Holocene

“There’s like, 50 different ways that could go wrong!”

and i also created a playlist:

1. they're decidedly not lovers anymore:

“Just because I believe you and am willing to fight with you doesn’t mean I’ll trust you with my heart again. And I can’t be with someone I don’t trust.”

-Violet Sorrengail

2. xaden made a promise, and his ability to keep it will define the future of their relationship (at least in iron flame):

“I’ll tell you anything you want to know and everything you don’t. I’ll spend every single day of my life earning back your trust.”

-Xaden Riorson

this is great for two main reasons!

the first is the messege violet's actions send to young readers: this is the second time she has, unlike most female characters from other pieces of media in similar situations, set up a harddd boundary towards xaden (which he's also done at least once before!). she doesn't accept him "the way he is" when the way he is is closed off, emotionally unavailable and unable to meet her needs. she protects her energy and sanity and instead of trying to "fix" him, she basically forces him to work on himself, if he wants her! way to mf go!

the second is the concept of earning one's trust: i know some of y'all just wanted to read two adults with daggers attempting to off one another despite finding each other hot (and i understand and respect that), but if written well, xaden starting from 0 to earn back violet's trust can be not only much more realistic but a helpful read for young adults. rebecca yarros said it herself recently - she doesn't like writing "enemies to lovers", especially in contemporary settings, because she feels the conflicts can be solved by communication (or therapy lol).

When Lockwood tells Lucy in TCS that she was a role-model to Holly and she shrugs it off, I do think that it's more than flirting, that he honestly appreciates her being a great agent. He also says so on several other occasions.

“[Photography] is an enduring record of many things seen only once in a lifetime and enables the fortunate possessor to go back by the light of his own fireside to scenes which would otherwise fade from memory and be lost.”

-George Eastman, on the Brownie Camera (1900)

[h/t Beth Levin]

* * * *

“You don't make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.