#drei is not impressed

[pyotrkochetkov]

hurricanes @ predators | december 27, 2023

[lichtecht]

aroace bob

[bizlybebo]

rewatching the final voyage/pt2 of the black rose oneshot and AUGGH dude.

drey is killing me.

because he never “deserted” his family out of spite. he never became a pirate cause he wanted to rebel. he did what he did, set off on an adventure, because he wanted to impress his father. give him something to be proud of.

this combined with what we know now is so gutwrenching cause like. drey thought he could never hold up in the navy, could never be as successful as his brother, so he chose to become the family’s antithesis just to get so much as a scrap of attention. even if he became a “criminal”, he wanted to be an impressive one. he had to be the best in some fashion, because he had to evoke some kind of admiration. he had to be seen.

drey ferin was simply fighting to be seen.

and the first thing the other black rose crew members do is catch sight of him after so long out at sea. the first thing captain rose does is appreciate his talent for sharpshooting.

drey ferin got in a few minutes something he had been lacking for years.

just to lose it all again. just to shoot his own captain through the heart.

[hldailyupdate]

“Because I am a child we will be counting together in german today and you’ll all be very impressed! Eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs, sieben, acht, neun, zehn, elf, zwölf, dreizehn, vierzehn, fünfzehn, sechzehn, siebzehn, achtzehn, neunzehn, zwanzig, einundzwanzig, zweiunzwanzing!!!!! dreißig. And then that’s where volleyball scores end. Can we make some noice please for the German numbers? Inspiring stuff, carrying games of volleyball for years to come...! That was a reach, but thank you very much for your enthusiastic response!”

-Harry counting in German tonight!

Love On Tour 2023: Munich, Night 2. (18 May 2023)

[jozor-johai]

Dorne, Shown not Told: how Darkstar is more than his reputation.

Darkstar used to bug me as a character—not necessarily because of his edgy dialogue, but because the way he was written: he's not on-page for very long, so we're really told much more about him than we are shown anything.

I've seen this same complaint voiced before, and almost always it's brushed over as an inherent failure of Gerold as a character, or other arguments that presuppose a lack of faith in Martin.

I can understand why, without deeper analysis, some people try to make the Doylist argument that Darkstar must be lazy writing by Martin, something along the lines of "I have to introduce this guy quick, so here's a bunch of backstory told by a bunch of characters". Instead, though, I argue that this situation of being "told" so much about Darkstar is actually the Watsonian perspective of his character; it is Arianne who has been told so much about him, and we're experiencing her misconceptions.

I've come to realize that the feeling of being "told" about Darkstar, with a focus away from what we're "shown," is fully intentional. With this different approach to interpreting Darkstar's character, I've found that not only do I like him so much more as a character in-universe, but I also like him so much more as an element in George R R Martin's writing. Melisandre might be his "most misunderstood character," but I think Gerold Dayne must be up there too.

I don't understand why it took me so long to see it: ASOIAF is all about the way that information—or misinformation—spreads and changes the course of action and history. Of course this would be a theme to look out for. Once I started to dig more into this idea in relation to Darkstar, I realized just how prevalent this theme was in the Dornish arc, which is entirely about the way that people are told something, and the way that being told these things—even without evidence—has such an impact. That's what the companion post to this one is about.

If you've read that post already, and now I've got you on board to doubt the reputation that Darkstar has, and to doubt the story Arianne was told about him, this is the post where I rebuild Gerold's character from scratch, and convince you that he's actually an alright guy, a trustworthy one, and possibly even a true knight. Maybe, even, he's worthy of Dawn, and the title of "Sword of the Morning."

I'm sure I'm not the first to suggest this, as it's been so many years, but it's exciting to experience a moment of realization that makes me see the writing itself in a new light, so I wanted to share my thought process here.

2.0 Gerold Dayne, shown not told.

In this part, I attempt to look at Gerold Dayne as if I were Areo Hotah, not Arianne: to watch what he does and says, on page, rather than take anyone's word for it, and rather than interpret his actions against a prejudice that he is as dark and dangerous as Arianne thinks. This way, I want to see what kind of man Gerold Dayne actually shows us he is, through his actions and interactions, rather than who we're told he is.

Beyond just doubting Doran's story because I don't believe Doran to be trustworthy, here I'll be explaining why I think that once we get to know Darkstar as best as we can, maiming Myrcella doesn't even really sound like something he would do.

This is a long one too, like the other one, so the rest is after the cut

2.1 Early good impressions—by being early

We don't see very much of Darkstar on-page, so let's start with our very first impression of him, in the second paragraph of the chapter:

Arianne Martell arrived with Drey and Sylva just as the sun was going down, with the west a tapestry of gold and purple and the clouds all glowing crimson. The ruins seemed aglow as well; the fallen columns glimmered pinkly, red shadows crept across the cracked stone floors, and the sands themselves turned from gold to orange to purple as the light faded. Garin had arrived a few hours earlier, and the knight called Darkstar the day before.

We don't know when they arranged to meet, but I think there's room for a symbolic meaning to Arianne arriving just as the sun goes down. Symbolically, the day ending as soon as she arrives mirrors the way that her plan is going to end as soon as it begins.

In addition, it's a signature of Arianne's character this chapter, moving just slightly too slowly. In this way, Arianne is already more like her father than she wants to admit—remember the overripe oranges falling in The Captain of the Guards, or how Areo knew that Doran saying they would leave at dawn meant midday. Arianne is the same—she arrives to her own plan at dusk.

Even without that comparison, Arianne's late arrival is emblematic of her inability to structure a plan as carefully as she believes she can, which is also something that haunts her for the rest of his arc. Consider the meaning of this for her: she is the head of this plan, and yet she and her two companions are the last to arrive. Garin beats her to the rendezvous place by a few hours... and Darkstar is almost the opposite extreme. He gets there a whole day early.

Perhaps that's suspect, perhaps that's responsible; this alone is not enough to say. For a certainty, though, this clearly positions Darkstar as someone who is, say, the opposite of the "Late" Lord Walder Frey. He's a man who comes early, not late.

As the chapter continues, it's not the only time that Arianne lags carelessly while Darkstar vouches for a more responsible course of action, so keep this in mind. This passage sets the tone for the rest of the chapter.

2.2 What makes a man "Great"?

The next time we see Darkstar on page, we get his first line of dialogue and his first actual on-page action. He juts in while the others are talking about the storied hero who is Garin's namesake:

"Garin the Great," offered Drey, "the wonder of the Rhoyne." "That's the one. He made Valyria tremble." "They trembled," said Ser Gerold, "then they killed him. If I led a quarter of a million men to death, would they call me Gerold the Great?" He snorted. "I shall remain Darkstar, I think. At least it is mine own." He unsheathed his longsword, sat upon the lip of the dry well, and began to hone the blade with an oilstone.

There's a lot to unpack here for such a short passage. To begin with, we can interpret some of Darkstar's values from his additions to this conversation. He clearly has a certain pragmatism, because he chooses to see through the veneration that the stories have afforded "Garin the Great", and points out that his cause was actually poorly met. In this way, Gerold might come off like a humorless spoilsport, but we can also consider the fact that he's already learned some of the lessons that other characters, like Sansa, have been forced to face: reality does not match the songs, and not all "heroes" are good people.

Gerold also shows a concern for the ranks of the military. It's not about one man's veneration for him, it's about the success of the plan—and the survival of the men who act on it. This is actually the same concern for Dorne that Doran is obsessed with, at the end of The Watcher:

"Until the Mountain crushed my brother's skull, no Dornishmen had died in this War of the Five Kings," the prince murmured softly, as Hotah pulled a blanket over him. "Tell me, Captain, is that my shame or my glory?"

Doran has spent a lifetime hemming and hawing over this notion, unsure of whether to act or to wait, and choosing inaction over decision. By stark contrast, Gerold speaks with a casual certainty: "Garin the Great" was no good at all, because all his men died, and he lost. It might make him sound like a cynic, but Dayne knows what he believes in. Leading men to their death is no greatness at all.

2.3 Choosing one's own name

And, now knowing his thoughts on blind veneration, we might reinterpret his decision to invent his own nickname. Rather than grasping for approval from in songs (like Tywin's Rains of Castamere), his act of naming himself could be seen as a sign of honor, not blind pride.

"If I led a quarter of a million men to death, would they call me Gerold the Great?" He snorted. "I shall remain Darkstar, I think. At least it is mine own."

He does not believe in misjudged "bravery" for the sake of a title, and therefore is unlike so many others who we see across ASOIAF ready to die fighting in their desire for glory. Rather than dreaming of becoming immortalized in a song, Darkstar has no lust for public approval—he's given himself his own title, and means to prove himself against his own standard.

And at least it is his own. ASOIAF is a story where so much weight is put into names and epithets—Arya and Sansa losing their names and even their chapter titles, Brienne and Jaime fighting against the disparaging nicknames they are given. Here, Darkstar has already proven himself past all of those troubles with this one action—regardless of whatever names others should call him, or even remember him by, he shall go by this one, the name, and the fate, that he chose for himself.

2.4 Honing the blade

And then, immediately, Gerold starts caring for his blade.

He unsheathed his longsword, sat upon the lip of the dry well, and began to hone the blade with an oilstone.

Interestingly, the list of people who hone their blade on-page is surprisingly short. This shared action puts Gerold in league with the likes of Brienne:

I will, she promised his shade, there in the piney wood. She sat down on a rock, took out her sword, and began to hone its edge. I will remember, and I pray I will not flinch.

And also the likes of Yoren, Arya, Jon, Meera, Barristan, and Hotah himself; all of whom are dutiful if not also generally good-hearted. Ilyn Payne and Rakharo, care for their blades on-page, too, and though I'm not sure if they get enough story time to argue whether or not they are good-hearted, they are certainly pragmatic, skilled, and committed. Bronn, too, hones his blade on-page, and even if not good-hearted, he's these other positive qualities, the ones that make him likeable even in his scoundrel status: Bronn is skilled, pragmatic, dedicated to his craft, and even committed after his own fashion (he does name his adoptive child Tyrion, after all).

Better tying this to a morality case, the first time we see Sandor Clegane caring for his blade is after the Red Wedding, after he fully commits to taking in Arya. Similarly, Jaime is only seen caring for his blade in Feast and later, after he begins to have his own character turn towards searching for honor.

In stark contrast, Theon pulls out his blade to "sharpen" it before facing his father in Clash, but he only "gave it a few licks" with the whetstone ... what a total poser.

(It's a silly thing, but the most minor character we see sharpening a blade is a stray Blackwood... so you know these are the good guys, haha. Oswell Whent, too, which I don't make much of myself but I know others have.)

So, when we see Gerold Dayne start to sharpen his blade as his first on-page action, we might think: here is a man who is responsible, who is committed to duty, who believes in taking care of his person and his honor. Tying little actions like this to character qualities is the kind of thing GRRM does frequently.

2.5 Sober attitude

To a similar end, we also see that Gerold Dayne doesn't drink, preferring water with lemon.

Once the kindling caught, they sat around the flames and passed a skin of summerwine from hand to hand . . . all but Darkstar, who preferred to drink unsweetened lemonwater.

Which puts him in league with Brienne again:

"I would prefer water," said Brienne. "Elmar, the red for Ser Jaime, water for the Lady Brienne, and hippocras for myself." Bolton waved a hand at their escort, dismissing them, and the men beat a silent retreat.

As well as Stannis, paragon of "duty":

But not today, I think—ah, here's your son with our water." Devan set the tray on the table and filled two clay cups. The king sprinkled a pinch of salt in his cup before he drank; Davos took his water straight, wishing it were wine.

Again, this is the kind of quality that is associated with people who are attached to their sense of duty. (Note also that as Brienne feels increasingly lost during her search for Sansa, we see her increasingly drink wine. Roose, for his part, doesn't just drink wine, but wants wine sweetened with sugar and spices, which, like Littlefinger's minty breath, covers up his harsh reality).

So Gerold Dayne, in word and action, seems to have more in common with duty- and honor-bound characters, rather than being the heartless rogue which the Martells seem to believe he is.

2.6 Arianne's imagination versus Gerold's reality

Arianne asserts that Gerold would go so far as to exterminate an entire clan... but it's while she's fantasizing about ruling Sunspear with Myrcella as Queen:

Once I crown Myrcella and free the Sand Snakes, all Dorne will rally to my banners. The Yronwoods might declare for Quentyn, but alone they were no threat. If they went over to Tommen and the Lannisters, she would have Darkstar destroy them root and branch.

So we know what Arianne thinks he's capable of, but we also have heard Dayne's own thoughts that war for its own sake is not laudable. Would he really be the type to eradicate a whole family, like Arianne says? So far, he seems otherwise like an alright guy, and potentially even a true knight, so far: he takes care of his sword, he stays sober, he arrives early, he's not searching for glory from others, and he doesn't believe one should be rewarded for idiotic wars.

If I were to put this in a single quote—if I could create a single moment where I might show that Arianne's mental image of Darkstar is one way (hard, dangerous, mean) and his reality was a different way (dutiful, pragmatic, and good-hearted)—I might show it like this:

He has a cruel mouth, though, and a crueler tongue. His eyes seemed black as he sat outlined against the dying sun, sharpening his steel, but she had looked at them from a closer vantage and she knew that they were purple. Dark purple. Dark and angry. He must have felt her gaze upon him, for he looked up from his sword, met her eyes, and smiled.

Does he have a cruel mouth, and dark, angry eyes? Or does he have an easy smile? Arianne tells us the former... but so far, we are shown the latter.

And what does Gerold himself say with that "cruel tongue"? What counsel does he give, what courses does he suggest?

2.7 Gerold's bloody suggestion

Before Myrcella arrives, Gerold Dayne has the chance to offer counsel to Arianne. This moment comes directly following that moment where all of Arianne's other conspirators confide that they don't trust him, and that they don't need him for the plan. Immediately afterward, Darkstar returns and suggests that the plan isn't very good to begin with.

Dayne put a foot upon the head of a statue that might have been the Maiden till the sands had scoured her face away. "It occurred to me as I was pissing that this plan of yours may not yield you what you want."

While all of Arianne's friends have warned her of Darkstar, why is it that Darkstar is the only one to warn Arianne that this is a poor plan? It's important to remember that he's right, after all, because this plan gets thwarted, and as he goes on to say, was ill-concieved to begin with. If he can see it, why have none of Arianne's other allies considered this? Or, more interestingly, why have none of them told her?

This conversation continues, and notice how Arianne is never straightforward with Gerold about how she feels in response to his questioning. She says one thing, and then thinks another to herself. Already, we are being shown how we might be distrustful of what we are told—and again, Arianne has more in common with her father than she thinks. She knows how to speak carefully when she really has another objective.

"And what is it I want, ser?" "The Sand Snakes freed. Vengeance for Oberyn and Elia. Do I know the song? You want a little taste of lion blood." That, and my birthright. I want Sunspear, and my father's seat. I want Dorne. "I want justice." "Call it what you will. Crowning the Lannister girl is a hollow gesture. She will never sit the Iron Throne. Nor will you get the war you want. The lion is not so easily provoked." "The lion's dead. Who knows which cub the lioness prefers?" "The one in her own den." Ser Gerold drew his sword. It glimmered in the starlight, sharp as lies. "This is how you start a war. Not with a crown of gold, but with a blade of steel."

At first blush, it's easy to get caught up in the notion that Darkstar is simply offering to kill Myrcella for the ease of it all. We're told the whole chapter that Darkstar is a violent man, and here's the evidence.

Arianne herself only considers this interpretation, and it's how she remembers the conversation once she's imprisoned:

He wanted to kill her instead of crowning her, he said as much at Shandystone. He said that was how I'd get the war I wanted.

However, this conversation, though brief, is not so simple as that. Instead, while Gerold's advice to Arianne here at first seems unnecessarily violent, he's actually displaying wisdoms that we learn elsewhere in the story.

For a start, we see Gerold's disdain for vengeance for it's own sake—and his suggestion to Arianne that this quest of revenge and authority will not actually get her what she wants. In Gerold's words, she wants "a taste of lion's blood." He knows this song, as he says, as well as Ellaria, who gives an identical warning with far more impassioned language to the same audience ADWD The Watcher:

"Oberyn wanted vengeance for Elia. Now the three of you want vengeance for him. I have four daughters, I remind you. Your sisters. My Elia is fourteen, almost a woman. Obella is twelve, on the brink of maidenhood. They worship you, as Dorea and Loreza worship them. If you should die, must El and Obella seek vengeance for you, then Dorea and Loree for them? Is that how it goes, round and round forever? I ask again, where does it end?" Ellaria Sand laid her hand on the Mountain's head. "I saw your father die. Here is his killer. Can I take a skull to bed with me, to give me comfort in the night? Will it make me laugh, write me songs, care for me when I am old and sick?"

Gerold says it more simply, and more harshly: this quest for vengeance and lion's blood will not get you what you want.

He then tries another angle, saying that "Crowning the Lannister girl is a hollow gesture. She will never sit the Iron Throne. Nor will you get the war you want." This sounds, at first, like a complaint of the plan's futility, but he offers a suggestion of how to achieve said war instead: "Not with a crown of gold, but with a blade of steel."

I have to point out the metaphor at use in this moment:

Ser Gerold drew his sword. It glimmered in the starlight, sharp as lies.

A blade as sharp as lies—yet another allusion to this constant Dornish theme of lying and deadly misinformation. Seen from another perspective, we might put it another way: that lies are as deadly as a blade. This, too, is Doran's message: that the grass which hides the snake is just as deadly.

This too is Gerold's message, because in combination, his suggestion that crowning her is empty and to kill her is simpler sounds like an allusion to another wisdom we learn later in ADWD Tyrion I, given by Illyrio when Tyrion alights on the same bright idea as Arianne, to crown Myrcella:

"In Volantis they use a coin with a crown on one face and a death's-head on the other. Yet it is the same coin. To queen her is to kill her."

Gerold understands this, and he displays it in this conversation. His offer here, then, is to skip the trouble in between—the girl will never sit the Iron Throne in any case, so Arianne should just kill her and be done with it, and have your war that way.

Rather than a threat against Myrcella's life, the way Arianne remembers it, we might see this as a challenge: if Gerold sees that both acts end in Myrcella's death, and both in war, he's presenting Arianne reality of the lack of choice.

In a way, this is consistent with his earlier complaints about Garin the Great—was it worth it to make Valyria "tremble" at the cost of so many of his own? Gerold's question, though harshly put, makes Arianne face that question now, before they start off with the plans.

Like her father, though, Arianne defers the problem, preferring not to address it this night.

I am no murderer of children. "Put that away. Myrcella is under my protection. And Ser Arys will permit no harm to come to his precious princess, you know that."

Arianne makes the choice, but she does not say it aloud. Why? Because even she sees that it's contradictory to raise her up and expect her to live?

As we see so often with Arianne, she foolishly answers that it's not her responsibility. Myrcella may be under her protection, but Arianne relies on Ser Arys' action to keep it that way. Arianne tries to argue that the weight of this threat to Myrcella is not Arianne's burden to take, but rather Arys'.

Darkstar disagrees, pointing out the longstanding rivalry between the Dornish and the Marcher Lords.

"No, my lady. What I know is that Daynes have been killing Oakhearts for several thousand years." His arrogance took her breath away. "It seems to me that Oakhearts have been killing Daynes for just as long." "We all have our family traditions." Darkstar sheathed his sword. "The moon is rising, and I see your paragon approaching."

Finally, though, actions once again speak louder than words. Rather than pull his sword here against Arys, like he was just threatening to do, he sheathes his sword when he spots Arys, obeying Arianne's command. So far, whatever he's said, Gerold is still committed to following Arianne's wishes.

His threats about Daynes killing Oakhearts has another layer of meaning, though, in this complete context: Daynes have been killing Oakhearts, yes, but it's not just Daynes who wouldn't blink at killing a Marcher, it's all of the Dornish—as Arys is so intimately aware of in his one chapter.

As much as Arianne is dodging responsibility, she's also right that Arys is the final obstacle in anyone's way should they wish to do harm to Myrcella. Note, though, that despite the story Doran and Arianne later tell the Sand Snakes, it is not Darkstar who slays Arys—it's Areo Hotah. If we say that actions speak louder than words, hear this: Gerold sheathes his sword when Arys approaches, and it is Doran (through Areo) who kills Myrcella's most leal protector.

Given all the trouble Doran later goes to in an attempt to smooth over Arys' death, Gerold is probably right here that a dead Arys means war. Once again, Gerold is a pragmatic thinker, in theory. In my opinion, despite the cruelty of his suggestion, his conversation about the death of Myrcella is a reality check, not a call for wanton violence.

2.8 Gerold's good counsel and care

Later comes the second time where Arianne lags carelessly... and here, Gerold steps in to give Arianne good counsel.

Arianne had hoped to reach the river before the sun came up, but they had started much later than she'd planned, so they were still in the saddle when the eastern sky turned red. Darkstar cantered up beside her. "Princess," he said, "I'd set a faster pace, unless you mean to kill the child after all. We have no tents, and by day the sands are cruel."

Here, contradicting the stories of Gerold Dayne as a cruel man, Darkstar seems to show more direct concern for Myrcella's wellbeing than any of the other plotters. Arianne—like her father—moves to slow, and Gerold wants to make sure that the girl isn't killed. He's not just pragmatic in theory, he can also be pragmatic and considerate when it comes to the young girl with them.

Here, also, we see that Gerold does not actually mean the girl harm. The accusation that Darkstar slashed Myrcella implies this narrative where Darkstar took advantage of the chaos to finally take his chance to kill the girl and make good on his threat. If that were the case, then here Darkstar could have simply said nothing, and let the girl suffer or even die from the heat. Instead, he speaks up in order to spare Myrcella from the sand's cruelty.

2.9 Gerold's opinion of Arthur Dayne

With all of this context, I'll finally take a look at Gerold's opinion of Arthur Dayne.

As she led the princess to the fire, Arianne found Ser Gerold behind her. "My House goes back ten thousand years, unto the dawn of days," he complained. "Why is it that my cousin is the only Dayne that anyone remembers?" "He was a great knight," Ser Arys Oakheart put in. "He had a great sword," Darkstar said. "And a great heart."

He clearly loves the Dayne house, but seems to have less respect than most for Arthur. Many and more have taken this to be a sign of petty envy, that Darkstar is questioning Arthur's skill at swordplay, perhaps in comparison to his own.

But consider the quote another way: we know from his opinion of "Garin the Great" that Gerold resists the idea of blindly idolizing heroes only because they have become great in the telling. This newer hero, Arthur, is no more special to him. What has he actually done, not what stories have been told of him?

Once again, this is a return of our theming: being shown, not told. Gerold is quick to resist the allure of the songs of Arthur Dayne—to Gerold, there are plenty of other Daynes just as special, or perhaps even more so. This is not a lack of love for his house, nor for honor and glory—quite the opposite. Like with choosing his own name, Darkstar wants to create his own context to see Arthur in, as part of a ten thousand year old lineage of great Daynes (ha) and not some special, magic knight.

Perhaps Gerold Dayne is pointing out that there is more to a knight than having a sword; perhaps he is condemning the idea of equating "swordplay" with "greatness".

What we hear about Arthur is more often than not about his prowress with a sword, but consider the context in which Arthur Dayne was brought up in this chapter. When Myrcella brings him up, his reputation is marred by the fact it's own existence:

"There was an Arthur Dayne," Myrcella said. "He was a knight of the Kingsguard in the days of Mad King Aerys."

Not the most good-hearted of details to remember him by, truth be told.

I suggest that this passage instead serves to suggest that Gerold has a stricter sense of what is valorous than most. Even the great, seemingly infallible Arthur Dayne was a sword in defense of the Mad King. Does serving the Mad King still make for a "great knight"? Or only a "great sword"?

Of course, there's another interesting aspect to this quote: despite his disregard for the particular qualities of Arthur, Gerold is more than willing to acknowledge the greatness of the sword Dawn. I'll get into that at the end.

2.10 Gerold sues for peace

Finally, in his final appearance on-page, we get a last word from Gerold Dayne, who, this time, says exactly what Arianne is thinking... when she, again, is too slow to act, and is unable to say anything herself.

You reckless fool, was all that Arianne had time to think, what do you think you're doing? Darkstar's laughter rang out. "Are you blind or stupid, Oakheart? There are too many. Put up your sword."

Darkstar suggests to all that they surrender. He suggests they put up their swords. Yet again, this is a consistent characterization for Darkstar: a man who speaks against the honor of leading others in a death charge, a man who is a sober thinker, a man who plans to arrive early, and a man who considers heavily the consequences of the actions at hand, especially when they end in the death of a young girl.

After all this, I don't think it sounds like Darkstar to make a wild, reckless, opportune grasp for Myrcella's life, no matter whatever Doran says. Instead, Gerold Dayne has all the trappings of a dutiful knight, and even his brusque edges come from a certain brutal realism, not a sense of jilted pride. He may even be a good and caring man at times.

3.0 My predictions for TWOW: GRRM's next moves

I used to really not like Darkstar. I don't mind him being a little cringe, because this whole series, as well written as it is, still has plenty of pulpy 80s underpinnings which I love just as much as the highbrow stuff. I can handle a little melodrama, fine... but why is Darkstar so flat, I wondered. It felt so incredibly—uncharacteristically—clumsy to have this hurried introduction of a character, and have everyone in the chapter rush to tell the reader how dangerous he is, just so he could do the "dangerous guy" thing and run off to become the next MacGuffin of Dorne.

That is, if everything, or anything, that we were told about him is true.

If we understand that not all we're told is true, then GRRM hasn't actually spent a whole chapter telling without showing. Instead, he's been consistently playing with the same notions of actual reality vs. stories and lies that the rest of the Dornish plot revolves around (and the rest of the series, for that matter, but I'm staying focused here).

In addition, all of that telling we got about Gerold Dayne wasn't at all for the purpose of giving us a quick, surface level introduction to the character (which makes sense, because George is otherwise so good with character). Instead, all that telling is part of a larger, longer plot about Doran's scheming and lying, and Arianne's own susceptibility to Doran's stories.

Finally, and most of all, it all sets up one of GRRM's favorite things to do: a subversion of a character in a twist that involves a sudden change of perspective.

If Arianne and Doran have spent 4 (or 5, including TWOW previews) chapters now telling us what a nasty guy Gerold Dayne is, won't it be a shock once he's granted Dawn rightfully and is named the next Sword of the Morning? What's even better is that, looking back, it will be clear to see how much he isn't a nasty guy—he's actually a pretty good candidate, dutiful, smart, aware of the consequences. He's the kind of guy to take care of himself, keeping his mind and blade sharp, and to be considerate of those lesser than him, as with Myrcella or Garin's army. He may not be a nice guy, but being nice and kind are not always the same. That character of Darkstar, the knight worthy of Dawn, was there all along—except that it was all obfuscated under Arianne internal narration and Doran's repeated lying.

After all, he is of the night... which sounds super edgy, but is foreshadowing too. What comes after the night? The Morning.

Being "of the night" might not be Darkstar being an antihero, but instead being anti- heroes, he's against the concept of the overinflated hero. Like Sandor Clegane, who starts to seem more and more a true knight despite despising knights, Darkstar may be set up to take on a legendary mantle, like Sword of the Morning, despite his utter disdain for legendary heroes, like Ser Arthur and Garin the Great.

And actually, I suspect that Darkstar is quite familiar with Dawn already—after all, despite his cool words about Ser Arthur, Gerold Dayne does seem to recognize the greatness of Dawn. I expect that he's seen its value for himself.

Gerold is the type of man to take himself seriously ... and while that's very easy to make fun of from a reader's perspective, it's a very admirable quality in a knight. It's the same trajectory Jaime has been on: everything used to be a joke to him, but no longer: Jaime is learning how to shed that shield of humor and to take himself and his honor seriously. Can we begrudge Ser Gerold the same?

Rather than hunting down a villain, Areo Hotah, Obara, and Balon Swann are on Doran's truth-suppression mission. For after all, as Lady Nym pointed out, loose ends make for exposed lies. If I replace some of the names of her cautionary message from The Watcher:

If Gerold Dayne is alive, soon or late the truth will out. If he appears again, Doran Martell will be exposed as a liar before all the Seven Kingdoms. He would be an utter fool to risk that.

And so Doran sends his unbeatable Hotah, with his massive and lethal axe that already killed one Kingsguard and might well kill another. How is Gerold Dayne going to match up against that?

Well, he'll have a great sword.

[hischierdevils]

Playlist 3 with nico or andrei 💖

Friends - Chase Atlantic

“Drei, I’m really sorry but you have to go.” You tell the large man that’s currently sprawled out on your bed covered by nothing but your sheet.

“I thought we spend time together today?” He questions as you start throwing his clothes to him that were tossed around the floor.

“I know I’m sorry. I forgot I was having brunch with the girls and they don’t know about-“ Your eyes widen as you stop yourself from finishing the sentence.

“Us?” He guesses as he stands up to put his boxers on.

“Yes.” You smile gratefully, glad that you and him are on the same page. “I don’t want them to think there’s something going on here.”

He pulls his sweatpants up to his hips and pauses, even more confused now. He just spent the night with you. It was more than just sex. You two cuddled and talked. Wasn’t there something going on here?

“We’re just friends, right?” You ask once you realize he hasn’t said anything.

Andrei shakes his head as he tries to understand. “Are you seeing someone else?”

You’re confused by his expression because you have always been under the impression that he was sleeping with other woman the entire time you two have been sneaking around.

“Aren’t you?”

He pulls his shirt over his head and steps closer to you so he can cup your cheek with his large hand. “I promise you are the only girl I’m seeing.”

You bite your lip as your phone buzzes in your pocket. Your friend will be here any minute to get you. You’re not sure what to say to Andrei. You’ve wanted to be with him for so long that you gave up thoughts of a relationship just to have a piece of him. Is he saying that’s what he wants now?

“Andrei, I really need you to go.” You start to lead him toward your door. “Can we talk about this later?”

“Let me stay, please.” He begs, even though he allows you to pull him through your apartment. “We can talk now.”

“I can’t.” You fight the urge to cry as you open the door. “I’m sorry.”

[bibliophilecats]

Rules: List ten books that have stayed with you in some way, don’t take but a few minutes, and don’t think too hard - they don’t have to be the “right” or “great” works, just the ones that have touched you.

Thank you @logarithmicpanda and @smalltownfae (it took a while, I blame the abyssmal desktop tumblr experience - I hate the post editor!! Not happy with the formatting now but I have given up)

Alanna the first Adventure by Tamora Pierce I remember when I got the book for my 11th birthday. And then it stayed on my shelf for quite a while (didn't like the cover). I nearly missed it! But luckily, some day I picked it up and then ran to the bookstore to get the other books in the series.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell THE booklr book

Howl's Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones Reminded me what great books are like

Die große Drachensuche von Cornelia Funke The first version of the story that was later rewritten as Drachenreiter (Dragon Rider). From a time when I still adored her books

Der Wunschpunsch von Michael Ende All of his children's books have been part of my childhood, so it was hard to pick just one. This is about evil people wanting to destroy the environment and brave animals defeating them (on New Year's Eve).

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater I like all the books I read by her and all of them are still on my shelf - but Scorpio Races made a deep impression on me (I will probably never read it again, the violence against the horses was too much, that's why it stayed so prominent probably).

Die Känguru Chroniken von Marc-Uwe Kling (and all following books) So funny and made me aware of my political leanings in a way I wasn't previously.

Drei Männer im Schnee von Erich Kästner Obviously his children's books were part of my growing up (they are (were?) in Germany). A few years ago I started reading his adul novels. This one, while on the light side, still has some social commentary.

The Rest of us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness One of the few books from a subscription box I kept, read it multiple times. The talk between the protagonist and his psychatrist still makes me tear up.

Ferien auf Saltkrokan von Astrid Lindgren Another childhood classic that I reread a lot during my university years. A better, seemingly easier world. Soul food.

I tag @lizziethereader @linebetween @the-forest-library @thelivebookproject

[simazinblr]

Maurice's Dorm

[Malaysia Narrating]

Since our "first date" two months ago, we've been hanging out almost every day. Whether it's in the quad, the dining hall, or walking to class, we're always together. My actions don't seem like those of someone who wants to avoid giving Maurice the wrong impression, but I enjoy spending time with him. Maurice is sweet and attentive, and he makes me laugh. The situation has been made even worse by Andrei's random calls and texts.

phone ringing

Malaysia: Uhm...Can I use your bathroom?

clears throat

Maurice: Mhm.

[Narrating Continues]

OMG, it's Drei. Of course, he'd be calling at this very moment.

[von-der-karibik-nach-hamburg]

Tag 25 20.04.2024 Seetag

Zwischen A Coruña in Spanien und Le Havre in Frankreich liegen nun 593 Seemeilen (1098 km) vor uns, also wieder ein Seetag. Da uns das Frühstück im veganen Restaurant so begeisterte…was liegt näher als eine Wiederholung…zumal wir am Seetag alle Zeit der Welt haben und in Ruhe genießen können 😅

Und auch heute haben wir tapfer alles aufgefuttert 💪😅. Wir unterhielten uns ein bisschen mit der vermutlich einzigen deutschen Kellnerin an Bord (zumindest haben wir keine andere bisher gesehen, in der Regel wie schon beschrieben ist es asiatisches oder osteuropäisches Personal). Arbeitszeiten und Vergütung sind aber für alle gleich, eben italienisches Arbeitsrecht. Das betrifft auch Kranken-, Rentenversicherung etc..muss für die Zeit ab- und umgemeldet werden. Sie arbeitet 24/7 von 07:00-11:00 und von 17:30-22:00 Uhr, jeden 2.Tag zusätzlich von 14:00-16:30 Uhr. Verpflichtet hatte sie sich für 6 Monate, ist jetzt 3 Monate an Bord und ganz schön fertig, die Arbeit ist mega anstrengend und vor allem ist sie wie man unschwer erkennt, gefühlt immer auf Arbeit. Sie erzählte uns noch vieles mehr, ich glaube, sie war froh, mal ein bisschen reden zu können. Da wir den Tisch schon um 08:00 Uhr reservierten, war es auch noch ruhig und Zeit genug dafür, die anderen Gäste kamen erst deutlich später.

Unsere vollen Bäuche kullerten wir anschließend zur Ocean Lounge 🤪. Schließlich erreichen wir morgen die Normandie und wollen vorbereitet sein. Der Lektor Tobias Kuner informierte uns nicht nur darüber, wie aus Wikingern Normannen wurden, sondern beispielhaft auch über

die drei „C‘s“ = Cidre, Calvados, Camembert

die Austernzucht als wichtiges Exportgut

Geschichtliche Entstehung, als vor ca. 1300 Jahren der Erzengel Michael zum Bau einer Kirche aufgerufen hat…heutiger Klosterberg Mont Saint Michel im Wattenmeer mit größtem Tiedenhub der Welt (15 Meter! in den 6 Stunden, da kann man wirklich zugucken😅)

Entstehung des Bildes Impression, Sonnenaufgang (französisch Impression, Soleil levant) von Claude Monet, das der Stilrichtung Impressionismus ihren Namen gab. Wikipedia: „Monet schuf dieses Bild 1872 während eines Aufenthaltes in Le Havre von einem hoch liegenden Hotelfenster aus. Mit seiner Skizzenartigkeit stellte es etwas vollkommen Neues dar und wurde dafür heftig kritisiert und verpönt. Wegen des hohen Abstraktionsgrades habe er das Gemälde nicht Hafen von Le Havre nennen wollen und sagte: „Ich sollte einen Titel für den Katalog angeben; da ich das Bild schlecht ‚Ansicht von Le Havre‘ nennen konnte, sagte ich: ‚Nennen Sie es Impression.‘“👍🤩

Wissenswertes zu Le Havre, Étretat, Honfleur, Rouen, Paris = alles Ausflugsziele für morgen 🤔🤩

Die Ausflugsziele für morgen sind wirklich spannend. Nur Paris haben wir, wie bereits geschrieben, abgewählt, jeweils 3 Stunden Busfahrt hin und zurück und dazwischen 4 Stunden Stadtrundfahrt muss nicht sein.

Die Normandie:

Heute fahren wir durch die Biskaya und ein Blick aus der Kabine lohnt sich. Wir haben zunehmendes Verkehrsaufkommen 😅. Am Horizont sind wirklich in regelmäßigen Abständen andere Schiffe zu sehen, ich dachte schon, wir wären die einzigen weit und breit 😆

Das hintere Schiff ist ein 400m langes Containerschiff:

Ansonsten ist es wieder ein schöner Seetag mit viel Sonne. Wir merken, dass wir uns der Heimat nähern, es weht ne steife Brise bei 10 Grad 🤪. Wir lassen uns den Wind um die Nase wehen 😅

Wir brausen gerade (17:15 Uhr ) mit 19kn = 35km/h Richtung Ärmelkanal 😅

Abendstimmung:

[anotherwvba]

Challenge Accepted pt. 7

The atmosphere in the WVBA gym was a blend of focus and camaraderie. In one of the boxing rings, Von Kaiser was leading a youth class through a series of drills. The kids loved getting to train with a legend, especially when he put on his military instructor persona. Today, Von Kaiser was in rare form and the kids, boys and girls anywhere from 5 to 10 years old, were eating it up.

"Jab, jab, hook! Bereit?” Von Kaiser barked as if giving orders to troops.

“Ja, Coach!” The kids took their stances and called back in unison, big smiles on their faces.

“Sehr gut, meine kleinen Krieger,” he called back, his voice tinged with affection. “Und eins, und zwei, und drei…”

Elsewhere on the gym floor, Niki Binary was taking advantage of her rare day off. She was engrossed in her workout, her fists rhythmically striking a double-end bag as she danced around it, bobbing and weaving as the bag came back at her after her punches. Nearby, two young hopefuls, Tim and Emily, were working out at their own double-ended bags, both struggling a little.

Both were 15, under the minimum age for a boxer’s license in the WVBA, but both showed promise and were trainees in the Academy. Tim was a lanky kid with a mop of curly hair, while Emily was petite with a fierce determination in her eyes..

"Keep it up, you two," Niki encouraged, noticing their slight discouragement. "Stick and move, just like Coach Quarlow taught you. You can do it."

Tim tightened up his form. “T-t-thanks, Niki. It’s j-just so… I-I-I mean…”

“It’s stupid hard is what he’s tryin’ to say,” Emily spoke up, light on her feet around the bag as she worked on her rhythm. “But we ain’t quittin’. Come on, Tim, we’ve got this!”

Just then, the gym doors swung open with a flourish, and in walked Reina Adora, accompanied by her assistant Maria. Reina surveyed the room with an air of disdain, her eyes hidden behind her lucha mask. 

"The facility is quite impressive, Señora," Maria remarked, her tone formal. “State of the art.”

Reina sighed, eyes scanning the room. "Adecuada. But it's still just a gym and I’ve seen better." Her eyes then landed on Niki, recognizing her from her orientation when Niki had been working reception. "Ah, you there, the receptionist. Where is Skye Ivy?"

Niki didn't immediately respond, her focus still on her workout. Reina, not accustomed to being ignored, grew impatient and approached Niki. Dropping her gym bag with a thud, Reina grabbed the double-end bag, halting its movement and forcing Niki to look at her. "I asked you a question, receptionist. Where is Skye Ivy?"

Niki took a deep breath, her eyes meeting Reina's masked gaze. "First of all, I'm not the receptionist. Secondly, I don’t keep tabs on people so I don’t know. And last but not least, I'm a fighter on the roster, just like you."

Reina burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the gym. “¿Una boxeadora? You? I question how good of a fighter you are if you have to moonlight as a receptionist."

Niki clenched her fists, her eyes narrowing. "I work in IT, but I fill in elsewhere as needed. It’s called being a team player. But I promise you, I can more than hold my own in the ring."

Reina smirked, clearly unimpressed. "¿No es linda? An IT specialist who moonlights as a fighter. How... quaint. Perhaps one day, you’ll get the chance to lose to me."

As Niki took a deep breath to steady herself, Von Kaiser, who had been watching the exchange from the ring, shouted across the gym, "Wenig Stahl, are you alright?"

Niki looked over at her coach and nodded. "I'm fine, Coach. Just a minor distraction." She then narrowed her gaze on Reina and dropped her voice for the luchadora to hear. “Very. Minor.”

“Lo deseas, pequeña.” Reina picked up her gym bag and tossed her hair back arrogantly. "Maria, since I'm here, I might as well get in a workout. Let me know when la corredora arrives."

“Sí, señora.” Maria followed dutifully behind as Reina sauntered toward the locker room.

Niki took a deep breath, her eyes meeting Von Kaiser's across the room. He gave her a nod of approval, and she returned to her double-end bag, her punches fueled by a renewed vigor and determination.

Niki just shook her head and returned to her workout, her fists hitting the double-end bag with renewed vigor. Tim and Emily, who had paused to watch the confrontation, resumed their own workouts, their eyes meeting Niki's for a brief moment.

“W-Wow. She’s a p-piece of w-w-work.” Tim resumed his work on his double-end bag.

Emily, likewise, started dancing around her bag. “For real! I don’t know if I could’ve handled that like you did, Niki.”

"Don't worry about her, guys," Niki said, her voice steady but supportive, "People like that are all talk. What matters is what you do in the ring."

The young hopefuls nodded, their spirits lifted. And as Reina disappeared into the locker room, Niki couldn't help but feel that, despite the arrogance and the posturing, the real fights—both in and out of the ring—were fought with heart, something she had in spades.

[mattress-ing]

spotify ask game: 56, time!

I’m going to commit to >1k words for your drabble. Time is a good guess! Feel free to send an ask for what you're looking for and I'll see what I can do!

This song was actually added to my playlists because I had a mini fic moment in mind already but it wasn’t fitting in with any projects I was posting so I didn’t write it until now. (In the same timeline as Brothers: Verb: To Reflect With Violent Honesty)

JRWI Drey Ferin mini character study, contains mild spoilers from up to episode 112, mentions of guns, >600 words

Captain Beau sits Drey down rather firmly.

The captains quarters are normally cozy and welcoming, strange for a pirate ship but fitting to Beau. Now, it’s hard to feel anything but shame under the context of his actions, and Drey finds it difficult to relax his uneasy shoulders. He doesn’t apologize, just sits and waits for blame.

Jayson had been there on the dock. Drey had, for one moment, looked him in the eyes and felt entirely justified. He’s a pirate now, forging his own path, he doesn’t have to care what his brother thinks.

Then Jayson opened his mouth and it all went out the window as Drey dropped his shoulder and charged him.

It wasn’t a long fight. Jayson has been stronger than him for years, and Drey didn’t take the opportunity to go for his gun when it appeared.

Beau motions towards his gun and Drey sets it on the table obediently, long past behind afraid to be without it in his presence. “Tell me about it.”

Drey cringes at himself when confusion precedes relief. Still expecting rejection even after over a year of being met with only compassion.

It takes him a few moments to begin to explain. He didn’t fight as hard as he could even after promising the crew he would. He opens and closes his mount a few times before landing on, “He’s my brother. It-“ it feels silly to say it, but the captain understands the importance of honesty and impresses it upon his crew, “It’s his daughter’s birthday tomorrow.”

Beau just nods and sits back. Quiet but open, his eyes still full of trust.

“I’m feel like I shouldn’t just shoot him, if only for that.” Guilt pulls at him from every direction, hurt his brother, hurt the crew, hurt himself. Every path hurts his family. Why is it there are no options without casualties?

Sitting forward, Beau pulls an envelope out from his coat. “He sent you this. I’m sorry. It was a while ago, and I hid it from you.”

Drey's heart sinks. Both at the Captain’s lie and at the seal of the letter. Official. Crisp even after days at sea. He's being disowned. Formally.

“I-“ He shakes his head, reaching for the letter. He wants nothing more than to shrink away from it but he holds his head as high as he would in front of Jayson. “I think I know what this is.”

Beau nods again. “Me too.” His grip on the letter is firm but after a gentle tug he relents, “that’s why I wanted to hide it.”

They both sit quietly. Drey fingers the seal of the envelope but doesn’t open it.

“Finn cast anti-magic on him just then.” Beau says quietly. “He wasn’t going to be pulling his punches like you.” There’s a quiet you don’t deserve to be treated like that that lingers in the air. The sentence seems ever present when he talks to Beau about his family.

They sit in quiet again. And Drey finally opens the envelope, reading the letter and then rereading it when he blinks the mist from his vision.

“You’re stuck between two, Drey." Beau puts one hand on the letter and one on his pistol, "The hope that your family changes for the better and allows you to stay, or the hope for the independence you could gain if you leave and burn the ship you left on. Neither hope is safe. And there will never be a time that feels right to take either path.”

Drey opens his mouth but is cut off as Beau takes the letter, writing something on the back.

“-you don’t have to know now. And you don’t have to choose now. But I can see that the indecision is drowning you. So when you know which one you’re going to shoot for,” he pushes Drey’s pistol and the amended letter back towards him, “I’d better see you shoot that shit.”

[triedpklove]

12, 25 and also 26 for Drei

for your freebie just say something about him. anything at all.

12 - What's a headcanon you have for this character?

there are two sides to my headcanons for drei. and you know what they are.

pick your poison. (hes a bear to me but butch drei is fun to entertain.)

25 - What was your first impression of this character? How about now?

i didnt really . care for him NGL but now i think hes such a funny character. hopelessly gay to the fact that if you question him on his allegiance to sechs hell kill you. also i want to see him naked

26 -

he should take off his shirt and pants

[wilsweb-asientour]

Tag 41. 13.08.2023

Jukjeon. Heute standen wir früh auf, um an einem Gottesdienst in Bundang teilzunehmen. Die Fahrt von Myeongdong über den Han-Fluss in den Süden lief reibungslos, sodass wir Zeit für einen Halt im Starbucks hatten, wo wir mit Kaffein auftankten. Die Kirche (할렐루야교회) war beeindruckend, pompös auf einem Berg errichtet mit einer Tiefparkgarage mit 3 Etagen, Live-streaming der Predigt und eigener Küche, die Teller rauspumpten wie eine Krankenhausmensa. Zudem waren wir die einzigen Ausländer weit und breit. Bewunderung pur.

Nach einer verlängerten Mittagspause fuhren wir in ein Volksdorf (한국민속촌) i.d.N.v. Bungnam. Zwar heute eine Touristenattraktion, früher spielte sich jedoch im Volksdorf ein ganz anderes Leben ab. Wir staunten über ein Amphitheater, ein hölzernes Adelhaus und ein eigenes Dorf-Gefängnis. Wir aßen Haemuljeon (koreanischer Reibekuchen mit Meeresfrüchten), Gamja-jeon (koreanischer Kartoffelpuffer) und tranken Reiswein, der genießbar war. Im Nachgang schauten wir uns einen lebhaften Tanzauftritt an und liefen in verschiedenste Höfe rein, um an Dorfaktivitäten teilzunehmen. Da der Typhoon inzwischen China und Taiwan ärgerte hatten wir wieder schwüles Wetter. Kurzum, wir schwitzten wie Sau.

Im Anschluss fuhren wir nach Jukjeon (죽전), wo wir Shaved Ice (geraspeltes Eis) bestellten, einmal mit Mango (애플망고치즈빙수) und einmal mit roten Bohnen (인절미팥빙수). In umgekehrter Reihenfolge ging’s dann zum Abendessen, wieder Korean BBQ (Gegrilltes), dieses Mal jedoch auf Jeju-Art. Für alle Geografieliebhaber, Jeju Insel ist eine Urlauberinsel südlich vom koreanischen Festland und westlich von Fukuoka. Wir probierten drei Schweinefleischvarianten: koreanischen Speck (ca. 5cm dick), Schweinehaut und eine Tofu-Schweinefleisch Suppe. Die erste Variante gefiel Webster am besten mit Gojujang. Wir liefen dann durch Jukjeon, eine junges und lebhaftes Studentenviertel mit vielen Cafés und Klamottenläden. Auf der Rückfahrt nach Seoul hielten wir am Han-Fluss Ufer, um uns Gangnam und Seoul von einer anderen Perspektive anzuschauen.

Morgen ist ein voller Tag angesagt, wir freuen uns und lassen euch natürlich wieder teilhaben. Gute Nacht!

Day 41. August 13, 2023

Jukjeon. Today we got up early to attend a church service in Bundang. The journey from Myeongdong over the Han River to the south went smoothly, so we had time for a stop at Starbucks to top up on caffeine. The church (할렐루야교회) was impressive, grandly built on a mountain with a three-story underground parking garage, live-streaming of the sermon, and its own kitchen that pumped out dishes like a hospital cafeteria. Furthermore, we were the only foreigners far and wide.

After an extended lunch break, we drove to a folk village (한국민속촌) in the vicinity of Bungnam. While now a tourist attraction, the folk village used to be a completely different world in the past. We marveled at an amphitheater, a wooden nobleman's house, and a village prison. We enjoyed Haemuljeon (Korean seafood pancake), Gamja-jeon (Korean potato pancake), and drank rice wine that was enjoyable. Afterwards, we watched a lively dance performance and participated in village activities in various courtyards. As the typhoon was bothering China and Taiwan by now, we had humid weather again. In short, we sweated like crazy.

Next, we headed to Jukjeon (죽전), where we ordered Shaved Ice, once with Mango (애플망고치즈빙수) and once with red beans (인절미팥빙수). We then went for dinner, again Korean BBQ, but this time Jeju style. For all geography enthusiasts, Jeju Island is a vacation island south of the Korean mainland and west of Fukuoka. We tried three pork variations: Korean bacon (about 5cm thick), pork skin, and a tofu-pork soup. Webster liked the first variation the best with Gojujang. We then walked through Jukjeon, a young and vibrant student neighborhood with many cafes and thrift stores. On the way back to Seoul, we stopped by the Han River bank to see Gangnam and Seoul from a different perspective.

Tomorrow promises to be a busy day, and we're looking forward to it. We’ll of course keep you posted. Good night!

[retoriku]

分裂した道化と≒発狂の修道女 Divided Clown ≒ Mad Nun

Disclaimer: There are two versions of the lyrics to this song, one which utilises ateji, and another one which is written normally. The set I have translated is the regular one, so double meanings have not been carried over here. ICDD also has very literary and vague lyrics to their songs, so the way I have interpreted the topics/subjects of the songs are very possibly different from what Rib:y(uhki) intended when it was written.

突き落とされた暗い井戸の水に起こされた

動悸と眩暈でグルグルと脳髄が眠り

Tsukiotosareta kurai ido no mizu ni okosareta

Douki to memai de guruguru to nouzui ga nemuri

I was woken up by the water of the dark well which I had been pushed down into

My brain spiralled into sleep from the palpitations and dizziness

†第一の夜†

やたら派手な服を着たワタシは

此処へ至るまでの記憶がない。

目の前には黒衣の白い女。

どうやら修道女のようだが、瞳に信仰の色が無い。

†Daiichi no yoru†

Yatara hade na fuku wo kita watashi wa

Koko he itaru made no kioku ga nai.

Me no mae niwa kokui no shiroi onna.

Douyara shuudoujo no you daga, hitomi ni shinkou no iro ga nai.

†The first night†

Dressed in clothes far too extravagant

I have no memory of how I got to be here.

In front of me is a white lady clad in black.

She is seemingly a nun, but her eyes hold no colour of faith.

触れた温かさ　堪える事なんて出来ようか

貪りに明け暮れた　弄り過ぎたので「壊レマシタ」

Fureta atatakasa　koraeru koto nante dekiyouka

Musabori ni akekureta　ijirisugita node 「kowaremashita」

I had no way of resisting the warmth which I felt

I abandoned myself to my desires. I toyed with it too much and so “it broke”

†第二の夜†

女が凡てを受け入れるので

其の美しい躰に溺れてしまいました。

気が付けばあたりに柔らかな「赫」が広がっている

此処はどこなんだろう?

†Daini no yoru†

Onna ga subete wo ukeireru node

Sono utsukushii karada ni oboreteshimaimashita.

Ki ga tsukeba atari ni yawaraka na aka ga hirogatteiru

Koko wa doko nandarou?

†The second night†

Because the woman would accept all of me,

I drowned in her beautiful body.

By the time I realised it, a gentle “red” was spreading around me

Where could this place be?

[デス　リミテッド　ドグマライゼーション]

[Desu　Rimiteddo　Dogumaraizeeshon]

[Death　Limited　Dogmalisation]

ねぇ…アナタもママじゃないの?

Geist Seele Wille Zelle

eins zwei drei vier

Nee… anata mo mama janai no?

Geist Seele Wille Zelle

eins zwei drei vier

Hey… Are you not my mother either?

Mind heart will cell

one two three four

答えを教えて!

Kotae wo oshiete!

Tell me the answer!

さぁ踊り明かせ 「崩壊ピエロと気狂いシスター」

身が朽ちるまで愛し合え

Saa odori akase 「houkai piero to kichigai shisutaa」

Mi ga kuchiru made aishiae

Come, dance all night, “Crumbling Pierrot and Mad Sister”

Love each other until your bodies fall apart

“いつまでも、いつまでも、踊りましょう―――?”

“Itsumademo, itsumademo, odorimashou—?”

“Shall we dance forever and forever—?”

†第三の夜†

夜なのに明るい、心とは裏腹に現実は鮮やか。

彼女は変わらず微笑む、嫉妬のような感情から爪を立てる。

白い花が真っ赤に染まってより美しくなった。

†Daisan no yoru†

Yoru nanoni akarui, kokoro towa urahara ni genjitsu wa azayaka.

Kanojo wa kawarazu hohoemu, shitto no you na kanjou kara tsume wo tateru.

Shiroi hana ga makka ni somatte yori utsukushiku natta.

†The third night†

It is bright even though it is night, and completely different from my heart, reality feels vivid.

She smiles as she always does, digging her nails in from an emotion akin to jealousy.

A white flower was steeped red and became even more beautiful still.

†最後の夜†

そういえば一度も声を……聴いていない?

代わりに、ズルズル音がして印象が暈けてきた

鏡を見続けて起きてしまったゲシュタルトの崩壊のように。

†Saigo no yoru†

Souieba ichido mo koe wo…… kiiteinai?

Kawarini, zuruzuru oto ga shite inshou ga boketekita

Kagami wo mitsudzukete okiteshimatta geshutaruto no houkai no you ni.

†The final night†

Come to think of it, I don’t believe I’ve ever… heard her voice before?

In its place, there was the sound of something sizzling, and any impression I had of it turned muddy.

Like the Gestaltzerfall that occurred when I gazed upon a mirror and continued to stare.

[デス　リミテッド　ドグマライゼーション]

[Desu　Rimiteddo　Dogumaraizeeshon]

[Death　Limited　Dogmalisation]

ねぇ…アナタもママじゃないの?

Geist Seele Wille Zelle

Nee... anata mo mama janai no?

Geist Seele Wille Zelle

Say… are you not my mother either?

Mind heart will cell

助けてください……

血と肉を喰う「崩壊ピエロと気狂いシスター」

骨に成るまで愛し合え

Tasukete kudasai……

Chi to niku wo kuu 「houkai piero to kichigai shisutaa」

Hone ni naru made aishiae

Please help me…

The “Crumbling Pierrot and Mad Sister” who consume blood and flesh

Love each other until you turn into bones

ふと、周りの景色がなくなった。

暗闇の中、取り残されてしまった。

Futo, mawari no keshiki ga nakunatta.

Kurayami no naka, torinokosareteshimatta.

The scenery around me disappeared in an instant.

I had been left behind in the middle of darkness.

記憶も自我も拠り所も失ったワタシは―――。

Kioku mo jiga mo yoridokoro mo ushinatta watashi wa—.

Having lost my memories, ego, foundations—.

何処に居る?何処に居る? 何処に居る?何処に居る? 何処に居る?何処に居る?

何処に居る?何処に居る? 何処に居る?何処に居る? 何処に居る?何処に居る?

Doko ni iru? Doko ni iru? Doko ni iru? Doko ni iru? Doko ni iru? Doko ni iru?

Doko ni iru? Doko ni iru? Doko ni iru? Doko ni iru? Doko ni iru? Doko ni iru?

Where am I? Where am I? Where am I? Where am I? Where am I? Where am I?

Where am I? Where am I? Where am I? Where am I? Where am I? Where am I?

不意に射した白い光に

強烈な懺悔の念と祝福の残滓を感じた。

其れはとてもとても小さな光だったが

ワタシを取り戻す為の灯火だと思った。

この熱を抱いて歩く。

殻に、膜に触れ、引き裂いた。

Fui ni sashita shiroi hikari ni

Kyouretsu na zange no nen to shukufuku no zanshi wo kanjita

Sore wa totemo totemo chiisana hikari datta ga

Watashi wo torimodosu tame no tomoshibi dato omotta

Kono netsu wo idaite aruku

Kara ni, maku ni fure, hikisaita.

There was a white light which was shone out of nowhere,

and towards it, I felt an intense sense of repentance and the remnants of a blessing.

It was a very, very small light,

but I thought that the flame was there to bring me back.

I will bear this zeal and walk.

I touched its shell, its membrane, and tore it apart.

聞こえる…聴こえる……彼女の声は「　　　　　　」

Kikoeru… Kikoeru… Kanojo no koe wa 「　　　　　　」

I hear it… I hear it… Her voice going, “　　　　　　“

さぁ踊り明かそう

身が朽ちるまで愛し合いながら

血と肉を喰う「崩壊ピエロと気狂いシスター」

骨に成るまで殺し合え

Saa odoriakasou

Mi ga kuchiru made aishiai nagara

Chi to niku wo kuu 「houkai piero to kichigai shisutaa」

Hone ni naru made koroshiae

“Come, let us dance all night

as we love each other until our bodies fall apart”

The “Crumbling Pierrot and Mad Sister” who consume blood and flesh

Kill each other until you turn into bones

手を取り混ざったワタシとオマエ

eins zwei drei vier

Te wo torimazatta watashi to omae

eins zwei drei vier

You and me, our hands joined together

one two three four

目を覚ますとボクは…見慣れた部屋の…

……慣れ親しんだベッドに横たわっていた。

Me wo samasu to boku wa… minareta heya no…

……nareshitashinda beddo ni yokotawatteita.

When I woke up… I was in a room I’d seen before…

…lying on a bed I know very well.

―――声が聞こえる。

—Koe ga kikoeru.

—I hear a voice.

「治療は、完了しました。」

「Chiryou wa, kanryou shimashita.」

“The treatment has been completed.”

Translator's notes:

Verse 2 line 4: The "white" in "white woman" doesn't denote race but the colour of the person.

V11L4: Gestaltzerfall is a phenomenon which occurs when you stare at something for so long that it starts to look unrecognisable and foreign. This can also occur when you read the same word again and again.

V18L2: The part where 懺悔の念 (zange no nen) is sung doesn't sound like those words, rather it sounds more like he says 火 (hi) meaning fire. "And towards it, I felt a strong fire..."

[cinematic---monologue]

Film Noir double bill

Crime Wave (1952 by André de Toth) Meine Wertung: 9/10 (IMDb: 7,3/10) D. T.: Von der Polizei gehetzt.

Decoy (1946 by Jack Bernhard) Meine Wertung: 6/10 (IMDb: 6,8/10) D. T.: Blonder Lockvogel

English version below

Zwei Noir wie sie unterschiedlicher nicht sein könnten.

Crime Wave von André de Toth pflegt den dokumentarischen Stil, den man auch aus Naked City oder He walked by night kennt, aber ohne die nervigen Off-Kommentare. De Toth dreht on location, selbst in LA City Hall, dem LAPD Hauptquartier, mit Handkamera vom Rücksitz eines Wagens, Nachts in Burbank, Chinatown und Hollywood.

Die Geschichte allerdings ist 08/15. Ein geleuteter Ex-Knacki, wird von drei Ausbrechern besucht, die auf ihrer Flucht einen Polizisten getötet haben. Sie zwingen ihn, bei einem Raubzug mitzumachen. Sterling Hayden gibt den bärbeißerischen Cop, der zum Schluß Herz zeigt.

Decoy dagegen ist eine billige Studioproduktion mit schäbigen Kulissen, 4x die gleiche Fahrt auf einer Landstraße und von seiner ganzen Machart ein B-Movie. Aber die Geschichte ist origineller als bei Crime Wave und Jean Gillie gibt in ihrer ersten Rolle bereits brillant die femme fatale.

Margot Shelby (Gillie) will ihren Mann vor der Gaskammer retten, da nur er das Versteck der Beute weiß. Dazu raubt sie die Leiche nach der Hinrichtung und lässt sie, Frankensteinesque, mit einem Gegengift wiederbeleben. Etwas konstruiert und am Ende geht es für keinen gut aus.

Für mich entscheidet letztendlich die handwerkliche Leistung des Regisseurs und da liegt De Toth klar vor Jack Bernhard. Decoy war der erste (und beste) von 13 B-Filmchen Bernhards und ein Vehikel um seine Gattin Jean Gillie in Szene zu setzen.

Andre DeToth' Film gilt als wiederentdeckter Klassiker des Film Noir, handwerklich perfekt, visuell beeindruckend und spannend.

English version:

Two noirs that could not be more different.

Crime Wave by André de Toth maintains the documentary style familiar from Naked City or He Walked by Night, but without the annoying off-camera commentary. De Toth shoots on location, even in LA City Hall, the LAPD headquarters, with handheld camera from the back of a car, at night in Burbank, Chinatown and Hollywood.

The story, however, is a run-of-the-mill one, in which a convicted ex-con is visited by three escapees who killed a cop on the run. They force him to join them on a heist. Sterling Hayden plays the hard boiled cop who shows heart at the end.

Decoy, on the other hand, is a cheap studio production with shabby sets, 4x the same drive on a country road and by its whole make a B-movie. But the story is more original than in Crime Wave and Jean Gillie in her first role already brilliantly plays the femme fatale.

Margot Shelby (Gillie) wants to save her husband from the gas chamber, since only he knows the hiding place of the loot. To do this, she steals the corpse after the execution and, Frankensteinesque, has it reanimated with an antidote. A bit contrived and finaly it doesn't end well for anyone.

For me, it's the director's craftsmanship that ultimately decides and there De Toth is clearly ahead of Jack Bernhard. Decoy was the first (and best) of Bernhard's 13 B-movies and a vehicle to showcase his wife Jean Gillie.

Andre DeToth's film is considered a rediscovered classic of film noir, perfectly crafted, visually impressive and exciting.

[aethlingg]

did i like. get the wrong impression when i watched the black rose oneshot? wasnt drey still pretty young when he was on the midnight rose? and finn was literally grandpa age..