Banned from Life

I made myself depressed thinking about this. I know this isn’t how Isolde’s arcane power works, but hear me out…

~

Let’s say that some time after Kakania’s anecdote, Isolde finally gets “cured”. Free from PTSD. Grounded in the present. No more tremors or convulsions.

Hearing the news, Kakania immediately returns to visit her friend…only to be met by a confused stare.

“Do I…know you?” Isolde asks the stranger in green.

…why doesn’t Isolde recognize Kakania?

Well, we learn that Isolde had been possesed by one of the ghosts she channeled for nearly all of her life. Specifically, the ghost that gave her her angelic voice. The “tremors” and “convulsions” and fainting spells Isolde used to have were actually due to opera!ghost not having full control over Isolde’s body. Only when opera!ghost was exorcised did Isolde finally get cured for good.

Seriously, this is probably the first time I’ve felt this pissed off at a show.

For those who don’t like seeing negativity toward the series, ignore this post. I need to vent.

My problems with the series are:

Sam’s toxic behavior towards Mon being romanticized.

Mon and Sam having an imbalanced relationship dynamic.

Mon’s parasocial relationship with Sam bordering on creepy.

Most of all: Lack of clear communication.

If this series was aired 10 years ago, I’m fairly sure I would’ve eaten it up with little complaints. Now, though, I value communication as the most important pillar in relationships (be it with friends, family, and romantic partners) so Mon and Sam’s dynamic was tough for me to watch.

Hers the unvoiced everything of first love, tongue-tied, ineloquent, the refusal to sully so sharp and golden a feeling with anything as blunt as words.

Ara looked quickly down at her feet.

“You didn’t!” Nona jumped out of bed, reaching for her skirts.

Ara flashed a grin.

— Red Sister

…after deciding out of nowhere to check out the Potterverse f/f scene. I’ve read quite a number of fics since then and have some standouts I want to commend.

These 3 fics are amazing in their own right for many, many reasons that if I started breaking down every thought I have about them, I’d be droning on which I do not want to do. So instead, I simply wish to air out what makes these 3 stand out for me in comparison to other fics in their general category.

Favorite Veela Mates fic — Sometimes You’ve Got to Bleed to Know, by jump_the_gunn

I love how the Veela Mates element in this fic is not heavy-handed. How it’s only hinted at in the beginning before it’s slowly unveiled. How it’s understated and not the sole focus of Fleurmione’s budding relationship.

Favorite Post-Hogwarts fic — What You Don’t Know, by zerodawn22

3rd Person Limited is hands down my favorite POV in written media and this fic delivers it well. Confining the reader to Hermione’s POV lends an element of intrigue to Fleur’s POV as if it’s a mystery to be solved.

Favorite Tri Wizard Tournament fic — Cruel Intentions, by Perpetual_Nonsense

It’s a breath of fresh air to see Ron and Viktor written in a respectable light. I’ve read too many fics that paint them as one-dimensional assholes which practically displays the author’s biases against these characters. Instead of turning hated characters into punching bags, why not make them into the kinds of characters you would actually like to see? I feel like Cruel Intentions did exactly this with Ron and Viktor extremely well.

The short of it:

I like stories that don’t revolve exclusively on the romance.

I like writing styles which lend an air of mystery to non-POV characters.

I like when authors constructively build on a character, making them better than their canon counterparts.

Santana caught on that the song was secretly about their “sweet lady kisses”.

But then Brittany started singing the chorus, “My cup, my cup,” turning her amusement into shock...

...and then disappointment that the song wasn’t about her.

(#headcanon)

...and the poltergeists and ghouls...

We can wander through the darkness...

...and play by our own rules.

Run away with me...

...to a cavern shaped like home...

Where we’ll build our own forever...

...and never dance alone.

“I love you... in an odd, hard-to-articulate way.”

Ivy to Harley, S01E03

“I... I love you. Don’t make a thing of it...”

...how the gossiping girls stop talking right when Ellie and Aster make eye contact and how there aren’t even any subtitles for these few precious seconds.

The pause in the dialogue takes away the possibility that Aster might just be amused with whatever inane things the girls are saying. It emphasizes that Aster’s smile was directed only at Ellie and not because of anything else.

And the pause in the subtitles prompts the viewers, especially those who might be too consumed reading them, to look up and really notice this little exchange.

This scene practically encourages the viewer to glance at the subtitles to catch whatever the gossiping girls are saying. But when the subtitles suddenly stop, instinct will prompt the viewer to look up and the first thing that’ll be noticed is Aster’s smile.

It’s almost as if this scene is attempting to put the viewer in Ellie’s shoes. One moment, they’re looking down (Ellie at the sink and the viewer at the subtitles), then the next moment they see is this ray of sunshine:

We see Ellie’s arms are completely submerged so only her legs are visible. Aster’s is the opposite, kinda, since only one arm is visible.

I think it has something to do with the opening that says how humans originally had 4 arms and 4 legs, but were torn apart so they needed to find their other half.

In this shot’s case, though, only 3 limbs are visible. I would’ve thought both of Aster’s arms would be visible in this because then, they’re not fully “whole” as described in the myth, but what’s important is they’d complement each other by filling in for the other’s missing limbs.

So then, why does Aster have only one arm visible instead of two? Is it because she’s not ready to “complement” Ellie yet because she still needs “a couple years” to figure herself out?

Her handmaiden outfit was too bright and restrictive, it obviously did not suit her as the natural fighter she is. Her brown travelling clothes are so bland it makes her fade in the background, especially when compared to Rapunzel and Eugene’s vibrant clothes. And her Moonstone outfit warped her to the point she’s no longer recognizable as the Cass we know from the first 2 seasons.

Sure, the black of her armor and sword reflects her role as a fighter that the handmaiden outfit never could. Sure, the bright blue of her hair gives her the vibrancy that her bland brown outfit never did. But it’s simultaneously too bright and too dark. There’s no balance to it that it looks like she’s unsure of who she is.

All that makes her green outfit in the series finale especially more notable. The green is unrestrictive and dark enough it suits her personality, unlike her handmaiden outfit. The green distinguishes her from the other characters that she no longer fades in the background, unlike her travelling outfit. The green matches her eyes, highlights it, and gives her the type of vibrancy that the blue of the Moonstone never could. It’s not too bright nor too dark. It’s perfectly balanced and it looks like she’s found who she’s meant to be.

So sudden and new?

I felt the moment

I laid eyes on you

My pulse is rushing

My head is reeling

My face is flushing

What is this feeling?

Fervid as a flame

Does it have a name?