#at this point dany had quite a reputation and everyone knew her name

[safifonhasstrel]

The Eras - Dany's Version

[tacticalvalor]

«────── « HEADCANON » ──────»

Inspired by Vendetta, and my slow returning fixations on Far Cry and Cyberpunk, here is a brief overview of what the Far Cry muses do within the Cyberpunk universe.

Ajay Ghale: Born to Ishwari and Mohan Ghale, the founder of the Golden Path. When he was only three-years-old, Ajay’s mother fled with him to Night City and would reveal nothing to him of Kyrat, his father, or why she left. Ajay led a conflicted childhood and grew up causing plenty of trouble for himself and his mother. He eventually fell in with the wrong crowd and, during his teens, became caught up in a robbery gone wrong that resulted in a store clerk being shot to death. While Ajay was not directly responsible for the shooting, he turned himself in and bartered a deal with police — in exchange for no prison time, he provided the name of the person who pulled the trigger. As Ajay was turning his life around, he learnt that his mother was dying. The last lucid conversation they had was about Kyrat. Yet before Ajay could prepare to travel back home, he was reached out to by Pagan Min. He offered his condolensces regarding Ishwari’s death, remaining vague about how it was he knew the woman and of her death. Instead, he simply offered Ajay one thing: Work with him, and he would reveal all he knew about Ishwari and their past.

Bambi “Buck” Hughes: Formerly a member of the Australian military, Buck found himself turning to the solo lifestyle. Some days he was a hired merc. Others he was a stone-cold assassin. His reputation precedes him, as many of his contracts have accompanying XBDs to go with them… if you pay the right price. Buck’s brutality and efficiency caught the eyes of Hoyt Volker, who permanently contracted him as the manager of his more sinister operations. His task? Break in the merchandise.

Bembé Alvarez: An immigrant from Yara, Bembé found himself quite at home within Night City’s bustling streets. He took up most gigs slid his way without complaint, earning quite the reputation among Night City’s criminal underbelly as “efficient” and “thorough”. Sure, it only took a hell of a lot of manipulation on his part, but that was just the way things worked. He never lied to folk, just never quite told them the whole truth about the brevity of circumstance. Soon enough, Bembé became a Fixer, establishing a lengthy network across the city and across the border.

Charlemagne “Sharky” Victor Boshaw IV: Surprisingly, Sharky had quite the normal upbringing in Night City. Born to a family who didn’t quite want him, he did his best to scrape by with what he was handed. Unfortunately for everyone else, he made it their problem. Sharky built quite the reputation among the NCPD as a serial arsonist and pyromaniac, having set fire to numerous properties (some purposeful, some accidental) with his shenanigans. Eventually, this resulted in him gaining an outstanding warrant for his arrest that resulted in him ‘taking a vacation’ to The Badlands. He fell in line with a few different Nomad groups, never sticking around long and breaking things off amicably. If only the same could be said for his high school sweetheart. Sharky travels across the desert taking up any sort of gigs he can get his hands on, often favoring those handed down by Dakota.

Dani Rojas: Born and raised in Yara’s capital city, Dani was a firsthand witness to the tensions between the government and the country’s citizens. The conflict reached a point where upon reaching adulthood, there was no choice but to enlist with Yara’s military, the Fuerzas Nacionales de Defensa (FND), as such was required for all Yaran citizens. Not long after boot camp, Dani dropped out from service and found a way to flee the country, landing in Night City. Hoping it would be a safe haven, Dani, Lita, and Alejo attempted to start anew, only for the dream to crumble when the Unification War broke out. With Lita and Alejo caught in the crossfire, Dani went into hiding until the peace treaty was signed. It was around this time that he learned of Castillo’s role within BioTechnica, and realized that if he wanted to avenge his friends, he would have to go to the source of it all.

Gilberto Rosario (Rosa Mel Paquete): Gilberto grew up in a poor family alongside his parents on the outskirts of Night City, often not having much in regard to basic necessities. Both of his parents took on odd jobs for any sort of pay, and Gilberto tried to help where he could. He would help local farmers tend to their fields and transport animals. He would help the local doctors with cleaning their offices after cases with severe traumatic injuries. Anything he could do, he would do. However, in this time, Gilberto realized he had a passion for music. It began when he helped up-and-coming bands set up and take down equipment wherever they played, and has since developed into a form of flourishing self expression to deal with the stress of his family and lifestyle. Gilberto allied himself with the Moxes even before their formal formation, finding solace alongside the group. After the death of Elizabeth “Lizzie” Borden, Gilberto rallied under the Moxes banner and used his status as a drag performer to pass along intel from other gangs and corporations. Something of a spymaster, Gilberto has his eyes set on tearing down Night City one corrupt bastard at a time.

Hoyt Volker: Formerly aligned with a vast South African corporation (comparable to the likes of Militech in size, not function) due to his father’s position among the corporation’s executives, Hoyt has taken control of the remaining land along Morro Bay and its State Park, dubbing it the grounds of the Privateers. The Privateers are a gang consisting largely of former military professionals, including many from the likes of Militech after controversies of massacring innocent civilians came to light. His primary operations remain fairly the same: Drugs, Human Trafficking, and Weapons.

Jacob Seed: Troubled from the start, the eldest Seed brother served his fair share of time among Militech’s ranks. He was a key fighter in the Unification War, tossed around while drowning in a cocktail of chems to keep him awake and going at a moment’s notice. Jacob stood on the brink of cyberpsychosis numerous times, just pulled back by the crushing weight of reality. But this weight grew lighter and lighter. Lighter until he snapped and, in what he claims to be a moment of survival, desecrated the remains of his brother-in-arms to live another day. After his discharge from Militech, he became a ghost. A specter wandering Night City’s slums until his brothers found him and brought him back to life. He joined them in leaving the city for good, and makes sure to put his combat expertise to use in The Badlands.

Jason Brody: An aspiring techie from Watson, Jason found himself way in over his head. Living in the lap of luxury that he could not afford. His debts quickly caught up to him, and it resulted in his kidnapping and the tragic loss of both brothers. Grant was executed by the cyberpsycho Vaas, dragged out past the city walls in a grand display of authority. Riley was taken without a trace, imprisoned somewhere deep within the Pirates’ territory, where rumors are Jason’s only lead to finding him.

Deputy Joey Hudson: Returning to the force after a tragic run-in with a cyberpsycho, Joey Hudson works within NCPD’s ranks as a dedicated lieutenant. Her specialties place her on the outskirts of MaxTac’s jurisdiction, a point of connection for the psdueo-military sector and those tucked away in the pockets of the rich. While she has her qualms with the purchasability of NCPD’s higher officers, she voices no complaints, long as she makes it home at the end of the day.

John Seed: Once a bright-eyed boy, tragedy would separate John from his elder brothers and land him in the hands of the Duncans. His time with them was defined by punishment. By reverance for rejecting the “corporate standard”. Yet, John studied law. He flourished when he finally left their home, burying himself in the harsh neon glow of Corpo Plaza. Losing himself in the world of cybernetics and sex. It was on the streets where he found Joseph once again, and on those very streets that he turned his nose to the world that hoisted him up. With some convincing, he left behind the city of sin and aided Joseph in establishing Eden’s Gate.

Joseph Seed: Hailing from quaint suburbs which became targets during the Unification War, Joseph and his siblings traveled west to avoid the growing plague that was the corporate takeover. Town after town fell to the atrocities of NUSA’s top corps, and life had a funny way of pulling the family apart one by one. Joseph once wandered Night City’s streets as a preacher, warning citizens of the horrors of transhumanism and the corporate greed that blinded everybody to them. His beliefs would become the foundation for Eden’s Gate, a cult of followers dedicated in their aversion to cybernetics. Eventually, through trial by fire, the Seed brothers reunited and established their compound in The Badlands.

Juan Cortez: What began as a simple tale grew into something much bigger than expected. Born in Yara, Juan had a difficult upbringing with the growing political tensions the nation faced. Many locals in his neighborhood took up arms with guerrilla forces, and others stood by the side of the Yaran government and the Castillo family. Things reached a boiling point when a group of revolutionaries led by Santos Espinosa lead an intense revolution against the Yaran government, ultimately resulting in the death of President Gabriel Castillo. Only 10 at the time, Juan’s parents realized that their best bet would be to flee before things got worse. The Cortez family packed their things and vanished into the night, eventually stumbling onto the sandy shores of Miami, Florida. Juan did what he could to aid his family, and ultimately found himself working for the NUSA’s Central Intelligence office. He served as an eye on the inside during the Corporate War, embedded into enemy lines to relay information to the government. His efforts weren’t entirely as straightforward, as the information exchange often flowed both ways. When the war ended, Juan realized that the man who toppled his home country was a frequent flyer to Night City, and thus began Juan’s independent operation into taking down Antón while he had the chance.

María Marquessa: Right hand to the newfound CEO of BioTechnica, María lends her aid as the corporation’s head of marketing (and propaganda, though she won’t go on record to call it such). María handles the corporation’s public relations, and assures the citizens of Night City that nothing can go wrong, so long as they place their trust in Castillo’s leadership. Behind the scenes, there’s another side to María. A vulnerable side hidden away from public eyes, where she dotes their son and attempts to stroke the simmering flames between herself and Antón.

Nicholas “Nick” Rye: Hailing from a long lineage of servicemen, Nick fell out of contact with his family when he refused to serve in the Unification War. Instead, he left Night City and found his personal freedom in the Badlands. He took up odd jobs as a scavenger, traveling in and out of the city to deliver cargo. It was during his outings in Night City where he fell in love with Kim, whom he convinced to join him out away from the push and pull of it all. Together, they built a homestead to call their own. A homestead to plant the seeds for raising a family of their own… alongside the abandoned Panzer that Nick salvaged from his family’s old property on the border.

Noore Najjar: Once a member of Trauma Team, Noore found herself at wit’s end when an assignment gone wrong landed her at the feet of the notorious Pagan Min. At first, she was willing to lend her aid to the organization. After all, Kang Tao was held in high regard among Night City’s corporate elite. What she didn’t know is that they had eyes on her every move. On her family. And one day, when they 'mysteriously’ went missing, Pagan was there to offer Noore information in exchange for an exclusive arrangement. She left Trauma Team to work for him as a back alley ripper, and he 'conveniently’ forgot to mention that her family had been dead for months upon months. Funny how that works, huh?

Pagan Min: Rather than abandon his role within the Triad, Pagan embraced taking the reigns from his father. Now that the piece of shit was gone, he had the means to properly tear shit up. And he did. So much so, in fact, that he got in it with Kang Tao. A few shady deals here, a couple of bribes there, and Pagan’s branch of the Triad found themselves in all the glory Night City has to offer. Pagan acts as the figurehead for Kang Tao’s less legitimate dealings, often brokering deals between the corporation and anyone willing to buy in on exclusive stock.

Paolo de la Vega: Born and raised in the Heywood District, with his parents hailing from Yara, Paolo had many expectations to uphold in his family. He was drafted into Militech’s ranks at the turn of the War, and did well to follow in the footsteps of his father. That was, until news of his identity came to light. Paolo was dishonorably discharged and disowned by his family for “dressing like a man”. He was left to fend for himself in Night City’s streets, taking odd jobs that typically weren’t worth the extra creds. At some point, he ended up stealing from Talia, who opted to befriend him and let him on her musical ventures. The duo formed Máximas Matanzas, using their voices to protest the corporate takeover of Night City (particularly that of BioTechnica, where the utopian leadership is not all that it seems).

Peaches: One of few wild animals to survive Night City’s attempts at eliminating the local populace after a string of transmissible diseases, Peaches wanders the sands of The Badlands. At times, she finds herself at the doorstep of Miss Wilhelmina Mabel, who cares for Peaches for reasons unknown. Perhaps it’s craved companionship. Perhaps it’s simply an exchange for the loot Peaches gathers and stores. Regardless, the cougar seems rather friendly to most scavengers.

Rachel Jessop (Faith Seed): Born into wealth and set up with significant shares in BioTechnica (thanks to the family’s research in experimental medicine via plants), Rachel fell from grace when the pressures put onto her finally pulled her under. She turned to drugs for comfort, often finding herself lost within Night City’s streets and barely able to make it back home when things got particularly awful. For a while, Rachel had Tracey. Had someone to help her and pull her away from whatever edge, metaphorical or literal, that she found herself nearly toppling over. Unfortunately, their relationship fell under when Rachel met Joseph. According to Rachel, dubbed Faith by the preacher, Joseph welcomed her, introducing her to a strict moral code without drugs and alcohol whereby she recovered from her addiction. Unlike Rachel, Tracey soon realized Eden’s Gate’s duplicity and left them, while Rachel immersed herself completely in the ideology of the cult. She became a figurehead for those who stumbled across their territory, luring them in with a false sense of security before subjecting them to “the Bliss”.

Sam Becker: The son of a proud Militech father, Sam Becker treads Night City from the shadows. Working alongside Willis Huntley in the NUSA CIA, a mission gone wrong turned this dedicated soldier into a man fighting for his life. After losing contact out on Morro Bay, Sam found himself stuck in the ranks of Hoyt’s Privateers. Rising to become the patriarch’s right-hand man, he’s got a bad feeling he might not be able to claw his way out.

Willis Huntley: Working for President Myers is no easy task. Anybody can tell you that, but Willis doesn’t sugar coat it. Agent Willis Huntley works as a member of the NUSA’s Central Intelligence Agency. Sound familiar? A lot of his work involves working closely with Militech to keep an eye on things. Particularly the work of Arasaka, and what exactly it is they want with Night City. What do they gain from the town’s independence from the Union? Who knows? Not Willis.

Yuma Lau: Loyalty is one hell of a drug. Ever since the Min family took her in, Yuma devoted herself to their cause… whatever that may be. She idolizes Pagan and what he’s capable of. It’s no surprise that she followed him into the light as he stepped out of the shadow his father cast upon him. She followed him into blind deals with Kang Tao, acting as his personal guard. If anybody so much as looked at him wrong, they were in for a world of trouble. She followed him to Night City, taking control of the Triad’s security and protecting their interests with an iron fist.

[musical-chick-13]

Cersei Lannister for the character ask thing :)

YAY MY ALL-TIME FAVE

• Did they live up to their potential? / In what ways was their potential unachieved?

-Um...YES. I’m going to focus on show here because...the books...aren’t finished...SO. Although I do wish the end of the show had focused more on the fallout of her history with Sansa and I do wish she had been afforded a more direct confrontation with Dany, I don’t think I could have ever asked for a better villain. I started watching the show because I was told there was a hot evil lady, and I could never have imagined the utter humanity Lena brought to her or the nuance and clearly-motivated yet realistic complexities afforded to Cersei’s character. I had waited my whole life for some female character any female character to be allowed to be fucked up. To do stupid things and make mistakes and feel ugly/extreme emotions and experience internalized misogyny and have terrible coping mechanisms and be mentally ill in an ugly (as in, not cute/romanticized) way. To keep going out of spite even though she thought there was nothing to keep going for. I saw little glimmers of that early season 1, and those only got better and better as Cersei only got more and more formidable as time went on. I truly am winning the most I love her so much.

• How they negatively and positively affected the story.

-The thing here is that without Cersei, there really is no overarching story. Her relationship with Jaime is what drives the entire plot and Ned’s uncovering of the court’s corruption. Her refusal to have Robert’s child on the throne (or give birth to his child in the first place) is what causes the succession crisis that even makes everyone else’s power plays a possibility. She spurs Sansa’s development from idealistic child to jaded young adult, which is lynchpin of the whole Northern Independence arc that ultimately ends in her being crowned there. And through all of this, she is both ruthless and sympathetic. She has understandable motivations: she is tired of being treated as less-than for being a woman. She feels like her life is meaningless in such a world if she cannot have power. Power is the only way to truly be safe. She wants to protect her children. She wants her father to understand her. She wants to break herself away from her womanhood but she can’t escape it. All of these things enrich the story because they make the watcher/reader ask, “What truly makes someone evil. Is what she’s doing that much worse than what anyone else in this show does? What course of defense does she have by not being an athletic woman who can physically fight? If love makes you do terrible things, is it always a force of good? What do we allow people to get by with in the name of protecting their family? At what point does self-preservation become irredeemably villainous? How do we talk about abuse of power when the people abused are also terrible people who do terrible things?” All of these questions deal with deconstructing the idea of black and white morality, which is, I would argue, the entire point of the series. So she serves that end quite nicely. :)

• What my favorite arc for them is.

Oooh, this is a tricky one. I’m a sucker for anything that allows Cersei to go absolutely feral and I love pain, so probably her fight against the Faith Militant. They try to take absolutely everything from her. She is so blinded by the threat  Margaery poses to her family’s and her stability, that she makes a not-too-well-thought-out decision. (You know, like a real person.) She loses her reputation, she gets thrown in prison, her main ally turns on her, and she goes through the Walk of Atonement, which is honestly probably the most painful thing I’ve ever fucking seen. She spends an entire season trying to pick up the pieces and it culminates in the most badass death-to-my-enemies scene I think I’ve ever seen. And to see a character pull themselves back up from the brink of complete ruin? Especially one who is severely depressed and “hysterical”? We love to see it.

• What I think of their ending.

PERFECT BEAUTIFUL AMAZING 10/10 MY GIRL DIED THE LAST QUEEN TO EVER SIT ON THE IRON THRONE DIDN’T GET BRUTALLY MURDERED AND DIED IN THE ARMS OF THE ONLY MAN SHE EVER TRULY WANTED WHO LOVED HER UNCONDITIONALLY GOD FUCKING BLESS

Personal bias aside, Jaime and Cersei were always going to die together. Jaime was never truly “redeemed,” he just became more understood. (Feeling ashamed of being ostracized and generally agreeing some of your actions were bad =/= becoming a good person who breaks ties with every unhealthy or immoral behavior you engage in.) Jaime came back to Cersei because they understand each other. And Cersei recognizes that she is about to truly lose everything. Her family, her power, her empire, her life. But in the end, she realizes that there was one glimmer of good and that she doesn’t have to lose all of those things alone. It’s a humbling, miserable death, but in very many ways it comes the way she always knew it would: at the hands of another woman, and by the side of the man who is such a part of herself that that other woman in question ceases to matter. Her last moments might be because of Daenerys, but they aren’t about her, they’re about Jaime and Cersei. The only two people. Together. Just as they’d always predicted. And then the person responsible for her death doesn’t even get to enjoy it because it came at the price of a complete loss of conscience. My fave not brutally murdered onscreen via betrayal and whose demise is because of someone who ultimately doesn’t even gain that much from her death? Beautiful, I want 500.

Cersei is terrified (which. yeah of course she is.) but she went out knowing that everything she did in her life wasn’t completely meaningless, that her pursuit of safety and security at all costs ultimately ended in someone she loved trying to comfort her. She gains that sense of comfort and self-awareness she always wanted in chasing after power, but not in the way she had ever envisioned. Not because of any specific thing she did or any specific enemy she defeated, not because of a particularly intelligent power play or who her father was or which house she aligned herself with, but simply because she loved someone who loved her and that alone was enough. In her final moments, in a way completely at odds with everything she has ever tried to do, she finally finds acceptance. The tragedy is that she can’t enjoy it longer. What a poetically sad, cathartic, fitting end to her quest for self-preservation.

• When I wish they had died. / If I think they should’ve died.

She almost, almost makes it to the end. She outlasts the White Walkers (which I think is valid because she was nowhere near the battle, and, ultimately, her primary enemy is her own penchant for self-destruction, in a way most of the other characters’ aren’t). For years she hangs on out of spite, and no human can kill her though many have tried or wanted to. Ultimately, she can’t compete with dragon WMD’s and a crumbling city. She did sort of achieve her objective. No specific person killed her. It took nonhuman entities to succeed at that. Fits in nicely with the “So you got what you wanted but not quite” theme of the series. Obviously I wish that she and Jaime could escape to Pentos with their child and live peacefully forever, but a) they would be hiding forever to prevent the people they’ve harmed (so like...the whole realm) from coming after them which I just don’t think they’d have much patience for, and b) I really don’t think Cersei would ever give up her quest for power and ruling the world because she would never feel safe or like her existence was meaningful otherwise. In order for the story to have anything remotely resembling a peaceful or happy ending for Westeros at large, she has to die. Which makes me very sad because I LOVE HER, but narrative cohesion is also a thing.

[thousandeyesand-one]

Hey anon,

Thank you for your question! There is a common misconception people have about targ restoration that it is going to establish another era of Dragon Lords resuming rule in the Red Keep. Thats not atleast what I think is going to happen I'd like to think there's more people who understand this. 

Stark Restoration was just as important as Targaryen Restoration is for the future of this story. House Targaryen has a very bad reputation when it comes to rule or just in general. Almost like each & every single one of their mistakes were remembered by the history & maybe even exaggerated in some cases.

"The Targaryens have always danced too close to madness. King Jaehaerys once told me that madness and greatness are two sides of the same coin. Every time a Targaryen is born, the gods toss a coin in the air and the world holds its breath to see how it will land".

                      - Ser Barristan Selmy (ASOS)

There are so many accounts of the Targaryen's cruelty most of them true but one should wonder if before Targaryen's came to Westeros, before Aegon's conquest was Westeros really all that hunky dory at all? It is said in TWOIAF that even before aegon conquered the Realm the seven kingdoms fought amongst each other. Black harren terrorized the riverlands always in a fight with Argilac the arrogant whose name alone gives you the idea of what he was North forgot their were 6 other kingdoms, after the age of heroes. In short the war, destruction & internal conflicts are not House Targaryen's legacy alone in Westeros. 

"Because of the Long Night, these early wildlings were then pressured to begin a wave of conquests to the south. That they became monstrous in the tales told thereafter, according to Fomas, reflects the desire of the Night’s Watch and the Starks to give themselves a more heroic identity as saviors of mankind, and not merely the beneficiaries of a struggle over dominion."

          -Archmaester Foma's Lies of Ancients (TWOIAF)

Brandon the Breaker is said to have joined forces with joramun to overthrow the Night's King who according to Old Nan was a Stark. That is why Brandon the Breaker broke the horn of winter & is said to have wiped any record of the Night's King or any knowledge of such instance from Night's Watch history or Stark's records. I am not comparing but Targaryen's have never tried to wipe anything mostly because they didn't care about anything or anyone.

"Like their dragons the Targaryens answered to neither gods nor men."

"Treachery was a coin the Tragaryens knew well"

"What did a Targaryen ever knew about honor?"

Almost every POV we get speaks of Targaryen's in a derogatory manner. Neither has the history written by Septons or songs sung by singers have been dealt with by Targaryens in their favor unlike the Starks who behave way too good to have kept power for 8,000 years. Specially when it is widely believed that Valyrians are First Men just like the Starks.

So both Starks & Targaryens are descendants of same civilization but separated by land & time & later on religion. First men in westeros became the Kings of Winter & First men in essos became Valyrians. Both these families don't have clean records when it comes to their history. Starks defeated the children, killed the marsh kings & barrow kings of the old taking their women into marriage & making their reign formidable & long-lasting without any contests left in the north & Valyrians decimated their enemies & the leftover they enslaved. The oppressed children created White Walkers an army that literally fights & perpetuates death & those enslaved in the caves of 14 flames in valyria created the faceless men who also worship death. Point is both these families have their hands in the dirt but one (stark) were cunning enough to clean the board but Targaryens were too proud & idiotic to care about hiding their mistakes.

"Their must always be a Stark in winterfell" people say has something to do with the Kings of winter & Lords of Winterfell being buried down in the crypts that they'll wake before the endgame being the literal representation of "Winter is coming" as in the dead Kings of winter are coming. That is the true might of Winterfell. Before the Long Night comes again a Stark must be there in Winterfell to fight the army of the dead that brings the storm with them. That is why the stark restoration  happened. I understand we as viewers are very emotional when it comes to Starks because the story started with them & they have been the victims of the books+tv show that we've been following but the stark restoration had a much more deeper meaning behind it than just merely giving them a safe place in this cruel world.    "Everyone is where they are & what they are for a reason.. "  Starks are needed before the endgame that will be the final twist in the show regarding the Night King.

Likewise, Targaryen's are needed to Break the Wheel they created at King's Landing because quite simply nobody else can or will. When Aegon conquered the 7k he offered mercy to the Lords who bent the knee & granted them the land with the title of Lord Paramount but the ones who rebelled & fought him he decimated House Hoare wiped out, House Durrandon wiped save for a daughter who married Orys Baratheon, House Gardener also wiped out. Rest of them bent the knee. Aegon showed mercy to House Stark, House Lannister & just about everyone who begged for it. While House Tully he instilled as Lord Paramount of Riverlands, House Baratheon he gifted his Bastard brother his own house name & a castle, House Arryn also shown mercy to & house Tyrell were stewards of House Gardener who bent the knee to Aegon & he named them the Lord of Highgarden. Even though Martells very much like the Starks had no interest in the power outside of their kingdom they just wanted independence but they never bent the knee whatsoever. Point being all the other houses after the conquest were no less than common folk to the might of House Targaryen, they were sort off elevated to a level of lordship by House Targaryen kinda like how house clegane was elevated to Lordship with their own house sigil by Tywin Lannister, like Ser Davos Seaworth was knighted for his deeds even after being a smuggler by stannis. Back then the fear of Dragons & the might & wrath of Targaryens kept any & everyone under control. so when time came they rebelled against them not only that but are now vying for the very power the Targaryen's created playing the game of thrones.     

"Varys: give us common folk one taste of power we are like the lion who tasted blood.. nothing is ever sweeter"

"LF: Do you know what the realm is? It's the thousand blades of Aegon's enemies, a story we agreed to tell each other over & over till we forget that it's a lie."

"Varys: Power resides where men believe it resides. It's a trick. A shadow on the wall."

Ever since Robert Baratheon died all the people who say they have the claim or want the claim joffery, cersei, Renly, Stannis, Robb, Little Finger, Tyrells etc everyone of these people are trying to chase that shadow on the wall it's like they're trying to catch smoke with bare hands it's too treacherous & volatile causing the destruction it did in the War of the Five Kings. Only the most erroneous of the lesser people will be able to tame it like Cersei who fought to win to save her children & now after losing all of the 3 she's fighting for her own skin, her family. She doesn't care about the greater good or anything she did what nobody had the the soul to do, she stopped at nothing! She tames the shadow on the wall because she stepped into darkness & shadows don't exist in darkness.

"... to reach the light you must pass beneath the shadow"       -Quaithe

Maybe this is the shadow that dany has to pass beneath to find the light, to pass beneath the shadow of power to find the light of wisdom & courage to break the wheel. (Although am not completely denying the possibility of dany going to asshai & passing through the shadow lands as a lot of people theorize). The Targaryen Restoration is just as important as Stark Restoration is.

[acuppellarp]

Welcome to A Cup-pella, Kieran! We’re excited to have you and Stevie Evans in the game! Please go through the checklist to make sure you’re ready to go and send in your account within the next 24 hours. 

OOC INFO

Name + pronouns: Kieran, she/her Age: 23 Timezone:  MST Ships: Stevie/Chemistry Anti-Ships: Stevie/No Chemistry, Stevie/Any other Evans

IC INFO

Full Name: Stephanie “Stevie” Erin Evans Face Claim: Olivia Holt (Cloak and Dagger gifs only) Age/Birthday: 20, December 11, 1997 Occupation: Apprentice Tattoo Artist & Bike Messenger Personality:  sarcastic, loyal, rude, artistic, charismatic Hometown: Nashville, TN Bio:

As the second youngest child in a family of five, Stevie often felt forgotten by her family. Sure, their parents did their best to make sure that everyone got a little slice of time with Mom and Dad, but a pie split five ways isn’t exactly great. And as much her other siblings seemed okay with everything that was going on, Stevie never felt satisfied. She wanted a normal childhood—she wanted to be like the other girls who got to go to ballet practice or learn piano or do all of that normal childish things that kids often loved to complain about. She wanted to be a kid without worrying about her classmates mocking her for her hand-me-down clothes and second-hand backpack. She wanted to be more than just that poor kid in class.

Family was so important to all of her other siblings, to the point where they were okay with the situation their family was in—going to bed hungry, having the power shut off, their parent’s terse conversations every time the bills came due. Even if it meant the Evans clan was able to stick together, they were okay with shouldering the burden. Stevie saw how Sam struggled being the oldest of them, taking on responsibilities that no teenager ever should. All in the name of family.

By the time she hit high school, Stevie was bitter towards the school system and the world as a whole. She wasn’t as smart as Stacey and while she made it onto the varsity soccer team, she would never be able to compare to Sam. She wasn’t as talented as her older sister, not as smart as her younger sister, and nothing like her brothers. Out of the Evans siblings, Stevie was the only one who didn’t have a future ahead of her. At least, that’s how it looked to her.

So, when her junior year of high school rolled around and she was cut from the soccer team—replaced by a better prospect, a younger, faster, quicker forward—Stevie fell in with a different sort of crowd. They were the kids who hung out under the bleachers and mouthed off to teachers. But, beyond their seemingly skeevy reputations, there was a secret love that they all seemed to share: art. Specifically, graffiti art.

Stevie fell into the world of art head first, learning about tagging and trying her hand at laying down tags whenever she had a free moment. That was how she met her best friend, Brandon, one of the under-the-bleacher-kids who, like her, had an interest in art. He showed her different techniques, playing with spray paint, stencils, and whatever spare bit of wall he could find. The two became close friends and Stevie learned a lot from him. But, as fun as tagging was, she wanted to broaden her vision beyond just vandalizing people’s back walls.

Her senior year, what money she made at her crappy fast food job went to buying herself real art supplies—Copic Markers, paints, canvases, charcoal. Stevie had found something she was interested in and, to her surprise, it was something that she was actually good at. But, art schools cost money and even if she had the huge portfolio that they were looking for, she didn’t have a chance in hell of getting a scholarship.

Brandon on the other hand, he had a shot, a real shot. And when he got that letter, saying that he’d been accepted? They both celebrated his accomplishment, happy that at least one of them would be getting out there and following their dream. But, when Brandon pulled out a second letter, this time addressed to her? It was almost unreal. Stevie opened that letter and saw that she’d been accepted to the City College of New York’s art program under a full scholarship.

The rest of the year passed in a blur, with Stevie going off to college—something she never dreamed of happening. And when she first started her classes, she thought it was everything she had ever wanted. But, the reality of going to school day in and day out when she could be out and about exploring New York? It was a drag. Soon she was ditching class to bike around the city and mingle with the other New Yorkers, just taking it all in.

While this free spirited existence suited her, it did little for her grades and by the end of her freshman year, Stevie was faced with the consequences of her actions: her scholarship was taken away. Everything that she and Brandon had worked hard to secure, gone. Suddenly, Stevie was truly on her own and without her family to fall back on. There was no way she was going back to Nashville—she couldn’t burden her family by moving back in. And, she still had her wits and her trusty bike, which was better than nothing.

Stevie found a job as a bike messenger and fell in love with it. Being a bike courier was fast paced, exciting, and cut-throat in just the right ways. Plus, the courier community was like a little family of nomads, something she really enjoyed. Stevie thrived in her job and was able to get an apartment with a few randoms out in Bushwick—imagine her surprise when she realized that they knew her sisters!

After reaching out tentatively to Sam and Stacey, Stevie has been easing herself back into being a part of the Evans family. She’s not as interested as being a big happy family as her sisters are, but after being on her own, she’s realized how much being a part of something had on her. That desire to find a community of her own is what has Stevie embarking on the next step of her life: becoming an apprentice at a tattoo shop.

Though her parents would probably disapprove if they knew, Stevie loves the idea of creating art that will forever be a part of someone. It’s the permanency she loved of tagging mixed with the finer drawing she enjoyed as well. Plus, there’s a strong community amongst tattoo artists and that’s something that Stevie is attracted to as well. For now, she’s doing the gruntwork at a shop in Bushwick, running late night deliveries on her bike, and spending whatever free time she has drawing up designs at A-Cup with an iced Americano at her table.

Pets: None

Relationships:

Samantha Evans: Stevie never had the closest relationship with Sam. Her oldest sibling was always so preoccupied trying to be a third parent and Stevie found it stifiling. She didn’t like the way that Sam tried to take on responsibility for their family and tried to mother her.  Even after their time apart, Stevie is still reluctant to reach out to Sam because she doesn’t want her older sister to try and mother her again.

Stacey Evans: Though closest in age, Stevie and Stacey couldn’t be more different. While Stacey was talkative and academically talented, Stevie was the kid in school that teachers dreaded. The only thing in common they had was their last name and the Evans family athletiscim. Now that they’re both in the same city, Stevie does her best to keep her sister at arms length—close enough to say hello and appease their parents, but far enough to keep out of her personal life.

Rachel Berry: Out of her roommates, Rachel’s very vocal lifestyle is one that tends to bug Stevie the most. She doesn’t share Rachel’s interest in theater or show tunes; sure, she likes music, but she usually restricts herself to singing in the shower or listening through her headphones. She also isn’t quite sure how she feels about her roommate flirting with her older sister all the time.

Ava Sinclair: While Stevie is generally intrigued by Ava’s accent and her place in the gaming industry, Stevie keeps to herself when she’s at the apartment. She doesn’t really know how to read the quieter woman and as a result keeps her distance. That said, Stevie loves Ava’s cat, Reeses, and often can be found teasing the cat with a laser pointer or some other cat toy.

Dani Harper: As the most laidback of her roommates, Stevie feels most comfortable hanging out with Dani. She’s the most “normal” out of her roommates and Stevie enjoys chatting with her about possible tattoo ideas, often showing Dani designs that she’s drawn up.

EXTRA INFO

Steve-o/@stevienotnicks/fastest girl on two wheels.

Five latest tweets:

@stevienotnicks: handcramps are the worst ohmygod @stevienotnicks: s2g if my asshole neighbor pulls out in front of me again im gonna key his mercedes @stevienotnicks: lowkey miss honey can GET IT jesus @stevienotnicks: feeling creative today. dm me design ideas pls @stevienotnicks: real talk. if cinderellas shoe fit perfectly then why tf did it fall off???

[samwpmarleau]

You have probably already answered this, but I was just curious as to why you are against Ned/Ashara.

My foremost issue with it is that it simply does not make sense.

We know that Ned had a crush on Ashara, at least to some extent, but we are given no legitimate indication that it went beyond that, nor that Ashara ever reciprocated. We have a total of two interactions in the entire series between the two of them that are documented: their one dance at Harrenhal — which Brandon orchestrated — and after the Tower of Joy fight when Ned returned Dawn. That’s it.

If you want the long explanation, however, I’m happy to oblige.

Ned never thinks about Ashara, not once. If she were the great love of his life, the woman he’d fathered a bastard on, the woman he held a torch for, then why on earth does he not allude to so much as her name, even within his own thoughts? Catelyn thinks about Brandon several times, yet not a peep from Ned about Ashara.

He couldn’t even muster up the courage to ask her (or any other girl, so far as we know) for a single dance. Yet we’re supposed to believe that he then somehow got up the courage to sleep with her?

Ned appears to have had an honorable reputation even when he was young (Jaime’s “the noble Lord of Winterfell” as well as that he built a grave marker for Arthur and didn’t take Dawn for a trophy). Having a one-week stand and producing illegitimate children would be out of character.

He was only 18 at the time and very likely had never even kissed a girl before, let alone slept with one. Not that he couldn’t have lost his virginity there, I suppose, but it would seem a rather strange location and time to do so. Especially since having a fling with the most prominent lady-in-waiting to the future queen isn’t exactly the most honorable thing to do.

He shared a tent with Howland Reed for the duration of the tourney who, being the astute observer that we see he is, would have noted his bunkmate sneaking off to go have sex with Ashara.

Ned wasn’t the only person Ashara danced with. She also danced with Oberyn, one of the Kingsguard (likely her brother or Barristan), and Jon Connington. Where are all the rumors of her having a romance with any of them?

Apart from her beauty, Ashara is described as having “laughing” purple eyes, which implies a lighthearted, spirited personality, whereas Ned is, well, not. Particularly given the short time frame, I don’t think that personality clash would lend itself to a romance.

Brandon, meanwhile, has a reputation for sleeping with highborn women, had already fathered bastards elsewhere, was exceedingly handsome and charismatic, and had previously spoken with Ashara as well. To sleep with Ashara sounds exactly like the kind of thing Brandon would do.

Barristan is nothing but friendly to Ned when they’re in King’s Landing together and he defends him to Dany, yet in ADWD, he refers to the person who “dishonored” Ashara merely as “Stark.” He’s so pissed off about it 20 years later that he can’t even think the man’s name. That seems a rather odd tic if indeed Ned was the one who he’s referring to, especially since he was in love with Ashara.

None of the sources we hear their supposed romance from are reliable. We have Edric Dayne, who was not even alive at the time, who heard it from his aunt Allyria, who may also not have been alive at the time. Two more things about this:

The Daynes are already involved in what happened at the Tower of Joy, what with their wet nurse having been not only Edric’s but Jon’s and whose name Ned tells Robert is Jon’s mother, there’s the possibility that it was Ashara who told Ned where to find Lyanna, Starfall is quite close to the TOJ, and so on. This would be a benign coverup by comparison.

It’s completely understandable that Allyria (or whoever told her the story, if anyone did) would want to craft this poetic narrative of the honorable Ned Stark and her sister having a fairytale romance instead of it being a hookup with Brandon, who was a bit of a cad and betrothed to someone else.

Then we have Harwin, who was all of nine years old when he heard the story, was not at Harrenhal, and who himself says he doubts it was true. 

This series thrives on things not being what they seem, on requiring us to read between the lines, to not take things at face value. Yet we’re supposed to take Ned/Ashara at face value?

Ned fathering a bastard completely obliterates his — and Jon’s — narrative. The entire point is that Ned did not have a black mark on his honor like everyone in-universe thinks; instead, he compromised his reputation in order to do the most honorable thing there is. He promised his dying sister to protect her son, never mind who the father was, never mind that Ned’s best friend hated Targaryens so much that “it was a madness in him,” never mind that the very sight of Jon hurt Catelyn day after day. To say Ned did indeed father a bastard is … peculiar.

Even if he had done so, why would he not provide for it? You’re telling me he slept with Ashara, got her with child, and then just ignored the both of them? Didn’t bother contacting her, didn’t bother asking after the child, never even thought about the stillborn baby girl he sired? Ned Stark never once thinks about his dead illegitimate child?

The ability of Ned and Ashara to have carried out a romance is unlikely. This isn’t 2017 where Skype and texting is a thing. As soon as the tourney concluded, Ashara went back to Dragonstone and Ned back to the Vale, and then within a few months, Lyanna disappeared, the realm was thrown into civil war, and Ashara was dismissed from court back to Starfall. Yet somehow that all lends itself to maintaining a correspondence, let alone a love affair?

One of the stories about her says she threw herself from the tower because she was heartbroken over Ned, which is incredibly patronizing. Her child had been stillborn, her princess was raped and murdered, the children she’d seen born were slaughtered, her entire life had been upended, her brother was slain protecting Lyanna Stark and all Ashara got in return was his sword, 10,000 of her countrymen — which would have included men she knew — were extorted into fighting and a large amount of them died, Prince Lewyn was killed, she would have suffered survivor’s guilt, need I go on? That the cause of her suicide would be Ned marrying Catelyn out of duty is downright insulting.

To me, it seems like people also really want Ned to have had a prior relationship instead of just Catelyn having one (for as much as a betrothal can count as a relationship, at any rate), as well as the cliché of the shy guy getting the hot girl.

Meanwhile, the only “evidence” for Ned/Ashara is hearsay from people who weren’t there. Not exactly a compelling case. I’m not going to bash people who do ship them, but you also won’t find me ever shipping them myself.

[betterklondike]

The Matilda (1/2)

Ollie scrubbed a hand through her cropped brown hair, hoping to physically erase the memory of the ball bouncing into the net off her leg. It didn't work.

When she blinked, she could see everyone's expression as the ball bounced over their goal line. Ollie didn't know what had been worse, the pure embarrassment of the own goal or the crestfallen faces of her teammates as they lost their lead. Looking at Moggy had been horrific, though.

The goalie had just patted her shoulder and sighed sympathetically but there was an undeniable disappointment in her eyes. A punch to the face would have been better and it was a relief when the Australian's elbow had hit her temple and left her with an almighty headache.

Ollie inhaled sharply as she lifted her cold glass to her bruised and cut temple. She was downstairs in the hotel bar, hiding away from the rest of the team who were all either with family or out in their respective groups.

Lucy was out with Sam and Kasey and had tried to convince her to join them but Ollie just couldn't face the others right now. Her stomach might give out if she had to endure any more pitying looks.

So, here she was avoiding her entire team with her elbows propped up on the hotel bar and her short legs dangling off the stool. Legs that were still long enough to get tangled up in a goalmouth scramble, unfortunately.

"Hey," she began, leaning forward and trying to get the bartender's attention. He scooted past her without so much as a glance.

"Seriously?" she whined, sitting back down in a huff. She followed the bartender's path and absently pawed a bar mat while she waited.

He stopped in front of a girl about Ollie's own age at the other end of the quiet bar and Ollie did a double take. The girl was sitting down but she was clearly tall, taller than Ollie but that wasn't really difficult. The U17s were taller than her. She had light brown hair strewn over slumped shoulders and rested her chin on her stacked fists.

It was that Australian that elbowed her during the game.

The Australian ordered and glanced sideways, subtlely catching Ollie's gaze. The American looked away, her cheeks heating up. She couldn't remember the player's first name but she was pretty sure that was the Daxon girl that had been red carded for the swinging elbow that almost knocked Ollie out.

She glanced over again, masking her curiosity as she attempted to catch the bartender's eye.

"Why don't you just take a picture? It'll last longer," Daxon snapped. Ollie jumped but squared her shoulders. The outburst took her by surprise but she wasn't about to let this chick intimidate her.

"No thanks. Bruises work pretty well too," she retorted with a smirk. Daxon dragged her eyes away from the glass in front of her, startled. It took her a second to recognise Ollie, who was still smirking

"Sorry..." she apologised half-heartedly, holding up a hand.

"For your attitude or for my eye?" Ollie replied, gesturing at the swollen and bruised patch of skin on the side of her face. Daxon winced.

"Both?"

"Yeah, that sounds about right."

They were both silent for a moment, contemplating the glasses in front of them. Then, the Australian spoke up.

"It wasn't intentional, you know. I was just trying to win the ball. Nothing personal."

Ollie laughed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure. I run elbows first too."

The other girl bristled and took a sip from her drink. It looked a little like whiskey but Ollie wasn't sure.

"I'm Dax. By the way."

Ollie's eyebrow quirked. "Dax?"

Daxon shrugged. "Fine. It's Sophie Daxon but everyone calls me Dax."

"Right," Ollie said. She tipped her glass toward Dax. "Well, it's always nice to put a name to an elbow."

This time Daxon left out a reluctant laugh.

"Are you compensating your height with one-liners?" she quizzed, her accent dragging out the vowels. Ollie shook her head.

"That's what my hair is for," she answered, running a hand through her short yet immaculate locks. "The one-liners are an added bonus. Part of the Ollie Marquez special."

Now it was Dax's turn to raise an eyebrow. "Ollie?"

"Olivia but no one's called me that...ever. Except my mom. When I'm in trouble," she elaborated. Ollie knew she was rambling but she was also powerless to stop it. It was like watching a car crash in slow motion.

Dax laughed. She took another sip of her drink. Ollie did the same, returning her gaze to where her hands rested on the bar. Suddenly, she felt something brush her arm. Jumping a little, she glanced sideways to see Dax easing herself into the empty seat next to her.

"Couldn't hear you properly down that end," Dax told her nonchalantly. Ollie nodded, taking in the Australian's appearance. She had pale green eyes and large features and wore what must have been a yellow team issued hoodie under a denim jacket. Her eyes were cast downward toward her glass and for a minute Ollie thought there might have been someone else in the bar that was having as bad a day as she was.

"How's your..." Dax trailed off and gestured at Ollie's temple. Ollie snapped out of her thoughts and straightened.

"It's-uh-it's okay," she managed. Dax's jaw clenched and she nodded stiffly. Ollie chewed her bottom lip. "Really, it looks a lot worse than it feels," she added hastily. Dax's eyes flickered back to Ollie's, the ghost of a lopsided smile playing on her lips.

"You're just saying that to make me feel better, aren't you?"

"What?" Ollie laughed, her voice raising several octaves. Dax finally broke into subtle smile. For a brief second, Ollie forgot that the other girl was the person that had steamrolled her earlier in the day.

Sophie Daxon had a bit of a reputation for causing trouble. If she wasn't accumulating red and yellow cards (quite the accomplishment for a goalkeeper), social media and journalists found fault in her comments during interviews. Sitting here, though, Ollie saw a different Dax to the villain that cropped up in articles. Something didn't seem to add up.

"So, you're gonna have to explain to me why you're getting drunk in *this* hotel when *your* team are staying literally across the road," Ollie stated, pointing out the windows at the hotel on the opposite side of the large courtyard. Dax looked lazily over her shoulder and gave a laboured shrug.

"I'm not very popular over there at the moment," she said simply, avoiding Ollie's eyes. The American sighed and felt her stomach twist as the memory of the own goal washed nauseatingly over her again.

"Yeah, well, I'm guessing I'd be pretty welcome over there right now." That goal had tied the match for The Matildas. Dax's hand came to rest firmly on her forearm. Shocked, Ollie looked up to meet her serious green eyes.

"There was nothing you could have done about that," Dax promised solemnly. Ollie held her gaze for a few seconds until the Aussie smirked. "It was going in anyway. Dani's shot was too good."

Ollie scoffed. "You saw it from the T.V. in the locker rooms?"

Dax narrowed her eyes, surprised but there was no malice in her face.

"I'll give you that one," she said, pointing reluctantly at the left-back. Ollie raised a hand to her temple without thinking. If she had been thinking, she wouldn't have done it but that could apply to multiple instances in her life.

"You gave me this one too," she said, tapping the bruise. Dax pursed her lips together but it was clear she was fighting a smile. She batted at Ollie's raised arm.

"Stop it. Jesus. I should have hit you harder."

"Ha!" Ollie threw up her arms in victory, scaring the woman beside her. "I knew you did it on purpose!"

Dax exhaled through her nose and wet her lips.

"Not my fault you're smaller than the ball-kids," she deadpanned, downing the end of her drink. Now it was Ollie's turn to narrow her usually wide eyes.

"I could take you..." she declared, folding her arms petulantly. Dax hesitated, staring at Ollie over the rim of her glass. She quirked a perfect eyebrow arrogantly.

"You sure about that?" she quizzed, clearly amused. Ollie stuck her chin out.

"I think you're underestimating the rage that fuels me," she told her. Dax shook her head. "Oh, I don't think so." She gestured at Ollie's full body with her free hand. "It's definitely there. Yup, five feet of pure, unadulterated rage."

"Five feet and *two* inches of rage, to be precise," she corrected.

"And we should always be precise," Dax agreed with a wink. Ollie's tongue turned to cotton in her mouth at Dax's mischievous smirk. She found herself staring at the other player's profile as the latter ordered another drink. At first glance, there was nothing especially stunning about Dax, not like Lucy or Sam or some of her own Australian teammates but still, there was something sort of...jolly about her. She had a wide nose that was offset by almond shaped green eyes but her smile was endearingly complimented by two dimples high on her cheeks. She slouched slightly and it made it difficult to discern exactly how tall she was.

"A red card and an own goal...We're quite the pair," Dax stated as the barman refilled her glass with what was indeed whiskey. Ollie snapped out of her daydreaming with a start. She cleared her throat and shook a hand through her hair.

"Yeah...It's like a crappy 'Would You Rather' question," she replied, picking at the bar mat she had earlier. She heard Dax huff a laugh beside her.

"So, which is it?" Dax asked suddenly after a few minutes of silence. Ollie whirled her head around.

"What?" she asked through a stunned, nervous laugh. Dax smirked again. It was beginning to get distracting.

"A red card or an own goal. What would you rather?" the goalie clarified. Ollie's eyebrows raised and her mouth formed an understanding "O" shape.

"Riiight!" She pointed at Dax and nodded. "Red card," she answered immediately. Dax laughed, her eyes crinkling.

"You don't want to think about that at all?" she wondered. Ollie shook her head vehemently. "Uh uh. No way. Not for a second. I'll take a red card. This is torture."

"C'mon," Dax cajoled. "It can't be that bad."

Ollie shot her a withering look. "So you'd pick an OG over being sent off?" she demanded.

"God no," Dax responded, setting down her glass. Ollie rested her elbows on her chair triumphantly.

"There. So we have finally decided that an OG is worse than a red card."

Dax jumped to interject. "Hang on a sec. You can't use me as an example!" she protested.

"And why's that?" Ollie challenged, ordering a soft drink. Dax was silent for a minute.

"Dax?"

"Hang on, I'm trying to think of something so I don't lose this argument."

Ollie laughed. "This is an argument. I thought it was a discussion."

Dax shrugged. "It was. Then I started losing the discussion."

"That's not possible."

"You're only saying that because you're winning."

Ollie whistled. "And I thought I was competitive..."

Dax rolled her eyes and chuckled.

"Whatever," she said, waving a hand. Ollie laughed and they held each other's gaze for a moment. Dax gave a small, crooked smile that had no business being as adorable as it was.

"Do you wanna go for a walk?" Ollie blurted. Dax furrowed her brow but her lips quirked into a bemused smile.

"Uh, what?"

Yeah, Ollie. What?

She fumbled for an answer.

"Um, uh. I just...I could use some air. And the view is really nice out there...with the water...and lights...and the city."

Great save, Marquez. Some of your best work. For a second, Ollie thought Dax was going to scoff and start laughing at her. She didn't. Instead, the Aussie slapped a few bills down on the countertop and looked back at Ollie.

"Sure," she answered finally. Ollie couldn't quite believed that it had worked. Or that she was managing to hold a conversation with Sophie Daxon, the player that had almost gotten her sent for an emergency head injury assessment.

"Alright. Okay, cool..." Ollie said, nodding thoughtfully. Daxon adjusted her jacket and stood up, nodding at the hotel doors with an amused smile.

"So do you wanna go?"

Ollie suddenly remembered that she needed to get up and stop staring at the girl in front of her.

"Yeah," she answered quickly, hopping down off her chair. She turned around to check her chair for her jacket but found only the leather fabric of the seat.

"Ah, shit!" Ollie swore. Daxon knotted her brows together.

"You okay?" she quizzed. Ollie felt her cheeks growing pink. She rested an arm on her hip as nonchalantly as she could but when she spoke her voice was pitchy.

"Yeah. Fine. Just, uh, I left my jacket upstairs..." she said, scratching the back of her neck. Concern quickly spread across Dax's features.

"Really? Here," she replied. Before Ollie could stop her, Dax had taken off both her denim jacket and hoodie. She held out the fleecy yellow and green hoodie to Ollie.

"Take that," she offered. Too shocked to formulate a coherent sentence, Ollie stammered out a thanks and pulled the Matildas hoodie over her head. It was miles too big, the hem fell halfway down her thighs and the cuffs reached her fingertips but it was warm and cosy and smelled like whatever perfume Dax wore.

Without saying any more, they started walking out of the hotel. It wasn't incredibly cold outside but Ollie was grateful for the warmth of the hoodie nonetheless. There was a chill rolling off the river next to them. Outside was a plaza paved with immaculate cobblestones and illuminated by futuristic lights that rose out of the ground. They were flanked by hotels and office buildings on every side except that which belonged to the river.