҉ | Sideblog | I just reblog fandom fixation stuff here, like an archive because I don’t want them burried in my likes ♡︎ also sorry for the mass reblogs of like 2 year old posts I have "special interests" :)) 20s MDNI 𓁹𓁹 idk why I’m censored I use queue
"shallan's humor makes me cringe" maybe...that's the point? it's not supposed to be funny, it's supposed to be a coping mechanism.
"shallan makes people treat her like a victim, even if they've been through worse" or, hear me out, that's the point. it's a survival instinct which arises from growing up in the unsafe Davar household. she is constantly making herself seem as physically nonthreatening as possible so people won't hurt her. In dangerous situations, she shrinks back into herself and grows quiet, or she overcompensates with a show of confidence she doesn't really have. Having this disregulation is a result of being forced to always sit down and shut her mouth as a kid...
Shallan is more selfish than kaladin. she has much less of a desire to help others, focusing on herself, and can be insensitive." erm actually her not knowing how to deal with other people's problems IS THE POINT. Kaladin is empathetic to a degree almost destructive to himself. she's a realistic mess, and has to fix herself first. and that is okay. she might hurt people who don't deserve it on her journey to healing, but that's just what happens. to a lot of characters.
"shallan acts like she's smart and always right and it's so annoying" yeah, okay. sanderson loves making his 'naturally gifted prodigy' characters (cough cough Vin) and readers are always a little jealous at how perfect re: unrealistic they are. It's a little annoying. But the intrigue isn't whether or not she's actually right, it's that she thinks it's all a facade, which causes a lot, and I mean a lot, of anxiety for her. She aspires to be as cool/collected/strong as jasnah...and of course shallan is faking it til she makes it...the best way to do that is to trick (delude) herself into thinking she's someone who is always right. Usually this is solved by just gaining a little confidence and seeing reality, but we all see how 'seeing reality' is a little hard for her...so it's an interesting struggle to witness.
"shallan only got interesting once her backstory/trauma was revealed. before, she was boring and spoiled" please... i saw it in way of kings...i clocked immediately how she avoids issues...clocked immediately how growing up in an unsafe home environment affected her...the humor to cope, the distractions from life, the dedication to science, the confusion of her faith and gender roles, the reversion to be seen as a child by the eyes of authority because that's how she feels safe, oscillation of her own capabilities leading to self-doubt, ravenous curiosity conflicting with the fear of venturing outside the safety of what she knows...it's all in way of kings. the fact that she was so traumatized, avoidant, and capable was not a surprise
"i hate shallan for x y z" huh! actually maybe she hates herself too for these things and that's what makes her interesting and flawed! now we get to see her grow!!
The main thing that clued me in was the way she approaches Jasnah when she first arrives in Karbaranth. Throughout her inner monologue while she's still on the ship, she's emphasized the fact that if she can't get a wardship with Jasnah, she and her brothers are going to end up sold into slavery at best or murdered by loan sharks at worst. These are the established stakes.
Then she meets Jasnah, politely asks to become her ward, and is politely told "no." Shallan politely accepts and resigns herself to returning home a failure. When Yalb suggests that she go back and ask again because, you know, this is important, Shallan seems terrified by the idea. She's literally got slavery and death on one hand and the possibility of Jasnah raising her voice at her on the other, and she's leaning towards the former.
This mindset is very familiar to me. When you have a Dad Who Yells, it gets engraved into your lizard-brain that the worst thing you can do is inconvenience an authority figure. I used to get cold sweats when I had to ask my boss a clarifying question, because she seemed busy and a tiny bit irritated that I was taking up more of her time. You get used to being incredibly sensitive to the moods of all the adults in the room, and you become equally sensitive to any sign that they might be annoyed with you (or annoyed in general, because they might take it out on you). When you're used to getting backed into a corner and screamed at by someone much, much larger and stronger than you because you breathed too loud or you asked a question they interpreted as "attitude" or they had a bad day at work and couldn't yell at their boss, even if you know they wouldn't actually hurt you there's something primal in your brain that reads it as a mortal threat.
Shallan being that terrified of going back and arguing with Jasnah (who had remained calm and cordial through all of their interactions) was the biggest clue for me. Another point would be just how long she stays with the Ghostbloods without going to Jasnah or Dalinar for help. It makes sense in Words of Radiance -- she believes Jasnah is dead, she doesn't know if she can trust the other Kholins, the world is about to end, and the Ghostbloods are her only lead to figuring out how to stop it. Of course she follows that thread as far as she can, risks be damned.
But once Jasnah's back in the picture? Once, even if Dalinar never fully warms up to her, she has Adolin and Navani firmly on her side?
Here's another thing about Dads Who Yell -- most of them operate under the assumption that any mistake you make is made maliciously, with no other motive than to spite them and mock their authority. As a child of a Dad Who Yells, you learn pretty quickly that admitting that you made a mistake and got into some kind of trouble doesn't do any good. They just blame you, pile on punishment, and make the whole ordeal even more painful than it needed to be. So you learn to let problems fester if you can't quickly and discretely solve them yourself. The idea that someone older and wiser might want to help you out of the hole you've been quietly digging for yourself never even crosses your mind.
Those are the two big ones. Aside from that, there's the general vibe of her walking on eggshells, effortlessly code-switching to keep the person she's talking to happy, being way too quick on her feet at lying to avoid admitting fault, and imprinting far too quickly on anyone who shows her so much as a scrap of positive attention (Kabsal, Jasnah, Mraize, Tyn, Kaladin after their heart-to-heart in the Chasm).
*looks sideways at my own behavioral patterns and childhood* okay. will unpack that later! anyways.
AHHH!!! It's so rewarding to have an explanation of what signs tipped me off of to her backstory. Really a beautiful, complex character.
What a response and an in-depth dive on the subject. You show so well how that environment changes you, your self-image, and your relationships in daily life. thank you so much for taking the time to write it out. it really hit hard to read this!
Looking back, Shallan is almost always confused, anxious, or wary when Jasnah expresses selfless comfort or aid. Like, "What's the catch? When does the anger come? Is it now? Is it now? Or now? Is it now?" It's easy to sweep that under as "she's surprised since Jasnah usually presents as an unemotional person" but when you think of it as "shallan is preparing herself for the inevitable irrational angry outbursts from any authority", something just clicks.
This Dad Who Yells environment really builds up this visceral reaction of the primal fear you mentioned. Usually not fight or flight in most daughters, but rather I think it's often 'freeze or please'. The feeling of suddenly being dropped into a danger you have absolutely no physical power against is like dunked in cold water. Except the adrenaline has nowhere to go. Pick fight and they can toss you like a rag doll. Pick flight and they can stop you. Resisting makes it worse. The only way to protect your self is mentally. Freeze and disassociate from the situation because literally all you can do is take whatever's coming, minimize whatever pain is about to be caused, and pray you're not badly hurt when it's over...like it's not exactly Kaladin's bridge run but it feels that way. That is what Shallan is preparing for. that's why her perspectives in WoK never really felt boring to me compared to Kaladins, because that frantic terror was still there. It was just irrational? but very real.
Thoughts to why she's a hopeless romantic at the start of the series. She's so unused to this kindness and positive attention that it's instantly seen as romantic. What must it be like to be valued, for once? What must it be like for someone to answer your question, rather than bully you into regretting that you opened your mouth? How much must they like you, to calmly respond to things like that instead of making you scared for asking it? It must be a lot. It probably feels pretty fucking euphoric.
To people who are mean to her and below her station, she's pretty cocky and can get angry/annoyed (like the bookseller). But the second Yalb and Kabsal give her any compliments or devotion she gets timid, blushing, and embarrassed at any misstep she's made in front of them. Even if deep down she knows it might backfire, she craves adoration so much that she'll throw herself headfirst...and jeez, she develops three minor crushes on people who do little more than have basic decency and interest in her (Yalb, Kabsal, Jasnah...) .
This is really getting off track, but if I wanted more of anything in the books, it's always been an expansion of Shallan & Navani's relationship as mother/daughter. The experience would help to heal them both so much. Navani has a similar experience of having her personality and confidence undermined by an abuser...one just wants a daughter who'll accept care, and the other craves care of an authority figure without malintention...augh! augh. aughhh <3
It's also why her with Adolin makes so much sense. Adolin is the golden retriever type...he's literally never going to hurt her intentionally. It takes so much work for him to prove that to her and for her to believe it, but he is willing to put the work in for her to trust him. She's still healing and we love her for it.
i'm probably wrong about some stuff. there's a lot that's disjointed and needs expanding, and please point it out if so...hey, i'm excited to talk about shallan (re: thinly project), and i'm here all night.
Wow, thanks for helping me put my finger on why the Oathbringer reunion felt so strange. Imo these books have a bit of a problem with glossing over the less bombastic emotional moments, but this one actually makes sense.
It felt very weird to me at the time that Shallan had been so devastated by Jasnah's "death" in WoR, and then as soon as she shows up again Shallan goes straight to sulking about being assigned homework. But you hit the nail on the head. Throughout WoR, Shallan was able to reinvent herself as someone who could at least pretend to be confident in herself. The very presence of someone who knew Shallan 1.0 creates this sense of cognitive dissonance while she's desperately trying to be Shallan 2.0. It's like that feeling when you come home for that first Thanksgiving during college and the realization that everyone there still treats you like a child hits you like a slap in the face.
Also you make a really good point about the sheer, crushing dread Shallan is operating under in WoK. On the first read it's easy to chalk it up to anxiety over the fact that she's there to, you know, steal the fantasy equivalent of nuclear launch codes from Jasnah. But in hindsight, you get the sense that she'd be just as jittery even if all she had to worry about was a traditional wardship. She really feels like a puppy that's been kicked too many times. That's another thing about the children of Dads Who Yell -- that constant feeling that you're doing something (never sure what) wrong and everyone is going to find out and start screaming at you can stick with you for a long, long time.
Regarding Navani, same. They deserve some bonding time. Shallan deserves a hug. Tbh whether it's Jasnah or Navani, Shallan needs a parental figure she can feel safe with. I've said it before, but I miss the dynamic she and Jasnah had in WoK. Those little moments of kindness from Jasnah were everything, made even more heartbreaking by the fact that Shallan always seems so confused by it.
("So, you stole my insanely powerful and irreplaceable magical artifact, almost outed my superpowers, and lied to me for months... Are you feeling better? Are you alright? Do you have bus fare to get home? No, I won't be pressing charges... But I'm not writing you a letter of recommendation for your next internship!")
(Jasnah may not be a nice person, but she is a kind person. I will die on this hill.)
Oops - I took out the passage with oathbringer to rewrite it, so here it is!
On the first read of Oathbringer, my expectation fell flat at the Shallan/Jasnah reunion. It was one of the few things I griped with about Shallan's characterizations. But you made me realize that it's not really Jasnah's fault; it's just that Shallan recognizes that being around the woman causes her to revert to that scared, timid child she used to be and Jasnah, with her insane ruthless soulcasting, was a little too close to a Dad Who Yelled. And when Jasnah doesn't give her a tear-stained reunion, Shallan is probably feeling again like she cared so much for someone who just didn't care about her. Shallan heals realistically. She starts really wanting to prove herself, and instead of acting like a scared child, starts acting like a petulant one. She even calls herself out on this reaction, but shoves it away so she doesn't face it (ahaha, we love you shallan). Not the most mature reaction, but a natural one. Probably because growing up, any petulance lead to punishment, so that she'd never before had an environment where she could experience and deal with petulance properly...what a teenage girl she is
"Do you have a bus fare home" made me laugh…yikes though, it always hits me hard when Shallan approaches kindness with concern, suspicion, and guilt.
I can only express this incoherently right now…the Shadolin dynamic..,but something I may try to properly formulate one day is the AUUDHSJFJ of
>be shallan
>people underestimated you your whole life
>you’ve found you can easily lie and make yourself unassuming
>create different identities and faces for every situation
>because you think you will eventually have enough faces and lies for every situation
>it works SO well. Better than being you.
>except guilt avoidance all the time
>inherently do this because you hate yourself and create fake people who are better yous
>get engaged to Adolin
>things aren’t working perfectly so you ask him which version of you he likes best so you can do that because you’re so accustomed to fixing things that way
>he says ‘I like shallan best. Real shallan’
>’aha’
>’now I just have to be real shallan and he will love me more’
>realize that you are creating personas to be your ‘true self’
>you dive into your identity crisis it for Adolin who gave you proper motivation to become and therefore accept your true self
>realize that you found someone who actually loves the self you hate
Rengoku would take your timidity as something precious. He’d adjust himself without dimming his warmth: speaking reassuringly, never mocking your shyness… He’d always make sure you’re comfortable before initiating affection or public displays.
He’d say things like: “Ah! You don’t like crowds? Then we shall dine somewhere peaceful! I will handle the noise.”
His optimism is protective, not overbearing. He respects your nature, and because he’s naturally confident, he becomes your anchor in social situations, helping you shine when you’re ready.
GIYUU
Giyuu would be the most at ease with a timid partner. Silence doesn’t scare him. He’s quiet himself, so your shy demeanor would feel natural to him. You two would share peaceful companionship: side-by-side reading, long walks, quiet meals.
He’d say things like: “You don’t have to talk. I like being here with you.”
He’s awkward, not pushy. Giyuu wouldn’t pressure you to open up, but his presence would make you feel safe enough to eventually do so. He’s patient, because he knows how it feels to struggle to speak.
SANEMI
At first, Sanemi might scare a timid partner. He’s loud, rough around the edges. But once he realizes you’re not avoiding him, just shy, he’d immediately soften. He’d tone down his volume (somewhat), speak more gently and become surprisingly protective.
He’d say things like: “If anyone gives you trouble, you tell me. Got it?” (while pretending he’s not blushing himself)
He’s been through hell; he knows vulnerability deserves protection, not ridicule. Your gentleness would melt him. Deep down, he’d find it grounding.
TENGEN
Tengen would find a timid partner fascinating. Instead of trying to change you, he’d treat your quiet nature as part of your elegance. He’d be very careful not to overwhelm you. His usual flashiness would soften into tenderness when you’re together.
He’d say things like: “When you whisper, I listen harder. It’s… quite enchanting.”
Beneath the flamboyance, Tengen is deeply attuned to emotion. He knows how to balance extravagance with reassurance. He’d protect your space while slowly helping you step into confidence, but never by force.
MITSURI
Mitsuri would be delighted by a timid partner. She finds shyness adorable rather than frustrating. She’d instinctively lower her voice, soften her energy and make sure you never feel overwhelmed. Expect warm smiles, gentle hand-holding, and endless encouragement.
She’d say things like: “You’re so cute when you blush! Oh no, I didn’t mean to embarrass you! Sorry, sorry!” While she giggles.
Mitsuri’s heart is huge; she thrives on emotional connection. She wants you to feel safe opening up, so she’d shower you with affection until your walls slowly fall. She’d never rush you, just nurture your confidence lovingly.
OBANAI
Obanai is reserved, so he’d instantly connect with a timid partner. Your quietness wouldn’t bother him, he finds it calming. His affection would be subtle: sharing food, walking close beside you, quietly checking if you’re okay in crowded spaces.
He’d say things like: “You don’t have to force words with me. Just stay close.”
He’s self-conscious about his own appearance and voice, so a gentle partner makes him feel accepted. Your timidity would draw out his protectiveness; he’d go to great lengths to make you feel secure.
MUICHIRO
Muichiro, especially post-memory-recovery, would be captivated by your timidity. He’d mirror your calm energy, offering simple gestures like holding your hand, leaning close as comfort. He’d listen carefully when you speak.
He’d say things like: “I like your voice. Even when it’s quiet.”
He knows what it’s like to feel disconnected or small. Your gentleness resonates with him. He’d never pressure you to change; he’d just make sure you feel seen and valued exactly as you are.
SHINOBU
Shinobu would tease, but never cruelly. She’d use humor to draw you out, keeping things light so you never feel cornered. She’d initiate touch slowly, brushing your hand or adjusting your hair, to gauge your comfort level.
She’d say things like: “It’s alright. Take your time. I’ll wait for you to speak, darling.”
Shinobu understands emotional fragility, she carries her own pain beneath her smile. She’d respect your pace, cherishing every small step you take toward openness.
GYOMEI
Gyomei would treat a timid partner with the utmost respect. He’d speak softly, always mindful of how his size and voice might intimidate you. He’d offer comfort through prayer, gentle touches, and reassurance.
He’d say things like: “Do not rush your heart. It will bloom when it is ready.”
Gyomei sees beauty in vulnerability. To him, timidity is not weakness: it’s sensitivity, and that sensitivity deserves reverence. He’d be endlessly patient, providing safety and grounding.
Hi hi! How are you doing? :3 may i please request the Hashiras reactions to an s/o who fell asleep at their door while awaiting for them to come home from a mission?
HASHIRAS WITH AN S/O WHO FELL ASLEEP AT THEIR DOOR!
warnings: not proofread, mentions of injuries and death, but fluff all around!
notes: hi! im doing great, how are you? im so sorry for such a late response! im finally back in the writing mood, so sorry about that! hope you enjoy!
i thought of most of these being during bad weather, such as snowing or raining—but can be read either way.
REQUEST BOX : OPEN! (⸝⸝> ᴗ •⸝⸝)
TOMIOKA, GIYUU
would be so concerned, especially if it’s raining or snowing.
would light a nice fire for you and cover you in so many blankets
as soon as you wake up, he’s kissing and hugging you.
of course he’ll shortly lecture you for being so reckless and that you could’ve caught a cold
however, when you explain you were waiting for him, he’s taken aback.
he’s never had someone who cared for him like this before, he can’t help but smile.
“you would really wait outside in the cold for me? you don’t know how much that means to me, dewdrop.”

SHINAZUGAWA, SANEMI
as soon as he sees you on his doorstep, he’s panicking
running over to shake you awake as he calls your name
as soon as you wake up, he’s hugging you, holding you as close as possible
however, it’s not long before he scolds you for being an idiot
“are you a fool? you could’ve gotten hurt, sick, or worse!”
secretly, he admires you for waiting for him.
“im just—im glad you’re okay baby. c’mere.”
you cuddle as he talks about his mission and how much he missed you..eventually falling asleep together.
RENGOKU, KYŌJURŌ
carries you inside, he doesn’t want to wake up his precious sunflower!
checks for any injuries, preparing your favorites for when you wake up
when you do, he’s bringing over your favorites to coffee table near side the couch he placed you
“sunflower? my love, are you awake?”
he whispers, incase you were still fast asleep
when you lock eyes, he embraces you so tightly—your scent reminding him of home
“i made your favorites, whenever you’re ready to eat.”
he talks about how you fell asleep at his doorstep, blushing when you explain how you were waiting for him.
“my love i—im very flattered! but please, don’t risk yourself waiting for me!”
you eat as he talks about all the goodies he brought back for you from his mission!
eventually, you fall asleep as he massages and strokes your hair.
IGURO, OBANAI
when he’s still a while away from you and spots your unconscious body, he starts running as fast as he can
he would think someone killed you or knocked you out and brought your body to him as a “gift”
when you hear him yelling out your name, he’s relieved to see you awake, his tears swelling up.
he embraces you, carrying you inside as he covers you in his haori.
“oh my god. love, are you awake? you scared me so fucking bad, you know that?”
“i thought…i thought for a second—god, that i had lost you.”
you make up for it by spooning him to sleep
however.. you don’t know that he was actually waiting for you to fall asleep first from the recent event.
needs you as close as possible for the next MONTH after
TOKITO, MUICHIRO
would tap you softy, happy to see you as his welcomer on his doorstep.
“dove, are you going to wake up anytime soon? i’ve missed you so much!”
as soon as your eyes are open, he’s smiling with a chuckle.
“yay! you’re awake!”
you guys go inside to sit at a table, he talks about his mission with you as you guys make paper airplanes.
“i missed you so much, ginko was practically fuming from how much i would talk about you with her!”
he shows you the flowers he had planned to bring you, which had already started wilting, much to his dismay
“im sorry love, i guess they couldn’t last as long as i expected.”
however, ginko comes to sit on his shoulder, holding a flower that she help keep from wilting.
with a jealous glare towards you, she drops the flower from her beak and onto the table where muichiro was making his paper airplane.
he puts it in your hair with a smile, happy that atleast there was one he could bring back for you.
UZUI, TENGEN, INCLUDING MAKIO, SUMA, AND HINATSURU
the wives quickly help carry you inside after finding you on the doorstep
“are you sure they’re alright, hina? they seem to have been outside for a while.”
“i promise makio, it’ll be fine. they’re just asleep. everything’s seems to be working fine. the worst is they might’ve come down with a cold.”
“i should make them some soup then! they deserve to wake up to atleast something after such a fuss!” suma peeps, beginning to heat up a large pot.
when tengen arrives, he sees you asleep in the care of his wives.
when you wake up, they all give you pepper your face with kisses.
“dinners ready!” suma brings over a bowl of soup for you, offering to help feed you if needed.
you all fall asleep to the sound of the rain, feeling the warmth in each others embraces that promise sweet dreams.
KANROJI, MITSURI
would immediately grab a blanket for you, she doesn’t want her love to be any colder than they already are!
would wait for you to wake up, spooning you in your arms for the time being.
“mochi, are you awake? ahhh! there is that beautiful face ive missed!”
she gives you a peck on your forehead, pulling you even closer.
“i hope you aren’t too cold! or hot? are you hot? if you are i can totally get rid of the blanket or-or maybe get more if you’re cold?”
she just wants you to be as comfortable as you possibly can be!
she brings back desserts for you to share with each other, cuddling each other to sleep
KOCHO, SHINOBU
aoi would drag you inside before you can even start dozing off
prepares a nice meal, talking to her about why you’d come to the butterfly mansion
when shinobu arrives, she immediately hugs you
“i was looking all over for you, my butterfly. how are you? i have so much to tell you about!”
you help her with her research as she talks about all the demons she had to face, and how they responded to the new poisons she was using.
you fall asleep in her arms as she continues her studies, refusing to let go of your warmth when aoi asks to bring you to a spare bed.
HIMEJIMA, GYOMEI
because of his blindness, he nearly trips over you when walking on his doorstep
he tends to not feel the need to use his other senses when he’s near his estate, so it caught him off guard
“my love….is that you? my apologies for almost stepping on you.”
he’ll hold your hand as you both walk inside.
as soon as you two are inside, he holds you close
he’s tearing up from finally being able to see you again, missing his love much
while sharing his favorite meal, takikomi gohan, he talks about the mission—but ever so briefly.
he’s more concerned about what you had done in his absence, he wants to know what new activities you tried, the food you ate, everything!
he’ll cry if you tell him you care about him talking about his missions and experiences
“im sorry my love, i dont want to bore you—“
when you give him permission, he starts talking about all the innocent civilians he was able to save, as well as how much his comrades have improved
you two end the night in his arms, which you’ve forgotten how much you’ve missed!
likes and reblogs greatly appreciated!
(ALSO SORRY ABOUT THE RANDOM BORDER DURING TENGENS I CANT DELETE IT )
Sighhh, just Kyojuro falling asleep on you and waking up all confused ❤︎
Kyojuro awakens to fingers in his hair, cheek squished cutely against your soft tummy. He fades in and out of consciousness, blissed out by the gentle raking of your fingers over his scalp. Your affectionate scratching almost lulls him right back to sleep. He blinks his eyes rapidly to prevent himself from doing so, lifting his head from your belly to peer up at you.
You can’t help but grin at his confused expression, still half-asleep and processing his surroundings. You even get a peek of dried drool on his cheek.
“Welcome back to the land of the living, my love,” you giggle softly, heart skipping when his face brightens at the sight of you.
“How long was I asleep?” the flaxen-haired man hums questioningly before his lips part widely with a yawn.
“Hour or two. I wasn’t really counting,” you replied, fingers slipping from his bicolored hair as he sits upright to stretch. He tucks his legs underneath himself as he does so, wavering slightly in his sleepy state.
“My apologies, it wasn’t my intention to doze off on you like that-” he starts but you’re quick to silence him with a finger over his lips.
“It’s cute. I liked it,” you assured him. “you can sleep some more if you’d like. I’ll watch over you.”
His eyes soften and his lips pull into a sheepish grin beneath your fingertip.
“Thank you, but no, I think I’ve slept through enough of our date!” Kyojuro laughs heartily, taking a hold of your wrist and folding your index finger down so he can kiss your knuckles. “Now let’s spend more time together!”
You gasp as you’re abruptly pulled to your feet and only giggle as you’re tugged along, nearly tripping over yourself as you’re led from the tree you’d been resting underneath.
“You did all this just to prove a point,” Shallan said softly. “You did this to prove to me that you could. Damnation, Jasnah, how could you do something like that?”
Jasnah didn’t reply. Shallan stared at the woman, searching for emotion in those expressionless eyes. Stormfather. Did I ever really know this woman? Who is she, really?
Jasnah leaned back, watching the city pass. “I did not do this just to prove a point, child. I have been feeling for some time that I took advantage of His Majesty’s hospitality. He doesn’t realize how much trouble he could face for allying himself with me. Besides, men like those…” There was something in her voice, an edge Shallan had never heard before.
What was done to you? Shallan wondered with horror. And who did it?
still haunted by this passage from the way of kings where shallan "killed her own parents" davar is horrified not just by what jasnah did, but the emotion behind it. we know something happened to her from oathbringer - is it related to this?
every time jasnah looked at her. can you imagine the COPE required for 'i bet every good vorin woman would think about Jasnah's cutting gaze this much'
All I can think about is how Nerd! Kyojuro would pretend to be dumb about a subject he’s heavily interested in just to hear you talk. Like he doesn’t care if some of the things you’re saying isn’t correct or that some of the things are jumbled together he just wants to hear your pretty voice. (Plus, he’s not a gatekeeper or the fact police)
Hell, he would take it a step further and use his lack of hearing (deafness) to get you to sit closer to him because nothing makes him more hot and bothered than your pretty self talking to him at close quarters and practically in his lap. You’re so unaware of his not so innocent intentions that he majorly feels bad about it but a part of him can’t resist.
Like he would purposely say “huh?”, “I can’t hear you”, or “I don’t understand what that means, care to explain further?” Just to keep you going. He knows it’s wrong but he can’t help it. The man finds your voice so damn mesmerizing and the fact that you’re so comfortable with sharing any hobby with him that you love makes him fall harder for you. He won’t tell you though because he’s too shy and also loves the friendship you currently have.
when do you guys think kyojuro realized shinjuro wasn’t going to change? when do you think he realized the father he once knew was never coming back?
maybe he never accepted it, not all the way. but a part of him, at some point, had to realize that he was on his own. that if he wanted to continue the rengoku legacy, he had to do it himself.
how old was he when he picked up the Flame Breathing guides for the first time? how old was he the first time he swung a sword by himself? how old was he when he fixed his first proper meal, did his first trip to the Corps HQ all by himself?
he was already a Slayer by the time Shinjuro fully retired from the position of Hashira. but Shinjuro spent years going on missions drunk, with less and less passion each time. how old was kyojuro when he realized that the warrior he knew was gone?
how old was he the first time he cried, and truly realized nobody was there to comfort him? how old was he the first time senjuro came to him for comfort, knowing Shinjuro would only punish him for it?
how old was kyojuro when he realized nobody was coming to save them?
he’d never put it on senjuro. part of his responsibility as the oldest is to go first. he had to do it first, had to grow up all by himself, so someone would be there for senjuro. he needed someone to show him how, and kyojuro was determined to be there. he knows how it feels to realize you’re alone. he never wants senjuro to have that realization.
do you think he thought, as he sat bleeding out in the rising sun, that senjuro would have that realization anyway?
What Type of ATLA Bender Would Cosmere Characters Be? Part 1: Stormlight Archives
As requested by anon. :)
In the world's greatest TV show (fight me), Avatar: The Last Airbender, people can be fire benders, earth benders, air benders, or water benders--or the Avatar, the one who has all four types. And each type of bender has certain characteristics associated with them. And it turns out I have so much to say and care about this so much that this has to be a series... Sorry, anon.
Obligatory Iroh quote:
“Fire is the element of power. The people of the Fire Nation have desire and will, and the energy and drive to achieve what they want. Earth is the element of substance. The people of the Earth Kingdom are diverse and strong. They are persistent and enduring. Air is the element of freedom. The Air Nomads detached themselves from worldly concerns, and they found peace and freedom. And they apparently had great senses of humor. Water is the element of change. The people of the Water Tribes are capable of adapting to many things. They have a sense of community and love that holds them together through anything.”
1. Dalinar: Earth Bender
Never have I been more confident. Dalinar is not only an earth bender in terms of his canon powers (remember when he used his Adhesion powers to help rebuild Thaylen City?), but also in terms of personality: Dalinar is a rock, an unmoving force, someone who does not yield. I think of the scene where he used his shard hammer to dig out a latrine because he needed to think. Earth bender behavior. He also likes to wrestle--and we know that wrestling is a part of Earth Kingdom culture. And as a final note so that no one says anything in their tags--burning ONE city to the ground doesn't AUTOMATICALLY make someone a fire bender...
2. Jasnah: Fire Bender
Jasnah has the will and the drive of a fire bender, I think. And she's a person who holds on to her sense of control very, very tightly, and given how unstable fire is as an element, those who master it have to have just that sense of control. And when she wants to, Jasnah can unleash a whole lot of destruction.
3. Lift: Air Bender
I could also see Lift as a water bender--in fact, I literally wrote my water bender analysis and then erased it. Because the more I thought about it, the more Lift's free-wheeling, humorous, but deeply caring attitude reads air bender to me. I mean, she defeats Nale by hugging him. She dodges and avoids and steals and helps people but does not kill.
4. Shallan: Water Bender
I feel like Shallan of all people simply has to be the "element of change." Water is about adaptability, and Shallan is able to mold herself into the person she needs to be for any situation. There's also the importance of community and family in the Water Tribes, and Shallan was willing to go to...great lengths for her family. Finally, I kinda like the Jasnah-fire / Shallan-water contrast.
5. Navani: Fire Bender
Listen, the Fire Nation were the ones out there inventing all of the terrible weapons: the drill, the airships (although they had help with those), those big metal ships. That drive toward destructive inventiveness just makes me think of Navani. Plus, Navani loves dating the most destructive people you've ever met.
6. Adolin: Earth Bender
Or a member of the Earth Kingdom but a nonbender, if we want to be mean / accurate. *coughs* In part, I'm thinking here about how Adolin & Dalinar are more similar than either of them would admit at times, and since Dalinar is 100% Earth Bender, I feel like Adolin should be as well. Adolin has the persistence and the strength of an earth bender as well.
7. Renarin: Water Bender
And in turn, I think Renarin needs to be a bender who is a different type than his father & brother, ATLA-genetics be damned. And if Renarin were a water bender, then his family could be like, "See, Renarin? You're not a warrior like the rest of the family. Just go into a noncombat career. It's what you're meant for" and Renarin would be like, "But that's not what I want" and be ready to throw down at all opportunities like Katara. *cough* Also, Renarin had the strength and mental flexibility to attract and accept an enlightened spren, which feels water bender to me.
8. Dieno: Air Bender
As the resident escape artist, I think Dieno (the Mink) would need to be an air bender. Plus, I kind of love the idea of an air bender general, and one who wants freedom for his people.
9. Elhokar: Fire Bender
This time, I am kinda going with ATLA genetics. Because Gavilar is DEFINITELY fire bender, I've argued that Navani and Jasnah are fire benders as well...and then we have Elhokar. Imagine him as a fire bender but one who has never been seen as particularly strong, particularly good at it. Maybe he's always been good at the aesthetics of fire, of using flame to cause a whole series of torches to suddenly light up in a stunning display, but when he uses fire to fight everyone just mutters who Gavilar was so much better at it...
10. Szeth: Air Bender
LISTEN. This might be controversial, but Szeth-as-a-corrupted-air-bender has become SO important to me since I thought of it minutes ago. Partly I'm thinking about Shin culture--we learn during a scene with Rysn that the Shin view warriors as the lowest of the low; to them, killing is not an honorable thing. They're also highly religious--I'm seeing Air Tribe overtones all over the place. And Szeth fights like an Air Bender would fight if an Air Bender went rogue: dancing around, using walls and ceilings as much as the floor, literally throwing people up and through the air, flying...
11. Taravangian: Water bender
A water bender who has, just, so much mastery over blood bending, not that he lets most people know that... His public face is definitely that of an innocent master healer.
12. Venli: Earth Bender
But specifically, I think Venli is a metal bender, ala Toph. Partly I think I went earth bender given that Venli can shape stone 'n' all, but I like the idea of Venli stubborn-ing her way into a whole new type of bending, and being able to bend metal would be great for freeing people from prisons...
13. Kaladin: Fire Bender
Another controversial one, I assume. And I could talk about how Kaladin has enormous destructive capabilities or about how fire is also warmth/light or how the Fire Nation Army uses spears to fight... But in all honestly, my brain just keeps imagining Zuko saying, "Honor is dead but I'll see what I can do" or Kaladin literally screaming into a lightning storm while crying. I'm sorry. Kaladin is Zuko now. It's the Honor. But if you see him as an air bender because of the whole flying thing and because Syl is definitely an air bender, then I can respect that.
14. Rock: Earth Bender
After all, his name is-- [the booing drowns me out]
Shallan Davar is a very interesting character (and I think it makes sense that she's divisive, in some ways) because for books 3-4 (and presumably 5) her main character arc/"trait" is that she doesn't know who she is, and is constantly trying to be people other than herself.
So while for Kaladin you can latch onto him as "cool depressed soldier" and Dalinar as "honorable leader warcriminal" or whatever, Shallan does her best to not give you any traits to latch onto, and when you get some, she does her best to abandon those by becoming Veil or Radiant. Its a cool character arc, but it makes her very interesting as well from a meta perspective
jasnah experiences anxiety at the same level elhokar does she's just a lot better at masking it. their worries are also about different things but they will both occasionally doomspiral when alone
I feel like one of the big differences between Jasnah and Elhokar's paranoia is how much they trust their mind. Jasnah is more than anything afraid of losing her mind so she meticulously gathers evidence and logic for everything, ultimately relying on her mind even more. Elhokar just has a thought and doesn't look any further into its origin.
you are wrong but that’s ok because I understand why you’re saying it and it’s not wrong in an outrageous direction, it’s just very simplistic.
ok so first of all elhokar’s fear is not at all without reason. he literally genuinely is having people trying to assassinate him. he almost dies like 4 times in the span of a couple months from assassination attemps, one of which was the assassin in white who was specifically going around killing kings and had personally killed his father! he genuinely is seeing those shadows in the night and figures in the mirror. we as the reader have metaknowledge that allows us to know the causes behind these things and the narrative armor he has (until he doesn’t) and that he isn't actually in real danger because he has plot armor for the time being, or that kaladin will save him, or because szeth is actually after dalinar, and that those shadows aren't people who actually snuck into his room with malicious intent but instead are friendly spren. friendly spren that elhokar has no way of knowing about or knows exists, so his options for an explanation are I Am Going Insane And Hallucinating or Someone Is In My Fucking Room And Is Following Me.
this chronic fearing for his life, which he has constantly struggled with ever since his dad died, created an unhealthy mental complex in a brain already prone to worry. yes, he becomes paranoid, and he points that fear in directions that are not logical, like thinking dalinar is trying to kill him. but the fear itself is real, and has a lot of reason for being there! he was experiencing things with no good explanation known to him, so he starts fearing that things are happening that also don't have a good explanation, or rather, are illogical. we as the readers know dalinar isn’t trying to kill him. of course we know that, because we see in dalinar’s head the whole time. elhokar does not see that. he just knows someone is somehow able to bypass all his security, security that dalinar runs, to make attempts on his life or otherwise be places they shouldn’t be doing things they shouldn’t be doing. is coming to the conclusion that dalinar is trying to kill him still illogical? of course. but he had few other possible explanations, and so he devised a convoluted, messy way of proving it to himself one way or the other.
also adding onto his fears, around the time of these concentrated assassination attempts, (to his knowledge) his sister was successfully assassinated by a cult. that’s gonna make him a bit fucking worried!! especially after losing his dad in the same way. we know he was not this level of stressed and paranoid during most of the time at the shattered plains, and it was specifically getting worse around the time we came in at twok in 1173, adolin comments on it, sadeas comments on it, dalinar comments on it. he IS getting worse at that point because of all these added stressors. the version of elhokar we see in the majority of in the books (so like not counting that dalinar flashback where he was 17) is the version with anxious tendencies turned up to a 10 because of all the bullshit going on.
there's also the fact that elhokar DOES doubt himself constantly. he KNOWS he's not being reasonable. he knows the things he thinks are crazy, and he knows he's not good at being king even though dalinar keeps telling him he is, while at the same time taking his power, and those mixed signals mess with his mind even further. he second guesses himself constantly, and worries if he's doing the right thing, and also struggles with the belief of the divine right of kings because he knows he's so shit at it that it doesn't make any sense. so much of his personality and actions are surrounding the conflict of this cognitive dissonance. he voices these things to kaladin at the end of wor, and also at the end of twok he also admits it to dalinar. like ok he doesn't have the same Am I Going Insane arc that dalinar has in twok (as far as we know because again we don't get any povs from him) but he is experiencing a bunch of weird shit he doesn't understand and it makes him doubt himself, his judgment, and to an extent his mind.
elhokar will "have a thought and not look any further into its origin" because to him all of his thoughts are more or less equally fallible, he doubts everything he does to the point that he literally just has to choose a thing to do even though he doesn't trust it, because he doesn't trust anything he thinks or does enough to have confidence in it. he is very much aware that the thoughts he has are tainted by fear, the same way you’d know your own thoughts were tainted by fear if you heard a rustling in a dark alleyway and were trying to work out what might have caused it. he just believes that fear to be reasonable, and it is, even if the directions he ends up pointing it are not.
ok so that's pretty much what i have to say about elhokar. jasnah is harder because i am not the resident jasnah expert. but i also think what you’re saying there is off and wrong but not in a super obvious way. i guess it's just, it's a big thing to assert if you are not a jasnah expert and have not examined several different angles on it thoroughly and still think you're right. if that was coming from someone who did that then i would nod and write down notes. but given that the views offered on elhokar were more or less simplistic and wrong i doubt that's the case so i'm going to scrutinize this to the best of my own ability.
jasnah..... she relies on logic because that's how she understands the world. if she didnt trust her own mind she would be unable to make lots of different decisions, and trust herself to come to a conclusion as fantastical as "the voidbringers are actually the parshmen and we enslaved them and we have to get rid of all parshmen as servants Right Fucking Now or theyre going to rise up against us i need to get my family who has maybe the most political power in the whole world to back me up on this" all by herself without being able to rely on her own judgement to go "yeah this isnt an insane thing to say".
she experienced very scary things that had absolutely no explanation to her knowledge. things that just should have been impossible happened to her. she was left severely in the dark about the world she believed to understand, and had to fumble and grapple and work and logic things out to try and hope to understand the world around her, and also use that knowledge to be literally the only person to her knowledge who was trying to save the entire world by herself because no one else was going to believe her. doing something like that takes a huge amount of trust in someone's own judgment, even when using logic to the degree that she does. like, she's less descartes and more plato, if that makes sense? she's not starting from the conclusion that she knows nothing and putting beliefs back one by one based on if they have logical standing (descartes second observation after the fact that he actually existed was that god existed, lmao), but more just utilizing logic in a moral frame to interpret the world around her, what's good and bad, and what's right and wrong, correct and incorrect, has reason backing it and what's an assertion made from emotion.
in my own personal view of jasnah, which of course is limited by the fact that I don't have extensive knowledge of her every passage like I do with elhokar, her use of logic is not evidence of a doubt of her own mind, its evidence of someone who seeks to understand the truth of her world, of which doubting her own mind would be counterproductive. we know essentially nothing about her childhood lunacy or how it played into who she is today. I am of the view that it definitely impacted the way that she sees and seeks to understand the world, but for different reasons than you imply.
first off I want to specify that there are tons and tons of different ways it could have played out, and yours is one, even though I don't agree with it. my personal view of a likely explanation, of which I would not be surprised to change in the future once we have more knowledge on the topic of her childhood lunacy, is that she was told that she was crazy for seeing something that she was not lying about. she experienced the supernatural, was perhaps scared by it, and was considered crazy in response. she was locked in a room, screaming for hours, being told that it was all fake and her imagination by the very people she trusted. that she was making things up and none of the things made sense or were real. and that shaped her worldview by driving her to be able to have reasonable backings in everything she said and claimed, it stemmed out of her need to have her beliefs be based in reason and legitimacy. she didn't doubt the things she saw, her own mind, she knows she wouldn't lie and that she experienced the things she did. she just wanted to know why, and none of the adults in her life had reasons or explanations, so she had to go about understanding it herself.
i think sums up my views on it? once again, this is made without very much information, but I think it makes more sense than the notion that she doesn't trust her own mind, instincts, and judgment, of which we have seen tons of evidence to the contrary.
ok so yes, elhokar and jasnah's fears are based in different things. elhokar is scared for his life, and jasnah is scared for the fate of the world. these are both equally insurmountable concepts to be at peace with to them. neither of their fears is unreasonable, the thing special about it that makes it anxiety and not just normal fear or nervousness is that you can specifically see the symptoms of chronic anxiety in both of them. jasnah is better at recognizing her own symptoms and masking them than elhokar, but when she is alone she doesn't wear that mask and you can see more clearly what she is actually experiencing. elhokar will instead talk to his family for reassurance or to try and communicate to them what’s going on, sometimes in unhealthy ways like staging a fake assassination attempt so he can actually feel like he's being taken seriously.
anon i swear i don’t mean this at all in an attacking way, i’m just passionate on the subject. my own views are as always open to criticism and change, these are just my interpretations based on the things i know and have put thought into.
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