heated rivalry + original series soundtrack
AnasAbdin
Mike Driver
Cosimo Galluzzi

⁂

blake kathryn

JVL

Discoholic 🪩

祝日 / Permanent Vacation

Kaledo Art
todays bird

No title available
Three Goblin Art
No title available
RMH

PR's Tumblrdome
Keni
Not today Justin

Origami Around
dirt enthusiast
"I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas"
seen from United States

seen from Chile

seen from Saudi Arabia
seen from United States
seen from Kazakhstan
seen from United States
seen from Netherlands
seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States

seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States

seen from United States
seen from United States

seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
@recklessandlimitless
heated rivalry + original series soundtrack
2025 replay requests → @snoopyseason asked: heated rivalry
#94 - aim to please by shallow alcove "you'd be surprised how long you can do something you don't like. i've lost years off of my life. deathly polite, couldn't make a choice to save my night. i think i'll just stay inside."
ok we're doing it, heated rivalry fic recs for @starstrung (+ some bonus rpf)
ep2 pre-relationship(?)
three-headed dog howling at the moon by accidentalsupernova (M | Ilya-centric | 2831)
It's Boston's hottest summer in nearly a century. At the end of his rookie season, Ilya Rozanov finally settles into his new city and tries not to think about Shane Hollander. One of these things is easier than the other.
Taking a Walk in the Woods After Having Taken a Walk with You by lark_ral (M | Ilya-centric | 1779)
Ilya has, in fact, been reading The New Yorker. It's not all think pieces and literature. There's also poetry.
ep4 fuck montage
Brighton Beach by citrusses & iota (M | Shane/Ilya | 5125)
The text arrives a second later. Being stuck in the airport is almost as boring as you
Another text from Lily: Send me a picture. I’m sooooo bored.
Shane lifts his phone and snaps a photo of the screen above the airline kiosk instead. JFK -> PHX - CANCELED. He hits send.
The phone rings immediately. “You are at JFK,” Rozanov says. Not a question.
Seven Hours by Car by technicallyverycowboy (E | Shane/Ilya | 3189)
Really, he reasons with himself, the chances that Shane will answer are very small. And when he sees the missed call, he will probably assume that it was an accidental call and forget about it. In six weeks Boston will be in Montreal and Ilya will go to Shane's weird building with the murder alley and fuck Shane until neither of them can remember their names.
"Rozanov? Why are you calling me? What's wrong?"
Ilya realizes the holidays are so boring if you're spending them alone.
post-club scene
call me back someday by hockeyfinches (T | Shane/Ilya | 3003)
“Why did you even come here?”
“I came to get laid,” Ilya says honestly. “But my friend is not well, so.”
Shane jerks his head towards the door.
“Still time,” he mutters.
“My friend is not well,” Ilya repeats.
ep5 fallout
please leave a message by Ravenesta (T | Ilya + MTL WAGs | 2407)
Sarah
Does anyone have the number for Shane's girl from Boston? I feel bad that they've been seeing each other for this long and we've never added her here.
Jackie
Oh good point! Let me ask Hayden.
Jackie has added Lily to the conversation
Lily
what
what is this
//
Or: Ilya Rozanov is, apparently, one of the girls.
the second of two by Pettecal72 (E | Shane/Ilya | 5373)
Are you sure? Hollander’s message says, and Ilya sets his phone down. It’s an unnecessary question. He’s already sent over the details. He’ll arrive at the cottage tomorrow. He’ll work out first thing in the morning and then drive over. It won’t be a long drive. He’s plotted out the route. The weather will be nice. Summer is fast approaching.
He still hasn’t canceled his ticket back to Moscow, despite what he’s told Svetlana.
###
Ilya arrives at the cottage. He wants, but wanting doesn’t come easily.
ambiguous timeline
Dolled Up by mcshrug (E | Shane/Ilya | 5312)
Dressing up for Ilya takes Shane about a mile out of his comfort zone. Good thing he’s not a chicken.
Throwing Down by redwinterbloom (E | Shane/Ilya | 3885)
Hockey is a violent game. Shane and Ilya work it out on the ice.
or, Regarding the homoeroticism of legal fighting in North American hockey.
wips i'm keeping an eye on
frequently, secretly fond of each other by milominderbinder (E | Shane/Ilya | 31k in 6/? ch)
Rozanov says, “You are one who always wants to race me. ‘Oh, Rozanov, see who can shoot more pucks, see who can do fastest lap, see who can lift more weights’. You love it.”
“Don't be an asshole. We’re playing on the same line now – we should be focusing on our teamwork.”
“Mm, yes.” In the gap between speaking, the only sound in the car is the rustle of their coats, heavy breaths, the distant noises of nighttime traffic outside. “I do not mind working together with you.”
His voice is low, almost sleepy. Drunk, obviously, though he doesn’t seem too out of it. Shane swallows, finding something thick and obstructive feeling in his throat.
//
In the 2009 draft, Ilya Rozanov goes first, and Shane Hollander mysteriously drops out at the last minute. A year later, Hollander's back, and to everyone's surprise, he's drafted by the Boston Raiders — to play on the same team as his biggest rival. But being teammates doesn't necessarily mean that anything is easier.
Parcel Post by jtimu (E | Shane/Ilya | 4779 in 2/3 ch)
He spots the note, finally. It was half-hidden under the packing peanuts. So you do not wake the hotel next time.
“Fucking asshole,” Shane says into the quiet. His heart is pounding. There’s no one there to see, but he feels raw and exposed. He’s standing in his kitchen holding a fucking ball gag that Ilya Rozanov sent him. A ball gag in Boston Raiders colors: red and gold and black.
--
Ilya sends Shane sex toys.
------------------
i have also been consuming incredible amounts of press tour content where hudson williams is the greatest menace in the world, so in that spirit:
Carterhaugh, Ontario by Charlotte_Stant (E | Hudson/Connor | 1953)
Connor resumed petting Hudson’s hair, fingers sliding around the curve of his ear. “Does this approach usually work for you?”
Hudson considered feigning modesty, for about a thousandth of a second. “I mean…” he said. “Honestly, most approaches usually work for me.”
yours behind you by ribena (E | Hudson/Connor | 2631)
“I don’t understand how you do it,” says Connor.
Hudson glances up from where he’s kneeling over his open suitcase on Connor’s floor. “Do what, babe?”
Connor gestures vaguely. “You know, all of that.” Pauses, a bit. Adds, thoughtfully: “Babe.”
+ ok this one is indefensible
"Ya Blew It!" with Jay and Dan by falsescience (E | Hudson/Jacob Tierney, implied Hudson/Connor | 3425)
“Ooh, are we talking about Jacob’s control issues?” Connor popped up suddenly at Jacob’s shoulder.
Hudson appeared at Jacob’s other shoulder. “It’s your most Shane-like quality.” They were like needy little kittens, the way they ran off to play but always came back mewing for affection.
Jacob rolled his eyes. “At least I have a Shane-like quality. That makes one of us.” He gave Hudson’s neck a slow squeeze, enjoying how the muscles shifted under his hand; how Hudson dropped his head a fraction, to let him do it; and how Connor looked at them while Jacob did it, chin tipped up, his eyes alight.
hollanov fic recs
some heated rivalry fics i like a lot. my notes under each title, not the official summaries
Little More Close by maplesalad @maple-salad | 2k, E a little consensual non-consent for our guy shane, as a treat Taking a Walk in the Woods After Having Taken a Walk in the Woods with You by lark_ral @larkral | 2k, E ilya gets his shit rocked by the new yorker poetry section Cunk on Hockey by qkind | 2k, E national treasure philomena cunk interviews shane and ilya #noticing by YankingAwry @theburialofstrawberries | 3k, E svetty realises what’s up. gorgeous outsider pov Adjustments by sheepknitssweater | 3k, E soft dick ilya actually very emotionally important to me call me back someday by hockeyfinches | 3k, E club scene remix feat. EVEN MORE FEELINGS. ilya voice unmatched u might want to get tested by toomuchplor | 5k, E ilya and his fuckboi ways and a surprisingly romantic chlamydia scare Brighton Beach by citrusses, iota @citrusses @sorrybutblog | 5k, E mid-situationship, they visit anora-land Penalties by citrusses | 5k, E ilya is married to someone else. beautifully grimy Vishnya by Kate Andrews (k8andrewz) | 10k, E ilya smokes cigarettes and calls shane’s asshole a pussy and makes him wear panties clear to a hedgehog by magneticwave | 12k, E AU: hockey player ilya, doctor shane. great ilya pov
there's no pretending by moonsock
The Centaurs Have a PR Problem (and It’s Married) by Justaromanticfool
a farmers market adventure by ingberry
how your garden grows by moonsock
shane hollander vs. the world by galehautstomb
New Guy Vibe Check by Oakenbee
call it what you want by moonsock
Vibes Are Not Data by GlitterCity
Welcome Home, Stanley by jsMika2
but when the sun came up by moonsock
lines of lightning by moonsock
Twitter and Trades by goodlvckbabe
Twitter and Friendship by goodlvckbabe
Twitter and Outing by goodlvckbabe
Twitter and Coming Out by goodlvckbabe
Twitter and Trades (Again) by goodlvckbabe
Soulmates (or Shane and Ilya winning the Love Game) by Justaromanticfool
and i spit out the seeds by linearity
The Andrei Rozanov Files by nineteenohtwo
How Rose Found Out by jsMika2
That's My Stick by jsMika2
Down Bad by jsMika2
Never Have I Ever by jsMika2
Ilya's Hot Girl Summer by jsMika2
Kind Of A Dick by jsMika2
A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Chirps by Oakenbee
OTTAWA CENTAURS CALL OUT THEIR TEAMMATES FOR FUN by goodlvckbabe
The Newlywed Games by broccolicheddarchicken
Best Seats in the House by yammz
us, intertwined by ingberry
[part 1 | part 2]
"Shane loved Ilya so much it physically hurt to contain it some days."
my body is a machine built to destroy chickpeas
can of chickpeas containing my beauty & pentyful wives the chickpeas
pan-fried chickpeas maybe the best of them all
Writing with Color: Description Guide - Words for Skin Tone
We discussed the issues describing People of Color by means of food in Part I of this guide, which brought rise to even more questions, mostly along the lines of “So, if food’s not an option, what can I use?” Well, I was just getting to that!
This final portion focuses on describing skin tone, with photo and passage examples provided throughout. I hope to cover everything from the use of straight-forward description to the more creatively-inclined, keeping in mind the questions we’ve received on this topic.
So let’s get to it.
S T A N D A R D D E S C R I P T I O N
B a s i c C o l o r s
Pictured above: Black, Brown, Beige, White, Pink.
“She had brown skin.”
This is a perfectly fine description that, while not providing the most detail, works well and will never become cliché.
Describing characters’ skin as simply brown or beige works on its own, though it’s not particularly telling just from the range in brown alone.
C o m p l e x C o l o r s
These are more rarely used words that actually “mean” their color. Some of these have multiple meanings, so you’ll want to look into those to determine what other associations a word might have.
Pictured above: Umber, Sepia, Ochre, Russet, Terra-cotta, Gold, Tawny, Taupe, Khaki, Fawn.
Complex colors work well alone, though often pair well with a basic color in regards to narrowing down shade/tone.
For example: Golden brown, russet brown, tawny beige…
As some of these are on the “rare” side, sliding in a definition of the word within the sentence itself may help readers who are unfamiliar with the term visualize the color without seeking a dictionary.
“He was tall and slim, his skin a russet, reddish-brown.”
Comparisons to familiar colors or visuals are also helpful:
“His skin was an ochre color, much like the mellow-brown light that bathed the forest.”
M o d i f i e r s
Modifiers, often adjectives, make partial changes to a word.The following words are descriptors in reference to skin tone.
D a r k - D e e p - R i c h - C o o l
W a r m - M e d i u m - T a n
F a i r - L i g h t - P a l e
Rich Black, Dark brown, Warm beige, Pale pink…
If you’re looking to get more specific than “brown,” modifiers narrow down shade further.
Keep in mind that these modifiers are not exactly colors.
As an already brown-skinned person, I get tan from a lot of sun and resultingly become a darker, deeper brown. I turn a pale, more yellow-brown in the winter.
While best used in combination with a color, I suppose words like “tan” “fair” and “light” do work alone; just note that tan is less likely to be taken for “naturally tan” and much more likely a tanned White person.
Calling someone “dark” as description on its own is offensive to some and also ambiguous. (See: Describing Skin as Dark)
U n d e r t o n e s
Undertones are the colors beneath the skin, seeing as skin isn’t just one even color but has more subdued tones within the dominating palette.
Mentioning the undertones within a character’s skin is an even more precise way to denote skin tone.
As shown, there’s a difference between say, brown skin with warm orange-red undertones (Kelly Rowland) and brown skin with cool, jewel undertones (Rutina Wesley).
“A dazzling smile revealed the bronze glow at her cheeks.”
“He always looked as if he’d ran a mile, a constant tinge of pink under his tawny skin.”
Standard Description Passage
“Farah’s skin, always fawn, had burned and freckled under the summer’s sun. Even at the cusp of autumn, an uneven tan clung to her skin like burrs. So unlike the smooth, red-brown ochre of her mother, which the sun had richened to a blessing.”
-From my story “Where Summer Ends” featured in Strange Little Girls
Here the state of skin also gives insight on character.
Note my use of “fawn” in regards to multiple meaning and association. While fawn is a color, it’s also a small, timid deer, which describes this very traumatized character of mine perfectly.
Though I use standard descriptions of skin tone more in my writing, at the same time I’m no stranger to creative descriptions, and do enjoy the occasional artsy detail of a character.
C R E A T I V E D E S C R I P T I O N
Whether compared to night-cast rivers or day’s first light…I actually enjoy seeing Characters of Colors dressed in artful detail.
I’ve read loads of descriptions in my day of white characters and their “smooth rose-tinged ivory skin”, while the PoC, if there, are reduced to something from a candy bowl or a Starbucks drink, so to actually read of PoC described in lavish detail can be somewhat of a treat.
Still, be mindful when you get creative with your character descriptions. Too many frills can become purple-prose-like, so do what feels right for your writing when and where. Not every character or scene warrants a creative description, either. Especially if they’re not even a secondary character.
Using a combination of color descriptions from standard to creative is probably a better method than straight creative. But again, do what’s good for your tale.
N A T U R AL S E T T I N G S - S K Y
Pictured above: Harvest Moon -Twilight, Fall/Autumn Leaves, Clay, Desert/Sahara, Sunlight - Sunrise - Sunset - Afterglow - Dawn- Day- Daybreak, Field - Prairie - Wheat, Mountain/Cliff, Beach/Sand/Straw/Hay.
Now before you run off to compare your heroine’s skin to the harvest moon or a cliff side, think about the associations to your words.
When I think cliff, I think of jagged, perilous, rough. I hear sand and picture grainy, yet smooth. Calm. mellow.
So consider your character and what you see fit to compare them to.
Also consider whose perspective you’re describing them from. Someone describing a person they revere or admire may have a more pleasant, loftier description than someone who can’t stand the person.
“Her face was like the fire-gold glow of dawn, lifting my gaze, drawing me in.”
“She had a sandy complexion, smooth and tawny.”
Even creative descriptions tend to draw help from your standard words.
F L O W E R S
Pictured above: Calla lilies, Western Coneflower, Hazel Fay, Hibiscus, Freesia, Rose
It was a bit difficult to find flowers to my liking that didn’t have a 20 character name or wasn’t called something like “chocolate silk” so these are the finalists.
You’ll definitely want to avoid purple-prose here.
Also be aware of flowers that most might’ve never heard of. Roses are easy, as most know the look and coloring(s) of this plant. But Western coneflowers? Calla lilies? Maybe not so much.
“He entered the cottage in a huff, cheeks a blushing brown like the flowers Nana planted right under my window. Hazel Fay she called them, was it?”
A S S O R T E D P L A N T S & N A T U R E
Pictured above: Cattails, Seashell, Driftwood, Pinecone, Acorn, Amber
These ones are kinda odd. Perhaps because I’ve never seen these in comparison to skin tone, With the exception of amber.
At least they’re common enough that most may have an idea what you’re talking about at the mention of “pinecone.“
I suggest reading out your sentences aloud to get a better feel of how it’ll sounds.
"Auburn hair swept past pointed ears, set around a face like an acorn both in shape and shade.”
I pictured some tree-dwelling being or person from a fantasy world in this example, which makes the comparison more appropriate.
I don’t suggest using a comparison just “cuz you can” but actually being thoughtful about what you’re comparing your character to and how it applies to your character and/or setting.
W O O D
Pictured above: Mahogany, Walnut, Chestnut, Golden Oak, Ash
Wood can be an iffy description for skin tone. Not only due to several of them having “foody” terminology within their names, but again, associations.
Some people would prefer not to compare/be compared to wood at all, so get opinions, try it aloud, and make sure it’s appropriate to the character if you do use it.
“The old warlock’s skin was a deep shade of mahogany, his stare serious and firm as it held mine.”
M E T A L S
Pictured above: Platinum, Copper, Brass, Gold, Bronze
Copper skin, brass-colored skin, golden skin…
I’ve even heard variations of these used before by comparison to an object of the same properties/coloring, such as penny for copper.
These also work well with modifiers.
“The dress of fine white silks popped against the deep bronze of her skin.”
G E M S T O N E S - M I N E R A LS
Pictured above: Onyx, Obsidian, Sard, Topaz, Carnelian, Smoky Quartz, Rutile, Pyrite, Citrine, Gypsum
These are trickier to use. As with some complex colors, the writer will have to get us to understand what most of these look like.
If you use these, or any more rare description, consider if it actually “fits” the book or scene.
Even if you’re able to get us to picture what “rutile” looks like, why are you using this description as opposed to something else? Have that answer for yourself.
“His skin reminded her of the topaz ring her father wore at his finger, a gleaming stone of brown, mellow facades.”
P H Y S I C A L D E S C R I P T I ON
Physical character description can be more than skin tone.
Show us hair, eyes, noses, mouth, hands…body posture, body shape, skin texture… though not necessarily all of those nor at once.
Describing features also helps indicate race, especially if your character has some traits common within the race they are, such as afro hair to a Black character.
How comprehensive you decide to get is up to you. I wouldn’t overdo it and get specific to every mole and birthmark. Noting defining characteristics is good, though, like slightly spaced front teeth, curls that stay flopping in their face, hands freckled with sunspots…
G E N E R A L T I P S
Indicate Race Early: I suggest indicators of race be made at the earliest convenience within the writing, with more hints threaded throughout here and there.
Get Creative On Your Own: Obviously, I couldn’t cover every proper color or comparison in which has been “approved” to use for your characters’ skin color, so it’s up to you to use discretion when seeking other ways and shades to describe skin tone.
Skin Color May Not Be Enough: Describing skin tone isn’t always enough to indicate someone’s ethnicity. As timeless cases with readers equating brown to “dark white” or something, more indicators of race may be needed.
Describe White characters and PoC Alike: You should describe the race and/or skin tone of your white characters just as you do your Characters of Color. If you don’t, you risk implying that White is the default human being and PoC are the “Other”).
PSA: Don’t use “Colored.” Based on some asks we’ve received using this word, I’d like to say that unless you or your character is a racist grandmama from the 1960s, do not call People of Color “colored” please.
Not Sure Where to Start? You really can’t go wrong using basic colors for your skin descriptions. It’s actually what many people prefer and works best for most writing. Personally, I tend to describe my characters using a combo of basic colors + modifiers, with mentions of undertones at times. I do like to veer into more creative descriptions on occasion.
Want some alternatives to “skin” or “skin color”? Try: Appearance, blend, blush, cast, coloring, complexion, flush, glow, hue, overtone, palette, pigmentation, rinse, shade, sheen, spectrum, tinge, tint, tone, undertone, value, wash.
Skin Tone Resources
List of Color Names
The Color Thesaurus
Things that are Brown (blog)
Skin Undertone & Color Matching
Tips and Words on Describing Skin
Photos: Undertones Described (Modifiers included)
Online Thesaurus (try colors, such as “red” & “brown”)
Don’t Call me Pastries: Creative Skin Tones w/ pics 3 2 1
Writing & Description Guides
WWC Featured Description Posts
WWC Guide: Words to Describe Hair
Writing with Color: Description & Skin Color Tags
7 Offensive Mistakes Well-intentioned Writers Make
I tried to be as comprehensive as possible with this guide, but if you have a question regarding describing skin color that hasn’t been answered within part I or II of this guide, or have more questions after reading this post, feel free to ask!
~ Mod Colette
Fanfic Bookbinding Tools & Materials for Beginners
This is obviously meant for fanfiction bookbinding, and other amateur, non-archival projects. I don’t bookbind for a living, and I’ve only been doing this since March 2020.
Here are the tools I started with, along with alternatives for maximum affordability.
DIY book press (tutorial by sea lemon)
Mine costs about $15 and consists of two cutting boards (18″x11″) from IKEA, and washers, wingnuts, carriage bolts, and bumpers from Home Depot. I was lucky that my stepdad has woodworking tools in his garage so he helped me put my press together. If you don’t have these resources, you can try other options such as two boards and c-clamps.
Printer capable of double-sided printing and has Auto Document Feeder (ADF)
I bought a Canon Pixma TR8520 inkjet printer just for bookbinding, but you can also use any printer, even laser (which I’m thinking of getting soon because it prints faster). UPDATE 5/24/20: I finally broke down and purchased the HP LaserJet Pro MFP M148dw; it’s black and white, so I’m keeping my Canon inkjet to print color inserts.
12x12″ cutting mat
Box cutter
I have two: a Husky 18 mm utility knife with snap-off blades for cutting the thick binder’s board and a smaller ANViL 9 mm snap-off utility knife for the papers. You can make do with just one, and I suggest the bigger knife.
Scissors
18-inch metal ruler with cork backing
12-inch aluminum drafting triangle
Metric ruler
Super handy for the minutest measurements
PVA glue
Foam brush
If you search for glue brush, you’ll probably find the round ones, but I personally prefer the foam brush because of its precise sharp edge, which contains the mess and is perfect for gluing on endpapers to the text block. If you don’t have a foam brush, you can use any brush, really. UPDATE 5/24/20: Or your fingers. I’ve been doing that a lot. Nothing gets glue into the crevices of the spine better than your finger.
Binder’s board
The 13″x19″ boards from Hollander’s are perfect because I can use one board to casebind two books. You can also use the thick cardboard that comes with most paper pads, chipboard, or Davey Board.
Book cloth
I stick with dark gray cloth for now, since it seems to go with any paper I use for case binding. Sea Lemon has a tutorial for making your own bookcloth if the ready-made ones are inaccessible or too expensive for you.
Decorative cardstock for case and endpapers
The Recollections brand has 12″x12″ paper pads with different themes and designs, but your craft store should have a selection of individual papers.
Awl
I like the kind with the big handle for easier handling. Other options: a pin or thumb tack.
8-inch bone folder
You can also use any other straight, sturdy tool like a short metal ruler or the side of a thick capped marker, as I’ve done most times.
mull/super/jaconet
I’ve read somewhere that you can use cheesecloth. You can also skip mull altogether, but it does lend durability so skip at your own risk and make sure your stitches are tight.
Headband
Yet another one you can skip because you can make your own according to this tutorial by Sea Lemon. I’ve never tried this before, but I plan to in the near future: you can make your own headbands, although it is a time-consuming process.
Linen tape
Depending on the type of binding or stitch you’re using, you can skip linen tapes.
Waxed thread
Get linen if you can.
Beeswax and regular ol’ sewing thread
If you can’t find waxed thread, you can make your own.
Curved needle
You can use the straight needle, but I find this easier to use for sewing signatures together.
BONUS: We R Memory Keepers Book Binding Guide
This kit includes a hole punching guide, a thin awl, curved and straight needles, a bit of waxed thread, and a case.
spoke deeply to me.
[tweet by tomi @ scrungeonmaster: “can't even knock on wood these days. that's why it's all going bad. "knock on laminated particle board". go fuck yourself. that's insane”]
My toxic trait is that I am far more interested in the socio-economic and geopolitical implications of ABO settings than the smut.
For example: I can't read any ABO AUs set in England or France because while I can suspend my disbelief far enough for a gender trinary set up, I can't suspend it enough to believe those two countries would still be distinct entities in a alternate history where Richard the Lionheart could have impregnated Philip II.
If there was a viable dynastic future with Richard, Philip would have climbed him like an oak and dragged him to the altar if he had to. It's a match that makes perfect sense from both their points of view: Philip gets Aquitaine back under French rule, the best general in Europe on his council, and a powerful check on the Angevins... then unexpectedly (after Henry the Young bites it) the entire Kingdom of England for his Capetian dynasty. Richard meanwhile gets to stick it to his father, secure Aquitaine's prosperity, and gets the leverage to start pushing for his mother's release. Then when Henry kicks the bucket Richard doesn't actually have to be King of England in anything but name: Philip can run the countries and unify the Crowns and what not while Richard runs off to go Crusading.
Plus they also like, loved each other and stuff and being able to get to be together long term instead of being torn apart by politics would have been cool. But I'm mainly obsessed with the historical and dynastic implications.
All this to say any ABO au set in England or France that doesn't have them united as a singular Anglo-Frank empire is doing it wrong.
i think it's really fun when a rly specific trope is super popular in one particular medium but in other ones it's just totally unheard of. it's the time knife. visual novel players are suuuuper used to death games but many others encountered them for the first time in squid games. the other day my mom showed me all excited the summary of a super original novel she found and it was about a girl who got reincarnated as the main character in her favorite fantasy book
what the fuck is a time knife
Your first isekai, especially if it's one that's well done and a little tongue-in-cheek, feels life changing. Revolutionarily new literature. And then you're like wait this is an actual entire genre in and of itself, with subgenres within itself that each have tropes and subversions and all. Of course, if your first isekai ever is SVSSS, you're fucked. Nothing afterwards will hit as hard or fuck as intensely with the genre, both in following or in subverting the assumptions that are built into the genre. MXTX really said 'what if we follow the implications to their logical but as yet unexplored conclusions and then keep going and going' and she did it so damn well.
My OPfanart pdf is live! You can find the link here
i would make an excellent goon. i’d be like ”on it boss” and then i’d fuck it up instantly.
Howdy newbies and welcome to Tumblr, it takes a bit of setup to get this site running well so here’s what works for me. One of the neat things about this site is that its a different experience for everyone, so tailor these settings towards what you want from this site.
New XKit
This is a phenomena known as crown shyness ☘️✨🍃
Two trees, chilling in a forest, five inches apart cus they’re not gay
THE FIRST AND THIRD ONE THO—EXCUSE ME— are you trying to say his laugh is a nervous tick from his ptsd??? The ptsd which he thinks is worse than everyone else’s who’s ever lived ever specifically BECAUSE it’s his own pain??? ( and I dunno about the whole SMILE thing that just seems like a thought from the translator )
And that Viola had a ‘love and hate’ relationship with him??? I knew they had a complex adult relationship too adult for the manga as Oda said but that was all he rlly said. I have some theories on that and yes they’re all not pretty yes
( this is from his vivre card btw )
Said theories below and optional for your convenience
When trying to look into their relationship myself, I immediately encounter the theory of rape. Which isn’t illogical, and I’m prolly the odd guy out here, but…that seems too easy and straightforward for someone like him??
From what I’ve seen of him around women, like lounging around the pool with a bunch of ladies in Dressrosa, they more seem like status objects to him. He’s not touching them or harassing them. One chick is leaning on him but he doesn’t have an arm around her and is far more engaged with his conversation on the phone than the girls around him. You’d think maybe because he thinks he’s too superior to touch or be touched, but he doesn’t mind the girl leaning on him?
So with Viola, her hate of him is totally understandable. The bastard usurped her family in a manner of blood and destruction and dragged her families name through the mud in the process. She joined his crew as an executive not only to spare her father, but most likely to be a future double agent or to keep a close eye on his activity. But at the same time, I feel like it was a very confusing time for her. Her own family is gone. And this man who she hates so so much, she watches his other executives and members of his family get along and uphold him and praise him as their precious Young Master. And the way he seems to treat them with consideration in return. It might’ve made her question her own convictions- is this guy really so bad? You’d think- of course!! How can she forget what he did to her family and country??? But I think living among that environment it was easy to let it slip her mind as it was extremely painful. And where she currently was didn’t have to be. Viola had a painful existence. But Violet didn’t have to in this present time.
And then there’s Doffy himself, the gaslight king. He originally wanted her in his crew because of her abilities. I think his taste among who he desires is, as he’s an aristocrat by birth, very selective. If you don’t meet his expectations he wants nothing to do with you, a quality he’s demonstrated with anyone who he lets into his crew. And if he began to want Viola, he’d not want it to be forced. Again too easy. Too beneath a god-like being like himself, a heathens act. And while he is definitely of the ‘might makes right’ belief, for this he’d be patient. As he can be very patient when he feels the pay off is sufficient. He’d do what he does best- pull the strings to get someone exactly how he wants them. He’d want her to submit willingly and with total devotion to his whims and desires. And it would be easy for him to take advantage of this woman who lost everything and is in a state of hopelessness. That’s what a merciful god does right? Give someone new purpose and hope?
So the love/hate thing I’m sure was present for her. Viola lying awake in the dead of night, remembering with a fierce burning hatred what this monster did to her and her country, and knowing he’s taken advantage of her. No man has ever been truly honest with her. But being Violet, a member of this strange family under this same monster who will also whisper molten sugar things to her that burn her to her core and touch her gently with hands that have sliced untold victims to ribbons with the twitch of a finger at the same time is a lie that’s much easier to her heart and mind. Nothing about it is healthy.