I Am Not Dead And Neither Is This Story. I Had Promised Myself That I Wouldnt Update Another Chapter

I am not dead and neither is this story. I had promised myself that I wouldn’t update another chapter until I had finished the thing, but while checking out my account, I noticed that it had been OVER A YEAR since I had last added a chapter to it, let alone anything else. I have remedied this. Can’t promise anything coming super soon, but if another month passes and I’m not significantly closer, the next chapter will at least be done. Once I’m finished, I’ll move down to once a week so that I have time to edit.

This is especially important to me, because I’ve already started working on a new project, because my dumb ass wants to do absolutely everything, and I want to at least be much closer to finishing this before I put that story out too.

SPOILERS FOR TV SHOW AND FOR THE BOOKS

Okay okay

So while I’m working on eating alone, Moiraine’s weird energy has taken me along for the ride. Forever ago I made a post about writing a Wheel of Time time travel fic, but since then the Wheel of Time tv show finished its season and I’m at a crossroads.

I decided that I wanted Moiraine to be the person to raise Rand in this fictional scenario, but I’m not sure how I want to go about this, because I need to decide on what flavor of Moiraine I want. So, my options are as follow (spoilers) and I am taking suggestions because all of these sound exceptionally fun. I also am debating about whether she goes alone or with others and who with

Fires of Heaven Moiraine that just tackled Lanfear and thinks she’s dead/dying

Shadows Raising/Fires of Heaven Moiraine that is so fucking lost about what to do next

TV finale Moiraine that suddenly finds herself in a place of raising the boy that she just figured out was the dragon reborn and can no longer channel

New Spring Moiraine as a newly minted Aes Sedai that suddenly has to raise prophecy child

EDIT: Note that there were two more on here, but I decided that they were less interesting. Pre and Post Last Battle Moiraine, while somewhat fun, makes her journey less interesting than the other four.

So I was a little conflicted about posting this because I want so badly for more people to engage with wheel of time, but here goes.

For people like myself who deal with depression and suicidal ideation, please be careful when watching the later seasons of the show (because it will continue after episode 5) and/or reading the books. I know I have ignored warnings like this in the past and ended up regretting it. I’m not saying don’t engage, but one of the main characters deals heavily with suicidal ideation and self-loathing to the point where it’s a huge part of their overall character and arc. Not gonna say who or how or why, but I’m going to recommend this now because we’ve already had it and for if/when you choose to read the books, you check on websites meant to go over that such as doesthedogdie.com. I was just doing my book reread and got to the first few chapters of book three (don’t worry I’m doing another reread as I go for the book club; I just got them on audiobook and got a little ahead of myself), and could only think, “wow, I forgot it started this early.”

Just… be safe. Think about your headspace.

WoT Reread: New Spring Chapter 1

I suppose this is the first installment of the reread. The way I’m going to write it is I’ll have bullet points for anything I think of while the chapter is going, and if I have anything that occurs to me at the end, I’ll put it in a paragraph. Since this book specifically is involved with the fanfic that I’m writing, I’ll probably talk a little about that as I go. I am going to do this a chapter at a time, if only for my own sanity.

I love this series, but I will get salty. Just a warning.

Chapter 1: The Hook

· It may not have the traditional Wheel of Time opening, but it still starts with a wind.

· I originally read/listened to (I’m doing this on audiobook so I can write and I did it on audiobook the first time so I could listen while driving and at work) right after Fires of Heaven, so this was my first experience with Lan POV.

·Bukama

·I’ll admit this starts out with a lot of description and I zoned out for it

·Wow. It’s so strange to think of Lan having bought into the idea that Aiel were darkfriends. At least, he was raised by someone that thought that.

·Okay so Lan doesn’t think that and calls Bukama on it.

·A lot of this is Lan casting shade.

·There was an extensive conversation about borderlander etiquette which I found fascinating, but remember little of. What I did remember when I listened to it was that a lot of it seemed to be very conscious of the chain of command (which makes sense given what we learned about Sheinaran ranks) and to make sure that you are extremely aware of who you are talking to. This possibly could do with the idea that you could use the information to track them down to see if they’re lying, make connections if they aren’t but are a darkfriend, and make sure that the person is not a Fade.

·I remember that the first time I read this, I was convinced that Lan was being betrayed with the military maneuver. It was that or the other commander was so unaware of the intricacies of borderlander culture that he didn’t realize probably sending Lan to his death was a bad idea. I honestly don’t remember if I was right or not.

·I probably should not have started listening to this while in a brain fog. It’s been that kind of day.

·I love the addition that some of the army are cursing stubbed toes. I too would curse stubbed toes if I had to stay moving in formation.

·I could do without the extensive explanation of what a hammer and anvil is. My brain is not equipped for this.

·“Some men would die in their beds, but since boyhood Lan knew he would not.” Thanks Lan.

·I’m trying to imagine the moment being one of these people that are basically going “what the fuck” in their heads while Lan gets shouted at by the Aiel. It feels like it would be hilarious.

So this chapter felt like a lot of set up, probably because I’m pretty sure this is the first Lan chapter in the entire series (don’t quote me on that). It would make sense that RJ would try and get into Lan’s head so that people who were ecstatic for it would soak it in. I have two problems with it: it is heavy on the ‘beginning of a Jordan book’ isms where everything is described in excruciating detail and also I’m not as interested as I thought I would be. I remember not really enjoying Lan’s chapters in this book, and part of that is the non-consensual ‘relationship’ that shows up later. My limited experience in cultural anthropology will come into play later when I discuss that, because I have a lot of feelings.

The rest of my lack of paying attention comes specifically from the fact that the fanfiction I am writing neither starts at this point nor really features Lan. I’m actually at the point where I’m not sure I want him in it. Not to do with him as a character, but I’m having trouble putting him in somewhere. We’ll see.

Two incredibly cursed things:

Today, I accidentally typed Rand Al’Thor as Rand Al’Thot and thought to myself “Well, it’s not exactly wrong.” Good for Rand.

My friend (who has only read the first three books bless her) apparently half jokingly/half seriously ships Rand and Gawyn. I.... don’t know how to feel about that. On one hand, just as much screen time as with Elayne and Gawyn does seem to have just as much immediate affection for Rand as Elayne. On the other, it’s Gawyn (my personal reread just brought be to THAT PART in Shadow Rising and ugh it begins).

Update: I am working (believe it or not) on my first book club thing. I think I have rewritten the first chapter notes about four or five times before I decided I wanted to do something a little different.