ktavey

[ktavey]

in fanfiction we must sometimes ask ourselves not if he would do that but under what conditions would he would do that

[ktavey]

Shinoa & Yuu Analysis

Actually, now that I'm not caged by a small word limit, I do want to talk about Yuu and Shinoa’s relationship because I actually really really love their relationship. And the similarities and discrepancies, how their characters are adjacent to each other. Opposites, but so similar. Similarities between characters (be it personality wise, backstory wise, or ambition wise) do not only occur between Yuu and Mika, but there are actually a lot of similarities between Yuu and Shinoa.

I had mentioned this once before in a tweet, that Yuu and Shinoa are two sides of the same coin. Where Yuu is aware he is being manipulated and used (and we know this because he himself has directly said this) and he does not care. Not in the way a normal person would, at least. He feels rewarded, a sense of usefulness. He likes being useful to someone (in this case, it would be Guren), he is being needed and wanted, and that’s what Yuu yearns for and desires. He wants to be wanted, he wants to be needed. In consequence, he allows himself to be used, because it means that someone wants him. And even if it is for their own benefit, it still means someone wants him.

Not to mention, this feeling was what kept him alive, his whole reason for living. When Yuu was at his lowest, at his most vulnerable and easily manipulated state, Guren had told him: “It doesn’t matter if you don’t live to be happy, live to serve my purpose. My desires. I need you, want you, and that is why you should keep living. Live, because I want you to kill vampires.” (this part is excluding Yuu’s thoughts about Mikaela on the matter, but I do believe he did it not only for that, but yes, out of spite and to avenge Mika.)

And so Yuu, from the beginning, he was aware he was being used. He’s been used in his entire life, in general. The vampires used him as livestock, being used was nothing new to Yuu.

And then we have Shinoa, on the other hand, who is not as socially aware as Yuu is, because she did not grow up in that environment. She is quite the opposite to Yuu, and is pretty socially inept when it comes to people. Shinoa also puts up a front. But her’s is not as carefully and meticulously built as Yuu’s. It’s actually quite easy to see through. Because Yuu’s is so good, some of the readers (us) don’t even realize he has it.

The way Shinoa was raised in a way that she never really got that socialization, she never got the opportunity to read into and analyze the people around her, because that was what they were doing to her instead. She was the one being used. Not only that, but she never really got to see anybody outside that circle. The few times she did, it was people who were already aware of others, and it was her sister literally beating her emotions out of her.

But unlike Yuu, Shinoa wants the opposite. She wants to have her own agency. She wants to have her own will, and make her own choices, not influenced or manipulated by anyone. She wants it to be her. And this is why she confronts Guren so many times. She is aware enough to realize that Guren is using her against Yuu. Not only her, but their whole “family” against him. But, she is not fully aware of just how deep Guren’s influence runs.

For example, her declaration of love to Yuu. The reason Yuu rejected her confession was because he knew it wasn’t real. That is why he didn’t give her too many words, or try to be kinder about it. He didn’t seem to think that something not real, needed to be treated in such a way.

But back to Shinoa, there is a thread out there (I don’t have the link but if you do pls dm it to me) and that Shinoa was manipulated into falling in “love” with Yuu. The topic of love in Seraph of the End is treated differently, in a much deeper manner, than what Shinoa feels for Yuu. It’s more surface level, than anything.

At every waking moment, Guren kept making discreet remarks to Shinoa, almost like accusations, of her liking him. Guren had basically told her “you like Yuu.” And, psychologically, joking about speaking about something at a constant enough rate, you will start to feel that way. It’s why many therapists and psychiatrists will tell people to have positive affirmations, because the brain reacts to the words we speak, and incorporates them into our thoughts until we unconsciously believe them. The first few times we saw it happen, she fervently denied the feelings. But the thought kept getting forced onto her, over and over, until she simply accepted it. “I like Yuu.” She believed it, because other people say that she does.

And that’s one of the biggest things about Shinoa. She is Shinoa, because people tell her she is Shinoa. She behaves a certain way because that’s just how “Shinoa” behaves. She is a squad leader because they tell her she is a squad leader. And why do you think she's the squad leader? Because she listens. She obeys, she’s obedient. Mitsuba has shown to not blindly follow every order, Yoichi and Kimizuki were new; the JIDA weren’t sure what they are capable of, and Yuu also had a reputation for ignoring orders.

But Shinoa was an obedient dog. She listens, and obeys. (Even though she was an outcast from the Hiiragi’s, she never complained. She’s complacent. Even when she found out what had happened with Guren, and Yuu. She still obeyed him. Still does.) You tell her “jump” she says “how high.”

But, once again, in contrast to Yuu, Shinoa doesn’t realize just how much influence people have on her. Just how easily she is manipulated. She thinks that making her own choices, being squad leader, means she’s “out” and “free”, she isn’t. Shinoa is very easily influenced by people around her. (It is simply human nature to want to be validated, and recognized. But for someone who did not have that, they will go through terrifying measures to gain their acceptance. Whether it means hurting themselves, or others. Just look at Yuu, for example.)

While I do not doubt she feels a sense of affection for Yuu, (and I try to be as non biased here for the sake of analysis, but it is impossible to be completely objective) I personally believe that Shinoa does not love Yuu, and that she has been manipulated to think this way, given what I said earlier.

I do not want to disregard her feelings, because she absolutely does feel affection towards Yuu, but I do not believe that it is love. I think her feelings for Yuu border the same feelings she has for the rest of the squad. (Specifically, Shinoa idolizes him. Having such respect and admiration and desire to be like someone, could easily be misinterpreted as love. Especially with someone as out of tune with their emotions like Shinoa.)

Shinoa has a special type of affection for Yuu. Because Yuu is everything she could possibly hope to be. He is doing what she could not. He has his own stubborn, unwavering will, his own agency. And she has said this before, as her reason for loving him.

Shinoa idolizes Yuu. And they knew she would, they made her idolize him. They put those two in the same squad together for a reason. It was not a coincidence. She was literally assigned to him by Guren. But why?

Because they want Yuu to choose somebody other than Mika.

What I believe they hoped to achieve was to get Yuu attached to his “new family.” Guren knew these two, Yuu and Mika, would eventually see each other again. So he wanted to make sure Yuu would choose his new family over Mika. (And it did, sort of work. Like when Mika asked Yuu to run away with him, Yuu told him they had to save his family first. Although, nowadays, he just calls them his ‘friends’ instead. Has anyone else noticed that?)

Anyway, Guren is a smart asshole bitch fuckface (lighthearted I love him). He wanted Yuu to have multiple options. It’s easy to choose when it’s only two people. Like, between Mika and Shinoa, Yuu would choose Shinoa. But Guren is aware that no matter how dark and hurt Yuu gets, he has a pure heart. He knew it would be harder for Yuu to choose Mika over multiple people. And we do see that happen when Mika tries to…kidnap him. He goes back for them. (Although it was all thrown out the window the moment they ‘betrayed’ Yuu, lol.)

But, Shinoa doesn’t understand, nor is aware of this, because she doesn’t have the social intelligence for that. Not that it’s bad, it’s simply from the way she was raised. Honestly, I do hope Shinoa can come to realize that herself, that she slowly learns and realizes what’s going on.

And this is why I love Shinoa so much, she is such a complex character. Her character is the complete opposite of Yuu, in juxtaposition, since they are also quite similar. They are in a similar, if not the same, situation, but flipped. In which you have a person, who has been used his entire life, willingly allowing himself to be used, and aware of it; and someone who has been used her entire life, and doesn’t want that anymore, but is not aware that she is still being used. I say that because at this point in time, many if not all her decisions are being influenced by external factors.

Shinoa lets things get to her very easily, and Yuu does not. Because over the time, he has learned to cultivate a strong will. His will is strong enough that for FOUR YEARS he has never once given up on Mika. (And Yuu knew Mika the same amount of time he knew Guren…interesting, right? Is there a meaning to that?) For four years, Mika has been his pinnacle, his priority. His goal.

Shinoa does not have that. She does not have a priority, nor a goal. She doesn’t even know herself. She cannot find her priorities, morals, standards, etc. until she finds herself first. Yuu knows who he is, and that is why he is not afraid to let himself be used. Because nothing can change who he is fundamentally, because he’s made sure to cement it into himself. (You can really tell with how calm and relaxed he was when Angel Mika and eyeYuu were introduced. He did not falter, because Yuu is sure of himself, and his identity. The past does not change who he is now.)

And I genuinely hope that Kagami gives Shinoa her deserved good character development, because she is, and could be much more, of an amazing character.

Anyway that's the entire rant on my thoughts about them thanks for coming to my ted talk.

[ktavey]

[ktavey]

Writing Tips

Punctuating Dialogue

✧

➸ “This is a sentence.”

➸ “This is a sentence with a dialogue tag at the end,” she said.

➸ “This,” he said, “is a sentence split by a dialogue tag.”

➸ “This is a sentence,” she said. “This is a new sentence. New sentences are capitalized.”

➸ “This is a sentence followed by an action.” He stood. “They are separate sentences because he did not speak by standing.”

➸ She said, “Use a comma to introduce dialogue. The quote is capitalized when the dialogue tag is at the beginning.”

➸ “Use a comma when a dialogue tag follows a quote,” he said.

“Unless there is a question mark?” she asked.

“Or an exclamation point!” he answered. “The dialogue tag still remains uncapitalized because it’s not truly the end of the sentence.”

➸ “Periods and commas should be inside closing quotations.”

➸ “Hey!” she shouted, “Sometimes exclamation points are inside quotations.”

However, if it’s not dialogue exclamation points can also be “outside”!

➸ “Does this apply to question marks too?” he asked.

If it’s not dialogue, can question marks be “outside”? (Yes, they can.)

➸ “This applies to dashes too. Inside quotations dashes typically express—“

“Interruption” — but there are situations dashes may be outside.

➸ “You’ll notice that exclamation marks, question marks, and dashes do not have a comma after them. Ellipses don’t have a comma after them either…” she said.

➸ “My teacher said, ‘Use single quotation marks when quoting within dialogue.’”

➸ “Use paragraph breaks to indicate a new speaker,” he said.

“The readers will know it’s someone else speaking.”

➸ “If it’s the same speaker but different paragraph, keep the closing quotation off.

“This shows it’s the same character continuing to speak.”

[ktavey]

So, let me guess– you just started a new book, right? And you’re stumped. You have no idea how much an AK47 goes for nowadays. I get ya, cousin. Tough world we live in. A writer’s gotta know, but them NSA hounds are after ya 24/7. I know, cousin, I know. If there was only a way to find out all of this rather edgy information without getting yourself in trouble…

You’re in luck, cousin. I have just the thing for ya.

It’s called Havocscope. It’s got information and prices for all sorts of edgy information. Ever wondered how much cocaine costs by the gram, or how much a kidney sells for, or (worst of all) how much it costs to hire an assassin?

I got your back, cousin. Just head over to Havocscope.

((PS: In case you’re wondering, Havocscope is a database full of information regarding the criminal underworld. The information you will find there has been taken from newspapers and police reports. It’s perfectly legal, no need to worry about the NSA hounds, cousin ;p))

Want more writerly content? Follow maxkirin.tumblr.com!

[ktavey]

sometimes you need dialogue tags and don't want to use the same four

[ktavey]

writing is so fun

[ktavey]

so I’m looking at short story publishers (fantasy)

Tor, cream of the crop. 25 cents a word. Stories can be read for free (YES). Slowish response time at ~3 months. Prefer under 12k, absolute maximum is 17.5k. Don’t bother if it’s not highly professional quality. SFWA qualifying.

Crossed Genres. 6 cents a word. Different theme each month (this month’s is “failure”). Submissions must combine either sci-fi or fantasy with the theme. Response time 1 month. 1k-6k, no exceptions. SFWA qualifying.

Long Hidden, anthology from CG. 6 cents a word. 2k-8k, no exceptions. Must take place before 1935. Protagonist(s) must be under 18 and marginalized in their time and place. Must be sci-fi/fantasy/horror. Deadline 30 April. Response by 1 October.

Queers Destroy Science Fiction. Sci-fi only right now, author must identify as queer (gay, lesbian, bi, ace, pan, trans, genderfluid, etc, just not cishet). 7.5k max. Deadline 15 February. Responses by 1 March. You can submit one flash fiction and one short story at the same time. (My network blocks the Lightspeed site for some reason, so I can’t get all the submission details. >_>) Probably SFWA qualifying?

Women in Practical Armor. 6 cents a word. 2k-5k. Must be about 1) a female warrior who 2) is already empowered and 3) wears sensible armour. Deadline 1 April. Response within three months.

Fiction Vortex. $10 per story, with $20 and $30 for editor’s and readers’ choice stories (hoping to improve). Speculative fiction only. Imaginative but non-florid stories. 7.5k maximum, preference for 5k and under. (I kind of want to support them on general principle.)

Urban Fantasy Magazine. 6 cents a word. 8k max, under 4k preferred. Must be urban fantasy (aka, the modern world, doesn’t need to be a literal city). 

Nightmare. 6 cents a word. 1.5-7.5k, preference for under 5k. Horror and dark fantasy. Response time up to two weeks. SFWA and HWA qualifying.

Apex Magazine. 6 cents a word. 7.5k max, no exceptions. Dark sci-fi/fantasy/horror. SFWA qualifying.

Asimov’s Science Fiction. 8-10 cents a word. 20k max, 1k minimum. Sci-fi; borderline fantasy is ok, but not S&S. Prefer character focused. Response time 5 weeks; query at 3 months. SFWA qualifying, ofc.

Buzzy Mag. 10 cents a word. 10k max. Should be acceptable for anyone 15+. Response time 6-8 weeks. SFWA qualifying.

Strange Horizons. 8 cents a word. Speculative fiction. 10k max, prefers under 5k. Response time 40 days. Particularly interested in diverse perspectives, nuanced approahces to political issues, and hypertexts. SFWA qualifying. 

Fantasy and Science Fiction. 7-12 cents a word. Speculative fiction, preference for character focus, would like more science-fiction or humour. 25k maximum. Prefers Courier. Response time 15 days.

Scigentasy. 3 cents a word. .5-5k. Science-fiction and fantasy, progressive/feminist emphasis. Fantastic Stories of the Imagination. 15 cents a word. 3k maximum. Any sci-fi/fantasy, they like a literary bent. (psst, steinbecks!) They also like to see both traditional and experimental approaches. Response time two weeks. 

Beneath Ceaseless Skies. 6 cents a word. 10k maximum. Fantasy in secondary worlds only (it can be Earth, but drastically different—alternate history or whatever). Character focus, prefer styles that are lush yet clear, limited first or third person narration. Response time usually 2-4 weeks, can be 5-7 weeks. SFWA qualifying.

Clarkesworld. 10 cents a word up to 4000, 7 afterwards. 1-8k, preferred is 4k. Science-fiction and fantasy. Needs to be well-written and convenient to read on-screen. Appreciates rigour. No talking cats. Response time 2 days. SFWA qualifying.

Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show. 6 cents a word. Any length. Science-fiction and fantasy (along with fantastic horror). Good world-building and characterization. Clear straightforward prose. Response time three months. Yes, OSC is editor-in-chief. SFWA qualifying.

Interzone. Sub-pro rates if anything (but highly respected). 10k max. Short cover letter. Science-fiction and fantasy.

[ktavey]

Best Prompts of 2024!

Prompt #1089: “Why did you come back?” “Because I forgot something important.” “Oh, what did you forget?” “You, you idiot.”

Prompt #1070: “Sorry I tried to kill you.” “It’s fine, but next time you should try harder.”

Prompt #1103: “Stop following me.” “Oh, do you want me to walk beside you? Maybe hold hands with you?”

Prompt #1101: “I’m not the right person for you.” “You’re doing a bad job of convincing me of that.”

Prompt #1082: “You’re just as bad as I am.” “Oh believe me, I’m much worse.”

Prompt #1099: “Have I ever given up on you?” “No, never.” “Then don’t force me to do it now.”

Prompt #1073: Sometimes guardian angels don’t have a lovely singing voice and a set of fluffy wings, sometimes they have a deep frown on their face and a very bad attitude.

Prompt #1078: “Why do you think that you need to fix me? Who told you I was broken?”

Prompt #1062: “Don’t look at me like that.” “How am I looking at you?” “Like you love me.”

Prompt #1092: “If I had asked, would you have stayed?” “You didn’t ask. So we’ll never know.”

Goodbye 2024 and hello 2025! I wish you all a wonderful start into the new year!

If you like my blog and want to support me, you can buy me a coffee or become a member! 🥰

[ktavey]

truly some people have no genre savviness whatsoever. A girl came back from the dead the other day and fresh out of the grave she laughed and laughed and lay down on the grass nearby to watch the sky, dirt still under her nails. I asked her if she’s sad about anything and she asked me why she should be. I asked her if she’s perhaps worried she’s a shadow of who she used to be and she said that if she is a shadow she is a joyous one, and anyway whoever she was she is her, now, and that’s enough. I inquired about revenge, about unfinished business, about what had filled her with the incessant need to claw her way out from beneath but she just said she’s here to live. I told her about ghosts, about zombies, tried to explain to her how her options lie between horror and tragedy but she just said if those are the stories meant for her then she’ll make another one. I said “isn’t it terribly lonely how in your triumph over death nobody was here to greet you?” and she just looked at me funny and said “what do you mean? The whole world was here, waiting”. Some people, I tell you.

[ktavey]

How to create an atmosphere

How to create an atmosphere: Coffee Shop

How to create an atmosphere: Library

How to create an atmosphere: Supermarket

How to create an atmosphere: Train Station

How to create an atmosphere: Club

[ktavey]

The angstiest masterpost

angsty.

Angsty family/platonic dialogue

Angsty question prompts #1

Angsty question prompts #2

Angsty question prompts #3

Angsty/fighting dialogue

Concerned/angsty question prompts 

Angsty starters

Angst prompts

Angsty sentence starters #1

Angsty sentence starters #2

Angsty sentence starters #3

Angsty sentence starters #4

Leaving dialogue

Reunion dialogue reactions

Unwilling goodbye + love confession prompts

Trying to make them stay dialogue

Sacrificing dialogue

Amnesia prompts

Amnesia dialogue

Bad luck prompts

Lover being hurt prompts

Break-up dialogue #1

Break-up dialogue #2

Unwanted attention dialogue

Unrequited love dialogue

Drama starting points

Conflict for couples #1

Conflict for couples #2

Conflict for couples #3

Betrayal dialogue

Hiding from horror dialogue

Finding out the truth dialogue

"I'm sorry…" apology starters

Saying I'm sorry…

Apologizing for emotional neglect

Talking it out ideas

Keeping loved ones apart

Ending an argument

If you like my blog and want to support me, you can buy me a coffee or become a member! And check out my Instagram! 🥰

[ktavey]

Whole-heartedly BEGGING writers to unlearn everything schools taught you about how long a paragraph is. If theres a new subject, INCLUDING ACTIONS, theres a new paragraph. A paragraph can be a single word too btw stop making things unreadable

[ktavey]

i know we joke about cis artists having the weirdest sense of anatomy, but also even when the anatomy is fine, no one seems to want to draw women doing normal things

[ktavey]

If zombies were real, you wouldn't first be warned by the approaching horde by their smell, by their groans, not even a cloud of smoke of the dust they raise coming closer from the horizon. It would be the flies. Hordes and hordes of insects, corpse-flies laying eggs on the carcasses of people who still walk, eating the eyeballs from their sockets, climbing across their unfeeling leathery skin. And the buzzing. The inescapable, deafening buzzing. Everywhere. Like you did not just kick a hornet's nest, but the very ground you walk on was a hornet nest, and each step caused another explosion of insects.

Insects, corpse flies, the buzzing. Their swarms blacken the skies, more horrifying than their migrating meals. The deafening cacophony of constant buzzing, the horrid noise of the living who feast on the dead who feast on the living. The buzzing.

The endless, inescapable buzzing.

[ktavey]

IT'S FLAT FUCK FRIDAY

look at this flat fuck

[ktavey]

3 components of worldbuilding:

1. The author’s kinks

2. The author’s power fantasy

3. The author’s political agenda

Plot and logic optional