#and fandom that it originated from is imploding

[somewandomnoobtalks]

Idk if this is a relatively common meme format but I saw this (but just another fandom, I didn’t even change the text) and just had to make a cookie run version of it.

Transparent version undercut

[little-one-eyed-monsters]

The Finale of Top Form goes TOO Meta: Jin and Akin are rivals once again

Other Parts [1] [2] [3]

Retrospective on what I think should've been done to save the ship: [4]

Before I conclude my take on this shooting star of a ship, let me go on a little tangent first.

When GMMTV launched KristSingto, as a branded pair in 2016--the first ever official same-sex ship (or koo-jin) in Thailand-- media critics and industry experts called them insane.

Now, even at that period branded pairs were not a new concept in the country, and by the time Channel 9 produced the first ever officially-labelled Thai Boys' Love series Love Sick in 2014, queer media has had a strong cinematic presence in Thailand for over two decades. Krist Perawat and Singto Prachaya were in fact NOT GMMTV's first foray into queer content-- Tay Tawan and New Thitipoom first appeared as a same-sex couple in the het-mix series Kiss (Jan 2016), followed by Off Jumpol and Gun Attaphan in het-mix series Senior Secret Love: Puppy Honey (March 2016). But Sotus (August 2016) would be GMMTV's first full BL-- a series focused on the love story of two men that isn't an addendum to a straight couple's love story. When GMMTV publicly declared their desire to do more projects with KristSingto as a koo-jin, followed by formally launching TayNew and OffGun as official ships with their own BLs, critics feared that GMMTV would run into a pretty major managament and marketing concern.

Because what happens when a same-sex ship falls apart?

The actors become each other's BIGGEST competition:

This would be a nightmare for GMMTV's management, because as these actors are retained in their agency, they now have to ensure that both actors in the (former) ship would get an equal amount of opportunities and representation, without upstaging each other or splitting the original fandom they had built. This is not a problem for het ships, because actors and actresses do not compete for the same roles, so couple fans can support them individually without being traitors to their bias and their fellow fans.

This is why prior to KristSingto, companies who produce BLs don't formally launch branded pairs, and the actors who play in these shows are managed by different companies who view BL series collaborations as a one-and-done deal (similar to other producers in Korea, Taiwan and Japan). GMMTV has managed to circumvent all management concerns by NOT separating the ships at all-- regardless of their solo projects, actors in the koo-jin always remain within their brand. They can do projects with different partners, but only once and never for long. All fan events and promotions shall remain within the koo-jin and even when apart, all actors in the pair must constantly remind fans that they are a strong unit. In recent years however, GMMTV has run into the problem of the actual ACTORS not wanting to be in the koo-jin anymore but retaining their contracts with the company; thus being in-agency rivals of each other. In hidsight, maybe there was some merit to the early warnings of their critics.

Irregardless, because of GMMTV's success and their brands' career longevities, other companies have adapted this pair branding practice to the point that it's become the norm of the industry. Actors in the ship must come from the same agency. Because even if they are pair branded, if they don't come from the same agency, chances are they're competing heavily against each other because their COMPANIES are fighting for media space. This is why branded pairs managed by different companies typically don't make it more than a year on average (but there are some exceptions).

Yes, the "KristSingto concept" paid off, and continues to bring in money for GMMTV, but that doesn't mean it'll work for everybody. Media, like any other aspect of society, is inherently political, and competition is rife. Some stars shine, some dim, and some...

Some implode.

Smart Chisanupong and Boom Raveewit now hold the singular notoriety of being BL's shortest-lived branded pair, at three weeks since the launch of their offical fandom.

In 2025, we count branded pair longevity on the day they launch their ACTUAL brand, in this case, the Auralis. WeTV officially closed that chapter yesterday, with a (what I assume) FINAL statement on the co-management issue of Smart, posted at around 11 pm Thai time (and edited to remove the header on the same day):

Though there isn't a mention of them shelving the Top Form project altogether, it can be presumed that production plans have been put on hold, as in the third paragraph they apologized for disappointing the series' fans and asked for understanding.

Also, see that last line, the "[...] call on ALL PARTIES ACROSS THE INDUSTRY to uphold a sense of contractual responsibility [...]"? That's a simple and straightforward call from WeTV to blacklist Grand Ivory Records and by extension, Smart.

Blacklisting in media is the practice of excluding individuals or entities, from opportunities or employment within the media industry. The calls to boycott artists in media are usually done in very hush-hush methods, but instances of direct blacklist calls are regularly done especially in Asian media. Here is an interesting article on the history of blacklisting in media, and how companies announce it:

And for a more recent example and (closer wording to how WeTV's issued their blacklist), Below is an English translation of China Association of Performing Arts (CAPA)'s call to boycott actor Zhang Zhehan, after he allegedly expressed his support for Japanese imperialism against China during WW2 (this was proven to be unfounded, and ZZH is slowly rising above the blacklist in recent years).

Zhang Zhehan starred in the hit Chinese bromance Word of Honor alongside BL veteran Gong Jun (who had one BL series prior to WoH that predates the tightening of censorship restrictions in China) Though not formally pair branded, the two were in talks to pursue a second joint project under WoH producer Youku. They were actively doing JOINT fanmeets and JOINT sponsorships for big name brands, appearing together in tv spots, and publicly mentioning and acknowledging the fandom name chosen by their cp fans (so essentially doing everything a branded pair does). This lasted for three months (May to July, 2021), before the PRC censorship boards targeted Zhang Zhehan. JunZhe was considered the shortest-lived fandom in queer-adjacent media before SmartBoom did their swan dive for Auralis.

WeTV's announcement is veiled, careful and apologetic, but the statement from TaiLai (WeTV's Thai production house and head of the Top Form project) was ANGRY and... poetic?

Man, someone really needs to get TaiLai a social media manager who speaks native English 😅 What in the dollar-tree Shakespearean knockoff is this?!

Anyway, mentions of Damoclean swords aside, TaiLai specifically mentioned in their post that they intend fo fully pursue accountability for contract breaches, meaning a lawsuit is well on its way here.

These statements were made almost a week after Grand Ivory Records' and TaiLai's last heated (and childish) exchange on X, and three days after GIR claimed to still be in negotiations with Headliner and TaiLai over Smart's co-management.

The morning before WeTV, the actual media owner of Headliner and TaiLai, issued this statement to end all further discourse, GIR ONCE AGAIN *smh* announced another upcoming solo fanmeet for Smart in China:

Proof once again that GIR is all kinds of MORONIC and OBTUSE, because WHY THE HELL would you provoke WeTV AGAIN, when you're in the midde of legal renegotiations, while knowing that doing so put you in scalding hot water that first time? How do you, a company with two talents, go against the 17th richest company in the WORLD by employing the most legally questionable management decisions on this co-partnership? What hubris has blinded you so thoroughly?

Just because they trashed you in that documentary? Don't flatter yourselves, GIR; WeTV ALSO blamed Boom AND THE ACTUAL FANDOM for the failure of Top Form's continuation in the second part of the docu. WeTV is a monster that's darker and more sinister than you will ever be.

So what all this means is 1) GIR and Smart are probably going to be slapped by lawsuits left and right from all three companies under the Tencent conglomerate, if they haven't already, 2) WeTV, a major shareholder in Asia and part of China's top three media brands, has called for the industry blacklist of GIR and Smart, and 3) the SmartBoom ship is officially dead.

And as you'll see from the two posters at the top of this post, GIR and TaiLai aren't done measuring their dicks, because they both announced SOLO fanmeets for Smart and Boom in China on the same day, 721 km away from each other:

It's WeTV using Boom to further prove to GIR their superiority and utter strength, in the territory they have a chokehold over. Monsters, all of them.

Anyway, initially I didn't want to post this retrospective at all.

I meant it when I said @finally-im-home's statement on the whole fiasco is the final message I want everyone to see about SmartBoom. Go read that HERE first if you haven't-- it's insightful and very hopeful, unlike my own doom and gloom posts.

I changed my mind and decided to post anyway when I saw Auralis fans clamoring for the actual FANDOM to sue the companies who manage Smart and Boom. I can tell you now, the chance of us winning THAT lawsuit is a long shot the distance of Earth to Pluto, because as far as I know from an industry professional's perspective, we as mere spectators have no legal capacity to raise that lawsuit. Lawsuits of this nature have never been done before, and even if we did file it... would our co-petitioners (Smart and Boom) even cooperate? Do they even WANT to sue their own companies?

Smart seemingly doesn't. In his message on IG, though he insists that he personally never wanted to break the ship up and was happy to be in it, he accepted the decision of all parties and placed blame on himself, regardless if GIR decided for him.

And Boom is making a new song under WeTV, and has already secured a solo photoshoot and fanmeet, similar to Smart and GIR.

Are they still in contact? Are they still friends? Who knows 🤷‍♀️ Are they still required to interact, or prove to the fandom that they're still friends after this fiasco? No. Will we ever know if their friendship survived all this? Hopefully, yeah, but maybe not immediately. Even GMMTV's Bright and Win had to bide their time after the dissolution of the ship, to show the public that they're still good friends.

This media circus has done enough damage to Smart and Boom's career, and their mental health. I said in my last post that Boom is the greatest casualty of this mess and I stand by that, but with a blacklist and an impending, possibly million-baht lawsuit, Smart isn't doing any better either. At this point, if they want to change the trajectory of their careers away from these moronic companies, IT HAS TO COME FROM THEM. Even if it's too much responsibility placed on a young man's shoulders, Smart needs to come forward and take measures to extract HIMSELF from GIR, as a personal choice. Otherwise, he intends to join them in this ordeal to fruition.

And if we are any kind of fan, we have to respect that.

I'm anticipating that this will be my last post on Smart and Boom, and probably for Top Form and Auralis as well.

I find it ironically fitting that their fandom name is derived from the North Star and Aurora Borealis-- two things that are not constantly visible to the naked eye, and something you need to actively search for in order to see. Starlight takes lightyears to reach Earth, and most of the glimmers we see in the night sky are just fading remnants of dead stars that burned so bright it released light bright enough to reach the farthest corners of the cosmos.

Maybe, by naming their fandom from starlight, Smart and Boom knew then that their collective shine wasn't built to last. Not because they wanted to lose the light, but because they knew the space they wanted to shine it on is too dark and all-consuming to sustain their spark.

(Hey, I can be poetic too, TaiLai, screw you)

I wish Smart and Boom all the best in their careers, now as individual artists. I wish for Smart to become the idol he wants to be because he truly deserves it, and for Boom to finally get the acting acclaim befitting of his talent, and to join the likes of Billkin, Gun, and Apo in industry recognition.

And I hope, maybe weeks, months, or years down the line, I'll scroll through social media and see a normal photo they posted themselves, of Smart and Boom on a weekday off work just casually grabbing a bite to eat at a random restaurant, maybe with friends, maybe with their significant others, maybe by themselves. Free from the cloying expectations of fandom culture and the harsh rat race of money-hungry conglomerates-- just two friends who are content to support each other from the sidelines.

P.S. WeTV and TaiLai, since you all fucked us over, the least you could do is sue GIR to the ground. Not Smart-- GIR. Burn them to the ground so Smart can finally be free from that bogus contract. Make sure you get so much money from GIR that the CEO never has the power to open any business ever again. Only then will I forgive you.

[faeofdusk]

I had a VLD dream....

I dreamed that they suddenly released a new season that completely ignored how the ahow actually ended and said none of that are canon anymore

I woke up so lost that for a brief moment I thought it really happened and I was briefly confused when I opened netflix and there was nothing.

[queers-gambit]

Shadows of the Past

prompt: the High King recruits you personally for the expedition headed by your intended, Herald Elrond. your company encounters the darkness and Galadriel portrays an apology to her friend.

pairing: Elrond x betrothed!female!reader

fandom masterlist: The Rings of Power

word count: 5.1k+

note: wonky brain can think of nothing but this show right now i'm so sorry

warnings: cursing, spoilers, another reader insert for the haters, depiction of character injury, emotions are hard, small canon complicit angst, literal hurt and comfort, established relationship.

"Tell me again," your brother-in-law asked, "why you're not leading this company?"

You smirked, stepping over a fallen branch, "Because the High King has bestowed the honor to Herald Elrond, Daenor."

"Then why enlist you, too?"

"I am a mere emissary of the King. Besides, skills are required for this quest, Daenor, why would I not be employed?"

"Right, of course. I guess my question should be, what skills do you possess?" He teased, laughing when you shoved his shoulder playfully. "But truly," he asked, "why would the King send you both, so close to your wedding day? Why send you, too, if not to lead this company?" However, before you could answer, the air turned serious when the procession you followed came to a rather disturbing discovery upon the laid path.

You leaned on the intact stone while listening to Camnir discuss with Elrond possible paths forward after intending to cross a bridge over the gorge, only to find it in ruins and rubble. Elrond originally questioned the force that could've brought the ancient stone down in such a harsh and violent manner, thinking perhaps lightning, but another voice refuted this idea by claiming it was the Dark Lord, Sauron.

This familiar voice was that of Lady Galadriel - and while you've known her to be a fellow Commander, you were unsure of her title now. Yes, she was technically lieutenant of this company, and that was what she was addressed as, but you knew how stubborn the Elleth was and that she would not be so easily demoted.

You said nothing. You just listened as Camnir told Elrond they could take one of two paths: one so out of the way, it would add two weeks to their journey, and the other, down the same darkened path the Dark Lord laid.

Upon mentioning the path before them through the Hills of Tyrn Gorthad, Lady Galadriel twitched. She had been daintily ghosting her fingertips over the charred and mangled metal of the lanterns set on the imploded bridge, seemingly stuck in thought, then freezing. You couldn't see her face, only taking note of the brisk tension mounting in the Elleth's shoulders.

She spoke, "There is evil in those hills." The group shared silent looks, each with varying degrees of mistrust or caution. "Ancient, and full with malice," Galadriel glared at the landscape before her. "Sauron means for us to go that way. We must go another," She informed the group as if she were in a position to give orders.

From the crouch he took to observe the damage done to the stone, Elrond rose while speaking in a firm tone that overpowered the Lady's, "The Enemy is doubtless watching both roads." His eyes flickered over yours last as jetting over each of his soldiers, clocking the way you nodded in agreement. To you, it seemed common sense: of course, the bad guy was watching the paths that would lead the good guys to him! He was evil, not stupid! Elrond reminded his people, "This collapse makes it more critical than ever to reach Celebrimbor at speed."

"We won't reach anywhere with speed if we walk into a trap," Galadriel argued; the two friends (and distant cousins) held each other's even stare for several moments.

"What say you, Commander?" You asked, hoping to break the tension and little trance they were locked in. No, no, not out of jealousy, but out of protectiveness; wanting to break the ice for the sake of Elrond's authority.

"We go South," Elrond decided, turning from the fragmented bridge stump, ready to lead his company on, when Galadriel spoke again - from the same spot she had yet to move from.

"Commander, I must protest."

You did not move when the others did, you waited when Elrond paused and replied, "Your opinion on the matter has been heard."

He went to walk away again when Galadriel growled with a rolling tongue, "Elrond!"

You flinched to a halt in blinding irritation, upset by your peer's very audacity. Everyone halted around you, Camnir even shifting in his stance out of nervousness from the heat of your glare not on him. Your fiancé turned back to glare at his friend, ending with finality, "Opinion heard, lieutenant. We go South." He gave an encouraging command in Sindarin, leading only a few strides before pausing. When you automatically halted yourself at his side, he nodded and spoke softly while seemingly mindlessly grabbing your hand to give an affectionate and reassuring squeeze, "Lead them on, love, stay on the trail."

You glanced back at Galadriel, who was finally moving to keep up, and whispered for only his ears, "You sure?"

"I'm sure, go on," he confirmed, nodding again and offering a soft sort of half-smirk. His eyes, though, were squinted; indicating he was genuine in his displayed gentleness. With a squeeze to his hand, you offered one last stale look at Galadriel, who expertly avoided your eyes, then let go and walked forward to lead the way.

Behind you, Elrond snarled his scolding of Galadriel, insisting she shape up, forgo trust in the Ring of Power she wore, and if that wasn't possible, she needed to excuse herself. The Commander of the Northern Armies rebutdtaled that she did not desire to see any member of the company slain - a veiled response to her stubbornness to not abandon their quest and refusal to ignore her ring.

Forward, you marched.

Though you seldom showed it, you felt fearfully nervous when the night fell and your company crept further into what felt like infected wood. The ground turned spongey, a particular stench permeated the air, the darkness shadowed most all you saw. The trees loomed tall, the moon casted a bright silver light, and dead leaves crunched under booted, lithe steps. Elrond shared a nervous look with you, his hand only briefly brushing yours; a way to say he was there with you without being overly affectionate in front of his soldiers.

From the corner of his eye, Elrond saw your head tilt back in wonder before a fell voice hissed on the wind, "I am waiting for you." But in truth, nobody was sure about what they heard or did not hear. Perhaps they did not want to know, but still, the voice made the area further darken in suspicion, and once in a small clearing, all came to a halt to survey the surrounding area. There was a threat somewhere, but where exactly was yet to be determined.

Daenor questioned sharply, "What is this place?"

"Tyrn Gorthad," Camnir answered. "Known to men as the Barrow-downs."

You chimed in softly, "In ancient days, this was where they laid their lords and kings to rest."

"I feel no rest here," Daenor grumbled. "Even the trees seem ill at ease."

"Fear not," Vorohil chimed in, sounding amused while stepping up to (and through) your group's observation deck. "Dead men are no threat."

"Well, we've lived very different lives," you scoffed under your breath.

However, after Vorohil, Elrond followed; casting a look at the lot of you and reminding, "Keep moving."

You let the others pass ahead of you, trying to shake off your nerves and mentally prepare yourself for the hell you were walking into. Something anchored your feet, refusing to let go; every nerve in your body on fire and begging you not to wade into the dark. Your name was spoken gently, Galadriel's hand on your shoulder startling you.

"What is it?" She asked quietly.

"We shouldn't be here," you whispered, Elrond doubling back when he noted your delay. Not wanting a confrontation, Galadriel sighed and patted your shoulder before slipping away as your lover approached you.

"Are you alright?" He asked softly but urgently.

"There's something sinister here," you told him stiffly, stepping half a step closer, "watching us."

He took a breath, "If Galadriel's ring - "

"It's not that!" You insisted. "I feel it, Elrond, not the ring, not anything Galadriel said. I feel it."

Elrond's brows furrowed at the tips, like something hooked them to yank towards his nose. "Then stay close to me," he decided.

"We should move on, quickly," you snatched his hand to prevent him from parting; his gaze turning worried. "Please, listen to me."

"My love," he spoke softly, squeezing your hand, "it is a gravesite, nothing more. The dead cannot harm us."

"It is the living's influence I fear."

He sighed and nodded, "We will not linger." His forehead found yours to rest, "But do not stray from my side, it is of great comfort."

"To us both," you agreed, letting him pull back. Yet he did not relinquish hold of your hand, keeping it tight in his and leading you into the clearing the others were surveying.

"Commanders," Rían called, standing over the corpses of two horses... Attacked seemingly a time ago, and upon inspection, discovered the pairing bodily remains of an Elvish party.

Elrond questioned your name when you squatted, brushing aside debris. "Their barding is from Lindon," you told him, gently ghosting the leather with your touch. You looked up to meet his eyes, glancing over to see Galadriel, predicting, "The King sent a dispatch to warn Celebrimbor."

Galadriel nodded in confirmation as Rían discovered the encased message from the King in a decorative tube, asking, "This dispatch?"

Slowly, you stood from your position and held a silent hand out, being given the tube for inspection; all eyes on you, waiting for whatever your overly keen (even for an Elf) eyes would see. After confirming the contents, your eyes locked with Galadriel's, and she spoke what you both were thinking: "We must go from this place."

Elrond appeared ready to agree, tension mounting as your company seemingly felt the blanket of panic being thrown over them all. From the dark, a set of rotting chains shot out to coil around Daemor, yanking him into the toxic, spongey earth and across the clearing.

"Y/N!" He shouted in shock, and without thinking, your hands slapped into his as if in an effort to anchor him... But you were both yanked off your feet. "Commander!"

"Daenor! NO!"

"Help me! Y/N, Y/N, please!"

"Hold onto me!" You begged, being drug on your belly.

"Sister! Sister, please, help me! Help me!" He sobbed in fear, a vice grip on your wrists and hands surely to leave blemishes. "Don't let go! Pl-eeeeeaaaaaase!"

"Daenor!" You whimpered, struggling as the force that held you both hostage was too strong to maintain a safe, secure hold permanently - meaning, saving him was futile.

Your name was bellowed, being drug towards one of the opened tombs; but at the last moment, the tether that kept you and Daenor together was broken and he was pulled into the abyss of the grave. You whimpered in fear, slowly lifting from your belly and to your knees as Daenor's screams were silenced... In fact, the entire area turned eerily quiet.

Behind you, the others rushed to the scene and Elrond immediately dropped to his knees, wrapping his arms around you. "Are you hurt? Hey, hey, look at me, are you hurt?" He demanded, fearful that the chains might shoot out again to finish the job to swallow you in the dark. He checked for any physical injury, but the tension was too great to ignore; the mouth of the tomb glaring at you, forcing Elrond to silence himself.

You flinched back into his hold when the gruesome sounds of crunching bone and squelching flesh was heard; indicating whatever was inside, whatever claimed Daenor, had disposed of his living body.

Elrond took advantage of your flinch to rock you back onto your feet, standing as a group as a voice hissed, "Cold old be hand and heart and bone, And cold be sleep under stone, Never more to wake on stony bed, Never, till the Sun fails and the Moon is dead." Galadriel brandished her sword as the wights first emerged, revealing their zombified forms. You encouraged the group to form together in a circle as the demons emerged. The Voice continued, "In the black wind, the stars shall die."

"Prepare yourselves," Galadriel warned, the group arming themselves.

"What are they?" Rían trembled.

From perfectly between Galadriel and Elrond, you answered, "They are those who laid in the tombs, the Lords and Kings of old... Lore calls them Barrow-wights."

The creatures surrounded your company, leering, growling, sizing you up. In Sindarin, Elrond commanded, "Attack!"

In tandem, the group lunged; weapons striking the ghoulish foes but they merely disintegrated in air... Then reformed. It seemed that fighting only served to irritate the enemies, their collective hissing and screeching making stomachs curl and skin to prickle in fear. Galadriel clocked this first, warning Rían, "Still your arrow!"

But the Elleth was already locked and loaded, the string slipping from her grip to fire at a distant wight. But it only soared through the zombie's face, not stopping, directing towards Camnir - but Elrond intercepted, swiping his sword to cut its path and save his soldier. The creature rejuvenated.

"They're impervious to our weapons," Camnir voiced, fear inking his tone.

Elrond's eyes found yours, seemingly connected by a string of similar thought; remembering the old wives tales you once read a lifetime ago, ancient lore about Barrow-wights dating back to the time of Melkor. So, he sheathed his sword and told his soldiers, "Hold fast." To Camnir, the closest to him, he demanded, "Come with me!"

"Where are you going?"

"Help me open it," Elrond told him, trying to pry open the sealed tomb as you swiped at another wight's skeletal hand reaching for you.

"What?"

"Hurry!" Elrond barked in Sandarin.

Back in your group, Rían muttered nervously, "Commander?"

"Ease yourself, remain calm..."

"What do we do?"

"Make no sudden movements. Stay together, fend them off but don't engage a fight," you advised, "hold strong - "

A gasp cut off your words when chains coiled around your ankle; securing in a tight zip that knocked you off balance and back into the toxic dirt. You scrambled for purchase on anything, finding only wet leaves; and suddenly, the chain turned taunt with tension before you were being sucked back into another tomb.

"Commander!" Vorohil shouted, trying to reach for you, but just missing as you were reeled back over the dirt.

"Y/N!" Rían cried, alerting Elrond and Camnir of your situation. You whimpered in fear, sobbing as you couldn't fight the force; couldn't save yourself; only able to helplessly submit to your approaching doom after clawing unsuccessfully for salvation.

"No! No!" You yelped, trying to remove the chains, but another tightened around the first chain in a horribly tight, vice grip that strangled breath from your lungs from the pure burning sting. With the last of your air, you screamed, "Elrond! Please!"

You heard Vorohil sprinting after you, freezing in your escape attempt when a grisly, decayed hand extended from the ebony shadow of the tomb towards you. There was a panicked finality to your blood, fear clogging rational thought; never seeing Elrond, only focused on the threat pulling you in. But the half-Elf you meant to marry in only a few weeks time came surging onto the scene, sliding on his knees at the mouth of the tomb and swinging a sword to sever both hand and chains.

"Y/N - "

"Fuck's sake!" You snarled, unintentionally cutting Elrond off; shoving the chains from your leg, scrambling to your feet.

You were just about to thank Elrond when he instead encouraged, "Here, take this." He held out one of the ancient weapons excavated from the tomb, nodding with increased vigor before turning away when it was in your grip. You hacked and stabbed the wight that came after you, Elrond and Camnir tossing the rest of the company weapons to cast down the surrounding enemies.

"How?" Rían asked in shock, seeing the wisps of the last wights waft into the wind.

"According to lore, only the blades with which they were buried with will return such creatures to rest," Elrond explained.

"But the men buried here have been entombed for over a thousand years," Camnir trembled, turning to his companion.

Vorohil seethed, "I think it is safe to say that something has awoken them."

"No," Galadriel argued, glaring down at the wight's decaying body. "Someone... Awakening evil. Across all Middle-earth."

You ignored the conversation and slowly took a seat; leaving your weapon in the dirt while focusing on hiking up your trouser leg after discarding your boot. With a clenched jaw, you revealed the wight's chains left sizzling lacerations; the metal seemingly enchanted to burn damn near to the bone, creating craters, indentations, dimples to your otherwise pure and unblemished flesh.

You winced when fabric stuck to the wound, bearing your teeth while hissing through them; breathing turning staggered as the pain became biting. "Commander?" You heard Camnir question softly with concern, others turning to set their attention on you.

"It's nothing," you insisted, observing the wound and deciding a tourniquet was required.

"You're hurt," Elrond growled, surging forward and unintentionally knocking Galadriel's shoulder - but the Elleth didn't take offense. The others wanted to close in around you, but Galadriel held them back after witnessing you before. As Commander of the Southern Armies, you had seen many battles with Galadriel, and sometimes, you sustained injury; she's witnessed how you turned akin to a panicked animal when accosted with attention - no matter how genuine the concern.

"It's nothing," you repeated, reaching for one of your belts, "I'm fine."

"You're not - "

"It's a burn, Elrond, nothing more," you sniffled, feeling how far up the chain had gone; deciding to tie the tourniquet above your knee.

"Let me," Elrond whispered, laying his hands over yours that shook and trembled without abandon.

"Elrond - "

"Just," he snipped, needing to pause and take a breath, "please, let me help you."

Behind him, Galadriel ushered the others away to a short distance; deciding to gather whatever belongings of Daenor they could to honor his lost life. You met Elrond's worried gaze and nodded, sniffling, "Okay. J-Just above the knee, here," you showed him.

"I know, love, I've got yah," he breathed, shuffling closer and kneeling beside you while taking the belt. You pulled the material of your trousers straight, grimacing when Elrond first wrapped the leather around your thigh. "All right?" He checked, seeing you nod rapidly; no words used because you were holding your breath to prevent yourself from crying out. When Elrond first tied the leather, you whimpered and his eyes turned teary. "It's gonna get worse, love, just hang on f'me - " He warned you before suddenly tightening the tourniquet, making you yelp painfully. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I know it hurts, I know, I know, I'm so sorry," he repeated, your hands latching onto his forearms out of subconscious need to feel him for comfort while he secured the leather belt. When done, he reached for your cheeks and pet hair that escaped your braids behind your ears, encouraging, "Breathe for me, just breathe, love. You're all right, there you go. Breathe. Good, good, I've got you, I'm so sorry, just breathe, just breathe... Oh, I, uh..."

"What's wrong?" You worried when he trailed off; eyes full of tears and his mouth half opening while retracting his hands that you held by his wrists still.

"I've blood on my hands..." He splayed them in display between you two.

"It's okay - "

"Got it on your face," he frowned.

"It's fine," you insisted, sniffling sadly, "it's my blood, anyway. We should be moving - "

"You're hurt."

"I know, but it's not life threatening, I don't need coddled."

"I'm not coddling you - "

"You are," you half smirked, "because you're worried."

"Of course, I am," he scoffed, using his sleeve to wipe your cheeks and temples free of blood. "How can I not be? You..." His voice quaked with emotion, "You are my starlight, my fairest friend, my sweetest love. Seeing you hurt..."

"I know," you whispered, bringing him close so your foreheads met, "but I'm okay."

"For now."

You sighed, pulling back to respond, "Don't say that, don't even think it. Optimism is our only friend in this situation, else, what is the point of going after Sauron?"

He needed to take a breath, sniffling his own emotion. "Fine. We should rest until morning... Regroup, give you time off this leg for now."

You nodded, "You sure?"

"I think we could all use the reprieve," he admitted.

"Does that include you?" You asked while caressing the coils of chestnut off his forehead.

"I'm fine - "

"As I am?"

Elrond paused, then scoffed a small laugh and nodded. "I'm managing..." He trailed off, shaking his head.

"Hey," you whispered, bringing him back to your forehead, "you're doing an excellent job of leading this company. But we all have limits and tonight was a lot, you deserve the time to breathe."

"Time is something we don't have."

"We have enough for now," you insisted, more or less forcing Elrond to relent.

As Daenor's belongings were pulled from the tomb and buried in the scorched earth his killers had rose from, the company each offered you hollowed words of condolences for your loss. Beside Elrond, it was known, you and your brother-in-law were great friends - being the reason he met and eventually married your sister. His sword was embedded in the ground as a marker, the company gathered to silently pay their respects while their commander stood at the riverbed's edge in deep, solemn contemplation.

You held one of his daggers, intending to keep it in reminder; pocketing a few pieces of jewelry, intending to give it to his wife. However, all was interrupted when from a distance, you heard the booming rumble of drums. Not just any drums, but the beating sounds of a marching procession; something ominous and daunting. You perked up, standing to your feet as something dark and familiar started in your chest before sinking to your gut. By looks of your company, they, too, heard the drums and shared your worried thoughts; sheathing Daenor's dagger to your belt and surging for where Elrond stood speaking to Galadriel.

"Forgive my intrusion," you bid the pair, Elrond turning instantly.

"Are you all right?" His hand reached for your hip instantly, trying to help stabilize you - if you had been off balance.

Your hand laid to his cheek, answering swiftly, "I'm fine," before dropping your hand to rest on his bicep, "but we've heard drums - in the deep. Sounds like there's a host on the march."

This sent the company into action, tracking the sound of the enemy over leagues of wooded area. By the end of the day, at dusk, you all gathered slowly on a darkened clifftop; watching in horror as legions of orcs marched down the beaten path to the sounds of their war drums. "Orc treachery," Rían cursed upon sight.

"That trail...?" Elrond questioned, letting go of his secure hold on you to lower in a squat, "I gather it leads to - "

"Eregion, my liege," Camnir confirmed.

"We came in search of Sauron," Vorohil narrated everyone's thought and question, "And instead, we find Adar?"

"Could they be in league with each other or... Perhaps at war," Elrond thought aloud, you shifting on your bad leg for a moment to readjust your stance among the trees.

"A legion of Orcs have marched into Elvish lands," Galadriel spat in anger, glaring at Elrond. "We are all of us at war."

Elrond agreed, "Word of this must reach the High King before our host sails for Mordor."

The silence was calm in a resolute sort of way, everyone just pausing to bask in their shock and awe. This was shattered when a distant Orc shouted, "There!" An arrow thunked into the trunk of the tree behind you, a horse neighing shrilly as it galloped through the forrest towards freedom and away from its pursuers. Just as the company turned to face the enemy, another arrow flew through the air almost inconspicuously, finding its mark in the soft part of your chest just beneath your sternum.

You grunted when the arrow landed, taking half a step back and wanting to cry out. Instead, you just held where the arrow embedded itself in your flesh. You felt dizzy suddenly, clothes and hand saturating with blood as the arrow had pierced through the aorta artery to cause major damage. Irreparable damage. Fatal damage...

In a whisper, Elrond told his soldiers in Sindarin, "Hold!"

In the distance, the Orcs were heard complaining about the horse escaping while a few random arrows were fired off again in a last ditch effort to wound the animal. If you did not move, the mangey creatures did not notice, smell, or sense you. But you couldn't form a full coherent thought, just understanding your injury, the looming grace of Death soon to kiss you, that breath was becoming increasingly harder to come by, and the pain - the pain was aching, soon spiking.

You did not mean to, but your fear was too great to ignore, and you stuttered in a whimpered gasp, "El-Elrond?"

His head snapped over, seeing the arrow protruding from your chest and feeling himself crumble inside. You were choking on blood, trying to remain silent - and they all saw that effort. How blood came splattering from your nose as you tried to subdue your noise, but that only made it harder to breathe; inadvertently choking, a groan strangled from your lungs just as Elrond reached you. He held you to him with his chest and single arm anchoring your waist, the other lifting to lay his hand over your mouth as Galadriel glued to your other side for added support.

The company moved back several yards, covering ground swiftly before laying you down behind a natural outcropping of protective rock. You were struggling, unable to fight it any longer; hacking a cough, blood spewing, splattering, streaking down your neck, the pain insurmountable. Elrond's one hand cushioned under your head, tears in his eyes as he could only hold you as the Orcs were heard closing in, other hand once more clasping over your mouth.

Still, Galadriel was sandwiching you, wincing when Elrond's hand stifled your groans of pain as he strained himself to peak over the top of the rocks. When he lowered himself, your lover leaned his forehead on your temple and hushed in your ear, "I'm so sorry." Upon lifting, he met Galadriel's eyes, who had been examining your wound, only to find her's full of sadness. Her head shook with muted words - telling him whatever she saw wasn't good.

You whimpered lightly. The Orcs could smell an Elf.

You wrangled Elrond's hand from your mouth, "Lis-Listen to me - "

"Hush, do not - "

"Shut up and listen!" You hissed, keeping hold of his hand, "'M not makin' it outta this, love, you've gotta go. L-Leave me - "

"No!"

"Elrond. Leave me," you insisted, "and they'll k-know 's m-me they smell. Y-You have t'warn the H-High King."

"I'm not leaving you," Elrond grit.

You smiled sadly, "And I love y-you for that. B-But you h-have t-t-to."

"Not in this lifetime," he begged, a few tears falling. "Just give me time to think, I'll figure something out."

"Time... Is something we don't have," you repeated his words from earlier. Suddenly, Galadriel just knew something without words; a feeling; a sort of understanding that she could help in this moment. She heard you whisper, "I'm so sorry, this wasn't supposed to happen. W-We should've had so much more time - "

"Please, don't say that," Elrond begged quietly.

Galadriel took a sobering breath and moved her hands to the base of the arrow; pressing enough to make you wince and breath in sharply. Elrond went to tell her to back off, but paused when The Ring of Power she wore twinkled in the dark night - seemingly pulling you out of that fatal twilight. Your breathing turned slow... Eyes clearing of hazy pain... Life breathing back into your flesh...

The arrow fell out, making all three of you gasp. Galadriel's hands fell away as your own shot to where your wound had been - finding it healed between the fabric the arrow tore. You looked at the Elleth in shock, breathing, "You healed me...?"

She just nodded, Vorohil speaking in astonished Sindarin, "Amazing."

"You're - You're, you are - ?" Elrond stuttered in shock.

"I'm okay," you confirmed, caressing his cheek as he beamed down at you in pure glee. "I'm okay, love, I'm okay; Galadriel, she healed me," you sniffled, looking to your friend. "Thank you, my friend."

"Of course," she breathed, the Orcs heard shouting in the distance to overturn every rock. With a look of shared understanding, Galadriel told Elrond over your body while you tried to mop up some blood, "Get to Lindon. I will occupy them as long as I am able. Get her up."

Elrond huffed through his nose, but did as bid - not like he needed to even be told in the first place. He gathered you into himself and stood, making sure you were stable before looking back at Galadriel; slowly squatting again as she wriggled the ring from her finger. "Take it," she breathed, presenting Elrond with the band of jewelry. When he made no move, she snatched his hand and folded the ring into his grasp, "Take it, Elrond!"

"What will you do?" He asked begrudgingly, storing the ring in a leather pouch for safety.

"Something foolish, probably," she smirked, nodding in meaning. "Now, go. Go!"

"Elrond, love," you whispered, holding your hand out for his and heaving him to his feet. "With me, c'mon, quickly," you advised the others, beginning the trek down a new path in the woods. As you moved, you realized that Galadriel's ring hadn't just healed the arrow wound, but the Barrow-wight's chain, as well, which helps remedy your limp.

A semi-safe distance away, there came a decently loud and abrupt boom behind you, and upon looking, saw the trees up in flames. It was where Galadriel must've been battling the Orcs alone.

In earnest impression, Camnir narrated, "She scarified herself to save us all."

Elrond came to a halt when he realized his company members were captivated by the sight of heroics in action. So he interrupted their dreamy thoughts by calling, "No, you are mistaken, Camnir." He stalked forward through his delegates, telling them in their native tongue, "She did not do it to save us."

Tension simmered over each member.

"What?" Camnir questioned.

Elrond turned away from the spectacle with Galadriel's fire, consulting the dark again, speaking with ramped distain in Sandarin, "She did it to save the ring." His hand reached for yours again, the two of you leading the company forward with him calling over his shoulder in the Common Tongue, "Hurry!"

requesting rules and masterlist

TROP masterlist

[tired-reader-writer]

Foxes, Pillars, and Sea-salt Rust

Chapters: 1/?

Rating:

Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warnings:

Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Fandom:

Naruto (Anime & Manga)

Relationships:

Uzumaki Kushina & Original Character(s), Hatake Sakumo/Original Character(s), Hyuuga Hizashi & Uzumaki Kushina, Hyuuga Hizashi & Original Character(s), Tsunade & Original Character(s), Orochimaru & Original Character(s), Other Relationship Tags to Be Added

Characters:

Original Uzumaki Character(s) (Naruto), Original Uchiha Character(s) (Naruto), Senju Tobirama, Tsunade (Naruto), Orochimaru (Naruto), Hatake Sakumo

Additional tags:

Konoha Is A War Machine, Shinobi Politics (Naruto), Civilian Politics, Politics, geopolitics, ARE YOU READY FOR SO MUCH POLITICS BABY, Worldbuilding, matriarchal Uzumaki clan, Uzumaki Clan Lore (Naruto), Uzushiogakure | Hidden Eddy Village, all Hidden Villages are war machines honestly, Everyone Needs A Hug, the Senju and the Uzumaki are dark-skinned because I Say So™, Albino Senju Tobirama, he only appears for the first chapter anyways but I wanted to cover my bases, We Put Canon Out Back And Put It Out Of Our Misery, Hey Kishimoto I'm In Your Walls, If Kishimoto Can Retcon His Own Canon I Am Free To Do What I Want™, No Fucks And No Respect Given We Implode Like Uzushio's Internal Politics, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Trauma, Grief/Mourning, Child Soldiers, Naruto Worldbuilding, Other Additional Tags to Be Added

Summary:

“They are not happy about this island, the freedom you represent. This will appease them for the time being, smooth over any tension that may arise,” Tobirama says. “And besides which, we do not intend to let things stagnate, and you know that. This will make future negotiations easier.” “For your dream of peace, right?” “Our dream of peace,” Mito interjects. “You fought alongside us, as did I, haha-ue.” “This is but the first step of a newborn, Kiho-sama. More will come. Good tidings. It is what we fight for.” “Like the waters that retreat before they come again, stronger and taller than ever before,” says Mito. — “From a history unbound from its future days To the sound of my voice, like an anchor in the sea Sinking deeper in a past that's bound to repeat I surrender myself to this fate” — Uzumaki Hoshiori, the younger of Hashirama's granddaughters, volunteers to take Kushina's place as a sacrifice. The choice sends ripples through the world, turns into waves, into tsunamis, until all in the world is swallowed by the sea.

The first chapter is up. The process of uploading made me cry.

Here is the full author's note that AO3 prevented me from including.

[licncourt]

Maybe a long ask but if you had to pick one highlight from each book from the vc, what would it be? The standouts moments from each book, or the ones that have stuck with you till now.

That's a really fun question!! Easier for some books than others for sure and tbh a lot of them will probably be whatever the Loustat Thing was in that particular book because nothing else good was going on, but I'll do my best! Picking the stupidest thing from each book after a certain point would take half the amount of thinking 💀

Interview with the Vampire: this one is going to be the hardest for sure because every single line makes me feel crazy and sweaty, but if I really had to pick just one I would have to say the prostitute scene. I think it’s Anne’s best character building for them both in IWTV and I find it just as layered and striking and impactful every time I read it. I have lots of thoughts about it here and here if anyone’s interested!

The Vampire Lestat: I'm going to cheat slightly on this one because I absolutely have to mention the Loustat reunion scene because it completely changed my brain chemistry at 15 years old and it's maybe my favorite romantic scene in any book ever, but in terms of just. Oh my God what a scene. I would have to choose Lestat's turning in the tower. It's such a visceral rape allegory without feeling forced or clunky. Something about the context of being turned into a vampire really taps in the almost body horror aspect of experiencing a sexual assault and the feeling of being fundamentally changed in an awful and permanent way. It’s so hard to read but in a good way.

Queen of the Damned: It's hard to pick a specific scene here (besides the obvious Loustat stuff at the end), but in general I think the Devil's Minion chapter is some of the best writing and relationship crafting that Anne ever did. In just one chapter she created something so enduring and fascinating with Daniel and Armand, enough to build essentially a whole fandom off of. She said so much with so little and it might be her last great masterpiece within VC.

Tale of the Body Thief: I had a hard time with this because there are some surprisingly great Lestat character building moments throughout this book, but the scene that always sticks out to me is the conversation between Louis and Lestat in the church close to the end of the book. It’s incredibly poignant and indicative of how much love there is between them just by showing the pain they can cause each other. It’s also a very humanizing moment for Lestat with where his character is going, he’s rendered so well here. It’s some of the most satisfying characterization for him in the 90s, it really shows his constant war between hardness and tenderness and old and new versions of himself.

Memnoch the Devil: Armand's suicide in this one always gets me because of how tragic it is in so many ways. In his mind, the events of the book confirm to him that his deepest held childhood beliefs AND the beliefs of the cult he'd finally freed himself from mentally and physically are true. All that healing is undone in moments and it's such a gut punch to watch him implode like that and see this pillar of a vampire crumble under his trauma. Knowing that it was originally meant to be a permanent death is even more chilling.

The Vampire Armand: Maybe because of his semi-death in Memnoch, I really enjoy the scene where Armand drinks from Lestat while most of the main vampires are gathered in the church. It’s not part of the main backstory that’s being told in the book, but I think it’s a striking moment after the events of the last one. This is just a personal favorite though.

Merrick: horrible, horrible book but omfg the scene where Lestat revives Louis after his suicide attempt holy shit....it makes me feel insane it's so good. I wish it was one million pages long.

Blackwood Farm: I honestly don't think I have one for BF ?? I don't remember a single thing about that book besides the ghost twincest

Blood and Gold: I do not give enough of a fuck about Marius to have a highlight from this book I’m sorry, I just can’t.

Blood Canticle: I've only read this book in full once and not with a lot of dedication, but there's this one part where Lestat just kind of shuts down, lays on the bed, and admits that modern life is too bright, too fast, and too loud and he's scared and lonely. In such an absurd fever dream of a book that really feels like rock bottom for Anne's writing, it's a throwback to TVL Lestat that feels so incredibly honest. It's such a small thing, but it's my biggest "oh....he's still in there after all" moment in very later canon. I would also have to mention just the opening monologue from Lestat too though because it's certainly memorable and certainly a highlight.

Prince Lestat: LOUSTAT MUTUAL I LOVE YOU SCENE was my immediate thought, but I would have to officially say the Louis chapter epilogue because it’s the only real closure and full circle moment we get with him as a character. I wish there could have been so much more and that it didn’t feel like an afterthought, but I’ve changed my stance over the past year or so and I guess I’m at peace with Louis lobotomy. Whatever it takes to make him happy I suppose + it was the only good outcome with Anne’s general vibe in regards to him. Even if it’s not truly satisfying without narrative buildup, it makes me very happy every time I read it.

Realms of Atlantis: Lestat officially asking Louis to marry him come to live with him at the chateau. I was 16 when this book came out and I remember where I was when I read this like old people with the moon landing. It almost makes up for aliens.

Blood Communion: This is kind of a Blackwood Farm book to me where most of it is just ??? even after reading it two or three times, but I think the ending is very sweet and kind of the best case scenario for all of this so I do have a certain fondness for it. I think most people would agree that at the very least it’s nice and enjoyable which is not always true of a VC book.

[petrifiedperi-au]

DOES DEV KNOW THAT IF PERI DIES IREP DOES TOO?? DOES HE FIND OUT???? (YOU KNOW WHO THIS IS)

[AU info here!]

AH. I HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT IREP STUFF YET... BUT I HAVE BEEN THINKING. BEEN THINKING SO HARD. AND IT MAKES SENSE THAT DEV MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT IREP ALSO DIES IF PERI DOES. Since he only JUST learned about magical backup, y'know? Doesn't make that connection until, well... you know.

He'd probably find out EVENTUALLY??? But I don't know if it'd be in that moment, or if it'd be sometime later/after— the former might make more sense, though. Imagine him turning to Irep after Peri explodes, just... to see him also die. Implode, even. Intoooo... flowers? I think. That's what I was told, at least! Augh. Two deaths in the span of like... less than five minutes. Poor Dev, man.

ANYWAY, ON THAT SUBJECT.

Since Peri dies away from his parents, and his parents don't know about, well, *gestures at entire AU*, it makes since in typical anti-fairy fashion that Irep dies in front of his. THOUGH... I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW THAT'D GO. Because, admittedly, I don't know their characterization well— as I am still very new to the fandom, ha. I WILL figure it out at some point, though; might watch some episodes of the original show, or read up on their Wiki pages. Something like that!

ANYWAY. YEAH. IREP EXISTS. And I still need to design him and think about how he gets fucked up... because he definitely is, too. Just like Peri!

[bayemon]

I really like your warrior cat opinions. I want to hear more. Get controversial. Make the warriors fandom gasp and clutch their pearls.

OMG. My takes are not that spicy, I swear! It's just that, coming from other fandoms, the Warriors fandom— is like— conservative, I guess, is the right word.

During the month I've been here, I've seen—

>a JPN Twitter fan of Warrior Cats get shit on so hard by the ENG side of the fandom for drawing Ferncloud x Dustpelt ship art that they deleted their art and issued an apology for having made it.

>the Warriors Wiki implode on April Fools' Day because the jokes were 'too offensive' for Twitter users to handle.*

(*The jokes were Smudge being a fat cat, which he is, he's plump, and a Cinderpelt getting hit by a car joke).

>that the fandom anthropomorphizes the characters to an insane degree.

For instance, one of my favorite Super Editions is Crookedstar's Promise. I love Shellheart and Rainflower, and their whole dynamic. And especially Shellheart's talk with Crookedjaw at the end of the book.

But, saying you like Rainflower (I ship her with Lakeshine, BTW) is apparently a big no-no, unless you slap a big, 'I know she's evil, I disagree with her actions, and hate her guts, what a bad mom' sticker over your post because, if you don't, you're 'abelist'.

Crookedjaw is a fictional character, they'd compare me 'liking' his mother to me being discriminatory against disabled people in real life. Like, that's somehow on the same level to them.

>that Bluestar is apparently controversial and widely hated because she named 'Brightpaw' Lostface. I seriously didn't see this one coming. I love Bluestar and she's part of why I revisit The Prophecies Begin so often.

She's so compelling, and her character arc moved me deeply when I first read it. But, any and all discussion I see about her, when she's mentioned in passing, or brought up in a comment thread— is all about Lostface! And how 'abelist' Bluestar was, and how, her being senile 'I guess *grumbling noises* excuses it' (my impression of comments I've received on Reddit).

>that Nightheart is sexist and 'misogynistic'– But, is he? Really? How do you get there. What are the mental gymnastics you are doing to get there. That's insane to me.

>That certain ships are bad because—

*Whitetail was Onestar's apprentice.

*The cats you're pairing together have any level of shared blood, for any reason.

Even if it's through a family tree that's been released half a decade or more after the book said characters were originally from.

*Fireheart was too old for Cinderpelt and she was his apprentice.

*Hawkfrost / Ivypool is unhealthy— which apparently isn't a ship dynamic in the fandom, at all. (If it's unhealthy you just aren't allowed to ship it. Period.)

*Dustpelt was interested in being mates with Ferncloud when she was still Fernpaw.

etc. etc.

>that feathers are culturally insensitive to Native Americans so everyone is banned from using them in their designs. Because— I guess— someone said not to.

Does the fandom know that not everyone is from America? The writing team is from the UK. I'm American, but I just am. speechless.

Anyway— I could definitely add more to this post, but I'll spare you. I've carried on now for waaay too long. Thank you for your ask!

[alicentsgf]

why are people so pressed about how Alicent ends up this season??? Like hotd hasn’t been good since s1 people also criticized everything back then but tbh Alicent from s1 was always headed to where she ends up?? I thought it was common knowledge that her last choice would always going to be duty vs love and s1 stated very well that Rhaenyra is that freedom for Alicent???? I absolutely hated the things they put Alicent through (alicole sex and for what? All of her sons being a dick to her??) her arc this season was badly executed but to blame and think that the writers are catering to rhaenicents? seems a bit stretch when the ship is hated by the majority of the show. We can argue in the journey of how Alicent get to the point she is now but it was clear for the beginning that the head of TG?? She would never be, sometimes I think that thanks to most of the general viewers didn’t understand Alicent as a character the writers thought if we put her in these humiliating scenes the viewers would understand that she is a victim of the patriarchy and the men who surround her, but I guess not even with that the GA and fandom as whole could ever understand her character and honestly im good with it, she’s a walking contradiction and i have read her character like that since the beginning, good riddance tho to the obnoxious people that kept bad talking Olivia for only doing her job (this is not a dig to you but the extended fandom that are attacking Olivia again for her character)

Why are we upset now? Because we dared to hope lmao. And now we're realising theres absolutely no coming back from this (it was already mostly ruined i know).

I think the issue is the choice between duty and love should have been made when she chose her children and grandchildren over viserys wish for rhaenyra to rule. Choosing love didnt have to and shouldnt have meant choosing rhaenyra. Like finally FINALLY she lets herself cast duty aside, because "what is duty against the feel of a newborn son in your arms", "you never love anything in the world the way you love your first child", "you imbecile (affectionate)", etc etc. That is what works in line with the original story AND the sympathetic sides of alicent we saw with in season 1. Sure motherhood shouldn't define women but this is a story abt a fucking lineage !! What do people expect. Of course its going to be about parents and children.

F&B might have been bare bones, but it at least had a strong political backbone to it thats been completely removed this season. That direction would have offered more oppertunities for alicent to be explored as a multifacted character. The problem is that because they angled this as a story primarily about misogyny rather than a story about the inevitability of the targaryen line imploding, they maybe thought they couldnt do that without making alicent look like an unsympathetic agent of patriarchy. (Most of the audience read her that way anyway so they did a pretty crappy job avoiding it). Rhaenyra represented a certain freedom for alicent in the story, sure, im not against that at all, but for the writers to suggest literally being with Rhaenyra is what alicent needs to do to achieve freedom from duty? To free herself from the shackles or patriarchy?? (🙄) Its so laughable. Alicents little grandson had to have his head sown back on for his funeral and Rhaenyras faction sent the assassin. Her daughter was traumatised. You dont just fucking come back from that. Really we should have known when viserys died how this was gonna go and I think in some ways we did because a big number of us were upset with the misunderstanding then, we just didnt want to believe what this signaled about where they were taking alicent. People are upset now because alicents character has become totally unrectifiable. We just never believed they'd diverge so much from the known plot points of fire and blood.

As for this bit you said:

" I think that thanks to most of the general viewers didn’t understand Alicent as a character the writers thought if we put her in these humiliating scenes the viewers would understand that she is a victim of the patriarchy and the men who surround her, but I guess not even with that the GA and fandom as whole could ever understand her character and honestly im good with it, she’s a walking contradiction and i have read her character like that since the beginning."

I have thought this myself and unfortunately I think you're right. In an effort to make alicent sympathetic they have created the most convoluted character i've ever laid my eyes on. Towards the end of season 1 we were already saying her being so forgiving after driftmark made no sense, but i was compelled enough by her because of olivias performance of that scene with the knife to be willing to wait to see where they took her this season. And its been an exercise in more of the same stupid shit. The issues in season 1 have just been amplified by the realisation that season 2 is just the same thing again and again and again for alicent. Shes just a punching bag and im sure thats in an attempt to get the audience to feel bad for her, because i cant see any other reason for it, but its just so badly written that shes no longer compelling or interesting or likeable really at all. Theres nothing to root for when you dont know who someone is. I have so little to say about her this season and that hurts honestly. Olivias performances deserved much better writing.

[bridgetlynn]

So since Friday I've basically been working on two things - 1) plotting a (potentially) long(ish) fic that isn't remotely ready for public consumption (if ever) and 2) writing something that has slowly formed into essentially the fic equivalent of ripping open an anxiety attack and dropping a pretty blue eyed tangled ball of mental health issues into it right after The Fight (capitals being necessary).

It's also been about six years since I've written anything for any fandom. And that was a random one-shot that I got prodded into doing by a friend. Before that we're edging into a decade (and in no way shape or form will those see the light of day here) of not writing anything that isn't original or technical for work. So, as a bit of a tester - I'm gonna throw a few blurbs from the "anxiety attack" fic - this is still untitled, unedited and not even close to done. These little blurbs may disappear or change order or any sorts of things. But this way I can see at least see if I've even got the voice in the same vicinity as being correct. And not totally off-putting.

I'll be sure to share my AO3 once I'm ready to actually post anything in full.

Do keep in mind, for those of you who can't seem to understand how this disease works, that this is the brain of someone who just watched his entire life implode around him - no matter whose fault it may actually be in the long run.

/// It wouldn’t be the first time someone had questioned Robby’s mental health since Langdon had met him. Friends included.

A quick pat down of his pockets reassured Frank that he hadn’t dropped his phone or keys during the insanity of the last few hours; he had left everything else in his car when he came back after receiving the text that went out to all staff. He walked a few feet back to where the triage staging hadn’t been cleaned up yet and dropped his ID badge on a table with the left over equipment. 

It felt disconcertingly like he had simultaneously dropped a thousand pound weight off his shoulders and put his head in a guillotine. 

This job will fսck you up if you let it. You let it. 

“Probably,” he agreed, sarcasm heavily lacing the words, still feeling like those words were lingering in the air around him and turned, walking away from the hospital without another glance back leaving unsaid that Robby had done so first.  He knew he was running - from accusations, accountability and consequences. He just couldn’t really care at the moment. \\\ /// Because no matter what he had shouted at Robby. No matter how much he tried a Hail Mary style bargain at that moment. Tried to get him to change his mind, push it aside, even just simply forgive him. 

Frank knew it. He was fucked. 

He had always been a terrible liar so he tried not to do it; especially to himself. Instead, uncomfortable, bordering on rude, blunt truth had always been his defense weapon of choice. 

No matter what the truth actually was - Robby believed Frank Langdon to be an addict. 

So yes, he was fucked.

He thought he’d have been able to keep all his balls in the air for a little while longer. He just needed a few more months and he’d be back to normal. A few more months and he’d be done. \\\

/// But, despite that, despite Frank keeping everything in his life to appear exactly as it should be on the outside, there had to be a reason Robby believed an intern on her first day. An intern who had already fucked up more times then Frank can remember someone doing on their first shift - at least not since his own. 

Because for Robby to believe her; he had to have been considering something already... ...And if that was true; if Robby had been suspicious from the start, then what he said in the ambulance bay was bullshit too.

“You could have come to me” played through his head against “But what am I?…You’re my best resident. Big difference.”

“Big difference,” Frank whispered, still staring out the windshield into the dark September night. “Guess he was right this morning; we are definitely not friends.” \\\

[ai-art-thieves]

Different anon. Debated sending this bc it honestly just feels like gossip for gossip's sake, so publish at your discretion.

I used to follow wolfharrow aka antoniabishop from about 2014 to 2017 when they were a BNF in a fandom that is largely dead ATP. It kinda imploded in 2017 which coincided with WH/AB publicly suffering serious mental health issues. They disappeared from Tumblr for a while (hopefully to get help).

A few years later they reappeared, apparently doing better, to announce the publication of an original novel. The novel actually exists, and I believe it is their original writing bc they became a BNF in that fandom writing fanfiction, not drawing fanart. However the book also has uncredited illustrations, which they posted on the AB account (which at the time still had the username they were known for in their old fandom). And those illustrations were actually tagged "AI art"! AFAIK the posts are still up, AI art tags intact.

At some point last year WH/AB started posting AI fanart of Life Is Strange and Harry Potter (bc on top of everything else they are also a JKR defender!) People in those fandoms questioned AI-like qualities in the art (especially the hands), as well as the frequency with which they posted new art. They always lashed out and got very defensive while offering no concrete proof that their art isn't AI. They blamed the lack of sketches/WIPs/etc. on a series of conflicting tragic backstories that you'd instinctively feel guilty questioning. First they were a Mormon teen having to destroy their F/F art so their homophobic parents wouldn't see it, then they were an art school dropout involved in an SA case, now they're being targeted by a gang. It's also clear if you read any of their blogs that their actual mental health issues haven't really improved, and I do feel bad for them in that regard (one of the main reasons I debated sending this) but it's not an excuse for lying about the nature of their art.

As you said when their art was submitted for the first time, I haven't seen AI art that looks like theirs before. I don't know if they're feeding real art/photos into an AI filter, or if they just have an extremely specific list of keywords/prompts/etc to generate that style. Wish I had more definitive proof (another reason I debated sending this) but their general untrustworthiness/admission of using AI in the past leads me to believe they're still doing it. They just don't want to admit it bc they've cultivated a fanbase.

Can't speak to any stalking allegations made by/against this person, but I saw them accused of stalking multiple times months before they made that post about being stalked on the WH account. Obviously I'm not inclined to believe anything they say.

Honestly, any piece of information is a piece of information to me.

I can't consider this solid info yet until there have been links and messages to prove that those events did happen, but I think I can say with confidence that we could be dealing with some form of AI scumbaggery.

If anyone here knows more about wolfharrow/antoniabishop, do let me know. in the meantime, I will set up a case tag.

Please do not harass the artist.

[class1akids]

Deku fans won big time with him being ranked 4th. I knew hori would not waste a chance to establish 1 last time that he's better than bakugou.

It's very funny to me, because I'm pretty sure that if this ranking - 1 Mirio, 2 Shoto, 3 Mt Lady, 4 Deku, 5 Bakugou - was introduced in Ch 430, the fandom would have imploded at Deku not being No 1 and Shouto being higher ranked than Bakugou and Deku.

But since the whole detour of 431, everyone now seems to be happy with it (more or less).

I think the takeaway from the 5-page one-shot is that Deku jumped up a lot as soon as he got the armored suit, and Bakugou was on his heels (like you know it's his wish of wanting to chase Deku from 424) and that the two of them are closing in on Mirio and Shouto (who are also head-to-head). (Nobody mentions Mt Lady of course)

So basically the situation is that all of the Origin trio has a shot at No 1 spot now and it's left open who will get there first or maybe they'll keep swapping places. I think it will be left to the fans to imagine.

I don't think it's meant as a slight to Bakugou. The fanbook says that he has everything to be No 1, but his attitude is still bad. The fanbook also says that Deku was always on the chart (in double digits), even when he had no case resolution, just for his lecture activities which count into the expanded chart. Shouto is also confirmed to do lectures and be involved in local causes.

So maybe seeing Deku's success and meteoric rise, Bakugou also started to pay more attention to his attitude and maybe branch out to other activities?

I mean basically Hori is giving fans what they wanted (BKDK competing with each other and Deku being more than just weekend hero).

[not-wrong-just-different]

Hello Questies!!

This post has been a long time coming, and here it finally is. Willow, and more importantly, the Willow Fandom, changed my life, so, thank you all for everything!

Now Presenting…

How to Get a Girlfriend by Watching Willow 2022:

Step 1. See gif of Kit on top of Jade when she was saying goodbye like on Pinterest.

Step 2. Figure out the name of the show with the hot girls.

Step 3. Rewatch the original Willow.

Step 4. Watch Willow 2022

Step 5. Realize that the feelings about other women that you have been suppressing since you were 17 are coming back to bite you in the ass.

Step 6. Reject compulsory heterosexuality.

Step 7. Call your best friend in a panic.

Step 8. Try for weeks to try to get anyone you know to watch Willow. Fail.

Step 9. Sign back into an old tumblr account and start following people just as obsessed as you are.

Step 10. Read horny fanfic. A LOT of hot horny fanfic.

Step 11. Get your best friend so fed up with you that she invited you to an LGBTQIA+ friendly community event more than an hour away just so she doesn’t have to be the only person hearing about Willow anymore.

Step 12. Make lifelong friends!!

Step 13. After several months of trying to convince people to watch Willow literally steal the TV hookup and force people to watch it.

Step 14. Share the link to the Free Willow website in the Facebook group chat so everyone can watch more episodes.

Step 15. Get private Facebook message from girl wanting to talk about Willow.

Step 16. Make friends with said girl and get a huge crush.

Step 17. Start hanging out outside of group events.

Step 18. Be awkward.

Step 19. Continue to be awkward for several months until one half of the friend group pulls you aside, and one half pulls her aside and endure an intervention.

Step 20. Ask girl on date. (She says yes!!)

Step 21. Go on date and realize that despite the fact that there are over 12 years of university between the two of you, that you both read dozens of the same articles on Reddit and Quora about how to act on a first date, since neither of you have had one before.

Step 22. Get mutually pissed off at the lack of official peer reviewed research on how to have a healthy relationship. Decide to work on writing and publishing together. (So far, the only thing actually peer reviewed is our relationship, which only started due to peer review.)

Step 23. Make plans for more dates.

Step 24. Be happy!!!

Step 25. Realize that communication is hard and misunderstandings suck after reading more horny Willow fanfic.

Step 26. Write 5 page love letter in proper MLA Epistle format and give to girl.

Step 27. Become official girlfriends!

Step 28. Receive photos of her extensive collection of swords and blades.

Step 28b. Implode. (Like seriously. It was SO hot.)

Step 29. After being girlfriends for two months, bring up Willow again and find out that she doesn’t actually care that much about Willow?!?!?!!!! She likes it but was mostly using it as an excuse to talk to you?!?

Step 30. Consider breaking up with girl (not really!!) because she isn’t actually as obsessed with Willow as you are.

Step 31. Decide to share your gratitude with the ongoing Willow fandom for changing your life instead of worrying about making everyone in your life love it as much as you do. 😂

————

Thanks to the creators who helped me work through the emotions of steps 5 and 6 and those who helped with steps 10 and 25. @ksfreckles @geek-and-nina @ourlonelymoon @commanderbuffy @acre-of-wheat @wigster07 @vetiverriver @barmaid-anon @swashbucklery @spybrarian @isabrella @lowkeyed1 @savewillow2022 and so many others!

While I’m at it: Thanks to @ourlonelymoon for reminding me I don’t have to earn help, @acre-of-wheat for helping me remember that being on the spectrum doesn’t make me unloveable (and for reminding me that letter writing is valid communication) @commanderbuffy for proving that love isn’t just for teenagers, @wigster07 for showing second chances and that character growth requires tons of hard work @geek-and-nina for perfectly portraying the emotions and joy of falling in love, and @ksfreckles for being the first person I talked to online and for writing the story that means everything to me.

Thank you Willow Fandom and Willow Creators! I do not know where I would be today if it wasn’t for my lovely, Willow-obsessed online community. 💕 ⚔️ 😉

[damnfandomproblems]

idk if you like acknowledge non-fandom related asks but id like 2 commend you for running this blog because i see a post from here ... once a week and it makes my head want to implode i think if i had to put TIME and ENERGY into tjis id go insane . im just Really impressed so props to whoever runs this blog

The process of formatting and queuing the submissions is actually kind of a relaxing, almost meditative process for me. I'll throw something on YouTube and sit and do a bunch at a time. It's how I unwind.

I think it helps that we mods avoid personally weigh in with our own opinions and try to keep this space neutral. I imagine it'd be far more stressful to have to articulate and defend new arguments every day.

(I'm not the original creator of this blog, I was only added as a mod about two years ago, but I've been following the blog for a very long time before that. The original creator checks in from time to time, but lately I've been handling most of the asks and filling up the queue.)

[crispylilworm]

last i’m posting about this xoxo sorry about the watcher spam recently but i feel the need to put my 2 cents in since my opinion on this doesn’t align with the vocal majority on this site

gotta admit my first youtuber drama experience was a 0/10 not because of what the creators did but solely because of the insanity of the fandom. because…wow. i have never seen a group of people throw around demands and accusations of betrayal in such a dramatic way lol. maybe i’m in the minority here but i felt the majority of responses and criticism just were any lacking basis at all.

my first thoughts with the announcement were literally “oh good for them new streaming service, i won’t be going for it, but maybe after a few months i’ll consider paying for a 1-time sub to catch up on everything”. sure some disappointment i wouldn’t get regular updates but overall excited for the new content this pay structure would give them the flexibility to create.

maybe because i didn’t get into youtubers until the pandemic when watcher was already it’s own independent thing i don’t have that same (*cough cough* parasocial) level of connection, just really enjoy the videos they put out. maybe because i go through subscription-of-the-month stints of paying for a patreon or twitch or other creator channel and rotate what i watch, this didn’t feel outrageous to me. i hate the subscription world we live in so i go out of my way to never pay more than a strict budget limit per month because that’s my ability and that’s my mentality on this. i thought at best maybe i’d consider rotating this in when they put out more.

don’t like the idea of it? you don’t have to pay for it. can’t afford it? i understand the disappointment from this aspect but creators don’t actually owe you anything for free - even if it was free in the past. overall and for whatever reasoning you have: it wasn’t that deep.

if anything i am in a way thankful that they rescinded on their decision because that means me & others will continue to enjoy videos for free. but overall i’m disappointed that this means they’re sacrificing their own creative wants and financial needs of whatever they had planned. we won’t actually know the extent of what, if anything, this prevents them from creating because y’all wouldn’t even let them attempt to try this next phase out.

fans saying “well we don’t want high-budget content” well maybe they want to explore more than what they’re currently able to do? maybe they want to create more beyond their buzzfeed-format videos they know will rack in views from the nostalgia-obsessed side of the fans? i, too, personally love their humor and would just enjoy them chatting and being silly, but i do also think this holds them back. remember those hilarious self-made commercials from their most recent videos? that's probably just a glimpse of what new flavors of content they’re able to think up.

this whole fan response was just disappointing (and pretty scary ngl) to me, and i know saying that is like kicking a hornets nest but i really think if they continued with the plans from their original announcement it would have been ok. i actually think it would have been more than ok! but the response imploded so hard i’m sure we’ll never see them try something new again lol.

my personal thoughts are that if your opinion in any way revolved around something they “owe” to fans, feelings of “betrayal”, thinking they’re “sell outs” for wanting to transition to paid content - i think you really need to take a step back and reflect, and i mean that with zero malice. watcher is a business, not your friends, not “the boys”, not your guaranteed source of a specific type of content either. ultimately they made a business decision that they thought would help them grow that would have either succeeded or failed, that's it. for better or worse, we wont get to watch that play out.

i will continue my quiet enjoyment of their videos, and happily move on past what i frankly think was the most unnecessary internet drama i’ve seen in a minute lol. the takes overall were dumb but tame, i only blocked a handful of accounts for posting things i thought were totally out of line that i won't get into but i'm sure you've either seen or heard people discussing.

i didn't even get in to my hot takes lol like how this plays into the dangerous trend of the expectation of art to be free....and the overall devaluing of creatives and why AI is thriving in these areas...but ill defend that thesis another day lol. y'all aren't ready for that.

[irukaka-main]

new chapter is up for the beyond fix-it fic!! featuring doctors who are bad at hiding that they’re worrywarts, vulcans who are even worse at hiding that they’re worrywarts, and captains who are VERY, way good at handling this amount of attention, and will definitely not implode into tears at any moment. hope y’all enjoy <3

lapse/relapse (24369 words) by flipthebits Chapters: 6/7 Fandom: Star Trek, Star Trek: Alternate Original Series (Movies) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: James T. Kirk/Spock Characters: James T. Kirk, Spock (Star Trek), Leonard "Bones" McCoy, Nyota Uhura Additional Tags: Post-Star Trek: Into Darkness, Not Star Trek: Beyond Compliant, Beyond Fix-It, Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, James T. Kirk Has PTSD, Illness/Injury Recovery, This boy can fit so many issues in him, Protective Spock (Star Trek), Friends to Lovers, Mutual Pining, Not Actually Unrequited Love, It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better, POV Alternating Summary:

Days after Jim turns down vice admiralty and commits to staying with the Enterprise, a new wave of unexplainable health issues begin to hit him that are uncomfortably similar to what he had experienced in recovery from the warp core. With another long stretch of Enterprise reconstruction lying ahead of the crew, Jim attempts to make the most of his time ashore by burying himself in work, but with his body steadily deteriorating and his mind dragged back into old wounds in tow, he hurtles towards burnout long before he can set sail again.