#does not allow herself to form opinions about things that make her feel powerless. but maxwell is smiling and polite and soft-spoken

[potatoesandsunshine]

maxwell trevelyan all you do is suffer...

[carlatsukinamistolemyhamsandwich]

Who do you think was the first to fall in love with Yui, Carla or Shin? Which of the two relationships do you think has the best development? And finally, if Giessbach and Krone were still alive, what do you think they would think of the relationship between their sons and Yui?

Ohhhh this is an interesting question, sorry I took so long to answer anon but I had to do a deep dive into Shin and Carla’s DF routes for this so it took a bit of time. I’ve split this into three different sections.

Who fell for Yui first?

This is a little tricky as these boys are not great at dealing with their feelings. What I’ve done is included a list of what I view as key moments in their relationships with her and when they occur in their DF routes.

(This post got REALLY long so I’m putting the rest of it under the cut).

Carla’s route

Dark 10 - Carla allows Yui to go to the library at school after she says she wants to read to distract herself from her current situation. Carla reflects that he did the same thing while confined to Banmaden and while this doesn’t show any feelings on his part, I do think it’s interesting that he draws such a comparison. In the Dark Epilogue they then have a conversation about books and this is the first instance of them bonding that we get in the route.

Maniac 06 - Carla catches the scent of a vampire on Yui after allowing her to go to library (she was talking to Mertz) and accuses her of using his fondness for reading to gain his sympathy. Carla himself is surprised at how angry he feels and while he refuses to acknowledge that it’s because he’d started to trust Yui and feels betrayed, that’s exactly what it is.

Maniac 09 - Carla reveals to Yui what he plans to do with her and basically says he’ll have sex with her right there (fortunately he’s stopped due to his Endzeit in the next scene). I don’t think I need to clarify that he’s not doing this because he feels things for Yui but I’ve mentioned a similar thing in Shin’s route so I feel it’s only fair I highlight this moment too.

Maniac 10 and Epilogue - After Carla collapses from Endzeit, Yui goes get help and Carla can’t understand why she comes back (i.e why she doesn’t run away) and starts to take care of him. Yui tells him that it’s because she feels compassion for him. Carla actually opens up a bit here about his feelings towards his father but goes back to being cold to Yui and pushing her away due to his hang-ups about how he should behave as a king. After Yui leaves he notes his heart is beating loudly and he starts to say he finds her scent irritating, before realizing it might be another feeling. Suffice to say Carla definitely feels something towards Yui at this point but good luck getting him to admit it.

Ecstasy Prologue - After a conversation with Yui, Carla notes that he felt happy because of her but is confused as to why. It’s because you like her you doofus. Again Carla is still in the phase of “feeling something but I’ll die before I admit it to anyone including myself”.

Ecstasy 06 and 07 - Here Yui recognizes her feelings for Carla. As for Carla, he allows Yui to hug him and asks her to dance with him. Once they finish, Carla tells her to go to Shin after he dies but when he’s alone he reflects that he actually doesn’t want Yui to go to anyone else. I would actually say that Carla’s started to love her by this point (or at least something very close to love) but he doesn’t properly admit it to Yui or himself until his vampire ending.

Shin’s route

Dark Epilogue - In my opinion this is the first instance where Shin goes from seeing Yui as just a thing to use to surpass his brother and actually seeing her as her own person. Shin takes care of Yui after she gets sick (although this is because he needs her alive and healthy for their plan rather than because he cares for her) and Yui thanks him. Shin is taken really off-guard by this, because the founders were strong enough that they never needed help (and so never had to thank anyone in return). He also notices scars she has from her time with the Sakamaki brothers and they remind him of the incident with his eye

Maniac 09 - Shin and Yui’s first kiss under less than great circumstances. After Carla tells Shin to hand over Yui and Shin fails to sway Mertz to his side, Shin decides to make Yui his by attempting to have sex with her (fortunately Carla interrupts them before he can do any more than kiss her) (Just as a quick aside, Shin very much seems to associate sex with ownership, as this comes up in Ruki’s DF route too. What he’s doing is very very wrong but I just want to explain his mind set a bit). Now what he’s doing here is dreadful and Shin is definitely not doing this because he loves her. I don’t think he feels nothing for her here either (based on a scene that happens immediately after this) but he’s still very much just trying to one-up Carla.

Maniac 10 - As punishment for what happened above, Carla sucks Yui’s blood in front of Shin while Shin begs him to stop. This is again partly about not wanting to lose to Carla but based on the dialogue I also think this is the first real moment we get any indication that Shin might have some form of actual feelings for Yui. Towards the end of this scene, Yui also protects Shin from Carla’s magic by getting in the way and Yui notes that there was pain on Shin’s face just before she gets hit with and blacks out.

Maniac Epilogue - In this scene we get one of the most important conversations in the development of Shin and Yui’s relationship. Shin asks why Yui tried to save him considering everything he’s done to her and Yui replies that she doesn’t want him to suffer because she know what it’s like to suffer. Shin naturally doesn’t understand her actions at all and says he wants to kill her because her attitude pisses him off (he isn’t serious, he just doesn’t know what to do and so acts like an idiot) but before that  he’ll give her a nice memory by holding her close to him for warmth. Here, I believe Shin actually starts to see that he has something in common with Yui, she feels powerless against him in the same way that he feels weak compared to Carla (although you have to read into the dialogue a bit to come to this conclusion).

Ecstasy 07 - While Yui is taking care of Carla after his condition dramatically worsens (due to Endzeit), Shin reflects that it’s the first time he’s met someone like her and that if they’d met normally she probably would have gotten along with Carla and become his. Shin is definitely feeling things at this point and starting to realize it but he’s not quite there yet.

Ecstasy 09 - After Yui asks Shin not to go and fight Karlheinz for Carla’s sake, Shin views that as her choosing Carla over him and in a monologue he says that he wanted her to choose him and thought she already had. Yui finds him because she wants to talk to him and Shin kisses her and accuses her of wanting to flirt with Carla (because he’s hopelessly insecure and also an idiot). Yui then says she belongs to him and Shin frickin melts. This is where he goes from “cares about her and has started to admit it himself” to “genuinely cares about her”. There’s a bit more on Shin’s feelings for her in his Vampire ending but I think this is where I’ll stop for now.

Comparing the two routes side by side I’d actually say Carla starts to develop feelings for Yui faster than Shin does but  has a much harder time admitting it because of his “I am the mighty Founder King, I can’t have feelings for a fragile human” mind set. Shin has a bit more of a narrow worldview in terms of believing in the absolute superiority of the founders and being incredibly focused on surpassing Carla, which is why I think he’s a bit slower to come around to her (although it’s really not by that much) but I do think he’s much more honest with himself regarding his feelings towards Yui when he does develop them.

Which relationship has the best development? 

Urgh... this is really hard as it depends heavily on whether I’m just looking for at them initially falling for her (DF) or the other routes too.

Just based on DF, I’d actually say Carla and Yui’s relationship has the best development, as it actually addresses some of Carla’s issues. Part of Carla accepting his feelings for Yui is him confronting his idea that kings cannot express their emotions and his own loneliness as well. Even when the other founders were alive, Giesbach’s treatment of him and his own duties/position as heir to throne, left Carla very isolated. While his mother genuinely cared for him, there was little she could do, and in asking him to kill Giesbach (although for the good of their people) it put an immense amount of pressure on him. This combined with Yui telling Carla that it’s okay for him to be selfish, or rather to be true to his own feelings rather than trying to act how he perceives a king should be, is why their relationship is really important to Carla’s character.

Now I love Shin to death but I don’t think the progression of his and Yui’s relationship is quite as nice in DF. A lot of Shin’s route is just dealing with his complicated feelings towards Carla, rather than focusing on his relationship with Yui and while she is crucial in getting him to go back to Banmaden and have that final confrontation with Carla in his vampire ending, ultimately the brothers have to discuss things on their own for Shin to get any sort of closure on that front.

However if I’m looking at the series overall (i.e. DF and beyond to LE and later CDs) then I think Shin and Yui’s relationship has the best development, as he goes from the prideful “humans are dirt under my feet” attitude at the start of DF to actually relying on Yui in his LE route and being glad that he didn’t die in the incident where the Vibora took his eye. He says this in his Born to Die CD and for anyone less familiar with his character I want to point out how much of a big deal this is. Shin’s pride as a founder is a huge part of his character and I’d say he loves the first bloods and believes in their superiority even more so than Carla does. So for him, Carla, the person he looked up to above all others and the future founder king, lowering his head to one of the sub-races was not worth Shin’s life. He says as much in the moment and later when discussing it, that to him it would have been better to die than to see Carla sacrifice some of his (and the founders’) pride. Which is why when he then tells Yui that he’s glad he didn’t die because it otherwise they wouldn’t have met, it really shows how much she (and their relationship) has come to mean to him.

With Carla I feel like the majority of his issues are tackled in DF and while the fact he’s willing to become a ghoul, in order to prolong his life with Yui (and admittedly get revenge for Shin) in his LE vampire ending is also pretty big, I don’t think he’s much more of a stretch for him from DF where he went to Karlheinz (Karlheinz, the person who confined him to Banmaden for centuries) to plead for Yui’s life. I think that although Yui is very important to Carla, Shin is more impacted by being with her in the long time and I like that their relationship continues to develop from DF.

How would Krone and Giesbach react?

Giesbach disapproved of basically everything Carla ever did so I can’t see him being happy with Carla in any scenario. At best I think he’d make nasty comments about how founders (and especially founder royalty) should not lower themselves by having relations with a human and at worst I think they’d be actual threats.

I can’t see Giesbach being thrilled by Yui being with Shin either (he was not a very nice person by the end guys), but that’s because I don’t think he’d view her as being good enough for Shin. If Shin was adamant about being with her then, I don’t think he would do anything to force them apart (because Giesbach did love Shin) but it would lead to some awkward family dinners.

Krone, on the other hand, would probably just be happy that either of her sons had found someone who made them happy.

On a serious note, one thing that I don’t normally mention on this blog but think I should here; although I love DF and the Tsukinami brothers, the idea that anyone who treats you as they do at the start of DF will fall in love with you just because you’re nice to them is for fiction only. I trust you guys to be sensible and keep yourselves safe but I thought I should bring this up when discussing the idea of the boys falling in love with Yui because I don’t want anyone to think that I’m romanticizing what Yui goes through. If you were to meet anyone like the Tsuki bros as they are at the start of DF irl then you should run for the hills and not look back.

I hope this answers your questions anon! Again, sorry I took so long ^^;;

[unicyclehippo]

Can we get more of the “beau feels powerless/dragon didn’t give anything” story? I wanna know what zolly’s opinion on the matter was lol.

the dragon is coming with them, apparently. the trek down the mountainside takes much of the morning—would have taken longer but about an hour to the base, they had heard the cacophony of ice and stone and fury as zoelfir tore apart the remainder of what had been their nest, and had become their prison. the avalanche that slid and tumbled and tore down the mountain as zolly did so had caleb and jester leaping from the rocks as immense eagles, their friends clutched in each claw.

the tressveld forest clings tight to the base of the mountain, dense and dark and from the air is looks like a skirt of green rippling out in hills and vales from the ivory peaks. caleb and jester set down on the edge, a wary eye turned to the mountain in case the avalanche follows them so far.

‘so...back to xhorhaus?’

caleb screeches.

‘dude, shut the fuck up. do you want every dire wolf from miles around to come try and eat us?’

caleb shuffles, bobs his head and taps her hard on the skull. tries to, anyway. beau ducks away, raps a knuckle on his beak.

‘are we teleporting or what?’

‘well if you had stayed to talk with zolly last night,’ nott begins, sounding for all the world like she’s half a second from adding something like, this is your own fault, beauregard, if you had been listening you’d know...

beau scowls hard. ‘it’s a yes or a fucking no, nott.’

‘a fucking no? the no has to be fucking?’

‘nott,’

‘we’re waiting for zolly,’ she finally concedes. ‘caleb is taking us to nicodranas.’

beau’s eyes slide across to jester on instinct; it’s hard to tell as an eagle whether she’s happy about that, though beau is pretty sure she would be. it’s been a few weeks, maybe a month, since they’ve managed to make their way to the coast and she knows jester has been missing her mama.

‘oh.’

a large dark eye rolls to looks at beau very quickly before the eagle turns her attention back to the mountain. powerful muscles in the legs and wings bunch and jester-eagle lifts into the air, buffeting pine needles and debris into everyone’s faces as she flies up, circles around where they are. after a moment, they see what the eagle eyes had seen first—the awesome form of a silver dragon emerging from the fog clouds above and winding its way toward them.

caleb drops his form, pulling yasha and fjord aside to clear a large enough space for his circle. the ground is frozen almost solid and they have to work diligently for the few minutes it takes for zoelfir to land a hundred or so feet from them and transform.

the dragon has taken the same form—a short, darker skinned woman with silver hair—and waves cheerfully when they emerge from the treeline. they’re limping slightly; no injury apparent but perhaps exhaustion, perhaps unused to exertion after so long being bound.

‘is this someone you know?’ beau asks when zolly is closer.

‘hmm? this?’ the dragon gestures toward their form. ‘yes, indeed! excellent question, keen mind. yes, she was a friend of mine oh, some years back now.’

‘what’d she do?’

‘do?’ zolly asks, forehead crinkling into many lines.

‘y’know. was she a knight or like a wizard or something?’

‘she made the most exquisite tapestries.’ zolly’s eyes grow distant, taking on a faint sheen as their concentration slips. ‘i had one commissioned but i was...indisposed before i could collect it.’

‘indisposed?’ fjord asks. he wipes a drop of sweat from his forehead, which crackles like ice in the chilly morning.

‘they were locked up,’ beau says. jerks their chin toward the mountain.

zolly grimaces. ‘indeed. well, onto the coast, yes?’

‘take the first portal outta here, hey? drown your sorrows at the sea side.’

‘what is it called now?’ zolly continues, though their eyes drift over to beau. she’d said it as a snide nothing comment, but dragons must have keen hearing because that look certainly says that they heard. ‘i’d dearly love to look at that map again, if i might.’

‘menagerie coast,’ fjord says with a nod, pulling their map case from the bag of holding. ‘nicodranas is—yasha, would you?’

‘oh yah, sure.’

fjord holds the map up flat against yasha’s back, taps his finger against nicodranas. ‘and port domali you asked about, that’s here,’

‘i see, i see, yes,’

‘twelve seconds until completion,’ caleb announces. jester giggles. as though she hadn’t, he continues in a quick, clear monotone. ‘remember to enter the teleportation circle as quickly as possible. all items should be carried on your person. do not run.’

‘why not?’

caleb’s hand, white with chalk, hovers over the final line. he cuts a quick look up to fjord and smiles. ‘you are welcome to try, if you wish,’ he says.

fjord leans sideways, says in a loud whisper, ‘that’s a dare, right?’

‘for sure.’

‘that’s a bad thing, coming from caleb?’

‘for sure.’

‘thought so.’

fjord runs through the circle. when beau emerges, she finds him clutching his face, nose bleeding freely.

‘there’th a wall,’ he tells beau. ‘don’t run.’

//

zoelfir knows yussa, as it turns out. they talk for a night, the mighty nein as yussa’s guest, and later in the night when restlessness strikes her, beau overhears quiet apologies between the regal elf and the dragon. minor explanations but mostly the clinking of tea cups in saucers and the crackling of fire.

beau hesitates between the stairs and the landing, wondering how bad it would be to eavesdrop on these people. but curiosity gnaws at her gut and so she slinks forward to the doorway and presses her back to the wall to listen.

‘—your fault, yusandrin. i never expected you to come looking for me after how we parted,’

‘that? a minor squabble?’

‘then what,’

‘there was a war, zoelfir,’ yussa says, and the voice sounds much older and richer than it ever has with the nein. he sounds like someone who has lived for centuries and not only seen them all unfold but lived in them, truly. ‘there was a war and i called upon you and you didn’t come. now i understand, you had already been trapped but then...’

‘you didn’t come looking for me because i abandoned you first.’

‘you always said it was my ugliest trait,’

‘well, you had to have one, my dear.’

a companionable laugh pulls from yussa, almost reluctantly, or as though he had nearly forgotten how. then,

‘if you don’t come in, little snoop,’ zoelfir says, tone bright and jovial as the glint off silver coins, ‘i shall freeze you where you stand.’

beau’s heart slams in her chest. she considers for a moment retreating up the steps but caught is caught. she steps around the arch, lie on the tip of her tongue—but zoelfir is smiling and yussa just sighs and clicks his fingers and summons a third chair at the fireside.

‘do not tell anyone i know zoelfir,’ is all yussa says. ‘my reputation would never recover.’

‘your reputation would improve and you know it, you bore. beauregard,’ they say, turning that smile on her. ‘couldn’t sleep?’

‘something like that.’

zoelfir casts their attention down to the pack at her side. ‘headed out already?’

beau shifts. sets it down behind the seat. ‘something like that.’

‘mysterious,’ the dragon says, and the small hissing laugh that accompanies their comment isn’t patronising or mocking. just amused.

it sucks. beau wants so badly to hate this dragon, this being who put her mediocrity so clearly into view. but she can’t. they’re fascinating, and effortlessly charming in a way that comes with power and age and a deep and powerful kindness despite what could easily have been centuries of torment.

‘where are you headed?’ yussa asks, floating a cup over to her and looking somewhat impatiently toward his summoned chair.

beau sits. takes the cup. ‘port domali. there’s an archive there and i can see what’s up, or head on to zadash from there maybe. maybe the capital.’

‘no real plans then?’

‘don’t pry, yusandrin.’

‘it’s my business to pry.’ yussa arches a brow. ‘well? i gather from your creeping about my tower in the middle of the night while the rest of your fellows sleep that this is an... unsanctioned journey?’

‘i wouldn’t call it creeping.’

‘yes, let’s focus on the most minor of details, shall we?’ yussa tone doesn’t shift from sharp, cool, but somehow beau knows it’s close to teasing for him. she still allows herself to bristle.

‘i don’t have to tell you shit. we rescued your friend when you couldn’t be assed to check up on them for, what, three hundred fucking years? maybe ask them a few questions before you go poking at me.’

yussa’s lips press flat and white in his bronzed face for a moment, just long enough for beau to think oh shit, and then the moment has passed. yussa turns away from her.

beau watches his eyes. watches him almost start at the glimpse of zoelfir to his right, as though for a split second he thought—feared?—he had made them up. imagined their reunion. yussa’s eyes skate around the round face, linger on the flow of silver hair.

‘you are headed to port domali, are you not?’

zolly smiles. sharp teeth and all. ‘i am. maybe i’ll tag along with the good archivist here,’

‘expositor.’

zoelfir blinks. ‘expositor. how does that sound? yussa can magic us to his nest in that port and we can have a little wander, a little explore, and,’

‘why?’

‘hm?’

‘why would you wanna come with me? is there something in the library you want?’

zoelfir blinks again. dark eyes revert to the dragons natural mercurial silver. ‘my dear, i’m a traveller. i said that the first time we spoke. i want to see everything—it’s all changed, it’s all new again.’ they chuckle. ‘a silver lining.’

‘but why me? you’ll see all kinds of stuff with the others.’

zoelfir shakes their head. ‘you and i aren’t done yet.’

‘done?’

‘i gave the others a boon,’ zoelfir tells her as if she doesn’t know that already, as if it hasn’t been giving her heartburn or the emotional equivalent. to the side, yussa—always so put together, so unshakeable—splutters on his tea. boons? zoelfir ignores him. ‘my debt to them is paid. my debt to you is not.’

‘your...debt?’ beau sets her tea down. lifts a shaking hand to her head, scratches at the shaggy undercut. ‘what?’

‘the boon i owe you. it is unfulfilled.’

‘I—first of all, you don’t owe us shit, of course we were gonna get you out of there, and second—‘ beau hesitates.

‘second?’

‘i—you dont owe me shit,’

‘you already said that.’

‘but—me, i mean. i didn’t help.’

‘nonsense,’ zoelfir waves a hand dismissively. ‘you who found the maps to the sanctum? you who translated the writings in the tomes? who found the door?’

‘i didn’t help you, though,’

‘you are part and party to those who hit a little harder to that fucker,’ zoelfir tells her. ‘and it’s my boon to give, you don’t get to argue about that.’

for all their being probably well over five or six hundred years old, zoelfir sounds about two seconds from adding so there to the end of that announcement.

beau just shakes her head. ‘why didn’t—why not give me a boon then and there?’

‘one didn’t present itself.’ when it’s clear she doesn’t understand—because she doesn’t—zoelfir hums, trying to find the words. ‘the wizard,’

‘caleb.’

‘i could feel his connection with flame intensely. it was both fear and love, shame and desire. the boon showed itself to me easily. the healer,’

‘jester.’

‘was the same. well within my power to give. her love of cold and mischief...’ zoelfir purses their lips as if to whistle and a quick wind escapes them, slightly fogged, and whips through the room. yussa complains as his books and notes ruffle and rustle, shivering on the shelves, but makes no move to stop his friend. ‘the same too with the others. but you,’ zoelfir hums. ‘i don’t know what you want.’

beau doesn’t know whether to believe them or not, so she just sits with it. ‘can i ask for something?’

‘that’s not really how it works.’

‘oh.’

zoelfir smiles. ‘hence, why i wish to travel with you. to understand what would aid you.’

‘maybe some magic fuckin powers so i don’t let down my friends,’ beau mutters.

zoelfir’s eyes turn very cold and shrewd. ‘it is within my power,’ they tell her. ‘would you accept?’

she almost says yes. she almost does, but something in her revolts at the idea of being given something. her whole life she has fought and stolen and scrapped for everything she has and...

‘no,’ zoelfir says, agrees, sitting back in their chair with a nod. ‘you see? a tough nut to crack, you are.’

‘and i do not think these friends of yours would be half so pleased with their lot if you had not been with them, beauregard,’ yussa comments, having recovered from his minor spluttering fit with no apparent damage down to his fine robes. ‘you are remarkably clever. astute. i have been impressed by you.’

beau shrugs. as nice as it is for him to say it, he’s not the one she needs to hear it from. fuck, she’s not sure she needs to hear it from anyone; beau’s whole thing is truth, finding truth, and she knows the truth. she’s a simple magicless human, and her friends need more.

‘how soon can you send me to port domali?’

yussa hesitates. minutely, a fingernail scraping over the curling handle to his cup. ‘as soon as you wish to leave.’

‘now.’

‘now, then,’ yussa agrees, and zoelfir stands with them both. conjures a pack from somewhere and a slight walking stick. similar to beau’s staff but of a silvery wood. birch, maybe?

‘aesthetics,’ zoelfir says, rather delightedly. ‘shall we?’

[din0pants-blog]

How do you think Diego would cope with losing Scary Monsters and getting his actual stand, The World?

Okay, so I do have a request in my askbox that was sent before this one, but I’m going to answer this one first because I suppose it’s more of a “How do you think this character would respond to this situation?” sort of thing than a regular request. Well, that, and I think I’d be able to get this one done much more quickly [Edit from after this has been fully typed: This actually took me a lot longer than I thought it would. Oops] than the other request I have waiting in the wings (it’s a bit of a doozy; headcanons and a scenario all in one package lol). Plus this question intrigues me greatly and it’s really making the gears in my head turn.

How would Diego react to such a thing happening?

Well, here’s what I think:

I don’t know what the general consensus would be, so I’m not going to claim that my opinion on the matter necessarily goes against the grain or anything like that, but I personally think that Diego wouldn’t take such an occurrence very well at all.

The World is a lonely Stand, one with an ability that temporarilystops time for all but its user, allowing them to influence the world around them completely undetected while The World’s power is in effect. I’ll explain what I mean about it being “a lonely Stand” in more depth and how I feel it relates to Diego in a bit. First, let me give some relevant background, if only for the sake of providing context to the point I’m trying to make.

Diego Brando is an individual who has been hurt by the selfishness and inaction of others. As a child, his mother had worked herself to the bone and beyond, sacrificing everything for him… except her dignity. She had always refused to give up her dignity and taught Diego to do the same, to never give up his dignity for any reason. Though she had ultimately lost her life to tetanus when Diego was still young, she had never lost her dignity. Diego was angered by what happened to his mother. After all, he loved her dearly and she was mistreated and taken advantage of, and even in the midst of her mistreatment, no one who was able had ever spoke up or raised even a finger to come to her aid. Embittered despite this tragedy–losing the only person in his life who had ever cared about him–Diego became vengeful, some level of misanthropic (though not as much so as Dio, his Phantom Blood ‘Verse counterpart), but most of all, he gained a sense of determination. He became determined to always maintain his dignity, determined to get revenge on those who directly and indirectly had a hand in his mother’s death, and determined to rise above people like those who had wronged his beloved mother in such a way and to rule over them.

So what do I mean when I call The World “a lonely Stand”?

As I established earlier, The World briefly stops time for everyone except its user–in this case, Diego–who is free to do as he wishes within stopped time. Diego is the only one who can move around in stopped time. Within it, he is alone. His subjects are powerless, unable to react. With The World, he is the king of a wasteland and his subjects corpses (I’m being metaphorical, of course). Is that the kind of power Diego Brando wants? I’d argue no. It’s an empty sort of authority. It’s empty and pointless.

On the other hand, Scary Monsters is truly a Stand that fits Diego and his desires much better than The World does. It’s a primal sort of Stand ability, which not only provides a nice contrast to Diego’s oftentimes relatively calm and collected demeanor, but also compliments his innermost desires, wanting to rule over those who would have caused him pain in the past and those who he deems to be like them or otherwise just as guilty, those who refuse to act in the defense of a vulnerable party. In fact, let’s look at what Diego says in Chapter 75 of SBR, D4C Part 8:

“Iwon’t try to dress it up. At their base, humans are no different froma flock of pigeons. If one bird flies right, they all go right. Everylast one of them don’t try to see but their own gain and their ownhubris. They’re all just an assembly of pretenders. For those kindsof people, it may have been all right for my mother’s death to beswept under the rug, but… I will have them pretend even more, Iwill stand far above from that flock of pigeons and I will controlthem!”

We can tell from this that alongside his desire to rule over others (seeing them as pigeons who basically play an instinctual game of Simon Says), he arguably has a strong sense of justice, however twisted it may be. He wants to see those “pretenders” (like those he feels to be responsible for what happened to his mother) ultimately be crushed under the weight of their own selfishness and hypocrisy. True to form, Diego doesn’t pretend to be someone he’s not. What you see is what you get and he won’t put on a mask to pander to others or for any other reason.

That said, Scary Monsters is also a more appropriate and fitting Stand for Diego because he is able to control others with its ability, turning any macroscopic living thing–from plants to insects to larger animals and even people–into dinosaurs that will obey him unquestioningly.

The way I describe both abilities probably makes them both sound lonely, but I do see a difference. The World allows a kind of control that is more akin to ownership, like children playing with dolls. Scary Monsters, on the other hand, provides a kind of control that is more like forcefully snatching away the free will of someone who Diego would probably think isn’t even making appropriate use of it.

In short, Scary Monsters is more appropriate for someone who wants to rule over and control people.

The World is more appropriate for someone who wants to own and control everything.

And despite Diego’s bitterness, ambition, and twisted sense of justice, he is not the megalomaniac that Dio is.

Okay, so that’s all well and good, but what’s the point of everything I’ve said up until now?

The point–the point I’ve been leading up to–is this: I do not believe that Diego–having originally had Scary Monsters–would cope well with his Stand being replaced with The World. He doesn’t want the empty kingdom that it would provide him. The World would frustrate him, someone who had the kind of power he wanted and needed beforehand. I feel that he would become even more bitter and withdrawn than he already is. I feel that he would feel mocked by a world that has already never been kind to him unless he worked tooth and nail.

And I feel that, perhaps… that it could even lead to him becoming more like his other world counterpart: colder, more calculating, even cruel and sadistic as he’s forced to use a power that could only provide him dissatisfaction.

[sorenmarie87]

Sugar (Yes Please)

Summary: You have feelings for Crowley but when you see him on a date with someone else, you don’t know how to deal with it.   Square Filled: Fake Dating  Ship: eventual Crowley x Reader 

Word Count - 1,781

Warnings -  None.

A/N - Written for @spnfluffbingo  All grammar mistakes are my own but thank you @fictionalabyss​ for looking this over <3

Forever Tags - @lovetusk​ @dragongirl420 ​@mirajanefairytailmage​ @kazosa​ @soythedemonqueen​

SPN Tags - @clockworkmorningglory

SPN Crowley Tags - @gettinjoyful @wholita

Whoever said that the heart wants what it wants, needed a swift kick in the ass.  You never wanted to develop feelings for the King of Hell but you had, but you were in no hurry to tell him.  You overheard him talking to the boys on a case and you decided that you were better off burying those feelings deep down.  You were drinking alone in your living room with a bottle beside you and were currently nursing your second glass of whiskey.  You were curled up with a blanket on your couch, with your television quietly playing in the background when you spaced out.  Right now you were reminiscing about how you met the boys and Crowley.

The Winchesters were acquaintances of your father and the three of you worked on a few cases together but you had originally met Crowley when you found Juliet injured.  You heard her whining in an opening of the forest and when you spotted her, you were kind of confused.  No one could actually see what the hellhounds looked like without, but somehow you could see her true form.  You inched closer to the whining hellhound with your hand out to help her out but there was something momentarily stopping you.

“I wouldn't do that if I were you.”  You turned around and saw Crowley standing behind you.  

“She's injured though…”  

He raised his eyebrow and glanced at you.  How could you - a complete mortal see Juliet for one but also see how she was injured.  He was confused yet curious about how something like this was possible.  

The next time you ran into Crowley - there was something different about him.  It was like he was almost human but you knew that couldn't be possible.  You had splurged and took the boys out for a fancy dinner and drinks.  They explained everything that had happened - they were trying to close the gates of hell and the last trial however was curing a demon.  Dean brought it up that it was almost done but something made them back out and Crowley was acting different.  

In a private booth on the other side of the restaurant - Crowley was dining with his date for the evening.  His date was going on about some mundane but he found himself thinking of you.  He never thought it was possible to develop feelings for a human but he knew you would never feel the same way he did.  

“Are you even listening to a thing I’m saying?”

“Of course I am, what kind of gentleman would I be if I didn’t?”  She grinned and he sighed internally.  ‘That should placate her for the time being.  This woman talks so much though - honestly it’s like mother is across the table from me.  Y/N doesn’t talk that much.  I wonder how she’s doing.’  

The two of you looked up at the same time and your eyes met.  You waved and Crowley had no idea what to do.  He immediately turned his attention back to his date, and you felt your jaw clench.  ‘I’m not jealous… I’m not.  He’s allowed to see whoever he wants.  No one said I had to like it’  “Y/N are you okay?”  

You were off in your own world that you completely forgot Sam and Dean were with you.  “I’m fine.”  Dean muttered something to himself as you picked at the food you ordered.  They continued their conversation and you heard her laughter from behind you.  Rolling your eyes, you excused yourself for a few seconds as you made your way to the bathroom.   You passed by the booth and when you looked over, you noticed her hand on Crowley’s thigh.  ‘It's none of your business Y/N.  Just go to the bathroom and make your way back to the table.  Just ignore them.’  

You entered the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror.  ‘What does she have that I don't?’  You turned the knob to the sink in front and splashed some water on your face.  You see a roll of paper towels on top of the dispenser and reach for them, ripping a few from the roll you wipe your face off and make your way back to your table.  When you pass by their table however, Crowley and this woman - you've named Sarah in your mind - are making out hot and heavy as you pass by.

You clench your fist and make your way back to where Sam and Dean are.  You hand them the money for the evening but inform them you need to go. The last thing you want to do is break down in front of them.  

Sarah pulls away from Crowley, out of breath but is extra giddy now.  She continues to prattle on as Crowley takes a swig of his drink.  He peeks over at your table but when he notices you're not there, he sighs.  

--

You were still trying to get over the events of last night when there was a knock on your front door.  With a huff, you got off your bed and made it the front room when the knocking stopped.  You opened the door slightly and poked your head outside.  No one was there but there was a basket of the things you liked.  You didn't know this but across the street was one of Crowley's most trusted demons, watching out for you.  

Placing the basket on the island in your kitchen, you unwrapped the cellophane around the basket and you smiled at the card that was right on top.

‘'Y/N/N - we put this basket together for you after last night.  So wear this when you go out,  spoil yourself and then go see that movie you've been wanting see.  Just treat yourself.  Don't worry about anyone but yourself.  - Sam and Dean.”

Removing the outfit from the basket, you were still smiling as you made your way to the bathroom and turned on your shower.  You shampooed and conditioned your hair, and shaved everywhere you needed.  Feeling refreshed, you changed into your new outfit and took a look in your full length mirror and smiled.  They picked out a red tartan bow skirt, a black crop sweater and a pair of black suede heels to go with it.  You took a photo and sent it to the boys, thanking them.  You smiled when they texted back that you looked amazing and to enjoy your day.   ‘These boys I swear.  I'll have to find something for them later.’  

You gathered up your cell, your wallet, and car keys and made your way out to your car.  You sighed as you turned the ignition on and thought where you were going to go first.  

--

You spent way too much in the bookstore, so when you hit the next store, you were going to try and limit yourself.  There were a lot of cute clothes and when you spotted something you were interested in, you noticed Crowley and Sarah were walking around the shop.  ‘Son of a bitch.  I didn't want to see them.’  You had a few outfits picked to try on and you walked right by the two of them.

You made it to the dressing rooms and tried on your first two outfits.  They were exactly what you wanted but when you looked back at the dress you picked out, you were unsure.  You slid the red lace  dress over your frame and looked in the mirror afterwards.  

You knew there were larger mirrors outside, so peeking out you made your way towards them.  Crowley was sitting beside another stall and when he noticed you, his heart almost stopped.  You saw him in the reflection of the mirror and turned to look at him.

“You look absolutely stunning love.”  You flushed at the compliment but ran back into your dressing room before Sarah came back.  You removed the dress carefully but while you were changing back into your normal outfit, you heard Sarah asking Crowley's opinion of what she picked out.  Gathering up everything you intended to buy, you made your way up to the front of the shop to pay for what you had but when the clerk rang you up and proceeded to tell that your purchase was already taken care of.

You looked over your shoulder and Crowley winked at you.  You hurried out of the shop and released the breath you didn't know you were holding.  Shifting the bags you had, you glanced at the time on your cell.  You made your way towards the movie theatre and when you handed your ticket over, you heard someone scoff.

“Why is she everywhere we go?”  You felt your jaw clench but Crowley held his hand up and Sarah stopped talking.  You made your way to the number #5 theatre and made your way to the very back row.  Heels clacked up the stairs and you sighed.  Of course they'd be seeing the same movie but you heard Sarah grumbling.

“I think that girl is following us, poor thing.  Who goes shopping alone and watches a movie by herself?”  

“Can you stop talking about someone you don't even know?” You heard Crowley sigh and Sarah rolled her eyes.

“Why should I?”

“She’s a lovely individual and you have no right speaking about her like that.”

“You act like you know her Crowley. Do you?”

“Of course I know her you sodding cow - if I wasn't here with you, I'd be back there with her…”  

“Why bother asking me out again if you were having such a horrible.time?”

“She wouldn't have me the way I am now.  I'm the King of Hell but right now all I feel is weak and powerless.  Y/N wouldn't want me like this.”

You honestly were shocked by what you just heard.  Sarah was fuming but she stormed off, leaving Crowley to sit by himself.  You left your bags by your seat and walked down the steps to where he was.  You pulled his hands into yours and looked him straight in the eyes  “Did you mean all that?”

“Of course I meant it.”

You attempted to pull him up from his seat but when he didn't budge, you sighed.  “Do you wanna watch this movie with me now that Sarah's gone?”  He smiled at you and snapped his fingers bringing your bags down by them.  You took the seat next to him and Crowley released your hand only to pull the seat guard up and pull you close to him.  With another snap of his fingers, the theatre dimmed and when the movie started, you realized how lucky you were.  

[moonlitgleek]

Honestly, the argument over Lyanna’s consent could easily be settled by answering only four questions:

Was her consent voluntary?

Was her consent free?

Was her consent informed?

Was her consent ongoing?

I’m going to set aside Lyanna’s age for now despite how this alone invalidates any argument for consent since Lyanna was a minor even by Westerosi standards and thus incapable of giving consent. But I know that people will come out from the woodworks claiming that “this was how things were back then” which is factually incorrect, and “we shouldn’t apply our modern world’s rules to medieval period” which…. why shouldn’t I? The text calls Lyanna a “child-woman” and goes a long way in establishing her youngness, powerlessness and impulsiveness. It shows how a somewhat similar “relationship” between Cersei and Lancel - which also includes a fucked up power dynamic and an older “partner” using the younger one’s naivete for their own purposes - was devastating to Lancel’s psyche. We argue about the skewness of Dany\Drogo and what it means for the definition of their relationship, we argue about how Cersei and Lancel’s relationship could not be considered consensual despite Lancel saying yes. So why should I ignore the same considerations when it comes to Lyanna and Rhaegar?

However, let’s put that aside for a little while as we try to answer the above questions. Consent is not just about saying yes: for Lyanna’s consent to be valid and accepted, it had to be voluntary, free, informed and ongoing, otherwise it was not consent. But did these adjectives truly apply to Lyanna’s situation?

Was Lyanna’s consent voluntary?

Or did it involve any form of coercion, manipulation or pressure? Was it given on an equal ground that allows Lyanna to give consent without feeling any pressure or compulsion to do it?

From the very start, the power imbalance makes it close to impossible for Lyanna to give a voluntary consent. She was in a very vulnerable position: a 14 years old maid faced by an adult crown prince and his loyal Kingsguard, being trumped on account of both age and rank. The power dynamic is heavily skewed in Rhaegar’s favor here, which not only casts shadows on Lyanna’s assent but makes her ability to even express it in doubt since the situation would put tremendous pressure on her, simply based on the difference in age and rank.

But it goes beyond that. Oftentimes when the topic of consent is raised, it’s either the circumstances under which Lyanna disappeared or her experience at the Tower of Joy that are the subject of discussion. But I want to start a bit earlier than that, namely at the Tourney of Harrenha,l since we can’t really separate the events of the tourney from what happened next, not if we want to have a more thorough examination of this plot.

Rhaegar’s actions at the tourney are not usually discussed wrt Lyanna’s consent, even though they are actually the first clue that something is entirely wrong with this scenario. Much has been said about how dumb a political move Rhaegar’s crowning of Lyanna was; how it broke chivalric code and alienated two paramount families in one stroke while severely offending a third; how it was an insult to the honor of Lyanna and House Stark, etc, but not much about why Rhaegar chose to do it in spite of all these considerations. What did he hope to achieve with this stunt that posed an insult to both his wife and Lyanna, and that framed the latter as a royal mistress? Many people - myself included - have attributed that to an ill-fated attempt to reward Lyanna for her actions as the Knight of the Laughing Tree or even a nod of respect to her valor, but the thing is that Rhaegar was not unaware of the implications of his actions. He couldn’t have been ignorant of the insult he was dealing Lyanna, the Starks, and Robert and so if this was genuinely meant as only a reward or an acknowledgement of Lyanna, it defeated its purpose. You do not show respect to someone by publicly sullying their honor. Now I’m of the opinion that Rhaegar’s interest in Lyanna as the mother for his third child started at Harrenhal and before he found out that Elia could not have more children, so in light of that, what did Rhaegar have to win by declaring his designs on Lyanna so publicly, something that could only ever make it harder for him to have her? What purpose did that stunt serve and how does it fall in line with anything we know of Rhaegar? I find it very hard to believe that he committed such an outlandish blunder without a purpose and for absolutely no pressing reason. That crowning must have served Rhaegar’s interests somehow, otherwise he wouldn’t have risked so much doing it.

The only answer I can find lies with Lyanna herself, lies in the theory that Rhaegar’s actions were designed to appeal personally to Lyanna. Through her actions as the Knight of the Laughing Tree, Rhaegar knew her to be someone who put stock in honor and rules of chivalry so he controlled the image he presented to her from the get go. Rhaegar was a part of chivalric culture and he knew the importance of symbol and image politics; he probably already planned to use his chivalric image to appeal to the gathered lords as a better alternative for Aerys, but instead he used it to shape Lyanna’s opinion of him to guarantee a favorable outlook that would later help him convince her to run away with him. Rhaegar knew the worth of chivarlic action, one of its cornerstones being the crowning of queen of love and beauty at tourneys. By crowning Lyanna, Rhaegar projected to her an image of the chivalric prince who cherished her actions as the Knight of the Laughing Tree and sought to honor them, a complete opposite to what Robert would have done.

It’s also worth noting that the crowning fits perfectly into the romanticized idea of courtly love that is widely regarded as pure and ennobling (and that includes the  in-universe view. Look at how fond the singers are of the story of Queen Naerys and Prince Aemon the Dragonknight) which is something that must have appealed to a maid of fourteen with romantic inclinations who cried upon hearing Rhaegar’s song. That, in and of itself, is a strike against Rhaegar imo. He knew what his actions really meant and what they implied to the gathered lords. He knew he was breaking chivalric code and dealing a grave insult to many people, but he still chose to use a romantic chivalric notion to play on Lyanna's naivete, romanticism and even her sense of honor, and to project an image to her that, while not completely false, is still not honest. This was not simply a matter of Rhaegar appreciating Lyanna’s spirit, or even falling in love with her; he had ulterior motives driving his action to the point where he chose to insult so many people to ensure his objective: making Lyanna Stark enamored with the idea of him as someone who would not stifle her or force her into a specific box. Which, of course, was a lie.

That brings me to the circumstances of Lyanna’s disappearance from the Riverlands. While I do not think that Rhaegar took Lyanna by force, manipulating her into saying yes isn’t exactly a development. In all probability, Rhaegar projected an image of himself as someone who was granting Lyanna a choice, but while I do not believe that was true (more on that later), what mattered was that she believed that she could make her own decision, as opposed to being forced into a relationship with Robert. Lyanna was headstrong and free-spirited. She did not want to marry Robert and expressed her qualms to Ned, but no one took her opinion into account or cared about her objections. Her father pretty much owned her and he wanted the match with Robert so that was it. To be presented by a choice, to think that she was free to decide whether to stay or to leave, would appeal greatly to her, not to mention work to distance Rhaegar even more from Robert in her mind. To Lyanna, Rhaegar respected and even rewarded her willfulness, and gave her the space to make her own decision and to take her own life in hand, something that Robert would never do. But that was, in actuality, just an illusion Rhaegar projected to her. 

Under these circumstances, Lyanna’s consent can not be called voluntary. Not only did the situation include a good deal of manipulation or, at best, lying by omission, but she was not in a position to give voluntary consent in the first place due to the power imbalance between them.

Was Lyanna’s consent free?

Free consent means that the person giving it had the space to say no and to have their decision respected and honored. If someone isn’t willing to accept a no from a partner, then there is no freedom of choice in the first place, and thus consent can not be given.

Again, I go back to the power imbalance that, in and of itself, invalidates whatever consent Lyanna gave. A person in such a vulnerable position, under the authority of another, is incapable of giving consent. Lyanna and Rhaegar were not on equal ground in any way, shape or form, which muddies her consent. She could not compel Rhaegar to do anything at any point. She could not make him leave her alone if she wished. She could not make him respect her decision if she’d said no. She had no control over where she was going or how long she stayed there. She was in a situation that she could not get out of if she wanted to. What kind of consent could she give under these circumstances? A person in that unbalanced power situation can not give consent, plain and simple.

Secondly, did Lyanna have the space to say no and have it be respected? Would Rhaegar have simply left her alone had she refused him? No freaking way. Rhaegar was after his third head of the dragon and he was not going to turn around and find another to father his third child on that easily. For whatever reason, he believed that Lyanna had to be the mother of the third head of the dragon and he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. He had two Kingsguard with him to support his plans. That invalidates any consent given from the onset of this relationship. If Rhaegar wasn’t prepared to accept Lyanna’s rejection just as much as he was prepared to take her up on her agreement, then she did not have a choice in the first place, regardless of whether she understood that or not. That makes whatever scenario Rhaegar presented to her and the choice he supposedly gave her only a pretense designed to get her to agree to go without the need to physically force her. That is deception. If Rhegar had no intention of heeding Lyanna if her wishes contradicted his, but still made her think that she did have the space to say no, then he lied to her and deceived her. Any consent obtained under these circumstances can not be valid.

Was Lyanna’s consent informed?

Consent is not just about agreeing to something, it’s knowing fully well what you’re agreeing to. If you do not know what you’re saying yes to, how can your consent even count?

This is where I ask how much Lyanna knew about what she was agreeing to. If Rhaegar, at any point, withheld information from her or lied to her -- whether outright or only by omission -- he’d have rendered her incapable of consenting to anything. For Lyanna to make an informed decision, she needed to know about the prophecy and that Rhaegar primarily wanted her as a vessel for a prophecy child. She needed to know that Rhaegar’s plans included spiriting her to a tower in Dorne and staying there till he got his prized child. I’ve seen some arguments that Lyanna did know about the prophecy, but come on; she was a teenager trying to flee an unwanted marriage to someone who would have forced her to live by his beliefs. What 14-year-old rebels against being subjugated to one man’s whims only to run to another knowing he would subjugate her to his whims? What 14-year-old thinks it’s a swell idea to be an incubator for a savior? What 14-year-old thinks it’s a good idea to endanger her life in a high risk pregnancy in the middle of no where for something that sounds like legends and fiction? What’s with the belief that of course every single woman in Rhaegar’s life was ready to risk her well-being, and even her children’s well-being, for a prophecy that only ever sounded plausible to the Targaryens?

(And honestly, even if she did know and agree to this, I would still be spitting blood. Because she was fourteen, and Rhaegar had a responsibility to be the adult in the situation and recognize how utterly dangerous those plans were for Lyanna’s health. He was endangering her life by impregnating her, and raising the risk factor by leaving her in an isolated tower in Dorne without proper medical care.)

On top of that, Lyanna needed to know that she would not be able to have any contact with her family for as long as Rhaegar deemed necessary. She needed to know how utterly difficult it would be to get a marriage between her and Rhaegar recognized and what that means for her position in Rhaegar’s life. She needed to know that Rhaegar’s plans included vanishing completely and forcing her family into a confrontation with Aerys.

So did she know any of that? No? Then she did not know what she was agreeing to. She couldn’t make an informed decision because she did not have all the information necessary to see the complete picture. You can not consent to what you do not know.

Was Lyanna’s consent ongoing?

It’s not enough for her to say yes one time. Saying yes to leaving with Rhaegar is not a blanket consent to everything that happened afterwards. Did Lyanna agree to being spirited away to Dorne? Did she agree to staying in Dorne while Rhaegar left for the capital? Did she agree to be made to give birth in the Tower of Joy?

Lyanna’s experience at the Tower of Joy is frankly disturbing. By taking her to Dorne, Rhaegar effectively isolated her from everyone she knew and made her completely dependent on himself and his Kingsguard for everything, including information, which is made even muddier by the fact that Dorne was Elia’s home which means it was an unfriendly territory to Lyanna, the woman who Rhaegar dishonored Elia with. The information we have about the events starting from Brandon and Rickard’s murder paints a very ugly picture of what happened in that tower, because there is no way Lyanna would be content to simply remain at the Tower of Joy after knowing that her father and brother died as a result of an action she took. Even arguments that Lyanna might not been able to leave due to pregnancy complications can not account to the pesky fact that Rhaegar only left Dorne to fight in his father’s name against Lyanna’s surviving family, and that Lyanna would never be alright with that.

So we have a couple of options as to how this story went: 1) Rhaegar did not tell Lyanna about Rickard and Brandon, and she only found out sometime after he left, which means he withheld information and she had no say in the matter, or 2) Rhaegar did tell her but either pressured\manipulated her into staying, or outright prevented her from leaving, regardless of her wishes.

Neither scenario is particularly a riveting character endorsement of Rhaegar, neither do they bode well to any argument that Lyanna stayed in Dorne willingly.

I’ve always found arguments that Lyanna accepted Rhaegar’s decision to declare for his father both illogical and infuriatingly minimizing to Lyanna’s character. One of the few things we know about Lyanna is that she defended a stranger simply because he was her father’s man, and because she could not abide the injustice of three squires ganging up on him. She went on to defend Howland’s honor and rode in a tourney specifically so she could get justice for him. This is the girl who Ned described as having iron underneath her beauty, who obviously believed in family values, honor, justice and Northern nationalism. Assuming that she would be accepting of Rhaegar taking the field against her surviving family in the name of the king who murdered her father and brother flies in the face of any character motivation we ever glimpsed of her, not to mention blatantly ignores the fact that she was screaming for her brother as the Kingsguard met him sword-to-sword to prevent him from reaching her, or that she clearly trusted Ned and wanted him by her side.

Do not erase Lyanna’s experience at the Tower of Joy: isolated, pregnant, alone, dependent on Rhaegar and subject to his will, powerless to change her situation, forced to remain behind as the father of her child took up arms against her beloved brother who only rose to demand justice for their murdered father and brother, left to the “protection” of Rhaegar’s Kingsguard who were willing to kill her own brother on their prince’s orders despite how clear it is that Lyanna trusted Ned implicitly. None of that speaks of consent, or even of an ability to give consent.

In conclusion:

I think we’re having the wrong argument when it come to Lyanna’s story with Rhaegar: the point of examination should not focus on whether Lyanna agreed to run away with Rhaegar, or even whether she married him or not, but rather on the validity of her consent. Saying yes is not good enough under these circumstances, not where there are plenty of considerations that undermine her consent, not least of which being a teenager completely under Rhaegar’s power. We need to talk more about what Lyanna’s agreement truly means and how it redefines her relationship with Rhaegar. No matter how much we try to swing it, Lyanna was 14 and being “courted” by an older and more experienced man entirely capable of manipulating and coercing her, even if he did not use violence for it. The fact that she almost certainly did not know his true purpose in pursuing her (i.e: getting a child out of her for the prophecy) makes her consent even more dubious: Rhaegar withheld information about Lyanna and so whatever dubious consent she made was muddied even more by him deliberately making her unable to make an informed decision. And that’s just the surface level of this. This might have gotten her to the impulsive decision of marrying in front of a heart tree (as I believe things went) but the fact remains that agreeing to that is not the same as agreeing to isolation in Dorne, to remaining in Dorne while Rhaegar left to fight in Aerys’ name, and to be kept away from her remaining family by the sword even as she screamed for her brother.

[medschoolash]

Some Jonsa commentary

So I’m pretty new to the Jonsa fold but I’m already a sucker for their relationship. This is my first time writing anything in depth about Game of Thrones and Jonsa so I hope this all makes sense. here goes nothing!

I was talking to a friend privately about Jon and Sansa and their tension so far this season and it really started to make some see some of things about Jon and Sansa and about why they have this tense dynamic with each other. It’s easy to put it all off on them having differing opinions on their situation but honestly that’s just….basic, for lack of a better word. Their is so much nuance to their dynamic so putting it all off on different opinions just doesn’t work for me. There is more to it than that.

I think that a lot of the tension between then from Jon’s end comes from Jon being confused about how he’s supposed to function with her and feel about her. Now I’m not saying he’s secretly in love with her and can’t handle it because their isn’t enough support for that idea yet BUT I think he does feel a connection to her and something that’s beyond brotherly affection towards her and it’s confusing and affects his behavior with her. On the surface it might seem weird for Jon to be confused but when you really think about it, it makes a whole lot of sense.

Jon and Sansa didn’t have a very close relationship growing up. We know he was much closer to Arya. Even Sansa admitted that she was awful to him growing up. I’m sure they both shared a very basic affection as siblings but that affection never materialized into a close sibling bond like it usually does among siblings. Basically there has always been a wall there between them that never allowed them to truly connect with each other in a strong and healthy sibling way.

Then Kings Landing happens.

Jon and Sansa split up as well as the rest of their family. Sansa heads south a happy naive girl who still believes in knights and wants to be a perfect queen loved by all and give her loving king heirs like she’s been taught. She wants to be the princesses in the songs and she believes her knight awaits her. Her perfect fairytale life comes crashing down quickly and she ends up in the clutches of vipers like Joffrey and Ceresi who manipulate and lie to her and take her father’s head right in front of her. Her world changes and there is no going back. From there she’s forced from one abusive and precarious situation to another. Never finding stability or peace. The optimism and hope she once had gradually fades as she realizes that the only thing keeping her alive is her name, the only thing that gives her any value to the people around her is the name that is synonymous with treason, death, and pain now. She believes she has no family left except Jon until she later learns that Bran and Rickon are alive. By the time Sansa makes her way to the wall in season 6 she’s become disillusioned and has hardened but she’s also blossomed into a strong young women with a unique intelligence due to her surroundings. She’s very different from the Sansa Stark that was awful to Jon and wanted to leave winterfel

Jon heads to the wall where he’s isolated from his entire family but he thinks he has found a place to belong, a place among fellow outcasts. Much like Sansa, his ideas about his new home and his future are quickly shown to be nothing more than delusion. Immediately he’s placed In the middle of things far greater and dangerous than he ever imagined. His isolation from his family also starts to gradually hit home as as he learns of the deaths of his father, Bran and Rickon, and Robb and Catelyn one by while he is powerless to do anything about it. His sense of duty to the nights watch grows even greater as he’s forced to put his feelings about his family away. He matures into a warrior, a knight who feels a profound duty to protect his brotherhood and the rest of the realm from the dangers he now knows aren’t just found in stupid songs and tales they tell children. His life becomes about one battle after the another. He’s drawn into fight after fight. He’s thrust into leadership positions that he never wanted and has to carry the burden of the entire nights watch and the realm on his shoulders as the threat of the Walkers gets greater and greater. He gives everything to the Nights Watch, only to end up being killed by his own brothers.

Jon is resurrected and his entire world changes. His already broody personality is amplified. Nothing about his existence makes sense anymore. He’s forced to kill all the men who betrayed him, even Ollie who was just a boy. At this point Jon is completely disillusioned with his life and no longer feels like he has a purpose. He’s tired. He’s exhausted with trying to be a hero. Minutes before Sansa arrives at castle black Jon is packing his bags His friend tries to convince him to stay, tries to remind him of the great threat out here and how they all need Jon to keep leading and fighting but Jon doesn’t want to hear it. He can’t stay with the nights watch anymore after what happened. He feels he has no purpose there anymore and is planning to head south. We doesn’t even know what he’s going to do in the south. He feels lost and the only thing he knows to do it get away from the place that’s taken everything from him. It’s a jarring for the audience to see Jon being content with a purposeless life of drifting because we are used to Jon being our hero. The man who always finds the courage to keep going despite the odds. A man who carries the burden of saving everyone even if he doesn’t want to or feels like he can’t. The hero never stops fighting. The hero never gets tired.

Right as this debate his happening Sansa arrives at Castle Black so we never get to hear the end of it. When she comes it’s the first time Jon has seen her or anyone in his family since season 1. I won’t rehash their reunion but the timing of Sansa’s arrival is not a coincidence.

Sansa was the one who gave Jon purpose and motivation to be our hero again. This was crucial for him because as I mentioned above he has lost it all after all he’s been through.

Sansa’s presence reignites the knight in Jon. It wasn’t a complete transformation right away but it starts to happen for him almost instantly. As soon as she’s back with him he immediately feels a duty to protect her. When she asks where he is headed he corrects her and says “where will we go”. When he wanted to just drift south alone he immediately changes his plans to accommodate her. There is no way he’s leaving her behind. Where he goes she will go and we know that Jon will protect her until his last breath. That’s the hero we all knew and loved starting to rise to the surface again and it’s all because of Sansa.

When Sansa comes we see Jon smile again, laugh again. In their first sit down conversation after the reunion Jon is hesitant and regretful about what ended up happening to them all, but for the first time since he was resurrected he’s not dwelling on what happened to him at the wall. Being around Sansa starts to give him his identity back, the identity he had lost when he died and came back to life.

Despite this welcomed return of some of the shades of his former self, when Sansa suggests they go back to Winterfel his softened and light hearted demeanor changes back to the worn out former hero that he’s become now. I won’t get into that scene too much but Sansa is the first person Jon shows his exasperated feelings about war to. When he takes to his friend he said he couldn’t stay at the wall because of what happened, but when he talks to Sansa he’s much more transparent. I believe he decides to finally tell his truth to her because she’s one of the few people who doesn’t see him as the hero who is supposed to save them all from doom, and because he knows that this is important to her.

Jon was tired of fighting. He was tired of death, The destruction, the politics, the way war corrupts good men, the way war claims the lives of not only men but when children. He tells her that he’s been fighting since he left winterfel and he can’t do it anymore. He fought and he lost. Like I said he’s a broken hero, an exhausted man who can’t bring himself to be the knight that everyone wants him to be anymore.

When he tells her he’s tired of fighting she can see the exasperation and the exhaustion in his eyes, and I believe she felt great empathy for him. She can probably relate since I’m sure she’s also tired of the cycle she’s been on since she left her home, but Sansa still has a cause to champion, her own cause, her families cause. She reminds him that their survival depends on taking the North back. They will never be safe out their drifting in the south. Never. And she tells him that she will do it herself if she has to.

Those words are what shook Jon out of his funk. Sansa is the person who inspired him to be the hero again. She was his motivation to fight again when he wanted to give up for good. When she stormed back into his life he found a purpose again, protecting her, and when she said she would take their home back he found his resolve to fight again because he couldn’t let her go to war with the boltons alone. Sansa was determined, and if she was going to do this he had to do it with her because he loved her and it was his duty to protect her. She needed him to fight for their home and their survival so he did what he said he was tired of doing. He rallied an army for her, found his inner knight and went to battle despite negative odds because Sansa (and Rickon) needed him. By doing so he found his purpose again, he became a leader again, he becomes the hero that the North needed again.

This is a major turning point for Jon and almost all of it is motivated by Sansa. It’s important because that caused this experience together formed an emotional bond between them, a bond that was nothing like what they would have had if they had been close as siblings growing up. Sansa wasn’t his delicate little sister anymore, she was the rightful Lady of Winterfel, a fearless and determined partner, a smart and cunning woman who does things like boldly tell to her abuser to sleep well because he will die come morning and publicly undermines him

The circumstances by which Sansa came back into his life and the timing created this dynamic between them that didn’t feel like siblings to Jon, it felt like something else, something neither of them quite understood or knew how to manage. That’s why once the fighting is over and the war is won they don’t know how to truly handle it. Jon struggles with it the most because he wants to put her back into the little sister box but she clearly doesn’t fit in it. He tries to be her “brother” but she’s not the “sister” he knew and he can tell. She’s not delicate, she’s not the gently naive girl anymore. When she reaches for his drink the first time they talk he’s surprised that she drinks because the Sansa he knew was just a girl who didn’t do such things. When she’s assertive as they plan their attack he’s a little taken back because the girl he knew wasn’t a part of military strategy.

He doesn’t know how to function as a brother with her because that role clashes with everything he knows and feels about her now. It’s confusing for him because his head says she’s his sister, duty says he she’s his sister and he should treat her as such, but she feels like a partner when they interact, their bond feels more like one you would find with two spouses, bit too siblings and he can’t turn that feeling off because they never had a strong sibling like relationship to begin with. Sansa functions and feels like Queen to him, not like a sibling and he can’t quite wrap his head around it. He had difficulty embracing it because the idea of Sansa as something other than his sister is too jarring for him.

It’s also hard for him because Sansa doesn’t need a brother she needs a King and a partner. She doesn’t need him to protect her in the typical brother like way. She even tells him that he can’t, that no one can protect her. She doesn’t need him to hover over her and make sure the boys don’t mess with her and she doesn’t hurt herself. She doesn’t need him to shield her from the bad things of the world and treat her like she’s made of porcelain glass. She needs him to lead the North and let her be at his side as he does it. She needs him to be a smart, brave and fierce leader that stands at her side to protect their home and their family. She doesn’t need him to replace Ned, she doesn’t need him to replace Robb, she needs him to be the opposite of all the men she’s been with since she left her home. She needs him to function not like a brother, but like the antithesis of who Joffrey, Ramsey, and Littlefinger were in her life. He senses it, and he is reluctant to do it because having a bond with your sister that’s more like the bond of a spouse just isn’t what’s supposed to happen. It’s not how they are supposed to be with each other, it’s not how they should be on some level they both know that it’s not normal but it’s their reality. Sansa needs him to be the Ned to her Catelyn, and to him she already feels like the Catelyn to his Ned, but he can’t embrace that because what does it mean? Your sister Isn’t supposed to feel like your wife. So he is distant from her. He is reluctant to listen to her, he tries to assert his authority over her and his kingdom to get her to back off and to try to force her into a role she doesn’t want and he knows she can’t fit.

So they clash. They clash because Sansa can not be boxed in and Jon is confused about how he’s supposed to function with her. It’s too late for them to go back and make their relationship into something that it’s clearly not, into something that resembles a proper sibling relationship. Jon is forced to embrace it because if he doesn’t he will alienate her and hurt her, and he doesn’t want to do that, he cares too much about her and respects her too much to treat her that way. He’s also aware that he needs her just as much as she needs him and If they are going to make it together he needs to let go.

Episode 2 was Jon finally giving up his futile fight to keep his relationship Sansa in a place that he’s comfortable with, in a place that’s safe and not confusing and dangerous. He finally treats her like a partner, he asks for her advice, considers her opinions. He gives her what she needs, what she craves from him. He decides to be the man she needs, the man she’s been missing from her life all this time. It’s no coincidence that this culminates in him practically embracing her as his Queen publicly. I know her official title isn’t “Queen in the North” But symbolically that’s exactly what she is and most important it’s what she is to Jon. There is no one else in the North he would trust to run Winterfel and the North as he travels south. He leaves their Kingdom to her. He could have left it to anyone of those male Lords but he didn’t because Sansa is his partner, Sansa is the one who rules at his side and Sansa is the one who shall rule in his stead. When he announces that he’s going south his only real priority is Sansa. She was the one he wanted to understand, she was the one he wanted to support his risk to save her and everyone. She was the one whose fears and apprehensions he wanted to tame before he left. Sansa is the most important person in his life and the only opinion that truly mattered. Just like her affirmation was the only affirmation that truly mattered when he needed to break free is the stigma of being Ned Stark’s bastard, just like her affirmation is the affirmation he needed the most when he came to how he was doing as a leader, just like Sansa was the one who motivated him to become the leader that he is once again.

All roads lead back to Sansa for Jon which is why It was never even a question for him when he made his decision to leave. His kingdom belongs to his queen, Sansa Stark.

It’s going to be interesting because after this there is no going back for the two of them. Even if they never get romantic they will never be able to pretend they are just siblings. They will never play that role for each other.

I suspect that Jon knows this, which is why it’s no coincidence that Jon’s brewing confrontation with Littlefinger comes after he has finally embraced her role in his life and why Jon looses control and violently acts out aganist him when he tells him that he loves Sansa. His rage towards Littlefinger can can’t hide behind this tameness of “brother” since he’s officially shed that role. What we see instead is the rage of a King, a king who will not stand for anyone, especially someone like Littlefinger, breathing near his Queen.

[yourbestmasks]

Hi there love your blog can i request the panthom girls qith a s/o that looks like a deliquent but is actually a sweetheart?

Hello Anon!! Thank you, I try my best to provide! Disregarding the fact that I’m struggling with procrastination™

Here, the Phantom girls with a delinquent-looking S/O, I hope you enjoy it!!

Ann

She’s probably the one who connects with the delinquent-looking S/O faster than anyone else; Her kind and understanding essence allowed her to see right through their rebellious appearance.

Not only that, but her friendship with Ryuji came in great aid during these times, even though the school labeled S/O as a delinquent, or they do look vulgar in public, she didn’t give in to the opinions of the others or even the opinion of her own mind.

She understands how someone’s image affect the way people look at them, and she understands that looks can be tricky; she was always misjudged for being a model and people seemed to have appreciated Ann due to her outward aspects, since she suffers from the same problem, in context, she wouldn’t want to treat the others based on how they look.

She’s probably the one who initiated the friendship, which by now has turned into a relationship.

S/O’s sweet-hearted personality didn’t shock Ann at all, in fact, she was quite proud of herself for not going with the people’s judgment.

When she takes S/O out to crepe dates, her signature line whenever they taste something overly sweet and comment on it is “It’s not as sweet as you are.”

She could actually be influenced by S/O’s overall image, requesting to model for a photo shoot that emphasizes on inner beauty rather than outer beauty, dressing all delinquent-like and copying S/O’s style.

And she does all of this for S/O.

Makoto

She’s probably the most skeptical of S/O, not because of their appearance or anything but they do hold a facade of toughness and impoliteness whenever they’re walking around the place.

After realizing she needs to learn more through life experiences, she’ll probably seek them out since they’ve already had plenty of interactions.

Makoto’s the brain and they’re the body, they’ll be choosing fun places to go to and Makoto will probably help them study.

She realized her mistake of quick judgment, and that was only the first thing to learn. There’s a lot more S/O has to teach her.

Makoto, in some way or shape or form, is somewhat of a delinquent in the metaverse. Especially when you consider the way her clothes look; And all of this reminds her of S/O. Sudden blushes.

She’ll start to lose her perfect honorable student image, be it due to S/O’s influence or because the students started rumors, either way, she’s happy that she’s breaking free of the chains that have been holding her down.

Sae will probably be a struggle in their relationship, it’s something both Makoto and S/O will keep discussing after meeting her for the first time, and is probably one of the reasons this relationship won’t blossom until later on.

Futaba

Futaba’s the most intimidated out of everyone else, her lack of social skills and her anxiety are stopping her from approaching normal people, let alone an obscenely looking person.

She was probably introduced to them by one of the phantom thieves members, either that or she actually approached them as a challenge on her bucket list, or more specifically, the list her mother made for her.

She will require lots of help from the others, and the very first few dates she’ll take one or more of the phantom with her; S/O doesn’t mind that since they understand how she’s feeling but they still have to struggle with a third-wheel.

Futaba’s immense gratitude is always apparent, she’s always thankful for how understanding and sweet S/O is, and in the back of her head, she knows they’re the right person for her. she couldn’t stand a day without them and their moral support.

S/O doesn’t know much about computers or technology in general, so Futaba takes care of that and usually keeps on rambling about different sites she hacked or invaded. Possibly dragging S/O into hacking with her.

She’ll probably make lots of references to video games character or Anime/manga characters that match S/O’s personality, either a misunderstood delinquent or someone who is intentionally making themselves look like a delinquent, but are actually a sweetheart. Which usually flusters S/O for some reason.

Haru

Haru didn’t mind S/O’s appearance at all, she barely had the time to notice their existence due to how busy her schedule was.

That is, until she bumped into them by accident while she was carrying some gardening supplies. The delinquent offered help and it shocked her for a bit; because she didn’t expect someone who looked naughty to offer help.

She did suspect it was because of her status, and her family name in general. But with time they kept helping her and they were surprisingly gentle with the flowers.

Gardening wasn’t S/O’s thing so they stopped after a while, but the interactions between them didn’t, and when Haru opened up to them about her whole situation; they felt impotent and powerless for not being able to continue this relationship without causing any problems for her.

Haru knew what she wanted, she’d prefer having an S/O who looked like a delinquent but were actually a sweetheart, rather than having a fancy looking S/O AKA Sugimura with a disgusting, down to the earth personality; which allowed her to speak up and it’s all thanks to S/O.

The complete opposition in their style of clothing is quite shocking, their amount of love to each other despite having different appearances and personalities is unmatchable.

[dachi-chan25]

Game of Thrones Season 7 Episode 6 Recap Pt. 1

Oh boy… I need to vent again, I’m sorry, but thanks to everyone reading this, it’s a cathartic experience if anything.

WARNINGS: SPOILERS; Not a D@€ny fan, but if you follow me you already know that and if you don’t no problem that’s why I always warn you about it; Jonsa shipper and still growing strong ( I always loved the Tyrell OK???)

Before diving into the recap:

1.- The toughts, tinfoily wishy washy stuff, analysis, random stuff that I write are my own only, and in no form or way am I trying to convince you that I am right and every body else is wrong, I have been wrong about fandom stuff a LOT, and really it’s just fun for me to do this, anyway I am open to debate if you want just be respectful. Feel free to correct me if you notice I have some facts I present wrong, I will never get mad about it and will even thank you for your insight.

2.- The analysis/opinions I express of certain ships/characters are just my opinion as an audience, if you like the ship/characters good! That’s what makes the fandom experience such a diverse thing, and I have nothing against you. Keep on loving the thing you love!

3.- The Salt Throne and I are one entity of pure undiluted Salt and bitterness,if you don’t wish to subject yourself to reading my salty fangirl rants I completely understand.

—————

1.- We start on that table-map, helI feel I condemned myself saying I didn’t wanted no more close-ups of the thing, anyway so it’s just a pretty shot to get to where the story (plot? What plot?) really pick’s up: Eastwatch by the sea.

We are with the suicide squad on this show’s dumbest mission, but then again this season a lot of dumb things happened so I am resigned. Yeah so Jon and Tormund are talking about how dumb this mission is (got is breaking the fourth wall now???) while Gendry is freezing, Tormund is happy to be back North of the Wall cuz the air in the south is shit, Jon is like bih you never went south but really is agreeing actually Jon seems much more himself now that he is in the North again. Tormund and Jon tease Gendry about making do with him cuz there are no ladies here (ahaha joking about experiencing homosexual sex but no homo bro it’s just because we have no ladies amirite? Am I watching got or the big b4ng th€or¥?) and you know what else they don’t have?? Horses, and food, and those pesky dragonglass weapons, and a raven to send for help should anything happen… But no ladies are the priority. (*sigh* this show is so painfully obviously written by man) Gendry apparently believes them and goes away, Tormund comments he isn’t very bright, he needn’t be says Jon cuz they need the brawn and not the brains right? No this stupid ass mission could have seriously used some brains.

Anyway this next convo of conversations was very intresting to hear, not because they add anything to the plot (if such a thing exists anymore in this show) but I think they are important in understanding the theme they have in common and the relevance I think they have in the final scenes of the episode.

First we have a Tormund/Jon convo, our funny redhead asks about the Dragon Queen, and I expected they would use this chance to make some crude remark about her beauty or her body (dude not a second ago they were joking about bedding Gendry!!) but no, the conversation never goes in the direction that could further the idea of Jon’s attraction to D, Jon trusts Tormund and it would be normal for bros to discuss this stuff (remember how Jon giggled about Tormund mentioning Brienne last episode), instead a very weary and frustrated Jon states she (D) wouldn’t help unless he bends the knee, Tormund says that won’t happen cuz Jon spent so much time with the Wildings to be a kneeler again, but then he moves on to talk about Mance Ryder (dude this Jon/Mance parallels are hitting me in the face like a cold fish, I know D&D I noticed! You haven’t been subtle about this!!! You used the same FUCKING dialogue) and how the dude could have saved a lot of lives if he just had let go of his pride and knelt (so Tormund is our Jon in this parallel ain’t he?) it just made me laugh that Tormund, a wildling cuz they are still Free Folk and rule themselves even if they have an alliance with the KitN, is the one to suggests kneeling, but then I realized how big of a fucken deal that is, Mance could have saved those lives yes (and that’s mere speculation honestly cuz Stannis and his army could have also died at Hardhome #just saying) but he decided keeping his people’s will was more important, Jon respected that to the point he defyied Stannis (they needed his help and dude had just saved them) openly by killing Mance, and now Tormund who is kind of the new Free Folk king/leader is saying it would have been OK if he knelt to save everyone’s lives in front of Jon whom is in a very similar situation.

Then we get a Jorah/Jon convo, again perfect oportunity to show them as D’s love interests and rivals, or for Jorah to wax poetic about Khaliiisi and Jon being jealous or some shit. Some serious talk, if we had time in this compact season for Jon to threaten (or pardon) every man who ever crossed paths with Sansa, why Gendry or the Hound haven’t mentioned Arya at all, if logic states that she is someone this people have in common and should talk about? (like Theon asking about Sansa, or Tyrion) Why Jorah doesn’t talk about D if Jon is her new love interest and it would be a nice and neat contrast between the two of them? Instead they disscus another people they have in common, ex-Lord Commander Jeor Mormont and Ned Stark, oh yes they talk about their dads, Jon says how wonderful was Jorah’s dad and how awful was his death, while Jorah said it must have been heartbreaking for his dad whose entire life was the NW and Jon talks about Ned “the goodest most honorable man ever” dying like a traitor for his honor and pride (like I sense a pattern, can you tell? Gods D&D are too subtle guys) and goes as far as to say he is glad his dad didn’t kill Jorah (you know making him pay for his crime in a just honorable way). Honestly what was the point of this conversation if not that survival is most important than honor? The writers (through Jon) are celebrating that Jorah survived even if he has done sketchy awful things (among them he conspired to have D and her baby killed so he would be allowed to go back to Westeros).

Right we get an intresting end to this convo, Jon offers Jorah Longclaw (why would he give him the sword if he is gonna need it right now in the stupid ass Wight hunt? Why didn’t he gave it to Lady Lyanna Mormont, she has presumably begun training cuz she said to Lord Glover she wasn’t gonna sit by the fire while the man defended the North??? Why would he give it to someone if Jeor gave it to him cuz he didn’t wanted Jorah to have it???) but the point of the conversation it’s not the sword, because Jorah rejects it, it’s about planting the possibility of children in Jon’s future. people have been screaming Targ baby to the heavens and back, and if that is what you chose to belive alright, but I think not, if that was the case wouldn’t it be appropiate to have the Targ theme or the J/D song in the background and transition to DS where D talks about children with Tyrion like she does in a future scene? I would have believed it then. But instead we have the Stark theme and the scene transitioning to Arya and SANSA, call me delusional if you want but for me this is another check in the ‘targcest is building up tarbowl’ column.

Summarizing this we get the very bright neón message of Honor=Death. Which I’ll bring back later.

2.- Y'all remember those good times when the WF storyline was the only thing getting me through all the bullshit I was being fed by D&D? Well they’re over. As I said in point 1 we get a transition of Arya and Sansa looking down at the courtyard while Arya talks about how Ned watched the boys training and tries to diminish Sansa’s connection to her family by stating she was surely too busy sewing to know that (have fun freezing your limbs off darling!!! Sewing and Knitting and all those “delicate female” activities you sniff at are the reason you have clothes miss, really I can’t with this where is the Arya that thought woman to be of equal importance than man?) Sansa is having none of that and says she remembers, we get a cute memory of Arya practicing archery in secret and Ned approving (we get again nods to the patriarchy is wrong! But this is sloppy as fuck if D&D make Arya feel superior to non-warrior inclined girls, like that is also misogynistic) Sansa is smiling fondly (she at this point is more of a feminist icon than any other girl in this show, make no mistake she is not upset or resentful of warrior girls, she approved with a smile when Lyanna said girls on Bear Island were going to be trained too, and she smiles at the memory Arya is sharing with her of defying the rules and practicing archery cuz that made her happy) but then things take a turn for worse when Arya said that Ned is dead cuz Sansa helped the Lannisters. I never asked for this bullshit!!! Not even Ned blamed Sansa for anything, even if Sansa hadn’t alerted her Cersei was gonna kill Robert to protect herself and her children, Ned died for Joffrey’s cruelty (he wasn’t even supposed to die, he was to be sent to the Wall) and yes Sansa had a role to play in the chain of events that led to that, but Sansa had no way of knowing that, she only tried to save her family! The smile gets wiped from my girl’s face she is completely at loss. Arya takes out the letter and starts reading it out, even when Sansa asks her to stop cuz she already knows what does the letter say (wow I can’t belive D&D keep on triggering Sansa through her siblings, FUCKING disgusting) Arya is being unnecessary cruel, blaming Sansa for being powerless to stop their father’s death when she herself was equally powerless, like????? D&D are pushing this Starkbowl bs cuz this is got and nothing can be nice for 2 sec. But really this shit has no basis, you have Wight Hunt Team people who have literally killed each other or tried to working together and joking and then have two sisters who went through hell and back fighting cuz one of them thinks the other survived KL by being a princess in a tower??? Like how is this logical? Even if this is a cleverly crafted Arya plot (I think there is some logic to this) to kill LF is not fair for Sansa, god can’t she have good things on her life? D&D took away the safety of her home by marrying her off to Ramsey and have him rape her in her HOME, and now they make her family treat her one like a stranger and the other like shit???? I’m not asking for Arya to thank Sansa on her knees like she suggested (if anything Sansa was super brave standing her ground and defending her possition and everything she did to retake their home) I don’t want everyone to worship her as they do certain someone all I am asking for is respect and safety for someone who deserves it! Really and Arya suggesting Lyanna Mormont would go for Sansa’s throat why yes she is a child, one that has lost a lot with all this fucking wars but still a child that lacks the knowledge of the true game of thrones and what it takes to survive it, like you Arya (doesn’t she remembers she was cupbearer to Tywin who literally was responsible for the murder of her brother and mother? This is actually what leads me to think this is a ploy cuz Arya is not a hypocrite as far as we’ve seen) still this was painful to watch if you love the Starks.

Anyway leaving my frustration with this cheap drama aside, did anyone notice the parallels between the Arya and Sansa confrontation and the Jon/Tormund and Jon/Jorah conversations? The Wight Hunt Team was talking about great honorable man whose honor and moral code brought their downfall and in the Sansa and Arya, the youngest sister was blaming the eldest for having no honor and surviving (she goes as far as to say she would have rather died than betray her family) while Sansa defends what she did and shows how far she has come from paying the game.

Again this thing is not subtle at all.

———

This is too long so Part 2 is coming!

[iamfitzwilliamdarcy]

padme isn’t supposed to be a strong female character and this thread does so much disservice to her (and anakin!) and the female audience who--get this!!--like Padme. like how can we say we want diverse female representation and then turn around and disparage any female character that, while complex and authentic, isn’t our ideal ~strong~ woman? padme is a strong queen and leader; she is also a tragic lover who is so hurt by the man she loves that she cannot live any longer--she’s allowed to be both! also, get this, women are all different! not every woman is a leia! like i’m far more of a padme than i am a leia. 

Padme does stand up to Anakin in rots--she tells him she doesn’t know him anymore, that he’s going down a path she can’t follow. she doesn’t fight him but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t stand up to him. even when they’re discussing politics in aotc (and rots), she stays firm to her own beliefs, and discusses them with anakin, who doesn’t think exactly like she does. 

anakin and padme’s relationship isn’t supposed to be an ideal anyway--it’s a tragedy. there’s a lot of underlying issues that neither of them confront (including padme maybe needing to be more honest w/ herself about the things anakin does)  but that doesn’t make their love any less real or important. anakin is a ticking time bomb (we have the benefit of knowing this bc we’ve seen the OT--the people in universe, and around him, do not, even though they do ignore many signs implying things are not as peachy keen w/ anakin as they would like), but he is also a person who loves and is loved.

i guess to an extent it’s a matter of personal acting preference, but i think hayden christenson did an excellent job of having diverse feelings in the PT. even in the aotc scene directly mentioned, he displays rage and rationalization (they’re animals, it’s all obi-wan’s fault) and there’s always the underlying grief (and i’m of the opinion there’s always some sense of wrongdoing if you have to rationalize so i think that’s underlying to but rationalized to the point where he doesn’t feel so guilty)

also i just watched it again and that scene opens specifically about anakin’s grief over his mother and his feeling of powerlessness in not being able to save her, but padme senses something more and asks “What’s wrong, Ani” and then Anakin says “i killed them” so like what’s the point of him trying to pretend things are okay when a) padme does see through him and b) padme is the one person he can tell anything to, whom he loves and clearly trusts?? why does that specifically make this story more compelling? 

(also also saying “i love democracy” is not an emotion; palpatine is an expert liar and faker orchestrating his plans by manipulating all sides and ensuring not even the jedi know he is a sith--padme doesn’t need to be manipulative to be successful.  like i mean to comment on padme’s political genius (or to imply her lack thereof) and to ignore the entire scene in PM when she thwarts all out war by getting on her knees and asking for help from another king. no one else would do that, would humble themselves of a people they consider less then, to ask for aid, but Padme sees their potential and their worth and does so to the benefit of everyone, forming an alliance w/ the gungans (note: this is also how luke saves vader). )

and honestly at the end of the day why even compare two ships that aren’t..even trying to do the same thing? 

Arthur Chu compares reylo and anidala. Full thread here.

[dragon-knight1990]

From the Shadows Chapter 7

A/N Warning: This chapter does contain a situation of domestic violence.

Chapter 7

Aurora continued to stare at her phone. Nothing else in the room existed, not even Maleficent. Her father's words still rang in her ears; he wanted her to go home, but he didn't bother stating why. His tone indicated that something was wrong; what was so bad that he couldn't say over the phone? She feared each possibility more than the last.

"Aurora, look at me." Maleficent's soft voice broke through her dreadful thoughts. Her olive eyes shone with compassion. "Whatever it is, you will be alright." Something about the way she said it made Aurora want to believe her. She wanted desperately to believe Maleficent, but she knew that if she went home, she most certainly wouldn't be alright, and if she refused to obey her father and stay, she would dislike the consequences even more.

"Phillip probably told him that I broke it off with him," Aurora said in a voice that was barely audible. Her words kept getting caught in her throat. The lump forming made it difficult to breathe, and her heart raced wildly. Everything made her feel as though her entire world was crumbling around her, and she was powerless to make it stop.

"You do not owe anyone an explanation, let alone your father," Maleficent scoffed. Her lips pursed into a sour frown.

Aurora grimaced. She obviously didn't understand, and how could she? Maleficent didn't know her father like she did. If her suspicions were correct, she would have to go home and face the music, and the more she delayed, the worse it would be. She could only imagine how her father would fly off the handle for breaking off her engagement with Phillip. She shuddered. That talk was going to be unpleasant, no matter what.

"I could accompany you, if that is what you wish."

That idea terrified Aurora even more. While she still didn't completely remember the day she last saw Phillip, she could still recall glimpses of Maleficent threatening him as she held him against the wall. She didn't want to think what would become of her father if he came face to face with Maleficent. Even though he was far from her favorite person, she still didn't wish ill on him. There was also the matter of him going after Maleficent if she openly supported Aurora. She couldn't bear the thought of anything bad happening to Maleficent on her behalf, not after all she had done for her.

"I—you can't," she said, too quickly. Once she realized what she had said, she tried to backtrack. "I mean—my father thinks he's got my best interests at heart. He wants to see me make a good marriage. He thinks Phillip is a good match." She was lying, but she couldn't allow Maleficent to go toe to toe with her father. If she knew anything about the woman sitting across from her, letting her face Stephan would make things worse.

"If that is your wish, I will respect that," Maleficent promised.

Aurora stared at her, somewhat shocked. In the weeks she had gotten to know the other woman, she had seen that Maleficent was very opinionated, especially when it came to how men treated women. She took three slow breaths in an effort to calm her racing thoughts.

"Would you like me to drive you to the bus station?" The offer shocked Aurora more than Maleficent promising to let her deal with her father.

"I don't want to trouble you," she muttered.

"Nonsense. I have figured out by now that you lack a car."

Aurora's cheeks felt hot with shame. It was true that she didn't drive; that was just one of her father's many ways to keep her dependent on others. That fact was one of many things she sought to amend.

"It is quite alright," Maleficent tried to reassure her. "Go get your belongings. I can also take you to your dorm to get clothes for the weekend."

She was too exhausted to argue. She wanted to cry for the kindness she was being offered, especially when she couldn't figure out a way to repay the favor. In order to keep from shedding any of those tears that were threatening to break her willpower, she scurried off to the office to gather her schoolbooks.

When she returned to the dining room, she found Maleficent getting her jacket on. Her gut twisted, and she almost expelled the contents of her stomach at the thought of returning home on such short notice. She swallowed the bile forcefully.

"Are you ready?" Maleficent asked. Her tone took on a gentler note from what Aurora was growing accustomed to.

Aurora forced a nod. She didn't trust her voice, fearing that if she opened her mouth, the sobs she was holding back would come out.

The drive back to the university was too short, even with Maleficent obeying all the traffic laws. It was as though time was working against Aurora.

She shuffled into her dorm with Maleficent at her side. Part of her was grateful that the older woman was so understanding of her predicament, even if she didn't know how much her father kept control over her life. As she stepped foot inside, her heart skipped a beat, and she struggled to keep from hyperventilating. She could remember the horror she felt as Phillip tried to force himself on her. The memory was so vivid, she got lost in it.

He had his hands around her throat. His fingers worked to get her jeans zipper undone after he threw her to the floor. His hands groped, fondled, and pinched her flesh. She reviled against the sensations; they made her feel disgusting.

"Aurora!"

She almost didn't register Maleficent's alarmed voice. She blinked several times before she returned to the present. She found herself curled up in a ball on the floor, tears and snot streaming down her face.

"I'm sorry—I—" She couldn't get the words out.

"Sh, you have nothing to apologize for," Maleficent murmured soothingly. She was rubbing gentle circles along Aurora's back. "Is it too much for you to be back here? I can pack some clothes for you."

"I—no, it's alright. I'm fine." The words were more about trying to convince herself than they were trying to convince Maleficent. She tried to slow her breathing; not an easy feat, even with Maleficent there grounding her in the present.

"Take your time."

Aurora didn't know what she had ever done to deserve someone like Maleficent in her life, but she was glad the older woman was there. She focused on the slender hand rubbing circles along her back, reassuring her that she was in fact safe. She took a few shuddering breaths, willing the last remnants of the memories away.

As she sat up, Maleficent helped her. She made a promise to herself that she would rearrange her room as soon as she got back. She had heard that rearranging a place that held bad memories was a way to separate the place from the thing, and she figured she would give it a try.

She stuffed a few changes of clothes into a duffle, and without giving the room a second glance, she slipped out. As much as she was dreading going back to her father's, she wanted to escape her dorm room more.

She barely noticed Maleficent coming to stand next to her. She was glad the older woman chose to remain silent. Any words, even if they were meant to comfort would just upset her more.

"We best be on our way, if you have any hope of catching the next bus," Maleficent said after a long silence.

Aurora frowned, but Maleficent was right. She dragged her feet all the way to Maleficent's car. She couldn't even bring herself to speak once they were on the road. The silence in the car was thick.

As Maleficent pulled into the parking lot for the bus depot, Aurora bit her bottom lip and wrung her hands worriedly. She wanted so much to tell Maleficent to just drive away, that she would cut her family out of her life and make it on her own. Her weakness won out in the end.

"I guess I'll see you when I get back," she said lamely. She couldn't bring herself to look up at the older woman, the woman who had been so kind to her through all the recent hardships.

"Safe travels, Aurora."

Holding back tears, she exited the car and walked toward the ticket booth. She felt as though she had the axe of Damocles hovering over her neck, ready to strike her down at any moment.

"Um—excuse me. One ticket to Boston, please."

The ticket booth associate regarded her skeptically. "Will this be a one-way, or round trip?"

"One way," Aurora forced out.

"That will be $28," he said after typing the information in. "And I'll need to see some I.D."

Aurora reached for her wallet. She handed the ticket booth man her I.D. and credit card.

"Stephan Briars?" His eyes narrowed as he looked up from the credit card.

"It's my father's," Aurora explained. "I have permission to use it." She shifted her feet as he raised an eyebrow. 'And he should let me use it too, since I'm going home at his bequest,' she thought ruefully.

"Alright, Ms. Briars. The next bus leaves at 5:40. Make sure you are here half an hour before departure time. Seats are on a first come, first serve basis. If a seat cannot be found, you will have to wait for the next bus."

"Thank you," Aurora said as she took the ticket and her I.D. and credit card. She scurried to the most secluded seat she could find to wait for the bus.

The wait was not long, much to her disappointment. Her anxiety was ramping up again as the passengers who had reached their destination were exiting. She collected her courage and walked out of the depot building to the bus. When it was her turn, she handed the driver her ticket and found a secluded seat in the back.

The stench from the toilet burned her nose and made her eyes water, making her regret her decision. Still, it meant she was less likely to have to sit next to any of the other passengers.

The ride afforded her time to think; a dangerous notion on the best of days. She considered the many reasons her father could have ordered her to return home: he found out she was breaking things off with Phillip, although she had yet to officially end things with her fiancé; something had happened to her mother or one of her aunts, and as terrible as that would be, she would survive; he had somehow found out about her job and wanted to put her at jeopardy for losing it so she would continue to be financially dependent on him, and it wouldn't be the first time; or it could be something else entirely. Each option her mind concocted was equally terrible.

By the time the bus pulled into the Boston depot, it was dark. Aurora bit back her sobs for the umpteenth time that day. She took her time to collect her belongings and moved toward the front of the bus.

It did not take her long to figure out that no one was going to pick her up. Dismayed at how easily she was discarded, she called the local taxi company to take her to her family's home.

The taxi ride from the bus depot to her family's home was much shorter than she had hoped for. She paid her fee and got out. She shuffled up to the front door, and with a great deal of effort on her part, rang the doorbell.

Much to her dread, it was her father who answered the door. His expression was just as severe as ever; making her dread even more what was coming. His dark eyes were narrowed disapprovingly.

"You're late," he said, his low voice menacing.

"There were some traffic delays," she replied, which was true. The bus had gotten caught in a number of traffic jams, something that was not that unusual on the east coast.

"Go wait in the dining room." Stephan stepped aside, granting Aurora permission to enter.

Aurora did not like where this was going. She did as she was told. The wait in the dining room had her on edge. Time seemed to have slowed down, making her anxiety rise to new heights. She heard the front door open again, and wondered with newfound dread who it might be.

When the door to the dining room entered and revealed Phillip, her stomach did somersaults. She searched frantically for any escape route she could use. Phillip and her father were standing in front of the only one available to her, affectively blocking any real chance she had to get away. She wondered if she could push her way through and make it. She doubted it. That left her waiting for her fate. She wished, more than anything that Maleficent were with her. Maleficent had witnessed what Phillip did to make her cut off all communication.

"You are probably wondering why I called you home on such short notice," Stephan began. She didn't have it in her to do much more than stare at them in petrified terror. "It has come to my attention that you have started ignoring your fiancé."

Aurora cringed at the accusation. She was going to pay dearly for cutting Phillip off, and Maleficent wasn't there to save her.

"I love you, Aurora," Phillip said. His tone was almost convincing, except she knew better now.

She didn't respond to him. There was nothing she could say. She just wished that he would leave her alone and let her live in peace, but he just had to get her father involved.

"I want you to be my wife. Your father approves of the wedding." The closer he moved toward her, the more steps she took to keep her distance. "Is it that woman I keep seeing you with?"

Aurora's mouth dropped. He was stalking her. Despite everything that had happened in recent weeks, she never believed he was capable of stalking her. Anger rose in her. The hairs on the back of her neck and arms rose as though electricity was flowing through her. She raised her hands in a defensive gesture. She couldn't explain what happened, but Phillip and Stephan were both knocked to their backs.

Before she could process what happened and react, Phillip had closed the distance between them. His hands were closed around her throat, squeezing down on her windpipe. She tried to push him off her, but he was too strong.

"You will be my wife, and you will never step foot in that school again. As your husband, I won't stand for it!"

"Phillip—can't breathe—!" Aurora choked. Her will to continue struggling against him was evaporating. Tears leaked from her eyes. If he didn't release her, she would soon black out. She was at his mercy, just as every man in her life had intended.

When she looked over to Stephan, her father was just watching. Her stomach sank at the realization that he didn't care what happened to her, so long as she did as she was told and married Phillip. She closed her eyes and begged for Phillip to take his rage to the next level and end it.

The door burst open, and she was thrown to the floor. She choked and gasped for air. When she looked up, Phillip was being held against the wall.

"You!" Stephan snarled.

Aurora had to blink a couple times to realize that it was Maleficent who was pinning Phillip against the wall. She shook her head, dazed and confused. Her father's eyes were wide with recognition and hate.

"If either of you ever harm Aurora again, I will make certain the authorities will be unable to identify your bodies," Maleficent threatened. She discarded Phillip before scooping Aurora into her arms. "Do not follow if you value your lives."

[benrleeusa]

[Paul Cassell] In Supporting the Gymnastics Victims, Judge Aquilina Got It Right

Recently the country watched Michigan Judge Rosemarie Aquilina allow crime victims—dozens of them—to testify during the sentencing hearing of Olympics doctor, Larry Nassar. These victims spoke eloquently and emotionally about the terrible harm that Nassar had caused. After hearing from the victims, Judge Aquilina sentenced Nassar to 40 to 175 years in prison, to be served after completion of an already-imposed 60-year prison term. The lengthy sentence appears to have broad public approval as letting the punishment fit the crime. But a few legal commentators are been carping about the process leading up to the sentence, suggesting that Judge Aquilina somehow stepped outside proper judicial boundaries in providing so much support for the victims. These allegations misunderstand the law governing sentence proceedings. In fact, what Judge Aquilina did was clearly within her judicial role, and should be celebrated not criticized.

In this case, the system worked as it was intended, and Judge Aquilina properly gave the victims an opportunity to have their voices heard. Michigan voters amended their state constitution in 1988 to give crime victims rights—specifically relevant in this context, the "right to make a statement to the court at sentencing." What we saw over the last week or so was victims exercising this right to make a statement, specifically to give what is commonly referred to as a "victim impact statement."

Victim impact statements play multiple roles during the criminal justice process, as I have explained at length in my article "In Defense of Victim Impact Statements." One of the most important purposes of a victim impact statement is providing information to the sentencing judge about the full scope of a crime, so that she can impose punishment that fits the crime. The victims' statements over the last few days powerfully demonstrated the long-lasting physical, emotional, and other consequences that followed from Nassar's crimes. Collecting that information was part of Judge Aquilina's job in imposing sentence, not a detour from her judicial role.

Another important purpose of a victim impact statement is driving home to the defendant the full consequences of what he has done. It is possible that Nassar's victims were able to cause him to appreciate, at least to some small degree, what he had done to these women. Early in the sentencing process he complained to the judge about being forced to listen to all the victims, but by the end he was apologizing and claiming to have been shaken to his core.

Yet another important purpose of a victim impact statement has been often overlooked in some of the critical commentary. Apart from any impact on the sentencing process or the defendant himself, a victim impact statement can have important therapeutic benefits for victims. I summarized the relevant empirical literature on this subject in my article:

One thorough assessment of the literature on victim participation explained, "The cumulative knowledge acquired from research in various jurisdictions, in countries with different legal systems, suggests that victims often benefit from participation and input. With proper safeguards, the overall experience of providing input can be positive and empowering." Thus, the consensus appears to be that victim impact statements allow the victim "to regain a sense of dignity and respect rather than feeling powerless and ashamed."

Judge Aquilina helped the victims through the process of giving a victim impact statement, offering words of encouragement and furthered their efforts to regain their dignity and respect by explaining what had happened to them. In furthering their healing process, the judge doing nothing more than allowing victim impact statements to work as they were intended to work.

In light of these general purposes of victim impact statements, the general reaction to Judge Aquilina's handling of the sentencing hearing appears to have been positive. But inevitably, rather than celebrating what should have been regarded as an example of an important government process working as intended, a few commentators have appeared to carp about some aspects of the case. For example, writing in Vox, defense attorney Rachel Marshall argued that "[t]hroughout the proceedings, which were televised, Aquilina essentially transformed herself into a champion for a movement. It is understandable to feel empathy for previously voiceless victims, especially ones whose testimony took such bravery. But there are crucial distinctions between judge and advocate, and she traversed those lines repeatedly." Similarly, writing in Time magazine, defense attorney Anne Gowen claimed that Judge Aquilina departed from her judicial role because "[a] judge who reframes the sentence she selects as a personal expression of disgust with the actions of the defendant and the defendant himself has changed the task she was assigned." And, writing for the New Republic, Andrew Cohen claimed that "[t]o her discredit, Judge Aquilina abdicated her role as an impartial arbiter and became instead a tribune for prosecutors and the victims. She did this by showing relentless hostility and anger toward Nassar."

These arguments might have some plausibility—if Judge Aquilina had been presiding over a trial to determine whether Nassar was guilty or innocent. But she was conducting a sentencing proceeding, in which Nassar had already pleaded guilty and admitted he was a child molester. The proper judicial role in such a proceeding much different than an umpire just calling balls and strikes. When sentencing a justly-convicted criminal, the judge is perfectly entitled to be the voice of the community she represents—a community that was no doubt shocked by the magnitude of Nassar's crimes.

The U.S. Supreme Court has considered—and rejected—allegations of judicial "bias" in analogous contexts. In rejecting an argument that a judge should have recused because of negative opinions he expressed about a criminal defendant at sentencing, the Court explained:

The judge who presides at a trial may, upon completion of the evidence, be exceedingly ill disposed towards the defendant, who has been shown to be a thoroughly reprehensible person. But the judge is not thereby recusable for bias or prejudice, since his knowledge and the opinion it produced were properly and necessarily acquired in the course of the proceedings, and are indeed sometimes (as in a bench trial) necessary to completion of the judge's task. . . . Impartiality is not gullibility. Disinterestedness does not mean child-like innocence. If the judge did not form judgments of the actors in those court-house dramas called trials, he could never render decisions.

Liteky v. United States, 510 U.S. 540, 550–51 (1994) (internal quotations omitted).

Judge Aquilina was sentencing a child abuser who had harmed more than a hundred underage girls. As the Supreme Court indicates, it would hardly be surprising to find that she was, to put it mildly, "exceedingly ill disposed towards" Nassar. But that is not bias—but simply the consequence of a man choosing to commit horrible crimes and then being held to account.

The law in Judge Aquilina's jurisdiction—Michigan—is to the same effect. As long ago as 1989, shortly after enactment of Michigan's victims' rights amendment, the Michigan Court of Appeals rejected a claim of judicial bias arising from the judge reviewing an allegedly "inordinate degree of inflammatory, marginally relevant, prejudicial statements" from the relatives of a homicide victim. In rejecting the claim, the Michigan Court of Appeals emphasized that "[t]he impact of a crime on a victim is a valid sentencing consideration. In view of the enactment of the Crime Victim's Rights Act, with its explicit provision for victim input into the disposition of criminal cases, including sentencing, a contrary conclusion is not tenable. We do not believe that the judge's consideration of the impact of the crime on the victim amounted to a prejudice or bias that deflected him from making a sentencing decision within the scope of considerations recognized in[Michigan caselaw, which allows a just to consider, among other sentencing factors, the disciplining of the wrongdoer, the protection of society, the potential for reformation of the offender, and the deterring of others from committing like offenses]." People v. Jones, 179 Mich. App. 339, 342–43, 445 N.W.2d 518, 520 (1989).

A few years later, in 1992, the Michigan Court of Appeals reiterated the point and went further, making clear that judges can say harsh things about criminals they are sentencing: "Sentencing is the time for comments against felonious, antisocial behavior recounted and unraveled before the eyes of the sentencer. At that critical stage of the proceeding when penalty is levied, the law vindicated, and the grievance of society and the victim redressed, the language of punishment need not be tepid." People v. Antoine, 194 Mich. App. 189, 191; 486 N.W.2d 92 (1992).

Interestingly, several commentators have criticized Judge Aquilina for saying she had signed Nassar's "death warrant" in sentencing him to a multi-decade term of imprisonment. But just last summer, the Michigan Court of Appeals rejected a claim of judicial bias when a Michigan trial judge expressed the "wish" that a defendant has been caught committing a more serious crime, because then "you might not be going to the Department of Corrections for 10 years, you might be getting buried in some cemetery." In rejecting an argument of bias, the Michigan Court of Appeals noted that, "Without question, aspects of this statement reflect a certain level of frustration by the trial court. However, considered in context, we conclude that this statement was not an expression of personal bias or animus toward defendant, but rather was an attempt by the trial court to impress on defendant . . . the serious nature of the consequences that his actions could have had, and of the impact of his actions on the victim." People v. Mitchell, No. 332266, 2017 WL 2607900, at *5 (Mich. Ct. App. June 15, 2017). The Michigan Court of Appeals also noted that the comments were responsive to points made by the victim in a victim i9mpact statement, explaining that the "trial court's comments thus addressed the grievance of society and redress of the victim, and did not demonstrate actual bias." Id.

Nor was there any legal problem with Judge Aquilina stating, at the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, that the victims should do their best to put the matter behind them. In 2015, the Nevada Court of Appeals rejected a domestic violence abuser's attack on sympathetic remarks made by the judge to the victim. In that case, the victim described how she was harmed by the defendant's battery, i.e., that she had panic attacks, her relationship with her husband and children was affected, she suffered from nightmares, and she no longer drove alone because she was afraid. The trial judge had advised the victim to put this matter behind her, suggested she seek counseling from a religious leader, and informed her that the defendant would be going to prison for a long time. In rejecting the defendant's claim that these actions showed bias, the Nevada Court of Appeals explained that the remarks were proper, noting that the "were made at the end of the victim's impact statement—after all of the other evidence had been presented and immediately before he imposed the sentence. We conclude these remarks do not exhibit an impermissible bias or prejudice." Diaz v. State, No. 66589, 2015 WL 3824906, at *2 (Nev. App. June 16, 2015).

Nor was their any legal problem with the judge making comments expressing sympathy for the victims. The North Carolina Court of Appeals considered a case where the defendant complained that, after a judge heard a victim impact statement at sentencing, he commented: "Today is a classic example of why victims need to be recognized and the court system needs to become their friends, not their enemy." The North Carolina Court of Appeals explained: "We do not feel the above statement manifests a bias against defendant. At most, it only illustrates an affinity for the use of victim impact statements, a procedure that is specifically endorsed by our statutes." State v. Hendricks, 138 N.C. App. 668, 671–72, 531 S.E.2d 896, 899 (2000)

Finally, in my home state, in a sex abuse case, the Utah Supreme Court has addressed an allegation very similar to the claim of bias made against Judge Aquilina. The Court rejected any suggestion that judicial anger towards a child abuse defendant was somehow a manifestation of impermissible bias, explaining:

Certainly, we expect our judges to "be patient, dignified, and courteous to litigants, jurors, witnesses, lawyers, and others with whom the judge deals in an official capacity." But that does not mean that due process or our Code of Judicial Conduct are violated whenever a defendant's criminal conduct and subsequent excuses inspire anger in a judge. Perhaps there is a judge who could remain emotionally neutral when faced with a father who sexually abused his daughter, tended to blame her for the abuse, and then tried to rationalize it by stating that he thought it would have been a good experience for her. But no law requires it.

State v. Munguia, 2011 UT 5, ¶ 20, 253 P.3d 1082, 1089–90.

Some commentators—including Reason's own Robby Soave—have seized on one brief comment Judge Aquilina made to find fault with her performance. As Soave explains, Judge Aquilina said during one of the proceedings, "our Constitution does not allow for cruel and unusual punishment. If it did, I have to say, I might allow what he did to all of these beautiful souls—these young women in their childhood—I would allow someone or many people to do to him what he did to others." Soave identifies these remarks as coming when Judge Aquilina sentenced Nassar, although actually they came a day earlier. Soave, quite properly, finds fault with any suggestion that Nassar should be assaulted because of the assaults he committed. But while the judge's sentiments of disgust with Nassar could certainly have been phrased more appropriately, a single off-hand remark should not be the basis overlooking the tremendous work that Judge Aquilina did over the course of multiple days of emotionally complex testimony.

What we should remember from the sentencing hearing is Judge Aquilina's closing remarks, not to Nassar but to his victims. Leave your pain here," she said, "and go out and do your magnificent things." That was the human thing to say. And, as the cases collected above make clear, that was also the judicious thing to say.

[softlytheeveningcomes]

Aphrodite and Asexuality

TW: mentions of (but no descriptions of) abuse, cutting

Aphrodite is the Goddess of love, beauty, and desire. She finds herself typically cast with sexual love and often ONLY sexual love. This is very limiting for this Goddess who has many archetypes and very scary for a person who finds themselves upon the ace spectrum. I had been working with Artemis, since becoming Pagan up until about 5 months ago (Oct. 2016). Artemis, as you might know, is a virgin Goddess, one who kills for her honor, a fierce warrior, she is what I needed during that time in my life. I needed to get over the years of abuse that I endured. I needed to learn how to be a fierce woman. Let me preface this next part (and all the parts to follow) by saying that this is my experience with Aphrodite and it might now be like this for anyone else, Goddesses don't often have conditions, Artemis didn't have one for me.

Nevertheless, it has always been Aphrodite for me, I always say that she has called to me even before I was Pagan, but I didn't fully understand it until I was open to it. Then, when I was open to it there was the condition that I could not be a virgin and work with her. Since my time with Artemis was so important for my healing, I believe that Aphrodite wanted me to spend time, maybe 'wanted me to,' is the wrong words but she understood that I needed to find myself. I needed to learn how to exist outside of love (getting over abuse), to learn how to defend myself from those who wish to do me harm, and how to love and be loved (something I am still working on), especially without the complication of sex, before I could work with Her.

To condense my abuse down to the least amount of detail, because this isn't about him, a specific part of my abuser's emotional games related to me remaining a virgin. One day, I realized that I wasn't having sex because I was afraid of him. I realized that every time I had a panic attack during a sexual situation it was because I was afraid of him. I realized that by remaining a virgin because I was doing so out of fear was allowing him to keep power over me. I was tired of being afraid, and I was tired of being powerless so, in October 2016 I had sex for the first time. I had sex to find my power again. I needed to find my power again. TW: The way I feel about my abuse; I was disgusted with myself, disgusted that I allowed him to keep his power over me for so long. I was disgusted with myself for not realizing it sooner. I was basically ready to have sex with whoever I next saw because I couldn't stand that he still had control over me. In the past I have been pretty reckless, so luckily my soul mate knows me well enough she didn't allow me to self-destruct.

Last week I fluctuated back into my asexual state. This was the first time since I had sex 5 months ago that I experienced this fluctuation. I did have sex during this time, and I am going to try to articulate this right now, but it's difficult. I was physically aroused but mentally there was a disconnect. Normally, I am into it mentally and physically, this time I remember wanting to do it but then not really feeling anything when it was happening. This is strange to say, normally, I very much enjoy sex. I was okay with having sex, I wanted to, but emotionally I felt nothing. I don't like the way that sounds, but I don't know how else to say it.

Further, I have realized that I am aromantic, currently using the aroflux/demiromantic labels. I don't experience the desire to be in a relationship, demiromantic is more fitting I think, but since I am new to the label, I am not sure about it yet. I am currently in a relationship. Background: I have known my boyfriend for years, but we reconnected 4 months ago, so when I say "first saw him," I am referring to 4 months ago because before that reconnection I wasn't really attracted to him. Sorry, if you are reading this, but I think you already knew that. Anyway, when I first saw him, WHEW, I wanted to have sex with him (aceflux), but that was all (again, sorry, love, if you're reading this, clearly I wanted more eventually). Once we started talking and hanging out, I started catching feelings (demiromantic). Aphrodite was screaming her approval in my face, there were roses outside his house (she has used flowers to tell me that I am on the right path before...) He is an Ares (I don't think this part needs to be explained) and if he had to align himself with a Greek God it would be Heph. My tarot cards (which I use to "communicate," with Aphrodite) said she loves him. Potentially these things aren't signs (but I chose to believe they were because of the timing, after the faith test (which I will cover later on, and the way they came about to me, there are no coincidences in my opinion so they were "signs" to me). Long story short, Aphrodite loves this boy... like more than I do *eye roll.*

Since, the start of our journey together, Aphrodite and I, we have been working on self-love/care, being more 'war-like,' (Ares has been around), finding my sexual power, and she has been a relationship role model during this polyamorous stage in my life. Yes, classically Ares/Aphrodite/Hephaestus were not poly but in my canon they are. Sex is an acceptable form of worship or offering for Aphrodite, and one that I had been using and one that I came to her through, so when I realized that I was fluctuating BACK, I was fearful. I was nervous about how this would impact my relationship with Her. I was nervous about labeling myself as aromantic/asexual because relationships are so important to her. I don't feel it affecting our relationship and I don't feel like it should. Aphrodite is a very accepting Goddess, especially of those in the LGBTQ* community. There are many ways to approach her. She is beauty, born a fully developed woman from the sexual organs of Uranus. She is masculine and feminine, and sexual even in birth. There is the Aphrodite who is focused entirely on sex/love/adult relationships (her most well-known archetype). There is the independent (feminist) Aphrodite. There is the Aphrodite that wants you to find beauty in everything including yourself. Aphrodite is an intellectual, femme fatale, compassionate, the list goes on.

This leads back to the question at hand: How (especially in my instance where I came to her through sex) can one be asexual and a devotee of Aphrodite?

A few weeks ago I had what I was considering a "crisis of faith." I was considering oath binding myself to Her, which is not something you can break free from. This obviously made me panic, like I do in any relationship. I started to think about my Christianity, about my soul and what would happen if I went down this path? Basically, I was thinking about committing myself to Aphrodite and like I do in any relationship, or form of commitment, I started to panic and run and sabotage (sort of). Clearly, I wasn't ready to devote myself to Her. I was discussing with Rivka, this crisis that I was having. Now, I haven't had the best luck in love, religiously, romantically, personally, etc. She suggested that I am searching for the love that I have been 'deprived,' of. I needed to figure out what Aphrodite meant to me, who She is in my life.

Clearly, I still haven't figured everything out. We are two beings trying to form a connection/relationship and it's hard, especially with my running (i.e my running from commitment/love). Since this was my first fluctuation back to ace, fully, since I started having sex, I can't talk too much about how to live with on the ace spectrum and be with Aphrodite. However, I feel there are ways to worship Her without sex, obviously. I felt like once I did start having sex that I was "fixed," back to my sexuality before my abuse, whatever that orientation was (not that being ace is in any way wrong). I just felt "healed," when I started having sex and working with Aphrodite.

If we adhere to the idea that Aphrodite in some way controls the things that happen to me, then it is helpful for me to think that she allowed my fluctuation back into the ace spectrum to happen to bring me back to Her. To show me that love and sex are separate (something that sometimes is hard for me to separate, because, abuse). To show me that it is okay to be who I am, that she will accept me however I am. To show me that she can, and will love me through whatever, we can work on sex and love and I can be asexual/aromantic. She needed me to understand that I need to accept myself.

We are back to the question, though: How does one live on the Ace spectrum and have a relationship with Aphrodite? I feel like at this point I should be able to answer this, however, I am not sure how to explain it. For us, right now, since we are working on so many things, one week of asexuality in the grand scheme isn't going to make or break our relationship. During this week we focused more on me not TW: cutting than anything else. I think that it just depends on what she wants from you, as her follower. Yet, I don't think that if you are asexual she would ask you for sex. I have yet to meet a devotee of Aphrodite who felt that was all they were called for.

Here is what I've decided upon exploring this in writing. I've been looking at this wrong. I didn't come to Aphrodite through sex, I came to Aphrodite when I decided to stop fearing intimacy, love, and relationships. When I opened up myself to accept love, that is when she came to me. In fact, the first thing I remember was her asking me to trust her, it was difficult, it was scary. She wanted me to trust her blindly, I needed to show her that I had faith in her, I did it but it was terrifying. I needed to do this because I needed to learn that not everyone is out to hurt and destroy me. Artemis taught me to defend my heart and Aphrodite is showing me how to open up my heart to those who deserve it.

So yes, sex is a part of who she is, it's a part of who I am, but it is not all that we are. Like I said, Aphrodite is more than sex, she is a fearless warrior (lover of war), mother, beautiful, free-loving, sensualist, who doesn't take any shit, but she does it with love, she is love. You can absolutely be a devotee of Aphrodite and be on the ace spectrum, as long as you aren't filled with hate. On some level, there has to be potential for love. This love doesn't have to be romantic or directed at anyone/anything. One just has to be receptive to the idea of love. As an aromantic/demiromantic yes this is hard for some of us. I love my friends, I love my dog, I am working on loving myself, love doesn't have to be romantic. You just have to be able to find pleasure/joy/affection in the everyday. To be with Aphrodite is not to have sex all the time (for some of us, sure it is). To be with Aphrodite is to love, to find love and beauty. Therefore, anyone who isn't filled with hate, and is receptive to love is welcome to Her.