#have a small novel

[hualianschild]

absolutely love it when they put details like this

[clairedaring]

Ming + being proactive in getting to know Joe and his works

MY STAND-IN (2024) | 1.03

[ahalliance]

just finished Nimona… DAMN does it feel good to watch such an openly queer movie man

[yrrtyrrtwhenihrrthrrt]

I kind of find it funny that Movie! Goldenheart are visibly different heights and are less... For lack of a better term straightifiable (by which I mean, it's harder for like, fujoshis to project heterosexual gender norms onto them wherein shorter=feminine=bottom etc) while Comic! Goldenheart, which is VERY often straightified with Comic Ambrosius often being treated/written as if he was a woman, are shown on numerous occasions to be exactly the same height. Like go ahead and try to make him UwU petite, he's not any shorter than Blackheart. As for Boldheart who IS shorter than Ambrosius, he's an absolute brick shithouse so try to feminize him I dare you??

Idk I just think it's a fun slap in the face to people who reduce gay male characters to stereotypical heterosexual gender norms. N.D. Stevenson said no ladies here these bitches GAY gay with those character designs.

[imaybe5tupid]

This bottle of Steven’s, awakens ancient feelings.

[askfallenroyalty]

Not that I needed a NEW project to work on but... Here's my Underfell take. Let's see where this goes.

[a2zillustration]

What am I gonna do when croissant finishes the game their journey... TT_TT I don't wanna say goodbye to them!!

I don't know buddy I've been wondering the same thing :') Let's not think about it-

[tungle-squentacles]

huevember 22! ngl I don't like this one as much but I wanted to try something design ish. may redo some time in the future

[quuerbee]

Just saw a picture of divine dragon chung myung before he got that title and it really hit me how small Cho Sam's body was when chung myung came back. This little thought has spoilers for chapter 400+ (I think anyway) and vague spoilers for everything past ch 400 until like. Ch 800

GOD OK so we as the reader understand chung myungs situation very very intimately. WE understand that he is an 80+ year old man mentally. WE understand that he is not in fact 15, then 17, then 19, 20, etc. Everyone around him, however, truly believe that he is those ages.

It's brushed upon multiple times throughout the novel, especially whenever chung myung is down for the count/recovering after a fight. The facade he makes around himself, the strong reliable leader, fades away and the "truth" of who he is reinstates itself to those close to him in this second life. His back, every time he wavers, is described as small. This is always through the perspective of anyone but himself. This is even more apparent whenever he is unconscious after a serious fight. I don't know exactly chapters, but i KNOW that baek cheon (and the rest of the 5 swords plus soso and hye yeon), at least once, has had the reality of Chung myungs apparent age dawn upon them. That they're youngest sajae (sahyung in soso's case) is constantly spilling his own blood to protect them. (This fact is straight up said by yu iseol after the particularly bad fight with Jang ilso, spitting her frustration with only getting in chung myungs way instead of protecting him).

This phenomenon is hardly limited to the main group of disciples. After the first myriad men siege on Mount hua (while The Gang is in Xian), everyone subconsciously gains courage with the thought that soon enough chung myung will come, that he'll protect them. The disciples (soso being the most prevalent since she's one of the main disciples focused on in the novel) of course correct this thought, realizing that they cannot rely on chung myung forever. Anyways moving on from just describing this arc. What I mainly want to focus on is Hyun jong and chung myungs interaction AFTER the siege is finished, after un gum is fresh off of his amputation, after chung myung has barely gotten treatment for his own (quite serious) injuries.

What do you think when through Hyun jong's mind, seeing his youngest disciple, the one who brought back the hope that had almost died out with his sect, ruthlessly kill the enemy, return heavily wounded, and then try to sneak out almost immediately to go back to smite those who have harmed his home? To us, Chung myung is more than capable. He's the plum blossom sword Saint, the one who (even with all the regret he holds over this) severed the head of the heavenly demon. He's an 80+ year old man trying to protect the only thing besides bloodshed that is familiar in this second life. We understand the guilt he has over not being able to protect his home the first time. We understand that he would rather die than allow Mount Hua to fall again.

Hyun jong does not know this. He does not understand chung myungs rage (and guilt and grief and longing and-). He looks at chung myung and sees an 18 or 19 (I don't remember) year old boy, covered in wounds, trying to sneak out of his home on a suicide mission of revenge. He sees a boy. He knows that if he let's this boy go, he will never see him alive again. So he uses chung myungs borderline (who are we kidding, it is way past borderline) unhealthy loyalty with mount hua to dissuade him from walking to his death.

ANYWAYS long story not so short, I need need need more analysis over what everyone but chung myung thinks about him. Everyone sees this young teen, then young adult, bend over backwards to the point where he has almost died so so so many times just so mount hua can flourish. They've seen him kill ruthlessly, they've seen him sob over the skeleton of an ancestor (one of his brothers, a reminder of what he has lost, what he will never get back), they've seen him silly and carefree, they've seen him almost mad with bloodlust.

To us, he is chung myung, the old plum blossom sword Saint, slayer of the heavenly demon. To them, he is chung myung, the scrawny 15 year old that changed their lives, that faces unknown traumas, that has had a life so, so unkind to him.

Sometimes I look at chung myung pre time skip, how small he is, how he looks like a child, how he acts nothing like one, and remember that only we, the readers, get the full context behind his actions.

[poorlittleyaoyao]

once again I am thinking about how CQL went out of its way to delete JGY and QS's preexisting backstory from the novel so JGY didn't sleep with her till their wedding night, presumably to make him More Villainous(TM), yet also went out of its way to establish that this was a revolting experience for him and he hated it, which in many ways is more concerning than the original concept would have been so like. why.

[descendant-of-truth]

Just remembered that I have the Coded novelization, and while it doesn't add that much in the way of depth I thought it'd be fun to share some bits from it that I found notable

For example, here's some moments of Data Sora actually thinking about his real-world counterpart:

The other world with another Sora, data, bugs - Sora still didn't really get it all, but he felt just the tiniest bit of warmth in his chest when he was with these two. "Well, that right there is a sign you've found true friends!" Donald crossed his arms and said with a nod. "It's kinda fun to make the same friend twice," Goofy added. That did sound like fun. Sora wasn't sure what his counterpart in the real world was like, but he had to thank him for friends like these. I'm me, so that other Sora is and isn't me, I guess. What's he like, I wonder?

"Gosh, you sure went through a lot of trouble." "I'm sorry." Namine bowed her head. "I wish I could have told you all this in person. But the real me is gone now." The "real me"...? So where's the real Namine? Um, and if this is a world inside some data, then... huh? Then where - who is the real me? I'm this guy Sora, and Sora is me, but then this is a world made from memories, so...? Sora let out a long sigh, then smiled. "Um... guys? This is all way over my head... Am I dumb?"

Then there's this scene that might have been in the DS version? I haven't played it yet, but either way it's different from the movie in the collections:

"It's so... empty," Sora whispered uneasily, looking at his feet. Suddenly, a shock ran through him, as if something very heavy had been dropped onto his shoulders. "Aaah!" Sora cried as a ball of light shot out of him. The burden on his shoulders remained. His knees felt like they were about to give out under him. "Wh-what's going on? I feel k-kinda funny." It was like the energy had been sucked right out of him. What just happened? "Sora! You okay?" Riku came running up. "Riku! What about you? Are you all right?" Sora was still worried for his friend, though his legs were so wobbly he could barely stand. Riku gave him a small nod in reply. "You shouldn't be here. I can fight the bugs off a little longer... but they're spreading. Pretty soon they'll take over all my data." The bugs were starting to win. What would happen once their control was complete? "You feel weak, right? It's because the bugs have stolen your data. You won't last long in here. Take this and escape while you can."

I think it makes sense that there would be some kind of complication with Sora while trying to save Riku; it gives his warnings some more weight.

Speaking of Riku, they added a cute little high five between him and Sora when he clears out all the bugs in Riku's datascape:

"Thanks!" Sora held up his hand, and Riku gave him a high five. "The bug tried to use my power for itself, didn't it?" "Yeah... How'd you know?" Sora asked in return.

In general, characters are more prone to physical contact with each other in the novels compared to the original versions; Donald and Goofy give a few different hugs in this book alone. But because I'm a simple person who likes Soriku, this scene in particular made me happy:

"Wait, Sora! Where are you going? Sora!" Riku grabbed Sora by the arm as he started to run off. "The datascape won't hold together much longer! Sora, stop!" Sora had no intention of doing that. "Sora, are you crazy?" Riku urged, still with a firm grip on his friend's arm. "We can't just leave them! You heard Mickey. I'm going to find them!" "Find them where?! Do you have any idea where they are?" "Somewhere!" Sora snapped. Riku took hold of Sora by both shoulders and gazed into his eyes in an effort to get through to him. Sora stared right back. "Aren't you afraid?" Riku asked softly. "We're not just talking about losing some memories here. We could get erased. This whole world could get erased!" "Sure I'm afraid. Weren't you?" "Hmm?" Sora slowly removed Riku's hands. "You've been in my shoes. You've gone up against the impossible alone. Because you knew that was less scary than just sitting around and waiting for the end."

Like what was the REASON for this. Did the author realize that she omitted the specific detail of Sora holding Riku's shoulders like in the movie version and decide to make up for it here. That would be hilarious

We also get Sora threatening Pete, which was way funnier to me than it should've been:

"This is where it ends, Pete!" Mickey brandished his Keyblade. "It ain't fair! Sproutin' a new Keyblade is cheating. Better make a strategic retreat, before--" "Not so fast! First, hand over Riku... or else." Sora readied his Keyblade, too. "Uhmmm... Now let's talk about this..."

And finally, the scene that shook my perspective the most:

"Don't ever talk about Sora like that. He's our friend in this world and every other one, too!" Donald shouted, wriggling in the tiny space between his body and the wall to strike the blocks with his staff. the wall didn't budge, though. "Donald..." I'm so happy to hear you say that, but... I really am useless now. "Hmph, maybe on the outside, but he's just an empty shell. The kid don't got a heart," Pete continued. A heart? What's a heart?

Guys. No one's explained to Data Sora what a heart is. This automatically makes him one of the funniest characters in the series, because it means he's been dodging all of the emotional turmoil that's been the driving force of the series through a simple lack of information.

He has his own struggles of course, but out of every character that's been a protagonist in one of these games, he understands Heart Lore the least, and I find that incredible

[deadpanwalking]

In your opinion is there still space for new authors (that don’t write YA) in the publishing industry?

I'm guessing you mean the traditional publishing industry. I’d be a hypocrite if I told you to burn down the Big Five publishing houses that take up space in your head, but you gotta understand that in addition to the shit that’s always been wrong, there’s a now a huge labor issue on account of the buyouts and layoffs last year, not to mention that the recent layoffs in the journalism industry = less book coverage = less publicity = fewer sales = more layoffs of editorial staff.  The chances of you getting a fair shake with that crowd any time soon are not great. Mind you, this is provided you’ve already locked down a literary agent who either likes your shit or thinks it will sell (birth of first child<the purple 😎 on QueryTracker when you get Offered Representation).  In any case, if you’re pitching literary fiction, get acquainted with reputable small presses, micro-presses, and indie publishers—some take unsolicited manuscripts if you aren't repped.

[a-s-levynn]

"And I feel like I'm losing touch with what I am again / And slowly I remember why I cannot pretend" A Series of Small Offerings - III/6 - day27

[arimiadev]

also can we talk about this small description for mahoyo

A tale told with vivid colors and rich sound in a classic TYPE-MOON visual novel.

what is this?? did someone who just discovered what a visual novel is write this?? even if you've never played it you can workshop SOMETHING better than this in just a few minutes. why are they dead set on making mahoyo flop

[indepthpokemonheadcanons]

Tinkaton will constantly repair and modify their hammers with scrap metal they find, but some are more excessive about it than others. Certain tinkaton have been known to alter their hammers until they are too big and unwieldy to even lift off the ground. Funny as this can be to witness, this behaviour causes a lot of issues, as it leaves them less mobile in combat and more vulnerable to predators. A tinkaton without its hammer is easy prey.

[pancakeke]

it's always kinda depressing when I make a post about real people and their actions in real life only for the post to collect a bunch of tags from people relating it to their OCs or other fictional characters. like you guys have gotta make some real life personal connections and learn about actual irl experiences rather than picking this stuff up through a lens of fiction.