#(and again I’m not saying the prose can’t be excellent or the logic sound or the world building isn’t solid)

[king0fcrows]

.

[autoirishlitdiscourses]

Discourse of Wednesday, 31 March 2021

You're not alone. So, here, and this is a weaker way of being as successful as you can take to be more engaged with the paper in such a great addition to reciting the text carefully, because I'm leaving town for the paper is a hilarious parody of military recruitment videos in an in-lecture boost; yes, your attention should primarily be on the section that has my comments on it and would then be reciting, anyway to read all 44 pages of the A range for you, because they highlight a part of the quarter, and don't have a happy holiday break! But you did quite a good weekend, and your writing is otherwise so good and your bonus for performing in front of a particular race is? Does that help? You can signal that you lectured more than that they don't warm up more abstract and general phrasing to which I've posted a copy of your discussion plans. If you discuss this coming week 20 November 2013—Wait a moment. You picked a selection from a two-year program in their key terms more specifically about your topic, based on the section, or inherently uninteresting none of the texts is also available.

Oversleeping, even if only because it ties together a lot of people haven't done the reading. So one combination that would have most needed in order to do so would be unwise simply to talk about in this paper to pass. If you want to do is to engage in discussion. That is to engage in a little more. Of course! D 60% 63% D-—You've written a smart investment long-term for when and what it meant to move along the email servers that the option has/has not removed the price tag from his angry moustache to Mr Power's mild face and said so on the other. I'll be in section; you could do so just let me know in my 6 p. Well done on this and, Godot Vladimir's speech, 33ff. Not feeling well. Both of these is that you must email me a URL is perfectly OK at this point whether there is also a good job this week in section and four the other Godot group before the third line of discussion and question provoked close readings of Butcher Boy song 6 p. You did a number of students on the Internet, just send me an email saying that you inform people who were getting a why you can't go on in your work that you will automatically continue to attend section and four the other person who's still on the last few weeks in section the first place you might profitably pose to the zombies, who is a strong preference on going second or third, although it sounds like it passes differently when you're not in terms of the course for a long way in which hawthorn bushes often mark a boundary between this world and the next lower grade range.

You picked a very sophisticated and elegantly worded research paper next quarter. I think, to talk about papers, so they won't be assessed until after the final exam will be. Very well done, both because it touches on some important material in there that I sent to you. You had a lot of ways. Alternately, we know about the change you see as important. Should Be Free One of the text s that you're using it as optional. In these circumstances, though not the only productive way to clarify your own ideas out in advance or have a 91. /Participation score is calculated. Nice job on the Mad Hatter's hat in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Again, well done overall.

What this means 11:30 just come over then and I'll see you next week. —But I presume that this is a positive influence. Let me know if you need to have practiced a bit more carefully to be some minor changes before I pass it out in detail, I think you've got a good background without impairing the discussion in a comparable phenomenon, and you nailed it. I think that your paper's structure often causes your very nuanced readings by a female role model, and definitely satisfies the requirements and is mentioned in lecture 15 Oct: The Arnhold Program for junior and senior English majors, English 150 this quarter although I think you did at the issue constructed? Well done.

Well done on this you connected it effectively to larger concerns of the previous forty minutes. I'll give it back to you, but really, your paper is that if you can't go on and perform the assignment. Your paper effectively traces out a group to respond to a manageable task. By extension, something else? Like holding water in your paper has some substantial strengths in this round of paper-grading rubric above. I feel that it would be to make sure I'm about equally hard for you—I've marked ask if you start participating and pick up his midterm; is there a particular student's answers on questions about these, though, even if you have an A-range papers: Receiving a D on a form at this point is that your very nuanced readings into a satisfying thesis is to say that you may just be that you will have to choose White Hawthorn in the Forest of Arden itself a sophisticated logical structure that makes sense to present material. Let me provide some scenarios for less-than-expected grade is calculated.

I think that it would be unwise simply to assume that they'll be able to make up the sense of the text s with which they appeared. Here is the overall arc that includes it; you also missed the professor's if you disagree with you, actually; you also gave a sensitive, thoughtful, engaged delivery, and I won't post them tomorrow night! Great! You don't necessarily think that you needed to happen here, I really appreciate, by love, and with your score was 96% two students tied for this paper, and I quite liked it. Your initial explication was thoughtful and focused without being asked to make sure I have to make room for additional work on future pieces of writing with the freedom to leave my office hours. The joke in today's/Doonesbury/is available.

Write it in any number of important things in your section this week. Even finding small things, and I suspect that much of this would be to think about what you think that paying more attention to the growing poet, as it opens up an interpretive pathway into one of the room, but getting the group while valorizing their input and meeting them at their level of competence by any means, essentially, is not a fair and reasonable in addition to doing it is possible, and you do a project on on line 12; and b includes the recitation assignment here; many of which have particular specific takes on these issues and showing that you might notice Bloom's interest in responses to statements and thoughts from other students. What kind of murder did win small glory with the fact that these paintings fall within the larger-scale concerns very effectively and in a way that we haven't yet fully thought around what your priorities are if you have just over 87% in the first to get there before you can which specific part of the recitation assignment so you can say more than that, for that section; you also gave an excellent weekend! You picked a longer selection than the interpretive problem that people can find one here. Which texts I have a chance to turn your major: The Lovers 1928; probably many others. All of the class and how that functions in comparison with the rest of the professor's policy is that you originally selected. Stoddard, O'Casey, Act II: 1987-1990, p. But you did a good recitation. 1% of the specific text of Yeats's Under Ben Bulben The Stare's Nest and of reflecting his rather anguished disappointment with the play, it feels like it better, and your recitation segment deals explicitly with it. Thanks again for some reason though this is unfortunate because they will be on campus on Monday of next quarter, in South Hall 2607 if he's amenable, we'll work something out.

Again, very well on the final. If the other reading assignments for Ulysses are grounded firmly in its historical situation here, while the strong, insightful, theoretically informed paper here in a close reading exercise of your argument on the matter have I said, I think you overlooked people in, first-come, first-person pronoun in a comparative analysis of a specific claim about the book was published? One other thing that you've set up yours and which lines of poetry or prose for the specific language of your discussion on Francie's mother commits suicide; I like your lecture slideshow along. Doing this would result in the ideological ditch is a very good job of contextualizing the paper to you you can bring them back to you. I will be no extra spacing between paragraphs or other work for me to boil down to is that it naturally wants to make sure that your basic idea is basically structured in a nuanced argument. Section and four openings in both sections in this contemporary world that we have tentatively arranged to work for you sometimes it's helpful to open up discussion for the quarter, and what has to be even more successful would be happy to discuss and haven't used Word extensively for a job well done overall. Also, please. I was wondering whether we'll be having section during Thanksgiving week. However, these are important and impressive. Check your U-Mail account! That all looks good to me by email except to respond to any particular essay format, an A-for the class, so a film adaptation would certainly be a more or less first-in, and that your paper ultimately winds up being more successful would be most successful if it seems history is to think about intermediate or preparatory questions that you find interesting, problematic, fascinating, questionable, and to succeed in this case.

Etc. The answer is. Give a stellar, passionate, exactly? As I've said not because I think that it naturally wants to attend those sections as well. There are in the context of dental exams toward the Nugents there are places occasionally when you talk about how you're going to be aware of these are very impressive work here, and if that still doesn't work for you to do.

Your paper should be an indication that you're likely to be fully successful, though I felt occasionally that the class than when you're at the draft of a pound into 240 pence 240 d or informally 240 p. You might think about how you want me to do, because that will change by much. As a Young Man, which has a clear argumentative thread, and if you want to see how many people really love Godot and Camus to enrich your own thoughts on this will make it into an analytical approach to this emotion and the necessity of vocalizing stage directions. Before I forget: Do you want to sign up for the 5 p. See you at the appropriate types that add to your secondary sources. I think that a person of comparatively limited energy and/or not this lifts you to refine your thesis at the end of that range was flagrantly giving up points in mind when writing September 1913. Answers the question of whether you hit a snag that students often hit with compare/contrast paper which is already enough to be familiar with is Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon, which I was of course grade.

[meandmyechoes]

So I think I’ve done more Chinese writing than I’ve had in the past five years during last month. It was... exhausting, but I also enjoy spinning it a little rewriting the novel in a different language. 

Now I’m actually writing a full length prose, one can finally see the trauma left by my middle school teacher. There’s like, at least 30% idioms in my chapters. I just, I’ve been conditioned into stuffing as much idioms as I can UNDER JUST A YEAR, and there’s no turning back. I mean, yes, idioms are excellent to convey ideas concisely, but they could be pretentious if overflown; especially when you write in a language that leans towards colloquialism as Cantonese. I just know a lot of idioms and sometimes it’s difficult not to use these minimalist words? I know where the line lies though. It’d be good to sum up an event, but re-consider if they are superfluous adjectives. 

Well, getting into this mess did inspired me to write two poems and a drawing, so I guess it has some benefits in the end?

Onward, I do miss writing English fiction so bad. I wrote a few essays in the meantime, but the last time I wrote a story was what? last summer? I should just sit down and write it like I’m doing now. I’ve been watching a ton of panels & interviews stuff, digging up the gems of Star Wars weekends. It’s hilarious and I want to make a non-show TCW resources masterpost later on. But just combing through that comics list is quite a work, and I have to sort out the download links. yeah. 

But like, I meant to talk a little about lunar new year in the diary post. And I actually have something never fully plumbed in my draft regarding some... rumour that I’ve now forgotten. Well, I want to say that it’s been a hectic month. I barely know what I did since the year started. Life’s still shit, but it’s very oblivious, you know. I don’t need to go into details here, it won’t change anything overnight. Just so if anyone’s reading, I’m of sound health, just moody. 

Let’s talk about something I haven’t even discussed inside my own head. So the past month, we’ve basically been helping my gramps move and renovating our own house as well. Very often we worked very late and it completely drained me. But I know Mom is working a lot harder than I am and I want to do my best to lessen her worries. In principle, I would gladly help out but it’s this, tcwaw, the translation, and the deadline of making a cny outfit, and mom breathing down my neck to exercise with the fam, plus having my hair cut in three years rather unwillingly, on top of my terrible self-maintenance (and that ever-lasting shadow of my college). phew, it’s a lot. and I got really, really depressed because I couldn’t finish tcwaw. I feel like, I’m betraying a pact or something okay. I know I took this too seriously and well, any day is tcw appreciation day here. but I tried really hard to make something and I really wanted to complete the challenge, to do this together. So at least, I’m letting myself down. and then there’s the fact that the first post didn’t garner as much notes as I wanted... but all of them are quality responses so thank you... (brb crying again)

Next, I’ve bitched about this many, many times but the negativity of the Forum! Like, pal and i are trying very hard to sway it back into some positive discussion and actual content with the translation, but these men are even bitchier than i am when it’s about the sequels. Like, I don’t expect a comment, it’d be a blessing if someone even clicked readmore. I’m doing it more out of my own interest but damn those manbabies! I understand the internal misogyny in Cantonese swears. Yet, it is the user that chose to aim that tool at a very public platform to express their anger. I just, expect, humans to be better-versed? The worst one of them is a father to a little girl! I’m not saying you can’t complain, I’m saying make it count. 

THE (COMPLETE LACK OF) READING COMPREHENSION ON THAT SITE. okay, let’s go all out bitch. Like, I would expect my partner to be a little better at this, like he reads, right? but no. not only did he misinterpret a singular question on the forum that effectively brought my intention to raise discussion to a full stop, he often mistranslate lines, and just, he’s just a stereotypical straight guy with a stereotypical view on “women + star wars”. It’s wearing me out and I don’t really find anything to learn from that guy. But I also pity him and it’s just bad practice for me to ghost people and cut off another unnecessary backdoor. It’s like he doesn’t really have anyone to talk to about Star Wars, and his contribution to the local fanbase is objectively admirable. This guy still thinks I’m a fellow dudebro, who might be a little obsessed. He has stepped on my toes before (and our circadian rhythm is just, opposite) and well, I learnt to be patient and ask for clarification before giving the other person a lecture. So I guess I could milk some benefits out of this relationship. It will fade eventually anyway. (For the record, I do not think this is deception. My gender is simply unnecessary professionally.)

And you know what’s really funny, to this day, I haven’t revealed I am a girl either on the forum or privately. But I’ve implied so before. I said, young girls like action figures too but unfortunately *I* personally don’t find them pretty-looking enough to buy as a child. I didn’t want to give it out then and still don’t now, but I thought that was quite easy a hint to read? (Because if I’m not a girl, my personal experience carries no weight, and so the only logical conclusion for the relevance and necessary inclusion of that example, is that I’m a girl) (and this is discounting all the Gina mess before. They are quite reasonable with that. but wonder why no one ever brought up her transphobia?) 

I don’t know, sometimes just reading them joke about how women don’t understand star wars, do i laugh or shake my head? Like, of course they won’t talk to you if you don’t contribute to the fandom. Why would anyone choose a whining fanboy over a creative writer? Like, do I charge in and say haha fool’s on you, I’ve been a girl all along and you guys are liking my meta posts like leeches. That’s ridiculous. Like, I wouldn’t mind influencing and slipping awareness on feminist issues in Star Wars, but also what am i to condition these strangers on the Internet? I know I have a saviour complex but I should hold them to the same standard as myself, as a responsible adult, right? I just wanna charge in and write about what it really means to read Star Wars through a feminist lens, and how the “representation” they thought was doing right and where it’s not enough, but I know it will fall on deaf ears. and I just wanna swing a bat and ask them to celebrate Star Wars instead. Otherwise the rational action is leaving that space for good, I’m just too busy. alas, alas.

update: [22/2/21]

last weekend they’ve come to talk/joke about how they’ve never meet a female star wars fan. Given, I haven’t in real life either. It was already a less-than popular hobby than most. But it’s the tone they talk about, without ever realizing there is/could be an ”undercover” agent. It’s an unnecessary complicated way of thinking, but I’m amused, laughing at their oblivious shamelessness. When I wrote this I didn’t know the discussion would turn that way, and what a coincidence. I couldn’t keep it much longer and dm mr. partner. we briefly talked about my concern but the topic was quickly changed into a general grievance about the lack of intelligent communication across local forum boards. I felt better after this, but I wonder if I should still strive to bring content towards it. It’s going to be a wasteful investment, but I do want to write some Ahsoka metas possibly, even if it’s just fact files on her inspiration and how tcw came to be. But I’ll have to evaluate if it’s that important I’ll be dropping off every other WIP for. (It’s not, but no sow no reap)

[erlenmeyertrash]

Doorways, Part 2

hope you guys like it!

(words: 2252 | pairings: none | cw: self-loathing, negative talk, slight food mention)

PART ONE | PART TWO | PART THREE | PART FOUR

Virgil stared.

And stared.

And stared.

Narrowed his eyes. Stared some more.

The door- well. It didn’t do anything. Because.

Y’know.

It’s a door.

Virgil sighed, throwing himself dramatically back into his desk chair and landing his boots on the desk with a thud. He glanced at the door again.

He had a problem with his door.

It was positioned in his room in the exact spot of Roman’s “doorway to a distant land-” but instead of some majestic, towering thing, his was just… a closet door. Stark white, plain white trim, brass knob. Honestly? It was the kind of entryway you’d pull right out of a horror movie- the unassuming door that held the monster hiding in the closet, waiting until the witching hour to sneak out and terrorize the innocent, sleeping child. (Or so a young Virgil had told himself long ago, late at night, clinging to the sheets of his bed in terror.)

When they had all entered Patton’s room together for the Moving On videos, he had gotten a sneak peek at Patton’s door in the corner. It was a light golden, wooden door, with a pretty stained glass piece in the center and an ornate handle; on either side were two large, frosted-glass windows, and in front of it lay a welcome mat. Oh, Virgil had realized after staring at it momentarily. It was the epitome of a suburban home’s front door- it probably led to an adorable little house with a back porch and a white picket fence and a little garden and two young kids and a well-trained golden retriever. Patton’s door definitely held a house where he could cook heart-shaped pancakes every morning and decorate the halls with family photos to his heart’s content. The kids were probably Thomas’ ideal imaginary children, too- well-mannered and sweet but also energetic and happy and everything a parent could want.

Although Virgil hadn’t yet entered Logan’s room, the logical side often left his door ajar- he was too preoccupied with scheduling and studying and other adventures of intellect to bother closing it most of the time. Through it, Virgil had seen Logan’s own door- or rather, seen the enormous NASA insignia across the Star Trek-esque sliding metal contraption. It probably led to a high-tech chemistry lab or enormous university lecture hall, but Virgil wouldn’t put it past him if it led to an actual spaceship.

All of the extravagance and, well, personality ingrained into their own doors made Virgil… not embarrassed by his own lackluster otherworldly portal- just slightly disappointed. It was totally unassuming and hinted nothing at what possibly lay behind it.

...which was another thing.

Virgil had never actually opened his other door.

Since Patton’s led to an adorable little home where he could play Dad, and Logan’s led to a conjuring of the epitome of educational excellence, and Roman’s led to any world his creative mind could possibly dream up… well, Virgil’s probably just led to a pitch-black, never-ending cavern with Thomas’ worst and wildest fears lived out at every corner. Opening Virgil’s door would be like opening Pandora’s Box and letting out everything Thomas had wanted boarded up in his mind, never to be seen again. Virgil figured too much was at risk to even bother peeking inside- so his door was permanently left untouched and unopened. It was better that way.

Sighing, Virgil untied his shoes and crawled onto his bed, giving his door one last glare- Why can’t you hold something good and non-terrifying?!- before opening his laptop and logging into his Netflix account. Surprisingly (it was only 1 in the morning, after all), it didn’t take him long to nod off, the sounds of the B-horror movie quietly filtering through the speakers until it ended.

Virgil woke up the next morning and just… knew.

Being Thomas’ anxiety- and usually getting tossed the rest of his negative emotions- he was often subject to the whims of complex biochemistry. Thomas’ moods, like anyone’s, could ebb and flow dramatically for deeply subconscious reasons; sometimes Virgil was exactly aware of the cause, and sometimes he wasn’t. This was an example of the latter. He could tell Thomas was at risk of not feeling great today- and that meant he needed to lay low and let Patton and Roman do the fixing. He’d stop by for breakfast to appease the fatherly side, then hole up in his room until the mood passed. Hopefully Thomas randomly seeing a dog or something could wipe up the mess quickly.

Virgil reached for his laptop, which thankfully hadn’t been thrown off the bed after he had fallen asleep, and plugged it into the charger before heading to the bathroom to throw some water and eyeshadow on his face. He pulled at the strings of his jacket slightly to even them out before sluggishly heading down the hall.

Please, please, please don’t let Roman be too ridiculous today, he pleaded silently. He just needed a quiet morning of coffee. No wild adventures, no crazy pancake batter spills, no overdramatic yelling, no standing on the breakfast table… just a peaceful, quiet breakfast. ...Please.

“Hey Virgil!” Patton beamed brightly at him as he walked in. Patton was easy to forgive for his slightly-overbearing nature; Virgil knew it was always well-intended. “How ya doin’, kiddo?”

He gave a noncommittal shrug. “Not too great this morning, Patton,” he mumbled. Patton frowned.

“Aw, that’s no good! How ‘bout some pancakes to cheer you up?”

“I’m just gonna have a cup of coffee this morning. Not too hungry. But thanks, Patton,” he added, offering a brief smile to the other side. Patton accepted his smile, seeing Virgil was being genuine and offering real effort where he could, and turned back to the pan. Virgil reached for the pot of coffee, blinking when he saw it was already half-full. He turned to see he had missed Logan, already quietly sipping at a coffee at the table, eyes devouring a book.

No Roman in sight. Virgil sighed, content, turning back to grab a mug from the cupboard.

“Goooood MORNING, my lovely companions!” a voice boomed. Virgil flinched, nearly dropping the cup he had grabbed off the shelf. Even Patton jumped slightly next to him, whirling around as Roman waltzed into the room, eyes alight.

“Good morning, Roman! Pancakes?”

“Why, that sounds lovely, Chef Patton! I’ll have three of your finest- extra chocolate chips, if I may request so. I went on quite the adventure this past evening, and I’ve got the appetite to show for it!”

Virgil groaned inwardly, pouring the coffee into his cup and taking a long sip. This was about to be an insufferable breakfast.

Maybe Patton and Roman starting off in such good moods will help Thomas feel better, his brain suggested. Virgil snorted into his cup before quietly agreeing. Lay low, lay low, lay low. Just sit and listen until it’s acceptable to leave.

He slumped into his chair as Roman pretended to dust the table in front of him clean. He leaned over, invading Logan’s space, and peered at his book with a dramatically perplexed expression.

“What have we here, Megamind? Revising a chemistry textbook again?”

“Actually, it’s a new book Thomas picked up the other day when he was out with his friends. I’m re-reading the last bits to help him better understand the foreshadowing that occurs later-”

“Sounds utterly droll.” Roman leaned back in his chair, kicking his boots up on the table. “Why not make up your own story?”

“Well, we can’t all be amazing storytellers like you!” Patton piped up, bringing two steaming plates of pancakes over. Roman swiped his feet off the table, chair clattering forward as he grinned at his breakfast.

“Oh! Speaking of! I have the best story from last night!” He shoved a piece of pancake in his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. “Now, where to start…”

“May I suggest the beginning?” Logan interjected, raising an eyebrow without raising his head from the book. Virgil grinned into his coffee cup as Patton laughed. Roman gave the logical side a look but ignored his comment. Patton sat down across from Logan, taking his own bite of pancake.

“It was a dark, stormy night-”

“Wow, purple prose before the story’s even started. Creds, Princey.” Virgil smirked. “I appreciate the shoutout.”

Roman frowned. “What are you talking about, Stranger Thing?”

“Purple prose,” Logan piped up, glancing over and adjusting his glasses, “is the term for extravagant, highly melodramatic writing that serves to distract readers from the fact that the plot has barely progressed in a story. Your ‘dark and stormy night’ introduction is an oft-quoted and highly popular piece of purple prose, first used by English novelist Edward Bulwer-Lytton in his novel Paul Clifford, written in 1830. I also believe Virgil’s last comment was a double reference to a “dark and stormy night” reflecting not only a cliche story introduction, but also his lightning bolt logo and generally ‘dark’ persona- if you will- and the use of the word “purple” to describe your phrase as well as the main color of his aesthetic.” He stopped, looking over at Virgil. “Did I get that right?”

“..in about five times as many words. Yes.” Virgil rolled his eyes.

Roman just stared at the both of them before beaming at Patton. “Can you believe we’re related to these two?”

“Technically, we’re not related, we are simply-”

“ANYWAYS! It was nighttime and rain was pouring from the night sky, covered with ominous clouds, making it too dark to see a thing; I had my trusty, magic dagger to light the way-”

“-he means a glowstick-”

“Silence!” Roman cried, pointing his fork at Virgil, who curled his lip. “This story has one narrator, thank you very much. As I was saying-” he turned to Patton, who was still staring excitedly. “Trusty dagger in hand, I was headed down a never-before-explored path, deep into the forest.”

“At night? In the rain? How illogical.” Logan snorted, and Virgil beamed at Roman’s enraged face. It looked like Logan was on his team this round, which helped lift his sour mood ever so slightly.

As Roman ignored him and pressed on, Virgil let the storyteller’s voice fade to the back of his mind. He stared blankly into his slowly-draining coffee cup and occasionally glanced at Logan and Patton’s reactions to the prince’s latest wild adventure. The swirling feeling around him wouldn’t relent; it was a fog that easily dodged his internal poking and prodding. He was trying to figure out if there was a reason for it he couldn’t yet see. Through his connection to Thomas, he could tell the mood seemed to be clearing in reality. That helped calm Virgil slightly- at least Thomas would be okay- but his own independent stormcloud made no move to recede.

Virgil took another sip and looked back up at the other three. His eyes were slightly unfocused, Roman’s voice landing in his ears but the words not quite connecting. The theatrical side was waving one hand wildly around the room before he lowered it dramatically and glanced around, signifying a dramatic twist in the story. Logan had dog-eared his book and was staring at Roman, eyes narrowed as if trying to deduce what would happen next before Roman could even say it. Patton was leaning over his plate, pancakes forgotten, totally enthralled. The sleeves of his cardigan hung dangerously close to his syrup-covered plate, and his eyes sparkled with excitement and apprehension.

Suddenly, it hurt. So bad Virgil could barely stand it. They all got to be here each day, advocating the parts of Thomas they represented- the good ones. Patton could be cheery and caring and make pancakes and gush over stories. Logan could interject with his bits of brilliance, entertaining everybody with his vast knowledge. Roman, ever the centerpiece, ever the main attraction, could hold the others’ rapt attention as he wove worlds with his words over syrupy pancakes like it was commonplace. And Virgil-

What could he do?

If he showed his strengths, he would strike fear into their hearts. He would bring darkness to their days- make them question every decision they had planned, doubt every path they headed down. They were all sunshine- even Logan. Virgil was the dark cloud looming on the horizon, the bite of cold in the air. There was nothing he could do about it. This was his one and only purpose, and he hated it. He didn’t ask for this.

He abruptly stood up, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. Roman stumbled over his words and looked up in shock; Patton jumped at the sudden noise, and Logan glanced over in surprise. Virgil wordlessly grabbed his empty coffee cup and headed over to the sink.

“Wh- Virgil! What’s wrong?” Patton asked, turning in his chair, worry showing in the lines on his forehead and his scrunched-up nose.

“Don’t you want to hear the rest of my story?!” Roman cried, leaning over. Virgil hunched his shoulders.

“Don’t feel like hearing about the death of yet another villain today, Princey. My sincerest apologies, but- you know how it is. Fallen brethren and all that. Hard to stomach. Come get me when you can think of a better plot twist than pulling out a dagger instead of a sword.” His voice was more choked-up than he’d care to admit. Virgil hunched his shoulders and stalked out of the room, not bothering to listen for them to try and call him back.

A/N: yeah... i’m sorry. virgil’s gonna be sad here :( BUT. it will get better. so much better. you have no idea i’m so excited

comments, critiques, or even those long trains of ‘wHaT tHe hEcK’ tags (so characteristic of myself tbh) are always appreciated!! 

[bunny-wan-kenobi]

Bunny Fic Recs: The Top Ten Strikes Back!

My friends think my fanfic-reading habits are hilarious and bizarre--and I tend to agree. I read stories in very distinct and obsessive phases, like if I’m in a Star Trek phase I literally cannot bring myself to read a story from a different fandom. Can’t do it--that’s just how it is. My fic-craving phases (there’s no way to put this that won’t make it sound like a drug habit) can be as short as 2 weeks (sorry @ginny-of-course) and as long as 5 months (aka my last Star Wars phase). 

This means any fic rec summary will reflect my fandom phases of that year, which is kind of a fun way to see all the twists and turns my journey took me and the characters I discovered (and rediscovered). So, in no particular order, here’s the top ten fanfics I read this year!

1. Bargaining by proantagonist (Thor): Faced with an eternity without his brother, Loki strikes a bargain to change the past. Post TDW. (Complete) 

This story is AMAZING. Not only does it contain some of the best characterizations of Thor, Loki, and Odin that I’ve read, it deftly examines their relationships in all their complexity and contradictions. The relationship between Thor and Loki is captured beautifully and simultaneously heartwarming and tragic. The way Loki grows over time and learns trial by trial is especially rewarding so that every big choice he makes had me fist-pumping in pride because the story builds up these twists so well. Every single detail matters, and this story gave me so many things I never knew I wanted from a Thor story. I thought I had the fic figured out, and then the ending completely shocked me in the best possible way. I cried so many times reading this story, and its insight into Loki’s headspace and the dysfunction of family relationships is remarkable. 

2. too wise to peaceable woo by theMightyPen (LOTR): Most marriages in Gondor are matters of convenience, especially among the nobility. But Dol Amroth is a different sort of place, with a different sort of royal family. Sometimes, Lothiriel is not convinced this is a good thing.(or, how in Middle Earth the too southern, too dark, too outspoken daughter of Imrahil ended up married to Éomer, son of Éomund) (WIP)

I could write an essay about everything I love about this story. Not only does it make a compelling, lovable heroine out of a character I had not given much to previously (Lothiriel), but it tackles race, class, and inter-cultural issues in Middle Earth with incredible nuance and emotional depth. The slow-burn love story at its center is developed organically and complements the exploration of family and friend relationships and world-building for Rohan culture. I appreciate so many intentional elements--like the friendship between Eowyn and Lothiriel, the complex politics of countries still recovering from war, and a woman of color coming into her own as a leader. The Rohan the author paints is a breathing place vivid in detail, and even the OCs are easy to love and root for. A truly wonderful love story woven into an intricate cultural landscape, this fic puts me on the edge of my seat waiting for updates. 

3. The Gentlest Schism by SanwichesYumYum (GOT): Jaime Lannister/Brienne of Tarth. The war is over. Some of them hadn’t thought that they would outlive it. And yet... (WIP but ends at a satisfactory point)

This is a rare story that goes against your expectations and makes you linger in the disappointments and losses along with the characters. The premise is heartbreaking, and becomes even more tragic as you keep reading, but at the same time, it’s a beautiful testament to the resilience of love and the importance of family. I love the community the author cultivates on Tarth, the unexpected characters they weave in, and how this little island becomes an entire functional and complex world of its own. The second half of the fic gets a little repetitive occasionally and there is some explicit content, but it’s a really compelling read and one of my favorite Jaime/Brienne stories. 

4. The Days and Steps series by CatKing_Catkin (Thor): Even after everything, Thor holds out hope that his brother can be redeemed. Now that he's away from the Chitauri, his mind is fully his own again. Not that he's home, even as a prisoner, maybe he can start to remember what it's like to have a family and a place to belong. Maybe he can even come to truly understand the other worlds as something other than a conqueror. (Complete)

After reading the last story in this series, I wept like a baby. These stories trace Loki’s excruciatingly slow healing process in such a realistic and moving way that the ending feels so, so earned. Again, it’s the family dynamics that shine here, in particular, a family actually processing and dealing with the ways they’ve hurt each other and the mistakes they’ve made. The realizations strike deep and the characterizations are rich so you become fully invested in this family’s journey. 

5. Captains and Pawns by sian22 (LOTR):  "The board is set and the pieces are moving." So Gandalf said, but what unseen hand made them move? How far back did the game start and with what unexpected results? The Lords of Gondor and Rohan find Saruman will use them for his own end and both the Steward's sons and Rohan's Prince and Lady must find their way. A tale from Faramir's birth until the fateful kiss. (Complete)

If you’re a Faramir fan, this story is for you. It’s a fascinating character-driven story that fleshes out a lot of the subtext in the events before and during the War of the Ring. It moves the narrative from Gondor to Rohan and we follow Faramir, Eowyn, and Eomer from childhood to adulthood, reminding us of the cost of war and also deepening your love for these characters. 

6. Ad Infinitum by Stormontheocean (Dragon Age): After a bus accident, Liz wakes up in Haven, stuck in the fictional world of Dragon Age. How does a modern girl get by when she can't speak the language, and her expansive knowledge of the Blight and Kirkwall, but limited knowledge of Inquisition would only make her look more suspicious? Fake being deaf and mute, and hope not to get caught before she can find proof of her origin. But the best laid plans never work out as expected... (WIP)

Okay, I’m usually wary of self-insert fics, but this one put ALL my doubts to rest. It works. It really does, and it manages to make the OC main character (the stumbling block of many a writer) a completely three-dimensional and lovable addition to an existing universe. The first big plot turn of the story made me so unbelievably gleeful and excited that I won’t spoil it here but let me say--the story does not turn out in the way you expect. Even the slow-burn romance is believably developed, and this story cemented my love for Bull’s Chargers. A stand-out AU fic that is just plain enjoyable to read. 

7. Jacob and Esau Say Their Goodbyes by LadyCharity (Thor): After Svartalfheim, Loki is still alive. In the end, it changes nothing.In which Thor hurts, Loki loves, and Jane learns how to lie. (Complete) 

Let me emphasize that this was a near-impossible choice to make. I love every single one of LadyCharity’s Thor fics, but I decided to go with the one I think excels at every level. It’s emotionally devastating, poignant, and with brilliant characterization. I appreciate how succinct, poetic, and introspective the author’s prose is, and she just gets these characters and their relationships. Shout-out for her great development for Jane as well, who all too often gets overlooked in fanfic. 

8. A Wreath of Thorns by LadyNormaOfTheWesterlands (GOT): In the aftermath of the Battle of the Bastards and the destruction of the Great Sept in King's Landing, new allegiances are forged and family ties will be tested, as two Queens dance around a blood-dripping throne and a new King rises in the North. The day of reckoning is getting closer, for princes and commoners, for friend and foe, while cold winds bring the longest of winters, and, with it, an enemy who doesn't respond to honour, nor love. Post-Season 6. (WIP)

There’s a lot to love in this understated story, which captures the POV of multiple GOT characters as events hurtle towards an inevitable culmination. It’s an introspective story, almost meditative in nature, and everyone is perfectly IC. It’s tragic, inspiring, and ultimately a great tribute to these characters. 

9. The Native by StarTrekFanWriter (Star Trek): The relationship that started it all - Sarek/Amanda. How a logical guy like Sarek fell for a human, and why he would defy his people to marry her. Sybock & Spock will be featured. (Complete)

The beginning of 2017 was my introduction to Sarek/Amanda fic, and this was one of the standouts. I’m a sucker for stories that navigate the cultural differences, tensions, and development of interracial relationships, and this one does a great job immersing you in Vulcan culture. Amanda is also a really wonderful character, strong, empathetic, intelligent and you can definitely see why she and Sarek are so well-matched. 

10. The Abduction of Eomer, King of Rohan and House of Sun by  Lialathuveri (LOTR) (Complete)

Okay I kinda cheated here but I honestly could not choose between these. I like them for completely different reasons: The first fic is a hilarious series of misadventures that bring Lothiriel and Eomer together and the second is a much more serious development of a love story after an arranged marriage. The world-building in both stories is well-realized, and Lothiriel is simply a delightful character that I will read in ANY iteration. 

More Bunny Fic Recs:

My Top 10

The Next Top 10

Game of Thrones

Merlin

Makorra

LOTR/The Hobbit

Captain Swan

Star Wars: Romance One-shots

Star Wars: Gen One-shots

Star Wars: PT Multi-Chapter Fics

Star Wars: OT Multi-Chapter Fics

[lostlegendaerie]

Using the Unusual; Metaphors and Similes in Creative Writing

while i was getting my bachelor’s in fiction writing, one of the most useful classes i ever took was a poetry class taught by a woman named Mary Leader because she really taught me to examine my prose. poetry, at least in her class, was an excellent way to fully capture the visuals, sounds, and setting of a particular moment in time, which is a skill (i believe) that prose writers can use as well.

but today I’m gonna focus on my particular favorite thing in writing, which is the Unexpected Metaphor or Simile.  (long post, and some really personal takes/analytical perspectives, but i hope this helps some people who want to get more creative with their analogies!)

The Anchor

A good metaphor or simile is one that is based on a single, clear idea. 

“But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?  It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief ” 

The above passage from Romeo and Juliet is an excellent example of this; Juliet is the sun, and the rest of the metaphor revolves (or orbits) around her, and the rest of the passage has that kind of space/heavenly body theme. Having a clear idea or a clear theme is an excellent starting point for good metaphors or similes, and it can be anything. It can even (and often should) build upon itself, such as the more modern example in the song One Week by Barenaked Ladies. 

How can I help it if I think you're funny when you're mad Trying hard not to smile though I feel bad I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral Can't understand what I mean? Well, you soon will I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve I have a history of taking off my shirt

Here, the theme is that the narrator is inappropriately chipper or open at times, which each line building on the abstract idea of the other (even down to the last two lines being about wearing clothes, and I really hope that I’m the first person you’ve ever seen compare BNL to Shakespeare but damn it’s so good.)

Below, I’m going to try to logic this whole thing out in a way that makes sense and makes it easy for you to train your mind how to do this really cool thing as well.

How to Branch Out; A Step By Step Method

we have hundreds and hundreds of well-worn phrases like “as dark as night” “as cold as ice” and etc, and they’re popular bc they’re approachable. most people have seen a dark night or felt the temperature of ice, so it’s immediately understandable. but lets try to take one of these a step further.

1) The Second Thought

so, say you’re trying to trying to describe something that’s cold in temperature; don’t go for Ice, the obvious choice, or snow. Think about something else you’ve felt in your life that’s been cold. Maybe a operating table, or the glass in a window on a November morning. Sometimes the second (or third) thought it the best thought, and using a more selective experience can paint a more vivid picture. “as cold as an operating table” has a definite menacing, uneasy, vulnerable feel to it whereas “as cold as a windowpane in November” could have a feeling of more curiosity or domesticity to it.

2) The Alternate Definition

if you look up ‘cold’ in the dictionary, it will likely list both the definition of something physically lacking heat, or something morally devoid of ‘warmth’ or compassion. let’s once again return to the idea that you’re describing something that is physically cold; consider describing it as morally or emotionally cold instead. “as cold as murder” is one that carries a lot of threat and menace to it (and is probably a little heavy-handed) but you should get the idea.

3) The Dual Purpose

using both of the methods described above together can really give your simile or metaphor some weight. let’s say we have a chill winter day and we want to add a sense of foreboding, darkness or unease; “as cold as an executioner’s blade” works on two different levels for this goal. the first is playing off the Second Thought - ice is cold, yes, but so is metal and steel. the second aspect is drawing from the Alternate Definition, where cold means detached from compassion, and someone tasked with the ritualistic killing of another person is exactly that.

Keeping Your Momentum; Layering and Compounding Similes and Metaphors

when you want to really capitalize on one specific idea or image, such as “cold = death” it’s important for all of your metaphors, similes and even imagery to reflect that idea in some way or another. now, this doesn’t mean restating the same thing over and over again; it means building on a basic idea. 

let’s say you are describing a snowy evening where the protagonist is facing something they dread at the end of their route. reflecting their hesitation, their reluctance, and their sense of morbidity is important to set the tone of the piece. 

1) Sympathetic Setting

a good way to really make someone feel the weight or emotion in a piece is to have the setting mirror the emotions of the moment. classic examples of this is rain at a funeral, a sunset for a climax of a movie, etc, but nearly any setting can be influenced to fit your tone depending on how its framed in the narration. say that the protag in the above example is seeing other people around town go about their business; instead of just having people around them walking, maybe have them “shuffle uncertainly over the ice” to reflect the protag’s reluctance and fear. they are projecting their feelings on their surroundings, and having those sentiments returned.

2) Contrasting Setting

another good way to emphasize an emotion is to have the setting contrast the mood, or pit the world against the protag. kisses in the rain are a common example (a heated, joyful moment in a cold, wet, usually despair-inducing setting). to pull on the above example, the other people in the city could be described as “gliding in their heavy coats like low-flying crows” to contrast them to the protag (either as carefree like flying birds or as funeral omens). 

3) Layering and Repetition

If you’re wanting to really linger on one specific moment or idea, remixing your metaphor or simile and repeating it can be an excellent way of doing so. but with all of these, it’s important to keep in mind your anchoring idea. continuing with our current chilly despairing example, lets have the protagonist looking at the ground. “Above her head, the melting icicles pockmarked the snow below, like a hundred ghoulish faces all clustered beneath the overhang, crying out in pain.”

the first part, the ‘pockmarked snow’ is meant to describe dark holes in white snow. the ‘ghoulish faces’ is a reference to how skulls and ghosts are often stylized as black holes or spots in white, and now that we’ve established a connections between the snow and faces, we can build on this idea by having them cry. if we skipped the middle section, the image doesn’t make as much sense (which in poetry can sometimes be a good thing, because it’s that much more unusual)

Breaking It Down; Applying This Process to Pre-existing Work

i’m a huge sucker for a band called Dry the River. (not a coincidence that words intended to be spoken or sung have such a sense of compacted beauty and meaning to them, IMHO.) so lets analyze this piece below from their song History Book.

Beneath an angry Bible flood, Did you and I first learn to love. In my father's car we came to know. And shivered in our painted clothes and paired like every animal below.

So the first line is pretty clear to anyone familiar with classic Bible stories; the Flood here references Noah, so we can assume that it’s pouring down rain. The next two lines illustrate that these two characters are virgins and teenagers (his father’s car, not his own) and the next line not only tells us their clothes were wet (clinging to their skin as though they were painted on) and that they’re having sex (paired like every animal) but it also has an excellent callback to this kind of religious imagery (every animal below, as though told from God’s perspective.)

That’s probably a little too dense to craft a long narrative out of, but using these ideas to craft specific moments for dramatic tension can really do wonders for your story!

In Conclusion

To TL;DR you can take something as far as you want to go, so long as you start off with a very solid A = B comparison. And that can be something classic like cold = death or something more unusual, and you can even mix ideas (to a degree) as well! Well worn metaphors and cliches are a great starting point, but don’t be afraid to take it one (or more) steps further!