#a girl who has just started puberty is a grown woman a toddler and an irrational teenager all at the same time

[schnuffel-danny]

I swear to god I have such extreme empathy for kids, a child could murder someone right in front of me and I'd probably ask if they want some ice-cream....

[kimmysurveyblog]

54

What do you want for your birthday? I have no idea. Staple clothing items are always appreciated, like socks or a sweater.

What’s your favorite flavor of tea? Mint with honey is all I ever drink (when sick).

What’s your favorite fall drink? Pumpkin cream cold brew!

What’re you going to be for Halloween? A tired mom. I truly don't care for this holiday at all. Counting the days until Nov 1st so I can go into CHRISTMAS MODE! :)

Do you think you’ve learned a lot and grown a lot in the past year? For sure. I've been the mom of a toddler which is difficult of course, but also my Mom died. I don't have any living parents. It's been quite the year. I'm very excited for a fresh start in 2 months!

Are you satisfied with how you’ve spent your year? Yes! I'm in the era of my life where I'm 100% focused on my young child and have little time or energy for much else. I'm proud of myself for getting into the habit of exercising while she naps. :)

Do you have a lot of friends? No.

Do you own a yellow scarf? No.

Do you own anything leopard print? Nope.

Will you buy a cake for your next birthday? Yes!

Are you excited for something currently? Halloween, I guess. My daughter will be excited.

If you could change just one thing about your life right now, what would it be? I have this dark cloud hanging over me lately and I'd like it to go away.

What’s your favorite color? Purple.

Are you artistic? Nope.

When was that last time you drew a picture in a sketchbook? Years ago. That used to be one of my hobbies.

Is there a tree right outside your bedroom window? No.

Have you ever dressed up as a witch on Halloween? Probably.

Have you ever been to a masquerade? No.

Do you eat vegetables? Rarely. It's one thing I struggle with.

Is there anybody you think is hot over the age of 40? Several.

Did anything bad happen to you in August? I don't think so.

Who in your phone has a heart after their name? Boyfriend.

Do you think your last ex deserves to die? No.

Do any girls like the last guy you kissed? Maybe.

Have you done anything sexual today? No.

Do you have a second mom? There was an older woman I met online who I considered my second mom and she really stepped up when my dad died + my mom basically abandoned me. She passed away about 10 years ago now. I miss her so much.

Other than your name, what was the last name someone called you? Mommy.

If you could find one long lost friend of the past, who would it be? No idea.

Was your sixth grade teacher a man or a woman? Man.

Have you ever had any teeth pulled? Yes.

Do you wash your hair or your body first when taking a shower? Hair.

Have you ever eaten something other people might think is gross? Nah.

When was the last time you colored with crayons? Yesterday. I have a toddler lol.

When you were a kid, who was your best pal? I had many throughout the years.

Have you ever been to a nursing home? Visited people, and worked in one.

Do you own any board games? Maybe.

Were you born in the state you live in? Province and yes.

Have you ever lived in a house that has been broken into? No.

Who do you know that watches the most sports? My boyfriend's mom and stepdad.

Have you ever been 4-wheeling? No.

Will you be attending any weddings in the near future? I just got a save the date in the mail today! Next September.

Do you live anywhere near the woods? Yes.

Do you have any important anniversaries you celebrate? Mine & my boyfriend's, and my parents.

What’s your favourite brand of energy drink? Monster.

Do you have (or have you ever had) acne? I had a few zits during puberty (and pregnancy lol) but not much else fortunately.

What will be the next concert you attend? Nooo idea.

Can you rap? No.

What do you usually order when you’re at McDonald’s? Two big mac combos and a happy meal.

Do you like to wear long, dangling earrings? No.

Do you pay any attention to your country’s politics? Yes.

Tell me about the sickest you’ve ever felt. I had Norovirus as an adult and it fucking sucked.

Any important birthdays coming up? Nope.

Fireworks: yay or nay? I hate them. Think of the last long car trip you had, where did you go? No idea. I haven't done a long car trip in years.

Do you have a Twitter account that you use regularly? No.

Have you ever seen a horseshoe crab? They’re scary, right?! No.

Do you like people watching and is it something you do often? If so, where are your favorite locations to do so? No.

The last time you ate leftovers, what was it that you were eating? Pizza.

What is your favorite board that you've made on Pinterest? ACNH inspo.

Do you get on Facebook or Instagram more? Ohhh no idea. Both equally maybe.

What was the last thing you ate or drank that was blue raspberry-flavored? Candy probably.

What was the last song you listened to? A song from the Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack probably. My toddler is OBSESSED right now.

Have you discovered any new hobbies in the past couple months? Exercise maybe? I've been doing this since the beginning of June.

What's the wildest animal you've ever come in contact with? No idea.

Do you ever question if your mother loves you? No.

What is your favorite type of Lunchables? The pizza one.

Are any of your siblings' friends like family to you? Yes, one of them.

Do you have any friends who you exchange memes with? Of course.

Are you in any Discord servers? How often do you use them? I'm in several but I only actively use one related to parenting and the "couple" Discord I have with my boyfriend. Highly recommend!! It's so freaking useful, especially now that we have a kid.

Have you ever had to see an emergency vet after hours? Yes. My ex stepped on my dog accidentally. She was fine thankfully.

When was the last time you sat under a blanket on a couch? No idea.

Can you bite into ice cream or are your teeth too sensitive? No idea.

Do you know anyone who's been bitten by a snake? No.

Do you prefer strawberries or cherries? Strawberries.

Biggest insecurity? My stomach. It's always been my biggest insecurity but that's obviously worse since having a child.

Describe your mom with one word. Missed.

Do you like fast food or does it disgust you? I enjoy it. We usually get it once a week.

Who was the last person you kissed? Bf.

What’s your favourite alcoholic drink? Craft beer.

Do you like the smell of BBQs? Yes!

Do wasps scare you? No.

Have you ever worn flip flops in the snow? Yesss all the time in the Winter to take out the garbage or get/take out the dog. I should really just buy a pair of slip on shoes.

Have you ever heard people having sex in the next room? No.

Have you ever been in a beauty pageant? No.

Have you ever lost your voice? Last time I got sick.

Did you ever have an emo or scene phase? Yup.

Could you see yourself having a child with the last person you kissed? We have one child. :)

Which of the guys you’ve been interested in hurt you the most? Ex bf.

Do you know anyone who is engaged? Cousin.

What are you listening to? Cars going by.

What was the last thing you looked up on Google? Sugar cookie recipe.

Ever been kissed on the leg? Maybe?

Do you think you are ready to be on your own (have your own home, job, etc.)? Yes of course.

Are you friends with someone who’s autistic? Yes.

Have you ever had a Big Mac? Yes!

[jaehyunspeachparty]

1.2

You sit at the kitchen counter and flip through Vogue magazine. The children were all at school by now and Jaehyun had driven them there. Only Miga was still there since she had a shoot for a K-Drama today and it didn't start until a little later. You take a sip of your coffee when Miga suddenly came to you and hugged you with the corners of your mouth pulled down. "Mummy..." She sighed and put her head on your shoulder. "Hey, are you okay?" You put your hand on her head and stroke her a little. Even though Miga was so big and grown up, she was still your baby. "Why are guys always such idiots?" She sighed and then sat up again. You look into her sad face and it hurt to see her hurt. "I know it's not easy, but you will find someone who treats you right." You smile gently and stroke her hair aside. "I just want to have a relationship like you and Daddy." "Hmm ... the relationship between me and your Dad was very difficult at the beginning. Any healthy person wouldn’t have continued this. We put a lot of work into the relationship and have only matured over time. But I would not recommend this to you. Better find someone who treats you well from the start. " You smile gently, but Miga didn't quite understand. She knew part of the story but not everything. Jaehyun regrets some of the things he had done in the past and he doesn't want his children to use that as a role model. "That means daddy wasn't good to you?" Miga was a bit shocked and you didn't want to take the picture from her. "I just want to say that the relationship was never perfect." You smile and take another sip of the coffee. Miga then sighed and played nervously with her fingers. "Tell me, does your heartache have something to do with Sunoh?" You know your son too well and you knew that Jaehyun taught his sons to protect the women here. "Mum, I don't want Sunoh to get in trouble because of me, but I can't tell Daddy that I was dating an idiot for a short time." You could feel her insecurity and you could understand her in this topic. "Can you tell me the whole story? I promise I won't tell your Dad." You smile gently and Miga nodded. She told you the full story and you weren't surprised at all. Sunoh had inherited all of the aggression and emotional instability from his father. "I don't know if I should be angry or glad that Sunoh hit him." You have been worried about Miga lately. She was very popular with men and in public. She became a beautiful woman, but that made her vulnerable at the same time. "Mum please, Dad always says if anything is there to protect you and me, he shouldn’t hesitate. He just wanted to help and protect me." Miga really just tried to help her brother and you thought it was cute that she stood up for him so much. "I know, I think I already know how to talk to your Dad." You smile and Miga hugged you. "Thanks mom, you're the best."

For Chichi, it wasn't funny that she had to change school. While her friends stayed in the old school, she came to the new one. She was shy anyway and found it difficult to make new friends. She was with Sunoh the same year, but he couldn't always be there. For example in physical education. It was not easy for her. She was petite, almost childish, and many of the girls couldn't take her seriously. No one spoke to her, but Chichi noticed also that she could hardly find a connection. Especially during the lunch break when she was sitting alone. Her little heart broke when nobody wanted to eat with her, but then she saw Sunoh. He came in her direction with the tablet when a group of boys called to him. "Hey Sunoh, sit down with us." Chichi saw that the group consisted of pretty good looking guys, maybe future idols too, they definitely seemed to recognize Sunoh. "Sorry no interest." Sunoh already wanted to go on, but still heard someone calling him weirdo. But he ignored this and came to Chichi's table. "Hey," he said then and sat next to her. Chichi smiled shyly and her cheeks flushed. "Why didn't you want to sit down with them? They seem pretty cool." She looked worriedly at her plate, but didn't touch any of her food. "They're just idiots." He sighed and started eating his food. Chichi watched him, but she couldn't bring a bite down herself. Then he stopped and looked at the girl. "Why don't you eat anything?" He asked, turning to Chichi. She just shrugged. Then Sunoh turned back to his tablet, took the salmon and put it on Chichi's tablet. "You like salmon. Eat at least that, okay?" He looked worriedly at her and Chichi softened and nodded.

Chichi didn't feel like going home after her ballet training. She didn't feel well and just wanted to sleep. But Sana, Yuta's wife and her stepmother, was trying to build a better relationship with her, but Chichi found it difficult to open up to her. Sana and Yuta have been together for 6 years and have been married for 4 years. "Hey Chichi, how was school?" Yuta smiled when he saw his daughter come into the apartment. "It was okay." She sighed and put down her backpack. "Hello Chichi." Sana came to her and smiled. "Hi Sana, Hi Asami." She strokes the toddler's head in Sana's arms. Asami was the half sister of Chichi. She was the daughter of Yuta and Sana. After they got married, they decided to have another child. It had taken Yuta a long time to finally trust a woman again and with Sana he could finally start again. "Chichi ..." said the little two year old girl and started giggling. It was really cute because the toddler loved her big sister. Chichi then kissed her on the cheek, but then went to her room because she still had to do homework. But the pain in her abdomen, which she had had all day, was getting worse. And when she went to the bathroom, she was surprised by something she had been waiting for. She was pretty late with it, but now she finally had her period. But what was she doing now? She couldn't go to her father and somehow didn't want to go to Sana. She had no problem with her, she liked her, but it was still uncomfortable for her. So she dialed the number of the person who was closest to her for a mother. "Y/N?" She asked when she heard your voice. "Hey Chichi, are you okay?" You could hear how worried she was. "I ... I think ... well ... I think I got my period." She sighed and was a little desperate. "Ohh, now you're a woman." You laugh lightly and Chichi also had to giggle a little. "Do you have some pads here?" You ask, but Chichi shook his head. "No, I searched but found nothing." "Did you ask Sana?" "No, but I don't want to ask her. It's so uncomfortable for me." Chichi's heart pounded and she didn't want to leave the bathroom. "Okay okay. I think Miga will be home soon, I'll call her and tell her to come over with a few pads without being noticed. Is that okay for you?" You knew that Chichi also trusted your daughter and it wasn't a problem for the girl that Miga would come over.

It wasn't long before Miga knocked on the door. Yuta opened in surprise, but Chichi came running towards her. "She is only there for a short time," she said and pulled Miga into her room, who was holding a small bag in her hand. "You don't have to be embarrassed. It's something completely normal." Miga smiled gently when she came into the room. "I know, but somehow I’m." Chichi's shoulders fell and her shy side came out. But Miga smiled and started to clear things out of the bag. "Look, here you have pads that will help you first. But since you dance a lot of ballet, I brought you tampons. They are difficult for the beginning, but they will make your life easier. And then I have you brought some tea to help them hurt. I don't know how much it really works, but Mum always gave it to me and she drinks it whenever she has her period. And do you have a thermophore? Warmth also helps the cramps. " Chichi tried to follow her and collected everything. "Thanks, Miga," she said shyly and quietly. She was glad that she was there.

You are standing in the laundry room and sorting the dirty laundry. Unbelievable how much accumulates every day with 4 children. It always surprised you. But suddenly the door opened and Jaehyun entered. "Hey, I didn't hear that you came home." You smile and see how he came up to you. "I was very quiet because I wanted to go to you first." He stood behind you and put his hands on your hip and gently kissed your neck. "Do you want something special from me?" You grin while you stop folding the laundry. "Mmmm I wanted to know if you already think about it." The question of another baby was still in the room. Jaehyun desperately wanted another child while you were still unsure. "I don't know yet, we finally have more time for us." You sigh because it wasn't easy. On the one hand, a baby would be super cute, but on the other hand, you also enjoy life with Jaehyun. "I know, but I also like to make sweet and beautiful babies with you." Jaehyun grinned as he buried his face on your neck. His hands went under your shirt and up to your breasts. With his hips he pressed you more against the washing machine and this caused the vibration of it to excite you more. "Jaehyun ...", you moan softly, because you couldn't utter more words. "I'm already so hard and I wanted to do this with you all day long," Jaehyun whispered in your ear and gripped your breasts more firmly. It got really hot between you and you were more than ready for him. But the next moment you hear Sunoh calling for you. "Mum?" You hear his voice and Jaehyun quickly pulled his hands out of your shirt and just hugged you from behind so he could cover his bulge. "Yuck, can't you stop being cringe?" Sunoh sighed when he was in the room and Jaehyun had to laugh. "Sunoh, what do you want? I don't think you want to do the laundry with me?" You look at your son, who rolled his eyes. He was pretty much in puberty right now and you can't blame him for that. "When will we eat?" Whatever happened, since Sunoh was in puberty and growing, he was always hungry, all around the clock. "When your sister is there. It won't be long now," you say and Sunoh then left the room. As soon as the door was closed again, Jaehyun turned your body and pulled you up on the washing machine. Without saying anything, he pressed his lips to yours and his hands went down to your ass. But then you hear again that someone is calling you. "Mummy!" It was Kiwoo and before they came into the room you quickly jump off the washing machine. "Mummy! Geon doesn't let me play and it wasn't my turn yet." You had so many game consoles at home, but the twins always thought they wanted to play the same thing. "Geon," you call your other son and a few seconds later he was there. "Either you look for games that you can play in pairs or you let Kiwoo play now. If this continues, I'll take the console away from you two." You were relatively strict. Geon nodded and the twins ran away again. You turn back to Jaehyun and close the door. He looked at you desperately, but you wanted to continue. "Are you still hard?" You walk up to your husband and gently grab his crotch. "A little bit." He grinned and searched your lips again. But in the next second you hear how Miga came. "I'm back," your daughter called into the room and Jaehyun put his head back and sighed. "Do you really want another child?" You wink and grin broadly while Jaehyun tries to collect. "I'll start cooking." You laugh and go out of the room.

[fuckingfinwions]

Successful escape in the future of the harem au

Gil-Galad knocked on the door.

“Yes?” said the woman who answered it.

“Is this the Lady Nerdanel’s house?”

“Who are you to ask?”

“I’m her grandson, Gil-Galad. The toddler is my brother Finnelach, and that’s my cousin Idril, and Fingon my - parent.”

“Fingon isn’t my son.”

Fingon spoke up, “No, but Maedhros is. You knew quite well what your husband did with my father. Is it really so surprising that I’ve borne two of Maedhros’s children?”

“Perhaps not. What’s the purpose of this family outing? I didn’t think Feanor approved of any of his children visiting me.”

“He doesn’t really. Can we come inside to discuss this?”

“Sure.”

“The purpose is that Gil-Galad doesn’t want to have sex with Feanor, and once he’s of age he’ll have to. I’ve always lived in the palace and would have no idea how to keep house on my own, but I’m not going to force him. I remembered that you had opposed Feanor and Maedhros having sex even though Maedhros wanted it, and hoped you’d be a safe place for your grandchildren.”

“And did you have any plan for if I wasn’t willing to raise three more children after all of mine are grown?”

“Just two, Idril can go to her grandparents in Alqualonde. And if not,” Fingon spoke quickly, “could you watch them for two weeks or so, then send them all to the coast? Olwe might not raise them personally but he wouldn’t send them back, not once he hears how Feanor is treating his grandson.”

Nerdanel looked at the three children. A fourteen year old boy, a ten year old girl, and a one year old boy would not do well on their own. “They can stay, though if Olwe asks for his great-granddaughter I won’t stop him. At least you’ll be around to help.”

“About that...”

“Mom!” Gil-Galad said. “What are you saying?”

“You three are all children. Feanor might ignore your absence until you’re of age, by which point you’ll be well known in town and obvious if you went missing. But every day I’m gone is day Feanor can't use me - a full day in which I’m defying him. He won’t stand for that; it’s safer for everyone if I go back." Fingon gave Gil-Galad a hug. “And I love my brothers and father, and your father, and will miss them if I stay.”

“What about me?”

“I love you too, and Finnelach. I hope that I’ll see you some day again. Feanor will be angry, and I’d rather Turgon not take the blame for something he had no part in. Or Maedhros I suppose, though that wouldn’t be as bad of course.”

~~

Nerdanel: “I’ll get started on setting up beds for tonight. Idril and I can sleep in one room, Gil-Galad and Fingon in the other. I don’t have a bassinet, but I can put some blankets in a basket and that might work for Finnelach.”

“No, those sleeping arrangements will not work!”

“You’re not in the palace anymore; I only have the two bedrooms.”

“You can’t have adults sleep in the same room as children! Idril and Gil-Galad can take one room, with Finnelach in a basket.”

“You expect to share my bed then?”

Fingon paused, as he had been wondering if Nerdanel would want to be thanked for her hospitality, but she didn’t seem pleased by the prospect. “I can sleep in the stable, or on a couch. It only has to be for one night anyway, then I’ll ride back.”

“I have never heard of adults and children being forbidden to share rooms. It is however highly inappropriate for a boy and a girl to share a room, once either of them has reached puberty.”

“But adults might wake up in the middle of the night filled with desire, and there’s a nice warm body in their bed. That would harm children.”

“I have more self control than to rape someone just because of a wet dream!”

“That would make you unique in my experience! If there’s no one in the room you might just jerk off, but if there’s someone in easy reach, they’re used.” And if there wasn’t someone in reach they might be used anyway. Fingon had been woken more times than he cared to count by one of the Princes walking into his room, pulling the sheets down, and starting without even a 'hello.’ He himself had woken up whoever was in his bed with a kiss or caress for another round scant hours after the first. But if Nerdanel thought sex without discussion was always beneath her, she wouldn’t take well the suggestion that she would disturb Gil-Galad if she came in and used Fingon while the two of them were in one room.

“Even if they’re children?!” Nerdanel asked, appalled.

“No, because the children are in separate rooms where they don’t have to watch their parents have sex. And Feanor is always the first one to get pleasure from our bodies; no one would disobey him on that. You don’t care what Feanor thinks, and are suggesting children sleep in the same rooms as adults.”

“You brought them here because you trusted me to keep them safe.”

“Because I hoped you wouldn’t use them - you never cared when Feanor fucked my father, just when he started on your own children. And Idril’s not your blood.”

“I am not going to harm her, or Gil-Galad or Finnelach, but that doesn’t mean I have to give up on standards of decency, and I simply don’t have three bedrooms.”

Gil-Galad spoke up, “It about being naked isn’t it?”

“What?”

“Lady Nerdanel doesn’t think Idril and I should see each other changing into our night clothes, even though neither of us wants to touch. Adults aren’t supposed to see people of the opposite sex naked unless you’re planning to have sex with them, even if they’re related. Isn’t that right?”

“I thought it was obvious,” Nerdanel said.

“Well I’d never heard of it,” Fingon replied. “How did you know that?”

“I like hearing Grandpa’s stories about growing up, even if he sometimes gets sad telling them. And I asked him if Findis and Lalwen look much like Aunt Aredhel, and he said he couldn’t be sure because he hadn’t seen them in as much detail."

“But not at all? Even changing clothes, even children who need help dressing? How does that work?”

“Children so young they can’t bathe on their own are an exception. And it works well enough, men help their sons with inconvenient buttons and women help their daughters with the same.”

“Is men getting pregnant really so rare that works?”

“It is. I have heard of less than a dozen cases outside of Feanor’s... private life.”

“Huh. If the problem is nudity, would it be solved by a screen between Idril and Gil-Galad’s beds and dressers?”

“It could be, but I don’t have such a screen on hand for tonight.”

“We could hang up a curtain,” Gil-Galad suggested.

“That would be rather easily pushed aside; the point is to deter peeping even if someone thinks their child would never do that.”

“We could cover it in bells or beads, so you’d hear it,” Fingon suggested. “My necklace might work?” He pulled a necklace made of hanging strands of glittering crystals from under his shirt.

“That should work,” Nerdanel said, “But why are you wearing that for a secret escape?”

Fingon shrugged. “I normally wear jewelry, and leaving it in the middle of the library would look weird. But it clatters very annoyingly when I try to run, so I tucked it against my chest.”

[typhonbaalhammon]

Let’s talk about that scene

A certain scene in the latest Game of Thrones episode has generated quite a lot of comments. I have mostly seen people angrily defending it, although I must imagine that there has been some heated criticism of the scene before that.

Here’s a preliminary summary of what I’m going to say : Although I don’t object to it in theory, I think this scene was very poorly executed.

From now on here be spoilers.

I am referring of course to the scene where Arya decides to have sex with Gendry, and then has sex with him.

Now the conceit that Arya Stark would have sex with anyone seems to have shocked people so much that card-carrying feminists (such as Amanda Marcotte) have come to the defense of the scene saying that, in effect that she’s a grown woman who can have sex with anyone she pleases, and that there had been less criticism of all rapiness in GoT (though indeed there has been pointed feminist criticism of the way GoT has used nude women as props, and rape as a narrative detail, the sexual violence of the series culminating in Sansa’s rape by Ramsay Bolton).

Now of course Arya Stark is a grown woman. She is played by Maisie Williams who’s an adult at this point.

It must be remarked however that the chronology of the show is not very clear (it is in fact glaringly inconsistent, what with Gilly’s baby still being a toddler when he should be the age Arya was at the start of the series), and also that it’s not just the viewers who clung to Arya being a child : Maisie Williams was made to wear a strap to hide her chest as her character grew more slowly and experienced puberty later than she did.

But this is a detail. I think the real problem, as usual in Game of Thrones, lies in the writing.

In this case, the fact of the matter is that Arya has never expressed romantic interest towards anyone (neither man, nor woman) at any point in the series before. Maybe she was shown to have a crush on Gendry already in season 2 ? I don’t recall it being very apparent.

Then of course we stopped seeing Gendry for literal years and Arya went to the tiresome House of Pointlessness where she learned to become a Ninjassassin by cleaning corpses all day long and then getting abused and stabbed repeatedly by a sadist (a sadist who may or may not be impersonating the Arya that we now see on the show, might I add).

But ok, let’s admit that it’s not too far-fetched that Arya Stark would suddenly want to know what it’s like to do the thing, since it’s the first time in forever since she’s had time and opportunity for that, since it’s her maybe-old crush Gendry, and since she’s afraid she might die without having tried it.  Why not.

My main problem with the scene as written and played in the episode is that it just sounds  so hollow.

Why does Arya care about the women Gendry slept might’ve slept with ? Is this supposed to be a joke ?

Is Arya meant to be like some jealous girlfriend from a sitcom where characters are depicted as so horribly jealous that they can’t even acknowledge their exes’ existence in front of their current significant others ? (thinking of you How I Met Your Mother, you miserable failure of a TV show).

One way it could work would be if Arya was meant to be insecure. And it would be normal. She has spent years with only survival and revenge on her mind, she’s become a confident and self-reliant killer, but she remains inexperienced in other areas. To paraphrase a quote from Excalibur : having learned to kill, she must now learn to love.

Having her be insecure would have added some depth to her character which is becoming dangerously monodimensional.

But she doesn’t display any insecurity at all.

She angrily questions Gendry about his sex life, then she starts undressing. We don’t learn anything new about her character (except that she’s neither a lesbian nor an asexual, I guess, god forbid we would leave it up to the viewer to speculate about that).

And we certainly don’t learn anything about Gendry except that he claims not very convincingly not to be a virgin. In fact, Gendry is very passive in this scene, he says nothing substantial except when recounting what Melissandre did to him, which we don’t care about because we already know.

Oh and yeah, he sees Arya’s scars. Except we don’t care about his reaction (not that we see him react all that much) because we haven’t seem him in years and even before that he was a very secondary character (also he doesn’t seem to care that he’s Robert’s bastard. He’s very unconcerned).

And it’s not about revealing the scars to us the viewers : we know what kind of trauma she has endured, we saw it happen. I guess it’s not a bad reminder, but there might have been other, better ways to show them onscreen (if indeed we needed to be shown them).

In conclusion, if the purpose of this scene was only to show that Arya is a confident girl who has decided to experience sex before a battle when she might die, then the scene was about twice as long as it needed to be. Cut the whole awkward dialogue, just have him show up, her try the weapon, then she kisses him, they make out, and you can cut to an after-the-fact shot where they’re both cuddling.

I mean, as it is she doesn’t even tell him she likes him (which she would if she’d had a crush on him, wouldn’t she) nor does she ask him if he wants her. It’s all so cold and awkward. Doesn’t her character deserve to let herself be more romantic ?

Because if she’s so indifferent about it herself, why should we even care whether Arya fucks at all ?

Will the show explore the consequences of her having lost her virginity ? I doubt it. Was this just a way to prepare us for Gendry’s death so that she might have a sad over it ? Maybe but if that’s the case, that’s preparing us for a pretty cheap shot.

Honestly I’m kind of hoping that Arya is the waif in disguise, at least it would be a pretty fun twist.

[kristie-rp]

[2018] Garrett: Turning

It is a truth universally acknowledged that anyone acting particularly weird in the hospital must be in want of Doctor Vincent Constantine. 

Okay, no, that’s not true, exactly. It’s more a truth acknowledged only within the hospital itself, and weirdness is relative, and they don’t always know they need Constantine’s expertise. That’s just how it gets explained to Garrett when he starts his placement during med school, by a curly haired woman speaking behind her hand in a stage whisper. Doctor Constantine himself snorts and shoots her an unimpressed look, and does a double take when he sees Garrett. There’s something vaguely familiar in it, and the intern smiles politely. “Hi, Doctor Constantine.” 

“Call me Vincent,” comes the reply. “She’s right, in a manner of speaking. If something seems particularly... peculiar, then I am the resident expert. Feel free to come to me.”

Garrett doesn’t think much about it, afterwards. The thing is, he doesn’t work in Vincent’s department, at least not at first. The older man operates largely out of the basement, where a morgue would be in any other hospital: it has been turned into a ward, and the windows of half the rooms are blacked out with heavy tarps. It’s eerie. When Garrett brings his toddler daughter April to work some days, when she is too young to be home alone and not able to be at daycare, she tends to spend time with the old man. He doesn’t get it, but he allows it. 

He’s been a fully qualified medical practitioner employed by the hospital for eight months before he thinks about the description of Vincent’s specialisation. A couple have brought in their terrified daughter, who is incredibly pretty for a human child and also very quick-witted and persuasive. She has talked the nurse out of at least three lollipops before Garrett arrives in the room to introduce himself and shoo the nurse away. 

“Do you really need so many,” her mother is asking a little helplessly, taking the third one from her daughter. The little girl shrugs, and asks her dad to get her some water, please, from the vending machine. Because her mother is the one with money, she goes, too. The little girl is alone with Garrett. 

“They think I’m sick,” she informs him flatly, pouting slightly. “I don’t think they’re wrong. I mean. I know I’m not like the other girls. And there are these.” She tugs at her beanie and it lifts away to reveal small horns on her forehead. She is very careful not to rip the wool. “My mom’s worried.”

“Cutaneous horns aren’t unheard of,” Garrett tries. He doubts it’s that simple; the very sentence sits wrong on his tongue. Plus, every instance of cutaneous horns he’s heard of presented in the elderly. 

The little girl, apparently, is aware of this. “I know how to Google,” she says dismissively, “and I know only old people have that happen. So why is this happening to me now?” 

Garrett hesitates. He can order tests – of course he can. But something gives him pause. The mother and father return, and Garrett makes up his mind: he leans out of the door to catch a nurse as she passes by. “Hi, sorry – can you run down to the basement and find Doctor Constantine, please? I need a consult.” 

The nurse looks at him curiously, but returns in fifteen minutes with Vincent himself. He looks between the couple. “Are you her father?” 

The man shakes his head. “We adopted her a few years ago,” he explains. The little girl doesn’t seem bothered by this, and her mother has rested a hand on her little girls shoulder. “We have the record of her biological parents medical information –” 

The mother starts to search in her bag for the papers. Vincent stops her with a wave of her hand. “No matter, they won’t be accurate.” 

The parents make outraged sounds, and the little girl blinks at him. “You know what’s wrong with me?” she asks. Her voice is much smaller than it was earlier, alone with Garrett. He can’t blame her, really; Vincent has that effect on people. 

“Have any of you heard of a Cambion?” is what Vincent asks, completely without preamble. Garrett starts, because he’s heard of those, in fascinated Wikipedia spirals that almost always end with him looking up different takes on mythological beings – and this doctor, whom he respects, is talking as though the creature is real. “It is the result of a sexual union between an Incubus and a human woman. I’d bet the mother listed her boyfriends information before giving her up, knowing exactly what she was getting into.” He pauses, addressing the girl directly. “The horns may be surgically removed once they are fully grown, but that won’t happen until you’ve completed puberty. You likely had almost no pulse until you were seven, and you’ve likely noticed you barely need to breathe. You’re clever and beautiful, more than human girls, and you’re persuasive. Many would call you manipulative. Does this sound right?” The little girl is staring at him, somewhere between dumbfounded and fascinated. Garrett can see in her face that this explains everything. “You have the potential to be evil, but with good parents – nurture over nature, all that – it can be subverted or at least limited. Any questions?” 

If there are, Garrett doesn’t hear them, watching the girls face instead. He can’t see Vincent’s, but that girl is looking at him like he told her the meaning of life, and has no longer left her confused and wanting, unsure what she is. 

Garrett doesn’t know if he entirely believes the story, but he’s half-way there. It helps that the little girl pauses to give him a hug and to thank him on the way out, beanie back in place.

Garrett’s co-workers think that his fascination with Vincent’s so-called department – which exists primarily due to the Constantine’s donating more money to the hospital than the accounting department is willing to disclose – is ridiculous and confusing. They think Vincent is insane, or delusional, or at least eccentric, for all they respect him as their fellow doctor. But every single one of them is willing to call the older man for a consult when the situation calls for it, which is really all Garrett can hope for, so he mostly ignores the opportunities to mock them.

(Mostly, because sometimes he cannot bite his tongue fast enough to ensure he is less sarcastic in the workplace than he is at home, with April, who by now is a teenager who really ought to have a more sincere parental figure to turn to.) 

Anyway: it is not uncommon for Garrett to visit Vincent’s basement, either to ask pointed questions or chat with patients kept so separate from the others. He does this more predictably on the nights when April is not supposed to be coming home, and tonight she is staying at a friends place while they work on a project for class. He does not have to be home in time for dinner, so he meanders down to where he can visit at his own pace. 

There is a woman with albinism in one room. She greets him warmly, as she had the last time he’d been here, by putting on a terrible Transylvanian accent and calling herself a vampire. Garrett quirks a brow at her, thinking something along the lines of you wouldn’t be quite that pale if you dined on blood, Zoe. She laughs aloud. “Alright, fair enough, I’ll let you have that one. Stop by on your way out, Doc,” she insists, and he can almost feel the idea settling in his mind, ensuring he will do as asked later. 

“Is your tail ever going to heal?” Garrett asks the man in the next room, curious.

The merman with his blue-tinted skin snorts, his teeth growing in jagged rows; according to what he’s told them, he is a hybrid of some sharks that wouldn’t ever frequent the bay around Port Lyndon. “I’m not the doctor,” he says, splashing impatiently. He is caught halfway between human and mer form, and the pain shows in how pale around the gills he is. “Ask Vince.” 

“Yeah, sure, I’ll get right on that. Straight after my stopover at H.L. to let them know what I am,” Garrett retorts, earning a laugh from the mer as he splashes contentedly. 

He stops at the door of the selkie to smile and let her know that he’s passing through, because he knows she’s mostly here because of the debilitating anxiety that came from losing her pelt – only she hasn’t felt compelled to actually go to anyone, so it isn’t stolen, just legitimately lost. There’d be more chance of finding it if it was stolen, from what Garrett understands – it is hard to get her to talk, because Vincent is the expert, and he’s not exactly personable. 

The next room was home to a slightly burned dryad the last time he was here, but his bark was basically finished moulting, which means he should be gone, and the room should be empty. Garrett opens the door to check, eyes widening when he instead gets an eyeful of a wolf-like being – it’s a fully transformed werewolf, he knows that – and yet his immediate panicked reaction is to step closer and slam the door closed.

Yeah, his self-preservation instincts have always been terrible, he is aware. He does things like drink hot sauce on a dare (college) and break into his parents liquor cabinet (high school) and grab the arms of angry looking people on crutches to prevent them from walking into traffic (summer between high school and college, and actually he’s proud of that one). He has a feeling he’d step in front of a gunman to save someone, even a stranger.

That might explain locking himself in with an angry looking werewolf. One that’s currently edging closer. 

“Crap,” he croaks, panic making his voice crack, and presses himself against the door. 

He blacks out. 

It’s probably for the best.

“I have to hand it to you, Garrett,” a familiar voice is saying when he comes to, blinking at a white tile ceiling, “if you were going to be infected by a supernatural condition, this is probably the best possible place you could’ve done it.” 

“That’s nice,” Garrett says. He thinks he sounds about as sarcastic as usual, but he might be a little dazed. It’s something to do with the fact that he can make out the little specks across the surface of the tiles, which is weird, because he should be wearing glasses, and he can’t feel them on his face. “I think my veins are on fire.” 

“That’d be the wolfsbane,” the voice answers, apparently unbothered. It’s Vincent. Garrett is not surprised. 

Garrett closes his eyes. “You’re suppressing a transformation, aren’t you. Isn’t that a bad idea?” 

“Which one of us is the expert?” 

Garrett scoffs. “Which one of us is a werewolf?” 

There’s a long silence that makes Garrett want to open his eyes, but it’s bad enough that he can hear a heartbeat that he’s pretty sure isn’t close enough to be Vincent. Which means his co-worker doesn’t have a heartbeat. Which – he had to pass a medical to get this job; how did Vincent get the job with no heartbeat, without causing some sort of crisis? He keeps his eyes firmly shut, thanks ever so much. “Touché,” Vincent says at last, and Garrett can hear the amusement in his voice. 

“How long was I out?” 

“A couple of hours. Your phone rang; it was your daughter. She’ll be here soon.” 

“Sure, that’s a brilliant idea,” he mutters, sarcasm heavy in his voice. Garrett’s eyes fly open and he sits up a little quicker than he would like, blinking against the abrupt change of scenery and the headrush. “By which I mean, you just said I’m a newly turned werewolf, Vincent, what the fuck?” 

“At least you already know werewolves exist,” he says.

It’s not helpful. Garrett gives him the glare he thinks he deserves, and then lays back down, pressing his palms into his closed eyes. Maybe if he thinks hard enough, this will go away. “I can’t be a werewolf,” he says, as if it will change anything. “I have a teenage daughter. I’m a medical doctor. I work night shift half the time, I can’t take every full moon off!” 

“That’s what the wolfsbane is for.” 

“Oh, right. How could I forget? My veins feel like they’re actually on fire and this is the only way to not turn into a wolf that will bite anyone around.” 

“You’re a very negative person, aren’t you?” 

Garrett grimaces. He’s just realized what the heartbeat he can hear actually is, and attempts to peer at the other occupant of the room, the one he missed. “Sorry, Dave. I didn’t mean any offence. Much.” 

Dave, the werewolf responsible for this entire thing, snorts, but it sounds half-hearted and exhausted. He is trembling. “I should be the one apologizing. I ruined your life, man. I owe you.” 

“Should I be worried about the shaking?” 

“Doc didn’t give me any ‘bane until I’d already transformed, is all. Remember to take it like you’re s’posed to and it works out better.” 

“Great.” Garrett takes medication for anxiety on the daily. He now has to add injections of liquidated wolfsbane to his schedule at least once a month, twice in a blue moon, and he really doesn’t want to wish harm on Dave – so he doesn’t. He closes his eyes again, takes a deep, supposedly steadying breath. “This is just what I needed.” 

“Dad?” 

Garrett opens his eyes and looks up. April is standing over him with a look of concern, the door open behind where his head has been resting this entire time. “Hey, sweetie,” he says, trying for a sincere smile. He doesn’t know how close he gets as she dumps her bag and kneels down beside him. “I hear your sleepover wasn’t that great.” 

“Muriel is being mean, so I called to come home. Vincent said you were – hurt?” 

“Oh, it’s nothing. I’m just – um.” Garrett pauses. He cannot lie to his daughter, she needs to know what is going on. It isn’t fair to keep her in the dark. 

He has to tell her about supernaturals, if she hasn’t guessed already.

Garrett groans aloud, pressing his palms back into his eye sockets. “Remind me to kill you later,” he mutters. “It’s the least you deserve.” 

Vincent snorts, and Dave’s noise is more like a whimper. There’s something decidedly lupine in it, and that’s exactly the sort of thing Garrett needs to hear right now. 

“So,” he starts, pulling his eyes away, “you know how there are humans in the world, and they have different races? African, Asian, Caucasian, Mongoloid.” 

“Yes...?”

“Well, those differences are just aesthetic. The differences that actually matter a little bit are the ones that make human beings into something – supernatural.” 

There’s quiet for a long moment. “Are you trying to make a joke about that TV show?” April asks, wary. 

Garrett sighs. He wishes he was. “I wish I was,” he says, “but what I’m actually saying is that vampires and werewolves and dryads and all that – it’s real. That’s what’s special about Vincent’s patients. That’s why they are in the basements, that’s why pretty much everyone avoids him and thinks he’s insane.” 

“Hey,” Vincent says. It’s mild enough that Garrett doesn’t believe he actually cares. 

“Also, that’s Dave. Say hi to Dave.” He waits for April to wave awkwardly at the patient. “He’s a werewolf. And he bit me.”