#also side note you can definitely tell this book was written by a man

[asumofwords]

Smoke, Fire and Ash

Warnings: This fic includes noncon, dubcon, manipulation, violence, death, forced marriage, and inc3st. Tags will be added as the fic goes on. Oral (m,f), facefucking, dirty talk, cockwarming, cumplay, overstimulation.

This is a dark!fic. 18+ only. Read at your own discretion. Please read the warnings before continuing.

Summary: You are the eldest daughter of Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen. You are forced to navigate the difficult surroundings of your upbringing and the eventual disintegration between your family and the Hightower's relationship. What will happen when your older and estranged uncle suddenly takes a more sinister interest in you? (Dark!Aemond x Reader)

Masterlist

Characters: Aemond Targaryen X Reader, HOTD characters.

Note: Hello my babies, here is the next chapter that I have furiously written because I can and I want to and also just because I can hehe. Aemond having the reader say she wanted to taste him definitely made this man more feral than he already is. Enjoy <3

Chapter 71: A House of Gods

Aemond had brought you to your peak swiftly and passionately on his fingers after.

You had laid atop his chest, basking in the afterglow of the morning and enjoyed the warmth that his body had brought to you.

The pleasure that he had given you. 

When the maids arrived to the chambers, Aemond had pulled the sheets over the both of you and let the maids leave the food on the table for you to eat. You dressed together, and ate together, and Aemond reiterated that he would be spending the day with you, not the King. 

You were strangely grateful that he was putting in the effort to create some form of understanding between the both of you, as well as giving you an option of a buffer between you and the King.

Treading carefully, you insisted that you wanted to spend time with him in the chambers instead, worrying that Aegon would be lurking about the Gardens in wait of you. 

Aemond had been all too happy to oblige, agreeing without a moment of thought, likely thinking that you wished to repeat the activities of the morning again.

The day was spent in his company, reading together by the fire, conversing in small talk and memories of the past, though avoiding certain topics or people, as well as taking him once more in your mouth as a thanks, and not at all because you enjoyed the way he sighed and moaned beneath you. 

Or so you told yourself.

When Aemond had tried to reciprocate the act, you had felt shy and told him no, that you both would have plenty of time for that now that he was back, and promised him that you would let him indulge himself between your thighs later. Aemond, sulkily, complied and went back to reading his book, though not without dragging a teasing finger along your thighs or arms as he did mindlessly.

It was odd.

The entire day felt entirely too normal. 

Too domestic. 

And the more moments that you shared with Aemond like this, the more you thought of whether this was what it was supposed to be like. That this is what you could have had together. What you had dreamt of having when you were younger. What you had even discussed together childishly in secret hallways or beneath the Godswood.

And even the mere thought of it made your heart clench. 

Regardless, it was nice to bask in the glow of a day that did not set you on edge, nor tear your sanity to pieces.

The bubble of the day however, was burst when Ser Criston Cole had come to your chambers, knocking at the door before being let in by your own knight.

He had stood at the entrance, eyes passing between the both of you and how you sat; Pressed up against Aemond’s side on the chaise, book in lap, and his large hand on your thigh, fingers unconsciously soothing the skin.

“The King wishes for you to dine with him this evening.” Cole spoke to the both of you, yet only looking at Aemond. 

“Cole.” Aemond greeted the man, “I am tired from my travels. Please tell the King I wish to recuperate with my Lady Wife in our-“

“The King commands it.” Cole spoke again, tone final and having interrupted Aemond. 

Cole had interrupted Aemond.

You felt his hand on your thigh twitch, fingers digging into your flesh. You put your hand over the top of his and attempted to soothe it, so that the stinging pain that began to bloom in your thigh would stop.

Aemond’s lips pursed, and he turned looking away back to the fire. 

There was his answer.

His acquiescence.

Aemond did not turn to face you, nor did he take his gaze away from the flames. Ser Criston Cole had left without a word, and the doors shut softly behind him.

The two of you sat in silence until the knight outside had knocked on the door and entered when given a grunt of approval from Aemond. He had come into the chambers, head down in submission, and quietly told you that you had both been summoned to dine with the King, and that your presence had been requested now. 

Aemond stood reluctantly and held a hand out to you, helping you to stand beside him.

He looked on edge, not anxious, but rather concealing his irritation terribly. The both of you walked together, hand in hand, to the small Dining Hall. 

His grip grounded you, and you felt that it was for the benefit of the both of you. Not just for you, but for him too.

When the doors opened, Aemond refused to let go of your hand, and you had looked up at him in confusion. It was not often where a man and his wife would hold hands when entering chambers with guests, especially in the presence of a more conservative audience such as the Hightowers. 

It was not proper, and yet Aemond did not let go of you. 

It was as though he was laying claim to you.

Mine.

The Small Council sat where they always did about the table, with Aegon in the middle, Conquerors crown sitting heavily atop his wavy silver hair. His eyes dropped to your hands as you ascended the small steps, coming to the table where Aemond only let go of it to pull out your seat for you. 

Aegon’s brow was drawn as he looked at it, and you could have sworn you saw his jaw tick. Alicent had also noticed the shift between you and her son, except her reaction was different. 

Instead of a frown, her eyes gazed upon the both of you softly. 

In approval.

She likely was thinking of how her match was a good choice.

When you were seated and the food was brought to the table, Alicent spoke a quiet prayer as she always did, which you had now grown accustomed to hearing. 

“May the Father protect us from those who wish to see us burn.” She began, head down and hands upon the table, “May the Mother watch over us and keep us safe, may she bless us with a healthy heir and love.”

You stomach turned as you looked at her.

“May the Smith continue to mend the rifts that have divided us, and ensure the Treaty keeps us safe.” 

You eyes flitted to Aegon as she continued.

He was watching you and Aemond, whose head was bowed beside you in prayer, ever diligent and loyal to his mother and the Seven Faith. The Kings eyes danced back and forth before stopping on you, a malicious smirk winding its way onto his face. 

It made you shudder.

As the prayer ended you all ate together, sounds of the cutlery on plates and murmurs filling the room. Small talk was scattered about here and there, but by and large, there was an unspoken tension which continued to build. 

Something was amiss, and everyone seemed to know it.

The entire time you ate, you felt the heated gaze of Aegon on you. Dark violet eyes never once leaving your face or body, as they trailed down to your cleavage. It made the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end, and your skin prickle. 

Something was wrong. 

“You look to be in better spirits this evening.” Aegon’s voice cut through the tension like a blade, parting the uncomfortable atmosphere from the others present to create a clear path to its intended victim. 

You.

Swallowing the food in your mouth, you dabbed the corners of your lips with your napkin, taking your time to think. Taking your time to breathe. Taking your time to think of how to respond without it coming back to get you.

“It is good to have my Lord Husband back in the Keep. Our time together seems few and far between as of late.” You eyed Aegon, taking caution with how you worded your response. 

Cocking his head to the side, Aegon’s wavy hair touched his shoulder as he pouted at you.

“Few and far between indeed. My brother is a man of duty, and when his duty calls, he tends to it.”

Aemond placed his cutlery down on the table, sensing your unease.

“Whatever my King needs of me, I shall do, brother.” Aemond spoke, voice soft and low. 

Unthreatening. Meek. Submissive.

Very unlike Aemond. 

He sensed something was afoot.

Aegon smiled widely, drinking from his cup before placing it down with a loud swallow.

“And that is why you are my most trusted member of the council.”

“Aemond has proven himself in many ways. It will be good for him to find rest here in Kings Landing again.” Alicent began, smiling at her younger son. 

Aegon hummed loudly, and his lips pulled down into a frown.

A heavy stone settled in the pit of your stomach.

“An unfortunately short rest I am afraid.” Aegon began, looking at you and then to Aemond.

Aemond stiffened.

“It seems there is much to do in the realm, and who better to do it than the famed Prince One-Eye and his dragon to install fear into those who defy us.”

“My King…” Aemond began, but was swiftly cut off by Aegon again. 

“Duty calls in Harrenhal, brother. It seems they require your presence on the morrow. Unfortunate for your wife, as she will be left to miss you once again. I will ensure that she is not deprived of company.”

Bile rose in your throat.

“And what is this duty that is needed of me?”

“I will have a scroll sent to your chambers this eve-“

“Tell me now.” Aemond snapped, patience evaporating.

“What did you say brother? I thought I heard you try to command me?” Aegon sneered.

Alicent, quick on her toes with her sons, and used to the pair and their incessant bickering, jumped to defend Aemond, trying to deflect her his sharp tone.

“I am sure Aemond is tired from his travels and is disappointed to know that he is to leave so soon aft-“

“You have all of tonight to get between her legs if that what makes you so angry.” Aegon smiled.

Aemond’s hand twitched on the table, whilst the other sat in his lap tightened into a fist. 

“Is it possible for Aemond to stay just a few nights more?” You began, tone soft, “Then he can perform his duty to the crown as he always does. I am sure he needs not-“

“I’m sorry, are you trying to advise me, the King, on how to rule?”

You wouldn’t know how to rule if it hit you in the face.

“No, uncle. I am merely saying, that I know I would like to spend more time with-“

“Aemond is to leave on the morrow, and if he does not, I would argue that it is an act of treason going against your King’s command. Is it not, brother?” Aegon grinned widely, and Aemond’s lips pressed into a tight line. 

Sensing his anger beginning to peak, you grasped Aemond’s hand in your lap, bringing it up to your lips to kiss. You swallowed thickly, looking at his side profile until he turned his gaze to you. 

“You will be back home in no time.” You tried to reassure him, watching as his jaw clenched. 

The air in the room was thick, and Aegon kept his gaze on Aemond, who turned to stare down his brother once more. Alicent opened her mouth to speak again, but you intercepted before she could. 

“The hour is late, and I would like to spend the remainder of the evening with my Lord Husband before he is to travel again tomorrow for you.” Standing, you kept Aemond’s hand in yours, pulling him to your side, “I ask that you excuse us so that we may retire. It has been a tiring day for us both.” You kept your eye on Alicent before flicking it to Aegon who sat back and smiled.

“I'm sure you will need all the time you can get to say your farewells.” Aegon intoned, and you wished to hit him in the teeth. To watch them fold backwards into his mouth, pulling away from his gums.

Aemond took the lead and bowed his head to Aegon, muttering Your Grace, before you left the chambers behind quickly and quietly, with a lingering tension and sense of dread between the both of you.

The walk back to the chambers was tense, and you could feel the anger rolling from Aemond in waves beside you. 

Soothe him.

Or you will bare the brunt of his anger.

“Aem, slow down.” You asked Aemond, who pulled you along the corridors by your hand. 

He slowed his step, hand tightening around yours as he muttered beneath his breath.

“He does this with purpose.” Aemond grumbled, eye locked on the path ahead of him. 

You squeezed his hand gently, pulling it to your side to slow his pace even further. 

“I am sure the King-“

“The King is a petulant child.” He growled, head turning to face you, "He does this to spite me. He sees the dust begin to settle, and decides to stir it once more for his own entertainment.”

“I do not wish for you to go.” You said after a beat.

“I have no choice but to. He threatened treason. Twat.”

“Surely there is someone else who can go in your place. He wishes to seperate us.” You tested the waters.

"He has found his new toy to play with. And rediscovered his old one.” You neared the chambers, turning a corner as the knight held open the doors for you to enter. 

You were Aegon’s new toy. 

And Aemond was his old one.

You entered and watched as the knight shut the door behind him, feeling safer about poking the wound without the eyes or ears of others. 

Aemond moved to pour himself a wine, and another for you before handing it over. He did not sit in his armchair as he always did, instead standing beside the fireplace to look at its flames as his hands gripped the goblet tightly.

“Aegon wishes to make a fool of you.” You began, stepping towards him, placing your goblet on the fireplace, “Commanding you like a dog to do his bidding, whilst he drinks and whores.”

Aemond’s jaw clenched, and his face snapped to you.

Fuck.

Thinking quickly on your feet you continued, “Is it not enough that you do his duties for him? That you act as the Prince Regent without the title? He mocks you at every turn. I do not wish to see you become the joke at court like I have.” 

You came to stand in front of him, his dark gaze locked on you as he sipped his wine. 

“Is it not bad enough that the courts whisper about Alys? Now they too shall whisper about your constant leave? Of how you serve as the Kings lap dog?”

You grabbed his free hand, holding it in the both of yours as you looked at him passionately, "You are a Prince. The blood of the dragon and Old Valyria. Perzys dakogon rȳ aōha ānogar.” Fire runs through your blood.

“You ride the mighty Vhagar, and yet he has you carrying out the tasks that a lower Lord would do.” You shook your head, falsely portraying anger and disgust, “Aegon openly mocks you at court when you are gone. He comes to me, and questions your manhood. Questions your ability to please me as a husband, and as a man. He has mocked you vagrantly in front of Ser Cole. In front of Lord Jasper Wylde.” 

Aemond’s grip tightened around one of your hands, and it took all that you had within you to not wince as his bruising grip squeezed your bones together painfully.

“I defend your honour at every turn, but he seems to always find a new way to question it. It is as though we are children again. I am at a loss of how I am supposed to continually support my husband when he is not here to defend himself!”

“Aegon has no honour, and yet questions mine. He is a pathetic waste of space, unfit to be King.”

“You should be King.”

The words tumbled from your lips before you could stop them. 

The room fell quiet, and the air around you stilled. 

Aemond’s gaze turned darker as he looked at you, hand gripping yours viciously. There was silence, and you struggled to find a way to come back from what you said. To come back from the treasonous comment you had made to none other than the King’s own brother. 

Ice cold dread ran through your veins as you held his stare, breath caught in your throat. 

He was going to tell Aegon. 

They would kill you.

Or worse.

The treaty would end. 

It would all be for naught. 

The pain, the sorrow, the lo-

“Get on your knees.”

You blinked, looking at your uncle as he continued to stare at you, determination gleaming in his eye.

He wanted you to kneel and beg for forgiveness. To pray to the Seven for his mercy. To beg him to not tell-

“Get. On. Your. Knees.” He spat out, eye narrowed. 

You swallowed thickly, legs beginning to shake as you looked at the anger that radiated from Aemond’s pores. Slowly, you bent your knees, pulling your skirts up so that you would not fall forward on them. The cold stones bit into your skin as you knelt, knowing that bruises would appear on the morrow.

Kneel and save your life. 

Beg and ask for forgiveness.

To live with shame, is better than to die.

You looked up at Aemond from your position, his eye cast down on you as he held his head straight. Looking at you as if you were nothing but a worm, a bug. A commoner. He released your hand and you brought it to your front with the other, softly twisting your fingers together in anxiety.

Why was he so quiet?

Did he want for you to apologise?

Was he waiting for you to begin?

“I-I'm sorry, Your Grace. I must learn to hold my tongue. That was a vile act of treason-“

“Quiet.” He commanded. 

You lowered your head and eyes, shaking in the spot, though the way he loomed over you spread warmth into your core for unknown reasons. The false apology bitter on your tongue.

“Look at me.”

You took a shuddering breath, preparing yourself for him to be swift with his beating, or for him to call to the knight at the door to summon the guards. 

“I said, look at me.” He repeated, your eyes finally looking up at him. A large hand came to press against your cheek and you fought the urge to flinch away from his touch. 

“Say it again.” He whispered, looking at you.

Say it again? 

He wished for you the apologise again?

“I’m sorry, Your-“

“No.”

You looked at him in confusion. If he didn’t want you to apologise, then wh-

Oh.

Licking your lips you took a grounding breath, hoping this was not to be your last words. 

“You should be King.” You whispered, bracing yourself for his blow. 

“Louder.”

You cleared your throat and looked at him, seeing movement at his front. Your eyes dropped down to his breeches, where the outline of his stiffened cock protruded at the front. 

Oh.

He was aroused?

He liked it.

With the relief that you may not be punished, you took a breath of confidence, looking back up at him. Your hands moved upwards slowly, resting against the front of his breeches where the tie was. Aemond did not move to stop you or correct you, and so you continued. 

When your hands rested against the top of his pants, you spoke confidently and lowly. 

“You should be King.” You all but purred.

You felt a shudder roll through Aemond’s body at the words, his cock jumping in his breeches. His chest rumbled, and the hand against your face moved to swipe his thumb across your bottom lip. 

“Hm.”

Taking your queue, you began to unlace his pants, slowly, as you kept your eyes on his face, not daring to look away from the man. From your position, he exuded power, dominance, and strength. 

And it made your core ache.

Sway him.

You pulled the last of the ties and his pants loosened, slightly dropping to reveal the hair that dusted against his pubic bone. The beginning of his hardened shaft peeking through the open gap. With sturdy hands you helped to pull him from the confines, holding his warm and heavy weight in your hand. The pants lowered slightly more, revealing his stones to the room.

You gripped him in your palm and began to run your hand up and down his length, ensuring that your eyes were still on his face as he watched you, lips wet from his tongue. Aemond sighed above you as you continued the movement, feeling him harden further in your grip.

“You would be a better King than Aegon. You are worthy of the Conquerors Crown.” You praised, watching as his lips parted and a small breath fell forth. 

Leaning forward you kissed his tip, tongue darting out to catch a bead of his arousal that began to leak from his slit. Aemond groaned as he looked at you, your lips parting to take the tip into your mouth, swirling your tongue around it wetly. 

Aemond moaned and thrusted forward, his length sinking into your mouth.

“Anyone would be better than that cunt. Useless.” He groaned as he began to thrust into your waiting lips, your eyes cast upwards watching him. You hummed in agreement around him, spurring him to continue.

“He knows nothing of duty. When has Aegon ever known duty?” Aemond began to fuck your throat faster, a line of spit beginning to fall from your lips as you held still for him, “When has he ever deserved the throne?”

Aemond’s large hands grabbed the sides of your face, thrusting deeply into your throat as you gagged.

“He is a child,” He spat, thrusting roughly into the back of your throat, a tear falling down your cheek, “Spoilt and growing fat on his own desires. A rat.”

“How many years have I had to look after him, to dote on him. To clean him up. Teach him his duties.” Aemond continued his rant, spit dripping down your throat thickly, wetting the front of your gown, “For mother. For Grandfather. He is pathetic. He makes me sick.” He empathised his disgust with a particularly hard thrust.

You gagged around his length, hands fisting against the front of his breeches for stability, feeling his stones brush against your chin.

“He dares to question me? My manhood?” Thrust, “My ability to please my wife? He doesn’t even know how wet you get.” Thrust, “How slick your cunt gets for me.”

You pulled back eyes wet with tears, holding his shaft as you let him fall from your lips inhaling deeply, his hand tightened on your cheeks as he looked down at you waiting. You moaned, licking the tip as he continued.

“Such a good girl for me. Such a good wife. So loyal. So full of duty. Always eager to please me.”

“Yes.” You whined, taking him back in your mouth, letting him fuck into it again.

It was filthy, letting him use your mouth for his pleasure like this. But listening to him rage about his brother only served to excite you, feeling yourself grow wet beneath your gown. And it only served to motivate your actions. 

It was working.

“It should be me.” Aemond growled and you hummed around his length, “I should be King. Not him. Not that useless wastrel. If only mother had given me the throne.”

His pace began to become sloppy, and you hollowed your cheeks, sucking against his hard length, trying to coax him to his peak. You felt him twitch on your tongue, the taste of his arousal consuming you.

“You would be my Queen.” He moaned loudly, and you heart stopped in your chest, “My Merciless Queen.”

Queen.

My Queen.

"Just as you deserve. Just as I deserve. Aegon and Visenya reborn.” He continued, unaware of how his words truly affected you.

Your core clenched, and a new wave of arousal spread through you. 

Queen. 

You moaned loudly on his length, pushing your tongue upwards to lick at his shaft as he paused, cock heavy in your mouth. You blinked up at him panting, no doubt looking disheveled, knelt on the floor, spit and drool handing from your lips and pooling on your breasts. 

Your chest heaved and a blush settled around your cheeks as you wrapped your lips around him tighter.

“Fuck. You like that? You treasonous little cunt.” Aemond began thrusting again, pushing the hair that had fallen around your face backwards, pulling it at the roots and using it as a way to pull your head down onto his cock, “Mmm. Fuck.” He moaned.

Your knees ached beneath you, and you squirmed in your position, rubbing your thighs together in an attempt to ease the throbbing and desire that was left unattended to. 

“So filthy, down on your knees like a whore. Qogralbar." Fuck, Aemond began to roughly fuck your mouth, using your hair to pull you down his length, gags falling from your lips as tears wet your cheeks. 

Every invigorated thrust caused his tip to hit the back of your throat, your stomach turning as he chased his peak, his heavy stones brushing against your chin. The smell of him surrounding you, heady, musky, and full of desire. It was arousing. It was maddening, and you needed more.

“Going to fuck my seed into your cunt. My perfect Queen.”

Aemond pulled out of your mouth with a grunt, a loud gasp pulling into your chest as you sucked in a breath. A string of saliva connected your lips to his tip and Aemond smirked down at you crudely. A hand left your hair and stroked your cheek, coming to brush the spit from your lip, your mouth opening for him as he pushed it inside. 

Aemond hummed, watching as you sucked at the digit. 

“Open your mouth.” He commanded, looking down at you, thumb still pressed against your tongue. 

You opened wide, tongue pushing against his finger, confusion rising within. 

Aemond leant forward lips pursed, and spat into your mouth. You flinched, feeling it land wetly on your tongue where he had been stroking it with his thumb. 

You should be disgusted. 

You should be offended. 

But you weren’t. 

You were full of desire. 

You whimpered, and Aemond’s thumb brushed against your bottom lip as he looked at you, mouth still open with his spit inside. 

“Swallow for your King.” He groaned, and you shuddered as you swallowed his spit, thighs rubbing together. 

Aemond bent down and slammed his lips against yours, pulling your face close to his with the back of your head, tongue swiping into your mouth as you kissed him back breathlessly. A whimper flitted past your lips and into his mouth. 

Aemond pulled away, his lone eye watching you carefully before he reached out and grabbed you, hoisting you up into his arms. Your stomach swooped from the swiftness of it, and then settled as he moved across the room to throw you onto the bed. Your body bounced atop the sheets as you looked at him slowly reach for his cock, dragging his hand up and down his length. 

You panted and watched him, desire coursing through you. 

Slowly, you parted your legs from him, skirt of your gown gathering into your lap as your centre was revealed to him and the room. Aemond groaned as he caught sight of your glistening cunt, slick leaking from your core. With both hands he grabbed your ankles and yanked you down the bed towards him, a small squeak flying from your mouth. 

Aemond rubbed his tip against your slit, pressing against your bud before lining himself up with your core. He pushed in roughy, not preparing you, but your slick was more than enough to ease the stretch and help him glide inside smoothly. 

You moaned loudly into the chambers as he pushed himself to the hilt, feeling you clench around him, pleasure blooming in your stomach. It felt good, it felt hot, it felt right. Aemond kept his hands on you, one on your thigh, and the other bending your leg up by the ankle to reach deeper within you.

“Fuck, so perfect for me.” He moaned, looking down at you.

You keened at his praise, core clenching around his length as he began to thrust into you. 

“Ao hae bona?” You like that?

“Ao hae skori aōha dārys qogralbar ao?” You like when your King fucks you?

“Kess.” Yes, You moaned, hands griping the sheets, feeling your peak begin to rapidly build inside of you.

“Please, kepus.” You moaned, one hand turning to grip his own on your thigh as he fucked you roughly on the bed, your breasts bouncing in the confines of your dress. 

"Sīr sȳz.” So good, He praised, his pace becoming rougher, the tip of his cock bullying your cervix. 

Aemond’s hands moved under the back of your thighs, pushing them up and folding them against your chest, opening you up further to him, causing a spark of delight to race through you. 

“Qogralbar, kessa.” Fuck, yes, You whined, the front of his pelvis rubbing roughly against your pearl with each thrust, warmth spreading through your body quickly. 

“Please, Aemond.” You begged, feeling your release begin to mount. 

Aemond’s pace quickened as he kept your legs pinned to your chest, eye watching your face, before sliding down your body to watch where you were connected, your slick coating his cock.

“So fucking wet, and all for me.” He moaned, and thrusted deeply inside, pushing up against the end of your cunt, a twinge of discomfort causing you to wince. 

Aemond leant down and kissed you, feeling you begin to tighten around him, the change in angle causing the tip of his cock to brush over the soft spongey spot within you. You moaned loudly, your back arching off of the bed as your eyes scrunched closed. 

“Jurnegon rȳ nyke.” Look at me, Aemond growled as he continued to fuck you, face close to yours, “Want you to look at me when you peak. Want you to know it’s me who makes you feel this. No one else. Aegon could never make you feel the way I do.” He rambled, his thrusts getting sloppier. 

The coil within wound tighter and tighter, ready to snap.

“You. No one but you, only you, Aem.” You whined, looking him in the eye as you panted. 

One hand left your thigh and slid down to your core, his fingers moving to swirl around your wet bud in dizzying circles. 

“Need to feel you clench around my cock. Give it to me.” He urged you.

His skilled fingers pressed into your pearl, slick causing them to move sloppily. You whimpered and whined, feeling your release approach you rapidly. Aemond bent down and placed a wet kiss to your neck and the coil snapped. 

Your mind went blank as pleasure coursed through you, Aemond’s pace not once faltering or slowing, fingers and cock prolonging your release as you whined beneath him. Heat spread through your body as he continued, the wet sound of your release around his cock in the chambers. 

“Konīr jā, sȳz riña. Sīr gevie. Vēttan syt nyke.” There you go, good girl. So beautiful. Made for me.

Your core spasmed around his length as his cock continued to brush against your pleasure spot inside. Each thrust prolonging your release, pitiful whines pealing from your lips.

Aemond’s thrusts began to falter and become sloppy as he chased his own peak. 

“Jāre naejot tepagon ao ñuha nūmo.” Going to give you my seed, He groaned.

“Please.” You whimpered, feeling his cock throb inside of you. 

Aemond thrusted into you deeply, holding himself deep within as he came with a grunt. Ropes of his seed coated your womb as you lay folded beneath him. Your core clenching around him as the warmth of his cum pooled inside. 

Aemond moaned as he felt you grip him, cock twitching from overstimulation. Aemond shifted, pressing his fingers back against your pearl and began to swirl them, keeping his cock firmly planted inside of you. 

“Need to feel you again. One more, zaldristos. You can do it.” He cooed, forcing you to another peak.

“Ah,” You jerked beneath him sensitive, “Aemond, fuck.” You whined, feeling the coil already begin to tighten, your cunt gripping him tightly. 

“Thats it. Give it to me. Give it to your King.” He commanded, and the coil snapped again.

Your back arched off of the bed as you moaned, eyes shut tightly as you were brought to another peak, a twinge of pain from the sheer force of it. Your core clenched around him, still inside of you, and you heard Aemond hiss and push into your heat deeper.

“Fuck.” You whimpered, slowly coming down from your high. You could feel his seed beginning to drip from within you, leaking down onto the sheets below. 

“Vok.” Perfect, He praised, and you felt a blush spread across your cheeks. 

The Prince stayed hunched over you at the edge of the bed, a hand moving to brush your hair away from your face. Aemond leant forward and pressed a soft kiss to your lips, cock throbbing within you.

He moved to pull out, his cock sliding through your folds slowly as you whined, but instead of pulling out completely, he kept his tip inside, before pushing back into you. You whimpered, feeling overstimulated but sparks of pleasure crackling in your core.

Aemond pulled out again, not quite all the way before pushing back inside. He had not softened, and was still hard. 

And clearly aroused. 

He began to fuck himself slowly into you, watching as your face contorted beneath him, feeling heat in your limbs rising, and rising. Your bodies covered in a light sheen of sweat, the smell of sex in the air.

Aemond continued to fuck you slowly, watching your face until he brought you to your peak once more, silencing you with a kiss before filling you with his seed again. It was only then did he pull out, and helped you to curl beneath the sheets, undressing you with tender hands, and then himself. 

As you laid in his arms, fatigue beginning to drag you under, he made promises to you that he would return back the King’s Landing swiftly as he did this time. He promised that nothing would happen to you, and that you would be safe. He promised that he would always come back to you.

And whilst a small part of you wished to believe him, you couldn’t.

Thanks so much for reading along with me, if you wish to be added to the tag list please let me know :) Likes and reblogs are greatly appreciated ! Enjoy <3

Tag List:

@izzicle @ej-shitchats @may-machin @alegria1580 @witchy-jadda @videovampire @inkdelicious @queteimporta39 @virtualsweetsqueen @fo-cus @auratiqs @feyres-fireheart @queenofshinigamis @asoiafwh8re @teasandcrumpets @shesjustanothergeek @grungegrrrl@queenofsarcazm @marihoneywk @curlszx88 @virgogaia @loser-keiji @asoiafwh8re @whore-of-many-hot-men @vipervixxen @theonewiththeimaginaryboyfriends @watercolorskyy @lavendervisions @mazmack666 @chokefrog @orangejump-suit @nik2blog @serrhaewinin @ohemgeewhat @winxschester @cryptidsrcool @drinking-tea-and-be-obsessed @celestedonut @bloodyvelvet777 @iamapersonthatsalive @av-sos @yentroucnagol @sanzu-s @opheliaas-stuff @bellameshipper @maviee @persephonerinyes @neytiri-09 @ensnaredinwonderland @xbluegracex @sotragedynut @nattieot7 @shesawaywiththefairies-blog @coffedraven @prettycutebunny @celestedonut @the-jess-life @ssulfurr @out-of-life @madislayyy @crazylokonugget @cicaspair418 @katwmk @relminnie @milovart @teagrex @visenyaverse @bellameshipper @toodlesxcuddles @tempt-ress @dontmindmereading7 @qyburnsghost @55gyi53vtnquwziq5 @notnormalthings-blog @maidmerrymint @qyburnsghost @madislayyy @chelseaouat @hc-geralt-23 @daenerys-supremacy @rabbit-reveries @mari0302 @fallinglikeash @ivy-targaryen @nana-is-reading @kattirin

Bold is who I cannot tag!

[everestica]

'*•.¸♡Ace, Azul, Silver, and Riddle x Reader: Them As Boyfriends!♡¸.•*'

➳ Warnings : SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST BOOK IN RIDDLE’S (And Possibly Spoilers for Silver’s??)

➳ Notes: Ahh its been so long since I have posted and I totally forgot to post on my birthday so this is my peace offering lol, I will start on my requests again asap!!<3 Thanks for the patience guys, I Love y’all!

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.───

✩ Ace ✩

♡ - Bf!Ace is always looking for a reason to spend more time with you.

♡ - Ace really dose care for you and love you but he definitely goes about it in ways that you would never get that he was trying to show his love for you, for example, tripping you when your already late for class, making you even more late earning you detention, and you might be wondering, “well how dose that show that he loves me??” because he also got detention, and just wanted to spend more time with you, and it’s the perfect place since you can’t leave

♡ - I have written for like like one other time and I’m sticking by it, he loves having you over, and seriously can’t sleep with out you around, now will be say that he can, absolutely, but can he actually? Hell no, ask litterly anybody in the dorm, even freaking Che’nya, and they would tell you that he can’t sleep when your not around.

♡ - On a side note tho, totally begs Riddle to let you come to un-birthday parties with him, as his “plus 1” and yes he says it like that, he thinks it sounds fancier so Riddle will actually let him bring you to the party. Riddle is just glad that he stops bugging him so much and if there is rule-breaking he normally doesn’t know about it because he’s normally with you and out of sight of him.<3

✩ Azul ✩

♡ - Bf!Azul just loves being around you.

♡ - Now while Azul is hella busy with taking care of the Mostro lounge, School, and Being the Dorm Leader of Octavinelle, but that doesn’t mean that he isn’t around sometimes

♡ - And by that I mean, there always was an extra chair in the back of his office, and he was gonna end up taking it out at some point but when the two of you started dating and you ended up sitting in that extra chair most of the time when you did visit he decided that it should probably just stay because you were normally in his office and if it wasn’t there where were you gonna sit?

♡ - Eventually utually the chair ended up moving closer to his desk and so when ever you needed help with something he was right there or if he was over working himself again you were right there to tell him to take a break and were always welcoming him with open arms.<3

✩ Silver ✩

♡ - Bf!Silver loves feeling like he can protect you from anything.

♡ - As you might know, Silver is one of Malleus’s Retainers, and he is always looking out for him, but on the days he isn’t or is just out with you instead, he loves just making sure that your okay and that if you need anything he is always right there

♡ - For Example, Bullies will never come to close to you now knowing that not only is your boyfriend a part of Diasomnia, but also he works under Malleus, that’s like asking for death if they come even close to you when he is around, but if you ever do get bullied by somebody who doesn’t know then as soon as Silver hears about this he is either 1. On his way to take care of the bully, or 2. Trying to find you to make sure that your okay and that you don’t need any medical attention like stat.

♡ - Now Silver also falls asleep a lot so normally when you come over to Diasomnia to find him he normally isn’t there and Lilia is already trying to find him, but when he sees you he face brightens up as you know most of the spots that he normally is asleep in, but if by chance you were with him when he falls asleep then good luck trying to get out of his arms if you have somewhere to be, we already know how buff that man is, so I guess your missing your Flight class again (just hope your grade doesn’t get as low as Azul’s..)<3

✩ Riddle ✩

♡ - Bf!Riddle only excuses you (sometimes) from the mass amounts of the Queen’s Rules

♡ - Riddle has always lived under a bunch of expectations and rules, and before you even started dating him you knew that, but when you really found out the most about him was when he finally started to be a little more lenient with the 810 rules of the Heartslabyul dorm.

♡ - But when it came to you, it was almost like most of the rules didn’t even matter anymore to him, oh you had some coffee that morning at the unbirthday party, suddenly he totally forgot about that rule because he was to busy studding for the next exam in Trein’s Class.

♡ - Ace will totally call him on it once he saw that you were drinking Black tea in the evening with Riddle sitting right next to you, and he didn’t call you out on it. When Ace walked out of the room he was collard and you were still drinking you black tea.<3

[greeneyezblackheart]

Have you read any of the gnr members books?

Yes I have. I’ve read Slash’s book, Steven’s book, and both of Duff’s books. I haven’t read Matt Sorum’s book yet, but it’s on my Kindle to-read list.

I’ve also read two or three other books written by other authors about GN'R in general.

Slash’s book was my favorite. Very well written, informative, and pretty juicy. Duff’s first book (It’s So Easy and Other Lies) was even better written (that college education must’ve been good for SOMEthing), informative, and not AS juicy, lol. True gentlemen tell no tales, right? He’s a gentleman, for sure. That one was the definitive Duff bio, so to speak. His second book (How To Be A Man and Other Illusions) was more of a life lessons, life advice, full of candor read. Both great books, though. Stevie’s book was kindof a trainwreck, but extremely raunchy and juicy—I loved it, lol. Here’s an excerpt that always stands out in my mind when I think of Steven’s book:

👆🏼👆🏼👆🏼You’re welcome, by the way. 😂😁

So yeah. I highly recommend reading all of these books. Along with the other GNR bios as well. I can’t remember the names of those, but I know one was written by Mick Wall and the other by Steven Davis. Mick Wall also has another book written about Axl that I’d like to read eventually as does Steven’s mother Deanna. As much as I (feel like I) know about GN’R, I’m always down to read any book I can find written by or about them, however redundant they may be. When you love a band more than life itself, it just be like that, lol. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Side note: AXL, IZZY—we waitin' on y’all, babes. HURRY UP AND GET ON THAT BOOK WRITIN' GRAVY TRAIN, PLEASE SIRS. 😋

[starseneyes]

Chenford REWIND- Lucy Chen / Tim Bradford - The Rookie - Season 5 - Ep 6 & 7

*phew* almost all caught up on this REWIND of Chenford! And with today's edition, we will be completely caught up to date of current airing (5x11 being the most recent to air).

I'll put together a Master Post later to make things easier to find. For now, it's time to talk about another favorite of the season.

SPOILER ALERT: This is not one of those reviews where people tip-toe around spoilers. I will spoil every last morsel in these episodes without restraint. Please know that going in! I do try to write these as though I were seeing them for the first time.

Alright, with all the red tape out of the way, let's dive into the fun!

The Reckoning

"Hello. Good morning!" "Chen. Sanford." "What's up with him?" "He's just grumpy with everything he's got going on." "Wait. What? What's going on? "Nothing." "What." "He's fine. I'm fine. We're just eager to protect and serve." "Aaron." "I have to go. I'm so sorry." "What?"

Cackling during this scene the first time I watched it.

Aaron's doe-eyed, assuming that Lucy would know everything going on in Tim's life already (because he's not Nolan-level oblivious) then realizing oops, he should've kept his mouth closed.

Side Note: "Nothing" is never a good cover... just sayin'.

I also find it fascinating that Chris is framed out of most of the scene. Yes, he's there in the establishing shot and brief interaction with Tim, but as soon as Tim departs, this is Aaron and Lucy's conversation.

Lucy's worried. She could tell something was up with Tim because he was about to walk by without even acknowledging them. When he did, he could barely look Lucy in the eye, and he stuck to last names without salutation.

At first, she thought it might be something trivial, but Aaron's words affirm something is definitely up with her husband.

"I think the radio belonged to the broody one." "The broody... Tim forgot his radio? Tim Bradford, 'Super Cop'? You know, this guy will not let me forget that I was once three and a half minutes late to Roll Call. Can you believe that?" "I guess." "This feels like Christmas. Thank you."

Oh, I know that glint in your eye, Lucy Chen. You're cooking up something. But, she pauses as she considers exactly what to do.

And this is the difference between a Tim/Lucy prank earlier in the show versus now. Now, Lucy wants to do something that will be fun... not just funny. Lucy decides to go the same route my husband did when he proposed—scavenger hunt.

"What the hell?" "What is it? ... Who sent that?" "Someone who's about to get in a lot of trouble." "You know you could just file a incident report and get a new radio." "And get written up? That's one day suspension without pay."

I love you, Tim Bradford (platonicly. I'm happily married and he's fictional... so...). He truly is the Super Cop who wants to do everything by the book.

"I think I know where this is."

And what I LOVE about this is that Lucy Chen has already been to these places, and timed it out to know how long it would take Tim to get from one to the next.

She knows him so well. ("too well", anybody?) Lucy knows that she needs to break through his walls by getting him active.

Paintball? He loves it. Shooting range? Totally something he did with his ex as a date. Tim isn't one to open up about feelings easily.

This is a way to prime him, and help him think about something other than whatever is bothering him.

"Man, this is one sketchy-ass looking coffee truck."

Side note that I love that someone had to look at that line in a script, then either find or design the perfect coffee truck to make Aaron say that. It gives me such special pleasure to think about.

"It's where I get my coffee every morning. No oatmilk mafia hipsters rewriting screenplays. A buck for coffee and you go to work." "You sound like the old dude from Up!"

My husband was over my shoulder when I first watched this on Hulu, and he was rolling at that. But, it's so true. Tim is a creature of habit. He likes what is comfortable because it's stable, and his life often lacks stability.

It started in childhood... not knowing if Dad was going to ignore him or lay into him at any given moment. He learned to constantly be on guard, to be slow to trust, and to find what comforts he could to get through until he could get out of the house.

So many of Tim's life choices are informed by the abuse he survived.

"Damnit. They're running us all over town." "Okay, so, like, what's the point? I mean, they haven't asked for money or anything. And if they really want to screw with the police, they could do a whole lot more with that radio." "I don't know. We gotta figure out what studio lot that is."

First off, my hat's off to Aaron, who wants to be a detective. He's diving into the why right off the bat. Tim, though... he's in the game.

Right where Lucy wants him.

"My favorite movie was shot right here on this lot."

Woah, woah, woah. Your favorite movie is Shane!? I mean, it tracks for Tim's character, absolutely. In high school, my US government teacher spent a whole semester having us watch US Westerns and writing about them. I aced that semester if you can imagine.

While I'm not a fan of Shane personally (I don't like most Westerns), I get why it appeal to Tim. And it's heartbreaking.

Shane is a Western where a man is hired to help a family of homesteaders, gets into many a gunfight, befriends the son of the homesteaders, and then when injured protecting them... he leaves. The boy stands at the door crying out for Shane to come back... and that's how it ends.

This is not a happy story. It's a story of a man who did the right thing. He took out the bad guys, then abandoned the people he'd connected with to protect them from retribution. And this is Tim's favorite movie.

"Wait, your favorite coffee place. Your favorite movie. Whoever's doing this knows you really well." "Chen."

Again, Aaron with the Detective cap on. And it takes only seconds for Tim to realize who would know all of these details about his life... Lucy.

When did they talk about his favorite movie? The coffee would be an easy one, but I bet there's some fanfic out there about how Lucy conned Tim into telling her his favorite movie, possibly by guessing terribly on purpose to draw him out.

Much as Tim tries to avoid talking about personal things... Lucy has always drawn him out. He has helped refine and sharpen her, but in the same manner, she has helped pull him out of his darkness. And she's doing it again with this distraction.

"Where's my radio?" "Did something happen to your radio? Oh, you know what, Halloween is tomorrow. Maybe a vengeful spirit took it."

This flirty banter is giving me major end-of-season-4 Chenford vibes. I don't know if Lucy even realizes she's doing it. But sitting together in that hospital room, they erased all the awkwardness—or so she thought.

Because Tim's had time to think about Lucy, now, in the absence of the all-consuming vortex that was Ashley. Without the distraction of his girlfriend, all he sees is Lucy.

"Why are you doing this?" "I don't know what you're talking about." "Is holding my radio payback for how tough I was on you as a Rookie?"

Tim's playing a game of 21 questions and Lucy hasn't answered a damn one. Well done, girl!

But I also like the quirk to Tim's lips at the end of that statement. He's having fun. Even arguing with Lucy (playfully), he is having so much damn fun.

"Were you? I hadn't noticed."

Oh, yeah. Definitely flirting.

"Okay." "But, again, I don't know what you're talking about. But I might be able to help you look for your radio if you tell me what's going on." "Nothing is going on with me." "Please. I rode with you long enough to know when you are being you, and when you're upset. I mean, are you okay?"

How do you tell the woman of your dreams that you're falling in love with them while they're dating another man? I don't know, and Tim certainly doesn't either.

Because this isn't just about Ashley. Yes, he is hurting because yet another person walked out on him. Hell, she practically trampled on his oxygen line on the way out the door.

Without Ashley to redirect his thoughts, he's having a harder time ignoring how much he wants to be with Lucy. And her being soft with him makes it even harder because he starts to question himself. "Is it possible she could feel something? Should I ask?"

His attitude totally shifts as he makes the decision to play it off.

"It's nothing. I'm fine."

Tim, someday, someday, I hope you realize that "nothing" is a terrible, terrible cover story.

"Then I don't know where your radio is."

She storms off, and we can hear she's really frustrated. Lucy hopes that this game is helping loosen him up because she wants to help him.

Last week, she didn't get to be there for him as much as she wanted. Now, she has a chance to help him, and she feels like it's failing.

Lucy is drawn to Tim as much as he is drawn to her. It's all a matter of getting on the same page. And right now she feels like they're flipping back and forth instead of landing on the same spot.

"Hey. Hi. What the hell is going on with Tim?" "Well, he lost his radio." "I will give you his radio if you tell me what's bothering him." "Honestly, I don't know. He won't tell me either." "What?"

Maybe Aaron should do all the lying for the team, because he's the only one who's any good at it. We know he knows what's up with Tim. But, he's being a good Gofer and keeping his trap shut.

But Aaron also knows that Tim and Lucy know more about one another than most cops he's met. Even if Aaron hasn't sniffed out the romance angle, he knows that there's something there. And he ain't getting in the middle of it.

"Hi. Good morning." "Good morning."

Everything is shifting! Did you clock that? Oh, I totally clocked that. Tim's graduated from monosyllabic greetings for Lucy to an actual phrase! Progress! But he's still not looking her in the eye.

"Still missing your radio?" "No, it's in the shop." "Where's your standard issue?" "This is it." "That hasn't been standard since the sixties... Wait, let me get a photo of you with it, first!"

Peep Aaron looking ANYWHERE other than Tim and Lucy? He knows better than to get in the middle of this.

Tim and Lucy have a tendency to take embarrassing photos of one another. It's a quirk they share... one of those places where two seemingly very different people overlap. And I so hope Lucy got her shot so we can see it make a comeback at some point.

Can you imagine their wedding slideshow? Half of it's just going to be shots of them pranking one another.

"Uh, here. I thought torturing you would be more fun, and getting your mind off of whatever has been bothering you."

First off, coworkers don't need to hold onto the object they're passing that long. Y'all are being obvious right outside the station. Second, she clues him in on why she was doing this... it wasn't revenge. It was concern.

Damnit, that's hot. You know Tim's thinking it. Lucy Chen did all this for him.

"I should know better than to get into your personal business."

This is another deflection. Back in 5x02's opening scene she talked about having a lot going on in her "personal life" and we know that involved Tim. But after 5x02's breakup scene, she's convinced that he isn't interested.

"Goodnight." "Night... Ashley and I, uh, broke up. Well, I guess, technically she broke up with me."

Did you see how Lucy's head whipped around? Because Tim Bradford just let her in. It's been a while since Tim has let her in on anything. He's been keeping her at a distance for a while—even last week when he was injured.

But here he is, letting her into his personal life. She had given up, and he just let her waltz right in. Lucy knows what a big deal for Tim this is, even if she doesn't understand what's going on in his head and heart. Could you two just TALK!?

"And just so you know, I did appreciate your whole radio gag, a little. Took my mind off things." "Well, good."

See that little size up and shimmy? Because Tim Bradford complimented Lucy Chen. And she has a thing with Praise. He basically told her that her whole plan worked, and that he understood and appreciated it.

And for some reason, that little affirmation cracks open something between them that they've both tried to bury since their "breakup".

Looking at the woman of his dreams, radio in one hand (a literal communication device), Tim considers another leap.

And, oh, you know he has to have it bad to try this, again, after how badly he fell the last time. But he feels that connection between them, again. And there's no Ashley, anymore, to distract him from it.

And look. At. Lucy. Her face reminds me so much of the end of season 4 when she and he stood in this parking lot looking at one another, her anxious of what he might say. Some part of her knows.

But before Tim can open his mouth, the door opens, and out parts Mr. Professional Chenford Blocker himself, Chris Sanford.

Lucy and Tim both look caught. Because even if they weren't playing tonsil hockey, they were in an emotionally-charged moment that shouldn't happen when she's dating someone else.

And Tim just got the second coldest shower of his life (nothing tops bleeding-out Chris).

"Do you wanna join us? We're gonna go get a bite to eat." "Oh, no, no. I'm good. I'm beat. You two have fun."

And he means that. He wants Lucy to be happy, even if it isn't with him. But that fake smile is so heartbreaking. Because, here he was, considering a huge leap... and now he's clamming back up because he thinks Lucy is truly happy with someone else.

You know who isn't happy about this interaction? Chris, that's who! Early on, he clocked something between Lucy and Tim, but she was able to shove it off.

Think about it. She never called or texted anyone when she decided to spent the evening at the hospital by Tim's side. But likely she told Chris later about it, not thinking anything of it.

Now, Chris comes out to see Tim and Lucy chatting, and she invites him on their date!? Chris might think things are good between him and Lucy, but a part of him definitely sees Tim as a threat. He no likely.

Good.

Lucy and Chris walk off, arms wrapped around one another, but the camera stays on Tim, offering us a shot of him from a distance, defeated, looking back at the opportunity missed with the woman he's falling for.

We feel how distanced he is, now, from Lucy. We feel his struggle with that distance.

And as we switch angles to see it from her side... Lucy is looking back at him.

Remember beginning of season 4 when Lucy and Tim stood together in his living room, his left arm stroking her right arm after their hug? Lucy felt the change in energy between them. She saw the look in Tim's eyes.

She loves that look. She's addicted to that look. It's been a long time since she's seen that look, but she saw it at the hospital, and she saw it again just now. She loves when he looks at her like that.

It's hard to say if she knows how he feels about her, but I think she is struggling with the same thing he did with Ashley—Do I risk it all for someone who I think is unavailable to me, or do I stick with what's easy, but not satisfying?

Even though she's still with Chris, Tim being available, more flirty, complimenting her, and showing the slightest bit of interest is sending her spinning.

She shoves it down... but it'll come out, someday. Like a spring wound too-tight eventually snaps.

Crossfire

"If your puppy vouches for her, it could go a long way." "I don't know. Having a kid act as a CI on his own sister? I mean, they might not even be in touch."

I need to point this out. Is it directly Chenford related? Yes. Go with me here.

If you've seen the episode, you know one of the key Chenford-related moments is coming up, but this conversation feeds right in.

Nyla and Angela want to get Lucy in as a UC. But Tim, yes Tim is the first one to reason why it's not the best idea. Why? Because he's concerned for the kid.

He's not thinking about Lucy's career, or even about the possible apprehending of a criminal. He's thinking about this kid. We need this context to see where Tim's head is at.

"How about we keep an eye on the kid, ourselves? Make sure he's safe."

Nyla and Angela are the ones pushing this. Lucy, too. Tim isn't doing any pushing. But he's actually the one hearing Aaron. Because Tim does have a soft spot for kids. He was one, once, and his childhood sucked.

Lucy at Gunpoint

Aaron glances to Tim, aware of how Tim's stopped freakin' breathing and is watching the situation unfold.

"We should pull Tabin out, now." "Nah, he's fine." "Sir, no it's not. You are endangering this career all because it's good for Lucy's career." "Excuse me?" "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

I saw the responses online, "Good! Someone called him out". And, sure, it's good Tim knows his Lucy-o-meter is showing because that's going to get him in trouble someday.

But Tim would never put a kid in danger for Lucy's career. Hell, he hates that Lucy puts herself in danger for Lucy's career.

But Aaron doesn't know Tim's history with an ex-wife who was UC. he doesn't know about Tim's abusive childhood and how he would never want to put a child in harm's way.

Tim is working the op the way it needs to be worked because he is a seasoned cop. In this moment, it's actually Aaron who is operating off of emotion. And Tim is smart enough to know it, so he drops it instead of starting an argument—the work comes first.

"I don't wanna blow my cover." "You got it."

Wow, how far we have come. Tim used to think Lucy didn't have what it took for UC. Now, he's letting her call the shots on her UC op. He respects the hell out of her, and that is earned, and that is built.

Lucy Makes Herself

Look, I don't know what the long-term plan here, was. Did Lucy want to keep using that cover to infiltrate the gang further? I don't know. But the second she saw Tim and Aaron in trouble, she leapt out to help.

Tim and Aaron can absolutely handle themselves. Lucy made an emotional decision. And it got her made.

Was it the right decision? Who knows. Aaron was the only one to get through to Tabin, and Lucy's presence didn't help anything. But she was worried about Tim and Aaron.

"Night."

Lucy doesn't know what went down between Aaron and Tim while she was undercover. But she knows what made her break it. And she's had time to think about their chat outside the other day—what was Tim going to say?

Because she knew he was going to say something. And lately he's looking at her with these soft eyes... What does it mean!?

"Hey, uh, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for what I said, you know, about Lucy. That was totally out of line." "It was."

Because Tim would never endanger a child just for Lucy's career. But, also, calling Tim out about Lucy was out of line—but that part wasn't wrong. And Tim knows it.

"It's all good. Look, sometimes tensions get high, but we get the job done. And you had my back the way you threw yourself in front of mom for me." "Oh, yeah, she was gonna lay you out." "Come on."

Aaron and Tim has become a really unexpected relationship for me on this show. Tim has softened enough that while he maintains authority over Aaron, he listens to him. Of course, this is Lucy's influence in his life. So it makes sense that the three of them are sort of becoming a new OT3 on the show.

In the past, it was Jackson, Lucy, and Nolan who formed the OT3. Common element? Lucy, of course. She brings people together in unexpected ways.

And while Aaron's comments were out of line, it's not wrong for someone to call Tim out about his intentions and choices. He's an authority figure in the station, and a supervisor. People need to know he's on the level at all times.

That's going to play into the rest of a season, I think. But, what do I know? I'm just a girl from the very-near future rewinding back to Chenford classics of ages past.

As ever, thank you for reading and joining me on this journey. We're all caught up! Can't wait to see what's next for Lucy and Tim (and Chenford)!

I'll put together a Master Post to-date later. And I can't WAIT to see what 5x12 has for us all! See you then!

[spider-xan]

What’s the beetle

Okay, so I've decided to answer this in good faith, more for the benefit of my mutuals and followers than anything bc I suspect this was meant to be bait given that (a) I never once said the title of the book in any of my recent posts, yet anon knew exactly what I was talking about (which means you already know what the Beetle is, don't you, anon?), and (b) at least two other people received this exact same anon at the same time and there is a clear pattern to who received these messages, though I seem to be the only POC who got this.

Anyway.

The Beetle is gothic horror novel written by Richard Marsh that was published in 1897, which is notable bc that is the same year that Dracula was published - but while the Beetle is obscure and Dracula is a major pop culture phenomenon today, it actually outsold Dracula back in the day; the plot is similar to Dracula in that it is a xenophobic and racist reverse invasion story, this time featuring an Arab villain who turns into a beetle and uses mesmerism (similar to hypnosis) on a British man whom he sexually assaults to help him get revenge on another British man; (as a side note, I think there has been confusion about the villain being Muslim, but as far as I can tell, he seems to worship the Egyptian goddess Isis); there is a reveal at some point where the villain, an Arab man, turns out to have a vagina, which is both transphobic and Orientalist; (I think people get why it's transphobic, but the Orientalism is in Eastern men being 'feminized' as a negative comparison to Western men being 'masculine' as part of the broader idea of the Orient being 'decadent' and 'feminine'); the book is also very badly written, at least by modern standards.

I have no problem with people reading the novel bc ofc consumption is not endorsement and reading 'problematic' (I hate that word, it's so fucking vague) books isn't inherently a reflection of personal morals, and there is value in studying a novel like the Beetle for its historical significance (and how not to write a novel) and what it says on a Doylist level about important topics like colonialism (specifically the British in Egypt), Orientalism, gender, popular tropes during the Victorian era and what they say about Victorian society and its social anxieties at the turn of the century, etc.; for all of its faults and bigotry, there is a lot of thoughtful commentary to be written about the book itself on a meta level.

However, what does and did make me uneasy last year was the fandomization and memefication of the book, which is part of a larger phenomenon I won't get into right now, and fandom analysis often focuses more on Watsonian analysis, especially of characters like real people; I'm not saying you can't have fun or that you need a racism disclaimer on every post or should self-flagellate if you're white, but there are some books where fandomizing might not be the best way to engage with the material or certain aspects of a book - like, joke fanart of an Arab man as an animal molesting a white man is a really weird way to engage with the Arab man as a rapist and animal tropes (definitely Orientalist in at least two ways), especially if you are white and not the target of that kind of racism (like, quick, why is it funny to you?), and I saw very little grappling with how maybe there should be context provided for why that shit is racist, in stark contrast to how Dracula Daily did frequently discuss the bigotry in the novel.

Like, maybe I guess people thought the racism was so egregious, everyone would get it, but as we saw from DD, a lot of people genuinely don't know these things, and that's how you get serious racist, xenophobic, and Orientalist tropes that do very real harm to actual people - we're seeing this happen right now where Orientalist beliefs about Arab men being violent rapists and the idea of Arabs being a threat to the Western world are being used to justify violence and genocide - either being glossed over bc it's not fun or treated as a joke; and I'm not saying the Beetle is responsible for current geopolitics, but while fiction is not reality, fiction can reflect, affect, and reinforce beliefs that shape reality, and it's naive and denying the power of literature to act as if that isn't true.

Anyway, all that to say that I just think people should be a little more sensitive and thoughtful about how they engage with the novel instead of jumping immediately to irreverent fandomizing and memes, especially with what's going on in the world right now.

[lostbetweenthepagesofthesebooks]

"It is a word. Words are pale shadows of forgotten names. As names have power, words have power. Words can light fires in the minds of men. Words can wring tears from the hardest hearts. There are seven words that will make a person love you. There are ten words that will break a strong man's will. But a word is nothing but a painting of a fire. A name is the fire itself.” (Rothfuss, 672).

As promised, we're kicking off with the The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss. And I want to start off by saying that the series is not currently finish. Fortunately, there's only meant to be one more book to the main story (or maybe unfortunately, but we'll get there). Secondly, I want to mention that this is a fantasy book. I realize there are plenty of people who aren't big fans of fantasy or maybe trying to veer off the fantasy train right now.

Brief, spoiler free review: The series is focused on Kote/Kvothe, who decides to have his story written down of his trials as a kid, to his tribulations as a teenager and getting into what is apparently the most prestigious university in this realm. A university that teaches (to those that can afford it) how to use and hone magic. The story follows Kvothe struggling and fighting for his life as a kid to an adept magician, all the awhile searching for clues to what was thought of as just an ancient story to tell.

Warning: mild spoilers ahead

The Name of the Wind

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Emotions: anxious; sorrow; pain; determination; joy; annoyance; relief.

Basically... I really enjoyed this book. It's a great start to someone's story. Nothing in this book feels too drawn out. We spend a few chapters in the beginning of where Kote/Kvothe is now, clearly living a very humble life, in a very simple town. Essentially, he his hiding in plain sight. We learn there are safety and political issues across the land. We get a few creature/fight scenes before even jumping into Kote/Kvothe's story. Kote eventually gets convinced by a man called the Chronicler (who Kote saves from a creature) that recognizes Kote for who he really is: Kvothe.

Side note - yes we learn that there is apparently some drama across the lands in the present tense, but I honestly have no idea if Rothfuss even plans on really touching on this. Kvothe becoming THE Kvothe aka Kvothe The Bloodless, Kvothe The Arcane, Kvothe Kingkiller, Maedre, The Flame, The Thunder, Lightfinger, Broken Tree, Dulator, Shadicar, Six-String. All of this. Into three books. Which might very well be easily doable, but basically, I would not get too invested on those little tidbits that are given about the present tense.

Getting into Kvothe's story... his childhood is sweet. It makes you want to be an Edema Ruh, which is what his people are called. A traveling performer troupe, which are led by his mother and father, and make up his family. A man, Abenthy/Ben eventually rides along with his troupe for a span, teaching Kvothe a little about magic, or rather, sympathy. This is where Kvothe learns about The University, and starts making it his goal to attend the school. Without getting too carried away, and also as to not give too much away, eventually Ben has to depart from the group and not long after this, a great tragedy strikes.

The tragedy and how Kvothe responds to it... The way Patrick wrote this scene was heartbreakingly beautiful and oddly made me really love this book. I felt it in my heart. It was really well done. Also, here, we learn that the supposed ancient, but just a story... is definitely not, just a story. We get just a little taste here, and then it's quite some time before we find it again.

The next few chapter is where we watch Kvothe struggle and literally fight for his life, which I do think is necessary there is good information to be gathered about Kvothe's background and understanding what makes him, him. These years certainly have profound influences on him at the university, and no doubt on him as an adult.

Eventually Kvothe lands his way at The University... where he once again has to prove himself to even get into The University. But... yes... Kvothe proves very clever, and manages to get himself into the school. While here, Patrick really unfolds more of the magical realm which I really enjoy. The University teaches different types of magics and clearly houses plenty of secrets. Kvothe gains friends, an superbly ass-hat enemy, and obviously we have to have a love interest.

Now for more side notes/just general thoughts:

I want to say that although this is a fantasy novel, it's much less fantasy than others. The University definitely hosts more of the magical aspects of this realm, but even then, it's not like Harry Potter type of magic. It's almost more realistic in a way? Even though Kvothe is a quick learner, he does struggle while he's learning it. Magic is this book is difficult and dangerous. Almost every time you see it used, there's a consequence to it. Consequences can range from exhaustion to death. While I certainly love just blatant fantasy and straight up magic-this-magic-that, I did enjoy the aspect that this magic wasn't easy to hone or wield.

Like I said, I really enjoyed this book. I think it put me back into a headspace of being back in high school, and just dealing with life and drama at that age. Not that this book feels teeny-bop at. all. I feel like Patrick did a great job of setting up a foundation for this story. I definitely felt like there's great world building here, there's so much that I'm still wanting to know and/or learn about, which I know there's not enough time nor is it his focus; but these things were necessary to create this world. And that's what I love. I fell into this world that Patrick created during this book, and every time I had to put it down, I was still in that world. I didn't have the second book yet, and decided to read a book that I already had because I wanted to keep reading, but I was still stuck in Patrick's world as I started Fire & Blood.

For the world building that was done in this book, and the magic along the way, I definitely recommend this book. I would say you have to be committed to the series. At least the main series, as there are some novella's the Patrick did about two of the other characters that are in the story. The book itself doesn't end on a cliffhanger, but when Kvothe is telling his story, this ends on a cliffhanger. And I think it's just enough where people will be like "well...shit... let me grab the second one". The reason why I frame this all like such is because the final 'chapter' of Kvothe's story almost feels like a wrap up, the way he's talking; even though, as a whole, it's very much not done. We do not learn why we call him Kvothe Kingkiller in this book, folks.... but.... We do learn why we call him Kvothe The Bloodless.

Also... who wouldn't want to read a book with THIS cover:

Don't do it to 'em, Kvothe!

Read on beautiful peeps. 🤘📖

[bite-sized-devil]

My list of songs that remind me of obey me characters.

I am up for debate on these, convince me with an essay discussing in detail why your song is better. 🌻

Inspired by this post made by @delphi-dreamin

Lucifer: Down The Line by Alison Wonderland

Ok, this needs some explanation. This goes really well (I think) with @sassykattery "Dissolution of the Fire" Series. The song suits what i think Lucifer would be feeling at the end.

"I've been hiding in my work

Keepin' busy 'cause it hurts

Couldn't answer all your calls

Thought you'd get it but you don't"

and

"In this house, now just feels lonely

'Cause I'm so fucking lonely"

Mammon: Money by Cardi B

I've said it before, this is 100% Mammon's Anthem. You can't change my mind. My boy would love it.

"I was born to flex (Yes)

Diamonds on my neck

I like boardin' jets, I like mornin' sex (Woo)

But nothing in this world that I like more than checks (Money)"

Leviathan: Number One Fan By MUNA

The entire song screams Levi. Seriously, was it actually written about him? I'd believe it if it was. (Side note: I'll be your number one fan Levi!)

"Oh my God, like, I'm your number one fan

So iconic, like big, like stan, like

I would give my life just to hold your hand

I'm your number one fan

I'm your number one, number one fan"

Satan: Talk Deep by East

Purely because I would love to talk deep all night in bed with Satan. We both read, I'd love to here his opinions/thoughts/feelings on certain books. Also he might benefit from smoking some pot I think, might chill him out about.

"Something about you makes me feel hectic

We're in your room, it's so electric

I'm really glad we left the party

I'm really glad you wanna keep talking

I don't want sleep, I wanna talk deep all night

You're looking at me and I can't believe my eyes"

Asmodeus: Her By Megan Thee Stallion & First Class Bitch by Confidence Man

I couldn't decide between the two for my darling Asmo. Both suit him very well. I have a saved draft about Asmo and the song Her.

"Just the other day, I heard a ho say

Matter of fact, what could a ho say?

With a face like this and a bitch this paid

Shit, what could a ho say?"

and

"Baby, I'm a first class bitch (First class)

Baby, I'm a first class bitch

Baby, I'm a first class bitch (First class)

And I know you love it" (Its true I fucking love it!)

Beelzebub: Chocolate Cake by Ali Barter

Its pretty self explanatory, I think he would dig it. (Can I smash some cake in his mouth? Please?)

"Cake cake cake

Chocolate cake cake cake

Straight to my face face face

I'll eat it all day day day"

Also Need To Know by Doja Cat just because I gotta know how that dick be.

"I heard from a friend of a friend

That that dick was a ten out of ten

I can't stand it, just one night me

Clink with the drink, gimme a sip

Tell me what's your kink, gimme the dick"

Belphegor: Don't Want To Miss A Thing by Aerosmith

It works ok. He's got to be so worried at missing out on everything while he sleeps. Even more so now he's obsessed with a mortal. Also this song actually slaps. Would definitely scream sing it at karaoke.

"Cause even when I dream of you

The sweetest dream will never do

I'd still miss you baby

And I don't want to miss a thing"

Diavolo: Am I Ever Going To See Your Face Again by The Angels

Works really well for this fic by @delphi-dreamin

It's all in the lyrics 😂

"Am I ever gonna see your face again (no way, get fucked, fuck off!)"

Also see (this one is purely my opinion, Delphi wouldn't agree) WAP by Cardi B & Megan The Stallion

"Extra large, and extra hard

Put this pussy right in yo' face

Swipe your nose like a credit card

Hop on top, I want a ride"

Barbatos: Tea For Two by Ella Fitzgerald & Count Basie

Old timey, and a little cute just like Barb 💕 (don't PICTURE me on your knee, I am ON your knee)

"Picture you upon my knee,

Just tea for two and two for tea,

Just me for you

And you for me alone."

Simeon: Take Me To Church by Hozier

Please, as if Simeon wouldn't worship your body like it isn't the closest thing to heaven he can find in the devildom. (Fucking get it Simeon)

"Take me to church

I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies

I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife

Offer me that deathless death

Good God, let me give you my life"

Solomon: The Wizard by Black Sabbath

Of course I think of Solomon when this song comes on. He'd be a fan, this song also slaps.

"Without warning, a wizard walks by

Casting his shadow, weaving his spell"

And

"Demons worry when the wizard is near

He turns tears into joy"

Luke: Mean by Taylor Swift

He likes it because everyone (looking at you stupidmammon) is mean to him & he can relate. (My inner child also loves this song, I feel you Luke)

"You, with your switching sides

And your wildfire lies and your humiliation

You have pointed out my flaws again

As if I don't already see them

I walk with my head down

Trying to block you out, 'cause I'll never impress you

I just wanna feel okay again"

[thallium81]

I just made an accidental discovery about the Russian version of the Vrungel book and my head is whirling. Back when I read the English translation from 1981, I thought to myself, “For a globe-trotting book written in the 30’s, it’s only slightly racist instead of being really racist!”

Well, today I was looking up the official illustrations made by one of the main artists of the cartoon for one edition of the book which I found on a website that posted the whole book’s text in Russian. As I was scrolling through the pictures, I saw a few that I couldn’t recognize as being based on any text, so I used Google Translate to see if there was more text that wasn’t included in the English version.

Sure enough, the Russian version has two extra chapters taking place after the Hawaii and Brazil stops where Vrungel, Lom, and Fuchs go to Australia and meet Admiral Kusaki there.

I hope you’re sitting down, cause what I’m about to write is gonna sound insane, and Google Translate isn’t 100% accurate, but one of Kusaki’s schemes is to dress up in blackface, call himself “Uncle Tom”, and call Vrungel “master”, and Vrungel exposes him by making his makeup melt in the sun during a game of golf.

Now, this whole thing is clearly portraying Kusaki as being an absolute fucking moron, and Vrungel reiterates his previous opinion from when he was talking about the Italian fascists that imperialism is bad. Still, it’s just… so much…

Oh, but that’s not all! Afterwards, Vrungel, Lom, and Fuchs met up with some Aboriginal Australians (whom the book refers to as being black because I don’t think people back then made a distinction), and lemme tell ya, the illustrations that go along with this section are grotesque, but to my slight relief it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. First, Vrungel meets an Aboriginal man dressed up very stereotypically in a museum, and they have a chat where the man states that he’s educated, but it’s hard for him to get good-paying work and so he dresses up in the part of a “savage”. Then, later that night, Vrungel sees Lom sitting at a campfire with some Aboriginals and assumes they’re cannibals, but it was a misunderstanding, Lom was just having a pleasant conversation with them.

So basically, I can see why these sections were taken out for the English translation, and they didn’t even do much for the plot anyway except to further solidify Kusaki as the villain, although to the book’s credit, it was probably fairly progressive-ish for the 30’s or whenever it was written, doing the bare minimum of saying that colonialism is bad. Those drawings absolutely didn’t help, they make things look so much worse.

Side note, reading this version of the book might have answered a question I had while reading the English translation. The original Russian version was first written in 1937 and finished in 1939, but the section with Banditto has Vrungel make an indirect reference to Benito Mussolini’s death by hanging which happened in the 40’s, which left me quite confused. I believe now that both the English translation and the Russian version I read today were a later edition of the book that changed some things, because the latter version also included an extra part at the very end going “Hey for this new edition Captain Vrungel wants me to include definitions for the nautical terminology for all you landlubbers”. Just thought I’d mention that.

[apprenticestanheight]

Serendipities Bookeeping- Silco x gn! reader

Okay!! This one is set in the early revolution days! Silco, Vander, and the reader are all 22-23. I also wrote this with a part two set a decade or two in advance on the brain but I’ve been busy this past week and today is the first time in a bit that I’ve had time to sit and write, so If you read this and want a part two, let me know and I’ll gladly write one out!

Fic type- fluff with some hurt because it’s silco

Warnings- none

“Serendipity,” Vander said, mostly to himself, as Silco pushed open the door. “The occurence of events in a beneficial way. I do suppose getting customers is beneficial, isn’t it?” 

“One would assume as much,” Silco said, nodding his agreement upon their entry. A black cat walked up to them, olive green eyes meeting his curiously for a moment before it ran its side across the bottom of Silcos legs and moved on, walking around Silco and going to Vander, who bent down to run a gentle hand across it’s fur. 

The bookshop was one that seemed endless, almost. Countless shelves, some going from floor to ceiling, all of them practically brimming with books, stories that had been written but had yet to be read. 

“Looks a bit cluttered,” Vander noted. “How cluttered spaces could possibly be good for business is something I’ll never understand.”

“One could assume that this kind of store would only be entered by a lover of books,” called a voice that Silco hadn’t heard before. “Book lovers such as myself, when it comes to shelving and book buying issues? Room is made where it is possible.”

“Buying less books is an option,” Vander argued. “Buying more shelves is another.”

You stepped out from behind one of the shelves, and though Silco would never admit it to anyone else, he almost felt his breath catch.  

“I have no idea who you are,” you said. “I don’t care to know anymore. If you are going to critique how my store is managed or how I choose to shelf my books, you may exit the same way in which you just entered.” You said as the black cat approached. You bent down to it, running a hand over its head before it plopped, settling at your feet.

“Your friend can stay, if he likes, on no conditions. Your condition, however, is that you must stop critiquing me when I’ve managed this place just fine. My cat may like you, but so far, I do not, and my opinion is the only one that really matters.”

Vander took a step back, a little intimidated by your bluntness. Silco took one forward, not confronting the unusual flip of his heart as he did. 

“I just remained unsure if your business was keeping true to it’s name,” Vander said. Silco could’ve laughed at the defense. Vander was being a dick and he knew it. The excuse was one that he was making to take it back.

“You’re right about the definition for serendipity, and so far, the statement holds true. You two are coming in a bit closer to close and on a day where downpour is to be expected by the time I’m closing up shop. Browse, if you must,” you said. You looked to Silco, gave him a grin.

“The handsome man with the beautiful eyes can stay,” you said, not breaking your gaze. “You could, if you hadn’t insulted the way that my shop looks or tried to tell me how to run and manage it, but such isn’t the case, is it?”

“You think Silco is handsome?” Vander asked.

“Quite so, indeed,” you said, glancing at Vander. “He’s a lot better looking than you, anyway. Maybe it’s just that big, burly men with egos as muscled as their arms isn’t really my thing.”

Silco smirked. “Well then I, at least, thank you for your efforts to be hospitable,” he said. “Vander won’t be coming in here again, as per your request, but it is lovely to know that my presence is welcome.”

“Silco is your name, right?” you asked. He nodded.

“Mind telling me yours?” 

“Y/N L/N,” you said. “Your name does sound familiar. Let me guess, you and your burly friend are somewhere within the ranks of the revolutionaries?” 

“Such is the truth,” Vander cut. “What, don’t tell us you’re anti revolution.”

“Quite the opposite,” you said, directing the words at Silco. Silco cast a glance at Vander, who, he noticed, looked like he’d be nursing a very bruised ego by the time they finally left. 

“Silco, I have plenty of books on combat near the back, if you’re interested. I keep them stocked in case anyone lacking that particular skill comes by. With the revolution getting a foot in the door, I’ve had plenty of sales in that department in recent. Vander, if that’s your friends name, is welcome to leave and disallow me the chance to further bruise his ego, which I will gladly continue doing.”

Vander met Silcos gaze before glancing at the door. Silco shrugged for a moment, shaking his head as he did. 

“See you in an hour then, mate,” Vander said. Silco nodded, grinning a bit as the cat that’d plopped at your feet stretched, rising up onto its legs and walking to Silco again.

“She’s a stray,” you said. “Came with the place. The collar she’s got says that her name is Salem. A few of the regulars have taken to calling her Lemy.” Silco bent, running a hand over the top of her head and along her back. She walked away after, seemingly uninterested.

“Don’t listen to Vanders critiques,” Silco said. “I read when I have the time, which doesn’t feel very often as of late, but your store is absolutely gorgeous. It does seem like the place that a habitual reader may choose to inhabit. I imagine that your business practices keep the name true enough. I should hope that this place continues to thrive in the event that Zaun falls. I should hope it continues to thrive when Zaun rises again.” 

You grinned. “I appreciate your compliments,” you said. “Browse for a while, if you’d like. I lied to your friend. The shop doesn’t close til eleven.” It was barely five o’clock. 

“And when, may I ask, does the shop open again?”

“Ten on weekdays. Noon on weekends. Why?”

“Would you fancy a breakfast date before going into work tomorrow, or perhaps a late dinner tonight?” 

You nodded. “I would like that very much, Silco.”

“I’m incredibly glad that you would, darling.” 

You turned, and Silco moved to one of the bookshelves to browse. As you both moved, you knew that being in one anothers presences was something you could very easily grow used to. 

[froggyrights]

Hello! Happy June! It's Pride and I have another question (8/30)

HiHi, today we are again diving into the evolution of another word: queer!

The word queer entered the English language around the 16th century, and initially meant "strange", "odd" or "eccentric". (This is a slightly unrelated sidenote; as someone whose dialect of English is Hiberno-English, the word queer is still very commonly used to still mean this, and has also evolved to the word "quare" which can be used in place of "really" or "very" to provide adverbial emphasis <- like if someone is "quare tall" they're so tall that you're kinda in a little disbelief about it. Anyway just thought this was a fun side note because I really had not realised this word was controversial for people until I was on the internet)

Anyway, onto the late 19th century, the word queer began to have the connotation of "sexual deviance", before then starting to be used specifically about the "sexual deviance" of "feminine men".

The first, or at least one of the first, recorded time that the word queer was used as a pejorative for gay was in a letter written by John Sholto Douglas, 9th Marquis of Queensberry, about his son's relationship with Oscar Wilde. This letter was read out in Wilde's trial in April 1895 (in which he was being tried for "gross indecency" or "homosexuality"), and in it Douglas refers to Wilde and other gay men at the time as "Snob Queers". It is believed that American newspapers picked up this phrase and began using it themselves, thus spreading the pejorative to the US's vocabulary.

"The Concise New Partridge Dictionary of Slang" (1937) defined the word queer as "Homosexual. Derogatory from the outside, not from within. US, 1914", which tells us both that by 1914 it was a common pejorative or insult for gay people, but also, that queer people were using the word to refer to themselves as well. Around this time, queer, fairy, trade and gay all signified distinct "categories" of homosexual men. Historian George Chauncey notes in his book ("Gay New York") that queer would've been the self-identifier of ""masculine"" gay men.

We can also assume that this is what was happening in the U.K. as well, as a letter held in the National Archives shows us (you can look up the letter in full, search the full name of the person and "My Dear Billy"). This letter was written by a man named Cyril Coeur de Leon to ‘My Dear Billy’ in 1934. Billy was the owner of "The Caravan Club", a ""disorderly house"" of ""male prostitutes"", and in it he writes "Just a note to say that I am very disappointed about you. I honestly thought you were queer, but different from the others, and I liked you very much […] I have only been queer since I came to London about two years ago, before then I knew nothing about it." This use of queer is arguably ahead of it's time, given that at this point queer was exclusively about gay men, whereas de Leon mentions he "still likes girls occasionally".

Over the years though, queer has evolved from the narrow definition of "gay man" to "gay men and lesbians" to "anyone not heterosexual" to "not heterosexual and/or not cisgender". And despite the fact that for the majority of the time that it has meant "gay" it has been used by the community, some people are still of the opinion that the word is "too offensive" to be used, but thankfully, this argument isn't as common as it was in the 90s and 00s, though still annoying persistent.

And as for my question, today I want to know firstly, if you use the word queer yourself? and secondly, what is your favourite word/way to refer to the queer community? (for example, "friend of dorothy" is funny to drop into conversation, and today I spoke to some who said they were "looking forward to meeting other *limp hand movement* at [pub name] tonight!")

Happy Pride 🌈 🎉

I LOVE the word queer me and the queer are married and in love holding hands into the sunset forever 😍🥰

it's by far my favorite word to use to refer to the community but some other more specific words I like are dyke and in dutch the word 'pot' which has been (and still is) used as a derogatory term for lesbians but started being reclaimed in the 70s. I think it's so awesome I love it

[dteamain]

Hello! Happy June! It's Pride and I have another question (8/30)

HiHi, today we are again diving into the evolution of another word: queer!

The word queer entered the English language around the 16th century, and initially meant "strange", "odd" or "eccentric". (This is a slightly unrelated sidenote; as someone whose dialect of English is Hiberno-English, the word queer is still very commonly used to still mean this, and has also evolved to the word "quare" which can be used in place of "really" or "very" to provide adverbial emphasis <- like if someone is "quare tall" they're so tall that you're kinda in a little disbelief about it. Anyway just thought this was a fun side note because I really had not realised this word was controversial for people until I was on the internet)

Anyway, onto the late 19th century, the word queer began to have the connotation of "sexual deviance", before then starting to be used specifically about the "sexual deviance" of "feminine men".

The first, or at least one of the first, recorded time that the word queer was used as a pejorative for gay was in a letter written by John Sholto Douglas, 9th Marquis of Queensberry, about his son's relationship with Oscar Wilde. This letter was read out in Wilde's trial in April 1895 (in which he was being tried for "gross indecency" or "homosexuality"), and in it Douglas refers to Wilde and other gay men at the time as "Snob Queers". It is believed that American newspapers picked up this phrase and began using it themselves, thus spreading the pejorative to the US's vocabulary.

"The Concise New Partridge Dictionary of Slang" (1937) defined the word queer as "Homosexual. Derogatory from the outside, not from within. US, 1914", which tells us both that by 1914 it was a common pejorative or insult for gay people, but also, that queer people were using the word to refer to themselves as well. Around this time, queer, fairy, trade and gay all signified distinct "categories" of homosexual men. Historian George Chauncey notes in his book ("Gay New York") that queer would've been the self-identifier of ""masculine"" gay men.

We can also assume that this is what was happening in the U.K. as well, as a letter held in the National Archives shows us (you can look up the letter in full, search the full name of the person and "My Dear Billy"). This letter was written by a man named Cyril Coeur de Leon to ‘My Dear Billy’ in 1934. Billy was the owner of "The Caravan Club", a ""disorderly house"" of ""male prostitutes"", and in it he writes "Just a note to say that I am very disappointed about you. I honestly thought you were queer, but different from the others, and I liked you very much […] I have only been queer since I came to London about two years ago, before then I knew nothing about it." This use of queer is arguably ahead of it's time, given that at this point queer was exclusively about gay men, whereas de Leon mentions he "still likes girls occasionally".

Over the years though, queer has evolved from the narrow definition of "gay man" to "gay men and lesbians" to "anyone not heterosexual" to "not heterosexual and/or not cisgender". And despite the fact that for the majority of the time that it has meant "gay" it has been used by the community, some people are still of the opinion that the word is "too offensive" to be used, but thankfully, this argument isn't as common as it was in the 90s and 00s, though still annoying persistent.

And as for my question, today I want to know firstly, if you use the word queer yourself? and secondly, what is your favourite word/way to refer to the queer community? (for example, "friend of dorothy" is funny to drop into conversation, and today I spoke to some who said they were "looking forward to meeting other *limp hand movement* at [pub name] tonight!")

Happy Pride 🌈 🎉

i do use queer on myself it is probably the most comfortable term for me 🫶

[asiogie]

Hello! Happy June! It's Pride and I have another question (8/30)

HiHi, today we are again diving into the evolution of another word: queer!

The word queer entered the English language around the 16th century, and initially meant "strange", "odd" or "eccentric". (This is a slightly unrelated sidenote; as someone whose dialect of English is Hiberno-English, the word queer is still very commonly used to still mean this, and has also evolved to the word "quare" which can be used in place of "really" or "very" to provide adverbial emphasis <- like if someone is "quare tall" they're so tall that you're kinda in a little disbelief about it. Anyway just thought this was a fun side note because I really had not realised this word was controversial for people until I was on the internet)

Anyway, onto the late 19th century, the word queer began to have the connotation of "sexual deviance", before then starting to be used specifically about the "sexual deviance" of "feminine men".

The first, or at least one of the first, recorded time that the word queer was used as a pejorative for gay was in a letter written by John Sholto Douglas, 9th Marquis of Queensberry, about his son's relationship with Oscar Wilde. This letter was read out in Wilde's trial in April 1895 (in which he was being tried for "gross indecency" or "homosexuality"), and in it Douglas refers to Wilde and other gay men at the time as "Snob Queers". It is believed that American newspapers picked up this phrase and began using it themselves, thus spreading the pejorative to the US's vocabulary.

"The Concise New Partridge Dictionary of Slang" (1937) defined the word queer as "Homosexual. Derogatory from the outside, not from within. US, 1914", which tells us both that by 1914 it was a common pejorative or insult for gay people, but also, that queer people were using the word to refer to themselves as well. Around this time, queer, fairy, trade and gay all signified distinct "categories" of homosexual men. Historian George Chauncey notes in his book ("Gay New York") that queer would've been the self-identifier of ""masculine"" gay men.

We can also assume that this is what was happening in the U.K. as well, as a letter held in the National Archives shows us (you can look up the letter in full, search the full name of the person and "My Dear Billy"). This letter was written by a man named Cyril Coeur de Leon to ‘My Dear Billy’ in 1934. Billy was the owner of "The Caravan Club", a ""disorderly house"" of ""male prostitutes"", and in it he writes "Just a note to say that I am very disappointed about you. I honestly thought you were queer, but different from the others, and I liked you very much […] I have only been queer since I came to London about two years ago, before then I knew nothing about it." This use of queer is arguably ahead of it's time, given that at this point queer was exclusively about gay men, whereas de Leon mentions he "still likes girls occasionally".

Over the years though, queer has evolved from the narrow definition of "gay man" to "gay men and lesbians" to "anyone not heterosexual" to "not heterosexual and/or not cisgender". And despite the fact that for the majority of the time that it has meant "gay" it has been used by the community, some people are still of the opinion that the word is "too offensive" to be used, but thankfully, this argument isn't as common as it was in the 90s and 00s, though still annoying persistent.

And as for my question, today I want to know firstly, if you use the word queer yourself? and secondly, what is your favourite word/way to refer to the queer community? (for example, "friend of dorothy" is funny to drop into conversation, and today I spoke to some who said they were "looking forward to meeting other *limp hand movement* at [pub name] tonight!")

Happy Pride 🌈 🎉

ok i have been neglecting pride anon i am so sorry lets speedrun these

i use the word queer! in fact its my favourite way to refer to myself

and i love a good limp wrist movement as well

[koraesrambles]

The Watchmen

The Great Reading Adventure Part 3!

It's time for the Watchmen, guys and hooooooooboy did I have a lot of expectations going into this one. Buckle up!

The Writing

I took notes the entire time I was reading this. It's only 12 issues long, so I decided to read it in its entirety.

I didn't like the first little bit. Don't get me wrong, I could see the crumbs in there, and I could see why people were drawn to it, but as far as gripping premise that pulls you in, it was a little lackluster to me. There were interesting moments in the beginning, but I didn't really become invested until Issue 9, which is 3/4 of the way through the story.

That said, once these guys gripped me, they GRIPPED ME. Issue 9 was beautiful, by far my favorite issue of the whole thing.

Part of the reasons things were confusing to me was because all of the "good guys" kept being compared to far right wing extremists and Nazis. Like, Rorschach is definitely supposed to become cooler and cooler throughout the books, and be kind of the moral backbone in a lot of ways. But like . . . I dunno. Hard to sympathize with someone who repeatedly got called a Nazi and blamed the dedregation of society on jews and communists. Like, I get it was the 80s, but the people in universe who defended him also defended the KKK. I just . . .I'm not down with that. I can't make myself think he's the good guy.

However, I had no idea that the famous quote "None of you understand. I'm not locked in here with you, you're locked in here with me." Came from the Watchmen. That moment . . . man. It gave me absolute chills. It was excellently built up to and brilliantly executed. I loved it. If I EVER have a moment in my writing career where I hit people as hard as that, I'll have more than achieved my dreams.

I also think that they pretty much nailed the ending. At least the atmosphere and feeling that I think they were going for. That horrible, sick feeling that the day is saved but actually everything is ruined and all it'll take is another day for everything to have been for nothing. It was a powerful ending, I liked it a lot.

That said, I did not like Adrian's solution. Maybe it's because I've lived through Covid, maybe because it's been 40 years since this was written and some tropes have been done more than others, but pretending an alien threat is coming in order to unite the world just . . . I dunno. It didn't hit for me. I didn't feel compelled by it. I get the reasons he did it, I understand what the writer was going for, I even can acknowledge that it does the job. But it felt incredibly lackluster to me, and not worthy of the really fun villain they had made to execute it.

The Art

The art is better than anything I am currently capable of, and I want to acknowledge that first, but also admit I didn't love it. It's ugly, which of course was by design. This is not a pretty story, it's not meant to give you warm and fuzzies. It also very much is in the style of many other comics I've seen from the 80s, which is just one I'm not as fond of. It did the job, but isn't something I'll be combing over looking for ways to emulate it.

The way the panels were laid out was also interesting to me. It was very repetative, just multiple square panels in a row. I imagine that this is also a result of being from the 80s, and as comics evolved so did the many different layouts, but it was kind of comforting to me as well. If it serves the story best to just have four panels in a row exactly the same size and shape to tell your story, by all means do it. I didn't even notice anymore once the story picked up for me.

As far as things I can learn from the art? Perspectives and the use sof perspectives were MASTERFULLY done here. Both with zooming in on specific details or zooming out. How it was used for emphasis. How it made you feel sick when something horrible was being said and something as mundane as the side of a coffee pot was being shown. It was truely masterful. It also helped make long conversations more interesting.

The Characters

This is probably where I have the most thoughts. The characters in this story are INTERESTING, full caps definitely needed. I mentioned in the writing section that it was kind of hard to root for the main characters when they were being compared to Nazis all the time. But over time they did grow to, at the very least, compel me, even if I still didn't "like" them.

My favorite character probably ended up being Laurie, who out of all of them seems to be the least crappy person. Not that she wasn't crappy, but she was at least trying, you know? I also liked her as Jon's tether to humanity. I feel like she was the audience surrogate in a lot of ways.

Jon was extremely fun, but it creeps me out that humans are like ants to him and he was having sex with them? I dunno, maybe it's the ace in me, but I don't understand when things like that happen. I love that he killed Rorschach at the end, I think that was absolutely the right call. I like how they showed us who he was and how he thought, all compelling and interesting.

Rorschach himself could be very cool one minute and a scum bag the next. He's an excellent character, but I'm glad he died. I think I'm supposed to be glad though. I also think he's the most clever of any of the characters. Not the smartest, but the most clever. He dies, but he's the only one who really wins in the end.

Dan was . . . he was fine. He felt like a knock-off batman and was by far the least interesting of all the characters to me personally. He was a good foil for Rorschach AND Laurie. He didn't compel me much though. That said, there was absolutely a lingering hand holding thing between him and Rorschach where i was like . . . "Are they implying something? what's happening here?"

This was after they revealed that two of the old superheroes were gay and a bunch of weird examples of homosexual couples and I just . . . I'm not imagining things here, am I? I thought things were going to go in a very different direction for a second.

Adrian as a character was utterly uninteresting until he was hypercompetant and defeated all of the "good guys" saving the world by essentially doing a really big trolley problem (greater good, and all that.) That said, nothing is sexier than a competant villain. I was on his side by the end, honestly.

The other background characters were all fairly well fleshed out and interesting. A lot of the women ended up being a little 2 dimensional, but every once in a while they'd surprise me. Almost everyone felt like a horrible person, or like they were just waiting to become a horrible person. They were all good characters even if they weren't good people.

Final Thoughts

I could write pages upon pages of analysis on this comic run. Which would probably be me just repeating what people much cooler and smarter than me have already said. I didn't get into the ways it's aged poorly or the homophobia littered throughout it. But, even with flaws, it was absolutely worth the read, if only to understand how it influenced the rest of the comic world. I understand other comics better now because I've read this one.

Concrete things I learned to apply to my own work:

Take advantage of differing perspectives, both to emphasize important background details and as a way to keep the audience engaged during long dialgoue.

If you need to put a few square panels in a row to get your point across, do it. Why fix what ain't broke?

Your characters don't necessarily have to be likeable to be compelling. You can make terrible people still worth reading about.

[woofdrm]

Hello! Happy June! It's Pride and I have another question (8/30)

HiHi, today we are again diving into the evolution of another word: queer!

The word queer entered the English language around the 16th century, and initially meant "strange", "odd" or "eccentric". (This is a slightly unrelated sidenote; as someone whose dialect of English is Hiberno-English, the word queer is still very commonly used to still mean this, and has also evolved to the word "quare" which can be used in place of "really" or "very" to provide adverbial emphasis <- like if someone is "quare tall" they're so tall that you're kinda in a little disbelief about it. Anyway just thought this was a fun side note because I really had not realised this word was controversial for people until I was on the internet)

Anyway, onto the late 19th century, the word queer began to have the connotation of "sexual deviance", before then starting to be used specifically about the "sexual deviance" of "feminine men".

The first, or at least one of the first, recorded time that the word queer was used as a pejorative for gay was in a letter written by John Sholto Douglas, 9th Marquis of Queensberry, about his son's relationship with Oscar Wilde. This letter was read out in Wilde's trial in April 1895 (in which he was being tried for "gross indecency" or "homosexuality"), and in it Douglas refers to Wilde and other gay men at the time as "Snob Queers". It is believed that American newspapers picked up this phrase and began using it themselves, thus spreading the pejorative to the US's vocabulary.

"The Concise New Partridge Dictionary of Slang" (1937) defined the word queer as "Homosexual. Derogatory from the outside, not from within. US, 1914", which tells us both that by 1914 it was a common pejorative or insult for gay people, but also, that queer people were using the word to refer to themselves as well. Around this time, queer, fairy, trade and gay all signified distinct "categories" of homosexual men. Historian George Chauncey notes in his book ("Gay New York") that queer would've been the self-identifier of ""masculine"" gay men.

We can also assume that this is what was happening in the U.K. as well, as a letter held in the National Archives shows us (you can look up the letter in full, search the full name of the person and "My Dear Billy"). This letter was written by a man named Cyril Coeur de Leon to ‘My Dear Billy’ in 1934. Billy was the owner of "The Caravan Club", a ""disorderly house"" of ""male prostitutes"", and in it he writes "Just a note to say that I am very disappointed about you. I honestly thought you were queer, but different from the others, and I liked you very much […] I have only been queer since I came to London about two years ago, before then I knew nothing about it." This use of queer is arguably ahead of it's time, given that at this point queer was exclusively about gay men, whereas de Leon mentions he "still likes girls occasionally".

Over the years though, queer has evolved from the narrow definition of "gay man" to "gay men and lesbians" to "anyone not heterosexual" to "not heterosexual and/or not cisgender". And despite the fact that for the majority of the time that it has meant "gay" it has been used by the community, some people are still of the opinion that the word is "too offensive" to be used, but thankfully, this argument isn't as common as it was in the 90s and 00s, though still annoying persistent.

And as for my question, today I want to know firstly, if you use the word queer yourself? and secondly, what is your favourite word/way to refer to the queer community? (for example, "friend of dorothy" is funny to drop into conversation, and today I spoke to some who said they were "looking forward to meeting other *limp hand movement* at [pub name] tonight!")

Happy Pride 🌈 🎉

I love the word queer for its expansiveness. I much prefer it to gay, which I and pretty much everyone in my life still associates specifically with men who exclusively like men. Queer feels much more broad and inclusive. Honestly, it's my favorite word for the queer community lol. I'm a scholar at heart.

[amethystcove]

Hello! Happy June! It's Pride and I have another question (8/30)

HiHi, today we are again diving into the evolution of another word: queer!

The word queer entered the English language around the 16th century, and initially meant "strange", "odd" or "eccentric". (This is a slightly unrelated sidenote; as someone whose dialect of English is Hiberno-English, the word queer is still very commonly used to still mean this, and has also evolved to the word "quare" which can be used in place of "really" or "very" to provide adverbial emphasis <- like if someone is "quare tall" they're so tall that you're kinda in a little disbelief about it. Anyway just thought this was a fun side note because I really had not realised this word was controversial for people until I was on the internet)

Anyway, onto the late 19th century, the word queer began to have the connotation of "sexual deviance", before then starting to be used specifically about the "sexual deviance" of "feminine men".

The first, or at least one of the first, recorded time that the word queer was used as a pejorative for gay was in a letter written by John Sholto Douglas, 9th Marquis of Queensberry, about his son's relationship with Oscar Wilde. This letter was read out in Wilde's trial in April 1895 (in which he was being tried for "gross indecency" or "homosexuality"), and in it Douglas refers to Wilde and other gay men at the time as "Snob Queers". It is believed that American newspapers picked up this phrase and began using it themselves, thus spreading the pejorative to the US's vocabulary.

"The Concise New Partridge Dictionary of Slang" (1937) defined the word queer as "Homosexual. Derogatory from the outside, not from within. US, 1914", which tells us both that by 1914 it was a common pejorative or insult for gay people, but also, that queer people were using the word to refer to themselves as well. Around this time, queer, fairy, trade and gay all signified distinct "categories" of homosexual men. Historian George Chauncey notes in his book ("Gay New York") that queer would've been the self-identifier of ""masculine"" gay men.

We can also assume that this is what was happening in the U.K. as well, as a letter held in the National Archives shows us (you can look up the letter in full, search the full name of the person and "My Dear Billy"). This letter was written by a man named Cyril Coeur de Leon to ‘My Dear Billy’ in 1934. Billy was the owner of "The Caravan Club", a ""disorderly house"" of ""male prostitutes"", and in it he writes "Just a note to say that I am very disappointed about you. I honestly thought you were queer, but different from the others, and I liked you very much […] I have only been queer since I came to London about two years ago, before then I knew nothing about it." This use of queer is arguably ahead of it's time, given that at this point queer was exclusively about gay men, whereas de Leon mentions he "still likes girls occasionally".

Over the years though, queer has evolved from the narrow definition of "gay man" to "gay men and lesbians" to "anyone not heterosexual" to "not heterosexual and/or not cisgender". And despite the fact that for the majority of the time that it has meant "gay" it has been used by the community, some people are still of the opinion that the word is "too offensive" to be used, but thankfully, this argument isn't as common as it was in the 90s and 00s, though still annoying persistent.

And as for my question, today I want to know firstly, if you use the word queer yourself? and secondly, what is your favourite word/way to refer to the queer community? (for example, "friend of dorothy" is funny to drop into conversation, and today I spoke to some who said they were "looking forward to meeting other *limp hand movement* at [pub name] tonight!")

Happy Pride 🌈 🎉

i do use 'queer' to describe myself! i think i always kind of known it as some kind of umbrella term or another way to refer to "lgbt+ community," but actually using it for myself is great because it says a lot about me but also nothing too particular :)

also, fun fact when i changed my art username to masqueraves, i considered masqueeraves! but it felt kind of hodgepodge, difficult to pronounce, and straying from my original idea, so the 'quer' part remains :>

HELP i posted without adding my second answer. anyways i love the linp wrist movement haha, it's funny when the angle is slightly off but you Understand what they mean

[dodgebolts]

Hello! Happy June! It's Pride and I have another question (8/30)

HiHi, today we are again diving into the evolution of another word: queer!

The word queer entered the English language around the 16th century, and initially meant "strange", "odd" or "eccentric". (This is a slightly unrelated sidenote; as someone whose dialect of English is Hiberno-English, the word queer is still very commonly used to still mean this, and has also evolved to the word "quare" which can be used in place of "really" or "very" to provide adverbial emphasis <- like if someone is "quare tall" they're so tall that you're kinda in a little disbelief about it. Anyway just thought this was a fun side note because I really had not realised this word was controversial for people until I was on the internet)

Anyway, onto the late 19th century, the word queer began to have the connotation of "sexual deviance", before then starting to be used specifically about the "sexual deviance" of "feminine men".

The first, or at least one of the first, recorded time that the word queer was used as a pejorative for gay was in a letter written by John Sholto Douglas, 9th Marquis of Queensberry, about his son's relationship with Oscar Wilde. This letter was read out in Wilde's trial in April 1895 (in which he was being tried for "gross indecency" or "homosexuality"), and in it Douglas refers to Wilde and other gay men at the time as "Snob Queers". It is believed that American newspapers picked up this phrase and began using it themselves, thus spreading the pejorative to the US's vocabulary.

"The Concise New Partridge Dictionary of Slang" (1937) defined the word queer as "Homosexual. Derogatory from the outside, not from within. US, 1914", which tells us both that by 1914 it was a common pejorative or insult for gay people, but also, that queer people were using the word to refer to themselves as well. Around this time, queer, fairy, trade and gay all signified distinct "categories" of homosexual men. Historian George Chauncey notes in his book ("Gay New York") that queer would've been the self-identifier of ""masculine"" gay men.

We can also assume that this is what was happening in the U.K. as well, as a letter held in the National Archives shows us (you can look up the letter in full, search the full name of the person and "My Dear Billy"). This letter was written by a man named Cyril Coeur de Leon to ‘My Dear Billy’ in 1934. Billy was the owner of "The Caravan Club", a ""disorderly house"" of ""male prostitutes"", and in it he writes "Just a note to say that I am very disappointed about you. I honestly thought you were queer, but different from the others, and I liked you very much […] I have only been queer since I came to London about two years ago, before then I knew nothing about it." This use of queer is arguably ahead of it's time, given that at this point queer was exclusively about gay men, whereas de Leon mentions he "still likes girls occasionally".

Over the years though, queer has evolved from the narrow definition of "gay man" to "gay men and lesbians" to "anyone not heterosexual" to "not heterosexual and/or not cisgender". And despite the fact that for the majority of the time that it has meant "gay" it has been used by the community, some people are still of the opinion that the word is "too offensive" to be used, but thankfully, this argument isn't as common as it was in the 90s and 00s, though still annoying persistent.

And as for my question, today I want to know firstly, if you use the word queer yourself? and secondly, what is your favourite word/way to refer to the queer community? (for example, "friend of dorothy" is funny to drop into conversation, and today I spoke to some who said they were "looking forward to meeting other *limp hand movement* at [pub name] tonight!")

Happy Pride 🌈 🎉

AAA I'm so sorry for taking so long on these I've barely been logged in at all the past couple of days 😭 I personally don't use it to describe myself but when I'm chatting about the topic I do tend to use it as an umbrella term and to generally refer to the LGBTQ+ community, or when talking about specific people, as a nonspecific label of the "vaguely gestures" variety like my roommate was last year :]

Also yeah I do tend to use the limp hand movement a lot!! I had a lot of really cool discussions with my roommate last year about queerness esp since they're way more knowledgeable in queer theory than I can ever hope to be and Well that's what we used to talk about stuff sometimes lhsfdgkjs