#and then in 6.x we get a character clearly meant to parallel him & we barely explore that

[guayabana]

the thing with zenos is crazy because i hated him in stb and found him to be kinda mildly entertaining but largely nothing in the sections between stb and pre-ew and then in ew itself he was slightly more entertaining but i still thought nothing of him and then he dies and suddenly im like damn. this was something. there was something there. suddenly the wol's relationship to him was deeply compelling to me once he died.

its just. the death itself, the way it happens. the weird uncomfortable intimacy of it. here's a man who's been hounding you since you crossed paths, who's been nothing but a thorn in your side and a danger to your loved ones, dying two arms length away from you, confiding in you. he gives you his final moments and his last words and his rare vulnerability, and if you believe like i do that the transporter was his doing then in his last moments of consciousness he gives you a chance to live too, and he does it whether you want any of it or not. and then the wol just has to carry the weight of him around like all the other people they lost, because regardless of the nature of their relationship he is an inseparable part of their story & the way their life turned out, and no one else will ever know zenos or his final moments the exact way the wol did.

[where-theres-smoak-2]

Why I Haven’t Given Up Hope On Barchie Just Yet.

The more I think about it the more I feel like there might still be a chance for Barchie. I was very disappointed and angry after the episode aired, but after rewatching the episode a few times I realised that there wasn’t really anything in that scene that makes me think that its permanent. I mean what was said really that ends them for good? That they should make sense, was it that line, or that they were so different at their cores? Because to me that seemed more like Betty seeing Archie as this golden boy and as this light she was going to corrupt, which is very similar to how Archie saw Betty as the perfect girl next door in the pilot and if I didn’t think they were over permanently in the pilot why should I believe they’re over now? We know that this statement that they are too different and that they don’t make sense isn’t true. Barchie make perfect sense and they aren’t different at all, I mean they both have protector like jobs, they both have gone through a trauma and are suffering PTSD due to it which manifests in a similar way of nightmares, they both have a habit of rushing into dangerous situations to protect others, they both have stereotypes forced onto them and struggle with that identity. They’ve both struggled with an inner darkness that was brought out when someone they cared about got hurt, for Betty it was Polly and for Archie it was when his dad was shot. They’ve both lost their fathers, they both see the other as their light in the darkness. I mean alot of elements from their stories are very similar. There is just so much that they have in common that Betty’s line just doesn’t make sense at all. So the only explanation is that Betty doesn’t realise how similar they are because she is still looking at him as this All American Boy and herself as having this darkness. I do think that as they get closer as friends they are going to come to the realisation that they aren’t too different at all. I think that Betty will realise that Archie too has a darkness that he struggles with and that it is ok to be each others light.

I’ve also been thinking alot about that scene between Archie and Eric again where he talks about Betty and how it felt different and not great because for me out of all of it that was the moment that made the less sense to me. I feel like that’s the moment alot of people kind of had a wtf moment. But I think I might have finally cracked what was happening in that scene and what Archie meant by ‘different’. To fully understand it I think we need to take a look back at all of Barchie’s other hook ups and see how they evolve and they do evolve, there is a change in them.

So first I want to talk about the shower and the car scenes. Both of these scenes have very similar energies, they are both very s*xually charged and very passionate. In my opinion these two scenes are very much about the s*x and distraction. They are both letting out all the pent up frustrations they have.

But then there is a shift at the end of episode 6 with the porch and bed scene where the ‘do you love me’ theme song is played over the scene. The reason why this scene was different was because it didn’t focus on the s*x. Instead the focus was on the kiss before which was very sweet and very soft and then on the intimate moment between them where they were cuddling in bed.

Again this scene where they are just laying in bed together is not about s*x we aren’t suppose to look at this and go ‘wow that’s hot’ it was about the intimacy between them and the fact that they were just enjoying being together and that cosy, relaxed feeling is, like Betty says, nice. It has similar vibes of the scene in 4x18 where they are lying on the bed in the bunker and its purely about them wanting to be in each others presence more than anything else. Also to me it seemed very much like Archie didn’t want Betty to leave.

Again the next hook up scene we get has another shift in tone. This scene is the Firefighter scene. Again this scene doesn’t focus on the s*x aspect of it but on the connection between the two of them, its about the intimacy. We can see that they seem very comfortable together and very relaxed. On top of that there is another shift in that the scene is given a much more romantic atmosphere due to the like 100 candles that have been lit, I mean seriously who lights that many candles for just a casual hook up? In this scene they also talk about their past together again showing that deep connection and history that they have. Also this bit I am probably giving the writers way too much credit and looking too much into it but the line Betty says when Archie first came out and she says ‘I was so not ready’ maybe this was kind of foreshadowing and what we are being told here is that Betty just isn’t ready for something deeper with Archie right now. I mean especially when not long after we get that scene with Betty and Kevin where she admits she doesn’t want to get too deep with him because she is afraid of losing that light. But I do struggle to watch this scene and not see any romantic feelings at all, to me this seems so romantic and soft and they just seem really happy.

Then we get to the scene where Betty has her nightmare and calls Archie over. When Archie talks to Eric he says that when Betty called he thought it was going to be a booty call which he was more than fine with that and when we see Archie show up he is very happy and smiley very much like he was in the scene above.

When he sees that she is upset his demeaner changes immediately and you can see that he is immediately concerned for her. Now circling back for a moment to the line about thinking it was a booty call and being fine with it, the problem with this line is it makes it seem like all Archie cares about is s*x and that he didn’t really care that Betty was upset. But that doesn’t correspond at all with the scene where we can see that he very clearly does care that she is upset. I really do think that the line was just badly written and then misinterpreted. We have to remember that Barchie themselves have been calling what they are doing a casual thing and a booty call, I think when Archie said he was expecting a booty call he was saying he was expecting something like the firefighter scene where he felt close with Betty. That’s what he was ok with because although he knew she was using him as an escape I think in those more intimate scenes like the bed scene in 5x06 and the firefighter scene in 5x08 he probably still felt very connected to her. But then after her nightmare Betty was likely feeling very vulnerable and we also know that she is hiding what happened with TBK and pretending everything is fine from everyone, so I do think in this moment she had probably shut herself off a bit and Archie likely picked up on this.

When Betty says she doesn’t want to talk about the nightmare and just wants to forget, I feel like Archie says that it’s fine and whatever she wants because he feels like that’s the deal they’ve made, that’s their kind of arrangement, that they are there to help distract each other, and Archie might feel unsure about breaking that when she clearly doesn’t want to open up about it and he isn’t sure what her feelings are.  

The other thing I noticed was when Betty kisses Archie in this scene he seems a little hesitant. In their other kisses he immediately responds to her and leans into the kiss. Here he barely moves the first time she kisses him and she kind of has to pull him down with her which makes me think Archie wasn’t hundred percent on board and I do think he really did want to talk to her as oppose to sleep with her. Weirdly this kiss, on subsequent watches, kind of reminds me of the kiss Betty and Jughead have during their break up s*x where its very much initiated by Betty and Jughead was a little hesitant at first. I do feel like Archie felt disappointed that she didn’t want to talk to him and again like I said I feel like Betty had closed herself off in this scene and that’s what Archie meant when he said it felt different and it didn’t feel great. I think for the first time he felt used and like there was some kind of disconnect between him and Betty.

On top of that just before this scene were the ones where he had spent time with Veronica and where Eric had talked about Archie juggling two women which as I said in another post Archie didn’t look happy at the idea. So I think on top of feeling like Betty was more distant from him and feeling a little used, I think he was confused and maybe even feeling a little guilty about his feelings for Veronica. All of this combined and its no wonder why Archie would describe it as feeling not great. Also I think when you take into consideration that whilst Betty is closed off to him and he’s not sure what her feelings really are, Veronica is being very open about how she feels. They’ve been getting along really well since they got back to town and they don’t have any awkwardness between them, so with Eric making him question what is between him and Veronica and this sudden distance between him and Betty and how comfortable he feels with Veronica and the fact that Veronica is making it no secret that she is still interested in Archie, I think he just kind of comes to the conclusion that he must still have feelings for Veronica. Now whether he still does have feelings for Veronica I’m not sure. I do think alot of it stems from nostalgia and to be honest I don’t see it lasting long. I think they will realise pretty quickly that what they have now isn’t as deep as what they had in high school.

However there are other reasons why I think that Barchie aren’t over just yet and the first is because I feel like this season is following very closely to the first season and the journey of the characters are very similar. I mean just in this episode there were so many parallels to the pilot. There is some romantic story with Barchie, Archie begins to have feelings for Veronica, there’s a party where they play a game and Veronica and Archie get paired together and the episode draws to a close with Barchie ‘breaking up’ before we get this shocking cliff hanger, in the pilot it was Jason’s body, in this episode it was finding the crushed phonebooth. So if we are following the same journey as season 1 then the next things that will happen is that Betty gets with someone, maybe it’ll be jughead or maybe it’ll be someone else, I mean Glen has to make an appearance at some point right. When she is with someone else then Archie will realise his feelings for her and confess this to her. I think the difference this time is instead of her shutting him down they both would have grown enough to finally confess their true feelings.

Another reason why well this is more why I think Archie and Veronica won’t stay together and that is because it feels like they are all kind of, as well as following their own storylines from season 1, but their parents as well. Jughead is following the same addiction storyline FP did. Betty is having to deal with a missing Polly like Alice did in season 1 and Archie and Veronica are following Fred and Hermione’s journey in season one. Fred and Hermione were high school lovers who meet again as adults. Hermione isn’t in a good place in her marriage and she gravitates back towards Fred her old flame. This is exactly what happened with Veronica and Archie and just like Fred and Hermione I think that they’ll come to realise that they are very different people now and that whilst they might have worked in high school they don’t work anymore. I also wouldn’t be surprised if just like how Hiram caused problems between Fred and Hermione, Chad will make a reappearance and cause some problems between Veronica and Archie.

I fully understand why alot of Barchie fans see it differently from me, why they think Barchie is don and why they want to take a step back. I do think that if stepping back is something you feel like you need to do then definitely do that. Myself though I just don’t think I am quite ready to give up on them yet. So I think I am going to keep watching just a little more to see where it goes. I’ll keep my fingers crossed over my heart and hope for the best.  

[sondepoch]

Day 9

10 Days (Jumin Han x Reader)

You didn't expect to find yourself locked in an engagement to Chairman Han, but with your own mother forcing you into it, you have no way of denying her. But as time continues and things change, you begin to develop affections for your fiance's son: Jumin Han. But the sad truth is that there's nothing either of you can do to stop the marriage, and you only have these 10 days before your future becomes reality. 10 days with Jumin Han.

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 | ✔

MASTERLIST

“The flowers are beautiful, Jumin.” You smile as you stare into the bouquet of red and white, wondering how the man had managed to discretely procure these roses when you’ve been all but glued to his side for the past three days. You have more tact than to ask, though, so you settle for a bashful smile up at Jumin as he pulls a single long-stemmed rose from the bundle, lifting it up and fitting it into the first knot of the elegant braid you’d woven your hair into for this special evening.

Wear this, he had mumbled an hour ago, thrusting the burgundy gown you’re currently wearing into your arms. I have a surprise for you.

You ended up exiting the room fully dressed: wearing heels, earrings, a necklace, and all the other little accessories you’d managed to dig up that pair with the outfit. In truth, you’d expected that Jumin would be taking you out to a restaurant, to get your mind off of everything. When you’d next seen him, that thought had only been reinforced, staring at the man in his crisp suit, not a single strand of cat hair anywhere on his body.

But what he’s prepared is more romantic than even an evening at a five-star establishment, with all its elegance and prestige.

A soft gasp escapes your lips as Jumin leads you into what was once his living room.

“How do you like it, my love?” He smiles down at you, still holding your hand as he brings it up to his lips to lay a tender kiss over the knuckles.

“Oh, Jumin.” You’re left at a loss for words, your response coming out in a jumble. “How—how did you do all of this? And when? It’s—it’s so lovely—too lovely—oh, Jumin, it’s incredible. I love it. I love it so much, I love it and I love you, Jumin.” You wrap your arms around the man, sighing in content as he chuckles over your complete mesmerization.

And, looking around, who wouldn’t be mesmerized by this?

The living room has been reborn.

It’s no longer a comfortable lounging area, with couches and a TV—it’s something else entirely. Where there was once a carpet, now the hardwood floor has been exposed, revealing the vibrant color of the wood that seems to glow in the gentle lighting. All furniture has been removed, not a single couch or coffee table in sight, and the room is lined with tall wick candles, the flames flickering gently as they give off the soft scent of romance.

And there, in the very center of the room, is what brings the entire aesthetic together: a table for two, with a single candle and rose in the center of the table.

Stunning.

The table has even been moved parallel to the windowed wall you love so much, giving you both a perfect view of the city and its quiet but distant lights, and you can only stare at the sheer beauty of everything. Who would have thought that Jumin’s living room could be converted into this?

“Shall we?” The man whispers, offering his arm to you as you walk forward. Your heels click quietly on the ground, and soon enough, Jumin has pulled out your chair.

You take your seat with a gracious smile.

“It’s amazing,” You mumble, still looking around. The walls have been stripped bare of the modern artwork previously hung, the only art in sight being the cityscape the two of you painted together just two days ago. “How much effort did it take to arrange all this?”

“That doesn’t matter, my love. It was all worth it, I assure you.” Jumin’s gaze is soft as he strokes the top of your hand with his thumb from across the table. “Your smile has never looked so lovely.”

You can’t suppress the immediate grin that stretches across your features, a light blush painting itself over your cheeks. You would say something just as romantic back to him, but another man enters the room, one you recognize as Jumin’s private chef. Your eyes widen in surprise for a moment, given that you haven’t seen anyone other than Jumin in these past few days, but you quickly understand.

Jumin must want to give you the full experience of a romantic dinner. Having it located in his own penthouse is only meant to enhance the experience, which obviously will be a five-course meal with a privatized dining experience, complete with a personal chef and waiter.

“Sir, my lady.” The chef politely nods at you both. “The current meal course prepared is best complemented by a bottle of Pétrus, though if there is an issue, our stock offers a variety of other wines that pair well. Might I bring a bottle out?”

Jumin nods his head, the whole situation a mere formality to better simulate a restaurant, but you smile nonetheless. He’s so thoughtful.

“It occurred to me that the two of us have yet to have a formal dinner like this,” Jumin says when the wine arrives, pouring you both a glass. You take a sip of yours. “So I wanted to treat you.”

Before we have to part.

You hear that second part in your head, an unwanted extension of Jumin’s kind words. They’re true, but you ignore the thought, forcing it away with another drink of your wine.

“This Pétrus is delicious,” You say when the glass leaves your lips.

“I agree. It’s one of my favorite reds, so I always make sure to have a few bottles on hand.” Jumin smiles, taking a sip himself. “Though I must say, the company makes this glass taste infinitely better.”

Once more, your cheeks pinken at the man’s utter seriousness as he says words that, from anyone else, would be teasing. It only adds to his charm, though. Not that his charm needs adding to. The fact that he’s managed to do all this when he could have simply taken you out to a restaurant speaks volumes about his character—volumes about how much he cares for you.

Slowly, the night grows longer and the conversation turns natural once more, both of you finding comfort in the presence of each other. You feel like you should pay attention to the food, to the foie gras on your plate that is quickly exchanged for glazed steak rolls and then caviar with crème fraîche and then something else that you barely think about as you swallow, but you can’t. How can anyone think about food, of all things, with a man as interesting as Jumin so close?

You smile as he finishes his analysis of the current market economy, concluding with a brief mention of how the optimal time for purchasing stocks should come in roughly eight months, counterproductive as it may seem. If you’re perfectly candid, you’re not sure you care—but that doesn’t matter. The fact that these words are coming from Jumin is enough to make you hang on to every sentence for dear life.

After all, it’s not like you’ll have the rest of your life to savor his presence.

You take another sip of your wine at the thought, immediately forcing the knowledge away.

“(Y/N)?” Jumin asks. His eyes are round in concern. “Is something the matter?”

“Not at all,” You say with a smile. “Why do you ask?”

“It’s just that you seem to be drinking rather heavily tonight. This bottle is nearly empty, and I’ve only had a glass.” Jumin’s eyes shift away, clearly uncomfortably with the direct confrontation. “Do consider that tomorrow is a day of...importance. It would be very difficult for you if tonight’s alcohol adds to your burdens.”

Hungover.

Fancy phrases cast aside, Jumin is saying that it’ll be bad if you’re hungover for your wedding tomorrow.

You hold back a slight frown as the chef (or waiter? Jumin is partially correct, your brain is a bit fuzzier than it should be right now) sets down a plate of Danish chocolate truffles: the dessert course. You wait until the man leaves the room to respond to Jumin, staring at the three delicate balls of cocoa and sugar.

“Let’s not speak about tomorrow.” You take another sip of wine to push the thoughts away from your mind, savoring the fogginess that accompanies the wash of the Pétrus down your throat. With cares of the morrow freshly forgotten, you turn your face back to Jumin. “Shall we eat these truffles? They do look quite delicious.”

But Jumin doesn’t seem to register your question. If anything, his expression grows darker when he notes your utter avoidance of his earlier comment.

A moment of silence passes between you two.

And then Jumin breaks it.

He stands up with a sigh, walking over to you to pull out your chair. You almost lose your balance in your heels when he helps you up, his hold gentle but quicker than you’re used to. Or perhaps it’s just as quick as you’re used to, but your dulled senses are processing it incorrectly. “Come on, my love.” Jumin’s voice is soft, tender as he wraps an arm around your waist. He doesn’t sound angry, or even irritated. But there’s a mute helplessness lurking behind his words—one that you’re too mentally unfocused to understand why. “We should get you to bed.”

You freeze at the words, your body suddenly fighting back against Jumin. You still against his touch, rooting yourself to the ground.

“No.”

The word is quiet, but it’s there nonetheless. Jumin halts at your denial, glancing down at you with confusion painted over his fine features. “(Y/N)?”

You press your hands flat against his chest, forcing him to stop (and subsequently stabilizing you on the ground). “Do not force me to go to sleep now, Jumin.” You hear the waver in your voice, and you have to swallow before you continue. “Do not end this night earlier than it has to.”

Against your arms, Jumin sighs. If he didn’t understand it before, he understands the reason for your increased alcohol consumption now. “My love,” He murmurs, wrapping you in a gentle embrace. “We can’t...we can’t delay time itself. This...has to end.” Jumin pauses, leaning back ever-so-slightly. “You know that, right?”

You suppress an urge to curse at his words, a wave of frustration flooding you. Of course you know that. How much of a fool does the man take you for? You can hold your alcohol better than he thinks; you’re only slightly buzzed from the beverages.

Is it so wrong to give in to temptation, though? Is it so wrong to allow yourself to forget the truth? To forget, for one fucking moment of your godforsaken life, that this snapshot of happiness isn’t going to last?

“You need to sleep, (Y/N).” Jumin sighs, lifting you. Miraculously, he slides you out of your slip-on heels, placing you flat on the ground. “It’s time...to accept our reality.”

“Is this how you wanted dinner to end?” You ask. The question is real. Had you ruined the evening with your drinking, or was the dinner the goodbye in itself? You feel tears hot in your eyes, spurred on by your slight inebriation, and you suddenly wish you hadn’t touched your glass of red.

Jumin’s smile is sad as he gazes down at you, brushing a strand of loose hair out of your face and looping it behind your ear. His hand traces from your ear, to your jaw, to your ear again and then the back of your head where he had earlier slipped a rose into your braid. He strokes the flower’s petals, and as you gaze into his eyes, you understand his earlier sigh of helplessness. “This was the only way for dinner to end, my love.” A pause. And it’s here that Jumin should stop; it’s here that he should wrap you in a hug and lift you into his arms as usual, but for some reason, the man continues. “For us, there are no happy endings.”

The painful words of the truth hit you like a truck, knocking the air out of you, and you feel a shudder travel through your body. In an instant, the tears in your eyes are falling to your cheeks, and your knees would hit the ground if not for Jumin’s quick reflexes.

“Shh,” He whispers into your ear as you allow yourself to cry in the safety of his arms. For days, you’ve suppressed the tears. Suppressed the tears and suppressed the truth. But there’s no denying it anymore, is there? The wedding is tomorrow, and you’re going to forever lose this sweet mercy of happiness that you’ve found in Jumin’s arms. “Don’t cry,” He whispers. “Everything will be okay, don’t cry.”

“B-be quiet,” You mumble into his shirt, though you both know you don’t mean it. “Of all people, you don’t deserve to...to…”

To what?

To comfort you? To hold you? To cradle you in his arms, and soothe you?

Jumin lifts your body up, a motion he’s done nearly a hundred times by now in your brief stay with him, and carries you to his bed. He kisses your tears away, lips fluttering across your cheeks every time your miseries persist, until they’re dry.

He briefly leaves your side, murmuring something about getting you something to change into, but you barely register his words. The storm of emotion wreaking havoc on your heart is too much for you to think about anything else.

If you were to withdraw from the blankets and place an ear to the door, you might hear the snippets of a conversation Jumin has over the phone: hushed utterings directed to Luciel, something about coordinates and calling in a favor just this once to make saying goodbye a little easier. But the words end up staying between Jumin and the redhead hacker on the line, you and your despair entirely unknowing of the entire discussion.

But it doesn’t matter.

It can’t matter.

Because right now, to you, nothing matters.

Three days ago, you’d had at least that: three days left with Jumin Han. He was to be your mortal savior, a brief gift from God to show you bliss. But now, your time is up. And you’ll have to leave his side.

You barely respond to the man as he helps you out of your clothes, slipping you into silk pajamas that feel cool and refreshing against your skin. He wraps you in an embrace from behind in an attempt to soothe your trembling as he pulls your body back down onto the bed, silently encouraging you to sleep, and give yourself the mercy of slumber to escape this life, however temporary.

But even as Jumin rubs soothing circles into your sides, all the lights out and the noises of the city far away, your mind is impossibly alert.

You think about the chocolate truffles still on the table. Three exquisite balls, shaped to perfection in their cocoa goodness, untouched and disregarded. You feel an overwhelming urge to return to the table, to drag Jumin out of bed, and finish those truffles with him.

It will be brief, but it will be happiness. Another memory for you to recall on painful nights, as you reminisce over a love that should have been but never could have been.

You almost turn around in Jumin’s embrace, with a heart set of whispering your request into his ear, before you realize—what’s the point?

There’s so much you want to do. Having chocolate truffles with Jumin is only the beginning.

You want to wake up with Jumin and appreciate his morning bedhead. You want to make him breakfast, and learn how he likes his eggs best. You want to find out how he drinks his coffee, and surprise him at work with a cup. You want to spend peaceful afternoons with him, and listen to him analyze all your favorite books. You want to take bubble baths with him, go to jazz clubs with him, play board games with him, have inside jokes with him, you want to love him goddamnit.

A tightness begins to clutch at your throat, and you wish it would grow tighter. Anything, to get you out of the hell that your life will be without Jumin by your side.

You can hear the grandfather clock chime twelve times: twelve loud syllables that are a ringing declaration that the cursed day has come.

Twelve reminders that the life you’ve lived has ended, your heart—the one thing keeping you afloat all this time—ripped out of your chest to be lost forever with the sweet memories of what these past nine days with Jumin have been.

You bury yourself in the covers, in memories of how you fell in love with this ebony-haired businessman.

Instinctively, a smile crosses your face. So many memories. It’s barely been over a week, but it’s enough to last you a lifetime. Enough for you to daydream all night, only popping out of your enraptured state once every hour when the grandfather clock breaks your focus to tell you that it’s one, two, three, four, five o’clock.

Before the clock can ring six times, though, the sunrise beats it.

You frown when you see the room beginning to lighten, the darkness lifted with the ghost of sunlight. You immediately stiffen, thoughts of Jumin and the time he had mistaken a spatula for ladle suddenly removed from your mind.

You swallow, and the way Jumin’s arms tense around you tells you that he, too, has been unable to sleep this past night.

You’re quiet.

You don’t want to disturb the moment.

If you freeze and pretend not to move, will time humor you and stop its march forward?

You hold your breath as light continues to fill the room, stealing away the last of your inner peace.

There’s no mistaking it: the new day has arrived, the morning sunrise you once adored being the bearer of bad news. A pity, you can’t help but think. There was a time when you liked the rising sun, with it’s promise of a new day, of new possibilities, new life.

All it can bring you now is the daily reminder of the miserable life you’ve been cursed to live.

A life without love, happiness, or hope.

A life without Jumin.

MASTERLIST

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 |  ✔

Word count: 3.1k

Notes: Ahhhh I can't believe this is the second last chapter! It's been such a wild ride, and chapter 10 (day 10, i guess) is something I'm super excited for :) (lmao im already planning my next jumin x reader fic the things i do for this man smh) 

Comment & Like

Next Update: 5/16/20

I do not own the rights to Mystic Messenger or any of the characters within it.

[janaeekook]

1942 || {ksj}

It’s 1942 and the world is in the midst of World War 2 -- at a boarding school hidden in the country sides of the United Kingdom, 2 students begin to fall in love.

pairing: student!jin x reader

word count: 3.9k

warnings: - just fluffy - sad -

“𝙠𝙞𝙢 𝙨𝙚𝙤𝙠𝙟𝙞𝙣, 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙢 𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙙 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙙.”

•••

You sat in your favorite place in the school. It was a tall tower the windows gave a great view of the ancient school grounds. Looking out at the pretty scenery you found it hard to believe that there was a war happening in the distance. The grey sky looming over the school making everything dreary inside and out.

Your attention was drawn back to your work. The sound of your pen scratching at the parchment was all that filled the hallow circular room, you were sat in a low window sill. Though it was Saturday you still studied like you always did, and the tower was the only place for you to get some quiet. You were a determined student, your nose always in your books.

Infact, your barely registered when someone entered the room. He was a tall boy, broad shoulders. He was well kept and wore his uniform, his wire glasses framed his face perfectly. Your eyes traveled to his hands which held his own books.

"Oh I apologize." The boy was surprised about another person being there, but so were you.

"You're fine." You smiled, as you looked at him and took in his features. You willed your cheeks not to burn crimson, he was beyond handsome. Like he had been intricately crafted by the gods. You felt the strong urge to reach out and touch him, for in your head you thought he couldn't be real.

"I'm Seokjin." And yet he was real, the way the sides of his eyes crinkled ever so softly with a smile. It was all real.

"Y/n."

~And that was all it took; a simple exchange of names. You started to get to know eachother studying together on weekends in the tower. You had connected so easily it was as if you had known eachother for years. He almost made you forget there was a war raging on, that he could easily be taken away to fight.~

"Seokjin." Your head rose from your maths that You couldn't seem to focus on, his warm eyes wavered from his own work to meet yours from across the room, "Will you have to leave? To fight I mean." He gave a sad smile.

"Not if I have anything to say about it." But you knew he didn't and yet his words still calmed you. Quiet filled the room again.

It was 2 o'clock when you heard him close his textbook, the sound echoed and you looked over to him. He held a playful smile and a shadow of mischief beneath it. He walked over and helped you down from the window sill, his hand lingered on your waist before he withdrew it and spoke.

"Let's go do something."

"Like what?" His smile only grew, he grabbed your small hand in his and practically dragged you down the winding steps that led to the top of the tower. Your giggles filled the stair well as he pulled you along, when you reached the main floor he took you outside, "Where are we going?"

"My second favorite place." He led you to the edge of campus grounds that opened up into a expansive grove of aspen trees.

The sun had broken through the sheet of clouds, it shown between the trees, leaving splotches of sunlight that waved on the ground as the light breeze blew the delicate green leaves that clung to their branches. It was beautiful.

Although where you had come to a stop, was even more breath taking. A small clearing and singular oak tree, it's large branches twisted in every direction. What caught your attention though was a wooden plank swing hanging from one of the branches.

"It's beautiful." Seokjin's eyes had been studying your face like one of his school books. But when those words left your lips along with the smile that graced them he couldn't help but feel relieved that you thought so.

"You like it?"

"I love it." You walked closer to the swing before sitting on it. Seokjin just smiled before removing his tweed jumper that had your schools crest on the left chest pocket. He was left with only his white button down, his loosened striped tie adorning the schools colors and his black corduroy trousers. He set the jacket off to the side before coming behind you pushing the swing.

Your giggles filled the quiet scene, Seokjin just smiled uncontrollably. His feelings for the giggling girl had grown in such a short time, you always seemed to be together but never got bored of the others presence. He didn't know however that you thought the same thing, truthfully you started to like him when you spent hours just talking about your lives, your story's. It seemed harmless, really, but young love- and first love at that, is very powerful.

Your laughs died down as you noticed he was letting the swing slow before you felt him stop it completely. You looked over your shoulder, the height of the swing had brought your face almost parallel to his. Your eyes looked over his features trying to understand why he stopped the swing. He grabbed your chin and moved closer, he was kissing you, ever so softly, scared that if he kissed you too hard you might break.

The thought of someone like Seokjin kissing you was baffling, you even questioned if it was real, but when he pulled away you saw his handsome face and every feature up close. You felt the tingle on your lips from where his had been placed. He seemed equally as flustered as you were, but he spoke as he walked around so he now stood in front of you and grabbed your hands.

"Y/n, I know this is crazy and maybe totally irrational and I wouldn't blame you if it's too fast but, these past 3 weeks of getting to know you have been amazing. It feels like I've known you my whole life." He took a breath and looked you in the eyes, "I love you, y/n."

You just sat there trying to process his words which were so honest and vulnerable. He dropped your hands assuming your silence meant you didn't feel the same, you grabbed his face and his eyes looked up from the green blanket of grass beneath his feet. His sad eyes were reassured when he came to meet your glowing smile.

"Who said it was too early?" His lips found yours again, it was sweet. Sweeter than moments before when he confessed, his true feelings and yours shown bright like chalk on a blackboard, "I love you too."

•••

You didn't want to let his arm go as the two of you walked out of the timeless grove. The sun had told us, as we lay staring at the sky talking, that it was time for supper. You let go of his warm hand only when he opened the large door leading to the main hall where small groups bustled around and sat at one of the large tables.

After bidding you goodbye, He went off to his friends and you went off to yours. When you got to your small but quaint group of friends — Emma, Ashlee and Hope. They seemed relieved to see you, for they thought you had been eaten by wolves, or some other barbaric tale.

"And where exactly have you been?" Ashlee was the first to say something as you sat next to her and across from Hope and Emma.

"Oh didn't you see her come in, with that handsome boy over there Ashlee?" Hope pointed out, a large cheesy grin on her face.

"What's his name?" Emma spoke next with a warm smile, they were all seemed eager to know about the so called, 'tall dark and handsome' boy you walked in with.

"Alright, you caught me." You gave into their stares, "His name is Seokjin, I met him a couple weeks ago and we started to studying together on the weekends, and today -" you paused and looked to the boy who was laughing with his friends, there looked to be six of them. You smiled before looking back to your friends and continuing in a quieter tone this time, "he told me he loved me." Your three friends gasped, they began to squeal in excitement for you.

"What'd you say?" Ashlee asked, now completely invested in the story.

"That I loved him too." They all squealed again.

"Where do you find them, y/n?" Hope questioned, and you chuckled.

"You will find one, trust me." You reassured them before grabbing yourself some food.

You ate and talked about random topics, boys, the food, school work, a new romance novel Hope had read. Just typical things. Until of course curfew came around and everyone wandered off to their rooms, readying themselves for the school day tomorrow.

•••

The next morning you awoke to beams of sun leaking through your window. After checking your watch you threw the blankets from your body before going to change into your school uniform. Ashlee stirred in her bed stretching her tired muscles.

"What's the time?"

"6:15." You had your first class at 7:30. You and Ashlee shared a room, Hope and Emma shared as well and they were just across the hall. Ashlee willed herself out of her bed to get ready for the day.

All dressed and ready, you both left the room and met Emma and Hope in the hall. You walked to your first class together, mathematics. Seokjins friends, Taehyung, Jimin, and Yoongi, were also a part of the class. You had noticed your friends grow quiet fond of these three boys.

Hope would talk wonders of Taehyung and how he was just like a character in her books. Emma would flush at even the mention of Jimin's name, the both of them new to the subject of love, but they clearly had it for each other. Then Ashlee and Yoongi, other than sitting by each other every meal and class they had together, they didn't show much, but the glances and looks they shared told you they partake in things when no one is looking.

You all took your seats and waited for the teacher to arrive, each desk was filled with a tired looking teen whose eyes threatened to shut and welcome sleep back upon their bodies. Although Mr. Pierce never gave the chance, roughly pushing open the door and talking in his typical loud voice.

"Good morning class, get out your books please."

~

The rest of the school day went like any other day, History, Science and English. After your classes you found yourself in the library sitting at an empty table looking over your work. You stood from your seat before wandering into the tall shelves filled with books, you had a research paper for history to write.

You gasped at the feeling of two hands on your waist, you whipped around to see Seokjin. He smiled down at you, he stood rather close and you looked to see if anyone was watching. There was no one. Keeping his voice hushed Seokjin spoke.

"I forgot to ask you something last night."

"Well make it quick I'm busy." You said trying to hide the flush of your cheeks due to the close proximity. He only smiled knowingly at your behavior.

"Would you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?"

"You're really asking me that now?" You tried to fight off a smile, but ultimately failed.

"Is that a problem? Because I can wait, but I figured just in case we die." He said the last part as if he was a drama actor and you chuckled. How you got to meet someone like him blew your mind, and to think it was all coincidence.

"We're in a school library Seokjin, not on the battlefield."

•••

He did bug you a lot for your answer that night, and of course you eventually said yes, you'd be crazy not to. You went on adventures during your free time, never forgetting to study of course. Being by his side made it feel like you could defeat the world.

After one month him and his friends began to sit with your group at meals. You had all become quite close, and you saw your friends fall for the boys that were almost as beautiful as Seokjin, in your eyes at least.

Four months rushed past the both of you, of course when you're in love for the first time everything seems to stop, especially time. But really it chugs on. Picnics out to your favorite spot in the grove, they we so romantic, like something you'd once read in a book.

At eight months though was when the intimacy took hold of it all. Kisses became more starved than before, begging for more whenever you were alone. Touches on eachothers bodies turning desperate, wanting to touch the skin beneath. You'd never felt this way before, and you could not describe it better than an immense feeling of want. And then one day you found yourselves tangled in blankets laid out under the shade of an oak tree, it would forever be your favorite place after that moment. Your most vulnerable state, bare to his eyes. It was beautiful and rare, the way he looked at you with adoration and love. A moment you would not soon forget.

"Kim Seokjin, I could love you for the rest of my life. You could be the person I die loving and I'd be completely satisfied." You said as you laid next to him in the shade of the great oak, your unclothed legs tangled together under the blankets. You felt his chest rumble as he let out a chuckle.

"Well, I will love you for the rest of my life." He competed your proclamation with his own.

"What a lucky girl I am." You said before pecking his plump lips.

The two of you eventually decided to pull your clothes back on and head back to the school hand in hand. When you walked into the main hall you saw your friends all talking amongst themselves.

"Where have you two been all day?" Hoseok questioned. Seokjin and you looked to eachother, he spoke first.

"A picnic." He shrugged it off confidently, and you couldn't help but smile.

•••

Ten months felt like ten years, sneaking from our dorms at night, meeting in the place that started it all whenever we could. Wanting nothing more but to feel his skin on yours, to be in his embrace, feel the warmth his body gave off. His scent was intoxicating and fuddled your brain, preventing it from thinking with any form of logic. But what can you say, you're teenagers, logic is the last thing running through your minds.

You woke up one morning after being up into the late hours of the night with Seokjin, in the vacant tower.

"You woke me last night." Ashlee spoke bluntly from her bed, her voice was groggy.

"Sorry." You spoke, sheepishly apologizing for your actions. A hallow knock came from the door, and without giving either of you time to answer, Emma and Hope walked through the door.

They still wore their night gowns, Emma's was decorated with pale yellow flowers, Hopes also had flowers that were a light lavender shade. Ashlee had kicked off her quilt, her night gown, unlike the rest of your white ones was a dark navy blue with white trim lace. And yours was a beautiful mix of small royal purple flowers and deep forest green polka dots, spaced evenly on the white fabric.

"Rise and shine!" Emma spoke, a smile playing on her face. You yawned yet again, "Y/n were you out late again?" You only nodded.

"He said he'd be busy today, and wanted to spend time together."

"Well then, you can hangout with us today," Hope said, "We're all going out to a small watering hole Taehyung knows about."

You smiled, "That sounds great."

•••

You all walked through the grove of trees, you even passed the oak tree and smiled sadly. You eventually came upon the watering hole, it was too large to be considered a pond but too small to be a lake. Everyone stood admiring it for a second then Ashlee was suddenly thrown in. When she resurfaced She looked straight at Yoongi who had a devious smirk on his lips. He took off his shirt, throwing it aside before jumping in.

He was followed by Jimin and Emma, then Jungkook and Namjoon. They all splashed around playing in the water, You smiled at them from the bank where you sat on a conveniently fallen log.

"You not getting in?" You turned noticing Hoseok had taken a seat next to you.

"No, I'm just gonna watch."

"Is something wrong y/n?"

"Not really, I just wish Seokjin could be here with us." You told him.

"I understand," He chuckled, "we'll see him tonight at supper." He reassured me.

You talked with Hoseok as the others continued to crying out with laughter as they swam around the cool water. Hoseok and you laughed too as you watched Jungkook belly flop into the water. Being with your friends helped you keep your mind off of the fact that Seokjin was not with you.

The hours slipped passed as the sun moved lower. Causing the sky to become almost orange and the leaves of the aspen trees that surrounded the area to turn almost golden from the sheen of the sun. Everyone had been out of the water for a while now and you just talked and ate food that Jungkook and Namjoon stole from the kitchen.

"We should be heading back soon, supper is in 30 minutes." Hoseok said after checking his watch, Everyone agreed, gathering their things. The walk back was a joyful one, the boys all laughed as Ashlee, Emma, Hope and You sang Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree by The Andrews Sisters.

"Don't sit under the apple tree with anyone else but me, Anyone else but me, anyone else but me, NO NO NO!" You giggled as you sang.

"They're good, don't you think Seokjin?" You heard Hoseok say his name.

"Wonderful." You heard his voice and smiled large before turning around, and sure enough he was there.

"When did you get here?"

"I was at the tree, but you didn't notice me." You only giggled and hugged him.

You held his hand the rest of the way back, you got back to the school you and seokjin were the last ones outside. You went to let go of his hand but he tightened his hold, you gave a questioning look to his conflicted features.

"Meet me in the tower after supper alright?" He asked with a weak smile.

"Of course, is something wrong?" You began to grow worried of his answer.

"Everythings fine." He kissed your forehead before he finally let go of your hand.

Everyone already had their food and were talking, well arguing. Jungkook seemed to be fighting everyone about something.

"Alright, lets ask y/n and Seokjin." Jungkook gestured to us as we sat at the table.

"Ask us what?" You asked.

"Who do you think ."

"You only drink banana milk and the chefs cook your meal of chicken strips or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich separately just for you." Yoongi stated. Jungkook just huffed and continued to eat his chicken.

Seokjin went off somewhere, you were distracted by your friends messing around in the common room. Your brain then hastily reminded you of what Seokjin had said and you hurriedly slipped from the room. You snuck off to the stairwell which your scurried to the top of, only to find Seokjin leaning against the singular desk he usually studied at. A record player played soft jazz music, your eyes lingered to the floor next to the desk which was littered with pillows and blankets, you bit your lip.

"I didn't forget." You said quickly.

"It's alright y/n, you're here now." He had pushed himself from the desk and now stood closer to you. His eyes were sad, the same as earlier.

"What's the matter Seokjin?" You stroked his arm comfortingly.

"I've been called, to the front lines." There was a deafening silence that not even the music could break, you swore your heart had stopped at his words. You shook your head not wanting to believe him, it was as if your world had shattered.

You stepped away, turning so your back was all he could see. You didn't want him to see how this was effecting you.

"Y/n, please, I've been planning this all day." You felt his hands on your waist, wanting to give into his touch. He turned you around before you could even register what had happened, and his lips where on yours. You melted instantly at the contact but quickly pulled away.

"Don't. Don't you dare kiss me if you're not going to come back." Your voice shook as the tears threatened to spill. He kissed you again, passion over flowing before slowly pulling away to look you straight in the eyes.

"I'll be coming back, there's no need to fret."

After he spoke you two had found yourselves hastily removing clothing before rustling around in the mess of blankets and pillows. Trying to initiate every stimulus of pleasure on your most sensitive areas.

The soft music encouraged you as it's notes harmonized with the moans and the beat went along with each stroke that was made. To say the least it was magical, only the pale glow of the moon guided you, showing every important detail whilst the rest lay cast in shadows. The glistening of sweat on your foreheads, the heaving of heavy chests hard at work, the loving eyes all captured by the moon. A snap shot forever locked in your heads and the moon.

As you stood wrapped in a blanket staring out at the moon and the dark sky, a questioned burned in your head. You turned your head slightly as to look the love of your life as he pulled his trousers back on. You looked back out the window before speaking.

"When do you leave?" You wanted to know, you had to.

"Tomorrow evening." He informed you wrapping his arms around your waist and resting his chin on your bare shoulder, "But I plan to spend every last second I have, with you." His hot breath cascaded across your collarbone and a chill ran across your skin.

"I'll miss you more than words can say." You whispered to him. You both stayed in the position, hearing the hum of a plane go over head.

Neither of them knew what to think as the roof to their left was broken. The object continued on before there was a loud explosion, the tower that many thought was vacant and had been for years, came collapsing to the earth. The calculations had been done wrong, the bombs were dropped too soon; and two young bodies were the proof of it. It was fast, they didn't linger their souls had been spared the pain, they didn't even have the time to think or utter a word before their lives were brought to an abrupt end.

They didn't know they would die that night, they didn't know their bodies would lay amongst the rubble of the tower were they had stood moments before their deaths, were their story together began. Though they died satisfied, in the grasp of the person they loved, in 1942.

[adecila]

Game of Thrones - 8x03 preview analysis + speculation

Or the moment I realise I am blind as a bat and I need glasses.

Busy week, but hey we’re still 3 days away from what has been advertised as an episode that will kill us. At a whoopin’ 80 (ish; 82 according to some websites, 79 according to others so I’ll just say 80) minutes and advertised as the longest battle in television (surpassing LoTR) I am ready to die! 

Wait wait does this mean it will be 80 minutes of stress? 80 minutes of fighting?  80 minutes of me yelling at the screen JON NO and KHALESSI NO until my throat is sore and I barely have any voice left? Yeah, probably.

Anyway- this is probably more on the speculation and prediction side since we don’t have that much to go off of…. 

Unlike the preview / promo / trailer –whatever you want to call it– we got for episode 2, episode 3 gave us a big fat nothing. Mhm, basically. 

But first the famous 6 photos EW gave us: (also a big pile of nothing!)

S.ansa looking worried, sitting, maybe glossy eyed - interior? exterior? Who the hell knows. Technically, as per episode 2 S.ansa is to stay in the crypts with the other women and children.

Ser Brienne of Tarth and Jaime fookin’ Lannister and some Knights of the Vale (noice shields) - this looks like an actual screengrab from the episode, and from their faces something it’s INCOMING. I am trying not to read too much into it, but tbh their faces can be just from seeing the huge ass army coming at them. 

Jonno mah man, my stupid son (and I say this with all the love in my heart) lookin’ sweaty, and rough and shooketh and I cannot help but to think something BIG is happening. Could it be something as simple as coming face to face again with our main boss the Night King himself? Could it be another “bitch watch me use your fallen men against you” moment? Could it be someone he cares dying in front of him? Could it be the dead surrounding them? Honestly guys this preview is giving me nothing, except anxiety. There’s some fire burning behind him, it can be dragon fire or it can just be fire they made in order to keep the dead at bay (as seen in the next pic). It is snowing and we can see fire behind him. Also also this pic clearly proves that HBO intentionally darkened the trailer since in the trailer we see the clip with Jonno running and this pic is from that exact scene. Gosh, his face tho - LISTEN he looks terrified. 

Jonerys overlooking Winterfell, but from the North-West side? So clearly at one point in the battle they get to this vantage point so they can see better. I am assuming that it’s quite early into the episode, since Jon still has his furs on, whereas in the previous photo he had no cloak and looked like he had already fought for some time; we see the forces spread out exactly like on the map (as I explained it in my 8x02 analysis when the war council happened), and oh my it looks glorious. We also see some fire strategically lit and it looks beautiful. Now BURN IT TO THE GROUND. Jk but also not jk; asoiaf theories on how Winterfell is meant to be destroyed at one point in the story are a-plenty ! Last night @muttpeeta asked me if I could see the dead in this pic and I said bitch I can’t see shit. I guess in the right down corner are just trees, so maybe the dead are in the trees (lmao just imagined them in the trees). On the other hand, @thescarletgarden1990 said she could maaaaybe see something in the left dark corner… gurl, I still can’t see shit. Uff notice how Jon x Dany suddenly have a space in between them? Ah, remember when we had nice things like when they had no idea what “personal space” meant? Hang onto your hats for the angst, bitches.

S.ansa x Arya on the battlements. Is it just me or is there something like a bar or blade or maybe a bow on Arya’s left side, almost resting on her shoulder? The spear Gendry made her? Maybe it’s an optical illusion. Also seems pre-battle, also seems quite early in the episode, when we have still time for dialogue. Hmm.. maybe that first S.ansa pic is in the same scene, but before? S.ansa looks a bit worried and shit I would be too. Scratch that, I think the first S.ansa pic is after the discussion with Arya. 

Tyrion x Varys in the crypts, chatting to kill time whilst everyone else is getting killed. I also expect this to be in the very first part of the episode. 

See, exactly what I said, they gave us something without giving us anything.

Now, onto the preview:

“The most heroic thing we can do now is look the truth in the face” - voiceover by S.ansa, as the screen flashes to: the troops, Grey Worm, Jonerys at the vantage point, Sam, S.ansa x Arya on battlements, Davos on battlements, women x children x Varys x Tyrion in the crypts, Jorah. Interesting line though, what truth is she talking about? Jon’s parents? I doubt. The fact that the dead actually exist? Remember when I said S.ansa doesn’t seem to believe Jon much?…

“The Night King is comin” - voiceover by Jon - we see Jon scared shitless, (from the photo we also got), the army in position, Arya running (from the trailer), Unsullied marching in formation, Beric x the Hound (INSIDE WF? WHAT???), Dany on Drogon in a blizzard, more Unsullied, Theon with a bow with fire in the Godswood, Jonno pulling out Longclaw in the Godswood looking a bit too sad/disturbed/scared??? 

Jonerys at the vantage point, face to face, Dany saying to Jon “The dead are already here”, she looks angry, Jon looks … emo :D 

Ser Brienne yelling to her flank “Stand your ground”

Now, let me regroup all my thoughts now that I made a general break down of the photos and the actual preview, let’s discuss what I think it will happen. This time I am heavily relying on speculation since tbh we don’t have much to go off.

About Jonerys:

Yeah, I don’t think they are just going to get over the parentage reveal that fast. My guess, based on how 8x02 ended and on the way Dany says “The dead are already here” is that there is going to be some tension. A lot of it. My best guess? the conflict isn’t going to be solved until 8x04 at the earliest. 

I told @smoldany I am thinking Jon wants to stick to the plan (contrary to what he did in BoB) and Dany will maybe see her troops getting smashed. As I mentioned, they make the vanguard so they will get hit the most. I imagine Dany is still shook from the reveal and when Jon will tell her to stick to the plan, she will go KHALESSI YES and mount on Drogon and go fuck up some wights and WW and protect her people because that’s what she does. Maybe Jon tells her something along the “The NK isn’t here” and she replies that exact phrase we hear in the preview. 

I am expecting some sort of rift between them mid battle. I know, I have mentioned it, but that’s what happens when person A and B go into a fight for life while they are also fighting. 

I mentioned in an ask how we will get a parallel to the scene beyond the wall where Jon falls into ice water in front of Dany. I am expecting something like this to happen, but reversed. This time it will be Dany falling and Jon running, watching something in horror. Maybe she falls off Drogon, maybe she falls with Drogon, but something happens, because I swear that Jon pic where he looks horrified it’s all I can think of. Plus! We haven’t seen Dany in armour yet! What if the Red/Black Dragonstone dress from the teaser is actually her armour? Maybe she gets injured and they finally decide she should get armour. Why? Well, I cannot stop thinking of what Tyrion said in season 7, that it only takes a well shot arrow for it to be all over. I also think that if this isn’t the moment she gets injured on Drogon, it will come later, probably in 8x05. 

Plus, c’mon, they have to make us think (even for a few minutes) for maximum angst ™ that one of the two heroes may die. 

If we get Jon carrying Dany to safety I will be the happiest. 

If what I said happens, we also have all the chances of getting the I THOUGHT I LOST YOU kiss I keep mentioning. D&D do not fuck this up for me. 

The Crypts or “sure, the Lich Night King is coming, you know what would be a good idea? To go sit in the motherfucking crypts where the motherfucking dead are kept.” 

Look. Do I believe the dead will rise in the crypts? Mmmmm not really. Except maybe Rickon, because he is the freshest dead person to be put here. There is a lot of foreshadowing in the books that the dead in the crypts may rise in a form or another, but… I don’t think it will happen in the show. 

However! Since the crypts have been mentioned a lot, I am inclined to thing something BIG will happen. My best bet? The dead push through the gates and the Mormont forces and they make it to the crypts. AHA but you will say - “UMMM aLiCe but the people are then sitting ducks” - well, not necessarily. There are a lot of secret passages in Winterfell, if you remember, that’s how Bran escaped ! So if the dead are to invade the crypts, I am guessing at least some of the people will flee through the tunnels. We just have too many big characters there for them to die so soon, at least Tyrion. Let’s be real, Tyrion won’t die now. He has to flee somehow. 

Winter FELL

I told my friend @tomakeitbeautifultolive once that I thought the fight for Winterfell is doomed from the start. Imo, this keep is meant to fall, and the NK will have a victory here. 

While we’re on the subject of Winterfell, lemme bring up my theory that it will be a sort of Culling of Stratholme situation from WoW. In case you’re interested, click on that link, the lore is so rich in this game, but I digress. I think the bittersweet part if they don’t get slammed and pushed to retreat or die, it will be a sort of decision - aka if we don’t burn as much as the fallen as we can then we are just adding more forces to the AoTD. So… I am thinking there will be a point where the dead are clearly winning and they cannot take any more chances, so they burn as much as they can, living and dead, especially inside of WInterfell. Or maybe I am just too MUCH :D

Regardless if Winterfell is being sacrificed or not, our heroes will be forced to retreat. Because if you think the NK is going to be defeated in episode 3/6 …..

Where the fuck is the Night King then?

Funny how we haven’t seen the NK in the trailer, nor in the preview for this episode, nor at the end of episode 2 - we just saw the WW on their horses.

Will he even be at WF? Idk man their plan looks pretty dumb. And as far as I remember, the NK could see Bran. The NK knew Dany was coming and was prepared with spears for dragons (and chains!). So why the fuck would he not be able to see this shitty ass plan??? 

I told some of my friends that I think the NK will fool them, send his forces to WF while he will either stay on the sides for as much as he can in order to bait Dany and/or Jon… (so he will swoop in let’s say mid battle - maybe that’s why we see Dany on Drogon in a blizzard, or idk, we saw the weather change also when WW are present, so you never know) or go to the Isle of Faces because I think he may want to destroy some big important weirdwood tree… or maybe I am thinking again too much about WoW and I am getting Teldrassil vibes 

Bran Starkashian waiting for his date with the NK under the weridwood tree

Uff I think this is the part of the plan that will backfire the most

I am 99% sure this is where Theon dies, while defending Bran because the dead are gonna come to the Godswood for Bran’s sexy ass

I told @tomakeitbeautifultolive that Jonno looks too distressed and oddly calm when he is drawing Longclaw and he looks to also be in the Godswood - oh gosh what if he mercy kills someone ? Oh gosh what if it’s Theon… or Rickon…

But Alice, what about Cersei and her GC? And Bronn?

I honestly don’t know. Weird how Cersei seems to have a plan in place. So what happened to Euron after ep 1? Did he get mad when Yara got rescued? Is the GC just gonna sit in KL and wait for an attack? Are they marching North? Are they gonna also arrive in WF while the dead are there? 

I just want to mention that in the trailer, when Arya does her spear thingy, it seems there is blood spatter from one of the people she hits… “but wights don’t bleed, Alice,” - I hear you say. Exactly, buddy. EXACTLY. So who the hell is Arya killing? just something to keep in mind. 

Last thoughts: 

Jorah will die - as Theon, his arc is fulfilled, and especially after his heart to heart with Dany in 8x02 I am 99% sure he dies. 

Grey also may die. Listen, I was surprised he made it alive out of Casterly Rock. I don’t think he will get to take Missandei to Naath…

I’m thinking 5-ish minutes of intro + 60 ish of action + the rest is the retreat

The jonerys conflict will most likely continue into 8x04, where it may get solved - if not, 8x05 for the makeup sex.

Beric dies; either Podrick or Jaime die, but not both

Edd dies

ALIVE: The Starks + Gendry + Dadvos + Missandei + Lyanna Mormont + the Hound + Sam + Gilly + Little Sam + Brienne + Ghost + Tormund

I am still holding off for Nymeria and her pack! 

Bottom line is, I am pumped for this episode, it is gonna hurt as hell, so yeah! Asks and dms are open, as usual, so feel free to ask questions if there is something I missed. See you on Sunday! Bring wine and food! 

[justanothercinemaniac]

Epic Movie (Re)Watch #131 - High Noon

Spoilers below.

Have I seen it before: Yes

Did I like it then: Yes.

Do I remember it: Yes.

Did I see it in theaters: No.

Format: Blu-ray

1) This film has traditionally been labelled the Western for people who don’t like Westerns, and that is largely because of its uniqueness among the Western genre. It is a not so subtle metaphor for Hollywood’s unwillingness to stand up against Joseph McCarthy and his House of Un-American Activities Council (HUAC). Because of that the screenwriter was blacklisted after working on this film, it didn’t win Best Picture (The Greatest Show on Earth did, as it was McCarthy’s favorite film and the director was a big supporter of black listing), and even John Wayne called it un-american up until his death. That hasn’t stopped it from being considered one of the greatest films ever made of any genre.

2) The theme song for this film - “High Noon (Do Not Foresake Me)” - sung by Tex Ritter was revolutionary for movie music. It was the first time a film advertised a song of its own as a single, it was the first song to win the Oscar for best original song that wasn’t in a movie musical, and it was the first time a theme song had a recurring motif throughout the film. The reason I first saw this film is because I took a music in film class my junior year of high school and this was on the curriculum. Tex Ritter’s tune is both classic western but notably somber, with perfect lyrical representation of main character Will Kane’s conflict. It is a great song and you should give it a listen if you have the chance.

3) Hey, that’s Lee Van Cleef!

4) Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly.

Cooper was 51 at the time of the film’s release. Kelly was 27. I’m trying not to be weirded out by that age difference but I am. The pair even had an affair which lasted the duration of filming. They have a nice chemistry between them. Not a heated one but a steady one, a trusting one. There’s a tenderness between the two and - later - a somber stoic-ness to their relationship. You get that they really love each other without them tearing each other’s clothes apart.

5) Gary Cooper as Will Kane.

Will Kane is an incredibly noble character. Modern movie audiences may find a worthy comparison in Captain America from Captain America: Civil War. Will is someone where if he can do the right thing, he HAS to do the right thing. Even when literally no one supports him, when no one stands with him, he - as a human being - cannot let bad things happen when he can work to stop them.

Kane [to his wife Amy]: “I’m not trying to be a hero. If you think I like this you’re crazy.”

Cooper won an Oscar for his work in the film, and it is clear why. Cooper is not John Wayne. He does not present Kane as this legendary hero. He is very much a human being. An honest, down to earth, and pretty sad human being who audiences immediately relate with. I’d venture to say it’s the best performance of his career if I’d seen enough of his other films.

6) Lloyd Bridges as Harvey, Kane’s (sort of former) deputy.

Harvey is...honestly, Harvey’s a jackass. He’s arrogant, rash, and does not do his actual job in helping Kane out. Instead he tries to extort him for position in return for doing his job. His is condescending to his girlfriend Helen Ramirez, he tries to run Kane out of town, and even though he has some moral conflicts throughout the film that’s not enough for him to actually get off his ass and do anything about it. Screw Harvey (although Lloyd Bridges is good in the part).

7) Grace Kelly as Amy.

This film does a pretty admirable job with writing it’s female characters for being released in 1951, although Amy is not its best example of that (more on that later). Amy is an interesting, conflicted, well rounded character. Her conflict with Will is clear: she does not believe in guns or violence. But she still loves him. Kelly is able to show these in a somber but compelling way, and able to balance out Amy’s more naive treats with her conviction to those beliefs. It’s a damn good part and Kelly does a fine job in the role.

8) I am sure that some attitudes of characters throughout the film are meant to be parallels of certain Hollywood attitudes towards McCarthyism, but I don’t know enough of how people reacted to McCarthyism to be for sure on all of them. Like when Harv tries to extort Will, when he says he’ll help out ONLY if Will does something for him, I imagine that is reflective of some sort of attitude from the era. An excuse not to go and do the right thing.

9) Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Helen Ramirez.

Helen Ramirez is not only a well written female character for 1951, she is a well written female character period. And she is INCREDIBLY well written. As soon as we meet her we learn that she is a strong, capable, and independent woman. She owns a small business in town and is respected in her community, despite her background as a Mexican woman (people in the Old West were really racist, if you haven’t noticed). But that didn’t stop her. No one talks down to her in the film and the writers never treat her as less than what she is. And she and Will have an incredible understanding of each other based not only on this concept but also their past relationship as lovers.

Helen [after Will tells her Frank Miller is coming back to town]: “I’m not afraid of him.”

Will: “I know you’re not.”

This does not mean she is not without fear or vulnerability though. All the best characters in this film are. But those things only round her out, give her more layers. She is someone who presents herself as strong but we know exactly what frightens her. We know what she loves, what she can’t stand, what she will fight for, and what she will run from. There is a great conflict to Helen, a great dose of some X factor this film needed. And Katy Jurado plays her perfectly. You know how Hollywood will still cast white people to play non-white characters these days? Well in 1951 they were actually able to find a Mexican actress to play a Mexican character. How radical (he said with sarcasm)! Jurado does great justice to the writing of Helen, while also adding to her strength and humanity. Honestly, Helen Ramirez is one of my favorite film characters of all time.

10) I noted how there are obvious parallels in this film between attitudes towards McCarthyism and attitudes towards Frank Miller. Well if you consider how some residents of the town think Frank Miller is good for them (in the film, that he’ll bring in business) you can clearly see that. There were people that thought McCarthy was good for the country. That his punishment of people not for breaking any laws but just for the way they thought and their difference of opinions was good for America. I freaking hate Joseph McCarthy.

11) It was at this point in the film I noted John Wayne’s distaste for it again, and to elaborate on that I think I’ll share with you this tidbit from IMDb:

John Wayne strongly disliked this movie because he knew it was an allegory for blacklisting, which he and his friend Ward Bond had strongly and actively supported. Twenty years later he was still criticizing it in his controversial May 1971 interview with Playboy magazine. Inventing a scene that was never in the movie, he claimed Gary Cooper had thrown his marshal's badge to the ground and stepped on it. He also stated he would never regret having driven blacklisted screenwriter Carl Foreman out of Hollywood.

12) One of the nice things about Kane is that he is flawed. He is not above giving into his human emotions, he’s not this perfect lawman. But he tries to be.

Bartender [after Kane punches him out for making bets on how soon he’ll die]: “You carry a badge and a gun marshall. You had no call to do that.”

Kane: “You’re right.” [He offers to help him up.]

13) There are two more examples back to back of attitudes towards helping Will Kane out which probably reflect the attitudes towards speaking out against McCarthy.

The cowardly man hiding in his home from Kane instead of facing Frank Miller being reflective of how most people just wanted to keep their heads down and not incur the wrath of McCarthy.

The rare person who wants to help Kane wants to do so out of revenge. I don’t know exactly if that relates to why some people wanted to fight McCarthy, but I imagine it does.

14) If I had to pick one reason that I love Helen Ramirez above all others, it would be because of this:

Ramirez [after Harvey grabs her]: “And as for you: I don’t like anybody to put his hands on me unless I want him to. And I don’t like you to. Anymore.” [She slaps him hard across the face.]

15) If you wanted a clearer example of how the attitudes among the town reflect the attitudes among Hollywood at the time in regards to McCarthyism, look no further than the church scene. Will comes in, BEGGING for help pretty much, and there are a bunch of people who immediately jump up to do the right thing. But then it gets dogged down. It gets dogged down by politics and people talking themselves out of it because they’re afraid. The mayor even says they shouldn’t do anything because it’ll be bad for their reputation (as many Hollywood people did at the time in regards to McCarthy). Its just bullshitting and bellyaching and complacency all born out of fear and it just strikes really close to the heart o this film. It is a great scene, not only because of its politic double meaning but because it conveys these messages without being preachy. It is all in support of its story.

16) Lon Chaney Jr. is in this movie as Will’s predecessor.

He doesn’t have much screen time, but the screen time he does have shows a lot of heartache on his part. He is disillusioned with the job of a marshal, with doing the right thing, because it never seems to work out. Chaney performs the scene with an incredible amount of sincerity, vulnerability, and sadness, making it one of the most memorable character moments in the film.

17) This film BARELY passes the Bechdel Test when Helen Ramirez and Amy Kane talk briefly about how they feel they don’t belong in this town, but most of their conversations (and there is quite a chunk of scree time devoted to them talking to each other) are about Will. BUT this is a perfect example as to why the Sexy Lamp Text beats out the Bechdel Test.

NO ONE IN THIS MOVIE TALKS ABOUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN A MALE CHARACTER AT ANY TIME, MAN OR WOMAN.

Will talks about Frank Miller, everyone else talks about both of them. That’s the whole conflict about the film, and it takes place in such a short amount of time they don’t have TIME to talk about anything else. So Helen and Amy talking about that with each other means they are equal to their men in the film, and both pass the Sexy Lamp Test. Amy’s actions and words have an effect on all around her, and Helen (towards the end of the film) actually saves Will’s life. I really like that.

18) Amy’s little monologue here is incredibly illuminating about her character and her conflict.

Helen: “What kind of woman are you? How can you leave him like this? Does the sound of guns frighten you that much?”

Amy: “I've heard guns. My father and my brother were killed by guns. They were on the right side but that didn't help them any when the shooting started. My brother was nineteen. I watched him die. That's when I became a Quaker. I don't care who's right or who's wrong.”

19) Another example of the attitudes in this film about Frank Miller parallel certain attitudes in Hollywood/America about Joseph McCarthy can be seen in how one of the few people wanting to fight is a sixteen year old boy. The young are always ready to fight for what they believe in, even if they don’t know the best way to fight for it. We’re itching for a rebellion, always.

20) This film is almost in real time. According to IMDb:

Although the picture takes place between 10:35 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.. slightly longer than the 84-minute running time, this was due to the re-editing ordered by Stanley Kramer and Fred Zinnemann, both of whom were unhappy over the first assemblage. Editor Elmo Williams experimented by using the final portion of the material shot and condensed it to exactly 60 minutes of footage timed to real-time in the film. Thus the film we see is Williams' experimental version, which met with both Kramer's and Zinnemann's approval.

21) The black smoke billowing from the train is a sign that the brakes were failing, and the train actually knocked the camera over and busted it. The film survived though, and it is disputed if that is the film which is in the movie or not.

22) The entire final shootout works VERY well from an action standpoint. It is incredibly tense, featuring very little dialogue for the most of it, and always keeps you on your toes. Through its choreography and character writing you never quite now what will happen next. That and the use of environment paints a plausible and interesting way of Will beating the odds and living through the final shootout almost totally alone, although Amy comes at the end and resolves her conflict by shooting out one of Miller’s goons. It is a truly worthy climax to the film.

23) Will discarding his tin star is such a fitting ending. Who exactly was he fighting for? A bunch of people who didn’t want to be saved? And if so...why? These are questions we ask ourselves as we see him discard his badge, riding off into retirement with the only person who actually stood by his side.

High Noon is a fine film I think everyone should see at least once. Even if you don’t like Westerns there are good odds you’ll like High Noon. Its metaphor for McCarthyism creates a unique and compelling narrative, the actors are exquisite, and the writing - ESPECIALLY the character writing - is just spectacular. I think it’s one of the best films ever made and quite possibly the best Western ever made.