to it. Uliana had other plans though she was too focused on fixing her appearance. It was fitting her room having a big mirror just for her. "I don't want little royals in my ears, singing songs about sappy true love or happy endings!" She puts her hands close to here face as she purposefully makes her voice whinny, mocking the overdone perfect fairy tale stories told. Hades and Maleficent can't help but chuckle at Ulianas   Sarcasm from across the room. Both laying on Mals bed since Uliana and Maleficent shared a room. Hook tries to not seem tense over the unknowing  jab Ursula's sister had taken on his royal girlfriend. Uliana rolls her eyes seeing that hook didn't bite back and goes back to her reflection instead. Hooks eyebrows lift, trying to give Mal a knowing look of "help me out" since she was the only one who knew of you being his lover. To which she ultimately just shrugs her shoulders at him going back to making heart eyes at hades. He looks towards Morgie knowing he'd jump on the bandwagon but for once he was actually focused on doing his biology homework. Something about different dog breeds...

He sighs, opening his mouth before Uliana cuts him off. "-While all of you are blinded by futile ... desires," she turns back around taking in Morgie actually doing homework like some good student at Mekong Academy and the two love birds doing nothing but gazing into each others eyes. She immediately belittles them in her head, "I have better things to tend to". Her tentacles push Hook as she stomps towards the front door. He bites back a snarl,not helping but at-least let a snarky remark leave his lips before she leaves, "don't let your tentacles get caught on your way out!". Which only earns him a little shut up from Uli. He laughs to himself mumbling how good the joke was only to be met with defeating silence now taking over the room. His other friends so caught up in their own personal "adventures".

"Yeah.. I'll just be going as-well, I love all of you too!" He whispers to himself as he follows Ulianas actions by walking out of the room. If he'd have to go alone then so be it.

"Giselle! you're up in five" One of the backstage managers gave you a smile along with small nudge as she called you by your characters stage name. You could only give a pitiful excuse for a grin back. A few tremors going through your body, clammy hands playing with the stage curtains. The people playing narrators were already on stage giving the intro to the audience. From your nervousness you couldn't help but peep in behind the curtains. A theatre half full, with many faces you recognized from classes except one... 

Your eyes desperately scanned each row staring with hope but ending in disappointment. While your heart seemed to try to beat out of your chest and eyes trying to start streaming like a faucet you stated to focus on evening your breath. It would be a shame if you had to force the makeup team to give you a last minute touch up. So instead of focusing on the missing villain in the crowd you started playing with your fingers. He would surely show up soon.

"ticket please," the female student located behind the table declared to a stumped Hook. "admissions should be free this is a school event,"  he answered back in frustration. The ability to afford the entrance fee was not of question it was the fact his valuables would not match school accepted currency. "yes should be, but tonights the opening night for the play though," she sticks her hand out more obviously. He shouldn't have used you as an excuse but he was grasping onto last resorts here plus he didn't tell the complete truth so your relationship was safe, "look lass my... friends in the play, main lead actually-". His words were cut short by the girls obnoxious snort, "your girlfriend- the main lead?" yeah sure!". She jeered looking him up and down not believing a pirate let alone a villain was associated with any person in the musical cast. "maybe you're just mistaken so I'll say this once, your holding up the line.. move" her demeanor changed from taunting to serious, hand no longer stretched out instead now holding a firm position down on the table. Hook leaned down, trying to see if he could intimidate his way in, but he remembered it wouldn't look so good on his part, dulling your staring moment and not seeing you act. "That hair looks awful on you darling maybe ask Fay to bippity bopitty fix that for you yeah?," he let the hook drag on the table a little too hard, ripping the table cloth just a good amount till deciding it was enough. While he strides away from the table towards the outside of the building the ticket girl that had attend him cant help but grab at her hair starting to doubt her own appearance.

He was trying to do things right and the universe seemed to be throwing it back in his face. Many scenarios played out in his head, his love distraught and hurt. There was no way he'd let that happen, he was sure there were other entrances not just so openly disclosed to the public. Presented perfectly to him while walking outside near the backside of the building was a door labeled 'storage', slightly opened, letting only a wisp of light out many people would probably miss but, not him.

The audiences claps brought you back to reality along the narrators walking off the stage towards you giving you a small 'break your leg'. Your breath caressed your teeth watching the lights dim exponentially, being able to conjure only the light silhouette of the props crew setting your scene up. A cozy forest with a castle far in the background. Last thing they did was talk into their mic, giving a thumbs up before leaving the stage. The darkness only teased you with going back in your head the blasting music with the violins and drums made you tense back into your senses. Your feet walked forward in airplane mode until reaching next to the prop mannequin created by you. A few thumps followed behind you, turning towards the dark audience you were met with the other cast kneeling in front of you dressed as animals. Lights slowly coming alive.

Hook was traveling through a dark room quietly before the loud music spooked him making him run into something. He was left cringing more as the objects falling caused a commotion. A few muffled voices made him sprint to the other end of the room where another door was. His eyes deprived of light were blinded when instantly met by the harsh bulbs. As he tried to recuperate people passed by him some dressed in office work clothes, others as animals and one specifically as a squirrel. He tried regain his posture realizing he was backstage. One passer by not helping but say, "I thought pirates weren't supposed to happen till the last act?". Deciding against asking for help since he must've already attracted attention dressed as he was, he tried finding his way cutting across many corners. Until he heard your voice traveling through the walls. He immediately grabbed some unsuspecting victim immediately, "you! where the door to the theatre seats?!". Too afraid to even speak they pointed to a door directly in his sight. He let them go without another thought dashing to the entrance.

"when you meet the someone, who was meant for you" you perked with a bit of faultiness, still struggling with getting into character. "Before two can become one theres something you must do...." your eyes were stuck on the audience still searching for hook. The character was gleeful and confident not unsure and meek.

"do you pull each others tails?" one of the cast members dressed as a bunny pulled on your arms while delivering their line. Which wasn't part of the act but it successfully made you remember your next steps. "Do you feed each other seeds?". You gently took their hand off you, your response along with your next words made it seem intentional. A small chuckle fought your lips , "No, there is something sweeter, Every-body-needs". With every jingle you touched each actors nose. A little sadness lingered in your heart when you looked up to the mannequin with dark hair dressed in red and a fork in his hand per your request.  "Ive been dreamin' of a true loves kiss, and a prince I'm hoping comes with this," the longing in your eyes as you looked at the inanimate object were real and . "Thats what brings ever-aftering, so happy," you gave fork a light touch with the tips of your fingers. Your head went back towards the "animals" who were supposed to be learning from you,"thats the reason we need lips so much". You made small motions with both your fingers connecting them, "for lips are the only things that touch".

"So to spend life of endless bliss.. just find who you love through true love's kiss,-" towards the middle of the singing you looked up with closed eyes feeling the words in your heart. Then with the last few words you looked up onto the crowd, hands out, a small figure towards the back side of the theatre cutting your last note short. You could recognize the frame of your lover anywhere even when you had blasting white lights rendering you blind. He raised his arm, dismissing any doubt in your mind was a shadow of a hook. When James had first laid eyes on you while singing your third verse he had to do a double take. The dress was so dramatic yet you looked so beautiful like A true princess indeed. Even more heartwarming was the fact he came in when you were singing those romantic words to a mannequin that suspiciously resembled him. 

Finally having his eyes on you made you miss your queue to riff, too focused on the way your pulse skipped and how embarrassing your wardrobe must've looked. Big, puffy and white to imitate the wedding taking place in the act. A big true grin now on your face played perfectly into the next sequence, the animals singing about you, repeating your own words. "She's been dreamin' of a true love's kiss," they start circling you. "And a prince she's hoping comes with this," you follow their gestures to the dummy next to you, making your advancements towards it. "Thats what brings ever-afterings, so happy,"  once they finished the verse and onto the next you started swaying with them, "and thats the reason we need lips so much For lips are the only things that touch".  

You gave a wonderful spin letting the artistry of the fabric be shown while your cast members last note rang out. A foot in-front of the other you step closer towards the edge of stage, hands clasping each other  on your chest. " So to spend a life of endless bliss," you cheeks puff, eyes finding the pirate in the audience once again as if singing to him you let passion flow out of you. " just find who you love through true loves kiss"

James didn't hide the big mushy look on his face, he spent every moment in public hiding his feelings for you but the darkness in the auditorium offered him hide out. Where even in everyones eyes you were just acting only two hearts shared their emotions out in public with no one having a clue just them. Ulianas words did make him want to laugh though, this play had just been "little royals in my ears, singing songs about sappy true love or happy endings". Except it was like a dedicated love letter to him and only to him by his theatre loving girlfriend. He would cherish it till his death bed, "embarrassing" parts and all.

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[apoemaday]

Kinship

by Ursula K. Le Guin

Very slowly burning, the big forest tree stands in the slight hollow of the snow melted around it by the mild, long heat of its being and its will to be root, trunk, branch, leaf, and know earth dark, sun light, wind touch, bird song.

Rootless and restless and warmblooded, we blaze in the flare that blinds us to that slow, tall, fraternal fire of life as strong now as in the seedling two centuries ago.

[nonaserpent]

Disney Villains as Birds

This idea just came in mind combining two fields I’m interested. Not just looking for the color but appearance, feeling and behavior also matters.

Very personal opinion you may disagree but friendly discussion welcomed :)

HERE WE GO!

Hans: Blue-breasted Fairywren (Malleus pulcherrimus)

Very cute and pretty-looking bird! Known for their unique courtship of delivering petals.

©Disney

©Laurie Boyle

Judge Claude Frollo: Demoiselle Crane (Grus virgo)

#That Hair

©Disney

©salis-

Hades: Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)

HE HAS TO BE A CORVIDAE. And just look at that hairstyle and that…eyebrows?

©Disney

©Daniel Plumer

Queen of Hearts: Papyrus Gonolek (Laniarius mufumbiri)

Fun fact: Like shrikes, they impale their prey on thorns.

©Disney

©Nik Borrow

Queen Grimhilde: Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris)

Fairest bird of all

©Disney

©I Am birdsaspoetry.com 

Jafar: Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus)

One of my fav. Now Iago has someone his same class.

©Disney

©pilot_micha

Yzma: Lesser Florican (Sypheotides indicus)

#THAT EYELASH

©Disney

There’s no copyright restriction on the other pic from website so I guess I’m good.

Cruella De Vil: Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis undulata)

She would see the bird as her greatest accessory.

©Disney

©Frank Vassen

Dr. Facilier: Long-tailed Glossy Starling (Lamprotornis caudatus)

The metallic effect of their plumage just matches Facilier’s shadow power and colorful effects made by his friends on the other side.

©Disney

©Nik Borrow

Mother Gothel: Long-tailed Paradise Whydah (Vidua paradisaea)

Known to be brood parasites like cuckoos.

©Disney

©Brian Henderson

Gaston: Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)

No one makes that mating call like Gaston!

©Disney

©sighmanb

Ursula: Peruvian Pelican (Pelecanus thagus)

Those who couldn’t pay their price were devoured, FOR SURE

©Disney

©Rogerio Camboim S A

Maleficent: Common Raven (Corvus corax)

Need I say more?

©Disney

©Henry

Captain Hook: Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)

Obviously

©Disney

©Andy Morffew

Lady Tremaine: Ruff (Calidris pugnax)

Her daughters would LOVE this outfit

©Disney

©Mibby23

THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING!

BONUS: Kuzco

©Richard Gibbons

[writingwenches]

HOTD Original Character Ask Game – Disney Edition! 🏰

I’ve seen many posts about people complaining about “boring HOTD OCs,” so I challenge everyone to put their money where their Disney trivia’s at! Send in a prompt from the list below, and I’ll create a drabble with a unique OC based off the Disney character, like Disney-bounding, but for fanfics~ If you’d like, attach a pairing, a kingdom, or challenge multiple requests together! The characters can be from popular or obscure houses!  I started with female presented characters, mainly because there’s already too many to fit, and some characters were left off for various reasons.  Feel free to reblog and take requests of your own! I’d love to see what everyone can come up with! Reblog and state if you’d want requests from Levels One, Two and/or Three because they get a little wild and crazy. Mwahaa.

Level One: The Classics

🧹 Snow White

🍎 Evil Queen (Snow White)

🪡 Aurora (Sleeping Beauty)

💜 Malificent

👑 Cinderella

👿 Evil Step Mother (Cinderella)

🕊 Wendy (Peter Pan)

🧚🏾‍♀️ Tinker Bell

🍬 Alice

🧜‍♀️ Ariel (Little Mermaid)

🐙 Ursula

🐯 Jasmin (Aladdin)

🌹 Belle (Beauty and the Beast)

⚔️ Mulan

🐸 Tiana (Princess and the Frog)

🏹 Merida (Brave)

🍳 Rapunzil (Trangled)

🌻 Gothel

❄️ Elsa (Frozen)

⛄️ Anna (Frozen)

🌊 Moana

🏠 Mirabel (Encanto)

—

Level Two: A Fun Challenge

💅 Wicked Stepsisters (Cinderella)

💙 Blue Fairy (Pinocchio)

🎃 Fairy Godmother (Cinderella)

👽 Lilo

🏄‍♀️ Nani (Lilo and Stitch)

💕 Charlotte La Bout (Princess and the Frog)

🏛Meg (Hercules)

💎 Kida (Atlantis)

🐵 Jane Porter (Tarzan)

—

Level Three: lol Good Luck!

🦁 Nala (Lion King) 

🎤 Giselle (Enchanted)

🐵 Jane Porter (Tarzan)

🐰 Judy Hopps (Zootopia)

🐶 Lady (Lady and the Tramp)

🐱 Marie (Aristocats)

🐠 Dory (Finding Nemo)

👾 Boo (Monsters Inc)

🤖 Eve (Wall–E)

🦜 Kevin (Up the bird)

☠️ Yzma (Emperor’s New Groove)

🕶 Roz (Monsters Inc)

🦌 Bambi’s Mom (oops)

[black-rabbit-razumikhin]

Raz Reads Les Mis (XXVI)

Saint Denis - Eponine

In which I am once again mad at the prison system

Marius has moved out and is now living with Courfeyrac

He doesn't want to be so close to the horror of the house and he doesn't want to testify against Thenardier

He goes so far as to borrow money from Courfeyrac to give to Thenardier when he's in solitary confinement

Marius?? Borrow money??

Also, putting someone in solitary before they've even had a trial? That's a little terrifying

Of course this recent scare does nothing to deter Marius from being obsessed with Cosette(?)

Going so far as to make routine walks to a certain field just because it's called the Field of the Lark

He's only getting away with this because he's pretty

Cut to how Javert is faring

His prisoners keep escaping him

This is an exaggeration, I think only Claquesous (the best one) disappears

So Javert is in a bit of a testy mood about this

The court decides to keep one of the members of Patron Minette out of solitary so that he can testify

This doesn't go particularly well for the justice system

A very fun little prison code involving baked goods is discussed

Next cut-scene! Let's check in on Mabeuf

Still reading - two books at once, the legend - still in love with his plants

One of them looks sad and wilted but there seems to be no rain to water it

What's this? A young woman come to water his garden for him?

And all she wants to know is where Marius is?

And disappears without a trace once she gets her answer?

This young woman (Eponine, it's Eponine) finds Marius at the Field of the Lark

He does know that a lark is a very common European bird right?

My poor Eponine has the biggest crush on Marius, and Marius is so cold and indifferent

She's so willing to make him happy, she's going so far as to help him find his Lark/Ursula/Cosette(?)

She gets so happy when Marius simply knows her name!

Now Eponine's story has made me sad. I can't imagine how she must be thinking about this whole situation. Does she know that she's helping Marius find her foster sister? Is she helping Marius find her foster sister?

Also, when Hugo says 'solitary' in prison, is that solitary that is around today? That seems like incredibly unnecessary torture in your prison system.

[ghostieblr]

watching OUAT Season 4, Ep 17: "Best Laid Plans" (almost over) AND OH MY GOD CHARMING & SNOW ARE SO????

(i rant below the cut. not spoiler free. OUAT veteran fans pls help a girl out 😭)

they infuriate me so much. like Snow saying the egg is not a child ?? she is Snow Fucking White, does she not know about birds? Does she not know about birds laying eggs and the lil hatchlings being the babies?? How can she say the egg is not a child, it is, it so fucking is, AND MALEFICENT IS A HUMAN SORCERESS WHO TURNS INTO A DRAGON OF COURSE HER BABY WOULD BE THE SAME?

And Snow's best friend is Red!!! THE WEREWOLF. A human who turns into a goddamn wolf. STILL SHE DIDN'T THINK TWICE ABOUT THE EGG BEING A BABY UNTIL THE EGG HATCHED AND THE LIL HAND POPPED OUT?

(i'm sorry i'm yelling i'm just SO DONE WITH THESE TWO).

they're not heroes. they're two selfish people hiding behind a a wall of optimism and the general narc behavior of "the world revolves around us." they're ultimately the villains, because how different is the quest to ensure a happy ending than to the quest of revenge? to the villains of OUAT, revenge was their means to happiness; their purpose, their pursuit to a better life. to have their vengeance quenched so they can move forward with life, confident in their choices of past. but snow and charming literally stripped a CHILD of a potential good life for their OWN, to ensure a happy ending. if it was Mal doing it to them they would have let the whole world know what they did and then rallied the kingdom against her. Mal, though? she kept it to herself (side note: love that Ursula and Cruella tried to rescue Mal's baby) she didn't speak a word. not even Regina, possibly Mal's closest friend remaining (who was busy with her Dark Curse lol) knew about the HORRENDOUS thing these two did against her.

Seriously, OUAT fandom, how do you bear Snow and Charming?

[missameliep]

Growing up, reading has always been one of my favourite pastimes. I was fascinated by books and read different genres and basically any book I would get my hands on.

To nobody's surprise, I ended up choosing two majors in college in which reading was (and still is) absolutely necessary, but over the years most of my readings were related either to my studies or work and rarely for pleasure... (except for fanfic which has been an absolutely self-indulgent thing since I've discovered the genre in 2017 and it saved me from boredom during many sleepless nights with breastfeeding my daughter. So thank you, fanfic writers, you amazing and generous people ❤️) ...over the years so many books were left unfinished because of other tasks and responsibilities...

Last year I took a literature course on Black female writers with the amazing professor Roberta Araújo @/justa.causa, and I read a few of the books recommended for the classes, and what an incredible experience to branch out and get know authors that I probably wouldn't have read if I didn't take this course. For instance, I've never heard of Maria Firmina dos Reis and her novel Ursula, the first abolitionist novel in Brazil, even though I've studied Brazilian literature in school and have a bachelor in History, and it hit me how little I've read beyond the classics (and if you know Brazil and our Academia Brasileira de Letras you know how white and male dominated that means).

When 2024 started and I was kind of lost and really wanting to focus on some goals for the year, I decided to challenged myself: I added to my to-do list 12 books written by female authors, some of the books were from the authors we studied and others were books I've been dying to read for a long time like The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.

And to my utmost surprise, despite all the things irl and exhausting routine, I've realized that in July I had already completed the challenge.

12 books was the initial goal, that I wasn't certain I would reach... But... Whenever I found a new interesting book I added it to the list and since I was reading some books in parallel anyway... I decided I'm not stopping now and see how many more I'll read till December.

I'm currently reading the historical romance Nada digo de ti, que em ti não veja by Eliana Alves Cruz, and loving it, such an intriguing story, and have about 30% of Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings to read.

This may seem like a small thing, but it brought me so much joy that I absolutely needed to share, because I feel like I need to celebrate even the small things and to let myself be excited with things again. And I am!

And talking about books always makes me happy and apparently inspired others too. My father who doesn't have any hobbies and constantly complains how he could no longer read, that his eyesight is bad, his memory is bad etc, read The Handmaid's Tale and The Testaments by Margaret Atwood in a spam of a few days and we talked a lot about the books too, which was really nice. Now I'm teasing him with the plot of Nada digo de ti, que em não veja, because nobody else read that one! 😂

And the more I read, the more I want to read and to write as well. Some days I was just like that writer who fell in love with Machado de Assis (and now Clarice Lispector too) all excited and wanting to read books in their original languages and all of that... but that'll be a challenge for another time!

[fictionkinfessions]

Canon Nicknames ask game, part 1 (names for myself). Might put Part 2 (names I gave others) in a separate post as not to make this one too long.

Bird Boy: I got this one across so many different kin lives it's actually kind of bizzare how often it came up. As Tobias, pretty much everyone of the main animorphs called me Bird Boy after Marco used it once and it just kind of stuck. I got it a few times as well in my Jason life too after Leo used it (the irony that both Marco and Leo are Hispanic jokesters with mother related Angst and an endless thesaurus of nicknames is not lost on me).

Bluejay, Jaybird, Jay, Jace: There are only two people allowed to call me Jay and those two people are Percy and Nico. Everyone else had to use Jace. Percy is the only one who's allowed to call me Bluejay though, that one was very personal and intimate between us. Piper occasionally got to use Jacey but that was more of a teasing playful thing. I also had a BUNCH of electricity and storm related nicknames given to me by Leo (Sparky-G, Thunderboy, Superman, etc.) but there's so many that I have legitimately lost count of them all.

Zapmeister: Admittedly I gave myself this cringey-ass nickname after I ended up discovering Techno World. It blew my mind that I could live a whole second life there, provided I never ran into my double and kept myself disguised on the down-low. Given the Techno World version of me was seen as a bit of a celebrity, I figured I wanted to inflate my own ego a bit as well, thus Francis Zapmeister was born. Certainly a better nickname than The Werrinup Thief, at any rate. Also side note, if anyone actually remembers this source (I have found exactlyOne fic on AO3 for the Australian TV show Parallax) then you are probably at least in your 30s by now and already agree that Hippie World Francis was a Mischievous Little Shit. No, I'm not apologizing for it either.

Sparrowhawk: Less of a nickname and more of a chosen name. Anyone who's read the original EarthSea trilogy by Ursula K. LeGuinn will remember the power of invoking someone's True Name, hence why I mostly kept it hidden once I became an Archmage. Even to this day I still feel a little weird about hearing my True Name for that source. Maybe it actually became a deadname of sorts for me in that canon? I don't remember much from this life though as it seems to be more of a minor kintype.

- Jason Grace (Heroes Of Olympus), Tobias Fangor (Animorphs), Francis Short (Parallax), Archmage Sparrowhawk (EarthSea Trilogy)

#🖤⚡️🦅

x

[the-hearth-and-the-wild]

"Kinship" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Very slowly burning, the big forest tree stands in the slight hollow of the snow melted around it by the mild, long heat of its being and its will to be root, trunk, branch, leaf, and know earth dark, sun light, wind touch, bird song.

Rootless and restless and warmblooded, we blaze in the flare that blinds us to that slow, tall, fraternal fire of life as strong now as in the seedling two centuries ago.

[ursulaincorporated]

Working on a “it’s getting better but better doesn’t always feel better” fic for Two Birds, which basically is the “two steps forward, one step back” kind of idea and I just… like love platonic relationships??? Especially when there’s a third party romance involved??? And they just accept it?

Obviously in Two Birds, Baghs and Cellbit are codependent on each other post-Purgatory. You see this a lot in Dying on the Inside specifically. Phil mentions that they are hardly ever without the other. Platonic cuddling my beloved, you know? I love the ‘literal sleeping together’ tag.

Because I decided to forgo the Doied plot line (mainly because I know nothing about it and it makes no sense in context), we have Roier and he’s just like “Yeah, my husband’s soulmate. She lives with us and sleeps in our bed most nights. She’s pretty chill.”

I kinda just love that for them. I love the just… found family of it. Cellbit and Roier are married. They are in love. They kiss sometimes. They hold hands when they feel like it. Guapoduo is everything. But there’s something so refreshing of just accepting that the trauma made them codependent and being fine with it? I love them. I love this AU.

[ya-world-challenge]

My next randomized country turned out to be Germany. There's a decent amount in translation, so I thought I'd share the list! There is probably more, feel free to add. (I'm reading Boy in a White Room)

🇩🇪 YA from Germany in translation 🇩🇪

Series:

Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke: probably the most-known. A girl can bring characters from books to life. The author has 3 other series in English: Dragon Rider, Mirrorworld, and Ghosthunters.

Woodwalkers by Katja Brandis: Shapeshifting high schoolers

Arcadia series by Kai Meyer: A mafia saga set in Sicily. He also wrote the Dark Reflections series set in a magical medieval Venice.

Bibi & Miyu by Olivia Vieweg: German-original manga series

Erebos by Ursula Poznanski: teens get caught up in a shady computer game

Contemporary:

Why We Took the Car by Wolfgang Herrndorf: Original title "Tschick", two outsiders go on a roadtrip

Boy in a White Room by Karl Olsberg: a near-future sci-fi exploration of AI

Fantasy:

Sign of the Eight by Benjamin Lebert: A search for comrades in the Black Forest and an epic battle

Historical:

Beyond the Blue Border by Dorit Linke: Two teens try to swim the Baltic Sea to escape Communist East Germany, written by an East German.

The Edelweiss Pirates by Dirk Reinhardt: Fictionalization of an anti-Nazi resistance group

Traitor by Gudrun Pausewang: A German girl finds a Russian soldier hiding in her barn during WW2.

Max by Sarah Cohen-Scali: A boy born from a Nazi breeding program.

Old-School (20+ years old):

Tell Me What You See (2003) by Zoran Drvenkar: Teen gothic horror in a graveyard

The Bird is a Raven (2003) by Benjamin Lebert: Two boys share secrets in a train compartment

Crazy (1999) by Benjamin Lebert: a rebellious disabled teen boy

Girl from Mars (2003) by Tamara Bach: sapphic high school story

[foolishfoolsgold]

LORE💥💥💥

So I’m looking to get my fic printed when its done (and maybe but on a site too but we’ll see) and I have a big ass world building guide in there because I can’t be normal about anything! Here’s the section about common cell types that show up, all in black and white bc ooo official fancy. ID, mostly copy-pasted image text, under the cut

[Start ID: first image showcases red blood cells and neutrophils alongside their real-life counterparts, reading “Red everything: cars, uniforms, markings, even their flagella are red more often than not. Membrane comes in shades of red or salmon. One of the two cell types not to have humanlike skin tones, the other being neutrophils. Red blood cells, also called erythrocytes (err-ITH-row-sites), are plentiful in the blood and function to exchange gases (02 and CO2) throughout the body. Then there’s an asterisk leading to: in the story, RBCs can be seen delivering nutrients as well, but it's not really in their job description. In real life, nutrients are just free in the blood plasma -which is nonexistent in the CaW world- and RBCs play no part in its distribution.” Reb blood cells have tails with two lobes at the end, long non frilled ears and their usual uniforms. For neutrophils, it says: “Black scleras. Handheld knives are their weapon of choice. Membrane can come in muted shades of blue or purple, but may be paper-white. Neutrophils are the most common type of white blood cell, taking up as much as 70% of immune cells in the blood. They will destroy bacteria or infected cells without selectivity.” Neutrophils also have their usual white uniforms and basic ears, but have skinnier tails with dorsal lobes.

The next image has killer T cells and neutrophils. Killer ts are anatomically similar to neutrophils but lack dorsal tail lobes. Text reads: “-Skinny tails with a pair of retractable stingers that can inject deadly perforin into victims. Markings are brown, black, or dark navy blue. Generally don't fight with weapons, prefer to use their tails or knee-jerk punches. Take their orders from helper T cells, who act as commanders. "Pack hunters" who form close bonds with their squadrons of about 6-10 cells, each led by an experienced squad leader. Killer Ts are lymphocytes born in the bone marrow and matured in the Thymus, where they face a rigorous selection process that primes them for targeted destruction of infected cells, cancer cells, and sometimes bacteria.” Eosinophils are also similar to neutrophils: “Wield two-pronged spears, the heads of which grow as proteins on the tips of their tails until they're ready to be changed out, keeping the weapon sharp and shiny. Pink uniforms and purple markings. Eyes have no scleras- the eye color, usually shades of purple, takes up the whole eye minus the pupils. Eosinophils aren't as swift as other non-selective WBCs with bacteria or viruses. They do, however, come into play during inflammation, allergic responses and parasitic infections.” The third image has B cells and macrophages. For B cells: “Fight using handheld bazookas or machine guns. Tons of bird inspiration because B cells were first discovered in chickens. Can't actually fly. B cells are especially important when it comes to known pathogens. During or after an infection, they're able to make antibodies to help speed up future encounters.” For macrophages, which have no legs and look a bit like Ursula body-plan wise, “Cephalopod-like body plan with long tentacles for snaring pathogens. Fight with giant cleavers and other heavy-duty melee weapons. Macrophages are one of the largest and most powerful non-selective immune cells and are very versatile. Along with nghting infections, they also help keep the body clean.” Next up are natural killer cells and dendritic cells. For NKs: “Four legs in a centauroid body plan. Green camo-style patterns. Have the most freedom of any immune cell when it comes to weapon choice. NK cells are "lone wolf" hunters who, like killer Ts, also use perforin stingers to take down all sorts of pathogens. They're not as supervised as killer Ts and act on their own judgement.” The bottom half of NK cells are clothed unlike traditional centaurs, and the top piece covers both the chest and front legs. For dendritic cells, “Also sport green markings. Generally calm and collected in the face of crisis. Often described as treelike, hence the plant features. Dendritic cells act as coordinators on the front lines of an infection. They also manage antigens (basically tangible memories of an attack that can set off a planned response in the future).” Lastly are enterocytes. Unlike in canon, they wear a scrub-like uniform with gloves and shoe bags. Also unlike previous cells, they have big frilled ears. Text reads: “Huge tails covered in microvilli. Enterocytes of the small intestine have bigger tails and pink patterns, while those of the large intestine have lighter tails and blue markings. Work in warehouses along the digestive canal. Usually have thick NYC accents. Also called intestinal epithelial cells, enterocytes work to extract raw nutrients from digested food and make it available to cells across the body.” End ID.]

[stardustandrockets]

Here are some recs to read in lieu of the Boy Wizard series.

I asked my followers for recommendations on what to read instead of That Series™ and y'all definitely delivered. I included my own recs with little descriptions and most of the others are either on my tbr or completely new to me. I made sure to list whether it was a middle grade or young adult read.

I only put two of my favorite Diana Wynne Jones books on here, but anything she's written has magic in some form or fashion.

Books listed:

My personal favorites:

Slide 2: The Chronicles of Chrestomanci by Diana Wynne Jones (middle grade); A 7 book middle grade series that follows the world of the Chrestomanci—a nine-lived enchanter who oversees the use of magic. The 7 books follow different characters that all intersect with one another. Did I mention there are parallel worlds?

Slide 3: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones (middle grade); Seen the movie? The book is just like that but far more chaotic. It's still whimsical, but there's more depth and development. It's nostalgic even if you haven't read it before. It's also book 1 of a trilogy.

Slide 4: The Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. LeGuin (young adult); A series of 6 books that follows the wizard Ged. Very reminiscent of Lord of the Rings to me, but in a more approachable way. (Idk, I haven't read LotR. I've just seen the movies.)

Slide 5: The Redwall Series by Brian Jacques (middle grade); A 22 book series featuring talking animals as protagonists, this series set mainly around Redwall Abbey has something for everyone. The books don't have to be read in order, but publication order is suggested.

Slide 6: Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan (middle grade); A retelling of Greek myths. Neurodivergent rep, badass kids, humorous, and so full of heart! This series (and the others) aren't just for kids. I got into them late in the game (maybe early high school?) and revisited them as an adult and they're so good! Perfect for anyone wanting to dive into mythology.

Slide 7: TBR/Follower Recs (MG): Witchlings by Claribel Ortega, Nevermoore by Jessica Townsend, The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

Slide 8: TBR/Follower Recs (MG): The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton, Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, Septimus Heap by Angie Sage

Slide 9: TBR/Follower Recs (YA): Alanna the First Adventure by Tamora Pierce, Little Black Bird by Anna Kirchner, Young Wizards Series by Diane Duane (falls between MG & YA)

Slide 10: TBR/Follower Recs (YA): Summoner Series by Taran Matharu, Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (trilogy), The Dark is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper

[bigcats-birds-and-books]

"WORDS/BIRDS: A Madrone Lodge text" from Always Coming Home by Ursula K. Le Guin

What works for words may not work for things, and to say that because two sayings that contradict each other cannot both be true is not to say that opposites do not exist. The word is not the thing; word and thing have each their own way. It is true that a town is made of stone, clay, and wood; it is true that a town is made of people. These words do not deny each other at all. It is true that a bird’s way and the wind blowing make a feather fall; it is true that finding that feather in my way I understand that it has fallen for me. Those words deny each other in part. It is true that everything that is must be as it is, and that nothing is but the play of illusion upon the void; it is true that everything is and it is true that nothing is. These words deny each other wholly. The world of our life is the weaving that holds them together while holding them apart. The world is the bridge between the walls of a canyon, the banks of a river in an abyss, and words are the birds that fly across and across. They cannot be in two places at the same time. But they can cross and come back. It takes all one’s life long to cross the bridge to the other side. But the birds fly back and forth across the canyon, singing and speaking from one side to the other. -- Ursula K. Le Guin, Always Coming Home (356)

[therealvinelle]

Hi! My ask is a top 3. Top 3 favorite books, favorite songs and favorite movies. I would also like to know the last book you read, last song you listened and last movie you watched. Not for any particular reason, just want some recs lol

Oh this is a fun one!

Favorite books

I take it back, choosing three isn't fun at all.

Agatha Christie has had a little too much influence on me as a person to not get the number one slot. If I had to choose one of her books, let it be The Mirror Crack'd. Jason Rudd showing Miss Marple in to see his wife whom he just mercy killed in her sleep and Miss Marple reciting Tennessee as a eulogy was deeply formative for twelve-year-old Vinelle.

Philip K. Dick, specifically A Scanner, Darkly if I must choose

Les Misérables. Like Christie, it impacted me too much not to make the list.

Favorite songs

In the interest of giving you recs, I think I'm going to give you repeat songs that I will never grow tired of.

Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood by Santa Esmeralda, when the vibe is right for this one it's just right

Venom by Eminem, somehow my favorite Eminem song and I can't figure out why. I just really like what he does with the rhymes in this one and the song is always, always perfect for whatever I'm doing at the moment.

Drøm Hardt - Requiem 1 by Kaizers Orchestra, which surprises me too because it's not one of their flashier songs, but it also isn't one I ever skip when I'm listening to them. It's just nice. All of Kaizers is nice, every so often I remember the fact that I have tickets booked for their reunion tour and the sun shines just a bit brighter.

Favorite movies

Lawrence of Arabia and The Bridge on the River Kwai, directed by David Lean. Yes, these are two different movies, but I love them equally and they are weirdly the same movie in that exactly the things I loved about Lawrence are there in Bridge, meaning I have two movies with these wonderful things. Possibly three, if Doctor Zhivago is as good (same director, overlapping cast) as I hope it'll be.

The Silence of the Lambs starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. It's just the best movie in the world, the pinnacle of feminist filmmaking to the point where I was very surprised to find out it wasn't classified as a chic flick.

Unforgiven starring, produced, and directed by Clint Eastwood. You should watch a few 50's and 60's Westerns first, but I'm a snob when I say that - really you can just sit down, giddy up and enjoy a beautiful movie about elderly cowboys who angst about what it means to take a life.

Last book, song, movie

Book: I've just barely gotten started on Ursula le Guin's Left Hand of Darkness, however I keep getting distracted so this could take me years. Or a weekend if I get the mania.

Song: No singular ones (unless you count me currently blasting Kaizers Orchestra to determine which of their songs to recommend) I've been abusing my Eurovision playlist lately... The Sunstroke Project, Vesna, Go_A, and so on. Oh and uh Hamilton. Violently unsexy but so very catchy, one might even say I'm helpless.

Movie: Halfway through Remains of the Day, I'm at the part where the lord of the house asks his butler to explain the birds and the bees to his adult godson.