#which is a noble goal but as fun as it is i can't ignore the inconsistent writing

[petr1kov]

while i still enjoyed yellowjackets season 2 for the most part, the whole season was already displaying a worrying lack of direction, imo. it really feels like they're making shit up as they go, and while i don't think that's necessarily bad, it definitely is bad on a show that depends so much on maintaining a mystery over what happened on a past that haunts the present day narrative, yet seems to keep changing at will. i felt that the characters, both on the present and on the past, were not consistent with how they were portrayed on season 1, which is a big problem for a show that focuses so much on the psyche of the protagonists

[sleepyowlwrites]

Happy STS, Sleepy!! It might take me a little to answer your STS ask since I have to gather my favorite tidbits about my series, but in the meantime, I'd like to request an infodump in return 👀 Which WIP is your favorite and why? Anything you want to ramble/vent/gush about? How is writing going? Also, are you doing Nanowrimo this year?

take as long as you need. I still have asks from a month ago because I don't know how to answer them yet.

my favorite is Youth Story because it has no plot, only vibes, and I get to do all the character work I want, so much dialogue, I have ten povs and they all have their unique voices which is fun, it's slightly surreal slice-of-life with powers that are just there, and we are exploring SO MANY EMOTIONS! yay!

I haven't been thinking about it so there are no new details to gush about on that end. I was thinking about Summon Story in the car today while we picked my mom up from the airport, so I guess I can talk about that.

I'm a big fan of the idea that a pov character isn't actually the main character of the story, or at least not at first. in summon story, Zan is the pov, and it's really not his story? like, stories happen from the point of view of some random guy all the time, but in this case, the plot really has much more to do with other people, and only gradually does the pov protagonist earn being the main character.

which is very final fantasy, which is the point. in FFX and FFXII, for instance, this happens. Vaan and Tidus are the playable character, the main one, the pov character, but it's not their story. for Tidus, he's watching Yuna's story play out and acting his part in it, and for Vaan, it's Ashe's story and he's slowly becoming involved and invested in it.

in summon story, Zan is just a random summoner who gradually builds up his questing party but he really doesn't have anything to do with the larger plot until it just comes crashing down on him. as he takes on cases and gets to know his friends, more strange things begin to happen, the plot is building up and Zan becomes less random and more integral. in the beginning, he's really just the guy whose eyes we're seeing through, not the main character. he earns that right once he chooses to interact with the plot rather than sidequesting.

the other characters are also not main characters, but they come pre-invested in the plot, which we only figure out as Zan gets to know them. Erin's familial contract with the spirit Tivoc is under attack because that spirit is trying to avoid being pulled into another contract with a sacrifice it can't ignore, because abir (that type of spirit) are noble and never break a contract. Shae has been looking for her half-sister who she had previously believed to be dead, but heard rumors that lead her to think she might be alive, and she suspects that their father might've had something to do with it all. the father is in business with the guy that is investing in possessed dragons, which is a TERRIBLE IDEA btw, and Shae is trying to look into it while also learning how to be a summoner. Wryn became semi-possessed after a botched summoning by a guy who worked for the dragon-possesser guy.

Zan is just Zan. but after he gradually learns about the backstories of his friends, he becomes invested in their lives, and consequently, the nonsense that dragon-guy is trying to pull, which involves like, war and stuff, oh dear.

so the story goes from a super close-up to a large pan-zoom, where you can see everything that's going on, and then it goes back to focusing on Zan, with the knowledge of what all else is happening but also that our plucky lad really IS the main character, because he's involved in all of the stuff now.

and this sounds really cool so I hope I can pull it off as I'm writing it.

thanks for asking, Caramel!

oh, nano, right. I...think probably no, not the main event. I'm gonna do a more modest goal, maybe my usual 20k, maybe even less, because I don't know how it's gonna go. altho, since in events past it's been my goal to write every day, rather than hit my word counts and that's not my goal this time around...I could do a higher goal and try to do heavier days instead. not sure. but I will be doing a specific word count goal during November, just probably not the 50k real deal.

I'd love to, I'd really like to even if I think I couldn't make it, just because I don't mind shooting for the moon, but I remember last year and how busy and generally tired I was. and this year I'm fulltime. so.

[universallychaoticpan]

Hi can I request a levi x reader. Feel free to ignore.

A royalty AU, where the reader is a princess with a cold demeanor and Levi as a recently hired Knight.

So when they first meet, levi instantly hate her for her cold personality and thinks that she's the same as every other princess as arrogant and snobbish.

Then when the castle got under attack, he realised that the cold personality was just a defence mechanism to protect herself. When the reader managed to personally kill and get of all the terrorist, Levi realised that she is actually very playful and childish to those she knows and very knowledgeable and skillful in using weapons to protect herself, but these personality is only shown to those she trust a lot.

Levi then makes it his goal to be someone the reader can trust and rely on when she becomes queen and hopefully become something more than friends.

Who's ready for the ending of aot- spoiler I'm not but the angst potential is too tempting. Anyway I hope you enjoy this, I really had fun writing it. Thanks for requesting!

<3

Levi supposed he hated you because you were far too much like him. From the day he'd met you he'd seemed to gave been given a rather unwelcome taste of his own medicine as he was introduced to your distant demeanor and cold exterior. You weren't rude; no, you had no room in your carefully constructed image to be rude. You simply kept to yourself, to the point where to anyone who didn't know you would think you crass and arrogant.

At least that's what Levi had thought.

He was used to people turning their noses up at him. It wasn't as though he was expecting you to be any different, really, with your proud lineage and life of grandeur. He had a reputation for himself yes, but it didn't mean he was welcome in the circles of the elite. It also didn't mean he wanted to be. The whole reason he was in your employment was a mistake, really. He'd been out of place as a 'common peasant' among the noble sons of families vying for your attention. But somehow, after graduating top of his class from training, he was plucked from the ranks of hopefuls and set to work as one of your personal guards.

He couldn't deny you were beautiful. You were polished and practiced, every reaction carved gracefully into your face like fine marble. Like him, you kept most people at a distance, which he respected, no matter how much he chafed under your scrutinizing gaze. I don't want to be here any more than you want me here, he wanted to shout. Your rehearsed serenity enraged him like few things could, but he had no reason for it. You simply drove him mad, until the fateful day you finally broke.

/

When terror had struck the palace, hard and bitter, you'd been sewing, Levi standing at the door to your private chambers when an explosion rocked the floor under his feet. Rushing in, he saw you pulling the needle from your finger, painted with your blood up to the eye.

"What happened," you demanded, and for once Levi no longer saw the privileged princess he'd been working for; no. In front of him was a young woman with the same fire in her eyes as the top captains who had trained him.

"Not sure," he replied, "but out best option is to stay put. We can't risk putting you in danger."

For the first time since you'd met, you actually laughed, your head falling back as you walked over and pulled his dagger from his belt. Cutting your skirt until it barely grazed your knees, you ripped you door open and gestured out with the blade in your hand.

"The main corps tasked with protecting the palace are still a few hours away with my parents. Now I'm not sure who is attacking us, but they've gotta be hella stupid to do it now. The reining King isn't here, and the only ones around are under skilled recruits, civilian servants, and us."

It was clear what you wanted to do, but Levi pushed back.

"All the more reason to stay hidden until someone comes to help. If they realize that your parents aren't here, that makes their next most likely target you. And I don't know if you know this, but you dying on my watch doesn't exactly spell promotion for me."

"Seems to me like the biggest risk right now is leaving me alone. So how about I find myself a sword and we go fight these sons of bitches."

With that, you tore down the hallway, a dagger the only thing in your hand as Levi was forced after you.

Goddammit y/n, he thought to himself. Do you have any idea how reckless this is?

But as he turned the corner you had vanished around, he was left speechless as he came upon you removing your dagger from a man's chest, his eyes already glazed over as you wiped the blood on the remnants of you gown. You pulled his sword from his waist, slipping the dagger under your own belt as you turned to him.

You looked like nothing short of the fighter he had been trained to be; quick, skilled, and surprising in more ways than one.

"I'm up by one," you laughed, "I assume you like winning, right Levi? Call it a training exercise, why don't we. Whoever racks up the most wins by the time this is over is the victor."

Stepping close, you redid the top button of his jacket, his heart beginning to beat faster against his will as he felt your hands on him.

"And I'll let you know now, diplomacy wasn't the only thing I was trained in."

"Don't you dare die," he muttered, his cheeks hot as you stepped back again.

"Of course not," you agreed, nodding your head. Still, your smile made him feel like you were setting him up.

"That would ruin all the fun."

/

By the time evening fell, you knew your enemy. Nothing more than an under prepared group of mercenaries, the likes of which were taken captive all the time all across the nations surrounding your own. So with grace and ease you continued to cut down your enemies until you heard the furious pounding of horse hooves thundering towards the palace gates. From your place at the ruined tower, you and Levi watched watched with satisfaction as the well trained corps fanned out through the halls, flushing out any enemies you had missed. Already, he could see you disappear again, your eyes painted over with the far away glaze that meant you had out yourself back on your pedestal.

"Why do you do that?"

Snapping your head to him, he saw you again; the real one, who knew how to laugh in the middle of a battle, who handled herself better than many soldiers he'd trained with when a foe with a sword faced her.

"Do what?"

"That," he continued, gesturing to you. "Vanish like that. Get so far away."

"Oh," you chuckled, "that. Well you see, Levi, this kingdom's court is quite fond of bloodsport in a very peculiar manor. They tear you apart in here, doesn't matter if your born from nothing or the next ruler of this country. They watch and wait for you to fail, so they can pick at the scraps and laugh all the while. Everyone is a vulture in here, even me. And I'm sure you can see why the sound of a girl who goes around cutting off her skirts and playing with knives isn't what you would call desirable out here.

A girl like that sounds crazy."

"I disagree."

Levi's voice was sure as ever, dark eyes boring into yours while you challenged him with your gaze.

"Oh no? Tell me then, what does a woman like that sound like, because I will tell you it isn't a princess."

"Quite right," he agreed. "She sounds like a queen. Like someone ready and willing to fight for her people before the first man falls. You sound like someone who walks at the front of an attack, formidable as you are incredible. Your people will tell stories about you, y/n, that I'm sure of."

Taking your hand he grasped it firmly, eyes hard as he drew you in. Even now, you looked ready to fight, your body leaning in as you refused to break your stare.

"You like to win. How about proving me right."

Smiling cheekily, you nodded once, taking your turn to land the final blow.

"Only if you promise to fight at my side."

As long as there are fights to be won, y/n, you'll never go alone into battle. Not as long as I breathe.

Of that, I give you my word.

[princeescaluswords]

*twirls fabulously in my extravagant floor length fur coat, and the hat of fandom logic in a fancy ballroom* Kinda suspicious that Talia, a revered and powerful alpha who could full shift, perished in the fire yet a ~mere~ beta survived. Peter lived, but no other beta did. Did he strike a deal with the nemeton? To siphon power from his pack mates, his own flesh and blood? He decimated the mighty and noble Hale bloodline! We could've had a show all about them had it not been for his megalomaniac tendencies. And he sucked at killing because he didn't even properly kill Kate who was at his mercy. He was a sad excuse for a werewolf. OR!!! he was definitely in cahoots with her, he loved her, so he was sloppy on purpose, which is why she came back a nagual and they teamed up so easily.

See how fun it is? You can fill in all sorts of parts of the story that the writers of Teen Wolf didn't have the time or the interest to tackle. You can express your creativity using characters and settings and plots created by others for other people's enjoyment. It's a fantastic and wonderful part of fandom.

But you also did several things while pursuing this sarcastic parody of fandom activity that -- even as you mean it to be a comedic exaggeration -- puts it on a higher level than eighty percent of the fandom activity I see on a daily basis. That's the first thing I noticed, and I'd like to address the individual ways you did this, but I can sum it up with -- you have a degree of respect for the original material.

You didn't ignore events on the screen for your head canons. You didn't diminish Talia because it would make her more sympathetic; you remembered what Peter actually did and didn't do so you didn't forget that Peter has a pattern of attacking his own flesh and blood repeatedly on the screen for his own benefit. It's different than when people claim that Deaton was needlessly hostile to Derek by conveniently forgetting that Derek threw the first punch, or when they propose that Stiles would side with Peter over Scott when he literally got angry with Scott repeatedly because he didn't treat Peter as an ever-present threat.

You didn't neglect motivations. You didn't pretend that Peter didn't want the power he literally said he wanted, but you also didn't pretend that Peter wasn't in danger when he was trapped in that basement with his family and wanted to survive. You simply argued that he would stoop to ruthless means to both obtain that power and to survive. These are pretty consistent and understandable motivations. This behavior is in opposition to the meta and stories where Deaton steals the Hale spark for Scott for no other reason then the creator of the head canon wants to make him a villain and can't be bothered to think of a motivation that makes sense. Or the endemic head canon where Deucalion wanted to trick Theo into killing his chimeras but don't bother to explain why he chose not to kill Theo when Theo was weak or helpless before him after several fights with the Beast. Why would someone who had "piled up the bodies" hesitate at one more if that was his goal?

You didn't use racist, sexist, or classist shortcuts in order to make your point. You didn't argue that as a rich white man, Peter would obviously place his survival and rise to power as more important than any other consideration (though we definitely could talk about that). You didn't imply that Peter was seduced by Kate's oily charms like a fool because he was a straight man. Unlike many other members of the fandom who act like Deaton was required to help others with no compensation or even a request because ... well, that's what they've been taught by racist entertainment is what wise black men should do. Or somehow acting as if Scott refusing to allow Derek and Peter to murder people is 'angry stubbornness,' which happens to be a common stereotype of Latinos.

Again, you have respect for the original material. Respect doesn't mean slavish obedience to canon or even to the characterizations. It means that if you're going to turn Deaton into an evil mastermind you give him a legitimate motivation or at least make him a significant threat. Do you how many times Deaton is revealed to be 'behind everything' yet has not done a single thing he can do to protect himself from the inevitable resolution? (It's like the gruesome execution that invariably follows is the point.) It means if you're going to turn Scott into a tyrant who lets people die because he wants to be a lacrosse star, you actually have to have him do things to make sure he becomes a lacrosse star, more than just not obeying the nearest white woobie.

I can see others -- many others -- clicking their tongue and saying to themselves, "He's just saying that because he hates Peter." They're right. I am saying this because I hate Peter, because I am supposed to hate Peter. The production made it clear that he's a callous, selfish con artist who doesn't care who he hurts. When I watch him savage Lydia, a teenage girl who didn't even know he existed on a lacrosse field; watch him use her to force Stiles to help him but make Stiles leave without even bothering to see if she's going to be okay; when I watch him possess her, drive her mad, and whisper demeaning oh-so-funny comments in her ear, only to discard her after he's done; and then finally ignore her until he needs to use her again, I'm supposed to hate him. When I see him ally with the monster who burned his family alive, when I see him recognize that something terrible is happening to his nephew and do nothing about it, when I see him manipulate his long-lost daughter and then throw her across the room when she gets angry about him trying to use her to kill her friend, I'm supposed to hate him.

I'm not supposed to pretend those things didn't happen. I'm not supposed to create a fictional alternative nonsensical title of Left Hand to justify those actions (even though, strangely enough, the very concept of it being his role in the pack means he's a tremendous failure) and then hold other characters responsible for other actions in the same vein. How many times have these people made someone hate Scott for not 'killing the villains' while Peter is standing alive and healthy in the same room.

But I could do this. I could very well create an alternate world where Peter was right to murder Laura, violate Scott, terrorize Stiles, drive Lydia mad, mislead Derek, and betray Malia, but I think it's reasonable if I want to claim the title of a fan of Peter and the show; if I want to make free use of the creative efforts of the writers, actors, producers, etc. involved with the show; that I do the barest minimum to have the changes I envision make sense? Beyond, of course, my nonexistent desire to screw Ian Bohen.

But, I'm sure that a dozen people will say "I don't care about canon or about characterization or about common sense as long as I can get my jollies by having a multimillionaire white male serial killer murder a black man and a Latino teenager, and no one should listen to any criticism about me doing so." After all, they do it every day.