win or die~

[saturninepen.livejournal.com]

Name: Rachel
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!): From a friend (erethesunrises)
Age: 19
Location: Missouri
Occupation: Starving college student




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'd rather be in a large apartment than in a house somewhere; saying that, however, most of the details I think about when it comes to an ideal home are probably more likely found in houses than apartments. I'm a fan of large rooms with a lot of windows; the more natural lighting the better. An office or den space with wall to wall, floor to ceiling bookshelves, and a large, modern kitchen would probably sell a place to me regardless of what the rest of it looked like.

Location wise, I'd go for a large city, but coastal. Either New England or southern California in the states, or northern Europe would be loooovely (especially Germany; if Berlin or Frankfurt were coastal I'd set up there in a heartbeat).


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!
First, because I'm a complete and utter nerd when it comes to this, complete fluency in every known language, dead or alive. That would probably explode my brain, but I don't really care; there are so many languages I want to learn still.

Second, the ability (or at least means) to travel whenever and wherever I'd like. It ties in a bit to the languages thing in that I'm just obsessed with cultures, but travel is expensive and difficult. I just want something that makes it easier (teleport would be nice, but you know, whatever works).

Third, I really have no idea on this one. Ask for a sailboat? The ability to breath under water? Pull an Aladdin and free the genie? Stop being selfish and wish for world peace? Any one of those would be nice... let's go with world peace for the sake of having a concrete wish.

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. ;)
I feel like this is where I should mention starting college at sixteen, but honestly, right now, I think what I'm most proud of myself for is finally figuring out a career and getting the first steps down on the path towards getting there. I know that sounds like such a little thing, but honestly, I'm a junior in college and I'm only just now figuring this stuff out... it really does feel like a massive accomplishment having not only made a decision, but having also started actually moving towards it.

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.
Love, knowledge and adventure are all extremely close for most important to me. Mundanity is quite literally the bane of my existence; if I do the same thing, day in, day out, I get extremely depressed and lethargic with everything. I need adventure of some kind to break things up, bring something interesting into the picture, and generally just keep me interested in life.

Knowledge is important. I think everyone can recognize that. I like to know things, I like to understand them, and I despise being ignorant almost as much as I despise being bored. Having said that, I'd probably rank love above knowledge; I'm such an introvert it hurts sometimes, but at the end of the day, it's still nice to know that there's someone there who cares, whether it be a friend, family, or anyone, really.

If I had to pick just one (which I assume I do), I'd probably go with adventure, if only because like I said, I tend to stop functioning without it. Love pulls up a close second, though, and knowledge isn't far behind that.

The least important is money. Family and friendship are important to me for the same reasons that love is important, and I'd rather be happy doing something than get rich from it. If the two overlap then awesome, but as long as I have enough to keep myself supported and happy... I'm good.

5. What's one quote (or passage, song lyric, etc.) that effectively describes you and your values? Explain.
"The wolf that lies idle shall win little meat,
or the sleeping man success." -- Poetic Edda

Having pulled out this quote, I'm going to say right now: I can be the laziest bitch out there.

Most of the time, though, I try to get things done. I set a goal, I make a list of how to get there, and I check things off that list until it's done. I don't like to leave things to the last minute. I don't like to stress over things. I get things done, and even if it takes forever because I'm working out every little detail, I try to get things done right the first time.

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.
I'm cautious with money without being completely neurotic about it. I like to know I have something in the bank in case of emergencies, and I like to be financially secure, but it's not a necessary thing for me to have tons of cash on hand. I do panic a bit if my balance drops too low, but lately even that hasn't bothered me as much.

I don't know that I really have any real "money management plan" unless you just count taking what cash I get as a gift and sticking it in the bank. I don't spend much, except maybe on food or the odd book or shirt or something, so it pretty much all just goes in there.

7. Name (and elaborate on) some of your hobbies. What are your favorite things to do outside of school/the office?
Reading and writing, definitely. I'm better at reading than I am at writing, but I still do both as often as I can. I used to read just about nothing but sci-fi/fantasy stuff along the lines of Forgotten Realms, but lately I've been drifting into more young adult genres and fiction as opposed to strong fantasy.

Writing is mostly fanfic; I've done a little original stuff, but not much. My writing usually goes along the lines of:

get an idea

start writing

bitch about it 'til Kingdom Come

either keep writing regardless, or

decide it sucks and delete the whole thing never to return to it ever again

Still, I'm writing a lot more than I used to, and it's a nice feeling to be creating things again, even if it's not an original work.

Continuing with creativity, I like to make random graphics and whatnot. I have the ghetto Photoshop (Paint Shop Pro), but I've loved to make layouts for various sites for years. Making an image, coding everything... it can be annoying as hell, but it's nice to see it all come together.

Something I like to do but haven't been lately is just being active. Working out, playing a sport, etc; I walk just about everywhere, but that's about the extent of it. Still, I used to play lacrosse and field hockey and I loved both of them; I'm looking to try starting them up again soon, if only to be on a team and get in shape running around outside again.

8. Name three things you are afraid of. Explain.
Not living up to expectations. I was going to put this down as "of being wrong," but really, that doesn't quite cover it. I mean, yeah, I don't much like it when I get an answer wrong, but my fear is more of being trusted to do something, and not doing it correctly, or as well as the other person expected me to do it. I'm terrified of having a responsibility for something and screwing up, even if that responsibility isn't that major.

Having my plans fall apart. I'm a planner. I make lists, I keep things organized. I mentioned earlier that I've just recently figured out what I want to do with my life, and now that I'm finally setting down concrete steps towards that, I'm terrified that something's going to fall through, or not work out, and I'll just be left stranded with no idea of what to do next.

Losing the people I love. I know, this one's cliche, but it's so applicable. I don't deal with change well, especially when it's abrupt. I'm a loner and an introvert, but the people I do attach to, I cling to pretty hard; the thought of them suddenly not being there for whatever reason is horrifying, to say the least.

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.
Stubborn Arguing with me is about like arguing with a brick wall sometimes. There's really not much to elaborate on here, just know that there are times when I'll keep to my side of the argument even when I know it's wrong, just because I refuse to give in.
Vengeful I will hold a grudge over the stupidest thing for so long, I'll forget why I have the grudge. And then I'll still hold on to it and plan revenge because of the mindset that, well, they obviously did something to piss me off in the first place, so there's no point in getting friendly again.
Independent Normally I'd say this isn't a bad thing, but... honestly, I get to the point where I don't listen to advice at all. It doesn't matter who's giving it, I'm going to do things my own way, for better or for worse, and if it comes out well in the end, then that just makes this that much stronger.

Resourceful I come up with the most creative uses for things. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but I'm pretty good at seeing past the denotative use of something and seeing what else it could be instead.
Curious This might be considered more of a negative trait in some places, but since I mentioned knowledge earlier, it seemed to fit here. I ask questions about everything. I like to learn, I like to know things. Usually these things are pretty random and useless, but sometimes I pick up useful information along the way as well.
Quick learner I don't often make the same mistake twice. I do make some pretty epic mistakes, don't get me wrong, but I learn from them, and I try to learn how to apply that lesson to other, different situations as well.





A Song of Ice and Fire Related

1.How many books from the series have you completed?
I've read up through A Feast for Crows; I'm currently rereading the series, though, with the intention of reading A Dance with Dragons once I get to it. I'm about halfway through A Storm of Swords again at the moment.

2.Who are your favorite three characters in the series? Why?
Sansa Stark I'll be honest, I was definitely one of those people who couldn't stand Sansa in A Game of Thrones. I didn't hate her, but she frustrated me so much there were times I wanted to throw my book against the wall. Now, though, now that she's had some character arc, has grown up a bit and seen what the real world looks like outside of songs and stories, and is learning how to play the game, she's definitely one of my favorites. She's still learning, but I have a feeling that by the end of all of this, she's going to be one of the strongest players of this game, and she's going to cause some serious damage to everyone she takes a mind to.

Jaime Lannister I love Jaime more or less for the same reason I love Sansa -- for the arc. He's a complete jackass, no denying that, but he gets a pretty sharp slap to the face and wakes up a bit, too. Besides, I love him for the snark too, so there is that. He's not the greatest at thinking things through, but I do believe he does what he feels he must/should do, even if it's not the most morally sound of an idea.

Danaerys Targaryen I almost put Rhaegar as third before I realized that I don't actually know that much about him as a person, derp. Honestly though, Dany's just a bamf. I know this is one of the most stereotypically loved characters in the series, but come on. She's the mother of dragons, and a warlord (warlady?) at fourteen. She's barely into her teen years, but she's already shouldered the responsibility of avenging her family, leading a horde, and waging war against men two or three times her age. This girl takes shit from nobody.

Saying that, I think it's also important to mention that as things are up through AFFC, I don't want to see her sitting the Iron Throne, exactly because she's a badass warrior queen with dragons. That's the last thing the Seven Kingdoms need on the throne right now. But, if she can learn to adapt and offer what the people need and want, I think she'd be an excellent queen... we know she can be sympathetic and caring, so the possibility is there, it just all hinges on that if for me.

I'm also a huge fan of Sandor Clegane and Tywin Lannister at the moment, but as I don't really have concrete reasons as to why, I'll just leave them down here as a mention.

3.Who are your least favorite three characters in the series? Why?
Joffrey Baratheon Does this really even need an explanation? Honestly, the kid's just a monstrous little thing who lops off people's heads for fun. It makes for an interesting character at times, but most of the time he's just a terrifying little demon child with a crown that makes it fifty times worse.

Catelyn Stark Yeah, not a big fan of Cat. Honestly I couldn't even really tell you why, there's just something about her that makes me want to skip every chapter she's in. I think it's a mix of things, but I think the moment I really started disliking her was when Bran fell. I realize that he's her son, and that yes, if that was my kid, I'd be worried sick, but the fact that she just ignored every other child and responsibility she had for weeks just... yeah, no.

Also her war against Tyrion annoys me. Honestly woman, I get that you're angry, and justifiably so, but think things through before you run around the country starting wars.

I'm honestly having a hard time coming up with a third character I dislike. Possibly Stannis, just because he's a stick in the mud; Melisandre because she creeps me out; Theon because he's a twat, even though at the same time I can actually sympathize pretty easily with why he does the things he does. Or even Arya, at least in later books, not necessarily because I dislike her as much as I just... don't care about her. Really though, I can't pin down any one last character who I dislike enough to list here.

4.#1 Favorite moment in all of ASOIAF so far? Why?
I'm going to go with Theon's homecoming, and his hitting on Asha while being completely oblivious as to who she is, if only for the absolute hilarity of it. Honestly, though there are so many. Dany burning Mirri Maz Duur and hatching her dragons, Tyrion leading the sortee into the Battle of the Blackwater, Sansa's first meeting with Margaery and the Tyrells, Jaime helping Brienne in the bear pit, even Joffrey showing Sansa Ned's head. I love them all for so many different reasons it's hard to compare them.

5. In your dream-world, how would you like to see the series end, and why?
Oh man. I've had people ask me this before, and I honestly have no idea. As I said earlier, I'd love to see Dany on the throne if she can learn to adapt to rule the Seven Kingdoms as a queen, instead of leading a horde as a warlord. I want to see Bran and Sansa make Epic Shit happen in their own respective ways, especially since they're both two characters who get overlooked as weak or useless by the others; I just want to see the looks on other people's faces when those two come out on top after all.

As for the Lannisters, Cersei can rot in prison for the rest of her life for all I care, but I want to see Jaime redeemed at least partially. I know that's probably too much of a happy ending to ask for with this series, but I want him to show the rest of the world that he can change and do better things with better people, and I want the world to acknowledge that change. Tyrion can just continue being the badass that he is, please and thank you.

I have no idea who I want to "win" the game though. If she can change, then Dany, absolutely, but if she can't, or if that becomes impossible... I have no idea. Absolutely no idea.

Comments

Re: [LANNISTER]

[firebluespinel.livejournal.com]

Why thank you! Rome was an awesome show, and that icon just makes me happy. I can't take credit for it, as I got it from misstopia, but I tend to use it a bit more often that she does, especially in sorting.

I stalked your LJ just now and you seem pretty cool. May I add you?

Re: [LANNISTER]

[saturninepen.livejournal.com]

Sure! Though be warned, I haven't posted much lately...

May I add you as well?

Re: [LANNISTER]

[firebluespinel.livejournal.com]

By all means!