#even from the things we hate

[from-sunset-sea-and-sorrow]

I honestly think that the inability to understand the most basic ideas of ASOIAF characters comes from bad faith criticism, especially if they think that "long winter" is not a central plot point of the story.

Whatever about worldbuilding, I don't care about the freaking bees of Westeros (and the problem is again that Martin has a stick up his ass and should act more like Tolkien and embrace more the poetry and less the pedantry).

I understand and enjoy criticism (1- I think he deserves it, 2- I like to interact with different opinions of things I read/watch/whatever) but saying "winter is unimportant" explains why so many understand the books as a misanthrope story.

Because you have Jaime's journey after "being evil" or Sansa learning the game of thrones to survive while knowing that she doesn't want to become a Cersei.

There's a lot of dark and cruelty but the central conclusion is always the same: be clever!

That's where the TV show failed, in the book consequences matter!

Ned is not dead because he was "good", Ned is dead because he was DUMB!

Nobody said "oh but why did he have to die?" because we know why!

Every single death happens because someone didn't know how to play the game.

That's why Daenerys is doomed to become a fascist (the tv show was BAD but the general idea of Dany turning "bad" is there in the books too).

That's why I will always defend Sansa (arguably the biggest victim of fan's misogyny).

The characters, good or bad, are (usually) incredibly well written, with (usually) a lot of nuance.

From the anti chosen one/Prince Charming of Dany/Jon to the child soldier metaphors of Arya there's really a lot of though and care behind them all. And that's why the books have become impossible to finish. Too many complex pieces to play with.

Martin has A LOT to criticize and I wish he stopped with the bullshit (and the obsession with rape, and the racism, and the...) but I can't understand how someone can read those books and think "this author thinks humans are awful".

Everyone hates Cersei and then Martin goes "Take this, a Cersei POV chapter" and... Fuck.

Yes, she's bad. But suddenly she is a person, not a fairy tale evil queen. She has ambition, she's scared, she's a mother, she's a woman in a sexist world full of violence against women... And we learn all those fears and dreams directly from her, from the "evil queen".

One of the little things that the TV show did well was Joffrey's death.

I remember people being... Uncomfortable. Because while enjoying the death of a monster they realized "wow... He's just a 16 year old boy... Dying in his mother's arms..."

And that, and not "historical accuracy" or whatever Martin claims, is the true golden heart of ASOIAF.

That the world is awful and make us awful

And that it doesn't have to be like that.

That's why the winter IS central.

Because a looming doom should be enough to make them realize how dumb the whole "game of thrones" is (like, you know...the real world and climate change??? The pandemic and the totally insufficient collaboration between countries???) and yet they keep fighting for an ugly chair that kills you if you sit on it too hard because it's made out of the swords of a colonialist war.

IT'S NOT SUBTLE

For all its faults, what ASOIAF is saying (or should be if Martin stopped with the bullshit) is that the world is awful, but you don't have to, and that it's never too late to change.

That you can be good but you have to be CLEVER.

That the kids are the future and can be the change.

That the Starks were always right and the winter is coming.

And that the lone wolf dies but the pack survives.

And I don't think he's ever gonna finish the books, but I don't think it's a coincidence that the last book is called "A promise of Spring".

Say what you want about Martin and his stupidity and empty pride.

But ASOIAF, even if failing a lot in achieving it, is ultimately about hope.

Hope in spite of horror.

Btw, a disclaimer: I'm not even a fan anymore!

I haven't even read the last published book!

But to be a hater you have to admit the good parts too!

Listen to Orson Welles, the OG hater!

Jeez!

Disclaimer x2: I refuse to acknowledge any grammar or orthographic mistake, I can't read anymore 😌

Someone over on Discord asked, "I'm morbidly curious: How BAD is A Song of Ice and Fire in terms of the authenticity George claims it to be?"

My reply was straightforward:

The long and the short of it is that ASOIAF is basically a vehicle for GRRM to present both his rape fetish and his Hobbesian view on human nature and has less historical accuracy than Frozen or most other Disney movies.

That's actually a good way to think of it, now that I've said it--he's Family Unfriendly, they're Family Friendly, but both have the same relationship with History: just Pure Aesthetic with no consideration for how the worldbuilding would work.

[shittybundaskenyer]

And they ask me // Is it going good in the garden? // I say I'm lost but I beg no pardon

[mossy-aro]

sorry but i am SO deeply tired of the 'aphobia isnt real' arguments because they are literally always being conducted in such bad faith. NO there is not specific societal or legal discrimation against aces and aros BECAUSE we are asexual and or aromantic. you cannot hold specifically bigoted beliefs towards a group you do not even know exist. there ARE, however, underlying and deeply pervasive systems and beliefs that actively erase, dehumanise and make life tangibly more difficult for aro and ace people on a social, economic and legal basis. most of this is due to hyperinvisibility, the medicalisation of any nonnormative + misunderstood orientations, the elevation of romance + romantic structures as the most important aspects of interpersonal relationships in society, as well as the nuclear atomisation of the family. among other things. like. amatonormativity has never been ABOUT aromantic people specfically oh my GOD. its simply the underlying social belief that everyone is expected to be in monogamous romantic relationships and that those relationships are expected to the default centre of one's life. its something that affects EVERYONE! but within that it affects aromantic people in a specific and heightened way because of our inability to participate in it in a societally acceptable way. like these are not 'aromantic' or 'asexual' or 'polyamorous' issues specifically. these are theories and terms that originated within feminist + queer sociology studies! its all part of the wider underlying social fabric! aspec people are simply pointing out that we are often affected by these things in unique and often unseen ways.

the idea that we believe people actively 'hate' us for being asexual or aromantic is completely ridiculous. most people i know do not even know the definition of those words! so how could they hate me for it. they could however, for example, hold the pervasive + societally unchallenged belief that not experiencing sexual or romantic attraction is a medical issue or something concerningly abnormal in a human being + something i should get fixed. and its not uncommon that when you DO explain that its simply your orientation to them, they continue to medicalise it and see it as some sort of issue. genuinely so deeply tired of having to explain this to people time and time again when they only want to cherry pick the most ridiculous arguments to respond to and then act as if that's a majority held opinion in the aspec community. like i actually think we are aware of how society views us we're not fucking deluded and stupid. we don't have victim complexes we are just pointing out facts that yall are so desperate to ignore. UGHHHHH

[arcanegifs]

ARCANE LEAGUE OF LEGENDS: 2x01 - “Heavy is the Crown”

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Happy Halloween! 🧼🥩🎃

[choccy-milky]

the place me and my roommate were supposed to move into today was so disgusting and uninhabitable we just took our stuff and left and now we're gonna be staying at airbnbs and hotels until further notice/until we can find a new place hopefully quickly...........im in my homeless drifter era y'all!!!😍😍so if im not as active then thats why LMFAO

1 like = 1 prayer

[gyrmirr]

can i tell you that i'm empty?

[anemonet]

pro tip: you can always put the bugs in little outfits :thumbsup:

[ivorysodapop]

(Suibian is also amused)

AU Masterlist

[artgletic]

case study of the self-identified god

[lgbtlunaverse]

Most annoying NMJ or JC take is when someone that dislikes them is like "oh you're a fan of him? *scoff* Well obviously you've only seen cql, where he was super watered down. In the novel he's a dislikable asshole and that's the objectively superior canon I'm working from instead of your woobified fanfic." Meanwhile your main canon is novel canon and you genuinely find novel Jiang Cheng and Nie Mingjue complex sympathetic characters.

[umblrspectrum]

Can we get more of the murder drone x rain world au?

ok

[novelconcepts]

I knew the instant the frog scene happened that people would be furious about the cold open with these strangers, but uh: hey, we needed a second away. We needed a second with these normal human adults, because the end of the last episode, them walking in? Horribly jarring! For the audience, because the audience and the team are the same at that point. We live with them. We see through their eyes. Even when we think we’re processing their shit as being insane—we’re right there with them, being desensitized, watching this new normal.

Spending ten minutes with these adults and then being thrust back IN to the girls’ situation? Equally jarring! You’ve had a taste of normalcy. You’ve let yourself, even without realizing, realign how things are “supposed” to be. And now we’re back, and it’s chaos, and a man’s head is caved in, and teenagers are spearheading a panicked hunt. We have to adjust all over again. We have to pivot back to where we were after this weird little reprieve.

Now. Imagine you’re the survivors. You spent all that time with your new normal. With your desensitization. And then they put you back into civilization, showed you the “real world” again. Told you this is what life is. As if they couldn’t both be real, as if you haven’t been living for two years under other conditions.

And then they made you pivot after your reprieve, right back to blood and violence and sacrifice and hunger.

Yeah, dude. That shit wasn’t filler, and it wasn’t because these frog scientists need us to care about them. It’s to put the audience on the same level as these kids we’ve been following for three seasons—and the adults who have no choice but to live with their own choices.

[lunarharp]

expansion on an old comic based on new feelings

[monsterbisexual]

[gothamite-rambler]

Jason's days in the league of assassin's with toddler Damian (1 y.o.)

In the dead of night, baby Damian cried alone in his crib, haunted by a terrifying nightmare. No one had come to check on him and sadly, this was a common occurrence, as Ra’s didn't want Talia coddling the child too much. Jason, who had long since stopped fearing Ra’s refused to follow the old man's orders.

When he heard the baby's cries echoing down the hall Jason rushed to Damian’s bedroom. He entered quietly and instinctively scooped up the trembling child.

Jason (comforting the baby): Hey, you're okay. Don’t cry, you’re not in danger.

Baby Damian sniffled, wiping his tear-stained eyes.

Jason (rubbing Damian's cheek): Had a bad dream?

Damian, seeming to understand the question, nodded, babbling and crying. Though he was just a baby and Jason couldn’t decipher what nightmares his brother had, it was bad enough to see the child trembling in fear.

Jason: Yeah, I had a few bad dreams when I first got here. Night terrors, is a better word. They were awful, zombies, clowns, a guy in a batsuit, a demon woman, symbolic stuff. What does a baby have nightmares about?

He knew he was mostly talking to himself, but holding the scared little one softened his heart. Raising his foster father's secret love child wasn’t part of his plan for this new life, but right now, Damian was young and innocent, certainly not a brat, at least not yet.

Jason: Whatever it is, it’s got you trembling. I got you, don't mind staying here for a few minutes.

He gently wiped Damian’s tears while cradling him, pacing around the room. His rhythmic footsteps seemed to soothe the infant.

Jason: I don’t like that they just let you holler in a dark room until you tire yourself to sleep. Especially when I know those assholes are awake! Don’t say “asshole” Damian.

Damian babbled softly, staring at the ceiling. The tears hadn’t stopped, even with Jason’s comforting presence. Jason slowly paced around the room, keeping Damian in his arms.

Jason (speaking softly as he paced): I remember when I was little, my stepmom, before she was heavily addicted to drugs, used to come into my room and sing to me. She loved Elvis. I was more into Jimi Hendrix, but we got along despite this. Crazy, right?

Jason chuckled softly at the memory, though Damian didn’t quite understand why.

Jason: Sorry, went off-topic. She always sang the same song. She wasn’t the best singer, but it helped get me back to sleep... she had such a gentle singing voice. I remember the lyrics to this day. Maybe they’ll help you, or if not, you can just puke on me.

He glanced at the open bedroom door, then quietly walked backward and closed it, if he was going to sing to a baby in the castle of an assassin, he wanted some privacy.

Jason (in a tender singing voice): Wise men say, "Only fools rush in"… But I can't help… falling in love with you…

He picked up Damian’s baby blanket, gently wiping away tears as he sang.

Jason (continuing): Shall I stay? Would it be a sin? If I can't help falling in love with you?

Damian looked up at his big brother, his expression blank at first, which made Jason pause for a moment.

Jason (softly, doubtful): I’m not the best singer. You probably—

Damian reached up suddenly, placing his tiny hand on Jason’s cheek. Though he couldn’t speak, through his soft, trusting eyes, Jason understood, he wanted him to stay and sing.

Jason settled into a rocking chair in the room, gently rocking Damian until sleep claimed him.

Jason (singing again): Like a river flows, surely to the sea, darling, so it goes… some things are meant to be... Take my hand, take my whole life, too. For I can’t help falling in love with you.

Damian’s eyelids fluttered closed, his breathing slowing as the panic from earlier faded away, replaced by the comfort of sleep.

Jason: You know, I kill people. But I’m surprisingly good with kids. Is that ironic? Or am I just… an anti-hero? To be fair, I only kill the bad guys. Not you, though.

He booped Damian’s nose, making him giggle softly.

Jason (continuing to rock him): Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone this happened, and you don’t let slip that… I’m starting to like you.

He sighed quietly, accepting that he might not be able to train Damian into a little assassin of his own parents. Damian still had a chance at a decent life. Though he’d turned cold to the world, Jason knew he wanted to be there for his little brother, until Damian grew into the mischievous kid then it'd be acceptable to pick on his little brother.

Bruce's baby (Jason's days in the League of Assassians and part time baby sitter)

Jason's days in the league with baby Damian (pt. 2)

Jason's days in the league with baby Damian (pt. 3)

Part 4