@questiontocertaintyofreality @whywoulditho ooo lemme do a little promo post to put in the REN tag because the fic makes me happy
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
Fair warning that as of writing this post, the fic is currently unfinished. I know some people are hesitant to start fics in light of that, but even if a fic remains unfinished my general perspective is to proceed forward and appreciate what an author did share of their work and play around with the little plot bunnies that spring forth in my head.
With that said, some snippets and ramblings (spoilers, natch):
I've said this numerous times before how I'll give more leeway to individual short comics with the hyperbole being used to quickly and clearly deliver a punchline with a limited amount of time and space (like in the chapter 91 "Hayflick Effect" → "Hey! Flick!" bonus comic), but I hate when Emma is stripped of all her nuance to facilitate familiar shipping formulas. I understand how this snowballs from innocuous offhand jokes in the fandom, but it's unfortunate when these things overtake popular perception of her. She's emotionally intelligent and cunning (we see this early on when she's brazen enough to muse what Conny's up during her confrontation with Isabella in the hallway, all while keeping up the most cheerful front), so I always enjoy reading fic that keeps that balance in mind.
Beautiful, a simply beautiful exchange of greetings.
The preestablished Noremma is absolutely delightful. Another thing thing I've mentioned before is my dislike of Norman being extremely uncharacteristically nebbish or aggressively confident and suave when pursuing relationships that' works in tandem's usually packaged with Emma becoming bizarrely demure. Again, I understand the appeal of stock scenarios, but it's not something I enjoy reading for them. I adore when they reach this level of knowing, playful banter with an underlying thrum of challenge, bred of familiarity at which boundaries can be teasingly skirted and which are low blows and off-limits, and founded on them being equals (after both of them, to different degrees, placed each other on pedestals).
I generally have two default outlines for how I see REN getting together: all together at once, or NE getting together first before roping Ray into the relationship. Here it's clearly the latter, though with a bit of a twist in that NE isn't as intimately familiar with Ray stemming from a shared childhood, but there is an awareness of him being out there. There's also the layer of longing that I personally vibe with for him and incorporate into my interpretation of the ship that can be summed up as "Ray is first to know, last to go, and Emma is last to know, first to go." (Because when there’s something she wants and believes it’s correct to do so, she just goes for it. There might be some delay in trying to find the correct timing, but the progress on it dramatically picks up when she realizes, "wait, why aren’t we together? We should fix that." lfjldj adore that respectful tenacity and ambition.)
With Ray, there's a denial born from years of steeling away his heart so he would have the mental fortitude to see off multiple children on their shipment days and a bone-deep belief that after everything he's done, he doesn't deserve such love. He is committed to the vow he makes to Emma in chapter 38 about living on to protect their family, and multiple times he's at the center of discussions what's the best path forward to secure the safety of his friends and family. He can be in the spotlight for that, but when it comes to advocating for his own wants, he falters; accepts that internal strife born of self-loathing as penance for everything he's done to reach this point, prostrates himself to the idea that Emma and Norman are beyond him when it comes to matters of the heart, and attempts to twist and contort to himself he's content to live the remainder of his days with this secret if it means they'll be happy together. (I'll also do a quick shoutout to @salsae's vowsverse for the ultimate breaking down of this wall; simply spectacular culmination of all the build-up over the years.) But all this is underlined by a desperate clinging to the hope that a future with them is possible, a hope that he would never dare put to words but still subconsciously lingers as he tries to extinguish it.
Tying that long tangent back around to this AU, again, Ray doesn't know the two as intimately as he does in canon, but there's a spark of hope at the thought of a different future for himself that he wrestles with, griping over the ludicrousness at the pair's goal and fighting them tooth and nail with each step of their approach, yet he's still the one to initiate their game and can't help but want to meet them to see if there's a foundation where his hope can bloom.
Finally, I am going to McFuckin' Lose It™ if the reveal that Ray is the son of the kingdom's enemy happens in the middle of Norman holding court (either with Emma and Norman knowing beforehand or it being a surprise for them, too; both have delicious potential.)
aro/ace writer culture is staring at pretty strangers at the bus but not because you find them attractive, it's because you're thinking of making them your new oc for a wip
hii sorry if this is random but i saw u talked about a fic in one of my posts' tags which u called, "lin's kghn retirement fic" and idk who kin is but the fic sounds interesting so i thought i would ask for a link :D
HELLO omg omg I’m so sorry for the late answer, I haven’t checked tumblr in 100 years, and I’m also sorry if you didn’t intend this to be published, but I simply MUST take any and all opportunities to publicly yell about this fic!! (and pretty much all of Lin’s fics; she’s a dear dear friend, but I swear I’m not being biased when I say she’s one of the most underrated writers in the fandom)
ANYWAY the fic in question is called “a little more scared, a little more stupid,” and it is some of the most realistic, heartwrenching, beautifully written kghn I’ve read, especially canonverse. Fair warning, it only features one other fandom main ship alongside kagehina, but it’s for the sake of one of the central themes/subplots and really well done once you get over the initial adjustment to it! It also has a ton of good good pining and angst, though again, bitty warning, some of the angst comes from a character’s realization of sexuality and the subsequent unlearning of internalized biphobia. BUT it’s all handled with such a delicate, loving touch by an author that’s experienced it all, so it doesn’t feel hammed up or overly dramatic at all!
I just…I truly can’t recommend this fic enough, it’s by far my favorite kghn retirement fic, and one of my fave kghn fics in general. If you’re interested in some lighter fare from Lin, I highly recommend her fluffy, hilarious tsukkiyama fic “As You Wish”, and if you want some wonderful world building, you can’t go wrong with her PJO au “Strawberry Fields Forever” and her multiverse tsukkiyama au “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.”
they.. havent been following me..? all this time i thought we were mutuals....... and they havent been following me? my bestie... my rb sister... my besto frendo....
no no no no no no no no I swear I WAS FOLLOWING YOU 😭😭 I remember hitting the follow button so clearly IDK WHAT HAPPENED. I'M SO SORRY 💔💔
well the fuck up has been corrected and balance has been restored my bestie, rb sister and besto friendo 🫂❤️❤️ we will not be unmutual-ified again
Heeyy just wanted to say your photo album idea is so cute!! As for requests,, i'd like to see some chaotic photos of Thoma and Lanni pranking Don. Isabella and Krone having a little cooking contest to see which one of them makes the best cake. And if you won't stick to canon where they only have a camera in 2045, little Norman lying in his bed with a broken arm because he fell off a tree trying to chase Emma (and maybe Emma lying asleep with him while holding his hand. Norman wakes up to this and turns into a tomato, little shipper Ray takes a picture.) Phil sitting on Nat's back riding him like a horse while Nat looks done with everything, Anna and Gilda doing each other's hair, Emma trying to lick her elbow, Yvette teaching Don how to draw, Nat playing piano to the kids, Emma covered in flour and laughing (she wanted to help mom make bread), and last but not least, Ray reading a book in the library (picture taken by Norman and Emma, who snuck into his room and stole his camera
Hope these can give you a few ideas! Love you and have a nice day <3
these are all. so. pure. you guys are feeding me on a silver platter. i love the idea of them sneaking in and stealing his camera, that's so cute!!!!! tysm, ull def use some of these!!!! hope u have a great day too!!
