starlit semantics

notvega/draftylibrary on ao3 | 26 yo | unfortunately german

[ouroborosorder]

”there’s no glory in suffering” and “sometimes the effort is the point” are two ideas that co-exist but god damn if I can ever tell when’s the time for which

[i-point-at-things]

👇👇👇

[starlitsemantics]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 1/? Fandom: Downton Abbey Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Anthony Strallan/Original Character(s), Edith Crawley & Anthony Strallan Characters: Anthony Strallan, Richard Carlisle, Edith Crawley, Isobel Crawley, Robert Crawley Additional Tags: Post-Canon, References to Depression, Canon Compliant, Original Character(s), Major Original Character(s) Summary:

It has been a long time since Sir Anthony Strallan has had anything particular to which to look forward. When he meets an old acquaintance in the British Museum, he finds that this has changed.

[This story got away from me and has been in the works and rewrites for going on seven years. Anthony is very much the focus, although some other canon characters will pop in later down the line, and Edith in particular haunts the narrative. This is not an Andith story, but it is very Andith-friendly. If a somewhat meandering exploration of one plausible fate for this character in post-war 1920s Britain sounds enjoyable to you, this might be something to check out.]

[youwouldneverbreakthechain]

[godsmostautisticbird]

@essayofthoughts

[thatswhywelovegermany]

Honestly, as a German I can not quite understand the obsession of the English speaking world with the question whether a word exists or not. If you have to express something for which there is no word, you have to make a new one, preferably by combining well-known words, and in the very same moment it starts to exist. Agree?

[latveriansnailmail]

Deutsche Freunde, could you please create for me a word for the extreme depression I feel when I bend down to pick up a piece of litter and discover two more pieces of litter?

[thatswhywelovegermany]

um = around

die Welt = world

die Umwelt = environment

ver = prefix to indicate something difficult or negative, a change that leads to deterioration or even destruction that is difficult to reverse or to undo, or a strong negative change of the mental state of a person

der Müll = garbage, trash, rubbish, litter

-ung = -ing

die Vermüllung = littering

ver- = see before

zweifeln = to doubt

-ung = see before

die Verzweiflung = despair, exasperation, desperation

die Umweltvermüllungsverzweiflung = …

[serhumfreysbrokencollarbone]

This is a german compound on the spot master class and I am LIVING

[thatswhywelovegermany]

#my german is still too basic for this but I desperately want a compound word for how much these compound words piss me off

das Monster = monster

das Wort = word

der Groll = grudge, anger, malice, rancor

der Monsterwortgroll = …

[linguistikforum]

Monsterwortbildungsimitationsunfähigkeitsverzweiflungsgroll

[thatswhywelovegermany]

die Bildung = formation

die Imitation = imitation

un- = un-, in-

fähig = able

-keit = -ility

die Unfähigkeit = inability

der Monsterwortbildungsimitationsunfähigkeitsverzweiflungsgroll = anger about the inability to imitate the formation of monster words

[wildflower182]

Linguistikfehdenhandschuhwurf

[thatswhywelovegermany]

die Linguistik = linguistics

die Fehde = feud

der Handschuh = glove

der Fehdehandschuh = gauntlet

der Wurf = throw

der Linguistikfehdenhandschuhwurf = throwing down the linguistic gauntlet

[shiplocks-of-love]

*slowly backs in fear*

[meetinginsamarra]

@shiplocks-of-love, @thatswhywelovegermany

Monsterwortbildungsunfähigkeitsangstverzweiflungsrückzugsecke

Monster=monster // wort=word // bildung(s)=formation

unfähigkeit (s)=incabability  // angst=anxiety

verzweiflung(s)=desperation  // rückzug(s)=retreat // ecke=corner

=the corner in which you retreat when you´re desperate because of your fear when being unable to form monster words

[shiplocks-of-love]

*eye twitch*

But what I want to see now is two germans arguing over the construction of one of these monster words.

[melmey]

@shiplocks-of-love I don’t think that will happen. The words make perfect sense. I think if German is your mother tongue you get a feeling for combining words, like a 

Monsterwortbildungsgespür

Monster = monster 

Wort = word 

Bildung(s) = formation

Gespür = intuition

;-)

[a-german-learning-clown]

🤡

[dewdropbonnet]

Sprachirrgartenbelustigungsbeitrag

[thatswhywelovegermany]

die Sprache = language

• irren = to become lost (also: to err, to be mistaken; to wander, to stray)

• der Garten = garden

der Irrgarten = maze, knot garden

• be- = prefix with a variety of functions: ¹as part of a compound word, it denotes a processing or change of state; ²as part of a compound word, it denotes a touch; ³as part of a compound word, it denotes a more intensive preoccupation with or thematization of something; ⁴it forms from a noun an adjective with a pseudo-participle form because the corresponding verb does not exist; ⁵as a prefix, it forms a transitive verb from a previously intransitive verb; ⁶as a prefix of a verb, it shifts the focus and thus changes the sentence structure

• lustig = funny

• -ung = suffix turning an adjective/adverb into a noun

die Belustigung = amusement, entertainment, merriment

der Beitrag = contribution, article in a newspaper or magazine, posting on social media, input to a discussion

[linguistness]

Bloody love this language <3<3<3

[randomgerman]

The thing is, since in German you have to decline/conjugate many words in relation to the noun they are refering to those monster words actually serve a purpose of making the language simpler. A common example is a (as in any) red wine (ein roter Wein) as compaired to the compound a red wine (ein Rotwein). If rot is an adjective it has to be conjugated: der rote Wein - des roten Weins - die roten Weine - and many more. But it if rot is part of the noun you only have to decline Wein: der Rotwein - des Rotweins - die Rotweine. So, die Verzweiflung über die Vermüllung der Umwelt is way longer than Umweltvermüllungsverzweiflung and you would have to know three grammatical genders and the words’ respective declinations. Whereas for Umweltvermüllungsverzweiflung you only need to know that Verzweiflung is grammatically feminine (die) and its deklinations.

[mareebrittenford]

Ok, now I want to see Germans playing Scrabble

[thatswhywelovegermany]

[starlitsemantics]

should i trust ao3 people to understand unreliable narrators and distorted perceptions and nuances to situations of dependency or do i want to spell it out in semi-apologetic author's notes

why

i am fear

[incomingalbatross]

From a Watsonian perspective the last scene of The Hobbit is kind of really sad, actually?

Because. Listen. So the last scene is this slightly expository "where-are-they-now" wrap-up, right? The ending goes into a summary of Bilbo's life post-adventure, and then zooms back in to a particular scene of Gandalf and Balin visiting Bag End and telling Bilbo what happened to the OTHER people who were involved in the adventure. It makes good structural sense.

BUT... From an in-universe perspective, we know that Bilbo didn't finish his book--or at least didn't stop working on it--until after the Council of Elrond, if then. In fact, as he's leaving the Shire, he tells Gandalf that he's thought of a nice ending for it: "And he lived happily ever after to the end of his days"--a line which does more or less appear in the last chapter of The Hobbit, but immediately before the actual final scene.

Therefore, there's a real case to be made that Bilbo wrote that last scene after coming to Rivendell--or, in other words, after visiting the Lonely Mountain and finding Balin had gone away and gone missing. It's even possible that he and/or Frodo (who we know to have heard about Balin's visit to the Shire) added that scene as the ending after learning about Balin's death--but in any case, we know that Bilbo knew, when working on the end of his book, that something bad had most likely happened to Balin.

Which means I can imagine Bilbo--missing his friend, wondering about his fate, maybe also living in the uncertainty of Frodo's quest and the gathering darkness--very deliberately choosing to end his book there (or else Frodo, finding the scene in his notes, choosing to insert it there as an expression of Bilbo's wishes). It means that there's maybe another reason that The Hobbit ends on that final image, one of Bilbo and Balin and Gandalf sharing talk and pipes in Bag End. They're together, prosperous, safe and well and happy...and on that note, the curtain falls.

'Thank goodness!' said Bilbo, laughing, and handed him the tobacco-jar.

That is where the story ends, and where the figures in it are finally left; and I think there's something to be said about the fact that that's where Bilbo drew the curtain. As if, in a way, by leaving off there, that evening is left suspended forever--so that, in these pages at least, Balin is still at ease with his friends in Bag End, in the peace of an autumn evening in the Shire and undisturbed by darkness.

[argumate]

[tolkienosaurus]

Who is the best warrior of the First age?

Fëanor (Needed what I suppose were all seven Balrogs to mortally wound him)

Fingolfin (Led the elves to victory at the Dagor Aglareb and later dueled Satan)

Ecthelion (Killed a few Balrogs, including their lord and maybe dragons too)

Glorfindel (Protected refugees from an ambush that icluded a Balrog)

Túrin (Killed Glaurung, never lost a battle, possibly kills Satan)

Maedhros (Formidable warrior, even with one hand)

Húrin (Greatest warrior says Pengolodh, held the pass of Sirion for a day alone)

Azaghâl (Wounded Glaurung, great warrior, his knife could cut Morgoth's crown)

Fingon (Climbed Thangorodrim, needed foul Balrog play to be killed)

Tuor (Fierce warrior who earned a lot of respect from Turgon, legendary axe)

Voting ended onJul 4, 2025

Only children of Ilúvatar count, including adopted ones.

[shrikeseams]

There are other arguments I would accept as reasonable, but Maedhros was an active combatant for the whole first age (minus captivity time), did most of his fighting with a disability, notably kept his fortress through the bragollach and seems to have kept some level of fighting force through to the end, and the only thing that killed him was himself. So.

(Primarily I'll accept an argument that someone else is a better warrior, but not a better warlord. )

[starlitsemantics]

My not at all pretentiously named attempt at Gale romance. In which Tav is his last mortal partner pre-Mystra.

[transxfiles]

me: *writes fic*

me: great! time to post to ao3-

ao3 summary box: *exists*

me: 

ao3 summary box:

me:

ao3 summary box: 

me:

[rooksandravens]

[rjeddystone]

Ooh, this is actually kinda a neat thing, because you can think of it as a checklist:

Who: Main character(s)

Why: Character goal or desire (stated)

Why: Character need (implied)

When: Inciting Incident

What: Means (that achieves the goal/need)

Where: Place A >> Place B

How: The Plan

Obstacle(s): antagonist or challenge

For example:

Who: Bilbo Baggins, a respectable hobbit of Hobbiton

Why: Treasure, wealth (stated)

Why: Adventure, self-respect (implied)

When: After supper

What: Quest

Where: Hobbiton >> The Lonely Mountain

How: A company of dwarves, a wizard, and an ancient map and key

Main antagonist(s): a dragon

Thus, in less than 100 words:

Bilbo Baggins is a respectable hobbit in Hobbiton, never making any trouble or having any adventures. But when a wizard and a company of dwarves invite themselves to dinner, Bilbo finds himself joining their quest from the shires of Hobbiton to the legendary Lonely Mountain, the home of a long lost treasure, and quite, possibly, a dragon.  

~~~~

The Anatomy of Story by John Truby is a really good book by the by, if anyone’s interested in this sort of thing.

[roguecompanion1812]

This is super helpful!’

[starlightweave]

Re: the fandom's insane mischaracterization of Astarion to the point where they turn him into a COMPLETELY different person (woobified baby girl who is only ever that / a victim), I was looking at his approval page on the wiki recently, looking at how many instances he approves of opposite outcomes, trying to make sense of WHAT tf is his, for lack of a better word, moral code.

Some examples of his approving of opposite outcomes: he approves if you help Gut kill Spaw, BUT also if you refuse and kill Gut? He approves if you tell Alfira the absolute cultists are probably torturing the tiefling prisoners rn 💀 BUT ALSO if you say you'll save the prisoners!? (since when does he approve of sticking your neck out for others w/ no reward!?). He approves if you tell Bex that Danis is a goblin chew toy by now lol, BUT ALSO if you promise to save him!??

So I have concluded from his bizarre and contradictory approvals, his "moral code" is 1) don't stick you neck out for anyone unless there's a reward OR violence involved 2) killing someone is always fun, no matter who (Gut, Spaw, doesn't matter as long as he gets to stab someone) 3) he is a cat: inside Astarion, Mischief is always steadily building, and it can only be let out by committing Crimes. This mf approves of anything that is in line with the random chaos of a cat knocking shit off a counter for no reason lol

I think he becomes more chaotic good, rather than chaotic neutral or evil, as of the epilogue. However, let's not gloss over the fact that he has chosen to not live off animals, even tho he could. He becomes an adventurer who drains criminals bc this is the easiest way for him to drink the blood of thinking creatures w/o drawing unwanted attention, and because he likes killing people and causing chaos!! As @oryndoll so astutely put it, yes Astarion is a kicked puppy, but he is also a PUPPY KICKER 😂

[ellynneversweet]

Darcy’s introduction in Pride and Prejudice is really ‘what if you had just had the worst month of your life because your ex-bestie tried to lover boy scam your baby sister out of her share of your dad’s life insurance and your friend dragged you to a shitty party in a dive bar in the neighbourhood where he’d just signed a short term lease, and you decided to let your bad mood show because you were never going to see any of the assholes in this stupid shitty bar EVER again. And your friend ended up making out with a girl he’d just met there while you were stuck talking to her sister who was less cute and then her mother appeared and started trying to matchmake and started saying how if she was twenty years younger she’d clime you like a redwood and ooooh is that a black Amex, guess the next round is on you hahhahahahaha, while her other sister (how many fucking sisters does she have?!) flashed an obviously fake ID at the bar and ordered six vodka-diet red bulls and no one in her family except the less-cute sister even tried to stop her. And you went home and consoled yourself that you would never see any of these people again but then you met them over and over again because they live next door and your friend and the cute sister keep meeting up to make out but not actually date and then. You fall in love with the less-cute sister because it turns out she’s really witty and charismatic but she already knows and remembers and resents the fact that on a day when you were in a shitty mood you called her mid out loud in a dive bar.’

[beyondthisdarkhouse]

#there's already two Ls in fitzwilliam but clearly he wants a few more (by @muppetebbtide )

[tolkien-feels]

On that note, I think part of the reason Feanor avoids Tirion is because he physically cannot stand to watch Fingolfin and Finarfin just... Casually having a mother. How dare they walk the streets together when he can't. He doesn't love Miriel less than Fingolfin and Finarfin love Indis, it's not fair that they can just give her jewelry and laugh with her and introduce their children to her. It's bad enough that they have a living mother, do they have to show her off*, really?

* show her off = exist in Feanor's field of vision at a given time

[tolkien-feels]

Hey @shrikeseams I've got two things to say. The first is that I've just realized I'd accidentally unfollowed you. The second is how dare you keep this in the tags

[elleldoe]

absolutely love abusing the power that comes with 3rd person limited pov and just ignoring things and being vague sometimes. does the character know all the details? no? then I don't have to either.

[awordwasthebeginning]

Ja, die memes sind gut und ich gönn's Merz persönlich aus tiefstem Herzen, aber OH MEIN GOTT. KÖNNEN DIESE PARTEIEN SICH BITTE RAFFEN UND WIE ERWACHSENE LEUTE SOLIDE POLITIK MACHEN

[herzgestolper]

Diese Staatskrise hätte auch ein E-Mail sein können.

[senoritaawesome]

bring his ass to a simmer

[lastoneout]

[fabiansociety]

yes, maillard

[lotrificationer]

@zaidepersonal @fallinglief

[therighthandofvengeance]

Sheridan: I really can’t take all the credit, Ivanova was essential in running the station.

Lochley: So what did you run?

Sheridan: According to her? My mouth.

[allowedtobewrong]

Yes this seems right.