#the build up to therr. thinking about all of it alone on the way. always the sitting with it. the hours settling in

[seithr]

unfortunately the allure of "at work i genuinely don't think that much and have no time or capacity to worry about home because i am fully mentally 'at work'" and "at work my family isnt there and i am not reminded of things happening in it by being asked about it by one of them or seeing them" and "at least i make money at work and am there often enough its a good amount and i feel useful lookibg at it" is really startibg to wear thin rifgt now

[ohjaimelannister]

What are your predictions for 8x04 and the rest of the season? Plus all the major characters, like who do you think will live?

Oh god anon, Im sorry I didnt see this until now! 8x04 is kinda redundant now, and no one could have really predicted that storm of shite.

Okay so this is gonna be long I guess but here we go.

To be honest with you I only have a few prediction as to where the story’s gonna end up, I’m more concerned with the characters but :Kings Landing and the Iron Throne are destroyed by Cersei and/or Daenerys and Drogon. There is no more ‘King or Queen’ of the Seven Kingdoms, they have a council of a few (possibly elected? but probably not because this is Westeros) lords in a democracy or each kingdom goes back to being completely independent (which in the Norths case I wouldn’t actually mind) .

I’m not sure whether the White Walkers are truly gone or not? I’m not sure whether there’s gonna be something to do with them, but probably not. But basically there’s gonna be a lot of destruction and dismantling of the normal before this is all over.

I think this isn’t going to be type of “The End” situation, life will continue and maybe we’ll get some sort of epilogue about how one of the characters we’ve come to know is murdered under /mysterious/ circumstance (just like how the series began with Jon Arryns murder) or there’s another rebellion and the cycle begins all over again. There will be the inlaying message about how the wheel is never ‘broken’ because power will always be coveted and power will always be taken from those that have it. Basically they’re doomed to live this cycle over and over again. Hence the ‘bittersweet’ ending. All those that died along the way, died for nothing because the politics, backstabbing and wars will never be over.

Characters :

Lets start with The Starks, Sansa- I have nothing much for you except I just hope she lives at this point? Honestly, Id like her to rule and be Sansa of House Stark, First of her Name Wardeness of the North. She cares about her people and loves them endlessly so she’s perfect for ruling and protecting the North because of all she’s learned from figures like Tyrion, Cersei, Littlefinger etc.   I don’t really mind if she marries or not but I’d like her to at least experience a loving relationship at some point in her life after all the shit she’s suffered through, and she just deserves to be happy basically. Though saying all of this considering how they’re writing it at the moment I honestly and truly expect her to end up ruling the north completely alone without any of her family with her because that ‘subverts expectations’ and D&D are shits.

Jon - well I hope for the best again but let’s be honest we’re not going to get it. Therrs two ways this could go : 1.) He doesn’t want to rule and I honestly don’t think he will. I would like him too, he’s good in leadership positions and he’s got the ‘saving the masses’ temperament (re: Wildings and getting himself killed for it) but I’m getting real big “gonna kill my auntiegirlfriend” from him at the moment, and I think we all know by know its been implied that Dany is going to go ‘mad’ and hell do it it to stop her from continuing to destroy an already burning city and more people from dying later on when shes finished with Kings Landing. Itll sort of parallel with Jaimes story in the end, though instead of being protected by the new ruler and his family, Jon will confess to his ‘crime’ and be sent to the North to exile, and go off with Tormund via Castle Black. I don’t want to say he establishes a new Nights Watch because there’s really no need for them now? Unless the WW aren’t really gone, then hell feel like he has too and the cycle will start all over again. Either way, he’s going to end up alone pretty much. As Beric and Ser Alistair said his life will never be easy and hell end up fighting others wars forever.

2.) Basically the same thing as before ^ but instead of being exiled, Drogon will just burn him to death in the Throne Room for killing Dany.

Either way Jons not going to get a happy ending I don’t think.

Arya - Her whole arc on the show has been badly written, and in the end I just want her to be happy with her family and Gendry. BookArya just wants a ‘pack’, basically a family. She fought so long and hard to get back to where she was, and even announced it to one of the most dangerous men in the world that she was “Arya Stark of Winterfell” and that she was going home. Where has that been this season? I want her not to kill Cersei, I want her to see what impact Cersei and Dany tearing each other apart has on KL and decide that vengeance isnt the best route and go to Gendry, who she clearly loves and he clearly loves  her. The Hound might even try and convince her to seek out Gendry because there’s someone in the world that obviously loves her for who she is.  But in all honesty? I think theyll have her just leave without saying goodbye to any of her family and just disappear again to find out what’s “west of Westeros”.

Dany - Dead. I dont like saying it, because I think Emilia has done her very best with whats been given to her (and D&D have done her dirty) but Dany is going to end up being killed by Jon for going mad with power and bloodlust basically. All signs have been pointing to it for a while now and without her morale compass in Ser Jorah and experiencing the pain of the abduction and then murder of someone she loved as a sister is obviously going to send her over the edge. I dont think shes ‘evil’ as such but, shes always had a problem with her anger and temperament, which the others have been skillfully subduing for years, with them gone, watch out world. Of course I could be epically wrong and she could actually win, murder all the Lannisters and Jon in a shock twist and take the Throne for herself??

Cersei - Dead. I mean it would be the ultimate shock and plot twist if she somehow lived and killed all the others? And tbh with the writing at the moment I wouldn’t actually hate that. I think shell probably either get killed by Jaime or take the easy way out like she was going to try to do before Stannis got to her during the Battle of the Blackwater. Nothing too surprising on the horizon there I think (hope).

Jaime - I want him to live? I mean I’ve known for many years there’s a 99% chance the he will die but I still have the smallest hope.  If he has to die let it be heroic, let it be him killing Cersei to stop her from blowing up KL to get at Dany and co. Hed only die if he was wounded in the fight to get to Cersei (which is highly likely), or if he was caught by Dany and she has him executed because it looks like he betrayed them all, when in reality he was the only one who could get close to her. Im not gonna say anything about the leaks because I really hope that if he has to die its a GOOD death (and not falling from towers or jsut to be with cersei at the end or some shit) and that its his redemption arc completed and I really hope while hes killing Cersei he says “The things I do for love” and she KNOWS its not about her anymore. I will really be angry if this is a D&D screw up and they mess his entire character arc up because of this “addiction” nonsense. If he has to die let it be with Brienne by his side (because shes gone chasing after him) cradling him. “In the arms of the woman I love”

My dream for him would be that he lives, goes to Tarth, marries Brienne (after begging her forgiveness and shes punched him, ALOT) and they have warrior babies. The end.

Tyrion - I have two endings in mind for him, Dany finds out about someone is plotting behind her back and either Varys sells Tyrion out so he can keep playing his little games (or they both get found out) and he has a trial and is executed. Or if Dany dies he becomes part of this council thats going to lead Westeros.

Brienne - She lives? I cant see anything bad happening to her at this point unless she goes to KL to save Jaimes dumb ass. Either way I think shell live and end up bearing Jaimes child (whether he lives or not) because they were together for weeks and weeks, and it’ll be a plot device used to carry on the Lannister bloodline when the other three die, like Gendry was for the Baratheons. Which lets face it would cover the whole “bittersweet” ending really wouldnt it? She has to carry and bare the child of a man who loved and left her (with hopefully good reason) but shell never know that so she has to raise him/her alone on Tarth as a constant reminder.

Gendry - Well. Boys got two options (maybe three) But I dont think hell stay Lord of Storms End possibly? If its a choice between Storms End or Arya, I hope hell pick Arya. Shes never cared about him being a lord, she loved him for who he was way before he was made one. Or they just live in Storms End together and raise children. (They have to give us something right????) And the third option - Ive always had this really weird foreboding feeling he’d end up married to Sansa, Arya said no and made it clear she doesn’t want to marry, and if she leaves then…….the whole “i have a son, you have a daughter” thing still becomes a reality.

Pod - Well, I hope he lives, gets made a knight and helps Ser Brienne on Tarth basically. Hes too pure to be ruined (though D&D will probs give it a shot)

Davos - Might live? Im not so sure, if he does hell be helping out the new ruler/rulers in some way?? Or hell just be down in FleaBottom adopting random kids left and right.

The Hound - Will probably die in Cleganebowl and Arya will actually give the gift of Mercy this time, but not before he bestows his dad wisdom on her about Gendry/Life. And if he does by some miracle live hell probably go somewhere, build a house and live there in solitude for the rest of his days.

Bronn - Well I had a joke that this shit (i loved the character early on but this season has just been no) would avoid all the major battles somehow, live on over all our faves and get his damned castle……..Im probably not wrong about this one….

Sam and Gilly - Their goodbye already seemed pretty final? I hope we see more of them because just leaving them at Winterfell seems a bit open ended and weird considering Sam was like, part of the most MAJOR plot on the show? Maybe hell put on this council or be Lord of Horn Hill with Gilly as his wife, which would a great middle finger to his horrible father.

[abbyfic-updates]

Just Take My Hand - Chapter 4

Author Notes: This is the next chapter in the story on AO3. I’ve rewritten this one the most of any one I’ve been currently working on. I’m honestly happier but not content with it.

Characters: Jason Todd, OC, and Richard Dragon

Jason wasn’t sure how far he had walked. Honestly, he hadn’t cared where his feet had been taking him. Neither snow nor cold bothered him. Now though, something had his attention. Out of the corner of his eye, a green, fluorescent light flickered. The bright glow was a sharp contrast to the blur of snowflakes.

Drawing in a deep, cold breath, his lungs burned and constricted. He forced himself to cough, but it wasn’t the icy wind that stole his breath away. No. It was the name written out in vibrant neon green over a pair of large wooden doors.

The Jaded Stone Dragon

Stepping towards a double pane, lightly frosted window beside the doors, Jason glanced inside. Booths partially lined one side of a rather narrow space. A few round tables dotted here and there along the center. On the other side, a bar counter stretched nearly the entire length. Only a few people were inside.

Jason’s gaze drifted away from the window for a moment. Shivers raked over his back. They were reason enough not to stay outside any longer. No matter how much he wanted to be alone, he didn’t want to freeze to death either.

“But do I go inside or head back... to the motel?” Over his shoulder, Jason squinted into the blowing snow.

Jason knew what going inside could mean. For starters, he knew he'd be carded. That was the trouble of dying young. No one believed him about his age. Someone always commented. Twice he had decked a guy for calling him baby-faced. Worse then that were the women. Near the front he spotted a group of three women. At least one looked drunk. He had stopped counting the number of times some drunk woman had tried to coax him out of his seat with a giggle or sweet word to his ear. He usually didn’t mind flirting, but he wasn’t in the mood tonight. He just wanted to be alone with a beer.

A sigh fell from his lips. "Then, there's Cassandra. What's the chance she'll leave me alone for the rest of the night?"

Jason was almost certain that she would be waiting for him by now. He could picture her standing in the snow, looking about for him. She might even be worried. Then again, she might have gone to their motel room and was currently fuming. He had left without a word. Wincing slightly, he considered facing her wraith. She was terrifying when she was mad.

With a quick shake of his head, Jason made a snap decision. "No." He stepped towards the double doors. “I’m just not ready to go back. Not yet.” Grabbing one of the brass handles, he started to pull open the heavy door. “Maybe after a beer or two.”

As Jason crossed the threshold into the bar, he hesitated briefly. He couldn’t help but take in the new his surroundings and those inside.

For a small-town bar, it was rustic but not in that new, modern design. From the chips in the wood to the lighter looking wood panels along the bar, the building was showing its true age. Yet, it wasn’t some rundown, smoke filled mess. Real care had been taken to make the space feel comfortable and inviting to visitors.

Speaking of the people, most sat in the booths on the left side. Furthest away,  a small group of rowdy college guys were singing drunkenly to some pop song on a nearby jukebox. A bit closer were a pair of winter-ready hunters, talking in hushed voices. The closest was a family of four. They were eating in silence, except for the blue eyed, babbling toddler who kept looking in Jason’s direction with a big smile.

When another shiver raked down his spine, Jason let the door close behind him. It made a loud thud. Only a couple customers spared him a glance. Even then, it was so brief that no one, outside a student of Batman, would probably have noticed.

One of them was one of the three women seated at the front table. She was a short haired brunette who seemed a bit tipsy. When she attempted to wave at Jason, she nearly knocked over a bottle of red wine. Jason just frowned and strode past without a second glance. Instead, he headed towards the bar.

The rest of the customers were seated at the bar. There was a couple holding hands on the elongated side of the bar. Neither of them gave Jason a look. On the shorter end, there was a pair of older looking men dressed in dark gray business suits. The blond, broad shouldered one spared Jason only the briefest of glances. He was busy, trying to calm down his inebriated friend.

Moving down to the other end of the bar, Jason pulled off his backpack. As he sat down, he placed his bag on the stool next to him. Drawing in a long and deep breath, he tried to calm himself. His nerves were still on edge. His mind still tittering between depressing thoughts and his present mission. "Keep it together," he breathed. His words felt empty. A cold, tall one would be a far better cure. Maybe more than one.

When he heard the door behind the bar swing open, Jason glanced up. He half expected to see some bosomy woman with a flirty smirk curving a pair of bright red lips or some overly friendly, stout man with a glint of nosiness to his eyes. Jason saw neither. Instead, a towering broad shouldered man, carrying two trays of empty beer mugs, stepped out. Jason swore he might be taller than Bruce had been.

Despite Jason's gaping expression, the towering man seemed oblivious to him at first. His deep, brown eyes were sharply focused down the the bar in the direction of the other pairs. The intensity of his gaze was only matched by the shear brightness of his fiery red, receding hairline. He didn't speak a word, but Jason could tell he wasn't happy about something.

Carefully setting down the two trays on the counter behind the bar, the red haired man purposefully strode down to the other end of the bar. He stopped in front of the two men in suits.

The taller of the two suited men suddenly straightened up.

Then, his inebriated friend pushed himself up to reach across the bar counter towards the red haired man. As he little too loudly spoke, his words were slightly slurred. "Ah! Rich! Therre youu arrre. I ne anothr..."

Placing a hand on his friend's outstretched arm, the taller man interrupted him. "Now, Marty, just hold..."

Whatever words he had intended to say seemed to die on his tongue when the towering man - Rich - placed his hands down on the bar in front of both of them. "I think you've had enough. Don't you agree, Rob?"

Even from his seat Jason could see the taller man - Rob - swallow nervously. His eyes widened. "Well, yes. You're probably..." He hesitated for a second before finishing his sentence. "Right." He stood up, looking already to go, despite not having his coat on.

Marty, his friend, looked the complete opposite, leaning against the bar with a mischievous smirk. "No."

Leaning forward, Rich continued to speak but in a hushed voice. Jason couldn't hear what he said, but he heard a grunts of agreement from the taller of the suited men. 

Then, he saw Marty suddenly lean back with a shocked expression. "Wwwwhy?" His question sounded more a like a whine as Rob grabbed both his and Marty's coats.

"Sorry again, Rich."

"Whaaaa?!" the shorter man said questioning. "But I... no..."

After the taller man put on his coat, he grabbed his friend's closest arm and pulled him to his feet. Grabbing a wad of cash, the taller suited man dropped it on the counter. "Night, Rich." Then, he dragged his inebriated friend towards the exit.

All the way, Jason could hear Marty protesting, until the door shut behind them.

Rich did not move from his leaning position at the end of the counter. Instead, he watched the pair exit and pass by the frosted window. Jason saw a cold seriousness to Rich's eyes, which got Jason to start rethinking his decision to not head back to the motel. He was in no mood to deal with a grumpy bartender.

"Um. Excuse, sir." Jason saw the young girl from the other couple at the bar speak to Rich. Jason cringed, expecting a piercing glare. Instead, when the gaze shifted, there was genuine warmth and friendliness. Jason just blinked. Still taking in the short series of events, Jason entirely missed the friendly exchange, until he heard the shared laughter.

Jason raised an eyebrow and considered the fiery red haired man named Rich. He did not look the type to run a family friend bar. He had the body of a bodybuilder with a bit of gut showing through his tight fitting shirt. His fiery red hair suggested European roots to him, but Jason swore he picked up an accent with inflections that seemed of Asian influence.  With a small bemused smile, Jason silently teased Rich. He liked how his hair seemed to be gradually becoming his thick, red beard. Of course, Jason resisted the urge to verbalize his comment to the man. Rather, when RIch finally met his gaze, Jason forced his smile away and gave a short nod.

Rich seemed to blink at him for a few seconds. His face grew serious, but there was no sternness or anger as Jason saw before with the suited men. Neither was there a warmth and friendliness. Slowly, the red haired man approached Jason.

“Hey,” Jason said, sitting up straight. He was vainly hoping to make himself look bigger. “I could go for a beer. Whatever’s on tap should be fine.”

Stopping in front of him, Rich rested his large hands on the edge of the bar. For a long moment, he did not respond to Jason. He appeared to be appraising him.

Pushing out his shoulder a bit wider, Jason dropped his voice even lower, doing his best Batman imitation. "Though, I prefer cold, if you have it."

A single red eyebrow rose up as if in question. His lips were tightly drawn as if he was considering the question that his eyebrows had asked. “I'm sure you could... Son, but I’m going to have to see some identification first.”

His shoulders sunk, despite himself. Rolling his eyes, Jason muttered about dying young again. Reaching into the backpack, he pulled out the fake ID that Cassandra had given him before leaving Gotham. As he dug through the backpack for it, he felt the hair on the back of his neck suddenly stand up straight.

Jason furrowed his brow. He looked at the man who was still looking intently at him. Then, he spared a quick glance about the room again. Everyone was still seated where he’d last seen them, and no one was even glancing in their direction. Still, something didn't feel right. A small voice in his head started to whisper that it wasn't safe here, that danger was close. Jason tried to ignore the voice in his head telling to him leave. He pulled out his ID and slid it across the counter.

There was a beat of a pause before the man took his ID from the counter. When he looked back, he noticed the man’s eyes were now wide and his head was tilted as if scrutinizing Jason. His gaze was narrowed and the muscles his shoulders looked like they had tightened. In the blink of an eye, he turned his gaze away from Jason and to the ID that he had picked up.

Leaning forward, Jason drew in a long breath, pinched the bridge of his nose, and waited for some comment like always.

"Jason," the man said as if sounding it out. "Not from around here, I see, but... Gotham... and..." There was a pause as if the man considered saying something.

"What?" Jason spat out the question as he drew in another long breath. He waited for Rich to speak, but there was no response. Jason sighed. “Look, can I just have a beer.” He lifted his gaze.

Rich held Jason’s license in one hand, but his gaze locked solely on Jason. Those dark eyes were wide, almost shell-shocked. He noticed the man’s throat tightened for a second, before he coughed loudly. Then, he coughed into the back of his hand. Then, he said in a tight sounding voice, “Sure thing, Kid. Just... just stay right here. Okay? Don't go anywhere."

A mixed snort of amusement and irritation fell from Jason's lips. "Why would I?" The small voice in his head reminded him about the possible danger, but he didn't share that with Rich.

Nodding slowly, Rich backed up from Jason. "Good. Stay put. I'll be right back.”

Raising an eyebrow, Jason watched the man vanish behind a swinging door. A heavy sigh finally fell from his lips. He lowered his gaze again.

He was still mad at himself for letting his emotions get the best of him. He was supposed to be focusing on this mission from Bruce. He was suppose to be helping Cassandra. Yet, here he was running off, dwelling on a dead past. It was pointless. It was childish. He couldn’t believe he’d even let those thoughts cloud his judgment. He much rather the alcohol in his glass do the clouding.

Then, he felt a hand clasp his left shoulder. He tensed instantly but did not immediately turn. Rather, he spotted the person in the mirror in front. It was one of those college guys in the black hoodies. Jason noticed he was peering down at his photo id on the counter. Then just as quickly as he looked his gaze focused forward. In a slightly slurred voice, he said, "Awww man! Just missed Rich?! I needed another pitcher. Can you believe that, Dude?"

Turning slightly towards him, Jason looked at the hand on his shoulder and then, looked up at the college guy. He had a sloppy smile on his face and a glazed over look in his eyes. "Why didn't you hold him a bit longer, Kid?"

Jason's eyes narrowed. "Name's not Kid." Then he brushed the hand off his shoulder.

With a bemused smile, the college guy leaned forward. "Yeah, according to your ID, but we know how real that is, right?" He chuckled as if it was some shared joke.

Jason did not even smile. He just glowered at the  college guy, hoping he'd take the hint.

The college guy didn't. Rather, he looked over his shoulder towards his table and in a loud voice stated, "I mean, it says your veteran, but we all know that's crap."

Jason picked up his photo ID and saw what the college guy was referring to. It did in fact list him as a veteran. That was probably Cassandra's way of hinting at his history. She sure was obessessed with his past. All her questions about him, and she decided to reference it on his ID. Probably not a good idea, at least in hind sight. He blew out a breath and pocketed his ID into his pants pocket.

When he heard new footsteps approaching, Jason turned to face them. Now, there were three of the college guys much to Jason's frustration. Instead of losing his cool or just walking out, he tightened one hand into a fist and asked ,"Oh, and why's that? Think I look too young?"

With a snort of amusement, one of the college guy's friend - towering, broad shouldered guy who probably was the school quarterback, stated, "No, too wimpy and lanky. Army thugs have more muscle. Like me." He actually pulled up both his hoodie's sleeves and flexed with a broad grin on his face.

Jason gawked briefly at the three college guys who were now cheering each other on. No one had called him lanky since he was a teen. True, he was wearing an overly large hoodie, probably a size bigger than normal, but he didn't think he looked that small in it. That irritated him.

Just then Jason realized dealing with this irritation might just be the distraction he needed. Maybe this was just a good excuse, and he might be able to do it without leading to a brawl and upsetting Rich like the two suited men had done.

"Not bad, but how do I know you aren't all show?" Jason asked with a teasing glint to his eyes.

Instantly, the towering, broad shouldered college guy frowned. "Whadda you mean, Kid?"

"Jason." He corrected the guy. "And what I mean is how about you prove just how much stronger you are."

Looking among each other, the college guys shared a confused look. Then, the shortest of them asked, "How so?"

"Arm wrestle me, I mean if you're sure you can beat me," Jason suggested.

There was a snort from another college guy who had walked over. "Of course, he can. We all could, Kid."

"Prove it. I'll even make it interesting." He pulled the few dollars he had in his pants pocket. Slapping down two twenties, he raised an eyebrow at the guy. "That is if you're sure you are stronger than me."

They all exchanged looks. Then, the first college guy pulled out another two twenties. "You are on, Kid. And if you can beat all three of us, I'll triple the beat. Whadda you say?"

Flexing his fingers, Jason just smiled. "Hope you'll have enough cab fair to get home after I've won."

To be continued...