#ETA: can't be dead

[pure-mornings]

[trillscienceofficer]

Bryan Fuller is another guy whose writing on Star Trek I totally Do Not Get because on one hand he pitched a story killing off all of Kira's friends ("The Darkness And The Light", it works as an ep but jeez) plus whatever the fuck he thought he was doing with "Retrospect" (awful!!!!!), "Gravity" and "Alice", but on the other he also co-wrote one of my fave Voyager episodes, "Barge of The Dead"? What? Sir this is very confusing

[lostandbackagain]

why do y'all pronounce shallan Like That like everyone's pretty united on stressing the first syllable and saying a as ă in tsa characters' names so why is shallan different

[fadingstrawberrynightmare]

order of writing. below is first. tags second. picture of text from friend and text after it are last.

by anticipating my needs when you thought I was distressed you are continuing to carve a place in my heart

I do think I would be at my best with two. specifically these two.

my friend is right. but do I even have the capacity to employ this in a way that allows me to enjoy you in all of the ways that I want

[queen-mabs-revenge]

The inquiry ruled that the Scotland Yard unit was not justified in intruding deeply into the private lives of campaigners, including their sexual relationships, and suggested it should have been disbanded early in its existence.

The inquiry found that the managers of the unit frequently approved reports that contained “many examples” of racism and sexism.

Senior Whitehall officials, some of them in the Cabinet Office, and top police officers knew about the unit, which was part of a highly covert state-funded apparatus that spied on leftwing and progressive groups, the inquiry concluded.

The critical evaluation of the unit, known as the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS), was made public on Monday by David Barr KC, the inquiry’s most senior barrister.

He said the unit’s “operations have caused a lot of harm. Democratic freedoms have been infringed, outrage and pain has been caused.”

The inquiry, led by the former judge Sir John Mitting, is examining how 139 undercover officers spied on more than 1,000 mainly leftwing groups between 1968 and at least 2010. The officers were sent on deployments, usually lasting four years, to infiltrate political groups and acquire information about the activities of campaigners.

[…]

Barr said it was “hard to identify a single instance” in which information gathered by the unit “averted a public order calamity”.

He said the SDS operated with a “remarkable lack of oversight, formal training and instruction” but was not a “rogue unit” as it was funded by the Home Office and collaborated with MI5.

[tremendouscreationperson]

Bucky x Agent!Reader imagine

“-vac! Anyone out there?!” You frowned automatically as the tinny voice yelled. The voice wasn't directly in your ear, it was further away causing the frown to deepen. Why was it further away? Why was-shit!!

Your eyes blink open as a searing hot pain shot through you. Lighting your right side ablaze with red hot flames.

An involuntary noise tumbled out of your mouth as you attempted to move your hands. Attempted to work out what was happening. Your movements weren't in your best interest but you needed to know what was causing such pain.

“I am in need of urgent evac, making my way to point A!”

You felt your side and it was warm. Warm and sticky. Shit. You didn't have to see your palms to know but in a naive moment you forced one into your line of sight. Red and dripping.

The hand fell back at your side and you took in the surrounding area. Directly in front of you was a ceiling, oh that made sense, you were lying on your back. Of course. You were on a mission, how could you forget?

“ETA to evac point 2 minutes.” The voice called again. It was to your left. In the fight you had lost the earpiece. Your movements were clumsy but you quickly retrieved the com without pulling on your side too much.

“‘ucky?” a cough. “‘ucky.” You tried but your mouth couldn't form the letter ‘b’. How pathetic.

“Thank god, sweet girl.” The sounds of him huffing - clearly running - and gunshots behind him were now clearer as the piece sat snugly in your ear. It sat better than ever now it was covered in a sticky substance. “I was worried the team had left me.”

Team? Oh that was right. There was a team of highly skilled agents and you were their connection to SHIELD. You were their escape route. You needed to move.

“Where- where are they?”

“I don't know. No one's been on this line since 22:00.”

You took a deep breath. That was before the altercation. You'd been set up in this radio tower to feed information to the team, to tell them when the guards were changing, if they had upgraded any of their weapons, your job was basically to sit back and wait. To try to help if needed.

And then they noticed you. They noticed doors were being unlocked and machines were powered down. A trio came looking for you. Two were downed in the hall, because you'd heard on their radio frequency that they were coming but the third managed to get in. Managed to get you on the ground in a scramble. Clearly managed to get you in the side. It didn't feel like a gunshot but you don't recall a knife. Speaking of - where is he? Your head rolled to the left - a broken window and rotting wall - and then the right - the edge of the ancient console - and then you extended your neck to see he was slumped behind.

Thank god, you were in no condition to fight.

“Evac point A is overrun.”

That was twice now you'd forgotten you were here to do a job.

“Has SHIELD made contact? Where's the jet?”

Had they? “Unclear. I'll try to connect again.”

Fuck. Why couldn't you have landed closer to the console?

“I'll need to go to evac point B.” He called over the sound of an explosion. “What's the best route?”

You cried out as you attempted to roll onto your side. “You'll.. you'll have to find cover and wait for me. I don't know the best- they've got bases at all sides I need to-”

“Cover?” He roared in disbelief.

“I can't presently give you the information you need.” You panted, psyching yourself up to roll again.

“Wh-are you okay?” The juxtaposition in his tone was almost laughable.

“Fine.” You grit your teeth and flop gracefully over. “The- the console’s ‘eing funny.”

He was silent for a few beats but did eventually speak, “radio silence ‘til I say.” Then the line was dead.

That was fine by you. Allowed you the opportunity to be as pathetic with your movements as possible. The console being no more than three meters away but felt as though it was three football stadiums.

You panted and cursed and yelled, sweat poured down your temples and mixed with your tears and spit.

It only occurred to you when you were a quarter of the way there that you could die here. You likely would. Bucky would be the last person you spoke to.

Now the radio silence was a curse.

You didn't want to die alone.

No.

No, you wouldn't die.

Not here.

Fuck them!

Fuck everyone!

You weren't going to die in this shithole.

You crawled slowly to the console with a quiet fire lighting the way. You were no quicker but were now fueled by spite.

Each stretch of your arm pulled at your side and then you had to drag your body forward which pinched it.

Your eyes scanned the floor and you sent a silent prayer to anyone that would listen: please don't let there be anything deadly on the ground. It was covered in glass, debris and mixed blood, there were bullet shells and open wires.

Your com crackled to life and you jumped, silently screaming at the tugging sensation.

“How's the console?” He whispered into your ear.

Within reach was the real answer. Fuck him. He knew. “Yeah, still here. Still being funny.” At least you could pronounce “being” correctly.

“Any news on the evac?” His tone was still hushed.

“Where are you?” You hauled yourself closer.

“In a tree.” The laugh that erupted from your gut was worth all the pain. “Shut up.” He warned but you could tell he was smiling.

You were now there. At the console. Fingers brushing the base.

But this was the hard part.

“Bear with me a sec.” You muttered as you hoisted your torso up. It took a few attempts but you eventually sat on your butt.

You were able to reach the old school com. They had it connected to bulky headphones and the mic didn't really work but you'd try. You have to.

Flipping whatever was in reach you eventually set the dial to the right frequency and begged.

“Ramirez? Connor? Hardy? Sillett? Boswell?” The line stayed dead after you repeated every name. You groaned, changing the frequency. “Coming in. SHIELD. We have a code 445. Need emergency evac at point B.”

Silence.

“Anything doll?” Bucky prompted.

“No.” Your eyes flickered across the console. There were bullet holes, old and new, some dials were present and others had missing knobs, only a few lights actually worked. It had been fine earlier, well no but it was usable! The fucker that got you must've shot at it as well. “Pretty sure it's dead.” You caught something. “Wait, mayb- I can try that.”

You pulled the chair you'd previously abandoned closer and attempted to use it to stand. The legs skidded across the floor and you went with it.

“Hey what's happening?” He asked after hearing you curse.

“Just shshsh.” You try again and instead of landing on your face you’re able to sit on the rickety chair. “I'm remembering morse code.”

“Mors- we're dead.” He let out a humorless laugh as you fiddled with the connections, it looked like it was the only working thing in this tower.

“You'll be alright.” You tapped the key forming a simple sentence and hoped to god the right person would hear. ‘SHIELD. URGENT EVAC B. SHIELD. URGENT EVAC B.’

You continuously tapped the message - zoning out from your surroundings out of boredom or blood loss - forgetting yourself but Bucky coughed and you were sucked back into the room. Back into the mission. “I think I s-saw some old maps earlier, I can try and help with t’ route.”

He let out a sigh. “How bad are you hit?”

Fuck. “Well it's no’ great.” Taaap. Tap. Tap.

“Any response?”

“Not presently.” Your eyelids were getting heavy now. It was difficult to keep them open. Why did you need them open? “There's always someone down in the dungeon, waiting for secret messages.”

He huffed in response. You were right, there usually was some poor bastard in the bunker listening for telegrams and mapping crop circles.

The weight of your eyelids had transferred to your forehead. Your neck struggled to keep it upright. It would be easier if you could just rest it, just place it delicately on the console, and then you can focus all your energy on the message.

“You could try north.” You muttered, fighting the internal battle to stay upright.

“North?”

“The bases are more spora’ic up north.” Cough. “More cover.” Tap. Tap. Tap. Taaap.

“Where are your coordinates?”

As if your brain could calculate that. “I do- I think west.” Tap. Tap.

That was weird. When he sighed you could feel it. You frown and raise your head.

Oh.

He was sitting next to you on your sofa. In your home. Wearing a black tee and gray tracksuit bottoms.

“I think I could get to you.” He nodded more to himself than you. “I'm sure of it.” His hair was clean and tied back with one of your old scrunchies.

“I don't see how.”

“I'm not leaving you behind.” He vowed, his hand covering your own. You knew realistically you were tapping your fingers on the key but his warm digits felt so real, so true.

“Just. Just distract me?” You couldn't add 'from my imminent death' but you could force a weak smile. “Please.”

“I don't know if I can.” His jaw set but you could see the debate in his eyes.

“Please Bucky.”

“I would've taken you dancing.” He looked as shocked as you felt when the words came out, but he eased into them. “If I met you in the 40s. I would've loved to take you dancing.”

That sounded amazing. Dancing with him.

“I wasn't amazing at the jive but I bet with you as a partner we'd be killer.”

“Cat's pajamas.” You must've blinked because he was now clean shaven and his hair was cropped, he wore a button down shirt and slacks. But he was still Bucky. Still your friend.

“Yeah.” He eagerly agreed. “We'd have met at Sal's, got a coke and you'd have decided to take me up on the dancing offer. Or we'd have gone to the fair. I loved the Ferris wheels.” His eyes left yours and he was lost in thought. “I don't think I'd like them any more.”

Heights.

He didn't like heights.

He dealt with them but he didn't like them.

You'd had many conversations about his fears, trying to help him cope with his new reality but he never quite got over heights.

“We could dance now.” You muttered to distract him. “We could find somewhere to danc’.”

“You'd wanna go dancing with me?” One eyebrow twitched and he had a coy smirk.

You let out a hum in affirmative before mumbling a very low, “always.”

“I don't know why I haven't thought to ask you. I-” He cut himself off. “You’ve always been the one. You're my partner in and out of missions. You're my best friend. Even when I was shitty and awful and I didn't want you to be. Yo- I'm only here because of you.” His blue eyes came back to you, and they were glittering. The whites, a vague pink color illuminating the blue even further.

You felt his hand on yours tighten but it was different. It was hard. Consistent. Like a heartbeat. Like-

“Bucky they responded!” You jolt up from the console and zoned in on the letters.

‘D. 3.20. M-E-E-T. U-P. P-O-I-N-T. C-O-N-F-I-R-M-E-D.’

“Bucky, get to number B!” You ordered. “They're coming. You have about 40 minutes.”

“What about you?” He hadn't moved. You knew he hadn't. He was far too stubborn. “Where is your location?”

“I'm in t’ tower.” The words came out slurred. Wow. You really hadn't realized how much energy staying alive took. Now your job was done, maybe you could rest.

“But the others checked- you can't still be in the same tower?”

“‘ingo.”

“That doesn't mak-”

“37 minutes.” You breathily corrected the earlier statement. “Now, 35.”

“Just-”

“Please.” Your voice was smaller than you hoped. “I don't want you to-” gulp. “-aswell. Please just be safe.”

“But they checked the tower. The last message was that it was empty!” He was climbing now, you could tell. His breathing had changed.

“‘aybe it wasn't ‘em.” If you could shrug you would've. “No r'ponse since.”

“I'm going to evac point B and then I'm coming with the jet to you.”

“Wha’ woul’ we have danced to?” The words were so jumbled and far too quiet but he understood.

“Anything you wanted, baby.”

You hum.

“Y/N?"

"Y/N!"

[lurkingshan]

Things That Have My Attention in 4 Minutes Episode 4

Congrats to the Dome is Tonkla's brother truthers!

Let's talk timelines again. I still think we're working with two timelines, but I no longer think they're cleanly separated. Because if they were, you could not have some of these things happening concurrently. If we only had an Original timeline and a Redo timeline, then everything Great changes should be part of the Redo timeline. But in this episode Great saved Nan in the same timeline where Dome was dead, which we know because Great got Nan's location by getting Korn trashed after Korn fought with Tonkla over his abandonment in the aftermath of Dome's death. These things are all connected, so we can't cleanly sort events into one timeline or the other.

Which means it's most likely that the two timelines are bleeding together, making things unstable. This would explain Great's experience of overlapping moments last week, and Tonkla seeing Dome briefly before things went all weird and he disappeared at the end of today's episode.

By the way, it turns out those cold opens are not of the future--Tonkla has already done the murder in the same timeline where he's messing around with the cop. ETA: @my-rose-tinted-glasses pointed out that this is not necessarily true if the scene of Win getting the fingerprints and the phone call is also in the future. So back to square one on that!

Speaking of, what is up with Win? He is fully engaging in an affair with a murder suspect and doesn't seem to be investigating Tonkla at all. And I cannot let this pass without comment: why on earth did Win not put his pants back on during the long scene of him listening to Tonkla and Korn?! Was this really an appropriate situation to Winnie the Pooh it???

The flashback to Tonkla and Korn's beginning gave good context for why Tonkla thought he might be able to have more with Korn. I appreciated the details there: Korn was giving him money before they even had sex the first time and was lying to him about his intentions from the start, while Tonkla had zero experience when they met and didn't know how to recognize the signs of Korn's lies. Korn basically groomed this kid to be his sidepiece and has strung him along for years.

Tonkla definitely feels like a tragic character heading for a bad end, though perhaps he will also be saved eventually by the timeline shifts. In the timeline where Dome is dead and he's fucking Win, Tonkla is being incredibly reckless. I couldn't believe he just moved a new man into the home Korn pays for, he's gonna get caught.

I was grateful the show did not actually go all the way with Korn assaulting Tonkla, but it was clear he would have if Tonkla had not managed to distract him.

I continue to find the emotional tenor of Great and Tyme's scenes kinda weird. I don't understand why Great is so willing to betray Korn to help Tyme after just meeting him, I don't understand why Tyme revealed his face only to run away and then accused Great of being in on the conspiracy after already confirming he's not, and I don't understand why they were acting all blushy and awkward in that sex scene rather than leaning into the adrenaline high for a more sultry tone. They have been on one (1) date so the emotional investment is not really tracking for me for two experienced adults, but I can't tell if I am supposed to find this all weird and confusing or just go with it. It feels like the show just wants me to accept the shortcuts and buy into them as a serious romance, so okay I guess!

Speaking of betraying Korn, Great's plan was abysmal. He steals the information from Korn's phone (so considerate of him to spell out his criminal conspiracy including names and locations in one convenient text chain), tells Tyme everything without any knowledge of what his brother did, then walks right into an active hostage situation in his designer whites and shows his face to all Korn's goons. Korn is gonna know you did this, bro! Do you care?

It seems that Nan has a friend who was killed in a similar fashion to Tyme's parents, though I'm still curious how they connected and came up with this plan.

I still got nothing on this Lukwa connection. Why are she and Great the only two experiencing this phenomenon, and why did they see each other in this liminal space?

Also noting that there were several sex scenes this episode and no condoms or lube anywhere. I guess this show only depicts safe and realistic sex when they have a sponsor paying them.

[dangermousie]

Their chemistry is gorgeous...

And the way he makes a little jokes and then realizes that it's not really a joke to him aaaaaaa

It's like they know how to hit all my shippy kinks dead center so hard they are ringing.

And then he stands (without his cloak - he gave it to her!) in front of the cave opening to shield her even if it's by a tiny amount from the cold. He is there until morning!!!

I really liked the first six eps of this drama but with ep 7, that switch - that unpredictable glorious switch - flipped and I am invested and obsessed. It's glorious.

It is a very romantic wuxia in the best ways (and my very first cdrama was the 2006 adaptation of Return of Condor Heroes and you can't get more ur romantic wuxia than that - and it was the reason I got into cdramas - so it's clearly something I crave.)

The thing I love so much here is how competent and adult and decent both the protagonists are. She is sharp-tongued and prickly but deeply good and he is just so...he is arguably the deadliest fighter in that narrative but he is so completely gentle. The way only someone who is very secure in himself and in his strength can be - he doesn't need to prove anything to anyone. He has his (serious) trauma/regrets/damage but insecurity is not one of his issues. And it is just perfect.

I think ZSX has never portrayed a bastard in any way that worked for me (tho to be fair, those dramas were so bad, nobody could have saved that - his new agency is so much better omg, anyway) but he is a rare actor who can portray sheer unadulterated decency and make it fascinating instead of boring.

And Li Qin is just so adult. She is an adult woman; all her best roles take advantage of her stillness and her ability to portray calm, intense competency (that is why that terrible drama with RJL that shall not be named was so bad - it was bad in general but it also went against every one of her strengths; perhaps someone like GXT could have made it bearable.)

This is a solidly written, beautifully filmed drama in a genre I love that plays to its stars' strengths. What's not to love.

ETA: I was gonna make a whole separate post about him carrying her when she faints, trudging thru the snow, trying to breathe on her cold hands and shielding her as they fall but I accidentally deleted them and don't feel like redoing it so just imagine it instead.

[amuseoffyre]

OFMD Parallels - 1x06 and 2x03

Izzy once more coming to urge Stede to action, but this time to save the crew instead of to nudge him towards his death.

Both times, he mentions Ed's connection to Stede, but in doing so, shows how little he knows either of them. "He adores you. I don't know why but he does" foreshadowing "I know you think you understand him".

Izzy doesn't understand the connection between them at this point. He didn't see why Ed was so hung up on this idiot and he can't believe that Stede could possibly have earned so much of Ed's confidence and trust (yet).

And in a couple of sentences, Stede shows that actually he does know Ed and understands his actions all too well. Izzy gets unsurprisingly upset about it, but then - still - asks for Stede's help because right now, he has no other choice.

Instead of pressing Stede to do something (the fuckery), he simply asks him to find some way to save the crew, who have suffered for both their mistakes and explains why. Plumbing the depths.

And Stede reimagines things a bit with a fuckery to take back an empty ship in the dead of night :D

eta: extra shout out to the lighting as well - this time, Stede's the one who is illuminated - enlightened, even 🥁- while Izzy is the one in the dark.

[finnlongman]

So as far as the death itself, without checking to refresh my memory, I can recall this much:

He ties himself to a standing stone with his entrails (I'm pretty sure it's his entrails) and dies. Lugaid's men are ordered to shoot the body with a couple of arrows to make sure, then Lugaid triumphantly walks up to the body, possibly to gloat.

When he gets close enough, Cú Chulainn glows with "hero-light" (that's the translation that stands out in my mind the most, I always thought it was a less intense show of power than the riastrad) one last time as his sword falls from his lifeless hand to behead Lugaid. The rest of his men stay back (this may actually be when they shoot the arrows, I'm iffy on the timing of that part) and nobody else approaches Cú Chulainn's body until a corvid lands on his shoulder; I admittedly just saw your post on my dash where someone else mentioned that part - that's why I went with "corvid" - but I already remembered it as being significant. I also remember it being implied (if not said outright) that it's taken as a sign from the Morrígan (or Babd, if the author makes the distinction. You know how it is with na Mórrígna) that he's finally really truly actually dead.

So yeah. That's my recollection, mixed between everything I've read.

So, in BMMM:

Cú Chulainn ties himself to a standing stone so that he might die standing. He ties himself using his "body belt". I think this is a belt and not a euphemism for intestines, mostly because he already yeeted his innards into a lake, and I'm not sure how many of them he's got left at this point.

Cú Chulainn dies

The men of Ireland are afraid to approach him because they think he's still alive.

Erc shames them that they haven't beheaded him yet and they behead him??? This seems like a textual corruption since in the following paragraph it becomes clear that he still has his head, not sure what's going on there.

The Líath Macha comes back and guards Cú Chulainn, killing anyone who approaches him. We are told that he guards CC "as long as his soul was in him and the hero's light from his forehead remained"; presumably the light goes out when he finally actually dies, but that isn't mentioned.

A scald-crow lands on Cú Chulainn's body, making it clear he's dead. There is nothing textual to suggest the bird is anything except a regular carrion bird, but people do tend to read into it.

Lugaid beheads Cú Chulainn (again???) (This one seems to be the actual beheading since it is referenced later)

Cú Chulainn's sword falls from his hand and chops off Lugaid's hand

Cú Chulainn's arm is struck off in revenge 

A few small details differ from your account but on the whole it's broadly similar, except that there are no arrows. Arrows are pretty rare in Irish sources, to be honest.

In OCC:

Cú Chulainn asks Láeg to help him go to the standing stone so that the men of Ireland will think him alive and won't behead him. Once there, he just seems to lean against it, I don't think he actually ties himself to it in this one.

Cú Chulainn dies

(Láeg leaves with the Dub Sainglend to go and tell Emer.)

The men of Ireland are afraid to approach Cú Chulainn for three days and three nights (big timeline extension compared to BMMM and very much sets CC up as Rubbish Jesus)

During these three days and nights, Cú Chulainn's body is guarded by the Líath Macha 

Medb summons Badb ingen Cailitín and tells her to go and find out whether Cú Chulainn is alive or not.

The men of Ireland see Badb ingen Cailitín in the form of a scald-crow land on Cú Chulainn, so they know he's dead.

They attempt to take Cú Chulainn's sword and it falls and chops off ten of their right hands (? I haven't quite translated this part yet, so that's from eyeballing it) (Later on it seems like one of these hands was Lugaid's, but I'm not sure that was actually specified) ETA having now translated this passage, essentially they can't get close enough because of the sword, so Lugaid suggests they cut the tendon of his hand so that the sword will fall. They do, it does, thirty people lose a hand. (Syntactically: ten kings' sons twenty, hence I misread it as ten originally.) One of them is probably Lugaid but it doesn't actually say so.

Medb tells them to behead Cú Chulainn. They agree it's right for Lugaid to be the one to do this, which he does.

Then Cú Chulainn's head seems to glow? Presumably this is a hero's light situation after death. Again, this is beyond where I've got to in my translation, so while I know the broad outline of what's going on, a few of the finer details are a little vague.

Still no arrows!

I would say your version is closest to Brislech Mór Maige Muirthemne, the earlier text, but this is the one part of the story where they actually largely agree on events with only a few differences, such as Láeg's presence and how much they argue over Cú Chulainn's head before and after it is removed from his body.

[louis-antoine-leon-saint-just]

@camijust

Such a sweet and refreshing question, citizen!

Let's see... Unlike what some might think, I prefer simple flowers, like the ones that grow in the fields and trees around my house in Blérancourt. I must admit I have a soft spot for poppies. I believe this is why I knowingly altered Titus Livius' story and directed my adolescent ire towards those poor ferns instead.

There aren't many blue flowers, I think. (My favorite color is blue. I used to like red too before... before I see too much of it, let's say. It's still beautiful in flowers though. Flowers are pure and innocent...) There's the cornflower though. In the fields between Varennes and Valmy the blue cornflowers and the red poppies bloom with the white chamomile:

Isn't it poignantly beautiful? Sublime, even. I must say, these meadows have been sufficiently watered with blood for many centuries to come. May they humbly accept simple rainwater from now on.

OOC note: I swear this was going to be simple and normal... but of course it led to researching the flowers that grow in Aisne, and reflecting on the Livy anecdote and why he might have used ferns instead even though poppies are in bloom then (were there none? or was it a choice?), and ended with melancholic ramblings on the bleuet (cornflower), which is the equivalent in France to the poppy in the Commonwealth, because I found this beautiful picture on this page, and saw what region this page was about, l'Argonne i.e. these flowers grow right in the region where so many died during so many wars... The symbolism was too powerful - flowers, dead soldiers, La Marseillaise, Saint-Just just took over the keyboard. He had to make it sad again. He can't help it.

ETA: So fate played a very funny trick on me. It turns out that the flowers that grow around his house... are roses. And it is SO like Saint-Just to hide it behind "oh you know, just simple flowers growing around my house" and not say the truth except I swear I wasn't doing that this time, because I didn't check the pictures of his house in a long time. I was just picturing field and trees in general, you know, until @aedesluminis points me to that post. And this is SO FUNNY because roses ARE actually MY favorite flower, I, the real breathing living person behind this RP blog. But I don't think they would be Saint-Just. They might seem too aristocratic to him (though there are wild roses - that's what they originally were). All of this is so funny to me right now... this really feels like fate played a trick on me. Or like he does possess me after all. Who knows.

[dasphinxone]

Dark Hitman Attuma and Mob Wife Okoye

He's a hit man and Okoye is his target…and it's because she's his boss' wife. W'Kabi wants to get rid of her for the insurance because it's cheaper to kill her than divorce her. For some reason, Attuma just can't kill her. So he figures, "I'll just kidnap her, let her know her husband is a POS and take her for myself." And then they go on the run.

Hit man Attuma had a falling out with his cousins, who run the Talokan mob, so he left to go work for W'Kabi. With no place else to go, he shows up to Namor's door with Okoye…and it turns out Namor and Shuri just allied their gangs together.

Shuri hasn't seen Okoye for years since W'Kabi is an asshole who's isolated her from her old friends. So the tables have turned, as Namor doesn't fuck up Attuma for having the nerve to show up because he doesn't want to piss off Shuri due to Okoye.

This can also be full of brat, pampered, spoiled Okoye shenanigans. She is SO SICK of Attuma's shit and irritates the fuck out of him once she realizes he's not gonna kill her.

Attuma: "Get in the trunk."

Okoye: "Are you serious? This is a $10,000 Gucci dress! I got this in Milan! I AM NOT getting in your dirty-ass trunk. How many bodies have been back there?!"

Attuma: [eying her] "I can always add one more. Get in the trun-"

Okoye: "You and I both know you aren't going to kill me. Why can't I ride in the car like a normal fucking person?!"

Attuma: "Cause you're supposed to be dead, remember?!"

Okoye: "It's not my fault you suck at your job!"

Attuma: "…do you prefer me to be GOOD at my job in this instance with you?"

Okoye: "That's not the point. I'm not ruining this dress!"

Attuma: "Dammit woman, just get in the god-damn trunk!"

Okoye: "MAKE ME!"

Attuma: [manhandles her into the trunk and slams it closed] "Just so you know," he yells at the trunk, hearing her cuss him out and pounding on it, "I get my car thoroughly detailed and cleaned after every job. You'll be fine, warrior. [he calls her that sarcastically]"

ETA, Attuma buys Okoye a new dress to replace her old one she wore when he tossed her into the trunk:

Attuma's in the dressing room, sitting on the bench at the expensive boutique and growling at her in her new dress, "Gimme a spin, baby."

Okoye pouting: "NO."

Attuma grabs her by the hips and pulls her down into his lap while one of his hands settles in a grip on the back of her neck: "What did you just say to me?"

Okoye, purposely squirming against him: "I said noooooo. Are you deaf?!"

Attuma, nosing at her cheek before he hisses into her ear: "Do you want to see how much I can make you scream right here and now to test that theory?"

Okoye: "I'd like to see you try."

Attuma: "Such a spoiled little princess."

Okoye: "No wonder my husband tried to kill me, right?"

Attuma: "His fucking loss," he groans before he kisses the breath out of her.

[sixth-light]

TGH/TDR vs WoT season 2: what's in and what's out pt 1 (characters)

WoT's in and WoT's out, that is

I thought it would be fun (for me, sorry to the rest of you) to do a little analysis of where we're actually at in terms of adapting book material and the show, now we have officially passed the adaptation of the first three books. I am looking at this, as the show/showrunner have repeatedly stated they're doing, as a whole-series adaptation question: what happens in the first three books, in terms of worldbuilding, character introductions, and plot points, which is vital for the series arc as a whole? And of that, what remains to be shown on screen and thus might end up getting cut?

This is long, so I'm going to divide it into three posts over the next day or two: Characters (who has shown up and who hasn't), Worldbuilding points (ditto), and Plot points (has it happened or not). Major book spoilers obvs as I'll be discussing which of these continue to be important throughout the series.

NB before I dive in: what doing this has shown me is that despite TDR being one of my top 3 books of the series as a whole and much-beloved more generally, it...honestly has bugger-all in terms of plot that can't be handled by the show in other ways. The structure is a straight repeat of TGH and most of the really memorable scenes are vibes and character work (Mat's duel, Perrin's blacksmithing, Egwene's Accepted test) that the show likely doesn't have time to indulge in and/or that can be used as fodder for character development on the show in different contexts (like, Perrin's blacksmithing scene is lovely and you could do a version of it whenever the show character needs to re-centre himself pretty much...right up through the end of the series.)

Anyway, on with the actual programming!

CHARACTERS

My test for listing characters here is 1) is this character a PoV character and 2) if not, do they have a genuine impact on the plot or character development of PoV characters. For example: Carlinya and Breane Taborwin appear repeatedly through the series but do nothing someone else couldn't, so there's no point in assessing the significance of them not showing up in S2 even though they first appear in TGH. Characters struck through are ones who have now been introduced or mentioned by the show.

Introduced in TEoTW but not S1 of the show

Bayle Domon Elaida Gawyn (mentioned in S2, h/t @hxans) Galad Morgase (mentioned in S2, h/t @hxans) Elyas

Immediately obvious that it's the Caemlyn crew we're waiting on, and since casting has been confirmed for at least two of them and the other two were mentioned on-screen in S2, I think there's no question Elaida, Gawyn, and Galad will be in S3. Morgase is more questionable; my money is that she either won't be in the show and/or will actually be killed by Rahvin. Hate to lose a not-really-dead mum but some characters have got to go and it will make it much harder for show viewers to accept Elayne as Queen in the late series if she's still alive actually.

Introduced/mentioned in TGH

Suroth Renna & Seta Egeanin Verin Anaiya Liandrin (S1) Alanna (S1) Siuan (S1) Leane (S1) Vandene & Adeleas (Vandene now merged with Verin) Sheriam Alviarin Hurin (merged with Elyas in the show) 'Selene' Erith Aludra Masema Uno Mazrim Taim

Of those who haven't appeared in the show, Alviarin and Anaiya are frankly questionable in terms of whether the show needs them/highly likely to be merged with other Aes Sedai the way show!Alanna and show!Verin are book!Alanna x book!Myrelle and book!Verin x book!Vandene merges. ETA: thanks to @vriah for pointing out Anaiya was mentioned by name in 2x06, although I think the rest of this point stands. There's no point introducing Erith or Aludra until the show is ready to follow through on the storylines they are crucial for, which are both late-book storylines. I don't think we'll see either of them until S4-6, although I think we WILL see them.

ETA: I forgot Egeanin first shows up here! (h/t @butterflydm) Given what they did with all the Seanchan characters I think that's a deliberate choice to not confuse the narrative with a sympathetic Seanchan character until a season where we start to ask 'can individual Seanchan be anything except antagonists'. And since we likely won't hit that until S4 at the earliest, no point casting an actress here who might not be available (c.f. Birgitte). As an example, they've already had to re-cast Egwene's mother because the S1 actress was no longer available for S3.

Introduced in TDR

Aviendha Bain & Chiad Gaul Rhuarc Juilin Sammael Be'lal Pedron Niall Jaichim Carridin Faile Noam Rahvin Liandrin's thirteen, including Joiya Byir Faolain & Theodrin Tallanvor Dyelin Berelain Darlin Sisnera Laras (h/t @undeterminedvintage)

In contrast, most of the new-in-TDR characters haven't been mentioned yet!

Rhuarc and Faile: I think you have to have Rhuarc as a male Aiel leader in S3, there's no reason for it to NOT be him, and we know Faile has been cast. Makes total sense for her to meet Perrin in S3 as they will clearly be slow-burning that romance.

Berelain: Key to a bunch of plotlines, a very fun character, but there's no point bringing her in until Perrin/Faile is a going concern (but I think crucially in the show BEFORE they are married) which won't be for a season or two. Likely to be the first example of a ruler proactively pledging to Rand.

Jaichim Carridin, Liandrin's thirteen, Noam: Necessary but also won't be brought in until they're needed, and in the case of Liandrin's crew, will just be Black Ajah sisters as needed rather than a coherent group.

Pedron Niall, Dyelin, Darlin Sisnera, Faolain & Theodrin: I think elements of all of these characters will make the show (e.g. Elayne needs a buddy noble for the Succession, the Whitecloaks have to have a commander for Valda to assassinate, Egwene needs followers within the rebels) but they could be radically different and in some cases will likely take on other roles as well, though more likely than not under these names.

Rahvin, Gaul, Juilin, Tallanvor, Laras: I don't think any of these characters will make the cut for the show or if they do they'll be significantly merged with others. We only have room for two other male Forsaken and one of them has to be Asmodean, Tallanvor only matters if you do a Morgase storyline, Juilin and Laras are fun flavour and that's mostly it, and sorry Gaul fans but really what does he do aside from create sideshow romantic drama.

Be'lal: Out for sure since there's only 8 Forsaken.

Introduced in TSR

Lanfear-as-Lanfear (for Rand) and Moghedien...both don't show up until TSR actually, so we're ahead of the game there! Also possibly with Anvaere if she takes over Colavaere's later role (sob).

One other character note - it is still fascinating to me that the show chose to use obscure or non-existent names for the Brown sisters Verin spoke with in S2, as there are 30+ named Brown sisters in the books, many of whom could easily have filled those roles. The show isn't afraid to use existing sisters and even kill them (c.f. Maigan) so...what drove that decision? I thought it might be so they could be killed in the Tower Coup but now Maigan's dead I'm not sure!

Next time: worldbuilding!

[naanima]

Guys, guys, guys. I'm so excited about the upcoming season for the Pens. I can't even articulate the joy I feel, sure, there is a component of "THIS COULD THE FUNNIEST HOT MESS" to ever happen, but mostly it is giddy excitement bcos we are going ALL-IN. Do or die, we are COMMITTED. And there is something about swinging big, even if we fail, that's freeing.

We got our vampire d-core (thank you to the person who used it in the tags. But like it is more a werewolf, a vampire and a pirate walk into a bar type of scenario. I'm still trying to figure out what our sweet summer child POJ is - the innocent human? The fae? WHAT OTHER SUPERNATURL CREATURE I CAN US TO KEEP ON DRIVING THIS THEME TILL IT IS DEAD & BURIED?!).

Our still performing old me (SIDGENOKRIS) - Sid was so CLOSE to snapping last season. He was so feral. Will he EMBRACE his INNER SELF & let the hockey robot persona die in a blaze of glory?! We can only hope.

Sully finally being able to pursue his insane strategy of offensive forechecking and ... Um. Yes.

Our one million backup goalies led by Fragile Omega Princess Tristan Jarry.

The Witch Dubas & his hot front office - POC AND A WOMAN? Wild.

BUT THE THING THAT HAS ME EXCITED!THINK OF THE COMBINATIONS!

I admit I sort of want Karlsson to be out there with the Carter line. Let the pirate lead, let him make the calls and see what befalls us! (We bitch about Carter but like he was honestly one of the best bast off options we had last season. It is just that everything else is... Yeah. So! Maybe the pirate will help?!?).

What about Geno line and Karlsson?! Will they click or will they implode as Geno sniff disdainfully at the NEW BLOOD. WILL HE EVEN REMEMBER KARLSSON'S NAME OR JUST REFER TO HIM BY HIS NUMBER?!

Sid line & Karlsson?! Will Karlsson scream in frustration at the CONSTANT YAPPING and decide to go complete crazy and just shoot the puck all by himself??

Will Kris & EK be the new besties ok ice terrorising all opposing teams but being offensive and NOT defensive? Will they have MORE AMAZING "TANGER" GAMES?! WILL THEY GIGGLE INTO EACH OTHER'S NECKS?!?

What about our TALL Puppy Victorian Vampire? Is he the wildcard? I DON'T KNOW!

AND ALL THE NEW BITS WE GOT WHO MAKES US MORE OFFENSIVE! (defense is what it is. We accept).

I JUST WANT TO BE ENTERTAINED. And the Pens will for sure deliver. But will the rest of the NHL & it's fandoms UNDERSTAND out INSANE FERAL JOY AT THE POSSIBILITY OF MANY AJ EXPLOSION?!

(ETA: I just feel the rest of the NHL does NOT understand how close we are to snapping, like going full feral cartwheeling cats wanting to scratch everybody's face off and like then eat their hearts?! Like, HOW DO YOU NOT LOVE THIS POTENTIAL?!).

[fizzingwizard]

Four: the one about the Groke

Short one... because her time is short

Who's that lurking down a frosty path... it's the Groke!

Her vibe is awesome and running from her was one of my favorite parts of the game. In fact, I liked it so much that when she turned out to be a good guy I was disappointed. Like, of course I expected it, I just expected the Groke to be a Thing in the game and stick around longer, so the reveal that she's actually "harmless" would come later...

Frozen Snufkin popsicle looks all kinds of dead and horrific. Me likey

The whole scene had the best vibe. Creepy and exciting. This isn't really a complaint but I just can't help feeling the game didn't save the best for last! After this most of the quests are very light-hearted. Especially after seeing Moomintroll, even though he's imprisoned, you don't feel the same pressure that you do in the first part of the game when everything is unknown, Moomintroll's whereabouts are completely unknown, AND there's the Groke and forest fires... The story was told backwards, at least emotionally, in my opinion.

That being said, this scene where Snufkin approaches the police with the frickin GROKE following him is metal as hell

And I was about to shake my first when everyone congratulated Snufkin for putting out the fires, but fortunately he gave credit where credit was due haha. I do wonder what... exactly... Snufkin was supposed to be doing during the fire? Like... was he really running through the flames? Is that hat of his fireproof bahahaha. I'd have liked some coughing animation or some such I guess.

The characterization of the Groke is very friendly and sympathetic. I prefer a more legitimately frightening Groke - not malicious, but focused on her own desire. She seeks light and warmth, only to put it out. But if someone sees her, and reaches out within the boundaries that exist - Moomintroll on the beach swinging the lantern every night without fail, but never getting close enough to touch - idk it seemed symbolic of depression or other familiar dark emotions to me which are difficult but important to accept. (To me anyway - not sure how others read it.) The game goes for a simpler angle like in Moominvalley 2019 and I do get it. I would have loved for the Groke to have been more central to the storyline but I'm not surprised. I still really loved her appearance and gameplay

eta: oh and yeah "The Groke just wants some friends" thing fits in with the whole "loners should make more friends!" vibe. Sorry, but I am wondering... what, does she not freeze people immediately on touch anymore? lol I'm glad she has friends but how does this work and why didn't it before? Moomintroll made friends with her but... didn't tell anyone all they had to do was decide she's not that bad and it'll be fine...?

[ineffectualdemon]

I want to be clear

I have done a lot of therapy

I have worked really hard on myself and my issues and how I interact with others

I am, in some ways, the poster child of "managing" your mental health. Especially for someone who has BPD/CPTSD

But I am still fucking crazy as fuck

I am still going to freak out because my husband isn't home at the time I expected and he didn't immediately respond to my message asking for an ETA

Logically I know he's just gotten busy or his phone died or he just hasn't seen it yet

But I am fucking crazy so I also leap the belief that he is dead

And when he does call to say he's on the way I am going to sob down the phone about how scared I was that he didn't answer and wasn't home at time while apologising for being insane at him

I get paranoid

I get clingy

I freak the fuck out if my loved ones aren't where they are "supposed" to be

I blow up their phone (even though I am actively restraining from blowing it up even more)

I sob

I scream

I panic

I feel sick

It's fucking hell on earth in my head

Even though I know I am being unreasonable and disconnected from the reality of the situation. It doesn't matter because even if I control my reactions somewhat I am still very emotional dysregulated

Normally if I'm losing the plot I contact my husband or my best friend to help me regulate but they aren't always available when I'm really dysregulated like this so I have to manage on my own and try not to get completely hysterical

It's fucking tough

I have a lot of coping mechanisms and ways to calm down in the aftermath and I can usually communicate while I'm freaking out that I am being paranoid and catastrophising. I can tell my husband that I know he didn't do anything wrong by hanging out with his co-workers and losing track of time but I can't stop myself from sobbing as I say it. I am still even when I am managing as well as I can going to be visibly and upsettingly mentally ill

My symptoms and my issues don't make me manipulative or abusive

And years of therapy and learning to control myself and my responses hasn't erased my mental health problems

I am very mentally unwell and that's always going to be the case

I can "improve" but I'm always going to be very very visibly mentally ill and have issues. Including issues that cause problems for the people around me and that's ok

That's part of who I am

Its okay to accept that part of myself

It's okay to not hate myself for being that way

It's okay