#gideon can't get a win in this house

[lemon-natalia]

Gideon the Ninth Reaction - Chapter 20

i just wanna apologise in advance for how long these posts are getting lol, i have a lot of Thoughts about this book

oh wait nope they are going back to the creepy lab where two people just got murdered. great plan guys

Dulcinea wanting to team up surprised me a little, but it really shouldn't have. she's been paying a lot of attention to the Ninth, and especially Gideon.

'thousands of years after you're gone ... is when you really live' this is such a different, almost warmer, perspective on death and necromancy, and i can see why it appeals to Dulcinea specifically, who's clearly had to come to terms with her mortality pretty early on in life. but its also part of the more disturbing theme that the past never really goes away, and can't help but view this line along the same lines of discovering the ancient study last chapter, and the ancient laboratory, and Canaan House in general, which are only just now having their secrets revealed, and the terrible consequences of those secrets becoming apparent, after thousands of years

'she grasped a railing, leaned over, and proffered her hand' well this is getting very courtly romance

ah yes lets go through the door decorated with a swirl of human teeth, i'm sure there's happy fun times to be had in there. harrow, resident goth interior designer who specialises in bone decor, is probably taking notes as we speak

even after hurting her hand twice, Harrow really just can't resist experimenting even further huh. she's so very reluctant to accept that her existing powers aren't enough by themselves for this

ooohhhh, having to literally suck the life force out of your cavalier to win?? thats so sick and twisted and i love it. these challenges are, again, clearly relying on this intense relationship between the pair, both in trusting them absolutely and in this literal soul-siphoning/melding link thing.

however, it feels like Gideon's really getting the brunt of it in these challenges. Harrow's absolutely putting in an awful lot of effort and power, but it's the cavalier who has to fight the bone amalgamation, the cavalier who has to have their life literally siphoned out. they're about trust and a bond between them, but also seemingly about a willingness to sacrifice your cavalier to achieve that goal, and i have a really bad feeling about where exactly this is going in terms of how exactly one achieves lyctorhood

'under no circumstances will i ever desire your juice' Harrow you may wish to revisit this sentiment when you guys (to my limited knowledge) eventually become girlfriends

'none of this is worth it, at all [...] i'm sorry. We take so much' i'm like 90% sure the voice talking to Gideon throughout all this was Dulcinea, largely because it doesn't really make sense for it to be anyone else, but there were certain lines, specifically these ones, that made me suspicious at first it might be some(one? thing?) else. but it also feels fitting that its Dulcinea coaching her through this.

wow, just wow, i'm really impressed with the writing in this chapter, and how the pain Gideon is feeling is expressed. its such an abstract experience/feeling to describe, but i think its done incredibly well

'Ha-ha, said Gideon, first time you didn't call me Griddle, and died' ok i know she didn't but THANKS for giving me an absolute heart attack with that sentence Tamsyn Muir

Harrow i get understand u are protective of Gideon but let Dulcinea comfort her plz

'you can't just ask someone why they want to be a Lyctor'. ahh the duality of Gideon the Ninth. this just evocative prose about how it feels to be on the brink of death, and then immediately afterwards hits you in the face with a mean girls reference. beautiful, iconic, effervescent.

[with-my-murder-flute]

Gideon Nav and the motherless child

(A post I promised at Wiscon in May that I'd write, and am finally getting around to.)

Gideon does not come off as a severely abused and neglected child, and I think there's a reason for that.

Both she and Harrow have full on The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog-calibre childhoods. Harrow acts more like it, from her extremely low thresholds for sensory overstimulation to her entire social... everything. Those are all things kids raised in neglect are way more likely to deal with.

When I first read GtN I was in my habitual "Look self, not everyone works in your field, SFF authors give their characters these kinds of horrible childhoods all the time, nobody else cares about the realistic consequences of bringing a child up that way" mode. Like, it was nice that Muir seemed aware that the Ninth House's children generally would be more sickly and have higher fatality rates, but I also didn't want Gideon to be one speck less herself, so I could live with the slight implausibility.

And then we got Harrow the Ninth. We got the slow revelation of the Sleeper. The revenant. Wake's immense rage.

"I hated that damned sword for years. I don’t know why; it just felt strange—rancorous."

"Where the hell have you been hiding for nineteen years?” “Where—you—fucking—left—me. In my bones. Then a blade. In—that—fucking—hole.”

I immediately remembered: Gideon loved her sword so much she could frigging marry it.

Here's my theory: Gideon is Gideon in part because her mother has been haunting her for years.

Children need love if they're going to grow up. I don't mean that metaphorically. Babies that aren't held, rocked, touched, and soothed don't release the same mix of hormones that tell their bones it's time to move outwards. The steady attachment of baby to the adult who takes care of them is the central pillar around which children construct everything from control of their faculties to their senses of self. When babies are not cared for and able to attach to loving, reliable caretakers, they struggle in so many ways. I know this sounds really vague and ~vibes~-y, but I mean it in the sense of, "here is a curated reading list of scientific research on the topic, which I provide because I can't condense it while also shouting about Griddlehark on Tumblr"

So in GtN, Gideon just seemed like this ridiculously optimistic outcome for a severely maltreated child. She's optimistic and self-confident, brazen but moral, outgoing but centred. She's smart enough to hold her own against Harrow, to make complicated plans for the future, and to cope when her plans encounter hiccups. She knows that she wants to leave the Ninth House, and when she finally manages it, she doesn't panic or find some new miserable hole to shove herself into; she gleefully steps out and stretches her wings. And yet, her less-than-stellar relationships with people back home don't prevent her (in any way other than a little shyness) from forming new, varied, complicated connections with all the different people at Canaan House.

That's all... like, it is wildly optimistic to think that a child whose closest adult attachment figure from twelve months old was as distant and limited as Aiglamene would be like. That is winning the child development lottery.

That, or...

Maybe when she was seven, and her biggest emotional attachment (besides Harrow) was to the imaginary skeleton mother in her head, Aiglamene broke it to her that her mother wasn't out in rotation yet. Maybe Aiglamene led her to the niche where Wake's bones lay. Maybe when Aiglamene left, Gideon sat down there and said, Hello, mother. I love you.

Maybe it was then? Or maybe it was before? As a revenant, Wake's closest link to the living world was her own body, her own bones. But she also had thanergetic links with things like her murder weapon. Her murderer. The baby she'd died delivering to the Tomb. That made it possible before, certainly, but physical proximity counts for something, so maybe it was then, that Wake first tried possessing a living soul.

Wake whispering tiny inaudible suggestions into her daughter's ear like: Fuck this place. Fuck these bones. Light this place on fire. They don't own you. You don't owe them shit. Get up, get out, escape. Blow this place apart. Fight, defy them, make them pay, and remember that ten thousand years of history brought you here to stand against them. Here is what it's like to be a human being, to throw your shoulders back, to fight with people you trust, to gauge your enemies clearly, to know the power you punch with. And if there are no other standing orders: Live. Live. Live.

You cannot tell me Gideon's first act upon receiving a real sword, a soldier's sword, was not to take it down to her mother's niche and show it off. It was probably like offering her an open backpack to hop into.

Maybe all Wake's "mothering" was just her trying with singleminded rage to program instructions for detonation into her bomb. Even still: At least Gideon had a mum who wanted her to be as explosive as she was, and backed her up for every step of it.

Harrow didn't even get that much.

[din-miller]

ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES

Pairing: Din Djarin x gn!Reader

Word count: 1.4k

Summary: pirates come looking for Grogu but find you alone in the cabin instead

Warnings: canon-typical violence, mentions of decapitation, no angst, yeah you read that right decapitation but no angst to be found in this bad boy, it's just comical trash, crack fic really, reader is a sarcastic asshole, married couple, slightly unhinged reader, Din even more so and don't get me started on Grogu, cabin fic, mentions of Moff Gideon, mentions of med-school drop out reader,

A/N: this started off as a serious fic full of sorrow, then somehow turned into a night time comedy special. I'm proud of myself.

You don't normally let Din and Grogu head to the marketplace without you, but you woke up with a sore throat this morning and it hasn't gone away. You tried to convince your husband to let you join them. Fresh air would do you good, you had helplessly reasoned.

"Fresh air does nothing for sore throats. Rest does though mesh'la." Din argued back.

"Oh I didn't realise you were the one who dropped out of med school."

Needless to say, you didn't win that argument.

So now you're stuck in a cabin that you didn't know could be so quiet. For there only being three of you, the house is constantly loud. To be fair Grogu is now speaking in full sentences.

You've been alone before without them, but this time there's something unsettling. Like a bad omen is lurking in the daylight.

You should've contacted Din the moment the hairs on the back of your neck stood up. But you didn't and now you're standing in the living room with two men as you stare down the barrel of a blaster.

"You're going to regret this," You sighed, dramatically, "Look, I'm currently in the middle of making dinner and I have a sore throat. Can we get this over with?"

The tall one – let's call him Lance – glanced over at the short one – Manny. Yeah, that suits him – and sent him a baffled look.

"Where's The Child?" Manny growled and despite knowing you'll win this, you always do, your stomach turned at knowing they're here for your son.

With a shrug you crossed your arms non threateningly, "It's just me here. I'll let you know if I see a child though."

Lance glanced around the room, "You have a lot of kids toys for not having a kid."

"What? A person can't have a hobby?" You raised your brow, acting mildly offended.

Manny stepped forward, hand tightening around his weapon, "Enough! I know you have The Child. Give him to us and we won't kill you. Deal?"

"A deal?" You scoffed, "Why the hell would I make a deal with some lousy pirate? You're not even holding your blaster properly."

He looked down at his weapon, brows drawn tightly together, "I'm not?"

You tisked and pointed to the gun, "Allow me?"

When he gave a small nod you stepped forward, "Here, one hand grips right here... Good, now loosen this hand."

As soon as the blaster is loose enough you grabbed it out of his hand and pressed it against the lower region of his body. He froze, eyes going comically wide.

Lance, being weaponless already, raised his hands in an act of surrender. Honestly when you first felt like you were being watched you thought it would be a little more exciting than this. There's always next Monday you guess.

"You two are actually doing me a favour, bearing you don't have any allergies," You waited for them to shake their heads, "Good. Follow me into the kitchen. See, I've been trying out a recipe for my husband and I's anniversary – it's this weekend, you're not invited. Anyways, I'm not sure I have the correct level of spice to it."

"I'm sure your husband will enjoy it."

"Thank you Lance," You smiled and held a fork full of spicy food to his mouth. You watched as he took in the flavour and deemed it plenty spiced enough, "I'll get you boys a plate full."

Your eyes darted back and forth as they ate, taking in every reaction they had to each bite. It's a silent meal, rather uncomfortable for them you imagine.

Manny set down his fork, "This is our last meal isn't it?"

You blew out a breath, "Sometimes you gotta learn the hard way that your actions have consequences."

Lance politely raised his hand, "Can I have a glass of water?"

"Unfortunately, Lance, you can't. You know why? Because you're trying to murder my family, that's why." You growled, then cocked your head towards the door leading outside, "Now do I have to tie you both to the porch or can I trust you to behave and sit like good boys?"

"We'll behave," Lance said, stepping over the cabin's entry doorway, "Right Manny?"

The short man huffed, "I ain't itching for a blaster fire to the back, Lance."

They both sat on the bench and leaned back against the wall. You took a seat opposite of them, perched on top of the railing you had installed after you moved in.

"Who do you work for?" You asked, blaster twirling in your hand, safety on.

Manny rolled his eyes, "We work for ourselves."

You hummed, "Why us? Why the kid?"

"Figured it would be an easy target now that the Mandalorian is dead."

For the first time since he interrupted your day, you're taken back at his words, "Dead, you say?"

"Yeah, in the fight with Moff Gideon." Lance explained, "We heard you adopted his son."

You have to give him credit for knowing at least that part. You did adopt Grogu. Married Din the same day too.

How many people out there think Din's dead? And who's the dumbass that thought Moff Gideon could kill Din?

Your eyes narrowed in on Lance when his jaw dropped and you could see the faint shine of sweat gathered at his temple, "Am I seeing things?"

"Oftentimes yes, but that's him," Manny shrunk in on himself, eyes forward in horror, "That's the Mandalorian."

You look back behind you, your eyes locking in on your husband. He looks furious, even underneath all his armour. His blaster is already in his hand and floating beside him is Grogu. Your son has his hand held up directly in front of him, eyes squinted – a warning.

This is the proudest you've ever been.

"Ner kar'ta," Din's hands are on you, moving different parts of your clothing around searching for a wound he won't find, "Are you okay?"

Lance nodded, "A little parched – oh, you're not talking to me, right that makes more sense."

You smiled down at the man. He's absolutely hopeless, but it gives him a fun personality. Too bad he has to die.

"I'm okay, I promise," You reassured him, "How was the marketplace?"

"Dull without you there to keep us company," Din said, Grogu nodding in agreement, "How was resting?"

You glanced down at the two men, "I had some unwanted visitors interrupting my relaxation."

Din looked them over, "Why are they unharmed?"

"The only weapon I had in reach was Manny's blaster," You held up the weapon while simultaneously introducing Manny to your husband, "Felt wrong to kill a man with his own gun."

Din pulled Manny up by the back of his shirt, the short man standing on his tippy toes to avoid strangulation.

Manny patted Din's beskar chest piece of armour, "Look Mr. Mandalorian, this is all a misunderstanding-,"

"Yeah," Lance stood up and his friend shook his head, silently telling him to stop, "We thought you were dead."

Din dropped Manny. The man crumbled to the ground, Din's foot pinning him down. You watched as your husband's attention turned to Lance.

"And that gave you permission to hunt down my riduur and child?" He growled, every bit the Mandalorian these pirates fear, "Tell me why I shouldn't put your head on a pike for all your pirate friends to see."

Lance turned to you for help. You looked past him to your husband and nodded, "It would give me much pleasure to see shabuirs like them displayed as an example to why no one touches my family."

"What my riduur wants, they shall receive," Din hauled both men up, his grip tight enough to leave nasty bruises on their skin, "This should only take two hours. Longer if the tall one is stupid enough to run his mouth."

"Two hours!" Manny exclaimed, "I can cut my own head off in less than a minute. I'll even save you some effort and behead Lance too!"

"You don't understand," Din grinned under his helmet, body humming with anticipation, "The effort is my favourite part," Din nodded his head in your direction, "Eat without me, mesh'la. I'll be back in time to tuck Grogu in."

"I'll have the shower ready for you when you get home," You promised, "Oh, and make sure to take your time, alright?"

Din activated his jetpack, throwing down a quick 'i love you' before taking off. You looked down at Grogu, "Your buir and I will never let anything or anyone hurt you. We love you, kid"

[waterthrush]

the unwanted guest thoughts

OBSESSED with the format as a stage play... makes so so much sense for ianthe and the third house

funeral part is so cool and sexy and i wonder if thats insight into how funerals actually are on the third

palamedes' mask being shattered and glued together like his skull....

ianthe slaying in all her fits... wait this reminds me of a dream i had a while ago in which ianthe duelled someone and did a ton of costume changes... i literally predicted it

ianthe being the lady and the master of the house... unprecedented levels of gender

significance of 7 coffins?? bc of 7 original lyctors??

the VOICE!!! my first instinct was dulcie but how?? so i thought maybe babs or someone else?? but i was right!!

still unsure of significance of "did your tingue ever toungle" maybe shows ianthe not being in complete control??

not the playing strip poker with harrow...

fascinated by ianthe and pal's differing views of the job of the cavalier... to die for vs protect the necromancer

"because you never stop to check the price tag" FUCK

is palamedes actually shocked by the third house assigning cavaliers as babies or is he pretending to get ianthe to share more?

oh ortus... blown up for being sad

would love to read about one of ianthe and corona's insane birthday parties

should have seen earlier how much the gideon nav description was shaped by babs, it makes so much sense

something about ianthe disqualifying her opponents as a form of winning... she never plays fair

the more we get of her the more i LOVE DULCIE!!!

DYING to know what happened to dulcinea after harrow's river bubble collapsed

"I loved you. I love you still. I would have worked out how to love you better over time." "It would have been very beautiful. Camilla would have had to cook. But I didn't just want beautiful..." "This again? From you and her both? That merely by loving you, I added to your torments?" FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK IT REALLY ALL COMES BACK TO LOVE ALWAYS...... DYING

cant stop thinking about how ntn must have been such a cruel mirror to the domestic life they dreamed of with dulcie

"You two were my best friends, and that was real. I loved real, ugly, unfinished things. Gracelessly uncompleted things. There's freedom, too, in not ever being completed." FUCK DULCIE I LOVE YOU

its a river... there are two shores... still so curious about the river

"Was I cute?" "You're perfect." AAAAAAAAAAAAA <3 <3 <3

"would you have used your sister instead?" YES!!! THAT IS THE QUESTION!!!

"Or... Coronabeth herself is part of your goal. You can't spend her, because you'd invalidate the very thing you were trying to buy." WOAGHHH i am so so curious about ianthe's plan

THE FINAL QUESTION... THE FINAL REVEAL...

the implications of souls bleeding and mingling... first of all for the OG lyctors... how much of what we were seeing was alfred and cristabel and pyrrha (though its probably slightly different for them)?? how much of pyrrha is g1deon??

and this has SO MANY implications for the gideon harrow alecto nona situation... simultaneously makes things clearer and a lot more complicated, if there doesn't have to be an actual transfer of soul bits, but they just do it naturally when together

overall SO GOOD!!! so much analysis potential of course and also just gutwrenchingly, horribly beautiful, like everything she writes

[badass-bitch-polls]

WELCOME TO THE BADASS BITCH POLLS! (masterpost)

this is a showdown of all your favourite "step-on-me-monarch" characters, since apparently the internet (and me) can't stop simping for people who could kill them in an instant...

THE BRACKET.

(dun dun duuun)

^ i don't have access to my computer atm so have this scuffed version without images i made in two minutes

BRACKET REVEAL and full candidate list

ROUND 1 RECAP

ROUND 2 RECAP

THE PIT ANNOUNCEMENT

original submissions post (explains rules and such)

VOTER RULES:

- no voter fraud. please. like it just ruins the fun. get votes through devious propoganda that will infect your opposition's minds and enlighten them to the swag of your blorbo instead, that's much more fun

- NO HATRED TOWARDS ANY CHARACTER OR ME this includes slagging off any opponents. say why your skrunkle is badass, not why other people's skrunkles aren't badass. cause remember, this character means as much to someone else as your character means to you!

- remember this is just a silly little tumblr competition, and the end goal is just to have fun. whoever wins or loses doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things.

click here for 🔥🔥THE PIT🔥🔥 polls

HYPERLINKS TO BRACKET POLLS BELOW THE CUT:

Mettaton (Undertale) vs Jolyne Cujon (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean)

ROUND 3:

Five Hargreeves (The Umbrella Academy) vs Garnet (Steven Universe)

Riza Hawkeye (FullMetal Alchemist) vs April O'Neil (Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

Erza Scarlet (Fairy Tail) vs Cassandra "Casey" Jones (Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

Morticia Addams (The Addams Family) vs Hornet (Hollow Knight)

Susie (Deltarune) vs Urbosa (Zelda Breath of the Wild)

Evelyn Wang (Everything Everywhere All at Once) vs Olivier Armstrong (FullMetal Alchemist)

Megaera (Hades) vs Katara (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

ROUND 2:

Mettaton (Undertale) vs Aubrey (OMORI)

Annabeth (Percy Jackson) vs Jolyne Cujon (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean)

Garnet (Steven Universe) vs Loba Andrade (Apex Legends)

Huntara (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power) vs Five Hargreeves (The Umbrella Academy)

Gideon Nav (The Locked Tomb) vs Riza Hawkeye (FullMetal Alchemist)

Harley Quinn (Birds of Prey) vs April O'Neil (Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII) vs Erza Scarlet (Fairy Tail)

The Mandalorian (The Mandalorian) vs Cassandra "Casey" Jones (Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

Revali (Zelda: Breath of the Wild) vs Morticia Addams (The Addams Family)

Jinx (Arcane) vs Hornet (Hollow Knight)

Susie (Deltarune) vs Eda Clawthorne (The Owl House)

Urbosa (Zelda Breath of the Wild) vs Vi (Arcane)

The Mantis Lords (Hollow Knight) vs Evelyn Wang (Everything Everywhere All at Once)

Olivier Armstrong (FullMetal Alchemist) vs GLaDOS (Portal)

Sakura Ogami (Danganronpa THH) vs Megaera (Hades)

Katara (Avatar The Last Airbender) vs Catra (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power)

ROUND 1

Mettaton (Undertale) vs Sevika (Arcane)

Aubrey (OMORI) vs Elendira the Crimsonnail (Trigun Maximum)

Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson) vs Bossman Hero (OMORI)

River Song (Doctor Who) vs Jolyne Cujon (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean)

Huntara (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power) vs Lollipop (Battle for Dream Island)

Five Hargreeves (The Umbrella Academy) vs Undyne (Undertale)

Garnet (Steven Universe) vs Lord Dominator (Wander Over Yonder)

River Tam (Firefly) vs Loba Andrade (Apex Legends)

Gideon Nav (The Locked Tomb) vs Hikari Kunia (Alice In Borderland)

Nya (Ninjago) vs Riza Hawkeye (FullMetal Alchemist)

Villanelle (Killing Eve) vs Harley Quinn (Birds of Prey)

Albert Wesker (Resident Evil) vs April O'Neil (Rise of the TMNT)

Snowman (Homestuck) vs Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII)

Erza Scarlet (Fairy Tail) vs c!Wilbur (The Dream SMP)

The Mandalorian (The Mandalorian) vs ZombieCleo (Last Life SMP)

Cassandra Jones (Rise of the TMNT) vs Vriska Serket (Homestuck)

Revali (Zelda Breath of the Wild) vs Tony Stark (MCU)

Death (Puss In Boots: The Last Wish) vs Morticia Addams (The Addams Family)

Jinx (Arcane) vs Colette (Ratatouille)

Mei (Lego Monkie Kid) vs Hornet (Hollow Knight)

Grell Sutcliff (Black Butler) vs Susie (Deltarune)

Ellie Rose (Henry Stickmin Collection) vs Eda Clawthorne (The Owl House)

Urbosa (Zelda Breath of the Wild) vs Zora Salazar (Epithet Erased)

Moriarty (BBC Sherlock) vs Vi (Arcane)

Mantis Lords (Hollow Knight) vs Deunan Knute (Appleseed)

Evelyn Wang (Everything Everywhere All at Once) vs Azula (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Olivier Armstrong (FullMetal Alchemist) vs Lady Nagant (My Hero Academia)

Maki Zenin (Jujutsu Kaisen) vs GLaDOS (Portal)

Connor (Detroit Become Human) vs Sakura Ogami (Danganronpa THH)

Vera Oberlin (Monster Prom) vs Megaera (Hades)

Buttercup (The Powerpuff Girls) vs Katara (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Catra (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power) vs Jessy Thorn (ADACA)

pre-bracket polls:

Jinx vs Mel vs Sevika (Arcane)

Olivier Armstrong vs Riza Hawkeye (Full Metal Alchemist)

Sweetheart vs Aubrey (OMORI)

[empty-pizza]

thoughts on harrow the ninth chapter four: part two

yep, they kissed. past harrow had to have known exactly what she was asking for.

and then harrow swears the oath. by the way, i'm not actually 100% sure on the chronology here. this is probably after the chapter where god said the name Ortus three times, but i'm not totally sure. we'll have to see. i'll keep an open mind for non-linearity.

ianthe seems to remember ortus as the cavalier. she wouldn't know this if we were in the proper timeline/existence/memory state or whatever.

this whole sewn tongue thing, i really lack the context on.

ianthe gave harrow something. shit, this is interesting. this whole plan has to be way bigger than just bringing gideon back. i mean, it's supposed to resurrect the girl in the hole.

these letters are very interesting. very very interesting. too interesting for me to know what to say. interesting that harrow doesn't remember camilla at all, though. fuckery.

okay, one of the letters ianthe keeps is one that she opens if harrow dies. cool. and ianthe knows for sure that corona is not dead. man, i hope we see camilla and coronabeth this book.

ianthe is a really interesting character and i'm glad we're getting a closer view of her here. it's like she's smart enough to see through conversation, in general. she's already thought through what each person has to communicate to the other and what order it happens in. that doesn't mean she can't be surprised, but when she's not, she plays with her food. instead of being straight to the point (like some kind of second house nerd) she shows exactly what level of disdain she has for the conversation itself by sarcastically half-hearting it.

she was absolutely pissed when harrow implied corona had died, but laughed it off intentionally, knowing she'd move later to make the point that you don't say that shit to her.

ianthe is brilliant. absolutely brilliant. but she's reminding me of palamedes right now. palamedes was brilliant, but cared too much about explaining why he was right to people. ianthe doesn't want to explain herself to people, but she does want to enjoy the effect, to play with what they perceive.

she might even be smarter than harrow. but harrow will win. because harrow is the one who is completely goal-driven and does not care about the effect she gives off to others. there was only one person she cared about the thoughts of, and that person is gone now.

if every chapter is this dense and requires me to analyze this much to try and follow the mysteries, then the library is gonna be really annoyed with how long it takes me to return these.

[dotthings]

In the S2 finale of The Mandalorian, Din really is not about getting the Darksaber. Bo-Katan wants it very much. Bo-Katan does get a tentative maybe from Din on his interest in helping to reclaim Mandalore. But mostly Din's a worried dad who wants to save his kid and he accidentally winds up with the Darksaber because Moff Gideon picks a fight with Din that Din doesn't even want to have and Din wins. Then Din tries to give the Darksaber to Bo-Katan, practically pushes it into her hands. He doesn't want it. And he can't give it to her because of the legend of the Darksaber, its cultural meaning, it has to be won in combat.

In S3 he's still not into the Darksaber. I think because it fell into his hands accidentally he went through the motions for a bit of trying to wield it and figure out how it worked because that's what he thought was expected. But The Children of the Watch don't care about social status and the Darksaber rules--House Vizsla does, and Paz cares about the Darksaber.

Din cares about Mandalore. He cares about his people, even if he's not into it about the Darksaber, so he's going to stand with Bo-Katan.

These pieces have been laid down throughout the series and S3 is paying a lot of that off now.

[clonerightsagenda]

ianthe tridentarius

Hopping in on lunch break to tackle this one.

First impression

I don't think she made much of an impression when I was first reading GtN, which is the point. You're thrown this huge cast of characters, and Ianthe lurks in the background strategically.

Impression now

Don't get the hype I'm afraid. I'm immune to the Draco in Leather Pants phenomenon so her treatment of Harrow mostly comes across as super skeevy to me. I would say this means I'm in line with the author who keeps saying 'stop thinking Ianthe is hot' but Tamsyn Muir has been in fandom. She knows exactly what she was doing and I do not see why she pretends otherwise.

Favorite moment

Her argument with Gideon at the end of Harrow was a good way to break the tension the book has been carrying for so long. When your best argument for why you're going to win the love n-drangle is that you have bones.

Idea for a story

Would love to know how the leadup to Ianthe stabbing Babs and eating his soul went.

Unpopular opinion

Here's two for the price of one.

1 - IDK why I see people saying her saving Jod was the obviously wrong choice. John can't permanently die, but his brief vaporization made the sun nearly fry the Sixth House, so it's reasonable to assume getting sucked into a stoma might destabilize Dominicus even more. The Nine Houses aren't *good*, but that doesn't mean I advocate mass casualty events.

2- Everyone keeps drawing Ianthe in ruffly white shirts and leather pants when canonically she's wearing poorly fitting dresses for someone several sizes larger than her. Where is the art of Ianthe in some godawful pastel outfit being held together with like 10 belts. She insists it's a well-respected fashion choice. John who is familiar with Kingdom Hearts and their belt situation nods solemnly.

Favorite relationship

Obviously there's a lot going on (mostly offscreen) between her and Corona. Corona being or wanting to be her secret cavalier and Ianthe eating Babs instead to save her sister but that being perceived by Corona as a betrayal (just as Gideon sees Harrow's attempt to save her as a sign she's unwanted). Ianthe's glib dismissal of Corona's intelligence (we don't know if she believes that or not) versus Corona being the only one who can give Camilla a good game of chess. Ianthe as God's last lyctor versus Coronabeth as a BoE recruit. Where is this going. I want to find out.

Favorite headcanon

First joke that comes to mind is 'Third house doesn't habitually eat people, Ianthe is just like that' but honestly I think it's fun if the whole Third house is like that. Eating your cavalier's fingernails is fine actually. What's everyone looking at. Go judge Magnus and Abigail's blandly supportive marriage, those freaks.

[iviarellereads]

Also, IIRC Sixth is on Mercury but I can't remember why I know that, and I feel like I've seen something that made me think Seventh was on Venus, and in combination with the Extra Deathy Death House being on Pluto I'm wondering if the other Houses are also on very thematic planets as well -- say, Second or Fourth on Mars (war!) etc

First, since you seem to be the same anon that sent the other ask, thank you for splitting up your topics by things that don't require spoilers to answer, and things that do.

Second, I think the ordering in GtN chapter 7 implies strongly that Seventh is on Venus and Sixth is on Mercury, (Gideon thinking of things between First/Earth and the Sun/Dominicus, the mental categorization going in order from present-location to distant-location tracks) and this fits with those planets' names mythologically speaking. Venus being the goddess of love, beauty, desire, very much makes sense with the Seventh obsession with inherent beauty.

And, the Sixth being renowned for knowledge, it fits slightly less well with Mercury (god of commerce, financial gain, travelers, and thieves) until you remember that Mercury was also the god of boundaries, such as between the living and the dead. Not exactly knowledge but... definitely some overlap with Sixth's path through the story as of the latest book, I think. (Don't get me started on explaining this unless you want a rant ALMOST as long as my "Paul is actually an EXCEPTIONALLY relevant and perfect name to choose for the Locked Tomb's deep cut ex-Catholicism vibes" one.)

It seems intensely likely that the rest of the Houses align to planets and their mythologies the same way. I've seen a few very well thought out examinations and theories in the tlt tags at different times. It's one of the things I plan to sit down with after I finish rereading through Nona and have all my notes compiled into an index of events and clues where I know exactly which keywords I used for each one to search for. That is, unless we get Alecto the Ninth before I get around to it AND it has direct confirmation for all House associations. Or if I see a post from someone else on a similarly deep level, with proof I can't counter. Either way, I win!

(Bonus thought while we're here: Varun the Eater, the RB who comes to New Rho, who is RB 7. If Seven is on Venus, then Varun is the RB of "Earth's Twin". Varun/Venus would have been, figuratively, the closest of Alecto/Earth's siblings. And they followed her soul, via Harrow and via Nona, and stayed to make sure Nona was okay when things went weird. I just find that really sweet.)

[daffodil--lament]

caoimhin 2022 reading wrap up

- Gideon the Ninth & Harrow the Ninth - good. made me insane. read them basically cover to cover. awesome

- The Hobbit - 10/10 it's the fuckin hobbit man. this was of course a re-read because I'm cultured

- The Great Gatsby - cool. enjoyed. also a re-read. so true fitzgerald materialism is bad. I love gay people

- Dogsbody - so good. dwj's ability to balance the themes of her stories always gets me. I need to read more of her books

- Howl's Moving Castle - I've read it more than 10 times in the last two years I love it so much 10000/10

- A Study In Charlotte - I love me some sherlock holmes. I love autism. I love people who are fucked up. enjoyed it as much as I did when I was 13

- Castle In The Air - hmc sequel. gets better every re-read. dwj poses an earth shattering question: what if all your favorite characters got even stupider? (this is about prince justin. he's the worst I love him)

- A River Runs Through It - destroyed me. holy shit. I finished that last page and had to go lay down for awhile. I was thinking about it for days. I am haunted by waters. god. good lord almighty.

- House of Many Ways - MASSIVE tone shift from a river runs through it. Charmain is a bitch and I like her so much. twinkle sucks. 9 million out of ten I love you Sophie Pendragon

- Howl's Moving Castle - by the time you finish homw you have to start hmc again to distract yourself from the series ending. howl and sophie were holding one another's hands and smiling and smiling quite unable to stop. I'm gonna pass out

- Hamlet - fuckin classic duh. I read this for the first time in seventh grade because I'm better than everyone. there's a reason it's one of the most widely known pieces of literature ever written

- Pride and Prejudice - also better every time I read it. Jane Austen is a genius. I wish I had an Elizabeth to my Darcy

- The Lightning Thief - percy jackson my beloved

- Sea of Monsters - retweet

- Storm Front - harry dresden is a bitch

- Fool Moon - harry dresden gets grievously injured, still manages to kill people

- Grave Peril - michael carpenter my beloved

- Summer Knight - karrin murphy btw (she is not enjoying herself)

- Death Masks - I love small children who carry great magical power

- Persuasion - Jane Austen I love you. I played minecraft prolifically while I listened to this book. it was so good. genuinely amazing. love love love

- Loki: Agent of Asgard - I always start this and I'm like "ha ha funny comic book" and then by the end I'm completely decimated. the art is so cool and I love watching it change throughout the run. conceptually the whole story and premise are so amazing. I can't really explain the extent of how good it is and do it justice. it's just awesome

- Pride and Prejudice - I forgot that I read this twice but if it's on the list you'd better be damn sure it happened

- The Raven Boys - I love pretentious glasses-wearing teenage boys (me irl)

- Patriot Games - the Harrison Ford movie is better but it was chill ig.

- Dream Thieves - fuck shit up little man

- Blue Lily, Lily Blue - popular among welsh voices in my head

- Murder on the Orient Express - AMAZING. I love hercule poirot so much. although I sort of knew the general ending, having seen, you know, literally any TV show made in the last 100 years, I was really surprised and pleased with the way the whole novel unfolded itself. awesome

- The Raven King - honestly awesome ending to the series. thoroughly enjoyed

- Rebecca - books that changed me at age 8. not sure why my mother chose to give me this book at that age but I'm forever glad she did. Rebecca is dead the entire story and she haunts it more than any ghost could. Spectacular. something about Mrs de Winter's name never being told to us or said out loud, but Rebecca's name being EVERYWHERE.... fantastic

- Blood Rites - I LOVE YOU THOMAS

- Never Let Me Go - I understand why this was award winning and I think I will never read it again

- Howl's Moving Castle - what better way to end my year. howl said I think we ought to live happily ever after and sophie thought he meant it. also I got the fancy illustrated hardcover version for Christmas and I am so happy. I will not be lending it to anyone ever. it's my baby.

[itsthemysterykids]

George Lopez Quotes?

Coraline: Neil, why are you carrying your backpack like that?

Neil: … Because you’d said to take better care of my stuff.

Coraline: … What’s in the backpack?

Neil: Just books. *Coraline throws an orange at his arm, making him drop his bag* Oh way to go! You just spilled a cup of my pee!

Wybie: What?

Coraline: For years it was in his bed, now it’s in his backpack!

Neil: *Opens his backpack* There’s wizz all over my book report.

Wybie: Neil, why is there urine in your backpack?

Neil: … Somebody paid me for it.

Wybie: Who would do that?… Wait, there are a lot of drug tests happening at the prison, so I’m gonna say something to you that I haven’t said in years… Is my mom buying your pee?

—

Stan: From now on, we're home schooling you! Whatever we don't know, you don't know. When did the Korean War start? I don't know, and neither do you!

—

Lili: Come on, it's an hour. She's got no money. She's got no friends. Coraline’s probably walking around the mall crying.

—

Raz: I don't wanna be the bigger person! I wanna be small and mean... like a scorpion. I'll be like that *Imitates a scorpion waving its pincers* Then I get you all distracted by my pincers. Oh, but you forgot about my tail. WHAPAH! *Bends forward*

Lili: ...when you sting her, your tail's gonna fall off and you'll die.

Raz: That's bees. You don't know nothin'. I win.

—

Dipper: Only I know the secret password.

Raz: Is it "Whapah?"

Dipper: … Not anymore.

—

Mabel: If you wanted people to think you had a girlfriend, wouldn't you want to take her out and show her off?

Norman: Hey, I don't know how gay men think!

—

Coraline: *After he and Wybie find women's clothing, perfume, and earrings in Norman’s backpack* We should have seen this coming when he started listening to the Kinky Boots soundtrack!

—

Norman: *to the kids at the party* Alright, who here has a hot single brother? *all the kids raise their hands* I said hot! *all but one kid puts their hands down*

—

Coraline: I signed it the NWA.

Wybie: … Ice Cube and Dr. Dre's old group?! You're sending that to a racist?

Coraline: Not that NWA, the Neighborhood Watch Association!

—

Dipper: How can you trust Gideon after all he's done to our family?

Mabel: Because I try to find the good in people.

Dipper: That's a really annoying habit.

—

Wybie: *With the Jones family* … Your white customs are strange to the people of my valley.

—

Raz: This school can't afford special ed. but they can sure afford urinals that flush themselves.

Lili: Why are you so out of breath?

Raz: I got them all going at once! It sounded like a waterfall... then the sound of the water made me had to go again.

—

Charlie Jones: Mel, how would you like it if I showed up at your work wearing fishnet stockings? And I know I got the calves to wear heels!

Coraline: *To Wybie* You know what, I made a mistake, this isn't my house at all!

—

Norman: I just need to think of a way for him to kill his appetite. Courtney, do you have any pictures of yourself?

[lukore]

thoughts on the traitor + the monster, just to get them down before i read the tyrant:

The traitor, of course, was an absolutely delicious read. of the two books, I was more intrigued by the traitor's, well, intrigue. the various factions in aurdwynn felt far more naturalistically presented. I was hoping for more of the subtler moves, where Baru contended with her projected image and being over/under estimated, as per that scene when baru initially took office as imperial accountant as anignorant peasant who did not understand wealth. Still, the rhythm of information gathering to move to counter move was fresh and delightful; i hate waiting for things to happen and i usually find reactive protagonists boring. and of course, the twist was excellent. the long building dread sparked with Cartone's appearance and seemingly climaxing at the battle of sieroch.

monster, meanwhile, felt odd. at once i felt that the threat of tain shir was exhilarating, but the intrigue had fallen by the wayside. the introduction of the cryptarchs bordered on comical, akin more to. idk. the movie kingsman than the more rigorous dealings of the traitor. the newly introduced cryptarch's personalities were irritating and i couldn't exactly place them in genre. and of course, because the book took course over a ship to ship chase, most of the manipulations were individual; the more interesting calculations on broader scales (dareisay biopolitical scales) were reduced to small, and easy-on market winnings. boring! still, i know monster is only a set up to the tyrant, as the two were originally one (much like baru's mind!)

i don't read a lot of fiction, and not fantasy either, so i can't help but compare this novel about a gay girl who wants to topple empire from within to the other series of note recently, the locked tomb series. first, its refreshing that baru actually fucks. second, masquerade's just a nicer read in general. i thought that the meme references in the locked tomb were tedious at best, and especially i hated gideon's narrative voice. and plotwise, the intrigue was clumsy, jarring and made me expect a deathgame when for everyone besides the ninth house it was all intrafamily drama. i carried on reading the book more out of habit than dedication, but i WAS enthralled by all the implications of necromancy that came to a head by the end, which also was what captured me about the second book.

the masquerade series, on the other hand, is just so much more competent plotwise its such ca relief. maybe tlt has set my bar low tho. it was funny that the masquerade gave me such an exciting first book and petering second: the opposite of tlt. still, I'm confident that with all the dominoes in play, tyrant will be a hoot n a half

[nose-coffee]

23 29 49 for tlt!

23. What’s a trope, AU, or concept you’ve never written, but would like to?

hm, difficult to say. most au's/concepts i come up with sort of run away from me at high speed and i end up writing them just based on how much thought i've already put into them, so aside from the chess au i talked abt for one of the other asks i answered, there's only a few au's/concepts i would like to see but haven't gotten around to? a lot of Gideon Raised In Other Houses AU's i generally get hype abt (re: lose my gd marbles abt) like -- Gideon raised on the Sixth alongside Pal and Cam? I'd go bonkers. Gideon raised on the Fourth, achieves cav primary for same-age heir, only to see them killed in a combat zone and return to Tisis to see Isaac named as new heir? frothing at the mouth. Gideon raised on the Second and laying the groundwork for BARI-Star AU? love it love it love it!

29. What songs would be (or are) on a playlist for [insert fic]? Explain your choices if you want!

since you said tlt in general, i'll just tell you the top five songs on my gideon and harrow playlists lol.

Harrow's songs are: Bishops Knife Trick by Fall Out Boy (listen to that bridge and tell me I'm wrong), Revolution 0 by Boygenius (oh, Harrow abt the Body anthem my beloved), Under My Skin by Jukebox the Ghost (first song to go on her playlist, fresh from first GtN readthrough), Sun Bleached Flies by Ethel Cain (i'm so sorry but "god loves you / but not enough to save you" and "i always knew / in the end / no one was coming to save me / so i just prayed" is so harrowcore i lose my whole gourd about it), and In Hell by Japanese Breakfast ("hell is finding someone to love / and i can't have you")

Gideon's songs are: Marrow by Thao and the Get Down Stay Down (I won't go on and on abt this one bc im fighting a parallels post heavily featuring lyrics from it every single day and i need to believe that i'll win eventually), One More Hour by Sleater-Kinney (shout-singing, passive aggressive lyrics, heavily sapphic coded = gideoncore to me), Big Black Heart by Better Oblivion Community Center (idk, heart imagery and trashcan ending always give me gideon vibes smth chronic), Kiss City by Blondshell (the lyric "i'm adjacent to a lot of love" floored me the first time i heard it and it floors me every other time to, it's SUCH a Gideon lyric), and lastly but not leastly Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye ft. Kimbra (iykyk)

i will drop the links to their playlists with very little provocation

49. What are you currently working on? Share a few lines if you’re up for it!

i have about a dozen wip's on the backburner that i stir every so often when i remember they're there; dead cav club au, tv show au, various Anastasia the First speculative fics, plus something i'm fiddling w/ that i will tentatively codename "pied piper au" (if that doesn't fully give it away)

BUT!

i am also participating in the tlt big resurrection event (referred to in my tags as tlt bre) and I am working on something that i have been codenaming "fucked up au" on my blog. can't tell you very much, the premise itself gives a huge chunk away, but i've breached 70k on it and still have a good quarter of it to fill in/fully draft. This being said, here's some out-of-context dialogue from the first chapter:

“Teacher said there was no way to contact anyone from Canaan House,” Harrow says, dubiously. She herself has never had need to use one, and even if she had she’s not sure she’d know how to use this relic. It’s quite obviously a lot older than any radio the Ninth has, and there’s an abundance of dials and switches that aren’t even labelled.

Nevertheless, Gideon continues to fiddle with the radio as if she weren’t a cavalier at all, but some kind of tech expert. “Well, he wasn’t lying about that. This is a classic am model; it’s for receiving broadcasts, not sending them.”

Harrow gives the device a doubtful look, “What’s the use of receiving if there’s no way to reciprocate?”

Gideon mumbles something under her breath that sounds suspiciously a lot like that’s what she said, but when Harrow asks her to repeat herself, she says, “I said that’s a good question. Pretty sure it was for entertainment.”

ask game

[pwrestlingxpress]

I'm Back...Predictions for Historic X-Over

After being away from this for over three years, I'm back here on the "Pro Wrestling Express" and...I'm going to start off with key predictions for the NJPW/Stardom crossover event coming up in a couple of hours.

First thing though: The opening video package fans around the world will be seeing on Pay-Per-View.

Sadly...I will not be watching the event LIVE due to the fact that despite having much money, I have to use that money for Christmas shopping and things most important in my life right now and because of that...won't have enough to order this event but...this card is going to be awesome. This show is going to be amazing. Anyway, time for my predictions for "Historic X-Over"

Match #1: EVIL, SHO, Yujiro Takahashi, and Dick Togo [House of Torture] vs. Lio Rush, YOH, YOSHI-HASHI, and Tomohiro Ishii

Many have been looking forward to seeing Lio Rush make his debut in Japan and I got the feeling that him and YOH will send a strong message to the remaining 9 Junior Tag Teams. Thus...I'm going with Chaos for the opening win.

Match #2: Thelka, Himeka, and Mai Sakurai [Donna del Mundo] vs. Saya Kamitani, AZM, and Lady C [Queen's Quest]

Now...being honest here, I don't watch Stardom but I do like what this company does and from everyone I follow on social media, their matches are completely off the charts and this one will be just a sample of that. As for who I have winning this 6-woman tag match, since Saya and AZM are reigning champions (Wonder of Stardom and High Speed Champion, respectively) feeling like someone from "Donna del Mundo" will get the winning pin with that person most likely being Thelka because I feel like with her having been out for parts of the year, she has something to prove.

Match #3: Giula [Donna del Mundo] and Zac Sabre Jr. [Suzuki-gun] vs. Syuri [God's Eye] and Tom Lawlor [Team Filthy]

This is one of the few matches that is hard to predict but if this is used to setup Giulia's eventual rise next month, then I see her getting the win for her team. I'm more of a George Michael fan by the way.

Match #4: Starlight Kid, Momo Watanabe [Black Desire/Oedo Tai], El Desperado, and DOUKI [Suzuki-gun] vs. Natsupoi, Tam Nakano [meltear/Cosmic Angels], Taichi and Yoshinobu Kanemaru [Suzuki-gun]

Feel like this match is going to be insane. Rarely will we see Suzuki-gun members face each other but...big opportunity arises and...as of this typing, I have the feeling once that bell rings, all bets are off. As for who I have winning...can't really predict this one because it's going to be crazy.

Match #5: Maika and Hirooki Goto vs. Utami Hayashita and Hiroshi Tanahashi

The opening package above bills this as "The Aces vs. The Fierce Warriors" with Tanahashi and Utami as the aces of their respective companies and Goto and Maika as those warriors who never give up or never surrender. My prediction for this is I have Utami and Tanahashi winning with Tanahashi getting the winning pinfall.

Match #6: Gideon Grey, TJP, Francesco Akira, Mark Davis, and Kyle Fletcher [United Empire] vs. Shingo Takagi, BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA, and Tetsuya Naito [Los Ingobernables de Japon]

Continuing from where they left off in the "Battle Autumn 2022 " tour, LIJ and United Empire square off once again. As for who I have winning, with 3 of the 5 LIJ members competing in the two Tag Tournament starting Monday, with Hiromu competing at "Wrestle Kingdom 17", and with 4 of the 5 United Empire competing also at those two tag tournaments, I see LIJ winning with Gideon Grey once again being the pinfall victim.

Match #7: Great O-Khan, Aaron Henare, and Jeff Cobb [United Empire] vs. Great Muta, Toru Yano, and Kazuchika Okada

In less than two months, the alternate persona of Keiji Mutoh (Great Muta) will officially be retired. Before that though, the Great Muta will make his last NJPW match in the Ariake Arena. As for who I have winning this match...as of this typing I'm going with the United Empire and Jeff Cobb pinning Toru Yano. Got to protect Okada before "Wrestle Kingdom 17" on January 4, 2023. And though I predict United Empire to win, I feel like Great Muta will do something that'll be memorable for all as he says goodbye to NJPW.

Match #8 [Semifinal match]

In the semi-main event, we have the returning Shota Umino challenging perhaps the best wrestler in all of 2022 in Will Ospreay for the IWGP United States Championship. Who I have winning can go in two ways. Should Ospreay retain over Shota, expect a certain someone (most likely Kenny Omega) to send a video and announce a match between the two at "Wrestle Kingdom 17". Now...if we get the "Roughneck Shock" as it shows in the video package, then expect Shota's first challenger to most likely be Jeff Cobb. No matter who wins this match, this could be a MOTN candidate and possible MOTY.

Main Event [aka Match #9]

History is going to be made in this main event as it's Mayu Iwatani going one on one with KAIRI to determine the first IWGP Women's Champion. As for who I believe will win this match, it's really hard to predict because, been over 2 years since we've seen KAIRI compete and her comeback this year has been something else. Then, we look at Mayu Iwatani who's a history maker in almost anything. She's got a wild personality and when she wrestles...she'll make you go "wow". So...with that said...it's hard to pick a winner but I'm going with...Mayu Iwatani as the first champion with the first challenger either being Tam Nakano or Starlight Kid.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Although I will not be watching "Historic X-Over", I have the feeling that this is just the starting point for both NJPW and Stardom. Come 2023 and beyond, we're going to see more collaboration events between these two companies. Get ready for a wild Sunday...all on Pay-Per-View.

[theskyexists]

NONA part 2

Damn. Hot Sauce is part of a terrorist even more radical anti-necromancer group. And NONA's part of her gang - it's to cry about. Do love how that bomb is dropped instantly along with a vivid description of how the House army killed all her family.

'this isn't the hokey pokey' who the fuck would say that

Wtf. What happened to ianthe. PRINCE Ianthe Naberius? Huh

THE GIRL IN HER DREAM

Hold up what where how the fuck did they get Gideon's body back

KIRIONA GAIA. HOLY SHIT

WHO IS THE ANGEL

Something about the resurrection beast must be causing the stiffness and need for stretching all the time. Or maybe the gravity.

Me, realising Phyrra could die: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAA I LOVE CAM AND PALAMEDES SO MUCH OH MY GOD GODDDD

Camilla thinking Nona is lucky for being a merger would align with Corona thinking the same.

Kinda frustrating that Nona doesn't think to tell Camilla about GIDEON!!!!! AAAAA

How's Corona doing she must have seen it

I LOVE that Corona pretending to be Cam's partner got back to Camilla HAHAHAHAHA

What did Nona Draw???????

Did Nona get shot? By hot sauce? Why did pal reveal himself there?

DOUBLE MACHETE??? I THOUGHT SHE SEEMED SIMILAR!! THEY....SHE?

The Angel gave a liquidation order???

WHERE IS HOT SAUCE

Wait. What. No. Hot sauce...isn't dead....is she. Oh right no. She saw Nona regenerate.

Nona fawns over women just like Gideon. Only her tastes ARE Gideon lol. And she has buried memory of the body.

Oh my god Nona ACTUALLY is in love with Camilla kndldkdjdnkd. I guess the new ship is Cam/Alecto

Hot Sauce vomited at the sight of Nona horribly killed.

Oh my god, she thinks she made it up. Nona is so unbelievably dumb she's wonderful and so dumb. Oh my god, she manages to lie. Terribly.

Oh no. Hot sauce always had it in her, of course. That complete and utter certainty.

Oh I will be so sad if Nona is subsumed....

'i will not be party to this again' oh palamedes...he's thinking of dulcinea

What is it with nobody being allowed to fire a gun in front of the Angel, who I suppose the narrator has also been referring to as they?

Corona is going to Ianthe....

Where the fuck did they dig up Naberius and why (necromantic reasons?) For Ianthe to inhabit and how did they get Gideon's body for John to inhabit probably.

CORONA AND IANTHE!!!!!! Absolutely fucking horrible woman tha ianthe fondly speaking of Babs Jezus CHRIST

Did Pyrrha betray them????? RIGHT. Deadweight!!!

Good twohander stance. Gideon. Blood hemorrhage. Harrow. WHO AND WHAT

NONA JUST CALLED IANTHE CORONA'S BOYFRIEND. MUIR REALLY LOVES THE FUCKED UP TWINCEST AJKDJDKSKFN

'i don't think anyone could blame you for getting confused' STOP. AHAHAHAHHSHAHSHSHS

Nona, just like Gideon, is literally in love with every woman she meets.

Oh shit I forgot that.....like. the sixth house. Were they in the barracks? Are their necromancers two thirds dead? :'(

What did Harrow used to call you? Tortoise? Blorgus? Oajdjdjdirjr

All of pyrrhas nicknames are so sweet :'')))

They're dressing Nona up as Harrow oh my godddd

I LOVE Pash and I love We Suffer and the hilarity of their exchanges.

PALAMEDES MISSES HARROW AAAAA!!!

Ianthe is surrounded by people who are not on her side. But. She's a lyctor.

Why did they Name Gideon daughter of God when her soul's lost.

'duplicitous sluts' lol

What the fuck is up with Corona and Ianthe. What the hell. This is terrible twin representation but I can't find it in me to be offended.

YES. THE THEORY WAS RIGHT. IANTHE AND CORONA HAD A GOAL

The drama between Ianthe and Corona is so unbelievably delicious I don't know what to DO

Camilla/Palamedes is deliberately not healing to not tip Ianthe off that pal is still with them

HOW DID THEY DO THAT????

Ianthe is so fascinating and wonderful while being so fucking shit!

THEY KICKED HER OUT OF NABERIUS' BODY??? SOULS CAN HOP INTO BODIES NOW? OH WAIT THATS HAPPENED BEFORE. WHY DOESNT THAT HAPPEN MORE???

How the fuck did palamedes win????? I know hes the best necromancer of the generation, but god - damn. And he gained respect for her PROWESS. What kind of battle was it? He left her alive but could have killed her....my god.

Wait...killing her would not have killed her then

Corona would love to be free of her sister, but would love to be with her forever. How painful, to never be enough for your sister...

I feel like, Nona is Alecto with Gideon's and Harrow's memories buried somewhere. Or they're all together somehow. how the fuck did they get Gideon's body though??? And howthe fuck did Pyrrha get out of the river.

WHAT. Is going on

God I love Corona. She really was as fond as Gideon as Gideon was of her

Where are the cohort in the barracks? Surely there weren't only 15 left??

Gideon is ALSO a revenant....in....her own dead body. What.

Why is Gideon so ...hm. so glib.

'someone as awful as kiriona' - yeah....there's something wrong with Gideon here. I don't know what has happened, but it's bad. I will not believe that this is how she came across to others before.

'i could kill all you guys' WHO IS THIS. GIDEON WOULD NEVER SIMPLY KILL PALAMEDES AND THE PERSON WHO LOOKS LIKE HARROW AND PYRRHA.

The fact that Nona keeps calling her Kiriona also means something

Hm. Her first instinct is to help Camilla, then she becomes aggressive. What trauma has she weathered. She's deeply sad. Ok. Is that the reason to be a piece of shit to your friends Gideon? Huh?

I am speechless oh my god ah fuck Hot Sauce and Honesty they forgave her they love her they'll always be friends I am dying I am dead

'Green thing' EARTH? NONA HERSELF

'no she finally ADMITTED' OH ALECTO

Earth GAVE John his power? What an absolutely insanely stupid ass pick of a human out of billions

My god

Anyway. I was right. He killed everybody.

So if I understand correctly, the Warden and Camilla got enough freedom from Boe to tell the sixth house to follow Cassiopeia's instructions - to follow a lyctor (which one?). They left and the leadership went down planetside (this one, for some reason) to negotiate. (What?) But they were taken hostage instead. The cohort was with what 100 to 50 by that point, in this city, which seems to have been the capital. That doesn't seem like a lot. Lots of resettled people on the planet. Militia have the power. BOE still operate under cover, but have serious power as well. Semi-successful rebellion. Um. And the RB is there for some reason. Why did We Suffer go to this planet?

How did Pyrrha get out of the river and to this planet with Harrows body. How did Ianthe recover Gideon's body which was in possession of BOE.

Oh no. No no no no. Don't let Alecto win, let Nona live please!!!

Alecto is not nice.

Ah. Palamedes is gonna go through the river. I KNEW IT

What the FUCK are they gonna do??? Are they going eightfold????? IS CAMILLA DYING FOR REAL? WHAT IS GOING ON STOP STOP

They became one?????????? What the fuck guys. No. What the fuck!!!!

And why is Gideon so completely fucking apathetic! Piece of shit!

Well this fucking sucks. Harrow will never see Palamedes again. Fuck this.

Oof I hate this. I really hate this.i do not like perfect lyctorhood. It's another kind of self-destruction. Mutual this time.

PAUL. FUCKING!!!! PAUL????? I AM SORRY BUT MUIR YOU HAVE MADE AN ENEMY OF ME HERE. FUCK!!! OFF!!!!!

Is We Suffer not staying on a planet that's entirely FUCKED?

Why not go along to supervise the mission?

John draws a heart with his initial and the initial for Earth, Alecto and then Harrow.

I did not understand that last bit

Ok so she knows how to navigate the river because she's Alecto. She can feel her other self coming

How has Gideon become so deeply unlikeable holy shit. Is it deliberate? For sure.

AIGLAMENE IS ANGRY AT HARROW FOR GIDEON BEING DEAD

Honestly, Paul, like their name, seems most like Palamedes. Don't know where Camilla has gone. Fuckin hell

Who the fuck is this Gideon. How is she so callous, so apathetic, so evil. How is she best friends with fucking Ianthe. I find it difficult not to HATE her. In fact I DO.

Lol Ianthe flashing back to dios apate

Oh NOW they suddenly care. We're mean and apathetic to Nona the whole time, but now they're like - yeah, oh this is HARROWS BODY.

Oh NOW she cares. Now she offers up her blood. Now she works together with them. What was all that fucking arrogant useless bullshit then Gideon? Hah????

Ah I see, the importance, the wanting to be important, and outgrowing drearburh and the ninth then, yeah.

THE THEN PERISH MEME

Wow, even Alecto returns devotion to Harrow jfc

The epilogue acknowledges that there are very few memes. WHY

Well.

I found the unwrapping of these secrets and histories and most of all beloved characters, QUITE unsatisfying. I'm unhappy with Alecto. Don't give a shit about her thee dost thou shit. Most of all, of her STILL loving John, when he killed humanity, and the world and HER, and then made her sleep for ten thousand years. Don't care about Paul, I want Palamedes and Camilla back, and I can't recognise them. And why did they do that if it didn't give them the power of a lyctor? Pal could have gone back into Camilla and healed her. I am still deeply - how do you say - upset at how Gideon acted. And I do not understand it. She was kind to the people around her in Canaan house. She appreciated the sixth as friends, and held affection for anyone who was kind to her in turn. She was brash, and loved to fight, and kinda dumb, and very funny. But she was good to those around her. Now she's a prince in the aristocratic sense. Arrogant, playing with lives like they don't matter, and - pretending? - that she doesn't care - about Harrow's body, about who she once called friends, wearing some sort of vindication on her soul over being Daughter to God, somebody she immediately identified as a terrible fucking man. She's so much more like John now and I despise it. The jokes in serious circumstances, because they won't affect her - using that privilege to make a parody of life and death and struggle. It's a terrible habit to have picked up. A hateful habit. She was not good to anyone in this book.

So why did Nona reflect so many parts of Harrow and Gideon when she was never either of them....

Also the pacing of this was.....at times too slow. Mostly because a lot of this book, for once, was clear. Maybe.

But DAMN, Harrow actually for real has a harem of the most powerful people in the WORLD right now: Gideon, Ianthe, arguably John, and apparently Alecto as well.

Why is she called Alecto though. So he killed her and then took most of her in and made the rest of her from ribs and mud and blood and vomit. Well. That still tells me nothing about how any of that makes sense.

I hoped I was gonna like Alecto, but unfortunately all the characters I liked were taken away from me this book except Ianthe and Corona and Pyrrha.

this was a very nice book i laughed a lot at all of the dialogue and I loved the characters with serious passion but god - damn. The lore and magic - by its explicit but unclear explanation it has both become less cool and equally unclear and has almost exhausted my reserves of 'this will make sense one day'

[mayasaura]

Something that both fascinates and delights me about Gideon and Harrow's relationship at the beginning of Gideon the Ninth is how complicated it is, and how well those first scenes set Harrow and Gideon up for the transformation their relationship undergoes later.

Their intimacy is obvious from Harrow's first line, and only gets more obvious as Harrow's introductory scene goes on. Their banter is practiced, and they pick through their rules of engagement like some weird mix between the hero and villian in a comic book and two children playing a very complicated but deathly serious game of tag. But what really strikes me about it, what seems really important to me that doesn't come up enough, is that Gideon's primary emotion toward Harrow in the opening chapters is pity. Even while the very mention of Harrow makes her palms prickle, she describes Harrow as cute, sad, desperate, and completely obsessed with her. And that pity for Harrow doesn't go away in Harrow's presence. After Gideon wins their verbal sparring match and Harrow escalates to challenging her to a physical duel, Gideon feels moved by "a great wave of commingled pity and disgust" and says that she looks like what she really is "a desperate girl younger than Gideon, and rather small and feeble".

Harrow knows Gideon pities her. Gideon just has to stand there and smile in the face of her insults to infuriate her, and while Harrow does use that pity against her in the fight I'm very sure that the fury was real. It comes out again, much later, when all the setup in the first chapters finally pays off. This is where the story establishes what later becomes the core of the Pool Scene:

“I have tried to dismantle you, Gideon Nav! The Ninth House poisoned you, we trod you underfoot—I took you to this killing field as my slave— you refuse to die, and you pity me! Strike me down. You’ve won. I’ve lived my whole wretched life at your mercy, yours alone, and God knows I deserve to die at your hand. You are my only friend. I am undone without you.”

It's not just Gideon saying she's sorry for Harrow there in that scene Harrow's reacting to. Gideon has pitied Harrow for a long time, and Harrow has tried to quash it. Now she knows she can't, and Gideon has won. She expects, now that their long game is over and victory is declared, Gideon will take that pity out and finally unload it, putting her out of her misery like a wounded animal. She's sad, and desperate, and completely obsessed with Gideon; exactly the way Gideon described her in chapter one. The difference now is that Gideon no longer feels disgust commingled with her pity. The growing trust and understanding between them has banished that, and without it Gideon's pity becomes compassion.

The intricacy of this writing is really something else.