#See regarding Sparrow and Rebecca...

[babacontainsmultitudes]

Also... Post-canon lovesong... If you even care... "Is Sparrow still with Rebecca?" that part is a choose your own adventure babeeey~

[eimearkuopio]

I mean, I think I finally have enough time to finish TTOU and Artemis and find out why Dandelion/Jaskier/PUF#1 are so important to me, because I think I might be Loretta Sanchez and not Jazz Bashara or Julian Bashir, but I got your letter T and I think there's a 🐝 around here somewhere and if I can just put the puzzle pieces back together in some semblance of order from chaos from order, I can stop droning on and just be a normal hunny bee instead of such an eyesore of an Eeyore.

Does anyone know where my case is? It's a pink Fairphone case with a pop socket on it. My sister's looks very similar but it has a purple eye sticker on it.

I'm not a green-eyed monster but I think I'm done being the villain in my own history. It was already Thursday, but I have some good news about the periodic nature of time in a Klein Bottle Universe, and it's only been two weeks since my partners looked at me but I couldn't stop thinking about other people's children, which is why I'm Auntie-Saurus the Living Fossil, Kassandra of Atlantis and the Inquisition, Nanny Ogg and Tiffany Aching but not Eimear D, not yet. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe Thursday. Probably Tuesday if I'm reading the signs right, but my tarot is still at home so I'm having to make do (not dew, I can't control the weather and if I could I would know better than to try - same with time travel, so it's a good thing I'm already in the timeline where nobody will ever be dumb enough to invent time travel 🧳 (happy birthday to me, thanks Fr. A and P_F). You really should just keep moving backwards through time at a rate of 1 second per second like God always intended; but if you must time travel, please make sure to send a minimum of three people who all love each other more than anyone else in the world, because my minyans are any three who are all agape together, but other people have different rules. You need a prophet with at least three eyes so that one can keep watch while the others rest.

you know ttou got you when you see the acronym tlou and first thought is someone typoed ttou, second thought is figuring it out like time lost orbit unknown??? third thought is remembering the last of us exists

[abeinginsand]

Taylor and Sparrow hc

I think both Taylor and Normal would really benefit from having a bond with an adult who also shares their respective passions. Perhaps, their respective parents could be those adults for each of them. So, Sparrow and Taylor bonding and Cassandra and Normal bonding. I'll be making a separate post for Cass and Norm (plus Rebecca) since this one is pretty long already! This is was inspired by @babacontainsmultitudes ideas about all four characters in this wonderful post! :) With that in mind, I am thinking of Sparrow and Taylor bonding over a love of anime and art in general! (Continued under the cut)

Presenting the concept that Sparrow does fan-art and fan animations as one of his hobbies. Has done them since he was a teen and Taylor even follows or knows of his current social media account for it. Just never knew who the artist behind the username really was! Since he's become friends with Normal, he's visiting the house more often than not. And even sometimes stays over too. He's surprised when Normal brings up the sleepover--because its the first time anyone's ever invited him over to their house for one. He knows his own house is amazing and all...but sometimes (most times), his classmates have been more interested in the house itself or bragging at school later than actually wanting to chat. He's confident that he'll be able to win them over one day though! Anyways, Taylor is excited to spend time with Norm and by proxy gets to know his friend's family too. Especially Normal's dad since he's in the house most often. Sometimes Taylor brings his manga over (to work on new pages or to have Norm look them over)--the sleepover is one of those times. When Sparrow brings up some snacks for them, he sees some of the pages. He doesn't say much, mostly asking if the two are okay or if they'd like anything else (snack wise). But before he leaves the room, he makes a point to politely say some compliment about the art work. And mentions that he recognizes one of the characters too. This seems like a small thing to Normal while Taylor? He's thrilled. I think there were other small moments after this too. Like Mr. Swallows Oak Garcia seems happy to let Taylor doodle during meal time (sometimes he stays over for lunch or dinner) while sometimes his mom and mostly the teachers don't like him trying to draw instead of focusing on 'more important' things like school work during class or in the cafeteria. Also, Sparrow sometimes joins in discussions about latest episodes of certain shows/comics etc. Normal knows 25% of the media Taylor references at this point in this hc and otherwise is absorbing knowledge about the rest through Taylor's rambles. (its also about 25% for Taylor in regards Normal's vast knowledge about marching bands, cheer, and just sports in general). I imagine they compromise in the confusion and have brainstormed their own combined au featuring a magical marching band lead by Miku that's fighting some other band of mascots (the mascots are heavily based off Teen High's rival school mascots). Taylor (though he'd deny this) was hesitant to reach out to Normal's dad based only on the little exchanges. A tad afraid that the adult was just humoring him as his kid's friend and would think Taylor's annoying. But Sparrow never stops being supportive and keeps on engaging with him. Even shows him old fanart that he made a long time ago when Taylor seems down about his art progress. He'd come over that day to talk to Normal about his frustration and to hear about Normal's fanfic and song recommendations. Normal was an expert at knowing just the right marching band cover or classical music to suggest for sudden moods. Only to be reminded that he had forgotten that Normal had a game that day and wouldn't be back until night fall. He easily got permission from Normal's parents and his mom to wait there for him. That's the moment the detective in Taylor starts coming out--because the fanart seems familiar...the mood shift from pretty bummed to excited distracts him in the moment though and he spends the day getting a little art lesson from Sparrow. Eventually, Taylor gathers all those mental clues and blurts out a question a month or so later during another little art lesson thing. In the most serious voice he can muster (and expression), he asks... "Are you...that artist?"

"Depends, are you a cop?" There's a moment of silence as the two trade super serious gazes and then Sparrow laughs. He says he's joking and that yep-- Taylor is correct! Probably mentions that he would prefer to keep it all a secret since he usually keeps his association to it private. But that he welcomes any questions Taylor might have. Already prepared for the chance, the teen pulls a scroll from his go-bag and unravels it onto the table...the fancy and somewhat worn paper is filled to the brim with questions (and suggestions) haha

So yeah, they end up having a mentor and student type bond. Seemed sweet and fun to me! As for Sparrow's username....maybe its chaosflower, belovedwolf, or something else? I imagine it may be the Spanish version of those combos too. Though I'm sure he had a bunch of other usernames over the years.

[fedonciadale]

Hello! I’m a sucker for AUs, and I love imagining my favorite ships in different universes. What are the best universes in which Jonsa could thrive? I’ve read many Emma AUs, or mixtures of Jane Austen’s novels, Aragorn/Arwen etc. Do you see characters and dynamics from books/movies/series that make you scream “That’s Jonsa!”?

I could see a potc AU with Sansa as Elizabeth and Jon as Will, and that got me thinking: who would Jack be?

Do you think Malina has Jonsa energy? And is Darklina similar to the pedoship?

Hi there!

I think from all the Jane Austen plots Emma possibly comes closest and the modern setting in "Clueless" is one of the Modern AUs that screams Jonsa to me.

Otherwise I am rather different from you in regard to AUs. I usually much prefer canon bent or canon. For me fanfic is often about addressing canon or fixing canon and even fics that bend canon too much are not my fics. Rhaegar wins AUs usually mean nothing to me. For Dramione I make a wide berth around SlytherinHermione or PurebloodHermione because I think : What is the point?

I think there are certain aspects of the Jonsa dynamic that does not translate well to modern AUs or others. There is the rigid social structure, the pseudo-incest angst etc. For example in Modern AUs Jon is usually the best friend of Robb and the problem is that Sansa is Robb's younger sister. And I just shrug and think: Might well be, but WHERE IS THE ANGST? That is because many of my ships are really about angst (must be the German in me, lol). And when Jon and Sansa are not cousins in Modern AUs there is a part of me that always grumbles at the authors for leaving that out.

So, I would think that Jonsa works best in a Medieval AU to be honest, and I myself wrote two fics. "Judicatrix" in the time of Charlemagne (I adapted a German novella for this) and I wrote a one shot Ivanhoe AU (the Trial). So, I like historical AUs for Jonsa (although the main problem with medieval Europe is that there was no such thing as cousin marriage in the Middle Ages).

Anyway I think from Jane Austen Emma or Mansfield Park work best, because the main couple has known each other for ages and only slowly realize that they have fallen. As much as I love P&P that is definitely not a Jonsa AU. I think Ivanhoe works well (but Sansa as Rebecca rather than as Rowena). I think Jonsa would also work as a Silmarillion AU. Aragorn and Arwen from LotR and Beren and Luthien even more so are basically the same as Jon and Sansa. lol.

As for PotC I am not sure. Who would Jack be, indeed? Jack Sparrow, the best pirate ever, really has no parallel in ASOIAF. lol. James Norrington could be a much younger Stannis Baratheon. I think characterwise Jaime would be the closest? Perhaps.

Now, as for Shadow and Bone. Now this is obviously my opinion and since you can never really tell what makes people like a ship.

I have seen some people compare Jonsa to Malina but to be quite honest I don't see many parallels. In the books Mal is a fuckboy in the beginning (and I don't like him much). In the show he is much nicer, but the only hindrance to Mal and Alina being together is that they don't talk about their feelings (in contrast to the books, where Mal does take Alina for granted and doesn't see her like that, not at all, to her dismay). Now, I have a thing for "two dorks in love" and "mutual pining" but there has to be a reason why they won't talk, and in the Shadow and Bone show there simply is no reason. This is where my preferences kick in. Malina is simply not angsty enough for me. They are cute, don't misunderstand me, but the ship does nothing to me on the show and I actually dislike it in the books, because I really thought the point was for Alina to get over her childish infatuation with Mal. I'm not opposed to Malina but that's about it. For Jonsas who like the "they knew each other as children and have loved each other for ages" trope Malina certainly has some appeal. But not for me.

As for Darklina: the similarities to Petyr/Sansa are superficial only if you ask me. For once, Alina is 17 in the books, 20 on the show and that is a huge difference to an 11 year old Sansa. As for the Darkling being centuries old: At what time do we stop to count the years for immortals? Age gap is not the same as pedophilia.

Alina is still young and gullible, for sure, easy to influence and the power dynamics in Darklina is unhealthy, but while the Darkling manipulates Alina and exploits some of her naivete he does not groom her sexually. He seems to be surprised at the fact that he even is attracted to her. Also the Darkling has completely different motives: He is the villain type of "reformer gone rogue". He wants the best for the Grisha and over the centuries he has rid himself of any scruples even using the Grisha themselves for the Greater Good, but that does not erase the fact that the Grisha are hunted everywhere in Bardugo's world and that the little Palace is the only safe haven they have. Grisha in Ravka are privileged in a weird way: living in luxury and comfort but obliged to serve the king of Ravka in every aspect (even sexually). I actually think the closest historical parallel for the Darkling is a court jew: very influential at court, with a certain amount of power, but also utterly dependent on the king who guarantees the safety he doesn't get anywhere else.

Littlefinger on the other hand wants power for himself, he grooms Sansa, he thinks he is entitled to get her in the end because Catelyn was denied to him. His reasons are utterly selfish and despicable.

Also, I think that Alina as a powerful Grisha has much more agency than Sansa and the moment she decided to stand on her own, she becomes an antagonist of almost equal power to the Darkling. Sansa on the other hand will have to handle Littlefinger from a situation of having lesser power I am sure, and it will be a question of outwitting him.

In the end I think that the man manipulating the woman is not enough of a similarity to make Darklina a close parallel to Petyr /Sansa. That trope is far too common. In almost every other aspect the ships are different.

[abeinginsand]

I have always headcanoned that Hero was named by Rebecca and Sparrow named Normal. My logic was that Sparrow was...uncomfortable with the name Hero just like Grant was about the name Lincoln. [The phrase "unsung hero" sends shivers down Sparrow's spine.] Neither of them wanted to talk about that with their spouses...(and I guess...well what's one more secret to keep hidden right?). Besides Rebecca liked the name and he adores both his wife and daughter so he slowly starts associating the word 'hero' with more positive feelings... Anyways, in regards to the new ep, I hope Rebecca was informed about all this plot at some point... Hero and Normal are their kids not just Sparrow's, ya know? And yeah, I do think Hero might be biologically Lark's kid...since it doesn't make much since for Normal to be his unless Lark was lying about when the affair happened or there were multiple affairs between them. It seemed like he was being honest to me though. (Feel like I need to clarify that I don't hate the hc that Normal is Lark's son, having different hcs is great and encouraged!) Ugh, I really miss when the teens did huddles and talked to their parents. It was cool to get more Rebecca stuff (looking forward to see more scenes with her). Hope Cass, Veronica, and Marco are okay out there... I miss them.

[dramaticdads]

No, seriously, this works thematically, hear me out

• Desperate to pass as normal

• Would absolutely think that his aroace feelings are just another thing that's weird about him that he has to try to hide to have a happy family.

• I feel like his relationship with Rebecca is very much "she likes me, she looks happy to see me, she is normal and can balance me out because of it" and not so much "I'm in love with her"

• He is the type to have sex because he's "supposed to" for pure regular milestone reasons

• He would blame it on his weird childhood and then feel even more Wrong when he realizes Lark doesn't feel the same way

• This fits with the theme of Lark and Sparrow growing up and not quite speaking the same language anymore

• Him growing up with two parents who love each other is one of the few common denominators between this world's normal life and his own weird childhood and he can't even pull that off

• Would further highlight Rebecca's role as his "normality compass" or whatever, because he feels she understands more of what a relationship is supposed to be like and goes along with it

• His feelings about Lark having sex with Rebecca would get a whole new layer

• If Sparrow learns that being aroace is a thing he might very honestly just feel even worse at first (because it's never going to fix itself then and he feels so guilty regarding Rebecca)

• In addition to that, if Sparrow talks to Lark about it (I don't think they talk much these days even if they feel they need each other because that's the way they learned to interact with the world) and maybe eventually to end the conversation concludes that he shouldn't change anything about his current situation, Lark's internalized anger and care regarding Sparrow might come out because "You never stand up for yourself"

• And in response to that, Sparrow's internalized anger and care regarding Lark would come out because "You don't understand what it's like to hold all of this together"

• This internalized anger fits the theme of Henry's whole arc and if the argument started with something like that it would be just important and personal enough and just innocent enough for it not being all the conversation is about (multiple layers of frustration building up over the years)

Anyway yeah I think I might write a fic about this actually

Sparrow is so aroace actually