#stories are a way for us to reflect on the complexities and emotions of our own experience of the world

[taytjiefourie]

Show Don't Tell: Sadness

Hey there, fabulous folks! I'm thrilled to have you back for another exciting day of my 'Show Don't Tell' series! Today, we're delving into the complex emotion of sadness, and I can't wait to explore this topic with you all.

Let's start by recapping why 'Show Don't Tell' is crucial in creative writing. When we show instead of telling, we allow our readers to truly experience the story firsthand. It's like sharing a delicious slice of pizza with a friend instead of just describing how it tastes. By showing, we can immerse our readers in the story and create a more captivating experience that brings the narrative to life in their minds.

Now, what is sadness?

Sadness is a powerful emotion that we all experience at some point in our lives. It's a feeling of deep sorrow or unhappiness, often caused by loss, disappointment, or failure. Sadness is an essential emotion to portray in storytelling because it allows the reader to connect with the characters on a deeper level. When we see characters experiencing sadness, we can empathize with them and understand their struggles.

Dialogue

Today we're starting off with dialogue! and oh boy, can I tell you a thing or two about dialogue in creative writing! See, dialogue is more than just two characters talking to each other - it's a powerful tool to reveal the inner emotions of your characters without having to explicitly state them. That's right, you can show, not tell, how your character is feeling just by the words they speak and the way they say them.

By carefully crafting dialogue, you can hint at a character's inner thoughts and feelings without spelling them out. You can use word choice, tone, pacing, and other elements to convey emotions that your readers can pick up on, even if your characters don't outright state what they're feeling.

For example, if a character is feeling nervous or anxious, they might speak in short, clipped sentences or stutter when they talk. If they're feeling angry or frustrated, they might use sarcasm or speak in a raised, forceful tone. And if they're feeling sad or defeated, they might use a subdued tone, speak slowly, or trail off mid-sentence.

By showing these emotions through dialogue, you're allowing your readers to draw their own conclusions about how your characters are feeling, rather than simply telling them outright. So, the next time you're writing dialogue, remember that it's not just about what your characters are saying, but how they're saying it.

Here are some ways to show your character's sadness through dialogue:

Speaking softly or in a subdued tone

Using a slow, hesitant delivery

Repetitively apologizing or expressing guilt

Avoiding eye contact

Using self-deprecating humor or dialogue

Asking for reassurance or validation

Using a trembling or shaking voice

Asking rhetorical questions to express confusion or hopelessness

Talking about loss or past regrets

Expressing disappointment or disillusionment

Using passive language, such as "I guess" or "I don't know"

Reflecting on negative feelings, such as shame or worthlessness

Using a quivering or choked voice

Expressing helplessness or powerlessness

Using long pauses or trailing off mid-sentence

Using a resigned or defeated tone

Expressing feelings of isolation or loneliness

Using negative self-talk or dialogue

Avoiding conflict or difficult conversations

Using a monotone or flat voice to convey sadness.

Making self-pitying statements, such as "Why does this always happen to me?"

Using expressions of regret, such as "I wish I had done things differently"

Expressing a lack of motivation or energy, such as "I just can't seem to get out of bed in the morning"

Talking about feeling overwhelmed or burdened by responsibilities

Using hesitant language, such as "I'm not sure if I can handle this"

Talking about feeling lost or directionless in life

Using indirect statements to avoid confronting difficult emotions, such as "It's just been a tough day"

Expressing a sense of hopelessness or despair, such as "What's the point anymore?"

Using figurative language to convey sadness, such as "It feels like a weight on my chest"

Talking about past traumas or painful memories

Using vague or noncommittal language, such as "I don't know how I feel right now"

Talking about feeling disconnected or disengaged from the world around them

Using self-criticism or self-blame, such as "I should have seen this coming"

Expressing a sense of longing or nostalgia for happier times

Using metaphors or similes to convey sadness, such as "I feel like a balloon slowly deflating"

Talking about feeling rejected or unloved by others

Using evasive language to avoid talking about difficult emotions directly

Expressing a sense of frustration or resignation, such as "It is what it is"

Using repetition to emphasize feelings of sadness, such as repeating "I just can't do this" multiple times.

Setting/Scenery

Let's talk about how to use the environment to create and convey sadness in creative writing. One way to use the environment to create a sad mood is through the use of imagery. Imagine a scene where the character is walking down a street on a rainy day. The sound of the rain hitting the pavement, the gray sky overhead, and the slick roads all work together to create a sense of sadness and melancholy. By describing the environment in detail, we can show the reader that the character is feeling down without ever having to tell them directly.

Another way to use the environment to convey sadness is through the use of color. For example, if the scene is set in a funeral home, we might describe the walls as a dull gray or beige, the curtains as heavy and dark, and the lighting as dim and muted. These details can all work together to create a sense of heaviness and sadness.

Using the environment can also be an effective way to create contrast and highlight the sadness in a scene. For instance, describing a bright and sunny day while the character is feeling down can help to emphasize their emotional state.

I've got a fantastic list of ways to use scenery and setting to indirectly show sadness:

Describing the weather as gray, rainy, or gloomy

Using dark or muted colors in the description of the setting

Creating a sense of isolation or emptiness in the environment

Using silence or a lack of sound to create a sense of loneliness or sadness

Describing the setting as abandoned or neglected

Using a stark or barren landscape to create a feeling of despair

Using symbolism in the setting, such as wilted flowers or broken objects, to convey sadness

Setting the scene in a place that is traditionally associated with sadness, such as a graveyard or hospital

Creating a contrast between the beauty of the setting and the sadness of the character's emotions

Describing the setting as chaotic or disorganized to mirror the character's internal turmoil.

There's another way to show a character's sadness - by having them directly interact with the setting:

Tracing their fingers along the rough surface of a wall

Sitting slumped or huddled in a corner

Staring off into the distance with a blank expression

Running their hands through grass or foliage absentmindedly

Letting raindrops fall on their face without moving

Slowly dragging their feet as they walk through the environment

Clenching their fists or gripping objects tightly

Kicking or throwing objects in frustration or anger

Covering their face with their hands or hiding their eyes

Leaning their head against a window or wall with a defeated expression

Tightly hugging a pillow, stuffed animal, or other comfort item

Pulling their knees up to their chest while sitting on the ground

Tearing apart flowers or other delicate objects

Trashing their surroundings in a fit of rage or despair

Moving through the environment slowly or aimlessly with no clear destination in mind.

I've also got some awesome details that'll help you convey sadness through scenery alone:

Weather: A gloomy, overcast day with drizzling rain can create a melancholic atmosphere, reflecting the character's sadness.

Time of Day: A dreary morning or mid-afternoon slump can convey a sense of sadness and lethargy.

Location: Abandoned or empty places, such as an old churchyard or an abandoned building, can create a sense of loneliness and isolation.

Objects: Neglected, dusty, or unused objects can symbolize the character's neglect or emotional emptiness.

Colors: Dull, muted colors like gray, brown, or beige can create a sense of emptiness and sadness.

Noises: Soft, somber sounds like gentle rain or the sound of distant waves crashing can create a sense of tranquility and melancholy.

Crowds: A crowded, bustling place like a shopping mall or a subway station can highlight the character's sense of detachment and loneliness.

Architecture: Decaying, crumbling buildings or abandoned factories can symbolize the character's emotional decay and emptiness.

Nature: A desolate or barren landscape, such as a desert or a frozen tundra, can evoke a sense of desolation and despair.

Animals: Sad or pitiful animals, like a stray dog or a sickly bird, can evoke a sense of vulnerability and sadness.

Action

Now it's time to talk about how actions can convey a character's sadness in a fictional story. Instead of saying, "He was sad," show us his actions, and we'll figure it out on our own. It's like when your best friend tells you she's fine, but you can tell from the slump of her shoulders and the frown on her face that she's definitely not fine.

For example, let's say your character just lost a loved one. Instead of telling the reader outright that the character is sad, show it through their actions. Maybe they're:

Staring blankly at a picture of the person they lost.

Lying in bed all day, refusing to get up or talk to anyone.

Going through the motions of daily life but without any joy or enthusiasm.

Avoiding anything that reminds them of the person they lost.

Crying uncontrollably at unexpected moments.

Losing their appetite or neglecting personal hygiene.

Snapping at loved ones who try to comfort them.

See how much more powerful and engaging that is than simply stating, "He was sad"? It allows the reader to empathize with the character and experience their sadness alongside them.

Here are a few other examples:

Slumping or drooping posture

Avoiding eye contact or looking down

Crying or tearing up

Frowning or looking solemn

Loss of appetite or overeating

Inability to sleep or sleeping too much

Lack of interest in activities they normally enjoy

Neglecting personal hygiene or appearance

Withdrawing from social situations

Clenching fists or tensing muscles

Moving slowly or sluggishly

Hesitating or procrastinating

Avoiding conversations or communication

Self-harm or destructive behavior

Engaging in risky behavior

Substance abuse or excessive drinking

A lack of energy or motivation

Losing track of time or being forgetful

Becoming easily frustrated or irritable

Exhibiting a lack of enthusiasm or passion for life

Remember that if a character is feeling sad and depressed, they might stop taking care of themselves, neglect their hygiene, and lose interest in their hobbies. They may also isolate themselves from others, withdrawing from social situations and avoiding conversations.

Body Language

Body language is a huge part of showing emotions in creative writing, and sadness is no exception! The way a character holds themselves, their posture, and their movements, can all tell the reader a lot about how they're feeling.

For example, imagine a character who has just received some terrible news. They might slump their shoulders, avoid eye contact, and wring their hands. These actions convey their feelings of defeat, sadness, and worry without the writer having to tell the reader directly.

Body language can also be used to create tension and conflict between characters. If one character is sad and another is trying to comfort them, the way they position themselves in relation to each other, the way they touch each other or don't touch each other, can all convey different emotions and create a deeper sense of meaning in the scene.

Here! I'll provide you with a short list of ways body language can convey sadness:

Drooping or slumping shoulders

Hunching over or curling up into a ball

Clasping or wringing hands

Biting or licking lips

Rubbing or covering eyes

Frowning or furrowing eyebrows

Tilting the head downward

Avoiding eye contact or looking down

Crossing arms or legs

Gazing into the distance or staring off into space

Sighing heavily or audibly

Slow or shuffling movements

Trembling or shaking

Fidgeting or restlessness

Wrinkling or rubbing the forehead

Holding oneself or self-soothing gestures

Stiff or tense posture

Lack of facial expression or a neutral expression

Slow or lack of movement

Deep, heavy breathing

A weak or feeble voice

Avoiding physical touch or contact

Shrinking or pulling away from others

Failing to respond or acknowledge others

Refraining from smiling or laughing

Breaking eye contact quickly

Pacing or fidgeting

Yawning excessively

Looking tired or fatigued

Crying or tearing up

Point of view

Let me tell you about the power of using point of view in creative writing to show a character's sadness indirectly. Point of view is all about the perspective from which the story is told, and it allows us to see the world through our character's eyes. By exploring our character's inner thoughts, inner dialogue, and emotional state, we can beautifully convey their feelings of sadness.

A character's sadness can be conveyed through things like:

Negative self-talk, such as self-doubt or self-criticism

Focusing on negative aspects of the environment or situation

Recalling past negative experiences or memories

Expressing a lack of motivation or interest in their surroundings

Having a pessimistic or cynical outlook on the future

Feeling disconnected or detached from others

Feeling overwhelmed or burdened by their emotions

Seeing the world in black and white, without much color or vibrancy

Struggling to find joy or pleasure in activities they used to enjoy

Having difficulty concentrating or focusing on tasks

Feeling hopeless or helpless about their situation

Expressing a desire to isolate or withdraw from others

Being irritable or easily agitated with others

Struggling to communicate their feelings to others

Feeling like they are a burden to others

Expressing a sense of numbness or emptiness

Feeling like they are trapped or stuck in their situation

Being indecisive or hesitant in their actions or choices

Feeling like they don't belong or fit in with their surroundings

Expressing feelings of guilt or shame

Having difficulty sleeping or eating properly

Feeling like they are constantly on edge or anxious

Seeing themselves as an outsider or outcast

Struggling to make meaningful connections with others

Feeling like they are invisible or overlooked by others

Expressing a sense of longing or yearning for something they can't have

Feeling like they are drowning in their emotions

Struggling to find purpose or meaning in their life

Feeling like they are stuck in a rut or a cycle of negativity

Expressing a sense of regret or remorse for past actions or choices.

Sensory Detail

Sensory details can take your writing to the next level! By incorporating sensory details into your writing, you can transport your readers into the world you've created and make them feel like they're a part of the story. Whether you want to evoke sadness, joy, or fear, sensory details are an essential tool for creating an emotional response in your readers.

Specifically, when it comes to showing a character's sadness, sensory details can be particularly effective. By describing their environment using muted colors and soft sounds, for example, you can create a somber atmosphere that resonates with the character's emotions. Additionally, describing physical sensations like a heavy chest or lump in the throat can help the reader understand just how deeply the character is feeling their sadness.

Remember, sensory detail isn't limited to external sensations - sensory detail can also include how the inner turmoil of the character interacts with the outside world, such as associating certain smells with sad memories.

I'll give you guys a few techniques for using sensory detail to show sadness:

Describing the weight of a character's heart or chest

Mentioning the salty taste of tears on the character's lips

Describing the sound of the character's labored breathing or sobs

Noticing the way the character's eyes water or become red

Describing the feel of tears streaming down the character's face

Mentioning the chill or shivers that accompany sadness

Describing the dull ache or pain in the character's body

Noticing the way the character's voice cracks or shakes

Describing the character's inability to eat or taste food

Mentioning the heaviness or stiffness in the character's limbs

Describing the character's difficulty in sleeping or restlessness

Noticing the way the character's hands tremble or shake

Describing the character's detachment or numbness

Mentioning the lack of appetite or desire to eat

Describing the character's exhaustion or fatigue

Noticing the way the character's posture slumps or droops

Describing the character's sensitivity to light or sound

Mentioning the character's lack of interest or enthusiasm

Describing the character's reluctance to leave their bed or room

Noticing the way the character's movements become slower or more deliberate

Describing the way the character's world becomes smaller or more constricted

Mentioning the character's lack of motivation or energy

Describing the way the character's skin becomes pale or sallow

Noticing the character's tendency to withdraw from others or isolate themselves

Describing the character's lack of focus or concentration

Mentioning the character's difficulty in making decisions or taking action

Describing the character's hypersensitivity to smells or tastes

Noticing the character's tendency to cry easily or frequently

Describing the way the character's thoughts become more negative or self-critical

Mentioning the character's lack of interest or pleasure in their usual activities.

Metaphors and Analogies

Metaphors and analogies in creative writing! These tools are like superpowers that allow us to express complex emotions in fun and unique ways. When we use them effectively, we can paint a picture in our reader's mind, making them feel and understand the emotions we're expressing. It's like adding a sprinkle of magic to our writing!

Here's how to use metaphors and analogies to show sadness in our writing! It's like playing a game of compare and contrast, where we compare the emotion to something that's relatable and tangible. For instance, we can describe sadness as a heavy weight on the character's chest, or a dark cloud that hangs over their head. By using these comparisons, we can help our readers to visualize the emotion in a more concrete way, making it easier for them to connect with the character and empathize with their experience.

Let's keep the creative juices flowing and talk about another way to use metaphors and analogies to show sadness in our writing! Instead of just describing the emotion itself, we can also use them to describe the character's actions or behavior. It's like giving our readers a visual representation of how the character is struggling with sadness. For example, we can compare a character who's dealing with sadness to a ship lost in a stormy sea, or a bird with a broken wing. These comparisons not only help the reader to understand the character's emotional state, but also create a sense of sympathy and compassion for their struggle.

Here are some examples for you to look at:

"Her heart was a shattered vase, the pieces impossible to put back together."

"He was a lone tree in the midst of a barren desert, with no hope of ever finding water."

"She felt as if a heavy weight was crushing her chest, suffocating her with grief."

"The sadness she felt was an ocean, deep and vast, with waves crashing over her constantly."

"His sadness was a thick fog, enveloping him in a cloud of melancholy."

"She felt like a bird with broken wings, unable to fly and trapped on the ground."

"His sadness was a never-ending tunnel, with no light at the end and no way out."

"The emptiness inside her was a black hole, devouring everything in its path."

"He was a ship lost at sea, with no sense of direction and no hope of rescue."

"Her sadness was a wildfire, spreading quickly and consuming everything in its path."

It's time to wrap up this post, but don't fret, I'll be back with more writing tips and tricks soon! There are plenty of these post on my tumblr so check them out too! or you can find a more organized version of them all here!

#writing inspiration #writing #writers on tumblr #creative writing #writers #writeblr #writing advice #writing community #writing exercise #writing tips #writerscommunity #writerslife #writersociety #writer problems #writerblr #aspiring author #author #writers of tumblr #writing life #writers community #writblr #fiction #tumblr writing community #tumblr writers #tumblr writing society #tumblr writing prompt #story writing #story ideas #story

[theweeklydiscourse]

The dynamic and initial characterization of the Archeron family in ACOTAR is…frustrating.

Trying to make sense of the Archeron sister’s backstory in conjunction with their future character development is enough to drive a person to the brink of madness. It’s a straining experience to try to accept the story on Maas’s terms due to how jumbled the continuity becomes as the series progresses. Specifically, the dynamic of the Archeron sisters feels artificial and contrived. It’s a dynamic meant to evoke as much pity as possible from the reader and in doing so, it creates a clash between Maas’s first draft of these characters and their future developments. I find that it makes it difficult for one to immerse themselves in ACOTAR’s world building and characterization because it lacks harmony with the rest of the series. Furthermore, Maas writes a kind of suffering that is indulgent and gratuitous, not seeming to care about how doing so might create problems in her story later on. It makes analyzing the later developments in the story akin to fist fighting the narrative in a Walmart parking lot at 3am.

Example #1 : The Dissonance of Nesta and Elain

The initial characterizations of Nesta and Elain is shallow and although they develop farther along in the series, they can never quite escape the impression of their introductions. In the early chapters, Nesta is a haughty ingrate who staunchly refuses to help Feyre with running the household while Elain is clueless and unhelpful. They behave terribly towards Feyre, but in a manner that feels like something out of a stand-alone story for young children and not the first book of a trilogy.

“Nesta picked at her long, neat nails. “I hate chopping wood. I always get splinters.” She glanced up from beneath her dark lashes. (…) “Besides, Feyre,” she said with a pout, “you’re so much better at it! It takes you half the time it takes me. Your hands are suited for it—they’re already so rough.””

“Her brown eyes--my father's eyes remained pinned on the doe. "Will it take you long to clean it?" Me. Not her, not the others. I'd never once seen their hands sticky with blood and fur.”

They are the embodiments of the “evil stepsister” archetype but are written with no nuance or thought for how their future development might look. They are tools that exist solely to make Feyre’s life as hellish as possible and this is especially apparent with Nesta. Nesta’s initial one-note meanness confounds me, especially when her character is expanded upon later in the trilogy. But here, she acts cartoonishly cruel and spoiled like the sisters in Cinderella and her initial moments do not do enough to suggest her complexity that is eventually used in ACOSF. This dissonance in Nesta reflects the flaws of Maas’s characterization and follow-through. The story indulges in Feyre’s suffering and asks the reader to feel terrible for the plight of this poor and unfortunate soul… but it all feels so gratuitous.

I was never fully convinced by The Archeron family dynamic, how could I be when the characters are not characters but instead are torture devices for the main character? They are elements that converge to make Feyre’s life as miserable and pitiful as humanly possible, but does so in a way that feels utterly shallow and cliche. I can’t become invested in the way Feyre is mistreated because it reads as pain for the sake of pain, it’s shallow and uncompelling.

Example #2 : Feyre’s Non-Existent Relationship to her Unnamed Mother

“My mother. Imperious and cold with her children, joyous and dazzling among the peerage who frequented our former estate, doting on my father the one person whom she truly loved and respected.”

Another example of this relates to Feyre’s relationship to her deceased mother. Feyre is intent on honouring her vow to her mother and yet, it seems like she harbours no positive emotions towards her. Descriptions of her relationship with her Mother are scant and reveal very little about any potential closeness between them. From this passage, a read could surmise that Feyre’s Mother cared more for wealth and status than her children and had little affection for them as a result. It wasn’t as if Feyre and her mother were uniquely close or had a strong bond or something that might justify honouring that promise (especially when she comments on the unfairness of placing that burden on a child very early on in ACOTAR).

“There were times when I hated her for asking that vow of me. Perhaps, delirious with fever, she hadn't even known what she was demanding.”

So what is the narrative purpose of Feyre’s loyalty to a parent she was never that close with and breaking her back to fulfill a promise made in delirium? Her mother is a complete afterthought and yet Feyre for some reason puts herself through the wringer so that she honours that promise? Why? It isn’t compelling for the heroine to sacrifice that much of herself for a family that has no real emotional stakes in the relationship dynamic. THIS does not make a good story, it is so fixated on creating a tragic background for its heroine that it strips the supporting characters of all intrigue and ironically makes the mistreatment Feyre faces feel flimsy and almost comically exaggerated. HER MOTHER AND FATHER DONT EVEN HAVE NAMES!

Example #3 : Feyre’s Father

Feyre says that their family had been impoverished for 8 years, but I fail to grasp how a family of four could subsist on the income from an amateur huntress and her sales of animal pelts. Am I to believe that all of them spent those past 8 years twiddling their thumbs while Feyre did everything on her own? While I’m aware that this is a fantasy series, it seems unrealistic that Nesta nor Elain ever gave Feyre any substantial assistance when it came to running a household. The idea that their prissiness and spoiled attitude prevented them from lifting a finger makes no sense because a mindset like that would never allow them to survive in such an environment. None of them have jobs or bring in any income to support the family and somehow I’m meant to believe that Feyre’s earnings were enough to support all of them. Meanwhile, her father is too ashamed to even attempt to aid his daughters.

Feyre’s father is presented as feckless and an object of resentment for Feyre and Nesta. Although he is given slightly more depth than Nesta and Elain initially, he is never truly expanded upon as a character and is confined to a pathetic characterization.

“What I really wanted to say was: You don't even bother to attempt to leave the house most days.Were it not for me, we would starve. Were it not for me, we'd be dead.”

Oh look! Her father is useless too! Her only living parent who “hadn’t argued when I announced that I was going hunting.”. Although papa Archeron is kind to Feyre, this doesn’t culminate in a meaningful character arc later in the book and his inaction as a father is left to fester. Feyre’s relationship with him is similarly shallow with her relationship to her mother and does not offer the reader anything to latch onto when Feyre leave her family towards the end of the book. I just feel that the story would become so much more emotionally compelling if there were any reasons for Feyre to truly have a connection with her family and if it were not a barrage of misery.

So basically…

I just can’t become invested in Feyre’s plight when it is so indulgent in her suffering (at the expense of some potentially compelling characters). It feels manufactured, it doesn’t feel real (in the sense that it is extremely contrived) and I hate how Maas makes the family dynamic more emotionally nuanced later on in the series, but is constantly at odds with the initial impressions of these characters. The potential is there, but Maas seemed to care more about making the backstory as sad and tragic as possible rather than considering any potentially complex emotional realities the characters would have to grapple with later on.

#sjm critical #feyre archeron #elain archeron #nesta archeron #acotar #ACOMAF #anti sjm #feyre acotar #ACOTAR meta #fandom meta

[2treez]

"I danced with my shadows until they became part of my light.”

― Jodi Livon

I was sitting in my studio earlier, watching the snow quietly fall onto the ponderosa pines and reflecting about some of the comments I received on a previous post, one from a woman who clearly felt the weight of being overlooked and valueless. I have felt that, too. I find myself reflecting on the journey of womanhood and the complex emotions that come with navigating life's seasons; in a society that glorifies youth and overlooks the wisdom and beauty of age, it's easy to feel invisible, undervalued, and disconnected from our sense of purpose. The butterflies we once nurtured in our hearts may feel like distant memories, as the light within us flickers in the face of self-doubt and external pressures.

But I want to remind you all that your worth is not defined by age, appearance, or societal expectations. You are the sum of your unique experiences, the love you've given and received, the obstacles you've overcome, and the dreams you continue to hold in your heart. And within us all, we each possess an inherent strength, resilience, and capacity for transformation that cannot be diminished by the passage of time.

The world has changed drastically overnight, and many are not yet aware. I resolutely believe that life as we know it will be shifting to an age that has never been known, that will touch every part of society and existence. I have hope. And in the coming weeks and months, our stories, wisdom, and the gifts we bring to the world will be needed more than ever. Whether you find solace in creativity, in nurturing relationships, in pursuing your passions, or in connecting with something greater than yourself, know that your presence and your contributions matter deeply.

And so I created this piece as a symbol of the magic of the crone who is regenerative, who is wisdom, who is magic. To not only honor and celebrate her presence within you, but to remember. The world can be cruel if we let that in and forget the wonder of who and what we are - born of stars and vessels of light. To serve as a reminder of the beauty of the journey, no matter what season of life or circumstance we find ourselves in. Just as the butterfly emerges from its cocoon, transformed and ready to take flight, we all have the power to regenerate, to heal, and to shine our light in ways that inspire and uplift others, and especially ourselves.

So let us gather together in the union of our spirits, to support and celebrate one another, to share our stories and our wisdom, and to never forget the incredible beauty and worth that resides within us all.

🌳🫶🏼🌳

“The Alchemy of the Crone”

Mixed Media

2024

[niqhtlord01]

Humans are weird: What is art?

( Please come see me on my new patreon and support me for early access to stories and personal story requests :D https://www.patreon.com/NiqhtLord Every bit helps)

Alien: *Walking through museum with friends.*

Alien: *Stops at painting*

Alien: What is this picture of?

Human Friend: *Walks over and sees painting*

Human Friend: It is the depiction of the death of Julius Caesar.

Alien: Who is that?

Human Friend: He was a general of the roman republic far back in human history.

Human Friend: This piece is an imagination of the moment he was murdered in the halls of the roman senate.

Alien: Are those around him his enemies?

Human Friend: And his friends as well.

Alien: Why would they seek to murder him?

Human Friend: If I remember correctly this event took place after many years of civil war; Roman fighting Roman across multiple continents with each believing themselves to be in the right until finally Caesar emerged victorious.

Human Friend: But when the war ended many believed Caesar would become a tyrant and rule the people with an iron fist, and so a group of them came together and struck him down to prevent such a thing from happening.

Alien: Why would anyone wish to make such a horrible moment into art?

Alien: Look at him. *Points at Caesar*

Alien: A great man on the floor with his hands up begging for his life while his once friends strike him down.

Alien: Do humans find joy from witnessing such violence?

Human Friend: A misconception you may have is assuming that human art is only meant to inspire the more positive range of emotions.

Human Friend: In reality there are thousands of pieces that are created to inspire feelings of dread, sadness, loneliness, anger and so forth.

Human Friend: Such as this piece. *Points at artwork next to death of Caesar*

Human Friend: This one was painted by one of our peoples greatest artists Vincent Van Gogh.

Alien: Is the human in pain?

Human Friend: Yes.

Human Friend: The picture is often considered to be a reflection of the artist himself during his later years as he became increasingly depressed and saddened.

Alien: This only further proves my point that humans elate themselves on the suffering of others.

Human Friend: What you call suffering we call the human condition.

Human Friend: Look closely at the old man.

Alien: *Leans forward to examine*

Human Friend: Can you not see the detail in the brush strokes? The care he has for figure and form?

Human Friend: Here is a man in the depths of despair and he uses that raw emotion to imbue his art with it; to make it come alive.

Human Friend: Life is not easy. It is full of moments of equal joy and misery in an endless waltz until we finally return to the earth that bore us.

Alien: So what you are saying is that humans use all of their emotions when composing artworks.

Human Friend: Correct.

Human Friend: Some pieces are meant to inspire singular emotions, while others can induce multiple.

Human Friend: In the end though it is still possible that as individuals we may find some entirely different meaning in a particular piece that is in contrast with the more widely accepted ones.

Alien: Then which is right?

Human Friend: All of them.

Alien: That can’t be possible.

Human Friend: What a piece inspires inside you is unique to the individual.

Human Friend: There is no right or wrong way to experience art and that is part of the beauty for it.

Alien: You humans have an apparently overly complex for artistic works.

Human Friend: Just wait until you hear our music.

Human Friend: There’s this genre called pirate metal I want to introduce you to.

#HUMANS ARE WEIRD #humans are insane #humans are space orcs #humans are space oddities #scifi #story #writing #original writing #niqhtlord01

[mrsdesade]

golden frames and watercolor (headcanons of a museum date with Loki)

Timeline: after Thor Ragnarok

TW: no one

Pairing: Loki x female!y/n

Note: I always thought about Loki being fascinated by human art and poetry, so what is going to happen If you decide to bring him to a museum date? Let's see 🎨

he's so curious when you tell him that you've organised something special just for the two of us for the day

but he was offended when you revealed him that you paid for his ticket, he still has difficult to accept gifts event from you (but inside he's melting and he's so grateful)

when Loki leads you through the museum, his hidden malice is evident in the way he points out subtle details in the artworks

when you both pause in front of a surrealist painting, he offers an unconventional interpretation that leaves you both laughing

"My dear, look, the art of deception. These paintings tell stories, just like you and I."

"Hopefully, our story has a happier ending than some of these artworks."

always hold your hand as you navigate through the art-filled halls

when you find a hidden corner in the museum, Loki conjures a small illusion, and make the painting looks animated just for seeing your eyes shining in admiration

with his enchantments he deactivated the alarm and let you touch the canvas so you can feel the ancient texture

you can catch him looking silently at some little painting, realizing that even the God of Mischief can be captivated by simple beauty

"Loki, I never thought I'd see you admire a watercolor."

"Watercolor has a delicate beauty, much like... vulnerability. Don't tell anyone I said that."

he's mesmerized by all the golden frames full of baroques details, at the point he wants to buy some for himself

"Would you like me to buy one of these my dear?"

"LOKI THIS IS AN ORIGINAL FRAGONARD."

he might challenges you to a friendly competition of finding the most beautiful canvas (of course he's going to support only his opinion)

he definitely wraps his long coat around your shoulders as you both explore a section of the museum with a chill in the air

sometimes he whispering you how beautiful you are, just to making you smile and adding a bit of sweetness

"These paintings capture the essence of mortals and their fleeting emotions."

"Is that a hint of sentiment I detect, Loki?"

"Sentiment? No, just an observation. Though, I must admit, the company does add a certain warmth to the experience."

as you explore a contemporary art exhibit, Loki playfully mimics some of the avant-garde poses of the sculptures, making you laugh

spotting an interactive exhibit, Loki challenges you to a friendly game of art-related trivia, showcasing his extensive knowledge with a mischievous grin

when you both stumble upon a live art performance, Loki, appreciating the theatrics, subtly incorporates some magical effects to enhance the experience

If the museum has a VR art installation, and you insist on trying it together he's going to make fun of you because he thought it's something just for children, but then he's going to try it just for you

"I can do thousands times better with my magic, how could you enjoy such a simple thing? It's like a little TV too close to your eyes."

in a quiet moment he create with magic two sketchbooks and pencils, inviting you to sketching together, each capturing your unique perspectives on the exhibits

you come across a mirror exhibit, and Loki can't resist making a few illusions within the mirrors, creating a mesmerizing dance of reflections

"Loki, do you have a favorite piece so far?"

"Much like love, art is a complex emotion. But that landscape over there has a certain charm."

as the day comes to a close, Loki surprises you with a classic red rose and something bought at the art shop just for you, it's his way to thank you for the date together

the funny thing is that you bought something for him as well (probably a book of poetry) so it's a funny moment of you two exchanging gifts outside the museum

"But...you know dear, mixed with silence, there was a certain chaos inside this building."

"Are you referring to the art exhibition or our relationship?

"Perhaps both. Chaos keeps things interesting."

the results is that from that day, he started to bringing you to all most famous museums on Earth

That's it! 💚 As an artist this post came out straight from my heart, hope you enjoyed as much I did while I was writing it~

#loki laufeyson #loki series #marvel #my post #loki fanfic #loki fluff #loki x female reader #loki x y/n #loki x you #loki headcanons #loki x reader #loki #writers on tumblr #marvel fanfiction #marvel headcanons #writing

[tarisilmarwen]

Rebels Rewatch: "Twin Suns"

In which the end of the Malachor arc is profoundly beautiful.

First off, obligatory live reaction version from 2017.

Second, I would be remiss if I did not link back to this close read of "Twin Suns" (by greenreticule here on Tumblr), from which I draw quite a bit of my own analysis and opinions about the themes and messages of the episode. Check it out sometime, there's ten parts (technically eleven but the last post in the series is more of a memoir/personal reflection by the author and therefore not as relevant to our meta purposes) and it is a loooooong read but worth it, in my opinion. I don't always agree with every single point of the analysis (the stuff about the Sequel Trilogy, for example) but there's a lot of things that resonate and that I incorporate into my own interpretation of the episode so I figured I'd mention the source.

Onwards!

Rather appropriately we open on a shot of the titular twin suns themselves.

The next series of shots are stark and empty, nothing but the vast white desert, emphasizing the loneliness and isolation of both Tatooine itself, and Maul in particular.

And he is not, ah... taking Ezra's rejection or the long wanderings out in the desert well. To say the least.

From this first opening monologue we can already tell that Maul is fraying. He spent ten years in the depths of madness and it seems like he's descending into madness once again. Even his clothing reflects this, sandblasted and torn, a ragged hood recalling the one he wore at the beginning of Malachor as he feigned being weak and decrepit, and uneven wrappings circling his arms, asymmetrically.

His mood swings from "Visions and Voices" are more pronounced, one moment warbling pitifully about being lost, about being so close to his target, the next shrieking Obi-Wan's name skyward like an obscenity.

Obi-Wan has managed to elude him all this time since Dathomir, and Maul is beginning to get desperate.

RIGHT, SO THIS IS THE PART WHERE I GET BACK INTO MY BLUBBERING KENOBI SHOW FEELINGS BECAUSE "JEDI CANNOT HELP WHAT THEY ARE. THEIR COMPASSION LEAVES A TRAIL. THE JEDI CODE IS LIKE AN ITCH. [THEY] CANNOT HELP IT." AND SOB FOREVER ABOUT HOW WHOEVER IT WAS ON THE WRITING TEAM THAT CAME UP WITH THAT RAW-ASS LINE, THEY UNDERSTOOD THE ASSIGNMENT.

So not only is this a callback to the previous times Maul lured Obi-Wan out to him in TCW, this now also a call-forward to Kenobi and I just want y'all to appreciate for a moment that Maul is using the exact same tactic on two different Jedi, simultaneously.

Maul is luring Ezra and taking advantage of Ezra's compassion, hero complex, guilt complex, and sense of hyper-responsibility, in order to then exploit Obi-Wan's compassion and protector-guardian streak, so that he can kill Obi-Wan when Obi-Wan comes to Ezra's rescue.

Because that's what Jedi do, that's what Jedi are, the Jedi Code is like an itch they cannot help it--frick man, I'm already emotional and we're not even two minutes in.

A general overview of the music this episode, and I'll comment on specific cues as they happen, but I mostly want to point out the frequent lack of music, actually. This episode is very stripped down in terms of theme and instrumentation and there are long stretches of utter silence, to help us absorb the atmosphere. It's very effective in making Tatooine feel utterly desolate, like we're alone on this journey with the characters.

This episode had originally been very ambitious, we've been told from behind-the-scenes commentary, longer, more complex, a lot more plot points, but as it was coming together they very wisely pared it way down to the barebone tacks, cutting out all the excesses and stripping things down to a simple character journey narrative, making the resulting story that much more profound and intimate.

(Plus the saved budget allowed us to get some absolutely gorgeous animation and new pajamas for Ezra. XD)

He looks so comfy in them.

This sequence is heavily styled after the cold open in "Legacy", camera movement and shot choice almost exactly matching. This is not a coincidence, as the basic premise of both episodes is the same: Ezra receives a vision through the Force, and it moves him to action.

Unlike in "Legacy", however, when the Force itself was moving to comfort Ezra and connect him to the voices and images of his parents one last time before their death, this vision is artificially constructed, sent to him by Maul--like the ones in "Visions and Voices"--to deliberately manipulate him, pull him away from his support network, make him act out of fear.

A false Call To Action, in an artificial Hero's Journey narrative that Maul has constructed for Ezra to follow. (More on that later.)

Side note, completely unrelated to all this meta, but an observation I just want to point out: It's the middle of the night and Kanan is not in his room on the Ghost. Where exactly was he eh? Perhaps a certain Twi'lek pilot's room? *eyebrow waggle*

Anyway, after Ezra's Weird Force Tele-Distance Holocron Call we move to a scene that is a bit heavy in the exposition department, by virtue of it having to hold the burden of the extra plotlines they pared down. It's maybe not quite as effective as it could have been but it serves its purpose: It establishes that they identified the "desert planet with two suns" as Tatooine sometime offscreen, and that they asked about Obi-Wan and Bail Organa lied through his teeth about the man being dead. So therefore they must have decided to give the matter up, and let Maul chase ghosts in the Tatooine sands.

Rex being clearly distraught at Obi-Wan's assumed death. :(

Kanan also reminds Ezra that the last visions he got from and about Maul were a trick designed to manipulate him.

Ezra's insistent though, as he always tends to be whenever the notion of being able to obtain "the key to destroying the Sith" pops up. So Hera takes him aside for a moment.

Her face and how often she touches Ezra's arms and shoulders in this scene hurts. :( And the strain in her voice when she asserts that if Obi-Wan were alive he wouldn't be hiding in the desert, he'd be helping them, Hera understands Jedi nature too, she just hasn't gotten the full picture, doesn't know the reason why Obi-Wan is doing... well... exactly that.

This is where the story beat parallels to "Legacy" end, because this time, Ezra does not receive Hera's blessing to go. Instead she reminds him, rather sternly, that he is supposed to be there with them, planning the attack on Lothal, she needs him and his focus here.

Recall Yoda's line about Luke: "Never his mind on where he was. What he was doing." Since all the way back in Season Two, when his mere presence started to become a danger to the safety of his friends, Ezra has been growing more and more obsessed with finding a way to kill the Sith, whenever Maul turns up more distracted. It ties straight back into his motivation for becoming a Jedi in the first place that he told Yoda in "Path of the Jedi".

"I just want to protect myself and my friends. And not just them, everyone. I'll protect everyone."

Ezra has an abundance of that natural Jedi urge to protect (planted by his parents, nurtured by Hera), the itch inside him intermingles with his clingyness and attachment to his Ghost family in particular. When everything went wrong on Malachor he internalized that failure severely, and his natural Jedi compulsions went overdrive into a crippling sense of hyper-responsibility, magnified by his guilt and leading him down the same path Anakin walked--seeking more power, from dubious and deceitful sources, in order to prevent another personal tragedy from happening to him again.

His desire to protect got twisted into attachment, into a clingy possessiveness, into a fear of more potential loss. In this way his flirtations with the Dark Side mirrored Anakin's, though ultimately Ezra never went far enough that he wasn't able to come back, the disaster at Reklam and his reconciliation with Kanan enough of a kick in the head from the Force for him to be all, "NOPE, I REGRET EVERYTHING, I'M NOT DOING THAT AGAIN."

But even though Ezra came to his senses and rejected the Dark Side, he was still not on the right path. The aftereffects of Malachor remained and he kept letting that Sisyphean unattainable goal of defeating the Sith--himself, personally, or else personally enabling it to happen--pull him away. Kept letting it move him out of place in the narrative.

He was supposed to be here, Hera needed him here. "You're in the wrong place, Ezra Bridger," Obi-Wan tells him gently, later. Ezra lets Maul, lets his obsession with destroying the Sith, yank him out of order in the cosmic destiny of things.

The Force has a place for him. But it is here and not there.

But he kind of has to go on this perilous journey for it to finally kick in.

(One of the scenes I do kind of wish they had kept from the original extended plot is the one where Hera and Kanan and Zeb all kind of commiserate about how "the kids", meaning Ezra and Sabine, are growing up and leaving home, and how they have to let them go, even if they might make bad choices, really playing into that whole parental angle and explaining why they didn't immediately rush off after Ezra.)

Despite Ezra's half-hearted assurance to Hera, it's clear he has no intention of obeying her order to stay put. His sense of impulsive hyper-responsibility is too strong, he's following the same instincts that led him to obsess over and misinterpret his other two major Force visions.

So he swipes a training A-wing.

He's such a little shit I love him. <3

This is the point of no return and Ezra is unwittingly drawn into Maul's trap, which mimics the beats of a classic Campbell Hero's Journey.

Joseph Campbell, for reference, is a writer and philosopher who purported the idea of the monomyth, that in all stories and all mythologies across cultures there are similar patterns and cycles. His Hero's Journey is often styled as a closed circle ("It ends where it began."), with a dividing line between the Known and Unknown worlds and various stops and characters and plot elements mentioned along the sides. The Hero's Journey monomyth, incidentally, was one of George Lucas's major inspirations for writing Star Wars, wanting to create one such classic mythological narrative.

So we have all the elements in place here. We have the Call To Adventure (the distorted holocron message). We have the Refusal Of The Call (Hera ordering Ezra to stay and him initially not fighting her). We have the Supernatural Aid (the pieces of the holocron that function as some kind of magic compass). We've outmaneuvered the Threshold Guardian and crossed over into the Unknown (Ezra swiping the A-wing from under the technician's nose). Along the way we'll pick up the Ally or Helper (it's revealed Chopper snuck along and went with him). And we will be facing Trials, Tests, and Tribulations (everything from the initial Tusken attack to braving the harsh elements of Tatooine's unforgiving sand and heat).

...But it's all wrong.

See, Ezra has already answered the Call to his own Hero's Journey, the one that started for him all the way back in the pilot, when he returned Kanan's lightsaber and crossed the Threshold into the Unknown world of being a Rebel and a Jedi Padawan. This falsely constructed cycle Maul has drawn him into is not his narrative. It was never intended to bring him enlightenment, never intended to complete, only to be used to further Maul's selfish ends.

That Ezra manages to find enlightenment and complete the cycle anyway is something that happens in spite of Maul, and not because of him, and takes some severe course-correcting from Obi-Wan. Over and over this episode we'll hear this idea repeated, that this was not where Ezra was supposed to be in the story, it's not his job or responsibility to deal with Maul, he is where "[he] should never have been".

We'll table that for now and come back to it, have a moment to enjoy some pretty caps.

Thus far, music-wise, we've had a couple ominous cues, and a bouncy jaunt full of Rebellion flutes and brass as Ezra made his escape, in between a couple of the aforementioned long bouts of silence. There's a bubbly little bit when Chopper is discovered. (And I can't even tell you how much I love the touch with Ezra startling so bad he smacks the A-wing cockpit window and bumps the steering column so that the ship swerves out of place--PART OF THE METAPHOR MUCH?) Soft vocals filter in as Ezra consults the holocron shards, holding in long, mystical notes. A lone viola sounds, mournfully. Higher strings sound with spiritual reverence as Ezra gets out of the A-wing, as if to suggest his goal, his enlightenment, is just up ahead.

Then, darker notes like a pulsing heartbeat. The voices go discordant.

Then the Tuskens attack and hell breaks loose.

One of the underlying threads this episode is Ezra and Chopper's devotion and loyalty to each other so I really like how, even though Ezra told him to find cover, Chopper doesn't and charges in to get a Tusken off Ezra instead. Ezra in turn shields him with his own body when the Tuskens score hits that make the A-wing explode.

And that's Ezra's, "I'm in so much trouble." look lol.

Maul, meanwhile, decides to go ahead and murder all the Tuskens and I would not fault you for thinking back to another lightsaber-fueled Tusken massacre.

In fact, probably any parallel or allusion you think of during this episode is in all likelihood deliberate. Frankly I'd argue that this is one of the most important episodes of the show, with how integral it is to Ezra's character arc.

Which is why it was so annoying and asinine that people complained that Ezra took up most of the episode's focus and whined that it should have been only about Maul. Hello, do you understand the concept of a protagonist?!

Speaking of allusions though, we get some lovely call backs to "Visions And Voices" with Maul once again letting Ezra hear him inside his head and catch fleeting glimpses of him, this time in order to lure him further out into the desert. Maul is still trying to keep him in the false cycle, tempting him away from escape.

And Ezra's sense of hyper-responsibility, of This is all my fault and I have to fix it, leads him right down Maul's preordained path.

"I have to help Master Kenobi, if I can." As if Obi-Wan needs any help dealing with Maul, ha ha.

Another moment of pure heartwarming loyalty from Chopper here, he has the opportunity to keep going along the path to safety, but begrudgingly chooses instead to stay with Ezra, through thick and thin.

Ezra once again returns the favor by refusing to leave his side when he runs out of power.

Subtle animation appreciation moment: The way Ezra staggers, looking completely exhausted. Also the sandblasting in his hair and clothes kjhfkasjfha.

Taylor's acting here is heartbreaking, he makes Ezra sound SO lost and scared. :(((((((

Maul decides to rub things in a bit and oh hey some mirror dialogue here, eerily similar to a certain exchange in "Gathering Forces". :D

Grand Inquisitor: The Darkness is too strong for you, orphan. It'll swallow you up even now. Ezra: No. Grand Inquisitor: Your master will die. Ezra: No! Grand Inquisitor: Your friends will die, and everything you've hoped for will be lost. This is the way the story ends. Ezra: NO!

And in comparison:

Maul: He is dead... He is dead. Ezra: No... Maul: You led me to him. Ezra: No. Maul: You failed your friends. Ezra: No! Maul: You will DIE!" Ezra: NOOOO!

~It's like poetry, it rhymes.~

Also this is terrifying.

So I've legitimately teared up like... twice watching this show. This was one of the times. This moment right here where Obi-Wan's feet step softly into frame.

Yeah it got me.

Cut to... Night. A quiet campfire. Ezra comes to and things are suddenly put into perspective.

"You're in the wrong place, Ezra Bridger."

(The voice they got for Obi-Wan is perfect btw, sounds just like Alec Guinness.)

Obi-Wan explains gently that he is not "the key to defeating the Sith". He never was. Maul's desires muddied the holocron vision, he used Ezra to get his own answers and left Ezra with only partial answers. Because Obi-Wan is associated with the key to defeating the Sith but he's not the Chosen One.

And neither is Ezra.

He is a narrative "chosen one", a key player picked by the Force, imbued with purpose, but defeating Vader, killing the Emperor... that was never his task to take. After the loss he suffered in "Legacy" Ezra had been letting himself get obsessed with the idea that he could fix that problem--the problem of the Sith--himself.

But that is not his role in the story.

It is not yet sunrise (Luke and Leia). So the moon (Ezra) must endure.

"You win by killing an Inquisitor." "No, you win by surviving."

Ever since before Malachor, Ezra has been stepping outside his station, trying to do things he was never meant to do, instead of what he was supposed to do, which was to help the people in front of him, right now, do what good he can in the moment. (Something that he'd gain clarity on via a falling out with Saw in Season Four.)

"What you need, you already have."

Ezra lost sight of that in the grief over his parents, in his guilt over Malachor. He was never going to be the one to defeat the Sith. Yoda and Obi-Wan both knew the only ones who even stood a chance... would be Vader's children. Maybe Ahsoka. Perhaps that was even why Yoda advised going to Malachor, to test and see if Vader could be saved, or killed, by his former padawan. Someone who he might have had a strong enough attachment to that it would cloud his judgement. (Just as Obi-Wan's mere presence would drive Vader mad with irrational murderous rage and yet, paradoxically, a cloying need to have him back.)

"We asked for a chance to destroy the Sith... and we failed."

Vader has no connection to Ezra, therefore Ezra will not be the one to end him.

His task is to endure, keep the darkness back, and hold the line until the narrative chosen one who will do that task (Luke) is ready to take up the sword. This is not Ezra's role in the story. He has his own destiny, his own part to play in the Rebellion.

And he needs to return to it.

Obi-Wan closes the broken cycle for Ezra, rescuing him from The Ordeal or Abyss, and sending him back to the Known world with the Boon (his sage wisdom) irregardless of how false the path there to him was. Ezra is freed from the obligations, responsibilities, and burdens he wrongly took on himself... to return home, and rejoin his own Hero Cycle.

And then all that's left is to "mend this old wound". (Maul)

Maul has what he wanted, or so he thinks. His old enemy, his past, ready for the killing. His future and legacy, his apprentice, within reach for taking.

But things have changed. Obi-Wan is older, wiser, more serene and at peace with himself and with the Force, in spite of all he's suffered. He has grown from his failures, let go of the past, and found balance, while Maul has regressed, repeated the same mistakes, clung to the hurt and pain in his past and deteriorated, been sucked almost dry by the Dark Side.

And Obi-Wan pities him.

Maul is scalded by this, upset that after everything he's endured, Obi-Wan seems to have taken no ill effect. And it's not like Order 66 and Anakin's betrayal didn't hurt him (hell we have all of the Kenobi show to demonstrate otherwise) but that he's processed those emotions and feelings and traumas, and returned to a settled baseline. He is more a Jedi now than ever, and revenge is not the Jedi way.

And can I flail a little bit inarticulately for a moment about the dichotomy between Obi-Wan's "I had no intention of fighting him, though that seems inevitable now." and Thrawn's "It was not my intention to utterly destroy Lothal but that is inevitable now."?

So Maul digs for something to bait Obi-Wan with, touching about the reason he's there on Tatooine to begin with, discerning that there is someone that Obi-Wan is protecting. Notes of Sith vocals creep into the music here, a sequence that sounds like Maul's arrival on Tatooine from Phantom Menace ("It ends where it began.").

And with this implicit threat towards Luke, Obi-Wan ignites his saber.

SO much ink has been spilled about this duel. I was surprised at how short it was at first too, but it makes perfect thematic sense in hindsight. The way Obi-Wan slowly baits Maul, drawing Maul's mental frame of mind back to Naboo, because he knows that Maul is stuck in the past, constantly reliving that moment of triumph and defeat over and over again, fixated on it as the shatterpoint where things in his life first went wrong. He can't let it go. He can't move on. He has to keep going back to that moment over and over to make things "correct" and kill the one he pins the blame on for his pain. (But this will not fix him, even if he accomplishes it.)

An entire story is told solely through foot placement and stances. Maul moves through the stances he's used in duels with Obi-Wan before. Obi-Wan shifts through his classic New Hope lightsaber grip, to his iconic Soresu.

And then he switches to Ataru, to the same stance Qui-Gon used.

The music has been tense throughout, but now the Force Theme creeps in. There's a flare of recognition in Maul's eyes; He knows this, this is familiar.

So he lunges, using the same lightsaber trick that he used to kill Qui-Gon...

...except it doesn't work.

I love the look of quiet realization and acceptance in Maul's expression. It's just like, "......Oh."

Maul submits and falls in defeat, into his enemy's arms, yet another parallel to Phantom Menace, to the start of everything between these two men. And then he asks something heartbreaking: Is Obi-Wan protecting the Chosen One? The one who would defeat the Sith?

And because Obi-Wan no longer believes that Vader can be saved, he answers yes. (Amazing how well this scene fits with the later Kenobi show.)

With his dying breath, Maul finally recognizes his true enemy, accepts and forgives Obi-Wan as his brother, as a fellow victim of Palpatine, and declares with almost prophetic insight, "He... will avenge us."

Not take revenge, avenge. As Trilla Sundari would admonish Cal Kestis in the Jedi Fallen Order video game, Maul also asks for restitution and justice with his last words.

(I do kind of wish we got one brief reaction shot from Ezra as he sensed Maul passing, just for confirmation that he knows. It's inferred but still.)

Back with Ezra as he returns home with the Boon, and he's also claimed the prize of Maul's ship, the Mandalorian gauntlet. (Again, just the briefest scene of him finding it, that would have been nice.)

"I was wrong. This is where I'm supposed to be. You're my family. And we should go home."

Ezra has finally forgiven himself for Malachor, completed the arc he started in "Legacy" (or maybe even earlier), and returned to his proper place. His family accepts him back with the laying of hands like a benediction.

And meanwhile, just to wring your heart one last time, we return to Tatooine, to watch Obi-Wan watch over Luke from a distance, a scene drenched in OT nostalgia, from using the exact audio of Aunt Beru calling Luke to closing us out with Luke's Theme and Binary Sunset for the credits, reminding us that the shadow will not hold sway forever.

Eventually, the sun will rise. And a new hope will emerge.

Trust in the Force.

Man, there aren't enough words to tell you how much I love this episode. It's so beautiful and poetic and thematic. It's the lynchpin of Ezra's character development, he needed to be in this episode, to go on this journey. It's gorgeously animated and there are so many many layers of parallels and themes, motifs and archetypes, that tie into the monomyth in general and Star Wars in particular. I'm astonished how well it melds with later canon material (JFO and Kenobi), but I guess that just speaks to how true to the spirit and essence of Star Wars it is.

It's just beautiful.

#star wars #star wars rebels #ezra bridger #obi-wan #kenobi #rebels rewatch #liveblog #meta rambling #long post #music #soundtracks #this is a pro jedi blog #i love rebellion era jedi they come pre traumatized #rebels rambles

[classicmarvelera]

Marvel's Short Stories That Redefined Superhero Comics

In the rich tapestry of Marvel Comics, there are epic sagas and sweeping crossovers that capture our imaginations and define the superhero genre. However, some of the most profound and enduring tales are found in the pages of shorter stories—narratives that span four issues or fewer. These concise yet impactful stories have left an indelible mark on readership, the comic book industry, and how we perceive superheroes. Let's explore how these short stories, including "Powerless," reshaped the world of Marvel Comics

1. "X-Men: Days of Future Past" (Uncanny X-Men #141-142, 1981)

"Days of Future Past" catapulted readers into a dystopian future where mutants are hunted to near extinction. This tale of time travel and the consequences of prejudice resonated deeply. It showcased the potential for comic books to address social issues, shining a spotlight on bigotry and discrimination. Its influence can be seen in subsequent X-Men stories that continue to tackle real-world problems

2. "The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man" (The Amazing Spider-Man #248, 1984)

A single-issue masterpiece, this story touched the hearts of readers worldwide. It revealed the human side of superheroes, reminding us that these characters, despite their extraordinary abilities, are grounded in humanity. "The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man" humanized the superhero genre, emphasizing the impact these icons can have on fans

3. "Vision and the Scarlet Witch" (Vision and the Scarlet Witch #1-4, 1982)

While not strictly a short story but much shorter than "Demon in a Bottle", this series explored the personal lives of two Avengers in an intimate and relatable way. It demonstrated that superheroes are not just costumes and powers but individuals with complex emotions and relationships. "Vision and the Scarlet Witch" (not The Vision and the Scarlet Witch 12 issues series) redefined the portrayal of personal lives within the superhero genre

4. "The Night Gwen Stacy Died" (The Amazing Spider-Man #121-122, 1973)

The story that started the Bronze Age! This two-issue arc forever altered the perception of superhero storytelling. The death of Gwen Stacy was a turning point, showcasing that superheroes do not always emerge victorious and unscathed. It added a layer of realism and emotional depth to Spider-Man's world

5. "The Death of Jean DeWolff" (The Spectacular Spider-Man #107-110, 1985)

A gritty murder mystery within Spider-Man's world, this story proved that superheroes can explore darker themes. It demonstrated the versatility of the genre, showing that it could tackle complex and mature subject matter

6. "God Loves, Man Kills" (Marvel Graphic Novel no. 5)

This graphic novel delved into themes of prejudice and discrimination. It elevated the X-Men beyond mere superheroics, highlighting the allegorical nature of their struggle. "God Loves, Man Kills" made it clear that comics could be a powerful platform for social commentary

7. "The Trial of Reed Richards" (Fantastic Four #262-265, 1984)

This storyline explored the legal ramifications of superhero actions. It demonstrated that superheroes are not above the law and can be held accountable for their actions. "The Trial of Reed Richards" added a layer of complexity to the superhero genre, reflecting real-world concerns

8. "Marvels" (Marvels #1-4, 1994)

This four-issue limited series takes a unique approach by exploring the lives of ordinary people in a world filled with superheroes. It delves into themes of powerlessness and how everyday individuals navigate a world where superhuman abilities are the norm. "Marvels" offers a different perspective from the eye(s) of journalist Phil Sheldon on the Marvel Universe, highlighting the challenges faced by those who can't match the extraordinary feats of superheroes

In conclusion, these short stories within the Marvel Universe have left an enduring legacy. They impacted readers by addressing real-world issues, challenged the comic book industry to embrace mature and diverse storytelling, and redefined how we perceive superheroes. These tales remind us that beneath the masks and capes, superheroes are reflections of our own humanity, and their stories can be as complex and thought-provoking as any other literary genre

Marvel's short stories have proven that superhero comics are more than just entertainment; they mirror our world and aspirations. These concise narratives have shown that profound storytelling can occur within the limited confines of a few issues. They have opened the doors for deeper exploration of characters, themes, and societal issues, and they continue to inspire creators and readers alike to push the boundaries of what superhero comics can achieve

In a genre often associated with bombastic battles and larger-than-life conflicts, these short stories are a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and the ability of comics to engage our hearts and minds. As we celebrate the impact of these narratives, we are reminded that sometimes, the most significant stories come in the smallest packages

#marvel comics #short stories #dystopia #real life drama #chris claremont #roger stern #john byrne #peter david #gerry conway #kurt busiek #alex ross #bill mantlo #crime #social issues

[maddyhessesblog]

A Tale as Old as Time

The 1991 animated Disney musical Beauty and the Beast focuses on the relationship between the prince, the Beast, suffering from the curse of a witch who believed his actions to be filled with evilness and cruelty. The curse extends beyond the prince to his servants, limiting the castle to a fantastical paradox of talking teacups and flirtatious candelabras, with no outside visitors until one day, Belle’s father wanders into the castle for shelter before being taken captive by the Beast. Fiercely ignoring preexisting lore surrounding the dangers of the castle, Bella bravely chooses to fight for her father’s safety herself. She follows the same path to save her father that ultimately leads her to the place of his captivity. But in finding her father she is discovered by the Beast, who makes a deal with Belle: your father is free to go, if you stay. And so she does.

The film is based on the 1756 fairy tale written by Jeanne-Marie Leprince while also combining elements from the 1946 French film directed by Jean Cocteau. The original story heavily emphasizes the importance of valuing internal beauty over external wealth, rewarding those who truly experience and cultivate the power of love.

In what ways does the film's score situate the story within its narrative context?

Let’s get one thing straight, this score is PHENOMENAL. Alan Menken and Howard Ashman intentionally crafted intimate pieces that not only situate the story within narrative context but support its thematic desires. It is known for its intricate melodies, rich harmonies, emotional depth, and employment of techniques that contribute to the storytelling of the film. The score employs leitmotifs, which are recurring musical themes that are associated with specific story elements, emotions, and characters.

Specifically in regards to the main theme of Beauty and the Beast which serves as a representation of the central love story. Both Gaston and the Beast also have their own distinctive motifs. Gaston’s motif is characterized by a brassy and bombastic melody that reflects his arrogance, bravado, and larger-than-life personality like in his song “Gaston”.

Contrasting Gaston’s motif, the Beast’s reflects his inner turmoil, vulnerability, and eventual redemption. It is much more subdued and melancholic with expressive melodies and lush harmonies that evoke a sense of belonging and isolation like in the song “Transformation.”

Alan Menken also often employs modal mixture which blends elements from both major and minor scales, adding complexity and emotional depth to the music. The score also features chromaticism where notes outside of the signature key are used to create tension and color, especially in conveying darker more sinister aspects of the story, like scenes involving Gaston or the enchanted objects in the castle. The song's in the film follow traditional musical forms like verse-chorus structure with each song utilized to advance the plot or reveal character development.

As described by Miranda (2016), the film's score, composed by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, employs recurring melodies and leitmotifs to convey themes of love, transformation, and redemption. These musical elements serve to immerse the audience in the enchanted world of the film, enhancing the storytelling experience with their evocative and resonant quality. Furthermore, Miranda (2016) notes the use of modal mixture and chromaticism in the score to reflect the inner conflicts and struggles of the characters, adding layers of complexity to the musical composition. Songs like "Belle" and "Be Our Guest" are highlighted by Miranda (2016) as pivotal in establishing the film's setting within an 18th-century French provincial backdrop, utilizing French-inspired melodies and instrumentation.

How do songs use character performance to push cultural authenticity in the film’s diegesis?  

The songs play a significant role in pushing cultural authenticity in the film's diegesis. These songs allow characters to express emotions, motivations, and thereby developing character personality and advancing the plot. Belle's opening song "Belle" reveals her independence, intelligence, and yearning for adventure which establishes her as a strong and reliable protagonist.

Similarly Beast's solo "If I Can't Love Her" encourages the audience to understand and examine his inner turmoil and vulnerability despite his being portrayed as evil and cruel. We as the audience are able to give him a second chance as we watch him grow and establish his own sense of self and capacity for love.

The songs reflect both the cultural context and setting of the story as it grounds the narrative in a French provincial backdrop. The French-inspired melodies, lyrical references, and instrumentation through the soundtrack adds richness and authenticity to the film's diegesis which immerses the audience into the world of 18th century France. This cultural authenticity is especially evident in songs like "Bonjour" and "Be Our Guest" which evokes the strong charm and elegance of French village life and cuisine.

The songs also contribute to the development of relationships between character. Such as "Something There" between Belle and the Beast is an essential turning point in their relationship as they begin to see past each other's exterior and fall In love with each other through genuine connection and mutual understanding. Each song serves as a specific narrative function and helps to reinforce the film's central themes.

In what ways does the film use musical framing to structure the score within familiarized styles?

The score uses familiar musical genres and styles that the audience feels connected to. Varying tones between numbers like "Belle" features a more upbeat and lively style that is reminiscent of Broadway. This genre familiarity helps to set the tone for the rest of the film by setting a foundation through a sense of nostalgia, especially for audiences familiar with musical theatre. The score itself references classical and romantic-era compositions which add sophistication to the soundtrack. Beast's theme and other instrumental motifs incorporate elements of this Romantic-era music which evokes emotional depth and a sense of grandeur.

Certain themes are introduced early in the film and recur throughout, subtly undergoing variations and transformation as the story progresses. The main theme of "Beauty and the Beast" serves as an evolving motif that reflects the characters' emotional journey and development of their relationship. The seamless integration of music numbers into the narrative are useful in advancing the plot and developing character relationships as well, serving as musical "frames" within the story that provide content to key moments and themes.

@theuncannyprofessoro

#oxyfilmmusical

[philosopher-blog]

ذكرياتنا تشكل جوهر هويتنا. إنها الخيوط التي تنسج نسيج هويتنا، وتربطنا بالتجارب والمعرفة والعواطف التي تحدد طبيعة حياتنا.

تتشكل ذكرياتنا كلوحة من عدة مكونات، ففي الكتب التي نقرأها، نجد عوالم جديدة لنستكشفها، ووجهات نظر لنأخذها بعين الاعتبار، وشخصيات لنتعاطف معها. فتترك كل قصة بصمة في أذهاننا، وتشكل أفكارنا وتؤثر على فهمنا للعالم من حولنا. تنقلنا الأفلام التي نشاهدها إلى أزمنة وأماكن مختلفة، وتثير المشاعر التي تبقى عالقة لفترة طويلة. النصوص التي نكتبها هي انعكاس لأفكارنا العميقة، ولمحة عن روحنا المكشوفة على الصفحات البيضاء.

والأغاني التي نسمعها لها القدرة على إثارة الذكريات المنسية منذ زمن طويل، وإعادة إشعال المشاعر التي اعتقدنا أنها تلاشت. إنها تصبح الموسيقى التصويرية لحياتنا، وتميز اللحظات الكبيرة والصغيرة بألحانها وكلماتها. كما أن القصائد التي نختارها والتى نعتز بها تتحدث إلينا بطرق تتحدى التفسير، وتجسد جمال وتعقيد التجربة الإنسانية في بضعة أسطر فقط.

لكن مكونات لوحة ذكرياتنا لا تقتصر فقط على الأشياء التي نسعى إليها أو نصنعها بنشاط. فهى تتشكل أيضا من خلال اللحظات التي نعيشها، والتحديات التي نتغلب عليها، والأفراح التي نحتفل بها، والأحزان التي نتحملها. كل تجربة، كل لقاء، كل قرار يترك علامة على كياننا، مما يؤثر على الطريقة التي نرى بها العالم وكيفية تشكيل خط سيرنا في طريق الحياة.

وحتى الأشياء التي لا نختبرها بشكل مباشر أبدًا تساهم في تكوين هويتنا، من خلال القصص التي نسمعها، والدروس التي نتعلمها من الآخرين، والأحلام التي نجرؤ على تخيلها. هوياتنا عبارة عن نسيج من المؤثرات، متشابك مع خيوط ذكرياتنا، ويربطنا بنسيج أكبر من الإنسانية.

في النهاية، نحن مجموع ذكرياتنا - الجيدة والسيئة، المبهجة والمؤلمة، المنتصرة والمهزومة. إنها تشكل تصوراتنا، وتحدد خياراتنا، وتوجه أعمالنا. نحن نحمل في داخلنا مخزونًا من التجارب والعواطف التي تحدد جوهرنا، مما يمنح العمق والغنى للفرد الفريد الذي يمثله كل واحد منا.

لذلك، أثناء رحلتنا عبر الحياة، دعونا نعتز بذكرياتنا، لأنها محك وجودنا، والمراسي التي تضعنا في بحر من التغيير المستمر. إنها تذكرنا بمن نحن، وأين كنا، وأين لم نصل بعد. نجد فيها جوهر ذواتنا الحقيقية، في انتظار اكتشافه واحتضانه.

Our memories shape the very essence of who we are. They are the threads that weave together the fabric of our identity, connecting us to the experiences, knowledge, and emotions that have defined our lives.

In the books we read, we find new worlds to explore, perspectives to consider, and characters to empathize with. Each story leaves an imprint on our minds, shaping our thoughts and influencing our understanding of the world around us. The films we watch transport us to different times and places, evoking emotions that linger long after the credits roll. The texts we write are a reflection of our innermost thoughts, a glimpse into our soul laid bare on the page.

The songs we hear have the power to stir memories long forgotten, reigniting feelings we thought had faded away. They become the soundtrack of our lives, marking moments both big and small with their melodies and lyrics. The poems we choose to cherish speak to us in ways that defy explanation, capturing the beauty and complexity of the human experience in just a few lines.

But our memories are not just limited to the things we actively seek out or create. They are also shaped by the moments we live through, the challenges we overcome, the joys we celebrate, and the sorrows we endure. Every experience, every encounter, every decision leaves a mark on our being, influencing the way we see the world and how we navigate our path through life.

Even the things we never directly experience contribute to who we are, through the stories we hear, the lessons we learn from others, and the dreams we dare to imagine. Our identities are a tapestry of influences, interwoven with the threads of our memories, connecting us to a larger tapestry of humanity.

In the end, we are the sum total of our memories - the good and the bad, the joyous and the painful, the triumphant and the defeated. They shape our perceptions, inform our choices, and guide our actions. We carry within us a reservoir of experiences and emotions that define our essence, giving depth and richness to the unique individual that each of us is.

So as we journey through life, let us cherish our memories, for they are the touchstones of our being, the anchors that ground us in a sea of constant change. They remind us of who we are, where we have been, and where we are yet to go. In them, we find the essence of our true selves, waiting to be discovered and embraced.

[themuse-if]

20 (or so) Questions with Sebastien Auclair

Let's learn a bit more about the man behind the lens. Does Sebastien have more going for him than just a charming accent and a coffee addiction?

Interviewer: Sebastien, thank you so much for coming in today! Lets go ahead and jump right in. When's your birthday, you're a Scorpio right?

Sebastien: Yeah, that's right. And my birthday is November 13th.

Interviewer: A Scorpio mystery, indeed. Do you have any nicknames you go by?

Sebastien: A few of my American friends call me Seb or Bastien. You can too if you like. *friendly grin*

Interviewer: *smiles back* Alright, I'll do that. So Bastien, what are some of your positive traits?

Sebastien: I believe one of my strengths lies in being observant and a good listener. I tend to be aware of my surrounding and pick up on things quite quickly.

Interviewer: Admirable qualities. And what about traits that present challenges for you?

Sebastien: I can be a bit reserved at times, especially when trying to express complex emotions. Words occasionally fall short for me, but I think that some words just get lost in translation.

Interviewer: A common struggle. Apart from photography, any hobbies that you indulge in?

Sebastien: I do enjoy the ambiance of jazz bars; it's a way to unwind. I actually play a bit of piano. Maybe I could play for you sometime.

Interviewer: *starts to blush* I would love to hear you play. Alright, reflecting on your strengths, what do you consider your greatest strength?

Sebastien: I believe my greatest strength lies in my ability to capture the essence of a moment. I know how to capture it through my lens, and then also take time to be present and live in the here and now.

Interviewer: A powerful skill, indeed. On the flip side, what would you consider your biggest weakness?

Sebastien: Perhaps dwelling too much on perfection. During late-night editing sessions, the pursuit of perfection can become a hindrance.

Interviewer: Perfectionism, a common challenge. Describe yourself in one word.

Sebastien: Adventurous.

Interviewer: And how do you think others perceive you in one word?

Sebastien: Mysterious.

Interviewer: A fascinating perception. Moving on, what would you say is your greatest fear?

Sebastien: I'm not really sure if I'm afraid of much right now. I'm too excited to experience this new chapter of my life. Dwelling on fear can only hold you back.

Interviewer: Fearless indeed. Considering your priorities, what are the top priorities in your life at the moment?

Sebastien: Exploring new cultural landscapes, refining my craft as a photographer, and savoring life's moments, both big and small.

Interviewer: Wonderful priorities. Tell me about your family.

Sebastien: I come from a loving family in Paris. While my parents are divorced they've both always been a part of my life. My sister and I share a close bond; she's the youngest so we definitely baby her a bit. And my brother owns a café where I used to work, which led to us becoming really close over our mutual love for coffee.

Interviewer: Sounds delightful. Looking ahead, what are your goals for the future?

Sebastien: I aspire to continue evolving as a photographer, perhaps publish a book, and explore new artistic endeavors. I think I want to see as much of the world that is humanly possible. I'm not sure I'll ever settle down.

Interviewer: Ambitious and adventurous. On a more relaxed note, how would you spend a rainy day?

Sebastien: A cozy day with a good book, maybe some film editing, and enjoying the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

Interviewer: Classic choices. Any favorite book that holds a special place in your heart?

Sebastien: "Le Grand Monde" by Pierre Lemaitre. Which directly translates to The Big World. It's a story that truly embraces life! There's romance, murder, adventure and mystery. What more could I ask for, it truly is a great escape.

Interviewer: Intriguing. And your favorite movie?

Sebastien: "Day for Night." I love to laugh, and this film is very funny. The drama and mayhem shown behind the scenes of filming a movie and showcasing the silliness of it all.

Interviewer: I've never seen that film before I'll have to give it a watch. Moving into more personal territory, do you have any dark secrets?

Sebastien: I'm not sure if I have any dark secrets. Life has been pretty simple. What I will say is that, not much can hold me back from getting the shot. Interpret that however you like. *slow mischievous smirk*

Interviewer: Getting up to no good I see. What would you say is your best physical feature?

Sebastien: I've been told I have a strong jaw. *leans forward, runs fingers over jawline* That's why I never let my beard get too long.

Interviewer: I see. And your least favorite feature?

Sebastien: I'm not sure what I would pick. What do you think, do I have any bad features? *knowing smile*

Interviewer: *smiles in return* No, but you already new that. *sigh* Ok, lastly, how would you describe being in love?

Sebastien: It's akin to capturing the perfect moment in a photograph – nuanced, profound, and timeless. Love, like art, is a language that transcends words, a story that unfolds with each passing moment.

Interviewer: A very beautiful notion. Thanks for sharing more about your life with me Sebastien. I'm excited to see your journey continue to unfold!

#choice of games #choose your own adventure #choose your own story #dashingdon #interactive fiction #interactive if #twine if #twine interactive fiction #choice script #character profile #RO interviews #themuse if #twine story #twine game #interact if #interactive story #if: themuse

[cluelessteam]

Eternal Harmony: {~Whispers of the Future~}

Summary: Y/N's ordinary life takes a supernatural twist when they encounter the mysterious Cullen family in Forks. Immersed in a world of eternal love and trials, Y/N becomes a vital part of the Cullens' immortal story. Guided by Alice's visions and Jasper's wisdom, they face cosmic threats and navigate the complexities of supernatural existence. The story unfolds through eclipses of emotions and trials, culminating in a dawn where enduring bonds and love echo through the ages—a forever-bound journey in the supernatural realm.

Characters: The Cullen family

Pairing: Jasper x Reader x Alice

Warnings: No Warnings

Word Count: 522

Chapter 3 --- Chapter 4

The meadow, bathed in the soft glow of the waning sunlight, felt like a sanctuary frozen in time. The rustling leaves overhead created a gentle symphony, and the distant murmur of the hidden stream added a soothing undertone to the atmosphere. As the Cullen family gathered, the air buzzed with an anticipation that transcended the boundaries of mortal understanding.

Alice, with her radiant smile, gestured towards Y/N. "Let me share some glimpses of the future with you." Her eyes unfocused for a moment, and the air seemed to shimmer with unseen visions. "I see moments, threads of destiny woven into the tapestry of time," she mused, her words carrying an ethereal quality.

Images flashed before Y/N's eyes—scenes of shared laughter, moments of profound connection, and challenges yet to unfold. It was as if the very fabric of destiny unfolded before them, revealing a path intricately intertwined with the fates of the Cullen family.

Edward, his golden eyes reflecting the wisdom of centuries, leaned in. "Alice's visions guide us, warn us. They are the whispers of the future."

Jasper, attuned to the emotions in the air, added, "We navigate the complexities of immortality with the knowledge that Alice provides. It's both a gift and a responsibility."

Y/N, caught between the allure of the supernatural and the weight of newfound knowledge, couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. "What do these visions reveal about me?" they inquired, their gaze shifting between the members of the Cullen family.

Alice's eyes met Y/N's with an intensity that seemed to pierce through the veil of reality. "Your presence is a catalyst for change, a divergence in the timeline that brings both challenge and growth. Embrace the uncertainty, for it is the very essence of our existence."

The meadow fell into a contemplative silence, each member of the Cullen family lost in their thoughts. The whispers of the future lingered in the air, leaving an indelible mark on the unfolding narrative.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the meadow, Carlisle, the patriarch, spoke with a measured tone. "Y/N, you're now a part of a family that spans generations. Our lives are intertwined in ways that go beyond the ordinary bonds of kinship. Embrace the journey, for it is both unique and eternal."

Esme, with a gentle smile, added, "You've entered a world where love knows no bounds. Each member of this family contributes to the melody that defines our existence."

The Cullens, standing in a tableau against the fading light, seemed to embody the duality of their existence—immortal beings navigating the intricacies of life, love, and destiny.

As the meadow embraced the tranquil stillness of the night, Y/N couldn't help but feel a profound sense of gratitude. The whispers of the future had unveiled a path shrouded in mystery, and with each passing moment, the threads of their destiny wove tighter, creating a tapestry that spanned both time and eternity. Little did Y/N know that the choices made in the coming days would echo through the ages, shaping the very fabric of their immortal existence.

#Twilight #Edward Cullen #Alice Cullen #Emmet Cullen #Bella Cullen #Rosalie Hale #Jasper Hale #Carlisle Cullen #Esme Cullen #Fanfic #jasper x reader #alice x reader #Jasper x Alice #jasper x reader x alice

[thatartiststudios999]

Since it's been a while since I've updated on Let The Games Begin, here's an extra long snippet as a treat!

   The room fell into an uneasy silence, the weight of Callum and Rayla’s abrupt departure hanging in the air. Uncertain glances were exchanged between the remaining members, each one grappling with their thoughts, not knowing how to bridge the gap left by their absence. In that moment, the challenge ahead seemed even more daunting, the silence echoing the uncertainty they all felt. 

   Sadie, always sharp, spoke first. 

   “That was… interesting, huh? Callum really cares about Rayla.”

   Piper nodded, her strategic mind at work, “It’s more than caring. It’s clear through what they’ve told us that they’ve been through a lot together, you can see it. We can learn from that bond.”

   Carter chimed in, his voice steady. “We’ve all faced tough challenges, but there’s something unique about what they share. It’s kind of inspiring, really.”

   Leo, ever practical, added, “We’re in this together. Callum’s certainly not the only one with determination. We’ve got skills, and if we use them right, we can tackle whatever comes our way.”

   Piper, taking charge, said, “Let’s focus on our strengths. The Collector said these challenges are tailored to us, so we’ve got something special to offer. We just need to figure out what that is and use it.”

   Sadie agreed, “We can’t forget to watch each other’s backs. Unexpected things might happen, and we’ve got to be ready to adapt.”

   Carter remarked, “This is different from our usual battles. We need to be smart, use our heads. But we also need to trust our instincts.”

   Leo, with a smirk, said, “We’ve got brains and guts. That’s a powerful combo. And with Callum and Rayla’s bond as an example, we’ve got heart too.”

   And so, they continued talking, their words reflecting their individual strengths and perspectives. The conversation was more relaxed now, the initial tension dissipating. They might be facing challenges from a mysterious force, but together, they felt stronger, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

—

   In the days that followed, life aboard the Argo II settled into a routine. The first few days were indeed mundane, but they were far from uneventful. The heroes spent their time getting to know each other better, sharing stories of their worlds and adventures. Jason and Callum found common ground in their shared abilities over the skies and storms, their conversations often drifting into the intricacies of their powers.

   “Your father being the god of the sky must be incredible,” Callum remarked, his eyes filled with curiosity.

   Jason shrugged, a mix of emotions flickering across his face, “Well, not always. The gods aren’t always the best parents, but it does have its perks.” His tone carried a hint of both pride and resignation, a reflection of his complex feelings about his divine lineage.

   The camaraderie on the ship grew, weaving friendships among the diverse group of heroes. Piper’s charm eased the tension, her laughter becoming a beacon of positivity. Sadie and Carter, with their knowledge of ancient myths and magic, fascinated the others with tales of Egyptian gods and mysterious artifacts. Leo, the mechanic, found eager listeners in Callum and Carter, bonding over their shared fascination with technology.

   Amidst these interactions, Rayla found herself adapting to life aboard a flying ship. Surprisingly, her seasickness didn’t come into effect as the Argo II soared through the skies. Instead, she marveled at the vast expanse of clouds beneath them, feeling a strange mixture of awe and homesickness. Callum stood by her side during these moments, his presence a reassuring anchor in the midst of the unfamiliar.

   Navigating their course to Thebes, the heroes consulted maps and discussed strategies. They shared meals in the ship’s meeting room, their conversations ranging from battle plans to the quirks of their respective worlds. The ship became a hub of learning and collaboration, where each hero contributed their unique knowledge and skills.

   As the days passed, friendships deepened, and trust solidified. The challenges ahead seemed less daunting in the face of their shared strength. Unbeknownst to them, these moments of camaraderie would become the foundation upon which they would face The Collector’s trials, forging bonds that would prove crucial in the battles to come. And so, their journey continued, the Argo II carrying them steadily toward Thebes, each day bringing them closer to the unknown challenges awaiting them.

   The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a warm golden glow across the deck of the Argo II. Leo, ever the instigator, clapped his hands together with a mischievous grin. 

   “Alright, folks, let’s see what you’ve got! We need to know each other’s abilities inside out to work as a team. So, who can fly?”

   Carter and Sadie exchanged amused glances before transforming into their bird forms, a graceful kite and a sleek hawk respectively. They took off, circling the ship effortlessly. Carter’s landing, however, was less than elegant, and he stumbled slightly, earning a teasing remark from his sister. 

   “Nice landing, brother dear.”

   “Very funny,” Carter retorted, regaining his composure with a mock glare.

   Next, Jason stepped forward, his eyes focused as he manipulated the winds around him. The air responded to his command, lifting him off the deck. 

   “I can control the winds. With Piper,” he glanced at his companion, “I can carry both of us.”

   Callum stroked his chin thoughtfully, a playful glint dancing in his emerald eyes. Leo, always eager for a story, couldn’t resist the temptation. 

   “What’s on your mind, Callum?” he inquired, his curiosity piqued.

   Callum cast a sidelong glance at Rayla, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips. 

   “Just deciding if I want to go the easy way or the dramatic way,” he replied, his voice dripping with mischief.

   Rayla rolled her eyes, elbowing him slightly. “Just go for the dramatic, it’s what you normally do anyway.”

   Callum shoots back a look of fake annoyance before saying, “If you wish.”

   With a theatrical flourish, Callum walked over to the railing, feigning deep contemplation before leaping off the edge. Gasps of horror filled the air, except for Rayla, who merely crossed her arms, unimpressed.

   “Aren’t you worried?” Piper asked, her expression horrified.

   Rayla just shrugged nonchalantly, “Eh, he’s jumped off of higher places.”

   Moments later, Callum shot back into view, his mage wings propelling him upward with impressive speed. He landed on the deck, taking a mock bow with his wings still formed around his arms. Piper, her eyes wide with amazement, spoke up. 

   “I thought I saw you with wings when you arrived at Camp Half-Blood, but I didn’t realize what they were until now.”

   Callum walked over to Rayla, a triumphant grin on his face. He wrapped an arm around her, his wings dissolving as he did so, and she responded by playfully shoving him away, feigning annoyance.   

   “Show-off,” she teased.

   Callum winked at her, his eyes sparkling with playful affection. “Friendly reminder, you suggested it.”

Next Part

#rayllum #tdp rayla #tdp callum #hoo jason #hoo leo #hoo piper #kane chronicles carter #kane chronicles sadie #current wip #current fic project

[azir-018]

Fragments of a Broken Love (part 2/2)

warning: none

summary: Amidst a painful separation, Neymar unexpectedly reappears in your life, expressing his remorse and desire to rebuild what was lost. As you navigate the complexities of forgiveness and healing, you both embark on a journey to mend the fragments of your broken love. The story explores the power of resilience, hope, and the possibility of finding happiness in the face of past heartbreak.

Months had passed since that painful day, but the ache of separation still lingered within your soul. Memories of Neymar flooded your thoughts, each one a bittersweet reminder of the love you had shared.

Late one evening, as raindrops danced upon your windowpane, a knock at the door startled you from your melancholic reverie. With trepidation, you opened the door, and there stood Neymar, rain-soaked and with eyes filled with a mixture of hope and regret.

"I couldn't stay away," he whispered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've missed you every single day."

Conflicting emotions surged within you—painful memories intertwined with a glimmer of longing for what once was. But deep down, a spark of hope flickered, reminding you of the love that had once bound you together.

Tears streamed down your face as you found the strength to speak. "Neymar, why now? Why did you come back?"

He stepped closer, his voice trembling. "Because I've realized that a life without you is no life at all. I've learned from my mistakes, and I'm willing to fight for us, for our love."

Your heart ached at the vulnerability in his words, and for a moment, you allowed yourself to hope, to believe that perhaps love could find a way back to you.

"But the pain we went through..." you started, your voice laced with uncertainty.

Neymar reached out and took your hands in his, his touch sending shivers down your spine. "I know we can't erase the past, but we can learn from it. Let's rebuild our love, piece by piece, and create something stronger, something that can weather any storm."

In that moment, you saw the sincerity in his eyes and felt the truth in his words. The decision was not an easy one, but love had a way of defying logic and embracing the possibility of second chances.

With a mixture of hesitation and hope, you took a step forward, closing the physical distance between you. Raindrops trickled down your faces as your lips met in a tender, desperate kiss—a kiss that carried the weight of past mistakes and the promise of a future forged in forgiveness.

The rain continued to pour, washing away the remnants of pain and heartbreak. Together, you and Neymar embarked on a journey of healing, acknowledging the cracks and scars that marked your love story, yet determined to mend them.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Through laughter and tears, you rebuilt the foundation of your love, layer by layer. The wounds of the past were not forgotten but rather transformed into reminders of the strength and resilience of your bond.

And as the rainbows painted the sky, reflecting the colors of a love rekindled, you and Neymar stood hand in hand, ready to face the world together. The road ahead might still hold challenges, but with each other by your side, you knew that love would guide you through, offering solace and support.

In the end, your love story had not been a perfect fairytale, but it was real, raw, and brimming with the beauty of two hearts that refused to give up. And as you looked into Neymar's eyes, you knew that the journey of rediscovering love was just the beginning—an opportunity to create a future that was even more beautiful than the past.

#neymar jr imagine #neymar x reader

[ahslilmonsters]

Dahmer thoughts

Y’all….. Evan Peters & Niecy Nash are giving us the performance of their lives & it is INTENSE!! The are fully doing justice to the victims stories, & already had me crying the first episode. I have NEVER seen any other true crime work showcase the true, complex emotions of the victims the way they are displayed in this show. Placing us in the shoes of the survivors & victims is the only way to tell this terror filled story anymore. The fact that Dahmer’s story was used to cover up the racism & homophobia that took place along with the failure of his parents & the police department to stop him, is a heavy reflection of these still ongoing issues in our society. Though this is an ill-fated story, it humanizes the victims & survivors in a dehumanizing society. These were REAL people with REAL emotions & SOULS, & we MUST remember them over the monster who traumatized them and/or took their lives.

Steven M. Hicks, 18

Steven Tuomi, 25

Ricky Beeks, 33

Raymond Smith, 32

Joseph Bradehoft, 25

Jamie Doxtator, 14

Richard Guerrero, 22

Anthony Hughes, 31

Oliver Lacy, 24

Errol Lindsey, 19

Ernest Miller, 22

Anthony Sears, 26

Konerak Sinthasomphone, 14

Edward W. Smith, 27

Curtis Straughter, 17

David C. Thomas, 22

Matt Turner, 20

Jeremiah Weinberger, 23

Survivors

Ronald Flowers

Tracy Edwards

Preston Davis

Billy Capshaw

Brother Sinthasomphone

Glenda Gleveland

To each & every& family member & neighbor effected, & to the many others whose names are unknown.

#dahmer #jeffrey dahmer #dahmer monster: the jeffrey dahmer story #ryan murphy #Evan Peters #niecy nash

[theoneandonlysun]

The world beyond the door is a strange one…yet beautiful.

The sky looks like it did when Dusk first appeared. The landscape looks much more natural than the main circus, full of woods and flowers, with the occasional settlement. All the buildings seem vaguely medieval-Victorian age, that kind of strange era invented by fantasy stories to account for both quiet, isolated cottages, but also allow for bright little villages with proper roads and enough sanitation and infrastructure to have things like the Plague not be a concern. Vast, and yet, the horizon is not an island’s cliff edge, but a blur of color…maybe there is something beyond it, who knows…

The style of the world itself is very different as well. Colors are not flat and fully saturated, but soft and often dark, with only accents of pastel. The Digital Circus is rendered in a minimalist yet quite detailed style, reflecting and stylizing things and colors that exist. This world seems to almost reflect a dream, almost like a painting or an old childhood memory that blurs around the edges and flits off after a while…

Things here are more emotions and concepts than a proper set of realistic mechanics…things may run on different rules than what sun is used to.

Speaking of our protagonists.

Sun can finally put her finger on one of the reasons Dusk seemed so odd. She was not a reflection of a real celestial body, like the sun in her radiant power. She is an experience, the feeling of walking alone in the woods, surrounded by light and glow despite the late hour. The feeling of reading at witching hours, illuminated by a quiet candlelight in the abyss that was once your room. Walking through a dimmed home, long abandoned, dark despite the sun’s relentless rays. Dusk looks the part of a goddess now, there is not a shadow of doubt that she belongs here, that this home is hers. I imagine the celestial beings look borderline Angel-like in their own domains, and based on how I’ve seen sun described during the day sequences, that idea may have some credence.

As for Sun, she very rarely leaves her own domain…and the resulting diminishing of her light catches her off guard. She’s the Sun, she illuminates, she makes things understandable and visible. She is bright, saturated colors, she is the endless mornings and the eternal afternoons of a never ending summer. These things have no bearing here. Her power is brought down to the power of the emotions the sun represents, like anger and happiness. These things have much less bearing here than even the Moon’s fear and despair. For anger and joy are clear cut, at least the versions that Sun represents. They grant her little, especially compared to the complex symbolisms of Dusk (Sun supposes she’ll have to figure most of them out along the way) or maybe even some anons. To call this place home, you must be like it, complex and blurry and quiet. Sun wonders if she didn’t quite understand Easton and Northa, if they could create a place and a goddess like this…

(there’s your decent Elsie writing for the day, I did this on the spot so sorry if it’s repetitive)

Sun feels.. weaker than usual. It makes her uncomfortable, especially with the entire new world spread out in front of her... it feels... overwhelming.

Sun wants to leave... she just needs to get to the point and then she doesn't have to come back here ever again.

Where are they?

#ELSIE THIS WRITING IS VIVID AND GORGEOUS ILYSM /P #LITERALLY AMAZING #FANTASTIC

[sakshisuma]

Harmonizing Souls: Exploring The Timeless Allure of Music 🎶

Introduction:

Music, a universal language that transcends boundaries and cultures, has been an integral part of human expression for centuries. From the rhythmic beats of ancient drums to the complex compositions of contemporary symphonies, music continues to captivate and connect people worldwide. In this blog, we delve into the multifaceted world of music, exploring its historical roots, emotional impact, and evolving forms.

1. The Evolution of Music:

Take a journey through time as we explore the evolution of music, from the earliest forms of vocalizations and primitive instruments to the sophisticated genres and styles that define today's musical landscape. The rich tapestry of musical history reveals how different cultures and societies have contributed to the diverse array of sounds we cherish today.

2. The Emotional Power of Music:

Why does music have such a profound impact on our emotions? Delve into the psychology of music, understanding how melodies, harmonies, and rhythms can evoke a wide spectrum of feelings. Whether it's the uplifting crescendo of a symphony or the melancholic notes of a blues guitar, music has the power to connect with our innermost emotions in ways that words often cannot.

3. Genre Diversity:

Explore the vast diversity of musical genres, from classical to jazz, rock to hip-hop, and beyond. Each genre brings its own unique flavor, reflecting the cultural, social, and historical contexts that shape its development. Dive into the distinctive characteristics of different genres, appreciating the creativity and innovation that fuel musical evolution.

4. The Influence of Technology:

Examine how advancements in technology have revolutionized the music industry. From the vinyl records of yesteryear to the digital streaming platforms of today, technology has not only changed how we consume music but has also shaped the very sounds and production techniques employed by artists. Explore the pros and cons of these technological shifts in the music landscape.

5. The Artist's Journey:

Step into the shoes of musicians, understanding the creative process, challenges, and inspirations that drive their work. Whether a classical composer, a rock guitarist, or a hip-hop lyricist, each artist contributes a unique voice to the ever-expanding symphony of human creativity. Discover the stories behind iconic compositions and the artists who have left an indelible mark on the world of music.

Conclusion:

As we conclude our exploration of the enchanting world of music, it's evident that this art form holds a timeless allure. From its ancient origins to the cutting-edge sounds of today, music remains a powerful force that transcends boundaries and unites people across the globe. Whether you're a casual listener or a dedicated musician, the beauty of music lies in its ability to inspire, comfort, and connect us in ways that resonate with the very essence of our humanity.

🎼🎶🎶🎶🎼🎶🎶🎶🎼🎶🎶🎶🎼🎶🎶🎶🎼

#harmonizing Souls #music #peace #kim namjoon #rm #Spotify