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big fan of romance horror. big fan of terrible people still being loved. big fan of bending morality and turning the grotesque into something beautiful.

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and just when you think you’re at your absolute lowest a blonde motherfucker comes along and makes everything so much worse

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Going to be so honest with you, after reading the synopses for every episode of series 8 this was all I could think of

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They should block chatgpt on uni WiFi the way they used to block coolmathgames

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This weekend, with the help of many fellow fans, I put together a big rec list on bluesky to celebrate the under-celebrated fics in the haladriel fandom! Everyone go check it out and leave a little love for all the authors!

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In our language "I want to annoy a politician" means "postuje mema że lubi osoby transpłciowe" and I think that's beautiful

I need to share this recent huge trans ppl win in poland cus its kinda funny

So to change your legal name (that's not of your asab gender) and your gender in your legal papers before you had to sue your parents here. And Zbigniew Ziobro, right wing politican, asked, shouldn't trans people also sue their children and partners if they're married? The case went to the Supreme Court, which ruled that actually, trans people shouldn’t have to sue anyone.

So I'm not sure if it's already in use but yeah. Huge win. Transition never been easier here!! It was so unexpected. He literally helped us more than any left wing politican. 😭😭

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Theory: Binding and Coaxing in the light of forging the One Ring

The Role of Binding Throughout Season 1 of The Rings of Power, the concept of "binding" emerges as an important theme.

At the season’s conclusion, Sauron offers Galadriel a chance to rule together, proposing that they "bind themselves to each other" using Finrod’s dagger. However, Galadriel resists this offer. Despite her rejection, we understand that a part of her deeply desires this connection.

By the end of Season 2, this idea of binding takes on a more literal form when Sauron stabs Galadriel with the crown. This "forced binding" is significant—it represents a different kind of connection, one that is imposed rather than willingly accepted.

The Role of Coaxing Alongside binding, we also hear the concept of "coaxing." In the forging process of metals, it’s explained that the right alloys can enhance each other’s qualities if they are coaxed together—drawn into balance. If too much force is applied, however, the metals fail to merge properly.

This is an important analogy for the relationship between Sauron and Galadriel. Just as metals should be coaxed together, not forced, the union between Sauron and Galadriel can only work if both parties willingly "coax" (bind) themselves to one another, enhancing each other's strengths. This idea of coaxing implies a delicate balance—one that cannot be achieved through force.

The Significance of Rings Rings, made from alloys, are key to understanding Sauron’s ultimate plan. Each set of rings incorporates different components:

Rings for Men: Made from Sauron’s blood. Rings for Dwarves: Crafted from Sauron’s sorcery and mithril. Rings for Elves: Created from Sauron’s power and Noldor gold, which is notably drawn from Galadriel’s dagger. The dagger from Season 1 represents Galadriel’s power, a key motivation driving her pursuit of Sauron. It becomes a potent symbol of both their connection and her strength.

The creation of the One Ring, then, is not just about dominating the other Rings of Power, but specifically about controlling the Elven Rings. These are the only rings forged without Sauron’s direct interference, unlike the rings for Men and Dwarves, which he already manipulates, as demonstrated with the Dwarven rings.

It can happen that to get control over the Elven Rings, the One Ring must embrace not only Sauron’s power but also Galadriel’s, as her influence was subtly woven into the Elven Rings alongside his own. And her power is proved to be strong.

Coaxing, Binding, and Control If we consider "coaxing" and "binding" as equal concepts, we can see Sauron and Galadriel as two metals that could be coaxed (bound) together. By doing so, they would enhance each other’s qualities. This idea is reflected in their interactions—when Halbrand and Galadriel fight side by side, they balance each other, pulling each other back from the edge. They both admit that their bond is overwhelming and that they wish to experience this feeling forever.

However, for this union (and the creation of the One Ring) to work, it must be done willingly. Forcefully binding or coaxing these "metals" together would lead to failure. It means Sauron attempts to use the Morgoth crown to bind Galadriel’s power by force should fail because it is not a willing exchange. This forced connection corrupts the process of forging the ring.

The Morgoth Wound and Galadriel’s Struggle The Morgoth wound may act as a form of communication between Sauron and Galadriel, symbolizing the potential for her temporary fall to darkness. If Galadriel willingly gives Sauron her power—whether in the form of blood, hair, or another token—this act of submission could allow the One Ring to be forged properly. It is only through this voluntary exchange that Sauron can truly control the Elven Rings and enhance his own powers.

The One Ring not only allowed Sauron to control the other rings but also amplified his strength. In theory, it could also enhance Galadriel’s powers, turning her into a witch we see in Peter Jackson’s films.

The destruction of the Rings in The Lord of the Rings removes Sauron’s powers, and it’s possible that Galadriel, too, loses her enhanced abilities, which would allow her to return to Valinor, freed from the shadow of darkness.

Conclusion

The theme of binding, coaxing, balancing, and complementing runs throughout the series. It could serve as a subtle foreshadowing of the forging of the One Ring. It could hint at the complex dynamics behind Galadriel’s eventual transformation into a witch, offering insight into why she wanted to possess the One Ring and how this desire reflects her deeper thirst for power.

As a bonus, I’ll reference the showrunners’ interview, where they confirmed that Galadriel’s path leans towards light…for now.

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The end

https://archiveofourown.org/works/53066299/chapters/163194649

Whoof what a ride.

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Also, does anyone know why links posted on Tumblr don't do that fun box things anymore? I miss them.

(Epilogue on Friday. Love y'all, stay safe)

Ah. The last chapter

(yes, there is still the epilogue, but let me morn the ending of my very first long-term story please, thank you)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/53066299/chapters/162990496

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Ah. The last chapter

(yes, there is still the epilogue, but let me morn the ending of my very first long-term story please, thank you)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/53066299/chapters/162990496

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Fresh new drops every Friday (apparently)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/53066299/chapters/162638239

Chapter 8/9, depending on my own or A03's count, is up. Only one full chapter and an epilogue to go!

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Do you like dialogue-heavy? Stars, I hope you like dialogue-heavy.

NEW DAYS OF RECKONING CHAPTER

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I'm changing the ending of my fic bc after I outlined the original I spiraled into a two-day depression episode. I don't want that for anyone lol, and I'm sure not going to write that out anymore (I do, in fact, value my mental health and I'm not going to further spoil the good streak that I had going on)

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Objectively speaking, shipping is much more disliked in the fandoms with greater longevity than new ones… and I do believe my opinion was rather well defended in the whole meta.

(Also; that is to say - I never indicated that all older fandoms have a problem with shipping nor that it’s the older people in the fandoms that are the haters. That was an inference on your part)

Why shipping is so intensely hated in older fandoms?

Because of my person being entrenched in both the Rings of Power and Star Wars (sequel trilogy and the Acolyte specifically) fandoms and conversations online, I have noticed a curious thing happening. Now of course, I am aware all of it has been taking place for a long time before that, but recently a pattern has been developing.

Notably, the hate “shipping” or “shippers” had been receiving in online spaces.

Using both fandoms I already mentioned as a sort of trial group, let me illustrate what I mean by a “pattern” - but first, let’s try to define the whole shipping thing.

The basic thing to understand about it is that not everyone would explain it the same way. I would assume the most universal understanding of it would mean “shipping” to be simply wishing for two characters to become a couple at one point or another in the story. In that understanding, this might also manifest in some people’s minds as “I want these two to kiss” as well as “I want these two to have sex.” Which is true.

Which is also a very flattening description of the phenomena.

People are shipping characters that canonically hate each other, that don’t know each other, that come from two different media altogether. People are shipping characters that have minimal interactions, but these in themselves have that specific element about them, that little umph that normal people would call “chemistry”, so they want to see more from them. Most of the time, and I do mean most of them, not all, these opinions and jokes on the internet are just that.

There was a post about it, one which I cannot find anywhere but in the recesses of my mind, but it made a point to say shipping wasn’t this overly sexual thing where the fans partook in the practice simply to see their favourite characters engage physically before their eyes, but because there was something about the both of them, some strange, mirroring quality that made their interactions simply irresistible to witness, be them anything. A fight scene, a conversation, a mention.

Ones that come to mind are, more recently, Haladriel, *Rings of Power’*s Galadriel and Halbrand-version-of-Sauron, Oshamir, The Acolyte’s main characters, and Reylo.

Of course, Reylo.

We have noticed this, yes? How, most of the time, people that enjoy dynamics between various characters are called “insane”, “stupid”, “child-like”, and how they are blamed for writers partaking in generally controversial choices because “they are just caving-in” and “pandering to shippers”?

This is a feminism - adjacent piece, and quite a short read actually!

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may I offer in these trying times

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current fan creation landscape is kinda like if you went to a party with a homemade cake and everyone takes a slice and silently thumbs up at you with no attempt to start a conversation except for occasionally some guy sits in the corner with a tape recorder critiquing the cake as though he was a restaurant critic and another guy is handing the cake to an uber driver like "yeah i need you to find a restaurant that makes cake like this so i can have more of it" and the only person that's talked to you in 30 minutes is a very sweet little guy who was like "hey i liked your cake" and then ran away apologizing for bothering you the moment you said thank you.