win or die

[stillarium.livejournal.com]

Name: Lisa
How did you find out about the community? If it's through an LJ user, please tell us who it is (individual user if possible, not just a community name!): Sorry, I don't remember any particular user. I saw the link posted somewhere on LJ a while ago and thought I'd join. But I had only seen the series by then so I hadn't thought about the sorting again until now (I've at least read 1 1/2 volumes now so far xD)
Age: just got 22
Location: Vienna, Austria
Occupation: Student: I'm studying Sinology and will be abroad in China for the upcoming semester. I may take up English and American Studies too, it sounds interesting to me. I also tried Transcultural communication with german, english and chinese, but it wasn't really to my liking.




All About You

1. Describe your ideal house/home. Please go into as much detail as possible, and be sure to include your ideal geographical location in the description!.

I've always thought that it'd be either Middle Europe (perhaps England or Germany, besides Austria) or maybe Canada (since I already visited relatives there and liked it), preferably a country where german or english was spoken. I also would love to visit Japan and China (my mother's from China), but I don't think I'd be able to live there permanently. It would not only be crowded and the expectations immensely high, but when I visited there I was already a bit shocked at how low the living standards sometimes are (at least in China, haven't been to Japan yet). I hate the cold, so I wouldn't consider Sweden etc. even though they sound like very social and advanced countries. Many of the other countries just seem too dangerous or I just don't know enough about them to make me want to go live there yet.

2. Imagine you’re given the classic opportunity: a genie granting you three wishes. What would you wish for? Please be as elaborate as you can. Wishing for more wishes is not permitted!

Wow, this is hard. First of all, I'd probably wish for health and happiness for myself, people I know and probably just anyone. But in some measure of course, I don't think you could never be sad and you shouldn't live forever, but I'd want no greater unfortunate events etc. Second, I would wish that everyone would stop being stupid and I don't mean silly stupid, but truly stupid, like warring among themselves or destroying the envinronment beyond repair. Third, I would wish that there were many different worlds / planets with enough food out there we could reach and I could go to one where magic existed and I could experience some grand adventure, haha. 8D Since if everyone was peaceful, the worlds wouldn't battle each other, would they?

3. In your life so far, what accomplishment are you the most proud of? Why? You can list more than one if you have trouble deciding. ;)

Another difficult one. o.o It really depends on what one would see as an "accomplishment". Most people would probably name something to do with their job or studies, but I don't think that's always such an accomplishment except for when you've really earned it yourself. I mean, some people can go to the best universities just because their parents have loads of money, so...
I don't really remember any particular great accomplishment right now. There have been small instances where I did something for friends to cheer them up which made me happy too in return and also things not worth mentioning where I was proud because someone praised my work, be it winning some kind of competition, writing a story book when I was a kid or baking muffins and presenting them to my class for a presentation etc. I remember that when I was small, I was most proud of a time when we rode bikes for about 20 km, climbed a mountain (it wasn't that steep though) and rode 20 km back home. And of one time where we rode bikes while completely drenched in rain and I apparently thought I was going to die, it's still in my daily journal from back then. xD

4. Which of the following is most important to you: Love, Money, Knowledge, Family, Friendship, Adventure, or Pleasure? Which is the least important to you? Please explain why for each choice.

Friendship would be the most important one, I guess. I've only been in love and never truly loved yet (like being in a very serious relationship), but I've been thinking for a long while that friendship is more important anyway. Love comes and goes, but friendship stays - or at least it should stay, if it's a true friend. I'm not that close to my family, but they say friends are family you choose and some of my close friends really felt more as if they were my brothers at times than my biological brother. And now that I think about it, I think every "real" love is like some great friendship IMHO too, since the way I see it, friendship is pure platonic love felt for someone and love is just the same plus something extra as well. (Which may be a strange way to see it but oh well, I can't really describe it well... I just mean, I think the foundation of a romantic relationship is also some kind of "friendship")

The least important one is hard to say, because in a way each of them is important. Money seems the most likely one to say, but in this world, you're pretty poor off without money. Without any money, the chances that you can be really happy and have all of the other things listed - or any at all - are not that good. Knowledge isn't that needed to live happily either and you could be well - even better - off without it, but personally I probably wouldn't want to be without any knowledge. Adventure would probably be something most people wouldn't need either, but I guess once in a while, you need at least some kind of adventure in your life. A life wholly without pleasure would be dull as well. And family, friendship and love are too important, those I would rule out. I can't really decide, but money, adventure or knowledge would have to go. xD Most likely money. If you had real knowledge, you wouldn't need money that badly anyway...

(God, I'm ranting too much...)


5. What's one quote (or passage, song lyric, etc.) that effectively describes you and your values? Explain.

My favorite quote is probably "Don't dream your life, live your dream." It's a very idealistic quote and of course I can't live the fantasies I spin in my mind, but I think the essence of this quote does represent a part of me. It may be a naive way of thinking, but I think you shouldn't be bound by your family or morals or any other "should" and must"s, just live the way you like (as long as you're not harming others and being a creepy psycho :p ). Why not "waste" a year by just going to another country just to live if you life or be together with someone you love even though others oppose it? It's better than hiding, listening to others all the time and then regretting it for the rest of your life.

6. How do you manage your money? On that note, how important is money/financial security to you? Go into as much detail as you can.

Until recently, I've had a side job as a waitress. I've worked as a waitress for about one year before, but this was only 16 hours per week. Besides that, I've only had traineeships in the summer and the like. I had moved out twice already for a period of time, but now I live with my parents. If I need money, my father gives it to me, though I guess it is fair since here in Austria, you get financial aid for every child under a certain age (of 24 or something, I think) so he probably gets more money by having me than if I was away (because the money would rightly belong to me and he would theoretically have to send the whole amount to me then) anyway, since I don't require that much money each month. XDD

I don't buy clothes that often. If I like them and they're well enough, I'll wear them for years. Contrary to many girls I only have a few pairs of shoes. If I buy something, it's mostly DVDs, video games, books.... I hardly ever go into discos either, but it's often spent when I go out with friends to eat, to the cinema or a bar.

I wouldn't say that money is that important to me, I don't need a whole lot of it. I often see the way some friends waste it and thinks it's stupid, even more so those who buy brand products to show off. I'm not stingy either though, if I go somewhere I usually give tips and I don't turn every penny over twice. I'd say that I just need so much that I don't have to constantly worry about it and that I still have some money left if I suddenly was in dire need of some.

7. Name (and elaborate on) some of your hobbies. What are your favorite things to do outside of school/the office?

Now I already began talking about that in the previous section... xD I like meeting friends to hang around and just talk or go to the cinema, eat, drink, play videogames, watch DVDs... I also like anime/manga but I haven't occupied myself with it for quite some time now, browsing the internet, reading and writing, watching TV shows, listening to music. As for sports, I enjoy swimming and DDR, that dance game, if that counts (it should, it's really tiresome @-@). I also like other sports like badminton or riding a bicycle but I hardly ever get to it. I probably should do more sports but yeah... luckily it's not that urgent since I'm (probably too) skinny etc, but just because... you know, it would be healthy. xD I used to play piano, I'd like to pick that up again too.

8. Name three things you are afraid of. Explain.

- Spiders, especially really big spiders. I don't know, the thought alone already scares me a bit. I think my biology teacher once said it might have something to do with... what about creatures fear other creatures the more they are unlike themselves. And spiders are pretty different with their 8 legs and eyes and hairy body etc...

- Syringes, I'll soon have to get some for my abroad trip and I already dread it, especially since there will probably be a lot. Again, I don't know exactly why. I can't really look at blood sometimes and the thought of a needle going in like that is also... ew.

These are strangely both fears that I could have cared less about when I was a kid, but when I grew older they took to me more and more.

I can't really think of a real third fear right now. I don't like bats and sharks too much and some diseases that are very hard to stomach / to look at. And in general, fear of failing or disappointing because I'm not good enough at university.

9. Name (and elaborate on) your top three BEST and top three WORST qualities (personality-related, not physical). Please answer as fully as you can, as this is an important question.

OK, let's see:

+ I think I'm someone you can talk to easily if you try. I usually stay patient and friendly and I can listen as well as talk. That's one of the things I like to do with my closest friends anyway, we could just talk for hours about anything. It could be something stupid, but if it's an insider, it would be all the more fun and create a bond since it would be a secret etc. I also feel pretty loyal about my closest friends. I prefer a few close friends to a lot of superficial ones.
+ I'm usually humorous and imaginative. There'd be a lot of jokes and I'd usually be good at coming up with written work, be it essays or stories for school / university or just stuff for freetime like fanfictions / RPGs
+ I guess I'm pretty tolerant which should be a given in these times, but sadly it's not so I'll name it too. E.g. I think racism, homophobia and animal cruelty are horrible and did already tell a lot of people so when asked and even argue with them about it (funny thing is that most homophobes can't really exactly name why they don't like it and the most common argument for people who don't care about animals is always "they're only animals").

The bad traits somehow tend to come easier to mind...!
- I'm really messy and chaotic. Wherever I am, it soons looks like a bomb has went off or something. There's... not much I can elaborate on here... xD;; It's not a very nice trait and one most people would stereotypically not expect of a female, but yeah... always been kinda like that, I doubt it will change much. I vow to try to do better abroad, or it will probably be hell for half a year and that won't do good. %)
- I'm easily jealous. And I don't mean just in the romantic sense, I also hate it when two friends meet without inviting me, at least or especially when they know each other through me etc. Some people might not have a problem with that at all, but I always feel left out and I'd question as to why they haven't asked me etc. Maybe there's a bit of a complex there. I have two siblings, an older brother and an older sister. He's the oldest and was always pampered and there was a strong rivalry between me and my sister (she's almost 3 years older) back in the days because we were similar, at least from the looks and our accomplishments. We both only had A grades, both played piano, both went to ballett etc. Eventually she fared better while I was dropped behind since I didn't have any motivation to keep studying anymore (private problemts etc) but those years were really not pretty. I envied her because she was better at many things but some people like my cousins liked me better nonetheless because she was... uh, a tad bitchy. It's been better now since she moved out and we're both adults.
- I tend to overthink and bear grudges. It's horrible how fast my mood can pummel, especially on public transportation, when it's crowded and I suddenly hate everyone who crosses my way. I sometimes really dislike someone but don't say it aloud and just brood in silence. If it's some friend, someone who just did something stupid, I wouldn't have a problem saying it (just in a normal way, without making a drama), but if it's someone I don't know so well, then I usually can't bring myself to say anything, not even if they really do start something. A few years ago, I couldn't have said anything back even when random teenager stranger bullies would have started to pick on me since I had been very shy, at least that's over now. Back then I also used to swallow all my anger at friends until it suddenly came out all at once. :/





A Song of Ice and Fire Related

1.Who are your favorite three characters in the series? Why?

Only three...? So hard. :/ OK, first: Like I said, I saw the series before I read the books and I'm only almost half finished with them. During the series, I liked Ned, Robb, Arya, Jon, Renly, Loras, Tyrion, Daenerys and Viserys (probably more because of the actor, it was a bit of a funny Draco in leatherpants version) best. In the books, there was absolutely nothing to like about Viserys, though. And Loras and Renly hardly had that much screentime but I still liked them a lot. I think if I'd have to pick only 3, I'd say:

- Ned: I was completely unspoilered about his death and I could hardly believe it ;_; Came as a great shock. I don't even know to start with this one, how can you not like him when you're not a villain or his enemy? XD He seemed to me like one of the very few honest men, loving to his family and that meant not only his wife and children born from her, but also Jon. I remember a line from Tyrion's POV where he said that people like him and Jon Arryn were too honorable and upright and it was no wonder that they were dead since they would have had to play Cersei's game to win.
Now that I think of it, I guess I almost liked the scene most of all where he talked to Arya when she showed her Needle. Or when they spoke in front of Robert after Joffrey was bitten.

- Arya: I like tomboys like Arya... and I was so touched and almost cried when she tried to save Ned though of course it was better that she didn't get through in the end :( I don't know what I can say, I feel like it's obvious with her and Ned... xD She's still young, but she's trying to be brave and not like the typical girls or damsel in distress, I just like strong female characters. And even that depends on your POV, since she isn't that strong yet, but at least she stries.

- Renly / Loras: I couldn't decide whom to put here, so they'll share the spot. XD Since I watched the TV show first, I was a bit surprised there's so little of them to read about in the books. And I had been spoilered that Renly would die but I didn't know when and how. I did kinda see it coming, especially since he was being so carefree but it still saddened me when it happened :'( I think here it's also a combination of them both that made them more likeable. Sure, each of their own would have been a handsome charming knight, but that would have been it. Together, it was something different, with Loras being his most loyal man etc., there's something so idealistic, naivé, yet touching and honorable about it... but I don't know if I would have seen it the same way without seeing the TV show first. I think I would have liked them nonetheless, but I don't know to what extent, since their appearances were so limited and I probably wouldn't have even noticed that they're lovers yet (so far, only the "praying" was a bit more of a hint IMO). I wish they would have gotten more, but now... XO Renly's was the third death that really shocked and depressed me, after Ned's and Lady's. Though I think I like Renly in the book even better than in the series, but maybe I'll come to like the one in the TV show as much. That fanservice scene with Loras was involuntarily strange, it let him seem so whiny because all he did was complain about Robert and then he was shocked by his own blood. X'D

2.Who are your least favorite three characters in the series? Why?

- Joffrey: Do I really need to start? XD He's just such a little but giant jerk. I remember that in the series, when I hadn't seen/known that much of him I felt sorry when Tyrion had slapped him. Pft, not anymore. But I wonder why they picked this actor. He already seems like an evil little brat the way he looks now while he was described as handsome with long blond hair, but whatever... ever since Ned there was no way to like him again anyway, especially since he only grew worse and worse.

- Theon: I heard that many complain about the books, saying that women are portrayed so negatively, only being the victims and being raped etc. I don't agree with these critics, because given the circumstances, this is sadly a realistic tale. But Theon, I hate him as a character for how he treats women. I loved how his sister made a fool of him. :p And I wonder if he even has a spark of loyalty... I fear not, but he said he did like Robb a little at least. I'm just at the point where his father commanded him and his sister to sail.

I think there's no third least favorite. There are many I don't exactly like, those guys on Arya's list f.e., but there's not that much to go on here to really grow to hate them. I don't like Cersei much either but sometimes I feel for her again, like when she cried or in that scene where she learned that Renly and Stannis were going to fight each other and promplty took and spun Tyrion xD I loved that image in my mind.

3.#1 Favorite moment in all of ASOIAF so far? Why?

Some of the most emotional must have been the three deaths I mentioned, Ned, Lady and Renly. Then there were many which made me feel happy because they were cute, even when they were only short sentences. I think I don't remember one special favorite moment.

4. In your dream-world, how would you like to see the series end, and why?

I think that's too soon for me to say, I haven't even read the four volumes that are here in my bedroom yet. But I already know I wished Ned and Renly were still alive for no other reason than that I liked them and they have their family and Loras and everyone who liked them, but that probably wouldn't work with the plot. xD Well and... the Starks should be reunited, Robb the king in the North but if it were for me, he wouldn't have to be the King of the realm. Not that Daenerys or Stannis would do that much better, at least I can't really imagine (though Daenerys did have noble intentions about wanting happy people in her village, but she's so inexperienced)... maybe Tyrion? X'D I don't really see a happy end for Cersei and Jaime though, wouldn't they always want revenge if they still lived...? Anyway, I guess I'll take another jab at it after I've read the volumes.

Comments

Lannister

[embossedsilver.livejournal.com]

I've sorted people who have only read the first book before, so Martell.

But watch yourself! Though you may want to read up on the house you might get :)

P.S. Your icon is cute!

Re: Lannister

[stillarium.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Yeah, I'm curious about Martell now XD I don't like their banner though. 8D And thanks again *squishes icon*