#so i could not let that stand

[sirenetica]

My beautiful boyfriend @spellboundcities made art of the wonderful DDVAU (made by @xmaruu11 and @kitsuneisi respectively) and, obviously, i took that as a CHALLENGE!

So here's some fanart for a wonderful AU!

#are they holding hands? are they not holding hands? the better question is ARE YOU A NARC? /ref #i looove this au #i binge read every single thing i could when i found it months ago #and then my beloved partner #my darling angel #had the AUDACITY #to draw fanart BEFORE ME! /lhj /nsrs #so i could not let that stand #ddvau #ddvau fanart #desertduo vigilante au #trafficshipping #hermitshipping #technically but not technically? #gtws fanart #grian fanart #my art #the textposts were supplied to me by my beautiful boyfriend #with brown eyes #he tells me what to do and i say yes sir #on it boss

[aroaceleovaldez]

Nico and Percy's dynamic through the series is eternally funny to me, because it's just. like.

Percy's having a constant mental struggle between his fatal flaw of loyalty with a promise he made to Bianca to protect Nico, versus his Big 3 kid desire to maim other Big 3 kids / Poseidon descendant urge to totally maim Nico specifically. He hates Nico so so much. He thinks Nico's annoying and weird at best, and creepy/sketchy when he's older. The only positive thoughts Percy has towards Nico are "He's Bianca's brother and Bianca was my friend and I owe her/He's Hazel's brother and Hazel is my friend and would kill me if I was mean to him," "He's a powerful asset and useful ally (if questionable)," and "He's kinda pathetic and I feel maybe a little bad about it." Percy has multiple occasions throughout the series where he strongly considers - and on one occasionally actually goes through with - throttling Nico.

Meanwhile, Nico is following around Percy like a lost puppy. He explicitly can never bring himself to even dislike anything about Percy no matter how hard he tries. He has a whole bit in BoO where he's mentally going "UGH he's so stupid BUT IT'S ENDEARING HOW DARE HE." He's totally smitten. He's making deals with his dad for Percy. He's making convoluted plans to help Percy stand a chance against Kronos. During the entirety of BoTL it's like he's playing tsundere - "I'm helping NOT PERCY SPECIFICALLY with this quest! Me helping Percy would be SILLY because I DEFINITELY HATE HIM." Then he proceeds to show up to Percy's birthday party to basically ask him on a weird date and spend the entire next book scrambling around trying to help him or protect him or impress him. And Percy could not give less of a shit.

Just. That dynamic is so funny to me. Percy is the founder of the Nico Protection Club in that he's the one they're all protecting Nico from and meanwhile Nico is throwing himself at Percy to the point where the literal god of gay love calls him out on it.

#pjo #percy jackson #nico di angelo #Percy shows up at CJ and squints at Nico like ''hm. why do i feel like i hate you? like i just wanna punch you in the face?'' #and Nico just immediately goes ''huh no idea anyways i have to go-'' and jumps into Tartarus #but not before he gives Hazel essentially a detailed explanation of ''this is Percy i cant say much but please dont let him die <3'' #and Nico's whole Tartarus trip was basically a whole ''im doing this so no one else has to'' #only for Percy and Annabeth to fall in like one book later and Nico proceeds to spend the next book internally screaming about it #and then Cupid calls him out on it and the next book #Nico's just like ''at this point im hoping i keel over within the next week just so i can force this dumb crush to chill the fuck out'' #Nico staring pointedly at Will: ''For my own sake i need to form another crush RIGHT NOW so i can finally get over Percy.'' #''this has been so bad for my health'' #Nico's crush on Percy is just too funny to me. horrible pick my guy. terrible job. love that for you. he could not be less interested. #Percy LITERALLY TRIES TO KILL NICO and ditch him in the underworld and Nico is somehow STILL like ''but i love him'' #Percy basically chokes him. beats up his dad. tells him ''go get smited by your dad for me.'' and ditches him. #and Nico's opinions/crush on him DO NOT CHANGE #though also Nico's reaction to Percy beating up his dad + skeletons is SO funny. his jaw is on the floor. he's flustered about it. #he just witnessed Percy be incredibly hot and proceeded to go ''yea i'll do anything for this man. collect reinforcements of 3 gods? sure'' #nico you absolute DISASTER with HORRIBLE TASTE. you can do better. raise your standards. #which tbh is funnier when you factor in sun and the star. Nico just wont stop crushing on guys who dislike him and everything he stands for

[puppetmaster13u]

More art for @phoenixcatch7 Possessed Doll Au Someone gets to meet Black Bat for the first time- though lets be honest Cass probably spooked someone and then went running to Batdad when they started trying to figure out how she got onto the Watchtower and if she's allowed

#possessed puppet au #possessed doll au #batman au #batman #bruce wayne #cassandra cain #black bat #art #dcu #dc #ibispaintx #I had fun making B hunched over so he doesn't accidentally knock his head or ears on something lol #Cass blends in with his cloak and she uses this to her advantage #Lets be honest the robins are probably also there they're just hidden or takin a nap in the chest cavity lol #Look Bruce doesn't mean to look terrifying he really doesn't seeing as the JL are his allies #But Cass is new to the family and she got spooked and he's going to protect her because this is his current baby of the fmaily #same vibes as a big scruffy cat standing over a kitten mrrring angrily at you lol #Mans brought her up to the Watchtower because he needed to update the computer and figured he could give her a tour #sketch #Let's be honest Cass is probably the first of the kids to earn sedative or paralytic spikes lol #“Father when can I have spikes” #“When you stop losing your arms Dick” #“What about me father” #“When you stop trying to sneak explosives Jason”

[greatestjubilee]

maybe you were wondering were i've been

#twitterusergunbusted put this image together #but i need to let you know i played signalis and after almost rage quitting because i fucked up i finished #and yes #i am a changed woman #but im a lesbian so what did you really expect #i also want to add in here that falke is tall enough that you could (something something) while she is standing. i think thats cool

[flustersnaggle]

THE WORLD, FULL OF INFINITE POSSIBILITIES

aurelia aquareine (she/her), sage of alchemy — cheerful // creative // perfectionist

general: face skinblend // facekit 1 // facekit 2 // face highlights (highlight N1) // face undertones // hairline // brows // eye preset // lashes // eye base // eye sparkle // eyeshadow (eyeshadows N9 glitter only) // eyeliner // blush—... hey, where did it go? // mouth corners // teeth // body preset // skinblend (skin N13 overlay) // skin tints // nails // wrist tattoo everyday: hair (my wedding stories) // hat (helia hat V3) // earrings // choker // dress // boots formal: hair (my wedding stories) // earrings // necklace // lipstick // dress (high school years) // arm bracelet (realm of magic) // shoes (base game) athletic: hair (fashima fro) & headwrap overlay // earrings (base game) // top (throwback fit) // shorts (daisy shorts V1) // socks (artemis socks) // shoes (incheon arrivals) sleep: bonnet (V2) // robes (vintage glamour) // shoes (spa day) party: hair (lisa low fro) // earrings (ashley earrings) // necklace (poolside splash) // lipstick // dress (naomi dress) // bracelets // shoes swimwear: hair (pam puff V1) // top (island living) // bottom (base game) // bracelet (base game) // feet hot weather: hair (penny puff V3) // earrings (base game) // top (eco lifestyle) // shorts (realm of magic) // bracelet (base game) // shoes (incheon arrivals) cold weather: hair (lisa low fro) // hat (seasons) // earrings // coat // gloves (get to work) // shoes (get together) extras: poses 1 & potion // poses 2 // poses 3 // realm of magic icons rip

thank you! — @atomiclight, @pyxiidis, @okruee, @ddarkstonee, @serawis, @sayasims, @meghewlett, @obscurus-sims, @miikocc, @pralinesims, @xiamdeathx, @goppolsme, @squea, @magic-bot, @crilender, @ms-marysims, @clumsyalienn, @raccoonium, @philosimy, @mysteriousdane, @crypticsim, @sheabuttyr, @aharris00britney, @ayoshi, @mapleseed, @qwertysims, @arethabee, @sentate, @lady-moriel, @makesims, @dearie-sim, @hula-zombie

#terribly sorry about her hair blending into the background in the lookbook pics by the way. i've never taken screenshots in live mode before #anyway. got bored so i tried my hand at an alchemy sage #i actually tried keeping her at roughly the same level of extravagance as the other three sages' official designs so she could #somewhat reasonably stand next to them. otherwise i would've made her far more elaborate what with being a sage and all #that being said i am very proud of how she turned out in the end though #the sims 4 #ts4 #ts4 simblr #simblr #ts4 spellcaster #spellcaster #ts4 sage #realm of magic sage #ts4 lookbook #lookbook #sim: aurelia aquareine #snag's sim tag #...as a bonus treat for reading the tags this far i'll let you in on a secret #aurelia's first name means 'the golden one' referencing gold's alchemical significance and perfection #whereas her last name aquareine is the name of a character from the wizard of oz novels (like how L. faba's name is a reference to elphaba) #AND is a reference to the name of the aqua regia chemical solution as well

[haunted-xander]

"Mickey left Aqua in the Realm of Darkness for 10 years!" Mickey had NO IDEA where Aqua was for 10 years and when he DID find her he 1) wasn't prepared for it in the slightest and didn't even have a plan for how he would escape safely and 2) she literally told him to leave her behind to make sure he and Riku could go home safely. After which he was caught up in a shit ton of other things to take care of and didn't have the resources or time to launch a rescue.

#i will not stand for king mickey slander!!!!!! he wouldve saved her the first time if he could!!! dont let anti-aqua fool you!!!! #this isnt even mentioning the responsibilities he has as both a king and a keyblade master and all that entails btw #he did what he could!!!! he is a good king and a good friend!!!!!!!!! #anyway so i finished replaying 0.2 #mickey mouse #king mickey #aqua #kingdom hearts #kh #xander rambles

[mattodore]

spill the milk

#simblr #sims 4 #ts4 #ts4 edit #ts4 cas #river dipping #theodore doe #echthroi #🦇 #river how long did you just spend editing these photos of theo? #.........do not ask me that i'm fragile #i've been watching lighting tutorials from artists on youtube lately so note!! #i've highlighted around the corners of his lips and nose then blended it out a ton and then added little triangles under his eyes #honestly i could stand to take the opacity down on the shading and highlighting layers but i think i like the dramatic effect more #also i did say yesterday that theo's just some guy but then went into cas and gave him a cunty little outfit #i can't help it #let's just say this is a clubbing outfit #and i..... technically took these just to show off theo's face moles (i got VERY distracted in photoshop tho lmfao) but... #how am i supposed to crop out his little outfit when it's tewww good #just zoom . #i'm in loveeeeeee with his eye moles but he had those before #my new favorites from the ones i made for him are the two on his lips :3c #i... am not sure how well you can see them here tho #when i turn on my desktop i'll reblog this with closer pictures!! #i really just couldn't crop it closer to his face jdnghkjnh i LOVEEE this outfit

[garlicbreadslice]

Do you guys ever think about Kevin Day. About the number on his cheek. About the horrors he survived to keep it there. The physical and psychological torture that he endured just so he could have the shiny number 2 tattooed on his cheekbone. How brave he was to go through all that.

How brave he must have been to let it go.

To say: I’m giving up my number, the one I’ve dehumanized and killed myself over. I’m giving it up, but my suffering for it wasn’t in vain.

To realize that he didn’t deserve the number 2, not because he was no longer second best without the Ravens, but because he had always been better than all of them.

He was the deadliest piece on the board.

#I had a dream about Kevin day last night #in which he was talking to Wymack and essentially said: #‘I let myself be beaten for this number. #I let my friend be tortured for this number. #once I stuck my hand on a hot stove for riko. so that I could keep my number. #all I had to do to get rid of it was stand up for myself. #and that was the hardest thing I’ve done.’ #yes actually my dreams are ridiculous and poetic #I can write better unconsciously than I can consciously #but anyways #Kevin day #aftg #all for the game #riko moriyama #tsc #the sunshine court #the raven king #the foxhole court #tfc

[happyk44]

Jason: I'm sorry, my dad tried to do what to you?

Nico:

Nico: Nothing. I didn't say anything.

Percy, climbing in through the window: HE SAID THAT HE TRIED TO KILL HIM WHEN HE WAS A KID!

Nico: Oh my God, Percy, where the fuck did you come from?

Percy: From outside, obviously.

Percy, uncapping Riptide: Anyway, Jason, would you like to come with me to embark on a quest to kill your dad?

Nico: Percy, no!

#something about how percy wove a protective cloak around Nico's shoulders and gets enraged when people threaten that #Jason: I mean... He did let Hera throw me to literal wolves as a two year old 🤔 and i love nico dearly so... #nico in the corner calling his dad for help and hades is just like yeah fuck let them kill him #i always thought he could stand to be killed more hera used to do it a lot but then she got bored and frankly i just dont have the time #happy talks pjo #nico di angelo #percy jackson #jason grace

[101-zigzagoons]

oh THAT'S why ivy wasn't surprised to see lucy alive- she just assumed lucy had finally given in and let ankarna resurrect her, and that she was fully on their side again

#also explains why kipperlilly is so calm about merking her own party members. I thought it was just because she sucks. #dimension 20 #fantasy high junior year #fhjy spoilers #so it seems like what happened was maybe #kipperlilly pushed for the group to get a spring break assignment that was way above their skill level #bc she wanted a 'challenge' #and they were wildly underprepared for actual combat bc they'd only been fighting rats or w/e #so some of them went down #I don't think it was a TPK bc lucy wouldn't have come back but it was probably enough of them #that she didn't have the resources to resurrect them herself #so they let ankarna bring them back instead #definitely kipperlilly probably ruben and oisin potentially jace(?) #if any of the others survived they could have been pressured into it later but eventually #the rest of the party is serving the rage god and lucy is the last holdout #so they kill her thinking it'll force her hand but it doesn't work #I also think it would explain why kipperlilly was so confident the bad kids would fail the last stand #if HER party nearly got wiped out being overwhelmed by monsters and they were obviously way more capable (/s) #and it would really twist the knife for them to not only survive but completely ace the exam #anyway many thoughts head full etc etc

[daz4i]

a little insane to me to see ppl perceive kunikida as like. law abiding citizen who never steps out of line and always does as he's told. you'd expect with a set of qualities like this that he'd be a cop, but there's a reason he's in the ada, that does things that aren't quite within the law's confinement. also more simply dude he has "authority" in his list of dislikes do you honestly think he would just blindly follow orders. just bc my guy has ocd doesn't mean he's a bootlicker please don't misread him like that.

#ok the ocd part is my own interpretation. but i stand firm with it #him not joining the hunting dogs is more than just liking the agency. i think #i don't think he sees all laws as just. so why would he follow them all to a t? he has his own sense of justice and morals and IDEALS #he could never thrive in a group meant to maintain law and order. let alone one that hurts people to do so #but. that's just my take 🫡

[u5an5]

Theory: The Clone X was not Cody like some people think or even Fives (I know he's been dead for a very long time but so was Boba Fett and look where we are. Plus, Echo was supposed to be certainly dead too; making him Winter Soldier-esque storyline wouldn't be that surprising) or not even Slick.

((Also, now that we've seen his face devoid of any tattoos or scars I think first two takes are definitely not applicable anymore; they wouldn't put that much effort to make him unrecognizable))

Back to the point: In my opinion, The Clone X was none other than...

Fox.

Now let me explain.

Who else, other than X, was loyal to the law and justice dictated by it over any moral or ethic code?

Fox.

Who else was portrayed with such single-minded focus on hunting down traitors of the government he served, regardless of what it was?

Fox.

Who else could know not only Coruscant so well but also identify Rex like they knew each other?

He already was a remarkably successful tracker of traitors, why not make him more efficient by pointing them out for him?

Good soldiers follow orders, after all.

#clone assassin #commander fox #star wars tbb #i know that hes got killed really early after Order in comics but i would honestly prefer him to die this way #the bad batch spoilers #commander cody #arc trooper fives #tcw slick #cc 1010 #star wars #sw tbb #sw the bad batch #the bad batch season 3 #tbb theory #we dont even know for sure how he looks like cause in one moment we see corries without helmets all of them have standard paintjob #idk if its just animation error but because of it we cant be 100% sure fox ever regreted it without him being shown grieving with rest #hes just taking a breath when fives is dying and personaly i see it more as him rolling his eyes that rex is being mushy with traitor #but there are 3 clones behind fox when hes shown and then the one taking off his helmet stands beside 2 others so it may actualy be it??? #and if he DOES regret it imo is more in 'shame i had to do it' rather than 'shame i did it' way if you know what i mean #hes just doing his job and hes GOOD at it. not his fault that him being competent is bad for the good guys #my point is: outside of one page incomic that can be at any point made noncanon or recontextualized theres no evidence that it cant be him #they already retconed more important things. why not this? #i think its likely that in case im right we can assume that all named corries were made into CloneX #none of them appeared yet despite how much of action happens on coruscant #and only thorn died on screen; in a way preventing him from being viable option nonetheless #three hits point blank months before Order seem unlikely but theyve done weirder things so him returning wouldnt be THAT weird so uhh idk #but yeah cx-02 is tech #winter soldiering doesnt stop #i mean THIS could be fox/other corrie but it being tech is way too cliche oportunity to waste it on them (derogatory towards disney) #pls disney let corries hunt down traitors like they used to pls

[haunted-xander]

Ryne and Gaia are like. Such good parallels and foils to each other it makes me just a little insane.

Like Ryne is sweet and caring and she always wants to help others and make them feel better even to the detriment of herself because she has seen and known suffering and doesn't want others to have to live like that too. If she can make someones life better, even if just a little bit, then she will. But she also puts everyone elses well-being and feelings so far above her own that she often ends up trying to help in a way that doesn't actually solve anything because it still ends up with someone hurt (such as trying to properly fuse with Minfilia knowing it might end up with herself disappearing). She's not a doormat, but she does have some people-pleasing tendencies.

Gaia, however, is the exact opposite. She's prickly and sarcastic and thinks of herself and her needs first and foremost, everyone else is secondary. It's not that she's cold or uncaring, she doesn't ignore people's problems, she just doesn't see them as her business most of the time (A product of being raised in Eulemore most likely). She doesn't consider the long-term outcome of what she does or says, she lives solely in the present and the future is a problem for when it happens.

These opposite traits also play into each other. Ryne inspires Gaia to care more about others and Gaia inspires Ryne to prioritize herself more. Gaia makes Ryne live more on the moment without thinking solely of what the future will bring, and Ryne makes Gaia think more on what her life will be going forward and to actually consider what she does and says and how that affects things. They feed into each others good traits (Ryne's caring nature and Gaia's sense of self) while also helping them deal with the bad traits (Ryne's people-pleasing and Gaia's aloofness).

Their pasts are good paralells too. Ryne was isolated and lonely until Thancred took her away but even then, he was distant and emotionally neglectful, so she ended up lonely in an entirely different way. Gaia had a family and caretakers that she wasn't particularly close to, but after the 'Fairy' started talking to her they got even further away until she couldn't even remember them, and the 'Fairy' was the closest thing she had to a friend even though it was what isolated her to begin with. Ryne had constant companionship but no support, and Gaia had 'support' but no companionship.

Even just. Regarding the whole identities thing they are just. Perfect. Ryne has lived with Minfilia's shadow on her shoulder her entire life and never got to learn who she actually is. She thought that she had to become Minfilia for her life to be worth anything, that it's the only way her existance is justified. The person closest to both her and Minfilia(Thancred) indicated(in her mind at least) that he wanted Minfilia to be here in Ryne's stead(which wasn't really the case but she didn't know that). The only way to get her out of that shadow was to remove her from the identity of Minfilia, hence why her new name is so important(as well as the hair and eyes being her natural colors instead of Minfilia's all too recognizable ones).

But Gaia didn't even know about Mitron or Loghrif until Eden. She had the 'Fairy', but to her it was just some voice in her head which was nice enough to her. To her, Loghrif is just some lady Mitron loved, she has no real connection to her. She has a connection to Mitron, both as the 'Fairy' and as remnant feelings from Loghrif, but none to Loghrif herself(aside from the obvious reincarnation stuff). Gaia has always been her name. It may have been Loghrif's originally, but she is so far removed from that identity that even for all of Mitron's effort to 'return' her to Loghrif, it'd never work. Loghrif is Gaia, but Gaia is not Loghrif. Simple as that.

Eden's story works so well because Ryne and Gaia are opposites in that specific way that compliments each other, rather than pits them against each other.

#idk if this is articulated properly i just have a lot of feelings about everything all the time #yes yes its another ryne post by yours truly. i am insane about her okay #ALSO this isnt even touching on the parallels between the resolution with the unhealthy dynamic between their 'guardian's #like ryne & thancred managed to confront the source of their issues regarding each other and move past it #they had the ability to create a healthier dynamic and by god they would work to make that happrn #and they did #whereas gaia & mitron seperated and let go of each other because it was the only positice outcome they could get #gaia couldnt let mitron hang on to a dead womans ghost and mitron cant make gaia into loghrif #but unlike with thancred & ryne theres no moving past loghrifs existance and effect on their dynamic #so the only option is to let go #(mitron was also MUCH further gone in grief and longing than thancred but the point still stands) #(even if mitron had the state of mind to be like. reasonable. i dont think he & gaia shouldve stayed around each other) #anyway. eden rules i love my little lesbians thats all good day/night/whatever time it is for u everyone #ryne waters #gaia #thancred waters #minfilia warde #mitron #loghrif #final fantasy #final fantasy 14 #final fantasy xiv #ff14 #ffxiv #xander rambles #xander being insane about ryne

[whumpshaped]

"and im getting quality prompts too. why dont these ppl have their own blogs so i can follow them and rb all this premium stuff. "

Can't write unless I feel obligated to for the sake of somebody else :(

Scrolling through your blog and manifesting regular asks in 2024 to get me out of this hole 😭

NO BUT. OK. I AM GRABBING U LIKE THIS

I HEAR SO MANY PPL SAY SIMILAR STUFF. AND HOW LIKE OHHHH I DONT RLY WRITE THIS IS NOT REAL WRITING.... POST THAT HALF BAKED SHIT. WRITE INCOMPREHENSIBLE PROMPTS. RAMBLE. SCREAM INTO THE VOID. thats half of what i do.

THERES TREMENDOUS VALUE IN IT!!!!!!!!!!!! if u guys posted all this stuff the community would be all the better for it bc theyre SO quality. i love u guys. if any of u ask senders ever make a blog to post these prompts or smth, or decide to start posting them on ur already existing blogs, whatever. just send me ur url bc i wanna follow. its such good stuff.

#maybe u didnt need the whole motivational speech #but some of my friends r like #'hehe i had this UNIQUE AND AWESOME AND SHOW STOPPING IDEA im just gonna share it in a dm w u :D' #then turn around and go 'man im not a writer i never write or post :/' #I AM. SHAKING U. BITING U. PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS SACRED BLESS THE REST OF US PEASANTS #W THOSE THOUGHTS #PLEASE #clearly i am passionate abt this #but also im honoured im the one u guys share these with #and u expect me to bring these to life and do smth w them #very very honoured #but just letting all of u know that basically all the prompts i get or like 95% of them could stand on their own #thats all #ofc nobody is obligated to post their ramblings im sorry im just so so passionate abt this. bc this IS writing this IS creating scenarios #hhhhhhhhh #okay. #im gonna stop here before i give myself a heart attack #asks

[pheonixrainbow15]

THE SUN AND THE STAR SPOILERS

"'That doesn't sound like me,' Nico said, trying to play a deadpan, but Will gave him a stern look. Nico laughed. 'Okay, Okay, fine. Maybe that sounds like me.'"

Page 88 of tsats

"'That doesn't sound like me.' [...] 'Okay, perhaps that is true,' the god (Hades) allowed."

Page 439 of tsats

Like father like son.

#tsats #the sun and the star #nico di angelo #pjo hades #will solace #solangelo #I took out the what was in between the second quote because of MAJOR spoilers #look the page up in the book is you want to see what i left out #the father-son parallels were interesting #and this was probably the only place I could post about it #“Oh Pheonix you dropped off the face of social media for a few months!” #Yeah I was busy reading most of the books in the riordanverse #PJO #HOO #TOA #I've never read a book so fast #let alone a series #let alone THREE series' #and a stand alone novel #In only a few weeks #10/10 stories #10/10 books #hades #tsats spoilers #the sun and the star spoilers

[greenerteacups]

hi GT!

Lionheart had me the moment you kicked it off with “it’s a nice day to start again.” Might i ask why you chose that particular line?

And, if you havent already answered to this emoji:

❄️

P.s: you have my eternal gratitude for creating the most brilliant piece of writing i’ll ever read. I shout about it from the rooftops, share it on my socials, requested my spouse to read it so we may discuss it together (in lieu of a present for my 30th birthday), et cetera.

I see from your URL you are a fellow lad of taste.

There's a couple things going on in the epigraph for Book 1. On one level, it's a lyric from the first muggle song I picture Draco listening to on his walkman at the end of the book, so there's a cute full-circle thing there. The second layer is the theme of change and redemption, which, in Lionheart, doesn't so much come from major moments or self-sacrifice, but from the slow, grueling, everyday work of living, and living better. It's a nice day to start again because every day is. You always have the opportunity to start making better choices, no matter what lies behind you. That's the thesis of any Draco redemption arc, right? You have to imagine that he could have chosen to be better.

And then thirdly, there's the audacity of doing a full Hogwarts canon rewrite, a good 30 years after the original books came out, millions upon millions of words of fanfic later, and basically asking everyone to read the same story they did the first time around, only different. So it's a kind of winking entreaty. It's saying to readers, many of whom are understandably wary of doing it over, zeroing out the characters to starting positions, and starting from the beginning with 11-year-olds all over again. It's going: "hey. That was fun, right? Why not do it again?"

#thank you so much for the compliment -- honestly it's terribly kind #i hope your spouse likes it. for their own sake also because by god that is so much assigned reading #you're iconic for that tbh. all birthdays should come with a syllabus #oh! and ❄️ ⇢ what’s your dream theme/plot for a fic #and who would write it best? #tbh i've wanted someone to write a really good pacific rim AU for years and years #and it has always fallen juuuuust low enough on my writing pile for me to never get around to it #like it's always the thing i want to write 3rd most and i only let myself have 2 projects at a time #not sure who would write that best - I think anyone who loves and Gets the movies #the premise of which is 'what if you and your soulmate could pilot a 50-foot mech by having mindsex so good it killed godzilla?' #and if you don't want to stand up and cheer just thinking about that i don't know what to tell you. perhaps you have never seen a movie #also like it's about love and trust and trauma and healing. AND killing really giant monsters #and it takes itself JUST seriously enough to nail all of that without getting mopey or goofy #movie of all time. someday i will kiss guillermo del toro on the lips #in my (delusional) world his oscar win was actually a belated award for pacific rim.