#but it leaves Gansey a bit less whole. more cold and less caring than Our Gansey

[romantichopelessly]

not to be completely brain rotted but I am so unbelievably close to writing an Adansey AU inspired by Vicious by VE Schwab.

[toast-the-unknowing]

What scene made you ship Pynch? How did I miss anything about an emo band???

OP was humorously misstating the moment; there are no emo bands, I hope that I am not crushing any dreams.

The scene in question is from Blue Lily, Lily Blue, when Ronan drops in on Adam at the garage. Given that we all love manibus I imagine I am not the only one who found that to be the tipping point into shipping Pynch for real, but who cares if I’m a basic bitch, there’s just so much good stuff here!

Okay obviously this is fun if you like that “they call each other names but they love each other” ship dynamic, BUT I also genuinely love the idea that this is one way in which Adam’s relationship with Ronan is less stressful to him than his other relationships. Yes, they fight, but he doesn’t spend hours stressing about it when Ronan isn’t there.

THAT ANGST THOUGH. It’s not really anything to do with Pynch, I just like this line a lot.

Adam is curled up on the ground having a panic attack and Ronan thinks it’s funny, Ronan, you have badly misread the situation. But points for considering whether Adam was cold, I guess.

It should be clear by now that I do in fact love the “they call each other names but they love each other” ship dynamic.

I find Adam’s attitude toward Ronan’s family problems really healthy? He doesn’t try to solve Ronan’s shit for him. He even gives him a little more space around it than he personally wants, out of respect for boundaries.

For someone who goes hardcore on “words of affirmation” love language in her personal life, I am terribly fond of “I will blatantly seek you out because I miss your company but deny that that is what I am doing” moments. PRETEND YOU DON’T LIKE EACH OTHER, YESSSS.

OKAY. There’s a lot going on here and it’s fascinating. 1, the aspect that Adam keys in on, is that this is another moment where Ronan has everything completely backwards. Ronan feels that Aglionby is pointless for him because his magic doesn’t mesh with that regimented world, because he doesn’t want professional employment, because he can make a future for himself without the benefits it provides, because he isn’t learning anything there that is of use to him. Which, fine, it clearly is a bad fit for him (even if I think he goes a bit too far in the other direction of rejecting everything that isn’t magic). But he goes and assumes that all of those things are true of Adam as well, which is a BUCK WILD assumption to make. Ronan, how long have you known this boy again? Besides which, he claims that Adam could find a way to make a living off of his connection to the ley line, which is either a TON of faith in abilities that Adam has a very limited understanding of at this point in time, or a complete lack of understanding of economic realities. Or both, obviously.

But at the same time, we see over and over again Adam’s self-consciousness about not belonging, and his fear that even if he DOES achieve success (academically, financially, professionally) he still won’t fit in with his peers and everyone will know that he’s not like them. And then here’s Ronan just casually saying, obviously you belong to the same group that I do. The fact that he says this while also getting so much wrong kind of makes me like it more? Even when Ronan is a fucking idiot he knows heart and soul that Adam is his people.

I love that they have ACTUAL ARGUMENTS, so I love this moment where they are actually pissed and hurt by each other. And I love the ways that it shows. Ronan goes “cool” when he’s actually upset. And Adam, who calls Declan and Gansey out for trying to solve Ronan’s problems for him, for not understanding that he has to want to do things for himself, here tells him to do his homework – if you’re going to tell me how to live my life, fine, I’ll tell you how you’re fucking up your life by not having the same values that I do; how do you like that.

OKAY I KNOW WE ALL HAVE THIS ETCHED INTO OUR HEARTS BUT I HAD TO. The timing is just so perfect. Ronan has misread the situation, discounted Adam’s basic motivation, dismissed his effort, and then when Adam must have just totally felt unseen and misunderstood, here is this proof that the whole time Ronan had also seen him and understood him and cared enough to figure out something that would actually help him. This is the moment where I put my phone down and texted my friend Ronan scaring the daylights out of Adam and picking a fight with him and then breaking into his car to leave him a super thoughtful gift is my jam.

Bonus screenshot because reading this scene over I find Maggie committing a terrible horrible sin:

MAGGIE, NO

[ratcaulker]

fitzjmes

The caulker must have duty owing enough for four men, being sent alone to Erebus like this, James thinks. He halfheartedly makes note of the man’s name, and assumes there will not be much need for conversation between the two of them. Erebus does, in fact, find itself in dire need of repair and the men currently working below deck should happily accept any additional help there is to offer. “She has splinters that require fixing,” James informs solemnly, “My men below deck will be relieved to receive a helping hand.” The hint of a smile twitches at the corner of his mouth, but it is quickly subdued back to something more reserved. “The ice is merciless, but from what I’ve heard we here are faring better than the Terrors. The Erebus was built stronger, to withstand plowing through the ice. She stands steady yet,” he continues, a wave of pride swelling within his chest. Quite a ship, the Erebus. It should survive this winter, and the next, despite the unforgiving ice.

“Before you go, Mr Hickey,” James halts, turning to face the caulker before descending the ladder down to the upper deck, “Join me in my cabin. I would very much like to discuss this ‘supply deficiency’ with you. In private.” It does not take a smart man to know that, at least in part, this is Francis’ workings. The man had drunk through three years worth of whisky in a year, more or less, and was now sending lackeys to raid what was left of Erebus’ liquor stores. But, in case there is a more serious issue which Fitzjames has not, for some reason, been informed about, it should be in everyone’s benefit to discuss matters. Away from prying ears.

Below deck, some of the men are enjoying an early lunch before being sent off to their duties. A curious look or two are cast towards the Captain and his visitor, but James is quick to lead Mr Hickey into his quarters to avoid any further speculation. Here, the sound of the ship groaning against the ice is as loud as ever, not affected by the heavy veil of Arctic fog which wrapped around Erebus like a blanket.

“Sit down, Mr Hickey,” clearly voiced instructions; less an offer than an order. But James does not look as sharp as his tongue, as he unbuttons and pulls off his overcoat, exposing a very casual, slightly tattered gansey beneath it. “I had not expected to address anyone today,” he explains his casual outfit with a wave of the hand, “Would you fancy some tea? The cold must have gotten in you during your walk over from the Terror.” He does not wait for an answer but instead calls for Mr Bridgens to bring them something warm to drink, and a biscuit or two.

“Now. Did Captain Crozier send you here?”

Hickey settles down before he replies. The luxury of the room gives him more pause than its chief occupant, truth be told.

Aye, the captain’s tone is commanding, almost severe in its reserved formality, but that gives away a hint of something else there, too, something hiding beneath the slick layer of Fitzjames’ supreme confidence. Hickey isn’t quite sure what to make of that, yet, but he’s always been a good judge of character - or at least the parts of character he might find approachable to his own needs.

‘Oh yes, sir. Captain’s own orders. Though relayed to me by one of the officers, of course’, Hickey shrugs lightly. It’s no mystery a captain would find Hickey’s station beneath much notice or care.

He taps the side of his chair lightly with chewed-down fingernails, unable to hide his pleasure at being seated so finely. He’d thought Crozier’s quarters fancy enough, but Erebus is obviously a whole class above the Terror. Probably decked out to Franklin’s tastes, but now left with only the pup Fitzjames to admire a dead man’s legacy.

‘Anyhow, what I was given to speak of is... We’ve a spot of bother with certain victuals from our storage.’ Hickey bites his lip.

He wonders whether to risk speaking plainly. Worst case, Fitzjames tells him to go to Hell and he returns to the Terror a failure, leaving the next poor sod to brave the trip to Erebus in search of whiskey. Best case, he sows a bit of mistrust and returns as a successful pillager of booze.

He risks it.

‘I’m supposed to say we’d like a small keg of pickled currants, because we lost a goodly portion of it to rot. A keg of salted pork, too, because our own hunting party ain’t had much success. I doubt the cook would protest to a few donations like that.’

He scratches at his thin ginger beard.

‘But what I’m not supposed to say outright is that some of the articles we lack are, uh, turning out a bit tricky to ration. And since they’re more likely to keep longer aboard your ship, I’m supposed to try get some of that, too, discreetly.’

Hickey peers cautiously at Fitzjames.

‘Supposedly, it’ll help our captain something fierce. Keep him happy and all. It’s kind of like a medicine, when you look at it like that, isn’t it, sir? So it can’t be that wrong to let him have it, can it?’

Hickey sighs heavily.

‘Tell you the truth, Captain Fitzjames, sir, and I hope you won’t resent me saying what I’d never share with any other living soul, but things have turned a bit frightening ever since poor Captain Franklin’s been gone. May the good Lord rest his soul. And I think... I think... Well, let’s just say it’s a very fine thing indeed that we still have Erebus so close to us, and you commanding it. Why, it gives us all hope for things to work out alright in the end.’