#NOOOOOO I FORGOT IT WAS THE DAY AND I MISSED IT😭😭😭😭😭

[carica-ficus]

"Gideon the Ninth"

07/12/2023

Reading progress: 443/443 (100%)

Read through since last update: 167

So... It seems I'm at the last reading update... I actually didn't plan to cram so much into one post, but I got really into reading for a day or two, and then managed to get to the last 50ish pages and said fuck it. I'm not gonna say much except that I didn't expect for it to be that bloody, then at the end got so used to it that I had no other choice to just close the book and think to myself "Well. This happened." I will be writing a concise review as I do with each book I read, but I'm just gonna say I loved it very much. (This is, of course, a big understatement, but yeah... I'll gush about it in my review.) SPOILER WARNING! (Like always.)

Without further ado, my thoughts:

I might have been unbothered by the first two deaths, but I sure as hell am not ok after the end of Act 3. Was all that really necessary?? 😭😭

Yooo that scene when Gideon forces Harrow to siphon from her again is??? Hhhhhh... Made me feel a few things. Here's a graphic rendition:

I'm glad Harrow is banning Gideon from seeing Dulcinea. And the thing she mentions about the keys - she's right, it really doesn't make sense. It stuck out to me before, but I just forgot to comment on it. In any case, it's extremely suspicious. Protesilaus is also probably missing because of a distinct reason, related to his adept. Wouldn't be surprised if the Seventh is the one going around killing people.

Of course Silas turned out to be a little weasel. But at least Colum has some dignity.

Oh yeah, Corona is definitely not a necromancer.

Ok, but why am I not surprised that Harrow is the one who had her fingers in Protesilaus's disappearance? Honestly, she's the second most suspicious person in the mansion, but I love her, so I don't care.

HELLOOOOOOOO???? HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO????

First plot twist I have not expected. At all. I'm shooketh, as one might say.

Aww man. False alarm. >:( (This was about Gideon't claim that she murdered Harrow's parents.)

Oooh, but the big revelation was good! It was just a matter of time, so my reaction was more like "Ah! Finally!", than :O (Future me talking here: I'm not entirely sure what this is referring to? I'd guess it was about the Locked Tomb.)

Not Dulcinea doing the King Harold from Shrek dying scene 💀

"I had reason to believe," said Harrow, "that you would trust her more than you trusted me."

"You are my only friend. I am undone without you "

Stuff just kept happening and people just kept dying. Didn't even get the chance to write it all out, and another one was on the floor. Anyway... WHAT THE FUCK.

Honestly, I thought stuff would get all tangled up and I would lose my footing, as I heard most people do. (Or will, in the next book.) So I'm just glad I could follow along quite nicely. It all made sense in the end, even the stuff about Dulcinea. I wasn't too surprised she's the culprit, I'm just surprised how she's the culprit.

PALAMEDES!!!! NOOOOOO!!!!!!

"I can't conceive of a universe without you in it." Again, Muir going straight for the jugular. I know she likes to kill off her characters, but she doesn't need to kill of her readers as well.

Ok, you know what. I knew there would be no happy ending. We all knew Harrow couldn't become Lyctor without Gideon dying. So, I am not surprised it happened. But I am also NOT OKAY.

Man, I love Harrow. I love her in the epilogue. I love her in the last chapter. I love how much she cares, how much she always cared. And I love how her relationship with Gideon evolved over time. Ugh. Uuughhh!

Ok, yeah... This was an experience. I'll be ordering Harrow soon and.... Yeah. I'm (not) prepared for more heartbreak.

[safetycar-restart]

we have once again talked about this but 😭😭 lost puppy charles 😭😭

1) you're going away on a trip with your family for the weekend, and they said no significant others, it's family time. and you don't wanna leave him, but you promised. he doesn't wanna let you go, and he spends the whole weekend kind of moping around, missing you but fighting the urge to call you because he knows how important this family vacation is to your parents.

2) he loses you in like a department store or a mall, or even like a costco. you did say where you'd be, but he forgot, and he wishes he could fly through the building to find you. so he does find himself wandering around, looking for you, and he seems... small. in the d/s au, after an awful past dom, charles doesn't do well with being alone after you came along at first and has to ease back into it, but it's all a lot right away.

- 📓

NOOOOOO HE REALLY WOULD BE LIKE A LOST PUPPY WHY DO YOU HURT ME LIKE THIS 😭😭 I’m gonna talk about each scenario separately because they’re both so good and deserve equal attention.

SCENARIO ONE:

You feel so bad about not being able to take Charles with you, especially because it’s one of the few weekends that Charles actually has free? The moment your family announce the date of the trip your heart sinks, because you know that’s a weekend charles has off and so would want to spend with you. But now you can’t, because you can’t disappoint your parents.

And the worse part is, when you tell Charles he gets excited because he thinks he’s coming with? Your family normally love charles and he loves the idea of spending an off weekend with everyone.

But then you tell him that there’s no significant others allowed and he just…. He gets so sad? He would never blame you for going on your own of course. But it’s one of his few off weekends and he didn’t even consider the idea of not spending it with you until you told him as much.

Of course he lets you go and he doesn’t call you the whole time because it’s supposed to be family time. But he’s just so sad and lost.

His friends invite him to places and try to make plans but he turns everything down because he knows he won’t have fun without you. He thought you and him would have a nice weekend and he’d be your good boy but instead he’s just… wondering around the apartment trying to remember to eat three meals and do his workouts.

Sad little puppy.

SCENARIO TWO:

Oh god d/s au Charles would be so scared if he lost you in a grocery store. He really doesn’t do well if you just suddenly leave him, especially if he thinks you’re right there. I think it comes from his past Dom never giving him the attention he needed? He always felt like he had to search for them and now you’re with him and you’re his comfort. So he gets terrified when you suddenly disappear.

Maybe you’re going to the store with him to pick up everything he needs for his diet for the next few days because you’re planning on staying indoors with him for a while? The poor thing has been so stressed and you know a few days being a subby little thing for you is actually what he needs.

Which means he’s already feeling pretty small and vulnerable when he goes to the store with you, because he just wants to get home so that he can finally let his guard down and be your good boy.

You had actually suggested that he just stay at his apartment and let you buy everything alone, but he refused because he didn’t want to be alone? He just wanted to hang on your arm and let you pick everything and then be driven home for a nice few days of submitting.

But then he gets distracted by the Christmas decoration selection (I’m convinced he loves Christmas) so you tell him that you’re gonna head to the fruit and veggie section and he can meet you there.

Except he doesn’t hear you properly and then he doesn’t know where to go and now he’s alone in the store? And he’s so scared.

Why did he stay at the Christmas decorations? Why didn’t he just follow you? Why did he have to get distracted?

So now he’s overwhelmed and he’s frustrated with himself because he should be able to remember what you said. He’s a grown adult for fuck’s sake! And you’re his Dom, he should always remember what his Dom tells him.

But he can’t and he doesn’t know what to do, ends up just wondering around the store and praying no one recognises him and asks for a picture because he can’t handle having to do that right now. He just wants to find you and finish shopping and then go home.

Except now he can’t find you and he’s so scared! Everything is so loud and overwhelming and he’s feeling so small. When he’s with you and he feels small, then he feels so safe and loved because you’re taking care of him. But then when he’s feeling small and he’s alone…. He feels so scared and vulnerable.

Luckily, you end up finding him. You find him with his arms wrapped tight around himself and staring into space in the bread isle.

“There you are, little one,” you say, smiling when Charles immediately perks up when he hears your voice and dives into your arms. He nuzzles into your neck, hiding there and trying to get some comfort.

“Was so scared…” he mumbles.

"Aw I'm sorry little one," you say, "I'm right here now, won't leave you again, I promise."

He nods, pulling away because he believes you. And then he literally clings to your arm for the rest of the trip, refusing to let you go further than the length of his arm because he won't let go of your hand.

[racingliners]

F1 2022 Re-watch: Round 3 - Australia 

So yeah re some previous rambly posts, I subbed to F1 TV because I was kind of tuned out for the bulk of the 2022 season and bc it ended up being Seb’s last season in F1, I wanted to re-watch all of them in full. bc Seb caught covid (😭) I’m starting from Australia!

Since I’m mainly doing this for the laughs I have no idea what I’m doing avwvguhrgug I’ll probably put a lap number before any sarcastic comment for context.

Anyway, onwards! (under a read more bc this will get chatty)

Starting with the F1 intro. noice. (quietly bops)

As I am a religious Channel 4 viewer I just got major whiplash from Will Buxton doing commentary esblhrlbi.

I actually really like Albert Park, it’s not a bad track, dare I say it quite underrated.

Seb in 17th, the AMR22 really was a tractor 😭

Jolyon Palmer?!?!? I forgot he worked for F1 these days.

I’m also really not used to Aus not being the tradional season opener. Does not pass the vibe check.

[Start/Lap 1]: A clean turn 1???? sounds very fake.

A clean first sector???? sounds very fake

My god I can’t believe the grid all had their braincells on the first lap. Astounding.

[Lap 2]: nvm Sainz spun into the gravel. (I very vaguely remember this from C4 Highlights)

Unrelated, Zhou’s helmet design is really pretty.

[Lap 3]: Aston Martin Safety Car!! My beloved!! (The soft spot I now have for them after Seb’s two seasons with AM asdfghjkl)

[Lap 5]: Oh, pitting Lance to run the mandatory compound for 1 lap, then pitting again for hards. That’s clever. (Bernie Collins and Seb shared AM’s braincell lets be real).

I’ve also very suddenly realised that while I’m re-watching all of Seb’s races from 2022 bc it was his last season, there is no guarantee I will see much of Seb. I did not think this through.

I have once again slipped back into the routine of constantly checking for Seb’s name on the leaderboard. (pls don’t ask me how I’m going to cope this year bc I probably won’t)

I’m also humming the jaws theme everytime one car gets close to another.

Still not used to Will Buxton commentary eagheguh Palmer & Sam Collins are great though!!

[Lap 11]: Not Seb going through the gravel and dropping to plum last 😭

[Lap 12]: The McLarens following the Mercs. Merc on Merc powertrain violence

[Lap 13]: “Lots of unforced driver error” It’s because we had such a clean first lap that the racing gods demanded clownery as payment.

Unrelated but I said this to a mate the other day, but I miss glossy car liveries!! The matte ones are fine but shiny liveries just hit different. (Merc please go chrome for 2023 it would be v sexy)

[Lap 16]: Anyway Seb in P16 woo

Kevin mowing the lawn at turns 9 and 10

[Lap 18] Ah Leclerc leading Verstappen by almost 9 seconds. Remember when we had hope for the title fight? (Man watching the season long Ferrari clown show back is going to be fun, and by fun I mean devastating).

Speaking of car liveries, please have less black on the car this year McLaren. It just makes the car look unfinished. The accents of blue are so pretty though.

(I love how this is the most important thing on my mind rn eaugheuigh)

[Lap 22]: Seb thinking about an overtake!!! And the camera cut away!! why???

[Lap 24]: Seb DNF noooooo 😭😭😭😭

(I really should have looked up race results before starting this huh)

Well, zero joy sparked. But I have paid for F1 TV so we carry on through gritted teeth.

The AMR22 was a tractor, but damn it she was a beautiful tractor.

[Lap 25] “Keep getting unlucky with safety cars” Me 🤝 Lewis: Permanently traumatised by the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

“The only time we will see an Aston Martin leading the race this weekend” Will Buxton I will fight you

[Lap 26]: THE FUCK Yuki, Mick do not frighten me like that.

I still keep checking for Seb on the leaderboard even though he’s out. Pain.

Back on livery watch: The blue and pink Alpine my beloved.

[Lap 30] oh we have passed half-distance. yay.

Lewis getting past Nando: ‘Cause I seee sparks flyyyyy’

[Lap 33] Bold of anyone to call Magnussen “Alonso’s rear gunner”

[Lap 35] Cuts to Leclerc in case we forgot about him

[Lap 36] “Is that Ferrari very slow or...?” “No that’s just how it looks” And yet Apollo gave them the gift of prophecy re the second half of the season 😭

Another livery watch update: Alpha Romeo v pretty.

[Lap 39]: Oop Verstappen DNF

Back to livery watch: Red Bull I’m begging you to go back to having a dark metallic blue instead of the matte navy. Keep the bright red tho.

The “Leclerc you’re my red flag”  sign. Bestie that does not mean what you think it means.

[Lap 41]: The midfield once again saving the entertainment value of the race. I fully support Fernando’s rights to go a little bit feral.

Albert Park when the sun starts to go down >>>>>

(Yes a circuit’s aesthetic/surroundings completely plays into whether or not I like it. shh)

[Lap 45]: ...did AM tell Lance that he got a penalty or?????

[Lap 46]: How did I not notice Albon in P7??? pet power! (he still had to stop but whatevs)

[Lap 48] Albon on 46 lap old tyres 😳

I have now learned I’m watching the F1 TV feed and not the global feed (which I’m assuming is Sky F1???) so I’ll need to actually pay attention to what I’m clicking on for the next race 😅

[Lap 49]: It’s taken almost the whole race for Nando to start bitching on the radio iaefbhsebh. At least it feels like a race now (said with the upmost affection for my favourite menace to society)

[Lap 51]: There you go Nando, Pierre got past Lance

also is Alex going to pit at some point???

“I think don’t hit the one [car] painted the same as yours” F1 TV make Sam the lead commentator pls.

“The McLaren is a quick car” words I thought I would never hear

[Lap 54]: Charles 🤝 RBR Seb: Can I go for the fastest lap 👀

I also think it’s bs that you have to finish in the top 10 to get a point for the fastest lap. If you get the fastest lap, you should get the point. Don’t disrespect the non-points finishers like that @FIA 

[Lap 56]: Three laps left and Albon still hasn’t pitted

Williams did you forget about your driver????

Shit I’m emotionally invested in Albon now

Oh man if his tyre fails I will not take it well

[Lap 57]: Don’t cut to Leclerc!!! I need to know if Albon has pitted yet!!!

There he is!!!

[Lap 58] “Are you still awake” Perez @ Williams pit wall

Oh thank fudge Albon pitted

[Lap 58/end] Charles & Ferrari taking a dominant win. doesn’t feel real tbh.

Albon got P10!!!! hell yeah!!!

Charles really did learn from Seb by going for fastest lap despite being told not to vvuuehrfgusrhguh

Rocky name drop!!! Yes I’m still fond of him shhh 

Okay so that race was a bit of a slow burn, ty to the midfield for bringing the bulk of the entertainment. Overall 6 and a half front wings out of 10.

[bigkpopstan]

I almost forgot :,). Ahh I'm sorry 😭 I miss you too when you're gone :,). Also I'm going back to school tmr which I just found out now 😭💔 I'll send you a good morning ask or dm because I'll be busy pretty much all day jsbdkqje </3.

I'll try!! Honestly same, it's just more...motivating? To start something new rather than finishing off something but then if I don't finish of a fic I feel guilty about it :,). Of course <33. Ahh I get you!! That's totally fine. Right😭 it's heart breaking yet also makes me heart flutter :,). Yeah 🤭.

It’s okay!! Ahh you do? Oh noooooo 😭😭 ah okay!! I’ll try to send you one too, like today I almost forgot 😭 it’s bc I almo at fell back asleep this morning 🥲. I get that tho, hopefully it won’t be too stressful being back!

It really is 😭😭. I also feel guilty if I don’t finish something 🥲. Yes yes I totally get that

[yakumtsaki]

-GODDAMMIT VALENTINA JUST ROLL OVER, IT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE 

What’s up Soph.

-My marriage is in shambles, I’ve been neglecting Sophito, and for what!!

To complete your LTW and achieve eternal happiness! And the marriage thing is 1000% dumbass Shajar’s fault.

-I don’t care! I can’t take this constant pet training anymore, I’m done!!!

Oh come on we’re so close, Ferra topped her career..

-I pay for your salary, Kaylynn. I own you.

..so only 1 more to go between Torr and Val, and you’re not even at the half of your lifebar, I mean this is a new record!

-Ugh, I guess..

I’m telling you, this is gonna be your week, NOTHING is gonna get you down. In fact, I dare the universe-

-MAXX NOOOOOO😭😭😭

-See you in Hell, Ferra. -Fuck you, Maxx, I should have killed you when I had the chance.

RIP Maxx💔 Our first dog ever, we only got him to cheer up knocked up Wyatt after Jojo’s affair with Max Flexor, and he ended up beating up the cats so viciously that I just had to start a dog legacy with him and continue those chad aggro genes. You will be sorely missed.

-Not by me, I’m so happy he croaked my bowels finally unblocked!

YA OK TORR, PLEASE, let’s observe some common decencies for once. The only reason you cats hated Maxx is that you’re all FLOPS and he won every single fight. Long gone are the days where our cats literally beat up the wolf!

It’s a peaceful night as Abbey is finally returned to us (after running away due to losing a fight to her own daughter LOL) I see you stunk up that police car real good..

-Fuck the police, comin’ straight from the underground🎵

..and Sophito adorably does that autonomous ‘follow’ interaction to Sophie and waits for her to wake up, AWWW

Look at them with their matching fortune pjs I can’t💛

-Who’s my little lion cub? Who is? Who’s gonna grow up and be at the top of the food chain where he belongs, stepping on the corpses of his vanquished enemies??

Oh God.

OH GOD I FORGOT THE FUCKING BIRTHDAYS AGAIN

-I grew up amazingly! 

You look amazing too, I’m legit getting emo over how much you look like kid Jojo with Wyatt’s nose AND with Komei’s recessive eye color?? What kind of stunning genetic success-

-followed by a stunning genetic failure as Sugar grows up by the pet beds (where he was sleeping) and it becomes clear I FUCKED UP fixing Don’s stupid broken face template and Sugar has the second template features that are gonna explode in adulthood. 

-Is that bad? :D

YES SUGAR, IT IS. I’m gonna have to go through so much bs to fix you and I’m scared of doing it wrongly (AGAIN) and fucking up the household. Ugh, just don’t even, avert your face 2 mug from me.

-Well Wyatt, my Sophito has only been a child for 8 minutes, but I can already tell he’s gonna graduate college with highest honors! -Mais Sophié, quelle if il tâkes àftér Shajaré? -HE WON’T. DON’T EVEN SAY THAT

Abbey remains soundly asleep while her carpool honks its heart out, man I love this chonk.

So the boyos weren’t at all close during toddlerhood but it seems they’re getting along as kids, cute!

We discover that Sugar’s one true hobby is SPORTS which. LMAO with this attire, and Sophito’s of course is science and he earned 8 LOGIC POINTS from the toddler shape toy, absolute brainchad..

.so it makes sense that he very diligently leaves for the first day of school. Where was Sugar, you ask??

Well apparently he decided to opt out of this experience.

-Oh man, after spending 6 years in a crib I really needed that nap!

We are so goddamn close to finishing Sophie’s LTW, I legit cannot believe it, I mean obv we had unreal good luck with the chance cards too but man, Sophie is the best! Hope nothing else happens to bum her out!

Aw look who kissed and made up, aging diva D’vorah and her boy-toy (tomcat toy?) Alcibiades! Are you guys playing?

-Take care of our children, Alc! -I will D’vorah, or may my back never arch again!

Uh what’s going on??

NO GODDAMMIT. D’VORAH

-See you stupid motherfuckers never! 

MY BABY😭😭😭

-Man you guys have a lot of pet graves, don’t you get depressed with so many pet deaths?

YES WE DO, JJ, STFU. RIP D’vorah, you will always be remembered as a stone-cold bitch who so consistently refused to procreate that it earned her a theme song, and for cursing us with your cowardly genes💔

Sophie has largely grown out of her townie teen bully persona and never does mean shit autonomously these days, but the pet deaths have really hit her hard which is unfortunate.. for this townie Shajar brought home from work. 

-YOU WALK INTO MY HOUSE WITH MY HAIRSTYLE WHILE I’M GRIEVING FOR MY PETS??  -Uh, I was invited here? -Oh you were INVITED, were you? By whom?? My WIFE??? Now that she’s mayor of some empty shithole she thinks she can trade me in for a younger model???? IS THAT WHAT SHE THINKS?!?!?! -What the fuck are you talking about?? -Does she think I won’t MURDER WHATEVER SOPHIE-MIGUEL-KNOCK-OFF SHE BRINGS OVER?!?!?!?  

Oh brother, ok Soph, why don’t we back away, take a nice bubble bath, maybe a nap?

-NO.

-MY EYE WHAT THE FUCK -Not so pretty without your eyeball, are you? HAHA -CRAZY BITCH, I’M SUING YOU -Good luck with that, my wife’s the mayor! HAHAHA

-Mom, mom, I got an A+ on my second day of school ever! -Not now, Sophito, mommy’s pondering the ephemerality of pet life. -Why are you smiling all creepy like that? -I’m smiling? I don’t know, my face’s been glitched since yesterday. 

-Nothing a good robot electroshock won’t fix! Go, iVan, go, unlike Cyneswith this one’s not getting any younger!

FUCKING HELL JOJO, NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO TEST OUT YOUR INSANE THEORIES. FUCK OFF

-It’s not a theory, it’s a fact! Servobot electroshocking forces one to reach their full potential!!

I WILL KILL YOU

NEVERMIND. SOPHIE WHAT THE FUCK, WE DID IT!!! I can’t believe I joked that you would get 6 pets on top of their careers before Don topped his and it actually happened LMAO

-Finally, I can sleep.

You earned it, baby!

-And tomorrow, I will gouge out that townie slut’s other eye. 

Let’s talk more about it after you’ve rested.