never doubt the truth of what you do not understan

the world is still so full of wonders Call me Rain or Anna. Fandom mishmosh, Christian life. Living with story and song. Believing in salvation, redemption and eucatastrophe. I *will* adopt you. Technically a side blog; likes/asks/follows come from rain-on-main.

[rainintheevening]

Hop in, friends. We'll stop by Tim's on the way home.

I'm here making a fun space to enjoy stories and fanart, making new friends, and being reminded of the good stuff in God's world.

I will talk about my Christian faith and any news stories or things that interest me/seem important to me. This is a life blog too.

I'd rate most of this stuff I post PG, with some 14As for language but nothing else.

I am: Canadian. Farm raised. Abortion abolitionist. MAID abolitionist. Young Earth creationist. Probably Side Y. Gryffindor. ENFP. Early-30s.

In fandom: Team Cap. Jedi lover. Promoter of friendships and non-romantic loves. ObiAni is platonic. Saving Grant Ward since 2022. Mellon Chronicles are basically canon to me.

Love friendly and passionate discourse about stories. I believe Authorial Intent is very important. I also believe that all stories are echoes of things from HIStory, and search for God in everything. I DO NOT SUPPORT ANY CHARACTER BASHING. (Though, Palpatine and Pierce kinda deserve it...)

For anyone wondering I have written a bunch of fanfic, and you can find it on Ao3 under my name CapGirlCanuck. All of my fics are available for visitors to read. I am not writing a whole lot right now; too much real life to sustain any long projects.

My major fic/au ideas, musings, and inspiration are tagged #broken constellations #promises of fools au #raised as a sith anakin au #take my hand #saving grant ward au.

Fandom specific tags: #brothers2infinity (Steve & Bucky), #obiani (Obi-Wan & Anakin).

Other tags: #raindrops (personal), #amen (Christian), #ever present wonders (nature photos), #currents (real-world news), #somewhere elsewhere everywhere (travel photos), #smells like rain (it's my vibe), #spitballing (sh*tposting), #shenanakins (Rogue Squadron spam), #worth the living (things that say life is good), #beautiful people (people being lovely), #dearly beloveds (my friends), #in the eye of the beholder (any other photography), #a crack in the door (hopefully hopeful stuff), #a well versed book (Bible verses), #lyrically sound (song lyric stuff).

My big fandoms: Project Hail Mary, Kpop Demon Hunters, Jurassic World, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Chronicles of Narnia, Star Wars, Marvel Cinematic Universe (Infinity Saga), Lord of the Rings, Doctor Who, Fullmetal Alchemist, Harry Potter, BBC Sherlock.

Some of my favourite duos:

Obi-Wan Kenobi & Anakin Skywalker

Anakin Skywalker & Captain Rex

Qui-Gon Jinn & Obi-Wan Kenobi

Peter Pevensie & Edmund Pevensie

Steve Rogers & Bucky Barnes

Sam Wilson & Riley Smith

John Walker & Lemar Hoskins

Tony Stark & Peter Parker

Thor & Loki

Frodo & Sam

Legolas & Gimli

Aragorn & Éomer

Aragorn & Legolas

11th Doctor & Amy

Edward Elric & Alphonse Elric

Roy Mustang & Maes Hughes

Harry Potter & Ron Weasley

James Potter & Sirius Black

Sherlock Holmes & John Watson

Macbeth & Banquo

Colt Seavers & Ryland Grace

Some of my favourite ships:

Anakin/Padmé

Han/Leia

Steve/Sharon

Daniel/Peggy

T'challa/Nakia

Tony/Pepper

Peter/MJ (Michelle)

Sam/Rosie

Faramir/Éowyn

Rory/Amy

11/River

Edward/Winry

Al/Mei

Roy/Riza

James/Lily

Harry/Ginny

Ron/Hermione

John/Mary

Grant/Skye|Daisy

Adam/Belle

I also continue to dabble in original works, especially my Bramley universe.

I'm always trying to do too much, so probably need encouragement to slow down!

[guzhuangheaven]

pursuit of jade: piggies of the fan family

[slamdunktheories]

Can we talk about the moment of the Big Reveal?

Let me just put it out there: I LOVE LOVE LOVE this scene. Yes, it’s really short and there’s hardly any dialogue in it. But it’s easily one of my absolute favourite scenes in this show (which is saying a lot as there are loads of contenders). I just wanted to take a moment to breakdown the scene and discuss why it works so well.

First, the scene works because of all the scenes that came before it - all the teasers we got where Changyu almost finds out the truth about Yan Zheng helped build towards this climax. eg. The scene where they were reaching out towards each other’s silhouettes, and when they finally meet at camp amidst the group of injured soldiers, and when the Crown Princess gets introduced to CY’s husband, and of course there’s the fake Marquis scene, and the bit where XZ forgets that he’s supposed to just be YZ and talks about rewarding someone who’d saved CY’s life (his own tutor LOL), etc.

Any of thoses instances could’ve been when the truth was accidentally discovered, and those near-misses add so much tension to the whole situation. ‘Cos we all know: the longer Xie Zheng tries to hide the truth, the wilder it’ll be when the truth can no longer be contained.

Also, all these scenes implicitly pose one question: HOW exactly will CY find out? That question alone is a big teaser and plays prominently in the audience’s mind.

And that brings us to… the scene right before CY goes into battle. I dunno if I’m thick or what, but I didn't anticipate her plan to drug him at all. It all seemed so natural, because in the lead up to it, she’d already been giving him bowls of soup/tonic/medicine etc., and this bowl of medicine didn’t seem out of the ordinary.

It was only when she gave him all these anxious looks as he was drinking that I finally clocked that something was up. If this was the average viewer’s experience, then the director did a great job withholding this revelation from people right until XZ himself realises the problem.

And this moment of “OMG she did not!!” is laced with so much conflict and drama: she’s doing it because she loves him, she’s doing it because she still thinks YZ is a nobody in the army but… SHE JUST INCAPACITATED THE MOST IMPORTANT GUY IN THE ARMY RIGHT BEFORE A BIG BATTLE!! The stakes are now sky high and we have no idea how badly she has messed things up for everyone.

Then we get the battle scene, where she takes down Shi Hu. Hurrah! But wait! It’s not over yet because THIS is the moment they choose for the reveal and the execution is sublime.

You hear him before you see him: there’s a thundering of hooves and soldiers cheering that the Marquis is here at last. Cue JJ Lin’s gorgeous song (which takes this scene to another level), and now from CY’s perspective: through the smoke we see the calvary arrive. She’s already on the verge of fainting from relief and shock of her first battle, but she makes an effort to stand, to take a better look at the famed Marquis, because there's something familiar about him that pulls her to her feet.

Now imagine her getting an even bigger shock as she finally learns the truth: that the person they call the Marquis is also the person she calls “husband”. One is a legend in the flesh, flanked by soldiers and radiating power, whilst the other (in her mind’s eye) cuts a gentle, frail figure in plain white robes (when they first meet properly, after he woke in Lin An). The contrast could not be bigger.

From the audience's perspective, it's also this huge contrast that makes this scene so satisfying. After all the dramatic tension built up from earlier scenes, CY had the truth coming at her on horseback and in full battle regalia. She could not have learned the truth in a more dramatic fashion.

And of course: there’re the complications. CY isn’t the only one who’s angry here. Xie Zheng is rightfully pissed because, well, he just got drugged by someone he trusted and it could’ve gone very badly for the whole army because of that one rash act. And you see this in his face as he scoops up CY when she tries to flee.

But for the audience, the moment is beautiful and glorious because it’s so rich with contradicting emotions. I imagine he’s pissed, relieved (that she's safe and that he doesn't have to hide the truth anymore), touched (that she was willing to risk her life in exchange to save his), and simultaneously knows that he’s in deep shit with the missus. And she’s a mixture of anger, heartbreak, disbelief, hurt, and more anger - and rightfully so.

I love that all this is conveyed through subtext, making dialogue completely unnecessary. We can imagine what they’re feeling because the scenes prior did all the heavylifting, and the lack of dialogue here is all the more powerful because we’re left to our imagination, to absorb the weight and complexity of this moment in our own, private ways.

The best directors know that silence can tell a dramatic story, and Director Zeng here is no exception.

[mattymartin]

↳ OFFICE INTERNS CAL CLUTTERBUCK & MATT MARTIN REVEAL THE ISLANDERS 2026–27 SCHEDULE | 7.16.26

[maxknightley]

the thing about chekhov's gun is that the gun does not literally "need to go off by the third act." the story works just as well if someone merely grabs the gun and starts threatening people with it, or if the Jewish protagonist recognizes the particular model as a Politically Concerning piece of world war 2 surplus, or if the gun's owner waxes nostalgic about the last time he fired it, etc. etc. etc.

unfortunately I get the impression that a lot of people do not understand that and therefore build theories around the idea that if the gun is not Specifically taken down from the wall and fired, it serves no purpose to the story, so why the hell was it there in the first place

[nightskylonging]

Is anyone going to go see the Odyssey, preliminary reviews from my book club buddies are in and they all like it but lovingly they are film bros and I want the opinions of the tumblr girlies

[rainintheevening]

Imma go see it, because I have a free movie voucher, and it's Christopher Nolan, and it has Tom and Zendaya in it. I know very little about the story of the Odyssey, so I will probably enjoy it more than your average tumblr girlie. 😅

[greater-than-the-sword]

Hear me out but if boys need to learn how to wash dishes and do laundry then girls need to be able to mow the lawn and use a weed whacker

[greater-than-the-sword]

Women only: Have you ever mowed a lawn?

Yes

No

Remaining time: 5 days 5 hours

[greater-than-the-sword]

Men only: Have you ever mowed a lawn?

Yes

No

Secret button just for me don't push >:(

Remaining time: 5 days 5 hours

[rainintheevening]

I ADORE how they had the "why do I feel like they're talking about the same person" scene with the Grand Tutor TWICE. It was great the first time, and even better the second time.

[cassianandfenrysaremyboyos]

5 minutes later

Gongsun Yin being more interested in Xie Zheng's marriage drama than battle strategy is so funny #gossip queen first strategist second

[mistress-crows-nest]

Headcanon: After Changning is rescued by Zheng, no one acts differently around her because no one realizes that she doesn’t know Zheng is the Marquis, and that’s because Ning is a practical child and doesn’t ask too many questions. And because Zheng has proven that he will risk his life for Ning, everyone understands that this girl is to be protected at all costs. So everyone just treats her as if she’s a VIP.

Ning doesn’t understand exactly what’s going on, but she knows that Zheng is smart and brave and capable and she just accepts that he is a valuable person and of course people will defer to him.

Also, Ning is the only child in an actively-besieged military camp and assigning her a babysitter is not a priority. She’s a good kid who can entertain herself without causing trouble (or, at least, not too much trouble), so she’s been given free run of the camp.

With that, enjoy this vignette:

CAMP – EXTERIOR – NIGHT: General Xie Wu is walking when he overhears two guards. Wu pauses outside of their sightline.

GUARD 1: Hey, what’s the Marquis’ daughter doing up so late?

GUARD 2: Who knows. Why do you care?

GUARD 1: I just think someone should be watching out for her. It’s not safe for a little girl to be running around a military camp alone.

GUARD 2: Who would be stupid enough to risk the Marquis’ wrath by touching her? Even if she isn’t his daughter.

GUARD 1: What?!

GUARD 2: I heard a rumor that she calls him “Brother-in-law.”

GUARD 1: That’s ridiculous. We would have heard if His Lordship had gotten married.

General Wu steps purposefully in front of them, eyeing the two guards. They snap to attention and look nervous.

WU: Which direction did the child go?

Both guards hurriedly point and Wu eyes them again before striding off.

Wu finds Ning wandering and calls to her.

WU: Little miss! What are you doing up at this hour?

NING: I had a bad dream and I want Brother-in-law. Can you help me find him?

Wu nods and Ning reaches her arms up to him.  Unable to resist, he gathers Ning to his chest and carries her off to the Marquis’ quarters.

CUT

ZHENG’S QUARTERS – INTERIOR – NIGHT: Xie Zheng and Gongsun Yin are seated and looking over papers.

WU: (from outside) Sir?

ZHENG: Come!

Wu enters, carrying Ning. Zheng and Gongsun look up.

WU: Sir, Changning had a bad dream and requested to see you.

NING: (lifting her sleepy head from Wu’s shoulder) Can I sleep with you?

Gongsun’s eyes light up because he’s been trying to find a diplomatic way to say that Zheng looks terrible and needs to rest.

GONGSUN: That’s an excellent idea!

ZHENG: (bewildered and slightly frightened) What?

Wu sets Ning on her feet. Ning walks over to Zheng and places her head on his shoulder as Gongsun launches into his speech.

GONGSUN: Changning has been through a harrowing ordeal! Of course she needs the safety and comfort of being with someone she knows and trusts. How can you possibly expect her to sleep alone in this strange, unknown place and not be fretful? You must recline with her until she can fall asleep.

NING: (looking up at Zheng) Please?

Zheng looks at Ning and his face softens as he feels a consuming affection; this precious child is his sister now and he can deny her nothing.

ZHENG: (softly) All right.

Gongsun oversees the tucking-in process, making appropriate mother-hen clucking noises. Ning has settled in, hugging Zheng’s arm to her chest and effectively trapping him.

ZHENG: (to Gongsun) Just until she falls asleep, we still have work to do.

GONGSUN: Of course, of course!

NING: Goodnight, Strategist.

GONGSUN: Goodnight, little one! I’ll just extinguish these candles.

Before Zheng can argue, Gongsun has blown out the candles and exits the darkened space with Wu.

Zheng looks mildly uncomfortable, unsure of the whole situation.

NING: I miss Sister.

A wistful smile creeps across Zheng’s face.

ZHENG: So do I.

CUT

CAMP – EXTERIOR – IMMEDIATELY AFTER: Gongsun and Wu are walking away.

WU: How long until you return?

GONGSUN: What? No, I’m not coming back tonight. I’m going to bed.

WU: But you promised the Marquis—

GONGSUN: (waves Wu off) They will both be asleep imminently and His Lordship requires rest. A sound sleep will serve us all well. Goodnight!

Gongsun walks away looking smug. He might not be able to employ this tactic every night but he will have to discuss with Ning about when it might be convenient for her to have another bad dream.

END

[rainintheevening]

He reforged her knives.

HE REFORGED HER KNIVES

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[rainintheevening]

He reforged her knives, after they got damaged in a battle she fought in to protect him, AFTER she turned his re-proposal down, after sparring with her and telling her the quiet days with her were the happiest of his life. HE REFORGED HER KNIVES, her butcher knives from her father, the most valuable thing she has, into war blades, blades for protection, blades that will require wisdom to wield, because she has changed, she is more than she was before, and there's no going back, and she needs blades that will fit her now. The Marquis of Wu'an rolls up his sleeves, and spends the whole night reforging his wife's blades, and in the light of the dawn, the first blood they draw is his own because he wants to believe the old legend can keep her safe.

Seriously, this guy.

[fierce-little-miana]

Speaking of Pursuit of jade, I don’t think we give the show enough credit for Xie Zheng’s change of plan concerning Fan Changyu. Like he starts the shows with probably this idea:

“I might develop a huge crush on her, but this situation is temporary. As a result I should do my best to help her and her family in the ways I can while not compromising her and myself. Because, again, this is temporary!”

To, when he leaves her to re become the Marquis of Wu’an:

“So okay, I will leave her for ONE year! One year should be enough to accomplish my vengeance, get to the bottom of what happened to my father, understand what happened to her family, to deal with Prince Changxin and the Sui brothers situation and pacify the country. And then I will come back to her and tell her everything because then the world will be safe and it’s happy ever after from then on baby!”

[yourpillowtalksucks]

Zheng’s causal throwing of small objects at people from discreet places whenever the other villagers try to hurt or make fun of Changyu will never not be funny to me 😭😭😭

[rainintheevening]

He reforged her knives.

HE REFORGED HER KNIVES

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[rainintheevening]

The parallel of Gongsun Yin staying up late to fix the princess's shoes, and Xie Zheng staying up to reforge his pig butcher/soldier wife's knives is SO PERFECT.

[beardedmrbean]

Wonder how they feel about a hush falling over the crowd

[siena-sevenwits]

“This is why the Enemy wants you to think you have no song to write, no story to tell, no painting to paint. He wants to quiet you. So sing. Let the Word by which the Creator made you fill your imagination, guide your pen, lead you from note to note until a melody is strung together like a glimmering constellation in the clear sky. Love the Lord your God, and love your neighbor, too, by making worlds and works of beauty that blanket the earth like flowers. Let your homesickness keep you always from spiritual slumber. Remember that it is in the fellowship of saints, of friends and family, that your gift will grow best, and will find its best expression. And until the Kingdom comes in its fullness, bend your will to the joyful, tearful telling of its coming. Write about that. Write about that, and never stop.” ― Andrew Peterson, Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making