They Don't Always Ask The Band To Play Something Slow.

This is an interesting thing I'm noticing as I'm reading but it kinda seems to me like a lot of the Tolkien characters all seem to have elemental symbolism that seems to follow their characterization.

Like Gandalf and Bilbo both seem to have a lot of fire symbolism that follows them around. Gandalf uses light and fire as kind of his two go to weapons and he's the keeper of the ring of Narya which is the fire one. And of course Gandalf the White is forged out of flame. And then Bilbo's introduced in the middle of smoking, and he spends a lot of time hanging around campfires and hearths, like the campfire storyteller he is. He seems to like hanging out in the Hall of Fire at Rivendell, and his conflict with Smaug obviously also involves a lot of fire. He's also arguably the character who is closest to Gandalf.

Frodo on the other hand is like all water imagery. One of the first things we learn about Frodo is his parents were weirdos who hung out in boats and then drowned, and he's introduced filling drinks at Bilbo's party. He makes his stand against the Nazgul at the river. He himself nearly drowns like three times in the story, and spends a lot of time in boats, being haunted by dark waters, and the sound of the ocean (and of course ends the story going over the sea). Like the water symbolism with Frodo is nonstop and he shares that in common with Gollum, who specifically is characterized by pools, rivers, and lakes, as well as fish, worms, mud and roots and caves—very wet and slimy compared to Frodo's more mariner/wayfinder imagery. But they're still kind of two sides of the same coin.

Pippin and Merry get a lot of plant and tree symbolism. Besides hanging out with ents and drinking tree wine and that time they both got eaten by a tree, it's clear Merry grew up wandering forests and knows a lot about wild plants (and writes a book on it later) and Pippin gets a ton of association with Gondor, y'know, that place that is represented by a big ol' tree. Their tobacco leaves too actually kinda play a pivotal role, and are again, very plant focused.

You'd think Sam would also be more earth oriented, being he's a gardener, but not really? Unlike Merry who's out here spitting plant facts 24/7 and working on his plant book, Sam's interest in plants seems like to only be around when he's on the clock. His symbolism is all very celestial. He's the guy who ends up using the Star of Earendil. He sees Earendil while he and Frodo are walking through Mordor. He evokes Elbereth, the Star Goddess like multiple times. He names his daughter after the star-sun shaped flower Elanor which literally means "Sun and Stars." And if you think about it, Gardener is actually kind of a perfect role for a star-guy when you remember how dependent plants are on the sun. He also seems to share some kind of connection with Galadriel who is also caked in a lot of star imagery. It also tracks he'd be paired with Frodo thematically as he serves as a guiding light to a mariner, in contrast to how Gollum represents the depths.

IDK what all that means, I just think it's neat!

obsessed with re-embodied First Age war heroes interacting with the aman-born youth

Youth: Wow, your hair is so pretty! Such a first age throwback. Could you be related to Maedhros Fëanarion? Maedhros Fëanarion: Never heard of him

Finrod Felagund: That's a cool ring, kid. Reminds me of early first age bëorian metalwork. Youth: Gee, thanks, that's exactly what I was going for! Does it make me look like King Felagund? Finrod Felagund: Absolutely. He'd be proud

Youth: Atar said you're from the first age. Did you know the sons of Fëanor? Was Celegorm hot? This blond guy the other day told me he was really hot Caranthir: Don't listen to that blond guy again. I know what he's doing

Song of the Sea: Graphic novel🌊prologue

Day 3: Arrow | Susan Pevensie

What are some of your favorite fictional teams and crews? Groups of characters whose relationship is founded on the goal of accomplishing something together. They might become close friends and important presences in each other's lives--or just finishing the mission without biting each other's heads off might be a win--but either way, they have to work together and use each other's skills. I love this type of dynamic--tell me yours!

I think I love “O Come O Come Emmanuel” because it’s precisely the right amount of yearning and hope. I tend to view it in one of two ways:

-Someone crying out to God for deliverance in the verses, and God reassuring them that their Deliverer is coming in the chorus

-Someone alternating between yearning to see salvation and God’s glory, and rejoicing that they even have this hope that these things will come.

Agents of B.A.R.B.I.E. -> Skye (a.k.a. Daisy Johnson)

This Barbie is an Inhuman!

The Queen's Thief for the ask game!!

Oo, that's a good one!

send me a fandom and I’ll tell you…

the first character I ever fell in love with: I think it's gotta be Gen. His unreliable, irreverent, and endearing narration in TT is hard to pass up.

a character that I used to love/like, but now do not: I'm not sure if I have one of these beyond the villains who reveal themselves midway.

a ship that I used to love/like, but now do not: I feel like my ship opinions have stayed pretty consistent, actually

my ultimate favorite character™: This is hard because I love all of them! I'm torn between Gen and Costis I think (but cutting Irene hurts). Gen makes this series what it is, but Costis's love and loyalty are awesome (and I may relate with his attempts to be the responsible one a little too much, lol).

prettiest character: Irene

my most hated character: Nahuseresh

my OTP: Irenides :)

my NOTP: Relius and Teleus. I love them as friends, but not as lovers.

favorite episode: I'm going to interpret this as favorite incident, which is probably the section in QoA that goes from Irene putting on the earrings to "Diplomacy, in my own name." It was so cool to figure out the first time, and it's still so fun to reread.

saddest death: Probably Pol? There aren't a ton of major character deaths really, which is actually a bit surprising.

favorite season: My favorite book is either Queen of Attolia or King of Attolia.

least favorite season: I don't really find Thick as Thieves very compelling.

character that everyone else in the fandom loves, but I hate: No one's really coming to mind.

my ‘you’re piece of trash, but you’re still a fave’ fave: He's not a piece of trash, but I love the Magus even when he's scheming and loyal to Sounis.

my ‘beautiful cinnamon roll who deserves better than this’ fave: I feel like Sophos is the obvious answer for this, but Helen a bit too.

my ‘they’re kind of cute, and I lowkey ship them, but I’m not too invested’ ship: Eugenides the god and Alyta.

sometimes a song is good because you saw it on a fan edit for your favorite ship like ten years ago