Just saw someone say they disliked Fire & Hemlock because it was an age gap, and that’s fine and well (even though I think reducing F&H to an age gap is missing some points), but it made me think of how often DWJ uses the artifice of the age gap to bring her pairings together, and also how this artifice is often directly connected to the primary antagonist of the book.
Howl and Sophie is maybe the most glaring example, but I noticed again that it’s in Hexwood. Interestingly, DWJ uses the distance in age to collapse personal and individual distance. The “child’ Ann can read the riot act to Mordion as an older woman with more self-consciousness couldn’t, and we’re introduced to Mordion as unnaturally ancient to make him seem a bit weird and perplexing, but also with a wet and sympathetic side to his power. Conversely, crone Sophie can manage Howl and make him respect her as he wouldn’t a younger woman. And Polly needs to be a child, and see Tom Lynn as elderly, in order to establish the playful awkward unreality of their friendship. It simply wouldn’t work if we know that Tom is a youthful 24, which we don’t figure out until about the end of the novel. She also does this with Howl and Sophie in the opposite direction at the start, where Sophie is intimidated by Howl’s apparent sophistication and age until the enchantment that gives her confidence.
When the age gap collapses, then, the personal closeness falls apart. When Ann remembers who she is and who Mordion is in the castle, and that they’re only a few years apart, she thinks their relationship is hopeless. Polly stops seeing Tom as old twice—first when she starts to think of him romantically at Middleton Fair, the second when she regains her memories at 18—and each time she’s on the brink of losing him forever to Laurel. It’s less overt with Sophie and Howl, but Sophie does become young again right when she battles the Witch of the Waste for Howl’s soul. Each time, everyone’s true selves are revealed at the moment when the most is at stake.
Which is a very interesting but also relatable way to do the process of disenchantment and revelation. Misleading appearances are of course a mainstay of fantasy, but it’s in keeping with DWJ’s grounded and youth-centric approach that she portrays this through the universal medium of growing up. Of course we see people differently as we age and perform on new social levels. Of course where we are at each specific age really dictates how we interact with others. These processes change relationships and also push them to their final form.
Certainly, it can be uncomfortable--Polly/Tom is uncomfortable on purpose; Ann and Mordion create/summon a boy in the Bannus as a direct euphemism for having a baby together. But the discomfort is also dictated by the main villain of the plot. DWJ's characters move through ages and appearances that aren't entirely theirs in order to become the best versions of themselves. And idk I just think she's quite clever for taking a rather worn-out and sordid romance trope and turning it inside out to become new and serve the purpose of her stories.
Okay, so like I said, I think I more or less understood Hexwood this time. Listening to the @eightdaysofdiana episode helped sort out some of the remaining questions. Hence, I made a timeline. Obviously it doesn't cover everything that goes on in this complex book, and I'm also not sure that I got all the details right (especially once the characters enter the wood).
It really helps to start thinking at things from the intergalactic space consortium perspective, and how everything moves from here, rather than trying to figure out the Ann/Mordion/Hume plot, which happens in any which order and not the same for all involved.
1. Thousands of years ago, powerful families try to take control of the intergalactic space consortium. For the sake of peace, it is determined that five Reigners shall be chosen from five families. They will be elected every ten years years.
2. To ensure fairness, the Bannus is created. It will put the candidates through various scenarios and elect the five people it considers suitable as Reigners.
3. Martellian, one of the Reigners, takes a young Orm Pender under his wing.
4. Orm betrays Martellian and wrenches control over the Bannus, cheating the system. He, his girlfriend, his girlfriend's brother, and two more of their circle, install themselves as permanent Reigners.
5. Martellian is exiled to Earth, where he proceeds to raise heirs to fight for him against the Reigners, since he is banned from doing so himself. As Merlin, he creates Arthur. As Wolf, he creates Fitela.
6. Orm, now Reigner One, puts Martellian in a stass tomb, along with Arthur and Fitela. The reprogrammed Bannus is put in the same place to reinforce the imprisonment.
7. The five Reigners manage to keep young(ish) and in power for more than a thousand years.
8. The Reigners use descendants of Martellian as Servants to do their killing for them. In modern time, the Servant is Mordion, who is raised under horrid conditions to become their loyal assassin.
9. Under the firm name Rayner Hexwood, the Reigners use Earth for its valuable flint. The people of Earth have no idea just how valuable the flint is.
11. The House of Guaranty are in opposition to the Reigners, but unable to do anything about it.
10. Mordion keeps a telepathic connection with Martellian, Arthur, Fitela, and eventually Vierran of Guaranty (who is younger than him and thus shows up late). None of them know the others by name, only by epiteths. Mordion and Vierran also meet in person. Vierran doesn't recognize Mordion, but is drawn to his role as the Servant.
(ETA: I'm not completely sure why Vierran needs to show up late, since they speak to the others over vast distances in time, but maybe she's contemporary enough to him that they're on the same timeline.)
12. Harrison Scudamore, a clerk who has scammed his way into Rayner Hexwood, finds the Bannus. He manages to start its field of power, in the hope of creating a virtual reality role playing game
13. The Bannus field starts drawing people in. It also starts mingling with the field of Hexwood, which, being a wood, is connected to the Great Forest that once was, and has magic of its own.
14. The Bannus wakes the three people in the stass tombs: Martellian, Arthur, and Fitela. Since the world they know is Arthuriana, that's the illusion they create inside the wood. Martellian is reshaped by the Bannus into a small child. Arthur becomes the outlaw Artegal.
15. Outside the wood, the Bannus field spreads further, but with a setting more familiar to the people there, i.e. modern Earth. Fitela seems to make it out of the forest, since he becomes part of the modern-Earth world as Martin, a greengrocer's son.
16. W. Madden, one of the Rayner Hexwood maintenance staff, sends a letter to his superiors, which eventually reaches Controller Borasus of Albion.
17. Controller Borasus calls Earth, which unbeknownst to him permits the Bannus field to spread across communication lines through the galaxy. He also calls Earth Headquarters, run by Sir John Bedford, who is alarmed to hear the news.
18. Controller Borasus goes down to Earth to find out what is wrong, and is pulled into the Arthuriana setting as Sir Bors.
19. The Reigners are contacted. Reigner Two sets out to find out what is happening. Along with Mordion and John Bedford, he heads to Hexwood, where all three are pulled into the Arthuriana setting as well: Reigner Two as King Ambitas, John Bedford as Sir Bedefer, and Mordion as a hermit.
20 . The scenes within Hexwood do not happen chronologically; something may be very early for one of the people involved and very late for another. Events that take mere moments appear to take years. (Typical fantasy wood!)
20. Since Reigner two isn't heard from, Reigner Four is sent out. He becomes Sir Fors in the king's court.
21. Reigner Five is sent out. He keeps his own memories even as he is sent into Arthuriana, but is immediately tricked by the Bannus into exploding himself. Refusing to accept that he is dead, he settles in Mordion's abandoned hermit hut.
22. Reigners One and Three decide to go to Earth themselves. Reigner Three has sussed out that Vierran is romantically interested in Mordion, and brings her along as a maid/bargaining chip.
23. Reigner Three enters Arthuriana as the king's fiancée, Morgan le Trey. Reigner One is transformed into a dragon. Vierran gets a dual role, as a lady in the king's court, and as Ann Stavely, a modern-day grocer's daughter living right outside of Hexwood.
24. At some point, Vierran's actual parents, who have been plotting the Reigners' downfall and hence arrested by them, are pulled into the field as Ann's greengrocer parents. Fitela becomes her brother Martin.
25. (Third chapter only!) "Ann", sick in bed, see strange things happening around Hexwood. She is not seeing them in order, but neither she nor we know that at this point.
26. Ann, feeling better, enters into the forest, where she wakes Mordion from a stass tomb. He has memories of being stuck in the tomb for millennia, but those are really Martellian's memories. From their mixed blood, Mordion appears to create the child Hume, though this is really Martellian de-aged.
27. Mordion the hermit raises Hume with the help of Ann and a robot called Yam, in random chronological order. Hume wants to be a knight and fight dragons. Ann intermittently returns to her parents and their seemingly ordinary life.
28. Running out of food in the castle, the knights ransack the nearby (modern day) town. This starts a revolt, led by the outlaw Artegal (Arthur), and consisting of people both from Earth and from the rest of the galaxy, including Vierran's/Ann's parents.
29. In a motel room, Vierran listens to a recorded message of herself and realizes she has lived the same scenes multiple times. She remembers her time as Ann and figures out that the Bannus field is much wider than the wood.
30. Vierran goes to find Mordion, but encounters Reigner Five instead. He chases her, but breaks his neck, drowns in the river, and is forced to admit that he was dead all along.
31. Still with her own memories, Vierran returns to her role as a court lady. Her cousin Siri is also there, as Lady Sylvia.
32. Mordion arrives at the castle, pretending to be a magician controlling a mechanical man (Yam). Hume becomes a squire.
33. The knights set out to punish the outlaws. They encounter a dragon (Reigner One), and Sir Fors/Reigner Four is eaten.
34. Reigner Three turns Mordion into a dragon. With the aid of the Bannus, he starts facing his own awful memories.
35. Returning to human form, Mordion enters the outlaw camp with Martin and Sir John Bedford. The outlaws are very suspicious until Artegal/Arthur recognizes Mordion as one of the voices in his head.
36. Hume volunteers to fight a dragon, believing it to be Mordion. He is horrified to find Reigner One instead, who has recently killed Sir Harrisoun (Harrison Scudamore). Hume calls Mordion for help, and with joined effort they defeat the dragon.
37. Reigners Three and Two try to poison each other and are turning into dragons. Mordion kills them both.
38. Mordion realizes that Yam is actually the Bannus and demands that he puts a stop to this.
39. After Yam/The Bannus has had a moment of gloating over the dying Reigner One, Hume pulls out his sword from the dragon's body, killing him.
39. Everyone starts sorting out who they are to each other. Yam declares the five new Reigners: Mordion, Vierran/Ann, Martellian/Hume, Arthur/Artegal and Fitela/Martin. They reluctantly agree to rule the galaxy, not sure that the Bannus can be trusted.
40. The wood doesn't want to let go until everyone, with joined effort, has turned it into a permanent part of the Great Forest.
PSA tho everyone if anyone ever pulls the shit on you that Ilya pulls on Shane in ep 2 you need to delete that persons number from your phone and maybe change your last name so that toxic loser can’t ever find you again. Not u tho Shane baby, keep pining! I think he’s the one!!!!
i have been thinking a lot about robin wood recently. his mother was brutally murdered when he was just a little kid and then years later he sees his mothers killer and the killer is wearing the coat he took from the still warm body, and then robin isn’t even allowed to be mad at the vampire cause he has a soul now but the vampire doesn’t apologise for what he did and he KEEPS WEARING THE COAT
not only that but robin is visited by a thing wearing his mother’s face, speaking to him in her voice — a voice he probably can’t remember
i’m not sure where i am going with this except that robin wood had the potential to be such a rich and fascinating character. he could have helped show buffy that previous slayers had families, that she doesn’t have to isolate herself. he could have forced spike to truly think about his past actions and how they still affect people.
instead they distilled him into a villain from spike’s perspective. and i think we all know why
“It is extraordinary that nobody nowadays under the stress of great troubles is turned into stone or a bird or a tree or some inanimate object; they used to undergo such metamorphoses in ancient times (or so they say), though whether that is myth or a true story I know not. Maybe it would be better to change one’s nature into something that lacks all feeling, rather than be so sensitive to evil. Had that been possible, these calamities would in all probability have turned me to stone.”
— The Alexiad, written by Anna Komnene, the daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos, c. 1148.
Obivious there are many videos not featured here, just a small list of some favorite fanvids, focusing on black characters.
Candy Girl - Princess princess ever after (Comic) [by vassalady] Amira/Sadie: Tooth rooting fluff. Music by the cast of Riverdale.
born free - Belle (2013 movie) [by condnsdmlk] Dido Elizabeth Belle: "If you don't like how it is, what you gonna do to change it?" Music by Lira. Warning for period typical (18th century) racism. Reblog able on tumblr here.
Industry Baby - Black Sails (TV) [by shati] Max: "It is build on sand." Music by Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow. Warning for physical triggers, violence, colonialism/imperialism. Reblog able on tumblr here.
Mineshaft - Hamilton [by always the ocean] Aaron Burr: "I've been here before, I know where it goes." Music by Dessa. Reblog able on tumblr here.
King - The Woman King (2022 Movie) [by colls] "If it's a man's man world I wanna be KING". Music by Lilith Czar. Warning for violence.
Long live the chief - Underground [by thingswithwings] Cato: "Cato, from Cato's point of view." Music by Jidenna. Warning for physical triggers, violence, warning for period typical (19th century) racism & slavery
Cornflake Girl - The Eiffel Tower Mystery/Mystère à la Tour Eiffel (2015 movie) [by aurumcalendula] "you bet your life it is". Music by Florence and the Machine (Tori Amos cover). Warning for physical triggers, period (19th century) typical psychiatric hospital things. Reblog able on tumblr here.
Take my Heart - The Color Purple [by Lilly the Kid] Celie Harris & Nettie Harris: "if I take your heart, I will heal these old wounds". Music by Soko.
Black Nails - A league of their own (TV) [by fightingarrival] Max Chapman: "Here, take this L." Music by Tierra Whack
Nebulae - Hidden Figures (2016 movie) [by bessyboo] Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson "neb·u·la (neb'yə lə), n., pl. -lae, a cloud in outer space, visible against the night sky as a dark silhouette against other luminous matter." Audio untitled poem by Georgia Bartlett-McNeil. Warning for physical triggers. Reblog able on tumblr here.
this kind of love - If Beale Street Could Talk [by ScribbledDreaming] Fonny/Tish: "All I know is my, oh my, this kind of love Has taken me from my enemies" Music by Michael Kiwanuka
don't try me I'm not a free sample - the get down (TV) [by stellarer] Shaolin Fantastic, Mylene Cruz, Ezekiel 'Zeke' Figuero: "step to me and you will be handled / see, that's my crown on the mantle". Music by Shamir. Warning for physical triggers. Reblog able on tumblr here.
Closer - Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold [by AurumCalendula] Cleopatra Jones/Mi Ling Fong: 'I won't treat you like you're typical' Music by Tegan and Sara. Warning for physical triggers, depiction of police.
Hot in Here - Rocky [by findmeinthealps] Apollo Creed/Rocky Balboa: "You're with a winner, so, baby, you can't lose.". Music by Nelly.
crazy classic life - Pose (TV) [by metatxt] Ensemble "Found family feels. Everyone wants a "crazy, classic, life." Be Gay, Do Crimes!" Music by Janelle Monáe. Warning for physical triggers, depiction of police, transphobia, AIDS/HIV.
emigrante - The Brother from Another Planet [by franzeska] "For my people, whoever they are". Music by Orishas. Warning for physical triggers, depiction of police, racism and slavery.
Sisters - Noah's Arc (TV) [by sanguinity] Ensemble: "So you all pretty tight, huh? Yeah, I guess we are." Music by Bette Midler and Linda Ronstadt. Warning for physical triggers. Reblog able on tumblr here.
How I got over - The wire (TV) [by here's luck] Ensemble, season 4: "Someone has to care". Music by The Roots ft Dice Raw. Warning for physical triggers, violence, depiction of police, harm to children. Reblog able on tumblr here.
ABC - Sister Act [by cosmic llin] Ensemble: "I am gonna teach you all about love/music". Music by Jackson Five.
Too Many Questions - Men In Black [by sp] Jay: "Why do I doubt sometimes, that of which I know for sure? And why when I've had enough, do I seem to ask for more?" Music by Sam Sparro. Warning for physical triggers.
I'm a man - Challengers (2024 movie) [by gwen frankenstien] Tashi Donaldson: "I'm not your identity crisis; this was planned." Music by Neko Case. Reblog able on tumblr here.
Gifts - Grimm (TV) [by Franzeska] Hank Griffin "The meaning of gift, Grimm Style" Music by Blackalicious. Warning for physical triggers, violence, depiction of police
Kids in america - Annie [by bookelfe/skygiants/ryfkah] Annie: "It's a hard-knock life but Annie does not give up". Music by Kim Wilde. Warning for physical triggers.
Emperor's New Clothes - Hamlet (Royal Shakespear Company 2016) [by kylee] Hamlet: ".I'm taking back the crown" Music by Panic! at the disco. Warning for physical triggers,
vintage clothes - Black Girl in a big dress (Web series) [by superjinko] Lady Katherine: "A costumed, corsetted, and coquettish romp." Music by Paul McCartney.
Speak your heart - Moonlight [by Josette Arnauld] Chiron/Kevin: "I see the words behind your eyes." Music by Lizz Wright. Reblog able on tumblr here.
Butterflies - Rafiki [by comtextosecontextos] Kena/Ziki: "Whenever I'm around you, nothing's wrong" Music by Queen Naija. Warning for physical triggers.
Kill A Vampire (Save The Hood) - Vampires vs The Bronx [by bironic] ensemble: "kids vs gentrification". Music: "Kill a Hipster" by Watsky feat. Chinaka Hodge, edited. Warning for physical triggers.
Clear the Area - Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU): Captain America [by kaydeefalls] Sam Wilson: "You find your way back down, and I'll keep the area clear". Music by Imogen Heap. Warning for physical triggers. Reblog able on tumblr here.
If we all die tomorrow - The Good Place [by Cinnamonpain] Chidi Anagonye: "I'm the master of disaster, the best at fearing the worst/If we all die tomorrow, then I'm taking my time" Music by Tom Rosenthal. Warning for physical triggers.
Born in Flames - Black Steel [by futuransky] "The right to violence is like the right to pee. You've got to have the right place and the right time." Music Tricky by Black Steel, original by Public Enemy. Warning for physical triggers (quick cuts/flashing lights), warning for police, police brutality, war, racism
The General - Pacific Rim [by seekingferret] Stacker Pentacost "I will no other to follow me where i am going". Music by Dispatch. Warning for physical triggers.
Run This Town - Black Lightning [by foomatic] Anissa Pierce "The only thing that’s on my mind is who’s gonna run this town tonight." Music by Jay-Z ft Rihanna. Warning for physical triggers, reference to police brutality.
Shrimp - Black Panther [by here's luck] Shuri: "Talk real fast when I get nervous Rap real fast, but that's on purpose" Music by Dessa. Warning for physical triggers.
You are my Baby - Into the spiderverse [by hexenmeister] Miles Morales & his family. "You are my baby But it's not up to me What you become That is up to you" Music by Kimya Dawson.
She's a star - Doctor Who [by nostalgia] Martha Jones: "Her shadow was always with her, her shadow could always keep her small…" Music by James. Warning for physical triggers.
Battlecry - DC Comics [by absternr] America Chavez: "Sometimes you have to hurt for the 'cause to be reached But one day you'll be stronger than all that you beat." Music: by Angel Haze. Warning for physical triggers, nazi imagery. Reblog able on tumblr here.
Song for a broken world - Fast Color [by abstern] Ensemble: "If something's broken, it stays broken. You can't fix it. But what if you could?" Music: "Long long time ago" by Javier Navarerrete. Warning for physical triggers.
Weapon - Metropolis Suites (Music videos) by Janelle Monáe [by eruthros] Cindi Mayweather: "Throw all your hell towards the heavens, cause your voice is a weapon" Music by Angel Haze, Bastille. Warning for physical triggers, depiction of police
Keep On, Keepin' On - Firefly [by colls] Zoë Washburne: "A song's never just sad There's hope, there's a silver lining" Music by First Aid Kit. Warning for physical triggers.
You're on your own kid - Star Wars [by hackedbyawriter] Finn: "'Cause there were pages turned with the bridges burned Everything you lose is a step you take"
Keystone Plantation Road - Steven Universe [by stets uninu] Ruby/Sapphire: "We raise up a little roof/Against the cold/On Southwood Plantation Road". Music by The Mountain Goats. Warning for physical triggers.
I'm delighted to have my Wire vid included on this list! One correction: While I would love to take credit for the Black Panther vid Shrimp (Shuri), it's actually by such_heights. My Shuri vid is Supasonic.
You have been offered a full-ride scholarship to get a four-year degree in this field, specifically. Upon graduation, you will be guaranteed a job in this field at the 75th percentile of average salary for the field, with the possibility of further advancement as the years go on.
However, you will never be able to get a job in any other field.
Do you take the offer?
100% yes!
Probably yes
I'm honestly torn, this is a hard choice
Probably not
Absolutely fucking not
Random other option for people who want to ramble in the tags
kianamaiart
baratheonpilled
gummygunk
germansingergirl
kaledo-art
stormborns
prguitarman
izzy806
