#no turin to be found here

[yletylyf]

My fic for Innumerable Stars!

With a Chance of Grace

Finduilas leaves Nargothrond to seek help before it falls. She will not get much help from Thingol in Doriath, but what she finds instead might be even better.

Nienor/Finduilas, because they deserve each other instead of whatever canon did to them. Rated general audiences, 1.7k.

[alexiaput3llas]

Game of Love/ Alexia Putellas x Reader

Warnings: Nothing but fluff. Maybe one swear word

Author: So this is my first time writing, because I always wanted to try it and I have to say I´m a vey slow writer but it is a lot of fun. Also english is not my first language anyways enjoy (-;

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You barely get nervous, but here you are. You're about to head out to the pitch. It is the Champions League final 2024, and Barcelona is facing none other than the mighty Lyon. But this Barcelona is different from the ones that lost to Lyon before. This Barcelona is determined to win.

You get pulled out of your thoughts by a familiar hand on your shoulder. You recognize that touch among billions, and her scent will forever be your favorite. Alexia and you have been dating for four years.

You signed to Barcelona 6 Years ago and Alexia and you immediately clicked. You became friends with her on instant and after some time you started to devolve a small huge crush on her. What you didn’t realize that she felt the same, but after a night out with the team to celebrate your Copa de la Reina victory, where everyone, including Alexia, drank a bit too much, things between you and her got really heated and after some shameless flirting on both sides, grinding on each other on the dance floor and some more drinks, you found yourself the next morning in an unfamiliar hotel room with brown hair sprawled everywhere. You couldn´t help but admire her and hoped that also for her this was not only a one night stand. So after she woke up, you both got to talk and finally admitted your feelings for each other.

And here you are now, facing your lover, who only for you breaks her serious game face, which, in your opinion, is one of the most attractive things in the world, into an encouraging smile. "Are you ready, mi amor?" Alexia, of course, notices your nervous state. "You don't have to be nervous, okay? We are a different team now, and you have the season of your life." It is true; you have the season of your life and have already won the league. "Thanks, baby, I really needed that." She nods, gives you a quick kiss on the forehead, on your nose, your right cheek, your left cheek, and finally, your lips.

You can't help the butterflies that erupt in your stomach, and you smile into the kiss. "Break it up, lovebirds, will ya!" Mapi chuckles behind you. You break away from Alexia's soft lips, giggle, and hug your girlfriend. "I love you," you mumble in her neck. "And I love you more." She steps out of your embrace and kisses the top of your head. Just about when you wanted to protest that you love her more, she shuts you up with one final kiss to your lips and eventually takes her spot to lead out the team.

The game couldn't start any worse. In the third minute of the game, Ada Hegerberg scored a beauty, leaving Cata Coll no chance. In the 20th minute, it was 2:0 Lyon, thanks to Van de Donk. Only 5 minutes afterward, Ada Hegerberg scored her second goal of the evening, and it was 3:0. You immediately got flashbacks to Turin 2 years ago, but you had to shake these thoughts out of your head. Lyon presses high, and Barcelona was lucky not to concede any more goals. The ref blew the halftime whistle, and both teams headed to the changing rooms.

Everyone's heads hang low. I sit at my cubby talking with Aitana about strategies when I feel a presence next to me. It was Alexia, who immediately joined our conversation to outline the game. She placed one hand on my thigh and gave it a few encouraging squeezes. Jonathan came in: “Chicas, nothing is lost yet. We all know what we're capable of, and if anyone can turn the game around, it's Barca. Vamos!”. "VAMOS!" Everyone in the changing room knew that this game was not over, and with new hope and confidence, we headed out to the pitch to start the second half.

And with confidence, we played. We started the second half way better, and after only ten minutes, after an amazing pass from Alexia, Aitana could find the back of the net. And that was all we needed.

A corner kick, Mariona made it 3:2.

Alexia passed the ball to you, and you began to run down the field, suddenly having a lot of open space. Just as you were about to shoot, you felt some cleats colliding with your ankle, making you stumble to the ground in pain. Your ankle throbbed, and not long after, the medics arrived.

At the same time, Alexia shoved Ada, who made the tackle. "You could've hurt her. That has to be a fucking card!" Ada shoved Alexia back and growled, "I didn't fucking touch her. She fell to the ground because of nothing." Just as Alexia was about to respond, with what would have definitely been a hard push, Mapi grabbed her. "Ale, calm down. Let her go! Y/N needs you more. She isn't worth it." With one last angry glare at Ada, Alexia made its way to you. "Mi amor, are you okay?" "Peachy," you responded. "Is it bad?" Alexia mumbled to the physios. "No, it's alright. She's alright to continue to play."

The tackle was rewarded with a free kick, which Alexia easily slotted into the top left corner. You ran to her, and all gathered in a big hug. "Freaking yes, Baby. What a goal!" You gave her a secret kiss on her neck.

With now only 5 more minutes left on the clock, everything hurt. But you couldn't just give up. You sprinted to recover a ball and sent it to Patri, who dribbled around one Lyon Player and passed it back to you. And you did what you can do best. Shoot. You just took the shot. And…

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!" Everyone was screaming from the top of their lungs. Your shot probably won Barca the Champions League. With only a few minutes left, Barcelona did everything they could to defend their lead, and that was what you did. Throwing in every ball, running even though it hurt.

The whistle blew. Barcelona had done it. You are the champions of Europe once again. You sank to your knees, overwhelmed with emotions. You soon locked eyes with those sparkling hazel eyes, and a beaming smile made its way across your face, as does it with Alexia. You made your way over to her and pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm so proud of, Ale," you mumbled into her neck. "And I'm so unbelievably proud of you, mi amor. That goal was a beauty." You chuckled. "It still feels surreal. I mean, we won it now for the third time, but I never get tired of it." You looked up at her, and the desire to just kiss her grew inside of you. The way her eyes sparkled, her teeth-showing smile, and a look of adoration towards you only intensifies it.

Without hesitation, you fulfill your desire and press your lips against Alexia's. The taste of victory is sweeter than any championship, and in that moment, the world disappears around you. The cheers from the stadium, the flashing cameras, and the ecstatic teammates fade into the background, leaving only you and Alexia, lost in the celebration of your shared triumph.

Breaking the kiss, you rest your forehead against hers, breathing in sync as the magnitude of the moment sinks in. The elation, the relief, and the sheer joy are palpable, and you can't help but grin. "We did it," you whisper, more to yourself than to Alexia, as if saying it out loud would make the reality even more concrete.

"We did," she replies, her voice filled with a mix of happiness and disbelief. "I knew you'd make a difference, but that last goal..." She trails off, shaking her head in amazement.

The team gathers around, enveloping both of you in a collective embrace. Laughter, cheers, and the occasional tear of happiness mingle as you bask in the glory of the victory. Champagne bottles pop open, and the sparkling liquid showers everyone, marking the end of a long and challenging journey.

Amidst the jubilation, you steal a moment alone with Alexia. Hand in hand, you slip away from the chaos and find a quiet corner of the stadium. The echo of cheers becomes a distant hum as you lean against a railing, gazing out at the pitch where the triumph unfolded. She pushed you gently against the wall and kissed you softly, with so much love. After a few minutes, you broke apart and rested your foreheads together.

"It's incredible, isn't it?" Alexia murmurs, her eyes reflecting the shimmering lights of the stadium. "All those years of hard work, the setbacks, the victories, and now... this." She gestures to the field below, still alive with the energy of the recently concluded match.

You nod, a profound sense of accomplishment settling in your chest. "And to think it all started with that Copa de la Reina celebration."

Alexia chuckles, her hand finding yours. "A night we'll never forget."

And with that, you join your teammates again for the celebrations.

You knew that whatever will happen on the pitch, you would always have a safe place off the pitch.

Alexia

[thoseboysinblue]

Mistletoe Magic

Gif by @lovelynikol16

Christian Pulisic x reader

You find yourself caught under the mistletoe with Christian.

Wordcount: 1500+

Requested: No

Warnings: Swearing

You wander up to the door of the house marked by the address Christian sent you earlier. Adjusting your hair slightly and taking a deep breath, you knock on the door and wait for someone to answer.

"Hey you, I'm glad you could make it," Christian engulfs you in a hug, placing a light kiss to your cheek. He accepts the beer and small bag of snacks you brought as a thank you for the invitation.

"Thank you for inviting me," you smile at him as you remove your coat and hang it in the small closet in the entryway of his house.

"I would've invited you to stay if I had known you were going to be in Milan," he narrows his eyes at you.

"It was kind of a last minute change of plans, and I didn't want to impose," you offer him a smile.

"You're never imposing, you know you're always welcome to stay anytime, y/n," he says as he leads you into the kitchen, you noticing the traditional Christmas decor scattered around.

Your job as a travel blogger means that you hop around quite a bit. You'd stayed with Christian several times in London since it was a good starting out point for many of your adventures, but you haven't visited him in Italy until now.

"So what brings you to Italy for the holidays?" he asks, pouring you a glass of wine while he opens a beer.

"I'm writing something on Christmas markets," you shrug at him, "I wasn't supposed to come here actually, but needed to make some alterations due to a few things, so here I am."

"Well, you know I'm always glad to see you," he smiles, a genuine smile.

Your friendship with Christian started several years ago, right after his move to Chelsea. You both happened to be at the same event one evening in London and found a small bit of comfort in having someone from "home" close by.

You often spent time with him when he was home during the summers, blocking off a week or so from your travels to be able to visit him. You had become friends with several of his friends and things were just easy between you.

You both took a bit of heat for the natural flirtation that seemed to flow back and forth, but never had it gone beyond that. You were friends with him, not someone he grew up with, but someone who had earned his trust over a period of time and vice versa.

"I think you invited me here early because you wanted someone to do the dirty work for you," you chuckle as you arrange various platters of food for the twenty or so guests he had invited over for a small holiday gathering.

"We might have time for some actual dirty work," he quips at you as he glances at the time on his watch.

"Aww, the Italian model scene not to your taste?" you grin as you chunk an grape at him which he somehow manages to catch in his mouth.

"Honestly, I haven't had much time for all that," he shrugs, "been trying to get settled in here and really trying to stay focused right now."

"Well, you seem to be settling in just fine," you smile softly at him as you finish the last tray.

He turns on some Christmas music and grabs your hand and twirls you around a couple of times, both of you laughing as you dance and sing along.

As the other guests start to arrive, Christian introduces you to some of his new teammates as well as their significant others. You also greet his former Chelsea teammates you had met previously as well as his international teammates, a couple of them having made the trip from Turin for the party.

"It's good to see you," Weston grins as he gives you a warm hug.

"Yeah, you too, Wes," you roll your eyes at the mischevious look on his face.

"He made a move yet?" he nods towards Christian who keeps glancing over to you, curious as to what his friend could possibly be saying that has you looking slightly flustered.

"What? No! He would never, you know we aren't like that, at all," you shake your head.

"You sure? I mean, I've never seen two people flirt as relentlessly as you guys do and never take it any further," he narrows his eyes at you.

"Well, that's just how we are, harmless flirtation, that's it," you offer him a beer.

"You spending the holidays here with him though?" he continues pressing you.

"I'm in Milan, writing for my blog, he didn't even know I was here until he saw my story yesterday. I have my own hotel, so no, I'm not 'spending the holidays with him'," you use air quotes to mimic his previous statement.

"That's a shame, I'm sure he'd love unwrapping you as a gift on Christmas morning," he chuckles as you swat at him.

You continue chatting with people as the night carries on, engaging in a few drinking games and you and Christian carrying on your usual flirtatious banter.

You head to the bathroom and when you return, everyone has moved from the kitchen and dining area over to the living room to continue playing party games.

Christian is leaning in the doorway between his living room and kitchen, looking at his phone when you approach him and wrap your arms around his waist and tuck yourself under his arm as he naturally moves to drape it over your shoulder.

"This has been a good party, Chris," you smile up at him, "I've had fun getting to know everyone and catching up with some of the others."

"It has been fun, hasn't it?" he smiles back at you, "I hope Wes hasn't given you too much grief."

"Oh, I can handle him, you don't have to worry about that," you shake your head.

"Oh, I know, if anyone can take him down a notch or two, it's you," he chuckles.

"Hey, you two," you hear Wes shout over everyone, "look up," he grins.

The two of you look up simultaneously, before your eyes widen and meet with Christian's.

"Fuck, I forgot I put that there," he stares at you, suddenly unsure of what he should do.

"Well, I'm pretty sure it's bad luck if you are caught under the mistletoe and don't kiss, so..." you trail off.

"Yeah, I think so too, and I mean, we don't want bad luck following us around do we?" his eyes flick from your eyes down to your lips and back to your eyes.

"But we don't have to, if you don't want to, y/n, I don't want to force you into anything," he looks at you sincerely.

"It's just a kiss under the mistletoe, Christian," you smile softly at him as you move your hands around the back of his neck and inch closer to him.

"It's probably full of nargles, anyways," you grin as he closes the distance and you hear him chuckle under his breath.

"You sure?" he asks one more time, his lips mere millimeters from yours.

You nod and close your eyes, pressing your fingers into the back of his neck and encouraging him to close the gap.

His lips brush against yours softly and timidly, before he slides his hand up to cup your jaw and pull you into him a bit further. You kiss him back, slightly surprised at the immediate butterflies that erupt in your stomach.

The kiss lasts a few more moments before you both pull away and smile shyly at one another.

"About damn time," Wes whistles at you.

It suddenly hits you what just happened, Christian kissed you, albeit somewhat forced by holiday superstition, but he still kissed you, and you kissed him. And you didn't expect to like it as much as you did.

You quickly rush down the hallway and into the first room you find, shutting the door behind you, needing a few minutes to get a grip on everything.

You lean with your back against the door as you take a few deep breaths, closing your eyes and calming yourself before you get too overwhelmed.

You hear a soft knock at the door, "y/n, are you in there," you hear Christian ask quietly.

You turn and open the door, letting him in before quickly closing it behind him.

"Are you ok?" he looks at you, his eyes full of concern, as he moves to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear.

"Yes, no, I don't know," you sigh, leaning into his touch as he cups his hand along your jaw.

"It wasn't supposed to feel like that when you kissed me," you breathe out, "I wasn't supposed to feel anything, it was supposed to be a kiss between friends under the mistletoe, no big deal."

"It wasn't supposed to feel like what?" he asks quietly. "Wasn't supposed to feel like butterflies and fireworks and like your insides were suddenly on fire?"

You look up at him, curious to know if he was telling you he'd had the same unexpected reaction.

"Because, that's what I felt a few minutes ago, and I'm kind of hoping you felt it too," he says leaning his forehead against yours.

"Yes, I felt it too," you close your eyes.

"Want to see if that was just a one time thing?" he whispers against your lips, smiling when you pull him closer to you and connect your lips back to his.

This kiss is different from the first, it's not shy nor timid, it is full of certainty and desire. He kisses you like you are the oxygen he needs to breathe. He runs his tongue along the seam of your lips, silently asking for entrance, and moans softly into your mouth when you allow his tongue to press against yours.

You can't deny he's a good kisser as you sink further into one another, tangling your fingers into the hairs at the nape of his neck, and damn it, he knows what he's doing with his tongue. You have to stop your thoughts from running away with themselves as the two of you allow your hands to roam over one another's bodies, gripping each other as closely as you can.

You pull away from one another breathless and dizzy, a grin spreading on both of your faces.

"Definitely not a one time thing," he chuckles pecking you on the lips again.

"No, I don't think so either," you shake your head.

"So what now?" you ask him, realizing this has just changed everything between you.

"Now, I think we have to go back to the party," he sighs, "but I want you to stay later so we can talk."

"Ok," you nod.

"Would you consider staying the night?" he grins cheekily at you.

"I might, but don't get too far ahead of yourself," you grin back at him.

"No, no, that's not what I meant. I mean I would like for you to stay, and talk, and keep kissing me like that, but we don't have to do anything else until we figure things out," he says quietly, placing another delicate kiss to your lips.

"I think I can handle that," you lean your head against his chest, listening to the way his heart is pounding.

"Ok, so let's figure out a polite way to kick everyone out," he chuckles kissing you one more time before opening the door and ushering you back towards the other guests.

Tag List:

@chilwellspulisic @neverinadream @pulisicsgirl @swimmingismywholelife @lovelynikol16 @nyctophilic0vitnir @lunamelona @tall-tanned-tattoo @lizzypotter14 @xjval @notsoattractivearenti @bracedes @landoslover

[anitalianfrie]

Hi hi I’m relatively new to MotoGP so I don’t know if you maybe made a post about this before already but! What’s the accent variety like in the Italian lads? Bc I learnt Italian for a year and I loooveee love picking apart accents and silly lil language things but I’m just not used enough to spoken Italian to identify any variation from the standard. I’ve been told tho that Bez has a notable accent but do any of the others as well?🤔

accents ask accents ask stay calm! (sorry i am. very passionate about accents) also disclaimer: i am very much not an expert! i'm just having fun here

okay so, all the italian riders (that are important to me) come from one of these three places: Emilia-Romagna, more specifically Romagna, even more specifically near Rimini*; Lazio, more specifically from Rome; Piemonte, more specifically from around Turin.

*only exception is dovi who was born a leedle more in the inland. but only a leedle.

Here's a map where I have circled the zones of interest

(yes the circle around Turin is enormous it's because I'm not searching on google maps the minuscule ass place cele lived in)

You can hear the Romagnolo accent in Bez, Vale, Enea, Luca, Dovi, Mig, with various degree of intensity. Luca is probably the one with the less strong accent, but it's still very identifiable. There are of course still some differences in the way they speak (i noticed that for some reason Vale tends to open his e more than bez, sometimes making a ⟨ɛ⟩ sound rather than a ⟨e̞⟩ sound). Their accent is caractherized mainly by the way they say the s, the z and the c, that they tend to almost hiss. Here's an example of Bez saying his surname, and somebody from another region saying it. (first the person with the other accent, then bez)

In the audio you can also hear the e thing i was talking about: in Romagna they tend to close it more then they do in some other places in the north (for example the other guy is from Lombardia)

Between all of them, Bez's accent is probably the strongest. I once said that hearing him talk feels like being slapped in the face by a piadina, and I will repeat it.

Both Franco and Diggia are from Rome, but to be honest, Franky's accent is almost unperceptible. Really difficult to clock. Diggia has a stardard Rome accent, but not that strong. People from Rome have a very distinct accent (and also probably one of the easiest to do) characterized by the frequent use of dialectal terms. You can hear it for example in the c and g, that tend to be a bit more guttural, and the l tends to become a r. Also, due to the dialect thing, they tend to cut the verbs: for example fare becomes fa', andare becomes anda'.

For the Piemontese accent, we encounter a slight problem: I am also from Piemonte, and therefore it's harder for me to clock how strong the accent is. The main thing that you can hear about this accent is the o, that tends to become more of a ou. Prime example in this baby cele clip, when he says 'porte'. Adorable. Also, around Turin they tend to close the e (while we, from the secret location i'm blogging from, tend to open them). People from Piemonte also tend to say 'neh' a lot, but I don't have clips of Cele saying it because it's quite informal. I might try do to a deep dive later. And I can't say much more about this accent because as I said, I can't really hear it.

You might have noticed that pecco is nowhere to be found in the list up until now. That's because his accent INFURIATES me. He's from Piemonte but doesn't have the accent, and instead has a slight Romagnolo accent. Here's a clip from this year's Sanremo that made me cry in pain.

Another thing you might have noticed is that the guys from the northen regions (Emilia-Romagna and Piemonte) will frequently put an article in front of people's names, even if grammatically incorrect. Il Cele. Il Bez. Il Pecco. L'Enea. Il Vale. We just do that. You will not catch Diggia ever saying it, because people from the centre and south of italy just don't. do it.

I hope this was somewhat idk. interesting? useful? if you have some more questions do ask i love to talk about these things

[aleksa-sims]

Simself Story

3 days ago, Lucas and I accompanied N. to his meeting with his supervisors & coach. Those people wanted to meet our son and me too. I found it all a little strange. As if they wanted to control everything. They wanted a copy of our passports. They explained to me why, and well, it made sense, I guess.

The main thing, we were allowed to stay in the house with N. So this was settled. I forgot the name of the place, but it was somewhere near Turin. I remember that, because our airport was there. However, it was a small suburb with a big campsite, some shops and restaurants. And.... yea, that's it! Nothing more. Nevertheless the house and the area were beautiful, I just imagined it a little different, closer to the city.

Everyone who lived in this small neighborhood/hole, had something to do with soccer or that club. That’s why I had a strange feeling. As if we were members of a sect/cult or secret community.😄 I know, I tend to be a little paranoid, but I felt trapped there. Also, I was totally dependent on N.! Without a car I didn’t really have the chance to go anywhere else or to come to town was impossible for me alone. At home I have the subway in my vicinity and can go anywhere without really thinking about it. Here I would get lost! Especially in this town. 🤨

Previous/Next

[garfinkelstingle]

matthew's letter to james

hi, i was bored and decided to transcribe the additional letter from matthew to james from the waterstone edition of chain of thorns!

thanks to the peeps out there posting pictures of it, you're the true heroes!

Dear James,

When we talked about my trip, and the places I wished to see, you may recall that--while I wished to be beholden to no agenda or itinerary--I did say there were three cities in Europe I would die rather than miss: Vienna. Berlin. And of course, Venice. Your eyes lit up when I mentioned the latter, and I promised to send you word of the City of Masks when I arrived.

Well, I have been here for three days and I wish to share with you my impressions of the city. As one wanders, one discovers quickly that there are two modes of line in Venice: wet and quiet, or wet and loud. I have, as you would imagine, kept myself to its loudest parts.

It is a city beloved of mermaids, obviously, and in general Downworld is dominated by the fishier side of Faerie. You may ask, do I mean the aquatic parts, or do I mean the dodgy parts? And to that I say, sir, I mean both. Never have I seen so many mermaids, and never have I seen more complex scheming. Within moments of arriving at one of their fames half-sunk tavernas, I was drawn into three assassination plots, two blackmails, and a plot to steal a large sapphire owned by someone named "Il Granchio," who turned out to not just be named after but to actually be himself a giant talking crab. What marvels I have missed by remaining in sodden old London. I have never been threatened with having my head pinched off before, and I daresay it has fortified my character.

As with every other city I visit, I have had to spend half my time dodging local Shadowhunters. The local Institute is always very welcoming, and by "welcoming" I mean they wish to put me on patrol. But this is not my travel year and I am not visiting the world's most interesting places in order to patrol them, or to fight their demons at all, really.

(Obviously if a demon crosses my path, I will dispatch it posthaste. I am still a Nephilim born and bred, and thus feel a certain amount of demon-focused violence is good for the blood. Nevertheless, I have found that one does not need to wander the streets of a city to encounter its dangers. Instead I have followed the strategy of going directly to a city's most unsavory places, where trouble will regularly appear without much fuss on my part.)

The only thing worse than Shadowhunters who want to hunt demons with me, are Shadowhunters who want to Put a Word in My Ear because I have "access" to the Consul. As though when I speak to my mother she wishes me to convey the minor grievances of a bureaucrat from Turin. No, she wants to know if I am eating enough (I am) and whether I am wearing the scarf she knitted for me (I am not). If the Continental Shadowhunters wish to politic they will have to wait for Charles to come through. That's their punishment for taking life too seriously.

On a slightly more sober note--as it were--it is difficult to debauch through the world without the social lubrication of drink. I suppose I knew that before I set out, but the reality can be hard to bear. Everywhere I go I am plied with drink, which I must decline, explaining that I have come not for the alcohol but only for the gambling and the perversion. Even on the rare occasion when I have been unable to avoid visiting an Institute they inevitably drag out the dustiest bottle in their cellar and I must rush to stop them before they open it for a guest who cannot appreciate it.

The problem is that nobody seems to understand why one might not wish to drink. It is very frustrating. Everyone recognizes that one can drink to excess and need to stop for the sake of one's health, but to encounter such a person in reality bewilders them. And I can hardly order water in the sorts of places I am visiting. As a result, I have become a great consumer of black coffee, which I down by the ucketful so as to be seen imbibing something. Unfortunately, this means I now require several large cups of the stuff a day just to keep myself upright. I suppose a dependency on coffee is much less debilitating than a dependency on drink. At the very least it is less dangerous to one's health, by which I mean I have never yet drunk a pot of coffee and awoken on the cold stone steps of a baptistry wrapped in the Union Jack, which I cannot say is true of my time as a drinker of liquor. It nevertheless makes me a bit of a figure of scrutiny, the Englishman who turns down drink. I have begun to tell the especially insistent that I am under a faerie curse and if ever liquor should touch my mouth I shall transform into a badger. I tell you, I look forward to later in the year when I shall be in countries where the mundanes' religion prohibits alcohol. Although I imagine the coffee consumption will only rise.

But I was speaking of Venice, somewhere on an earlier page. You shall have to tell Pickles at the Devil that here there is no need to bring a tub with you to soak in, for the Downworld bars are mostly half-sunk into the lagoon and one sits with one's lower half in water and one's upper half at a table. This is an excellent arrangement for the mermaids and a terrible arrangement for anyone else. The werewolves go around looking like drowned rats half the time.

In addition to the continued popularity of drink and debauch, Venice is also mad for seances. (In this it resembles most other places I have visitied; the whole continent seems mad for ghosts these days. What a career Jesse could have had had he remained disembodied.) I ran into Madame Dorothea yesterday while in a dimly-lit lounge of poor reputation playing Trappola. (Because what goes better with card-playing than dire warning and demands from one's dead family members?) This is not the first time I have seen her on my travels--like me, she appears to be touring. I encountered her first in a brown café in Rotterdam and then again at a floating cabaret on the Rhine a few weeks ago. Both times I could barely see her through the tobacco smoke, but I did get to witness her admonishing a vampire that his late mother was very disappointed in him because she had expected him to become a lawyer.

By this our fourth encounter, Dorothea and I nodded knowingly to each other as fellow-travelers, and she asked me directly if there was anyone I wished to speak to. I demurred, but she was insistent, and having singled me out the crowd demanded I follow through. I searched my mind for anyone whose messages would not be potentially harmful to my good mood, and finally asked her if I could speak with Oscar Wilde. (The man, not the dog, of course; Oscar Wilde the dog awaited me loyally at the pensione as usual.)

At this point I had no doubt about the genuine power possessed by Dorothea, and so when a gruff but cultured voice emanated from that lady's mouth I knew at one it was him. Of course I immediately went off my head and said the only thing I could think of, which, foolishly, was that I thought he would sound more Irish.

Rather dryly he informed me that he had deliberately put aside his accent while at Oxford, and that he hoped I had not called him back from sailing beyond the sunset in order to complain about his diction. (He got quite enough of that from the ghost of his sister, apparently.) I told him no, but that I wished him to know that his House of Pomegranates had been a formative text for me in my youth. Which was a terrible understatement of the importance of his writing to me, but I could think of nothing else. I felt a fool the moment I said it.

Rather acidly he told me that he no longer concerned himself much with notices or reviews, being dead. At this point Dorothea's body-language showed that the spirit was becoming restless, and the crowd was on his side. More politely than I deserved, he suggested that I might wish to ask him for some advice, or at least wisdom, that he might provide from his side of the veil.

Struck, I blurted out, "In the past I have made so many errors, have caused so much hurt. Can I make up for them? Will I carry them with me forever, or can they ever be left behind in the past?"

At this the crowd became hushed. This was not what they had come to see, but at least it was more interesting than my telling a specter ripped from beyond the void that I liked his work.

Oscar gazed at me--I had no doubt it was him, behind Dorothea's eyes, and I will not soon forget the frisson I felt as he sized me up. Finally, he spoke, and his voice was gentle.

"I see from your cravat," he said, "that you are a man of the world."

I allowed that his observation was accurate.

"And I see from your eyes," he went on, "that you mean to live a grand life. That you have already begun to do so, in fact."

"I do," I told him. "I have."

"To live magnificently," Oscar said, as though carefully choosing his words, "means that your joys will be magnificent, but so too will be your pains. You will celebrate grandly and you will suffer grandly. Such is the covenant of such a life."

"Is it worth it?" said I.

He appeared to shrug. "You can see how it has turned out for me," he said. "Nevertheless, I would not exchange my fate for another. Epictetus said that a man is not made by his circumstances; rather, his circumstances reveal him to himself. I may be paraphrasing," he added, and I thought I head him mutter something to the effect, "Look at me. Dead and still quoting."

Now he took in his surroundings. "Next time you seek me out," he said, "pray do so in a place less chill and damp. I may not feel it, but I still appreciate a decent ambience."

And then he was gone.

I tell you, James, I had little expectation when I asked Dorothea to call upon him, but I left that chill and damp taverna greatly inspired. I share these words with you because, while you are not one to descend into the damp and chill places of the world for the sake of a party, as I am, your life is also grand, and like me you are destined to love grandly, to suffer grandly, and to celebrate grandly. I want you to know that Oscar Wilde says it is worth the trouble. And that I believe him.

The only real sorrow of my travels, of course, is the pangs I feel in being absent from you. Parabatai separated are always missing a bit of themselves, and I carry that lack with me wherever I go. I continue forth to seek more experiences, but I promise to return to you in time, and, I hope, the wiser for it.

Pray give my love to Cordelia, to Lucie, to Thomas and yes, even to Alastair. I miss you all very much, and hope that you are keeping London well for me while I am away. Be well and the Angel protect you.

Love,

Matthew

[siroofington]

Ryoko Kui Feb 2024 Famitsu interview on video games that inspired Dungeon Meshi

I saw this interview and thought people on here might be interested! Please note that this was translated by reddit user turin-dono, NOT ME, and they made some disclaimers about any errors there may be. Click here if you want to read the interview/their post on Reddit.

SPECIAL INTERVIEW

The original author of Dungeon Meshi is quite a game lover! A special interview is provided to commemorate the special feature!

We had a talk with author of Dungeon Meshi, Kui Ryōko-sensei just about the games

The manga Dungeon Meshi has reached its conclusion in its 14 volumes. Its author, Kui Ryōko, turns out to be quite a game fan! We asked her to be interviewed for this special feature, to which she kindly agreed to. The extent of her gamer spirit is beyond imagination… We are pleased to present this valuable interview with a number of compelling titles.

(full text under the cut)

PROFILE

Kui Ryōko has been active as a dōjinshi artist on pixiv and Comitia, and made her debut in March 2011 with Ryū no Gakkō wa Yama no Ue Kui Ryōko Sakuhinshū “The School of Dragons is on the Mountain – Kui Ryōko’s Anthology”. In 2012 she published Kui Ryōko Sakuhinshū Ryū no Kawaii Nanatsu no Ko “Kui Ryōko’s Anthology: Seven Sweet Kids of the Dragon” and in 2013 won the 17th Japan Media Arts Festival Manga Division Excellence Award with Hikidashi ni Terrarium “Terrarium in Drawer”. In 2014 Dungeon Meshi started its serialisation in Harta (Kadokawa) magazine, with serialisation ending in September 2023. A total of 14 volumes of the manga are currently on sale.

Playing "Wizardry 6", I thought to myself, "I want to draw stories and drawings like this"

My formative experience with games was with “Wizardry” my father used to play

-         This time, rather than talking about Dungeon Meshi, I would rather like to talk with you about video games, as I heard that you are quite fond of them.

Kui-sensei:       I may be biased [about games she likes, I guess], but I’m looking forward to this interview.

-         When I first read Dungeon Meshi, I felt that its setting where a party consisting of characters like a human, an elf, a dwarf and a so-called hobbit venture deep into the dungeon was reminiscent of a classic fantasy RPG.

Kui:      That's right. My father played various games on the NES console, starting with "Wizardry", and that was great entertainment for us, so it might have been something like a formative experience [in gaming, I guess] for me. When I was a child, these games were too difficult for me to play by myself. However, as I was growing up I started thinking, "I liked the atmosphere of that game" and "I want to draw something with that kind of atmosphere” and that was probably what inspired me.

-         Did you watch your father play games?

Kui:      A lot. Among the various games, “Wizardry" was a bit different from the fun-to-watch games like "Dragon Quest", "Ultima" and "Fire Emblem”. Its first-person perspective with the continuously identical scenery made it seem like a rather plain game to my childish mind. However, I also remember finding great enjoyment in the monster illustrations found in its strategy guides and stared at them for hours on end.

-         Yes, the strategy guides had illustrations that you couldn't see in the game itself.

Kui:      Growing up, I started playing RPGs and other games by myself, but because of times like taking entrance exams and when I started living on my own, I distanced myself from games for a while.

-         Yes, that's right. Many people have experiences like that, don't they?

Kui:      I started playing games again when the serialization of Dungeon Meshi was decided. Learning that "Wizardry" itself has various influences from other works, I felt I should depict [my work] with a good understanding of those currents. So, while checking out computer games and TRPGs, I ended up exploring various works.

-         So. you started studying games because of Dungeon Meshi.

Kui:      I also liked novels like "The Neverending Story" and "The Lord of the Rings", so I was already familiar with fantasy. However, I hadn't really thought about why similar terms appear in games here and there, so I thought to myself, "Come to think of it, why is it like that?"

-         So, from there, the world expanded. Regarding the title Dungeon Meshi, and there is also the English title which is “Delicious in Dungeon”, I assumed it was a nod to "Dungeons & Dragons".

Kui:      The English title was actually chosen by my editor, and indeed, as far as I heard, it was consciously referencing "D&D." In fact, I only became aware of tabletop RPGs as an adult. When researching the history of games, you inevitably come across the name "Dungeons & Dragons". So, I read rulebooks and replay novels, and even played some computer RPGs based on "D&D". Since I didn't have anyone to play it with at the time, I feel like I haven't fully experienced it compared to people who have played it extensively.

-         Earlier you mentioned that you had dabbled a bit with PlayStation and such. Are there any games that left a lasting impression on you?

Kui:      That would probably be "Final Fantasy VII." The "Final Fantasy" series had amazing graphics, and I remember being amazed each time a new game came out, thinking, "Is this the limit of graphical evolution?"

In games, even seemingly unnecessary things can bring joy just by being there

-         You mentioned that since the serialization of Dungeon Meshi started around 2014 you began playing various games. For this interview, your editor provided us a list of games you enjoy in advance. Looking at that list, it seems quite diverse. You mentioned you started playing games for manga research purposes, but do you remember the first game you played specifically for research?

Kui:      I bought it more for study and learning, but the first one was "Legend of Grimrock." "Dungeon Master" was famous as an RPG where you eat meals, so I wanted to play it, but the hassle of playing it on an actual machine was too much [for me]. That's why I played "Legend of Grimrock," which is heavily influenced by "Dungeon Master." Without the serialisation [of Dungeon Meshi], it was probably the type of game I wouldn't have played. But the volume [of content] and difficulty were just right, so that I had that satisfying feeling of completing the game, becoming a good memory for me. Being able to play with modern graphics in first-person dungeon ambience also served as a good reference. I feel this prompted me to start playing various games.

-         "Legend of Grimrock" was quite a challenging title, especially for those who hadn't played games in a while…

Kui:      The basic rules weren't overly complicated. However, at first, I didn't realize it was an action game, so I would just stand still and get beaten up. Once I understood to use good timing to dodge enemy attacks and strike during openings, it became enjoyable. It hasn't been translated into Japanese, but since there isn't much text, I played the English version.

-         And from there, you started playing various games.

Kui:      I used to feel a bit apprehensive about games than were not turn-based RPGs, but I decided to stop being prejudiced and try out any games that looked interesting. As I played games like "Red Dead Redemption 2" and "God of War," I found their stories intriguing and gradually became more and more hooked.

-         While continuing the serialisation, you even played games...

Kui:      "Red Dead Redemption 2" was an incredibly well-crafted game. I wanted to talk about it with someone, so I convinced my editor and other mangaka to buy it too. [I liked it] so much. I'm grateful that such a game exists.

-         It was right up your alley in terms of preferences.

Kui:      To be honest, at first, it felt a bit "meh." Not being able to run in the camp, the animations for picking things up or skinning animals, all these little things annoyed me a bit. I wondered if sacrificing playability for realism was just the creators imposing their preferences. However, as I played more and more, I noticed the NPCs changing their actions according to their schedule, finishing their meals properly and the protagonist getting progressively dirtier... All these accumulated details led to an extraordinary sense of immersion. Besides that, the story was good, and the music was wonderful too. It was clear that a huge budget and a large team were involved, and ultimately, I played the game in awe of the high level of its ambition. While there are differences in the creation process between games and manga, and therefore making it hard to imitate, it made me reflect on my own approach to creativity.

-         Have you played any other big, content-rich games?

Kui:      Talking about a recent game, "Starfield" was interesting. Since I played it without any prior information, I didn't understand the controls at first. But as I continued playing, I became engrossed in the very familiar Bethesda-Softworks-feel. Bethesda games are always open-handed and have a [certain] charm.

-         You don’t play many so-called games for all ages, that is games one can enjoy with their family?

Kui:      I do play the ones that catch my interest. I played "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" and "Tears of the Kingdom" as well. When "Breath of the Wild" was released, it was quite difficult to buy a Nintendo Switch, so my editor for Dungeon Meshi said I should play it and lent me his console and the game.

-         Speaking of big titles, "Cyberpunk 2077" is also listed as one of your favourite games.

Kui:      I had been interested in it since the teaser trailer was released in 2013. Later, in 2015, "The Witcher 3" was released and it was really great. I thought, "CD PROJEKT RED is amazing, if they're making [“Cyberpunk 2077”], it can't go wrong." The [Japanese] localisation of "The Witcher 3" was truly meticulous and wonderful. I was impressed, thinking that this localisation wasn’t something than can just be done with translators’ skills, but needs the active cooperation of the development company. "Cyberpunk 2077" was also really amazing. The DLC was interesting too, and it became one of my favourite works.

Top-down perspective games make it easier to immerse oneself in their world

-         It seems "Disco Elysium" was so fun for you that it got a 超 *chō* remark [in the list sent by your editor (*chō* meaning ultra, hyper etc; that is, she likes it very much].

Kui:      I like top-down, text-based games the most. I'm not very interested in combat [-focused games] though. "Disco Elysium" doesn't have any combat to begin with, and its story is intriguing, with charming character interactions. It was a type of game I had never played before, and adding to that it is a top-down, text-based [game]... Everything matching my preferences, [made] it a very enjoyable game for me.

I like games that don’t just include character dialogues but descriptions of sceneries and monologues too

Kui:      It had been a hot topic overseas for a long time, but because of the large amount of text and me thinking it was unlikely to ever be translated into Japanese, I gave the oversea’s [English, I assume] version a go. However, I found it quite difficult. Then, Spike Chunsoft localised it [into Japanese]. I was so happy.

-         Speaking of top-down fantasy RPGs, there's also the "Baldur's Gate" series. The latest installment, "Baldur's Gate 3," was also localised and released by Spike Chunsoft.

Kui:      "Baldur's Gate’s” first two installments were one of the games I played for the [research for my] serialisation [of Dungeon Meshi]. I was surprised to hear that  Larian Studios, from which I also played the "Divinity" series [of course, for research purposes], acquired the license [of BG] and were making the latest installment. When the early access version for PC was released with the first chapter, I played it right away, but as expected, I found it difficult to concentrate on the story in English. However, when I heard a Japanese version was coming out, I was like: "Thank you as always, Spachun-san [cute nickname for Spike Chunsoft]!" If games like these sell well, it makes me happy because it could lead to the localisation of other titles, like "Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous"...

-         What is the reason you like top-down perspective [games] in the first place?

Kui:      I like them because they often include descriptive text. It's not just about character dialogue; I enjoy the inclusion of description of sceneries and monologues too. When there's descriptive text, even when the graphics are slightly rough, it allows me to feel things like the wind or smell and supplements the subtle behaviours of other characters. It makes it easier to immerse myself in the world when there is a description like, that cave is dark and damp, or a description of the nuanced behaviour or state of mind of the characters.

-         The broader the perspective, the greater the imagination, probably.

Kui:      Games like that also offer many choices. Seeing the consequences of your own choices makes you feel more involved in that world. For instance, being disliked by your companions and them leaving you (laughs). I think this interaction is the wonderful aspect of games that manga and movies cannot replicate.

-         You seem to enjoy a wide range of genres. Where do you get your information about them?

Kui:      I check game media and official websites. I look into games that people say are interesting or those that are localised in Japanese. When I want to know the release date of a specific game, I also check social media.

-         It seems you also enjoyed "Unpacking" and "House Flipper." Do you like games that involve neatly arranging items and tidying up?

Kui:      I do enjoy cleaning games. Recently, "Unpacking" was great because just neatly arranging items sparked my imagination. As you sort [the items], you start to be able to guess the personality of the room's owner. It’s meticulously crafted with attention to detail. Before its release, I was intrigued when I heard that it is a game about organizing items, and when I tried it out, I really liked the sound effects, and it was much more fun than I expected it to be. As long as you don't put items in the wrong rooms, there aren’t really many correct or wrong places to put them, so you can create your ideal layout. After you finish arranging everything, you can watch an animation of your playthrough. I’d sip tea watching [the replay] and think, "This room really is wonderful" (laughs). There are no plans for a sequel, but I would love to play one.

-         Do you also sip tea while admiring the rooms you create in "House Flipper"?

Kui:      In "House Flipper," the cleaning part is particularly enjoyable for me, so I often just place the required furniture half-mindedly. Cleaning up all the dirt brings me a sense of calm. I'm also playing "House Flipper 2," and it's just as fun.

Depiction in "Wizardry 6" enabled me to enjoy the feeling of exploration

-         The genre changes a bit; "Return of the Obra Dinn" is also listed as a favourite game.

Kui:      The game "Papers, Please" created by the developer Lucas Pope was the first title I played and recognized as an indie game. It is profoundly memorable for me​ and I was really looking forward to the new work. And as I thought, "Obra Dinn" was also fun. The music is good, its got an atmosphere and the puzzles were just right.

-         I certainly was surprised by the animation that flowed smoothly with sketching-like graphics.

Kui:      In 2014, when the demo version was released, I was wondering what kind of game it would turn out to be. The final product was really interesting.

-         Picking up the heavily interactive adventure game "Immortality" appears to be for the same reasons, correct? It seems you also enjoyed "Her Story," another creation by the same developer, Sam Barlow, where the story unfolds through video and changes based on player choices.

Kui:      Both games were quite interesting. I was taken on unexpected journeys, with a mysterious touch. Their structure of interacting with live-action videos blurred the line between reality and the game, creating a strange sensation. It was chilling to be stared at by characters within the video. It was a powerful experience.

-         You seem to enjoy works where the story changes based on player intervention.

Kui:      It simply makes me happy when I see the consequences of my own choices.

-         Since the serialization of Dungeon Meshi began and you started doing research on games, what game would you say has influenced your own story?

Kui:      About that, although it's not a recent game, it is probably "Wizardry 6". In it, there's a pen named Cosmic Forge that turns whatever is written with it into reality. Long ago, this pen was contended over by a king and an evil sorcerer, leading to the destruction of an ancient castle. Now, new adventurers have infiltrated this castle... And that’s how the story goes. I got excited just by these few sentences. As NES became Super NES, graphics evolved too; the details like dust accumulating, broken furniture etc. were so well depicted. You could really enjoy the feeling of exploration. That is when I thought, "If I could draw stories and drawings like this…"

Dungeon Meshi started with the desire to depict the parts that are omitted in games

I felt embarrassed when the lines I wrote got performed by the voice actors (laughs)

-         Dungeon Meshi is being adapted into an anime and is currently airing to great acclaim. The anime is handled by TRIGGER, the same studio that created "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners," which is based on the "Cyberpunk 2077" a game that you also love.

Kui:      Regarding "Edgerunners," when I heard that this game I like is getting an anime adaptation, I was worried about watching it, thinking, "What if it's not the Night City I love?". However, when I mustered up the courage to watch it, I found that it [meshed] both the essence of "Cyberpunk 2077" and the unique style of TRIGGER very well.

-         Have you seen the completed version of the Dungeon Meshi anime?

Kui:      I haven't properly watched it yet (the interview was conducted in December 2023), but I had the opportunity to observe the voice recording sessions. It was really amazing, but I felt embarrassed hearing the voice actors bring so much emotion to the lines I wrote… Senbongi Ayaka’s [should be Sayaka, probably a spelling mistake] screams as Marcille were fantastic, but somehow it made me want to run away out of embarrassment. If it weren't my own work, I would have been able to enjoy it wholeheartedly. As for the production, I made a few requests on how I wanted certain things done, but for the most part, I've left it to TRIGGER-san.

-         As a game fan, it's also fascinating that the music for the anime is being handled by Mitsuda Yasunori, who has composed music for many games.

Kui:      I played "Chrono Cross" after I got my parents to buy the game for me. The opening song and graphics were so amazing that I watched them on repeat. Knowing that Mitsuda-san is in charge of the music for the anime is deeply moving for me.

-         The original series concluded with the 14th volume, and the sketchbook "Daydream Hour" was also published. Once things settle down, you'll probably have some time to thoroughly enjoy playing games. Are there any titles you're particularly looking forward to in 2024?

Kui:      I enjoyed "Cloudpunk," so I'm looking forward to "Nivalis" in 2024, although I'm not sure if it's coming out then [both games have the same German developer Ion Land, still not published as of 1. July 2024]. I'm also excited about "Avowed" [also not released].

-         As a gamer, I can't help but fantasise about a Dungeon Meshi game being made.

Kui:      In games, eating is often reduced to a task for buffs or debuffs, which tends to make it feel tedious. If it were made into a game, it would need to make this aspect interesting. However, I started Dungeon Meshi wanting to depict the parts that games typically omit, so developing a game based on it would indeed be quite challenging.

-         If it were a hardcore "Wizardry"-style game, what would you do?

Kui:      Play from Laios's point of view. Not eating means death. It sounds like it would be fun to play (laughs).

Other recommended games:

Some of them were also in the interview, but the list of games that Kui-sensei enjoys that we got beforehand [from her editor] is quite vast. Excluding titles illustrated on page 23 like "The Elder Scrolls" [Skyrim, because Ancano, that Thalmor bastard in the College of Winterhold’s questline, was depicted on the page 23] "Dragon Age," "Pillars of Eternity," and the "Pathfinder" series, here are just a few selected titles we didn't have time to delve into during the interview! If any of these catch your interest, feel free to investigate them further.

2064: Read Only Memories

Life Is Strange: Before the Storm

Mice and Sand Revised

Kingdom Come：Deliverance

Gorogoa

Detroit: Become Human

Crossing Souls

My Time at Portia

Tyranny

Sorcery! Parts 1 and 2

Marvel's Spider-Man

Vampyr

Dragon Quest Builders 2

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Another World

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim

The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit

Space Haven

Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition

Songs of Syx

Encased: A Sci-Fi Post-Apocalyptic RPG

Inscryption

Triangle Strategy

Two-Point Campus

Superliminal

Expeditions: Rome

Stacklands

PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo

Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly

The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood

Scene Investigators

Chicken Police

[eri-pl]

Silm reread 14: Men! (again)

Finrod goes hunting with M&M (C3 and AA are apparently too nasty for him to hang out?), gets bored (Finrod doesn't seem to have a great attantions span), travels far because why not, he likes new places, discovers Men.

The Men are like: Yay, we found the place we've been looking for, it's perfect, all our problems are over! Finrod decides that Men are his new hyperfixation lovely. He isn't the first Elf to meet them, they'd met the Avari and learned from them already!

Osanwe and stuff.

Finrod gets named Nóm, which totally isn't "gnome but make it nonless obvious". Finrod the gnome. I love him. And making fun of him [affectionate].

Also, the Men (Beorians) are totally fanboying over Finrod too, they claim him as their ruler and swear fealty to the Arafinweans. It seems like it is spontaneous, he doesn't ask for it or anything. No colonizer vibes. They just love each other a lot. It's all very cool and kind.

A canon cnfirmation that the Eldar (so: not Sindar) are the best at learning languages of all the peoples.

Of course, Finrod asks questions. Where do Men come from? They don't want to talk about it. Finrod will keep poking, of course. Very relateable.

Here we get the thing I already posted about: Morgoth also hyperfixated on Men, so he went to corrupt them and left Sauron as the manager. And Sauron immediately lost Maedhros, and didn't even know how. :D (It's not canon, it's my interpretation of the timeline).

Anyway, Morgoth returns and leaves "only a few of his servants and not very powerful or skilled ones" among Men. So no, tha guy we'll later see impersonating one of the Mannish chieftains very likely isn't Sauron, just some less savvy shapeshifter guy. Which shows that there are more uMaiar whose MO is shapeshifting+spreading lies. which, I think, is even mentioned somewhere.

The Green Elves of Ossiriand seem to be hardcore vegans: they can't be friends with Men, because the Men cut trees and hunt animals.

The Men relocate to A&A's lands and Beor asks Finrod to take him to Nargothrond. And here he gets the name Bëor, which means a vassal… yes, it sounds not great, but based on the vibe I would assume he was the one to pick the name and Finrod reluctantly agreed.

Other Men settle at Caranthir's land and are ignored. Finrod generally visits Men often, and many Elves of both tribes come to see them too, because Men are a cool novelty. Generally, cultural exchange.

"It is said that" (Pengolodh, you gossip!) only Finrod consulted the "giving lands to Men" thing with Thingol. (TBH, Thingol banned pretty much every other Noldo from Doriath so… well ok, they could have sent letters I guess.)

Also, Thingol does have mysterious nightmares about Men!!! Self-fulfilling prophecies ftw. Ha had those even before Men were a thing. So, this is important.

Some Men fear Eldar and the light in their eyes. Huh. Yea, they're sus and Morgoth-infused I suppose. And we have the "not Sauron because he would be more competent" shapeshifter scene.

Sidenote: It would make a good comedy fic (either a very dark comedy or not very canon but anyway): this guy returns to Sauron, tells him the [lack of] results, and Sauron (still upset after losing Mae) berates him and lectures him on how to do it properly. (If less comedic, probably some quotes or at least close paraphrases from a CSL's book I have not read would fit well in here). Hmm. It could even work without comedy.

Haleth, siege, all that stuff, Caranthir learns to respect Men, and Haleth doesn't want to be his subordinate anyway. Also, she's so brave (and/or insane) that she leads her people through the Spider-land. Also, she disses Thingol a bit (he deserved that one).

Men learn sindarin en masse. Also, many young guys serve in Elven army. Cultural exchange again.

Oh, Boromir is a FA name too! XD I forgot that. Plus a lot of other people having weird names plus we get the genealogies for Turin, Tuor and Beren. Men are cool and awesome and stuff + at the end of this chapter the three Edain tribes are described. TBH I see a pretty clear analogy of:

Hadorians - Vanyar (blond, blue-eyed, tall, author's fav), but the Men are more anger-prone. (Also, Hadorians are quite Tulkas-like to me.)

Beorians - Noldor (dark hair, grey-eyed, craftsy), but the Men have more pity

Halethians (sp?) - Teleri (not social, forest-y)

Beor dies, Elves are sad and confused that it is a thing. End of chapter.

[melanieph321]

Dusan Vlahovic x Reader - Boss Me Around Part 4/6

⚠️ Warning ⚠️

+18

Reader is a former yacht girl now newly moved to Turin, Italy for her job as a real-estate accountant. There she meets Dusan Vlahovic, a former client of hers, a client she never thought to see again. However, with Dusan being Readers new boss their past becomes a liability. Nevertheless the spark between them still lives. This story is a romcom with both His and Her POV!

Enjoy!

The car ride wasn't awkward, it was just quiet. So quiet.

Dusan drove with confidence, one hand on the steering wheel. You watched him maneuver his car through the streets of Turin. The night was young. People roamed the streets with a hymn for the weekend. You on the other hand, was planning for a weekend featuring a desperate search for a new job. It was strange to be cramped into a space with the cause of your problems. He seemed so at peace however, zoned out from reality. Perhaps he hadn't picked up the documents yet. Then he would've know that you were quitting on him.

"Is it the first building or the second one?"

"Huh?"

You were brought out of your head as Dusan turned the corner, the car already rolling onto the streets of your apartment complex.

Dusan turned his head, seeing that he had lost you for a second. He smiled and did not mind repeating himself. "Should I drop you off here or over there?" He asked.

"Oh. Right. Over there." You pointed to the tall building shielded by the one you were currently parked by. Dusan took his foot of the break and let the car roll down the hill. Slowly. Almost as if he was biding his time.

"Strange." He scuffed. "I own this whole block of apartments but I've never once made it past the second floor in neither of them."

"Very strange." You nodded, eager to get out of the car. Dusan must have noticed this, because as soon as the car stop rolling and your hand streched for the doorhandle, a hand went to stop you from leaving.

"Dusan?" You frowned, looking down at his hand that lay flat against your thigh. He pulled it away seeing the startled look on your face, but that did not stop him from staring at you as if the whole world had gone dark and you were the only light left in it to guide him.

"I really am sorry." He said, his throat moving when he swallowed. "For being an asshole. I really am."

"I believe you." You batted your eyes, quite taken aback by how sincere he came across. As if he really cared about what you thought of him.

"You must understand my position in this. If someone were to find out about our past." He swallowed once more. "About what happened in Miami....."

"They won't." You nodded. "Don't even worry about it, because..."

"You're leaving me, I know." He sounded unhappy by the fact. Nevertheless he had found your two weeks notice amongst the documents and now the cat was out of the bag.

You sat back in the passenger seat, your gaze held ahead of you. "It's for the best."

He chuckled.

"What's so funny?" You turned to look at him. He was looking ahead, hands still clenching the steering wheel. In the light coming down from the apartments above you noticed it, his dimples. He also had a carved jaw, strong and set to crush lesser men's dreams. He was beautiful, but you already knew that. And the smell of him, it was awfully familiar, invading your nostrils as he leaned towards you.

"Hey, you okay?"

He touched you again. A light stroke with his fingers nipping your chin. He wanted you to meet his eyes.

"Dusan I..."

"Yes?"

"I...."

You were so lost in it all. The smell of him, his touch. It brought back memories. Good ones.

"Do you want to come up with me....?"

The dent between his brow made you unsure of yourself.

"For tea." You clarified. Who doesn't want tea?

Dusan's hand let go of your chin, along with his gaze that also faltered. It looked to be regret.

"Or don't come up for tea, it's whatever."

You hurried with the belt, fumbling terribly.

"Y/N?"

There was a slight drop from the car down to the ground, making you stumbled on your way out.

"Y/N?"

You tipped toe on your heels, moving quickly towards the entrance to your building. You felt embarrassed to the point of wanting to duck under your bed covers. Matter of fact, it's the first thing you'd do when confined between the safe walls of your apartment.

"Y/N, wait!"

Dusan was out of the car, quickly trailing your steps. You turned around to find him inches away from you, his chest rising with his heavy breathing.

"What?" You demanded, quite rude of you.

"I'm not sure I'm allowed to park here." He said, to which you frowned. "Huh?"

"The car." He pointed. "I don't know how long I'm allowed to stand here. But if we're having tea I should find a better place to park, no?"

Heat rose to your face as you were blushing pathetically. "You...you want to come up for tea?"

"Of course." He said, almost insulted that you'd think underwise. But then his face softened. "If you'll still have me?"

The warmth that spread through your body lingered and did not go away. You didn't want it to go away, not now, not ever. "Leave it here." You said, nudging your head towards the Range Rover.

"But won't I get a ticket?"

You search your bag for your keys, pressing, the tag to the entrance for it to open. "Don't worry, I know the owner of this place."

"You do?"

You held the door open for Dusan, but he was hesitant to enter.

"Yes, however he's a real asshole."

The corner of his lip tugged into a smile. Dusan looked to you in wonder, perhaps not sure of what to make of you. "You're a real smartass, you know that right?"

"I take that as a complement, thank you."

You slipped inside and let the door shut behind you. You were glad to see that Dusan was tracing his steps behind you.

********************************************

She was well into telling him about her plans for the place. How she wanted to repaint the kitchen and buy a brand new couch for the living room. Dusan however, was well into planning on when to take a day off from work, and where in Turin one could buy good paint. The best paint,  since Y/N deserves it all.

"And then I'm sort of planning to remodel the bathroom. But I'm not sure how long that will take now that I'm..." She paused abruptly, staring blankly at him as they sat across from each other in the small but cozy kitchen, tea cups in hand.

"Now that you're what?" He asked, cooking his head with curiosity.

"It's nothing, nevermind." She said, and withdrew herself.

Dusan frowned. "No. Come on. Tell me. What's stopping you from renovating your new bathroom?"

She blushed. She tired to hide it but Dusan caught her flushed expression before she bowed her head. "Well I am sort of on the market..." She mumbled.

Dusan frowned. "On the market for what?"

She inhaled deeply, raising her head to meet his eyes. "For a new job, Dusan."

"Right. " He sighed and took a long sip of his tea. It was cold by now.

"I'm not even sure I can get a new job in the city." She continued. "I might even have to move to another town."

Dusan worried about the distress in her voice, the distress that he had caused. "It won't be necessary." He interrupted.

She frowned. "What won't be necessary?"

Dusan hated how she could paralyze him with one gaze. How one stern look from her made him question his whole identity.  His whole manhood. "You won't have to quit your current job." He explained. "That is, if we keep our distance."

It would be hard, avoiding her. He could move her office to another floor. However the other employees would wonder why, especially Louisa. But what if he moved his office to another floor? Yes. He would do that for her. If it guaranteed that she'd stay. Stay with him.

"And if we don't?"

Her words echoed through the kitchen like a stoic citation. It lingered in the air as Y/N, kept her eyes on Dusan, waiting for him to answer her.

"If we don't?" He repeated with a raised brow.

"I mean..." She tried to refrace the question but the damage was already done. Y/N rolled her eyes. "I didn't mean it like that."

He smirked. "But you did."

"Don't get ahead of yourself." She stood, collecting their cups of tea even if Dusan's wasn't empty. She brought the dishes to the sink, dumping them inside. She turned to face him with an expression that clearly stated that their night was over.

Dusan did not protest, nor went against her desire for him to leave. But then he thought of something she had said. "As a yacht girl...." Her eyes widened with that sentence, not expecting him to bring up the subject. "You don't get paid to...you know?" He had no better way of saying it. "...you know?"

Y/N arched her brow. "Have sex with people?"

He nodded. "Yes."

"No. Like I said, I'm only paid to keep people company. Those are the rules."

Dusan nodded. Not sure if he believed her. He came around the kitchen table, approaching the sink. "But you had sex with me." He said, to which she sighed.

"Yes, Dusan. I had sex with you."

"So you broke a rule then?"

Her expression furrowed, not sure what he was playing at. Nevertheless, she carefully watched him approach the sink, stopping as he eventually stood before her.

"Why did you break a rule for me, Y/N?"

She snorted. "God, you're so full of yourself." She turned her back on him, preparing to do do the dishes, turning on the water. She gasped when Dusan pressed against her. His front against her back. He went to turn off the running water and the newfound quiet enhanced the sound of her aroused panting.

"Tell me the truth." He whispered, his voice in her ear. "You fucked me, even though you didn't have to."

"I wanted to." She moaned, her body slumped down against his chest, his stiff erection poking her in the ass.

"Why?" He demanded answers. "He demanded to know that it was true, that she had wanted him as much as he had wanted her."

"Because I like you."

Dusan turned her over, forcing her to face him. Her forhead knocked against his and Dusan grunted as his erection was now growing against the breach of her entrance, forcing her to shift her stans. "You like me." He chuckled. She spoke in present terms.

"Is that so hard to believe?"

He raised his head, her eyes on him. She was beautiful, staring up at him with innocence. Completely unaware of how desperate he was to tear her to pieces.

"If you only knew how much I want you too." He groaned.

She grinned. "I think I might have an idea."

Her hand slipped between them, searching for the length of him, squeezing it through his pants. Dusan stumble forward and groaned into her mouth. They came together with force, Dusan having to control himself not to knocked the back of Y/N's head against the cupboards.

Her arms wrapped around his neck, deepening the kiss. It was shamless and the consequences that followed would be severe. But right then and there, as Dusan's hands squeezed the curve of her ass, pressing her harder against his aching cock, he couldn't care less about the consequences. Tomorrow might as well not come. He would fuck her as if they only had tonight.

[lamemaster]

A Penance Unwanted

Request: Hi!🙂 How are you? ❤️Can you please spin the wheel for Gwindor? Thanks 💝✨️

Pairing: Gwindor x Reader

Genre: Timeloop au

AN: @mairablue Thanks for requesting!! Gwindor is awesome gotta love him. Such a fun concept. (What in the Hell is Happening Event)

“God dammit! You should have held him.” You groan watching Beleg die for the 25th time. Gwindor winced next to you. And from a distance you both watched Turin lament in the same low groaning pitch for the same 25th time. 

“I couldn’t have done that!” Gwindor replied indignantly. “Beleg wouldn’t listen. Look at these arms, do you think I can stop Cuthalion? You should have killed the orcs and then hit Turin on the head or something.” 

There had been a time when Beleg’s death daunted both Gwindor and you into silence. But now, it was a recurring event. Painful but numbed by the inevitable recurrence. 

You were back at it again. Stuck in the storyline of Turin and Beleg’s tragedy. Whatever deity found this funny had a messed-up sense of humor. 

"Next time, take Beleg through a longer route," you muttered, forming yet another plan, your voice heavy with a weariness born of repetition. "I'll try to find a way to poison the orcs, and hopefully, knock Turin out before he…" You trailed off, the futility of the task gnawing at you. But giving up wasn't an option. There had to be a way to break the loop, a way to alter the story.

"I swear to god if this is damned Melkor," you muttered, waiting for the inevitable reset. For both you and Gwindor to return to the past, to relive Beleg's death, and Turin's despair.

Knocking out Beleg, setting traps, and almost battling the thought of driving your sword through the emo king of Arda. This stupid loop tested you in every way. And most of all Gwindor who, unlike you, couldn't escape the grasp of Melkor's evil. The weight of his struggle, the subtle changes in his personality with each loop, filled you with a cold dread.

“Melkor can only so long imprison the children of Illuvatar,” Gwindor replied gently. His voice- so peaceful despite the pain he witnessed every reset. Taking your hand in his he continued, “We will find a way. One way or another you will return to your world and I will come to bear my fate.” There was this amazing elf. Comforting you when the hell broke loose around him. 

There was something truly extraordinary about this elf. Here he was, trapped in an endless cycle of loss, yet he offered you comfort when the world around him crumbled.  You couldn't help but wonder if it was the same unwavering faith in the good that led to his capture in the first place. 

It wasn't the scars or marks of torture that marred his once-handsome face that hurt you most, but the sheer unfairness of it all. He, who deserved a life filled with music and laughter, was trapped in this nightmarish cycle, forced to relive his torment while offering you solace.

"It isn't me you should be comforting," you chuckled, the sound hollow even to your own ears. "This is my penance. A fate that has led me to this nightmare, a well-deserved one." You didn't remember much of your world, only flashes – the resentful faces of strangers contorted in anger, the screaming voices that echoed relentlessly in your head, driving you to the teetering edge of insanity. You remembered everything but Gwindor from the rotten book you found in your dingy cell, the only companion in your solitary confinement.

The same one who now sat beside you, his hand warm against yours, a beacon of comfort in this unending darkness. "I deserve this. You don't," you whispered, the words heavy with a self-loathing you couldn't quite explain. He, who you sometimes questioned was real or a figment conjured by your fractured mind.

No. You wouldn't accept this twisted fate. You would break the loop, not just for your own sake, but for Gwindor's. Even if it meant defying the very fabric of this story, you would find a way to free him from Melkor's clutches.

Fuck Melkor, Ocrs, Turin, Valar, Illuvatar, and his wretched song. You were going to tear it all apart.

[upennmanuscripts]

#CoffeeWithACodex is an informal lunch or coffee time to meet virtually with Kislak curators and talk about one of the manuscripts from Penn's collections. Each week we'll feature a different manuscript and the expertise of one of our curators. Everyone is welcome to attend.

On June 13, curator Dot Porter will bring out Ms. Codex 1634, plans of fortifications for use at the royal academy of artillery and fortification founded in Turin in 1678, consisting entirely of figures of plans and elevations, some with landscape elements added in the background. Written in Turin, 1759.

Register here:

[lavalais76]

Here is another Jonsa/Jon Snow meta I found. It seems our “RyanBarns13” has come back to reality and changed his views. 😂 Anyway, another very interesting read guys. Enjoy.

The Pact of Ice and Fire is the key to Jon's Parentage Part 1 

RyanBarns13

1yr ago

Spoilers Default

The key to everything in this series is two things, THE PACT OF ICE AND FIRE and Jon Snow, the only person who is not a Stark Daughter who can complete it. The outline was clear. Jon/Stark Daughter. The pact is clear, Targaryen/Stark. Under very specific criteria. Once you accept that, the rest of the mysteries fall into place. No, Rhaegar cannot complete it with Lyanna, neither could the ones during the Dance. There is exactly one character in the entire series who can. And as Martin said, the big mystery of the series is Who Is Jon Snow’s Parents. He already told us. Several times. And its not Lyanna, Ashara, Wylla, Fisherman’s Daughter. Those are all red herrings. Rhaegar and Elia are the parents exactly as Rhaegar said. Exactly as Dany had her vision of.

Jon is the Prince that was promised. To Winterfell, to marry the Stark heir. This is why he is the Blood of Winterfell. And only one other character is ever called that. His spouse set up from the very beginning, through ADWD, reinforced in Fire and Blood.

Martin wrote this series as his response to Tolkien. What was the mystery of The Lord of The Rings? Who is Aragorn, aka Strider. And just like Tolkien, the entire story, from start to finish becomes an epic. The Song of Ice and Fire. Just as in Tolkien’s writing, The Silmarillion, we see the songs.

It is an entire world, but what is the focus? There are stories upon stories based on each character. Bran has his own epic, Arya has hers, Tyrion, Dany. Same as Tolkien did, Frodo has his epic journey, Sam supported him. Boromir was a hero defending Gondor, but failed. Faramir was the unwanted son but fought lived. But the answer lies in the title: The Return of the King. As much as it was Frodo’s Sam’s, it is Aragorn and Awren’s story. The story of a king and queen and the reclaiming of a throne.

And as with all epics, the story of the deeds and romance is turned into a song. The Song of Ice and Fire, is the story of the completion of the pact of ice and fire. It’s what Tolkien did also throughout the Silmarillion. The story within a larger story. Beren and Luthien, The Fall of Gondolin, The Lays of Beleriand, The Children of Hurin. Each of these is a story within a larger story. They are also history of the times turned into song with the Elves. And just as with the Pact of Ice and Fire, The Lord of The Rings, The Silmarillion, there is a story of romance in between the battles and slaughter.

This is the song of a Targaryen Prince, and his Stark Bride. And the song of what happened. And there are two “Starks” who love songs. But look at the Simillarion:

Beren and Luthien: Beren had to gain a Silmarillion from Morgoth for Luthiens hand.

The Fall of Gondolin: Tuor and Idril is the tale of a doomed city and the love between a human and elf princess which birthed the savior of elves and men.

The Children of Hurin: Turin and his sister Nienor and their doomed love.

The fall of Numenor itself is the basis for the fall of Valyria. The Mighty Empire that collapsed, and one family escaped and established their kingdoms.

Even in the Lord of The Rings itself, what is Aragorn’s story? Yes, becoming King of both the lost Northern kingdom and the remnants of the Southern one. But that is the requirement he must fulfill to be given Elrond’s daughters hand in marriage. The daughter he grew up with in Elrond’s house. It is the same story told a different way. Yes there was a agreement on the marriage in The Lord Of The Rings, it’s just not front and center. Instead of demanding he be king of both as Tolkien did with Elrond, Martin has laid out the story with a Pact that was never fulfilled. Until Jon Snow.

If the accepted theories are correct, Martin should be writing evidence to support them, not writing evidence that contradict them. Instead Martin is actively writing a story that directly contradicts many of the most accepted theories. He does not believe in changing the story because people figured it out. He will not change the story from the butler did it to the maid did it just because we figured it out. Yet he continues to write a story that contradicts R+L from the very first chapter, all the way through ADWD, and Fire and Blood.

The truth about R+L=J is not that it is the hidden truth, but that it is Robert who won the war, so he sets the narrative. It is what Robert believes happened. It is not even what Eddard believes. He hasn’t thought of Rhaegar in years. If he is raising Rhaegar’s son, this makes no sense. No one ever thinks Rhaegar and Lyanna. This goes for every character in the series. Because there is one simple truth, Jon looks like the child of a Dornish person. Look at Catelyn, Eddards soldiers and maids, Cercei, Edric Dayne. The point is every single one of them believes or flat out says, Dornish mom. Yes, he can pass as a Stark, compared to his brothers. They look like Tully kids. He looks MORE LIKE A STARK THAN THE RED-BROWN HAIRED, BLUE EYED TULLY LOOKING FAMILY. That’s not hard to beat. Half the continent can claim that distinction. But as we see over and over, Eddard is asked about Dornish Women as Jon’s mother. Eddard himself names Wylla the wet nurse from Starfall to Robert. This only holds up if people can see the Dornish in him. And from the very first chapter, Bran 1 we see that Jon does have Dornish Traits. His eyes, and his skin tone.

R+L is the one theory that Martin has actively had all the main characters who were alive and lived through those times tell us repeatedly, over and over, no this was not how it was. No one but Robert actually believes Rhaegar kidnapped Lyanna. No one even ever thinks of the possibility of Jon being Lyanna’s. Which should make the entire fandom rethink it. It should be the very first thing the characters assume. The Dornish looks of Jon is what prevents it.

Harrenhall and the events preceding and afterwards did not happen as we are led to believe. What happened was not in character for either Rhaegar or Lyanna. Even Eddard himself tells us, he does not think of Rhaegar very often at all, but that Rhaegar was not like Robert with the whoring… The timelines do not even remotely line up if you actually take the time to look into it. Closer to 9 months than a year or greater that would be needed. This is not Star Trek, Eddard cannot get to Lyanna giving birth at the TOJ, also down to Storm’s End to have the Reach surrender, and then travel across the continent all in the time frame that lines up with Martins stated words.

Part 1: The Missing Clues Are Hidden In Fire and Blood and The World of Ice And Fire

Most won’t consider the possibility, but Martin has been very clear in the BOOK WRITING exactly who Jon is the child of. From the first book, all the way to Fire and Blood where he gives us the final pieces of the mystery. Notable the Targaryen family tree, (Dark haired Targaryens, and which bloodlines do and do not give us what Jon looks like), To how the Targaryens hide the MALE heirs during wartimes. All the way to the different methods of counting years in the series, (how to hide several kids and keep track of their births easily), and the ultimate answer. Who can complete the Pact of Ice and Fire. (Thereby completing the SONG OF ICE AND FIRE). The Pact is laid out in perfect criteria as to how it must be completed. And only one single character in the entire saga can complete it. Jon Snow. Not Rhaegar Targaryen, not Aegon Targaryen the young man with Jon Connington, not Dany, Val, or any of the others. Only the Targaryen raised in Winterfell, with the future Mrs. Stark/Targaryen in the same castle.

Martins own wife has told us R+L is simple and Martin does not do simple. But can we actually find the answer already in the story? We can go all the way back to Bran 1 AGOT. Yes, our very first introduction to Jon gives us the answer to his birth. Martin has been giving us the answer from the very first look at Jon, through the HOTU visions, all during Jon’s time at the wall, through the beyond the wall storyline with the wildlings, and even with his time bonding with Stannis.

The Path to Becoming a Warrior:

When Rhaegar was young, he was not famous for being a warrior. He was famous for reading. Until one day he found something in old texts that made him become a warrior. The answer is giving in Fire and Blood.

First, the prophecy that caused Rhaegar to become a warrior:

For all these reasons, Lord Hammer (as he now styled himself) began to dream of crowns. “Why be a lord when you can be a king?” he told the men who began to gather round him. And talk was heard in camp of a prophecy of ancient days that said, “When the hammer shall fall upon the dragon, a new king shall arise, and none shall stand before him.” Whence came these words remains a mystery (not from Hammer himself, who could neither read nor write), but within a few days every man at Tumbleton had heard them.

Fire and Blood: The Dying of the Dragons, Rhaenyra Triumphant

Now what weapon was Robert famous for? A Hammer. And if a Targaryen was researching prophecy, dragon hatching information, whatever, as a Targaryen you would definitely read about the last time period the Targaryen’s successfully hatched dragons and the fall of the dragons. Rhaegar is a dragon. All Targaryens are known as Dragons. Just as all Starks are Wolves, Lannisters are Lions.

Rhaegar was big into prophecy. Now if he reads this thinking it would be him forced to fight, he would indeed become a warrior. And as Martin likes to do people that try to change or prevent prophecy, he ended up helping it come true. Just not as we assume.

But we are given more history to build up the level of animosity between Robert and the Crown. His father Stephon, who died while returning from trying to find Rhaegar a spouse. With both Robert and Stannis watching as their parents died. This is the beginning of Robert “dreaming of crowns”…. More on this later, as at Harrenhall we have even more points of Robert heart hardening against the Crown.

And yes, the Crown was not stupid, everyone could see the high lords of each region suddenly starting to branch out with marriage alliances, when before they married into their own kingdoms, rarely into other kingdoms. Suddenly you have 2/3 of the continent either entering or trying to enter into a grand interlocking alliance by marriages. Riverlands to North- Catylen to Brandon, North to Stormlands- Lyanna to Robert, Westerlands tried to arrange a marriage to Riverlands- Jaime to Lyssa, and North and Stormlands tied to the Vale through Fostering- Eddard and Robert fostering with Jon Arryn. This was done over years, not days. Even Joanna Lannister and The Princess of Dorne had plans to marry at least one of their kids to each other.

Why suddenly now? It’s because the dragons are gone, the Targaryen’s are suddenly weak, indeed almost all killed off at this point after Summerhall.

And if you study the time of Aegon 5 and his children, you see the seeds of the rebellion already being planted. Especially with three houses. The Stormlands, Riverlands, and the Reach. The Stormlands did get an alternate wedding but only after an uprising and trial by combat. Both the Riverlands and the Reach did not have the Royal weddings promised. The North at this point is still waiting on their wedding promised during the Dance.

Now look at both of regions actions during the war. The Riverland’s split down the middle, but the Tully’s married into the Vale and North. It was personal for old Hoster. Now look at the Reach, we should all know Olenna’s promised husband turned out gay, ran off and died. And the fact she still talks about it shows she hasn’t gotten over it. What we tend to forget is her actual husband also was promised a Targaryen princess. Shaera the future wife of her brother Jaehaery’s 2 instead. Is it any wonder that the Reach barely fought and surrendered first chance they had? Remember at this point, Dorne is still in a uprising for Viserys, he is being crowned on Dragonstone, and the Reach just dips their banners. Nor is it hard to understand their push to get Margaery on the throne.

Now the second main part is the Pact of Ice and Fire, of which Fire and Blood gives us the actual requirements, which as soon as you read them in Fire and Blood, negate Rhaegar and Lyanna no matter how it happened, no matter how many children they supposedly had. THEY CANNOT COMPLETE THE PACT.

The Pact itself:

This we do know: Cregan Stark and Jacaerys Velaryon reached an accord, and signed and sealed the agreement that Grand Maester Munkun calls “the Pact of Ice and Fire” in his True Telling***. Like many such pacts, it was to be sealed with a marriage.*** Lord Cregan’s son, Rickon, was a year old. Prince Jacaerys was as yet unmarried and childless, but it was assumed that he would sire children of his own once his mother sat the Iron Throne. Under the terms of the pact, the prince’s firstborn daughter would be sent north at the age of seven, to be fostered at Winterfell until such time as she was old enough to marry Lord Cregan’s heir.

Fire and Blood: The Dying of the Dragons, A Son for a Son

What are the terms exactly and why this tells us who Jon Snow will end the series with:

The pact is to be sealed with a marriage under very specific criteria. The child of the future Crown Prince. Not another Targaryen. Meaning, not Viserys, not Dany. Not any of Jacaerys Velaryon brothers or siblings, nieces, nephews. The child of the direct future king. In our current story, Crown Prince Rhaegar’s child. Not a run off and marry, nor a kidnapping and possible marriage. Nor can a hidden marriage under a heart tree count during the Dance**.**  It is the Stark heir marrying the Targaryen Prince’s Firstborn Daughter. The key point of this is the firstborn Targaryen Princess Rhaenys is DEAD. As is the Stark heir Robb. Both the firstborns. Who is next? Jon Snow which is the Targaryen male heir, so as prince/princess is interchangeable in Valyrian, it flips the roles. Meaning on the Stark side a female at this point. Sansa Stark as she is the oldest before Arya**.**  Strangely these are the only two children who were not raised by Eddard to be close siblings. Unlike every other sibling. And the one who we see in throughout the series who is only wanted for her claim to Winterfell. Of which Jon is the only one in the entire series who has turned down the chance to claim it because she is the heir. Layers upon layers of story tying in to the Pact.

And as some added facts, in the last books, when Jon answers Stannis over claiming Winterfell he says, Winterfell belongs to my sister Sansa. Over and Over. She is missing and presumed dead by the whole continent. The only “known” surviving Stark is ARYA STARK. He should be saying Winterfell belongs to my sister Arya at this point. The second is the setup for the Jon/Sansa/Tyrion triangle. Jon Sansa meet, then later Tyrion wants his wife back. Like the outline originally had with Jon/Arya/Tyrion.

2. The Prince’s Firstborn Daughter would be sent North at the age of seven to be fostered at Winterfell until she was old enough to marry the Stark heir. This is a super important clue. For several reasons I’ll lay out. First is the obvious, they would indeed grow up in the same castle as their future spouse. Destroying any of the fandom’s calls of they see each other as siblings thinking, or not seeing each other that way because they grew up together**. They were always planned to grow up together in the same castle. Martin himself wrote it this way from the beginning, through the outline, through the changes between outline and books, and fully gives us the requirement in Fire and Blood, which tells us it is still being set up to happen.**

In the books we are shown 2 characters who desire to rebuild Winterfell, rebuild the family with children named their siblings names. And we have EXACTLY 2 WHO ARE REFERRED TO AS BLOOD OF WINTERFELL. Layers upon Layers. All based on the Pact of Ice and Fire.

At this point we need to verify that we are looking at Martin’s original intent to see if we are still on the same track, so let’s look at what he planned in the leaked outline. There is no Jon/Dany romance in the original outline. But it flat out calls for a JON/ARYA romance. With a JON/ARYA/Tyrion love triangle. With one key thing we ignore, yes, it is supposed to horrify the characters. The Starks just went all incest love is supposed to horrify the reader too.

UNTIL THE PARENTAGE REVEAL. MEANING THE PARENTAGE REVEAL MAKES IT NOW GOOD AND ALL IS WELL. Which flat out takes Ned and all possible parentage options with him off the table. They cannot be actual siblings. Now what do we also know? The story has indeed changed, but many aspects are still roughly the same but performed by different people. There is also still the setup for a Jon/Stark/Tyrion triangle. Martin changed the plan by having Tyrion end up married to the oldest Stark daughter instead of the really close sibling. And Jon repeatedly asked if he would get frisky with his sister. (Avoids answering). With hints from Melissandre that they might be a bit bigger in Jon’s heart than he likes to let on. Arya was split into Arya and the new version of Sansa. This is key, because both Jon and Arya still see themselves as SIBLINGS. Think back to the original outline once again. Is Sansa and Arya’s stories the same? Good god no. But what is roughly the same? The Jon/Stark Daughter/Tyrion set up. Leading into a Jon/Stark Daughter relationship with the parentage reveal.

Remember Ygritte asking Jon if he would bang his sister? Kinda what the hell, until the Pact comes into play. Yes, Jon will be banging a sister. And as we see, he is pretty down with it. Most people would just say no and move on, not try to find reasons he can…

She punched him. “That’s vile. Would you bed your sister?” “Longspear’s not your brother.” “He’s of my village. You know nothing, Jon Snow. A true man steals a woman from afar, t’ strengthen the clan. Women who bed brothers or fathers or clan kin offend the gods, and are cursed with weak and sickly children. Even monsters.”

“Craster weds his daughters,” Jon pointed out.

Jon just quit deflecting the question, would you bed your sister? Not, well Craster weds his daughters…. Guess if he does it then it’s good enough for Jon to get a sister or two…

Will Dany and Jon meet? Hell yes, the others basically ensure that. Both are heads of the Dragon. But both have different stories, that will converge based on the stories in Fire and Blood and the unavoidable confrontation set in the main series, but not as a romantic item. Look at Martin’s books. He has been setting Dany up with what we debate is either FAegon, or Aegon from the very beginning. Love or War, we will see. We will go over that later. But as we all know, there will be a second Dance.

3. Now for a detail most have missed. The age 7 that is the start of the official fostering. Martin has actually covered even this in Jon’s story as a bastard of Eddard Stark**. Jon was not born in 283.** He was born at the end of 281. He is Aegon Targaryen.  He was indeed handed over to Lord Stark at age 7. Exactly as the Pact required.

“By wing? We have no trained ravens. No, I knew your face. I’ve seen it before. Twice.” It made no sense at first, but as Jon turned it over in his mind, dawn broke. “When you were a brother of the Watch …” “Very good! Yes, that was the first time. You were just a boy, and I was all in black, one of a dozen riding escort to old Lord Commander Qorgyle when he came down to see your father at Winterfell. I was walking the wall around the yard when I came on you and your brother Robb. It had snowed the night before, and the two of you had built a great mountain above the gate and were waiting for someone likely to pass underneath.” “I remember,” said Jon with a startled laugh. A young black brother on the wallwalk, yes … “You swore not to tell.” “And kept my vow. That one, at least.”

I’ll explain more on that later. But the entire thing went down, and the prophecy is still being played out, even as characters try to change and influence it. But as Dalla said, prophecy is like a sword without a hilt, there is no safe way to grasp it. Basically its FATE. As we see, every time a character tries to change fate, they end up making it come true. But back to how Jon’s age is made to be after Robb’s.

But for this we must first turn to the very first pages of Fire and Blood. Throughout the story we have been told Bastards grow faster. Jon as a bastard grew faster according to Maester Luwin. And its utter horseshit. Until you realize, Jon is older than he is portrayed. And Maester Luwin is covering for Ned and protecting Jon. How can Eddard get away with it? Wouldn’t Catelyn know?

No, she would not. It’s made plain she didn’t really have much to do with Jon. First look at Bran’s description of Robb compared to Jon. And Jon’s complaints on Joffery. Jon and Robb are older, but Joffery is taller than both. Also, as Jon says when he was leaving Bran’s room to go to the wall, it was the first time she really looked at him, and the first time she called him by his name. Jon was raised by a wet nurse, Luwin, and Old Nan. By servants, and Ned Stark. Not by Catelyn. The story works because she was not involved.

He was at the door when she called out to him. “Jon,” she said*. He should have kept going,* but she had never called him by his name before. He turned to find her looking at his face, as if she were seeing it for the first time.

AGOT, Jon 2

As if she were seeing it for the first time. This is not a “mother” figure who has anything to do with this kid. And after she truly looks at Jon’s face? Still Ashara. Still the Dornish lady. Not Lyanna.

But back to Jon’s age. We all know Martin hates dates. But he has given us enough hard dates to figure out the births. And he has answered a question about the difference between Dany and Jon’s births. And it is key. Closer to 9 months than a year or greater separating Jon and Dany births. Meaning 9-10 months at the most between births. To have Jon born at the Tower of Joy, we are closer to 5-6 months.

We have the latest possible time frame of 2 weeks Rhaella could be impregnated by Aerys. The two weeks between the Trident and the Fall of King’s Landing. The very last time Rhaella and Aerys was in the same location. And the last weeks Aerys was alive. Either Dany is wrong about being born 9 months after her mother fled to Dragonstone, or Jon is not born months after this at the Tower of Joy with Ned somehow managing to arrive at exactly the right minute after travelling all over the continent, or BOTH births are WRONG. Meaning Dany is not Aerys child at all. Which would make sense as people only see Ashara and Rhaegar in her. As Rhaella is known to be pregnant in the timeframe for it to be considered Aerys child, there was indeed a child. But think Aegon Targaryen that is with Jon Connington. The one who while supposed to be between 18-19 in 300 AC, Tyrion thinks looks 15-16 in 300 AC. That’s a big difference. Especially as he has a set birthdate of at the end of 281. A Targaryen indeed, but of Aerys and Rhaella. Martin’s wife was right. Martin does not do simple.

But everyone wonders if Aegon is real or fake? If Dany is not the child of Rhaella? Who is? Why would Elia allow Varys to save her son, but leave her daughter to be killed? Historically Princess Rhaenys was the one Targaryen that should not have been in danger. She was female. She should have been kept as a hostage, or even married to the winners family to help prevent rebellions. Martin has expressly told us who Dany’s parents are already. Ashara and Rhaegar. Which means she is the child that was conceived around the time of Harrenhall or within a month afterwards. Which lines up perfectly with Jon’s birth if he is the true Aegon in the story, born pretty closely in the aftermath of Harrenhall right before the turning of the new year of 282. According to Barristan Dany has Ashara’s eyes. Unlike Robert, who cannot remember what Lyanna even looks like, Barristan can see Ashara perfectly. He was indeed in love with her. So much so that when he looks at Dany, it is like looking at Ashara’s daughter.

Even after all these years, Ser Barristan could still recall Ashara’s smile, the sound of her laughter. He had only to close his eyes to see her, with her long dark hair tumbling about her shoulders and those haunting purple eyes. Daenerys has the same eyes. Sometimes when the queen looked at him, he felt as if he were looking at Ashara’s daughter … But Ashara’s daughter had been stillborn, and his fair lady had thrown herself from a tower soon after, mad with grief for the child she had lost, and perhaps for the man who had dishonored her at Harrenhal as well.

ADWD The Kingbreaker

And over and over, we see that she has Rhaegar’s face.

[totkdaily]

Day 93: Unlocking the Thunderhead Islands

I emerge from the shrine into a thunderous early morning. All I can see are the faint cold glow of shrines through the rain.

I glide down towards Dracozu Lake, and the storm dissipates into a pale morning.

I find a korok right on top of the dragon head sculpture I remember from all those years ago - and it mentions that something strange is happening in Korok Forest. Noted. But I could hardly be further from there now. I'm sure the Deku Tree can handle things until I can get there.

I stop by the Goddess Statue - not huge as I remember, but still peaceful in this overgrown and ruined place. She asks me to seek out Farosh and bring her claw here to help restore the Mother Goddess Statue.

I will. But first I need to find Tauro.

I find a tent, but no Tauro.

He's left a note for Calip - he says the pillar ruin here is an anomaly. He investigated it, and found an opening at the base.

Well, let's hope he hasn't got himself into trouble. I follow his trail.

Fortunately, he seems fine. He's found a mural of some kind. There's writing, which he translates to:

“Wear the electric garb hidden at long-necked dragons along the wide-mouthed forest serpent.”

He thinks it might be a code. It sounds like instructions to me… Surely the forest serpent is the river? Tauro recalls a song that compares Dracozu River to a forest dragon. The next part reads:

“Offer a Zonai charge to the altar at the tail.”

Which suggests we'll need to walk the full length of the river.

There's a chest here as well, containing a Charged Shirt. This seems like the first element of the electric garb the mural mentions. Right. Time to find the rest. I head down the river.

The gateway to the next pillar is fallen in, but Daruk breaks us through. Within, we find the Charged Trousers. One more to go.

The final pillar is half-flooded, but still accessible.

Within, I find the Charged Headdress. The set is complete. As I emerge, the rain returns with a vengeance.

Now, the altar at the tail… I keep following the river.

I see the pale light of the doorway through the rain. Inside, roots and rocks obscure the room. But there is definitely an altar. I lay down a Zonai charge. And runes begin to glow green.

Each of the pillars in turn light up, their horns begin to call down lightning. Four strikes at once lash through the sky.

And the storm above… clears. New sky islands are revealed within that enormous bank of cloud.

Tauro decides to head back to the village to report to Purah. I'm going up to those islands.

But how? Is the skyview tower tall enough? Could I try from the top of the Dueling Peaks?

The tower is just high enough, thanks to Turin. I land in the Thunderhead Islands.

It looks like we've got a long climb ahead of us to reach the eye of the storm.

And as if that weren't enough, I spot the Blood Moon, rising.

I don't hear Zelda's voice as it passes over. Perhaps even that was the imposter all along.

[girljeremystrong]

hi cat!! i have a favor to ask - would you be able to tell me some of your favorite places/cities/anything in italy? my cousins & i are planning a trip & are a bit overwhelmed with choices haha

YES but first i have to warn you that i have barely scratched the surface of the beauty that's in this country and most importantly i have barely been in the south and on the islands except for i went to naples a decade ago so i can't really recommend anything there which is a shame because the south of italy is INCREDIBLE. for instance my dream is to take a road trip through sicily and wander around for like a month. again i can't really speak on it because i've never been but i think it must be one of the most splendid places in the world and it's full of ancient greek architecture and the sea is wonderful and the cities are full of beautiful art and i can't wait to go and see it all with my own eyes.

of course i live in tuscany and specifically near florence and i think florence is the best of the best in the whole world and i think you should definitely go and see it. but also it's a small-ish city and while exploring it fully would take a lifetime i think if your goal is to visit a few places and cities in the same holiday you can probably get away with spending like four days in florence and then go somewhere else! places that i think you should definitely visit while in florence are: the uffizi galleries of course, orsanmichele (i got chocked up the first time i visited because it's so beautiful and the views of the city are stunning), the cathedral of santa maria del fiore where you can decide if you want to climb up the bell tower or the dome (or both if you're very fit!) and i particularly love the medici chapels and the museum galleria palatina in palazzo pitti. and everything is in the city center so it's easy to walk everywhere and walking everywhere you'll be able to see the piazza della signoria with our most beautiful palazzo vecchio and the ponte vecchio!

while you're in florence you might want to go to a few nearby places like you could take an hour train to pisa where you honestly just need a couple hours to bask in the glory of the piazza dei miracoli (which houses the famous crooked tower but also a gorgeous cathedral and baptistery). very near florence (like a short bus ride away) is fiesole which is a cutie little mini town where you can get one beautiful view over florence and also see etruscan/roman excavations and ruins including a beautiful roman theater! also near florence but slightly harder to reach is certaldo where one of the fathers of italian literature was born and which is famous nowadays for being gorgeous and old and having a beautiful beautiful palazzo pretorio. siena is almost a must see in my opinion and it's a train ride away from florence and it is just a beauty. so incredible. further south we have two absolutely stunning little gems called san gimignano and volterra which you might know from twilight SHDJDKJF but no seriously they are so beautiful and you eat so well there and both are so worth seeing.

liguria is just north of tuscany and i know it a little. i think of course that cinque terre are incredible and so italian and great but i will add that a little seaside town called portovenere should absolutely be added to the itinerary if you're gonna be close because it's beautiful and it houses one of the best things i have ever seen in my life which is byron grotto (yes like the poet! apparently he would swim out of there to go reach shelley?) which is soooo gorgeous.

so like. i don't know because i am biased and i was born and raised here but i think tuscany (and that corner of liguria) is the most beautiful gorgeous and perfect little triangle of land in the whole world and if you're coming to italy from everywhere else i think that's the first place you should visit.

of course milan and rome and turin and naples and venice are all incredible and worth of a (long) visit and i have found such beauty and met incredible people and been left speechless by what i've seen in each of those cities but maybe that's for another post and also i definitely do not know them nearly as well as i know florence but i think you would love to visit them.

IN CONCLUSION. i don't know that this will have clared your head in any way at all. it's a bit all over the place. i love florence and i love tuscany but italy is beautiful in every corner in every way!

[mzannthropy]

The first pic of Jeremy Irons as Abbe Faria in the new The Count of Monte Cristo series!

Article here is in Italian. Translated by Google:

The ingredients are known, brought to the cinema and on TV several times (the first time in 1922, the count over the years played by Jean Marais, Andrea Giordana, Depardieu, Jim Caviezel). Adventure, injustice, mysteries, betrayals. And an inexhaustible thirst for revenge. «This seems to me above all to be Dumas' moral: the idea that revenge can poison a person - reflects Irons -. It's very current. We live in a poisoned climate, people think that lashing out at each other is good for them . On the other hand, Dumas wrote it in an equally complex historical moment, in the 19th century. Today, like yesterday, it is essential to find a way to save yourself. It is Faria himself who offers his hand to Edmond. He acts as a mentor to him." What Iron is for young Claflin (Pirates of the Caribbean, Hunger Games, Peaky Blinders). «Jeremy is a myth, it doesn't seem true to me that he was chosen. Edmond Dantès is like four characters in one, he changes so much, not just in terms of identity. I understand that for the French he is a kind of superhero, and that every era wants something of him."

Fifteen weeks of filming , first in Paris, Turin, Rome, where the most complex ones were a Carnival in Campo de' Fiori and an execution in Piazza Farnese. Various locations in Malta, including Fort Manoel, prison fortress. The abbot is now near his end, Edmond understands that this will be his chance to escape. With the treasure map that he gave him . «Faria has many layers, he is a complex character. He is a man of the church, he lived years in prison, he exercised patience. He dug a tunnel but in the wrong direction, to Edmond's cell. He found tricks to survive, books and knowledge also helped him. He is an incredibly motivated man, he has charisma. And the meeting with Edmond makes him stand up again." Irons enjoyed wearing the tunic and beard. «I trusted Bille, we made three films together. At work I am instinctive, never too sure of myself. Every time is a new beginning. There is nothing mechanical in our profession. The script is similar to a wine, it is living, evolving matter. We need to create the right conditions." For August, one of the conditions was the presence of Irons. «The abbot is the key to the novel. At the center is a man who is completely obsessed with revenge, which eats away at him from the inside, no longer allowing him to love. In the series we tell the whole story, faithful to the novel. Claflin has the right sensitivity and Jeremy makes the difference. I knew he would give a wonderful portrait. The scenes between him and Sam are very touching, he is the person he is closest to, he reveals to him where the treasure is and that when the young man wants to commit suicide he trusts him. He's almost like a father." It wasn't difficult, Irons admits. « I teach him how to live the new life of a rich man , mixing with different people: intellectuals, aristocrats, businessmen. He has a lot to learn. I believe that anyone who has lived is happy to pass on what they know. Me too, of course. Sam reminds me of my oldest son. His name is Sam too."

Jeremy is such a good casting for Faria. He looks like he stepped straight out of the pages of the book. (Also fun fact, the oldest son named Sam is photographer!)

[applejuicefruit]

About that Dusan request…one where he is going on a date with a new girl and spottes his ex girlfriend with someone and gets so jealous because he still has feelings for her. Isn’t necessary a name for the girl, right?

I didn’t know if you wanted reader to be the new girl or the ex girlfriend but I assumed she was going to be the ex girlfriend in this story, let me know if I got it right 😭

Also thank you for requesting this ⭐️

Break up with your boyfriend

Life’s a shit, you always thought. Everything in your life went wrong, from your divorced parents who blamed you for their marriage fail, to your only best friend cheating with your first ever boyfriend, from falling in love again with the man you thought it was the one to having the worst break up because he wanted to focus more on his football career than keeping a very healthy and genuine relationship with you. But as you thought men were stupid, the fact was that your ex couldn’t keep a relationship with you focus on his career proved you that in fact men have two brain cells. When you met Dušan everything changed. You never felt something like that for anyone, not even your ex. He taught you how to love and showed you what it meant to be loved. He was perfect for you until the day he wasn’t. You knew he played football. You weren’t a fan but you supported him no matter what, always cheering for him at the stadium, always wearing his jersey and showing him all the love and the support you had. But things for his team got hard and he broke up with you with the excuse that he needed to be more focus on his football career. You were heartbroken, you never thought that day would come but here you were, gathering your things from his apartment, not even looking him in the eyes because you knew you would start crying and wouldn’t stop. In just a minute you were out of his apartment and his life.

It’s been nine months after the break up and even if it took you a few months to realize what happened you were okay now. You didn’t even think about him anymore, in fact you met someone new, you were seeing a person for a few weeks and you liked him. You were still knowing each others but you liked how everything was going, not rushing anything, just calm and peace. He was very patient, elegant and kind, always asking for permission and consent, even when you first kissed. And you absolutely loved it.

It was a cold october afternoon when you and your new boyfriend were happily taking a walk in the centre of Turin when he asked if he could stop for a few minutes into a shop he saw. You said yes - of course - and asked him if he wanted you to go but he said you could wait for him if you didn’t mind it because he was going to be quick. So he left your hand and gently kissed it before going into the store. That gesture made you smile and blush a bit.

While you were outside of the shop waiting for him to come back io decided to check your phone for a bit but getting bored you put it down and looked at the people who were having a nice day in the city. That’s when you saw him. Dušan. Coming out from Louis Vuitton. Hand in hand with a new girl. And that made you feel sad. He broke up with you because he wanted to focus more on his football career and now he was here with a new girl? He saw you too. He saw the look on your face, the pain and in that moment he was cursing himself for being the reason of your pain. He never wanted to break up with you, he just thought it was better for him but he quickly realised how he missed you. You wanted to scream at him but you didn’t. You felt your eyes becoming glossy but you didn’t want to cry, not in front of him, not in front of millions of people. Instead you turned and went into the shop looking for your boyfriend.

Dušan saw that too. Saw the way you went straight into his arms and the way he kissed you, probably asking if you were okay. It made his blood boil. He was so mad because you found someone else but he was so mad at himself for letting you go.

After that day you spent the night home alone. You didn’t want to see anyone or talk to anybody. Until you heard a knock on your front door.

Not thinking twice you opened the door, maybe it was your boyfriend who wanted to spend some time with you. Instead you came face to face with Dušan.

“Hey…” he said awkwardly but you didn’t say anything back “…can I come in?” he asked this time

“No, now get out” you said in your steady voice

“Please…we need to talk” he begged you, looking at you with his eyes and you knew you couldn’t resist so you let him in

“What do you want?” you asked him

“We’re not dating” he said probably referring to the girl you saw him with “we’re just…friends”

“Honestly? I don’t care. She can be your girlfriend or you fuck friend I don’t care, we’re over don’t you remember?” you asked in a sarcastic tone

“I do remember…but I also know that breaking up with you was never my intention…I loved you so much and I still love you and seeing you with that man today made me so mad…”

“Wait you’re here because you’re jealous? You broke up with me! You didn’t want me anymore! It’s been nine months Dušan…I’m dating someone else and I’m happy okay?” you shouted at him losing your temper

“But does he make you happy like I did?” he asked you taking few steps towards you

“Yes” you said

“Now say it again but look me in the eyes” he said placing his hands on your hips, your body not even moving - you hated the effect he had on you

“I’m in love with him…” you said, your voice cracking a bit

“Sure…” he whispered

“You can’t do this…” you said looking up at him

“Do what?”

“This…breaking up with me, making me feel like shit and then after months coming back here like nothing happened…you hurt me, you fucking hurt me…you can’t come back here, pretending to not knowing I’m in a relationship and act like you want me back Dušan…I can’t - I can’t do this…” you said freeing yourself from his grip but he was too quick he grabbed your hand

“I know I’m so sorry…I never meant to hurt you, I still love you, I’ve never stopped loving you…” he said looking into your eyes and you could see he was telling the truth “I miss you so much you have no idea…please, please break up with him…give me a second chance baby…I miss you” he said, taking your hands and kissing them, then placing a kiss on your cheek and you closed your eyes, not being able to look at him “please baby…” he said coming closer and closer to your face, one of his hands reaching the back of your neck. Your head was spinning, your look was back on his lips and all you wanted to do was kissing him. He made the first move and he gently kissed you. How you missed his lips and his taste. He was everything you ever wished for.

“Please break up with your boyfriend” he begged you and you simply nodded, kissing him again and leading him into the bedroom knowing he would have to make up to you for all the moments you’ve lost.