#sparks & spells

[cracklewink]

My Mane 6 Redesigns all together! I was going to post them separately but ended up finishing them all before I got around to it lol

[stellavesperis]

Can we talk about Maglor for a second? Because I love this idiot. He canonically takes the most difficult territory to defend against Morgoth, and places himself in between the forces of evil and his brothers. He commanded the cavalry. He was probably a horse girl. He was said to be most like his mother in temperament. He is so loyal he immediately kills the man who was about to backstab Maedhros. He killed a bunch of Teleri, and then wrote a song about how it was the Noldor who truly fell that day. He burnt the ships. He was glad that Eärendil could be seen by all and everyone could share in the Silmaril's beauty. (He probably would have broken them to save Aman, too). He loves Elrond and Elros. He fights against his last brother in an attempt to return to the Valar he had defied. His loyalty leads him to defer. He chooses to live on. His voice was said to be like the ocean that he wanders beside. The last son of fire was lost to the sea.

[surfacage]

??????????

[mem-fr]

01100100 01101001 01110110 01101001 01101110 01100101 00100000 01110011 01110000 01100001 01110010 01101011

[utilitycaster]

When we say characters are narrative tools that just means that any statement like "we need to hold [fictional character] accountable" or critiquing a fictional relationship solely on the basis of whether it is healthy is worthless. It doesn't mean that you can excuse bad writing/storytelling by saying WELL THEY'RE NARRATIVE TOOLS. Characters don't need to be good people to be compelling nor sympathetic! But also, sometimes there's a villain who does just fucking suck (for example) and isn't interesting and only exists to push the narrative from point A to point B and that's valid to criticize. Characters aren't real people and shouldn't be judged as such; but they should feel real and vibrant and their actions should feel organic to the story and hold weight. If they actually just feel like a tool of the narrative then that's bad storytelling; the purpose of a story is to dress up these tools in something compelling.

[thoughtsroamguy]

I created a master list of my (currently) available stories. You can use the links to read on Webnovel. Likes and comments are appreciated, but reblogs are super appreciated 😇! Look under the cut for them!

A Hero's Respite: Alessia Sanguis travels between worlds and universes to prevent calamities of untold destruction. It's become the norm for her to see a world on the brink of destruction; so when she travels to the amicable world Pax, she can't help but feel out of place. Simple farmer Furti assures her that there is no world-ending threat. So what is interdimensional hero Alessia to do in a peaceful world? Who is she without a catastrophe looming over her? A respite is all this world has to offer...right?

There are currently 2 chapters.

Content warning: this series contains depictions of bodily harm.

Take a deserved break here!

A Bountiful Galaxy: Zenith Gee is an interstellar bounty hunter whose reputation is known throughout all civilized galaxies. Her skill with her twin pistols? Unmatched in speed or precision. Her dedication to her bounties? Unparalleled in tenacity and thoroughness. Her capture record? Pristine. Every dastardly criminal she’s brought in was captured alive. Her social skills? Could use some work. It’s a rough universe for an awkward and shy woman such as herself, but maybe the confident doll Ealnem Erco can smooth things over for her. A bountiful galaxy is waiting for these two out there; what will be the greatest prize of them all?

There are currently 2 chapters.

Get your bounty here!

Fangs of Ennui: Felix Claret is used to disappointment, he's long since given up on having any expectations for anything ever. Even so, he's uniquely let down when two strangers get into a fight while he's working a graveyard shift. Now a handsome stranger introduces him into a dark ancient world, but with the best possible intentions. He probably means well, but to Felix, it sounds like a pain in the neck. 

There are currently 2 chapters.

Content warning: This series contains depictions of graphic violence.

Sink your teeth in it here!

Bullets & Spells: Worlds collide when a young woman is saved by a witch after being double-crossed. The fates of Hollyhock and Hazel become entwined as they delve deeper into their respective worlds of crime and magic. Can they survive the journey for the truth about who they are, how they fit in with their peoples, what destiny has in store for them; and perhaps most importantly, what they mean to each other? Can an assassin and a witch really be together, or are bullets and spells too different to coexist?

There are currently 22 chapters.

Content warning: this series as of the first volume contains scenes of graphic violence, bodily harm, drug abuse, and mentions of sexual violence (it’s never directly depicted).

Load the first bullet and prime the first spell here!

Sparks Between Us: Jason Duval knows he isn’t the protagonist of his story, that role belongs to Lamar Brown. Even in their world where people get superpowers, Lamar is extraordinarily powerful. But the young hero only wants to find his destiny and move on with his life. Can Jason help him find it?

There are currently 3 chapters.

Get charged here!

No Idea: Love in a B&B:

What’s small town girl Becky Dover to do when she meets big city girl Rayla Moore? No Idea Rayla’s staying at Becky’s B&B, so they’ll have the chance to find out!

There are currently 2 chapters.

Check-in for a stay here!

Regicide: Delve into a world of magic and adventure with you at the center! Life hasn’t been kind to you but with the powers that being a Caster grants, you don’t need it to.

There are currently 2 chapters.

Content warning: this series contains scenes of intense violence.

Utter your first incantation here!

More to come soon!

If any piqued your interest, thanks for reading and super thank you for sharing!

[daemon-in-my-head]

Just dropping by to say, despite going on and on about his understandable motivations and him not being born evil and needing some hugs; Gortash is still a piece of shit war criminal, arms dealer, slaver and as horrible a tyrant as they come and may also deserve to be manhandled roughly, preferably by Durge cuz that's kinda hot.

Morality =/= taking interest in villains and seeing them get wrecked in all the best ways. It's sorta like how you can insult your best friends and still love em.

Also, since I already poked the hornet' nest and I'm too lazy, yes, dear reader, Astarion is evil. He's a corrupt magistrate and charlatan, even his sanitized released version will admit to embezzlement and lash out. He's not a good guy. But even bad guys can have horrible shit happen to them and may even change their ways. That's the funny thing about humans. I love that guy, but he's a pretty horrible person since before Cazador happened. And that is okay. Its not bad to like horrible pixels. Even if the pixels may be bad.

[worstloki]

Thor: father is trying to find me someone to marry :(

Loki: Ooft, why?

Thor: he says that as the heir I should, and that he wants grandchildren!! :(

——TWO DAYS LATER——

Loki: I have obtained a child for us

Thor: you— WHAT?! LOKI!!!!!!

Loki: that’s what was making you sad, right?

Thor: LOKI WHERE DID YOU GET THIS CHILD FROM

Loki: That’s not important! Are you feeling better yet??

Thor: TELL ME WHERE IT CAME FROM FIRST

Loki: was there anything else he wanted you to marry for or was that all

[dremiruu]

WAIT A SECOND. WAIIIIT.

[sparksnevadas]

(the type is people who would yell at him over silly mistakes)

[corntort]

was talking abt it passionately in the ao3 comments with guts LOL but i think sfarx would have a lot of external oddities to them that raises their biological performance, and i wanted 2 roughly animate what some might look like!!. if that makes any sense. im very tired.

[rawrlands]

Reminder that it's okay to be constantly confused and changing how you identify your gender or sexuality constantly

Especially if you're a teen, people don't always know who they are 100% for the longest time and for some its way easier and for others it's way more specific, hard and complex.

It's not embarrassing to admit you might of been wrong and want to change your label every once in awhile to be comfortable with your knew discoveries of yourself, it happens even if it sometimes looks a little silly to a bystander.

I knew when I was younger it felt embarrassing just figuring it out and telling people different things to get teased about 'always changing'. It's okay to not always know completely as long as your happy with who you are and don't feel the need to conform to others expectations ^^

[kyanitedragon]

"My heart like boom-boom, when you walk in the room. Never thought we could make sense."

[ID: A gif from Monster High Generation 3 webseries Sparks & Spells episode 8. Cleo sings in the finale as Frankie dances beside her. Frankie holds out a hand, and Cleo spins them. Frankie's arms come undone and they spark as they look incredibly dizzy. End ID]

[bluebelleisabelle]

BAHAHAHA

[iliterallydecepticanteven]

This is an exceedingly random question, but it's been on my mind insomuch that I might have a fic idea stewing in my brain: do you have any thoughts on Cybertronian marriage/bonding concepts or rituals? For example, what exactly makes two people "consorts"?

Omg, I'm so excited to talk about this!! So I actually made a huge list of headcanons for bonding in TFA that I was gonna use as a reference in a fic but then I never got around to the fic. Instead, I'm just gonna toss all those rules in below because I have Some Thoughts™.

But before I get into them, I do wanna say, because TFs don't follow the same gender binary that humans do, I think bonding is seen as an act done between two bots who want to spend the rest of their existence together. There are no "roles" in a relationship, like "wife" or "husband," it is legit just "I am so madly in love with you and I want to spend every moment with you until we both die." As such, bonding for political purposes or class status isn't really a thing. The term consort really works here, since it's a gender-neutral term used to refer to the romantic companion or partner of someone.

Anyway, here's the extensive list of headcanons I threw together. I'm gonna throw a read more in there since this is super long:

You can be legally bonded without being spark bonded.

Legal bonding gives similar benefits to marriage, such as tax benefits, shared insurance, and being priority emergency contact.

Spark bonding often considered closer and more intimate but also more dangerous as when your conjunx dies you spark could go supernova and kill you as well.

As such, it's harder to break a spark bond. While not deadly, it's painful. So most will be legally bonded for a while before eventually spark bonding once their sure the relationship will last.

There are huge benefits to spark bonds though. The major one being that you can reach out through it and sort of communicate with your conjunx. You can't exchange words but you can exchange emotions and sense when they're in pain or distress. It also provides a deeper connection with the conjunx and better synchronicity with them.

Megatron actually banned spark bonds within the Decepticon army pretty early on. He didn't want two soldiers dying when one got killed.

The only exception to this rule is Strika and Lugnut, who got bonded right before the war broke out.

Pre-war bonding ceremonies could be incredibly lavish and similar to weddings with a ceremony followed by a reception and party. Traditionally everyone was expected to dress up in nice armor and decorate with jewelry and capes or robes.

Obviously, those who weren't rich often did smaller ceremonies. One major tradition among many was to get bonded in a bar.

The major acts during the ceremony is to review what was done for conjunx ritus, read vows to each other and exchange vials of innermost energon, have all guests affirm their faith and hope in the relationship, and have a third party (whether that be a higher ranking politician or a bartender) announce the bond as legitimate.

That's all for the legal aspect of bonding. Spark bonding is always done in private, away from everyone else.

Spark bonding is done by touching and merging sparks. Because of how intimate and dangerous this is, it is imperative that it be done in a safe secluded space.

Conjunx Ritus doesn't need to be performed before getting bonded, but it's expected and even concerning if you don't do it. It's like getting engaged before getting married. Not technically required, but definitely expected.

The four acts are: the Act of Intimacy, the Act of Devotion, the Act of Disclosure, and the Act of Profference. These don't have to be done in a specific order. Yeah I stole this straight from MTMTE sue me.

There also isn't really a way to indicate that someone is bonded, like a ring. External displays of bonding just aren't a thing.

That being said, I do think after starting trade routes with Earth and interacting with American culture, some form of transformation safe matching jewelry would start to get big among bonded couples.

That's all I have for now, but I am sure in the future when I incorporate these headcanons into an actual fic, I'll add more!

[headfullofdolls]

At this point, I'm reeally hoping the narrator in Sparks and Spells is Kiyomi Haunterly. Saw someone else point out the narrator mentioning their "nonexistent eyes", but in the last episode, I also realized the narrator makes ghost puns. Since they say they're planning to enroll in Monster High next semester, that at least confirms the narrator is in-world watching the musical, and the puns imply they're a ghost. There's no telling if it's something that'll translate into the actual show, buuut I wanted to go back through the episodes and look for key bits of characterization in some of the quotes.

Observations are long, so putting that under the read more. You've been warned 😅

Episode 1:

"Maybe this magical music spark is just the thing this talent show needs! I'm entertained! ...Don't tell Draculaura I said that by the way." – narrator cares about Draculaura's opinion; Drac is also the first character the narrator focuses on and mentions by name, which would make sense for Kiyomi

Episode 2:

"First up is Cleooo~ Because she demanded it..." [audible nonexistent eyes rolling] "Ooh, haha, sorry boo~" – narrator unimpressed and even disdainful of Cleo demanding to go first, reacts smugly about her getting interrupted; first use of calling people "boo"

"This isn't exactly a witchcraft-friendly environment... Especially not with Dracula in the audience." – seems to be in favor of witchcraft, sympathetic to Draculaura's plight

"Thankfully our ghoul Iris is on it!" – seems to have a soft spot for Iris, in contrast to Cleo

"That magical music spark might be an agent of chaos, but it sure knows how to put on a showw~! 10/10" – all about a good show despite the chaos, aka narrator is a theater kid

Episode 3:

[Heath accidentally lights his picture of earth on fire] "Ooh, symbolism! Dark! Listen, if this takes a magical musical turn? I will not be upset about it." – narrator is a theater kid +1

"Poor Iris. She's poured her eternal soul into the show and has no idea what in the Hades is going on." – very sympathetic to Iris; the specific mention of Iris having an eternal soul and using "what in the Hades" makes me think of River Styxx, which would also line-up better personality-wise...

"Iris, watch out! ...Oh. She can't hear me." – narrator is watching the musical in-world, but not in-person; maybe scrying, or looking through a portal like Kiyomi's powers?

Episode 4:

"Our stinky little spark is just getting started!" – fun fact: the narrator's VA calls herself a "stinky voice actor" on her instagram bio, so if she had input on that line that'd be super cute lol

"Our boos are relieved, and now they can focus on getting the show back up and running. Personally, I prefer the drama. ...And it looks like the drama loves me too! I see you~" – Boo counter +1, narrator is a theater kid count +1000

Episode 5:

"You know what this moment needs? A heartfelt song!" – narrator loves the tropes, more for the theater kid pile

[clapping enthusiastically after Draculaura's song specifically] "What a performance!!" – sus

Episode 6:

"Calling all boos! Calling all boos!" – Boo counter +1

"Iris clearly wants to join the fun, but right now she's putting the sigh in 'cyclops'. Thankfully, this night is full of surp-eye-ses!" [squeals in delight and self-satisfaction] "That was a good one." – focus on Iris again, and even by MH standards, this is some unabashed pun tomfoolery

Episode 7:

"It's happening! It's happening!!" – narrator is very excited by Iris finally getting a chance at the spotlight

"I'm not crying, there's just something in my nonexistent eyes." – aforementioned "nonexistent eyes"; seems especially moved by Iris's song, maybe finds it relatable?

Episode 8:

"This is my favorite part of the night! The grand finale! Draculaura, where are you going?? We need your vocal range!" – narrator is a theater kid +∞

"I know it seems like capturing the spark will fix your mistake, but, boo, sometimes, you just gotta go with it." – Boo counter +1

"One thing is for certain: I'm enrolling at Monster High next semester! See you scaaare! Booo~!" – two uses of boo this ep, and iirc, this use of ''see you scare'' is new, maybe a nod towards ghosts haunting?

So from this we can gather the narrator is an enthusiastic, bubbly ghost who loves a good show (but not people trying to hog the spotlight), is here for the chaos, and really likes Draculaura and Iris.

Despite her being a literal kid-of-the-theater, I don't get Operetta vibes from this narrator. And though she's bubbly like Sirena Von Boo, there isn't any sea-related wordplay that hints to being a mermaid. River Styxx is also pretty upbeat and cheery though, loves to entertain, and is connected to Greek mythology through her uncle Charon. But that mention of nonexistent eyes, the way some of the narrator's dialogue hints at a special interest in Draculaura, and the possibility they were watching the show through a portal, are all reminiscent of Kiyomi.

The narrator doesn't seem shy and soft-spoken like Kiyomi in g1, but g3's already established its characters aren't meant to be the same as those in g1. And in Kiyomi's case that'd probably be a good thing. The wiki mentions she's self-consciously lawful, cares a lot about honor, and can't stand when people complain, which, as the only explicitly Japanese character (and one of the only two explicitly east Asian characters) in g1, is...a little too much of a stereotype, for my taste. So change is good.

Kinda feel like the narrator could be a mix of Kiyomi Haunterly and River Styxx, both in personality and background. Maybe shy around other people, but more playful and spirited when she's by herself, hence she feels more comfortable watching from a distance and relates to Iris's insecurities. G1 Kiyomi was also brave and curious though, so it'd be interesting if g3 leaned into that a bit more, especially from an angle of her being passionate about performance—maybe stemming from Japanese theater. But then also having River's relation to Charon and connections to Greek myth.

I always thought their characters had very similar color palettes and aesthetics for being introduced in the same line, more so than the rest of the characters, though the line had a lot of pastels and flowy, sheer fabrics overall. And as much as I love River Styxx's design, we didn't see much of her character at all, because she wasn't a main player in Haunted and there were so many other characters that needed more focus as part of the story, like Kiyomi. Personally, I'd like to see g3 introduce new characters as well as bring back old ones, but that's a lot of characters. So combining the most interesting ideas from certain characters that were one-note or didn't get much chance to shine in g1 seems like a smart way to go. Better than leaving some really cool concepts behind entirely, I think.

As a final note, earlier I briefly mentioned the narrator's voice actor, who I found through IMDB. Her name is Merk Nguyen, an openly queer, Vietnamese American who seems very sweet! Not exactly sure what that'd say for the narrator's cultural background, since Kiyomi was specifically a noppera-bō from Japanese folklore, and g3 has been pretty good about their casting in regards to cultures so far. But if the narrator is meant to be Kiyomi and they go for another character with mixed backgrounds, I'd be very happy to see it!