#; NO LONGER HERE FOLKS

[royalarchivist]

Ironmouse: Part of the reason why I love this server so much is because everybody's so nice. Everyone! Like, every single person is super nice! And it's like- it's like, genuine nice, it's not like fake niceness. [...] I've literally talked to almost everybody at least once like outside of the QSMP. We've talked on Discord, people regularly check in on me, we get in group chats and we play games like outside of the server... You don't really find that sort of connection all the time with people.

Ironmouse recently talked about her experience on QSMP, and how kind all the members are. I'm posting the entire conversation instead of cutting it up like I usually would because I really enjoyed hearing her thoughts on the server.

[ Subtitle Transcript ]

-

Ironmouse: Honestly, I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I did. He's so nice, he's so- he's always been super nice to me. He's been so nice, I– part of the reason why I- I love this server so much is because everybody's so nice. Everyone! Like, every single person is super nice! And it's like- it's like, genuine nice, it's not like fake niceness. You know how sometimes like– you always hear like, "Oh yeah, you know–" when–

Ironmouse: Whenever you like, join like a new thing, right? Whenever you like join like a new thing, you always worry, 'cuz you always think: "Oh, are the people gonna like me? Are they gonna be nice to me? What if- What if- you know, what if this, what if that?" But everybody like genuinely was nice when I first came by, and everybody has been so nice to me– not just in the game, but outside of the game, and–

Ironmouse: Something special about the QSMP is like... People wanna be your friend like outside of the game? Like, I've literally talked to ev– almost– almost everybody at least once like outside of the QSMP, like... We've talked on Discord, people like regularly check in on me, and like we get in group chats and like we- we play games like outside of the server, and it's just like... You don't really find that sort of connection all the time with people? You know what I mean? It's very– it's very not common when you go on like, a content creator-like server or stuff like that, you know? You'll get like one or two people that you get close to and stuff, but like... Everybody is SO nice, and everybody's been so nice to me, and I can't tell you how many people like, wished me– not just like wished me happy birthday, or like wished- said, "Oh, you know, hap- Merry Christmas!" dadadada, it's like genuinely like... Asked how I'm doing, and like talk to me, and like... Just like– I dunno, it's just like so- so- it's so wonderful. Ironmouse: Like, I get that with VShojo a lot, like– we're all like besties, and we all like talk all the time, but I feel like it's different, 'cuz like VShojo– we're VShojo, we're like– we're our own group, but this is like... You know... You don't expect this sorta thing when you get invited to like be on some- be a part of something, you know? And it's- and it's been so– it's been so wonderful and everybody's been so GENUINELY nice to me, and I- I appreciate everybody on the server so much, and they're just some of the nicest people that I've ever met ever, and it's just–

Ironmouse: It just warms my heart, and I'm just really– really like, thankful to be a part of something so great, and something so positive! Because like, everybody's so supportive! Like– the time when like, I didn't like– I- I- I had a moment where it's like I– do you guys remember in December when I- I was not around a lot? And like, I had to take breaks and all this stuff and it turns out it was like the concert stuff? They all like would message me regularly, like, we would all keep up with each other, and we would all talk. And I remember telling them about like, how much stress I was under, and like all the- all the pressures of the concert and stuff, and– and they were cheering, and- and- and they were just so... so kind to me, it was just so– so sweet, and- and you know, I was in a group chat with a- with a few people, and they were all just so excited and- and- just super nice, and- and very- very sweet, and it's just– and it's just very– I'm sorry if I'm rambling! It's just...

Ironmouse: I dunno! I- I- I just enjoy being here, and I enjoy hanging out with everybody, and... it's just nice to meet really good people. You don't really find that. You don't find that sort of thing all the time. Don't get me wrong– it's not like I haven't met a lot of good people, like– I just feel like this whole like, my whole like– Ever, like– My streaming journey, I've just been nothing but surprised at the goodness of people? Don't get me wrong– I've met assholes and sht like that, and I've met- I've encountered some people that are NOT so nice. I'll never like, talk about it or whatever because that's their thing, and I'm just gonna do my thing and I don't wanna like, you know, spread any type of stupid drama or whatever the fck, but like... I'm just always surprised about how– how incredibly nice people are, and how genuine a lot of people are, and it's... It- it's just nice, especially since like– You're used to coming from like, a certain background and a certain like, environment where it's like, you've met a lot of like fcked up mean people in your life, and you've just been around a lot of like fckery, you know? So when- when you're around stuff that's NOT fcked, it's just like, "Woah, this is crazy! Is this- is this how life is supposed to be?!" And it's just- it's just really... it's really- it's really nice. It's very nice.

Ironmouse: Yeah, it's very refreshing, that's why I- I enjoy hanging out on here, everybody's just so nice to me. And it's not just like being nice just to be on-stream, it's nice off-stream, on-stream, friendship on-stream, off-stream, it's- it's just- it's just so- it's- it's- it's wonderful. It's wonderful. And I just have to say like... man, I'm just really thankful that like... it's crazy that like I got invited to be on here and I'm just really thankful that, you know... Quackity like, reached out to me and he's- he's just been nothing but nice, everybody- everybody's just so kind. Everybody's so nice. This is something truly special.

[updownlately]

it's my right to be hellish (i still get jealous)

| leah williamson x reader | fluff | 1.6k | a/n: got this req a while back and i just got around to it. my bad for the wait amigo and thank you for being patient! not really sure how this turned out tbh but i hope you like it! happy reading folks! 🫶

~~~

"That hoodie's not yours, and it most definitely isn't mine..."

The voice behind you caused you to jump in your place, the hairs on the back of your neck rising as your were shook out of your thoughts by your favourite blonde.

Turning around with a smirk on your face, you tilted your head in challenge.

"You're right...it's not yours and it's not mine."

You watched as Leah's eyebrows rose at your words, the blonde stepping closer to you as her arms settled on either side of the countertop beside you, effectively trapping you in.

Eyes tracing her jaw as you watched it clench, you bit back a sly smile.

You absolutely loved this side of Leah, her possessive nature never not welcome by you.

Wanting to tease her a bit more, to drag this interaction out for as long as possible, you bent your head down, pretending to examine the hoodie.

"Still though, this might have to be one of the most comfortable things I've worn in a while..." Grasping the fabric tightly in your hand, you hid your smile, not needing to take a peek at Leah's face to know her reaction. You could practically imagine the slightly icy look in her eyes at your words, posture probably straightening as she took a deep breath in.

"Even softer than my hoodies that you steal?"

The midfielder's voice was audibly lower this time, the challenge clear in her voice.

Keeping your game up, you shrugged your shoulders and looked up to meet her eyes, shuffling ever so slightly back into the countertop so that it pressed against your back.

"I mean...it's up there for sure, y'know?”, an amused look crossing your face.

At your words, you could see Leah's body tense, forearm muscles already more apparent than before, neck vein joining the party.

"Yeah? And who might the owner of the hoodie be? Just in case I wanted to ask them where they got it?”

The way the Arsenal player tilted her head down towards you at the end of the sentence let you know you were successful in your attempt to rile her up, the dark look in her eyes a clear indication of the storm brewing inside.

Not bothering to hold your grin back anymore, you tilted your head back, mischievous eyes meeting Leah's, watching as her stormy blue eyes slowly turned into something slightly softer, a tad bit more playful, as she recognized the look in your eyes.

"You're being a little shit, I hope you know that." The words came out deep, her stepping closer to you, arms coming to trap you right between her body and the counter, not giving you much room to move.

Hands skimming your torso as she closed the gap between your bodies, you held your breath, lips pursed.

Slightly breathless, your words came out airy, the close proximity of your girlfriend making your head hazy, body involuntarily inching towards the blonde, trying to get closer.

“Yeah? And what about it?"

You shot Leah a sweet smile as she took in your words, doing your best to hold back your laughter at the situation.

The tables were very quickly reversed though, Leah moving even closer to you, causing you to hold your breath. Clenching the edge of the tabletop behind you, you stopped yourself from wrapping your arms around her neck with every ounce of willpower you could muster.

However, your eyes involuntarily fluttered shut as her breath fanned over your face, you letting out a small sigh, your plan to tease the blonde quickly forgotten as her perfume wrapped around you sweetly.

"If you tell me who's hoodie this is, I won't start hiding my old national hoodie from a few camps ago..."

Your eyes snapped open at Leah's words, mouth opening and closing a few times as you stood there bewildered.

“Wait wha- What??…No!” Snapping out of your haze, your eyes went wide. "I love that hoodie! And you know it!" You protested, mouth hanging open at the lengths Leah was going to.

"I mean, you said it yourself- this raggedy, old, faded hoodie is your favourite right now, right?"

You audibly gulped at her words, goosebumps rising on your skin as you felt Leah's hands trace the fabric near your hip, her grasp around your torso getting just perfectly tighter, causing your heart to beat faster.

"I- uhm..." Distracted by the touch, you tried to find your composure, a chill running up your spine as the Gunner's hand skimmed the small of your back.

"You what? You wanna continue having your little fun? Or do you wanna finally be good and tell me whose hoodie you're wearing? Because we both know the longer this goes on, the more difficult this is going to get for you. So make it easy, yeah? Might just even let you off lightly even though you tried to rile me up..."

Just barely managing to register Leah's words, her ministrations and low voice intoxicating, you nodded subconsciously.

"That's what I figured..."

Snapping out of your trance briefly at the tone in her voice, you playfully rolled your eyes.

"Cockiness doesn't look so good on you love..."

"Neither does this hoodie on you," came the quick quip, a singular eyebrow raised and a smirk dancing on Leah's face.

Throwing your head back, you let out a small groan. Of course you couldn't get out of this, Leah's possessiveness too much for you to tease the blonde to your liking.

"Leah, you're ruining my fun here!" Whining, your shoulders dropped, nose scrunching in playful displeasure.

"What can I say, something about seeing my girl in someone else's hoodie really kills the comedian in me..."

Seeing Leah smile at her own words, you wondered if you could somehow still continue your little game.

Your thoughts were cut short though, Leah reading your mind nearly immediately.

"Don't even think about weaselling your way out of this one..."

You sighed at her perfect read of you.

Just great- the joys of dating for nearly a year.

"Alright, fineeeee...it's Steph's hoodie okay? She gave it to me after it shrunk in the wash a few weeks ago…,” you pouted, very much displeased at the fact that your little mission had to have been aborted, you not afraid to express it.

"Steph? As in straight Stephy on our team right?"

Nodding your head you scrunched your nose.

"Yes Lee- our teammate Steph."

"Oh..."

"Just ‘oh?'" You asked, mind shook at the fact that this was the only reaction you were getting.

Eyes focused on Leah as you watched her take a step back from you, her eyes running over you and the fabric you wore, you tilted your head in curiosity, waiting.

"It's just Steph, it's not that bad."

Not content with your teasing from earlier being cut short, you decided to give it another shot.

"So you won't mind if I wear this more often, right?"

"Oh fuck no!"

And with those words, Leah stepped right back to you, hands coming to grab at the hem of your hoodie, tugging it not so gently, silently asking you to raise your hands.

"Leah!"

"What?" The blonde feigned innocence, actions not ceasing.

"You can't just make me take the hoodie off!"

"If you rather I take it off in another setting, I can make it happen," she smirked, a wink shot at you as her hands stopped their movement, instead now grasping the hoodie tightly. 

"Leah!"

"This isn't quite the situation where I pictured you screaming my name, but I'll take it." The forward response had you hitting the blonde, scrunching your face in clear displeasure.

Realizing you weren’t going to take off the hoodie, Leah spoke again. “Come on! You're my girlfriend- you're supposed to wear my hoodies! Not Steph's!" she groaned, stomping her foot petulantly.

“It's just a hoodie, Leah,” you shrugged, biting the inside of your cheek to keep yourself from laughing at her antics.

“Yeah, well so are mine. Wear those! Plus, you look better with my last name on your back- the world's gotta know your mine, capiche?” 

Shaking your head, you chose to finally put the taller girl out of her misery, a shy smile overtaking your face at the last sentence.

Letting the blonde rid you of the hoodie, you didn’t complain one bit as that simple task turned into more than just your hoodie being removed, the English skipper’s lips dancing around your neck and collarbones, slipping up along the slope of your neck in satisfaction of ‘winning’. 

As Leah kissed you to the point where you forgot Steph's hoodie even existed, you silently appreciated the little green monster inside her heart, her possessiveness most definitely not something your minded.

And later that night, you smiled as Leah handed you her old England hoodie as you both got ready for bed,  the two of you dead tired from an exhausting evening of strenuous activities, you silently thanking Steph’s dryer with a smile on your face.

Turning off your bedside lamp, you cuddled into Leah’s side in the dark room, placing a quick kiss on the blonde's lips, a sneaky smile on your face. 

Choosing to let her in on a little secret, you got comfortable in her hold, waiting until she had settled down so that she couldn’t tickle you like she likely would have. 

“Fun fact- Steph's hoodie never had a chance on any of yours...it didn't smell like you."

A bashful grin on your face, you carefully watched for the midfielder’s reaction at your next words, absolutely loving the way she rolled her eyes at you before tugging you impossibly closer, a gentle kiss placed on your lips before soft words were spoken against them.

“Good. ‘Cause you’re mine- now and forever.”

And that’s how you two fell asleep- soft smiles on both your faces, limbs tangled together, breaths mingled, hearts more than content in each other’s presence.

[filurig]

lichen

[cuddlytogas]

there was some Twitter madness recently where someone left a comment on someone's art to the effect of, "Ed shouldn't wear a dress, he's a man!" which I do disagree with on principle, but unfortunately, it brought out one of my least favourite trends in the fandom

so, naturally, I had to write a twitter essay about it. and I already largely argued this in a post here, but the thread is clearer and better structured, so I thought I'd cross-post for those not on the Hellsite (derogatory). edited for formatting/structure's sake, since I no longer have to keep to tweet lengths, and incorporating a couple of points other people brought up in the replies

so

I want to point out that the wedding cake toppers in OFMD s2 aren't evidence that Ed wants to wear dresses. Gender is fake, men can wear skirts, play with these dolls how you like, but it's not canon, and that scene especially Doesn't Mean That.

People cite it often: 'He put himself in a dress by painting the bride as himself! It's what he wants!' But that fundamentally misunderstands the scene, and the series' framing of weddings as a whole. I'd argue that Ed paints the figure not from desire, but from self-hatred; it's not what he wants, but what he thinks he should, and has failed to, be.

(Yes, I am slightly biased by my rampant anti-marriage opinions, but bear with me here, because it is relevant to the interpretation of the scene, and season two as a whole.)

The show is not subtle. It keeps telling us that the institution of marriage is a prison that suffocates everyone involved. Ed's parents' cycle of abuse is passed to their son in both the violence he witnesses then enacts on his father, and the self-repression his mother teaches, despite her good intentions ("It's not up to us, is it? It's up to God. ... We're just not those kind of people. We never will be."). Stede and Mary are both oppressed by their arranged marriage, with 1x04 blunty titled Discomfort in a Married State. The Barbados widows revel in their freedom ("We're alive. They're dead. Now is your time").

But even without this context, the particular wedding crashed in 2x01 is COMICALLY evil. The scene is introduced with this speech from the priest:

"The natural condition of humanity is base and vile. It is the obligation of people of standing ... to elevate the common human rabble through the sacred transaction of matrimony."

It's upper class, all-white, and religiously sanctioned. "Vile natural conditions" include queerness, sexual freedom, and family structures outside the cisheteropatriarchal capitalist unit. "The obligation of people of standing" invokes ideas like the white man's burden, innate class hierarchy, religious missions, and conversion therapy. Matrimony is presented as both "sacred" (endorsed by the ruling religious body), and a "transaction" (business performed to transfer property and people-as-property, regardless of their desires), a tool of the oppressive society that pirates escape and destroy. That is where the figurines come from.

When Ed, in a drunk, depressive spiral, paints himself onto the bride, he's not yearning for a pretty dress. He's sort of yearning for a wedding, but that's not framed as positive. What he's doing is projecting himself into an 'ideal' image of marriage because he believes that: a) that's what Stede (and everyone) wants; b) he can never live up to that ideal because he's unlovable and broken (brown, queer, lower-class, violent, abused, etc); c) that's why Stede left. He tries to make himself fit into the social ideal by painting himself onto the closest match - long-haired, partner to Stede/groom, but a demure, white woman, a frozen, porcelain miniature - because, if he could just shrink himself down and squeeze into that box, maybe Stede would love him and he'd live happily ever after. But he can't. So he won't.

The fantasy fails: Ed is morose, turns away from the figurines, then tips them into the sea, a lost cause. He knows he won't ever fulfil that bride's role, but he sees that as a failure in himself, not the role. It's not just that "Stede left, so Ed will never have a dream wedding and might as well die." Stede left when Ed was honest and vulnerable, "proving" what his trauma and depression tell him: there's one image of love (of personhood), and he'll never live up to it because he's fundamentally deficient. So he might as well die.

This hit me from my very first viewing. The scene is devastating, because Ed is wrong, and we know it! He doesn't need to change or reduce himself to fit an image and be accepted (as, eg, Izzy demanded). Stede knows and loves him exactly as he is; it's the main thread and theme of season two!

(@/everyonegetcake suggested that Ed's yearning in these scenes includes his broader desire for the vulnerability and safety Stede offered, literalised through unattainable "fine" things like the status of gentleman in s1, or the figurine's blue dress. I'd argue, though, that these scenes don't incorporate this beyond a general knowledge of Ed's character. Ed is always pining for both literal and emotional softness, but the significance of the figurines specifically, to both Ed and the audience, is poisoned by their origin and context: there is no positive fantasy in the bride figure, only Ed's perceived deficiency.

Further, assuming that a desire for vulnerability necessarily corresponds with an explicit desire for femininity, dresses, etc, kind of contradicts the major themes of the show. OFMD asserts that there is nothing wrong with men assuming femininity (through drag, self-care, nurturing, emotional vulnerability, etc), but also that many of these traits are, in fact, genderless, and should be available to men without affecting their perceived or actual masculinity. It thematically invokes the potential for cross-gender expression in Ed's desires, especially through the transgender echoes in his relieved disposal, then comfortable reincorporation, of the Blackbeard leathers/identity. It's a rich, valuable area of analysis and exploration. But it remains a suggestion, not a canon or on-screen trait.)

Importantly, the groom figure doesn't fit Stede, either. Not just in dress: it's stiff and formal, and marriage nearly killed him. He's shabbier now, yes, but also shedding his privilege and property, embracing his queerness, and trying to take responsibility for his community. In a s1 flashback, Stede hesitantly says, "I thought that, when I did marry, it could be for love," but he would never find love in marriage. Not just because he's gay, but because marriage in OFMD is an oppressive, transactional institution that precludes love altogether. All formal marriages in OFMD are loveless.

So, he becomes a pirate, where they reject society altogether and have matelotages instead. Lucius and Pete's "mateys" ceremony is shot and framed not like a wedding, but as an honest, personal bond, willingly conducted in community (in a circle; no presiding authority, procession, or transaction).

That is how Stede and Ed can find love, companionship, and happiness: by rejecting those figurines and their oppressive exchange of property, overseen by a church that enables colonialism and abuse. Ed is loved, and deserves happiness, as he is, no paint or projection required.

ALL OF THIS IS TO SAY: draw Ed in dresses! Write him getting gender euphoria in skirts! Write trans/nb Ed, draw men being feminine! Gender is fake, the show invites exploration, that's what 'transformative works' means! But please, stop citing the cake toppers as evidence it's canon. Stop citing a scene where a depressed Māori man gets drunk and projects himself onto a rich, white, silent bride because he thinks he's innately unlovable and only people like her can find happiness, shortly before deciding to kill himself, as canon evidence it's what he wants.

(Also, please don't come in here with "lmao we're just having fun," I know, I get it. Unfortunately, I'm an academiapilled researchmaxxer, and some of youse need to remember that the word "canon" has meaning. NOW GO HAVE FUN PUTTING THAT MAN IN A PRETTY DRESS!! 💖💖)

[arcadeplayer-nickonz]

Happy Valentine's from us to you! - Hazbin crew ♥️

[misslisamiray]

Gonna write a longer post about this when I have more time, but I just need to put this out there: I love my Rick and Morty Tumblr mutuals/people I interact with regularly so much. ❤️

I am not joking or exaggerating when I say I didn't know it was possible to be this active in a fandom and also this happy. I've only really been active in the fandom for the past 6 months, and it's been SUCH an overwhelmingly positive experience.

I've been meaning to make a post like this for a while, but two recent things really drove home how much I appreciate you folks: First, I had A Week That Felt Like a Year of Sailor Moon Twitter making me miss being 12 & not knowing anyone else who watches the show. Then, yesterday I opened Tumblr to be greeted by a post that brought up one of the reasons why, after 20+ years, Cowboy Bebop is still my number 1 "I love this show and it means so much to me, but this fandom frequently makes me want to hit my head on walls" series.

Obviously I know there's no shortage of issues in this fandom, too. I mean, there's typically an assortment of them on display in the comments of any post on the official RaM accounts. 😅 And I'm not saying I haven't met some really nice, cool people in my fandoms I've been in forever - I definitely have!!!!!

But this feeling of... Community? Home? This is new territory for me. And it took me longer than it should have to get here, but I'm so glad I did.

I have already rambled longer than I intended to, so now I'm going to attempt to wrap this up by tagging some of the folks who inspired this post.

@rickteacakes @thesoftboiledegg @hazelnut-u-out @dimensionduo @ajaynetic @fandomwe1rd0 @joycew-blog

[mspaintpetfinder]

getting back on the grind

[bambeebirdie]

This is for @bluepeachstudios ‘s Ghost in a Shell. It’s really good you should read it.

I looked at exactly one picture of Jupiter Jim and went “yeah this should be enough to draw him.” I will not be answering if it actually was

Have some bonus content under the cut!

And sketches

(I love any character who can say “I don’t want to go back to prison” it’s like the funniest thing to me)

[bloo-the-dragon]

*holds nebula like hamborger* what am i to do with you.

[felassan]

for information, Mark Darrah tweeted that he will (very understandably and for a reason completely unrelated to the games industry) no longer be doing his TGA co-stream.

[decepti-thots]

i'm curious. (nosy.)

[elytrafemme]

wait i'm crying did i lose 100 followers in a day what did i do 😭

[novelconcepts]

what doesn't kill you (doesn't kill you)

Van ought to know better than to take her ex-girlfriend to the movies, but Bend It Like Beckham's just come out, and maybe--just maybe--they can be normal about this.

(She doubts it.)

E; 6,281 words

The thing about Van Palmer, if you listen to her mother, is: she just doesn’t know when to say when. When to quit on somebody. When to walk the fuck away. Van doesn’t make a habit of listening to Vicky Palmer’s sermons on most subjects, and certainly not on Van herself, but in this one case—just this one time—she thinks her mom might actually have a point. Van doesn’t know when to walk. When to fold. When to look a thing in the eye and understand it’s too dead to blink back. That’s what she’s doing here. What she’s really doing here. Not allowing a dead thing to rot properly.

[distant--shadow]

am I the only one who was really not feeling the call0wmoore last ep? like I have been a fan of it up until then, but idk the force/pressure of it from others soured it for me

can't lie I'm also all about slutty aro fearne, at least still for now, going by her own behaviour still (and I hate the idea of in time falling into monogamous romantic love as ~character growth~), she can get with whoever she wants call that personal investment, but it's kinda wild how much that last episode turned me off the pairing? shrug emoji

maybe it's also in part that Ashton on a whole as a character is someone who I flip flop on how much I can tolerate/enjoy wildly, though yeah I have enjoyed the two of theirs shippy interactions up until that ep, even if he was annoying me as a character during some of those times (and I'm also aware/assume that he is meant to be abrasive fairly often) wasn't so much down to their fault really, it was what to me felt like the outside influence and me just not getting that reading from fearne in that situation.

[wundrousarts]

I was going to save this until I reread Hollowpox, but that last ask reminded me that I should share this here, so I present:

Musings on Maud: Why is she considered so powerful, how does this affect her dynamic with Squall, and why is he so scared of her?

(Bonus: How can I connect it to Silverborn?)

Two disclaimers: I haven't reread Hollowpox in ages, so if there's anything that could prove or disprove stuff in this post, send it my way. Honestly send any discussion my way. I love discussing theories. Second, this was originally a reply to a Reddit comment on a post, to which you can find here. The comment discussed Maud being a signatory for a Squall safeguard, so since this comment is copied verbatim, it references that.

---

If it’s not outright stated, it’s at least heavily implied that Squall helped create/build up the Republic. It’s only existed for about 90 years, and Squall has been exiled for about 100. He mentions in Hollowpox how he knows that Maud’s plan is to take over Nevermoor/The Free State, because the Republic took over the other states in the realm and he “helped them do it.” However, unless Maud is immortal and also 100 years old, she is not the one who started the Republic from the side of the Republic. Also, no clue how long it’s been around, but Squall Industries has likely been around for awhile as well (this is how he gets his connections and power in the Republic), with Squall just constantly grandfathering himself in with the vampire trick or something.

Interestingly, Squall says two things in this scene (Chapter 34 of Hollowpox) that stick out to me:

“I made the so-called Hollowpox,” he raised his voice above hers, “because I was asked to. Because I was compensated handsomely for it. And because when the most powerful person in the realm asks for a favour, even I don’t refuse.

And

“But you’re a Wundersmith.” Morrigan was utterly baffled. “Why can’t you just stop them if they’re such a problem? I don’t understand!” “Do you THINK I HAVEN’T—“ Squall shouted, then cut himself off abruptly.

He also mentions how the Hollowpox was initially meant for the Republic, but Maud snuck in an infected otter across the border into Nevermoor— “That was never part of our deal.”

There’s definitely a business relationship between the two of them of likely consistent deals, one favor for another, quid pro quo. However, we also see that Squall can’t really go against her, something he seems to have tried before. Two chapters before this scene (Chapter 32), has this moment:

“Yes, shush. Maud said the Wintersea Party might help if there was a squid crow po.” “Quid pro quo?” “Right, one of those. She said they won’t do something for nothing, but if we could convince Prime Minister Steed to meet with her, just to have a conversation, then she would try to convince her party to share their cure.”

While it could be easily explained as part of her job, Maud seems to get most of her power and do things by extracting deals from other people. Maybe she’s knackless, or maybe she has some sort of connection to Puppeteering or a knack related to that. Not Mesmerism, but something that allows her to be persuasive, manipulative, convince people of things, and get them to do what she wants. A sort of parallel or companion to Squall’s connection with Puppeteering that we see in Wundersmith.

It’s interesting that when we first meet Maud, there is this exchange directly after she tells Mog that the Wintersea Republic would only agree to help the Free State if there was some sort of deal:

“But they’re your party,” Morrigan pointed out. “Aren’t you the one with the power? Maud stiffened slightly and cast her a wary, calculating look.

And then soon later she says this:

“Even if I could persuade my party to do the right thing – and I’m not saying I won’t try – there’s no guarantee Steed and his government would come to the table.”

The whole exchange seems very manipulative, like, “oh, I’d LOVE to talk and get this figured out, but I can’t…” There’s a big focus on conversation. Maud is wary when Mog mentions power— she thinks she means a magical power, something secret that gives her an advantage, when really she just means politically— so I wonder if she was worried for a moment that Mog realized she had some sort of coercive power.

I wonder what exactly her power is that makes Squall so scared of her, and why it possibly makes it so that he can’t fight make and overthrow her. Aside from their business relationship, which allows Squall access to Wunder and being a Wundersmith, there’s this other layer as well.

As for safeguard: I don’t know if Maud would be a signatory for a Squall safeguard, as that seems to just be for Wunsoc students, but I think that whatever their deal is and whatever her power is allows her to keep him in check. Jess said that we will learn more about safeguards in Silverborn, and I think it would be interesting if Mog learns more about them from Squall instead of Jupiter— and maybe it does end up being similar to whatever he has going on with Maud, who knows! I don’t really have any safeguard theories myself, but I will keep an eye out for what you add to your comment.

A Silverborn “silver” side note: A “silver tongue” means that someone is persuasive when they speak….. perhaps this idea, theme, power, etc. will be expanded upon in the future 🤔

[maivalkov]

Chapter 73~