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lunas-otome-blog · 1 year ago

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Luna's Review: Jack Jeanne

Official Summary:

Kisa is about to give up her dream of becoming an actor when she is given the opportunity to enroll at the prestigious all boys Univeil Drama School that she has always admired and dreamed of attending. She is granted admission with two rigid conditions: be chosen as the lead in the final performance and hide her identity as a girl!

Competition at the school is fierce and the rivalry is real! Will Kisa be able to forge powerful bonds with her all-male classmates while competing against them?

Will she be cast as the lead in the final performance at the end of the year all while keeping her secret?

Luna's Thoughts (Spoiler Free)

I don't particularly like rhythm games or stat building games — I'm more of a straightforward visual novel kinda girl. But I chose to play Jack Jeanne because I read a glowing recommendation on another game blog.

I admit, I struggled with this game at the beginning. The impetus for the protagonist joining an all-boys school was, in my opinion, too fast, poorly explained and lazily written, and I feared the whole game would feel that way.

But I was pleasantly surprised as the plot unfolded. Subtly charming, Jack Jeanne is a rare otoge that doesn't feel the need for epic events or contrived details. The straightforward plot follows the protagonist through a full school year during which she become confident in her skills as an actor, charms her fellow classmates and works toward her ultimate goal of catching up to her brother.

Once I got used to a few things, I found myself enjoying this game immensely. The character development is slow, natural and gorgeous. Every main character gets at least one satisfying arc, including the protagonist. The cast is complex and enjoyable — even the side characters are pretty well fleshed out. And I cannot believe how many side characters get full sprites, cgs and sometimes even character arcs themselves. Fitting to a game about theater, Jack Jeanne features a true ensemble cast.

This is a pretty unusual otoge, as the majority of the plot is common route, with some special scenes mixed in depending on who your affection is highest with. You don't get into a "route" until pretty close to the end of the game. When you do, though, the final performance is highly customized based on your love interest character.

The first time I heard the songs in this game, I didn't think much of them. During my second playthrough, I caught myself humming a few. After the third time, I downloaded the whole playlist onto my phone lol. Some of them are absolute BANGERS. I didn't particularly enjoy the rhythm games, but I acknowledge that's just a personal preference. The game does not penalize you for playing on super easy mode — thank god — so that's what I did most of the time. Even hard mode is pretty easy for the most part.

The game arcs are broken up into sections depending on what play/musical is being performed. Jack Jeanne does a great job of showing you rehearsal scenes without completely giving away everything about the story, so you still get to enjoy the play yourself during the performance. And every sprite gets a new, gorgeous costume for EVERY play. It made me genuinely excited to get to that portion of the game each time.

I do want to talk about the art in this game. The cgs are lovely, but tend to feel ethereal as they are painterly and many lack backgrounds, creating the illusion that the characters are floating in space. I liked them but they are a different art style than the sprites, which felt inconsistent. Add to that a rather adorable cel-shade chibi style, which is used for the stat-building scenes, and you have three completely different art styles used for this game. I'd have preferred some consistency.

I also wish Kisa had a sprite on screen, because we don't get to see what she looks like except in cgs. It's a bummer because she's so cute~

Other than that, all my other complaints have to do with the format of the game. Due to the nature of it being a stat builder, the pacing of the relationship pursuit feels off. You get these really lovely occasional heartwarming scenes with the character you're pursuing when they're triggered, but then they're not acknowledged in the next scene. It interrupts the flow of the plot. But if you're used to stat builders, this will probably not be a problem for you.

Gripes aside, Jack Jeanne is a thoughtful, delicate and delightful look into a group of students doing their best to advance their skills and follow their dreams. I highly recommend checking it out.

Here are a few spoiler-free tips of things I wish I knew before I started the game that will help you through it if you decide to play:

As this game is SUPER LONG and mostly common route, you'll be doing a lot of skipping after your first playthrough. Unfortunately, as there are lots of scenes that are gently customized based on your love interest, you can't just leave it skipping for long intervals. I recommend finding something else to do while you're skipping and just keep an eye on the game so you can breeze through the common portion.

You don't have to start at the beginning every time. For the first two performances, try to maintain equal affection and stat levels for each romanceable character before summer break, and then save. You can use this as a flexible save file and pursue your character of choice from here.

When you're ready to aim for a route, only take lessons in that character's stat until you get to level 30. It will take almost the entire rest of the game. Only see that character during days off until you max out affection. If your character isn't available during days off, go to Mona Star School and raise their stat. You need to get to level 30 to unlock a special post-game scene for each character.

"Weekend with Ion" is just a way to get extra rhythm game practice and you don't have to do it.

If you're playing the game right (IE not failing the stats or rhythm games), there aren't any "bad" choices; just choices that give you affection points for certain characters. When you get onto a specific route, choices are just flavor. Feel free to pick different things each time and see what happens.

Please find below my thoughts on the protagonist and each romanceable character in the order I pursued them. Don't read sections marked with spoilers if you want to avoid them!

(Spoilers) Kisa Tachibana (protagonist)

Kisa Tachibana is one of the best otoge protagonists I've ever played. I have a lot to say on her, so I'll get the bad out of the way first.

I was a little disappointed with Kisa's writing at the beginning. We know she looks up to her brother Tsuki and wants to be an actor like him, but she's given up on even going to high school because she needs to support her family. But the opportunity for her to attend Univeil comes up so quickly that her struggle and longing are not really fleshed out.

We also don't get an explanation on why her brother was allowed to go to a (seemingly expensive) drama school, nor why he isn't using his success to send money back to the family. In fact, the game just casually mentions Tsuki has vanished without a trace, and nobody seems that concerned about it. Kisa is sad but doesn't seem to question where he is or what he's doing, and nobody asks her about it, even after figuring out she's related to him. And no, this is never addressed, even at the end of the game.

Anyway, onto the good.

Kisa is an amazing otoge protagonist. She goes through not just one, but many character arcs, learning from and responding to her classmates (and even other classes) and becoming not just a better actor but also a better friend and teammate. Unlike a lot of otome game protags, Kisa doesn't get a lot of down time to reconcile her thoughts. Instead, you're left to largely understand her thinking and feelings through dialogue, making her feel less like the game's protagonist and more like a regular character. I didn't like this at first but I came to appreciate it as the game went on.

Every character teaches Kisa something about herself and something about acting. She learns how to feel comfortable in the spotlight, but she also learns it's just as important to prop up other actors. And she gets to go through different arcs depending on her romance choice.

She also has to learn how to perform as a Jack (male character) and struggles with this in a way that felt natural. She even ends up overcorrecting and finds it hard to go back to playing a woman.

My absolute favorite arc of hers is when she decides she has to embrace her femininity in order to make a show a success. This, to me, is the culmination of the whole game, as Kisa decides to risk being discovered in order to help her classmates shine. Of course, if you play all the routes, you realize she actually isn't doing a great job of hiding her gender at all lol. But fortunately she's endeared herself to her classmates so much that they don't mind.

Overall, 10/10 otoge protagonist.

(Spoilers) Kai Mutsumi

I chose to play Kai's route first, because tbh I thought his sprite was ugly and I wanted to get it out of the way lol. I did warm up to it eventually. And I regret playing his route first because Kai is an utter cutie patootie and I fell hard for him.

He tells you really early on that he only sees himself as a way to highlight the Al Jeanne (female lead). So his character arc is about him acknowledging that he also wants the spotlight, and Kisa helps him by highlighting him.

Though Kai is usually quiet, contemplative and reserved, once he and Kisa have acknowledged their feelings for one another, he starts getting jealous, both of Fumi (as a rival) and of Tsuki-nii (as Kisa's inspiration.) It's heartbreaking but really satisfying to learn that Kai feels emotions just as intensely as everyone else but didn't know where to direct them. I love him so much!

Kai also gives you one of the only laugh-out-loud moments of the game during the common route. I won't spoil it but it involves a certain weasel in the forest.

Kai's is one of the more intense routes, so I would perhaps save it for a bit later if you're wanting to get the lighter stuff out of the way first.

(Spoilers) Suzu Orimaki

Suzu is the genki character of the game, and the senpais make fun of his dancing at the beginning, so I thought the running gag would be that he sucks. But I was pleasantly surprised. Suzu is shown to be committed, a good actor and surprisingly quick with memorizing his lines, though he does make some stupid mistakes throughout. I adored him as the Sleepless King.

Suzu's route is the one I would call the most generic as far as otoges go. A lot of his route is him struggling with his feelings for Kisa. He starts to like her before he's sure she's a girl, and once he knows for sure, he has a really hard time hiding his feelings. To his credit, he also discovers Kisa is a girl on his own, showing he's smarter than we're led to believe.

If you wanted something more nuanced, maybe Suzu's not the character for you, but I really enjoyed it. The more a character struggles with their feelings, the better, imho lol. The cutest scene is after Kisa gives him sweets for valentines day, and he just can't handle how happy is is. You can't help but love Suzu!

You do actually get a lot of character growth as far as acting goes in Suzu's route — just not with Suzu himself. It's Kamiya — one of the side characters, who fanboys over the amazing Tanakamigi, one of Kisa's rivals in a different class — who gets to experience his own arc this time. While it doesn't feel totally resolved in the end, it was nice to see the game highlight some other characters as a result of the decisions Kisa has made.

I also really loved Mare-chan's little arc, as he learns to appreciate standing on stage with his brother. Actually, all the first years are highlighted in this route, which was fun.

Unlike Kai's route, Suzu doesn't confess to Kisa until the very end of his route — but it's very sweet when he does. Overall, Suzu's route felt like a very normal otoge route, but not in a bad way. He's very kind and protective of Kisa. It's hard not to like him.

(Spoilers) Soshiro Yonaga

Sou shows obvious signs of being into Kisa, even during the common route, so I figured I'd get a nice little bit of angst in his route. I normally play the childhood friend route closer to the end, but while I really enjoyed Sou's role and growth in the common route, he was such a little jealous bitch in Suzu's route (lol) that I decided to play him next. He pissed me off so much haha. I thought it would be over when he punches Suzu after Suzu discovers Kisa is a girl — something like a send-off to his rival, knowing he can't compete. But he proceeds to be whiny and annoying throughout all the rest of Suzu's route, and this made me want to get his route out of the way.

Sou on his own route is a lot better. He actually impressed me with how straightforward he is. He's the first character (that I played) who confirms he is properly dating Kisa on his route, and his confession was really brave, direct and passionate. It's sad to think that he loves Kisa in every route but won't tell her. He even followed Tsuki to Univeil just to see her again T_T

I was very excited to see we'd be getting some Momonashi context in this route, because he's easily the most mysterious character in the game. You never really understand his motivations, and he always hides his thoughts with a smile. It excited me that he was chosen to be Amber's Al Jeanne this time around, and he is every bit as dark and horrifying as I wanted.

This is also the first route (I played) in which Kisa does not get the lead role by default. I nearly had a heart attack and thought I failed the route because it was so different from Kai's and Suzu's routes. Rest assured, this is what's supposed to happen and it all works out ok. Mitsuki's subtle understanding of the things going on around him is also critical in this route.

But back to Sou. He actually goes through a few different arcs in his own route. While I thought it ultimately ended up ok, I would have liked to see the version of Sou infected with Momonshi's darkness for a little longer. He's only there for a little bit before Suzu's anger snaps him out of it. The back-and-forth of Sou's route felt a little disjointed, and in some places too similar to his plot during the common route.

But ultimately I was very proud of him when he pumps up the crowd during the final performance. Sou comes a long way and his route ends with the promise that there's more to come. Good for you, Sou-chan!

(Spoilers) Mitsuki Shirota

Mitsuki is the standoffish character, so he's the only romanceable character who is outwardly rude to you at the beginning of the game. I sometimes have trouble with this sort of character, so I was a little worried about him. But I didn't need to be — ultimately, he became one of my favorites.

Mitsuki is the most observant character in the game. He notices subtle changes and tells Neji to back off when he's putting too much pressure on people. And he's the first to tell Kisa he'll accept her no matter what. Mitsuki is so important to making this game work.

He knows he's good at singing, but when he's put in a starring role, he crumbles under the pressure. Obviously Kisa helps him stand up again, but it was really gratifying to know his aggression comes from a place of fear.

While learning to enjoy the spotlight is part of his common route arc, doing a Mitsuki playthrough really adds to this, as you learn how much Kisa's secrecy is weighing on him. He knows something's up right away, and as he comes to trust and admire Kisa, he begins feeling sad that she doesn't trust him enough to unload on him. There's a particularly poignant scene where he undresses in front of her — something we know he's afraid to do for anyone else. Mitsuki's cutscenes really emphasize his words to Kisa on stage as Rukiora and Chikachina, roles that parallel their own experiences.

I will say that, like Mitsuki himself, his route is very subtle as he quietly influences those around him. You don't get a lot of Amber students in this one, as his focus is more on the second years of Rhodonite and Onyx. He quietly fires them up, and it's so sweet to see how the second years, previously in the shadow of Tsuki Tachibana, become determined to do their best because of Mitsuki.

My only gripe for this route was that we didn't get any more Mitsuki background. His mother appears in a really intense cutscene toward the beginning of the game, so you know he's got family stuff going on, but we never really get any more elaboration on that.

Anyway, I love this boyee so much and I just want to give him a hug.

(Spoilers) Sarafumi Takashina

Honestly, I shipped Fumi with Kai more than with Kisa. They had such a nice and supportive relationship.

Fumi is calm, confident and pretty. He tells Kisa he likes her early in the game. He's a mysterious character under a lot of pressure, but you wouldn't know it unless you participate in his cutscenes. If you pay attention, you'll notice he gives nearly everyone nicknames.

Fumi's main game arc involves him growing complacent with the theater because nobody can match him. It's up to Kisa (with help from Sou) to fire him up again.

I tend to have trouble with flirty characters, but Fumi is so confident and kind that I liked him quite a bit. Because he's so aware of his own skills, I was wondering what his next arc would be in his route. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it's Kisa who gets to experience the most growth in Fumi's route as she struggles with the pressure of working alongside Quartz's star.

While perhaps not as dramatic as some of the other routes, Fumi and Kisa work together to understand each other, both on stage and off, and do their best to become suitable partners for one another. Fumi is also grooming Kisa to be the next star of Quartz, so there's a bittersweet dynamic of passing the baton here, too.

There weren't any dramatic twists and turns, but Fumi's route felt natural and gentle. It was a good conclusion for these two. He's also the only character other than Sou who confirms he's dating Kisa by the end of the route, which I appreciated.

(Spoilers) Neji Kokuto

Neji is the least serious character in the game acting-wise. He's silly and jokes around, and never gives himself a huge role in any of his own plays. But he's ultimately the one pulling the strings, and he seems to have an extremely good grasp on every character's strengths and weaknesses. He's also the only character who doesn't get his own arc in the common route.

However, I was disappointed with some of his cutscenes during the common route. While I appreciate that he deals with the deep trauma of losing his father with humor and spontaneity, I thought it was an oversimplification for him to say he's afraid of women. The resulting scenes don't feel serious enough and it didn't feel natural that Kisa would fall for him.

If he were simply afraid of falling in love, which is what ultimately led his father (allegedly) to losing his creative flow, I could understand that a bit more. But to have him attend an all-boy's school just because he feels like all women are a risk seemed like a strange move for a game that has been really inclusive about gender so far. It felt very off-putting for Neji, who often puts himself into a female role, to fear women.

But once he realizes Kisa is a girl — once he realizes he knew it all along and was trying to block it from his mind — the tone becomes very dark and sad. My heart was pounding as I felt the weeks go by with no script for the final performance. It was thrilling simply because I didn't know what to expect. It's so different from the other routes.

But I wish Neji was able to express his emotions a bit more. In the end, even as he was contemplating throwing himself into the sea, he wasn't able to be completely serious. I would have appreciated a scene where his walls fully break down, in which he's able to fully embrace Kisa as a woman and appreciate the weight of his own feelings.

I also never felt like Crowley, the character Neji plays in the final performance, was suited to be a main character. He never opens up or shows any weakness. He's just a silly guy and didn't feel like the lead at any point.

I did like how Neji ultimately decides to move forward, even being unable to write. But of course, at the end, Neji is suddenly able to write again. I knew it was coming, but it was a rather convenient ending.

Ultimately, I felt Neji's route was the least successful. I wish he got more growth in his own route. I did love him proposing to Kisa at the end though. It felt very in keeping with his character.

(Spoilers) Kisa Route

This is the route you get if you choose not to spend Christmas Eve with anyone, and it's the closest this game gets to a true ending.

Boy, does it deliver. It ties in all the themes from the game into a really strong ending, where every character feels valuable and Kisa gets to lead Quartz to a strong finish. We also finally get an explanation for the title of the game, as Kisa takes on a special role — neither male nor female, just the protagonist who everyone falls in love with.

A fantastic final route for a fantastic game!

#jack jeanne #otome game #otoge #visual nove #vn #kisa tachibana #review #otome review #game review #luna's review

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hotchocolatescoat · 1 year ago

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Another review :]]] I havnt done one in ages

Devil may cry 1,4 and 5 , also the reboot. Not a book review but since I just got through dmc 5 let me try and give my thoughts/recommendations.

Dmc 1

The first game in the series , in my opinion is a good game for it's time. Capcom were still figuring out the mechanics and how it will flow the way it did in later games, I mean it's 22 years old and for that I can't really criticise I think It holds up for it's time and deserves the reputation it got, it was a strong base that let the dmc franchise take off.

What I love about it is the charm, the charm of an old game made silly and fun. I mean we all saw that sword cut scene when Dante rises up without a scratch- it has that dmc charm of unable to take itself seriously. I also love the level designs as well, especially at the end in mundus's battle.

What I don't really like is the difficulty. Some of it may be down to my skill issue. However I believe that those bosses are not for the faint of heart and the puzzles can be god awfully confusing sometimes. The reputation it got for being so difficult I can see was well earned .

If you wanna play dmc 1 go for it I recommend it greatly but it can get difficult at times.

Dmc 4

This is a mixed bag. Personally holding a place in my heart due to being one of my first video games.

What I like about it; for sure the combat , the upgrade from 3 to 4 in terms of just design and the capabilities are immense and capcom took it and ran with it. It's so satisfying and neros rev up engine is so damn cool. The world design is beautiful and the bosses are also really fun to defeat. Most have mixed feelings towards the story but I love Nero and Kyrie so I was all down but I was of course also in it for Dante which yet again capcom grabbed and ran with. It's so silly and you cannot take it seriously and that's why I love it so much (also to make it clear it still holds up while having the amount of freedom to make silly cutscsne)The plot itself can't even be taken seriously, a cult and an old man called the saviour wobbling around like a moulding raisin. Screaming reform and shit. I genuinely cannot with this game.

What do I dislike; the backtracking and repeating of bosses, and the puzzles. The puzzles aren't fun especially the dice one and you redo the bosses backtracking as Dante and that's why most people dislike the game it feels unfinished and at the end a drag , I can praise it for what it holds but it feels like a genuine bore at times.

Dmc 5

I love it , the dmc 3 references it's so chewable and the combat and the story. I have no hate or criticism , go play it please.

Dmc reboot

Oh boy

I actually enjoyed it quite a lot...the character appeal isn't there and I couldn't get attached till the end and thats why it got so much hate including how generic it was. That dmc flair I keep mentioning was wiped off and we were given a shit excuse for it "it's not cool"

Fuck you capcom

However I loved the combat yet again and the world design. The bosses were also really fun to play against and overall I don't have a hell of a lot to say. I mean they put a lot of good concepts such as limbo in but Dante was it's downfall as an annoying little man whore that only cares about himself.

Notes: I had fun reviewing the games may go into dmc 5 a bit more but I'm too tired

#dmc #devil may cry #dante son of sparda #devil may cry 3 #devil may cry 1 #capcom #vergil #dmc 3

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aurvmz · 2 years ago

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bleach by tite kubo, review, small description of characters and story, and thoughts

MASSIVE BLEACH SPOILERS!!!!! BECAREFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

small description : i started bleach around 7 or 6 months ago, mainly cause of my friends, the main character is this person called ichigo kurosaki, he's a high schooler who's known for being able to fight and see ghosts (this is important later), one day, he's in bed doing whatever when a girl in some black robes jumps in through hiswindow, after he thinks it's a robber, he kicks her in the back and she's suprised he can see her. she introduces herself as rukia kuchiki , a soul reaper (she is also VERY important later), and she's from this place called the soul society where they exercise lost souls and sends them to the soul society (this place is VERY VERY important later), where the souls can live a happy afterlife in the Rukon District, which is a village for exorcised lost souls to enjoy, and later, sometimes become soul reapers, similar to rukia, these ghosts are the ghosts which ichigo was able to see. rukia later explains that there are some souls that aren't exercised in time that turn into hollows. hollows are flesh seeking brainless creatures which have immense strength, soul reapers are also made to kill and exercise these creatures to stop any harm reaching lost souls and regular humans.

after this, a hollow breaks loose and grabs ichigo's sister, about to kill her, remember, most humans CANNOT see hollows and soul reapers due to not having any reiatsu or spiritual pressure. in order to keep ichigo from harm, rukia uses a kido spell. kido is a certain type of power that soul reapers can use to help them exercise hollows better. she uses a kido spell on ichigo which immobilizes him as she goes to kill the hollow and save ichigo's sister

, ichigo breaks loose from the kido spell due to his father being a retired soul reaper. ichigo's siblings and him were able to see hollows and soul reapers due to reiatsu passed down from his dad, isshin kurosaki (who is actually isshin shiba, the kurosaki comes from his mother), ichigo's mother was killed by a hollow named grand fisher ( I THINK I DON'T REMEMBER WELL ), ichigo's mother was a quincy,

a group that existed alongside soul reapers in killing hollows, before being driven to extinction by soul reapers. back to rukia and ichigo, rukia wasn't able to kill the hollow, and in a last resort, gave ichigo her soul reaper powers, which intended to be a bit of power, he ended up somehow stealing all of it

and killing the hollow in a power he didn't know the name of, called Getsuga Tenshou,

which starts his journey with soul reapers, Arrancars, and the Quincy. review : world building : 5/5 there's ALWAYS A NEW PLACE, FIRST SOUL SOCIETY, THEN HUECO MUNDO, THEN WANDENREICH, and the squad 0 palace i can go on and on, no complaints about the world building (Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, and Wandenreich)

power system : 4/5 reiatsu and spiritual pressure, bankais, ressureccions, vollstandigs, all super interesting and cool but it can feel a bit eh sometimes and a bit too complicated especially with reishi with quincies and stuff (Ulquiorra's Ressureccion, Segunda Etapa, Bambietta's Vollstandig, and Unohana's Bankai)

female cast : 4/5 so many cool and strong women in bleach that aren't overly weird like yoruichi shihoin, rukia kuchiki, senjumaru shutara, retsu/yachiru unohana, nelliel tu odelschwank i can go on and on, all have powers that are really cool, and yoruichi just going left right , but there are some characters like rangiku matsumoto and orihime inoue that just have unrealistic physics... (Nelliel Tu Odelschwank's Segunda Etapa and Rukia Kuchiki's Bankai)

pacing : 3/5 pacing is a lil slow at some times but it goes well MOST of the time, not really much to say on this.

conclusion : 4/5 i love you tite kubo, so much detail and good background on characters, AMAZING plot twists and introductions, and there's never "main character plot armor" (except for ichigo vs ulquiorra , ichigo should have NOT won that tbh!!) overall, definetly an AMAZING watch

#bleach #anime #sosuke aizen #ichigo kurosaki

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twdmusicboxmystery · 2 years ago

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Daryl Dixon Sneak Peek, Part 2

@galadrieljones:

Idk if I ever mentioned this before but the rat in the walls reminds me of this old short story by Ian McEwan called “First Love, Last Rites,” in which a newly married couple keeps hearing a rat scratching in the walls and it’s meant to represent something they’re not sharing with one another but that is gnawing at the connection between them. The fact that it’s a “rat” is not idiomatic, a la “a snitch.” It’s just a pest that you can often hear but cannot see, that stays hidden just long enough that it’s easy to ignore until suddenly it’s in the soup.

Anyway I am literally just riffing here. I hope this is helpful or at least at all useful lol. Very interested in all thoughts on any of these matters!!

Oh one more thing I just thought of, is that the search for Rick is historically a way of subverting Daryl’s failed search for Beth. This is ofc why he finds the harpy in the woods who ends up looking like Beth. He finds her, but it’s not what he thought. It’s all connected. So now, everyone thinks he’s of “looking for Rick” again but ofc this search for Rick is so much more complicated than what it seems. It’s a way for Daryl to complete the narrative he could not complete many years ago.

(And ofc because Daryl is Daryl he can never admit to himself who/what he is actually searching for—love. Beth. Her. The one who got away.)

(He hopes that if he can find and save Rick, then this feeling will go away.)

OH, also, I read in a couple places that people are speculating the device Daryl is talking into is not a radio, but a handheld recorder. Some are speculating that this will be used as a thematic device, to help break down Daryl's psyche a little, allow him vulnerability, as he's such a stoic character.

I like this idea a little bit. I am interested in the kinds of things he will say when he thinks no one can hear.

It's also this very interesting callback to Beth, who writes in a journal. It's a recorded journal. Hmm.

That's it for my immense ramble for the evening. Hope you all are sleeping soundly

@wdway:

@galadrieljones, you know the old saying be careful what you wish for, well you might feel some regret when I ramble on and on because you asked for thoughts on your speculations, haha. I just want to start by saying how much I enjoyed everything that you've talked about yesterday and all the research you did was outstanding, as usual.

I'm definitely thinking that we're not seeing the previews or the two previews, the short one and the longer one in the correct sequence of events in the storyline. I think that the second one, the longer one where it starts with him getting off of the boat is probably several episodes into Daryl's s1 storyline.

I do tend to want to think that Daryl did in fact start his journey towards Paris from the Mediterranean coastline port of Marseille. Most of that is in telling his story I don't think they would take the time to have Daryl land closer to Paris or on the Atlantic coast then have him journey down and around and back up to Paris. Keeping in mind that we're only talking about six episodes and anywhere between 40 to 50 minutes of actually air story time per episode. The other thing is they have to keep it simple and not get overly complicated in lesser important details.

The GA needs to be able to follow what's happening or will be able to piece together what's happening easily. The spin-offs and especially Daryl's and Rick/ Michonne's needs to hold on to their faithful fans, bring back old fans and create new ones. The plot line not being too overly complicated in order to understand what's going on will be very important.

As always there will be things that the writers will put in that in the scheme of things only a few will pick up on and poke and pick apart. We're part of that that very small group. There will be a lot of things that the majority of the viewers will never notice that we will be jumping out of our seats when we see it or hear it in the dialogue. I believe the writers, Gimple and a few of the long-term producers enjoy leaving these types of hints, clues and plot details that only a special few will pick up on and enjoy the genius of it all.

For the good of the overall TWDU franchise they need to increase their numbers of viewers and that means that they have a good overall story with lots of Walkers/zombies that has twist and turns and major shockers. That will keep the viewers happy and coming back for more. I think it's safe to believe that the things that they announce or allowed to be leaked are simply the things they want in the off-season for people to talk about, to keep the buzz going, but the things that will make viewers sit up in their seat and OMG!!! what did I just see, I've got to rewatch this! are not going to be leaked or previewed unless it's part of the plan to bring people in.

An example of this is knowing that Carol will be in s2 is making a lot of viewers very happy. It's not the shocker. The shocker will be something coming from left field (left=Beth) that no one, or at least the majority of the viewers are expecting. A shocker that will be talked about for days and week and people will tune in in order to see what comes next.

I warned you long ramble.

I definitely like the thought that Daryl would be keeping a verbal journal of his thoughts. I so agree with you that it would give a great opportunity to get into his mindset. It also opens up Daryl speaking, not just us watching him, but us being able to listen to him without having to create other characters that need to have some kind of deeper storyline in order to be believable that Daryl would be opening up to them with his inner thoughts.

Daryl's line of, "I went out looking for something," instead of," I went out looking for someone," suddenly struck me as making perfect sense if his search at this point is for information. He hasn't found the information, yet. His first mission is to locate the information. And if we are correct in that he finds either recordings or video information in that building where he appears to have an epiphany that in fact Beth lived past Grady, than that will send him on his next mission of finding her.

@galadrieljones:

In the original teaser, we see Daryl wash up on a straight beach. There’s no indication of where he is, as far as I can tell. There are beaches on the Opal Coast or northern coast of France but it wouldn’t make sense for him to then somehow end up in the Mediterranean. Ofc there are also lovely beaches on the southern coast of France. But how the heck would he have just ended up floating around in there? That’s a lot of information.

I think you’re right that his ultimate destination must be Paris, since that’s where we know of the majority of filming taking place, not to mention all the Paris clues in WB. I agree too that things need to stay somewhat simple. For him to end up in Marseille that is just mysterious enough to get us talking.

BUT it’s also somewhat bizarre. Why would he be in the Mediterranean Ocean?

Just enough intrigue. As far as the GA is concerned if they even saw the sneak peak they probably wouldn’t know where Marseille was. I’m not trying to denigrate them lol but even I wasn’t positive of where it was located and would have looked it up if you hadn’t already.

So to them it’s just, “oooh fancy France!” But there’s a deeper story implied here.

@wdway:

That's one of the examples of what I was talking about. The writers, Gimple knows that the average viewer does not care, nor would they take the time to even find out where it is, but we jumped on it and had great fun with it.

@galadrieljones:

Here is a French comm on YouTube wondering why he “took the long way,” when he could have docked in Normandy or Brittany. I scanned a lot of comments to find one person asking this question. Most are just stoked the show even exists.

@wdway:

I have some ideas about Carol and Daryl being taken but I need to do some research. It has to do with some subtle hints that were left in the s10&11 and all the things in Fear this season showing us the East Coast has brought certain ideas back to my mind of how I was toying around with how Daryl getting to France and now with including Carol how my original thought could be reworked to make sense. Only speculation but I'm looking for speculation that would make sense. I'll try to pull it together and kind of present it to you guys maybe late tonight or tomorrow.

@galadrieljones:

Looking forward to it!

Also an interesting discovery from the comments: the bridge Daryl crosses in the trailer is called the Pont-du-Gard and is a day’s trek on foot from Marseille. I looked it up and it is indeed on the way to Paris.

Not very far lol but perhaps a clue he is heading that way

@wdway:

This is not part of what I'll be researching and my theory I'll be putting out to you guys later. I just want to say if he originally landed by ship or plane around the Canary Islands/Dog Islands which is closer to Spain rather than go upward he takes another ship or other transportation around Spain and ends up in the coastal town.

Another thing is if this is in a later episode we don't know where he has been before that. Where he is when he meets the nun and her group. I feel that he very purposeful in the preview where he's going. This isn't random, he has a destination in mind. If he and Carol both knew that they want to find the lab or working place of the scientists then they would both know where they could ultimately find each other.

Even if they're not on the same time but I find each other later they know that they're going to be somewhere in the area of paris. Maybe for once they do plan out a system of clues of symbols that they can leave on walls or places along that way they would only recognize would be left by each other. I'm totally just rambling putting down thoughts as they occurred to me.

@wdway:

@galadrieljones, you are the queen of quick research so I have an assignment for you if you choose to accept it. Mission Impossible reference. Would you check out where the equivalent of the CDC would be in France.

@galadrieljones:

Lol I love it

I will see what I can find!!!!

@galadrieljones:

Okay so a couple results. First, in France, Sante Publique is the c for public health, and that is in Paris. However, unlike the CDC, the Sante Publique does not have any laboratories, and it is definitely not a Level 4 Biohazard research facility. The CDC seems unique in this respect. Sante Publique France seems more just like, a bureucratic c which publishes research, holds discussions and conferences, makes decisions on public policy based on health-related issues, etc.

There is also a Sante Publique Quebec in Canada. There are three Level 4 Biohazard research facilities in France. Two are military, one is a private research company that focuses on infectious diseases. Two are in the suburbs of Paris, and one is in Lyon, which is like 275 miles south west of Paris, in the direction if Marseille. Level 4 labs are “used to study infectious agents or toxins that pose a high risk of aerosol-transmitted laboratory infections and life-threatening disease for which no vaccine or therapy is available.”

So like, per Jenner’s example of “weaponized small pox.” There is one in Galveston, TX and several more in the US as well, beyond the CDC. So like it’s not totally a 1:1 comparison but if there was major virus research happening in france most likely it was happening near Paris. In the US, these facilities tend to be in weird, almost rural places, like Manhattan, KS and Hamilton, MT, I would imagine to keep bad things away rom population cs, but ofc we have the space for that.

@wdway:

I love how you included Manhattan as a rural location, haha.

Thanks for this information Tarah. I can always count on you for amazing research duty. The site in Lyon, France is interesting, don't you think. 80 miles from Marseille to the Pont-du-Gard and from there 146 to Lyon. That's regular roadways. It could definitely be a possibility of where he was going. The place we will be seeing is fictional. That there is a Level 4 laboratory in Lyon is a reasonable location with shown that Daryl pasted the Pont-du-Gard on his way to that building.that could be used within the story.

@galadrieljones:

Lol. Didn’t even think of that Manhattan, KS is some ways outside Topeka

#beth greene #beth greene lives #beth is alive #beth is coming #td theory #td theories #team delusional #team defiance #beth is almost here #bethyl

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vomitspit2 · 1 year ago

Note

Hello. I'm not an active anon at all, nor do I give my opinions, but I really had to say this about Destroying Angels.

Without exaggeration (and I really mean it), it is the fic with the most complex Reader I have ever read in my entire life. I have read many writers on various platforms, many, but never anyone like you. I never imagined having the opportunity to read a Reader with their own story and nuances that gave them character, and did not show them as ridiculously clumsy, or on the other hand, perfect. I really don't stop being surprised by that, the nature with which you gave them realism.

I won't lie to you; at first I thought the Reader was truly sick (right when they revealed what they did with their own arm), but that evolved into twisted admiration; a character with an impressive iron determination and courage. Again, a point about how your writing left me absolutely surprised.

Well, unfortunately, I can't tell you more about my positive comments (which are many) about the fic, because my low level of English doesn't allow me disentangle myself openly.

By the way, do you think you could write something of Rook Hunt x Reader as poetic and dark as Destroying Angels? I feel like there's a lot that can be shown about him, especially with his obsession with beauty in everything and everyone.

I wanted to congratulate you on your incredible work, seriously. I hope you never stop writing and sharing your sublime art.

Blessings.

one, i want to thank you for this amazing message!! i did not expect it in my inbox when i woke up this morning (#^_^#)!! especially since I have come to resent my works as time passes, it makes me happy that others can still enjoy them when i cannot.

constructing the Destroying Angels Reader was really fun — pushing them to emotional limits, having isolation ingrained in them, and numerous other nuances.

i'm glad that the essence of them makes them feel very alive and real to the audience; when i was plotting them out, i was trying to think of a character as twisted as Twisted Wonderland themselves — unhinged but still vulnerable, not on top of the world but scraping up the ladder.

while writing for rook hunt is something i would like to do (he’s in my top 10 for TWST characters) time would not allow it.

i plan to stop writing around 2025 and orphan all my works and disappear from the internet for another 2 years. thus, is the cycle of what i do ɷ◡ɷ lmao! too much to do in life for me to write fanfic constantly lol but i do IMMENSELY enjoy writing! i’m very happy to share my art with everyone tho!! and appreciate so much getting messages that tell me to keep writing!!!

have a lovely day anon 💕

#nah but imagine IMAGINE i stay writing in 2025 and just have to stare awkwardly at everyone #like yeah …. i want to finish X Y and Z first #re l rambling

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harrison-abbott · 2 years ago

Text

A day can have all kinds of mad moods and strings of

Thought that spiral and loop and slash and ping about the mind.

It can be atrocious to simply walk down the street without

Your head yomping about in different forms of history.

Most of your time spent along, hushed up with your books

And their immense vocabulary; and even when you dream

You dream about reading and your mind goes through entire

Pages that are made up then and there, and yet you cannot

See the text and when you wake up there is no memory

Of the content therein … as with many dreams of late.

Afraid of the next day; fearful for the future; terrified of the

Poison, of what it might do to you eventually: scared of kids

On the roads and adults watching from their upper home windows.

Fretting that you have no talent or that nobody will read your

Books … or that the next time you get beaten up it will be

The worst yet. For the children seem as bad as they ever

Were, seem like jumpy jackals that enjoy that smell of blood

You’ve always given off and cannot eras with fiercest bleach.

You miss Milan, Budapest and Lodz and London and Prague,

And yet next time you travel again you might not come back.

Time rollicks by whilst you lose money and can barely stand

The physical proximity of people, lest they shout or abuse.

Waiting for the next chase plot line when none of these stories

Are timed; heading into a mall with a gun when all of the tots

Are carrying some; mucked off with failed musicians: levelled

Up with bad mentalities from the DNA groups meddling.

Living in the memoirs of a high school you wish you’d never

Been to; slathered with the notions of a girl you wish that

You had never met; jittery and flinching from jabs in the kidneys

You got almost ten years back, and dreaming about this city

That you don’t actually miss unlike those other jaunts ^ …

What’s there to be done? What’s the point? Where is the ferry?

I cannot see the crossing; figure out the bursting breakthrough.

Just keep writing the stories and the poems I suppose, and reading

The books that line the shelves with their colourful spines, I guess.

I can’t think of any other physical medicine than literature.

And maybe it won’t end all bad and that my days shall be easier;

Or perhaps there will be proper doses of mayhem from which you

Can come out of as a different person, and not have to be so afraid.

#writeblr #creative writing #writers on tumblr #poems #poetry #poets on tumblr

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astrumark · 2 years ago

Text

── WHERE IT TRULY LIES ★.

PAIRING: aemond targaryen x female reader.

SUMMARY: you are now a happily married woman, however, aemond will always pull you back.

WARNINGS: smut with plot, infidelity, oral (m and f receiving), fingering, orgasm denial, face-sitting, p in v, mild choking, and dirty talk.

WC: 7.4K

NOTES: this is not new, i've deleted it accidently (yikes) and wasn't going to upload again but a lovely soul reached out and they haven't read it yet so here it is! as the title might give away this was inspired by the song moth to a flame - the weeknd. hope you enjoy!

He knew he couldn't marry you, as a prince of the realm, and on the verge of civil war, once his father passed, Aemond needed to secure an advantageous marriage with a powerful house, one that would increase their army numbers. You were not fit. Regardless of his affection for you: duty comes first. That is what his mother taught him. Under different circumstances, perhaps it could've worked out, you were not a lowborn, but your position was simply not high enough.

Aemond could be a cruel man, yes, but never with you. You have found your way into his heart a long time ago when you were but children. He couldn't be selfish and hold you back because of his desires because he also knew you needed to marry soon.

"You might do well to find yourself a suitor." He said in between kisses, you were straddling his lap on the sofa of his quarters, grinding on his bulge slightly, his breath stuttering as he held onto your waist.

You pulled away, with furrowed brows, swollen lips, and lustful eyes. The sight was almost too much for Aemond to bear. "What?"

"You heard me." Shadows danced across his face and you believed Aemond bathed by the candlelight was undoubtedly one of the finest views you have ever seen.

You hummed, a habit you picked up because of him, and then smirked. "Are you trying to get rid of me?" Your lips encountered his neck, leaving a trail of hot and wet kisses.

Aemond squirmed underneath you, holding your arms as he gently pushed you away. "I am not jesting," His expression was stern. "We cannot keep this going for longer, we must tend to our duties."

Your secret affair with Aemond started when you were both six and ten, nurturing an honest friendship long before that. The mutual pining reached its peak during a calm evening at the library. Over the years, you both found immense comfort in each other's arms. There have been a few whispers here and there, but that was the end of it. No clear evidence.

He paused. "My grandsire and mother were discussing convenient marriage pacts for me this afternoon. I will not remain unmarried for long, nor should you." His tone was not harsh, just plain.

"Let me help you, I want to be sure you will be safe. You must understand, my darling, this comes from a place of genuine concern. I promise to find you a worthy match, I want you to be settled." His warm fingertips softly brushed over your uncovered arms, making goosebumps arise on your skin.

You huffed defeated, you were aware that your time as someone unwed was running low, and you didn't need Aemond to remind you of that. However, when your eyes fixed on his you couldn't even find it in yourself to be cross with him, for you found nothing but tenderness in his violet iris, eye carefully studying your reaction.

"I know, Aemond. But I won't find myself a suitor the next morning. But fear not, I am not in secret hopes of marrying you." Your hands wrapped around his neck.

You nodded earnestly. Aemond watched you carefully for a few seconds before he locked his lips with yours once again, slow and tender. All of your thoughts and worries completely disappeared the moment he picked you up and threw you into his soft mattress, his lean body hovering over yours.

Aemond remained true to his words and pondered the options for you. He didn't want you to move away from King's Landing, for you were, most importantly, his friend and he would rather have you close to him. The prince didn't want you to be married to a disrespectful or much older man either. Soon he concluded that he should set you up with someone who was somewhat familiar to him, so he could be certain you would be treated well and watch over you from time to time.

Aemond was not one to often engage with lords, but he didn't completely despise Hadwyn Manning. The young lord had recently become head of his house and retained a large control over Blackwater Bay. He was rich enough, near enough, decent enough. The prince approached your father subtly, planting the idea inside the older man's head. It didn't take long until words of your courtship spread around the Red Keep.

Hadwyn was a 24-year-old man, with light brown locks, green eyes, and tanned skin. The lord has already been married and fathered a child with his late wife who unfortunately passed with a sudden fever. Due to already having an heir, Hadwyn wasn't keen to rush marital matters, and he made it quite clear. He would rather take his time knowing you to be certain and so he did.

Countless letters were exchanged, thoughtful gifts received, and many promenades transpired. Hadwyn had even taken you to a ride on one of his boats and prepared you the sweetest picnic while at it.

It was clear he was charmed by you. It's there in the way his eyes glistened when looking at you, and the grin that never left his mouth, the fact he would give you his undivided attention at all times, listening and watching you assiduously, and in the gentle touches. He was a gracious man, respectful and flirtatious at the same time. And you like him. Yet… there's still a longing lodged in your heart, a small part of you feeling empty and cold no matter what you do or think.

It had been part of your accord to end your rendezvous once either of you became betrothed, returning to being friends only to not complicate the situation. It seemed easy back then, but in truth, it wasn't. You craved for his touch just as a drunken craved for liquor, so much it was best to keep your distance. It seemed as if without Aemond, the world was less exciting and less colorful.

Visiting the Red Keep again, as per usual now, Hadwyn strolled with you around the garden. You held the puppy close to your chest, giggling and rubbing the animal's small belly as he writhes around, trying to bite anything it could grasp. You've mentioned on different occasions how you would like to have a pet, but that you weren't allowed to, and Lord Manning had now presented you with one. You were as surprised as overjoyed.

Aemond watched from afar, sitting on a bench. In a rare occurrence, he found himself free from tasks during the early afternoon and decided to accompany his sister and nephews to the gardens. A handmaid walked around with Maelor, who seemed entertained with the bushes, Jaehaerys and Jaehaera played with wooden toys on the grass, and Helaena stood not far, studying a dragonfly she caught. For anyone, Aemond seemed as stoic as ever, but there was turmoil inside him.

Hadwyn was doubtless enchanted by you and treated you kindly, and you seemed to like his company as well if your flushed cheeks and chuckles were any indicative, and as your friend, he should be content. This was his doing in a sort of way, so his discomfort was unwelcome and confusing. His building rage and jealousy were unwelcome and confusing. His fists tightened by his side, trying to control himself. Do not be selfish, Aemond.

After the dragonfly flew away from her hand, Helaena sat beside her brother, sighing as she breathed in the fresh air. Her gaze fell on you as well after a specific loud laugh, and she smiled softly at the couple playing with the puppy. When you put the dog on the floor and started following it sprinting around while chatting with your suitor, your hand brushed his, and after a shy glance, Hadwyn intertwined them together. A chaperone trailed behind you, not close but not far either, giving you the required privacy.

"They are sweet." Her voice was like cotton.

"Yes." It's all the one-eyed said, tone devoid of any emotion.

"Lord Manning seems like a very devoted man, I am happy for her. Not many women have the same luck. She deserves it."

Aemond nodded, swallowing down the lump in his throat. "Most certainly."

Your wedding gown was exquisite, fitting you like a glove, your hair and skin glowing. Your cheeks had been pinched and lips scrubbed with sugar and honey, and the smell of your fragrance lingered around the room. You have asked for a minute alone, preparing for your entrance. The ceremony was not the most luxurious, but it was lovely. You had personally dealt with the decorations, the musicians, and with the kitchen workers, making choices according to your liking.

When the door burst open you expected to see your father ready to escort you, and your eyes widened upon seeing Aemond. "What are you doing here?"

He made fast and long strides towards you, eye devouring the bittersweet sight of you. His hand then moved to your waist, bringing you closer to his body. "You look ravishing, my love."

Gods, you almost melted, breath caught in your throat and heart pounding as you felt his touch again and heard him praise you in such a velvety voice. A part of you wished to close your eyes and relish in the moment, forgetting all about what expected you on the other side of the door, but you found enough strong will to push his arms away from you. "Don't."

Aemond crossed his arms behind his back, noticing how your breath got heavier and smirking, knowing you're still so responsive to his touch satisfied him.

"You are right. My apologies, my lady." He didn't sound sorry in the slightest.

You fought back a smile at his behavior. "What is it, my Prince? What are your reasons for barging in here?"

"I wish to give you a wedding gift, before the ceremony."

You raised your eyebrows curiously, prompting him to continue.

He grinned a little before reaching his pocket, it was small enough to fit the palm of his hand, one he'd closed. You stepped closer, intrigued, and when he opened his palm, you gasped. Your eyes found his face, no doubt reminiscing the gem beneath his eyepatch, one you had grown used to and attached to.

Grabbing the ring from his palm, you studied it in awe. It had to be the most delicate jewelry you had ever seen, and it shined so bright, from the oval sapphire as the center stone to the scalloped diamonds accenting both sides, covering almost all of the ring with its shine.

"Every time you look at it, I want you to remember me, and our pleasurable time together," Aemond said and your cheeks warmed up. "Can you do it for me?" His hand touched your face daintily. "My star in the mist, will you not forget about us?"

"Never." You whispered but there was no falter in your voice, it was the truth. Aemond chuckled softly, nodding briefly.

Perhaps Aemond could still be a little selfish and give in to his jealousy, perhaps he needed to. He needed to see if he still had some power over you since you had been so busy lately with your future husband and the wedding planning, perhaps he needed you to wear a piece of him. It was obviously more than a wedding gift, it was an odd sort of claim. But a secret claim, such as your secret affair.

"Let me," He grabbed the ring and your hand, and you licked your lips nervously. Slowly, he placed the jewelry on your finger. You knew there was a deeper meaning behind the item, which was slightly amusing, nonetheless, it felt right on your finger, as if it was always there, to begin with. "It suits you."

"It does." Your eyes locks with his and for a minute you get lost, letting your mind wander. Aemond recognizes the look on your face because it's the same as his. And for that minute, you both wore your heart on your sleeves. For a minute, you prayed for time to stop. Your heart ached, and so profoundly. There's no need for words. You both understand each other's thoughts and feelings as if attached to a strange magic bond. It's yearning, it's acceptance, and most of all, sorrow.

Aemond pulled you by the back of your neck and rested his forehead against yours, breathing your scent. Your eyes shut, humming and brushing your noses. It's so comforting to be with him, feel him, breathe him. The prince leaned in and you opened your eyes, there's a silent question behind his eye, but before you could answer it, you heard heavy footsteps outside. He pulled back, recomposing himself. Your father looked shocked to see Aemond but he was soon soothed with the blonde's silver tongue and his excellent excuse. He leaves you without another word, only a nod.

The ceremony went smoothly, and you tried your best to focus on the feast happening around you. You entertained the guests and danced and pampered your new husband, but not as much as he pampered you. Any person would deem the ceremony as fun and would claim that you two were completely in love. Truth be told, you weren't in love with Hadwyn, but as you giggled the night away, you strongly believed it wouldn't be a hard task to be. You hoped it wouldn't.

It was a relief to know Hadwyn wasn't pretending to be someone he's not until you become his, for the lord remained as sweet and caring as ever through the moons following your wedding. You lived together harmoniously, and his son, barely three, quickly grew attached to you. It was a calm and quiet life most would be satisfied with.

It didn't stop you from thinking about Aemond, however. To reminisce about his touches and kisses as you pleasured yourself, and it became worse after you first visited the Red Keep after your wedding. Until then, you had exchanged innocent letters, the kind all childhood friends shared after moving away, but being close again stirred something you could no longer hold back.

You also have come to terms with the fact you would never feel for him as much as you feel for Aemond. They were entirely distinct. While Hadwyn was a faint flame of a bonfire in the morning, low but constant and warm, Aemond was dragon-fire itself, boiling, wild, dangerous, and consuming. And that's alright. Maybe different loves are meant to feel differently.

It was there when Aemond's gaze moved from your husband to land on your hand, the one the sapphire ring laid, you had not taken it off, his violet eye darkened considerably, and a smile that could only be described as smug crept into his face.

For the rest of your stay it had been torture, the way he'd pressed his body against your back when you were practicing the bow and arrow for good fun, or the way his hand brushed yours as he passed you the milk during breakfast, when you were laughing together in the library and he accidentally laid his hand on your covered thigh, or how his chair was too close during supper, his delicious scent invading your nostrils and making your stomach tingle with a forbidden desire.

You believed it was simply a coincidence until you were back home and his letters shifted from friendly to immoral, and you had to burn it the second you finished reading them. In the first one, he explicitly wrote how your dress accentuated your body and how he wished to rip it off and absolutely devour you. The harsh and filthy words make you dumbfounded and horny, cheeks burning and an uncomfortable and sticky pool between your legs. You didn't know what had gotten into him, or even you for entertaining his sick behavior, as you replied to each of them in the same way. It was shameful and wrong, but as everything involving Aemond, it was also thrilling. And in all honesty, you could never deny him.

And then you reached your breaking point. You sneaked out of your shared bed in the middle of the night, your husband soundly asleep, and made your way to a reclusive inn. You paced around the room, fidgeting with the sleeve of your cloak as you waited for Aemond. Sending him only a small note with an address, you had no clue he'd come. Certainly, now that the war broke out, he had more urgent matters to attend to, so were you being selfish for wanting and almost demanding him? Absolutely, but so was he when he didn't let you go once you got married, so was he enticing you with filthy letters and making you sin even more for him.

The crack of the door makes your blood rush in your veins, breath stuck in your throat as you turn around. There he stands, in all his haughtiness, even when he's almost all covered by his cloak. He pulls the hood down, smirking at you. There's only silence as you watch him slowly take off the cloak and throw it on a chair. You lick your lips as you take in his leather clothing, then he proceeds to remove his worn and brown eyepatch, the one he would only use to run around King's Landing undetected. Your eyes trail his body hungrily, the glistening gemstone only making the knot in your stomach tighten. It's truly almost painful the sight of him, having him so close, and completely alone. You can ghostly feel his touch and smell already, and your heart hammers against your ribcage. You approach him under his amused gaze.

"I know you are up to no good to bring me to such a place at the hour of the owl." Aemond says as you halt in front of him.

"You are correct." You glance at his curved lips for a second before locking your eyes with his violet one again.

"Where's your dear husband I wonder?" He asks mockingly.

"Sleeping." You tilt your head, smiling slightly.

"Unaware you seek the company of another?"

"Not just another..."

"What else?" He questions curiously.

"The most charming and fierce prince of the realm. Hardly an offense."

Aemond rolls his eye, lips twitching upwards. "Quit your flattery."

"Do not pretend you don't love it."

"Have you enjoyed my letters?"

"Greatly, the same amount I despised it as well." Aemond scoffs. "What happened to our terms?"

"Impracticable."

"Were they?" You raise your eyebrow.

"Yes. How am I supposed to not fuck you anymore when I already got the taste of the most delicious cunt there is?"

You smirk, his crude words making your core clench around nothing. "Flattering me as well?"

"Simply being honest." He twirls a piece of your hair around his finger, placing his hand on your jaw after. "Does he fucks you good?"

You pause, remembering your intimacy with Hadwyn. It is not awful, just plain. It happens what you expect, and nothing else. You didn't feel comfortable telling him more of your preferences, afraid he would think low of you if you did so. Although recently you had managed to bring his hand to your bud and rode him once, it seemed he preferred to keep it as usual. With Aemond you never had to ask, it was always instinctively, you guessed he probably read many books about intercourse before laying with you because you knew he didn't have many experiences either. One, to be precise, and you doubt it actually counts, he was just a child after all. His question triggers a pang of guilt to wash over you, though. Your husband has been nothing but kind, and how do you repay him?

"I must be a terrible person." You mutter.

"You are not," You look at him incredulously. "A terrible wife, mayhaps, but not a terrible person."

You can't help the snicker falling off your lips as you hit his chest playfully. "Stop making me feel more guilty than I already do!"

Aemond hums, raising a brow. "Not guilty enough to stop you from answering my letters or coming here late at night." You avert your eyes.

"It 's alright. Did we once follow the traditions? Do you believe the Seven thought of us as fewer sinners when we engaged in sexual activities before marriage because we were unwed?" He grabs your chin. "Do not be ashamed. You are mine and cannot resist me. You and I are meant to be, we are more than a mere convenient marriage. Ain't I too supposed to be faithful to my future bride?"

"Is your betrothed very lovely?"

"You will be relieved to know you have ruined me. No other woman compares to you. Ever." Your heart flutters with his words. "Floris Baratheon seemed the least irritating of the sisters, that is all."

"Have you enjoyed my letters?"

"I keep them all." He answers, leaning his face closer to yours. Your knees almost fail you as you inhale his scent of leather, sandalwood, and bergamot. "Have you missed me as I missed you, my beautiful girl?"

"Possibly even more." You confess.

"Tell me why you invited me here, I need to hear it from your pretty mouth." His thumb trails over your lower lip.

"I was expecting you to keep to your word." You tease.

He chuckles. "That would take days."

"Certainly you can arrange some time for an old friend…"

His good eye seems to glimmer as much as the sapphire replacing the other. "Will this be an occurrence?"

You fidget with the button of his tunic. "It seems we cannot keep apart from each other, so I would guess so." You look into his eye.

"Mhm." His arm sneaks around your waist, bringing you even closer to his body, and you place your hands on his shoulders. "You haven't said it yet." He tilts his head.

You breathe in and gulps. "I brought you here because I want you to fuck me."

Aemond smiles, actually smile. Most certainly smugly, but he displayed all of his teeth in his adorable grin, and you love to see it, a smile appears on your face as well, almost unconsciously just by seeing his.

"As my lady wishes."

It's blazing when your lips meet, not loving or gentle, but rather fervent and harsh. You moan into his mouth when his tongue touches yours, and all guilt leaves you at once. At that moment everything that wasn't Aemond ceased to exist. As it always happened when you were with him, you only cared for his touch.

The time apart makes it even better, the leather beneath your fingers comforting. His other hand goes to the back of your head, and you continue to kiss him eagerly, your body trembling even with so little stimulation. You bite his lips as you part slightly for air, and then your mouths are locked again. The kiss slows down a bit, becoming more appreciative as both of you delight in the exchange and each other's taste, but it remains just as lustful.

Aemond swiftly takes your cloak off and you struggle off your shoes, the prince does the same. You help Aemond out of his tunic after you are done and his undershirt goes flying across the room in one go. You touch his toned abdomen before your lips find his chest and neck, the low groan coming from Aemond stirring you up, your mouth trails down as you kiss all of his stomach, kneeling down in front of him. Aemond looks at you in anticipation as you undo his belt and pulls his trousers down, the leather a little too tight.

Once his veiny and semi-hard cock springs free, your mouth starts watering. You don't take your eyes off it as you stroke him, making Aemond gasp loudly. Your eyes darken, even the smell of his manhood tantalizing you. He's definitely above average, straight, long, and thick enough to give the best stretch without making you uncomfortable, with large veins running through the base and a pinkish tip. You can't help yourself as you insert his head in your mouth with a loud pop, he tastes so divine. You smirk at him as he let out a strained moan, your tongue then sliding across his slit. Aemond's hand grips your hair with a decompensated breath.

You start kissing and licking around his shaft attentively, tongue flat while savoring it and purposely teasing him more before you stroke his cock a few more times and proceeds to put half of his length in your mouth, Aemond trembles upon feeling your hot and soft lips around him, a growl escaping his mouth.

"Oh, fuck, yes. You look so beautiful, my dear."

Your cheeks hollows, head bobbing back and forth as you suck him into your mouth, humming against his member, the sensation of pleasuring him way too good, and tears start to prickle your eyes. You fist his cock and lap on him relentlessly, even when you pull him out, your lips keep locked on him, tongue running around his shaft before you swallow him again, the fullness of your mouth making you grow even wetter. You look up at him as you gag on his cock, mouth squeezing his manhood, and his head is thrown back, brows furrowed and pink lips parted, his good eye is half-closed while the sapphire sparkles bright, the most wonderful sight one could lay eyes on. His grunts become more prominent as he lets you lead, and you can feel your cunt throbbing achingly now. You give him all the devotion you can master through it, your other hand gently massaging his balls and receiving the most delightful sounds in return.

You smirk at him, taking him out of your mouth sloppily once again to catch your breath, his cock coated with your saliva. You slap it on your face before sucking it again as if your life depends on it. He was so addicting.

"By the Gods," He mutters with a grunt.

It's when you quicken your pace that it feels as if something quite feral snaps inside Aemond. He starts to grow impatient and jerks his hips against your face, his closed fist on your hair more harsh and demanding, his pace becomes so brutish now that you stop stroking him, both your hands laying on his bare thigh for support, your nails digging deeply into his skin as you moan, no doubt bruising it later. It is impossible to fit all of his length in your mouth, but Aemond is certainly determined to do so, a flow of hot tears fall down your eyes as he fucks your mouth, your throat burning with the invasion. It's dirty, uncomfortable, and absolutely ecstatic. Aemond does not care for you or your whines or your gagging one bit now, he only cares for his enjoyment and release and you are more than happy to assist him with it. Lewdy sounds echo in the room as his tip hits the back of your throat mercilessly. You push his thigh as you pull back for air, your appearance disheveled.

"Come on my face, please." You say out of breath, a split of saliva hanging between his cock and your mouth as you stroke his length rapidly and suck his head again.

The sight below him accompanied by your words are enough to send Aemond over the edge, and with a high-pitched moan, his hot load hits your face, painting a few parts of it white. You stick your tongue out and shut your eyes as your hand continues to jerk him, swallowing his spend that falls on your tongue and gathering the amount that landed on your face.

"So good," You praise him, licking your fingers clean. "So fucking good." You give his head another lick, making him whine due to sensitivity.

You giggle and get up, Aemond immediately tasting himself on your lips in a messy and lecherous kiss. Lowering himself to your feet the prince grabs the ends of your dress and removes it anxiously. Your choice of dress was a very simple and easy to take off one, and you didn't bother to wear a shift underneath tonight either, aware of the sinful practices you planned to indulge in, leaving you completely bare now. Aemond stares at your nakedness with a pleasant hum and blown eye.

"Go to bed and spread your legs for me." He commands as he discards your dress somewhere.

When your back hits the bed, you immediately open your legs to him, hand provocatively touching your breasts, there's no shyness, only a burning desire to be seen by him. You bite your lips as you notice how his violet eye has turned almost all black now. He fists his cock a couple of times at the sight of you, one he wishes to never forget.

He makes his way toward the bed, kneeling in front of you. Bringing your body forward, he leaves a trail of kisses on your inner thighs, which makes you shudder. "I have missed this sweet cunt so much…"

His middle finger parts your folds, gathering your juices next to your hole and then coming back up to circle your sensitive bud. You moan with the touch, brows furrowed and lifting your hips slightly, and you can hear Aemond chuckling. "So wet for me it's pitiful, truly." He continues to touch you teasingly, fingers pressed tightly to your heat as he drags it around. You can only hum in response, already lost in your pleasure, you feel completely on fire.

"Do you know why?" He moves his hand away, pressing his lips to your bud in a light kiss and making you whimper with the action. "Because it knows it belongs to me, it's as clear as day." He spits on your cunt crudely before immediately lapping on it, your back arching involuntarily as your moans get louder.

His warm tongue twirls between your folds slowly, making you whimper and bite your lips harshly, it's been so long since you have been eaten out that it feels like a dream, your face immediately twists in pleasure as shivers run down your spine with the missed sensation of his lips on your sex. Aemond sucks your bundle of nerves, making you gasp, your hands going to his silky hair as you press his face even further in your cunt. Aemond's tongue slides all over your womanhood as he sucks and licks you as if it was the air that he breathes. He closes his eye for a second, groaning lowly against your cunt due to his own enjoyment.

"Mhm," He grunts. "So fucking tasty."

His tongue teases your hole before coming back up to suck harshly on your sensitive bud unabated, you watch him with hooded eyes, his name on your lips like a prayer.

"Yes, the best thing I have ever tasted," He continues lapping on you, one of his hands holding your cunt open to give him better access. "You're doing so good, my beauty."

He spits on you one more time, mouth devouring you. He easily inserts two fingers into your soaked cunt, and you cannot control the sounds that leave your lips anymore. He curls his fingers inside you as his tongue whirls on your clit, his pumping quickening as you jerk your hips against his face and hand. It's so exceptional, his long fingers reaching a spongy spot you cannot on your own. In an urge to grab something, one of your hands squeezes your breasts as you whimper uncontrollably. You open your eyes again to see he's already looking directly at you as his tongue moves side to side on your cunt. You bite your lips so hard it draws blood.

Getting up on your elbows, you watch as he gives you long licks up and down, then twirls it around your bud again and sucks it into his mouth, his fingers inside you not faltering, you relish in the stimulation on both your core and bud, making your eyes roll back as not one coherent thought crosses your mind. You feel goosebumps all over your skin and pathetic gibberish leaves your mouth. Aemond continues to work you on, his tongue and fingers getting faster and making your moans break. You can feel your release building up on your lower belly as you shut your eyes, cunt clenching tightly around his fingers, and you are so ready for it, to let it go and cry in pleasure, you are close, so close… and he stops, pulling away.

You look at him with a mixture of confusion, anger, and frustration. He chuckles at you, licking the fingers that were inside you seconds ago.

"I need you to sit on my face, pet."

Your stomach tingles upon hearing his words and you can only nod, moving aside so he could lay on the bed. When Aemond is settled, you straddle his face, holding onto the cool headboard and being careful as to not put all of your weight on him, you lower your cunt to his mouth, immediately gasping when you do so. Aemond holds on to your upper thighs tightly, keeping you in place and moaning into your heat as he starts licking you fervently once again.

You can't help yourself as you grind and roll your hips on his mouth, hands pinching your nipples as your pace quickens. Aemond doesn't leave an inch of your cunt out of his affections, sucking hard as he groans against you in delight. When his tongue enters your hole you are moaning so loud you are certain the whole inn could hear you, but that was far from being a concern to you. You need to hold on to the headboard again, knuckles whitening with the force you put on it. His name is on your lips as a mantra now while you bounce on him, your stomach churning. Then, his tongue is all around you again, relaxed and hot as he works his magic with purpose.

You keep your eyes locked on Aemond the whole time, the sight of him under you and satisfying your desires only adding more intensity to your pleasure. He looks so pretty and alluring like this, his adorable lips so keen to make you happy, eating you out so well and good, you bite your lips again while smiling down at him. You grind more relentlessly now, not even trying to be careful, the feel of his mouth paired with the faint brush of his chin and the tip of his nose on your cunt is the best thing you have ever experienced.

Your peak comes down abruptly and feels like a million stars exploding at once, a long scream on your lips. Your head falls back, black dots covering your vision as your legs tremble. You cry as Aemond continues to lap on your sensitive cunt, kissing it multiple times after.

Admirably your legs didn't fail you and you manage to get off his face, body falling limp on the bed. The ceiling above you is spinning as your heart palpitates in your ears. It takes a minute for your breath to stabilize, and when you look at Aemond he is grinning like a maniac, chin glistening with your juices, and you both laugh at each other out of bliss.

Aemond moves to hover over you, his mouth finding yours in a long and deep kiss, your legs wrap around his waist as one of his hands squeezes your breasts before cradling your face. Your lips move harmoniously together, tongues caressing one another.

It's so soothing, you feel so at peace and so light, just as the sound of the wind passing through the trees. There is no rush, only long kisses and pecks, hooded eyes, and silly little smiles. It's not sexual, and it's not innocent, it's just two people taking their time with each other. You lost track of time in your consuming passion, too occupied in the sheer joy of the prince's soft lips and naked body pressed against yours.

Slowly but as expected, the kisses start to grow needier, your breathing becoming erratic and your womanhood pulsating. You grind against Aemond's stiffness and he sighs deeply, his mouth moving to your neck as he sucks and bites your sweet spot and makes you shiver, then trailing down to your breasts as he puts one in his mouth, twirling his tongue around your nipple. He pulls back a little, holding his hard cock and running it in between your folds before he calmly and gently slides into you.

Your eyes close with the feeling, the stretch his girth gives is simply extraordinary and so fulfilling. You start whimpering as he settles in the middle of your legs, nothing and no one else could make you feel this way, to reach that specific spot, and your cunt is clenching tightly around him.

"Fuck, sweet thing," He breathes out. "You feel even tighter. Is your husband fucking you at all?"

He starts to thrust on you slowly, and your eyes roll back again, gasping loudly as you relish the feel of his cock inside you, so marvelous. Aemond lets his face fall in the crook of your neck, to feel your soft walls around him an absolute blessing in his opinion, his moans are so low if you were a little bit louder yourself you wouldn't be able to hear him.

"So good…" You moan, you have missed this way too much.

"Mhm, yes, very good." He holds onto your hips tightly and your legs parts even further.

He starts to go even deeper, his hip finding a steady pace that makes you feel as if you are flying. His grunts become loud, and his hand leans your leg up to your chest as he starts to pound on you more fastly now. "Fucking perfection. You are so perfect."

You hold your leg up to help him, already a moaning mess. The cracky bed hits the wall repeatedly and you are sweating a lot, your hair sticking to your forehead. It is such a great sensation you are torn between seeking your peak and wanting it to last forever, to feel him inside you forever. It seems Aemond feels the same, because now and then when the prince believes you or himself to be close, he'd stay still inside you, completely out of breath, and hold a few seconds before starting again, a few strands of his silver locks falling into your face as he does so.

His lips wrap around yours messily, tongues locked as he keeps thrusting and grunting. His familiar scent, a cologne custom-made because he is just that snob, mixed with his sweat turns you on even more.

He parts from you for a minute, kneeling on the bed and then turning you around with impressive force and grace, your back instantly arching for him while the side of your face is pressed to the mattress. You can hear him chuckle before he slaps your ass hard, and you whine.

"You little whore," He presses the tip of his cock to your entrance and you wiggle. "My perfect little whore."

He thrust into your cunt, the new position making you euphoric, and you started to meet him at his pace, your whimpers almost pitiful. Aemond's hand grips your ass, his shoving only quickening by the second, he laughs a bit seeing your eagerness, and then he halts, letting you do the work for a while. He stares at his cock disappearing inside your cunt with a wicked glint in his eye and he needs all of his self-control to not go feral.

"Yes, yes, yes," He encourages. "You're so good at this, gorgeous. Keep on taking my cock like the cheating whore you are, oh yes."

His words make you groan, cunt tightening around him as your movements grow faster and harder, so much his cock slips out of your cunt once, but you are quick to insert it into your dripping hole again, the wet sounds of skin slapping skin nothing but obscene. Aemond watches with a smirk the way your womanhood is milking him, hands caressing and squeezing your butt as you bounce on his length.

Soon he takes control again, starting to thrust on you aggressively and steadily. You scream, the rattle of the bed growing even more strident now, and you become a babbling mess, biting into your hand to try to prevent your loud moans from being heard, a tear falling from the corner of one of your eyes. Aemond laughs amusedly.

"Oh my, you love this, don't you?"

"Y-y-yes," You stutter, brows furrowed and fists tight on the linen sheet.

"Fuck, you are heavenly," Aemond says. "And all mine."

"Uh-huh," You agree. "All yours, only yours."

He slaps the cheek of your ass again. "My princess," His pace becomes faster. "My fucking queen." He leans down, lips kissing your cheek.

In a blink of an eye, you are on your back again, Aemond's managing your body too easily. You bring both your legs up as he inserts his manhood into you, his hand wrapping around your neck as he thrust into you ruthlessly.

You can only moan, holding onto anything you can grasp, it's almost too much and you feel completely wobbly, it feels as if he was made in the most perfect size to send you to the seven heavens and back. His cock hits your cervix unrelenting, his fist tightening around your neck until you can barely breathe, the lack of air only increasing your pleasure, and then…

The knot inside you snaps in a shattering wave, your whole body shaking. It's as if you have left your body entirely and were floating around, your vision whitening and audition failing you. When you come back to your senses, Aemond is grunting lowly and thrusting into you, your cunt wrapping around his cock amazingly, with a husky and strained moan, his face twists in pleasure, eye shut and mouth agape as he spills his seed deep inside you, filling you up and you moan just by watching him. His thrusts get sloppier and weaker as he rides off his peak until his body falls on top of yours, with hitched breath and trembling slightly. You smile, one hand caressing his hair and the other his back, his skin feels almost burning under your touch.

You feel suddenly exhausted, and all you wish to do is close your eyes and succumb to slumber, but you know you cannot. It was already late when you left Hadwyn, and you do not know how much time has passed since the moment Aemond stepped inside the room. Most definitely it was already the hour of the bat, and as a heavy sleeper, you couldn't risk not waking up before dawn, your husband was a very early bird after all. Aemond looks up at you as if guessing the line of your thoughts: the prince was accustomed to you getting sleepy after your passionate activities.

"You may sleep, my beloved," His knuckle brushes against your cheek. "I shall remain awake and wake you up before the sun is up."

You smile softly at him in silent agreement and he gets off you, wrapping your bodies with the thin blanket. You rest your face on Aemond's chest and the prince hugs you closer, caressing your back and your thigh. He sighs contently.

As you quickly fall asleep, Aemond stares at you, the crickets outside the small window and the cackling of the fire are the only noises reaching his ears. He smiles upon your sleeping form, realizing no matter marriage or time, this is where you will always belong: with him, in bed, in his arms, where your heart truly lies.

#aemond targaryen #aemond targaryen x reader #aemond x reader #aemond fanfic #aemond imagines #aemond smut #hotd x reader #hotd imagines #aemond targaryen imagines

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dotthings · 2 years ago

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With Rob there in a 70's wig as the keyboardist of the band, yeah sure it could be Chuck and he's enjoying all this drama immensely, that's likely. It's creepy. But once again I need to do a reminder: Chuck does not force people to have feelings. He doesn't implant feelings. He moves events around the Winchester family, puts obstacles in, he can make things move physically, he can even force a human to move a certain way but he cannot make them feel what they don't feel. There was a ton of bad takes about this during the run of the mothership while antis kept trying to claim things like--Saileen is noncon, roofied into loving each other, when it was Eileen and Sam's real feelings all along. Chuck made a spell, a piece of paper, fall out of one of Rowena's spellbooks at the right moment, the rest was all them. That all was expressly canon, antis still kept shrieking it was noncon and Sam and Eileen didn't really care about each other and weren't really falling in love, that it was all Chuck.

That was antis being objectively incorrect and anti-canon. And that is the argument some fans of TW are reaching for again to deny what John/Mary actually is.

It already had become clear me on TW that John and Mary's romance is not cupid roofies. I've been saying this for a few months.

They were not forced to feel things.

They were not forced to fall in love.

Trapped in a maze, they ran their own race.

Mary tells John she needs more time. After seeing her friend Carlos almost having to sacrifice his very soul, and then when he refuses that path, Carlos almost died, and then Carlos serenades his friends, who are his family, Mary is shooketh. It made her think. Carlos sings to this rag-tag group of hunters who mean everything to him. He's lost a lot, had to lose some of his dreams, but gained a lot. Carlos leads with his heart and he's very loving.

It's after Carlos' song that Mary is able to go to John and act on her feelings she already has, but she was afraid. Mary, who Samuel said is so stubborn and will go head-first despite danger, when it's about killing monsters. But when it comes to feelings, and being close to people, especially her romantic feelings for John, she's scared.

Nobody roofied Mary into going to John and reciprocating.

Not Chuck. Not cupids.

Seriously, guys, so much of fandom is clinging to the idea that JohnMary is a manufactured romance where their feelings aren't real.

A lot of us thought that. I know. It's based on bits and pieces of information the mothership dropped, it's understandable, but if you look back now, you see how much was assumptions. Old school fandom made assumptions, newer fandom made assumptions.

And now TW is spelling it out loudly and clearing that up. It's not a retcon, it's a clarification and filling in blanks. We only had bits and pieces before and assumptions.

The love was real.

Their conflicts and problems were real.

They loved each other and they had a lot of problems, the marriage was troubled, and there's reasons for that. They both have issues.

What about any of this is real, we are.

Destiel shippers don't want to admit how similar these two love stories are, while TW keeps throwing Destiel parallels. It's not that canon is saying these two love stories are identical, but there are things in common some shippers don't want to admit. But also, what else are these parallels saying.

They are both romantic love stories.

Trapped in a maze but the feelings are real.

They love each other but the relationship has problems, conflicts, things that pull them apart.

TW is knocking on Destiel shippers' doors, you can answer or you can pretend it's not, because you're scared to be hopeful, about what TW is saying to you.

*****Also please don't diminish Carlos' emotional importance, the very self-evident impact he has on his friends, on Lata, on Mary, on John. Which was an A plot of this episode, the ep was very Carlos focused.*****

Don't ignore Mary starting to sob when she thought Carlos was about to die, John's anger on his behalf, Lata's tears, or how John, Mary, and Lata were all entranced by Carlos' song that he sang for them.

It moved Mary and it helped her get past her fear and she went to John and was able to reciprocate.

Nobody roofied her feelings.

It's just feelings.

#mary campbell #john winchester #john x mary #carlos cervantez #destiel #spnwin #the winchesters #spnwin spoilers #spnwin meta

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rnelodyy · 4 years ago

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So I saw this tweet today, and I think the question this person poses is actually a very interesting jumping off point for analysis. I absolutely refuse to make a 100 tweet long thread about this though, so here I am, typing out my thoughts on a platform without a character limit.

(this is all /dsmp /rp, unless otherwise specified all names refer to characters, not content creators)

I wanna start off by saying that I am NOT what I would describe as a “Dream anti/hater.” I’m a MASSIVE enthusiast, he’s easily one of my favorite villains in any piece of media I’ve ever consumed, precisely because he is a smug, over-the-top asshole who will stop at absolutely nothing to get his way. It’s incredibly fun to see his antics in action, and immensely satisfying when he finally gets his comeuppance.

I’m going to first delve into the second question: what makes Dream different from other villains in other pieces of media?

Well, he’s not, not really. The way he acts and carries out his plans is unique to his character of course, but the role he fills in the narrative and the way he plays that role is a pretty common archetype, though one that has fallen a bit out of use as of late.

Dream is a Pure Evil Villain.

The video I’ve linked goes into WAY more depth, but the basics of the PEV archetype is that they:

Have no backstory (at least not one that’s relevant to the plot).

Have very simplistic goals (i.e. taking over the world, retribution for perceived slights, or just wreaking indiscriminate havoc).

Have motivations that are purely self-serving, and they’re having a lot of fun carrying them out. (That said, some PEVs had complex motivations once upon a time and may have been full-on good guys, but have long lost sight of their original goal.)

Have an unwavering sense of self-confidence, and a MASSIVE ego.

End their stories with a third-act breakdown (or as TvTropes refers to it, a Villainous Breakdown, which is a term I’m gonna keep using here because DSMP doesn’t have a three-act structure), where they crash and burn in spectacular fashion as the hero finally comes out on top.

Dream ticks ALL of these boxes.

He has no backstory or even a point of view, and even if he got one, it wouldn’t change much about how we perceive his character. We can glean his goals, motives and personality pretty well from his interactions with the people around him.

His goal is literally just “control the entire server through any means necessary,” which is why he goes to such lengths to crush his political rivals, break Tommy’s defiance against him, and create a giant fuckoff prison to throw major threats into.

He’s stated multiple times that he enjoyed watching L’Manburg get destroyed, was laughing and telling Lazar “this is the best part” while destroying Tommy’s armor in exile, and tells Tommy and Tubbo he’s “playing with [his] food, that’s the fun in it” after they lose the initial battle of the Final Disc War.

He’s nothing BUT self-confident. I cannot remember a single moment where he doubts himself or has a moment of introspection, and an insult I’ve never heard Tommy use for anyone except Dream is “egotistical bastard.”

His villainous breakdown happened at the end of the Final Disc War, when he was suddenly made powerless, none of his manipulation tactics worked anymore and Tommy was actively beating him to death. He ended up huddling in a corner, begging and bargaining for his life, before being thrown into his own prison.

(Sidenote ‘cause I know it’s gonna get brought up. Dream has claimed he just wants the server to be a happy family twice, but the context of the scenes make it obvious that you’re not supposed to take that line at face value.

The first time he said it, he was talking to Punz, his only ally at the time, while standing in front of the prison he commissioned, helped design and helped build. During that same conversation, he claimed the prison was only for the most dangerous people on the server… but also that it had twenty cells, and a main cell that could fit multiple people, when the server’s population at the time was about thirty. This conversation also took place right after Tommy ran away from exile, meaning Dream was saying this knowing he’d abused and wanted to continue abusing a sixteen year-old boy to the point where he attempted literal suicide.

The second time, he was talking to Tommy in prison, right after Tommy told him he wouldn’t be visiting him anymore, and Dream was desperately trying to change his mind by claiming he could change as a person if Tommy kept up his visits. Tommy’s response says it better than I could.

Dream’s actions speak louder than his words. He can claim he just wants a happy family, but when he’s cut off, abused, kidnapped, killed, tormented and blackmailed the people he’s supposed to care about into compliance, it becomes pretty obvious that if you don’t fit into HIS image of a happy family, you need to be locked up in a tiny box or dumped on a remote island and beaten until you’re so broken you will just do whatever he tells you to without question.)

Now, if you have a shitty literature teacher, they’ll tell you that villains NEED to be morally grey, have complex motivations and a chance at redemption, otherwise it’s bad writing. However, that’s not true. Some of the most iconic villains of pop culture are PEVs, like Bill Cipher, or Megatron, or Moriarty, or literally any classic Disney villain. It’s not bad writing, it’s just not fashionable right now. Just because other villains in the narrative ARE morally grey, doesn’t mean Dream needs to be.

It’s also become popular nowadays to have a PEV AND a sympathetic, redeemable villain working together, most often with the sympathetic villain serving under the PEV. Zuko is sympathetic and redeemable, Ozai is the PEV. Gideon Gleeful is sympathetic and redeemable, Bill Cipher is the PEV. Catra is sympathetic and redeemable, Hordak is the PEV. Nebula is sympathetic and redeemable, Thanos is the PEV.

This allows writers to have the best of both worlds; it allows for the emotional journey and incredible character development that comes with a really good redemption arc, while also having the flair and pizazz and unbridled charisma and catharsis at seeing them crash and burn that comes with a PEV. Some writers try to have both in one character, but that rarely ever goes right (like how Thanos’s goal of wiping out half the universe is supposedly to prevent overpopulation while keeping biodiversity, yet he also killed all the dwarves and tortured Eitri for no reason).

Whenever Dream teams up with another villain, he’s ALWAYS taking the PEV role.

When he teamed up with Wilbur for November 16th, Wilbur acted the way he did because he was mentally ill, suicidal and severely paranoid, convinced nobody wanted or needed him, that everyone secretly hated him, that betrayal was just around the corner, and that he was the villain of his own story. He destroyed his own creation in a fit of anguish, before committing suicide by proxy. While his behavior is largely unchanged after his revival, it’s clear he is still in a lot of pain, and there is a lot of setup for a redemption arc for him. Dream, meanwhile, fought on Schlatt’s side, egged Techno on through whispers as Tubbo was being sworn in, screamed the loudest “YES” I’ve ever heard when the TNT went off, then proceeded to place more TNT and attack everything in sight while Techno went on his rampage. When everything was said and done, he even ran over to Tommy’s house and blew that up too for good measure.

When Dream teamed up with Techno and Philza during Doomsday, Philza was clearly convinced L’Manburg was the cause of all the pain on the server and that destroying it would be the right thing to do, and used its destruction as an outlet for the grief he carried over the death of his son. While his target was misplaced, you can see how he came to the conclusions he did, and how his own biases, prejudices and boomer-ish “I am older and have more experiences therefore I’m always right” attitude cloud his judgement. Dream, meanwhile, outright admitted that he decided to destroy L’Manburg instead of burning the discs because it was just more fun that way, and said some DISGUSTINGLY creepy things to Tommy on the grid. We also know that, after Techno and Phil already left, Dream stayed behind and rained TNT down for days.

(I didn’t mention Techno here because I would argue that, in the context of Doomsday, Techno also classifies as a PEV. That’s a discussion for another time though.)

The Final Disc war, in my opinion, PERFECTLY illustrates Dream’s pure evilness. He describes himself and his actions as evil multiple times, acts completely in his own self-interest, is MASSIVELY overconfident until he’s thwarted by Punz and co, and he is, of course, having an absolute BLAST with his reprehensible actions.

Which leads me into the other question: what makes him irredeemable?

PEVs are irredeemable pretty much by definition. The combination of selfish motives, massive ego and lack of introspection makes for a character that’s EXTREMELY allergic to character development, and character development is pretty much the point of a redemption arc. It’s a MASSIVE shift in a character’s goals, ideals, morals and sometimes personality, brought on by massive amounts of introspection and self-doubt, and that’s just not something a self-assured, egotistical person who KNOWS their goals are selfish and evil and enjoys it would ever really do.

The only PEV I’ve ever seen get something resembling a redemption arc is Hordak from the She-Ra reboot.

(SPOILERS)

In season 3, Hordak meets Entrapta, a princess working for the Horde with a scientific mind just like his. As he bonds with and gets romantic feelings for Entrapta, he slowly starts to open up to her about his past, his struggles with his physical health, and how he just wants the approval of Horde Prime. When Prime eventually arrives however, his achievements are waved off, he’s deemed defective due to his physical illness, and has his memories erased. He’s eventually used as a replacement body by Prime, before openly defying Prime and hurling him off a cliff.

Thing is though, it’s not a redemption arc in that he’s instantly forgiven, or even that he’s a good person now. The princesses (sans Entrapta) look visibly uncomfortable or afraid of him, and Mermista even outright asks if anyone is gonna say something about Hordak being there during the big end-of-series celebration. Hordak defied Prime, but he’s not automatically a good guy, nor is he treated as one.

(END OF SPOILERS)

The most important point is: as soon as Hordak enters his redemption arc, he stops being a PEV. His backstory is suddenly integral to his character, his self-confidence turns out to be a farce, and while his motives are still self-serving, they’re much more complex than the generic take-over-the-world villain he was before. A redeemable PEV can’t exist, because as soon as they start redeeming themselves, they cannot continue being pure evil.

Dream has shown to be completely allergic to character development. No bargain with him has ever worked to his detriment, nobody can reason with him because he’s so set in his own ways, and he has never shown any kind of remorse for his own actions. The only person he’s ever apologized to is Tommy, and you can tell from his tone and the way he refuses to even mention specific events that he’s sorry for that it’s purely performative. Any redemption arc NEEDS to start with a villain examining themselves, or feeling remorse for their actions, or questioning their position. Dream never does that, HAS never done that, and it’s looking like he never will.

However, if you’re looking at specific actions that make him irredeemable, there’s one event that pushes him over the edge.

Because sure, some villains have tortured people, have killed people, have committed acts of terrorism, and still received redemption arcs (though there’s usually some level of coercion involved so they cannot be held 100% responsible, like they were brainwashed or acting on someone else’s orders).

There is, however, a line. TvTropes refers to this line as the Moral Event Horizon, as like with the event horizon of a black hole, once you pass it, there is no going back. Where that line is is kind of subjective, it depends on the narrative weight placed on the event, the cultural standards of the audience, and in part, the personal opinion of the viewer.

But I don’t think it’s a controversial statement to say that Dream passed the Moral Event Horizon with Tommy’s exile.

I don’t know if you’ve watched exile live, but as someone who has, I can tell you that it was fucking GRIM. People had to stop watching the streams entirely or wait for people to post trigger warnings and summaries on Twitter and Tumblr before watching the VOD, because it was legitimately triggering to some. AO3 was full of fics of Tommy being pulled out of Logstedshire by other people on the server (mostly Techno and Phil) a trembling, traumatized husk of his former self, and those were the OPTIMISTIC ones. There were jokes about Tommy’s chat getting traumatized with him, as they were constantly telling him to run, get away from Dream and hide his armor, and whenever “Dream joined the game” appeared in chat, everyone’s stomachs collectively DROPPED. The general mood in the fanbase was one of helpless panic and terror as we watched this kid be slowly destroyed in front of our eyes through physical, emotional and psychological abuse, gaslighting, and isolation. Hell, exile is the event that sparked the creation of the c!, cc!, /dsmp and /rp tags, because people didn’t want sentences like “what Dream is doing to Tommy is abuse, this is actually horrific” to make it to the wider internet without any kind of context.

Exile is one of the most narratively heavy events on the server. It changed Tommy and Dream’s relationship status from “friendly rivals” to “abuser and victim,” and completely destroyed any sense of friendship they had left after November 16th. It’s permanently scarred Tommy to the point where even now, nine whole months later, he still has self-esteem issues, depressive episodes, flashbacks, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, and a pervasive fear of Dream breaking out of prison. It’s one of the most realistic portrayals of abuse and trauma in fiction I’ve ever seen, and it is HARD to rewatch.

But most importantly, the vast majority of people who thought Dream was in the right at the time dropped that IMMEDIATELY as soon as it became apparent what exile was REALLY about. I have a friend who was a huge sympathiser/apologist for L’Manburg and Pogtopia era Dream, but who refuses to even CONSIDER defending anything related to exile. The points about exile not being that bad, Tommy deserving it, or Dream trying to help him somehow didn’t start cropping up until MONTHS after exile ended, when memories of the events had been warped by time, fanon had blended with canon, and the horrific details had faded in most people’s minds.

There are very few outright abusive characters who have gotten redemption arcs, and those arcs are often reviled by fans. Abuse, child abuse especially, is one of those actions that make you completely irredeemable as a villain, like torturing someone purely for fun, or killing babies, or kicking dogs. Ozai’s establishing character moment is a flashback where he burns his son’s face off and exiles him for speaking out of turn, and the show makes it clear you’re not supposed to see that as anything EXCEPT revolting.

There is nothing Dream’s POV could show us that would make what he did to Tommy acceptable. There’s nothing he could say or do that would make exile okay. Exile is as low as he could morally go, and the fact that he not only has shown no remorse for it, but even seems to remember it fondly makes redemption impossible for him. What could he do that’s worse than exile? What would prompt him to feel any semblance of guilt or shame if exile didn’t spark it?

When you isolate and abuse a sixteen year-old boy, clearly have fun doing it, and feel not a single shred of guilt in the aftermath, you’re not gonna get a redemption arc, because that’s just not the kind of character you are at that point. Redemption arcs are reserved for sympathetic villains and fallen heroes, like Zuko, like Catra, like Wilbur. Even Hordak, who got a redemption arc, wasn’t an actual PEV in the end. He was a sympathetic villain in disguise, and as he shed the mask of pure evil and got some character development, the role of PEV was passed to Horde Prime.

The reason villains like Ursula, Maleficent, Bill Cipher, Cruella De Vil and Jafar are so fun to watch is precisely BECAUSE they’re unapologetically evil. The biggest criticism the live-action adaptations of Maleficent and Cruella received is that they strip that away from the characters to make them sympathetic and redeemable, and therefore - ironically - a lot more bland.

Dream’s pure evilness is what makes his character so much fun to watch. Giving him a redemption arc now not only wouldn’t make sense narratively speaking, it would actively strip away the aspects of his character that make him such a good villain! People don’t watch a PEV to see them grapple with their morality, they watch them to see them fuck shit up! A true PEV needs to be stripped of everything that makes them cool and interesting to their audience in order to even BEGIN thinking about redemption.

You can even see this happening in the way Dream is retroactively made to be more sympathetic by his apologists. There’s this running joke in a Discord server I’m in that Fanon!Dream is a fucking pussy, and that Canon!Dream would wipe the fucking floor with him, and I can’t help but agree.

There’s an idea going around that Wilbur manipulated Dream into becoming evil, that he constantly called Dream a tyrant and a dictator, and that Dream was so upset by this that he started the L’Manburg War. Except, not only does this have no basis in canon, it kinda makes Dream look pathetic, doesn’t it? Canon!Dream is a tyrannical control freak who saw some people make an area where his rules didn’t apply and decided to beat it into the ground to once again rule undisputed, not caring who he hurt or killed in the process. Fanon!Dream started a whole war because Some Guy he’d canonically talked to maybe twice and his annoying brother called him mean names.

There’s also the idea that exile needed to happen, because Dream saw that Tommy was such a destructive asshole all the time that he posed a massive threat to the server. Except… Tommy is absolutely not the most destructive person on the server. He’s loud and annoying, sure, and he could be destructive, especially in the early days where he often vandalized people’s stuff for fun. But… it never got worse than that. Was a teenager swearing at people and doing petty vandalism really such a massive threat to the server’s apparently paper-thin integrity that he needed to be taken away for everyone else’s safety? Or was it the fact that Tommy constantly called Dream out on his bullshit, refused to concede to his terms, questioned his authority, and encouraged other people to do the same?

Making Dream heroic also warps every single character around him, making them all unreasonably cruel to Dream specifically. Wilbur made him a villain for Reasons and was always a controlling chessmaster manipulating everyone around him (honestly it’s like their entire personalities switched places here). Tommy is a rabid animal only capable of destruction who needs to be kept on a leash for everyone else’s safety. L’Manburg is a xenophobic, colonialist, other buzzword empire. Sapnap and George left him because they’re bad friends, and not because he continually betrays them, uses them, disregards their wishes completely, and does nothing to refute Sapnap’s claim that he doesn’t care about them. He doesn’t deserve to be in prison, despite the fact that he murdered a bunch of people, abused a child, committed multiple acts of terrorism, and got caught red handed trying to murder a defenseless teenager while his friend watched and having a vault with everyone’s most valued possessions for blackmail purposes. Oh and did I mention the Skeppy cage?

A redemption arc for Dream would not only open up some really uncomfortable cans of worms (like Tommy suddenly being expected by fans and other characters to forgive and be nice to the man who made his life a living hell for months), it would be an active detriment to his character, because it strips away everything that makes him interesting in the first place.

If you want to watch a complex character going through a slow, painful redemption, go follow Wilbur’s storyline. If you want to watch a morally good man get beaten down by the world over and over again until he’s willing to go to even the most heinous lengths to secure his own safety and happiness, Quackity is right there. Let Dream be the guy who fucks shit up without remorse. Wilbur and Quackity can handle the emotional conflict and slow, painful spirals and roads to recovery, Dream can give us the explosions and villain speeches and the stomach-dropping terror whenever he appears on screen.

Anyway that’s my hot take, thank you for coming to my TED talk.

#dsmp analysis #dreamwastaken #c!dream #dream smp

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