#tolyn

One of my favorite things about Dark Crystal AoR is the complexity in all the characters.

Taking the Gelfling, for instance. In the movie, they're the 'prefect' species, the best and brightest and Thra, the poor, sad, weak ones that the Seksis hunted down. And the show doesn't change that. But...

They're weren't some peaceful, all-knowing and loving people in their perfect society--they had their faults. They were racists, they put their personal clans first, and the gelfling above all other species (They did not seem to notice--or maybe not care--that the gruenaks had suddenly disappeared). The Vapran, in particular, cared about looks and had a very classist system. We even see this in some of the heros (And that terrible guard who SO deserved what he got, get sucked Tolyn). The Skeksis fed into their egos to gain their rule over Thra.

But they also cared about their home, and their faults and mistakes didn't mean they deserved to be drained. Great heroes came from the gelflinh, who would learn from their mistakes and the mistakes of their people, even their own parents. They had beautiful cultures, and all contributed to Thra. And they would not go peacefully.

Mother Aughra made many, MANY, mistakes, among them giving her duty to the Skeksis, turning away from her home, and objectively favoring the gelflings over everyone else in Thra. But she owned up to her mistakes and worked tirelessly save Thra, even sacrificing herself for the few. And she would end up all alone for trine, surrounded by false crystal shards that had lead to her children's downfall.

And even the skesis were fleshed out--not to be redeemed, but to be more human. Audiences can sympathize with the abused Skektek, even as we're horrfied the next moment as he drains esssences and beats the gruenak to death. Even the Emperor, with his quiet moment of dreams and holiness, a longing he refuses to give into. This doesn't excuse their actions, but instead points out they--like SkekGra--could have choosen different. It cements the skeksis as villains while keeping humanity in the UrSkeks worst halves.

I just like how real all of them feel. The gelfing and Aughra make mistakes, the Skeksis are, dare I say, relatable. Hup of course is perfect and is who all of Thra should inspire to be.

They make such a good team! 😇

Slippin’ Falls- Gurjin/Tolyn

Hurt/Comfort, Injury, Two men that don't know how to talk about their feelings, Gurjin please tolyn's heart can't take the stress 

Ordon is the type of dad to strictly give out one piece per childling you can’t convince me otherwise

Laesid and Bellanji like to just leave the bowl out (Naia always steals it early into the night before anyone else can get it.)

Mayrin will just make the butler do it, or Seladon if she doesn’t make her take her sisters.

Skeksis usually can’t be bothered to give out candy, but when they do, they make the poddling do it and usually SkekAyuk likes to put in gross ingredients (make some candy spicey or cause burping, that sorta thing.)

Rian likes to gather all the kids who are either his friends or like to get a lot of candy and delegate them to maximize profits and all get the most candy for all of them. The older kids like Tolyn and Gurjin are sent to take them trick or treating to keep them in line, Tolyn does but Gurjin turns his eyes away or joins in.

Kylan has to remind everyone to play civil and most of the night breaks up other childling arguing over trading. He does it so much that often Tolyn has to ask for candy for his brother since Kylan is always too busy with making sure no one fights to get candy.

Juni’s house is the most popular on the block as they not only put up spooky decorations but give out full sized candy bars.

Brea likes to look up facts about the candy companies or candy in general and tell everyone as they’re getting it.

Tavra dislikes candy, but goes out to spend time with her sisters, always giving up her candy to Seladon who she knows loves candy even though she denies it.

The librarian tells stories to childling who come up to his door, often his house getting avoided as while they are spooky, they take up a lot of time.

Cadia lives across the street and does the same thing. Who’s ever trick or treaters leaves the door last wins. They try to one up each other, both having the best candy in the neighborhood and trying to get Rian to come to their door as he’s the town’s poster childling tricker treater. He never goes to either though since Ordon tells him not to and it’d be a time waster.

Deet reminds everyone not to give candy to any animals. Also brings treats of her own in case kids can’t eat candy they’re given due to health issues.

Deet’s dads don’t like giving out candy since it can exclude kids so they give out stuffed animals instead.

Rek’yr throws a party for all the adults at night. Most go to discuss the night’s events, kid’s costumes, decorations, though Mayrin and Ordon skip out to spend time with family while the rest of the adults go.

Maudra Argot is said to be a “wild child” at said parties.

Maudra Mera bakes cookies from scratch for trick or treaters.

SkekMal will take one childling per Halloween and childling are told not to go near the forest. It’s why big kids are forced to watch after the younger ones (even though some would rather be studying or going to the big party on the block).

To add to this since I was rereading it and came back, due to the SkekMal takes one childling every Halloween night thing, some older kids are given other kids as their responsibility even if not related. So close family friends older kids watch younger ones of other family friends, and usually it’s chosen by the adult. For example Ordon choose Tolyn to watch Rian (with Rian disappointed and upset it wasn’t Gurjin, but Ordon rightly assesses Gurjin isn’t mature enough), and Tolyn obviously accepted. Similarly Deet usually goes with Seladon and her sisters as her family is close to Argot and Argot considers her a grandchild so she asked Mayrin to have Seladon do it, so Seladon does.

Could cause a few storylines, like for example Rian realizing Tolyn isn’t just a kill joy and is genuinely trying to protect him with the rules as Tols saves Rian from getting hunted by SkekMal when he wanders to the forest away from the group (and can get much darker, maybe Tolyn secretly points Mal to another child so he doesn’t take Rian). Tbh that’s bc I think it’d be cool for Rian and Tolyn to have, while obviously an adversary, also a complicated relationship where they care for each other, but at times go about it in a way the other might not appreciate fully.

The dock of the Sifan clan were as busy as ever for today the Stonewood Maudra, Vala, was coming to talk about an alliance. Ethri raced to the Omerya only to collide with her brothers, causing Cadia and herself to fall over on their faces. Cadia was the first to rise, brushing the dust off himself calmly before helping his sister get onto her feet.

“I get that toda’ is a bus’ da’, but watch where ye’re walkin’, got it?” He gently warned, before his attention was diverted to his twin children who wanted their mother to pick them up. Ethri rolled her eyes a bit before sighing in agreement.

“Fine… Only because you are my brother.” She replied as Cadia motioned for her to hurry, once she arrived her father noticed her and silently asked for her to brush the rest of the sand off of herself. She quickly obeyed as she walked to her spot, bumping into a guard in the process. When she looked to the man in order to apologize, she saw a handsome, square jawed Stonewood with raven black hair, and chestnut eyes, causing her to stare and drool a bit. The man looked concerned as she continued to stare and drool.

“Uh? Your highness? Are you alright?” He asked, a bit worried that he had done something to upset her. She then blushed as she realized what she was doing.

“I am so sorry!! I just find you handsome and attractive, Sir.” She admitted before hearing him chuckle.

“Is that so? Well in that case, you should at least know my name.” He said before adding. “My name is Ordon, the son of the high advisor, Advor and his husband Eurias. And may I ask for your name, Princess?” She blushed profoundly when she heard his name and decided to give him hers.

“My name is Ethri, the daughter of Cadistin and Maudra Asdria.” She replied with a warm smile, which made him want to smile back.

“Milady, It is an honor to meet you. I’ve heard a big deal of you from Toyln, but I didn’t realize his description of you was accurate and truthful.” He admitted which made Ethri giggle at him, before looking at her with some embarrassment in his posture and expression. The Sifan princess felt a bit sorry for him, and decided to cheer him up a bit.

“Soo… What else did my brother tell you about me?”

sneak peak of a story I'm writing with a rare pair of mine and how they met in my au.