#yes i legit tagged my fangirl speak

[disneynerdpumpkin]

Welp, it seems every other Disnerd (and even non-Disnerds!) is making posts about Once Upon a Studio, so as a Disnerd I guess I should jump in on this too!

Seeing all of the Disney characters interact with each other was AMAZING!

I wish we got to see The Nightmare Before Christmas characters tho :( That would've been pretty awesome (and there weren't any Pixar characters smh which makes no sense since they're Disney too, just a different studio partner)

As a Disney Pinocchio fan I was delightfully surprised that Pinocchio was one of the first characters to emerge! (The voice wasn't very accurate, too high-pitched but still so cute!) I honestly thought that they weren't going to put him in at all, cuz Disney tends to not pay attention to Pinocchio nearly as much as the other movies. AND HIS CUTE WIDDLE FACE OH MY GOODNESS MY LITTLE BLORBO!!!!! And he was trying not to laugh when Louis fell out of his picture frame XD like oh my goodness his little opera-gloved hand trying to hide his smile. Pinocchio has broken the cuteness meter

TIANA AND PINOCCHIO INTERACTING WAS SOMETHING I NEVER KNEW I NEEDED IT WAS SO CUTEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEK!!!

And Mickey stopping at Walt's picture, and "Feed the Birds" piano instrumental to accompany it???!?!?!?!?!!!! You better believe I cried :sobs uncontrollably: (for those non-Disnerds that might not have understood, "Feed the Birds" from Mary Poppins was Walt Disney's favorite song)

Moana, Flounder, Merlin, and Mad Hatter interacting with each other was AWESOME!!!

And the bit when Prince Charming loses his shoe on the stairs and Max grabbing it and running off and him yelling "ERIC, GET YOUR DOG!!!" I can't even I CAN'T EVEN THAT WAS AMAZING OMIGOSH AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH

and then Cinderella was like "Go, Max, go!" She was legit ENCOURAGING HIM to run away! (I'm pretty sure, from this information, that she plays pranks on her prince often) why was this short blessed upon us?!?!

AND THEY MADE CINDERELLA'S GOWN SILVER!!!!! NOT BLUE!!!!! Cuz it's not blue, it's actually silver (and Disney seems to disregard this a lot of the time)! BUT THEY ACTUALLY MADE IT SILVER akjhkjhroiqrowoewvwpqwomiepovie21ueiuv9upwe9pv;";ad's;dw!

QUASIMODO SINGING "WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR" OMIGOSH HIS VOICEEEEEEEEEE

AND JIMINY CRICKET ENDING "WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR" WITH CLIFF EDWARD'S ORIGINAL VOICE?!?!?!?!?! WHAT IS HAPPENING!?!?!?!!!?!?! WHAT DID WE DO TO DESERVE THIS

the elevator bits were hilarious XD and Baymax looking adorable as ever :D

and they put in TREASURE PLANET AAAAAAHHHHH

they finally had Mickey and Minnie NOT wearing their typical outfits (red shorts and red and white polka dots dress) so that was great!

and of course Winnie the Pooh characters!!! All looking so cute, as usual! Everyone stuggling to get Pooh out of the picture frame was genius!!!

And ROBIN HOOD AND LITTLE JOHN picking up Scrooge's moneybags and saying "Ooh-de-lally"!!!!!!!

And Allan-A-Dale providing the soft instrumental music for "When You Wish Upon A Star"?!?!?!?!?!?! AND Mirabel?!?! AND Scat Cat?!?!?!?!?!!?!?? AND MULTIPLE CHARACTERS PROVIDING THE VOCALS?!?!?!

AND PETER PAN, WENDY, JOHN, AND MICHAEL'S FLIGHT UPSTAIRS?!??!?!?!

AND ROBIN WILLIAMS VOICING GENIE?!?!?!?!?!!? (tbh I actually didn't know it was him until someone pointed that out. which is funny cuz I was like "this sounds SO MUCH like Robin Williams, who did the voicing?") (so they took one Robin William's voice clips from improvising.) fun fact: Robin Williams improvised so much for Aladdin that they literally had 16 hours of material to work with!

Bruh Timon and Pumbaa calling Olaf "Frosty" was amazing

AND OSWALD THE LUCKY RABBIT?!?!?!?!?!?! OH MY GOODNESS

DISNEY IS LITERALLY SPOILING THE FANS!!!!! THEY KNOW WHAT THE FANS WANT OHMYGOSH!!!

:internal screaming:

Honestly I would've loved to see some interaction between Geppetto and Pinocchio (DISNEY I'M WAITING TO SEE WHOLESOME FATHER-SON BONDING BETWEEN THEM!!!!!!) I only saw the two of them at the end :(

But seeing all the characters together (except TNBC and Pixar for some reason) was amazing!!!!!!!!

LIKE OH MY GOODNESS I CANT EVEN LIST EVERYTHING IT WAS SO AMAZING (like ima have to come back to this post and add more!!!!)

[acourtofquestions]

Empire of Storms Part 1 thoughts, theories & a VERY VERY long post of rambling:

(+ this title as a spoiler warning; heads up to my fellow fans & first time readers (esp. those semi-tagged in this post), I address a lot of Part 1 & possibly up to Chapter 52 of EoS;-) I am ALSO on my first read just finishing said 52 so no spoilers for me past that as I go through Fireheart as well plz, & thx!

I will also be posting a far shorter better edited version of this post next :-)

Oh good gods this book is going to destroy me in the best way possible😅😅🤦‍♀️😭😁😬😆🤣🙃❤️‍🔥🖤🫶

Long writing/reading (I HAVE LOTS OF THOUGHTS & FEELINGS & NEED TO SCREAM IN WIVERN FANGIRL NONSENSE! So, this post will probably jump around quite a bit between chapters, thoughts, theories, reactions, & randomness; read/skim at your own rambling risk😅 also in advance for missed autocorrects I TRIED😂) “round up” for Part 1 of EoS. & yes I have been reading a LOT (whilst VERY busy😂😭), so this blog’s posts are in desperate need of a catch up & will probably only grow more hectic as alas, my library & brain demand to know what happens next NOW😂. You have been warned this post & blog is about to be more incoherent than usual! — And as I said this post is LONG (If your thinking I’m kidding; legit I think this is 20 something pages long; consider it here for historical purposes… & I had a VERY long drive with no books😂)

— NOW —

The organization of parts is interesting, we go from Nightfall, to The Fire-Bringer, to Fireheart. It feels like a full circle from night to day; from learning to being, and showing Aelin’s claim (not from Elena, not from her powers, but from her). The heart of Terrasen, the fire for the world (esp. against the Valg). … It’s also scaring the heck out of me with her self-sacrificial tendencies & the VERY intense vibe (from the first few chapters this story advances into a “final chapter vibe” yet it’s only the first few; it’s reminding me of Deathly Hallows almost? — which is esp. confusing CAUSE I STILL HAVE 3 BOOKS LEFT… and we’re already this intense😬😅soooo MAAS PLEASE DON’T YOUR DARE HURT A HAIR ON ANY OF THEM!!) P.S. for this note; it’s also making my shipping fuel go from 180 to infinity cause she’s his Fireheart🥹 (If only “worried over liking the ship” HoF first read me could see me now😂 @ goddess-aelin 🫶YOU WERE SO RIGHT👏). And generally it’s just been cool to see how the entire story & series has shifted so much (yet kept its heart ;-) !

So, Generally speaking: I’ve loved the first half of Nightfall & The Fire-Bringer (As I’ve loved the series). From the pace & many perspectives, to the plot twists & Easter egg style hints, and the writing with straight-up foreshadowing & full-circle series arcs (many of which have had big moments interwoven & reaching peak within this book). There has been some great character development (many beautiful lines/moments) a lot of raw emotion (crying, laughing, and all of the above), & entertaining interactions as my favorite piece of this book has been all these stories finally crossing paths (& within that developing relationships, friendships, families, courts, enemies, allies, etc.) for the “New World” that’s coming.

Nightfall:

“Elena sent up a final prayer on a pillar of smoke rising from the valley floor that the unborn, faraway scions of this night, heirs to a burden that would doom or save Erilea, would forgive her for what she was about to do.”

Elena I don’t know if I can forgive you for what you’re about to do😅😅 the plan here is long coming, as Lysandras “theory” further confirms:

"The more it seems like this was all planned, laid out long ago. Erawan had decades before Aelin was born to strike decades during which no one with her powers, or Dorian's powers, existed to challenge him. Yet, as fate or fortune would have it, he moves now. At a time when a Fire-Bringer walks the earth." It was all horrifying, impossible, but—so much of their lives defied logic or normalcy. The shifter next to him proved that. "Morath is unleashing its horrors," Lysandra said. "Maeve stirs across the sea. Two goddesses walk hand in hand with Aelin. More than that, Mala and Deanna have watched over her the entirety of her life. But perhaps it wasn't watching. Perhaps it was ... shaping. So they might one day unleash her, too. And I wonder if the gods have weighed the costs of that storm. And deemed the casualties worth it."

& previous lines on “all the players in the unfinished game” (I’m getting S&B Ruin & Rising vibes (for those of you Grishaverse fans; which btw one of these days I need a whole post about parallels & these two series, cause just the stag and lord of the north alone. I AM INTRIGUED & do love both fandoms ;-) + I think the crows would fit so well & it would be wonderfully & utterly chaotic🤣).

So, my general concern is this theory & warning everyone keeps giving Aelin about “the price”; from Rolfe’s tattoo map & warning question: “"That was the price of my power. What shall yours be, Aelin Galathynius?" She didn't reply to him before storming out. Though Deanna's voice had echoed in her mind. The Queen Who Was Promised.” To clever Elide’s question: “Was that the price for the humans they'd once been-magic that was somehow immune to what flowed naturally in this world? Or had the choice been taken from them, as surely as their souls had been stolen, too?” to crucial warnings like Brannon: “We burn not just within our magic, but also in our very souls. For better or worse.” & the danger continuing to grow like that of the FULL Deanna scene:

“And she said to him, in a voice that was deep and hollow, young and old, "Every key has a lock. Tell the Queen Who Was Promised to retrieve it soon, for all the allies in the world shall make no difference if she does not wield the Lock, if she does not put those keys back with it. Tell her flame and iron, together bound.”

She is the one, she has to get the lock, and she will have to pay the price for both (her ancestors & the darkness created in centuries of Erawan); one that will be heavy (one Elena failed to do; and I somewhat worry is because while she did sacrifice herself, her friends, her people, her kingdom, even letting Brannon fall to ruin (Brannon; the only one who ever successfully sealed it, because he sacrificed her mother, his love, “My mother died to forge that Lock!”) she did not let Gavriel “that which she most loved” fall; she tried to do it alone & was left with no option but to leave it to someone else; another era, another heir); now Aelin carries every thread, plot, battle aligning; the power she wields & sheer force of it, the weight of her crown & every choice it comes with, the price it will demand (the one she has spent a lifetime running from; “my crown is just another set of shackles”; the one Mala may have been shaping her to be able to make even through experiencing tragedy & turbulence in decisions over & over again). The warning in every choice; including the person she loves most (Rowan’s fear of “The people you love are just weapons used against you.”) “This thing between them, the force of it, could devour the world.” Her terror in that; struggling to allow them to go for the front lines while she survives, no longer alone & no longer able to take it all on, but struggling to let them in on the “master plan”. Struggling because even as she does, it weighs on them too: “Aelin was trembling, a hand on her friend-face so white and drawn that any harsh words he'd reserved for her were unnecessary. His queen knew the cost. It had taken her so damn long to trust any of them to do anything. If Aedion roared at her now, even if he still yearned to ... Aelin might never delegate again. Because if Lysandra hadn't been in the water when things had gone so, so badly…” And they do see it; the on-growing burden on Aelin’s shoulders & how she’s carrying the weight of it; both as a queen (despite her current lack of crown) another long-coming plot; as spoken by Chaol: “There she was, that queen looking out at him, a hint of the ruler she was becoming. And it knocked the breath out of him, because it made him feel so strangely young-when she now seemed so old.” And turning her desperate & weary; heavier slowly: “Since Rowan had gone, since word of Rifthold's fall had arrived, Aelin had been half present. Distant.” line after line “She'd grown quieter the farther north they'd traveled. Perhaps weeks on the road had sapped her.” They fear for her “And he wondered if Aelin was somehow watching the archipelago, and the seas, and the skies, as if she might never see them again.” for the price of such powers “We have yet to see the full extent of Erowan’s darkness. And I think we have yet to see the full extent of Aelin’s fire.” & They try to help “After tonight, depending on what the lords reported he'd try to find her a quiet place to rest for a day or two before they made the last leg of the trek to Orynth.” desperate to stop it “"She's not some unwitting pawn." He'd defy the gods, find a way to slaughter them, if they threatened Aelin, if they deemed these lands a worthy sacrifice to defeat the Dark King.” to protect her “Rowan at her right, Aedion at her left, Lysandra at her back; nothing and no one would get to their queen.” all the while they know they cannot as Rowan’s line painfully says: “This was war. These lands would endure far worse in the coming days and months. His queen, no matter how he tried to shield her, would endure far worse.” (Also the key word endure, frequently used for the “lost children of Terrasen” as I call their grouping). To even Aelin’s own words “She was a liar, and a murderer, and a thief, and Aelin had a feeling she'd be called much worse by the end of this war.”

This is where I fear Nightfall will come to rise in Fire-Heart:

I say all of this to say I get concerned when Maas feels the need to start a book with such warning; in both the price, and person paying it… Aelin is too much like Elena… Celaena has lost too much to lose anyone else (“And she would not add another name of her beloved dead to her flesh.” — “"We'll get her back, Aelin." "I can't bury another friend." "You won't."”)… and carrying it so heavily I worry she may overpay her share on their behalf’s. And between that & the many conflicting & star aligning forces of Rowaelin I worry the conflicts may grow; originally it was him not feeling “enough” for her because he’s a Prince not a King, he has no money no land no army (thankfully we are done with that piece because he can give her everything🥹 of his heart and that’s all she needs). We have the inevitable Maeve’s vendetta. We have my growing fear with the Carranam bond getting drained; like it almost did with Deanna. And the quotes all warning that their world may lead to another being destroyed, one or the other; “This thing between them, the force of it, could devour the world. And if they picked it, picked them, it might very well cause the end of it.”

… and though this isn’t due to Nightfall I am just concerned (I try to avoid spoilers (and continue to do so); but I already know it’s got a cliffhanger) and I have read enough Maas books (and just fandoms in general) to fear the 1-2 punch of “THEY’RE ALL GONNA DIE😱 — PSYCH😜 THEY ARE ALL FINE😅 — JUST KIDDING EVERYONE YOU LOVE IS DEAD!☠️” + the amount of possible brainwashing between Valg, Wyrdstones, and now gods… I’m just nervous (& still not 100% sure someone isn’t already secretly possessed).

MY DO NOT KILL LIST IS GETTING TOO LONG: From ASTERIN (scared me half to death SARAH) & Manon + 13 (obvi💁‍♀️), Abraxos & Fleetfoot & Evangeline (had to break my “no Google” rule to assure the latter twos safety *phew*), Aelin & Rowan (DON’T YOU EVEN DARE), Lysandra, Aedion, Dorian (HE’S BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH; STOP HURTING HIM), Elide (just let her be happy & home & make Marion proud dammit), Chaol (he’s not even here & I’m still a little mad BUT STILL) & Yrene (she hasn’t even fully come in yet & I don’t care I love her already) + Nesryn who babe, you know I love you, but I need more history & perspective to trust you fully (you seem cool, but I’m worried the lack of knowledge about you means your gonna lie or die, & it’s just too soon after Sorscha), Emrys (your safe in Mistward; STAY THERE), Sam (beloved, you’re still on this list; even though I know how it ended, & really do LOVE Rowaelin, I just still miss you; & want a Multiverse of happy endings for EVERYONE).

— HOWEVER —

I hope Fire-Heart will bring:

More Manorian; and let’s be honest ALL the ships (+ it could get realll literal with the set-up right now😂 the ships are LITERALLY sailing🤣) of course I CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH ROWAELIN (though Fire-Bringer was great 🥵 THEY FINALLY SAID I LOVE YOU🥹👏) & I am SO HERE FOR Lysandra & Aedion! … also what’s up with Elide & Lorcan? (Her last name + his first name TOO SIMILAR😂)

More interactions in general between all the characters from ships, to friendships, to even enemies (who often also become friends😂) honestly might be my fav part about this book so far; seeing it all line up & crossover; (from aforementioned Elide & Lorcan), (to previous & hopefully again soon) Manon & Aelin, the FULL team with THE THIRTEEN (Asterin & our crew would be absolute chaos & I would love every second of it), Sorrel too! AND VESTA! Petrah Blueblood (I find her VERY interesting as a character), Elide & the “lost children of Terrassen” finally meeting; maybe some more Ren & Bane updates (cause I wonder about them & what their up to) to Abraxos & Fleetfoot (PLEASE I NEED THIS… just don’t eat eachother😅😂) & yes I do STILL miss Evangeline & Fleetfoot; though I am happy they are safe; while the fire trick was cool it was SO not sustainable, & I do trust Murtaugh… and these full circles; Ansel’s (presumed) reintroduction & the TAB throw-backs/crossovers (plus NOW Crochans?). —

Exploring things of the sort; what is the other side of the “Crochan’s tale”, what is Elide’s true bloodline, how does the new Mala knowledge effect Aelin & Dorian?

Who are the Cadre (& learning more of their history; both with Aedion & Gavriel (that blood oath better not pass to children), Lorcan (Elide is already helping there thankfully) the other twin because I already stan Fenrys, and really Rowan because who are they really? Despite the “blood oath” reasoning they spent centuries together there has to be more to it). I want to get to know the twins & their whole Yin & Yang balance; also what is Fenrys power? (why does Rowan let him go after Aelin in the water instead, he must be pretty dang powerful & more so than Rowan to be her best option in his eyes)! What other histories does Rowan have (are the “witches” one of them)? What else is Maeve (I will never trust her) hiding?

Why is Erowan this way (who really killed Aelin’s parents)? Are we POSITIVE the Ilken aren’t the creatures Elide saw in the basement (wow that sounds extra ominous😂)?

Will Chaol show up (how is his team & the southern allies coming along)?

What is the limitation to Lysandra’s powers (can they find a way to trick the Terrasen flower into “blooming”)?

Is their further crossover between these series (ACOTAR & CC)?

Explain further how certain things work such as mates (Rowan has two? Celaena/Aelin too maybe? & what that means for others)… And just a lil’ fluff (Rowan & Fleetfoot, the team all together, shenanigans & some side plots for funsies) maybe?…

I theorize Fire-Heart will:

Confirm Rowaelin as mates (they practically have already but I want to hear the words). Plus plenty more of them just being them (their every moment is so detailed & precious). Maybe even some more moments with Prince of Doranelle vibes ;-)

Show that there are multiple Carranams (possibly a dyad between Aelin & Dorian. Rowan & Aelin being the mates balance; making Aelin & Dorian the “friendship / rulers / fates” balance). & Without a limit to their power; the danger of over-draining others (Deanna causing Rowan to feel “thunder steal his magic” is CONCERNING & Dorian’s magic is hungry for it).

Confirm that Aelin can use shadowfire, moonfire, & power without limit. Explore her other gifts such as water & healing. Possibly introduce her as a powerful enough wielder to use all the forms (as briefly referenced as a possibility among others before).

Confirm Lysandra & Aedion as mates or at least a couple. (Also use it to explore Aedion’s history & introduce the Bane or at least their set-up).

Bring back the Mycenians since Lysandra & Aelin’s masterplan worked (THE DRAGON THEORY WAS RIGHT)!

Set sail on Manorian in a way that is explanatory/foreshadowing. (Possibly tap into Dorian’s immortality? & power exploration explanations. And go into Manon’s ability to forge a new alliance of peace between MANY groups; not because I’m suggesting the sexist “get married” nonsense so many are giving Aelin, literally just that she could speak on behalf of many groups & since Darrow has brought diplomatic debates into this war it could be an asset).

Introduce Ansel, and perhaps loop back to the Red Desert (unless the Silent Assassins have disappeared). Showing all of Celaena as we see all of Aelin (letting Rowan know even more of her, healing those wounds as he & her family fully accept her; hopefully doing the same thing for them; going through more history). & Similarly with Rowan; possibly saving the Cadre’s lives through it (or at least stopping Lorcans “execution”).

Tie in the spider silk, between Abraxos’s wings (Manon’s “stealing”), & Aelin’s Red Desert history deals. If not in this book than KoA.

Explain Maeve’s obsession with Aelin & vendetta against the family.

Aelin reclaiming her crown by having the heart of her people (we’ve seen “the future”, there is a woman with hair like moonlight; I think this is Manon. The people chant for her, she is their Queen and that is her court; including the witch).

I think Aelin (like Manon & the other golden eyed 13) are Valg proof. She has the golden eye ring of the Ashryver eyes… in that case maybe Aedion too?? (Hopefully🥺… I mean why else would history write a poem about it?) … While I’m at it let’s make Lysandra’s shifting immune too (protect all my bb’s)!😂

Reveal the Wyrdstone Elide carries as THE Lock (between her last name having the word lock😂 or “loch” I guess, the magic not being immediately recognized as a Wyrdkey by Lorcan, & Kaltain’s promise/importance with an explanation for the “living gate” term). Then when she reaches them so does the thread of fate (once again).

Go to Ellywe & both heal/break my soul (all this travel has made it inevitable; though it is cool to see more of the continents of this fictional world etc.)!🙃

Not something I truly believe but one I wonder on; is there a relation between either Rowan & Manon (history or hair color related😂) or Aelin & Manon (some sort of blood relation; the gold eyes & power levels?).

Not theories but things I think need to happen ASAP: STOP WEARING THE WYRDKEY as a necklace AELIN I DON’T care if it’s a “family heirloom” IT’S A BAD IDEA (have you not seen Harry Potter? — sry for another reference, but seriously DON’T WEAR HORCRUX LOCKETS folks)! Tell Elide the full truth; Celaena = Aelin (at least Lorcan is getting close). Commit to immortality (I’m looking at you Aelin & Aedion; esp. Aelin… ROWAN NEEDS THIS; the only time I will ever encourage a woman to “settle”😂)! Address the very long list of “things for later/back burner” because I can’t keep track😂 & they are all WAY too important😅, dangerous😬, and THE LIST IS LONG SO HURRY UP Y’ALL😁!!!

— NOW ONTO THE “ACTUALLY” READ “BIG PORTION😂 —

The Fire-Bringer:

A lot of reactions have random posts; per usual many of the opinions change with hindsight, but I like being able to look back & enjoy it for the first time so (while I do try to give an update) I’ll probably leave the posts up :-) hoping to get a few lil (by that I mean pages jk sry not sry lol I warned you) notes I’m pondering on in here though…

I love the Little Folk’s little but magical role:😊 when (not if; I’m gonna will it into reality with terminology) this gets an adaptation I can’t wait to see them! — I really love the fan art & its many different takes for what they may be all the way from fairy’s, to wisps, to “baby-Groot”-like characters! … I also wonder if they could help out with that “rulers flower thing” possibly, same as pondered for Lysandra (I think these “little things” will be keys to helping Aelin with “dum-dum Darrow” (as I’ve dubbed him; cause I’m angry! & it may be only a 1st read impression as of right now, but he’s also given me 0 reason to like him).

The Oakwald forest: EVERYONE IS SO CLOSE yet SO FAR! (At least Manon has finally made it to the team… well kinda… she better actually MAKE IT past the ship drop-off… if you can call it that?😅 this is why I need to type fast & go read!) If Tower of Dawn manages to match this pace of “just-missed, kinda-crossover” I see why the tandem read would work! It’s quite fun (& semi-irritating/anxiety-inducing but in a good way😂).

Speaking (writing?😂) of Manon: TALK ABOUT IMMEDIATE CHAOS, each of her chapters have been SO intense. I might have cried with her the most so far; I legitimately almost lost it over Asterin’s almost execution & The Thirteen (I AM VERY GLAD THEY FINALLY LEFT THE MATRON & got out so they can please be safe now; or at least they already are in my mind; though last we saw them it was all chaos, they were running (a win) & the shadows seemed to confirm them getting out (another good sign) while Asterin being dragged off screaming isn’t great I think she was shouting for Manon because she didn’t want to leave her… & I refuse to accept any other answer) only problem is Manon is not with them; & she really needs to be😅😅😭 instead of half-dead in the woods, hunted by a banshee-hound-thing? Abraxos honey, thank you for taking care of mother🥹😂 at least she is with the team on the same-ish side now. So, hopefully Abraxos will go grab the rest of The Thirteen while he drops Manon off? I NEED THE WHOLE GANG; I mean Erawan & Maeve are screwed in that case. Esp. since most of them are Valg proof golden eyed; & also have you seen these gals fight? … Honestly, I think they are one of the great shows of good writing in these books; because these characters could easily be read as villains & psychopaths to be hated, yet they manage to be a compelling, interesting, group of female badassery & sisterhood, that really captures your heart (pun intended). HOWEVER, I say all of this Spoiler-free while not oblivious; I have 2 &1/2 books left (wow that’s numbers too small I’m gonna get sad😅😂) I know people say this ending is a hard, & a book of cliffhangers… So, if this is “just” the beginning it can only get crazier😅 (I just don’t want to know; I want to think this will be like ACOTAR with no deaths as long as I can believe it) & even with the Matron’s probable on-it’s-way “dispatch”, they managed to hide Asterin for years. My main concern is Sorrel & Vesta as they’ve been given enough time to love them, yet not enough time for a full arc, I can’t have any red shirts & I’m a little worried for them (but I just wanna love them as long as I can🥹).

I’m so glad I was right; from day ONE I’ve been wondering about Aedion & Lysandra cause *coughs* I mean their first scene together ever… she’s changing his shirt… and now the whole “wandering off to give Rowaelin time” which while a fair-ish excuse it is also a little ;-) ;-) … and now that he’s said he’s gonna marry her “Because I am going to marry you," he promised her. "One day. I am going to marry you.”… I’m counting it (why is it giving New Girl CeCe & Schmidt?😂)

But in all seriousness ship-ness aside I appreciate their friendship; the understanding of each-other with a healthier trauma bond (for all they cannot say, yet carry so heavily; all the shame & fear Aedion is wrestling with; & the steady acceptance Lysandra gives) I loved them both as is, but together is something precious & nice to see develop (while staying slow, taking time, surety of respectful). While at times it feels fast, it makes complete sense (esp. as we don’t get their perspectives as frequently, & with the knowledge that mates can be pretty immediate; even if it’s not “said”; it tracks).

Though it hurt (& was also kinda healthily valid) to hear Aedion be angry with Aelin, it also says a lot about how much he cares for Lysandra (as Aelin often can “do no wrong in his eyes”) to be angry in the first place “And for the first time, he hated his cousin. He hated Aelin for asking this of Lysandra, both to defend them and to secure the Mycenians to fight for Terrasen. Hated the people who had left such scars on the shifter that Lysandra was so willing to throw her life away. Hated ... hated himself for being stuck in this useless tower.” While also knowing it’s not her fault, it is her choice, but it also had to be (he at least knows that & does cut her slack). “He was shaking now, that rage indeed taking over. But Rowan snarled at him, low and vicious, "Save it for later." Aedion growled right back at him. Rowan gave him a cold, steady look that said if he so much as began to hint at what their queen carried, he'd rip out his tongue. Literally. Aedion shoved down the anger. "We can't carry her, and she's too weak to shift." "Then we wait here until she can," Aelin said. But her eyes drifted to the bay, and to the city beyond, still cheering. victory—but very nearly a loss. The remnants of the Mycenians, saved by one of their long-lost sea dragons. Aelin and Lysandra had woven ancient prophecies into tangible fact. "I'll stay," Aedion said. "You deal with Rolfe." "Fine," he said. Aelin groaned, getting to her feet, but stared down at him before she took Rowan's extended hand. She said softly, "I'm sorry." Aedion knew she meant it. He still didn't bother replying.” & knows (because Lysandra makes him better; as she already reminds him with her knowing compassion): “"That man has endured enough, Aedion. A little kindness wouldn't kill you." "He stabbed Aelin. If you knew him as I have, you wouldn't be so willing to fawn over. "No one expects you to fawn over him. But a kind word, some respect-" He rolled his eyes. "Keep your voice down." She did- but went on, "He was violated, and even if you cannot draw up forgiveness for stabbing Aelin against his own will, then try to have some compassion for that." — Aedion snarled at her. Lysandra snarled right back and held his stare with the face not trained or built for bedrooms, but the true one beneath—wild and unbroken and indomitable. No matter what body she wore, she was the Staghorns given form, the heart of Oakwald Aedion said hoarsely, "I'll try." "Try harder. Try better."”)

& Then moments like him asking her to come with him to meet Gavriel, & she simply does. Or that she trusts him to carry her home, vulnerable & tired. I think they give a lot of what the other needs while growing to be who they are themselves. Plus Lysandra deserves to be a leopard princess, sister-in-law(ish) to Aelin. “Princess Lysandra Ashryver sounds nice, doesn't it?” YES IT DOES!

Speaking of Lysandra (who is seriously one of my all time favorites; I relate, I adore her, and really it just doesn’t get better then all of these characters) I WAS RIGHT ABOUT LYSANDRA BEING A DRAGON!!! GENIUS!! And also LYSANDRA WAS A DRAGON!!!!!! I love her & Aelin’s plotting (which also gets kinda Kaz Brekker vibes sometimes; she is so brilliant, & the fact Lysandra just piles into the shenanigans; I love them). TALK ABOUT POWER! Also what fun genius for mythology… winning the people’s hearts… etc. …if only she could turn into a flower… and making that moment the first perspective we have from her in this book was so fun! Shoutout to @ asexualzucchini for fandoming about this with me (heads up again cause I know your on a first read too; THIS POST HAS SPOILERS for Pt. 1 ;-)

ELIDE & LORCAN; a team-up I was NOT expecting, yet find SO intriguing. From highlighting Elide (which is well deserved) esp. in her truest strength; smarts (her & Annabeth Chase would’ve been besties) and as something even Lorcan sees & values greatly, extra fun as in combo to his physical strength it’s a pretty perfect team (& a helpful combo for storytelling because you see his perspective which is of course very different then spoken threats from Rowaelin perspectives ONLY; & of course once again while I’m curious to learn more on the Cadre; esp. since Lorcan often to me just seems angry to have “lost” his friend). And I do love the boundaries they respect (even as an unknown dare I say “anti-hero”? Lorcan still has some clear moral lines (& I generally appreciate that in the Maasverse that everyone except the worst of the worst can agree where those are) he also keeps his word a VERY intriguing piece of his character), also the representation they give (go team disability represent!) + small girlies hanging out w big brooding boys (there’s my “kitty” style reference for you Aelin lol). Also funny cause eventually they’re gonna end up in the same place😂 P.S. him calling her MARION (gut-wrenching), Crochan history (very curious), etc. IT’S JUST ALL SO INTRIGUING! … Now if we could only have an empowering crossover so she can go talk to Feyre & realize she’s already intelligent, powerful, & capable, & not being able to read has no effect on that!! (while we’re at it & I’m on a crow comparison kick; go hug Wylan please).

Another team up I didn’t expect but surprisingly loved most was Dorian & Rowan’s roadtrip through Rifthold (new movie adaptation idea?😂):

Dorian, Dorian, Dorian where do I begin? — I love him. I think he might be the most morally grounded character (odd as that sounds for someone that was recently possessed). He would be a good king, because most important he’s just a good man. My heart breaks for him, he’s seen a lot without time or space to deal with it (it’s just adding up; “The latter, Dorian realized, usually happened when even the heat and sun couldn't drive away the shadows of the past few months—when he awoke with his sweat feeling like Sorscha's blood, when he couldn't abide even the brush of his tunic against his neck.”); yet he still gives everything he can to his friends, his people, his country (& Rowan gives & takes care of him too (another Aelin paralell/foreshadowing; “"You're not going to believe me," Aelin went on. "What l've just said, you're not going to believe me. I know it--and that's fine. I don't expect you to. When you're ready, I'll be here.”) ; “He wasn't sure whether to thank the Fae Prince for noticing or to hate him for the kindness.” — Because Rowan knows; “"You're going to hate the world, Dorian. You are going to hate yourself. You will hate your magic, and you will hate any moment of peace or happiness. But I had the luxury of a kingdom at peace and no one depending upon me. You do not."”); and somehow Dorian just remains good and kind even when the world is not. He may carry more, but it is never an excuse for him; he sets aside his pride, humbled, un-selfish, caring, and really trying. (remarkable enough that even Rowan notices & takes note; “I have known many kings in my life, Dorian Havilliard. And it was a rare man indeed who asked for help when he needed it, who would put aside pride.”) And I also appreciate that he is cared for in this, seen for who he is; respected in it (FINALLY said quite well in: “Rowan knew most underestimated the sharp intelligence under that disarming smile. Knew that Dorian's value wasn't his godlike magic, but his mind”)

And getting the friends & care he deserves, like Aelin who kept her word “I came back for you. "You both came back,"” (he is her friend, she does care for him) as it’s shown because she went so far as to send Rowan (someone she would NEVER risk; “"I will save him," he murmured. "I wouldn't ask this of you unless it was ... Dorian is vital. Lose him, and we lose any support in Adarlan." And one of the few magic-wielders who could stand against Morath. Rowan's nod was grim. "I serve you, Aelin. Do not apologize for putting me to use." Because only Rowan, riding the winds with his magic, could reach Rifthold in time. Even now, he might be too late. Aelin swallowed hard, fighting the feeling that the world was being ripped from under her feet.” (When she says “losing support” she pauses; because really it’s about losing Dorian her friend, remember she’s always coming from the mindset of “she will not write another name on her scars” almost to the level of her “I will not be afraid mantra” fading in from QoS in this first EoS quarter) so she wouldn’t risk him even in leaving her side (which props to Maas for breaking a typical VERY possessive YA trait; even at the cost of a promise-ish from the last book; “Next time we need to save the world, we do it together. Deal.”). & keeps keeping that promise to save him; not only to keep her word, but keep her friend. Along the way he so easily becomes Rowan’s friend, thawing the ice by just being a decent guy (that says a lot for a centuries old Prince of stoic brooding). I love the genuine respect they have for each other; the time they take (even short as it is) to have a mini-boat therapy session because they needed it; it says a lot about the two of them as good men; the way they help each-other, plan & train together (Dorian even has time to understand Aelin’s time away with a new compassion😅😅 “Honestly, Dorian had no idea how Aelin had survived months of this--let alone fallen in love with the warrior while she did. Though he supposed both the queen and prince possessed a sadistic streak that made them compatible” & even see Rowan get a taste of the Celaena Sardothien world & find he has similar sass). vice-versa you also see someone valuing Rowan’s strength, strategy, personality beyond warrior or prince, without any of this “male pride chest-puffing instinct”. And the way despite the change in new healthier friendships you also have the original ones growing with them “"And will keep changing," she said, squeezing his arm once. "But... There are things that won't change. I will always be your friend." His throat bobbed. "I wish I could see her, just one last time. To tell her... to say what was in my heart." "She knows," Aelin said, blinking against the burning in her eyes. "I'll miss you," Dorian said. "Though I doubt the next time we meet will be in such …civilized circumstances." She tried not to think about it. He gestured over her shoulder to her court. "Don't make them too miserable. They're only trying to help you."” It helps both him and them; like the team they need to be & are finding a way in: “"We'll figure it out." She loosed a breath. "But your being king is the first step of it."” Like the Queens & Kings they have been becoming for a world slowly building; starting with the fact he is one of the good men that do exist (like Nehemia & Celaena said) and as already shown: “Ten years later, and they were all sitting together at a table again--no longer children, but rulers of their own territories. Ten years later, and here they were, friends despite the forces that had shattered and destroyed them. Aelin looked at the kernel of hope glowing in that dining room and lifted her glass. "To a new world," the Queen of Terrasen said. The King of Adarlan lifted his glass, such endless shadows dancing in his eyes, but--there. A glimmer of life. "To freedom."” esp. as he helps raise up women in positions of power to do so as well! (We love a King ally)

Much like Aelin growing into a queen you see the shift as Dorian becomes a King. “Never again. Never again would he be weak and useless and frightened.” (From a quote I appreciated and found Nesta paralells in). “To her surprise, a king smiled back.” And I just hope somewhere along the way Dorian also finds his happy ending much like our queen is slowly finding a way too (like Rowan said; “You will find your way, too, Dorian. You'll find your way out.”); I think Manon is promising, I think he finally has a real family, & he’s learning his power which is good; his already Kingly skills also come in handy, they needed a diplomat. And for two characters I love so much, a genre that rarely shows good friendships between so many characters and guys having emotions and bonding beyond a love interest trope… I just loved it! p.s. thanks again @ mysterylilycheeta for fandoming about this one with me (and many others :-)

Now speaking of Dorian quotes (plus I needed a transition lol) much like Dorian I do sometimes miss Chaol; “"You know," he said, "sometimes I wish Chaol were here to help me. And then sometimes I'm glad he's not, so he wouldn't be at risk again. I'm glad he's in Antica with Nesryn.”while also being glad he’s off somewhere else… not just ‘cause of the injury (I actually hope they don’t make that THE “problem”, at least in the sense of making him “useless”. While healing in a magical realm is a useful skill, representation of disabled characters in the read world is also really important & still super kick-ass & powerful)… So, I’m glad he’s gone not for that but for the fact I think his mentality would conflict right now (& while Aelin isn’t always right; & does sometimes need a check as Aedion aforementioned & does this at least better thank Chaol in timing & how) + most of the time ya kinda need to just “keep calm & trust the process” because while “the gods may have some “masterplan” & only Aelin can outsmart & outplan them (you just have to let her go for it)… and hopefully Elide will be there to help soon!

Now speaking of good friends, & the rest of this post from “threads of fate”, to really loving characters, friendships, relationships (even most of my favorite quotes) it’s time to address THE SHIP because there is ROWAELIN. TRULY WHERE DO I START? I love them. They are perfect. Nothing can break them (Nothing better try). I love the peace & hope they hold for the other (they want more together, for each other; to live.). The balance they carry; especially when one is down, the other lifts them up (even rapidly flipping; I’m a few Chapters into Part 2 (spoiler sentence)🚨 & there’s the moment where it goes from her being on fire & him waking her from her nightmares, to him so panicked to save her he’s freezing the room & she’s soothing him). The way they are so alike, & shown even more so (as I’ve briefly mentioned) in this book (Rowan having some Celaena moments, her taking on a leader & diplomatic role, learning to control water & him teaching her to heal, exploring each others histories & a growing team of friends for & with them) & VERY different (they are the balance even in what they do share; for instance a scene I think on frequently: when Rowan leaves to go get Dorian, and Aelin cannot let him go. Right there she uses very specific words; she does not ask him to stay instead she says she cannot let him go; because she knows asking him to stay (like Lyria had begged) would kill him or telling him “he’s leaving her” would utterly destroy them both. And he does the same; he distracts her (knows what she needs) takes a moment for them (stops the clock) kisses her and then leaves before she opens her eyes in a flash, so she does not have to watch him leave (again), or (be the one to) walk away from him (he knows she already used all of her will to even have him go in the first place, she cannot ask anything more or she will not ask at all), or run again. They both are feeling the same thing, while understanding the differences they have experienced, they take the notice to love the other the way they need & the only way they can). Part of it stems from something I’ve adressed on the blog before, the honesty they share; and desperately needed. Or have discussed with other fans in beyond that the fact they trust, they can have it all on the table, and respect what has to be kept. Part is the fact they are the others soulmate (waiting for those words: “mate” to “officially” & finally seal what we ALL know by now😂). Another being the threads of fate every character keeps seeing; they are VERY tightly bound beyond separation; for better or worse a tangled knot that can not be undone.

The way in that they would fight by the others side, live & die together, for each-other. They would save the world for each-other (like Rowan jumping in front of the moonfire because he knew her fiery soul; “"No!" The word was a roar, a plea, and silver and green flashed in her vision. A name. A name clanged through her as he hurled himself in the path of that fist, that moonfire, not just to save those innocents in the city, but to spare her soul from the agony if she destroyed them all-Rowan.” — “"If you had destroyed that city, it would have destroyed you, and any sort of hope at an alliance."”) It goes beyond taking a bullet for the other, it goes to taking a bullet from the other (you see that side a lot in HoF). They would save the other for the world (like he says, the world needs alliances; because he knows it needs her, his queen). Or the other from the world; “And as his face became clear, his tattoo stark in the sun, as that fist full of unimaginable power now opened toward his heart-There was no force in any world that could keep her contained.” Together, to whatever end. They would even destroy it for the other; “But if it was death separating us … I would find you. I don’t care how many rules it would break. Even if I had to get all three keys myself and open a gate, I would find you again. Always.” They deserve something that’s an always, known, world & gods defying. And while I appreciate the way they defend each other, I also appreciate the way they defend their friends together; it may be them to whatever end, but it’s also not just them against the world (more so for the world?) they may be capable of destroying the world for each other, still they choose to give everything to save it. They choose each other, they continue to do so, to accept, to be honest. “Even if this thing between them ... even if he knew it was not mere lust, or even just love. This thing between them, the force of it, could devour the world. And if they picked it, picked them, it might very well cause the end of it.” they have a powerful love (one that is quite literally more powerful together). I love that scene too, the carranam; the way he steadies her (he knows why the manacles scare her, knows how to help her breathe despite it; “she is not afraid”), trusts her (she could kill them both, but he believes in her, always has, even before she believed in herself) gives her his power (talk about a feminist ally😂 he literally uses his power to give her more power), and she blazes the world (better & worse); she trusts him enough for the irons (something she may have killed someone else for), she trusts his trust in her (it empowers her metaphorically too), trusts him to save her from herself; trusts him which as this line shows; “"You trust nothing. She met his eyes. "I trust you."” is almost a miracle in itself. I love the easy rhythm they fall into like breathing, simple domesticity (even among war), natural understanding (soulmates), gentle unconditional stubborn & unchanging love that simply is. & is accepted as such. Learning more of their history in parallels & new perspectives, tales & legends, chaos & opposites (especially opposed in power) FIRE & ICE and remains the “meant to be” Carranam; though one of a kind it also understands itself in being love among grief, giving it the ability to see & soothe the unhealthy internal monologues… in a way that’s honestly kinda healing to read; I love their quotes, I love their scenes, I love their characters, I just love them.

It’s been fun to see more Aelin as Aelin, (and I’m not meaning “The one in green smiled, but for all its delight, all its wicked mischief ... It was a softer smile, made with a mouth that was perhaps less used to snarling and teeth-baring and getting away with saying hideous, swaggering things. Lysandra, then. The two queens faced Rolfe.” Lysandra twin-swap scene 😂) the way Celaena is now recognized as a part to play; “You met Aelin when she was still pretending to be Celaena” — “Because it was Celaena who sat here-for whatever purpose, it was Celaena Sardothien in this room.” from the way Rowan helped & accepted her all along. Rowan has always been her protector, her guard, her best champion, fiercest warrior & love, her dearest friend, her everything. It’s the one that saw all & loved anyways “to have one person who knew the absolute truth about her--and didn't hate her for it.” — “I see you, I see every part of you. And I am not afraid.” he is not afraid of her; the first time she’s ever had that… Something she desperately needs as someone so fear-based… She went from being a child who was never not afraid; she was taught to fear her power, fear the secret coming free, because she would be persecuted; because her people would not love her for what she was; she was protected against it and taught her powers weren’t to be trusted. She spent so long burying herself… Arobynn taught her that; created a world of only that for her to exist in, only to survive never to live. And as I’ve said before I LOVE SAM, I truly think he would have accepted her without flinching (I love & believe in the many soulmates for many lives theories; he was Celaena’s) but over & over again the saddest four words of almost they never had time. Thinking someone would love you “even if” is different that getting to experience it, she was still afraid he would turn her in or turn away, he would judge her as she judged herself, or didn’t know “how dark she could go”; like he was too good and she would drag him down. And here is Rowan: the one person who could stop her (the dark comfort she takes in knowing he could save the world if she endangered it; “That is how I was able to stand before the King of Adarlan, how I was able to befriend his son and his captain, how I was able to live in that palace. Because I did not give that rage, those memories, one inch. And right now I am looking for the tools that might destroy my enemy, and I cannot let out the monster, because it will make me use those tools against the king, not put them back as I should--and I might very well destroy the world for spite. So that is why l must be Celaena, not Aelin--because being Aelin means facing those things, and unleashing that monster. Do you understand?”) and doesn’t think that of her; “For whatever it's worth, I don't think you would destroy the world from spite.”

To the moment on the beach that strikes me again & again; Aelin in her rawest state (inner child & traumatized immortal), sobbing, unclothed (a very important detail not because of the rest of Chapter 38 spice but because of the psychological component; she is stripped down to her core at her worst, most vulnerable, visibly terrified uncomfortable state; it’s more like a nightmare of giving a speech & realizing your the only one without clothes), on fire (no hidden power or sense of control), unleashing an entire storm (after almost destroying the world; her world; even against her will); because she is Aelin Ashryver Galathynius “the rightful heir of fire” and Queen of Terrasen; she has been “Adarlans Assassin” & a “King’s Champion” Lillian, Elentiya, Celaena… all of these names… and yet, she is still afraid. And she cannot stop it; she is trying & failing, feeling every step backwards for every step she takes, she is running to nowhere, she is lost. And then there is Rowan. Rowan, who walked to the creak to see her, and went loudly so she would know & not be afraid. Rowan who knows when she needs to let off steam (literally) & has been burned & still does not turn away from her. Rowan who now is “silent as death” because he knows her mind is already screaming enough for the both of them. Rowan who follows her; over & over, unflinching, returning, staying, seeing, & still believing in her (even before she believed in herself; even when she cannot). She is begging for anyone that listens to take the job & all its “blessings & burdens of power”, wishing for a bottom to the endless abyss of her power, drowning in it; helpless in her own strength, because she does not trust herself (how can she when she can’t even be herself; not just Celaena; but Deanna), trying to run from herself. And Rowan who sees, hears, knows; and only cares about her. Choosing her. Loving her. Telling her those words. Arguing against the voices in her head for her; making her feel for a moment that maybe somehow she’s worth it (or at least too lucky to care even if she’s not). Because he has every reason to go; he knows what he could lose (even as they stand there; he is still shaken & terrified; he just saw a god steal the woman he loves from her own mind; he has no idea how to fight that & bring her back) He has lost that; felt it for centuries The world may be the price, they may be the price, they are in the middle of a war waged & waiting for hundreds of years; and he does not care. He only cares about her; better & worse. And she is not alone; never again. Reminding her that she can be both, staying on the road. As he says (a quote that made me cry): “You and I will learn to manage your power together. You do not face this alone; you do not decide that you are unlovable because you have powers that can save and destroy. If you start to resent that power… I don’t know where we go on that road.” And when she voices it, that fear (that brought me to tears); you’re just crazy for loving me.“"Because I'm the only one arrogant and insane enough to ask Mala Fire-Bringer to let me stay with the woman I love. Her flames turned to pure gold at the words-at that word. But she said, "Perhaps you're just the only one arrogant and insane enough to love me."” He simply, firmly, undoubtably, says no. … And when the times comes; when he creates a snow storm of his own (& destroys half a forrest😂) she just laughs, holds him closer, kisses him again. As she says; “who would not look at those flames with any ounce of fear.” as anyone else would have. They aren’t afraid of each other, they aren’t afraid, not together. “But Rowan had caught her each time she had fallen-first, when she had plummeted into that abyss of despair and grief; second, when that castle had shattered and she had plunged to the earth. And now this time, this third time ... She was not afraid.”

And because they are equal, because they will go to whatever end, because they pull each other back over & over whenever/wherever they drift. (And while I love Lyria, I believe she was one of his soulmates) I don’t think anyone ever understood him so well in return… Rowan loved Lyria. Lyria wanted him to stay for good reason, but he was not able to tire to rest to settle; she did not understand the warrior; just as he couldn’t understand enough not to be. Where peace was never quite had, the warrior that could not rest; there is Aelin. Who just goes to war with him, for him, for them. She is his hope, his queen, his love, his world, his fireheart🥹, & his everything (& thankfully NOT because of the blood-oath; “"How does she do it?" Aelin asked baldly. "With Rowan, it's not ... Every order I give him, even casual ones, are his to decide what to do with. Only when I actively pull on the bond can I get him to ... yield. And even then it's more of a suggestion." "It is different with her," Gavriel said softly. "Dependent on the ruler it is sworn to. You two took the oath to each other with love in your hearts. You had no desire to own or rule him." Aelin tried not to flinch at the truth of that word—love. That day ... when Rowan had looked into her eyes as he drank her blood ... she'd started to realize what it was. That the feeling that passed between them, so powerful there was no language to describe it ... It was not mere friendship, but something born of and strengthened by it.” glad they clarified that to give consent). I’ve said this about them before and I’ll say it again there is something healing in how wholly they accept and understand each other (to the point you would think they are reading minds), how evenly matched and equal they are. They are two of the best matched characters I know of; at times even to a fault (but even that is taken in stride). Aelin and Rowan are everything they have ever been with the other. This isn’t a comparison, there’s something beautiful to each of them (I’ll even still say that to Dorian & Aelin, the way their friendship came to be, and re-reads what might have been) there is just the fact that this is different and I think it’s a special kind of something. And the fact in the matching for the other they can go to the ends of the earth together; whether it be as Queen and Prince (though he would make a good king ;-) or assassins, gentle souls trying to rest, never at rest but trying for peace, fae and shifters fire and ice, warriors, martyrs, saviors, villains, Kings Champion & Maeve’s Cadre, friends, mates, whatever it may be “to whatever end”.

I especially love them in the little things… all these moments that show everything I’ve said and more.

The detail in Rowan knowing the other side to Aelin keeping him at the beach, and it not taking away from the moment. He knows, he accepts it. They know the layers, they don’t pretend otherwise, they don’t run or fight it, they just sit with it. The way he held her & grounded her during the sea battle, believing in her even as she lost her balance in power, the way she came back from Deanna for him, the way she held on to him through the storm. She reminds him what he is; that he is everything she needs, she doesn’t take the bullshit, she doesn’t give up; she lends a hand, or lets him follow, or defends him. And they finally said it; I love you. — Actually better than that, worlds best quote award of: “I love you. There is no limit to what I can give to you, no time I need. Even when this world is a forgotten whisper of dust between the stars, I will love you.”They finally chose this, them; and the world needed it (I will go down with the ship of them as queen and king). … So, my shippers heart is happy, I want more, I’m happy they’re happy, I want them to stay happy. They are the best brightest threads of fate & for a book I’ve loved to see tie together, the Rowaelin ship has been pretty perfect.

And some random notes I keep wondering on:

The color green in this series… From Lysandra’s eyes (the one marker she keeps in each form; funny as it’s also Terrasen (her future Courts) color, to Rowan’s pine green (& often “home” like Terrasen descriptions (once again)) to the green roofing of Rifthold, or tiling of the desert, the stolen wax stamp rings, Terrasen’s color, etc. … it’s just used to tell a lot of story & I find it a fun note!

On the subject of these “fun notes” I’d also like to Mention Maasverse “deals” in wording; I find it so interesting how carefully phrased (like a genie) things need to be, yet kept to their word they are. I feel like there’s some loopholes within some plots right now using that clause (if only there was Mort to prove it!)… I miss Mort…

There’s all of Lysandra’s shapeshifting, the character in that, her character all together. And then moments like Rowan reaching her to fly, to have her own wings. And introducing more powers outside of fae.

Fenyrs possible… winnowing? Whatever reason it was that Rowan sent him to save Aelin instead of himself (obviously meaning he was more capable because Rowan would save her any means necessary).

And these aforementioned threads of fate are pretty brilliantly done, I look forward to continuing to enjoy them. From Oakwald to 10 years ago to the detail of plans (Aelin going to the temple, for Brannon & the Dragon, & her territory claim… etc.)… SO MANY!!!

Especially because of YOU!..

— Final, biggest most important book/fandom thought yet: —

THANK YOU to the Maasverse!

As someone who doesn’t know anyone reading these —one of my favorite things to do is talk about them with other fans— I’m thankful to still have that; I’m thankful that tumblr has that; and thankful that y’all are so welcoming, kind, talented, & lovely! (Limiting full tags as this post is ridiculously long and no one should “have” to read it😂)

There’s a long list of you, to name a few (others please know you are still on the list, loved & appreciated)!! @ archerons-elain @ highladyelenna @ iwantavaldezinator @ romantasyreader28 @ antvwinderbaum @ shadowhunters77 @ chaos-on-stand-bi @ theauroragalaxy @ impossibelle @ aelin-fire-heart @ autumnbabylon @ headboymalfoy @ somebooksbelonginthesinbin @ idfendyr @ winged-artistic-wolf @ batter-upp @ cheap-spirits @ just tsteffs50cts @ xxvalkyriesxx @ captain-of-the-gwynriel-ship @ lynnsthoughts @ maevecrom @ stingy-swann @ mothlvrtothemoon @ wannaberachelgrxxn @ sweetokami @ avymiir

& so if I missed any, like I said just know you are so appreciated🫶 … and sorry I get confused sometimes (as this is technically a secondary blog to @lavendarneverlands lol😂). It’s always me though🤣

[ratherbeabrcharacter]

Thanks for the tag, @eltheabberation!

Are you named after anyone? Yes! My first name is named after an author, but I don't feel comfortable sharing it in a public post.

When was the last time you cried? Yesterday after having a semi breakdown for no reason, I legit didn't know why I was crying lol

Do you have kids? Only the fictional characters in my head sorry.

Do you use sarcasm a lot? Yes.

What sports do you play/have played? Swimming, and although not committed, skiing for fun.

What's the first thing you notice about people? Their height in relation to me, then their voice.

What's your eye color? Really dark down that's almost black

scary movies or happy endings? Happy ending please!

Any special talents? Uhh I guess speaking a second language?

Where were you born? Over the rainbow ;)

What are you hobbies? Reading, listening to music, drawing, watching other people playing video games, and torturing my favorite characters in my head with angst.

Do you have pets? Nope, but my relative do!

How tall are you? Over 5 ft I think

Favorite subject in school? Art or history.

Dream job? Idk yet lol

Tags (no pressure): @fallentale4 @moviemuncherao3 @l0on @thughtful @ageblue @forecast-rain @woffles-4-waffles @twilightarcade @faccal @artical3237 @rhymebeat @pixanefan @iamlivinginsideyourwalls @the-aqua-fangirl @squib-2006

15 questions, 15 mutuals

tagged by @hxilstorm my love :)))

1. are you named after anyone? No, fun fact my parents still hadn't chosen a name for me when we left the hospital! They chose my name pretty randomly from a baby book I think. My middle name's from some great aunt on my mum's side but I never knew her

2. when was the last time you cried? umm two weeks ago when i realised I was gonna have to submit my final essay a day late

3. do you have kids? um NO at this age??? Maybe down the track but yk, depends on the partner/circumstances/general state of the world I guess

4. do you use sarcasm a lot? yeah I probably do, I don't really notice though

5. what sports do you play/have you played? I've been playing soccer nearly 10 years now and it's one of my favourite things, I also did gymnastics, AFL and swimming when I was a kid.

6. what’s the first thing you notice about people? their voice and the way they talk

7. what’s your eye colour? blue baby

8. scary movies or happy endings? I don't dislike scary movies it's just that I don't really get it? so I guess I'll say happy endings

9. any special talents? define special- I can juggle, I'm ok at devils sticks. OH and I'm pretty good at using and fixing printers!!

10. where were you born? a while outside Melbourne, abt half an hour from where I live now

11. what are your hobbies? I play the piano! I also like to embroider, make friendship bracelets, and I'm learning to sew

12. do you have pets? yes yes yes! I have 2 dogs, a cat and 2 horses. I'm so excited atm bc this holidays we're hopefully going to start building a chicken shed and I can finally have chickens again after 5 years!!

13. how tall are you? around 5'7? I don't actually know exactly

14. favourite subject in school? tbh i didn't really have one- literature, maths and french are probably tied but they it depends on the teacher

15. dream job? dream job is no job, I would very much like to just sit around and make things all day. Is that an option? I wanted to be an artist when i was a kid. More realistically though, I'd like to teach or do some kind of support work in schools

u don't have to if u don't want to but I'm passing it on to @glitchydyke @startingfires, @megadan94, @thelonelyrainbowdude, @thedumpsterwizard @learnyourlessonswell, @bedrock-sedodn @violet-prism-creatively @omg-a-shark @boobie-fucker, @sentimental-lil-thing, @skyward-nerd, @emilreloaded, @punkocelot @my-dude-james, @dinsicle

[rosesandtoshi]

Omg mandi!! Congrats on your most recent milestone ♥️ I’m so proud of you!! I’d love to participate in your event 🥺

The prompt I choose is ““I’m going to fucking ruin you.” And two kinks are breeding and degradation 👀 the character I choose is mikey hehe. I’d just love to see him so riled up that he, the mikey, has to speak like that.

Thank you in advance babe 🥺♥️

Ryu you're amazing and I love you. 🥺🥺💜 Thank you so much!! I legit screamed when I saw this request!! Normally calm Mikey ruining reader? Ummm yes please. I hope you enjoy this!! I got a bit carried away with this one. 😅😅 my puthy is throbbing after writing this.

For you minors who are cry babies, Mikey is aged up!!!!!

400 followers event

Normally you wouldn’t come to the meetings Mikey called, opting to stay at your shared apartment and wait for him to come home. Wanting to change things up, you put on a sexy outfit and strutted your way into the meeting, earning many stares from the members. Heels clicked against the pavement as you made your way up to the front, a smirk on your face. Mikey stared blankly at you.

“What are you doing here?” He asked.

“I just wanted to support my boyfriend at his meeting. Is that a problem baby?” You asked, giving him a sly look. Mikey’s face didn’t falter as he motioned you to sit by the shrine. Taking a seat and crossing your legs, the meeting continued. You picked at your nails as the meeting finally came to end. As everyone dispersed, Mikey made his way over to you.

“You know better than to show up at my meetings.” Mikey said and moved his hand down to cup your bare sex. “And you don’t have any panties on?”

“I wanted to surprise you. Wanted to spice things up.” You moaned out a bit as his fingers worked up and down your wet slit.

“You such a slut aren’t you? Showing up here dressed like a cheap whore on the corner. I’m going to fucking ruin you.”

You didn’t realize but he had pulled his hard cock out of his pants and sheathed himself inside of you in one swift motion. You cried out as his thrusts didn’t let up on you. Your normally sweet boyfriend was relentless as he pounded into you. The words spewing from his mouth made you clench harder around him as you tried to stabilize yourself.

“God you’re such a fucking whore. Taking my cock on this shrine. So d-disrespectful.” Mikey said, his blunt nails digging into the flesh of your hips. All you could do was moan as your eyes rolled back into your head. “So fucked out can’t even talk? And the way you're clenching around makes me think you like me talking to you like this.”

“More! More!” You moaned out.

“More? Want more of me? Want me to breed this pretty pussy? That way everyone will know your mine.” He moved one hand down to rub circles on your clit.

“Yes please!!” You cried out, orgasm washing over. Your pussy squeezed tightly around him, making him come instantly as well. His hips didn’t stop moving in and out of you, the mixed cum seeping out of your hole. Mikey lost all self control as he continuted to fuck into you, cock hardening again. He pulled you up, hands rested on your hips as he turned around and sat down.

“I’m going to pump you so full of cum, you’ll be round and swollen in no time.” He thrusted up, making you cry out, the overstimulation making you see stars.

Taglist: @kenmaskittenswriting @semisgroupie @itsmeaudrieee @catharticvillains @ebiharachan @rinsangel @honey-clov @chaotic-fangirl-blog @papitoshi @omiikeii @evanescentlight @bbykotarou @luckygurls

If you haven't filled out my new tag form, please do so!! Otherwise, I will just continue to tag you in everything and every fandom! For those who have already filled out, I have received the changes🙂

Join my taglist here!!

[shadowsong26x]

Because My Roommate And I Think We’re Hilarious*

*because it’s True

From a conversation we had like three years ago, I give you: the Iliad/Oddyssey as a college Battle of the Bands.

Roommate - In fact I really wanna write a modern-day AU where Helen will only date the best rocker so it's a giant battle of the bands and Achilles is closeted until he's really spectacularly not

Me - yesssss that is amazing.

Roommate - and Odyessus is MARRIED and doesn't want to BE here fuck you very MUCH, Diomedes.

Me - "look, dude, you're the best drummer we've got we NEED you here. come on, be a wingman."

Roommate - "DUDE WE HAVE A TWO-MONTH-OLD. MY WIFE WILL KILL ME. I WILL KILL ME."

Me - "bro, come ooooooooooon i'll make it up to you."

Roommate - "THERE IS NO MAKE IT UP TO ME" "THERE IS ONLY EXTREMELY JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE" "BRB TEXTING MY WIFE 'SORRY, SWEETHEART, DIOMEDES FUCKING KIDNAPPED ME.'"

Me - XD

Roommate - and then he sits in traffic all night trying to get the fuck home

Me - gets into a fender bender on a deserted back street with a girl who insists they have to do the police accident report thing and swears she called the cops and of course his phone died and they're there for like three hours and he's pretty sure she did not, in fact, call the cops.

Roommate - then his car won't start so he flags down a cab except it's full of fratboys smoking weed and he's pretty sure they're hotboxing him

Me - then they get pulled over and he spends a few hours in the drunk tank trying to convince the lady cop who arrested them that he was not involved, really, he was just hitchhiking.

Roommate - omg yes ends up getting bailed out by a guy and his teenager who overhear him talking about his infant and begging to go home

Me - yes i love it

Roommate - then the guy and his teenage daughter give him a ride home except the assholes from down the street who keep wolf-whistling at his wife are like, barricading the damn street so he has to beat them up before he can finally. get. home.

Me - he is never speaking to diomedes again.

Roommate - once he tells the saga to Penelope he adds "and if I murder Diomedes will you help me get rid of the body"

Me - "babe, you'll only murder him if i don't get there first."

Roommate - Can't decide if Diomedes is like "BRO :(" or "...yeah actually that's fair"

Me - ...yeah, tough call.

Roommate - Achilles suddenly has MORE fangirls now that he's come out, which is not what his mom/manager expected

Me - nope. not at all.

Roommate - Patroclus is a little worried that HE suddenly has fangirls, he is literally not involved in this beyond tagging along after Achilles

Me - hector is just facepalming at this whole thing and wondering why the hell they decided to host the damn thing, now the house is trashed.

Roommate - Their newest pledge was horny on main for Helen, that's why

Me - ...are we going sweet paris or asshole paris? i prefer sweet paris mostly because it's nicer to helen, but

Roommate - Sweet, but uh God love him not bright

Me - so he loses and helen's like "...but i like him. i don't like the asshole president of the other frat's asshole brother."

Roommate - oooh wait better idea

Me - oh?

Roommate - "I don't like the asshole president of the other frat's asshole brother, and sweetie, you're very nice, but you're also VERY dumb. Hector. Your sister. Introduce me."

Me - oooooh nice! WAIT I HAVE ANOTHER OPTION genderbend paris. her sorority sister egged her on into crossdressing and entering the battle

Roommate - OMG EVEN BETTER PERFECT PERFECT So Helen and Paris run off together, Agamemnon and Menelaus get to sulk, Odysseus gets home... eventually, Diomedes gets a lot of nasty emails, and Achilles and Patroclus have a lot of sex and wake up to find out that shippers are a thing.

Me - and hector is left to clean up the mess after these assholes trashed my house not cool guys.

Roommate - 'cause Achilles is like, legit, he's an actual rock star singer, he's just been closeted because his mom made him and now he's like "...I get to smooch my perfect boyfriend on stage and NOT ONLY do they think it's great, they draw cute pictures of my perfect boyfriend? FUCKING SOLD."

Me - yes! perfect i love it

Roommate - Briseis is Patroclus's bestie who Agamemnon kept hitting on at the party and finally she was like 'ugh Achilles beat him up for me' and Achilles is like "BETTER PLAN HOW ABOUT I JUST DON'T SING YOU DICK"

Me - and agamamnon is like "but dude YOU'RE OUR HEADLINER."

Roommate - and Patroclus is like "great now he's holding grudges for you too" and Briseis is like "I am perfectly capable of holding this grudge on my own"

Me - "helen won't date my brother if you don't sing!"

Roommate - "FUCK YOU SHOULDA THOUGHT OF THAT BEFORE YOU HIT ON MY PERFECT BOYFRIEND'S BEST FRIEND"

Me - XD

Roommate - "FINE WE'LL MAKE PATROCLUS SING" and Patroclus gets stage fright and Achilles like bounds up and plants one on him and then they just vanish

Me - yesssssssss i love it

Roommate - and Briseis is like "hit on me again and you will not like the consequences"

[jaimebluesq]

Tag Game:

10 Characters, 10 Fandoms, 10 Tags

Tagged by: @fortune-maiden

In no particular order:

1) Nie Huaisang - The Undamed/Mo Dao Zu Shi - My current comfort character/obsession/character I resonate with FAR TOO MUCH. Thank you NHS for getting me back into writing fanfic!

2) Percy Weasley - Harry Potter - Not only my favourite character in the Harry Potter franchise, but the one I played the most in role-playing games on Livejournal/Insanejournal/etc. I just loved getting into his head, even when I ended up fighting (in-game) with other characters.

3) Joxer the Mighty - Xena/Hercules - Ah, Joxer, how many years did I spend with you, writing fanfic, playing around in fandom, interacting with fans, etc? You were a formative part of my entire fandom experience and I will forever be grateful to you.

4) Feng Zhiwei - The Rise of Phoenixes - this is the show that solidified my absorption into CDramas. I love this character SO FUCKING MUCH, even if her ending is sad (and Gu Nanyi, ugh, my heart!).

5) Wei Yingluo - Story of Yanxi Palace - and speaking of how I got into watching CDramas... I was playing silly emperor/concubine games on mobile and someone mentioned it was a good show, so I said what the hell, I'll give it a watch... and the rest is history.

6) Gonzo the Great - The Muppets - I can't make a list like this without mentioning what is technically the first fanfic I ever wrote, when I was in grade 5 - we were asked to write a short piece for a class assignment and I wrote an origin story for Gonzo that kind of resembled the Superman origin but funny.

7) Wesley Crusher - Star Trek: The Next Generation - Yes, I was a Wesley fangirl once upon a time. My obsession with TNG was legendary - I used to sit at my VCR every new episode and tape them, making sure to pause the recording so as to not get the commercials. I convinced my friends to sit with me, go through episodes, and memorize funny lines that we could say to each other in public areas as inside jokes. My parents even brought me to Canada's Wonderland when the ST thing first started there and I got to chat with a klingon and a vulcan after I went to the klingon and went NuqneH. OMG I feel so old LOL

8) Ianto Jones - Torchwood/Doctor Who - The tea boy stole my heart when I first saw him in a suit, but when we found out what he was hiding in the basement and witnessed his misguided loyalty to love, I was hooked. Children of Earth never happened (not because I can't stand that he died, it just wasn't a good death imho, it wasn't a brave sacrifice to save people, just fridging to give Captain Jack motivation to do what he did). (I was torn between Ianto and Donna Noble because Donna FTW, but I was one of the rare few who actually watched Torchwood before Doctor Who, so Ianto was my #1)

9) Zevran Arainai - Dragon Age - It was close between Zev and Solas (look at previous entry for clue as to why I loved Solas so fucking much), but out of all the games (Origins, 2, Inquisition), Zev was the one I romanced the most because he's just so MY TYPE. I loved the flirting, the backstory, the fact that when you get serious he backs away. Yes he can be a mouthy jackass with the overly sexual talk with the other companions, but I've legit had friends like that and they were a blast. (Add Fenris to this list and you see I have a fucking type).

10) Evie Frye - Assassin's Creed: Syndicate - I know this is def gonna be an unpopular opinion, but Syndicate is the AC game I've had the most fun playing, have played it 3 times at least all the way through, and I fucking love Evie. I love her story, her relationship with her father, her relationship with her brother, and of course the romance with Henry Green (who I would fall for too). I know it's one of the lesser popular AC games, but I don't care, I'm so happy they made it and I'm happy I got to play as Evie because she rocks.

Tagging: @clumsyelf @joeyrz @raging-red-lotus-of-qinghe

[wishful-soda]

I was tagged by @welld0nebaku, thank you bby I get so excited when I get tagged in stuff I can't even tell you 😂

1. Why did you choose your url?

IY'know how Xbox gives you a random gamer tag that's always an adjective and noun, well Wishful-Soda was what it gave me YEARSSS and I can't really tell you why because I don't know, but wishful soda just suits me.

2. Any side blogs?

Nope. Had a Queen blog quite a while ago, but it has since been abandoned.

3. How long have you been on Tumblr?

Oh gosh... I'm old so like 3 years or so? On this blog since like May?

4. Do you have a queue tag?

I wish i had the patience to actually learn how to queue stuff and what not, but unfortunately not -

This is actually @welld0nebaku's response but I'm leaving it because its SPOT ON for me too 😂

5. Why did you start your blog in the first place?

I don't know anyone in real life who loves F1 besides my husband and he's not exactly interested in fangirling over drivers with me...

6. Why did you choose your icon/pfp?

I had to change it when Daniel won and I remembered seeing him pose for the picture and immediately went to find it.

7. Why did you choose your header?

Similar to above, had to celebrate a Daniel win I actually got to watch live as a fan

8. What's your post with the most notes?

Oh shit, I don't even know, I think chapter one of Speak of the Devil? The only other thing I can think of is muppet lando, that took off.

9. How many mutuals do you have?

I don't know, but I love them all and would always love more.

10. How many followers do you have?

I have 324 besties and I would die for every single one of them ok, try me

11. How many people do you follow?

124!

12. Have you ever made a shitpost?

The better question is have I ever NOT made a shitpost?

14. Did you ever have a fight/argument with another blog?

Nope, I'm not about that, this is why I peace'd out from Sunday to today pretty much.

15. How do you feel about "you need to reblog this" posts?

Listen. I'm stubborn and don't like to be told what to do so something inside me just says "NO."

16. Do you like tag games?

YES please tag me in all the games.

17. Do you like ask games?

I mean I've reblogged a few but I've never actually had anyone send them in. (Whomp whomp) Sooo I like them in theory...?

18. Which one of your moots do you think is Tumblr famous?

@acollectionofficsandshit and @lightsovermonaco are legit famous.

19. Do you have a crush on a mutual?

I have a girl crush on lots of my mutuals because they're out here killing it and also being the most sparkly wonderful human beings at the same time.

Okay I'm tagging @acollectionofficsandshit, @lightsovermonaco, @harley-sunday, @danielricciardhoes, @pg10ln4, @happyself

If you want to do this and I didn't tag you, feel free to say I tagged you because I would tag everyone if I wasn't so terrified of bugging people

[sideshowaarti]

Nicknames: Atari, & Arts are the main ones. I’ve also been called: A-A-Ron, Arby’s, Arteries, SmAarti, and just some plain stupid ones. 😂

Height: like 5’2 :,)

Hogwarts House: lol fam idk I’ve never seen the full movie nor have I read ONE book. Yeah I’m that creative.

Last thing I googled: How to keep your curls in overnight.

Yeah it isn’t funny like you expected >:) losers.

Favorite Musicians: AJR. (Concert level favorite. Yes dude ik. Crazy right?! (Insert Key Smash Here), OneRepublic, Imagine Dragons, Twenty One Pilots, Melanie Martinez? Kinda? I’m not too info K-12. Yeah call me a sinner... uhhh idk..? Taylor Swift? Her older ish songs? Idk I’ll listen to anything at this point.. shh idk dude shut up.

Song Stuck in my head: good question. But I got nothing. I sometimes like sing Boy In The Bubble by Alec Benjamin, but most of the time I just recite AJR songs (mostly from Neotheater). Idk dude I don’t have any rn. Shocking right? Lame, yes. Yes I ISSS.

Following: 64 mainly Voltron Accounts and Meme Pages. Yeah that’s where my social life is rn too. Hah say sike rn. Nope it’s that sad.

Followers: 109

Y’all lil blessings I don’t even post so y’all just love me :,)

Do I ever get asks: 😂 I’m not even gonna answer that one sis.

*simon cowell- it’s a no from me.*

Amount of sleep: Varies. I’m fortunate enough to get around 6-8

What are you wearing: to be real with you, high water grey sweats (with pockets! *fangirl*) and a Nike shirt. Kidnap me why don’t you, you know my life story already. But usually a darker colored (striped ;) ) shirt, any blue jeans, and converse or vans.

Dream Job: something I enjoy

At this point idk. I just want to be a billionaire but I’ll do it legallly tyvm.

But in reality I’d like to become a well known songwriter, writing music relatable and just life changing that people understand a little too well. If I took classes maybe even a musical artist as well.

Dream Trip: England. Like that’s it. Idk how when or where. I just wanna go like dang.

Instruments: i taught myself how to play the piano. I can’t read music. I could if I tried to learn but hey for what. I’m doing fine as it is.

Yeah I’m that lazy aha. No motivation brochill

Languages: aHa. English. Dude that’s it. I should speak like three more but it’s whatever. I can read and write Hebrew tho! Woot Woot!

Random Fact: I can moonwalk, move my ears, and twitch my nose like a bunny ;)

But I have an obsession with sideshow bob. It isn’t even funny. If he comes on tv I legit scream it’s that real. Do I need therapy. Yes. Yes indeed.

Aesthetic: honestly idk it switches like everyday dude. Not stuck on anything I’m just floatinnnn

Annnnd that’s it. Thanks for reading the red talk I feel like a YouTuber that explains all my life story when like legit no body asked. So hah losers you read unnecessarily. Good for you you’re working your eyes. Now go outside or read an Actual book. Go debate your life choices some more. Yeh I see you CaRoL. >:0

Tagged by @animagix101

DO IT DOEE

The homies @fuckyourpaladins & @amesaims

the ultimate G right here. Like you’re just my favorite follower ilysm @rainbowaquacat ❤️

[makoharuland]

makoharu in free! dive to the future episode 10

argh, i seriously wanted to write this days ago, but something has happened every day to get in the way of me writing this. ^__^UU but i have a lot to say about this episode, so i would be happy if you took the time to read it even though it's long, hahahaha. i decided to use a "read more" again. also, my posts about the other episodes are in this tag: http://makoharuland.tumblr.com/tagged/free%21-dive-to-the-future

i felt really bad for makoto at the beginning of this episode, because he could see haru from a distance, and he knew that haru lost, but he couldn't actually go and talk to him.

obviously makoto is the type of person who feels a strong desire to help others who are having a problem, so this feeling he has of seeing haru but being unable to go near him was super difficult for him. =( you can tell that makoto is heartbroken. ;__; i was so mad when that guy told everyone to leave. XD i was like "but you have to let makoto talk to haru... come on..." well, that didn't happen. -__-U

and then things got worse when makoto tried to text haru, but haru wouldn't text back.

the first two texts are just casual, yet the third one just directly asks if he is okay ;__; awwwwww... yes, i know that haru really needed his space because he was feeling so down after the loss. but he should have texted makoto at least a tiny bit. or maybe just an emoji??? lol

when they finally saw each other again, i thought it was cute that haru was kinda embarrassed when he was telling makoto that he hadn't looked at his phone. hahaha, aww. 

and mako was like "you had me worried!" but notice that he wasn't mad at haru, which was so sweet. and also, notice that haru didn't get mad at makoto either. he could have said like "omg, go away! don't bother me. i don't feel like talking to you." hahaha. no, haru didn't say that. he was in an irritated mood, but he was still okay with makoto being there. <3

but the cutest thing ever was makoto giving haru advice in a way that he knew haru could understand. 

the best thing about that was that makoto was smiling and laughing about it. it was so easy for him to know what to say!!! XD haru had been in a bad mood, and yet, it didn't even matter to makoto, because makoto was easily able to help haru anyway. there are two things going on here: makoto knowing haru's personality well enough to know the best way to explain something to haru, and haru already having a huge amount of trust in makoto. so that's that. coach azuma's surprised reaction was hilarious!!! ^___^

amd you know what's interesting? this reminds me of how in the past, when haru was even less talkative than he is now, makoto would sometimes speak up for him. haru's changed over time and he is more willing to speak for himself now, but he used to be more quiet, so he was not willing to communicate with people that much. however, makoto is able to understand haru's feelings just by looking at his face. so there would be times when haru wasn't willing to speak, and makoto would tell others what haru was thinking. he was like a translator, translating haru's message to give to others. but in this scene with coach azuma, makoto was a translator in the opposite direction. he translated someone else's words and communicated their message to haru. isn't that SO COOL?!!!!!!! ^__^ makoto has so many special abilities when it comes to haru, hahaha.

speaking of makoto having special abilities, a little later, he saw haru and rin talking to each other and he thought about how they were going to compete at the global level. but what could he do???? 

he was having a lack of self-confidence in that moment, and this is something that's happened before with him. he wasn't feeling like he had any special gifts, talents, motivations, or goals, but he knew haru and rin did. he was just feeling like he was on the outside, looking in. well actually, he was literally on the inside, looking out. but you get what i mean. XD it sounds cliche, but it was like makoto was trying to find his place in the world.

but that didn't last long. he remembered his talk with nao earlier in the episode, and he discovered his dream, which is... wanting to become a trainer!!!! =D

this is a very good thing. you know why? because massage is included as something that makoto now wants to do, and haru is included as one of the people he wants to help train.

see? that includes haru.

so yeah, there is now a link between the concepts of "makoto," "massage," and "haru," and i plan to constantly keep that in my mind throughout the next two episodes. in fact, it was already on my mind in THIS episode. ever since nao said "massage," i instantly began praying to the kyoani writers. i thought, "PLEASE? ...PLEASE? ...PLEASE? ...PLEASE? ...PLEASE?" like a broken record. i thought that there was a possibility of makoto massaging haru in this episode!!!! guess what guys? THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED. let me just express my disappointment that occurred when makoto gave a massage to misaki instead of haru. waiter, that is not what i ordered! here is the situation i'm in: those dastardly writers planted a thought inside my head and then did not do what i wanted!!! it's their fault for playing with my emotions. they do this a lot. well actually, i can't truly say that they planted the thought inside my head, because that thought has already been inside my head for a long time. how many years? ummmm... the point is, massage is... like... a... kink? for me? i guess? i don't know how else to describe it, but it's this thing that i thing is... um... interesting. so for a long time, i have thought about that with makoharu, and i keep switching between which one is massaging the other, but it doesn't matter... it's just that i always thought of it as a fanfic type of thing and not a "this will legit happen in an episode" type of thing. o___o but now, there's foreshadowing that points toward it actually happening. so that's not something i expected. XD XD XD i became really excited, and there's no way to de-excite me. hahaha. but wait, do i truly want this to happen? if it does, then my health may not survive. there is a chance of me fangirling on the floor. my family will find me and i will be either passed out or all the way dead, i'm not sure. but i'll have a smile on my face. :)

this show is great and i love watching it because it messes me up with so many feels, but if makoto massages haru, then the show will have just gone up to the next level of ruining my life. i read about certain things in fanfics and i don't expect them to actually happen in the show, because fanfics are... well... fanfics. you know what that's like. ;) however, now certain expectations have been put into my head and i am thinking about the next two episodes and i am wondering if makoto will use his hands in a way that haru will really like???? :O

btw, if you care about massage as much as i do, and you're 18 or older, you should check out the yaoi manga "minori's hand" or "minori no te," because i said so. (it can be found on the website “ebook renta” but for some reason i am unable to directly link to the manga, sorry. edit: this link might work? https://www.ebookrenta.com/renta/sc/frm/item/79451/ )

[apawcalypsemeow]

Tag game

Rules: answer these questions and tag whoever you want

Thanks for tagging me @little-scribble <3 you are literally the best <3

Name: Erin

Star sign: Taurus, and all the chillness, reliability, stubbornness, and love of creature comforts that goes along with it.

Height: 5′6″

Middle name: Ellen (family tradition, I am very proud of it)

Put your playlist on shuffle and name the first four songs that come up:

“Amaranthine” by Amaranthe (of course it would come up with my first dance song skdjflskdjflkhEMOTIONSskldfjdslkh)

“Control” by Halsey (andddd my favorite fandom theme song. for young Ben Solo of course)

“Regretroid” by Starbomb (my favorite nerdrock group)

“Everybody Wants To Rule The Worlds” by Lorde from The Hunger Games: Cathing Fire soundtrack (angsty folk!rock is my jam and i sweartogod i did not plan this i just shuffled my surgery playlist)

Grab the book nearest to you and turn to page 23. What’s line 17?

“One of the troopers who had dragged Poe forward commenced a detailed and none too gentle pat down.” - The Force Awakens novelization by Alan Dean Foster (I don’t remember why this is sitting by my desk, probably to win an argument with my husband). 

Had a poem or song written about you: Actually yes, kind of. My first job out of school I was feeling very down on myself. One day I came into the office and the techs had written a poem about me on the whiteboard with the letters of my name and positive traits spelled out for each letter. I cried when I saw it. I took a picture and still have it saved on my phone. I look at it a lot when I feel down.

Last time you played air guitar: Ummm this weekend I think I did sarcastically for a bit. It was a crazy party.  

Who is your celebrity crush? Adam Driver and the entire cast of Lord of the Rings

Sound you hate / sound you love: Squeaking styrofoam (omg it makes me grind my teeth and want to claw my ears out just thinking about it) / cats purring (especially when it gets that excited little trill involved)

Do you believe in ghosts? Yes? ish? Idk, I’ve had a legit paranormal experience recently but I’m still not sure what to make of it. I swear I will post it soon. I promised people I would. And I’ve even made doodles to illustrate the setup. 

How about aliens? Statistically speaking it is most definite that there is other intelligent life out there. Has it made contact with our world? Idk, maybe? 

What was the last book you read? I am currently reading Defy the Stars by Claudia Grey. It is good. 

Do you like the smell of gasoline? Yes but I am ashamed of that fact =X

What was the last movie you saw? Oh jeez idk. My husband and I mostly watch shows together. The last movie I can really remember watching front to back and having a major effect on me was Silence. I mostly bought it because of Adam Driver tbh (and I also love religious drama/history), but I was not expecting to be so thoroughly wrecked by that movie. I’m still digesting it. In a very very good way. 

Do you have any obsessions right now? Always. Right now probably Reylo, Kylo Ren, 501st stuff, fangirl stuff in general always. 

Do you tend to hold grudges? No. If the person responsible shows even the slightest sign of conciliatory gestures, I accept with open arms. I’m kind of a pushover. 

In a relationship? Yes. And in fact today is 7 years to the day since I started dating my husband <3 <3 <3 I am so lucky to have found true love!

I tag: @usethehorseluke, @fernandabarrera, @mrsvioletwrites, @roxannepolice, @fernandabarrera, @reydarcy, @the-angry-pencil-wielder, @rubitrightintomyeyes, @fabradicalfem, @beverlymaarsh, and anyone else who wants to join!

[neshatriumphs]

BLERD MAGIC & MADNESS

Tagging: Blogging While Black, BlerdLife, Thinking Out Loud, NeshaTriumphs

Date:  January 31, 2017

General Notes:   Blogging While Black with Nesha #1 (I have no idea if I will continue with these, but whether or not I do, I got my thoughts out tonight, at least.)  *Contains some adult language*  Photos used are not my property.  I don’t care about the fact that a couple of the characters were white in their original forms.  That doesn’t have anything to do with anything I’m speaking about here.

I personally have been having my black nerd needs met recently with Issa Rae’s glorious release of her wondrous HBO show Insecure, Donald Glover’s excellent FX series Atlanta and every single bit of news that comes through about the epic production that will be Black Panther.  So, I am in blerd euphoria in many ways.  

But, in many other ways, and most commonly, I am in a deficit.  No matter how many black lovers of nerd culture or geek culture that you ask, you will most likely meet a resounding report about the frustrations of little to no representation or undeveloped and/or underappreciated black characters.  Every now and then, we get a gem.  Sometimes, we get multiple nuggets of black excellence.

But, for the most part, we get a perpetual guard dog (Bonnie Bennett,Tara Thornton - They both died and came back for more white girl sidebar fuckery.)  We get a sidekick or support (Falcon, Lucius Fox, Storm - She ain’t get her own damned movie, but Ant Man got a damned movie?  Who asked for Ant Man?  Storm had her story penned by Eric Jerome Dickey and she can’t even get a movie?) or we might get a token.  

Tokens:  Some of them have a few lines.  Some of them have spots in the background. Some of them are featured on an episode or two.  Some of them can even come on for a major story arch… as a prop for the development of their white counterparts.  Then, some just get to be the villain. “What do you mean no POC in geek culture?  What about all of those Orc beasts in LOTR???”

I don't jump into the nerd communities so much, outside of Twitter and Tumblr circles for blerds that I've stepped into.   But, I take that position and make that determination because I can’t get with these fandoms in which Michonne - for all her badassery, Iris West - for all her intelligence, and Martha Jones - for all of her dedication – can’t be treated as human women deserving of their space in front of these audiences.

I don't know about the gamer community, but I hear that's shitty for blerds. So, on one hand, I am glad that I don’t have the hand eye coordination to be a part of that world.  But, guess who does?  My partner’s son.  So, even though we may want to avoid certain spaces because of the racism and anti-blackness or misrepresentation, because of its prevalence in these spaces - we know that someone that we like, care about, love, or even just know, might. And who wants that?

Maybe some of us do.  Because something that many people have noticed about these communities is that oftentimes, the anti-blackness gets so thick and runs so deep that it gets internalized by the black people within those circles.  This is how we get a lot of, “I’m black and I don’t think *insert this, that and the other*”  

Although I celebrated Donald Glover’s accomplishments on the FX series Atlanta, I believe that it is important to mention that while he holds title for probably the most popular blerd dude out there, he has been known to be extremely problematic and yes, sometimes a coon.  Not because he has a white partner or because he speaks articulately and does nerd shit or “acts like an oreo,” but because of some of the stuff he’s said.  (I legit will never get over that “I came when she called me a nigger business.  Too much for me, Bruh.)  Cheers for the shout out to black people at the awards, though.  Never forget how white people acted when you were considered for Spiderman, Dude.

Remember I mentioned Bonnie Bennett - personal witch do-girl for every white human, vampire, werewolf and hybrid in all of Mystic Falls because of her “friendship” with white girl that everyone loves and wants - The CW’s The Vampire Diaries) and another poor unfortunate soul, Tara Thornton - willing to fight, kill and yes, DIE for the white girl that everyone loves and wants in Bon Temps, LA - HBO’s True Blood?  Remind me that I have unfinished business to tend to in completing a Crossover Fanfiction tale in which they team up and get what the fuck they always deserved.  

If only it could be as great as this wonderful nod by themiserablebeauty.tumblr.com

It is only a few names, out of years of seeing sparingly supplied black women in sci-fi/comic/general fandoms that I still have PERSONALLY had to jump in and defend, when they have their good and their bad, like many of the white women in the shows, or the other characters, period.  They have less development most of the times, and often go through the biggest amount of strife and yet receive the least amount of sympathy.  

Probably every black fangirl has had to wonder, when faced with the outstanding overlooking of value in these characters and/or the disgusting and dehumanizing ways that the fandoms that they reside within, why the hell can’t she be viewed like the rest of the characters?  Why is this one spec of representation that I am allowed in this universe always getting shitted on my the fans or the writers?   And, it doesn’t take very long to come up with the answer.  We have had to BE that black character in every day life multiple times.  

Underappreciated.  Undervalued.  Unsung.  We ain’t just for background feaux diversity and longsuffering sidekicks anymore.  (Big ups to Hidden Figures being a boss ass blerd magic supplement.)  

Yeah,  I personally have been having my black nerd needs met recently.  But representation is still hella limited and appreciation still falls upon us, predominantly in these circles.  Racism is just as ugly with “oppressed” white nerd types that get picked on by more socially accepted people.  And the anti-blackness some of us internalize is daunting.  2017 and beyond...  I’m not having all of that.  You can get these blerd hands.  Me and black fanboy Orlando Jones will let you know about yourselves, with a quickness.

#YallDontGiveHimEnoughCredit #IBelieveInHisBlerdnessToo

[ellanainthetardis]

As of yesterday Tumblr has banned nsfw content from the tags and is shutting down blogs. Care to give your two cents on the matter? Personally I’m freaked over what it will do to fandoms

I’m not certain I really have two cents to give, to be honest. 

I’ve been on tumblr long enough that there have been a looot of scares like that and it usually lasts a couple of days, a week at most, and then it moves on until the next big scare. A couple of weeks (months?) ago, it was blogs getting deleted because of the pic copyright thing… So mostly I’m here watching the thing happen… I won’t lie, yes there is a twinge of anxiety because I know most people read me here, I’ve spent a lot of time on this blog and it would make me sad to lose it but mostly I’ve seen crisis like that before and it’s never as huge as the general rumor makes it out to be. 

The only really frightening thing is that they got kicked off the app store although the reason for it is legit and cannot be disputed so they will go to any length to go back on it because otherwise they will lose money. The problem is people have been complaining about spam bots for ages and the staff is unable or unwilling to really tackle the problem so now we have counter bots that aren’t not as performing as they should be so yeah there are probably lots of problems trying to get a hold on that situation. 

I think the sad truth is that tumblr has been on a slope for a while now. It changed a lot from what it was a few years ago. I mean, I can only speak for myself here but I have a (relatively, I’m not tumblr famous) big amount of followers and I have been having less interaction with people than when I had 60. Mostly, I have the same anon who use that medium to chat with me, a few people I chat with over im and the wonderful people (most of them the same) who are always leaving comments or rebbloging my stories. All in all I would say I interact with 10 people top nowadays. I saw that phenomenum on other blogs too. Tumblr has gone from a real fandom exchange platform to something a bit less social. The only time I really check tumblr nowadays is when I post and to fill my queue. It’s also true it’s probably the case because my main fandom is small so maybe that explains it. 

Not to digress too much, I guess they’re targetting porn blogs and bots. As long as you don’t post either, I guess you’re okay? If they do delete your blog, you can appeal to get it back if you did nothing wrong, I heard, although it may take a while for them to answer your mail and it would probably be easier to just create another one. On a personal note, I said it several times, you can find me on twitter, ao3 and fanfiction.net so I will never be lost ;) I guess if you’re afraid of losing contact with your own followers, you can create a twitter or instagram account (if you don’t already have one/wants to keep yours real life oriented) and ask people to follow you over there as a preventive measure but honestly I wouldn’t worry too much. As long as you’re not a spam blog hopefully you will be okay. 

As for fandoms in general, tumblr is an easy place to gather, like livejournal was back in the day. After livejournal, there was ff and deviant art, then there were forums, then there was tumblr and now we have ao3… Maybe it’s the natural evolution taking place? Maybe another social media will emerge that will allow gifs and fanart and such… I know it can seem frightening, all the more to someone young (I’m assuming you’re around 20) but it happened before with other sites and it never killed fandoms. Nothing can kill fangirling. Fangirling will always survive. It survived since the dawn of time. 

I have lots of love for tumblr, I had so much fun here, particularly with the hayffie fandom, I really have a lot of amazing memories here, I’ve made quite a few good friends but there is no denying there are also a lot of functionality problems. I mean without new xkit, I’m not sure I would even be still using it… 

I’m not sure I’m doing a good job at reassuring you… Well, here are my two cents. It’s out of your control anyway so there is no point worrying about something that hasn’t happened yet. If tumblr does shut down/is not a welcoming place for fandoms anymore, I promise you something else will come to take its place. Trust me, I’ve been in the fandom game for give or take ten years now and it always does. Fandoms always find a way.