#CAUSE JAMIE IS DOING GOOD AS ROBERT

[syndrossi]

Thinking about Restoration AU (again). What POV would you like to write/or are you just interested in? Well, besides Cersei :D Even for the time of the first book, she can't be called sane. Maybe Jamie? Like you said, in the first book he wasn't in the mood for redemption, but here he meets the ghost of the man he was loyal to and whom he feels he has failed (I tend to think that Rhaegar just didn't want to take a 16 year old boy to battle, so he gave him an important "assignment").

Or maybe Robert's POV during the meeting with the twins? We know that Ned is mentally praying at this time, while Robert may not remember Rhaegar's facial features and his reaction is: ho ho our noble Ned is just a man too, we're not so different.

Or Catelyn? I don't share the fandom's hatred of her, but it would be very interesting to see her thoughts, especially how she tries to recreate the image of a "rival" to Rhaegar: his looks, charming singing, soft demeanor.

Personally, I'm probably most interested in seeing Darmon and Daenerys' POV. With Darmon, it will be both painful and fun - painful because he finds himself in a world where his children aren't around him, dragons are extinct, and the Targaryens have fallen (the story of Rhaegar's death might cause a sudden painful flashback). But watching him terrorize first the people of the valley and then Volantis, who have no idea where the hell the dragon came from or what children this madman is talking about (they're already willing to give him their children just to get rid of him) would be fun.

And for Daenerys I'm just happy, she'll probably be a little scared of Darmon at first (he's a little crazy during their first meeting) but then she'll appreciate him: the fact that there's finally an older family member protecting her from Viserys, and his dragon, and the way he treats her gently (she'll 100% remind Daemon of Rhaegar, only a girl). Or Viserys? In terms of insanity it should be something close to Cersei in the last few books.

Would love to see your thoughts. By the way, have you decided whose POV will be next?

Hmm, it's less for me about POVs and more about certain story events, other than the aforementioned Cersei POV. Like, the Robert meeting the twins is an obvious one, but I don't think I'll write Robert's POV. For that, I'm leaning toward Ned's, especially because he'll get to see little!Jon/Willam staring absolute daggers at Robert, both as in the I HATE YOU sense and the DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH MY LITTLE BROTHER-DAD sense, but Ned will likely interpret it as "you killed our older brother! 😡" Whereas Rhaegar/Raymar is deer-in-headlights "if I don't move he won't see me" mode.

(Oh, or could THAT be our first Cersei POV? Ehh, I still think Ned, but I can absolutely see Cersei being huffy about Robert going to greet Ned's bastards after he meetings the trueborn ones, viewing it as him rubbing his adultery in her fave, and then she catches a glimpse of Rhaegar and goes why hello yes target acquired ned stark's bastards you say?

Goodness, I hadn't thought about Rhaegar becoming the symbol of the boys' mother to Cat, but he probably would, wouldn't he? Jon and Willam remind her enough of Ned, but she's staring at this dainty-looking child with the long braid, imagining the woman's silver-blond hair and beautiful eyes and quiet demeanor. Did she sing? Is that what drew Ned to her?

Okay, I may have to steal the "Volantis just starts flinging Valyrian-looking children at Daemon in a bid to appease him" bit for Daemon's reign of terror across Essos. 😂 They just round up every child that looks the least bit like him, and even throw in some dark-haired, grey-eyed ones like the other child he mentioned. Daemon is all "wtf am I supposed to do with these?" and they're all "feed them to your dragon if they aren't what you want, please just leave us alone."

I think Dany and Daemon's first meeting will definitely be a Dany POV, so I suppose that's one I'm looking forward to! I still haven't decided the exact timing there. Canonically per the book, her wedding to Drogo has already occurred by now, so either I shift the time so that Daemon can dramatically prevent it, or he rocks up on the Dothraki and starts burning until they give him his kin.

I have not yet decided which POV is next, though that's up after Knight of Stars pt2. (Assuming I don't get sucked into the "Rhaella gets summerhalled" AU I'm very tempted to write first. And we still need the wintery hot springs prompt fill! Lots to write this week.)

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Donald Trump’s war on DEI policies has caused a number of major corporations to bend the knee. [...] Costco is receiving some online praise, for example, after more than 98% of shareholders recently rejected a shareholder proposal for a report on any risks posed by the company’s DEI policies. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon have faced similar activist proposals at their companies, but speaking at this week’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, both said they remain committed to seeking out diverse talent despite the right-wing crusade. Asked in a CNBC interview about the anti-DEI push among investors, Dimon said: “Bring them on.” A number of other CEOs at Davos, including Pinterest CEO Bill Ready, Vista Equity Partners CEO Robert Smith and Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins, all vowed that their companies will remain committed to prioritizing diversity even as they navigate the new legal terrain under Trump. And good on them for that. Let’s hope they follow through, because doing so makes good business sense. DEI programs help foster work environments that studies have shown are more productive than ones where diversity isn’t emphasized.

Ja'Han Jones at MSNBC.com on how some business are resisting efforts to eliminate DEI programs (01.24.2025).

While quite a few companies have stupidly caved to MAGA propagandist games of ending DEI, there are some companies holding strong, such as Costco.

[eretzyisrael]

By Adam Lebor

What little we do know about the film’s methodology comes from an article on the BBC website—since removed—by Jamie Roberts, the independent British filmmaker who collaborated on the project with Yousef Hammash, a Gaza-born Palestinian, of London-based Hoyo Films. Roberts wrote that he and Hammash co-directed the film from London, using two local cameramen, who they directed via phone and WhatsApp. Roberts mentioned Israel’s restrictions on international journalists entering Gaza but not Abdullah’s connections to Hamas or Hamas’s censorship. Instead he presented the narratives as freely gathered. (Attempts to contact Hoyo Films were unsuccessful.)

As for the BBC, when controversy erupted it tried to blame Hoyo Films. On February 19, two days after the program premiered, the BBC added contextual detail to the film’s opening: “The narrator of this film is 13-year-old Abdullah. His father has worked as a deputy agriculture minister for the Hamas-run government in Gaza. The production team had full editorial control of filming with Abdullah.” An additional statement on the BBC website noted, “We followed all of our usual compliance procedures in the making of this film, but we had not been informed of this information by the producers when we complied and then broadcast the film.”

This “dog ate my homework” excuse, of course, raised more questions. If the BBC had followed all of its “compliance procedures,” how did senior executives—and films about such sensitive subjects as the war in Gaza get vetted by multiple editors—not know that the key narrator was the son of a Hamas minister?

This “dog ate my homework” excuse, of course, raised more questions. If the BBC had followed all of its “compliance procedures,” how did senior executives—and films about such sensitive subjects as the war in Gaza get vetted by multiple editors—not know that the key narrator was the son of a Hamas minister?

Two days after adding this threadbare “correction,” the network finally decided it could no longer stand behind the documentary and withdrew it from broadcast.

This still-developing scandal might just be the biggest ever for the BBC involving its coverage of the Middle East, and one that could threaten the flow of funds upon which it depends. Badenoch has declared war on the BBC’s license fee, the mandatory annual payment of $214 that everyone in Britain who watches live TV pays. “I cannot see how my party could support the continuation of the current license fee–based system without serious action by the BBC management to prove the organization is committed to true impartiality,” she wrote to the BBC’s Davie.

The network and its apologists have deflected criticism in the past, claiming good-faith errors on the part of its journalists and executives—and bad faith on the part of its critics, inevitably branded, dismissively, as “Zionists” or “the Israel Lobby.” But public opinion in Britain might be changing. The grotesque scenes in Gaza attending the release of infant Israeli hostages’ remains have caused widespread revulsion even among those who do not usually pay attention to Middle East wars.

[dre6ming]

TDBR - the Oscars

TDBR series

Masterlist

TDBR imagines Masterlist - short stories

Instagram photo dump masterlist

To be added to my tag list click HERE

Pairing: Austin Butler x singer/ actress fem reader

Warning: fluff

Plot: after Austin wins his award you bump into his ex girlfriend into the Oscars bathroom.

Word count: 2000

Disclaimer: everything fake, no shade no nothing, just respect for all parties and remember this is all FICTIONAL

"Baby, I'll just go to the bathroom ok? I'll find you after?" I whisper to Austin who turns his head to smile at me. "Sure honey, you feeling ok?" He asks, his attention, that was previously directed at the lady engraving his name on the golden statue, now fully directed to me. "Yes, I just need to use the toilet." I explain, caressing his shoulder, giving his bicep a reassuring squeeze. "Ok, be careful!" I see him lean down to kiss me, but we are still not public so I take it upon myself to dodge the kiss. "Sorry." He mumbles, looking apologetic. "That's ok, see you soon!" I wave at him before turning around on my heels and finding my way to the bathroom.

I've got to admit it's pretty crazy, even now after all the success I've had in my career, to see myself surrounded by all these people I looked up to. I look to my right and there is Jamie Lee Curtis talking to Robert De Niro, so I have to stop for a second to just gawk at them. But only for a second, cause I don't want to be caught being a weird fangirl. As I keep walking trying to redeem myself, I bump into Pedro Pascal on the way. He and I are going to be starring in a new HBO series called "The last of us". We already filmed a couple of scenes but he and I have yet to be on set together. "Pedro, hi how are you?" He smiles at me. "I'm good good, you were incredible up there, looking fantastic. A big slay I'd say!" I can't help but laugh a bit too hard, resulting in a funny sound to come out of my nose. "Oh my, Ped, that's that's exactly right." I giggle wiping some tears from the corners of my eyes. "Listen I was on my way to the bathroom, so excuse me. Oh I almost forgot are you coming to Baz's after party? I think I send you the invite didn't I?" I ask. "Yes yes of course I'm coming, gotta watch out for my little girl." Pedro jokes, making us laugh at how serious he's taken to the role of the father figure for my character. "Ok dad." I scream running past him laughing. At this rate I'm collecting fathers like they're infinity stones.

The bathroom is not as full as I expected, that's mostly because all the big categories have been announced by now and a lot of people left for the after parties already. It's a bit tricky getting to do what I need to do in the long dark blue sequence dress, but I manage. I take a good look at myself in the mirror as I'm washing my hands, taking note that a bit of my mascara smudged, so I use a clean tissue paper to wipe that off.

"Excuse me?" A voice calls out as I'm concentrating on getting the mascara situation under control. I toss the tissue in the trash and turn around to see who was call me. I'm stunned the second I'm face to face with the person who just spoke. "(Y/n), oh my goodness I thought that was you, who else would wear a huge navy sequence dress." I can't believe my eyes, Vanessa Hudgens is standing in front of me, looking gorgeous in her black skin fitted dress. "Oh, um hi!" I put my hand out to shake, but she surprises me by pulling me into a tight hug. "You look so beautiful tonight by the way, I wanted to get to talk to you on the carpet, but you were caught up with other interviewers. I didn't want to crowd you." To be honest I avoided her on the carpet on purpose, sure my relationship with Austin isn't yet confirmed to the public and all, but the rumors are there and I'm sure she's seen most if not all of them. "Oh yeah, I was pretty crowded. It's a bummer I didn't get to talk to you, you always give such great interviews." I say, meaning every word, because in truth she is amazing at interviewing people and to not admit that would be a blasphemy. I wasn't avoiding her because I have something against her, in fact I'm actually a big admirer of hers. Austin told how things went down between them and I trust him, from his side nothing bad went down, but there was heartbreak and hurt so I can only imagine that for her it was at least as painful as it was for him, if not worse.

"That's ok, I'm sure we'll get to do it for another carpet, maybe at the Met this year if you're going." She's so sweet. "I think I am, it really depends on how my filming schedule goes."

"Oh hell yeah I saw you and Pedro Pascal got cast for that HBO series, congrats." I blush at all the compliments she's directing my way, toying with the necklace around my neck. "Vanessa, I-" the words just don't seem to come out of my mouth, because frankly I don't even know what I want to say. She seems to understand that I'm having a hard time communicating what I want to say and her features soften as her big smile comes a soft smirk. "Listen, I've seen the rumors, I don't hold it against you or him, if they are true. He was an amazing boyfriend and well maybe we both could've done better to stay together, but I don't think it was meant to be." I can see she speaks from the heart. "I just, I know his side of things, he only has good things to say about you, but.."

"Honey if the one thing holding you back is me, I want you to know you have my full support. Austin deserves to be happy, doesn't matter who it's the one taking care of that as long as he's happy." I'm surprised to say the least, but I think coming off of what Austin told me about her, I expected this kind of reaction from her. "That's so nice of you to say, I just-" she shushes me when the door opens and someone comes in. "Let's go out." She motions her head towards the door, looping her arm around mine and leading me out. "Thank you!" I whisper to her.

"So I need you to know there's no bad blood." She tells me truthfully. "I believe you, but with everything going on I just, I'm scared of people finding out and I don't know how much longer we can keep it under wraps, I mean you saw him." Vanessa seems to understand exactly what I mean. "Longing stares and tight hugs. Oh we've all seen him, you are clearly the better one at hiding all this." I laugh nervously, wondering just how bad Austin is making things look from an outside perspective. "It's not too bad." She chimes in, probably reading my thoughts. "Eh I can try and fool myself, but... in the end we will make it public so there's no more speculations, but we don't want that to overshadow our careers, so we wanted for award season to be over." I explain one of the reasons we're being so private. "I get that. Oh and here comes lover boy." She says looking over my shoulder and before I can turn my neck to look behind me, a hand settles on my hip. "Hey Nessa, what's up?" Austin says, pulling me closer to him.

Vanessa notices the small gesture, throwing me a knowing look. "Nothing much, just talking to (y/n). Congratulations by the way, it was well deserved!" She says, gesturing to the award he's holding in his other hand. "Did they engrave it?" I ask, looking down at it. "Yes, look how cool it looks." Austin says excitedly, holding it up for me to read. "Did they spell your name wrong?" I ask faking concern. "What?" He panics immediately taking a closer look at the award. I can't help but burst out laughing at him. "You little minx!" He teases kissing my cheek, before I get the chance to dodge it this time. "Austin!" I warn looking around worried someone might've noticed. "Sorry." He says quietly.

"Don't be, you look cute together. You actually seem very happy Aus, I'm glad for you. I have to get going now, but I wish you both the best. Have a good one!" She says. "Thank V, you look happy too, I saw you were engaged, how's that?" Austin asks her. His question makes me look down at her left hand, where there is in fact a big beautiful diamond ring. "He makes me happy. I'm glad we both got to be in love again. It suits you." Her words make me wonder how can she see that he's in love with me. I look at his face and don't see anything that could scream 'I'm in love', but like on cue he feels me looking at him, so he turns his head to me. That's when I see it, that glimmer in his eyes, the one that not only screams 'I'm in love' but also it projects it out into the world. "Yeah I think it does. She's the one thing that got me through this whole thing. I have you to thank for all of this, so thank you!" Austin tells her and I can see his words touched her.

"You're welcome Austin, send me an invite to the wedding." Vanessa says, giving him a quick hug and disappearing into the crowd. Wedding? His wedding? With me? She couldn't have meant that? Right? "What's wrong? Did she say anything?" Austin looks over my face and I catch myself in his eyes, looking terrified. "Oh no, no, she was actually really sweet." I avert my eyes from him, this way preventing him from looking straight into my soul as he usually does. "Then..? Oh was it the wedding comment?" Austin catches on either way. I blush deeply and try to shake my head, but there's no point in denying. "Honey she meant that as a joke, ok? I'm not proposing. Not now at least."

Not now, so he's thought about this. "Not now?" The words come out of my mouth before I can stop them. "I mean, maybe sometime in the future." Austin clarifies licking his lips anxiously. "Not the near future.." he keeps going hoping to calm me. "(Y/n) I know it’s too soon, but I can't lie and say that I haven't thought about marrying you, ok? I have and I know we are not ready yet."

"Yet? Ok but how will you know when I'm ready? Cause you might be ready faster than I am, since your older and I don't expect you to wait for me." Austin chuckles, brushing back his hair. "Honey, I would wait for you a thousand years and then a thousand more. And if you never want to get married, that's fine too. Now what do you say we go home and change to go to Baz's party?" Austin caresses my cheek, smiling softly at me. "Ok." I sigh, holding my dress up and walking towards the exit where Matt waits for us to drive us back to Austin's place so we could get changed for the after party.

"Can you believe I won this?" Austin asks still looking in disbelief at his award as I lean my head on his shoulder, looking down at the golden prize in his hand. "I can." I say, kissing his neck, feeling his hot skin against my red lips. "Now you're mine." I giggle as I lick my thumb to help clean off the red lip stain. "No, leave it." He says taking my hand and holding my knuckles. "Ok my winner! I love you!" I close my eyes and relax next to him. "I love you too!" Austin tells me kissing the top of my head, letting me lean on him.

Tags: @galaxygirl453 @rainydayz101 @samaraannhan20 @marlowmode @myradiaz @areuirish @micaelainthe60s @homebodybirkin2003 @pennyroyalcreep @purejasmine  @strokesofstokes @lanasfloridakiloss @denised916 @kibumslatina @macey234 @melodixs-blog @shantellescrivener @chewiethecatus @guacala @fangirl125reader @father-of-2cats @lucid315 @melodixs-blog @ilovehobi101 @richardslady121 @jensmithin @julie181 @chrisevansgirl34 @ranaissingle @onecrazydirectioner @maria-1287 @austinbutlerssimp @kingdomforapony @acoolnight @tarot-sybarite @goldenmarygio @frozenhuntress67 @anonyboo63478338 @littlewhiterose @thefallofthedamned @1eminicookie @rose-deathman @iheqrtaustin @desitravelsblog @prompted-wordsmith @austinsvlrslut @crystallizedth0t @hertvgirl @peanutbutterinacup @austinswhitewolf

[nadiv22]

My favorite quotes from civ VI

TECHNOLOGY

“No man ever wetted clay and then left it, as if there would be bricks by chance and fortune.” �� Plutarch

“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” – Will Rogers

“I AM FOND OF PIGS. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” – Winston S. Churchill

“Who deserves more credit than the wife of a coal miner?” – Merle Travis

“When you find yourself in a hole, quit digging.” – Will Rogers

“I don’t believe in astrology; I’m a Sagittarius and we’re skeptical.” – Arthur C. Clarke

“Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.” -W. H. Auden

“I shot an arrow into the air. It fell to earth, I knew not where.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.” -Mark Twain

“I’m also interested in creating a lasting legacy … because bronze will last for thousands of years.” – Richard MacDonald

“MONEA, if it does not bring you happiness, will at least help you be miserable in comfort.” – Helen Gurley Brown

“A man on a horse is spiritually as well as physically bigger than a man on foot.” – John Steinbeck

“The Lord made us all out of iron. Then he turns up the heat to forge some of us into steel.” – Marie Osmond

“I cannot imagine any condition which would cause a ship to founder … Modern shipbuilding has gone beyond that.” – Capt. E.J. Smith, RMS Titanic

“Create with the heart; build with the mind.” – Criss Jami

“One man’s ‘magic’ is another man’s engineering.” – Robert Heinlein

“There is no easy way to train an apprentice. My two tools are example and nagging.” – Lemony Snicket

The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one.” – Malcolm Forbes

“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” – Aristotle

“Rocks in my path? I keep them all. With them I shall build my castle.” – Nemo Nox

“Not all who wander are lost.” – J.R.R. Tolkien

“People can have the Model T in any color – so long as it’s black.” – Henry Ford

“The pen might not be mightier than the sword, but maybe the printing press is heavier than the siege weapon. Just a few words can change everything.” – Terry Pratchett

“Astronomy’s much more fun when you’re not an astronomer.” – Brian May

“If facts don’t fit the theory, change the facts.” – Albert Einstein

“No one starts a war – or rather, no one in his senses ought to do so – without first being clear in his mind what he intends to achieve by that war and how he intends to conduct it.” – Karl von Clausewitz

“Science owes more to the steam engine than the steam engine owes to science.” – Lawrence Henderson

“Bolt actions speak louder than words.” – Craig Roberts

“Never criticize a rifleman until you have walked a mile in his shoes. That way, he’ll be barefoot and you’ll be out of range.” – The 2nd Target Company

“For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.” – Leonardo da Vinci

“If you can walk away from a landing, it’s a good landing. If you use the airplane the next day, it’s an outstanding landing.” – Chuck Yeager

“Benjamin Franklin may have discovered electricity, but it was the man who invented the meter who made the money.” – Earl Wilson

“Chemists do not usually stutter. It would be very awkward if they did, seeing that they have at times to get out such words as methylethylamylophenylium.” – Sir William Crookes

“If God had really intended men to fly, He’d make it easier to get to the airport.” – George Winters

“Untutored courage is useless in the face of educated bullets.” – George Patton

“There may be no forgiveness for polyester. On this one matter, Satan and the Lord are in agreement.” – Joe Hill

“I’m a big laser believer – I really think they are the wave of the future.” – Courteney Cox

"Even though the future seems far away, it is actually beginning right now.” – Mattie Stepanek

CIVICS

“Bravery is being the only one who knows you’re afraid.” — Colonel David Hackworth

“A strong economy begins with a strong, well-educated workforce.”– Bill Owens “Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future, too.” – Marcus Aurelius

“It was luxuries like air conditioning that brought down the Roman Empire. With air conditioning their windows were shut; they couldn’t hear the barbarians coming.” – Garrison Keillor

Divide and rule, a sound motto. Unite and lead, a better one.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” – William Shakespeare

“Invincibility lies in the defense; the possibility of victory in the attack.” – Sun Tzu

“History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon.” – Napoleon Bonaparte

“A good navy is not a provocation to war. It is the surest guaranty of peace.” – Theodore Roosevelt

“In democracy it’s your vote that counts; in feudalism it’s your count that votes.” – Mogens Jallberg

“There are very honest people who do not think that they have had a bargain unless they have cheated a merchant.” – Anatole France

“You can’t go around arresting the Thieves’ Guild. I mean, we’d be at it all day!” – Terry Pratchett

“Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government … You can’t expect to wield supreme power just ‘cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!” – Monty Python

“In diplomacy there are two kinds of problems: small ones and large ones. The small ones will go away by themselves, and the large ones you will not be able to do anything about.” – Patrick McGuinness

“A diplomat is a man who always remembers a woman’s birthday but never remembers her age.” – Robert Frost

“New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common.” – John Locke

“A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.” – Douglas Adams

“Destroying rainforest for economic gain is like burning a Renaissance painting to cook a meal.” – Edward Wilson

“If you don’t read the newspaper, you’re uninformed. If you read the newspaper, you’re mis-informed.” -Mark Twain

“Sports do not build character. They reveal it.” – Heywood Broun

“A good plan violently executed right now is far better than a perfect plan executed next week.” – George S. Patton

“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” – John F. Kennedy

“Which of all my important nothings shall I tell you first?” -Jane Austen

“I never think of the future. It comes soon enough.” –Albert Einstein

[catofadifferentcolor]

Terrible Fic Idea #70: Game of Thrones, but make it time travel

I have a terrible weakness for time travel stories - especially when it leads to massive sprawling changes from the moment of divergence. So I thought to myself: which character would be able to most change Westeros through the simple act of time travel?

The answer came easily. Or: What if Ned Stark time traveled from after his death to the middle of Robert's Rebellion?

aka the Tomorrow We Get To Do It Over Again Fic

Just imagine it:

Ned Stark dies in the OT as per canon. He watches the events of canon unfold fold from the afterlife and has a crisis of faith.

For here is a man who has been nothing but an honorable, faithful, just lord. He served his realm in the best manner he could, was a dutiful husband and loving father, and put the good of others above personal advancement or that of his family. He even stained his honor to raise his sister's son as his own and give the boy the best protection he could - and yet.

And yet the gods allowed his son, wife, gooddaughter, and unborn grandchild to be murdered at a wedding. They allowed his oldest daughter to be used and abused by those that should have protected her. They let that thing take over his second son's body-

So when Ned finds a means to return from the afterlife or is allowed the chance tor return and fix things, the Ned who arrives on the morning of the Sack is a very different man than the one who went to bed the night before. Though they are the same at heart, Ned no longer believes or trusts everyone around him to be good, honorable, or want the best for Westeros.

In the New Timeline, Ned tries to prevent the deaths of Elia and her children - he's too late to save Aegon and Rhaenys, kills Gregor Clegane as he tries to force the princess, and though Elia is alive when he finds her, she dies of her wounds soon after - and gets Jamie to give up the Wildfire Plot after murdering the Mad King.

The fight he has with Robert for refusing to condemn the royal family's deaths is even worse than the OT and threatens to bring down the Red Keep.

Afterwards, he races to Lyanna's side... but though he arrives a week earlier than canon, he's still forced to fight his way through her protectors and she still dies in childbed. He does have enough time with her to get her side of the story - that she loved Rhaegar until he went to war to keep her, and has been a prisoner in the tower ever since she said she wanted to go home - and say his goodbyes.

He returns to Winterfell a little more mindful of his wife's feelings - Ned still passes Jon off as his son, but makes it clear that he has no intention of shaming her again, while also making it clear that the North would shame him if he sent Jon to be raised elsewhere - and sets about strengthening the North.

The next few years should be a montage of Ned making alliances and enriching his kingdom: 1) He talks Benjen out of joining the Night's Watch, sends him to survey all the empty keeps in the North, and grants him Queenscrown once the coffers have had a chance to refill after the war; 2) He gets White Harbor and Bear Island to start trading lumber and peat up and down their respective coasts and across the Narrow Sea, which enriches the North; 3) When Catelyn announces her second pregnancy, he starts work on restoring Moat Cailin, claiming that their second son will need a seat someday; 4) He finds some excuse, if not to get rid of the Boltons, than at least keep such an eye on them its next to impossible for them to continue as they have; and 5) Making tentative moves to court the other Great Houses. Doran Martell, grateful he at least tried to save his sister, arranges a betrothal between Arya and Trystane? Sansa gets a fostering in Highgarden? Bran is sent to foster at Storm's End?

Regardless, the North should be in a better position when Robert rides north after Jon Arryn's death - by natural causes this time, Ned having shared with his foster father stories Catelyn told him about Littlefinger's obsession with the Tully girls.

Meanwhile, Ned also tries to do a better job with Jon this time around - make it more clear that he is loved and valued, and that a good post or even a holdfast will be granted to him if he earns it. Ned does not want to place him on the Iron Throne, but it becomes increasingly clear as time goes on that war of some kind will inevitably follow Robert's death and so it's best all his children be prepared.

(Sansa and even Catelyn are taught how to use a knife to protect themselves, Ned honestly claiming he wants what happened to his sister never to happen to another woman in their family.)

King Robert rides north, gets a stiff, "No," for both his propositions - and might actually have come to blows if Ned hadn't arranged for Jamie and Cersei to be discovered in flagrante delicto in the First Keep. Robert rides back south sans a wife and heirs, short one Hand and Kingsguard. Cersei is beheaded, Jamie and Joffrey are sent to take the Black, and Myrcella and Tommen are left to be fostered at Winterfell until they're old enough to have other arrangements made.

Tywin is naturally unhappy about this turn of events and rises up in rebellion. The Iron Islands use this as an excuse to start reaving again, while the Reach withholds their support unless Robert promises to marry Margery - and Dorne merely withholds support.

Almost three years into the conflict, news arrives during the wedding of Robb Stark and Alys Karstark that King Robert died in battle without any heirs. His brothers have gone to war over which of them should succeed Robert to the Iron Throne. Tywin continues to claim that his grandson Tommen, safe in Winterfell, is the rightful heir. Baelon Greyjoy has declared himself King of the Iron Islands... and there are rumors of Daenerys Stormborn gathering forces in Essos for an invasion.

Into this Ned - having realized it was the best choice he could make for the safety and security of his family and the North - declares that Jon is really the trueborn son of his sister Lyanna and her husband Rhaegar Targaryen... and as such has rightfully been Jaehaerys III since birth.

The war which follows is swifter and less devastating than the OT War of Five Kings, but is still war. By largely staying out of the fight between Tywin and Robert, the North has a large army of fresh soldiers and, by marriage, the support of the Vale and the Riverlands. Stannis has Renly assassinated via shadow, but few chose to follow a follower of the Red God. The Stormlands end up throwing their lot in with Jon, as do Dorne and the Reach once they see which way the wind is blowing.

In a situation that should very much echo the situation in the British Isles in 1066, Jon's forces should be in the southeast of Westeros preparing for Dany's invasion when word comes of Tywin leading his forces north to capture Winterfell. Royalist forces should race across the countryside, win a magnificent victory at the Twins, and still be celebrating their success when news arrives of Essosi troops landing in the Crownlands. Jaehaerys' exhausted forces race back across the country... and manage to win the first engagement by the skin of their teeth.

When Dany brings her dragons to bear in the next battle, Rhaegal defects to the other side - and rather than pursue another Dance of Dragons, aunt and nephew come to an arrangement.

A Great Council is called. Jon is elected Lord of the Seven Kingdoms by overwhelming numbers. Sansa is his queen. Dany is named Lady of the Rock after most the remaining Lannisters are exiled or take the Black.

Bonuses include: 1) OT trauma for Ned, who never quite moves past what happened to his family then; 2) Dark horse romance between Jon and Sansa, fueled at first by the comment that Ned would like his daughters to marry good men - like Robb or Jon - and Catelyn encouraging it once she learns Jon is really her husband's nephew; and 3) No one ever learning Ned traveled through time.

And that is legit all the space I have. As always, feel free to adopt, just link back if you do anything with it.

More Terrible Fic Ideas

[shellstahh1817]

Unpopular opinion but I really starting to go off award ceremonies like the Oscar’s, golden globes, SAGs for giving awards to individuals based on their career and not the actual performance they are awarded too. I like Demi Moore and I do think she is great in the substance but Mikey Madison and Fernanda Torres are outstanding in their respective roles. It was the same when Jamie Lee Curtis and Robert Downey Jr won for their respective roles, yes, they gave good performances but there were far better performances in both categories. They always seem to favour “oh this person has been in the industry for years let’s award them” and I feel like lots of young, upcoming legends like Timothee Chalamet, Austin Butler, Saoirse Rohan, etc are all robbed and will get a big award later in their career because they have been long time servants in the industry.

I’ve seen some really weird voting things. Like two members said they didn’t want to vote for Ralph cause he’s won before (he hasn’t) so they voted for Adrien (who actually has won before). They need less bias and it should strictly be about the performance.

Mikey was so good I loved Anora, I also think Demi was good, my vote would be for Cynthia because of how much she did for that role and the performance she gave.

I think my biggest issue is with Emilia Perez cause I don’t know why it’s considered Oscar level… however Zoe was incredible in it so I get it

I agree people put young people on the back burner saying they’ll have their whole careers to get something

I’ve watched just about everything but Brutalist and I’m still here, but the other performances are amazing. I’m quite surprised no noms for Tucci in Conclave

[xtrablak674]

Friends

[Originally published on Livejournal, January 27, 2002 at 2:12pm]

My circle of friends just seems to get smaller and smaller.

But lets remember I am not one to have a large circle of friend anyway. There is usually one or two best friends and then there are "other" just "friends" and then acquaintances...

Well let take a look at my best friendz starting with as far back as i can remember, I went to HeadStart before i went to Kindergarten but I dont really remember having a bestfriend there. But I do remember my best friend in Kindergarten.

Trevor & Jamie

I like to paint with Jamie and build with the blocks and any other thing we could do together, I think Jamie was mixed, cause he was brown skinned but had curly hair. He as far as i am concerned was my first official best friend. But he moved not too long after the school started, I don't know exactly how long, because i'm not too good about details like that and since my mother is dead, I can't ask. But I do have fond memories of him.

[I do recall that we had a post-Kindergarten play date near the cheesecake place, I think thats what the store was. I remember his and my mom being friendly. But that is my real last recollection of hanging out with Jamie]

Trevor & John Fischer

John was a think blond haired blue eyed white boy, who i would love to jokingly call John Fisher Price, after the toys of the same name. I think we were friends in 3 or 4th Grade, in Mrs Evans class, I remember playing mildly sexual games with him when he would sit on my hand with his pointy little thin butt, I remember getting very excited by that, (aroused wasnt really in the vocabulary or emotional range at that point). I remember visiting the area his house was in, but his neighborhood is where the white kids were who would chase you and called you nigger so I didnt really go over there much. I guess he was a best friend of sorts, even though we didn't spend alot of time outside of school together, I still remember him fondly.

Trevor & Robert Sabini

Now I knew Robert since like 3rd grade i believe according to him, as with alot of things I didn't remember that, I knew i knew a boy named Robert earlier on, but as with kids, i was on to the next best thing. Robert was obviously Italian, a round faced fair skinned boy with baby fat in his cheeks and a sinister grin. I was best friends with Robert up until I left Peekskill i wasn't very happy about that at all. I left Peekskill in the fifth grade. I have very fond memories of playing over Roberts house, of being Mrs. Searles favorite students in 4th grade, she would let us play the wooden classic game Labyrinth all the time, and she introduced us to the classroom game, eraser tag. Boy we had alot of fun, in her class, I was so saddened when she retired, she was like the best teacher i had in elementary school at Uriah Hill.

But unlike my other elementary school friends I had a relationship with Robert outside of school, mostly me visiting his house, not him visiting mine with my three brothers in the not as glamorous house on Harrison Avenue. He lived on Pemart Avenue in a little brick house, with his two parents and Sister Denise and older Brother Mike. Such the all American family i always thought. Their basement was split into two areas, there was the laundry room and there was the family room which was the play area for the boys and girl. I spent alot of time down there playing Atari 2600 and air hockey and wrestling with Robert, they were very happy times. I was sometimes saddened that I didn't have as much as Robert in my house, but he didnt seem to mind sharing at all. And my only competition was his younger friend Justin, who lived two houses down from him. I was a bit jealous that Justin lived so close and I lived a few blocks away, since i was a one bestfriend kind of guy i always felt very protective of the one best friend i had, we stayed in contact for a little bit after i moved to the Bronx, and reconnected once again when i was a bit older. But then he sort of disappeared.

Trevor & Kelsey Carrington

Kelsey was a rainy day best friend, I was his bestfriend as long as his cousin Trey wasnt around, if Trey was around i was quickly disposed of, I was the blocks "sissy" and who wanted to play with a sissy, well Kelsey didnt seem to mind until Trey was around. Kelsey was a single child and had family in four of the houses on Harrison Avenue, so he was never lacking in toys or cool places to go and hang out, I remember getting into lots of trouble with him calling phone sex lines from his grandmothers house, and playing with his really cool Mac Donald's playset, and playing with his matchbox cars, which he seemed to have an unlimited amount of. I was always amazed by the amount of toys he had and he had them dispersed everywhere from his mom and dad's house to both of his grand parents houses. He was nearly like the rich bestfriend. But eventually his parents moved away, I think just a little before I did, they moved to Connecticut. And since i was just the rainy day best friend i never heard from him again.

[Curiously enough my ex Paul went to school with Kelsey in Connecticut where Paul was from, such a random connection from my distant past to my present.]

Trevor & Bayron Gilchrest

I don't really consider Bayron my best friend but I guess my grandmother did, because he was Black, he was my only friend from Peekskill that she would let me go visit and spend the night with, I don't think she particularly like my white friend Robert, even though his family was as well off as the Gilchrest's.

Trevor & Daryl Brown

Well i was in a Lutheran School very briefly before getting just about thrown out and going to public school, the intention was nice but i was just not the type to fit into that kind of regimented environment. But Daryl was a hi-yella brother, who i be-friended while was there, and was sort of good friends with while i was there. I think more then anything I thought he was cute which is why i was friends with him, but we were in the same class so that was helpful. But I dont remember much about him or being there, since it was so short lived.

Trevor & Beraldo Vazquez

Well i believe i Met Bernie in 6th grade at PS 89 which was right on my block, so I would come home for lunch, and sometimes bring Bernie with me, since the school was right on my block, he was one of my first friends i remember ever really bringing to my house. I had an Atari 5200 and we enjoyed playing that together, and also wrestling, wresting was hot at this time so we enjoyed wrestling and roughhousing. I don't think my grandmother was either home or complained much i think she was happy to see me with a friend of some sort. I am sorry to say I STILL KNOW beraldo so it has been just about a 2 decade relation, we are not best friends, we are friendly enemies :) we have a tendency to argue incessantly but alas something never change.

Trevor & Anthony Robinson

Me and Anthony were good friends, he was a dark-skinned thick lipped brother, who i made friends with I think in PS 89. Of course my grandmother was thrilled i had a BLACK friend. i remember we had matching Mountain bikes when mountain bikes were just coming out, my mountain bike was my 2nd bike, i was so upset to have it stolen from me like 10 years later when i parked in in Times Square. Well me and Anthony were classic best friends doing most things together, celebrating birthdays, goin back and forth to each others houses, playing video games, competing for attention and ranking at each other, which was very popular at the time, Ranking, basically puttin each other down, all the time, it was a skill and folkes got good at it, it was a part of our relationship that led to its end. But we also enjoyed competing in the card game Spit, which was the shit, there were like tournaments of Spit in the lunch room, that was the game, we even came up with different techniques for picking up the cards, the Spit Days were the shit, definitely.

Trevor & Brad Petak

I had a crush on Brad and thats why i wanted to be his friend, i used to keep a list in my notebook of what he wore every day. it was a bit obsessive, but it was interesting to look at my little chart and see which clothes he like to wear with which other clothes. I remember even following him home a couple of times to just see where he lived, he had light brown hair, stunning blue eyes and braces. i thought he was the hottest boy in class, even though i sat next to the hottest girl in class Michelle "Va Va voom" Cologne. So after i sort of broke relations with Anthony I somehow got closer to Brad. He was a bit different then alot of friends i had previously because he was just as poor if not poorer then me, so i guess that made him white trash :) He has a younger sister Denise, and a mother who is really sweet and a father who like most dad's is trifling, you would nearly think his family was black :) But Brad was good people and I enjoyed his very masculine cocky energy. He liked basketball and was actually good at it, which would piss me off because i was the black guy and should have been able to be all over him. But unlike me he actually practiced.

Trevor & Sandra Cordero

Sandra and me had a love hate relation for the longest time, I had known her since around elementary school, but she was the girl who lived upstairs who would always beat me up in the elevator :) We didnt really connect till high school where we took the train together in the morning. I was there when she lost her virginity and met her husband to be, we went thru alot of ups and downs. We are no longer friends she chose her husband over me and she needs to live her live and i live mine.

Trevor & Andy Feder

ugh later... i am up to highschool now, i need to take a rest

[Afterwords: I don't think I have much to add here other than I love the fact that I recorded this when I was younger because there are certain details that are lost to me now, and were fresher in my head then. I also feel all of these descriptions were accurate assessments.

I have written separate post about Henry Diaz and Andy Feder, and some of the later friends, both from high school. I had nearly gotten to two thousand words in this initial entry, and was just a bit tired but since my friend dynamic has always been curious I of course revisited it later.]

[Photos by Brown Estate]

Adam Melaney

Henry M. Diaz

Andy Feder

[k4marina]

— iv. The Queen's Justice || Heart of the Dragon

synopsis: after successfully fending off euron greyjoy and his ironborn fleet, daenerys, and her people, prepare for jon snows arrival.

warnings: little bit of angst (the girls are fightinggg 😬), game of thrones cannon violence and dialogue. based around the episode, the queen's justice [s7 ep3].

all dialogue in Valyrian is italicized

series masterlist || next part

6.5k wrd count

game of thrones x modern!fem!reader

[gif found on pinterest]

“To Lady Vellarys, for your bravery and victory in battle.” Tyrion raises his wine filled glass in a toast. I appreciatively smiled and raised my own. He sat on the other sofa across from me. A pitcher of wine and snacks were laid out on the table between us and the candles were dimly lighting the room.

“Thank you, Lord Tyrion, but there’s no need for that. I was just doing what I had to.” 

“Oh, nonsense.” He reached over to pluck a grape off of the vine and plops it into his mouth. My eyes briefly glanced towards the scar that ran diagonally across his face. “A battle is a battle. You should be proud of yourself, not many would be able to do what you have done.” 

“Then to you, as well,” I raised my glass. “For defending King’s Landing from Stannis Baratheon's army at Blackwater Bay.” 

He raises his glass again and we both take a sip from our cups. 

“Now that we have Euron Greyjoy in our custody, Cersei no longer has anyone to command her fleet.” Tyrion hums. 

I nod. “One by one, the people around her will either fall or turn themselves towards Daenerys.” 

“Well not all of them,” he looks off, thinking of his brother. 

“Especially Jamie.” I caught him off guard. 

“You don’t know my brother as well as I do. He’s madly in love with her.” 

“That’s what he thinks, but times have changed.” I slowly swirled my glass. “All of his children are dead, and at the root cause is Cersei. It won’t be long until he realizes that and turns his back.”

“And you’re sure of this?” He sounds skeptical. 

“I am.” He doesn’t say much about it after that, letting the words settle in. I could see his mind moving a mile a minute; How will Jamie leave her? Why does he leave? When will he leave? Will he come join his brother's side? 

The air around us settles and he changes the subject.

“I’m sure you understand why I trust Varys so much.” He says, staring into his wine, his fingers dancing around the rip of his glass.

“Of course. He saved you from your execution and helped you into Daenerys’ good graces. But I’m sure you also understand why I don’t trust him.”

He purses his lips and lightly shakes his head. “I’m afraid I do not.”

I sighed. “Try. Look at what I’m seeing as an outsider, not as his friend.”

Tyrion swallows. “He’s an honorable man who serves the realm. Even before our friendship I’d always had respect for him.” 

I shake my head. “He’s a spider. He’ll pull you into his web with sweet words and wrap you up in his silk and before you know it he’s sunk his fangs into your neck and you're dead.” 

“Tell me, was Joffrey a good King?” I ask. 

Tyrion shakes his head. 

“Was he a good man?”

He shakes his head again.

“Then why did he serve him? He has the power to replace whoever is on the Iron Throne, we both know that. So why didn’t he?” I crossed my legs. “There was a time when he did serve the Realm, but now after everything, Aenys, Robert, Joffrey, it’s not wrong to question his motives.” 

Tyrion sat there taking in my harsh words, not knowing if to believe me or his friend. 

“He could have done it right, he had his opportunity to serve the realm.” I argued. “He could have helped Rhaegar peacefully take his fathers throne, but instead he whispered in Aenys’ ear and fed into his paranoia, knowing that the consequences would be deadly.” 

“But Rhaegar kidnapped Lyanna Stark and raped her surly that proves that he wasn’t fit to be King.” He countered. 

“Is that what you believe?” I looked into his eyes. “Or was that what you were told?” 

Tyrion frowns. “Are you saying that that is false? Rhaegar did not do those things?” 

I press my lips together. “There is a lot that you don’t know about. And in due time it’ll come out. But I need to know where your loyalties lie; Varys or Daenerys. Your friend may seem like he’s a team player, but we don’t really know that. When you bent the knee to Daenerys you did it because you believed in her and her vision of a new and better world, do not forget that.” 

–––

I quietly shut the door behind me. The castle hall was barren of anyone as they were all asleep. Deciding that I needed to cool off a bit I made a right, taking the longer way back to my room. The talk with Tyrion was difficult. I knew going in that it would be nearly impossible to fully convince him of dropping Varys. But as long as I could plant the seeds of doubt I knew my plan would work. 

During the final years of Daenerys’ campaign and life Tyrion had been slipping from his duties of her Hand all because of Varys whispering his venomous words into his ear. I just hoped that this would be enough for him to reevaluate his loyalties and come back to Daenerys’ side.

Turning into my room I stripped myself of my armor and down to my shift before crawling into bed. I stared up onto the stone ceiling, tracing the sharp edges with my eyes. I could only hope that tomorrow would be less action filled, but then again Jon Snow was coming. 

––

The next morning Daenerys had once again called an early Small Council meeting. And after last night's side mission, it was safe to say that I was exhausted. 

If only this era had energy drinks then I would be able to properly function. Despite my sleep deprivation it didn’t stop me from telling the servant brushing my hair of my new hairstyle. After all, I made Daenerys’ a promise. 

We met again in the Painted Chamber, sitting around a table (that wasn’t shaped like Westeros). I sat on the left side near Daenerys’ seat and Missandei sat to my right. Tyrion took a seat across from me, giving everyone polite nods, but avoiding eye contact with me. 

I leaned back in my seat, crossing my arms over my chest and closing my eyes, sighing. 

“You look tired.” Missandei comments in Valyrian. “Did you sleep alright?”

I opened my eyes and tilted my head towards her. “As good as I can after riding a dragon all night. I was planning on sleeping as soon as I came back but I had to speak with someone.”

“Lord Hand?”

I nod. “By the time I went back to my room I was out like a light.”

She stays quiet for a moment, flickering her gaze to Tyrion and the empty seat for Varys next to him. “I take it that your conversation didn’t make much progress.” 

I lightly scoffed. “They’re friends. He saved him from being executed by his sister. He feels that he’s indebted to him. But he also knows where his loyalties should lie, or at least he does after last night.”

The doors open once more and Varys steps into the room, taking his seat next to Tyrion. Missandei and I exchange another look just as the doors open again and Daenerys steps in. Everyone raises as she makes her way to the head of the table. She briefly paused, glancing at my hair and smiling before sitting down with us a beat behind.

“Last night not only were we able to safely defend our allies, but we also took Euron Greyjoy as a prisoner and his fleet all thanks to Y/n’s insite.” Daenerys nods my way before locking eyes with Varys. “However, I wonder how my Master of Whispers had no knowledge of the ambush or how Cersei knew their whereabouts.” 

Varys bows his head. “I apologize, Your Grace. I was informed by my little birds by the time Lady Vellarys had arrived back.” Tyrion glanced over towards me before looking down at his folded hands atop the table. 

Daenerys keeps her eyes locked on Varys for another moment before looking away. “Regardless, my allies are safe and Cersei has one less.” She turned towards Tyrion, “have you heard from Jon Snow?”

“Yes, Your Grace. He’s left for Dragonstone and will be arriving by tomorrow late afternoon.” Tyrion replies. 

“And you’re sure that he will be an ally and not a threat?” 

“He’s a noble man. I’m sure once he meets you he will swear his loyalties to you.” Tyrion nods and I bite my tongue, if only they knew.

“Good,” she nods. “Then we’ll have the South, West, and North on our sides and Cersei will have no one.” 

“Not entirely.” I said. “It’s true she has fewer men than us, but not for long. She’ll be contacting the Golden Company for soldiers and cavalry.” 

“But the Lannisters are in debt,” Varys says. “Their gold is nearly gone.” 

“But the Tyrell’s aren’t.” 

“She’s going to ransack Highgarden?” Daenerys asks. 

I nod. “She needs money for her debts and army and, currently, the Tyrells are the richest family in Westeros.” 

Daenerys nods. “Send a raven to Highgarden informing them of Caersei’s attack.” 

Once the meeting had ended Daenerys dismissed everyone but me. I poured us both some wine, handing her a glass. 

“You’re smiling.”

“Your hair.” She replied. 

“I told you, once I’ve won you a battle I’ll wear a braid.” 

“How did you feel?” 

I shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know. I think I had so much adrenaline in me that it numbed me.” 

She nodded, smiling but I could tell that something was going through her mind. 

“You’re distracted.” 

She looks down at her glass. “Yesterday when I spoke to Lady Olenna alone she told me that she was handing over Highgarden to me.” 

I nod. “She’s going to take her life. She’s the last of the Tyrells and she’s entrusted you with her home.” I watched her expression change. “But that’s not what you’re thinking about.” 

She hesitates. “I’m also the last of my house. I can’t bear any children. My bloodline ends with me.” 

“You don’t know that.”

“But Mirri Maz Durr said-” 

“Forget about her. That woman took Khal Drogo and your child's life, that’s all. You will have more children.”

“But if I can’t,” she reaches over, taking my hand in hers. “I want you first in my line of succession.” 

I sucked in a breath, shocked at what she was saying. She wanted me to do what?

“Promise me, that if I can’t have an heir that you will.” 

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. Me, continue the Targaryen line through my children? I didn’t even know if I would stay long enough for that to happen. 

I placed my other hand on top of hers. “You will have children that will carry your and your house's name for generations to come, I promise you that.” 

–––––

Waves crashed against the rocks littered across Dragonstones beach. A group of men led by Tyrion and Missandei make their way up the stone pathway built into the island's cliff. A loud roar is heard from overhead and the group of men all dive down as Drogon and Viserion fly over them. They watch in a mix of shock and amazement and look back to Missandei and Tyrion standing. Tyrion helps one of the men up but he stops in his tracks making eye contact with someone standing above the steps on the stone landing. Tyrion and Missandei follow the man's gaze and watch as I step off the landing and walk down to them. 

“Meet Lady Y/n Vellarys, a close confidante of Queen Daenerys. Lady Vellarys, this is Jon Snow and Ser Davos Seaworth.” Tyrion says, motioning to the two men. 

“I apologize for the scare, they just had their afternoon nap and are quite energized.” I say to them. “Come,” I turned back towards the castle. “Their mother is waiting for you.” 

Jon and Davos exchange glances with one another and take one last look up at the sky seeing all three of the dragons flying before following behind. I look up to the cliffs and see Melisandre and Varys standing together, exchanging words of their own.

They’re led into the castle and the Dothraki guards open the door to the throne room. Daenerys sits on the throne, watching the King in the North and his men enter. Tyrion, Missandei, and I step up onto the dais and to our respective places as Missandei addressed the men. 

“You stand in the presence of Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, rightful heir to the Iron Throne, rightful Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Protector of the Seven Kingdoms, the Mother of Dragons, the Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, The Unburnt, The Breaker of Chains.” 

Jon turns to look at Davos, both looking underprepared. 

“This is Jon Snow.” Davos says. He nods and pauses. “He’s King in the North.” 

I could see Tyrion smirking in the corner of my eye and I have to stop myself from laughing.

“Thank you for traveling so far, My Lords. I hope the seas weren’t too rough.” Daenerys says. 

“The winds were kind, Your Grace,” Jon replies. 

“Apologies. I have a Flea Bottom accent, I know. But Jon Snow is King in the North, Your Grace. He's not a lord.” Ser Davos interrupts, confused.

“Forgive me,” Daenerys glances towards Tyrion for a name. 

“Your Grace, this is Ser Davos Seaworth.” 

“Forgive me, Ser Davos.” She continued and I could hear the slight annoyance in her voice. “I never did receive a formal education, but I could have sworn the last King in the North was Torren Stark who bent the knee to my ancestor Aegon Targaryen in exchange for his life and the lives of the northmen. Torren Stark swore fealty to House Targaryen in perpetuity. But do I have my facts wrong?”

“I wasn’t there, Your Grace.” He replies bluntly.

“No. Of course not. But still, an oath is an oath. In perpetuity means – what does perpetuity mean, Lord Tyrion?” 

“Forever,” He says. 

“Forever.” She echos. “So I assume, My Lord, that you’re here to bend the knee.” 

“I am not.” Jon replied, unwavering. 

“Oh. Well, that is unfortunate. You've traveled all this way to break faith with House Targaryen?” Daenerys’ patients was waning thin and I feared that this meeting was all for nought. 

Jon could scoff. “Break faith? Your father burned my grandfather alive. He burned my uncle alive. He would have burned the Seven Kingdoms.” 

“My father was an evil man.” Daenerys began. “On behalf of House Targaryen I ask your forgiveness for the crimes he committed against your family. And I ask you not to judge a daughter by the sins of her father. Our two houses were allies for centuries. Those were the best centuries the kingdom's ever known. Centuries of peace and prosperity with the Targaryens sitting on the Iron Throne and a Stark serving as Warden of the North. I am the last Targaryen, Jon Snow. Honor the pledge your ancestor made to mine. Bend the knee and I will name you Warden of the North. Together we will save this country from those who would destroy it.”

Jon nods. “You're right. You're not guilty of your father's crime.” I let out a sigh of relief thinking that he had come around. “And I'm not beholden to my ancestor's vows.”

I looked over at Tyrion who was annoyed. After all, he had vouched for Jon and it all seemed to backfire on him.

“Then why are you here?” Daenerys narrows her gaze at Jon. 

He takes a moment to answer. “Because I need your help and you need mine.” He sounds somewhat desperate, but also scared and it dawns on me.

Daenerys looks at Tyrion and then back to Jon. “Did you see three dragons flying overhead when you arrived?” 

“I did.”

“And did you see the Dothraki, all of whom have sworn to kill for me?” 

“They’re hard to miss.” 

“But still, I need your help?” Daenerys could almost laugh. 

“Not to defeat Cersei. You could storm King’s Landing tomorrow and the city would fall. Hell, we almost took it and we didn’t have dragons.” Ser Davos says, remembering the Battle of Blackwater Bay. 

“Almost.” Tyrion reminds. 

“But you haven't stormed King's Landing. Why not?” Jon says. “The only reason I can see is you don't want to kill thousands of innocent people. It's the fastest way to win the war but you won't do it. Which means at the very least you're better than Cersei.”

“Still, that doesn’t explain why I need your help.”

“Because right now you and I and Cersei and everyone else, we’re children playing at a game screaming that rules aren’t fair.” Jon says bluntly. 

Daenerys turns towards Tyrion, annoyance clearly written on her face. “You told me you liked this man.” 

“I do.” 

“In the time since he’s met me he’s refused to call me queen, he’s refused to bow and now he’s calling me a child.” 

“I believe he’s calling all of us children. Figure of speech.” Tyrion tries to clarify. 

“Your Grace,” Jon speaks up, getting her attention. “Everyone you know will die before winter is over if we don’t defeat the enemy to the north.” 

“As far as I can see, you are the enemy to the north.” Daenerys accuses.

“I am not your enemy.” Jon shakes his head. “The dead are the enemy.” 

My heart drops and Daenerys turns to me. I let out a shaky breath and turned towards Daenerys with a grim look and nod.

“Listen to him.” I say. 

“The Army of the Dead is on the march.” Jon explains.

“The Army of the Dead?” Tyrion repeats. 

“You don’t know me well, My Lord, but do you think I am a liar or a madman?” 

Tyrion shakes his head. “No. I don’t think you're either of those things.”

“The Army of the Dead is real. The White Walkers are real. The Night King is real. I’ve seen them. If they get past the wall and we’re squabbling amongst ourselves–,” Jon steps closer to the throne and the Dothraki guards step towards him. “–we’re finished.”

Everyone waits for Daenerys to say something. “I was born at Dragonstone. Not that I can remember it.” She stands up and walks down the steps towards Jon. “We fled before Robert's assassins could find us. Robert was your father's best friend, no? I wonder if your father knew his best friend sent assassins to murder a baby girl in her crib. Not that it matters now of course. I spent my life in foreign lands. So many men have tried to kill me. I don't remember all of their names. I have been sold like a brood mare. I have been chained and betrayed, raped and defiled. Do you know what kept me standing through all those years in exile? Faith. Not in any gods. Not in myths and legends. In myself. In Daenerys Targaryen. The world hadn't seen a dragon in centuries until my children were born. The Dothraki hadn't crossed the sea, any sea.” 

She stops walking, face to face with Jon Snow. “They did for me. I was born to rule the Seven Kingdoms.” 

I held my breath, waiting for Jon’s response. 

“You’ll be ruling over a graveyard if we don’t defeat the Night King.” 

Tyrion steps up to stand next to Daenerys. “The war against my sister has already begun. You can't expect us to halt hostilities and join you in fighting… whatever you saw beyond the wall.”

Ser Davos decides to speak up. “You don’t believe him. I understand that, It sounds like nonsense.” 

Jon nods in agreement as Ser Davos continues. “But if destiny has brought Daenerys Targaryen back to our shores, it has also made Jon Snow King in the North. You were the first to bring Dothraki to Westeros” 

The older man tries to reason with Daenerys so she can see their point of view. “He was the first to make allies with Wildlings and northmen. He was named Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. He was named King in the North. Not because of his birthright. He has no birthright. He's a damn bastard. All those hard sons of bitches chose him as their leader because they believe in him.”

Daenerys turns her attention towards Jon as Ser Davos sang his praises. “All those things you don't believe in, he faced those things. He fought those things for the good of his people. He risked his life for his people. He took a knife in the heart for his people. He gave his own–” Jon gives Davos a look to stop talking, catching Daenerys and Tyrions attention. Davos spoke more calmly, taking a breath.“If we don't put aside our enmities and band together we will die. And then it doesn't matter whose skeleton sits on the Iron Throne.”

“If it doesn’t matter you might as well kneel.” Tyrion says. Jon shakes his head and Tyrion continues to rationalize with him. “Swear your allegiance to Queen Daenerys. Help her to defeat my sister and together our armies will protect the north.” 

“There’s no time for that.” Jon replies, almost solemnly. “There’s no time for any of this. While we stand here debating–”

“It takes no time to bend the knee. Pledge your sword to her cause.” Tyrion interjects. 

“And why would I do that?” Jon snaps. He turns to speak to Daenerys. “I mean no offense, Your Grace, but I don't know you. As far as I can tell your claim to the throne rests entirely on your father's name. And my own father fought to overthrow the Mad King. The lords of the north placed their trust in me to lead them. And I will continue to do so as well as I can.”

“That's fair.” Daenerys notes. “It's also fair to point out that I'm the rightful queen of the Seven Kingdoms. By declaring yourself king of the northernmost kingdom, you are in open rebellion.”

Seeing that this “meeting” wasn’t going anywhere I stepped towards Daenerys. “Your Grace, I think it would be wise for us to take a break and resume at a later time, when we’re all a bit more level-headed.” 

Daenerys clenches her jaw before regaining her composure. “You must forgive my manners. You both must be tired after your long journey. We'll have baths drawn for you and supper sent to your rooms.”

She turns to her guards and instructs them in Dothraki to take them up to the guest rooms and to keep an eye on them. Before he leaves Jon asks her a question. 

“Am I your prisoner?” 

“Not yet.” 

As Jon and Ser Davos are led out the throne room Daenerys turns to walk back to the throne. There’s a pregnant pause in the air as all eyes are on Daenerys.

“Everyone except for Y/n leave.” 

Tyrion and Missandei look at one another and then towards me, concerned. I let out a sigh, raising my head and giving the two a reassuring nod. They both walk past me and I catch Varys looking a bit smug as he’s the last to leave. The stone doors shut close, leaving Daenerys and I alone. She turns back to me, seething. 

“Why didn’t you tell me?” She steps closer. 

“Daenerys..” I hesitated, not knowing what to say. “I didn’t think that they’d be so quick– I thought we had enough time to prepare.” 

Truthfully, it had taken a lot longer for the Army of the Dead to start marching towards the Wall. Could my arrival have changed events?

“Then what? When were you going to tell me? When this Night King is at our shores?” She takes a deep breath. “You said you’d tell me everything I needed to know. Clearly, that was a lie.” 

I shook my head, “no it’s not.” I stepped closer to her. “Yes it’s true there are things that I’m not telling you in full. But it’s for your own good. There are some things you need to learn on your own.” 

I took her hand in mine. “I swear to you, I will never betray you. You’re all I have in this world. You’re my only friend, my sister. Everything that I’m doing is for you, Daenerys” 

I held my breath and watched as she debated my words. After what felt like years, Daenerys nodded. “Alight.” 

She leans in, pressing her forehead against mine. “When I awoke this morning I thought I would have another ally, but it seems that I’ve made another enemy.”

I shook my head. “No. We need Jon. Not just for the Army of the Dead, but also for Cersei. Dany,” I leaned my head back. “Try to get to know him. To him, and the rest of Westeros, you’re an outsider. It doesn't matter that you were born here and that for hundreds of years your family have been every bit Westerosi as they are. You need to share your stories and see past this Targaryen-Stark nonsense. The people of Westeros– especially the north, look at Jon as the most honorable man, just like Ned Stark. If you can get him on your side, then you can get everyone else.” 

–––– 

I walked around the stone pathway around the castle, clearing my head. I needed to devise a new plan. One that would secure the North and bring a better light to Daenerys. 

In the past, or the future, whichever it is, Jon and Daenerys gradually get closer. It’s not after the death, and later resurrection, of Viserion do the pair really get close. They made a good pair, both romantically but as well as politically. Even after Jon’s true parentage was revealed, he stuck by Dany and reiterated his loyalty to her. If there was one thing that would solidify them together, protect Dany’s claim, and ally the North to us it’s–

“Oh, how the mighty have fallen.” 

I turned back to see Varys with the same smug smile he had when he left the throne room. 

“Fallen? Don’t make me laugh, Varys.” 

“But it’s true. You’ve failed Daenerys and soon she’ll find that she has no use for you and cast you aside.” 

I tried my best not to laugh. “If you really think that, then you’ve lost your damn mind.” I stepped closer to Varys, “I’m not going anywhere. And you can try to push me away, but know that it’s only going to end with you staring up at Drogon and Daenerys saying that one magical word.” 

I stepped to the side and walked past Varys, letting my shoulder hit his. “Watch your back, Spider.” 

I followed the northern path further up the cliffs where I spotted Theon Greyjoy looking out into the ocean. 

“Lord Theon,” I addressed the man. “I thought you had sailed back to the Iron Islands by now.” 

He bowed, surprised that I had found him. We made eye contact for a brief moment before he looked away. “No, My Lady. We needed more supplies and to repair our ship.”

“I see.” 

An awkward silence hung between us as Theon would periodically look up towards me before shying away. 

“Is something the matter?” My question seemed to have caught him a bit off guard. 

“Thank you, My Lady.” 

“You don’t have to thank me. We’re allies, we’re supposed to support and protect one another.” I replied. 

He lightly shakes his head. “No.” He purses his lips together. “When the ambush happened.. Yara was held hostage by Euron. He.. He was going to kill her. I got scared.. but your words, they helped me save my sister.” 

Oh. 

“Again, there’s no need to thank me.” I smiled. “You saved your sister, not my words. It took courage to fight for her and you found it. Don’t let what others say change that.” 

He gives me a small smile, letting my words sink in deep and I wondered if anyone had said anything nice to him since his capture and torture. His eyes shift past me and his smile wavers. I turn back to see Tyrion and Jon Snow staring daggers at Theon. 

“Oh fuck.” I mutter, watching the two men step towards each other. 

“Jon, is Sansa alright?” Theon genuinely asks. 

Jon grabs him by his armor's leather straps. “Don’t you dare say her name. You think that what you did for her would save you?”

“Stop it. Let him go.” I said, but he didn’t listen. Theon held onto Jons wrist but made no effort to push him away, seemingly accepting his fate. Jon’s face contorted with anger and grief and was close to plowing Theon’s face in. Tyrion looked at the two young lords wondering if there was going to be some brawl, or rather just Jon beating Theon to the ground.

“Stop at once!” I raised my voice. “This is Dragonstone and as long as you’re standing on this island you will conduct yourself accordingly. If you want to fight like children then fight in the ocean. Now, let go of him, Jon Snow.” 

Begrudgingly, Jon let go to Theon, giving him a push as he did so. Theon looked down as he straightened himself while Jon took a step back, staring daggers at him.

“We’re all allies here, regardless of what happened.”

“But my brother–” Jon tried to reason. 

“Is safe.” I reassured. “Bran is safe and alive. He was north of the wall, but he should be back in Winterfell soon.” 

Jon’s face was a mix of shock and disbelief. “How can you be so sure?”

“I just am. Your brother will be home soon, My Lord. But fighting amongst ourselves won’t help us in the slightest, especially for what's to come.” 

There’s a moment of silence between all of us before Jon nods and backs down. Without a word he turns back to the castle. Theon also left shortly leaving only Tyrion and I. 

“I believe that was the first time I’ve ever seen you raise your voice, My Lady.” He places his hands behind his back.

“If they keep squabbling like this then it won’t be the last.” I grumbled. 

Tyrion doesn’t say anything in return, only staring at the ground. 

“You have something to say?” 

Tyrion glances up, “how do you know that Bran Stark is alive?”

“Like I said, I just know.” I turned to face him fully. “Now, has Jon spoken to you about the Dragonglass?”

Tyrion’s taken aback. “How- right, you just know. Yes, he has. We were headed to speak to Daenerys before, well, all of this.”

“Good,” I nod. “Let's go.”

–––––

“Dragonglass?” Daenerys asks.

“Yes. Volcanic glass, obsidian.” Tyrion says. “He says you have a tremendous amount of it here.”

She turns to me for confirmation. I give her a nod, sitting back in my chair. “It’s down in the caves.” 

“And what does the King in the North want with Dragonglass?” She turns back to Tyrion. 

“Apparently it can be turned into weapons that can kill White Walkers and their foot soldiers, or stop them, destroy them. I’m unsure of the nomenclature.” 

“Only Dragonglass and Valyrian steel can kill White Walkers,” I clarified. “The caves below Dragonstone are filled with Dragonglass.” 

“It’s our only way to kill them.” Tyrion says. 

“And what do you think of this Army of the Dead and White Walkers and Night King?” Daenerys asks Tyrion.

“I’d very much like to believe that Jon Snow is wrong, but a wise man once said that you should never believe a thing simply because you want to believe it.” 

“Which wise man said this?” Daenerys raises a brow. 

“I don’t remember,” Tyrion replied innocently. 

“Are you trying to present your own statements as ancient wisdom?” Daenerys says. 

“I would never do that...to you.” He replies, bashfully. “The reason I believe Jon Snow is because he's here. All of his advisors would have told him not to come. I would have told him not to come, yet he's here anyway. You don't have to believe him. Let him mine the Dragonglass. If he's wrong it's worthless. You didn't even know it was here. It's nothing to you. Give him something by giving him nothing. Take a step toward a more productive relationship with a possible ally. Keep him occupied while we focus on the task at hand.”

Daenerys turns towards me. “What was that Ser Davos said about taking a ‘knife in the heart for his people’? Did you notice that?” 

I shrugged, “not my place, you know that.” 

A servant enters the chambers holding out a raven's scroll. I grabbed it, reading the contents before handing it off to Daenerys. 

“We should go.”

–––

The wind blew around us as Daenerys and I got ready for our departure. Not too long ago we had received a raven from the Unsullied and from the scouts we had sent over to Bitter Bridge to inform us of Lannister movement. As planned, Jamie was leading half of the Lannister forces from Casterly Rock to Highgarden.

“The fight to take the Rock will be easy,” I say climbing up onto Viserion. “With the new armor and weapons and the fact that they outnumber the Lannister force it will be an easy fight. 

“By the time the Unsullied captures the castle we will have reached Highgarden.” Daenerys says, sitting atop Drogon. Knowing what was to come we ordered our dragons to fly into the sky. 

The wind ripped past us, blowing my hair back. My hands gripped tighter to Viserions spikes, hunching down even further. I looked to my left seeing Daenerys and Drogon flying next to me, both looking determined as ever. The plan was simple; Daenerys and Drogon ambushes the Lannister force head on while Viserion and I sneak into the castle and help Olenna out to safety before I join the fight, and as a added measure, Tyrion and a few Dothraki would be with us to help in the fight. 

Drogon and Viserion dived down, the clouds parting away and revealing Highgarden. Even from up above we could see the soldiers on the ground. Daenerys and Drogon split off from Viserion and I. With a loud scratch and a burst of dragonfire, Drogon easily captures the attention of the enemy while Viserion flies to the back of the castle. He lands on the wall, the limestone crumbling beneath his talons. 

“Stay low and calm. I’ll be back soon.” I jumped off of Viserion. I watch as he flies down from the wall and hides from the enemy force. 

Carefully, I made my way into the interior of the castle. I drew out my sword ready for any surprise attacks. The halls were barren, safe for a few torches and tapestry that hung on the walls. I came down a set of stairs when I heard the sound of footsteps, a set of two. There's a muffled voice and then a set of footsteps walking away while the other set of footsteps came towards me. I hid behind a corner when I came face to face with a Lannister soldier. I took a step back and he lunged forward, aiming for my head. I side stepped, using the side of my sword to nudge him to the side and delivering a blow to his left. The steel easily cuts the small bit of him that wasn’t protected by his Lannister armor. He lets out a growl, growing more enraged. 

“Arg! You Targaryen bitch!” He plunges forward again with more force. He swings his sword towards me, but I’m quick to block it. He pushes against my own sword walking me backwards. My back hits the wall and he uses his full weight to try and pin me down.

The man gives a sickening smile, watching me struggle against him. “Once I’ve killed you ‘m gonna kill your fuckin’ dragons and then ‘m gonna fuck the Queen.” 

I recoil back into the wall feeling his rancid breath on my face. Quickly, I bring my leg up, using all my force and kneeing him in the groin. He jolts back, hunches over in pain and I quickly grab the back of his head, bringing his face down to my knee. There’s a loud crunch as his nose breaks against my armored knee. I push him back and plunge the sword into his neck, a loud and garbled scream ripped out of him. His wide eyes watched me pull the sword out of his neck, blood oozing and gushing out.

His body collapses against the stone floor with a thud. My chest plate raises and falls as I try to catch my breath. My entire body was on fire as I stared down at his body. I’d just killed a man. Technically speaking, he wasn’t the first I’d killed. I’d killed dozens of Eurons men, but that was up in the sky and by Dragonfire, not in a castle hallway with a sword. 

Once I had regained my breathing, I pushed his body back so it was out of view and quietly made my way further to where Olenna would have been. Right as I reach the doors, I hear a female and male voice, the same one that I had heard before I came across the Lannister soldier. I looked around for a place to hide, opting to hide between a pillar and a large stone planter. I hunched down to the ground as the oak doors opened and a man in Lannister gold stepped out, but what caught my eye was the golden hand. 

Jamie Lannister. 

Once his footsteps faded away I snuck into the room that he’d just come out of. An empty vile sat on the table and Olenna stood by the window, looking out at the gardens. 

“Came back to finish me off yourself?” 

“No, My Lady.” I replied. She turns around, surprised to see me. I pull out a blue vile of antidote towards her. “Quickly, take the antidote.” 

She shakes her head, “it’s too late for me now, my child.” She walks over to me, “tell your sister my time is now. I’ve already informed everyone in Highgarden to follow Daenerys’ command.”

I shook my head. “You can’t give up. Your house still needs you.” 

“My house is gone,” she squeezes my hands. “My children and grandchildren are gone. My dear Margery was all I had and that wretched Cersei took her from me. I have no one else.” 

“But don’t you want to get your revenge? Watch as Cersei loses the only thing she loved and succumbs to Dany’s dragonfire for all her crimes?” I pleaded. She shook her head again, patting my hand like a loving grandmother would. 

“My time is over, dear. If only my Margery had someone like you by her side she could have lived.” She turns back and sits down at the table. “Come, sit with me.”

I walk over to the table, sitting across from me. “Promise me that Cersei will suffer.” 

“I promise.” 

She places her hands on top of mine as we sit there waiting for the end.

a/n: so we're back :))

fun fact, actually, I've written up all the way to the Long Night lol, but I still need to refine and rewrite somethings.

how was this? how did we like the girlies fighting?

lmk ur thoughts !

@wotcherpeak @music-luver25 @your-favorite-god @radiantdanvers @cluelessteam @daenerys713 @ministark @laanswife @idohknow @jromanoff @bdudette @bitchyfestivalbouquet @glitteryobjecttaco @cantbecreative @lovelyteenagebeard @the0twst0shrimp0mc @sucker4seresin @marytargaryen @naneko31 @9tailedfoxfire @iilsenewman @ivyrose9194 @coffee-is-my-oxygen @mysterypotatoink @bitchycolletorvoid @nattysplatty @wifiatthetrainstation @nymeriiiia

[quotes121sworld]

Sherri Shepherd is planning to have a breast reduction this summer ##SherriShepherd

Sherri Shepherd revealed her plans for her summer break on her daytime talk show Sherri - she will be having a breast reduction.Speak with entertainment tonight At Variety's Power of Women Luncheon in Manhattan on Tuesday, the 55-year-old The View graduate said, "I think I'm getting my boobs done. I think I get a little discount because my back is starting to hurt.”Sherri's admission comes just a week after a needle plugged the gap in her dress caused by her ample breasts during the taping of her show."Getting out, you know, during the day it's sometimes too much," she explained. 'Well, before the doors open, Willie said: "It's too much breast!"'But that's not all the Dish Nation graduate has planned for her summer vacation.

Summer plans: Sherri Shepherd revealed her plans for her summer break from her daytime talk show Sherri - she will be undergoing a breast reduction"People keep forgetting I'm an actress," she told the outlet. "Well, yeah, I have an audition for a movie and I'm working on a children's book. And I'm going to be a mother. Jeffrey needs me more before he goes back to school.'The One For the Money actress shares son Jeffrey, nine, with her ex-husband Lamar Sally. And the talk show host spoke to the outlet about her role models, saying, "I would say it was Oprah who showed an equal interest in me lovingly and will speak to me." "Gayle King, who's going to text me? And Robin Roberts, you know, that encouraging news to say, "Hey, you're doing great, or maybe you should switch here." "And you know, when I call them and ask for advice, they're there, and it feels good to know I've got champions behind me," she added.Sherri has the life experience to know that she is very, very lucky at this point in her life. In the early 1990s, she spent eight days behind bars for owing $10,000 in unpaid parking tickets.And she believes her brief stint in prison was a "life lesson" that ultimately set her on the path to success.

Back pain: Speaking to Entertainment Tonight at Tuesday's Variety's Power of Women luncheon in Manhattan, The View alum, 55, said, "I think I'm getting my boobs done. I think I get a little discount because my back is starting to hurt."Yes, I went to jail for not paying for my tickets. At the time, I didn't think it was a good moment to be in jail, but looking back, I've learned to pay all my bills," she said page six Last month."Prison, that was a classroom ... it was a life lesson, and now I pay my bills on time."While she was incarcerated, a fellow inmate also helped Shepherd see her own star potential."One of the girls in prison said, 'Leave Sherri alone because she's going to be someone and we're going to be here for the rest of our lives,' literally she always said that," she recalled.

Role models: And the talk show host spoke to the outlet about her role models, saying, "I would say it was Oprah who has shown the same interest lovingly for me and will be speaking to me."

Her longtime pal: Here she is arm in arm with talk show host Kelly Ripa"Her name was Shelby and she came to both of my weddings when I was stepping out," she revealed."But sometimes people see things in you that you don't see yourself, and when she said those words, 'Sherri will be someone,' I never would have thought that to myself.""So I just knew something was going to happen."And while her big break took some time, Shepherd's tide turned when she landed the role of Sheila Yarborough on the Jamie Foxx show, which ran from 1996-2001.She also starred in other hit shows like Suddenly Susan and Everybody Loves Raymond before helming the 2002 ABC comedy series Less Than Perfect.With an impressive tally of television and film appearances, Shepherd's career took another leap when she became permanent co-host on ABC's The View in 2007.She served as a guest co-host for a year before legendary journalist Barbara Walters welcomed her full-time.She left the daytime talk show in 2014 but has made frequent cameos over the years.

She just looks good! Shepherd attends the 54th NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles in February Read the full article

[notenoughmuses]

The words stung as Lyanna spoke and there was much truth in them, he could no deny them. His father's army had attacked and assaulted the royal family. They had caused destruction that had Tywin not betrayed the King, would not have happened. Nor would their be as many deaths on the Lannister name.

"Yes. It was my father. My father who is not bound to the same oaths as I. My father chose to murder innocents." Jamie responds in a matter-of-fact tone, not attacking but merely stating what occurred."My father did not think when he decided to join the rebels and help in the slaughter of the heir and grand-children of the King."

Jamie looks down at the babe in Lyanna's arms. Robert would kill him, Jamie knew that, it was the obvious answer. "He cannot claim Kingship when there are still Targaryens alive." Jamie mentioned while reminding himself about the logistics of the throne. "He is a babe, yes, but Targaryen blood runs through his veins. Queen Rhaella last I saw was with child and Prince Viserys, sailing to safety. There are ways to secure your sons future, Lyanna. I stood by the Targaryen King and I swore an oath to Rhaegar to protect his family. If my father hadn't gotten to Princess Elia and her children, Aerys would have with Wildfyre. So I rushed back to where I knew Rhaegars child was, I hoped you both had lived and I was relieved to see it. I've killed one mad king, Lyanna. I won't hesitate to take another if it means preserving peace in the realm. My father can't possibly think Robert Baratheon would make a good King. Rhaegar spoke ill of Robert just as much as his own father."

Jamie knew speaking of killing another King to be was not smart. It was not a good move, in war betrayal could mean you too would get stabbed in the back just as easily as you would do it first. Whose to say the next King after Robert wouldn't be subject to the same fate if Jamie was near. None would trust him. "Hire a faceless man to take care of Robert. I will stand by your son, the Prince, the next King of Westeros and if it costs me my life, then so be it. I've forfeited everything for Aerys and my father except for my life. That I would give to protect Rhaegars future with my life and sword."

JAIME LANNISTER:

cont from [x]

“The son of the lion, you speak as if I should trust you so easily.” There was a bite in her words, as harsh and as cold as the winds of her home, even after everything she was still a she-wolf, albeit now a mother wolf as well. One who nearly lost her life when birthing the son that remained within her arms, which protectively embraced the small pup that she’d called Jon. There was a storm within her gray eyes, burning with anger, heartache, sorrow…word reached them of the Prince’s death; Lyanna had yet to even fully process it nor grieve. “Was it not your fathers army who assisted in such brutality, who allowed such unthinkable violence upon two innocent children, of their mother?” The wolf and the lion were near the same age, they’d briefly met prior and the Lannister boy always seemed of good heart, logically she knew he was not to blame for the actions of his father, but her temper was fierce and untamed, she was speaking from hurt, from anger. 

 “I am no Lady Stark, that title would now belong to my good sister.” There was still uncertainty in her eyes, in posture and words, only when he speaks of Rhaegar does her expression soften, an ache felt within her chest at the memory now; he was dead because of her. “Robert would kill him.” She whispers, looking down to the slumbering babe, he looked so peaceful despite coming into this world in a time of war, he was peace, his mothers peace. “He cannot return to King’s Landing now, they wish to eliminate the Targaryen line, and any with it’s blood.” Brow lifts while staring at the young man now, a moment or two of silence falling between them. “And what if to give us this protection you seek to, it meant to stand against your own father?”

@notenoughmuses​

[annabolina]

If there is one thing that Becoming Elizabeth has going for it, even when it’s not good at all, it’s the acting.

You might not enjoy the Thomas Seymour plot, but you can not take your eyes off Tom Cullen because he is that good, just absolutely mesmerizing, that man put his soul into this role and I thank him for it.

Romola Garai is a powerhouse and deserves a second season by herself, that’s it.

John Hefferman impressed me so much this last episode, him signing the paper ordering his brother’s death? He did more with his hands than most actors do with their whole face. Talking of his face, he was devastating in his attempts to reason with his brother.

And Jamie Parker is having the time of his life playing John Dudley and so am I watching him, we thank you for your service sir.

Anyway, I know none of them will get any recognition come awards season but if there was any justice, they would.

[likehephaestionwhodied]

I don’t know if GRRM has said anything about this. If so RIP but if not-- 

I’m 85 pages into what is probably near my 15th reread of A Game of Thrones and I’m actually annotating this time. Which means I’m remembering better than I ever have. and I don’t think Jaime Lannister was originally part of the Kings Guard let me explain. 

When Cat tells Ned that the Lannister brothers are coming with Robert to Winterfell Ned makes a face and Cat thinks 

“The Lannisters of Casterly Rock had come late to Robert’s cause when victory was all but certain, and he had never forgiven them” 

There is no mention of the fact that Jaime killed the king while being a member of the kingsguard. Something that is not a secret, Ned wouldn’t have had to keep that from her everyone knows that this happened. 

When Ned sees Jaime come though the gates he has “hair as bright as beaten gold” but no white cloak.

Perhaps the best indication of “Jamie was not origionally part of the kingsguard”  is when Bran is thinking about going south. 

“Two of the kingsguard had come north with King Robert. Bran had watched them with Fascination, never quite daring to speak to them. Ser Boros was a bald man with a jowly face, and ser Meryn had droopy eyes and a beard like the color of rust” 

Why the whole kingsgurad did not come I don’t know. But presumably this passage means that the two members who DID come were Ser Boros and Ser Meryn.

However, immediately following that sentence is this one 

“Ser Jaime Lannister looked more like the knigts in the stories, and he was of the kingsguard too, but Robb said he had killed the old mad king and shouldn’t count anymore.” 

“Jake it literally says he’s a member of the Kingsguard” I know and i think that came after, and here’s why

In the same chapter Bran over hears Jaime and Cersei, Cersei is going on and on and on about how Jaime should have been hand. And while I don’t know if there are laws about holding two offices at once that seems a bit power hungry, even for a Lannister. 

The only other reference to the Kingslaying business is when Jon introduces him at the banquet. Look at what he is wearing. 

“Ser Jaime Lannister was twin to Queen Cersei; tall and golden, with flashing green eyes and a smile that cut like a knife. He wore crimson silk, high black boots, a black satin cloak. On the breast of his tunic, the lion of his House was embroidered in gold thread, roaring its defiance. They called him the Lion of Lannister to his face and whispered “Kingslayer” behind his back” 

I know that part of being a Lannister is doing whatever you want and so for Jaime not to be dressed as a member of the Kingsgurad might not be that wild, but from what I remember he usually is for the rest of the book. 

Anyways, my point is I think that originally Jaime was not a member of the kingsgurad and those two references were added later. We know the story has grown in complexity (and length) since GRRM first imagined it. And I don’t think this makes the story incomprehensible. It’s just interesting. And has nothing to do with me ignoring the 15 page paper I have due on Friday

also as Ned Stark’s biggest fan let me just primitively shut down arguments. This is not me saying Jaime isn’t good enough for the kingsgurad, or making any judgement at all about Jaime, simply pointing out I think GRRM ctrl+f and added back story for Jaime after  at least the first 85 pages were written that’s all. 

[sh1tb0i]

Changes/choices made in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013) that make me chew drywall

Lily Collins black eyebrows against her faintly dyed red-over-dark-brown hair. Guys. There was no way in hell you were selling that she’s a ginger but why THAT choice

the portal in the institute. Portals as just a naturally occurring thing. That is a WARLOCK skill

the framing of witches vs the framing of warlocks

any attempt at humour that wasn’t voiced or acted by either Jamie Campbell Bower or Robert Sheehan nothing else landed why did you bother just leave the quips to them

Alec. Just. Poor Alec my boy they did you so dirty. Shoved the plot forward at Mach speed but refused to give you a boyfriend or a personality smh

“Bach is to demons as garlic is to vampires?”

No rat Simon. Devastating loss how funny would that have been

I’m still insane about the wet ass water portal behind the giant locked door why did y’all do that just give me more Magnus

Valentine. Enough said.

Actually not enough said WHAT was going on with those braids please someone tell me if I’m being culturally ignorant but I’m like 75% sure I’m not and it was just a Choice they made with him

The garden scene was cute and the kiss was good but why the fake out on the stairs — in fact why was the fake out caused by a pet crow that then apparently IMMEDIATELY doesn’t matter because Clary trips and falls onto Jace’s lips anyway

The werewolves I’m sorry guys you were completely non essential to the fight you were roped into and died for no reason this was unnecessary wolf murder

why did we put the final fight in the institute. like I get it you put a lot into this set but like you didn’t have to. why the dome. why the basement crypt— why was JOCELYN in the basement crypt?? this is never explained she’s just there. was she there the entire movie??? COMATOSE AND FLOATING????

“I don’t believe it clary, not in my heart, it doesn’t feel true…. It’s not the world that’s different, it’s you… anyway don’t you remember what Hodge said? All the stories are true” MAKE UP YOUR MIND JONATHON CHRISTOPHER IS THE STORY TRUE OR NOT trying to swing a profound ending line as they ride off down the streets of Brooklyn except it makes zero fucking sense I’m taking liberties because I don’t wanna write the entire scene but you get the fucking gist

Anyway I watch this movie once every like five months and it puts bugs in my brain each time

once again watched the mortal instruments movie (it’s weirdly become a comfort movie I love shitty 2010s action fantasy film) and the more I watch it the more I notice absolutely none of the dialogue makes sense. I’m p sure I watched a video essay about how the entire 2 hours is just Exposition: The Film and they’re right and every time I watch it it becomes more and more obvious. absolutely insane choice. it’s so exposition heavy that they spoil that jace and clary are in fact NOT siblings and that valentine is lying just in case they never made a sequel because that would be a fucking crazy thing to not inform the audience after they had insane sexual tension the entire film and oh— would you look at that. shockingly, they didn’t make a second one. glad they cleared that up mid way through the back half of the film or the reviews would have been WEIRDER and probably even worse

in fact the entire back half of the film with valentine is so fucking crazy. why’d they do that to him. why’d they make him like that. they did not have to make him like that. yes he’s an insane fucking guy but like they try to tell you “he was once a great man but fear twisted him into this” NO IT DIDNT. NO HE WAS NOT. HE WAS NEVER NORMAL. DO NOT TRY AND PLAY IT LIKE THAT THIS GUY HAS NEVER BEEN NORMAL A DAY IN HIS LIFE truly the mindless rage emanating from this man borders on hysterical there is no world in which this guy was a charismatic leader at any point there was no point in her life that LENA HEADEY as Jocelyn ever fucked this guy to produce one child let alone TWICE

can we talk about LENA HEADEY being in this film!!! Robert Sheehan??? JARED HARRIS?? he was actually in a lot of weird mainstream mid 2010s action films so that’s not all that surprising but like. man. Aiden turner!!! There were so many good actors in this film why did they DO this to them???? what HAPPENED in that writing room I would pay real money to know how this got greenlit im serious

so glad they turned it into a mediocre television show instead at least that shit had time to expand

[sodascherrycola]

Instagram Intros (Keith Richard’s Kids)

Adrian James Richards (@adrianrichards)

DOB: August 17th 1969 Age: 54 years old Hometown: Sussex, England Nicknames: Adri S/O: Penelope Maple Kids: Noah, Kenneth, Ethan, and Jane Friend(s): Zoe Jagger and Jason Browning Aesthetic: A hard worker, and just SUCH a DAD!!! He is so protective over his children. He was never close with his dad and def has major daddy issues that are undignosed. He wants to be the dad he never had around. He adores his kids more than anything else. Loves his mom and appreciates her more now that he's older.

Jamie Robert Richards (@jamierichards)

DOB: September 1st 1972 Age: 51 years old Hometown: Sussex, England Nicknames: James S/O: Kelly Montgomery Kids: Jenna, Victoria, and Eliza Friend(s): Ava Jagger Aesthetic: When he was 16 and his parents got divorced he acted out like crazy. He was partying and doing drugs and just running wild. Became a total pain to BOTH of his parents and they knew something was up. He was surprisinly fond of his father and they got along quite well, so when he divorced his mom shit went down. He is just a bit too much like Keith in a way.

Amelia Zoe Richards (@mia_richards)

DOB: July 3rd 1976 Age: 47 years old Hometown: Sussex, England Nicknames: Mia, Mila S/O: Nicholas Urie Kids: Jaiden, Olivia, and Taylor Friend(s): Alice Lindsey and Jennifer Weiss Aesthetic: The kindest out of all her siblings. Loves being a girly girl and dressing up for brunch. The spitting image of her mother and Keith adores it. She looks and acts just like her mom, from her eyes straight down to the mannerisms she uses. Head to toe Lucy.

Evie Lynn Richards (@evielynn)

DOB: November 18th 1978 Age: 45 years old Hometown: Sussex, England Nicknames: Eve S/O: Sierra Lynch Kids: Noel and Everly Friend(s): Henry Burke Aesthetic: The shy kid. She never was really one for the spotlight but never acted out from it. She knew she had a good reputation from a young age and was a people pleaser. One wrong move and she would be done for and everyone would hate her. She was always nice with the paparazzi and in interviews. She was the press' princess since she was born.

Sophie Anne Richards (@soph.richie)

DOB: December 2nd 1985 Age: 38 years old Hometown: Sussex, England Nicknames: Soph S/O: Joshua Green Kids: Hannah Friend(s): Sloane Becker and Gregory Phillips Aesthetic: A literal model. She is stunning and she knows it. She uses it to her advantage, and her dad taught her that. He loved her the most secretly but he would never tell. She became the youngest model to be on the cover of Vouge when she was just 16 years old. When she dated Damon Albarn from 2006-2008 it caused quite the stir because of their age gap. People thought it was another case of her parents. It was, and they broke up after about 2 years.

Alexander Cole Richards (@alexcrich)

DOB: October 13th 1986 Age: 37 years old Hometown: Sussex, England Nicknames: Al, Alex, Lexi, and Xander S/O: Natalie Bell Kids: Juliana, Damien, and Jaxon Friend(s): Zackary Best Aesthetic: Alexander was the glue holding this family on by the thread. A lot of fighting goes on in this family and he has always hated it. He's always the one to bring people back together to make things right, the therepist friend if you will. He has a lot of issues he refuses to talk about just to avoid conflict.

Charlotte Grace Richards (@helllooo_charliii)

DOB: December 18th 2001 Age: 22 years old Hometown: Sussex, England Nickames: Charlie and Lottie S/O: Hallie Carpenter Kids: None Friend(s): Loralai Mendoza Aesthetic: The youngest, and a complete accident on her parents part. She was not planned but loved nevertheless. Her older siblings love her because she's so little to them. Her parents never had to pay for a babysitter because they had her brothers and sisters. She was a very adventurous kid and loved the outdoors. Had a lot of pet snails too.

[renee-writer]

A Little Change in History Chapter 2

AO3

On the way to their new life, the wagon stopped several times for rest, meals and, so the people can relief themselves. On one of these times, Mary whispered to Claire. “Ccclaire were are were going.”

“I believe Stirling Castle. That is what I heard. We both have seven years to be indentured servants.” Claire holds the other lass as tears drip down her face. She wants Oxford, her house and, her uncle. They are all gone now and the future is in the hands of whoever picks up their indenture. She just prays he is kind.

They ride towards Stirling Castle. Murtagh smiles before he says, “So, Jenny says you need a wife.”

Jamie scowls. “Jenny needs to keep her nob out of my business. I don’t wish for a wife right now. I have the responsibility of the land and her tenants. These servants. Besides, have you seen the lasses my sister wishes to set me up with?” Murtagh chuckles. “Either a mousy thing or a loud demanding one who makes me wish to run away.” He laughs.

There was a time, before Mary married Robert that Jenny was trying to set him up with her. Then it was their cousin, Laughaire. Lord is he ever thankful that she was found in the barn with one of the stable hands and was married off.

“Jamie, you know I wish you happy. I haven’t been with anyone since Suzette in Paris, so I understand.” Jamie had been barely older then a wean, still wet behind the ears when he was in Paris for university. It was a heady time and the lasses were so tempting. He almost lost his life for one of them. He learned his lesson though.

They stop in front of the castle in the courtyard. Both the castle and villages are built on volcanic rock hovering above the river forth. As Scottish as the Highlands and Lowlands. A small platform had been constructed outside the castle and this is where many clansman had gathered to see the offerings of men and women for their lands. Jamie walks up to the lad with the list and occupations of the indentured servants.

“Good morror. I am in need of a midwife/ healer and a maid to replace one who is being married. Do you have anyone today who fits that need?”

“Mr. Fraser, I do. I have a healer from England. She has been charged with murder. She is with a friend, mute, who should make a fine maid.”

“Murder? Do you have the details?”

“Aye,” he shuffles some papers around, “ ah, the baby came still, according to the healer and the mam, who swears the child grew still in her. The father rejected this, the English courts put her under indenture. Her and her mates sentence is seven years.” He adds helpfully, “and are right over there, if you wish to see them.”

He nods and he and Murtagh walk over that way. He shakes his head at the conditions the people were in. All dirty and in rags but, they look healthy. There was that, at least. Jamie hated this, the aftermath of war. It got them out of England and into a better life. Most are Catholic and outspoken. It is a dangerous thing to be, as the English king didn’t handle that well. Most Scottish lairds were just looking for people to work the land. War had taken its toil on both sides. The famine that came after caused poor harvests and very tired Scots. Some had left for the colonies, seeking the independence, that is even stronger then the Scots had found. The English could do naught about it.

He walks over to see the healer. She has brown curly hair, and he sees her beauty even amongst the dirt. Another lass clings to her. “Claire Beauchamp, the healer come here.” The stand together and walk over to the three men. The tallest had the air of a Laird and she bows down to him, taking Mary with her. She noticed his red hair and stern but kind blue eyes. “I am Claire Beauchamp, the healer.”

“How many bairns have you lost?”

“Milord, three. Two were born still and the other badly deformed. The father took the lad and shoved me out the door.” Her head remains bowed.

“This lass with you, does she speak?”

“Yes Milord, but her stutter is bad and pronounced and she hides it from all but me.”

He nods. “I will take them both. I also need a good stable hand as the one I have is going on to other duties.”

“I have a lad of noble birth. He did something to disgrace his family and is now well, here.” The chap laughs. To see a noble brought low is a particular treat. Jamie just glares at him. “Come lad.” He quickly calls out.

He comes over. Thin he was but looks sturdy. “What is your name lad?”

“Alex Randall, sir. I was thrown out of my family for refusing to fight the Scots. I really didn’t , and don’t have a problem with you.”

“Randall? Do you know a Jack Randall?’

“Yes sir. He was my cousin. Never liked him. There was something funny about him beyond him not liking the ladies.” Seeing Claire and Mary, he flushes and bows towards them, “Pardon my ladies.”

Jamie likes him. “I will take him also. Please have them cleaned up and in some clean clothes. I will be back in an hour to get them.” He nods at Murtagh and they walk away. They head to a pub to get lunch befo heading back to Lallybroch.