#and i would have liked to have seen more of his friendship with Travis

[reivenesque]

Holy shit why did they do Andy and Maya so dirty with those wigs in that last scene of Station 19??

Speaking of doing dirty, did Grey Damon want to leave/do something to offend the writers because the last time I saw writers fuck over their own character this much it was Jimmy Borelli in Chicago Fire - or Ava Bekker in Chicago Med (in fact the Chicago Universe routinely fuck over their own characters).

But on a less important note: I, as I'm sure many other people out there in the world, hated Kate. Obviously we don't hate her as much as her own writers cause wtf was that ending lol

So yeah... obviously instead of doing something healthy like sleeping, I just spent the whole night watching the entire last season of Station 19 and honestly, as far as my personal opinions are about this show, it wasn't the worst final season of a show I've ever seen.

[vhagarlovebot]

MAKE THE FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS, TAKE THE MOMENT AND TASTE IT | AEMOND TARGARYEN

SOCIAL MEDIA!AU summary: in wich aemond is not afraid to make his move. very, very publicly, making the whole internet go insane. pairings: actor!aemond x singer!reader content warnings: faceclaim is sabrina carpenter but you can imagine reader as you'd like, some cursing, taylor swift/travis kelce inspired plot, use of y/n because it is necessary!! if you don’t like it, sorry. note: omg i can't believe i'm doing this, hope you enjoy this piece little piece as much as i enjoyed making it! as i say; being delulu is the solulu. and here i am feeding into all out delusions. comments & reblogs are greatly appreciated! love you, mwah. 💋

TWITTER ‣ AUG 12, 2023.

INSTAGRAM ‣ AUG 12, 2023.

INSTAGRAM ‣ AUG 13, 2023.

Liked by taylorswift, aemondtargaryen, gracieabrams and 1,221,948 others

yourusername oldtown i couldn’t love you more. had the best first night with you and we still have three more to go! thanks so much to everyone there, i couldn't do this whout you. see you tonight for round 2? 🤍

view all 9,328 comments

user1 i can't believe i couldn't be there

zendaya had the best night with u!

yourusername thank u sm for coming, love you. 💗

user2 MOTHER IS MOTHERING

user3 i don't now if i wanna be her or if i wanna be with her

user4 I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I SEE AEMOND TARGARYEN IN HER LIKES

user5 I THOUGHT IT WAS A MISTAKE AT FIRST user6 I mean he was at Oldtown night1 so... user7 HE WENT TO HER CONCERT? user8 BESTIE HAVE YOU NOT SEEN THE PICS?

troyesivan see you 2night oldtown. ✌️

AEMOND TARGARYEN INTERVIEW ‣ AUG 25, 2023.

TWITTER ‣ AUG 25-26, 2023.

INSTAGRAM ‣ SEPT 21, 2023.

Liked by jace_velaryon, therhaenatarg and 891,648 others

fairyhelaena friends and family for the weekend @ highgarden. 💚🌺🪴🍃🕊️

view all 4,778 comments

lucerys03 looking 💯 as always.

baelatarg stop lying to yourself

user9 OH MY GOD IS THAT WHO I THINK IT IS

user10 is that @yourusername in the second slide???

user11 yes!! she's in the fourth one too

yourusername 🤍🤍🤍

user12 it's impossible that she doesn't know about what aemond said, right? user13 knowing how jace is i'm sure she already knows. they probably were giving her a hard time lol

user14 Y/N hanging out with aemond's family but not him would never not make me laugh

user15 he's out there telling the world he likes her and she still hasn't say anything user16 and she doesn't have to. leave the poor girl alone user17 i mean she spent the whole weekend with aemond's sister and nephews, maybe he was there too user18 sorry to disappoint you but he's in king's landing user19 bro must be fuming, everyone in his family meeting his girl except for him

Liked by oliviarodrigo, nicholasgalitzine, aemondtargaryen and 955,899 others

yourusername took a couple of days off to hang out with some friends. see you in a bit for the second and final leg of the cruel summer tour! 💌

view all 11,565 comments

user20 she's glowing

user21 wait- i feel like i've seen that guy before

user22 that's because he's aemond's nephew and also an actor

fairyhelaena my pretty 🌟

user23 THAT'S LUKE VELARYON???????

user24 HE IS !!!!! user25 yes he is, she was with aemond's family during the weekend

user26 idk why but i have the feeling that aemond saw these pics and ran to call luke

user27 and was probably screaming at him for an hour lol user28 another reason for aemond to hate him user29 he doesn't hate him, he's family user28 you can hate family user30 stfu it is well known that they have had their differences but they're in good terms now user31 besides who are we to talk about it? that's private. there are comments under aemond's posts of them joking with each other lol user30 idk why she's talking shit.

user32 WHY IS SHE WITH HIS FAMILY BUT NOT WITH HIM?

user33 what world are we living in

iMESSAGE ‣ SEPT 31, 2023.

TWITTER ‣ OCT 10, 2023.

TWITTER ‣ OCT 28, 2023.

TWITTER ‣ DEC 04, 2023.

let me give you a kiss if you make it here! and let me know if you'd like a part 2 of this little smau. as i said comments & reblog are greatly appreciated!

[redheadspark]

hey dear!

May I have Benedict Bridgerton with #16? 🌸💓

A/N - This is cute for Benedict! Thanks for request!!

Real

Summary - Benedict helps you get over your ex in the best way possible

Warnings - A small hint of angst but mostly fluff!

“Alright, I need your help!”

The Bridgerton siblings that sat in front of you with their various newspapers and books looked up from their current read, seeing how panicked you looked as you gazed at each at them.  Eloise sat up abruptly, slamming her book shut.  Anthony folded his newspaper as his wife Kate placed her tea down on the coffee table in front of her.  Lastly, Benedict  closed his book on modern art as he was then who spoke up.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” he commented, his voice a pinch concerned as you nodded rapidly

“He is a ghost to me, but he’s here now!” He huffed.  Anthony raising a brow at you as Eloise shot up from the couch, tossing her book on the coffee table and then walk over to where you were.

“Who is?” She asked, then looking behind you through the massive window of the coffee shop where you all were.  Sure enough, her eyes shot wide and she looked mortified, “That slimy bastard!”

“Eloise! Language!” Anthony scolded, but Eloise looked back at her older brother and pointed out the window with a glare in her eyes.

“It’s her ex!” 

Everyone on the couch was now on their feet, circling around the coffee table and looking out the window, which made it way more obvious that they were watching.  Your cheeks were reddening in embarrassment, knowing full well that the Bridgerton clan had no real fear in being obvious in certain circumstances.  

Across the street from the coffee shop was your ex, someone who broke your heart in the worst way possible.  Two years together and he ended up being one of the worst relationships you’ve ever had.  You did fall for then first though, you being the hopeless romantic and thinking that it would be an endgame kind of relationship.  But when he broke it off with you and stomped on your heart, you were loosing hope with the whelk concept of love.

The Bridgerton clan was a family that you grew up with, being neighbors on the same street and going to mutual charities and galas.  Your parents and Violet Brigerton were life long friends, which in return made you friends with the cluster of Bridgerton children. Being an only child, you wanted to have brothers and sisters of your own.  Yet that group of siblings that were a perfect mixture of chaos and kindness were great substitutes for you, they even dubbed you a “Long Lost Bridgerton” at times.

The one sibling that you were close to was Benedict, not to mention harboring feelings for him for some time.  He was always joyful and filled with optimism.  You loved his artistic side and how he would paint with his soul on the canvas, how he would tease his siblings but love them fiercely, something about his nature and his cool eyes made you stumble a few times when you two were teenagers.  But of course, in your mind, he was out of each.  You never wanted to go past the line of friendship, thinking it would backfire and he would think less of you. He would never, his heart was far too good to do that, but the fear was still there.

So you pursued others, thinking it was the best thing to do to both ignore the feelings you had for Benedict and to find someone else to love you.  Not realizing the feelings he had for you, the lingering looks he would give when he saw you get picked up for a date at your home from his bedroom window, the tender heart ache when you talked to Eloise in her room about a new boy that stole her heart.

When your recent ex broke your heart, Benedict was livid.  He only found out when you were on the phone with Eloise, blubbering on the other end and explaining all that your ex said to make you cry. Eloise too was made, but Benedict was beyond pissed.  He wanted to find your ex, affectionately named Travis, and punch his lights out.  He heard about Travis from other friends and how much of a womanizer he became towards the end of your relationship with him, and sure enough it the truth: Travis cheated on you with his old flame and then shot down your heart in rapid fire.

“What’s he doing around here?” Kate asked as she looked over her husband shoulder.  Benedict glared at Travis whom was chatting on the phone on the other side of the street, hating him instantly all over again.  It’s been a few months since the break up, and although you picked yourself up and dusted yourself off, it was still tender.  You avoided his usual hangouts, and thankfully you had your own set of friends whom also hated Travis and had no allegiance with him.  Including the Bridgerton clan.  

Especially Benedict.  

“I wish we can wipe that smug off his face,” Eloise grumbled.

“But how?” Anthony asked, clearing thinking the same wave length as his sisters.  You huffed.

“I just want to void him without seeming like an idiot!” You explained, the four of them looked over at you.

“You should be confident enough to face him and not cower!” Kate explained to you as you rolled your eyes.

“I’m not gonna cower!” You argued, which lead to yourself, Kate, Anthony and Eloise starting ti bicker back and forth in front of the window.  Benedict looked from you all to the window again, seeing Travis walking across the street at the cross was and then heading to the coffee shop where you all were.  He panicked, not wanting the scumbag to see the four of you argue about him.  He would have a field day, and you would crumble within a second.

He thought of the one and only thing that would but shut Travis up and make his own heart soar.

As the coffee shop doo opened with a clang of a ball, Travis walking in and hanging up the phone to look In your direction, Benedict moved though his siblings to stand in front of you.  Before you could ask him what was wrong and why he was staring at you in an intrigued way, he did the one thing that made your heart stop.

Benedict Bridgerton cupped your face and kissed you soundly.

You were lost in your mind from his lips on yours, from his calloused hands along your jawline, and how his body was right in front of yours.  The smell of coffee and canvas, the warmth of his skin, and the smoothness of his lips, you were instantly hooked line and sinker.  Your eyes closed as he leaned against you and into you, almost blocking your from the rest of the world. Everything else ceased to exist, all you could think about was Benedict. 

And how in love you were with him in that moment.

Finally, after a long moment or two, you both opened your eyes and stared at one another.  Blush on your cheeks as his hands were still on your face.  Yet he looked a bit worried with what he did, maybe over stepping and making things worse. However, it was not on your face, which was still dazed and yet enraptured.

The door opened and closed again, Travis beelining out of the coffee shop after seeing what he saw.

“Holy shit,” Eloise gasped at the sight of her friend and brother kissing.  Anthony immediately took her by the arm, flustered himself at the right he saw, as the three of them left you two alone.  He muttered under his breath, “I swear that mouth of yours is gonna get you in trouble one of these days, Eloise!”

Benedict slowly placed his hands down from your jaw, thinking that he was about to backtrack.  But you reached up and clutched his wrist, not wishing to loose that contact of his fingers along your chin and face.

“This is not a prank, right?” you asked sheepishly, Benedict searching your eyes and seeing how you were asking honestly and he shook his head rapidly while you continued, “Because then I would have to punch you and I really want to kiss you,”

“I’ve wanted to kiss you for years,” He admitted, you grinning from ear to ear as he barely touched his nose against yours, “Travis never deserved you—“

“I honestly don’t want to talk about him right now,” you sheepishly said to him, seeing him chuckled as he nodded in agreement.

“I think we can head out of here before we scar everyone else.  My place?” He questioned in a raised brow.  You nodded, and he took you by the hand out of the coffee shop with your books in two and your hearts beating out of your chest.  

Years later at your wedding, you both would laugh at the memory of your first kiss.

The End

November Prompt Session

[elitadream]

have you seen the new transformers movie yet? i’ve been seeing a lot of videos of it and have been thinking of you cause of your user

Yes I have! 😎 Went to see it in theaters last week!

I gotta say, first of all, that the absence of a human cast was both refreshing and needed- though I give Travis Knight's Bumblebee an amiable tap on the back for handling its relationship dynamics so much better than the Bay films ever did. xP

I've always loved the concept of lifelong brothers turned sworn enemies, and the movie's premise had a lot of potential to offer in that regard. Watching it, it was hard for me not to be reminded of The Prince of Egypt (which in my eyes still holds the gold trophy for that trope btw, it is such an absolute masterpiece 🏆💗) and I really enjoyed how gradual and organic the shift in their friendship was. Both of their point of views was shown and expressed in a genuine way throughout the story, and by the end, the colossal and inevitable divide between them felt entirely believable. That aspect of the film was very well done and it surprisingly delivered in the angst department, which I wasn't expecting considering how bright and family-friendly the trailers looked. All in all, I think it did justice to Optimus and Megatron's epic rivalry! 👏

On the downside, the portrayal of Bumblebee and Elita-One was where the movie fell flat imo. The antagonist having a bland and more shallow personality was fitting because it suited who he is at his core, but the "young comic relief" and "tough as nails woman" character types were made abundantly clear in every scene Bee and Elita appeared and it frankly got a bit old for me after a while. Granted, Elita showed a bit more nuance towards the end, but it came about late and her development didn't feel very satisfactory.

The first impression I was ever given of her was in The Search for Alpha Trion, where she appeared for a total of less than five minutes; and yet, to this day, it still is my favorite version of the character. She was strategic, rational and highly intelligent, but also collected and calm. She had a gentleness and wisdom about her that beautifully echoed Optimus' own innate sense of nobility and compassion, which was also what made their chemistry so special and great. They felt like equals, and tenderly valued each other as such. Making her distrustful -and even disdainful- towards Orion in the first half of the film was an alteration that I didn't like and I would have much preferred if she was more tempered and kind like her G1 counterpart.

...But, oh well. That's just my personal nitpick I guess. 😅 It was still a good flick. 7/10!

[kn-1013]

Exploratory Surgery #3 - Orange Crush & Ne-Hi Soda

AKA how many Nicole Dollanganger references can I make in a single fanfiction. The answer is a lot.

Summary: Travis goes over his view of Sal and his crush on him. Word Count: 1815 Rating: T Pairing: Sal/Travis Warnings: References to child/domestic abuse, internalized homophobia and religious themes

A/N: The first one I've actually titled, lol. Makes some mild references to my other fic, "Death Lingering", up on AO3. Not needed to read this, but explains some stuff.

======== Hell has a name – Chapel Hill.

An arid wasteland of unheard prayers and belt-buckle lashings, it sits in the center of Nockfell surrounded by an ancient and decrepit stone wall, commanding a legacy of fear and reverence. The other side of the wall is unknown to me, but I was always good at pressing my ear against it and listening to the sounds of the adjacent unbound people.

Still, after all these years, I can’t tell if I’m locked inside or out.

I peer through cracks and holes in the carved out rock, just big enough to stick my fingers through. I can’t exactly tell what’s on the other side, but I’m scared of it. It’s full of a terrifying life that I know I can’t live myself, so I sit back from my side of the wall and I watch what pieces I can catch through the holes.

You are the way you waste, and I waste away by watching you.

Out there, you’re warm and content. I don’t see your smile, but I could pick out the sound of your laughter in a crowd of a hundred people. I watch you keep yourself busy by feeding your infinite curiosity, always sticking your plastic nose where it doesn’t belong, and often paying a price for it. But you don’t care, as long as you’re satisfied.

You’re cool.

I’ve almost always thought that.

Your dark clothes, your heavy jacket, your fingerless gloves. Your chipped black nail polish, the wallet chain that matches Larry’s, that stick and poke of a butterfly on your wrist. The way you always walk with purpose, the way the insults roll off of you, the sincerity of your words. The music, the backtalk, the friendship, the graveyard hangouts, the treehouse, the basement bedroom, the rebellion, all of it.

It’s cool.

Maybe the grass is greener on the other side, but I’d rather have your problems than mine. Creaky, leaky pipes bursting with green ooze in an allegedly haunted, run-down apartment complex with stained and matted carpets and a legacy of murder honestly doesn’t sound so bad to me compared to the things I have to come home to.

It would be a reasonable trade-off for friends. Family. People that check in on you. People who aren’t afraid to say hello to me in the halls. I could go check the mail and talk about the weather with someone like it’s normal. I could be a part of something.

I know it’s selfish, but I want it. I want it more than anything, and you have it.

You’re not as afraid of consequences as I think you should be. Maybe it’s because we’re different. Maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe I’m just a coward, too weak-willed and spineless to fight for myself.

Maybe I’m afraid of coming out because it means I’ll get treated the same way I’ve treated you. Maybe I’m scared of losing the plausible deniability of the late bloomer when people finally see me for what I really am. Maybe I’m scared nobody will fight for me because I deserve it.

Maybe all of that’s true, but the thing I can’t stand the most is the way I know you would look at me with pride. Contentment, joy, peace. Your eyes would crinkle at the edges and that would be the only indication you could give that you were smiling. Put a hand on my shoulder, give me a hug, invite me to lunch, bring me to your friends. You’d reel me in for good, and I could never handle that.

I fear the weight of your forgiveness would crush me.

I’ve seen the depths of your shame and fear. I’ve seen the way you cry and scream and vomit and beg, writhing on the ground as memories of death’s touch strike you down again. I’ve touched the subdued terror in your soul with my bare hands, and they burned under the heat of it. I know the humiliation you hide behind that mask you call your face. I will always know you by your scars.

Even after everything you’ve been through, you’re hopeful. Kind. Genuine.

I don’t know how you do it.

You take my cruelty in stride, never taking your heart off of your cheek. You afford me more patience than I deserve. The earnest tone in your voice always shakes me to my core, threatening to break the hollow foundations of my disgraceful being, when you say that deep down I’m a good person, even though I don’t think there’s anything inside me anymore.

In my dreams, I can see your face. I can run my fingers through your hair. I can hold your sadness for you. I can touch your skin, your clothes, your lips. In my dreams, you walk me through town by the hand, and you look at me with your head cocked to the side like you always do when you’re observing. It’s peaceful, quiet, calm. We’re left alone.

In my dreams, I can trace your scars. The deep trenches of carved out flesh, the webbing that moves up into your hair. In my dreams, I can kiss the purple vein on your temple, the altered shape of your jaw, the tiny, protruding bump of your nasal bone. I could tell you that you don’t have to hide from me, I’m not scared of you. That I wouldn’t have you any other way. That it makes you who you are. That you’re cool.

In my dreams, nobody will ever touch us. But I could never really touch you either. Only in my dreams could I love you the way I want to, and for it, shame swallows me whole.

I remember how it started.

There was always this seed of sin inside of me. I didn’t plant it there, but I did bury it inside my heart. I pretended that it couldn’t grow its roots in me if I ignored it, but weeds don’t need you to water them yourself to grow into a parasitic garden. I covered it in my need for perfection and normalcy. I covered that in prayer, fear, guilt. I layered it all over this seed like pavement, but cracks grew in my facade fast, and through those cracks, the seed had sprouted.

If you trace the stems down underneath the concrete, you can find a cavity full of the tangled nest of the roots of my desire.

I hollowed out my soul trying to stop the spread, but all I did was make more room for it. No matter how hard I tried to fight it, I have become completely and wholly infested. I know one day, hell will catch up to me, and the light in your soul can’t save me from my fate. I can tell myself anything I want, but I know that deep down, I will burn for it.

You were exempt from P.E. for several reasons, so I never saw you in the locker rooms, just on the bleachers, your head in your hands. You always looked tired when you sat there.

No, it was during one summer break I saw it. You and your friends were at the playground, dicking around on the monkey bars while I sat on the bench, half-reading my book, half-watching you through the cracks in my wall again.

You hung upside down, laughing at something Larry said. Your shirt slipped up, all the way to your armpits. It was all skin, hatched with sparse blue hairs on your chest and stomach. The waistband of your boxers, wrapped around your bony hips. Ribs, held just centimeters beneath, moving and bending as the rest of you did. Barely-used abdominal muscles struggled to keep your weight as you bent up, trying to pull yourself back down, and I still remember the way your stomach folded over itself when you finally got up there.

I can never erase it. That piece of you is locked inside of me forever. It keeps me going just as much as it holds me back. I’ll never let it go if it kills me.

I could never have what you have. I could never do what you do. I’m not strong like you are, I’m a coward. I’m weak, worthless, and empty. There’s nothing inside of me worth looking at, let alone anything worth saving, I know that. God knows that. But I can watch you through the cracks. Pretend I’ll one day take you up on your offer and talk to you, let you in. I’ll keep you at arm’s length, saying words that sound like they mean something, then disappear again.

I could never be like you, but I can watch you from afar, and that’s enough for me.

When the last bell of the day rings, I watch as you and your friends are the first ones out of those double doors, laughing and tripping over yourselves on the stairs as you stumble into the rainy streets. I watch as you all join hands, spinning around in barely coherent circles, words unintelligible, youthful energy palpable. The sound of your joy cuts through the ice-cold rain, straight into my stomach, watering the weeds I can’t pull out of my chest. The ambivalence of your mask does nothing to hide the unbridled joy you have for the moment, eyes crinkled and head bobbing to the loose rhythm, until your feet stumble over themselves; you’re the first to fall over and you take everyone down with you, laughing onto the soggy ground.

You all lay, cradled by mud and grass, hands grasping for one another as you keep pulling each other down, cursing and teasing each other while the wet dirt and plant life stain your clothes.

For a moment, you catch me watching. Your head on the ground, tilted back to look at me with an upside-down view. The rain is beginning to stop now, and your blue eyes find mine more clearly as the skies began to empty of their storm clouds. I see that look in your eye. You want to greet me, to run up to me, talk to me, but I don’t let you. Won’t let you. You want to pull me in so badly, but I can’t do it.

Watching you is all I can let myself have. But you’ll never understand that, which is why I saw your deep-blue irises, full of life and contentment, and I walked away from them, even as they called my name.

I feel the flames of Hell licking the backs of my ankles as I run from you again.

One day it will come to claim its pounds of flesh from my body, and when it’s done, there won’t be anything left for you to bury.

Until then, you are the way you waste, and I waste away by watching you.

[seeminglyranch87]

Taylor & Travis Timeline

September 2023 - part 2

September 18 - Sports commentator, Rich Eisen, posts a video to instagram of him making Taylor Swift song references during Travis' training (x). “Look what you made me do, @killatrav.” 

"The injury, one would think is delicate. He's been able to shake it off"

Travis replies

"Well played Rich... Well played 👏🏻😂"

September 19 - Taylor dines at Via Carota Italian Restaurant, NYC with Sophie Turner and friends (x). A diner shares her observations (x). Did Taylor receive a text from Travis? They later moved on to Temple Bar , NYC

Travis Kelce speaks with Kristen Cavallari on her podcast Let's Be Honest where they talk dating. Travis says he is not interested dating someone "high maintenance" but the "initial spark is always fun" and looking for a partner "based on how kind hearted and sweet like my mother is" and they need to "have some sweetness to you" (x)

“To really dive into a relationship with somebody I feel like it’s going to take at least, I don’t know, it’s going to take some time,” Kelce said. “It’s not going to be immediate because, the stuff I’ve been through, just in my past, I feel like you really gotta know somebody to take that step and really be committed and be in full-throttle. I can’t just meet somebody and just automatically think that forever is just a day away … I think it takes quite a bit of time for somebody to really get to know somebody and really get to find that affection and love for them.” When asked if feels any sort of pressure about settling down, Kelce said he is “living my life” and is hopeful that when the time comes, everything falls into place.  “I like to believe that all of that stuff will come genuine and natural and I won’t have to think about getting into that part of my life ahead of time, the stars will align, I guess,” he said.

September 20 - Jason Kelce, on the WIP morning show, is asked about the Taylor and Travis rumours, and he responds

"Its hard to answer because I don't really know a lot about what's happening in Travis' love life... but having said that, I think he's doing great and I think its all 100% true, and i hope this thing goes a mile - no I'm joking, I don't know what's happening."

(x 0:30)

September 21 - Travis, on the Pat McAfee show, says he thought it was "hilarious" how much traction the situation had, saying

“I threw the ball in her court... I told her I’ve seen you rock the stage in Arrowhead, you might have to come see me rock a stage in Arrowhead and see which one is a little more lit. We’ll see what happens in the near future”

So at this point it's obvious that arrangements had been made for Taylor to attend Travis' next game at Arrowhead Stadium, on Sept 24th. (x)

The Messenger publishes an article (x) Aol (x)

"She and Travis have hung out twice, and it's nothing serious. She thinks he is very charming, and they have been texting this last week," the insider exclusively tells The Messenger. "He is a little embarrassed at how much attention they are getting, but he has told her he would love to continue seeing her. Furthermore, the insider said the two are “seeing where things go.”

On Twitter:

September 22 - At his Kelce Car Jam (x), Travis is seen wearing a 'Vigilante Sh*t' friendship bracelet, given to him by a swiftie at the event (x)

September 24 - Chiefs v Chicago Bears, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City. The Chiefs defeat the Bears 41 - 10.

The day Taylor and Travis broke the internet. Taylor enters Arrowhead Stadium with Travis’ friends (x) Taylor is seen with Travis' mum, Donna, in Travis' suite at Arrowhead Stadium. During the game, Travis gets a touchdown and Taylor reaction goes viral, as she's seen hi-5ing, chest bumping, yelling and banging on the glass. Notably, her reaction receives more airtime than the actual plays of the match and it makes international news. After the game, Taylor and Travis drive off in his convertible and have dinner together at the Prime Social Rooftop. After this, the two reportedly celebrate with the team and leave the venue between 1am and 2am. (x seemingly ranch origins)

Taylor & Travis leave Arrowhead stadium together after the game (x) in a convertible - no security in sight.

Travis and Taylor were seen arriving at 8:45pm to Prime Social, KC and drinking together & showing lots PDA according to others present at the invite only occasion.

TMZ posts a photo of Taylor and Travis after the game (x).

Travis and Taylor were seen arriving at 8:45pm and showing lots PDA according to others present at the invite only occasion.

September 25 - Details come out about Taylor and Travis' night after the game. A source tells ET (x) (x)

"Travis bought out the restaurant for his family and team. Taylor arrived, wearing a denim dress, and was seen snacking, having some cocktails and dancing alongside Travis. The two were very affectionate with one another but kept things fun and lighthearted. Travis' teammates also showed up to the after-party, as well as his mom and dad, Donna and Ed. The party lasted until 2 a.m."

In another article ET report (x)

A source confirms to ET that the pair had spent some time together prior to their public debut at Sunday's game, telling ET, "Travis and Taylor have a lot in common and they are having a great time getting to know each other. They have similar values. She likes that he pursued her and it has been easy and exciting for both of them." Having just wrapped the first leg of her Eras World Tour, the source adds, "Taylor is enjoying some time off from touring and it’s been fun hanging out with Travis during this break. Taylor wants a guy that’s into his career, does his own thing, but is also supportive and understands her, and Travis fits those qualities."

Coach Reid of the KC Chiefs, when asked about Taylor Swift, jokingly says (x 5:57)

"I set them up."

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, a noted Swift fan who attended the Eras Tour at Gillette Stadium said (x) (x)

"Travis Kelce has had a lot of big catches in his career, this would be the biggest."

In the days following September 24th, the term 'the Taylor Swift effect' is used frequently to describe the unique impact Taylor has on culture, media, and football in particular. (x) (x) The official NFL tiktok and twitter pages change their name and image to reference Taylor's appearance at the game, also tweeting a video of the two of them with the caption "two goats".

September 26 - Taylor is seen leaving Kansas City in her plane "2 days after attending Travis Kelce's Chiefs game" (x)

People publishes an article (x)

"They're just hanging out, and there's no pressure," a source tells People after Swift attended the Kansas City Chiefs' game on Sunday

The source says the pair are still in the "super, super early days" of getting to know one another.

"They're having fun," adds the insider, noting that Swift and Kelce had met prior to her attendance at the game. "This was Taylor's first time meeting his mom and dad, and everyone was enjoying themselves. She was super chill and low-key hanging out with his friends and family."

September 27 - Ep55 S2 of the New Heights podcast airs. Travis and Jason mention that the podcast has reached 1 million followers on youtube (a big jump from the 800k followers they had the week prior). Travis addresses all the excitement around Taylor attending the game and expresses his gratitude that she was there, whilst still respecting Taylor's privacy. Jason fills Travis in on the "400% increase" in Travis Kelce jersey sales (x) (x)

Jason Kelce goes on the 94WIP Morning Show and responds to the media frenzy around Taylor attending Travis' game, saying (x)

"My reaction was exactly... this is exactly what I think is going to happen. She's going to go to the game and the world is going to lose their g*ddamn mind"

In response to another question about the nature of Taylor and Travis' relationship, Jason says (x)

"I would say with this one, it definitely seems like he is going above and beyond to be a gentleman."

Heinz debut a 'Ketchup and Seemingly Ranch' flavour after Taylor inspired the viral tweet with her choice of game snack. (x) (x) (x) Vogue also mention 'seemingly ranch' (x)

September 28 - Mark Cuban on First Take says Taylor should break up with Travis and date one of the Dallas Mavericks. Travis tweets a reply (x)

i.e. let me join the Mavericks for 10 days and she will be dating one of your players... he can and will fight

Jordan Schultz, NFL insider, says that Taylor plans to attend the Chiefs vs Jets game (at Metlife Stadium on October 1) to watch Travis play for the second time. (x) (x)

A video and photo is published by the Daily Mail of Taylor from September 24. She is seen with Travis' friends and family as they leave his house and head to the Chiefs game. The footage appears to be taken from a neighbours doorbell camera, hence due to its intrusive nature I will not be posting it.

September 30 - A tweet is posted stating that Donna, Travis' mum, confirmed "two weeks ago" that Travis and Taylor were dating. Presumably the Eagles vs Vikings game on September 14 (x)

Taylor is seen attending Inez Reynolds' birthday party with Blake and Ryan

Travis was rumoured to have visited Taylor at her NYC apartment this afternoon (x). Travis was seen returning to his hotel being dropped off by Taylor's security (x)

Later that day, Taylor went out for a girls night with Blake, Sophie, Melanie, Brittany, Ashley, Robyn Lively, and others at Emilio’s Ballato Italian restaurant in NYC (x) (x)

Travis went out for dinner with his team to Meduza Mediterrania. He is photographed returning to the team's hotel by 11pm (their curfew)

Go to previous update -> September 2023 Part 1

Go to next update -> October 2023 Part 1

Return to the timeline

[joesalw]

I have a personal theory about why Swifties are so obsessed with the TK relationship, if somebody else has already brought this up please feel free to ignore.

I’ve been a Swiftie almost since the beginning and fans have always been weirdly obsessed with her relationships. I’m a little embarrassed that I only realized this year how much her and her team feed into that parasocial speculation. A year ago, I probably would have sworn that she’s just the victim of intrusive and sexist media, but it’s been a long year. I’ve never seen anything like the obsession with the Tayvis relationship , not even with Harry Styles or Tom Hiddleston. “Regular” Swifties are making Kaylors look sane right now. Taylor’s team is definitely pushing this narrative on the public but I really believe that a lot of the intense fan stuff is happening organically and I think I know why.

I can’t count how many social media posts I’ve seen where someone has a picture of Travis at the KC eras tour in the VIP tent and then a picture in Brazil with some kind of caption about how now he gets to be in the family tent or whatever. Part of the Tayvis narrative they’ve both pushed is that TK wanted to give her a friendship bracelet and his number but she was too busy so he went on his podcast and said he wanted to meet her (I think that’s the order of events) and then she reached out to him.

Part of how Taylor has kept the parasocial relationship with her fans alive is by sparingly granting access to certain fans who are worthy enough. We saw that with secret sessions, liking and commenting on tumblr posts and then TikToks. She’s created a culture where if fans are loyal (fyi she’s used that word a lot lately), obsessed with her, and buy her merch then she might interact with them. This dynamic really feeds some people’s obsession. I remember when TS was on tumblr, people would go nuts when her little dot was green and all the drama about certain people re blogging posts for her to notice and who would get a “Taylor like.” I’m only now realizing how ingenious and cynical this is as a marketing strategy.

But anyway, the Tayvis narrative is every hardcore Swifties dream. He GOT NOTICED BY TAYLOR OMG! Essentially, he’s living their dream. It’s almost like self insert fan fiction for them.

Exactly, noticing fans who buy her stuff is a part of their marketing strategy, it encourages swifties to post about her more because everybody wants a notice from taylor swift to put it in their bio. But also, I think it’s not always her liking these stuff. Sometimes her team does that on her part too.

[austinslounge]

Girl, Austin really said I ain't even trying to make it look convincing anymore. Kaia relies heavily on the paparazzi pictures and red carpet events to sell their love story. As of late, Austin hasn't been playing along.

Even in private, candid photos still show they have no connection. I'm hoping things come to an end soon. It's just getting more pathetic as time goes on.

I mean I fully believe they didn't speak at dinner. They've both been using their phones as a distraction for awhile now. Austin has never been seen on his phone really ever, until recently. Every time he's spotted out with Kaia, he's on his phone. She always looks mad. Just do yourselves a favor and pull the plug. I doubt her parents really care enough anymore to sabotage Austin at this point.

Girl right?? 😅 It's looking to the point now where I'm like, "just do yourselves both a favor and breakup so that you two can be happier with other people".

It's looking pretty pathetic atm.

Take a seat because I have lots to say.

I definitely think Kaia tries to sell their relationship as more than it actually is. To me, Austin looks like a man who is checked out and has been checked out of this relationship for a while now. He seems to just be going through the motions now. Their relationship is not giving: "I'm in a relationship with the love of my life and my best friend, and I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life" at all imo.

Say what you will about Dua & Callum, and Taylor and Travis, but those couples (whether real or not) actually look genuinely happy, excited, and passionate about each other.

Austin and Kaia meanwhile look like:

I must say, their Kaustin relationship looks to be one of the most boring and lifeless relationships that I've seen between two young, attractive people in Hollywood in a very long time. 🥴

It's to the point where I almost feel sorry for him and her. As a woman, I would want to feel passion, friendship, and be genuinely happy and excited with the person I'm with. Look at how happy Dua looks with Callum. That's how I want to feel. When I look at her, she looks like she's having the time of her life. Kaia, on the other hand, doesn't even seem all that happy with Austin unless she's on the red carpet w/him celebrating one of his successes. Other than that, this couple looks DOA.

Kaia is young (22). She could be dating someone she is truly excited about.

I feel even worse for Austin. 😔 I saw the way that he was when he was with Vanessa. I'm sure they weren't a perfect couple, and I'm sure they had their issues like most couples do, but the fact is, they actually looked genuinely happy and in love with each other. He seemed so happy with her! Austin even looked happier having a fling with Lily Rose Depp than he does with Kaia. That says a lot!

That L&S article that stated that they have "nothing in common" is seeming more and more true.

And girl yes, I do believe that they were at that restaurant and barely said anything to each other. There are so many pictures we've seen of them together and they look like they don't even interact.

This relationship (imo) looks to be dying a very slow and painful death. They're trying to hang on by a thread, but to me, they don't even seem like they are as happy as they could be? To me, they would more than likely both be happier with other people. The body does not lie. That's all I'll say.

[cowboylikedean]

the thing is, to me, is that taylor going to a tennis match with her partner’s friend’s (because as much as people are now trying to downgrade patrick to a “coworker” he and travis are actually very close) shitty maga partner (and patrick is maga too lbfr)…it just is NOT the same as us normies playing nice in the same situation. none of my coworkers are being publicly thanked by turnip himself for their support. i don’t have any kind of public platform if hundreds of millions of fans. brittany has been benefiting *greatly* from being close to taylor for the past year. being seen hugging her and hanging out with her is just. incredibly shitty. you can argue that it’s unfair all you want but being a public figure and the most famous woman in the world is a choice taylor has made a million times over. i personally have defended taylor’s right to make her own choices many many times! but this is 100% a situation in which the only right choice for her to do is never be seen with brittany again.

i think fans are right to be furious, and personally i am maybe the most disappointed by the lack of anger from fans like you and jaime, who i respect a lot.

patrick is travis's work-bestie-turned-real-bestie. the coworker dynamic in this is actually still really important to that relationship because it's NOT a "not coworkers" dynamic. if travis dials down his friendship with them, that has workplace consequences. so the fact that patrick is travis's coworker is still hugely important. I'm not downplaying patrick and travis's friendship by calling out their professional relationship. i'm emphasizing their professional relationship because travis cannot cut off his personal relationship with patrick without affecting his professional relationship with him.

how has brittany benefited from this? exposure? like idk that feels very online. brittany mahomes did pretty good for herself before she ever met taylor and she'd be doing just fine without taylor. taylor has not changed brittany's quality of life. thus this argument that brittany has benefited from taylor so much that taylor being seen with her is somehow synonymous with public support falls apart.

my argument, though is that regardless of whether or not you think there is only one right choice, the fact of the matter is the choice is not without some degree of nuance. which means that even if there is only one right choice... each wrong choice (or the reasoning behind it) caries different moral implications, and thus, deserves different judgement. and there are more likely choices (not wanting to cause friction for travis) and less likely choices (conspiring for years to trick people to think she has principles she doesn't).

also to your last bit... that's exactly what was said last summer. fans like me were not angry about taylor doing a very normal breakup thing and briefly dating someone shitty with rebound goggles that had her believing he would change for her and anonymous people in our inboxes told us they were disappointed we weren't angry. those anonymous people insisted that this situation was very devoid of nuance and that there was 100% only one right choice. and also that if taylor made any choice that was wrong, it meant that she had been conspiring for years to trick people into thinking she has principles she doesn't. and there were more likely choices (rebound goggles) and less likely choices (conspiring for years), but people chose the less likely choices as The Only Possible Other Option and treated it like it was a dichotomy it wasn't and that ended up not fair at all.

in the end, those of us who believed in rebound goggles were correct. i kinda am inclined to look at this parallel and like my odds.

[spade-riddles]

Hi Spade;

I have been reviewing the 🎃 thread along with some other ideas, and here are my thoughts

-If we believe her Midnights album was her metaphorical transitioning from the closet/the idea of two personas of her (her public performance art and actual private life), starting with Lavender Haze speaks volumes. The album was still released when she and Joe were together and she was very private. She also hasn't finished acquiring her Master's back yet, which I believe is what she wants before considering fully coming out based on the Spades timeline and Lover release. Anyway....

I don't recall any songs previously talking about daughters or sons in law. She specifically references a daughter in law in Anti-Hero. This makes me think she is referencing a future daughter in law to a son that already exists (Karlie). Karlie also showed up to her last LA show, clearly intending to be seen in the general audience...what. weeks postpartum???? To someone she hasn't talked to in ages? Also.... Taylor was NOTABLY private during this time..to hide suspicion of her new family??? The rubies that 🎃 gave up?? Being recognized as a mother, being able to be public about her child? Very speculative but fascinating. It seems as though she did something drastic to protect them. "🎃's not a hero, but..." we all know Taylor as the type of person to fiercely protect those she loves. She describes herself as self conscious and terrified of her own shadow in AH, as 🎃 does in the Selfish Asshole narrative. But not when it comes to protecting the people she cares about. Her lover was ready to make the sacrifice, but 🎃 refused to let her as she had already been through enough (toxic relationship with Kushner?)

Connect this with the imagery of a safe home, literal buns in the oven from the 🎃 post-- (all shortly posted after Karlie's second pregnancy announcement); with the story of the person who essentially quit their job too soon (Joe) and threatening to out her (also possibly Joe). I've gotten the vibe ever since the relationship ended, before even discovering all of the 🎃 today that perhaps it was toxic and made her retreat into herself because she has been glowing post ending-of-Joe. If so, then spidey senses aligned. Perhaps it was toxic for them both to be in the situation, I don't know. Joe clearly never really spoke about her or referenced her in any of his public appearances. Maybe someone caught on.

It also makes the onset of Travis make more sense, especially because it started with him seeking her out and friendship bracelets ETC (seems like a savvy PR strategy..). Matty was damage control and it showed; but her relationship with Ice Spice has flourished and that is awesome.

I also come back to 🎃's comments in #4 and #5; with Travis (also similar behavior to 1989 TV, read some awesome theories on her using this as a similar time frame to prove a point about the media being ready to do it all over again). That we should roll these new ideas around in our head (Travis, 1989TV Prologue) but hang on to what feels right while the rest of her plan plays out and she is safe. My assumption is the full acquisition of her masters; my further assumption is that Scooter (the enemy, though could also have dual representation with Josh maybe?) has been threatening her with blackmail this entire time. Additionally, these later messages are timed around Halloween, the same time of her 1989 TV release (if you count Halloweekend).

It seems the end is for 🎃 to fully embrace herself; again, perhaps at the release of her last TV album - and end the dual version of herself, although this seems confusing for her. I imagine the pain 🎃 experiences with the doorknob is the fear people calling her a hypocrite all these years; to her losing a theoretical amount fans (would be catastrophic for her as we know in Miss Americana). But it sounds like the end reasoning is visibility is resolution.

Thanks for reading.

[chosetherose]

Taylor and her *M*ysterious bag

Is Taylor trying to tell us Tayvis is ☠️ after the Chiefs/Eagles game on 11/20? 🤔🤡

Taylor wore this bag called “M Frame” toward the tail end of the MH days. I started paying attention to it partly because I thought it was funny the name was almost like a play on the Matty name and “frame” for like staged pics etc.

Black > White > Freedom

The first time she wore it was in May. We saw it with a black outfit then again the next week with a white outfit then the week after that People confirms Taylor and MH are over.

May 24 (black) and May 31 (white):

Next, she wore it on June 22 with an Eagles shirt and I remember people wondering about it because the shirt choice felt odd. She just played Pittsburgh but her Philly concert was more than a month ago.

June 22:

Notably, this wear was a month before Travis told the friendship bracelet story and rumors about them started swirling.

Now five months later she wore the M Frame bag again, this time with stunt orange. (This is also right after pumpkin dropped back to @spade-riddles blog so that could be the real connection if there is one).

November 3:

Notice it’s facing away from the camera just like she had it with the Eagles pap walk. Makes it feel more linked to that wear than when she wore it during the MH days. She knows what she’s doing and what she wants to show when she calls is seen like this.

Anyway, because hindsight is 20/20 this got me thinking oh hey maybe that Eagles shirt wasn’t random. Maybe it was an Easter egg? When do the Chiefs play the Eagles? Monday 11/20.

Wait what does the M have to do with Travis? Well his middle name is…

➡️ Michael ⬅️

…so this could be a two birds one bag kinda situation.

Does it all mean something? I don’t know. The game is sandwiched between Taylor’s shows in Rio and São Paulo so it would be shocking to me if she went for a stunt. Maybe a split narrative around schedules? I do know we saw this bag right before the MH split, then with NFL gear, and now with orange. That’s the only times we’ve seen it this year that I’m aware of.

[docholligay]

Yellowjackets 2.6: Bullet Points

Hello! This is about up to Season 2, Episode 6 of Yellowjackets, and ONLY that of Yellowjackets. I have not seen beyond this spot, at all, and know NOTHING about this show. Please do not spoil it for me.  Things that are spoilery in nature, for me, include: saying things like  “Just wait!!” confirming or denying anything I put forward, outside information about the cast interviews or creator statements, leading questions like “Do you think “blank moment” means anything?” etc. Remember  that Y’ALL HAVE SEEN THE SHOW AND I HAVE NOT. This informs the way you  talk about things relating to the show. Just be really careful is all  I’m asking. Also: If there is LITERALLY any stance I  could take on this show or character that would make you upset, please  just fucking block the tag

If you WOULD like to discuss the show and my takes on it, the Discord is right here! I don’t go there, so it’s a great place to get every emotion out.

Please thank @sailorsunspot and @moonlight-frittata for backing this odd way of doing a liveblog, and remember my tip jar is always open

Natalie putting holes in a canoe that could carry her away from here while trying to shoot something that could be useful in the first place is a really neat and very well done bit of character work. 

You’re not gonna get me on the Van-Tai train show, so you can stop trying right now. 

The most reasonable fucking thing Lottie has ever said is that she is worried that she’s not ill. That she’s worried this genuine, and real, and that the power is real. It’s so funny to see her as a youth, looking Travis straight in the eye and talking about how the wilderness recognizes his sacrifice, and she also recognizes it, with this full conviction, asking for fucking…sacrifices. And there’s a part of adult Lottie, that still hopes, that none of it was EVER. HER. FAULT. That it was just her illness, and no one could ever hold any of the things she did against her. But what if that’s not true? What if the thing in the forest was real, and SHE WAS FEEDING IT? This is the most dangerously close I’ve been to liking Lottie in the whole show, maybe. Anyway, really interesting to see Van still in a moment of obvious thrall for her. I am not at all surprised 

Obsessed with Ben not even now editing his old memories to fit the man he wishes he was, but now creating entirely new ones. Creating the dream of warmth and friendship, in THIS CABIN, made nicely and warm and there are lovely sweaters and all that, but it’s all a lie. It’s all something Ben’s created because he needs it so, so badly at this moment. He needs an alternate world where he is in the snow and the cabin, but everything is idealized and beautiful--this is something we see in Shauna’s whole fantasy, as well, this place where she overcomes the adversity and sacrifices and becomes the most amazing mother. 

I wanted to like Nat and Lisa’s whole thing so much more than I did, and I’m not 100% sure why it didn’t work for me even having seen the episode a couple times now. 

So, now let’s talk about this thing I’m noodling around in my head: Is Shauna’s baby actually a sacrifice to ensure their survival? Not in a very literal, “we consumed this baby” way, but, was the blood on the symbol on the baby blanket about Lottie ensuring their survival by offering up Shauna’s child? What happened to Shauna could have happened to anyone, and does, but that’s how these things work in the forest. It moves through things that might be explicable. I don’t know if I believe it myself, but I’m certainly not opposed to it. 

[coral0208]

Travis Touchdown and Shinobu Jacobs share a lot of similarities that we may not realize through the game. I will discuss how they relate through themes and numbers. The themes I will discuss are Love/Approval - Vengeance - Maturity.

Shinobu: In NMH1 (Vengeance), Shinobu is first seen with her classmates before Travis interrupts her. She then proceeds to confront Travis and kills her classmates because her identity as an assassin has been revealed. Shinobu harbored a deep hatred for Travis, thinking that he was the one who killed her father. She was consumed with vengeance, and her only reason to participate in the ranked fights was to avenge her father. When Travis defeated her, she instantly told him to kill her because she no longer had any purpose in life. However, Travis decided to spare her. Shinobu's view of Travis shifted—she was no longer willing to kill him. This change can be seen at the end of the game when she saves Travis from Jeane.

In NMH2 (Love/Approval), Shinobu addresses Travis as "Master." She begins to show great admiration for him, even to the point of attempting to kiss him. Despite her defeat and losing an arm in the previous game, she was willing to help Travis in the ranked fights. However, this attraction did not last long because Travis rejected her attempt to kiss him, stating that it was inappropriate. After that event, she is no longer seen in the game.

In NMH3 (Maturity), Shinobu is now much older and more mature. It is said in Travis Strikes Again that she began teaching martial arts to kids to lead them to a righteous life and that she maintains the dojo with money earned from assassination jobs. She is no longer driven by hate or the need for approval. Instead, she seeks to do what is right for others.

Travis: In NMH1 (Lust), Travis started his career as an assassin because he needed money, later joining the ranked fights. He was devoted to becoming number one because he promised Sylvia that if he made it to the top, she would have to "do it" with him. He was so blinded by lust that he felt no pity for his victims. However, after killing Holly Summers, he began to feel remorse. He also felt a bit of pity for Jeane after killing her, realizing that not everyone becomes an assassin for fun. It remains unclear whether or not he had an affair with Sylvia.

In NMH2 (Vengeance), Travis’s best friend was murdered. He felt the need to avenge his friend and kill the person responsible. This drove him to rejoin the ranking fights, even though it meant climbing a much longer ladder to the top. At one point, he forgot the reason he was fighting. It took many confrontations for him to realize he no longer wanted to continue killing because it was an endless cycle. He learned that killing was not the answer to grief, contradicting his earlier line, “I cut off heads.”

In NMH3 (Maturity), Travis is now a father. He even insisted that Sylvia keep him away from their children for their safety because he might attract other assassins. Travis no longer participates in ranking fights (against humans) because he realizes it is pointless and that the UAA manipulates his emotions. In Travis Strikes Again, he isolates himself from the city to live a peaceful life. Now, Travis seeks a life of peace, away from danger.

Numbers: The numbers I will be focusing on are 8 and 2 because of their deep connection to these two characters.

The number 8 represents victory and luck in Japan. Shinobu was the 8th-ranked assassin and was lucky to survive her confrontation with Travis. Although she was defeated, she still had a life to continue. Ryugi was the 7th-ranked assassin, making Travis the 8th. Travis finally found an opponent worthy of him. Their fight was fair and square, which is why Travis’s victory meant so much to him. He didn’t feel like it was another meaningless fight.

The number 2 is a symbol of love, friendship, personal growth, and learning. In NMH1, Travis was ranked 2nd. When Jeane was about to kill him, Shinobu appeared out of nowhere and saved him. This shows that after their last encounter, Shinobu had chosen to save the person who had cut off her arm and supposedly killed her father. It demonstrates that Shinobu was developing feelings for Travis.

In NMH2, Alice Twilight was the 2nd-ranked assassin. Before their fight, she told Travis that there was no meaning to killing—that it was a vicious cycle. Travis didn’t take her words seriously at first. However, after defeating her, he realized what she meant. This became his moment of realization and marked the start of his personal growth. He finally understood that all the deaths he caused were meaningless.

This game is so rich for analysis. Suda51 is truly a master at writing plots and characters.

[whovianwatchingstartrek]

A Whovian Watches Star Trek for the First Time: Part 070 - The Corruption of Archer

Star Trek: Enterprise - Season 3 Episode 19 - Damage

Continuing right on from where we left off, our crew is in a rather dire position. I think this is the most damage that Enterprise has taken, at least outside of Alter timeline quantum parasite shenanigans. But suddenly: The Xindi withdraw for reasons unknown. My first thought was that Archer had given over the information the Xindi wanted, but after the intro it turns out the Xindi Council had ordered it. They've also arranged to take Archer out of the Reptilians hands. It would appear Archer's gambit of Degra has payed off.

Meanwhile on Enterprise, all hands are on Deck to make repairs. The Warp engines are destroyed, so they have to limp away from Azati Prime on Impulse. I love how broken the ship feels here. Sparks are flying, debris is everywhere, the medical bay is full. The ship really does feel like it's taken a beating.

Instead of being transported to the Xindi council however, it appears the Aquatic Xindi have been ordered to take Archer back to Enterprise. It would also appear however, that T'Pol is succumbing to the effect that Trellium D has on the Vulcans. The show choses to bring it into focus right way, but even afterwards, T'Pol's actress is amazing having it's effect subtly come through in her performance in later scenes that don't focus on it. We also learn later that this was less the direct effects of exposure to Trellium D, but rather it seems she's becoming addicted to it. A drug addiction allegory seems like it's come out of nowhere, but I'm willing to see where this goes. Between the her SA allegory, the AIDs allegory and now this, it does feel like they've been putting every 90's talking point onto one character. She does have an honest conversation about it with Phlox though

During the repairs, there are a few really good crew interactions I like. Travis's reassurance to Hoshi that "We are getting home" was great. Archer and Phlox also had a great scene in Archer's quarters, talking about ethics as both doctors and Captains, as Archer considers stealing another ship's warp coil by force. This appears to be the turning point in the whole corruption arc that was hinted at early in the season. The way this conversation was shot, with the lighting keeping Phlox in the dark and out of focus was beautiful. Archer is going down a dark path, and I'm really interested to see if he can make it out the other side without becoming a villain.

The action scene aboard the alien ship during Archer's attempt at Piracy, while T'Pol was trying to keep both ships alive was brilliant. Plus we got a nice scene of Phlox and T'pol have a nice seen of friendship together, and it's really great seeing Phlox become her confidant.

This episode was a lot more interesting that the other main plot episodes. I like that we're properly launching into Archer having to make these Morally Dubious decisions. He's made a few before, but this is the first time the episode hasn't been treating him as if he's right, and I'm excited to see where his character arc goes.

[lunar-years]

Curious on your thoughts about Taylor and the Mahomes if you care to share?

well. I certainly find it pretty deplorable to be a Trump supporter! not knowing one single other thing about Brittany Mahomes I strongly dislike her for using whatever platform she has to endorse that man, and I would never choose to be friends with her.

of course I wish Taylor would not closely align herself with Trump supporters. in an ideal world she would not be all bestie-bestie with shitty people. It unfortunately does not surprise me that she takes a "I can be friends with people who do not share my beliefs nor align with all of my values" approach.

It's wild to me that fans try to justify this with a "well we need to be able to have a dialogue with people who disagree with us or else how will we be able to educate them to change their minds!" type of discourse because whilst I do believe this is true, I can also acknowledge that there is an extremely slim chance Taylor is inviting Brittany over to her multi-million dollar mansion for a party and pulling her aside to discuss u.s. politics...like. if we're being honest with ourselves, this group of people are quite likely not spending their time together debating politics at all. they get to be neutral regarding one another's beliefs and "respect different opinions" because they are all coming from a place of incredible privilege where political outcomes rarely effect them or their lifestyles on a grand scale.

As swifties we obviously care most about Taylor and thus frame everything around her, but I find it sort of interesting that no one seems to be holding the same kind of "hold them accountable by association" mentality for Travis or Patrick Mahomes. I do not follow any of these people but there are certainly fans who are all affectionate about travis and patrick's friendship and cheering on patrick at the same time they're (rightfully) slamming his wife on their social media fan pages.. Not to go out on a limb but um... I'm gonna guess there is a non-zero chance patrick and brittany are politically aligned! But nobody much seems to care about that, it's just brittany [and Taylor by extension] they have a problem with? And actually I've seen a lot of weird twisted justifications about why travis and patrick should "clearly" be allowed to continue to be friends but taylor needs to cut brittany entirely out of her life or else she's cancelled. ...just interesting!

it sucks that the more we talk about brittany the more we keep her at the forefront and give her and her terrible beliefs extended visibility and exposure. It equally sucks that trump has latched on to her support and is promoting it with the obvious and barely masked motive of claiming Taylor's support by extension. it sucks that Taylor is being used as a pawn in that way. I certainly wish she would make the choice to stop hanging on with brittany and be more politically outspoken to combat this tactic, but I'm also realistic that she's probably not going to. At the end of the day, I still like her anyway.

Taylor has previously befriended and interacted with people I find equally unsavory. obviously matty is exhibit A. she's also longstanding friends with L*na D*nham, which I continue to find questionable! This sort of discourse has been going on for a decade in the fandom and as a result I've made the personal choice to be here at the end of the day for Taylor alone and not her friends. I basically pay no attention to any of them unless I have an interest in them independently of her, which would be very very few of them. I do however understand and respect if other people feel differently on matter.

going off of that, everyone's got to have their own hard line. my personal hard line would be if Taylor herself ever started endorsing Trump or republican & MAGA values. However, at the moment I still feel I know enough about to her and the values she has repeatedly upheld over the years to conclude that Trump's values are not her own.

this is a very long, not articulate mind dump to basically say: I don't like that she's friends with brittany/the mahomes. i wish she wouldn't be. yes it's a bad look for her. but i am still going to remain a Taylor Swift fan.

[non-neutoniangender]

So I finally got my life together enough to continue my C3 watch... I'm still at 33, I've made more progress on C1 recently. Finally the combination of finding Mini Metro and actually logging onto Tumblr on the web made the barrier of watching Those Episodes bearable.

Spoilers for ep 33 and minor vibe spoilers for episodes in the future that I'm not sure of but its all stuff I absorbed via osmosis and fandom.

It's been almost a full year since these episodes came out and I was mindlessly scrolling Tumblr during my 10am linguistics lecture and stumbled upon everyone panicking because of the lack of diamonds for the amount of people who died. Anyway.

The anxiety of not quite remembering exactly I learned happened is not doing me any favors, but good god, I can really only handle some of this stuff not watching live.

Anyway, here are some assorted thoughts:

Liam you really did not have to make me Feel Things about Orym and his husband while Orym is passing out.

Laudna what is that spell that adds hit dice, that is So Good

Good GOD Otohan is not pulling any punches.

.....this is so close to TPK wow.....

Matt hesitating before essentially killing his wife's character, but doing it anyway.....

It's really interesting to see so many of them up and huddled around the map, things are really getting heated, with Liam just living behind Ashley and Laura's chairs.

"I don't want to be the only one not dead" followed immediately by "soometiiimees you gotta cut a bitch" Yes Travis, that is the correct energy to bring to this clusterfuck.

:OOOOO Not the natural 20 to fucking save Laudna

Begging the DM for the extra hit point like its gonna matter lmao

"I should be more complete at my job" Good GOD

The sending stone 😢

And there's the first one

"We've met before" 😒😒

The sense of failure, the bitersweet feeling of seeing Will and Derrik again 😢😢

I hate it for them that they are getting important lore while they are on the verge of a TPK and loosing their characters

and yet they make jokes like "we can't afford that Sam" to careless whisper

"He is not a creature at the moment" :O omg. Ow. God that hurts.

I gotta say, I'm really enjoying seeing all these hail mary type moves.

You really only see the uber creative dumb shit Hail Mary calls when things are extremely dire.

I love how Beau's voice and mannerisms sneak out a lot as bits and jokes

And there's the second

"That was a helluva run" 😢

"Embrace it or be culled like the rest" oh my god

"That brings us straight to your initiative because everyone else ahead of you is dead" Oh my god Matt

If this actually tpk'd, this would probably be in the running for the longest, most painful tpk. Usually its all at once, rocks fall, everyone dies, the dragon breath attack....

Something about Travis repeating "do you fight it" to laura is so sweet to me.

Also Imogen is making such a wild decision mid potentially worst day of her life omg.

"Save your last line, you might still have a chance" Damn Matt you didn't have to be Like That

"I give in, and I fuck Chetney" "We all do at some point" 🤣

"Is she your favorite" and the immediate "I'll go with you, I give in" oh my god. Having seen that clip of Laura being like 'I didn't know Imogen was in love with Laudna' oh my god the pining is there.

Oh shit the whole city is turning red.

And THATS the end..................

I was gonna go to bed but........ Maybe I can afford to make 1 poor decision

I love the friendship, everyone congratulating each other and matt, no hard feelings. But I wonder how many people are rolling up characters just in case cuz oh my god.