#but I also love their frienship in general so it's okay if it stays a friendship

[will80sbyers]

Mickey with bisexual light behind him in episode 5 we love to see it

[witchofrvnswood]

awwp rant pt. 2: the characters!

oh boy we’re finally back with part 2! 

so in part 1, i discussed plot points that i found troubling and nonsensical. this time, i’m talking about the characters and how they each pissed me off <3

note: am only doing the ones i have beef with, everyone else is cool

let’s start with sophie:

sophie

i’ll be honest, i’ve been conflicted on her character in this book for quite some time. but i think i understand my opinion on her in book 2 much better now that i’ve really thought about it. 

so this is the book where she’s probably at her most vulnerable (book 3 could be a contender too). she just lost her mind, killed many people, and is trying so hard to prove that she is good and deny everything that she had done the previous year. we also see why she behaves the way she does, with losing her mother at a young age and blaming her father for neglecting them. we understand why she goes so far to obtain love and why she ranks true love above everything else.

but her methods with dealing with this is toxic. she sees agatha as a tool for a happy ending, and it seems to come more out of desperation to belong with someone, then wanting agatha herself, as she easily dropped her for rafal and then tedros in book three. she does whatever she can to ensure agatha chooses her and only her much like tedros does in this book.

she sneaks out and follows agatha, makes agatha believe tedros tried to hurt her, comforted her and claimed she had “warned agatha” but also acted super forgiving as if agatha was the one who was in the wrong for doubting her and when the truth comes out, pins it all on agatha for trying to choose someone besides. her. now, agatha is not completely in the right in this situation, but what sophie does is so manipulative and cunning. without knowing her backstory and sympathizing with her, she would easily be soon as a cruel and toxic person.

her time as filip was very humbling for her and she realized what she did was completely wrong and she begans to sympathize with tedros and realize maybe he isn’t the villain of the story like she painted him to be. of course, this goes a bit far and she finds herself attracted to him.... which..... did not need to happen considering how toxic their relationship was in book 1.

at the end, she chose rafal out of desperation to be loved, showing she still hasn’t changed and ended up staying with him as he supposedly was the only person in the world who still loved her. (wrong very wrong he’s awful but we’ll get to that later-)

tedros

bro. broooooo. when i tell you i wanted to throw the darn book when i read his scenes in the first half of the book-

when dovey was explaining tedros’ actions after sophie and agatha left, i could not believe it, i thought she had to be joking because no way does an individual overreact to THAT point.

he literally wanted to murder sophie as revenge for taking agatha away from him?? what?? is he mentally okay? i understand seeing her as a barrier between them because, yeah, he’s always been insecure cause his dad’s best friend stole his mom away from him so that must’ve hit a nerve, but agatha willingly went with sophie. why does he need to hurt sophie over this? it’s up to agatha who she chooses, not sophie. and she chose him! she told him right to his face that she chose him and he’s still like “no we have to kill sophie first-” sir-

not to mention how generally messed up this message is? tedros claims that you can’t be in a relationship and have friends at the same time. what?? why is this in the book? why is this even a theme? of course you should be able to have friends and have a relationship, when did that suddenly become impossible?

 “I let her live last time and she took you! I can’t make the same mistake, Agatha. I can’t lose you again!” (Chapter 12). this is basically tedros trying to cut off agatha’s friendship because he knows she’s close with sophie and is worried she’ll choose her over him and he sees his only solution to this to be killing sophie. honestly, if i were agatha, i would be fucking terrified of him, like when i was reading it i was thinking “run from this relationship please-”

which sucks because i’m a huge tagatha fan but they were undeniably toxic in this book for me.

in the second half though, that’s when i started feeling bad for him because he genuinely thought he got betrayed by agatha too and ugh that killed me bc after her, he had no hope for happiness left and that’s why he turned to revenge, but the moment he freed the teachers, he got locked up, starved, beaten, and tortured which is ??

i wouldn’t wish that on anyone (except aric lawl) and god he did not deserve that i felt so horrible for him. everyone turned against him, the entire school hated him, he fully believed his true love betrayed him, and he got beaten by aric every single night. as much as i despised him before this point, he did not deserve any of that and i’m so glad filip came when he? she? did because yeah it’s tophie all over again (yikes) but he REALLY needed a friend then and i’m so happy he got one.

ONLY TO GET BETRAYED BY HIM AGAIN RIP. sorry that was not needed but ahem

i was so so happy when he realized agatha never lied and ended up going home with her, as much as i hated the ending, i was happy for him and only him, boy’s been through too much.

but overall, i’d say i dislike him as a character in this book but i also felt super bad for him?? book 2 is so complicated y’all i have so many mixed feelings about everyone in this book.

agatha

okay. so. i keep going back and forth between being fucking annoyed at her and feeling bad for her which i feel is an understandable summary of how she is in this book.

her being scared of sophie - i completely understand that. i’d be surprised if she wasn’t. this is a girl who tried to kill her, tore her down, and went batshit crazy just nine months ago and is now suddenly calm but there’s still a bad vibe to her? and she chose her over someone who finally treated her well, finally saw her as an equal, and showed her that she doesn’t have to bear so much burden just to be loved back.

but i honestly felt kind of annoyed at how she automatically, no hesitation wanted to stay with tedros forever and never look back. um. honey. let’s break this down. we’re talking about a boy she has had no contact with for nine months, wasn’t even in a solid relationship with before she left, and said boy probably has beef with her for leaving him in the first place. and she feels completely fine with sneaking into his school and telling him she wants to be with him forever the SAME day she got back.

what??? is??? this???

this is the same agatha who berated sophie for trying to get with tedros the same day she met him without even knowing him well, right? the same agatha who you’d expect to be smart and think through emotional decisions like these, right? did they replace her personality what???

i get the coven pushed her to meet him immediately but this was just so poorly planned out and so tactless i can’t help but judge her sorry hun.

after that she makes herself believe sophie is good and perfect and maybe this is just her lying to herself because she’s mad at herself for choosing tedros but reading about her talking about how sophie is so amazing and perfect and loves her more than anything compared to being ready to bolt at the sight of her was just so fake. can we talk about how fake their friendship in this book? how fake it is in general? i think wbk.

at the end she finds out sophie lied despite the obvious clues (the scim suit (WHY WOULD BEATRIX USE IT), the spirick marks on sophie’s wrist yada yada yada) and she dumps her ass for tedros and decides they’re staying together forever despite barely knowing him as a person not to mention he just tried to kill her um-

(where is the logic in this book please help me i can’t seem to find it-)

the coven

i’ll be honest: they annoyed the HELL out of me in this book. well, specifically anadil and hester. they pressured agatha to choose tedros and go to him on the first day she got back (BAD PLAN) all so they could return to normal,,, which i guess isn’t out of character for them to do anything to get what they want but it really wasn’t their business? or at least they had no right to be as pushy as they were.

not to mention how HORRIBLE they were to dot. oh my god. the way they treated her in this book was disgusting and the lowest point in their friendship. at first i passed it off as them being hurt that dot replaced them and were lashing out because they had no better way to deal with their problems, which is true but also?? let’s not forget they BULLIED dot so bad in their first year and even kicked her out and replaced her with sophie and as far as we know, they never apologized for it. can we really blame dot for wanting new and kinder friends?

but even then they persisted to isolate her from others, shut down her book club which she used to make friends, and ended up forcing herself to gain weight if she wanted to keep their friendship. y’all i don��t even think anyone realizes how toxic the coven can be at times, the books spend a lot of time solidifying their frienship to the point that it ignores how awful it was at first. and not to mention dot is used to this treatment as she’s been physically and emotionally abused by her father, so as much as she dislikes their treatment of her, she still sees them as her friends and she will do anything to keep them.

i’m glad dot has learned to stand up for herself and gave it back to hester in tlea but god was her and anadil’s treatment of her sickiening.

professor dovey

i did not like her scene in the beginning of this book. she was awful to agatha and sophie and kept tossing blame for how the woods changed on them and yelling at agatha for not choosing tedros - um, she had a split second to decide and her friend literally died and came back to life a minute ago, how was she expected to leave her?

i dunno the way she berated them really got on my nerves because they’re just 15 year olds? they didn’t ask for their story to be told or for their personal relationships to affect the entire world? yes, if it had to be pointed towards anyone, it’s them, but instead of comforting them and trying to help them find a way to fix this, she goes all pointing fingers and straight up saying it would be easier if sophie was dead (not gonna lie i had a good giggle when i read this part but if you think about, that’s actually really sickening).

i’ll be honest, i love professor dovey as a character but she just seemed so cruel in book 2 i mean i get she was super frustrated but these children are confused and distraught enough already? she’s their teacher, she’s supposed to look after them but instead she just insulted them and stressed them out.

as for lady lesso, yes she did the same, but that was pretty in character for her. yes, it was wrong of her, but idk it’s something you would expect from her and she’s known to be the type to be tough on her students, while dovey is just not like that at all. and also, dovey was WAY more mean and short-tempered in this mean, i have to say.

evelyn sader

she was... an interesting villain. super cunning super devious i really admired her except for her doing all of this toxic feminism bullshit (which was honestly already bad enough!) for rafal,  A MAN. WHAT. how does that make ANY sense?

evelyn: #kam2020 make them boys your slaves we got this in the bag girls

also evelyn: omg rafal senpai notice me uwu i did all of this for you *gestures towards girls annihilating boys*

anyways her death was um... shocking. rip. or maybe not.

aric

do- do i have to go into this one? killing yara, torturing tedros, being misogynistic, honestly pick one, i just don’t have the energy to rip him apart for the thousandth time.

[reinosaurs]

Encounter - Part 3 (A KoiTsudu Fanfic)

*drum roll* Here's the last part! (ﾉﾟ0ﾟ)ﾉ~

...continuation.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

This is not what she planned to happen.

Ayumi stood frozen at her bed as she stared down at Nanase. When she saw the blood coming from her back and trickled a steady stream from her mouth, she frantically ran and kneeled towards her.

These amount of blood...

No...

What have I just done?!

"N-Nanase-chan!"

She was trembling. Her mind was going blank. She doesn't know what to do!

She stood up from the ground and immediately press the emergecy button near her bed. She frantically pushed the button again and again. "H-Help... Please, help!!!"

Nanase tried to breath against the pain but the more she breath the more it hurts. She wanted to scream but she was too weak. Tears started to fall from her eyes.

"Why aren't anyone coming?!" Ayumi shouted out loud and began to punch the emergency button. She remembered her conversation with Kairi and it almost made her weak.

"Nanase is special to me. She's important that I'm willing to do everything for her. I... I cannot afford to lose her."

Ayumi shook her head rapidly as she stared at Nanase in horror.

Meanwhile, Nanase vision started to blurr. She tried moving her body but the pain worsened. It's excruciatingly painful, she almost wanted to throw up.

Ayumi drop her knees beside Nanase. "Nanase-chan... please..." She burst out crying as she clutched her hair tight. "Kairi... Kairi! Help!"

She frantically stood up and almost stumbled as she ran towards the door. "Help! Please! Someone!"

Ayumi sobbed harder as she dropped her trembling knees on the ground in the middle of the hallway. "Kairi!"

•

It was ten in the morning and Tendo felt like he had been working all day. His muscles are aching so bad. His head was also throbbing wild and his arms felt so stiff.

He had been busier than ever since Ayumi was admitted.

Ayumi... it has been years since they see each other. She's still the same. Her antics, her gestured... even the way she talks. He must admit, he really did miss her. Seeing her made him remember all the precious memories from their young and innocent days.

But, this morning, Ayumi called him and unexpectedly confessed her feelings for him.

Tendo sighed.

He didn't expect that at all. But if you were to think those dark times when they both had each other, there is a big possibility that she became so fond of him.

Ayumi is a lonely person but an independent and brave one. He was impressed.

But he cannot return her feelings. She was special to him and is also one of the most important person in his life but he could only give a gift of undending frienship.

"I know... I know right from the start the it is impossble for you to see me as a woman. I'm only jist a friend to you. I expected that. But, hearing it from you personally hurts more than I've imagined."

"I saw you fell down when Minori-san passed away. You looked so lost like you don't have any reasons ti live anymore. You looked like you died with her. And I don't want that. I want ti make you happy again! I worked hard, took care of myself more just to see you. Kairi, I don't care if my illness wont be cured. I just want to be with you!"

Hearing those lines from her made him happy and sad at the same time. Why would she waste her life for someone like him?

Made him... happy?

"Sensei, I will make you smile!"

He unconciously grinned. When it comes to happiness, that girl always popped into his mind.

Ayumi... I'm sorry. But, I'm happier more than ever.

He should've explained it more to her. And that would be for later..

Tendo stopped on his spot when he saw the red alarm form the monitor near the clock. Ayumi's name was highlighted and the word "emergency" is flashing.

Within just a second, Kairi ran fast as he could. People from the hallways gave way as he ran like a mad man.

"Tendo-sensei!" Sakai called out to him.

"Where's Nanase?"

"I can't find her, Sensei. I don't know where she went."

"Very well, replace her for awhile. VIP room number 14. Emergency. Quick!"

"Hai!"

They frantically ran towards the VIP rooms. Tendo's mind is a chaos. What could've happened? I told her to take everything easy! Was she affected by it so much? If something happens to Ayumi, he would never forgive himself. He couldn't lose another loved one.

"Kairi!"

Tendo stopped walking when he saw Ayumi on the floor. She was crying and sobbing hard. He walk faster towards her and noticed her bloodied hands.

"Ayumi... what happened?!" He kneeled infront of her

"I-I'm sorry! It was--I didn't mean it, I just--that was an accident! I'm so sorry! I'm sorry, Kairi!"

"What are you talking about---"

"Sakura-san!"

Tendo froze from his spot when he heard Sakai inside the room.

Ayumi shook his frozen shoulders. "Kairi! It's Nanase-chan! She needs help!"

Tendo ran inside the room, almost throwing the expensive door from its hinges. He can feel the loud pounding on his chest. When he saw Nanase lying on the ground, his eyes widened.

Nanase!

"Sakura-san? Sakura-san? Can you hear me? Sakura-san?" Sakai tried her best to be calm but she can't stop her trembling hands.

Tendo ran and dropped his knees on the ground. Fear and dread filled him when he saw the amount of blood pooling from her back.

"Nanase.. Nanase! Open your eyes!"

Sakai ran outside to get a stretcher as Tendo examined her wounds. She coughed out blood. The shattered pieces of vase obviously penetrated her flesh and if things are worse, this could damage her lungs.

Nanase groaned in pain.

"Nanase? Can you hear me?"

"S-Sensei..."

"Don't talk. Try not to sleep." He gripped her hand. "Stay with me, okay?"

Sakai came back with the other nurses. They quickly but gently lift Nanase from the ground and placed her on the stretcher with her back facing the ceiling. A huge piece of shattered vase was deeply embbeded in her back as her blood continued to flow.

In a flash, they reached the emergency room and started to work.

"Tendo-sensei, her blood pressure is decreasing."

"She's loosing too much blood "

"Sakura-san, can you hear me? Sakura-san?"

They injected her with anestesia and began removing the sharp piece of vase. The blood flows from her wound like a river and Tendo pressed both of his palms on her wound to apply pressure.

Nanase's body slackened and fell unconscious.

•

Ayumi's tears were endless. She stared at the window beside her bed. It has been hours and there isn't a single news about Nanase's condition. The hospital is unusually quiet and she doesn't like it. She can't sleep and she doesn't feel like eating at all.

Please... let her be okay....

The door suddenly opened and she jolted from her bed. When she saw Tendo walking towards her, another batch if tears streamed down her face.

Tendo sat beside her and gently smiled. She can tell how tired those eyes as he hid it with that smile. "How are you? You're not hurt, aren't you? Did you already eat?"

She almost burst into tears.

"Kairi... I'm so sorry!" She buried her face in her palms. "I accidentally pushed her on the floor! Insaw how the shattered vase pierced her skin. I didn't mean it! I was just planning to talk to her!" She sobbed loudy.

"She was so kind. Her words affect me so much but I... I... I'm so stupid! I can't control my emotions at all! This is all my fault!"

Tendo engulfed the girl into his arms.

"I'm so sorry!"

"Ayumi," He patted her back. "Nanase is on a stable conditon now. She lost too much blood and her body is still weak. But if she could talk to you right now, she wouldn't like the way you blame yourself." He pulled away from the hug and pat her head. "I'm not blaming you. I know you wouldn't do such things. I know you more than anyone."

"She's my warrior. She will fight this." Tendo smiled.

Ayumi stared at Tendo's smilling face.

This expression...

She never saw this expression from him.

Full of hope... happiness... love...

Ah. That's right. This is...

Ayumi smiled and wiped her tears away. "Kairi, I must say I was really hurt when you rejected me. I want to be the one who will make you happy again. But now, I think..." She pat Tendo's head. "I realized... I'm not fated to do that."

Seeing that smile. That smile. She can't explain it but it has a different kind of brightness.

Nanase-chan... thank you.

•

"What? She left already?!"

Tendo nodded. "Yes and can you please calm down? The stitches will reopen again. Do you know how many bags of blood was transfered to you?"

Nanase pouted. "But I wasn't finish talking to her!"

Tendo sighed and moved towards her bed. He sat beside her and kissed her forehead. "I know, but she's okay. Trust me, before she left the hospital, I made eveything clear. She understood."

Leaning closer to him, Nanase dropped her head on his shoulder. "How about her condition?"

Tendo kissed her head. "She transferred to Tendo General Hospital."

"Y-You mean..."

He nodded. "Yes. And I'm sure she will be taken a good care."

Nanase smiled. Actually, she received Ayumi's letter when she wake up and it made her happy. Especially the last part of her letter...

"Nanase-chan, thank you and I'm really sorry. Please, keep that brightness in you. Thank you for making Kairi happy again. I hope we meet again in the future."

"Now, let's go back to sleep."

"Eh? But I slept all day and you have meetings!"

"They can start without me."

"But meetings are important, sensei!"

"And you're not?"

"....."

"I made you blush."

"Sensei!"

"What? Just shut up and let me sleep "

"But---"

"Shut up or I'll kiss you."

Nanase leaned forward and captured his lips.

Tendo stilled and stared at her.

She smirked. "Got you."

He blinked. "You--!" Reaching out, he grabbed the back of her head gently and kissed her deep.

"Sensei! I'm wounded!"

"Wounded but still can kiss."

"Well.. I won't argue with that."

She kissed him back.

~end.

[icanbeyourgenie]

❛❛ How does someone as clever as you became stupid enough to have not one, but TWO lovers?? ❜❜ – Molly to Rowena

Rowena couldn’t help but smile at the youngest one words. A very warm smile. She felt really connected to Molly, from the moment she met her. Maybe it was because she was involved in the breaking of the curse, or maybe it was because Rowena saw her younger self in the blonde? She couldn’t stay. But still, she enjoyed Molly’s company. And from what she understood from the girl’s personality, this question was not out of character.

❝ This is an odd question, but I think I understand where it comes from. So I will try my best to answer. ❞

She took a slip of the cup of tea standing on the table next to them - tea was really Rowena’s all life - thinking about how to answer this question in an efficient way.

❝ You love your sister, don’t you? You don’t have to answer to that, it’s obvious that you do. From what I could see, you do love a lot of people, and not matter how out of place you think you are, you can trust that they love you back. Seriously, you should see how highly Elias speaks of you. ❞ 

She had a little laugh, remiding herself how happy her son was that he found someone who not only would not make fun of him for his crazy ideas and experiments, but will encourage him to go further.

❝ Love comes in many shapes. Frienship, family, romantic partners... the essence of it is all the sime. Love moves you, it makes you braver, wiser, more curious. Now there’s this sort of idea that emotions are stupid and unrationnal, only cold reflection is valid. This is not true. ‘Believe only what you can see’, they stay. This is stupid. Believe only what you can see and you’ll become blind, because I assure you, you’ll end up only seeing what you believe. ❞

She took another sip and tried to refocus the conversation, knowing damn well that she could speak for hours if the blonde let her.

❝ Now the idea that love - romantic love, specifically - has to be rejected at all cost, especially if one considers themselve to be smart, have solid and understanble roots. If we overlook the fact that it fuels the ego, you can clearly see that love has also caused many, many sufferings. And there’s societal rules that comes adding to it. Especially if you’re a women. Marriage is force upon us - even now. In my long live, I’ve seen so many brillant, fierce, creative, determined women being lost to the illusion of marriage, only to end up being a man’s vessel, a shell of themselves. That is one of the biggest tragedy. I, myself, have had to endure that, and I can only understand those who reject relationships at all costs. The thing is- ❞ She had a little nostalgic laugh.  ❝ You know, when I first met Godric, I immeditely had feelings for him. But I spent many, many times ignoring them, hoping they’ll go away, for I was sure that being in love was being stupid. And worse, that being loved back was being made a prisonner. ‘To love is to destroy, to be loved is to be the one destroyed’, I said to myself. ❞

She took a break, longer this one, looking at the horizon. Thinking about these memories always had a weird effect on her. It was so long ago, and still in her mind, it was crystal clear. She loved her past’s memories, just as much as they hurt her.

❝ I soon realized it was not true. Godric made me feel more like myself, helped me use my capacities at my full potential. And Miakoda... She’s the love I would’ve never expected. The kind of love that strike you like lighting, and changes you forever... The truth is, cerebral intelligence is wonderful, but emotional one is just as well. Love, passion, joy, sadness, fear. All these emotions move you, make you wanna go forward, boost your creativity. You’re a painter, surely you must know that. Being in love did that for me. Love, in general. The love I had for Helena, for example: it made me braver and wiser than any love could. ❞

Once again she looked at the blonde with a warm smile, hoping she would understand 

❝ Love comes in many shapes, and each on of them has its particularities. You can never love the same way two people. Romantic love is... wonderful, but please do not fall into the society’s trap that makes you feel like you have to experiment it. Some people may never feel romantic attraction of their lives, and that’s okay. Romance doesn’t make you whole. But just, if ever it were to happen, please don’t restrain yourself on the fact that it doesn’t go well with cleverness. On the contrary. Love makes you learn and see with better clarity. Just as I beg you, please, if you ever feel romantic attraction, don’t think that you have to feel it for only one person. You can, of course, but you don’t have to. It’s just another lie. You are always free to love has many people as you want. ❞

Rowena finished her tea, conscient that she talked a lot, but she felt close enough of Molly to tell her all that - Plus, she really meant all of the things she said.

❝ However, promise me you won’t tell Godric I told you all that. He’s the romantic one in the group, he’ll never stop teasing me about it. ❞

[vlovers19]

This is a bit of a controversial opinion While most people believe that vmin is one sided as in jimin does more for tae and tae doesnt i feel like if at all there is something more btw vmin than frienship its on tae's side and jimin mostly treats all the members same What is your opinion on this?

This is very controversial as you pointed out. However, I just want to say that it's your opinion if you see Taehyung being in a one sided relationship but as for me, I don't. Truthfully, i really ponder why people think that way?

It is true that Taehyung has done a lot to show his affection and as we all know, he doesn't show it through body language like Jimin does. He rather shows his own affection through actions such as singing songs, posting on social media and so on.

If we are measuring the amount of Jimin's affection for Taehyung based on body language, it would just mean that Jimin has no romantic feelings towards any member of the group because he treats every one of them the same way. He hugs them the same way, he clings to them the same way. When the members are sad, he is always there for them. He doesn't treat anyone of them differently when it comes to giving affection. To me, I just think it's because he's not dating anyone in the group.

But here is where he treats Taehyung differently. Producing a song himself to sing with Taehyung and in that song proclaiming that the both of them are soulmates. To me, that is the height of it all. It shows you the level Taehyung has been placed in his life. To consider someone your soulmate isn't an easy thing. People can say whatever they want to say about soulmates just to tone it down but the truth is that a soulmate is a person you meet once in a lifetime. It's a person who has the closest relationship with you. A person who shares a part of your soul. No matter what happens whether you end up together with that person or not, they will always be a part of you.

So whether we see it in a platonic or romantic sense, Taehyung is just very important to Jimin. Their song Friends should be enough to clear people of their doubts but I guess nothing is enough. I don't really know what else they have to do.

Even if Vmin begin to showcase their friendship, people would just say they are faking it. Sometimes, it makes me laugh. When i remember friends, I think It was rather a huge risk they took singing and releasing that song. A song neither of them expected would be added to the album. A song they both thought would just be for themselves.

To me, I just think Taehyung is more aggressive. He isn't the type to simply bend to a situation but Jimin is more amiable. He is more easy going and has an adaptive behavior. He can fit in to any situation unlike Taehyung who takes risks especially when he's the one showing his affection openly.

One noted thing is that Jimin relies on human company which is a reason why you see him around the members a lot. He has even admitted that he hates staying alone. He also doesn't like being around negative energy. He likes staying positive which means being around people who seem to be happy or enjoying themselves. As for Taehyung, he doesn't rely much on others company. Though, he has a lot of friends but you will notice he likes keeping to himself on some days. There are times when he just locks up and prefers to be on his own. I have also noticed something and that is how Jimin tends to mostly avoid Taehyung when he gets into that mood where he completely blanks out or he becomes moody but when Taehyung seems to be energetic or generally in a good mood, he's often around him sharing in that positive energy. This is different from when he's comforting him because he had a hard time or he didn't do well on stage or is upset. It's just something I have noticed between them.

Anyway, one of the reasons i think people have this insinuation of a one sided love in Vmin's relationship is because they are two very different people who react to things in different ways.

From what I know of Jimin, he's a very affectionate person, loyal to friends but also posessive and somewhat of a perfectionist. He takes extreme importance in relationships

As for Taehyung, he's social, has a lot of friends but is also conservative. He is very affectionate only to people he is totally close with. Of all the friends he has, he admitted that Jimin is his best and unique friend. Jimin has like wise admitted that even after a long time has passed, Taehyung is still going to be the most unique same aged friend he will ever have.

Taehyung is strong willed and determined. They are both very different people who reacts differently to the same situation. One reacts more agressively, the other more passively. Releasing that song friends to me was a way of Jimin reacting without being too obvious, but for Taehyung, he wanted to go all out releasing that Christmas song with all its romantic lyrics which was for sure going to make people raise suspicious eye brows.

What I'm saying is that just because Jimin doesn't react as agressively as Taehyung posting suspicious tweets on social media, singing romantic lyrics or what not doesn't mean he may not like him. If he where to react like Taehyung, then there is going to be a problem.

Just like how if Taehyung where to always engage with Jimin and give in to every flirty behavior he throws at him, they would become a target just like every other popular ship today whose movements are deeply scrutinized and analysed, bringing a strain to their relationship. I don't think they would want that. I don't think they want all that attention on themselves.

Well, I'm just speaking from my own perspective. I just see them as people who are really different, who are not always on the same page when it comes to each other. Due to their difference in behavior, you don't expect them to react the same way to a particular situation. One might like being exposed, the other might not. One might prefer doing things this way, the other might not. It's just like that. Everything still boils down to understanding which according to friends lyrics they are trying to do.

So personally, I don't see any reason why Taehyung would be in a one sided relationship with Jimin but if that where the case, then I find it really toxic and unhealthy. If Jimin where aware of Taehyung's feelings but still acting like everything is okay between them, it's really bad and can end up creating resentment. It would rather be best for them to just keep a distance between each other but with recent happenings, (complimenting each other during their separate vlives) I don't think that's the case. I don't see him forcing a friendship between them when there's really nothing going on. The whole thing would not only affect them but the other members as well including their working relationship. It's just going to physically drain everyone out. So to me, Jimin and Taehyung like each other whether as friends or something else in equal measure. They just exhibit it in different ways. Thanks for reading and I'm glad you wanted to hear my opinion.

[42wallaby-way-sydney]

The OCs: Jamie Jackson

Full Name: Jaidee Jamie Jackson

Nicknames: Jamie (to everyone except for her parents). Lek (by her parents).  Cara/Tesoro (from Michael). Printsessa/Lyubimaya (from Vasya). 

Emojis: 🥋📝⚖🌶🍷

Birthday: June 15th 

Place of Birth: Hells Kitchen, New York

Sexuality: Bisexual polyamorous. 

Misc: 

- Her parents, Malee and James, met while he was on a business trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand. He ended up extending his time there and the two fell in love. Malee came with him back to New York and a year later they were married. Less than a year later they had Jamie. 

James’s mother is Norwegian, so growing up he spoke English and Norwegian when at home. He’s gifted with learning languages and his job is as a translater. Jamie speaks little Norwegian as she only spoke it when she would be visiting her grandparents. 

Malee and James thought they were going to have a boy so when Jamie was born they had already picked out a name for her and fallen in love with the name. So they just kept it since Jaidee is a unisex name. 

- She was very small in her father’s hands when she was born and her mom gifted her with the nickname Lek, meaning ‘small’. 

Her name, Jaidee, means ‘kindhearted’. 

- Her favorite colour is rose gold.

- Her lucky number is five.

- She sleeps cuddling a stuffed panda. Toto sleeps beside her knees.

- Jamie has very bad anger issues as a child so her parents enroll her into taekwando with Taka. The two begin doing kendo together as well when they’re fourteen. 

- She’s Buddhist and her favourite holiday is Loy Krathong. 

She’s a very good cook thanks to her mother teaching her and she cooks for every holiday. Her specialty is her eggrolls. 

- Her favourite movie is Yes or No. 

- As a child she loves playing dress up in her mother’s chut Thai and jewelry. When the family goes to Chiang Mai, Jamie always becomes very ecstatic to wear her own sarongs. 

- James and Malee are very doting parents and adore their only child with all of their being. Malee never received a full formal education as she had to be pulled from school in elementary school to help cook for her family so she wants Jamie to do better than her. Malee never wants Jamie to have to do as much work as she’s had to do. 

Malee cannot read or write in English and often has trouble in Thai. She’s taught Jamie how to speak the language, but she can’t teach her anything else. 

- As a child she didn’t understand why some of the kids would laugh at the food she would bring for lunch or why they would make fun of her mother’s accent when Malee would come to pick her up. She grows to love her heritage as she becomes a teenager and hates that she wasted so much time being embarrassed about a part of herself. 

She and Marie have this in common. 

- When she’s six, Malee tells her that she’s enrolling her into music lessons. Malee let Jamie pick the instrument and fully expected for her daughter to pick the piano and was pleasantly surprised when Jamie picked the flute.

- Her favorite fairytales are A Tale of Two Rice Birds and East of the Sun, West of the Moon. 

- Her favourite types of tea are a tie between Thai boba tea and jasmine tea with honey. She doesn’t like coffee in the morning but rather drinks tea. The only time she drinks coffee is when she goes to a coffee shop and orders herself a latte. 

- Jamie, Peyton, Alexei, and Taka are all neighbors and so growing up together, the four of them were very close friends. Jamie and Peyton always had a rivalry of sorts growing up and it just never went away much to the amusement of Taka and Alexei. 

- Jamie is a big daddy’s girl and very close to her dad. If her mom says she can’t do something, she asks her dad. James half of the time gives her the okay. The other half of the time he says to ask her mom. 

- Despite being close to her parents she’s still terrified of coming out to them, especially when shse realizes she’s polyamorous. 

- Taka and Jamie date for a very short period when in highschool and it nearly destroys the friendship between them, Peyton, and Alexei. 

Alexei had a huge crush on Taka for the longest time but never told anyone except for Peyton so he becomes very bitter towards Jamie while she and Taka are dating and it causes a lot of tension between the friends. Jamie and Taka decide that they’re better as friends and they would rather stay friends than have their frienships with Alexei and Peyton destroyed. 

- She’s twenty when she meets Michael and the two begin seeing each other then dating. She finds out about his mafia work very early on but is honestly kind of an idiot and decides she doesn’t care about it. He only deals with weapons and drug distribution, is her excuse. It’s a poor one. She is aware but a fool in love. 

- As one of Michael’s cover stories for running the mafia is a restaurant, Jamie and Peyton get jobs as hostesses at his fine dining Italian restaurant. Sometimes they both help serve just for some extra pocket money. 

- Her favorite foods consist of her dad’s homemade buttercake, her mom’s Pad Thai, Michael’s fra diavolo, and Vasya’s potato and cheese pierogis. 

- Though she often picks mild fun at Vasya’s very casual clothing taste, Jamie loves to steal borrow Vasya’s sweaters and cardigans. They’re warm and fluffy and smell like Vasya’s perfume. 

- She learns a few steps for a few traditional Thai dances but she feels like she looks ridiculous when she dances.

Malee self taught herself some dances when she was growing up in Thailand by watching the dancers during festivals. She dances sometimes when she hears Jamie practicing music on the flute. 

- Jamie has a shih tzu named Toto. He is like her child.

- She’s fond of poetry and has been known to take a poetry book with her to a coffee shop and sip on a latte. 

- She was on her highschool’s debate team. It’s no surprise that she would further her education by becoming a lawyer.

This would be how she re-meets Vasya. Jamie is interning at Nelson & Murdock & co. and one day Vasya comes over with Maddie so the two girls can talk to their dads. Jamie nearly drops the coffees she brought for everyone when she sees Vasya and just quietly, “Oh my god...” When Vasya sees her she later yells at Matt, “Why didn’t you tell me there’s a pretty girl here?!” Matt doesn’t tell either that the other girl likes each other, just lets them fumble around cluelessly. 

- The first date between Michael, Jamie, and Vasya takes place at Michael’s penthouse where he cooks for them. The first date outside of their homes is at Fogwell’s where Vasya takes them. She and Michael both are surprised when Jamie is very capable of fighting back. Matt is not the only Murdock to have gotten laid in that gym...

- Jamie hates bugs, doesn’t matter what kind it is, she does not like them. 

- Her favorite type of fast food is Popeyes.

- She loves frozen yogurt, her favorite flavour being cake batter. She enjoys putting granola on her yogurt, frozen or not. 

- Generally, Jamie is very reserved and quiet. Often times when she’s talking, she doesn’t realize just how softly she’s speaking and is told to speak up. This always makes her flush and grow very annoyed and snappish. 

- Her favourite flowers are lotuses. 

- She loves mango. The fruit, mango candy, mango flavoured icecream, mango smoothies. If it’s mango, she loves it. Needless to say, when she makes herself sticky rice, it’s topped with mango.  

- She’s very ‘girly’ and likes make up. Her eyeliner is always on point and winged beautifully. Shopping is a favourite past time of hers. 

- She’s allergic to most boxed hair dyes but not bubble dye. Peyton helps her dye her hair anytime Jamie gets in the mood to do so. 

- The one time she was taken hostage to be used as bait against Michael and Vasya, Michael snorted, “Your funeral.” Once he hung up he took a deep breath and, “We really need to go get Jamie back.” Vasya just nodded. “Quickly is preferable.” Jamie did not take kindly to being kidnapped.

- When Vasya leaves to go to school in Moscow, Jamie cries the hardest. 

- She hates Michael’s father and elder brother, Angelo. Mostly because of how they treated Michael growing up but also because Angelo kidnapped Peyton, thinking she was Jamie, and Peyton is her best frenemy. She finds Raphael to be amusing though. 

- She and Jack get along fairly well. She thinks he’s even more amusing than Raphael and is very smart. He thinks she needs to loosen up and have more fun. 

- When they get Vasya back, Jamie loves and adores Smolya the most. He is her little baby. It’s very common for Michael and Vasya to find her passed out on the couch with Smolya sleeping on her, tiny fist clenching a lock of her hair. Rebuilding the relationship between the three of them takes much work, love, and patience.

- When she finds out that she’s pregnant she’s extremely anxious. The baby is named Aranya, nicknamed Ari, and takes after all three of her parents. A few years after Ari is born, Vasya is pregnant with Alessia. 

Aranya and Alessia are super close but get on each other’s nerves.

- Jamie adopts a Siamese kitten and names it Pringles. 

6 songs that she probably has on her phone/fit her well:

I’m a Ruler by Tommee Profitt ft. Ruby Amanfu 

Cliché  by Candy Mafia

Second Hand Love by Bedroom Audio

What I Need by Hayley Kiyoko ft. Kehlani

Princess by Fletcher

Youth by Troye Sivan

[goddessofphilosophy]

As much as Hyacinth loved to follow through on the Women Empowerment projects of the United Nations discussed during the General Assembly, there is no way in hell she would want to miss the Dolce & Gabbana Fashion Show for the Milan Fashion Week. Twice every year, she'd reserve frontrow seats and get an upclose look at the items that will eventually grace her wardrobe upgrades for the season. She decided it would be best for Jane, her new secretary, to stay in Manhattan just in case there would be papers that needed to be signed. It's an excuse since she reasoned the trip would be a family affair. She and Annicka would eventually meet Amberleighn, Noelle, and their mother in Milan. They landed at the airport a few hours just before the women's fashion show. Oh how she missed Milan's exquisite atmosphere. "Have you seen them yet?" Annicka was getting disappointed that Amberleighn wouldn't pick up her phone. Hyacinth was looking around instead, "Oh there they are! Andiamo!" They both made their way among the crowd to join Amberleighn, Noelle, Druella & Astoria at the entrance of a nearby café. "Scusi, per favore. Grazie," she was almost mumbling. The airport was jampacked with tourists, photographers, media personalities, designers, graphics artists, and eager fashion bloggers for the upcoming event. However, a man in gray suit blocked their way and extended his hand unexpectedly. He was beaming, it would be impolite not to return the gesture of shaking his hand. "Hyacinth," he breathed. "You're even more beautiful than I remember." "Ciao, nice to see you around. We haven't seen each other for a long time." It was a lie. Why is she lying? She didn't expect him to follow her in Milan. He felt why she needed to lie and he understood. The awkwardness was unbearable that they have an audience. "Do you remember my sister Annicka?" His eyes darted to Annicka, finally. Hyacinth doesn't quite like the uneasiness she felt whenever he stares at her. "Sí, I do," he smiled at Annicka. "If you don't mind, I'd like to have a word with your sister, per favore?" Annicka looked at Hyacinth as if to ask if she'd be fine if she leaves them alone. Hyacinth nodded. "Alright," she replied and went to the café. His attention went back to Hyacinth and he led her towards a corner where there were less people, away from her family's sight. "We haven't seen each other for a long time? Did you have to miss me that much?" he smirked and laughed lightly. "Suit yourself," she rolled her eyes. He loved that about her. "Would you mind to be my date at the after party tonight? I didn't forget you are obsessed with Dolce & Gabbana," he smiled crookedly. "Just like old times." "You don't have to use that card on me." "We both know I don't lay down a card if it wouldn't be in my advantage," he whispered and kissed her cheek with a lingering kiss. "Ci vediamo dopo, beautiful." And just like that he was gone again. He knew he can't stay much longer. He knew his limits. He knew he blew his chance once. He knew she's already married. But there had been speculations about her fragile marriage when she left New York all those years ago. And that gave him hope. This year, Dolce & Gabbana's theme embraced Tropico Italiano showcasing its signature floral prints, pasta & pizza, religious symbols, classy little black dresses and crowns which are remarkably Italian. Coconut trees lined up the runway with LED lights also present in some of the models' shoes. She especially liked the 'I love Pizza' bag. And the piano skirt absolutely captured her heart. The festivity continued during the after party when the street was closed off for the banquet. The newly opened Monte Napoleone boutique was divinely prestigious with its gold accents truly fit for royalty. Indeed, Italians do it better. Hyacinth has always been proud of her Italian descent. When the Descartes-Houghton girl squad arrived at the gathering, Hyacinth was trailing behind them. They were all used to the cameras but Annicka so Amberleighn came in first. Her supermodel status always attracted attention. Dark-haired Noelle and Annicka spiced up the family's ethereal fashion-forward style. Nobody will ever know that Druella is their mother. They all looked like sisters, even with Astoria Houghton and her German lineage. "Ciao," Anthony whispered while joining her in front of the cameras. "Where is your escort?" Hyacinth smiled at him, "Nessuno." He replied in haste, faking a frown, "Ouch, qui sono." Then he took her hand, ushering her towards their seat, "Si guarda molto meraviglioso. Mi manchi." She looked at him and hoped she heard it all wrong. "Il gatto ti ha mangiato la lingua?" he asked, provoking her. She never imagined what it would be like to hear those words from him again. Does he possibly think those were the magic words? He felt her apprehension and he regretted what he said but what could he do when it was what he wanted to say to her simply because it was inevitable? Her silence spoke volumes and he understood it. He reminded himself to just enjoy the night and stop playing with their frienship that caught fire. Despite the darkest dawn, it was a night to remember. And it almost felt like it never ends when she joined her friends in the dancefloor. It was surreal that almost all of them married within their circle. Pietro married Alexandria and they got two kids, a girl and a boy. Marcello married Hannah and they were blessed with three beautiful ladies. Eduardo married Chiara and decided not to have kids. The others are happily and independently single. "Man, we never knew who broke the engagement. It all happened so fast. And then Hyacinth here got married three months later. Ti immagini?" a slightly tipsy Pietro spoke with his think Italian accent. He has always been tactless. Alexandria shook her head to say we shouldn't mind him. She was trying to soothe him by giving him a glass of water. Anthony looked at Hyacinth with tenderness, but it was meant to answer Pietro, "Ci siamo lasciati e morto un Papa se ne fa un altro. É così." "Ma dove é lui?" Clellin chimed in. "He never accompanied you during Milan Fashion Week." And all she could respond was the truth, "He's busy." She thought she heard him mumble, "Che peccato!" But Anthony was lost in thought, suddenly not paying attention at their group conversation. Among her peers, she trusted Hannah would always turn the atmosphere into something lighter, "Why don't we all hang out. It's been such a long time!" She also hated it when Anthony starts speaking in Italian. The accent confuses her. "My place. I have a villa in Tuscany," Anthony suggested, then sipped his champagne. You received an iMessage from Leah Hale. Leah: Ms. Chairperson, have you forgotten about the internship interviews? They are now late for their analysis of the first presidential debate, their supposedly first project especially those who will be assigned in the Political Science Department. Hyacinth: Can't come back until tomorrow. Leah: Where in the world are you? Can't contact you! Hyacinth: Tuscany. There's a storm. Leah: Why? The Editorial Board has released our support for Hillary Clinton, as per your request. The New York Times need more correspondents for the upcoming debates. And interns for the law firm's Journalism Department. How do you expext me to handle all these? You promised to do the interviews with the Human Resources Department! Hyacinth: I'm so sorry. Jane will come to your rescue. Leah: Jane? Hyacinth: Jane Sheppard, another secretary of mine. Leah: I feel so betrayed. Hyacinth: Never knew how to disagree with the husband. Leah laughed at "Never knew how to disagree with the husband." Leah: Okay, orient her please before sending her in our precious minefield! Hyacinth: The little girl's even willing to follow me in Syria! Be ashamed of yourself! Leah: Not risking my life for you! I don't love you that much! Leah: Little girl? How young is your new minion? Hyacinth: Not more than 25, for sure. Hyacinth: I don't even know! I have to ask her! Leah: You are such an awesome boss! You loved "You are such an awesome boss!" Leah: Why are you in Tuscany? Leah: What are you doing in Tuscany when you're not even divorced? Hyacinth: So funny! Leah: How are you in Tuscany alone? Hyacinth: Not alone. Leah questioned "Not alone." Leah: Thanks for all the juicy details! Hyacinth laughed at "Thanks for all the juicy details!" Leah: Spill the beans! You sent an image. Leah: OMG! Leah: He's still hot! Leah: Too bad you didn't marry the guy! Leah: Why are you with him? Leah: You almost married the guy, Cinth! Leah: Almost. Hyacinth: And I didn't. There is such a thing as platonic relationship, right? Leah: Who owns the place? Looks really good! Hyacinth: We are with some friends. Leah: I ALMOST thought you sounded defensive. Hyacinth: He bought the villa years ago. Leah: Friends who expected you guys end up together. Married friends with their partners and you are with him. Nice pairing! Leah: He bought a villa after you left him? Hyacinth: You're delusional. Leah loved "You're delusional." Leah: How is that a group picture and he's accidentally staring at you? You received an iMessage from Astoria Houghton. Astoria: The Ritz Paris is amazeballs! Just in case you changed your mind. xx Astoria sent an image. Hyacinth: Don't tempt me, temptress. Astoria loved "Don't tempt me, temptress." You received an iMessage from Noelle Xade Descartes. Noelle: You're such a party pooper! It's Paris Fashion Week! Mom always tells us that family always comes first and yet there you are with your friends. Hyacinth: We can all wait for another century and I will come to Paris without force. Noelle: You're missing out on all the fun! You sent an image. Noelle: And the country goddess award goes to you! You received an iMessage from Druella Rose Descartes. Druella: Bonjour from Paris! Il est toujours trop beau pour être vrai! Your Father would love it even more. Hyacinth Athena, family above all. Call me if you're ready to talk about it. Druella sent an image. Druella: Wish you were here! You received an iMessage from Annicka Paulette Descartes. Annicka: How did you let them drag me to Paris Fashion Week? Hyacinth: You said you didn't like hearing Italian all the time! Annicka: How is French any better? Hyacinth laughed at "How is French any better?" You received an iMessage from Leah Hale. Leah: How many tomorrows do I have to count until you're back? Don't you check your e-mails? The United Nations called twice today. Hyacinth: I'm so sorry. Let me personally handle that one. Leah: You always check your e-mails not unless you're in Syria again? But if they knew you're on a mission, why would they call here? Hyacinth: I'm not in Syria. Leah: It can't be always stormy in sunny Tuscany! Hyacinth: We're in Capri now. Marcello wanted us to meet his children. You sent an image. Leah: Wow. They all got their mother's looks! Australian beauties! Leah: Where are the other two? Those without kids. Hyacinth: Back in Venice. Leah: Did you ride the gondola with him in Venice? Hyacinth: Andréas and I did last year. Leah loved "Andréas and I did last year." Leah: Not talking about your husband, Cinth! Hyacinth: It's a no. Leah: Did you ride the gondola with him in Venice and kiss him under the Bridge of Sighs at sunset when you two were still dating? Back in the days? Hyacinth: Don't you have more important things to do, Atty. Hale? Leah: You did! You received an iMessage from Amberleighn Vernice Descartes. Amber: Get your sexy ass here! When will you ever stop letting the past haunt you, sister? Amber sent an image. Amber: Jacket envy! Amber sent an image. Amber: Wish we stayed in Paris. New Yorkers are so lame. I don't understand why Mom likes New York. Everything is better in Paris. Hyacinth: Because you work in New York. Amber: I can change that. Hyacinth: No, you stay with Mom! Amber: Why wouldn't Annicka stay with her? Hyacinth: She doesn't like New York. Amber: Do you think I like it? You laughed at "Do you think I like it?" Amber: Hey, are you back in Manhattan? Hyacinth: Not until tomorrow. Amber: Where are you? Hyacinth: Greece. You sent an image. Amber: You don't cliffdive! Hyacinth: I just did. "What did it feel like?" Leah's inquisitive side always gets the job done. Hyacinth was back in New York City to meet the new interns of the law firm. She had to set their expectations. It's a shame Jane had to do the interviews. This year is particularly important since the presidential elections only happen once every four years. They were sitting beside each other in Leah's office. It used to be Hyacinth's office too. The room was sound proof due to the confidentiality of their conversations. "Like I can conquer all my fears, even the fear of losing him one day." Leah laughed. "No, not cliffdiving. What does it felt like holding his hand while doing it?" "Normal. We're friends." "Are you having an affair with him?" "No!" Hyacinth glared at Leah. She couldn't understand how her mind works sometimes. "Are you planning to have an affair with him?" "No." "But do you want to have an affair with him?" she whispered, enunciating each word, then nudged her. Hyacinth studied her for a moment, "What's your point?" "Just in case you want to... how to get away with an affair, my friend," Leah winked at her.

[neuxue]

Wheel of Time liveblogging: The Gathering Storm ch 8

Siuan reminisces, Egwene Amyrlins, and ACTUAL COMMUNICATION.

Chapter 8: Clean Shirts

Haven’t seen that chapter icon in a while.

Siuan now – there’s been a lot of quick POV shifting in this book so far. I suppose it’s been mostly centred on Rand and Egwene – and their various affiliates – these past several chapters, but it definitely lends a feeling of a quicker pace. Which works, given where we are in the series.

No sailor would miss [those clouds]. Not dark enough to promise a storm, not light enough to imply smooth waters either.

A sky like that was ambiguous.

The whole world balanced on the edge of a knife, with little to tell right now which way it will eventually fall. Rand himself barely balanced between Light and something very like Shadow. A world uncertain, moving towards the ending.

What, you thought I was going to ignore Portentious Atmospheric Details?

HA. IT GETS BETTER.

On a day like this, however, when there were gloomy clouds but no proof of storms, the dockmasters would charge a full day’s rent. And so the fisher had to make a choice. Stay in the harbour and wait, or go fishing to recoup the dock fees.

A fisher. Or should I say a Fisher. This delights me.

She doubted many fishers had chosen to go out this day.

Well I can think of one probable capitalised exception…

Lelaine has no time for symbolically important discussions of the sky.

Siuan could still sense shock in some of the Aes Sedai she passed. Egwene was to have been carefully controlled. What had gone wrong?

Egwene. That’s what went wrong. You Aes Sedai all thought you had a prayer of controlling Egwene in the first place, failing to realise that this is the girl who took one look at someone else’s Call To Adventure and said ‘mine now’. And that was just her starting point.

Siuan would have taken more smug delight from those looks if she hadn’t herself worried about Egwene’s continued captivity in the White Tower. That was a lionfish’s veil indeed. Potential for great success, but also great disaster.

Yes, well, that describes approximately every single situation in the plot as things stand, so. I’m sure it’ll all be fine. What could possibly go wrong? Aside from everything?

Lelaine and Romanda are still doing their thing, though things seem to be shifting slightly in favour of Lelaine at the moment. Okay.

I’m a bit ambivalent about this particular conflict at this point. On the one hand, it’s probably more realistic for it to continue, especially given Egwene’s absence and the sense of uncertainty that brings. On the other hand, I find it hard to actually care about it, because Egwene’s arc has moved past this, and so this ends up feeling a bit stale. But then, just because her story is no longer just with the rebels, that doesn’t mean the rebels should magically have all their problems solved; that would make it too easy. So it works, I just don’t really care. Ah well.

When she’d first been Healed, her reduced power had been a disappointment. But that was changing. Yes, it was infuriating to be beneath so many, to lack respect from those around her. However, because she was weaker in power, many seemed to assume she was weaker in political skill as well! Could people really forget so quickly? She was finding her new status among the Aes Sedai to be liberating.

That’s an incredibly mature and sanguine way of looking at it. And the fact that this doesn’t even scan as self-deception is truly impressive. There are indeed advantages to her new situation, especially for one with her political acumen combined with a prominent past and a present need for discretion, but to truly understand and embrace that – especially without then giving up the advantage it conveys – takes a special kind of resilience.

So Siuan’s sent Lelaine off on some pointless political trail of distraction, mostly by mentioning Romanda. You would think that if your goal were to become the political leader of a group known for their politicking and manipulation, you’d at least try to hide what can be used to manipulate you. Romanda and Lelaine are so perfectly unsubtle and they fall for this shit every time. It would be fine as a front, maybe, but it isn’t even a front. They’re really that easily led.

The Amyrlin needed to hurry up and finish with her plotting in the White Tower. What good would it do to undermine Elaida if the Aes Sedai outside crumbled while Egwene wasn’t watching?

It’s a fair question, and does highlight the complexity and delicate balance of Egwene’s entire situation. She won the rebels and brought them this far, and she’s winning her strange not-quite-war in the Tower, but she can’t forget one while she deals with the other. That’s rather the point, isn’t it? The Aes Sedai need to be unified; the Tower needs to be whole. Otherwise something is always going to be falling apart.

Either Lelaine is teasing Siuan about having a crush on Gareth Bryne, or she is actually that oblivious.

And Siuan is definitely not going to let Lelaine pay off Siuan’s debt to Bryne. Because reasons.

That would just move her debt from Bryne to Lelaine. The Aes Sedai would collect it in far more subtle ways, but each coin would end up being paid one way or another, if only through demands of loyalty.

Okay that is definitely a valid reason.

Lelaine is indeed actually that oblivious. How has she risen this far?

Siuan gets a ride on the back of a turnip wagon, which makes this the second time in this series that Aes Sedai have ridden with vegetables. The cabbage merchant from Avatar is probably sweating nervously somewhere.

Secrets, those powerful, dominating secrets. They had become her life. No love save for youthful dalliances.

So Moiraine was just a ‘youthful dalliance’? I think not.

No time for entanglements, or much room for friendships.

I suppose she could be putting Moiraine in the ‘frienships’ category here, which…okay. In a general sense, I have no problems with that. Nor will I ever, under any circumstances, try to argue that friendship is in any way less meaningful or important than romantic love.

And very likely, Moiraine wasn’t intended to be specifically implied by ‘youthful dalliances’, or even by ‘friendships’; they were close friends and they loved each other, but they both chose the Blue Ajah and they both knew what dedicating themselves to this cause would mean: they would have to put it above everything, including their own personal wishes or relationships.

So, fine, it’s not a direct slight and I’m not trying to go out of my way to find things to be indignant about. But my issue here is more that…it’s as if the relationship Siuan and Moiraine shared in their younger years is forgotten by the narrative itself. Because either Moiraine was indeed a ‘youthful dalliance’ – thus implying that ‘girlhood things should be left behind with girlhood’ as Tarna put it – or Siuan’s relationship with Moiraine is so insignificant that it doesn’t warrant a mention at all. There’s a sense of oversight there, and it bothers me a bit.

On its own, it might not stand out as much of an issue. However, there’s a pattern here of including but then almost simultaneously dismissing love between women. This isn’t even a particularly egregious example, but it becomes frustrating when mixed in with the tendency to treat ‘pillow friendships’ as a kind of youthful phase that all but the evil ones grow out of.

No series is perfect, and you can’t have everything, and I’m sure Jordan and Sanderson had good intentions – or at least, did not have bad intentions – with regards to this sort of thing. But the execution falls short for me sometimes.

She’d focused only one one thing: finding the Dragon Reborn. Helping him, guiding him, hopefully controlling him.

Moiraine had died following that same quest, but at least she had been able to go out and see the world. Siuan had grown old – in spirit, if not in body – cooped up in the Tower, pulling her strings and nudging the world. She’d done some good. Time would tell if those efforts had been enough.

She didn’t regret her life. Yet, at this moment, passing army tents […] she envied Moiraine. How often had Siuan bothered to look out of her window toward the beautiful green landscape, before it all had started going sickly? She and Moiraine had fought so hard to save this world, but they had left themselves without anything to enjoy in it.

Having said all of that, I absolutely love this bit here. I do really love the way the friendship aspect of Moiraine and Siuan’s relationship is presented. They are bound so closely by love and a shared goal, but one of those has had to take precedence. They loved each other before prophecy took over their lives, but their shared secret and their determination and devotion forced them down different paths.

And yet, from both their perspectives there has always been a strong, if understated and often bittersweet, sense of the friendship that underlies this shared quest. They never came to resent or hate one another, and they both kept firmly to their aim, and accepted the rest as it came. It didn’t destroy their friendship because they both accepted that the quest would have to come first. And so when it did come first, and when it did separate them, and when it did – at least as far as each of them knows – kill the other one, they understood that, too. It’s a strange kind of mutual trust and understanding upon which to build a somewhat strange relationship, but there is something rather beautiful about that.

And Siuan’s musings here are really lovely, in that same kind of bittersweet and nostalgic way. Take what you want, and pay for it. She and Moiraine have both lived by that. Siuan has no regrets, because this life is the consequence of the task she accepted. And she may envy Moiraine, but even now she does not resent her.

The last line especially is beautiful. I really, really hope Siuan and Moiraine both survive what is to come, and reunite at least once to share in the completion of their decades-long task. Even if they then go their separate ways – because that is how it has always been for them, and somehow it works.

Or they could just decide fuck it, let’s retire early and go on a roadtrip full of pranks and mischief to see the world we’ve helped win for ourselves. That would also be acceptable.

Siuan the Amyrlin hadn’t had any time for entanglements, but what of Siuan the attendant? […] Was there, perhaps, room in her life for a few more changes? 

The wagon reached the far side of the army camp, and she shook her head at her own foolishness as she hopped down, then nodded her thanks to the wagon driver. Was she a girl, barely old enough for her first full-day blackfish trawl? There was no use in thinking of Bryne that way. At least not right now. There was too much to do.

So I’m quoting this mainly for the last part, because my usual line when complaining about characters getting caught up in romantic subplots is ‘stop cheating on your plotline!’

Which is to say, I appreciate Siuan’s priorities here. Even though I’m probably supposed to roll my eyes and tell her to just live a little, the world is ending after all.

Though I don’t particularly mind the thing between Siuan and Bryne; it’s relatively unobtrusive and doesn’t interfere too much with the plot or either character’s competence.

And by ‘thing’ I mean…utter failure at flirting and an ongoing low-level prank war.

“I have to say, Siuan, that I’m surprised. I had assumed that an Aes Sedai would know little of work such as this, but rarely have my uniforms known such a perfect combination of stiffness and comfort. You are to be commended.”

Siuan turned away from him, hiding her blush. Fool man! She had caused kings to kneel before her! She manipulated the Aes Sedai and planned for the deliverance of mankind itself! And he complimented her on her laundering skills?

The thing was, from Bryne, that was an honest and meaningful compliment. He didn’t look down on washwomen, or runner boys. He treated all with equity. A person didn’t gain stature in Gareth Bryne’s eyes by being a king or queen; one gained stature by keeping to one’s oaths and doing one’s duty. To him, a compliment on laundry well done was as meaningful as a medal awarded to a soldier who had stood his ground before the enemy.

It took rather a lot of explanation and narrative enforcement to make that work, but I think it does work in the end. It certainly fits with what has been established about Bryne’s character. He doesn’t give a single shit about where someone is supposed to rank; he cares about character and competence. He gave the army to Egwene when most Aes Sedai still thought she would be little more than a puppet, because he could see in her something worth serving.

So…yeah, it’s a bit of an insulting compliment, from a certain perspective. Siuan’s indignation is not entirely out of place, and I like that it’s acknowledged. But I also like that she understands Bryne enough to know that it is actually a meaningful compliment – and also that he clearly understands her well enough to know that she would be able to take it as such.

Ah, and now we’re back to the question of why Siuan broke – or truth-twisted her way out of – that oath in the first place.

“So you claim I’m a liar?” she demanded.

“No,” he said. “Just an oathbreaker.”

Ouch. Point to Bryne.

“That question drove me here, you know,” he said. “It’s why I hunted you all that way. It’s why I finally swore to these rebel Aes Sedai, though I had little wish to be pulled into yet another war at Tar Valon. I did it all because I needed to understand. I had to know. Why? Why did the woman with those eyes – those passionate, haunting eyes – break her oath?”

That’s…a surprising amount of openness and honesty, and I rather like it. Especially because Siuan has been wondering for so long why he did follow her, and why he stayed. And she toyed with the idea that it might be because of her, but then discarded it as a silly fancy, but now thanks to the wonders of this new invention called communication, she knows that really is a large part of the reason. So credit to Bryne for deciding to just…tell her.

“Another excuse,” he said softly. “Another answer from an Aes Sedai. Will I ever have the truth from you, Siuan Sanche? Has anyone ever had it?” He signed, and she heard papers rustle, the candle’s light flickering in the faint stir of his movements as he turned back to his reports.

“When I was still an Accepted in the White Tower,” Siuan said softly, “I was one of four people present when a Foretelling announced the imminent birth of the Dragon Reborn on the slopes of Dragonmount.”

His rustling froze.

Yes. Honesty begets honesty; it’s not the first time that has proven true in this series. Bryne finally gives her an unguarded truth…and so she finally gives him this. And it’s no small truth. This is the foundation of most of her adult life, and it’s been a secret and a burden for so long, because she has so long had to work within a system of secrets and shades of truth, all the while carrying something of this gravity.

Very, very few have ever had the truth from her. Moiraine. Rand, arguably, in TGH, though even then it was given somewhat as manipulation. And Bryne’s reaction here shows that he knows just how closely-kept a secret this has been. That he knows just how much of the truth she is actually surrendering to him, here.

I always love moments like this, when a character finally faces another and tells them everything. When done well, it grants a particular and very satisfying sense of catharsis – especially when the reader knows the secret, but has watched the character carry it so long in silence, never able to truly explain themselves, and often suffering for it.

It’s a great moment of honest, open communication, on both sides. That’s a rare thing in this series, but the payoff is almost always worth it; the moments where characters finally do communicate are often beautiful and fitting and genuinely effective.

I think this is a large part of what makes the whole Wheel Of Absolutely No Communication thing work, at least for me. It’s frustrating as hell sometimes, sure, and there are definitely moments where I want to just bash characters’ heads together and tell them to JUST FUCKING TALK TO EACH OTHER FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS SACRED.

But, while characters frequently and spectacularly fail at doing exactly that, moments of genuine honesty don’t tend to result in further misunderstanding. When characters do finally open up to each other, it is almost always rewarded.

Where some authors lose me is when they bend over backwards to prevent those moments from ever happening at all, or else let them happen and then force the miscommunication or misunderstanding to persist anyway. Instead of feeling realistic, it almost always ends up feeling contrived. WoT toes that line sometimes, but the payoffs make it work for me.

So we get a quick recap of New Spring, because Bryne clearly hasn’t read it yet.

“There was only one other person I knew I could trust, and she is now dead.”

And neither Siuan nor Moiraine could really afford to grieve, when they thought the other to be dead. They knew it could come to this, but…it’s such a loss, for both of them. Please let them at least find out that the other is alive.

“You blame me for the loss of a barn and some cows. Well, then I suggest that you consider the cost to your people should the Dragon Reborn fail. Sometimes, prices must be paid so that a more important duty can be served. I would expect a soldier to understand that. […] Should I have spared even a moment when the entire world was wearing the hangman’s noose?”

She held those eyes, demanding an answer.

“No,” he finally admitted. “Burn me, Siuan, but no. You shouldn’t have waited.”

And he offers to hold her oath fulfilled. She refuses, of course, but this is what I mean by payoff. They have each been entirely truthful with each other at last, and instead of answering in the negative here, or refusing to understand, he accepts her explanation. And she doesn’t question his. There is a reward for honesty.

Now they’re back to incompetent flirting, but progress has been made. They trust each other now, and that’s no small thing. Oh, they trusted each other before, but more in the sense that they each believed the other to be a decent person. Now they both know something close to the full truth, and they each revealed it willingly, and the very act of doing so – each one knowing how much it means for the other to speak that openly – has forged a much stronger bond of genuine trust. They’re together in this, now. Even if they can’t sort out other definitions of ‘together’.

When other oaths no longer have a hold on me, she thought. When I’m certain the Dragon Reborn is doing what he is supposed to, perhaps there will be time. For once, I’m actually starting to look forward to being done with this quest. How remarkable.

…Okay, and with that line, I am now far more worried about her survival than I was a few minutes ago. I’ve gone back and forth on whether or not I think Siuan will make it; I could see it working both ways.

Bryne has worked out her Tel’aran’rhiod schedule, and possibly the general notion of Tel’aran’rhiod itself. Of course he has.

She’d have to do something to get back at him. Mice in the bedsheets.

Ha. Oh, Siuan, you are incorrigible. Nice throwback there, to a prank she and Moiraine planned back in their Accepted days, given how that time has been on Siuan’s mind this chapter.

“A sword, Siuan?” Egwene’s voice suddenly asked. “That’s novel.” Siuan looked down, shocked to find herself holding a bloody sword, likely intended for Elaida’s heart.

Things I didn’t know I needed: Siuan Sanche with a sword. Is there fanart? Please let there be fanart.

Egwene was getting very good at the calm serenity of an Aes Sedai. In fact, she seemed to have grown measurably better at that since her capture.

Well, she’s had a lot of practice. And more than that…it’s not a brittle mask of serenity on her. It’s true serenity, an outward reflection of inward calm purpose and understanding. She’s not trying to make herself harder in order to face pain, or make herself seem stronger in order to appear commanding. Instead, she has come to understand, and with that has come a strength that is unforced.

She showed more of herself around Siuan than she did the others. They both knew how heavily Egwene had relied on Siuan’s teaching to get where she was.

Though she’d probably have made it there anyway, Siuan admitted. Just not quite as quickly.

Siuan and Moiraine dedicated themselves to the task of finding and guiding the Dragon Reborn. But they – Siuan especially – have arguably been more successful at finding and guiding Egwene.

That’s not to say they failed in their task; Moiraine did find Rand and has been a lasting influence on him, especially once she realised that she needed to approach things differently. Meanwhile Siuan is no longer Amyrlin and has not seen the Dragon Reborn in over a year, but she has been instrumental in helping Egwene become a true Amyrlin. Which will, I have no doubt, end up being a critical step in ensuring the world’s survival. Without Egwene as Amyrlin, I struggle to see how Rand and the White Tower would reconcile to the point where they could approach the Last Battle as allies. With Egwene, it will undoubtedly be difficult, but their once-friendship might just be enough.

So Moiraine and Siuan have both ended up following the task they swore themselves to, but – like so many other things in this series – not quite in the way they planned. And I like that they both played a role in guiding Egwene, as well as Rand, given all the other parallels and inversions between the two. It’s nice symmetry, both of Moiraine and Siuan and of Egwene and Rand.

Egwene decides she doesn’t want to spend a moment longer than necessary in the study of the Mistress of Novices. Shocking.

“One of the Forsaken was in our camp,” Siuan said. She hadn’t wanted to think about that too frequently. The knowledge made her skin crawl.

“Is anyone dead?” Egwene asked, voice calm though her eyes looked to be steel.

It’s nice to get an outsider POV of Egwene during this part of her arc. So much of it has been told through her own eyes, and it’s all kinds of fantastic, and it’s definitely important to see it from her perspective because a lot of it is about her own understanding and growth. But I always love seeing what characters look like to others, and seeing Egwene through Siuan’s eyes here helps to emphasise what has changed outwardly, and how very like a true Amyrlin Egwene looks to those around her.

Even when Siuan says it was probably Halima, wielding saidin, Egwene barely reacts visibly. No doubt this is a shock to her, but she lets almost none of it show. Because what good would that do? She can’t go back and suspect Halima, she can’t save those who were killed, and letting herself be thrown by this won’t help anything. So she takes it calmly, and focuses on what she can do. And on what needs to be done.

“Mother, it appears some of the men who follow al’Thor have bonded Aes Sedai.”

Egwene blinked a single time. “Yes. I had heard rumours of this. I had hoped that they were exaggerated. Did this Asha’man say who gave Rand permission to commit such an atrocity?”

“He’s the Dragon Reborn,” Siuan said, grimacing. “I don’t think he feels he needs permission. But, in his defence, it appears he didn’t know it was happening. The women his men bonded were sent by Elaida to destroy the Black Tower.”

“Yes.” Egwene finally showed a sliver of emotion. “So the rumours are accurate. All too accurate. […] “We shall have to deal with the Dragon’s foolishness at a later date. Perhaps his men acted without his direct orders, but Rand must take responsibility. Men. Bonding women!”

I can’t entirely agree with Egwene here. I can see where she’s coming from, because she is Amyrlin and Aes Sedai, and while Siuan can give her some context for what has happened, neither of them knows all of it. But…while the forced bonding of Aes Sedai is hard to call a good thing, it really was probably the best of several bad options. And the notion that women should be able to bond men but not the other way around is kind of absurd – at least, if it is accepted that saidin has been cleansed.

As for Rand taking responsibility…that’s a difficult one. On the one hand, he had no idea any of this was happening, and it wasn’t on his orders, and he was far from happy about it when he found out. On the other hand, he himself thinks of the Asha’man as his creation, his responsibility. It’s a tricky one because he thinks of them that way when he needs or wants to, but he also has all but ignored the Black Tower since putting Taim in charge of it. He keeps trying to have it both ways, and it keeps coming back to bite him.

That said, the offer of recompense kind of is his way of taking responsibility. Or at least of trying to offer as close to a solution as possible. The whole situation is a mess, and there have been several points at which there really are no good options.

It’s also interesting to see how Egwene thinks of Rand versus how she thinks of the Dragon Reborn. Here, he takes the latter role in her mind, because it does come down to issues of command and responsibility. Rand has had similar thoughts about Egwene when thinking of her as Amyrlin and Aes Sedai. It’s not fair, perhaps, but their roles are larger than they are, and they have both had to accept and deal with that. Egwene is Amyrlin, thinking about the Dragon Reborn. As simply Egwene, she has been angry with Elaida for hurting Rand. It comes back to individuals versus roles, and how that can shape what they must do and think. How she can be angry with the Dragon Reborn but still care about the boy from Emond’s Field. It is, I think, similar for Rand. As Dragon Reborn he can be angry with or suspicious of the Amyrlin, but still care about Egwene. Though at the moment he’s not letting himself care about much of anything, so that complicates things a bit.

“They claim saidin is cleansed,” Siuan said.

Egwene raised an eyebrow, but did not object. “Yes,” she said, “I suppose that might be a reasonable possibility. We will need further confirmation, of course. But the taint arrived when all seemed won; why should it not leave when all seems to be approaching pure madness?”

That might be the best reaction I’ve seen to the cleansing yet, from anyone but a male channeller. She doesn’t reject the idea outright, or go on about how it’s impossible. She’s rather willing to accept it, and just asks for further confirmation. Which is not an unreasonable request; she hasn’t linked with an Asha’man, or even been told that anyone else has. But I think she would accept some of that as confirmation, where others reject all proof that is offered in favour of saying it’s impossible. Egwene isn’t doing that. And I rather love that last thought – it’s kind of a perfect way of looking at things, isn’t it? Parallels and inversions. A victory for the Shadow at what should have been the Light’s greatest triumph, and a true victory for the Light as all else darkens.

Siuan wants Egwene to come back and look after the Hall, Egwene says she has work to do here and Siuan can do fine on her own. Which, so far, has been the case. So credit where it’s due for delegating, but at some poing she is going to need to move to reunite them.

“Do your best,” Egwene said. “But don’t worry if Lelaine refuses to be diverted.”

Siuan frowned. “But she’s usurping your place!”

“By building upon it,” Egwene said, smiling. […] “Lelaine’s gambit will only succeed if I fail to return. She is using me as a source of authority. When I return, she’ll have no choice but to accept my leadership. She’ll have spent all of her effort building me up.”

“And if you don’t return, Mother?” Siuan asked softly.

“Then it will be better for the Aes Sedai to have a strong leader,” Egwene said. “If Lelaine has been the one to secure that strength, then so be it.”

Clever. And I like how Egwene points out the win-win nature of this situation. She’s not in this for herself – being Amyrlin isn’t some kind of power-trip. She doesn’t lack ambition, and she’s made use of it to get where she is, certainly. And she needed to. But her efforts now are wholly dedicated not to herself but to the White Tower. She is Amyrlin because Elaida is incompetent, and this is the best way Egwene sees to heal the Tower and see it to Tarmon Gai’don. But she will not put herself before the Tower; if she loses, or if for whatever reason she ends up unable to do what she needs to do, she can accept that another may need to take her place. She won’t destroy the Tower to keep her position. Which is a a large part of what sets her apart from Elaida.

“I’m actually learning to deal with my…new situation. It’s not so difficult to stomach, now that I see that it has some advantages.”

Egwene frowned, as if trying to figure out what advantages there could be in lessened power.

That’s very likely more than an abstract thought; Egwene is, after all, spending all her time dosed on forkroot and barely able to channel.

“Elayne once mentioned a room to me in the Tower, filled with objects of power. I assume it really exists?”

“Of course,” Siuan said. “The basement storeroom. It’s in the second level of the basement, on the northeast side. Little room with a plain wooden door, but you can’t miss it.”

OH HELL YES BRING OUT THE ANGREAL LET’S LEVEL THIS UP.

I mean. Um. Yes, good, thank you for that advice, Siuan, I’m sure it will come in handy.

“If there was a Forsaken in our camp, I’d bet half my father’s inn that there’s one spying on the White Tower too.”

Please let Egwene take out at least one of the Forsaken. She deserves it.

Next (TGS ch 9) Previous (TGS ch 7)

[didsomeonesayventus]

1-10!!!!

Do you try to stay away from walkthroughs?

Oh nah a walkthrough is generally my go to for learning about a game since I come from a big family that’s never really gotten the biggest releases right when they come out and I’m a broke college student now lol I just love being part of a discussion so I often seek out walkthroughs to find out what’s up! and I also have no shame in looking for help with how to do a certain quest or whatev I mean not everyone can get that and tbh who’s gonna know, okay?

 Company you're always loyal to?

Nintendo. Square Enix is love-hate tbh

 Best game you've ever played?

Look Wind Waker is a fucking perfect game FITE ME

Worst game you've ever played?

Uh.. IDK tbh.. I think......... like....................... IDK man I don’t really play BAD games that often lol

 A popular series/game you just can't get into no matter how much you try?

Oh man I really can’t get into Metal Gear Solid and I also think Fates is gonna be the only Fire Emblem I’ll really ever play tbh

 A game that's changed you the most?

I don’t think I’ve ever really played games that mind-blowing either tho but I gotta say I think I’ve gotten better at being social thanks to Kingdom Hearts and its weirdly accurate grasp on frienship

A game you'll never forget?

TBH Kingdom Hearts but also the Zelda series was like. my first games.

Best soundtrack?

uhhhhhh........ from Zelda Twilight Princess and Wind Waker, KH in general, The World Ends With You is also a good, Final Fantasy always has a good score, too. Child of Light also has a really good OST!!! OOOOHH and also Journey and Abzu and Banner Saga are good

do I really have to pick one thats so hard

A game you turn your volume off every time you play it?

I don’t really do that either!!!

A game you've completely given up on?

MOTHER FUCKING HYRULE WARRIORS WHY THE FUCKITY IS THE DIFFICULTY CURVE IN ADVENTURE MODE SHARPER THAN A FUCKING KNIFE STABBING ME IN THE BACK.