#EXQUISITE WORLDBUILDING I WOULD SAY

[skyscrapergods]

Every time you drop new lore I get a new idea that I can't figure out how/have the motivation to craft a full story out of lmao

Been thinking about those people asking if Cellie or Luna would notice if somepony lands on them, and I couldn't help but thinking about a pony escaping some sort of abusive situation and flying to the one place they couldn't imagine anypony following them- a goddess.

Would the goddess care? I imagine Luna most definitely would, but Celestia? Maybe, on a sort of vague level, in that she cares about the well being of all creatures. Or maybe she would on a much deeper level than anticipated, seeing as she knows all too well what comes from that sort of thing.

Just wanted to stop by to say thank you for the brain food, I just adore how your universe is coming along! Your worldbuilding is exquisite.

Celestia would not notice you for a while. She may get a vague sense of someone seeking sanctuary, so she would feel protective. If you stay more than a few sunsets she would realize your significance and check you out. She won't ask you about your day or anything, and caring about your story is a little difficult for her. But if your abuser shows up, well... They shouldn't have been so close to a goddess' feet.

The others would care much more, and want to know your whole story and give you comfort. Luna would protect your dreams, Cadance would protect you physically, and Twilight would connect you to a support network to help you get your life back and stay safe.

#alicorn lore #ssg celestia #ssg alicorns #ssg gods #yeah celestia gets over the whole 'killing people' thing eventually #even the most sensitive of insect lovers walk on grass #though I try not to #and when i'm moving something from the woods into my home or into water #i pick off all the bugs first so they will be ok #except ants #they get squished if i find them inside #outside i leave them alone #if an ant bites me i squish it but if a wasp or lacewing bites me i let them go #i dunno i guess even cosmic monsters have a threshhold of what we care about

[youhideastar]

Deastar’s 5 Most Re-Read Fics of Last Year

My New Year’s resolution was to rec more, so I’m starting with my 5 most re-read fics of the past year!

1 and 2: Blooded Crown and Misethere by Astolat (The Witcher)

Look, I don’t even go here. I’m not even in this fandom. I first read these before the TV show had come out, and let me tell you, it made said TV show very disappointing. But I have re-read these two fics (they’re not related to each other but they’re similar enough that I’ve grouped them together) probably 10 times each over the years. I absolutely fucking love their twisty-ass plots. I love the “what if Wolverine and Machiavelli fell in love” takes on the characters. I love the combination of humor and deadly serious political shit going down. I have a problem and it’s that I can’t stop reading these fics and probably never will.

3: i’ll be your girl by plonk (The Untamed/MDZS, ~30K)

This fic is everything. It’s funny. It will make your heart sore and tender. It has smoking hot sex scene after smoking hot sex scene. It’s pining while fucking (top three trope for me!). It has the absolute most ridiculous premise, and then executes it beyond your wildest dreams, never losing sight of how ridiculous it is. Said premise: Wei Ying seduces Lan Zhan, who he thinks is straight, while dressed up as Britney Spears for Halloween. They continue to hook up, with Wei Ying in a series of themed seasonal drag outfits, while Wei Ying falls in doomed love with a straight guy (or so he thinks), and Lan Zhan tries to figure out what the hell is going on but is too gone on Wei Ying to stop. My all-time comfort object fic.

4: All Old Things Are New Again by The Feels Whale (miscellea) (@thefeelswhale) (The Untamed/MDZS, ~52K)

This fic is WAY too long to be a habitual re-read, but that never stops me. “Full-time necromancer and part-time cam boy, Wei Wuxian, finds himself unexpectedly homeless. An enthusiastic patron comes to his rescue. Conversely: Immortal Cultivator Lan Wangji has been waiting a long time for his deceased husband to be reincarnated again. In retrospect, he should have anticipated that this is how it would go.” It is SO satisfying to watch Wei Wuxian slowly lower his (very reasonably raised!) guard and let Lan Wangji take care of him; in many fics, that trope ends up stripping away Wei Wuxian’s inherent badassery, but not here: this Wei Wuxian is so smart and capable and tough as nails, oooh, I like him so much!!! And it does not hurt that the numerous, exquisite sex scenes feature a delightful blend of (a) my favorite all-time kinks and (b) stuff that is not on my usual menu but that magically rocks my world as applied to these characters in this story.

5. This Tornado Loves You by FeelsForBreakfast (@rabbitcrimes) (The Untamed/MDZS, ~9K)

Want to get way, way up close with Lan Zhan’s brain while he realizes that his ferality about Wei Ying does, in fact, go up to eleven? This is the fic for you. I can’t do better than the author’s own summary: “Hanguang-jun is dating a mild mannered, non-cultivator named Wei Wuxian. The Yiling Laozu rolls up to a nighthunt on a motorbike, no relation at all to the previous statement.” This author’s Lan Zhan/Lan Wangji voice is so fucking good, it makes me mad. And SO FUNNY – I have read these jokes probably a dozen times and they STILL make me laugh out loud. The awesome modern cultivation worldbuilding is so casually done that you sleep on how good it is. Finally, this fic is tagged “you will say ‘Yiling Laozu hot’ or your money back,” and let me tell you: you are NOT getting your money back.

#fic recs

[feedthewriter]

I've started annotating my books.

Not all of them, and not consistently. I don't have a system. Sometimes I highlight, sometimes I underline, or circle, or scrawl in the margin. I can't even say what makes me want to pick up a pen and start going to town on a particular book, except that some books just make me want to have a conversation with them. I've heard people ask what people are writing in the books when they annotate them. Sometimes derisively, often out of genuine confusion. I used to be amongst the latter. And then, last year, I re-read Pride and Prejudice for the first time since I was a wee'un and was so impressed by Jane Austen's craft that I felt weirdly compelled to CIRCLE it. To note where her portrayal of Lizzie diverges from the adaptations. To rave about her incredible conversation construction and the characterisation of Lydia and to draw little cartoon stars around Lady Catherine de Bourgh's name every time it was uttered so reverently by Mr. Collins.

Now I keep a pen beside my reading chair and when the mood takes me, I chat to my book. I question it, I commend it, I track certain worldbuilding reveals and craft choices and I doodle shit in the margins. It's not pretty (I admire people who can turn the reading of their books into these exquisite art projects and can't fathom why anyone would be annoyed by it) but it helps me retain information in more complex stories, and it helps me improve my own craft.

But most importantly, it's fun.

#booklr #books and reading #book annotations #annotating books #reading #bookish thoughts #ceinwen uses tumblr as a journal

[definitelynotshouting]

WOULD YOU STILL LOVE ME IF I WAS A WORM 😭😭😭😭 WHAT A THING TO WAKE UP TO!

-☀️

Oh my god thw wings being a physical manifestation of how Mumbo doesnt know Grian anymore. He is an entirely new person, definitely mentally, technically physically-- even if he looks the same. Mumbo honing in on the wings ("his wings ruffle...behind him" "it's a foreign motion...that escapes translation") that are the thing that's different and needs a "map" drawn of it, because it's the only thing that's actually different. Sure, Mumbo can tell grian doesnt even act the same anymore, but that's much harder to put a finger on. He didnt have those wings before.

^I like to think there's some form of uncanny valley effect that people who knew Grian before feel looking at him now, ignoring the wings.

-☀️

"Then he smiles, porcelain teeth flashing in the glistering sun.

The cold, open pit of his depthless eyes fails to catch it."

Really fucking love this description ough

-☀️

"“You’re not supposed to change me back!” Grian shrills, bristling."

IT'S TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING FOR THIS TEM WTF (it is past 10am)

-☀️

"with the exquisite delicacy of a Player"

I SEE YOU YOURE NOT SNEAKY

-☀️

The wings again!! *is in distress* (side note i love seeing the world building youve been telling us about finally in the fic!!) Ok this actually makes the way Mumbo focused on the wings mean so much more. Wings are dangerous to code in, thats why Players use spotters. Grian vanished from Evo and showed up on Hermitcraft YEARS(?) later, without a word to anyone, and reappeared with those wings. Imagine going on a trail with a friend whose never hiked before and then they stop responding to your messages only to show up again after a couple of months like "Hey I just climbed Everest". You would most definitely be distressed to say the least. (although, question: how proficient was grian's coding?)

-☀️

Man this one-shot. Too many feels this early in the morning 😭 The way you've managed to capture that sense of unease around Grian. His actions are unpredictable- you dont know if he's going to laugh or get upset- really nicely encapsulates Mumbo's internal feeling that he doesn't know grian anymore. Those moments where he laughs or stares with those blank eyes, those are normal-- but linger a second too long, or catch a glimpse of the worlds that have passed since Evo started-- and he can't shake the feeling that something is wrong with Grian

-☀️

AAAAAAAAA HI SUN ANON!!! omg im so glad you enjoyed the oneshot!!! :D

Omg YES im so so glad what i was aiming for with the wings came through, thats exactly what i was going for!! This is the only physical indication that Grian has changed, and therefore the most distinct!!! Ofc Mumbo is gonna hone in on that-- its the clearest aspect he can see. And yeah, i think the first few times people saw him with the wings, it was definitely a little uncanny valley, until they got used to it

OKAY I'LL BE REAL THE EXQUISITE DELICACY BIT WAS NOT INTENTIONAL BUT IS A VERY HAPPY ACCIDENT ALDJWKDNEKNDKDE altho i did really enjoy messing with some wordplay in other areas. My particular favorite is the "inner machinations of a dropper" line-- it was such a fun way to refer to mechanical parts while simultaneously making it sound like the dropper is up to no good 😂😂😂😂😂😂

It was super nice to really put this aspect of the worldbuilding into the fic-- one of these days i'll probably rewrite chapters 1 and 2, and maybe do a little editing on 3, just so i can sorta bake those concepts in there with a little more deliberation than i did when i was first posting :] BUT YES altho its not so much dangerous (for a Player, at least) as it is difficult, and very finicky. Grian's coding is super proficient as a Player (he's still working on melding the instinctive coding of the Watchers with his Player brain tho), so he was always very capable of it, but like you pointed out, under normal circumstances he would have 100% asked someone to be his spotter while he coded them in, just in case he bugged out

And yep, we're talking a timespan of years here!!! This is a bit loose, so its subject to some minor changes, but my general timeline is that Grian, once Watcher-ified, was trapped with the Watchers for about 2-3 years before he made his escape. After that he bounced between hubs and servers for a few months, before ending up on Hermitcraft to stay. The fic itself takes place somewhere around early mid-season, i think-- since i headcanon each season to take place over a few years rather than a few months, i'd say this means Grian has been with Hermitcraft for, oh.... a little under a year now by the time this fic takes place, if that makes sense. Again these are not concrete but thats the general timeframe we're talking here. I'll probably make a separate post about this later, but in Player culture its not SUPER weird to go gallivanting on your own for a few years-- but the complete radio silence and abrupt exit from Evo are what make this notable from the norm to Mumbo and everyone else who knew Grian before

Im so deeply and genuinely happy that the sense of unease came across so well-- i was admittedly worried that the pacing was a bit fast for how Grian's reactions kept turning on a dime, but this reassures me that it works :] i wanted it to really feel like this is a familiar stranger we're looking at through Mumbo's eyes, and also i wanted to give Grian some room to display those uglier trauma symptoms that nobody talks about much in fiction. I like to think that first year back on Hermitcraft was a difficult one for him, mood-wise, because behind that rough facade his brain is about as scorched-earth as it fuckin gets

Sun anon i always ADORE your analysis thank you so so much for sending them 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 it makes my day every time, truly. Im so glad you liked the fic!!! :D

#shouting speaks #asks #compliments #hunger au #txt

[madebypointlesswords]

just for funsies: books im currently reading

I cannot, for the life of me, read just one book at the time. I've tried multiple times and I just can't. It's most likely my untreated ADHD but oh welllll, have fun with my silly little books and go right ahead and judge my taste in the tags <3

The Iliad, Homer

Honestly such a fun book. I'm reading it very slowly though, because I want to savour each sentence. It's a thrifted version that someone else annotated and I got it for like, 7 euros? The annotations are very cute and fun to read while reading the actual book and it made me consider doing the same (annotating a book and then donating it to thrift so some random stranger can delight in my silly thoughts). Achilles is a bit of a dick but I like him that way. Diomedes is my absolute favourite (together with Patroclus).

This is the edition I have

1984, George Orwell

This book was an impulse buy from my favourite bookstore. I'm enjoying it thorougly, and I mainly bought it because I was going to see a play inspired by it that week and planned to read it first. I got through 50 pages. Orwell's style is a delight though, I have no notes. I'm currently like, one quarter into the book.

My edition (I'm looking for Animal Farm in the same style. I know it exists I just keep finding other ones and it irks me.)

Good Omens, Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman

Tumblr (and my best friend @mairrion) convinced me this year to watch Good Omens right when season 2 came out. I curse you all for the brainrot you have given me. Literally why did you have to do this to me. I bought the book very recently (this monday) and I'm 1/5 into the book. The writing is honestly so fun and I've laughed several times out loud on the bus while reading. Definitely recommend this to new (or old) fans of the series.

I got the edition with Crowley on the cover (they didn't have Aziraphales version but I still would have gotten Crowley's anyway). Mine's a tad different: the letters are golden, Terry is mentioned before Neil is, and Crowley's wine isn't red. Oh and there's a sticker advertising the series.

Little Thieves, Margaret Owen

Oh my god this book is fun. Delicious characterisation. Wonderful dialogue. Stunning worldbuilding. Honestly I am so angry at myself for not being able to read this cover to cover. Why am I LIKE this. The cover is also so extremely pretty what the fuck.

Just look at this

Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoevsky

This book is a banger. It annoys me that I can't read it in one sitting. Because I genuinely LOVE it but I just fucking can't. I love it when Dostoevsky takes a break from the plot to remind us as readers that Raskolnikov is, in fact, very much a pretty boy. Peak comedy right there.

I got the Wordsworth classics edition because it was only 4 euros at my favourite bookstore again (i apologise this is the best picture I have)

The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry, C.M. Waggoner

I got this book today from one of my best friends and I've read only one chapter but holy hell I am hooked. This is amazing. This is fun. This is exactly what I want. Chaotic, sapphic and unhinged slightly evil women are my drug of choice and this is a heroin shot. Live laugh love Dellaria Wells.

also look at the pretty cover mmmm

The Darkening Age (The Christian Destruction of the Classical World), Catherine Nixey

My first non fiction book I think. Nixey's writing is exquisite and I am loving this book with all my heart. It's educative, interesting and just overall, a wonderful experience to read. I do encourage everyone to take it with a grain of salt, but the author has many, many cited works, so I'm not saying that you have to be overly critical of every sentence, just that the author is (just like any other human being) a bit biased.

btw the cover is pretty too :) but I just can't find a picture of it.

#just my silly thoughts #books #dark academia #dark academia book recs #adhd culture #innatentive adhd #current read #orwell 1984 #crime and punishment #the iliad #patrochilles #crowley good omens #good omens #good omens fandom #good omens book #little thieves #the ruthless lady's guide to wizardry

[camelliagwerm]

1, 3, and 7 for the writer asks?

thank you! Writing asks here.

1 -What fic of yours would you recommend to someone who had never read any of your work? (In other words, what do you think is the best introduction to your fics?)

Probably either Sanguinary Delights, as it was the first one that got any form of traction, or May You Dine Forever. Both of them I'm still very proud of as far as interpretations of canon events go.

3 - What are some tropes or details that you think are very characteristic of your fics?

At this point: religion, hunger and sex. It just happens to be the nature of things when writing a lot of what I do. But also corrupted/decadent/decaying aristocracy, death, haunted spaces (hi house at the edge of time). It's all very Gothic and I think probably one of my trademark things, which isn't a surprise given that it's been my specialty for so long and was the focus of my bachelor's and masters' projects.

7 - Any worldbuilding you're particularly proud of?

Okay so it's not been published yet, but a huge part of Savour Its Sweet, Bloody Taste is partially an excuse to expand upon my headcanons for Urgathoanism under Valerius' rule.

One of those things I'm working on is the sangsvalli - a take on the 1e idea of 'blood mothers' but expanding on it and giving it a new, more gender neutral title: Sangsvalli is short for sanguine vasalli, or "blood vassal". it also happens to mean bloodbath for that double entendre. The sangsvalli are essentially respected members of the church for literally their blood - the qualities of it, the taste. They might have an exquisite taste for a vampire ghula or they might be volunteer to act as surrogates/donors for Urgathoan couples who cannot have a child but wish to raise one. I imagine they're far more common in congregations that focus more on the gluttonous aspect of Urgathoa's portfolio than say, a congregation whose ideals align more with the Whispering Way's dogma.

#dragonologist-phd #answered

[tenshiharmonia]

So, I went to see the Super Mario movie saturday afternoon and I must say, I had an absolute blast. Don't get me wrong, it was far from perfect. And I'll have to agree that it could have used ten or fifteen more minutes to pace things a little more organically. But really, I had a smile on my face the entire time. As a Bowser fan, the film was an especially exhilarating treat. From enjoying himself at a heavy metal concert, to bashfully trying to woo the princess, writing her an exquisitely awkward love song and rehearsing his proposal with Kamek, to ruthlessly tearing into the hero after they saved the day ruined everything he worked so hard towards, he walked such an astounding line between adorable and intense (also, I'd like to add that he was really, really sexy :3 ). Not that the other characters weren't delightful too, of course. I must admit, I'm actually quite surprised that they chose to address Peach's origins. I mean, even back when the brothers being from Brooklyn was a staple of the series, the incongruity of a (seemingly) human princess leading a nation of mushroom people never really came into question. If a sequel there is, I'd definitely like for that point to be explored a little more... Also, I'm particularly fond of the way the Kongs were integrated into the story. To tell you the truth, I've never really cared for the DK side of the franchise all that much. But really, the visit to the Jungle Kingdom was quite a riot, both in terms of action and worldbuilding. And let’s not forget the sheer insanity of the Koopa General... Really though, that movie was just, so much fun. Bright, colorful, light-hearted, unadulterated fun. Which is not to say that it was without emotions. The brothers' feeling of inadequacy, both expressed in different ways, their tearful reunion, the need to prove themselves to the world and to each other... Truly, fraternal affection is the crux of the film. In fact, family as a whole is an omnipresent theme throughout the story, from Peach's devotion to the Toads, to DK's own issues with his dad. And I'm not even talking about the love that was poured into all the little details. It's already been said a thousand times, but there are so many Easter eggs* hidden in the film, be it in the picture or the score. I've seen the movie being described as a "love letter" to the franchise and its fans, and really, I feel like there is no better way to put it. In a sense, I'd say it's like a puzzle : watching all the different little pieces fall neatly into place is also part of the fun. Sure, it wasn't The Last Wish, but then again, it didn't need to be. In its case - and I insist on the word "case"** -, the world is the plot. And the film executes it spectacularly. Anyway, this accolade is probably long enough (unlike the movie, which could afford to be much longer, if only because what we got was so good already :p ). Still, let me emphasize one last time what a joy it was to see the Mushroom World come alive this way, in such a luminous and bustling manner. Honestly, I wouldn't mind if instead of a sequel, we were to get a whole-ass show, in the vein of the first three cartoons. A mix of slice-of-life and adventure to explore this beautiful version of the Mario universe and everything it has to offer. I think it would be great. With that being said, thank you for listening to my divagations on the matter. As always, it was nice to get those thoughts out of my system. I mean, it was such a wholesome movie ; I needed to share my giddy excitement with the universe. ^_^

* Quite fitting for the season, now that I think about it. Although the film is so rich in references, that I'd almost be tempted to refer to them as "Fabergé eggs". XD ** I know better than anyone how good at storytelling the franchise can be - as recently demonstrated by Sparks of Hope -, so don't take this statement as a generalization it isn't meant to be.

#spoiler #spoilers #super mario #super mario bros #super mario bros. #super mario bros movie #super mario bros. movie #bowser #luigi #princess #peach #princess peach #peaches peaches peaches peaches peaches... #toad #donkey kong #dk #cranky kong #koopa general #a love letter to the franchise #am i overdoing it in terms of tags ? #oups #i almost forgot #kamek #my bad

[tired-reader-writer]

Hi! Excuse me for dropping into your inbox so suddenly. This is a little bit awkward for me because we haven't talked for so long. 😅 Just popping in to check if you are okay. Someone told me you deleted your side-blog which made me a little bit worried. Your blog was one of my favourite wmmap blogs and I loved hearing your ramblings about your favourite manhwas or when you were ruthlessly ripping apart another trashy isekai romance. I enjoyed reading your comments and detailed tags under my posts. Your ideas, worldbuilding and characterizations were exquisite. I was amazed how often our opinions coincided and how well our ideas were complimenting each other. Honestly I felt like you were understanding me like no other on a creative level. I enjoyed reading your posts even about books that I have never read just because I loved seeing how passionate you were. And I am saddened to see your blog now gone, but I understand that not every interest can stay forever and hopefully you have found something else that is worth burning for. I wish you well in the future. May you be always happy and healthy 💖💖💖

Oh no no don't be sorry about coming into my inbox, you are always welcome here!

I'm kinda... not okay? Okay but not okay? It's been rough, and my creative side of things in particular took a hit. I'm writing again now (hooray!) but it's been a tumultuous process and even now I'm fighting the urge to set the entire WIP on fire.

As for deleting my blog... I don't know how to put it, I just. I still loved what I created, what we created together, it's just that somehow I felt the need to have only one blog, and... Only after deleting the blog did I belatedly realized I probably should've backed up my stuff or reblogged them to my main first, but I rationalized that mistake away by convincing myself it couldn't have been such a big loss to the manhwa community. I was feeling... small. A falling out with a friend I gained from the manhwa side of things certainly did not help with that feeling.

Honestly you saying my posts and commentary and rants had any worth at all is... making me tear up. I wasn't... I didn't expect that to be the case. I didn't expect my stuff would be held in such regard. Thank you. Thank you so much for your kind words. And thank you for reaching out to me.

I still follow some manhwa passively, and if passion strikes me in the right direction I undoubtedly will start talking about it again, but this time on my main blog! You're always welcome to drop something on my lap for me to tear to shreds, lol, it's therapeutic XD

So yeah. My inbox and DMs are always open for you! Thank you for being my manhwa critic bestie <3

#my country's political situation certainly didn't help with my depressive spiral #I won't say anything more on the matter in case they see my phone or whatever (that's unfortunately a legit fear) #and oh god I've had some horrible fandom experiences that instilled this sense of worthlessness ine #*in me #that probably contributed to me wanting to delete my sideblog #I've been consumed by Arslan Senki lately #I'm writing a fic for it!

[redd956]

3 Dark Works of Worldbuilding You Should Check Out

Growing up fascinated by worldbuilding I consumed it frequently as a child. Even to this I love indulging in the hard works of others, getting lost in their creations. Here is three works of worldbuilding that did so for me.

Mystery Flesh Pit National Park

This glorious, beautiful, well thought out, and bone-chilling creation is thanks to Trevor Roberts. Warning! His works are not always for the faint of heart. Mystery Flesh Pit National Park is a horror worldbuilding project, kickstarted by Trevor from reddit and tumblr. He has made quite the rabbit hole to deep dive into, providing all sorts of intricate worldbuilding.

His collections of art, found footage, merch, faux advertisements, and more provides the dark and horrific story of Mystery Flesh Pit National Park. His creation utilizes body horror, cosmic horror, gore, and more. When you delve into his stuff you begin rapidly digging for more.

I cannot fathom how intricate, detailed, and well thought out his worldbuilding to this horror story is. You seriously have to see it for yourself, and I cannot wait for what he does next!

Watership Down

Watership Down is a novel about rabbits written in 1972 by Richard Adams. It also grew in popular from its surprisingly U-rated “children’s” movie, known for its dark themes and extreme violence. I knew instantly after seeing the original movie that I needed to find and read the book, so I did. 

Adams did a spectacular job in worldbuilding. Even though the characters the book follows is a group of rabbits they feel as human and two-dimensional as possible. Adams holds nothing back in worldbuilding what a rabbit’s culture would be like, and how that effects their journey. There is even a consistent pantheon patterned throughout the book, constantly references and used as motivation to these rabbits.

Adams makes up his own words and rules, and when the characters say them it is as if you’ve heard them millions of times before. He is a great writer at allowing the worldbuilding feel incredibly natural to the story. Also a great writer at making you root and fear for these rabbits lives. Watership Down isn’t even Adams’ only book of very dark nature, with great writing skill, I encourage you to check his works out.

Cult of the Lamb

I followed the production of Cult of the Lamb when I saw its Kickstarter trailer a few years ago. I became incredibly excited due to its dark concept, and bubbly adorable art style. So when the video game released I bought it quickly as to avoid spoilers. I was not disappointed.

As an Indie game developed by Massive Monster, it is an occult themed dark game consisting of cutesy anthropomorphic creatures and exquisitely well designed dark worldbuilt settings. I myself am a sucker for strong gameplay, but what I really found myself absorbed in was the art and worldbuilding around me. Each boss’s area is alive with dark fauna, intriguing enemies, and epic OST.

The spider inspired area and the Cave of Midas both gave me chills upon first entering. The bosses themselves are based off of plentiful of dark references, and I cannot help but appreciate the research that must’ve gone into designing them. I also enjoy seeing that the lamb’s cult isn’t the only one around, and you interact with many other darkly religious designed societies running with their own deeply upsetting problems.

#worldbuilding #dark worldbuilding #please check these guys out #trevor roberts #cotl #cult of the lamb #watership down #worldbuilding to check out

[gumjester]

HELLO CONGRATS ON YOUR ESCAPE FROM THE WOMB! or at least i think it is i assume. seriously though aaa thank you for blessing us with the rewrite (even if finals hath prevented me from leaving comments recently) but i have to say not only am i drinking up the rewrite content but also the riddlish content yes!!! can't wait to be able to cite the Gumjester Guide To Riddlish (aka if you would like could you expand more on riddlish in your worldbuilding? i remember you had some exquisite dialects but idk if they made it to the rewrite proper) anyway i hope you have/had a great day and all the best wishes!!

SANGUINE HELLO MY DEAR FRIEND !!!!!! YOU ARE RIGHT! this is my day of escape and what a blessed one it is too!!!! i had a wonderful whimsical day and my zest for Life has been renewed like you wouldnt believe ! !! ! i think fondly back to our riddlish days i hope you know. the dialects are tucked safely away somewhere, and i do hope i can bring them properly into the rewrite in some fashion, wouldnt that be fantastic! if not you will certainly be seeing them around, im too eager to talk about riddlish to keep quiet about them... maybe i really will make a guide to riddlish like you say O.O but you would have to contribute, your writing on high riddlish is too good to stay put.

i hope the terrible weight of finals is close to lifting now, & thank you as always for following the rewrite, it means the WHOLE WORLD xoxoxoxo

#ask #sending love as always sanguine #i am off to bed GOODNIGHT ! #eah #ever after high #riddlish tag

[outpost-lw]

Lortober: Oct. 17th

Prompt: Reverse Wordcount: 1973

For this one I chose to collaborate with the lovely Nix! We’ve written an RP together about how our wolves first met, all the way back in Loop 2 (current time in lore would be the last... well, not-loop, since it doesn’t restart, but technically #4; #5 if you count the original timeline), and how that meeting pulls my progens into the loops.

It was a lot of fun to work together on this, and it helped me enormously with fleshing out how I want the loops to work, as well as set me to thinking about how the faith in Orrin works.

So please do read Nix’s things, the worldbuilding is exquisite!

All this to say that Nix published the RP for both of us, so follow this link to read it ;)

#lorwolf #lortober #nix appreciation agenda

[sailoryooons]

Hi, I just randomly stumbled upon you blog, binge read Carved in one sitting and just wanted to share some thoughts. At first I was slightly put off by the series’ theme, the whole angel and demon thing seemed a little too out there to me for some reason. HOWEVER, this has nothing to do with the way you wrote and presented the story so far. I changed my mind on that exactly one paragraph into the prologue. I just need to tell you that what you write is straight up exquisite. I know you probably get a lot of compliments about your writing, but I still feel the need to put in my two cents. I love the amount of effort you put into the little details and all the information and lore you thread into your storytelling. It’s so rich, so fun and so refreshing to read. I adore the fact that your chapters are so long and captivating and it’s beyond me how you manage to churn them out in under a month. I say all this as a fellow writer who indulges in 20K+ long chapters with plenty of psychological themes. It’s been a minute since I’ve actually enjoyed reading something on Tumblr, because I feel like I’ve become too critical of the creators on this platform. You are doing fantastic, my dear and I can only congratulate you on your talent. Thank you for making my day more interesting and I’ll be looking forward to more of your work in the future if you decide to do so!

-HB

WOW okay this is so incredibly nice of you. First and foremost, thank you for taking the time to write such a thorough message regarding Carved. I am absolutely over the moon for your thoughts and feelings right now. I am so happy that despite it being a little out there for you, that I manage to keep you interested with the story. This story is absolutely not for everyone but I really wanted to write something with an emphasis on worldbuilding with plot as the priority and smut secondary.

This is like the highest compliment you can give me - I am still relatively new to writing BTS works (only start in April) and it has been years since I've actively written for a fandom, so having you tell me that you think my writing is exquisite is... I'm at a loss for words. I don't hear it that often, but even if I did, I swear it's like the first time every time I know that sounds cheesy.

The timing is definitely difficult and ultimately, I think I sacrifice a little bit of quality when I try to write as quickly as I do, but it really makes me feel so much better to know that the timing etc. is appreciated.

I would love to read your content if you write works for bts as well - I'm unsure if the works you're referencing are fics or personal, but I additionally love psychological and kind of everything under the son.

Thank you for making my evening such a delight by saying this. This was honestly SO nice to read.

#fic: carved

[seadeepy]

3, 24 <3

3. What were your top five books of the year?

According to StoryGraph (indie book logging app, would recommend!) my highest rated books this year were almost all by Naomi Novik, lol.

(1) A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik (Scholomance #1) Extremely funny, really interesting magic system/worldbuilding, and basically all the things the HP series could have been with a better, non-TERFy writer. Cannot recommend this series enough.

(2) Uprooted by Naomi Novik Standalone fantasy book about a cursed forest, a supposedly evil wizard, and a heroine who beats the shit out of a guy with a serving tray at one point. Beautifully written and structured, and had a lot of tropes in it that appealed to me personally.

(3) The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid I'm a little suspicious about the upcoming movie, because there was so much in this book and I question how they'll fit it all into a movie-length runtime. I cried a lot, and the characters were satisfyingly complex. If you want queer fluff, this isn't the book for you, but if you want to feel a lot of feelings, it's so worth the read.

(4)The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik (Scholomance #3) Can't say much about this book without spoiling the previous two, but it did a phenomenal job at wrapping up the trilogy. I cried my eyes out, but it was a powerfully hopeful and positive book. And still very funny even at the darkest of times. I don't need to recommend this book, because after reading the first in the series you'll probably devour the next two without coming up for air.

(5) This is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone & Amal El-Mohtar I admit I bought this book because of the Twitter meme, then didn't actually read it until two weeks ago. It has exquisite prose and deeply intriguing worldbuilding, but the core of the book is the relationship between the two protagonists. People call it sapphic, but I'd argue they're both she/her enbies? Anyway, I enjoyed it a lot and will definitely go back and re-read it in the future to more fully appreciate the foreshadowing and the timey-wimey structure of the plot.

~

24. Did you DNF anything? Why?

Not intentionally -- there are some books I picked up and haven't finished yet because I'm struggling to maintain interest. I apologize to any Brandon Sanderson fans here, but I'm stuck partway through Words of Radiance and have been for months. I've started Legends & Lattes a few times and haven't been able to get into it, but everyone tells me I'd love it so I'll make another run at it in the new year.

#answered #janeeyrepdfs #this post is just me shilling shamelessly for Naomi Novik and her books #I'm gonna re-read the Temeraire series this year too

[apparitional-lesbian]

dear yuletide letter 2023.

First of all, thanks for offering one of my fandoms! I mostly said what I wanted to say about the specific fandoms in my optional details, so the goal of this letter is to build on the initial vibe for your consideration.

General Likes

stories about complicated relationships. I love stories that explore messy relationships, including (especially) platonic relationships. I love when authors explore the place where intent fails to connect with action. I like stories that examine codependent relationships, toxic relationships, deeply flawed relationships.*

genfic. I've enjoyed plenty of romantic fiction, but my favourite relationships to read about are complicated guardian-child relationships and friendships.

Sad or Manic Failures. Think Harrowhark in Harrow the Ninth, Spamton G. Spamton from Deltarune, Adachi from Person 4, Beanix in Apollo Justice. The desperation, the futility of life, the unrelenting temptation to give into despair, mhuh! It's exquisite.

people caught up in Authoritarian/Religious systems. If we matched on Deeplight, you're probably already acquainted with Frances Hardinge's masterful explorations of this theme. (And if you are not, I highly recommend checking out Frances Hardinge's novels.) Regardless, we're talking doubt. We're talking desire for control. We're talking distorted thinking and self-serving thinking and delusion. We're talking justifying the unjustifiable. We're talking devastated self worth. We're talking feeling out of step with everyone around you. You get it.

characters who refuse to give up their integrity. I love characters who struggle with temptation and ultimately give in, but I also love characters who struggle with temptation but ultimately stand firm. Also, characters who have given in to the easy thing, but then resolve to do the right thing---especially when the motivation for doing the easy thing is the desire to be loved.

strong worldbuilding/atmosphere. I like stories to have a plot, but a well-developed atmosphere/sense of place is essential as far as I'm concerned. I have enjoyed the most pointless, meandering stories on the strength of the atmosphere/worldbuilding. I love stories that have a fairytale-type atmosphere, or a haunting, surreal atmosphere (think anything by Patricia McKillip, much of Gothic literature, some of Frances Hardinge's novels e.g., Cuckoo Song and Unraveller).

*Important caveat: I enjoy fictional explorations of messed up people and how being victimized can mess you up and messed up relationships in general; that doesn't mean I'm signing off on the idea that you can rape someone and still be said to love them. There might be some idea of comfort in familiarity (the devil you know), but let's not retreat into outright abuse apologia.

General Dislikes

I'm not a big fan of fluff. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I don't hate it, but I don't love it either.

I'm also not a fan of modern AUs. Typically, the worldbuilding is a big part of my interest in a particular work of fiction, and modern AUs tend to render that a moot point.

Jenny LeClue: Detectivu

I already said this in my optional details, but it's worth saying again: Jenny LeClue is an awesome game. It has a great sorta-spooky atmosphere, gorgeous graphics, shocking revelations, clever puzzles, and funny, sympathetic characters. I love Jenny's reluctant friendship with CJ. I love how dedicated Jenny is to helping her mom and discovering the truth, and I love how she learns to be a better friend to Keith and Suzie.

If you do like to write fluff, this would be my preferred fandom for it. (But, of course, you are free to do what you want.) A slice of life fic about Jenny and her friends solving a mystery would be fun. I think there's a lot of potential in exploring the fallout of the game while Jenny is forced to cool her heels after her mom/the Dean disappears. She's found out so much, but doesn't have a lot of room to act, which would be very frustrating for her.

The Lion In Winter (1968)

Watching The Lion In Winter for the first time is such a crazy experience because the film creates such a strong illusion of shit happening. Characters deliver ultimatums, overhear incriminating accusations, and threaten to kill each other, but then the film ends and you realize that nothing has fundamentally changed. It's like they're trapped in purgatory, incapable of moving on or changing in any significant way.

I don't have a lot to add to my optional details here, but I do find the idea of some sort of future fic interesting since a) my understanding is that in history Eleanor outlives Richard and b) the characters in the film seem to have no future; instead, they are doomed to play out the same roles and actions for the rest of existence.

Deeplight (Frances Hardinge)

Frances Hardinge is my favourite author, and Deeplight is yet more evidence of how great she is. I love the worldbuilding in Deeplight: the mysterious Cataclysm, and the creepy Lovecraftian gods, and the even creepier priesthood, and the sea-kissed, and the tension between the Myriad and the continent, and the godware contraptions.

I also love the characters. Hark's realization that he doesn't owe Jelt his life is so !!! I also enjoyed the mad scientist aspect of Dr. Vyne. Plus, Selphin's determination was very cool.

I'm super intrigued by the former religion of the Myriad. The idea that priests were specifically tasked with keeping the people afraid is such a crazy reveal, but so on-brand for Frances Hardinge. And then you find out about the origin of the gods and it's like... wtf??!!!

There were no nominated characters for this one, so you'll have a lot of freedom if you write for this fandom. And you know, if you want to write a worldbuilding fic with original characters, I'd be cool with that. I really like the characters in Deeplight, so I'll miss them, but the world is just so cool here, so feel free to explore that if you want. I have faith in you. I think the priesthood and their role in placating the gods in particular would be very interesting to explore.

Once again, thanks for offering these fandoms. I have faith that whatever you'll write, I'll love it (or at least like it). 👍

[mondaijo]

I would KILL for a backstory to that dragon mo ran and his hoard

...don't tempt me like this anon!!!!!!

while I'm drawing a scene like that I can't help but start thinking about how that happened? so p0rn or not, I try to conjure a story so I can understand better what got these characters where they are, what are their expressions, how they're related to each other etc etc.

this is from what I had originally in mind for this AU, but also from when I mentioned it on twitter and some people started giving me some ideas! so what I had in mind was basically:

(under the cut!)

cw: non/dubcon mentions & parallels with 2ha main plot, which could be spoilers if you haven't finished the book //

(disclaimer: all the monsterf*cking prompts I came up with were all badly disguised excuses for drawing ultra corny p0rn cause I think it's super fun.... like those corny romance covers? like that vibe lmao, I strayed from it a little but but at first I wanted chu wanning to be a damsel in distress princess from a cheesy western fantasy world, that was kidnapped by the evil dragon that, gasps, has two huge dongs............. so yeah it's very tropey and corny and cheesy and somehow mo ran is based on a western fantasy dragon, cause I needed the whole evil dragon with a hoard thing.... for extra horny points......... this is so bad... but please enjoy)

- chu wanning is the only son of a noble (huai zui), king to a secluded and kinda small kingdom, and after trying to rebel and break free from his father's control, he is being kept locked up inside the palace until huai zui can secure a nice marriage for him that would make his family more politically powerful etc etc.

-of course chu wanning is an unparalleled beauty here too, and also very kind, strict, and skilled in cultivation, so he wishes to break free from the palace and his family so that he can save the common folk (I love him)

-before huai zui can marry him off (maybe to this other noble's son called shi mei?? 👁👁) the settlements/small towns around the palace report dragon sightings, and missing livestock. the towns panic and some people start to go missing too, and before they can do anything about it the dragon shows up and attacks the palace & city around it, causes some damage, maybe k*lls some guards too. oh no he calls himself taxian-jun 👀 he lays siege to the castle, being a very fucking awesome dragon and all, and despite all the offerings of food and gold and riches, the only thing that he says will make him leave is the king's son ~

-cwn is still locked up and he only knows what's going on through some guards gossiping near him, and even though huai zui does his best to beat the dragon so that he won't need to give away his prized beauty, no matter what he does taxian-jun is too powerful.....! and if it goes on he'll just destroy the whole palace......

-so he does end up giving chu wanning away, who's suddenly being taken from his room and draped in red to marry the dragon??? who's actually very big and hot (quite literally)............ oh no..............!

-wanning is brought to mo ran's cave and now he's one of mo ran's prized possessions/hoard too.... he's being kept away just like before, txj does txj things and there's probably a lot of non/dubcon too, but then despite being an evil tyrant dragon, deep down he finds out mo ran (which he learns is his name) can be kind too 🥺 (this is like, peak beauty & the beast shit)

-probably something something about cwn saving mo ran when he was little, even though he was a "monster"..... mo ran thought all humans were bad but this one is not only the most beautiful person he's ever met (who reminds him of his late mom), but also very kind...!

-and uh something something about taking revenge against the emperor (ru feng) for what they did to his mom, maybe he's cursed too (something akin to the flower, that makes him try and raze everything to the ground) and wanning finds out and wants to help him since in a way mo ran helped him too!

-yadda yadda there's a lot of political intrigue and war stuff that would sound very nice if I could make it up so please insert it here to make the story cooler, in the end they save the world and each other and it's beautiful, they fuck a lot too! so good for them, good for them......

please enjoy this masterpiece, anon, you'll never read anything quite as grand as what I have just written 😌

#anon #2ha #ranwan #dragon mo ran #chu wanning #congratulations anon #you just made me write this masterpiece #I don't think any piece of fictional media can quite compare to this #EXQUISITE WORLDBUILDING I WOULD SAY #lmao I told you it was tropey stuff..................................................... #cw: noncon / dubcon mentions

[pluviophile-imagines]

I have recently discovered your usurper!gojo au and it is the best thing I have ever read. I can’t tell you, how in love I am. It’s the most exquisite piece of fiction I’ve ever laid eyes on. I love it. I love au’s like this and gojo being the main character was the cherry on top for me.

THE PINING. THE YEARNING. THE COURTING. THE FLOWER CROWNS. THE KISSING IN THE GARDEN. YOU’RE RIGHT. I seriously enjoyed the fact that he put the mad in madly in love. You could not be more right.

The fact that he only shows his eyes in the privacy of their bedroom or when it’s just the two of them? I swooned. I want him. I want himmmmmm. This is the man I want. Honestly if this au was real, I would fit into it so well lmao.

He’s a menace with how much he loves. How hard he loves. I love how you didn’t make him tease the reader too much when he had locked her up in his room after the coup. It was just right and then he goddamn fell to his knees and you gripped me by the throat with that. You know what truly had me hook line and sinker? The fricking eye contact he held with her as he pointed his sword at his aunt. I. DIED. MY SOUL LEFT MY BODY AND CAME BACK. IT WAS AN EARTH SHATTERING MOMENT WHERE THEY BOTH KNEW THEIR LIVES WERE ABOUT TI CHANGE. Imagine seeing his pretty eyes after so many years. Do you think they fell for each just before he was supposedly assassinated or do you think it is something that started growing a little after so when he was alone and when she was grieving. I know you’ve mentioned the teasing hair pulling but if he was “assassinated” at around 17, was he a little more mature and realised he liked her or was be still being a menace and showed his love by teasing her? OMG I JUST REALISED, HE WAS STILL A MENACE WASNT HE. ALSO DID SHE KISS HIM ON THE LIPS WHEN HE HELD THE BOOK AWAY FROM HER? I love me a childhood friends/enemies(enemies only bcs he teased her so much) to lovers.

You did an amazing job at this plot line. Honestly, this au was a major throwback for me because I used to read romance books with this sort of storyline and I love this so much. Idk how to tell you how much I enjoyed reading everything you’ve put out about usurper!gojo and his queen. Also thank you. I could see myself in it. I really it enjoyed and I’m so grateful so thank you. I know it may not always be your intention to have readers be able to fit themselves into a storyline because it is after all your story but I’m happy that I was able to imagine myself in it. Thank you.

JDNDKENF TYSM ANON!!!! Omg this was the BEST ask to wake up to you’ve made my day… I’m so excited u like it this much. And omg I’m so happy you feel like you can project onto the reader like that!!!! I’m a big fan of capable & intelligent readers and usurper!gojo’s is definitely one of my favs, I rlly adore her

(I’m putting all of this under a read-more bc the initial ask is rlly long (thank you kith kith I love u) and then I Additionally rambled for way too long rip)

I Just mentioned this in another ask but Gojo is definitely going easy on the reader bc he rlly adores her and is So worried that he’ll lose her, so esp on that first night he’s trying v hard not to push her too far when it’s Already a tense and not ideal situation LMFAO he’s v much riding this high of actually being able to see her n (as he openly states) not deal with tracking her down after she’s fled to court her so there’s still a fair bit of teasing just bc he’s So Fucking Happy but also he wants her to be as happy as he is yk

Gojo’s eyes are in a way one of his most intimidating features! It’s implied in that initial blurb but I’ll say it outright, they’re considered a feature of royalty in the worldbuilding, something his family has passed down through generations. Great leaders r said to be born with those eyes. But he’s of the opinion that if he showed them off constantly people would get used to them and they wouldn’t have the same impact—he takes off the blindfold in front of the court when he really wants people to listen to what he has to say. Doesn’t need to do it v often, he already commands plenty of respect. Plus the whole thing the reader explains, hiding his true emotions n giving him a more effective poker face.

BUT with the reader he takes it off for a number of reasons! Firstly he doesn’t rlly care abt seeing anyone else clearly but the reader? No way is he missing out. Secondly he wants her to be able to see his emotions. Thirdly in a meta sense I just adore the idea of him taking off his metaphorical armor for her. And lastly well… he knows she thinks they’re pretty and he likes her reaction LMFAO

The kiss was on the lips LMFAO even at 14 he wasn’t fully expecting her to give him what he wanted but that’s like a running theme w the pair of them, her boundaries r actually a lot more lenient than either of them think they are 😭😭😭 in Flower Crowns he says their final kiss in that fic is her first time kissing him but that’s bc he doesn’t count that book incident! He actually feels guilty abt it, looking back he thinks he was leveraging his power as the crown prince to force her to give in and he doesn’t like that. She just disagrees, and Shortcake Crumbs is from her POV so there u go. Other than that incident they kiss only one other time in their childhood and I plan to elaborate on that in the future 👁👁

Gojo and the reader were deffo in love when they were kids tho. The thing is they were also certain that they’d never be together. The reader rlly is just too low on the social hierarchy for his parents to have allowed it. So they never officially courted or considered each other for marriage and they never explicitly confessed or anything but. It Was There pfft and esp looking back both gojo and the reader know it (from both of their POVs we see this, even from the initial blurb I wrote). When they’re younger it’s less intense but that summer when they’re both 14 kinda marks when they’re becoming teens/young adults and that puppy love is becoming deeper.

ultimately, though I haven’t mentioned it in the fics, it’s also the reason reader’s parents send her off for schooling. If u recall she’s gone when his “assassination” happens; it was starting to unfold such that gojo was going to ascend to the throne when he was younger than 20 and his dying parents’ advisors basically went “if he becomes king when he’s still young and infatuated with this nobody noble then he’s gonna make her queen we can’t let that happen” so they essentially strong armed the reader’s family into sending her away in an effort to nip it in the bud. Ofc the rest of gojo’s family then decided to off his parents and him, and failed, and all of that got thrown to the wind bc he came back stronger and more reckless than before LMFAOOOO

I touch upon this a little in Flower Crowns but before the “assassination” he’s v much this spoiled brat and actually much more susceptible to giving in to what his advisors tell him to do. Then he has to rough it for a good decade learning to fight and lead and preparing to take back the throne, and he comes back with no shits to give—he’s gonna have his kingdom and he’s gonna have his queen and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop him bc he rlly is a fucking beast. And even more terrifying w the reader by his side bc she’s as capable socially/politically as he is with a sword. Real power couple shit skdnksdb

But point being there’s v much a dichotomy between his younger self and his older self—ten years is a LONG time and he’s matured a LOT. He absolutely was a menace right up until she gets sent away. He was relentless w it, and I think there were very few moments where he was sweet to her without any kind of pigtail pulling attached (yes on up until he was 17) and in fact her being around him as an adult brings some of that energy back to the surface too. She makes him feel a little like a kid again, the way he was back before it all went to shit 🥺

N e way. There u go! A lot of meta stuff for u bc this ask was so amazing to get ♥️ I hope you like it!

#ask.🌧 #anon #usurper!gojo