#idk why I'm so attached to this book series

[that-girl-glader]

Nah, cause I physically have to remind myself that Thomas and Newt are FICTIONAL. FICTIONAL. Because I keep getting Hella depressed everytime I see the longing in Newt's (great job by Thomas Brodie gangster btw) eyes. Like omdays that boy LOVED Thomas. And omdays Thomas loved Newt, BUT BY DASHNER. Newt DIES??? AND I AM SO SO SAD THAT THESE TWO PEOPLE SO DESPERATELY IN LOVE DIDN'T HAVE TIME. AND TIKTOK EDITS ARE NOT HELPING. FOR the sake of my own mental health. I have to remember that they aren't actual people just to stop from hurting so much. It just makes me so sad.

[girlscience]

I finished Nona the Ninth and.... I was going to make a whole post outlining everything that confused and frustrated me about the book (because there is A Lot) but actually I think I can sum it up much faster. This is a story mostly focused on characters and people, and I often do not care about characters and people. I far prefer worldbuilding to nearly everything else and I think the worldbuilding is there, but it is not really being explained. There is a war happening, and I understand absolutely none of it. I don't understand the sides/factions, I don't understand the politicking happening, I don't understand the goals, I don't know who is leading what or why or where they are etc etc etc. And I don't know if that's a fault on my part as a reader or that it's simply not being explained well. In relation to that, everything is unreliable narrators. And I think I am coming to the conclusion I don't like that. It means I don't know what's actually happening ever and it is beginning to really frustrate me.

[miraculouslbcnreactions]

This thoughts still cooking, so it might not make sense, but I think Thomas (Tomas?) Astruc is a very good case study on how being too attached to your own ideas can hinder your story telling.

I don't mean this in a "Thomas's original idea for the series was bad", but rather that he seems so attached to this concept that he can't stand other people having a differing view from him.

Chloe's the titular example here. Some people thought she deserved a redemption arc, and instead of just saying "nah, I don't think so" and continuing to write her the same way he had been, he had to prove them wrong, prove that his idea was the only correct one, and so turned her into the spawn of Satan and let her rule over Paris for some reason.

Instead of making Marinette less stalker-y, he wrote an entire episode poorly justifying it. And, imao, somewhat diminishing what PTSD actually is and does to people.

I'm not saying he has to make any change (though I think making Marinette less stalker-y would be a good change), but instead of 1.) sticking to his resolve or 2.) taking the criticism, he clung dearly onto this perception of his characters and his writing suffered because of how much he had to twist things to "prove" that his original assertions were right. And also that everyone who disagreed with him was wrong and didn't understand

idk if that makes sense, but the concepts been lingering in my head recently

It makes perfect sense! I've had similar thoughts. It's hard to say for sure, but Miraculous may be a case study in "kill your darlings". I'm not deep into the behind-the-scenes lore and I was not here in the early fandom, but I do know that, at some point, a much darker version of the show was pitched. That's why these exist (image source):

[Image description: two sketches styled like comic book covers. Both have the title "The Mini Menace Ladybug". The left cover shows Marinette's silhouette in a doorway. The door's glass and the glass of a nearby window are broken. In the foreground lies a hand holding a ladybug charm. The hand is limp and surrounded by blood, implying that someone is injured or dead. The right cover is Ladybug doing a spinning kick while looking angry.]

We also have this evidence of the darker original concept:

Jeremy Zag then proposed another project... which he was unable to sell to broadcasters... the project was called "Ladybug". No one was interested, as the project was aimed more at an adult audience... Sébastien had to make sure that the project could be broadcast on Disney and TF1.... Thomas wanted to make a series for adults, but at the time, it was very complicated to make a cartoon for adults. What's more, they didn't have enough money to take on such a project. Sébastien finally agreed, but there were some changes to be made, which Thomas accepted... In the end, Thomas Astruc's entire project was discarded, leaving only the love story between the two heroes and the city of Paris, where the story was to take place.

I've been aware of this darker origin story for a while due to Tumblr and, because of this knowledge, I have often had the thought, "are the writers trying to sneak elements from this darker version into canon?" Because that's the most likely explanation for what's going on here.

If I'm right, then I think that was a terrible move on their parts. They needed to let go of the story that they couldn't sell and embrace the story that they're being allowed to tell. It's why "kill you darlings" is such good advice. Many good stories have been ruined by writers clinging to an idea that ultimately doesn't work for some reason.

It's why the sitcom How I Met Your Mother has such a universally hated ending. The show was originally supposed to go for two seasons and so they wrote an ending that would fit the second season. The show ended up running for nine seasons and, by then, the ending didn't fit, but the writers kept it and left everyone with a bad taste in their mouths, which is not what any writer wants. That's why you have to do what's best for the story even if it means abandoning something that you really love.

This early version of canon may also be why the writers are so obsessed with Marinette. My understanding is that this concept had her mainly acting as a solo hero and, oh look! What is one of canon's biggest problems? Marinette being treated like a solo hero even though she has a partner and, later on, a team!

Not saying that this theory has to be true, just saying that it would explain some things. And if they're poisoning canon by trying to include elements from their darker original? Then it makes sense to assume that they're also doing it for smaller stuff. Like I'm pretty sure I've read that the head writer wanted Chat Blanc to be a lot darker originally, but no one would green light it, so we got an incredibly lackluster episode that spat in the face of the genres Miraculous' is trying to be part of while also falling to have the sort of impact we'd expect from an episode like that. It's a good example of a darling that really should have been killed. It just doesn't fit.

(Totally unrelated sidenote, but is your blog name from Tangled? Because that's what I immediately thought of and it made me smile!)

[thestarstoasun]

Some of my PJO ships & why

Percabeth (Percy/Annabeth - They invented love)

Ruegard (Clarisse/Silena - THE LAST OLYMPIAN, THE PARALLELS, PLS)

Clarisse/Chris (*I do not know their ship name, my bad - The Labyrinth, need I say more?)

Silena/Beckendorf (*Idk if they ever had an official ship name - They were so tragic)

Clarisse/Beckendorf/Silena/Chris (Polycule, bc multishipper really)

Jake Mason/Michael Yew (I have a thousand reasons and I don't think any are canon)

Conchell (Connor/Mitchell - THE FANFICS PLS, but some of them need to remember these are minors pls)

Connor x Malcolm Pace (I saw really cute ship art 1 time and I was sold)

Connor/Mitchell/Malcolm (I think they'd be really cute together and I don't care if it's impractical)

Luke/Lee Fletcher (Lukelee - Honestly, its more of a crack ship for me, but some people on Tumblr have me considering how much)

Luke/Ethan Nakamura (Lukethan - I can't be alone in this, pls)

Theyna (Thalia/Reyna - They would make an awesome QPR, and I thought this even before Reyna was revealed to be aroace. They flirt endlessly if only to enjoy the confused looks on their friends faces)

Tratie (Travis/Katie Gardner - Is there anyone who read the books in the 2010s when the fandom was like super big that doesn't ship them? It's big now, but like, still.)

Tyson/Ella (They deserve the world)

Solangelo (Nico/Will - Tbf, I shipped them since The Last Olympian AS A CRACK SHIP, but A WIN IS A WIN)

Grover/Juniper (Just yes)

Sally/Paul (The King that our Queen Sally Jackson deserves)

Shelper (Shel/Piper - The plot twist I didn't know I needed)

Valgrace (Leo/Jason - When I read The Lost Hero, I just thought "these two idiots could definitely work well together.")

Jasper (Jason/Piper - It isn't my favorite, but I think they're cute together. I hate that their relationship was built on the Gods interference, because neither of them deserved that. I would probably like it more if it didn't start because of Hera.)

Ethabaster (Ethan Nakamura/Alabaster Torrington - The fandom is the reason I ship them mainly tbh. I ship Ethan with Luke more, but Ethan honestly deserves better)

Jercy (Jason/Percy - I have read a single Jercy fanfiction and its kind of growing on me)

Cecil/Lou Ellen (They are literally the idiots in love that annoy Will until he gets with Nico {personal hc}, Love them)

Sherman/Miranda (I didn't think I would like this as much as I do, but its in so many fics I've read I'm low-key a little attached. Like, yeah Sherman show off, get your girl)

Damien/Chiara (I couldn't see them with anyone else tbh, but honestly could possibly change that one day, they will always hold my heart as #1 together though)

Frazel (Frank/Hazel - They are one of the sweetest pairings in the series)

Jason/Percy/Annabeth/Piper (Yes, another poly ship. I've seen this in a few fics and honestly, I think the way its written has grown on me.)

Castor/Will (Literally, because of a single fanfic. They were probably each other's first crushes and didn't even know it)

[thefloatingstone]

Not to be like "haha I'm better than you guys!!!" or elitist or anything because that very sincerely is NOT the point of this post.... but I never really understood people extremely love for Harry Potter.

I read them as they were coming out. Most of the time they came out soon enough that I was the same age as Harry. I liked them. They were cool. Goblet of Fire was my favourite and I was always happy to see what story the next book would bring but that's all it was. Interest to see the next story whenever it came out. Like a sitcom you enjoy but you didn't set your tv to record for you in case you missed it.

And then the word "Chosen one" was uttered and, just like that, I fucking lost all interest. Honestly there was "Chosen one" talk in the 4th book and already I was like

Honestly I think I liked Goblet of Fire the most because there was no friggen Quidditch. And there was less focus on the SCHOOL part of Harry Potter and more this weird Video game Quest setup which just appealed to me more.

In retrospect, I think that might be a big part of why I enjoyed it but never LOVED it like other people.

Like

"Oh boy my absolute biggest most favourite fantasy! THE BRITISH EDUCATION SYSTEM!!!!"

The fact that the books take place in a school seemed like a default to me because, well, most teenage focused cartoons and shows I watched had the main characters at school. Because they're teenagers. But the school wasn't why I enjoyed the books. The school was just a location. No I didn't want to go to Hogwarts. No I didn't want to get attached to a specific school house (although I feel it worth mentioning that when I was 13 I did the online house quiz thing on the official site and it said I was Hufflepuff so make of that what you will).

I really disliked whatever the one was that came after Goblet of Fire. So much so that it completely killed any and all enjoyment I had in the series. Which, considering I was only mildly entertained by them wasn't a massive loss or anything.

I know I read whichever book it was where Dumbledore died but I very genuinely cannot remember one single thing that happens in that book whatsoever. I read half of the Deathly Hallows after coming back from College and gave up because I wasn't enjoying any of it and I never picked the book up again.

I saw the first movie in theaters when I was 13 and I did not like it. It was visually very very dark and gloomy and just... extremely uninteresting to me. Idk how to explain it. The first book just felt so much more vibrant than what I was watching on screen.

I know I saw the 2nd movie although I have no memory of where or why. And I... THINK I saw the third one??? I think??? I'm actually not sure. But that's about where I just stopped and completely lost interest.

Because it wasn't very good.

They just weren't very good books.

They weren't TERRIBLE or anything like that but they were just so.... blah. The earlier ones 13 year old me enjoyed the one time I read each of them but I don't think 13 year old me had the best taste considering I also disliked the Princess Bride at this age.

But I was reading other books because I was a kid with ADHD in high school who desperately needed something stimulating to stop myself from going insane. And frankly, there were just far better books out there. Books I actually re-read. Books I borrowed from friends which ere just... so much better and more interesting.

So I just don't understand this insane appeal so many people have for it, even if they have severed that connection due to Jowling Kowling Rowling's bufoonery and showing herself to be a withered old crone with a shrivled heart and mind every time she opens her mouth.

I grew up with these books the same way as a lot of people. I was the exact age to go through the series' highest popularity and I just did not click with them despite reading them.

So seeing so many people my age or a little younger try and do their best to re-analyse and de-tangle what the books actually are and that... maybe.... just maybe.... they might not have been very good?? Maybe?? is very weird to me because I'm just like.

"Yeah they're overrated as hell and not that interesting."

It's a very weird thing to live through because it's like looking into a bizarro version of the world you remember living through... but not like THAT. I remember the Pokemon craze and yes, it was like that. I remember when anime started to become big and yes, it was like that. I remember DBZ airing and yes, it was like that.

But this insanity around Harry Potter while it was releasing?

Yeah I don't remember it being like that at all.

They were just mediocre books I read because I needed something to occupy my attention and eventually they got worse and worse and I just stopped reading them. That's all.

[this-ag-doll-is-a-butch]

Clara Montoya: Autistic???

I've been getting back into AG for almost a year now. Josefina has always, always been my fave, since we were both nine years old.

I've been thinking about how I want her to have a counterpart in her time and location to actually interact with in period-appropriate ways. She never received a Best Friend doll, though :(

But really, her whole story is centered around her family anyway, and I've seen people talk about how 2005 GOTY Marisol Luna has been used to create Clara dolls. And yep, the resemblance is real.

So I have plans to get a Marisol and make her Clara. Although they may take a some months to come to fruition, considering all my other doll and fandom and plushie collection goals and IRL expenses 😔

But it's free to think about Clara's character and plan for what I want her collection to encompas.

The thing that strikes me most, looking at her now with the adult knowledge of being autistic myself- she REALLY seems like a character that one can headcanon as autistic with ease.

She's logical and practical and literal to a fault. She hates change and getting dirty and wants to keep everything organized. Sewing and embroidery are her special interests! She bonds with Tía Dolores through those interests! She clashes hard with Francisca, who just does not want to make the effort to understand her.

She has strong attachment to objects, to the extent that it becomes a huge part of the plot in "Josefina's Surprise." (The altar cloth, Niña.)

Niña is her comfort object, for fuck's sake!!!!! She manages to relinquish primary custody of Niña to Josefina, but ONLY after Tía Dolores managed to give her a new comfort object (Mamá's silver thimble.)

I mean, I think I need to closely reread all Josefina's series and acquire all short stories and the mysteries. What else is going on with dear Clara and her autism? Does she have sensory issues???

It goes without saying that Clara was never deliberately written as autistic, and of course in 1824 New Mexico, a word didn't exist for autism. But we autistics have always existed.

In terms of a potential collection- obviously Josefina's nightgown straight-up seems to be Clara's camisa and IDK how to feel about that. How can Josefina not have her nightgown??? 😭

One potential solution I've been thinking about is a similar nightgown for her but with a different neck ribbon. I can't sew, but it seems Etsy seller Magnoliawillows makes a similar nightgown with a blue ribbon which could be Josefina's new nightgown.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1325115163/josefina-montoya-style-night-shift

Also, I know her BeForever nightgown exists too. But I'm not as emotionally bonded to it, since it came after "my time" lmao. Maybe it would be nice if Clara and Josefina had summer and winter nightgowns 🤔

And I could get Josefina's BeForever bed for Clara! That's another reason why I want a Clara- to have a way to use more of Josefina's collection as I acquire it, especially the BeForever items.

And if AG could just get off their asses and GIVE JOSEFINA LITERALLY ANY COLLECTION AT ALL AGAIN, it would be great to buy whatever is (re-)released new and use it mostly for Clara, because that way I could have the beloved Pleasant Company versions of my memory yet also support Josefina's collection today.

Meet Accessories/Outfit ideas- Josefina's PC red-ribbon nightgown as camisa, different rebozo, moccasins, extra pair of Josefina bloomers, indigo skirt (although it would be interesting to try and see if someone sells/would make a skirt closer to book illustrations... however, 1820s New Mexican sisters, even in a well-to-do family like Josefina's, definitely shared clothes. So it would make sense from that perspective).

She'd need a doll-size pair of scissors, which Tía Dolores gave her, of course. And I'd want her to have some kind of necklace, because all AG historicals did/do. I'd need to know more about necklaces from then, though... perhaps some kind of mílagro, or Saint Clara symbol/medal? I'd want her to have a little sewing & embroidery kit to hang on her belt, too.

One thing that would take a lot more work, yet would make an amazing story, would be to somehow find another little doll's-doll like Niña. I have a whole story idea where some kind of secret room somehow gets found (maybe at Abuelito and Abuelita's house in Santa Fe) and a long-forgotten doll from Mamá and Tía Dolores' childhood gets given to Clara 🥺

Another idea would be to assemble stuff to create a little shrine for Clara and Josefina to pray at (yes I got the idea from the Mini World image). Especially because it would have Mamá's colcha-embroidered altar cloth! And just in general, part of why I connected with Josefina so much growing up was that her family is Catholic, just like mine.

These days, obviously, I'm a grown up monbinary gay ex-TradCath (similar to ExVangelical) with religious trauma, but maybe making a doll Catholic shrine would be a way to deal with that in a more healthy manner...

Anyway I would love to talk about Clara and Josefina!!!! Josefina-lovers please interact!!!!

[yandereharrypotter]

Not Thinking Straight

Imma write things I want to write for my quotev Harry Potter Series The Terrible Twins Terrible Twins & the Deadly Chambers

These might be included in the later books, but IDK, these might just be Extra scenes. Some canon, some not....

Summary: You decide to go to a Ravenclaw Rave and get so wasted you jump your arch-rival, Draco Malfoy

You looked at the envelope in your hand. You knew a Ravenclaw party was a bad idea, especially after the one you went into the summer before second year. And the incident at the end of second year- You shook your head, so you might not have a good wrap with some Ravenclaws, but they did throw fun parties.

----

Here you were, popping open a cork, already wasted from the drinks and drugs running through your system. You didn't do drugs or drink, but these parties always brought out the worse in people. Not to mention the extreme peer pressure.

Faces mixed together and hands were attached to limbs and you couldn't figure out who was who. Laughs and yells were just that, but nothing more.

God, you shouldn't have eaten those mushrooms. That was the last thing you needed in your system. You leaned into someone and you felt them wrap their hands around you. You were dragged into the hall and you gripped their biceps.

Malfoy watched as you stumbled, clenching to his arms. Your nails were digging into his arms, causing a stinging sensation. You kept giggling to yourself and looking at him strangely.

"You're so pretty," You carass his face so gently, he almost leans into it, until he realizes it's you and grabs your hand. You just giggle and rub your face onto his chest. You look up at him, smiling and Malfoy could see the color swirling around in your eyes, letting him know you were high. "But my boyfriend wouldn't like me saying that to another guy."

His eyebrow rose. Boyfriend? He didn't know you had a boyfriend. Is that why you were avoiding him?

"Well," You laugh, "He's not really my boyfriend. He's just a guy."

"Oh?" He holds you close to him. "Just a guy?"

"He's a bad dude... So mean," You shake your head, "Besides, he wants it to be on the downlow."

"HE wants it to be on the downlow?" He frowned. You were lying straight through your teeth. He was sure you were talking about him. And if that was true, then YOU wanted it to be on the downlow, but he wanted to tell everyone. He wanted people to stop hitting on you, because he loved you. "You're a crazy girl."

"Let me show you how crazy I am."

He laughs, grabbing your hands, so you don't try and take his hands off. "In public."

"I'm a freaky girl," You laugh, before laughing and falling forward. Malfoy is quick to catch you, shocked at the sudden change in demanor.

"Y/n are you okay?"

You don't respond and he checks your pulse. It was still beating. You must have passed out. He hustles you up Princess style before taking you back to the Slytherin dorm. Unlike the previous years, the beds were cut off by wall-like structures, so that the older teens could have more privacy. He lays you on his bed, before sitting in his favorite chair and watching you.

---

You open your eyes slowly, staring at the ceiling. You yawn, before looking around and spotting Malfoy asleep. Your eyes widen and you look around the room, realizing you were in Malfoy's dorm. You quickly sit up and go towards him. You get close to his face, when suddenly his eyes open, surprising you. You quickly cover your mouth and he rubs his eyes.

"You're finally awake."

"How long was I out?"

"A few hours. Nothing serious. You really should lay off whatever you were on though."

You blush, "Did I say something stupid."

He looks up at you, smirking, "Define stupid."

You groan and sit on his bed. "I need to get back to my dorm."

"At this hour? Good luck."

"You're a Prefect! You could take me-"

"No way. I'm tired."

"I won't be able to leave in the morning."

"Sure you will. Trust me."

[littlemissmentallyunstable]

Hi! I have some questions for you. First, Rank the Hawthorne brothers:

1st:

2nd:

3rd:

4th:

Now, your most favourite character from the whole series :

Your least favourite character from the whole series:

I really want to know whether or not we think on the same wavelength about these characters or if I'm the odd one out. Last question, who are the characters that you wish had been mentioned more in the series, as in, their relation with Avery?

hello!! sorry it took me so long to reply but I have been heavily debating my answers. these were such good questions and it was so hard to decide!! but I feel like my answers are gonna bug you…

Hawthorne brother ranking: I CANT DO ITTT, I ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY CANTTT IM SOOOO SORRY

like genuinely love them all the same and I cannot choose, I had tried (hence why it took me so long to reply) but it was impossible 😔😔

I mean if you’re talking boyfriend wise: Grayson would be my first choice but I would not mind any of them, literally if they existed I’d be lucky to get a side glance

favourite character: you know what this is so difficult for me because it literally changes daily 😭😭 and it is so dependant on my mood but I’ll give you a top five

Gigi is my babyyyy, I love her to pieces!! she’s so bubbly and cute and sweet and I literally just want to hug her to death, but at the same time her character is so much deeper than that and she hides all of her pain. (and I’m a sucker for an emotionally traumatised character that’s trying to bottle everything up until they have to break).

okay this might get me hated on but I’m allowed to have my own opinion… I personally love love love Savannah… WAIT NO ONE KILL ME YET… I just think she’s such a girl boss, I love a strong independent woman who fights her own battles. also I love her pure confidence and how she also bottles her emotions in a more cutthroat way than Gigi, I love her coldness (I probably sound like a mentalist), idk I just love her and her intensity, it’s just so alluring!!

oh also tell me why nan Hawthorne is my literal idol?? idk I just love her. her energy is everything, she’s so cool 😭😭 idk I have an emotional attachment

I know I said five but we’re counting the Hawthorne brothers as a whole here (one whole split into quarters so it’s like 0.25 each). Grayson, Jameson, Xander and Nash are all spectacular in all different ways and I could sit here and book on why but I won’t bore you…

I know I literally just named half the characters in the book but overall if I had to give one answer I would have to say that Avery is my favourite character, call me predictable or clichè but I worship that woman and she’s such an amazing character

Least favourite character: this is the one I feel like I can give a straight answer on. I mean it’s the obvious E*e, Em*ly and Tob*as, like ew hate them.

oooo okay hottakes now (yay)

I feel like we don’t get enough of Libby and Avery just being sisters, like I need more. me and my sister are super close and I want to see that in those two. they have so much potential, I know we get snippets but after the first two books it kind of fades a bit…

obviously I want to see Lyra and Avery become besties because I feel like they’d bounce off of each other, like they’re both super smart, both (practically) dating a Hawthorne brother and I think they’d have such a cool friendship

idkkk but I loved the Avery/Xander dynamic from the hawthorne legacy (I think that’s when those two bonded more, but I might be wrong) so more of that would be amazinggg

and I know this isn’t about Avery but honourable mentions bc I want to see more Gigi and Xander being plutonic besties and also more Gigi and Savannah moments. I would also LOVEEE more scenes of just the four Hawthorne brothers bc those are always hilarious and they just gel so well together.

but now I’m practically naming everyone in the series, sorry for my waffle and not-straight answers 😭😭 but thanks for asking <33

[romanticatheartt]

I finished ToG first book...

Honestly idk how to feel about so many things. I'm not that attached to the characters and the plot and if this was from any other author, I would've dnf'ed the series from here but this is sjm and I know at the end of the day, I'm gonna enjoy reading her series.

Aelin used to be on my nerve for like the first half of the book but not anymore, now I feel neutral about her.

Dorian is way too inexperienced and he's living in his own world. I expected to love him from the first book but like Aelin I feel neutral and I'm waiting for the rest of his story.

Chaol was the only character that made me intrigued actually. He is the only one who acts like a grown up lol I think I was focusing on him more to see why everyone hates him so much and only came up with him being strict and serious and the only one with common sense...

ps: These are all my thoughts on the first book and my opinion will definitely change.

[ca-suffit]

I've never really gotten why people are so into Loustat. Maybe if you only read the books? But in the show they're just not happy most of the time. And of course there's the whole domestic violence aspect of it. Whereas Loumand WERE happy together most of the time. They had interesting discussions, enjoyed art together, had long walks, and were sexually compatible. Yes of course there's the horror with Claudia, but as a couple, they were happy. So what's up with that?

it's hard to know where to start to answer this cuz there's so much I could get into. I'm gonna skip the book history cuz wiki is right there, but yah it's basically a book thing. they were the relationship that ppl wanted to see the most, bcuz they started the series (which wasn't a planned series to begin with) and ppl wanted to see them grow and heal their issues. anne rice had personal grief issues attached to their creation and louis in particular. that's why he's moved aside for a lot of the series but does return more in the end as a main, romantic focus.

all the vampires are p polyamorous, so even if there's main focuses at times, they are constantly moving around each other. loustat *are* going to be the underlying show focus, they've said, and they don't have to sideline louis like the books did if they don't want to. I expect they'll make him more prominent and generally make a better flowing story in a lot of ways than the books.

loumand is v short in the books but it's similar to the show in that louis is seeking someone who he thinks has more answers to life's meaning than lestat ever gave. the show deepens that a bit more too by making them both men of color who would understand similar ways of surviving in the world than lestat as a white man understood.

(as an aside to all the book stuff too, it has to be said that part of the fandom's preference of loustat is bcuz it's a relationship that has a white man in it tbh. it's not like ALL loustat ppl are racist or anything, but "loumanders" has been used in place of a racial slur here for a while so it's still def part of it from some. ppl will always say it's not racist, it's from the books....but........it v obviously both sometimes)

the show has also drastically changed the timeline of these relationships as well. the books had loustat lasting 60-70 years for the IWTV arc of it. loumand...I can't remember the exact time, if it's given, but it's a LOT shorter. the show has rly fleshed out both relationships in ways much more than the books give us.

re: the DV. armand is also abusing louis too tho. the show's addition of the drop is new but louis and lestat physically fight in the books a lot, and lestat is emotionally abusive. however, armand is abusive too, with his ability to get in other vampire's heads. the book relationship feels entirely forced in a lot of ways tbh. bcuz of louis' connection to humanity (idk if this is outright stated or my own thoughts), he's easy to mentally manipulate as a vampire. it happens a few times to him, but armand is the first.

so armand and lestat are kind of two sides of the same coin in a lot of ways. as individuals and as partners to louis.

I am interested to see where the show takes them all, bcuz lestat and armand *also* have a history.

I think the show is doing and will do a better job at exploring all these relationships and growing them out. where loustat is now won't always be who they are, same for whatever loumand becomes. all of these vampires still exist around each other in some capacity, bcuz their community is so small. they all have a history with each other somehow. the books never explored that v well but I expect the show to do it. claudia's death hangs over all of them and it's never addressed with armand again in the books, so I'm wondering how the show will do it. but it's an event and a grief (at least for loustat) that connects them all forever and is a major player in how loustat exist forever after and talk about themselves too.

so I literally don't blame anyone for disliking loustat for where it's at rn. I mean, u don't have to ever like it tbh! but we're v early for seeing all of this and getting the foundation for where the story is going from here on. I obviously don't know for sure, either, but this is the start of where everything else will branch off.

a lot of book ppl are trying to cram everything into the first series mainly bcuz ppl don't like seeing lestat being judged the way he is. but....this is supposed to be a long series? everything is not going to happen in S1 and S2 that mainly stem from book 1. I wish ppl could just relax and let the story tell itself. there were years in between the books being published, sometimes not even knowing another book was coming at all. the show is telling its own story and it's ok to go at the pace of where it's leading us.

omg this was long. idk if I rambled more than answered anything but lol. u can always ask more if u want.

[khaleesiofalicante]

hi! i need to get something off my chest, like in shadowhunter world both tv and books, books is my favourite not because i hate tv characters (bc teh emotional vulnerability was very well done there- i literally it was so hard to wait for my school to get over so i could watch the show) but bc books is the original stuff which i fell in love with for teh first time, also why though all teh series are really good in shadow world but tmi holds a special place in my heart (no matter how imperfect it is in certain places) which i think also translates into my love for book!malec more than show!malec. (the height difference bugs me so much in show bc its not the right one, alec loves being shorter than magnus, but i love matt sorry harry but matt is yeeahhh...) idk why i have never been able to attach myself to show malec fics as much to book!malec fics. I think the only long show!malec fic i read was yours that you made about detective alec and lawyer magnus, but that was bc i love your writing and stories (i love the book!malec and mavid ones more sorry !! but i cant david is an original character but i love him so much, sry got sidetracked) tbh i also felt that the next malec fic would be show malec bc i cant (even tho i have read the lmlt i think it was named.. one of teh first long fics you wrote which had asmodeus and alec relation) imagine book alec having a relationship with asmodeus which is even remotely decent. but show malec have always been more softer and more communicative about their vulnerabilities. (which makes me realize now, i also love the intensity of book!malec more, huh)

Anyways i dont know why i blabbered, but i see so many posts about it but i am sorry show malec but book malec is it for me. or more like every book character esp jace and clary is it for me than show clace too. (i think it was also because of the actors though jace's actor did an amazing job in the later seasons.) But i can't wait for your new malec fic, i am ready to gobble up anything you put out there srsly, like i trust you are gonna make it worth it (like i never thought i would like the rwrb fic so much as i do rn, bc like in my hea di have already read teh book and i know what happens but yeah i should have known!)

Also have you ever thought of making a show and book crossover fic? i think you made one maybe i dont remember but like would you ever consider working in that world again?

No, I think this is fair. You're allowed to have a preference. I like book malec better too - simply because there is more to their characters and I usually prefer book versions anyway.

Regarding the fic, first things first, you can imagine them however you want! I know for a fact not everyone who read TLND imagined Alec as Sebastian Stan (I will stand by this casting!!). But it's how I, as the writer, imagined it. My castings are simply for me - to be very honest. I pick faces and people who help me visualize my characters better. But that does not mean you have to do it too. I'm sure people on ao3 who read my fics but don't follow me tumblr have no idea about any of these castings. So, yeah. You can imagine them however you want.

I also want to note, since I got another ask about this as well, that the casting I choose doesn't really affect the personality and behavior of the characters. It's the other way around really. Sure in the show Alec doesn't have blue eyes and Magnus is shorter, but those (among a few other differences) are completely irrelevant to this fic. If someone is put off by Magnus being shorter (in my fic, I mean) then that's their problem. It's such a mundane detail (for me) and I'm not going to be mentioning the colour of their eyes and their height every five seconds. This fic is rather different so I doubt it'd be mentioned at all (considering it's alec pov too - if you notice he is the kind of character where i don't write a lot of descriptions for the people he interacts with because Alec doesn't care about that a lot)

But yeah. It really shouldn't matter. At least I hope not <3

[zannolin]

to be real with you i honestly hateeee getting into fandoms for media that's still actively coming out (not like, star trek or whatever that doesn't count; long-running stuff with different eras and installments is in a different class than, say, a single book series or netflix show) because i was there gandalf i was in the voltron fandom in 2018 when s8 aired and it felt like the entire fandom collapsed overnight. and it rebounded eventually (or like, i don't really know the extent and activity of the voltron fandom today, okay, it's been a LONG time for me, but i see stuff kicking around occasionally) though never to the same level of engagement and activity, and i hate that. i hate the looming feeling of "if they really drop the ball on this last season or canonize some ship people hate or don't canonize one people love, the entire fandom will just up and leave and chances are i'll be left behind all sad and still attached with no one to talk to." it's a bad feeling!! and it wasn't JUST voltron this happened to either. (not to mention so many shows these days just have like Bad Fuckign Endings man don't get me started on death of the ending in the name of franchise) and it keeps happening also because apparently nowadays a show has to be actively airing to have a fanbase but once it ends and the popular gay ship isn't canon god forbid we ever talk about it again. y'know. i hate the content culture and like planned obsolescence invading fandom these days. it wasn't always this way <- crochety grandma voice but like. it hasn't always been like this! surely not!

it's why i'm so much happier and secure writing for stuff like idk, national treasure. or beyonders which is a wildly niche series that came out over a decade ago and still has a dedicated little fanbase kicking around. or star wars. established franchises or niche media where you don't have to worry about the rug being pulled out from under you (either because of an established, dedicated fanbase, or because the fact that the rug never existed in the first place) are so much easier to hang around in. and i wish more current media could have that kind of fanbase more often. i wish things stayed in the current consciousness more than, like, a year without a new season every year or two to boost them. you know?

okay enough being existential. back to reblogging gifsets you can go home now.

[lazysailor]

Some stuff in Unsould I feel like talking about, these aren't in any particular order btw

Spoilers below for obvious reasons

How did society Unwind just decide to farm ostriches of all things? Like there's so many other animals but there like "Lets farm ostriches!".

Lev was a bit boring in this book in my opinion, I felt like Unwholly was like his time to shine but this book just ehh for his character.

I didn't really get that attached to any of the characters introduced at the reservation, most likely because I didn't read Unstrung before hand sooo. Una was a bit interesting tho.

Gotta love Argent for just making Nelson go on a whole road trip just for the sake of it, like ngl I would do that too if given the chance.

Reading the stork brigade chapters was so fun and interesting, probably because I'm making a time line out of that, but still. It's also interesting to see the different perspectives on Starkeys actions. Like Bam was basically supportive most of the time except towards the end when she found out about Starkeys lil baby making group and after the moon crater incident. And Hayden just didn't like Starkey at all which is honestly real if I was in his situation.

I forgot Risa existed for a bit towards the end because my mind was so focused on other stuff in the story, sorry to any Risa fans!

Loved Cyfi's return in this book and we get to see what his life has been since the end of Unwind!

Ngl I forgot Hannah and Didi existed and was surprised when they came back towards the end.

Speaking of Didi I loved that short scene were Connor and Didi played together. Probably one of the very few happy moments in this book.

Loved Cams idea of taking down the proactive citizenry, like he was able to trick Roberta to thinking he was just some spoiled celebrity so she wouldn't think that much of him.

I loved how almost everyone besides Grace (and maybe Lev idk tho) had beef with Cam. Like Connor just hated this guy and Una was holding him hostage, along with Sonia just having immediate beef with him.

I love Grace, she's probably one of the few relatable characters in this series I can relate too!

I don't know why but the five people hanged at the Moon Crater Harvest Camp reminded me of The Goldens from the first book in someway. Because they were both in an establishment that lots of people hate, got there lives taken away by people working for clappers, and we're killed in cruel ways. I just made that connection somehow lol.

I was kinda interested by the Sonia and Jason chapters (I don't feel like attempting to write there last name). Like through the whole book in each beginning part you just see Jasons life fall apart because people were using his idea (unwinding) in a negative way. I'm also really interested in seeing how the organ printer will come into play in the next book!

[open-at-the-close]

I just finished A Light in the Flame and I just...

Spoilers ahead, you've been warned.

First of all they HAVE to find Jadis in the next FBAA book, right? I refuse to believe that they gave us this perfect baby draken just to have her dead in the next series. I hate thinking that she's held captive somewhere, but I need her to be alive.

Second, my poor baby Ector. I'm so sorry I doubted you. I spent the first half of the book refusing to get attached again because I thought he was going to be a traitor, but then he was so loyal to Sera that I was like okay, I was wrong. He's a good one, and then they just literally ripped him away from me 😭😭

Third, I was under the impression (I don't know why) that this was going to be a two book prequel. I really thought this would wrap things up in a pretty bow and we'd move on to the next FBAA book and boy was I WRONG. I realized halfway through that there was just no way that this would be the last one and then I fully expected Sera to "die" at the end of this book. I had this entire scene in my head where Nyktos takes her to the lake, drains her and then immediately brings her back to life because, duh. Idk why he was freaking out. Once he has the embers he can just bring her back, right? Am I missing something? But then NOPE buttlicker Kolis has to show up and no literally everything and poor Ash suffered for nothing

In conclusion

😭😭😭😭😭😭

[boxfullaturtles]

I have a question about your fic if its okay to ask

I was wondering what the threads and lights were about that mickey saw? What are those?

Ah yes, the worldbuilding I started for the magic system that I never went anywhere with lol

I'm gonna get kinda long here, please forgive me. I love talking about this kind of thing.

"Mortal Shell" was originally going to be a lot longer of a fic, with Mikey being outside of his body for an extended period of time, something nefarious possessing his body, and then it leading the family on a fun little chase all over New York with lots of collateral damage. It would have gone more into the mystic plane that Mikey was existing on and how mystic powers draw from it and so on and so forth.

When I changed almost everything about the fic (partly to make it shorter and partly because I had started reading Dandy's "I May Be Invisible" and got paranoid about being called a copy-cat), pretty much all of that stuff was scrapped. There was going to be a little scene at the end of the fic while Mikey was recovering where he asked Draxum about the stuff he saw on the mystic plane. I did start writing that scene, but it didn't fit the pacing anywhere so it got scrapped too. Here's the only bit of that scene I wrote:

So first off I am a massive fan of personifying things that are beyond comprehension. Sort of cosmic horror but without the horror. I love the idea of a city being alive simply because it is a city, because lives have been lived there and where there's life, there is magic. Kate Griffin's Matthew Swift and Magical Anonymous series have had a huge impact on me and remain my favorite books to this day for a reason. I highly recommend them if you're a fan of urban fantasy and kick ass women and a protag who is a pathetic little meow meow that could burn London to the ground if they so desired.

Anyway. All that to say, when Mikey describes New York City as "alive", it is in an almost literal sense. New York is living place, it is alive, it breathes, it feels, it IS. The white lines are akin to ley lines; the theory is that there are lines across the globe that important and historical landmarks and monuments fall on. I sort of localized this specifically to New York City and its major landmarks. So the ley lines connect to each other like a dot-to-dot going from places like Time's Square to the Statue of Liberty, etc.

The Threads I think I touched on a little in the fic, Draxum dropped a line about them being the connections of the universe. And that's pretty much what they are. Individual people have thousands of Threads that connect them to other people, to places, to objects--they are powerful in their own ways but can't be seen outside the mystic plane. Originally these Threads were going to be used in a ritual to pull the antagonist creature out of Mikey's body and put Mikey back in. But that ritual got scrapped really early on since I never really figured it out. Mikey was also originally going to be able to see the Threads of his family members, flowing out and tying together and attaching to him. But when I was writing the scene, they made everything wwaayyy too cluttered and would have given away what was going on far too early. So why can Mikey only see the Threads in that one specific scene? idk because mystic reasons. The mystic plane is a mysterious and virtually unknown thing, that's why.

As for the golden river of light in the sky, that is very much inspired by the river of light from Mushi-Shi, an anime I love very much which has also heavily inspired me. It represents life itself, in its purest form.

I think that basically covers everything? But please! Feel free to ask me more questions! I am always down to talk about turtles and my writing! And other people's writing. I can wax poetic about that all day, my dude. <3

[mobumi]

Do you mind if I ask your top 10 favorite characters (can be male or female) from all of the media that you loved (can be anime/manga, books, movies or tv series)? And why do you love them? Sorry if you've answered this question before.....Thanks....

Hi! Sorry for the late reply, i started to write my answer and completely forgot about it. It's been in my drafts for months, i feel so bad omg! 😭 It was also really difficult to choose and i have only two female characters i am truly ashamed... But thank you very much for this ask, it was fun!

Here's my top 10! 😊

1. Mob/Kageyama Shigeo (Mob Psycho 100 - Anime)

I love him so much! I think he has the most wonderful character development in any anime i've watched! He has such a pure soul and compared to other shonen MCs, he just wants to be a normal teenager and be happy. So much growth and strength with this character, i love it! The series finale was incredible and I was so happy for my boy🥹

2. Megumi Fushiguro (Jujutsu Kaisen - Anime)

I think he's an interesting character with so much potential for the future. I love the way he always appears reserved and cold but he's actually a softie on the inside and how his own sense of justice contrasts with Yuji. He's just a pretty cool character and stronger than he appears to be and he cares so much about his friends. Haven't read the manga but currently watching season 2 so I'm excited about what's in store for him!

3. Dream of the Endless (The Sandman - TV)

New favorite character alert!! Not a surprise 'cause my favorites are always the cold and broody ones tbh I just love how Dream is so imperfect and still learning and his whole vibe, the long black coat and the emo hair like he's in a indie rock band is just chef's kiss! Incredible character on the show, so charismatic and mesmerizing.

4. Five (The Umbrella Academy - TV)

At this point, there's a pattern here. Maybe it's because i'm an INTJ myself, but Five seems like he's very INTJ to me. It's just the whole attitude and the way he calculates and plans everything, very rational and precise, sarcastic and (though pretty mean sometimes), exactly how i like my characters! All his scenes are top tier and his power is very cool (not explored enough on the show unfortunately.)

5. Minho (The Maze Runner - Book series)

The sarcastic character? Asian as main? Hell yes! Finally more Asian representation and not stereotyped! The book series would have not been as good without him! I was pretty gutted when he was barely there in the Death Cure movie, but Ki Hong Lee was so great as Minho, he perfectly captured his smug and smartass attitude that I fell in love with. He's also very courageous and loyal to his friends which I love too. Overall a very cool character!

6. Deadpool/ Wade Wilson (Deadpool - Comics/Movies)

Deadpool is just Deadpool... Bro he's just vibing killing people or whatever. He's completely unhinged, crazy, over the top and just a fun ride. Pansexual king! What else can I say, he's just one of my favorite comic book characters ❤️

7. Miles Morales (Spiderman - Comics/Movies)

Another comic book character in my list. Miles is a cool addition to the Spiderverse and the movies they made are just INCREDIBLE! The animation, everything is top notch. Also Miles is very relatable and has an intesresting development. You get attached to him quickly and he's just so lovable, idk he's my son, i stan.

8. Stiles Stilinski (Teen Wolf - TV)

Honestly asfghjkl!! I've always loved this character, more so when i was a teenager watching Teen Wolf. Looking back now, the show was not that good but at the time I was pretty obsessed. Stiles was everything i loved about a character: funny, sarcastic, entertaining, likable... He made the show a lot better and kept me watching! He's low on this list only because i'm not into Teen Wolf as much as i was back in the day.

9. Sana Bakkoush (Skam - TV)

She's so cool?? I wish i had been like that when i was a teenager, well for the most part lol. I really like her unbothered attitude and her snarky comments. She is fierce, not afraid to say what she thinks and is loyal to her friends and trustworthy. She's a teenager who has still a lot to learn but she's already wise for her age and just a good character overall. I really like female characters who are confident and charismatic! Her season wasn't perfect, but for me she was the best character in the whole series 😊

10. Sidney Adamu (The Bear - TV)

She's last on the list mostly because she's a new favorite, but she's very cool. I can relate to her, she's fresh and real, she knows her worth, she's courageous, hard-working and just very lovable as a character! Sydney captivated me from the beginning and her scenes were always my favorites. Haven't finished season 2 yet but I can't wait to see where her character goes! ✨