#and Gil knows and respects this

[softquietsteadylove]

Hi!

In your latest thenamesh special force au Gil said he doesn’t trust them to keep her safe.

What if something happens that puts Thena in great danger and Gil rushes to protect and safe her? Bonus if he carries her in his arms!

"Fall back! I repeat, fall back: area is not secure!"

"Move in!" Gil announced before any order was given. Technically he was second in command in Thena's absence, him and Kingo being the most senior Agents present. He didn't need to hear anything else.

Thena was in danger, and he wasn't going to allow it.

The junior agents were scattered around, some having been taken out as soon as they were in the building.

Gil hauled one up by the collar of his shirt, "what the hell happened in here?!"

Kingo put a hand on his friend's shoulder, squeezing as best he coudl over their thick layers of protective gear. "Take it easy, Gil."

"Th-They were waiting," the young agent squeaked out. "We didn't know until all units were in the building. Something came through the vents, then they jumped us."

Gil dropped the kid to the ground again, stepping around his body and proceeding with caution around every corner. "Eyes up, masks on, people!"

Kingo hand signalled the rest of the unit following behind them. Kingo leaned closer to Gil, "Boss was in the third unit to enter."

Which meant she shouldn't have been too far in the building by the time things went wrong. Gil walked around their comrades as they proceeded. "Tell medical about all these stupid kids."

"Come on, man," Kingo admonished. "You were all buddy-buddy with these 'kids' less than a week ago."

"And if anything happened to Thena, I'm gonna have them all kicked out of the agency or worse."

Kingo gave up on trying to talk him out of it, knowing it was a lost cause. Gil and Thena both weren't the best at being particularly logical when it came to one another. "Focus, Gil."

It only managed to rile him up more, because it wasn't Thena's soft voice telling him that. "Fuck you."

"Okay, good talk," Kingo sighed until they came across the most troublesome area. "Shit."

Clearly they had put up a fight on both sides. Agents were sprawled about, but so were some of the low level participants of the operation they were busting.

"Boss!"

"Thena!"

She was a few feet away from the rest of them, probably having tried to go further in before whatever was in the vents had incapacitated her as well. She had even pulled off her bulletproof vest, probably to check herself for injury after being shot at.

"Thena!" Gil rushed over to her, practically sliding on his knees to reach her. He pulled the inner material of his collar down from his nose and mouth, pulling her up into his arms.

It was in complete disregard for protocol. He didn't check for her injuries first, he didn't wake her and ask her the standard 'can you speak',. 'can you breathe', etc. He pulled her into his arms and all but shook her in his desperation to see her open her eyes again.

"Gil?" she groaned out, pinching her brows together as she came to.

"Thena," Gil gasped out in relief, pulling her closer and cradling her head protectively. "You're okay!"

"What are you doing here?" she frowned, glaring at him out of one eye (with some blood from her forehead having gotten in the other). "You were ordered to wait as backup."

"I know, but the kids blew it and we had to move in," he scoffed, reaching into his standard issue cargo pants and fishing out what was definitely not a standard issue handkerchief. He wiped some blood from her eye before dabbing at her forehead. "Can you stand?"

Thena nodded up at him, "it looks worse than it is. All that really happened was we spooked them out the back of the trap. Tell me we were waiting for them at the rear."

"Yes, we got 'em all," Gil chuckled, letting her grip his sleeve in need and then release it almost immediately. He frowned at her, "I know I asked if you can stand, but are you sure you should be on your feet?"

"It's fine, Gil," Thena attempted to protest, although she didn't actually succeed in attempting to pull herself up out of his arms. "Just...I'm just...jus-"

Gil shook his head. Whether it was blood loss or a concussion or the gas, he wasn't about to let her try walking by herself. Medical would have his head for moving her without their permission, and the higher ups probably wouldn't be happy with him either.

Thena would be livid once she woke up again.

But Gil picked her up in his arms, carrying her like a bride back the way they came, past the rest of the agents also being collected in the aftermath of the disastrous operation. He had no sympathies for the kids being picked up off the ground. Not with Thena lying limp in his arms as she was. He bent his head down close to her, "almost there."

"Gil," she sighed, drifting in and out of it as he carried her. "M'fine."

He smiled down at her. She would absolutely have his badge for thinking she looked kind of cute when she was sleepy, but he could keep that thought to himself. "Yeah, you seem real fine, Boss."

[shima-draws]

Actually curious as to what people’s general opinion of Ozbert is in this year of 2023. Does shipping them equate to getting hashtag cancelled? Are they still The OTP of the series?? Or are they strictly Platonic Besties For Life. I do not know

It’s weird tho bc obviously if you’ve read the manga you KNOW their situation is very Complicated™️. When they were both the same age it was fine but then Oz got yeeted into the Abyss and time jumped 10 years forward while he was in there for like 3 days and suddenly Gil’s like. 9 years older than him. But then Uncle Oscar still classifies Oz as being 25 even tho he’s physically 15. And then we find out that Oz’s body isn’t even HIS it belongs to Jack so that’s messed up. AND we find out Gil’s actually not just 24 he’s OVER 100 years old bc Baskerville shit. And THEN we find out Oz is actually the true B Rabbit so that makes it so he’s probably even older than Gil is. When we get to the end of the series they’re both canonically confirmed to be hundred(s) of years old so I’m sitting here like. Well,

ALSO looking at these manga panels and official artworks and stuff from the anime I’m like

Well, there’s definitely SOMETHING going on there, that’s for sure,

[c0rpsedemon]

the thing about the queer media tournament that really gets me is that last i checked there wasn't a single mxtx work on it. like not even the untamed made it in and don't get me wrong the og mo dao zu shi books are huge but cql is def more popular among tumblr circles. idk it just really rubs me the wrong way how every single piece of western media that ppl have ever gotten a lil bit aggressive abt shipping with is there and then for east asian media there's utena and madoka magica and the handmaiden and last i checked that was pretty much it. and then for the rest of the world there's next to/nothing but idk enough to really make judgements there.

[theinfinitedivides]

thinking about how the first time we are introduced to Jang Hyun's absolutely complex and extremely layered daddy issues is when he is having a very Traumatic Flashback in Neunggun-ri and only Ryang Eum's voice is what pulls him out of it. thinking about how the next time they bring that back it launches him into post-traumatic amnesia (since the flashback was brought on by the head injury in the torture chambers) and the only thing that pulls him out of that is remembering Gil Chae, and her voice now, and everything that had happened between them. thinking about how Gil Chae is constantly shown as being able to touch and hold him, and how she confesses while he still does not have his memories that she wishes they could always live a simple life like this. thinking about how the closest Ryang Eum got to that was when he showed up to take him away to a safe place, before he woke, so the search party would not find him, and they were practically skin to skin, slumped over his shoulder. just thinking thoughts today

[comradecowplant]

People are so brain broken by hating everything russian that they are gleefully celebrating the loss of Luna-25, which is a really sad set back for lunar & space research as a whole, but it seems that xenophobic War is A Marvel Movie HEEHEE DUMB EVIL RUSSIANS CRASH SPACECRAFT is a stronger sentiment to the "we want to live in Star Trek" crowd than actual commitment to the dream of international unity of humanity to explore the stars & better scientifically understand the cosmos

[sylhea-raemi]

fucking sobbing at nero's words towards makia about gt9 they're so precious to him all the silly memories they've done i'm gonna cry

[spacedace]

Still thinking about the Social Worker Jazz concept that @gilbirda posted about and it's slowly turning into a full Anger Management fic send help

-

Jason at length - much longer than it really should have taken really - set the resume down.

The new Social Worker’s resume. Because she was there, in his office, trying to convince him to hire her as a member of his criminal organization.

Crime Alley’s new social worker. A bright eyed Midwestern transplant from some tiny speck of a place that only qualified as a city because there was nothing bigger in a hundred miles in any direction to claim otherwise. The new social worker who had a Psy D. and three masters degrees and who had graduated Valedictorian. The one that had high paying private gigs lined up all over the country with the offering companies fighting over her.

The one who had, apparently, decided to take a shit job in Gotham’s shoddy social services department instead. The one that got kicked to Crime Alley - which was its own division despite technically being a small neighborhood in the grand scheme of things - within her first month. Supposedly for the sole purpose of scaring her off or getting her killed for all the questions she was asking and secret dealings she was sticking her nose into.

That social worker.

“I’m gonna need you to run this by me again.” Jason said, never so grateful for the voice modulator in his helmet as he was in that moment. It stripped out the bewilderment that had bled through into his words and made him sound stoic instead.

“I’d like to work for you.” The social worker - one Dr. Jasmine Nightingale - repeated primly. Back straight, clothes neat - if skewing more on the librarian side of professional - expression confident and hopeful. Completely and utterly oblivious of how fucking insane she sounded. “I was told that you’re the person in charge of Crime Alley.”

He resisted the urge to scrub at his face. It’d just look weird with his helmet on and not do anything to actually settle him in that moment anyway. “I understood that part.”

“Look, Doc,” She earned a doctorate and she was crazy enough to waltz into the office of one of Gotham’s most powerful Crime Lords, he’d be respectful about using her proper title at least, even if he suspected she was ten pounds of crazy in a five pound bag. “You’re going to have to tell me why. I was under the impression the only reason you ended up dumped on our end of the city ws because you wouldn’t play ball. But now you want to sign up for my crew?”

Nightingale frowned a little at that.

“Is that what people are saying?”

“What else are they gonna say?” Jason answered, leaning back in his seat, “Head of the department only dumps Crime Alley on folks he don’t like. And everyone knows he doesn’t like anyone that can’t or won’t play his game by his rules.”

“Alright, well. I’ll give you that.” Nightingale conceded, “Payne doesn’t like me. The feeling’s mutual. But for the record,” She added giving him a wry smile, as if sharing wry smiles with Red Hood was just something people did, “I asked to be assigned to the Park Row and Bowery neighborhoods.”

“You wanted to work here.”

“Yes.”

“Bullshit.”

Nightingale laughed. It was a bright sound. Not especially clear or pretty, but warm and welcoming in a way that carefully calculated giggles or overdone guffaws couldn’t be. Something with real and honest amusement in it, that encouraged those nearby to laugh along. Not the kind of involuntary, nervous chuckling people tended to slip into when they thought they had pissed someone that scared them off.

She just wasn’t intimidated by him at all, was she?

Behind his helmet, Jason found himself smiling. Just a bit.

“I’m serious.” She assured, blue-green eyes meeting the dark stare of his helmet without a moment of hesitation. He watched as she brushed a lock of her bright red hair behind her ear and out of the way. She’d woven it all into a practical, neat braid but a few sly pieces had snuck out to bounce around her. Gilding her quiet professionalism with a playful charm that worked well with her academia but make it cottagecore kindergarten teacher aesthetic.

“I’ll admit, Gotham wasn’t part of my plan when I first graduated. Time and choices take you funny places sometimes.” She plucked an invisible bit of lint off her soft blue cardigan, not nervous but absent as her gaze went distant for a moment. Thinking back on the events that had led her to his fine city. In a blink, those sharp eyes were back to focusing entirely on him. “But Gotham is where I am now, and I want to help.”

She looked at him, a serious, determined expression settling easily on her face. “The city as a whole has so much chaos and crime breaking out all the time.” No censure or horror in her voice, just a neutral fact to be observed. “But where the rest of the city has millions of dollars poured into it by various foundations or charities run by the Waynes, Park Row is largely ignored.”

Jason watched as steeliness sharpened her gaze, the blue-green shifting from the shine of a bird’s wing to the warning hue of something poisonous and deadly. “No one deserves that. No one.” Her chin tilted up, proud but not imperious. “So yes, I want to work here. There are people in Park Row and the Bowery who need help and I refuse to let any of them feel like they are going to be ignored.”

Jason considered her.

Really looked at her. Pealing back his initial off handed impression of her as some clueless transplant in over her head with no idea of what she was doing or what she was poking her nose into to find the real woman beneath. Her confident poise, her clear unshakable belief, her unflinching willingness to look danger in the eye and not blink. The tense curve of her frown, the lines of pain at the corners of her eyes, the simmering anger beneath it all. There was an edge to her, too. Something sharp and dangerously well hidden by the cardigan and folksy charm of her accent.

It was personal for the woman before him, Jason realized. Maybe not Crime Alley specifically, but something about the whole situation. The treatment the neighborhood and its residents received from the city at large, from those even beyond it.

Crime Alley wasn’t a place that received much in the way of charitable thought. The average joe with their house in Somerset and job at some corporate shithole hating every second of their life but thinking at least I don’t live in Crime Alley. Those asshole hoity-toites in city hall throwing money around equally between shit that’d get them re-elected and their off-shore slush funds in the Caymens doing their damn level best to pretend the black mark on the other end of the city just didn’t exist. Bruce, flooding the entire city with charitable programs and carefully constructed infrastructures shying away from the manifested grief and trauma that was the place he watched his parents get murdered.

For the most part no one from outside of the Alley gave a shit about the Alley other than as a place to avoid at all costs. And most of the time those natives that manages to claw their way out into better and brighter lives didn’t ever turn to glance back. Orpheus could have learned a thing or to from an ex-Alley Kid who managed to eek out a steady 9-to-5 and move to Burnley.

And something about that seemed to piss Dr. Jasmine Nightingale Psy. D right the fuck off.

He could see why Bill said he liked her enough to let her in.

“Alright.” He said, tilting his head, watching the woman seated across from him carefully, “Still doesn’t explain what you’re doing here. Why you’re trying to get on my payroll.”

“I’m not trying to get on your payroll.” She said, some of the glinting edge softening, but the steel remaining. Strong and unyielding. “I’m trying to get into your community outreach program.”

Jason thanked god and all the saints once again for the gift of his helmet. That baby had saved his ass more times than he could count both by keeping his head in one piece and keeping his stupefied expressions wrapped up and hidden from view. Dr. Nightingale was one hell of a woman to make him have to rely on that fact twice in one conversation.

“Wasn’t aware that was something I had.”

Nightingale, not fortunate enough to have a full face covering helmet of her own, had nothing to hide her stupefied expression behind. Jason had a feeling she might have removed it to make sure he saw even if she did though. She looked like she had caught him eating glue like it was a cheese stick.

“Yes you do.” She said, sounding deeply confused but unshakable confident in what she was saying. “I’ve seen it. The soup kitchens, the shelters, the collection boxes for donating old clothes, the after school day care.” Nightingale ticked off on her fingers, “I’ve lived here for less than two weeks and I’ve lost count of all the things I’ve seen setup to help people struggling in the area that I’ve been very reliably informed you and your organization are behind.”

Oh.

Those.

“Those aren’t part of some community outreach program.” He said, “We are simply locals offering services for our neighbors.”

He watched as her caught-him-eating-glue expression shifted into one that said she’d stumbled upon him licking electrical sockets for a mid-day pick-me-up instead. He had to give it to her, the woman was not afraid to let one of the most dangerous men in the city know she thought he was a fucking idiot.

“Let me see if I understand this right.” She said, and he appreciated that there wasn’t any kind of condescension in her voice, even though she very clearly thought he’d been dropped on his head as a baby. Possibly from the top of a three story building. “You have a large group of people working together to plan, organize and execute multiple services in your area - your community, if you will - that provide aid and support to those that otherwise would not receive it. Reaching out with your available time and resources to offer these services, that you provide. For free.”

Alright, Jason got it. He had stumbled ass backwards into creating a community outreach program. But he wasn’t just going to let her think she won this one. He was Red Hood, he had a reputation to uphold here.

“What makes you think any of that is free?” He tilted his head at just the right angle, the one that cast shadows across the planes of his helmet and made him look hell-touched and terrifying. “Just because we don’t charge money, doesn’t mean there isn’t a price to pay.”

Dr. Nightingale, dressed like a damn kindergarten teacher, laughed at him.

[v-i-r-i-d-i-a-n]

I want all of you to know just how insane I am about the friendly duel of honor between Chip and Gil in #86

JUST THE SHOW OF CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT?? THE MUTUAL RESPECT AND BANTER??? UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER ON A DEEPER LEVEL AND KNOWING THEY ARENT JUST “oooo chosen one who doesn’t get anything whose a pompous prick” AND “bastard who doesn’t care about anyone but himself” FUCKING CHIP STAYING UP ALL NIGHT TO BUILD IT- Chip feeling like he keeps messing up his friendship with Gil and not knowing what to do about it-

Idk I think it’s just like- ONE OF THOSE EPISODES AND MOMENTS THAT SHOWS how they’ve grown-

Also ANY moment where Chip calls Gil “Tidestrider” has such a special place in my heart

Also Jay winning the duel has a very special spot in my heart I love her so much THE FACT SHES JUST SLOWLY LOADING HER GUN WELL THEY BEAT EACH OTHERS ASS

God I love all of them so much they’re so good RGGGEHEGGAS

[softquietsteadylove]

Hey. Had this idea of Thena being a billionaire and Gil being her private chef on her private little beach house in the Hamptons!

Maybe you can do something with that? 😊

Gil smiled as he plated the perfect omelette, gleaming yellow, nice loose scramble in the middle with a pristine outside. He sprinkled on some green onion for garnish; Thena acted like she didn't care about presentation but he knew she liked it when her food looked nice.

Thena was...interesting. She could be hard to read, maybe. He had been in the private cooking business for a while, and he'd had a variety of clients. But no one like Thena.

Thena had this old family house, basically a castle, way out here in the Hamptons--as antisocial as possible. She was in charge of her family's generational wealth, he was pretty sure they did business with historical...stuff. Or something.

Thena didn't talk much. The first time he interviewed for the position with her in the room he wasn't even sure if she spoke English. But her assistant - a very sweet man named Karun - assured him that 'the Madame' was perfectly nice. Just not to bother her.

But Karun was right: Thena was nice. Sure, she didn't exactly make small talk with him while she was eating or anything. But she had a nice smile, she was prompt with money, both for his pay and for any of the ingredients he needed. He always had transportation home, or he had a room ready for him if he was staying for a whole weekend.

Gil put the plate on a place mat at the opposite counter top. Thena liked eating in the kitchen instead of the cavernous dining room. She ate a a French style omelette, or if she was feeling adventurous, maybe a frittata, or he had even prepared omurice for her once. She liked fresh pressed grapefruit juice with a little natural sweetener in it. And berries picked from the gardens.

And he liked to add a little flower if there were any blooming on the strawberry plants while he was out picking.

Thena came in through the patio. She had already done her morning routine, then. A light workout, a shower, maybe a sauna. Her phone was in her hand but she famously didn't accept anyone speaking to her before 9 in the morning. She smiled and nodded to him as she took her seat.

She was in a good mood.

Gil turned around, carefully transporting the gold rimmed cup with his best cappuccino yet. He had even looked up how to make latte art to make a heart design in it.

Thena blinked, surprised as it slid into her view. She looked up at him.

He just nodded, encouraging her to take a sip.

She raised an eyebrow but did so. Usually he waited for her to ask for a specific coffee, since it could vary largely depending on the morning.

He shrugged; something about how beautiful the sunrise was had told him she would want something fun. It wasn't sunday, so she wouldn't want something as filling as a latte. But she only drank black coffee when she was already in a bad mood. Actually, now that he thought about it he ought to get more vanilla soy milk.

Thena sighed at her first sip, her shoulders lowering as she let the hot beverage soak into her. She really was in a good mood.

Gil just chuckled, keeping his comments to himself. He had come to respect the serenity Thena created for herself in the early mornings. He turned again to clear his dishes and fill the dishwasher.

He had to get soy milk, and a few other general weekend groceries. And he needed to get ingredients for a recipe he saw online, essentially a lemon cake tiramisu. Thena liked zingy, fresh flavours, and she enjoyed having something sweet on hand for if a craving hit her out of nowhere or after a hard day.

"It's perfect."

He tried to conceal the surprise he was feeling. But he couldn't help it; Thena had almost never commented on anything he made her, unless it was a brief line attached in an email. He turned, "y-yeah?"

She nodded.

He pursed his lips faintly. Back to silence--okay, sure. He peeked in the fridge to examine what else they had and what he needed. When he had asked Karun what Thena liked to keep on hand, he had merely stated that Thena was so bad at cooking, and so selective about food, that if left to her own devices she would probably just eat raw fruit forever.

"How did you know?"

He grinned. So, he was making progress! He had tried more actively in the beginning to get her to warm up to him. But he had come to accept that Thena didn't withhold her words deliberately. Still, he liked it when she did talk. "Just thought you'd be in the mood for it."

She raised her eyebrows at him from behind the cup being tipped up to her lips again.

He closed the fridge and moved back to the counter. "It's nice and mild out this morning, so I think you should have slept well. Stocks are looking good and you don't have to travel this weekend, right? I figured you would want something a little fun."

Thena smiled through his explanation. Maybe some of his observations of her would be a little much to some. But she nodded, looking down into her cappuccino, one leg bent and resting on her cushioned stool. "I assumed you would prefer when I travel?"

Gil blinked.

She set the mug down, as if this were a very important business meeting. "If I'm here, you don't get the weekend off. Or at the very least, you have plenty of work to do before hand."

"I don't mind," he shrugged easily. It was part of the job, and as far as clients went, Thena really wasn't all that demanding. She wasn't even that high maintenance, all things considered.

Food was easy to procure, either grown here or paid for out of her pocket. The only real stipulations of what he made was that she had to eat it. Karun was kind of like a worrisome father in that way. He had added specifically that she needed more vegetables, and that meant it was up to Gil to make them in such a way that Thena would actually like them.

"Do you ever think you may be too agreeable?"

"Hm," Gil ran his hand over his chin (he needed to shave). "I think it's more like...part of the job, y'know?"

"Hm."

Gil blinked at the new tone of the sound. She looked back at her breakfast. She sounded almost...disappointed. Disheartened, and now poking at her omelette like a dejected little kid. Gil leaned off the further counter and moved closer to her. "I just...wanted to do something kind of special for you."

She peeked up at him. She was awfully cute for some zillionaire old money type. Her hair was nice and soft from being gently blow dried, she didn't have any makeup on, fresh from the shower. Maybe all rich people were really, really pretty.

"You're not contractually obligated to be thoughtful," she smiled as she said it, but he got the impression that she didn't fully believe in her own joke.

He shrugged again, pushing the little flower closer to her, "call it my signature, then. Every chef has their own style--I like being a little sweet."

Thena smiled at the little white strawberry flower. She even reached out to it, but just barely let her fingers brush its soft petals, as if she would make it burst into flame. "Quite."

Gil inhaled, feeling better now that she was smiling again. She looked up at him, the sun behind her, making her hair glow. He blushed.

"Thank you, Gilgamesh."

He laughed faintly, feeling shy as she turned those siren eyes on him. He leaned back from the counter, sticking his hands in his apron pockets. "Hey, it's my pleasure, really."

"If you have shopping to do, Karun will call for a car for you," she added as he started slowly slipping - stumbling - out of the kitchen.

"Th-Thanks!" Gil squeaked out before reaching the hallway. He pulled his apron off and gripped it on his way to take it to the laundry room.

"You require transport, sir!"

Gil jumped at the sudden appearance of the man in question. "God, man, can't you walk a little louder!"

"My apologies, sir," Karun just chuckled. "The Madame walks lightly--as do I."

Thena walked around like a cat. She was silent, graceful, long legs...

"Sir?"

Fuck. Gil nodded, twisting his apron in his hands. He tilted his head as Karun shuffled closer, even waving him down so he could share something secretive.

"Excellent choice with the cappuccino, sir," he disclosed with glee. "The Madame has been trying to strike up a conversation with you for some time. I believe this was the perfect-"

"Karun!"

"I must go," he waved to Gilgamesh before dashing off to see to Thena's needs.

Gil felt a little stunned. It sounded like Karun was telling him that Thena had been wanting to talk with him. But that didn't seem right. Of all the times he had tried to chat with her, she had never bit, even once. And he didn't really think of her as the shy type.

He sighed, shrugging it off. He had groceries to get, anyway. Maybe he would try talking with her again, later.

[rey-jake-therapist]

The difference of dynamics between Sauron/Galadriel and Sauron/Celebrimbor is very... interesting.

Sauron never said one word of lie to Galadriel. I mean, at at the end he lied about being the king of the Southlands, but he didn't lie to her, as directly, about it. But to Celebrimbor, he constantly lies through his teeth, without a care in the world.

While rewatching ROP season 1, it became even more obvious than the first time that Galadriel really made it all up without any encouragement from Sauron. And she didn't even have any solid reasons to believe that Halbrand was the lost king of the Southlands. All she had as "proof" was a symbol of long gone kingdom, that he said he found on a dead man, which was the truth. She wanted Halbrand to be special because he was special to her, and she had to find a reason why. And of course, him being the lost king of the Southlands served her interests, so she rode with it.

She's now pretending that Sauron manipulated her, that he "played her like a harp", but did he, really? He never encouraged her in any way. He even outright rejected her. He told her that he had done bad stuff, that he wasn't the hero that she sought. Basically, he just kept telling her "let it go, girl", but she didn't want to hear of it. She created an entire story she wanted to believe in, so yeah, after a while, Sauron being Sauron, he played along...

I believe that Sauron respected Galadriel, maybe even loved her, in his own kind of sick, twisted way of course... He would have never lied to her the way he's now doing with Celebrimbor. That's not the relationship he wanted with her. The connection they had was real, not manufactured by him.

And that's probably why she feels so bad and confused now. I think she wants to believe that he manipulated her, fooled her, because the truth seems much more horrible to her: that she has a unique, cosmic connection with a being that represents everything she hates and stands against. What does this connection say about her? Is she as bad as he is? Why, how did it even happen? Deep inside, she probably knows that Elrond and Gil-Galad are right and that she shouldn't face Sauron again, because there's indeed a risk that what she felt for him when she still believed him to be Halbrand, keeps growing and prevents her from doing what she's meant to do.

And if Galadriel's as wise as I think she is, she probably wonders what is the real reason why she wants to go find Sauron in Eregion: is it only because she wants to fight and defeat him? or is it her heart that wants to meet him again, desperately? The moment when she thinks of the moment they shared at the river, during her conversation with Elrond, is as poignant as Morfyd's performance in this moment... Deep inside, even she'll certainly deny it for a long time, this moment was real. She knew it then, and he knew it as well.

As poor Celebrimbor, well... He's nothing to Sauron. Only a tool, like almost everybody else who crosses his path. As soon as he doesn't need him anymore, he'll toss him away. But he'll probably remain obsessed with Galadriel for the rest of his life. And he will never totally leave her mind either. I mean...

"fair as the sea and the sun, stronger than the foundations of the earth."

4,959 years later...

She repeated his speech almost ad verbatim.

[lowkeyrobin]

hi!! i love your writing!! i was hoping you can do some jay relationship headcanons?

awe thank you!! 🫶🫶 ; and yeah sure, I can definitely try! ; thanks for requesting, hope you enjoy!

JAY AYAD ; dating hcs

summary ; dating stuff w jay

warnings ; language

word count ; 333

masterlist

he's literally the coolest

makes himself and you proud when he does things the moral way instead of stealing / getting mal to use magic

he's always bringing you gifts, it's his love language

he'll do his best to remember any kinks and quirks that come with any illness / disabilities you have to deal with

he's very respectful about boundaries and stuff

he has a passion to see the world and wants to bring you with him (and gil)

bromance + you

he was very up front about his feelings for you before you started dating

for a while you pushed him away cause you didn't know if you wanted a relationship + honestly thought he mightve just been playing with you

but he did properly confess at some point with flowers and a little picnic

totally out of character for him but he wanted to do something you'd like

you're always on the sidelines cheering him on at tourney games

even if you play and are on the field, you're always silently cheering him on and watching his cool tricks

you share jackets a lot (and jerseys)

you have one of his jerseys and two of his leather jackets

he has one of your jackets as well (fits him perfectly, it's magic)

he has a collection of woven bracelets you made for him & you have a collection from him as well

he's not a big music person but he does have taste

and he loves making you listen to music he likes and vice versa

he mostly listens to early 2000s-2010s music & 2017-2020s rap / hip hop / rnb

he loves having an arm slung around your shoulder

it's like his default pose

he's always remembering things about things you like

when he sees your favorite color he thinks "y/n would like this" lmao

he's always bragging about you let's be honest

he doesn't like his hair being touched at all

but if you're in the hairstyling community, he'll allow you to practice on it sometimes

[theinfinitedivides]

'Ryang Eum...' 'hyungnim. give hyungnim to me. i will take him out of here. they are coming to search the house.' *a hesitation. and then, a resolve. she nods. he understands.* 'go. please take care of him.'

[kitcat22]

Love the idea of Elrond as the most politically powerful, influential person in Lindon.

Like this man is the son of the guy who saved the world, the grandson of Idril and Tuor famed heroes, great grandson of Turgon who built a safe haven in an apocalypse and great great grandson of Fingolfin who lead the Noldor across the grinding ice. He has the gondolindrim eating out of his hand. He is their shining symbol of hope just like his father was. A bright star born in a time of darkness and terror.

He’s also the adoptive son of Maglor and Maglor. While i dont believe he’d consider himself a diehard feanorian due to all that happened, the Feanorians surrounded him during the formative years of his life and that leaves an effect on both parties. They watch him grow up and when Maedhros and Maglor die and disappear respectively, it is Elrond who is given charge of them. Elrond, who looks at them and says you have done terrible things and there is no changing that but there is a chance for you to do good now, if you will follow me then i will lead you. To them he is Maitimo before Angband and Thangorodrim. He is their kind and beautiful prince who convinced them that though their sworn leader is dead the enemy is not and there is work to be done.

Then there’s the Sindar. Elrond is just as much a symbol to them as he was to the Gondolindrim. He’s the image of Luthien come again, the scion of Thingol and Melian. He also becomes a symbol of hatred of what the Noldor took from them. A mighty empire and monarchy lost twice over. Children slain mercilessly once again. After he is returned to him is when he begins to become a much more positive figure. Their little lost prince returned to life. A symbol of unity and peace. He understands they have been wronged he too was victim to those wrongs, but it is him who convinces them that the elves cannot fight amongst themselves any longer, that they have a chance for a better world, but they must inhabit that world together.

Thats three factions of elves who adore him, not to mention his Numenorian connections. Elrond would likely never go against Gil Galad on any sort of political matter, the two of them agree on most things afterall, but if he did, i think Gil Galad would have a hard to time arguing with or refusing him, knowing just how much power Elrond has over his subjects.

[proosh]

Gil, in the middle of ripping a line of coke in the Warsaw Pact bathroom: you know, this is all like the dynamic an emperor has with his wives and concubines. the official wives, the secondary fuckpieces -- that's you and me, respectively -- and then the court of scheming eunuchs. Eduard's a eunuch. I should have fucking made him a eunuch in the 1300s. that would fix the shithead. but he's a scheming eunuch and Raivis is the boyslave and-- Tolys: Gilbert I am trying to piss.

[theivorybilledwoodpecker]

The fact that Elrond forms Imladris after the sack of Eregion feels so much more poignant in the context of ROP.

In the Legedarium, it's about fleeing from Sauron's forces and finding a safe place for all the refugees. But in ROP, we know that it also comes shortly after Gil-galad first lying to and then threatening Elrond.

So I imagine it's going to be a very bittersweet parting.

We know Gil-galad will be at Eregion. So I imagine there will come a point where Elrond asks his leave to stay and rule over Imladris. Part of Gil-galad will be proud because this is sort of a turning point where Elrond takes on more power and gets more respect. But part of him will also be angry at himself because he knows it's not just that Elrond wants to help the survivors. It's that Gil-galad betrayed Elrond's trust enough that Elrond no longer wants to be around him.

[matan4il]

What's your evidence that Joost Klein harassed Eden at ESC? I've only seen evidence of Joost being harassed by Israeli delegation. And he was an assholeish idiot at the press conference but he wasn't the worst. And can people pleaaase stop spreading the smear campaign the EBU put out about him. He made a rude gesture, that's it.

Hi,

I'm gonna admit that if you saw the Dutch performer's behavior at the press conference, IDK how that doesn't constitute harassment? I mean, the part where he didn't like that the ESC organizers made him sit next to the Israeli singer, and he didn't want to be in the same frame with her, so he covered himself with the Dutch flag wasn't just being an asshole, he was publicly humiliating her, transmitting to everyone what a pariah she is, not based on anything she's said and done, but simply based on her nationality (and this little stunt was obviously going to attract attention, meaning he minded being photographed next to her, but he didn't mind being photographed covered up with the flag like that in the same frame with her, making it clear this wasn't him wanting to avoid political stuff).

In my book, that's bad enough, but then he added insult to injury. Eden was asked a disgusting question by a Polish journalist. He wanted to know whether she considered that she would be putting everyone else at ESC at risk (victim blaming much? Eden was the target of a violent mob besieging her hotel room, and turning her participation into an event requiring security. She didn't ask them to do this, she didn't force them to, she's a 20 year old girl, who has dreamt of representing her country at ESC for years, and when she finally gets to, she's being asked to carry the blame for the violence aimed at her due to her nationality... Imagine asking Ariana Grande after her Manchester Arena performance if she took into account that she was risking the lives of all of her fans, because an Islamist decided to use her event for a terrorist bombing that killed 22 young people, and would she never perform again, now that she was aware of the risk? No, that didn't happen, because it's a disgusting, victim blaming, terrorism-rewarding question). The panel host rightfully grasped that this was a political and harassing question, and told her she didn't have to answer it. Joost Klein then shouting at that, "Why not?" was harassment. He was piling up on the victim blaming, on top of showing zero empathy for a fellow performer targeted for her nationality, in a way he never would have agreed to be himself.

(I think that's last assessment is obvious since we now know he thought, even for a split second, that it was okay to threaten with fists a female camerawoman working for ESC, doing her job, filming the performers when they got off stage after their performances. This was done to the other performers as well, IDK what made Klein think his consent was needed in that moment, since to me it seems implied by agree to represent the Netherlands at ESC, but even if he had the right to refused being filmed, I have no idea what made him believe it was okay to use violent threats against an ESC employee).

I'd like to ask you where did you see "evidence" that Klein was harassed by the Israeli delegation? As far as I'm aware, there was only one vid trying to make that claim, and what was seen in that one, was an Israeli journalist (so, not a part of the performing team), working as a European correspondent (he also covered the war in Ukraine, to give you an idea of what that job entails, so he's a "respectable" journalist, not just a guy with a mic interviewing people for his ESC blog), called Dov Gil-Har (as far as I know, he's aligned with the left politically, so not exactly someone likely to be harassing people out of nationalistic sentiments), who was trying to ask Klein questions. Which... the last time I checked is his duty as a journalist. And Klein refused to answer Gil-Har's questions, which is his prerogative (though I do think it was pretty disgusting when some performers, like the Norwegian ones, refused to give interviews to any Israeli media outlets. Since it's based on nationality, it's once again hateful IMO), but then the Dutch team's manager (or whatever he was) really got in Gil-Har's face, and more than that, because I clearly heard Dov saying, "Don't touch me." Keep in mind, this was after Klein's shameful behavior at the press conference, and also after he missed a rehearsal that day, there were rumors circling around it somehow had something to do with Israel, so it is honestly the most natural thing for Gil-Har as a journalist, that he wanted to ask the Dutch team some questions. That should not have ended with him having to say, "Don't touch me," but to further misconstrue this as him harassing the Dutch team...!? WHAT?

It feels like another instance of DARVO, where the attacker/harasser/abuser shifts the fire away by reversing who was doing the harassment and who was being harassed. Everything we saw on camera was harassment of the Israelis, including even the media, while I've not seen one documentation on film of the Israelis harassing others. Plus, I heard the claim that the Israeli team was harassing everyone, yet we know that some performers didn't feel, act or express themselves that way.

(for all of my updates and ask replies regarding Israel, click here)