Fun fact, “blond” is one of the few words in English that technically maintains its French-rooted gender-based spelling breakdown.

Blond = a male with blond hair

Blonde = a female with blonde hair

Blonds = more than one male blond or a mixed gender group of blonds

Blondes = and all-female group of blondes

Very few people follow this rule anymore. I doubt anyone but the worst pedant would dock you points for it if you got it wrong. But technically the rule is there. And I notice it. And try to get it right in my prose.

(Yes it applies to brunet vs brunette too)

(Now excuse me, I wrote “blond” so much that the word lost meaning to me. Blond. Blonde. Blondondondonnnddd…)

I went to the Chain of Thorns tour tonight!

As promised, I saw Cassie today and wrote down her answers (paraphrased) to the questions asked to share here with you all -- and I asked her a question of my own, too!

It was a spoiler-free event, so those of you who have not finished or read any part of Chain of Thorns can read on safely :D

Question: Was it intentional that a Lightwood dies in every series? [referring to Max (TMI), Benedict (TID), Robert (TDA), Barbara (TLH)] Answer: No, it was not intentional and not planned to be that way. But there are so many Lightwoods. In retrospect, it sure looks like it, doesn't it?

Question: What was your process of creating Grace Blackthorn? Answer: Grace is a parallel of Estella from Great Expectations, as The Last Hours is a retelling of that story. I wanted a character to be an embodiment of "explanation not an excuse." I also wanted to give Estella the chance to tell things from her perspective, which is never revealed in Great Expectations. So Grace is that character who is able to display the other side of that situation through her point of view.

Question: How did you come up with the parabatai curse? Answer: It's a greek work and when I learned the meaning, I was immediately interested in exploring the power of non-romantic love. That's where the concept of parabatai came from. The curse then stemmed from expanding on what it means to be parabatai and who could and could not have one. That is where the curse came to be, and of course, how it became a focal point of TDA.

Question: How can I find a man like James Herondale? Answer: I asked myself the same question when I was younger: "Why aren't men like men in books?" I met my husband at a book club and we began sending books to one another that we liked. So my advice is to find a boy, girl, person who enjoys books, too.

Question: Who is your favorite parabatai pair? Answer: Will and Jem.

Question: Who in The Last Hours was the easiest to write? The hardest? Answer: The hardest characters to write were Grace and Matthew, as they both faced very complex problems that don't have an easy or single solution. The easiest characters to write were Cordelia and Lucie. Lucie, because she is also a writer and I very much had a passion for it the way I did when I was younger, too. Cordelia was easy to write because she was fun to write. (Bonus: The most fun to write is Magnus.)

Question: Who is your favorite character from each series? Answer: Didn't want to answer at first, but admitted the following: TID is Tessa. TLH is Lucie. TMI is Simon. No answer for TDA.

Question: Who in TLH was your favorite point of view to write from? Answer: Alastair, Thomas, and Lucie.

Question: Will we ever see Jace and Clary again in a prominent role? Answer: They will be in The Wicked Powers, but the story focuses on Ty, Dru, and Kit, so prominency will remain with them.

Question: How did you develop Ty [Blackthorn] and who was your inspiration for him? Answer: My stepbrother, who always said he looked for characters who exhibited similar characteristics as him, but it was never the same as having a character who was also autistic, and used the word, too.

Question: What made you decide to make Coredlia Iranian? Answer: I was born in Iran and Farsi was my first language. I can't speak it fluently now, but I wanted to make a character that incorporated that part of my life. To make her character and her family's characters, I had a group chat with my mother's friends, who were a bunch of 80-year-old Iranian women. They were very happy to help. Sometimes they argued amongst themselves about a question I had and who had the correct answer, and I would just sit back and watch it unfold while a little scared.

Question: Is there a plot line or detail you look back on and regret doing? Answer: THE FAMILY TREE. [She went on to explain that when she first made it, she had no intention to write any other historical book. But she got the idea for TLH while writing TDA, and suddenly the path and story she wanted to tell did not align with the already-published family tree. So basically, my theory was right and we have confirmation from CC herself that it's just a result of premature development!]

That was the last question of the night, but I saved the question I asked her myself for last! I asked her if Cecily and Gideon had official birthdays, and if so, if we would ever learn them, since we know the rest of the TID cast's birthdays from the 10th anniversary birthstone cards.

Her answer: I never told you guys their birthdays?! I have what I call the Bible and it contains everything about all the characters like their birthdays, star signs, etc. So yes, they do have birthdays. I don't remember them off the top of my head, but I'm sure it'd be no problem getting it out to you guys. There's no reason for not.

So, yes, they do have birthdays, and if she remembers that I asked, we might find them out very soon!

I had a great night and there were some hilarious answers to questions that weren't TSC-specific, but I simply just cannot write that fast.

Okay so quick question. WHY DOES NO-ONE DRAW HERBERT WEST IN THE SUIT JACKET???? LIKE I KNOW HE DOESN'T WEAR IT FOR LONG BUT HE'S SO SKRUNKLY IN IT. AM I THIRSTING OVER HIM IN THE JACKET. YES. MOST DEFINITELY. HE WAS SO HOT AND NO-ONE TALKS ABOUT IT.

[yes I'm rewatching re-animator and all I have to say is the same as one of my last posts. Herbert stop touching your boyfriend's tit. Just stop touching your boyfriend. You're making a cover up for your murder babes.]

[Also him in the jacket is below this text, he's so hot. <3]

Okay, I’ve been rereading the Hunger Games and I was struck by a detail that I’ve noticed before and I know is obvious, but it stings every time. President Snow tells Katniss that she doesn’t just need to convince the Capitol that she loves Peeta, she needs to convince him. And the moment she does that in the games, shows everyone (as Finnick points out later) that she loves Peeta more than even she knew, that’s when President Snow knows he has her. Because even before she shocks him by destroying the force field, he knows the easiest way to target her. I think he always knew that Peeta, her family, Cinna, and even Haymitch were the way to get to her. But it is only after she has convinced him of her love for Peeta that he knew he had his best weapon. Because Peeta was so accessible to him, the most accessible to him. He couldn’t kill Peeta in the same way he could Cinna, and I don’t think he ever wanted to. He knew Peeta was his most accessible weapon, he just didn’t know how powerful of a weapon against Katniss he truly was. And it’s so horrible that the moment it’s clear Katniss loves Peeta is the moment it’s clear to President Snow just how powerful an asset he is. It also is made more awful by the fact that Peeta is literally one of the kindest characters in the books. His whole goal was to keep who he was in tact in the games and to keep Katniss safe, and Snow takes away the former to destroy the latter. The comfort is that he underestimates the power that kind of love caries. And I’m not talking magical kind of power, but the kind of power that makes a person want to fight back, but also gives them something to fight for. It’s one of the things that drives Katniss on and one of the things that helps Peeta to fight to move forward. It’s the thing that, after everything, helps them to heal. And that’s something so powerful about the ending of those books, and throughout the books. President Snow sees only what can allow him gain or keep power, what assets he can find and weapons he can create to aid him in doing so. He underestimates the healing qualities of kindness and the strength of goodness. The moment Katniss convinces President Snow of her love for Peeta, Snow finds his weapon. But he ignores the fact that Katniss and Peeta have found something stronger.

I heard someone in the school cafeteria today with a similar voice to a friend's and I thought: Huh they must both have the same voice actor

It took me a full minute to realise that humans do not have fucking voice actors

The mental health crisis is fading (for now - is it really ever gone??). Which means I am wanting to be social. I'm sorry I just up and disappeared. But I'm feeling so much better and now I can go back to blathering about my OCs, my writing, Fallout, Baldur's Gate 3 (new hyperfocus!), writing in general...Bears (the animal...haha...or not...HAHA), and other sundries.

Working in education...

My Master's program (rocks rocks and MORE ROCKS!).

The point is, I'm feeling a lot better. And I hope it stays that way for a long time!

Sometimes my old fe fates stuff pops up in my notifications, and I miss all the people I used to interact with on here.

In very niche things I’m still upset about: the fact the Mississippi River is still called the Mississippi after it passes St Louis. It should be the Missouri

fun fact i have not watched the kenobi finale to the end BECAUSE I DONT WANT THE SHOW TO END OK🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

Sometimes in genre fiction stories, you’ve got magical characters talking about their magical lives in public or wearing their superhero costumes out in the regular world.

Often times, the magical characters feel they need to hide or whisper about things like magic or immortality or fighting demons or like pretend they’re going to a convention to explain their superhero costume.

These are often lovely and charming scenes but let me be clear:

Nobody in a major city would give a fuck.

Just as one example of many, I was literally in line for a book signing in NYC and a man walked by stark ass naked wearing only body paint and basically after the initial surprise, no one did or said anything about it.

The amount of crazy you encounter on any given day walking around a major city makes you basically immune to surprise or taking any kind of action about weird shit happening around you.

If I heard someone talking about their magical powers next to me at a cafe back when I lived in NYC, I’d assume either 1) they’re rehearsing for a play, 2) playing/discussing D&D, and/or most importantly 3) it’s none of my fucking business.

I’m always curious what exactly people think would actually happen in the real world if a supernatural or magical character was overheard by someone who wasn’t actively hunting them or who wished them harm.

If you overheard a time traveler or an immortal or magical person in general candidly speaking about their life at the table next to you, what would you actually do about it?

Would you call the police?

Tell the whole world you just sat next to a real magical person and your evidence is that you overheard their conversation?

Report them to their nemesis? How would you even find them??

Seriously, besides telling your friends about the weird conversation you overheard at lunch or the strange looking person you saw, what exactly would a normal person do even if they really did overhear someone like a time traveler speaking candidly about their travels for anyone to hear?

I ask because I see so many stories set in a superhero or urban fantasy setting worrying about being NOTICED. Noticed by WHO? With what result?? What do you actually worry is going to happen? What would any average person actually do besides shrug and go back to whatever they were doing?

I’d accept that maybe in a smaller town you could become a topic of conversation and even widespread notice.

But let me assure you, friends, in any major city, no one would fucking notice much less say anything about any level of weird shit they saw. The whole point of a big city is that everyone basically ignores the weird shit happening around them at any given point.

So let the fairies and ghosts and time travelers of your fantasy story relax. If they’re in a big city, they could literally fly around downtown with rainbows shooting out their ass and the only comment they’d probably get is from people wondering what movie is being filmed nearby.

i think we can all agree that Cecily Herondale would absolutely be one of those moms at Pride with a Free Mom Hugs booth and i dare you to tell me i’m wrong

Small rambly rant ^^ irls ignore this <3

Me when my close friend makes fun of my old chosen name and constantly asks 'have you changed your name again yet?' like dude I understand I had shit choice in names and I may change it a lot but it's up to me not you I don't care my name is what I want it to be and I'm going to take ages to settle on one

What do you think about Hijacked Peeta storyline in Mockingjay?

Is it narrative-ly satisfied for Peeta's arc?

Thank you,

@curiouspeetamellark

Hi again!!! More late replies! I am so so so sorry!

I think that Hijacked Peeta is one of the more painful storylines in Mockingjay, but I also think it is a brilliant one. What I love about it is that, though it is shocking, it is not for shock value. The Hunger Games does not pull its punches when it comes to analyzing war, trauma, unrest, etc.. Mockingjay is especially brutal because the spectacle of the Games is stripped away entirely and what it truly does to people, what it has always meant to do, is seen as clearly as an open wound. Every character in The Hunger Games has something taken from them, has their morals tested, and is pushed to their extremes. I think that the Hijacking storyline, from a character arc perspective, is somewhat necessary to show what I think Susan Collins wanted to show with Peeta's character. Peeta's Hijacking and even during his time in the Capitol is important in showcasing just how needed his optimism is for everyone around him and how vital he is to all of their lives. And most importantly, how powerful hope is.

The fact that every single time I read or watch I still hope that Peeta's reunion with everyone will be a happy one shows just how important he is not only to Katniss, but also to the story. Peeta doesn't have to be your favorite character for you to be absolutely gutted for Katniss, Haymitch, and Peeta himself. The one thing he wanted at the start of the series, to not have the Games change him, has been taken from him in the most horrifying way possible. It shows that war, fear, and trauma can turn someone into something that they don't want to be. But Peeta's storyline also shows that that doesn't mean healing isn't possible. With time, help, understanding, and love, Peeta comes back to himself. I love that Haymitch, Finnick, Delly, Prim, they all are patient with him and help him. Finnick introducing "Real or Not Real" to Peeta and showing him healthy ways of processing, having gone through it himself, is so touching. And Delly and Prim assuring that Peeta is still himself, just himself in need of some help is such an important message. I also love that Haymitch defends Peeta and watches out for him.

It is also completely understandable why Katniss, going through her own trauma, would be slow to trust and want to shut Peeta out when he returns Hijacked. Peeta is introduced as kind of the moral center for Katniss and her touchstone in the Games for not only hope, but for home. So to have him come back to her so altered does just what Snow hopes it will, it crushes her. Peeta is the dandelion in snow, and to think that snow has buried it dampens Katniss's hope in a way not much else could. For her, it feels easier to think he's gone than to hope that he'll come back and be crushed even more. But Peeta comes back to her slowly, and so does her hope. Peeta healing, coming slowly back to himself and processing his own trauma, connects to the story's overall message that healing isn't easy, but goodness is never truly gone. As shown at the end of the novel, the snow melts and the flowers grow back.

The beautiful thing about poetry is that suddenly your thoughts aren't depressed anymore but tragic and poetic

Still really up in the air about if I'll do smut or not in Cry Mercy. On the one hand, it doesn't bother me to write smut and it can sometimes add to a story. On the other hand...poly relationships are kinda...oversexualized...

Then again...I could show a poly relationship where it's like...they don't all sleep together. Because THAT, my friends, is a valid relationship. Poly doesn't mean everybody's banging...

At least in my poly relationship...

Still hasn't helped me with the smut question...

I definitely only felt good yesterday because of the sun being out bc now today it's rainy and gross and I'm experiencing every bad symptom my brain could have. Why are brains like this.