#he's been destroyed but she still loves him. despite the life she adapted to. the mentality she's adopted to survive. says he's a lost cause

[dirtytransmasc]

something something, Asha growing up in a world that demands her to be tough and fierce and angry to survive. something something, Asha not knowing how to be gentle. something something, Asha wanting to be gentle with her brother, knowing he needs her to be gentle, but just not knowing to do that. something something, Asha only knowing how to "tough love" her brother, only knowing how to command and force. something something, Asha wanting to fix her brother and not knowing how to do that and that very fact scares her to death. something something, Asha having to look at her little brother, knowing she failed him, only to know she's still failing him now, she still can't help him, she's still making it worse.

they make me feel ill. I will never stop thinking about them. they plauge me.

[niallhoranhasthat1thing]

I just finished watching All The Light We Cannot See and I need to rant cause I’m loosing my damn mind.

First off, they took the character names and minor plot points and created their own story with them so at that point just crest something else and if you cannot handle showing the nuance of Werner’s character then you are not the right person to adapt this.

This is going to be filled with spoilers so be warned now.

Werner is a German boy who lives in an orphanage with his younger sister and one day he stumbles upon a radio and falls in love with it. He fixes it and him and his sister Jutta start learning about science and what Germany is actually doing by listing to a French broadcast. Two boys in his orphanage join the Hitler youth and Werner scared for his and Juttas safety destroys the radio which leaves Jutta furious with him. But it’s already too late. His entire town knows how capable he is with a radio and the nazis come for him to put him in a school. Werner who is very much living in a fantasy world in his head believes he will go to this school and will learn and learn and learn and by the time his finishes the war will have been lost and he will never have to contribute to anything, he may even win a noble prize. Jutta still furious with him has this conversation with him

and that’s the last time she ever sees her brother. Werner leaves willingly and you as the reader understand why, you know that if he were to refuse but him and his sister would be killed. You understand it and you even justify it.

Once at the school he meets Frederick and you instantly don’t want to like any of those other boys because they’re not like Werner, he’s there without having a choice. But you learn that Frederick is there only because his father is a high ranked nazi and his mother is waiting for the Jew up above them to be taken away so they can get the top apartment and they made sure he got into the school despite not being able to pass the tests to get in. One night the boys at the school are sent outside in the cold winter to torture a prisoner with cold buckets of water. When it’s Werner’s turn, he does it despite not wanting to and you understand it. He doesn’t have a choice. He would be killed if he refused. Once it’s Fredericks turn he refuses to throw the water. He’s beat and beat and beat. Everyday he is beaten worse and worse until he gets brain damage. Frederick had a choice. He chose the possibility of dying over throwing away his morals. Werner didn’t do that. Because of that your views on Werner begin to change.

Werner ends up going into the field to find illegal radio broadcasts, and while he himself never kills anyone he is directly responsible for many deaths. He ends up being sent to Saint-Malo to find Marie-Laure and her uncle and tracks them down instantly and upon seeing her he decides he’s not going to turn them in. To speed this along Werner ends up saving her life during the siege and they spend a few hours together where in his head he creates this fantasy of them living happily ever after which is juxtaposed with Marie-Laure allowing this German boy to wear her uncles clothes but knowing damn well that he’s not going to be able to hide his German accent. They part ways with Marie-Laure not giving him a second thought because she only wants to go find her uncle. Werner ends up dying a few days later.

You then go over to Jutta who along with the other girls form the orphanage have been sent to Russia to help the war efforts and when Germany looses the Russians take it out on the German women. She learns of Werner’s death and it doesn’t phase her. You fast forward to the 70s and Jutta is a married math teacher with a son, who is so deeply embarrassed and ashamed of her brother. A German man shows up at her door once day with a bad of her brothers belongings and it takes her weeks to open it. Upon opening it she finds the very notebook she had sent Werner to remind him of who he was. She opens it and is reminded of her brother’s innocence and decides along with her son that she is going to go to France to find out what happened to Werner. Jutta eventually finds Marie-Laure and her first thought upon seeing her is that her brother hurt her. Through the conversation Jutta is finally able to mourn her brother and realizes that it’s a lot more than bad vs good. But Marie-Laure is still conflicted with her thoughts on the German boy who saved her life. He doesn’t fit on either sides of the war.

You then jump to 2014 where Marie-Laure finally comes to terms with her thoughts on Werner.

Jutta and Marie-Laure’s feelings on Werner are also the readers feelings on him. The show completely stripped those feelings away. Werner in the show is a perfect human being and everyone forgives him within minutes of meeting him. Marie-Laure even kisses him and then fears for his life and wants to sneak him out of the city and meet up later so that they can spend their lives together.

Werner is such a complex character who you are so desperately rooting for while also feeling completely torn on him. The show is not willing to crest that conversation and beats you over the head with how good of a person Werner is, they rip Juttas character apart in order to make Werner more likable.

I don’t understand how this was made the way it was, I’m honestly still in shock. I had to laugh multiple times through out watching. I knew this show was in trouble as soon as I seen it was only 4 episodes. I hope one day this book gets a second chance and is made by people who understand the material.

[kankuroplease]

good night 😊, do you have some ideas in mind for little hcs about the wives of the uchiha brothers (their characters, strong point, weak point, would they want a children?)and what do they think of their husbands?

Most are ready for the dive, but there are expectations

Mate

Mate is a little powerhouse and extremely skilled with her weather manipulation. Able to pinpoint targets precisely with lightning, summon gale force winds, bring about thick fog, and torrential downpours that could flood a village easily

Although she only uses it to help others, it can just as easily be used to harm or destroy

She’s a kindhearted person that loves the simpler things in life and has great knowledge about plant husbandry

Unfortunately for her, she’s just very trusting/unaware and has her abilities to thank for saving herself from otherwise dangerous situations (dull, as Izuna would put it)

Growing up with such a close knitted clan, she’s found it hard to adapt to being on her own

Often looking for new people to befriend and rebuild her community

Her dream life is settling down with a sweet man, working the land, and if that leads to children, great!

As for marrying Izuna;

It was hypocritical! When she said she’d marry any son Sumi had if they were available because there’s no way he wouldn’t be the perfect husband

she didn’t think Sumi would ACTUALLY take her seriously or that Sumi was of such a high level

She always dreamed of marriage and what Sumi was offering, sounded really nice (handsome husband, a bigger home, plenty to eat, etc..), how bad can it be to at least meet the guy?

Pretty bad actually

Izuna barely looked at her and had a backhanded insult ready for practically everything she said

“Sweet boy” was a stretch of the imagination on Sumi’s part

He is handsome and strong, so she wasn’t lying about that

She assumed that was that and genuinely was shocked when Sumi sent for her and her stuff to be gathered and brought back to the Uchiha compound

Things are moving a bit fast for her usual take it easy approach to things and she’s unsure of what to do 🥲

She really doesn’t understand why they’re proceeding at all. Did they miss their constant bickering?

On one hand, she’d be marrying into a community (which she’d love) and be taken care of financially, but on the other hand

She’s convinced he hates her

And she is willing to give him an actual reason to

He’s got cute cats he’s very attached to and she thinks that making them like her more than him will be the perfect lesson for his rudeness before she vanishes

Wakaba

She is a decent when it comes to her Jutsus and awaken her sharingan when she lost her little brother

quite the troublemaker and always had been known as such in their clan for years

Doing whatever she wanted, when she wanted

Which is precisely why she set her sights on Tenko despite him being her friend’s older brother

He was good looking, funny, well accomplished, and she genuinely liked and wanted him. So she went for it

Flirting quickly lead to the two hooking up regularly

She was embarrassed when Sumi sat her asked to see her abdomen and when the last time she bled was

The pregnancy would be completely unexpected as she thought she was taking the medicine to prevent one properly

To her surprise, Tenko was very much happy about the pregnancy and the possibility of their marriage, if she’d have him

She would end up living as house wife and very much would love her husband who would spoil her rotten

HOWEVER, she would be a a little worried about his apparent pregnancy kink as he would seem even more turned on than usual and rarely keep his hands to himself

Yaya

She’s rather weak in terms of fighting and Jutsus outside of fire release

But she still tries to not let Ringo and Wakaba down. They’re a team after all

She doesn’t have great self esteem and talks negatively about herself in a joking manner (but she means it)

She knows of Inari as a healer and as one of Ringo’s older brothers, but she doesn’t KNOW him

So when she overheard Madara and Sumi talking to her parents about this marriage deal, she panicked

She’s very plain in her own opinion and just by birth, he has a lot of opinions

He’s very attractive, but his whole family is in her opinion

And she would turn super red when she’s forced to admit that that’s why she couldn’t really look at him and not because of his scar/missing eye

She loves how kind and patient he is with her

She would enjoy talking with him and learning a bit about medicine

And be extremely flattered when he tells her she’s his ideal type in both personality and physical

She is worried that he’ll change his mind on her

Over all, she feels very lucky and beautiful for the first time in her life

Gin

Gin has operated as a secret weapon for the Uchiha along with her father during the wars

Absorbing his dry personality; she seems uninterested life beyond serving the Uchiha and doesn’t speak how people assume a woman should

Aka she’s rough and vulgar in her speech sometimes

Despite that, she can be sweet and thoughtful while still looking like this 😐

As for children, she barely remembers her birth parents, but she’s sure her mother loved her. Her Uchiha father that found her clutched in her dying mothers arms swore to take care of her like she was his own and he has

So she has a fond view on becoming a parent. To grow a life or to take care of one that’s already here, she would be happy doing either or both

She is not disappointed with her match

She feels honored

Kota is a lot of bark, but most Uchiha men are

She would try her best to get on his good side early on in the engagement as her father would remind her that this union would be good for the clan

Making sure to great him and try to spend time with him

bit surprised he’s not… experienced. What was he doing at those brothels?

Oh well, that’s an easy fix as Kota is rather good at following instructions and melts with praise

She would want to try for a baby right away after they’re married. He’s older than Tenko and Tenko has already beaten him to fatherhood

[darthstitch]

the end of the fairy tale

Let's talk about Nada.

So, for those who haven't read the comics, I'm going to say it now, even if the comics were already released 30-odd years ago, okay? SPOILERS. MAJOR SPOILERS. VERY LIKELY THE PLOT OF SANDMAN SEASON 2.

There.

The second thing I am going to say is this: THIS DOES NOT EXCUSE/EXONERATE DREAM OF THE ENDLESS FROM ANY OF HIS SHITTY ACTIONS. BECAUSE THEY WERE REALLY, REALLY HORRIBLE. HEINOUS. CRUEL. HE WAS A FUCKING IDIOT.

Look, I love the fucking idiot, okay? But yeah, the day I read that particular part in the comics was the day I absolutely wished I could reach into that world and shake him into sense. Like, DREAM, YOU MORON, YOU COME BACK HERE AND FIX THIS RIGHT THIS INSTANT GODDAMNIT. YOU FUCKING KNOW BETTER THAN THIS.

Thankfully, Death took care of that for me, in true Pinay Ate fashion.

Buckle up kids, here we go.

In the comics, Queen Nada was the first love interest that we see for Dream of the Endless. At least, the first that we knew of, since Endless Nights wasn't going to be written and published until years later.

It plays out like a classic myth, that tribal people tell each other, as part of a rite of passage for their youth. Queen Nada is the beautiful queen of a great and ancient city somewhere in Africa. She falls in love with a handsome and mysterious man. Despite multiple warnings and obstacles in her way, she goes on a quest to find Mr. Mystery and she eventually does find him.

It's worth noting that Dream here is again shown to be different from the usual pale, white, ghostly dude that we know. We're reminded that the Dream we see as a "default" is based on our perceptions. He appears as an eldritch godlike being, all flame and majesty to the Martian Manhunter.

To Nada, he is a beautiful young man of her own race but alas, when she finds him, she realizes that he's not a mortal. She recognizes him for what he is and is terrified, because to love an Endless is to court disaster. It's forbidden.

I won't recount the whole tale, but suffice it to say, that Dream eagerly pursues her once he's figured out that she's madly in love with him. She tries to run away but eventually she gives into Dream and they have this one incredible night of passion. But because she apparently broke this taboo, her kingdom is completely destroyed.

Dream tries to offer her the Queenship of the Dreaming, but obviously, that's not going to fly with Nada, who's absolutely broken that all of her innocent people had to pay the price for her foolish passions and love. She chooses to kill herself and while Dream still tries to persuade her to spend her afterlife with him, she refuses.

And that's why he sends her to hell. It takes about 10,000 years, but after Desire needles him (as usual) and Death points out (in a gentler fashion) that he'd behaved abominably, Dream decides to do the right thing and get her out of hell. It helps that he's just experienced imprisonment as well (we'd later learn that this has happened twice) and after some shenanigans, he does set her free.

Dream awkwardly attempts to apologize and he ends up getting rightfully smacked in the face, because, Dream, you moron, that's not how you say sorry. OMG.

DASURV.

This is one of the reasons why Tom Sturridge's Morpheus took me a little off guard. His apology to Lucienne and his closure with Calliope are leagues away from this, where he shows a lot more empathy, sensitivity and maturity. I'm looking forward to seeing how the show is going to handle that moment, since they've been doing such a great job of adapting and making changes to the source material while still staying true to the spirit of the entire saga.

But I digress. Dream does really make it right with Nada and she gets to reincarnate and live her new life, finally free of all the bullshit.

For a long time, I had wondered how Dream of the Endless could've been so cruel and petulant and capricious. I did understand that The Sandman wasn't a classic "hero" tale where the lead character would make the "right" choice every time. Dream does change and grow and develop for the better over the course of the series, which is why it's so heartbreaking to lose him in the end, just when it seems he's finally getting his shit together.

And then I read Endless Nights and I finally understood.

Poor Nada was basically Dream's rebound love from the disaster that was Killala of the Glow.

Killala was a trainwreck in the making. From the comics, it seemed like Dream had been the one who did the courting, dazzling and wooing her. She's into it, but she doesn't seem to understand Dream's real nature and it's fairly clear that she's attracted to Dream and very much charmed, but it's Dream who's fallen hard and fast for her.

It's also worth noting that the restriction against loving mortals was not yet in place. It's Killala who causes that restriction to happen. Given that she falls in love with the star of her own solar system, it's significant that the one who doles out punishment for Nada falling in love with Dream and consummating that love is our sun.

I honestly think that Killala and Dream would've still broken up, even without Desire's meddling, but it might have happened gradually, over time and Dream might have learned a far more different, gentler lesson in loving mortals. Instead, he gets faced with Killala openly betraying him and running off with Sto-Oa. Desire laughs in Dream's face about it and admits that they thought it was a fun joke.

And Dream does absolutely nothing, except to storm away.

Killala isn't punished, isn't condemned to hell, doesn't suffer some unspeakable fate. We're told that she was happy with her love, even though she does die, eventually, since she's mortal.

So it's no wonder that Dream had overreacted so badly with Nada. It was Nada who had initially pursued him. It was Nada who had gone through all these trials and tribulations to prove her love for him. She was the one who essentially did the courting and the wooing. To Dream, who was still feeling bruised and battered after getting rejected by Killala, it had to be a heady feeling, to be loved and wanted like that.

Was it any wonder that he absolutely would not let Nada go after this? That he would try to hold on to her, try to keep her by his side, damn the consequences?

It's also significant that the Dream Nada sees, essentially looks like a teenager of her own age - a clear sign that Dream himself isn't emotionally mature enough or had developed that conscientious streak that made him so endearing much later in his life. He was young (in Endless terms), he was hurting over his last love and his sibling's cruelty, and he just wanted, very much, to be loved and have his fairy tale happily ever after.

Again, this doesn't excuse his cruelty. But at least we can better understand where he's coming from and appreciate how much character growth he'd gone through, because he does, in the end, set things right with Nada the best way he possibly could. And while it's not a fairy tale ending, it's a satisfying one.

[scalamore]

Ch 114 Thoughts

OMG. THIS CHAPTER IS FANTASTIC. It only adapted around 1 novel chapter, so the second half was fantastic as it’s slowed down and took its time. The paneling is SUPERB. AHHHHH. ignoring the fact that they might skip a lot of stuff next chapter, because it’s pure Rupert’s POV. But again, as a reader, I take what I can get from this adaptation. Anyways, The first half is super interesting, because despite the words being the same as the novel, the context in the manhwa is significantly different, because of how it gives readers a visual. I say there’s a difference, because when I read the novel version, i was basically thinking “awww, I don’t like lehan so far, he’s kinda slow, but I’m glad he finally decided to stop being a puppet and help Rupe/Lali out because he realized he messed up” - I completely thought the story was trying to redeem him as a good guy. Meanwhile, the MANHWA suggests a different situation: From the lines they chose to adapt, the panels of Lari being uncomfortable, of her repeatedly trying to get away, from her not allowing him to hold her hand as before, from him mentioning Amanda - it all comes across as him trying to GUILT her into letting him/House Belois back into her life. Lari made it absolutely clear she wants nothing to do with him, but she then changes her mind and says she’l re-consider once Rupert’s position has stabilized. Lehan picks up on this, and then suggests he become Rupert’s escort because he thinks he’ll earn Lari’s favor back that way, instead of genuinely wanting to help Rupert for Lari’s sake. (There’s a difference!!). he’s also doing this weird thing where he keeps on saying he’ll protect her forever, as if he has some kind of savior complex??? She doesnt’ want your help or protection?? She’s fine without you?? The KR comments are absolutely hilarious: This is round 3 (?) of them absolutely hating on Lehan, how he’s so rude, barging into Lari’s life, still likes her as a woman, is a stubborn mule that does what he wants. He’s the reason why Rupert is suffering right now, he’s super annoying etc. (I was hoping to see more Rupert comments but all well).

So when readers read this chapter: form your own opinion on Lehan: is he an annoying, stubborn, dense person who still likes Lari, or his he a guy who’s trying to make amends with those he wronged?

(I’m jumping ship, I will continue to think negatively of him HAHAH)

I am just LOVING how Lari refuses to let him touch her anymore too, heeeeeeee.

—- The second half of the chapter is absolutely amazing for me. For the past week i was thinking that there’s a 50% chance Rupert would have eye bags (because he’s exhausted/missing her, and not sleeping well) and 50% not having eye bags (because novel says he was sleeping well because that’s how he can see lari - in his dreams). BUT IM SO HAPPY WITH THE EYE BAGS. Manhwa Rupert even said it: He’s trying to sleep more so he can see her in his dreams, but it’s only sometimes when he does, AND HE CAN’T REST WELL ANYWAYS SINCE SHE’S GONE. AAAAAAHHHHHH. RUPERTTTTT T_T But yes, 2-3 months later, Rupert is still a mess trying to cope from losing Lari. Just like her, can’t eat, can’t sleep. He’s able to do work decently well, but he just misses her THAT much. I LOVE the panel they added in from chapter 62, where Rupert asked her what it means to be “sad” and how she would feel if her family was hurt or died - this is the SECOND time this panel has been added into the manwha (the first was when Rupert took pity on the Belois knights when the carriage was destroyed). Again, even if Rupert doesn’t look like he took her seriously, he still listened carefully to everything she said, and took it to heart. This drives the point that TL2’s House Belois was NEVER in any real danger. Lari was 12 when she regressed; that scene in Chapter 62 happened when she was 14 and a half; she’s 16/17 now. She didn’t realize that Rupert had chosen to protect them on her behalf for a good 3 years now. She’s been that important to him for so long already. Novel detail: he knew they were preparing treason, so his solution was to keep a close eye on them, make sure his own defenses were stronger, and if they did attack, to suppress them in a way where NO ONE would get hurt, and toss the Count in jail, alive. If anything, he would not allow them to die or get hurt in the scuffle.

The way Lehan told Rupert that he wants to help him out as a Knight escort this time, for some reason, comes across as extremely fake in the manhwa, based on the paneling. Rupert’s in despair at Lari’s absence, and here Lehan is, waltzing in and saying he wants to do something for her, *when he was the one who caused this mess*. I LOVE this paneling, of how Rupert points out that it was Lehan/House Belois’ fault for losing her - you can see his anger, jealousy, despair, tensed up pose —- aaaaa. He’s just THAT pissed off at Lehan, who DARES to show up in front of him?? I also LOVE LOVE LOVE the manhwa original panel of him saving her from the fire that was included here: In the novel, it was briefly described as “He lost his mind when he saw her lying there lifeless”, BUT OMG to have him cry without realization, and to hug her first?? OMG HE HUGGED HER FIRST, OFF SCREEN IN THIS SERIES. AHHHHHHHH. The last panel, with Lehan’s expression is kinda strange. At first I thought it was trying to show him being sneaky/tricking him (which would be not consistent with future novel events), but I think it’s him giving a small smile/laugh as he realizes that the glorious Emperor of the Empire… is basically just sitting there, super jealous at him because he’s able to meet Lari. Rupert’s jealousy, is just that obvious. No chapter next week, it’s a scheduled break. 3 more chapters until S3 ends :(((((

[leseigneurdufeu]

Please give an opinion on The Remarried Empress, especially S2

I liked S1 but S2 kinda left a sour taste in my mouth and I'd like to hear a hot take about it

General opinion:

In their world, having a concubine is totally legal so I'm not going to go after Rashta as a homewrecker, only as a scheming hypocrite.

That being said: I love Sovieshu x Navier's relationship, but I do have qualms about the fact that he becomes immediately jealous and suspicious when she spends time with other men. On the other hand, while she was being professionnal, said men (Kaufmann and Heinley) both were meeting with her with ulterior motives (the romantic kind).

While we're on the characters, let's explore:

- Our Male Lead, Heinrey: I hate him. It might just be due to personnal taste but I don't get why "puppy labrador man" is considered more attractive than "tall dark and handsome" Sovieshy. But that's just on the attractive side. Nothing to warrant hatred. So let's get to his personnality. He 1) approached Navier with the intention to destroy her and only came back on his idea when he fell in love with her, 2) used his bird form to see and touch her in ways that he shouldn't and deceived her (if we use Kenna as an example, same situations but he managed to avoid all that), 3) apparently has something to do with the magic disappearing, which is part of some grand scheme to completely destroy Navier's country, but he spares Navier and her little protegee to avoid hurting Navier's feelings. His behaviour is creepy and stalkish and him trying to destroy everything and everyone oh wait no, let's make an exception for the woman he's obsessed with, is a behavioral red flag for fictional characters as far as I'm concerned.

- Sovieshu: like said before, he might be a bit jealous and not really trust Navier. On the other hand, the situation proved him right since not only did both men who meet her fall in love with her and asked her to follow them to their country but she even accepted one of them. Yeah sure he shouldn't have put her in a difficult position by bringing in a side girl and try to make her empress. But again, in the world where they live it's perfectly normal, not a complete betrayal. The only mistake he made, in my eyes, was to try to make Rashta empress instead of Navier when Rashta is so blatantly uncapable of everything. And not making Navier aware of his double-swap plan.

- Navier: I like her and she makes an efficient empress but my brain just starts lagging then bugging when i think about how she went for Heinrey instead of having a discussion with Sovieshu to manage a common plan that would benefit both (like for example having her simulate a pregnancy, then pass Rashta's kid as her own and pretend Rashta's died at birth, idk, i've got tons of stupid ideas that would work better than Sovieshu's double-swap plan).

- Kaufmann: what the heck??? It might be because the webtoon is an adaptation and maybe his role is more important in the source material idk but he seems so irrelevant to the plot except for the time he tried to make Navier give a rape drug to her husband when she never even asked him to meddle with their love life in the first place (and even if she did it would still be wrong to suggest rape drug but you get what i mean).

- Krista: people who smear her don't realize that Krista-Navier is exactly Navier-Rashta except we see everything from Navier's pov. And I like her for that. She is not overly antagonistic. She just stands her ground and refuses to be more friendly to Navier than she wants to. To Navier = to That Girl the emperor brought in who is absolutely not qualified at the moment to be empress and who is trying to one-up you despite you having been here longer and being the former empress and also trying to sway the court to her side and make you the bad guy. Krista seeing Navier arrive is the same as Navier seeing Rashta arrive and I wish people just realized that.

Anyway now that we're done with that let's dig into the plot.

Navier and Sovieshu are basically soulmates. They've known each other since their childhood, she's the perfect empress for the empire and the perfect wife for him and he's the perfect husband for her. They're so in tune with each other and so close and all! Great couple!

He... finds an escaped slave during a hunting trip, ok. Brings her to the palace? Weird reaction but ok we need a plot. Makes her his concubine? I mean, again, in their world, it's not such a weird/bad reaction. Then she becomes pregnant from him. (he mentionned that despite a long married life, Navier had never become pregnant so i looked it up and apparently they have been married only 3 years before he brings Rashta home? like wtf dude? but anyway he later explains why he has good reasons to believe Navier is sterile other than not having children with him yet so the excuse is stupid but the reasonning is comprehensible.

That Navier refuses to adopt Rashta's child and taht Rashta refuses to give up her child, it's completely normal. That Sovieshu plans to divorce Navier, make Rashta his empress, then divorce her after the birth and take Navier back, it's stupid. Making the whole plan without even putting Navier in the secret is just plain stupid. She's smart and bright and efficient and (ok maybe lowkey a mary sue but we need some in our reads) she loves him and if she had known she could have told him why it was a stupid plan, draft a better one, make everyone happy.

Anyway so far that's my ideas about the series.

About season 2 particularly:

Navier goes to the new empire. Whole Krista situation in which i wholeheartedly support Krista. Heinrey suffers no consequences at all for repeatedly stalking Navier, pushing her boundaries, intruding upon her, etc, both in bird and human form, nor does he suffer any consequences for lying to her, deceiving her, touching/seeing her in inappropriate ways without her consent, or even making everyone around her and in her empire suffer from his initial plan of destroying them all which he only amended to exclude her from the destruction. As far as I'm concerned, Heinrey is the vilain of this story, but from what I know (which i hope I'm wrong) he's supposed to be the good guy but ok.

Loving Rashta spiraling down in paranoia because of Ergi. I still don't know what his deal is but I love what I see. I know I said I wouldn't judge her for being a homewrecker when she's not by their world's standards, but 1) she still is a hypocritical piece of shit and 2) I still unconsciously consider her kind of a home wrecker because the standards in my world are not the same as the ones in her world.

Anyway I'm pretty sure nobles sent gifts to her for her wedding (unless they all refused to because she's always prioritizing the smallfolks, but while it's possible I find it inplausible that all of them would do that) (also, Ergi's gift was half under a sofa so it's probable it just fell from a pile and then the other gifts were removed: either he got them out of the room to make her spiral down even more or Sovieshu took them and will tell her only later that for reason X or Y he didn't want them to stay in her room?). But seeing her accuse Navier of putting people against her when all she did was worry about people talking in her back when she was there? I love a good quid pro quo.

Seeing Rashta wearing the same dress and hairdo as Navier did, in the second-to-last episode of season 2, really shows how she's become desperate. She wants to find the secret ingredient that made Navier being loved by everyone, but she can't find it, because 1) this ingredient is partly the author's favor, 2) she has very bad advice from Ergi and 3) Navier had her whole life to learn how to navigate politics and Rashta just arrived.

The Lotteshu subplot of Rashta's previous child? I like it but I don't know where it will go. I saw a comment somewhere about how Sovieshu might be the one sterile and Rashta's child might not be his, I don't know what to think of this.

I also love Navier's brother, can't remember his name. He's... a lot, but in a good way? I guess? And I like her new lady-in-waiting who's got a spear in her back all the time. So anyway here was my whole thing.

TL;DR of the hot takes:

Heinrey is the bad guy of the story.

Rashta is actually not so bad as the fandom paints her (although she still is bad)

Ergi is entertainingly despicable.

Kaufmann is also questionable.

Sovieshu is the closest thing from a good guy we have among the male leads.

[shinidamachu]

I also noticed in my reread of the manga that the anime made Kikyo seem more powerful. In the manga Inuyasha easily parried Kikyo’s attack when she was first resurrected and chose to throw aside the sword to reason with her, and even got ready to strike her down and cracked his knuckles in order to bring Kagome back. In the anime he was easily overwhelmed by Kikyo and was only saved by Kagome waking up. I’m seeing Sunrise’s bias 🙄

And there's nothing wrong with making Kikyo seem more powerful. Inuyasha was constantly getting upgrades for Tessaiga without us as much as batting an eye over it.

The difference is that we were there when he found and got Tessaiga. We were there to see him struggle to master it. We were there for each and every single breakthrough. We know the how and we know the why.

Kikyo's power-ups, on the other hand, seem to come out of thin air most of the time. I'm sure she must have worked for it, but it wasn't shown, so there's a bit of a disconect between her journey getting there and the audience, which makes her achievements turn out to be not as satisfying as they could have been.

It's like, we know what the stabilished powers of a pristess are and so we think we know what Kikyo's powers are limited to, but then she does something new that doesn't fit that criteria and our only explanation is that she was the most powerful priestess of her time. Which makes sense, but also tells us that it's not important how she came to be so powerful, only that she is.

So why should we care when she uses a new trick? It's probably something she has known how to do for a while, anyway. We weren't rooting for her to get it right. We weren't anticipating it. We just roll with it.

The problem is that, in order to make Kikyo seem more powerful, Sunrise often gave her scenes where Kagome was originally the one kicking ass and taking names. And that's what I have issues with. Take this scene for instance:

Kikyo is the kind of character who doesn't do anything without a reason, so why would she interfere? She doesn't really knows Koga. She has probably no idea of his connection to Inuyasha — and even if she had, I don't peg her for comeone who'd care, considering how she treated Kagome most of the time. Koga is a demon with two jewel shards. Why help him out instead of taking them from him herself or waiting Naraku's incarnation finish the job to sweep in and do it? Because in the manga, Kagome is the one who saves Koga:

Which makes infinitely more sense and proves that there was no actual reason behind this "creative" change other than making Kikyo look cooler. The entirety of Sunrise's adaptation is full of these little shenanigans. Do you want to see a practical example of how this affects the general perception of the audience regarding the characters?

Here's Kagome diligently destroying a Naraku puppet to save an unconscious Kikyo. She actively uses the bow and arrow she didn't know how to shoot in the beginning of her journey to save someone she judges to be her love rival. And she suceeds without overthinking it or breaking a sweat.

But Sunrise thought it would be better to just do this instead:

The result? People naturally praise Kikyo for being the biggest girl boss in Inuyasha for stuff that was originally done by Kagome:

Don't get me wrong, it's great that people will appreciate Kikyo — this was exactly what Sunrise was going for, anyway — but it rubs me the wrong way that it came with the price of Kagome getting constantly criticized for being a "damsel in distress" who never does anything.

When your adaptation changes the story so much that people wrongfully perceives your female lead as useless despite the many, many scenes you still animated of her saving the day — and specifically saving the life of her supposed rival, who they judge to be much stronger and independent than her — that's when you know you fucked up.

And the worst part is that people are either blissfully unaware of this irony — because they haven't read the manga — or straight up dishonest about it.

The funny thing is: Kikyo didn't need any of that. What Sunrise did was the equivalent of taking original scenes of her being kind or compassionate and giving it to Kagome instead. It wasn't necessary. Kikyo was stabilished as a powerful woman from her very first appearance:

Kagome was the one who needed to prove herself in battle because she was the 15 year modern girl who was tossed untrained in the middle of a feudal era "life or death" situation. She was the one I wanted to see exploring and using her spiritual powers, because that's what her character needed to grow.

What Kikyo needed was humanization, glimpses of the ordinary woman she has always wanted to be. Empowerment is important, but it's also multifaceted and it falls flat when it focuses on power for the sake of power.

I'd gladly exchange any of those changes for scenes of Kikyo coping with taking a human life or using women's souls to stay on the world of the living. Scenes of Kikyo realizing she has become the very thing she used to fight against and how seeking for revenge affected the people she loves.

Scenes of Kikyo regretting decisions she can't take back, scenes of Kikyo bonding with Kaede both before and after her death, scenes of Kikyo acknowledging the part she played on the way her relationship with Inuyasha ended and apologizing for the hell she put him through over it.

That's how you make her character relatable and empathetic. That's how you highlight her complexities and makes her interesting. Kikyo being pretty while shooting arrows is absolutely stunning on screen, but it does little to create a truly emotional attachment to her character, at least for me.

As for the particular scene you brought up, Inuyasha was, in fact, easily overwhelmed by Kikyo in the anime. When she first attacks him, he just... lets her.

While in the manga, Inuyasha is quick to dodge it.

He does try to defend himself in the anime. However, Kikyo's arrow manages to stop Tessaiga's transormation and almost hits his heart.

None of which happens in the anime, where Inuyasha not only defends himself but also actively pushes back.

Sure, Kikyo still succeeds in zapping the hell out of him, but only because Inuyasha threw Tessaiga aside to reason with her, like you pointed out. When that didn't work, he cracked his knuckles in order to strike her down, before realizing he couldn't do it and then Kagome comes in with the save. In the anime, he didn't even try.

And the hug I mentioned, when he's attempting to appease Kikyo and she cries on his arms for a moment? Completely erased in favor of making her push her elderly sister aside twice and hurting Inuyasha more than originally intended while also referring to him as "beast", "monster" and "half breed."

I understand why Sunrise wanted to give Kikyo more screen time – she's a key character and people seem to have a good time drawing and animating her – but they focused mostly on making her look "cool" by kicking up a notch on the whole "vengeful spirit" thing and ended up shooting themselves on the foot by going too far.

They really thought the nonsense added scenes, like Inuyasha watching her bath or telling the audience they were always by each other's side – while actually showing them sitting far apart, Inuyasha being left to chase after the carriage she was in instead of being there with her, etc – would make up for the hug they cut out in order to give Kikyo more "badass" moments.

That's because they realized the couple had no substancy whatsoever and to remedy that, prioritized telling us that they were together for at least a couple of seasons instead of making the effort to show us this so called deep love. The hug was meaningful and made sense. Inuyasha dramatically laying on the ground while mentally screaming her name after telling her she needed to return the last piece of Kagome's soul – which is how Sunrise decided to end the episode – did not.

Especially because in the manga, he checked on Kagome before...

And after he left to try and get the remaining piece of her soul back – knowing what it would mean to Kikyo.

Plus, while obviously sad about Kikyo's "death", he also seems to accept this was for the best and acts like he is pretty much ready to move on.

Not to mention how he panicked when Shippo brought up the possibility of Kagome not being Kagome anymore and how absolutely relieved he was when he realized it wasn't the case.

And if this wasn't enough, he spent a good three panels blushing over Kagome right after the whole ordeal.

Those scenes had two purposes. One was to solidify, once more, Kagome as her own person to the audience and to Inuyasha, as well as a love interest. He had the opportunity to get Kikyo back and still wanted her to return the soul – even if it meant Kikyo would cease to exist – because he didn't want to risk Kagome not waking up or not being herself anymore, since he was already falling in love with her. Kikyo herself guilt trips him about it when he tries to convince her.

The other was to contrast Inuyasha's first reaction to Kikyo's ressurection and the information that they were both set up with his reaction after he was told that Kikyo died for him and therefore he owes her his life. The former consists on him standing up for himself and rightfully seeing himself as a victim, the latter consists on him blaming himself out of proportion based on a blalant lie. That's why in the manga he takes her "second" death so well, while the others really take a toll on him. In the anime, however, it's like he is already blaming himself when she falls off that cliff.

I attribute this change of attitude to another scene Sunrise thought fit to delete:

Of course the anime also has Inuyasha denying Kikyo's accusations, but he is way less effusive about it in there. Originally, when he realizes they were fooled into thinking they betrayed each other, he acts like they were both at fault for distrusting each other and are, therefore, even. So when she "dies" there's nothing he can do but wish for her to rest in peace and move on despite how sad it makes him.

All of this really sucks, because as you can see, the changes they did in favor of Kikyo either didn't work on her favor at all or heavily impacted the characterization of others – Inuyasha and Kagome especially – in a negative way, in addition to creating huge inconsistencies plot and narrative wise.

TLDR: yes, Sunrise's bias is obvious. And ironically, I think if they had liked Kikyo less, she would have been a much better written character because they wouldn't be afraid to give her the development she needed.

[neon-green-reagent]

Vampire Films That Suck My Blood

But don’t SUCK. You know? What I mean? They’re good. Anyway. 

Let’s start with the super obvious ones you’ve probably seen. And if you haven’t, go see them, they’re classics. Near Dark (my personal favorite), The Lost Boys, Interview With The Vampire, Horror of Dracula (Hammer), ‘Salem’s Lot, Blacula, From Dusk Till Dawn, Let The Right One In, and Fright Night, by which I mean the one from the 80s. Now we can get into some deeper cuts. 

Night Owl | Filmed in black and white and set against the backdrop of the New York nightclub scene of the early 90s, this one is OOPS ALL VIBES. It’s full of house music and brutal murders. One of those films that feels intensely gay despite its best efforts to be straight. Very moody and arthouse. Obviously I recommend the hell out of this for a very specific crowd of people.

Pale Blood | What a nutso concept. A human is running around killing people in the style of a vampire. So a real vampire shows up to stop him. With Wings Hauser being super unhinged, as he tends to do. Lots of neon lighting that makes it all extremely 80s. And a neat little turn at the end that gives it a satisfying twist. 

Bliss | Vampirism as addiction. It’s been said, but this isn’t just about having an insatiable need. It’s about getting so goddamn high that you destroy everything around you and awaken from being blackout destructive and realize you’re ruining your own life. Pretty intense stuff. Meaning it’s very bloody and wild. It goes the extra mile, for certain. The main character is a painter, so there is also a super gorgeous painting that she creates in her very high moments that I wish I could have on my wall. 

The Night Flier | An adaptation of a Stephen King short story starring Miguel Ferrer, which I personally feel should be recommendation enough. But I’ll gladly keep going. Ferrer plays a tabloid journalist who is chasing after a serial killer who thinks he’s a vampire. THINKS, right? He just THINKS he is? Well, the deeper he goes, the more it looks like he has a real one on his hands. And he’s so fucking cynical that he’s probably going to stare into the abyss and the abyss will stare right back. 

30 Days of Night | Hey, I just recently rewatched this one. It still slaps. In Alaska, there are periods during the year where the sun doesn’t rise at all. In this case, a bunch of vampires are like SWEET. And go there and absolutely body slam everyone in town. A handful of survivors are left trying to defend themselves against these superhuman creatures that are... just the scariest looking fucking things. It looks like if a human were crossbred with a shark. What a LOOK. There are so many memorable and standout moments in this movie. Truly just watch it. 

Fright Night Part 2 | We all know the first movie. But the sequel tho. DAT SEQUEL. The big draw being Jerry’s sister Regine and her entourage of absolute characters that follow her everywhere. They’re out for revenge for the death of her brother, and suddenly the tables are turned. Charley becomes the one that can’t resist the vampire’s charms, and Regine is laughing all the way to the blood bank. She’s a queen. 

Vamp | Another intensely memorable and awesome female vampire. Grace Jones dominates the screen here as Katrina. A vampire stripper who kills when she mates. She for sure steals every scene she’s in, but the movie is also bombastically neon 80s with the dumbest and most fun sense of humor. It’s a charming movie with an amazing villainess. 

The Hunger | AND ANOTHER! Sorry for being so gay, but here’s a lesbian vampire movie. Miriam Blaylock is a vampire looking for love. And she both cares and doesn’t if that means eventually keeping your desiccated, still alive body in a box somewhere down the line. She’s a complicated lady. This was beautifully shot, very dream-like, and also stars David Bowie for some extra gay. 

Dracula (1979) | Genuinely my favorite version of Dracula. It was based off of a stage play version. Which means all the names are reversed and nothing lines up with the book, but Dracula just seems fated to be adapted very loosely. Frank Langella swaggers rather moodily through the piece, melting every woman he passes with a look. I like this take, that Dracula is just a Chad that no one can possibly outdo because no one is good looking enough to stop him. It’s all rather romantic and swoony while also featuring one of the most terrifying ghouls in cinema history. 

The Forsaken | Vampirism as an STD. If you’re bitten, you’ll battle daily with the virus that’s trying to consume you. Which makes the movie coded extremely queer, which is very fun for everyone, because it thankfully doesn’t stop there. The bad guys are super flamboyant and fun. The good guys are getting a little too involved with each other and sort of ignoring the girl sitting between them. And it makes one wish they could’ve just made it as gay as they wanted to, but the subtext is still very fun. It’s also action packed and exciting. Think 2001 version of Near Dark. 

[natromanxoff]

(x)

Freddie: I do not care how they remember me

• FRIENDS of rock superstar Freddie Mercury gathered this week at his London home after reports that the Queen singer is suffering from AIDS.

• Despite official denials, what is certain is that one of rock's legends is seriously ill. His latest interview was with Showbusiness Editor DAVID WIGG. Here, Freddie talks movingly about his fears, his loneliness... and death.

BEHIND the image of rock's mischievous joker and his extravagant behaviour, Freddie Mercury is a sensitive man who confided to me innermost feelings.

Freddie told me, in the last interview he gave before retreating behind the high walls of his London home: "I don't have any real friends. I don't think I do. I discard them.

"People tell me that they're friends, but there we are. I don't believe them.”

I suggested he was perhaps frightened of people getting close to him.

“Yes and no. I’m not afraid of them, but it is frightening. That’s the difference. Sometimes, I think when they get too close, they seem to destroy me.

"I’m very sceptical and I have deliberately made fewer and fewer friends as my life has gone on.”

After a run of disastrous, tempestuous relationships around the world, surely there had come a time when he just wanted to share his life with someone?

"Yes, but nobody to share their life with me. It's not easy living with me. After all these years, I just think I’m not a very good partner for anybody.

“Because audiences love me it’s hard for them to believe that somebody like Freddie Mercury could be lonely.”

HE CONFIDED: “In fact, my kind of loneliness is the hardest to bear. Loneliness doesn’t just mean being shut away in a room by yourself. You can be in a crowded area and still be the loneliest person, because you don’t really belong to anyone.”

And if he has chosen to be alone, how would he like to be remembered?

“Oh, I don’t know. I don’t really think about when I’m dead or how they are going to remember me. I don’t really think about it. It’s up to them. When I’m dead, who cares? I don’t.

“When you think about someone like me and my lifestyle, I have to go round the world and live in hotels and that can be very lonely. and But that’s my life. I chose it.”

When I asked him what his attitude to life had been, he replied: “Having a good time, to be honest. At one time it was very serious and I was caught up in […]. I thought, this is the way a star behaves and whatever. Now I don’t give a damn.”

But there must have been bad times when he has needed to turn to someone and talk about personal problems. Who is that one person I asked?

“True. I have a lot of mirrors!” came his laughing reply. “I don’t have anyone actually. I don’t have that many people I can turn to.”

The one love of his life and the only person he trusts is Mary Austin, a quiet 36-year-old.

She has remained loyal to him for years, even after the break-up of their seven-year affair in 1977.

She now has a young son by an interior designer and Freddie, having become his godfather, adores the toddler.

“Mary’s been a girlfriend of mine for a long time. Even though we’re not together, I have built […]. She has gone through just about everything. She has the depth and quality actually to adapt to me and talk to me about very serious things. Otherwise, I just fend for myself and I cross my hurdles in my own way.”

SINCE he was struck down by illness this year, Freddie has led a more reclusive lifestyle. Apart from the odd trip to Switzerland and collecting Japanese art and porcelain he buys in London, he has rarely ventured from his £4 million Kensington home.

Mary, who acts as his personal assistant, visits him daily from the London apartment he bought […]

[danidoesathing]

💎 lord huron. i want to hear abt ur autism

💎 are there any fun facts or trivia that you would like to share?

MY TISM!! im not sure if you mean like. the actual band or the lore but I am fixed mostly on the lore so ill go with that

-Lord Huron themselves have self inserts that are just. themselves again. like they're not supernatural or have a deep storyline or anything they're just playing themselves.

-Yawning Grave, and Way Out There are the only Strange Trails songs that don't have listed narrators

-The Night We Met is listed as one of Frankie Lou's songs, but the MV shows Buck Vernon's narrative, presumably during the events of Vide Noir

-Cobb Avery's story varies from the MV and the comic book. In the comic book, he and his family die in a sinkhole under their home which was purchased from the Winthrop corporation. He kills Winthrop first and purposefully forms the gang afterwards to aid him in killing off the others. The town is destroyed in a sinkhole at the end of the comic (which may have been caused by Avery through some supernatural bullshit?? unclear). In the music video, it's a purposeful house fire started up by the Winthrop corporation that kills him and his family (and is implied to have burned down the whole town). He starts killing the employees first before going after Winthrop at the end, and starts the World Enders more or less by accident after they tried to jump him and thought him being immortal was cool. his weird supernatural bullshit seems to be more around fire this time. The music video is generally seen as more of the "canon" version but trying to find set canon is like trying to eat ramen with a spoon so

-We're still not entirely sure like. who Helena even is. Like is she the girl in the She Lit a Fire MV? The girl in the Time to Run MV? Is that the same girl? is neither one Helena? who is she

-Frankie has cameos in both the Fool for Love and World Ender MVs

-"Lee's Song" in the Vide Noir movie is actually "I Lied" from Long Lost. this is all well and good and narratively fitting but I have to question like. who wrote "I Lied"? because Lee clearly came up with the melody and it's clearly. uh. related to her and Buck's storyline. But the song is credited to another pair of artists, Donny and Midge. so like. we're not sure what the hell is going on with that

-the narrative song that has been adapted into different media the most times is Dead Man's Hand, with a grand total of like 3 separate adaptions (4 if you count Postcard XIX but I have no idea whats going on with that). Those being in the Strange Trails teaser, a session in Alive from Whispering Pines, and the Vide Noir movie. All of them vary a lot in terms of what actually happens, with different dialogue, dynamics, even whether or not Johnnie is actually dead, alive, a ghost, or if he's got the world ender curse. god knows whats actually going on and I blame buck 'cant be a reliable narrator to save his life' vernon for that

-speaking of Buck and his inconsistent character arcs/timeline, that bitch CANNOT keep the damn story straight. He's first described as a washed up country singer from the late 50s early 60s era, presumably late 30s/early-mid 40s. Got it? well in Vide Noir, which takes place in the late 60s, he's in his mid 20s and hasn't become successful yet. He first gets to California in Vide Noir but he's playing in the band in the Fool for Love music video, which is supposed to take place after the events of vide noir but has both Johnnie and Frankie there alive despite having already been dead before he arrived so it HAS to be before Vide Noir. his band is playing on the TV of the Frozen Pines motel during the World Ender MV, which takes place in the early 50s. did he write louisa before or after Lee left him. he's not signed on to Whispering Pines Studios but theres a poster of him shown in Alive form Whispering Pines. why does every story he's in end in his death despite him NOT being dead. honestly how is he NOT dead after Vide Noir the fucker got black brained which killed literally everyone else and just. lived?? somehow??? why can he talk to ghosts. I get there will be some variation and changes with the characters over years but with its only ever this bad with Buck. im so tired. whats going on with him

-"Danielle" is listed as the narrator of the song Frozen Pines, with H.W. Justine as the performer. Neither of these characters have appeared since. No music videos, no cameos, no pictures, no other listed songs, nothing. All we know is that aliens may have been involved but it's been 8 years and we haven't heard shit

-The Balancer's Eye is still like. very ambiguous even as a concept but we DO know it's a massive crystal with some supernatural elements to it. ben (the lead singer of the band and primary writer of the lore) says he thinks of it as "universal reckoner" whatever the hell that means

-George Ranger Johnson (the writer of the in-universe book series "Lonesome Dreams") is heavily implied to be the own of George's Place, the bar where all the Strange Trails artists played at

-Both Cobb Avery (all versions) and Dale Redmayne (Fool for Love MV) are played by Stevin Esponiza. we still dont know if theres a reason for this or if it's just Buck back on his unreliable narrator bullshit again

-Lee Green's in universe album "Wildflower" is described to be a depiction of her leaving Detroit and trying to find her footing as a performer, which we can assume is Vide Noir but from her perspective

-Lee also apparently beats her addiction to Vide Noir sometime while recording it. good for her!

-The Lonesome Dreams book series lasted from 1968 (She Lit a Fire) to 1985 (Lullaby) with Setting Sun being an unfinished manuscript

-Both Vide Noir and Strange Trails had a hotline for a while with some weird choose your own adventure aspects, though both are defunct now

[art-is-terror]

okay. for all of those who haven’t read books or watched new season of shadow and bone yet i am sorry because there will be a lot of spoilers. so if you don’t want to get any, you better stop reading now. i’ve never thought that after watching an adaptation of one of my favourite book series i would want to talk about character i liked the least in books. but here we are to talk about darkling’s arc in the show. i won’t lie about the first time i took those books in hands and fell in love with this hot dark daddy of alexander morozov with his obsession over a kind hearted girl alina. i mean we all have been there in one time or another. we all have this particular obsession with villains. but rereading the series several times I learned that i actually hate this guy so freaking much that i cannot even describe. such hatred i felt maybe only about joffrey lannister and this piece of shit deserved it. so why hatred, you might ask? because darkling is a hell of a good written villain. he is smart, manipulative, charming and scaring at once, cunning and cruel son of baghra. he had a goal and his own beliefs, principles, vision for a future of ravka, so despite his feeling/obsession with alina he had never turned away from his true motives. and that was interesting to read, scenes with him were intimidating and every battle was so scary because, so i felt so nervous that every one of my beloved characters will die in any second. that is why i would never say that shadow and bone books would be better without darkling or darklina. it is essential part of alina’s journey and ravkan history, so it can’t be just ripped off of it.

and then we had tv show. i was a bit skeptical about casting for alexander but at least i was pretty sure that no matter how canonically ben barnes is not good for portraying darkling he still is a great actor and can play an intimidating cunning piece of shit who will charm you in one second and will kill you at the next. ben made everything to portray darkling as good as script allowed so i can’t actually blame him for anything. and at least in season 1 darkling’s character had been played fair. maybe not perfect but for me it was good. so i really hoped that in season 2 it will only get better. and you know what? i never felt much more disappointed in my life because in books we have no actual look from alexander’s point of view, we do not witness his life as we are watching for alina’s. so tv show have so much potential to bring to life this blank moments to show how darkling’s mind works. how he calculates every movement he makes, how he is trying(sometimes even successfully) to manipulate alina through their bond, how he cruelly kills grisha who do not believe that civil war is a key to their freedom. and of course they fucked this up. most of darkling arc in season 2 was so boring i forced myself not to skip it. he was just sitting on his arse weeping about alina being so ungrateful and that nobody could understand him truly. they made that shitshow with amplifiers of baghra’s corpse as if it was so easy in books to have such powerful amplifier without a price to pay. and moreover he doesn’t need the Fold now because he destroys cities with only one big Cut. because you know what? fuck the the common sense and the actual reason darkling created the Fold(as weapon, yes). so you know he is so powerful now, but eventually he just died in the end because it was that easy to defeat him, yeah fuck whole civil war plot.

the only thought of mine was at the moment: what the actual fuck. i mean i never really liked the man but even i can tell that writers have done poor job here. even with ben barnes portraying him in season 2 darkling didn’t made me any bit of worried. he looked like an old stupid creep (especially coming to alina while she was sleeping). and that’s telling something. actually that’s telling a lot. you cannot write a good hero without good villain. you cannot write nice and solid alina starkov arc without writing same for alexander morozov. it is not about pairing at all. it is about character development. but obviously shadow and bone writers haven’t heard about such a thing because if even a character hater sees that it’s written badly than you are doing very bad job.

[duckingwriting]

And with the reveal of the Launch the ship! I submitted

Understood - a The Cowboy Way(1194) fic

Rating: Explicit Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply Category: M/M Fandom: The Cowboy Way(1994) Relationships: Pepper Lewis/Sonny Gilstrap, Pepper Lewis/Margarette - Mentioned, Pepper Lewis/Sonny Gilstrap/Margarette - Implied Characters: Pepper Lewis, Sonny Gilstrap, Margarette, Teresa Salazar Additional Tags: Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Alpha Pepper, omega sonny, heat - Freeform, Post-Canon, Omega Verse Summary: Pepper was sure that he and Sonny had worked out their problems after New York, but then Teresa shows up and tells him that Sonny doesn't want him to know what's wrong. That simply is not going to fly.

The AO3 link here, and you can read it here on tumbler below the cut.

Pepper blinked in surprise when Sonny's truck pulled up and the feisty omega was not in the truck. He tipped his head curiously as Teresa stepped out of the truck instead. She had adapted and settled in well with the Omega as her guardian. But still, seeing her without Sonny, unexpectedly, sent chills of fear down Pepper's spine. It was not a feeling he was used to and one he very much disliked. He trusted that the omega could take care of himself. That there was very little he could not handle. Sonny had been more than capable of holding his own as they had rescued Teresa in New York City. He also had not been talked into posing in his underwear on a giant billboard. Not that Pepper would really mind seeing that. Though that would also mean that others could see his omega and how well he filled out a pair of briefs.

"What's wrong?" Pepper stepped forward and Teresa rubbed her arm looking away. Pulling her hat down low over her eyes and cold dread climbed up his spine to settle around his throat.

"I'm not supposed to tell you, Pepper." Teresa spoke softly. And the cold dread choking him became a cold rush of water drenching him.

Pepper's shoulders slumped and he blinked slowly. It was just like after the Rodeo again. When he let his omega down and nearly destroyed a life of friendship. Of love. There was never any doubt in Pepper's mind that he was Sonny's alpha and Sonny was his omega. They didn't need to be mated or married for that to be true. Margarette understood that. Even when the beta accepted Pepper as her husband, she had known that he had an omega he would move the world for. It had always been Pepper and Sonny. Sonny and Pepper. From the time they were in diapers. They had been there for each other. Until Pepper had let fear overrule his instincts to be there for his omega. When his omega had needed him the most, Pepper had abandoned Sonny. Destroyed his omega's hope of getting his own ranch. Because Sonny had been right, there was not a pair at the rodeo who could have beat them. And Pepper knew it. Had always known it.

Pepper had been so sure that after their trip to New York City, with its too many people, too big of buildings, lights that blocked out the stars, their relationship was fixed. Or at least on the way to being something like it was. Where Sonny knew he could depend on his alpha to be there and help him. Pepper made a soft low sound in his throat. His omega still wanted nothing to do with him. Despite talking about team roping again. Sonny did not want him.

"Jesus, Pepper." Margarette huffed shoving his shoulder so he was no longer blocking the stairs up to their house. "Let the poor girl in. Sonny will be fine."

Pepper looked over at his shoulder at the beta woman who had been his rock when he had lost his omega. Who shared his memories and did not fault him for the love he could not deny even when he loved her too.

"I'm going to talk to him." Pepper stormed into the house behind the two women. If he had just talked to Sonny instead of abandoning him when his omega needed him the most, then Sonny would have his omega in his bed with his wife. He would not have missed any time with his omega Pepper was not going to make the same mistake again.

"Maybe you shouldn't." There was something in her voice that had Pepper's nerves on end as he held his keys and looked to Margarette. "He would have asked you if-"

"You know what's wrong. He told you." Pepper growled a bit despite himself. When his wife only looked away from him Pepper snarled and left. He was not going to let this slide.

=-=

Pepper pounded his fist against the door as he had been doing for the past three minutes. And still Sonny was not answering. Snarling he finally stepped back and kicked the door open. He inhaled the heavy scent coming out of the house, it was muted a bit more than he remembered Sonny's heat ever being. But he had also always been in the same room as Sonny when his heat flashed through him. Until the mistake. Until Pepper had fucked it up. He knew Margarette had helped Sonny with a few heats. The scent of her mingling with Sonny had always brought him a bit of comfort. Knowing his mate was safe with his wife. It was missing his scent mixed in but it was better than nothing.

And then his mind caught up with what he was scenting as he walked forward into the house searching for his omega. Sonny was in heat. Sonny was in heat and did not want Pepper there. Pepper knew he should turn away, walk away. But he had never been the best at doing what he should do when it came to Sonny. So he found himself coming into the bedroom where the scent was heaviest. He licked his lips and swore he could feel the heavy scent of his mate coating his mouth.

"Pepper?" Sonny was naked in the middle of his bed. Blankets, clothes, pillows, even some towels piled and arranged to form his nest. "Is Teresa okay?"

Pepper stared down at the omega, coated in a layer of sweat. Panting lightly. His scent calling out to him, begging his alpha to take care of him. Pepper was walking towards the bed before he realized he had stepped through the door. He dropped his hat on the nightstand before starting to crawl into the bed.

"She's with Margarette." Pepper reached out and his fingers traced down his omega's arm. Sonny made a soft whining sound as Pepper moved closer to him. Then Pepper was kicked away. He yelped as his omega snarled and kicked him off the nest onto the floor.

"You're not getting into my nest with dirty fucking boots." Sonny snarled.

Pepper grinned. His omega had always been far more interested in keeping his place clean. And his nest was the cleanest. His omega had only refused to spend one heat with him when Pepper had jumped into the nest with muddy boots.

Pepper had never undressed so fast in his memory. Then he was in the bed with his mate, pinning him beneath him and capturing his mouth. Sonny was growling back at him and Pepper ran his fingers over his omega's body. Sonny was not telling him to leave and if Pepper was honest, he was not sure he would have been able to leave his mate. Not after all this time. He had done his best to forget what his mate smelled like in heat. But it had still haunted him in every rut he had spent without his omega's scent comforting him. So when all Sonny did was spread his legs in invitation, Pepper was not going to be fool enough to walk away from it. Instead he fumbled with his pants, the rodeo buckle slapping against Sonny’s thigh.

Sonny laughed as Pepper struggled to remain balanced on his knees, pushing his jeans down his thighs. Pepper's mouth slid down his throat but the alpha was clearly not going to let his mouth leave the omega's willing body. At least not willingly. Sonny reached up and gripped Pepper's dark short hair and forced his alpha to lift his head. Sonny smiled, pressing his thigh against the panting alpha's side to give him support.

"Easy, Cowboy." Sonny's voice was rougher than normal and Pepper moaned and pressed into his head into Sonny's hands. "We're not teenagers no more. I'm here. You've got me. No hurry."

Pepper twisted his head to press his mouth against Sonny's wrist. His eyes were still desperate as he lightly nipped at the other's skin, but when he started pushing his pants off again it was not nearly as desperate or fumbling.

"Don't wanna discover I fucked up and you're runnin' form me again." Pepper went to throw his pants aside but calloused hands grabbed them and jerked them from him again. His omega squirmed to his stomach. Pepper rocked back on his knees to watch his omega as he wove the denim into his nest, all but presenting for Pepper. Pepper licked his lips and pulled his shirt off over his head, leaning forward and offering it to his omega.

Sonny eyed the offered clothing for a moment before snatching it and turning to press it into a different part of the nest. Pepper reached out and grabbed his omega's ass, moaning when the smaller man moaned and pressed back into his touch. Sonny pressed his face into the pillow currently covered by Pepper's shirt, spreading his legs slightly wider. He let a soft whimper he would never normally allow to escape his throat.

Pepper leaned over Sonny, letting his leaking cock rub against his mate's ass with soft gentle rolls. Sonny squirmed and whimpered, biting back the soft pleas and begging that tried to leave his throat. Pepper pressed a kiss against his omega's shoulders, holding his hips firmly before tracing his tongue over Sonny's ear so his omega shuddered beneath him.

"Going to fuck you." Pepper growled and nipped at the dusty blonde's nape. "Going to leave no doubt who you belong to again."

"I never-" Sonny's words were cut off as Pepper thrust his cock fully into Sonny. Sonny arched beneath him, pressing his ass back and clenching on the hard length that began pumping in and out of his body without giving him any time to adjust.

Pepper held Sonny down even as the omega snarled at him. Sonny had never been an easy omega. Too bull headed and stubborn to fully give into his instincts unless he was given no other choice. And Pepper had never minded walking him straight to that point. Pinning him down and pounding into his ass while slick dripped down their thighs.

"Never what Sonny?" Pepper slid one arm around Sonny's waist, keeping him from trying to pull away. His other hand reaching up and wrapping around Sonny's throat to tip his head back so he could press his mouth teasingly against his. Pepper flexed his arm when Sonny's cock brushed against him. "You never what?"

"Never ran from you." Sonny's eyes were starting to glaze and Pepper nuzzled against his temple in encouragement. "Chased you away. Never ran."

Pepper growled and moved his mouth down to the side of Sonny's throat and started worrying it between his teeth. "Aint gonna happen again. Gonna remind you which alpha you belong with."

"Always been you." Sonny gasped arching into Pepper's thrust.

Pepper froze.

Sonny started whining at the lack of movement. His alpha fully sheathed in his body but no knot to push him over the edge, he could feel it at his rim beginning to form. But it wasn't there yet and Sonny wanted to feel his alpha locked into him at the moment, driven by heat as he was, more than he wanted to breathe. Sonny released a broken tortured sound and pressed back against his alpha.

Pepper began moving again and Sonny released another pressurized sound that ripped form his chest as relief washed over his body. Pepper was growling and his mouth was on Sonny's neck, over his scent gland, threatening to break the skin. Sonny could have arched his shoulder up and pushed the alpha away, it was something he had always done before, and instead he tipped his head more, offering the alpha room to mark him. Pepper snarled, dropping his hand to grip Sonny's cock and began jerking him off with firm strong strokes in time with his aggressive thrusts.

Sonny's eyes rolled as Pepper's knot filled him. His own body tensing and pulsing around his alpha's cock and his own cum splatting onto the bed beneath them. Pepper's growl vibrated against Sonny's neck, where his teeth were still sunk into his scent gland. But Sonny could feel his breathing starting to even out.

Pepper slowly laid them down on their sides, careful not to lay them in the puddles of body fluid. Even though slick still coated their thighs. Pepper licked carefully at Sonny's new mark, feeling the other man tighten up around his knot with every pass of his tongue. Pepper opened one eye and watched as Sonny pulled Pepper's cigarette's and lighter from his jeans pocket, lighting one up and bringing it to his lips.

"Hey now, that ain't fair." Pepper pulled his omega closer into his embrace. "You always said I couldn't smoke after sex in bed."

"I don't want my house burned down." Sonny answered raising an eyebrow at Pepper over his shoulder and blowing out a puff of smoke.

"ONE time." Pepper growled. "I lit a single blanket on fire one time."

Sonny smirked and slid his hand down Pepper's flank to where there was a small round burn scar. "Once?"

"Twice." Pepper amended. "Gonna need you to stop teasing me or we're gonna be stuck here longer."

Sonny made a humming sound, snuffing out the remainder of the the cigarette into the ashtray on the nightstand. But his hands continued lightly stroking Pepper's flank and tightening around the cock throbbing in his ass.

Pepper moaned and thrust his hips against his omega who moaned back at him. Pepper reached around Sonny's waist and started teasing his cock with his hand and his new mating mark with his mouth. He kept his thrust short and shallow into his mate's body. Sonny was whining by the time Pepper added enough pressure to make his omega cum all over his hand. He brought it up to his mouth and made sure the green and blue eyes of his omega were staring back at him as he licked the omega's cum from his fingers.

Sonny moaned when Pepper leaned over him and captured his mouth in a desperate kiss. He closed his eyes when his alpha rested his head on his shoulder and slowly caught his breathing while milking his alpha's knot.

"Hey, Sonny?" Pepper whispered against the omega's shoulder, his omega gave a soft hum. "Why didn't ya tell me you were goin' into heat?"

Sonny was silent so long Pepper wondered if he had fallen asleep.

"Didn't know where we stood." Sonny whispered. "Not after New York. Been nearly two years of heats alone. Knew I'd be okay. Figured if I sent Teresa over though, told her she's not supposed to tell you, you'd come barreling over here. If I told ya straight you could have said no. Could have rejected me. Could have abandoned me. Know what I'm sayin'?"

"Think I do. Think you're tryin' ta say that deep down you're chicken shit." Pepper ran his tongue over his mate's new mark.

Sonny chuckled. "Knew you'd understand."

[skyfall8600]

Children of Dawn Pt. 13 (A Twilight Saga Fanfiction)

Note: I originally created this story back in 2020 with the first lockdowns from COVID-19. I had posted it on Wattpad under a different name, SaturnFire2000. However, I kept being drawn back to this story. It might be a while before new chapters are added, but I thought it would be worth re-posting the story on here given my new-found family of followers.

Summary: Years after the final battle, the Cullen family face new challenges. Edward and Bella take on new roles in life; Renesmee struggles to understand her goals and purpose in a world where no one is like her. The Volturi kept a large secret that could destroy them all.

Warning: Sexual references, violence, blood, supernatural. Recommended 13+.

Series Masterlist

Main Masterlist

Chapter 13: Bella

It was the middle of the day when Alice got her vision; none of us knew what to do. With over 2 dozen vampires in the house and Charlie so close, there was nowhere we could easily hide the children or keep them out of his way. 

He didn’t often come over unannounced but according to Alice it was urgent. The children trusted us enough to listen and stay upstairs with Rosalie, Emmett and Esme. 

I don’t know how long it would take before Charlie’s scent would become too much for me; if Aro was right then there is too much danger for Charlie to step foot in the house. But despite my worries, Carlisle assured us that since the children were properly fed and looked after them there may be no issue at all. After all Renesmee was fine with meeting Charlie when she was only a few days old, and they have all surpassed that stage by now. 

“Bella!” I heard him yell from the driveway, I moved quickly out the house to try and keep him outside.

Using our abilities or speed against Charlie did not surprise him anymore, by seeing Renesmee grow up so quickly Charlie adapted to not ask questions or be bothered by anything out of the ordinary he saw. Of course, he still doesn’t know about the blood and immortality part about us yet. 

“Dad, what’s wrong?” I asked him, his face almost as white as mine. 

“Seth just told me you guys went to Italy, Bells there was a mass murder there and some sort of plague!” 

I shook my head, “we are all fine. Don’t worry about us. The town we were in was small and quiet-“ 

“Volterra is in ruins, I didn’t know if you were safe or diseased.” 

“Volterra... but, there was only a little fire. There must’ve been a mistranslation on the news.” I said, my eyes darting towards the windows of the house for Edward to see. 

He was by my side within seconds. 

“It’s all over the news, I just wanted to make sure you were ok.” 

“Thank you, Charlie, I can assure you all is fine here.” Edward spoke, I could see his eyes reading Charlie like a glove. Edward often had trouble with reading Charlie’s mind, but that issue seemed to go away whenever Charlie was really emotional about something. 

I hadn’t seen him this concerned since my honeymoon; fear in his eyes. 

“How’s Nessie?” He started to walk towards the house but Edward’s broad shoulders quickly blocked his way. His stone cold body was no match for the middle aged human, but we didn’t need more conflict in our lives. 

Thankfully our daughter came running out of the house, her long hair flowing behind her just like it did when she was a child. 

“Charlie!” 

They embraced tightly, he always had a soft spot for her. Whilst she was no longer the little girl we all loved, it truly was remarkable to see the woman she’s grown into. 

He checked over her, making sure she was ok with his own eyes.  

“No more travelling; between you and Bella it’ll be the death of me.” Charlie was close to tears just before he composed himself.  

I thought that we were in the clear, no harm down by this surprise visit. But then we heard a scream from the inside and it didn’t take long before Arabella exited the house trying to hold back one of the younger boys from charging at Charlie. 

She froze in our sight, but her hand had a strong grip on Lucas, Charlie gasped at seeing a young girl who resembled the one in his arms almost identically. 

“Bells, what’s going on?” He said, his eyes locked on Arabella. 

“That’s a need to know for later, we can’t explain it right now... but it’ll be best if you left. I’ll call you tonight to explain some of it.” Edward replied.  

I was surprised that Charlie didn’t push it further, he left quietly. 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle him I just had to stop Lucas.” Arabella whispered; her head hung low. 

“No harm done, it’s fine.” Carlisle smiled positively for a brief moment. “But some of what Charlie said are true, all over the news there’s images of Volterra looking much different to how we left it.” 

Buildings were ruined, not even their frames standing upright. Through the rubble and broken stone, blood was scattered on the roads and buildings. Ashes fell from the sky and flooded the earth, from fires that were not scene. The news broadcasted unnatural circumstances they found the livestock and villagers in; blood drained from their bodies and blood red roses lingering on the skin with bright purple bruises in the shape of fingers. 

“What happened to them? The fire was out before we left.” 

“It’s Aro and the guard,” Alice said. “They’re mad at us and killed villagers to regain their strength quickly, I have never seen them be this destructive before... drawing attention to themselves.” 

“They are coming to reclaim us, aren’t they?” Arabella whimpered. “They’ll try to kill you all.” 

My motherly instincts kicked in and I could’ve help but hold her close, she cried softly onto my shoulders. 

“I think it’s time to bring some of our friends back.” Carlisle said. 

We had relied on them once, and we knew they would come again. But we were stronger and larger in numbers than 6 years ago, this would not be a war settled with a discussion. Not this time.

_______________________________________________________________________

A/n: If you like any of my work, please reblog. I promise it goes a long way in helping your favorite fanfic writers share their stories. 

[shuttershocky]

To that one anon who was asking me about why Nasu was worried about how Ufotable would adapt the quiet parts of Mahoyo, sorry. Tumblr broke trying to answer it and now the original ask was gone, but here was my answer to it:

___

I haven't seen HF3 so I may be missing something, but I think modern Ufotable just doesn't do stuff like this anymore.

Oh, they can still do the drama or expository scenes like the first half of the video just fine. Conversation that moves to slowly swelling emotional music is something they still do, but from what I remember from Zero, UBW, and the first two HF movies, these scenes are already the quiet moments. Whereas in the first Kara No Kyoukai film, this is only the leadup to a scene completely without dialogue or music, where the film trusts its audience to engage with it and understand what is happening, but left unsaid.

____

For those who haven't seen Kara No Kyoukai, here's a breakdown with context.

The clip starts with Ryougi Shiki back at her workplace, The Hollow Shrine. Her boyfriend Kokutou Mikiya had his soul stolen by a ghost haunting the abandoned Fujou building, and it just finished kicking Shiki's ass and tearing her prosthetic arm off when she tried to investigate the building. Fortunately, their boss Touko is a puppet maker and engineer, and she gets to work right away rebuilding Ryougi's arm.

While putting it together, Touko says that while she can make a puppet or a prosthetic as realistic as possible, there's nothing she can do to make it truly alive. Her puppets will forever be empty, existing as shells just as Shiki once did when she awoke from a traumatic incident that destroyed her sense of self, living as a doll until she began to put herself back together and desired to live.

That whole time, Mikiya was the pillar she leaned on while she worked through her trauma. They had been high school sweethearts before the accident. He visited her every week for two years during her coma, and when she woke up in grief, he stayed right by her so she wouldn't feel alone.

That's why Touko steers the conversation to being about how Mikiya ended up working for her. He saw one of Touko's puppet exhibits, tracked her down despite the literally magic protections she put to keep from being found, and begged her for a job. His favorite doll in her exhibition during the job interview was the one that happened to look like Shiki. Touko noted that he was the type of person to 'obsess over dolls', but this isn't meant to be understood in a creepy sense. Rather, he is the kind of person who pours his love into empty things, seeing life where there is none and hoping it truly will come alive someday. This makes him an appealing target for certain supernatural beings, such as the entity lurking in the Fujou building.

Shiki then walks over to look at his lifeless body, noting that between the two of them, he's now the empty one.

After Shiki's walk home, we finally arrive at the completely quiet scene. Despite the lack of any dialogue or music, the scene is anything but empty.

In the first scene of the movie, Mikiya comes to Shiki's apartment with strawberry ice cream. Shiki complains that she doesn't like ice cream, but Mikiya explains that it was so hot, he figured she would want to eat something cold even if she didn't eat the ice cream he bought last time. Shiki refuses to eat it still.

In this quiet scene however, Shiki changes her mind. it's not too hot—it was raining while she walked home—and yet she takes out the ice cream anyway and opens it, having to adjust to only having one arm while her prosthetic is still being repaired. She pauses to think about if she's really going to have some ice cream, then decides she will and begins to eat.

Within the silence punctuated only by the sounds of her breathing and chewing, Shiki's resolve hardens and her next move becomes clear. Whatever that thing in the Fujou building that beat her up is, she's coming back as soon as her arm is fixed, and she's killing the shit out of it.

[thebluelemontree]

Do you think there is a similarity between Sandor's cynicism and Jaime's broken idealism? And do you think it will connect them in the future (especially as both of them seem set to spend significant time in the Riverlands)?

Oh, yeah. Very much. They are two sides of the same coin in their struggle with knighthood: what it's supposed to stand for vs their soul-crushing experience with it. It would be freaking criminal if they didn't reconnect and interact on the page. I would love to read any conversation between them. Now keep in mind I am not a Jaime expert, though I'm looking forward to doing a closer reread of him at some point. So I might be leaving some things out or oversimplifying. Despite having like one small direct interaction on the page (the joust at the Hand's tourney), there seems to be a lot of shared history and threads that connect them. We know Sandor's grandfather saved the life of Jaime's grandfather, resulting in the establishment of House Clegane. In their generation, however, they are both are products of highly dysfunctional families with a history of abuse (though different kinds), first inflicted by a sibling and then further compounded by their fathers.

Sandor entered service at the Rock at around 11ish years old in 281 or 282 AC, and was probably in his early to mid-teens when he became Cersei's shield. I say this because it seems like Sandor's worldview would have solidified into what it is after serving closely with the Lannisters at a still impressionable age. I imagine Sandor really distinguished himself during and shortly after Robert's Rebellion to get promoted to that privileged position. That's another thing that they have in common. Both distinguished themselves as formidable warriors at an uncommonly young age. I'm sure Jaime, who was already a member of the kingsguard, must have approved of Sandor because I doubt he'd be okay with just anyone guarding Cersei. And this must have been a point of pride for Sandor to prove himself as his grandfather once did, all without being a knight. Just as Jaime was proud of being knighted by Arthur Dayne and receiving his white cloak from King Aerys all at the age of 15, making him the youngest person ever raised to the kingsguard. The types of honors they both earned took them in different directions, but it is still a similarity. Once Cersei is wed to Robert in 284, this probably marks the start of when Jaime and Sandor were in each other's presence on a regular basis. A lot of rambling under the cut. I'm gonna tag @janiedean, because she knows way more about Jaime than I do, in case I get anything wrong or they have something to add that I missed.

While they didn't spend much, if any, time together under Tywin's roof, they were profoundly affected by Tywin's philosophy, ruling style, and expectations. The Rock is a place where weakness is not tolerated. As an orphaned homeless child, Sandor probably saw what Lord Tywin valued and adapted quickly to earn his keep. Sandor knows his role is to be a dog that accepts whatever scraps his master sees fit to give him. While Jaime's role is under enormous pressure to be the golden child heir even though he isn't naturally suited for it and doesn't want it, it's still water from the same well. It's the same overbearing "everyone in their place" mentality. As Tywin says, "There is a tool for every task, and a task for every tool."

Both have killed or attempted to kill a child at the start of the story, and it's no coincidence those respective children are a reflection of their younger selves.

Mycah, the butcher's boy (think how Sandor calls himself "the butcher"), was viciously attacked by Joffrey while playing with a toy sword, (i.e. playing at knighthood) and bloodied his face to teach him a lesson. Then Sandor, with a hardened heart, played his role as the enforcer of an unjust system that destroyed an innocent boy, literally cleaving him nearly in two. If that isn't a metaphor for Sandor's issues with knighthood and his resulting duality with the Hound, I'll eat my hat.

Bran idolizes knights, especially the kingsguard. He imagines himself joining their ranks one day, just as it was Jaime's dream come true when he became the youngest kingsguard ever inducted. Jaime seemed to him a knight from the stories, even if Robb told him why he was called the Kingslayer. In the scene where Bran is pushed from the tower window, Jaime's initial instinct was to save Bran and lift him up to safety, even though Bran had just caught them in the treasonous act of adultery. When Cersei shows disapproval of this choice, Jaime, almost robotically, looks away from Bran and resigns himself to carry out what he thinks must be done out of love, with loathing. This is our introduction to Jaime's conditioned paralysis in these types of situations, mirrored by Bran's literal paralysis.

Jaime's faith in the institution was murdered by a thousand cuts. It wasn't just from the horrifying things he witnessed from King Aerys but also from being chastised by his Lord Commander, Gerold Hightower, that "he swore a vow to guard the king, not judge him." All while said king is BBQing people and brutalizing his wife. When Jaime spoke up to protect the queen, Ser Jon Darry told him it was not their place. Do not use your judgment, Jaime. Do not think. Do not choose. Do not listen to your own moral compass. To be a knight is to be paralyzed by obedience to whom you swore your vows, no matter what the cost. Yes, Jaime's idealism told him his first fundamental oath was to protect the weak, and that's reflected in his natural instincts. Except that notion was drummed out of him by all sides. He was primed for it being raised in a brutal authoritarian family that despises weakness and learned that "love" means his total devotion and sacrifice. No wonder it's just easier to not think, and just "go away inside" so he can just get on with it. Or get through a traumatic event. We see that when he tells Brienne to disassociate from an SA, fearing any defiance will get her killed. That feels similar to Sandor's thought process when he advises Sansa, from one domestic violence survivor to another, to "save [herself] some pain" and just give Joffrey what he wants.

This is a good point to say both Jaime and Sandor have some really intense coping mechanisms for dealing with their trauma: Jaime and his disassociation, his "going away inside." Then putting on that Kingslayer idgaf attitude to cover up how weak and helpless he actually feels, "inside, where it does not show." Sandor with his Hound persona, an identity that helps him feel safe from revictimization, and occasional abuse of alcohol. Obviously, these things are not serving them well because it's led them to be in the service of bad people, and they're totally miserable from all the self-loathing that results from it. You could see how this all gets muddled with their common "love language": acts of service and displays of loyalty. (Not to mention, they are both featured in the two primary Beauty and The Beast themed storylines)

And another thing about these two: MAJOR issues with vows. Conflicting vows and loyalties have Jaime in such a chokehold that he feels more soiled every time keeping one inevitably breaks another. And then carries the constant judgment of others for it with him. The one time Jaime actively used his judgment and followed his own moral compass, he got SLAPPED with a moniker that labeled him as the most dishonorable scum alive for the next 16 years. So of course, he's like throwing up his hands and saying "fuck this shit, not making that mistake again."

Sandor refuses to make any vows to protest the institutions he views as hypocritical and corrupt; however, he justifies his own behavior by saying "I'm honest. It's the world that's awful." Which he knows is a bullshit answer because suddenly he can't stand Sansa looking at him when she was subjected to said awfulness and chose to hold fast to her ideals and remain a decent person. I swear their mentality at this stage is like two overly cynical (but really jaded idealist) teenage know-it-alls that like to lecture at their respective younger teens, who are, in some capacities, way more mature and wise than they are despite their naivete.

Now for how they feel about each other, which is admittedly, not obvious in the text. You have to read between the lines, and you only get one's POV. Jaime seems to be remarkably cool with Sandor. He's one of the few that knows Sandor well enough to be skeptical of his reported involvement with the Saltpans massacre, citing that sounded more like Gregor. SA is something Jaime is very sensitive to, and like I mentioned before, I don't think he would be okay with someone like Gregor being close to Cersei and the children. He does call Sandor dangerous as a statement-of-fact, but he probably did at least treat Sandor like an individual, and not just a Clegane. That's something that is important to Sandor.

We can't see into Sandor's head, but as far as we can tell, he's never said a negative thing about Jaime. That's despite almost certainly knowing about the incest. How could he not? He's very vigilant and observant. People not nearly as close to the queen knew about it. Servants talk. I doubt he'd be all that shocked by it. Now, this might just be the kind of thing Sandor's cynicism and disillusionment would call par for the course. And these are also his liege lords, to whom he feels he owes his loyalty for taking him in; however, I would also guess the fact that Jaime doesn't really pretend to be virtuous would make Sandor less inclined to judge him outright. It's the falsehood that pisses Sandor off, not honest shittiness. And the absence of judgment would be important to Jaime, at the bare minimum.

I'm not claiming they were ever friends by any means, but probably more like work colleagues that respected each other from a distance.

To finally finish up, the one interaction they have on-page is their joust at the Hand's tourney. Sandor is nearly unhorsed by Jaime, but on the next pass, Sandor strikes Jaime so hard Jaime's helmet gets twisted around backward and stuck on. While the crowd has a good laugh at that hilarious spectacle, Jaime seems like a really good sport about Sandor's win. He never shows any anger or hurt pride over this. In fact, Jaime rates Sandor highly as a fighter, so it makes sense he would feel no shame in losing to someone with bonafide skills in a close match. I would say Sandor is probably of the same mind because he wouldn't even bother to joust in Joffrey's name day tourney since the available competition overwhelmingly sucked. I have a feeling that the theme of brotherhood will be something that binds them going forward. Despite being separated by distance, they were made brothers of the kingsguard who wore the same white cloak for a time period. And Sandor stood in Jaime's shoes in the same throne room, paralyzed by indecision while watching his king torture a Stark. And it's something Sandor loathes himself for. This is why I'm dying for any dialogue between them. I can see them really "getting" each other now, especially post-redemption. Right now, I'm of the opinion that Jaime is on the verge of having a confessional moment with LSH, similar to Sandor's, which will make a definitive cut through his Gordion knot conflicting-oaths problem. So I feel like there is real potential here for them to find brotherhood in recovery from soiled knighthood.

I know that was very rambly. Thanks for the question.

[thetimelordbatgirl]

So because of your MoM posts I have to say...

I REALLY want to like the movie but I just can't. The trailers hyped it up so much. I LOVE Wanda but... No. Just no. She'd NEVER hurt a child, not even when it comes to obtaining more power.

The Darkhold explanation is so incredibly stupid. Like look at Agatha, not even she has been influenced that badly and she's been using it for centuries.

And how come that Wanda has no problem with killing innocent people, even a kid, when in every instance we've seen so far (I.e. Civil War and WandaVision) she's fell in a hole realizing that she caused innocent people to suffer or telling herself that her actions only made everyone else happier, not worse?

When I heard the rumors about Captain Carter I was SO hyped up. From the cameos, she's definitely been my favorite aside from Maria.. But they were no deal for Wanda? Gotta say, their deaths should have been switched up. Peggy is still a super soldier while Maria has cosmic powers.

The scenes with Billy and Tommy were probably my favorites as that's when Wanda could be what she's longing to be. But how come she has the exact same children, Vision nowhere to be found nor heard about and Wanda deciding to destroy her variant's life only to make herself more happy?

I also doubt that she's dead like... No way will they give her such a boring death.

I doubt she's dead as well...people are saying Elizabeth Olsen is signed on for more films and its been rumored that Scarlet Witch may have a solo film and even a Children's Crusade adaption, so....unlikely she's dead. MCU might slowly start to pull a comics where character briefly dies but is somehow brought back later.

Honestly, Wanda is sooo confusing with motivations. Like, she wants her kids back despite knowing they were never real, but she doesn't want Vision back anymore or Pietro even??? Like??? People have pointed out this is continuing the MCU's love to bring motherhood up in bad ways- aka first instance being in AOU with Natasha....somehow thinking she's a monster for being forcefully sterilized- and its just....I would say did no one what they were doing, but plot twist: the guy who wrote the dumpster fire that was Loki....also wrote this film. So uh, not saying this man has a habit with his MCU writing, but....he may have one going for him, just saying.

Honestly, Agatha really must be staring at Wanda. Because MoM implies its the darkhold with the Xavier scene, but like.....never do anything with it??? Like??? Is it the darkhold or is it Wanda?? Because of course, it gets murky as Wanda is using it for her own gain, aka to find the twins again and....literally justifies wanting to torture and kill America....with how it'll make her happy to have the twins again....after obviously killing her own variant to get them. Like....and the fact that she literally threatens Strange with killing everyone at the temple if they don't surrender America and proceeds to do so to the point she burns Sara alive for destroying the dark-hold, really makes it hard to say its all the darkhold. A-lot of it may as well have been Wanda at this rate, given her threat to kill everyone on the planet at one point apparently....

Honestly, given the film is now trying to act like Wanda never asked for her powers when....she willingly volunteered to get the powers, its not surprising they forgot she didn't like killing people in civil war. Because they only saw the hype of villain Wanda and that's it. Zero effort with her beyond evil. And I'm meh with Captain Carter, but Captain Marvel!Maria's death is disturbing when you remember how Wanda also hurt Monica back in W/V and now kills Monica's mother's variant....because we can't have shit in the MCU.