#( int: elena )

[irasceris]

@traumatise

She isn't that hard to find, not when he has the perfect strategy in mind. All he has to do is focus on the loudest, most fun part of the room and steer himself in the exact opposite direction. That's not a dig, either - he just knows her, and the tortured angsty mess only she could be at her own birthday party. Well, her and Stefan probably, but it's only cute when she does it.

He's had weeks to prepare for this moment. Weeks relying on this moment, actually, as the only anchor to keep him from losing it entirely. However chaste their goodbye kiss had been was irrelevant, and he'd even mentioned as much when he left in the first place. She had told him to be good and he was good. When he could be. When he could try, at least, between all the murder and what not. The important part is his feelings never changed, and if she's still choosing to play dopey high school sweethearts with his brother that's their business. Leave him out of it. He's just grateful to be near her again.

"Well don't you look miserable?"he says when he approaches. Also not a dig. And maybe part of him is pleased to see the rumors are true. Most of what Caroline says goes in one ear and out the other, but he had been listening when she said it was his fault Elena's this bent out of shape. That has to count for something. When she looks up he raises his hands in a mock surrender, definitely overselling it. "Don't stop on my account. It's your party. I just stopped in to say happy-"

[dvines]

𝑪𝑳𝑶𝑺𝑬𝑫 𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑹𝑻𝑬𝑹 — elena ( @thenxghtwemxt )

location : the menagerie

time : after the grand breakfast

the menagerie had oddly become one of blanca's favorite places among the grounds . perhaps it was her soft spot for animals that made her a frequent visitor to the section . her hand lifted toward that of a giraffe — expertly handled by a tamer . the gentleness of the animal was not a trait that the queen herself possessed . . . the opposite of gentle she needed to be at times . well , most of the time . that's what one needs to do in order to secure their crown from those ready to pry it from her head .

" lovely aren't they ? " blanca hummed toward her dear younger sister . the two of them having grown close over the years , even closer in maceon's absence . " could you imagine having one of these beasts roaming around our home . . . extraordinary . " she chuckled , taking a beat . " now , how have you been adjusting to fasil ghebbi ? well , i hope . "

[dmitrigivesgoodblood]

Nalini Chat w/ Ali Hazelwood

Some highlights from her chat today with Ali hosted by East City Bookshop.

she's currently writing the next Guild Hunter novel

Q: what is special about this book in the series for you? A: This book is really about family and I think it's been a big thing throughout the series from the beginning. it felt like the right time in the timeline for this book to happen. Prepare to be emotionally destroyed. She cried writing it. It's a book about family and who we are and those who make us and influence our lives. There is joy! Really important book int he series because it closes a lot of loops which is important to move forward.

Q: what is it like to go back to raphael and elena after writing books about other characters? A: It doesn't feel weird going back because they're always part of the books regardless of who we're focusing on. It's this massive world and we just went and visited someone else. -they're the heart of the series. No matter where else we go they exist and are part of it in some way.

Q: When you weren't writing them did you miss them? A: She does. The newsletter shorts are because she does miss them and writes for them when it's not their book. "I write my own fan fiction"

Q: Shorts in a collection? A: yeah, if there was enough desire for it. She would go ahead and do that. She'll add it to the to do list and poll people if there is a want.

Q: What does she feel about werewolves lore in general since they're closest to changelings. A: Would have been writing werewolf fan fiction had she known about it online. The only thing she didn't like was that they don't want to be werewolves.

Q: What you have written has influenced a generation of writters, how does that feel knowing you have been so impactful on the lives of so many people? A: It's weird. It's a continuous timeline and you just go book to book without realizing the passage of time. Didn't set in until she got her 20 years in the publishing industry anniversary. It's startling. Her hero is Anne Mcarthy and for someone to think of her in the same way is wild.

Q: is it difficult to write a highly anticipated character/pairing? A: She's obsessed with them already for a while before introducing them. You really have to go into your own head and block out what people are expecting. That's the only way it'll be her own.

Q: Does it ever happen that you annoy yourself with your slowburn? A: "I do and then i write it and release it 10 years later."

Q: Is Raphael's father going to come back? A: "Well, he's dead."

Q: who is your favorite young character? A: Really like writing all the kids. They're hilarious and fun to write. Really loves Izzy and wants to protect him the little baby angel. Curious to see who he'll be when he gets older with all these influences around him.

-Thought she would write a book about Elena's sisters but they appear a lot in Lineage and it closes up their stories enough that there is resolution and she won't be writing their own story.

-The series is slowly (slowly) wrapping up. It was always based around elena and raphael and it should end where it makes sense. not drag it out

-Possible she might do some novellas because there are things that can't be wrapped up in the books. Will absolutely keep writing shorts and adding them to the newsletter.

Q: Is there another series in the works for when GH is over? A: Has an idea for a book she'd like to write but won't know if it's a series until it's written.

Q: Are we getting more of Illium and Aodhan? A: It's the next book. it's a different book than Light. There's still some emotional stuff to take care of. There are also major changes in the world. get to see more of the other characters with them. The cover should match the Light one, complimentary.

[queenofstelena]

When Stef met 'Lena

| Part One | <next>

Elena was laid off from her last job due to her boss unable to pay her any longer. Elena had been searching for a job ever since, and then she discovered The Salvatore Industries. They were hiring or looking for a receptionist. Just the job for her. They had been her savior, she desperately needed this job. Rent money doesn’t come from out of thin air.

Elena Gilbert is described by many as stubborn, hard working, kind, and gentle. From a young age she strived to at least try when attempting at something which she carried with her into adulthood. And according to Caroline Forbes that was exactly what Salvatore Industries needed. Heart, kindness, and the strive to work hard. And that was exactly the receptionist they needed. Not what most people expect right? A receptionist needed those qualities? Yes, at The Salvatore industries they wanted and needed good people, people who carried about what they were doing. And Elena Gilbert was the perfect candidate.

There was this musical ringing, the phone rang several times before Elena reached it. She picked the phone up and answered with “Hello?”

“Elena hi! I have wonderful news you got the job! Your first day is tomorrow please meet me at The Salvatore Industries near the front lobby. The address once again is 523 Mystic City Avenue. Can’t wait to see you then!” Caroline beamed and hung up the phone.

Elena felt relief wash over her and then dread. Elena rubbed her temples in exasperation “She didn’t tell me who my boss is? Oh well this is gonna be fun,” Elena tried calling Caroline back again to get some answers to her questions but to no avail she did not answer. She tried again and all she heard was that loud and weird beeping sound when you call someone and they’re on the phone with someone else. Elena was irritated but instead of focusing on the negative she goes and calls Bonnie.

Elena dialed Bonnie’s phone number 876-435-778. All you could hear was the ringing and how it paused and started to ring and pause once again until Bonnie picked up.

“Bonnie guess what!” Elena exclaims enthusiastically.

“You got the job!”

“Yes I did! I got the job!”

“That’s amazing Elena! I’m so proud of you!”

“Aw, thank you Bonbon.”

“You're welcome! Tell you what, how about I drop you off and it’ll save you the trouble of using more gas.”

“That sounds like a plan Bon, also apparently I start tomorrow.”

“That’s quick, but I can still drop you off, don't worry.”

“I should have known it wouldn’t be able to get rid of you that easily.” Elena teased.

“Hey!”

“Kidding.” Elena giggled and Bonnie laughed alongside her.

-

Bonnie and Elena finally arrived at The Salvatore Industries. Bonnie parked in the parking lot, “Here we are.” Elena looked at the building nervously. “Don’t worry, You’ll do fine!” Bonnie gushed. Elena grinned at Bonnie feeling confidence wash over her.

“Take a deep breath and keep your chin up.” Elena smiles softly and replies with “I will, don’t worry.” Bonnie smiles and says her goodbyes as she rides off leaving Elena by herself. Elena takes a few deep breaths, even though she already had been in the building it didn’t ease her nerves. But she tried to do what Bonnie wanted her to do. Keep her chin held high. She walked towards the building. Was it larger than the first time she saw it? No, but it felt larger.

‘It’s just my first day, what could possibly go wrong?’ “Ugh who am I kidding?” Elena lets out a sigh and walks in the building. The moment she steps in the building a man greets her. He’s tall, he has black hair, pale blue eyes alongside a pale complexion as well. He gives her a cold and hard look. She wonders ‘Is this my boss?’ ‘If he is, this is gonna be interesting to say the least…’

“l know what you're thinking, I’m not your boss.” Elena nods slowly but then looks even more confused,“Then who are? If you don’t mind me asking of course.” “I do mind actually!” Elena looks down in embarrassment. “I’m sorry sir, the women who interviewed me didn’t tell me who he was or anything like that. She said she would meet me here.” “Leave the poor girl alone, she didn’t know there’s no shame in that.” The woman she interviewed me a few days ago says, I believe her name was Caroline if I’m remembering correctly. She leans her head to look at Elena and replies with “Come with me, it’s time to meet Mr.Salvatore. And don’t worry it’s not your fault for not knowing it’s mine entirely for not telling you.”

Once they had moved to the elevator away from the man. Elena whispers “Thank You.” “For what?” Caroline asks, confused. “For saving me from him, he does not like me very much.” Caroline leans closer and says “He doesn’t like anyone.” Elena giggles and replies with “That makes sense.” Caroline smiles back at her. Just as Caroline pressed the button for floor 102 a man stopped the elevator before it closed. The man walked in and walked towards Caroline smiling gently at her. ‘He seems sweet and cute. Wait what if this is my boss? I can't think like that!’ Elena mentally scolded herself for thinking in that way’ ‘He had dark blonde hair, forest green eyes that had a romantic glint that shined brightly, and he had a soft smile that lit up the room. Oh my god, Elena! Stop thinking that he could be your boss once again!’ Elena thought to herself. He stood by Caroline and conversed in small talk with her “Good morning Caroline! I never did get the chance to ask you but how has the interviewing been going?”

“Well, Mr.Salvatore it's especially great since she’s standing right behind you.” Stefan whipped his head around to get a better look at Elena. His gaze softened when his eyes met her. He smiled at her, charmly. He reached his hand out, motioning for her to shake his hand. She gladly took his hand and shook it with just the right amount of firmness. When Stefan touched Elena’s hand he must have felt how gentle it was while when Elena touched him she must have felt how soft it was. They’re eyes never left one another, they were like in this haze of admiration. They both thought to themselves ‘You can’t think like that she’s/he your co-worker!’

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Miss…?”

“Miss. Gilbert, Elena Gilbert. And it’s a pleasure to meet you too Mr.Salvatore.” She smiled kindly at him and he smiled back with just as much warmth.

Caroline intervened and asked “So are you ready for the tour, Elena?”

Before Elena could respond Stefan answered “Why don’t I show her around, you already have done so much,” He grinned at her, “Well, Thank You Mr.Salvatore you're very considerate.” She smiled back at him.

The elevator dinged and Elena and Stefan moved out of the elevator. “Elena?” Caroline called, “Yes?”

“If you need anything, don't be afraid to let me know.” Caroline gushed sincerely, grinning brightly at Elena.

“I will Caroline Thank You,” She smiled back at Caroline with just as much sincerity. You could see it now, the start of a new and wonderfully blossomed friendship.

“Anytime.” Caroline pressed the first floor button and the elevator, leaving the pair alone.

Elena turned to Stefan “Where do we start?”

Stefan turned to look at her as he said “My office, your area, and a few other places as well.”

“Where’s my area?” Elena asked.

“In the lobby area, where you came in there’s the front desk and that’s where you’ll be working.” Elena nodded in understanding.

Stefan led her to his office area, “This is my area or my office area.” In the background of his office you could see his book shelves full of so many different types of books. And his desk was in the middle, it had this glossy look and it was a shade of dark brown. “Wow, it's beautiful.”

“Why Thank You. That’s very kind of you.” Elena smiled at the complement.

“Now, let me show you to the lobby area,” He smiled softly at her as he led her back to the elevator. They both stepped in and he pressed floor one.

“You know Elena-” Stefan started, turning to look over at Elena. “You don’t strike me as someone who would be a receptionist.”

Elena smiled softly to herself, she must have felt her cheeks blushing as she looked down, “Life got in the way and it was expensive, and I felt like I could do good becoming a receptionist even if it’s in a different way than I wanted to originally,”

“What did you want to be when you grew up, Mr.Salvatore?”

“Ironically enough at first I wanted to be a Doctor as well.”

Elena lifted her eyes from the elevator door back to his eyes,“Why didn’t you?” She inquired.

“This company needed me especially after my father died and I couldn’t look away. I had to help.” Elena smiled with genuine compassion as she praised “Mr. Salvatore you are truly a kind man and a compassionate one too. That was quite noble of you most wouldn’t do that.” Elena voiced gently, Stefan looked at her with his vibrant smile and gleaming green eyes and thoughtfully replied with “Thank You, Ms.Gilbert you truly have a kind soul and I am lucky to have someone like you here.”

“No, it's quite the opposite. I'm honored to be working here because I was laid off from my last job and I was worried I wouldn’t find one this time for rent, but luckily I did. In the way you all were my savior I couldn’t Thank You all enough.”

“I’m glad you will be working here especially since we need someone like you, someone who cares.” Stefan praised, passionately.

Elena smiles at the compliment,“Well, Thank You Mr.Salvatore you’ve been so welcoming and caring I can’t help but feel excited to start.”

“I’m pleased to hear that.” He said with humility. Stefan was quite grateful she was going to be working here, ‘I wish we could find more people like her kind and caring, I’m just thankful she is here,’ ‘I’m very grateful I got this job, I have a good feeling about this job,’ They both simultaneously smile to themselves wrapped up in their own thoughts that was until the elevator dinged and they were back at the first floor. Elena jerked a little, Stefan looked over at her worry spread across his face. “Are you alright?" He asked, with panic in his voice. He placed his hand on her shoulder.

“Sorry, I was too wrapped up in my thoughts.” Elena placed her hand on her chest, trying to regain her composure. He smiled at her researingly and she smiled back feeling a sense of warmth fill her chest.

He turned to look back at her as he led her to her desk. “Here we are Ms.Gilbert.”

“Thank You Mr.Salvatore for your help,” She replied politely.

“Anytime Ms.Gilbert let me know if you need anything at all.”

“I will, Thank You Mr.Salvatore.” Elena said, and Stefan walked away heading toward the elevator, planning to go back to his office. Elena watched as Stefan a sigh escaped her lips, she must have felt a tinge of blush come across her face as she turned away and started to focus on settling in her new desk area.

Just as she sat down someone came up to her, It was a woman. Elena asked, “How can I help you?”

The woman was timid but still spoke up “I-I was wondering if I could schedule a meeting with M-mr.Salvatore I’m one of his clients.” She said, shakily.

“Of course,” Elena looked at the calendar behind her and noticed July 7th was open for meetings. She grabbed a pen and wrote ‘Meeting with-’

“What’s your name ma’am?”

“My n-name is Alexia Branson.” Elena wrote her name on the calendar, “You're all set Ms.Branson, give us a call if you need anything.” She smiled warmly at the women and she thought to herself ‘I have a great feeling about this.’ She smiled to herself as she watched the lady leave and she went back to work.

-

Tagging: @misschanadlerbong

[kmze]

I was on reddit the other day and I saw some people say that Plec had complete control over tvd s4 onward along with Dries and that's why plots like sire bond happened.I thought Plec was the sole showrunner of tvd during s3 when KW was gone even though he was credited as executive producer.In fact,I have also heard Plec and Kevin both decided to introduce the sire bond plot in s3 through Tyler because they wanted to sire Elena once she transitioned.Is there any truth to any of those claims about Plec?I don't think Plec single-handedly made all the decisions.The network was involved too.Ian had once said network shut down Bamon as early as s2 to protect the triangle.Klaus was originally gonna die in s3 which was Julie's decision but the network & KW prevented that from happening.Just so you know I'm not excusing Plec for her shitty choices like the forest flop or how Bonnie's storylines were handled.She was not a pushover but she was also definitely not in complete control of everything that happened.That's not how shows work.Your thoughts?

Hey anon, so I'm going to do my best to answer based on how I understand things but as far as what's said on Reddit lol, those people are a lost cause. People read one thing and they think that's the be all end all, and for whatever reason that sub is majority SE fans so they tend to look at KW with rose colored glasses. So please take everything I'm saying with a grain of salt just because I don't work in the film/tv industry so I don't know how much networks affect shows storylines but I do have a good idea of which showrunner was in charge each season and who was probably making the decisions. Under the cut because as usual I wrote a lot.

There were three showrunners for TVD and for the most part their order of decision making went Kevin > Julie > Dries. Kevin left after he wrote 3x01 to do the Secret Circle (the book is in the same universe as TVD but I don't think the show was). Once Kevin left to do that I don't think he was as involved in the storyline on TVD, I'm sure Julie and him kept in touch but mostly he let her steer the ship. So for 8 seasons here's how I see it:

Kevin and Julie

Kevin and Julie

Julie and Dries

Julie and Dries

Dries (but still reporting to Julie)

Julie and Dries

Dries (until Julie took over when Dries left cause she fucked everything up)

Julie (but Kevin affected the ending and possibly some of the storyline)

While I do think the decision on Klaus was a network thing I don't think the sirebond or Bamon was them. With Klaus it's the network because it's about saving a character for a spin-off, I know at some point they were going to do a Tyler/Caroline spin-off instead and they scrapped that for TO. I cannot find an article to back me up but I thought Joseph said once that they wanted to chemistry test him with Candice when they were thinking about keeping Klaus alive and that's where the KC birthday scene was born. So I think that's a mix of both, the network wanted to keep Klaus and they needed to soften him up a bit and picked Caroline for that.

The sire bond was Julie and Dries I believe, they kind of said as much here. It was done in order to move Elena onto Damon faster and since the show was always about a love triangle I don't think the network cared how it was done. I think it is possible Kevin and Julie talked about the sire bond as a way to speed up DE because I know they said they had Damon kill Jeremy in 2x01 to slow down Damon from being too heroic (which don't even get me started on RME). As for Bamon that I think was all Julie and probably Dries, because Bonnie's treatment started really going downhill in S3 after Kevin left and didn't get better until S6. I know that Kevin helped Julie plan out some of S6 so he might have been the one who rescued Bonnie and had the prison world idea. I know he made sure she wasn't killed in the finale too, I mean I am 100% of the notion that Julie and Dries hated Bonnie because they're racist (or at least internalized racism). I don't know if the network had much to do with that, not that they couldn't be racist as well I just think that was more a showrunner thing and maybe they used the networks as a scapegoat with Ian.

I have a theory about the showrunners and why the show's direction changes based on who's in charge. Basically I think each showrunner has their OSG (one-special-girl) and their decisions tend to revolve around that girl. For Kevin its Elena, that's why Elena gets all the high-cachet male attention in S1 & S2 (Stefan, Damon, Elijah, Matt). For Julie it's Caroline which is why in S3 Caroline starts getting more love interests and why I think Julie picked Caroline for Klaus' chemistry test instead of Elena (which is what Kevin would have done). I also suspect Julie wouldn't let Kevin kill or hurt Caroline's endgame to prop SE back up in the finale. Instead Caroline got Stefan AND Klaus' endgames and Elena got the chin kiss. Then there's Dries who I actually think her OSG is Katherine BUT she'll use Elena if she must but a lot of time she'll do it in spite. That's essentially why I think S5 went the way it did. Dries loves Katherine and gave her the human plot and also Stefan for a bit. Then she came up with Kathlena which ended up being a hit against SE because Stefan couldn't tell it was Katherine when before he always figured it out first.

I do agree that Julie isn't a pushover, I definitely don't love a lot of the stuff she's done and the show has ALWAYS had bad consent issues. Sometimes I think people act like the consent issues started in S4 with the sire bond but Caroline in S1 and Andie in S2 were repeatedly raped, compelled and abused by Damon and that was all under Kevin. The sire bond was just the first time Elena got that same treatment and people started to notice. Ultimately I think much of the direction of the show was Julie because she was in charge the longest, even 5&7 where she worked on other shows, she had final say. The only reason she let Kevin switch the death in S8 was he was the one who got TVD greenlit (since he was a bigger name) so she did owe him. I've also seen it speculated that since she said no to DJ on Dawson's Creek for PJ she didn't want to take another endgame away from him.

[jb-nonsense]

My Baldur's Gate 3 Character Information

Below cut is the various Characters I have made for Baldur's Gate 3, whether they are central to my canon, a romance run character, or a side/background character to support the central characters. This list is subject to fluctuation based on revisions to my storyline set up.

Tavs and Durge

Name: Durante Faust Age: 28 Species: Tiefling Class: Warlock (Archfey) Stats: STR: 10 DEX: 13 CON: 14 INT: 11 WIS: 10 CHA: 17 Height: 5'11" | 1.8 M Build: He's got sculpted arms due to his work as an artisan, and while a bit on the leaner side, has a bit of a belly and not so toned torso. Hair: Black, tight curls in long dreadlocks with streaks of blue. Also has a full heard. Eyes: Bright, light blue on black sclera under a heavy brow Skin tone: A medium violet tone, rich and saturated Other features: Has blue, corkscrew style horns and a scar on the right side of his lips, with piercings on his ears. Family: Family is unknown, refuses to talk about them Romance(?): Lae'zel planned, subject to change Friends: Talilah Bluethorn, Tavinkas, Gwenifar van Hol, Astarion Ancunin, Wyll Ravengard, Shadowheart, Lae'zel, Karlach Cliffgate, Halsin, and others Enemies: Absolutists Personality: He refuses to have a care in the world, preferring to enjoy himself and have fun. He isn't keen on being responsible for others, but he also doesn't like being cruel to the undeserving. He seeks pleasures and thrills as a way to forget something he doesn't want to remember. Backstory summary: Trained as an artisan, specializing in stone work, Durante made his way from a backwater rough and tumble village to being sought after for his near life like work. But everything eventually comes to an end, an end he doesn't like discussing and what bought him to make a deal with an archfey. He was on the road to Waterdeep to look for work when he was captured.

Name: Gwenifar van Hol Age: 32 Species: Human Class: Life Cleric of Ilmater Stats: STR: 11 DEX: 12 CON: 10 INT: 14 WIS: 16 CHA: 13 Height: 5'6" | 1.68 M Build: Good muscle build beneath a bit of fat layer, but in generally decent shape as a cleric. Hair: Red-gold, with some curl to it, long to mid back length. Keeps half pulled back post of the time Eyes: Blue and round Skin tone: light, pinkish human tone Other features: has freckles on her cheeks but most predominantly on her shoulders Family: A mother named Elena, an older sister named Dana, and a grandmother named Gena. Romance(?): Gale Dekarios Friends: Talilah Bluethorn, Tavinkas, Durante Faust, Astarion Ancunin, Wyll Ravengard, Shadowheart, Lae'zel, Karlach Cliffgate, Halsin, and others Enemies: Absolutists, Klaudius Sarrick Personality: Curious and with a drive to do what's good and to help others. She has a strong sense of duty and moral compass. She worries about missing out on things, though, sometimes, so has to have control on her impulses. She has a dangerous righteous fury, though, when someone is sadistically cruel to someone. Backstory summary: Gwenifar is the younger of two daughters. When her older sister became ill when they were preteens, Gwenifar went to every temple and prayed to the gods to help heal her sister. Ilmater was the one who answered and offered a deal: suffer in her sister's place. Gwenifar, being around 11 years, agreed to it and around 10 years as a shut in. She studied, did art and music to alleviate it. When she was well, her sister had moved on with her life with a husband and children. Trying to figure out her own steps, Gwenifar decided after missing so much, to dedicate herself to Ilmater as a cleric to help others. She was doing charity work in Baldur's Gate when she was taken.

Name: Talilah Bluethorn Age: 136 Species: High Elf (half sun and half moon) Class: Bard Stats: STR: 9 DEX: 16 CON: 13 INT: 12 WIS: 12 CHA: 15 Height: 5'3" | 1.6 M Build: Thin, gymnast build from her work as an aerial silk acrobat Hair: Bright red, long with a little wave to it, usually keeps on side braided Eyes: Dark blue and wide and round Skin tone: Light-medium golden hued, a slight hint of a blue undertone from her mother's heritage Other features: has sparse freckles and a rose tattoo on the left side of her neck Family: A mother named Kyrirthlila Bluethorn, and her father's name isn't known to her, she just knows he's a sun elf nobleman (Arakhivaen Saliriador) Romance(?): Astarion Ancunin Friends: Gwenifar van Hol, Tavinkas, Durante Faust, Gale Dekarios, Wyll Ravengard, Shadowheart, Lae'zel, Karlach Cliffgate, Halsin, and others Enemies: Absolutists, lord I need to name Personality: A spitfire with an enjoyment for heroic tales, not much can keep Talilah down. She's ever the optimist, refusing to let anything heavy pull her down. She's a bit impulsive, which can cause problems, but she's decent at planning when she sits down and tries. She has a strong personality and can command an entire room's attention of she desires it. She's not against a little cruelty and mockery to those who deserve it, though. Backstory summary: Talilah was born from the affair of a sun elf nobleman and a moon elf performer/thief. Her mother had left the lands her father lived in when she learned she was pregnant, and despite her attempts to notify him, he never responded to her letters. Deciding to just raise Talilah on her own, she taught her the trade of the performing troupe: entertain the corrupt well-to-do and steal from the blind to give back to those who truly need it. Talilah excelled and being half sun-elf, she earned attention due to the rarity of a golden elf. She learned the aerial silks as well, playing the distraction for her mother and the others to work. Yet all things come to an end and that happened in Baldur's Gate. Her troupe captured, the nobleman gave her a deal; work for him and he wouldn't have the troupe executed. Talilah was kidnapped while heading to a job for the nobleman.

Name: Tavinkas Age: Believed to be in his 70s Species: Half wood elf Class: Sorcerer Stats: STR: 8 DEX: 13 CON: 15 INT: 12 WIS: 10 CHA: 17 Height: 6"1" | 1.86 M Build: Lean, not overly muscular but you can see some definition in certain lighting Hair: Shaved on the sides, black with gray in it, pulled back into a braid. Also has facial hair styled in a circle beard. Eyes: His right eye is a bright, enchanting green and his left eye is blood red on black. Skin tone: Darker medium tone with a ruddy undertone to it Other features: Has green scales around his eyes from his draconic heritage, as well as a swirling black marking coming from his red eye. Has skull earrings. Family: Unknown to him, but a pure bhaalspawn Romance(?): Wyll Ravengard planned, subject to change Friends: Gwenifar van Hol, Talilah Bluethorn, Durante Faust, Gale Dekarios, Wyll Ravengard, Shadowheart, Lae'zel, Karlach Cliffgate, Halsin, and others Enemies: Absolutists Personality: Tavinkas suffers from a duality of person. At the basis, he's calculating, thoughtful, and careful. He thinks things through as best he can before he puts them into action. He's charming without even trying to be. Yet the duality is between the darkness clawing at him, demanding he enjoy other's suffering and death, and then the small, broken part of him that wants to be more, be better, and do what's right. Backstory summary: TBA as I play more of the game with him

Side Characters

Name: Arakhivaen Saliriador Age: 357 Species: High Elf (Sun) Class: Paladin Stats: STR: 17 DEX: 12 CON: 13 INT: 10 WIS: 10 CHA: 14 Height: 6'0" | 1.83 M Build: Muscular, with broad shoulders and a triangular torso Hair: Bright red with copper highlights curls, kept shorter but not too short Eyes: Green, slender with a confident glint Skin tone: A warm medium bronze with a gold hue to it Other features: Has various scars from battles Family: Talilah Bluethorn (daughter), A mother, at least one younger sibling, WIP Romance(?): Kyrirthlila Bluethorn (previously), Halsin (possibly) Friends: To be developed Enemies: Lolth sworn drow Backstory summary: Arakhivaen is the eldest child of a prominent sun elf family, who have considerable power in Evermeet. Wishing to further his family's reach, he traveled to Evereska, becoming a respected commander of the guard. In this time, he met a traveling entertaining troupe and began a decades long affair with moon elf performer. The affair ended, though, in 1356 DR when the elves were called back to Evermeet and Arakhivaen heeded the order while Kyrirthlila did not. Arakhivaen has served dutifully ever since, yet in recent years, has returned to Evereska to try to bridge the connection of the elves and Faerun again.

Name: Klaudius Sarrick Age: 47 Species: Human Class: Fighter in game, cleric of Loviatar in my mind Stats: STR: 13 DEX: 13 CON: 15 INT: 11 WIS: 12 CHA: 13 Height: 5'10" | 1.78 M Build: Slim, spindly but with muscle built from years of his service to his goddess Hair: shaved at the sides, but long and pulled back black with gray streaks. Has a mustache and goatee Eyes: a steely bright gray Skin tone: Pale, pasty human skin tone Other features: Has quite a bit of scars from serving Loviatar, as well as one large nasty gash of a scar on his right cheek, as well as piercings. His jaw is lined with jagged tattoos with one point going down his throat like a dagger Family: Unknown Romance(?): None (may use him to run Minthara's) Friends: His allies are the church of Loviatar and Bane Enemies: Ilmatari, followers of the Triad Backstory summary: A young man who's family held influence and secretly was a part of Loviatar's church. Klaudius grew up with the concept of giving his goddess pain, eventually surpassing his parents' own skills. He proved himself quite gifted in the art of giving pain, to the point he eventually became the head of the Loviatar church in Baldur's Gate. His desire was to spread pain throughout the city, but in a psychological manner. He soon found his attempts being stopped by an Ilmatari cleric and took an interest in her, enjoying the game. Allying with Bane's chosen, a deal was struck but it seems it's not working exactly as planned.

Name: Kyrirthlila Bluethorn Age: 349 Species: High Elf (Moon) Class: Rogue Stats: STR: 8 DEX: 17 CON: 14 INT: 13 WIS: 13 CHA: 10 Height: 5'5" | 1.65 M Build: Has curves, but muscle underneath them and still a ghost of her athletic build from before, but slender enough to sneak into places to steal Hair: A deep royal blue, kept long and in various updos and out of her way, only let down when she plays it for distraction Eyes: A deep blue, but with mischief glimmering in them Skin tone: Pale with a cool almost blue undertone Other features: None to think of Family: Talilah Bluethorn (daughter), various need to name Romance(?): Arakhivaen Saliriador (former), Halsin (possibly) Friends: Her entertaining troupe Enemies: lord I need to name Backstory summary: Kyrirthlila was born in a forgotten backwater moon elf village. She was determined to make something of herself, and after traveling, found herself disgusted by how nobles would abuse their power. She and her friends then planned a great con—an entertaining troupe that would entertain the rich then steal from them, sharing their ill-gotten gains with those in need. It went well for a few years, until meeting a sun elf noble near Evereska. The pair began their affair, taking decades as elves do, but when he was called back to Evermeet, Kyrirthlila remained in Faerun. Only to realize she was pregnant with his child. Every letter she sent was never replied to, so Kyrirthlila raised her daughter in their troupe. Her daughter was a skilled performer so she allowed her to have the spotlight while she worked the shadows. It all worked well until Baldur's Gate, when a noble caught them. He locked up the others but had Talilah work for him until she vanished. Now Kyrirthlila needs to figure out how to get herself and the others out and soon.

[cannondisabledcharacters]

Accepted Characters 9/30/2022

Unnamed old lady from Challenge

Mickey from Spiritfarer

Princess Zelda from The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

Stanley from Spiritfarer

Imeon from The House in Fata Morgana

Elena from Spiritfarer

Daria from Spiritfarer

Eli from Saint Row

William Gray (Boozer) from Days Gone

Deacon St. John from Days Gone

Kai from Immortal Weakling

Zara from Hello Goodbye Dog

Elsie from Dancing With Daddy

Eva from I Will Dance

Nat Beacon from A Chance to Fly

Kotallo from Horizon Forbidden West

Sora Harukawa from Ensemble Stars

Desmond from That Deaf Guy

Randy Cunningham from Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja

Carolyn from Yes I Can, A Girl and Her Wheelchair

Yunha Seol from Dating With a Tail

Emmie from Air

Ellie from Roll With It

Bert from Roll With It

Amelie Day from The Baking Life of Amelie Day

Connor from Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus

Aven Green from the Aven Green series

Kate from You’re Not You

Red Raptor from dinosandcomics

Ari from Team Zenko Go

Rosita from Underdog Grandma [Call To Action]

Hazel Grace Lancaster from Fault in Our Stars

Oskar from Inte Som Alla Andra

The big brother from Skavanken

Lars from Lars er LOL

Jemma from I Have No Secrets

Maggie Sanders from The One Thing

Angelika from Picasso Kvinnen

Petter Paulsen from Stemmen som forsvant

Sebastian from Max og Sebastian

Eirik from Med beina på nakken

Anna from Én av tusen

Roufujin from Kiki's Delivery Service

Collei from Genshin Impact

Mrs.Sophia from BetWixt

Yunhwa Yeo from Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid

Jellybean from Kiss it Better

Ohta-san from Yamishibai

Flapjack from The Owl House

Gate Keeper ThornTail from Star Fox

Penta from Namesake

Aleeya’s Mommy in Mommy Sayang

1,175 requests remain

[eldritchamy]

Re: your tags on the Let's Go Bite Throats post - I know absolutely nothing about The Vampire Diaries (a feat that I'm not sure whether I'm proud of or not) but I know you're absolutely correct

Cause I am. It's impossible to make vampires straight in a way that's actually believable and good. You GOTTA make it gayer. Good life advice in general.

The Vampire Diaries is famously a hot mess, and is EXTREMELY straight which is a cardinal sin for vampire media, and yet I am gay enough for the concept of vampires that I could not look away until the end of season 6 when a vampire (and the main character) becomes a human and leaves the show. (Which sucks, because Nina Dobrev was one of the better parts of TVD. She plays multiple characters who sometimes impersonate each other, and you can literally tell when one version of her is impersonating another even if it hasn't been revealed on screen yet. She was almost certainly the best actor on the show, and every time she got to show that off was great.)

It definitely had some good aspects.

I would not call it, overall, good. (To be fair I also wouldn't call it bad.) I would call it engaging. Surprisingly so for how straight it is.

Is it good? Eh. Did I enjoy it? Unfortunately yes.

But SO MUCH of the drama would have just not happened if Caroline Forbes (worst side character turned best vampire character) and Elena Gilbert (main human character turned main vampire character turned human-and-no-longer-on-the-show character) had just dated each other instead of men. There would have been new, gayer drama instead, but it still would have been a net positive.

There are elements of the show, especially in terms of character archetypes, that feel very Buffyish (because what vampire media post-2003 can truly escape living in the shadow of Buffy), and surprisingly the character archetypes were actually done BETTER in TVD in my opinion. Probably because Xander was fully replaced by a less hostile Cordelia (Caroline) who ends up being the best vampire character on the show (even edging out Katherine Pierce, who I will admit is 95% of the reason I watched the show at all, for truly who amongst us can resist a devious brunette girlboss who is smarter and stronger and better than you and has fangs).

The Salvatore brothers (Stefan and Damon) are honestly a better take on the dynamic between Angel and Spike, and I would say have better emotional depth because the show affords them more time to explore that because the stakes of the show aren't "we're sitting on a hellmouth and the world is ending every season BUT ALSO there's a mini monster every week." These specific characters' lives are difficult more because this one small town in Virginia has an unusually high vampire population and a group of locals who are unusually dedicated to hating vampires and for some fuckin reason neither of them will just LEAVE, and also they happen to have connections to other people who are a lot more involved in heavier supernatural drama and they happen to bring it with them. I think like 5 of the 8 seasons are technically Katherine's fault somehow.

But basically most of the drama comes from different characters interacting, NOT from "the mayor is ascending as a true demon!" or "the spirit of evil itself wants to wipe us out!" and that gives the show a lot more breathing room to actually explore the characters and what makes them who they are, so the backstories, while as convoluted and messy as you'd expect from a 2000s vampire show, are actually pretty fleshed out and compelling.

I actually quite like (most of) the vampire lore the show uses. It's more similar to my own than most vampire media. One of the aspects I'm not fond of is the "Humanity switch," where vampires basically "turn their humanity off" to shut out human emotion, which almost always gets used after a traumatic event (which is almost always character death) that someone can't handle because vampires feel everything (including emotions) more intensely than humans. I DO like that at least one character (I forget who, might have been Katherine) said the switch isn't even real, it's just a form of denial that tricks you into thinking you don't feel anything. But the most important thing about vampires turning off their humanity is that when Elena turned hers off, she started giving off huge closeted vibes, and mostly fed off women (and got a little flirty with a few of them).

Without human fear of repercussions, she was gayer, is all I'm saying. I just think they should have explored that more.

Plus she and Caroline had the WORST taste in men. They should have just kissed each other instead.

If you choose to ride this majestic trainwreck, you should be warned that there's a single use of a transphobic slur in like the first episode, which ALMOST made me immediately stop watching, but I was desperate for something new to binge at the time and really craving vampires specifically (and TVD had Katherine Pierce which made it sound better than True Blood), and it never came close to anything like that again and despite its MANY flaws I did overall enjoy watching it until late season 6. Apparently things really go off the rails after that.

I do plan on watching both spinoffs. Also because of a single character. Who is also a cocky, morally dubious brunette with fangs. No I do not have a type and I will not be taking questions at this time.

[pagebypagereviews]

In the ever-evolving tapestry of contemporary fiction, it is a rare delight to stumble upon a gem that redefines the boundaries of identity and personal journey through the written word. "By Any Other Name: A Novel" stands as a testament to such a literary achievement, emerging as a beacon of nuanced storytelling. At its core, the novel grapples with the profound questions of who we are when stripped of our labels and the legacies we inherit. The narrative weaves a complex, emotional fabric that showcases the power of names and the weight they carry in shaping our destinies, making this book a significant addition to modern literature that addresses the eternal search for self. This insightful tome not only captivates but also solves a fundamental problem present in many readers' lives: the search for understanding one's true essence beyond societal expectations. The author artfully exposes the struggle between embracing one's given identity and the desire to forge a unique path. In "By Any Other Name: A Novel," readers find a mirror reflecting the universal conflict between pre-ordained paths and the human yearning for authenticity. It is this relatable core that draws readers into a vortex of introspection, making the book not only a tale to be enjoyed but also an experience to be lived. The novel resonates with anyone who has ever questioned their place in the world, making its narrative both timeless and immediately relevant. Plot The narrative of "By Any Other Name" intricately weaves themes of identity, memory, and the transformative power of storytelling. The plot follows the protagonist's journey as they grapple with a dilemma that challenges their understanding of their personal history and their very sense of self. Through a series of flashbacks and narrative twists, the author skillfully reveals layers of the character's past, each revelation casting new light on the their motivations and the true nature of their quest. A pivotal plot point introduces a shocking revelation that redefines the course of the story, forcing the protagonist to confront the disparity between the life they believed they led and the reality that has been obscured from them. Examples of such intricate plotting can be seen in works such a Julian Barnes's "The Sense of an Ending," where the reliability of memory plays an essential role in how the narrative unfolds. Characters The characters in "By Any Other Name" are meticulously crafted, with nuanced personalities and complex relationships that contribute to the richness of the narrative. The protagonist is portrayed as multi-dimensional, with a rich internal life and a compelling backstory that slowly unfurls as the story progresses. Supporting characters each serve a distinct purpose in the protagonist's journey, acting as foils, allies, or adversaries, and all are drawn with such detail that they feel like real, flesh-and-blood individuals. An example of this depth of character can be found in Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan Novels, which showcase a cast of characters each with their own intricate backstories and connections that evolve throughout the series. Writing Style The author of "By Any Other Name" employs a distinct writing style characterized by lyrical prose and evocative imagery, reminiscent of the work of authors such as Maggie O'Farrell or Jojo Moyes. Metaphors and similes are used with precision and creativity, painting vivid pictures in the reader's mind and creating an atmospheric tone that draws one deeper into the story's world. The structure of the novel is innovative, with non-linear storytelling that challenges the reader's perceptions and encourages active engagement with the text. Dialogue is crafted with authenticity, capturing the uniqueness of each character’s voice, and the narrative passages balance exposition and action to maintain pacing and intrigue. Setting The setting of "By Any Other Name" is integral to the story, forming a backdrop that informs the mood and actions of the characters.

Whether it's the bustling city streets that pulse with energy or the serene countryside that offers respite and reflection, every location is described with care, contributing to the overall tapestry of the narrative. The author uses the setting as a character in its own right, with the power to influence events and convey thematic nuances. One might consider how the moody, fog-laced streets of Victorian London contribute to the ominous tone of a Sherlock Holmes mystery, similarly, the settings in this novel are utilized to enhance and propel the plot. Unique Aspects By Any Other Name" stands out for its unique blend of genre elements, skillfully combining mystery, romance, and psychological drama. The novel’s approach to tackling the philosophical question of identity and reality versus perception provides a thought-provoking read that challenges the reader to contemplate their views on these themes. Moreover, the author introduces innovative narrative techniques, such as unreliable narration or second-person perspective, which invites readers to become participants in the story rather than mere observers. In the vein of groundbreaking works like Italo Calvino's "If on a winter's night a traveler," the novel plays with form and structure to create a reading experience that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant. Its uniqueness is also accentuated by cultural references that are woven into the narrative, bringing a layer of depth that encourages readers to explore the ideas presented long after they've turned the final page. Similar to By Any Other Name: A Novel Book Review Certainly! Below is an example of how you might structure an HTML table to present either the pros or cons of a book review for "By Any Other Name: A Novel. I will provide an example for "Pros" and you can change the content accordingly for "Cons" if needed. Please replace the placeholder text "Description of pro #X" with your actual analysis points. ```html Book Review Analysis table width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; th, td border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; text-align: left; th background-color: #f2f2f2; Pro # Description Impact on User Experience 1 Description of pro #1 Explanation of how pro #1 enhances the user experience 2 Description of pro #2 Explanation of how pro #2 enhances the user experience 3 Description of pro #3 Explanation of how pro #3 enhances the user experience ``` Ensure that the "Impact on User Experience" column addresses how each respective pro affects the reader's interaction with and perception of the book. Each point should be concise yet informative to provide clear insights into the book's strengths and how they contribute to an overall positive experience for the reader. Understanding the Genre and Author's Style When considering the purchase of "By Any Other Name: A Novel," it's important to first understand the genre and the author's unique style. Knowing whether the novel falls into romance, mystery, literary fiction, or another category can set expectations. Additionally, familiarize yourself with the author's previous works. This may provide insight into the thematic elements, narrative style, and character development you can expect in the book you're considering. Evaluating Literary Critiques and Reviews One of the most insightful steps in choosing whether or not to buy "By Any Other Name: A Novel," is to read a variety of literary critiques and reviews. Professional critics often offer an in-depth analysis of the book's strengths and weaknesses. Reader reviews, on the other hand, can provide a glimpse into the book’s reception by the general public. Pay attention to recurring points in both positive and negative reviews to gauge whether the novel might align with your reading preferences. Consider the Book's Themes and Subject Matter Potential readers should contemplate the book's thematic elements and subject matter. By Any

Other Name: A Novel," like any other book, will explore specific themes more profoundly than others. Whether the themes revolve around love, betrayal, growth, or loss, make sure they resonate with you or challenge you intellectually. Furthermore, the subject matter should be one that interests you or adds to your knowledge in a particular area. Analyzing the Book's Synopsis and Sample Chapters Don't overlook the power of the book's synopsis or the opportunity to read sample chapters. These snippets provide a taste of the narrative and can be a determining factor in your purchase decision. They present the overarching plot and characters without giving away key details. Additionally, reading the first chapter or a selected excerpt can provide a clear sense of the author's writing style and the book's pacing, which are crucial to reader engagement.

[rye-views]

The Fate of the Furious (2017) dir. F. Gary Gray. 7.6/10

I wouldn't recommend this movie to my friends. I wouldn't rewatch this movie.

Driving this burning car so good is crazy. The mass car hacking is crazy. Dom killing Connor was crazy.

Damn, Hobbs is a great coach. The keep waiting bitch was good. Damn someone make a kdrama about Letty and Dom. Roman shooting all those snow motorists was so cool. Everyone putting themselves int he line of fire to protect Dom was beautiful. I like Deckard protecting baby. His name being Brian almost made me tear up.

I'm not attracted to Dwayne, but him breaking out of those handcuffs was hot. Him shifting the torpedo was hot.

This is like Avengers Civil War. Why we gotta turn us against us? That Cipher Dom kiss is terrible. Killing Elena is evil.

LOL at Letty's laugh when she got out of the ice cracking situation.

[justjessame]

Light Through the Darkness: Chapter 49

Abigail was ready when Ric came to collect her for the pageant and if his reaction was any indication, her gown choice had been correct. He missed the handle for the car door, he tripped going around to get in his side. Abi bit her lip, careful of the dark wine colored lipstick she’d chosen at the insistence of the woman at the beauty counter.

The dress was lace, in its entirety, black with the floral aspects created out of golden and silver threads. To keep the wearer’s modesty, a short black skirt and a deep cleavage enhancing bustier was built in. Coupled with black lace heels, with red soles that were decadent and almost scary to wear, a black clutch and pair of dripping black stone earrings and a matching ring, Abigail thought she made a very different sight than her usual one.

Her hair, after a long contemplation of how to wear it, she’d chosen to go to a local beauty parlor and listened as the stylist had alternatively complimented and lamented her locks. Now they were twisted and coiled into a style that Sallie would envy, with tendrils teasing her shoulders. Her makeup was darker and more dramatic, another concession she’d been talked into by the ladies at the salon. All in all, she couldn’t truly complain. Not while Ric was having difficulty forming words to make casual conversation.

“You look very nice as well,” she offered, and he did. He was wearing a suit, his scruff was tidier, and his hair was fluffy, but almost tame.

The Lockwoods had moved house, as many families had over the years. When they arrived, Ric offered to grab them drinks and Abi nodded her assent while wandering around the grounds populated with well dressed people, mostly young, but Carol Lockwood managed to find her, eyeing her dress with the critical look of the moneyed. Finding no fault beyond, perhaps, the lace and the raciness of it, their mingling took no longer than necessary, and Abi moved on, meandering along the paths, until she did something she seemed destined to forever do.

Hearing his voice, not Damon’s but HIS, that chilling, haunting voice seemed to beckon her forward like it had so very long ago. She was surprised that the heels, so high and spiked, the dress, so long and wispy, nothing seemed to alert him or stop her progress toward him.

He was standing along a tree lined street, making Abigail wonder just how far she’d walked. With him was a young woman, dressed in casual clothing, while Stefan was clearly dressed for the pageant. He was speaking, the words didn’t matter, because all Abigail could hear were the ones he’d said when she left her room in the Salvatore mansion all those years before, it was the same tone, the same soft seduction.

“Abigail,” it whispered, her feet stepping closer even as her heart pounded hard enough to leave her body behind. “Abigail, aren’t you going to come say ‘hello’?”

She didn’t see them come, the other three. Damon, Elena, and the third, a young woman she would learn was Bonnie Bennett later. She didn’t see them because when he bit into the girl’s throat, Amber was her name, his eyes were on her. As he drank from the girl, Stefan Salvatore watched Abigail Morgan and she could see it, the obsession growing with every pull of the girl’s blood.

“Abigail?” She was back at the pageant, a drink in her hand while a voice started announcing contestants. Ric was standing next to her, another woman she’d never met beside him, a proprietary hand on his arm. That was new. “Abi, are you alright?”

She blinked, considering the question as the next name was announced. “Elena Gilbert -” and she looked up, and the decision seemed as simple this time as it was - how had Pearl said it? Once upon a time. She had to leave Mystic Falls. She watched as Elena and Damon met at the foot of the staircase, as they took their spot on the dancefloor, and as the waltz began, as their gazes were locked, as their hands hovered inches apart, she had to wonder - Had they ever looked as intimate as that? As in love?

Before Abigail left the Lockwoods’, she sought out one person, one person alone. A person she’d never spoken to, a person she’d never met.

“Bonnie?” The young woman tensed, but didn’t run away, so that was something. “Could I speak to you for a moment?” There was a resemblance, around the eyes, Abi thought. Not much, but slight, that reminded her of Emily.

Bonnie nodded and moved to a small nook where they could speak somewhat privately. She tried to smile, but it wasn’t easy. “Caroline told me she met you,” she offered, and Abi nodded. “Real life sleeping beauty.”

Abi shook her head. “Yes, well, mostly just a very slow learner.” She bit her lip, not incredibly sure how to ask for a favor of a complete stranger, but needing it. “I hate to ask,” she sighed, thinking about the fevered look on Stefan’s face, then the heartache she felt when she saw how Damon looked at Elena. “I want to leave Mystic Falls. To find my family.”

Bonnie’s eyes narrowed. “Your family’s dead.” Her head tilted. “Isn’t it?”

[essaer]

På ett ytligt plan kan Nina Bondesons motiv beskrivas som fragmentariska, olika objekt ligger utspridda på duken, pannån, tyget, möblerna – artefakterna som hon kallar de själv — befriade från sina vanliga proportioner och i fantasifulla hybrider. Den tålmodige åskådaren hittar fler och fler detaljer, hittar en text som finns broderad i tyget, målad likt runskrift med penseln, ibland felstavad, ibland överkryssas ist för att repa upp stygnen eller att måla över. Rent estetiskt är det dock sammanhållet, och på ett djupare plan är det tydligt att alla dessa föremål och karaktärer rör sig i rymden av samma idévärld; relationerna föremålen och karaktärerna emellan förstärks med sladdar, slangar, trattar, kopplingar.

John Donne – det där om att ingen människa är en ö… det är skitprat – det är ju precis det vi är. Öar. Men vi har förmågan att upprätta förbindelser mellan de öarna. Skapa ett sammanhang som överskrider utan att överge (s. 9).

Det är svårt att förklara, för verken rör sig på flera plan. NBs alter egon som tar plats i konstverken gör det inte bara i bild utan också i skönlitterära texter (texterna om konsten är däremot teoretiska). Så fort jag tar ansats att försöka förklara en detalj i tavlan avbryts jag av viljan att förklara känslan den väcker istället, och det är just i den här upplevelsen som NB vill uppehålla sig. Hon skiljer på en fiktiv verklighet och en verklig verklighet.

Våra erfarenheter ryms inte i det vi förmår utsäga om dem. Det blir bara en jävla röra. [Det är omöjligt att välja en favorit eller ett särskilt representabelt verk, allt är underbart och språket känns otillräckligt, vilket också känns som en åtbörd för att hylla NB:s ansats.]

[För en konsthistorisk novis som jag är] NB:s tankar om konceptkonstens intåg i 1960-talets USA en intressant fond för hennes egna verk. Hon menar att idén i konceptkonsten blev överordnad de materiella och estetiska aspekterna;  konsten skulle vara underordnad kommentaren, teorin och bildkonsten “befriades från material”. Postmodernismen påstår att det inte finns några oförmedlade erfarenheter [sinnesförnimmelser och levande erfarenheter], medan NB känns som hon vill fånga känslan eller åtminstone det mellan känslan och yttrandet, samtidigt som jag upplever hennes texter som avancerade filosofiska (fenomenologiska enl utställningstexterna på Konsthallen) resonemang med referenser till bla Wittgenstein. På konstskolan uppmanades hon att skala av och förenkla, men det är i livets komplexitet och oklarheter som hon uppehåller sig.

Det är nog något av detta som Ragnar Söderberg försöker fånga i bokens förord ang bildens universalitet: “den unika, partikulära, levda och i tiden aldrig återkommande subjektiva erfarenhetens objektiva existens” (s. 7). NB:s karaktärer försöker också fånga förnimmelserna och känslan:

Dessvärre förstår vi inte mycket av allt vi erfar, våra sinnen har vi själva underkänt av oklara anledningar, vi drabbas oftare av minnesförlust än av insikt, vi vinglar omkring i skapelsen i en tid som bedömer det mänskliga subjektet som näst intill oanvändbart, då och då blir det till och med dödförklarat [–] (s. 21). I stycket om Elena

Jeremy Adagio, den självlärda lingvisten – som skriver brev till sin assistent Imre Omm i vilken han är kär – beskrivs: “Hans forskning rör sig kring människans språklighet, varifrån språket en gång kom till exempel, men han beforskar också oss människor som de tingens värddjur han anser att vi blivit (s. 22).”

Från Sinziana Ravinis text:

Om det är något Bondeson, min far och jag tycks ha gemensamt är det övertygelsen om att människan aldrig överensstämmer med sig själv, att identiteten är mer eller mindre en fiktion, och ett symtom på viljan att få kontroll över det okontrollerbara – jagets splittrade natur. Att jaget är splittrat är för övrigt ett gott tecken, ett tecken på att människan tillåter sig tvivlets och osäkerhetens lyx (s. 16). påminner om Martin Hägglunds tankar om existentiell identitet som något ständigt pågående formande, Neuraths båt osv.

Om konsten framkallar det outhärdliga, framkallar den också förmågan att ta itu med “det reala” genom att producera en kunskap om den njutning och fasa som konstverket ger oss. Det är därför viktigt att gå från den klassiskt romantiska skönhetsteorin till en känsloteori som inte förtrycker jagets multipla identiteter och kroppens oändliga teatrar (s. 17).

* Endast de som flyr samtiden är samtida, lärde oss Friedrich Nietzsche i Otidsenliga betraktelser.

* SR beskriver Baudrillard som postmodernismens enfant terrible Själv är NB intresserad av att utgå från målarens erfarenheter och låta åskådaren tolka med sina erfarenheter, att låta konsten vara oartikulerad.

* bildstriden i kristna kyrkan (~726-843)

2023-05-22

[linguistlist-blog]

FYI, Editorial Change JB journal TCB

As of Volume 6 (2023) the journal Translation, Cognition & Behavior published by John Benjamins welcomes two new co-editors, Elena Davitti (University of Surrey) & Alper Kumcu (Hacettepe University). Translation, Cognition & Behavior focuses on a broad area of research generally known as cognitive translation studies – a term that encompasses new conceptual paradigms being explored in cognitive translatology as well as traditional translation process research. Cognitive translation studies inte http://dlvr.it/SkTR9w

[yllowpages]

elena's show "discovered" was finishing up airing its first season when she was contacted by nate. throughout airing, it was a more than modest success for the network, with viewership steadily increasing with every episode. before the season finished, a second season was confirmed and production quickly commenced. the first season ran 13 episodes, each 45 minutes long (hour-long time slot). the format of the show was basically documentary-style, consisting of footage and b-roll shot by elena herself with voice-over narration and broadcast journalism-style segments which were made with more of a proper camera crew. every episode traveled to a new location or region with a specific theme or topic (i.e. her fourth episode being titled "architects of the new world" and likely having filmed in north, south, and central american locations to discuss their architecture at various sites). elena's on-camera commentary and voice-over narration was written solely by her and supported by extensive research and interviews with locals, primarily done by her, both before and during the filming process of an episode. elena tried to choose episode topics that weren't widely-known, so that there would be a certain air of intrigue with each episode to really get people interested. when applicable/appropriate, she would absolutely bring up historical mysteries related to the location/topic — just for pizzazz.

she had been int he middle of working on season 2 when nate approached her, and she had roughly half of the season in production/post-production. to her, the idea of tracking down the coffin of a famous historical explorer was the perfect season finale. it was exciting and gripping and had that sense of mystery and adventure she loved — and that her producers loved. so she jumped at the opportunity nate was pitching to her, even if she and her producers were all keeping their wits about them. but it was quickly put on the docket for filming and, after finishing up the episode she had currently been working on, she go to work on the sir francis episode, deciding to shoot the finale prior to the other remaining episodes as the opportunity was just too good to pass up.

following the el dorado fiasco, production took a pause for about two months before elena began to resume filming to finish the season. the last handful of episodes were also partially self-funded by her, using some of her take of the treasure from el dorado. considering the loss of the camera, all the footage, the scrapping of the entire episode, and everyone being swindled by nate, her producers were a little less willing to fully fund the last leg. so she took it upon herself to do it and see the season through. ultimately the second season was reduced to ten episodes, rather than the planned thirteen, due to the lost time (her first season took six to seven months total to film in order to be on schedule). still, the season was a success and was given a third season, which only ran for eight episodes before elena made the decision to leave the show and pursue a new career (which she had been seriously considering before and throughout her third season).

[strikercannon]

how does your muse handle loneliness? 

───    *  Ω  ANSWERED   !

“ i don’t get too lonely these days . me an’ my brothers , we share a trailer together and there ain’t any room to be on your lonesome in that thing . some nights we all gotta cram int’ the same bed for warmth . if i’m feelin’ a lil down on my luck , though , i always got bertha . sometimes the only person that ain’t gonna judge you ain’t a person at all , “ — bertha is a cow that he ‘ acquired ‘ and now lives in one of elena’s tucked-away barns , likely against her will . she didn’t question it ( despite the muddied legalities ) , but certainly raises an eyebrow when striker is found , curled up beneath a sheet of tarpaulin , using a haystack as a mattress . @elenafitz