#ao3 queenmills

[capriclonus]

Because of you, i read "Break you in my Image" by QueenMills. Im lapping up that angsty cycle of abuse. Chef kiss recommendation.

Would it be implied that its the 'canon" prequel to your DJ shart? If yes, will there be a switcheroo chap where shart is the sub to your Tav as her form of twisted nostalgia or idk?

*daily reminder that im cheering for your writing*

Okay so, FIRST OFF, you are so welcome. The author is an absolute poet and I mean it quite literally--their prose is blended with the lyricism of poetry; it is beautiful and evocative and powerful and poignant and ARGH I LOVE IT. Its a tragic story but so, so well written. For anyone curious this is the work the ask is referring to. I would recommend it to anyone (though its not for the faint of heart). I also have it linked in the A/N of chapter 2 of my oathbreaker fic.

Got a longer ramble here, so I'm going to add a page break.

In terms of my Oathbreaker fic, no, I would not say their work is a cannon prequel for multiple reasons:

Because QueenMills has never given permission for such a thing (and I haven't asked them!)

Because honestly? I hadn't thought about it!

The way Shar talks to Tav in my fic is directly inspired by the way Shar talks to Viconia-- but the real kicker there (and the genius of QueenMills' writing) is that we don't know that it is Shar talking to her. There are moments where you grasp that maybe, just maybe, this is Viconia's subconscious reaching out, talking to herself. If I had it as a cannon prequel, it would retcon and ruin how obscure and thoughtful that was. What I really love about that story is that, even though Shadowheart is the hero of the story, it isn't actually about her: its about Viconia, and her loss and pain and confusion, and reconciling her past in the previous BG games with her present in BG3.

Although it does fit very well with my DJ Shart, I'm not sure it's what I want for my version of the character. And I say that with the utmost respect for QueenMills' work. I seriously love it, and I think I'd be putting a lot of pressure on myself if I dared to consider even touching such a beautiful piece! It would also take away, I think, from the essence of QueenMills story.

I think what happened to Shadowheart at the cloister should, in my work, remain as ambiguous as it is in-game because I think it adds a lot to the true tragedy of her character: that, even though she's finally got what she wanted and has this discernable title to tell her who she is, she hasn't got what she wanted at all, and she has no idea who she is. She is in a constant turmoil of confusion and pain and, yes, happiness, and she doesn't know how they all fit together. All she knows is that Tav was the closest she ever got to feeling like she knew herself, to grasping the life she doesn't know she wants, and she cant let that go--let her go.

I'm rambling now, but I will just add that the role reversals of their dynamic is very much something I intend to play around with as the characters develop.

oh and thank you so much it means so so so much that you like and enjoy my writing and also this ask was brilliant I really appreciate you reaching out, thank you dearly and have a lovely day ^.^ I hope you like the next chapter of Oathbreaker when I release it.