#SOC calculation

[semcoinfratechworld]

Advanced SOC Diagnostics for Lithium-ion Battery Health

Accurately determining the State of Charge (SOC) is vital for effective battery health management in today’s energy-driven world. Just as you rely on a fuel gauge in your car, SOC reflects how much usable energy remains in a lithium-ion battery, preventing sudden failures and optimizing performance.

Modern Battery Management Systems (BMS) use layered diagnostic algorithms to ensure SOC accuracy, compensating for variables that influence measurement reliability.

Advanced Methods for SOC Estimation

1. Ampere-Hour Integration (Coulomb Counting)

This method continuously tracks the current entering and exiting the battery. While fundamental to SOC calculation, it’s prone to drift errors due to sensor inaccuracies and battery self-discharge. Thus, it often requires correction from other techniques.

2. Charge & Discharge Voltage Correction

Lithium-ion batteries exhibit predictable voltage behaviours during charge/discharge cycles. By comparing these voltage/current patterns against predefined SOC curve libraries, systems refine their SOC accuracy and adjust readings based on real-world performance.

 3. Open Circuit Voltage (OCV) Correction

OCV represents the battery voltage at rest and strongly correlates with SOC. Using a battery-specific OCV-SOC curve, systems can recalibrate SOC values periodically during rest intervals, ensuring greater accuracy across usage conditions.

4. Full/Empty Position Reset

When the battery reaches a full or empty state, the SOC is calibrated to 100% or 0%, respectively. These reset points are critical for avoiding long-term drift in battery state of charge monitoring and help align individual cell voltages within a battery cluster.

Real-World Scenario: SOC Step-Down Anomaly

At a project site, engineers noticed a recurring SOC drop, even while the battery was idle. Though OCV calibration was enabled, a step-down pattern appeared during rest periods. Investigation revealed the root cause: the default OCV table from the manufacturer had not been correctly configured in the BMS.

Surprisingly, disabling the OCV calibration didn’t solve the issue. Digging deeper, engineers discovered a “SOC loss power” reading of 2086W, signifying phantom energy loss. The cause? An erroneous power compensation setting within the system’s persistent memory.

The Fix: EEPROM Reset & Cache Cleaning

To correct the issue:

The team executed the “AAA4” command to reset the EEPROM, which holds configuration data and compensation values.

A full system refresh using “read all” restored accurate SOC levels.

An automatic cache cleaning function was added to purge stale or incorrect data from volatile memory.

Post-reset, SOC readings stabilized. No further drop was observed during a 2-hour rest, validating the correction.

Best Practices for SOC Troubleshooting

Always verify SOC-OCV data from the battery manufacturer.

Monitor and correct hidden settings like SOC loss power compensation.

Follow a structured battery diagnostics workflow.

Integrate memory cache maintenance into your software routine.

Conclusion

Maintaining optimal lithium-ion battery health hinges on accurate SOC diagnostics, robust algorithms, and meticulous system calibration. As this case study demonstrates, even minor misconfigurations can cause persistent problems. Through proactive diagnostics, firmware resets, and routine memory maintenance, engineers can ensure consistent SOC performance, safety, and battery lifespan optimization.

[parasolyaa]

I like to think that kaz was always slightly fucked up. like he was a type of a child who would stare uncomfortably right into your soul or fall from a tree and not realise his shoulder is dislocated until an adult starts panicking. or like he would see a cat kill a mouse and next time jordie sees him he sets up a trap for the cat to get revenge. I am a believer that he had an alarmingly strong sense of justice

[astrolook]

🌙Progressed Moon Observations 🌊✨

Here's PART 1! about profections years.

Note🗣️: These are all based on my personal observations, patterns, and calculations over the years aka late-night astrology spirals, emotional chaos, and "oh wow that makes sense now" moments. I use Vedic/Sidereal astrology 🌌even though Progressed Moon and Profection years are used in both Western and Vedic systems. For me, sidereal just hits different. Whether you use western or Vedic, if it resonates, amazing! 🫶 If not, gently toss it in the cosmic trash bin and float away like a Pisces moon day 🐟🌫️Lemme know in the comments!

Let’s get lunar 🌝👇

👉First off, find out which house your natal Moon is sitting in. That house is your starting zone, your emotional HQ, for the first 0 to 2.5 years after your birth. Let's say your natal Moon is in 8th house, from there, the Progressed Moon moves one house every 2.5 years, like a cosmic Airbnb guest who's constantly evolving and leaving emotional Yelp reviews behind 🧳🌊

So:

0-2.5 yrs: House your Moon is in

2.5-5 yrs: Next house

5-7.5 yrs: House after that... And so on, till...

By age 30 - 32.5, your Progressed Moon comes full circle and returns to the same house it started in.

🦋For women, there’s usually a major shift when the Progressed Moon moves into the same house as your Sun ☀️ or Venus 💖... or even if it just aspects them (like sitting 7 houses away), Yeah, that’s often when puberty kicks in as Moon aspects the 7th house from its position as well.

⚠️When Progressed Moon meets North node especially in 6th,8th or 12th house could trigger freak accidents, sudden health scares, frequent hospital moments, etc.

💅When Progressed Moon kisses Venus it's either a glow-up or glow-down depending on the sign. Also, sexual thoughts during teenage years or first crush/love and even first kiss. For example,

🔹 Venus in Virgo: Dry skin, skin-issues, cramps, digestive drama/constipation, dermatologist visits, etc. But also the potential for insane skincare routine discipline 🧴😤 🔹 Venus in Pisces: Full-on goddess energy. Soft glow, dreamy eyes, and people suddenly asking what perfume you wear 🧚‍♀️✨ 🔹 Venus in Cancer: Emotional eating, weight fluctuations, skin acting up when you're moody. Very “crying in a face mask” era 🍰🌊 🔹 Venus in Leo: Headaches, head injury, hair issues, even random lil injuries from being too extra. But also: main character confidence unlocked 🎭🔥

🔥When Progressed Moon hits where your Mars is in, family tensions could arise. Anger issues as a teen. Picking up new hobbies or learn new things which could later progresses as something you would do later in life, working-out, etc.

🛫When progressed Moon in the same house as Jupiter is in, things start to expand like your thoughts, moving away, becoming more religious or spiritual, even meeting your future spouse. If Jupiter in Rx, might lean towards agnosticism or atheism, irreligiousness, breaking traditions, either meeting your FS or at least getting to know them like "they're the one".

📝When Progressed Moon is the house of where Mercury/Mercury Rx is in, get ready to talk more, write, sing, question, or overthink everything 🧠🎤📚 Dabbling in singing, music, voice work, or picking up a random language on Duolingo out of nowhere 🎶🗣️. Memory expansion. Might start gaming or blogging, writing, drawing or opening a soc-media account fits too.

⏳When progressed moon is where the Saturn/Saturn rx or Sun sits in, physical distance from your father or in rare cases, death of a father. Parents divorce if in 4 or 7th houses.

👩‍👧When Progressed moon return to your natal Moon, aka your lunar return, relationship with mother can bring a few things:

If the relationship with your mom is already shaky, this can be a make-or-break moment. Either full-on distance or healing through a major breakthrough 💔➡️💬

If it’s been toxic or non-existent, this transit might trigger cutting ties to protect your peace, or facing childhood stuff head-on.

If your relationship is already strong, this deepens the bond like a cozy emotional blanket. Expect heartfelt convos, support, and feeling truly seen 👩‍👧🌕

It also suggests emotional maturity, your motherhood, etc.

When your Progressed Moon slides through your profection years, this can trigger an important event like pregnancy, marriage, etc. I already made a post previously on profection years for each ASC and check yours. When your progressed Moon land on those houses, those can be significant years in your lives.

Note: Your profection houses for example could be 2,7,8,11 but you would be getting married when you're in your 5th house profection. Why?

Let's say you're a Scorpio ASC with 2,7,8,11 profection houses but you got married during your 5th house profection year. Why? Your 5th lord is Jupiter and your Jupiter could be placed in 2,7,8,11 houses which will trigger a marriage event for you.

Wanna go deeper into the layers of your placements? DM me for a complete astrology reading or a 5 year/8 year marriage report or synastry reading🌙💬 and check out my pinned post for pricing + details 💫💸

Let’s decode your cosmic chaos together ⭐

[dallasgallant]

Country/southern slang and vernacular-

This is what I’m going with for the title as honestly I’m not sure what else you would call it, but it is also linked to class a little bit? It’s complicated. Anyways, surprised I haven’t done one like this sooner as I’ve done:

JD slang. 60s slang. Rodeo terms

However, it can’t include everything! As usual take this as a jumping off point, it’s funny as Oklahoma is technically southern, culturally and such. Some are sourced from general knowledge, others from southern or “Oklahoma slang” which heavily overlaps but is more accented.

A lot of this ended up actually being more writing accented speech with some slang thrown in, a lot of it is about contractions! Also word usage! They’ll be a more “general grammar” and accent section at the bottom.

—

A - of

All get out- sentence enhancer (ex. Funny as all get out)

Air up - Pump air into something (Tires, mattress)

Ain’t - am not; are not; is not. has not; have not.

An’ all - and all

Awfulest - Most awful *air guitar* , very bad [Appalachian?]

Belted- beaten

‘Bout - about

Billfold- Wallet (Oklahoman, used in place of wallet)

Caint- Can’t

‘Cos - cause/because

Coke- soda (any kind) (ex. You wanna get a Coke? What kind?)

Crick- creek

Cuz - Cause

Deadern- deader than (accented)

Do up - prepare : clean/repair (Ex. Y’all do up the dishes)

Do wut - say again

D’yall - Do y’all or did y’all

don’tcha - Don’t you

Drop trou- pull down one’s pants , especially as a stunt in public

d’jeet- did you eat?

Figure- Calculate, consider, decide

Fixin’ - on the verge of something : getting ready to

fronta - in front of

Fo’ sure- for sure

Fussin’- overexagerated concern, fidgeting

Gettin’ round - getting ready to go somewhere or do something (ex. Gettin’ round to it)

Get ‘chu- Get you

Getcha- get ya

Gonna- going to

Good-for-nothin’ - Worthless/useless person or object (usually said while worked up)

Gussied up - dressed nicer than everyday (ex. Church clothes)

hafta- have to

Hankering- desire, yearning, craving

Heap - a large quantity (ex. Heap of trouble)

Highfalutin- pompous/pretentious/fancy

Holler- loud cry or shout

Honky tonk - bar where people dance (typically to county, line dance )

Hootin’ and Hollerin’- wild shouting, making a bunch of noise

Howdy- Greeting or used to express surprise

howta - how to

Hush- quiet, shut up

Ice box - fridge (Oklahoman or rural)

I’mma - I’m gonna or I am

Imma geddin sig n tard" - I’m getting sick and tired

ja'eet yet?- did you eat yet?

Keep your shirt on- stay calm (also see : Be cool)

Kin- family (not always by blood. Could be someone you’re close to)

Laying out - staying the night (doing something illicit) or

Let alone - leave alone or to indicate somethings less likely

Like to - Almost (rare)

Lick [Noun] - any amount (Ex. Didn’t get a lick of sleep last night)

Lick [Verb] - beat (ex. Steve Licked that soc good)

Musta- must have

Moar- More (accented)

Mom’ n’ em - Mom and them (literal), asking how one’s family is doing

Might could - might be able to

Muddin’ (Oklahoman) - off-roading, going down muddy trails

‘N - then/than or and

‘N em’ - And them

Naw- no

Neither- not one or other (sometimes used in place of either)

‘Nuff- enough

Nup- Nope

Nuss - To nurse

Okie- native resent of Oklahoma (formerly derogatory during dust bowl)

Ornery- combative, mean

Ought- indicate something correct or probable

Oughta- ought to

Ope- oops

Outta- out or

Preddy sure - pretty sure

Prolly- probably

Pop- soda

Purdy- pretty

Pitch a fit- throw a fit, be really upset

Reckon- think: suppose

Rise- upset someone (ex. He sure got a rise out of her)

Rile- upset someone (ex. Don’t rile up the dog)

Ruther - rather

Sheit - shit (Accented)

Shouldn’t’ve- shouldnt have (double negative)

Shoot- polite way to say shit : go ahead and speak

Sho’ nuff - sure enough

‘Sides - besides

s’not - it’s not/is not

s’okay - it’s okay

Sorta- sort of

Sprinklin’ - light rain

stocking feet - wearing just socks

Sumbitch - son of a bitch

Suhm- something (accented)

Tailing- follow without being noticed

The city - Oklahoma City (even if you live in Tulsa. ‘The city’ is Oklahoma City)

‘Toe up/ Tore up - upset

Toad - told (accented)

Tryan- Heavily accented Tryin’

Twister- Tornado (used to be more regional)

Upitty- conceited, fancy, snobby

Warsh- wash (accented)

Welp - well or expression (ex. Welp, I better head out)

Whup/whoop- hit

Whur- were or where (accented)

Whipped- beaten

won’tcha = won’t you

Y’all - you all

Yall’re- y’all are

Y’ain’t - you ain’t

Yer - your (accented)

Yew- you (Accented)

-

Grammar-

The more I added to the list the more I realized writing for the gang is just as much learning to write accent than it is slang, it’s the way they talk and that includes grammar etc. Im going to try and explain some points that I’ve noticed in an understandable way, but it’s also important to note that these rules don’t apply every time necessarily.

Using the wrong word

less words in certain sentences (ex. Don’t mean nothin’)

With above, fewer words to describe things.

Drop the G occasionally (ex. Nothin’ )

Adding ‘d instead of saying ‘would (ex. Soda’d)

Real> really (descriptive)

Anybody > anyone

Weren’t typically goes with a double negative ( ex. weren’t nothing we could do)

Use of ‘you’ (used instead of a name or ‘your’)

Use of ‘was’ instead of ‘were’ ( ex. I knew you was)

Both Aren’t and isn’t become ain’t (sometimes even more)

A LOT OF CONTRACTIONS

Combing words - either a new contraction or new spelling to emphasize accent, especially around questions (ex. ja'eet yet?)

Use of expressions/idioms (ex. That dog won’t hunt)

[omnipitant-duck]

The fic Im writing (idk, I'll come up with a name soon):

Chapter 1

Content warnings:violence, swearing(not much, just thought I'd mention it), my complete inability to spell anything to save my life

If I missed anything, LET ME KNOW and I'll fix the warnings

Characters(in this chapter): Kaz Brekker(SoC), Inej Ghafa(SoC), Jesper Fahey(SoC), Anika(SoC), Aang(AtLA), Katara(AtLA)(sorry if I didn't get her personality right), Zuko(AtLA), Toph(AtLA)

A/N: Don't really know what to call this one yet, chapter or fic wise. Also, sorry if it absolutely sucks, it's been a while since Ive actually tried to write anything

Ketterdam was just as busy as any other day. People were bustling through the streets of East Stave, shoving their way in and out of every pleasure house and gambling hall they could lay their filthy eyes on.

The smog and clouds blocked out most light, but still, somehow the sun found its way right onto Inej's cheeks as she sat in the window of Kaz's office, feeding the crows that now nested on the roof outside. All the while, Kaz was busy doing paperwork and calculating different costs and the revenue they'd earned, or, he was trying to at least. It was always so hard to focus on paperwork when Inej's laugh rang out in his usual silent office like the soothing chime of the church bells, at least, when you weren't right next to the church. Ghenzen, what he wouldn't give to hear that sound every day for the rest of his life, to get drunk off of it every night and to soak it in like the sun's warmth after a cold night.

Inej had been hounding Kaz for hours after they got back from their most recent job to just rest, Saints knew his leg needed it, so she supposed him sitting there and doing paperwork was the closest she would actually get to him listening to her on the matter. She tossed another handful of crumbs out to the crows on the roof, sending the new ones scattering momentarily before flying back to join the others in pecking up every last one they could find.

"Inej, darling, treasure of my heart." Kaz's voice snapped her out of her thoughts, ripping her painfully back to reality. "I do suggest you close the window, of course, unless you want to get soaked." Saints, Inej hadn't even noticed that it had started raining. The soft pitter patter of rain against the windows and roof of the slat soon became a violent downpour, as if Mother Nature herself was demanding to be let in.

It was hours later when someone else finally came and knocked on Kaz's door. Inej had left long ago to retire into her room for the night. But the paperwork never really did stop for sleep, did it? The dim light of the full moon shone in through his window, occasionally blotted out by the thick blanket of clouds.

"Come in," Kaz grumbled, his voice raspier than normal from lack of use. He didn't bother to look up as Jesper entered his office, followed by Anika, pushing along a small group of what seemed to be... kids? But, oh, dear Ghenzen, why the fuck were they so bright? And why the hell did the shadows on them look like that? It was as if they were just pure color.

"Who are they?" Kaz asked, almost demanding, although he was tempted to ask what they were. He stood up slowly from behind his desk and slowly made his way over to the group. He was limping worse than usual, considering the pain shooting up through his entire leg was much worse after sprinting through alleyways and climbing ladders. He could deal with that later though.

Jesper glanced over at Anika for a moment, as if wordlessly asking her if she knew.

"We, uh, we don't know," Jesper mumbled as he glanced between Kaz and Anika.

"They were just outside the Crow Club causing trouble. I think some of them might be Grisha though," Anika added.

"Grisha?! What the heck is a Gree-sha?" One of the kids demanded indignantly, a little short girl with black hair that was tied up in a ruthlessly tight bun-like style and light, almost white, green eyes. "We're not Gree-sha or whatever the heck it's called."

"Whatever you are, what were you doing outside my gambling hall. I lost good money thanks you four." Kaz held his hands behind his back as he glared at the kids in front of him. At least he could only assume they were kids, for all he knew, they could've been some sleep deprivation induced hallucinations.

"Excuse me?" One of the other kids spoke up, some little bald kid with an arrow on his skull. "I'm sorry, I don't use this card often, but I'm the avatar. Clearly you didn't know that, but now you do, so if you could just tell tell us how to get back to the Fire Nation, that would be wonderful."

Kaz could only manage a blank, confused stare at the kid. Clearly he was out of his mind or on something real strong. The fuck was an "avatar" anyway? Was this kid okay? Kaz glanced up at Jesper, silently asking him were him and Anika found these kids anyway.

"Kid, what the fuck are you going on about?" Kaz finally managed through his confusion, and slight concern, earning a glare from the little bald kid and a startled look from the rest of them.

The kids exchanged a few glances for a moment before the same bald kid and a girl wearing what seemed to be Tidemaker colors tried to explain their insane concept to them. An avatar? The master of all four elements? That wasn't possible, Grisha could only control one thing. And apparently the girl was a Tidemaker, but not really? It was confusing and Kaz needed a break.

"Just... bring them somewhere else to question them, I can't take this anymore," Kaz said dismissively, waving them away with the back of his hand while he hobbled back over to his desk.

"Wait! You can't do this! I'm Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation, you can't just send us away without answering any of our questions!" One of the other kids yelled, the one with a nasty looking burn scar over his left eye. It almost made Kaz feel bad. Clearly these kids were going through something, or they were just insisting on playing a very elaborate game of pretend.

"I can, actually. You're in Dregs territory, not your little pretend kingdom," Kaz growled. Ghenzen, he was getting tired of dealing bratty little kids.

For once, Kaz didn't see it coming when he was suddenly knocked to the ground, the air ripped from his lungs as his back slammed against the side of his desk. What... what hit him? He hadn't seen any of the kids move even once. Kaz gripped his cane, trying to push himself back up. Or... he thought he was gripping his cane at least. Why wasn't his arm working? He didn't have to wonder long though when he saw the girl he has thought to be just a Tidemaker.

"...Heartrender," Kaz gasped out. It was as if his lungs refused to draw in air. He couldn't focus on the the kids yelling, arguing amongst each other or telling the girl to stop, he couldn't focus on the fact that even Jesper an Anika couldn't move, even if they were out of her line of sight. His mind immediately went to Inej. What if he died here? Suffocated by a Heartrender. What would happen to her then? Would she even miss him...? Would she think of him even once when she left Ketterdam...? No. He couldn't go out like this. Not now, he'd survived so much worse to just be taken out in his own office.

_______________________________________

Me when I leave the chapter on a "cliffhanger" bc I ran out of ideas for the chapter and don't want to work on it later:

(Hmmm. Wonder where Sokka and Suki are🤔🌝)

(Sorry if the formatting is a little weird on pc, I'm on mobile.)

A/N: WE GOT IT BACK BABY!!!!! Leaving it off there for now though, let me know what you think so far. Sorry if it sucks absolute ass lmao, I did if bc I was encouraged to, but I also did it for myself (and the worms in my brain) I'll try to post the next chapter soon since this was more of a late night writing session of "just throw shit at the page, see what sticks, and don't edit a single thing" minus the don't edit a single thing part. Feel free to throw in your own ideas or headcanons and I might just add them into later chapters 🌝 KEEP IT CLEAN THOUGH!! THESE ARE MINORS AND SO AM I!!!!!!!!!!!!

(I'll probably add most of them in since Im horribly deprived of ideas already)

Me if you don't keep the headcanons and suggestions clean:

__________________________________________

Artists/bands listened to while writing this chapter and amount of songs:

Will Wood: 3-4 songs

Daft Punk: 3

Le Tigre: 1

Sarah and the Safe Word: 2

Will Wood and the Tapeworms: 1 (should probably just count this in with Will Wood but it's technically different so I won't)

Coyote Kid: 2

Jariah: 3

I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME: 2

The Taxpayers: 1

SonReal: 1

bbno$: don't know, at least 1, maybe 2 started going into autopilot around this point

(Not listing songs because I'm a dumb idiot that can't remember them all but I'll do that next time!)

[kidspawn]

you said you were taking requests for character/media analysis so here is my humble request: a while ago you wrote a post about different characters and the ways they get mischaracterised and i read it all and it was all super interesting, and at the end you said you could have gone on about neil josten. so my request is that i would love to know your thoughts on neil and how he gets mischaracterised by the fandom

Oh wow! Thank you for this ask, because it's definitely an interesting one! I am always always always open for character discussion and differing opinions, as well as being not normal™ about media - which is my designation in fandom spaces as is late. Meaning I think way too much and way too hard about the most insignificant of details.

So, when I made that statement about Neil Josten, it was made in the context of me having not read All For the Game or really interacting with AFTG fandom since around... I want to say 2018. And if there's anything to say about 2018 fandoms, it's that mischaracterization was rampant, especially with queer characters. I think characterization of Neil has improved. Exponentially. So, this is more an overview of trends. Fandom, especially in terms of characterization, has stepped back to allow nuance - which is a blessing, really, because every time a character with nuanced and interesting character traits is reduced to a single recurring trope I die a little inside. My soul shrivels like a prune and I want to scream. I will say it's not... really an issue anymore? (I'm back in fandom, btw. That statement was actually about Tik Tok and how atrocious they are at handling characterizations. And how funny it is to think about 2016-2020 fandom characterization where everyone is either cinnamon role or unapologetic sinner.)

Neil Josten suffers from the same issue that, interestingly, Wylan suffers from in SOC fandom. Which is that people don't want to believe a person can be two things. That Neil can be earnest and loving and care about people, while also being capable of, say, ordering a hit out on somebody and remaining cool and calm in face of crisis. Which is an interesting trait of his. Inside Neil's head, he's analytical, judgemental, and distrustful. He's quick to dislike people, or tell himself to dislike others. He's evasive and anxious and terrific at concealing it. He loves, and he loves selectively and deeply and in varying shades. He also hates and disdains and forms grudges he cannot move on from. (I want to compare him to a fox, who shows great loyalty to those close to their hearts, while maintaining healthy distance and mistrust of strangers. I also compare him to a raven, who remembers those who have hurt them, and remember those who have done them well.) He's more sentimental than he'd ever admit (I think of his mother, Jean, Kevin, and Andrew first and foremost. Because he exhibits a great deal of affection, but doesn't always disclose it to the reader.), and he's vindictive. He's in incredible control of his emotions, and I think it weighs on him to be so restrained all the time. He wants freedom, and was taught freedom is being unattached and free floating - when freedom is, in my opinion, Exy and his own choice to stay and pick a family. He wants to run, and escape, and he wants to stay. He is sweet, and thoughtful, and viciously cold and calculating. There's a balance, and it's all to do with trust and vulnerability. (I actually think it's important to consider his relationship with his mother, who he exhibits a detached affection for? He's taught to separate himself from sentimentality early on in the series, but he retains a warmth and love in the way he speaks of and misses her. I'd argue he is the same with Kevin.)

What does this have to do with Wylan? Well, as I pointed out in the post you're referring to (which I need to either delete and rewrite or edit, because lord have my views changed. That was a notes app essay and I did not think it through or check my sources.), Wylan in earlier days of Six of Crows fandom was not given opportunity to be a multifaceted character. He was either "soft sweet sunshine boy" (Wylan Van Sunshine!!) or "mini Kaz." There was no middle ground. Which erased the most fascinating parts of Wylan's characterization. Which is that he can be both, can be the somewhat naive merchling AND be incredibly cunning and meticulous. He could have been Kaz, sure, but the circumstances he was found in - and how he was raised - do not make him like Kaz. And there's an intentional parallel between the two. That Wylan was granted the support and resources necessary from the Crows to stay soft, to stay kind, etc. And it isn't a diminishing of his character to do this. It's an active point being made that Kaz is guiding Wylan to develop in a way he never had the chance to. I won't go much into it, but the sentiment here is: erasing the multifaceted parts of this character ruins what makes the character (and the significance of his dynamics) so interesting.

So, Neil Josten. His personality is a product of his environment. He's a walking survival instinct, the flight response incarnate. Evade, evade, evade. And this warring principle of Neil's - his instinct to run, his desire to stay - is crucial to his early turmoil in the story. We, as the readers, are asked to consider what Neil wants, and what Neil is trained and conditioned to do. And Neil has been trained to be isolated, and fiercely loyal to himself (and his mother) in order to survive. And these two warring desires make Neil a gripping protagonist.

When one side is reduced, or erased, or shoved aside to make Neil one dimensional (so, either a soft, sad boy or a murderous and bloodthirsty menace) it in turn reduces the aspects of Neil that make him fascinating. It cheapens the moments when he's vulnerable and affectionate with others to make him like that all the time. And when we reduce this softer side of Neil, we lose the war he fights to avoid becoming his father. Because he veers into his instinct on occasion, having been raised to respond how his mother or father would act, but his journey is doing what Neil would do. How would Neil react? Does he run, like his mother? Does he power play, like his father? Or does he protect the people closest to him with the ferocity of a creature raised to stick with their pack? All of Neil's "violent" actions are borne from protective instinct. And that is the two sides of Neil converging. He takes a hit out on someone who has hurt someone he cares about, who reminds him of someone who has hurt someone he loves. I think, objectively, that Neil considering this a love language is actually insight into how he was raised and conditioned to view love. And his dynamic with Andrew, one of a fierce protectiveness and codependency, correlates with how Neil perceives love and family. And how his intention are so valuable here. His thought processes matter. And yes, I think it detracts from why Andriel as a ship is so important, because they love each other and they look out for each other. They give each other a home and someone to look out for. And the same with the Foxes. They've given Neil a home, a family, and they look out for him. And Neil, a child raised to be loyal to the very end, in turn looks out for them.

I really hope I am clarifying more so why I find mischaracterizations that strip both sides of Neil so frustrating. I could go on and on about how one queer man in a ship is made into the "omg what a soft little sad boy who needs to be protected omggggg" (a particularly grating quality I'm glad fandom has started to leave behind), and if he isn't the twee little twink he's the big bad coldblooded killer. And I'm not saying Neil is okay to kill people (though, I'd argue killing a rapist is okay, actually, a net positive, and we should do it more.), that he is in the right, nor am I saying he is one hundred percent just killing out of the good of his heart. But he is showing kindness in the way he was taught to? (And Andrew does the same, btw.) Reducing the warmer sides of Neil (which shows around Matt or Andrew or Kevin, etc) takes away from his growth as a protagonist, and reducing the less palatable parts of him makes us think it takes a single fucking year to undo years and years of being taught fight or flight as a response to every scenario.

Like I said, this happens a lot less in fandom, and I actually really appreciate that AFTG fandom has the ability to grasp that these characters have to be multi-dimensional to work and be compelling. My gripe with Neil is my gripe with the typical mischaracterizations that happen to queer men in popular mlm ships. With Neil, it's diminished since I was actively in AFTG fandom - and I've only recently gotten very very into it again. I cannot stress enough I was into this series in high school, and I've been on tumblr for well over a decade. I've tracked how fandom has changed, and I've engaged in some of these behaviors myself. (I love tracking fandom trends, btw. It speaks to the social aspects of fandom on a level that scratches my brain. It's the sociologist in me.)

(I do have a bone to pick with the dismissal of Neil being explicitly demisexual, but that's not a tumblr issue. That's why I came back to tumblr, because I was exhausted trying to remind people Neil is demisexual. But tumblr is good.)

I won't pretend to be an expert on Neil, so take this with a grain of salt and understand it's my interpretation of him. I find taking pieces of characters away to make them morally perfect very frustrating, and I find taking grey morality from characters more so frustrating. That's more my gripe and issue.

Anyway, I hope this answered that question? It's a more grand issue than just Neil, and my specific Neil issue revolves around how rancid Tik Tok is for fandom interaction (whole other problem), but Neil on tumblr is appreciated at this moment in time and I don't see egregious mischaracterization with him as often anymore.

[darklinaforever]

Funny thing...Leigh Bardugo cannot do basic math. I saw on twitter ppl been pointed out how the trilogy's timeline makes Alina well over 17. The setting and time passage made alina closer to early 20s. She was eight or older when she got to the orphanage with wasting sickness draining her body already. She spends over ten years there. She has one full year of First Army training. So by the first page of the first book she is at minimum 19 if not early 20s. Then she spends like all of fall and most of winter in the little palace - and darkling is away at the frontlines most of the time. Leigh Bardugo not jotting down all the years, months, date references made a giant retcon in SoC. But the words in black&white can no longer be deleted. She just winged it and said 17 in SoC and it's all ppl care about - even when it makes no sense since Alina would have to be 4 years old when she arrived at the orphanage for that to happen. A four year old looks nothing like an eight year old

Yes. Leigh Bardugo really has a problem with math. Officially, it seems to me that in the original trilogy, Alina doesn't really know her age? And indeed, if we try to calculate, she is normally much older than 17 years old. I don't know why in Six of Crows we have a retcon about this. But in any case, it serves the antis well, except that even if Alina had really been 17 in the original trilogy, well the relationship still wouldn't have been grooming.

[dearlymrme]

Billy Kid's days with the SoC were literally How To Be More Human 101 for a while.

"So, you guys actually need, like, *days* to calculate that kind of shot? You can't just... do it all in your head?"

Big Daddy, just rubbing his forehead.

"No, Kid. We can not shoot and hit a flying target from 4.4 miles away on the first try."

The boar pauses and withh another sigh, brings out a clip board and pen.

"I mean...We can...but *now* I need to explain to you the complicated relationship of whimsy and chance."

[lunarthecorvus]

Six Of Crows Canon Divergence fanfiction recommendations

part of Lunar's soc fanficiton rec series

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The Pugilist's Creed by @bardelow

Wordcount: 123k Chapters: 30/30

Characters: Jesper Fahey, Kaz Brekker, Matthias Helvar, Nina Zenik, Inej Ghafa, Wylan Van Eck, Original Characters

Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Blood and Violence, Gun Violence, Angst, Established Relationship, Slow Burn, Kidnapping, Major Character Injury, Gunshot Wounds, Matthias Helvar Lives, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Fjerda, Ketterdam, Canon-Typical Violence, Protective Kaz Brekker, multiple POVs, Inej Ghafa is THAT bitch, Really everyone is THAT bitch, Eventual Fluff, Slow burn Kanej, Established Wesper, established helnik, Helnik Wedding

Author's summary/notes: “I wonder if you’d be dragging your feet like this,” Nina spoke through gritted teeth. “If it was Inej’s life on the line.” A storm fell over Kaz’s features, but he did not move, did not let his eyes fall away. Instead, he spoke in a slow, calculated tone. “I’d choose your next words very carefully, little deathrender. However soft you think I’ve grown, remember that I am always willing to show you that the monster is still alive and well.” It's been sixteen days since Matthias and Wylan were taken, and Kaz Brekker has chased down every possible lead only to come up empty handed. However, with an angry Nina and desperate Jesper at his side, he is willing to do whatever it takes to find his missing crows and bring them back home - even if it means more blood on his hands. My summary/notes: The first part of this fic is VERY angsty and consists of Nina and Jesper being mad at Kaz. Kaz is gen really trying to do his best. This fic comes with a side of badass Inej scenes. The rescue mission/'heist' was so fun to read even if it was intense and emotional. Matthias' POV's are written brillantly and I loved seeing the way his mind worked, he was very book!Matthias in this fic. I will end this with saying Inej, knife, heart.. that scene-

---------- ☾₊ ⊹

carry your heart in their teeth by boybi_i

Wordcount: 21k Chapters: 1/1

Characters: Inej Ghafa, Wylan Van Eck, Nina Zenik, Jesper Fahey, Matthias Helvar, Kaz Brekker, Jan Van Eck, Alys Van Eck, Kuwei Yul-Bo

Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Post-Book 1: Six of Crows, Kidnapping, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Except it takes like 17k to get to the comfort, Murder, Rescue Missions, Major Character Injury, Blood and Injury, Implied/Referenced Torture, None of said torture happens on screen but it is referenced and talked about, Knives, Knife giving as a love language, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Haphephobia, Canon Disabled Character, Inspired by a The Crane Wives Song, Jan Van Eck Bashing, Canon-Typical Violence

Author's summary/notes: “They will consume your sweet resistance And they'll carry your heart in their teeth But I am always feeding them The ugliest parts of me” - Take Me to War, The Crane Wives - On Vellgeluk, Van Eck kidnaps Kaz. Inej discovers the lengths that which she will go to get him back. My summary/notes: I loved reading Inej's thought process throughout the whole fic, the feelings were written so well. This fic was so interesting especially because its ck Inej and not post canon Inej dealing with Kaz. The crows do argue a lot in this fic, and Inej is focusing all her energy trying to figure out how get Kaz back while ignoring her pain. Very whumpy.

---------- ☾₊ ⊹

Plan F by bbbeautifulboy

Wordcount: 168k Chapters: 30/? (hasn't been updated in a year)

Characters: Kaz Brekker, Inej Ghafa, Nina Zenik, Matthias Helvar, Jesper Fahey, Wylan Van Eck

Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Book 2: Crooked Kingdom, Alternate Ending, Jurda Parem, Matthias Helvar Lives, On the Run, Canon Disabled Character, Deaf Character, Found Family, Jesper Fahey Has ADHD, Sign Language, Non-Consensual Drug Use, Angst with a Happy Ending, this fic is so unhinged, Mental Instability, Chronic Pain, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Addiction, Platonic Relationships, Service Dogs, Plot, Healing, POV Multiple, Pirates, Crows as Found Family, Captain Inej Ghafa, Time Skips, Domestic Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Suicidal Thoughts, Simp Matthias Helvar, Original Character(s), Including a baby, Minor Character(s), Developing Friendships, Hallucinations

Author's summary/notes: The Auction fails, leaving all of the Crows with a warrant for arrest over their heads and all of Ketterdam and the countries beyond officially their enemy. They've lost everything: their money, obscurity, and their last chance at winning and walking away free. They can only be helped by the Saints and each other now. What will they do to survive? The home that’s lived for years in his nightmares surrounds him, but he cannot see past the five people in front of him. His crew- they’re all looking to him, and as long as they are, he has something to fight for and protect the way he did his reputation and name in Ketterdam. He’s not letting them go. My summary/notes: In this fic you have everything, cottagecore, fluff, angst and a whole bunch of plots. The crows really feel like found family in this and its so sweet. A whole bunch of angst so be warned. Helnik is so cute in this fic. This was one of the first big fics I read and I absolutely adored it.

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l'appel du vide by @alltheworldsinmyhead

Wordcount: 41k Chapters: 8/8

Characters: Kaz Brekker, Inej Ghafa, Jesper Fahey, Wylan Van Eck, Tante Heleen

Tags: Angst with a bittersweet ending, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Marriage of Convenience, Kaz and Inej make a deal, jokes on them, mentions of past trauma, Canon Backstories, Past Rape/Non Con, Partners to Lovers, slowburn, Inej nevr becomes the Wraith, post-revenge Kaz, Kanej - Freeform, secondary wesper, Canon-Typical Violence

Author's summary/notes: “He was hoping that bringing a famous prostitute on his arm to the saloons and ballrooms of the rich and the powerful of Ketterdam would at least bring him some entertainment if nothing else. But what Kaz did not take into consideration was what marrying a woman like Inej really meant.” CANON DIVERGENCE AU: Kaz comes to the Menagerie for Inej many years too late and bites off more than he can chew. My summary/notes: Honestly this fic is the best thing I've ever read. It presents Inej's character so her but at the same she's so different and its expected as she has been in the menagerie for so many years. This story is a marriage of convenience and follows both Kaz and Inej's path of miscommunication angst and some healing along the way. If you read this fic you will never be the same.

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A Shift in the Air by Just_Another_Bookworm

Wordcount: 176k Chapters: 66/66

Characters: Kaz Brekker, Inej Ghafa, Jesper Fahey, Wylan Van Eck, Nina Zenik, Matthias Helvar

Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Pre-Canon, Kaz is Deaf, Post-Canon, Slow Burn, Slow Build, canon adjacent

Author's summary/notes: The chattering masses of people he passed didn’t know it yet, but they would one day fear the half-drowned nine year old shaking from the cold and the effects of the plague. Then again, no one knew much about Kaz Brekker. They didn’t know he wasn’t from the Barrel or that he’d once had a family. They never guessed where the rasp in his young voice came from. They certainly didn’t know why he really wore gloves. Most weren’t even convinced he was human. No one ever suspected that Kaz Brekker was deaf. *** Basically a random story of what if Kaz went deaf from the plague. It starts sort of pre-canon and has expanded. I am bad at summaries so read the first chapter if you want to get a feel for what this story is. My summary/notes: Reading this Deaf Kaz AU was so fascinating, they adapted Kaz being deaf around canon soc so well. The Kanej in this fic captures that beauty of understanding each other through not saying words. It also goes into Kaz and Jesper's brother bond and it so sweet to read.

[truthinquotations]

Listen I get it Jude is 17 and she's too smart or calculated or whatever to be this young but also Jeanne d'Arc was literally the same age when she won her most significant battle and 19 when she was burnt alive and the matter of fact she's not the only one to lead at such a young age, not at all, so maybe it's time we stopped treating these ya female protagonist rulers or knights or whatever as complete and utter fantasy considering that these things actually happened in real life??

Like Jude was literally raised in that reality: with kings and queens and knight and battles and swords and political intrigue, her father is the general for crying out loud!! I think so many people forget that rulers actually were that young, girls included, and we need to stop viewing these stories through the lenses of today's society (especially if that story is not set in modern reality)

Same goes for a lot of other characters (soc included) just becos we're no longer being raised in a world where u have to know how to manage a household or a family all on your own at 16, doesn't mean that it wasn't true a few centuries ago, doesn't mean it's not possible

Thank you for coming to my ted talk

[write-to-the-stars]

✧˖°ʚ victoria "vic" goode ɞ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

16 | soc | ruby stokes

〝Sweetest girl you'd ever meet but the stubborn attitude of a mule. She didn't put up with anyone's bullshit, in her quiet, witty way. Love, passion, that was her way of life. Nothin' bad about her. Pretty, too, shame she's all alone."

〝C'mon, Dal, ain't she a pretty one?〞A tall redhead spoke, stumbling and swaying to his own alcohol-induced rhythm. 〝What's your name, doll?"

〝None of your business,〞the brunette replied with a scoff.

〝A pretty little thing like you shouldn't be with a greasy hood like him, come on with me, I'll keep you safe. I always liked a little attitude," said the blond boy with icy, calculating eyes that melted away the girl's prominent frown. 〝You got a name?〞

〝Victoria, Victoria Goode.〞

〝You ain't been at Soda's house much lately, where you been?〞

〝I don' know, man, just 'round,〞Dally said without looking up at Steve.

〝It's that girl, ain't it? The Soc you look at all soft an' shit. You've fallen, man, fallen hard.〞

〝Nah, just a fling, Sylvia's been hangin' around Buck's lately and I'm getting bored of the broad.〞

〝If you say so, Dally, but you look at her like you're a damn fool. And you'll be one if you leave her behind.〞

〝Dally, don't go. I love you, I do, I don't care about what they say. Please, Dal, please, just stay with me,〞Victoria helplessly pleaded. But, Dallas Winston's eyes were cold and glazed over with a firm hatred. His mind was set. He was done

〝See you 'round.〞And with that, he was gone. Vanished from her life, detached from his own. That was last time he ever lived, not just survived. At seventeen he was prepared to die.

〝Darry, who's that at Dally's grave?〞Ponyboy asked with a sideways glance at his older brother after eyeing the small frame bent over the grave with glassy eyes. 〝I think I've seen her walkin' around school. Always real sad lookin'.〞

〝Victoria Goode, she went steady with Dallas, longer than any of the ones. He swore it was a fling but hell, if that wasn't love, none of us got a chance. He kept it a secret, didn't want to us to know he was whipped, but some of us saw it. The sidelong glances in the street and all that. Not a good liar when it came to that girl. He got scared and left her. She'd of married him if it was the last thing she did, and he left her. Poor girl.〞

[raz-writes-the-thing]

Paying Attention (Six of Crows One-Shot)

Kaz Brekker x GN!Reader / requests are OPEN

Summary: You're a little clueless, but the Crows are trying their best to get you to see the light.

SAB/SOC: @the-sweet-psycho (send an ask to be added to a tag list!)

___ ___ ___ ___ ___

“You-” Jesper said, sitting down at the card table, crossing one leg over the other and running a gambling chip down his knuckles in an impressive display of his dexterity. “Are clueless.” 

You practically choked on your margarita, eyeing him up and down and yanking the chip from his fingers before he had a chance to pull it from your reach. He cocked a brow at you in quiet respect and you clicked your tongue. 

“Really? How so?” You deposited the chip onto your stack and shot Jesper an award-winning smile. He grunted, not at all impressed.

 

“The boss man,” he said, picking up his cards to check his hand, “and his very obvious feelings for you, of course.” 

You checked your own hand, playing with the stack of chips. You risked a glance at the upstairs balcony area and who do you see? Kaz, of course. He’s leaning down at the tables below with that calculating glower that sends you mad with desire.

Jesper follows your gaze and has to stop himself from snorting. Kaz’s eyes flick over the tables and finally settle on you. The unexpected eye contact sends a shiver down your spine and a flush up your cheeks. Kaz arches one brow at you, expression otherwise not changing. You know him well enough by now to know that that eyebrow raise means ‘are you okay?’ 

You flash him a microscopic nod, which he returns before standing upright again and wandering off in the direction of his office. You know what that means- Inej is here somewhere keeping an eye on things. That leaves him to retire to his office and peer over ledgers and jobs for another several hours. 

“Hello,” a velvet voice says over your shoulder as the body that came with it slid into a chair beside you with such grace it couldn’t have been anyone else other than-

“Inej,” you greeted warmly, placing your cards down for the round. “Kaz have you keeping an eye on things at the Club tonight?” 

She’s barely moving, but you know she’s on high alert, watching and waiting for any sign of trouble. She hummed her confirmation. 

“Yes, he’s concerned the Dime Lions are getting a little too bold with their territory. Kaz wants to make sure they don’t cause any trouble for the Pigeons.” 

“Pigeons,” you reply, watching as Jesper finally makes his move. “Not language I hear you speak in very often.” 

Inej lets out a sigh, allowing herself to break vigilance for just long enough to rub her forehead. 

“No, but you stay in the Barrel long enough, you get used to the local speech patterns.” 

That made sense to you, yes. It was easy enough to slip into the language of the Barrel. Particularly when you spent time in the Crow club and the dodgier parts of town. 

“Inej,” Jesper piped up, that signature look on his face that told you he was about to stir shit up. “You know Kaz better than most- tell me, do you think he has a crush on our dear friend here?” 

You spluttered, slapping Jes on the shoulder playfully in disbelief. You were about to defend your fearless leader once again when you turned to look at Inej. She was usually so good at keeping things to herself, but one look at her expression and you knew she thought the same as Jesper. 

“Oh, no- not you too,” you protested. “You don’t seriously-” 

“Oh, yes,” she said, eyeing a patron by the bar who was starting to look like getting in a fight might not be such a bad idea after all. “Completely smitten.” 

You scoffed once again, rolling your eyes at the absurdity of it all.

 

“We’re not joking,” Jesper said, placing his hat on his knee. 

Your laugh died off and you frowned thoughtfully. It would be nice if he did have a little crush on you, given how he made you feel, but you weren’t at all convinced. 

“Well then,” you said. “Guess I better start paying more attention and see for myself.” 

[oceanwithouthermoon]

the way i have absolutely flooded the kubosai tag is crazy😭most of the recent posts are mine.. my bad..

... anyway, im thinking about kuboyasu picking up different hobbies as a form of anger management, teaching himself coping mechanisms and to use his hands in more gentle ways and let himself make mistakes without taking his anger out in unhealthy ways..

knitting, crocheting, art (he already draws but he wants to do it more and start painting n stuff too), or even scrapbooking or journaling ?? he also already stress bakes/cooks lol.

and since he does it so much, he has so many little pieces of art and he ends up gifting most of them to saiki.. because kubo thinks theyre crappy, but saikis eyes lit up in a way kubo doesnt get to see often when he caught sight of kubos crocheted little pink cat with a suspiciously saiki-like grimace on his face.

so now saiki has all kinds of little knitted/crocheted blankets, pillow cases, stuffed animals, gloves, sweaters, etc. (he made a lot of scarves, bags, hats, coasters, etc. at first since those are easier for beginners, and at first he was keeping them for himself and his mom but the house has too many damn coasters and they do not need that many accessories and sweaters.. so the whole friend group started getting them, but mostly saiki.. and saikis mom started receiving some too).

and little paintings of cats (because kubo definitely loves cats but also saiki just reminds him of one so he draws/paints them for him a lot.. he doesn't know if saiki actually likes them, but he says he doesnt mind so..) and some cute paintings of their friends.. he makes a lot of vent art but saiki obviously does not receive that stuff☠️.

he also tried to learn yoga.. but he learns quickly that he just isnt very good at keeping his hands still and unoccupied for too long.. he might revisit that later, but for now hes just trying to at least learn slow and calculated motions with his hands..

he probably also starts helping kusuo and kurumi with their gardening (because they definitely have a garden). i doubt arens mom has a garden but i bet he could convince her to help him start one after enjoying it with the saikis so much.

the scrapbooking/journaling he mostly keeps to himself.. its mostly pictures of him and his mom, his friends, and him trying to document his feelings in messy pages of writing/doodles/choas..

i love the idea that he starts collecting stickers+fun pens+washi tape to use, which is something he totally would not normally fixate on but he starts getting really excited about it..

tbh it's probably mostly silly stickers from anime he likes, like one piece and dragonball.. a lot of his other interests like the yakuza movies wouldnt have stickers he could get so he just doodles the characters.

but he starts branching out into sillier and more colorful stuff, mostly thanks to chiyo, kokomi, kusuo, and shun. chiyo+kokomi have lots of girly stickers and glitter pens that they give him when they catch wind of the journaling..shun has lots of silly stickers from comic books and theres a surprising amount of harley quinn+poison ivy along with the mcu stuff(mostly spiderman).

chiyo+kusuo have like vocaloid+prosekai stickers, but kusuo mostly is just the reason aren has lots of bright pink+green on a lot of his pages hehe..

anyway, a lot of the gifts he gives to kusuo start getting really.. obvious ? he once gives him this crocheted pink cat with a blank expression and a purple dog whose taller and smiling, both wearing glasses, that are permanently knitted together holding hands☠️and kusuo just.. accepts it. and a lot of the stuff he receives along with their other friends are suspiciously more detailed than everyone elses and there are a lot of hearts and the cat+dog thing becomes a frequent motif and theres so many coffee jelly stuffies and keychains its insane

shun will get like.. a black and red sweater, meanwhile kusuo gets a purple sweater covered in pink hearts+matching gloves+a scarf+socks+a tote bag+a headband ??? aren are ur hands okay seriously

kusuo keeps every single gift obviously, and the first dog+cat plushies along with some other gifts are on his desk so he can look at them literally all the time..

yet somehow they arent dating yet😭aren basically professed his undying love with all the hearts and romantic ass offerings but neither of them have really said anything out loud yet☠️☠️

[pumpkinsy0]

Things have been a lil too good for ponyboy around these parts.... hcs for ponyboy feeling left out/lonely and howww people help him w/ that (specifically my goat curly but i also love having some of the gang in there and my pookie tim)

i like how we all have a cap in how happy pony can b, LMAOOO

•no matter what, i feel like ponys just always gonna struggle in some kinda way w his masculinity, no matter what looking tuff is always gonna b a priority of his, pony will always take how he comes off seriously

•its expected of everyone to look even a lil tuff so ponys always comparing himself to others, kinda calculating whos better, how, in what way and pony does NOT rlly win the competitions he sets in his mind and it messes w him

•its one of the reasons y he hung out w johnny as shitty as that sounds, next to johnny he looked tuffer and that mad pony feel better about himself, hes never ever realized that tho and dont worry its not like he was USING johnny, he did love johnny that was just like one of the perks of being around him and the last reason h he ever was in the first place, he truly did love johnny do NOT twist my words,,,

•ANYWAYS that feeling gets even more apparent when it comes to ppl who r literally around his same age, CASE IN POINT!!! CURLY!!! WOOO!!!! now being around curly was the exact opposite of being around johnny, now pony looked weaker and he couldnt STAND it, that smallllll amount of masculinity he had w johnny is just gone now

•hes NEVER ever talked about it to other ppl, cause just think about it, WHINING to someone about not being seen as strong????? thats like a kid whining about not getting what they want, hes not gonna b taken seriously after that so he choses to shut up about it!!!! go into this situation alone

•whats funny about it is curly DOES see pony as tuff (not as tuff as him, curlys a conceded lil asshole) but way more than pony thinks, thats y curly respects him

•ponys got a LOT of respect from tim from when he “killed that soc”, pony doesnt exactly count it and doesnt like being seen as tuff for THAT moment specifically, but sometimes pony just takes what he gets, tims ruffled ponys hair (rough as hell btw) and said “ur good, kid” and thats made pony feel a lil better, tho!!

•pretty sure its canon that pony said his and sodas hair was seen as the best in the gang and HOW that was decided was just a silly voting between the gang, even darry voted for pony and ponys NEVER forgot how good that made him feel he was so happy

•pony doesnt take MUCH opinion on it when it comes to darry and soda bc those r his brothers, he expects them to call him tuff, duhhhh, but that doesnt mean that their compliments dont mean NOTHING, to anyone else those r huge compliments, soda the pretty boy and darry the golden boy callin u tuff??? pony u r living someones dream rn

•kinda unrelated but pony picks up tuff things to do from some movies hes seen and soda notices that and wants to call him cute but he knows pony would hate that so he keeps it to himself

•right after darry, its steve whos the more “muscular” of the gang (hes more pudgy than anything but very strong) and he notices that ponys arm get a lil more beefy every time he sees him and he always points it out saying “god damn do u go to the gym or somethin” and they can fight allllll they want, pony loves the compliment bc hes not even going to the gym, if steve is able to compliment him on it, hes doin somethin right!!!

[i-kylie]

can you do hcs of ponyboy with a soc gf and he's sooo obsessed with her like always with her and always staring at her and she buys him things all the time bc they're in loveee and the gang loves to tease pony about her all the time

-<3

It all started in math class

You and him were sat next to each other from alphabetical seat arrangements

He paid you no mind at the beginning, until you had asked him for help on an equation

Then it turned into multiple equations

Then becoming acquaintances

He started to develop feelings after finally paying attention to you

The only reason he wasn't at first, was because he didn't even want to be in the predicament he was in now

He knew you were a pretty girl and a soc- it intimidated him

So when you started giving him attention and giving him a reason to talk to you, the emotions hit him like a train

He started to think non-stop about you and staring at you in class or in the hallways

You had noticed, but didn't say anything for a while

Until you did

He had broken his calculator and you had the money for a new one

So you gifted him a new one and he didn't know what to say

That's when you started making the first moves and he just went with it

It became a thing where you'd shower him with things

Even if it was something little like a candy bar or a new shirt

He appreciated it and would do as much as he could to return the favor

Now if you thought getting together was the hardest part, you're extremely wrong

Getting approval of everyone was.

Your parents gave him the benefit of the doubt and seen through his tax bracket and how he dressed, or who he was associated with

They saw the kind of boy he was and accepted him

However, it wasn't as easy with the gang

When you started going out together, they had noticed the new things he was getting

Dallas even thought he started stealing to get those things

It confused the gang and worried them a bit

So, it made sense when they found out about you and met you

They were weary at first because of their experiences with socs, but after a while, it became something Ponyboy would be teased about

Everytime Ponyboy would get a new thing, even if it wasn't from you, they'd joke "you get that from your sugarmom?" or "is she your broad or you mom?" or something like that

It phased him at the beginning, especially when it came from Steve, but after a while he shrugs it off and sometimes laughs with 'em

[grishaverse-chaos]

alina starkov is not 17 in the books. That's a retcon Leigh Bardugo makes when she waited and wrote SoC. Instead, read the trilogy again. Mark all instances of timeline time passing. Leigh bardugo made alina starkov be in her early 20s if she'd just done SIMPLE MATHS.

Alina arrived at the orphanage and the very experienced caretaker says she looks like an eight year old. However, the cooks and Mal overhewr how alina isn't eating and as we the readers know she's struggling with wasting sickness. So a heavily malnourished child, who looks one age, is actually one or two years older. But for arguments sake let's leave her at eight.

8

When she starts the trilogy, alina mentioned she and Mal had already completed one full year of first army training.

1

At one point alina mentions the full length of time she stay at the orphanage with mal "over ten years." So more than ten tear...is it 11 years 10 and a half? Who knows but let's mark 10

10

Add these together and from the first page of the first book alina is AT MINIMUM 19. And that's a lenient count because again she's likely older than that with her wasting sickness in tye beginning and the "over ten" remark.

Only now does the story begin. The story that spans multiple months to years. Alina starts in the first chapter in the early autumn and stays in the Little Palace for multiple months since the winter fete happens at the very last day of winter. And I'm not even looking at all the weeks/months it takes them to travel around the country for the stag, leave ravka later etc. Girl was in her 20s.

Leigh bardugo simply cannot math...

okay lmao.

there are inconsistencies in the timeline, I agree, but for my personal calculation, I use the only thing which isn't an estimate - her military training. the draft age is 16. she's had 1 year of training: she's around 17. her being "about 8" when she arrives at the orphanage and staying for "about 10" years are estimates.

if she joined the army at 16 and has been there for one year, she's 17.

again: I agree that the timeline is inconsistent and I've never said it isn't. but this is the evidence I personally use to support my reading of the text, which has been confirmed to be the canonically correct answer.

(also: book 1 spans a couple months and alina leaves the little palace at midwinter. she spends summer at the grand palace after returning there with nikolai. it's entirely plausible that less than a year passes over the course of the trilogy!)

so like, thank you for this ask, and I agree that there's room for interpretation here, but I think our readings of the books differ significantly!