yes i just finished both books in 24 hours yes i am in pain no i am not ready to make it to 2022

AU where instead of shaved heads the Ninth does mushroom cuts.

Messy things from last night

can’t stop thinking about the coffee scene Harrow’s soul imagined (?)

KDA doodles cause I love them das it😔💖

My favourite books are the ones that leave me with a deep feeling of existential despair. 

Art by オカマ◆山 (@ok_Ma3)

darling, you look wonderful

I know that they’re fictional characters...but these two fuck for sure

They’re on a date. Watch out for the paparazzi.

Gen is Pheris the Elder in Disguise?

One of the many brilliances of the prose of @meganwhalenturner is the way numerous layers are carefully crafted over the course of these books. Her writing thrives on subtlety and there are a number of things left up to interpretation. Having just finished Return of the Thief, I have a theory that I kind of fell in love with. I solidly believed it was where the book was going for 70 pages. Gen is the Pheris the Elder, son of Baron Erondites.

Not only are the similarities between Pheris and Eugenides emphasized (for symbolism I assumed), but the story of Pheris (supposedly murdered) is mentioned a couple of times and Eugenides has some particularly interesting reactions. Thus, I present some of the evidence and total speculation:

1) Eugenides knows Pheris’s sign language “Relius was clumsy and slow. Eugenides wasn’t signing like him or even like Melisande. He was communicating as Juridius and I did. Not only was everything he said clear, he knew the sign for my tutor, and I had never taught that to Relius. Why would I have needed to? 2) The god Eugenides was adopted. In the myth back in the very first book, Eugenides is raised by a human couple. As can be seen a number of times, Eugenides’s story often mirrors that of the god Eugenides.

3) Pheris the Elder was exceedingly clever, which leads to his father supposedly killing him. Note that these issues between fathers and sons is referenced in the mythology, set up between Gen and the Minister of War, and also possibly through this headcanon. What if this was some kind of ruse and he escaped?

  4) Gen’s response to mention of Melisande by Sejanus”‘She appeared to be my childhood nurse, Melisande.’ Sejanus shrugged. The king hesitated, almost if he did believe then, but he shook it off.“

5) Gen is often sick. This could be for a number of reasons, but I’ve been concerned about Gen for a number of books now because he’s often ill. My mistake was in assuming that this was something new post-THE EVENT in QoA. Pheris is also experiences frequent bouts of illness. It is said that "They gave [Pheris the Elder] my father’s, and his father’s, name before they knew” that he had a condition. This indicates that Pheris the Younger’s condition might be different from that of Pheris the Elder. Perhaps Pheris the Elder experienced selective mutism due to how his father shuns him because of his frequent illness, which is why Melisande teaches him and Sejanus sign language.

7) Is there anything more Gen than pretending to not be someone?In disguise as a common thief. Talking with Kamet and hanging out in the kitchens in the Attolian palace in disguise. Subtly hiding his identity while talking to the soldiers. I rest my case. Gen is always popping up where he’s least expected.

8) He has some strong feelings about the House of Erondites and about Sejanus’s care for Dite’s welfare in KoA. Some bitterness, but also mercy. Imagine the irony in all of those interactions if he is Sejanus’s brother…. The scene in Return of the Thief where Sejanus has his second audience strongly echoes the story of Joseph and his brothers, in which the brother who was betrayed by his other brothers serves as a powerful figure in a position to judge and they don’t recognize him. Sejanus defends Pheris like Benjamin’s brothers defend him. Also, just think of all Gen’s coats…Joseph and his technicolor dream coat anyone? Joseph and Gen (Pheris) were both betrayed and then rose to a position of extraordinary power.

9) Pheris the younger is notably small. People often think he is younger than he is. Gen is described in a similar way. There are a number of times when his shortness and the fact that he looks young is mentioned. We assume we know his age, but we’re never actually told. 10) Dite and Gen in the Garden

Tell me, what could Gen have possibly told Dite that made him have such a total change of heart? He was so in love with the queen. What could have trumped that?

11) Sejanus on his deathbed can’t stop talking about his brother Pheris. Then Gen comes in and is the only one who is able to calm him before he dies. 

12) And finally, I give you: “We are liars, all the Erondites.” I think Pheris knows and this is one reason why he spares Sejanus. He wants to hear more of the story of Pheris the Elder and is connecting the dots between Gen and the lost Erondites son.

Just some thoughts…

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embarrassed, but aggressively 

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