#I hope Perrine’s come just as easily

[kissesinthemist]

Modern! Meadowlark Headcanons

(Clémentine edition)

• Super popular at school. Known for being super sweet and nice to everyone, even if they don’t know them well

• Feels bad for teachers when other students are being disrespectful

• Would absolutely adore Calico critters (or Sylvanian Families), Strawberry shortcake, and Lalaloopsies

• The one who convinced Cole to join Drama club and encourages them to try out for more roles in plays

• Super into hair care along with skin care (I saw someone on TikTok headcanon that they would be a Sephora kid and I can’t unsee it)

• I also think they would like collecting different lotions, perfumes, candles, etc. They would definitely love browsing in shops like Bath and body works, Lush, and yankee candle just to smell everything until it gets a headache

• Would have a phone but their parents don’t let them have social media (and if they did, it would be heavily supervised)(Because of this, it rarely uses it unless its to text their parents)

• Adding onto this, they definitely delete conversations with its friends when their parents check their phone

• Due to not having much access to the internet besides what their parents allow, the Lark try to teach it some popular terms or memes (brain rot, vines, etc.)

• Really into those baking competitions on tv but not cooking shows (Tried watching Gordon Ramsey but the constant yelling freaked it out)

• Their favourite tv shows would be Strawberry shortcake (specifically the 80s version), tinker bell, Hilda, and Angelina ballerina (I feel like it watches Winnie the Pooh with Cole as well)

• Collects old Beanie Babies (They also like Beanie Boos but beanies babies just have a special place in its heart)

• Would be really into Disney but specifically the golden and silver ages. They would definitely become a Disney adult but not in a weird way

• Loves plushies (obviously) but I feel like they’d be a bit of snob when it comes to them. They’re very specific when it comes to their stuffed animals such as brands, colours, texture, etc.

• Because of this, it prefers more high end stuffed animals from brands like AURORA, Douglas cuddle toys, and Jellycats

• Their parents don’t allow them to have unhealthy food like fast food, candy, soda, etc. so they don’t really know what they taste like. They’ve considered sneaking them but they always feel guilty just by thinking of doing it

• They would be a god at Rainbow loom. Would know how to do really difficult designs like the firecracker, the starburst, and the kaleidoscope

• While at school, their parents make them dress really proper, almost like a uniform way? Its school clothes would include pieces like: dresses or skirts below the knee, dress pants, tights, white button ups, sweaters, and usually a bow or a tie. These pieces would also all be in pretty dull colours like grey and brown

• While it’s not at school, they get a little more freedom on how they dress but still with some rules. Their outside of school wardrobe consists of: Blouses (ones with cute collars), cute tops, shorts (anything but jeans), overalls, cardigans, shorter skirts and dresses (with shorts underneath and obviously not too short)

• I think they would also have different shoes and accessories depending on where it’s at. Dress shoes for school and Mary Janes for else where. While at school, it’s only allowed hair ribbons (in dull colours ofc) and some jewelry like a simple bracelet or necklace. While out of school, they get to wear more fun accessories like bandanas, hairs pin, scrunchies, and fun jewelry (rainbow loom bracelets, earrings, etc.)

That’s all I have for Clémentine, I hope you like them. Next up is Perrine (My fav)

[markantonys]

the good thing about the slog is that because such little of true import happens over such a long chunk of the series, the show is quite well-positioned to be able to tell the whole story cohesively in any number of seasons after 4. only 4 seasons would be tricky, but 5 or 6 would be just as doable as 7 or 8. (disclaimer that there has not been any news or speculation about potentially getting less than 8 seasons so don't panic haha it's just a topic i was randomly thinking about today! that being said, i do think 8 seasons is pretty ambitious in today's television landscape, especially if it continues to take 2 years to make each season, so while we're all hoping for the full 8, it's worth imagining how they could do it in fewer.)

i expect s4 to roughly coincide with the end of LOC, so, dumai's wells for rand and being raised amyrlin for egwene. perrin, mat, nynaeve, and elayne have more wiggle room in what they might be getting up to during s4 (it seems possible the ebou dar trip might be absorbed into tanchico in s3, and perrin may have to get an invented plotline or have a later plotline brought forward for s4 since he has so little in TFOH-LOC), so i won't guess at the endpoint for them beyond that it will likely leave them ready to kick into a fresh new storyline for s5. and nynaeve frankly doesn't have a book storyline after ebou dar (she's just supporting rand's & lan's storylines), so i'll ignore her in this post and just focus on the other 5 mains. fingers crossed the show will come up with more for nynaeve to do during this part of the story, but that's a separate topic.

after LOC, as far as i can recall, each of them only has 1-2 main things they strictly Must do before the last battle (obviously i've left out a bunch of stuff, but i'm thinking of just the absolute bare minimum essentials here):

rand: cleanse saidin (only requires 1 episode); reach his lowest point, then pull himself back up again, all the while simultaneously working to get as many nations under his banner as possible

egwene: unite the tower as uncontested amyrlin

perrin: finish wolf training; fold the whitecloaks into his army

mat: rescue moiraine (only requires 1 episode); get himself in charge of the seanchan forces

elayne: become uncontested queen of andor

so if s4 ends where i speculate, they'd all be perfectly positioned to spend 4-6 episodes of s5 doing these things, then the last battle for the remaining 2-4 episodes, and boom, we've fit all the most crucial things into only 5 seasons.

i know the instinct is to gasp and insist that they all have so much else to do, but.........do they really? everybody agrees that egwene & elayne & perrin only have 1 plotline during books 7-11 which is dragged out for more books than is needed to tell it, so mat and rand are really the sticking points. but if you think about it, mat spends this time repeatedly starting one plotline but then getting yanked out of it partway through to start a new one, so he doesn't actually accomplish that much story-wise. rand, meanwhile, is on a bunch of little 1-book quests (taking illian, seanchan campaign, hunting traitor asha'man, trying to meet with DOTNM) that could be cut for time or merged into his Darth Rand emotional arc from TGS. honestly, he's so emotionally stagnant for most of books 7-11 (he's either not present, dicking around doing nothing, or repeating emotional beats he already did in TSR-LOC) that i don't think going from dumai's wells straight to Darth Rand would be a bad idea at all, if the show had to; in fact, dumai's wells is kind of a perfect launchpoint for that arc, emotions-wise, and plot-wise, if they wanted to replace some of the arad doman events with some slog events, but just put the Darth Rand emotional spin on those slog events, they could easily do so (for example, him being reckless/arrogant with callandor against the seanchan and getting his own people killed could sub in for natrin's barrow in showing how ruthlessly Ends Justify Means he's becoming).

but anyway, these are imo the absolute most crucial pre-TLB plot points of the second half of the series (at least for these main characters, i'm not taking ALL characters into account in this post) and they could be fit into only 5 seasons without much trouble. now if you've got 6, 7, or 8 seasons, that gives extra room to expand these plot points and also add in some additional, not-strictly-required-but-nice-to-have plot points like more Little Rand Quests, elayne taking the throne of cairhien, egwene & gawyn hunting assassins in the tower, and the faile kidnapping plotline. (while making this post i actually had a wild thought of the faile kidnapping being perrin's s4 plotline followed by wolves & whitecloak stuff in s5 then into TLB, or alternately the whitecloaks being part of the kidnapping plotline as perrin's unlikely allies rather than the seanchan; could be a great structure for a 5-6 season scenario, but for 7-8 it would cause perrin to run out of content too quickly haha)

[amemoryofwot]

Ok final TSR wrap up and thoughts moving into S3 below

Whatta book damn. RJ is genuinely funny to me and there’s a lot of like, physical and situational comedy that I hope carries through to S3 (Nynaeve throwing the collar at Moghedien, Elayne and her 2x4, nobody knowing what the hell anyone is ever doing). He’s also so good at just like, desperate crushing character moments, like the AoL Aiel, Aram taking the sword, the final Battle of Two Rivers.

Even more so than Rand this is really Perrin’s book. He has the most complete storyline, which is great for S3 but a challenge moving forward as he is literally not in TFoH, and doesn’t do much until Dumai’s Wells. He also fights a lot of Trollocs, like a lot. Every second chapter someone is fighting Trollocs. For timing purposes the show could easily cut it down to Perrin’s failed ambush, and the final battle. That would still get him to the Tuatha’an and the Whitecloaks while cutting out two or three skirmishes. Whether CGI or practical i’m sure the Trollocs would be expensive and they already got dragged for 1x08’s PS2 Trollocs, so i’d personally rather have them less but better quality. I could see him and Faile having a whirlwind “omg what did we just do” kind of wedding in face of all the Trollocs and not expecting to live, but I can also see that being pushed. I think this will be the bulk of the S3 time.

Rand’s storyline could really be two eps, there’s actually not a lot there once we get rid of the Stone (for now). One for Cold Rocks Hold leading to Rhuidean, and then one for the journey to Alcair Dal. Of course he’s gonna have more to do like argue with Moiraine about prophecy, and hopefully everyone will get some bonding time in Falme, but he’s mostly travelling which the show doesnt really focus on with their wild back and forth, and he also gets attacked by a lot of Trollocs. Lan also has nothing to do this book so sword and toxic masculinity lessons being pushed to S3 will smooth that out at least.

Egwene kind of has nothing to do this book so S3 will surely be her Dreaming, although I wonder in what capacity. Verin, Siuan, or the Wise Ones or even Aviendha could really be intro points. I also don’t believe she would pass by the Dominion Band two or three times without realizing what it is, so her intro Dreaming sequence is largely filler except for meeting Amys. Nynaeve has a line about Egwene waking up screaming from nightmares so i think she of all people would recognize it. She also has a few moments with Moiraine so Moiraine’s story will probably be focused on Egwene and Rand versus her own S2 storyline.

Much of Tanchico is through Elayne’s perspective, which pulls her into our main group. Nynaeve takes a slight backseat in PoV to balance it out. There will be a lot going on between Thom, Min, Liandrin, Moggy, and possibly Mat, (Egeanin?) but I think it will also be the smoothest to adapt as everybody has something to do already, instead of having to make stuff up to keep them moving together.

The leftover bit is the coup. Min not being there to rescue Siuan doesnt really matter except that someone will have to take her spot, as i dont think Siuan can do it herself. Gawyn seems a good choice to set up his inner conflict/indecision. The Blues could also just sweep them out on their way to Salidar. Siuan does spend a LONG time looking for Salidar, and as much as i love a good depression roadtrip this would cut time AND spare us Gareth if they could just go right there. Especially if LoC plotlines are coming in S4 we dont have time to wander the countryside and burn down a barn.

Anyways my inexperienced opinion is its actually not that much to get through, if you imagine one intro episode, 2 for each Two Rivers, the Waste, and Tanchico storylines, and maybe even one Andor/Tower focused. Two Rivers will wrap up in ep 7, and the rest in ep 8. I’m imagining the coup and Couladin will be the big season cliffhangers.

[mashithamel]

Full spoilery thoughts on S2E2 below the cut

- I feel confident the guard checking Rand’s pass is the same guy who sees him every single day, and still asks to see it every single time

- I love how the couple passing Rand make sure to step quite to the side to avoid brushing into a poor. And how they don’t need to spell out the sharp divide between the Foregate people and the wealthy inside the walls, they just show it.

- I was definitely hoping we’d get the opening credits for the second episode. Please let them come back eventually?

- I do like how both Lan and Moiraine look like death warmed over. Last season skipped the fatigue of Healing, but they use it well. Neither of them is feeling good enough to even pretend to hide how pissed they are at each other.

- Do we think we’ll get more on Adeleas not wearing her Ajah’s colors? Like, is she just an eccentric, or is it just because she’s semi-retired, or because she’s at home and she’s damn well going to wear what she wants at her own house (or Verin’s house)? I wonder how that will be reflected in how Egwene and the Wondergirls ultimately dress. Elayne will have to be in red eventually.

- “You’re in luck. My sister and I have decided to accompany you.” Love Moiraine’s face there.

- “Have Tomas ready my horse. You’re still weak from the Healing. I don’t want my saddle to slip.” Yes, Moiraine. Make sure any sign of sympathy or kindness gets followed up by a serious jab at his honor. That will help you get rid of him faster.

- Yeah, Perrin with a sword just feels weird.

- For Nil on Twitter, I am happy Ingtar has an owl on his breastplate.

- I seriously love that they include this scene from the books (complete with flies on the table afterward!!) and use it to help show how Perrin’s senses will work. Again, such a good translation for a visual media. I was wondering how they would do it, and this works so well.

- I feel like Elyas is going to be a lot more helpful for Perrin’s development than he was in the books. For someone who should have been a mentor and teacher, he really didn’t do a whole lot for him.

- Honestly, Perrin, how on earth could Fain have done that to a Fade? For that matter, how did he do it? It’s not really clear how he could overpower and torture an awake Fade in the books. Perhaps we’ll get a chance to see some power or enhanced strength from him later in the season?

- Love how they use a unique character so efficiently with Errol. Aiel War. Yep, Rand still looks like Aiel even with his head shaved. More of Rand’s compassion and kindness (like Mat in season 1 we need to make rhat clear so later characterization will hit harder). Sword forms! PTSD.

- I have to admit, I really did not catch on to the fact that Errol was actually teaching Rand sword forms. Dunno, in my line of work crazy old people are not in great shape to be showing real physicial stuff. But I’m glad to see it. It’s more Rand seeing beyond the surface to the value and dignity of a human being others will easily overlook. And I really like how Rand is using his time here well. It feels very much like TSR Rand, who is trying to use every single moment available to him to learn something, so much better than the Rand of TGH who is really just trying to run away, or TDR Rand who is not really avoiding the crazy…

- Is the type of cloth for Errol’s bathrobe anachronistic?

- Sword forms!!!

- Oh, showing Nynaeve Healing is so smart. And we’ve already established that breakbone fever is usually lethal. Do we think Nynaeve actually healed Egwene, without realizing?

- Someone pointed out that crimsonthorne is what killed Adeleas. It’s like they read the books!

- In my head this unnamed Accepted is Theodrin. She’s so kind to Nynaeve in the books. This Accepted is just giving me her same energy.

- “Men who can channel are not a disease.” I so look forward to Nynaeve being able to intentionally heal. I am really so envious of the ability to Heal, I want it as much as Nynaeve does.

- I like this look at Liandrin’s reason. She wants to change the course of history itself.

- Aes Sedai live for centuries! I seriously thought they were going to leave that out! But this episode really plays into the tragedy of outliving your loved ones.

- Donal really understands Mat.

- I love his mimicking her actions locking the door

- I have never loved Elayne. She never did anything for me, and by the end of the books was my third least favorite. But I adore Ceras’ Elayne and I am ready to be her new best friend too. Spoiled (by which I mean the kind a child who is loved well by their parents but grew up in priviledge), sheltered princess, but kind and lovely, and not ignorant. She had me with “You’re my…subject?”

- Cadsuane!!!

- Sheriam’s reaction to Ivohn speaking in an Aes Sedai meeting is so good. Nynaeve in the books sometimes gets looked at askance for “letting” Lan speak up—this is a nice soft change from the book, which also makes us like Alanna more. Is she going to betray us? Rafe, you are going to break my heart.

- Love the Warders being worried about Nynaeve. I so love that she has friends in this turning.

- Sheriam’s internal monologue while Alanna talks about the Last Battle coming must be so great. “Blood and ashes. This was supposed to be about gaining power and advancing, not the bloody actual last Last Battle in my life time. Goat kissing—“

- I do really like how Alanna and her Warders act as a team. It’s a nice juxtaposition against Lan and Moiraine, especially this season.

- Does Nynaeve’s tracking ability work in a big city? Is that how she follows Liandrin?

- Lionfish!

- Why would the first plate be on the house? That seems like a bad business practice for a small village

- Someone pointed out Moiraine’s dagger may be the same one she killed a Darkfriend with in NS.

- Why does Verin think it would only be one of the boys? Oh. Because those were the ones who didn’t come back. She knows the girls are in the Tower. She is really knowledgeable for someone who lives in retreat.

- “Either of those things may one day be necessary.” I love how this series (both book and show) get into the gray areas.

- “Oaths have loopholes.” And later, when reminded Aes Sedai cannot lie, Moiraine says “we were never equals.” Loopholes indeed!

- Tomen Head! Battles in the sky! A sword of flame! A branded hand!

- Trolloc puppet! And it really doesn’t look like a Trolloc!

- I like how it seems Rand is just getting justice for Errol. But we learn later he has additional motives, that gets him closer to his goal. Very true to Rand.

- I’m glad they show the guy is still breathing.

- Selene in the books was playing such an over the top, seduction role, it was so painful to read. “Help me undress, Lord Rand.” “Don’t you want glory and power, Lord Rand?” “I am so into men who want glory and power.” For the love of the Light, Rand, don’t let her touch the Horn! As much as the show is doing a clearly toxic relationship, it’s leagues better than Selene in the books.

- Elayne continues to be adorable and I want to be her friend. And she understands her duty to her subjects—she will take responsibility for their actions. Oh, she’s going to be such a good queen. When did I becomes an Elayne fan??

- I am so releived that corporal punishment is delivered on the shoulders. Thank you, Rafe, for fixing that.

- Liandrin has a son??? I am on board for fleshing out Liandrin’s character.

- Love Nynaeve stepping out, against Liandrin’s threats (and she knows Liandrin can definitely hurt her), to be a Wisdom. Because Nynaeve will always be a Healer, no matter what.

- “I didn’t know it would hurt you. I didn’t mean to leave you here in pain. I’m so sorry, my boy. My beautiful boy.” 😢

- I am fully in support of Mat and Min being buddies. This will be fun.

- Why was choosing Verin the end of Tomas’ sex life? I mean, aside from waaay TMI, Adeleas. That’s….interesting.

- Oh goody/s. We aren’t skipping the carneira thing. I will just have to keep reminding myself about wearing a shift through the Arches and no spanking. Rafe can’t fix everything, I suppose.

- I mean, Edyn trying to kill him, and then deciding to bed him and marry him to her daughter, was an interesting plot point. But everything else…ugh.

- “Meditation’s never come easily to me.” Um, I have decided to trust Rafe that he knows what he’s doing, because it has been demonstrated over and over that he knows how to make good use of changes. But in the books Lan can enter the ko’di without any effort, he’s so good at it. I will withhold judgement on this until I see more.

- We get the pond scene! And leave out the ants part!

- Adeleas: The right Warder can protect you from yourself. Moiraine: Ah, yes, this means I must immediately push him as far away as possible. And be brutal about it.

- Mat not wanting to know the future is so correct for this character.

- Possum is a great nickname and I’m glad she gave it to him.

- Selene: “You can’t hurt me.” Of course not. He’s basically a toddler. She is totally safe.

- Also, Selene is very toxic and deeply messed up. It’s been 3000 years. Get over him already.

- “I like to tinker with things.” ❤️ They manage to tell us so much about her in just a few scenes. I am an Elayne fangirl now.

- Oh, poor Nynaeve. Overhearing something like that is always so hard.

- “Jealousy, it’s not the best look on you.” I love how they brought this conflict, and adapted the slap, from TDR!

- Oh, that slap left a mark on her face.

- It’s dialogue right from the book :)

- Yep, take that right out of her saddlebag, Lan. I feel like this is something he’s never done before, and never thought he’d have to stoop to.

- “I couldn’t imagine the courage it took to face the Shadow with nothing but a sword.” Aww, that’s a nice thing to say, Moiraine. “I knew when the time came you’d be able to survive on your own.” Oh. That’s a deeply cynical way to look at it.

- At least she’s sharing some information?

- It takes 8 Aes Sedai to cut someone off? Interesting. So, 13 just gets translated to 8 in show language.

- Also: not stilled. There, I’m placing my bet.

- “You and I walk this path together. Every step of it. Every choice, every sacrifice” Oh Lan. You are breaking my heart.

- “We’ve never walked this path together.” Moiraine. How did this get past the Oaths? “I’ve never shown it to you.” Has to be a lie, somehow.

- “You failed me.” Ouch.

- “I’ll have her take your bond by force if I have to.” Foreshadowing? For Lan or for Rand, or both?

- I wanted her to say his full titles here.

- My first thought (forgetting the Seanchan exist): please don’t let this be Hinderstrap. It’s too early, right? Me a minute later: oh. Maybe Hinderstrap would have been better.

- Oh. Hotsema is, indeed, hot.

- Ishy taking an interest in Perrin is a delightful turn of events.

- Of course they have better care for the rich in Cairhein.

- I love Josha’s little smile here. “I have a feeling you and I have a lot more in common.” 😊

[teagrl]

Andor ep 11

Oh man this show has something for everyone, doesn’t it?

How neat was that mini dogfight at the end? This ep seemed to be kind of talking back to people who accused the show of not being Star Wars enough. Like yes, it’s short of comedic moments, but I don’t mind that. I’m sure the cartoons have plenty of those.

What I’m referring to is the inclusion of aliens, robots, and that great escape by Luthen at the end.  When he was asking for a transponder, I was squeeing like the big dork fangirl I am. One thing is to see scenes like that in novels, but for someone who hasn’t watched either Rebels or TCW to see them happening live action is super fun, even if it makes Luthen go into the whole supercool dude category, which I’m usually leery of.

On other news, humanizing B2EMO was also a quintesencial star wars move, seeing him process grief was wrenching (that opening show where it’s like he’s submerged was very effective, I thought). I hope he has a part to play in the finale.

Seems like Bix does too! I’m looking forward to that. Speaking of wrenching seeing what’s become of her after her torture is horrific (the echoes of the chanting then being Leida’s was such a brilliant transition, I caaaan’t). I really really hope that the narrative will allow her to take well deserved revenge. All along as they are asking her about Kreegyr I keep thinking about the adage that torture victims will tell you what you want to hear because they just want it to stop. If Andor nails it, that will be even more aces.

Aliens! Although I enjoyed their presence here, I do miss more of them being present in the narrative. That said, their willingness to aid Cassian and their own hate to the Empire is great. I also liked Saw’s soldier (and that scene with Luthen saying he was the mole was fantastic as was the back and forth where they decide on being ruthless. Seeing Saw struggle with it too was a good moment for him -- although I thought fifty men would die, not thirty, but I only watch the eps once). 

Unfortunately I feel a Vel deathwatch coming on. Her fear as Mon describes the trouble she’s in was visceral. You could see her working out how many people would suffer if Mon lead the Empire to Luthen and then Luthen led them to others -- even if circumstancially. I really hope she won’t thrust herself into martyrdom to keep Mon safe. I see the narrative heading there since Cinta told her that the struggle comes first and having her repeat that to Mon. Then her recklessness in straight up approaching Kleya was...not great. I hope I’m wrong.

And I could be -- easily. Mon said she found a way out and you see her being torn up about Leida. Her way out is simply to let Leida continue drifting away from her. Leida is already throwing herself headfirst into conservatism as her own rebellion against her mother, to throw herself into marriage is part and parcel of the same thing. That doesn’t make it any better, mind you. Mon knows that at the end of the day, tradition can be stifling or at least she doesn’t seem to be all that happy in the marriage she made as a child (nor does Perrin), and this is without mentioning how unhappy she’d be at seeing her family linked to another whose values she abhors. It didn’t seem like she agreed with the business man (I forget his name) that limits were liberating (which I agree in other contexts, not necessarily in Andor’s, so I see where Mon’s coming from). It’s her experience which leads her to want something better for Leida down the line, but Leida right now is too caught up with opposing her mother. I find this whole dynamic and the heartbreak in it fascinating. I love how it ties the very personal to the political writ large.

What more can I say about Luthen and Saw? As I mentioned the exchange does so much to show us what kind of principled soldier Saw is. It bothers him to betray Kreegyr, but he comes to see this as war which opens up all sorts of permissible moves. I do wonder if Luthen did truly mean to give Saw the option to lose Lonnie/alert ISB of his existence or if he had another plan up his sleeve. I remembered how he gave Cassian a way out too before Aldhani with the kyber. I kinda don’t want to think he’s that principled, too much is at stake for him, I like thinking that there are traps within traps, but in any case, people do act the way he hopes.

And Cassian! Agreeing with Melshi that they have to tell people. He’s come a long way from wanting to keep his head down. Seeing him hear of Maarva’s passing tempted the audience into witnessing his radicalization right there, hearing him give some powerful speech or something. I’m guessing we’re going to have to hang in there for the last ep to witness him fully tip into the Rebellion’s side -- perhaps with a grand gesture? That is if Narkina Five wasn’t enough, but I’m greedy like all fans. 

Argh, I am so sorry that next week is the finale. I’m going to miss this show so much!

[apocalypticavolition]

Let's (re)Read The Eye of the World! Chapter 3: The Peddler

Welcome back to my reread of The Wheel of Time with all sorts of hideous spoilers you should be running away from if you don't want to know them. Run like your britches are on fire, or I guess the opposite of that since if you're on fire you should probably stop.

Anyway, this chapter begins with the Dragon's Fang symbol, which typically symbolizes male channeling, Dragons real and false, and sometimes Darkfriends in these early books. This time around it's probably mostly about the news that's come into town.

The man on the wagon was Padan Fain, a pale, skinny fellow with gangly arms and a massive beak of a nose. Fain, always smiling and laughing as if he knew a joke that no one else knew, had driven his wagon and team into Emond’s Field every spring for as long as Rand could remember.

It is just a wee bit unfortunate that Fain's got the Jewish-coded nose situation, what with him being a merchant and also having a low-key obsession with murdering the current incarnation of Jesus.

Also the joke is he hates you all and hopes you die.

Fain, however, spoke freely if often teasingly, and spun out the telling, making a show to rival a gleeman. He enjoyed being the center of attention, strutting around like an under-sized rooster, with every eye on him.

It's probably this character defect that explains both why he fell to the Shadow and rose so quickly through the ranks to end up a lowkey Forsaken type. Dude probably heard that saying the Dark One's name got his attention and started chanting it under his breath wherever he went to the point that a Darkfriend had to be dispatched just to get him to STOP.

...his friendliness had always been of a peculiarly distant kind, backslapping without ever getting close.

Just practicing for the backstab, that Fain.

He'd be a great villain if in addition to sidestepping fate itself he didn't end up sidestepping the plot. Guess in a series all about fate, doing one is necessarily doing the other. But that's something else to get around to later.

“I had been thinking you were going to stay out on the farm through the whole Festival,” Perrin Aybara shouted at Rand over the clamor.

It's Perrin. I'd be excited about this but... Meh. He's probably my least favorite of the six main characters. I don't hate him but... Well, we'll get there.

Nice of him to finally show up though. (Nice of the show to put him in the mix right away.)

He could easily have pushed through the throng, but that was not his way. He picked his path carefully, offering apologies to people who had only half a mind to notice anything but the peddler. He made the apologies anyway, and tried not to jostle anyone as he worked through the crowd to Rand and Mat.

Note here that Perrin's way is "Do something in the least efficient way possible while offering up a lot of performative bullshit that does absolutely no one any good and is completely ignored anyway." We'll be coming back to this in book four if not sooner.

Rand’s last words exploded into utter silence, catching the peddler with an arm raised dramatically and his mouth open. Everybody turned to stare at Rand.

I dunno, the "protagonist accidentally shouts something that everyone hears due to an unexpected silence" shtick works better when it's genuinely hurtful or embarrassing. You'd think a bro telling someone "We'll talk later," would be the exact kinda shit you'd expect to hear right as it goes quiet at this kinda shindig.

His friends shifted uncomfortably, too. It had only been the year before that Fain had taken notice of them for the first time, acknowledging them as men. Fain did not usually have time for anyone too young to buy a good deal of things off his wagon.

Considering that none of the three of you have the means or reason to buy a good deal of stuff off of the wagon even now, I suspect Fain's interest is based a lot more in the whole hunting you down thing.

“What could be worse than wolves killing sheep, and men?” Cenn Buie demanded. Others muttered in support.

This is a very low-key thing to note in the Jordan Gender Jamboree, but as you'd expect for someone of his age, and not as you might expect for a land that is supposed to be gender neutral and might even be a bit pro-woman (nowhere near as much as real life is pro-man though), the gender neutral term for a person is "man".

“It’s evil times! No one claiming to be the Dragon Reborn for twenty years, and now three in the last five years. Evil times! Look at the weather!”

Gonna be six (add Taim, the unnamed False Dragon of Haddon Mirk, and Rand himself) in as many years in just a few months. Everyone except the dude who confused the DR with the DO is being pretty reasonable despite the general sense that they're being a bit panicky. Life's about to suck for you people.

“I didn’t hear Fain say this was a false Dragon. Did you? Use your eyes! Where are the crops that should be knee high or better? Why is it still winter when spring should be here a month?”

Again, Cenn Buie isn't quite as wrong as the narrative tries to play him off as. Logain ain't the real deal but he and the weather are portents of the end of the age.

A stunned silence fell. Rand looked at his friends. Perrin seemed to be seeing things he did not like, but Mat still looked excited.

This is dramatic irony because of course Perrin will be the kinder friend when it turns out Rand can channel and Mat will be a little racist about it. Though Perrin does dip out sooner while Mat stays to be helpful as long as he can.

“Enough of that from you, boy.” Cenn shook a gnarled fist in Ewin’s face. “Show a proper respect and leave this to your elders. Get away with you!”

And here's where Cenn veers back into the unequestionable dick category. Ewin's also got a point, and the narrative and Moiraine will be answering his question ("Why would a man channel if the taint ensures a fate worse than death?") soon.

“A party of them has ridden south from Tar Valon. Since he can wield the Power, none but Aes Sedai can defeat him, for all the battles they fight, or deal with him once he’s defeated. If he is defeated.”

And this right here is the driving force behind all of the societies of the Third Age (and one of the subtle indications that the AoL wasn't all that great, because they're actually mid-tier in their answer and below the modern west): how do you deal with channelers? Sadly, most societies chose to answer with, "Not very well."

That was Wit Congar; he hunched his shoulders at the stares some of the others gave him, but he held his ground.

Wit's priorities check out. Logain's in Ghealdan, which is close but not so close as to be an immediate threat. Daise is right here in town and she's already pissed and she wants her fucking pins.

Aes Sedai and wars and false Dragons: those were the stuff of stories told late at night in front of the fireplace, with one candle making strange shapes on the wall and the wind howling against the shutters. On the whole, he believed he would rather have blizzards and wolves.

This isn't quite dramatic irony because on the whole Rand's opinion never changes. Dude wants blizzards and wolves instead of the crap he has to deal with the whole damn time.

“Not if it means Aes Sedai here, either,” Rand added. “Or have you forgotten who caused the Breaking? The Dragon may have started it, but it was Aes Sedai who actually broke the world.”

Way to pass the buck, Mr. Dragon.

But I think a lot of the fandom forgets about this misconception when they're confused about why people are so mistrustful of Aes Sedai. The average person doesn't fully parse that "dude Aes Sedai went crazy and fucked the planet," they miss that first word and so in many ways Tar Valon is a potential powder keg in their eyes.

“What kind of need would be great enough that we’d want the Dragon to save us from it?” Rand mused. “As well ask for help from the Dark One.”

Answering your own question there, aren't you?

“Burn me!” Mat growled. “I’m only telling you what the guard said.”

Sorry Mat, I have to side with Perrin here and I never like not taking your side, but the last few years have taught me pretty well that people who repeat bullshit are just as much of a problem as the bullshitters.

Mat’s grin broadened. “It was last spring, just before the cutworm got into his fields and nobody else’s. Right before everybody in his house came down with yelloweye fever. I heard him do it. He still says he doesn’t believe, but whenever I ask him to name the Dark One now, he throws something at me.”

It's rough being an atheist in a world where at least one sort-of deity is perfectly happy to fuck you up, isn't it Bili?

Nynaeve al’Meara stepped into their huddle, the dark braid pulled over her shoulder almost bristling with anger.

Nynaeve! <3

It's going to be so wonderful when you put the sticks down and start beating people with the power of your soul instead, though. I can't really approve of a society where anyone, man or woman, is allowed to walk around beating people, even if it's someone as wonderful as Nynaeve is going to be.

Egwene stood a few paces behind the Wisdom, watching intently. Of a height with Nynaeve, and with the same dark coloring, she could at that moment have been a reflection of Nynaeve’s mood, arms crossed beneath her breasts, mouth tight with disapproval. The hood of her soft gray cloak shaded her face, and her big brown eyes held no laughter now.

And the last of the EF5 appears! Egwene's a really interesting character because of how well she throws herself into whatever culture she's in, so it's only natural that she starts out aping Nynaeve perfectly.

At the best of times he was never very nimble with his tongue when talking to any of the village girls, not like Perrin...

It's the first appearance of the fandom's favorite running gag. All three of the boys are absolutely convinced they're the worst at talking to girls. I think the narrative wants to suggest that they're all mostly alright at it except under big pressures, but I take a different tack: they are all equally awful at it and so wool-headed they don't understand that their best buds are just as bad as they are.

"...If I know them, they’re asking all the wrong questions and none of the right ones. It will take the Women’s Circle to find out anything useful."

This is taking the battle of the sexes really almost too far just because I can't possibly understand what questions Nynaeve thinks are wrong or unasked.

“Will you dance with me tomorrow?” That was not what he had meant to say. He did want to dance with her, but at the same time he wanted nothing so little as the uncomfortable way he was sure to feel while he was with her. The way he felt right then.

It's too abrupt a segue, he's lucky Egwene likes teasing him or she'd never have said yes.

Somehow, it had never occurred to him that she would reach marriageable age at the same time that he did.

It is pretty odd! Egwene is two years younger than he is and generally the sorts of societies where girls are eligible younger instead of at the same time are patriarchal ones where they're traded around like livestock. With livestock, when dowries are involved.

A proper egalitarian society wouldn't be rushing girls into adulthood and marriage sooner, especially since at 16 plenty of them will still be physically maturing. (And note that even at 18 both sexes are still mentally maturing.)

Egwene gave an exasperated sigh. “Well, maybe I’m strange, too. Maybe I want to see some of the places I hear about in the stories. Have you ever thought of that?”

Since I'm going to give Jordan lots of gender-related shit, I will give him props for having a story where the boys all really wanna stay home and not deal with epic adventures while the main girl is desperate to set out, see some interesting sights, and make something of herself in the process. It's a good and universal motivation and more fictional women need it!

“Of course I have. I daydream sometimes, but I know the difference between daydreams and what’s real.”

Not for long you don't! Of course, Egwene won't either due to her T'A'R habits. Really, by the end of the series both of you will have come to the independent conclusion that the world of dreams is the baseline, true reality while the physical world you inhabit is just a collective daydream everyone's having.

“That wasn’t what I meant. I was talking about me. Egwene?”

No Rand, you definitely were talking about both of you. You really are bad with the ladies and in this fight Egwene is not being silly at all to take offense to your words. Maybe you should see if Tam can buy a dictionary off of Fain while he's here so you can perfect your rhetoric.

“So he believed you,” Rand said, but Perrin shrugged.

Luhhan never gets the attention that Tam does, but he's definitely a good father figure. Bonus points to him for not ever dying or nearly dying.

“And you’ve been spreading these tales. Sometimes you have no sense, Rand al’Thor. The winter has been frightening enough without you going about scaring the children.”

One of Egwene's more unfortunate character flaws is her tendency to see the worst in all of her friends whenever the opportunity arises. I'm probably going to discuss this too because I have very complicated feelings about her - when she's aces she's aces but... Well, being snippy at Rand here is not the worst of what's to come. Frankly, Rand doesn't even get her at her absolute worst.

...the door of the inn opened and a man with shaggy white hair came hurrying out as if pursued.

Hooray for Thom! With his arrival, we've seen the entirety of the main TEotW party, though there's still several more main characters this book is going to introduce (and really we don't stop meeting mains until like book 9). Sadly, this is the end of the chapter, so I'll be stopping here.

Next time: Queen Elizabeth II! Sally Ride! Advice columnists no one remembers anymore! Nuclear annihilation! Stuff happening contemporaneously with the narrative instead of occurring some ten thousand years prior!

[iviarellereads]

The Eye of the World, Chapter 22 - A Path Chosen

(THIS PROJECT IS SPOILER FREE! No spoilers past the chapter you click on. Curious what I'm doing here? Read this post! For the link index and a primer on The Wheel of Time, read this one! Like what you see? Send me a Ko-Fi.)

(Dead tree icon) In which at least someone's okay, and yes I mean the horse.

Perrin wakes, long after sunrise. There are branches woven over him, hiding him from sight. He gets up and sees no trace of Trollocs, but none of his friends or traveling companions, either. He also doesn't know where his horse went, but he's more used to walking anyway, and he's got good boots.

He has no food, but he has a sling to take down small game, and he can get what he needs to make a firebow with his axe. He could dry his clothes, but it's not exactly warm. The problem is taking time to do anything when it could mean not finding his friends.

He decides not to waste any more of it, and sets off down river, covering several miles by running from bush to bush so he won't be spotted easily from the other bank where the Trollocs were. He comes upon a print in the mud, and smiles. Some Trollocs have hooves, but none wear horseshoes with the distinctive mark Master Luhhan puts in his.

He follows the horse prints to a dense stand of trees and finds Egwene, wielding a large branch like a weapon next to a small fire, and Bela the horse as well.(1) She drops it and hugs him fiercely. Neither of them have seen anyone else. She shares some of her packed food, and they decide with some discussion to go directly to Caemlyn, since the Fades might be looking for them at Whitebridge.(2)

Perrin suggests they get started now. He'll dry off as he walks, and they've got a long way to go.

=====

(1) That horse really does seem to have a knack for coming out alright. All the more fuel for our "Bela is the Creator" theory, amirite? I just hope Perrin's horse is alright somewhere too. (2) How they'll really navigate there is anyone's guess, but I suppose their collective memory of Bran's maps and a general sense of direction ought to get them to civilization eventually, if they can survive the wilderness or whatever else they might run into.

[bigskydreaming]

Spoilery thoughts on the Wheel of Time Season 2 premiere:

The casting remains the show's biggest strength. Nynaeve is still pitch perfect and my absolute fave. She is everything Book Nynaeve always had the potential to be if gently (forcibly) removed from Robert Jordan and his complete inability to write female characters. That scene where she drank the water just to get out of that lesson without technically losing ground......lmao this woman absolutely will cut off her nose to spite her face and say you're damn right I meant to do that, who needs a nose anyway?

Ishmael is also perfectly cast....I'm not familiar with his actor but he conveys the character's emblematic charismatic menace PERFECTLY. His scene gave me chills. Rosamund Pike continues to be great as Moiraine, what more is there to say about Lan other than Best Warder Is Best, I would kill people for Perrin as long as they were completely hypothetical people who don't count stop looking at me like that its a figure of speech you KNOW what I MEAN gosh, and Egwene's character isn't even close to getting to the real meat of her character arc but her actress has already displayed more than enough range to convince me she's going to nail it. Liandrin is perfectly awful, A+ depiction, and of the new characters, Verin is everything I hoped that character would be. Too early to say if I'm sold on this Sheriam though. Same with Elyas though he seems promising, and we only got a glimpse of Lanfear in the 'this season on Wheel of Time' preview, but what little we saw has me excited. (Lanfear is my ultimate fave baddy, I have such high hopes for her character though, you don't even know).

In terms of characters who don't have rave reviews from me, its mostly just a lack of content so far, leaving me undecided as of yet. I still don't know why they recast Mat before last season even ended up airing, and I liked the original actor for Mat quite a lot, but I THINK I'll be just as happy with this one. He didn't have much to do this episode so its hard to gauge, but he seems likable enough, and its not like Mat's currently in a position to be his usual devil-may-care self at this point in the story.

Honestly, Rand remains the weakest link in the show so far, to the point where even though he's nominally the most central character, the fact that he was barely in this episode didn't bother me even a little bit. I think it was a good choice, pacing wise - I'm just not sure what it suggests about the production's view of the character/actor that they were confident they could sideline THE 'main' character of the series for almost the entire first episode of a ten episode season and nobody would mind. And the fact that I didn't really miss him this episode has a lot to do with him easily being the least compelling of the cast in the first season.

That said.....over the course of the books, Rand's character undergoes the most dramatic evolution out of all the major characters, and we're still at a very early part of the narrative where he's just....at most mere hints of the character he ultimately becomes. His character hasn't yet been given a ton to do, relatively speaking.....like in terms of screentime, he's certainly been front and center, but as of right now he's SUPPOSED to be hesitant, mild-mannered, unsure of himself and all that....which is exactly what his actor is delivering. Its just.....not as interesting as what other characters are already undergoing, and especially when you have his book character arc to compare it to, knowing what kinds of things are coming for his character makes what we've seen so far feel a bit like treading water.

Which brings me to my next point, which is that I am pretty impressed with the show's pacing so far. In hindsight, the books start out pretty slow compared to how the story flows once it fully gets going, probably around the fifth book or so, IMO.....and those first books were still just as long as the later ones. So I do think the show's done a good job of condensing an enormously long narrative into something that can viably be told in ten seasons or so, & in such a way as to 'get to the good stuff plotwise' without actually cutting out too many of the early events necessary to build a foundation for the more complicated later storylines.

I do not envy the writers trying to figure out what to keep, what to streamline, what to alter and what to cut out entirely, so it is pretty impressive that as of this episode we very much FEEL like we're in familiar territory, like I recognize whereabouts in the narrative we're supposed to be, but most of the storylines' specific events have been so heavily altered as to make it feel unpredictable and I'm not sure what entirely to expect, in terms of how the show will get from where it is to certain major beats that I'm expecting to happen. Rand's storyline in particular has been pretty dramatically deviated from how the events after the Eye of the World stuff played out in the books....but he's still positioned to be right where he needs to be for all the Lanfear stuff. On the flip side of things, Mat's storyline technically doesn't have him too far removed in the show from where he was in the books at this point, but they've changed just enough that it FEELS completely different and has a much more ominous tone to it than the way that part of his storyline in the books felt like just kinda.....him sitting around until the Seanchan were in place and his storyline could really get going.

And speaking of Mat's storyline, ugh Liandrian is just the worst. I mean. She's supposed to be. So....good job, I guess.

Elayne and Aviendha should be showing up soon, and definitely impatient for that. Aviendha's a fave. I don't dislike Elayne by any means, but Elayne showing up soon also means that Elaida, Galad and Gawyn are all about to show up and I literally hate all three of them. Gawyn hasn't even appeared onscreen yet and I'm already ready for him to shut the fuck up. LMAO. He.....irritates me. Like Galad's full of himself and self-righteous as fuck but at least he KNOWS that and is like yeah, I get why other characters don't like me. Book Gawyn spends several volumes absolutely convinced he's in the right about certain key things he absolutely is NOT in the right about, and he never is actually made to own that or face it, once its made undeniably clear the narrative just kinda....moves on from anyone ever being in a position to point out hey dude, you just spent five books being an absolute dick about this thing that never even actually happened, maybe you should reflect on that. And like. Change. As a person.

Book Gawyn: Nah. Even though I wasn't right I didn't KNOW I wasn't right so I was basically right to do all the stuff that I now know was completely wrong.

Me: Ugh, shut the fuck up Gawyn.

Ohhhh just realized, Faile should be showing up soon too. I love Faile, so that is also something to look forward to. I'm STILL pissed about their totally unnecessary decision to introduce a whole extra helping of backstory trauma upon Perrin when like....nobody fucking asked, and Im very curious who's idea that was exactly and what their precise reasoning for it was, like what the fuck did they think it added to Perrin's arc that he needed, how does it benefit his storyline at all, you didn't need to fucking do that lmfaaaaao, but oh well. Course, its inevitable that its going to alter the shape of his storyline with Faile, particularly their earliest interactions, and I guess I'll wait and see if that's for the better or not, I just....don't see the point of those specific changes. Whatever. I'll die mad about it I guess. Its fine.

Other than all of the above, my biggest remaining thoughts are I want them to hurry up and clarify just which of the Forsaken made the cut and will be appearing in the show and which five got left on the editing floor. I hope they don't drag it out, they better at LEAST get named this season so we know who we're working with and don't have to wait a whole additional year to like, find out whether Sammael will be in the show or if he got scrapped for someone like Belial for some random reason.....mostly I just want to know if Demandred the Dull is going to be taking up one of the slots simply because the books like to pretend he's important even though he literally only appeared in one book and a chapter and there's nothing he does that can't be done just as well by far more developed characters like Aginor. Who unfortunately probably WON'T make the cut. Even though he's fantastically terrible. As a person. Not a character. He's the worst. But in that 'I can't wait to see him get murdered' kinda way. You get it.

Also I hope Asmodean's passive aggressive ass is in this season because the only thing better than Lanfear is Lanfear vs Asmodean: The Passive Aggressive Olympics.

[cha-faile]

WoT Theories: Laila Aybara

Now obviously we all laid eyes on Laila and were totally in love with the new, hot blacksmith lady. No? Just me? very well! Spoilers for both the books and show continue under the cut:

First and foremost - the change. Laila Aybara went from a name drop (the woman Perrin thought he might have married if he’d never left Emond’s Field) to Perrin’s full-on wife! And then he accidentally killed her!

This is textbook fridging, yes. A female character existing (in the form of Perrin’s wife, not a single background PoV thought) only to be killed in order to further a male character’s plotline and development.

That said, I see why they did it, and depending on how they continue to play out the changes, I may very well like it!

On to the why!

Perrin is an incredibly introspective character. He thinks about everything, but almost never speaks about any of it. He is a big man who was a big boy. He learned that he could easily hurt people with his strength and took care to hold back, think all his movements through, to the point where he thinks that the other Emond’s Fielders probably think he’s “slow.” This is later compounded by his blindly killing two Whitecloaks. He carries a huge amount of remorse for this. He hates killing, he’s afraid he’ll grow to like it, and he is always angsting about how much violence he didn’t manage to avoid.

All that exposition was taken care of in one fell swoop. Now he has a TV-obvious reason to be utterly avoidant of violence and his own physical strength.

However, I like Laila Aybara, and I tentatively don’t hate this plot change. I theorize the following:

She has just had a miscarriage, hence why she’s burying herself in her work, avoiding the Women’s Circle, and did not go to Egwene’s ceremony.

She is a darkfriend. Perrin turned and accidentally hit her with his axe as she was coming up beside him, sledgehammer raised over her head. She could have been planning to whack the trolloc, but he’d pretty efficiently killed that thing.

Combined with Perrin’s dream of the wolf eating her guts, her turning her head and saying “I know,” she’s either being used by Ba’alzamon (I hope not, because this feels like it’d only contribute to the fridgingness of her character), or she’s showing up in a (potential) Wolf Dream being eaten by a wolf for a reason.

And that reason? I’m thinking that 1. Laila Aybara is a darkfriend. She married Perrin because the Dark Lord told her to get close to any of the boys that she could, and Perrin was the one she got along with best. If so, then I further theorize that she told Perrin she had a miscarriage, but may have actually self-terminated her pregnancy. Can’t have a new baby messing up the DO’s plans, right?

What do you think about Laila Aybara?

[fedonciadale]

Just watched the last episode of Wheel of Time and this might be controversial but all in all I loved it.

I never even wanted the series to adapt the books page by page and not only because that is not doable but also because there are so many things in the books that benefit from changing. Now, I always knew that WoT would not change exactly the things I would want to change but all in all I’ve been happy with what they have done.

And honestly, I like that book readers have to guess, too. We might have some inklings about what is to come but I like that I have to guess what awaits us in season 2 and that I’m not at an advantage.

I try to keep this books spoiler free.

That Cold Open: Lews Therin and the Tamyrlin Seat and that short glimpse on Sci-Fi Age of Legends. The short dialogue also shows that the rift between men and women came even before the 100 companions made their strike to imprison the Dark One. And I liked that.

One thing I like is how much emphasis they put on the fact that the defeat of the Dark One is an ensemble effort and it made sense that Moiraine’s plan did not work out, because the Dark One cannot just be defeated this easily.

The episode felt a bit “ragged” when it came to the whole “Horn of Valere” and the moment we finally saw Padan Fain for real and how dangerous he really is. My suspicion is that this was somehow meant to be a confrontation with Mat and Perrin. I think the whole thing was a bit off though, possibly because Mat had to be cut out. I hope they’re going to fix that next season.

I loved Perrin struggling with the way of the leaf and how Loial set him straight and told him how easy it is to help. I really hope Loial is o.k. 😥

I also loved Agelmar and his sister. How determined they were to do what had to be done. Great side characters.

I also liked that we were shown how women can link to channel the power and that this might have a danger of its own. I got the feeling that Amalisa maybe was not practiced enough and that is why she drew too much? Nynaeve taking on the brunt of that was peak Nynaeve. She would absolutely do that. And Egwene and Nynaeve’s friendship while saving each other. So nice and actually true to what they are.

And what can I even say about Lan and Nynaeve. The actors are just so great. It‘s romantic and sad and they already have a deep understanding of each other. It must have cost Nynaeve much to tell Lan how he could track Moiraine. Loved that.

Rand and Moiraine in the blight were really nice. Moiraine was so determined to her cause. Interesting that she did not open up about how much it must have hurt her to leave Lan but told Rand about her difficulties with the power to calm his anxiety about being able to touch it. And we got a glimpse of Malkier!

Rand’s dream was pretty creepy. My minor issue with the blight is only that they are not supposed to touch anything and yet they touch these blasted twisted twigs all the time. Maybe the warning should have been: Don’t let anything touch your bare skin or something. It  made little sense.

The confrontation with Ishamael (the Dark One) was great. I mean, he offered Rand a peaceful life in the Two Rivers with Egwene as his wife and he saw through all that because Egwene would not want that? How cool is that?

Moiraine making a move with a dagger although she’s been incapacitated by Ishamael. What a fighter!

Poor Rand thinks everything is over. I wonder if he’ll go and search the Aiel? That would be interesting.

Moiraine telling Lan that “He’s gone.” What a choice of words. It’s technically the truth but everyone will think that Rand’s dead.

How Moiraine let herself cry in Lan’s comforting arms just for a moment and then she was back on track!

And the last glimpse on yet another threat. You always know shit is going to happen if a harmless playing child gets in the way of the baddies.

The finale should have people sufficiently on their toes that they continue to watch next year. I’ll have fun speculating!

[anghraine]

Okay, spoilery thoughts on WOT E1-3:

- Moiraine, my beloved: I was nervous about how they’d handle her, especially with giving her so much centrality, but she’s everything I hoped—steely, intelligent, elegant, powerful, resolute. She could carry the whole show for me. Even when she’s in a coma.

But she doesn’t have to!

- Lan is incredible. He’s not a character I cared enormously about in the books, though I like him, but the performance is so compelling: intense but not humourless, charismatic but quiet and subtle, skilled but not ridiculously so, devoted to Moiraine yet full of dignity.

(I love their relationship so much, y’all.)

- Rand  is ... fine. A bit meh when he’s not being endearingly cute, but in an extremely true to the books way.

- Egwene is wonderful. I love the combination of innocence, thoughtful intelligence, promise, and forcefulness (and that she’s a ta’veren!). She’s another one of my faves from the book, so it’s a pleasure to see her executed so well.

- Perrin: good performance, unfortunately weighed down by the awful choice to fridge a character for his pain.

- Mat: knowing the actor is leaving is somewhat distracting. At points, I really like the performance, while at others, it’s a bit much for me.

- Nynaeve: handled wonderfully IMO. The combination of her defiant short temper, respect-worthy knowledge, and real caring and sense of responsibility is just very deft—she’s a character who could easily cross the line into grating, but never does, without feeling watered down to me.

In general, I liked the other performances too, particularly the Darkfriend (whose name I’ve forgotten), but even including my nemesis Thom (still unworthy, but more compelling than in my first impression of him in the books).

It’s also beautiful, which I really appreciated—the scenery, the opening credits (DAMN the opening credits are great), the One Power (I know some people don’t like it but I DO), just ... yeah, wow.

The beginning (and some other points) was a bit reminiscent of PJ’s LOTR, but the parts that I most respect—the opening that basically just asks you to sit down and wait while we explain things, the ferry crossing, while it even reminded me of LOTR the book in the quieter parts of eps 2 and 3 (the song of Manetheren with the history of it, the story of Shadar Logoth) in between the action, the lingering on the festival before the Trolloc attack... even with the uneven pacing, I like how dedicated it is to its wider story and setting.

So as of these episodes, I’m super excited to see how the handle what comes next :)

[alteredsilicone]

idk if this counts as a fanfic or fan lore or whatever but here is a little diatribe I wrote about Ergo (or more precisely - his father):

Ergo's father was a pariah among Corpus and obsessed with holokeys. He collected them religiously, leaving the impression of a deranged conspiracy theorist, which would be a true observations to someone looking from the outside in. Glast Sr would dedicate his life to locating holokeys, even getting his son involved, spending days and even weeks in front of a computer, calculating possible coordinates for holokeys.

Father and son would bond over this search but also become alienated. Work came first, family was second. Ergo was often warned not to get too attached to anyone and to definitely not trust anyone. Glast Sr was on the board, during times when the Corpus Board of Directors had an odd number of members. He was a thorn in everyone's side - smart businessman, rich, strangely charismatic but still managed to always sway board votes in his way, often disturbing the pre-made deals some of the other members had planned.

He treated the holokey hunt similarly to geocaching - preparing keys of his own and replacing each original Granum holokey with a key of his own, leaving bits and pieces of his "evidence" of the grand conspiracy, knowing that his actions put a target on his back and the Corpus board would sooner or later come for him.

Which, again, did happen so when Glast Sr's assassination was ordered by none other than Frohd Bek himself, Ergo received a message that lead to a cache which had one final holokey crafted by his father, containing a letter detailing the circumstances of his death and a datapad with info on how to gain access to a cache with a huge sum of credits, all for the purpose of escaping the Corpus and continuing the Perrin way. "Perrin" was the ideology Glast Sr told would "put the Corpus back on track". His goal was to uncover the "rot within" and "return to Corposium". To nobody's surprise, after Glast Sr's "tragic" and "untimely" demise, the Board unanimously voted for a reduction of seats - thus making the Board have exactly 14 seats.

Ergo being mentored by Frohd Bek was all part of his father's plan: if Frohd got a hold of Ergo he would do his best to turn Ergo against his father, painting him as a madman and conspiracy theorist and someone who was against the Corpus, treating Perrin as a fringe ideology. Ergo, however, was strongly influenced by his father and always kept his catchphrase - "Remember the Tenets!" - in the back of his mind. Growing up with the Corpus elite taught Ergo to keep his mouth shut and play as a passive observer. To survive he had to convince Frohd that he knew little of his father's schemes and was nothing more than an easily manipulated child.

Glast Sr alienated his son with the hope that if his plans failed Ergo would not be killed as revenge or collateral. Ergo, on the other hand, befriended Frohd's only son, Darvo, gaining the trust of both him and his father. He also had his own business associates and friends, some of whom joined the Perrin Sequence after leaving the Corpus, becoming the foundational members of the syndicate.

While his father was still alive, Ergo never did quite grasp what the "great conspiracy" was and only after his death did Ergo realize that his father always knew two things:

1) Parvos Granum was still alive.

2) Nef Anyo is the son of Parvos and thus, the rightful heir to the Corpus.

Recovering more holokeys left by his father made Ergo realize that Glast Sr had a lot of dirt on the Corpus and it was scattered throughout networks all over the Origin system. A lot of it seemed outlandish but during his own lifetime Ergo saw several companies and great entrepreneurs go down in flames just like his father had predicted. To his surprise, his father even predicted which of Ergo's contemporaries would betray him and which would join him to become Perrin. If only Ergo knew sooner.

Many Corpus are interested in Orokin technology - warframes, sentient technology, void technology. Glast Sr, however, always stayed "within his means", at least that is what Ergo believed when he was younger. Some of the holokeys left by his father alluded to "different outcomes during one lifetime" which Ergo realized was a reference to Eternalism. Of course his father's findings would seem like incoherent ramblings to someone working within the means of a Presentism timeline.

Ergo initially believed Eternalism to be a fringe Orokin theory, but only after meeting the Drifter did he start realizing that his father had tapped into multiple timelines, thus predicting betrayal before it even happened. You're only a conspiracy theorist until you're right.

To this day Ergo seeks out the holokeys with the hopes of better understanding his father. The machinations and intrigues of the Corpus no longer interest him, as it is a machine far too well oiled to be disturbed by the sticks of one man, however, the desire to understand the person most important yet most strange to him kept drawing Ergo in.

[markantonys]

fuck it, proposing an s3 episode-by-episode structure even though we barely have any info to go off of, because i'm bored and yearning for s3 news. can't wait to see how wrong this ends up being! i can't emphasize enough how much this is just me completely inventing structure ideas because, for real, we barely know ANYTHING yet, so do not latch onto anything i say here.

we know 4 episode titles so far, so i've included those.

3x01: to race the shadow

A-plot: the gang in falme

lots of relationship-building between various dynamics, especially rand & elayne (just friendship with Crush Hints for now) and nynaeve & lan (ring scene maybe)

rand and egwene's final breakup

mat's luck established during a gambling scene

mat goes through the doorway in turak's room of curiosities, is told to go to tanchico, gets his marriage prophecy & medallion & ashandarei, and gets cpr from rand

elayne and nynaeve learn something about liandrin that points them towards tanchico

rand decides to go to the waste and egwene does too after speaking with amys in her dreams, and perrin goes with them because he has no other plans as of yet

B-plot: aes sedai politics, catch up with siuan, catch up with liandrin

3x02: a question of crimson

i'd always hoped this would be a caemlyn episode, and the title points to that imo!! perfect title for elaida's intro episode, and red is andor's color as well.

so, A-plot: rand, egwene, perrin, et al pass through caemlyn on their way to the waste

egwene has been tasked by elayne with delivering a letter to her family; rand insists on coming with her; they trespass in the caemlyn palace and meet gawyn, galad, morgase, and elaida

i don't expect a forsaken here just yet, i think it's important to see Normal Morgase and Normal Caemlyn first so that we have a contrast later once they ARE under forsaken control.

perrin hears rumors of trouble in the two rivers and decides to split off from the group to investigate, with loial, bain, and chiad accompanying him

the rest of the group reaches the waste at the end of the episode

B-plot: nynaeve, elayne, and mat arrive in tanchico (they split off from the others in falme and go straight there, no caemlyn trip for them)

C-plot: more white tower stuff

3x03

A-plot: rand in rhuidean + general intro to the waste (rand's focal episode)

B-plot: perrin arrives in the two rivers and gets situated

C-plot: continued tanchico shenanigans, maybe they run into thom and/or min and/or tuon (who is undercover for reasons) if they didn't already in 3x02. my guess is min has been kidnapped out of cairhien by liandrin, who knows min figured out she's black ajah and doesn't want her to snitch, so maybe at some point in the early episodes there's a plotline of mat, elayne, and nynaeve rescuing min from the black ajah, and after that point min joins their scooby gang (because she's got a personal vendetta against liandrin now and also she wants to re-earn mat's trust and prove herself).

an alleged leak puts mat, thom, and min all in tanchico, so that's why i have them in this plotline. it's also why i have tuon in this plotline, as i can't think of a strong reason to move mat from the waste to tanchico if not to incorporate elements of the ebou dar trip and have him meet tuon who is filling an egeanin-type role.

3x04

A-plot: nynaeve encounters moghedien in TAR and almost dies but is saved by birgitte, whom elayne saves by bonding her as a warder (this whole sequence is the midseason climax at the end of the episode)

mat gets into some kind of shenanigan with tuon and they grow closer, but neither knows the other's true identity

B-plot: elaida, gawyn, and galad reach the white tower and start investigating elayne's disappearance and clashing with siuan

C-plots: the waste gang doing their thing, learning about aiel ways, developing avirand, etc; perrin doing his thing in the two rivers, meeting faile if he hasn't already

i could also easily switch 3x03 and 3x04 so that 3x04 is the rhuidean episode. just depends if they throw rand right into it like TSR does or if we get a General Waste Intro episode before sending him off to rhuidean. but based on a combination of leaks, we do just about know that the glass columns visions are during block 2 (eps3/4).

3x05

A-plot: perrin in the two rivers, maybe digging more into the whitecloaks, padan fain, laila trauma, luc/slayer, wolves & TAR, relationship with faile, etc. (potentially his focal episode)

B-plot: cold rocks hold stuff for the waste gang

C-plot: continued tanchico shenanigans; continued white tower politics

3x06

A-plot: alcair dal, asmodean identity reveal & capture

B-plot: some kind of tanchico conclusion. maybe this is when tuon finds out some of her new buddies can channel (and possibly even that sul'dam, and she herself, can channel) and heads back to the seanchan with Much To Think About. maybe the black ajah make their exit from the season to shift full focus onto Final Boss Moggy.

C-plots: perrin prepping for battle; continued white tower politics

3x07: goldeneyes

A-plot: perrin defending the two rivers (perrin's focal episode, unless it's instead an earlier one that's less about a major battle and more about his internal life as a character)

B-plot: tower coup? i'm very unsure where in the season to place this, i could see it at any point in episodes 6, 7, or 8. kinda doubt it would happen earlier than ep6 because i'm not sure if that would allow us enough time to build up to it, especially since major coup players like elaida and gawyn are being introduced for the very first time this season so we need decent time with them before shit goes down (plus, it just naturally feels like a Late Season Climactic Event). the head writer of 1x06 & 2x07 (aes-sedai-heavy episodes) being the head writer of 3x08 could potentially indicate that the coup happens in 3x08, but she is also an executive producer so it's not like aes sedai politics is The Only Thing she knows about.

C-plots: the waste gang travels back to the wetlands, rand learns from asmodean; tanchico crew takes a sea folk ship to the eastern part of the continent (same city where waste gang is headed)

3x08: he who comes with the dawn

A-plot: the climax of the waste crew's plotline, potentially a battle in cairhien or tear, but that may cause Battle Fatigue if 3x07 has just had a big battle. maybe this could point towards their destination being tear and them taking the stone in somewhat more of an infiltration operation like in TDR, as opposed to the more traditional battle for cairhien in TFOH? just to mix things up a bit with perrin's traditional battle in the prior episode.

okay yeah i'm leaning towards tear, plus there was the leaked alleged sammael audition script (i trust no audition scripts after the phony gawyn one from s2 lmao) where the person he's talking to is demanding to know where "it" is. so my vision is that sammael's sitting comfy in tear, rand & co launch an infiltration operation to take the stone, rand finds sammael and demands to know callandor's whereabouts, and sammael ultimately flees to continue causing trouble in a new location in s4.

A-plot part 2: the tanchico crew gets involved with the infiltration operation, and nynaeve battles & defeats moghedien AND breaks her block (if she hasn't already, that could be a good Early Win to include around ep5-6 ish)

after all this stuff is done, there is a Final Final confrontation with moiraine and lanfear getting yeeted through the doorway; nynaeve bonds lan straightaway rather than his bond going on a noncon detour to alanna

post-battle checkin with perrin, but not a ton of time with him in this episode

final stinger: our buddy tuon from tanchico is shown dressed to the seanchan nines and being addressed as the daughter of the nine moons. gasp, mat's fated wife is our buddy tuon from tanchico, who is in fact a high-ranking seanchan noble! dun dun dun!!!!!

elephant in the room: "emily, why are you having rand in the wetlands for 3x08 when an episode called 'he who comes with the dawn' would obviously be about alcair dal?" listen, i know, but i typed up this whole post before i found out about that episode title and was too attached to it to change it lmao plus, i genuinely can't think of enough for rand & co to do in the waste for 6 entire episodes. i could see an argument that they chose this episode title as a general "yeah that's a baller title for a season finale about rand coming into his own in a big moment" rather than as a specific "this episode focuses on rand coming into his own in a strictly-aiel-related way" (see: 2x07 just being about general political shenanigans rather than literal daes dae'mar). rand pulling callandor from the stone while surrounded by his aiel followers could still be a "he who comes with the dawn" moment, okay!

so i will leave this post as is, but if indeed 3x08 only takes us up to alcair dal (and the moiraine & lanfear yeeting which i think will be this episode no matter what), that actually doesn't change my structure too much. basically it'd just be slowing down both the waste & tanchico crew's plotlines and having their climaxes be still in the waste & tanchico respectively, and then we can do a travel timeskip between seasons and have s4 open with the waste crew taking tear or cairhien and the tanchico crew meeting up with them there. i do strongly believe that mat, elayne, and nynaeve will join up with rand & co for s4 and skip their whole salidar/ebou dar detours, because that positions mat to form the band and have his Dragon's General storyline in s4, positions elayne to spend time with rand and aviendha and potentially join rand in retaking caemlyn and then just stay there to start her succession, and positions nynaeve to spend time with lan in the immediate aftermath of moiraine's "death" and then join up with elayne's or rand's future storyline. for these 3, salidar & ebou dar are filler sidequests rather than Main Story storylines imo and it could be quite efficient to cut those out and just distribute the handful of Main Story elements from them into other Main Story storylines.

[sillyrabbit81]

Her Heavy Cross

Summary: Three years after tragedy hits, Lana she decides to start dating again. She meets Will through a dating app and they begin an online romance. After months of constant requests, Lana relents and agrees to meet and go on an irl date with Will. But is Will who he says he is? Lana is quickly pulled into an intense relationship forcing her to confront her tragic past. Will Lana face it or will she close her heart forever?

Pairing: OMC x OFC

Word Count: approx 3.7k

Warnings: Smut, swearing,

Authors Note: The story started as a Henry Cavill fanfiction but I changed it to be an original character, but shades of Henry are still there. Hope you enjoy the story and thanks for reading.

Part 4 Part 6

Part 5

I lived about 40 minutes away from Liam in the suburbs. I still lived in the house Andy and I had bought together, planning to have a family.

I kept thinking about the house on the way there. I remembered being so excited when we found out our offer was accepted. When we moved in a few months later, we did what I assume most young couples do, and we had sex in every room, including the laundry. I had joked that if I got pregnant from the laundry sex, we should call the kid Westinghouse.

After Andy died, I had used his life insurance from his superannuation to pay off the mortgage. I had decided against selling it and moving somewhere smaller. I couldn't do it as it felt like I was abandoning our dream.

When we got home, Liam said, "you live here? I expected you lived in an apartment or something, not a whole house by yourself."

I wasn't meant to be here by myself. I didn't say it, though. I just shrugged, opened the door and said, "You live in a huge place by yourself."

"Yeah, but I didn't pick it. A place to live close to the studio was part of the contract.".

We went in. Perrin came lumbering to the door to greet me and gave Liam a short bark. I scolded Perrin and patted him, telling him Liam was a guest. Liam was unfazed and knelt to pat him and had a chat. "You're just protecting your lady, aren't you, buddy? Well, don't worry, I'll take good care of her." Be still my beating heart.

I took Liam past the bedrooms, pointed out the main bathroom, and went to the open plan kitchen, lounge and dining room. I got out food for Perrin and fed him and found Liam hadn't followed me into the room.

He was in the hallway looking at the pictures on the wall. Well, one in particular. The one of me in my wedding dress, kissing Andy. Oh shit... this was awkward.

I didn't say anything, what could I say?

"I'm sorry." He eventually said. He finally looked at me.

"Why?"

"It must have been awful."

Don't cry! I just nodded.

He pulled me to his chest and held me. "I know you told me what happened when we first started chatting. It didn't really register until I saw this." He pulled back a bit to look at me but still had his arms around me. "Is that why you were so upset last night?" I didn't have to say anything. It must have been written all over my face. Shit.

"Shit," Liam said, echoing my thoughts. He let me go and ran his hand through his curls. They seemed to have dried now. "I'm sorry, I should have realised..."

"No," I interrupted him. "Look, I'd be lying if I said I was over it. I don't think you can ever get over it, but I'm ready to move on. I've been trying to date for a while now. It's just taking that last step and sleeping with someone..." I trailed off. I didn't know how to say what I was thinking without him believing I didn't want him. "I want to be sure it's the right person. Does that make sense?"

"Yes, Sweetheart." Liam pulled me close again. "I'll try to control myself."

"Don't try too hard," I said. "I want you too."

Liam grinned, "You shouldn't have said that." He buried his face into my neck, kissing me and nipping at me until I started to giggle.

He let me go smiling. I said I had better go shower. His eyes widened a moment. "You ok to wait while I do?"

"Don't worry, Sweetheart. I'll have plenty of thoughts to keep me occupied while you're in the shower."

I pretended to be offended, "You're filthy."

"Yes." He said. I ran.

I showered as quickly as possible and got dressed in some leggings and a t-shirt. I went out to find Liam playing on his phone, patting Perrin. He looked up when I came in, and the smile he gave me was so dazzling I stopped for a moment. Gathering myself, I walked over to him and sat on the lounge, not quite close enough to touch him but not out of reach either.

"What should we do today? Do you feel like being lazy, or do you want to go out?" I asked.

Liam hummed a moment. "I think a lazy day would be nice. I won't get many of them soon."

"We could watch a movie?"

Liam agreed. "What do you want to watch?"

"Anything really. Except for romance or a tear-jerker."

"What? Why?"

"I hate crying, and I cry at the drop of a hat. I can't even watch Disney movies without crying. Once I watched Seven Pounds and cried for three days straight." Yeah, I really did. "Plus, I'm an ugly crier." Why, oh, why can't I keep my big mouth shut.

Liam laughed, "I find it hard to believe that you could ever be ugly." And I can't breathe. I think I need an oxygen tank. "Alright, we won't watch a romance."

"Ok, come with me and let's choose. I have a heap of Blu-rays and DVDs. I like director cuts, extended cuts, that kind of thing." I took Liam's hand and tried to pull him off the lounge. He didn't let me. Instead, he pulled me closer until I was standing in front of him.

"Not yet." Liam wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me onto his lap, so I was straddling his glorious thighs. "If we can't watch a romance, maybe we could..." He didn't finish the sentence, which I'm thankful for because I don't think even he could have said anything after that, which wouldn't have been cringe.

Liam's hands slid behind my hips to my bottom, and he gripped me, pulling me closer. Once again, I giggled at his strength. Sometimes I swear I want to slap myself. His hips moved upwards, and I slid further down until I could feel his hardness between my legs. Oh fuck, I don't know how long I can hold out. He put a hand on my neck and pulled my face towards his. His lips met mine. I tried, unsuccessfully, to suppress the moan that came from my throat.

"Fuck," he breathed into my mouth. "When you make noises like that, I just can't stop thinking about what other noises you can make."

I didn't respond, and I just kissed him back. I let my hands trail down his chest, savouring every curvature of his muscles. My hands reached under his shirt, and I felt my way back up his chest.

Although I was travelling blind, my fingers found the spot they were looking for. Liam hissed as my fingers trailed over his nipples. A self-satisfied smile came across my lips. As if in retaliation, he pulled his hands away and held the bottom of my shirt.

"I don't like this shirt. It covers too much." He grinned roguishly. I wasn't going to give in easily.

"But it's a Ramones t-shirt," I complained. "Don't get between Joey and me."

"Joey, huh?"

I nodded, "didn't you know I was a punk rocker?" I stuck my tongue out and did some devils horns.

"Do that again." Liam was grinning at me, so, like an idiot, I did. He whipped the shirt off over my head so quickly I couldn't stop him. I stared down at my chest. My bra was still keeping my modesty in check. I must have had a crazy look of surprise on my face because he laughed at me. "That's better." He said and started kissing the top of my breasts.

I put my hands into his hair, letting him have a small victory while I took mine. His hair was as soft as I thought it would be. Then I curled my hands into fists and pulled, so he had no choice but to pull back and look up at me.

"That was very rude," I said, trying not to smile.

"You loved it." He wasn't wrong.

"Maybe, but it's only fair if..." I trailed off and tugged at his shirt. He leaned forward instantly, and I pulled his shirt off. He was so broad in the chest I felt positively small next to him. I pushed him back against the lounge, well, he let me push him, and I leaned down to kiss his chest. His hair tickled my nose as I travelled my kisses across his chest to his nipple. I kissed it gently before flicking it with my tongue.

"Fuck me," I heard him say. That encouraged me, and I took his nipple in my mouth and gave it a little bite. His whole body jerked in response.

Liam growled, "Fuck it". Suddenly his arm was around my waist and the other under my bum, and he stood up, taking me with him. I squealed and wrapped my legs around his waist. He was stronger than I thought.

"Which one is your bedroom?" Liam asked as he started towards the hall. His eyes held mine, and his blue eyes seemed dark and hungry.

"Second on the left." I should have given my room a clean! Maybe he won't notice if I keep him occupied.

He took me to the door, and I reached behind my back and opened it. He took me in and put me down. He closed the door behind us, and I turned around, looking at my room. Embarrassment crept in.

I had a massive pile of dirty clothes hanging out of my laundry basket and a pile of clean clothes on a chair. My bed was unmade, pillows everywhere. My bedside table was piled with books and had an empty Ben and Jerry's tub on top. Ok, it's bad, but it could have been worse. Then I remembered something, and my eyes flew to the bedside's open draw.

I felt the blood leave my face. It was worse. The last thing I wanted Liam to see was my god damned vibrator. Fuck!

"So, what should we do now?" Liam stood behind me and wrapped his arms around my bare waist. He ran his hands up my side and kissed my neck, nuzzling into me. Although it felt amazing, all I could do was look at the pink silicone sticking out of the draw. I was as still as a statue.

"You're not into this." He stated, his hands dropped, "That's ok, I told you I wouldn't do anything you didn't want to do." I mumbled something, not sure what, and kept thinking about getting to the draw and hiding the vibrator without drawing attention to it.

Liam's voice came out strangled and about an octave higher. "Hide the vibrator?" His voice calmed, and he said, "Damn, Sweetheart. I would have been happy just to feel you up a bit. But if you insist."

I want to die. Liam saw it. I jumped to the draw and slammed it shut. "Umm, I didn't mean for you to see that." I still couldn't look at him.

"I didn't see anything until you said it." Oh. Well, I'm a fucking idiot.

I slowly turned and looked at him. I could see Liam's bloody lip twitching as he tried to hide a shit-eating grin. I wanted to hit him.

"Don't be embarrassed." His voice was deep again, his accent making each word soothing, "I'm not." He came closer to me, his head. He spoke softly in my ear, "I think it's hot as fuck."

I moaned, partly turned on, partly wanting to die. I could feel the heat between my legs grow, and a pleasant tingle radiated through me as I shivered. "No, it's not," I said. Why was I such a prude sometimes? I hid my face in my hands.

Liam didn't attempt to hide his grin. He took my chin in his hand and lifted my face to his. "My rock hard cock disagrees." Oh, Lord, help me.

"Really?" I asked. I hadn't always been like this. Ten years ago, I would have pulled the vibrator out of the draw and put on a show. I knew lots of guys liked to watch a girl orgasm. Just picturing myself doing it now was cringe-inducing.

"Fuck, yes." Liam took my hand. He was gentle and moved slowly as if I were his prey, and any sudden movement would make me bolt. Liam placed my hand on his jeans between his legs. He groaned, and his forehead leaned against mine. "That's what you do to me."

A thrill flowed through me. I wanted to touch him so much. I cupped my fingers around Liam's balls and pressed my palm against him. I moved my palm slowly up, trying to find the end, fuck it was big.

Liam put his hands in my hair and kissed me roughly. I kept moving my palm up and down slowly and firmly against him, my own excitement growing. I was getting so turned on, I lost control for a moment and bit on Liam's lip. Liam growled.

I couldn't stand it anymore; the desire to feel him was too much. I undid his belt. Not wanting to take the time to undo each button, I pulled his jeans apart, each button popping as they came undone. Liam looked down and watched as I slid his jeans down his thighs. I gripped him through his underwear and explored his length. Liam stood there still, watching as my hand moved over the fabric.

It felt so good, but I wanted more. I wanted to hold in my hand what I had glimpsed the night before. I put a hand into his trunks, but before I could touch anything, Liam grabbed my wrist and removed it from his underwear.

"As much as I want this and believe me, I fucking want this. I need to make sure this is what you want." Liam's voice was strained. I looked at his face and could see the effort it took for him to have stopped me. His desire was plain.

"I want it." Liam closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened his eyes, they seemed on fire.

"Tell me exactly what you want."

Please don't make me say it. The shyness was back, or shame, I can't tell. I tried to swallow, but my throat was dry. "I want to touch you," I whispered.

"Tell me where." His voice was hoarse. It was such a fucking turn on.

"I want to touch your cock." I felt his pants move at my words. I looked down and saw the tip almost peeking out of his underwear. I put my hand in and held his shaft gently, and his skin felt soft and velvety. Liam shuddered against me. At that moment, I felt powerful watching this huge man tremble at my touch. I moved my hand.

Liam bucked his hips against my hand, moving slowly at first, but his rhythm increased as did mine. I couldn't stop watching his body move, the muscles in his abs contracting with each thrust, his chest heaving with each ragged breath. It was so fucking erotic.

I felt Liam's hand move over my face, and I looked up and realised he had been watching my face. His thumb moved over my lips. I parted them, and he put his thumb in my mouth. I let my tongue rub over the pad of his thumb and sucked. His eyes went wide, and his hips stuttered. I kept sucking and jerking him, syncing them into the same rhythm.

"Fuck, Lana, stop." I released him slowly and took my hand out of his pants. I let him withdraw his thumb, but I still sucked. It made a slight pop as it left. He leaned into me, catching his breath a moment. I think I nearly made him orgasm. I tried to keep the triumphant smile from my face. I didn't try very hard.

"You're..." Liam was shaking his head. He didn't finish the sentence.

"Terrible Muriel?" I suggested. Way to kill the fucking moment, Lana.

Liam laughed, thank god! "Not what I was going to say." He flopped onto the bed and laid on his back. "Fucking good at that is what I was thinking." He pulled his jeans and shoes off and closed his eyes, his breath slowly returning to normal. I wanted to jump his bones.

Instead, I laid down next to him on my tummy, leaning on my elbows.

Part 6

[undeadorion-archive]

I’ve been reading the first Wheel of Time book for the last few months (it’s huge and I’m a slow reader). In looking to get books, I discovered the Amazon series. And hoooo boy am I Disappointed, which is extra sad because they actually tried on the diversity front.

For starters, this is the first promo image that comes up when you search for it and yiiiiikes

The lighting is atrocious. I get they’re outside, but you could get some bounce light up in their faces. Lan looks so frumpy. Rand’s actor’s hair is way more red and here it just looks drab and brown. Other photos are better:

I also found an article saying that when the series opens Perrin is married to a lady blacksmith?! Who I think gets killed in the attack on their village. An absolutely unnecessary addition. 

Then there’s the fact that they didn’t even TRY to make Moiraine look ageless. Especially in closeups in the trailer, she somehow looks older than the actress herself, who’s only 42. Makeup alone would take care of most of it, with some minor digital touch up for those intense closeups. But no, she could easily be in her 50s. 

And then there’s this: 

Who in what I assume is this scene, during Logain’s transport through the city he is described as looking like a king, not a prisoner. He does not look beaten down. He is on his feet, and commands such a presence that people fall silent when he looks at them. He very much was not described as an angry hobo. 

I’m fine with deviating from the source material. It can be fun when adaptations go a wildly different direction. What’s not fun is when you wash out any visible power people have. I would have rather they went the Lucifer route and completely jumped the rails than whatever this mess is. They could have had some fun with it. 

At this point I expect the dreams with Ba’alzamon to depict him as a half crazed filthy man in rags. If they show the dreams at all. 

When I first heard about the series, I had a glimmer of hope. Cause my one issue with the books is the aggressive gendering of their magical power source. But now I worry more about them slipping in some transphobic jokes rather than anything else. 

[insomnia-productions]

Oh My God, They Were Roommates

A Mat/Rand Quarantine Drabble :D

Read on AO3

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Day One

Mat dangles out of the window, eyes closed, hoping to catch one last whiff of alcohol—any alcohol, at this point—before the bar across the street closes forever.

“It’s only for the next month or two,” Rand chides him, pulling him back in before he tips right out of the window.

It would have been more merciful to let him fall the six storeys. A month without the bar is more than a death sentence. It’s a cruel and inhumane punishment, and Mat whines his protest loudly as he sinks to the floor beneath the window in a puddle of despair. Rand frowns worriedly at him and ruffles his hair gently—which does make him feel slightly better, though he’ll deny it in court.

Over on the couch, Perrin only rolls his eyes. “Lockdown in a nice apartment with reliable WiFi, my Netflix account to mooch off of, and Rand’s cooking. You’ll survive.”

Rand has moved away. Mat lets out a piteous sound, partly in protest to Perrin’s oversimplification of his tragic situation, and partly to encourage further headpats. As anticipated, Perrin rolls his eyes again and turns away—though Mat catches a fond smile quirking his lips as he does so—and Rand walks back over and sits next to Mat, patting his shoulder.

“It’ll be okay, Mat, you’ll see.” He gives one of those warm, gentle smiles. “We’ll have so much free time! We can learn new hobbies, I can keep practicing the flute, maybe we’ll finally get you to cook more than insta-ramen, we can stay up late and watch old movies and you can make fun of them, I know you like that, and…”

He keeps smiling as he talks, and, in spite of himself, Mat thinks that maybe, just maybe, this won’t be so bad.

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Day Two

“Hey, guys,” Mat says over breakfast, with the widest grin Rand has ever seen. It’s the first time he’s smiled like that since the lockdown was announced, and Rand feels relief and warmth wash over him to see it.

“Hey, guys,” Mat repeats, “d’you know what we’re in right now?”

Perrin frowns. “An apartment?”

Mat’s grin widens impossibly. With barely contained glee: “Quarantimes.”

Perrin throws a bowl at him. Rand stifles an errant giggle, puts on a deadpan expression, and says, “I take it back. This is the worst.”

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Day Five

Rand learns very quickly that there is a slight, slight issue in quarantining with his two best friends. It’s no big deal, really, he’s quite sure he can keep the problem contained for the next month or two without making a fool of himself, and the flame and void have always been very helpful in squashing down his emotions, so really there isn’t much of a problem at all, it’s just—he’s in love with one of them.

It’s easy being in love with Mat when they only see each other in the mornings and evenings, in the few classes they share, and on the weekends. It’s harder on holidays, when the three of them fly back to their shared hometown, spending long days roaming the streets to see what’s new, wandering through meadows and brooks and familiar, unchanging trees. But this? Sharing this tiny apartment with Mat, 24/7, with no work, no school, nothing but each other to keep themselves occupied? This is much, much worse.

Before the lockdown, when their lives kept them busy and apart, Rand could close his eyes and try to forget why he even liked Mat. The man is an obnoxious bastard, after all, and an absolute mess of a human being. He’d thought that being around him so much would only drive the point home—and, in a way, constant exposure to Mat and all his mattiness has been immensely trying, to say the least. He’s so loud, all the time, and he keeps forgetting to do the dishes, and he hogs all the WiFi with his nonstop streaming, not to mention the stupid 48-hour online gaming competition he’s gotten into with the upstairs neighbor. But…

Well, the problem with nonstop exposure to Mat’s mattiness is that it’s also given Rand a hundred and one reminders why he’d fallen for Mat in the first place. Reminders like his bright smiles, or the sound of his laughter, or his ceaseless snarky comments as he spies on the apartments across the street. Reminders like his infectious mischief, or his inability to go five minutes without referencing Vine, or the way the sun catches his face when he sits on the windowsill at dusk, one leg dangling out, a tiny act of rebellion against the virus keeping them all stuck indoors.

Rand sighs to himself as Mat’s voice floats over from within the apartment, blasting out some of the most creative trash-talk Rand has ever heard, punctuated by laughter and the muffled, tinny sound of trumpets and victory music. Mat himself zooms into the living room a moment later, still in yesterday’s pajamas, whooping and hollering and wearing the most shit-eating grin Rand has ever seen. His eyes are ringed in dark circles, but they’re bright with vindication, and as as he leaps onto the table—ignoring Perrin’s glare of protest—to scream his victory chant through the ceiling, Rand buries his face in his hands and thinks, I’m fucked.

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Day Eight

Mat is so fucked.

So incredibly, inescapably, irreversibly fucked.

He’s fucked because he’s stuck inside his apartment for a month straight—’cause, seriously, Mat is a free spirit, he can’t be tied down like this!—and, worse, he’s stuck inside his apartment for a month straight with his best friend and the person he’s in love with—and Perrin, of course— and even worse than that he’s stuck inside his apartment for a month straight with the person he’s in love with and Rand won’t stop playing love songs on that damned flute!

Look, it’s one thing for Rand to play the flute. It’s one thing for him to sit on the windowsill with the midafternoon sun making his hair look like warm firelight, eyes half-lidded and smiling peacefully every time he pauses for breath. It’s one thing for him to look up at Mat as he plays, eyes bright and crinkled as if to say, look, look, I got the note right, aren’t you proud?

That’s all one thing. Something. It’s—something.

It’s another thing entirely for him to play almost exclusively love songs while doing all that. It’s like he’s doing it on purpose. It’s like he knows about Mat’s stupid crush and quarantimes have got him so bored that he’s actively trying to torture Mat just for a few snatches of daily entertainment. But that, of course, can’t be true. Right? Right?

Oh, Light, it hasn’t even been a week and Mat is already losing his mind. This lockdown had better not last more than a month. It had been so easy to love Rand before the quarantine. Mat had had an arrangement with his heart. As long as they were outside of the apartment—which was most of the time—Mat could forget all about his crush. He could go to class, go to work, go to bars and flirt with pretty girls, and never have to spare a moment to think about Rand, save for the occasional errant thought. It was only in the apartment that he would be forced to confront his—ew—emotions. And in his dreams, of course—his heart held free reign over his dreams, but, well, in a situation like this, you took what you could get and didn’t complain.

Now, though, he spends every waking minute in the apartment, with Rand—with Rand and his soft hair and his gentle smiles and his pretty eyes and warm laugh and that Light-forsaken flute. It’s maddening.

“Mat?”

Speak of the Dark One and he shall appear—wearing a soft, puzzled smile and framed with a halo of dying sunlight, as it were.

“Mat, could you come over here a sec? I can’t tell if this note sounds right.”

Mat puts on a grin, resisting the urge to bang his head against the nearest wall, and walks over to the windowsill. “Sure, Rand. What song are you playing?”

Rand gives him a smile and an expression so innocent that it bypasses all trickery and circles right back to blood and ashes this man genuinely doesn’t know what he’s doing to me. Blandly, Rand says, “Purple Rain.”

Mat is so, so fucked.

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Day Nine

Perrin has taken to birdwatching. He finds an online guide to city birds, mixes his own birdseed from what he finds in the kitchen, and starts laying it out along the windowsill in his bedroom. Hopefully he’ll get some visitors soon. In the meantime, he listens to bird calls on YouTube and starts trying to match the sounds to the birds he hears outside the apartment.

Quarantimes aren’t so bad, he supposes.  

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Day Thirteen

Rand knows from a good twenty-odd years of experience that Mat gets bored very easily, that he can’t sit still for a minute, that he could be locked up in an empty room with naught but his own mind and still find a hundred ways to get into trouble before noon. So he isn’t surprised when Mat, two weeks into the lockdown, decides to take up juggling.

What is surprising—although, knowing Mat, it probably shouldn’t be—is that, rather than making use of the many knicknacks, bits and bobs, and half-rotting apples lying around their apartment, Mat has chosen to begin his juggling career with knives.

Butter knives. But still.

Rand sits curled in a chair, unable to tear his eyes away, like he’s watching a car crash in slow motion, or one of those Buzzfeed compilations—pictures taken moments before disaster.

Perrin catches him watching and snorts. “You might try blinking once or twice.”

“He’s going to stab himself,” Rand murmurs, half in defense. “Someone needs to protect him from himself.”

“Sure,” Perrin says, already walking back to his room, carrying—something or other. Rand can’t bring himself to look away from Mat long enough to see what. “Sure, Rand. That’s why.”

Well, Rand thinks determinedly, that is why.

Sure, the way Mat’s standing, he’s backlit by the setting sun, and, sure, the look of pure focus on his face is unfamiliar and strangely alluring, and, alright, yeah, the way his hands move so deftly to catch each knife at the last second is thrilling and impressive—but the stabbing thing is the primary reason, obviously. Obviously.

This is fine.

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Day Fourteen

Mat graduates from butter knives to steak knives.

This time, even Perrin can’t look away.

Rand is too busy having an aneurysm to feel vindicated.

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Day Seventeen

Perrin has four regulars to his bird feed window now: a bluejay, two sparrows, and a crow. They come at different times of day, like they’ve organized some sort of schedule. It’s the kind of thing a bird would do, Perrin thinks. They’re very smart creatures.

He reads up on bird diets, and starts to differentiate their feed. He thinks they’ll appreciate that.

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Day Nineteen

It’s three in the morning and Mat sits stone-still on the sofa, almost vibrating with nervous energy and the sheer effort it takes not to move. He should’ve known it was a mistake to have a Lord Of The Rings marathon with Rand “I can stay up all night, Mat, of course I can, what are you talking about?” al’Thor.

Onscreen, Sméagol is making his gradual and indescribably disturbing transition into Gollum, but Mat stopped watching a good forty-five minutes ago, when, right in the middle of the Ents’ takeover of Isengard, Rand had let out a soft yawn and fallen asleep. That would have been fine, but Rand, in a moment of pure slumberous treachery, had managed to lean into Mat, curling up against his side like a red retriever puppy. Now Mat can’t move, but he can’t even enjoy the movie, either, which—look, okay, Mat really does love Rand with his entire heart, such as it were, but this is the Lord of the Rings they’re talking about, and love comes and goes, but LOTR is forever.

The movie ends three hours later, the credits rising with the sun, and Mat remains motionless through it all—he hasn’t sat still for this long in his life.

An hour or so after sunrise, Rand finally stirs, and blinks confusedly up at Mat for a moment before rocketing away, face turned to the window. In a strange tone, he says, “Sorry about that.”

“No problem,” Mat forces out. He can see his reflection in the black screen of the TV. He looks like a damn raccoon. Mat is no stranger to staying up into the ungodly hours, but this was—quite different. Quite different.

Rand seems to hesitate a moment, putting his hands in his pockets and taking them out again. “Did you—sleep well?”

“Yep,” Mat says, popping the ‘p’, and promptly passes out.

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Day Twenty-One

The birds have been absent for a few days, but the last time the crow came, she left Perrin a shiny clip and a broken pendant, so Perrin is sure she, at least, will come back in her own time.

In the meanwhile, he notices that two new spiders have taken up residence in his room—one next to his desk, and the other in a corner near the window. He names the window one Varys, and the desk one Claude. He knows less about spiders than he does about birds, but he likes to imagine that they like the names.

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Day Twenty-Three

Mat and Rand start working on a puzzle.

It’s an old, dusty thing, a gift from someone back in Emond’s Field a long time ago, something they’ve both been meaning to work on for years but never gotten around to doing. It has one thousand small pieces and the scene is ridiculously complex—some sort of magical battle between two men in the sky, a golden dragon curling around the frame. It’s frustrating at times, or most of the time, really, but it’s nice, sitting in silence together, sorting pieces, the only sounds being low Lofi music playing on Rand’s laptop and the occasional huff of annoyance or short burst of triumphant laughter as something clicks.

They work on the puzzle for a solid twenty hours, and, as the moon drifts idly between the stars, Rand lifts the final piece, hand hovering over the empty space in the puzzle, and smiles.

“Well?” Mat prompts, looking tired but sounding eager.

Rand looks at him. “It’s the last piece. We should do it together.”

Mat blinks at him a moment, before a slow grin, easy spreads across his face. “Alright.”

It’s only when Mat leans over to place his hand over Rand’s that Rand realizes he hadn’t quite thought this through—but, in the night, with only the moon and a dim lamp lighting the room, it doesn’t seem to matter.

Sharing a grin, they lower their hands together, and the final piece clicks into place.

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Day Twenty-Eight

“Think they’ll end the lockdown soon?”

Rand shrugs.

“It’s been almost a month,” Mat continues. It’s sunset and they’re sharing the living room windowsill, watching the orange light flicker across the black windows of all the shut-down shops on the street. “And it’s getting warmer.”

Rand shrugs again. “Who knows?”

Mat grins slightly. “WHO knows.”

“Original,” Rand deadpans, but he feels himself smile anyway, turning his gaze to Mat. Quietly, consideringly, he murmurs, “Well, would another month be so bad?” Mat looks at him in askance and Rand’s smile softens. “Lockdown isn’t great, but… it’s been kind of nice. Getting to spend more time together. Right?”

Mat blinks, and slowly smiles. “Right.” They stay like that a moment, just smiling, before Mat huffs a short laugh, ducking his head. “Light, Rand.”

“What?”

“You really have no idea, do you?”

“What?” Rand frowns. “No idea about what?”

Mat laughs again, shaking his head, looking back up at Rand with the strangest expression. “Nothing.”

There’s something in his expression, or his voice, or maybe the dusk light, that gives Rand a sudden flutter of cautious hope.

“Nothing,” he repeats softly. “Nothing.” He can feel himself leaning closer, and it might just be imagination, or wishful thinking, but it seems like Mat is leaning closer, too. He gets the question out without really hearing himself speak, the distance between them growing smaller with each whispered word. “Would nothing be… something like… this?”

The next few minutes pass in a daze, but, when they finally part, Rand is pretty sure he’s going to remember the grin Mat gives him for the rest of his life.

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Day Thirty

The lockdown is extended another month.

Mat and Rand share a smile.

Perrin shuts the door on them and goes back to feeding his birds.

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