#writeyouatragedy

[raevenlywrites]

Happy Worldbuilding Wednesday! What are some courses one could take in witchy grad school? Anything especially prestigious, anything not as useful but fun to take?

Witchy degrees are hybrid degrees, part mundane and part magical. Trent Carter, for example, is getting a degree in political science and warding. Daniel NoLastNameFiguredOutYet is in Interdimensional studies and Geology, cause he’s a rock nerd.

[notbecauseofvictories]

I'm intrigued: Assuming you have full creatice control, what would you change about A Discovery of Witches to make it less 'watching requires to shut your brain off'?

Well, as a preface, a show asking its audience to shut their brains off isn’t necessarily bad—I’m a firm believer in a well-rounded media diet, which includes four-course meals featuring duck confit but also potato chips. There are shows (books, movies) that are absolutely essential to me, while still being very dumb; I am happy that A Discovery of Witches allows me to be shiveringly delighted by Matthew Goode’s face, even if I am simultaneously required to shut off the part of my brain that might accidentally try to evaluate it.

(And part of this, I think it’s fair to say, is embarrassment for the entirety of 2005, when the school librarian put Twilight in my hands and said “tell me what you think,” and my response was to immediately recommend it to every weirdo nerd in my girl scout troop. So. Please be aware this is exactly what I think about when Matthew Goode’s only vampire traits are “smell” “hunger” and “running fast.”)

All that being said!

Every single secondary character is a paper-thin excuse for exposition. The plot is somehow simultaneously dragging—nothing of significance actually happened in the last two episodes—and yet feels incredibly rushed via a barrage of scenes that have no consequence; as a result, the plot feels unmoored, removed from any organic character development or decisions.

Blonde Oxfordian has made no decisions! Matthew Goode makes all the decisions, and also delivers a lot of exposition, and while I quite like looking at Matthew Goode’s face when his mouth moves, this is not how you construct a narrative. (Even the romance—while I, personally, am on board with Matthew Goode’s face and making out with it, there’s no build up, there’s no organic development. The story has decided on Point B and so it goes there, it doesn’t bother showing us why Point B is a natural extension of Point A.)

Additionally, so much of the general worldbuilding is…quite derivative? For instance, I love the idea that the various magical races have a dedicated spot where they get together to discuss their future together, even if they don’t get along and hold extreme prejudices in day-to-day life. But it’s presented as run of the mill, secret society with magic! Why not introduce some hilariously mundane and frustrating bureaucracy, some petty intra-politics, some fraught romances or whatever. Do something different, or why bother.

Still, if I were given complete creative control, I would probably restrict my changes to:

1) Slow the romance the fuck back down. We’re going for some painfully restrained Victorian erotic bullshit here, it should be unbearable lingering looks and Matthew Goode looking annoyed and guilty when people guess he’s craving her and Blonde Oxfordian insisting that She Doesn’t Know What You’re Talking About, He’s Just The Only Person Who Will Talk To Me, But Also I Think A Lot About How He Told Me Not To Run Who Could Possibly Guess What That Means???

2) Expand the Actual Plot, and give the secondary characters more of a role in it. I love Matthew’s lab techs! I am extremely fascinated by Blonde Oxfordian’s lesbian aunts! I think Molly From Sherlock But Ginger could have an epic backstory! Unfortunately, they are not given much to work with; give them some stuff. If you want to have Matthew and Blondie falling in love and forgetting about the potentially world-altering stuff going on around them, fine, give it to others so they can run with it.

3) A Goddamn Sense of Humor. Almost all narrative sins can be forgiven if a TV show doesn’t take itself so seriously. The show as it stands is so stiff in its execution, so determined to accept its premise in a straightforward and entirely, utterly earnest way…it’s a pity, because vampire Matthew Goode cracking a joke or two about the music of the night, or Molly from Sherlock But Ginger talking about how “well, you know so-and-so, ever since she discovered the Goddess, it’s been ‘ooh, naturalism this, and ooh, homeopathy that.’��� would be absolutely hilarious. I would be more inclined to watch the show, if I knew I’d get some quality humor out of it.

[writerofscribbles]

#wtwevent day two | venus | relationships

BONDMATES

The sacrifice was divided evenly among each bondmate.

But the pain was multiplied.

Ainle’s lungs squeezed as he tried to breathe through it. He bit his lip so hard he tasted metallic salt.

But Ronan gasped, eyes fluttering open, alive. His hand found Ainle’s and grounded him.

“I got you,” Ainle breathed, finding Ronan’s dark eyes.

“Always,” he rasped, managing a weak smile as the worst of the pain faded to a dull thump. “Always.”

WHO?

The Crimson Legion is the strongest military force in Izaro. Loyal to the House of Red and their Holy God, Raktos, they use a special kind of blood magic to bond the boys together. Separated into units at a young age, when they turn fifteen they get bound to the other members of their unit. Typically, there are five members.

WHY?

Bonded units fight better together. They are more intune with the nature of their bondmates. They become legal brothers and they will be bonded for the rest of their lives, even if one decides to leave the Legion after his mandatory ten years of service. They rely upon each other for courage, strength, wisdom, and power.

HOW? 

The ritual begins with a cut to the heartline on the palm. Each boy takes his turn having his back cut open and the blood of his bondmates mingling with his. Then, usually the Forger at the Academy, takes a white hot branding iron to the back of the boy, sealing their blood together with ancient runes, forever threading their lives together. 

            ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦  ♦

THE BOYS™

in the first book, The Wrath King, you will meet Ronan and his bondmates. 

AINLE ARAVYRE is the dutiful dog. willing to go to any lengths to protect his bondmates. filled with wanderlust, compassionate, tender, loving, observant. tends to think outside the box and look at the whole picture

CASSIAN AZAHANEH is the charismatic supporter. the most well-liked and well-known, a diplomat, definitely has himbo energy. cocky, flirty, and a womanizer. moral and ethical in politics

CALDER AZAHANEH is the protective brother. cautious, overly vigilant. caring, giving, sympathetic, understanding. the secretkeeper. tends to throw a lot of salt and likes to roast his bondmates

DAIRE CRIMSON is the cold killer. seemingly emotionless, quiet, stealthy, intuitive, secretly cares a whole lot. driven by guilt and wanting to make amends for his past. overflowing with shame and regret.

SEORAS NERINE is the quiet outsider. soft-spoken, anxious, loyal to a fault, loving, the shoulder to cry on. gentle, helpful, open-minded, and hopeful. a dreamer who just wants his bondmates to be safe and healthy.

THE WRATH KING RONAN is the strong leader. fierce, cold, selfless, likes to pretend that emotions don’t actually exist. reacts badly to disrespect and ignorance. careful, strong, outgoing, extroverted, determined, stubborn.

(introductions for the six of them coming soon!)

A FLASH PIECE THAT MAKES ME SOFT FOR THESE BOYS

tag list - - @dramaticvoiceover @livvywrites @millionsoftea @poetic-leigh-me @wipshelves @trishsannethology @nallthatjazz​ @writeyouatragedy​ @littlerobinwriter​ @semblanche​ @lend-your-lungs-to-me​

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[manticoreimaginary]

writeyouatragedy replied to your photo: My latest craft project is complete: pirate ship...

Wow, that’s incredible! Looks fantastic. Did you take any progress pictures? I’d be very interested to see how you made it

I did indeed take a whole bunch! Let’s see if they will post...

So the base is made of layers of insulation foam. (in the picture there’s cardboard between the top layer but i decided in the end just to use more foam instead)

the outside cladding (?? idk boat words) is made of strips of cereal box cardboard attached with sewing pins, because i thought it looked cool. The red patch was just me filling up the gaps in my bad carving with some foam clay i had handy since i knew it would be hidden anyway.

then i marked out the wooden boards and scratched along them with tin foil to give it a sort of ‘wood’ texture. (plus more filling out bad carving with foam clay on the side.)

Cut a little square to make the sticky out door, then painted it all up in an undercoat of a mod podge/black paint mix, which makes the foam harder and more protected. Then embellishments out of matchsticks and popsicle sticks.

then painted all the bits that weren’t the deck in a dark brown. the deck i did in more of a grey to look more worn.

in this one the stairs are only halfway through the paintjob to make them look like the deck, which is why they’re a funny colour.

and then the masts are just made of cardboard rolled up and painted like the rest.

[harborerofmisplacedfaith-blog]

[text Bo]: Hey, Bo.

[text Bo]: Just wonderin' how you been doin'?

[rewritethestars]

Hi! I just want to say i love (!) your malec fiction and i hope it's okay i reblogged it, because obviously it was meant for Hannah. But it's so, so beautiful (especially the "prying meant caring"-part <3) and i wanted to share it =)

Oh my gosh hi, of course it's okay. I only put that it was for Hannah cos I don't usually post my fanfiction because I didn't think people would read it. Hannah and I agreed that she'd draw me some Malec if I wrote her some Malec.

Like asjksldjdhedfh thank you so much. This has made me soooooo happy you have no idea. I'm glad you liked it!

[writerofscribbles]

#wtwevent day one | mercury | locations/travel

T H E - - W O R L D - - O F - - T H E - W R A T H - - K I N G

The sun rose slowly over the capital. The towering spires of the palace’s backbone blocked the sun until the rays streamed through the seventeen glass domes and tossed shimmering prisms of light across the city. The streets held their breath as the House of Red priests and priestesses moved through the city like ghosts. Bells from the deepest bowels shook Khashrira to her bones and stirred her citizens awake.

KHASHRIRA is a survivor. Torn apart by several civil wars, religious crusades, and two invasions, it has been rebuilt many times over its long history. However, it hasn’t always been the capital of IZARO, oh no, that distinction went to ASHAI’MA until the Winter of 246 when the Tyrant King declared the religious city the capital in a futile attempt to appease the Scarlet Father and the House of Red. However, the Wrath King destroyed ASHAI’MA at the end of the civil war and reclaimed KHASHRIRA as the capital. He is the first King to be crowned and rule from KHASHRIRA. 

The palace that lines the backbone ridge of the city to the east is made up of seventeen glass spires. It is believed the sun was birthed in Khashrira, that Raktos was brought into the world with a bright flash of silent light and the world was bathed in his glorious kindness. 

In the ancient Magi language (esaaqarin), KHASHRIRA is roughly translated as, womb of the sun or birthplace of light. although, the translations are often inaccurate and it has also been believed to just mean birthplace, sun, or perhaps even just city. 

It is the only city in Izaro to have an old Magi name. 

KHASHRIRA is the home to the original learned houses of blood magic; COLDWATER, DARKNIGHT, ASHTEETH, & WHITESTAR. 

Khashrira held many secrets in her walls, in the stones of her streets, in the flicker of fires. Once, Resli had dreamed of leaving the city behind. All it had given her was a dead mother and a religion she didn’t even believe in. She thought it held too many secrets. It had. But now the city seemed to be leaning in close to her ear, ready to breathe her memories against the shell of her ear. Resli was ready. 

tag list - - @dramaticvoiceover @livvywrites @millionsoftea @poetic-leigh-me @wipshelves @trishsannethology @nallthatjazz​ @writeyouatragedy​ @littlerobinwriter​ @semblanche​ @lend-your-lungs-to-me​

♦  please let me know if you wish to be added or removed!  ♦

[writerofscribbles]

#wtwevent day four | mars | the antagonist

NAME : AENEAS

OCCUPATION : UNKNOWN. THOUGHT TO BE A NECROMANCER

AFFILIATION : HIMSELF. CURRENTLY WORKING WITH DEATH & THE HOUSE OF BLACK

master of the dark arts, coworker of Death, egotistical maniac, charming psychopath. 

excerpt above from Ainle’s POV showcasing Aeneas’s charm, a.k.a a supreme narcissism, ego, and douchebaggery

tag list - - @dramaticvoiceover @livvywrites @millionsoftea @poetic-leigh-me @wipshelves @trishsannethology @nallthatjazz​ @writeyouatragedy​ @littlerobinwriter​​ @semblanche​​ @lend-your-lungs-to-me​​

♦  please let me know if you wish to be added or removed! ♦